Review: "Hiring Mr. Darcy" by Valerie Bowman

Hiring Mr. Darcy by Valerie Bowman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I've previously enjoyed a number of Valerie Bowman's historical romances, so I've been looking forward to picking up her new contemporary release, "Hiring Mr. Darcy." Happily, Ms. Bowman's take on Jane Austen's classic "Pride and Prejudice" more than does justice to the original. Ms. Bowman pays homage to P&P without trying to duplicate it, and the result is a funny, sweet, relatable story that I loved.

Main characters Meg and Jeremy had a ton of chemistry right off the bat, and I loved their witty banter. Their romance is definitely a slow burn, but I enjoyed the way it built until the very end. The book's secondary characters were just as likeable as Meg and Jeremy themselves, and I particularly enjoyed Mitchell the gossipy tailor with his faux-Southern accent and little dog, Ms. Julia. Meg's brother Luke was also intriguing, and I could see him being paired with Meg's best friend Ellie in a future book.

Overall, I adored this super cute, funny story and highly recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedy. I look forward to seeing what Ms. Bowman writes next.

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

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Review: Jingle Balls: A Holiday Romantic Comedy Anthology

Jingle Balls: A Holiday Romantic Comedy Anthology by Dylann Crush
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Overall, "Jingle Balls" was a fantastic collection of short, fun stories benefiting a worthy cause, and I highly recommend it for all contemporary romance and romantic comedy fans. I started by reading the stories from my favorite authors and then moved on to the ones from new-to-me authors that were most appealing, but I ran out of time to read them all before I had to write my review. I will likely revisit the collection to read the rest in the future.

"Curve Ball" by Aidy Award: This story is part of the author's Curvy Love series and IMO is most likely to appeal to existing fans of the series. I generally enjoy reading about a curvy heroine, but this one seemed to have quite a few body image issues/insecurities. I didn't find it believable for her to overcome them all in a single night. 2.5-3 stars.

"I Told You So" by Serena Bell: This was a cute story! It was obviously just the beginning of their relationship, but I was satisfied with the HFN. 3.5-4 stars.

"A Blue-Balled Holiday" by Dylann Crush: Another cute story! I wish female lead Heather's job situation had been resolved by the end, though. It's all well and good for her and Weston to decide they like each other and want to explore a relationship, but if she has to move again for work, where will that leave them? 3.5-4 stars.

"Ball Sacked" by Christina Hovland: I loved this one! Babushka was her usual hilarious self, and she recruited Roman to join in her matchmaking shenanigans this time around for even more laughs. Anna and Drake were a super cute couple and an excellent addition to the Mile High Matched crew. 5 stars.

"Coldcocked by Saint Nick" by Melonie Johnson: This story had kind of a magical feel to it that I very much enjoyed. Also, I'm a big fan of German Christmas markets, so reading it brought back some happy memories for me. 4.5 stars.

"Decidedly for Christmas" by Stina Lindenblatt: This story was a little different in that it wasn’t a complete story with a HEA or HFN, but rather a prequel to the author's upcoming full-length release, "Decidedly with Luck," part of the By the Bay series. I was already looking forward to reading that book, but now that I've met the lead characters and gotten to know some of their story, I'm even more excited! 4.5 stars.

"Rockin' around the Jingle Balls Ball" by Susannah Nix: I loved this one, and not only because we finally got to see Melody and Jeremy from "Remedial Rocket Science" get married! Gen and Chris were adorable. I loved their banter and silly ball jokes. 5 stars.

"Deck the Halls with Balls" by Marika Ray: This story made me laugh so hard! Auburn Hill is my kind of town, and Prescott and Jazzie were a delight. 5 stars.

"Mistletoe Hearts" by Brenda St. John Brown: This story was a prequel to the author's upcoming release, "Rival Hearts." Unfortunately, I wasn't really feeling the chemistry between main characters Lucy and Stefan. I usually like opposites attract and enemies-to-lovers stories, but this one didn't draw me in. I did enjoy the English country village setting, but probably not enough to pick up the book when it releases. 3 stars.

*Review copy provided by the authors. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Blog Tour + Excerpt + Review: "Any Luck at All" by Denise Grover Swank and A.R. Casella

I am thrilled to join the blog tour promoting the release of "Any Luck at All" by Denise Grover Swank and A.R. Casella, book #1 of the Asheville Brewing series. I adored this laugh-out-loud funny, sweet, and heartwarming story with its likeable, well-developed characters and engaging plot. Main characters Georgie Buchanan and River Reeves had fantastic chemistry from the start, and it was very easy for me to root for them to overcome the obstacles standing in their way so that they could be together.

 

There were a lot of different family dynamics explored in this story, some involving the Buchanan siblings and their father and others involving River, his relationship with the late Beau Buchanan (Georgie's grandfather), and his Aunt Dottie. I'm a big fan of "found family" stories, and River certainly found his in Asheville with Beau and Dottie. Georgie and her siblings Lee and Adalia had quite a bit to work through as they met their brother Jack for the first time, in addition to unexpectedly inheriting their grandfather's brewery. It will be very interesting to see how the siblings' relationship evolves over the course of this series.

I really enjoyed all of the book's lovable, quirky secondary characters, who added a tremendous amount of depth and humor to the story. My favorite was River's Aunt Dottie with all of her New Age interests, especially the crystals, some of which were rather interestingly shaped. I also got a laugh out of Beau's attorney during the will reading because I couldn't help picturing him as Ted from "Scrubs"; there was just so much flop sweat! There were several hilarious animals in this story as well, particularly Jezebel the devil cat and Hops the puppy, who was engaged in a doomed love affair with a sandal.
 

Overall, I highly recommend this book for all fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedy. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in the series!

 

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

 

 

About "Any Luck at All"

Any Luck At All, an all-new fun and flirty romantic comedy from New York Times bestselling author Denise Grover Swank and A.R. Casella is available now!

Georgie Buchanan doesn’t know the first thing about running a brewery—she doesn’t even like beer—so she’s thrown when her grandfather leaves his business to her and her three siblings. Selling Buchanan Brewery would be the prudent approach, and while Georgie is, first and foremost, a businesswoman, keeping it might be her best chance of connecting with her half-brother, Jack. But she quickly learns that what she thought was a fixer-upper is a money pit, the employees are all eccentric to the extreme, and her inheritance comes with a shocking catch. Her one hope for success lies with River Reeves, the handsome brewmaster who learned at her grandfather’s feet...if she can avoid falling for him.

After learning his best friend and boss is selling the brewery they built together to a soulless corporation, River quits on the spot, only for Georgie Buchanan to offer him a job the very same night. Helping her turn Buchanan Brewery around is his dream job, the perfect homage to the man who taught him everything and helped give him roots. There’s one problem: his new boss is his dream woman, and she’s not the type to mix business and pleasure. Balancing a new job, a new puppy, and a growing infatuation with his boss, River knows something has to give.

If Georgie has any luck at all, she’ll be able to turn Buchanan Brewery around without losing her mind or her heart. But as River helps her weather everything from her uncle’s possessed cat to a séance, she realizes she might be wishing for the wrong kind of luck. 

 

 

Read an Excerpt from "Any Luck at All"

Beau had about a dozen tasting cups from various beer festivals, souvenirs he’d kept in the way people hoard things they like, and River had arranged them in two rows on the dining room table—one tasting cup each for each of the beers he’d picked out. A few fruity ones since Georgie liked wine and cocktails, plus a lager, a gingerbread Christmas beer, and a chocolate cherry porter he’d made for Valentine’s Day. She’d never experienced everything that was possible with beer, so he’d figured he might as well offer a wide selection to show her.

They’d made it through all of the fruity ones, which she’d liked more than the amber, plus the lager, which had made her scrunch her nose in a cute way, and the gingerbread. The chocolate cherry was the last one he’d chosen, and he did a drumroll on the table as she lifted it to her lips.

She held it back from her mouth, laughing a little. “If you’re not careful, you’re going to make me laugh when I’m drinking, and this one’s going to end up on your shirt too.”

“Maybe I want it to,” he said. “It might balance out the smell of the other one.”

She made a face and then sipped it, and from the way she kept drinking, he knew they had another winner.

“What do you taste?” he asked as she pulled it away from her lips, which glistened a little from the liquid.

“Mmm. That one was maybe my favorite, even better than the peachy one. Chocolate and cherries but not too sweet.”

“That’s what I like to hear,” he said, making a plus mark next to it in the little chart she’d made. Leave it to a businesswoman to carry around a notepad and pen in her purse. A monogrammed notepad.

“Only one minus and five pluses,” he said. “Guess you like beer more than you thought.”

She grinned at him, a wider, looser grin than earlier. “I guess maybe I do. Although you’re being a little generous with those plus signs. I said the mango sour was interesting. That was a nice way of saying I’m not going back for seconds.”

He hammed up a dramatic frown as he scribbled out the plus sign and added a minus sign next to it on the chart. “Demoted! Does this mean I have to be suspicious of anything you call interesting?”

“No, just the mango sour.” She paused, meeting and holding his gaze. “You, River Reeves, are quite interesting.”

Her eyes sparkled as she said it, and he felt warmth pulse through him. He found her interesting too, and he was running out of reasons why he shouldn’t. She planned on staying, on restoring Beau’s brewery, and he had no doubt she had the brains and means to do it.

But this woman had been to business school—she’d formed a business from nothing—and he was almost thirty and still a few community college classes short of a degree. He’d fumbled his way into the job that he’d quit a few hours ago. He doubted he was Georgie Buchanan’s type, or at least her type for more than one night. And for some reason, that wasn’t what he wanted from her.

“I like the porter too,” he said, clearing his throat and reaching for his tasting cup. The moment shattered, like he’d meant it to. “We sold out at the brewery, but I brought a six-pack over to Beau’s. This one’s all that’s left.”

“I’m glad you did,” she said, reaching for the bottle the porter had come in. “I think I’m going to claim the rest of this one for myself.” 

 

***

Blog Tour + Review: "Last Beautiful Girl" by Samantha Chase

I am pleased to participate in the blog tour celebrating the release of "Last Beautiful Girl" by Samantha Chase, book #6 of the Magnolia Sound series. This story does work as a standalone, though I suspect that readers who are already familiar with the other books in the series may appreciate certain aspects of the story more than I did as a new visitor to Magnolia Sound. The author did a good job of explaining the connections between characters and providing relevant background, however, so I didn't feel lost at any point.

 

"Last Beautiful Girl" featured likeable, three-dimensional characters and a well-crafted second chance romance between former high school sweethearts Sydney and Kyle. Sydney was in a tough situation when the story began, having been thrust into the role of parent to her 12-year-old niece, Haley, following the death of her sister and brother-in-law. She was also newly unemployed because of a move from Boston back to her hometown of Magnolia Sound and stuck with a disaster of a house in dire need of renovation. Fortunately, the community of Magnolia Sound rallied around Sydney and Haley in their time of need and pitched in to fix up the house, unexpectedly bringing contractor Kyle back into Sydney's life.

Since his breakup with Sydney, Kyle had been content to remain single and had the playboy reputation to prove it. Sydney was determined not to give Kyle a second chance because of the terrible way he'd treated her during their breakup, but he was determined to make amends and eventually managed to win her over. Grief is a powerful thing, however, and Sydney and Haley's struggles in dealing with the loss of Haley's parents presented a number of challenges for Sydney and Kyle's newly rekindled relationship. Even though it wasn't easy for them at times, I appreciated that they kept the lines of communication open with each other and with Haley, and that they didn't try to minimize what Haley was feeling.

Overall, I enjoyed "Last Beautiful Girl" and recommend it for fans of emotional contemporary romance. I will definitely be going back to catch up on the earlier books in this series and look forward to seeing what Ms. Chase writes next.

 

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

 

 

About "Last Beautiful Girl"

Kyle Jones loves women. All women. And just because he’s seen all his siblings settle down it doesn’t mean he has any intention of following in their footsteps. After all, he’s happy to keep going through life like it’s one big party and getting tied down to someone would just get in the way of having a good time. Or so he thought until the one woman he could never forget returns to Magnolia Sound.

Sydney Albright never thought she would become a mother by losing her sister and brother-in-law. But for the sake of her niece she’ll do whatever it takes, even move into the money pit that is her sister’s home. But the good thing about small towns is there’s always someone ready to help. She just never thought Kyle would be the one to land on her front porch to help with the renovations.

Sydney vows she’ll never fall for Kyle again – the past is in the past and that’s right where it should stay. Never mind that she doesn’t even have the time to think about a relationship. But Kyle has other plans. He always said she was the first beautiful girl he loved and now he’s determined to also make her the last.

 

Blog Tour + Review: "The Right Player" by Kandi Steiner

Happy Monday, everybody! Today, I am super excited to participate in the blog tour celebrating Kandi Steiner's latest release, "The Right Player." This story is a follow up to 2018's "The Wrong Game" and features appearances from that book's lead characters, Gemma and Zach, but still reads as a total standalone. I haven't read Gemma and Zach's story yet, but I loved what I saw of them here, so I will certainly be going back and catching up on it now.

 

"The Right Player" was a sweet, funny, emotional story that gave me all the feels, and I adored it. I'm pretty sure I fell in love with male lead Makoa before I had even finished the first chapter. He was kind of nerdy and awkward, which I wouldn't have expected from a pro athlete, but he was also very charming and kind. I loved how old-fashioned he was and that he wanted to take things slowly with the female lead, Belle, and really get to know her before jumping into a relationship. Their chemistry was phenomenal, and I couldn't wait for them to finally act on their feelings. When they did, it was totally worth the wait!

Belle was funny, independent, and hardworking, but she had a lot of emotional baggage because of an awful ex-boyfriend who cruelly broke her heart shortly after college graduation. As a result of that experience, she decided that she'd become a "good time girl" and only ever have flings, never a serious relationship. By contrast, Makoa was determined to find his true love, but his search was complicated by emotional baggage of his own. My heart broke for both of them because I could see how much they loved each other and that they would be so much happier together than apart, but they had a lot to work through before they found their happy ending.

Overall, "The Right Player" was a fantastic read and I highly recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedy. I look forward to checking out more books by Kandi Steiner in the future!

 

*Review copy provided by the author via Valentine PR. All opinions expressed are my own.

 

 

About "The Right Player"

I have a three date rule — but it’s not what you think.

See, I’ve been told I’m the “good time girl,” not the one you take home to Mom. And while that label stung at first, I’ve since embraced it — living the wild and free life and sticking to a three date max. That’s just enough time to have some fun and snuff out the possibility of catching feelings. And it’s been working for me for years…

Until Makoa Kumaka.

Sadly, he also has a three date rule — and it’s the exact opposite of mine. From the second I meet him, all I can think about is stripping down that six-foot-five Herculean hunk of a man. But like the gentleman I wish he wasn’t, he’s making me wait.

The more time we spend together, the more I feel those pesky emotions creeping in. I’m even tempted to trust him, but blame it on my past or my instincts, I can’t shake the feeling that he’s hiding something…

I’ve been playing the game forever, and no man has ever won my heart — which meant they never had the power to break it.

But maybe I just hadn’t met the right player.

Maybe I’ll wish I never did. 

 

Review: "Swing and a Mishap" by Tara Sivec

Congratulations to Tara Sivec on her new release, "Swing and a Mishap," book #2 of the Summersweet Island series. This story includes cameo appearances by characters from the first book in the series, but reads as a total standalone. That said, the first book ("Kiss My Putt") was just as awesome and hilarious as this one, and all of the characters were so endearing. I highly recommend both books (in whatever order you'd like to read them) and am very much looking forward to getting my hands on book #3!

 

About "Swing and a Mishap"

 

“Hawks fans still in shock after centerfielder, Shepherd Oliver, sustained season-ending injury last night in the 5th inning of the playoffs against Chicago.”

Two years ago, I was a pretty big deal. I thought I had it all, until a blast from my past popped up on my social media feed, keeping my ego in check and reminding me how basic I am. Except sassy Wren Bennett isn’t just a blast from my past. She’s the only woman I ever saw a future with.

Even though my soul leaves my body every time she says she hates baseball and has never watched me play, a year’s-worth of messages filled with laughter and sarcasm only remind me how amazing my “pen pal” is. Unfortunately, it doesn’t matter how fine I look in a pair of baseball pants; I’m still 3,000 miles away, and she’s taken... or so I thought. Maybe I should have thought a little harder before I dropped her like a seeing-eye single into the outfield.

When an injury has me questioning everything about my life, I can only think of one place I need to go and one person I need to see. Home, to Summersweet Island, to get back my “pen pal.”

Now I just need to make sure single mom Wren knows I didn’t come back for a change, and I didn’t come back for a job. I’m swinging for the fences, and I’m finally coming home to make her mine. If only she’d stop insulting me and stay in one place long enough for me to tell her. She wouldn’t try to drown me with a tub of ice cream, right?

I’m sure it’ll be fine.

 

 

My Review 

Tara Sivec's "Swing and a Mishap," book #2 of the Summersweet Island series, was a fantastically funny and sweet story featuring likeable, well-developed characters and an engaging plot. The chemistry between main characters Wren Bennett and Shepherd Oliver was incredible, and I loved their snarky banter, which made me laugh out loud more than once. I also loved that Shepherd helped Wren find her voice again and start standing up for herself, especially with her scumbag baby daddy, Kevin, who had always treated her so terribly. 

 

Shepherd was much more grounded than one would expect for a major sports star; he really didn't seem to have much of an ego or attitude at all. Actually, he was kind of a goofball, which I found to be very endearing. Those qualities made Shepherd a great baseball coach and also helped him build a wonderful relationship with Wren's son, Owen. Shepherd shared his knowledge and love of baseball with Owen, as well as his love for crafting. (For Wren's sake, those two probably should not be left unsupervised with glitter, or any other craft supplies, ever again!)

The book's lovable, quirky secondary characters were also fantastic and added a lot of depth and humor to the story. It's impossible to name all of them here, but my favorites included the following: 

• Murphy, Wren and Birdie's grumpy surrogate grandfather, who was always there to provide tough love or a strawberry thumbprint cookie when the girls needed to "suck it up";
• Shepherd's mom, who was pretty much the queen of tough love; and
  
• Pyromaniac Tess (Wren's sister Birdie's BFF) and her boyfriend Bodhi (who was also Birdie's fiancé Palmer's BFF).

The bromance between Shepherd, Palmer, and Bodhi was amazing! I laughed so hard when the three of them were sitting at breakfast with Murphy and arguing about which of the Golden Girls they were.

Overall, I adored "Swing and a Mishap" and highly recommend it for all fans of romantic comedy. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in this series!

 

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

 

Review: "Love at First Light" by Jennifer Bernard

Love at First Light by Jennifer Bernard
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Jennifer Bernard's "Love at First Light" was a fun, fast-paced read featuring likeable, well-developed characters and a compelling plot. While it is the sixth book of the Lost Harbor, Alaska series and also relates to Bernard's earlier Rockwell series, it reads as a total standalone. That said, I have loved the entire Lost Harbor series and highly recommend the earlier books in addition to this one.

I really liked the magical, almost supernatural feel of the story in the beginning as it explored male lead character Ethan's numerous near-death experiences. I also enjoyed the book's mystery/suspense elements as Ethan and the female lead, Jessica, investigated the origins of S.G., a mysterious young girl who came to live in Lost Harbor earlier in the series. The slow burn romance between Ethan and Jess was well-crafted, and I loved their witty banter. They both had emotional baggage to overcome before they could pursue a relationship, but I found Jessica's to be particularly relatable. I sympathized with the difficulty she faced in making big decisions as well as the reasons behind it, and when she finally stood up to her mother and stepfather near the end of the book, I wanted to cheer.

As in the previous books of the series, the secondary characters in this story were incredibly likeable and added a lot of depth to the narrative. I was especially excited to catch up with Police Chief Maya Badger, and I am thrilled that her story is coming up next! It feels like I've been waiting forever for her to get a story of her own.

Overall, I very much enjoyed "Love at First Light" and can't wait to get my hands on the next book in the series!

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

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Blog Tour + Review: "Grease Babe" by Elle Aycart

I am very pleased to participate in the blog tour celebrating the release of Elle Aycart's latest novel, "Grease Babe," book #2 of The OGs series. This book and its predecessor are set in the same town and feature cameo appearances from characters introduced in Aycart's earlier Bowen Boys series; even so, "Grease Babe" totally works as a standalone, and readers (like me) who are unfamiliar with Aycart's previous novels will be able to jump in here with no problems.

I really enjoyed this laugh-out-loud funny, steamy enemies-to-lovers romance, which featured great chemistry and witty banter between main characters Rachel and Adrian. Rachel's grandmother and her two best friends, aka "the OGs," were lovable scene stealers, and there was never a dull moment when they were around! I highly recommend "Grease Babe" for all fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedy and look forward to checking out the next book in the series.

About Grease Babe

Alden is not only home to the gorgeous Bowen brothers, but also to the OGs, three hilarious octogenarian grandmas who believe age is nothing but a number. After their success helping one grandchild find love, they’ve decided to move on to the next. Nothing will stop them. Not even jail…

Rachel’s upbringing was rough, but at 34, she loves the life she’s built for herself. She adores her grandmother, Alden, and her job as a mechanic. Now, if her grandma and her friends would just stop getting into trouble, everything would be perfect. She’s doing her best to keep them on the straight and narrow, but she spends more time arguing with the sheriff than working in her garage. Case in point the OGs’ latest stunt, which got all of them, Rachel included, sentenced to community service. So now she has to keep an eye on the crazy grannies and on the street teenage thugs she’s been court-ordered to teach mechanics to.
And all thanks to the sheriff and that huge, unbendable stick up his ass.

Adrian Skehan, a top-notch detective in Boston, enjoyed putting dangerous criminals and drug kingpins behind bars. He loved his fast-paced, glamorous city life, but after his estranged grandfather had a major stroke, he moved to Alden, became the sheriff and now he spends his days chasing after senior citizens and dealing with the OGs –the bane of his existence— and Rachel, their obnoxious defender.
Terrific career move, really. Way to screw up his life. And his mental wellbeing.

As if life wasn’t hard enough, now the OGs have decided to work on their bucket list… meaning the granddaughter and the sheriff must join forces to survive the mayhem.
He likes his women… ivory-tower delicate. Not loud, highly opinionated and smelling of gasoline.
She likes her men… easy-going. Not arrogant know-it-alls and sticklers for rules.
Keeping these two together is a recipe for disaster. Too bad the OGs don’t see it that way.

 

 

My Review 

 

I really enjoyed Elle Aycart's "Grease Babe," a laugh-out-loud funny, steamy enemies-to-lovers romance featuring great chemistry and witty banter between main characters Rachel and Adrian. Fiery, independent Rachel didn't stand for nonsense from anyone, and she always stood up for her grandmother and her friends (aka "the OGs") even when she knew they were causing trouble. I especially loved the way Rachel put the juvenile delinquents to whom she was teaching auto repair in their place. She put Adrian in his place when it was necessary too, although she was sometimes less successful with him since he was the sheriff and had the ability to throw her in jail (and he did so at the beginning of the book).

I really liked Adrian too, and found it easy to empathize with the tough situation he was in because of his strained relationship with his grandfather. He was a little grumpy sometimes (my favorite kind of hero!), but obviously dedicated to his job, and he was very determined to help the juvenile delinquents that were assigned community service at Rachel's garage. Rachel was good for Adrian because she helped him loosen up and see things in a different light, and I loved watching their relationship blossom over the course of the story.
 

I laughed a lot while reading this book, and much of that was because of the OGs' shenanigans. I particularly enjoyed their response to the pictures Rachel received from the guys on the dating app, as well as the many auto-correct fails when they attempted to text. Their antics with the taser were also hilarious, although I'm not sure Adrian would agree!

Overall, I highly recommend "Grease Babe" for all fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedy. I can't wait to see what kind of trouble the OGs cause in the next book of the series.

 

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

 

Blog Tour + Review: "Foster" by Kristie Leigh

Today, I am happy to take part in the blog tour promoting the release of "Foster" by Kristie Leigh. I enjoyed this funny, silly, fast-paced read and would recommend it for all fans of romantic comedy. 

 

There was a ton of steam between main characters Kamryn and Foster, and while I didn't find their emotional connection to be quite as well-developed as the physical one, they clearly made each other happy, which is all that really matters in the end. Foster's relationship with Kamryn's daughter Charlie was very cute, and Kamryn definitely had her hands full when the two of them teamed up against her!

The book's secondary characters were also a lot of fun, particularly Kamryn's BFFs Dana (who was also Foster's sister) and Todd (who was also Kamryn's business partner). I have to say, though, that they all acted very immaturely for their ages, and Kamryn and Todd didn't seem to be very good private investigators. They almost never worked because they were too busy hanging out by the pool with drinks, and they were very easily distracted by cute guys. That said, they were awfully funny together, and Todd's potty mouth and pithy observations made me laugh more than once.

Overall, "Foster" was a fun read with plenty of steam. I look forward to checking out more of Kristie Leigh's books in the future.

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

 

 

About "Foster"

Dear Diary,
Just messin’ with you. I don’t have time for that crap, but here’s my story.

I was finally coming clean to my best friend about how this divorced, single mom attempted to get back in the dating game...and wound up with an old flame.

Enough stalling, it was time to spill it ... ALL.

Foster Montgomery was my best friend's hot younger brother. Back in high school, we used to have a thing. And by “thing,” I mean we used to mess around--behind closed doors, because apparently, that was all I was good for.

Finally, many years later, I had the chance to get my revenge. If wet dreams, steamy make-out sessions on my couch, and “naked yoga” in my living room counted as revenge, then I nailed it!

He was still keeping secrets, but this time, I planned to make it known exactly what he’d done behind those closed doors.

Kamryn Leigh James
XOXO 

 

Release Blitz + Review: "Not Just Friends" by T. Gephart

I am very happy to join the release blitz celebrating "Not Just Friends" by T. Gephart, book #3 of the Hot in the City series. The events of this book overlap with those of book #2 ("One Click Love") and characters from earlier in the series make cameo appearances here, but it still reads as a total standalone. Readers who haven't yet picked up the first two books will be able to jump in here with no problems.

"Not Just Friends" was a funny, steamy story featuring likeable characters and a well-crafted friends-to-lovers romance between nightclub manager Presley Tibbs and her brother's best friend, firefighter Jared Leighton. Presley and Jared's chemistry was off the charts from the very beginning, but they were forced to keep their relationship a secret from Presley's overprotective brother, Tibbs, while he focused on tracking down her ex-boyfriend and making sure that he was arrested for threatening Presley. 

 

I really admired Presley's independence and tenacity in this story as she pursued her dreams of expanding the club she managed, Diablo, and gaining equity in the business. She didn't let anything stand in her way, even the crazy ex-boyfriend who pulled a gun on her! I really felt bad for the difficulties she faced near the end of the story, however. Thank goodness she had Jared and her family to lean on! Jared was such a good guy; he looked out for Presley even before they started dating, and despite the fact that he had been attracted to her for years, he never made a move on her because he valued his friendship with her brother so much. Presley finally made it clear that she chose who she dated, not her brother, and managed to convince Jared to give their relationship a shot.

Overall, I enjoyed "Not Just Friends" and recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedy. I look forward to the next book in the series! (I'm not-so-secretly hoping Presley's brother Tibbs will find love next. He was kind of a manwhore when he wasn't being overprotective of his sister, but despite that, I really liked him.) 

 

*Review copy provided by the author via Grey's Promotions. All opinions expressed are my own.

 

 

About "Not Just Friends"

A little harmless flirting never hurt anyone.

Jared Leighton
Presley, I screwed up, I’m sorry. You were vulnerable and I was supposed to be the good guy. Last thing I ever wanted to do was betray your trust, or worse, hurt you. I should never have even kissed you, let alone . . . yeah, well we both know how that ended. You’re my best friend’s sister for Christ’s sake, what was I even thinking? Clearly, I wasn’t. I’m so mad at myself, I want to break my own legs, save Tibbs the trouble. So yeah, I know this isn’t much of an apology, but I needed to make sure you’re okay. Let me know things are still cool between us or at least, what I can do to make it up to you. And it’s probably for the best if we keep this between just us. I swear on my mother, I’ll never touch you again.

Presley Tibbs
Leighton, not sure who you thought you were with last night, but it wasn’t some vulnerable little girl who needs protecting. I assumed that was pretty clear when I took you to MY bed. Don’t pretend that last night wasn’t exactly what we both wanted. We’ve been flirting with each other for years, and I finally got tired of playing games. As for my brother, he doesn’t and will never have a say in who I invite into my life or body—not his business. But if you’re scared that’s your hang up not mine. So save your apology, and your good intentions, and don’t treat me like I’m a woman who didn’t know what she was doing. Oh, and tell your mother I said hi. 

Release Blitz + Review: "Ryder" by Prescott Lane

I am incredibly excited to take part in the release blitz celebrating Prescott Lane's latest novel, "Ryder," book #2 of the Merrick Brothers series. It reads as a total standalone, so anyone who has not yet read the first book in the series will be able to start here without feeling lost at all. That said, the previous book ("Knox") was also a fantastic read, and I highly recommend it, too.

 

I'm not sure words can express how much I loved this book. It broke my heart more than once, and I cried BUCKETS while I was reading it, but I could not put it down because I was so caught up in Ryder and Kailey's story. It was definitely a rollercoaster, but I had to know what was going to happen next! Overall, I'm certain that "Ryder" is going to end up on my "favorite books of 2020" list, and I can't recommend it highly enough for all fans of angsty contemporary romance.

About "Ryder"

Ryder by Prescott Lane is now live!

Country music headliner, crowd pleaser, legend in the bedroom.

You know how your mother always warned you that it only takes one time. Well, I'm proof of that.

One night with country music's hottest star, Ryder Merrick, and I got knocked up.

He promised me it wasn't just a one night stand.

But I woke up alone, and a few weeks later found out I was carrying his child.

I'm sure Ryder won't want anything to do with us. After all, he's famous for not believing in love. There's a reason he's never written a love song.

Why should he change his tune now? But telling him I'm pregnant still feels like the right thing to do.

All it takes is maxing out my credit card to buy a front row seat to his concert.

And then wait for him to notice me... and my bump. 

My Review 

 

Prescott Lane's "Ryder" was an emotional rollercoaster and broke my heart more than once as I read, but I absolutely loved it. I was completely caught up in the story from the very first page and couldn't wait to see what would happen next. 

Male lead Ryder was an incredibly complex character, and I loved seeing his gruff outer layers slowly peel away as the female lead, Kailey, got to know him better. There was so much tragedy in Ryder's past, but he stubbornly refused to share his secrets with Kailey, and that became the source of a lot of the problems between them. He wasn't afraid to show her that he cared through his deeds, but flat out refused to tell Kailey that he loved her. Unfortunately for Ryder, Kailey needed to hear the words, so he had to learn to let go of the ghosts of his past before he lost any chance of a future with his newfound family.

 

Overall, I'm certain that "Ryder" is going to end up on my "favorite books of 2020" list, and I can't recommend it highly enough for all fans of angsty contemporary romance. Just be sure to have some tissues handy before you start reading!

*Review copy provided by the author via Grey's Promotions. All opinions expressed are my own.

 

Release Blitz + Review: "Own the Eights Maybe Baby" by Krista Sandor

Today, I am delighted to join the release blitz celebrating "Own the Eights Maybe Baby," the third and final book in the Own the Eights series by Krista Sandor. I have to admit that I was a little worried about starting this book because I hadn't read the first two in the series, and all three books follow the same main characters, Georgie and Jordan, as they meet, fall in love, and eventually tie the knot. However, this book totally worked for me as a standalone, and I had a blast getting to know this couple and following along with their adventures.

Georgie and Jordan were incredibly likeable and relatable main characters, and I found it very easy to sympathize with their fears as they prepared to welcome their first child. I particularly appreciated the fact that they made such an effort to communicate their concerns and find ways to address them together, rather than bottling everything up inside. Even though they had only been together and married for a relatively short period of time, it was easy to see how much Jordan and Georgie loved each other and why their relationship worked so well.

I also adored all of the wonderfully quirky, amusing secondary characters who came along to either help or complicate matters for Georgie and Jordan. I think my favorites were Georgie's OB/GYN, the handsome Dr. Beaver, and crotchety Nurse Joyce, who made quite the pair! I also enjoyed Jordan and Georgie's eccentric bosses, Hector and Bobby, plus "child development experts" Lenny and Stu. They came up with some outlandish challenges for the couples participating in their infant workshop, but I was surprised at how well their lessons actually worked.

Overall, I loved "Own the Eights Maybe Baby" and highly recommend it for all fans of romantic comedy. I will certainly be going back to read the first two parts of Georgie and Jordan's story and look forward to seeing what Krista Sandor writes next.

 

*Review copy provided by the author via Grey's Promotions. All opinions expressed are my own.

 

 

 About "Own the Eights Maybe Baby"

An unexpected pregnancy derails a cocky trainer and a snarky bookshop owner's lives in Own the Eights Maybe Baby, a delightfully steamy romantic comedy from USA Today bestselling author Krista Sandor.

Blogger sensations Georgie Jensen and Jordan Marks have plans.

Big plans.

They're poised to take over the blogosphere as the world's top blogging sweethearts until a positive pregnancy test changes everything.

Make that twelve positive pregnancy tests.

Yep, this bun in the oven business is the real deal--and not the deal Georgie and Jordan expected to walk into the day after returning from their honeymoon.

These two know blogging, books, and barbells. But in the impending parenthood department, they're starting at square one.

They know zero, zip, zilch, nada.

To complicate matters more, Georgie will do anything to keep the news from her over-the-top socialite mother until she and Jordan get a handle on the situation.

From a revved up preggo-libido to a pregnancy blogging challenge, the couple is thrown for a loop when they dive headfirst into the Wild West of baby prep.

Ready or not, a baby is coming.

And Georgie and Jordan will be put to the test.

Could this be the ultimate challenge they never knew they needed?

Maybe, baby!

Georgie and Jordan's story ends with a bang in Own the Eights Maybe Baby, the third and final book in the Own the Eights series. While this book can be read as a standalone, the series follows Jordan and Georgie as they navigate the ups and downs of love with sizzling chemistry and witty banter.

Own the Eights (Book 1)
Own the Eights Gets Married (Book 2)
Own the Eights Maybe Baby (Book 3) 

Blog Tour + Excerpt + Review: "Hard Checked" by Stacey Lynn

I am thrilled to participate in the blog tour celebrating the release of "Hard Checked" by Stacey Lynn, book #4 of the Ice Kings series. This book reads as a total standalone, though characters from the earlier books in the series (primarily teammates of the male lead, Sebastian) make cameo appearances in this one. Even so, readers who are new to the series will be able to jump in here without feeling lost at all.

 

I was really excited to read this book after getting to know a bit about Sebastian in the last book of the series, "Hooked on Her." His story was even better than I had hoped, and I found it very easy to cheer him and Gigi on to their HEA despite all of the obstacles that stood in their way. I highly recommend this sweet, funny, emotional story for all fans of contemporary and sports romance. 

About "Hard Checked"

Hard Checked, an all-new beautifully written, second-chance-at-love sports romance that will bring all the heat and feels from Stacey Lynn is available now!

Getting served divorce papers was not how I planned spending New Years Day.

I probably shouldn’t have gone to my favorite bar and gotten wasted trying to drown my sorrows.
I definitely shouldn’t have spent the night passed out in the bed of the bartender’s daughter, Gigi.

And the absolute last thing I should have done was let my guard down and start having fun. Now I’m thinking of her all the time… fantasizing about the things I want to do to Gigi.

I’m in the middle of the best hockey season of my life. I need my head in the game and my focus on the playoffs – not playing house with the gorgeous bartender who makes me feel more alive than I have in years.

Finding someone new so soon after a failed marriage isn’t the smartest thing I’ve ever done.

But it just might be too late. I’ve been checked hard into the boards, right off my skates, and I’m not only spinning out of control…

I might just be falling in love all over again.

 

 

Read an Excerpt from "Hard Checked"

Another set of drinks arrive at our table, served by a pair of small hands, with a tiny little broken heart tattoo on a ring finger and dark purple nail polish.

“Thanks, Gigi,” I say, lifting my head and grinning at her.

She smirks at me. “No problem, hotshot. Dad wanted me to give you these but says it’s last call.”

“Damn,” Jason groans. “I didn’t realize it was so late.”

“You can take off. I’m good.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah.”

He turns to Gigi who’s taken our empties and is starting to walk away.

I try. I try really hard to not let my gaze drop to her short, cut-off sweat shorts, to the length of her legs beneath them. The shape of her calves or to notice the dark red polish on her toenails.

I fail.

Miserably.

There’s something so damn attractive about her petite size.

I grip my new beer bottle harder and take a healthy swig.

“Hey Gigi,” Jason calls out. “Keep this loser company for me so he doesn’t get shit-faced before practice tomorrow?”

“Me?” She’s turned, gaze bouncing from me to Jason and she frowns. “You need my help?”

“No—”

“Yes—” Jason says at the exact time I disagree.

She smirks at Jason. “Seems to me he doesn’t need it.”

“Sometimes this asshole doesn’t know what he needs.” He slaps the table and slides out, holding out his arm in a gesture for Gigi to take his spot.

“Jason—”

He shrugs and holds out his fist. “I’ll pay the tab. You get home safely, yeah?”

“Yeah,” I grumble and return his fist pump.

“And you’ll thank me for this someday, too.”

I watch him go, frowning.

What the fuck does that mean?

“I can pretend to sit here until he leaves if you want to be alone.”

Her voice does something to me. Like a bug is happily leaping in my gut when she looks down at me, all that teal hair and new nose ring and tattoo peeking out from the wide collar of her sweatshirt.

It’s the collar I’m noticing. And the tattoo.

Not the thin, white strap of her bra.

Shit.

“You can sit. Please. You want Jason’s last beer?”

“Nah.” Her nose crinkles and the soft light above the bar flints on her nose ring. I quickly look away as she slides in. “I’ve never acquired the taste for beer. No matter what kind it is, it always tastes like wet cardboard.”

“You know what cardboard tastes like?”

“Yeah. Like beer.” She grins.

I grin back.

This girl is funny. Well-traveled.

Divorced. Cute. And fun.

The exact kind of temptation I do not need in my life right now. Yet as I sit across from her, taking in every little nuance about her like the freckle on the back of her hand, that broken heart tattoo… I can’t for the life of me think of an excuse to leave. 

 

 

My Review

 

I loved "Hard Checked" by Stacey Lynn, a sweet, funny, emotional story which featured endearing characters and a compelling plot that kept me turning the pages long after my bedtime. Male lead Sebastian was such a kind and caring person, and I really felt for him after everything he went through with his ex-wife, Madison. I particularly appreciated that he didn't just walk away from Madison when he knew their marriage was over; he made sure that her parents understood what was going on so that Madison would get the help she needed, even though she wouldn't accept it from him. I also loved Sebastian's relationship with his dog, Bruiser. The two of them were responsible for many of the lighter moments in the story, such as when Sebastian used a blow dryer on Bruiser after they went swimming one night so that the dog could still sleep in his bed with him.
 

The book's female lead, Gigi, was independent, kind, and empathetic, and I loved the way she brought Sebastian out of himself after his struggles with Madison. The stories she told Sebastian about her years of travel were fascinating, and frankly I was jealous of how much she was able to see and do! I've always dreamed of visiting many of the places she saw in her time abroad. I also loved Gigi's artsy, funky sense of style, especially with her hair. She was a breath of fresh air for Sebastian after Madison's rigid adherence to schedules and concern for appearances, and I found it very easy to root for them to overcome all of the obstacles standing in their way and end up together.

Overall, I highly recommend "Hard Checked" for all fans of contemporary and sports romance. I can't wait for the next book in the series! (I'm kind of hoping Sebastian's teammate Klaus will find love next, but there are several Ice Kings players who would make great heroes IMO...)

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

 

Blog Tour + Review: "Naughty Brits"

I am pleased to take part in the blog tour celebrating the release of "Naughty Brits," a collection of contemporary romance novellas by authors Sarah MacLean, Sophie Jordan, Louisa Edwards, Tessa Gratton, and Sierra Simone. 

 

There's something about a man with a British accent that has always appealed to me, so it was an easy decision to pick up this anthology. I was even more excited when I learned that it contained a novella by Sarah MacLean, one of my favorite historical romance authors. I've never read one of her contemporary stories before (not sure if she's even published one, honestly), but her contribution to this anthology, "A Duke Worth Falling For," was wonderful and I enjoyed it tremendously. IMO, her story alone is worth the price of the entire book! "Not a Bad Boy" by Louisa Edwards was another delightful surprise, especially since Ms. Edwards is a new-to-me author. I'm generally a fan of romances featuring Hollywood celebrities, but this one was particularly enjoyable because of its endearingly awkward, incredibly relatable female lead.

I've included brief reviews of the individual stories at the end of this post, but overall, I'd give "Naughty Brits" a 4-star rating. I recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance, especially anyone who, like me, has a weakness for a British accent. ;-)

 

 

About "Naughty Brits"

Everything is hotter with a British accent…

Sarah MacLean - A Duke Worth Falling For:
Her career in tatters, celebrity photographer Lilah Rose retreats to the British countryside, complete with fluffy sheep, rolling hills…and Max, the stern, sexy farmer who tends to them. But their lazy days and lush nights aren’t as far from the spotlight as Lilah thinks, and Max will have to reveal the truth if he is going to convince Lilah that some dukes are worth the risk. 

Sophie Jordan - Better with You: 

When the author of a controversial self-help book starts receiving threats, she has no choice but to accept a bodyguard on her UK book tour. Vee Mathers is famous for asserting that women don’t need men—especially for sex!—but at security specialist Luca Moretti’s first, burning touch, she starts to think she might need to revise her theory...

Louisa Edwards - Not a Bad Boy:
Writer Mallory Pritchard moved to London for research—and to get over a bad breakup. When she (literally) runs into Hollywood’s hottest action hero, Ian Hale, at a dog park, she realizes her heart isn’t as broken as she thought! Ian is even more devastatingly sexy in person, which makes Mallory wonder...is there room for a regular girl in his glamorous movie-star world?

Tessa Gratton - Songbird:
Former American soldier Daniel Kelly’s mission is simple: close the deal to buy a Welsh pub on behalf of his family’s corporation, and survive another anniversary of the worst day of his service. Too bad that from the moment he sees the pub’s owner, Elspeth Gwenlan is the only thing Daniel wants to conquer—even if it means lying to her about his agenda.

Sierra Simone - Supplicant:
After being left at the altar by her cold and brilliant professor, Church Cason, Charlotte Tenpenny had to leave school to take care of her younger brother. But a fateful night brings Church—and his delicious, drugging kisses—back into Charlotte's life. And it stirs up a reckoning years in the making...

 

  

My Review

 

"Naughty Brits" was an excellent collection of contemporary romance novellas, and I recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance, especially my fellow Anglophiles. All of the stories stand alone, but I liked that they each built up to a common event, which made the collection feel very cohesive.

 

Sarah MacLean - A Duke Worth Falling For: 

This story was so cute! I loved main characters Lilah and Max, who were incredibly well-developed considering the length of the story. Their flirty, witty banter was fantastic from the moment they met, when Max rescued Lilah from one of his "attack sheep." Max was just the right amount of grumpy (my favorite kind of hero!), and I admired how strong and determined Lilah was in the face of adversity. It's worth the price of the anthology for this delightful story alone. 5 stars.

Sophie Jordan - Better with You:

This story was only OK, IMO. I think I would have liked it better if it had been dual POV. The male lead, Luca Moretti, was so taciturn most of the time that it was impossible to tell what he was thinking. I didn't really feel I got to know him or understand his feelings for the female lead, Vee Mathers. It also seemed strange to me that Luca never expressed concern about how unprofessional it was for him to get involved with a client. Shouldn't he have been worried about losing his job or not being able to maintain his focus while protecting her? But hey, Luca managed to fix all of Vee's problems in the bedroom in about 5 seconds flat, so all's well that ends well, I guess. 3 stars.

Louisa Edwards - Not a Bad Boy:

I'm generally a fan of romances featuring Hollywood celebrities, so I was excited to check this one out. Female lead Mallory was endearingly awkward and her insecurities about her body were totally relatable. Her love interest, movie star Ian, was surprisingly shy for such a major celebrity, and he was also a bit grumpy at times, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The ending felt a little rushed to me, but even so, I enjoyed this story and will definitely be looking for more books by Louisa Edwards. 4 stars.
 

Tessa Gratton - Songbird:

I skipped this story because the description didn't sound overly appealing to me, plus I was running out of time. I may go back and read it later.
 

Sierra Simone - Supplicant:

I gave this story a pass because it includes a couple of tropes I don't generally enjoy. However, I've heard good things about Ms. Simone's writing and that this story is H-O-T, so I'd recommend that fans of student-professor romances give this one a try.

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

Blog Tour + Review: "Thanks for Last Night" by Lauren Blakely

I am super excited to participate in the blog tour celebrating Lauren Blakely's latest release, "Thanks for Last Night," book #3 of The Guys Who Got Away series. Just like the books that came before it, this story was funny, sweet, and heartwarming with the perfect amount of steam. I recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance, sports romance, and romantic comedy.

 

Main characters Teagan and Ransom were a tremendously fun couple. I loved their flirty banter and the funny, silly way they competed with each other over things like dart games or laser tag. They had a lot in common besides their competitive natures, including their interest in charity/volunteer work, so it was easy to understand why their friends kept trying to push them together. Ransom and Teagan also shared a fear of commitment due to bad breakups in their pasts, but I really appreciated that there wasn't a whole lot of drama between them because of it. Rather than keeping everything bottled up until it exploded, they actually talked about their issues and worked on them together. 

The bromance between Ransom and his friends was another highlight of the story for me. The way they teased and jokingly insulted each other was hilarious, but it was also sweet how they were so quick to offer advice or a sympathetic ear whenever it was needed. I particularly liked Ransom's friend Martinez, the Yankees closer, and was happy that he found love with the lucky lady who won a date with him at the bachelor auction.

While this book can technically be read as a standalone, I would recommend reading the series in order for the best experience (with the addition of Fitz and Dean's story, "A Guy Walks Into My Bar," which is technically separate). Teagan and Ransom's story was pretty well wrapped up by about 80% (Kindle edition), and the rest of the book was something of an extended epilogue for the series as a whole. Most of the final 20% of the book was set during Bryn and and Logan's ("The What-If Guy") wedding.

Overall, I loved this fast-paced, funny, sweet, and heartwarming story, and can't wait to see what Lauren Blakely brings us next!  

 

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

 

 

About "Thanks for Last Night"

A sexy new friends-to-lovers standalone!

Let me list the reasons why dating a sexy, charming, pro hockey star is a bad idea: 

• He’s one of my closest friends
• All our friends are friends
• The wounds I’ve got from past relationships go deep. And so do his.
  

We’re both devoutly single -- it’s just safer for the heart that way. But there’s no reason not to bid on the gorgeous, clever athlete at the charity auction this weekend. If I win, it’ll be a friendsdate.

And I do win.

I win him big.

And hard.

And all night long.

The trouble is . . . what happens in the morning? 

Release Blitz + Review: "The One That Got Away" by Karina Halle

Today, I am thrilled to participate in the release blitz celebrating Karina Halle's latest novel, "The One That Got Away." I have been looking forward to reading this story for what feels like forever, and it absolutely did not disappoint. This book was pure angsty perfection and I highly recommend it for all fans of emotional contemporary romance. I have no doubt that it is going to find a place on my "favorite reads of 2020" list!

 

I really liked the male lead, Luciano Ribeiro, when he was introduced as a secondary character in "The Forbidden Man," and I completely fell in love with him here in his own story. The chemistry between Luciano and the female lead, Ruby, was phenomenal from the start, and it was amazing to me that the others around them, particularly Luciano's younger brother Marco, didn't pick up on it sooner. Luciano and Ruby also had a lot in common when it came to tough childhood and family situations, and my heart hurt for both of them as more about each of their pasts was revealed.

One of my favorite things about reading Karina Halle's books is that she is so good at setting the scene and describing the characters' surroundings. That was particularly meaningful for me while reading this book because I had the opportunity to visit Lisbon briefly while studying abroad in college, and I loved the city. Reading this book felt just like being back there again, seeing landmarks such as the Palace of Sintra and eating bacalhau (salted cod) and pasteis de nata (custard tarts).
 

There were a lot of obstacles along the path to Luciano and Ruby's HEA and I shed some tears on their behalf while I was reading, but it was all worth it to see them so happy in the end. "The One That Got Away" was yet another fantastic book from Karina Halle, and I can't wait to see what she writes next.

 

*Review copy provided by the author via Valentine PR. All opinions expressed are my own.

 

 

About "The One That Got Away"

The One That Got Away by The New York Times, Wall Street Journal & USA Today Bestselling author Karina Halle is now live!

*A standalone second-chance romance*

Ruby Turner was never meant to be mine.

When I first met her, she was a fresh, young, American sports journalist trying to find her footing in a new life abroad. She was the one interviewing me for an article, yet I wanted to know more about her. She captivated me.

But she went home with Marco that night.

My agent.

My brother.

And I did what I could to pretend I was fine with it.

After all, I’m Luciano Ribeiro. As the captain of Real Madrid, and Portugal’s National Team, it’s my job to be cool, calm, and collected, not easily rattled.

Only what I felt for Ruby over time, shook me to my very core.

It made me do things I never imagined I would do.

It started with a stolen kiss in the middle of the night.

It led to a passionate tryst.

It created a burden of guilt that I had to carry, as Ruby came in and out of my life until she left for good, leaving her mark on me.

Now, seven years later, she’s back.

She was the one that got away.

I don’t think I’ll let her go this time.

But I might not have a choice.

Because my heart still belongs to her.

And her heart might belong to my brother.  

Release Blitz + Review: "Loathe Thy Neighbor" by Teagan Hunter

I am very excited to participate in the release blitz celebrating "Loathe Thy Neighbor" by Teagan Hunter, book #1 of the Roommate Romps series. I'm a relatively new reader of Ms. Hunter's work, but I've loved everything of hers I've picked up so far, so I've really been looking forward to getting my hands on this book. Thankfully, it did not disappoint; "Loathe Thy Neighbor" was a super fun, slow burn enemies-to-lovers romance featuring likeable characters and fantastic banter between main characters River and Dean. Even though they supposedly hated each other, the smoldering chemistry between them was obvious from the very beginning. I was at the edge of my seat waiting for them to finally give into their feelings, and when they did, it was totally worth the wait.

 

I loved all of the things River and Dean did to rile each other up, but my favorite was their constant battle over the cherry pie at their local diner. It was hilarious how Dean kept coming up with ways to trick River's nephew into giving him the last piece of cherry pie on Sunday mornings. The book's secondary characters were also a lot of fun, particularly River's friends and co-workers Maya and Caroline, as well as apartment building manager Lucy. I enjoyed Leo the emotional support turtle and Morris the ill-tempered cat too.

Overall, I loved "Loathe Thy Neighbor" and highly recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedy. I look forward to the next book in the series!

  

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

 

 

 About "Loathe Thy Neighbor"

Don’t fall for your enemy…especially when he’s your new roommate.

Dean Evans is the worst.
Not only does the devil in disguise steal my pie on a regular basis, he also lives in the apartment right. Next. Door.
I see him all the time. At the mailboxes. In the elevator.
Every single morning.
It’s exhausting because he’s exhausting.

Now, after setting his apartment on fire, he’s my roommate…and he’s the worst at that too.

I don’t know what possessed me to let him stay with me. Pity, perhaps?
I do know that I won’t be falling for his charm.
Or that panty-dropping smirk.
His quick wit.
That body he works so hard for.

Nope. Not falling for any of it…least of all him.

There might be a fine line between love and hate, but I know exactly where I stand.