Blog Tour + Excerpt + Review: "The Billionaire's Fake Fiancee" by Annika Martin

Today, I am thrilled to participate in the blog tour celebrating the release of Annika Martin's latest novel, "The Billionaire's Fake Fiancee," book #4 of the Billionaires of Manhattan series. I love both opposites attract and fake relationship stories, so I have been looking forward to reading this book ever since I first read the synopsis earlier this year. I'm happy to report that it was even better than I expected it to be, combining those relationship tropes with a grumpy hero (my favorite kind!), a sweet and delightful heroine, a bit of mystery, and a whole lot of fun.

Despite being the fourth book in a series, "The Billionaire's Fake Fiancee" reads as a complete standalone, so readers who have not yet picked up the earlier books will not feel lost if they choose to start here. With that in mind, I highly recommend this book for all fans of contemporary romance, whether or not they've previously read Ms. Martin's work.

About "The Billionaire's Fake Fiancee"

I’m no Prince Charming, and the last thing I want is a Cinderella.

My instructions were simple: scour the city for a fake fiancée who’s not my type at all. Have her on my jet Monday morning, dressed appropriately for a yacht vacation.

I need a woman believable enough to convince a certain client that I’ve changed my playboy ways…yet nothing like the supermodels and socialites I usually have on my arm.

Somebody too annoying to tempt me—no emotional entanglements, thank you very much. This is business only.

If she’s unfazed by my looks and wealth, all the better.

Should be easy. Right?

Apparently not, because my people go and hire Tabitha. My hairdresser.

What were they thinking? Yes, I said annoying, but I didn’t mean her, the most frustrating woman in the world.

Tabitha is sunshiny. She has a pet hamster. She loves Hello Kitty, and she gets under my skin like nobody else.

As if that’s not bad enough, the minute we step on deck, she thinks that certain people on the yacht are up to something shady—based completely on her soap opera knowledge.

She won’t listen when I tell her she’s being ridiculous.

But as the days go by, I find that we’re actually having fun. And our fake kisses are heating up. And suddenly her wild theories aren’t sounding so strange after all…

Read an Excerpt from "The Billionaire's Fake Fiancee"

“We need a practice kiss.”

My gaze falls to her lips and my mind goes blank. “Did you not read the contract?” I bite out. “This relationship is to be purely platonic.”

“Oh, I know. And before you think I’m jonesing to kiss you, please know, I’m just trying to do a professional job at this, and the kiss is important. Because I can tell you right now, when people do the fake engagement ploy and get busted, it’s often because they’re forced to do a first kiss in front of suspicious people. Everybody can tell a first kiss.”

“Have you been involved in other fake engagement situations?” I ask.

“No, but, you know, it’s a thing. Trust me.”

“It’s a thing?” I ask, incredulous.

“Well, on soap operas,” she adds.

I groan. “Jesus Christ, save me from your ridiculous soap opera wisdom.”

“What? There is a lot of life wisdom in soap operas.”

I give her a hard look.

“And the fact is, with people who have never kissed, there’s a lot of trepidation. They’re like, How do I start off? Where do I put my hands? Which way should I tilt my head?”

“Those are not questions that would cross my mind during a kiss. Ever.”

“Please. Spare me from the knowledge of what crosses your mind when you kiss a woman,” she says. “I’m just telling you, people aren’t stupid. They’re capable of recognizing a first kiss. We need at least one practice round. Unfortunately.”

I swallow. Somewhere down on Wall Street, trading is in full swing. I have rates to check, reports to analyze, spreads to monitor, but the idea of pulling her to me and kissing her crowds all of that out. My hands flex.

A practice kiss. I can’t think of a worse idea. “We’re not a couple who enjoys public displays of affection.”

She does her playful wince. “Okay, buuuuuut…what happens when they toast our engagement? We can’t exactly shake hands.”

Will people do that? Gather around and expect us to kiss in front of them? I focus on the window. The whole idea here was not to be tempted or distracted.

“If I decide we need a practice kiss,” I inform her, “then and only then will we have a practice kiss. And I’ll do the kissing.”

“It has to be more than a peck,” she says. “Just in case that’s what you’re imagining.”

“Rest assured, a kiss from me would be the opposite of a peck.”

“The opposite of a peck,” she echoes, as though she finds it funny.

“The polar opposite.” My gaze has gone back to her lips. They’d taste like some sort of sugary berry. Her dark hair would be thick and cool in my grip, her ass soft and firm. My mind won’t stop spinning on kissing her, now.

“I’m trying to help you pull this off,” she says. “Think of the times you’ve had a first kiss. The wild rush of it. The buzz of it. It’ll be so obvious.”

I frown. Who the hell has she been sharing these mind-altering first kisses with?

“Don’t worry, I get this is business,” she says. “You’re not at all the type of guy I go for, either.”

“No? Do tell—what type of guy do you go for?”

“For one, he would scoff at the idea of a private jet. And he would never wear or even possess cufflinks. Or if he did, there’d be a string attached to the cufflinks because he would’ve made them into an awesome toy for little Seymour. That would be a guy for me.”

“Sounds like a loser,” I growl.

My Review

I loved "The Billionaire's Fake Fiancee" by Annika Martin, a sweet, charming, funny story featuring likeable, well-developed main characters and an engaging plot that kept me glued to my Kindle for hours. I've been a big fan of grouchy heroes ever since watching the movie "Pretty Woman" for the first time, and the male lead of this book, Rex, seemed to have a bit of the same grumpy, workaholic vibe as Richard Gere does in the movie. I loved how protective Rex was of the female lead, Tabitha, even when he seemed annoyed by her, and how Tabitha managed to bring out his softer side when they were together.

Unlike grouchy Rex, Tabitha was very outgoing and positive with a great sense of humor. She proved to be an asset to him on the yacht trip, quickly forming a bond with his client Gail and several of the other guests. Tabitha was also quite intelligent and much more observant than most people initially realized, including Rex. Even her love of soap operas ended up being useful because it helped her think outside the box, and even though Rex didn't believe it to be possible, some of Tabitha's wild theories turned out to be true and ended up helping him in his business dealings with Gail.

In addition to Tabitha and Rex, I loved the book's secondary characters, especially Tabitha's friends from her apartment building because of the way they always supported each other. Mail carrier Noelle will be the next one of this group to be featured in a story, and I can't wait to get my hands on it!

Overall, "The Billionaire's Fake Fiancee" was a fun, sweet story, and I highly recommend it. I look forward to Annika Martin's next book.

*ARC provided by the author via Social Butterfly PR. All opinions expressed are my own.

Blog Tour + Excerpt + Review: "How to Catch an Errant Earl" by Amy Rose Bennett

I am pleased to be participating in today's blog tour promoting the release of "How to Catch an Errant Earl" by Amy Rose Bennett, book #2 in the Disreputable Debutantes series.

I have to be honest: I really struggled with whether I should go forward with this post after reading an advance copy of the book. Above all else, I strive to share only my honest thoughts and feelings about the books I read, and I would never recommend something that I did not personally enjoy. It's a difficult balancing act, however, knowing how much time, effort, and love authors put into their writing, and how they (and their publishers) count on bloggers and reviewers to spread positive feedback to help build sales. When I commit to writing a review or joining a promotional tour, it's based on the book's synopsis and because I genuinely believe that I will enjoy it, usually well before it's available for me to actually read. I hate backing out on those commitments and make a sincere effort not to do so, unless it's unavoidable for personal reasons (e.g. my health) or I absolutely hated the book.

Anyway, I apologize for the digression. The point I'm trying to convey is that while I did NOT hate "How to Catch an Errant Earl," I did have very mixed feelings about it, and I can't give it my wholehearted recommendation. That said, some of what I disliked about the book (mainly the insta-lust between main characters Gabriel and Arabella) is a favorite trope for other readers. I invite you to check out the following excerpt as well as my review and judge for yourself whether or not this book is for you.

About "How to Catch an Errant Earl"

A young debutante makes a hasty exit from London only to create new headlines on the Continent.

After being expelled from a young ladies' academy, a disgraced Miss Arabella Jardine is whisked away to the Continent until the controversy in London subsides. However, it doesn't take long for Arabella to shock her family all over again when an encounter in Switzerland with the irresistible rakehell-in-exile Earl of Langdale leads to a compromising situation. Despite his wicked reputation, Lord Langdale is the sort of man she has dreamed of marrying.

When Gabriel Holmes-Fitzgerald is caught in flagrante delicto with the apparently prim and proper Miss Arabella Jardine, he's obliged to offer for the young lady's hand. Unprincipled cad that he is, Gabriel is no stranger to scandal. He'll do the right thing and wed Arabella, although he secretly despairs his tainted soul will corrupt and ultimately destroy her.

When Arabella's life is unexpectedly threatened by an unscrupulous enemy from the past, one thing becomes crystal clear to Gabriel: the worst torment of all will be losing the woman he loves. And he would do anything, even sell his soul to the Devil himself, to save her.

Read an Excerpt from "How to Catch an Errant Earl"

Set-up: During a wild storm, Lord Langdale falls from his horse. Miss Arabella Jardine is about to treat his badly injured shoulder...

Trying to ignore the quickening of her pulse and the wild fluttering in her belly, Arabella forced herself to concentrate on the task at hand. “Right, let’s get on with it, shall we? We’ll need to deal with your cravat and waistcoat first.”

He gave a short nod, then loosened his neckcloth, collar, and the fastenings at the top of his shirt with a shaking hand while Arabella applied herself to undoing the buttons of his sodden silk waistcoat. When the garment sagged open, she tried very hard not to notice his long, lean torso or how the soaked, almost sheer cambric of his shirt clung to the hard swells of his well-developed pectoral muscles.

She frowned and worried at her lower lip when her gaze traveled lower to the waistband of his buckskin breeches. “Shall I tug your shirt out, or would you prefer to? I don’t want to hurt you...at least any more than necessary.”

“I’ll do it.” Drawing a shallow breath, he gingerly tugged the fabric free at the very front. “Will that do?”

“Aye.” She held on to the hem and picked up her scissors from where she’d deposited them on the silk-covered seat of the chaise longue. Lord Langdale’s clothing was drenched through and the chair’s fabric would probably be ruined, but there wasn’t much she could do about it.

She was about to make the first cut when Lord Langdale murmured, “I think this is one of the most novel ways I’ve ever been undressed.”

“One of the most novel? Heavens.” Arabella made a series of careful snips up the middle of the earl’s shirt, stopping just below his sternum. “The mind boggles.”

“Well, if you’re curious, I could tell you about the time—”

“No.” Arabella made a smooth slice up to the shirt’s gaping neckline. With a quick snick, the garment was completely cut in two. Glancing up into the earl’s face, she continued, “I’m not the slightest bit curious...” But then her voice trailed away.

Lord Langdale was looking down at her through half-closed lids, and Arabella suddenly found herself trapped as though entranced by a mesmerist. Her pulse raced faster than quicksilver, and she suddenly felt giddy as though she’d been drinking cognac too. Goodness, this beautiful man was dangerous. Even though he was in a seriously injured, disheveled state, his rakish charm was in no way diminished.

But she had a job to do. And swooning at the earl’s feet like a silly miss who’d never seen a bare male chest before was not conducive to getting it done. Arabella swallowed and pushed herself up. “Now that I think on it, I probably should have cut through the back of your shirt instead of the front,” she said, moving behind him.

“But where would the fun have been in that?”

Arabella frowned at the back of his head. Was he implying he enjoyed seeing her on her knees between his legs? She was sure he was making a joke of a sexual nature at her expense. “You have a wicked tongue, Lord Langdale,” she said as she efficiently snipped down the back of his waistcoat.

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“And you’re incorrigible too.” She started on the back of his shirt.

“I won’t disagree.”

“Good.”

My Review

I had mixed feelings about Amy Rose Bennett's "How to Catch an Errant Earl." On the positive side, the book was generally well-written, and main character Gabriel, Lord Langdale's, investigation into the circumstances of his parents' marriage and his mother's later disappearance was interesting. I also enjoyed the fact that the first half of the novel was set in Switzerland rather than the typical ballrooms and drawing rooms of Regency London. It was nice to get a glimpse of what traveling on the Continent might have been like 200 years ago.

Gabriel and his love interest, Miss Arabella Jardine, were mostly likeable lead characters, though there were aspects of their personalities that I wish had been better developed. At first, Arabella seemed quite intelligent and capable, and I appreciated her pride in her medical knowledge and the fact that she wasn't ashamed to be considered a bluestocking. As the story went on, however, her seeming lack of self-esteem when she was around Gabriel really started to bother me, mainly because it didn't quite seem to fit with her behavior earlier in the novel. Admittedly, Arabella's aunt and cousin treated her rather poorly over the years and that probably took a toll, but I was still uncomfortable with the way she continually thought of and described herself as "nothing and no one" in comparison to Gabriel because of his title and standing in society. Arabella must have had some family connections or else how could she have been admitted to the ladies' academy where she met Lady Charlotte and her other friends? If the academy was good enough for the daughter of an earl, it must have been pretty selective.

Gabriel was a roguishly charming hero, but I appreciated the fact that he actually seemed to grow up a bit over the course of the story. Perhaps because of the threat of his cousin challenging his title, he finally realized what was important in life and that he needed to take his responsibilities more seriously. However, I wish that Gabriel's addiction to laudanum had been explored in greater depth. It was an important part of his background, but seemed to be treated as nothing more than an afterthought.

As for the relationship between Arabella and Gabriel, while their physical attraction to each other was obvious, I remained unconvinced of their emotional connection by the end of the book. I am not a fan of the insta-lust or insta-love tropes, and both of those seemed to come into play here. Gabriel could never quite explain what it was that he actually liked about Arabella, but he somehow "just knew" he had to have her. Arabella became obsessed with the fact that Gabriel wasn't in love with her and tried to push him away. They seemed to keep having the same argument over and over again, and frankly, I found myself growing more and more annoyed with Arabella and her unrealistic expectations. They were forced to marry quickly without knowing each other at all, and the whole story took place over only a month or so. They needed to spend some time getting to know each other in order to fall in love!

Overall, like the first book in this series, "How to Catch an Errant Earl" was not a terrible book, but I did not find it to be particularly memorable either. I will probably give the series one more chance since I've enjoyed getting to know Arabella's friends Olivia and Lady Charlotte (Charlie) in these first two books, but at this point my expectations are pretty low.

*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

Review: How to Catch a Wicked Viscount

How to Catch a Wicked Viscount by Amy Rose Bennett
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was looking forward to reading "How to Catch a Wicked Viscount" by Amy Rose Bennett, but unfortunately I ended up being somewhat disappointed with it. It was generally a well-written novel, but the story seemed to drag in several places and the characters were not as well-developed as they could have been. Most importantly, I had a tough time believing in the emotional connection between main characters Nathaniel, Lord Malverne, and Miss Sophie Brightwell. Their physical attraction for one another was clear, but I'm finding it difficult to remember them having any significant discussions that didn't revolve around the fact that Sophie enjoyed reading while Nate didn't or, later, Nate's supposed inability to love. What exactly did they have in common besides their shared interest in the scandalous memoirs of Miss Fanny Hill? How could they possibly know that they loved each other when they spent almost no quality time getting to know each other?

Neither Sophie nor Nate was particularly likeable as an individual, either. Sophie's attitude really bothered me for most of the book because she was so down on herself. She really lacked confidence, especially early in the book, and had a tough time seeing herself as anything other than a "poor country girl" who was unworthy of any gentleman's attentions, but especially Nate's. Aside from that, Sophie just seemed kind of boring. I honestly have no idea what it was about her that motivated Nate to give up his rakish ways. As for Nate, I found his immaturity and irresponsibility to be major annoyances. The pranks he and his friends pulled early in the book were incredibly juvenile and seemed better suited to young men just down from university than those in their late 20s. They all needed to grow up, and frankly I think Nate's father did the right thing in trying to rein him in.

Overall, I can't say that "How to Catch a Wicked Viscount" was a terrible book, but I didn't find it to be especially memorable either. I did enjoy the introduction to Sophie's friends Charlie, Olivia, and Arabella, however, so I will plan to pick up the next book in the series.

*ARC provided by the publisher via Edelweiss. All opinions expressed are my own.

View all my reviews

Release Blitz + Review: "Lovewrecked" by Karina Halle

Karina Halle's latest release, "Lovewrecked," is finally here, and I could not be more excited to share it with you today. I've probably mentioned before that Ms. Halle is one of my favorite authors, and that I have loved every single book of hers I've ever read, especially the romantic comedies. Given the current craziness of the real world, lately I've been reading more rom-coms than ever in an effort to escape the stress; sometimes laughter really is the best medicine! As a result, "Lovewrecked" has been at the very top of my "most anticipated new releases" list ever since I first read the synopsis, and I couldn't wait to dive in (ha!) the minute it downloaded to my Kindle.

A full review of "Lovewrecked" is included later in this post, but in short, this book turned out to be even better than I had hoped it would be. It gave me all the feels just as so many of Ms. Halle's books have done in the past. I highly recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance, not just the rom-com lovers out there.

About "Lovewrecked"

From New York Times bestselling author Karina Halle comes a sexy new standalone romantic comedy about getting stuck on a deserted island with a man you hate to love and love to hate.

Daisy Lewis is experiencing a relentless string of bad luck.

Fortunately, Daisy has her sister’s destination wedding coming up. A week of sand, sea, and sun in the South Pacific as the maid-of-honor is exactly what Daisy needs to forget her upturned life and focus on the positive.

That is until Daisy meets the best man.

If you take tall, dark, and handsome, and add a dash of rugged, a pinch of brooding, and a whole lot of sexy, you’ve got Tai Wakefield. Unfortunately he’s also a major grump, total alpha, and seemingly out to antagonize Daisy at every turn.

As if being part of the wedding party with Tai wasn’t bad enough, Daisy’s bad luck soon resurfaces when she ends up on a cramped sailboat with Tai and the newlyweds.

Which then shipwrecks on a deserted island near Fiji.

Okay, so they aren’t completely alone. There’s an oddball research scientist who has been isolated for far too long, they have rundown bungalows as shelter, stores of water and canned food, plus a feral goat named Wilson. It’s Lost…without the smoke monster.

But with rescue weeks away, Tai and Daisy realize the only way they’re going to get through this mess is to stop fighting and start working together.

And with their guards down, they get closer.

A lot closer.

Soon, Daisy realizes that the only thing worse than being stuck on a deserted island, is being stuck on a deserted island with a man she hates to love and loves to hate.

A man that can break her heart.

My Review

I adored Karina Halle's "Lovewrecked," a delightful romantic comedy featuring likeable, well-rounded characters, an engaging plot, and a superbly developed slow burn romance between main characters Tai Wakefield and Daisy Lewis. The dynamic between Daisy and Tai as they slowly transitioned from frenemies to lovers was a lot of fun, and their banter frequently made me laugh out loud. The serious moments of the story were also incredibly well-written and kept me at the edge of my seat, particularly the shipwreck scene, which was very suspenseful without being overly dramatic.

I'm a big fan of grumpy heroes, so I found Tai to be a great lead character. He had more reason than most to be grumpy, having suffered more than his fair share of loss in his life, but I loved seeing him slowly come out of his shell as he and Daisy grew closer. They really seemed to bring out the best in each other, with Daisy helping Tai come to terms with his past hurts and Tai helping Daisy find a new direction in life.

Daisy was also a great main character, mostly because it was so easy for me to empathize with her. For years she tried to focus only on the positive, managing to hide her unhappiness even from herself in the process. As their time on the island lengthened, however, Daisy's feelings eventually overwhelmed her and she was forced to face the fact that she wasn't OK. When she did, I was right there with her. Everything she said, I've felt at some point in my life too. Obviously I've never been shipwrecked and stranded on a desert island, but the struggle she voiced was universal and so incredibly relatable.

In addition to the central romantic relationship between Tai and Daisy, I loved the complexity of Daisy's relationship with her older sister Lacey. They were so different from each other, which made it tough for them to understand each other's point of view, but it was clear to me how much they loved each other anyway. The story's other secondary characters added a lot of depth and humor to the story as well, and Fred's friendship with Wilson the goat was super cute (if a bit odd).

Overall, "Lovewrecked" was a wonderful story and I highly recommend it. I look forward to Karina Halle's next book!

*ARC provided by the author via Social Butterfly PR. All opinions expressed are my own.

Blog Tour + Review: "Don't Go Stealing My Heart" by Kelly Siskind

Today, I am very happy to participate in the blog tour celebrating the release of "Don't Go Stealing My Heart" by Kelly Siskind. This is the first book I've ever read by Ms. Siskind, but it's safe to say that it will not be the last. A full review is included later in this post, but in short, I very much enjoyed this quirky, funny, and sweet story with its wonderful characters and unique plot complete with a twist at the end that took me completely by surprise. I'm pleased to recommend "Don't Go Stealing My Heart" for all fans of contemporary romance.

About "Don't Go Stealing My Heart"

She wants to steal his Van Gogh. He wants to steal her heart.

Some people would call Clementine Abernathy a criminal. She considers herself a modern day Robin Hood, who steals from the rich and gives to the poor. Not exactly on the up-and-up, but she knows what it's like to lose everything. Her latest heist involves swiping a priceless Van Gogh from its owner, who's supposed to be an egotistical trust-fund brat.

Turns out Jack David is a sexy, kind-hearted man...and Clementine is in trouble. Falling for her mark would make her the World's Dumbest Conwoman, but Jack is charmingly persistent, always singing sweet songs in her ear.

And that earth-shattering kiss? She never stood a chance.

Now she's imagining a fresh start with this dashing man, but that means telling Jack about her past. And other nefarious sorts are after the same painting. Too soon, Clementine learns what it means to risk it all for love.

My Review

I very much enjoyed Kelly Siskind's "Don't Go Stealing My Heart," a sweet, quirky, funny, and ultimately uplifting story that featured wonderfully complex, well-developed characters and a unique, engaging plot complete with a twist at the end that I never saw coming. The Elvis theme that ran throughout the book was a lot of fun, as was the small-town setting of Whichway, Nebraska. I especially loved that the residents were so friendly and gave their businesses such comical names, in keeping with the town's history.

The main characters of this story, Jack and Clementine, were well-matched in spite of their very different upbringings, and I loved the slow burn of their relationship dynamic as they got to know each other over the course of the story. It took me a few chapters to warm up to Clementine because she seemed a bit prickly at first, but as she started to open up and I got to know and understand her, I fell in love with her just as much as Jack did. Given her line of work, it made sense that she would try to keep people at arm's length as much as possible, but I was so happy when she finally decided to let Jack see her true self.

Most of the time in his day-to-day life, Jack was endearingly nerdy and awkward, but he really came to life when performing his Elvis tribute act. Above all else, he tried to do what was best for his family, their company, and its employees, even though it was a challenge as he struggled to complete his research in time for the town's annual Elvis tribute festival. Jack also struggled with romantic relationships and had been burned several times in the past, but he really connected with Clementine and knew there was something special about her from the start. There were a number of roadblocks along their path to happiness, but I found it very easy to root for them along the way.

Overall, "Don't Go Stealing My Heart" was an excellent read and I look forward to checking out more of Ms. Siskind's work in the future.

*ARC provided by the author via InkSlingerPR.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Excerpt + Giveaway + Review: "Dear Future Ex-Wife" by Jillian Quinn

I am excited to participate in the release blitz celebrating tomorrow's publication of Jillian Quinn's latest novel, "Dear Future Ex-Wife." A full review of the book is included at the end of this post, but in short, I enjoyed and would recommend this fun, flirty, steamy frenemies-to-lovers romance. Main characters Harley and Nate were well-developed and likeable, and it was very easy for me to cheer them on to their HEA. Their group of friends was also a tremendous amount of fun, and I could easily see several of them starring in future books of their own.

For a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card courtesy of the author, Jillian Quinn, click here! (Giveaway closes on April 29.)

About "Dear Future Ex-Wife"

I, Harley McQueen, do not take Nathan King to be my husband…

I wish I could say no to this wedding. But to save our fathers’ company, my ex-best friend needs a fake bride to bail him out of his latest scandal.

Nate has a reputation with women.

I want the promotion my father has denied me for years.

Together, maybe we can make this fake marriage work.

As long as I don’t fall in love with him…

Again.

Read an Excerpt from "Dear Future Ex-Wife"

“Hey there, Queen,” Nate says as he approaches me with a wicked smile on his handsome face. “You look happy to see me,” he jokes, wiggling his eyebrows.

My throat closes up at the sight of him. His dark, wavy hair is gelled and styled to perfection. Tall and muscular, he fills out every inch of the navy suit that molds to his body. Women drool over him now, but I know the nerdy boy who had hair that would never stay put. His teeth were such a mess, he wore braces until our sophomore year of high school. And for a few years, I was several inches taller than Nate. But now, when he leans in to hug me, he has to dip down to meet my height.

He towers over me, his masculine scent filling my nostrils as he kisses my cheek. My skin tingles from the unexpected contact. Heat rushes to my face, which is now on fire from his delicate touch. He’s only doing this because he knows I won’t make a scene in front of our families. Nate takes every opportunity he gets to irritate me.

For as much as I hate him, I still miss him. So, when I hug him back it’s a real one. I don’t want to let him go, and the feeling seems to be mutual.

Nate clutches me, his fingers digging into my back. “You look good,” he whispers against the shell of my ear, sending chills down my arms. “I can see the Pilates paid off.”

I gasp at his comment.

Nate laughs in response.

Damn him.

I hate showing that he has any effect on me. More than anything I wish he didn’t have a single ounce of control over me. But he does.

Nate tugs on a strand of my hair, twirling it around his finger. He did this when we were kids because he thought it was funny when I slapped him. My former best friend was an oddball. And now, he’s doing it to torment me. Men like Nate can smell desire on women. He damn well knows I think he’s hot. Nate looks like a walking orgasm in his expensive, silky suit that was tailor-made for him. Everything about him screams sex and money.

“Let’s get started,” my dad says, snapping me back to reality.

I flick Nate’s finger, and he drops his hand to his side. He stares me down with his hauntingly beautiful eyes. When I turn my back to Nate, Stefan is still standing behind the chair he rolled out from the table for me.

Nate sits across from me, though no amount of space is enough because I can practically feel the heat from his gaze rolling down my arms. Our parents get comfortable at the heads of the table, my dad to my left and Richard on the right. Nate’s wingtip hits my heel under the table. I ignore him as he taps me again. A few seconds later, his silky dress sock slides up my calf. I stare across the table at him, and he challenges me with one look.

Do it, his eyes demand. Fight me, Queen.

I hold my breath when his foot grazes my inner thigh. His gaze is pointed down the table at my dad, but I don’t miss the corner of Nate’s mouth lifting slightly into a satisfied smirk. He wants to play with me.

Game on, King.

My Review

"Dear Future Ex-Wife" by Jillian Quinn was a fun, flirty, steamy frenemies-to-lovers romance that I enjoyed and would recommend. What made it extra special for me was that it was mostly set in Philadelphia, which is pretty unique in my experience so far with contemporary romance. I'm a proud Philly girl by birth, so I loved seeing my city represented and had a lot of fun imagining being back home as the characters went about their daily lives.

The main characters of this story, Nate and Harley, were both very likeable and well-developed. I really appreciated that Nate treated Harley as an equal and made such an effort to recognize her artistic talents, especially since her own father largely ignored them. Harley's wish for her father to finally see her was one of the main reasons she agreed to marry Nate, but she was also smart enough to realize that she could benefit from the arrangement as well by negotiating a well-deserved promotion into the deal.

I loved Harley and Nate's amusing banter and how they constantly teased each other, as well as the slow burn of their relationship development as Harley, especially, tried to resist her reawakening romantic feelings for Nate. It was easy to see how strong their attraction was even after so many years apart, and I couldn't wait for them to finally give in to it. When they did, I thought my Kindle might actually combust!

The book's secondary characters, mainly Nate and Harley's group of friends, were also a tremendous amount of fun, though I have to admit to wondering how some of them stayed employed given how much they all went out partying and drinking. That said, they were all quite likeable, and I could easily see several of them starring in future books of their own.

*ARC provided by the author via Xpresso Book Tours. All opinions expressed are my own.

Review: First Comes Scandal

First Comes Scandal by Julia Quinn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have loved all of Julia Quinn's books, but she has outdone herself with "First Comes Scandal," book #4 of the Rokesby series. In fact, it may be my favorite of her books since the original Bridgerton series! It was so sweet and funny, featuring delightful characters and an engaging plot. I had a tough time putting the book down once I started reading.

The female lead character of this story, Miss Georgiana "Georgie" Bridgerton, was kind (even to those who didn't necessarily deserve it), intelligent, inquisitive, and forward-thinking. I particularly loved that when confronted with the scandal of her ruination in the wake of being kidnapped by an overzealous suitor, she didn't break down, but rather got angry and pointed out the injustice of society considering her "ruined" while her kidnapper suffered no damage whatsoever to his reputation. The male lead, medical student Nicholas Rokesby, was a great match for Georgie because of the way he encouraged her interest in medical matters and never tried to force her into the mold of a "proper" wife, which would have crushed her spirit. Instead, he loved her for who she was and how she made his life better, and in return, Georgie brought out a sweet, playful side to Nicholas that was buried beneath his serious exterior when the story began.

The secondary characters in this book were also a lot of fun, particularly Nicholas and Georgie's siblings, several of whom were featured in the earlier books of the series. I also enjoyed the antics of the Rokesbys' and the Bridgertons' butlers, Thamesly and Wheelock. Servants don't often get to play much of a role in historical romances, but in this case they were important secondary characters and had wonderful, well-developed personalities. They were both very funny and obviously took pride in caring for their employers' families.

Overall, I highly recommend "First Comes Scandal" and look forward to Julia Quinn's next book!

*ARC provided by the publisher via Edelweiss. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Review: Girl Gone Viral

Girl Gone Viral by Alisha Rai
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I adored Katrina King when she was introduced as a secondary character in Alisha Rai's last book, "The Right Swipe," so to say that I was excited to read her story in "Girl Gone Viral" might be something of an understatement. Thankfully, this book did not disappoint; in fact, it was even better than I had hoped it would be. It gave me all the feels, making me laugh out loud and tugging at my heartstrings in equal measure.

Katrina was a phenomenal lead character: smart, kind, and incredibly brave no matter what life threw at her. It wasn't easy, but she kept trying to overcome her fears and get back out into the world, even if she had to take baby steps to do it. Katrina's bodyguard and love interest, Jasvinder "Jas" Singh, provided a tremendous amount of help and support for Katrina on her journey, even as he battled demons of his own related to his time in the military and unresolved differences with his family. I loved the way Jas was always looking out for Katrina and his other loved ones. He wasn't always very good at communicating with them, but like Katrina, he genuinely tried to do better.

Jas and Katrina were very well matched as a couple, and I loved the slow burn of their relationship development over the course of the story. Katrina needed a partner who was willing to be patient with her and see beyond both her wealth and her panic disorder to the sweet, funny woman inside. In return, Jas needed someone to help him remember to take care of himself, not just those he loves, and focus on the future instead of the past. They truly brought out the best in each other, and I couldn't wait for them to finally admit that they were in love.

Overall, I loved "Girl Gone Viral" and highly recommend it. I hope that there are more stories to come in this series! It would be wonderful to see Jia (Katrina's roommate), Lakshmi (Rhiannon's assistant), and Harris (Samson's friend from the NFL) get HEAs of their own.

*ARC provided by the publisher via Edelweiss. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Blog Tour + Review: "Do Me a Favor" by Christina Hovland

Today, I am very excited to participate in the blog tour promoting Christina Hovland's latest release, "Do Me a Favor," book #4 in the Mile High Matched series. I am a relatively new reader of Ms. Hovland's books, but I've quickly come to love her sense of humor and the endearing characters she creates. The main characters of "Do Me a Favor," Roman Dvornakov and Sadie Howard, were no exception, and I found it very easy to cheer them on to their HEA.

Although this is the fourth book in a series, "Do Me a Favor" reads as a complete standalone. Characters from previous stories do make cameo appearances, however, and Babushka, the matchmaking Russian grandmother, plays a key role in Roman and Sadie's romance, much as she did for a few of the others in this series. I highly recommend the entire Mile High Matched series for all fans of contemporary romantic comedies, no matter what order you read them in.

About "Do Me a Favor"

Some days things just click. Today is not that day.

Love is a battlefield, and divorce attorney Sadie Howard is entrenched on the frontlines. She thought she might have met the right man once, but he was a career military guy who got shipped overseas and left her heart on the tarmac. These days, the only commitment Sadie wants is the one she's made to her Denver law practice.

Combat photographer Roman Dvornakov is back. Fresh out of the U.S. Army, he’s using family connections to snap photos at a few weddings while he builds his civilian photography practice. After all he’s captured on film, a few posed wedding shots should be a cakewalk. Seeing so much death through the camera lens, he’s now ready to build something worth living for. A thriving photography business, definitely. But he’s certain his new mission also includes Sadie, the girl who slipped away.

Sadie isn’t convinced, and she's not willing to open her heart anytime soon. Besides, she’s got a high-profile divorce case taking up all her attention. Winning the case for her client will make or break her practice. So what if it's a custody dispute over a ridiculously expensive fish tank? When Roman discovers the soon-to-be divorced couple are still in love, he and his slightly-nutty grandmother, Babushka, are determined to convince them to cancel the proceedings. He’s not camera shy when it comes to matters of the heart, but interfering with Sadie's clients could wreck her career and any chance they'll ever have together...

WARNING: READ ONLY IF YOU LOVE A STRONG HEROINE, AN ALPHA HERO WITH A HEART OF GOLD, FAMILY MEDDLING, AND A GUARANTEED HEA. IF LAUGHING SO HARD THAT THOSE AROUND YOU ASK IF YOU ARE OKAY IS YOUR THING, THEN THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU.

My Review

Christina Hovland's "Do Me a Favor" was a charming, funny, and sweet story with plenty of laugh out loud moments and likeable, well-developed characters. Female lead character Sadie was clearly a born lawyer: smart, tenacious, and maybe a bit stubborn, but sweet, kind, and lovable just the same. I loved the way she was always arguing, even if it was only with herself. Sadie's love interest, Roman, was also pretty great, very family-oriented with a wonderful sense of humor. He realized very quickly that he'd made a mistake with Sadie when they were together ten years earlier and was determined to convince her to give him a second chance, even if that meant enlisting the questionable matchmaking skills of his crazy Russian grandmother, Babushka.

I think Babushka meant well with her matchmaking, but her methods were unorthodox, to say the least, and she ended up being just as interfering and hilarious in this story as she was in the earlier ones. I enjoyed catching up with her, however, as well as the other characters from previous books who made cameo appearances, especially Eli (Sadie's brother) and his wife Marlee (Sadie's best friend). Marlee's dog Lothario was back too, in all of his shoe-defiling glory. The bromance that developed between Roman, Eli, Roman's brothers Jase and Zack, and their mutual friend Brek ended up being a lot of fun too.

I really hope that Ms. Hovland plans to write more stores in this series! This cast of characters is very entertaining and it seems like there is potential here for several future tales.

*ARC provided by the author via InkSlingerPR.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Review: Chasing Cassandra

Chasing Cassandra by Lisa Kleypas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved "Chasing Cassandra" by Lisa Kleypas, a sweet, amusing novel featuring endearing characters, an engaging plot, and a well-paced romance. It reads as a complete standalone despite being the sixth book in the Ravenels series, and readers who have not yet picked up the earlier books will not feel lost at all by starting with this one.

I was intrigued by the male lead character, Tom Severin, when he was introduced as a secondary character earlier in this series, so it was great to finally have the chance to get to know him better here. He was a highly intelligent, completely self-made man, and the way his mind worked was fascinating to me. I especially loved Tom's creative interpretations of the novels Cassandra convinced him to read, which made me laugh out loud on several occasions. The lessons he took away from those classic tales were quite different from anything I learned in school!

I also liked the female lead, Cassandra Ravenel, when she was introduced in the earlier books, but she was often overshadowed by her more outgoing twin sister, Pandora. I got the impression that most gentlemen of the ton considered Cassandra to be not much more than a pretty flirt, but as I got to know her better, I actually found her to be quite intelligent, sweet, and caring. She brought out a softer, more emotional side of Tom, who had buried most of his emotions and concentrated on analytical pursuits for years. Even though they seemed like opposites and a relationship between them never should have worked, Tom and Cassandra ended up being very well matched.

Lisa Kleypas always crafts an entertaining story, and "Chasing Cassandra" was no exception. I highly recommend this book and can't wait to see what Ms. Kleypas publishes next.

*ARC provided by the publisher via Edelweiss. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Blog Tour + Excerpt + Review: "Throne Away" by Leddy Harper

I am thrilled to be participating in the blog tour celebrating the release of Leddy Harper's latest novel, "Throne Away." I am a big fan of royal romances, and this one did not disappoint. In fact, I had a tough time putting the book down once I started it. My plan was to read only the first chapter and then do a few chores around the house, but by the time I had reached the end of that chapter, all thoughts of dishes and laundry were forgotten, and I happily settled in to devour Moira and Ryan's story. This deeply emotional tale kept me turning the pages all afternoon, and I highly recommend it not only for lovers of royal romance, but for anyone who loves emotionally complex contemporaries.

About "Throne Away"

Throne Away, a standalone single father, royal romance by best-selling author Leddy Harper is NOW LIVE!

I’ve always believed that love was hard and when you found it, you held onto it with everything you have.

That wasn’t the case with Ryan.

Loving him was easy, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t hold onto him.

Because I wear a crown.

And he's a single father raising a child...five thousand miles away.

Read an Excerpt from "Throne Away"

I stilled on the corner and looked toward the dark sky. With a deep breath, I closed my eyes and imagined Daniel’s face. A smile took over my lips until my cheeks burned and ached, something I hadn’t experienced in a while. But all of that quickly vanished when I heard the harsh sound of heavy footsteps coming closer. And then came the voice I was expecting. “Don’t move!”

Even though I didn’t have to turn around to know it was my security, I did so anyway. Andrew came up from behind while Patrick sprinted toward me from my left. Running from them wasn’t an option—not like I would have anyway. They were there to protect me, and I was sure they were frantic when they realized I had slipped out of my suite.

“What are you doing out here all by yourself?” Andrew held my forearms and searched my face for any sign of distress. “You are a princess, Moira. You can’t roam the streets like a commoner.”

And just like that, the clock struck twelve. My coach turned into a pumpkin, my dress into rags, and my bracelets into the shackles that kept me a prisoner.

I was back to reality.

***

My Review

I loved Leddy Harper's "Throne Away," a unique and captivating royal romance that emphasizes the role of fate and how it works in mysterious ways to bring people together. I am a big fan of royal romances, mostly because of the fantasy element involved; like many little girls, I used to dream about marrying a prince and being carried off to live in his luxurious palace, where I would never have to worry about anything ever again. Unfortunately for Princess Moira, the main character of "Throne Away," life in a palace isn't quite as carefree as all of those Disney movies make it seem. Her life wasn't really her own; there were many expectations placed on her by many different people, and someone always seemed to be watching.

To Moira's credit, she was a very strong and independent young woman who knew exactly what she wanted and was willing to fight for it, no matter the cost. When she met Ryan, their connection was palpable, and at times the force of their attraction was nearly overwhelming for them both. There were seemingly insurmountable obstacles standing in the way of their building a life together, however, and the outcome of their story was one that I never would have predicted.

Overall, I would absolutely recommend "Throne Away" for anyone who enjoys royal romances or emotional contemporary romances in general. I'd love to read a future story about Moira's cousin, Princess Elizabeth, but I'm sure I will enjoy whatever Leddy Harper writes next, whether it's related to this story or not.

*ARC provided by the author via Social Butterfly PR. All opinions expressed are my own.

Release Blitz + Review: "P.S. It's Always Been You" by Lauren Blakely

Happy release day to Lauren Blakely's "P.S. It's Always Been You," a delightfully adventurous romantic comedy that I thoroughly enjoyed. This story features an art historian and an adventurer tasked with cataloging antiques from a famous explorer's estate where he is rumored to have hidden a buried treasure. Unsurprisingly, they manage to fall in love in the process, but you'll have to read the book for yourself to find out whether they discover the estate's hidden treasure. ;-)

This book gave me major Indiana Jones vibes, and I couldn't help but picture the male lead character, Hunter, as a young Harrison Ford. I especially loved the adventure aspect of the story, with Hunter and his love interest, Presley, working together to figure out the clues left behind in letters from the original owners of the estate, Edward and Greta Valentina. I also enjoyed the way that Edward and Greta's love story paralleled Hunter and Presley's; there was an interesting dichotomy between the two couples' experiences and plenty of lessons for Hunter and Presley to take away from the older couple's journey.

In addition, I adored the slow burn of Presley and Hunter's relationship development over the course of the story. There were real obstacles standing in the way of their relationship, but it was clear how much they cared about each other and wanted to find a way to make it work. Even after ten years apart, Hunter and Presley were very well matched. Hunter remained Presley's biggest cheerleader and encouraged her to pursue her career goals, while Presley understood Hunter's need for adventure and didn't try to make him choose between exploring the world and building a life with her.

Overall, "P.S. It's Always Been You" was a refreshing change from the other romantic comedies I've read lately, and is certainly a new favorite for me among Lauren Blakely's works. I look forward to reading whatever she publishes next!

*ARC provided by the author via Candi Kane PR. All opinions expressed are my own.

About "P.S. It's Always Been You"

A sweeping, second chance standalone romance!

I was pretty good at living without regrets until a way too close call during a skydive. Instead of my life flashing before my eyes, I saw one face, one regret that’s been gnawing at me ever since—Presley. The woman I loved madly ten years ago. The woman I had to walk away from.

At first, all I want is to sort out why I can’t get her out of my head. But as soon as I see Presley again, I know I have to win her back at any cost. Brilliant, captivating and utterly beautiful, she’s the one I want.

Fate steps in when we’re asked to pair up to find a treasure in art and antiques. It’s an opportunity I can’t pass up—to uncover a path back to the woman I let get away while we chase down a love story a hundred years in the making.

Trouble is, Presley is tougher now, more wary, and she’s been hurt. By me. So it's going to take a whole lot more than one hot kiss and a wild adventure together to convince her to give me a second chance.

AVAILABLE NOW!!

FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

P.S. 10% of all sales from "P.S. It's Always Been You" will go to Feeding America to help families impacted by Covid-19 for the ENTIRE months of April, May, and June! 

Blog Tour + Excerpt + Review: "Sunrise on Half Moon Bay" by Robyn Carr

Today, I am excited to participate in the blog tour celebrating the release of Robyn Carr's latest novel, "Sunrise on Half Moon Bay." I always look forward to Ms. Carr's new releases, and this one did not disappoint.

The story focuses on sisters Justine and Adele, who must attempt to rebuild their lives and navigate changing relationships in the wake of their mother's death. Born twenty years apart, the sisters have never been close, but as they help each other cope with the realities of their changed circumstances, they come to realize that they have a lot more in common than they ever thought possible.

Both Justine and Adele were well-developed and likeable characters, and it was easy for me to empathize with each of their experiences over the course of the story. Neither of them was perfect, but their flaws just made them seem more realistic and relatable. I also appreciated that this story was not predictable, and several things did not turn out exactly the way I expected. That was particularly true of the arc involving Justine's husband, Scott, which took a turn that I never would have anticipated.

Overall, "Sunrise on Half Moon Bay" is an excellent addition to Ms. Carr's body of work, and I recommend it for all fans of contemporary women's fiction. I look forward to Ms. Carr's next novel!

*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

About "Sunrise on Half Moon Bay"

Sometimes the happiness we’re looking for has been there all along…

Adele and Justine have never been close. Born twenty years apart, Justine was already an adult when Addie was born. The sisters love each other but they don’t really know each other.

When Addie dropped out of university to care for their ailing parents, Justine, a successful lawyer, covered the expenses. It was the best arrangement at the time but now that their parents are gone, the future has changed dramatically for both women.

Addie had great plans for her life but has been worn down by the pressures of being a caregiver and doesn’t know how to live for herself. And Justine’s success has come at a price. Her marriage is falling apart despite her best efforts.

Neither woman knows how to start life over but both realize they can and must support each other the way only sisters can. Together they find the strength to accept their failures and overcome their challenges. Happiness is within reach, if only they have the courage to fight for it.

Set in the stunning coastal town of Half Moon Bay, California, Robyn Carr’s new novel examines the joys of sisterhood and the importance of embracing change.

***

Check out an excerpt from "Sunrise on Half Moon Bay" here!

Review: Disavow

Disavow by Karina Halle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved Karina Halle's "Disavow," the third and final book of the Dumont trilogy. It was a compulsively readable and suspenseful story, and I finished the whole thing in a single afternoon. I didn't want to put it down because I was so anxious to know what was going to happen next.

The main characters of this book, Pascal and Gabrielle, were very complex and well-developed. They were each flawed, but seemed incredibly true-to-life and surprisingly relatable. In the first two books of the series, Pascal came across as kind of evil, so I was surprised by how much I liked him in this story. He came to realize that his temper and past behavior were problematic, so he made a genuine effort to change his ways. As for Gabrielle, I was impressed by her strength, independence, and tenacity, especially after having to overcome a childhood history of abuse. I really enjoyed the way Pascal and Gabrielle's romance blossomed over the course of the story and how they seemed to make each other whole.

Overall, each book in the Dumont series has been better than the last, and "Disavow" served as a perfect ending to this family's story. While each of the books stands alone, IMO it is better to read the series in order. The events in each story build on the ones that came before, and the reading experience will be much richer for those who have a complete understanding of how all of the events and characters are connected.

I highly recommend the entire Dumont trilogy and can't wait to see what Karina Halle writes next!

*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Review: The Dating Proposal

The Dating Proposal by Lauren Blakely
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"The Dating Proposal" by Lauren Blakely was completely adorable, and I loved it so much. It was a quick read featuring endearing characters and a great setting in San Francisco, one of my favorite cities. The banter between main characters Chris and McKenna was hilarious, and I enjoyed the slow burn of their relationship development. They tried so hard to resist their feelings for each other, but in the end, they couldn't help falling in love.

Lauren Blakely has become one of my go-to authors when I need a good rom-com, and this book is one of my new favorites of hers. I highly recommend it! We could all use a good laugh right now, and this book is sure to deliver.

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Blog Tour + Excerpt + Review: "Hate to Date You" by Monica Murphy

I am very excited to participate in the blog tour celebrating the release of Monica Murphy's latest novel, "Hate to Date You," book #4 in the Dating series. I have been looking forward to reading this book ever since I finished the last book in the series ("Holidate"), and thankfully, it more than lived up to my expectations. Featuring likeable, well-developed characters and amusing banter, "Hate to Date You" was a charming, funny, and sweet story that provided me with a much-needed escape from the craziness of the real world.

While characters from the earlier books in the Dating series make cameo appearances in this story, it reads as a total standalone, so anyone who is not familiar with the previous stories will not feel lost at all by starting with this one. I have very much enjoyed the entire series, however, and would highly recommend all of the books for fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedy.

About "Hate to Date You"

Hate to Date You, an all-new standalone contemporary romance in the Dating Series by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Monica Murphy is live!

Stella Ricci is bored.

Her overprotective family barely let her out of their sight, despite the fact she’s a grown woman. Yes, she loves her job at her family’s café and she’s the best barista in the entire Monterey Peninsula, but is that enough? She’s thinking no. But what else can she do?

Enter Carter Abbott. Burnt out after the never-ending grind of selling high end real estate in Los Angeles, he’s returned home, unsure of what to do next. He needs someplace to crash temporarily until he gets back on his feet.

It's easy for Stella to suggest Carter move in. Temporarily of course. It'll give her someone to talk to. The only problem?

That one night stand Stella and Carter had about a year ago. They never talked about it. They still don’t really talk about it. Despite the fact that the old chemistry has come back full force. Living together has made that obvious. Should they admit that one night wasn't enough? Or will dating each other turn into an epic fail?

Only one way to find out…

Read an Excerpt from "Hate to Date You"

I’m in the bathroom applying one last coat of mascara to my eyelashes when Carter suddenly appears behind me, his gorgeous face looming over my shoulder. Of course, like the dork that I am, I yelp with a jolt when I first spot him, stabbing myself in the eyeball with the mascara wand.

And like some sort of romcom hero, he rushes for me, his big hands curling around my shoulders and turning me around so I have no choice but to face him. Though I can’t even look at him, considering I’m bent over and holding both hands over my wounded eye.

“Are you all right? I didn’t mean to scare you.” He sounds troubled. Which is good. He should definitely feel bad for causing my injury.

Though really, I’m the one who overreacted and stabbed myself in the first place.

“I’m okay.” I stand up straighter, still cradling my watery, stinging eye. “It only hurts a little.”

“Drop your hand.” He turns away from me, snagging a tissue out of the Kleenex box that’s perched on the back of the toilet, then faces me once more. “Drop it,” he repeats when I still haven’t removed my hand.

Reluctantly I remove my hand from my face, my eyelashes practically stuck together. I’m sure I look a mess and I swallow hard, reaching up to dab at the tender skin beneath my eye, but Carter bats my hand away.

“Let me,” he murmurs as he brushes the tissue underneath my eye, picking up all the excess mascara. “Does it still hurt?”

“A little.” He’s so close. I can see all of his eyelashes, and they’re thick and dark and don’t need a lick of mascara on them, the jerk. He’s freshly shaven, his face nice and smooth, and I sort of want to rub against it. Like a cat.

“I’m sorry I startled you,” he says with the utmost sincerity. “I didn’t mean for you to try to take your eye out.”

A soft laugh escapes me. “I’ve stabbed myself in the eye before with a mascara wand. I’m sure this won’t be the last time.”

He finishes cleaning up the mess I made and then turns me so I face the mirror once more. “Now you’re perfect,” he says, squeezing my shoulders for the briefest moment before he lets go and exits the bathroom, heading straight into his bedroom.

I’m shaken by the encounter and it takes me a minute to get moving again. Since the afternoon at my nonna’s house, we’ve been friendlier. Not so friendly that we fall into bed together, but friendly enough. Which is…nice. I don’t like having hostile feelings toward Carter. What exactly did he ever do to me anyway?

Oh, he just rocked your world and turned you into a firm believer in multiple orgasms, then left you in the dust and never talked to you again.

Right. He did that. And it sucked.

My Review

I very much enjoyed Monica Murphy's "Hate to Date You," a charming, funny, and sweet story that was every bit as delightful as the previous installments in the Dating series have been. Main characters Carter Abbott and Stella Ricci were quite likeable and well-developed, and their back-and-forth banter made me laugh.

I really liked Stella when she was introduced earlier in this series, so I was happy to get to know her better in this story. She was in a tough spot with her family because they placed so much value on traditional gender roles, which is why she felt the need to rebel when she was younger and hide parts of her life from them as an adult. It was nice to see her family start to open up with each other near the end of the book, and especially to see her father and brothers make an effort to listen to what Stella, her mom, and her grandmother had to say.

Carter was also a great lead character, and I appreciated his efforts to get his life and career on track after moving back to Carmel from Los Angeles. He didn't seem to be very happy as a real estate agent, however, and it's a shame he wasn't able to land on a different career path before the end of the story. Hopefully his happy relationship with Stella plus the benefits of living closer to his sister and future brother-in-law will be enough to make up for any dissatisfaction he may still have with his job.

In addition to Carter and Stella, I really enjoyed getting to know Stella's grandmother, Grace. She was a perfect matchmaker for Stella and Carter, giving them just enough of a push without being overbearing. It was wonderful to catch up with the other members of Stella's friend group too, especially Caroline and Sarah.

I look forward to reading Stella's friend Eleanor's story next! She was so sweet and funny in this book, and I can't wait to see what fate has in store for her.

*ARC provided by the author via Social Butterfly PR. All opinions expressed are my own.

Blog Tour + Giveaway + Review: "Big Pickle" by JJ Knight

Today, I am thrilled to be participating in the blog tour celebrating the release of "Big Pickle" by JJ Knight. A full review is included at the end of this post, but in short, this book was absolutely delightful and exactly the sweet, funny escape from the real world I needed right now. Main characters Jace Pickle and Nova Strong were quite likeable and well-developed, and while the story provided plenty of laughs, it was also incredibly heartwarming. I highly recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedy.

For a chance to win one of two $25 Amazon gift cards courtesy of the author, JJ Knight, click here! (Giveaway closes on April 24.)

About "Big Pickle"

He’s kind of a big dill.

An enemies-to-lovers, secret boss, gut-splittingly hilarious rom com from USA Today bestselling author JJ Knight

They call me Big Pickle.
It’s not what you think.
(Although that’s true too.)

I happen to be the oldest Pickle in the family deli business. And we have the best salami.

Take that one however you like.

But when my father announces the franchise will go to the most profitable of the three brothers, I learn that even though I’m the biggest Pickle, I’m dead last.

I hightail it to Texas to see what’s happened to my restaurant, only to find a sassy little spitfire named Nova Strong in charge.

She’s amazing. She’s sexy. She’s perfectly happy to call bullsh*t when she sees it.

But despite the way we nearly melt the permafrost in the industrial freezer, I have to control myself. Nova thinks I’m a new employee. She has no idea I’m only there to spy.

Or that I’m her boss.

As I get to the bottom of why my franchise is failing, I desperately need to know one thing:

Is Nova Strong everything wrong with my deli, or everything right for me?

***

Big Pickle is a full-length, 300-page standalone romantic comedy full of pickle jokes, giggle-worthy references to male anatomy, and more salty language than a jar of baby dills.

My Review

I loved JJ Knight's "Big Pickle," a funny, sweet, and charming story featuring endearing, well-developed characters and an engaging plot. This book provided plenty of laughs thanks to the witty banter between main characters Jace and Nova, numerous pickle jokes, and amusing situations, but it was also incredibly heartwarming. Jace and Nova came from completely different backgrounds and in theory a relationship between them never should have worked, but in practice they brought out the best in each other and made a wonderful couple. Reading their story was a tremendous amount of fun, and I highly recommend it.

Nova was a wonderful lead character: smart, hardworking, determined, caring, and a great leader. It was easy for me to see why Jace fell in love with her, and I had no doubt that she would be able to accomplish everything she set out to do and more, no matter what obstacles stood in her way. As for Jace, he had quite a lot to learn about responsibility, but he stepped up in a big way over the course of the story. There was a real sense of growth with his character arc, which I appreciated. I also loved the slow burn of Nova and Jace's relationship development as they slowly went from enemies to lovers. I couldn't wait for them to finally give into their feelings for one another!

The secondary characters in this story were quite likeable as well, especially Nova's co-worker Lamonte, her little sister, Leah, and Jace's brothers, Max and Anthony. I believe this book is currently being marketed as a standalone, but I'd love to read future books starring the other two Pickle brothers.

"Big Pickle" was the first book I've ever read by JJ Knight, but it's safe to say that it will not be my last. I look forward to seeing what she writes next!

*ARC provided by the author via Xpresso Book Tours. All opinions expressed are my own.

Blog Tour + Review: "Mum's the Word" by Staci Hart

Today, I am happy to participate in the blog tour celebrating the release of Staci Hart's latest novel, "Mum's the Word," book #3 of the Bennet Brothers series. This series is a contemporary re-imagining of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice," featuring the four handsome Bennet brothers, their sister Laney, and their family-run flower shop and greenhouse, Longbourne. I am a long-time lover of all things Austen, especially "Pride and Prejudice," so I was intrigued as soon as I heard about the concept for this series and couldn't wait to start reading. Each of these books has been a fun ride, and I would recommend them for fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedy.

Despite being the third book in a series, "Mum's the Word" reads as a complete standalone, so anyone who has not yet read the earlier books will not feel lost by starting here. That said, I do recommend reading the books in order because the earlier books provide context on the circumstances underlying the lawsuit between the Bennet and Bower families, which is a primary obstacle standing in the way of main characters Marcus and Maisie's relationship here in "Mum's the Word."

About "Mum's the Word"

Bestselling author Staci Hart is back with a brand new romantic comedy and clever spin on Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Meet the Bennet brothers, get to know Longbourne, and fall in love in this steamy forbidden romance.

Falling in love with a Bennet is not an option.

My mother has summoned me home to take my place at Bower Bouquets, and as the heiress, I’m expected to do as I’m told. I’m expected to sit by her side as she does her best to decimate the Bennet family and their flower shop, Longbourne. I’m expected to play by her rules, or she’ll ruin me too.

But the day I crash into Marcus Bennet changes everything.

And the kiss seals the deal.

If my mother finds out, I’ll lose everything—my family, my life, my security. Worse, she’ll make sure the Bennets pay for my mistakes.

Falling in love with a Bennet is not an option.

But I might not have a choice.

My Review

I enjoyed Staci Hart's "Mum's the Word," the third book of the Bennet Brothers series. Main characters Marcus Bennet and Maisie Bower were quite likeable and well-developed, and the chemistry between them was very intense. That said, I am not generally a fan of the insta-love trope, and this book did nothing to change my mind on that subject. Marcus and Maisie's romance was perhaps the most "insta" of any insta-love I've ever encountered. They literally ran into each other in the rain, felt a "tingle" and strange instant familiarity with each other, and then spent five minutes getting to-go coffee together. Somehow that incredibly brief meeting was enough for them to know that they were willing to sacrifice everything to be together. Truthfully, I found the whole thing pretty tough to swallow. I wish they had managed to have even a single date before finding out how their families were connected; that would have made it easier for me to believe that their feelings were based on something more than just physical attraction.

Fortunately, as the story progressed and Marcus and Maisie spent more time together, their emotional connection became increasingly obvious, and it was much easier for me to root for them to find a way to be together. It helped that I liked both of them so much as individuals, though I did find Maisie's constant fear of acting like her mother to be frustrating at times. Some of the behavior she seemed to dislike in herself was perfectly acceptable, IMO; for example, I didn't think Maisie was a bad person for standing up for herself and refusing to be bullied. However, her mother was a real piece of work and did a number on Maisie over the years; she would probably benefit from counseling to deal with the lingering psychological trauma of that relationship. I'm pretty sure falling in love with Marcus won't solve all of her problems moving forward!

There were some other details of the book that I found slightly bothersome, mostly related to the pending lawsuit between Bower and Longbourne. For example, if the presiding judge's wife was a friend of Maisie's mother, the Bennets should have been able to get him recused due to conflict of interest. For the most part, however, it was an enjoyable story, and I especially enjoyed the opportunity to check in on the other Bennet brothers and their significant others.

The second book of this trilogy ("Gilded Lily") remains my favorite of the three, but "Mum's the Word" is still a good story and worth a read. I look forward to Ms. Hart's next book featuring the Bennets' sister Laney, and a return to the Wasted Words bookstore/bar featured in the earlier Austen series.

*ARC provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own.