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

I'm excited to participate in the release blitz celebrating "Falling for You" by Lea Coll, book #5 of the Annapolis Harbor series. Characters from previous stories make appearances in this one, but it reads as a complete standalone. 

 

After suffering a potentially career-ending knee injury, NFL wide receiver Jonah Templeton devoted his off-season to intensive rehab, drinking too much in his spare time to avoid thinking about the future and the painful secrets of his past. Knowing that he needed to focus on something besides football, his concerned friends and teammates, Reid and Chase, suggested that Jonah spend the summer working at Rebel Sports, the youth sports complex in which the three had invested to support the local community. They hoped that Jonah could help Reid's former personal assistant, Callie Goodwin, settle into her new role as manager of Rebel Sports as well as assist with preparations for the facility's grand opening. For a number of reasons, neither Callie nor Jonah was exactly thrilled with the plan, but they agreed to go along with it. They didn't expect that spending so much time together would lead to them falling in love, something Jonah swore he would never do. Can he overcome the demons of his past in order to build a future with the woman who had come to mean everything to him? 

Callie and Jonah were both very likeable, sympathetic characters who were dealing with more than their fair share of grief and guilt. They knew that acting on their attraction was a bad idea but just couldn't seem to fight it. They were so tentative with each other at first because they were each afraid of being hurt, but they ended up being super cute together, and it was easy for me to cheer them on to their HEA.

Overall, I enjoyed "Falling for You" and would recommend it for all fans of emotional contemporary romance. I 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 "Falling for You"

Callie
When I landed my dream job, I didn't realize I'd be working with the one guy I've always avoided.
 

Jonah.
 

Caught off guard with a career-ending injury; he is the life and soul of every party, a likable, sociable guy on all accounts. His future relies on the success of the sports complex I've been hired to manage.
 

But...he doubts my capabilities from the get-go.
 

I'm tired of being underestimated, of having my capabilities judged by just my pretty face. This is my opportunity to prove everyone wrong, including Jonah.
 

I just never expected to fall for him, or to learn that Jonah isn't the man he pretends to be.
 

Now I'm not sure if I can handle the truth.

Jonah
It only takes one injury to ruin your career and I'm not even sure I still have one. Investing in a sports complex made sense, until I realized that Callie was hired to manage it.
 

She's young, beautiful and has an alluring innocence I have to remind myself to ignore. As my teammate's personal assistant, Callie is off limits in more ways than one. She's straight out of college, has no experience and now my future lies in her hands.
 

The closer we work together, the more I become captivated by her. She's nothing like I expected her to be, but then we all hide behind masks.
 

Especially me.
 

If Callie learns the truth, both my future and my heart could be shattered.

 

Release Blitz + Review: "Not Playing Fair" by Terri Osburn

I'm delighted to take part in today's release blitz celebrating "Not Playing Fair" by Terri Osburn, book #2 of The NOT series. Characters from the previous book make brief appearances in this one, but it reads as a standalone.

Between trying to prevent funding cuts for critical programs at work, playing on a new softball team with the ex-boyfriend who'd dumped her a few months earlier, and dealing with unexpected family drama, librarian Megan Knox had more than enough on her plate. When she hit it off with handsome new teammate Ryan Stallings, however, she couldn't help wanting to see where things might go with him. The problem? When they first met, Megan told a little white lie about where she worked because she didn't want Ryan to think of her as a "boring" librarian, and as time went on, it became increasingly difficult for her to find a way to tell him the truth.

First, I have to say that I loved how authentically Pittsburgh this book was. I spent a lot of time in the Pittsburgh area when I was growing up because my grandparents lived there, so the author's mentions of Mount Washington, the Point, and Eat'n Park plus the occasional use of "yinz" (the Pittsburgh version of "y'all") were like a trip down memory lane for me. Beyond that, the twists and turns related to Megan's family situation were my favorite part of the book and definitely kept me turning the pages. To me, the romance felt like a bit of an afterthought in comparison with everything else Megan was dealing with, but I liked Megan and Ryan together, and despite the initial hiccups in their relationship, they seemed to be headed in the right direction based on the events of the epilogue.

Overall, "Not Playing Fair" was a fast-paced, engrossing read and I highly recommend it for chick lit, contemporary romance, and romantic comedy fans. I look forward to the next book in the series. Megan's sweet, supportive best friends were a lot of fun and will make great lead characters in future stories. 

 

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

 

 

About "Not Playing Fair"

The universe is not playing fair.

First, my new boss says changes are coming to our library that threaten the programs I run. Then a letter arrives from my mother—whom I haven’t seen in more than twenty years—saying who knows what because I’m refusing to open it. Last but not least, the man who dumped me eight months ago is telling people that I’m trying to get him back.

Universe, I assure you I am not.

The one bright spot in all of this is the new guy in my life. He’s sweet, adorable, and seems totally interested. There’s just one problem. I might have bent the truth a little when we first met, and now I need to confess before he finds out from someone else.

Maybe I can’t blame the universe for everything.

Not Playing Fair is about family, forgiveness, and the friends who stand by us through it all. Come along as librarian Megan Knox becomes the heroine of her own story, and finds love along the way. 

 

Blog Tour + Review: "Perfect Excuse" by A.D. Justice

I'm pleased to take part in the blog tour celebrating the release of "Perfect Excuse" by A.D. Justice, book #11 of the multi-author Mason Creek series of standalone small town romances.

 

Ryder King and his wife, Olivia Anderson-King, seemed like the perfect couple until a huge fight over starting a family drove a wedge between them. Having reached an impasse, they filed for divorce and began the difficult process of separating their lives. The biggest challenge was a custody arrangement for their pet parrot, Kiwi, but after months of increasingly bitter negotiations, they still hadn't managed to come to an arrangement. It soon became clear that there was a lot more to the conflict than concern for their beloved pet, and neither of them was quite ready to let go of their marriage.

 

It was immediately obvious that Ryder and Olivia were still in love with each other, and there was a lot more than a single issue or fight that led to the breakdown of their marriage. Both Olivia and Ryder were keeping secrets from each other and they had significant issues to work through in order to save the relationship. They may have been forced into marriage counseling by the judge overseeing their divorce, but I appreciated that they made good use of the sessions to improve their communication. They were in a much better place by the end of the book and I truly believed that their love would withstand whatever future challenges life threw at them.

Overall, I really enjoyed this sweet, heartwarming story and highly recommend it for all contemporary romance fans. The Mason Creek series has been such a pleasant surprise, introducing me to several new-to-me authors, including A.D. Justice. I look forward to checking out more of this author's work as well as additional books in the Mason Creek series soon.

 

*Review copy provided by the author/publisher via WordSmith Publicity. All opinions expressed are my own.

 

 

About "Perfect Excuse"

Who knew fighting for custody of an African grey parrot would be the perfect excuse to stay married?

Ryder King was always the one for me. He stole my heart in second grade, and I never imagined after seven blissful years of marriage, I’d give it back.

We made one tiny mistake by spending the night together during our separation period and the judge read all about it in the local gossip column. Okay, maybe it was two or three mistakes… but who’s counting?

Instead of granting our divorce, the judge mandated us to marriage counseling. The only way to get out of our marriage without waiting another six months was if our counselor agreed we’re all wrong for each other.

That’s when the fun really started…

A probing therapist, a gossiper who knows all, and a few of my unmentionables on prominent display revealed all our secrets. Seems Ryder and I were both guilty of hiding vital truths from each other.

And what happened behind closed doors…. well, let’s just say it’s the stuff headlines are made of. 

 

Release Blitz + Review: "Don't You Wanna Stay" by Kait Nolan

Today, I'm happy to join the release/review blitz celebrating "Don't You Wanna Stay" by Kait Nolan, book #3 of the Men of the Misfit Inn series. It works relatively well as a standalone, though there are a fair number of characters from previous books and series who make appearances in this one.

 

After an especially stressful day that included dealing with her most difficult celebrity client as well as a run-in with her awful ex-husband, music publicist Deanna James spent the evening drowning her sorrows with her best friend Bennet. She woke up the next day to find that she had drunkenly spent her entire savings to purchase a house in an online auction. Deanna had always dreamed of fixing up a historic home, but not quite like this! With no money left for the renovations needed to make the house habitable, Deanna was at her wit's end until a chance encounter with Wyatt Sullivan, house flipper and host of YouTube home improvement show DIWyatt, presented her with an opportunity: Wyatt's help with the renovations in exchange for Deanna's PR expertise in building his brand in order for him to convince a major TV network to pick up his show. The only catch? Both Wyatt and Deanna would need to move into the house during construction to save money, making it difficult to resist her attraction to the handsome handyman.

Deanna and Wyatt were both incredibly likeable, relatable characters, and I loved how they supported and encouraged each other, especially Wyatt with Deanna's passion for design. He recognized her innate talent and believed in her even when she didn't believe in herself. Their relationship was definitely a slow burn, and while they didn't seem to have much in common at first, they ended up being more alike than they realized. Aside from their shared passion for historic homes, Wyatt and Deanna both had difficult relationships with their parents. They had to work through those issues from the past before they were ready to build a future together.

Overall, I loved "Don't You Wanna Stay" and highly recommend it for all contemporary romance readers. I look forward to the next book in the series.

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

 

 

About "Don't You Wanna Stay"

The Money Pit meets Fixer Upper in the next installment of the Men of the Misfit Inn series.

After a lifetime spent trying to prove he's not a screw up, contractor Wyatt Sullivan is ready to take his YouTube channel, DIWyatt, to the big time. But he needs more than the one-man flips that built his reputation. He needs something truly big to impress network execs enough to give him his own home improvement show.

After a messy, ugly divorce, publicist Deanna James can't afford another mistake. So when she wakes up from a night of too much wine to find out she's bought a historic monstrosity of a house in an online auction, she panics. If she’s going to sell it and not lose her shirt to her ex-husband, she’s going to need some serious help. But how will she afford it?

Wyatt's just the guy to ride to her rescue. He'll take on the job if she'll let him film the process. Deanna sweetens the deal with the added bonus of using her PR skills to raise the profile of DIWyatt enough to impress the suits. There's just one problem: They both have to move in.

As they battle home improvement hell and rising attraction, can they keep from giving the viewers more of a show than they ever intended?

Release Blitz + Review: "Take Me in Bali" by K.D. Elizabeth

I'm thrilled to take part in the release blitz celebrating today's publication of "Take Me in Bali" by K.D. Elizabeth, book #1 of the Take Me Abroad series.

I absolutely loved this dreamy, steamy tropical adventure, which featured likeable, three-dimensional characters and a fast-paced, engaging plot. While searching for a shipwreck rumored to have $100 million in art and other riches aboard, main characters Schiller Tate and Pippa Turner were unexpectedly drawn into a network of criminal activity as well as a passionate enemies-to-lovers romance. Finding the missing yacht was personal for Schiller because it had belonged to his late godfather, Lawrence Galvan. The mystery involving Galvan's disappearance was incredibly well-developed and engrossing, and I couldn't wait to find out what would happen next. I read the entire book in a single afternoon; I simply couldn't put it down.

 

I highly recommend "Take Me in Bali" for all fans of contemporary romance, travel romance, and even light romantic suspense. I look forward to whatever K.D. Elizabeth writes next. 

 

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

About "Take Me in Bali"

She's a solo backpacker. I'm the heir to a shipping company.
The moment we meet, it's instant dislike.

After distancing myself from my inheritance, I've become a world-renowned scuba diver.
No matter the conditions, I'll get in the water.

When I'm hired to search for a shipwreck near Bali worth millions, I think it's going to be a simple trip.
Then she's hired as the steward.

Gorgeous. Blonde. Won't listen to a word I say.
Instead she goes over my head to the yacht's owner.
A man who may just be a criminal.

When an accident happens aboard, we're forced to work together.
A fiery attraction soon erupts.
One we try to deny both in and out of the water.

But this isn't a simple search for lost treasure.
I have a personal reason for finding the wreck.
One that may pit me against the man who hired me to find it.

And the closer we get to discovering the wreck, the sooner I'll have to choose.
Find the wreck that's my personal obsession.
Foil whatever plot this criminal is planning.
Or pursue the passion growing between me and the woman I can't resist?

 

Release Blitz + Review: "The Newspaper Nanny" by Maren Moore

I'm very excited to participate in today's release blitz celebrating "The Newspaper Nanny" by Maren Moore.

Single dad Liam Cartright has been raising his two daughters, 5 year old Ari and 3 year old Kennedy, on his own ever since their mother walked out when Kennedy was an infant, but now that he's landed his dream job as the head coach of the Chicago Avalanche hockey team, he knows he's going to need some help. Unfortunately, finding the perfect nanny turns out to be more of a challenge than anticipated, so Liam's best friend Reed persuades him to try placing a classified ad in the Sunday newspaper. That ad turns out to be the answer to Juliet Michaels's prayers. Ever since dropping out of college a semester shy of graduation to care for her elderly grandmother, Juliet has been stuck in a dead-end waitress job, struggling to make ends meet. She's desperate to find a better-paying job, and with a nearly-completed degree in early childhood education, working as a nanny seems like a perfect fit for her. When Liam sees her interact with his girls, he agrees and offers her the job. Too bad that means he'll have to ignore the spark he felt as soon as he first laid eyes on Juliet...

 

Liam was such a great dad, and I really felt for him because of everything he went through after his ex's abandonment. He doted on his little girls, focusing entirely on them and his job. It was quite a surprise for him to feel such a strong connection to Juliet, but as his employee, he knew that she was supposed to be off limits. Liam and Juliet faced more than their fair share of challenges, but I loved them as a couple, and it was very easy to cheer them on to their HEA. I also loved the adorable relationship Juliet developed with Ari and Kennedy. She was a complete natural with kids and will definitely be a fantastic teacher someday.

 

I found the book's secondary characters to be tremendously entertaining and hope several of them will come back for future stories. My favorite was Liam's best friend Reed, but I also loved Juliet's hilarious Nana and her two best friends, aka the Golden Girls. Finally, I was really curious about the person behind The Puck Bunny blog and why they seemed to have it out for Liam's friend Briggs and the rest of the Avalanche. Hopefully we'll find out the answer to that mystery in the next book.

Overall, I really enjoyed "The Newspaper Nanny" and recommend it for all contemporary romance and romantic comedy fans. I look forward to Maren Moore's next release. 

 

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

 

 

About "The Newspaper Nanny"

When I stumbled across my dream job in the classified section of my newspaper, I knew it had to be too good to be true.

Turns out it was.

Becoming the nanny for the grumpiest hockey coach in the NHL was more like a nightmare.

Liam Cartright was infuriating, stubborn, and impossible. Oh, and he happened to be my new boss.

I should have signed my resignation with a giant kiss my ass the moment he opened his mouth, but I couldn’t.

I fell for his little girls before I realized it was happening, and my resolve began to weaken.

Our roles were clearly drawn out.

He was the boss, and I was the nanny.

But then we crossed a line.

I wouldn’t lose my job over a chiseled jawline and a few stolen kisses.

I couldn’t. Not when so much was on the line.

But Liam was the one who made the rule book, and I had no choice but to play by his rules.

Blog Tour + Review: "A Delicious Dilemma" by Sera Taino

Today, I'm pleased to participate in the blog tour celebrating the release of Sera Taino's debut novel, "A Delicious Dilemma."

Since being publicly humiliated by her cheating ex-boyfriend, chef Val Navarro has focused on building her family's restaurant and the community organization she co-founded to protest the increasing gentrification of her neighborhood. A waterfront redevelopment project has caused a major increase in local rents, forcing out many of her longtime friends and neighbors, and Val fears that her family's building may be the next target. Her cousin Olivia thinks Val needs to take a break from her worries and get back out on the dating scene, so she convinces her to go out dancing with her one night. She's introduced to Philip Wagner through a mutual friend and they hit it off, spending most of the night talking. Even though Val isn't interested in a starting a relationship because of the trust issues caused by her ex-boyfriend's betrayal, she agrees to go on a date with Philip the following week. What she doesn't realize is that Philip's father is the property developer responsible for the redevelopment project in her neighborhood. When she finds out the truth, can Philip convince Val to trust him - and that it's worth taking a risk on love?

Philip and Val were super cute together, and I particularly enjoyed that they first connected over Star Wars. Despite their very different backgrounds and upbringings, they had a tremendous amount in common, and they just kept being drawn back together no matter how much they told themselves they should stay away. Val was incredibly passionate about her community, which really was an extension of her family. By contrast, Philip was an only child, and it seemed he often struggled for his father's love and approval. I think he was a genuinely good person and wanted to do the right thing, but he didn't have a reason to push back against his father until Val came along and made him realize that he needed to open his eyes to what was happening outside of his own little bubble.

 

Overall, "A Delicious Dilemma" was an excellent debut novel that I very much enjoyed. I recommend it for all contemporary romance fans and will definitely be keeping an eye out for Sera Taino's next book.

 

*Review copy provided by the author/publisher via Meet Cute Creative. All opinions expressed are my own.

 

 

About "A Delicious Dilemma"

Different worlds collide in Sera Taino's debut novel.

It's hard to remain enemies when you've broken bread together

Val Navarro’s first mistake: going out dancing after a bad breakup when the chef should be focused on her family business. Her second mistake? Thinking the handsome, sensitive stranger she meets could be more than a rebound – until she discovers he’s Philip Wagner of Wagner Developments. His father’s company could shut down her Puerto Rican restaurant and unravel her tight-knit neighborhood. When Philip takes over negotiations, Val wants to believe he has good intentions. But is following her heart a recipe for disaster?
 

From Harlequin Special Edition: Believe in love. Overcome obstacles. Find happiness. 

 

Release Blitz + Review: "Bargain with the Bachelor" by Tru Taylor

I'm delighted to take part in the release blitz celebrating "Bargain with the Bachelor" by Tru Taylor, book #2 of the Eastport Bay Billionaires series. Characters from the previous book make cameo appearances in this one, but it reads as a standalone.

"Bargain with the Bachelor" was a charming modern retelling of "Snow White" featuring incredibly likeable, well-developed lead characters and an engaging plot. There was a ton of chemistry between aspiring photographer Kristal Bianco and billionaire tech genius Hunter Bestia, but for various reasons, each was afraid to admit that they'd had a crush on the other since high school. Hunter never felt as if he was good enough for Kristal, but when she fell on hard times after the death of her father, it seemed as if he'd finally have an opportunity to prove his worth by offering Kristal a place to live. There was quite a bit of push-pull between them, with conflicts arising due to Kristal's determination to stand on her own two feet and Hunter's stubborn refusal to share his painful family history, but it was obvious how much they loved one another. I found it very easy to cheer them on to their HEA.

 

There were some very interesting personalities and backstories amongst the various secondary characters, particularly Hunter's friends and housemates (aka "the dwarves"). I hope several of them will return in future stories. I'm also excited for Kristal's best friend Cinda's story, which will be based on my absolute favorite fairy tale, "Cinderella." The teaser included at the end of this book was so good!

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

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

 

About "Bargain with the Bachelor"

You can’t completely comprehend the term “shaken” until you find yourself playing an accidental game of Seven Minutes in Heaven with your lifelong unrequited crush at a swanky society fundraiser.
—Hunter Bestia

Kristal:
So I’ve just been kicked out of my family home... by my wicked step-mother. I know, I know, sounds like something out of a fairy tale.

More like a horror movie.

But even I have no sympathy for the poor-little-rich-girl sob story, and I refuse to take charity, so I’ve traded my camera for a waitress’s order pad and put my dream of becoming a world-renowned photographer on hold.

The problem is I can’t keep couch-surfing at my best friend’s tiny house. I need a new place to live—the sooner and cheaper the better.

Hunter:
Thanks to a knack for coding and a whole lot of hard work, I’ve gotten almost everything I ever wanted growing up poor among the rich kids of Eastport Bay, Rhode Island.

Almost.

I’ve made my first billion, working with my six best friends is a blast, and women are throwing themselves at me everywhere I go.

Actually, that last thing wasn’t on my list.

There’s only one woman I’ve really ever wanted, and she’s still out of my league. All my money means nothing to her.

But then we end up accidentally spending seven minutes in heaven—in this case a dark room at a high society party—together, and I start to think she might not be so indifferent to me after all.

So I offer her a bargain she can’t afford to refuse. She’s desperate for a temporary place to live—my mansion has plenty of room.

And there’s no way I’m leaving Snow White out in the cold this winter.

Not when there’s even the smallest chance my lifelong unrequited crush might finally wake up and see I’m the prince she’s been waiting for. 

Bargain with the Bachelor is a full-length sexy small town rom com take on the Snow White fairy tale. It’s a standalone secret crush, friends-to-lovers, roommates, fake dating billionaire romance.

Release Blitz + Review: "The Truth About Secrets" by L.P. Dover

I'm thrilled to participate in today's release blitz promoting "The Truth About Secrets" by L.P. Dover (previously released as "Easy Revenge," a standalone set in Kristen Proby's Boudreaux Universe series from Lady Boss Press).

Twelve years after a tough breakup with her high school sweetheart, celebrity publicist Clara Berkeley heads home to Snowy Creek, Wyoming to be with her dad while he goes through cancer treatment. She hasn't visited Snowy Creek or seen her ex, Zac Ward, since the breakup, and she's hoping to avoid him now. Unfortunately for Clara, architect Zac is visiting Snowy Creek at the same time, and when he learns that she plans to take her father's place in their country club's annual charity auction, he jumps at the chance for a little revenge. After winning a week's worth of free labor from Clara, Zac comes up with the most disgusting, humiliating jobs he can think of for her to do, including painting his house and cleaning up after his horses. He expects her to refuse the tasks, but instead, Clara surprises him at every turn with her determination to meet his challenges. Over the course of the week, secrets from their shared past come to light, and they soon learn that the circumstances of their breakup may not have been what either of them believed. Will they be able to put the past behind them and start a new chapter together?

The intense chemistry between Zac and Clara was immediately apparent, as were their unresolved feelings over their breakup. I could tell that something wasn't right about their breakup right away, and I was pretty sure I knew exactly what (and who) came between them. That said, the way that it all unfolded was not exactly what I expected, and I appreciated that the culprit(s) showed genuine remorse for their actions in the end.

Overall, I enjoyed and would recommend this funny, sweet, and fast-paced story. "The Truth About Secrets" was the first book I've ever read by this author, but it certainly won't be the last. 

 

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

 

About "The Truth About Secrets"

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author L.P. Dover brings you a sexy, contemporary romance mixed with laugh-out-loud comedy about two past lovers who want nothing more than to seek revenge on the other. However, they end up getting way more than they bargained for.
 

Clara and Zac thought they were headed for their happily ever after, until a break-up slathered in betrayal left them both jaded and vindictive.

Twelve years have passed since they left Wyoming, and during that time Clara found her calling at a prestigious PR firm in California while Zac moved to New Orleans to join his Broussard cousins at River Enterprises. They thought they could forget each other and move on... until a local charity auction in their hometown of Snowy Creek sets Zac up for the ultimate revenge. If he wins, Clara will be at his mercy, forced to work for him for one full week. Tantalized by the sweet taste of revenge, he eagerly ups the ante to claim his prize.

But what starts out as a week of filthy manual labor and bitter rivalry leads to a shocking revelation. Someone has been plotting for over a decade to keep Clara and Zac apart. Can the pair band together to uncover who? Or will their rift from the past continue to ruin their chance at a blissful future? 

Release Blitz + Excerpt + Review: "Written for You" by Robin Bielman

Today, I'm excited to participate in the release blitz celebrating "Written for You" by Robin Bielman. 

Screenwriter Cameron "Cam" Radcliffe has been struggling with writer's block while attempting to plot the sequel to his latest project, a hugely successful action-adventure film. It doesn't help that there's another story idea nagging at him to be written instead, or that he's suddenly distracted by an intense attraction to his longtime best friend, Reese Resnick. All Cam wants is to hide out in his parents' guest house for a few weeks and write, but when he gets there, he finds Reese, who is also his mother's goddaughter, already in residence. Knowing that Cam is struggling to complete his script, though not exactly why, Reese decides that she's going to help him overcome his writer's block by helping him find the fun in writing again. Their romantic feelings for each other intensify as they spend more time working together, but both are afraid to do anything that would risk their friendship or the close bonds between their families. The chemistry between them is too strong to ignore, however.

Reese and Cam were both tremendously likeable, sympathetic characters. I loved their flirty, witty banter and the slow burn as they gradually transitioned from friends to lovers. I also enjoyed their silly competitions and the unique ways Reese tried to inspire Cam's writing, many of which had me laughing out loud. (My favorite was the toy cars!) Cam's brothers, Nash and Gael, were a ton of fun too; they frequently teased both Cam and Reese, but it was easy to see how much they all cared about each other.

Overall, I adored "Written for You" and highly recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedy. I hope there will be future books featuring some of the secondary characters, including Cam's brothers and Sheriff Colt.

 

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

 

 

About "Written for You"

Cam Radcliffe is on a deadline to write his next blockbuster action film, but all he can think about lately is writing romance. The inspiration? His best friend, Reese.

They’ve known each other for years, but suddenly working in the same office has given him a whole new appreciation of her. Reese is driving him wild in the best possible way, and Cam only hopes it isn’t obvious. If she knew, he’s certain their friendship would reach The End.

So, of course, Reese figures it out. But the awkward, negative response he expected is nothing like the reality—like they’re living their own romcom.

A romcom that’s giving him the worst case of writer’s block at the absolute worst time in his career. Especially when the secret Reese has been forced to keep comes out…and threatens to ruin everything. 

 

 

Read an Excerpt from "Written for You"

The pool came into view, along with the backside of a woman standing near the edge. She wore a slip of a dress over her toned body. Her auburn hair fell in loose waves to the middle of her back, and she appeared to be staring at the water with her arms wrapped around herself.

Beautiful.

Alluring.

His breath caught before he reminded himself Reese was one of his best friends and he’d never do anything to mess that up. His brothers would kick his ass right now if they knew the thoughts running through his head.

He didn’t exactly sneak up behind her—okay, he did—and so when she suddenly turned in surprise and grabbed the front of his T-shirt to keep from losing her balance, he should have been prepared to steady her. Instead, she shrieked in alarm, tugged hard enough on the thin cotton material of his shirt to rip it, and the two of them tumbled into the pool with a splash.

Not his finest moment. Not by a long shot. At least the water was warm.

They surfaced at the same time, his first thought to help her get a hand on the side of the pool since they’d fallen into the deep end. He also readied himself for her wrath, an apology all set on his tongue.

Instead, she gripped the edge of the tile with one hand, swept the hair off her face with the other, and cracked up.

She had a nice laugh.

The kind that had him forgetting apologies and enjoying the moment with her.

“Cam!” she finally said. “What the heck was that?”

For a moment, he was completely distracted by her full lips, almond shaped eyes, flawless skin.

“Surprise,” he offered, hoping he sounded contrite.

She gave him a playful splash. “Duh. And I guess I surprised you, too.”

“Yeah, thanks a lot for driving with me,” he teased. “I didn’t think you were coming up until Founder’s Day weekend.”

“Shay has me reading a gazillion scripts and at the last minute suggested I take time out of the office to do it so I’m not distracted.”

“A gazillion, huh?”

She rolled her eyes. “You know what I mean. A ton. So here I am! You know you’re happy to see me.”

He edged closer, an involuntary reaction he didn’t try to fight. “Here you are.” He had a feeling there was more to the story, but he didn’t press. He was tired. Hungry. And truth be told, more than happy to see her. 

 

***

Review: "The Introvert's Guide to Blind Dating" by Emma Hart

Congratulations to author Emma Hart on today's release of "The Introvert's Guide to Blind Dating," the third and final book of the Introvert's Guide series. It reads as a standalone, though it features appearances from a number of recurring characters from this series as well as the earlier Bookworm's Guide series, set in the same small Montana town.

Bakery owner Piper Carter is the last single member of her friend group, but she's too busy building her business to make time for dating. Besides, she's convinced that she's fine on her own. Ignoring her protests, her blissfully coupled-up friends decide to set her up on a blind date. The evening ends up being even more awkward than Piper anticipated when her date turns out to be Maverick Donovan, the popular romance author with whom she had a one-night stand a few weeks earlier. Maverick is happy to have another chance with Piper, but she's clear that she's not interested in dating him, so he comes up with another way to spend time with her. He's writing a book about a baker but doesn't know how to bake himself, so he asks her to teach him and also come up with a few new recipes for him to include in the book. Against her better judgement, Piper agrees, knowing that the publicity will help with her future plans to franchise the bakery.

Maverick and Piper were a lot of fun together, with great chemistry and plenty of flirty, witty banter. I liked that Piper recognized her growing feelings for Maverick relatively quickly and was willing to give dating a chance, though she did try to keep the relationship from her friends at first. I also enjoyed the play on traditional gender roles and stereotypes; not only was Maverick a romance writer (traditionally a genre written for women, by women), he was also the one who wanted a serious relationship. By contrast, Piper was mostly content with a series of one-night stands before they met. 

As is often the case with Emma Hart's books, I found the secondary characters to be a real highlight of the story. I absolutely love the friend group that has been featured in the White Peak, Montana books. They embody the concept of found family to me. They sometimes bicker and meddle in each other's lives, but they always do it out of love. It was also great to have White Peak's senior citizens back for one last outing, and they were as feisty as ever. I was highly entertained by their continued bickering over the ducks and chickens, as well as the art class gone wrong involving inappropriate paintings of fruit.

Overall, I loved "The Introvert's Guide to Blind Dating" and highly recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedy. Just like its predecessors in this series, it was a funny, sweet, fast-paced read featuring endearing characters and an engaging plot. If this really does turn out to be our last visit to the quirky little town of White Peak, it was certainly a good one, though I hope the author will find a way to revisit this town and its lovable characters in the future. At any rate, I look forward to whatever Emma Hart writes next.

 

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

 

 

About "The Introvert's Guide to Blind Dating"

Blind dating: the act in which you date a stranger and hope it’s not the kid you once babysat. And try not to freak out when it’s your one-night stand from two weeks ago.

As the last woman standing, I, Piper Carter, am officially a loner.
Apparently, that means it’s time for me to get out there and find myself a man. My protestations that I have no time for it falls on deaf ears and the next thing I know, I’m on a blind date with someone my best friends assure me will be perfect for me.
Maverick Donovan, the guy I, uh, know very, very well…
After one conversation that makes my disdain for this setup very clear, the superstar playboy author asks me for only one thing: my help with his research for his next novel.
Turns out, the heroine in his next hot romance is the owner of a bakery, but all his ill-fated efforts are baking is the batteries in his fire alarm.
I agree. I’ll create some recipes for his leading lady, and he’ll credit me and my store, giving me the recognition I need to help me on my way to franchising.
If only we didn’t have to spend almost every free waking moment together to make it happen.
I don’t want to give my heart to the guy with a trail of broken ones behind him, but there’s a fundamental problem with that plan.
I’m pretty sure I’m doing just that…