Book Review – Like That Endless Cambria Sky

08 Friday Jul 2016

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Book Review, Like That Endless Cambria Sky, Linda Seed, Main Street Merchants series

Like That Endless Cambria Sky

Main Street Merchants series

by Linda Seed

Genevieve Porter was forced to flee the art world of Manhattan after she blew the whistle on the shady practices of a powerful dealer. Now she owns a small gallery in the breathtaking beach town of Cambria, California. For Gen, this is a place to regroup; she’s poised to restore her reputation in the art world and return to New York in triumph. When she meets Ryan Delaney, a cattle rancher who’s more than he appears to be, she’s ready for a sexy roll in the hay-literally. But when her feelings for him become more than casual, she realizes that his roots on the Central Coast go back generations, and it’s going to be a challenge to lure him away from his family’s land. If these two are going to make a life together, one of them is going to have to give up old ideas, old goals-old feelings about what success means, and what makes a place a true home.

Set amid the crashing waves and rugged cliffs just south of Big Sur, Like That Endless Cambria Sky is Book 2 in Linda Seed’s Main Street Merchants series.

I love the feeling of family between the girls in this series. They have a closeness, understanding and support that most people hope to find.

I get why Genevieve wants so badly, and works so hard, to head back to NY. It was her goal and she had it taken away from her. Developing something with yummy rancher Ryan only complicates things … but he’s awfully hard to resist. He’s down-to-earth, caring and hardworking. Sexy and smart, he’s got a lot going for him.

I’m a little confused about the depth of the conflict toward the end. I’m not sure I totally understand why things blew up to QUITE the level they did – some of it, but not all of it. But I think that it is handled well and leads to a conclusion that works for everyone.

I’m definitely looking forward to what Seed has for us next. These women (and men) may be different personalities but they are all likeble, with a great bond, and are bound to have blast on their road to true love.

(Part of a series, but can definitely stand on its own. I do recommend picking up Moonstone Beach for a fun read.)

Book Review – Winning the Billionaire

05 Tuesday Jul 2016

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Book Review, JM Stewart, Seattle Bachelors series, Winning the Billionaire

Winning the Billionaire

A Seattle Bachelors Novel

by JM Stewart

In the tradition of E.L. James and Sylvia Day comes a sultry new series starring women who want to live out their wildest dreams . . .

When it comes to love, this billionaire is all business . . .

Software mogul Christina McKenzie has loved billionaire Sebastian Blake since they were kids. So when Seattle’s most famous bachelor-and perennial playboy-finally asks Christina out, her fantasies kick into overdrive. Things become hot and heavy . . . but what’s she supposed to do when she starts to fall for him? Sebastian’s never been one to settle down, and Christina knows she’s just another notch in his bedpost.

Sebastian knows that smart, kind Christina deserves better than him. But after the mind-blowing night they just shared, he’s ready to turn a sexy fling into the real deal. Keeping his freedom is one thing, yet keeping Christina in his bed-and in his life-is all Sebastian can think about . . .

The sibling’s best friend trope is one of my favorites and Stewart handles it so very well. I appreciate that things aren’t drawn out overlong – yes, it’s been simmering for years, but once the cats out of the bag things get rolling quickly.

Sebastian has issues with relationships, thanks to his parents, so he’s already hesitant to get involved with Christina. Add in that she’s his best friend’s twin, that they all practically grew up together, and it makes a complicated situation even worse. But the death of his father has him experiencing all sorts of emotions and he lets down his walls, acting on his feelings … which could be the best or worst thing he’s ever done 🙂

Having been burned by a player in the past, Christina’s not too anxious to let down her guard with commitment-phobic Sebastian. And she’s gotten real good about hiding the depth of her feelings for him. But when he starts with the full force of his attentions on her, continuing to resist gets harder and harder.

I love these two together – they’ve got the history of decades of friendship, mixed in with repressed feelings now let out, it’s a chemical reaction just waiting to go off. But they never truly forget the love and respect they have for each other. Even in denial or full-fledged retreat, they still have that basis to work with.

(Story is part of a series but can stand on its own.)

Book Review – Under an Adirondack Sky

04 Monday Jul 2016

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

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Book Review, Karen Rock, Under an Adirondack Sky, Walsh Family series

Harlequin has four amazing books from their Heartwarming series on tour in July & August and I got the pleasure of reading one of them!

*****

Under an Adirondack Sky

A Walsh Family Story

by Karen Rock

Publisher: Harlequin Heartwarming (July 1, 2016)

Blurb:

Can he juggle everything…including her?

After raising his siblings and running the family pub for more than a decade, Aiden Walsh has set his own dreams aside. Until the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen stumbles into his bar, and his arms. Too bad Rebecca Day is the school psychologist in charge of his brother’s future. Who’s he kidding? He doesn’t have room in his full life for romance anyway. But forced to join Rebecca and her group of troubled teens on an Adirondack retreat, he realizes keeping his family afloat isn’t enough for him…not by a long shot.

Harlequin | Barnes & Noble| Amazon| Kobo

*****

Excerpt:

Read the first three chapters on Wattpad!

*****

Review:

I feel so bad for Aiden, trying to take on all the extra responsibilities for his family can’t have been easy. And he was so young when he did it. He’s a dedicated family man, doing everything he can to keep things afloat but all the juggling he’s had to do has let him have very little time to slow down and look at life around him. While he’s a good guy at heart it has led to him having very little time to really see himself and those around him. But given the opportunity he does us proud and steps up to really take on the challenge of changing things to make them better for his family.

Rebecca may be a psychologist, with a great outlook on life and a sunny personality, but that doesn’t stop her from having a few blinders about things. It’s great that Rock gives her this opportunity to grow along with Aiden and her kids, who add some extra liveliness to a fun story. She didn’t have the best childhood and that’s left some scars but taking this time out with others, helping them see deeper into themselves, also gives her a change to look at herself and realize that maybe there is more going on than what she thinks.

It was enjoyable to see both Aiden & Rebecca grow throughout the course of the book, as they got to know each other they also had a chance to look deeper into themselves. They didn’t change drastically, which is realistic, but they did have an opportunity to see themselves from someone else’s viewpoint and outside situations.

Under an Adirondack Sky is a heartwarming story about two people finding themselves and each other, learning and growing together while falling in love.

(Part of a series, this book can easily stand on its own. But I am curious about Aiden’s siblings and will be checking out the series for other great reads.)

*****

Author Info:

Award-winning author Karen Rock is both sweet and spicy–at least when it comes to her writing! The author of both YA and adult contemporary books writes red-hot novels for Harlequin Blaze and small-town romances for Harlequin Heartwarming. A strong believer in Happily-Ever-After, Karen loves creating unforgettable stories that leave her readers with a smile. When she’s not writing, Karen is an avid reader who’s typically immersed in three different books at a time, all in different genres. She also loves cooking her grandmother’s Italian recipes, baking, Christmas (no need to specify–she loves every bit of it), and having the Adirondack Park wilderness as her backyard, where she lives with her husband, daughter, dog and cat who keep her life interesting and complete.

Connect with Karen

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads

*****

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Book Review – The Billionaire Bachelor

01 Friday Jul 2016

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

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Billionaire Bad Boys series, Book Review, Jessica Lemmon, The Billionaire Bachelor

We’ve had Jessica Lemmon’s books on here before and I was super excited to find out she was starting a new series.

*****

The Billionaire Bachelor

Billionaire Bad Boys series

by Jessica Lemmon

On Sale: June 28, 2016

Publisher: Forever

Formats: Mass Market & eBook

Price: $5.99 USD

Add to Goodreads

Blurb:

Manwhore. That’s what the board of directors—and the tabloids—thinks of billionaire bachelor Reese Crane. Ordinarily he couldn’t care less, but his playboy past is preventing the board from naming him CEO of Crane Hotels. Nothing—and no one—will keep him from his life’s legacy. They want a settled man to lead the company? Then that’s exactly what he’ll give them.

Merina Van Heusen will do anything to get her parents’ funky boutique hotel back—even marry cold-as-ice-but-sexy-as-hell Reese Crane. It’s a simple business contract—six months of marriage, absolute secrecy, and the Van Heusen is all hers again. But when sparks fly between them, their passion quickly moves from the boardroom to the bedroom. And soon Merina is living her worst nightmare: falling in love with her husband…

THE FULL BILLIONAIRE BAD BOYS SERIES

The Billionaire Bachelor, #1

The Billionaire Next Door, #2

The Bastard Billionaire, #3

Series Page on Goodreads

*****

Excerpt:

The Van Heusen Hotel was the love of Merina Van Heusen’s life. The historical building dominated the corner of Rush and East Chicago Avenue, regal and beautiful, a living work of art.

Her parents’ hotel had once been the Bell Terrace, home away from home to celebrities such as Audrey Hepburn, Sammy Davis Jr., and more recently, Lady Gaga and the late Robin Williams. The original structure perished in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, only to be resurrected bigger, better, and more beautiful.

There was a life lesson in there.

Latte in hand, Merina breathed in the air in the lobby, a mix of vanilla and cinnamon. Faint but reminiscent of the famed dessert invented in the hotel’s kitchen: the snicker- doodle. On her way past Arnold, who stood checking a guest into the hotel, she snagged one of the fresh-baked cookies off a plate and winked at him

The dark-skinned older man slid her a smile and winked back. Having practically grown up here, the VH was a second home to her. Arnold had started out as a bellman and had worked here for as long she could remember. He was as good as family.

She dumped her purse in her office and finished her cookie, holding on to the latte while she meandered down the hallways, checking to make sure there were no trays outside the doors that needed collecting. At the end of the corridor on the first floor, she saw a man outside one of the rooms, drill whirring away.

“Excuse me,” she called. Then had to call again to be heard over the sound. When she came into view, he paused the drilling and looked up at her.

He wore a tool belt and navy uniform, and the antique doorknob was sitting on the floor at his feet along with a small pile of sawdust.

“What are you doing?” she asked, bending to pick up the heavy brass. Her parents had done away with “real keys” the moment they took over, installing the popular keycard entry hotels now used, but the antique doorknobs remained.

“Installing the fingerprint entry.” From his pocket, the uniformed man pulled out a small silver pad with a black opening, then went back to drilling.

“No, no, no.” She placed the doorknob back on the ground and dusted her hand on her skirt. “We’re not doing any fingerprint entry.” She offered a patient smile. “You need to double-check your work order.”

He gave her a confused look. “Ma’am?” He was looking at Merina, but his voice was raised.

Merina’s mother, Jolie, appeared from behind the hotel room door, her eyebrows raising into hair that used to be the same honeyed shade of blond as Merina’s but now was more blond to hide the gray.

“Oh, Merina!” Her mother smiled, but her expression looked a little pained.

“Can you give me a minute with my daughter, Gary?” Like she was Gary’s mother, Jolie fished a five-dollar bill from her pocket and pressed it into his palm. “Go to the restaurant and have Sharon make you a caramel macchiato. You won’t be sorry.”

Gary frowned but took the cash. Merina shook her head as he walked away.

“Sweetheart.” Jolie offered another smile. A tight- lipped one meaning there was bad news. Like when Merina’s cat, Sherwood, had been hit by a car and Jolie had to break it to her. “Come in. Sit.” She popped open the door and Merina entered the guest room.

White duvets and molded woodwork, modern flat-screen televisions and artwork. Red, gold, and deep orange accents added to the richness of the palette and were meant to show that a fire may have taken down the original building but couldn’t keep it down.

Jolie gestured to the chair by the desk. Merina refused to sit.

“Mom. What’s going on?”

On the end of a sigh that didn’t make Merina feel any better, her mother spoke.

“Several changes have been ordered for the Van Heusen in order to modernize it. Fingerprint entry is just one of them. Also, the elevators will be replaced.”

“Why?” Merina pictured the gold decorative doors with a Phoenix, the mythical bird that arose from the ashes of its predecessor, emblazoned on them. If there was a beating heart in the Van Heusen, it was that symbol. Her stomach turned.

Instead of answering, Jolie continued. “Then there’s the carpeting. The tapestry design won’t fit in with the new scheme. And probably the molding and ceiling medallions will all be replaced.” She sighed again. “It’s a new era.”

“When did you take to day-drinking?” Merina asked, only half kidding.

Her mother laughed, but it was brief and faded almost instantly. She touched Merina’s arm gently. “Sweetheart. We were going to tell you, but we wanted to make sure there really was no going back. I didn’t expect the lock- smith to arrive today.” Her eyes strayed to the door.

Merina’s patience fizzled. “Tell me what?”

“Your father and I sold the Van Heusen to Alexander Crane six months ago. At the time, he had no plans on making any changes at all, but now that he’s retiring, the hotel has fallen to his oldest son. Evidently, Reese had different ideas.”

At that pronouncement, Jolie’s normally sunny attitude clouded over. Merina knew the Cranes. The Crane Hotel was the biggest corporate hotel outfit in the city, the second biggest in the nation. Alexander (better known as “Big Crane”) and his sons ran it, local celebrities of sorts. She’d also read about Big Crane’s retirement and Reese’s likely ascension to CEO.

But none of that mattered. There was only one newly learned fact bouncing around in her brain. “You sold the Van Heusen?”

She needed that chair after all. She sank into it, mind blanking of everything except for one name: Reese Crane.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Merina stood up again. She couldn’t sit. She could not remain still while this was happening. Correction: This had happened. “Why didn’t you talk to me first?”

“You know we’d never include you in our financial difficulties, Merina.” Jolie clucked her tongue.

Financial difficulties?

“Bankruptcy was not an option,” her mom said. “Plus, selling gave us the best of both worlds. No financial responsibility and we keep our jobs.”

“With Reese Crane as your boss!” Her mind spun after she said it aloud. My God. They would be answering to that arrogant, idiotic . . . “No.” Merina shook her head as she strode past her mother. “This is a mistake.”

And there had to be a way to undo it.

*****

Review:

So we all pretty much know where this one is going – a marriage of convenience that ends up being not so convenient after all. Doesn’t mean that it has to be blah 🙂

Reese is your typical modern rake. He had some things happen that has him deciding that commitment and relationships aren’t for him. But there is something he wants and marriage to Merina is the only way that he can think to get it. Blackmail, power struggle, blah blah blah, together for show only.

But he’s no match for her vibrancy. I enjoyed watching him slowly fall under her spell and show himself to not be as cold as he comes across. While we know that he’s going to screw it all up out of fear, he definitely knows how to give a woman his heart once he’s ready.

Merina has a lot of spunk and she’s not willing to let Reese get away with too much. She’s sweet and caring and fun and mouthy and the perfect person to have Reese letting down his walls just a little. Unfortunately it isn’t enough and I have to give her credit for pushing for more. She’s strong and not willing to settle for second best.

Lemmon takes a pretty well established trope and with skill & flair makes it enticing. While we’ve seen heroes like Reese many times he’s got just that little extra oomph to him to make him not feel recycled. And Merina’s spunkiness has me pulling for her every step of the way. I’ve loved Lemmon’s Bad Boys before and I’m starting to think her Billionaires will give them a run for their money.

*****

Author Info:

A former job-hopper, Jessica Lemmon resides in Ohio with her husband and rescue dog. She holds a degree in graphic design currently gathering dust in an impressive frame. When she’s not writing super-sexy heroes, she can be found cooking, drawing, drinking coffee (okay, wine), and eating potato chips. She firmly believes God gifts us with talents for a purpose, and with His help, you can create the life you want.

FOLLOW FOREVER ONLINE

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

*****

Giveaway:

Win your own copy of the book

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/26635ce2335/

*****

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Book Review – Lily’s List

30 Thursday Jun 2016

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Book Review

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Book Review, Lily's List, N. J. Walters, Summersville Secrets series

Lily’s List

Summersville Secrets, Book 3

by N. J. Walters

Fans of steamy small-town romance will love the third book in the sexy Summersville Secrets series by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author N. J. Walters!

Ready to explore her fantasies . . .

When Lily Summers was left to raise her son alone, she threw herself into her work as a florist and secretly began writing erotic romance novels. Relying solely on fantasies about the impossibly sexy Carson Granger for material, the single mom has a long list of sexual scenarios she needs to research to make her stories catch fire. When Carson discovers the list and offers some hands-on help, Lily’s immediately aroused by his primal power and the elemental attraction that ignites between them, but she’s terrified of surrendering control to a man she’s wanted for so long, especially one who’s younger than she is.

Desperate to show her so much more . . .

Carson always knew that Lily had shut herself off from men after a bad marriage, but he also knew the quietly sensuous florist had a secret side, and he wanted to be the man to tap into that reserve of passion. When he discovers her hidden wish list, he knows it’s his chance to initiate her into a world of sexual abandon before revealing a secret of his own. As they indulge in each new item on Lily’s list, she can’t deny the burning desire and need beating inside her, and with tender patience and sexual finesse, Carson is breaking down her barriers and drawing one step closer to turning her short-term explorations into a lifetime of devoted pleasure.

This is a fully revised edition of a book originally published as Lily Blossoms.

I love the care that Carson puts into wooing Lily. He’s waited a long time, and she’s skittish, so he takes advantage of an opportunity when it falls into his lap 🙂 He displays a lot of understanding in how he handles her – taking it slow and easing her into each step. Of course he makes a couple of miscalculations but I like that Walters doesn’t make it into too much of an issues. The drama when it happens is low-key and handled in a realistic manner.

Of course, he’s not the only one that has uh-ohs. Lily follows Carson’s lead but that doesn’t mean that she doesn’t let her fears get the better of her a time or two, hurting Carson in the process. But she comes through when it is important and takes care of business.

My only complaint is that I’m selfish and I want to know what is in store for these two down the road. Lily’s concerns for getting involved with Carson are valid – while 7 years isn’t a big gap at their ages, they are in different stages of their lives and that could cause complications. I would have liked a little more time to work thru those things, but being a romance we can just assume that they work it out and live HEA 🙂

Steamy, introspective and heartfelt, Lily’s List has something for just about everyone.

(Part of a series, but can stand on its own with a few minor references to other stories.)

Book Review – Then He Kissed Me

28 Tuesday Jun 2016

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Book Review, Cottonbloom series, Laura Trentham, Then He Kissed Me

Then He Kissed Me

Cottonbloom Novels #2

by Laura Trentham

Can two hearts come together in one divided town?

As a boy, Nash Hawthorne spent countless afternoons on the Louisiana side of Cottonbloom with Tally Fournette, wading in the river, peeling oranges and catching frogs. When illness stole his mother, Nash yearned to take Tally and run away—for good. Instead, he crossed the state line to live with his aunt. It was a short distance as the crow flies, but it swept him into a whole new world…

After Nash left, Tally managed to struggle through her own losses without him. But now that she’s crossed paths with him again—at Cottonbloom College, where the grown-up, gorgeous Nash teaches history—she is reminded of their cherished youthful connection…and an attraction that has only gotten stronger with age. Between Tally’s possessive ex and Nash’s snobbish aunt, no one thinks they belong together. In a town torn apart by old resentments and rivalries, can they find their way back to the life they once shared—and turn their long-lost dreams into a real and lasting love?

Do you need to have read Kiss Me That Way to enjoy this story? No. But it does help because this is one of those series that are intertwined and each is benefited by the others.

We caught glimpses of Nash and got to know Tally a little bit in the first book so we knew where this one was going to go. But their histories have so much depth – the way that they had an amazing connection and then lost so much at the same time, being separated and having to go through difficult adolescences alone. It’s similar to Cade and Monroe, the way that they meant so much to each other as kids but life took them away, only to bring them back together at the right time. But Trentham makes sure that Tally & Nash have their own individual issues to work through.

Tally has felt stupid for years because she struggled in school. Unfortunately the death of her parents just compounded what was already turning into a problem for her. With her flighty uncle Del as her guardian and being raised by her teenage brother as best he could there wasn’t enough attention to get her the help she really needed. It’s led to a lot of years where she’s felt like a lesser person, even after starting a very successful gym. Subsequently her choices on a personal level haven’t been exactly the best. Seeing her childhood best friend again, looking hot and being all smart & charming, definitely doesn’t help her insecurities.

Nash had his own image issues. Being Nerdy Nash and super smart, he was an outcast at school – picked on or ignored. Just because he got hot along the way doesn’t mean he’s all that more sure of himself than she is. He seems to have a better handle on it than Tally does, thanks to finding a home for himself in academia, but he’s got some scars from his teen years that still impact things today … isn’t that always how it is?

I absolutely LOVE how easy it is for these two to reconnect. They complement each other so well and to have that still there even after all these years leads to the foundation that they need to build something more. As long as they can get over the fear of what it could mean for their hearts.

Then He Kissed Me is an absolutely freakin’ fantastic story of second-chance love. Together Tally and Nash are cute and fun, bringing out the best in each other and challenging each other to do something more, to finally lay those last few issues to rest and move into a lasting, grown-up love.

Once again Trentham delivers good-ol’ down-home Southern living with quirky but lovable characters and a love story that will having you sighing with pleasure. And she gives a little more about Sawyer and Regan – enough that I can’t wait to get my hands on their book next month!

Book Review – Happy Ever After in Christmas

27 Monday Jun 2016

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Book Review, Christmas Colorado series, Debbie Mason, Happy Ever After in Christmas

Y’all, I loved this story and I’ve seriously gotta figure out how I keep missing books in this series!

*****

Happy Ever After in Christmas

Christmas, Colorado #7

by Debbie Mason

On Sale: June 28, 2016

Formats: Mass Market & eBook

Price: $5.99 USD

Add to Goodreads

Blurb:

It’s beginning to look a lot like love . . .

As her thirtieth birthday approaches, deputy Jill Flaherty decides it’s time to live a little. When she walks into Sawyer Anderson’s bar in her sexiest dress, she’s not thinking that he’s her brother’s best friend or about the many women he dated during his years as a pro hockey player. All she’s thinking is that it’s finally time to confess to her longtime crush how she truly feels.

Sawyer is done being a player on and off the ice. Yet no one in the small town of Christmas seems to believe he’s ready to settle down, not Jill, and certainly not Jack, who is determined to keep Sawyer from breaking his little sister’s heart. But as Sawyer and Jill’s relationship heats up, can he prove that he’s her happy ever after?

THE FULL SERIES

The Trouble With Christmas, #1

Christmas in July, #2

It Happened at Christmas, #3

Wedding Bells at Christmas, #4

Snowbound at Christmas, #5

Kiss Me In Christmas, #6

Happy Ever After in Christmas, #7

Series Page on Goodreads

*****

Excerpt:

Deputy Jill Flaherty sat at her desk wrapping her brother’s birthday present for his surprise party tonight. The yellow helium balloons she’d ordered were currently bouncing in front of her face. She lifted her hand to bat them way, ripping the paper off the present in the process. A present that she’d been painstakingly wrapping for the last ten minutes. Frustrated, she swore under her breath while shaking her fingers to free them of the tape and brightly-colored tissue paper.

“You’re stuck,” Suze announced in an authoritative voice from behind her computer.

“Thank you for your insightful observation,” Jill grumbled at the forty-something woman sitting at the dispatcher’s desk across the room as she bent her head to pull the tape off her fingers with her teeth.

Suze leaned around her computer and grinned. “I didn’t mean literally. I mean you’re stuck, stuck. That’s why you’ve been so bitchy lately. You have the pre-30 birthday blues.”

“It’s my fingers that are stuck, not me. And I’m not. . . ” Jill sighed. “Okay, so maybe I have been a little bitchy. But it’s because of all the overtime I’ve been putting in the past couple of weeks. I’m tired.”

She ignored the reference to her thirtieth birthday. She wouldn’t admit to Suze that she was partially right. Like an ominous black cloud, the big 3-0 loomed large in Jill’s mind. It always had. Her mother died two days before her thirtieth. Preparations for Jack’s thirty-seventh birthday had served to remind Jill that her thirtieth was only five months away.

“Because you don’t have a life.”

Jill lifted a hand still covered in tape and paper in an are-you-kidding-me gesture. “I do so. I have–”

“Yeah, yeah, I know. You have friends and family and a job you love. Still doesn’t mean you have a life. You put yours on hold when Jack was MIA. I had a front row seat so I know what I’m talking about.”

“I have a life,” Jill reiterated without elaborating. Suze had stolen her ammunition. If having friends, family, and a job she loved didn’t count, Jill didn’t know what else to say.

A chair scraped noisily on the tile floor and Suze took a seat across from her. “Okay, so tell me, when was the last time you hid the salami?” she asked.

Jill frowned. “What . . .”

Suze rolled her brown eyes as she peeled the last of the tape and tissue paper from Jill’s fingers. “Bumped uglies. . . Did the horizontal mumbo?”

“I have no idea what you’re–”

“Oh for godsakes, when was the last time you got laid?”

Since the answer didn’t immediately pop into her head, Jill hedged, “What does that have to do with anything?”

“And there’s your problem. You can’t remember, can you?” Suze said as she rolled the paper and tape into a ball.

“Yes, I can. Seven months ago,” she said, taking a guess. Then realizing the number of months might unwittingly validate Suze’s no-life pronouncement, Jill added, “Before you say anything, I’ve been busy.”

Suze pursed her lips and tossed the ball into the garbage can. “Don’t buy two-sided tape again. And it was eight months ago with that accountant from Logan County.”

“Really? Huh. I could have sworn . . . ” She took in the I-told-you-so look on Suze’s lightly freckled face. “Oh, come on, that doesn’t mean anything.”

“Yeah, it does. It says it all. You have unmemorable sex with unmemorable men. And do you know why you do?”

“No, but I’m sure you’re going to enlighten me,” Jill said, carefully working the rest of the paper off Jack’s present with a pair of scissors.

“Fear,” Suze said, taking the scissors from Jill’s hand and looking her in the eyes. “You’re afraid to get your heart broken. That’s why you spend your time fantasizing about the man and life you want and not doing anything about it.”

“I do not fantasize about Sawyer,” Jill blurted without thinking. She caught the triumphant look in Suze’s eyes and quickly added, “Or any other man in town.”

*****

Review:

Jill isn’t the most girly of girls but just because she can kick butt while in uniform doesn’t mean that she doesn’t want the same happy ending that everyone else does. Unfortunately her dream guy is also her brother’s best friend and someone who doesn’t see her as girlfriend material. Growing up together definitely makes it hard for him to see her as anything else and you can’t help but feel bad for everything that she goes through. She’s never felt quite good enough and to have someone she’s loved forever not want her back is definitely a heart breaker. There’s a lot of back and forth between these two, but once she sets her mind to turning his head things definitely get crazy fast and Mason makes sure that it is a heck of a ride.

I love the fact that while Sawyer gets a lot of things right – kind, caring and helpful – when he screws up he does it big time 🙂 I can definitely get why somehow these two never quite make it onto the same page – they get close but somehow just keep missing it. It makes for heart-squeezing moments, but also fun times, as the two of them try to figure out where they stand with one another.

(When I read Kiss Me in Christmas, the book before this one in this series, I felt like you needed to have at least read the story before that one to truly be able to keep up and enjoy. But here, I don’t think it is a problem. Previous couples do make an appearance and you’d be more likely to pick up on all the nuances if you’d read their story too, but not to the degree as before. I think this time, Happy Ever After in Christmas can easily stand on its own. Although if you read, Christmas in July – which I did and loved, although I don’t know how I keep missing other books in the series – then you’d get a smidge better understanding of the interplay with Sawyer, Jill, Jack and Grace although I think that Mason does a great job of giving you the important parts. It’s been a long time since I read it and I kept up just fine 🙂 )

*****

Author Info:

Debbie Mason is the bestselling author of the Christmas, Colorado series. Her books have been praised for their “likable characters, clever dialogue and juicy plots” (RT Book Reviews). She also writes historical paranormals as Debbie Mazzuca. Her MacLeod series has received several nominations for best paranormal as well as a Holt Medallion Award of Merit. When she isn’t writing or reading, Debbie enjoys spending time with her very own real-life hero, their four wonderful children, an adorable grandbaby, and a yappy Yorkie named Bella.

Author Website | Facebook | Twitter

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*****

Giveaway:

Win your own copy of Happy Ever After in Christmas

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/26635ce2333/

*****

Tour Info:

I Love Romance

6/21/2016

Excerpt

Bitten by Romance

6/21/2016

Excerpt

Okie Dreams Book Reviews

6/21/2016

Excerpt

Rusticating in the Tropics

6/22/2016

Spotlight

The Romance Dish

6/22/2016

Excerpt

A bluestocking’s Place

6/22/2016

Excerpt

The Diary of a Bibliophile

6/23/2016

Author Top 5 List

Pretty Sassy Cool

6/23/2016

Author Top 5 List

Moments

6/24/2016

Excerpt

JustaBooklovinJunkie

6/24/2016

Excerpt

Mary Gramlich (The Reading Reviewer)

6/24/2016

Spotlight

Diana’s Book Reviews

6/24/2016

Excerpt

A Bookaholic Blog

6/27/2016

Excerpt

Romantic Reads and Such

6/27/2016

Excerpt

EskieMama Reads

6/28/2016

Spotlight

herding cats & burning soup

6/28/2016

Spotlight

Becky on Books

6/29/2016

Author Top 5 List

Ramblings From This Chick

6/30/2016

Excerpt

Romance Junkies

6/30/2016

Spotlight

Buried Under Romance

6/30/2016

Excerpt

BookWorm221

7/1/2016

Excerpt

Mom with a Reading Problem

7/1/2016

Spotlight

LibriAmoriMiei

7/2/2016

Author Top 5 List

Wisconsin Cheesehead Bookreviews

7/2/2016

Spotlight

Hott Books

7/2/2016

Excerpt

Thoughts in Progress

7/5/2016

Excerpt

Written Love Reviews

7/5/2016

Excerpt

books are love

7/5/2016

Spotlight

Book Review – Never Let Go

23 Thursday Jun 2016

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Book Review

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Tags

Allison B. Hanson, Blue Ridge series, Book Review, Never Let Go

Never Let Go

A Blue Ridge Romance

by Allison B. Hanson

Just one gorgeous weekend away from reality. Then they can go on like it never happened…

Riley Fisher doesn’t have time to chase after men. As a single mother working two jobs, she barely has time to eat or sleep. But a girl has needs. So when handsome veteran Sam Brooks asks her out, she decides she deserves some R&R. She doesn’t expect anything else from him—after all, he’s hardly the type to get serious.

Sam came back from Afghanistan lucky to be alive, despite PTSD that hits whenever he lets down his guard. His therapist told him to forget about relationships. When he meets Riley, he’s not planning on breaking the rules. She’s cute, petite, and a total smartass—not even his type. But she’s hard to forget. Especially once he runs into Riley and her toddler on a rustic mountain getaway and sees what he’s missing. Her kid makes him laugh all day. And Riley makes him burn all night.

Too bad a relationship is impossible. But they can enjoy the attraction. It’s not like they’re going to fall in love…

Such an amazingly sweet story! Riley and Sam slowly build a relationship – it’s not something they are expecting but they have a connection and it’s hard to resist the pull. Both of them have some issues to overcome but they complement each other well. I think my favorite part is that Hanson has Sam get professional help to overcome his PTSD, instead of having it fix itself or having love conquer all. It’s not something that he can do by himself and having the chance at a real family with Riley is the motivation he finally needs to see someone about it.

Riley has some concerns about getting involved with Sam. She hasn’t had the best of luck with men, but lucky for her this time she caught a good one. He’s caring and willing to do just about anything to take care of her and her son. Having a strong man in her life, willing to support her and help her, isn’t something she’s used to but definitely something she needs and it is great seeing her have something so good happen.

I really liked watching these two fall in love and figure out a way around their hardships. It isn’t an easy road for them but one they need to go down to build a strong future together.

Book Review – After We Fall

22 Wednesday Jun 2016

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Book Review

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After We Fall, Book Review, Marquita Valentine, Take the Fall series

After We Fall

A Take the Fall Novel

by Marquita Valentine

After winning raves for Take the Fall (“crackling with tension, intrigue, and romance”—Katy Evans) and When We Fall (“sexy, emotional, heartfelt”—Monica Murphy), Marquita Valentine ratchets up the tension as new beginnings lead to undeniable passion.

A tough cop with an even tougher past, Hunter Sloan has never let anyone stop him from getting what he wants—and he wants Evangeline Ambrose bad. With her gentle curves and raw vulnerability, Hunter’s beautiful, mysterious new neighbor awakens his protective side. Determined to do right by a woman who’s gone through hell and back, Hunter could be the one to take away the pain—so long as his own secrets don’t sink their relationship before it begins.

Having escaped an abusive marriage, Evangeline simply wants to start over in the small, quiet town of Forrestville. She’s also avoiding all contact with the opposite sex, because she just can’t trust her instincts when it comes to men—not even with the sinfully sexy cop next door. So why can’t she stop thinking about him? Hunter has darkness in his soul, and yet no one ever made her feel so safe. For all her best laid plans, Evangeline didn’t count on choices this hard—or temptation this hot.

After reading When We Fall I was just waiting for this story … and was so thrilled with what I got!

If you are looking for the perfect book boyfriend, look no further than Hunter Sloan. Thanks to his past he’s caring and understanding but also strong. He shows an amazing amount of sensitivity to Evangeline and what she’s been through – going slow and wooing her, letting her set the pace but making sure that she knows that he’s there waiting for her. He’s protective, funny and sexy as all get out.

Evangeline has had a rough few years, thanks to an abusive relationship. And she still finds it hard to let that go and trust others, even therapists. She needs to address it, not ignore it, and Hunter does everything he can to help make that happen. She still has to be the one to heal herself but he’s there to support her every step of the way.

If you’ve read the other books in this series (and apparently there is another series that involves Evangeline’s siblings, but I haven’t read it) then you know what you are going to get. It’s sexy and gritty and so addictive to read. I’ve already seen what’s coming in the next book and I CANNOT wait to get my hands on a copy – get those two together and let’s watch the sparks fly 🙂

Book Review – Only You

17 Friday Jun 2016

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

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Bachelor Brotherhood series, Book Review, Denise Grover Swank, Only You

Love wedding related romances and this one was a ton of fun!

*****

Only You

Series: The Bachelor Brotherhood, #1

by Denise Grover Swank

On Sale: June 14, 2016

Publisher: Forever

Format: eBook

Price: $3.99 USD

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Blurb:

The first book in a spin-off from Denise Grover Swank’s New York Times bestselling Wedding Pact series (The Wedding Pact, The Player, The Gambler, The Valentine)

“Warm and funny, the first book in the Bachelor Brotherhood series reads like a great Hollywood rom-com.” –iBooks Best Books of June

Never say never…

Romance isn’t an option for Holly Greenwood. With her wedding planner career on the line she needs to stay focused, and that means pleasing her demanding boss, not getting distracted by her mind-alteringly hot neighbor…

Ex-Marine Kevin Vandemeer craves normalcy. Instead, he has a broken-down old house in need of a match and some gasoline, a meddling family, and the uncanny ability to attract the world’s craziest women. At least that last one he can fix: he and his buddies have made a pact to swear off women, and this includes his sweetly sexy new neighbor.

After one hot night that looks a whole lot like a disaster in the light of day, Kevin and Holly are about to learn that true love doesn’t play by the rules…

Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Google Play | Kobo

*****

Excerpt:

Kevin wasn’t sure why he was surprised Holly was here. She was a wedding planner, and from what he’d seen so far, she was a damn good one.

He’d been on his way out of the room, needing a breather from the noise and the chaos of the reception when he’d seen her at the table. He hadn’t planned on asking her to dance—hell, he hated to dance—but he’d been desperate for a reason to talk to her.

When he sat back down at the table, Tyler wore a smirk. “Crashed and burned, huh? I thought you were going to the bathroom to take a piss.”

“I was. I just happened to run into a friend.”

“Run into a friend, my ass. I thought we’d sworn off women. I’ve held up my end of the bachelor brotherhood. And let me add that I had no idea my balls could turn this blue.”

“She’s a friend,” Kevin said, trying not to sound irritated and feed any more fuel to the fire.

“She’s his neighbor,” Matt said, taking a sip of his beer, and giving Kevin a pointed look. “They’re friends.”

Tyler burst out laughing. “You got friend-zoned?”

“No,” Kevin said slowly, picking up his drink, surprised Matt hadn’t told Tyler about the situation he’d stumbled upon. “I was the one who said I wanted to be friends.”

“Why?” Tyler asked, watching Holly with a little more interest than Kevin liked. “She’s hot. Do you know if she’s seeing anyone?”

“No.” Kevin’s irritation grew.

Tyler stood and adjusted his tie, a smirk lighting up his eyes. “Screw the brotherhood. I think I’ll go over and introduce myself.”

Kevin was up in a flash. “I don’t think so.”

“Why not?” he looked surprised. “She looks like she’d be worth a short break from my hiatus from women.”

Kevin stepped in front of his path, his jaw set. “Because you’re a prick who will use her and toss her aside and she deserves a helluva lot better than that.”

Matt was up in an instant, grabbing Kevin’s arm. “Why don’t we get some air?”

“You like her,” Tyler said, slack jawed.

“Of course he likes her,” Matt said. “For someone so smart, sometimes you’re an idiot.”

“In my defense,” Tyler said. “He said they were friends.”

“Okay,” Matt said slowly. “When was the last time you convinced a woman to be just a friend?”

“Never.”

“I rest my case, counselor.”

Tyler sat back down, and Matt tugged on Kevin’s sleeve to get him to join them.

“I can’t believe you didn’t last even a single week,” Tyler said.

“He didn’t last a single day,” Matt told him. “He slept with her the night after our agreement to remain single.”

Tyler burst out laughing. “For a tough-ass former Marine, I expected you to be the last holdout, man. At least a week or two.”

*****

Review:

**Minor spoilers, maybe, kinda, so just a warning**

FYI, I didn’t read the Wedding Pact series (for those that know me, *shocker!*), and while there are references to it – especially with Kevin’s sister – it didn’t impact this story much. I think it can easily stand on its own.

I’m going to start by saying that the ending seems a little rushed to me, not the relationship so much as just the timing. I think the whole story covers about 3 weeks, and while it reads like a movie rom-com (funny, wacky and sweet), what works for me on the screen needs a little more time on the page for some reason here 🙂 I want to emphasize it is definitely a very minor complaint, because if you take the timing out of it, I am highly satisfied with how things go for these two.

As I say that, I have to admit that I do kinda wish I’d read at least Megan’s story so I have a better feel for Kevin because I think that he was probably a handful in the previous book. The stories about the crazies that he attracts, and thus the very funny misunderstanding with Holly, are a hoot. And he’s got such a wonderful relationship with his sister, supportive but still snarky, that I would love to see that from her side.

Once their misunderstandings get straightened out, the interactions between Kevin & Holly are sweet, spicy and humorous. The main drama then comes from his mother and the fact that Holly works for her. It’s not the best of situations for either but they eventually make it work. (There’s those rom-com moments again 🙂 )

I’m looking forward to Kevin’s friends getting their own romances because I definitely believe those two need to be shaken up!

*****

Author Info:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Denise Grover Swank was born in Kansas City, Missouri and lived in the area until she was nineteen. Then she became a nomadic gypsy, living in five cities, four states and ten houses over the course of ten years before she moved back to her roots. She speaks English and smattering of Spanish and Chinese, which she learned through an intensive Nick Jr. immersion period. Her hobbies include witty (in her own mind) Facebook comments and dancing in her kitchen with her children. (Quite badly if you believe her offspring.) Hidden talents include the gift of justification and the ability to drink massive amounts of caffeine and still fall asleep within two minutes. Her lack of the sense of smell allows her to perform many unspeakable tasks. She has six children and hasn’t lost her sanity. Or so she leads you to believe.

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*****

Tour Schedule:

Blog	Post Date	Type of Post
(un)Conventional Bookviews	6/14/0006	Spotlight*
I Love Romance	6/14/2016	Spotlight
The Sassy Bookster	6/14/2016	Spotlight
E-Reading After Midnight	6/14/2016	Spotlight
Pure Jonel, Confessions of a Bibliophile	6/14/2016	Top 5 List
Romancing Rakes for the Love of Romance	6/14/2016	Spotlight
Bookish Things & More	6/14/2016	Spotlight
Okie Dreams Book Reviews	6/14/2016	Spotlight
Romance Junkies	6/14/2016	Q&A
Novels In Heels	6/14/2016	Spotlight
Book You Very Much	6/14/2016	Top 5 List
Ramblings From This Chick	6/15/2016	Spotlight
I Wish I Lived in a Library	6/15/2016	Spotlight
Margie’s Must Reads	6/15/2016	Spotlight
A Bluestocking’s Place	6/15/2016	Spotlight
Lushbookreviews	6/16/2016	Spotlight
The Book Reading Gals	6/16/2016	Spotlight
Taking Time for Mommy	6/16/2016	Spotlight
Alphas Do It Better Book Blog	6/16/2016	Spotlight
Ever After Book Reviews	6/16/2016	Spotlight
Hott Books	6/16/2016	Spotlight
Mary Gramlich (The Reading Reviewer)	6/16/2016	Spotlight
Life With Two Boys	6/17/2016	Spotlight
Romantic Reads and Such	6/17/2016	Spotlight
The Lusty Literate	6/17/2016	Spotlight
Stephaine’s Book Reports	6/17/2016	Spotlight
BFD Book Blog	6/17/2016	Spotlight
The Book Disciple	6/18/2016	Spotlight
Book Junkiez	6/18/2016	Spotlight
Moonlight Rendezvous	6/18/2016	Spotlight
Nose Stuck in a Book	6/19/2016	Spotlight
Wishful Endings	6/20/2016	Top 5 List
For the Love of Books and Alcohol	6/20/2016	Q&A
Romance Reviews and More	6/20/2016	Spotlight
Lustful Literature	6/20/2016	Spotlight
Palmer’s Page Turners	6/21/2016	Spotlight
Becca the Bibliophile	6/22/2016	Spotlight
OMGReads	6/23/2016	Spotlight
Bridget’s Book Bungalow	6/23/2016	Spotlight
Nice Ladies, Naughty Books	6/23/2016	Spotlight
Those Crazy Book Chicks	6/24/2016	Spotlight
Rustys Reading	6/24/2016	Spotlight
Pretty Sassy Cool	6/24/2016	Spotlight
A Novel Glimpse	6/27/2016	Spotlight
babbling about books and more	6/27/2016	Spotlight
Blogging by Liza	6/27/2016	Spotlight
Once Upon A Page	6/28/2016	Spotlight
Kitty’s Book Spot!	6/28/2016	Q&A
JaM Book Blog	6/28/2016	Spotlight
Books and Boys Book Blog	6/28/2016	Spotlight
books are love	6/28/2016	Spotlight