New Reviews – Page 127 – Read-Love-Blog

ARC Review….Beautiful Bombshell by Christina Lauren

Beautiful Bombshell releases September 3

Book links:

Synopsis:

The gentlemen from Beautiful Bastard, Beautiful Stranger, and Beautiful Player are out for a wild night on The Strip.

When Max, Henry, and Will steal Bennett away for a weekend of shenanigans and strippers in Vegas, the first stop of the night doesn’t go at all as planned. With their scheme for a Guys Weekend completely derailed anyway, Max and Bennett begin to play a wild game of stealth and secrecy in order to have their bombshells all over Sin City.

My review:

Beautiful Bombshell is the novella that follows Max Stella’s book, Beautiful Stranger, and leads us into Will Sumner’s book, Beautiful Player. I am a huge fan of this series and like all the other books in this series; Beautiful Bombshell kicked some major ass!

Bennett and Chloe are getting married and of course, that calls for a bachelor party trip. Somewhere the guys can go to let loose, party till all hours of the night, see some beautiful half-naked women, and eat meals fit for kings…..in other words, Sin City! Sadly for the ladies attached to these men, the only weekend that worked for all of the guys was Valentine’s Day weekend. Lucky for Bennett and Max, Chloe and Sarah seem to take it in stride and give them the green light for a weekend filled with bachelor shenanigans and let them off the hearts-and-flowers Valentine’s hook….little to the guys know their women have a few surprises in store for them when they arrive in Vegas. Let the real fun begin….

I freaking adored this novella! The dynamic between Bennett and Max is just so utterly enjoyable and their personalities play so well off of one another. Max had me laughing out loud so many times throughout the story. From his cheeky comments to his hilarious stunts, I was totally reminded just how much I loved him from Beautiful Stranger. Bennett isn’t thrilled about being in Vegas but eventually lets loose a bit and ends up having a weekend he won’t soon forget. I was also reminded of the guy that drew me in from the first chapter of Beautiful Bastard and how much I love him and the very opposing sides to his personality. Hard yet soft, firm but gentle. The true allure to these guys, in my opinion, is how Christina Lauren writes them both. They are powerful and successful men and can handle themselves with the biggest of bigwigs in the business and corporate worlds but are completely owned by their women and relationships. These guys will do anything to make sure their women are always happy and have everything they desire. Being a slave to their relationships is just so endearing and gives a facet to their personalities and makes the whole package a win. It’s because of that charming quality that has both Bennett and Max as two of my all time fave book guys.

Oh, and I have to assure you all that even though the guys are away from their women, there were a few hot scenes that I was positively dying over. Oh, my YUM! *fans self*

I also want to say that Will and Henry are fantastic additions to the debauchery that happens with this group. Good sports, those two!

I laughed, had many dreamy sigh moments, and fanned myself on more than one occasion. Fans of the Beautiful Bastard Series will really enjoy this story and I cannot WAIT for Will’s story! Thank you, Christina Lauren, for more of our favorite bastards!

Five Loves

About the authors:

Christina Hobbs & Lauren Billings write under the combined pen-name of Christina Lauren. Separated by the pesky state of Nevada, these co-author besties talk several times a day, agree that Ruby Pumps is the best nail polish color ever, and would, if given the choice, spend all day staring at the ocean from the San Clemente pier.

Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ Website ~ Christina Twitter ~ Lauren Twitter

ARC Review…Crash Into Me by K.M. Scott

Crash Into Me releases August 28

Book links:

Goodreads ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Kobo ~ iBooks

Synopsis:

What would you give up for everything?

Tristan Stone was powerful, commanding, sex incarnate. And he wore it all so well. From the moment his mesmerizing gaze met mine, I had no choice but surrender to everything he was. His power. His decadence. His passion. He was all I never knew I needed.

He wanted to possess me, and I wanted to be his everything. All I had to do was accept what he offered. But everything has a price.

The world he gave me fulfilled my wildest dreams, but would that be enough when the past crashed into the present?

My review:

Crash Into Me is the first in the first novel in the Heart of Stone Trilogy and certainly kicked off the series with an emotional and passionate bang!

Taking a job as the low man on the totem pole at an art gallery in SOHO wasn’t exactly what Nina Edwards had thought she’d be doing with the art degree she recently earned. But she knew this was all part of paying her dues and would hopefully lead to bigger and better things in the art world. Certainly there had to be bigger and better things than handing out cocktail weenies at art shows. Always one to appreciate the beautiful, eye catching things in life, it’s at one of these showings that she sees Tristan. He’s totally gorgeous and holds himself in a completely powerful and sexy way…he’s also totally out of her league. So when he shows up outside the gallery after she finishes cleaning up, she’s shocked that he asks her if she’d like a ride home. Nina is a pretty street smart gal, and knows she really shouldn’t accept a ride from a stranger, but deciding to take a chance, she says yes….and he ends up taking her on a ride that will ultimately change her life.

Nina and Tristan’s relationship is like a pair of magnets. If one magnet faces the wrong direction, they won’t attract to one another, but if you give that one a flip, the attraction is instant. The thing is, each magnet is just one flip away from repelling the other magnet, and it’s a delicate dance.

I started this book and, being totally honest here, I thought: “oh, another rich, gorgeous billionaire playboy meets the average looking girl and decides he has to have her. He clearly has some sort of issues and she’s going to try fix him. This has SO been done before.” Yes, that is part of the story line BUT that’s where the similarities end. Nina and Tristan’s relationship felt more real to me than any of the other similar stories I have read. They both have a painful past and they both know they have their issues to work through but the crazy intense (almost psycho) tendencies that show up in other stories wasn’t here….and I appreciated that. The steamy parts were deliciously steamy but not overly kinky and held more of a passionate feel. It was a welcome change and again, made their connection seem that much more real.

Now, there are plenty of “hmmmm” moments throughout the book that all come into to play in the last few chapters and really had be looking back and realizing the author did a fabulous job at putting the pieces into place. There is somewhat of a cliffhanger ending but not one that I minded. It was actually a great lead into the next in the series and I am DYING to get my hands on that next book!

All in all, this was a really enjoyable story and I really felt for Nina and Tristan and their situation. It’s steamy, loving, mysterious and enjoyably written. Thank you, K.M., for a kick ass beginning to what I’m sure will be a kick ass series!

Four Loves

About the author:

A writer for years in other genres, I love the sexier side of romance, both as a reader and author. Well-written erotic romance is just what a girl needs some days when the rest of the world is dumping problems on her doorstep, and I love that I can give readers that erotic escape.

I love hearing from readers, so if you want to get in touch with me, email at kmscottauthor@gmail.com and I’ll get back to you asap.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ Twitter

New Review….Take Me Out by Danielle A. Elwood

Book links:

Amazon ~ Goodreads

Synopsis:

Charlotte grew up in the Boston socialite spotlight.

Bentley grew up on the wrong side of the tracks.

One chance baseball game will change both of their lives forever.

But will their relationship stand the test of ex-lovers, arson, and Charlotte’s parents?

My review:

Take Me Out is the debut work from indie author Danielle A. Elwood and I have to say…what a great start!

Being a member of the upper echelon of Boston high society, Charlie is used to being in the spotlight….and also used to trying to avoid it. The spotlight is the very last thing on her mind when she goes out for a night with her two best friends to enjoy her favorite thing in Boston, a Red Sox game. Imagine her surprise when she’s thrust into that very spotlight when the gorgeous tattooed stranger seated in front of her decides to serenade her to Sweet Caroline…and it ends up on the jumbo-tron and likely in every local press. But there’s something about this tattooed hottie that has her acting completely unlike her normal keep-at-an-arms-length self and she soon realizes this will end up being a night that will change her life.

Bentley looks like the typical tattooed bad boy and if he’s being honest, that’s exactly what he is. Self admitted womanizer, thanks to his effed up past and his effed up mother figure not exactly being a roll model, he’s exactly the guy our mom warned you about. He’s not sorry about it either. Heading to the Red Sox game with his best friend, and roommate, he’s planning on a great night of beer and women. That’s exactly what he gets when he notices the beautiful girl sitting behind him. But something is different about her. Acting on a crazy impulse, he will barge into her life with a serenade and immediately knows she won’t be like any other girl he’s ever met.

A relationship that starts out with a crazy, on-screen, public display of impulse and fun will turn into something neither Bentley nor Charlie had ever expected…but something they both will cherish.

What. A. Book! I had no idea what to expect when I started this but immediately I was hooked. It started out really strong and kept building with emotion, heat and mystery (I totally didn’t expect the mystery and suspense this story has and it was FANTASTIC!). Charlie and Bentley are awesome characters and have a relationship that I can totally relate to! That intense, consuming connection that will take them through a whole bunch of situations…but it’s that connection that will get them through some really rough lows. Charlie is a lot of fun and almost immediately realizes her weakness when it comes to Bentley. I don’t blame her. Bentley is the ultimate bad boy. Sad past, effed up family and childhood, motorcycle, tattoos, totally yummy. He also has a soft side he didn’t even know he had until he met Charlie. His soft side makes him even more yummy! The secondary cast of characters was also a treat. Charlie’s brothers, her best friends and Bentley’s best friend all are really great to read. I’m hoping we get to see more of all of them and that this will continue on as a series.

Thank you, Danielle, for a fun, heartwarming, saucy and intense read! You’ve got a new fan in this blogger!

Four Loves

About the author:

Danielle A. Elwood is a blogger by trade who started writing her first romance novel Take Me Out as a hobby in 2012. She is a avid romance novel lover herself, which inspired her to take the leap into writing her own. She was born and raised in Connecticut and is relocating to Florida in April of 2013 with her family.

Danielle is a mother of three – Camden (5), Benjamin (4), and Addison(2) and has written for various popular publications such as Disney owned Babble.com, as well as the Online Woman’s Magazine The Broad Side where she is also the managing editor, and her own website Danielle Elwood Dot Com, which is a parenting based Mom blog.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

ARC Review….Unlocked by Maya Cross

Unlocked releases TOMORROW!

Book links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads

Synopsis:

Who is Sebastian Lock?

The heart can lead you to dangerous places. Abandoned by the man she loves, with nothing more than sweet riddles for an explanation, Sophia Pearce felt like her life was crumbling before her eyes. And then they came for her. Now, things will never be the same.

Confronted with the truth about Sebastian’s identity, she’s thrust into a high stakes world beyond anything she could have imagined. A world that threatens much more than just her feelings. Sebastian’s enemies will stop at nothing to get what they want, and they want her.

Their passion for one another consumes them, but as danger mounts, and loyalties are tested, Sophia must answer one simple question. What is she willing to risk for love?

My review:

Unlocked is the final book in The Alpha Group series by Maya Cross and picks up where the second book in the series left off…..which was quite the cliffhanger. Well, let me say, the action and suspense in this third installment was the perfect ending to this intense trilogy!

After the devastating breakup with Sebastian and the loss of her career, Sophia was trying to figure out what to do next. Those plans were interrupted when she finds herself being kept hostage after being kidnapped from her home. What could anyone possibly want from her? Clearly this has to do with Sebastian and the secret life he was trying to save her from. Does he know he has put her right in the middle of danger? Will he come to her rescue?

Sebastian will never forgive himself for getting his former love killed all those years ago. Even though no one has ever blamed him for Liv’s death, he knows his life in the Alpha Group had to be somewhat responsible. Now, getting the information that Sophia has been kidnapped, he refuses to let history repeat itself and will do whatever it takes to get Sophia back safe. But the question is, will he be able to keep himself at a distance once he gets her back? He must keep her safe, and if that means staying away as he had originally planned when he broke up with her, then that’s what he must do….no matter how much it breaks his heart.

Sophia and Sebastian have more to overcome than either of them realize. After getting Sophia back, and trying to keep her safe, they realize there’s no way they can deny what’s between them, and with a little faith and trust, they give their relationship another go. Soon enough, they are thrust into more danger than ever before and it’s soon apparent that they only have each other to rely on. Sebastian isn’t sure whom he can trust in the Alpha Group anymore. With threats mounting against them and very little leads to go on, it’s clear they must go off the grid and try to solve who is behind the mess they are living.

Whew! This was the most intense, action packed story out of the series and I adored it! It kept me on the edge of my seat the entire read and more than once I went into a nail biting frenzy. We finally get to learn what the Alpha Group is all about and what Sebastian’s role is and it’s clear there are some heavy hitters in this group. It’s pretty powerful and not something to be messed with. Unfortunately, the threats seem to be coming from an insider. The journey Sophia and Sebastian have to travel on to get to the bottom of things is INTENSE! The twists and turns were fantastic and holy hell…..the ending was a twist I never in a million years saw coming! Way to go, Maya! As always, Sophia is one kick ass heroine and she really showed just how strong she is in Unlocked. What a gal! I feel like we were able to see a more vulnerable and a softer side to Sebastian, and it was a really nice change of pace and just added to the charm of his whole yummy package. Oh, and speaking of yummy, even with their lives on the line, there were plenty of hot and sexy scenes. Maya does sexy so well! One of my favorite things about Unlocked was the dual POV. It was a real treat to get into Sebastian’s head.

Overall, I am so happy with the way Maya wrapped up this series. We got all the answers we have been waiting for with a whole lot of juicy suspense and action! I loved it and I’m sure all of you Maya Cross fans will too. Thank you, Maya, for a fantastic end to a fantastic series!

Four Loves

About the author:

Maya Cross is a writer who enjoys making people blush. Growing up with a mother who worked in a book store, she read a lot from a very young age, and soon enough picked up a pen of her own. She’s tried her hands at a whole variety of genres including horror, science fiction, and fantasy, but funnily enough, it was the sexy stuff that stuck. She has now started this pen name as an outlet for her spicier thoughts (they were starting to overflow). She likes her heroes strong but mysterious, her encounters sizzling, and her characters true to life.

She believes in writing familiar narratives told with a twist, so most of her stories will feel comfortable, but hopefully a little unique. Whatever genre she’s writing, finding a fascinating concept is the first, and most important step.

The Alpha Group is her first attempt at erotic romance.

When she’s not writing, she’s playing tennis, trawling her home town of Sydney for new inspiration, and drinking too much coffee.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

ARC Review….Losing Control by Nina Croft

Book links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads

Synopsis:

Four years after escaping her abusive ex-husband, Kim finally believes she’s in control of her life and her emotions and she’s determined to never risk either again with a man. She has a great home, a job as a security specialist which she loves, and Jake for a best friend. But things are a tad lonely in the sex department, so she decides to embark on a no-strings-affair with one of her hot co-workers. And who better to help her remember how to lure a man then her best friend?

Jake has wanted Kim from the moment he first saw her, but for four years ago, she was too young and too damaged. So he kept her close and he kept her safe, offering her a job in his security company and the training to feel safe again, and he bided his time. But now, after the long wait, if she imagines he’s going to stand by while she seduces some other guy…

Never going to happen.

My review:

Losing Control is part of Nina Croft’s Babysitting a Billionaire Series and the first of her work that I have read and I’m thrilled to have come across this story. What a hot, sexy, enjoyable read!

Finally, Kim feels like her life is on the right track. She had the strength to put her abusive ex-husband in her past four years ago and has been moving forward since then. Having a dream job in her best friend, Jake’s, security company as a security specialist has given her the confidence and skill to make sure she never repeats the mistake she made when she was young and vulnerable. Now she’s on a new mission….hot sex. She’s been so focused on not needing a man that she’s now painfully aware that she hasn’t had one in a really long time. Luckily she works with some prime pieces of beefcake and she’s certain one of them will be more than willing to help her scratch her itch.

Jake has been watching over Kim since she started working for him four years earlier, and while he’s been watching over her, he’s watched himself fall head-over-heels in love with her. He knows she’s had a really rough past and that her ex-husband really did a number on her and has all but ruined her outlook on love. He’s hoping that he can be the one to show her that not all guys are abusive and love really is a great gift. He’s been waiting patiently for the right time to start showing his affections….but as soon as he realizes she’s becoming a little too flirty with the new hire, he knows he’s gonna have to speed up the process. There’s no way any other guy is going to Kim. She’s been his since he laid eyes on her….she just doesn’t know it yet.

Jake certainly has his work cut out for him when it comes to Kim, and even though he’s pretty much convinced her that he is the perfect guy to scratch her itch, sex and love are two completely different things. Will he have what it takes to break down her defenses?

Yum, this was one delicious story! Kim is a kick-ass gal and she really has had a rough past. I really admired her determination to move past that crappy hand she had been dealt. She really had a lot to overcome emotionally and I was worried she wouldn’t be able to. Jake is the ultimate good guy. He understands Kim and her situation and is willing to do whatever it takes to win her heart. He is deliciously sexy with sex appeal to spare but knows when to tone it down for Kim’s sake. On the flip side, he turns it on hardcore when he knows Kim is ready. Man, there were some smexy scenes in this book! Jake is equally sweet and caring which really rounded him out well. The ending was totally perfect and I let out a happy “awwww”!

If you’re looking for an easy-to-get-into-and-get-lost-in kind of story, this is definitely a book that should be on your list! Thank you, Nina, for a sexy and sweet read!

Four Loves

About the author:

I grew up in the north of England, and after training as an accountant, I spent four years working as a volunteer in Zambia which left me with a love of the sun and a dislike of 9-5 work. I then spent a number of years mixing travel (whenever possible) with work (whenever necessary) but have now settled down to a life of writing and picking almonds.

I share the farm with my husband, four dogs, three cats, a horse, two goats, a three-legged Vietnamese pot-bellied pig, and a handful of chickens. It’s a perfect place to indulge my two great passions, reading and writing.

I write lots of different things, but mainly paranormal and science-fiction, usually with a strong element of romance.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Read-Love-Blog’s Cowboy Summer…..A special double feature today of two Lorelei James stories reviewed by Selene

Read-Love-Blog’s Cowboy Summer continues with Selene’s review of Strong, Silent Type from the Wild Ride Anthology and Shoulda Been A Cowboy by Lorelei James

Book links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads

Synopsis:

…Tough. Taciturn. And a fool for letting her go…

Wyoming rancher Quinn McKay thought he’d only have to bide time until his levelheaded wife came to her senses and called a halt to this “trial separation”. He never believed the marital rough patch would drag on for a coon’s age.

Libby McKay knew when she married the gruff, laid-back cowboy that he wasn’t prone to blathering about his feelings. But three months have passed and her stubborn-as-a-mule husband is still living by himself in the horse trailer. It seems he’d rather hold onto his pride than hold onto her.

Quinn realizes Libby is determined to move on if he doesn’t loosen his tongue and he’ll lose the only woman he’s ever loved. In a last-ditch effort to keep her in his life, he offers her one weekend of uninterrupted sexual decadence.

Reigniting the passion is easy. The hard part comes after the sheets have cooled and they find out if what remains is strong enough to survive past mistakes.

Selene’s Review:

This is easily one of my favorite short stories I’ve read in a long while. Author Lorelei James knows two things for certain: characterization and writing really great sex!

Quinn and Libby are a couple whose marriage is definitely on the rocks. After being separated for a few months, his stubbornness and her [somewhat innocent] manipulation of their situation have more than backfired on both of them…

…but equal parts of talking and… er… screwing it out, ends up saving their relationship.

It was refreshing to see James write about an already established couple going through a rough patch. For me, it’s especially romantic to see characters already accustomed to each other and having been together for years bring something new to the table.

And I mustn’t leave out mention of the super sexy massage scene and following steamy sex. Yowza!!!

Four-and-a-Half Loves

Book links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads

Synopsis:

…The bigger they are, the harder they fall—in love…

Soldier Cameron McKay has found his niche, and it ain’t ropin’ steers and wearin’ spurs. His deputy sheriff job, plus battle injuries that ended his military career, keep him right where he wants to be: Off the ranch and away from his family’s pity. His darkest war memories are on lockdown, leaving him skeptical he’ll ever find a woman who wants a man who’s less than whole.

Domini Katzinski has had to control every aspect of her life since age eleven, when she was orphaned in the Ukraine. Watching others’ relationships crumble has convinced her to focus on the short-term and find a take-charge man to whom she can relinquish total sexual control. Cam fits the bill: gorgeous, with a brooding vulnerability no one else seems to see. Plus, he has his own handcuffs.

Once Cam gets over his surprise that sweet, shy Domini wants to be dominated, he is back to issuing orders. Their passion is as hot as a rocket-propelled grenade—and if Domini has her way, it’s a one-shot deal. Cam wants more, and launches a full-out sensual assault…until tragedy strikes, forcing him to change tactics as he tries to keep past demons from blowing their future together all to hell…

Selene’s Review:

If ever there was a McKay man that you would want to tell you exactly what to do, what to say (and when to remain silent), how to UNdress, and when to *ahem* put your hands behind your back… Cam McKay is the obvious choice.

Probably the biggest of the McKay men, Cameron is a presence that jumps off the page and straight into your panties! But not only is this former military man and current police officer downright scrumptious in and out of uniform – his story will pull at all of your heartstrings like no other.

Domini, like Cam, has a sad history and Lorelei James tells it very well. The two complement each other so completely and by the end of the story, their tragic past, as well as the current tragedies in their lives, had me absolutely jumping out of my seat to cheer them on. With Cam’s self-loathing about his war injury, Domini is the perfect remedy for his reluctance to get close to another as she understands exactly what it’s like to have a big piece missing.

The love scenes between the two were both hot and sweet, like the characters themselves. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to any mention of them in the future as they hold a special place in my heart hereafter.

Four 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.

ARC Review….To The Limit by Jo Leigh

Book links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads

Synopsis:

Subject: Captain Sam “Jaws” Brody

Mission: Test his limits…and push hers!

Air force pilot Sam Brody’s posting at Holloman AFB is a new start…and a brutal reminder that he’ll never fly again. The bright side? It’s the same town as teacher (and widow) Emma Lockwood—the woman he’s always had a major thing for. The woman who married his best friend….

For years, Emma ignored the spark between her and Sam. Now that he’s in town, the spark has turned into full-on electrical overload! She tells herself to stay grounded. She doesn’t want another hotshot flyboy, no matter how sexy. But with every night of wicked passion with Sam, she finds herself closer to the point of no return….

Uniformly Hot! The Few. The Proud. The Sexy as Hell.

My review:

To The Limit is part of the Uniformly Hot Series and the first book of Jo Leigh’s that I have read and I was hooked after just reading the summary….I mean, really, who doesn’t love a sexy fighter pilot?

Even though Sam Brody has had a year to get used to the idea that he’ll be in the classroom rather then a cockpit, it still isn’t getting any easier to swallow. Now, it seems the only bright spot is that his assignment takes him to the same town that Emma hopefully still lives in. Emma had married his best friend but that didn’t stop him from loving her from afar since they all met years ago while the guys had been in flight school. However, after his best friend Danny died in a tragic accident, she had asked for space and he hadn’t seen her in almost three years. Faced with an uncertain future, he is hoping she can be the friend he desperately needs…and secretly he hopes for more.

Emma Lockwood, widowed three years earlier, has made a life for her here in Alamogordo, NM, and is content teaching and volunteering…well, as content as one can be as a young widow. Sure, she knew the risks marrying a fighter pilot, but she really never thought her late husband was anything but invincible. She missed him, and the life she had with him and his brother-like best friends and thought of them all from time to time but knew they had respected her wishes for space after the funeral. That was three years ago. Imagine her surprise when she gets a call from Sam, completely out of the blue, and learns he’s moved here and wants to know if they can meet. She’s kept hidden the attraction she’s always felt for Sam, but now? Now there wouldn’t be anything to keep her from exploring it…but that would never happen. She couldn’t allow it. Besides, Sam only thought of her as his best friend’s widow…..little did she know that was so far from the truth.

Together, the obstacles they face are great and many. Not only does seeing one another open old, unhealed wounds, but the attraction they feel is undeniable. The emotions that come with that attraction are almost crippling at times…the guilt, uncertainty and fear of history repeating itself. Will they be able to put their past behind them and learn to live with the chance they’ve been given?

This story was so emotionally charged from the first pages and was amazing. I loved every second of it. Sam, while being a modern day warrior fighter pilot has one of the biggest hearts and his not being able to fly hurt in a way that was tangible. He is loyal and kind and thought so much of the feelings of others before himself…I lost count of how many times I said “oh, Sam” with a pout while reading. I adore him! Emma is equally big hearted and a great match for Sam. I loved her strength and willingness to take a chance. Their story is one that was told beautifully…especially the last two chapters. I was literally biting my nails! No spoilers from me but I promise you, you will love how it ends just as much as I did!

Thank you, Jo, for giving us Sam and Emma’s story!

Four Loves

About the author:

Award winning author and screenwriter Jo Leigh began her career in 1975 as a reader in the Comedy Development department for 20th-Century Fox. She left Fox in 1977 to go on location with THE DEER HUNTER. She then worked as an auditor, associate producer and producer on such projects as WHEN SHE SAYS NO for CBS, BEULAH LAND for NBC, GREAT AMERICAN TRAFFIC JAM for NBC and CLAN OF THE CAVE BEAR for Jozak Productions. In 1987 she became head of development for the McCarran Film Corp., overseeing a roster of twelve feature films.

As a screen writer, she’s had a series idea purchased by Cinemax, and has worked as a script consultant on more than 50 screenplays. Currently, her screenplay APACHE TEARS was optioned by Northern Lights Productions in Canada.

Ms. Leigh also teaches writing at workshops across the country and on-line, and is a frequent guest speaker at writing conferences. Her tape on Advanced Plotting from the Dallas Romance Writers of America conference is the best selling tape in RWA’s history.

Her first Silhouette novel, SUSPECT, was awarded BEST FIRST SERIES BOOK by Romantic Times Magazine, garnered the 1994 ROMANCE WRITER OF THE YEAR award from Pike’s Peak RWA, and was a finalist for BEST ROMANTIC SUSPENSE NOVEL OF 1994 by Romance Writers of America.

Her first Temptation novel, ONE WICKED NIGHT was a finalist for BEST SHORT CONTEMPORARY NOVEL OF 1998 by Romance Writers of America.

Jo was invited to write one of the launch books for the Harlequin imprint, Blaze, with her book GOING FOR IT!

Her 2006 Blaze RELENTLESS was a RITA finalist for BEST ROMANTIC SUSPENSE.
She also ghost-wrote GREAT BIG BEAUTIFUL DOLL – THE ANNA NICOLE SMITH STORY for Barricade Books.

Jo lives in an incredibly rural area of Utah where her many rescue dogs have room to run and play and her rescue cats are determined to win the International Shedding Award. She spends an inordinate amount of time reading about how the brain works, listening to music and trying not to kill the basil.

Website ~ Goodreads ~ Twitter

ARC Review….Dear Adam by Ava Zavora

Dear Adam releases September 16

Book links:

Goodreads

Synopsis:

“You’re the more real to me than any man I’ve ever known … ”

To book blogger Eden, Adam is the embodiment of every literary fantasy she’s ever had. Intelligent, wickedly funny, sexy, and attentive – he and his fascinating life seem right out of a novel. Their whirlwind relationship is so intense and all consuming that soon she can’t imagine being with anyone else.

But there’s one little thing that’s keeping Adam and Eden from their happily ever after.

They’ve never met. She doesn’t even know what he looks like.

Despite how hard she’s fallen for him and how he makes her feel, Eden’s doubts begin to threaten their passionate love affair. Why is he so mysterious? Why does he seem reluctant to meet her? What is Adam hiding?

Afraid that she’s being made a fool of, Eden is forced to choose between her heart and her head. Is Adam too good to be true, as her common sense is telling her, or is the truth more startling than fiction?

My review:

Dear Adam is the second work of author Ava Zavora’s that I have read and I’m really, really hoping that I can adequately convey how much I adored this book in my review…..here goes nothing!

A thirty-something single mom, Eden has taken her love and comfort in books to the blogging world and for the past three years, it has been her happy place. She’s tried the relationship route, but the thought of spending time with a good book usually beat out any of her dating prospects. And that was enough for her. Until she starts chatting with Adam. Not one to be very chatty in on-line forums, Eden is surprised with herself when she finds the friendly banter between her new on-line friend, Adam, something she increasingly looks forward to. Before she realizes it, they have formed quite a meaningful relationship…even if they haven’t actually met in person. After months of phone calls, emails and messaging, Eden and Adam seem to be a perfect match in every way possible. Their interests and personalities just click, and even with opposing views on some issues, they still have a special and undeniable connection. Or do they? As open as Eden eventually becomes, Adam is equally secretive at times and she starts to wonder if he really is who he says he is. Will Adam ever truly open up to Eden and let her see all of him? Will Eden wait around long enough to find out?

So, I read a lot of books. Most of the stories I read are somewhat similar, which is fantastic and keeps me happy and my library full. Then, every so often, a book comes out that is completely unlike anything I have ever read and keeps me in my seat, e-reader in hand, for hours, from start to finish….Dear Adam is one of those books. I’m not sure exactly what I loved most. Maybe it was that in the digital age, and the heroine being a book blogger like myself, it was easy to relate to? I understand her reluctance to reveal too much about herself but understand how it’s equally as easy to fall into fun, lively conversation and friendship on-line. Maybe it was that this book was written so differently in that we read much of Eden and Adam’s email interactions and we got to see the relationship blossom from innocent chatting to something much deeper? Maybe it was the way Ava had me going back and forth the entire time between being afraid Adam wasn’t real, the suspicions that came and went about him and the desperate hopes I had for Eden that he was real and she get her happy ending. Perhaps it was the entire package. I can’t exactly put my finger on just one thing that I loved about this book….I simply loved it all! I will tell you one part I can say I loved a tad bit more than the others though. The epilogue. Completely surprising and not at all what I had expected but so amazingly perfect….I think I have lost count as to how many times I have re-read the epilogue. Five? Ten? Who knows, honestly. The epilogue was like the fluffy, sweet icing on the deliciously decadent cake otherwise known as the book Dear Adam…..deliciously perfect.

I hope that if you’ve gotten one thing from this review, it’s how much I am imploring you to read this book. It’s different and smart and entertaining and adventurous and relatable and well written and romantic and so truly refreshing and amazing. People, this book will NOT disappoint!

Ava, thank you for bringing us Dear Adam and for bringing me on an emotional, sweaty palmed (those last few chapters had me a nervous wreck!) journey with some awesome sigh worthy moments. Such a treat!

Five Loves

About the author:

“In my childhood, I used to ride water buffaloes and wade in swamps. When I discovered books, I would go adventuring with Anne of Green Gables, the Pevensies, Bilbo Baggins, or Alanna of Trebond. I incurred my mother’s displeasure for reading too many romance novels, so I learned to hide them and read underneath covers with a flashlight late at night. Nowadays, I travel and write dark fairy tales and romantic novels about adventurous women. And I still stay up too late reading, even though I don’t get in trouble for it anymore.”

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Review….Facade by Nyrae Dawn

Genre: New Adult

304 pages

Book links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads

Synopsis:

Can love save them?

After her father commits a crime that shatters her family, eighteen-year-old Delaney Cross is tired of pretending everything is all right. Packing up her car, she sets out to find the people her father hurt. Her search leads her to places she’s never been—and into the arms of Adrian Westfall.

To the outside world, Adrian is a sexy, charming ladies’ man. But his playboy persona is just an act. Secretly his soul is tortured by a memory too painful to share. Only Delaney seems to see through his façade to the real man underneath. And for the first time in his life, Adrian feels he can begin to open up about his past.

Together, Adrian and Delaney share a passionate love they never expected to find. Yet both still harbor their own secrets. When the dark truth is finally revealed, will it bring them closer together—or tear them apart forever?

My review:

Façade is the second book in author Nyrae Dawn’s Games Series and the first of her work that I have read. Two things: first, I am happy to say that you don’t have to read the first in the series to enjoy this amazing book and second, what a positively remarkable and emotional story this was!

Delany had been living a pretty decent and normal childhood. Older football player brother, working dad, stay-at-home mom….your typical all-American family. Until her father has a horrific accident and ruins their picture perfect life. Well, if she’s being honest, the cracks in their foundation were starting to show even before the accident. Always one to want to fix things, Delany sets off with her brother to attempt to reach out to the other family that was affected by the terrible tragedy. She’s hoping that maybe she can help the healing process not only for her, but also for Adrian…the handsome, brokenhearted parallel victim.

Adrian Westfall never really had it very good. His father was an abusive bastard and his mother a battered wife. The only bright spots in his life were his sister and Ash. Now that he doesn’t even have those two bright spots in his life, he has learned to master the façade that now carries himself through his lonely and depressed days. His poetry and his writing have been the only things helping him keep a loose grasp on his sanity. Some days the sadness threatens to swallow him whole. Then, he meets Delany and thinks there may be something in her that can relate to him…he has no idea how right he is.

The secrets and unimaginable hurt that ties Delaney and Adrian together will prove to be a tie that binds and also the bond that can tear them apart. They are instantly drawn to one another and find solace in each other’s company and what starts out as an innocent attempt at healing turns into something so much more. Will they find happiness again? Can they truly ever heal?

If you could see my right at this moment, you would see that my eyes are still puffy and swollen from finishing this book last night. Partly because I couldn’t put it down and read late into the night but mainly because I was a sobbing, blubbering mess by the time I was done. This book was intense and emotional and broke my heart more than once…..but you know I don’t think of that as a bad thing! Adrian and Delaney’s story is painful and beautiful and ran through some pretty intense emotions. Grief, betrayal, guilt, overwhelming sadness….but also love and strength. The connection they share is a heartbreaking one and they truly need each other to start the healing process and attempt to find happiness in life again, even if Adrian isn’t as knowing as Delaney is in the situation. Delany is strong and determined with an innocence she still is able to hold on to despite the terrible hand dealt to her. She knows she can’t change the past and what happened but she is willing to try to bring some peace to Adrian and help him heal. Adrian is a broken soul. The accident left him completely ruined emotionally and no matter how he’d like his life to be different, he can’t change what has happened and that has made him who he is today. He tries hard to keep up a cool appearance and act as though he’s into his partying and sex filled social status, but it couldn’t be further from the truth. The road Delany and Adrian travel down is absolutely gut wrenching but also extremely necessary in healing. I have to mention there was a twist near the end that I didn’t see coming….and it made the story even more emotional than it already had been, which I didn’t think was possible. THAT was what turned my sad sniffles into an all out ugly cry. But remember, I don’t think of that as a bad thing (my family may disagree since I looked like hell the next day, but pffft to them!).

Emotionally stunning is how I would best describe this book. I was drained when I finished but happy with how the book ended…I say book, because I know Delany and Adrian’s story will continue on even when we aren’t reading it.

Four-and-a-Half Loves

About the author:

Writing has always been Nyrae Dawn’s passion. There have been times in her life where she wasn’t able to chase that dream the way she desired, but she always found her way back to telling stories.

One of her loves has always been writing about teens. There’s something so fresh and fun about the age that she loves exploring. Her husband says it’s because she doesn’t want to grow up. She doesn’t think that’s such a bad thing and luckily for her, he doesn’t either.

Nyrae gravitates toward character-driven stories. She loves going on emotional journeys with characters whether it be reading or writing. And yes, she’s a total romantic at heart and proud.

Nyrae resides in sunny Southern California with her husband (who still makes her swoon) and her two awesome kids.

When she’s not with her family, you can be pretty sure you’ll find her with a book in her hand or her laptop and an open document in front of her.

She writes for Entangled Publishing, Grand Central Publishing and is self-published.

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ARC Review….Outside the Lines by Kimberly Kincaid

Outside the Lines releases TODAY!

Book links:

Amazon ~ Goodreads

Synopsis:

As an ivy-league ER doctor who eats double shifts for breakfast (and lunch…and dinner), Blake Fisher has little appetite for anything other than work. Being on the staff at Brenstville Hospital means taking care of people, a need Blake understands all too well from losing his brother to cystic fibrosis eight years ago. When he’s asked to coordinate a carnival fundraiser for the cause, he jumps at the chance to help others with the disease…until it lands him side by side with the one woman he never thought he’d see again: his ex-fiancée.

Streetwise and rough around the edges, Jules Shaw is no stranger to earning a living through hard work. But when her job as the restaurant manager of Mac’s Diner puts her shoulder to really broad shoulder with Blake Fisher, she nearly balks. She’d rather dodge and deflect than admit the real reason she broke things off, but the catering contract for the carnival means big business for Mac’s, and feeding people is Jules’s lifeblood.

As Blake and Jules join reluctant forces, they quickly rediscover the spark between them. But the possibility of a future together hinges on coming clean about the past, with potentially devastating consequences. Can Blake and Jules overcome their drastically different backgrounds and learn to love again, or will they always be outside the lines?

My Review:

Outside the Lines is the newest piece from Kimberly Kincaid and follows her novella, Drawing the Line, a story I really enjoyed. Well, Kimberly has worked her magic again! Outside the Lines was wonderful!

Jules Shaw, the manager at Mac’s Diner, has faced her share of hardships in her past and is finally feeling like she’s overcome them. She feels at home running the restaurant and feels like she’s doing some good in the world making and feeding people with foods she loves. So, you’d think she knows her way around the kitchen but when she burns her arm and heads to the hospital the last person she expects to have treat her wound is the ex-fiancé she left behind eight years ago. Adding insult to injury, after being treated and thinking she could outrun her past again, she finds out she will be working with the good doctor for a charity event she has busted her chops to land the catering contract for. The fates really do have it in for her, it seems.

Blake Fisher must have worked entirely too many shifts in a row…because surely his eyes are playing tricks on him. The woman who took his heart with her when she left him eight years earlier cannot be sitting in his ER. He never would have thought he’d run into her when he moved away from the city and back to his roots and this hospital. But sure enough, here she is, and his reaction to her is exactly as strong as it was back then. Can he be lucky enough to have a second chance with the beautiful, strong and talented woman he hasn’t been able to get out of his mind for all this time?

Will Blake and Jules find out what went wrong and what caused her to leave him with nothing more than a Dear John letter? Having to work together for the next six weeks planning the hospital’s annual charity event will give them plenty of time spent in each other’s company….and will make it damn hard to ignore the spark that still lingers between them.

Well, let me say that for just 109 pages, this novella packs a punch! I sat down to start this, and before I knew it, I had ignored a whole afternoon worth of responsibility because I was so into this story. Jules is a gal I really enjoyed. She’s overcome many obstacles and never forgot where she came from. She is always baking or cooking and making sure the people she cares for have what they need. Blake is just as enjoyable. He’s an honest to goodness, all around good guy wrapped in a handsome package. He’s got a great big heart that shows when he’s caring for his patients and when he’s with Jules. Together, their relationship is just very honest to me. They realize their attraction and are simply two people trying to figure out how to make it work. What I liked best about this novella was that there had been a history between the characters before the story picked up, which made the story really easy to get in to, and a pleasure to read. The back-story and current situations both were balanced out really well and I didn’t feel I was missing anything or that I was getting too much of somthing. I imagine that’s hard to do with a shorter story, but Kimberly does is flawlessly here!

Thank you, Kimberly, for another delicious read! I cannot wait to see what treats she has in store for us in the future (…and I’m hoping it involves a sexy fireman named Aaron!)

Five Loves

About the author:

Kimberly Kincaid writes contemporary romance that splits the difference between sexy and sweet. When she’s not sitting cross-legged in an ancient desk chair known as “The Pleather Bomber”, she can be found practicing obscene amounts of yoga, whipping up anything from enchiladas to éclairs in her kitchen, or curled up with her nose in a book. Kimberly is a 2011 RWA Golden Heart® finalist who lives (and writes!) by the mantra that food is love. Kimberly resides in northern Virginia with her wildly patient husband and their three daughters.

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ARC Review….Play Me by Diane Alberts

Play Me releases July 29

Book links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads

Synopsis:

Even the best-laid plans can go awry.

Single-mom Kiersten Worth knows a bottle of champagne and night of hot, no-strings-attached sex is the perfect solution to her jilted bride blues…and Garrett Kelly, long-time friend and her teenaged son’s sexy basketball coach, is just the stud for the job.

Garrett wants more from the elusive temptress than a casual affair, but he never expects it to come in the form of an unexpected pregnancy. When he proposes an unorthodox solution—move in and raise their baby together—Kiersten has to decide whether to let down her guard and open her heart to the man who secretly loved her for years, or risk losing his tender embrace for good.

My review:

Play Me is the third story in the Take a Chance Series by Diane Alberts. I have read, and enjoyed, the first two and was really looking forward to this story after just looking at the cover. Well, Diane has done it again…..this story rocked!

Kiersten Worth was not supposed to be spending this day alone. It was supposed to be her wedding day, but thanks to a cheating fiancé, there will be no wedding bells for her. Luckily, she has been spending time with Garrett, a childhood friend of her and her brother and her son’s basketball coach. She’s looking forward to seeing him tonight for one of their casual chill-on-the-couch-with-a-movie nights when she decides to hatch a plan to get her ex out of her head, even if just for one night. She knows Garrett has had a crush on her for years and tonight she plans on taking advantage of that. Yep, hot and sexy Garrett is just the man to get the job done. After her itch is scratched, surely they will be able to go back to their carefree relationship as friends….until the unexpected happens.

Garrett has watched Kiersten from across the gym floor at basketball games and dreamed of what it would be like to have more with her….more than just a close friend. But he knows that’s just a fantasy. He’s best friends with her brother and her son’s basketball coach and that’s all he will ever be to her. Imagine his surprise when he heads to her house for a typical night in and gets way more than what he’s ever imagined.

Here’s the thing with those friendly hook-ups….most of the time they just don’t work. The awkwardness that follows can ruin the best of friendships and it just may ruin Garrett and Kiersten’s. Fate won’t let that happen though and when Kiersten finds out she’s pregnant, Garrett comes up with a plan to make things work for all of them…..hopefully.

What a great read this was. High emotion and intense at times but with such caring and love interspersed throughout it gave the story great balance. Kiersten has been hurt and just can’t shake it. I can’t blame her, really. She doesn’t want to want Garrett and tries to push him away at every turn because she thinks it’s the best way to keep what’s left of her heart safe. Lucky for her Garrett is focused and headstrong and won’t give up without a fight! Damn, I do love me some Garrett! He’s loyal, trustworthy, reliable and damn sexy with a huge heart. He’s not ready to give up on Kiersten or their growing family. They have a rough go of things and have to really work through some major issues. I will admit I wanted to shake Kiersten a few times while reading and tell her to grab Garrett before it’s too late but if you know me, you know I love characters that get me to feel! Oh, and the chemistry between them and their schmexy scenes are positively delicious! I was fanning myself more than a few times…..yum!

If you’re looking for a yummy, heartwarming and entertaining read, I say get Play Me on your to-read list! This is a series I will always look forward to seeing more from. Thank you, Diane, for another fabulous story!

Four Loves

About the author:

Diane Alberts has always been a dreamer with a vivid imagination, but it wasn’t until 2011 that she put her pen where her brain was, and became a published author. Since receiving her first contract offer, she has yet to stop writing. Though she lives in the mountains, she really wishes she was surrounded by a hot, sunny beach with crystal clear water. She lives in Northeast Pennsylvania with her four kids, a husband, a cat, and a Senegal parrot. In the rare moments when she’s not writing, she can usually be found hunched over one knitting project or another.

She is a multi-published, bestselling author with Entangled Publishing, Swoon Romance, and Decadent Publishing. She has, as of this date, four books with Entangled Publishing, one book with Swoon Romance, and five older books with Decadent Publishing. Her February release with Entangled Publishing, ON ONE CONDITION, hit #18 on the Barnes and Noble Bestseller List, and TRY ME hit #76 on Amazon. Her Swoon Romance novella, CAPTIVATED BY YOU, hit #31 on the Barnes and Noble bestseller list. Her goal is to write so many fantastic books that even a non-romance book fan will know her name. Diane is represented by Louise Fury from the L. Perkins Agency.

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