Guest Post – Out of Control

01 Thursday May 2014

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Book Review, Contest

Tags

Babysitting a Billionaire series, Book Review, Nina Croft, Out of Control

This morning Nina Croft shares her thoughts on every romance junkie’s favorite thing … falling in love. And then we’re going to take a look at her newest book, Out of Control, complete with my review and a contest for a $25 gift card so make sure you check out all of the fun.

*****

Why do people fall in love?

I write romance and one of the first things I have to decide when I’m planning a book, is just why is this couple perfect for each other? What makes them the ideal match, who despite all the odds, will fall madly in love and stay that way for the rest of their lives.

The problem is, at the start of the book my characters usually seem far from a perfect match. In fact, often my characters are so far from a suitable match that’s it’s a wonder they ever look twice at each other. In my latest release, Out of Control, the heroine, Dani, is an army sergeant wounded in the line of duty and waiting to see if she can return to her unit. In the meantime, she takes a job protecting Zach a billionaire playboy/writer. At first sight, they seem to have nothing in common except for a deep-rooted fear of commitment.

So why do people fall in love?

I did a bit of research and there’s a lot of speculation out there. Here’s a few of the (sometimes amazingly contradictory) reasons; because they’re similar, because they’re different, symmetrical features, proximity, age, apparently men can fall in love with a woman’s hip to waist ratio (how shallow!) Alternatively, it could just be a matter of timing. Or a simple chemical reaction, pheromones or over-active hormones. Or how about genetics and you have absolutely no choice in the matter; it’s predetermined from the moment the sperm meets the egg.

I also read that all of us have an internal set of criteria which sets out what we find attractive and what are absolute essentials in a partner, tall, short, blond … so if we come across someone who combines all those criteria then perhaps love at first sight would be inevitable.

I’m not sure I’m convinced by any of this, so how does it happen, what triggers love?

A lot I think depends on how love comes about and there are a number of different situations I can think of:

Love at first sight – I’ve got to be honest, I can never quite believe this one, but maybe if every single box is ticked.
Lust at first sight, which then turns into love. Relationships that start out as sex only but the people realize they love each other.
Friends to lovers – one of my favorites. The relationship starts out as best friends and then one or both realize they love the other.
People who know each other but don’t notice each other and then something happens (maybe he finally notices that perfect hip to waist ratio!) and POW—they’re in love.

So why do you think people fall in love?

*****

Out of Control

by Nina Croft

She’s a challenge he can’t resist.

Hollywood heartthrob Zachary Hunter loves women—as long as they don’t want more than a little fun in the bedroom. When his most recent movie stirs up the wrong kind of attention, the kind that includes an attempt on his life, he hires a friend’s company to locate the threat. The pint-sized redhead assigned to protect him isn’t what he expects—or wants. Worse, he can’t take his eyes off of her.

After ten years in the army, Danielle Sinclair knows how to handle men. With a new security gig to pass the time until she’s cleared to return to the military, she’s figures her sexy new client will be easy to manage. And then he opens his gorgeous mouth, and she can’t decide whether to kiss him or kill him. His sex appeal may tempt her into his bed, but his sexist attitude is unbearable, and she’s going to make him eat every single word…

Goodreads:Amazon:Barnes & Noble:Entangled:

Entangled Brazen:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrazenBooks

Twitter: @BrazenBooks Steals and Deals

*****

Author Info:

Nina Croft grew up in the north of England. After training as an accountant, she spent four years working as a volunteer in Zambia, which left her with a love of the sun and a dislike of nine-to-five work. She then spent a number of years mixing travel (whenever possible) with work (whenever necessary) but has now settled down to a life of writing and picking almonds on a remote farm in the mountains of southern Spain. Nina writes all types of romance, often mixed with elements of the paranormal and science fiction.

Website:Twitter:Facebook:Goodreads:Newsletter:

*****

Review:

I’m not sure why, but I’m a little surprised by how much I liked these two. Dani’s kinda prickly and very much a woman working overly hard to fit in to a man’s world. It could easily have made her off-putting but she’s totally fun. And Zach, while a bit debauched, is smooth and charming and, because he’s honest about it, totally likeable in his womanizing ways.

Dani had a devastating event in her childhood that has affected her for a very long time. It’s very understandable why she’s hesitant to get involved. But I’m not sure I totally understand Zach’s aversion to commitment, other than the fact that he can. And though he’s spent his time being footloose and fancy free, like any good rake, it just takes the love of a good woman to change his mind.

The story might seem a little clichéd, but it is extremely well-written, with engaging characters, and a smooth flowing plot. (It’s part of a series but it definitely can stand on its own and totally one I’d recommend.) If you are looking for some humor and heart and just a touch suspense, then Out of Control is for you. It’s not an adventure romance and the threat to Zach’s life plays only a small part except to get the two together. Instead it is all about two people who are afraid to give their hearts away, only to find out that they don’t have a choice. I loved watching them get to know each other and fight their feelings, only to realize that it is definitely out of their control, and the ending was one of my favorites for its simplicity and honesty.

*****

Giveaway:

$25 Amazon Gift Card

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/1cb554337/

*****

Click on the banner below for a list of sites participating in the tour!

Guest Post – His to Keep

30 Wednesday Apr 2014

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Book Review, Contest

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Book Review, His to Keep, Katee Robert, Out of Uniform series

Katee Robert’s now shares with us one of her favorite (and mine!) romance novel locales – small towns. We also get a look at her new book, His to Keep, which is set in a small town (of course) and meet her sexy hero, Aaron … I had the chance to read this book early so I can definitely vouch for his sexiness, make sure you check out my review below too!

*****

The great thing about romance is that it can take place at a variety of locales. You want to read about love on the seven seas? How two people find each other in medieval England? Or even in the future, with the stars as a backdrop? There are romances that encompass all that and more.

But for me, my favorite romance novels take place in small towns. The capacity for shenanigans that all-time high when you’re talking about a small group of people who are in each other’s businesses, and have probably seen the hero and heroine grow from small children to be the adults they are now. You get a certain element of history that you can’t find anywhere else.

When everyone knows everyone, it makes the path to fall in love all that much more interesting.

Maybe this hero and heroines were childhood playmates who grew up in each other’s backyards. Or maybe the heroine is new in town, and this hero has been there all along. Or, like in HIS TO KEEP, maybe the hero has had his eye on heroine for years and was waiting to make a move until now.

Whatever the setup, when you bring in the flavor of small-town life, things are bound to get interesting.

That’s the main reason why I chose to set my Out of Uniform series in the fictional small town of Wellingford. Whether the characters are new, or have been in town entire lives, they’ll frequent the same establishments, run into the same meddling old folks, and find the love they never knew they wanted.

In HIS TO KEEP, Marceline and Aaron have known each other for years, but life has always been in the way of their being together. She wanted him ever since she was 17 years old, and he’s wanted her just as long. The problem was always the timing or the current circumstances. But now they finally have a chance, and the town supports this by the plan wholeheartedly.

What about you? What is your favorite kind of setting when you’re reading romance?

*****

His to Keep

by Katee Robert

Blurb:

He’s always wanted her. Now’s his chance to claim what’s his.

School teacher Marceline Bellini gave up everything—men, sex, anything resembling a social life—to raise her young daughter. To be the perfect parent. But when she attends an engagement party in her standard stick-in-the-mud mode, her friends begin plying Marceline with shots. Just enough to convince her that a little fun doesn’t sound like a bad idea… and having some naughty fun is an even better one.

Like finding herself deliciously pressed against a dark alley wall by the very familiar and über-hot bod of her best friend’s older brother.

After years of waiting in painful silence, cop Aaron Robinson finally has Marceline’s attention. And man, does he have it. But nothing could have prepared either of them for the rush of fiery lust between them. So he’ll just have to convince Marceline he’s for real. And that a rainy, lust-fuelled romp is the first step to a lifetime of completely imperfect happiness…

Goodreads Amazon Barnes & Noble Entangled

Entangled Brazen:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrazenBooks

Twitter: @BrazenBooks Steals and Deals

*****

Author Info:

Katee Robert learned to tell stories at her grandpa’s knee. Her favorites then were the rather epic adventures of The Three Bears, but at age twelve she discovered romance novels and never looked back.

Though she dabbled in writing, life got in the way—as it often does—and she spent a few years traveling, living in both Philadelphia and Germany. In between traveling and raising her two wee ones, she had the crazy idea that she’d like to write a book and try to get published.

Her first novel was an epic fantasy that, God willing, will never see the light of day. From there, she dabbled in YA and horror, before finally finding speculative romance. Because, really, who wouldn’t want to write entire books about the smoking-hot relationships between two people?

She now spends her time—when not lost in Far Reach worlds—playing imaginary games with her wee ones, writing, ogling men, and planning for the inevitable zombie apocalypse.

Website Twitter Facebook Goodreads Newsletter

*****

Giveaway:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/1cb554333/

*****

Review:

Once again I was pleased by a novella that managed to give readers a complete story in under a hundred pages. I didn’t feel like I was missing anything and, even though it is part of a series, I didn’t feel like I was lost at any point (which is always nice). I always appreciate a story that has realistic characters, with believable story lines, and that doesn’t fill up a lot of pages with too much angst. Here we get a compact, but well-developed, story with characters that have their issues, work it out and find a way to be happy together.

Marcy is a little burned by her ex and the responsibilities she feels that being a mom carries. Aaron has that little sister’s friend thing going on but once he lets that go, he is all The Sexy you could want. I love that he actually put thought and care into his courtship. And it is obvious from the beginning that he has feelings for her (that, of course, he’s been fighting like any good hero does). Even with the smaller number of pages, Robert does a fantastic job of creating fleshed out characters with believable wants, needs and motivations.

His To Keep is a fun little read but since it’s a Brazen book it does get steamy so be prepared. Marcy and Aaron’s path to a HEA is both sweet and hot and will make you smile and sigh and laugh … and turn up your A/C.

*****

Click on the banner below to check out all of the stops on the tour!

Book Review – A March Bride

27 Sunday Apr 2014

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Book Review

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A March Bride, a Year of Weddings novella, Book Review, Rachel Hauck

In this sweet romance by award-winning author Rachel Hauck, royal wedding plans are in the air, but the bride is being asked to give up so much for her new life that her groom-to-be is worried she may not return from her most recent visit home.

A year’s worth of novellas from twelve inspirational romance authors. Happily ever after guaranteed.

Susanna has found her true prince, and their happily ever after is just around the corner. But when Nate asks her to give up something precious to her, Susanna can’t help but wonder if it’s a sign that their love is not meant to be.

Susanna Truitt (Once Upon A Prince) is three weeks from royalty. She’ll soon marry King Nathaniel II of Brighton Kingdom. But when the government insists she renounce her American citizenship before the wedding, coupled with the lack of involvement by family and friends, Susanna’s heart begins to doubt whether this marriage is God’s plan for her.

Nathaniel would do anything for his bride-to-be. But he knows his position requires that she give up a lot to be with him. Her life will never be her own-right down to her very identity. When she travels home to St. Simon’s Island, Georgia, right before the wedding, Nathaniel fears she won’t return. Gathering his courage, he devises a plan to win his bride all over again, and together they seek out a kingdom to treasure above all.

I thought Once Upon a Prince was fantastic and I’m happy to see a follow-up for Susanna and Nate. (There is a sequel Princess Ever After, which isn’t a continuation of their story like this one, but I will be reviewing that one in the future so keep an eye out.) It’s was nice to see what happened to them after they fought to be able to get married – the changes that have to be made and the sacrifices that Susanna has to make to marry a king. Like the first story, there is a little bit of political fighting in A March Bride but it wasn’t quite as prevalent as it was in OUaP, probably because this one is just a novella.

Instead we get two people who have fears about their future and how they address those. It’s very sweet and very real. Everyone has reason to doubt that they are doing the right thing when they make as momentous change as getting married, but for Susanna it is even bigger because it is on an international scale, in front of the press, and the world. And once she moves forward it is even more final because she’s marrying the life-time leader of a country – to go from small-town Georgia to queen is a big step and it would make anyone cautious.

Nate loves his bride-to-be and we get to see that he is once again will to fight for her and her happiness. He’s got a lot going on being king but he also knows the value of a good woman who will support him and love him for him. He also knows that if she won’t give up this last thing to be queen, he’ll either lose her or the crown. Once again, Hauk delivers Prince Charming (or I guess here it would be King Charming) and his actions to make Susanna happy are just wonderful.

It’s pretty much a must to have read Once Upon a Prince, but considering what a wonderful book it was I don’t think anyone should hesitate. If you dream of meeting your own Prince Charming or loved the idea of Prince William and Kate, then this is definitely the series for you. You can’t find a better hero than Nate … be prepared for him to once again sweep you off your feet.

Book Review – Come Home to Me

26 Saturday Apr 2014

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Book Review

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Book Review, Brenda Novak, Come Home to Me, Whiskey Creek series

Home is where her heart is

When Presley Christensen returns to Whiskey Creek with her little boy after two years away, she has completely changed her life. She’s made peace with her past and overcome the negative behavior that resulted from her difficult childhood. Now she’s back in the small town that was the closest thing to “home” she ever knew—the town where she can be with the sister who’s her only family.

There’s just one catch. Aaron Amos still lives in Whiskey Creek, at least until he moves to Reno to open a branch of the Amos brothers’ auto body shop. And no matter how hard she’s tried, Presley hasn’t been able to get over him. Seeing him again makes the longing so much worse. But she hopes she can get through the next few months, because she can’t fall back into his arms…or his bed. She’s come too far to backslide now. And there’s a secret she’s been guarding—a secret she’ll do anything to protect.

I’m going to say this and it breaks my heart, but I finally found a Whiskey Creek novel that I didn’t like more than the ones that came before it. I love the idea of this book – that these two could turn their lives around and get their acts together. And I totally understand why Presley didn’t tell Aaron that he was the father of her son. And I even understand why Aaron is so confused by the way that Presley is treating him. And in theory it all should make a really intriguing story … I just didn’t feel it this time. Maybe I just need to go back and read Dylan and Cheyenne’s story, When Snow Falls, so that I can see how Presley and Aaron’s relationship was then to get a better feel for the way thing play out here.

Unfortunately we spent more time seeing Presley try to push Aaron away that they don’t actually spend quality time together to develop a good, solid relationship. With just a couple of chapters to go she finally gives them a chance to date as a real couple but that time isn’t described because there are so few pages left. I wish we’d had a chance to see them have a grown up relationship, I wanted to see Aaron actually develop feelings for Presley instead of being jealous or territorial. I love the idea of his character so much, I wanted him to have a fantastic romance.

And I’m not sure where this plotline is going, but the side story with Cheyenne is so weird. I cannot see this ending well for anyone and I’m not sure I understand why it is necessary. I don’t want to spoil it for anyone that is going to read the story, but if you have to know go check out some of the Goodreads reviews because you’ll find out all about it in 2 seconds. I’ll reserve judgment until I see what Novak has planned but I really was stunned when it came up.

I will give Novak credit – she is an amazing writer. I may not have cared for this one but it is very smooth and has good flow. I’ll definitely be looking for the next one because I know the series itself is fantastic. And maybe that is the problem, I’m comparing a good story to the great ones that came before it.

Spotlight – Wild for Her Wingman

21 Monday Apr 2014

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Book Review, Contest

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Book Review, Robin Bielman, Secret Wishes series, Wild About Her Wingman

This morning we’re going to take another look at Robin Bielman’s Wild For Her Wingman. Y’all might remember that we did this one last week and it even included a guest blog and book review (which I’m including the review below in case you missed it). Today’s post includes a new giveaway straight from Robin, so make sure you enter! (And don’t forget to check out last week’s post if you haven’t already for more fun with Robin and visit all of the participating blogs on the tour listed in our tour schedule below.)

*****

Wild For Her Wingman

by Robin Bielman

Blurb:

Playing it safe never felt so risky.

Erin Watters is her small town’s resident wild child—she doesn’t do boring, and after having her heart annihilated, she definitely doesn’t do relationships. Her friends have other ideas, though, and when they throw down a matchmaking challenge, impulsive Erin can’t ignore it. Even when the annoyingly hot Troy Strieber accepts the matchmaker role…

As a rescue paramedic, Troy’s used to watching out for people. Never mind the bet he made with his buddy to play Erin’s wingman. But the more time he spends with the sexy, charismatic woman, the more he discovers a side of her she doesn’t let many see. Soon what started as an innocent game of matchmaking has them both thinking about the person right under their nose. But Troy’s a play-it-safe guy, and he won’t let a woman who lives for risk ever steal his heart.

Purchase links:

Amazon:http://amzn.to/1fvaM9W

Barnes & Noble:http://bit.ly/1kBmhgj

Kobo:http://bit.ly/1hwiwVB

iTunes:http://bit.ly/1hwiwF8

*****

Author Info:

Robin Bielman lives in Southern California with her high school sweetheart husband, two sons, and crazy-cute mini Labradoodle, Harry. When not attached to her laptop, she can almost always be found with her nose in a book. She also likes to run, hike, and dip her toes in the ocean. Filled with wanderlust, she longs to visit many different places and fulfill her curiosity. She wouldn’t mind indulging her sweet tooth in every location either. She’s a lover of sticky notes, cable television shows and coffee drinks. Writing is a dream come true, and she still pinches herself to be sure it’s real.

She writes contemporary and paranormal romance. Her Secret Wishes series includes Kissing the Maid of Honor, RITA Finalist Her Accidental Boyfriend, and Wild About Her Wingman. In July, 2014 her first single title paranormal romance, Veiled Target, will be released. She loves to connect with readers. Learn more about Robin and her books and sign up for her newsletter on her website at http://robinbielman.com.

Facebook: http://facebook.com/RobinBielmanWriter

Twitter: http://twitter.com/RobinBielman

Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/robinbielman

Site: http://robinbielman.com

*****

Giveaway:

Books Turn Me On Necklace – International shipping available

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/MjA4ZWI4ZWQ3NTUyM2VlYWJhMzFjOTYxNDNhZTI1OjgyMg==/

*****

Book Review:

The newest in Bielman’s “Secret Wishes” series, Wild About Her Wingman, is just as sweet and touching and engaging as Kissing the Maid of Honor and Her Accidental Boyfriend. Although it is not necessary to have read these books first, I loved them so much that I highly recommend it. Bielman delivers touching stories with a charming, witty style that makes them seem light-hearted at first but you quickly realize they have an amazing emotional depth that keeps you glued to the pages.

If you have read the previous stories, you know that we’ve met Erin and Troy before and that this trip to a HEA was inevitable. (Again, it isn’t necessary to have read those stories, you’ll easily keep up.) Erin is a bit of a daredevil on the outside but on the inside she’s very afraid to give her heart to a man. And for Troy, a tragedy in his past has convinced him that he needs a more down to earth partner. Both of them have very real and very understandable reasons for thinking a relationship between the two won’t work, but of course the heart has other plans.

These two have to be a couple of my favorite characters. Erin could have easily been unlikeable – she’s somewhat prickly and seriously confident and a little wild (although never reckless) and very closed off – but Bielman makes her very sympathetic and compelling. She’s complex and troubled but through the love of her friends and family she starts to open up more. Troy’s past has created a man who thinks he needs to play it safe and Erin definitely isn’t safe. He’s sweet, caring, funny and sexy. The interactions between the two as they slowly allow themselves to act on their attraction are deliciously fun and the ending brought a smile to my face as they finally figured out how they could get that HEA they both want so bad.

Entangled Publishing wants their Bliss line of books to be uplifting and heartwarming, reflecting the romantic troubles of modern couples, and I think that Wild About Her Wingman does it perfectly. Focusing on two compelling people, with a cast of engaging secondary characters, smart dialogue, and a riveting story, Bielman delivers another winner. She’s definitely going on my Not To Be Missed list.

*****

Tour Schedule:

4/14/2014 Book-Marks the Spot caughtinasnyderwebb.blogspot.com
4/14/2014 Caribbean Accent Book Reviews www.caribbeanaccentbookreviews.com
4/14/2014 Love To Read For Fun www.lovetoreadforfun.com

4/15/2014 Stitch Read Cook www.stitchreadcook.com
4/15/2014 Brooke Blogs www.brookeblogs.com

4/16/2014 Romancing the Book romancing-the-book.com
4/16/2014 Doing Some Reading doingsomereading.wordpress.com

4/17/2014 Rookie Romance rookieromance.blogspot.co.uk
4/17/2014 So Many Reads www.somanyreads.com

4/18/2014 Cheryl’s Book Nook cherylsbooknook.blogspot.com
4/18/2014 What I’m Reading sillymelody.blogspot.com

4/21/2014 Ex Libris www.stella-exlibris.com
4/21/2014 Romantic Reads and Such romanticreadsandsuch.wordpress.com
4/21/2014 Read Your Writes Book Reviews readyourwrites.blogspot.com

4/22/2014 Cocktails and Books www.cocktailsandbooks.com

4/23/2014 Belle’s Book Bag bellesbookbag.blogspot.com
4/23/2014 Reading Between the Wines Book Club www.readingbetweenthewinesbookclub.com

4/24/2014 Adria’s Romance Reviews adriasromancereviews.blogspot.com
4/24/2014 SOS Aloha www.sosaloha.blogspot.com

4/25/2014 The Romance Dish theromancedish.com
4/25/2014 Eclectic Passions eclecticpassionsbc.blogspot.com

Book Review – Happy Easter

20 Sunday Apr 2014

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Book Review

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Book Review, Lynn Messina, M Malone, One More Day, The Alexanders series, The Harlow Hoyden

Happy Easter everyone … unfortunately I was distracted by family events and didn’t get a book review up yesterday. So today, we’ll get a two for one special.

*****

Miss Emma Harlow hasn’t earned the reputation as a hoyden for nothing, so when the Duke of Trent discovers her in his conservatory stealing one of his orchids, he’s isn’t surprised—charmed, delighted and puzzled, yes, but not surprised. It is Emma who is amazed. She has naturally concluded that the man reading in the conservatory must be the country cousin (who else in London would actually read?) and is quite vexed to discover that he is the Duke of Trent himself—imagine, stealing the duke’s prize Rhyncholaelia digbyana under his very nose!

But her vexation doesn’t last long. For Emma is a practical young lady with a mission: to end her dear sister Lavinia’s engagement to the villainous (and dreadfully dull!) Sir Waldo Windbourne, and she thinks that the famous libertine is just the man for the job. If he would only seduce her sister away from Sir Waldo…. Well, not seduce exactly, but flirt mercilessly and engage her interest. Perhaps then Lavinia would jilt the baron. The Duke of Trent is resistant, of course. Despite his reputation, he does not toy with the affections of innocents. And besides, it’s not her sister he longs to seduce.

The misfit is one of my favorite character types and Emma is as misfitty as they come. She’s strong willed, smart, impetuous, and blunt – definitely not your typical Ton lady. I really enjoyed getting to know her because, while her thoughts might be different than the norm, they are logical and make a lot of sense. She’s amusing, especially when she doesn’t mean to be, but has a huge heart for those she loves. Most especially her sister. Her plan to have Trent flirt with her might not have been well thought out but it was made with love.

Trent, like most historical romance bachelors, isn’t in the market for a wife but that doesn’t mean everyone else isn’t looking for one for him. And while he is content with his life the way it is, one meeting with Emma throws that out the window. He’s strong of mind and body, smart, caring and open-minded especially for the time. He’s quickly enthralled with Emma, even if he doesn’t want to be, and it is a quick slide from there to their happy ending.

Not to say there isn’t some trouble along the way. Getting rid of Sir Waldo isn’t that easy and it definitely leads to quite an adventure. You definitely can’t be a stickler for the authenticity of the time with The Harlow Hoyden but then again I’m not reading historical romances for a history lesson. I want the romance and it delivers that in spades. It’s fun and humorous and love wins out, so who could ask for anything more!

*****

Ridley Wells has no idea what to do with her life now that she’s graduated from college. But when a friend is murdered and her apartment is trashed, she runs to the only person she trusts, her twin sister. No one will think to look for her in the rinky-dink Virginia town of New Haven.

Of course, her luck lands her passed out in the grass in front of resident bad boy, music producer Jackson Alexander. Strike 1! Then she realizes Raina’s out of the country and she has nowhere else to go. Strike 2!

So when the handsome producer with the platinum smile mistakes her for her sister, she gets an idea.

Where better to hide than in plain sight?

WARNING: This book contains cloak and dagger intrigue, family drama, brothers fighting, supermodels with attitude and hot sex between people who can’t keep their hands off each other. Just saying…

I really like the third book in this series, He’s the Man, and I was super excited to give this one a try. And while it was good, it wasn’t quite as good. I’m not good with deception romances and while I understand why Ridley did what she did, I also think that she should take the consequences that goes along with lying. At one point Jackson doubts her and she gets upset, which is understandable because she thought their relationship was on better footing than that, but she also needs to understand that he has good reason to have doubts.

They mystery around who killed her friend is very intriguing and plays out very well. I was hooked and was anxious to see how it all tied together. And I really liked getting to know the other Alexanders a little better. I’ve read the prologue to the series, Teasing Trent, and book 3, He’s the Man, so it was like coming home to see them again. It didn’t even really bother me that I read them out of order because Matt’s story only involves the Alexanders a little bit. Most of it is about him and Penny.

I’m going to read All I Need is You, book 4 in the series, and see how I like it. I’m curious, since I liked the mystery so much, if it was just the lying that threw me off. If that sort of thing doesn’t bother you, then I highly suggest giving One More Day a shot based on how much I enjoyed the others that I’ve read by Malone.

Guest Post – Wild About Her Wingman

16 Wednesday Apr 2014

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Book Review, Contest

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Book Review, Robin Bielman, Secret Wishes series, Wild About Her Wingman

This morning the wonderfully fun Robin Bielman is paying us a visit and she’s talking about why her newest hero is extra sexy, then she shares about her new book. I had the pleasure of getting an advance copy (thanks Robin!) and I have to say it is fantastic … but I’m a little biased because I loved the earlier books in the series. And I definitely agree that rescue paramedics are hot, especially Mr Troy.

I’ve also included my review below so once you take a peek at Wild About Her Wingman make sure you check it out too.

*****

Hi Julie! Thanks so much for having me here on Romantic Reads and Such. I’m so happy to be visiting with you and your readers and be a guest blogger today.

In my latest Secret Wishes novel, WILD ABOUT HER WINGMAN, my hero Troy is a rescue paramedic. He’s passionate about helping people, about keeping them safe. When it comes to Erin, the girl he’s playing wingman and matchmaker for—and the girl he continually butts heads with—he’ll do what’s right for her. Even if it means ignoring the fact that she makes him feel things he swore to keep at bay.

Troy’s an outdoor junkie who loves the adrenaline rush of rock climbing and sky diving, but he’s also the do-good boy next door who plays it safe. A guy I hope readers will fall in love. In fact, I think there are lots of good reasons to love rescue paramedics.

Six Reasons to Love Rescue Paramedics

They put others before themselves. These guys have no fear and will protect at any cost. They don’t panic in an emergency and are quick-thinking. Never give up, is their motto.
Green is their favorite Lifesaver candies color. (Get it? Life savers. hee hee)
They are experts in the area of mouth-to-mouth. 🙂
Paramedics know life is precious and shouldn’t be taken for granted, so they live life to the fullest. They’ll take you on the greatest adventure of your life and they understand the importance of partnership and commitment.
These guys are Safety Studs and can help you danger-proof your life. They’re also wickedly good with first aid. Cut your finger? A paramedic will treat your wound and then kiss you to make it all better.
They have strong hands. Strong everything, really. They’re physically up to any task you throw at them. And they always maintain their, um, equipment.

So there you have it, my reasons to adore rescue paramedics. What’s one of your favorite qualities in a romance hero?

*****

Wild About Her Wingman

By Robin Bielman

Blurb:

Playing it safe never felt so risky.

Goodreads Amazon Barnes & Noble Entangled

Entangled Bliss:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlissImprint

Twitter: @RomanceIsBliss

Steals and Deals

*****

Author Info:

Robin Bielman lives in Southern California with her high school sweetheart husband, two sons, and crazy-cute mini Labradoodle, Harry. When not attached to her laptop, she can almost always be found with her nose in a book. She also likes to run, hike, and dip her toes in the ocean. Filled with wanderlust, she longs to visit many different places and fulfill her curiosity. She wouldn’t mind indulging her sweet tooth in every location either. She’s a lover of sticky notes, cable television shows and café mochas. Writing is a dream come true, and she still pinches herself to be sure it’s real.

Her Secret Wishes series includes Kissing the Maid of Honor and Her Accidental Boyfriend. Her other novels include Worth the Risk, Risky Surrender and Yours At Midnight. She loves to connect with readers. Learn more and sign up for her newsletter on her website at http://robinbielman.com.

WebsiteBlog Twitter Facebook Goodreads Newsletter

*****

Giveaway:

Three (3) Make-A-Wish necklaces.

May all your wishes come true with this small Glass Vial Dandelion seed Make-A-Wish necklace!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/1cb554310/

*****

Book Review:

*****

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Book Review – Falling for the Wingman

13 Sunday Apr 2014

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Book Review

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Book Review, Crista McHugh, Falling for the Wingman, Kelly Brothers series

Air Force pilot Caleb Kelly has come back home with one mission in mind—to propose to the woman whose letters and lucky charm helped him survive his deployment in Afghanistan. But when he finds their apartment empty with a note saying she’s left him, he arrives at her mother’s house in rural Alabama less than a week before Kourtney is about to marry another man. Now he’s out to win her heart again and gets some unexpected assistance from her younger sister, Alex.

Alex Leadbetter has always thought Caleb was too good for her manipulative, social-climbing sister. She had assumed Kourtney’s identity to write letters to him and keep his spirits up until he returned home to the hard truth, never expecting to fall in love with him along the way. After he shows up in town, she convinces him that the best way to get Kourtney back is to make her think he’s fallen for someone new — her. But when a fake romance becomes all too real, her deception may leave them both grounded.

I’ve not read any of the other Kelly Brothers books – I’ve seen them, thought about it, but didn’t get around to picking one up. I think I might have been missing out. I really like McHugh’s style – it’s smooth, easy-to-read, and engaging. The characters were very normal, like someone you would know in real life, and their issues were quite understandable.

Alex is a little different than the rest of her family but she’s found her niche in the world. She may have more grease on her hands than makeup on her face, but it makes her happy. Her relationship with Caleb makes her happy too … except that he doesn’t know it is her.

It may seem a little icky to go after your sister’s ex (I’m an only child so I don’t know) but the way their relationship develops, plus the lack of a close bond between the sisters, makes it pretty believable. It also might be a little strange that Caleb moves on from Kourtney so quickly but he’s been gone a long time and their relationship wasn’t very deep before he left. It’s the emails that made the difference and those came from Alex … he just doesn’t know it.

I’m not usually a fan of deception romances but this one worked for me. I liked the characters and how they got to know each other a little better. It is a little fast but there is a foundation already in place but … say it with me, he just doesn’t know it.

Book Review – When We Met

12 Saturday Apr 2014

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Book Review, Fool's Gold series, Susan Mallery, When We Met

This one isn’t out yet, but I was too excited to wait!

*****

New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery invites you back to Fool’s Gold, where a newcomer to town might finally meet the man she never knew she needed…

Angel Whittaker earned his scars the hard way, but the scars that can’t be seen are the ones that haunt him the most. Since he moved to Fool’s Gold, California, he’s cobbled together a life for himself as a bodyguard trainer. If he’s not exactly happy, at least his heart is safe.

Working with pro-football superstars taught tough-talking PR woman Taryn Crawford one thing—she can go toe-to-toe with any man. But then dark, dangerous former Special Ops Angel targets her for seduction…and challenges her to resist his tempting kisses.

Even in four-inch heels, Taryn never backs down. Unless, somehow, Angel can convince her that surrender might feel even better than victory.

If you’ve read any of the other Fool’s Gold books you kinda know the plan – two people who had no intention of falling in love fall in love, one of them runs scared (usually him), there’s a love fest night with alcohol and sisterly love to offer comfort and bash the guy, then the guy comes to his sense and they live happily ever after. BUUUUT if you’ve read any of the other Fool’s Gold books then you know it is a magical journey every single time, regardless if you know what to expect. Plus, Taryn can’t do anything quite like everyone else … absolutely best love fest ever! She’s got to be one of my favorite characters.

And I so want to raid her closet! She had a very rough start to life but she’s making up for now with awesome style and a lot of sass. She’s strong, smart, and caring, but her past has definitely left scars when it comes to men and love. She’s made a family for herself with the guys at Score but there’s still that intimate part of her life that is lacking.

Angel hasn’t exactly had an easy go of it either. We’ve gotten to know him a little bit as we’ve been there with the other members of the bodyguard school as they fell in love, but now we get a little bit more on why he’s as closed off as he is. It’s a tragic story but with the love of a strong woman, and best of all a sweet troop of little girls, he’s starting to open up a little. It’s not a smooth journey (it never is), but it is a touching one and I devoured every page.

Like all of Mallery’s stories, this isn’t just about the hero and heroine. We get little updates on previous couples, plus a look at future stories. And I have to say that I absolutely adore Taryn’s Boys. She might treat those football players like unruly children (and sometimes they are) but they have big hearts and troubles of their own. Two of them are getting books in the next couple of months and I’m sure the third won’t be far behind (if not actually right along with the others). I definitely can say I’ll be first in line for all of them! (As always, you don’t have to read all of the stories in order and you can definitely start right here … but with fantastic stories like these, I’m not sure why you wouldn’t want to get them all.)

Mallery is a master at giving her readers The Cute mixed in with a lot of The Heart and spicing it up with The Funny and When We Metis a prime example. It never fails that she makes me laugh and cry and rant and smile and love every single minute of it. If you like small town charm, quirky characters, snappy dialogue, and tender love stories, you can’t miss with a Fool’s Gold romance.

Guest Blog – Ripe For Trouble

11 Friday Apr 2014

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Book Review, Sneak Peek

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Autumn Piper, Book Review, Ripe For Trouble

I’m super excited that we are hosting Autumn Piper this morning as she gives a little insight into her newest book Ripe For Trouble. She was nice enough to give me an advance copy so I’m sharing my thoughts on the story as well. Happy Friday!

*****

Hometown Do-Over: Back for More, or Oh, Heck No?

For some people, their teenage/high school years were their glory days. Others are happy that time is behind them. For most of us, the memories are a mashup of good and God-please-let-me-forget.

Maybe because teenage romance is involved, homecoming stories are fraught with angst, humor and often, revenge. Going back to one’s hometown usually means strife from close contact with family members, but it could also involve running into any number of people: old teachers, friends, that one special…nemesis. Or, perhaps, an old flame.

As a writer, I love the fertile ground of the “going home” theme. Maybe because I’ve been both the person living in her birth town as an adult, and also the person who left (three times I moved out of state and still end up back here!).

So. If you’ve moved away from your hometown (and stayed away), would you go back there if you could?

In Ripe for Trouble, Ivy not only goes back to her hometown; she moves back there. This is an act of true bravery, because she never fit in with her classmates. So now she has to face her old fears, her old nickname, and also an old crush.

Things don’t go so well when they meet up again for the first time. She’s just come up behind and overheard him and a friend rehearsing cheesy pickup lines:

EXCERPT:

So this was what life looked like from under the bus.

Ridley cleared his throat and turned to face the pumpkin patch goddess.

Her hands were on her hips, her eyes narrowed. “You!”

“You,” he repeated. Couldn’t be. Of course it was. “Ivy? Ivy League—er, Leeds.” The girl who’d gotten away had returned.

She curled her lip, kept those eyes squinted on him. “Well, well. If it isn’t Ridley Tucker. So you graduated from using crappy pickup lines on every female in sight, to using them on guys now?”

They were just…goofing around. And she was the same too-good-for-him snot as always. He lifted his chin. “Looks like you graduated from Princeton so you could be a pumpkin farmer in Rifle, Colorado.”

“Yale.” If her eyes narrowed any more, she wouldn’t be able to see the light of day. But hey, at least he’d managed to make her turn red. And at least she wasn’t hiding her eyes behind those giant glasses like she had in school. “I’m here helping my uncle for the weekend, and I have a job in town starting Monday.” Probably some fancy-pants lawyer going to court against a big company or something. “It’s good to see you didn’t end up in prison.” She looked him up and down, probably surprised to see him in new, clean jeans with no holes and a real white t-shirt meant to be worn alone, instead of a wife-beater. “I better get back to work. Please let me know if I can be of any assistance.” Her words said she’d help if he needed it, but her tone said she’d help him rot in hell if she could. She turned and strode away.

Sweet Jesus. She did not have an ass like that in high school. Same eyes, though. Like a clear sky on a warm September day up on the flattops. She’d definitely improved since her school days.

“Struck out, huh?” Miguel crossed his arms over his chest, and watched her walk. “Too bad. But you’re not givin’ up, right?”

Ridley blew a raspberry. “We…kinda know each other. Graduated together.”

“Yeah, buddy! Guaranteed score. Now you’re the rich guy with a TV show. You told her about the show, right?”

He shook his head. No point in playing that card. To Ivy Leeds, the smartest good-girl Rifle High had ever turned out, he’d always be Ridley Tucker, the fringe wannabe with a minor juvie record and unemployed parents who spent their days at the corner bar. She was right; it was amazing he hadn’t ended up in prison.

*****

RIPE FOR TROUBLE

by Autumn Piper

Blurb:

The biggest mistake she didn’t quite make just sauntered back into her life.

When Ivy Leeds takes a publicity job in her hometown, few things have changed…but Ridley, the bad boy of her graduating class, has cleaned up his act. Or so everyone else thinks. After hearing him and his friend practicing pickup lines, she has her doubts.

Ridley Tucker can hardly believe his eyes when Ivy, the president of the Brainiac Club, comes back to town. Some things never change—she’ll barely give him the time of day, and she still looks as good as she did that night at Prom.

Living in a small town means avoiding someone is nearly impossible, and those most worthy of avoidance turn up in such awkward places…

Content Warning: High school flame revisited plus reformed bad-boy equals combustion suitable for adults only.

*****

Author Info:

Born and raised in itty-bitty Rifle, Colorado, Autumn Piper studiously avoided trouble…but is now inclined toward it, particularly in her novels. She thinks the best things in life are funny, and the runners-up, romantic.

An admitted carb addict, Autumn writes, edits, manages two teenagers, one husband and many supersize houseplants, and does the cooking and cleaning when forced to.

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*****

Review:

I have to say that I really needed this book to be longer. I love the idea of it but there is SO much potential here. It’s one of those cases where I really liked the characters but I wanted to know more about them. We get a brief explanation of their history but it has so much more that could be explored. We also get a glimpse at them now, how they are different from before, but again there is so much potential on the transformation.

For a snapshot in time, though, it is great. At 35 pages, it is a very fast read and fun. I felt for both of them because they have that horrible history to overcome. And, although I totally understand where Ivy is coming from, I really wanted her to give Ridley a break. It’s been a long time since high school and he could have changed. I think a conversation or two with a local would have helped the situation … but then there wouldn’t have been a story.

Ridley seems sweet and honest and like he’s turned his life around. This is one of those places where I really wished we had more pages – I’m assuming that becoming a dad helped with that transition. His son is absolutely adorable and the love they share is so cute.

Ripe for Trouble is cute and fun and the perfect read when you’ve got about an hour to kill. You’ll get through it quickly and be looking for more.

*****

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