* Review * DARE TO LOVE by Carly Phillips

November 13, 2019 Leave a Comment

Dare to Love by Carly Phillips
Series: Dare to Love #1
Published by CP Publishing on January 10, 2014
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She arouses his dominant and protective instincts
And he will do anything to possess her …
And does.

When billionaire Ian Dare gets one glimpse of the sensual and irresistible Riley Taylor, he knows that he must have her. But any future he might have with Riley means he'll have to confront his past--a past he'd rather forget. And that's something this NFL team owner won't dare to do--not even for love.

Electrifying chemistry! With book one in her Dare to Love series, Carly Phillips introduces us to the Dare family in DARE TO LOVE. Businessman meets temptation … in the form of one woman who should be off limits.

Ian is a well-developed character with a lot of baggage that we learn as the book progresses. His family dynamic is a bit out there, but the connection between siblings is striking.

Riley is his half-brother’s best friend since childhood, but considering his contempt for said half-brother, this isn’t going to play out easily!

I highly recommend this story and series. I’ve read some of the later stories, but since I was getting ready to read the Christmas novella taking us back to Ian and Riley, I went back and devoured their original story first. Really enjoyed it!

Filed Under: Book Reviews

* Review * HOME FOR CHRISTMAS by Catherine Lanigan

November 12, 2019 Leave a Comment

Home for Christmas by Catherine Lanigan
Series: Shores of Indian Lake #12
Published by Harlequin Heartwarming on November 1, 2019
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Can a magical Christmas under glass…

…bring them back together for good?

Widowed dad Adam Masterson still doesn’t understand why Joy Boston left Indian Lake and broke his heart all those years ago. Now she’s returned to sell her grandfather’s beloved poinsettia greenhouse—and Joy and Adam’s connection is as strong as ever. But Joy has a life in New York. And Adam has only until Christmas to convince Joy that she belongs in Indian Lake—with him.

A sweet holiday romance to warm your heart! With book twelve in her beloved Shores of Indian Lake series, Catherine Lanigan brings us the story of widowed single dad Adam and his high school sweetheart who has just returned to Indian Lake for the first time since she broke his heart a decade ago.

Joy catches the reader’s attention quickly as we learn that her beloved grandfather has passed and it’s up to her to return home to the town she swore she’d never step foot into again to sell the poinsettia farm that meant so much to him. She holds a grudge that hasn’t budged in all of these years against the town, and she finds it hard to forget her pain even as the memories of the wonderful life she had with her grandfather start pressing in on her.

Adam moved on from Joy once and went on to live a happy life with a wife and child until an illness a few years ago left him carrying the ropes of fatherhood all on his own. He can’t deny that seeing Joy makes him feel more than he has in a long time, and that in and of itself brings a load of guilt for the woman he loved and lost.

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an emotional holiday read that will tug at your heartstrings time and time again. This entire series has been great, but this one is particularly satisfying!

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* Review * TACKER by Sawyer Bennett

November 12, 2019 Leave a Comment

Tacker by Sawyer Bennett
Series: Arizona Vengeance #5
Published by Big Dog Books, LLC on November 5, 2019
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I am not okay.

Fifteen months ago, my life was turned upside down when the plane I was piloting went down. Injured and trapped in the wreckage, I had to watch my fiancée die a painfully slow death, which is something that can really mess with your head.

Since that day, I’ve had little desire to do much of anything. Except play hockey, that is. Because that is the one place where the bad memories are banished and I can escape my pain.

But off the ice, I’m spiraling out of control. Losing the grip on my life and putting myself and my career in danger. Now, thanks to a string of bad decisions, I’ve been ordered to complete therapy in order to stay on the team.

The problem? Nora Wayne, my beautiful and somewhat unconventional therapist. I can’t buy into the brand of happy clappy crap this woman is feeding me. What could she possibly understand about the type of loss that I’ve suffered? How does she know anything about finding happiness after losing the most important person in your life?

Turns out, I’ve got a lot to learn, and she’s just the person I need to break through those walls I’ve erected.

I am not okay.
But for the first time in a long time, I know that I will be.

An emotional powerhouse! With the fifth book in her beloved Arizona Vengeance series, Sawyer Bennett brings us the most anticipated book yet in the series … TACKER. For fans of the series, we’ve been waiting for his story to unfold since the first moment he showed up on the page. A powerful hunk of a man who can do amazing things on the ice, but utterly broken spiritually.

Fifteen months ago a man at the highlight of his hockey career and two weeks away from marrying the woman of his dreams was devastated when an airplane crash took the love of his life from him … and he was the pilot.

Tacker has been coasting by on fumes as he tries to pick up his life and keep moving, but the guilt won’t let him. He screws up so badly that he’s given the choice … he can either go to therapy and work through his grief in a healthy way, or his career will virtually be over. He never expects the way Nora is going to change his life.

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a heart-wrenching, emotional twist to their romance. The story is powerful and though I feel like one aspect of it all was glossed over a little too much, I was whole-heartedly invested in the story and pleased with how it all played out. Loving this series!

Tacker (Arizona Vengeance, Book #5)
Sawyer Bennett
Release Date: November 5, 2019

Synopsis:
I am not okay.

Fifteen months ago, my life was turned upside down when the plane I was piloting went down. Injured and trapped in the wreckage, I had to watch my fiancée die a painfully slow death, which is something that can really mess with your head.

Since that day, I’ve had little desire to do much of anything. Except play hockey, that is. Because that is the one place where the bad memories are banished and I can escape my pain.

But off the ice, I’m spiraling out of control. Losing the grip on my life and putting myself and my career in danger. Now, thanks to a string of bad decisions, I’ve been ordered to complete therapy in order to stay on the team.

The problem? Nora Wayne, my beautiful and somewhat unconventional therapist. I can’t buy into the brand of happy clappy crap this woman is feeding me. What could she possibly understand about the type of loss that I’ve suffered? How does she know anything about finding happiness after losing the most important person in your life?

Turns out, I’ve got a lot to learn, and she’s just the person I need to break through those walls I’ve erected.

I am not okay.
But for the first time in a long time, I know that I will be.

Download Tacker:

About the Author:
Since the release of her debut contemporary romance novel, Off Sides, in January 2013, Sawyer Bennett has released multiple books, many of which have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists.

A reformed trial lawyer from North Carolina, Sawyer uses real life experience to create relatable, sexy stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From new adult to erotic contemporary romance, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.

Sawyer likes her Bloody Marys strong, her martinis dirty, and her heroes a combination of the two. When not bringing fictional romance to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to a very active daughter, as well as full-time servant to her adorably naughty dogs. She believes in the good of others, and that a bad day can be cured with a great work-out, cake, or even better, both.

Sawyer also writes general and women’s fiction under the pen name S. Bennett and sweet romance under the name Juliette Poe.

Connect with Sawyer:

Filed Under: Book Reviews

* Review * THE PROPOSITION by JC Harroway

November 12, 2019 Leave a Comment

The Proposition by JC Harroway
Series: The Billionaires Club #3
Published by Harlequin Dare on November 1, 2019
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CEO Orla Hendricks has a very sexy proposition for devil-may-care billionaire Cameron North in this third installment of The Billionaire’s Club quartet—six weeks to help her discover her wild side!

Handsome young men blowing their newfound billions in a decadent frenzy? I’ve seen plenty of them at the Ÿberexclusive M Club. But there’s something different about Cameron North. Tall, toned and tanned, he looks like he’d be more comfortable on a surfboard than in the boardroom… And imagining him without the constricting tux is waking up my long-neglected sexy side.

It isn’t long before I’m getting my wish as we explore the instant chemistry between us. But one night with him just makes me want more. So I give him a proposition—six weeks of hedonistic sex and glamorous destinations, then we’ll go our separate ways. He agrees—as long as I agree to give him control of our fun…

But as we jet from casinos to horse races to masquerade galas, Cam is becoming more than just a sexy diversion. When the six amazing weeks are up, Cam makes his own proposition. But how can I risk my heart on the only thing I’ve ever failed at—a relationship?

With book three in The Billionaire’s Club quartet from Harlequin Dare, JC Harroway brings us THE PROPOSITION where a hardworking workaholic CEO meets her downfall in a party boy!

Orla is quick to draw a reader’s attention as a strong, assertive woman. She feels slighted from the past and works hard day in and day out to prove her worth.

Cameron wants everyone to think he’s a frivolous playboy but he has a real side to him that can’t stay hidden when he’s spending time with Orla.

I recommend this book to anyone wanting a quick delve into temptation! It’s fast paced, attention grabbing and has a major tender side! Really enjoyed their story!

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* Review * HER CHRISTMAS PREGNANCY SURPRISE by Jennifer Faye

November 12, 2019 1 Comment

Her Christmas Pregnancy Surprise by Jennifer Faye
Published by Harlequin Romance on November 1, 2019
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A festive reunion…

…with an unexpected gift!

When Pepper Kane’s home and bakery are burned down in the weeks before Christmas, billionaire CEO Simon Ross—the man she spent one unforgettable night with—comes to the rescue! Pepper knows this playboy doesn’t do relationships, but staying with him in his penthouse and caring for an abandoned puppy, their spark is rekindled… And then comes a festive surprise that shocks them both: she’s carrying his baby!

HER CHRISTMAS PREGNANCY SURPRISE by Jennifer Faye is going to make a great addition to your holiday to-be-read pile! When a bakery owner and a toy store owner strike up a friendship, neither know that it’s going to lead to monumental changes in their lives!

Pepper is a really complex character. She has issues coming at her from all directions, but she still manages to stay upbeat and caring with those around her. The fact that she volunteers at an animal shelter really endeared her to my heart.

Simon was delightful to delve into. He had such baggage in his heart from a hard upbringing and guilt on his mind for what could have been if he wasn’t so closed off, but Pepper has a way about her that lets her bring more out in him than anyone ever has.

I highly recommend this story to anyone who loves a surprise pregnancy story filled with turmoil, yet joy. The characters were well developed and the connection between them warmed this reader’s heart.

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* Review * A CHRISTMAS RENDEZVOUS by Karen Booth

November 5, 2019 Leave a Comment

A Christmas Rendezvous by Karen Booth
Series: The Eden Empire #4
Published by Harlequin Desire on November 1, 2019
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On her second run-in with her one-night stand,

they go from the bedroom to the war room!

It’s bad enough that high-powered attorney Isabel Blackwell is spending her Christmas on a high-stakes case. Then she discovers she’s up against the man who took her breath away one very special night. As a litigator, Jeremy Sharp shouldn’t be underestimated, but as lovers, Jeremy and Isabel can’t resist another rendezvous. Will this duel mean playing to win—or playing for keeps?

Electrifying chemistry! With A CHRISTMAS RENDEZVOUS, the fourth and final book in her Eden Empire series, Karen Booth takes us along for a delectable ride as one lawyer faces off against another in the fight for Eden Department Store … only trouble is, no one knows they were just each other’s one night stand!

There’s more to Isabel Blackwell than meets the eye, and she isn’t exactly thrilled to be brought into the middle of an all out war for control of the Eden holdings, but she’d do just about anything for her brother Sam, and he wants to help Mindy save her grandmother’s legacy.

Jeremy Sharp comes across as a fun-loving guy, but as we delve more into his past, we realize that he’s just a guy who’s been hurt one time too many and holds himself far removed from relationships these days. He doesn’t expect to see his one night stand across the boardroom the next day, but when it’s the situation that’s handed to him, he’s determined to do a good job for his client regardless.

I highly recommend this story to anyone looking for a fast paced, enthralling read. The entire series has been great, but there was just something about Isabel and Jeremy that really made me love this story … maybe the best of the entire series!

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* Review * THE FIREFIGHTER’S THANKSGIVING WISH by Anna J. Stewart

November 5, 2019 Leave a Comment

The Firefighter's Thanksgiving Wish by Anna J. Stewart
Series: Butterfly Harbor Stories #7
Published by Harlequin Heartwarming on November 1, 2019
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They both know it’s true

Where there’s smoke, there’s fire!

Working with the new fire chief, Roman Salazar, is a challenge for Frankie Bettencourt. Everyone in Butterfly Harbor agrees she was the one destined for the top job at the station house! So, should she quit? No way! But she will steer clear of Roman from now on…or at least until his kindness, quick smile and can-do attitude win the town—and possibly Frankie—over for good!

Trouble is brewing right from the start! With THE FIREFIGHTER’S THANKSGIVING WISH, book seven in her Butterfly Harbor Stories series, Anna J. Stewart brings us the story of everyone’s favorite firefighter Frankie and her new boss … and it turned out to be one of my favs in the series!

Frankie is the woman everyone loves to love in the Butterfly Harbor series. She’s tough as nails, but sweet as can be and always available to pitch in and help anyone. In this book, she’s up in arms because she’s been passed over for the promotion everyone knows she deserved.

Roman is new to the scene and though he seems like an all around okay guy, he’s not finding it easy to step into the job that the town sees as Frankie’s.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoying a small town setting filled with comical and endearing characters where a couple always finds their happily ever after in the end. This series has been great, so you can’t go wrong with any book you pick up in it. Looking forward to more to come!

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* Release Day Blast/Review/Excerpt * TWIST OF FATE by Jill Shalvis

November 5, 2019 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Release Day Blast/Review/Excerpt * TWIST OF FATE by Jill Shalvis

Twist of Fate by Jill Shalvis
Series: Heartbreaker Bay #8.5
Published by Evil Eye Concepts on November 5, 2019
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When the one you want …

Daisy doesn’t believe love is ever-lasting, so it’s ironic as hell that she parlayed a business degree into a wedding planning business. More ironic still is her latest job bringing her back into contact with the man who’d taught her that love can’t last.

Is the one you can’t have…

To say Diego has been taught the hard way to bury emotions is an understatement. But when he’s called home to help the brother he hasn’t seen or spoken to in years, that’s one thing. It’s another entirely to also come face to face with the first woman he ever loved. First and only…

Can love conquer all?

Daisy’s learned to depend only on herself, and Diego is and always has been an island of one. And yet when they’re together, even when they’re bickering, still wary and haunted by memories of what was … it’s magic. The question is, how to find their way back to each other…?

**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you'll enjoy each one as much as we do.**

A magical reunion filled with passion, angst and the reawakening of forgotten love! With TWIST OF FATE, Jill Shalvis brings fans of her Heartbreaker Bay series a new novella taking place on the outskirts of that world. We don’t see the typical cast of players, but there is mention of a couple of them as well as the setting.

Diego quickly caught a reader’s eye as a character with a lot of baggage to unravel. He still lives in the shadow of the heartbreak that drove him out of town ten years ago, and we can’t wait to learn the details of his story.

Daisy is a bit of a mystery. She was his first and only love and left to pursue her dreams, yet now she’s back in town and seemingly his estranged brother’s best friend.

I recommend this story to anyone wanting a quick delve into a Shalvis world to try her writing style out and of course to die hard fans as well, because we always wait to devour anything new. You can always count on delectable characters, passion and angst alike tearing the characters apart and then putting them back together again for a satisfying ending.

Twist of Fate
Heartbreaker Bay Novella
By: Jill Shalvis
Avon Books – November 5, 2019

BLURB:

When the one you want…

Daisy doesn’t believe love is ever-lasting, so it’s ironic as hell that she parlayed a business degree into a wedding planning business. More ironic still is her latest job bringing her back into contact with the man who’d taught her that love can’t last.

Is the one you can’t have…

To say Diego has been taught the hard way to bury emotions is an understatement. But when he’s called home to help the brother he hasn’t seen or spoken to in years, that’s one thing. It’s another entirely to also come face to face with the first woman he ever loved. First and only…

Can love conquer all?

Daisy’s learned to depend only on herself, and Diego is and always has been an island of one. And yet when they’re together, even when they’re bickering, still wary and haunted by memories of what was … it’s magic. The question is, how to find their way back to each other…?

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43208812-twist-of-fate

Goodreads Series Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/169076-heartbreaker-bay

BUY LINKS:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2prEVp8

Paperback: https://amzn.to/34oiKyQ

Series Buy Link: http://jillshalvis.com/books/#heartbreaker-series

AUTHOR INFO:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jill Shalvis writes warm, funny, sexy contemporary romances and women’s fiction. An Amazon, BN & iBooks bestseller, she’s also a two-time RITA winner and has more than 10 million copies of her books sold worldwide.

Author Links: WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS

Newsletter: http://jillshalvis.com/faq/newsletter/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jill-shalvis

EXCERPT:

*Read the First Chapter, https://www.jillshalvis.com/excerpts/twist-of-fate

Filed Under: Book Reviews, Release Day Blitz

* Review * ONE CHRISTMAS HE NEVER EXPECTED by Lynne Marshall

October 31, 2019 Leave a Comment

One Christmas He Never Expected by Lynne Marshall
Series: Santa Barbara Sunsets #3
on October 1, 2019
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Phil Hansen has a reputation as a playboy. One look at the new OB doc, and he wants to find the nearest mistletoe. What could be better than kicking off the holiday season with a fling? Except he sees heartbreak in her eyes.

Stephanie Bennett may be dazzled by laid-back Phil’s charm, and though she is long overdue for romance, she’s not ready to put her heart on the line again. Soon swayed by his “love is the best medicine” attitude, she gives in and comes alive in his arms.

Can the magic of the Christmas season help two reluctant hearts fall in love?

With ONE CHRISTMAS HE NEVER EXPECTED the third book in her Santa Barbara Sunsets series, Lynne Marshall brings us a touching second chance on love story.

Dr. Phil Hansen is known for his playboy ways, and isn’t taken seriously when it comes to beautiful women, but his first interaction with the new fill-in OB has him spinning because something is different. She’s making him wonder “what if”!

Dr. Stephanie Bennett is only at the practice for a few weeks, and she’s pretty closed off about herself and her past. Something is up with her though, and Phil is determined to climb her walls and get her to let her guard down.

I highly recommend this story and the series as a whole. Not only do you get to experience heartfelt friendships between this group of doctors, but you also get to experience complex relationships leading to the happily ever after in each book. Lots of emotion, sweet romance and tender connections!

Filed Under: Book Reviews

* Release Blast/Review * GYPSY KING by Devney Perry

October 30, 2019 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Release Blast/Review * GYPSY KING by Devney Perry

Gypsy King by Devney Perry
Series: Tin Gypsy #1
Published by Devney Perry LLC on October 29, 2019
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The former Tin Gypsy motorcycle club has everyone in Clifton Forge, Montana convinced they’ve locked their clubhouse doors and ripped off their patches. Everyone but Bryce Ryan. There’s more happening at the club’s garage than muscle car restorations and Harley rebuilds. Her instincts are screaming there’s a story—one she’s going to tell.

As the new owner of the small town’s newspaper, Bryce is hungry for more than birth announcements and obituaries. When a woman is brutally killed and all signs point to the Tin Gypsies, Bryce is determined to expose the club and their leader, Kingston “Dash” Slater, as murderers.

Bryce bests Dash match after match, disappointed her rugged and handsome opponent turns out to be an underwhelming adversary. Secrets are exposed. Truths defeat lies. Bryce is poised to win this battle in a landslide.

Then Dash breaks all the rules and tips the scales.

One kiss, and she’s fighting to save more than just her story. She’s fighting to save her heart from the Gypsy King.

Explosive secrets are exposed! In GYPSY KING, Devney Perry’s kickoff book in her new Tin Gypsy series, we meet former president Dash of the Tin Gypsy’s motorcycle club as he goes head to head with Bryce, a reporter determined to tell the public the story of what’s going on in their small town. The characters are well developed and the story line was quick to catch this reader’s attention.

Dash is electrifying. We learn from the start that he has done bad things, but he comes across as an overall good guy, and when he sets out to clear the former club’s name during a murder investigation, we see a loyal side to him.

Bryce comes on strong at first as she decrees she will find out what truly happened to disband this club. It doesn’t take long after she interacts with Dash for her to change her tune a bit. He’s easy on the eyes and want it or not, she’s soon under his spell.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a bit of suspense with their romance. It’s a former MC, so there’s not a lot of action on that front going on, but some of the members are still around and jump in to help when needed. We are left in a bit of a cliffhanger on the mystery we tried to solve throughout this story, but the happily ever after of the couple isn’t up in the air.I’m looking forward to the next book in the series and hope to get all of the answers of what happened then!

The former Tin Gypsy motorcycle club has everyone in Clifton Forge, Montana convinced they’ve locked their clubhouse doors and ripped off their patches. Everyone but Bryce Ryan. There’s more happening at the club’s garage than muscle car restorations and Harley rebuilds. Her instincts are screaming there’s a story—one she’s going to tell.

As the new owner of the small town’s newspaper, Bryce is hungry for more than birth announcements and obituaries. When a woman is brutally killed and all signs point to the Tin Gypsies, Bryce is determined to expose the club and their leader, Kingston “Dash” Slater, as murderers.

Bryce bests Dash match after match, disappointed her rugged and handsome opponent turns out to be an underwhelming adversary. Secrets are exposed. Truths defeat lies. Bryce is poised to win this battle in a landslide.

Then Dash breaks all the rules and tips the scales.

One kiss, and she’s fighting to save more than just her story.

She’s fighting to save her heart from the Gypsy King.

Buy Your Copy Here:

Amazon | Apple | Nook | Kobo | Audible

Devney is a USA Today bestselling author. Born and raised in Montana, she loves writing books set in her treasured home state. After working in the technology industry for nearly a decade, she abandoned conference calls and project schedules to enjoy a slower pace at home with her husband and two sons. Writing one book, let alone many, was not something she ever expected to do. But now that she’s discovered her true passion for writing romance, she has no plans to ever stop. Devney loves hearing from readers!

Connect with her on social media!