Tag Archives: Christine Bell

Guardian For Hire (For Hire #2) by Christine Bell-a review

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Guardian for Hire (For Hire #2) by Christine Bell-a review

Guardian for Hire

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GUARDIAN FOR HIRE (For Hire #2) by Christine Bell

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 13, 2014

Psychologist Sarabeth Lucking’s life is turned upside down when the upscale couples’ retreat she works for winds up embroiled in the biggest scandal of the year. With her reputation in tatters, she can’t imagine things getting worse, until her former co-workers are murdered, one by one. A bad-ass, ex-Army Ranger might be able to keep her safe, but something tells her she’s getting more than she bargained for…

Gavin McClintock grew up on the streets of Edinburgh, and protecting prissy Dr. Stick-Up-Her-Rear isn’t high on his list of things to do. Still, a promise is a promise, and he’ll need a clear head if he’s going to keep her off the growing list of victims. He didn’t count on the fire in her, or how distracted he’d be by her. As the flames grow hotter, he starts to wonder if she’s the one who needs protecting.

Will Sarabeth and Gavin outrun a killer and give into the passion burning between them?

REVIEW: GUARDIAN FOR HIRE is the second storyline in Christine Bell’s adult, contemporary For Hire romance series. Although this is the second in the series, it can be read as a stand alone without too much difficulty. Some of the previous storyline characters play a minor role in the story. This is Sarabeth and Gavin’s story.

Sarabeth is a psychologist whose life is about to spiral out of control when former co-workers and colleagues are dying under mysterious circumstances. Believing Sarabeth is next in line, Gavin McLintock is hired to keep Sarabeth safe and alive. But life on the run is not what Sarabeth had in mind until she finds herself holed up in Gavin’s fortress of a home. One thing leads to another and Sarabeth begins to fall for the man hired to keep her safe.

The relationship between Sarabeth and Gavin begins slowly as Gavin endeavors to keep Sarabeth safe but she has plans where Gavin is concerned. The sexual heat begins almost immediately and as the story progresses, so too, does the building love. But Gavin was hired to do a job and in the end, he will walk away from the woman with whom he is falling in love.

Christine Bell brings together a story of suspense, romance and a little sex. Guardian For Hire is a tale about two people brought together under dangerous circumstances and in the end Sarabeth is the one to keep Gavin safe when he willingly puts himself in danger to protect the woman under his care. If you like a romantic storyline with a little bit of everything, Guardian For Hire is the perfect read for a lazy afternoon.

Copy supplied by the author.

Reviewed by Sandy

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Down The Aisle (Dare Me 2.5) by Christine Bell-a review

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DOWN THE AISLE (Dare Me #3) by Christine Bell-a review

Down the Aisle

ebook special $1.99  Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 28, 2013

Lacey Garrity is about to have the wedding she’s always dreamed of. She and Galen had planned on a big family, but now fertility issues are turning that dream to ashes. When another setback comes to light a week before their wedding day, she wonders how she can marry him knowing that being with her might mean he can never have the life he imagined…

Galen Thomas loves his woman, and whether they have a big family or it’s just the two of them forever, he can’t wait to spend his life with her. With the big day coming, he’ll pull out all the stops to remind her how good it can be between them and that, together, they can do anything…if he can just get her down the aisle.

•••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: DOWN THE AISLE is the third instalment in Christine Bell’s Dare Me contemporary romance series. Down the Aisle is a novella that re-visits Lacey and Galen, our couple from Down for the Count-Dare Me #1.

Down the Aisle focuses on Lacey as she prepares for her upcoming marriage to Galen but not all is well in the relationship department. Our couple have been trying to get pregnant for close to a year, and each day brings the heartbreaking news that they are either not pregnant or the adoption has been turned down.

The reader watches as Lacy and Galen face rejection once again just days before their wedding and we watch as the couple struggle with the intimacy of their relationship.

Down the Aisle is a short story of one couple’s struggles with infertility all the while preparing for their impending nuptials. Lacey’s BFF abducts our heroine for a night on the town and for a few hours she is able to forget about her sorrows, but reality will come crashing back.

The world building is limited in the short storyline but most of the major players have been introduced in previous novels. But there is also the introduction of Galen and Lacey’s friends –Rafe and Courtney- who seem to be heading for a tumultuous and interesting storyline. There appears to be a power struggle with some BDSM play in the future.

Down the Aisle is a novella with a little bit of romance; a little bit of sensual and steamy sex; a little bit of humor and a whole lot of love. You will feel for Lacey and Galen as they struggle with some issues that many couples face in their relationship and in the end, perhaps there is happiness around the corner.

Reading Order
Down For the Count
Down and Dirty
Down The Aisle

Copy supplied by the publisher.

Reviewed by Sandy

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Dirty Trick (Perfectly Matched #1) by Christine Bell-a review

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DIRTY TRICK (Perfectly Matched #1) by Christine Bell-a review

Dirty Trick

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 23, 2013

Grace Love is lousy with men. She can spot a match for someone else a mile away, and her balls-on instincts are why her matchmaking business is thriving, but finding her own Prince Charming? The only guy who makes her sixth sense tingle is her playboy best friend, Trick, and no way is she risking their friendship, no matter how hot she knows the sex will be.

SWAT officer Trick Matthews is a patient guy, but Grace’s inability to see what’s right in front of her is grinding on his last nerve. Yeah, he blew his shot at breaking out of the friend zone when he tamped down the urge to lick her from head to toe the day they met, but he’s got a plan that’ll change her mind. Incognito at Salem’s hottest Halloween party, he’ll show her exactly how good they could be…and that he’s the man for her.

••••••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: DIRTY TRICK is the first storyline in Christine Bell’s new contemporary romance Perfectly Matched Series. This is Grace and (Pa)Trick’s –a friends to lovers story-with a twist.

The premise follows Grace Love, the co-owner of a matchmaking business and her personal struggles to find her soul-mate. Grace has the uncanny ability to match up couples-whereby she gets a ‘tingly feeling’ when a match is perfect. But for some reason, she is unable to find the perfect match for herself, and in this she believes she is a failure –with a last name like Love how could she miss. The only person with whom she gets any sort of feeling is her long time friend SWAT officer Trick Matthews. Not understanding the reason for this feeling Grace continues to search for the one person meant especially for her. When she believes she has found her perfect match, Grace is unsure as to what to do when the person refuses to reveal his true identity.

The premise is a friends to lovers storyline. Trick has felt the pull towards Grace since the first day they met, but Grace has always kept Trick in the friend column believing she was not worthy of anything beyond what they already had. And to complicate matters, Grace’s self esteem when it came to her personal love life had been shattered by a previous relationship that had all but destroyed Grace’s ability to allow herself to let go.

Dirty Trick is also a story of betrayal and deceit. Although Trick had never intended to betray or deceive Grace, he maneuvers certain situations until at one point, he has passed the boundary of no return and knows that when he finally reveals the truth to Grace, he may lose more than his chance to tell her how he feels-he may lose his friend as well. Some people are idiots and Trick certainly fits that category.

Christine Bell writes a wonderful and unique storyline that is definitely fiction-the premise is slightly unbelievable and an accident waiting to happen. It is a story with some humor, some deceit, some betrayal, some heartbreak and in the end-a happily ever after.

Copy supplied by the publisher.

Reviewed by Sandy

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Down and Dirty Blog Tour with Christine Bell

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Down and Dirty Blog Tour with Christine Bell

DownandDirtytour

About The Author

Christine BellChristine 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.

Follow Christine: Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook

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DOWN AND DIRTY (Dare Me #2)
by Christine Bell
Release Date: February 23, 2013

Link to our review: DOWN AND DIRTY

Order Links:  Amazon / Barnes and Noble / KOBO

Down and Dirty

He was a dare she’d never been able to resist…

Cat Thomas has never been the kind of girl to stick. A self-professed infatuation junky, she latches on the newest, hottest guy on the block, then finds a reason—real or imagined—to dump him. When she accepts a dare to rekindle her high school flame and jump in bed with her brother’s best friend, Shane Decker, she knows she’s in trouble. She can’t resist the man, even after all these years apart, and that just won’t do.

Shane has come back to town for a couple reasons. The biggest one? He’s tired of living away from those he loves, including Cat. But now she’s spooked and will do anything to drive a wedge between them, including trying to fix him up with other women through an online dating service.

What does he have to do to make her see that settling down doesn’t mean settling, and he’s ready to spend a lifetime proving it?

*******************

DOWN FOR THE COUNT (Dare Me #1)
by Christine Bell
Release Date: October 1, 2012

Link to our review: Down for the Count

Order Links:  Amazon / Barnes and Noble / KOBO

Down for the Count

Truth or dare…

When Lacey Garrity finds her groom in flagrante delicto in the reception hall closet with her bridesmaid, she’s saved by her best friend’s older brother—childhood tormentor, crush, and boxing bad boy Galen Thomas. Galen’s solution is both exciting and dangerous. What better way to forget the mess of her life than go on her honeymoon with a hot guy who can’t promise anything beyond today?

…or TKO?

Galen had been counting on Lacey’s wedding to put her out of reach—and out of his mind—once and for all, but their steamy Puerto Rican escape is testing all his boundaries. Now that Lacey’s embracing her inner bad girl, Galen is tempted to throw in the towel and claim her for himself. But with the biggest fight of his career on the line and an important business merger threatening to derail Lacey’s resolve, their romance might be down for the count before it even begins.

 

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Down and Dirty (Dare Me #2) by Christine Bell-a review

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DOWN AND DIRTY ( Dare Me #2) by Christine Bell-a review

Down and Dirty

Order Links: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / KOBO

ABOUT THE BOOK: Released Feb 2013

He was a dare she’d never been able to resist…

Cat Thomas has never been the kind of girl to stick. A self-professed infatuation junky, she latches on the newest, hottest guy on the block, then finds a reason—real or imagined—to dump him. When she accepts a dare to rekindle her high school flame and jump in bed with her brother’s best friend, Shane Decker, she knows she’s in trouble. She can’t resist the man, even after all these years apart, and that just won’t do.

Shane has come back to town for a couple reasons. The biggest one? He’s tired of living away from those he loves, including Cat. But now she’s spooked and will do anything to drive a wedge between them, including trying to fix him up with other women through an online dating service.

What does he have to do to make her see that settling down doesn’t mean settling, and he’s ready to spend a lifetime proving it?

***************************

REVIEW:   DOWN AND DIRTY is the second storyline in Christine Bell’s contemporary series Dare Me. This storyline focuses on Cat Thomas (Galen Thomas -our hero from Down for the Count sister) and his best friend Shane Decker.

Like Down for the Count, our couple have a previous history-one that started as teens but never proceeded any further. When Galen left for college he asked his best friend Shane to look after and protect his younger sister Mary Catherine, but little did Galen know that Cat and Shane had feelings for each other. And like most teens neither one was willing to act on their emotions. Shane became the over protective big brother-one that refused to allow Cat to have fun or stray. And Cat thought that Shane’s over bearing attitude was a sign that he hated her from the start. Only Shane has wanted Lacey for a very long time.

The relationship between Cat and Shane reconnected on a chance meeting years later when Shane attended Galen’s final professional boxing match. Without a place to stay, Cat reluctantly offered her hotel room, secretly hoping that the feelings she once felt for Shane no longer mattered. But to her surprise she had difficulty separating her emotions about the man with who vowed his protection many years before. As the storyline progressed Cat continued to waiver with regards to her feelings for Shane fearing that to accept his protection meant she accepted defeat and in doing so pushed the one many away who mattered most. By accepting a dare, Cat placed herself in a position to watch as Shane was forced into seeing other women.

Cat was a difficult character to like. She had become a successful fashion designer with her own line and feared losing her identity to a man-any many-especially a man who had sworn his protection. She wanted Shane; she knew she had lost her heart to the man; but she refused to give into the idea that loving the man would make her a better person. Cat’s identity was wrapped up in her business and she didn’t want to lose herself in a man like she believed happened to another. She pulled Shane in and then pushed in out-several times. And with one final push she may have pushed Shane away forever.

DOWN AND DIRTY is another storyline with a hero who knows what he wants and a heroine who waffles at every stage of the story. There is some angst as Cat pushes one too many times and your heart will break when Shane realizes that Cat has yet to grow up. But in true contemporary romance fashion, our couple will have their HEA but it takes a virtual stranger to show Cat that to accept love doesn’t mean you give up.

Reading Order
1. Down for the Count
2. Down and Dirty

Copy supplied by the publisher.

Reviewed by Sandy

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Down for the Count (Dare Me #1) by Christine Bell-a review

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DOWN FOR THE COUNT (Dare Me #1) by Christine Bell-a review

Down for the Count

Amazon / Barnes and Noble / KOBO

About the book: Release October 1, 2012

NOTE:  The Reading Cafe will be part of Christine’s DOWN AND DIRTY Blog Tour on April 9, 2013 for the release of DOWN AND DIRTY.

Truth or dare…

When Lacey Garrity finds her groom in flagrante delicto in the reception hall closet with her bridesmaid, she’s saved by her best friend’s older brother—childhood tormentor, crush, and boxing bad boy Galen Thomas. Galen’s solution is both exciting and dangerous. What better way to forget the mess of her life than go on her honeymoon with a hot guy who can’t promise anything beyond today?

…or TKO?

Galen had been counting on Lacey’s wedding to put her out of reach—and out of his mind—once and for all, but their steamy Puerto Rican escape is testing all his boundaries. Now that Lacey’s embracing her inner bad girl, Galen is tempted to throw in the towel and claim her for himself. But with the biggest fight of his career on the line and an important business merger threatening to derail Lacey’s resolve, their romance might be down for the count before it even begins.

****************************

Review: DOWN FOR THE COUNT is the first storyline in Christine Bell’s new contemporary romance series Dare Me. This is Lacey and Galen’s story.

What do you do when you find your husband of two hours ‘doing it’ with your friend and bridesmaid in the storage closet at your wedding reception? Well if you are Lacey Garrity, you have your BFF handle things at the hall while your teen ‘crush’ whisks you away on his motorcycle to the family cottage for an evening of drinking and revelation. But when Lacey and Galen wake up in Puerto Rico, on what was supposed to be Lacey’s honeymoon, Galen is determined to help Lacey discover her inner vixen. Slightly tight laced and stoic, Lacey was never one to push the envelope, but with Galen by her side, Lacey soon learned to let go of her pent up years of frustration and family rule.

Lacey ‘s marriage can only be described as a merger. Hoping to merge two high profile legal firms, Lacey’s mother had made it her life’s ambition to ensure the man to whom Lacey would marry was of good breeding and pedigree. And to Lacey’s astonishment, her mother (aka The Admiral) refused to accept anything less than perfection. But when Lacey’s mother pointed out that even her marriage wasn’t all roses and candy, Lacey wondered if she had made the wrong decision. Hoping to give Lacey time to think, Galen leaves only to discover that Lacey is the only woman who can mend his broken heart.

The relationship between Lacey and Galen is both romantic and hot. Lacey knew Galen to be the popular boxer with women clamoring for his attention, and Galen only wanted one thing permanent in his life-Lacey. We watch as Galen gets Lacey to let go of the past and her inhibitions to discover the real woman hidden just below the ‘good girl’ façade. Galen wanted to show Lacey a good time and prove that he is the man for her.

I liked that Lacey didn’t whine about her the circumstances in her life and she was a woman willing to try something different to prove (to herself) that she was worthy of love from the right man but she did have some emotional baggage with self-esteem issues brought on by a tyrannical mother who refused to allow Lacey her independence. In this, Lacey was a means to an end for a business transaction and nothing else. And Galen with his tough exterior was the perfect man to bring Lacey’s hidden sexual kitten to the surface and allow her to discover what it was in life she really wanted-and it was Galen.

DOWN FOR THE COUNT is a fast paced, sweet storyline of betrayal, romance, fun and finding yourself in the one person you had always dreamed would one day be yours. There were a few moments where Lacey steps outside of the box and jumps into ‘vixen’ mode too fast, but overall the storyline was a fun read with the usual cast well-meaning friends, interfering mothers and the realization that your heart and soul belong to the one person who that can make you laugh and cry at the same time. There was nothing earth shattering or thought provoking in the premise, but a storyline with a little bit of heartbreak, a little bit of sex and a whole lot of romance between two people who have probably loved each other for a lifetime.

Copy supplied by the author.

Reviewed by Sandy

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Wife for Hire by Christine Bell – a Review

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Wife for Hire by Christine Bell – a Review

Wife for Hire by Christine Bell is a wonderful cute romance novel, with some steamy sex scenes.  A very fun and enjoyable read.  Here is a blurb from Bell’s Website to give you an idea what the story is about.

Blurb:

He needs a wife for three weeks…

Owen Phipps is out for revenge. His mission? To expose the man who stole his sister’s money and dignity. All he needs is a “wife” who can play along. Too bad his last best hope is an actress who tries to mace him with perfume when he offers her the role of a lifetime.

Lindy Knight is a real sap. She loves too hard, feels too deep, and often finds herself saying yes when she should be saying “Let me think about it.” She can’t believe her good fortune when Owen offers her more than enough money to hold off foreclosure until she can find a job. Three weeks at a resort, money she desperately needs, and she gets to help bring a criminal to justice? Score.

It seems easy enough until the first time a couples bonding game turns intimate, and they realize how dangerous their mutual attraction could be. Can they keep their hands to themselves long enough to find the evidence Owen needs? Or are the close quarters more temptation than they can handle?

Review:

We meet Lindy from the start, as she comes home to a mess in her house.  She has little puppies that have torn her couch to pieces.  Poor Lindy, she was already upset when the doorbell rings and she sees this hot gorgeous man through the peephole.  Having forgotten that she answered an ad for a short job stint, the man on the other side was there to interview her for a job.

Then we meet Owen, who interviews Lindy to play his wife for three weeks at a resort.  You can see from the description, Owen wants to avenge his sister, who was fleeced by a con artist.  Owen wants Lindy to play his wife, as he tries to expose his sister’s former boyfriend.  However, when Owen meets Lindy, everything that shouldn’t go wrong does, and he questions whether she is the right person for the job. Some funny stuff here.  But Lindy needs the money, as she faces a foreclosure on her house, and she convinces Owen, she can act and will do a good job as his wife.

Owen, is not only sexy, but he is Irish and loaded.  He fixes up Lindy with expensive clothes and jewelry, to enable her to act the part as his wife.  Both Lindy and Owen were great together, the chemistry between them sizzles as soon as they leave for the resort.  Lindy wants to settle down, get married and live a normal life.  Owen has no intention of ever having any kind of relationship. Past experiences, especially with his family has soured him of any type of commitment.  I loved Lindy, who was a fun, smart, witty heroine.  She is the perfect sweet girl next door, and Owen is determined not to let himself fall for her.  They do act the part well. 

They both work the resort in finding information about the owner, his sister’s ex, who took all her money.  It’s a fun story, meeting other couples, and seeing Owen and Lindy act like a married couple.  So many funny parts, but the best is to see the two of them becoming more and more attracted to each other, and the sexual tension was hot.

Owen knowing that Lindy wanted a commitment, resigned himself to cold showers, but in the end, it was Lindy who decided even if it’s for a short time, she needed Owen desperately.  He of course jumped at the chance, and this is where the steamy sex comes to play.   

They both were great together, not only the sizzling sex, but just their banter, and their overall chemistry.  Christine Bell does a great job with this fun story, a good plot also, with somewhat of a mystery.  But most of all I thoroughly enjoyed Lindy and Owen.  I won’t tell you how this ends, as you will have to buy this book to find out.  I really enjoyed this book, as it had everything…romance, a great couple, sex, hysterical moments, and just plain fun. 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

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