Archives for August 2017

* Review * DETECTIVE DEFENDER by Marilyn Pappano

* Review * DETECTIVE DEFENDER by Marilyn PappanoDetective Defender by Marilyn Pappano
Published by Harlequin Romantic Suspense on August 1, 2017
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four-half-stars

"Someone knows, Martine. And they're coming after us."

Martine Broussard has never forgotten the terrible night years ago that drove her and her best friends apart. Now a vengeful someone is brutally killing each woman involved. Martine has one chance at survival—and that's the one person she distrusts most! And the passion flaring between them is anything but safe…

Rule-breaking New Orleans detective Jimmy DiBiase wastes no time putting Martine under his 24/7 personal protection. His bad-boy ways caused them to fall out years ago; now all he wants is to guard her and end this nightmare. With every lead they follow, every secret they can't hide sparks a hunger neither can resist—even as a killer's vicious end game turns desire into a devastating trap.

 

A riveting mystery brings to light an innocent teenage game gone awry that is now leading to murder and mayhem! The characters have a great connection with their own level of angst that gives us a side bit of possible romance to stew about on the side.

Martine Broussard has never forgotten that night long ago that tore her group of friends apart. She’s never shared their secret with anyone, but when someone starts brutally murdering the people that were there that night, she’s left depending on the one man she despises for help!

New Orleans detective Jimmy DiBiase has been intrigued by Martine for years, but a mistake made long ago left her looking at him like gum on the bottom of her shoe and avoiding him whenever possible. When he learns she’s in danger, he’ll stop at nothing to keep her safe … and the close quarters they have to keep while doing so gives him a chance to show her that he’s not such a bad guy after all!

four-half-stars

* Review * LONG FOR ME by Stacey Lynn

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * LONG FOR ME by Stacey LynnLong for Me by Stacey Lynn
Series: Luminous
Published by Carina Press on September 4, 2017
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four-half-stars

My boss already controls my days; do I want to give him my nights, as well?

Rebecca

I've seen what happens when you give everything to a man. That's not what I want. I won't have my heart crushed in anyone's fist.

Then he changed everything.

Him. Bennett Ashby. My boss.

Seeing him at Luminous, dressed in leather pants and wielding a whip…

Do I crave this?

My mind says no, but my body is starting to have very different ideas.

Bennett

I knew Rebecca Morales would be the perfect assistant. That's why I hired her.

I didn't know that working with her every day would lead to temptation—to own her, to possess her.

When she walked into Luminous, I knew I was screwed. Dipping your pen in the company ink is never smart, but we both agreed what happens at the club stays there.

One night and then it's back to business tomorrow.

Except I don't want just one night with Rebecca. I want them all.

 

Stacey Lynn brings us another sexy delve into the world of club Luminous. If you’ve been reading the series, you’ll recognize several of the characters already and this book brings us Rebecca and Bennett’s story. It’s another steamy one … maybe not quite as hot as the previous two, but a really good read!

Rebecca Morales can’t stand her rude and domineering boss! She works her tail off and gets no appreciation .. just attitude and snark. Imagine her surprise when she sees him at Luminous, using a whip on a woman … and she finds herself jealous and turned on. She doesn’t even like him, how can he possibly be making her want him??

Bennett Ashby knew Rebeecca would make a good assistant, but he didn’t realize how much it was going to drive him crazy with desire to be around her day in and day out. When he glances up and sees her standing there with interest and lust in her eyes, he knows he’s going to have her. They agree to one night … but will he be able to walk away after that?

four-half-stars

* Review * THE BABY MERGER by Yvonne Lindsay

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * THE BABY MERGER by Yvonne LindsayLittle Secrets by Yvonne Lindsay
Series: Little Secrets
Published by Harlequin Desire on September 1, 2017
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four-stars

One white lie leads to one little secret…

The truth is, Sally Harrison's one-night stand with the breathtaking business tycoon Kirk Tanner was the most mind-blowing sex of her life. But after discovering that Kirk's her new boss, she feels used. And finding out she's pregnant has upended her life.

The intensity of Kirk's attraction to Sally is off the charts. But after concealing his identity that night, Sally's unwilling to ever believe him again. Besides, she resents that he's been put in charge of her father's company instead of her. But when Sally's suspended for corporate espionage, can Kirk prove her innocence…and his love?

 

One night stands to secrets to … a baby? A quirky take on an enemies to lovers type of story. The characters are fun, the pace is quick and a happy ending is found by all!

Sally Harrison has worked side-by-side with her father in his tech company for all of her life, so to all of a sudden be told that he’s retiring and handing over the company to someone she’s never even met is a huge slap in the face! She knew her father didn’t have total faith in her, but she never expected him to betray her like this.

Kirk Tanner has been brought in to run the company, and Sally is not happy about that at all … but what she really can’t forgive, is the fact that he didn’t tell her who he was before they slept together last night! When an unexpected baby is suddenly on the way, can he convince her to give him a chance to show her he can be the man she wants?

four-stars

* Review * CONVENIENTLY ENGAGED TO THE BOSS by Ellie Darkins

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * CONVENIENTLY ENGAGED TO THE BOSS by Ellie DarkinsConveniently Engaged to the Boss by Ellie Darkins
Published by Harlequin Romance on September 1, 2017
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four-half-stars

From assistant to fiancée!

Joss Dawson knows the one thing that will make his dying father happy is to see his son find love…the problem is, he's sworn off love forever!

But the answer's simple! Asking his father's fiercely intelligent, beautiful assistant Eva to play the perfect role—his fiancée. Only for Eva it's not that easy…

Pretending to be Joss's fiancée threatens to ruin the life she's worked so hard for! And how will she keep her head when she's losing her heart to her frustratingly attractive new boss?

 

Temptation … to love? Secret crushes rise to the surface when Joss and Eva are all of a sudden working in close quarters! This is a quick and easy read and even though it has some underlying sadness to the plot, it’s a well crafted book. It was a little unusual for this Harlequin line because the sex scenes are quickly glossed over and sort of shoved under the covers, but none-the-less, it was a thoroughly enjoyable book. I will look forward to reading future books by this author!

When suddenly thrust into his father’s job as the head of the family business, Joss Dawson finds himself blessed with the ever efficient and competent Eva by his side. She’s been his father’s assistant for years, so he’ll need her experience in helping the transition go through smoothly, but the temptation of being around her is going to be even more difficult than it’s already been!

Eva too has had a secret crush on Joss ever since she started working there, but she’s never had to interact with him that much so it’s been easy to hide. Now working side by side, it’s going to be a bigger deal … especially since he just told his dying father that they are engaged!

four-half-stars

* Blog Tour / Release Blast * WILD RIDE COWBOY by Maisey Yates

 

 

About Wild Ride Cowboy:

Title: Wild Ride Cowboy
Author: Maisey Yates
Publisher: Harlequin
Release Date: August 29, 2017
Series: Copper Ridge #9
Genre: Contemporary Romance
ISBN: 9780373803644

 

He’s come back to Copper Ridge, Oregon, to keep a promise—even if it means losing his heart…

Putting down roots in Copper Ridge was never Alex Donnelly’s intention. But if there’s one thing the ex-military man knows, it’s that life rarely unfolds as expected. If it did, his best friend and brother-in-arms would still be alive. And Alex wouldn’t have inherited a ranch or responsibility for his late comrade’s sister—a woman who, despite her inexperience, can bring tough-as-iron Alex to his knees.

Clara Campbell didn’t ask for a hero to ride in and fix her ranch and her life. All she wants is the one thing stubborn, honorable Alex is reluctant to give: a chance to explore their intense chemistry. But Clara has a few lessons to teach him, too…about trusting his heart and his instincts, and letting love take him on the wildest adventure of all.

Add to your TBR list:  Goodreads

Available:  Amazon  |  Barnes and Noble  |  Kobo  |  iTunes

 

 

Excerpt:

Reluctantly, she covered the coffee with a white to-go lid then turned to walk out the door. She didn’t make it very far, though, because she ran right into a brick wall.

Well, it wasn’t really a brick wall. It just felt like one. Large, hard and uncompromising. But breathing. Which brick walls definitely didn’t do.

“Clara Campbell. Fancy meeting you here.”

Clara blinked and stared up into Alex Donnelly’s forest-green eyes and felt a strange response that seemed to originate in her stomach and travel upward to her chest, where it twisted, hard and sharp.

After looking at Asher, his understated physique and much softer brown gaze, the sight of Alex was jarring. Too intense. Too masculine. Too a lot of things.

His dark hair wasn’t military short anymore. It was long enough to hang into his face. He pushed it back off his forehead and again, something twisted, low and deep inside of her.

And then it wasn’t only his features that seemed too sharp. It was seeing him at all. She had been studiously avoiding him ever since he had moved back to Copper Ridge. If ever she’d caught a glimpse of him out of the corner of her eye, she’d gone the other way.

The last time she’d seen him up close had been at Jason’s funeral.

Pain washed through her, canceling out all of the good Asher feelings from only a moment before.

No wonder she’d had such a strong, immediate response to the sight of Alex. The man was dragging a bunch of her baggage in with him. Another thing she liked about Asher. He was separate from her life. From her pain.

Alex was all wound up in it.

“Hi, Alex,” she said, clutching her coffee cup tight, the warmth bleeding through to her palms. Which she was grateful for at the moment since her stomach had gone ice-cold at the sight of him.

“I’ve been meaning to stop by,” he said.

“That’s really okay,” she said, and she meant it. More than okay. Jason’s death meant that she was alone. Both of her parents were already gone. They’d had children later in life, and when her mother had gotten sick, her father had done everything he could to make his wife comfortable as her health declined. She’d died when Clara was twelve. And there had been no amount of preparation that could soften the blow. No amount of expectedness that could have made it feel less like a giant, ugly hand had reached into their life and wrenched the beauty out of it, leaving nothing but a dark abyss.

Copyright © 2017 Wild Ride Cowboy by Maisey Yates

 

 

 

About Maisey Yates:

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Maisey Yates lives in rural Oregon with her three children and her husband, whose chiseled jaw and arresting features continue to make her swoon. She feels the epic trek she takes several times a day from her office to her coffee maker is a true example of her pioneer spirit. In 2009, at the age of twenty-three Maisey sold her first book.

Since then it’s been a whirlwind of sexy alpha males and happily ever afters, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Maisey divides her writing time between dark, passionate category romances set just about everywhere on earth and light sexy contemporary romances set practically in her back yard.

She believes that she clearly has the best job in the world.

 

Website  |  Twitter  |  Facebook  |  Goodreads  |  Amazon  |  BookBub

 

 

 

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* Review * THE ART OF KEEPING SECRETS by Rachael Johns

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * THE ART OF KEEPING SECRETS by Rachael JohnsThe Art of Keeping Secrets by Rachael Johns
Published by MIRA on August 29, 2017
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five-stars

Some Secrets Weren't Meant to Be Kept…

They started out as the "misfit moms"—the trio of less-than-conventional parents at their sons' tony private school. They've shared everything. Or so they thought. Now, on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to New York City, they'll sightsee, they'll shop, they'll catch a few Broadway shows. They'll tell all…

After seventeen years as a single parent, Neve will reveal a past sin that could destroy her relationship with her son. Emma will uncover the roots of her exhaustion and divulge the inappropriate feelings she has for her boss. And Flick—who knows a little about crafting a flawless exterior—will share the shocking truth that lies beneath the veneer of her perfect marriage.

When the tight hold they've each kept on their secrets for years begins to slip, they must face the truth. Even if the truth will forever alter the course of their friendship and their lives.

 

Great read! An excellent delve into the relationship of three friends and how twists and turns change their lives. I didn’t like the ending, I wanted to find out more of how things worked out, but overall I was really invested in each of their lives and kept turning page after page to see what was going to happen next. Strong characters, three meaningful plots that meld together through their friendship and show us what true friends should be!

Three of the more unconventional moms forge a friendship when their sons begin high school at an elite private school. Throughout their time there, they share the ups and downs of life and motherhood, their children form friendships together, and they’re like family to each other. Now it’s almost time for the boys to graduate and times are changing.

Genevieve Taylor (Neve) has been a single parent for her son Will’s whole life, but life is going to change when she’s forced to reveal a secret past that she hadn’t shared with anyone previously. Her friends accompany her on a trip to New York to be supportive while she tries to get some answers and rectify some mistakes.

Emma McLoughlin has been trying her best to survive after an unexpected divorce a few years ago, but she’s to the point of falling apart exhausted. Her son Caleb and younger twin daughters are the light of her life, but having to deal with her ex is nothing she looks forward to. To top it all off, she’s inappropriately crushing on her boss!

Felicity Bell (Flick) has the perfect life … or so it seems … a darling son Toby who is ready to graduate and prosper in life, a daughter ready to start a new chapter in her life and a devoted husband. What nobody knows are the secrets that are hidden behind the walls of their house … secrets that are going to be exposed that will devastate each of their lives.

five-stars

* Blog Tour / Release Blast * MAKE ME WANT by Rebecca Brooks

 

 

Make Me Want

by Rebecca Brooks
Men of Gold Mountain, #3
Publication Date: August 28, 2017
Genres: Adult, Entangled: Brazen, Contemporary, Romance, Erotic, Standalone

 

 

 

BUY:

SYNOPSIS:

Abbi Haas likes them big, bad, and out of her bed the next morning. So when a smoking hot firefighter shuts down a possessive ex by pretending to be her boyfriend, she’s happy to play along—and stay for the no-strings-attached sex under the stars. But her knight with bulging biceps had better not think she’s some damsel in distress. She’ll handle her ex like she does everything: on her own.

Wildland firefighter Tyler McCall is supposed to be taking a break from danger. First step to having fun: pick up a sexy stranger by pretending he’s her man. Too bad his fake girlfriend is also his new coworker…and their little white lie has already spread. Tyler knows he should walk away before he gets burned. But he can’t stay out of trouble, and there’s no way he’s letting her go.

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EXCERPT

Abbi’s eyes widened as the gorgeous man from across the bar put a fresh pint in front of her. Had he seriously just called her baby?

Even more unbelievably, the guy then nudged Russ like Russ wasn’t built like a tree trunk, impossible to budge. “Excuse me, man. Mind if I pull up a stool?”

Russ had been standing over her like she might have forgotten he was six foot whatever and way bigger than her. Like his towering height might convince her to make the mistake of going home with him again. But now the guy from the other end of the bar was dragging over a stool to fit in the space where Russ had been standing. Apparently he didn’t get, or didn’t care, that Russ was enormous, tattooed, terrifying-looking, an ex-con, and probably the guy you’d have to call to fix your roof in a snowstorm or build you a new drainage system, so not exactly someone you wanted to piss off at a bar.

“Mack poured me another drink for you,” the man said. “Glad you got started without me.”

“On the house!” Mack called, and winked before she spun away to attend to someone else.

That little minx.

Mack had set Abbi up with guys before. But usually she left the define-the-relationship part to Abbi. Abbi had been in some questionable situations—including the time she’d taken it upon herself to find out how far the tattoos went down Russ’s back. (Answer: all the way.) But she’d never found herself with a boyfriend she hadn’t met.

To be honest, she didn’t find herself with boyfriends very often. Hookups? Hell yes. But the closest thing she’d had to a long-term relationship had been half a lifetime ago, when she was a completely different person. To even think of it as the r-word made her want to throw up.

Not that she was on the market, anyway. As a naturalist, she was always in the woods, traversing trails, maintaining campsites, keeping tabs on what was growing or dying off and trying to figure out why. She wasn’t going to slow down or spend less time alone in the backcountry just for some guy—no matter how big his arms.

So he’d better know this was a one-time deal when she took the drink, channeled her inner thespian, and said, “Finally! I thought you’d never make it.”

 

 

ABOUT REBECCA BROOKS

Rebecca Brooks lives in New York City in an apartment filled with books. She received a PhD in English but decided it was more fun to write books than write about them. She has backpacked alone through India and Brazil, traveled by cargo boat down the Amazon River, climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, explored ice caves in Peru, trekked to the source of the Ganges, and sunbathed in Burma, but she always likes coming home to a cold beer and her hot husband in the Bronx. Her books are about independent women who leave their old lives behind to try something new—and find the passion, excitement and purpose they didn’t know they’d been missing.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Newsletter | Amazon Author Profile

 

 

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* Blog Tour / Release Blast * SECOND CHANCE COWBOY by Joanne Rock

SECOND CHANCE COWBOY

Road to Romance, book 2

by Joanne Rock

* Blog Tour / Release Blast * SO IN LOVE by Darcy Burke

 

Meet the Author:

Darcy Burke is the USA Today Bestselling Author of hot, action-packed historical and sexy, emotional contemporary romance. A native Oregonian, Darcy lives on the edge of wine country with her guitar-strumming husband, their two hilarious kids who seem to have inherited the writing gene, and three Bengal cats. Visit Darcy online at www.darcyburke.com and sign up for her newsletter, follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/darcyburke, or like her Facebook page, www.facebook.com/DarcyBurkeFans.

Connect: Site | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

 

About the Book:

 

After a hot hook-up on New Year’s Eve, Crystal Donovan plans to avoid Jamie Westcott, which could be difficult, given the size of Ribbon Ridge. But she’s only there a few days doing research on the town’s history then it’s back to her glam life in LA. When his family holds the key to unraveling a century-old mystery she has to seek him out—and the sparks are still flying.

Jamie Westcott works his ass off to repay his college loans, which doesn’t leave much time for other commitments. Crystal’s a perfect fling: she’s fun and sexy and, best of all, they have little in common and she lives somewhere else. Only, the more time they spend together the closer they get, despite their intent to keep things casual.

When everyone learns Crystal sold a screenplay exposing the dark secrets of Ribbon Ridge—and Jamie’s family—she becomes the town pariah. Jamie won’t leave and Crystal can’t stay—can love show them another way?

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo

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Check out the other books in the Love on the Vine series:

 

 

Excerpt:

“Never have I ever been to a party with Prince Harry.” He drank.

She pulled her feet down and sat straight up, leaning forward, in one fluid, whiplash movement. “Shut. Up.”

“Well, not with him, but I met him. Nice bloke.”

“Okay, that is way better than any famous person I’ve met.” Her gaze softened. “Is he as tall and gorgeous as I think?”

Jamie chuckled. “I have no idea. How tall and gorgeous do you think he is?”

“Super gorgeous.” She slid him a glance that clearly said, “duh.” Propping her feet back up, she settled into the couch once more. “And he’s six inches taller than me. And nine months older. In other words, we’d be perfect for each other.” She sent him another look, this one full of self-mockery. “I’ve been planning our wedding since I was ten. Just ask Alaina.”

“Well, it seems you ought to meet him then.”

She bolted upright again. “You could make that happen?”

“Probably not. Sorry. Anyway, I think he has a girlfriend now.”

She slouched back with a dejected sigh. “I know.”

“I’m six-one,” Jamie said, recalling the prince was maybe the same height or just slightly taller. “Not nearly as good looking though.”

Crystal tipped her head to the side and studied him. “You’re no Prince Harry, but you’re cute.”

“I’ll take that. Your turn.”

“Let’s see… Never have I ever made out with a celebrity.” This time she took a drink.

“You going to kiss and tell?” When she shook her head, he prodded for more information. “Just making out?”

She peered at him over the top of her glass. “How naughty do you want to take this game?”

Her sultry look heated his body once more. “If you recall, I was all for the stripping part. In fact, there’s been a disappointing lack of that.”

A smile teased her lips. “I see. Honestly, if it wasn’t so cold out, I’d suggest a dip in the hot tub. I think that’s uncovered at least.”

“Can it be too cold if the water is over a hundred degrees?”

“Good point. But I don’t have a suit.”

“Neither do I. Never have I ever gone skinny dipping.” He sipped his beer. “In a hot tub.” He drank again. “With a hot blonde.” This time he didn’t drink but simply stared at her in open invitation.

“She pulled her feet from the table and rose from the couch. “There are towels in the locker room. Give me a head start.”

 

 

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* Review * HER NEW YORK BILLIONAIRE by Andrea Bolter

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * HER NEW YORK BILLIONAIRE by Andrea BolterHer New York Billionaire by Andrea Bolter
Published by Harlequin Romance on September 1, 2017
Buy on Amazon
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four-half-stars

His fake fiancée?

Artist Holly Motta arrives in New York to make a new start…only to find billionaire Ethan Benton occupying the apartment where she is meant to be staying! But there's another surprise in store… Ethan needs a fake fiancée—fast!—and he wants her to fill the role!

But Ethan's got no intention of trusting any woman with his heart. Until he lets beautiful Holly into his world…and discovers she is the only woman he'd really like to make his wife!

I really enjoyed Andrea Bolter’s debut Harlequin! It’s a fast and easy read and catches your attention from the beginning. The couple has a cute connection where they really hit it off and have a good time conversing with each other before they ever even know that they will be more than just passing ships in the night. There’s kind of a Pretty Woman vibe going on (without the hooker aspect!) that is a lot of fun to read. Looking forward to more from this author!

Holly Matta has decided to set off on her own and finally try to live life for herself and try to accomplish her dreams. She had a difficult childhood and made some not so great decisions in her adult life so far, so she really just wants a do-over. When she shows up at the apartment she’s supposed to be staying in short-term in NY, there’s already someone there!

Billionaire Ethan Benton thinks it just might be his lucky day when he accidentally comes across an ideal candidate for the fake fiance he needs in a hurry! Will promises to compensate her enough to get a solid footing to her new life be enough to persuade Holly to play the part?

four-half-stars