REVIEW - Until You - Denise Grover Swank

TITLE - Until You

AUTHOR - Denise Grover Swank

Pre-Order from

Released 30th May

BLURB:

Never settle down. Ever.

Workaholic Lanie Rogers lives a completely nomadic lifestyle. Her job keeps her on the move, and relationships are a complication she doesn't need. That is, until she meets Mr. Tall, Dark, and Hotness at a pre-wedding party. Complicated? Maybe. But lately, Lanie's life has been missing a little something---and sexy playboy Tyler Norris offers something she definitely can't refuse.

Tyler has always been a little too popular with women for his own good. Ever since he and his buddies vowed to remain bachelors, Tyler figured he was safe from temptation. Lanie and her gorgeous brown eyes are about to prove him so, so wrong. With one kiss, the heat is intense. After one night, it's pure combustion. It was supposed to be a no-strings fling---until these two commitment-phobes each discover the one undeniable exception to their rule.

REVIEW:

“Unexpected love, 4 stars”

Tyler has crap luck when it comes to women. Some how he always ends up with the crazy ones. But he has now decided to take a different approach, swearing off women. That is until he meets a woman who’s a bridesmaid in his buddies wedding. Tyler is instantly drawn to her, only problem he doesn’t really know who she is or even her name to start with.

Laine doesn’t do relationships, or rather she can’t. She’s all work and no play. Her job has her constantly on the move. Luckily for her she’s in her old stomping grounds for work and for her cousin's wedding. What she least expects is a handsome groomsman who catches her eye. Laine’s job is full of secrets that she can’t share, will that be the death of their relationship or will they make it if they take the jump?

I liked Tyler, he was one of those guys who was all in from the get-go. He might have messed around in his younger years but he’s reformed now and looking to settle down. He was loyal to his friends and working at repairing relationships with his brothers. Laine though, I couldn’t connect with her. I understood she needed to be secretive for work but it felt like she was severely holding herself back all around. The other characters were great though.

Here are a couple of pieces from Until You that I enjoyed;

“Her breath fanned his face, and it took everything within him to keep his hands to himself, because instinct told him that if he made a move, she’d give him a brush-off so epic, an 8.0 earthquake would pale in comparison. And he definitely did not want her to give him a brush-off.”

“He winked. “You did try to kill me… twice.” She rolled her eyes. “If I’d tried to kill you, you’d be dead. Do. Or do not. There is no try.” Appreciation filled his eyes. “You quote Star Wars.”“Return of the Jedi, to be more precise.”

“I think we should just give in and accept that we have crazy, off the charts chemistry and make the most of it.”

“You’re good with helping me work through big decisions. I’m good with the touchy-feely stuff. We make a good team.”

Star Ratings:

Plot- 5/5

Character- 4/5

Heat- 4/5

Writing style- 5/5

Overall- 4/5

REVIEW - Chance Encounters - Jessica Prince

TITLE - Chance Encounters

AUTHOR - Jessica Prince

Releases 11th May



BLURB:

There are three kinds of nerdy women in the world.

- The Sexy Nerd

- The Confident Nerd; and

- The So-Socially-Awkward-it’s-Painful-to-Watch Nerd.

You can probably guess which one I am. After witnessing me making a fool of myself, Chance Hoffman decided to take pity on me. He’s smart, sexy, charming, and totally out of my league… and for some unexplainable reason, he wants to help me. Who am I to say no? Besides, I need all the assistance I can get.

There are three things that make a woman irresistible.

- Confidence

- A Wicked Sense of Humor; and

- A Killer Rack.

Melany Fitzgerald had none of those things. Or so I thought… until I really got to know her. She’s the total package and she doesn’t even realize it. Now I’m stuck with the uncomfortable task of helping her land another guy, all the while trying to ignore the fact that I’m starting to fall for her. 

She thinks she’s an ugly duckling and wants to become a swan. All I want is her. And I’m not giving up without a fight.



REVIEW:

“Chance finally gets his chance, 5 stars”

Now if you’ve been reading Prince for a while you’ve known about Chance, and if you haven’t then that’s okay. Chance is the misfortunate soul who somehow ends up liking females who are completely and totally unavailable. He is always in the dreaded friend-zone, but he is awesome about it. Which has made us die hard Prince fans waiting with baited breath to see if his happily ever would ever get written. Well it did.

Chance is a good looking attorney who is basically just waiting for Miss. Right. He’s sweet, romantic, and an all round swoon worthy dude. When he sees a slightly awkward girl at his ex’s engagement party he can’t help but find out her story. The minute he meets Melany he knows there is more than what meets the eye. But once again he settles with the fact he will most likely be friend-zoned…or will he? Chance helps Melany find out who she really is, pushes her to see that she really is beautiful, all the while wanting her heart for himself.

Melany has had the definition of a rough life. It’s one pathetic story after the next. Your heart really goes out to her because seriously no one deserves the amount of bad luck the chick has had. Due to life she is withdrawn and really doesn’t know how to talk or act around people, making conversations extremely awkward. Much like her first encounter with Chance. But good old Chance doesn’t see it that way, he finds her intriguing. When Chance apologizes for a misunderstanding it sets off a whole chain of events that end up with the two in love. But does Melany want his love or that of another mans?

Take this wildly funny cringe-worthy journey with Chance and Melany. Once again Prince leaves us sighing with happiness for another couple. The road isn’t paved for these two but the bumps and turns will be worth it. Plus, if you’ve read Prince before you get peeks of our favorite Locklaine couples. 

Here are a couple quotes from Chance Encounters I really enjoyed;

“I was going to do anything and everything I could to insinuate myself into her life as someone she eventually came to depend on. Once I achieved that, I’d make my move.”

“She stood up, smiled sweetly over her shoulder, and that insane, feral desire to take her surged through my bloodstream.”

“Real life is so much better than a fairy tale.”

Star Ratings:

Plot- 5/5

Characters- 5/5

Heat- 5/5

Writing style- 5/5

Overall- 5/5

REVIEW - Tequila & Tailgates - Andrea Johnston

TITLE - Tequila & Tailgates (A Country Road #2)

AUTHOR - Andrea Johnston

BLURB:

Four years ago, I took the biggest risk of my life and it blew up in my face. I learned my lesson – love sucks. 

Now self-preservation and protecting my heart have become second nature. But Jameson Strauss... he's my weakness. 

Give me the occasional shot of tequila, a game of Truth or Dare, and I’ll do almost anything for that man.

Four years ago, I didn’t follow my heart. I let the one girl that consumed my soul walk away without a fight. 

Now I go through the motions never truly living. But, the day Ashton Sullivan needed me was the day my world changed for the better. 

Tequila, truths, and the occasional dare are all I need to show her how good we can be. 

Sometimes the truth is in the dare.

REVIEW:

“Enemies to lovers, 5 stars”

When Ben took off for college, Jameson was given the task to watch out for Ben’s sister Ashton. He took his role seriously and tried to fill Ben’s shoes to the best of his abilities. But one day that all blew up in his face. He discovered that he had feelings for her. One misstep took their friendship and it dissolved everything he had worked hard to protect. His once sweet girl was now attacking.

When a disaster sends her back into his arms. Or more accurately his house. They will live together for a short time and he will try and repair what he can between them. But one thing leads to another only this time they might not be able to repair the fall out.

Ashton has been partially in love with Jameson since she was young. She can’t stand his parade of women in and out of his life leading her to protect herself the only way she knows how, with her sharp tongue. When she’s forced to live with him for a small amount of time she’s sure blood will be drawn. Ashton braces herself for the heartache she is sure is to come, but maybe just maybe she is the cause of it this time and not Jameson.

In Tequila & Tailgates there are loads of secrets and truths. You figure out with Jameson and Ashton how to navigate the sticky situation they are in. If you read Whiskey & Honey then you see old characters you’ve already met, along with some new ones.

This is one of those stories you want to yell at the characters to stop, because you know their well-intended intentions aren’t going to work the way they are hoping. It’s a great story and I can’t wait to see whose story Johnston does next.

Here are a couple pieces of Tequila & Tailgates that I enjoyed;

“Tequila makes me do really bad things. In the past, it’s made me choose the dare, make the first move when I’m lying next to a man I have feelings for, and on an occasion or two maybe, just maybe, think I’m a professional fighter and some small-town version of Ronda Rousey. Not that I’ve been in an actual fight, but it’s made me think I could be.”

“One syllable. One word. That’s all it takes before our lips collide. They don’t meet. They don’t connect. They collide.”

“My dad used to tell me when I was younger that when I found the woman who pushed me to be a better man, the woman who accepted my flaws, and the woman who found humor in my quirks, that was the one to marry.”

Star Ratings:

Plot- 5/5

Characters- 5/5

Heat- 5/5

Writing style- 5/5

Overall- 5/5

REVIEW - Whiskey & Honey - Andrea Johnston

TITLE - Whiskey & Honey

AUTHOR - Andrea Johnston

BLURB:



Guys have rules. Rule #1: You don't date your sister’s best friend.

Bentley Sullivan hasn't found the one. He's always been the good guy - the gentleman. With one quick, and possibly irrational, decision everything changes. After a case of mistaken identity and a drunken kiss, Ben is convinced that the one is finally right in front of him. Only, she's untouchable.

Girls have rules. Rule #1: You don't date your best friend’s brother.

Piper Lawrence has not been successful in love. Almost as quickly as she swears off men, he comes into her life. Her childhood crush and the man who has set the standards for every man she’s ever dated, he is also the one man she can’t have. 

A single kiss changes it all.

REVIEW:

“Sometimes love is right in front of you, 5 stars”

Bentley aka Ben has finally come home. After graduation, he went off to college then got a job in the city, making trips back home few and far between. His goal was always to come back to his home town and teach, but sometimes you get stuck in a rut.

Well he finally got himself out and he’s in for a surprise of a lifetime. Fresh out of a relationship he wasn’t looking for a woman but he wasn’t opposed to it. Then one night he sees a striking red head enter the bar and it's basically game over.

Piper is Ben’s sister's best friend, always has been and always will be. Piper has kept one secret from Ashton and that was in the sake of their friendship, the secret being she’s always kind of sort of been in love with Ben.

When Ben comes back into town it sends Piper into a tailspin. She’s never had much confidence in herself, making the idea of Ben wanting her a little hard to grasp. Is a relationship with Ben versus the potential of losing Ashton worth it? Especially when she doesn’t believe it will last.

Piper really blossoms when she’s with Ben. He makes her believe in herself and discover who the woman behind the insecurities really is. Ben lost himself when he lived in the city so this is also a story of him discovering his former self and really getting back to his roots.

The story is awesome. You have so many positive influences in the story between the friends and Ben’s parents. Ashton might not be privy to the couple’s relationship status to start with and her acceptance is up in the air, but would she really be willing to throw away her relationship with her brother and the girl she always considered as sister?

Johnston really painted a clear picture for Ben and Piper’s story. I could see it playing out in front of me. Johnston is a new to me author and I can’t wait to get my hands on her next story.


Here are a couple of quotes I enjoyed;

“I want to make her eyes sparkle as she comes undone beneath me. I want to tell her how having her in my arms is the only time I know everything I’m doing makes sense.”

“Yep, together. I told you before and I meant it. I want to be with you, Piper. I want us to go out to dinner, grab a coffee, go for runs, hold hands in public. I want to kiss you whenever I want and for the love of all that is holy, I want to bury myself inside of you as often as possible.”

“Why is it that the minute you speak I lose all ability to think rationally? Your voice, Piper. God what your voice does to me. When you speak each syllable slips over me like the slowest pour of honey. I would listen to you read the phonebook if you wanted.”

“It didn’t used to be sneaking, but now it really is. Your mother is on some sort of kick about my diet and is driving me nuts. I’ve been hiding these small containers of ice cream in frozen broccoli bags. You know your mother would never look in a bag of broccoli.”

Boys are just dumb and it isn’t until they’re men that they appreciate what’s always been there.”

Star Ratings:

Plot- 5/5

Characters- 5/5

Heat- 5/5

Writing style- 5/5

Overall- 5/5

REVIEW - So Wicked - Melissa Marino

TITLE - So Wicked

AUTHOR - Melissa Marino 

PRE-ORDER FROM

Release Date - May 7th

BLURB:

Fate has a wicked sense of humor.

Alexis's new life was made up of two things: baking and hiding the details of her old life in Chicago. The first allowed her to finally find some happiness. And the second is about to be destroyed by a man who knows all her secrets. 

Marshall Rawlins was prepared to do anything when he moved cross-country to launch an upscale cocktail bar---anything except work with Alexis, his best friend and business partner's ex-wife. Adding Alexis's boozy-baked goods to his menu would be a major feat for his bar. But striking a deal means getting in bed with the enemy.

Battling between distrust and desire, Alexis and Marshall give in to a passionate, forbidden affair. They know if they're discovered the consequences would be bad---it's just hard to remember that when being together feels so, so good.

REVIEW:

“Wrong kind of love turned right, 5 stars”

We all know about the “code” between friends, right? If they don’t like someone then you don’t, their ex is like your ex and is off limits, when someone wrongs them they wrong you as well. This is the way it’s been since the start of time. This is the story of a man who magically falls for is his best friend’s ex even though he hates her.

Marshall is loyal in a way that is incredibly sexy. When his best friend’s wife left him he stepped up and helped Aaron in all the ways he could. He may have been a bachelor but he was in love with Aaron’s daughter Delilah and would drop everything for that blue eyed blonde with ringlets.

After the death of his mother he went through some life changes and found his true career calling and passion, the bar industry. When the opportunity to open his own bar with the help of Aaron arises he takes it. Yes, it takes him away from the two people he considers family but he has to do it for himself. Only he doesn’t see the storm coming. What will happen when a ghost from his past comes knocking? And will business turn to pleasure?

Alexis ran from her ex-husband and daughter. She was never cut out to be a mother and it was slowly killing her. The ghosts from her past mixed with her daughter wasn’t boding well for her and she thought about ending it. Someone gave her an out she needed and she took it. That doesn’t mean she didn’t love them, she just loved them enough to go. When her ex’s best friend shows up in her town and she’s supposed to do business with him she knows everything is about to change. Because truth be told Marshall is the one she wanted originally.

Marshall and Alexis fight the pull between each other like crazy. The story is intense, one minute you want them to get together and the next you want her far away from Marshall. But it’s not just about them, what about Aaron and Delilah? Can one truly move on from the past or is the past repeating itself?

At first I hated this story, only because I didn’t want to know Alexis. When her past was revealed everything suddenly fell into place and made sense. Next thing I knew is I was rooting for Marshall and Alexis and for Aaron to accept them.

Marino set up a story that was perfect about someone moving on and about how the love from the right person can really set one free. The secondary characters new and old were awesome. I loved Alexis' best friend. The story just simply fell into place. I would defiantly recommend not only this book but this series to anyone.


Here are a couple quotes from So Wicked that I really liked;

“The hint of a garter holding up the lace top of her stocking. I couldn’t help but stare. I don’t think any man could not have, but when she stood back up, she caught me fixated on her legs. Her hands pushed the skirt back into place as her cheeks flushed in embarrassment. The innocent blush. The sexy garters and stockings. It was too much for me.”

“and I knew that when I saw her tomorrow, the harshness of what I’d just said would still be hanging in the air like stale beer and cigarette smoke.”

“There was desire and tragedy and so much hidden beneath the blue. I wanted to reach inside and pull it all out of her. I wanted to lay it in front of her so she could see all the things I did, all the wondrous things that rose above all the past bullshit. It was there. I just couldn’t reach it yet.”

Star Ratings:

Plot- 5/5

Characters- 5/5

Heat- 5/5

Writing style-5/5

Overall- 5/5

Release Blitz - Bombshell - CD Reiss

Bombshell, an all-new sexy and swoony standalone from CD Reiss is now LIVE!

Bombshell by CD Reiss
Publication Date: May 1st, 2017
Publisher: Montlake
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

Hollywood bad boy Brad Sinclair always gets his way, whether it’s the role he wants or the bikini-clad model he has to have. But when a bombshell gets dropped in his lap in the form of a dimpled five-year-old from a forgotten relationship, he knows his life is about to change forever.

Cara DuMont isn’t exactly thrilled when she gets assigned to be the nanny for the latest box-office king. She has one rule: no celebrity fathers, especially single ones with devilish good looks and rock-hard abs.

But as soon as Cara meets Brad and his adorable little girl, she knows she’s in for a world of trouble. Because there’s something about the way Brad looks at her that makes her believe that some rules are meant to be broken…

Read Today!

(Free in Kindle Unlimited)

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2oyQhoz

Amazon UK: http://tinyurl.com/jzo7dly

Add to Goodreads: http://tinyurl.com/zhgfx32

About the Author

CD Reiss is a New York Times bestseller. She still has to chop wood and carry water, which was buried in the fine print. Her lawyer is working it out with God but in the meantime, if you call and she doesn't pick up she's at the well hauling buckets.

Born in New York City, she moved to Hollywood, California to get her master's degree in screenwriting from USC. In case you want to know, that went nowhere but it did give her a big enough ego to write novels.

She's frequently referred to as the Shakespeare of Smut which is flattering but hasn't ever gotten her out of chopping that cord of wood.

If you meet her in person, you should call her Christine.

Connect with CD Reiss:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2iwpkPQ
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CDReiss.writer/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cdreisswriter
Instagram: https://instagram.com/cdreiss/
Website: www.cdreiss.com
Newsletter: https://cdreiss.com/cd-reiss-mailing-list-signup/

Release Day Launch - Joy Ride - Lauren Blakely

From #1 NYT Bestselling author Lauren Blakely, comes a steamy new standalone rivals-to-lovers romance…

JOY RIDE!

Now available on all retailers!Get ready for the ride of your life, and grab your copy today!

✮✮✮ JOY RIDE is here! Grab your copy today! ✮✮✮

From the #1 New York Times Bestselling author of FULL PACKAGE and BIG ROCK, comes a hot & hilarious new standalone romantic comedy...

Let's be honest, ladies. A good man is a lot like the perfect car. You want a hot body, an engine that purrs, and superior performance under the hood...for the best joy ride of your life.

I'm at your service. Ready to go all night long.

But then a wildly sexy brunette appears in my life and throws a wrench in all my plans. She's fiery, she's talented, she's gorgeous, and I'd really like to know what makes her engine hum.

Henley also happens to be my biggest rival, and now we're forced to work together every day on the most important custom car build of my career. The trouble is I can't quite figure out if she wants to kick me in the lug nuts or beg me to give her a good, hard fuel injection. Until one night that question is answered on the hood of a sports car when she calls out my name three times. And we can't seem to put on the brakes.

If sleeping with the enemy is a bad idea, how much more dangerous would it be to fall in love with her?

 

You can find this sexy standalone romantic comedy available across all retailers now!

✦ Amazon US ✦ Amazon UK ✦ Amazon CA ✦ Amazon AU

✦ iBooks ✦ Barnes & Noble ✦ Kobo ✦ Google Play ✦ Amazon Paperback

Excerpt:

Henley Rose and a hot car go together like peaches and cream, like fine Scotch and a long, dirty night. Which means working with her was like walking into the Garden of Eden every single day. It was a test of willpower because the woman could craft a car as if it were an erotic dance.

Not a striptease.

Not an in-your-face pelvis thrust.

But a beautiful fucking ballet of a woman seducing machine. Those hands, the way she wielded tools, the intensity in her focus—it was sensual, and it was sinful, and it was this man’s fantasy made flesh.

Imagine what it was like working with her for one, hard-on year.

I mean, hard year.

I survived the challenge because she had talent to spare. And I never treated her differently because she was a woman, or because I thought about her naked an obscene amount of the time. I treated her like anyone else—specifically, all the people I work with who I never ever imagine in anything less than full-on Siberian winter garb, complete with the thermals and Michelin Man coat.

“Black heart still intact.” I tap my sternum. “Same model as before.”

“I’d have thought you’d get an upgrade by now. Faulty parts and all.”

“No recall needed on the ticker. It works just fine in this cruel bastard.” I say, reminding her of the words she’d uttered the day she stormed out.

She arches a brow. “Shame. You should have let me replace it. I’m good at making all sorts of clunkers run better.”

Jesus Christ. She still takes no prisoners. “I’ve no doubt you have all the tools to fix anything, and if you couldn’t find the right one, you’d use a blowtorch.”

She adopts an expression of indignation. “There’s nothing wrong with using a blowtorch,” she says, taking extra time on the first syllable.

How the hell did I ever last with this woman? Before I can even fashion a comeback, she taps her toe against the tire on Wagner’s car. “I see you still like to make your cars with big, manly wheels.”

I roll my eyes then make a give it to me now motion with my hands. “All right, Henley. Deliver the punchline.”

She bats her lashes. “What punchline?”

“Big? Manly? You’re going to say it’s some sort of compensation thing going on. That’s what you always said about the guys who wanted the biggest cars with the biggest wheels.”

She smirks. “Was I wrong in my assessment?”

I laugh. “I don’t know. I didn’t check to see how that added up for them.”

“Nor did I. My focus was always on the work.”

“As well it should have been.”

“That’s what you taught me.”

“I’m glad you learned that lesson.”

“I learned so many lessons from you.”

---

✦The audiobook will be narrated by Sebastian York! Link coming soon!✦

---

“If I was going to place a bet on an author to consistently deliver a FANTASTIC romance time and time again, I would put all my money on Lauren Blakely. She always writes amazing comedic romances—they are sexy, entertaining and always original. Consider me a fangirl.”

~Mary, Harlequin Junkie

"At some points during my read, I would have to remind myself to breathe. I was so utterly consumed with what I was reading, with the compelling chemistry between Henley and Max . . . The S. E. X. Was. Soooooo HOTT. I'd argue it was Blakely's best writing by far."

~Jess at joandisalovebooks

"The dynamic between Max and Henley is addictive, and the story line in Joy Ride was down right juicy! I can't wait for you to read it."

~Angie, Angie & Jessica's Dreamy Reads

Add it to Goodreads here!

http://bit.ly/2bUfoME

And don’t miss Lauren Blakely’s other standalone Romantic Comedies!

BIG ROCK
MISTER O
WELL HUNG
FULL PACKAGE

✮✮✮Enter to win this amazing JOY RIDE GIVEAWAY!✮✮✮

Celebrate the release of JOY RIDE with this amazing giveaway!

 

The JOY RIDE giveaway is filled with:

✮       Kate Spade Patton Leather Tote and Kate Spade Desktop Planner ($325 value)

✮       $50 Gift Card to Bath and Body Works

✮       $50 Gift Card to Amazon

http://laurenblakely.com/joyridereleaseweekgiveaway/

About Lauren Blakely:

A #1 New York Times Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary romance style that's hot, sweet and sexy. She lives in California with her family and has plotted entire novels while walking her dogs. With fourteen New York Times bestsellers, her titles have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestseller Lists more than seventy-five times, and she's sold more than 1.5 million books. In May she'll release JOY RIDE, a standalone romantic comedy. To receive an email when Lauren releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter! laurenblakely.com/newsletter

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