Monthly Archives: January 2019

Now or Never (San Francisco Thunder #4) by Victoria Denault-a review

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Now or Never (San Francisco Thunder #4) by Victoria Denault-a review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo / Google Play

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 15, 2019

From the bestselling author of the Hometown Players series comes a sexy romance about a bad boy hockey player who wants a second chance to win the heart of his high school crush.

All Winnie Braddock wants is a quiet place to be alone and time to heal her battered heart. But the refuge she’d hoped for in her family’s summer cottage is destroyed when she gets there to find Holden Hendricks literally camped out in the driveway. He made her life hell when they were kids, and despite what he says, it doesn’t look like much has changed. She doesn’t care if her brother hired Holden to renovate the house this winter; she wants him gone.

You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take. Holden knows that hockey saying all too well. After all, he could have gone pro if he hadn’t messed up so much as a kid. But now he’s desperate to prove he’s changed for the better, especially to Winnie Braddock. As the two work together to fix the cottage piece by piece, they realize that perhaps they can give each other the new beginning they’ve both been waiting for-if they’re just willing to take the shot.

••••••••

REVIEW: NOW OR NEVER is the fourth instalment in Victoria Denault’s contemporary, adult SAN FRANCISCO THUNDER romance series. This is thirty year old, home renovator Holden Hendricks, and twenty-nine year old, primary school teacher Winnie Braddock’s story line. NOW OR NEVER can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Winnie and Holden) NOW OR NEVER follows the enemies to lovers, acrimonious relationship between thirty year old, home renovator Holden Hendricks, and twenty-nine year old, primary school teacher Winnie Braddock. Years earlier Winnie’s brother Jude’s best friend Holden Hendrick’s made Winnie’s life a living h*ll. Teasing and bullying escalated until the day Winnie punched Holden and broke his nose. Fast forward to present day wherein Holden Hendrick’s has returned to his home town, unwelcome and without forgiveness for sins of the past. When given the opportunity to renovate and repair the Braddock’s family cottage in Maine Holden will come face to face with his past, a past that is unwilling to forgive and forget. Enter Winnifred Braddock, and the woman with whom Holden will fall in love. What ensues is the tempestuous relationship between Holden and Winnie, and the potential fall-out as secrets and the inability to trust continue to push Holden at every turn.

Holden Handricks’ life was destroyed when at the age of ten, his mother died in a freak accident. Angry and grieving, for the next several years, Holden lashed out at everyone and everything, including our story line heroine. Holden’s earlier self-destruction destroyed any chance of turning professional in the game he loved, a game he sacrificed for someone else. Hoping to make amends to everyone back home, the constant rejection was difficult and painful. Winnie Braddock just buried her beloved father and is unable to let go of the grief and pain. Breaking up with her boyfriend of eleven years meant Winnie wanted time alone never thinking she would spend weeks with a man she decreed her mortal enemy. Living side by side Winnie would soon discover that the man with whom she is falling in love is not the same, angry boy whose actions turned her life upside down.

The relationship between Winnie and Holden is acrimonious at best. Their bitter and caustic back and forth is fuelled by Winnie’s inability to trust, and the reminder of a time long ago when Holden did everything to push Winnie’s buttons. Secrets from the past, and Winnie’s issues of trust continue to dog our couple throughout the story. The $ex scenes are passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are reintroduced to Winnie’s brother Jude and his wife Zoey (Scored #1), and their sisters Dixie and Eli (Slammed #2), Sadie and Griffin (When It’s Right #3); as well as a Winnie’s friend and townie Cat’ Holden’s sister Bradie and her son Duke, and a couple of Holden’s friends from the past.

The world building departs from hockey and the San Francisco Thunder. Holden was a rising star in the junior hockey leagues but life choices destroyed any chances for a professional career, a career every knows would have been as successful as Jude’s.

NOW OR NEVER is a story of family and friendship, death and loss, forgiveness and moving forward. The character driven premise is engaging and spirited; the characters are broken, flirty and real; the romance is moving and emotional. NOW OR NEVER reveals the pain of childhood trauma; the regret of sins and bullying; and the second chances for two people hurt by words and loss. On the flip side, I struggled with the heroine’s immature attitude throughout most of the story, sometimes too much childish behaviour is difficult to accept.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book three-WHEN IT’S RIGHT

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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Ride Me (Jaded Ivory #2) by Rebecca Brooke-a review

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RIDE ME (Jaded Ivory #2) by Rebecca Brooke-a review

ebook ONLY 99¢ Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 26, 2018

Regret.

I’m a man living with regret. It eats at me night and day.

Eights years ago, I ran from Reagan instead of facing the music. I was sure he would shut me out if he knew the truth, so I beat him to the punch. I left and never looked back.

Or at least I tried not to.

To this day, Reagan is always in the back of my mind, trying to make me remember the fun we had. I always wonder what he would have thought if I’d told him everything.

The regret echoes in my head.

Now he’s standing in front of me, looking for answers I doubt he’s ready for.

Can Reagan accept me for who I really am?

••••••••

REVIEW:  RIDE ME is the second instalment in Rebecca Brooke’s contemporary, adult JADED IVORY erotic, rock romance series focusing on the members of the rock band Jaded Ivory. This is twenty six year olds, Jaded Ivory’s drummer Sawyer Alason, and attorney Reagan Setton’s story line. RIDE ME can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.

NOTE: RIDE ME contains graphic scenes of M/M sexual situations that may not be suitable for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual firs person perspectives (Sawyer and Reagan) RIDE ME follows the rekindling friendship and building romance between twenty six year olds, former best friends, Jaded Ivory’s drummer Sawyer Alason, and attorney Reagan Setton. From the age of seven Reagan and Sawyer were best friends but the day before each was to head off to college, Sawyer disappeared without explanation. Fast forward to present day wherein Reagan is desperate to reconnect with his best friend, the friend he hasn’t heard from in close to eight years. Enter Jaded Ivory’s drummer Sawyer Alason, and the man with whom Reagan will fall in love. What ensues is the rebuilding friendship, and romance between Reagan and Sawyer, and the potential fall-out as neither one has come out of the proverbial closet, threatening their hard fought anonymity with the media and friends.

Sawyer Alason has always known he was gay but having fallen in love with Reagan at the age of sixteen, Sawyer struggled with the potential loss of his best friend, a friend from whom he walked away without explanation. Now the drummer for the up and coming rock band Jaded Ivory, Sawyer is hoping Reagan’s reappearance won’t be destroyed when the truth is revealed. Reagan Setton never considered himself gay or bi-sexual but reconnecting with Sawyer Alason found our hero wondering about the what ifs, including his strong and visceral reaction to a man he once considered his best friend.

The relationship between Reagan and Sawyer is a rekindling friendship; a best friends to lovers M/M romance that struggles in the face of potential rejection, discrimination and loss of family and friends. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are re-introduced to the members of the band: lead singer Mari Cosmann, and her boyfriend Cole Wallace (Rock Me #1); Keyboardist Heath Marshall, lead guitarist Jackson Hadden and bass player Monty Vance, as well as band manager Tom; Sawyer’s parents Charlene and Derek: and Reagan’s parents Kathleen and Tommy.

RIDE ME is a story of family, friendship, loyalty, and heart break. The premise is engaging and endearing; the characters are colorful, and charismatic; the romance is seductive and passionate. RIDE ME is a wonderful , sensitive and spirited story line of friendship, second chances, and falling in love.

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Reviewed by Sandy

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One Night Gamble by Katherine Garbera – a Review

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One Night Gamble by Katherine Garbera – a Review

 

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Description:
Talia Spencer’s life is the epitome of boring and predictable. But then she meets him…

The first time she meets Casey Waltham, she’s buying condoms…for her grandmother. And of course drops them accidentally at his feet. Face plant.

The second time she sees him, she’s this close to landing her dream job and is celebrating at a club. Two chance encounters in the same day–that’s got to be a sign, right?

He’s charming and flirty and just what Talia needs for the night.

But it was just supposed to be a hook-up. At least, that’s what she thought…until he turns out to be her new boss… 

 

Review;

One Night Gamble by Katherina Garbera is a new read/author for me.  I love all things Vegas and thought what the heck I’ll give this one a go.  I’m glad I did because it didn’t disappoint.  It’s a fun and fast read and I really liked the chemistry between Talia and Casey.  They were a fun, flirty and charming couple and they made if very easy to like both of them. 

Talia and Casey both come from troubled backgrounds and have an automatic pull towards each other from their first chance meeting.  They seem to understand each other and bring out the best in one another.  I also enjoyed the cast of secondary characters who helped to fill in the backstories of both Talia and Casey.  Talia’s grandmother and her friends who live in a retirement community are a hoot and watching Casey interact with them is even more entertaining.  I loved all these scenes as they gave me more insight and understanding to where Talia is coming from in terms of her inability to fully trust and get past the fact that Casey is a professional gambler.  

Casey’s friends who are more like brothers as they grew up together in a group home fill in the blanks and bring Casey’s rise to fame in the gambling world to light for us.  Casey’s friends allow us to see why it’s so important for Casey to get Talia to see things from his perspective and why she is so important to him.  I really liked his two friends, even if one of them was the reason for the drama and temporary split between Talia and Casey.  I enjoyed watching his friend come to the conclusion he was being a totally donkey and eventually apologized to Talia and helped Casey win her back.  I was glad to see he has some redeeming qualities in him and now I want to read his story to see why he’s got that impression where love is concerned.  Ms. Garbera does a good job of introducing his two friends and giving us just enough information on them that leaves us salivating for more where these to hunks are concerned. 

I kinda felt like One Night Gamble is Ms. Garbera’s starting block for a rather entertaining and sexy series for her Joker’s Wild books.  Yes she focuses on Talia and  Casey’s story in One Night Gamble and keeps us entertained by this couple, but at the same time she’s carefully and meticulously setting the stage for more to come in this series with her secondary characters. If you enjoy anything Vegas along with some sexy chemistry all mixed in with a little fun and drama then One Night Gamble by Katherine Garbera is a perfect fit for you. 

Until next time, happy reading my bookworms!!    

Reviewed by Marcie

Copy provided by Publisher

 

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Prisoner of Night (Black Dagger Brotherhood 16.5) by J.R. Ward-a review

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PRISONER OF NIGHT (Black Dagger Brotherhood #16.5) by J.R. Ward-a review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo / Google Play

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 7, 2019

From #1 New York Times bestselling author J.R. Ward comes an unforgettable story of passion and vengeance in the Black Dagger Brotherhood world.

When Ahmare’s brother is abducted, there is nothing she won’t do to get him back safely. She is unprepared, however, for the lengths she will have to go to save his life. Paired with a dangerous but enticing prisoner, she embarks on an odyssey into another world.

Duran, betrayed by his father, imprisoned in a dungeon for decades, has survived only because of his thirst for vengeance. He has been biding his time to escape and is shocked to find an unlikely and temporary freedom in the form of a determined young female.

Battling against deadly forces and facing unforeseen peril, the pair are in a race to save Ahmare’s brother. As time runs out, and the unthinkable looms, even true love may not be enough to carry them through.

••••••••

REVIEW: PRISONER OF THE NIGHT by J.R. Ward is a stand alone, contemporary, adult, paranormal, romance story line in the world of the author’s Black Dagger Brotherhood. This is vampires Ahmare and Duran’s story line. PRISONER OF NIGHT can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty.

NOTE: PRISONER OF NIGHT contains scenes of graphic torture and violence that may not be suitable for all readers.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Ahmar and Duran) PRISONER OF NIGHT follows female vampire Ahmare as she barters for the release of her brother Ahlan, imprisoned by warlord Chalen the Conqueror. Demanding payment and services for her brother’s release Chalen sends Ahmare on two quests: to bring back the severed head of a local drug dealer; and to find and return Chalen’s ‘beloved’. Enter Duran, another vampire prisoner of Chalen the Conqueror, and the man with whom Ahmare will fall in love. What ensues is the journey across country for Ahmare and Duran; the building relationship and love between our leading couple, and the potential fall-out as Duran sets out on a quest of his own to destroy the man that destroyed everyone he loved.

Duran knows where Chalen’s beloved is kept but the journey to freedom brings back too many memories of the past, a past that imprisoned our hero for over twenty –one years enduring torture and abuse at the hands of Chalen the Conqueror. Ahmare is desperate to negotiate her brother’s release but working with Duran finds our heroine falling for a man who is willing to sacrifice himself for the ultimate goal.

PRISONER OF NIGHT focuses on never-before mentioned side-characters of J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood, characters with no connection to the main series but characters whose lives, like the Black Dagger Brotherhood’s, are affected by torture, pain and abuse, with the added benefit of a ‘religious cult’, previously unknown to the Scribe Virgin and Wrath the King.

We are introduced to Ahmare’s long suffering brother Ahlan; Chalen the Conqueror; Duran’s friend Nexi, and Duran’s father Excalduran.

PRISONER OF NIGHT is a tale of survival, dedication, vengeance and love. The premise is heart breaking, emotional and raw; the characters are broken, determined and lost; the romance is passionate and intense, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

Copy supplied by the publisher

Reviewed by Sandy

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Trails of Love (The Bradens and Montgomerys: Pleasant Hill-Oak Falls #3) by Melissa Foster-Review & Giveaway Tour

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TRAILS OF LOVE (The Bradens and Montgomerys: Pleasant Hill-Oak Falls #3) by Melissa Foster-Review & Giveaway Tour

 

 

Amazon.com / Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.ca / Barnes and Noble / KOBO/ / iBooks/ / GPlay / Paperback

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 9, 2019

When Graham Braden travels to Oak Falls, Virginia to attend the wedding of his buddy Reed Cross to Grace Montgomery, he sticks around to help with renovations to Reed’s new theater. The last thing he expects is to be asked to assess and possibly invest in Grace’s sister Morgyn’s business endeavor. Graham is a careful, keen businessman, and Morgyn is impulsive, disorganized, and more interested in the energy flow in her eclectic retail shop than in the accuracy of her records. While Graham isn’t ready to open his pockets to the sassy, sexy business owner, he may be ready to open his heart.

The Bradens & Montgomerys are part of Melissa’s Love in Bloom big-family romance collection. All Love in Bloom novels are written to stand alone and may also be enjoyed as part of the larger series, so dive right into this fun, sexy romance.

•••••••••••••

REVIEW:  TRAILS OF LOVE is the third instalment in Melissa Foster’s contemporary, adult The Bradens and Montgomerys: Pleasant Hill-Oak Falls romance series-a spin off from the author’s Bradens at Pleasant Hills series. This is free spirit / independent business-woman Morgyn Montgomery, and financial investor/advisor Graham Braden’s story line. TRAILS OF LOVE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Morgyn and Graham) TRAILS OF LOVE follows the instant attraction and building relationship between free spirit / independent business woman Morgyn Montgomery, and financial investor/advisor Graham Braden. At a recent music festival Morgyn will ‘catch’ Graham with his pants down but their instant attraction finds our couple promising the future, and a potential happily ever after. What ensues is the quick building romance between Graham and Morgyn, and the potential fall-out as Graham’s business takes him around the world, leaving a heartbroken Morgyn to pick up the pieces.

Morgyn Montgomery lives to repurpose and redesign but her favorite pastime is remembering the grandfather who taught her to live and love life, including the trains he so much adored. Graham Braden is a successful businessman whose well-ordered life is turned upside down by the woman with whom he would fall in love, a woman who represents everything he wants and more.

TRAILS OF LOVE is a story of insta-lust/love between a free spirited heroine, and a man who is a stickler for order. There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including all of the Braden and Montgomery siblings, who may or may not be looking for love. The premise is fast paced, flirty and realistic; there is very little story line conflict; the characters are sexy and sassy; the romance is passionate, tender and seductive without the use of over the top sexually graphic language and text. TRAILS OF LOVE is a spirited and heart warming story from the pen of Melissa Foster.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews

Embracing Her Heart
Anything for Love
Trails of Love

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

 

 

More Bradens & Montgomerys: Pleasant Hill – Oak Falls 
EMBRACING HER HEART
Embracing Her Heart (The Montgomerys Book 1) by [Foster, Melissa]
Leaving New York City and returning to her hometown to teach a screenplay writing class seems like just the break Grace Montgomery needs. Until her sisters wake her at four thirty in the morning to watch the hottest guys in town train wild horses and she realizes that escaping her sisters’ drama-filled lives was a lot easier from hundreds of miles away. To make matters worse, she spots the one man she never wanted to see again—ruggedly handsome Reed Cross. 

Reed was one of Michigan’s leading historical preservation experts, but on the heels of catching his girlfriend in bed with his business partner, his uncle suffers a heart attack. Reed cuts all ties and returns home to Oak Falls to run his uncle’s business. A chance encounter with Grace, his first love, brings back memories he’s spent years trying to escape. 

Grace is bound and determined not to fall under Reed’s spell again—and Reed wants more than another taste of the woman he’s never forgotten. When a midnight party brings them together, passion ignites and old wounds are opened. Grace sets down the ground rules for the next three weeks. No touching, no kissing, and if she has it her way, no breathing, because every breath he takes steals her ability to think. But Reed has other ideas… 
Available to buy from …
ANYTHING FOR LOVE
Embracing Her Heart (The Montgomerys Book 1) by [Foster, Melissa]
After Charlotte Sterling loses her last family member, she moves to Sterling House, her family’s Colorado mountain inn, to live a solitary life. As an erotic romance writer, her days and nights are filled with passion and intrigue-even if only fictional. She loves her busy, quiet lifestyle, and she learned early on that real men can’t live up to the fictional heroes she creates-until ruggedly handsome Beau Braden arrives to do some work at the inn and, for the first time in forever, she’s intrigued by a real man.

 

Beau lost his first love years ago, and he’s never let go of his guilt over her death. As he nears the anniversary of his loss, he is on the cusp of becoming the star of a home-renovation reality show. Escaping the painful memories of his past to work at the defunct old inn is just the promise of solitude he needs to clear his head before diving in to the all-too-public career. But he didn’t count on being attracted to the whimsical, adorably sexy innkeeper.

 

Neither Charlotte nor Beau is looking for an attachment or a fling. But the more they learn about each other, the closer they become. Romantic evenings lead to intimate conversations, and neither can deny their deep connection or the passion it sparks. They’ve never fully healed on their own, but together maybe anything is possible. 
The Bradens & Montgomerys are part of Melissa’s Love in Bloom big-family romance collection. All Love in Bloom novels are written to stand alone and may also be enjoyed as part of the larger series, so dive right into this fun, sexy romance.
 
Available to buy from …

Amazon.com   Amazon.co.uk   Barnes and Noble    KOBO    iBooks   GPlay   Paperback

WILD, CRAZY HEARTS – Releasing June 12th, 2019
Embracing Her Heart (The Montgomerys Book 1) by [Foster, Melissa]

Brindle Montgomery and Trace Jericho have been close friends forever and on-again off-again lovers for years. As rebellious as they are stubborn, they’re both perfectly happy with their no-strings-attached hookups. But when Brindle returns from a trip to Paris with a baby bump, it sends Trace’s wild, crazy heart into a frenzy—and Brindle is left wondering if she’s made the biggest mistake of her life.



Available to pre-order from …

 

Melissa Foster is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance, new adult romance and women’s fiction with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Readers adore Melissa’s fun, flirty, and sinfully sexy, award-winning big-family romance collection, LOVE IN BLOOM featuring the Snow Sisters, Bradens, Remingtons, Ryders, Seaside Summer, Harborside Nights, Wild Boys and Bad Boys After Dark, and the Montgomerys. Melissa’s emotional journeys are lovingly erotic and always family oriented– perfect beach reads for contemporary romance lovers who enjoy reading about loyal, wealthy heroes and smart, sassy heroines with complex and relatable issues.

Melissa also writes sweet and clean romance under the pen name Addison Cole.

Melissa has painted and donated several murals to The Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, DC. Her interests include her family, reading, writing, painting, friends, helping others see the positive side of life, and visiting Cape Cod.

Melissa is available to chat with book clubs and welcomes comments and emails from her readers. Visit Melissa on Facebook  or her personal website.

Never miss a brand new release, special promotions or inside gossip again by simply signing up to receive your newsletter from Melissa.

Find Melissa on the following sites….

Website /Facebook /Twitter/ Google+/ Goodreads/ Pinterest /Amazon Author Page

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Thinking About You (Forever Yours #2) by Monica Murphy-Review & Excerpt Tour

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THINKING ABOUT YOU ( Forever Yours #2) by Monica Murphy-Review & Excerpt  Tour

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo /Apple

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2Qcrh5s

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 9, 2019

One minute I’m minding my own business at a party and the next I meet this woman who blows my mind. She’s beautiful. Smart. Funny. A little shy. I’m immediately drawn to her. We make an instant connection.

The problem?

Lady Susanna Sumner lives in London.

I live in California

I play professional football.

She works part-time at an art gallery and lives off her family’s money.

Her family is nobility. I come from a single mom who always scraped to get by.

Susanna and I should have nothing in common. But when we’re together, it’s…

Electric.

What are we supposed to do? Can we really make this work? I can’t give up my career. And I can’t ask her to move to California for me. All I know is, I want her in my life.

Desperately.

•••••••••

REVIEW: THINKING ABOUT YOU is the second instalment in Monica Murphy’s contemporary, adult FOREVER YOUR erotic, romance series. This is twenty-five year old, San Francisco 49ers football player Cannon Whittaker, and twenty-three year old, part time art gallery worker, Britain’s Lady Susanna Sumner’s story line. THINKING ABOUT YOU can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary. FOREVER YOURS series is a spin-off from the author’s FRIENDS series.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Cannon and Susanna) THINKING ABOUT YOU follows the building relationship between twenty-five year old, San Francisco 49ers football player Cannon Whittaker, and twenty-three year old, part time art gallery worker, Britain’s Lady Susanna Sumner. When the San Francisco 49ers are invited to Britain for an exhibition game at Wembley Stadium, all bets are off when our hero meets the woman with whom he will fall in love. Four days of sight-seeing and $ex ends with tearful goodbyes, and the possibility of a long distance romance. What ensues is the quick building relationship and romance between Susanna and Cannon, as they must come to terms with their plans for a future-together or alone.

The relationship between Cannon and Susanna is quick to develop; an insta-lust/love romance that is dampened by the scheduled departure of our story line hero, a departure that comes with promises of more including face-time escapades and sexting. Cannon likes to talk dirty both in and out of the bedroom. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are reintroduced to Cannon’s 49ers’ teammates Tucker McCloud, and quarterback Jordan Tuttle and his girlfriend Amanda (You Promised Me Forever #1) as well as Susanna’s brother George; their parents Lord and Lady Harwood, George’s co-worker Priscilla, and Susanna’s best friend Evie.

THINKING ABOUT YOU is an uplifting and inspiring story line. The premise is imaginative and moving: the characters are sassy and flirty; the romance is seductive and captivating. The conflict is limited to distance and commitments.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one-YOU PROMISED ME FOREVER

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

 

“I’m thinking about how beautiful you are,” I answer Susanna truthfully. She really is stunning, in that classic, elegant way some women are. She’s just very…refined? Is that the right word? Her cheekbones and jaw are sharp, her nose is straight, her blue eyes are extra bright and her full lips are the color of a classic red rose.
Her cheeks are the color of pink roses, thanks to the compliment I just gave her.
“Thank you. That’s very sweet of you to say,” she murmurs, casting her gaze downward for a brief moment before she lifts her head. “I can’t believe we’re here. Together.”
“Why do you say that?” I feel the same way, but want to hear her reasoning first before I make any confessions.
“You’re not my type,” she blurts, covering her mouth after the words escape for a brief moment before slowly dropping her hand. “Not that there’s anything wrong with you.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Gee, thanks.”
Her cheeks turn redder. “Oh goodness, I’m not trying to insult you, I just—I’m making a mess of this, and I apologize. What I meant to say is…” She takes a deep breath, exhaling loudly before she continues. “You’re not the type of man I normally date, but there’s something good to be said in that.”
She’s not the type I normally go for either, that’s for damn sure. She’s too prim, too proper, too sweet. “Like what?”
“There’s nothing wrong with trying something a little different sometimes. Clearly who I’ve been dating in the past hasn’t worked, since I’m still single,” she says with a self-depreciating laugh.
“I thought Dickie was your ex-boyfriend,” I point out with a wince. That is the damn worst name on the planet, I swear.
“Oh, it was never too serious with Dickie.” She waves a hand. Laughs again. “That was a long time ago, though.”
“How long?”
“I don’t know. Six months? Nine?” She tilts her head, as if she’s quietly counting back the months. “Eight months, actually. During the winter. He told me I was a bright light on a cold, dreary day once. That was nice.”
For some godforsaken reason, jealousy rises within me, making me clench my fists in my lap. “I guess he’s a goddamned poet.”
I would never think to say something like that to a woman. I’m not one to say a bunch of flowery nonsense to get between a woman’s legs. I’m a little more direct.
She seems startled by my response. “Oh, he wasn’t a poet. Not at all. That was probably the nicest thing he ever said to me while we dated.”
Huh. Well, I guess that makes me feel a little better, but not much.
And why the hell do I care what her ex-boyfriend said to her? This is a one-shot deal. I’ll take her to dinner, hopefully kiss her a little bit in the back of an Uber, maybe even feel her up a little bit too, and then we’re done. I’ll play my game tomorrow, we’ll win because that’s what we do, and then head back home.
End of story.
The server returns to the table with our drinks, making an elaborate show of popping the cork on the bottle of Veuve Clicquot before pouring us each a glass. I didn’t want any champagne, but when Susanna lifts her glass toward me in a toast, I grab mine and clink our glasses together.
“To new friends,” she says, smiling prettily.
“New friends,” I agree, downing most of the champagne in one swallow. 


 

Monica Murphy is the New York Times, USA Today and #1 international bestselling author of the One Week Girlfriend series, the Billionaire Bachelors and The Rules series. Her books have been translated in almost a dozen languages and has sold over one million copies worldwide. She is both self-published and published by Random House/Bantam and Harper Collins/Avon. She writes new adult, young adult and contemporary romance.

She is a wife and a mother of three who lives in central California on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere along with their one dog and too many cats. A self-confessed workaholic, when she’s not writing, she’s reading or hanging out with her husband and kids. She’s a firm believer in happy endings, though she will admit to putting her characters through angst-filled moments before they finally get that hard won HEA.

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In Dog We Trust by Beth Kendrick – a Review

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In Dog We Trust by Beth Kendrick – a Review

 

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Description:
When everything has gone to the dogs . . .

When Jocelyn Hillier is named legal guardian for the late Mr. Allardyce’s pack of pedigreed Labrador retrievers, her world is flipped upside down. She’s spent her entire life toiling in the tourism industry in Black Dog Bay and never expected to be living the pampered life of a seasonal resident in an ocean side mansion, complete with a generous stipend. But her new role isn’t without its challenges: The dogs (although lovable) are more high-maintenance than any Hollywood diva, the man she wants to marry breaks her heart, and she’s confronted at every turn by her late benefactor’s estranged son, Liam, who thinks he’s entitled to the inheritance left to the dogs.

Jocelyn has worked too hard to back down without a fight, and she’s determined to keep her new fur family together. As she strives to uphold the “Best in Show” standards her pack requires, Jocelyn finds love, family, and forgiveness in the most unexpected places

 

 

Review:

In Dog We Trust by Beth Kendrick is the 5th book in her Black Dog Bay series.   I have not read this series before, and it reads very well as a standalone.

We meet our heroine, Jocelyn Hillier, a resident of Black Dog Bay, who works with her mom in a business cleaning sheets, towels, etc for various businesses.  Black Dog Bay is a unique town, known as   the place to get over any heartbreak, especially with stores named Whinery, Eat your Heart Out bakery, just to name a few.   While running, Jocelyn comes to the rescue of two dogs who were about to get run over by a speeding car.  The eccentric wealthy owner of the dogs offers Jocelyn a job to exercise and walk the dogs (they are show dogs) daily. 

A year later, the owner dies, and he left everything to the dogs, with the care of the dogs, including a stipend to live in his mansion to Jocelyn, with her in control of the money.  The dogs are a handful, but she loves them, and enjoys the perks of living in the mansion.  Jocelyn has to continue to help the dog trainer, despite her attitude, to keep breeding and going to shows.  

A short time after the reading of the will, Jocelyn is accosted by the deceased owner’s son, who was not happy to find out that a dog walker was given full access to the estate.  Liam approaches Jocelyn to tell her he is going to fight for his inheritance, even though he had no relationship with his father.  Needless to say, they both do not start off on good terms.

What follows is a sweet fun story line, as we watch the slow burn romance build between Jocelyn and Liam. It was fun to see how Liam helps Jocelyn with the dogs, especially during one of the dog’s birth of puppies.  The secondary characters were very good; Jocelyn’s mom, Liam’s mom (who both hit it off, which was kind of hysterical), and her best friend, Bree, who was an awesome friend. 

Things get difficult, when the dog trainer threatens to fight for custody, just when Liam and Jocelyn are coming to terms in working together.  But this is a feel good uplifting story, which was very enjoyable.  Beth Kendrick wrote a sweet light heartwarming story,with a great couple, romance, some wacky characters, and wonderful cute dogs.  What’s not to love?

In Dog we Trust is a fun book to read, and very well done by Beth Kendrick. The only thing I would have improved was the quick ending, which I thought needed a bit more detail.  But overall an enjoyable read.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

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The Highland Renegade (Lords of the Highland #5) by Amy Jarecki-Review, Guest Post & Giveaway

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The Highland Renegade (Lords of the Highland #5) by Amy Jarecki-Review, Guest Post & Giveaway

THE HIGHLAND RENEGADE
Lords of The Highlands #5
by Amy Jarecki
Release Date: January 8, 2019
Genre: adult, historical, Highland, romance

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo / Google Play

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 8, 2019

She is the daughter of his sworn enemy.
Famed for his fierceness, Laird Robert Grant is above all a loyal Highland clan chief. But when redcoats capture his rival’s daughter, he sets aside their feud and races to her rescue. Aye, Janet Cameron is beautiful, cunning, and so very tempting, but a Cameron lass is the last woman he should ever desire.

He is her one hope of happiness.
Janet refuses to meekly surrender, not even when surrounded by foes. She takes every chance to escape, first from the English soldiers and then from the wickedly handsome Robert. Yet with each day they spend together, his unexpected gallantry chips away at her reserve little by little. As danger and treachery loom, can she trust him enough to choose love over vengeance?

••••••••

REVIEW: This well written and imaginative story begins in 1712, late October in the Highlands, Inverlochy livestock auction. Janet Cameron is being escorted by her brother Kennan. She is delivering knitted goods to the Highland Benevolent Society to be distributed to the needy. Her brother will attend the livestock auction and Janet plans to do a little shopping and attend the dance later.

Robert Grant, Laird of Clan Grant, has also come to the livestock auction. He’s lost over sixty head to thieves and believes some in Clan Cameron are the ones who stole them. The evidence is only circumstantial, but there is a long running blood feud between the Cameron and Grant clans.

Robert and Janet exchange glances and glares, each feeling an attraction for the other, but denying it, even to themselves. This is a summary of the beginning and certainly not as well done or as interestingly complete as the author did. I don’t do spoilers and believe the details of the story are something a reader should discover for themselves. That in mind, the intense action begins when at the dance later the villain Lieutenant Cummins, of the Queens Dragoons, is very in his cups and insists on Janet dancing with him. She declines, and he grabs her arm, turning she slaps his face.

That sets up her rescue by Robert Grant and the reason they spend time together. Each learning and trying to deny their attraction, but love is inevitable. But loving between feuding clans is not a clear-cut course.

I thoroughly enjoyed the descriptive language, the wonderful and fully developed characters, and the situations the author created. I will be reading many more stories from this author. I thought the story was thrilling, informative and wonderfully romantic. In fact, I fell for Robert Grant as much as Janet did! If you love highland romance, this is a must read. Be prepared for a wonderfully powerful, sometimes frustrating, romance. Enjoy!

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Georgianna S

Research for Amazing Story Lines
by Amy Jarecki

Any novel requires a fair bit of research regardless of its genre. I write historical romance which, to do well, entails an inordinate amount of world building. Fortunately, I love history and discovering nuggets of factual data to weave into my stories.

When I’m at home, the first place I go is non-fiction books. My shelves are lined with volumes about the time periods in which I write. The Lords of the Highlands series takes place in the early 18th Century during the reign of Queen Anne and I read a very dry 600-page volume about her life before I started writing. Even though the queen and her court only have small roles in the books, she was the monarch and my characters were greatly affected by her rule. I’ve written over twenty Scottish historical romances, and most of my research books are about historical Scotland including, costume, clans, kings, flora and fauna, complete history and notable battles. I even have a two-volume set of books about herbal remedies, and one of my funniest references is The History of Underclothes by C. Willet and Phillis Cunnington.

I also cannot discount online research. Wikipedia is a great place to start, especially if I only need a tidbit of information. I almost always can find historical maps in the British archives, and official clan websites can lead to a wealth of information. Most castles have websites with historical information page that can be windows to more ideas. And genealogy charts are priceless when writing about figures from the past—their decedents often add notes to the chart adding color to the character’s biography.

But my favorite part of research is visiting the places I write about. It is amazing how ideas flow when standing in the midst of a ruined castle in the Highlands or alone on a secluded beach in the far north of Scotland. I’ve driven and hiked through the Scottish Caringorm Mountains. I’ve slept in 400-year-old manors. I’ve hiked through a dense forest to find an old ruined castle visited by William Wallace, and I’ve stood atop Arthurs Seat and looked out over the stunning city of Edinburgh and the Firth of Forth beyond. My bi-annual adventures to Scotland fill my tank with descriptions I could never get from a book or find online.

Below is a picture of Dunrobin Castle I took on my way up to Thurso and Orkney.

And one not-so traditional form of research is karate! I weave a great deal of action and adventure into my stories and, with it, may come a myriad of fight scenes. Almost three years ago, I embarked on a journey to make my fight scenes more realistic and enrolled in a local karate school. At the time, I thought I might take classes for six months and that would be the end of it, but two-and-a-half years later, I traveled to Salt Lake for my State black belt test. This was no easy feat. There were a series of five grueling three-hour tests before I qualified for State. I’m the oldest person in the school and I mostly train with teenagers who are far more flexible and less breakable that me. But I’ve learned so much, and hope it shows in my stories.

Receiving my black belt from my sensi in Salt Lake.

There is a critical fight scene in THE HIGHLAND RENEGADE where Robert Grant is fighting a duel of honor against Janet Cameron’s brother Kennan. The men are from opposing clans with a feud that has endured for generations, and their hatred is inbred and deep. As Janet watches them fight, Robert gains the upper hand and, just as quarter is called, Kennan lashes out with a hidden dagger and slashes the Grant laird across the cheek. Before Robert can retaliate, they are surrounded by dragoons and accused of an illicit gathering. An all-out brawl erupts with Janet in the middle. But who spirits her away? None other than her father’s greatest enemy, Grant himself.

THE HIGHLAND RENEGADE releases on January 8th and you won’t want to miss this wild ride as Janet and Robert face a devastating blizzard while they climb higher into the Highlands to elude a retinue of hostile dragoons.

Amy Jarecki is a descendant of an ancient Lowland clan and adores Scotland. Though she now resides in southwest Utah, she received her MBA from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh. Winning multiple writing awards, she found her niche in the genre of Scottish historical romance. Amy writes steamy edge-of-your-seat action adventures with rugged men and fascinating women who weave their paths through the brutal eras of centuries past.

Website  /Facebook /Twitter /Goodreads

 

Amy Jarecki, Author’s Umbrella and Grand Central Publishing are graciously offering a mass market copy of THE HIGHLAND RENEGADE to ONE (1) lucky commentator at The Reading Cafe.

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10. Giveaway runs from January 9-14, 2019

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