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Book Review – Rescuing the Bad Boy

30 Saturday May 2015

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After reading Bringing Home the Bad Boy (the first book in this series), I could NOT wait for the next to come out … and Lemmon definitely did not disappoint.  If you haven’t read either of these then run, don’t walk, to your nearest bookseller.

*****

Lemmon_Rescuing the Bad Boy_MMRescuing the Bad Boy

Second Chance series

by Jessica Lemmon

Blurb:

Not All Scars Heal

For Donovan Pate, the lake town of Evergreen Cove is a minefield of tough memories-including the day he had to let go of Sofie Martin. Years later he still can’t forget the taste of her lips and the feel of her killer curves. He knows he’s too damaged, that he should stay away for her own good. But what the head says and the heart wants are two very different things . . .

Seven years ago, Donovan broke Sofie’s heart. Now her career depends on playing nice in order to pull off the charity fund-raiser of the decade. She vows to keep things professional . . . yet working by his side every day doesn’t make it easy to fight temptation, and it isn’t long before she finds herself falling for this bad boy all over again. But loving Donovan means helping him face his past-so they can fight for a future together.

*****

Excerpt:

Her soft touch landed on Donovan’s arm, and the anger shuddering inside him shifted into an ache. She stepped closer, the warmth between them radiating enough heat to set him on fire. But like the fireplaces he built, he could handle it. He could handle the heat from her, not because he was impervious, but because he was strong enough to soak her in and not burn to ash.

She turned his arm where paint was drying. She swiped at it with her sleeve. “I made a mess.”

He’d forgotten about the paint. “Don’t… I can… There is a shower in the…” He lost his train of thought when she turned those emerald green eyes up to him. He watched her delicate throat work as she swallowed. His eyes traveled up her neck and landed on her mouth. Needing her mouth, he lowered his face, watched her eyes grow dark and wide, watched her lift her chin to meet him.

Heat. He wanted more. If only to test his own strength.

He moved his lips gently against hers, but resisted holding her to him. She held onto him though, grasping his forearms with both hands, her fingers wrapped around his elbows. Pressing her body against his, pressing her tits against his ribs.

Hell, sounded like an invitation to him. Deepening their connection, he thrust his tongue into her mouth, reached around, and grabbed her ass with both palms. When he squeezed, she sucked in a breath.

“Told you,” he rumbled.

“Told me?”

“Not a complaint, Scampi.” He squeezed again. “Perfect.”

A choked laugh left her throat. “Big.”

Still moving his hands over her backside, he said, “First thing I noticed about you at the Wharf.” He’d been plating up a chicken scaloppini when the manager walked in to show around a few new servers. Two he couldn’t remember, and Sofie. Bent over the plate, he’d peeked between the metal shelves framing that perfect ass . He’d stood to get a better look, and she’d pegged him with those moss-greens.

“Second thing I noticed was your eyes.”

Her lips parted slightly. “And the third thing?”

He kissed her. She tasted incredible. “The first time you talked to me.”

She rolled her eyes. “And what did I say?”

She didn’t think he remembered. She was wrong. “‘Can I get a side of cock?’”

Laughing, she shook her head.

He smiled back at her, unable to help himself. “Then you cleared your throat and said, ‘cocktail sauce’.”

Shaking her head, she said, “Worst abbreviation ever.”

“Kitchen guys are immature.”

She blinked up at him, studying him, like she was trying to piece him together. He didn’t want her to. Once she pieced him together and had the whole picture, she wouldn’t like what she saw.

He kissed her again, keeping his hands on her body.

“Are you testing my boundaries?” she asked, her tone teasing. He recognized that comment from the night he rescued her from Torsett.

“Mine,” he corrected.

Sofie bit her lip. “I don’t date much.”

“Me either.” At all, actually.

She shook her head, more in thought than in argument. “I don’t think I have any boundaries with you.”

He was beginning to think he had none with her, either.

*****

Review:

When I reviewed Bringing Home the Bad Boy, I said that Evan was likely to have some competition as a book boyfriend with Donovan and I wasn’t wrong.  With Rescuing the Bad Boy Lemmon delivers an addictive hero who carries just as many scars on the inside as the outside.  It’s an emotional rollercoaster from the beginning and I loved every minute of it.

Donovan is a charming rascal but his past has caused him to shut himself off from people, feeling like he has nothing to offer others.  He’s got a couple of close friends but they definitely have to do most of the work in the relationship.  Then there is Sofia.  A few weeks dancing around an attraction to each other leads to a night that changes things for both of them.  Years later, Donovan is back but he isn’t happy about it … and the attraction between the two is as hot as ever.

I love Sofia.  She’s got an amazingly level-head about Donovan and I think she handled every step of the way with a lot of style.  The ending has to be one of my favorites of all time.  As these two navigate the minefield of their past (both individually and shared), the present and how they are going to handle the future, I found myself drawn more and more to them.  Lemmon delivers it so smoothly and naturally – I can’t wait to read more from these guys.

*****

jessicalemmon_author photoAuthor 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.

*****

Giveaway:

Y’all have to sign up for this one!

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/26635ce2210/

*****

Rescuing-The-Bad-Boy-Release-week-Blitz[2]

Book Review – Home Sweet Home

22 Friday May 2015

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Releasing next week (and just in time to kick off your summer reading) is the updated version of Candia Terry’s Home Sweet Home.  This novella is guaranteed to pull at the heart strings.

*****

Home Sweet HomeHome Sweet Home

A Sweet, Texas Novella

by Candis Terry

Releasing May 19th, 2015

(Re-Issue with Additional Content)

Avon Impulse

Blurb:

Before Candis Terry’s wild Wilder brothers met their matches, a soldier gets a homecoming in Sweet, Texas.

HE’S GIVEN UP…

Army Ranger, Lieutenant Aiden Marshall, fought in some of the most hellish corners on earth and survived. Those closest to him, did not. When he returns home to Sweet, Texas, he believes he’s broken and has lost everything-including his soul. The only fair thing he can do is tell the woman who’s patiently waited for him to come home-to move on with her life-without him.

BUT SHE NEVER WILL

Sassy waitress Paige Walker has no intention of walking away from the man of her dreams. He gave his all for his country and served with honor. Now it’s time to pull him from the darkness and give him hope. With a heap of love, the help of the entire town, and a tail-wagging companion, Paige makes sure her hero knows there’s no place like home sweet home.

From author Candia Terry:  “The inspiration for HOME SWEET HOME came from an article I’d read about a soldier who been forced to leave the pup he’d rescued in Afghanistan because it wasn’t allowed to bring the animal back to the U.S. In writing the story I realized that rescue animals are a huge part of the romances I write. Since I’m prone to rescue four-legged friends in my personal life I thought that maybe I could help in a bigger way. When I started looking into rescue centers I was overwhelmed by not only the number of animals in need but the generosity of the volunteers who often nurse these animals back to health so they can be adopted. The love and loyalty of an animal is unconditional and I’d like to see them have the opportunity to be loved right back. I know I can’t help them all, but I hope these donations will help as many as possible.”

Link to Follow Tour: http://www.tastybooktours.com/2015/03/home-sweet-home-sweet-texas-novella-by.html

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24951868-home-sweet-home?from_search=true

Goodreads Series Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/113447-sweet-texas

Buy Links: Amazon | B & N | iTunes | Kobo | Publisher

*****

Excerpt:

“When did you get home? Why didn’t your brother tell me? How long will you be home? Do you want something to eat? Of course you do. Dumb question. Scratch that.”

Aiden couldn’t help but smile as Paige fired off a volley of questions, then finished them off with a random thought.

Just like old times.

She’d always been that girl.

The one who had a million things going on all at once and tried to keep them all in order inside her head. At times, she came off a bit scrambled even though, for the most part, she had it more together than anyone he’d ever met. Aiden knew she saw every day as a gift. She saw life as something priceless that should be hit at full speed and explored twenty-four hours a day.

When they’d been together, he’d managed to keep her in bed for several of those hours a day just to show her that a lot could be accomplished in a prone position too. But even then, between making love, she’d come up with a list of half a dozen things she wanted to do that day, next week, or a year down the road. They’d done a hell of a lot of exploring in those days, and even if he hadn’t been able to keep up with her eagerness on the calendar, he managed to keep her enthusiasm busy in other ways.

“A few days ago,” he said, answering her first question, then followed up with the rest. “Ben didn’t tell you because he didn’t know. And yes, I’d love a Diablo burger, a double order of sweet-potato fries, and a marshmallow Snickers milk shake.”

It didn’t take a rocket scientist to know immediately that she was hurt because he’d taken so long to come see her. By rights, she should have been first on his list. And she would have been, but he had obligations to visit Bobby’s and Billy’s folks. And after those visits, he had barely been able to look at himself in the mirror.

The wounded look in her eye disappeared, and her smile reappeared. Apparently, she realized too why he hadn’t come to see her first.

“Awww. Your favorite foods.” She shifted her weight from one sexy hip to the other. “I’ll bet you’ve been craving those for a long time.”

He’d been craving her too, but that kind of thinking had to stop.

“Pretty much since I boarded the plane for Afghanistan and left American soil.” Funny how the moment you knew you couldn’t have something, you wanted it even more.

“Well, the wait is over. You sit right there, and I’ll have Bud put your order on a rail.” Her tennis shoes squeaked as she turned and rushed off into the kitchen.

With all day in front of him and nothing to do, Aiden could watch her through the order window, excitedly gesturing with her hands while she spoke with Bud. Still, he couldn’t help wonder out loud … “A rail?”

The old man with the bald head next to him nodded and grinned. “She’s puttin’ the hurry up on it for you.”

“Oh.”

Guilt wrapped around Aiden’s throat and gave a hard squeeze. The faster Paige moved, the sooner he’d have to deliver the news. She looked so damned happy to see him, he hated to burst her bubble. Hated to hurt her in any way. But it had to be done. No matter how badly he might think he wanted it to be otherwise.

“For a man who’s got a pretty woman like that scurrying around to make time to be with him, you sure got a grim look on your puss.”

The man sitting next to him, Chester Banks, was well into his eighties. He’d had more ex-wives than Disneyland had rides. Over the years, his nose had grown, and his eyes had sunk. He probably weighed all of a hundred pounds soaking wet, was bowlegged, and wore his Wranglers so starched, his arthritic knees could barely bend. But Chester had no qualms whatsoever about chasing the ladies who were at least six decades younger.

“Probably matches what’s inside my head,” Aiden verified.

“Oh?” A scraggly gray brow lifted, and a smile broke across Chester’s wrinkled lips. “So you’re saying the lovely Paige is up for grabs?”

*****

Review:

I think I vaguely remember the For Love and Honor Anthology from back in 2012 and I kinda even remember Aiden & Paige (which I think speaks well for Ms Terry if I can remember a novella in a collection from 3 years ago). There have been quite a few Sweet, Texas stories since then but since this is a re-release of the novella that kicked it off I think it is a fantastic place for new readers to start.

Paige has an amazingly huge heart, lots of patience and understanding, and the love and tenacity to keep waiting for a man who didn’t really do a lot to keep her hoping. It wasn’t that he didn’t love her, he just didn’t want to have her wait for a soldier who might not come back … silly man. Paige understands that having given her heart that it is better to embrace that love and hope for his safe return. While he’s gone, she lives her life but holds onto that love – sending him letters and packages, and planning for their hoped-for future.

Aiden has seen a lot as a Ranger and lost his two best friends. He’s feeling the weight of everything he’s been thru and doesn’t believe he deserves Paige’s love. Luckily for him, she isn’t giving up on them or going to let him give up on himself. As he spends time in Sweet, especially with her, Aiden slowly starts to embrace life again. And with the support of the town behind them, he might just learn to let himself love again as well.

Terry’s writing is wonderfully smooth – it moves fast and keeps you turning pages. Since this is a novella it didn’t take long to get to the HEA, but the ride was definitely a good one. We get to be there as Aiden struggles and Paige’s wisdom has her supporting him every way she can. It’s a story as sweet as the town it is set in and I think that you’ll find yourself ready for return trips (and lucky for you there are about a ½ dozen books just waiting for you).

*****

CandisTerry_Headshot_Nov2012Author Info:

Candis Terry was born and raised near the sunny beaches of Southern California and now makes her home on an Idaho farm. She’s experienced life in such diverse ways as working in a Hollywood recording studio to chasing down wayward steers. Only one thing has remained the same: her passion for writing stories about relationships, the push and pull in the search for love, and the security one finds in their own happily ever after.

Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

*****

Giveaway:

Avon is hosting a Tour Wide Giveaway for a Print Sweet, TX series backlist including: ANYTHING BUT SWEET, SWEETEST MISTAKE, SOMETHING SWEETER, and SWEET SURPRISE

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/521ac4c8677/

*****

Click on the banner below to check out the rest of the tour

TRTHomeSweetHome-CandisTerry

Book Review – Chaos and Moonlight

21 Thursday May 2015

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cover63214-medium (2)Chaos and Moonlight

Order of the Nines, Book 1

A.D. Marrow

The Nines, an elite group of vampires, was established to stand as protection for their race. Fractured by centuries of betrayal and loss, the group is now little more than myth, its remaining members scarred and shattered.

Taris, the oldest living vampire, is no stranger to loss and heartbreak. He is all that holds the Nines together as they struggle to save themselves from total extinction.

Enter the beautiful and briliant Dr. Sarah Bridgeman, whose medical research has resulted in a breakthrough for both humans and vampires. Her work may be the salvation this weary band of guardians has been looking for.

Taris needs to reach Sarah and enlist her help—before those aligned against him can act. Can a vampire king convince a stunning young scientist to save a species that isn’t even supposed to exist?

For now, only one thing is certain: no science can explain the explosive chemistry between them.

Chaos and Moonlight is the first installment in the Order of the Nines series, and is A. D. Marrow’s debut novel.

As the first story in a new paranormal series, Chaos and Moonlight does a great job of introducing the new world. I think there were a couple of places where an explanation might have been better happening earlier than written, but overall it’s well developed. Sometimes it is hard with the introductory novel to cover everything without throwing off the pacing but Marrow does it well – we get a great feeling for the society the vampires live in.  There’s a lot of intricacies to their history which are slowly handed out but I didn’t end up with any unanswered questions and was interested all the way to the end.

Taris is great hero material.  He’s strong and caring, taking his role as informal leader to heart. He is greatly affected by the setbacks they’ve experienced and the implications for their future. He, like all of them, is deeply invested in solving their problems – and that’s where Sarah comes in. I’m surprised at how well she takes the existence of vampires, but I think as a scientist that it might be easier to accept the unexplainable. Those difficulties definitely are an interesting twist – I won’t give away too many details because it plays a big part in why Sarah is brought into their world. But it’s one that I hadn’t thought about before but it makes sense and adds a nice complexity to their lives.

There are bad guys – what paranormal book isn’t made better by a villain – and I have to say I really want to see more from these. Despite all of the awful things that they’ve done, I’m intrigued by the idea of redemption … but I’m also afraid that too much has happened.  There are also good guys, of course, who will also get their own story.  I’m intrigued to see where Marrow goes from here since it looks like their is an answer to the big problem in the first book.

If paranormal romance is your thing (think Black Dagger Brotherhood or The Sentinels) then you may have found yourself a new series. With a large and fascinating group of characters, Marrow has the potential for a sexy new series on her hands.

Book Review – Monica’s Match

15 Friday May 2015

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Gonna end the week with a fun little small-town romance – take a look below and see what I thought, plus what the rest of the tour thought as well.

*****

Monica's MatchMonica’s Match

Perry Grove #1

by Katya Armock

Blurb:

Monica has the ability to see a guy’s aura light up the first time he touches his soul mate, but she’s kept it a secret since her parents shamed her as a child. Still, she decides to start her own matchmaking company—even if she doesn’t advertise her unique ability. Business is so-so until she gets a call to find matches for the singles of the small town of Perry Grove. She’s not looking for love herself but has an immediate attraction to one of her clients. Too bad another woman lit up his aura.

Hunky dairy farmer Jeremiah wants nothing to do with his grandpa’s hare-brained matchmaking scheme but agrees to play along to appease the man who raised him. But when he meets the sexy matchmaker, he starts to rethink his single status. Too bad she’s intent on pairing him up with another woman. If there’s one thing he knows, though, it’s how to be stubborn.

Amazon | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | Amazon AU

*****

Excerpt:

Monica Morgan slammed the door of her red Camry and kicked the offending tire for good measure. “Ow. Darn it!” Her sensible black flats were no match for the doughnut wheel. Smooth move, Sherlock. Get your head in the game. You need this job or your business is toast.

She took a moment for one deep breath then hurried to the entrance of the Perry Grove United Methodist Church. Before she reached the double door, it swung open and Ed Thompson greeted her with a kind smile. His white hair was a bit shaggier around the edges than when they’d met in person seven weeks ago. She’d spent that afternoon in Perry Grove meeting with only the town council, as she had a strict rule that she couldn’t come into contact with any potential bachelors or bachelorettes in public.

That edict had raised a few eyebrows, but in the end she had sold them on her “process” with no mention of the true reason for the rules. No one needed to know she saw a guy’s aura light up the first time he made physical contact with his soul mate. In a public setting, even one as small as Perry Grove, she ran the risk that more than one woman or man could brush against a man at the same time and mess up Monica’s aura-reading mojo. So she insisted on one-on-one intake interviews with each client early on. Then she oversaw each potential couple’s first contact with no other parties in the room under the guise of wanting to see their first impressions of each other in a closed environment.

Now that she was here for her extended stay, Mr. and Mrs. Thompson would be her hosts for the next month.

Mr. Thompson held the door for her. “Glad to see you made it in one piece. Lucky you were close enough you could make it on a doughnut, but now that you’re here, Sherman’ll get it fixed right up for you. He already ordered the tire. It’ll be in tomorrow.”

Pasting on her best professional smile, she headed down the walkway, hoping he hadn’t witnessed her meltdown. “Glad to be here and to see you again, Mr. Thompson.”

The crinkle around his cornflower-blue eyes deepened with his smile. “At your service. And I told you before to call me Ed. Now let’s get you settled. We have the bachelorettes from the dating pool in the fellowship hall downstairs and the bachelor in an adjacent room, as you requested. Pat Staley—she’s the church secretary in case you don’t remember her—called all the men for today to let them know the appointments have been pushed back a few hours.”

She did remember meeting Pat briefly, as she had made a point of recording everyone’s name, occupation, and relationships in the town. “Thank you for taking care of that, Mr. Thompson. I apologize again—”

He waved a dismissive hand as they reached the stairs. “Ed. And there’s nothing you can do about a flat tire except deal with it.”

She rolled her shoulders to ease some of her tension. She hated being late. “So your grandson is still up first, correct?” An involuntary shiver echoed through her just thinking about her first client’s dimpled smile and the striking blue eyes that stared at her from the photo she’d received along with his profile information—and how inappropriate that thought was. No dating clients.

“Don’t look so glum, girl. No one blames you for being late. Although, I should warn you that Jeremiah isn’t too excited to use your services. I have to admit I strong-armed him a bit, and he’s been stuck in the Sunday school room for a few hours. I was afraid if I let him leave, I’d never get him back, if you know what I mean.” He laughed and winked conspiratorially.

*****

Review:

Monica’s Match is all about trust. In order to give love a chance, she’s going to have to share her secret and she has to decide if she’s willing to take that chance. Here the thing she’s hiding is her ability to read auras but this really applies to anyone. We all have something – funny toes, addiction to bad made-for-tv disaster movies, eating crackers in bed, psychic abilities – it doesn’t matter what it is, there is something (and most often somethings) and we have to trust that the person we are interested in can accept us for good and bad. It’s not easy but it is the only way a relationship can be successful. But I totally understood Monica’s hesitation in sharing her secret. She had it drilled into her by her parents that it was something that needed to be hid and being a good daughter she took it to heart.

I’m not sure I totally liked Monica – she is a little harsh and somewhat stand-offish, especially with Jeremiah. But when she relaxes, she becomes a lot more fun. Jeremiah has his moments as well, but I like how he poked at Monica trying to get her to loosen up. It made for some fun interactions between the two.

I’ve seen some complaints about how she treats Jeremiah later in the book and how quickly things are resolved, but I think it works for how the story is written. Just because Jeremiah changes his attitude doesn’t mean that Monica is going to do the same immediately. She’s always had that push away thing going on with him – earlier on when she thought he was meant for someone else and then later when she was afraid of getting involved. As for the big reveal, I think it just highlights the idea that it isn’t a huge problem. She’s made it into something so much worse than it is, which is understandable because the more she focused on it the more she built it up in her mind. And we’re back to that main theme – she’s gotta learn to trust.

*****

Author Info:

I like books that are funny and fun to read, but also make me think or look at the world in a new way. These days you’ll find me living my happily ever after in the Midwestern U.S. with my husband, dog and cats. I love to hear from readers, so please come find me on the Internet.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

*****

Tour Schedule:

May 3rd

My Book Filled Life

www.mybookfilledlife.blogspot.com

Review

 

May 3rd

Musings in Fiction Alley

http://musingsinficitonalley.blogspot.com/

Review

 

May 5th

MJ Austin Books

mjaustinbooks.com

Review

 

May 6th

Paige Bradish

http://paigebradish1996.blogspot.com/

Review

 

May 8th

The Reading Head

http://www.thereadinghead.com

Review

 

May 10th theverdictsout.wordpress.com 

Review

Devi Nair Reviews

May 12th

Laurie Michele

www.lauriemichele.wordpress.com

Review

 

May 13th

Around the World in Books

http://www.aroundtheworldinbooks.ca/

Review

May 15th

Romantic Reads

https://romanticreadsandsuch.wordpress.com

Review

 

June 8thhttp://booksandbindings.com/

Review

Books and Bindings

Book Review – The Millionaire Daddy Project

13 Wednesday May 2015

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cover64258-mediumThe Millionaire Daddy Project

Men of the Zodiac series

by Roxanne Snopek

(Entangled Indulgence)

Sign: Leo

He takes control…and gives all kinds of pleasure

In the space of about a second, successful restaurateur Dane Bergman has gone from millionaire playboy to daddy. Now he’s the sole guardian of a very adorable and willful five-year-old child, and he’s counting on his executive assistant, Pamela Atwater, to save his ass. Even if it means bringing her along on a month-long ocean-side retreat…

Pamela Atwater prides herself on being the perfect assistant. Whatever Dane wants or needs, she’s there – pretending to ignore Dane’s golden charm and drop-dead gorgeousness. On vacation, however, Pamela sees a side of Dane she never imagined. And it’s a side that tempts her to cross the line between professional and personal. But is one month enough time to prove to Dane that his perfect assistant might just be his perfect match?

I love, love, LOVE Roxanne Snopek’s books. The characters are always so interesting and full of life, while the plot just keep me glued to the pages.

Dane is one of those hottie billionaires that are so popular in romances – he’s smooth, gorgeous, wealthy, and knows how to play just as hard as he works. He’s also anti-commitment … then the ultimate commitment, a little girl, lands on his doorstep and shakes up his world. Luckily he has his oh-so-efficient assistance to help, but the more time they spend together, the more attracted to her he becomes.

Pam knows exactly the kind of man her boss is – short term affairs with gorgeous women. But she also knows how smart and sexy he is. Forced together thanks to a haunted little girl, she’s finding him super-hard to resist. She’s just about the only person in the world who will force him to be the dad that he can be.   But can she live with (or without) the man she makes him into …

Dani is just too adorable and the interactions between the three of them as they learn how to navigate new waters is just too darn sweet, heartbreaking and funny all rolled into one addictive ball. They are totally believable and touching as they slowly become a family unit.  And just because some might find the secretary/boss fantasy a little clichéd doesn’t mean that in the hands of a great author like Snopek the dynamic can’t be just about perfect.

Book Review – A May Bride

12 Tuesday May 2015

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cover40522-mediumA May Bride

by Meg Moseley

“Meg Moseley follows her stellar debut with this lovely dive down south . . . this inspirational tale is destined to be another winner.” -Julie Cantrell (on Gone South)

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

She thinks she has prepared for her wedding all her life . . . but it seems she may have forgotten the most important part.

Ellie Martin, a country girl in Atlanta, has dreamed of a traditional wedding all her life-a wedding just like the one her younger sister is planning back home. Their single mom will pay for Alexa’s wedding, but Ellie started her own wedding fund years ago. She only needs to find a groom.

At a wedding at her church, Ellie bumps into a man who’s one of the guests. She’s noticed him around the neighborhood, but today he introduces himself as Gray Whitby. They embark on a whirlwind romance, but her mother doesn’t trust freewheeling men like Gray.

When Ellie risks her own future for her sister’s sake, Gray feels betrayed. Will he always play second fiddle to Ellie’s family?

Will Ellie and Gray reconcile their differences so her dream wedding can come true, or will the romance they’ve begun come crashing down?

I totally understood Ellie and her troubles.  Feeling like she needs to follow other peoples wants, learning how to set boundaries in her life is very tough for her.  With the kind of mother she has, it is easy to get why she hesitates so much with stepping away from the path her mom decides is right. 

Managing family expectations is never easy, but Ellie’s packs a little extra punch.   Then she meets Gray and he’s definitely hard to resist (I was half in love with him myself).  It’s an emotional journey for her but one that makes their HEA all the sweeter. 

I have really been enjoying these little novellas – they are nice bite size romantic treats, quick reads with a lot of heart, and they’ve exposed me to new authors as well.  With A May Bride Moseley delivers a winner.  It is a story of emotions, troubles and love, with complicated family dynamics and personal growth. 

Book Review – Until You

11 Monday May 2015

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cover60023-mediumUntil You

by Jeannie Moon

When newly divorced Kate Adams is approached on the sunny deck of a California hotel by hockey star David Burke, and he invites her to dinner, she almost says no. He’s obviously younger than her. And charming. And drop dead gorgeous. But there’s also something sweet about David, so Kate—who hasn’t done anything spontaneous in a very long time—accepts his invitation.

It is, after all, her fortieth birthday.

However, a real romance with thirty-year-old David, whose picture is in the gossip pages as often as it’s in the sports pages, is out of the question. No matter how much she wants him, it’s just too risky.

But meeting Kate has been David’s lightning strike. She’s the one for him, and he has no intention of giving up on her.

So while Kate guards her fragile heart, David sets out to win her over with the same determination that drives him on the ice.

And he’ll break every rule in the book if he has to.

After her divorce, Kate is a little insecure but thanks to David she finds herself again. Once she discovers who she is at her core, she’s surprisingly settled for her past – strong and confident. But she has to let that past go and remember how great she really is.  And that she can hold the interest of a younger, super-hot pro-athlete.

David grows up a lot too. He starts to realize the man that he didn’t even know he wanted to be. He just has to convince Kate that he’s ready to commit and that she’s the one for him. David and Kate face a lot of troubles, because of their fears and hang-ups, but it leads to a really great HEA.

The characters are fantastic, both the main and secondary, and Moon does a wonderful job of drawing you into their world.  And of making you interested in what happens next – I really hope we get Jack’s story. I felt for him almost as much as the main characters.  He’s young but a good guy underneath and he got a good kick in the teeth so I have my fingers crossed that we can see him get his own HEA.

With realistic issues and an emotional storyline, Until You is definitely one to add to your TBR pile.

Book Review – No One Like You

08 Friday May 2015

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

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I’m so excited to share this one with you guys!  Kate Angell is one of my favorites for a good summer time read and I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Barefoot William books – make sure you check out my review of No Sunshine When She’s Gone (and the rest of the series ASAP)!  I’ve also got a review on this one – you’ll find it below.

*****

No On Like YouNo One Like You

Barefoot William # 4

by Kate Angell

Releasing April 28th, 2015

from Zebra

Blurb:

No One Expects a Curveball

For Rylan Cates, the gloriously sunny beachside town of Barefoot William may be home, but the pro baseball player needs to focus on spring training. Hiring a personal assistant to keep him and his four dogs organized for the next eight weeks is the first step—and Beth Avery is the perfect pinch hitter.

Beth is still looking for her place in the world, and a couple months caring for Rylan’s two dachshunds, his golden retriever, and a Great Dane named Atlas should shore up her finances before she moves on. Except it’s Atlas who won’t budge, pushing her toward tanned, scruffy, sexy Rylan every chance he gets. One more strike and she’s calling the dog out—unless she and Rylan admit that the attraction they’re feeling is a game-winning grand slam…

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22715924-no-one-like-you?from_search=true

Goodreads Series Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/103002-barefoot-william

Buy Links: Amazon | B & N | iTunes | Kobo | Publisher

*****

Excerpt:

Barefoot William Sun Classified Ads:

Live-in personal assistant: eight weeks

Appointment scheduling

Maintaining and updating contact lists

Dinner parties

Travel planning

Dinner reservations

Personal shopping

Tickets to entertainment events

Manage invitations

Culinary ability

Interaction with fans, family, and teammates

Light housework

Pet sitter/dog walker

Salary: negotiable with room and board

Contact: RCates@CatesMgmt.com

Dog playing dead in the middle of the road. Beth Avery couldn’t believe the black Great Dane had stopped, dropped, and rolled onto his side. He had a mind of his own and was testing her patience. She shook her head. She should never have applied for the personal assistant position. Dog walker wasn’t on her résumé.

The big boy couldn’t be coaxed or talked from the crosswalk at Center Street and Egret Way. Nothing worked. He’d lain down and stayed down. All one hundred and fifty pounds of him.

The situation was hopeless.

Beth tugged gently on the leather leash attached to his harness. “Up, Atlas, up,” she pleaded again.

Not a flicker of his ears. He even closed his eyes. What if he was sick or hurt? She stared at his chest. The rise and fall was slow and peaceful. Had he fallen asleep?

Atlas was the alpha dog of the four dogs she was walking. Dismayed, she watched the golden retriever and two dapple dachshunds follow his lead. They, too, settled on the asphalt. The dachsies, Oscar and Nathan, turned onto their backs so the sunshine could warm their bellies. They stretched, yawned, looking way too comfortable.

What was she to do? Beth clutched the loop handles on the leashes so tightly they left an imprint on her palm. For a beat, she thought about letting go. See what they would do. It couldn’t be any worse than watching them sunbathe on the road. She wasn’t a dog person. She favored cats. So how was it that she found herself in this predicament at ten a.m. on a Monday morning?

She knew why. She was so desperate to find work, she’d somehow missed the dog walking requirement in the ad. She was so excited she’d been called back for a follow-up interview with Rylan Cates for the assistant position, she didn’t dare tell him she had no experience with canines. He’d met with people all week and had narrowed his choices to three women, herself included.

The final applicants went on to walk, feed, and bathe his dogs. She had no idea how the other ladies had fared before her, although Atlas smelled profoundly doggie. Beth shook her head to clear her thoughts. She wasn’t doing all that well, either.

She’d walked the pack for close to an hour, up and down the streets of Olde Barefoot William, where the homes were handed down through generations. She’d fallen in love with the beachside town, which was as eclectic in its architecture as it was harmonious. William Cates had founded the community. Here lay the inner circle. The old Florida-style cottages were quaint. The houses were shingled and shuttered, with wide porches. They’d withstood hurricanes and time. A few had had minor facelifts.

Enormous evergreens lined the narrow two-lane road. Ancient moss clung to the cypress. The sun cast shadows through the scarlet-flowered branches of the Royal Poinciana trees that cornered the street. The scent of plumeria, gardenia, and hibiscus was heavy on the air. Sprinklers on automatic timers kicked on, watering lawns.

Only three blocks from Rylan’s house, Beth sighed heavily. The neighborhood was momentarily quiet. No cars and no joggers. No one to witness the sleeping dogs. Thank goodness. How was she going to explain she’d fallen off schedule because Atlas pulled a Rip van Winkle? Baths needed to be given to the dogs before noon. Ry had handed her a canine cookbook for their food. They ate organic. A blender and baking were involved. Lunch would be late.

Determined to find a solution, she transferred the leashes to one hand, and then patted the back pocket on her cutoff jeans with the other. She had one trick up her sleeve she’d yet to play. She’d purposely changed her clothes and had dressed down for the walk. Had to. Drool stained white linen slacks. Dirty paws would leave permanent marks. She couldn’t afford cleaning bills. Not in her current economic state.

Sweetening her tone, she tried, “Atlas, treat? Yum, yum.” She smacked her lips.

Treat didn’t get the slightest reaction from the Dane, but the other dogs perked up. The two dachshunds scrambled to their feet and the golden retriever looked at Atlas then back to Beth. Rue was slow to make her decision.

“Oatmeal-apple biscuits,” Beth said, enticing the golden with a handful of snacks she pulled from her denim pocket.

Rue sniffed the air, then nudged Atlas with her nose, but the Dane wouldn’t budge. The retriever slowly rose.

Three up, and one to go. A minor victory, Beth thought.

The dachsies and golden ate their snacks, then eyed Atlas once again, waiting for him to make his move. Or not. Beth agonized over the moment until inspiration struck. Looping the leashes over her wrist, she crouched down near the big dog. There, she quickly tied her retro red Keds. Atlas had stomped all over her feet when he’d spotted a squirrel. She’d tripped twice over the loose laces.

Leaning forward, her cutoffs rode up and snugged her bottom. The fringe tickled the tops of her thighs. Her bright blue crop top had shrunk in the dryer making the back hem even with her sports bra. The sun kissed her bare skin.

She didn’t care if she looked ridiculous, whispering to the Dane. She needed this job. She drew in a breath and started making promises that she never planned to keep, sweet-talking him. “No organic food for you, Atlas. I’ll cook you a big, juicy steak if you’ll get up.”

The Dane cracked his eyelids, a good sign that he was listening.

“You can have the entire couch to yourself. I will stand for the remainder of my interview.” His tail thumped.

“We could even skip your bath.” She had dreaded it anyway. The shampooing might not be so bad. Rinsing him off would drench her. What other enticements could she offer?

“He doesn’t take bribes,” said a man from behind her. His voice was deep and concerned. “I’ve tried.”

Rylan Cates’s sudden arrival took her by surprise. Beth sat down hard on the asphalt. Small rocks jabbed her bottom. She jarred her tailbone. Winced. His shadow loomed over her, larger than life. She turned slightly, tilted back her head, and worked her gaze up his body.

Navy flip-flops. Long legs dusted with brown hair. Gray board shorts. Lean hips. A hint of his package. Defined abs beneath a T-shirt scripted with I Came to Play. Muscled arms. Solid shoulders. A scruffy chin in need of a shave. A masculine mouth that tipped up at one corner. Straight nose. Eyes so blue they made the sky jealous. His hair was dark blond and shaggy. He looked more surfer than professional baseball player.

He was way hotter than she remembered. Or was it because she’d barely looked up from her hands folded in her lap during the interview? Interviewing was new to her.

She’d been incredibly nervous then, and was even more so now.

He cleared his throat, shifted slightly, breaking her stare. He extended his hand, and she took it. He helped her up. His grasp was strong. His palm callused. He squished her fingers. She shook out her hand when released and brushed pebbles from her thighs and butt cheeks. Tugged down her top then faced him.

Her stomach tightened, her mind working overtime imagining what he must be thinking. Where had he come from? she wondered, glancing along the street. She hadn’t heard him approach, but soon understood why. He drove a McLaren. The black sports car was built for stealth and speed and was good for sneaking up on someone. Especially someone walking his dogs. He could easily spy on her. It was parked against the curb, looking shiny and pricey against the backdrop of aging homes.

He ran one hand down his face. “Why is Atlas sleeping in the street?”

“He needed a nap,” was said with more snark than she’d intended. She had never been more frustrated.

“He can’t stay there all day,” he told her. “Traffic picks up closer to noon.”

She tried to read his expression. Was he amused or angry? She couldn’t tell and released a short breath. “I’m open to suggestions.”

He stuck his hands in the pockets of his board shorts, rocked back on his heels. She couldn’t believe he had the balls to debate helping her.

Moments passed before he said, “Give him Rue’s leash so he can walk her home.”

A dog walking a dog? Her eyes widened. Surely he was joking.

“The big boy likes to be in control,” Rylan explained as if she should have known that and adjusted her dog walking style. “He’s had a crush on Rue since they were puppies. She won’t mind.” Ry paused, looked her in the eye. His lips twisted. “Staring at me like I’m crazy won’t get him up.”

She blushed, embarrassed by her inability to manage Atlas. He hadn’t taken to her, but it hadn’t been for lack of trying. She wondered if the other applicants had won him over. Perhaps this job wasn’t meant for her after all. A position stocking shelves at Crabby Abby’s General Store or scooping ice cream cones at The Dairy Godmother might be a better choice. At either place she wouldn’t have to contend with scooping dog poop.

Rylan nudged her aside and took the leashes from her. Separating Rue’s hot pink lead from the others, he held it up for Beth to see the teeth marks—big indentations made by a big mouth—on the curved handle. No mistaking the Great Dane’s signature bite. “Watch this. Atlas, take Rue home,” he instructed the Dane.

Atlas stood up so quickly, Beth swore the earth moved.

Rising on his back legs, the dog put his paws on Rylan’s shoulders. They were eye to eye. Ry smiled and scratched the dog’s floppy ears. Atlas barked. It was a sight she’d never forget.

Dropping back down, Atlas snatched Rue’s leash from Ry’s hand and gripped it between his teeth. His tail whipped wildly. He was happy and attentive. He took off at a trot, dragging Rue several steps before she balked. He then slowed his stride so the golden could keep up and they headed down the sidewalk.

*****

Review:

So you guys have no idea how excited I was to get another of Kate Angell’s books – especially when it centers around one of the Richmond Rogues players. Years ago I fell in love with her Rogues and while there is no doubt that I love the Barefoot William crew, those ball players will always have a special place in my heart. (Pssst, you can get the original books in a special 4 Book Boxed Set on Amazon!)

Rylan and Beth together are just fantastic. It’s not a very angst ridden book, instead it’s all about the people (yea!) – getting to know each other, falling in love and developing relationships with those around them. Rylan is all sexy ball-player, but being a Cates he’s also smart, settled and big-hearted. He cares about his family & those around him and so does Beth. She immediately adopts all those in Rylan’s sphere and tries to make things better for them, but of course she puts Rylan first. She’s running a little from her past but working for Rylan gives her the chance to sit still for a little bit and confront it.

I did a really big happy dance about halfway thru the book when I started to realize that Angell was possibly setting us up for more Rogues books! We usually spend time with the people of Barefoot William but with Rylan being a starter for the baseball team we got to see more of the players. And what a fantastically fun crew they are. I can’t wait to see this group of grown up little boys fall in love – it is guaranteed to be a hoot. Based on the sneak peek at the end, we’re starting with Halo, the biggest little kid of the bunch. I’m so excited!

With a Great Dane matchmaker and hyper ballplayers, Rylan and Beth are kept on their toes … while being pushed into each other’s arms. Humorous and full of heart, No One Like You is another home run from Kate Angell.

*****

Author Info:

National bestselling author Kate Angell lives in Naples, Florida. She’s an animal lover, avid reader, and sports fan. Bookstores are her second home. She takes coffee breaks at Starbucks. Her philosophy: Out of chaos comes calmness. Enjoy the peace. Please visit her on Facebook or at www.kateangell.com.

Author Links:   Website | Facebook  | Goodreads

*****

Giveaway:

Win one of three copies of No One Like You

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/521ac4c8673/

*****

Check out the rest of the tour by clicking on the banner below

TVTNoOneLikeYou-KateAngell

Book Review – Win by Submission

07 Thursday May 2015

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cover60955-mediumWin by Submission

by Melynda Price

To win her heart, he’ll be in for the fight of his life.

After an illegal kick during a CFA title fight fractures Cole Easton’s spine, doctors say there’s nothing more they can do for the bitter Vegas fighter. They say it’s a miracle he can walk, if that’s what you call his crutch-dragging limp. Unwilling to give up on him, Cole’s manager sends the injured fighter to the best physical therapist he knows: his niece, Katie Miller. When Cole arrives in the small town of Somerset, Wisconsin, he quickly discovers his sly manager may have had reasons other than rehab for sending him to this frozen tundra.

After a year of running from an abusive ex-boyfriend, Katie has returned to her hometown to care for her father, who’s recovering from a stroke. When Uncle Marcus calls in a favor, she reluctantly finds herself taking on a rancorous MMA fighter, broken at the height of his career. He’s insanely sex-on-a-stick hot—and everything she loathes in a man.

If Cole thinks his fighting days are over, he’s dead wrong. To save Katie from her past and to win her heart, he’ll be in for the fight of his life.

I don’t know why but I was surprised at how wrapped up in this book I got. Price delivers characters that I latched onto and a story that kept me coming back for more. There were some surprises and some expected moments, but I turned the page content with the journey and hungry for more.

Katie lives in fear but somehow Cole manages to get past all of her walls. Cole is your typical alpha fighter, full of testosterone and power, but surprisingly understanding and sensitive. He’s got struggles of his own but once Katie stumbles into his life, nothing is going to be the same. I loved watching these two dance around each other – Katie so very skittish because of her history and Cole so very male.

Win by Submission has lots of scary, suspenseful moments and mixes it with the emotional give-and-take of Cole & Katie falling in love. It has a fantastically nail-biting ending – a little predictable but still affecting and one that had me satisfied. With enthralling writing and characters that pop, Price delivers a great series and one that has me looking forward to the next book.

Book Review – The Playboy

01 Friday May 2015

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cover59041-mediumThe Playboy

Hot Aussie Heroes Book 3

by Madeline Ash

Wanted: Sexy sun-kissed surfer for hot summer fling.

Innocent Alexia Burton needs to become sexually confident for an upcoming acting role, and that means taking a lover.

Someone she’s attracted to. Someone who’ll teach her what she needs to know, but not ask for more than she’s prepared to give. She needs to learn the intensity of true desire and then have him walk away.

Parker Hargreaves is determined to make amends for treating Alexia badly all those years ago. He’s changed and wants her to think better of him. If that means letting her sharpen her sexual moves on him, so be it. He’ll do it. His playboy reputation certainly won’t suffer.

He just doesn’t count on walking away being so hard.

I totally loved The Playboy.  It starts off with a heartbreaking teenage moment between Alexia and Parker.  Ash completely captures that feeling of being young (and stupid) and how devastating things can be.  Then we flash forward about a half dozen years and the two meet again.  Parker handles it like a champ and I totally fell in love with him right there in the middle of Chapter 1 🙂

Parker has done a lot of growing up since Alexia new him in school, but she’s not convinced right away.  Luckily he’s got the patience of a saint, and the understanding of what a jerk he was before, so he’s willing to prove himself.  Of course, he’s still a guy and makes a couple of missteps along the way, but you know that the two are working their way to a HEA.

I totally understand Alexia’s reservations – both with Parker and with her “assignment”.  She’s a serious girl and falling into bed with a stranger definitely isn’t in her comfort zone.  She’s also one who was once burned and twice shy so she’s not going to easily forgive and forget.  Her attraction to Parker might help with part of her problems but they definitely come with a whole basket of others. 

The way that Parker and Alexia work through their issues (and their attraction) is adorable and I found myself glued to the pages.  They have great banter and Parker is a very inventive man as he not only earns a second chance with Alexia but takes on the task of helping her gain confidence.  Ash manages to so completely convince readers of how perfect they are together that I took it personally when things went wrong … which just made it all the sweeter when I got to that last page.  You know that they are going to figure things out but that doesn’t make that speed bump at the end any easier to take 🙂