Release Blitz + Review: "Never Fall for Your One That Got Away" by Kate O'Keeffe

I'm happy to join the release blitz celebrating "Never Fall for Your One That Got Away" by Kate O'Keeffe, book #4 of the It's Complicated series. Characters from the previous books make appearances in this one, but it reads as a complete standalone.

Tabitha Greene and Noah Grant dated for over a year as teenagers, but she ended the relationship before leaving for university because of pressure from her wealthy family and friends. It's been twelve years since their breakup, and Tabitha now runs an art gallery in London which is backed by her father. She's attending a wedding one evening when she unexpectedly runs into Noah and quickly realizes that she's never gotten over him. After hiding out in her flat for the weekend and hoping that the encounter was a fluke, Tabitha heads to work on Monday morning only to find that her assistant has booked her an appointment with an art consultant who turns out to be none other than Noah. His client is interested in a piece by an up-and-coming artist who will only work with Tabitha, necessitating a road trip to a town a short distance from where they grew up. Sparks fly between them once again as they work together, but the family pressures that caused them to break up when they were teenagers remain a challenge. Will Tabitha's family stand in the way of her happiness once again?

This was such a cute story! Tabitha and Noah's second chance romance was super sweet and I found it very easy to root for them to overcome all of the obstacles that stood in their way. In addition, I really enjoyed Tabitha's journey of self-discovery and growth over the course of the story. She had started to make positive changes in her life even before Noah came back into it, but his reappearance was an additional catalyst for her learning to stand on her own two feet. She was justifiably proud of what she had accomplished with the gallery and proved that she could make it on her own without her parents' financial support.
 

Overall, I loved "Never Fall for Your One That Got Away" and highly recommend it for all fans of sweet contemporary romance and romantic comedy. It was the first book I've read by this author, but it won't be the last.

 

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

 

About "Never Fall for Your One That Got Away"

If life gives you a second chance with the one that got away, should you take it?

Noah Grant was my first. He was the guy who went from childhood friend to teenage love. The guy I spent one heady, intoxicating summer with, only to have my heart snapped in two—not by him, but by me.

Fast forward twelve years and just when I think I’m finally over Noah, he’s back. Older, wiser, hotter.

Definitely hotter.

Work throws us together, and there’s no avoiding him, even if I wanted to. And I don’t want to avoid him, although I know I should.

But Noah’s hiding something. And if I let myself get close, could his secret break my heart all over again?

Never Fall for Your One that Got Away is a laugh-out-loud, swoon-worthy rom com with a second-chance-love, a totally swoony guy, and sweet romance. As with all the books in the It’s Complicated series, this is a closed-door romance with some incredible kissing and all the feels. It is a full-length novel and can be read as a standalone story. 

Release Blitz + Review: "Trial by Fire" by M.E. Carter

I'm delighted to participate in the release blitz celebrating "Trial by Fire" by M.E. Carter, book #2 of the Florida Glaze series. Characters from the previous book make appearances in this one, but it works well as a standalone. 

Nick Williams loves his job as a professional hockey player for the Florida Glaze but hates all of the media attention that goes with it. It's only gotten worse since he was named Tampa's most eligible bachelor a few months ago. As if that weren't bad enough, his team's management has started to enforce the provision in his contract that requires Nick to make himself available for interviews and public appearances, starting with the team's annual charity gala. His twin sister Delaney insists that he needs a date for the gala, so she sets him up with her new friend, hotel heiress Prestyn Caine. After Nick and Prestyn bond over their shared dislike of the spotlight and prior bad experiences with dates who were mostly interested in their money, she proposes a friends with benefits arrangement. It's not long before their intense chemistry gives way to real feelings, but neither is prepared for the consequences. Will Prestyn and Nick be able to walk away from each other without getting hurt, or will at least one heart get broken in the process?

The chemistry sizzled between Nick and Prestyn from the moment they met, but their emotional connection grew quickly too. They had a unique understanding that transcended a typical friends with benefits arrangement, and before either of them knew what had happened, they were falling in love. I adored their witty banter as well as the fact that they were such likeable, three-dimensional characters. As a poetry-loving introvert, Nick was nothing like a "typical" hockey player, and Prestyn wasn't a "typical" heiress, either. She worked hard and genuinely wanted to contribute to the family business, though her family and horrible boss (her older brother's best friend) didn't make that easy. For that reason, the resolution of her story arc was immensely satisfying to me even if it didn't happen in quite the way I predicted.

Overall, I very much enjoyed "Trial by Fire" and highly recommend it for all contemporary/sports romance fans. I look forward to the next book in the series.

 

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

 

 

About "Trial by Fire"

Chemistry this explosive can’t stay hidden for long…

Prestyn Caine doesn’t want to be known as a “hotel princess.” She wants to be recognized by the men in her family for who she is - a strong and confident business woman. Instead, she finds herself banging on the glass ceiling her great-grandfather put in place long ago. As if that wasn’t enough, her one foray into dating ended with her accidentally being the “other woman.” Needless to say, her faith in men is dwindling quickly.

Nick Williams hates wearing the title of Tampa’s Bachelor of the Year. He shies from any additional publicity of being a professional hockey player. Even dating without being hounded by the media doesn’t seem like a possibility. It doesn’t help to discover the untoward way his sister’s marriage fell apart. Any ability he had to trust others is quickly evaporating.

Still, despite the tumultuous way their paths cross, Prestyn and Nick have an undeniable attraction. With their busy careers and mutual disdain for the spotlight, a no-strings attached non-relationship is an ideal setup for both of them.

As long as they can keep their feelings in check, it doesn’t matter how much things heat up… right? 

 

Release Blitz + Review: "Without a Hitch" by Avery Maxwell

Congratulations to Avery Maxwell on the publication of her latest novel, "Without a Hitch."  

 

This is a tough review for me to write because I was looking forward to reading this book and really wanted to like it, but unfortunately, it ended up being a bad match for me. I think the biggest problem is that while it was promoted as a standalone, it was actually a spinoff of the author's earlier series involving the Westbrook family. I haven't yet read those books (or any of the author's previous works), which made it very difficult to keep track of the many secondary characters and their relationships. Readers already familiar with those books will probably have an easier time and even enjoy the various cameo appearances, but for me, it was a struggle.

 

I also had a tough time connecting with either of the book's main characters, Tilly Camden and Lochlan Bryer-Blaine. About a third of the way through the book, Lochlan's assistant described him as being a "cinnamon roll," but up to that point I hadn't seen any evidence of that for myself. I never did warm up to Lochlan, which was a shame because I usually love grumpy heroes. He consistently came across as a bitter jerk to me, and aside from their physical attraction, I couldn't figure out what Tilly saw in him. As for Tilly, I found myself growing annoyed with her as the story progressed too. Her obsession with getting married was very over the top, and the fact that she basically gave him an ultimatum after a two-night stand was ridiculous. Whatever happened to dating and getting to know each other before deciding whether or not to spend the rest of your life together?

There were a number of plot inconsistencies that bothered me as well. For example, if Lochlan's friends had evidence that his ex-wife Christine and former stepfather Paul were con artists, why did they wait until he was lying in a hospital bed at the end of the book to share this information with the FBI and have them arrested? Why not share this information sooner, so that Lochlan wouldn't have had to come up with his absurd revenge scheme?

Bottom line, while this book may not have been a good match for me, I think it's likely to appeal to fans of alpha heroes and steamy contemporary romance in the vein of Tessa Bailey. I'd give the author another chance in the future.

 

*Review copy provided by the author/publisher via Enticing Journey Book Promotions. All opinions expressed are my own.    

About "Without a Hitch"

“A wedding is the beginning of the end.” —Lochlan Blaine
Look, I’ve seen firsthand what marriage does to a man. I’m not interested. You want to take the leap? Fine. But have the decency to elope. Leave me out of it.

And then I see her. The happily-ever-after-loving bridesmaid at the wedding I couldn’t get out of.

This flower-wielding bombshell is all wrong for me. But one night together is enough to convince me that she could be the answer to my problem. All I need is three weeks with her…

“Weddings are magic.” —Tilly Camden
I love love. And weddings. That’s how I land the best job in the world: professional bridesmaid. Brides hire me to make sure their big day goes off without a hitch…usually while dressed in taffeta.

I can’t wait until I find the one. The cranky, three-piece-suit-wearing Adonis who smirks at the idea of happily ever after is definitely not him. Lochlan Blaine has “heartbreaker” written all over him.

I should know better. But when a panty-melting one-night stand turns into an offer I can’t refuse, what’s a bridesmaid to do? It’s only three weeks. It’s just business.

I can’t possibly get my heart broken. Can I? 

Review: "Summer Hate" by Melissa Ivers

Summer Hate by Melissa Ivers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Violet Camden is looking forward to a week-long vacation with her best friend, Natalie, at the lake resort Natalie's family owns in Virginia. Unfortunately, she arrives to learn that Natalie has not only canceled on her at the last minute, she hasn't bothered to make reservations for them in advance. With the resort completely booked, Violet is forced to ask her former crush and current mortal enemy, Natalie's brother Donovan "Fitz" Fitzroy, for help. He reluctantly invites Violet to spend the night with him in his cabin. Violet plans to leave the next morning until she learns that Fitz is planning the resort's annual end of summer party by himself in the events coordinator's absence. She impulsively offers to help him, mainly to prove that she's not the brainless socialite he seems to think she is. Fitz can't afford to turn down her help; if the party isn't a success, his mother will demote him and take back control of the resort for herself. Will he be able to resist the temptation of having his sister's beautiful best friend in such close proximity?

I really enjoyed this fun, steamy enemies-to-lovers romance. Violet and Fitz had fantastic chemistry and I loved their verbal sparring. They certainly knew how to keep each other on their toes! I was also intrigued by several of the secondary characters, particularly Natalie and her football player roommate Hudson. Hopefully we'll see more of them in the author's upcoming football series.

Overall, "Summer Hate" was the perfect read for a hot summer afternoon, and I'd recommend it for all fans of steamy contemporary romance. Be sure to have a fan and cold drink nearby as you're reading - you'll probably need them! ;-)

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

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Review: "Perfect Storm" by Elise Faber

Perfect Storm by Elise Faber
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Architect Caleb Jackson recently moved to the small town of Stoneybrooke to be closer to his parents and siblings. He's walking out of the hospital one day after visiting his sister-in-law and new niece when he runs into a little boy and his shockingly familiar mother: Caleb's ex-girlfriend, Kim. Quickly doing the math, it's pretty easy for Caleb to figure out that 3-year-old Cole is his son. Kim hasn't had an easy time since Caleb ghosted her shortly before she learned she was pregnant, and even though she would never stand in the way of him having a relationship with his son, her own heart is off-limits. Caleb has never stopped loving her, however, and he's determined to do whatever it takes to prove that he'll never leave her or Cole again.

This story gave me all the feels! Even though Kim was hurt by Caleb's actions, I could tell how much she still loved him and wanted to believe that he was committed to her and their son. I truly admired her bravery in allowing Caleb to build a relationship with Cole despite her fear that his wealthy family would try to take her son away from her. As for Caleb, I understood why he'd left Kim even if I didn't agree with his reasons. He did a good job of showing her that he was genuinely remorseful and that he would be there for them going forward.

I highly recommend "Perfect Storm" for all contemporary romance fans and look forward to the next book in the series, which will feature Kim's friend Raven and Caleb's brother Connor.

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

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Release Blitz + Review: "The Grumpy Billionaire" by Tru Taylor

I'm thrilled to take part in the release blitz celebrating "The Grumpy Billionaire" by Tru Taylor, book #7 of the Eastport Bay Billionaires series. It works well as a standalone.

 

Reid Mancini hasn't stopped thinking about his former high school sweetheart, Mara Neely, since the day she left town without explanation over a decade ago. Mara, now a TV reporter, recently moved back to Rhode Island for a job with one of the news stations in Providence. Her family is going through a tough time and she wants to be there to support her mother and younger twin brothers. Reid is now a billionaire tech mogul after creating the world's largest social media network, and when he learns that Mara's back in town, he's determined to finally get answers on why she ghosted him all those years ago. He decides to make her an offer she can't refuse; the notoriously media-shy Reid will give her station an exclusive interview, as long as Mara is the reporter assigned to the story. Forced to spend a week with her ex-boyfriend preparing for the interview, Mara quickly realizes that her old feelings are still very much alive, but she left Reid for a reason, and that hasn't changed. Can Reid break down Mara's walls and convince her to give their love a second chance?

 

Compared to the previous books in this series, "The Grumpy Billionaire" was rather angsty, but the level of emotion made sense to me given Mara and Reid's complicated history as well as the family issues Mara was facing in the present. The problem was that their history made them very uncomfortable around each other at first, and as a result, it seemed like it took longer than it should have for the chemistry between them to spark. I love a good slow burn, but that wasn't the vibe I got here; it was as if Reid genuinely disliked Mara, not as if he was attracted to her. When the chemistry finally did spark, things went fast (almost too fast IMO) and nearly all of the narration from that point on was from Mara's POV. It would have been helpful to get Reid's perspective on what was happening around that time, especially on why he decided that his grand gesture near the end was a good idea (when it so clearly was not).

 

Overall, while I liked Mara and Reid and would still recommend this story for fans of second chance and/or the enemies-to-lovers tropes, it unfortunately was not my favorite book of the series so far. I'll still be picking up the next one, however!

 

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

 

About "The Grumpy Billionaire"

When we last saw each other eleven years ago, I would have bet everything I owned, would’ve bet my mother’s life that Reid Mancini loved me. I knew that because I loved him, too. Madly, passionately, with every fiber of my seventeen-year-old being.

And that was why I made sure after our high school graduation night I would never see him again.

So much for that plan.

My new TV reporting job is both good and bad. Good because it’s a great step up career-wise. Bad because it’s a little too close to home… and to him, the only guy who’s ever tempted me to let go and love someone.

Now my first love is all grown up with a full-grown man’s size and power and an oversized cocky attitude to match. With the world’s largest social media network to his name, he’s got all the fame and fortune he ever wanted and then some.

Oh, and he hates me.

Not that I can blame him.

He has no idea why I abandoned him so suddenly… or how often I still think of him. He won’t find out either—not if I have anything to do with it.

Everything would’ve been fine if he’d just stuck to his famously aloof no-talking-to-the-media policy. But no, he’s decided to give his first ever television interview. And he says he’ll talk only to me.

If I could turn him down without losing my job, I’d do it in a heartbeat. That’s how desperately I don’t want to be in the same room with him, talking one-on-one, on camera for God’s sake. But in TV news, ratings rule—and hot, hard-to-get billionaires are ratings gold.

So I have to spend a week with him getting the story. It’s the only way to keep my job.

I just hope I can keep my secrets in the process.

It’s only a week. I can do this. Seven days. Two ex-lovers. One last chance.

Now we’ll see exactly how much of a difference a decade can make… and how impossible it may be to leave the past behind.

THE GRUMPY BILLIONAIRE is a hot small-town romance take on Sleeping Beauty. It’s a standalone enemies to lovers, second chance romance filled with heart, heat, and grumpy billionaire romcom fun!

 

Review: "The Wedding Cake" by Isabella May

The Wedding Cake by Isabella May
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I picked up "The Wedding Cake" by Isabella May mainly because of its setting in Marbella, Spain; I spent a semester studying abroad in the nearby city of Malaga and had the chance to visit Marbella several times while I was there. I'm so glad the setting caught my attention because I absolutely loved this book! I highly recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedy.

The story structure is rather unique for a romance in that there are three narrators rather than the standard one or two. At the beginning, the stories are told in parallel with just a few intersections, but as the story progresses, they are woven together thanks to the involvement of Freya Ashcroft and her wedding cake bakery ("cakery"), Freya's of Marbella. I really liked this method of storytelling as well as the three main characters/narrators, Freya, Alice (engaged to River), and Tim (engaged to Piper). A wedding is supposed to be a joyous occasion, but the planning leading up to it can be stressful, and that was depicted very well in this story. There was trouble in paradise for both couples, and I had to wonder if either of them would make it to the big day.

Light, fun, and as delicious as the confection it's named after, "The Wedding Cake" was a superb summertime read. It has inspired me to finally plan my long-awaited return trip to the Costa del Sol... right after I find myself a cupcake. ;-)

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

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Review: "Run for Your Honey" by Staci Hart

Congratulations to Staci Hart on the release of her latest novel, "Run for Your Honey," book #3 of the Blum's Bees series. Characters from the previous books make appearances in this one, but it reads as a complete standalone. 

High school sweethearts Poppy Blum and Duke Daniels were together for four years before Duke won a full scholarship to Harvard and left town. In the twelve years since, Duke has finished college, law school, and moved to Washington, DC, earning the backing of powerful Texas senator Charlie Williams along the way. The next step in his career is a return to the small town of Lindenbach, where he plans to run for mayor - in direct competition with his ex-girlfriend. He has political aspirations much bigger than a small town mayor's race and should be willing to do anything to win, but it's tough when that involves hurting the woman who used to mean everything to him. It only gets tougher after Poppy and Duke secretly rekindle their relationship. Can he win both the mayor's race and Poppy's heart, or will he be forced to leave her behind a second time?

 

Poppy and Duke's story gave me all the feels, both because of everything that happened between them and because it's the last book in this series. The push-pull and chemistry between them was phenomenal, as was their witty banter. It took me a little while to warm up to Duke, but once I understood his background and the baggage he was carrying, I really started to empathize with him. As for Poppy, I've loved getting to know her over the course of the series, and she was even more endearing as I got to know her better in this story. I particularly loved her tenacity; no matter what Duke and his campaign threw at her, she never backed down, and for that reason alone she would have had my vote!

 

I highly recommend "Run for Your Honey" for all contemporary romance and romantic comedy fans. Hopefully this isn't the last we'll see of Lindenbach! I'd love to read future stories about a number of secondary characters from this series, including the Blum sisters' friend Wyatt and Keaton's brothers from book 2.

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

 

About "Run for Your Honey"

Twelve years ago, my first and only love left town and never came back.

How dare he show up now, looking like that.

And? He’s running against me for mayor.

It’s unfair, him standing there, too tall and handsome for his own good. It’s audacious that his clothes accentuate every lean, strong curve of his body. It’s universal BS that his smile makes my heart flipflop, and it’s patently un-freaking-believable that my body would betray me when he turns that gorgeous smile on me.

I’ll do whatever it takes to win, and he knows it.

But when he kisses me, all bets are off.

If I win, he leaves.

If he wins, I lose.

And either way, he breaks my heart.

 

Release Blitz + Review: "Sin Bin" by Teagan Hunter

I'm pleased to join the release blitz celebrating "Sin Bin" by Teagan Hunter, book #4 of the Carolina Comets series. Characters from the previous books make appearances in this one, but it reads as a complete standalone. 

 

Social media manager Emilia Anderson's boss is leaving at the end of the current hockey season, and she's being considered to take over as head of the Carolina Comets' media relations department. To prove she can handle the position, Emilia must convince Comets player Owen Smith to agree to an in-depth profile. It's not easy, but Emilia manages to convince the ultra-private Smith to go along with the request. The only problem is that the Comets organization recently implemented a new policy prohibiting staff from dating the players because of an incident with one of Emilia's former co-workers, and Emilia already broke it when she had a secret fling with Smith shortly after she came to work for the team. They've mostly managed to avoid each other ever since, but working closely together on his player profile brings back all of their old feelings. To keep their jobs, they'll have to keep their relationship a secret, but that may prove to be easier said than done.

"Sin Bin" is probably the steamiest Teagan Hunter book I've read so far. Smith was quite the dirty talker! Hockey was the great love of his life, but at 38, he knew that he was quickly approaching the end of his playing career. Loneliness started to creep in around the edges as he contemplated what came next for him, and surprisingly, Emilia could sympathize. She was lonely too after focusing almost exclusively on her career since moving to town after a bad breakup, and I think that was a big part of what drew them together. Even knowing that the relationship was likely to blow up in their faces, I couldn't help rooting for them to end up together, so their happy ending was very satisfying.

Overall, I enjoyed "Sin Bin" and recommend it for all fans of contemporary/sports romance and romantic comedy. I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series, which will feature Smith's teammate Miller. He's been a favorite of mine since the beginning of the series, and I can't wait to find out what's in store for him.

 

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

 

 

About "Sin Bin"

I should stay away.

Emilia Anderson is the team's social media manager, and there are strict rules about not fraternizing with the staff. It doesn't matter that we already accidentally broke them—we can't let it happen again.

Besides, my time in the NHL is winding down, and this is my last shot at winning the Cup. I need to focus on the game, not some girl I have no business chasing.

She's ten years younger than me.

She's the assistant coach's niece.

And she works for the team.

She's off-limits...and too hard to resist.

I know better than to play this game...
But it looks like I'm heading to the sin bin. 

 

Release Blitz + Review: "You Kissed Me First" by Cala Riley

Today, I'm excited to take part in the release blitz celebrating "You Kissed Me First" by Cala Riley. 

 

To celebrate their upcoming wedding, Katie's sister Nessa and her fiance Grant have booked their entire wedding party aboard a two-week Caribbean cruise. That includes Grant's brother Barrett, who also happens to be Katie's cheating ex. Sharing a tiny cabin with the guy who just dumped her isn't an option, but Nessa won't let Katie back out of the trip either, insisting that she can find her another place to stay. Unfortunately, Katie's new roommate turns out to be the best man, Dominic, whom Katie has never liked. Even though they bicker whenever they're together, Dominic has secretly had a crush on Katie ever since they met and hopes to use their time together on the ship to show her a different side of himself. When Dominic overhears Barrett speaking poorly about Katie shortly after they board the cruise, he immediately comes to her defense and impulsively claims to be Katie's new boyfriend. Can he convince her not only to go along with his plan, but to give him a chance for real?

I really enjoyed this fun, flirty, perfectly steamy summertime vacation romp, which had me laughing out loud more than once. Dominic and Katie had great chemistry and I loved their witty banter. The one thing I would have liked to see is a bit more build up of the "enemies" part of their enemies-to-lovers romance. Why exactly didn't they get along before the cruise, and why was Katie so convinced that Dominic was a playboy? Was it only that Barrett told her negative things about Dominic because he was jealous of his friendship with Grant, or was there something more?

Speaking of Barrett, he was truly awful and there were so many times that I wished someone would push him overboard! However, his obnoxious moments almost always gave Dominic a chance to shine. I loved that he was always so quick to defend her, even though he knew that she could defend herself. I also loved that Dom was the one who fell first and that he was so sure about wanting a serious relationship with Katie. Finally, I loved the way Dominic and Katie took care of each other when they were sick and/or injured.
 

I recommend "You Kissed Me First" for all contemporary romance and romantic comedy fans. Hopefully Cala Riley will decide to write more rom-coms in the future!

 

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

 

 

About "You Kissed Me First"

Katie
A fourteen day Caribbean Cruise with my sister and her entire wedding party.
Sounds like Heaven, right?
Except Barrett, her fiancé's brother, also happens to be the jerk who cheated on me a month before the wedding, leaving me to scramble to find a new roommate.
As if the universe hates me, the only room available is with the groom's best friend, Dominic, who is a womanizing, arrogant player.
Could things get any worse?

Dominic
Spending two weeks on a ship with my best friend, celebrating his upcoming nuptials, should have been a vacation to die for.
Except, for the fact that he is on this vessel too.
Barrett, my best friend's little brother who has had a vendetta against me since we were kids.
When he spouts his mouth off about his gorgeous ex, Katie, I can't help but defend my new roomie.
The problem is now Kate isn't only my roomie, she's my fake girlfriend.
What else could go wrong?

You know what they say, be careful what you wish for. 

 

Review: "Big Puck Energy" by Elise Faber

Big Puck Energy by Elise Faber
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I picked up "Big Puck Energy" by Elise Faber expecting a pretty typical sports/hockey romance, but this story turned out to be anything but typical. I absolutely adored it!

I was captivated by Bailey and Axel's story from the moment they met, when Axel found himself naked, handcuffed, and staring down a shotgun on Bailey's front porch with no memory of how he'd gotten there. Bailey had been running her family's cattle ranch for nearly two years and struggling to get out of debt after her parents nearly ran it into the ground. Meanwhile, at 25, Axel was nearly too old to still have a shot at making it in the NHL, but he kept trying because he believed that hockey was the only thing he was good at. Unfortunately, he also had a talent for causing chaos and destruction in the small town of River's Bend. Town mayor (and Bailey's aunt) Billie Rose was determined to put a stop to his and his teammates' shenanigans by any means necessary.

While there were plenty of laugh-out-loud funny parts to this story, it was also surprisingly emotional at times. Axel and Bailey were both dealing with a lot of baggage from the past after being treated terribly by the people who should have loved them the most, but they slowly started to heal, in part because of their feelings for each other. I loved their chemistry and witty banter, as well as the hidden sweet side of Axel that began to emerge as the story progressed. He wanted nothing more than to protect and take care of Bailey, though it was difficult for her to accept his help.

The only thing I didn't like about this book was the cliffhanger ending, which I did not see coming. I can't wait for the next book in the series to find out what happens next! In the meantime, I highly recommend "Big Puck Energy" for all fans of contemporary/sports romance and romantic comedy.

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

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Review: "The Bluff" by Emma St. Clair

Congratulations to Emma St. Clair on the release of her latest novel, "The Bluff," book #2 of the Graham Brothers series. Characters from the previous book of the series make appearances in this one, but it reads as a standalone. 

After purchasing the small town of Sheet Cake, Texas, retired football player Tank Graham persuades his eldest son James to convert an old warehouse into a craft brewery and tasting room as part of the town's revitalization effort. It's a big job but James is reluctant to accept help, though he eventually agrees to hire his new sister-in-law Lindy's friend Winchester "Winnie" Boyd on a temporary basis. Given her talent for web design and previous experience as the mayor of Sheet Cake's secretary, Winnie should be the ideal person to help James launch his new business. Instead, she pushes every single one of his buttons and drives him absolutely crazy. Even so, James can't seem to stop thinking about kissing Winnie. Will he give into the temptation or succeed in pushing her away for good?

I'm a big fan of grumpy-sunshine romances, and "The Bluff" was a great one! Winnie and James were incredibly likeable, sympathetic protagonists who had a lot more in common than either of them realized at first, especially when it came to their fears about relationships and losing the people they loved. I adored their smoking chemistry and witty banter, as well as the way Winnie began to push James outside of his comfort zone from the moment they met. The book's secondary characters were also delightful, especially Lindy's 5-year-old niece Jo. She fits right in with the Graham family and I hope to see more of her in future stories.

I highly recommend "The Bluff" for all sweet contemporary romance and romantic comedy fans. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in the series, which will feature Winnie's brother Chevy and best friend Val.

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

 

 

About "The Bluff"

I won't be winning any employee of the year awards. But only because my boss is the grumpy boss to end all grumpy bosses. Did I mention he doesn't trust me to do my job?

Challenge accepted.

Not only am I going to help James launch a successful brewery, but I'm going to find out what makes him tick ... and what makes him go boom.

All this has nothing to do with the fact that the man is unbearably, unfairly, unignorably (is that a word?) attractive. Or that he lost his mom when he was young, same as me.

The more he pushes me away, the more I'm pulled into his orbit. It's a battle of stubborn wills, and I don't plan to concede anytime soon.

Except the more time I spend around James Graham, the more I start to lose the one thing I refuse to give to any man ... my heart.

The Bluff is an enemies to lovers, grumpy boss rom-com set in the fictional small town of Sheet Cake Texas. You'll find plenty of laughs and sizzling chemistry in this closed door romantic comedy. It's the second in a series, but can be read as a standalone. 

 

Review: "Tommy & Merry and the Twelve Days of Christmas" by Ellie Hall

Tommy & Merry and the Twelve Days of Christmas by Ellie Hall
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

As best friends in college, Merilee Ketchum and Tommy Costa promised to marry each other if they were both still single when they turned 30. Unfortunately, they grew apart after Merry walked in on Tommy making out with her roommate, and she dropped out of school shortly thereafter to care for her sick grandmother. More than a decade later, Tommy and Merry run into each other while attending a mutual friend's wedding and Tommy quickly realizes that his old college crush on Merry is still there. He reminds her of their pact, but Merry, still hurt over what happened with her college roommate, rebuffs him. They meet again by chance the next day when they each schedule a meeting with the owner of a vacant pizza shop in Merry's hometown of Hawk Ridge Hollow, Montana, where Tommy has recently relocated. Merry hopes to lease the space to open a pie shop, while Tommy is hoping to open a pizza shop with his family. The owner of the building decides that the two of them should go into business together and tells them that if they refuse, he'll lease the space to a national chain instead. They reluctantly agree to the plan, but things become even more complicated when Tommy's parents arrive and Merry impulsively volunteers to act as his fake fiancee. As they work together to get their newly combined business off the ground, can Tommy convince Merry to give their romantic relationship a chance, too?

Tommy and Merry were ridiculously cute together and I enjoyed their story tremendously. I particularly loved that he held onto his copy of the marriage pact for so many years! It was a great way to demonstrate that he'd never really stopped thinking about her in the time they were apart, and that he didn't take their unexpected second chance for granted. Their banter was a lot of fun, and I also appreciated the way that Merry came into her own by the end of the story. She was a lot better about standing up for herself (in her own sweet way, of course) and she'd also found a home for herself with Tommy's big, welcoming Italian family.

I would recommend this story for all fans of sweet contemporary romance and romantic comedy, and look forward to continuing the series.

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

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Release Blitz + Review: "Official" by Georgia Coffman

I'm happy to participate in the release blitz celebrating "Official" by Georgia Coffman, part of the multi-author ABCs of Love series of standalones.

 

After an unflattering video goes viral and makes her the laughingstock of the internet, fitness influencer Samantha Ray must come up with a new plan in order to save her business. Meanwhile, her brother Teddy's best friend, Xander Logan, has just been fired from his job as a writing assistant on a TV show. He has a new (and better) job lined up for the fall, but there's still an entire summer of unemployment ahead of him. When he learns of Samantha's misfortune while out for drinks with her and Teddy one night, Xander impulsively invites her to join him on a trip to Maui and offers to play her fake boyfriend to mitigate the fallout from her viral video. Their impromptu tropical getaway brings them closer than they've ever been before, and they quickly begin to develop feelings for each other that go beyond friendship. However, both are concerned about Samantha's brother's reaction if he finds out that they're no longer faking for the cameras. Is their relationship destined to be nothing more than a vacation fling or can they find a way to be together when they return home?

I very much enjoyed this fun and flirty summer escape read, which featured likeable, three-dimensional characters and an engaging plot. Samantha and Xander's time together in Hawaii allowed them to see each other in a whole new light, and their chemistry just kept getting stronger as they got to know each other better. I really admired Samantha's dedication to wellness/nutrition as well as the creativity and drive she demonstrated in building her business. I wish I had even a fraction of her willpower, but the truth is that I am far more likely to take a nap than go for a run!

I recommend "Official" for all contemporary romance and romantic comedy fans and look forward to Georgia Coffman's next release. 

 

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

 

 

About "Official"

Agreeing to a fake relationship with my brother's best friend was supposed to fix a stupid mistake and save my career. I was not supposed to fall for him in the process...

My relationship with Xander is nothing more than a way to ease some of the fallout we’re both experiencing in our careers.

The lie is intended to be as harmless as the spontaneous trip we’ve decided to take—an adventure of a lifetime to a tropical island.

It’s the perfect escape to nurse our wounded egos. How can we be stressed with nothing but sunshine and palm trees surrounding us?

At first, our conversations are innocent. Our touches casual. Our glances fleeting.

We aren’t supposed to grow closer.

Or kiss—we definitely aren’t supposed to kiss.

And before I realize it, what I thought would be a regular summer turns into so much more. Right up until our blissful bubble bursts from a dose of reality much stronger than our umbrella cocktails.

Which begs the question… are we a vacation fling, or can we finally make our relationship official? 

 

Release Blitz + Review: "Love Lessons" by Sarina Bowen

I'm thrilled to take part in the release blitz celebrating "Love Lessons" by Sarina Bowen, book #7 of the Brooklyn series. Characters from previous books in the series make appearances in this one, but it works well as a standalone. 

 

The past few months have been rough for professional hockey player Ian Crikey, and his team wants him to spend the off-season working on his image. Personal stylist Vera Vestini would be the perfect person to help him with that, but she's not exactly Ian's biggest fan. He recently bought the building next door to hers and noise from the renovations is interfering with her fledgling business. However, when their mutual friends Charli and Neil Drake invite them to spend two weeks vacationing together in Italy, Vera realizes that she and Ian might be able to help each other. In exchange for assisting him with his wardrobe and image problem, she asks him for lessons in seduction, hoping to prove to her ex-boyfriend that she's anything but boring. Ian agrees to Vera's plan even though the only man he wants her to seduce is him. As she gets to know Ian better, Vera is forced to admit that he's not as annoying as she first believed; in fact, she likes him more than she probably should. Can their relationship turn into something real when they return to New York or is it destined to be nothing more than a vacation fling?

Ian and Vera were incredibly likeable, relatable protagonists, and I adored their sizzling chemistry and witty banter. Ian came across as a bit of an arrogant flirt at first, but as the book progressed, I was pleasantly surprised to see his sweet, caring, and protective side emerge. He was so patient with Vera during their "lessons" and I appreciated that he never pushed her to go too far, too fast. I also loved that he was brave enough to ask for help when he realized that he was struggling to come to terms with the events of the previous hockey season.

Overall, "Love Lessons" was a charming story with the perfect amount of steam, and I highly recommend it for all fans of contemporary/sports romance and romantic comedy. I look forward to Sarina Bowen's next release.

 

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

 

 

About "Love Lessons"

He needs an image makeover, she needs a mojo upgrade. A new lessons-in-seduction hockey romance from Wall Street Journal bestselling author Sarina Bowen.

After I’m arrested for throwing a raucous party, my hockey team says I have an image problem. And I need to fix it, stat.

Charity work? Check. Haircut? Sure. But I draw the line at hiring my neighbor to style me. In the first place “style” shouldn’t be a verb. And I’m tired of people who’d judge me on appearances.

Vera and I don’t see eye to eye on anything. She wants me to try on clothes, while I just want to remove hers. She's distractingly pretty, with soulful eyes and a sinful mouth that likes to argue with me.

But when management threatens my summer vacation, I grudgingly agree to Vera’s unusual proposal: she’ll give me an image makeover. But in return, she wants lessons in the art of seduction.

It sounds a little nutty, but I know a good opening when I hear it. Besides, it’s not like I’ll ever fall for her… 

 

Review: "The Nanny and the Heartthrob" by Krista Sandor

The Nanny and the Heartthrob by Krista Sandor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I've loved all of the books in Krista Sandor's Nanny Love Match series, but "The Nanny and the Heartthrob" was the best one yet! Featuring endearing, relatable characters and a compelling plot, this story gave me all the feels and I had a tough time putting it down.

Main characters Harper Presley and Landon Paige had a ton of chemistry, and I adored their witty banter. Even though they tried to resist their feelings, they really were perfect for each other, and it was easy for me to root for them to overcome all of the challenges that stood in their way. I also loved the book's secondary characters, particularly Landon's niece Aria and her new friends Phoebe, Oscar, and Sebastian. Those kids might just take over the world someday, but in the meantime, their antics had me laughing hysterically.

I highly recommend "The Nanny and the Heartthrob" for all contemporary romance and romantic comedy fans. I look forward to whatever Krista Sandor writes next.

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

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Release Blitz + Review: "Along Came You" by Claudia Burgoa

I'm pleased to take part in the release blitz celebrating "Along Came You" by Claudia Burgoa, book #3 of the Paradise Bay Billionaire Brothers series. Characters from a number of Burgoa's previous books make appearances in this one, but it reads as a standalone.

Fern Spearman, director of her family's charitable foundation, hopes to build an affordable housing community outside of San Francisco but is having trouble lining up a contractor to help finalize the project's proposal and budget. After yet another meeting ends in frustration, Fern heads to a cafe for lunch and happens to meet Elliot McPhee, who volunteers to help her. What he fails to disclose is that he's actually the owner of the largest construction company on the West Coast, though he's no longer involved in the day-to-day operations. Instead, he's been doing volunteer work around the world in an effort to outrun the shadows of his past. Even though he never stays in one place for longer than a few months at a time, Elliot can't help being drawn to Fern and extending his stay so that he can be closer to her. Fern is equally drawn to Elliot but won't act on their attraction because he works for her. Besides, she's sworn off relationships after too many bad experiences in which men have either tried to take advantage of her because of her family's money or were intimidated by it. When the time finally comes for Elliot to move on to his next project, he and Fern agree to share a single night together, but it has unexpected consequences. Can Elliot convince Fern not only that he's ready to settle down and start a family, but that he feels more for her than just responsibility?

There were a lot of things I really enjoyed about this book, particularly the interactions between Fern and her siblings and the way they always had each other's backs. Burgoa is so good at creating large, lovable families and the Spearmans are among her best. However, the story itself felt rushed to me, especially near the end. There were a number of big time jumps (several months at a time) with just a paragraph or two to explain what had happened, and for me, that made it challenging to connect with the characters and the relationships they were building. Further, I wasn't a fan of Elliot's overly alpha behavior towards Fern near the end of the story. For example, he informed her that they'd be living together rather than asking her to move in with him. Up until that point, what I most liked about their relationship was that it felt like they were on an equal footing despite their age gap. It was tough to continue seeing them as equals when it seemed as if Elliot was dictating how their relationship was going to proceed and Fern just went along with whatever he wanted.
 

Even though this wasn't my favorite of Burgoa's books, I'd still recommend it and look forward to the next book in the series.

 

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

 

About "Along Came You"

 

From USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR Claudia Burgoa comes this billionaire workplace accidental pregnancy romance that’ll leave readers laughing and swooning!

What happens when you break the cardinal rule?

I’m good at following rules.

Like, don’t sleep with your hot employees. That’s a good rule.

At least I was until that night. I blame the champagne and the tuxedo he wore.

There are several reasons why I shouldn’t be attracted to Elliot McPhee.He’s emotionally unavailable.

1. He’s in his mid-forties—too old for me.
2. He’s my employee.
3. He’s jaded after a disastrous divorce.
4. He’s leaving soon.
5. But he has gray eyes, and a deep velvety voice…did I mention he looks like Joshua Jackson?

I can’t resist.

It’s just a one-night stand before he leaves.

Except, things get complicated.

We’re talking two bright pink lines complicated.

Did I mention he has no desire to commit?

So, we agree not to try.

Except, we can’t keep our hands off each other.

Then I find out he’s not who I thought.

He’s so wrong for me. So why do I still want to create a family with him?

Along Came You is a forbidden age gap romance involving a secret billionaire and an accidental baby. Get ready to laugh, swoon, and be seduced by sexy billionaires willing to please their women! 

 

Review: "The Curvy Girl and the Quarterback" by Emily Bright

The Curvy Girl and the Quarterback by Emily Bright
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Emily Benson and Tyler Hayes were next door neighbors and best friends in elementary school but drifted apart when his family moved across town. Tyler is now their high school's star quarterback and dating the most popular (but mean) girl in school, who delights in torturing Emily for no apparent reason other than her weight. After a run-in with Tyler's girlfriend Clarissa results in both Emily and Tyler being late for class one morning, they end up stuck in detention together, and Tyler takes the opportunity to ask his former bestie to tutor him in calculus. He's afraid that if he doesn't improve his grade, he'll get benched and lose his chance at a college scholarship. Flattered, Emily agrees to meet with him over the weekend but worries about Clarissa's reaction when she finds out that she and Tyler will be spending time together. Is Tyler and Clarissa's relationship really as solid as it seems, or could Tyler have another reason for asking Emily to "study" with him?

This story was quite short (I read the whole thing in about 45 minutes) and mostly narrated from Emily's POV, with only a couple of very brief chapters from Tyler's POV. (Oddly, Emily's narration was in first person, while Tyler's was in third person.) Likely because of the length, there was virtually no character or relationship development, though I'm not sure relationship development matters a whole lot when the story doesn't end in an HEA or even an HFN. IMO, this story is not a romance though it seems to be marketed as such. However, I did appreciate the overall message about knowing your own worth despite what anyone else thinks and the way that Emily stood up for herself with Tyler in the end.

Overall, I think this story would have worked better for me if it were longer and there had been more time for the relationship between Tyler and Emily to grow. As it was, I had no idea what she actually saw in him besides his looks. They didn't really know each other anymore, and I hated that he didn't stand up for her when his girlfriend was bullying her. It was really tough to interpret any of his behavior as true romantic interest in Emily; it felt more like he was using her.

While I can't recommend this story, I would give the author another chance in the future.

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Review: "Check Mate" by Leah Brunner

Congratulations to Leah Brunner on the release of her latest novel, "Check Mate," book #3 of the Under Kansas Skies series. Characters from the previous books make appearances in this one, but it reads as a standalone.

 

Financial advisor David Windell has always felt like the boring, predictable member of his family, so when his 30th birthday rolls around and one of his brothers dares him to do something unexpected before the year is out, he decides to shake things up. He's always dreamed of traveling but has never actually left the country, so when a travel brochure for Peru mysteriously shows up on his front doorstep, he takes it as a sign and books a hiking trip to Machu Picchu. Unbeknownst to him, his annoying next-door neighbor, Isabella Romero, is booked on the same trip. Her free spirit and disorganized nature have rubbed David the wrong way since the day she moved in, so sharing a tent with her is not exactly his ideal, but he can't stand the thought of her sharing with one of the obnoxious bachelor party bros accompanying them, either. The more time they spend together, the more David realizes that his first impressions of Isabella may have been incorrect, and surprisingly, they become friends by the end of the trip. Can their newfound friendship survive - and maybe even turn into something more - after they return home?

Without a doubt, this book is one of my favorites of the year so far! David and Isabella's story was just so much fun, and I empathized with both of them on so many levels. Like David, Isabella felt as if she didn't fit in with her family; they never really understood her love of travel or ambition to do more with her life than get married and work in the family restaurant. I loved the way that David supported her dreams and encouraged her to pursue them. In return, she brought out David's fun side and helped him find a better work-life balance. He needed someone to push him out of his comfort zone, and Isabella was certainly good at that! Their prank war was absolutely hysterical, though I have to admit I wouldn't want to be the victim of most of those pranks in real life.

I highly recommend this funny, sweet, and heartwarming story and can't wait for the next book in the series. 

 

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

 

 

About "Check Mate"

How did I find myself sharing a tent with my obnoxious—albeit gorgeous—neighbor, Isabella Romero?

It all started with a stupid bet.

All I had to do in order to win was something unpredictable. (Which my brother thought was impossible for the ever-boring David Windell).

Well, I showed him... by booking a trek in the Andes Mountains to see Machu Picchu.

When the brochure for the expedition mysteriously appeared on my front porch, along with Isabella's cat who doesn't have boundaries, it was like fate interceded: I could win the bet while simultaneously getting a vacation from my irritating neighbor.

Two birds, one stone.

Except, it turns out that was Isabella's brochure... and she booked the same trip.

So here I am, stuck sharing a tent with the woman who drives me crazy—and makes my heart race like never before.

Check Mate is book three in the Under Kansas Skies Series, but can be read as a standalone. Check mate is a dual POV, closed-door romcom. It contains mild language and innuendo.