Hot Pursuit

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New review is now up.

*****

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The last man she ever wanted to seeโ€ฆ
Evie Bakerโ€™s luck just ran out. Thanks to an ex-partner with organized crime ties, sheโ€™s lost her restaurant, her money, and nearly all her self-respect. Forced to return to her hometown and work as a shampoo girl in her motherโ€™s salon, she doesnโ€™t think her luck can get any worse.But then someone starts shooting at her, her sullen baby sister is suddenly missing, and the high school heartthrob who stole her heartโ€”and her virginityโ€”is the only man big enough and bad enough to help.

Might be the only one who can save herโ€ฆ
Captain Matt โ€œRichie Richโ€ Girard canโ€™t afford to get involved. Heโ€™s already on the verge of a court-martial after a Top Secret op gone wrong, and heโ€™s been ordered to stay out of trouble while heโ€™s home for his sisterโ€™s wedding. But when Evieโ€™s ex-partner turns up dead, staying out of trouble is the last thing on Mattโ€™s mind. He failed Evie once before; he canโ€™t fail her again. If heโ€™s going to protect her from a killer and find her sister before time runs out, heโ€™ll have to risk his entire futureโ€”and both their livesโ€”to do it.

Hot Pursuitย is a fast-paced joy ride with all the thrills and chills that you could hope for.ย  Readers who love military-style action romances like Roxanne St Claire’s Bullet Catchers, Marliss Melton’s Navy SEALs, or Amy J Fetcher’s Dragon One will love having an intense new series to read.ย  And who doesn’t love big, tough, alpha men (in uniform and out), who can take care of themselves, each other, and those that need their help.

Matt is just the kind of hero you’d expect – he’s tough, smart, and a natural leader.ย  He takes his responsibilities seriously, even when it can get him killed, and feels his failures deeply.ย  He’s the introduction we are given to Harris’s “Hostile Operations Team”ย series and he sets the bar pretty high.ย  Evie is tough all on her own.ย  She’s survived some serious set backs and handles it well when danger comes landing on her door.ย  They’ve been friends for a long time but have lost touch so this combines some of my favorite romances – soldiers with guilt issues, action, suspense and childhood loves finding each other again.ย  We aren’t given a lot of information about the rest of Matt’s team but the glimpses we do get set up some interesting possibilities for future stories.

The action portion of it is well-paced and well-developed, with just that right amount of romance to go with the intrigue and mystery.ย  Throw in an angsty hero who is fighting his feelings and a spunky heroine who keeps him on his toes and Harris proves she knows how to keep her readers coming back for more.ย  The characters are intriguing and the plot is fast and intense, so this is a must read for those looking for a new series to sink their teeth into.

As hot and steamy as the Louisiana bayou where it is set,ย Hot Pursuitย will keep readers turning pages long after the sun goes down.ย  Be prepared to commit time to reading this one because you’ll have trouble putting it down.

Ugly Ducklings Finish First

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New review is now up.

*****

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Metal Mouth. Queen Geek. Dr. Payton Pruitt heard it all growing up. But she’s over it, and attending her ten-year high school reunion is the perfect way to prove it to herself. Even if there’s only one person she’s interested in seeing in Bitterthorn, Texas: Wiley Sharpe.

Now a respected lawyer, Wiley didn’t live down to the label Most Likely to Be Slapped with a Paternity Suit. But recent acts of vandalism suggest someone still sees him as a heartbreaker, and the reunion seems a likely place to find the culprit. Instead, Wiley comes face-to-face with his old pal Paytonโ€”and is wowed not only by her transformation into a ravishing swan, but by the connection they still share.

Payton is pleased the playboy she used to tutor has grown into an honorable man, but she’s too smart to fall for a guy with roots in a place she couldn’t wait to leave. But while Payton is an academic genius, Wiley is the one with the PhD in pleasure, and he intends to use it to convince her to stayโ€ฆ

Not everyone is going to like this one but I found it really enjoyable.ย  It was a little cliched and the sex scenes were a little …. ummm,ย old fashioned bodice ripper, maybe?ย  I read a lot of romances (obviously), in a lot of genres – some of them are light on the sex, some of them get very, very steamy.ย  And it seems to me that most of them have a smoother delivery on the sex, even those that get very hot and heavy, whereas this one was a little awkward I think.ย  It reminded me a couple of times of those comedies where people make fun of romances for their purple language, laughing at the “burgeoning” this and “turgid” that.ย  It isn’t that bad but if that kind of awkwardness will bother you, or if you are offended by more overt sex scenes, then I’d suggest you give this one a pass.

But if you think you can ignore it, then pick this one up right away because the story itself is fun and I really love these two together.ย  Wiley is a modern day reformed rake.ย  He loves women and has for years, but he’s never felt the need for anything long term with any of them.ย  Then he has his socks knocked off when he sees Payton again at their high school reunion – she’s nothing like the nerdy girl she was then and the all grown up version is extremely hot.ย  The two of them together, especially with Payton’s too big brain, are funny and sweet and charming.ย  Having the nerd become the sex kitten could have been a little trite but Gail definitely makes it work.ย  And in addition to the romance, there is some concern over vandalism that is being targeted at Wiley – a little bit of mystery that adds a nice touch to what could have been a more lighthearted love story.ย  Although some people might be a little put off by the ending, again due to the old-school cliches, but it worked for me … even as I wanted to thump Wiley on the head for being stupid.

If you are looking to be entertained while seeing these two fall in love,ย Ugly Ducklings Finish Firstย isย a cute and funny fast-read, perfect for those who like those high school romances where the geek girl wins.

Evernight’โ€‹s Birthday Bash blog hop

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Celebrate like a ROCK STAR because Evernight Publishing is THREE!

In three short years, Evernight has grown by leaps and bounds thanks to readers likeย you! Evernight is pulling out all the stops and throwing an extreme BIRTHDAY BASH BLOG HOP in your honor!

Thatโ€™s right! Itโ€™s Evernightโ€™s birthday but YOU get the presentsโ€ฆ

Prizes include:

Samsung Galaxy Tab

Kindle Paperwhite

Kobo Touch

$100 Evernight and Amazon Gift Certificates

Mega Evernight Swag Pack

Plus, each author on the hop will offer his/her own special prize!

*****

Iโ€™m excited to share a taste of Evernight with you.ย  Here are just some of the offeringsย from their site – they have stories categorized by genre, heat level, author, length … and they even offer some free reads!ย  Be sure to visit their site to see what you can find that strikes your fancy.

CHB__74684_1360879088_300_450Victoria cannot even muster a smile on her wedding day. Her groom is handsome, titled, and wealthy, and her marriage will save her family from financial ruin, but she is still saddened when she contemplates the long, loveless years ahead of her.

Bastian never intended to marry, but he gives in to his fatherโ€™s scheme because the more he thinks about the bride, the more he wants to capture her heart. He sweeps her into his arms at the reception, determined to make her smile and laugh, though he only manages to make her blush and stare at him incredulously.

Was he wrong to believe he could turn a marriage of convenience into a love match? Or does another man already hold the heart of his reluctant bride?

Read an excerpt and buy Claiming His Bride HERE

GITTBB__81853_1378422745_300_450Tattooed and Pierced, 1

It all started when Kiera gave the bad boy her virginity…

Kiera knew Reese Trenton wasn’t for her, but she couldn’t stay away. He was rough around the edges, tattooed and pierced, and fiercer than any guy she had ever met. He knew too much about sex, got drunk, and started far too many fights. He was a bad boy, but Kiera still wanted him in the worst kind of way.

Reese’s life is lonely, despite always being surrounded by people. He’s only wanted one thing, and that is Kiera Sheppard, the girl he has watched from afar for four years. As they grow closer, Reese wants to give her everything and show her he is worthy of her love. But his sordid past tears their bond and he doesn’t know if he can redeem himself and show her she is the most important thing in his broken life.

Read an excerpt and buy Giving it to theย Bad Boy HERE

BBN_FREE__13349.1339112784.432.648Brides of Darkness, 3

Fleeing her arranged marriage, Adeline seeks sanctuary in Geistheim Abbey. Within its cursed walls she finds the beautiful, scarred monk, Daghan, who offers her shelterโ€”for a price.

Daghan needs a pure soul to break his curse. Adeline isn’t sure how pure she can be when she lusts after this stranger so badly. But before they can find out, Adeline’s cruel fiance arrives at Geistheim to reclaim her. And he wonโ€™t leave without a fight.

Read an excerpt and buyย Bound By Nightย HERE

*****

Enter to win the Grand Prizes using Rafflecopter: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e561a316/

Hop to the next stop here: http://www.inlinkz.com/wpview.php?id=314265

And make sure you check out all of Evernight’s offerings.ย  Itโ€™s the perfect time to buy the Evernight titles on your TBR list, as well as new gems you find during the event, because Evernightโ€™s entire backlist is on sale at evernightpublishing.com and allromanceebooks.com through October 7th!

Dead Sexy Dragon

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cover32338-mediumThe last thing dragon shifter Stig Wyvern needs is his dead friend’s kid sister showing up on his doorstep, especially since he’s just minutes away from entering a mating phase. Sharing his isolated house with the young woman he’s desperately lusted after for quite some time is a recipe for disaster.

But Cora Cardenas has nowhere else to go. She’s in deep trouble with some really nasty people and Stig is the only one who can protect her. That he’s deliciously sexy and makes her tingle with the simplest of smiles is an added bonus.

Cora quickly realizes Stig is hiding something from her. To make matters worse, she’s plagued with breathtakingly naughty dreams starring a shadowed lover who bears a startling resemblance to her host. And what the hell is going on in the basement at night?

Stig needs to get Cora out of his house but his inner beast has other ideas. He’s found his mate and she’s not going anywhere.

*****

As an introduction toย Lolita Lopez’s “Dragon Heat” series, readers are given a look into the world that Stig lives in and the dangers those of his kind face.ย  It’s a short book, focusing on Stig’s changing relationship with Cora, but it packs a pretty good punch for its length.ย  And Lopez does a good job of also giving readers the details they need to be able to move into the rest of the series.ย  I really liked these two so I wanted a longer book, with a bit more build up to their relationship, but I definitely enjoyed what I was given.

This is the first book I’ve read where the hero is a dragon, but I’ve seen quite a few of them floating around. ย With the popularity of supernatural romances it isn’t much of a stretch and I think that Lopez does a fantastic job of making them appealing as a love interest. ย There’s a good dose of danger involved, not only with the war that the dragons are engaged in, but also with some problems following Cora. ย It reminds me a little bit of J R Ward’s “Black Dagger Brotherhood” series, with a group who have to hide their real identities from the world at large while battling a group that wants to eradicate their entire species, which adds a little extra zing to an already steamy story.

Dead Sexy Dragonย isย aย very hot and sexy read, so be ready for the sizzle. ย Full of heat, heart and danger,ย itย is sure to intrigue lovers of paranormal adventureย romances and have them coming back for more whenย Red Hot Dragonย releases in October.

Resolutionโ€‹s by Teri Riggs

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Decadent Publishing has a hot new book they want to share with you ….

Resolutions200x300DEA agent Eve Taylor has had her fill of alpha males. When Resolutionsโ€™ operative and former lover, Dillon โ€œMacโ€ McKenna, threatened her hard-earned independence, she ran. On a mission to gather evidence against a Colombian drug-lord, Eve discovers the drug-lord is helping terrorists plan an attack on American soil. Before she can escape with the vital information, sheโ€™s captured and comes face to face with her mortalityโ€ฆ

As a teen, Mac watched his family fall apart after his mother died doing dangerous U.N. work. The possibility of losing Eve to a mission ignited an overwhelming need to protect her. When he forced her to choose him or her job, she walked away. Two years later, it seems all his nightmares have come true and heโ€™s tasked with rescuing her from a Colombian prison. Mac has never stopped loving Eve, but does he dare risk his heart when heโ€™s so terrified of losingโ€ฆ

On the run, Mac and Eve must learn to trust each other again in order to stay alive.

Excerpt:

Beefy hands wrenched Eve awake from a fevered sleep, pulled her from the cell, and shoved her into a musty-smelling hallway. Iโ€™m being moved? A guard pushed her with one hand, keeping a tight grip on an AK-47 rifle with his other.

Her shoulder throbbed in perfect cadence with the pains shooting through her broken wrist, and she had one badass headache from being punched in the face a few too many times. Using her good hand, she walked fingers across one cheek, then the other. The right side was totally numb. Her eye had swollen shut, and she couldnโ€™t see a damn thing out of it. She ran her tongue across her teeth and tasted the tart, copper flavor of blood. Three teeth loose. Well, at least theyโ€™re still in place.

In spite of the relentless pain, she stayed determined to survive whatever Mendoza dished out. She wasnโ€™t a quitter. No, sir. Duncan Falls, Iowa didnโ€™t grow quitters. Eve ignored the constant ache in her ribs, courtesy of a guardโ€™s overzealous kick, and took in a deep breath. She willed herself to stay alert, to keep pushing. Escape. Third times the charm.

Eve slapped the guardโ€™s dirty hand. โ€œHey, Pedro, stop being so damned pushy. Where we going anyway? We got a hot date Iโ€™ve forgotten about?โ€

He looked puzzled then shoved her again.

โ€œDonโ€™t understand English, do you, Diego? Bet you understand this.โ€ Eve drove her elbow into the guardโ€™s face. Thick rubbery cartilage gave, and she whooped triumphantly.

Blood squirted from his nose and he screamed.

Eve stepped back. โ€œYep, Iโ€™m pretty sure you understand that.โ€

Unable to grab the guardโ€™s assault rifle, she clutched her injured shoulder, and took off in a slow jog, no longer able to push any harder.

Her escape was short lived.

Buy Links:

Amazonย  Decadent Publishingย  Barnes & Noble

Visit Teri Riggs atย www.teri-riggs.com

Falling for the Teacher

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Though she once fled from Pinewood, Sadie Spencer can’t stay away when her ailing grandparents need her. But she never expected to come face-to-face with the brother of the man who caused her to leave town. Sadie doesn’t care how honest or kind Cole Aylward may seemโ€”she isn’t about to let him continue managing her family’s business.

Cole has worked hard to prove he’s nothing like his brother. All he wants is to try to make up for the hurt Payne caused her family. But slowly Sadie’s quiet determination and bravery helps him face his own fears. Can Cole convince her he’s aย  man worthy of the trust she longs to give?

I’m not sure how I would react in Sadie’s position, especially in a time when views on women and relationships were so different.ย  Clark though seems to handle it well, with a good emphasis on learning to forgive.ย  She takes a little time toย see Cole as his own person and notย his brother, but it is definitely understandable.ย ย Slowly, though, Cole’s kindness and caring showsย Sadie thatย he is a good man.ย  Cole feels like he has a lot to make up for with the way his brother acted, but he has his own growing to do.ย  He has to learn that he is his own person and that the actions of others aren’t necessarily a reflection of him or who he could be.

Falling for the Teacherย is a sweet story about letting go of the past, seeing past your prejudices and realizing that you have the power to be who you want to be.

Once Upon a Wallflower

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New review is now up.

*****

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A Perennial Wallflowerโ€ฆย When Mira Fitzhenryโ€™s guardian arranges her engagement to one of the most scandalous lords to ever grace the peerage, all of society is abuzz. ย After all, the man has left a trio of dead young women in his wake, including his first fiancรฉe.ย  But Mira doesnโ€™t see a killer in Nicholasโ€™s moonlight eyes, and she resolves to find the real murderer before the wedding.ย 

A Gothic Villainโ€ฆย Expecting to scare the chit away within five minutes of meeting him, scarred and brooding Nicholas, the Viscount Ashfield, is intrigued by Miraโ€™s tenacious resolve to prove his innocence.ย  Sheโ€™s not put off by his imposing appearance, but his familyโ€™s dark secrets mean he cannot let her get close.ย  As the wedding approaches, Nicholas and Mira grow ever closer, yet so does the danger. ย Will the truth bring Nicholas and Mira together or tear their love apart?

Once Upon a Wallflowerย delivers a delicious mix of romance and intrigue.ย ย It’s a fun send up to the gothic romancesย of theย past – with a brooding, dangerous hero and his sacrificial bride – but Mira isn’t going to sit quietly and let herself (and Nicholas) get railroaded into a relationship.

I think she’s one of may favorite heroines. ย She sees something more in Nicholas than how society has portrayed him and it is something that she feels is worth pursuing.ย  Her logical mind and rampant curiosity demands that she help him clear his name and the journey to prove his innocence is an interesting mystery, one that plays out well. ย I was very satisfied with how everything was tied together.

My only complaint is that we didn’t get a clear picture of what happened to Nicholas – why he is scarred and has a limp.ย  He does have a recurring dream that involves an accident with his leg, but we’re given one glimpse of it and it isn’t very clear how much of it really happened.ย  With all the stories about him that floated around and with Mira’s inquisitive nature, something should have been said. ย But overall it doesn’t detract from the rest of the story.

I loved the fact that Nicholas and Mira are able to see more in each other than others do, looking below the surface and past the rumors to find someone worth loving. ย And Watson does a great job of mixing their growing relationship with the mystery, giving readers a good balance of both romance and suspense. ย Once Upon a Wallflowerย is a fantastic read and perfect for those that like their historical romances with that little extra bit of drama.

Love Overdue

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New review is now up.

*****

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Meet Dorothy Jarrow: devotedly unsexy librarianย 
Buttoned-up book lover DJ is all sensible shoes, drab skirts and studious glasses. ย After an ill-advised spring-break-fueled fling left her mortified, she’s committed to her prim and proper look. ย When she’s hired by a rural library in middle-of-nowhere Kansas, she finally has the lifestyle to matchย—and she can’t wait to get her admin on.

But it’s clear from day one that the small-town library is more interested in circulating rumors than books. ย DJ has to organize her unloved library, win over oddball employees and avoid her flamboyant landlady’s attempts to set her up with the town pharmacist. ย Especially that last partย—because it turns out handsome Scott Sanderson is her old vacation fling! She is not sure whether to be relieved or offended when he doesn’t seem to recognize her. ย But with every meeting, DJ finds herself secretly wondering what it would be like to take off her glasses, unpin her bun and reveal the inner vixen she’s been hiding from everyoneย—including herself.

I love the idea ofย Loveย Overdueย – that a straight-laced, rule-following woman has a fling that she immediately regrets and years later comes face to face with her partner in crime … only he doesn’t recognize her.ย  I just wish we’d gotten more.ย  It didn’t feel like we’d gotten enough of the reasons behind her assumptions about the kind of person Scott is, although I can understand why she wouldn’t want people to know about what happened.ย  It is a very small town and the people in those kinds of places can have small minds to match, but she seems to exaggerate the situation.ย  And even worse, we’re not given the resolution!ย  We get to the end, Scott finds out who she is but we don’t find out what she says to him, instead we cut to the epilogue eight years later.ย  I think we deserved to see them have that conversation since it was such a big part of the book.ย ย Andย hopefully it might have explained a few things that were a little unclear.

I did like the characters though – both big and little.ย  Scott is kind, caring, and gives of himself to the community.ย  His mother is a wonderful busy-body (although her’s is another story-line that needed a little more explanation with its resolution) and she, along with many of the town’s citizens, add that nice bit of zing to the story.ย  I’m hoping that there will be more stories set in Verdant because not only are the townsfolk entertaining but there are some unresolved points that I’d like to see come to fruition.ย  And even though DJ is quick to jump to conclusionsย and somewhat defensive, it is understandable based on the guiltย and fear she’s carrying over her affair with Scott.ย ย When she loosens up and starts to enjoy herself I like her and,ย withย aย few more pages, I think that she could have had all of her issues out in the open and been even more likable.

Overall, I have to say that I enjoyedย Love Overdueย but I wish there’d been a little more going on between the covers.ย  It’s an intriguing plot, full of fun and interesting people, warmth and charm, and just that perfect touch of humor, but I can’t help feel like I was left wanting more, which is a bit disquieting.ย  I do recommend giving it a chance though – Morsi has a entertaining writing style and great ideas – and you might not find the holes that I did.

Mr September throwdown

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3coversbuttonTheย six heroes from this monthโ€™s BRAZENS are battling it out to be your Mr. September. Who gets your vote?

Each day this week the six heroes are stopping by some awesome blogs to answer both sexy and sweet personal questions, so you can really get a taste of what theyโ€™re like ๐Ÿ˜‰ ย Each day you get to cast your vote, and at the end of the week one sexy hero will be crowned the winner of the #MrSeptember Throwdown!

Remember, each vote also counts as an entry for one of SIX prizes so be sure to follow along and vote every day to increase your chances of winning! ย Visit Entangled in Romance for a recap on the awesome prizes!

*****

Now, to meet the men competing in the #MrSeptember Throwdown!

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Whew! Hot, hot, hot – these men have definitely turned up the heat!

Ian: Wicked Games by Samanthe Beckย  (part of Lovers Unmasked)

Grayson: Seducing Mr. Right by Katee Robert ย (part of Lovers Unmasked)

Landon: Tempted by His Best Friend by Cari Quinnย  (part of Lovers Unmasked)

Derek: Protecting What’s Theirs by Tessa Baileyย  (part of Lovers Unmasked)

Jett: Wicked Heat by Nicola Marsh

Trick: Dirty Trick by Christine Bell

*****

Here are todayโ€™s questions for the men

Question #7: Whatโ€™s the sexiest fantasy youโ€™ve had about your leading lady?

Ian: Well, there was the shower thing, but weโ€™ve done that. And then there was the Halloween, incognito thing, but weโ€™ve done that too. Then, of course, there was the bondage thing, and, yepโ€ฆyou guessed itโ€ฆ

Grayson: It involved bending her over my desk…

Trick: How much time do you have? Not a lot? Iโ€™ll just tell you the dream I had last night, then. We were at a little Italian restaurant tucked into a dark corner. Right when the waiter came over, I ducked my hand under the table and slipped it between Gracieโ€™s legs. She was wearing a skirt but no underwear, and as soon as I touched her, her face went all pink and her eyes got glassy. She was so hot andโ€ฆ*clears throat* anyway, when it was her turn to order, her voice did that sexy little hitch it does? She didnโ€™t move away though. She just sucked in a shuddery breath and asked for a glass of wine. When the waiter left, she looked me dead in the eyes and said โ€œYou better be prepared to finish this, buddy. And remember, payback is a bitch.โ€ ย That was a lie. Because payback? Was fucking mind-blowing.

Derek: I’m working late and she comes into the police station. Dripping wet from the rain. I can tell she’s feeling a little desperate for me. Which is perfect, since I’m always desperate for her. As usual, I’ve been growing restlessโ€ฆI always do when I’ve been deprived of her too long. Without a word, I walk her to my office and tell her to strip while I look my fill. Then I put her on my desk, where she’s been inhabiting my head for hours. Then I make her ask nicely for every thrust of my hips.

Jett: The moment I saw that Kink Kit in Allegraโ€™s hotel suite, I imagined exploring what was in that box with her. Tying her up, teasing her mercilesslyโ€ฆoh yeah, frigging hot.

Landon: Refer to the law firm encounter mentioned above. Steff bent over the counter, her firm, supple body bared to my touch, her moans echoing off the walls… *clears throat* Next question, please.

Question #8: Favorite comfort food?

Ian: Bourbon or whiskey

Grayson: Breakfast food–eggs, French toast, bacon, hash browns.

Trick: Rib-eye steak, medium rare, baked potato with sour cream and butter, creamed spinach on the side, followed by Apple pie with caramel sauce.

Derek: Ginger’s chicken pot pie. The way she keeps trying to improve the recipeโ€ฆshe doesn’t realize I love it just because she made it.

Jett: Pav. Nothing beats the perfect Aussie pavlova. Meringue base, lashings of whipped cream, topped with strawberries and passionfruit. Best comfort food ever. Plus thereโ€™s always whipped cream left over and I can think of many sensual uses for thatโ€ฆ

Landon: Pizza at Mama Leone’s, with optional garlic enhancements. Ah, the memories.

*****

Go now and vote for your favorite here!

*****

Tempting Bella

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Tempting Bellaย is a sweet story about two people who were forced to wed too young, who first met on their wedding day, and now havenโ€™t seen each other for years.ย  They make assumptions about each other, mostly on Bellaโ€™s part, that create the discord in the story.ย  Without having contact with each other, and only knowing their own take on events, they have certain beliefs about the other and take action according to those beliefs โ€ฆ which of course arenโ€™t always well received by the other. ย (Like when Sebastian supports Bella travelling on the continent after she finishes school.ย  He thinks heโ€™s giving her freedom since she was forced to get married at thirteen but she thinks that he doesnโ€™t care about her and only wants her away from him.) ย Years later, when the two meet again for the first time since the wedding, it is as strangers since they donโ€™t even know what the other looks looks like, and the attraction is instantaneous.ย  But when their identities are revealed, they have to figure out how to get past their biases and forge a new relationship together.

I really liked Sebastian.ย  Nicknamed โ€œThe Saintโ€ for his strict moral code, he could have come across as overly pious but he has his reasons for acting the way he does.ย  And he never pushes his ideas on anyone else or makes it feel like he is better than anyone else because of it.ย  Bella has some trust issues, especially with Sebastian, but she too has her reasons and I think it is sweet how he spends the book wooing her.ย  Thereโ€™s conflict and heart all mixed in together as they try to find a path together and I enjoyed it thoroughly.

This is the second book in Diana Quincyโ€™s โ€œAccidental Peersโ€ series but you really couldnโ€™t tell it.ย  Apparently the first one was about Sebastianโ€™s brother Cam but there really wasnโ€™t much to suggest that any of the plot lines flowed between the books.ย  Sometimes you are told that a book can stand alone and then you feel like you have missed nuances by not having read the previous book, but this definitely wasnโ€™t the case.ย  If youโ€™ve not readย Seducing Charlotteย and you want to start here I donโ€™t think youโ€™ll have any problems.

Tempting Bellaย is a pretty straight forward historical romance โ€“ two people are thrown together, have bad opinions to overcome, and fall in love.ย  Itโ€™s sweet and saucy and fun and a good choice for those who enjoy lords and ladies finding their happy ending.