Review: "The Merry Billionaire" by Tru Taylor

The Merry Billionaire: A Billionaire Bachelor House Story by Tru Taylor
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"The Merry Billionaire" by Tru Taylor works as a standalone novella, but readers familiar with the ongoing Eastport Bay Billionaires series may recall protagonists Hap Bailey and Rachel Hamelin from earlier stories. Rachel is Bonnie's sister (from book #1) and Hap is Jessica's brother (from book #5). He's also one of the inhabitants of the so-called Billionaire Bachelor House (along with Hunter from book #2).

Personal chef Rachel Hamelin has been working at the Billionaire Bachelor House for almost a year, ever since moving to Rhode Island following a messy breakup with her cheating ex/former boss. She's been saving up to return to Colorado and open her own restaurant, hoping to prove to her ex that she doesn't need him to be a success. Secretly, Rachel has another reason for wanting to leave Eastport Bay; she has feelings for one of her bosses, former child star turned TV producer/director Hap Bailey. However, after everything that happened with her ex, there's no way she'd ever date someone she works with again. Unbeknownst to Rachel, Hap has feelings for her too, but he hasn't quite figured out how to tell her. When they're unexpectedly snowed in together at Christmas, will they finally admit their true feelings for one another?

Rachel and Hap had a ton of chemistry and made a really cute couple. Rachel was a bit stubborn about giving up the idea of returning to Colorado and showing up her ex, but fortunately she decided to abandon those plans pretty quickly after she and Hap admitted their true feelings for each other. I admired the fact that Rachel was so determined to succeed on her own when she probably could have gotten the money she needed for the restaurant from her sister and brother-in-law, or taken Hap's offer to invest so that she could stay in Rhode Island with him. As for Hap, I loved how sweet, caring, and protective he was of Rachel even when they were supposedly just friends. He actually walked five miles through a blizzard so that she wouldn't have to be alone in case the power went out! (The fact that he didn't end up dead in a ditch somewhere, or at least with a nasty case of frostbite, is something of a miracle, but that's not really the point.)

I recommend "The Merry Billionaire" for all fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedy and look forward to whatever Tru Taylor writes next. (Hopefully one of those future stories will be Hap's friend Reid's story. His history with high school sweetheart Mara came up briefly in another book, but I was reminded of it again when they were playing Cards Against Humanity in this story and now I really want to know more!)

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Review: "Wrapped Up in You" by Talia Hibbert

Wrapped Up in You by Talia Hibbert
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"Wrapped Up in You" by Talia Hibbert is a Kobo exclusive ebook. I haven't used Kobo in years (and even then only once or twice), but I downloaded their (honestly kinda glitchy) Android app just so that I could read this story. It was totally worth the hassle! (Though I do have a new appreciation for all things Kindle.)

Abbie Farrell has secretly been in love with her longtime best friend, famous actor Will Reid, ever since they were kids, but never believed that he could return her feelings. She's tried to move on and even married another man, but that toxic marriage ended in divorce and she's spent the last two years focused on healing. Unbeknownst to Abbie, Will has been in love with her for years too, and he's come up with a plan to finally do something about it this Christmas. They'll be spending the holiday with their families at Abbie's grandmother's ramshackle home in Scotland, but first, they need to ride out the blizzard that's headed their way.

This story was so sweet! Abbie and Will were such endearing, relatable protagonists, especially Abbie because of her struggles with anxiety. Abbie's fears made it difficult to accept that Will's feelings for her were real and that she wouldn't somehow overwhelm and push him away if she let him see the depth of her own feelings. I loved how patient Will was with Abbie as she worked through those fears. All he wanted to do was love her and be there to hold her hand in good times and bad. I also loved Will and Abbie's banter, especially the text messages and DMs at the start of each chapter.

I recommend "Wrapped Up in You" for all contemporary romance fans. I'd love to read a future story about Abbie's twin brother Jason (or any of her brothers, really), especially if it featured a cameo by their sweetly eccentric, cat-loving grandmother Ms. Tricia!

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Release Blitz + Review: "Winning Mr. Wrong" by C.W. Farnsworth

Today, I'm excited to take part in the release blitz celebrating "Winning Mr. Wrong" by C.W. Farnsworth. 

After losing both her job and her boyfriend in the same day, Embry Willis is ready to curl up on her couch and wallow in her misery. Her best friend Haley thinks she needs to move on instead, so she secretly nominates her to compete on a reality TV dating show. They're both surprised when Embry's application is selected. With nothing to lose besides what little is left of her pride, Embry decides to go on the show, figuring that if nothing else, she can use the time by the pool to figure out her next career move. Everything changes when she arrives on the tropical island where the show is being filmed and learns that the bachelor is none other than Ryan Hastings, quarterback for the Chicago Grizzlies and the player she accidentally insulted in a video clip that went viral several months earlier. Ryan's agent convinced him to do the show in order to spice up his "golden boy" reputation, which he needs if he wants more sponsorships and a big contract extension. Unfortunately for Embry, Ryan recognizes her from the video and decides to make her time on the show as awkward and uncomfortable as possible. The more time he spends with her, however, the more he realizes that she's the one woman on the show with whom he could actually see a future.

I don't watch reality TV but I do love football and sports romances, so I've really been looking forward to reading this story. It was totally worth the wait! I enjoyed it so much that I read more than half of it in a single sitting (and I would have kept going if I hadn't been so tired I could barely keep my eyes open). Even when they were supposed to be enemies, Ryan and Embry were super cute together, and their playful banter and obvious chemistry kept me glued to my Kindle. I couldn't wait for them to finally act on the slowly simmering feelings between them.

I highly recommend "Winning Mr. Wrong" for all contemporary romance and romantic comedy fans. It was the first book I've read by this author but certainly won't be the last.

 

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

 

About "Winning Mr. Wrong"

Mr. Wrong /ˈmistər rôNG/ noun: the polar opposite of the perfect man. "A prime example of Mr. Wrong is a certain quarterback incapable of letting a grudge go."

A reality television dating show was never part of my post-college plan. Nearly broke, unemployed, recently dumped me let my best friend Haley decide it should be.

They say don't make life-altering decisions after five shots of tequila, and I now believe whoever coined that phrase.

We all have rough patches, right? When nothing sounds better than snuggling on the couch in your favorite sweats inhaling chocolate?

Well, I've signed up for the glamorous version. Designer dresses. Poolside lounge chair. Open bar.

Unfortunately, my free vacation takes a turn from mildly humiliating to full-on mortification when the identity of the man I'm meant to woo is revealed.

What are the chances he's the quarterback I accidentally insulted on national television six months ago? Turns out they're pretty good.

Famous athletes receive plenty of press coverage. Odds he remembers my constructive criticism? Turns out they're also pretty good.

Thanks to a one-way plane ticket and a thirty-page contract I probably should have read before signing, I'm forced to follow through. To embark on a journey around the world with a man who hates me and the twenty-four other women he's "dating" that will be forever enshrined on film for millions to watch weekly.

All to win Mr. Wrong. 

 

Release Blitz + Review: "The Worst Guy" by Kate Canterbary

I'm thrilled to participate in the release blitz celebrating "The Worst Guy" by Kate Canterbary, book #2 of the Vital Signs series. Characters from the previous book as well as the earlier Walsh Family series appear in this one, but it reads as a standalone.

When a disagreement over a patient's treatment results in the accidental destruction of a hospital exam room, surgeons Sebastian Stremmel and Sara Shapiro are ordered to take an 8-week conflict resolution class together. Neither of them is happy to be stuck in the workplace version of couples counseling and each resolves to put in as little effort as possible. What neither of them could have predicted is that their explosive chemistry would spill over after the sessions and turn them into enemies with benefits.
 
The evolution of Sara and Sebastian's relationship was honestly fascinating to me. They were intensely attracted to each other from the start but obviously didn't want to be, and their efforts to resist those feelings caused much of their conflict. As they were forced to spend time together, they slowly, reluctantly began to open up to each other, and it became clear just how much they were hiding beneath the surface. I couldn't help but empathize with Sara's mental health struggles, and I loved seeing the sweet, caring, and protective side of Stremmel emerge from beneath his grumpy exterior. Every time he covered her with a blanket, poured her a glass of water, and told her to lock the door as he was leaving, it gave me all the feels.

 

I absolutely loved "The Worst Guy" and highly recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedy. I can't wait to see what Kate Canterbary comes up with next.

 

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

 

 

About "The Worst Guy"

Eight weeks of forced proximity is a long time to hate someone you're trying not to love.

Sebastian Stremmel doesn't need another headache. He has enough of his own without Sara Shapiro, the noisy new reconstructive surgeon, stomping all around his surgical wing with her chippy, chirpy cheerfulness.

But Sebastian doesn't usually get what he wants.

No one gets under his skin like Sara - so much so a heated "debate" and an exam room left in shambles later, they land themselves in eight weeks of hospital-mandated conflict resolution counseling. Now they're forced to fight fair...which quickly leads them to playing dirty when no one's looking.

They know it's a mistake.

They promise themselves it will never happen again.

They swear they got it out of their systems.

They didn't.

Author's Note: Grumpy/recovering people-pleaser sunshine. Introverts attract. Enemies-to-lovers in the workplace. Banter, bicker, and button-pushing foreplay. Don't tell the friend group, get jealous when the friend group tries to fix her up.

Heat: Rip her clothes off before you get the front door open. 

 

Release Blitz + Review: "Off the Bench" by Alley Ciz

I'm pleased to take part in the release blitz celebrating "Off the Bench" by Alley Ciz, book #4 in the #UofJ series. It's a standalone in the sense that it focuses on a different couple than the one featured in the first three books of the series, but to be honest, as someone who hasn't yet read those previous books, I found it difficult to keep up with a lot of the characters and references to past events. (More on that in a bit.) Based on my own experience, I would strongly recommend reading this series in order.

Cheerleader Quinn Thompson, a rising junior at the University of Jersey, has had a crush on her new housemate, Christopher "CK" Kent, for the past eight months, but he never seems to notice her and it's driving her crazy. Now that they're alone in their shared apartment for the summer, Quinn has decided to step up her efforts to attract CK's attention. If the only way for her to do that is by volunteering to be his dating coach, then that's what she'll do. What Quinn doesn't realize is that while CK is just as attracted to her as she is to him, he's absolutely convinced that she's way out of his league. Years of bullying by athletes back in his small Kansas hometown has made it tough for hot but nerdy CK to believe that he even has friends, much less is a valued part of this particular close-knit group of football players, basketball players, and cheerleaders. There's no way he'd risk losing his place in their found family by pursuing Quinn, no matter how much he secretly wishes he could.

CK and Quinn were both likeable characters, and I sympathized with CK because I was the nerdy kid in high school too (though thankfully not bullied to the extent he seems to have been). I empathized with Quinn because of the way her mother and so many others in her life focused only on her looks and failed to acknowledge the smart, capable young woman she had become. In addition, I loved the story's humorous moments, such as the random questions Quinn would ask CK to try and get him to open up to her and the messages they exchanged on Post-It notes. The interactions between Quinn, CK, and the rest of their friend group were also frequently amusing, if at times a bit immature. (I had to keep reminding myself that they were college students, and a few of their friends' siblings were actually still in high school, so the way they spoke and acted was probably appropriate for their ages.)

 

As previously mentioned, I haven't yet read the first three books of this series and found it somewhat difficult to get into this story as a standalone. There were a lot of characters to keep track of (with multiple nicknames for each one), their relationships were already well established, and there were a lot of references that just didn't make sense without knowing the events of the first three books. As a result, the first half of the book felt like it dragged to me, largely because so much of the focus was on CK and Quinn's found family. They didn't even start "practice dating" until almost a third of the way through the book. By that time, it had been well and truly driven home to me how they felt about each other and I just wanted them to do something about it already! The second half of the book was better because they started making progress in their relationship and the story's focus was mostly on them, not so much about their interactions with the rest of the friend group.

While I enjoyed and would recommend "Off the Bench," I didn't love it the way I wanted to. It was definitely the wrong place for me to start with this series. Readers who have already read the first three books of the series are likely to enjoy it more than I did.

 

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

 

 

About "Off the Bench"

@UofJ411: What’s happening here? #TheyDoSayOppositesAttract #WhereAreAllThePost-its

On a scale of one to ten, Quinn Thompson is a fifteen.

Gorgeous. Fiery. A cheerleader so far out of my league it’s embarrassing that I even fantasize about her.

I need to find a way to shut down the dirty thoughts she inspires before it’s too late. If I don’t, this whole new life of mine is at risk.

Easier said than done when temptation lives right down the hall.

For such a smart guy, CK can be surprisingly clueless.

Sweet. Shy. The star of all my naughty nerd fantasies, but utterly blind to my flirtations.

Giving in to his plea to be his love coach may seem drastic, but I’m desperate for the chance to come off the bench.

Too bad the friend zone was a hell of a lot safer for my heart. 

 

Release Blitz + Review: "Text and Confused" by Whitney Dineen and Melanie Summers

Today, I'm happy to participate in the release blitz celebrating "Text and Confused" by Whitney Dineen and Melanie Summers, book #6 of the Accidentally in Love series. Characters from previous stories make appearances in this one, but it reads as a complete standalone.

After a few too many bad experiences with past boyfriends, Toni Cappelli made a New Year's resolution to change her dating habits. All her life, she's been attracted to blue collar losers who have taken advantage of her, but from now on, she vows to date only responsible, self-sufficient men who wear suits to work. She's even identified her first potential date: Sumner Livingston, the new fundraiser hired by the charitable foundation where she works. So what if there's not really a spark between them? Sumner is employed, and that's what matters most. Meanwhile, contractor Cooper Flint has been hired by the foundation to build a village of tiny homes that will be used as transitional housing for the homeless. He meets Toni when picking up a set of blueprints from the foundation's office and is immediately smitten, but Toni, set on her pursuit of Sumner, turns him down when he asks her out. A mix-up leads Toni to start a texting relationship with Cooper, believing that he's Sumner, but when she uncovers the truth, she immediately breaks things off. Can Cooper convince Toni that he's not the bad boy she thinks he is and that they belong together?

Cooper and Toni's texts and banter were really cute, and it was frustrating that she wouldn't give him a chance for so long because they were obviously perfect for each other. However, after she'd been hurt so many times in the past, I understood why she felt the need to be cautious and do everything she could to prevent the same thing from happening again. 

 

Overall, I enjoyed "Text and Confused" and recommend it for all romantic comedy fans. Based on the intriguing preview included at the end of this book, I look forward to checking out the authors' new series when it launches next year. I hope that they will come back to this series and give Cooper's sister Rae-Anne, the brain surgeon, a story too! She was so funny in this book, and after everything she went through with her ex-fiance, she deserves her own HEA.

 

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

 

About "Text and Confused"

It's hate at first text. Or is it...?

I'm Toni Cappelli and I'm a bad-man-o-holic. (Hi, Toni!). If a guy lives on the eastern seaboard, is covered in tattoos, muscles, and motor oil, I've probably already dated and dumped him. But it's a new year and for the first time in my twenty-nine years I'm determined to attract Mr. Right. I'm doing this by changing my type and my look.

So when super-hot contractor Cooper Flint walks into my office, I immediately put him on my 'no way' list. He embodies every bad boy trait there is. Besides, my eye is on another new co-worker, Sumner Livingston. Handsome, well-heeled, and professional, Sumner is nothing like my usual type, which I assume makes him perfect for me.

Determined to take things slowly for once, I insist Sumner and I keep our budding relationship separate from work. I even suggest we do our initial courting via text while we get to know each other better. Things are going beautifully and just when I'm starting to think he's 'the one,' I find out there's been a horrible mix-up. My boss accidentally gave me Cooper's number, not Sumner's, and I'm falling for Mr. Wrong, again.

Unfortunately, after I break it off with Cooper, I discover that Sumner isn't the good guy he portrays himself to be. When Cooper rescues me from a compromising situation, I belatedly realize I might be been missing out on the man of my dreams.

Have I lost my chance at true happiness or is there some way I can convince Cooper I'm the woman he needs?

***All books in the series read as standalones. 

 

Release Blitz + Review: "Cocky Hotshot" by Anne Marsh

I'm excited to participate in the release blitz celebrating "Cocky Hotshot" by Anne Marsh, a standalone Cocky Hero Club novel inspired by "Cocky Bastard."

Software developer and confirmed city girl Peony Anne Bloom was hiking up the side of a mountain to meet her boyfriend/business partner at a romantic cabin in the woods when he called to inform her that not only was he canceling their getaway, he was breaking up with her. Worse, without her knowledge or consent, he had arranged to sell the matchmaking algorithm she developed for millions of dollars. Now, Peony is lost in the woods with only 36 hours to try and stop the sale, her phone keeps losing reception, and there's a massive wildfire between her and her car. When smokejumper Bane Wilson suddenly appears and offers to help her get off the mountain in exchange for a ride back to San Francisco, she has no choice but to agree. He drives her crazy with his constant chatter and penchant for taking unnecessary risks, but the more time they spend together, the more Peony is drawn to Bane. Maybe things aren't so bad after all...

The book's first chapter was so funny and did a great job of getting me hooked on the story. I especially enjoyed Peony and Bane's banter and constant battle to be the boss, which carried on throughout their journey. They both had more than their fair share of baggage from past relationships to overcome, and while I particularly empathized with Bane's struggles, I wish he had been up front with Peony and let her make her own choice about whether or not to pursue a relationship with him. I was glad that she made him work to win her back in the end.
 

Overall, "Cocky Hotshot" was a fun story featuring likeable characters, and I would recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedy. It was the first book I've read by Anne Marsh but won't be the last. 

 

*Review copy provided by the author/publisher via Give Me Books Promotions. All opinions expressed are my own.

 

 

About "Cocky Hotshot"

What do you do when your cheating business partner/boyfriend (bad, bad idea) announces he’s selling your software company on Thursday to fund his new life with his other girlfriend?

You hurry back to stop him, of course. He’s not getting rich on my dime! Or that would be the plan, but I’m currently lost in the Klamath Mountains, access to my car cut off by a California wildfire, and there’s no way I make it back in time.

Desperate times call for desperate measures, so I come up with a backup plan: putting the six-plus feet of hot, sexy, mountain man who crash-lands at my feet to good use (no, no that).

Bane Wilson is a very cocky hotshot firefighter with a dirty attitude. He never shuts up and he always jumps in feet-first. We clash over life choices, the value of having a good plan, and who’s the boss of who, but it turns out we both sing loudly when no one’s listening, love junk food, and have really lousy exes.

We make a deal. He’ll be my guide down the trail, and I’ll be his chauffeur back to San Francisco. Traveling together disrupts all my carefully laid plans—and no matter how many times I tell myself I don’t even like this guy, the California wilderness isn’t the only thing on fire. Bane and I have serious chemistry. He’s not Mr. Forever. He’s just Mr. Fun. There’s no future for us and we’re supposed to part ways as soon as we reach San Francisco, exactly as I planned. We’ve both been scarred by our pasts and I don’t take chances. Turns out, I never should have let him into my car, let alone my life—or my heart.

Cocky Hotshot is a road trip/forced proximity romantic comedy inspired by Cocky Bastard. 

 

Release Blitz + Review: "Kissing My Co-Worker" by J. Sterling

I'm pleased to participate in the release blitz celebrating "Kissing My Co-Worker" by J. Sterling, book #1 of the Fun for the Holidays series. 

Executive assistant Lily St. Claire and studio executive Declan Maguire have secretly been attracted to each other ever since Lily came to work for Rockline Studios, but their employer has an unofficial policy forbidding intra-office dating. Lily wants to transfer to a different department, but her boss blocked her application a year ago and she's afraid to try again. When Declan learns that Lily's boss is preventing her from transferring, he decides to try and help her. Aside from the fact that he thinks she's too talented to be stuck in her current position with no chance of advancement, selfishly, he realizes that it would no longer be against the rules for him to ask her out if she worked for a different department. Of course, these things take time, and there are never any guarantees. When Declan sees Lily at their company's famously glamorous, romantic New Year's Eve party, will he be able to stop himself from confessing his feelings for her then and there, no matter the consequences?

I really enjoyed this funny, sweet novella and read the whole thing in one sitting. Declan and Lily were both likeable protagonists and it was easy for me to root for them to overcome the obstacles standing in their way. I had to laugh because they seemed to be the only ones who didn't know about their mutual crush; in fact, their colleagues had been placing bets on how long it would be before they finally started dating.

I recommend this story for all fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedy and look forward to the next book in the series.

 

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

 

About "Kissing My Co-Worker"

New York Times bestselling author J. Sterling has created this collection of fun and flirty stories with holiday based themes for you to get lost in and enjoy. Prepare to fall in love today!

I've had a crush on my co-worker Declan since the day I started working at Rockline Studios. Trust me, if you could see this man, you'd have a crush on him too.

It's been two years since my first day of work... two years since my head has been filled with fantasies and daydreams about the things I could do to him. Two years of.... SITTING BY AND DOING NOTHING because dating within the office is forbidden, frowned upon, something we're not supposed to do.

The night of Rockline's infamous New Year's Eve party changes everything.

Will my new years wish finally come true?

 

Release Blitz + Review: "Teased by Tinsel" by Molly O'Hare

Today, I'm excited to join the release blitz celebrating "Teased by Tinsel" by Molly O'Hare, book #2 of the Teased by Love series. It's not technically a standalone since it features the same main characters as the first book, Hank and Olive, but truthfully, I don't think anyone would feel too lost if they didn't read the series in order. That said, if you haven't read book #1, it's currently on sale for only $0.99 and I highly recommend it.

As "Teased by Tinsel" begins, Hank and Olive are about to celebrate their first anniversary (on Christmas!) and Hank is planning to surprise his wife with a romantic getaway to a remote cabin for a few days. Meanwhile, Hank's sister Miranda, who also happens to be Olive's longtime best friend, is visiting for the holidays and planning a permanent move back home in January after her dream job across the country turned out to be more of a nightmare. She's trying to keep her pending relocation a secret from Hank's friend and co-worker Lucas, who has a crush on "Miranda Panda" and teases her at every opportunity. Leaving Miranda and Lucas as house sitters (and hoping that the two of them won't come to blows in their absence), Hank and Olive head off to the cabin along with their giant Maine Coon cat named Dog. They'll only be gone for a couple of days; what could possibly go wrong?
 

I didn't think it was possible, but this book made me love Hank and Olive even more than I already did from their first book. Olive's continued obsession with UFOs, Bigfoot, and other unexplained phenomena, Hank's tendency to lose his keys/phone/wallet all the time (and his fellow firefighters betting on it), and the antics of Dog the giant cat were hilarious. However, what I most loved about this story was seeing the two of them so truly happy together. After everything they went through with Olive's accident and her recovery, they deserved to just relax and enjoy themselves.
 

Overall, "Teased by Tinsel" was laugh-out-loud funny, sweet, steamy, and just plain fun, and I highly recommend it for all romantic comedy readers. I can't wait for Lucas and Miranda's story next!

*Review copy provided by the author/publisher via Give Me Books Promotions. All opinions expressed are my own.

 

 

About "Teased by Tinsel"

Tis the season for holidays and… Bigfoot?

Catch up with Hank & Olive and the whole gang as they celebrate Olive’s favorite time of year. After all, nothing could go wrong during the holidays, right?

 

Release Blitz + Review: "Homecoming King" by Penny Reid

I'm delighted to participate in the release blitz celebrating "Homecoming King" by Penny Reid, book #1 of the Three Kings series. 

Bartender Abby McNerny hadn't seen her high school crush, professional football player Rex McMurtry, since graduation, so she's shocked when he walks into the bar where she works one night and orders a beer. Distracted by memories of high school and her friend Kaylee pushing her to flirt with Rex, Abby doesn't notice that he's already drunk, so she serves him. When the bar closes and it's apparent that he can't drive, Abby winds up taking him home to her apartment and caring for him after he gets sick all over her car. The next day, Rex shows up at the bar again, this time to thank Abby and ask her for a favor: he's looking for a fake wife to attend several upcoming weddings and charity events with him, and he wants to hire her to do the job. 

 

After a disastrous marriage when she was only 18, Abby swore off relationships, but she couldn't help wanting to help Rex, who had earned a reputation for being the guy women dated immediately before they met their future husband. For a lot of reasons, he wanted to break that cycle, and after Abby took such good care of him without asking for anything in return, he believed that he could trust her to help him with his plan. Their teasing and flirty banter was so cute, especially through texts and over the phone. I also loved the slow burn as their relationship developed; even though it took quite some time for them to act on their chemistry, it was quite steamy when they did so and totally worth the wait.

 

Overall, "Homecoming King" was an incredibly funny, sweet, and heartwarming story that I highly recommend for all fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedy. I can't believe we have to wait an entire year for the next book in the series!

 

*Review copy provided by the author/publisher via Give Me Books Promotions. All opinions expressed are my own.

 

About "Homecoming King"

Rex “TW” McMurtry’s perpetual single-hood wouldn’t bother him so much if all his ex-girlfriends didn’t keep marrying the very next person they dated, especially when so many of those grooms are his closest friends. He may be a pro-football defensive end for the Chicago Squalls, but the press only wants to talk about how he’s always a groomsman and never a groom. Rex is sick of being the guy before the husband, and he’s most definitely sick of being the best man at all their weddings.

Bartender Abigail McNerny is the gal-pal, the wing-woman, the she-BFF. She’s dated. Once. And once was more than enough. Privy to all the sad stories of her customers, ‘contentment over commitment’ is her motto, and Abby is convinced no one on earth could ever entice her into a romantic relationship . . . except that one guy she’s loved since preschool.

The guy who just walked into her bar.

The guy who doesn’t recognize her.

The guy who is drunk and needs a ride home.

The guy who has a proposition she should definitely refuse.

 

Release Blitz + Review: "Waiting for You" by Lea Coll

I'm thrilled to participate in today's release blitz celebrating "Waiting for You" by Lea Coll, book #6 of the Annapolis Harbor series. Characters from previous stories make appearances in this one, but it reads as a complete standalone.

Dr. Alex St. James has returned to his hometown of Annapolis to complete part of his medical residency at the nearby University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center. He's also an accomplished cellist, so when he learns that the musician hired to play at a family friend's wedding has dropped out at the last minute, he volunteers to fill in. In gratitude, the bride, Juliana Breslin, offers him a complimentary room at her bed and breakfast. Alex had planned to find a short-term rental for the duration of his stay in Annapolis, but he soon comes to appreciate the amenities of the B&B as well as the chance to catch up with Juliana's sister Ava, the live-in manager. Ava has been best friends with Alex's younger sister Savannah for years and secretly had a crush on him when they were teenagers. She's surprised to find that her feelings for Alex are as strong as ever, but as her best friend's brother, he's off limits. Besides, she's focused on her job at the B&B and dreams of running her own bakery, which she's close to making a reality. The more time Ava spends with Alex, the more difficult it becomes for her to resist him, but what happens when it's time for him to head back to his real life in New York?

I really liked Alex and Ava as a couple. They were both incredibly likeable and relatable, as were the challenges they faced. Alex was pretty flirty with Ava from the beginning, which was kind of surprising since he seemed set on avoiding serious relationships while he was still a resident. His reasons for not wanting to date were completely understandable, however, as were his concerns about his family's reaction to him dating Ava in particular given her close relationship with them. Ava had fears of her own after her mother walked out on her family when she was a teenager, and her father and sister's refusal to talk about it ever since left her with the impression that it was somehow her fault. She'd been thinking about her mother a lot lately, and Alex encouraged her to track her down and get answers if it was what she needed to move forward. Even though the answers she found weren't what Ava had hoped they'd be, I'm glad she (as well as Juliana and their father) were able to get closure on that chapter in their lives by the end of this book.

Overall, I really enjoyed "Waiting for You" and highly recommend it for all fans of contemporary/small town romance. I look forward to reading Alex's sister Savannah's story next year, which will launch the new Second Chance Harbor series.

 

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

 

About "Waiting for You"

How can Ava resist her best friend's brother when she's crushed on him since childhood?

I didn't think Alex could get any hotter, but his time at med school was good to him.
Dirty blond hair. A bit of scruff across his chiseled jawline. And a body beneath those scrubs that makes me think all sorts of naughty things.

Alex seems to be utter perfection... and he barely notices I exist.

Or so I thought. Lately, everywhere I look he's there. Renting a room in my bed and breakfast. Devouring my pastries. Wanting to talk every morning over coffee. Is it possible my lifelong crush finally sees me as more than his little sister's best friend?

 

Release Blitz + Review: "His for the Holidays" by Samantha Chase

I'm happy to take part in the release blitz celebrating "His for the Holidays" by Samantha Chase.

 

Interior designer Hannah Christy and cybersecurity specialist Gage Lawson have lived in the same apartment building for some time, but they never talked until they were trapped in an elevator together during a power outage shortly after Thanksgiving. They got to know each other pretty well in those few hours, sharing wine, cookies, and even a few kisses just before they were rescued. They left without exchanging phone numbers or making plans to see each other again, but when they run into each other in the lobby a few days later and Gage invites Hannah to his apartment for waffles, she accepts. A surprise visit from Gage's mother and one of his older sisters ends in Hannah pretending to be Gage's girlfriend for the holidays. Their fake relationship quickly turns into a real fling, but with Hannah planning to take a job in another state in the new year, their time together is limited. Will they really be able to say goodbye to each other when the time comes?

Hannah and Gage made a cute couple, and even though they were only dating for a short time, their relationship didn't feel like insta-love to me at all. I really liked how protective Gage was of Hannah, ensuring that his mother and her neighbors didn't monopolize her time with their decorating projects and prevent her from enjoying her vacation. As a self-admitted workaholic, Hannah really needed someone like Gage in her life who could help her find a better work-life balance. While I was, at times, frustrated with Hannah's tendency to run away when things got tough, I empathized with her feelings of not fitting in with her family and her disappointment in not receiving the promotion she had worked so hard for (and clearly deserved). 

Overall, "His for the Holidays" was a sweet story and I recommend it for all contemporary romance fans. I look forward to whatever Samantha Chase writes next.

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

 

About "His for the Holidays"

What better way to unwind from the stress of a family Thanksgiving, than escaping with an armload of Christmas cookies?

Hannah Christy was eager to head home and devour her treats in solitude, while doing some prep work for the promotion she was vying for. Those plans came to a screeching halt... along with the elevator.... trapping her inside with her sexy neighbor.

After being trapped with his match-making family over Thanksgiving, getting stuck in an elevator was a welcome reprieve for Gage Lawson.

If it was up to him, he would gladly stay stranded well into the new year. Especially since his neighbor has a whole treasure trove of ideas on how to pass the time. The best Christmas cookies he's ever tasted. Delicious spiced wine. Fun getting-to-know-you games. It's the most holiday merriment he's had in a long while.

Somewhere in the midst of it all, Gage comes up with the perfect plan. A fake romance to help make both their family get-togethers more jolly! To his surprise, Hannah agrees to be his for the holidays. Yet with the mistletoe in full bloom, and her on his arm, Gage soon realizes their little Christmas show isn't enough. He wants her for real... and forever.

Roast the chestnuts and hang the stockings, Gage has a plan! With the help of the 55 and over residents, magical flurries, and a never-ending supply of hot cocoa with extra marshmallows, he's determined to show Hannah that Christmas is the most wonderful time of year to fall in love.