Tag Archives: Christmas

Cowboy Wolf Christmas by Kait Ballenger-a review

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COWBOY WOLF CHRISTMAS (Seven Range Shifters 6.5) by Kait Ballenger-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 25, 2022

Grumpy Grey Wolf, Silas Buck hates Christmas and everything that comes with it. As duty to ranch and pack force this cowboy wolf to confront his ghosts of Christmases past, his newfound packmate, Cheyenne, is saddled alongside him for the ride. But when a sudden snowstorm forces them to spend a heated night together, Silas may find Cheyenne’s sunshiny ways warm his long-frozen heart…

•••••••

REVIEW: COWBOY WOLF CHRISTMAS is a holiday novella found in Kait Ballenger’s contemporary, adult, SEVEN RANGE SHIFTERS paranormal romance series. This is former Wild Eights rogue wolf shifter Silas Buck, and packmate /mechanic Cheyenne’s story line. COWBOY WOLF CHRISTMAS can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary. Silas was first introduced in book three Fierce Cowboy Wolf.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Silas and Cheyenne) COWBOY WOLF CHRISTMAS follows Silas, just days before the Grey Wolves Christmas celebrations, as he is tasked with escorting Cheyenne to Missoula, the abandoned site of the former Grey Wolf subpack .Cheyenne is the Grey Wolf Pack mechanic, and is in need of some spare parts from Missoula’s long forgotten machinery but Missoula holds too many bad memories for our story line hero, memories of which no one is aware. Believing he was ordered to protect Cheyenne, Silas took the demands to heart, protecting Cheyenne like she was his own but the vampires that had decimated the Missoula pack were still roaming in the area, and Silas was about to come face to face with the past. What ensues is the building relationship between Silas and Cheyenne, and the potential fall-out when Cheyenne reveals her plans for the future, a future that no longer included the Grey Wolf Pack.

Silas Buck’s history with the Wild Eights Pack has made him an enemy of the Grey Wolves, a Pack he has sworn to protect and defend. Silas has always felt like an outsider but never more so than when he hears the whispers and accusations by the other members he now calls his own. Cheyenne is different than most wolf shifter, and it is these differences that have Silas reconsidering his place in the pack. Cheyenne suspects Silas is her mate but Silas has built a proverbial wall around his heart, in the hopes of keeping everyone else away.

The relationship between Silas and Cheyenne began months earlier.Silas saved Cheyenne’s life, and Cheyenne freed Silas from a death sentence imposed by the Pack he had sworn to protect.Silas had kept his distance never forgetting about the woman that called to his heart but Silas believed he did not deserve his own happily ever after, especially one with a woman naive to the world. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top sexually graphic language and text.

The secondary and supporting characters are limited: Packmaster Maverick Grey, Maverick’s second in command and Silas’ former Wild Eights packmate Wes Calhoun, as well as Grey Wolf Cayden.

COWBOY WOLF CHRISTMAS is a fast paced story of want and need, acceptance and love. The character driven premise is captivating; the romance is seductive; the characters are broke, different yet strong.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Cowboy Wolf Trouble
Cowboy in Wolf’s Clothing
Wicked Cowboy Wolf
Fierce Cowboy Wolf
Wild Cowboy Wolf
Cowboy Wolf Outlaw

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

BIO: Kait Ballenger is a full-time paranormal romance author, wife, bellydancer, graduate student, and soon-to-be-professor. She is the multi-published, award-winning author of the Execution Underground paranormal romance series. With a B.A in English from Stetson University, Kait is currently earning an M.F.A in Writing. Kait believes anything is possible with hard work and dedication. One day, she hopes to be a bestseller and to see her novels on the big screen. Look for the next two books in her page-turning Execution Underground series: Twilight Hunter, book one (August 2013) and Immortal Hunter, book two (January 2014). For more information, please visit www.kaitballenger.com or follow her on Twitter @kait_ballenger.

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Stocking Stuffer by Lauren Smith – a Review

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Stocking Stuffer by Lauren Smith – a Review

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Google Play

 

Description:

When Bailey Willis plays Santa’s elf for her company’s Christmas party, she never expects to be stuck with the childhood crush who broke her heart at sixteen playing the role of Santa Claus.

Montgomery “Mack” Macholan realizes he made a mistake when he was eighteen when he let Bailey go home on prom night without kissing her. Now ten years later he’s playing Santa to her sexy elf and he can’t keep his hands off her.

 

 

Review:

Stocking Stuffer by Lauren Smith is a wonderful romantic Christmas novella; as I have said this before, anything written by this author is always going to be fun, romantic and sexy. 

Bailey Willis, our heroine, is attending her first holiday retreat for the company she works for, and has been picked to be an elf at the fundraiser event; she wasn’t thrilled, especially with her costume a bit revealing.  While waiting for Santa to show up, Bailey is shocked to see someone from her school days (10 years ago) is playing Santa.

Mack Macholan, our hero, is also shocked to see Bailey, and enthralled how she has grown up, and is beautiful, not to mention sexy.   Mack remembers when he walked away from her during the prom, and regrets his mistake; and goes out of his way to make amends, using all his charm.  Bailey is hesitant, since she has not forgotten Mack had hurt her, but she still finds herself attracted to him.

What follows is an awesome fun steamy romance, with Mack doing everything in his power to win Bailey over.  The relationship between Mack and Bailey heats up quickly (it is a novella  ?), with the chemistry between them sizzling.  They were great together, as friends and romantically.  Will Mack allow himself to fall in love with Bailey, since he doesn’t believe in permanent relationships?

Stocking Stuffer was a fantastic fun steamy story, which was so very well written by Lauren Smith. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and prayed they would find a way to stay together, as they were so awesome.  Stocking Stuffer was an uplifting story and just in time for the holidays!

Reviewed by Barb

Copy supplied for Review

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Very Merry Married by Molly O’Keefe -Review tour

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Very Merry Married (Kringle Family Christmas 2) by Molly O’Keefe -Review tour

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 3, 2021

Ethan

I’ve got my hands full.

Running for mayor of my home town in Colorado. Trying to save the family business—and doing my best to survive Christmas without murdering my brother. Nowhere on this list is room for Lexie to show up a year after our epic one-night stand.

Vegas show girl, owner of the meanest dog I’ve ever met, and the star of every fantasy I’ve had since I came home. And apparently… my wife? And she wants me to sign divorce papers.

Hell no.

Lexie

I do not get drunk married. That’s what tourists do in Vegas, not locals. But even I am susceptible to gorgeous eyes and an excellent jaw line.

I was so sure Ethan was different from the jerks I usually fall for, until I woke up married without a groom or a way to get a hold of him. A year later, I finally see him splashed all over the internet—fighting with his brother at a Colorado airport.

So, what’s a showgirl to do? Put on my best heels, put my dog in a hand bag and go find my husband so I can end my sham marriage. But as soon as I arrive in Salt Springs, that plan goes out the window.

Ethan hasn’t forgotten me and the chemistry between us is real and explosive.

Now that I’ve found him he doesn’t want to let me go.

Was our wedding a Vegas mistake? Or a Christmas miracle?

••••••

REVIEW:VERY MERRY MARRIED by Molly O’Keefe is the second instalment in the multi-authored contemporary, adult KRINGLE FAMILY CHRISTMAS erotic, Christmas, romance trilogy focusing on the Kringle siblings: Kristen, Ethan and Matt. This is Ethan Kringle, and twenty-eight year old, Vegas showgirl Lexie Platzski’s story line. VERY MERRY MARRIED can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary. All of the instalments take place around the same time period.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Ethan and Lexie) VERY MERRY MARRIED focuses on the relationship between Ethan Kringle, and Vegas showgirl Lexie Platzski. One year earlier, following a wild night in Vegas, Ethan Kringle woke up beside a woman he didn’t know, having no idea what happened or why. Leaving his name and number, Ethan headed back to his home town in Colorado, hoping to hear from the woman he didn’t remember. One year would pass, when Ethan would come face to face with a raging ball of energy, energy that would help bring the family Christmas farm back to life. Enter twenty-eight year old, Vegas showgirl Lexie Platzski, and the woman with whom Ethan would fall in love. What ensues is the rebuilding relationship between Ethan and Lexie, and the potential fall-out as sins from the past threaten the future for our story line couple.

Ethan Kringle is running for Mayor but the family Christmas tree farm, and Kringle Inn were struggling with the approach of the holiday. Ethan never expected to come face to face at the Inn with his one-night stand but Lexie wasn’t in town to help the Kringles, our heroine was in town asking for a divorce. Lexie Platzski remembers everything about her wild night with Ethan Kringle but Ethan ghosted our heroine without leaving his personal information, information in light of their Vegas wedding, and Lexie’s need to permanently end their night of mistakes but a quick trip to Colorado finds Lexie ‘working’ at the Kringle Inn, where she helps pull together a Christmas pageant, lifting the business out of their rut.

The relationship between Lexie and Ethan begins as a one-night stand that our hero struggles to remember. What happens in Vegas apparently stayed in Vegas for close to one year until a youTube video goes viral capturing the Kringle brothers at odds with one another.Hoping to end her ‘marriage’ to Ethan Kringle, Lexie quickly discovers she is looking forward to Christmas, and the possibility of something more. The $ex scenes are passionate and seductive without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are introduced to Kristen Kringle (The Grump Who Stole Christmas), and Matt Kringle (Jingle Bell Beard), as well as the patriarch Chris Kringle, Lexie’s mom Trudy Colfax; several guests at the Kringle Inn who add plenty of fun and excitement, and local townies who can’t seem to mind their own business.

VERY MERRY MARRIED is a fast paced, character driven story of second chances, of a sorts. The premise is energetic and spirited; the characters are sassy and dynamic; the romance is intimate and provocative.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Add the series to your TBR:

The Grump Who Stole Christmas: https://bit.ly/GoodreadsGWSC

Very Merry Married: https://bit.ly/3na5TuZ

Jingle Bell Beard: https://bit.ly/3C1ZLvg

Molly O’Keefe has always known she wanted to be a writer (except when she wanted to be a florist or a chef and the brief period of time when she considered being a cowgirl). And once she got her hands on some romances, she knew exactly what she wanted to write.

She published her first Harlequin romance at age 25 and hasn’t looked back. She loves exploring every character’s road towards happily ever after.

Originally from a small town outside of Chicago, she went to university in St. Louis where she met and fell in love with the editor of her school newspaper. They followed each other around the world for several years and finally got married and settled down in Toronto, Ontario. They welcomed their son into their family in 2006, and their daughter in 2008. When she’s not at the park or cleaning up the toy room, Molly is working hard on her next novel, trying to exercise, stalking Tina Fey on the internet and dreaming of the day she can finish a cup of coffee without interruption.

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A LITTLE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT by Sheila Roberts- a review

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A LITTLE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT by Sheila Roberts-a review

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 28, 2021

Single mom Lexie Bell hopes to make this first Christmas in their new home special for her six-year-old son, Brock. Festive lights and homemade fudge, check. Friendly neighbors? Uh, no. The reclusive widower next door is more grinchy than nice. But maybe he just needs a reminder of what matters most. At least sharing some holiday cheer with him will distract her from her own lack of romance…

Stanley Mann lost his Christmas spirit when he lost his wife and he sees no point in looking for it. Until she shows up in his dreams and informs him it’s time to ditch his scroogey attitude. Stanley digs in his heels, but she’s determined to haunt him until he wakes up and rediscovers the joys of the season. He can start by being a little more neighborly to the single mom next door. In spite of his protests, he’s soon making snowmen and decorating Christmas trees. How will it all end?

Merrily, of course. A certain Christmas ghost is going to make sure of that!

••••••••

REVIEW: A LITTLE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT by Sheila Roberts is a contemporary, adult, stand alone, slightly paranormal, story of women’s fiction focusing on kindergarten teacher/single mother Lexie Bell, and her elderly neighbour / widower Stanley Mann.

Told from third person perspective A LITTLE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT follows two intersecting pathways in the days and weeks before the Christmas holidays. Single mom Lexie Bell is new to town and doesn’t know many of her neighbors. A slip and fall at the local hardware store finds Lexie unable to navigate the wintery streets on her own, and finds herself dependant upon her reclusive and elderly but reluctant neighbor Stan, a gentleman who has struggled in the three years since the death of his wife. Lexie’s six year old Brock, whose only grandfather passed away one year before, is pulled towards the neighbor, bestowing Stan with the moniker of Grandpa Stan. When a single father moves in across the road, Lexis and Brock’s attention is pulled from Stan, and placed on the man with whom Lexie will fall in love.

Meanwhile, Stanley continues to grieve the loss of his wife but late night visits by the spirit of his beloved, push Stan out of his comfort zone, and in the proverbial arms of a potential new family. But Stan commits a Christmas faux pas, and Lexie must do battle with her son in the aftermath, pushing Stanley out of their lives until a potential tragedy strikes at the small Bell family.

A LITTLE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT is a slow building, sweet and impassioned Christmas story line somewhere in the tone between A Christmas Carol and The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. Stanley Mann and his wife never had children, and in this, Stan struggles with the social graces towards family and kids. When the spirit of his dead wife continues to make nightly visits in an effort to push Stan our of his ‘funk’, Stan’s only desire is to reunite with his wife, keeping to himself, shutting out the world around. The premise is heart warming; the characters are animated; the romance is virtually non-existent and only implied.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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Royally Chosen Christmas (Royal Sons MC) by Elle Boon-Review Tour

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Royally Chosen Christmas (Royal Sons MC 7) by Elle Boon-Review Tour

 

 

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 10, 2020

He wasn’t supposed to Want her. She wasn’t supposed to Love him. When Heart and Loyalty Collide. Rules don’t apply.

Brotherhood. Family. Club.

They live and die by their own rules.

These are the men of the Royal Bastards and they’ll ride through Hell for each other.

Hollywood Haven never apologizes for who he is or where he came from… The Royal Bastards don’t know everything there is to know about him, and that’s how he likes it. He’s a man who’s dedicated to his brothers and will protect those he loves, especially Talena. She’s the one woman who’s held his heart since the day she came into his life, and he’ll destroy anyone who dares harm one hair on her gorgeous head.

Talena Haven has always had everything she’s wanted except… The life of Hollywood Royalty sounds great, but it isn’t all it’s cracked up to be when the one thing you want, you can’t have. As dreams shatter, becoming nightmares, she turns to the only man who has always protected her.

••••••

REVIEW:ROYALLY CHOSEN CHRISTMAS is the seventh instalment in Elle Boon’s contemporary, adult ROYAL SONS MC erotic, MC romance series focusing on the members of the Royal Bastards MC. This is billionaire Scott ‘Hollywood’ Haven, and Talena Haven’s story line. ROYALLY CHOSEN CHRISTMAS can be read as a stand alone but for back story and cohesion I recommend reading the series in order.

WARNING: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from third person perspective, following two timelines, ROYALLY CHOSEN CHRISTMAS follows the forbidden relationship between billionaire Scott ‘Hollywood’ Haven and his adopted sister Talena Haven. Approximately ten years earlier Scott Haven lost his step sister to a suicide following the revelations of sexual abuse at the hands of her father. Fast forward to present days wherein Scott, along with the members of the Royal Bastards MC come to the rescue of Scott’s remaining adopted sister Talena, a young woman whose penchant for street racing and trash talk has made her a target of a crazy man. Claiming Talena as his own, Scott Haven will ‘teach’ our heroine to behave and obey by introducing Talena to the Dom/sub lifestyle. As Talena and Scott’s relationship develops, a threat from the recent past demands retribution and payment for embarrassment and denial. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Scott and Talena, and the potential fall-out as Scott’s mother Tara finds herself facing a past long thought dead and gone, and Talena faces off against another man’s murderous rage.

The relationship between Talena and Scott begins as adopted brother and sister but secrets within the family lie dangerous and deep. Scott has always been protective of our story line heroine but as Talena grew into a mature young woman Scott’s feelings for Talena were anything but brotherly. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense with some scenes of spanking and light bondage.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful and energetic secondary and supporting characters including most of the previous story line heroes, as well as Scott’s mother Tara, his step-sister Angela, her father Gary, and Lennox’ father Doc. The return of Roq, Axl, Ridley and Cannon from Royally F@*cked #6 prepares the readers for the author’s spin off DEMON SECURITY series.

ROYALLY CHOSEN CHRISTMAS is a story of family, betrayal, vengeance and love. The premise is engaging and entertaining; the romance is spicy and hot; the characters are charismatic and captivating but saying that I did have a few issues. Firstly, as this is my first Royal Sons/Royal B*stards story line I felt a little lost having gone in unaware of the history or backstory of the members of the MC, including our story line hero therefore I strongly recommend reading the series in order. Secondly, the story felt disjointed in parts, jumping between scenes without build up. Thirdly, as this is promoted and titled a ‘Christmas’ story line, the holiday was never referenced until the very end-if it hadn’t been for the final chapter or two, I would have never known it was a Christmas story.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

#RCCRD-19

Read the First Chapter HERE!

 

Elle Boon is a reader first and foremost…and of course if you know her, she’s the crazy lady with purple hair. She’s also a USA Today Bestselling Author who lives in Middle-Merica as she likes to say…with her husband and Kally Kay her black lab who also thinks she’s her writing partner (She happens to sit next to her begging for treats and so takes a lot of credit). She has two amazing kids Jazz and Goob and is a MiMi to one adorable little nugget named Romy or RomyGirl (greatest job EVER) who has totally won over everyone who sees hers (If anyone says a hair bow is too big, they’re crazy). She’s known for saying “Bless Your Heart” and dropping lots of F-bombs (I mean lots of F-BOMBS but who is keeping track?).

 She loves where this new journey has taken her and has no plans on stopping. She writes what she loves to read, and that’s romance, whether it’s about Navy SEALs, HOT as F**K MC heroes, or paranormal alphas. #dontlookdown is a thing you will need to google. “wink” With all her stories you’re guaranteed a happily ever after, no matter what twisted thing her mind has come up with. Her biggest hope is that after readers have read one of her stories, they fall in love with her characters as much as she does. She loves creating new worlds, and has more stories just waiting to be written. Elle believes in happily ever after and can guarantee you will always get one within the pages of her books.

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Christmas Embrace (Immortals of New Orleans) by Kym Grosso-review

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Christmas Embrace (Immortals of New Orleans) by Kym Grosso-a review

 

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 17, 2020

Joyeux Noël

A supernatural wedding brings everyone together during the holidays. But it doesn’t feel like Christmas for Detective Sydney Willows. She finds solace in the arms of her sexy vampire but with a fragile heart, not quite mended, she’s afraid to commit to an eternity. After she rescues an abandoned child and is then forced to give him away, she’s determined to fight for the family she never knew she wanted.

Vampire Kade Issacson never expected to have a baby but soon realizes what’s been missing in his life. After he’s forced to return the abandoned wolf pup to the pack, the child’s mother is found murdered in an alley. Vowing to protect the boy, Kade fights for him, swearing he’ll never give him back again.

Determined to win Sydney’s heart and her hand, Kade plans a surprise for his reluctant detective. Convinced their souls are destined for an eternal future, will he convince her to say yes once and for all?

Falling in love. Second chances. A new nemesis arises. Find out who’s naughty and nice as the Immortals of New Orleans conjure up Christmas magic.

••••••••

REVIEW:CHRISTMAS EMBRACE is a contemporary, adult, novella in Kym Grosso’s Immortals of New Orleans erotic, paranormal, romance series.

Told from several third person perspectives CHRISTMAS EMBRACE follows numerous intersecting paths including the preparations for the Christmas wedding of vampire Luca Macquarie, and high priestess Samantha Irving; Sydney Willows, and Kade Issacson’s heart breaking struggle to have a family; and a gruesome murder investigation that points to demonic powers, drug trafficking and possible human involvement.

As Samantha and Luca’s wedding draws near, Sydney Willows struggles with the heart break of giving up an orphaned pup, a child whose mother returned after months on the run. Struggling with her new vampire lifestyle, Sydney has thought about the losses and gains but the loss of a child is what has hurt them the most. On the scene of a murder, Sydney finds the wolf pup stuffed in the trash, and along with the man that she loves, is determined to remain a family, one way or another. When the alpha reveals the child is most likely going to be raised by the wolves, Kade makes preparations in event of a ruling that may go very wrong for the woman he loves.

CHRISTMAS EMBRACE is a story of family and friendships; relationships, healing and love. The premise is heart warming and engaging; the characters are familiar, energetic and edgy; the $ex scenes are passionate and intense. CHRISTMAS EMBRACE sets the stage for a new direction in the series arc, a direction involving a power struggle for control of the supernatural of New Orleans.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

IMMORTALS OF NEW ORLEANS 

KADE’S DARK EMBRACE: FREE ebook Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO / Smashwords

LUCA’S MAGIC EMBRACE: Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO / Smashwords

TRISTAN’S LYCEUM WOLVES: Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk Barnes and Noble/ KOBO / Smashwords

LOGAN’S ACADIAN WOLVES: Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO / Smashwords

LEOPOLD’S WICKED EMBRACE: Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble /

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

JAX: Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO /

JAKE:  Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / ibooks / Smashwords /

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A Very Bossy Christmas by Kayley Loring-Review tour

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??? A Very Bossy Christmas by Kayley Loring-Review tour ???

ebook only 99¢. Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

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Add to your Goodreads TBR➜ https://bit.ly/AVBC_KL

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 26, 2020

What’s the actual last thing you’d ever want your executive assistant to see you doing the morning after you had hot, drunk, angry sex with her in a terrible hotel room? Dancing around your terrible hotel room to “Come and Get Your Love” like Star-Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy—naked? Yeah. Me too.

And yet, here we are.

This isn’t even the most unprofessional thing that’s happened between us in the past couple of weeks.

The first was when I agreed to let her have Christmas Day off, but only if she goes with me to three family gatherings as my fake girlfriend.
The second was when she caught me belting out a Christmas song on stage in the awful hotel bar.
The third was the hot, drunk, angry sex that followed, but I do not regret it.

And she hasn’t even found out the real reason I need her by my side this holiday season.

I need to pull it together before I do the dumbest, most unprofessional thing of all—fall head over heels in love with the only assistant who’s lasted more than a month at the job and claims to hate me and my moods more than she hates eggnog.

And I’ve seen how much she hates eggnog.

••••••••••

REVIEW: . A VERY BOSSY CHRISTMAS by Kayley Loring is a stand alone, contemporary, adult, holiday themed erotic, romance story line focusing on thirty-two year old, high powered attorney Declan Cannavale, and twenty-eight year old, executive assistant Maddie Cooper.

Told from three first person perspectives (Declan, Maddie, Piper) A VERY BOSSY CHRISTMAS follows the forbidden relationship between thirty-two year old, high powered attorney Declan Cannavale, and twenty-eight year old, executive assistant Maddie Cooper. Maddie Cooper is Declan Cannavale’s executive assistant, and as such finds herself facing a Christmas working in the office with her ‘Scrooge’ of a boss but a home visit from Declan pushes all of Maddie’s buttons when our hero reveals he needs a ‘fake girlfriend’ for the Christmas holidays, holidays to be spent in Cleveland, with his family back home. Unable to resist, Maddie agrees only to discover that the Cannavale family dynamic is broken by betrayal and mistrust. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Maddie and Declan, and the potential fall-out as their time together comes to a close.

Declan knows there is a ‘no fraternizing’ policy at work but our hero is desperate. He needs a plus-one, or more specifically a buffer, to shield him from the anger and heart break of sins of the past. From Christmas Eve dinner, to a rehearsal party and the wedding of one of his brothers, Declan pulls Maddie into a potential disaster, only to discover that his heart has fallen for a woman who fears her heart will be broken when the holidays are done.

The relationship between Declan and Maddie is a forbidden romance; a fake boyfriend/girlfriend arrangement between the boss and his assistant, an assistant who very much wants to keep her job but once the couple crosses the line between a working relationship into something more, the struggle is real when both families see the potential for a permanent connection, and Maddie sees nothing but the potential for problems at work. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text. The sexual attraction is immediate and palpable.

We are introduced to a large ensemble cast of colorful, energetic and fun secondary and supporting characters including Declan’s rather loud and boisterous Irish/Italian family: sister Casey and her daughter Penelope; brothers Aiden, Eddie and Brady, and Brady’s fiancé Hannah, their parents Mamie and Tony, and Nonna Francesca and numerous cousins all raring to get down at Brady’s bachelor party- the frenetic back and forth energy between cousins is hilarious; Maddie’s sister Rebecca aka Bex, and her niece Piper; their parents Carly and Joe Cooper, as well as Maddie’s neighbour Mrs. Pavlovsky.

A VERY BOSSY CHRISTMAS is a story of family, relationships, forgiveness and love. The premise is engaging, clever and inviting; the characters are dynamic and real; the romance is spicy, flirty and seductive. A VERY BOSSY CHRISTMAS is a wonderfully, breath-taking and lively look at a forbidden relationship and another happily ever after.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Before writing steamy romantic comedy novels, Kayley Loring got a BFA in creative writing from a Canadian university and had a fifteen-year career as a screenwriter in Los Angeles (under a different name). She mostly wrote PG-13 family comedies that studios would pay her lots of money for and then never make into movies. In 2017 she decided to move to the Pacific Northwest and write about all the fun stuff that she wasn’t allowed to write about in those PG-13 scripts. Now she’s breathing cleaner air and writing dirtier words. It’s an adjustment she’s happily getting used to.

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One Charmed Christmas by Sheila Roberts-a review

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ONE CHARMED CHRISTMAS by Sheila Roberts- a review

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 29, 2020

Catherine Pine is hoping her Christmas is a bit more jolly than last year’s. That one was her first without her husband, and with her kids and their families absent this year, she’s worried. But things change when her good friend invites her on a Christmas cruise to lift her spirits. Suddenly every day is an adventure and she’s making a bunch of new friends, including the lovable Sophie Miles.

It’s like a gift from Santa when Sophie and Catherine meet the charming Dr. Rudy Nichols, a perfect match for hypochondriac Sophie. But he comes with a two-legged lump of coal, his guard-dog daughter. And then there’s chocolatier Trevor March, who’s also interested in the scrumptious Sophie. Can he convince her that chocolate is the perfect cure for what ails her? Who knows what Santa has in store for these holiday travelers? Anything could happen this charmed Christmas!

•••••••••

REVIEW: ONE CHARMED CHRISTMAS by Sheila Roberts is a contemporary, adult story line focusing on several passengers who have embarked on a pre-Christmas holiday boat cruise through Europe ( or more specifically Germany).

Told from third person perspective ONE CHARMED CHRISTMAS follows sisters Sophie and Sierra, Dr. Rudy Nichols and his daughter Athena, brothers Trevor and Kurt March, and friends Catherine and Denise.

Breaking down the passenger agenda and backstory: Sophie Miles is a hypochondriac who reluctantly agreed to the European cruise when her sister Sierra’s husband bailed on his Christmas cruise tickets. Hoping to meet her future husband, Sophie will latch onto Dr. Rudy Nichols, a man several decades older but a man who has eyes for someone else. Meanwhile, Sophie’s sister Sierra struggles with the possible demise of her marriage, and begins to pull away from the other passengers, choosing to remain behind while the others play tourist.

Widower Dr. Rudy Nichols found himself attracted to widow Catherine Pine but Catherine is hiding a secret that will affect all relationships going forward. Catherine’s adult children wanted nothing to do with their mother in the face of her continued grief after the death of their father so Catherine’s friend Denise invited Catherine along for the cruise. Meanwhile, Rudy’s daughter Athena is a little over protective of her father believing him to be naive. Playing guard dog to her father, forty-something Athena makes more enemies than friends, and struggles to leave her father alone.

Chocolatier Trevor March agreed to the cruise when his brother’s girlfriend was unable to attend. Kurt March is chaperoning a history class of students on the holiday cruise but nineteen year old Harriett, one of the students, takes a liking to Kurt’s brother Trevor, and won’t leave him alone. Trying to distance himself from his brother’s class, Trevor finds himself attracted to Sophie Miles, a woman whose penchant for over reacting and believing she is going to die of any number of diseases pushes Sophie to follow Dr. Rudy like a love-sick puppy, in the hopes of marrying a doctor to cure whatever ails her.

In short: Harriett wants Trevor: Trevor wants Sophie: Sophie wants Dr. Rudy: Dr. Rudy wants Catherine: Catherine wants to survive another year: Athena doesn’t want anyone seducing her father: Sierra wants to save her marriage: and Denise is having the time of her life. Got it? Good. It’s like high school all over again !

ONE CHARMED CHRISTMAS follows several intersecting pathways where love will blossom for some but not for others but saying that ONE CHARMED CHRISTMAS has all of the ingredients of a YA (young adult ) novel, and in this I was disappointed with the attitudes and theatrics of most of the storyline’s unlikable characters. There are the jealous rivalries, mean girl comments, pouting and whining, secrets, lies, rejection and love. Poor Dr. Rudy was oblivious to his daughter’s attempts to keep Catherine and Sophie away from her father; and Sophie’s obsessive behavior regarding germs, illness and disease may have been funnier if not for the reality of COVID19 and the numerous deaths reported at sea. ONE CHARMED CHRISTMAS is a well-written story line but missed the mark with annoying and unpleasant characters that detracted from a potentially sweet plot.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

reviewed by Sandy

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