Tag Archives: Contributers Reviews

Make Your Move by Laura Heffernan – a Review

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Make Your Move by Laura Heffernan – a Review

 

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Description:

LOVE’S ALL ABOUT TIMING …….
 
At twenty-eight, Shannon has yet to fall in love. Which is fine, since she’d rather spend her evenings creating games than swiping right or going on awkward blind dates. Right now though, she has two little problems. First, she’s stuck for a new game idea. Second, the only candidate in her roommate search is Tyler, the gaming buddy who’s long had an unrequited crush on her.
 
It should be awkward. But when Tyler moves in, the situation doesn’t go at all the way Shannon expected. Between helping her deal with coworkers and fixing the bugs in her latest game, Tyler’s proving to be damn near perfect. Except for the fact that he’s falling for someone else. . .
 
Maybe Shannon has already forfeited her turn. Maybe she’s playing for nothing but heartache. But the best games have endings you can never predict . . .

 

 

 

 Review:

Make Your Move by Laura Heffernan is the third and final book in the Gamer Girls Series. 

Shannon is a girl that loves to play and write games. In fact it’s safer for her that way, having never fallen in love, Shannon doesn’t really flirt or date, in fact Shannon finds it all so very frustrating. She can’t seem to connect, life in the virtual world seems so much easier. 

Shannon needs to find a flat mate, that too is proving a difficult task, the only person that seems right on osier is her gaming Buddy Ryan, but Ryan has a huge crush on Shannon!! So maybe that’s not the way to go. But with a little convincing, they give the flat sharing a go…. 

It goes surprisingly well, in fact Shannon sees Ryan in a different light, they have a laugh, they like the same stuff. Could she let him in? 

By the time she figures this out, Ryan has moved on, (not getting your feelings reciprocated has a tendency to do that) can she let Ryan know that she’s interested? And if she does will it count? 

I have to say that I enjoyed this one a little more than the others. Shannon’s attachment to her two best friends is evident, her work place needs a good shake up, and she needs to form a few more attachments (Ryan for one) the conflict that Shannon faces on a daily basis must have been so draining. All she wants is what her two best friends have, but she can’t flirt and be casual, there has to be a connection between her and the other person. And watching Ryan form an attachment to someone who is not right for him was messing with her head. 

Catching up with the other previous (book) characters was good, it felt like catching up with old friends. Downside, I didn’t need so much info on game playing (yes I know that’s the premise of the book, but that’s my opinion) 

So will Shannon get her man? Will she get this game finished that she’s working on? You’ll have to read to find out ?

Reviewed by Julie B

Copy supplied for review

 

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Night’s Kiss by Mary Hughes – a Review

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Night’s Kiss by Mary Hughes – a Review

 

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Description:
As a human who hunts vampires, I risk death each night I take to the streets. Bloodsuckers are stupidly fast. I have only my wits, my practice, and my weapons.

Oh yeah, and my rage.

Vampires killed my parents before my eyes when I was young. My revenge? I’ll destroy every last one of the evil bastards, starting with their king.

But only one man can help me locate the king. Achingly tall, dark, and too-sexy-for-his-own-good, Ryker is gorgeous enough to be the vamp king himself. But the devilish arch to his black eyebrow, his white, unfangy grin, and rocking the daytime are good clues that he’s human.

We’ll have to work together as uneasy allies if I hope to get my final revenge on the king—only now it seems evil monsters are also after our prey, and they’ll stop at nothing to see us all dead. And why are they having so much trouble finding the king?

 

 

Review;

I really enjoyed Night’s Kiss by Mary Hughes.  I found it to have a solid plot-line with well developed character development, not only of the main couple, but the secondary characters as well.  Everything just seemed to fit together and flow from one page to the next.  Yes we focus mainly on Kat and Ryker throughout the story as it’s about their adventure and path to each other, but the secondary characters play a major role in that path they are on, and they aid their story along.  The whole pretense of a vampire and vampire hunter being attracted to each other only to find out they are mates makes for a fun read. 

Both Kat and Ryker are fun characters that you can’t help but like.  For an ancient being Ryker is pretty much like a teenage boy around Kat, he just can’t figure out what it is about her that makes him want to work with her to find the Vampire King, who happens to be Ryker’s best bud since forever.  However, for the majority of the story poor feisty, warrior woman, hear me roar Kat doesn’t know Ryker is a vampire because he portrays himself as a human PI, that is, when he’s not shapeshifting into the disguise of police officer Keydew.  Speaking of this other persona he likes to change into I couldn’t help but think of Deputy Sherriff Barney Fife from The Andy Griffith show, LOL!!  The way he played the part of officer Keydew to everyone was comical at times for me but I loved it, it added another dimension to Ryker’s character and personality.  Can you tell I really liked Ryker’s character??? 😉  As much as I liked our resident vampire, I have to say I thought Kat’s character was great.  She’s such a strong female lead you can’t help but appreciate all she’s been through in her life, along with her sister. I really liked the sisterly dynamics between them and enjoyed learning about their life and just who Kat really is.  Finding out she’s the product of the very thing she’s been hunting all her life throws her for a loop.  Yes, Kat’s parents are human and vampire, her father is the vampire.  However, with the help of her sisters, both adopted and biological she comes to accept her birth parents, which in the end leads her to be able to accept that Ryker had lied about being human and is in fact a vampire, and that she had come to love him.  Once the truth came out and they admitted they had feelings for each other things got even more fun between them, but in the end they do wind up with their HEA, but not without more drama and danger for these too. 

I really enjoyed Night’s Kiss, and feel that Miss Hughes has another successful story on her hands. It’s fun, adventurous, with 2 strong leads for the main couple, with  just the right amount of mystery and danger tossed in for good measure to keep things entertaining.  For anyone who loves a good vampire read, then this one is a must. 

Until next time, happy reading everyone.

Reviewed by Marcie

Copy provided by Publisher

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The Firefighter’s Cinderella by Sonya Weiss – a Review

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The Firefighter’s Cinderella by Sonya Weiss – a Review

 

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Description:
What’s a Cinderella to do when she’s accidentally kicked her Prince Charming in the face and broken his nose? Hold an audition, of course.

Harper Bailey is desperate to keep her family’s amusement park business up and running, but her employees keep quitting, and the man playing prince to her Cinderella in the company’s mainstage show is just the latest casualty. When sexy firefighter Rafferty Bradford, the most eligible bachelor in their small town, offers to step in, Harper agrees–reluctantly. After all, she and Rafferty are ex-best friends with a ton of past history. Surely they’ll have zero chemistry onstage.

Rafferty has his own reasons for agreeing to play Prince Charming, and none of them are good. If Harper finds out the truth, it’ll just reinforce every rumor she’s believed over the years about Rafferty’s bad rep. But when their chemistry explodes both onstage and off, he’ll have to choose between happily-ever-after for himself…or the Cinderella he’s fallen for.

 

 

Review:

In The Firefighter’s Cinderella by Sonya Weiss, let’s get past a small town could possibly entertain TWO amusement parks.

Let’s ignore the best friends who use to be inseparable, why did they fall out? And they have both been burnt by love, why would they put themselves through it again?

Ignore all that and you have a fun read. It’s part of a series, but you don’t need to read the previous ones (I haven’t and I didn’t feel I missed anything)

Harper needs a Prince Charming, and pretty fast. Her family business is relying on her, and she can’t fail them….. Enter her ex-best friend, who as kids, she and Rafferty were inseparable, but one moment it’s all over; Rafferty moves on, and Harper is left healing a broken heart.

Rafferty is a player, a love them and leave them guy, but there is a reason, and when he walked away from Harper, he thought it was for the best. He misses his best friend, but not enough to ever offer her a ring. But if she had an itch, then he’s the guy to help with that.

The town thinks that Rafferty and Harper should be together, and trying to convince everyone they are only together for the amusement park is proving harder than they thought. Except would it be so bad, just to give in?

Rafferty is hiding something, and when Harper finds out, it could end their newly formed friendship. It’s a fun read, no smut, but lots of laughs. Got to love a matchmaking granny.

Reviewed by Julie B

Copy provided by Publisher

 

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Reforming the CEO by Marisa Cleveland – a Review

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Reforming the CEO by Marisa Cleveland – a Review

 

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Description:
What happens when your next door neighbor is the hottest, most notorious playboy in all of South Beach?

Reece Rowe is on hiatus from respectability. Before she returns to her stable, boring existence of charity events and dating predictable, stuffy suitors who are only interested in getting closer to the wealthy family who adopted her, she’s going to get a taste of what she’s been missing. She screws up her courage and heads to Vincent Ferguson’s office to find out what all the women in South Beach already seem to know about him.

Once CEO Vin Ferguson’s tech company goes public, he’ll have proved he’s no longer the poor, gritty kid from the wrong side of the tracks. But, citing his bad boy reputation, some financial backers waver, and his friends suggest dating a more respectable woman to improve his image. Ridiculous. Because delectable but snooty socialites, like his next door neighbor, are way out of his league.

And then, Reese walks through his office door and makes him an offer. To say his jaw hits the floor is an understatement.

And he can’t believe what she just proposed…

 

 

Review:

A summer of secrets between two consenting adults is the background for Reforming the CEO by Marisa Cleveland. Vin Ferguson ventures beyond “models and mayhem” to gain proper attention only the arm of socialite extraordinaire, Reece Rowe can secure. Her part of the negotiation garners sexual fantasies without any fallout. Quid pro quo. Easy enough…said no one ever, 😀

 “He’d give her what she wanted, and he’d give his board what they wanted, but that would be all. One summer, and everything he ever worked for would finally come into fruition.”

Vin didn’t give Reece enough credit for ambition. She wanted to shatter the glass ceiling of her adoptive family’s expectations and dating a bad boy was just the catalyst. I thought Vin was going to be indifferent to her presence, sex with no strings-focused, but he was in fact captivated by her; no way was he going to be aloof about her position in his life. Before long, Vin recognizes Reece’s steady influence, an attraction more meaningful than superficial, and shared sensibilities creates a solid relationship. Wait…no breaking the rules!

Aside from cat and mouse antics, family dynamics underlie the impetus for Reece’s character departure, her need to behave according to the Rowe model. Strangely enough, Vin isn’t bogged down by skeletons in his closet. He’s abiding by the agreement, promoting his corporation, while making good on Reece’s list of sexual exploits.
 
As there wasn’t a lot of subterfuge, both Vin and Reece benefitted from the “summer of secrets”, broken hearts aren’t a consequence, right? Because love is just that easy, right? Simultaneous proposition, jimultaneous droposition — love always finds a way! Will Vin and Reece be as adult about a relationship as they were a fling? Are either of them ready to commit, considering the career headway they’ve launched as a result of the affair?

Reforming the CEO wasn’t heavy in tone or subject matter – it was downright refreshing to read such an approach! Marisa Cleveland touched on several themes and delivered them well. I enjoyed this book and would love to explore a secondary character’s journey. I’ll be here for book #2!

Reviewed by Carmen

Copy provided by Publisher

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Diamond in the Rogue by Wendy LaCapra – a Review

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Diamond in the Rogue by Wendy LaCapra – a Review

 

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Description:
In an act of revenge, Lord Rayne kissed Lady Julia and was sent packing to America. But now he’s back to settle his affairs and give away his sister in marriage, until he meets up with the alluring yet innocent Lady Julia again. He doesn’t regret their first kiss, but he was never good enough for her.

Lady Julia had two years to forget the moody and mercurial Earl of Rayne. But one look, and she knows they’re meant to be together. Be damned with his and her brother’s objections, she’ll just jump on the back of Rayne’s departing carriage and compromise them both thoroughly.
Only, Julia never expected her forbidding Lord to be so good at resisting temptation…

 

Review:

Diamond in the Rogue by Wendy LaCapra is a Lord of Chance novel. If you’re familiar with the series, you will recognize some of the characters featured in this novel.  The gist of this is that there are several members of the male aristocracy of the times that were great friends. They were young, rich, and visited the gambling dens so often they were each given the nickname of a suit of cards. Brompton was christened Spades; Farring was Clubs, Markham was Hearts, and Rayne was called Diamonds. The backstories on these fellows is usually interesting and complicated. As the title suggests, this novel is the story of Graham Laithe, Earl of Rayne and Julia Stanley, Lord Brompton’s sister.

A fierce misunderstanding caused a serious rift among the friends. Lord Rayne was told to stay away from Lady Julia by not only her brother, but their friend Lord Markham as well. Only Lord Farring still believed in Rayne, his other friends no longer welcomed him. After the argument that caused the rift, Rayne had sailed for American and remained there trying to remake his character as he thought he needed for several years. He’d only recently returned to see to his sister’s marriage to his ex-friend Markham. He was planning to sell his estate and return to his solitary life in New York.

Lady Julia had gone a coming out, but never really tried to find a match because she still wanted Rayne. She watches him almost as much as he watches her. Lord Farring knows she still wants Rayne and he thinks his friend is making bad decisions and about to ruin his life. He and Julia begin to put together a plan to abduct Rayne and make him face his feelings and try to begin again. Julia isn’t sure Rayne really wants her, but Farring convinces her he’s hiding from feelings he’s afraid of.

Okay. That’s the basic setup of the novel. I won’t do spoilers. I like discovering novels and characters for myself and I think most of us do too. The premise is almost madness and yet interestingly managed. The arguments are wild and witty. The romance is splendidly erotic and yet sweet. This is a wonderful addition to the series and I just love to see how these damaged, but wonderful people can overcome all they’ve been through and find a happy life.

Grab yourself a good drink and maybe a snack, sit down for a great ride! Congratulations to author LaCapra on another wonderful story.

Reviewed by Georgianna

Copy provided by Publisher

 

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No Rest for The Wicked by Lauren Smith – a Review

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No Rest for The Wicked by Lauren Smith – a Review

 

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Description:
A wicked pirate, a lady-turned cabin boy and a love reaching the distant horizon.

Your next Pirate Adventure awaits You!

A lady’s guide to surviving aboard a pirate ship:
1)Dress as a cabin boy.
2)Avoid drinking too much rum when the handsome captain is around.
3)Do not let the captain kiss you…again.

The last thing Roberta Harcourt needs is to be trapped on a ship with pirates. After she is separated from her father when their ship is attacked, Roberta finds herself the unwilling guest of sinfully handsome Captain Dominic Grey. He gives her two choices: to share his bed and maintain her life as a lady, or she can sleep on the floor of his cabin and live the life of a cabin boy until he decides to set her free. Refusing to be seduced by a pirate, she dresses in breeches and assumes duties on board his ship among the men, but each night, sharing a cabin with the brooding, seductively intense captain, she begins to wonder if letting him kiss her again might be a rule worth breaking…

Dominic lost his innocence long ago when he was kidnapped and sold into indentured servitude in the West Indies. Determined to leave the painful memories of his past behind, he looks only to the future and the next prize he and his crew can capture on the high seas…until he discovers and captures the feisty daughter of a naval admiral. Protecting her from other pirates and preventing her marriage to an English officer is all in a day’s work for a pirate. But Dominic is determined to play the gentleman he once was born to be. He tries to resist the siren’s call of her sweet lips, especially when she’s arguing with him.

But damned if the woman wasn’t meant to be a pirate because she’s stealing his heart…

 

 

Review:

Hold on to your hats my mates’, Lauren Smith has a swashbuckler of a tale for ya!

In all seriousness, you don’t want to miss this one. It has it all, adventure, danger, heartbreak, romance and love! What more could a reader ask?

Okay, I don’t do spoilers, but let me just set up the story for you and then let you know what I found so compelling and wonderful.

The story begins in Cornwell England 1727. A fourteen-year-old Dominic Greyville (son of the Earl of Camden) is in a fistfight with a bully, two years older, who has embarrassed a young girl. His best friend Nicholas Frey is cheering him on and trying to help with warnings. The fight is broken up and the boys head home. They make a promise they will follow each other to the ends of the earth, always. However, his father is not as pleased and sends Dominic to bed without supper. Being Dominic, he soon climbs out a window and heads for the docks, alone. He’s spotted by some bad men and kidnapped to be sold into indenture in the West Indies, along with several other boys about his age.

The story then picks up in the Port of Cadiz 1741. Dominic is now a sea captain, forced to survive as a pirate. He learns that an English ship containing a “treasure” will be coming their way soon and he and his men set out to retrieve it.

Roberta Harcourt is sailing on the ship Fortune with her father Rear Admiral Charles Harcourt to his new assignment in Port Royal in the West Indies. The only treasure aboard are some bolts of silk and the Admiral’s daughter.

Okay, that’s the setup. I won’t spoil anymore of this magnificent tale. Lauren Smith is a very talented author and I’ve enjoyed her books greatly. Her League of Rogues and Wicked Earls are all well done than thrilling. That said, I believe this is the best book I’ve read in quite some time. It opens with action and the action doesn’t quit. The pace is well kept. The characters are fascinating, even most of the secondary ones too. The dialog is witty and well done. I laughed, squirmed, sobbed, and swooned all in the same book! Please do yourself a favor and don’t miss this one! Kudos to Lauren Smith!

Reviewed by Georgianna

Copy supplied for review

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The Bookworm Crush by Lisa Brown Roberts – a Review

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The Bookworm Crush by Lisa Brown Roberts – a Review

 

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Description:
This spinoff of The Replacement Crush featuring Amy and Toff is sure to melt your heart.

Shy bookworm Amy McIntyre is about to compete for the chance to interview her favorite author, who hasn’t spoken to the press in years. The only way to win is to step out of the shadows and into the spotlight, but that level of confidence has never come easy.

The solution? A competition coach. The problem? The best person for the job is the guy she’s secretly crushing on…local surfer celebrity Toff Nichols.

He’s a player. He’s a heartthrob. He makes her forget basic things, like how to breathe. How can she feel any confidence around him?

To her surprise, Toff agrees to help. And he’s an excellent teacher. Amy feels braver—maybe even brave enough to admit her feelings for him. When their late night practices become less about coaching and more about making out, Amy’s newfound confidence wavers.

But does Toff really like her or is this just another lesson?

 

Review:

The Book Worm Crush by Lisa Brown Roberts reminds me of an early Taylor Swift song, it’s what I picture she would write a book about if she was ever an author.

This is a cute little story that feels younger adult than a true romance novel, but that does not take away from it by any means. For a first time read of this author, I enjoyed it, and found it heart-warming and funny.

 Amy is a bookworm (much like the people reading this) and is all about making her dream come true, but in order for that to happen she has to change who she is. She can’t be the wall flower she is anymore; she needs to be the out-spoken, in your face with confidence type.


Amy has a problem, she needs to be more than she is, and the person she goes to for help is non other than Toff. Toff the local surfer dude she has a crazy crush on. Everyone knows Toff, he’s the hot, popular, all girls want to be with, all guys want to be guy. Like a miracle sent from above, Toff agrees to help Amy, and what a helper he is, but what happens when the teaching relationship turns to more. When Amy’s feelings turn into something deeper?


Does Toff really care about her?

Was any of it even real?


Well go get it to find out!!!

 

Reviewed by Sarah

Copy provided by Publisher

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Meant to Be Yours by Susan Mallery – a Review

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Meant to Be Yours by Susan Mallery – a Review

 

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Description:
In Happily Inc, love means never having to say “I do”…

Wedding coordinator Renee Grothen isn’t meant for marriage. Those who can, do. Those who can’t, plan. But she never could have planned on gorgeous, talented thriller writer Jasper Dembenski proposing—a fling, that is. Fun without a future. And the attraction between them is too strong for Renee to resist. Now she can have her no-wedding cake…and eat it, too.

After years in the military, Jasper is convinced he’s too damaged for relationships. So a flirtation—and more—with fiery, determined Renee is way too good to pass up…until his flame becomes his muse.

Renee is an expert at averting every crisis. But is she finally ready to leap into the one thing that can never be controlled: love?

 

Review:

Meant to be Yours by Susan Mallery is the 5th book in her Happily Inc. series. I’ve not read any of the previous books in this series. And I don’t think you miss anything, as it reads well as a standalone. 

Renee is a wedding coordinator, she enjoys her job, but she’s got no plans to EVER get married!! It’s not for her, a good time yes, but marriage hell no!! Is the reason she is against the concept of marriage a failed marriage? A family who didn’t care? Or something else? We do get to find out, but you do have to get a good way into the book, before anything is revealed. 

Jasper doesn’t think he will ever be ready for a relationship, seeing the things he did whilst serving in the army (he was a military policeman) has left him empty, so how the hell does he expect a woman to understand, he doesn’t understand it himself. 

Jasper is now a writer, he’s good at what he does (a detective series) but is getting pressure to end the series, that’s not the problem…. it’s the ending. It’s suppose to have a happy ending, his character meets and falls in love!!! How the hell will he pull it off?? 

Renee and Jasper meet and it’s almost instant attraction. And a one night stand has both of the characters thinking of one another. 

Renee is happy to “sleep” with Jasper, but doesn’t want or need the “white wedding” at the end. Jasper wants Renee’s opinion on the female psyche!! 

The interaction between these two is funny, but there are a few moments where you want to smack them!! And the wedding planners that the author either interviewed or followed around, really paid off, she made it informative rather than full of “coordinator” speak. 

So will Renee finally fall in love? Or will she be proved right? Will she have her heart broken? And can Jasper move from friend to the “unsafe” zone of possibly husband?  You will need to read Meant to Be Yours to find out.

Reviewed by Julie B

Copy provided by Publisher

 

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