Heโs her next makeover project. Sheโs his next mistake.
Ivy
Iโm Ivy Anders, popular romance novelist and small-town success story. Or so they say. I tell myself Iโm only back in my hometown because my father had a heart attack, but thatโs not the full story.
I canโt go home. And the longer I stay, the less I want to. Iโm drawn in by my part-time job at Ziggy brewery, which I took to research for my next book, and by the mystery of Lou, my fatherโs stuffy lodger, a temporary transplant from New York.
Normally, I wouldnโt look twice at someone like Lou. Heโs a rules guy, and Iโve never met a rule I didnโt want to break just for the fun of it. But itโs obvious he needs an intervention to avoid becoming an old man at thirty-four, and I am going to make that happen.
Lou
I came to Highland Hills to hide. Itโs not every day a man loses his professional integrity, his fiancรฉe, and his pet fish all in the same week.
The last thing I want is for smoking hot Ivy Anders to get it into her head that I should be her project. But she has, and itโs hard as hell to say no to her. Believe me, Iโve tried.
The more time we spend together, the more I realize that I have another problem on my hands: Ivyโs everything Iโm notโyoung and wild and freeโand sheโs all I can think about.
*****
Review:
I’ll be honest, I expected Ivy to get on my nerves. There’s something about “party girls who have commitment issues” that usually comes off more as flighty and annoying, but Ivy was actually fun. She had a sense of adventure and a penchant for poking her nose in where it doesn’t belong (mostly to have an excuse to not look at her own troubles). She’s a good foil for Lou’s more serious demeanor and tendency to be a little too responsible. As their relationship develops and turns into something more, they blend together well. Ivy’s issues because of her childhood and the way she was treated by her mother were definitely going to prove to be a stumbling block but it’s done in a way that left me very satisfied.
With quirky humor, steamy (and sometimes surprising) sexy time, and a very Ivy & Lou HEA, Matchmaking a Roommate finishes the Highland Hills on a high note … with just enough of a hint to tease us about what comes next.
(Part of a series but can be read as a stand-alone.)
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
He’s her next makeover project. She’s his next mistake.
Ivy
I’m Ivy Anders, popular romance novelist and small-town success story. Or so they say. I tell myself I’m only back in my hometown because my father had a heart attack, but that’s not the full story.
I can’t go home. And the longer I stay, the less I want to. I’m drawn in by my part-time job at Ziggy brewery, which I took to research for my next book, and by the mystery of Lou, my father’s stuffy lodger, a temporary transplant from New York.
Normally, I wouldn’t look twice at someone like Lou. He’s a rules guy, and I’ve never met a rule I didn’t want to break just for the fun of it. But it’s obvious he needs an intervention to avoid becoming an old man at thirty-four, and I am going to make that happen.
Lou
I came to Highland Hills to hide. It’s not every day a man loses his professional integrity, his fiancรฉe, and his pet fish all in the same week.
The last thing I want is for smoking hot Ivy Anders to get it into her head that I should be her project. But she has, and it’s hard as hell to say no to her. Believe me, I’ve tried.
The more time we spend together, the more I realize that I have another problem on my hands: Ivy’s everything I’m notโyoung and wild and freeโand she’s all I can think about.
Denise Grover Swank is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal best-selling author who writes romance mystery and romantic comedy.
She lives in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, a suburb of Kansas City, MISSOURI. (So many people think it’s in Kansas.) She has six kidsโthree out on their own, one in college, and two in high school. She has three dogs. She spends her free time binging Netflix, drinking wine, and reading. Not necessarily in that order.
ANGELA CASELLA is a romcom fanatic. Writing them, reading them, watching themโshe’s greedy, and she does it all. She writes the Fairy Godmother Agency series solo, and she’s lucky enough to collaborate with Denise Grover Swank on multiple series.
She lives in Asheville, NC. Her hobbies include herding her daughter toward less dangerous activities, the aforementioned romcom addiction, and dreaming of having someone else clean her house.
He wants to destroy her show. She wants to get on Santaโs naughty list with him.
Rowan
No man wants to be nicknamed Cupid. My familyโs run a matchmaking business for years, though, and my sisterโs a romance novelist. You get the picture. To make matters worse, my narcissistic grandmother just sold a reality dating show to network television. Thanks to her, our small town is about to become a hotbed of tourists and opportunists.
Her show needs to be stopped, and Iโm exactly the man to do it. Cupid, reporting for duty
The star of the show, Kennedy Littlefield, isnโt my type at all. Sheโs a wealthy heiress with an unhealthy obsession with Christmas.
Thereโs just one problem: I canโt stop thinking about her.
Kennedy
Iโm lucky to be doing this show. Maybe Iโll start believing it if I repeat it enough…because Iโm supposed to be dating eight men, and they all suck. Iโm not here to fall in loveโIโm trying to save a non-profit with the publicity from the showโbut Iโd hoped for a Christmas miracle.
I love Christmas, only it hasnโt come to the set because the show doesnโt air until spring, and no oneโwith the exception of meโwants to watch a Christmas show in March.
Thereโs only one thing I want more than Christmas cheer: the ornery grump who keeps hanging out around the set.
*****
Review:
Kennedy doesn’t particularly want to be on a dating show for rich people, especially after seeing the men that Nana has picked out, but she really needs the exposure for the non-profit she loves. She’ll just have to try her best, remember why she’s there, and rely on help from some new friends.
There’s quite a bit about the reality show that didn’t track for me (it definitely didn’t come across as big budget or well put together) but the personal & romance portions more than made up for it. I really enjoyed getting to know Kennedy and seeing more of Rowan’s softer side. He may be grumpy but he’s got such a big heart. His history makes it so that he feels the need to help kids in his community truly be able to enjoy Christmas. He also wants to help those he cares about be happy, which means keeping Nana Mayberry as far away from them as he can. If that gives him a chance to ruin her latest project, the one that can only mean bad things for the Mayberry name, then even better … then he meets Kennedy. Sweet and giving, big-hearted, everything her parents aren’t, and definitely not what Rowan expected. Before long he finds himself wanting to make sure she gets everything she needs, even if it goes again what he wants.
I gotta say, as much as I enjoyed Rowan & Kennedy together and seeing them figure out their way to a HEA, it was Harry that stole my heart. A little bit of awkward wrapped up in a whole lotta goodness, I cheered every time he was on the page. It’s those kinds of interactions, the characters with their merits and their foibles, that make these authors a go to for me time and time again.
(Part of a series but can easily stand on its own.)
He wants to destroy her show. She wants to get on Santa’s naughty list with him.
Rowan
No man wants to be nicknamed Cupid. My family’s run a matchmaking business for years, though, and my sister’s a romance novelist. You get the picture. To make matters worse, my narcissistic grandmother just sold a reality dating show to network television. Thanks to her, our small town is about to become a hotbed of tourists and opportunists.
Her show needs to be stopped, and I’m exactly the man to do it. Cupid, reporting for duty
The star of the show, Kennedy Littlefield, isn’t my type at all. She’s a wealthy heiress with an unhealthy obsession with Christmas.
There’s just one problem: I can’t stop thinking about her.
Kennedy
I’m lucky to be doing this show. Maybe I’ll start believing it if I repeat it enough…because I’m supposed to be dating eight men, and they all suck. I’m not here to fall in loveโI’m trying to save a non-profit with the publicity from the show–but I’d hoped for a Christmas miracle.
I love Christmas, only it hasn’t come to the set because the show doesn’t air until spring, and no oneโwith the exception of meโwants to watch a Christmas show in March.
There’s only one thing I want more than Christmas cheer: the ornery grump who keeps hanging out around the set.
DENISE GROVER SWANK is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal best-selling author who writes romance mystery and romantic comedy.
She lives in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, a suburb of Kansas City, MISSOURI. (So many people think it’s in Kansas.) She has six kidsโthree out on their own, one in college, and two in high school. She has three dogs. She spends her free time binging Netflix, drinking wine, and reading. Not necessarily in that order.
ANGELA CASELLA is a romcom fanatic. Writing them, reading them, watching themโshe’s greedy, and she does it all. She writes the Fairy Godmother Agency series solo, and she’s lucky enough to collaborate with Denise Grover Swank on multiple series.
She lives in Asheville, NC. Her hobbies include herding her daughter toward less dangerous activities, the aforementioned romcom addiction, and dreaming of having someone else clean her house.
Jingle Bell Hell, an all-new awkward meets sexy rom com from New York Times bestselling author Denise Grover Swank and USA Today bestselling author A.R. Casella is available now!
Jingle Bell Hell
Bad Luck Club series
by A.R. Casella and Denise Grover Swank
Blurb:
Sheโs a sexually repressed control freak. Heโs a muscular ex-con with heavier baggage than Santaโs toy bag. Theyโre everything each other never wanted.
Mary
Iโm usually the first person on my block to decorate for Christmas. This year? Humbug.
My six-year-old son, Aidan, just had a meltdown after learning some hard truths from a drunk Santa impersonator, and I can no longer deny we both need help. Change is hard for Aidan, and right now heโs dealing with several big ones, including A) his father abandoning us, B) our move to Asheville, and C) the Santa snafu.
And me? Iโm a control freak, and my life is more out-of-control than a sled on ice.
Thatโs why I agree to let Aidan join Butterfly Buddies, a group that matches kids with adult mentors.
Itโs also why I agree to a mentor of my ownโterrifying, pink-haired Nicole, who wants to help me live life on the wild side. Her advice is strangely compelling, especially after I meet Aidanโs new โbuddy,โ a gorgeous tattooed hunk of a man who makes me wish there werenโt cobwebs in my…well, you know.
Jace
Mary OโShea is sexy as hell, but she doesnโt know it.
She also doesnโt know Iโm an ex-con, and if she finds out that I served three years in prison, extenuating circumstances wonโt matter to her.
The last thing I should do is get attached to her kid…or her, but I didnโt get in this position by making good decisions.
Grab your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!
Jace reaches toward my face, and my heart feels like itโs about to beat out of my chest as his fingers near the soft flesh of my cheek. When he tucks an escaped lock of hair behind my ear, I almost melt into a puddle.
โYouโre a good mom,โ he says. โAnd you were probably right. It might not be a good idea for Aidan to get too attached to me, and me to him, given that you and I are attracted to each other.โ
Shock roils through me. Itโs as if Iโve opened my eyes and found myself on a different planet, where the ground is as solid as a bounce house and left is right and right is left.
No, itโs not possible.
I gawk at him, taking in his sparkling eyes, the golden ends of his hair, and that short beard that shouldnโt look good, but oh God, it looks really goodโฆ
โDid you just sayโฆ?โ I start.
Itโs then that Aidan bursts through the door, holding something in his hand. He thrusts it out in front of him, scrunching his nose. โDid you get me this, Mom? It came in the box with my game. It was in a container, but I took it out.โ
Shock renders me mute and still, like a pillar of salt. Especially since I can feel the intense scrutiny of Jaceโs eyes. Thereโs no way Aidan knows what heโs holding, but Jace must know.
No, no, no, no, no, this canโt be happening.
The vibrator wasnโt supposed to come until tomorrow. Why would they pack it with a childrenโs board game?
A twisted sense of humor? A lack of reasonable bathroom breaks in the warehouse?
Aidan waves the bright pink vibrator around.
โThereโs a little rabbit on it. Is it some kind of toy for Christmas? The package says itโs a magic wand thatโs supposed to make people moan, but they spelled magic with a k, and it didnโt come with a spell book or anything.โ He pulls a face. โI guess I can just use it with the Harry Potter spells. It does vibrate like itโs doing magic, and it can whirl in circles too.โ
A short laugh sputters out of Jace.
My face is so red, it might as well be a fire truck. Magik wand. At least the name offers a reasonable explanation. For a six-year-old. God help me, I canโt bear to look at Jace.
I make a grab for the vibrator, but Aidan evades me.
โWhyโd you get it in pink, Mom? You know greenโs my favorite color.โ
Jace clears his throat, but nope, I still canโt look at him. Heโs not laughing anymore, but I know he probably wants to. Who wouldnโt? If he did feel some sort of passing attraction to me before this, he certainly doesnโt now.
โAidan,โ Jace says slowly, his voice husky. โThere are toys for adults too. Thatโs probably something your mom got as a treat for herself, although Iโm sure sheโll get you a Harry Potter wand for Christmas if you want one. Let her have it.โ
Aidan does, which is what I wanted, but then I have a vibrator in my hand.I think for a moment and then stuff it into my bag. The tip instantly pops out, unmistakable.
What is happening to me?
โIt must be some kind of mistake,โ I say, finally forcing myself to meet Jaceโs gaze. โI didnโt order this. I wouldnโtโฆโ
I thought Iโd see laughter there, because heโs only human, but all traces of it are gone, and now heโs looking at me like Iโm the last slice of birthday cake at an office birthday party. No, like Iโm the first.
*****
Review:
**Maybe, possibly, some minor spoilers ahead**
I’m not sure I’ve ever read anything by Swank or Casella but I gotta say I really enjoyed myself with Jingle Bell Hell. It’s fun and humor, mixed together will all kinds of feels. While there’s a bit of drama over Jase’s past, it’s handled well, plus I appreciate that it wasn’t drawn out through a big part of the book. And Mary comes at it with maturity, owning up to her reaction to the news … well, eventually. Which is pretty much the way both of them make their way through all of their ups and downs, with reason and facing it head on. It’s not a smooth ride but they manage to come out the other side together.
If you are looking for a entertaining, sweet read, you can’t go wrong here.
(Part of a series but can easily stand on its own.)
*****
Author Info:
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Denise Grover Swank was born in Kansas City, Missouri and lived in the area until she was nineteen. Then she became a nomadic gypsy, living in five cities, four states and ten houses over the course of ten years before she moved back to her roots. She speaks English and smattering of Spanish and Chinese which she learned through an intensive Nick Jr. immersion period. Her hobbies include witty Facebook comments (in her own mind) and dancing in her kitchen with her children. (Quite badly if you believe her offspring.) Hidden talents include the gift of justification and the ability to drink massive amounts of caffeine and still fall asleep within two minutes. Her lack of the sense of smell allows her to perform many unspeakable tasks. She has six children and hasnโt lost her sanity. Or so she leads you to believe.
A.R. CASELLA is a freelance developmental editor by day, writer by night. She lives in Asheville, NC with her husband, daughter, two dogs, and a variable number of fish. Her pastimes include chasing around her toddler, baking delicious treats, and occasional bouts of crocheting. Any Luck at All, co-written with New York Times bestselling author Denise Grover Swank, is her first book.
Warm, sunny days just beg for a wedding-themed romance, dontcha think?
*****
Until You
Bachelor Brotherhood Book 2
by Denise Grover Swank
May 30, 2017
Forever Mass Market Paperback,ย $7.99
Blurb:
“Swank’s fluffy, feel-good storytelling proclaims the primacy of love as a force to which everyone should surrender-the bachelors destined to star in future installments haven’t got a chance.” —ย Publishers Weeklyย (starred review) onย Only You
Never settle down. Ever.
Workaholic Lanie Rogers lives a completely nomadic lifestyle. Her job keeps her on the move, and relationships are a complication she doesn’t need. That is, until she meets Mr. Tall, Dark, and Hotness at a pre-wedding party. Complicated? Maybe. But lately, Lanie’s life has been missing a little something—and sexy playboy Tyler Norris offers something she definitely can’t refuse.
Tyler has always been a little too popular with women for his own good. Ever since he and his buddies vowed to remain bachelors, Tyler figured he was safe from temptation. Lanie and her gorgeous brown eyes are about to prove him so, so wrong. With one kiss, the heat is intense. After one night, it’s pure combustion. It was supposed to be a no-strings fling—until these two commitment-phobes each discover the one undeniable exception to their rule.
I thought that once we’d moved on fromย Only Youย it wouldn’t matter that I hadn’t read any of the other wedding books by Swank … and I can’t figure out if I’m right or not. ย I can’t find anything about Randy and Brittany but it plays out like these are people that should have been the couple in their own story. ย It’s kinda strange because I feel like I should know them already but I can’t find them anywhere … unless they are maybe secondary characters? ย If they are, then once again the fact that I jumped into a series (kinda) did me a disservice. ย If they aren’t, then it is a little weird. ย (Or maybe I need to work on my memory.)
Overall though the coupling of Tyler and Lanie is a wonderfully entertaining read. ย Both Tyler and Lanie have their reasons for avoiding relationships but lucky for them it looks like they’ve both reached a point in their lives where they are ready for a change. ย Their friends are pairing up and it’s causing them to evaluate themselves & what they truly want out of life.
And it couldn’t have happened at a better time because together these two are just down-right ah-dorable! ย It’s a hoot as they first try to ignore their attraction and then hide it from her meddling cousin. ย There’s a few truly hilarious slapstick moments that had me smiling and their verbal sparring is all sass & fun. ย While things may have played out a little too conveniently (it is a romance), they have to have a HEA (because it is a romance). ย Plus, once you see how Tyler wins his girl, you’ll be wishing you had been there to see it ย ๐
*****
Author Info:
New York Timesย andย USA Todayย bestselling author Denise Grover Swank was born in Kansas City, Missouri and lived in the area until she was nineteen. Then she became a nomadic gypsy, living in five cities, four states and ten houses over the course of ten years before she moved back to her roots. She speaks English and smattering of Spanish and Chinese, which she learned through an intensive Nick Jr. immersion period. Her hobbies include witty (in her own mind) Facebook comments and dancing in her kitchen with her children. (Quite badly if you believe her offspring.) Hidden talents include the gift of justification and the ability to drink massive amounts of caffeine and still fall asleep within two minutes. Her lack of the sense of smell allows her to perform many unspeakable tasks. She has six children and hasn’t lost her sanity. Or so she leads you to believe
The first book in a spin-off fromย Denise Grover Swank’sย New York Times bestselling Wedding Pact series (The Wedding Pact, The Player, The Gambler, The Valentine)
โWarm and funny, the first book in the Bachelor Brotherhood series reads like a great Hollywood rom-com.โ โiBooks Best Books of June
Never say neverโฆ
Romance isn’t an option for Holly Greenwood. With her wedding planner career on the line she needs to stay focused, and that means pleasing her demanding boss, not getting distracted by her mind-alteringly hot neighborโฆ
Ex-Marine Kevin Vandemeer craves normalcy. Instead, he has a broken-down old house in need of a match and some gasoline, a meddling family, and the uncanny ability to attract the world’s craziest women. At least that last one he can fix: he and his buddies have made a pact to swear off women, and this includes his sweetly sexy new neighbor.
After one hot night that looks a whole lot like a disaster in the light of day, Kevin and Holly are about to learn that true love doesn’t play by the rulesโฆ
Kevin wasnโt sure why he was surprised Holly was here. She was a wedding planner, and from what heโd seen so far, she was a damn good one.
Heโd been on his way out of the room, needing a breather from the noise and the chaos of the reception when heโd seen her at the table. He hadnโt planned on asking her to danceโhell, he hated to danceโbut heโd been desperate for a reason to talk to her.
When he sat back down at the table, Tyler wore a smirk. โCrashed and burned, huh? I thought you were going to the bathroom to take a piss.โ
โI was. I just happened to run into a friend.โ
โRun into a friend, my ass. I thought weโd sworn off women. Iโve held up my end of the bachelor brotherhood. And let me add that I had no idea my balls could turn this blue.โ
โSheโs a friend,โ Kevin said, trying not to sound irritated and feed any more fuel to the fire.
โSheโs his neighbor,โ Matt said, taking a sip of his beer, and giving Kevin a pointed look. โTheyโre friends.โ
Tyler burst out laughing. โYou got friend-zoned?โ
โNo,โ Kevin said slowly, picking up his drink, surprised Matt hadnโt told Tyler about the situation heโd stumbled upon. โI was the one who said I wanted to be friends.โ
โWhy?โ Tyler asked, watching Holly with a little more interest than Kevin liked. โSheโs hot. Do you know if sheโs seeing anyone?โ
โNo.โ Kevinโs irritation grew.
Tyler stood and adjusted his tie, a smirk lighting up his eyes. โScrew the brotherhood. I think Iโll go over and introduce myself.โ
Kevin was up in a flash. โI donโt think so.โ
โWhy not?โ he looked surprised. โShe looks like sheโd be worth a short break from my hiatus from women.โ
Kevin stepped in front of his path, his jaw set. โBecause youโre a prick who will use her and toss her aside and she deserves a helluva lot better than that.โ
Matt was up in an instant, grabbing Kevinโs arm. โWhy donโt we get some air?โ
โYou like her,โ Tyler said, slack jawed.
โOf course he likes her,โ Matt said. โFor someone so smart, sometimes youโre an idiot.โ
โIn my defense,โ Tyler said. โHe said they were friends.โ
โOkay,โ Matt said slowly. โWhen was the last time you convinced a woman to be just a friend?โ
โNever.โ
โI rest my case, counselor.โ
Tyler sat back down, and Matt tugged on Kevinโs sleeve to get him to join them.
ย โI canโt believe you didnโt last even a single week,โ Tyler said.
โHe didnโt last a single day,โ Matt told him. โHe slept with her the night after our agreement to remain single.โ
Tyler burst out laughing. โFor a tough-ass former Marine, I expected you to be the last holdout, man. At least a week or two.โ
*****
Review:
**Minor spoilers, maybe, kinda, so just a warning**
FYI, I didnโt read the Wedding Pact series (for those that know me, *shocker!*), and while there are references to it โ especially with Kevinโs sister โ it didnโt impact this story much.ย I think it can easily stand on its own.
Iโm going to start by saying that the ending seems a little rushed to me, not the relationship so much as just the timing.ย I think the whole story covers about 3 weeks, and while it reads like a movie rom-com (funny, wacky and sweet), what works for me on the screen needs a little more time on the page for some reason here ๐ ย I want to emphasize it is definitely a very minor complaint, because if you take the timing out of it, I am highly satisfied with how things go for these two.
As I say that, I have to admit that I do kinda wish Iโd read at least Meganโs story so I have a better feel for Kevin because I think that he was probably a handful in the previous book.ย The stories about the crazies that he attracts, and thus the very funny misunderstanding with Holly, are a hoot. ย And he’s got such a wonderful relationship with his sister, supportive but still snarky, that I would love to see that from her side.
Once their misunderstandingsย get straightened out, the interactions between Kevin & Hollyย are sweet, spicy and humorous.ย The main drama then comes fromย his mother and the fact that Holly works for her.ย Itโs not the best of situations for either but they eventually make it work. ย (There’s those rom-com moments again ๐ )
Iโm looking forward to Kevinโs friends getting their own romances because I definitely believe those two need to be shaken up!
*****
Author Info:
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Denise Grover Swank was born in Kansas City, Missouri and lived in the area until she was nineteen. Then she became a nomadic gypsy, living in five cities, four states and ten houses over the course of ten years before she moved back to her roots. She speaks English and smattering of Spanish and Chinese, which she learned through an intensive Nick Jr. immersion period. Her hobbies include witty (in her own mind) Facebook comments and dancing in her kitchen with her children. (Quite badly if you believe her offspring.) Hidden talents include the gift of justification and the ability to drink massive amounts of caffeine and still fall asleep within two minutes. Her lack of the sense of smell allows her to perform many unspeakable tasks. She has six children and hasn’t lost her sanity. Or so she leads you to believe.
Romantic Reads and Such 