Book Review – Under the Covers

31 Monday Aug 2015

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Book Review, Claire Boston, Texans Quartet series, Under the Covers

Under the Covers

The Texan Quartet, Book Three

by Claire Boston

What if the one time you didn’t want love was when you truly needed it?

Forced to flee her abusive ex, alone with no support, Elle is determined to rebuild her life and protect her five-year-old son. Not one to take the easy road, she opens a bookshop café, but opening day almost ends in disaster. In the midst of this chaos, the last thing she needs is a man as charming as George Jones getting in her way.

George has always been a sucker for a damsel in distress, and Elle ticks all the boxes. But Elle’s not interested in being rescued by anyone, especially not him. She knows her taste in men can’t be trusted, but fighting George’s charisma is harder than she expected. And George, who is not one to ignore an itch, has found there’s something about Elle that’s got under his skin.

When Elle’s ex turns up to cause trouble, George must overcome his boyish flirtatiousness if he’s to convince Elle to trust herself and let him into her life. But can Elle put her past behind her before it overwhelms her present?

Perfect for fans of Nora Roberts, Liane Moriarty, Jojo Moyes and Jane Green.

I somehow missed Book Two in this series (surprised?) but I did get to read the first one, What Goes On Tour, and at the time I said I hoped there would be another because I wanted to see more of George. And boy did Boston delivery.

George is great. He’s amazingly understanding and cares a lot about people. He’s a great fit as a band manager and some of the traits that work for that also work well in his personal relationships. He’s good at paying attention, about helping out when needed, and he’s a fixer … the only problem is that Elle doesn’t want any help. At all. She’s just gotten out of an abusive relationship with a controlling man and having someone step in to direct her life immediately causes issues. Good thing that George is a fast learner and patient. He makes a few mistakes along the way, a lot of that because Elle is still skittish, but he figures things out and proves to be great hero material.

There isn’t a lot of suspense or danger, although Elle’s ex does make a few appearances, causing trouble – mainly we focus on the growth of Elle & George’s relationship. They work their way thru the relationship minefield that her past (and his personality) have created and it’s done very well. In real life I think that Elle might have needed a little more time, but the interactions between the two are believable. It’s a journey of steps for them and readers will be happy to be there for every single one.

(If you haven’t read the rest of The Texan Quartet, you’ll be fine. I was a little afraid that missing Book 2 would be an issue for me but Boston does a great job of keeping you in the loop – telling you who’s who and the important parts of their stories. And now I’m so curious about Imogen’s story that I’m adding it to my TBR pile. And I’ll definitely keep my eye out for Book 4.)

Book Review – Officer on Duty

30 Sunday Aug 2015

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Book Review, Lock and Key series, Officer on Duty, Ranae Rose

Officer on Duty

(Lock and Key #4)

by Ranae Rose

Life is tough but Sergeant Jeremy Connor is tougher. Riley County, North Carolina is recovering from a year of hell when devastation strikes again, and the Sheriff’s Department is working the frontlines. On top of keeping the community safe, there’s Jeremy’s greatest responsibility: raising his daughter. Alone.

Seeing local women turn up dead is enough to shake any father, even a veteran sheriff’s deputy. After years of loneliness, the timing couldn’t be worse to let another woman into his life. But he’d have better luck resisting gravity than resisting Lucia Ramirez, the first to prove there’s still a heart beneath his bullet proof vest.

For the first time in over a decade, serving and protecting isn’t enough to satisfy him anymore. But someone to love means someone to lose…

Book 4 in the Lock and Key Series

Just like all of the other books in the Lock and Key series, I really enjoyed Officer on Duty. It had just that right amount of suspense to offset a sexy love story.

The romance portion was sweet, well developed and realistic. My only complaint is that I didn’t completely understand why Jeremy didn’t think that he was relationship material. I get that his wife left him and their newborn daughter when he was quite young but I would have thought he would have gotten over that in the dozen years since then. I don’t know if there was more to their story that we weren’t given or maybe it was a little too subtle for me (I can be a little oblivious to undercurrents – which is one of the reasons I hated dissecting stories in English class). If he’d had a few more bad experiences or there was more info on his marriage maybe it wouldn’t have bothered me. As it was, he would start in and I thought “whatever, Jeremy, you are a hottie in your uniform with a big heart and smarts to boot. Who wouldn’t want a guy like that?”

Besides being sexy, caring and intelligent, he also has a deep feeling of responsibility for his community and those in his life. It’s a great thing to have not only in a police officer but also in the man in your life. Which means that once he got over himself he turned into a great boyfriend 🙂 And Lucia was great. She’s fun, caring, and recognized a good thing when she saw it – she’s patient and willing to wait for Jeremy to get his act together … which is good because that man is HOT in his uniform, and out of it.

I really enjoyed the slow build for the mystery. We were given the first part of it pretty much right away and then got glimpses into the killer as we move thru the story. It made for a compelling, albeit quite cracked, bad guy. You don’t like her but you kinda understood where she was coming from (in a crazy pants kind of way) – why she was the way she was and how she came to this point in her life, which is important to a good story. And her actions reached into Jeremy and Lucia’s lives, leaving a big impact.

When I finished Officer in Pursuit, I was excited to see what Rose would do for Jeremy and she doesn’t disappoint. She gave our true-hearted deputy a touch of danger and a good women to help him. I’m very sorry to see the series end but I’m ready for whatever Rose has in store for us next. Looks like she’s got something in the works with the first book in her South Island PD series debuting this fall. I’m sure it too will be full of sexy guys, strong women, intrigue, heat and heart.

(Oh for those that are new to the series, you can start here. The characters from earlier stories make and appearance and there are some references to previous plots but it isn’t a big deal.)

Book Review – Trouble When You Walked In

24 Monday Aug 2015

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Book Review, Kieran Kramer, Trouble When You Walked In

Trouble When You Walked In

by Kieran Kramer

She’s a woman of her word.

Cissie Rogers likes to do everything by the book. Literally. The town librarian in Kettle Knob, North Carolina, she’s determined to preserve the future of literature–and the library’s romantic legend–for her patrons. It’s not easy when the mayor himself, Boone Braddock, wants to close the library down. There’s only one way for Cissie to put a stop to him: By running for mayor herself!

Is he a player–or does he mean business?

Boone is Kettle Knob’s favorite son, a champion athlete and stellar football coach with deep local roots. Cissie will need more than a savvy slogan and a pair of three-inch high heels to stand a chance at the polls. But what about the campaign that’s underway in her own heart? What began as professional rivalry has transformed into a simmering attraction that neither contender can ignore. Could it be that the keeper of the town’s card catalog and the legendary football hero are ready to team up…and write their own storybook romance?

“Kieran Kramer’s smart, sassy storytelling charms readers because there is always poignancy mixed with passion, tenderness, and humor.” –RT Book Reviews

Trouble When You Walked In is a fun, humorous, and sweet small-town read (which is one of my favorite kinds of books). I love the quirkiness, the closeness, and how involved everyone is with everyone else. It makes me crave a different way of life, even one full of nosy busybodies.

Boone is the can’t-do-wrong golden child – he’s nice, cares about the town and its people. He’s the guy that men want to be and women just want. But he’s also juggling a lot of expectations, especially from his parents, and hiding a pretty big secret that is keeping him from acting on his attraction to the pretty little librarian … the one who has a lot of spunk hiding behind her tweed skirts. Cissie usually fades into the background but she isn’t going to back down when her library is threatened. If it means going against Boone in the mayor’s race then she will do exactly that, regardless of how sexy she finds him.

Watching these two dance around their differences and their attraction – butting heads and sneaking kisses – is a riot. I laughed and sighed and turned pages as quickly as I could and I can’t wait to see what else Kramer brings us from Kettle Knob.

Book Review – Ryan’s Love

20 Thursday Aug 2015

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Book Review, C.A. Harms, Ryan's Love, Sawyer Brothers series

Ryan’s love

Sawyer Brothers #1

by C.A. Harms

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release: August 11, 2015

Publisher: Limitless Publishing

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25924477-ryan-s-love

Blurb:

One of the hardest things I have ever had to do was bury my wife.

The second hardest thing would be watching my 12 year old daughter fall to her knees as they lowered her mother into the ground to rest.

A heart wrenching vision that will forever be etched in my mind.

Claire was my best friend, she had been since we were barely old enough to talk. I always knew, one day, I would marry her. I think I may have even told her that a few times while we were growing up.

Never did I think I would lose her so suddenly.

I knew at that moment…

Our life would never be the same again…

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://goo.gl/GNAMuy

Amazon CA: http://goo.gl/t1g3l8

Amazon UK: http://goo.gl/VxKZEu

Amazon AU: http://goo.gl/3qjAqF

*****

Excerpt:

“Climb up,” I said from behind her as she stood staring up at the horse only a few feet from her with a look of panic on her face. I was more than positive this was the closest this city girl had ever been to one.

She peered back over her shoulder, and I almost laughed at how overwhelmed she looked.

“I’m from the city,” she said with wide eyes, emphasizing her loss at what to do. “Ryan, you do understand that we have subways and taxis, right? We do not have horses that are the size of SUVs. I’m going to need a little help if you expect me—” She pointed toward her chest, then spun around to point at the horse. “—to get up on that thing.”

Now I did chuckle. It was impossible not to. She was damn near panicking at the thought of how she would mount and then ride the horse.

I stepped up behind her, my chest fitting flush against her back. Gripping her hips, I leaned my head closer and grazed my lips over her ear. Her body relaxed against mine, and she tilted her head to the side, opening up her neck to me.

As I placed a kiss at the base of her neck, she shuddered in my arms. “You have to put your foot in the stirrups,” I whispered before kissing just below her ear. “I’ll lift as you pull yourself up.”

She nodded with her eyes closed as her chest moved up and down in small pants

“Go on,” I urged.

I lifted her as she gripped the saddle, and she yelped when I firmly placed her atop Storm, my father’s Oldenburg stallion. Jackson held him steady as I pulled myself up and took my spot behind Amber. Our bodies were so close together I could feel her ragged breaths as she shifted against me with each one.

*****

Review:

The blurb for this book must have been written by someone who loves to tease 🙂 We pick up the story three years after Claire’s death and Ryan is just existing – he’s building a good life with his daughter but he’s lost his spark. Then he meets Amber … on the side of the road as she kicks the heck out of her flat tire (it is so going on my list as a favorite first meeting).

Of course the fact that this is the first time that Ryan has dated since his wife died causes quite a few problems. His daughter understandably has issues with it and he’s got some conflicted feelings of his own to deal with. But deal with it they do and it creates for readers a wonderfully emotional story. Some may have a problem with how quickly they fall in love, but it is so very sweet that I just don’t care.

We’re also given some great secondary characters in Ryan’s brothers and Amber’s friends. I can’t wait to see what Harms does with the next couple of books!

(There are some editing issues but they could just be because I was reading an ARC. They weren’t enough to bother me but they were pretty apparent and I know some people (like my husband) just can’t handle it. Most likely though they will be fixed in the final copy.)

*****

BTW, Jackson’s story is next – check out this great cover!

*****

Author Info:

C.A. Harms is like any other addicted reader. She enjoys happy endings and HEA love stories. She hasn’t always been a lover of Romance and had once been addicted to a good Mystery. Just recently she has taken on a new liking and now is a full blown Romance novel addict.

She lives in Illinois and enjoys spending time with her husband and two children. You will always find her with her kindle or paperback in hand as it is her favorite pass time.

Social media links:

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-CA-Harms/354791947956151

Twitter https://twitter.com/Charms0814

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/C.A.-Harms/e/B00BM5QT9S/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Tsu https://www.tsu.co/AuthorCAHarms

Pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/ca0628/

Instagram http://instagram.com/authorcaharms

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6895633.C_A_Harms

Newsletter: http://bit.ly/1xsgHCS

*****

Book Review – Stay With Me

19 Wednesday Aug 2015

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Book Review, Isabel Winsor, Pleasure Grove series, Stay With Me

Stay With Me

A Pleasure Grove Novel (Volume 2)

by Isabel Winsor

An Uninvited Guest

She was supposed to deliver the documents to her boss and then go home… But Regina walks in on a sinfully handsome man – naked and chained – and she finds herself sharing one brazen, deliciously forbidden encounter with him. After she walks away, she expects to go back to her normal life – job, dating and friends.

An Irresistible Stranger

Speer never thought he’d rebuild his crumbling life with a woman haunting his body, his mind and his heart. He needs more of her even though it will lead to heartbreak. Speer is damaged goods and yet, Regina sees in him something worth redeeming; something worth loving. Her love terrifies him, even as it awakens in him the possibility there’s something worth staying for…

Some of you may remember Winsor’s Pleasure Grove series from Unleashed Under the Mistletoe. If you haven’t don’t worry about it, this one can stand on its own pretty well – but you do have to be ready for some seriously steamy reading. Don’t get me wrong, in no way does Winsor scrimp on the emotions (I found myself crying at the end), but she also in no way scrimps on the steam!

Speer is dealing with a whole bunch of issues stemming from the death of his brother. He’s run away for a couple of years but now he’s out of options and he’s come home. Shortly afterward he meets Regina and she starts to help him come alive again. It’s a bumpy ride – one that Regina has to have the patience and understanding of a saint to handle. But she’s had some trouble spots of her own and learned a lot because of it so she’s able to use that wisdom with Speer.

There are a couple of things that I really appreciate about the way that Winsor handles this story. Even though Speer wants to run from his troubles again, he stands firm and faces it with Regina, but he also understands that it is going to require professional help to truly get over everything that has happened. It’s refreshing in a genre where all too often you get a “love conquers all” kind of ending.

With complicated and troubled characters, an emotional storyline, and enough sizzle to get you hot under the collar, Winsor’s newest is an erotic, and yet heartwarming, treat. I can’t wait to see what she gives us next … Speer’s friend Boyd is in desperate need of a HEA.

Book Review – Burning Submission

18 Tuesday Aug 2015

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Book Review, Burning Submission, J. Richards, The Submission Series

If I’m looking at my schedule right, it is going to be a week of reviews. And we’re going from yesterday’s sweet contemporary read to something a little more … spicy!

*****

Burning Submission

The Submission Series, Book One

by J. Richards

Blurb:

Sometimes submission can be hot…

Vicki’s never had a problem standing up for herself. So when a meathead at the gym grabs her butt, she has no problem punching him in the face. Gavin, the gorgeous gym owner, throws the guy out, and his tender, but insistent demand to
tend to her injured hand makes Vicki hot. The buff, sex-god-come-to-life is everything she’s ever wanted, and he’s only too happy to show her how good sex can be.

Gavin is entranced by the feisty woman, even though he already has more than enough on his hands with the gym and his work as a volunteer firefighter. The last thing he needs is this bundle of contained fury tossed in his lap, but something about her calls to his inner Dominant. Not only that, her body responds to him like no other. But when he discovers someone is stalking her, it’s no longer all fun and games. Submission is all about trust…and after a brutal attack, trust is the last thing Vicki is willing to give…to anyone.

Reader note: contains light BDSM, spanking, and submission elements.

Buy Links:

*****

Excerpt:

She scans her face in the mirror, heart beating wildly with the near death dash. She glares at herself. Clumsy! With another big exhale, she pushes off the treadmill. Grabbing her water bottle, she heads for the free weight section of the large gym. The long row of dumbbells sits against the large mirror. Benches and a few squat racks are spread out around her. Several larger men huff and puff as they test their personal bests.

One man to her right slams a loaded bar into the ground with an exaggerated grunt. The noise makes her jump. Vicki twists her upper body to look over her shoulder at the beast, and he grins. She wrinkles her nose at him before she turns back to face the reflective glass. She parts her feet, bending her knees slightly, stretching out the muscles she has taken the care to warm up. She presses a few buttons on her iPod to make the music fill her brain and block out the buffoons behind her. She grabs two twenty-five-pound dumbbells. Again she shifts her feet for balance. Her knees begin to bend, and a big hand smacks her left ass cheek.

The sting of the hand isn’t too bad—actually, in a different setting, she would welcome the bite of a good spanking—but the idea of someone putting their hands on her body without permission sets her blood to boil. With a scowl, she looks past herself in the mirror to see the smug man’s face, his nasty eyes still glued to her rear end. Vicki throws the weights in her hand to the padded floor. Pivoting like a professional basketball player, she tightens her abs and lets her fist fly into the man’s face.

“Fucking bitch!” he growls and steps toward her. He towers over her five-foot frame, but she doesn’t care. Squaring her shoulders, Vicki prepares to punch him again.

“Seriously?” she asks him, cocking her head to the side in a taunt. “Sexual harassment and you wanna add verbal abuse to the list?” Fluttering her eyelashes like some sweet five-year-old, she goads the beast before her.

“I’ll turn you upside down, little girl.” One more step and his chest brushes hers.

“Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!” A deep voice yells from behind the guy she is planning to pummel.

“What the hell is going on?” It’s the god who was serving smoothies. He puts his big hand on the asshole’s chest and shoves him backward. He looks at the guy and then turns those dark chocolate eyes on Vicki.

*****

Review:

Burning Submission is short and doesn’t go into explicit detail on the D/s relationship (there are pretty steamy sex scenes, but they are more of an intro to BDSM) and heavy on the suspense with Vicki’s stalker. That’s what gives Gavin a chance to insert himself into her life and for her to come into contact with a lifestyle that interests her but that she hasn’t explored before.

It’s not an overly complicated storyline, which I appreciated. Instead it focuses on the two main characters as they dance around their attraction and whether Vicki is willing to herself fully to Gavin.

While you should take the reader note to heart, keep in mind that it is a good opportunity for readers who are interested in checking out the genre. Clocking in at 105 pages, Burning Submission is a fun, fast, hot read and a great way to try out a new series or even a new type of book.

*****

Author Info:

J. Richards is a twenty six year old mother and wife. She was born in a small town in New Hampshire, which she left at the age of eighteen to marry the love of her life. Leaving everything and everyone she had ever known to live down south with her new husband. They have now been married for almost eight years and are raising a wild child of a daughter. Her husband is in the military and because of that, they have shared the joys and struggles of moving around the country.

J. Richards has always loved reading and writing, dreams of becoming a published author seemed just that, only dreams. In 2015, with encouragement from a friend, she submitted a short story to etopia press and was beyond surprised when they wished to publish it. She now has four works under contract and a very hot series in the making.

Facebook | Twitter | Blog

*****

Giveaway:

Win your own copy!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*****

Tour Info:

August 17^th

JJs Kinky Books – review

http://jjskinkybooks.blogspot.co.uk

Love, Life and Book Lust – review

http://lovelifeandbooklust.wordpress.com

August 18^th

Lola White – spotlight

www.lola-white.com

Romantic Reads and Such – review

https://romanticreadsandsuch.wordpress.com

August 19^th

Eager Reader – interview

www.eager-reader.com

Chica Loves to Read – spotlight

http://www.chicalovestoread.blogspot.com

Books and Banter – spotlight

http://locglin.blogspot.com

August 20^th

My Guilty Obsession – spotlight

https://www.myguiltyobsession.com

Boom Baby Reviews – interview

http://www.boombabyreviews.com/

August 21^st

CD Yess Writes – review

http://cdyesswrites.blogspot.com

Hines and Bigham’s Literary Tryst – review

www.hinesandbigham.wordpress.com

Kelly Smith Reviews – spotlight

www.kellysmithreviews.blogspot.com

Book Review – And Then He Kissed Me

11 Tuesday Aug 2015

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And Then He Kissed Me, Book Review, Kim Amos, White Pine series

And Then He Kissed Me

White Pine series

by Kim Amos

PLAYING WITH FIRE . . .

Five years ago, Audrey Tanner flung caution to the wind and herself into the arms of an emerald-eyed bad boy biker she met at the White Pine Asparagus Festival. Two blissful weeks together convinced her that Kieran Callaghan was The One-until The One blew town without a word, leaving her brokenhearted. Now, starting a new job at the new Harley Davidson showroom, Audrey is floored to meet her new boss: Kieran. He’s still hot as hell, but she won’t fall for his sexy smile again. This time, she’s calling the shots.

. . . OR PLAYING FOR KEEPS?

Kieran never thought he’d return to White Pine, Minnesota, much less see Audrey again. Gorgeous and smart as ever, she’s just as irresistible as he remembered. She still doesn’t know why he had to leave-or that he’s missed her every day since. But he can’t deny he wants more than the no-strings fling Audrey proposes. As things between them heat up, Kieran must choose between the secret he’s sworn to keep and the woman he never stopped loving . . .

In most of my reviews I talk about how fabulous (or not until the end) the hero is but in And Then He Kissed Me Audrey is definitely the star. Don’t get me wrong, I love Kieran and I applaud the changes he’s made to his life since leaving White Pine five years ago. But it is the changes that Audrey is going thru now, thanks to losing her job and becoming a Harley model, that are truly awesome and fun.

While out of her comfort zone in the new job, especially once she realizes that Kieran is her new boss, standing in front of everyone in sexy leather biker clothes gives her a certain attitude that bleeds over into her every day life. Watching her come out of her shell and shine is an absolute treat. But it isn’t always easy.

Besides dealing with Kieran (which would be enough on its own), her controlling sister is pushing against not only her changes but her being anywhere near Kieran again. Having it been the two of them for so long, it definitely isn’t easy for Audrey to deal with her sister’s attitude. But as she finds a new stride, I cheered for her every step of the way. It’s glorious and she’s definitely one of my favorite heroines of all time – her opening comment to Kieran sealed it for me … but you have to read it to find out what she said (or look at reviews on Goodreads) 🙂

I also loved how vulnerable both Audrey and Kieran are in this situation. Both of them have to come to terms with the past and decide if they are going to let it impact their future – Audrey on whether she can trust Kieran again and Kieran on whether he can be vulnerable but more importantly if he can reveal a secret that will hurt Audrey. It’s not an uncommon dance in romances but one that Amos handles exceptionally well.

It’s no surprise that I didn’t read the first story in this series, A Kiss to Build a Dream On. Luckily this is one of those times when it didn’t matter, although I’m definitely adding it to my TBR pile. With fantastic primary and secondary characters and an emotional storyline, And Then He Kissed Me is a must read and Amos is an author to watch. She has two more White Pine stories this year and I can’t wait!

Book Review – Pete Sebastian, Coach

08 Saturday Aug 2015

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

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Book Review, First & Ten series, Jean Joachim, Pete Sebastian Coach

I love football … even fictional football 🙂

*****

PETE SEBASTIAN ANSWERS A FEW QUESTIONS:

Chocolate or vanilla? Chocolate, or course.
Mounds or Almond Joy? What? You don’t expect me to answer that in public, do you?
Steak or lobster? Steak – cooked on the grill.
Oatmeal or scrambled eggs? Chocolate chip pancakes.
Sausage or Bacon? Bacon. Goes better with chocolate.
Airplane or train? Airplane. I hate to waste time.
Walking or driving? Running. Was that an option?
Country or Rock? Country.
Women – brunette, blonde or redhead? Blonde, about five three, nice rack.
Pretty or Witty? Both – smart. Gotta be smart and love football. Sexy wouldn’t hurt. Wait. Maybe that should go first? Nah. Smart first.

*****

Pete Sebastian, Coach

First & Ten Series

by Jean Joachim

GENRE – Sports Romance

PUBLICATION DATE – June, 2015

LENGTH (Pages/# Words) – 66,000 words – 220 pages

PUBLISHER – Secret Cravings Publishing

COVER ARTIST – Dawne Dominique

Blurb:

Pete Sebastian, Coach Bass to his team, thought he had his life under control until smart, alluring Jo Parker sashayed into a front office job with the Connecticut Kings. He locks horns with the beautiful female when she implements new ideas to clean-up the team’s rep. Was she there just to push him around or was she the one woman he’s been seeking?

Struggling toward success in the man’s-man world of the NFL, Jo Parker has relied on her brains and determination to get ahead. But her new job at the Kings has one hurdle she hadn’t counted on – a sexy coach standing in her way. How can she kept her mind on her job when all she wants is to get closer, much closer, to the coach?

Can Coach Bass handle a woman in the boardroom and bedroom? Can he keep his heart safe or will the revelation of a secret destroy his dreams, leaving him alone once more?

Caution: Locker room language.

AMAZON KINDLE US – http://www.amazon.com/Pete-Sebastian-Coach-First-Book-ebook/dp/B00ZAXXGUS/

AMAZON KINDLE CA – http://www.amazon.ca/Pete-Sebastian-Coach-First-Book-ebook/dp/B00ZAXXGUS/

AMAZON KINDLE UK – http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pete-Sebastian-Coach-First-Book-ebook/dp/B00ZAXXGUS/

AMAZON PAPERBACK – http://www.amazon.com/Pete-Sebastian-Coach-First-Ten/dp/1631056417/

BARNES & NOBLES NOOK – http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/pete-sebastian-coach-jean-joachim/1122088468?ean=2940151448949

ITUNES – https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/pete-sebastian-coach/id1009752750?mt=11

GOODREADS – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25694459-pete-sebastian-coach?ac=1

*****

Character Bios:

PETE SEBASTIAN – Winning the Super Bowl is just the beginning for Coach Bass, as his team calls him. He walks on water, until his world gets turned upside down by a feisty female. When the new V.P. of Publicity turns out to be a gorgeous blonde, Pete is stopped in his tracks.

Raising twin daughters alone after his wife took a powder, Pete has been too busy to be lonely. But now that his girls are off to college, loneliness has become his constant companion. Bed partners are easy to find, but the right woman, one who loves football almost as much as she loves him isn’t easy. So far, he has come up empty.

With a beautiful woman in the office next door, Pete can hardly concentrate on preparing for training camp. All he wants to do is kiss Jo Parker, but she’s tucked away behind a professional demeanor and not going to play his game.

Never one to throw in the towel, Pete has a strategy to win this woman who keeps one step ahead of him. Can the charming, sexy coach win the affections of the elusive Ms. Parker? Or his he destined to continue on playing a solo game?

JO PARKER – Jo Parker is a woman who knows what she wants, right? She thinks she does. A successful woman in the man’s world of NFL front office, Jo has worked hard and taken lots of guff to rise to the level of vice president of publicity.

Her new job at The Connecticut Kings presents a challenge. Not only does she have to clean up the reputation of a team that fired two players for domestic violence, but she has to resist the practically irresistible charms of the coach, Pete Sebastian.

With her pug, Daisy, tucked under her arm, Jo takes Monroe and the Kings by storm. She rolls in, determined to send the players to anger management, to avoid further bad behavior. But they roadblock her at every step. And leading the resistance is the devastatingly handsome, Coach Bass.

Chemistry and mutual attraction short-circuit Ms. Parker’s plans. She finds herself in unfamiliar waters, falling in love. But love is not in her plans. She doesn’t believe in Prince Charming and she’s not about to give up her independence for a roll in the hay.

But loneliness and a hunger for love, born from a sterile childhood, draw her to the warmth and charm of Pete Sebastian. Will she be able to control her emotions, fight through their mutual attraction to focus on the job and only the job?

*****

Excerpt:

Pete stripped down to boxers and donned his running shorts. Not bothering with a shirt, he headed for the beach. There was no way he could get to sleep after his steamy encounter with Jo Parker. Running would clear his mind and calm his body.

He pulled an elastic with his house key on it over his wrist and left. As he walked down the path to the sand, he thought about Jo. Christ, I can’t stop thinking about her! Chilled by the night air, he started to run. He’d known she was sexy, but the way she had surrendered in his arms, well, surprised wasn’t the word. He never thought she’d fall without a major seduction. Flowers, candy, dinners out—now he could forget that. Next date would end in his bed.

Pete could hardly wait. Searching his memory, he couldn’t remember when he had been so turned on so quickly. She’d had him when she’d walked in wearing that sweater. Shit, I could barely keep my eyes or hands off her breasts. Lust had boiled up in his veins when she’d insisted on seeing his bedroom. Standing there with the sea on one side and alluring Jo Parker on the other, a foot from his bed, he could hardly control himself or ignore the protests from his dick.

*****

Review:

I’m so ready for football season to start and I’m loving the influx of football related romances 🙂 With Pete Sebastian, Coach we get it from the coach’s & front office’s POV – a fun change from just players (which I’m not knocking’ btw!).

This is the first of the First & Ten books for me so I don’t know if this is a good representation of Joachim’s work, but from what I’ve seen on different sites she’s got a pretty vocal (and happy) following, which is a good sign. The writing isn’t the tightest that I’ve read but the story is very satisfying and the characters have struggles that readers can get behind. Both Pete and Jo have their moments of stupidity – and Jo’s penchant to run when trouble strikes doesn’t do anyone any good – but they also have very real and touching moments.

Pete’s put his love life on hold while he raised twin daughters on his own, but now they are off to college and he’s ready to fill that empty spot. What he didn’t count on was finding someone in the team’s office that hits him quite like Jo does. Jo has spent years fighting for her place in a man’s world and she’s a success but at the expense of her dating life. Meeting Coach Bass starts something that quickly takes off.

I really liked these two together – yes, I wanted to smack them when they were being dumb but I also wanted to give them a hug, which means I was involved and that’s always a good thing 🙂 Again, there were moments when the phrasing wasn’t the smoothest, but for me it was easily overshadowed by the characters and the plot. I’ll definitely be keeping my eye on Joachim – I expect lots of good things to come!

*****

Author Info:

Jean Joachim is a best-selling romance fiction author, with books hitting the Amazon Top 100 list since 2012. The Renovated Heart won Best Novel of the Year from Love Romances Café. Lovers & Liars was a RomCon finalist in 2013. And The Marriage List tied for third place as Best Contemporary Romance from the Gulf Coast RWA. She was chosen Author of the Year in 2012 by the New York City chapter of Romance Writers of America.

Married and the mother of two sons, Jean lives in New York City. Early in the morning, you’ll find her at her computer, writing, with a cup of tea, her rescued put, Homer, by her side and a secret stash of black licorice.

AUTHOR FOLLOW LINKS

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE – http://www.amazon.com/Jean-C.-Joachim/e/B001ITRQKY/

WEBSITE – http://www.jeanjoachimbooks.com

BLOG – http://jeanjoachim.blogspot.com

FACEBOOK – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jean-Joachim-Author/221092234568929

TWITTER – http://www.twitter.com/jeanjoachim

GOOGLE+ – https://plus.google.com/u/0/111423777977819826895/

PINTEREST – http://www.pinterest.com/jeanjoachim/

NETWORKED BLOGS – http://jeanjoachim.blogspot.com

GOODREADS – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/334810.Jean_C_Joachim

*****

Giveaway:

$10.00 Amazon Gift Card

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/9944253c168/

*****

Book Review – Not So New In Town

06 Thursday Aug 2015

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Book Review, Michele Summers, Not So New In Town

Not So New In Town

by Michele Summers

Harmony Homecomings

You can’t go back, and you can’t stand still…

Lucy Doolan is a marketing genius. She can sell rain to a frog and snow to a polar bear. Newly single and unemployed, she’s lured back to her hometown of Harmony, North Carolina to help out her pregnant evil stepsister…only to find former crush heartthrob Brogan Reese has returned too, to open a new business in town. To add insult to injury, he’s still hot.

If the thunder don’t get you, then the lightning will…

Brogan never noticed Lucy much when they were young, but seventeen people have recommended her to help him. She’s got his attention now. With her sweet personality, brilliant imagination, and penchant for doing the completely unpredictable, Brogan is finding a whole lot of excuses to spend his days-and nights-with Lucy.

My only complaint about this book is that I’m not sure that Lucy’s issues with her stepsister were ever addressed. I mean they never actually fight, there are little digs and comments, but then suddenly they are supposed to be on good terms? I would have liked to have seen some kind of heart to heart, even if it was a snarky one. Something that would have shown some progression in their relationship and maybe an understanding of where they are coming from. Unfortunately I didn’t feel like we got that.

But I read these for the love story and that part hit it on the head. Small town romances can be so much fun – especially with the humorous cast of characters that you can get in the South. I mean who doesn’t love a sassy best friend who has a pet pig … and not a miniature one 🙂 Actually that is my other complaint. I think that Lucy’s friend Wanda needed her own story, because there is a lot going on there as well. Before I get too far with my complaints I should say that I haven’t read the first book, so I’m not sure if any of this would have been addressed with Find My Way Home. It doesn’t seem like it, because Lucy comes to town after the happenings of book 1, but you never know so I feel like I should throw that out there.

The relationship between Lucy and Brogan, though, is absolutely darling. I loved these two together and their journey is a ton of fun (& funny). With their history and the paths that life has led them down, it makes for an interesting and sometimes difficult attraction. I loved the way that Summers brings them together and the resolution she gives them at the end. It wraps things up beautifully and I smiled when they finally get it all figured out.

Book Review – Kiss Me

03 Monday Aug 2015

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Book Review, Fool's Gold series, Kiss Me, Susan Mallery

Kiss Me

Fool’s Gold series

by Susan Mallery

New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery creates the small-town destination for romance in charming Fool’s Gold, California—where a loner cowboy finds the one woman who can capture his heart

After Phoebe Kitzke’s kind heart gets her suspended from her job in LA, she swears off doing favors—until her best friend begs for help on the family ranch in Fool’s Gold. Unfortunately, sexy cowboy Zane Nicholson isn’t exactly thrilled by the city girl’s arrival.

Thanks to his brother’s latest scheme, Zane has been roped into taking tourists on a cattle drive. What Phoebe knows about ranching wouldn’t fill his hat, but her laughter is so captivating that even his animals fall for her. One slip of his legendary control leads to a passionate kiss that convinces him she’s exactly the kind of woman a single-minded loner needs to avoid.

In his arms, Phoebe discovers she’s a country girl at heart. Yet no matter how much the small town feels like home, she can’t stay unless Zane loves her, too…but is this cowboy interested in forever?

It’s time to visit Fool’s Gold again – yea!! Usually when I review one of these, I talk about how great it is to visit the little town and have a reunion with friends from previous stories but we really didn’t get that here … and I didn’t mind at all! We pretty much stay on the Nicholson ranch and get to know new people, but that doesn’t stop it from being quirky and fun and sweet and oh-so addictive just like all of the others in the series. The characters, even though they are new, are just as real and detailed as any that we’ve gotten to know over the years.

Phoebe grew up in foster care and never really had a family. It’s caused her to have a few issues, including never feeling quite good enough. So she’s spent her adult life being a pleaser … which is how she ends up on the ranch. Her best friend asks her to spend a week helping out the family and true to form she can’t say no. I love Phoebe – she’s funny and silly and caring and honest. She’s an LA girl thru-and-thru but once on the cattle drive she embraces it with everything she has. And that includes a little flirtation (or more) with Zane.

Zane has seen all the bad things that can happen when you give your heart to a woman … and he doesn’t plan on ever going there. He also knows what it is like to live with regrets so he’s trying everything he can to make sure that his little brother doesn’t have to experience it too. But it isn’t exactly causing warm, fuzzies at home. When quirky and appealing Phoebe drops into his life it not only has him looking at his relationship with his brother in a new light, but she’s also proving impossible to resist.

Like usual, there are wonderful secondary characters and a hint at the next book. There’s also a side piece involving a couple who can’t have kids but somehow have found themselves chaperoning a couple of foster kids during the drive. It’s an absolutely fantastic story of learning to let go of what you thought you wanted in order to embrace the wonders right in front of you. By delivering something so touching and well-developed as a small accessory tale with limited pages, Mallery continues to show her skill at giving readers characters and stories that mean something.

From start to finish, I couldn’t put down Kiss Me. But I didn’t expect anything less, because Mallery has always excelled at writing laugh-out-loud, give-a-little-sigh, cheer-for-the-HEA romances.

(Since these are new characters this is absolutely the perfect place for new readers to start, so don’t be shy if this is your first Fool’s Gold story. You are going to feel right at home.)