New Reviews – Page 131 – Read-Love-Blog

ARC Review…Famously Engaged by Robyn Thomas

Famously Engaged releases May 13

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Synopsis:

Rock star royalty’s favorite son, Jake Olsen, couldn’t help but interfere after listening to his future brother-in-law talk non-stop about his ex-wife, Beth Carlisle. Jake decides that the only way to get the groom’s mind off his ex-wife is to give her a fake fiancé.

Before Jake can convince Beth of his plan, he’s forced to move in with her to avoid the paparazzi. Their instant attraction makes for a sizzling “first date”, but soon Jake’s fame gets in the way and Beth wants out. Too bad Jake’s figured out just why her ex is so obsessed with her, and he’s afraid he’s not going to be able to give her up either.

Now it’s up to Jake to convince this chef together they make the perfect recipe.

Review:

This is the first work from Robyn Thomas that I have read and was honored to have received a copy of Famously Engaged from the publisher asking for an honest review. I am happy to say that it was a really enjoyable story!

Beth Carlisle is in one hell of an emotional rut after the recent death of her mother and is alone with her memories in her mother’s home and in desperate need of a hand to hold to help her through this awful time. Sure, she has her best friend…but he also happens to be her ex-husband and he is currently planning his wedding and surely doesn’t need to be here with her, drowning alongside her in her sorrows. What she needs is a distraction to keep the sadness at bay….what bigger distraction then a gorgeous rock star showing up on your door step explaining that he’s your new fiancé? Yep, that’ll do it!

Jake Olsen has had enough of hearing his sister’s soon-to-be-husband, Brad, talk incessantly about his ex-wife and is convinced Brad is still in love with her. He will not allow his sister to marry a man who can’t get an ex-wife out of his life. Sure, they say it’s just because they are best friends and as close as family, even after the divorce. But Jake can’t shake that something isn’t right and after seeing pictures of the ex-wife, and seeing how beautiful she is, he will do everything in his power to keep them apart until his sister is married. Enter: the fake fiancé plan.

Together, Jake and Beth are stuck in a hopeless situation thanks to the silly fake fiancé plan and now they are in danger of falling for one another…this could turn out to be anything but fake and everything very real.

This was a cute modern-day Cinderella story that had all the ups and downs of a fairy tale. Jake and Beth are in a ridiculous circumstance together, but it ends up being exactly what they both need. Fate clearly had a plan for these two characters. Beth needs someone to hold her up and give her a reason to keep going now that her beloved mother has passed and Jake, as it turns out, is very good at that role. What I liked best about this story was the way both Jake and Beth ended up filling the voids in one another’s lives even though neither one of them originally set out to do so.

I enjoyed this story and read it in a little over a day…it was a light and interesting read that had a fantastic happily ever after that we love best about fairy tales! Thank you, Robyn, for a great story and thanks to Entangled Publishing for providing me with a copy!

Three-and-a-Half Loves

Review…Lover Undercover by Samanthe Beck

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Lover Undercover COVER

Synopsis:

He’s undercover. She’s in over her head.

Yoga instructor Kylie Roberts is the good twin. Or she was—until an accident prevents her sister from dancing at a posh Hollywood “men’s club,” and Kylie has to step into her twin’s sexy stilettos to make rent. But nothing could’ve prepared Kylie for the dead body in the club’s parking lot, a killer who only targets her clients, or the ridiculously hot detective assigned to the case. Too bad he thinks she’s her sister, because Kylie’s willing to volunteer for an intimate, full-body strip search.

Detective Trevor McCade needs Kylie’s help. His plan is to pose as a regular customer and draw out the killer. It means long nights undercover, and long dances where Kylie’s body tempts him with sensual promises. Dances that leave them both wanting more. But despite Kylie’s hidden identity and the danger lurking in the shadows, it’s only a matter of time before Kylie and Trevor take this undercover operation under the covers…

My Review:

This is the first book of Samanthe Beck that I have read and after finishing, I happily say she has a new fan. This story was delish!

Kylie Roberts has been known as the responsible twin her whole life. Always doing the right thing and always helping the saucy twin, Stacy, out when she was in a jam….even if that means pretending to be that saucy twin. Now, as Kylie finds herself standing on stage at a strip club getting ready to perform (after her saucy stripper sister broke her leg) she’s kind of wondering if is time “helping” her sister out has gone just a tad too far. This is way out of her comfort zone and way opposite of her nice and calm yoga instructor norm. Even worse is when she has to perform for the handsome stranger her gaze has been drawn to since she walked out from behind the curtain.

Trevor McCade can’t say he minds this part of detective work. Take away the fact that he’s trying to track down a cold-blooded killer, and he could actually almost enjoy himself watching the beautiful blonde dancing half-naked on stage in front of him. But he’s not here for a good time. He’s here to pose as a club regular, hopefully luring in, and ultimately catching the person responsible for two murders that took place here in the club parking lot….and he’s going to need the beautiful blonde dancer currently captivating him to help.

Together Trevor and Kylie will have to play parts neither one of them are comfortable with, especially because Trevor doesn’t know Kylie is already playing the part of her sister, Stacy. Catching a killer has never had such high stakes especially when an unexpected attraction, and love, become factors. Will they be able to solve the mystery and make something good come of these twisted roles they are both playing?

Well, I can add this book to my list of books I devoured in 24 hours! I absolutely loved it. From start to finish there wasn’t a dull moment. Between the murder mystery who-done-it and the sexual tension between Kylie and Trevor, I was glued to the pages the moment I opened the book. Trevor is delicious. The sexy and confident detective is done perfectly and he wears it well. He’s soft when it’s needed and delectably hard when the moment requires. Talk about the perfect balance. He is a character I will lust after for quite some time. Kylie, while strong and determined, is equally scared and unsure. She was written very real with real life feelings and worries. I appreciated her strengths and flaws. The chemistry they have together is beyond hot! Dear God…their first hot scene together had me fanning myself and trying not to drool on my e-reader. Total yumminess! Kylie and Trevor are a truly fantastic book couple. I was so pleased with how things turned out for them and the epilogue was freaking AMAZING! I actually “aww”ed out loud and earned more than a few funny looks from the people sitting around me!

If you’re looking for a fun and sexy mystery, then add this to your TBR list….you won’t be disappointed! Thank you, Samanthe, for a drool-worthy and truly enjoyable read! I look forward to reading more of your work!

*a copy of this book was provided by the publisher for an honest review

Four-and-a-Half Loves

About the author:

Beach bum, book junkie, and award winning author of sexy contemporary romances, Samanthe recently signed with Entangled Publishing to write three novels for their Brazen line!

Sam was transfixed from an early age with any tale featuring a handsome prince, a great dress, and, of course, the all-important kiss, and eventually aspired to write her own happily-ever-afters. Naturally, she became a lawyer. The legal world heaved a sigh of relief a few years ago when Samanthe retired from law to take the plunge as a writer.

When not living the glamorous life of a romance author (i.e., chained to her computer), Samanthe keeps busy with the care and feeding of her extremely patient prince-charming of a husband, a not-so-patient ball of energy known as their son, a furry ninja named Kitty, and Bebe, the trash talkin’ Chihuahua. Their love, support, and willingness to eat Pizza Hut three or more times a week enables Samanthe to pursue her literary dreams.

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ARC Review….Midnight Secrets by Ella Grace

Midnight Secrets releases April 30, 2013

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Synopsis:

On a hot southern night, with a storm on the horizon, a family is shattered. Three beautiful daughters—Savannah, Samantha, and Sabrina Wilde—go on with their lives, each significantly changed, as they bear the memory of the murder-suicide that killed their parents. For years, they have stayed away from Midnight, Alabama. Until Midnight calls them home.

Savannah is the first one back, when a grueling case in Nashville leads the young prosecutor to seek shelter in the quiet of the once grand Wilde mansion. But when she finds letters casting doubt on her family’s dark, shameful past, she realizes that peace in Midnight is a shallow façade and sinister secrets lurk beneath the surface. Zach Tanner, once the town’s bad boy, is now the new police chief and still has a wild hold over her. Zach can feel it, too, but he hurt Savannah once. As teenagers, they broke every rule together. Now it’s his job to keep her safe, even though he isn’t sure who her enemies are—or which ones might be his own.

My Review:

This is the first book in the Wildfire Series by Ella Grace. I was lucky to receive this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review and here is my overall opinion: I. Loved. This. Book.

Savannah and her sisters are well-known in their small town of Midnight, Alabama. Not only are they part of the wealthiest family in Midnight and beautiful triplets, but also they are the girls whose parents died when they were 10 of a murder-suicide. Besides their loving grandfather, who has been raising them for the last 8 years, they’ve always had one another. Not many things are as strong as the bond between sisters.

Small-town-bad-boy Zach has awed Savannah since the minute she first laid eyes on him as a young teenager. Now, after literally saving her life at the worst senior prom a gal could have, she decides to act on her attraction. Zach can’t imagine how one of the Wilde sisters could possibly see anything in him. He’s been the town labeled riff-raff since he was a kid. His mother has an even worse reputation than he does. To see Savannah looking at him like he was so much more than the poor kid from the wrong side of the tracks is something he could have never have dreamed of. How had he gotten so lucky? Zach had planned to leave for the military around the same time Savannah was leaving for college and summer fling they have been enjoying ignites a spark in both of their hearts that no amount distance could snuff out. They were determined to make it work. Turns out the distance wouldn’t be the problem for them….it was the broken trust and hidden secrets that would keep them apart for the next ten years. Funny that secrets and broken trust would be the very things that bring them back together years later.

Savannah, back in Midnight dealing with her family’s affairs after her grandfather dies, can’t stop running into the man who shattered her heart when she was 18. Of course Zach would end up as Chief of Police in Midnight. Ironic, really…protecting the citizens of a town who were always quick to put him down. She had shored up her defenses and refused to dwell on what could have been had he kept his promises all those years ago….but those defenses don’t stand a chance when she sees him again.

Zach knew Savannah was coming back to town. Gossip flows like sweet tea in Midnight. He hoped he would have a chance to explain, and apologize, for breaking her heart all those years ago. Turns out he’d not only have the chance to apologize, but he’d also have the chance to save her life…again.

Ok….I said it in the very first paragraph of this looong review, and I’m going to say it again: I. Loved. This. Book! I couldn’t put it down. I wolfed it down in a little over 24 hours. Zach absolutely KILLED me. His childhood story had me bawling and my heart breaking for him. He is truly the epitome of a book hero. The guy with a bad rap who overcomes all obstacles to turn opinions around and show people just how honorable and kind he really is, and always has been. Not to mention, Zach is freaking delectably handsome with a body to drool over! Savannah has lost her way along her personal journey. The young and innocent girl we meet in the beginning had become cold and indifferent. Luckily she was willing to try to get back to her less cynical roots. The chemistry between Zach and Savannah is pure perfection. They are one of my favorite book couples. I think one of the things I liked most was Savannah and Zach’s willingness to admit their faults and try their best to forgive and move forward. They both realized their love wasn’t something to let go of. *dreamy sigh*

Add in a murder conspiracy and mystery to solve and this book was fan-friggin-tastic!

I will be (not-so) patiently waiting to see what the next books in the Wildfire Series holds for us! I am hooked! Thank you Ms. Grace, for giving me one of my new favorite series.

Five Loves

Guest Review….Motorcycle Man by Kristen Ashley

Happy Monday!

Motorcycle Man is a story I just finished and was a recommended to me by a dear friend, and up and coming author, Phoebe Chase. (you can find out more about Phoebe at the bottom of this post)

I loved, loved, loved Motorcycle Man…five loves to be exact! I was so thankful for the recommendation that I asked Phoebe to write a guest review for Read-Love-Blog and she was sweet enough to do so! YAY! So, without further adieu…Phoebe Chase’s review of Motorcycle Man:

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Synopsis:

Stuck in a colorless world, Tyra Masters decides to chuck her old life and starts searching for something. She doesn’t know what it is until she meets her dream man. The goateed, tattooed, muscled, gravelly voiced motorcycle man who plies her with tequila and gives her the best sex of her life. But she knows it isn’t the tequila and sex talking. He’s it. He’s who she’s been daydreaming about since she could remember.

Until he makes it clear she isn’t who he’s looking for.

Tyra slinks away from his bed, humiliated. The problem is, he’s her new boss. She just may or may not have forgotten to tell him that part.

Kane “Tack” Allen has a rule. He doesn’t employ someone he’s slept with. And he lets Tyra know that in his motorcycle man way. Tyra fights for her job and wins it using sass and a technicality. Tack challenges her that if she hits his bed one more time, she loses her job.

Tyra is determined to keep her job and keep away from Tack. But she makes a big mistake. During their head-to-heads, she lets it all hang out and shows Tack she is who he’s looking for. And Tack has had a good woman slip through his fingers, he’s not about to let that happen again.

Although Tack colors Tyra’s world with a vibrancy that’s blinding, being with him means she has to live in his Motorcycle Club world. Full on, no holds barred. And since Tack’s world, not to mention Tack, is a little scary, Tyra isn’t so sure.

It’s Tack’s job to convince her.

Phoebe’s Review:

Motorcycle Man is the last in the Dream Man series by Kristen Ashley but can be read as a standalone. And I suggest you do just that if ridiculously hot bikers and fun, wild stories are your thing.

Ashley takes a rough and tumble biker, Tack, and makes you love him, faults and all. In the first quarter of the story, I wasn’t sure I was going to like this book. Tack was a dick. He bends Tyra’s will to his through scare tactics and intimidation. I was almost ready to give up when the author introduced Tack’s children and a kick ass storyline with the Russian mob. I continued reading and eventually Tack’s faults were shown for what they were: human nature. What turned it around for me was how real this couple felt. Tack says hurtful things when he’s mad; Tyra wants to bail. Tack says something that in his mind is crystal clear; Tyra hears something completely different and internalizes her feelings, keeping Tack in the dark, and keeps trying to bail. Once this pattern was established something struck me – it felt like my life (but on a much less interesting scale, of course.) Communication between men and women is a minefield. And until a couple learns to talk things out and make sure what they’re saying is what the other is hearing, misunderstandings will happen. It was a joy to watch these two get to that place. This is the first book in a long time where I had actual heartache watching them struggle to stay together.

Motorcycle Man sets a blistering pace. If it isn’t crazy hot sex it’s a rollercoaster thrill ride with Russian mobsters and crazy ex-wives and a great cast of supporting characters. You’ll love Aunt Bette!

This was the first book by Ashley that I’ve read, but it won’t be the last.

Five Loves

About Phoebe:

Phoebe Chase sneaks in writing during the daylight hours while wasting away in a cubicle and then again after the sun has set at home, the gecko has been fed, and the children put to bed. She hopes to fight her way out of the cubicle one story at at time.

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email Phoebe: phoebe.chase.writes@gmail.com

ARC Review….Kill Shot by Liliana Hart

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Releases April 30

Synopsis:

Grace Meredith is the CIA’s most deadly assassin. Too bad she’s gone off the grid and become a mercenary for hire. After the death of her daughter by a sniper’s bullet, Grace can no longer stomach the demands of agency life or keep herself from blaming the only man she’s ever loved. Her mind and body are fragile, and she knows she’s just a step away from breaking down completely.

Gabe Brennan hold’s the weight of the world on his shoulders. As one of the most brilliant black ops agents the CIA has ever employed, he knows it’s no one’s fault but his own that his child was gunned down in cold blood. He might not have been able to save his daughter, but he’s determined to save his wife. He only has to find her first.

Sexual tension crackles between Gabe and Grace from the moment they’re reunited, but between the man who is hunting them, a secret that’s been buried for eighty years, and a turbulent past—the odds are stacked against them.

My Review:

Kill Shot is the first in the Collective Series by Liliana Hart and WHOA! Talk about an action packed, hot and heavy suspenseful thriller from start to finish!

Grace Meredith is a gun for hire and trying to put her past far behind her. She had been one of the best assassin’s the CIA had ever seen, but that was her old life. A life she thought was perfect until it all came shattering down with the death of her daughter. Now where there once was joy, is just pain and determination for revenge….revenge against the terrorist that took her happiness away. With her target in her sights she is one step closer to her goal. The last thing she needs is a distraction in the form of a former fellow team member and ex-husband she left behind two years ago along with her shattered past.

Gabe Brennan is a ghost within the CIA. He’s been a black ops agent, and a ruthless one at that, for as long as he can remember. His life has always been about completing missions and he had been happy doing that with his wife by his side. But that was in the past. Now, there’s a gaping hole in his life since his daughter was murdered and wife walked out of his life two years ago. Now, his latest mission is to get Grace back, and act on her thirst for revenge, helping her take down the terrorist scum that took their child’s life. Easier said than done since Grace blames him and his role in the CIA for their daughter’s death. Convincing her to join him on his latest op may turn out to be his toughest mission yet.

Wow. Just wow. This book was amazing. From the very first chapter the personalities of Grace and Gabe were brilliantly developed. Grace is a tough as nails, no-nonsense, kick ass professional but as we got to see, had a softer side that as a woman reader, and mother, could identify with. A talent that Liliana brought to the character that is, in my opinion, difficult to do. Sometimes with a tougher female character, it’s hard to give a good mix of emotion to make her seem real. Grace, I think, represents that perfect balance. Gabe is the ultimate alpha male hero we all love. He is larger than life and can do anything. He also loves his wife, and that right there, is the finishing touch to a great hero! The chemistry between the two alternates between heart breaking and scorching hot. Because of their history, it was easy to jump into the hotter scenes. We bypassed the “meet and fall in love” time frame and it really worked for this story line. Grace and Gabe are a beautifully matched and complimentary couple.

The “mission” in this story is really, really well done. There were so many pieces of the puzzle that each fell into place at the perfect moments throughout the story. I didn’t feel like there were any boring moments! I don’t want to go into too much detail, but I will say if you love twists and turns with a lot of villains and possible outcomes, this is a story for you!

I am truly looking forward to seeing more from this series and from the characters on Grace and Gabe’s team we have been introduced to! Thank you, Liliana, for a wonderfully written, suspense filled, steamy thriller!

Five Loves

Review….Walking Disaster by Jamie McGuire

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Synopsis:

Can you love someone too much?

Travis Maddox learned two things from his mother before she died: Love hard. Fight harder.

In Walking Disaster, the life of Travis is full of fast women, underground gambling, and violence. But just when he thinks he is invincible, Abby Abernathy brings him to his knees.

Every story has two sides. In Beautiful Disaster, Abby had her say. Now it’s time to see the story through Travis’s eyes.

My Review:

Walking Disaster is the follow-up to Jamie McGuire’s Beautiful Disaster and is in essence the same story, but told in Travis’ point of view. To say that I had been looking forward to this book would be a ginormous understatement. Beautiful Disaster is one of my all-time favorite stories and after hearing that Jamie was writing it from Travis’ eyes, I couldn’t wait for Walking Disaster to release….*dreamy sigh* it was everything I had hoped for and more.

If you haven’t read Beautiful Disaster, I suggest you do before reading this book. I don’t think you will truly appreciate the emotional roller coaster if you skip over it and start with this book.

This story was the white knuckled, high emotion, crazy intense read I had hoped it would be coming from Travis. From the very beginning I was completely hooked and was a sobbing mess from the prologue alone. Reading about the gut wrenching experience of Travis losing his mother at such a young age, though a child’s eyes, was truly amazing. It gave the reader such an insight into Travis and how he has become who he is today…intense, all or nothing, fierce and protective. If it was at all possible, this book made me love him even more. I cannot even explain how amazing it was to see the world through Travis’ eyes.

And now, let me get to my absolute FAVORITE part….the freaking epilogue. I have dubbed Jamie the Queen of Epilogues. This was the most amazing epilogue in the history of all epilogues. Ever. To be able to see Travis and Abby later on down the road was a gift I will cherish forever. I think I have probably re-read it twenty times since finishing the book. It was just perfect. Truly perfect.

This book will go on my bookshelf next to Beautiful Disaster and will be a book I will go back to time and again, because Abby and Travis are a book couple I truly adore. I am hoping (and praying and dreaming and begging) for more from Jamie and the Maddox family! Thank you Jamie, for giving us Travis…cause damn, he’s just too freaking amazing!!

Five Loves

Four Days of Marriage to a Billionaire Event….Review: The Marriage Mistake by Jennifer Probst

Today is day three of my Four Days of Marriage to a Billionaire Event and I couldn’t be more excited! On Friday, I have a special guest post from the amazing Jennifer Probst and have a set of paperback copies of her Marriage to a Billionaire Series to give away! Leading up to Friday I will be posting my reviews of the series….did I mention I’m SO EXCITED? Well, enjoy and here’s to a great event!

____________________

Buy from Amazon ~ Buy form Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

Carina Conte has had a crush on her brother Michael’s best friend, Max Gray, since she was a teenager. Now she’s earned her MBA and come to work at Michael’s new venture, America’s fastest-growing bakery empire. But some things never change: her family still treats her like a child. With three drop-dead gorgeous siblings, she’s still the ugly duckling of the bunch. And Max, the company’s new CEO, still barely notices her.

Max knows Carina Conte is strictly off limits. But hot-blooded lust wins out at a conference when the two share a scorching one-night stand—and are busted by her mother! Now, forced by old-world Italian tradition into a marriage he’s not ready for, Max is miserable—and Carina is furious. Her new husband is about to realize that hell hath no fury like a woman transformed…

My Review:

The Marriage Mistake is the third in the Marriage to a Billionaire Series by Jennifer Probst, and stars Carina Conte and Max Gray. I didn’t think I could love a book couple more than I loved Alexa and Nick from the first in the series, but, damn, I was wrong….Max and Carina are a-freaking-mazing!

Carina Conte is in America and has begun her career in the U.S. branch of her family’s baking empire, La Dolce Maggie. She is finally putting years of schooling to work, and is ready to start a new life. She was always known as the emotional one in the family, bursting into tears at the drop of a hat and wearing her heart on her sleeve…especially when it came to her life-long-crush and close family friend, Max Gray. Carina was different now though. Grown up, even-tempered and ready to show the world the woman she had become. A great plan, until her brother, and owner of La Dolce Maggie, Michael, informs her she will be working directly under Max. Talk about putting the new and improved Carina to the test.

Max Gray has always been close with the Conte family and is as happy with the bakery’s success as if he were a Conte himself. After years of planning and tireless work, they were finally ready to take the dessert market by storm. Being an only child, Max was thankful to have Michael and his sisters in his life. So when Michael tells him Carina is to be his assistant, he is happy…until he sees Carina for the first time in three years. He cannot believe this is the same girl who followed him around with a schoolgirl crush that had never faded. This Carina was confident, poised and drop dead gorgeous…and he was in serious trouble of crossing a line that no family friend should dream of crossing.

Yum. Yum. Yum. This book was delicious. Carina is a delightfully saucy gal who has started to unearth her confidence and is using it to her advantage. She is finally seeing herself in a different light and is ready to explore what being a woman is all about. She is spunky but also conflicted in her emotions on wanted so much more and not being 100% comfortable to go out a grab it. She was truly a character who is fascinating to read. Max is a gorgeous, sexy, confident, rich playboy who has dismissed Carina as being a kid for most of his life. I shook my head at how quickly he turned into protector mode when Carina decides to date. Men, ugh. I loved him and wanted to punch him equal amounts throughout this book. Together, they are a fantastic couple….even if it did take them a while to get there! They each have their own emotional issues to deal with before they can realize how perfect they are for each other. I want to say, I loved how the “marriage” part of the title played a part in this book…I was reading and reading and wondering when it was coming and then, BAM!, there it was. This also was my favorite marriage scenario of the series….that Mama Conte always has a trick up her sleeve.

I am hoping to see more of the Conte family in the future…we do have one more sister to get married off after all! Once again, I thank you, Jennifer, for an amazing story with yet another happily ever after!

Five Loves

About the author:

I’ve always wanted to be a writer. At twelve, I took a pen in hand and wrote my first love story. I haven’t stopped since. Those heroines taught me valuable lessons that served me well. I learned to keep my head up high and surge forward when I was afraid; I learned to demand respect in a relationship; I learned about compromise and dreams and independence. Those are the stories I want to write, and I can only hope I give back some of the joy I received over the years.

I live in the beautiful Hudson Valley in upstate New York. I’ve traveled to many places but always seem to be drawn back to the mountains. I graduated with a business degree, worked for Mercy College, and now spend most days dedicated to my family and my characters. I’ve pursued many career paths such as travel agent, yoga teacher and insurance salesperson. I’ve wanted to be an airline pilot, a dancer, an archaeologist, and a vineyard owner. I have been all of the above through romance novels, and intend to explore many more.

One of my turning points in my career was when I joined Romance Writers of America and met the wonderful people in my local chapter, The Hudson Valley RWA. Through supportive critique sessions, I learned how to develop my raw skills to get a publishable manuscript. I discovered my tendency for wordy prologues and passive phrases that all new writers work through, and now try to help others on their journey.

My “leisure time” is spent writing, reading, and raising two active boys. I believe animals are the other children in this world, and enjoy spending time at the local animal shelter, where I got my first “baby” Bella, a shepherd hound mix who gets into as much trouble as my son! I rescued my second dog from an abusive home, a beagle, basset hound who is the peacemaker in the household.

I met the love of my life when I had finally given up on my own romantic journey. The first time he asked me out he promised to buy my book if he could buy me dinner. We had dinner and fell in love over sushi and haven’t been apart since. We married and settled into domestic bliss. That’s when I learned it wasn’t about happy endings. It was about happy beginnings.

Visit her website

Follow Jennifer on Twitter: @jenniferprobst

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Four Days of Marriage to a Billionaire Event….Review: The Marriage Trap by Jennifer Probst

Today is day two of my Four Days of Marriage to a Billionaire Event and I couldn’t be more excited! On Friday, I have a special guest post from the amazing Jennifer Probst and have a set of paperback copies of her Marriage to a Billionaire Series to give away! Leading up to Friday I will be posting my reviews of the series….did I mention I’m SO EXCITED? Well, enjoy and here’s to a great event!

____________________

Buy from Amazon ~ Buy from Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

Italian billionaire seeks faux fiancée. Willing to agree to anything in return…

In order for his sister to marry, Italian billionaire Michael Conte has to find himself a bride – and fast! When he learns that photographer Maggie Ryan is going to be in Milan, Michael hatches a plan to introduce her to his family as his “fiancée.” Never mind that Maggie is confident, independent, and a control freak. Never mind that she’s everything he doesn’t want in a wife… and everything he wants in his bed!

Convinced that Michael is in love with her married gal pal, Maggie agrees to keep up the ruse if he’ll keep away from her friend. Besides, she’s not attracted to charming, ridiculously hot billionaires who drive her nuts. Once they’re in Italy, however, everything changes – and the sexual tension between Maggie and Michael goes from simmer to naked nuclear meltdown!

But have they found the perfect arrangement… or are they trapped in a make-believe marriage?

My Review:

The Marriage Trap is the second installment in Jennifer Probst’s Marriage to a Billionaire Series and a fabulous addition to the series! This book follows Maggie Ryan, Nick Ryan’s sister, and Michael Conte, the sexy and suave Italian businessman and best friend to Alexa Ryan, in a story filled with emotions that kept me on the edge of my seat through most of the book!

Maggie Ryan still doesn’t trust that the Rico Suave-ish Michael Conte isn’t in love with her sister-in-law, Alexa. She sees him at every damn family function these days. Not surprising she has suspicions about Michael seeing as how Maggie grew up with her brother, Nick, in a less-than-normal household where adultery and a lack of love and nurturing were the norms. Even though Michael has repeatedly denied such feelings, she can’t help but remember the disastrous blind date they had gone on a few months back where, at the end of the date, he looked her dead in the eye and told her it could never work. His love for Alexa had to be the reason. Not that she cared. Maggie was never interested in the long-term, where the risk of being hurt was a constant threat in her mind. A threat she will shield her brother and Alexa’s relationship from at any cost. So, when she has an opportunity to do a favor for Michael, and in turn have him in her debt, she knows exactly what to do to keep her family safe…and take Michael out of the picture for good.

Michael Conte can’t believe the mess he’s in now. After a frantic phone call from his one sister in Italy, he is now in the hot seat and being blamed for the reason she can’t marry her long-time love. As if he doesn’t have enough on his plate, with the grand opening of his family’s bakery here in the States, now he has to figure out how to solve this mess. You see, there’s this old tradition that says she can’t marry until he is married. The problem is, he isn’t even close to marrying. So now, with the threat of breaking up his sister’s relationship, he has to find a wife…now. Luckily, after overhearing Maggie Ryan talking about a business trip she has planned to Milan, he has an idea. Convince Maggie to be his fake wife, visit his family together on a little detour from her Milan trip, have them believe he is married, and, VOILA! Problem solved. Only somehow he knows, this is going to end up being anything but easy….especially when Maggie can’t stand him.

This book was emotion packed from the very first chapter and I loved it! Maggie is a tough, sassy, loyal and driven woman who hides a softer side that broke my heart. She is a wounded soul who deep down, just wants to be loved and feel wanted….two things she’s never felt as though she has been. She is a fierce protector of her family, which ironically, makes her so much like Michael. Michael is a fantastic character. He has every quality a gal could ask for. Successful, driven, loyal, fierce and of course, drop dead sexy! The tit-for-tat between Maggie and Michael is done so well! Their chemistry is amazing, even though they both want to deny it, which to me, makes it even better! But my favorite part of the whole book is the ending. Damn, does anyone write more romantic endings than Jennifer? Nope! So far, in each book in this series, the endings play out like a well-scripted movie in my head and are done beautifully! Freaking loved it! Plus, we got to see what Alexa and Nick have been up to…which of course, I loved.

And now…I’m on to The Marriage Mistake because I already can’t wait to see what happens with Carina and Max! Thank you, Jennifer, for another amazing read!

Four Loves

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Four Days of Marriage to a Billionaire Event….Review: The Marriage Bargain by Jennifer Probst

Today kicks of my Four Days of Marriage to a Billionaire Event and I couldn’t be more excited! On Friday, I have a special guest post from the amazing Jennifer Probst and have a set of paperback copies of her Marriage to a Billionaire Series to give away! Leading up to Friday I will be posting my reviews of the series….did I mention I’m SO EXCITED? Well, enjoy and here’s to a great event!

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Synopsis:

A marriage in name only…

To save her family home, impulsive bookstore owner, Alexa Maria McKenzie, casts a love spell. But she never planned on conjuring up her best friend’s older brother—the powerful man who once shattered her heart.

Billionaire Nicholas Ryan doesn’t believe in marriage, but in order to inherit his father’s corporation, he needs a wife and needs one fast. When he discovers his sister’s childhood friend is in dire financial straits, he offers Alexa a bold proposition.

A marriage in name only with certain rules: avoid entanglement. Keep things all business. Do not fall in love. The arrangement is only for a year so the rules shouldn’t be that hard to follow, right?

Except fate has a way of upsetting the best-laid plans…

My Review:

The Marriage Trap is the first in the Marriage to a Billionaire Series by Jennifer Probst and a fantabulous start to a fantabulous series!

Alexa McKenzie cannot believe she is actually sitting in her living room with a bunch of mumbo-jumbo ingredients and a list of traits she wants in a man and is actually going to cast a love spell to have him delivered to her front door. Well, when you’ve lost all hope and are in need of a miracle to help save your family’s home, people do crazy things…like wish for a man who’s got 150 thousand dollars to spare, along with a few other requirements, of course. What has she got to lose…other than her heart?

Nicholas Ryan is so close to finally becoming the head of his family’s corporation…his life long dream. The only thing standing in his wife…or lack thereof. Figures. The last thing he wants is to get married, but now in order to inherit the company, he has to find a wife and quick. Fate seems to have a little something up her sleeve when a childhood friend happens to have come across some financial strain and needs money, fast. That, he could handle. Looks like a marriage of convenience just landed in his lap. She needs money and he needs a wife….

This was another one of those “I’ll just start this book and get back to my to-do list later….whoa! is it really two hours since I sat down and started reading?!”. I was hooked from start to finish. Nicholas, or Nick, started out as a cold-hearted soul and transformed into the kind of guy girls dream of. I mean, yes, he’s gorgeous and well-built and über wealthy, but his coolness and closed off emotions left lots to be desired. Enter: Alexa. Complete opposite of his emotion-free world, she brings exactly what he needs into his life…warmth, happiness, fun and love. They are a fantastic couple and had me rooting for them from the beginning. I wanted them to be more than an agreement on paper and damn, if the sexual tension wasn’t just delicious between them! YUM! This story was a great mix of humor, angst and emotion. And don’t even get me started on the ending…I cried my eyes out! Big, fat happy tears! *dreamy sigh*

If you’re looking for a fun and flirty read with lots of heat, then put this on your list! Just make sure you’ve finished your to-do list before you sit down to start! Thank you, Jennifer, for a great start to what’s sure to be a favorite series!

Five Loves

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Review….Locked by Maya Cross

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Synopsis:

The bar Sophia Pearce is in doesn’t look like much. The wine is bad and the decor worse. But when a sudden attack of curiosity leads her to sneak past security and into the back room, she discovers something unimaginable. The most lavish party she’s ever laid eyes on, in the most unlikely of places.

But that’s nothing compared to what comes next, to the man she meets back there. Sebastian Lock. Gorgeous, commanding, and radiating charm, he is exactly the sort of silver-tongued rake Sophia has sworn to avoid. Unfortunately, he doesn’t care much for her promises.

Every instinct tells her to run, but the chemistry between them is as inescapable as gravity. Soon, he’s opening her eyes to a whole new world of pleasures, pleasures she never thought she’d enjoy.

There’s just one problem. Sebastian is more than he seems. Between the famous company he keeps and the almost paranoid secrecy of his employers, he’s a puzzle Sophia can’t quite solve, and his insistence on keeping things casual forces her to confront the demons of her past.

Can she learn to trust again? Or will Sebastian’s privacy tear them apart?

*Contains light BDSM*

Note: This book is the first part of a trilogy that is designed to be read together, much like The Blackstone Affair. Sebastian and Sophia will get their happily ever after, but not until the last book.

Lockout: The Alpha Group Book Two – Due May 2013

Unlocked: The Alpha Group Book Three – Due June/July 2013

My Review:

Calling all Fifty Shades of Grey and Crossfire Series fans! If you’ve been looking for your next fix, this is the series for you! Talk about some serious YUM! This is the first in the Alpha Group Series by Maya Cross and kicked it off with a great start! I mean, just look at that cover!

Sophia Pearce and her girlfriends are enjoying a rare night out filled with silly girl talk and more than a few cocktails. These are the kind of nights that an over worked, under appreciated young attorney like her needs every now and then. Their last stop of the night puts them in a dive bar that upon closer inspection, is hiding something….why would there be a very official looking body guard on guard at a door at the back of the building of a freaking dive bar? Never one to shy away from making a drunken fool of herself, Sophia is determined to see what’s behind that door *cue Mission Impossible theme*

Sebastian Lock is enjoying his company’s exclusive party in the privacy of the secret part of a cheesy bar when he sees Sophia standing at the bar. One look and he knows he has to approach her. He’s young, handsome and successful and certain she won’t be able to resist his charms….imagine his surprise when that’s exactly what she does.

I really enjoyed this story! Sophia is the kind of gal I’d want to hang out with. She’s spunky, confident, funny, and has a good head on her shoulders. She had me laughing out loud at some of her comments and I appreciate that she isn’t a pushover like a lot of female characters are. Sebastian is one hell of a mysterious character! I’d like to say I know more about him than what he looks like and that he sure knows how to flaunt his sexual prowess, but I don’t…and honestly I’m ok with that! It makes things that much more interesting. The chemistry between Sophia and Sebastian is well written…with a push and pull between them that provides a great build up of sexual tension. This was a great first installment to a series and even with a HUGE cliffhanger at the end, I definitely recommend. As for the warning of BDSM, yes, there is a scene at the end that is definitely worthy of that classification and will definitely please all the Fifty fans out there!

I am looking forward to more from this series! Thank you, Maya, for a fantastic and yummy read!

Four Loves

ARC Review….Thrill Ride by Julie Ann Walker

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Synopsis:

He’s Gone Rogue

Ex-Navy SEAL Rock Babineaux’s job is to get information, and he’s one of the best in the business. Until something goes horribly wrong and he’s being hunted by his own government. Even his best friends at the covert special-ops organization Black Knights Inc. aren’t sure they can trust him. He thinks he can outrun them all, but his former partner—a curvy bombshell who knows just how to drive him wild—refuses to cut him loose.

She Won’t Back Down

Vanessa Cordova hasn’t been the team’s communication specialist
very long, but she knows how to read people—no way is Rock guilty of murder. And she’ll go to hell and back to help him prove it. Sure, the sexy Cajun has his secrets, but there’s no one in the world she’d rather have by her side in a tight spot. Which is good, because they’re about to get very tight…

My Review:

Thrill Ride is the fourth book in Julie Ann Walker’s Black Knights Incorporated Series and admittedly, the first in the series that I have read. I’m so glad I came across this title on NetGalley because I am now a big fan of the Black Knights and will be downloading the rest of the series as soon as I finish this review!

Vanessa Cordova is in the middle of the jungle looking for Rock, the now-named rogue operator and member of Black Knights Incorporated. She, along with the rest of the knights, is convinced that there is no way Rock could have done the things he is accused of. She knows the delicious Cajun isn’t capable of cold-hearted murder and is determined to clear his name, even if that means sweating her ass of in the God forsaken jungle looking for him.

Rock knows his days are limited and it’s only a matter of time before the powers that be, a.k.a the U.S. Government, comes for him and ends his life. He’s been hiding out for what seems like forever trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together and figure out why he is taking the fall for murders he never committed. But, not knowing the head man in charge of the hush-hush operation he’d worked on for years, is coming back to bite him in the ass. Even if he found out the connection to the murder victims, and figured out why he was being hunted down and held responsible, who would he go to? Who would he tell? Now, he’s shocked to find Vanessa, a member of BKI, in his jungle. She’s here to help clear his name. But he’s not willing to risk her life, or any of his BKI family…and that’s what the stakes are…life and death.

This story was incredible! I was on the edge of my seat the entire book. Julie Ann Walker weaved a who-done-it with a sexy romance that had me loving every minute of this story. Rock is an amazingly tough, honorable, loyal and sexy Cajun that had me drooling when he spoke his French-Cajun and whose fierce need to protect his brothers and sisters in arms made me love him even more. Vanessa is amazing. Her tenacity and fierce determination to prove Rock’s innocence was so admirable. She knows the kind of man Rock is and won’t allow him to push her help away. The mystery surrounding Rock and the project that he had worked on in secret for years, had me guessing the entire book. Julie Ann did such a great job at delivering juicy morsels of clues throughout the book. I was dying to know what was coming next! Talk about a thriller! She had me on the edge of my seat up until the very last pages. Of course, I won’t give you any spoilers, but I will tell you that a project and cover-up of this magnitude took some pretty important people and damn, what a “WHOA” moment it ended up being. I must say the ending to this suspense is one I didn’t see coming and really enjoyed.

As I said earlier, I will be gobbling up the other books in the BKI series and will surely be keeping tabs on what’s coming next for this amazing group of kick-ass modern day warriors. Thank you Ms. Walker, for an amazing, suspenseful, exciting and sexy read!

Four Loves

*Thanks to NetGalley for providing an advance copy for an honest review.