Blog Tour + Excerpt + Review: "The Rancher's Forgotten Rival" by Maisey Yates

Thanks so much to Harlequin for inviting me to participate in the Harlequin Series GLAMOROUS winter blog tour. Today, I'm featuring "The Rancher's Forgotten Rival" by Maisey Yates, book #1 of the Carsons of Lone Rock series. 

 

For three generations, the Carson and Sohappy families of Lone Rock, Oregon have been at odds because of a strip of land between their ranches, which was allegedly gambled and lost in a poker game. The feud is still very much alive between Juniper Sohappy and Chance Carson, who have been enemies since they were children. Despite their animosity, when EMT Juniper finds an injured Chance passed out in a field, she takes him to her nearby cabin and diagnoses him with a concussion. She's trying to figure out what to do with him when he wakes up and claims not to recognize her or even remember his own name. Because of the history between their families, Juniper is sure Chance is playing some kind of trick on her, but she decides to play along. She even tests him by pretending that he's a ranch hand who works for her, but he doesn't change his story. He really is suffering from amnesia, so she continues the ruse. Over the next few days, Juniper gets to know a different side of Chance than she's seen before, and it's difficult for her to resist his charm. When he regains his memory, can their new understanding help put the feud between their families to rest, or will Juniper's deception only make things worse?

The setup for this book really intrigued me because of the family feud angle, but unfortunately, I didn't enjoy it as much as I had hoped. I was kind of bored by the first half of the book because it didn't seem like much was happening, and the chemistry between Juniper and Chance was pretty lacking. I would have liked to see a confrontation between them before he lost his memory to get a sense of their usual dynamic, because while he had amnesia, they got along a little too well IMO. The second half of the book was better because Chance had regained his memory and the sparks between him and Juniper really started to fly.

 

What really bothered me about the book, however, was that it seemed as if Juniper's sister Shelby was slut-shaming her because she'd been with more than one man in her life. On multiple occasions, Shelby made snide comments about Juniper's experience compared to her own, because she had married her high school sweetheart. Just because that was Shelby's experience doesn't make her the morality police, and I really could have done without the commentary.

Overall, I had mixed feelings about "The Rancher's Forgotten Rival" and am undecided on continuing with the series. I do think it will appeal to at least some fans of cowboy romance, however. 

 

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

 

 

About "The Rancher's Forgotten Rival"

 

Will amnesia turn these enemies into lovers? Find out in the first Carsons of Lone Rock novel by New York Times bestselling author Maisey Yates.

Welcome to Lone Rock, Oregon’s Wild West.

Chance Carson is the one man in Lone Rock who gets Juniper Sohappy all riled up. His family is ranching royalty. He’s arrogant, insufferable and obnoxiously charming—she’ll keep her distance, thanks. But when Juniper finds him on her property, injured and without his memory, she saves his life…and sort of lets him believe he’s her ranch hand. Making the entitled rancher work a little is one thing…but actually liking the man is another. Falling for him? No way. And yet the passion between them is as undeniable as it is unexpected. Will it survive the truth?

 

 

Read an Excerpt from "The Rancher's Forgotten Rival"

“You know, I take people to the hospital every day,” she said. “They don’t just go there to die. They go there to be healed. I understand that there can be bad traumatic memories connected to that. But… But the hospital can be a good thing.”

“Logically I know that. But…”

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I’m sorry that the first memory you’re having is so sad.”

“I think it’s probably the strongest one I have. Because I think I felt that sadness inside of me before I ever saw her face. What a hell of a thing. That I almost died. Out there in the field. When…”

“When what?” she whispered.

“My parents have been through enough,” he said. “She must’ve been my sister.”

“Oh.” The word left her body in a gust.

He knew what it was like to lose someone. He was…human.

Just the same as she was.

Just the same as they all were.

The Carsons and Sohappys weren’t so different.

She was hoping he might see that during this time, but she hadn’t expected it would be her own lesson.

She…she had never heard anything about that and she didn’t know why he thought it. Or if it was true. And it still settled hard in her chest.

He was getting way too close to remembering things, and it was getting… Dicey. It was one thing to think that she wanted to endear herself to him this way, but him sharing something personal like this, something he never would’ve shared otherwise, it felt like a violation. And she had never thought that she would feel like she violated Chance Carson. But this was different. The situation with his sister.

No. He had a sister. And she was alive and well.

Callie Carson was much younger than him, and she had gone off and married a rodeo cowboy who lived in Gold Valley.

But the way he was talking about it, it sounded like he was younger.

She felt hungry for more, but at the same time she didn’t want to press him. For so many reasons, but maybe the biggest one was her heart felt so tender right now. For him.

That wasn’t supposed to happen.

“All right,” he said.

He stood up, and she stood at the same time, ready to take his bowl from him.

“I can take the dishes.”

“Oh no, that’s okay,” he said, and she put her hand on the bowl, and her fingertips brushed his, and their eyes locked.

And she felt a frisson of something magical go through her. Something hot and delicious and sticky like cayenne honey, flowing all the way through her veins.

And she could hardly breathe around it. She could hardly think. All she could do was stare. And feel the thundering rhythm of her heart, like a herd of wild mustangs, the kind that you could find out here in Eastern Oregon, and she was sure that he could hear it too. 

 

Release Blitz + Review: "Claimed" by Laura Pavlov

I'm happy to participate in the release blitz celebrating "Claimed" by Laura Pavlov, the fifth and final book of the Willow Springs series. Characters from previous stories make appearances in this one, but it reads as a complete standalone. 

 

Ivy Baron hasn't seen her ex-boyfriend, Ty Greene, since he ditched her shortly after their high school graduation. They had their entire future planned out, starting with attending college together, but after a scandal rocked his family, he broke up with Ivy and moved to Nashville with his mother and sister instead. Five years later, Ty has become a country music star and his sister, who moved back to their hometown of Willow Springs a few years ago, has hired Ivy to plan her upcoming wedding. It's nearly impossible for Ivy to avoid Ty when he shows up two weeks before the wedding, burned out after several years of intense touring. His therapist thinks he needs closure with Ivy to overcome the writer's block preventing him from coming up with songs for his new album, so Ty sets out to persuade her to spend time with him by any means necessary.

Ivy and Ty's second chance romance broke my heart and put it back together again all in the span of a few chapters. Their love for each other was never in doubt, but they had a lot of challenges to overcome before they could build a life together. Most importantly, Ty needed to come to terms with the scandal in his family's past and get closure with his father, whose behavior left scars that hadn't fully healed. Ty's career became an issue as well as he struggled to take back control from his manager, Zane, who was more interested in making money than protecting Ty's best interests.

Overall, I loved "Claimed" and highly recommend it for all fans of contemporary/small town romance. I'm sad to say goodbye to this series and its characters, but the second epilogue that provided a glimpse into their future was a delightful way to bring it to a close.

 

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

About "Claimed"

Nashville's hottest country music star. Wedding planner extraordinaire. High school sweethearts one day and complete strangers the next.

He's the only boy I've ever loved and the man I'm determined to forget.

Ty Greene promised me forever and like a fool—I believed him.
But he skipped town with a bag of broken promises and a piece of my heart.
It’s taken time, but I've put myself back together and moved on.
Now Ty’s a big country music star in Nashville and I curse his name every time his song plays on the radio.
I don’t have time to dwell on the past.
I’m too busy living my best life.
I have the job of my dreams, a dating app that never disappoints, and the best friends in the world.
Hashtag thriving.
Life is good.
But now Ty is back in Willow Springs after all these years...
Acting as if nothing has changed.
His superstar status might impress everyone in town, but I’ve put him in my rearview.
And that’s exactly where I intend to keep him. 

 

Review: "Summer's Dad Bod" by Lola West

Summer's Dad Bod: Dad Bod Series - Men Built for Comfort by Lola West
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Bella Warner visits her father, Andrew, at his home on Martha's Vineyard for two weeks every June, but their time together is usually strained and uncomfortable. Andrew has been a recluse since his wife and son died in a car accident a decade ago. Unable to cope with the grief and guilt, he sent Bella away to boarding school, where she met her best friend, Summer Munroe. Summer has watched Bella struggle through the visits with her father for years, and this time, she's determined not to let her friend go through it alone. She volunteers to accompany Bella to Martha's Vineyard, hoping that her presence will ease some of the awkwardness between father and daughter. Instead, there's a new complication when Summer and Andrew are powerfully attracted to each other at first sight.

I've been intrigued by the mysterious Andrew Warner ever since he was introduced as a side character in an earlier novella, and his story did not disappoint. He and Summer were absolute FIRE together; there was so much chemistry between them that it practically leaped off the page. I liked that Summer wasn't afraid to go after what she wanted, and what she wanted was Andrew. She wasn't looking for an emotional connection at first, but after everything Andrew had lost, he had no interest in wasting his time on something casual or meaningless. Summer had never really opened up with a man before, and the idea was frightening to her because of negative experiences in her past. They healed each other in a lot of ways, though the relationship wasn't without its share of angst because they each feared Bella's reaction to the idea of them being together. In the end, Bella handled it surprisingly well, and the three of them became a cute, if non-traditional, family.

I'm not usually a fan of the insta-love trope, but this story worked for me. "Summer's Dad Bod" was a super cute yet deliciously steamy story and I highly recommend it for all contemporary romance fans, especially those who enjoy the age gap trope.

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Review: "Work and Play" by Julia Jarrett

Work and Play by Julia Jarrett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Winemaker Finn McNeill and his partner, Pierre, have been preparing for the launch of their new winery near Dogwood Cove for months, but before they open, they'll need a fully functional tasting room so that guests can sample their wines. Finn's preference is to design the space himself to keep costs down, but instead, Pierre hires Vancouver-based interior designer Ashley Elliott, the daughter of an old friend. The past few months have been rough for Ashley; her best friend moved across the country, business has been slow, she caught her boyfriend cheating on her in their bed, and she had to move back in with her father until she can find a new apartment in her price range. In other words, she really needs this job, so even though she's not sure small town life will be a good fit for her, she temporarily relocates to Dogwood Cove. Sparks fly when Finn and Ashley don't see eye to eye on the project, and the tension only escalates when they accidentally become roommates after the roof of Finn's house collapses during a snowstorm. It's not long before their conflict gives way to passion, but what happens when it's time for Ashley to return to Vancouver?

I loved the push-pull and fiery chemistry between Finn and Ashley, who were fighting feelings for each other almost from the moment they met. Once they stopped fighting, they made a really cute couple. The only problem was that they weren't very good at communicating how they felt about each other, or admitting that they wanted a future together. That, of course, led to a big misunderstanding in the end, but fortunately they were able to work through it with the help of their friends. The friend group that Ashley found in Dogwood Cove was actually my favorite part of the story. As in the past, Mila was so warm and welcoming, and it was great to see the rest of the "girl squad" too. I hope Serena and Paige will get stories of their own in the future!

Overall, I really enjoyed "Work and Play" and would recommend it for all contemporary romance fans, especially those who enjoy small town romance, workplace romance, and/or the enemies-to-lovers trope. I 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: "Always and Forever" by Julia Jarrett

Always and Forever by Julia Jarrett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Yoga instructor Summer Harris was born in the small town of Dogwood Cove, but she and her mother moved away after her parents split up and she's spent the last twenty years believing that her father didn't want anything to do with her. He recently passed away and Summer is surprised to learn that he left her a beachfront resort in her hometown. She returns to Dogwood Cove to deal with her inheritance and learns that there may have been more to the story than her mother shared. She also reconnects with her childhood friend Mila Monroe, who gives her a place to stay and arranges for her older brother Ethan, a handyman as well as the mayor of Dogwood Cove, to help Summer with much-needed repairs at the resort. When they were kids, Ethan thought of Summer as another sister, but now that she's all grown up, his feelings for her are anything but brotherly. Summer is drawn to Ethan too, but worries that Mila will be upset if they start dating. Besides, without funds to reopen the resort, Summer may not be able to stay in Dogwood Cove.

Ethan and Summer had great chemistry and everything about their relationship felt natural from the outset. I will say that I thought the conflict between them was blown out of proportion, but I understood where each of them was coming from and never doubted that they'd find their way through it. My favorite part of the story, however, was Ethan's sister Mila. I'm reading this series out of order and already knew I liked Mila after reading book 2, but it was fun getting to know her again here. She was so sweet, effervescent, and welcoming of Summer, which was exactly what Summer needed after losing her dad. Summer didn't have many friends and her only remaining family was her mom, who wasn't a big part of her life. I adore stories that feature found families, and Summer was lucky to find a wonderful one in Dogwood Cove.

Overall, I very much enjoyed "Always and Forever" and recommend it for all contemporary romance fans, especially those who enjoy small town romance and/or the friends-to-lovers trope. I look forward to continuing with the series.

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Release Blitz + Review: "Blind Pass" by Teagan Hunter

I'm excited to take part in the release blitz celebrating "Blind Pass" by Teagan Hunter, book #2 of the Carolina Comets series. Characters from the previous book make appearances in this one, but it reads as a complete standalone. 

 

Professional hockey player Adrian "the Beast" Rhodes and makeup artist/beauty influencer Ryan Bell have never really gotten along, so it's quite a surprise when they wake up to find themselves married after an alcohol-fueled night in Las Vegas. To make matters worse, they drunkenly posted a video of the ceremony on social media and it went viral, so there's no chance of keeping the news a secret. Concerned about the potential impact on his reputation and career, Rhodes asks Ryan to stay married through the end of the next hockey season. She agrees in exchange for his help with her grandmother's assisted living care expenses, which she was struggling to pay even before a recent fee increase and losing her day job at a salon. Forced to move in with her new husband and fake a happy marriage, Ryan soon realizes that there's more to grumpy Rhodes than meets the eye. Can a relationship that started as a mistake turn into something real, or will they go their separate ways at the end of the year after all?

This book was so much fun! I always enjoy stories featuring a grumpy hero, and Rhodes was definitely that, though he had good reason for the way he felt. I loved the way he slowly opened up and revealed the sweet side of his personality to Ryan as they got to know each other better. I also loved their banter, especially the hilarious texts they exchanged. Even though they were pretty much complete opposites, Rhodes and Ryan were perfect for each other, and it was easy for me to cheer them on to their HEA.

The book's secondary characters were also incredibly entertaining and added a tremendous amount of depth and humor to the story. I particularly enjoyed Ryan's grandmother as well as Rhodes's teammates, whose teasing made me laugh out loud more than once. My favorite part was when they started teasing him with quotes from an old Savage Garden song. It dates me, but I remember how much I loved that song when it came out during my high school years, and that's probably why it was so funny to me now.

Overall, I absolutely loved "Blind Pass" and highly recommend it for all fans of contemporary/sports 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 via Valentine PR. All opinions expressed are my own.   

About "Blind Pass"

She's sunshine. He's grumpy.
She's beauty. And him? He's the Beast.

Blind Pass by Teagan Hunter is now live!

What happens in Vegas doesn't always stay there.

I would know. I'm coming home with a brand-new ring on my finger.

My wife? Ryan Bell.
We're polar opposites.
She's sunshine and happiness.
I'm grumpy and scarred--literally.

We could get it annulled and no one would be the wiser.
Only problem? We posted about it online, and it's already making headlines.

I can't afford to get that kind of attention and tank my career, and Ryan needs my help too.

We make a plan: stay married for one year, play our roles, and divorce amicably at the end. No harm, no foul.

Besides, there's no way the beauty is going to fall for the beast…

 

Blog Tour + Excerpt + Review: "Josh and Gemma Make a Baby" by Sarah Ready

Today, I'm delighted to join the blog tour celebrating the release of "Josh and Gemma Make a Baby" by Sarah Ready.

Tired of waiting around for Mr. Right, Gemma Jacobs decides to move forward with having a baby on her own. The idea of using an anonymous sperm donor isn't very appealing, however. When Gemma's asked for the name of her partner at the doctor's office, she blurts out that it's Josh Lewenthal, her brother's best friend and her former teenage crush. He's been on her mind ever since her mother mentioned him in a recent conversation, and the more she thinks about it, the more Gemma's convinced that he'd make an ideal donor. Now she just has to convince Josh to go along with her plan...and try not to get too attached to him in the process. 

 

Without a doubt, this story gave me all the feels, but I note that it may be tough to read for anyone who has faced their own struggles with infertility. The process itself is an emotional and physical roller coaster, and it definitely took a toll on Gemma and Josh's relationship. That said, they were very cute together and I was rooting for them the whole way. There were also plenty of funny moments to offset the emotional ones. I think my favorites involved Josh and Gemma's accidental war with the other couple at the fertility clinic. How the other couple didn't get dropped as patients was beyond me!

Overall, I loved this funny, sweet, heartwarming, and heartbreaking story and highly recommend it for all contemporary romance and romantic comedy fans. I look forward to Sarah Ready's next release.

 

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

 

About "Josh and Gemma Make a Baby"

New Year’s Resolution:
Have a baby
Preferably with Josh Lewenthal

Meet Gemma Jacobs. She’s driven, energetic, and a positive thinker. She has a great career working for famed self-help guru Ian Fortune, she lives in a cute studio apartment in Manhattan, and her family is supportive and loving (albeit a little kooky). Her life is perfect. Absolutely wonderful.

Except for one tiny little thing.

After a decade of disastrous relationships and an infertility diagnosis, Gemma doesn’t want a Mr. Right (or even a Mr. Right Now), she just wants a baby.

And all she needs is an egg, some sperm, and IVF.

So Gemma makes a New Year’s resolution: have a baby.

Josh Lewenthal is a laid back, relaxed, find-the-humor-in-life kind of guy. The polar opposite of Gemma. He’s also her brother’s best friend. For the past twenty years Josh has attended every Jacobs’ family birthday, holiday, and event – he’s always around.

Gemma knows him. He’s nice (enough), he’s funny (-ish), he’s healthy (she thinks) and he didn’t burn any ants with a magnifying glass as a kid. Which, in Gemma’s mind, makes him the perfect option for a sperm donor.

So Gemma wants to make a deal. An unemotional, business-like arrangement. No commitments, just a baby.

To Gemma’s surprise, Josh agrees.

They have nothing in common, except their agreement to make a baby and their desire to keep things businesslike.

But the thing about baby-making…it’s hard to keep it businesslike, it’s nearly impossible to keep it unemotional, and it’s definitely impossible to keep your heart out of the mix. Because when you’re making a baby together, things have a way of starting to feel like you’re making other things too – like a life, and a family, and love. And when the baby-making ends, you wish that everything else didn’t have to end too.

 

Read an Excerpt from "Josh and Gemma Make a Baby"

Josh is on my bed.

What the heck?

It’s like he has some sort of super-psychic power that lets him know when a woman needs him. I think about him stealing my undies all those years ago and I realize that yes, he probably does have a secret power. Some sort of man radar—mandar.

We haven’t really spoken in years, except for the casual greeting at the New Year’s party or a “hi, how are you” at a random friends and family get together. Yet here he is, right when I need him.

I step into my bedroom and shut the door. Josh is spread out on my pink lace coverlet, his arms behind his head, and his legs crossed—the picture of relaxation. He’s in his standard outfit, faded jeans and a tight T-shirt depicting some obscure graphic novel character. His black hair needs a trim and he has at least two days’ worth of dark stubble on his face.

Even though I’m indifferent to him as a person and I know for a fact he’s not my type, my lady parts still clench. He’s that good looking.

He smirks at me, like he knows the effect he’s having. Here’s the thing about Josh, he’s completely unable to take life seriously. It’s like the whole universe is a funny joke to him, and he’s just living his life so he can be amused.

When he graduated from high school he was voted the most likely to succeed. He was captain of the football team, the basketball team, homecoming king and the valedictorian. Everyone thought he was going places. Especially me.

After he graduated from college he took a job at a tech start-up, worked his way up the ranks to VP, and then according to my brother, he just woke up one day and decided to quit. He walked into the office, took a box out of the supply closet, packed up his desk, and walked out. Ever since then he’s been doing his web comic thing. But I guess if he’s living with his dad again, it’s not going all that well.

I look him over. The thing is, I’m not sussing him out as a prospective husband, I don’t care about his career goals, how big his paycheck is, or whether he lives in his dad’s basement. I don’t care about his potential or non-potential as a life mate. I’m thinking about his genetics. And his genetics are just fine.

I close the door with a sharp snick.

“What are you doing on my bed?” I ask.

His eyes, always full of sharp intelligence, take in my sauce-covered dress and the blush still lingering on my cheeks.

“What are you doing covered in barbecue?” A small smile flits over his lips and his forehead wrinkles as he takes in my appearance.

My outfit from earlier is folded in a neat pile and sitting on my dresser. Josh starts to stand up.

“Stay there. I need to talk to you.”

I decide that rather than risk him leaving while I change, I’ll talk to him covered in sauce.

“Alright.” He scoots over and pats my bed.

I give him a look and he shrugs. “Sorry. I was up all night finishing a storyboard. Whenever I stayed the night with Dylan, your mom would always give me your bed to sleep in. I didn’t think, it just seemed natural to…”

He trails off when he sees the expression on my face. I’m not sure how I feel about the fact that Josh has apparently been sleeping in my childhood bedroom for years.

I look at my dresser and realize that my teenage diary is in the top drawer hidden under my underwear. My skin prickles with, yup, that’s embarrassment. I look at the dresser then at Josh, but he doesn’t seem any different than usual. Maybe he’s not a snooper. Probably, yes, probably he never read it. Because if he had…errr…my teenage self was not shy about fantasizing about him.

I settle onto the mattress next to him.

He clears his throat and scoots over. “So what’s up?”

Oh God.

Am I really going to do this?

Can I do this?

It seemed perfectly reasonable and normal when I was planning it out after my doctor’s appointment. I looked more into donor sperm and weighed the benefits and detriments of donor versus Josh. Every way I looked at it, Josh came out on top.

He gives me a funny look. “Gemma? What’s up? You alright?”

“I need your sperm,” I blurt out.

Josh starts to choke, then he coughs. His face turns red and he hits his chest.

Oh no. I’ve killed him.

He coughs and his eyes water.

I slap his back and he shakes his head.

Maybe I shouldn’t have just blurted it out like that, but I was nervous and I didn’t think.

Finally, he takes a wheezing breath and says, “Come again?”

“I…I need your sperm?”

I smile at him. The look he gives me makes my hand fly to my mouth in an effort to contain the laugh bubbling up from my chest. Oh jeez, I’ve lost my brain. I should’ve written talking points or a speech or something.

“You want to have sex?” Josh asks. He looks really confused. “Gemma. You really have to work on your pick-up lines.”

I shake my head. But he’s already starting to lift his shirt up. I catch a glimpse of rock-hard abs. “If you want to, we can. But we’ll have to hurry. The New Year’s Resolution reading is soon. We have maybe ten minutes. Not that I can’t blow your mind in ten minutes.”

I scoot back and make a strangled sound.

He takes in my expression and starts to snicker.

“Kidding. Gemma, I’m kidding,” he says, and he drops his shirt.

I nod and blow out a long, mind-clearing breath. “Sorry, I didn’t say that right. What I meant to say was, ummm, we’ve known each other a long time.”

“Twenty-four years,” he agrees.

“Right. We grew up in the same town. Went to the same school. You’re my brother’s best friend. You come to our holiday parties, birthdays. You’re always around.”

I scrutinize his face to see if he gets where I’m going. Unfortunately, he just looks confused.

“I feel like I know you pretty well. I can say that you’re a decent guy.”

He frowns. “Thanks.”

“If I ask you something, do you promise not to tell Dylan, or anybody?”

Josh leans back and studies me. “Gem, I don’t think we should have sex.”

I close my eyes. “No. No, jeez. Obviously. Ugh, did it once, got the T-shirt.”

I open one eye and look at him, then I open the other.

He grins at me. “The T-shirt huh?” 

 

***

Release Blitz + Review: "Take a Chance with Me" by Kristen Proby

Congratulations to author Kristen Proby on today's release of "Take a Chance with Me," book #5 of the O'Callaghans series (a sub-series of the With Me in Seattle series). It's supposed to be a standalone (and technically it is, in that it focuses on a different couple than the ones featured in previous books of the series), but I honestly felt as if I had started in the middle of a duet while reading this book. There seemed to be a lot of background information missing, particularly in reference to the situation with main character Maggie's deceased husband. I've actually read all but one of the books in this series, so I'm not sure if the missing details were included in that story or if they weren't ever explained. At any rate, I wouldn't recommend this particular book as a starting point for readers new to the series. 

After her husband died, Maggie O'Callaghan learned that he had fathered a child with another woman while they were married. His entire estate went to his daughter, leaving Maggie with nothing. A month or so later, after years of suppressed mutual attraction, Maggie nearly hooked up with her older brother Kane's best friend, Cameron Cox. Unfortunately, Cam got a call from his mysterious employer and had to leave just as things were heating up, and Maggie has been angry with him ever since. Two years later, Cam is back to living on the island full-time and determined to patch things up with Maggie. Just when he convinces her to give him a chance, new information about Maggie's late husband comes to light, and Cam's highly classified job once again proves to be an obstacle because he's had to keep so many secrets from Maggie and her family. Can Cam convince Maggie that he's worthy of her trust so that they can finally build a future together? 

Cam and Maggie's eventual romance has been hinted at throughout the series, so I was looking forward to seeing how they finally ended up together. Unfortunately, their story was kind of a letdown for me. As much as I wanted to empathize with Maggie because of everything her late husband put her through, she did a lot of things that annoyed me. I couldn't help but wonder why Cam, who was by all accounts a pretty great guy, kept putting in the effort to win her over. First, she completely overreacted by holding a grudge for two years because Cam had to leave her to go to work. Would she have reacted the same way if he had been a doctor or firefighter called to an emergency? When confronted with the realities of Cam's job later in the story, she overreacted yet again, even though they had just had a conversation a few hours earlier in which she said she understood why he couldn't always tell her about his work. Her lack of faith in Cam was incredibly frustrating because he hadn't done anything to make her doubt him, and it wasn't fair that she continued to treat him as if he were the same as her late husband.

 

I have mixed feelings about this story. I enjoyed the last 25% of the book because it was basically an extended epilogue for the series as a whole, giving readers a chance to catch up with Maggie's siblings and providing closure on everything that was going on with her family. However, the central relationship between Cam and Maggie was a major disappointment, especially after it had been built up so much in previous books. Overall, I'd recommend "Take a Chance with Me" for readers who've been following the O'Callaghans from the beginning, but as previously stated, IMO it's not a good starting point for those who are new to the series.

 

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

 

 

About "Take a Chance with Me"

Take A Chance With Me by Kristen Proby is now live!

A friends to lovers, soulmates story from Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestselling author Kristen Proby, set in her beloved With Me In Seattle Series!

Cameron Cox has mastered the art of keeping secrets. His talent for computer hacking means he's been recruited for highly classified jobs since leaving the military. He travels the world, risking his life. But his biggest secret isn't from a government job or a foreign spy.
It's Maggie O'Callaghan.
He's loved her from afar, always standing by as the friend. He's been her rock through the hardest days of her life. But after his dangerous past comes crashing into his life and threatens the only woman he's ever loved, he has a choice to make.
Give up the secrets and win her heart.
Or watch Maggie walk away with his. 

 

Review: "The Buy-In" by Emma St. Clair

The Buy-In by Emma St. Clair
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Patrick Graham is worried that his father, Tank, may have gone off the deep end when he suddenly announces that he bought an entire town in Texas. He's even more worried when he realizes that it's the small town of Sheet Cake, home to Lindy Darcy, the only girl Pat's ever loved. Their relationship ended when Pat went into the pro football draft and Lindy headed to Europe to start her dream job as a travel writer - or so he thought. When he arrives in Sheet Cake, Pat learns that Lindy moved home instead after her drug-addicted younger sister abandoned her baby daughter. For the past five years, Lindy has been raising her niece, Jo, and caring for her mother, who has since been diagnosed with early onset dementia. As soon as he sees Lindy, Pat realizes that he's still in love with her and resolves to do whatever it takes to win her back. Lindy still has feelings for Pat too, but he broke her heart five years ago, and she refuses to give him the power to hurt her again. However, her sister has recently resurfaced and filed for custody of Jo, and Lindy will do anything in her power to keep her niece, even accept Pat's offer of a marriage of convenience. Can Pat tempt Lindy into giving their marriage a real chance?

I know that I'm really enjoying a book when I forget to take notes and just read, and that's exactly what happened with "The Buy-In." The story, its characters, and their world drew me in so completely that I lost track of what was going on around me. The town of Sheet Cake and its inhabitants were so vividly depicted that I felt as if I were watching the events of the story unfold in front of me. I loved Pat and Lindy together, and IMO their relationship was a fantastic demonstration of the fact that you don't always need open door love scenes to create smoking hot chemistry between main characters. Pat and Lindy had PLENTY of chemistry! (Don't get me wrong, I love smut as much as the next girl, but sometimes it's nice to have a change of pace. Besides, my imagination works just fine to fill in the blanks!)

I completely adored "The Buy-In" and highly recommend it for all fans of sweet contemporary romance and romantic comedy. It's one of my favorite books of 2022 so far! I can't wait to get my hands on the next book of the series.

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

View all my reviews

 

Release Blitz + Review: "Getting Real" by Emma Chase

I'm delighted to participate in the release blitz celebrating "Getting Real" by Emma Chase, book #3 of the Getting Some series. Characters from previous stories make appearances in this one, but it reads as a complete standalone. 

 

ER nurse Violet Robinson has had a crush on Dr. Connor Daniels since her first day at Lakeside Memorial Hospital but never believed he'd return her feelings. Connor is secretly attracted to Violet too, but as the single dad of three sons, his priority is parenting, not dating. Besides, Violet's a decade younger than him, and he knows that getting involved with someone at work wouldn't be a good idea. Their age difference is part of what makes Connor so attractive to Violet, however; she had to grow up quickly after becoming her younger siblings' guardian, and men her own age don't seem mature enough to her now. When they're maneuvered into attending their mutual friends' wedding together, Violet and Connor finally strike up a friendship, and it's not long before their friendly running dates turn into something more. Can Connor figure out the rules of dating after having been out of the game for so long or will he mess up their relationship before it even begins?

Connor and Violet's story gave me all the feels and I didn't want it to end! Emma Chase truly outdid herself with this book. Violet and Connor were incredibly likeable, relatable protagonists, and I found it easy to root for them both individually and as a couple. That said, the highlight of the story for me was Violet's sweet relationship with Connor's sons, especially the youngest, Spencer. I loved watching them all come together as a blended family.

 

I highly recommend "Getting Real" for all contemporary romance and romantic comedy fans. Hopefully we'll see more of these characters in the future! I'd love it if Connor's youngest brother Tim got a story of his own at some point.

 

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

 

About "Getting Real"

Getting Real by Emma Chase is now live!

A sexy, hilarious, emotional, new romance from New York Times bestselling author Emma Chase.

Connor Daniels never thought he’d be starting over at dating square one. His career as a successful doctor, and his three boys, are everything to him. It’s not exactly a setup conducive to a scorching love life—but he’s giving it a shot.

ER nurse Violet Robinson never intended for Connor to find out she’s had a crush on him forever. It was a dirty little secret only meant for her dirty dreams. Her heart trips every time he’s around—and so do her feet.

When Connor sees Violet coasting across the grocery store parking lot—and she falls on her face—he starts falling for the gorgeous, young nurse right back.

Dating can be tricky. And life can be beautiful and crazy and unpredictable. But when it gets real, you discover what matters most . . . and the one person you want loving you through it all.

 

Release Blitz + Review: "The Dating Dilemma" by Mariah Ankenman

I'm thrilled to take part in the release blitz celebrating "The Dating Dilemma" by Mariah Ankenman, book #2 of the Mile High Firefighters series. Characters from the previous book make appearances in this one, but it reads as a standalone. 

 

"The Dating Dilemma" was a funny, sweet fake relationship romance between firefighter Dyson O'Neil and Lexi Martin, the assistant director of the Denver Youth Center. Their incredibly awkward first meeting had me both laughing out loud and experiencing secondhand embarrassment on Lexi's behalf. Fortunately, Dyson wasn't offended when she mistook him for a strip-o-gram sent by her best friend as a birthday surprise. In fact, when he found several fire code violations while conducting the center's annual fire safety inspection, he offered to do the repairs himself as an excuse to spend more time with her. Shortly thereafter, when his friend suggested that Dyson find a fake girlfriend in order to get his younger sisters to stop trying to set him up on blind dates, Lexi was the first person who came to mind. She agreed to his plan, but it quickly became apparent that the only thing they were faking was not falling for each other.

 

In addition to Lexi and Dyson, the book featured a number of likeable, entertaining secondary characters who added a great deal of depth and humor to the story. My favorites were Dyson's fellow firefighters Ward and Diaz, whose antics were just as entertaining in this story as they were in the previous book of the series. I'm so happy that they'll be getting their own story later this year! I also enjoyed getting to know Dyson's sweet but meddling younger sisters, Gemma and Macy. I'd love to read future stories about them too. 

 

Overall, I really enjoyed "The Dating Dilemma" and recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedy. I will definitely be picking up the next book in the series.

 

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

 

 

About "The Dating Dilemma"

Lexi Martin is on the eve of her birthday and all she has to show for it is debt, a crappy apartment, a nonexistent social life, and a somewhat evil cat. So maybe she might be excused for thinking the extraordinarily hot fireman in her office might be an early birthday present from her roommate. Except that Dyson O’Neil isn’t a stripper. He’s a real firefighter. Aaaand excuse me while I burn in the fires of humiliation.

Dyson hasn’t believed in love for a long time. But between his reputation as “One Night O’Neil” and his matchmaking sisters, he needs make a bold move. And so he makes Lexi an offer. He’ll help her youth center pass a fire safety inspection—if she’ll pretend to be his girlfriend. But one kiss in and he’s in over his head.

Now their sizzling kisses are far from fake, and it’s a disaster. Because that means the heat between Lexi and Dyson is real. And where there’s smoke, someone’s heart will definitely be going down in flames… 

 

Blog Tour + Excerpt + Review: "The Shoe Diaries" by Darby Baham

Thanks so much to Harlequin for inviting me to participate in the Harlequin Series DREAMER winter blog tour. Today, I'm featuring "The Shoe Diaries" by debut author Darby Baham, book #1 of the Friendship Chronicles series.

 

After her best friend Christine suffers a health crisis, political writer and shoe lover Reagan "Rae" Doucet realizes that it's time for her to reevaluate her own life because she's spent too much time focused on the things she thinks she should do rather than the things that actually make her happy. She comes up with a "risk list" to help get herself out of her comfort zone and start living life on her own terms, promising herself a new pair of shoes for every item she checks off. Coming up with the list proves to be easier than actually completing it, but with the help of her friends, Rae explores new career opportunities and tentatively opens her heart to love again. When her college ex-boyfriend, Jake Saunders, comes back into her life shortly after yet another romantic disappointment, will Rae be able to embrace the spirit of the "risk list" and give him the second chance he's asking for, or will she give up on love for good?

To me, the strength of this book was its exploration of Rae's journey to find career fulfillment and her friendships with Christine, Robin, Jennifer, and Rebecca. It gave the book more of a chick lit or women's fiction feel, though there were certainly romantic elements to the story. I also really enjoyed the book's setting in Washington, DC, especially the way the author included real places as parts of the story. As someone who has lived and worked in DC for going on 20 years, it felt very authentic to me. In addition, I was intrigued by the insider's view of a "liberal media" that isn't always as forward-thinking or inclusive as many would like us to believe. 

 

I was less enthusiastic about Rae's romance with Jake, which felt like an afterthought for much of the story. Most of their interactions took place in flashbacks, and there weren't very many of those. Based on this limited information, it was tough to tell what was so good about their relationship or why Rae's friends kept trying to push her back towards Jake. Further, they didn't actually get their "second chance" until the very end of the book (95% on my Kindle). It's tough to get invested in a relationship that starts with only ten minutes left in the book. It would have been nice if there had at least been an epilogue.

Overall, I enjoyed "The Shoe Diaries" and recommend it for fans of books that feature strong female friendships. I will certainly be watching to see what the author writes next. 

 

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

 

About "The Shoe Diaries"

It’s never too late to put your best foot forward. From the outside, Reagan “Rae” Doucet has it all: a coveted career in Washington, DC, a tight circle of friends and a shoe closet to die for. When one of her crew falls ill, however, Rae is done playing it safe. The talented but unfulfilled writer makes a “risk list” to revamp her life. But forgiving her ex, Jake Saunders, might be one risk too many. 

Read an Excerpt from "The Shoe Diaries"

He was inches away from me when I fell into his arms and began crying. All the anger I’d felt toward him, the hurt he caused me, the stupid ways he’d played me…they all meant nothing in this moment. He was here when I needed him the most. And I could no longer hold my tears back as he stood without a word and let me soak his shirt with sobs for minutes, only occasionally rubbing my hair to bring me comfort.

“Maybe we should go for a walk,” he finally said.

“A walk sounds good.”

“Wait, what are you doing here?” I asked once I had a moment to calm down. We’d walked to Jake’s car to get some privacy while I tried drying up my tears, but the peace and quiet away from the hospital walls also brought me back to reality. It certainly didn’t help that Jake had the kind of car a man gets when he has no intention of having obligations any time soon: a two-seater, silver Jaguar F-TYPE. It was gorgeous on the outside, intimate inside and was also a stark reminder of the reason we broke up in the first place.

“Christine’s mom called me. I assume she was just going through the numbers she had of her friends, and I was still on the list.”

“Oh.”

I guess I’d forgotten that Mama Vasquez had Jake’s number from when we were in college. And that we hadn’t exactly updated her to let her know he shouldn’t still be on the call list of people to inform if something went wrong.

“And so you came all the way from New York?”

“Actually, no. I was in town already for work. It’s why I called you the other night as well. Was hoping we could talk after all these years. But then when Chrissy’s mom called, I just figured it was fate I was here, and so I should come.”

“You definitely came around that corner just as I needed you to,” I admitted with a sigh. “I’m sorry about that, by the way. I just… I couldn’t cry in there and then I saw you and—”

“Hey, you don’t have to apologize for that. I’m—I don’t want to say glad but—grateful I was there when you needed someone.”

“Thank you. I don’t want to make this about me, though. She’s the one in there fighting for her life. I was simply trying to encourage her to keep doing so because… I’m… I’m just not ready to lose my friend.” I held back more tears that were aching to flow down my cheeks.

“And it’s okay to feel that,” he said, lifting my head so we were eye to eye. “It’s okay to not be everyone’s strength all the time. That’s all I’m saying.”

“Yeah, I hear you.”

“I don’t think you do, but that’s okay, too. Just know you don’t have to be strong with me. I can take your tears and your questions.”

 

Release Blitz + Review: "Camp Nerd" by Bella Jewel

Today, I'm happy to take part in the release blitz celebrating "Camp Nerd" by Bella Jewel, book #1 of the Walker Hills series. Characters from the earlier Turf Wars series make cameo appearances here, but it reads as a standalone.

After placing second in a challenging orchestra competition, aspiring murder mystery writer Lei and her fellow musicians decide to use their winnings to book a month-long retreat at Walker Hills, a new guest ranch owned and run by Rhett Walker. Nerdy, awkward Lei manages to embarrass herself the moment she sets foot on the ranch, but ruggedly handsome Rhett seems determined to pursue her anyway. Everyone's having a good time until a dare gone bad results in the death of one of Lei's fellow musicians. The local police rule it an accident, but Lei's gut tells her there's more to the story. Could one of her friends - or her new love interest Rhett - actually be a murderer?

For the most part, I enjoyed Lei and Rhett's cute, fun, and steamy relationship, which was a take on the classic awkward/nerdy girl meets hot guy and doesn't believe he could possibly be interested in her. (Her inability to believe that his interest was serious was overemphasized IMO; she brought it up constantly through at least the first half of the book, and it got old fast.) Despite her professed shyness, Lei had no problem talking to Rhett from the start. I enjoyed how sassy she was with him and the way he bantered right back. However, I was hoping for more character development from each of them. For example, by the end of the story, I didn't even know what instrument Lei played in the orchestra, much less whether it was a professional group that paid her or if it was just something she did for fun. As for Rhett, it seemed like the subplot related to his "outside business interests" was completely dropped after Lei confronted him about what she saw the night her friend died. There was absolutely more to that story and I really wanted to know what was going on. Hopefully the author will pick it up again in the next book of the series.

Overall, "Camp Nerd" was an entertaining read, and I'd recommend it for all romantic comedy fans. I plan to continue with the series.

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

 

 

About "Camp Nerd"

Firstly, let me make this clear, I didn't come here for drama.
I came here to escape, to unwind, to relax in paradise.
This place is meant to be everything epic the world can offer.
A ranch, run by hot tattooed mountain men, that has been made into a retreat.
An escape from the world, from all the stresses of daily life.
Not only do you get to interact with said gorgeous men, but you get to be involved in the everyday running of the ranch, that is when you're not hiking, fishing, riding horses and relaxing.
We're the first group to camp hot stuff, and for what seems like the shortest time, it's bliss.
Hot, cowboy bliss.
Horses and mountains, rivers and campfires. It's exactly what I need.
Don't get me started on the man who seems scarily into me, even though I'm about as fun as a stone on the ground.
I'm also as ugly as one.
Okay, that's a bit over the top.
I'm not ugly. I am, however, nerdy.
Men like him don't look at girls like me...right?
I have curves and glasses and my hair isn't Sunkissed blond.
Still, everything is going beautifully...until a body shows up.
As if we're in some sort of bad romantic comedy.
One of my people...mine...is dead.
Murdered.
And now my little vacation has turned into a god damned murder mystery.
With hot men, a camp full of nerds and a whole lot of unanswered questions.
This should be fun.
A bloody good time, if you will...

 

Release Blitz + Review: "Enemies Abroad" by R.S. Grey

I am incredibly excited to participate in today's release blitz celebrating "Enemies Abroad" by R.S. Grey. From the very first page, I knew I was going to love this book, and I couldn't put it down until I reached the end. I'm pretty sure I say the same thing every time I finish one of Grey's books, but I think this one is my new favorite.

When Lindale Middle School's social studies teacher and her husband are forced to back out of chaperoning a group of eighth graders on a three-week trip to Rome, the school sends out a request for two teachers to take their place. At first no one is interested, but when the administration sweetens the deal by offering a $2,500 bonus, English teacher Audrey Cohen decides to volunteer. The only problem is that her nemesis, algebra teacher Noah Peterson, has also decided to volunteer. Neither of them is willing to back out, so only a few short weeks later, they find themselves on a plane to Italy with nine 13-year-olds in tow. It will be a miracle if they make it through the trip without killing each other...or maybe kissing each other instead?

The author posted on Instagram that she thinks this is her funniest book to date, and I have to agree. I loved Noah and Audrey's witty banter and the way they constantly taunted and teased each other. The slow burn between them was absolutely delicious and so well done; it almost seemed as if the tension between them could be cut with a knife at times. I couldn't wait for them to finally admit how they really felt about each other and act on their feelings! In addition, I loved how well the author set the scene in Rome. I felt like I was walking the streets right beside Audrey, Noah, and their students (and boy, did it make me hungry for a cannoli).

I'm not sure I have the words to express how much I loved this book. I can't recommend it highly enough, and even though it's only January, I'm sure that "Enemies Abroad" is going to be one of my favorite books of 2022. I can't wait to find out what R.S. Grey comes up with next.

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

 

About "Enemies Abroad"

It’s simple: Noah Peterson and I are enemies. Our fellow teachers know it, our friends know it—even the Starbucks drive-through lady knows it since every Monday she scrawls the name A. Hole for me on Noah’s cappuccino when I pick up the weekly group order.

The shrill whine of the school bell announces the start of each day’s no-holds-barred grudge match. Since neither of us is looking to get fired or thrown in prison, we war with our words and our wits. We prefer banter that bites. All day, I’m on edge, looking around every corner, expecting him to do his worst. Just when I think I can’t take the sight of his (regretfully) handsome face for one more minute, the school day is done.

Summer usually offers the sweetest relief—a two-month Noah detox—but not this year.

“We need two volunteers to chaperone a group of eighth graders in Rome” becomes a game of chicken neither one of us is willing to lose. We both want that bonus check.

“Back out,” I tell him.
“Scared?” he taunts.

No one thinks it’s a good idea for us to go to Rome together, least of all me. Taking this battle abroad will only lead to mayhem and misery.

DING. Ladies and gentlemen of flight UA447 with service to Rome, fasten your seatbelts.
We’re bound to have a bumpy ride.

 

Release Blitz + Review: "Baby, Please" by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff

I'm thrilled to take part in the release blitz promoting "Baby, Please" by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff, book #7 of the OHellNo series. Each book reads as a complete standalone.

College football player Dean Norland thought he'd lost his chance at going pro after a terrible game at the end of last season, but his coach is giving him one last shot at starting in his final year of eligibility. His backup plan is to double up on classes and finish a business degree, and he also has a paid internship with a local vineyard that could lead to a full-time job offer when he graduates. The problem is that there just aren't enough hours in the day to get everything done, a problem that only gets worse when a former one-night stand drops a baby off on Dean's doorstep and claims that she's his daughter. His roommates pressure him to turn the infant over to Child Services, but after growing up in the foster care system himself, Dean can't imagine sending an innocent baby there. He needs help if he's going to keep baby Fia, but with no family other than his younger brother Flip, who's currently in rehab, Dean doesn't know where to turn. When the local news finds out about his predicament, he's suddenly overwhelmed with donations and offers of help, but he quickly learns that not everyone has his (or Fia's) best interests at heart - even some of the people he thought were his friends.

I wouldn't exactly describe this book as a traditional romance; Dean's love interest wasn't even revealed until the book was more than half over! That said, the story was funny, fast-paced, and engaging (if a bit over the top at times), I liked and empathized with Dean, and I definitely wanted to keep reading. I loved how quickly Dean fell in love with baby Fia and how much he wanted to protect her. His fears about what would happen if he decided to keep her were completely understandable. He had a lot on his shoulders and the situation would have been overwhelming for anyone, much less a 22-year-old with no child care experience. He made the best of it, however, and I admired his tenacity and determination to do the right thing.

It's safe to say that this book was nothing like I expected, but I loved it anyway. I highly recommend "Baby, Please" for all romantic comedy fans and will definitely be checking out more of the author's work in the future.

 

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

 

About "Baby, Please"

From New York Times Bestseller Mimi Jean Pamfiloff comes a Surprise Baby Romantic Comedy, BABY, PLEASE. (Standalone story.)

SURPRISE! IT'S A GIRL!

DEAN

Ever since I was recruited by my college football team, I've pushed myself hard. Going pro and earning some real money is a must. Mostly because my brother, Flip, is in a bad place, and I'm all he's got.

No problem. I'm tough. I'm a hard worker. I've got a plan.

Then right before the season starts, a woman shows up at my apartment with a baby, claiming I'm the father. And then she leaves her with me. For a week? Forever?

I have no idea, but college, football, and the single-dad gig don't go together. And forget about my experience with babies. Does this thing come with an off switch? Volume control? Is that a poopie diaper? Help!

Things go from bad to worse when the public catches wind of my surprise-baby situation, and it turns into a PR nightmare. I'm suddenly the poster boy for young single dads.

This isn't happening.

Suddenly, all eyes are on me, both on and off the field, and the only person who can keep me from losing my mind confesses her love.

And I mess it all up. Her, football, baby, everything.

Now I'm going to have to choose: fix my career or fix my personal life, including coming to grips with loving a baby girl who might not be mine.

 

Review: "Cream and Punishment" by Susannah Nix

Cream and Punishment by Susannah Nix
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"Cream and Punishment" by Susannah Nix was an absolutely delightful second chance romance that featured endearing, relatable characters and a plot that had me laughing hysterically at the same time as it tugged on my heartstrings. After Lucy Dillard ended their brief relationship six months earlier, Tanner King found it difficult to be around her because she broke his heart. Unfortunately, avoiding Lucy becomes impossible after a humiliating demotion leads to Tanner starting a new job in the marketing department of his family's ice cream company. Lucy, the company's social media strategist, is assigned to train him for his new position, essentially becoming Tanner's new boss. As much as they try to remain professional, it's quickly apparent that they still have feelings for each other, but the obstacles that stood in the way of their relationship in the past still exist in the present. Can they figure out a way to overcome them this time around?

Lucy and Tanner each had a lot of baggage that wasn't immediately apparent, but they did a good job of working through it together, as well as learning from the mistakes they made when they were together the first time. As Tanner said in the epilogue, they were a team, and that's exactly how it was supposed to be. I adored them as a couple, but I have to admit that I was especially fond of Tanner. He had such a big heart, and the way he doted on his cat really got to me.

In summary, "Cream and Punishment" gave me all the feels, and I highly recommend it for all contemporary romance and romantic comedy fans. As much as I loved Wyatt and Andie's story in the first book of this series, I think this book was even better. I can't wait for Tanner's brother Ryan's story in book #3!

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

View all my reviews

 

Release Blitz + Review: "Impulsive Love" by Lea Coll

I'm pleased to participate in the release blitz celebrating "Impulsive Love" by Lea Coll, book #3 of the Mountain Haven series. Characters from the previous books of the series (as well as "Only with You," the first book of Coll's Annapolis Harbor series) play supporting roles in this one, but it reads as a standalone.

 

Piper Rigby has been working as a hair stylist in her hometown of Telluride, Colorado since she graduated from high school, but she recently took on a side hustle helping her older brother Henry with the lodge and adventure tour company he opened on their family's ranch. Their first official tour is a 3-day bike trip with members of Denver's professional baseball team, including rookie Colin Winters. Neither Piper nor Colin is looking for a serious relationship, but they can't help being drawn to each other. After spending the final night of the trip together, they go their separate ways but decide to keep in touch. Several weeks later, after finally deciding to pursue her dream of becoming a travel photographer and landing her dream assignment, Piper learns that her night with Colin had unexpected consequences. What will it mean for her relationship with Colin, and will she have to put her dream of a photography career on hold? 

Colin and Piper were both likeable, relatable characters, and I was impressed by how much character growth the author was able to pack into a relatively short book. When the story began, Piper was very much in the midst of a transformation and, even though she was technically an adult, I think she was still trying to figure out what she wanted to be when she grew up. She felt trapped in her hometown of Telluride and resented her parents for paying for her brother's college education while she was forced to go straight to work after earning her cosmetology license in high school. The conflict with her family was a big part of what was holding Piper back, and I was glad when she finally confronted her parents and Henry about the way they'd always treated her. As for Colin, he was in the midst of a transition too; he'd been called up from AAA at the end of the previous season and invited to spring training this season, but he still had a lot to prove if he wanted a permanent spot on the major league roster. I loved how supportive they were of each other even though they were physically apart for so much of the book. Their relationship may have started with an instant connection, but the time apart forced them to slow down and really get to know each other before taking things to the next level (and adding a baby to the mix!).

The one thing I didn't enjoy about this story was Piper's relationship with her brother, Henry. I didn't like how dismissive he was with her at times, and to be honest, it really changed the way I felt about him after liking him in the last book. I had hoped that after everything Piper did to help Henry win back his fiancee, Kelsey, he would have at least been a little kinder to his sister. Unfortunately, that didn't seem to be the case. 

Despite that frustration, I really did enjoy this book; in fact, I think it was my favorite one of the series. I recommend "Impulsive Love" for all contemporary romance fans and look forward to Coll's next release.  

 

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

About "Impulsive Love"

Will friendship strike out after one night of passion, or will mutual desire make it a home run?

Piper
I met the rookie baseball player with piercing blue eyes and a Southern drawl on my first day as a tour guide. Colin Winters was only supposed to be a one-night impulsive indulgence.

Instead, the easy connection between us became an addiction. Colin believed in me when no one else ever had. He encouraged me to take risks and chase my most ambitious dreams. Finally, I was taking charge of my life. Then, two blue lines change everything...

Colin
The adventure tour was supposed to be a team bonding experience. All it took was one look at Piper Rigby, the beautiful, blonde tour guide, and I was completely distracted. Her passion for life and photography was inspiring. Yet, sadly, no one had ever encouraged her to follow her dreams. I wanted to be the guy who did.

Being around her was intoxicating. She didn't care about my major league aspirations or the money that went along with it. In fact, Piper didn't want anything from me. Which is one of the many reasons I wanted to give her everything. We agreed to one night together, but it just wasn't enough. One way or another, I'm determined to make her see we belong together. Even if that means taking a timeout in the friend zone for a while...