Archives for October 2016

** Book Review ** GREEK TYCOON’S MISTLETOE PROPOSAL by Kandy Shepherd

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5 STARS!

Great story of finding love when you least expect it!  Loved the characters, the plot, and the location!

When Greek billionaire Lukas Christophedes comes home and finds a stranger soaking in his bathtub at his Chelsea townhouse, he’s shocked!  When he finds out it’s his maid taking the liberty of helping herself to his luxuries, he’s furious.  Then it hits him, he needs her to act as his girlfriend to help him a close a crucial business deal.

Newly single Ashleigh Murphy has hit a little rough patch, or she never would have considered squatting in one of her clients houses for a few nights!  She’s mortified that she was caught, and if helping him out with this business deal will make things even without the police or her boss being involved, she’ll do it.

As Christmas approaches and they spend days together preparing for their business obligations, they get to know each other and realize that the other is actually a great person, and they have a lot of fun together … and the spark of attraction, yes, that’s growing stronger every day!

ARC received via the Author/VA

 

** Blog Tour / Book Review ** SAVED BY THE FIREFIGHTER by Rachel Brimble

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4 STARS!

A story about finding your way through grief and loss and having to pick up the pieces of your life afterwards.  I liked Trent a lot, but found it fairly difficult to connect with Izzy.  I understood her pain, but I just would have liked to see more depth to her instead of just pushing away the one person that cared about her the most … repeatedly.  Either way, I enjoyed their story.

Photographer Izzy Cooper is basically living her life in a cloud as she tries to overcome the enormous grief she is suffering over losing her brother.  She’s already pushed away family and friends, but the one guy who isn’t willing to give up on her is the one that she treats the worst.  She knows it’s irrational to blame him, but she does it anyway.

Firefighter Trent Palmer wishes he could have saved his best friend and Izzy’s brother the day of the accident, but he was gone before they even arrived on the scene.  He just wants to be there for Izzy and to have her want to have a relationship with him again.

Will working together on this calendar shoot be what will bring them back together?

ARC received via Tasty Book Tours

 

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Saved by the Firefighter
Templeton Cove #6

By: Rachel Brimble

Releasing November 1, 2016
Harlequin Superromance

 

BLURB:

How can she forgive him for what he didn’t do?

Photographer Izzy Cooper feels as frozen as her pictures. Trent Palmer might be the hottest firefighter in Templeton Cove, but she can never face him again. Not after he failed to save her brother. But when they’re forced together by a calendar shoot, the sparks between them are undeniable.

Izzy knows it’s not fair to blame Trent for the tragedy, but opening herself up to loss again isn’t something she’s prepared to do, no matter how determined Trent is to show her that pain is part of life and that love—their love—can make any suffering bearable.

 

 Link to Follow Tour:  http://tastybooktours.com/tours-master//2016/08/saved-by-firefighter-templeton-cove-6.html

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31858172-saved-by-the-firefighter
Goodreads Series Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/161969-templeton-cove

 

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

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Saved-Firefighter-Templeton-Cove-Stories-ebook/dp/B01FQX473Q
B&N:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/saved-by-the-firefighter-rachel-brimble/1123750035?ean=9781488006906
Google: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Rachel_Brimble
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iTunes:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/saved-by-the-firefighter/id1114464965?mt=11
Kobo:  https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/saved-by-the-firefighter

 

 

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EXCERPT:

She carefully climbed down the rocks, one hand steadying her as she made her slow descent. Trent waited, needing to know she was safe on the sand before he could leave.

He wanted to protect his family and loved ones––to never fail someone again as he’d failed his baby sister. In Izzy, he saw his future. Why her, he wasn’t sure he could ever explain, but she mattered. Deeply.

Yet, with every day that passed, she slipped further away from him and he wished to God it didn’t hurt so much.

He briefly closed his eyes before opening them again, ready to walk on. Walk away. He glanced in her direction once last time as she leapt from the final rock, her hand protectively clasped around the camera at her breasts. Looking up, she held up a finger toward him as though asking him to wait for her. Surprise turned to pathetic relief as she jogged across the sand, her long blonde hair swinging back and forth in its ponytail. As she got closer, the more Trent tensed.

It had been over a week since he’d seen her. The beach party a bigger disaster than he could’ve ever anticipated.

She came up the steps toward him, tucking some fallen hair behind her ear. He noted the way she tried to smile for him, but it didn’t quite meet her eyes. “Hi.”

He pushed his hands into the pockets of his work trousers. “Hi.”

Slightly out of breath, she exhaled through pursed lips and stared into his eyes. “I think I owe you an apology.”

She might as well as said she loved him. The pleasure that jolted through him probably wouldn’t have been any less powerful. He dragged his gaze from hers to look blindly toward a spot over her shoulder. “For what?”

“For the way I spoke to you at the beach last week.” She sighed. “Won’t you at least look at me? You know apologizing doesn’t exactly come as second nature to me.”

He turned. The trepidation and pleading in her gaze teemed with the blush at her cheeks, tugged at his chest. “I get it, Iz. It’s fine.”

“What do you get?”

“You need to blame me for Robbie’s death. You’ll only ever look at me and see a firefighter now. The man who couldn’t save your brother. You’ll never just see me. A guy who really likes you.”

 

 

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AUTHOR INFO:

Rachel Brimble lives with her husband and two teenage daughters in a small town near Bath in the UK. After having several novels published by small US presses, she secured agent representation in 2011. Since 2013, she has had five books published by Harlequin Superromance (Templeton Cove Stories) and three Victorian romances by eKensington/Lyrical.

Rachel is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and Romance Writers of America, and was selected to mentor the Superromance finalist of So You Think You Can Write 2014 contest. When she isn’t writing, you’ll find Rachel with her head in a book or walking the beautiful English countryside with her family. Her dream place to live is Bourton-on-the-Water in South West England.

She likes nothing more than connecting and chatting with her readers and fellow romance writers. Rachel would love to hear from you!

 

Author Links:  Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

Website:  http://rachelbrimble.com/
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rachel-Brimble/181873201887441
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/RachelBrimble
GoodReads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1806411.Rachel_Brimble

 

 

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** Book Review ** LIVING FAST by Adrienne Giordano

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5 STARS!

I’ve enjoyed all of the books in the Steele Ridge series so far, but Reid’s story has been my favorite so far.  He’s just this side of arrogant, but his adorable smile makes it okay! Lots of intrigue happening in this one as the bad guys keep coming after Brynne and Reid keeps having to protect her.  Looking forward to seeing more of the Steele family.

Green Beret Reid Steele is really mad that his Army career has ended simply because of a freak accident that left him with a knee injury that puts him out of commission.  He needs a new career, but for just came home to Steele Ridge to lay low and heal a little.

Boutique owner Brynne Whitfield has caught his attention both times he’s run into her since being back, so he sets out to woo her into having a little fun with him, but Brynne’s recently had her heartbroken by a player and certainly isn’t looking to move on to another one.  When her best friend is murdered and she somehow becomes a target of the assailant, Reid steps in to keep her safe. Will their close contact lead to them actually starting to care about each other?

** Book Review ** KEEPING COLE’S PROMISE by Cheryl Harper

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4 1/2 STARS!

If you’re looking for a sweet romance that will take you on a roller coaster ride of emotions, Cheryl Harper’s latest is the one for you!  I laughed, I cried, I felt so sad for him, yet a deep happiness in the end.  What a great story!  The only thing I could have wanted more of is for them to become a couple a little sooner so we could see more of them together, but overall, a really sweet read that will touch your heart.  I heart Freddie!

Eleven years ago Cole Ferguson made the greatest mistake of his life.  No matter what his intentions were, he paid the price for what he did.  Now he’s back home in Holly Heights, TX looking to start fresh.  He needs a job, and to keep his nose to the grindstone.  Straight and narrow, that’s his new motto!

We met Rebecca Lincoln in a previous book and now we get her story.  She’s a high school guidance counselor out to save the world one student at a time, and when working with Cole shows her that she has let some kids slip through the cracks over the years, she sets out to fix that.  Working closely at the animal shelter where Cole got a job puts her in close quarters with him quite a bit. Can she find a way to look past the man he was and see who is standing right in front of her?

Copy received via the Author.

** Book Review ** TOGETHER AT LAST by Joanne Dannon

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4 STARS!

A great friends-to-lovers, best friend’s little sister story!

Amielle Warne was living the good life.  At only 26, she had her dream job for a big superstar and couldn’t have asked for much more, but a hit and run accident took it all away from her.  Now, months later, she’s still recovering and hoping to get back to some semblance of a normal life soon … until her childhood crush shows up and turns her world upside down again!

Ethan Cuthbert is back home for three weeks to set up a getaway in his old home for cancer patients.  He never expects to hear that Amielle is looking to use the house to start a new business!  Ethan has always crushed on her just as much as she has on him, but he respects her family too much to ever make a move on her.

Will spending this time together cause them to reconsider what they really want out of life?

ARC received via the Author/VA

** Book Review ** HEARTS ON ICE by Christy McKellen

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4 STARS!

A cute story that finds two unlikely people meeting at an inopportune time and changing their views on love!

Nate Taylor is just looking for a little peace and tranquility when he accidentally messes up his paragliding landing and smashes into Hettie Sampson’s property.  He’s really not in the mood to deal with it right now, but he can’t in good conscious walk away and leave her with damaged property, so he sets out to fix what he busted.

Hettie can’t believe her bad luck of having something threaten her livelihood in such a callous way, and of all things, to find out it’s a cop that did it!  The last thing she needs is him snooping around and discovering her secret!

Neither are looking for a relationship, but when they are snowed in together and the steamy chemistry between them is too much to resist, they set out on what it supposed to be a casual one time thing.  Before all is said and done, they are both thinking about more and missing the other by their side.

Copy received via Author

** Blog Tour ** NOW AND THEN FRIENDS by Kate Hewitt

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Book Title: Now and Then Friends (Hartly-by-the-Sea Novel, #2)
Author: Kate Hewitt
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Release Date: July 12, 2016
Hosted by: Book Enthusiast Promotions

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book blurb

The USA Today bestselling author of Rainy Day Sisters returns to Hartley-by-the-Sea…

Childhood best friends Rachel Campbell and Claire West have not only grown up, but after fifteen years, they’ve also grown apart…

After her father left, Rachel had to dedicate her life to managing her household: her two younger sisters, her disabled mother, and her three-year-old nephew. When Rachel’s not struggling to look after all of them, she makes her living cleaning the houses of wealthy families—including the Wests, where a surprise now awaits her. . . .

A lifetime of drifting in other people’s currents has finally left Claire high and dry. First it was her parents, then the popular crowd in school, and finally her fiancé. Now she’s returned to Hartley-by-the-Sea to recover. But running into Rachel brings back memories of past mistakes, and Claire wonders if she now has the courage to make them right.

Soon Claire’s brother, Andrew, asks Rachel to keep an eye on Claire, which is the last thing either woman wants. But as their lives threaten to fall apart, both Claire and Rachel begin to realize what they need most is a friend. The kind of friend they once were to each other, and perhaps can be again. . . .

excerpt

READ AN EXCERPT FROM CHAPTER ONE OF NOW AND THEN FRIENDS

 

meet the author

Kate Hewitt is the author of over 45 novels of women’s fiction and romance. Whatever the genre, she loves to tell an emotionally compelling story. An American ex-pat, she lives in a small market town in Wales with her husband, five young children, and an overly affectionate Golden Retriever. You can follow her adventures at http://www.acumbrianlife.blogspot.co.uk.

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** Blog Tour ** ONCE UPON A ROYAL CHRISTMAS by Robin Bielman

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Once Upon a Royal Christmas

by Robin Bielman
Publication Date: October 20, 2016
Genres: Adult, Contemporary Romance, Holiday

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Synopsis: Colliding with a prince while walking four dogs isn’t how Rowan Palotay pictured meeting royalty, but then lately her life hasn’t gone according to plan. With one teensy tiny mistake, her job as a news reporter took a turn for the worse and now she’s lucky to have a small pet column in the local newspaper. Christmas is supposed to be a time of joy and magic, but she feels like she’s forever stuck on the naughty list.Prince Theodore Chenery is in Marietta shortly after the death of his mother to meet his grandparents for the first time. When an accidental run-in—literally—with Rowan leads to an unexpected friendship, he finds himself enchanted with the outspoken, feisty country girl. She’s unlike anyone he’s ever met and her special brand of kindness and honesty make it harder and harder to keep temptation away.

Giving into the passion and deep-rooted emotions between them, Theo and Rowan discover what matters most. But when their relationship makes worldwide news, Theo must decide whether or not to follow his heart or his royal duty.

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EXCERPT

“You okay?” the prince asked.

            “I’m fine,” Rowan said, pressing her shoulders back and raising her chin. “I’ve been hit with hundreds of snowballs.”

            “I’m not surprised.”

            “Excuse me?”

            “You strike me as good target practice.”

            She had no idea what to make of that comment. What a rude thing to say to someone who’d— “I just saved you from getting nailed by two snowballs and that’s what you say to me? Kind of insulting, don’t you think?”

            “I didn’t—”

            “You don’t even know me.”

            “I—”

            “And for your information”—she almost said “bucko” but caught herself—“it’s an honor to have been hit by so many snowballs growing up here. You don’t get snow where you’re from, so you wouldn’t know.” He came from a small state along the Mediterranean coastline known for its beaches and yacht-lined harbor, and where the sun reigned supreme year round.

            “May I speak now?”

            “If you must.”

            That earned her another arch of his brows. She’d probably be arrested for speaking so disrespectfully to him if they were in Montanique. But this was her home turf and he didn’t get to say whatever he pleased. Manners went both ways no matter who you were.

            “I meant it would be fun aiming for you.”

            She crossed her arms over her chest. That still sounded kind of harsh. Even though she was fun. “As opposed to aiming for…?”

            “Anyone else.”

            “I’m still not sure what—”

            “It was a compliment, Miss Palotay.”

            She shifted her feet. Okay, so maybe this meant he wasn’t holding this morning’s incident against her. “Call me Rowan.”

            “Call me Theo.”

            “Really?” She’d called him that in her head, but out loud was something entirely different.

            “It’s what my friends call me.”

            “Are we friends?”

            “You are wanting in my pants.”

            She threw her arms up in the air. He wasn’t serious. “What? I do not.”

            “You don’t want to take my pants to be cleaned?” His calm, casual tone irked her. Rowan bet nothing ruffled this man, or gave him pause. Confidence and poise rolled off him like a summer breeze in the middle of winter.

            “That’s not what you said. You said I wanted in your pants.”

            “You must have misheard me.” The small, entirely too charming, curve of his lips told her she had not misheard him at all, and he enjoyed teasing her.

            Two could play that game. “That’s too bad. I’m very good inside men’s pants.”

 

ABOUT ROBIN BIELMAN

Robin Bielman

When not attached to her laptop, USA Today Bestselling Author Robin Bielman can almost always be found with her nose in a book. A California girl, the beach is her favorite place for fun and inspiration. Her fondness for swoon-worthy heroes who flirt and stumble upon the girl they can’t live without jumpstarts all of her story ideas.

She is a 2014 RITA Finalist, loves to frequent coffee shops, and plays a mean game of sock tug of war with her cute, but often naughty dog, Harry. She cherishes her family and friends and loves to connect with readers. Get the scoop on Robin, her books, and sign up for her newsletter on her website at http://robinbielman.com.

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** Book Review ** THE NURSE’S NEWBORN GIFT by Wendy S. Marcus

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5 STARS!

Such a touching story!  With her powerful voice, Wendy S. Marcus shared with us a journey to finding happiness again after a horrible heartbreak.  There’s deep sadness, unbelievable joy and a sexy hot connection to take our breath away as we share Krissy’s journey.  Really couldn’t put this book down!

As a young adult, Krissy Peniglatt promised her best friend that if he didn’t make it back from his Army stint overseas, that she would make sure his legacy continued on by having his baby via IVF. When the unthinkable happened and Jarrod didn’t make it home, Krissy worked hard to get herself established in a stable career and make sure she was mature enough to handle being a single mother, and then she kept her promise to Jarrod.

Jarrod left instructions that he wanted his other best friend, Spencer Penn, to be his baby’s godfather.  Once upon a time they were all great friends, until Spencer took a stance of disliking Krissy and drifting away.  Now when she comes to his door with a letter from his old friend, he can’t turn her away no matter how he feels.  As he sets out to honor Jarrod’s wishes and help her through the end of her pregnancy, will he be able to convince her that he really doesn’t dislike the new her that she’s become … and in reality, would love to be her baby daddy??

** Blog Tour / Book Review ** GOING DOWN FAST by Carly Phillips

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4 1/2 STARS!

Another sexy billionaire takes us for a ride in the latest Billionaire Bad Boys release by Carly Phillips!  I loved Lucas, and other than wanting to kick Maxie a few times when I felt like she wasn’t appreciating him enough, I enjoyed her too.  Lots of steamy romance, and a bit of intrigue as we try to figure out what’s going to happen with the trouble that is following her around!

Though they were childhood best friends and each secretly wanted more with the other, Lucas Monroe and Maxie Sullivan went separate routes through life.  When hard times left her needing him, he was always there for her, willing to pick up the pieces.  This time is more complicated than ever, and requires lots of close quarters.  Will they finally decide to put down the armor and take a chance on each other?

ARC received via RockStar PR

 

 

Going Down Fast (Billionaire Bad Boys Book 2) by Carly Phillips

Date of Publication: October 11, 2016

Blurb

A stand-alone Billionaire Bad Boys novel.

Billionaire Bad Boys: Rich, Powerful and sexy as hell.

Lucas Monroe dropped out of college only to become a multi-billionaire and tech world God. He can have any woman he desires in his bed, but the only woman he’s ever wanted is off limits and always has been. When Maxie Sullivan finds herself in dire straits, the only man she can turn to is the one she’s always secretly loved: her childhood best friend. Can they trust their hearts and make a future, or will their complicated pasts stand in the way?

This bad boy is going down fast …

And going down fast has never felt so right.

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About Carly Phillips

After a successful fifteen-year career with various New York publishing houses, and over 40 sexy contemporary romance novels published, N.Y. Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Carly Phillips is now an Indie author who writes to her own expectations and that of her readers. She continues the tradition of hot men and strong women and plans to publish many more sizzling stories. Carly lives in Purchase, NY with her family, two nearly adult daughters and two crazy dogs who star on her Facebook Fan Page and website. She’s a writer, a knitter of sorts, a wife, and a mom. In addition, she’s a Twitter and Internet junkie and is always around to interact with her readers. You can find out more about Carly at www.carlyphillips.com.

Find Carly Phillips Online

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