Book Review – Royal Scandal

17 Friday Feb 2017

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Book Review

Tags

Book Review, Marquita Valentine, Royal Scandal, Royals in Exile series

Royal Scandal

A Royals in Exile Novel

by Marquita Valentine

Fairy tales do come true—and so do tabloid scandals! Bestselling author Marquita Valentine kicks off a juicy contemporary romance series with a novel about a prince whose best-laid plans go deliciously awry when he marries the maid next door.

Forced to flee to the United States with his siblings after their parents’ assassination, Crown Prince Colin Sinclair takes it upon himself to become the caretaker of his family while hiding out near Charlotte, North Carolina. But after a decade in hiding, the secret’s out and Parliament demands that Colin wed a princess of their choosing. Unwilling to play their game, Colin decides to marry an American instead, and he has the perfect candidate in mind.

As a home-service professional, Della Hughes doesn’t believe in storybook endings. But when her best friend and secret crush reveals that he’s a flesh-and-blood prince, she doesn’t know what to think. Still, she’ll do anything for Colin, including becoming his wife—in name only, of course. But when their plans to stay purely platonic go by the wayside, their fake honeymoon turns all too real. After a week of white-hot nights, Della can no longer deny her feelings—not with a happily ever after so tantalizingly close.

Y’all, I absolutely LOVED Valentine’s Take the Fall series and was super excited that she was starting a new one (especially with a prince!) And she definitely didin’t disappoint.

The friendship between Colin and Della is fantastic. It’s so sweet how she’s there to help him as he struggles to keep his family together. She’s that understanding, mother figure that the family needs and the support he especially needs. Of course, there’s more going on between them than either of them is willing to own up to, plus quite a few secrets on both sides. Which, understandably, means that their fake relationship is going to be anything but smooth sailing. Things definitely get a little messy along the way (not too drama laden though thankfully), but they’ve got a strong enough bond amongst them all that they’ll figure it out somehow.

Over the course of the book we’re given a little glimpse of the royal intrigues (and at just how screwy the Sinclair parents were) but more importantly we get a few chances to learn about the Sinclair siblings. Each of them is sure to have a story coming up and I’ll be waiting with bells on! Valentine is such a deft story teller that she’d make even the phone book an enjoyable read, but with this group she’s got the material to make things really juicy and fun 🙂

Book Review – Sauvignon Blanc to Sigh For

15 Wednesday Feb 2017

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

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Book Review, Love in Wine Country series, Pamela Gibson, Sauvignon Blanc to Sigh For

Today we’ve got a couple of friends falling in love to make your heart happy … and some delicious wine & yummy food to tickle the taste buds too!

*****

Sauvignon Blanc to Sigh For

Love in Wine Country #4

by Pamela Gibson

Releasing February 13, 2017

Self-Published

Blurb:

Sarah James has always wanted to be part of a family. Her divorced parents are estranged and she has no siblings. But she does have friends, especially Sam, who’s always underfoot…eating her food, fixing stuff in her house, and seeking advice about his love life.

Aspiring winemaker Sam Reynoso has taken care of Sarah since the sixth grade. She’s smart, comfortable, and indulgent. They’re best friends until a wine and food pairing competition throws them together in an intimate, tension-filled setting.

As feelings neither of them expected start to emerge, each will have to decide if their relationship will evolve, or if their newfound love will be nipped in the bud by a crushing secret.

Goodreads Series Link https://www.goodreads.com/series/159125-love-in-wine-country

Buy Links: AMAZON | B & N | ITUNES | KOBO

*****

Excerpt:

Sarah hopped off the couch, fists clenched. “Are you out of your freakin’ mind? I’m not doing this. I’m going to Sea Ranch or Morro Bay or Santa Barbara…somewhere with a beach.”

“But this is a great opportunity, Sarah. The judges are enologists and wine and food raters from the big magazines. Even if we don’t win, we can get our talents in front of people who can make things happen for us.”

“We? I don’t want to be a chef. I’m a planner. A damn good one.”

He swiped his fingers over his hair. “You hate the politics. You know you’re a gourmet cook. This is a great chance for you as well as me.”

She planted her hands on her hips and glared. “No. No. No.”

“Why are you being like this?”

She raised her voice. “We’re not a couple. You said this is for couples. To me that means married or engaged. Now eat your cobbler, and I’ll go in the kitchen and make coffee.”

“How can you say that? We’ve been a couple since we were kids. Our friendship is probably stronger than most marriages.”

“But this implies a committed relationship. It would be dishonest.” She stood her ground, but he had a point. If it didn’t specifically say engaged or married, they’d technically qualify.

He hung his head and looked up at her through those lashes most women would kill for. “Uh, Sarah? I already signed us up.”

“What?” she shrieked. “Sam, I can’t believe you did this. I could just…just…this is exactly what you do, every time. Take over and do what you want, and don’t even bother to think about the person you‘re going to rope into your latest scheme. No.”

“It’s only a week. You can have the second week all to yourself.” He got up and stood in front of her, so close she had to look up at him. “Can’t you pretend that we’re more than friends for a week? I know you love me.”

“Yes…like a brother…a big, overgrown, aggravating, controlling, nuisance of a brother.”

“But you’ll do it.”

“No.” She looked up at him and knew instantly why women fell at his feet. His shoulders were immense, and the light stubble on his face made him look dangerous. But the heat in his eyes could melt rocks in an iceberg.

He put his hands on her shoulders and pulled her toward him. It was a brotherly hug, one they’d shared often. “Think about it. I’ve paid the fee, but I can stand to lose it.”

“How much was it?” She murmured against his chest.

“Two grand.”

Two thousand dollars? She pushed him away and faced the kitchen.

*****

Review:

I’m gonna have to admit that I really didn’t get into this book very much until about half way through. I actually started to change my post from a review to just an excerpt but I decided to set it down for a bit and try again. And I’m glad I did.

I like the friendship between Sarah and Sam. They seem to complement each other pretty well (although it does seem a little like she just rolls over for whatever he wants, but as long as she’s happy doing it …. ) Of course, he may have pushed her too far with his latest stunt – asking her to pretend to be a couple for a wine competition. But even worse when he kinda insults her by saying no one would ever think she’d be someone he’d go for. He had to know that wasn’t going to go over well as soon as he said it!

Of course it doesn’t, which leads t a make-over for her and the obligatory requirement that he sees her in a new way. It’s a little cliched but that doesn’t mean it isn’t enjoyable. There’s a lot of time spent with them misunderstanding the changes in their feelings (which is one of the reasons I put it aside) but I can see where it would be hard to suddenly start thinking of your best friend romantically. But things definitely heat up, in more than one way, when they finally start thinking in those terms.

There’s a lot of back and forth on their friendship before they even get to that point. And then there are a couple of misunderstandings that have to be worked out. And they’ve definitely got to work out their dynamic as a couple because it isn’t good for him to run wild and just expect her to come along for the ride. It’s a good journey though as they work their way from friends to lovers to a HEA ending … with a few bumps in the way for fun!

(This is the first in this series that I’ve read but I’m not sure it really made much of a difference. The story seemed complete to me, so I’m gonna go with no 🙂 )

*****

Author Info:

Pamela Gibson grew up loving books, history, and small towns. Her first career was a newspaper reporter, but when she returned to college to get a master’s degree, it was in public administration which eventually led to jobs running cities…not as an elected official, but as a city manager, the chief appointed one.

Writing was still her passion and in her spare time—between meetings and raising two active kids—she was contracted to write several books on local history. Taking an early retirement at the urging of her very supportive husband, she turned to fiction and began writing the happy ending novels she loves to read.

She now spends half her time on land and the other half cruising coastal or inland waters in her 32-foot boat. She speed-eats chocolates when she’s nervous, squeals when she sees a spider, and loves to relax with a good read with a mellow glass of wine.

Author Links: WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS

*****

Giveaway:

a 27- piece GODIVA Dark-Chocolate Gift Box, and a Bottle of HONIG Sauvignon Blanc. (For States that DO NOT allow shipping of Alcohol, the winner will receive an Amazon eGift Card in the amount of wine) *Giveaway Entrants must be 21 years of age or older

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/521ac4c81222/

*****

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Book Review – Close to Home

14 Tuesday Feb 2017

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

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Book Review, Close to Home, Lily Everett, Sanctuary Island series

Happy Valentine’s Day, y’all! Today, we’ve got a sweet second chance romance that I’m thrilled to get to share with you.

*****

Close to Home

Sanctuary Island series

by Lily Everett

St. Martin’s Paperbacks

February 7, 2017

$7.99

978-1-250-07405-8

Blurb:

Have you ever fought to put the pieces of a broken relationship back together? In her latest Sanctuary Island novel, Lily Everett’s characters struggle to do just that. Everett tells a beautifully woven story of hope, second chances, and ultimately, true love.

The best journeys take us home….

When Tessa Alexander came to Sanctuary Island, she left behind a marriage to a man who didn’t love her the way she loved him. When she finally found the strength to set them both free, she discovered friendship and self-acceptance in her adopted hometown. Now she’s settled into a quiet life on her own—never expecting to see her husband again.

Johnny spent almost two years deep undercover, unable to let his wife into his cold, dangerous world. He’s shaken to the core when he comes home to find her gone. It’s painfully clear that Tessa is no longer the timid young woman he married—she’s become a force of nature, a brave and determined beauty. Johnny can’t let her go without a fight so he sets out to seduce his own wife. But will passion alone be enough to convince Tessa that her new life should include a second chance at happiness with a man who must learn to believe in love?

AMAZON | B&N | INDIEBOUND | IBOOKS | KOBO

PRAISE FOR LILY EVERETT

“I didn’t read this book, I inhaled it. An incredible story of love, forgiveness, healing, and joy.” — Debbie Macomber, #1 New York Times bestselling author, on Sanctuary Island

“Well written and emotionally satisfying. I loved it! A rare find.” — Lori Wilde, New York Times bestselling author, on Sanctuary Island

“A heartwarming, emotional, extremely romantic story that I couldn’t read fast enough! Enjoy your trip to Sanctuary Island! I guarantee you won’t want to leave.” —Bella Andre, New York Times bestselling author of The Sullivan series, on Sanctuary Island

*****

Excerpt:

Physical awareness flickered to life between them. Johnny felt the heavy beat of his blood, the sudden tightness in his jeans. Turning her hand under his, he stroked his thumb over the thin, tender skin at the in- side of her wrist where her pulse fluttered. She filled his mind, his entire consciousness. There was noth- ing but Tessa.

“You want more, honey? All you have to do is ask.”

She shivered, her eyes darkening as desire blew her pupils wide. Lips parting, Tessa stretched up on her toes over the horse’s back and Johnny didn’t care about the thousand-pound animal between them—he had to get his mouth on her, right now.

Spearing his hands into the short wisps of hair at the back of her neck, Johnny leaned in and kissed her.

The rest of the world fell away, leaving nothing behind but Tessa’s sugar-sweet mouth, the high, sur- prised noises she made in the back of her throat, the clutch of her fingers in the collar of his jacket as she pulled him closer.

He hadn’t kissed her since that first day. He hadn’t wanted to push her, or to make her think all he was interested in was sex.

That was a mistake. He should have been kissing her every day. Every minute.

Clover took a step forward, jolting them out of their embrace. The horse looked curiously over his shoul- der as Tessa started to laugh. It was the laugh Johnny had seen for the first time through the bakery window, full throated and joyous, with Tessa’s head thrown back in abandon.

Overcome with the need to seize this moment, Johnny grabbed the currycomb and threw it in the bucket before rounding the horse to snag his wife by the hand. Tessa looked up at him, breath coming in fast pants and eyes glazed, pliantly following where he led. It was all Johnny could do not to take her down to the sawdust-covered floor and hope Clover was smart enough not to step on them.

No. Tessa was untouched. She’d been waiting for this for a long time—and her first time wasn’t going to be a literal roll in the hay. But that didn’t mean either of them could stand to wait until they found a bed.

He reached for enough patience to get out of the stall and latch the door behind them. Dumping the bucket of grooming tools by the stall door, Johnny tugged Tessa by the wrist down the barn corridor to an empty stall he’d noticed earlier. It was unoccupied, completely clear of hay except for a few pieces strewn here and there, and Johnny backed Tessa into it for a little privacy. She went willingly enough, although he could see her brain starting to come back online, awareness of what they were doing starting to show in her eyes.

If he were a good man, he’d back off and let the sexual tension clear from the air between them. Tessa, who’d had so few choices in her life, deserved to make a real choice about this, one not clouded by overwhelming sensations. Johnny was at least a good enough man to vow not to take her here and now. He was relieved to find that he still had limits.

But that didn’t mean he could stop himself from providing Tessa with a damn good argument for why she should choose him.

Why she should choose them.

One smooth step forward had Tessa pressed up against the rough wood of the wall, his hand coming up to cup the back of her head and keep her from hurt- ing herself. He never wanted her to feel a moment’s pain, not if he could help it.

A soft smile pulled at her mouth. She turned her head far enough to nuzzle his arm, her gaze steady on his even as her cheeks flushed deep pink. She was irresistible. Johnny dipped his head, sipping kisses from her lips, small and sweet and playful to make her sigh. Her neck stretched, so vulnerably naked with- out the covering of her long, brown hair. The fingers of his free hand had to pet down the pale, slender length of it.

Tessa sighed into his lips, a breath with a hint of moan underneath—enough to vibrate through her throat against the sensitive tips of his fingers and reverberate through Johnny’s own chest. Hunger throbbed and ached between his legs, heavily undeni- able, but he ignored it for the moment. This was about Tessa. Tessa’s pleasure, Tessa’s awakening, Tessa’s beautiful, beloved, familiar-but-new body.

With a last swipe of his tongue across her plush lower lip, Johnny dragged his mouth from hers to nip his way down her throat to the juncture of her shoulder. He paused there to suckle at the soft skin, pulling up a mark that sent a heated pulse of posses- sion through him. Satisfaction rumbled in his chest as he trailed his hand from her neck to follow the path of his mouth lower, and then lower still. She shuddered when he reached the full roundness of her breasts.

Hungry for more but unwilling to expose her in this semipublic place, Johnny’s fingers shaped her through her thin sweater. He loved the way she shivered and peaked up, tightening into a bud he could feel . . . and needed to taste.

Johnny contented himself with wetting the fabric over the hard tip of her breasts, rubbing the knit weave of her sweater over the sensitive skin before enclos- ing her in warmth and pulling strongly enough to make her moan. High-pitched and shocked, the sounds Tessa let loose made Johnny groan with the need to restrain himself.

He knelt on the hard-packed dirt floor in front of her, forehead pressed to her softly rounded belly as he panted and worked to get control of the passion that wanted to run away with them both.

“Don’t stop,” she begged in a heated whisper he felt in every fiber of his body.

Johnny tilted his head up to meet her stare. Red- cheeked and wide-eyed, Tessa stared down at him. She looked nervous, excited, turned on—but she didn’t look as if she were too overwhelmed to make a real choice. Her eyes were clear.

He still didn’t want her first time to be in a barn. She deserved better than that. But there were many firsts for Tessa to enjoy, and Johnny could give her one right here.

*****

Review:

I love the idea of Tessa finding herself while Johnny’s undercover for the ATF and away from home for almost two years. Granted, I think it is a horrible thing to have just left him but I totally get why that was the only way she could do it. She loves her husband but because of the way they got together, and what she thinks is a lack of romantic interested on his part, she can’t stay. Being face to face with him as the woman she used to be, with her feelings and insecurities, she would never have been able to leave.

But Sanctuary Island works its magic and in the year she’s been there she has totally come into her own. She’s a strong woman who is able to stand on her own two feet, support herself, make friends and be confident in what she wants. Then he walks back into her life, looking all sexy and protective … and hurt and wanting her back. He’s going to be hard to resist 🙂

Johnny’s only thought after finishing his latest assignment is to get home to his wife, the one person who can help him center himself in real life. Unfortunately she’s left and he knows he’ll be lost until he gets her back. Luckily he’s got time as his job has mandated some therapy in the same town she’s moved to and he takes the opportunity to convince Tessa to give them a chance to save their marriage. And he’s nothing if not dedicated to his cause. He’s going to take that time to win over the new woman his wife has become.

The growth that both of these people undergo thanks to their time on Sanctuary Island, both individually and, luckily, back to each other is awesome. Tessa’s had already happened but thru Johnny getting to know his wife better we get to see what that transformation actually meant. And while Johnny’s journey isn’t quite over, by the end he’s found himself on a path that works for him. It takes a strong man to open up and expose himself to someone else and Johnny does it beautifully and even more so for acknowledging that it’s a process that needs to continue.

Close to Home is a heartwarming second chance romance full of the hope for new beginnings.

(While this is a good place to start (no real ties to previous books) and Tessa and Johnny’s story is complete (and fabulous), the story doesn’t technically stand on its own. There are whole bits of it that set up the next story, Home at Last. So, you have to ask yourself – am I prepared to read the next book or am I OK with that bit of unfinished business … since Everett is such a fantastic writer I’m pretty sure I know which it is going to be!)

*****

Author Info:

LILY EVERETT is the author of the Sanctuary Island series for St. Martin’s Press. She grew up in a small town in the foothills of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains and now resides in Austin, Texas, where she writes full-time.

SMP ROMANCE SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

Twitter: @SMPRomance

Facebook: @SMPRomance

http://smpromance.com/

*****

Book Review – A Millionaire at Midnight

13 Monday Feb 2017

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

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

A Millionaire at Midnight, Bachelor Auction series, Book Review, Naima Simone

We’ve seen one of these already with The Millionaire Makeover and I’m super excited that I was able to get my hands on another one!

*****

A Millionaire at Midnight

Bachelor Auction, #4

by Naima Simone

Publication Date: February 13, 2017

Genres: Adult, Entangled: Indulgence, Contemporary Romance

Blurb:

Boston socialite Morgan Lett is having a run of bad luck. Her fiancé just dumped her for her stepsister, the charity foundation she’s given her life to is in danger of folding, and now, the gorgeous man she bid on and won at a masquerade bachelor auction turns out to be a cold-hearted jerk…and her new employer.

Millionaire Alexander Bishop needs the best wife money can buy. In order to inherit his family business, he must get engaged—fast. And Morgan, with her beauty and pedigree, is the perfect candidate. Her sharp tongue may drive him crazy, but she needs money to save the foundation she loves, and he needs a fiancée. It’s a flawless arrangement—no strings, no love. But soon she has him craving more, and cursing the platonic terms of their agreement.

Still, he won’t allow need—no matter how hot it burns—to threaten everything he’s built.

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2lwlmbm

Paperback: http://amzn.to/2lwpcl3

Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2kxZ98L

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2lD7XLv

Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2kxPAH0

B&N: http://bit.ly/2jmAtCa

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2ko8seZ

iBooks: http://apple.co/2jaqoom

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2kfjO5r

*****

Excerpt:

“You can be such a bitch, Morgan,” Chrystal spat before trailing after her sister.

Meh. She’d been called worse. And two ducks in a bucket, fuck it. That had felt good.

Turning around, Morgan headed back for the ballroom. Funny. She no longer needed that fresh air—

“Oof.”

She slammed into a wall, quickly shooting her hands up to prevent a face-plant into plaster. “Son of a—” she grumbled, but the gentle but firm grasp of fingers circling her upper arms and steadying her cut off the complaint. O-kay. Maybe not a wall. She blinked. Not unless the hotel’s décor included stark white dress shirts and black tuxedo jackets.

Slowly, she lifted her head. Black bowtie. Taut golden skin stretched over a strong neck. A clean-shaven jaw and chin that could’ve been carved out of granite. A shockingly carnal but stern mouth with a slightly fuller bottom lip that appeared as if a woman had just been nipping at it only moments earlier. A straight, arrogant slash of nose and equally patrician, sculpted cheekbones.

And… Oh God.

A pair of stunning, silvery-grey, thickly lashed eyes. Luminescent. The flowery word popped into her head, and though it seemed ridiculous to attach such purple prose to this man with his face of honed edges, cutting angles, almost harsh sensuality, she couldn’t banish it.

Crazy how a lovely, grey gaze glinting with…with…

Disgust?

Icy contempt dispelled any lingering warmth inside her with an arctic blast.

Well, damn, all she’d done was bump into him. But he stared at her as if she were a flea-bitten stray that had strutted up to him and pissed on his tuxedo pants leg.

“Excuse me,” she apologized, stepping back and out of his hold. “I wasn’t paying attention.”

“It’s fine.” His hands fell away from her as if he couldn’t abide one more moment touching her. Still…she fought not to close her eyes. God, she could roll around in that voice like bikini-clad strippers in a batch of fresh mud. Just coat herself in it. Even the concise, clipped tone couldn’t tarnish the deep, dark timbre. “You were…preoccupied,” he added, the same disdain that hardened his stare coloring his words. His flinty gaze flicked over her shoulder in the direction the Terrible Twosome had disappeared before resting on her again.

The last part of her conversation drifted back to her. “…this city is full of CEOs and millionaires. Where there’s one, there’s another, and most are ready and willing to get laid.” She smothered a cringe. Damn. That had probably sounded awful. Can you say “gold digger”?

Usually, she wouldn’t have cared about explaining herself, but for some reason, she wanted to melt the ice in those silver eyes. That same elusive logic had her longing to see a smile curving those sensual lips.

“I think you may have misconstrued what you might’ve overheard…”

A dark eyebrow arched high. “I doubt it.”

Surprise at the abrupt interruption winged through her. What the hell… Irritation—no anger—surged hot and heavy inside her. Whether it was at him for his arrogant contempt or at herself for giving a damn about his opinion of her, she couldn’t say. Yeah, she could. Screw him and the high horse he rode in on. He didn’t know her… No one knew her.

She grinned, and at the same time, treated him to a cool, withering gaze that she’d learned to perfect right along with her knowledge of which dinner fork to use.

“Oh good.” She sighed. “For a second there, I was afraid you might believe I was only after a man’s money.” She chuckled, shaking her head. “When the truth is I want his money and ovary-exploding orgasms. Those two together are so hard to find, you know what I mean?”

Patting his shoulder, she stepped to the side and continued toward the ballroom.

Prick.

*****

Review:

Morgan is just a big ball of sass and fun. She uses it mostly as a shield but once she sees how much of a rise she can get out of Alex then all bets are off! She just amuses me to no end and I really want to become friends with her – smart, mouthy (but not mean), and just full of pop culture knowledge, I think we could hang for sure.

While he doesn’t have the best first impression of Morgan, and every meeting since has had her getting under his skin, Alex can’t deny that she’s as intelligent as she is sexy … and snarky. But his emotional scars go real deep and he’s not willing to open himself up to pain. He’s much safer if things stay business only and he keeps to himself.

But spending time together, pretending to be engaged, quickly has things heating up and Simone sure knows how to bring the spice! And even better, they are just as compatible outside the bedroom as in. They understand each other and they help fill in some of those pieces that the other needs. Morgan brings some lightness that Alex’s life doesn’t have enough of and he helps her get her mojo back again. Of course with these two hesitant to trust again someone is going to be running for the door sooner rather than later. It’s handled really well though and there isn’t a whole lot of angst getting us to that point and back around to the HEA that you know they both deserve.

This could have so easily been a story about a couple of rich, hot, beautiful, people who were all “poor little me, no one loves me”. But it SO wasn’t. Simone does such a wonderful job making these characters complex and full of hurts & fears. Both of them have been let down by people who were supposed to love and understand them (in Alex’s case, it’s been going on for years), so neither is all that anxious to give someone else a chance to hurt them again. But of course the heart isn’t always good about following the plan 🙂

*****

Author Info:

Naima’s love of romance was first stirred by Johanna Lindsey and Linda Howard many years ago. Though her first attempt at writing a romance novel at 11 never saw the light of day, her love of romance and writing has endured. Now, she spends her time creating stories of unique men and women who experience the dizzying heights of passion and the tender heat of love.

She is the wife to Superman – or his non-Kryptonian, less bullet proof equivalent – and mother to the most awesome kids ever. They all live in perfect, domestically-challenged bliss in the southern United States.

*****

Giveaway:

Enter for a chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/5440a3541052/

*****

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Book Review – Staying for Good

06 Monday Feb 2017

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Book Review, Contest

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Book Review, Catherine Bybee, Most Likely To series, Staying For Good

I’m so very, very excited to bring you this book. Happy Monday, y’all, and happy reading!

*****

Staying For Good

Most Likely To Series, Book Two

by Catherine Bybee

Montlake Romance, Contemporary

January 24, 2017, First Edition

Paperback & Kindle

Blurb:

Zoe Brown may have been voted Most Likely to Never Leave River Bend, but the paper-thin walls and suffocating air of her family’s double-wide trailer were not what she wanted for her life. Other than BFFs Melanie and Jo, the only thing that kept Zoe sane during high school was her boyfriend, Luke.

She didn’t just leave, she escaped—turning her back on the shame of her black-sheep siblings and imprisoned dad. Now a celebrity chef in Dallas, she can afford all the things she never could have growing up. But when she returns to rustic, ruggedly beautiful River Bend, Zoe has to face all that she abandoned—including Luke.

While Luke was a refuge for Zoe in the past, he knows they inhabit totally different worlds now. Anchored by his parents and his job as a mechanic in his father’s shop, Luke never felt the urge to leave River Bend—until Zoe’s return.

But when the two rekindle their old flame, Zoe is forced to make the hardest decision of her life: remain in River Bend and confront her past before it destroys her, or say good-bye to everyone she’s ever loved…again, this time for good.

Amazon | B&N | BAM | BOOK DEPOSITORY

*****

Review:

Having read the first book in the series I was really looking forward getting to know Zoe even better. She has had a hard start in life but with grit and smarts she’s managed to make herself a success. Although that doesn’t mean her rough childhood didn’t leave some scars. As great as she’s had it she’s finding it difficult to just let herself believe that she’s made it and that she’s able to relax her guard a little. She’s still convinced that it might all be taken away from her and she’ll be back at the bottom. And being in her hometown with her family stirs up all sorts of memories that are better left behind … and a few that are just that special and good.

Zoe may have run away as fast and far as she could, but Luke is happy at home. He’s got a life that works for him, one that he’s happy with surrounded by friends and family. It took a lot out of Luke when Zoe left and seeing her again has stirred up a lot of feelings. And some of those give him with a feeling that he may be missing out on something not seeing the rest of the world. Plus, he’s thinking that maybe he’ll only find happiness with the girl who originally stole his heart.

While there is a lot of Brown family drama, there isn’t all that much on the romantic side (which I was afraid there would be with Zoe and Luke’s history). Most second chance love stories are just packed full of hurt feelings, maybe some misunderstanding or miscommunication, but definitely a lot of angst. I shouldn’t have doubted Ms. Bybee’s talent, though, because she’s never failed me before so why should she now! Instead she gives readers her all with characters of great depth and humanity, emotions that run the gamut, and crisp writing that captures your attention from the first page. She’s been one of my guaranteed authors for a while now – just seeing her name means I know it’ll be a winner – but with each new book she surprises me with how amazingly good she continues to be 🙂

(While it isn’t necessary to have read Doing It Over, it will help to give you some context.)

*****

Author Info:

New York Times & USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bybee was raised in Washington State, but after graduating high school, she moved to Southern California in hopes of becoming a movie star. After growing bored with waiting tables, she returned to school and became a registered nurse, spending most of her career in urban emergency rooms. She now writes full-time and has penned the Weekday Brides Series and the Not Quite Series. Bybee lives with her two teenage sons in Southern California.

Contact Links:

www.catherinebybe.com

catherinebybee@yahoo.com

catherinebybee.blogspot.com

facebook.com/AuthorCatherineBybee

twitter.com/catherinebybee

pinterest.com/catherinebybee

instagram.com/catherinebybee

*****

Giveaway:

Make sure you enter for a chance to win some great prizes!

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/8a8544f633/

*****

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Book Review – Not in Her Wildest Dreams

30 Monday Jan 2017

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Book Review, Contest

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Book Review, Dani Collins, Not in Her Wildest Dreams, Secret Dreams series

I’m so excited to start off the week with such a great book … and author Dani Collins is helping to get us in the mood with a couple of fun facts!

*****

FUN FACTS

Fun Fact #1:

When Sterling realizes he’ll be stuck in Liebe Falls for longer than a weekend, he decides to move into his grandmother’s old house. I mentally used a bungalow that belonged to family friends. It’s a two bedroom rancher with no bells or whistles, but cozy.

I don’t know why that house jumped into my head, especially because the real one is very well kept while I wanted mine to be terribly run down. Perhaps it was the nostalgia factor. I remember being a kid in that house and I wanted Paige and Sterling to have memories there, too.

The house is situated behind Paige’s, built when hers was a decent middle-class neighborhood. Sterling takes it into his head to renovate, not expecting to uncover family secrets that nearly destroy Paige. Such a modest house to carry so much importance!

Fun Fact #2:

A long time ago, I had a day job at a company that made stair parts. Super fascinating stuff. Not. It was extra super-not-fascinating when we were audited. It was a yearly thing done by the company’s accounting firm, not by the government. I’m the chatty type so I asked one of the accountants how embezzling works. That was interesting, especially since I wasn’t bold enough to say, “Hey, I’m an aspiring author.” Nope, I just looked incredibly suspicious asking detailed questions about how to get away with a serious crime.

When I came to write the book, I had my factory make beds instead of stairs. It seemed sexier. In fact, the working title was Hot Beds, Cold Feet. The second book was called Sweet Dreams, but when I finally got both books rewritten and ready for prime time, I had my reader group help me with new titles. I wanted readers to know they were connected books, which is hard to tell with those old titles, so now they’re Not In Her Wildest Dreams and Only In His Sweetest Dreams.

*****

Not In Her Wildest Dreams

Secret Dreams, Book 1

by Dani Collins

Book Type: Fiction

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Indie

Publication Date: January 1, 2017

Blurb:

Paige Fogarty never believed Liebe Falls’ golden boy, Sterling Roy, could want a No Good Fogarty, but one magical night, they kissed—ruining her already murky reputation. Fifteen years later, she’s still shunned, now as a professional accountant auditing Roy Furnishings. It’s a daunting task even before she’s forced to work with him.

Sterling made a fool of himself over Paige once. Never again. He only returns to the factory his mother calls his ‘legacy’ to ensure Paige doesn’t pull a fast one. When their chemistry blazes hotter than ever, he wonders if he misjudged her, but secrets come to light, including an embezzler she tries to protect, proving she’s still the wrong girl. So why does holding onto her feel so right?

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33151365-not-in-her-wildest-dreams

Buy Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2hTy6ru

Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01N586MIL/

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01N586MIL/

Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B01N586MIL/

Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/not-in-her-wildest-dreams-dani-collins/1125253770?ean=2940153881652

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/not-in-her-wildest-dreams

iBooks: https://geo.itunes.apple.com/book/not-in-her-wildest-dreams/id1180380070?mt=11

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Dani_Collins_Not_In_Her_Wildest_Dreams?id=y_CWDQAAQBAJ

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/685502

OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES

Only In His Sweetest Dreams

Secret Dreams, Book 2

Blurb:

When Mercedes takes in her confused niece and nephew, jeopardizing the job she loves at a retirement community, she turns to the new handyman for advice. L.C. can fix anything and he’d love to be part of this misfit family, but he has a secret back home that Mercedes will never forgive.

Available on February 1, 2017

Pre-order Buy Link:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2iO8Gei

*****

Review:

I have to say this one really didn’t go the way I guessed it would. But that isn’t necessarily a bad thing 🙂 I thought that Paige and Sterling’s aborted romance – the whole wrong side of the tracks thing – would have been a bigger deal than it turned out to be. I mean, yes it did leave some scars, as most traumatic childhood events do, but there is so much more to their problems than that.

Thanks to a screwy childhood, Paige is an enabler and spends way too much energy trying to fix everything for her loved ones. Which means that she somehow finds herself back in the small town that she grew up in, trying to make everything right, and having to face a lot of her demons … including Sterling.

Sterling is also is dealing with family issues thanks to his parents. He’s got one of those moms – overbearing, manipulative, all about appearances and wearing blinders. And she’s pushing him to move home to run the family business. He’s got his own bones to pick with people in the town and being in such close quarters is sure to stir things up.

I get why Paige is so hesitant to get involved again – it is horrible what she went thru at such an impressionable age – but I have to admire Sterling for sticking with her. He’s not perfect, which is on display with his relationship with his parents and the fight that is still going on with Paige’s brother, but he’s truly a good guy.

I like these two and I enjoyed all of their crazy friends & family. Not to say that all of them are likeable, but they are fun to read and help keep the pages turning. All of the hurt feelings, family drama, and personal issues are dragged out & put on display.

Secrets are revealed, the truth finally comes out, and some demons are laid to rest … all in a days work for a small town full of drama.

*****

Author Info:

USA Today Bestseller Dani Collins is the author of thirty romances for Harlequin Presents, Montana Born and herself. Dani lives in Canada with her high school sweetheart. Join Dani’s newsletter and receive Cruel Summer, a short ebook romance, as a welcome gift: http://danicollins.com/free-book/

Social Media Links:

Website: http://danicollins.com

Blog: http://blog.danicollins.com

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DaniCollinsBook

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/DaniCollinsBook/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6572063.Dani_Collins

Instagram: http://instagram.com/danicollinsauthor

GooglePlus: https://plus.google.com/b/104569336188481850840/+DanicollinsAuthor/posts

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Dani-Collins/e/B009RC6AAG/

*****

Giveaway:

January 16 – 30, 2017

1 Winner: $10 Amazon Gift Card + FREE eBook of Only In His Sweetest Dreams (Secret Dreams, Book 2)

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/5ddfc19f28/?

*****

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Book Review – Wed to You

27 Friday Jan 2017

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Book Review

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Book Review, Jenna Harte, Southern Heat series, Wed to You

Wed to You

Southern Heat Series Book 3

by Jenna Harte

Irresistible playboy, Jagger Talbot left his flashy life in New York to properly take care of Kaden, a little boy he vowed to raise, gaining custody when the Kaden’s father died and his mother ran off with another man. Starting over in Virginia seemed like the perfect beginning. But when the boy’s mother comes back, clean and sober, fighting for custody, Jagger knows he needs a miracle to prove he’s what the child needs.

That miracle is Chelsea Beemer, sweet, perky kindergarten teacher. Down and out, and no stranger to tragedy, Chelsea is on the verge of losing her family home. She’d do anything to save the house—and herself—even marry the sexy playboy. Now it’s up to them to “play house” and convince everyone that they have perfect little family. But are any of them really pretending?

So you read the blurb and think – typical marriage of convenience with a little rich man/poor girl fish-out-of-water thrown in. And you’d be right … but that SO doesn’t stop it from being enjoyable!

I liked Jagger and felt so bad for the start in life he got. Neither his dad nor his mom wanted him, raised by a nanny, and pushed into a shallow life that he didn’t like. But he was saved by a young boy. A young boy who is now in danger of being taken away from him. To Jagger, Kaden is the only good thing in his life and he would do anything to save him, even marry someone he barely knows.

Chelsea’s big heart gets her into a little trouble here, but she lost everything when her brother and mom died. To see Jagger’s pain at the thought of losing Kaden makes it really hard to turn down his offer. But that soft heart is her biggest fear in this relationship – she’s already attracted to Jagger, a fake marriage might start feeling too real.

There were a couple of moments where a little bit of honesty would have cleared up a lot of misunderstandings and hurt feelings, but it’s definitely not easy to reveal that much of yourself to someone else. I think that Harte handled it really well, all the way through. While the story might seem familiar, she gives her readers interesting people and a lot of emotion & depth. It keeps you involved even when you know where things are going. It makes getting there very enjoyable.

(While this book can be read on its own, there were references to other people that I didn’t understand.)

Book Review – Daring to Fall

26 Thursday Jan 2017

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

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Book Review, Daring to Fall, Hidden Falls series, T.J. Kline

We saw the start of this series a few months ago with Making the Play. Since then I’ve been looking forward to seeing more of the McQuaid siblings and we have so much going on today! First, T. J. Kline stops by to answer a few questions, then we get a little peek at the book, and then I get to tell you what I think about it 🙂 *hint: Ben is as sexy as Grant*

*****

Q: Can you tell us a little about your book?

DARING TO FALL is the second in the Hidden Falls series. It’s a small-town, family saga following the McQuaid family, all seven siblings. This story centers around Ben McQuaid, the second oldest, a Hidden Falls firefighter who finds himself torn between his duty to protecting the town and his desire to protect a woman who might be threatened by the people of Hidden Falls. Emma Jordan, on the other hand, is returning to Hidden Falls and her father’s wildlife rescue, after his sudden death, to find that not everyone is excited about her return, or the fact that she’s taking over the sanctuary.

Q: How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

With the Hidden Falls series, I knew I wanted a family saga but I wanted a diverse family unit that, at first glance, seemed so complex they couldn’t possibly be as close as they are. The McQuaids were born. Ben has always been the “responsible” guy, the Jiminy Cricket to the rest of his brothers, and exactly the kind of guy who does you expect of a small-town hero. He needed a woman who would appreciate those aspects of him, even if it meant fighting her attraction to them.

Emma Jordan sort of created herself. The same things that draw her to Ben, frighten her and, oddly enough, are the same things putting her into the predicament she finds herself in. She’s tenacious, loyal and a hero in her own right. Determined to save others who can’t save themselves. However, the idea for an animal sanctuary came because, in spite of all my ambitions to be a writer when I was young, this was the other job I wanted to have – saving (or training) wild animals.

Q: What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

I loved the research for this book. As a kid, I spent hours reading about a wide variety of animals, sure that one day that information would serve me. It did, in DARING TO FALL. I would spend one day researching bobcats and the next figuring out exactly which type of dart gun and dosage of medication should be used. Not to mention that I was able to reach out to wildlife rescues, trainers and fireman. What could be better than that?

Q: What gave you the most trouble with this story?

Staying concentrated on the external conflict of their situation. I had a hard time with these two characters not wanting to keep their hands off one another. They have a great chemistry – it burns hot but both have reasons to hold back – and it meshed together well to create a very “real” couple with ups and downs. Unfortunately, if I’d left them to their own devices, I’m not sure the animals would have ever gotten fed.

Q: Name one thing you won’t leave home without.

Easy! My cell phone. I live on it. I made sure the last time I upgraded that I purchased one that would serve me, and my writing, on the go. I do everything from it – reading, emails, texts, appointments, even writing. I can even set my home alarm from it. I even use it to set up playlists for while I’m driving. I’d be lost without it (which is why it has frequent backups!)

Q: What do you like best about being a writer? What is the most challenging part?

The best? The fact that, most days, I don’t even have to brush my teeth if I don’t want to. I do, every day, I swear! But I don’t HAVE to. I have the freedom to style my hair or not, wear PJs all day or dress up. I can set a doctor’s appointment whenever I want to rather than in limited “free” time. I work around vacations and trips, around my kids’ schedules and when I want to. Being a writer has given me more freedom than any job I could ever imagine.

The most challenging? The freedom. When you don’t HAVE to do anything, you have to be self-disciplined to still get up every day and do what needs to be done. There are times, under deadline, when I’ve planned poorly and forgo a trip to the movies. Or, even more difficult, when I’m not under deadline to actually sit in the office chair and put words on the page knowing no one is keeping tabs and I have an entire season of Hart of Dixie waiting for me on my DVR.

Q: What do you do when you are not writing?

When I’m not writing, you can either find me hanging out with my husband and kids (two- and four-legged). If I’m not out working with my horses – is it work if it’s something you LOVE to do? – the family loves being outdoors. We’ll take off and go to the beach for the day, hiking in the mountains, or playing in the snow. Living in California, we can pick from all three, in the same week even, and I’ll be taking pictures the entire way. If weather doesn’t permit, you can find us watching movies together with popcorn, pizza, candy and sodas.

Q: Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?

Be prepared for the “real” life of writing. It’s not all fun and games, pajamas and book signings. Most days, it’s ugly, hard, gut-wrenching work. You will doubt yourself, listen to people rip your work apart and feel like you are crazy for attempting to make this your life. It’s okay…we all live there. It doesn’t matter whether you’ve written one book or nearly twenty, writing is always hard work. But, as I said earlier, is it really work if it’s something you love to do? Never give up on what you love to do, whether it’s writing, painting, acting, debate, mathematics, history, woodworking…do what you love and it will show in the results.

*****

Daring to Fall

Hidden Falls #2

by T.J. Kline

Releasing January 17, 2017

Avon Impulse

Blurb:

T.J. Kline returns to Hidden Falls with the sweet and fun story of a small-town firefighter and the stubborn woman who refuses to fall for his charms.

Emma Jordan has returned home after her father’s death to run the animal sanctuary that had been his legacy. But strange things start happening, and it seems that someone is out to shut her down, someone who doesn’t mind putting lives in jeopardy to see it through. When Hidden Falls’ sexiest fireman starts to ask questions, Emma needs to make sure his charm doesn’t distract her from keeping her dreams alive.

Ben McQuaid has an obligation as a local fireman to protect the community, even from a well-meaning wildlife veterinarian who’s in way over her head. But, it’s becoming hard to keep his loyalty to the town and his desire for the pretty vet separate. As Ben and Emma become caught in a dangerous game of cat and mouse, their feelings for each other are growing.

Will they let duty drive them apart or will they dare to fall?

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30166231-dare-to-fall

Goodreads Series Link https://www.goodreads.com/series/181009-hidden-falls

Buy Links: AMAZON | B & N | GOOGLE | ITUNES | KOBO

*****

Excerpt:

“Hey, Ben, I have a favor to ask.”

Ben McQuaid rolled his eyes skyward. Of course, his brother Andrew needed another favor. Lately, Ben seemed to be the one doing the favors more often than receiving any. But, that’s what brothers did for one another, right? And with six siblings, most of them younger, that added up to be a lot of favors.

“Make it quick, I’m on my way into the fire station for my shift.”

“Good, because this is more of an official call than a favor anyway. I need you to head down to the Quinn place on Mosquito Road. Apparently, there’s a cat stuck in a tree. It seems stupid to call it in to the firehouse and drag the engine out for a cat. See? I’m actually doing you a favor and saving you all that cleaning and polishing you have to do just for driving a truck out of the garage.”

They’d be cleaning the engine anyway. Plus, without an engine, Ben had no ladder to get up the tree. “So, what you’re suggesting is that I shimmy up the tree the way I did when we were ten to get the football you and Grant would get stuck.”

Andrew’s chuckle sounded through the receiver. “Pretty much. Look, the call just came in from dispatch and you’ve got to drive by there on your way into town anyway. No sense in making it an official call.”

There was nothing about this that was a favor for Ben. “What’s wrong, is there an apple fritter with your name on it? This way you save yourself the effort of having to fill out another police report, right?” Andrew wasn’t fooling him.

“There’s that too.” Ben heard Andrew address someone else in the background. “Hey, I have to run. There’s a domestic dispute at the winery. You got this, right?”

“Yeah, I’ll take care of it,” Ben said with a sigh.

“Thanks. I owe you one.”

“One?” Ben muttered to himself as the receiver disconnected in his ear and he took the turn off onto Mosquito Road. “You owe me more than that.”

He wasn’t looking forward to this. Hollister Quinn was one of those old guys who spoke his mind, loudly and often. He’d been the first in line to protest the latest upgrades being done to spruce up their small foothill town. Said he liked it rustic, the way it’d been for years and that it should stay that way. However, now that there was talk about Hidden Falls trying to become more of a tourist attraction along the way to Tahoe, an idea that would bring higher profits for local businesses which, in turn, kept the town thriving, Quinn was complaining even more. A visit with Quinn, even to retrieve a kitten, was sure to bring a lengthy lecture about how the people of Hidden Falls were selling out. Ben rubbed the knots of tension already building at the back of his neck.

Pulling into the circular driveway in front of the Quinn house, he maneuvered his pickup between several other vehicles, none of which were Hollister’s. A crowd was already gathered under one of the tall pines in the front yard.

“Great,” the old man complained as Ben edged closer to the chaos. “Please, tell me you’re here to do something productive, not just here to gawk like everyone else. I need someone to get that damn thing outta my tree.” He pointed to where a tabby kitten yowled loudly from a high branch on the tree.

Ben squinted, following the old man’s gaze. “Are you sure that’s a cat? It doesn’t look—”

“What else would it be?” Quinn rolled his eyes before glaring at Ben and shoving him toward the god-awful howling the cat in the tree was making. “Do your job, fireman, and get that thing down.” He turned away, muttering something about the woman running the animal sanctuary down the road but Ben didn’t quite catch it and he wasn’t about to risk having the old man rip him a new one again.

“Sure thing, Mr. Quinn,” Ben agreed, wondering again why he’d wanted to be a firefighter. Sweating it out with the cattle on his parents’ ranch sounded a hell of a lot better right now than climbing a tree to get the shit clawed out of him by a frightened kitten.

He glanced around at the large group of neighbors that had come to watch, curious at the interest for a simple kitten stuck in a tree. It wasn’t a big enough deal to warrant this sort of hullabaloo. The kitten yowled louder and Ben had just lifted his foot onto the ladder Quinn had left braced against the side of the tree when Ellie Quinn, the old man’s daughter, hurried to his side.

“Ben, I’m sorry. I tried to get my dad to just leave the poor thing alone, but you know how he is.” She shot him a coy smile and her eyelashes fluttered.

Ellie was a nice woman. The same age as his younger sister and obviously interested in him. She was sweet, kind to everyone she met, a member of the local women’s shelter planning committee and generous to a fault. In fact, she was exactly what he wanted in a woman, plus she had a “girl next door” quality that made her adorable. His mother had been trying to set them up for months, reminding him that he should be giving her grandchildren before she was too old to enjoy them. The problem was, Ben wasn’t attracted to Ellie at all. He wanted to be, but every time he was around her, there was no stirring in him, no warm fuzzies like he’d had with other women. Nothing to get a rise out of him, so to speak, at all. It was almost like he wanted to continually find himself getting screwed over by crazy women. “Don’t worry about it, Ellie,” he said, waving a hand in her direction and looking up the tree. “I’ll just get this guy down and he’ll take off back home.” Ben wasn’t nearly as confident about his ability to get the cat down as he sounded but Ellie was sweet. He couldn’t blame her for her cantankerous father.

She cocked her head and gave him a confused look. “Oh. Um, okay.”

Putting one foot over the other as he climbed the ladder, trying to ignore the jeers and shouts from below, Ben pulled himself into a fork in the tree, hanging his legs over the branch as he straddled it. He could barely see the spotted fluffy coat of the kitten but, from what he could see, it was definitely young. He’d never understand how a stupid animal could get itself into a tree but couldn’t get back out. Then again, it wasn’t like people didn’t get themselves into some pretty precarious positions they couldn’t figure their way out of.

Tucking his feet under him so he was squatting on the limb, grateful for the heavy tread of his work boots, Ben reach for a thick branch to his right, using it to swing him to the V beside where the cat was hiding. The gasp from the onlookers below nearly made him laugh. Sure, falling would be painful but the fifteen-foot landing into mulch couldn’t hurt any more than the second story floor of an old farmhouse collapsing from under him during a call and dropping him into the concrete basement below. Those two fractured ribs had hurt like hell.

Straddling the second branch, he watched the kitten for a moment. The poor animal was scared out of its mind. Its big blue eyes were round with fear and, from this vantage point, he could see that it was a matted mess. Tiny claws clung to the rippled bark of the tree and he wondered how he was possibly going to convince the frightened animal to let go without his very vulnerable bare arm replacing the tree trunk under its claws.

“Here, kitty,” he called quietly. The cat turned toward him and he saw the unmistakable black tufts over the kitten’s ears. It turned away again, edging out onto the branch and he saw the stubby tail.

Holy crap, that is not a cat. It’s a freakin’ bobcat kitten.

“Shit,” he muttered. “That damn brother of mine owes me big time.”

*****

Review:

Ben is a good match for Emma. As a firefighter he’s going to understand about her having a dangerous job but that with proper training and care things will be as safe as they can be. He’s also got a big heart which goes well with her own. Up to this point his romantic life has always been about being the big, strong hero so of course he falls really hard for someone who can take care of herself! Now he just needs to learn that he can be supportive without sweeping in on his white horse to rescue her.

Emma’s world is already a mess when Ben comes storming in with his rescued bobcat kitten. He’s definitely a distraction she doesn’t need, and her past has taught her that men can’t handle a strong woman whose whole life is centered around wild animals that could seriously hurt her. Not used to leaning on anyone, it’s hard for Emma to let Ben in to help. Too bad that the man is too stubborn to just go away.

Kline doesn’t really do much to hide the who and what behind the trouble that Emma experiences. After a bit it becomes obvious who the choices are for the culprit but the how of carrying out the plan does keep you guessing. And really it’s mostly about the romance 🙂

*****

Author Info:

T.J. Kline was bitten by the horse bug early and began training horses at fourteen—as well as competing in rodeos and winning several rodeo queen competitions—but has always known writing was her first love. She also writes under the name Tina Klinesmith. In her spare time, she can be found spending as many hours as possible laughing hysterically with her husband, teens, and their menagerie of pets in Northern California. That is, when she isn’t running around the California Gold Country researching new stories.

Author Links: WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS

*****

Giveaway:

3 print copies of MAKING THE PLAY: Hidden Falls #1 by T.J. Kline (US Only)

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/521ac4c81208/

*****

Click on the link below to check out the rest of the series

Book Review – To Win Her Back

23 Monday Jan 2017

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Book Review

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Book Review, Mackenzie Crowne, Players series, To Win Her Back

To Win Her Back

Players series

by Mackenzie Crowne

Will the mistakes of the past ruin their future?

As public relations coordinator for the Manhattan Marauders pro football team, Victoria “V” Price has the wealth, prestige, and glamour she only dreamed of growing up. All she’s missing is a man to share it with. V thought she gave up her shot at love when she left her childhood sweetheart in the dust of her rural Texas town, along with the painful secrets of her family life. But the past comes roaring back when Sam Fitzpatrick, the only man she ever loved, is hired as the Marauders’ new offensive coordinator.

Despite Sam’s reluctance to work alongside V, his distrust of the woman who broke his young heart is no match for their swiftly rekindling passion. Yet even as V’s tough PR persona gives way to her softer side, Sam wonders if their chemistry is enough to overcome the wounds left unhealed between them. But when the devastating truth of V’s past is exposed, threatening both her career and their second chance, Sam finds himself asking a different question: does he have what it takes to win back her love?

I have to be honest … for some reason I just didn’t want to read this book. I got it because it is written by Mackenzie Crowne and part of the Players series, but I just knew that the angst would get to me. Oh, how wrong I was!! Once again Crowne’s deft writing and finely crafted characters caught me from the first page and wouldn’t let go.

These two have so much baggage that they are going to need a cart when they meet up again. They had that amazingly perfect young love … until it all fell apart. Unfortunately when things went bad, they were very, very bad and they’ve let it impact things (even if they won’t admit it to anyone) for over a decade. Being forced to work together, though, means they have to get their acts together, fast.

Part of me thinks that Sam got over it a little quick but MOST of me enjoyed the lack of drama. As I mentioned, I wasn’t looking forward to a whole book of his hurt pride (although I’m pretty sure that Crowne could make even that good!) but luckily we didn’t have to deal with that. Instead, with a little help from their friends, they reflected on their past, addressed it and then moved forward.

Now, there were a couple of moments when I wished Sam had stepped up. First, he allowed everyone to say nasty things about V in their home town, which made it uncomfortable for her to come see her mom. Granted, her relationship with her mom isn’t the best and she didn’t want to go home, but he could have manned up at some point and been all “we were young and did stupid things”. Instead he waited 15 years, and for them to start having to spend time together, to do anything about it.

The other thing was the fact that he buried his hurt feelings in other women and became a man-whore. Now, I’m all for reformed rakes making the best husbands but his seemed a little petty. And it was made all the worse by the fact that V reverted to being celibate. Again, she had her reasons for not getting involved with anyone (and it wasn’t necessarily that she was pining for him), but some readers may have a problem with the double standard.

Personally, I like how Crowne gives both of them intriguing motivations for their actions and pulled it together with their second chance romance. Their love story is complicated for a lot of reasons but characters with depth and a hard to put down storyline made it … well, hard to put down 🙂

Book Review – The Cowboy and the Kid

19 Thursday Jan 2017

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Book Review

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Anne McAllister, Book Review, Tanner Brothers series, The Cowboy and the Kid

The Cowboy and the Kid

The Tanner Brothers, Book 4

by Anne McAllister

Having a father is a big responsibility.

And finding him a wife is a challenge eight-year-old Becky Jones takes seriously. Ex-rodeo cowboy Taggart Jones is adamant. No marriage. Been there. Done that.

Not even if Becky’s dream candidate is her beautiful, blonde teacher, Felicity Albright, who knows about barrettes, patching up scrapes, and hates carrots as much as his daughter. Taggart’s still not interested. Much.

What’s a daughter to do? Becky’s nothing if not ingenious, and she’s determined to convince a stubborn Taggart and a bemused Felicity that they really have met their match.

I get the little girl as a cute driver for these two getting together – she’s adorable and having grown up with an unusual childhood it’s easy to see why she turned into a little bundle of awesomeness. But in her overzealous campaign to get a mom, she might be a little too adorable for some 🙂

Taggart definitely needs that push because after his disastrous marriage he’s not getting involved again … then he meets his daughter’s new teacher. Running scared doesn’t stop his hormones from making themselves known but he’s not going to give in. Nope, definitely not!

I understand his reasons for avoiding commitment but I kinda wish there’d been just a little more about how his first wife had treated him to get the depth of those scars. He’s not the first to fail at a relationship and, while I felt a little of his pain, a little more of his first wife might have made it more traumatic. Worthy of his dedication to staying single.

I still enjoyed these two together. Even though Taggart is your typical commitment-phobe, he’s a very caring father and a good teacher. Felicity is also a good teacher and dedicated to reaching all her kids. She’s got a sense of humor and fun, which she’ll need going up against Taggart’s fear 🙂 It’s not going to be easy because you know he’s going to screw things up. But with patience, perseverance, understanding and forgiveness, they might be able to figure it out.

(This is the first in the series that I’ve read but can easily stand on its own.)