Archives for January 2017

* REVIEW * TWO-WEEK TEXAS SEDUCTION by Cat Schield

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* REVIEW *  TWO-WEEK TEXAS SEDUCTION by Cat SchieldTwo-Week Texas Seduction by Cat Schield
Series: Texas Cattleman’s Club: Blackmail
Published by Harlequin Desire on February 1, 2017
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She's willing to bet the ranch that he can't resist temptation…

Up-by-her-bootstraps Brandee Lawson fought hard to establish Hope Springs Ranch. But a mysterious blackmailer threatens to expose her secret to real estate developer Shane Delgado. She could lose everything, and she can't let sexy Shane short-circuit her survival instinct!

Sure, Shane wants her land, but he can't help wanting Brandee, as well. When she offers Royal's most notorious bachelor a winner-takes-all wager in a bid to keep the ranch, it's the ultimate test. Can he resist her charms—and should he even bother to try when something much deeper than sexiness surfaces between them?


A blackmail plot leads to desperate measures!  Fun characters lead us on a journey of deception that leads to unexpected feelings and big decisions.

Brandee Lawless has put her all into developing Hope Springs Ranch and finding out there were some previous shady dealings with the land that a blackmailer is threatening to expose, does not make her happy.  She has to come up with a plan of how to hang on to her ranch without the info getting out.

Shane Delgado has been intrigued by Brandee for years, and when he’s handed an opportunity to get closer to her, he jumps on it!  Will stumbling across her true motivation for spending time with him derail what they have shared while on the ranch together?

* REVIEW * ONLY IN HIS SWEETEST DREAMS by Dani Collins

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* REVIEW * ONLY IN HIS SWEETEST DREAMS by Dani CollinsOnly In His Sweetest Dreams by Dani Collins
Series: Secret Dreams Book 2
on February 1, 2017
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five-stars

When Mercedes Kimball’s sister abandons her children, Mercedes takes in her confused niece and nephew, jeopardizing the job she loves at a retirement community. The sexy new handyman’s bedroom eyes promise to fix anything, but he can’t fix this.

L.C. Fogarty is trash, not Father Of The Year, but he’s happy to be Mercedes’s sounding board. Given their white-hot attraction, he’d love to see what they could do to a headboard, but he’s keeping a secret she won’t forgive. Confessing means facing untold heartache and going back to where he never belonged. He’d rather stay with Mercedes and her misfit family.

She might not get to keep that family, though. Which means she’s going to need him.


Such a great story!!  I so want more!  How about another book or two?  I could really enjoy seeing Mercerdes & L.C. again … maybe in Zack’s story … and Porsha’s story??? 🙂  I adored seeing them overcome their past to actually get a life they deserved!

When Mercedes Kimball’s sister decides to take a “vacation” from her kids, she’s left with no option but to take them in and make her life work around them.  It might end up getting her fired from her job at the retirement community that she loves, but she can’t just stand by and watch while these kids are neglected!

L.C. Fogarty winds up crossing paths with Mercedes through happenstance, and the red-hot attraction they both feel instantly is not easy to ignore!  He takes the job of a temporary handyman, and they become friends.  He doesn’t think he’s worth much in life, but she seems to take some comfort from bouncing problems off of him and getting his opinion, so he’s happy to help her if he can.

Mercedes might lose her ready-made family any day if her sister comes back, but L.C. enjoys sharing times with them more than he wants to deal with his own family issues.  As they grow closer and secrets from his past come out, will she want to have anything more to do with him?

five-stars

* REVIEW * REINING IN THE BILLIONAIRE by Dani Wade

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* REVIEW *  REINING IN THE BILLIONAIRE by Dani WadeReining in the Billionaire by Dani Wade
Published by Harlequin Desire on February 1, 2017
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four-stars

An instant billionaire wants revenge…and more!

Mason Harrington grew up as a rough-and-tumble stable boy. But a shocking inheritance enables him and his brother to return to their hometown and settle some scores. First on the agenda: take over the elite horse farm belonging to the woman who once broke Mason's heart when her daddy said he wasn't good enough.

Despite Mason's motives, EvaMarie Hyatt has no choice but to stay on at the ranch and work for him. Soon it becomes clear Mason wants more than revenge. Even more surprising: EvaMarie's willingness to succumb. But will new misunderstandings derail their renewed passion, or will this second chance lead to forever?


Revenge was more than he bargained for!  A fast-paced book that takes us on the journey for revenge with the realization that he wants more!  Great characters with an angst filled story. The only thing I wanted a little more of was more of was seeing him in his glory working with the horses and bringing the horse-racing more into the plot.

Mason Harrington has stewed for one thing for all of his adult life … revenge on those who ruined his father all those years ago.  The inheritance he and his brother came into unexpectedly has given him the means to put that plan into action … and the second he hears the Hyatt estate could be his, he jumps at the chance.

EvaMarie Hyatt has never lived down the impact Mason had on her life, but the circumstances of her life left her with no strength to stand up for him, or even for herself.  When Mason gets his revenge, she’s left with no option than to stay and work for him.  Day in and day out of humiliation … but also so much temptation.  Will she finally be able to step up and go for what she wants?

four-stars

* REVIEW * THE UNFORGETTABLE SPANISH TYCOON by Christy McKellen

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* REVIEW *  THE UNFORGETTABLE SPANISH TYCOON by Christy McKellenThe Unforgettable Spanish Tycoon by Christy McKellen
Series: Romantic Getaways
Published by Harlequin Romance on February 1, 2017
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five-stars

"I know we were more than just friends."

Once Elena Jones had shared an intense entanglement with striking Spaniard Caleb Araya, ending with both their hearts in tatters. Now she's a successful entrepreneur, and when he rejects a new business proposition, it's clear Caleb hasn't forgotten…

When an accident causes the tycoon to lose his memory, Caleb seems to think they are still a couple! Elena wants to help him recover…but will staying in Barcelona with him just put her heart in jeopardy again?


With the latest in the Romantic Getaways series, Christy McKellen brings us a story from Barcelona!  It’s a fast read and keeps your attention from the beginning.  The characters are likable and draw us into their story and keep us hoping for that happily-ever-after!

Business woman Elena Jones travels from her home in England to see her old friend Caleb Araya in Barcelona with a business proposition.  They were the best of friends for a time in college, with the hope of more until she broke his heart.

Caleb Araya is shocked to see Elena, and isn’t open to doing business with her.  He’s never forgiven her for the cold-hearted way she ended things with him all those years ago and could never bring himself to trust her again.  He’s lived his life around never letting his guard down like that again!

When an accident takes away Caleb’s memory from their time together, and happenstance has her nearby, he mistakenly thing they are a couple.  She can’t walk away when he needs her, so she keeps up the pretense.  Will he forgive her when his memory comes flooding back or will he be done with her once and for all?

five-stars

* REVIEW * BREAKING EMILY’S RULES by Heatherly Bell

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* REVIEW *  BREAKING EMILY’S RULES by Heatherly BellBreaking Emily's Rules by Heatherly Bell
Series: Heroes of Fortune Valley
Published by Harlequin Superromance on February 1, 2017
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four-half-stars

Weren't rules made to be broken…?

Play-by-the-rules good girl Emily Parker is finally flying free. Literally. After a broken engagement, she's about to live out her wildest dream: getting her pilot's license. With former Air Force pilot Stone Mcallister teaching her, though, it's not just the altitude making her dizzy….

Once he settles his father's estate, Stone's heading back to the Air Force. When Emily expresses interest in some no-strings fun, he can't resist, but a single kiss proves that a fling won't be enough. As the clock ticks down to his deployment, will he be able to break his own rules for her?


A fun, sweet & sexy read, all rolled into one!  The main characters have great chemistry and a quick wit with each other that has you smiling as you are reading.  There were a couple of slow spots, but overall, it was a great read that has you thinking about redemption for regrets from the past, and the fact that it’s never too late to reach for your dreams!

Emily Parker is spending a lot of time re-thinking her life.  She’s recently split from the fiance she thought she was going to spend the rest of that life with, and it’s making her realize she doesn’t want to be the reliable good-girl anymore … she wants to live a little!

Former Air Force pilot Stone Mcallister is only staying in town long enough to get his dad’s estate in order before he rejoins the Air Force.  He’s not a forever kind of guy, but when Emily Parker crosses his path, he wonders if maybe he could be!  Agreeing to help her get her pilot license is a big step for him because it means he has to have temptation by his side day in and day out.  When she also decides to throw in the offer for a one-night fling, he just can’t help himself!  Will he see that maybe forever isn’t so bad?

four-half-stars

* REVIEW * DEEP COVER DETECTIVE by Lena Diaz

* REVIEW *  DEEP COVER DETECTIVE by Lena DiazDeep Cover Detective by Lena Diaz
Series: Marshland Justice
Published by Harlequin Intrigue on August 1, 2016
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four-stars

A detective needed a mysterious woman's help—even if she had secrets to spare…

In the heart of everglade country, Detective Colton Graham lays his plans to catch a robbery kingpin. What he fails to plan for is Silver Westbrook. Proprietress of a local B and B, Silver is as sharp-witted as she is easy on the eyes. But Colton senses Silver is hiding something. Suspicious that she might be harboring the very criminals he's tracking, Colton keeps a watchful eye on her. It doesn't take long to learn her true motives and her involvement in the case. But unfortunately for both of them, attraction can be the deadliest distraction.


We’re knee deep into the middle of an undercover investigation as soon as we start this book. The pace continues to move and excitement leads us further into the secrets and mysteries surrounding this town!

Undercover detective Colton Graham goes deep into the heart of the Florida everglades trying to get a break in a case.  He’s looking for answers, but what he gets is more questions instead.

Bed and breakfast owner Silver Westbrook might act all sweet and innocent, but Colton can tell she’s hiding things from the beginning.  Will getting closer to her and trying to gain her trust get him any closer to the truth, or will it only make it harder to stomach when he has to take her down along with the rest of the criminals?

four-stars

* REVIEW * ALL HE DESIRES by Melanie Shawn

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* REVIEW *  ALL HE DESIRES by Melanie ShawnAll He Desires – Nate & Eliza by Melanie Shawn
Series: Crossroads Book 12
Published by Red Hot Reads Publishing on January 25, 2017
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five-stars

Stand-alone Crossroads romance, complete with HEA—and plenty of heat and heart along the way!

Former Army Ranger and cyber security specialist Nate Holmes was a genius in all things computers. The sexy, muscled Adonis could fix any technical problem he was faced with, but when it came to matters of the heart, there was one issue he couldn’t face…how he felt about her…

Eliza Young thought she’d put Harper’s Crossing in her rear view, but when a job opportunity opens up, the beautiful brunette is forced to return to her hometown and the setting of her unrequited first true love…

He thought he’d missed his chance, she thought she'd never had one. After ten years, fate had finally reunited Nate and Eliza, but the question remains--what do you do when you get a chance to get it right this time? Will Nate have the courage and heart to claim her and…All He Desires...


Another great trip to Harper’s Crossing!  An un-requited love (or was it?) reunion story that will grab your attention and hold it.  I found myself wanting to grab them and bang their heads together a time or two because they kept misunderstanding something the other said or did, but I was pulling for them to finally get their chance once and for all!  Great characters!  Fun, steamy and downright sweet.

Eliza Young left her hometown of Harper’s Crossing, Illinois 10 years ago to reach for her dreams and find her happily-ever-after, but no matter how much she tried, it just never seemed to work out that way, so now she’s back and starting her life over!

Former Army Ranger, turned security specialist, Nate Holmes can’t believe it when he sees her.  He spent his life unable to forget her and thinking he had missed his chance forever.  Will he finally get to tell her how he’s always felt about her, or will past secrets and mistakes keep them apart?

five-stars

** FRIDAY FAVORITES with Karen Rock – with a GIVEAWAY ! **

Join me every Friday to see my spotlight on one of my favorite authors who will be sharing a few of their favorite things!

Scroll all the way to the bottom to enter to win a digital copy of A COWBOY TO KEEP before you can buy it!

 


 


Featured today is Harlequin Heartwarming and Harlequin Blaze author KAREN ROCK!  Thanks for joining me and sharing some of your favorites Karen!

 

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


CONNECT WITH KAREN:

Website   |   Twitter   |   Facebook   |   Goodreads   |   Amazon   |   Pinterest

 


 

My favorite color is … Pink

My favorite place to read is … On my couch with my cat curled up next to me.

My favorite snack is … Tortilla chips and salsa or if I want something sweet, ice cream. I’m so addicted though, that I rarely keep it in the house.  Stewarts Stargazer ice cream is definitely my Kryptonite!

My favorite type of music is … I love all kinds of music but probably lean more towards rock music. (What choice did I have with my name- lol)

My favorite hot beverage is … Chicken soup. Technically, you’re not supposed to drink it, but when I’m cold (I live in northern New York State) I inhale a cup a day.

My favorite type of flower is … Light pink peonies. They are beyond gorgeous and I have three large patches of them in my front yard garden.

My favorite time of day is … morning. Everyone in my family sleeps in so the a.m. is the best time for me to focus and work. Also, I love walking my dog early and catching the sunrise.

My favorite candy is … Reeses Peanut Butter cups.

My favorite hobby is … Cooking. I learned recipes from my Italian grandmother and I love making homemade sauce and cooking things I grow in my garden.

My favorite place to vacation is … Disney World! It is the most magical place on earth and, best of all, RWA National Conference will be held there this July! I’ll be signing at the Literacy event and I hope any romance readers that are attending will stop by and say hi 🙂

 


 

Look for Karen’s latest release, a western suspense novel with Harlequin Heartwarming , A COWBOY TO KEEP, out next week on 2/1/17  ..

PRE-ORDER LINKS:

Amazon | Harlequin | Kobo | Nook | iBook | GooglePlay


A COWBOY TO KEEP

Can’t stop running from the past 

Dani Crawford has a secret…and if bounty hunter Jackson Cade finds out, he could ruin everything. The scarred yet handsome cowboy has tracked a dangerous criminal to the dude ranch Dani manages, and to get rid of Jack she’ll have to help him catch his man. But the closer they get to cornering their quarry the more Dani wants Jack to stay. Spending time with him is making her long for things she can never have thanks to a past mistake. And if the truth comes out she may be spending her future behind bars rather than safe in her cowboy’s arms…

 

**  As a fan of Karen’s books, you might recognize Dani as being the sister of Claire from Karen’s March 2016 release HIS KIND OF COWGIRL!  This book is also a prequel to her new ROCKY MOUNTAIN COWBOYS series that will kick off later this year!  **


Read the first three chapters of A COWBOY TO KEEP on Goodreads!

3 CHAPTERS FREE

Take Karen’s Reading Quiz on Goodreads and enter to win a $20 Amazon GC!
A COWBOY TO KEEP READING QUIZ

 


 

And don’t miss Karen’s latest from the BLAZE line …


OUT NOW!

BUY LINKS:

Amazon | Harlequin | Kobo | Nook | iBook | GooglePlay


HIS TO PROTECT
Uniformly Hot!

Subject: Lt. Commander Mark Sampson 

Mission: Keep his eyes on the skies…despite one sexy distraction! 

There are things a man can never undo. For Coast Guard search and rescue pilot Mark Sampson, it was the agonizing decision that cost him a teammate—and his faith in himself. But an unbelievably sexy blonde on a secluded beach may help him forget…if only for a night.

Cassie Rowe needed a distraction—and, boy, did she get one! How was she to know the brooding stranger who rocked her world was the pilot who’d left her brother to die? And now they’re on the same mission. She should hate him. But she can’t fight the storm of desire threatening to pull them under…

 

 

COMING IN APRIL!

PRE-ORDER LINKS:

Amazon | Harlequin | Kobo | Nook | iBook | GooglePlay


HIS LAST DEFENSE
Uniformly Hot!

Semper Paratus. Always ready. 

Years ago, Coast Guard rescue swimmer Dylan Holt left Kodiak, Alaska, with his heart in pieces. He thought Nolee Arnauyq and her mouthwatering curves were behind him—until he’s sent to rescue the crew of a capsizing boat…including Nolee. And Dylan is definitely not ready for the too-familiar way his body aches at seeing her again.

Nolee’s always gone after what she wanted, and to hell with the risks. Now she’s a rookie ship captain taking on the deadly waters of the Bering Sea. But out on these treacherous waters, there’s no way to avoid the sizzling sexual tension between them—or the dangerous pull of emotions that could leave both their hearts lost at sea…

 


 

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* REVIEW * FROM ENEMIES TO EXPECTING by Kat Cantrell

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* REVIEW *  FROM ENEMIES TO EXPECTING by Kat CantrellFrom Enemies to Expecting by Kat Cantrell
Series: Love and Lipstick
Published by Harlequin Desire on February 1, 2017
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five-stars

Winning is nonnegotiable…and so is parenthood!

Marketing exec Trinity Forrester needs PR buzz. By-the-books baseball tycoon Logan McLaughlin needs ticket sales. Their plan is simple: embark on a pretend romance to boost publicity. But soon their reality-show kisses lead to explosive off-camera lovemaking…

Trinity knows her fling with her frustratingly handsome costar ends when the cameras stop rolling—not with a diamond ring and proposal. But when their fake romance yields a very real pregnancy, will the emotionally guarded duo choose winning…or wedding?


With the final story in her Love and Lipstick series, Kat Cantrell brings us Trinity’s story.  I’ve loved them all, but I think Trinity was my favorite.  Her connection with Logan is super fun to read. They tease and taunt each other and she’s such a firecracker that I was smiling half the book!  I’m going to miss these gals … I really enjoyed seeing their happy endings!

When bad publicity and lacking ticket sales lead Fyra Cosmetics exec Trinity Forrester and baseball tycoon Logan McLaughlin to join the cast of a reality show competition to get their names “out there”, little do they know how well it’s going to work out for them!  A fake romance is in the works and both of their sales are sky rocketing for it!

When what they are feeling for each other no longer feels fake, will they admit their true feelings and decide to make it real?  And when an unexpected pregnancy pops into the mix, will it pull them closer together or end their relationship once and for all?

five-stars

* REVIEW * THE SHEIKH’S CONVENIENT PRINCESS by Liz Fielding

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* REVIEW *  THE SHEIKH’S CONVENIENT PRINCESS by Liz FieldingThe Sheikh's Convenient Princess by Liz Fielding
Series: Romantic Getaways
Published by Harlequin Romance on February 1, 2017
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four-half-stars

From secretary…to the sheikh's wife!

Sheikh Ibrahim al-Ansari knows a reconciliation with his estranged father means accepting his father's choice of bride…unless he gets there first! Luckily he has the perfect princess in mind—his new assistant Ruby Dance.

After her last cheating boyfriend, Ruby is avoiding all commitments, but this promotion could help her family, so she agrees to a temporary marriage. She should be craving her next assistant role, not the devastating beauty of the desert and the man who rules it all…


A really fun connection between the main characters makes Liz Fielding’s upcoming release a joy to read.  Not only are we watching a romance spark, but we catch ourselves smiling quite often at the sass this couple shows towards each other.  Really enjoyed them!  The only thing I was left wanting was a little more time with them!

Once banished from his home country, Sheikh Ibrahim al-Ansari knows he can’t return home without a bride on his arm unless he wants to be forced into marriage with the woman his estranged father has chosen for him.  He lucks into the fact that his new temporary assistant fits his needs to a tee and has agreed to a temporary marriage of convenience!

Ruby Dance has her own painful past that she lives every day running from, so if she can help Bram to rectify past mistakes and reunite with his family, she is all for it.  Neither of them expect to actually fall for each other when they are spending time preparing for their trip, but when it happens, will they decide to make their marriage a real one?

four-half-stars