Blog Tour + Excerpt + Review: "Ignite" by Melanie Harlow

Today, I'm very excited to participate in the blog tour celebrating "Ignite" by Melanie Harlow, book #6 of the Cloverleigh Farms series. Characters from previous books make appearances in this one, but it reads as a standalone. Also, it's the first book to focus on second generation characters (children of the couples from earlier books in the series), so it's a great place for new readers to jump in.

Winnie MacAllister has always had a tendency to fall in love quickly, a problem because she's allowed her feelings to blind her to red flags in past relationships. She's taken a break from dating ever since her last relationship ended, and to hold herself accountable, she made a bet with her best friend Ellie that she can go six months without falling in love. Temptation comes in the form of her smoking hot new neighbor, divorced single dad and firefighter Dex Matthews. Neither of them is interested in a serious relationship, but the sparks fly between them immediately, and it's not long before they fall into a friends with benefits arrangement. Winnie tells herself that she can keep things with Dex casual, but her heart says otherwise, and she can't help falling in love with both him and his young daughters. Dex, however, is convinced that he's too old for Winnie, so when she's offered her dream job in another state, he encourages her to take it. Can Winnie persuade Dex to take a chance on love?

 

Winnie was very mature for her age; if it hadn't been mentioned so often that she was only 22, I would have guessed that she was at least five years older than that. She and Dex worked well together despite the 12-year age difference, and I empathized with both of them because of the hurts they were dealing with as a result of past relationships. I also loved the sweet relationship Winnie developed with Dex's daughters, Hallie and Luna, and the role the girls played in bringing them together. Hallie and Luna were so adorable and had such unique personalities. I couldn't help laughing at their tendency to overshare, which created a number of awkward moments for Dex. Even though parenting was sometimes frustrating for him (I'm sure all parents can sympathize!), I could tell how much Dex loved his daughters, and they adored him in return.

Overall, I loved this funny, sweet, and heartwarming story and highly 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 that Winnie's best friend Ellie and her childhood nemesis Gianni Lupo will be the next couple. There were some fantastic enemies-to-lovers vibes between them!) 

 

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

 

About "Ignite"

Ignite, an all-new smoking hot, single dad romantic comedy from USA Today and #1 Amazon bestselling author Melanie Harlow, is available now!

My new neighbor is a firefighter—and a scorching hot single dad—but I swear I didn’t set off that smoke alarm on purpose.

(And I was beyond mortified when he rushed in and saw me naked.)

Nothing happened, of course—because I, Winnie MacAllister, romance junkie and owner of a constantly broken heart, have sworn off men for one solid year.

Even protective men with chiseled jaws, bulging biceps, and deep brown eyes that make my breath come faster. Even former SEALs with broad chests and strong hands that make my skin sizzle. Even gorgeous, grumpy guys who have their hands full raising two adorable little girls and claim they don’t believe in love.

Until Dex kisses me one night, and I drop all my defenses.

(Also my underwear.)

He says he’s not gentle, and he’s right. He says I should take the dream job I’m offered in another state, and he’s right. He says he’s too old for me and could never be the man I deserve.

He’s wrong.

Dex and I might be twelve years apart, but the fire between us is the kind that will never burn out.

How can I convince him to give happily-ever-after with me a chance? 

 

 

Read an Excerpt from "Ignite"

She looked a little nervous, not that I blamed her, as she held out a small pink box of Band-Aids. “I had these lying around and thought Luna might want them for her knee. Band-Aids sometimes come off in the shower, so...”

I reached out and took them from her, noticing she was careful not to let our fingers touch this time. “Thanks.”

“That’s it—I just wanted to—um, okay, have a good night.” She turned to leave, and I probably should have let her.

“Wait a second.”

She faced me again, her expression still wary.

“I’m sorry about that.” I gestured over my shoulder with the pink box. “My ex-wife—the girls’ mom—knows how to get a rise out of me.”

“Oh, that’s okay. It’s none of my business, and I didn’t really hear anything.” It was obvious she’d heard everything.

I nodded slowly. “Well, thanks for the Band-Aids. Luna will appreciate it.”

Her smile was back, along with that stutter in my chest. “Good. Enjoy your night.”

“You too.”

She turned around and went down the steps, cutting across the lawn to her place with that same youthful bounce in her step. Glancing down at the box, I shook my head—of course she had a whole thing of pink princess Band-Aids. I shut the door and trudged up the stairs to get the kids cleaned up.

Hallie went first, after a brief attempt to get me to let her wear socks in the shower. As usual, I refused, explaining again that the entire house had been thoroughly cleaned before we moved in, and I’d been here yesterday to make sure of it.

While she was getting dressed, I made sure Luna washed her hair and used soap, then helped her get dried off. After hanging up their towels, I double-checked that they’d chosen appropriate clothing and was just about to get in my own shower when I heard a series of high-pitched beeps.

“What’s that?” Hallie said, scrunching up her face.

Instantly on high alert, I put my hand up. “Shh.” I heard it again, and recognized it as a smoke detector going off, but not in our house—we were hearing it through the walls. “Stay here.”

I raced out of their room and took the stairs down three at a time, jumping to the bottom with five to go. Barreling out my front door, I ran over to Winnie’s and knocked. The alarm was clearly coming from inside her unit, and when she didn’t answer the door, I made a split-second decision to bust in.

Fortunately, the door wasn’t locked.

I shouldered it open, relieved when I didn’t see or smell smoke right away. Winnie’s townhouse was laid out exactly like mine, and I immediately realized the detector going off was upstairs. Racing up the steps three at a time, I reached the master bedroom doorway just in time to see Winnie climbing onto a suitcase, one hand reaching toward the ceiling to disconnect the unit.

My jaw dropped.

She was totally naked and dripping wet.

One hand was clutching a small towel to her chest that didn’t fucking hide anything. Behind her, steam from her shower billowed from her bathroom, which must have been what set off the alarm—some detectors are that sensitive. Behind me, I heard clamoring on the stairs, and a second later both Hallie and Luna rushed into the bedroom.

Startled, Winnie looked over and saw us. Her eyes went wide as she screamed, lost her footing, and toppled backward off the suitcase. She landed hard on her ass, arms and legs flailing like a rag doll.

Averting my eyes, I strode over and disconnected the unit while she scrambled toward the bathroom on her hands and knees, presumably in search of a bigger towel.

But then she slammed the door . . . and didn’t come out.

The eighty-five decibel alarm had ceased, but the sirens in my head continued.

I looked at the girls. Luna had her hands over her mouth. Hallie’s eyes were wide, and she pointed to the bathroom door. “Winnie was naked,” she whispered. “We saw her bum.”

“Quiet,” I scolded angrily. “You two were supposed to stay at our house. You didn’t follow my orders.”

“But Daddy, we were scared,” Luna said. Her hair was still wet and tangled. “We came to find you.”

“We’ll talk about it later, but when I tell you to stay put, you stay put-especially in an emergency. Understand?”

They nodded.

“Now go back to our house, both of you.”

“But what about Winnie? Is she okay?”

I went over to the bathroom door and knocked, trying not to picture her naked. The shower wasn’t running anymore. “Winnie? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine!”

“Are you hurt?”

“I’m fine!” she repeated in the same false, bright tone. 

 

A tiny smile inched onto my lips. “Are you sure?” 

***

Blog Tour + Excerpt + Review: "Keep Me Warm at Christmas" by Brenda Novak

Thanks so much to Harlequin for inviting me to participate in their 2021 holiday romance blog tour. Today, I'm pleased to celebrate the release of "Keep Me Warm at Christmas" by Brenda Novak, book #9 of the Silver Springs series. Characters from earlier books make appearances in this one, but it reads as a standalone.

In need of an escape after a near-fatal car accident left her face severely scarred, likely ending her career just as it was taking off, actress Tia Beckett accepted an offer to house-sit in the town of Silver Springs, 90 minutes outside of Los Angeles. She was expecting to be completely alone for the holidays, so she was shocked to find artist Seth Turner on the doorstep of the estate's guesthouse only a few days later. He'd been sent by the property's owner, their mutual friend Maxi, to pick up a key to the main house, where he'd be staying for the next few months while teaching a class at a nearby school founded by his adoptive mother. Still mourning the death of his wife, Shiloh, three years earlier, Seth had no intention of falling in love again, but he couldn't help feeling protective of Tia when he realized that she had no one else to look out for her. Surprised to find themselves growing closer, Tia and Seth spent Christmas together with his family, but would they be able to let go of their pasts in order to build a future together?

 

Seth and Tia were incredibly likeable and relatable protagonists, and I found it very easy to root for them both individually and as a couple. They had each been through more than their fair share of heartache and pain, but they grew stronger through their love and support for each other. While the story was emotional at times, it was heartwarming to see how much they changed and ultimately found new ways to be happy.

Overall, I very much enjoyed "Keep Me Warm at Christmas" and recommend it for all fans of emotional contemporary romance. I look forward to picking up more of Ms. Novak's books in the future.

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

 

About "Keep Me Warm at Christmas"

Maybe this Christmas can thaw his frozen heart—and heal hers.

Hollywood starlet Tia Beckett knows one moment can change your life. Her career had been on the fast track before a near-fatal accident left her with a debilitating facial scar. Certain her A-lister dreams are over, she agrees to house-sit at her producer’s secluded estate in Silver Springs. It’s the escape from the limelight Tia’s been craving, until she discovers she’s not the only houseguest for the holidays. And her handsome new roomie is impossible to ignore.

Artist Seth Turner has good reason to keep his distance. Losing his wife after only a few years of marriage has left a deep scar, even if he is still happy to spend a semester teaching art classes at the New Horizons Boys Ranch for troubled teens. Despite nursing her own wounds, Tia finds her curiosity piqued by enigmatic Seth, whom she recognizes as something of a kindred soul. Maybe spending Christmas together could be another game changer for both of them—this time, for good.

Read an excerpt from "Keep Me Warm at Christmas." 

 

Blog Tour + Review: "Tis the Reason for the Season" by Laurelin Paige and Kayti McGee

I'm thrilled to participate in the blog tour celebrating the release of "Tis the Reason for the Season" by Laurelin Paige and Kayti McGee, a standalone prequel to the Dating Season series.

 

This funny, sweet novella was a perfect introduction to the series. Main character Chloe was just as amusing (and dramatic) as ever, and I loved the flashbacks from when she and her future friend/crush Austin were first getting to know each other back in college. The college flashbacks also included the early stages of Chloe's friendship with her hilarious best friend Charlotte, as well as a few fun Easter eggs for readers already familiar with the series. My favorite was the invention of the term "porching," Charlotte and Chloe's code for needing to go outside to have a private conversation.

 

The events of this story filled in a few gaps and answered some questions about the series that I didn't even realize I had. For example, I never realized that Chloe and Austin had been friends just as long as Chloe and Charlotte were. I originally thought they met when Austin and Charlotte became roommates, when in fact they had all gone to college together (along with Mr. Charlotte, aka James). Further, I appreciated the background on how Austin met his girlfriend, Lucy.

I highly recommend "Tis the Reason for the Season" for all fans of chick lit, contemporary romance, and romantic comedy. I hope Paige and McGee plan to collaborate again soon! Their stories always make me laugh.

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

 

 

About "Tis the Reason for the Season"

There’s only one thing I want to unwrap this year… my best friend’s roommate.

I’ve known Austin for years now, and crushed on him just as long.

He’s smart, funny, and hot enough to melt an ice cap.

I’d really like to stop fantasizing and finally visit his North Pole.

So tonight’s the night.

Charlotte and Austin are hosting the costumed Christmas party to end all costumed Christmas parties. Or perhaps the first to start the trend? Regardless, this is my chance to finally confess.

This year, I’m going to hang my stocking on Austin’s door… and hope it’s not just his heart I convince to grow three sizes bigger. 

 

Review: "Rebel without a Claus" by Emma Hart

Rebel Without A Claus by Emma Hart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When her father comes down with the flu, Quinn Langley is tasked with organizing the Santa's Grotto her family sponsors at the annual Snow Cove Christmas market. She knows it will be a challenge to find someone to fill in for her dad as Santa with only 24 hours left before the market opens, and she's about to give up when her former friend from high school, Nicholas White, knocks on the door. He's back in their hometown to help clean out his grandmother's house following her recent passing, but otherwise he has nothing to do, so he volunteers to be Quinn's Santa. She's reluctant to accept his help because things between them ended badly, but with no other choice, Quinn is forced to try and put the past behind her. That proves to be more difficult than expected when the chemistry between them burns as hot as ever, but she can't let herself get too attached. After all, Nicholas is only back in Vermont temporarily. What happens when the holidays are over and he has to return to his real life in Illinois?

This super cute, laugh-out-loud funny story was absolutely the perfect way to get myself into the Christmas spirit. Nicholas and Quinn made a terrific couple and I found it very easy to cheer them on to their HEA. Nicholas was such a tease, and I enjoyed the way he tricked grinchy Quinn into admitting that there were things she actually liked about Christmas. Even though I'm a Christmas lover, I couldn't help but find Quinn's snarky, sometimes inappropriate thoughts about the Christmas season to be absolutely hilarious. (I even agreed with some of them; if I never hear a certain Mariah Carey song again in my life, it will be too soon.)

The book's secondary characters were also a ton of fun, particularly Quinn's very pregnant sister Verity and their poker-playing, eggnog-spiking grandpa. Quinn's best friend Erin, whose family owned the local bakery/cafe, was also an interesting character. She was casually dating a guy named Oscar but it seemed like there might be more to the story of their relationship. I certainly wouldn't be disappointed to read more about them (or even just Erin) in a future book!

Overall, I adored "Rebel without a Claus" and highly recommend it for all holiday romance and romantic comedy fans. I look forward to Emma Hart's next release.

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

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Blog Tour + Review: "The 14 Days of Christmas" by Louise Bay

I'm delighted to take part in the blog tour celebrating the release of "The 14 Days of Christmas" by Louise Bay.

Sebastian Fox's plans to spend Christmas relaxing on a Caribbean beach are disrupted when his grandmother Ivy calls to ask for his help. The town of Snowsly is counting on her to help organize its annual Christmas market, but she's out of commission with a sprained ankle, so she'd like Sebastian to take her place. Even though Christmas brings back painful memories from his childhood, he can't ignore a plea from his beloved Granny, so Sebastian reluctantly delays his flight and heads to her small village in the Cotswolds. As soon as he arrives, he's swept into the preparations by Celia Sommers, his grandmother's deputy on the planning committee. Christmas lover Celia is determined to help Sebastian rediscover the magic of Christmas and make this holiday the best one ever for herself at the same time. Sebastian is equally determined to resist her efforts - as well as his growing attraction to Celia - but that may prove to be more of a challenge than he thinks.

I loved this story so much! I'm certain it will be one of my favorite holiday romances of the year, as well as one of my favorite Louise Bay books ever. There was a perfect balance of humor and heart. Celia and Sebastian were both struggling with painful memories associated with past holiday seasons, though they chose to deal with their hurts in different ways. Grumpy Sebastian tried to ignore the season altogether, while sunshine Celia threw herself into it and tried to soak up as much joy as she could. At first, they both seemed to be keeping their feelings bottled up, but I loved that they slowly opened up to each other as the story progressed. I also enjoyed the sweet matchmaking efforts of Sebastian's grandmother and her friends. Finally, the rival town's shenanigans were funny and came complete with a hilarious twist at the end I never saw coming.

I highly recommend "The 14 Days of Christmas" for all fans of contemporary/holiday romance and romantic comedy. I look forward to returning to the town of Snowsly next year for the sequel, featuring Sebastian and Celia's best friends Griffin and Lemon.

 

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

 

 

About "The 14 Days of Christmas"

I hate Christmas.

As CEO of my company, I’ve banned decorations from the office, festive music from the lobby and any kind of secret Santa gifts between employees are strictly forbidden.

I’m heading to the airport, away from the Christmas lights and the mulled wine, heading for sunshine and margaritas when I get a call from Granny. She’s sprained her ankle and needs my help filling in for her as head of the village Christmas Committee. Snowsly is the Christmas Capital of England and the last place I want to be in the lead up to Christmas.

But there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for Granny.

When I arrive in Snowsly, I’m introduced to Celia Sommers who is Christmas’ biggest fan and therefore my own personal nightmare before Christmas. Worse than that, I have to work with her to make Snowsly’s Christmas market a success.
 

Celia is determined to get me in the festive spirit. It’s not going to work.

It doesn’t matter if she’s smart and funny and easy to flirt with—if she doesn’t stop looking at me with her sparkling eyes and pouting her completely kissable lips, Celia is going straight to the top of my naughty list. 

 

Review: "A Royal Farce" by Laura Heffernan

A Royal Farce by Laura Heffernan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Boston-based investment banker (and secret prince) Pierre Leon's mother wants him back in his home country of Corchenne, so she's called in favors to ensure that his work visa won't be renewed when it expires at the end of the year. Hoping to stay in the U.S. permanently, Pierre proposes a marriage of convenience to friend and neighbor Lila Sinclair so that he can get his green card. Law school dropout Lila has been struggling ever since her brother talked her into buying an investment property together and then moved to Brazil with his pregnant girlfriend, leaving Lila with the entirety of the mortgage and a hefty bill for renovations. When Pierre offers to pay for the renovations in exchange for helping him, Lila can't afford to refuse - even though she's had a crush on him since the day they met and worries that she'll come out of the arrangement with a broken heart. Everything seems to be going smoothly as their wedding day approaches until Pierre's older brother surprises them with a visit and informs Lila of her fiance's royal status. Can Lila forgive Pierre for withholding the truth from her and convince his family that she's a suitable bride for a prince?

I made the mistake of starting this book late in the evening and enjoyed it so much that I stayed up way past my bedtime to finish it in one sitting. Pierre and Lila were a cute, fun couple, whether they were bantering while watching one of the horror movies they both loved or starting a food fight while learning to make sushi. Lila managed to get herself into so many awkward (but funny) situations, and I couldn't help laughing at her antics. I also empathized with her struggles to figure out a career path after dropping out of law school. As for Pierre, while I wish he hadn't been quite so secretive with Lila about his royal background, I understood his desire to build a life for himself outside the spotlight and away from his family's influence. No one should be forced to live in a fishbowl just because of an accident of birth.

I highly recommend "A Royal Farce" for all fans of sweet contemporary romance, royal romance, and romantic comedy and look forward to the next book in the series.

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

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Review: "Rockin' Her Curves" by Lola West

Rockin' Her Curves by Lola West
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Just as she's supposed to start a new job as up-and-coming musician Hunter Winston's assistant, Trish Chobert learns that her best friend has secretly created a profile for her on the Curve Connection dating app. She has every intention of deleting the account, but can't stop herself from casually scrolling through a few of the responses to her profile first. Surprisingly, she hits it off with one of her matches, a sweet, funny, somewhat goofy guy named Heath. What she doesn't realize is that Heath is actually Hunter's online alter ego. Hunter, however, recognizes Trish as soon as she walks through the door. Can he figure out a way to tell her the truth and convince her to give him a chance in real life?

This novella was sweet, steamy, and just plain fun. Sparks flew between Trish and Hunter from the moment they met, and I loved their flirty, witty banter. I also loved that Trish was so confident in herself and her abilities. Working as Hunter's assistant wasn't exactly her dream job, but she knew she could do it well and use it as a stepping stone to bigger and better things in music management. Hunter was fun-loving and sweet, and I appreciated that he didn't let his wealth and fame go to his head. They really seemed to bring out the best in each other, and it was easy for me to root for them as a couple.

I highly recommend "Rockin' Her Curves" for all fans of steamy contemporary romance.

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

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Release Blitz + Review: "A Very Grumpy Christmas" by Jerica MacMillan

I'm happy to take part in today's release blitz celebrating "A Very Grumpy Christmas" by Jerica MacMillan. 

Following the death of his parents six months earlier, high school PE teacher and football coach Shane Elliott was granted guardianship of his 6-year-old sister, Sophie. The transition hasn't been easy for either of them, but believing that a fresh start might help, Shane and Sophie moved into a new home next door to Sarah Daniels, manager of her family's Christmas Emporium. Friendly Sarah tried to welcome them to the neighborhood with a plate of cookies, but grumpy Shane rejected her overtures of friendship. A few months later, when Shane brings Sophie to visit Santa (aka Sarah's dad) at the town Christmas Fest sponsored by her family's store, Sarah can't help being moved by the little girl's heartbreaking request. She decides to do whatever it takes to make this Christmas special for Sophie, no matter what Sophie's grumpy older brother might have to say about it. 

Shane and Sophie's relationship definitely got off to a rocky start, and a lot of that was because Shane couldn't seem to make up his mind about what he wanted from her. Sarah was very patient with his need to put Sophie first as well as deal with his own feelings of grief and loss, but I was really proud of her for calling him out on his mixed signals. I was slightly less proud of her for settling for a friends with benefits arrangement when a relationship was obviously what she wanted, but given everything else that Shane was dealing with, I'm not sure their relationship could have developed any other way. I don't think Shane even would have considered the possibility that he could fit a romantic relationship into his life if Sarah hadn't been so persistent about inserting herself into his and Sophie's lives. 

My favorite part of this book was the way in which Sophie's reaction to the loss of her parents was depicted, which seemed very realistic to me. So often in books where an older sibling is left to raise a younger one, it seems like the younger sibling adjusts to everything perfectly right away. In this case, Sophie had tantrums, acted out at school, and needed to see a therapist for help with understanding and processing the tragedy. Despite all of that, she was a sweet kid, and I loved her relationship with Sarah, which blossomed in large part because she just wanted someone to braid her hair. 

Overall, I loved this funny, sweet, and heartwarming story and highly recommend it for all fans of holiday romance and romantic comedy. I hope the author will consider writing a sequel featuring Sarah's best friend Olivia and brother Ty! There seemed to be something between them at the end...

 

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

 

About "A Very Grumpy Christmas"

My neighbor is a Grinch.

Since I run the Christmas Emporium and sometimes moonlight as an elf, that's kind of a problem for me.

No surprise, though. When I brought over cookies to welcome him to the neighborhood this summer, he slammed the door in my face.

Until he brings his kid to visit Santa one of the days I'm working as an elf, and I realize there are key parts of their story I'm missing ...

• The little girl is his much younger sister, not his daughter.
• He's her guardian since their parents died in a tragic accident.

Now all of his handsome, broody glares make so much more sense. As one of Santa's elves, I make it my mission to make this Christmas as special for them as possible. Which somehow includes trespassing on his property to hang Christmas lights and braiding the little girl's hair regularly.

Despite his glares and grumpiness, I discover the soft underbelly of the beast. Will this Grinch's heart grow three sizes as well? And if it does, will it have room for me?

A Very Grumpy Christmas is a standalone, small town, neighbors to lovers romance featuring a grumpy single dad and the sunshiny neighbor who's determined to make his Christmas better. Full of heat and heart with an HEA guaranteed!