Three Loves – Page 9 – Read-Love-Blog

Manhunt by Tyler Anne Snell….ARC Review

Synopsis:

An innocent beauty looking for answers turns to a detective looking for vengeance

One day. One town. Three missing women. Things like this didn’t happen in Culpepper. Except that they had—once before. Eleven years ago, young Braydon Thatcher was unable to stop a tragic murder, one that hit painfully close to home. Now a detective, Braydon can’t help but notice the eerie similarities between the two crimes. But he has to focus on the present and keep distractions to a minimum. Distractions like Sophia Hardwick, who crashes into town like a Florida thunderstorm, demanding to know where her missing sister is. The attraction between them is nearly his undoing. But he has to protect her, because it’s clear someone is resurrecting ghosts in order to punish Braydon. And if he lets his emotions for Sophia get the best of him, she could become yet another victim…

My review:

Manhunt is the debut work from author Tyler Anne Snell and was a thrilling and suspenseful freshman novel. A true who-done-it leading up to a twist at the ending, I was on the edge of my seat from the very first page.

Detective Braydon Thatcher and Sophia Hardwick are thrown together by the worst of circumstances…the disappearance of three local women, one of which was Sophia’s sister, Lisa. It’s that disappearance that leads Sophia into Braydon’s town and into his life where they will form a bond while working to get to the bottom of this mystery and hopefully find these women alive. Braydon never expected that his past would play a part in this investigation and when he realizes who is responsible for these kidnappings, and murder, it may be too late…not just for the three missing women, but for Sophia as well.

Wow, this book really kept me in a white-knuckled grip on my e-reader! From the very beginning, we are thrown into the investigation and mystery surrounding these women and detective. I loved the immediate relationship Sophia and Braydon form when she marches into his office and demands not just answers, but that she will be along for the ride as he finds those answers. Braydon is a determined and focused man who also knows not to make Sophia any more riled up than she already was. Smart man, that detective! Sophia is a total spitfire who refuses to sit back like a wall flower. I really enjoyed her personality and determination to find her sister, no matter what the cost. Now, as for the actual crime, I thought it was really well done with a background that makes this mystery even more diabolical and nerve-wracking. Even though I had an idea as to who was responsible, there was a twist at the end that totally threw me for a loop and I love that in a story!

Overall, if you like a good mystery with a dash of romance, this should be on your to-read list. Thank you, Tyler, for one heck of a thrilling read!

Three-and-a-Half Loves

Book links:

Amazon | B&N

About the author:

Tyler Anne Snell writes and reads a little bit of everything but has a soft spot for thrillers, mysteries, and sexual tension. When she isn’t writing or reading, she’s re-watching her favorite TV series or playing video games. The first book she finished in one sitting was a Harlequin Intrigue. It taught her to appreciate the power of a good book.

Tyler lives in Florida with her same-named beau and their mini lions.

Visit her: www.tylerannesnell.com.

Holding Strong by Lori Foster…Blog Tour Stop & Review

Synopsis:

An up-and-coming MMA fighter wants more than just one night from a woman fleeing her past in Lori’s irresistible new novel.

Heavyweight fighter Denver Lewis plays real nice, but he doesn’t share. That’s why he’s been avoiding top-notch flirt Cherry Peyton. But a man can only resist those lush curves for so long. Their encounter surpasses all his fantasies, bringing out protective urges that Cherry’s about to need more than she knows…

Denver’s combination of pure muscle and unexpected tenderness has been driving Cherry wild. Yet no sooner does she get what she’s been craving than old troubles show up on her doorstep. And this time, Cherry can’t hide behind a carefree façade. Because the man by her side is one who’ll fight like hell to keep her safe…if only she’ll trust him enough to let him…

My review:

Holding Strong is the second book in author Lori Foster’s steamy and sexy MMA fighter series and focuses on the uber alpha fighter Dallas and the sweet and kind Cherry. From the very beginning the heat rose up off the pages and drew me in. Then the suspense took hold and I was a goner. This book was fantastic.

Denver and Cherry had been denying a mutual attraction for too long. Denver thought she was too sweet and pure for him. Cherry thought he was too hard and tough for her. Neither one could have been more wrong and finally, after denying the attraction for far too long, they both concede defeat and give into the heat. And oh, my, was it hot. Before either one can realize it, the sex they share seals the deal and solidifies things between them and takes the from friends to lovers. But it wouldn’t be that easy a transition and they have to wade through emotional waters as they both learn how to love one another. As if that wasn’t a hard enough challenge, both of their pasts decide at that moment to come back to haunt them. It would prove to be difficult, but with each other to lean on, certainly they would be able to weather the storm…all while staying alive.

Honestly, between the heat and steamy scenes and the suspense and mystery surrounding both characters, I don’t know what I enjoyed most. I loved Denver for his take charge attitude and his willingness to take care of his girl. Whether it be an illness or someone threatening her safety, he was so good to her and it was totally swoon-worthy! Cherry was equally enjoyable with a huge heart and a penchant for taking care of herself without any help. She was strong and had live through a childhood no one should have endured. But she realized that had made her stronger today and I really appreciated that. Now, the scorching heat between them? Delicious. I loved that because they already had a friendship of sorts they were able to start out hot and heavy. Mmmhmmmm!

Overall, another hot and thrilling read form Lori Foster that had me hooked! And of course, I can’t wait to see what’s next for my favorite MMA fighters!

Three-and-a-Half Loves

Book links:

AMAZON: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OYAXS9W/

BARNES & NOBLE: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/holding-strong-lori-foster/1120348723?ean=9781460380543

iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/holding-strong/id933738960?mt=11

KOBO: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/holding-strong

PRINT:

AMAZON: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0373779615/

BARNES & NOBLE: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/holding-strong-lori-foster/1120348723?ean=9780373779611

About the author:

Since first publishing in January 1996, Lori Foster has become a USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly and New York Times bestselling author. Lori has published through a variety of houses, including Kensington, St. Martin’s, Harlequin, Silhouette, Samhain, and Berkley/Jove. She is currently published with HQN.

Lori hosts a very special annual “Reader & Author” event in West Chester, Ohio. Proceeds from the event have benefited many worthy causes, including the Hamilton County YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter, the Animal Adoption Foundation, The Conductive Learning Center for children with spina bifida and cerebral palsy, and The One Way Farm, Children’s Home.

Each year Lori donates all proceeds from one book to charity. You can see the benefit romance books here :http://lorifoster.com/benefit-books/

WEBSITE: http://lorifoster.com/

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/lorifoster

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/lorilfoster

GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17597.Lori_Foster

PINTEREST: https://www.pinterest.com/lorilfoster/

YOU TUBE: https://www.youtube.com/user/lorifosterauthor/

“Holding Strong will have you holding your breath while burning fingers quickly turn the pages.”

– Fresh Fiction

“…a fun and sexy read. It has a touch of suspense to it as well to keep the pace of the story going along.”

– It’s a Reading Thing

“The men of Foster’s Ultimate series may be powerful fighters, but they are all heart, and none more so than the hero of this installment. His unwavering support for his feisty, frightened heroine redeems them both in time, but it is their searing chemistry that will hold readers’ attention.”

– RT Book Reviews

“Foster…manages to keep characters evolving throughout the course of a novel, becoming true ‘heroes’ by the time ‘The End’ rolls around.”

– Ripe for Reader

By Sea by Carly Fall…Review

Synopsis:

While fighting the War on Drugs in Latin America, Marine Brody Teller was involved in an accident that left him with a supernatural power: a deep connection to the sea and the ability to control it.

When the mysterious Joe Smith approaches him with an incredible job offer, Brody thinks it’s too good to be true. His life-saving need and his desire to be near the ocean while earning a living are rolled into one perfect job.

Rayna Lopez lives a quiet life as she tries to climb her way up the CIA ladder, always in fear the government will learn of her family lineage. When her father asks for help getting her famous and belligerent half-sister out of trouble, Rayna reluctantly agrees to travel with her and they board a yacht where they will be protected.

Brody and Rayna realize they’ve met before, and despite a significant lack of trust between them, they face an attraction neither can deny. As they fight to keep Rayna’s sister alive, lies are revealed and secrets are told. They must both learn to trust each other, and—if they live through their voyage—figure out what to do about their whirlwind romance.

My review:

By Sea is the first book in a new series from author Carly Fall and the cover and blurb alone piqued my curiosity and from there it was a suspenseful and sexy ride that I truly enjoyed.

Brody Teller and Rayna Lopez met briefly before setting sail in an attempt to keep Rayna’s famous sister safe from a crazed fan. Their initial meeting, though brief, was intense. Working for the CIA, Rayna had been assigned to check up on former Marine Brody Teller, who had been discharged and off the grid since a terrible accident during one of his missions. She hadn’t expected someone so sexy and brooding when she arrived and he hadn’t expected someone so beautiful and fascinating when he answered the door. Now, months later, and after Brody had gotten an offer he couldn’t refuse from a mysterious man, they were both on the yacht he was captaining and in charge of keeping Rayna’s sister safe from harm. Both of them were surprised to see one another on this boat and both of them were finding it harder and harder to keep the mutual attraction at bay…

From start to finish this story was packed with mystery and suspense. From finding out what happened that left Brody with his powers to who was after Rayna’s sister, it was a thrill a minute. The sexual tension and heat between Rayna and Brody added a delicious layer that balanced out the intensity when it came to the impending danger and I really enjoyed it. Both Rayna and Brody were equally enjoyable for both their strengths and weaknesses. They were great together and worked well when the chips were down and danger was at their front door. They truly made a dynamic, ass kicking couple! This book was also a fantastic intro to the series and left me curious to see what Carly has in store for us next!

Thank you, Carly, for a fantastic read!

Three-and-a-Half Loves

Book links:

Amazon | B&N

About the author:

I am a wife, a mother and a slave to Nicky the dog.

I think chocolate and wine should be considered their own food group, and I wish Christmas happened twice a year.

I love the hot summer nights here in Arizona when my family and I play in our pool until late at night, and I hate 99.8% of politicians.

To visit Carly, go to www.carlyfall.com, or follow her on Facebook or Twitter

The Curvy Girls Club by Michele Gorman…Review

Synopsis:

Where Confidence is the New Black. Fed up with always struggling to lose weight, best friends Katie, Ellie, Pixie and Jane start a social club where size doesn’t matter. It soon grows into London’s most popular club – a place to have fun instead of counting carbs – and the women find their lives changing in ways they never imagined. But outside the club, life isn’t as rosy.

My Review:

The Curvy Girls Club is the second work of author Michele Gorman’s work that I’ve read and was an enjoyable read with likable characters, relatable experiences and circumstances I’m sure most women, including myself, have experienced.

Friends through their issues with weight, Katie, Ellie, Pixie, and Jane come together after deciding that instead of trying to fix what they think is wrong with themselves, they should embrace who they are and celebrate their diverse sizes. It’s this decision that leads them to create The Curvy Girls Club, a club where women (and some men) can try different things like salsa dancing and theater while putting their insecurities aside, even if for one evening. Wildly successful, the ladies are thrilled….until other issues in their separate lives threaten to derail their friendships and the very reasons they came together in the first place.

The things I really enjoyed about this book were the relatable moments each of these women experience. Feeling down on yourself because your jeans don’t fit, having a crush on a man you know will never reciprocate your feelings, being stuck in a relationship you don’t know how to end, always thinking the grass is greener on the other side…just to name a few. This story is really about embracing who you are, not just on the outside, but the person you are deep down and sometimes may be afraid to let out. I felt for these women at times and cheered them on at other times. I also wanted to shake them a time or two while reading…but overall it was a heartwarming story and I really enjoyed it!

Thank you, Michele, for another fun read!

Three-and-a-Half Loves

Book links:

Amazon UK
Amazon US

About The Author

Michele Gorman is the USA Today best-selling author of eight books, including Bella Summer Takes a Chance and The Expat Diaries (Single in the City) series. Her first book, Single in the City, debuted at number 8 in The Bookseller’s Fiction Heatseekers bestseller chart. She is also a founding member of the publishing collective, Notting Hill Press, and has published upmarket commercial fiction under the pen name Jamie Scott. Born and raised in the US, Michele has lived in London for 16 years. She is very fond of naps, ice cream and Richard Curtis films but objects to spiders and the word “portion”.

Mrs. Kaplan and the Matzoh Ball of Death by Mark Reutlinger…Blog Tour Stop & Review

Synopsis:

Move over, Miss Marple—Mark Reutlinger’s charming cozy debut introduces readers to the unforgettable amateur sleuth Rose Kaplan and her loyal sidekick, Ida.

Everyone knows that Rose Kaplan makes the best matzoh ball soup around—she’s a regular matzoh ball maven—so it’s no surprise at the Julius and Rebecca Cohen Home for Jewish Seniors when, once again, Mrs. K wins the honor of preparing the beloved dish for the Home’s seder on the first night of Passover.

But when Bertha Finkelstein is discovered facedown in her bowl of soup, her death puts a bit of a pall on the rest of the seder. And things go really meshugge when it comes out that Bertha choked on a diamond earring earlier stolen from resident Daisy Goldfarb. Suddenly Mrs. K is the prime suspect in the police investigation of both theft and murder. Oy vey—it’s a recipe for disaster, unless Rose and her dear friend Ida can summon up the chutzpah to face down the police and solve the mystery themselves.

Advance praise for Mrs. Kaplan and the Matzoh Ball of Death

“Is there kosher food in jail? These two heroines have gotten themselves in quite a pickle! Well, it’s a matzoh ball mess, really. Too deliciously funny!”—Rita Mae Brown, bestselling author of Nine Lives to Die

My review:

Mrs. Kaplan and the Matzoh Ball of Death is the first cozy mystery from author Mark Reutlinger and is a fun and quick read that reminded me of The Golden Girls meets Columbo. I really enjoyed it!

There’s been a suspicious death during this year’s seder at the local home for Jewish seniors and the police are on the case. It turns out the victim, Bertha Finkelstein, has choked on an earring that seemingly has been cooked into one of Mrs. Kaplan’s matzoh balls. But things are not as they appear as this mystery will lead Mrs. Kaplan and her friend Ida on the search for the real culprit, since Mrs. K knew it wasn’t her. They sure have their work cut out for them and in the end, these women have a good shot at solving this culinary misfortune and prove that neither Mrs. K nor her famous matzoh balls are to blame.

This was a fun read for me, especially being a Jewish gal myself. There was a lot of yiddish being spoken between the characters which really appealed to me and reminded me a whole lot of my own grandmother and the friends she has at our local home for Jewish seniors. I enjoyed the mystery as well and thought that Mrs. K’s investigation was fantastic. There was a lot of wit and charm despite the fact that this was actually an investigation into an unfortunate death. Again, it really did remind me of The Golden Girls and I loved this departure from my normal genres.

If you’re looking for a quick and entertaining read, this is a book to get on your list! Thank you Mr. Reutlinger for bringing us the mysterious case of the matzoh ball of death!

Three-and-a-Half Loves

Book links:

Amazon | Goodreads

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author:

Mark Reutlinger is the author of the novel Made in China and a professor of law emeritus at Seattle University. Born in San Francisco, Mark graduated from UC Berkeley and now lives with his wife, Analee, in University Place, Washington.

Follow the rest of the tour!

Illusion by J.S. Cooper…ARC Review and Paperback Giveaway

Illusion releases TODAY

Book links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Goodreads

Synopsis:

Indie sensation and New York Times bestselling author of the Ex Games series and the Private Club series, J.S. Cooper introduces the Swept Away series—three new, dark and sexy romances about a woman marooned on a desert island with a mysterious stranger—but is he friend or foe?

The day started like every other day…

Bianca London finds herself kidnapped and locked up in a van with a strange man. Ten hours later, they’re dumped on a deserted island. Bianca has no idea what’s going on and her attraction to this stranger is the only thing keeping her fear at bay.

Jakob wants only to figure out why they’ve been left on the island and how they can get off. But as the days go by, he can’t ignore his growing fascination with Bianca.

In order to survive, Bianca and Jakob must figure out how they’re connected, but as they grow closer, secrets are revealed that may destroy everything they thought they knew about each other.

My review:

Illusion is the newest work from author J.S. Cooper and the first of her work that I’ve read. Packed with mystery and suspense, this was a read that kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading.

Now, this is definitely a twisted tale with lots of twists and turns and many things I don’t want to give away because it will ruin the experience for you. So, bear with me…

One minute Bianca was sitting in a restaurant, sipping wine, and getting ready to have dinner with her best friend. Then, she was locked in a trunk with a handsome and mysterious stranger. The next minute she finds herself, along with the stranger, on a deserted island with only their questions to keep them company. Why were they there? Together? Who was this man? How would they eat or find shelter? But the biggest questions of all: could she trust this man and would they get out of this alive?

Only time will tell what lies ahead of them…

Whoa…talk about being kept in suspense! I had no idea what was going to happen next or why poor Bianca was in this situation. We learn some bits and pieces form her past along the way and learn her father may have discovered some important things and that the company he worked for may have been less than honest. But still, she has no idea if that could be the reason she was in this pretty awful predicament. Making things even more confusing for her is Jakob. The hot, flippant, and mysterious guy she was trapped with. He went from hot to cold with her at times and she kept vacillating between wanting to trust him and wanting to run for the hills. To be honest, so did I. I wasn’t sure what I felt towards him and I loved that aspect of the story. The unsure feelings of what was to come next kept me reading and wanting to know what was happening next.

Now, I will say that for as long as this book was, there was a cliffhanger ending. I know there is a love/hate relationship with the cliffhanger in the book world and while most of the time I don’t mind them, this one kind of irritated me. I would have liked to read a bit more before we were cut off. But, hey…it’ll give me something to look forward to!

Thank you, J.S., for a suspenseful and intriguing read!

Three-and-a-Half Loves

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author:

J. S. Cooper was born in London, England and moved to Florida her last year of high school. After completing law school at the University of Iowa (from the sunshine to cold) she moved to Los Angeles to work for a Literacy non profit as an Americorp Vista. She then moved to New York to study the History of Education at Columbia University and took a job at a workers rights non profit upon graduation.

Website | Twitter | Facebook

After by Anna Todd…ARC Review and Giveaway

Synopsis:

Tessa is a good girl with a sweet, reliable boyfriend back home. She’s got direction, ambition, and a mother who’s intent on keeping her that way. But she’s barely moved into her freshman dorm when she runs into Hardin. With his tousled brown hair, cocky British accent, tattoos, and lip ring, Hardin is cute and different from what she’s used to.

But he’s also rude – to the point of cruelty, even. For all his attitude, Tessa should hate Hardin and she does — until she finds herself alone with him in his room. Something about his dark mood grabs her, and when they kiss it ignites within her a passion she’s never known before.

He’ll call her beautiful, then insist he isn’t the one for her and disappear again and again. Despite the reckless way he treats her, Tessa is compelled to dig deeper and find the real Hardin beneath all his lies. He pushes her away again and again, yet every time she pushes back, he only pulls her in deeper.

Tessa already has the perfect boyfriend. So why is she trying so hard to overcome her own hurt pride and Hardin’s prejudice about nice girls like her?

Unless… could this be love?

My review:

After is the Wattpad fan-fic phenom turned published work of author Anna Todd and I was really anxious to get my hands on a copy and see what all the hoopla was about. I just finished it last night and I have to say, overall I really enjoyed it.

Looking forward to starting her freshman year of college, Tessa is pretty sure she has all her ducks in a row. She’s a good student, organized, not a partier, has a supportive boyfriend, and a responsible nature. A good girl, for all intents and purposes. All that goes out the window, however, when she heads to her first frat party and meets Hardin. He’s nothing she should ever be attracted to. He’s pompous and rude…he’s also pretty damn good looking. He’s the quintessential bad boy and someone she should stay far away from. Unfortunately, with as many times as they keep running into each other, that’s nearly impossible. Now, Hardin is sending her a whole lot of mixed messages and she starts to second-guess her original impression of him. Could there be more to this tattooed bad boy than just a brash exterior? Does she really want to find out?

I’ve read a whole lot of different reviews on After and they range from hating it to devouring it and I probably fall in the happy medium range. Overall, After was an enjoyable read. That being said, I really like the Travis Maddox book guys of the world, so I didn’t mind this type of angst filled read. Tessa is the smart and sweet good girl with great intentions and a shiny outlook on the world and what college life should be like. She’s also pretty sheltered and a bit on the naïve side in the beginning. After meeting Hardin, she starts to sing a different tune and realizes not everyone is as polite and mannerly as she is. Hardin is opposite of her in so many ways, the biggest being his bad boy persona. Hardin is a bit of an ass for the most part but when we start to read deeper into his personality, he is indeed more complex than we originally think. A sad childhood and inability to love helping form his poor attitude and giving Tessa all the more reason to want to fix him and heal his wounds. She tries to ignore all the feelings he is bringing within her and knows she deserves better than a brooding hottie with prickly demeanor….we all can guess how that goes though! Few people can resist the bad boy and Tessa is not immune. There was a whole lot of push and pull between these two, at times a bit too much in my opinion, but in the end it did add up to create the relationship between them.

Now, I will warn you that even after the length of this book, there is a cliffhanger ending and, as much as I don’t mind them, I know a lot of you do. So, you’ve been warned!

To sum it all up, After is a story of young lovers and the discovery of all the angst and emotion that comes along with two opposites falling for each other.

Three-and-a-Half Loves

Giveaway:

Comment on this post to be entered to win one of two paperback copies of AFTER (U.S. entires only, please)

Buy the book:

Simon & Schuster

About the author:

Anna Todd is a first-time writer spending her days in the Austin, Texas, area with her husband, with whom she beat half the statistics by getting married one month after graduating high school. Between her husband’s three deployments to Iraq, she worked odd jobs from a makeup counter to the IRS processing center. Anna was always an avid reader and boy band and romance lover, so now that she’s found a way to combine the three she’s enjoying living a real-life dream come true.

Find her at AnnaToddBooks.com, on Twitter at @Imaginator1Dx, on Instagram at @Imaginator1D, and on Wattpad as Imaginator1D. – See more at: http://authors.simonandschuster.com/Anna-Todd/474410587#sthash.ThoQK9UK.dpuf

Catch Me If You Can by Christine Bell….Review

Synopsis:

Sadie Leighton might spend her days slinging hash, but she spends her nights in disguise, conning the rich and undeserving, taking what she needs from the worst of the lot to make ends meet. This last job will be the mother lode…the one to get her out of the biz altogether, if only she can get past the infuriatingly gorgeous stranger intent on foiling her plans and haunting her dreams…

Jake Callahan has one thing on his mind, and that’s revenge. After years of preparation, he’s finally got all the pieces in place to destroy the man who cost his father his career and, ultimately, his life. Now that the end is in sight, he won’t let anything get in his way. Especially not some fake Countess trying to steal his mark, no matter how sexy she is.

Never one to back down from a challenge, Sadie engages Jake in a battle of wits, but winning it just might put her in danger of losing her heart…

My review:

Catch Me If You Can is the newest book from author Christine Bell and was a thrill ride from start to finish!

When two cons meet up for the same mark, sparks ensue and not just because their jobs are in jeopardy. Sadie and Jake both have different reasons for going after the same man and neither one of them are about to back down. So what happens when you can’t beat em? You join em…and that’s exactly what Sadie and Jake do. They join forces to bring the mark down. But with combined risk comes a bigger risk of danger and the stakes are much higher than a prize. It could mean life or death.

I really enjoyed the premise of this story. It had a great Mr. & Mrs. Smith fell to it where duplicity and sex appeal had equal measure. Sadie and Jake were both interesting characters that made me want to cheer them on, even though they were technically trying to commit a crime. The chemistry was also great between them with the added thrill of being caught in the chase fueling the intensity of their attraction. I also admired the reasons behind both Sadie’s and Jake’s motivation for the con.

I certainly don’t want to ruin any of the story and the tense and exciting situations that arise but take my word that it is a fantastic roller coaster ride!

Thank you, Christine, for an exciting and smoking hot read!

Three-and-a-Half Loves

Book links:

Goodreads

About the author:

Christine Bell is a romance author and also writes erotic romance as Chloe Cole. She and her handsome hubby currently reside in Pennsylvania with a four-pack of teenage boys. If she gets time off from her duties as maid, chef, chauffeur, or therapist, she can be found reading just about anything she can get her hands on, from Young Adult novels to books on poker theory. She doesn’t like root beer, clowns or bugs (except ladybugs, on account of their cute outfits), but lurrves chocolate, going to the movies, the New York Giants and playing Texas Hold ‘Em. Writing is her passion, but if she had to pick another occupation, she would be a pirate…or, like, a ninja maybe. She loves writing steamy romance stories, but also hopes to one day publish something her dad can read without wanting to dig his eyes out with a rusty spoon. Christine loves to hear from readers, so please contact her through her website, www.christine-bell.com

Whatcha Gonna Do With a Cowboy: A Deputy Laney Briggs Novella by Jodi Linton…Review

A thrilling suspense from Entangled’s Ignite imprint…

Synopsis:

Some cowboys are worth getting dirty for.

In her latest adventure, sassy Deputy Laney Briggs discovers the local high school football coach passed out under the stadium bleachers wearing nothing but a smile…and his wife’s lingerie.

Things really start to get wild when she runs into the smoking hot Federal Marshal, Colt Larsen, snooping around the Granger’s house. Quicker than a cold snap comes and goes in Texas, Laney finds herself up to her eyeballs in a case involving a ruthless motorcycle gang, a Mexican drug cartel, a kidnapping, and a shoot-out to rival the O.K. Corral.

In over their heads, Laney calls in the big guns—her very own Texas Ranger, Gunner Wilson, who’s ready to fulfill every last one of her desires. But as things heat up between them, the stakes get higher than ever, and Gunner’s help may not be enough for Laney to get out alive…

My Review:

Whatcha Gonna Do With a Cowboy: A Deputy Laney Briggs Novella is the latest in author Jodi Linton’s Deputy Laney Briggs Series and packs a whole lot of mystery and heat into a quick read. I enjoyed it!

There’s never a dull moment in Deputy Laney Briggs’ life and finding the high school football coach passed out drunk in women’s lingerie in the football stadium, you could say it was just another day for her. Of course, this discovery only leads to another bigger mystery when the coach’s wife is nowhere to be found and a sexy Federal Marshall shows up looking for that very same missing wife…who just happens to have a few aliases. For such a small town, there sure was an overabundance of drama. Now Deputy Briggs finds herself working alongside this sexy and pain in the ass Federal Marshall all while missing her handsome Texas Ranger, Gunner Wilson, and wishing for a dull moment or two. But if we know Laney, we know that surely won’t be happening any time soon.

From start to finish this story kept packing a punch. There was never a dull moment when it came to unraveling the mystery of the coach’s wife and why she had the interest of the Federal Marshall’s office. It definitely ended up not being any of the scenarios I was leading to in my imagination while reading. Laney sure had her hands full with her less than savory section of her town, the Marshall, her co-workers, and her sexy Texas Ranger. Of course Laney brought her usual no-nonsense attitude and colorful language, which I adore about her. There was also plenty of heat packed into the scenes with her and Gunner. They are one hot couple!

Over all, this was a great, action packed, quick read that fans of Deputy Briggs would surely enjoy. Thank you, Jodi, for a great read!

Three-and-a-Half Loves

About the author:

Jodi Linton lives and works in Texas, with her husband and two kids. She can be found cozied up to the computer escaping into a quirky world of tall tales, sexy, tight jean wearing cowboys, and a protagonist with a sharp-tongue quick enough to hang any man out to dry. She writes the Deputy Laney Briggs Series.

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WHATCHA GONNA DO WITH A COWBOY, August 18,2014.

Review….2B or not 2B by Stephanie Witter

Synopsis:

London Reed is on the hunt for a place to live before the start of her second year in college. Either she is successful and can enjoy her student life without the pressure of her parents breathing down her neck, or she goes back home and clashes with her parents.

Because London doesn’t have a filter.

”You’re a weird one, aren’t you?”

She basically tells it as she sees it. So when she meets the hunky and scarred guy who lives in apartment 2B, the last apartment on her exhausting list, she’s sure to bring some crazy in his life

But he’s determined to not take a girl for a roommate.

“I have nothing against you, but I don’t see this working for me.”

London doesn’t give up that easily and makes a deal with him. If she makes it for two months, she’s in for the whole year. If not, then she leaves to never contact him again.

Easy, right? Not so much.

“You should have told me that you wanted me to be all over you.”

When a guy and a girl live under the same roof, it’s bound to complicate things. Between banters, heady games of seduction, innuendos and insecurities revealed, the life in apartment 2B isn’t simple, and a few slips in their relationship doesn’t help the matter.

“You’re driving me completely nuts. That’s my fucking problem.”

My review:

2B or Not 2B is the first work from author Stephanie Whitter that I have read and the first in her Roomies Series and was a rather enjoyable story.

College student London Reed needs to find the perfect apartment and roommate to convince her parents to allow her to live off campus and she may just have found it. The apartment she has just walked into was perfect…and so was her potential roommate, Byron. They immediately strike up a comfortable rapport, and even though it takes a bit of convincing for him to let a girl move in, London knows this is the right place for her. The only problem is that the attraction that starts to grow between them could potentially ruin the comfortable and easy friendship they have found. Making matters worse is that Byron is keeping his past hidden and it appears to be a past that has hurt him immensely. Is starting a relationship worth the risk of losing the friendship they have?

I really enjoyed the fun and flirty banter between Byron and London that kicked off almost immediately. London is quite a quirky character and was a fresh personality to read. Bryon is sexy and alpha and was also an interesting character to read. I loved when things start heating up between them and that’s when Byron really shines. He is all man and takes charge and it was delicious. My only complaint was that it was hard to connect with London at times and her nonchalance when it came to performing intimate acts with guys. Other than that, I really liked this story. Another great aspect was both London’s and Byron’s friends. They really brought a great layer to the story and I hope we get to see their stories in the future.

Thank you, Stephanie, for London and Byron!

Three-and-a-Half Loves

Book links:

Amazon | B&N

About the author:

Stephanie Witter is a French dreamer. She started learning English at three, and fell in love with the language. Always with a book, or two close by, she started reading in English when she couldn’t wait any longer for Harry Potter to be translated in French. After a while, reading wasn’t enough. She soon started writing Young Adult and New Adult Contemporary novels filled with angst, love, hope, drama and a touch of fun. PATCH UP is her first New Adult Contemporary novel.

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Out of Control by Nina Croft….Blog Tour Stop & Review

Synopsis:

A sexy category romance from Entangled’s Brazen imprint…

She’s a challenge he can’t resist.

Hollywood heartthrob Zachary Hunter loves women—as long as they don’t want more than a little fun in the bedroom. When his most recent movie stirs up the wrong kind of attention, the kind that includes an attempt on his life, he hires a friend’s company to locate the threat. The pint-sized redhead assigned to protect him isn’t what he expects—or wants. Worse, he can’t take his eyes off of her.

After ten years in the army, Danielle Sinclair knows how to handle men. With a new security gig to pass the time until she’s cleared to return to the military, she figures her sexy new client will be easy to manage. And then he opens his gorgeous mouth, and she can’t decide whether to kiss him or kill him. His sex appeal may tempt her into his bed, but his sexist attitude is unbearable, and she’s going to make him eat every single word…

My review:

Out of Control is the second book in author Nina Croft’s Babysitting a Billionaire Series and was a delicious follow up to the debut, Losing Control.

Writer Zach Hunter was used to lots of attention. It came with his profession and he never minded it. Especially of the female persuasion. But when the attention turns threatening and he is need of protection, he never would have imagined it would come in such a tiny package….Dani. He knows almost immediately that she’s unlike any woman he’s known and damn if that doesn’t up the ante for him. Dani proves that the pull of the forbidden fruit is alive and well and Zach soon realizes he could be willing to give up his playboy ways to be with someone like her. Now, if he could just figure out the whole death threat thing. Oh, and get Dani to agree to give him a chance…

Biding her time until she is cleared for active military duty, Dani Sinclair figures helping her friends with some personal security assignments would be a pretty great distraction. Also a pretty good distraction was the piece of man-candy she is set to protect. Too bad his playboy and womanizing ways were more of a turn off than his looks were a turn on. Fortunately Dani has been wrong only a few times in her life and her initial reaction toward Zach is one of those times. But sleeping with the client was totally off limits….right?

After their initial meeting, Zach and Dani start out looking for a temporary fling with the little time they have together. Which was great considering they both had very different plans for their future. Dani was headed back into the army and Zach was living it up in L.A. But their hearts have a different idea and may override any pervious plans when their time together is set to end…

Nina nails the sexy, sassy and smoking hot with Out of Control. The heat between Zach and Dani is delicious and the push and pull is fantastic. Add to that their very different personalities and their different positions in life and the whole opposites attracting thing was perfect. Dani is a strong gal with a sad upbringing that only made her strength more apparent. Zach is confident and sexy with a naughty boy edge that I really enjoyed.

And getting to see our fave characters from the first book was another really enjoyable aspect of this story.

All in all, if you’re looking for a quick and steamy read get Out of Control on your list. Thank you, Nina, for another fantastic book!

*reviewer note: Just wanted to mention that while Zach is, in fact, a Hollywood Heartthrob of sorts, he is actually writes books in the story. I noticed a bit of a discrepancy between the synopsis and the book and wanted to make a note.

Three-and-a-Half Loves

Purchase Links:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

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.

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