Tuesday, June 30, 2020

Release Blitz + Excerpt + Review: "Naughty All Night" by Jennifer Bernard

I am thrilled to participate in the release blitz celebrating Jennifer Bernard's latest novel, "Naughty All Night," book #5 of the Lost Harbor, Alaska series. Lost Harbor has been a fantastic series, and while each book can easily be read as a standalone, I highly recommend the entire series for anyone who enjoys contemporary romance. Besides creating compelling stories and wonderful characters, the author does such a beautiful job of describing Alaska's scenery and lifestyle in these books that she has convinced me of the need to add our 49th state to my (already lengthy) travel bucket list.

About "Naughty All Night"

A standalone novel in the sizzling Lost Harbor, Alaska series

Kate Robinson has had a talent for trouble since she was a young teen in Lost Harbor, Alaska, during summertime visits to her grandmother’s peony farm. It’s the only true home she’s ever known, so it’s where she retreats when REAL trouble chases her out of California, her legal career in ruins. Upon arriving, Kate finds her eccentric grandma has rented out her home! First order of business—eviction. So what if it’s a move that could get her shunned by the locals? She’s not known as Naughty Kate for nothing.

Fire Chief Darius Boone doesn’t need to add landlady troubles to his already busy plate, despite how fun it is to battle with C. Robinson, Attorney-at-Law. A series of small fires have been breaking out around Lost Harbor. Nothing harmful. Yet. But the number of blazes is steadily growing. The only thing taking his mind off this latest town drama is fiery Kate, who makes Darius want to be naughty with her…in all the best ways.

Trouble is one thing, but nothing has prepared Kate for the likes of “hottie fire chief” Darius Boone. Why not have some harmless naughty fun while she figures out her next move? But she never expected the heat the two of them would generate—or to fall so hard. The next time trouble strikes, everything she loves is on the line.

Check out the steamy book trailer for "Naughty All Night" here!


Read an Excerpt from "Naughty All Night"

Exactly one minute ago, Kate Robinson had been speeding merrily toward town; one curve in the rutted road later, she was stuck in the mud with her wheels spinning uselessly.

And if that wasn’t a perfect metaphor for her entire life, she didn’t know what was.

She was supposed to be in Los Angeles right now, winning over juries and having brunch with friends—not fetching fertilizer for her grandmother’s peony farm in tiny Lost Harbor, Alaska.

Movement at the side of the road caught her attention. A porcupine trundled toward the trees, half its quills raised in defense mode. She must have startled it with muddy disaster.

With a sigh, she pressed the accelerator again, just in case something had changed in the past ten seconds. Whir. Spin.

Nope. If anything, the car had sunk deeper into the mud.

Maybe she shouldn’t have been dictating an email as she drove. It was a bad habit from her LA life. When you spent that much time stuck in traffic, you learned ways to use the time productively. Which was better, gridlock or a mud bath? At least with traffic, you knew you’d get moving eventually. On the other hand, the view from this particular mud bath was definitely better than a zillion brake lights.

Spruce trees loomed on one side of the road, and a view of Misty Bay on the other. Against the backdrop of a slate-gray April sky, snowy peaks shone like jagged white teeth. Even though the mountains across the bay still had plenty of snow, at this elevation things were starting to edge toward spring.

This was “break-up” season in Alaska, when the snow melted and the ground thawed, and mud swallowed up everything. Including the old Saab her grandmother Emma was letting her use.

Maybe she could push the car out of the mud. She put her hand on the door handle, then remembered that she’d left her mud boots back at the farm. She’d been so excited about a drive to town that she’d put on her cute purple suede half-boots with the chunky heel.

Suede didn’t like mud.

If she was going to free the car by pushing it, she’d have to do it barefoot.

A sound caught her attention, the low rumble of a vehicle coming from behind her.

Potential rescue? Possible kidnapper? Since this was Lost Harbor, odds were on rescue, but she was taking no chances. She rummaged in her bag for the bear spray Emma had made her bring.

The vehicle slowed to a stop behind her. It was a large crew cab truck with so much clearance it could probably drive right over her little Saab. The man who jumped out of it was equally large. His long legs came first—clad in work pants and mud boots.

AKA what she should have been wearing.

Then came the rest of him—broad and tall and muscular and a little intimidating, considering that she was alone in this forgotten spot on the side of a remote Alaskan road. He wore a weathered work jacket unzipped over a gray Henley.

With easy strides, he made his way through the mud to her car. She kept her hand on the can of bear spray next to her on the seat. He noticed that move, and his lips quirked. They were very appealing lips, she noted. Firm and full, with a sensual curve to them.

“If I help you un-muck your car, will you promise not to mace me?” His deep voice fit the general oversize nature of his physique.

She relaxed enough to allow herself to smile at the stranger. “Do you think you can get me out of this? It’s a mess. I swear, that mud came out of nowhere, Officer.”

One corner of his mouth lifted, indicating that he’d gotten her joke. But he maintained his serious expression. “You have to pay attention this time of year. No cell phones while driving.”

Ah, so he’d spotted her phone on the seat next to her bear spray. “Are you planning to help me or lecture me?”

“Maybe a lecture would help you.” His reasonable tone made her teeth clench.

“I can guarantee that it wouldn’t. No one likes to be lectured.”

“I said it might help you, not please you.” The word “please” in his deep, rumbling voice sparked a surprising little thrill deep in her belly.

Oh no. None of that now.

“If you want to please me, you could tell me what you recommend here. Do I need to call a tow truck?”

He took a step back and surveyed the muddy ruts that had claimed her tires. “What have you tried so far?”

“Not much. Just a little cursing and whining and regretting the fact that I didn’t bring my mud boots. I tried powering out of it, but that made it worse.”

“Yes, that would make it worse. The tires can’t get any purchase on the mud, so they just dig the tracks deeper and deeper the more they spin. They need something solid to grip onto. I’m surprised you haven’t encountered this situation before. It is break-up, after all.”

“I’m not from here.” She bit off each word as she spoke it. This was sounding suspiciously like that lecture she’d told him she didn’t want. “I’ve never seen break-up before. Not this kind, anyway. But I’m sure you don’t want to hear about my love life.” She could practically hear the “ba-da-bum” after that lame joke.

He was watching her closely as she spoke. His eyes were two shades of blue south of gray, a surprisingly soft color in the midst of all that masculinity. They looked almost silvery in the misty light.

Heat came to her cheeks under his scrutiny. “Sorry, dumb joke.”

“Eh, it was all right.” He shrugged one massive shoulder. “A little obvious, but not bad.”

For a murderous moment, she wondered how bad it would be if she used her bear spray on him right now. Surely someone else would come along to rescue her. “Can we get back to the main event here? Car. Mud. Stuck.”


My Review

I loved Jennifer Bernard's "Naughty All Night," book #5 of the Lost Harbor, Alaska series. While each book can easily be read as a standalone, I have enjoyed getting to know several secondary characters through their appearances across multiple stories. The male lead character of this story, Fire Chief Darius Boone, is one whose story I have been particularly anticipating. He seemed like such a great guy from the first time he was introduced, and I've always appreciated his protective nature and sense of humor. It was wonderful to see him finally meet his match in attorney Kate Robinson, whose desire to protect the ones she loved complemented Darius perfectly. Their banter as they got to know each other was a lot of fun, and I enjoyed the slow burn between them as their relationship grew. They almost got together a few times, but circumstances kept getting in the way. I think I may have been nearly as frustrated as Darius and Kate by the time the stars finally aligned in their favor!

Just as in the previous books of the series, the secondary characters in this story were a tremendous amount of fun and added a lot of depth to the narrative. I enjoyed meeting Kate's grandmother, Emma, and was very happy to catch up with S.G., the teenage runaway featured in book #3. I've been wondering what happened to her ever since we last saw her.

Overall, "Naughty All Night" was a sweet, funny, and charming story that I highly recommend for all fans of contemporary romance. I am very much looking forward to the next book in the series!

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

Blog Tour + Excerpt + Review: "Hooked on Her" by Stacey Lynn

I am super excited to participate in the blog tour celebrating author Stacey Lynn's latest release, "Hooked on Her," book #3 of the Ice Kings series. This book reads as a complete standalone, so readers (like me) who are new to the series can start here without feeling lost. That said, I really liked getting to know some of the characters from the earlier books through their cameo appearances in this one, so I plan to go back and read those stories as soon as I can find the time.

I have to admit that I'm not much of a hockey fan in real life, but thanks to authors such as Avery Flynn and Helena Hunting, I have become a fan of the hockey romance over the past year or so. "Hooked on Her" was a great example of that sub-genre, featuring likeable, well-developed characters and a well-crafted slow burn romance between female lead Tessa and her brother's best friend and teammate, Jason. I would recommend this book for anyone who enjoys contemporary romance, but especially for fans of sports/hockey romances.

About "Hooked on Her"

Hooked on Her, an all-new fun and flirty forbidden romance from Stacey Lynn is out now!

Tessa Chauncy is the best kind of trouble. Beautiful, sweet and completely off limits. I’ve sat by and watched other men drool after her and forced myself to stay in check. Hey, I’m in the NHL... I have self-control in spades.

Except when it comes to her.

With the bat of her lashes and quick whip of that sharply pointed tongue Tessa can knock grown men to their knees. I’ve seen them wither and crumble under her confident stare— something I’m pretty sure she learned from sparring with me, thankyouverymuch.

But I’m not just falling for her. I’m down for the count.

She’s the girl I wanted, when wanting her was wrong.
She’s also my new roommate--
And oh yeah, my best friend’s little sister.

Heaven help me, I’m probably going to get his fist to my face or his hockey stick shoved in very dangerous places for what I’m about to do, but I don’t think I care anymore.

I’m in love with my best friend’s little sister….and I’m done waiting.


Read an Excerpt from "Hooked on Her"

I scoop more chicken onto a folded chunk of naan and moan as I savor the taste. There are some decent restaurants where I live, all within walking distance, which is a bonus, but none are as good as Tandor’s. I can’t even piece together what makes it so delicious but it’s mouth-watering amazing.

“Jesus, Tessa. Can you not sound like you’re having an orgasm when you eat?”

I choke on my chicken and wash it down with my water. “Don’t like it, you can leave.”

“But then I won’t be able to share with you why I’m here.”

The chicken I’ve devoured rolls in my stomach. Obviously it’s not because he’s a nice guy. I lean back in my chair. “What is it?”

He huffs a laugh and I hate he looks so damn good, smirking at me, shaking his head like I’m some amusing little thing.

“You’re cute, Tessa. I ever tell you that?”

“I think the day you took me to get stitches in my head, yeah. You bopped me on the nose with a finger and said ‘cute and tough, nice’ before ignoring me the rest of the weekend.”

I’m mortified with myself. He’s not supposed to know these things, know how much I remember every.single.encounter with him ever.

His mouth opens a bit and he stares at me. Yeah. That dose of word vomit probably surprises the hell out of him too. But hell, in for a penny. He says he doesn’t give a shit about what Sawyer thinks? He should know what I think.

“I’m pretty sure that’s the day I started having a crush on you.”

He doesn’t take his eyes off me as he chews on what I think is chicken tikka masala. Slowly, he swallows and sets his own fork down. Leaning forward, elbows on the table, I’m tempted to drop my gaze to his mouth and watch his full lips move so sexily as he opens his mouth and asks, “Want to know when it started for me? When I started facing the reality that it was my best friend’s little sister that made my dick hard in my dreams at night and when I was on the road?”


My Review

I really enjoyed Stacey Lynn's "Hooked on Her," a fun, flirty story featuring well-developed characters and an engaging plot. Female lead character Tessa was snarky, sweet, and totally endearing, and I loved her ability to maintain a positive attitude no matter what life threw at her. I also loved the way she stood up to the male lead, Jason, and didn't immediately give into his desire for a relationship despite having had a crush on him for years. Early on, Jason had a tendency to be a bit pushy when it came to getting what he wanted from Tessa, so I was glad to see him learn to exercise patience. It was obvious how much he cared for her, however, and their banter as they figured things out was a lot of fun.

The book's secondary characters were also wonderful and added a tremendous amount of depth and humor to the narrative. I particularly enjoyed Tessa's brother Sawyer and his girlfriend Debbie, who were so supportive when Tessa needed them the most. Sawyer and Jason's teammates were also quite amusing, and there are a few I wouldn't mind reading about in future books.

Overall, "Hooked on Her" was an excellent read that I would recommend for all fans of contemporary romance, particularly lovers of sports/hockey romances. I will definitely be checking out more of Stacey Lynn's work in the future.

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

Monday, June 29, 2020

Blog Tour + Excerpt + Review: "Hate Crush" by Angelina M. Lopez

Today, I am incredibly excited to participate in the blog tour celebrating the release of Angelina M. Lopez's latest novel, "Hate Crush," book #2 of the Filthy Rich series. I own but haven't yet read the previous book in the series, "Lush Money," but each story works as a complete standalone, so readers (like me) who are new to Ms. Lopez's work will be able to jump in here seamlessly.

I've always loved romantic comedies, but I've been reading more of them than ever lately because I desperately need the laughs to deal with the stress of the real world. That said, variety in reading material is always a good thing to keep from getting bored, plus I love romances that feature royalty, so I was immediately drawn to "Hate Crush" after reading the book's synopsis. I'm so happy that I took a chance and picked it up because this story was steamy, angsty escapism at its best, and I absolutely loved it.

"Hate Crush" is a refreshingly different take on a royal romance featuring a compelling, almost compulsively readable plot and incredibly complex, well-developed characters. I couldn't help losing myself in the relationship between main characters Aish and Sofia; I was still turning the pages long after my bedtime because I wanted so badly to know the truth behind what had happened between them 10 years earlier, not to mention what had happened to Aish's best friend and bandmate, John. Their story kept me on the edge of my seat with quite a few unexpected twists and turns, but no matter the obstacles in their way, I found it very easy to root for Aish and Sofia to work out their problems and end up together in the end.

Overall, "Hate Crush" was an outstanding book that I could easily see making my top reads of the year list. I highly recommend it for all fans of angsty contemporary romance and will definitely be keeping an eye on this author to see what she writes next.

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


About "Hate Crush"

A fake relationship could help Princesa Sofia save her kingdom. Only problem: She’ll have to fake it with the man who broke her heart.

Ten years ago, wild child Princesa Sofia Maria Isabel de Esperanza y Santos fell in fast crazy love with heartbreaker Aish Salinger during one California harvest season. Now, all grown up and with the future of her kingdom on her shoulders, she hates him as passionately as she once loved him.

Even if her body hasn’t gotten the hate memo.

Faking a relationship with the now-famous rock star for the press and public will ensure the success of her new winery and prosperity of her kingdom. All she has to do is grit her teeth and bear his tattooed presence in her village and winery—her home—for a month.

Trying to recover from his own scandal, fallen superstar Aish Salinger jumps at the chance to be near Sofia again. Leaving her was the biggest mistake he’s ever made, and he’s waited ten years to win her back.

He never counted on finding a woman who despised him so much she didn’t want to be anywhere near him.

A war of wills breaks out as the princess and rock star battle to control their fake relationship. She wants to dictate every action to keep him away from her. He wants to be as close as he can be. She’s already lost so much because of Aish—he won’t be the reason her people lose even more.

But he also won’t make her break her life’s most important vow: To never fall in love again.


About the Author, Angelina M. Lopez

Angelina M. Lopez wrote "arthur" when her kindergarten teacher asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up. In the years since she learned to spell the word correctly, she's been a journalist for an acclaimed city newspaper, a freelance magazine writer, and a content marketer for small businesses. Finally, she found her way back to "author."

Angelina writes sexy, contemporary stories about strong women and the confident men lucky enough to fall in love with them. The fact that her parents own a vineyard in California’s Russian River Valley might imply a certain hedonism about her; it's not true. She's a wife and a mom who lives in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. She makes to-do lists with perfectly drawn check boxes. She checks them with glee.


Read an Excerpt from "Hate Crush"

Aish pulled the bud out of his ear and straightened, never taking his eyes off her as he held it out. When she took the bud from him, she let her fingers linger. His fingertips were warm and that tiny touch sent a frisson down her arm.

She unwrapped the headphones from around her neck and stuffed them into her back pocket. But she didn’t move back.

“I’m a musician,” he said, voice low.

“I know.”

A corner of his mouth went up. “What else do you know?”

That he made every millimeter of her skin buzz. That he smelled like boy and sweat and ocean salt. She hated the nose-clogging scent of cologne. There was nothing fake about the way this boy smelled.

She pulled her long braid over her shoulder and tugged on it. “You’re from LA, your father designs clothes, your mother is a famous fitness instructor. Y…you’re very good at surfing, singing, partying, working harder on less sleep than everyone else and…oh, , ménage à trois.”

Shock, mortification, and humor created a palette across his expressive face. “Who said I’m good at threesomes?”

Sofia ran a hand down her braid and shrugged, all Spanish cool. “No sé. I keep my nose to myself. It’s everyone else who talks.”

When he grinned this time, he looked like he might lean down and taste her. “And what does everyone say about you?”

Sofia worked to maintain her smile. She wanted to be no one to nobody. She wanted to have nothing said about her. But even if she’d lived a cloistered life in a high tower, her story would be marred with her parents’ dramas and affairs and fights, ugly public episodes that stripped Sofia of dignity without her involvement. And Princesa Sofia hadn’t lived a cloistered life. Maintaining her dignity hadn’t been high on her list when she’d mooned the crowd from atop a Semana Santa float in Cádiz or when she’d waved drunkenly to the paparazzi from a movie star’s hotel balcony when she was supposed to be presented to the Queen of England. She’d been neither drunk nor sleeping with the star. But her humiliated mother had abandoned the duke’s bedroom she’d been occupying to drag Sofia back to the Monte.

She didn’t want to think about her scandalous past. She didn’t want to think about the demands of her future. All Sofia wanted right now was to be a dirty, half-naked girl wrapped around a beautiful boy in a wine tank.

“I know some stuff about you,” Aish said quietly.

Sofia focused on the air in front of his face and ran her hand down her braid.

“Your name’s Sofia. That’s…really fucking pretty.” He hadn’t said Princess Sofia. He hadn’t said Sofia de Esperanza y Santos. Just Sofia. And he thought it was pretty. She focused again on his eyes.

“You’ve got a great accent.” The air between them felt like it was warming up. “You like grunt work, which is so hot it kinda hurts.”

Nothing about her royal status. Nothing about her reputation. He’d just arrived; perhaps none of the interns had told him about the princess in their midst. Perhaps his uncle had just said, “Make sure the new intern hasn’t passed out. Her name is Sofia.”

“You’re not wearing a bra.” Her mouth opened at that, surprised, as his eyed gripped shut. “I noticed and if you noticed I noticed, I’m sorry ’cause I don’t want you to think I’m a total fucking creeper and scare you away…”

“I don’t think you’re a creeper,” she said, reaching to brush her fingers over his clenched fist. Her breasts were so small she seldom wore a bra. But this boy acted like they were an irresistible temptation.

Aish opened his eyes. “Are you for real?”

Sofia smiled up at him, feeling helpless and foolish and floating.

“I mean, am I having some weird acid flashback?” His urgency seemed to express that it was a real possibility.

“Wouldn’t I be having one, too?” she asked. “And I’ve never done acid.”

“No, no.” He was a lit fuse aimed in her direction. “This could be my own personal hallucination. Because, what the fuck. My uncle tells me to go check on the new intern and inside a tank is a kick-ass, bare-skinned fairy girl listening to elf music. I feel like I’m tripping. Am I?”

With amazement beaming from her, Sofia shook her head.

He reacted like she’d punched him. “Fuck. Your smile. Can I kiss you?”

***

Saturday, June 27, 2020

Review: Take a Hint, Dani Brown

Take a Hint, Dani Brown Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I adored Talia Hibbert's "Take a Hint, Dani Brown," the second book of the Brown Sisters series. The characters seemed so real and vibrant to me, and once I started reading, I didn't want to put the book down. Main characters Dani and Zaf were both incredibly likeable and three-dimensional, and watching them fall in love put a huge smile on my face. I loved their witty banter, but even more than that, I loved how hard Dani and Zaf worked to make each other happy. Their relationship wasn't perfect, but it was a true partnership, and the way they cared for and supported each other was beautiful.

I'm a big fan of grumpy heroes as well as men who read romance novels, so the fact that Zaf was both of those things made him pretty much irresistible to me. He was like a giant teddy bear, so sweet and caring, always trying to be in touch with his emotions, supporting Dani when she needed it, and even making sure she ate and took care of herself when she went into her workaholic, absent-minded professor mode. Dani described Zaf as a "dad" at one point, which was 100% accurate and made me laugh out loud because he was trying to feed her a protein bar for breakfast around the same time.

I also appreciated that both Dani and Zaf were so close with their families. Zaf's teasing relationship with his niece, Fatima, was adorable. (I would love to know the story behind her nickname, Fluffy!) It was also great to catch up with Dani's sisters, Chloe and Eve, as well as get to know Dani's BFF, Sorcha. She seemed like an honorary Brown sister, so maybe she's a candidate for a story of her own at some point in the future? I have a feeling Sorcha would be pretty entertaining as a lead character.

Overall, "Take a Hint, Dani Brown" was a lovely book and I highly recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedy. I am very much looking forward to getting my hands on Eve's story next!

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

View all my reviews

Review: Awk-Weird

Awk-Weird Awk-Weird by Avery Flynn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved the first book in Avery Flynn's Ice Knights series, but "Awk-Weird," book #2, was even better! It might actually be my favorite Flynn book to date. Female lead character Tess was so sweet and quirky that I couldn't help but like and empathize with her, plus the random trivia she was constantly quoting was pretty hilarious. Tess's love interest, Cole, was very endearing with his strict routines and stress baking before each hockey game he played. Their personalities balanced each other nicely, and watching them fall in love was simply delightful.

The book reads as a complete standalone, but those who are familiar with Flynn's past work will enjoy catching up with several characters from previous series such as the Hartigans. As always, the secondary characters add a tremendous amount of depth and humor to the narrative, and the cameos felt like an opportunity to visit with old and dear friends.

Overall, "Awk-Weird" was an incredibly fun, sweet, and amusing story that I highly recommend for fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedy. I can't wait to get my hands on more stories from Avery Flynn!

View all my reviews

Friday, June 26, 2020

Blog Tour + Review: "Dear Sexy Ex-Boyfriend" by Lauren Blakely

Today, I am thrilled to participate in the blog tour celebrating the release of Lauren Blakely's latest novel, "Dear Sexy Ex-Boyfriend," book #1 of The Guys Who Got Away series. Ms. Blakely never lets me down when I need a good read, and this funny, sweet story was even better than I had hoped it would be. Main characters Summer and Oliver were beyond adorable together and their witty banter kept me laughing for hours.

A full review is included at the end of this post, but in short, I loved "Dear Sexy Ex-Boyfriend" and highly recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedy. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in the series!

About "Dear Sexy Ex-Boyfriend"

Dear Sexy Ex-Boyfriend, an all-new sexy, fake fiancé, friends-to-lovers romantic comedy standalone by #1 New York Times Bestselling author Lauren Blakely, is AVAILABLE NOW!!!

Let me just say -- none of this was supposed to happen.

I didn't expect the letter to go viral. I didn't think anyone would figure out who Dear Sexy Ex was. And I especially never thought he would find out about it.

Yeah, bit of a miscalculation there.

But see, I need the money to fund my brand new venture. And Dear Sexy Ex, well, it turns out he needs me to save his business.

By becoming his fake fiancée.

Yup, that's the pickle I find myself in -- pretending to be madly in love with the charming, brilliant, and utterly infuriating man known as Dear Sexy Ex.

Only, it's not an act. And he can never know.

***

In light of the current situation, Lauren will be donating 10% of all sales (including pre-orders) to Feeding America!

✦Kindle ➜https://blkly.pub/KindleDearSexy
✦Apple ➜ http://blkly.pub/AppleDearSexy
✦Kobo ➜ https://blkly.pub/KoboDearSexy
✦BN ➜ https://blkly.pub/NookDearSexy
✦Google ➜ https://blkly.pub/GoogleDearSexy
✦Audible ➜ http://blkly.pub/AudibleDearSexy


My Review

Lauren Blakely's "Dear Sexy Ex-Boyfriend" was a cute, sweet, and fun story featuring endearing, well-developed characters and a well-crafted friends-to-lovers romance. Main characters Summer and Oliver were beyond adorable together, and their witty banter kept me laughing for hours. I also enjoyed the story structure that provided flashbacks to earlier moments in their friendship throughout the first half of the book. These vignettes made it clear that Oliver and Summer had been fighting their attraction for a long time despite the fact that they were obviously perfect for each other. I completely understood their reasoning - each was afraid of losing a close friend if the romance didn't work out - but it proved to be a risk worth taking since they ended up so much happier in the end.

The secondary characters in this story were also wonderful and added a tremendous amount of depth and humor to the narrative. It was great fun to see Jason again, this time as Oliver's cousin, and I enjoyed meeting their friend Fitz. Summer's brother Logan was an interesting guy too. I am very excited to read Logan's and Fitz's stories later this year!

Overall, I adored "Dear Sexy Ex-Boyfriend" and highly recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedy. I look forward to the next book in the series!

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

Thursday, June 25, 2020

Release Blitz + Giveaway + Review: "Last Name" by Dr. Rebecca Sharp

I am pleased to participate in the release blitz celebrating the launch of Dr. Rebecca Sharp's latest novel, "Last Name," part of the Country Love series of standalone romances inspired by some of the author's favorite songs. In this case, the book was inspired by Carrie Underwood's "Last Name," which is completely appropriate for this fun, flirty tale of two strangers who share one wild night in Las Vegas and find that, despite the old saying, sometimes what happens in Vegas isn't meant to stay there.

GIVEAWAY! To celebrate the release of "Last Name," Rebecca Sharp is giving away a $25 Amazon gift card. Head to her Facebook page to enter. 

About "Last Name"

From bestselling author, Dr. Rebecca Sharp, comes a funny accidental marriage story about a loss, luck, and an unexpected love...

What happens in Vegas…

A regret-free girls’ weekend was supposed to help Carrie Bishop forget about her last relationship and cross-country move. Because when you’ve lost everything, letting loose is easy.

James Arden knew the stakes in Vegas were high, but saving a beautiful blonde at a Blackjack table wasn’t the kind of risk he thought he’d be taking.

Unfortunately, there’s only one recipe for Vegas. One part instant connection. Two parts too much alcohol. A splash of scavenger-hunt serendipity. Shake and enjoy.

Until Carrie wakes to a ring on her finger and a marriage certificate tying her to the illegible signature of a man who’s gone.

It was supposed to be just one night, but now she doesn’t even know her last name.

Coming home married was bad, but walking into work the next day was worse. Carrie’s mistake didn’t stay in Vegas, and her mystery husband is no longer a mystery: he's her new boss.

James knows what they have is special, and he’ll do anything to prove it. And as their undeniable attraction ups the ante, Carrie hopes she can get back her name without losing her heart in the process.


My Review

I enjoyed "Last Name" by Dr. Rebecca Sharp, a fun, flirty, and at times steamy story inspired by the Carrie Underwood song of the same name. Main characters Carrie Bishop and James Arden were both quite likeable and well-developed, and I enjoyed their banter as they got to know each other both before and after their accidental Vegas wedding. There was a bit of an insta-lust/insta-love vibe to their relationship because of the circumstances, but even so, I could tell that they genuinely liked and cared for each other. It wasn't difficult for me to believe in the depth of their feelings even after knowing each other for such a short period of time.

The story's secondary characters were a lot of fun too, particularly James's brother Lars and future sister-in-law, Suzanne. The settings in Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe were well-described, and it was easy to imagine myself right there beside the characters. I've been to Vegas many times in the past (and can't wait to visit again when it's safe to travel once more!), but Lake Tahoe is now on my bucket list too thanks to this book.

Overall, "Last Name" was a short, sweet read and I would recommend it for fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedy. I will plan to check out more of Sharp's work in the future.

*ARC provided by the author via Wildfire Marketing Solutions. All opinions expressed are my own.

Wednesday, June 24, 2020

Blog Tour + Excerpt + Review: "Test Drive" by Samantha Chase

Today, I am excited to participate in the blog tour celebrating the release of Samantha Chase's latest novel, "Test Drive," book #3 of the RoadTripping series. This story is a complete standalone featuring all-new characters unrelated to the casts of the first two books in the series, but continues the same theme of main characters falling in love while taking a road trip together.

I'm a big fan of road trip romances, and "Test Drive" was a particularly fun one because it combined that trope with another one of my favorites, the fake relationship. In an effort to persuade her family that her life is going better than it really is, main character Willow Andrews invents a boyfriend who suspiciously resembles a real-life acquaintance, pub owner Levi Sullivan. When Willow's grandmother demands that her "boyfriend" accompany Willow to her 75th birthday party in Florida, Levi agrees to go with her and play along with the ruse. Of course, high jinks ensue and real feelings develop along the way, but neither Levi nor Willow is sure that their vacation romance will be able to survive the transition back to real life.

Both Willow and Levi were likeable, well-developed characters, and I found it very easy to root for them to sort out their issues and figure out a way to be together for real. Levi seemed like a kind, caring guy, if a bit of a workaholic, and I liked how close he was with his family. As for Willow, I found her to be quite relatable because of her clumsiness and the way her mouth would sometimes run away with her, but I also empathized with her because of the difficult position her parents put her in. They put a lot of pressure on her to live up to their expectations and the examples set by her high-achieving older siblings, but Willow seemed to take after her free-spirited grandmother instead. I really admired Willow for refusing to bow to the pressure to follow the career path her parents wanted for her and instead found what made her happy, even if it wasn't necessarily as prestigious as her parents would have liked.

Overall "Test Drive" was a sweet, funny, and quick read, and I would recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedy. I look forward to whatever Samantha Chase plans to write next!

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


About "Test Drive"

Willow Andrews's life is a hot mess.

Coming from a family of successful professionals, the fact that at twenty-seven she still doesn’t know what she wants to be when she grows up doesn’t sit well. Desperate not to disappoint her grandmother, she invents a fake boyfriend so Gammy won’t worry so much. It seemed a victimless lie... until Gammy announced that Willow AND her boyfriend needed to be present at her 75th birthday party. Or else. Out of time and options, Willow turns to the sexy bartender she’s been secretly crushing on for help.

Levi Sullivan has his life in order and thrives off helping others.

In fact, he would do anything to help out a friend. But he’s angling for far more than friendship with Willow. Entranced by the clumsy beauty since the first time he watched her trip over nothing, he happily agrees to a chance to spend more time with her. Fake romance or not, he’s determined to use their long-distance road trip to turn a game of pretend into something more.

Warning—the roads ahead will twist and turn with laugh-out loud moments and sizzling chemistry. But traffic should be aware, the journey ahead is far more important than the destination.


Read an Excerpt from "Test Drive"

“I must say, Willow. Well done.”

It was really hard to relax in the massaging chair while getting the world's greatest foot rub when all your grandmother wanted to do was talk about sex.

The car ride over had been hell.

The only silver lining was that her mother had opted out of getting pedicures–she thought the salons were too unsanitary.

I wish I had thought of that…

“Gammy, please…”

“All I’m saying is I…” She paused and seemed to consider her words. Reaching over, she held one of Willow’s hands. “Now, don’t be upset with me, but…”

“But…?”

“But I was beginning to think you made him up.”

Eyes wide, Willow had no idea what to say. Her mouth seemed like it was moving, but no words came out.

“You were always so vague on the phone whenever we talked about Levi, and at first, I thought you were just being shy. Then I thought you didn’t want to share because the relationship was new and you didn’t want to jinx it.” She sighed. “But after a while, I thought he was a figment of your imagination, and honestly, I didn’t want to embarrass you by calling you out on it.”

Maybe I can go for a bikini wax and get away from this.


“When the two of you pulled into my driveway though, hoo-wee! I got a glimpse of Levi and thought, what a lucky girl you are!”

Seriously, hot wax all over my crotch would be less painful…

“And his hands! Oh, my…he has the kind of large hands that you know can make you tingle in all the right places!” She shook Willow’s hand excitedly. “Is he a good kisser?”

“Gams, I’m really not comfortable talking about this with you. Or anyone, really. What Levi and I have is…private.”

“Sweetie, there’s nothing wrong with sharing just a little bit. It’s all harmless fun. I mean, I’m 75 years old. It’s not like I haven’t been where you are. I mean, your grandfather–God rest his soul–was a wonderful husband and a fantastic lover…”

OH MY GOD!” her hands flew over her ears.

“Sex is a healthy part of life! I’m not asking for specifics, just a general idea. Although, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t wish for you to have a fantastic sex life too. You’re young and pretty and have such a curvy little body! Honestly, I wish my boobs were still…”

Lalalalala!” Willow cried out as she stuck her fingers in her ears.

Gammy swatted at her arm. “I never would have pegged you for a prude, Willow. I have to say, I’m a little disappointed.” And with a dramatic sigh, she turned her attention to the nail attendant who was massaging her feet. “That feels wonderful. Thank you.”

They sat in silence for several minutes until Willow couldn’t take it anymore. “Okay, Gam, here’s the thing,” she began carefully. “I’m just not used to…you know…talking sex with anyone other than my friends. My mother never talks about it…”

“Your mother’s too uptight.”

No argument there…

“You know what I’m saying. We never did this before and…”

“You never brought a sexy boyfriend here before.”

“We never did this before,” she repeated for emphasis. “And I’m not comfortable with this.”

“Would it help if I told you a little about my sex life?”

Oh, dear God…

“Remember the night I beat you at Words With Friends and I mentioned I was going out with Donald?”

“If I say no, can we change the subject?”

“No.”

“What if I say yes? Then can we change the subject?”

“I’m ignoring you and telling my story,” Gammy said stubbornly. “Now, I wouldn’t say that Donald is my steady beau, but we do out together once a week, and he has been known to spend the night.”

Groaning, Willow turned her head and rested it on her hand.

Again.

“Viagra is a game-changer, let me tell you.”

“I really wish you wouldn’t.”

“But I really miss the spontaneity, you know? Sometimes it would be nice to just be able to…you know…do it whenever we wanted rather than waiting those pesky thirty minutes.”

Another groan.

“One time, Donald took two pills instead of one!” She laughed joyously. “Now that was a memorable night!”

“Levi’s an amazing kisser! And his hands are a little rough and scratchy, and I love the way they feel against my skin! And the sex is the stuff of fantasies!” Willow blurted out loudly and then noticed the entire nail salon had gone quiet.

Dammit.

Gammy gave her a knowing grin. “I knew I’d wear you down.”

“Gammy…” she whined.

“The stuff of fantasies, huh? Bravo!”

“Yup. Fantasies.”

Mainly because that’s the only point of reference I have where sex with Levi is concerned…


“I’ll say it again, Willow. Well done. I think he is absolutely perfect for you.”

***

Monday, June 22, 2020

Review: Loud Mouth

Loud Mouth Loud Mouth by Avery Flynn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"Loud Mouth" by Avery Flynn was another delightful addition to the Ice Knights series, and I loved it. It reads as a complete standalone so those who have not yet picked up the earlier books in the series can jump in here with no problems. That said, the first two books were also tremendously entertaining and laugh-out-loud funny, so I highly recommend them, no matter the order in which you read them.

The main characters of this story, Shelby Blanton and Ian Petrov, were both incredibly likeable and well-developed, and I found it very easy to root for them to figure out a way to be together. Shelby was an interesting character because she was so tough on the outside with her half-shaved head and tattoos, but she was protecting a tender heart and nursing a lot of old wounds. Petrov had his share of hidden wounds too, and I think that's one of the reasons they were drawn to each other. Shelby and Petrov fought their feelings for a lot of reasons, but in the end, they just worked as a couple, and I wanted to cheer when they finally stopped fighting and realized that they would be happier together than apart.

This story was a bit more serious than the previous two books in the series, but was still quite funny and lighthearted with several scenes that made me laugh out loud. My favorite was when Petrov was forced to play babysitter for an infant on the team plane. I have to admit he did pretty well for a guy who had no experience with babies, but it was very amusing to see his frustration along the way.

Overall, "Loud Mouth" was a funny, sweet story that I highly recommend for all fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedy, particularly those who are fans of sports/hockey romances. Hopefully this isn't the last we'll see of the Ice Knights! At the very least, I'd love to see Alex Christensen get a story of his own. ;-)

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


Blog Tour + Review: "Knocking Boots" by Willow Winters

I am very happy to participate in the blog tour celebrating the re-release of "Knocking Boots" by Willow Winters. This standalone contemporary romance was originally published in 2017, but it has now been rewritten with new content added and a beautiful new cover.

I never read the original version of "Knocking Boots," but I very much enjoyed this new and improved version of the story. The main characters, Charlie and Grace, were both quite likeable and relatable, and I enjoyed their flirty banter as they faked a relationship to keep Charlie's matchmaking mother from setting him up on a blind date at his sister's wedding. I particularly loved that Grace and Charlie were friends first, and it was clear how much they genuinely cared about each other. They had real conversations and even asked about each other's days. 

Unfortunately, that's not to say that everything between Charlie and Grace was perfect and it was smooth sailing as their fake relationship transitioned into a real one. They had some real obstacles to overcome, both individually and as a couple. Despite the challenges, in the end both Grace and Charlie realized how much happier they were together than apart, and I found it very easy to root for them to iron out their issues.

Overall, "Knocking Boots" was a sweet, heartwarming story and I would recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance. I look forward to checking out more books by Willow Winters in the future!

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


About "Knocking Boots"

A drunken bet that led to a fake relationship? My naive little heart still hoped it would last...

We were never meant to be together. He’s a bartender with noncommittal tendencies. I’m looking for … the opposite. Commitment. Period.

But drinks and a bet led to something it shouldn’t have: a fake relationship. Worse, a first date, a first kiss… and then more.

He’s addictive and I can’t bring myself to accept the reality. That it’s all a lie and I’m fooling myself by thinking he could want more. That I could change him.

He’s mine for as long as I keep on pretending like this is just for fun. As if I don’t want more… Like when he whispers my name, I pretend it doesn’t make my heart flip. Like when he holds me at night, I pretend I don’t want to lay in his bed every night.

It's just a bet; just a lie . . . until it isn't.

*Knocking Boots is a standalone and was previously published in March of 2017. It has been rewritten, new content added, and has a brand new STUNNING cover!