New Reviews – Page 125 – Read-Love-Blog

ARC Review & Giveaway….Autumn in the Vineyard by Marina Adair

I was so lucky to get a chance to read Marina Adair’s Autumn in the Vineyard before release day on October 29 and Marina was sweet enough to offer a signed paperback to one lucky winner.

Enter to win in the rafflecopter below and thanks for stopping by!

Book links:

Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

Frankie Baudouin has a hundred reasons not to trust Nate DeLuca. First, he’s a DeLuca. Second, he kissed her—in front of the entire town—and then never called. Oh, and he’s after her land. Sorrento Ranch is Frankie’s last chance to prove to her family—and to herself—that she has what it takes to be an award-winning winemaker. And she will stop at nothing to ensure her success—even if it means playing nice with the starched, sophisticated, and oh-so-sexy Italian.

For Nate, Sorrento Ranch is more than just soil and grape vines; it was his father’s dream—a dream Nate is determined to make a reality. So when he finds himself forced to cohabitate with a hot-headed, irrational, and incredibly gorgeous Baudouin, Nate is surprised to discover that chaos could be so much fun.

My review:

Autumn in the Vineyard is the third book in Marina Adair’s St. Helena Vineyard Series, a series that I have loved since book one. Well, this third book was just as amazing and really showed Marina’s talent….I’m sure Frankie was no easy gal to write, but she ended up being a gal I adore.

One wouldn’t call Frankie Baudouin girly, and that’s exactly how she likes it. Frankie was raised in the vineyard, working amongst the vines and wouldn’t have it any other way. Some might say she’s got a pretty big chip on her shoulder, but after being tossed out of her family’s business, how can you blame her? Now she’s out to prove to everyone that she has what it takes and that wine runs in her blood and is what she was born to do. Her family, the town, and even that Nate Deluca will all see what she’s made of. She’s especially looking forward to rubbing Nate’s nose in it. He’s been a thorn in her side since high school and after he had the nerve to kiss her in front of everyone, that thorn is digging deeper. Now she finds out that he’s after the land she plans on using to make her wine, the wine that is going to prove her worth, and no way will she let that happen. Unfortunately fate has a different plan and she finds herself forced to spend entirely too much time with him, and soon finds her resolve softening toward him. Is the attraction worth risking all she’s ever worked for?

Nate DeLuca has lusted after the rough, terse and spit fired Frankie for as long as he can remember. He made a move on her not that long ago and it ended up with her kneeing him in the family jewels. A move that still stung. He knows she’s had a less than ideal family life and he knows it’s part of what’s turned her into the woman she is today. But the gruff exterior can’t hide her beauty or the fact that she’s loyal and has a heart bigger than she’d ever let on. Yep, he’s got it bad for her and now after finding out they technically own the same land, he sees this as an opportunity to show her just how wonderful she is in his eyes.

Where to even begin? I loved this book. The dynamic between Frankie and Nate was amazing. The push and pull was positively perfect for the personalities they have and it was shown so well. There can’t be any two completely different people than Nate and Frankie. She is totally un-girlie, flies off the handle at the drop of a hat and has a screw you attitude the size of Texas. Nate is kind and caring and calm. She wears combat boots and he wears loafers. He comes from a tight knit family and she’s the outcast of hers. But you know what they say, opposites attract! Nate knows Frankie better than she knows herself and his determination to show her just how amazing she is to him melted my heart. He did so much for her, but kept the credit hidden all just to make her happy, and he knew if she found out he had taken care of a problem, she’d run. He is patient with her and in the end she knew what he had known all along…that she was worth it. There were so many times my heart broke for Frankie while I read this book, but Nate’s actions made everything better. He is a knight in shining loafers without a doubt. The end scene was one of the best scenes ever and it played out like a movie in my head while I read it. *dreamy sigh* Marina does romance so flipping well!

I could gush about this book for many more paragraphs but instead of boring you, I’ll just say this: buy this book! It’s another fabulous read from Marina and I will continue to look forward to more from the St. Helena Vineyard Series!

Four Loves

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author:

Every author can identify the exact moment of inception, when the skies parted, the heavens sang, and a divine being came forth, anointing them one of the chosen, blessed to spend the rest of eternity weaving stories of ‘ever after’ for mass consumption.

For me, it wasn’t so much a moment, but an intervention.

Sophomore year, my fellow Blockheads sat me down and explained that I had an addiction. I was a NKOTB–A-holic. Afraid of becoming enablers, they refused to listen to another one of my never-ending stories about our passionate intrigues with Jordan, Joe, Jon, Danny, and Donnie. What they didn’t understand was that New Kids on the Block wasn’t my obsession—they were my current romance-medium of choice.

Twenty years later, my romance addiction is a hard, bodice-ripping, half-dozen books per week. When I’m not reading it or watching it, I am writing it—or workshopping it—or editing it—or strategizing how my hands to get more of it.

In 2010, I realized I was closer to menopause than prom and got serious about my career, writing my way toward a post-graduate degree in creative writing (in the off chance that the first one didn’t stick) and becoming a published romance author.

January of 2012, I sold my first novel, TUCKER’S CROSSING, to Kensington Books and The St. Helena Vineyard series to Montlake Romance. KISSING UNDER THE MISTLETOE, the first in the series is a National Bestseller and #1 Romance Series bestseller. SUMMER IN NAPA releases May 14, 2013 and AUTUMN AT THE VINEYARD releases October 2013. In 2014 the first in the Sugar Series, BUT SUGAR’S TWICE AS SWEET, will release from Grand Central’s Forever line.

I live with my husband, daughter and three neurotic cats in Northern California.

Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Website

Book Tour & Review….Never Let Go by Scarlett Edwards

Welcome to my stop on the Never Let Go by Scarlett Edwards Book Tour!

Please enjoy my review and be sure to enter the amazing tour wide giveaway happening.

Prizes include:

20 eBook copies / 10 Audio copies /5 hard cover copies / 4 $50 GCs (prepaid Visa cards, redeemable anywhere) / 2 $100 GCs / 1 Kindle Paperwhite (newest version)

OPEN INTERNATIONALLY

ENDS NOVEMBER 1

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Title: Never Let Go

Author: Scarlett Edwards

Genre: New Adult Romance

Purchase Links:

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Barnes & Noble

Add to Goodreads

Synopsis:

The start of college heralds new beginnings and new friendships. It gives every girl a chance to reinvent herself.

I go and screw mine up by meeting the most gorgeous guy I’ve laid eyes on in five years while talking to my cat outside my dorm.

But Andrew Crowner is far from judgmental. After helping me move my things to my room, he has me smitten by his easy manners and kind smile. And from the way his eyes linger on me before he leaves, I start to think that maybe I’ve caught his attention, too.

I let myself believe that luck might finally be on my side until I stumble upon my roommate… and her overnight guest.

Spencer Ashford.

Lean and tattooed, sexy as sin and dangerous, Spencer is exactly the type I want to avoid. I would have no trouble with that… were it not for his swift and inexplicable interest in me.

In the span of a week, I go from a girl with next-to-no experience with boys to one caught in the cross hairs of two totally different men.

Andrew’s interest is wholesome and sweet. Spencer’s is edgy and raw. The choice should be easy. But there are always complications, and sometimes, matters of the heart take the least expected turns.

My review:

Never Let Go is the first book in a new series from author Scarlett Edwards and gives us an emotional, intense and delicious start.

Paige is starting her first year at college and it’s definitely a new beginning and a fresh start for her. Something she didn’t exactly think she’d find herself, however, is torn between two very different but equally attractive guys. Andrew is the all-American, clean cut guy next door while Spencer is the sexy, tattooed guy with a reputation the certainly precedes him. Now, not only is Paige trying to navigate life on her own, she’s trying to navigate very foreign feelings for two different guys. Will she end up with either one of them?

Never Let Go was an emotional story with bits of mystery surrounding all of the main characters, which really added to the story as a whole. Paige had gone through some things in her life, it was clear from the beginning, but we didn’t really find out until later in the book exactly what events had transpired that made her who she was today. I enjoyed that aspect. The same went for Spencer and Andrew. There was clearly a history between them and that mystery lasted almost the whole book. When we did find out, it was a total “WHOA” moment that really made a lot of pieces fall neatly into place. Pieces that I really didn’t even realize were there. Paige was a likeable girl with a smart head on her shoulders and wasn’t all starry eyed and boy crazy which added to her charm. She made these guys really work to earn her friendship and a big high-five to that. Spencer had me wanting to hate him with his (I hate to say it) semi-womanizing ways, but I could tell there was more to him and I am glad I gave him a chance. Andrew was my first choice for Paige but, the exact opposite of what I felt for Spencer, I felt like there was something off with him and that he was too good to be true. I won’t tell you what the final verdict was, but I will say that the back and forth feelings I had for these two guys lasted almost the entire book. That, to me, is the sign of great writing.

Now, I have to at least warn you all that this book did have a bit of a cliffhanger ending. Some issues were indeed resolved, but we are left kind of hanging. The ending isn’t as abrupt as most cliffhanger endings, but I did feel like it should qualify as one. I don’t mind them in the least, but I know some of you do so I felt I should mention it.

All in all this was a great read with lots of back and forth emotion that I really enjoyed. I can’t wait for book 2 in the series and see how life is going for Paige! Thank you, Scarlett, for an emotional and entertaining book with some delicious man candy!

Four Loves

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author:

I’m Scarlett Edwards. I wrote my first book as a college sophomore. After six months of edits, it made its debut as Yours to Savor.

That was at the start of 2013. I’ve written more books since then. You can find them all here.

It’s funny how quickly life changes. I used to think I’d need a degree to get a “Real Job.” Then I wrote a few books, they got somewhat popular, and now I’m living the life as a full-time romance author.

Thanks to all my readers for making my dream come true.

Website | Amazon Author Page | Goodreads

Guest Review……Selene reviews Possession by J.R. Ward

Book links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads

Synopsis:

When Cait Douglass resolves to get over her broken heart, throw off her inhibitions, and start really living, she’s unprepared for the two sensual men who cross her path. Torn between them, she doesn’t know which to choose–or what kind of dire consequences could follow.

Jim Heron, fallen angel and reluctant savior, is ahead in the war, but he puts everything at risk when he seeks to make a deal with the devil–literally. As yet another soul is unwittingly caught in the battle between him and the demon Devina, his fixation on an innocent trapped in Hell threatens to sidetrack him from his sacred duty…

Can good still prevail if true love makes a savior weak? And will a woman’s future be the key, or the curse, for all of humanity? Only time, and hearts, will tell.

Selene’s Review:

I will admit here and now that Possession is my absolute favorite book of the series.

I will also freely admit that it has 99.9% to do with the fact that my favorite character from anything EVER, John Matthew of J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series, made a cameo appearance. WOW. One mention of his muscular buttocks and I’m in heaven!!!

So many deliciously wonderful things happen in this book – not necessarily all good, but so very fascinating and even downright shocking!

J.R. Ward is the queen of interweaving story arcs and character interactions and this is very present in Possession. She reminds us of everything that has happened so far in the novels without making the new series of events suffer as a result. The only small, miniscule gripe I had (and have had with this author) is that I would have liked to see more of the main couple; they sometimes get a little drowned out by the other equally as intriguing story lines.

Female protagonist, and former brunette, Cait Douglass is probably one of the more relatable female leads in the series so far. She’s imperfect but very kind, caring, mature, and incredibly protective, as seen during the intense climax of the story. She’s strong, but not the in-your-face kind of way – she makes her own choices, discounting obstacles that may sway her decisions. Plus, she has two very, very scrumptious men after her.

Enter G.B.; long, lean, gorgeous, irresistibly charming, and a presence that you cannot escape.

Enter Duke; big, muscular, temperamental, and so singularly focused he’d make you feel like the only thing in the universe.

These brothers (big shock) are similar in their wants, namely Cait, but so very different in every other way conceivable. So when single lady Cait meets both in one significant evening, it’s easy to understand that she would want to spend time with both. Fortunately for Duke, and us readers, she decides to *erm* get to know Duke a whole lot better. Whereas G.B. eventually makes Cait, and the audience, feel uneasy, Duke has us all leaning in our seats for just one more tiny little glimpse of him. From the start, Ward has us rooting for them to get together and, in the end, they almost miss their chance. Luckily, the author, as well as myself, loves happily ever afters so we do get to see those two come together… while G.B. takes a trip down south.

I absolutely cannot get enough of the heaven vs. hell match featuring heavy contenders Jim, Devina, Adrian, Sissy, Eddie, the ever-amusing archangels, and, of course, Dog. I could go on and on about the shocking revelations and the amount of detail that J.R. Ward provides us with in Possession but instead what I’ll do is demand you go out and read this book!

I’d almost give my soul to have the next installment in my greedy little hands already…

Five Loves

About the author:

Jessica Rowley Pell Bird was born on 1969 in Massachusetts, USA. She is the daughter of Maxine F. and W. Gillette Bird, Jr. She began writing as a child, penning her thoughts in diaries as well as inventing short stories. She read her first Harlequin Presents novel in a rose garden when she was in her teens. She was hooked immediately. By the time she went to college, she had boxes and boxes of Harlequins and Silhouettes. Every year, her mother would ask why all those books had to live in the house and Jess would reply that if even one of them disappeared she would know. (She’d catalogued them.)

Jess finished her first romance manuscript the summer before her freshman year of college. She attended Smith College and graduated with a double major in history and art history. She then received a law degree from Albany Law School. Shortly after that, she began working in the healthcare industry in Boston. She spent many years as one of the premier medical center’s Chief of Staff. While working as a lawyer in Boston, she completed two novels more and started a number of partials. In 2001, Bird married John Neville Blakemore III. Both her mother and her new husband kept telling her to send something in to an agent, a publisher, the Tooth Fairy, anyone. She thought they were nuts, but eventually got her nerve up and bought a lot of stamps. Since getting published, she has written contemporary romances as Jessica Bird and paranormal romances as J. R. Ward. She has been a Rita Award finalist, received two Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice nominations and has been a HOLT medallion finalist.

New England born and bred, Jess is surprised to find herself living south of the Mason Dixon line. (But that’s what happens when you marry a Southern gentleman.) She and her husband live with their golden retriever, who oversees her writing in a supervisory role.

ARC Review…..Bad Idea by Damon Suede

Book links:

Goodreads ~ Dreamspinner Press

Synopsis:

Some mistakes are worth making.

Reclusive comic book artist Trip Spector spends his life doodling super-square, straitlaced superheroes, hiding from his fans, and crushing on his unattainable boss until he meets the dork of his dreams. Silas Goolsby is a rowdy FX makeup creator with a loveless love life and a secret streak of geek who yearns for unlikely rescues and a truly creative partnership.

Against their better judgment, they fall victim to chemistry, and what starts as infatuation quickly grows tender and terrifying. With Silas’s help, Trip gambles his heart and his art on a rotten plan: sketching out Scratch, a “very graphic novel” that will either make his name or wreck his career. But even a smash can’t save their world if Trip retreats into his mild-mannered rut, leaving Silas to grapple with betrayal and emotions he can’t escape.

What will it take for this dynamic duo to discover that heroes never play it safe?

My review:

Prologue:

No, that’s not a typo. Yes, this may be the only review in the history of reviews that has a prologue, but I feel like a bit of backstory was needed here. You see, this story holds a HUGE spot in my heart. Ginormous. It all began when my good friend, Rina, and I went to NYC for the day and were able to spend some time with Damon. We had known him for a bit at that point and absolutely LOVE spending time with him. He’s pretty incredible. Rina and I were gearing up for a zombie run we were participating in a few weeks after being in NYC and naturally, this came up at lunch. Zombies and burgers really go well together, apparently. Anyway, here we are, chatting it up with Damon and talking about this crazy zombie run and apparently the thought of us running through the woods like loons being chased by people dressed as zombies sparked an idea. So when you read this book, and you really do need to read this book, you may notice some familiar character names, oh say like, Jillian and Rina. Yep….that’s us. There are also two guys in this story who are quite familiar to me, Ben and Max….my real life husband and son. So now you can see why this story holds such a huge spot in my heart. Damon has not only written one hell of a story, he’s given me a tremendous gift in giving me the honor of being included in his work. For that, I will be forever grateful and I have no words to describe what an honor it is.

Now, don’t worry, my review isn’t the slightest bit biased, I promise. I will admit that I was a bit nervous to read it, because what if I hated it and had to write a not-so-hot review!? Luckily, Damon is a talent beyond measure and gave me nothing but good things to write a review on……so, enjoy!

My review:

Bad Idea is the newest work from author Damon Suede and I was SO excited to be able to read an early copy. Well, the excitement only grew from there and with every page after….this book was incredible.

Trip Spector is an uber talented comic book artist with an unhealthy crush on his straight editor and the secret longing to draw something other than the comic he has been drawing for years. But Trip can’t bring himself to ditch the status quo. He really is thankful for the success he has but it seems like something’s gotta give. He’s not happy…really, truly happy. His two best friends have been trying to get him into a relationship for what seems like forever, but he just can’t bring himself to jump into that just yet. Show all his quirks and his insecurities with dating and life to a stranger? Not likely. Well, that’s until he’s dragged to a zombie run by those two best friends and meets Silas….suddenly the notion of staying single seems as ridiculous as a zombie not eating brains.

Special FX makeup artist Silas Goolsby has just about had it with his empty sex life and may be ready to look for something more. He can hardly believe it himself, if he’s being honest. But he’s had his share of meaningless fun and is ready to find someone to share his zest for life with. He knows right away when he meets the shy, sneezing, allergy-laden Trip at the zombie run that he may have met just the guy he’s been looking for. Now, he’s just gotta throw caution to the wind and make it happen.

The beautiful thing about Silas and Trip’s story is that is it just so real. The feelings, emotions and insecurities are things most of us have gone through when starting a relationship. It’s what Silas and Trip decide to do with all of that baggage that is a treat to read. There were so many parts during this book that I hurt for these two. I wanted to hug Trip and reassure him that he was so amazing and to give love a chance. I wanted to sit down with Silas and tell him to just bear with Trip and I had faith that everything would be ok. That’s just how real they were to me. I can’t think of any book couple that balances one another out more beautifully than Trip and Silas do. Where Trip is shy, Silas is outspoken. Where Trip is hesitant, Silas goes for it. The best part though was seeing Trip’s personal growth thanks to Silas and their relationship.

The rest of the cast of characters is equally as fabulous. Jillian and Rina are strong and loyal friends who love Trip like family and want only the best for him and for him to find real happiness. Even one of the love-to-hate characters turned out to be a favorite of mine in the end. So much depth was written into each personality, it played out like a movie in my head while I was reading. I could picture it all.

I also want to add that the geeky, quirky aspects of this story were like pop culture gold! So different and fun and fresh….I loved it.

In the end, this book left such a lasting impression on me. I laughed and I cried and I fell I love with Trip and Silas. Thank you, Damon….for giving us the gift of Bad Idea.

to sum it up: Quirky and fun, emotional and sexy….Bad Idea was all that and so much more. It plays out like a romantic comedy chock full of comic books, superheroes and pop culture starring colorful and charming characters with easily relatable emotional baggage and relationship hang-ups. I adored Trip and Silas. I laughed with them and cried with them and they go down as one of my favorite book couples EVER.

Five Loves

About the author:

Damon Suede grew up out-n-proud deep in the anus of right-wing America, and escaped as soon as it was legal. Having lived all over (Houston, New York, London, Prague), he’s earned his crust as a model, a messenger, a promoter, a programmer, a sculptor, a singer, a stripper, a bookkeeper, a bartender, a techie, a teacher, a director… but writing has ever been his bread and butter. He has been happily partnered for nearly a decade with the most loving, handsome, shrewd, hilarious, noble man to walk this planet.

Damon’s first novel was published by Dreamspinner Press in 2011. Though new to M/M, he is an award-winning author who has been writing for print, stage, and screen for two decades, which is both more and less glamorous than you might imagine. He’s won some awards, but he counts his blessings more often: his amazing friends, his demented family, his beautiful husband, his loyal fans, and his silly, stern, seductive Muse who keeps whispering in his ear, year after year.

Cravings: sweetness that isn’t sentimental, wit that isn’t bitter, strength that isn’t cruel. Loathings: professional victims, half-assery, clichés. Damon is a proud member of the Romance Writers of America and the Rainbow Romance Writers. He would love to hear from you… you can get in touch with him here.

Email ~ DamonSuede.com ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Dreamspinner Press ~ Amazon ~ The Romance Reviews (less)

ARC Review….Connectivity by Aven Ellis

Book links:

Goodreads

Synopsis:

Overachiever Mary-Kate Grant (who is indeed named after an Olsen Twin) has followed every rule to the letter to pursue her dream of working in TV programming. Ripping a page from the “hard work pays off” playbook, she takes an assistant level job at a Chicago sports network to break into the industry.

MK has no time or desire for a relationship right now—she is totally focused on her career and being independent, unlike the other women in her family.

But MK’s plans are run through the shredder when she finds herself working for William Cumberland, a British media mogul who made his fortune with Connectivity, a social media site. William blows into Chicago just like the winds off Lake Michigan and purchases the group of networks MK works for—and makes her his personal assistant in the process.

Suddenly MK finds her career plans in jeopardy. William makes her question everything she has ever thought and has the uncanny ability to see right through her. And for the first time in her life, MK finds herself not only questioning what she wants for her career but for her personal life as well…

My review:

Connectivity is the debut work from author Aven Ellis and is by far, one of the best debuts I have ever had the pleasure of reading.

Educated and career driven, Mary Kate Grant has gotten her foot in the door working at a sports network with the hopes of fulfilling her dreams of working for a widely known home and garden network. When a young British media tycoon buys the network, she tries her best to make a good first impression, but instead ends up making a bumbling fool of herself. Lucky for her, it’s a lasting impression and she soon finds herself as his personal assistant, which leads to much more than she ever could have dreamed of.

Talk about a feel good, funny and charming read. Aven Ellis has such personality packed in her pages and I enjoyed every single second of this book. Mary Kate, or MK as she is better known, is an adorable, clumsy, witty and endearing gal with a solid head on her shoulders. Totally a gal I could see myself being friends with. She also has a bit of bad luck when it comes to trying to make a good impression and had my laughing out loud so many times just within the first chapter that I instantly fell in love with her. That’s tough to do with me, since I don’t really love a whole lot of heroines. William is a classic Brit with manners and charm set to a cool and controlled attitude. He has come from an equally fortunate and unfortunate upbringing that has shaped the brilliant businessman he is today and also has made him leery of people and close relationships. But don’t worry; it’s not the deeply disturbing back-story that so many books these days tend to gravitate toward. Thank God, right? I think I’ve just about had my fill of the deeply scarred billionaire hero. William is anything but. He’s just very controlled and honest with himself. He knows himself well…so does MK and that makes them so suitable for each other. They are both focused solely on their careers and that makes their desire for one another, and a relationship, such a surprise for both of them. The relationship starts off strictly business and slowly grows into much more and is beautifully done. MK and William have an evenly matched wit that brings a delightful facet to their relationship and makes reading their conversations and interactions pretty freaking fantastic. They really “get” one another and it works so well in building a friendship into more. This really is a modern day fairy tale and has so much love and tenderness. Really, really well written and such a joy to watch grow.

Add deliciously loving moments, two truly likable characters and throw in some laugh-out-loud funny parts for a total package of reading WIN! This definitely needs a spot on your to-read list because every once in a while, it’s great to read a tried and true romance. Thank you, Aven, for Connectivity! I am really looking forward to see what else you have in store for us!

Five Loves

About the author:

Aven Ellis has been writing fiction since she was sixteen. She studied communications at a large Midwestern university, and after graduation, Aven worked as a reporter for a community newspaper, followed by a stint at a public relations agency.

But writing about city council meetings and restaurant franchises was not as much fun as writing for young women trying to figure out their careers and potential boyfriends. So Aven got herself a job in television that allowed her to write at night. Connectivity is Aven’s debut novel; Waiting For Prince Harry and Chronicles of a Lincoln Park Fashionista (New Adult romantic comedy) will be published next year.

Aven lives in Dallas with her family. When she is not writing, Aven enjoys shopping, cooking, connecting with friends on social media, and watching any show that features Gordon Ramsay.

Goodreads ~ Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

Read-Love-Blog’s Cowboy Summer…..Selene reviews Gone Country by Lorelei James

The summer may technically be over, but we’re still enjoying our cowboys! Today I have Selene’s review of Gone Country by Lorelei James….ENJOY!

Book links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads

Synopsis:

She’s a little bit country, and he’s…not.

Arizona businessman and long-lost McKay love child Gavin Daniels has been awarded sole custody of his teenage daughter Sierra for one year. In order to steer Sierra back on track after a brush with the law, he pulls up stakes and heads to Wyoming, looking for support from his ranching family…even if he isn’t sure where they fit in the McKay dynamic. He’s prepared for every contingency with the move: the less-than-enthusiastic response from his daughter, learning to run his corporation remotely, but he’s thrown for a loop when his new housemate, Rielle, is a whole lot sexier, funnier and sassier than he remembered.

Rielle Wetzler has finally overcome the stigma of having hippie parents and being a young single mother. In the two years since she sold her ailing B&B to Gavin Daniels, she’s become financially stable running the homespun businesses she loves. But now Gavin is in Sundance to claim the house that’s rightfully his. Although Rielle knew this day would come, she isn’t prepared to leave the home she built for herself and her now-grown daughter. And to further complicate matters, her long-dormant libido is definitely not ready to live with this newly buff Gavin—who isn’t a cowboy, but has the take-charge attitude to prove he’s all McKay.

Sharing a roof, their troubles and their triumphs is too much temptation, and before long, Gavin and Rielle are sharing a bed. But sharing their hearts and lives forever? That’s a whole ’nother ball of wax.

Selene’s Review:

Finally a McKay man who is… not?

Arizonan and sharp businessman Gavin Daniels finds out late in life that he is actually a long-lost son to a still-married couple from the McKay tribe of Sundance, Wyoming.

LOVE IT!

Taking his daughter Sierra to live with him in his recently acquired property was probably the best move Gavin ever made. Because of this, not only did he fall head over heels for entrepreneur Rielle Wetzler and Sierra for one Mr. Boone West, they both were able to gain an entire close-knit, crazy family that is the McKays.

There were so many things that I loved about this book! Reading through Gone Country was like simultaneously reading an adult romance as well as a young adult novel – the two stories worked so wonderfully together.

Gavin was incredibly refreshing, as was Rielle. In a world full of rough, tough cowboys and girls, it was nice to see these two very different (and sometimes out of place) individuals interact… especially in the bedroom. Gavin is definitely all McKay where it counts! What I also loved about these two is how much they each care for the daughters and how they always try to do what’s right by them. It was very touching and sweet.

After meeting in a hilarious scene with a few other young McKays, Sierra and Boone soon became good friends. The attraction on both sides was written beautifully and tastefully and the almost tragedy and its after effects brought tears to my eyes! The saddest part was when Boone decided to up and leave Sierra and his home to enlist. GREAT CLIFFHANGER.

As per usual, Lorelei James gave us glimpses into the goings on of the other McKays as well as setting up the couple for the next story: Dalton and Rory!

This book comes highly recommended by yours truly.

Four-and-a-Half Loves

From author website:

A bit about me: When I’m not squirreled away behind my laptop writing fun, sexy, contemporary erotic romances set in the modern day Wild West, I can be found reading everything under the sun, practicing yoga until I’m a pretzel, shootin’ my .22, watching the Professional Bull Riders tour on Versus, and running a kid’s taxi service, all in the guise of avoiding housework and rustlin’ up vittles.

Why do I have a particular fondness for all things western? Well, I’m a fourth generation South Dakotan, living in the Black Hills, which is chock-full of interesting characters, including cowboys, Indians, ranchers, and bikers. The geographical diversity of the surrounding area showcases mountains, plains, and badlands. Living in and writing about rural settings gives me a unique perspective, especially since I’m not writing historical westerns. Through my fictional world, I can show the ideals and the cowboy way of life are still very much alive.

Review, Interview & Giveaway….The Sugar Cookie Sweetheart Swap by Donna Kauffman, Kate Angell & Kimberly Kincaid

I’m SO excited for this post today! Along with my review of The Sugar Cookie Sweetheart Swap, I’ve got a fabulous interview with Pete the delicious pasty chef from Kimberly Kincaid’s story in the anthology, Sugar and Spice.

I also have a two super cute wine charms, some signed goodies from Kimberly and an ecopy of The Sugar Cookie Sweetheart Swap to give away to one lucky winner!

How much fun is all of this!? So, enjoy and be sure to enter to win in the rafflecopter below!

Book links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads

Where There’s Smoke by Donna Kauffman

Synopsis:

When flames from a recipe gone disastrously wrong send hunky fire fighter Will Mason to pretty Clara Parker’s rescue, the sparks really begin to fly! And once Will gets a taste of Clara, he aches for more than just a little sugar from the famously single food columnist…

My review:

Talk about a fantastic start to this hot and sexy anthology! Where There’s Smoke combined a hot and sexy firefighter, a clumsy-yet-adorable newspaper columnist and a long lost friendship for a delicious first course. Clara Parker isn’t having the best luck, but then again, that’s nothing new. Always the slightly awkward and clumsy one out of her trio of girlfriends, she is used to things not necessarily going her way, but this week has really been epically bad. Dumped by her love interest and having to write a column on baking to save her job, Clara is at her wits end. But when she runs into Will, a guy she hasn’t seen since he moved away suddenly years ago and a guy she’s held a flame for, things seem to start looking up. Well, until she almost burns her house down baking for her column. Luckily, Will is a firefighter waiting to save a damsel in distress. And Clara is just the damsel he’s been dreaming about saving since he left all those years ago.

This story totally rocked my socks off! The heat and build up between Clara and Will is phenomenal. Will is an amazing character….cut to the chase and open and honest. I loved him. Clara is so cute and quirky and just so real! Together they balance each other out and cause enough heat for more than a few sirens to go off!

The Gingerbread Man by Kate Angell

Synopsis:

Folks have always told fun-loving Abby Denton that her anatomically correct Gingerbread cookies are…impressive. But those erotic cookies have nothing on the sexy stranger Abby saves from a snowy country road. Could Lander Reynolds be the Christmas treat she’s truly been longing for?

My review:

The most emotional and intense in the story, in my opinion…. The Gingerbread Man was a meaningful and savory middle course. Abby has kept her X-rated gingerbread men hidden from the townspeople, and she intends to keep it that way…but when a handsome stranger breezes in to the cookie swap and buys a box of those secret cookies, she has no idea what’s in store for her. Lander can’t believe his eyes…what exactly are on those gingerbread men? He also can’t believe his eyes when he wakes up in the cabin of a beautiful stranger…clearly injured, he must have had an accident. The last thing he can remember was a glace at those peculiar cookies.

What started out as an innocent story turned into an emotional journey dealing with loss and the holidays for both Abby and Lander. I adored Lander and Abby sharing their family memories while being snowed in and the bond they built because of their feelings of loss. It was truly a beautiful tale that had me crying more than once. In the end, Abby and Lander prove that wishes can come true.

Sugar And Spice by Kimberly Kincaid

Synopsis:

When caterer Lily Callahan goes up against hotshot pastry chef Pete Mancuso in the bake-off of the season, the stakes are high – and scandalously passionate. Will the gorgeous gourmand steal Lily’s heart – and the top prize in the Christmas cookie competition?

My review:

I always say the dessert is the best course, and Sugar and Spice was deliciously delectable and exactly the ending I craved. Lily Callahan has always dreamed of owning her own bakery. So when she sees a chance to win a good chunk of change in the local bake-off of the holiday season, she knows this is what she needs to make her dreams a reality. Pete Mancuso, for years, has dreamed of creating his sugary confections at the most exclusive restaurant in the area. So when he sees a chance to gain the notoriety in the local bake-off of the holiday season, he knows this is what he needs to make his dreams a reality. Both Lily and Pete are fighting for their dreams and fighting to both honor and hide theirs pasts. They also soon realize they are fighting their attraction to one another. Will they be able to focus on the heat in the kitchen and not in their desires for each other?

Oh yum, Pete Mancuso is not at all what I would think of a pastry chef as. He’s daring and cocky and delicious bad-boy but with a heart of gold and a soft side I never saw coming. Lily is genuine and has a beautiful spirit and sense of family and self. Combined, they both are similar and different in equal amounts and it was a brilliant combo. Lily, the strict, rule following, outlining gal and Pete the bold, risk taking, original guy make a pair that’s hard to beat. It’s the perfect sweet and salty combination that make up a taste meant to be savored.

Four Loves For All

Interview with Pete Mancuso the Pastry Chef from Sugar and Spice:

So, Pete, how are things in Pine Mountain?

Great, actually! Lily and I just chose the shop front where The Sweet Life is going to go down on Main Street, and of course we’re already having, um, lively discussions about the menu. (Flashes a smirk) Suffice it to say, we might go with a his-and-hers theme. You know, a little sugar, a little spice. We’re hoping to have the place open by late summer (hint: if you keep your eyes open nice and wide, you might see it in Gimme Some Sugar, coming in June 2014!)

Have you and Lily come up with any delicious cookie recipes together?

Of course! She still hates to wing it, but every once in a while I can convince her to step outside the box a little. Usually it works.

(Lily pokes her head into the interview to lift her eyebrows at Pete) Uh-huh. Emphasis on the usually. Ask him about the chocolate covered bacon debacle.

(Pete laughs) Hey, that would’ve worked if you’d let me figure out the right ratios!

(Lily makes a face and shakes her head before kissing Pete on her way out the door)

(Pete grins) Anyway, yeah. It’s always an adventure in our kitchen.

I absolutely love what you did with Lucas and you gained some major bonus points with me……have you seen any more of him and is he doing well?

Yup and yup! Lily and I go hang out with Lucas at the community center once a week. He’s really interested in food, so he got an after school job at Joe’s Grocery. Once the bakery opens, we’ll keep him busy there too. (hint: keep your eyes open for Lucas in the Pine Mountain series…especially in Stirring Up Trouble, coming in October 2014!)

Quick…..what was the last dessert you ordered in a restaurant that you adored?

(Grinning) Funny you should ask! To celebrate getting our store front, I took Lily to L’Orangerie. It was one of Conrad Le Clerc’s last days there, but he made us these truly insane double-chocolate tartlets with homemade vanilla bean ice cream and raspberry reduction sauce. I seriously couldn’t have made them any better.

Oh, and speaking of restaurants….did you ever get into trouble for “borrowing” a bit of that Remy Martin XO?

Gee, Jillian, I don’t know what you could be talking about! I would never do such a thing (Big. Fat. Smile.)

Ok, now for a little fun with “this or that”…..

Chocolate sauce or whipped cream? Yes! (don’t make me pick. Please!)

Boxers or briefs? Now this one, I’ll pick. Boxers

Batman or Superman? Man of steel, baby! I’d kill to be able to fly. Also, bulletproof. Enough said.

Fancy night out or cozy night in? (chuckling) Either one is fine by me, as long as I’ve got Lily by my side.

Thanks Pete, and Lily, for stopping by!

Giveaway

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Blog Tour & Reviews….The Beast Within Series by Melissa Crowe

Title: The Beast Within

Series: The Beast Within novellas #1

Author: Melissa Crowe

Publication Date: 5th June 2012

Genre: Paranormal Romance

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Synopsis:

Karina’s world is turned upside down when she meets the sexy and mysterious Xavier. Something powerful and sensual is unlocked from inside her that she cannot explain and seems to have little control over.

With Xavier’s help, Karina discovers she is a Tuatha De Danann, celtic faeries long thought to have been eradicated. Xavier’s insistence on making her believe troubles Karina, what dangerous secret is he keeping from her? Can her ex partner Ian save her before it’s too late?

**This novella contains violence, and sexual situations which may not be recommended for readers under fifteen.

My review:

The first in The Beast Within Series by Melissa Crowe starts us off on a journey into a world Karina had no idea existed. Fast paced and full of mystery, this is a fantastic beginning to the series. Karina suddenly finds herself torn between two very different men. Ian, the safe bet Kind-of-boyfriend, and Xavier, the dark and sexy stranger. The allure and pull toward Xavier turns into a revelation when she learns secrets about her family history and that she is a Tuatha De Danann. Now, while trying to make sense of the new world she is introduced to, she also finds herself fighting for her life. Will it be Xavier or Ian she can trust? Although this story is short in length, it isn’t short on action, heat and secrecy. I really enjoyed this installment and am looking forward to finding out what is in store for Karina and the choices she is faced with.

Buy your copy-

Amazon

– Kindle or Paperback

Smashwords

Title: Haunted

Series: The Beast Within novellas #2

Author: Melissa Crowe

Publication Date: 25th December 2012

Genre: Paranormal Romance

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Synopsis:

Karina has now discovered her abilities, but this only puts her in further danger. With a 600 year old lycanthrope thirsting for her blood, Ian must summon the help of his brother Ronan. The keeper of the Spear of Victory, a treasure sacred to the Tuatha De Danann.

Can the two Guardians protect Karina, or will her secret ultimately bring destruction upon them all?

My review:

Hunted picks up immediately where The Beast Within leaves off and thank goodness for that because things are really getting exciting for Karina. Now certain with Ian is where she belongs, Karina is starting to learn more about her bloodline and what exactly it all means. Of course, if that wasn’t hard enough, Ian senses a very powerful lycanthrope is way too close for comfort. Extremely concerned for her safetly, Ian decides he has no other choice but to call on one of his brothers to help him defeat this dangerous shape shifter. However, in doing so, Ian is also risking getting in major trouble by exposing his relationship with Karina. A guardian is forbidden to have a relationship with his charge. So when Ian’s brother reports him to the Queen for his transgressions, it appears that defeating a powerful lycanthrope may be the least of their worries…..

Fast paced and full of emotion, this second installment in the series is a great continuation of the story. Karina is really growing as a character and is showing how strong she is becoming, both physically and emotionally. It’s a treat to watch her turn into a kick ass warrior and stand up for herself and those she loves. Ian is so loyal and loving and I adore him more and more with each novella. I cannot wait to see what happens with them and their relationship and am worried sick that they will have to be separated forever. Gah! The suspense is equally enjoyable and painful! Onto the next novella…..

Buy your copy-

Amazon
– Kindle or Paperback

Smashwords

Title: Journey

Series: The Beast Within novellas #3

Author: Melissa Crowe

Publication Date: 20th September 2013

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Add on Goodreads!

Synopsis:

Ian has been summoned by the Goddess Danu to the Otherworld, and Karina will not let him go without a fight.

With a Tutha De Danann that is unable to cross water, getting from Australia to Ireland will make for an interesting journey. Supernatural beings, sworn enemies and the full moon are only half of the risk as they try to cross three continents. Drug smuggling, guerrilla kidnapping and lycans on the prowl will hamper their travels.

Davarus, self-proclaimed King of the lycanthropes is building an army and on the move. Danger faces these forbidden lovers at every turn.

Would you travel to the ends

My review:

Again, thankfully, Journey picks up where Hunted left us and the nail-biting adventure in this novella was crazy intense, fast paced and really enjoyable. Ian has been summoned to face the Queen and answer for his actions in his relationship with Karina. Karina refuses to let him go without her. She has come to realize she is very valuable to the Tutha De Danann race and she intends to use that value to bargain for her and Ian’s relationship. Great idea in theory, there’s only one problem….as a Tutha De Danann, she is unable to cross over water. Refusing to let that stop her, she accompanies Ian on a journey to Ireland that will end up pushing everything she is in mind and body to the very limits. Will it all be worth it in the end? Can she convince the Queen that what she and Ian share is worth breaking the rules for?

Talk about a white-knuckled read! There wasn’t a dull moment in this entire novella. One obstacle after another, Ian and Karina don’t catch even one break on their way to Ireland. Their resolve is strong and is tested to the max but in the end, Karina fights the good fight and I was really happy with the way this chapter ended for them. I also enjoyed getting to meet some fierce and loyal characters along the way. Again, just because this story is short on pages, doesn’t mean it’s short on emotion and excitement!

Buy your copy-

Amazon- Kindle or Paperback

Smashwords

Four Loves for All

About
the author: Melissa Crowe

I am from Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. I have been a lover of
Paranormal and strong powerful women all my life and now am lucky enough to put
the two together and share it with the world. In 2009 I started writing and
have not looked back.

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ARC Review….Friends to Lovers by Christi Barth

Friends to Lovers releases October 14

Book Links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads

Synopsis:

Book three of Aisle Bound

As florist and co-owner of a successful Chicago wedding planning business, Daphne Lovell has been there for the happiest days of other people’s lives. As for her own life? Well, it’s hard to be perfectly happy when you’re carrying a torch for your sexy, womanizing and oblivious best friend. So when the lights go out on New Year’s Eve, she seizes the opportunity to kiss him senseless.

British expat Gibson Moore has a lot on his plate. The hotel he manages is being bought out, his family is crazy and someone just kissed him in the dark. When the lights go on, he searches the room, trying to find the mystery pair of lips. Only, he never thinks to ask the woman standing by his side. He’s shocked when he discovers that Daphne is the woman he’s been searching for. But Gib’s also eager to act upon the attraction for her he’s always fought to ignore.

It takes trust to move from friends to lovers, and as Gib’s work situation worsens, he is no longer sure he can risk the friendship he relies on most. It’s up to Daphne to convince him that some things are worth fighting for…

My review:

Friends to Lovers is the third book in Christi Barth’s Aisle Bound Series and admittedly the first in this series that I have read. Well, clearly I have been missing out because this book was so enjoyable!

Successful business co-owner and florist Daphne Lovell has been admiring her best friend, Gib, from afar for quite some time now. She has promised herself that one of these days she will make something out of it. So when the lights go out on New Year’s Eve at a wedding she is running at the hotel Gib manages, she knows with a clear certainty that THIS is the moment she has been waiting for. Without a moment’s hesitation, she grabs Gib and kisses him senseless. The only problem is, when the lights go back on, he has no idea it was her that had just rocked his world. Will she get up the courage to tell him he’s what she’s been longing for all this time….without the anonymity of the darkness?

Known for his prowess with the ladies, Gibson Moore’s world is completely rocked with the kiss that happened during the power glitch at a wedding being held in his hotel on New Year’s Eve. He’s never had a kiss affect him like that. Now it’s his mission in life to find his Kissing Cinderella and make her his. The question is, will finding out it was his best friend Daphne ruin everything?

Once the mystery is solved and the Kissing Cinderella has been revealed, Gib and Daphne decide to go with the attraction they feel and make the move from friends to lovers. But, with everyday stressors and when issues beyond their control arise, will they be able to stay the course and give their relationship a real shot?

The thing I like best about Christi’s writing is that the story always plays out really well and feels like you could be watching it as a movie with your girlfriends on a Saturday night. Gib and Daphne’s story is no exception. Daphne is a really relatable and likable gal with an honestly about her that I enjoyed. She takes a chance with Gib and I really admired that. Gib is dashing and handsome with a cheeky sense of humor and strong loyalty to his friends. He’s got a really effed up family life and has learned to appreciate his friends as his family now and genuinely cares for them. Together, the sexual longing and tension between Gib and Daphne is palpable and was done really, really well. Their first kisses were as hot as some sex scenes….total yum.

My absolutely, positively favorite part though was the very end….talk about an emotional high and a cry your eyes out moment! Totally lived up to every expectation for a happy ending I had for Gib and Daphne. Simply perfect!!

If you’re looking for a feel-good, true-blue romance, then get this book on your list. You will not be disappointed! Thank you, Christi, for a fun, flirty and enjoyable read!

Four Loves

About the author:

Christi Barth earned a Masters degree in vocal performance and embarked upon a career on the stage.

A love of romance then drew her to wedding planning. Ultimately she succumbed to her lifelong love of books and now writes contemporary romance.

Christi is President of the Maryland Romance Writers and lives in Maryland with her husband.

Website ~ Goodreads ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

Read-Love-Blog’s Cowboy Summer….Selene’s Review of Kissin’ Tell by Lorelei James

The summer may officially be over, but we’re still having fun with our cowboys…..

Today, Selene reviews Kissin’ Tell by Lorelei James. Enjoy!

Book links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads

Synopsis:

She once led him around by a string. Now he’s the one holding the reins.

Georgia Hotchkiss swore wild horses couldn’t drag her back to Sundance, Wyoming. So it’s ironic she’s forced to take a rodeo PR job in her former hometown—right before her ten-year class reunion. The only thing worse than facing her cheating ex-husband and his pregnant wife? Showing up to the reunion without a date. Fate smiles on her when she runs into her former classmate and current cowboy hottie Tell McKay. With his infectious smile and fun-loving ways—not to mention his banging body—he’s the perfect solution to her problem.

Tell McKay had it so bad for Hot Lips Hotchkiss during high school that he let her run roughshod over him. But he is no longer that easily manipulated boy—these days he’s earned a reputation with the ladies that lives up to the McKay last name. He agrees to escort her to the reunion with one stipulation; that Georgia proves she has left behind the goody-goody cheerleader of the past—by sharing his bed.

Their sexual chemistry flashes so bright, they barely notice that the reunion has come and gone, and now they’re tangled up in another dreaded “R” word—relationship. But if Tell wants to get the girl this go-around, he’ll have to come up with a whole new set of knots to tie up her heartstrings.

Selene’s Review:

While reading through Lorelei James’s Kissin’ Tell, I asked myself if I’d ever had that one high school crush that always seemed to be just a little too out of my reach. And embarrassingly enough, I could think of about ten! What makes this story between Tell McKay and Georgia Hotchkiss such a pleasure to read is that their situation is probably relatable for the majority of readers. If any of us had that chance to be with the person we’d pined for for years in our youth, wouldn’t we take the opportunity even if it was to just settle some curiosity?

Of all the McKay men, I must admit that Tell is the one that wears his heart right on his sleeve – which makes him that much more irresistible. He doesn’t hide his feelings for one Ms. Georgia Hotchkiss now just like he couldn’t do so then. Fortunately for Tell, Georgia is much more open to reciprocate those feelings… and fortunately for us readers, that sets off their swelteringly hot romance.

What Tell does so well is delaying gratification – but what he does even better is satisfying his woman. The little high school fantasies he plays out with Georgia, such as the basketball game, the nekkid trampoline sesh, and that *erm* little scene at the reunion, are so incredibly delicious that I absolutely had to go back then and there to reread them! And the fact that they make her crazy for wanting his kool-aid and not getting to have a drink was just that much better. I love me some man that can make me all hot and bothered without even touching me.

The emotionally touching parts are just as wonderful to read as the budding romance and playful friendship between the two. Georgia faces her demons regarding her ex and her father’s support of said ex while Tell finally receives the recognition he deserves from his family. Also, both of them try to come to terms with the loss of family members and it helps them to further seal their bond.

All in all, I have to say that this was probably one of the more enjoyable reads from the series and I look forward to much more from James!

Four-and-a-Half Loves

From author website:

Worth the Fight by Vi Keeland…Launch Day Event and ARC Review

It’s release day for WORTH THE FIGHT by Vi Keeland and I am so happy to be a part of the fun!

Along with some teasers and the rafflecopter for a fab giveaway, you will find my review…I loved this book!!

Enjoy!

Add Worth the Fight to your TBR list on Goodreads HERE

Synopsis:

It didn’t matter that the ref called it a clean hit. Nico Hunter would never be the same.

Elle has a good life. A job she loves, a great apartment, and the guy she’s been dating for more than two years is a catch and a half. But it’s boring…and she strives to keep it that way. Too many emotions are dangerous. Her own past is living proof of what can happen when you lose control.

Then Nico walks into Elle’s office and everything changes…for both of them. But what can the tattooed, hard-bodied MMA fighter and the beautiful and always steady attorney have in common? A lot more than they bargained for.

My review:

Worth the Fight is the first book in author Vi Keeland’s MMA Fighter Series and the synopsis had me completely hooked. Oh boy, did this story live up to my expectations…..it was excellent.

Attorney Elle James’ life is pretty good and relatively normal these days. A great job in a small firm with a great boss, a handsome and successful boyfriend and a nice apartment. Pretty normal and pretty bland. A big difference from the childhood she lived through. Those are the years she would love to forget. Those are also the years that shaped her into the woman she was today….and also why she craves normal and bland. It was safe and that meant a lot to her. Of course, just when she is settled in her normal, safe life, MMA fighter Nico Hunter walks into her firm and immediately she knows things aren’t going to be normal and boring where he was concerned. Suddenly safe and bland aren’t what she yearns for….

Nico Hunter hasn’t been in the cage for eighteen months. It was in a fight eighteen months ago when his life changed forever, and not for the good. Now, he’s gearing up for his return into the MMA fighting world. His body is fine-tuned and ready to go….his mental state? Not so much. When he meets Elle, he can’t deny the instant connection he has with her. Boyfriend or not, he has to have her. After spending some time together, he soon realizes she may be the one to help him tame his inner demons. He has no idea how right he is and can’t even begin to imagine the kind of connection they end up sharing. Will they both be able to let go of their haunted pasts and move forward into the future….together?

When I hosted the cover reveal for Vi, I was immediately drawn in with the teasers she shared for the post and was so excited to get a chance to read this book. Well, I didn’t just read it…I devoured it. Nico is the ultimate contradiction…a hard-bodied alpha male with a heart as big as the cage he fights in and a soft side that would make a teddy bear jealous. His sex appeal is second to none and his personality leapt off the pages. Damn that man is fiiiiiiiine! Elle is a gal I admired greatly. She’s worked really hard to move past the nightmare she lived as a child and she really has a good head on her shoulders. She’s smart and knows herself really well. She also was amazing at taking a chance on Nico. She didn’t balk at his advances, instead she recognized there was a thrill she felt with him and wanted to grab it and explore where it took her. Together, they hold each other up when each needs it most. So many touching and tender moments happen between them. It was an emotional ride for sure!

I have to say, I think Vi did a fantastic job at giving the reader pieces of information throughout the story that all fit together perfectly in the end. It was as if we lived Elle and Nico’s growing relationship right along side them. I also adored what she did at the very end! A very cute way of wrapping things up.

Thank you, Vi, for an amazing start to a series I will absolutely be keeping up with! I cannot wait for book two!

Five Loves

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About the author:

Vi Keeland is a native New Yorker with three children that occupy most of her free time, which she complains about often, but wouldn’t change for the world. She is a bookworm and has been known to read her kindle at stop lights, while styling her hair, cleaning, walking, during sporting events, and frequently while pretending to work. She is a boring attorney by day, and an exciting USA Today Best Selling smut author by night!

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Email: vikeeland@gmail.com