REVIEW — To Win Her Love — Mackenzie Crowne

To Win Her Love

5 STARS!

I really enjoyed reading this book!  The characters grab your attention from the start, and draw you in as you try to figure out which side you should be rooting for.  There is feisty flirting, hot romance, adorable kids and some intrigue thrown in to boot.  Highly recommend!

Jake Malone, professional football tight end extraordinaire, is summoned to his estranged father’s house for the reading of his will.  He has never been in his father’s life and is irritated to even be there.  His irritation turns to shock when he learns he has twin 6 year old half-sisters that he is being tasked with getting to know and take care of while living in the house for a specified 3 month term.  He won’t be alone though.  Sports blogger, Gracie Gable, will be right there beside him for the entire 3 months.  Gracie adores her nieces, and wants to be the one that gets custody of her late sister’s girls when all is said and done.

Sparks fly when Jake and Gracie meet, until he realizes she’s Gridiron Girl, the sports blogger that he had it out with online over a controversial play a few days earlier that instigated a hefty fine from the league and a media storm that he is still trying to dig himself out of.  They each apologize and agree to try to get along as they introduce Jake into the girls lives.  As they play house over the next several weeks, they grow closer and eventually can’t resist the temptation of each other for another second, and start a hot affair.

Will there be a happily ever after in the end or will they part ways with one taking custody of Angel and Charlie?  Will the huge secret that Gracie is keeping unravel their relationship when it hits the media?  Will either of them wind up with the family that they’ve always wanted?

** Received as a gift **

REVIEW: Expert Witness – Rachel Dylan

Expert Witness

3 STARS

This book had an excellent plot, but I was a bit turned off by how much talk of God there was in it.  I’m perfectly happy reading a book about someone who is strong in their faith, and have enjoyed books from the LoveInspired line in the past many times, but this one, to me anyway, went way above and beyond that.  It just felt preachy to me, going so far as to have actual prayers in the dialogue.

Anyway, even though the premise of the plot was overshadowed, it still was an interesting story.  Sydney Berry is a sketch artist testifying in a murder trial, when she has an attempt made on her life outside the courthouse.  US Marshall Max Preston steps up and takes her into his custody to keep her safe.  They figure out that a gang that is under the murder suspects thumb is trying to take her out, and in the midst of the investigation, find out that an abusive ex-boyfriend is working with that gang.  The plot thickens when they find out there is inside dirty work going on in both the Marshal’s office and the FBI.

** Purchased **

REVIEW – Pin-up Fireman – Vonnie Davis

Pin-up Fireman

4 STARS!

I cried, I laughed out loud .. what more could you want out of a book?  I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know these characters!

Boyd Calloway is going through a custody battle with his ex-wife after a nasty divorce.  The last thing he needs or wants is to have a magnetic attraction to some woman, just after his lawyer has drilled into his head how straight and narrow he needs to be living his life so the ex will have nothing to hang over him in court.  The second he walks in for his shift at the firehouse and sets eyes on Graci-Ella, he’s a goner.  Instant attraction on both their parts.

Graci-Ella Santana is a lawyer, hobbying as a photographer who is there to set up a photo shoot to make a Fireman Calendar for charity.  After several interactions with each other, they decide to date.  He’s protective of his son, who he has to keep number one in his life, and she’s consumed with working long hours at work to get ahead and make her parents proud.

Watch their relationship grow as they support each other through life altering events.  Issues with his son, hard rescues on the job for him, and a dangerous obsession spiraling out of control for her.

** Received free from NetGalley to review **

REVIEW: Playing With Fire – Kate Meader

Playing With Fire

5 STARS!!

Okay, I’m hooked!  My first reading of a Kate Meader book will most definitely not be my last.  In fact, I’m going to have to go looking for the previous ones from this Hot in Chicago series soon!

Chicago is practically up in flames from the heat Alexandra Dempsey and Eli Cooper put off anytime they are in the same room together.  She loves to hate him … the all important, cocky Mayor.  He thinks she’s a feisty nuisance who needs to be put in her place … and he relishes the idea of being the one to put her there.

As the only female firefighter on Engine Co 6, Alex is out to prove herself.  She isn’t shy about speaking her mind, but her temper gets her into trouble on the job and brings her to Eli’s attention.  She’s happy to still have her job, but knows it’s because the public rallied around her, not because he did her any favor.  When the public starts to see the sparks between them anytime they are in front of cameras together, Eli comes up with a plan to “fake” date to help his re-election campaign.  He coerces Alex into agreeing.

Will their dislike of each other foil the plan, or will the attraction pulling them towards each other win out?  Will she be able to let her guard down and show her softer side?  Will he be able to show her that he’s more than just an arrogant ass?  When their time together starts to develop into real feelings, get ready for a hot, sexy ride along the way.

** Received free from NetGalley for a review **

REVIEW: The Escort – Laura Marie Altom

The Escort

4 STARS!!!

Steamy!

Nathan Black was best friends with Ella and wanted her for his own.  Carol Moore worked for and previously dated billionaire Liam Stone and wanted him back.  Unfortunately for them, Liam and Ella meet and fall in love.  Now as they are miserably watching Ella and Liam exchange wedding vows, Nathan and Carol sneak off to drown their sorrows in each other.  It’s only meant to be a distraction from their heartbreak, but neither of them can forget the other and eventually hook up again and begin to date.

Nathan feels like he’s not good enough for Carol because he is broke and working a dead end job, so when a job offer that’s too good to be true comes along, he decides to take it.  Being an escort for Uma Rosemont at Guilty Pleasures seems like easy money, and it gives Nathan the perks that he feels he needs to be worthy of dating Carol.  Down the road when he decides to quit, things get ugly with Uma.  She makes veiled threats of what will happen if he doesn’t earn her the money back that she spent buying him a wardrobe, a car, an apartment, training him, etc.  He doesn’t want to scare Carol and thinks he can handle Uma himself, so he doesn’t tell her the truth and continues going on jobs for Uma.

When it all explodes and a crime is committed, will Nathan be taken down in a set up?  Will Carol ever be able to forgive him for lying to her about quitting?  Will the love they are feeling for each other be enough to get them through the fall out of everything falling apart?  Read the book to find out!

** Received free from Laura/NetGalley to review **

REVIEW: Rescued by the Ranger – Dixie Lee Brown

Rescued by the Ranger

5 STARS!!!

My first read of a Dixie Lee Brown novel, and I was NOT disappointed!

It all starts with Army Ranger Garrett Harding finding a letter in his fathers desk drawer.  Sent a year ago, addressed to he and his brother Luke, it’s from his Aunt Peg, his mother’s sister, inviting them to the reading of their mother’s will following her death.  Angry that their father withheld the letter from him, Garrett sets off on a road trip to see his Aunt Peg.  For 29 years he’s been told that his mother was a druggie who abandoned her two sons, never to be heard from again.  He’s lived with that rejection all of his life and feels the need to have some closure and see what his aunt has to say.

When he arrives in town, he stumbles across Rachel Macquire being harassed in the bar that she works by some locals.  He comes to her aid and wants to see her safely home, but when she finds out who he is, she’s fit to be tied.  Reluctantly she takes him to see his Aunt Peg who she lives with, and he will learn the truth about his mother.  While there, he and Rachel are drawn to each other despite the turmoil, and he learns a secret she’s been hiding from even those closest to her.  She has a stalker.

Will Garrett be able to keep her safe from this unknown person who has been terrorizing her for years?  Will Rachel be able to trust him even though she thinks he brought pain to his mother time and again before she died?  Will they survive to decide take a chance on love with each other?  Read the book to find out all the juicy details!

** Received free from Dixie/Edelweiss to review **

REVIEW: A SEAL’s Proposal – Tawny Weber

A SEAL's Proposal

4 STARS!

A sexy but sweet story about Sam Morelli and Bryanna Spencer, who had been crushing on each other for years, long before they started their relationship a couple of years ago.

Sam is going through training to achieve his dream of becoming a Navy SEAL … following in both his and Bryanna’s brothers footsteps.  He took an oath with the gang of guys when he was a young teenager that once he became a SEAL, he would make that his life and not have the added “baggage” of a relationship.

Bryanna knows about the pact, and knows Sam is getting close to achieving his dream, so she turns on the charm while he’s home this time.  Surely if she seduces him JUST right, he won’t be able to walk away from her.

Will Sam indeed break her heart and walk away, or will he learn that love doesn’t have to be something that holds him back from his dreams?

** Received free from Tawny to review **

REVIEW — Eye Candy – Katherine Garbera

Eye Candy

4 STARS!

Great read!

When Garrett Mulligan, on leave NYPD officer, finds his tipsy neighbor, Hayley, trying to break into her own apartment one night, it makes for a fun time!

Hayley, who runs her own candy store, is turning 30 and vowing to turn over a new leaf and stop playing it safe.  She has a little makeover with new hair and clothes and decides to flirt with Officer Hottie, as she calls him.  Garrett, on leave recuperating after being shot during a shootout with a druggie who killed his partner, decides to flirt back.  Their chemistry together is instant and HOT!

They decide to date, but each of their own hang ups attempts to derail the relationship before it even gets started.  Can Hayley overcome her past baggage to allow herself to love freely again without the constant fear of loss?  And can Garrett get past his guilt of being the one to survive and let himself be happy instead of being blinded by his need for revenge?

** Received free from Net Galley to review **

REVIEW: Boots and the Rogue – Myla Jackson

Boots and the Rogue

4 STARS!

Brody McFarlan is lured back to his family ranch under false pretenses by his younger brother, Colin.  He had been away for 8 years, and when their Mother was threatening to sell the place, his brother got him back there the only way he could … by telling him their Mom was sick.

As soon as he’s back in town, he meets Jessie Taylor, who is broke and homeless, so he takes her home with him to be the new cook at the ranch.  Day after day their attraction grows.  Can they resist each other?  Can the brothers convince their Mom to keep the family ranch?  Will Brody decide he can’t leave town again?  Read to find out!

** Received free from Myla to review **

REVIEW: The Detective – Adrienne Giordano

The Detective

4 STARS!

I really enjoyed the mystery waiting to unravel in this book!

It all starts with Lexi Vanderbilt being hired to redecorate a house where a murder occurred two years prior so the remaining family can sell it and move on.  A friend of Lexi’s is intrigued by the story behind the house and gets a Private Investigator her husband works with to look into the cold case to see if she can find any additional info.  The P.I., Jenna Hayward, asks her Detective brother Brodey who is out on medical leave at the moment to look over the files with her and give her his opinion.

Brodey gets under Lexi’s skin the second he arrives at the house and they get into a tiff over the scene of the crime being changed.  They begin to work together on the investigation when little things keep happening and turning up that lead them to believe they have stumbled upon the killer.

Will Brodey be able to keep Lexi safe when the person they suspect turns his sights on her?  Have they actually solved this crime?  Will Lexi forgive Brodey when he disappoints her by not sharing enough info?  Read the book to find out!  Very enjoyable read!

** Purchased **