Release Blitz + Review: "The Royal Nanny Undercover" by Tawdra Kandle

I'm pleased to take part in the release blitz celebrating "The Royal Nanny Undercover" by Tawdra Kandle, book #7 of the multi-author Practically Perfect Nannies series of standalones.

 

Former undercover operative Brynn Morgan left behind her life as a spy and now works a safe, if boring, job in human resources at the Practically Perfect Nannies agency. She's not looking to get dragged back into that life, but when a friend and former associate calls in a favor, she has no choice but to agree. In response to a recent series of threats, England's Duke and Duchess of Kendal are increasing security around their daughter, 3-year-old Lady Alice. Brynn's credentials as an employee of the nanny agency make her the perfect candidate to go in undercover as Alice's new nanny. Her assignment becomes more complicated with the arrival of the Duke's cousin, Milo Beaumont, Earl of Ross, who invites himself to stay with the Kendals for several weeks while his country estate is being renovated. Brynn is immediately suspicious of Milo due to the timing of his arrival, and his condescending manner also rubs her the wrong way. She can't help but find him attractive, however. Can Brynn trust Milo with the Kendals' safety...and her heart?

I really enjoyed this fast-paced enemies-to-lovers romance. Brynn and Milo had great chemistry and their banter was a lot of fun. I also liked the touch of suspense involved in figuring out the plot against the Duke and Duchess and trying to keep them and their daughter safe. The one thing I wish had been explored in greater detail was Brynn's past career as a spy. That aspect of her character was really interesting to me, and I would have liked to know more about it. For example, she mentioned that she and her friends had been recruited for a specific reason - what exactly was that?

 

I'd recommend "The Royal Nanny Undercover" for all fans of the enemies-to-lovers trope and/or royal romances. It was the first book I've read by this author, but I look forward to checking out more of her work in the future.

 

*Review copy provided by the author via Love2ReadRomance Indie Tool Box. All opinions expressed are my own.

 

 

 

About "The Royal Nanny Undercover"

When an old friend calls in a favor that sends me to the UK to pose as a nanny, I'm not thrilled. Kids and me? Not a great mix. But Prince Nicholas and his wife, Kyra, turn out to be the most relaxed royal parents ever, and their little girl is actually a sweetheart. Protecting their family turns into something I want to do. Maybe this undercover nanny job will be easier than I thought.

The only problem? The prince's cousin Milo, the Earl of Ross, is living here, too, and this guy is a huge complication. He's arrogant, elitist, and haughty. Oh, and he's also handsome, sexy, and super hot.

I don't want to feel this attraction to him, but it seems I can't help it. How can I do my job if I'm more worried about protecting my heart from falling for him?

Review: "Adventures in Inventory" by Melissa Brown

Adventures in Inventory by Melissa Brown
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"Adventures in Inventory" by Melissa Brown is a prequel novella to the Spotlight Video series. It's 1994 and the employees of Spotlight Video, most of whom are also students at nearby Lurie University for the Performing Arts, have gathered for the store's mandatory annual overnight inventory shift. It's tradition for each employee to choose a movie for a game they fondly call VHS Roulette, which inevitably leads to differences of opinion. The movie selections won't be the only drama this year, however. Will all of the employees still have jobs in the morning?

It's not necessary to read this novella in order to understand the series, but it is a fun, quick (and free!) read that I'd recommend picking up. It gives a good feel for the retro vibe of the series and the kind of sweet, quirky characters involved. If, like me, you grew up in the '90s and fondly remember trips to the local video store, you'll enjoy this series!

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Release Blitz + Review: "Pass Interference" by Emily Silver

I'm excited to take part in the release blitz celebrating "Pass Interference" by Emily Silver, book #2 of the Denver Mountain Lions series. Characters from the previous book play supporting roles in this one, but it reads as a complete standalone.

 

When a former fling smears him in the press, Colin James, wide receiver for the Denver Mountain Lions football team, ends up on thin ice with team management. He's in the last year of his contract but doesn't want to leave Denver, so his agent tasks his new intern, grad student Peyton Thompson, with keeping Colin in line and coming up with a plan to generate positive press for him. What his agent doesn't know is that Peyton and Colin have a previous acquaintance; they fell in love while attending college together at Tennessee, but went through a painful breakup when Colin decided to leave school early for the NFL draft. It's impossible to deny the attraction that still flares between them, but the no-fraternization policy his agent has put in place for his employees means that acting on their feelings would jeopardize Peyton's current internship and prospects for finding a job after graduation. Can they find a way to be together without risking her entire future?

Colin and Peyton were a great couple with tons of chemistry and witty banter. Colin definitely went off the rails after their breakup in college, but when he found Peyton again, he immediately put his playboy ways behind him and dedicated himself to winning her back. That said, I was a bit frustrated by the fact that it took them so long to talk about the reasons behind their breakup and figure out that it had been caused by a misunderstanding purposely caused by another person. I was also frustrated that they didn't confront that person as soon as they figured out what had happened, which allowed that person to create additional problems between them in the present.

Aside from those (relatively minor) frustrations, I enjoyed "Pass Interference" and recommend it for all contemporary/sports romance fans. I look forward to picking up future stories featuring Colin's teammates, especially Knox. (Hopefully Knox will visit his grandmother for more bingo and love advice in his book! She was so funny in this story.)

 

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

 

 

 

About "Pass Interference"

Enemy number one.
Renowned playboy.
The guy standing between me and my dream job.

Otherwise known as my ex.

Colin James walked out on me in college without a look back, breaking my heart.

So how do I manage to land my dream job with the one guy on the planet that I can’t stand?

We were hot and heavy in college. We were everything to each other. And now? Now we can’t stand to be in the same room together.

When I’m called to help rehab his image, I do it with a smile on my face because I need this job. It’s all I’ve ever wanted.

Now, every time we’re together, past hurts start to fade. It doesn’t matter that he’s supposed to be off-limits. The chemistry we had in college? Still as explosive as ever.

Can we move on together? Or will this be the end of everything we’ve both ever wanted? 

 

Review: "Complete" by Kortney Keisel

Complete by Kortney Keisel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Brooke Johnson and Ben Jackson had a series of meet-cutes over the years, starting shortly after she graduated from high school. For various reasons they never managed to go on a date, but when they met up again at a New Year's party during Brooke's senior year of college, it seemed like it might finally be their time. Recently single, Brooke wanted nothing more than to escape the party, but Ben convinced her to share a kiss with him before she went, reasoning that it would be bad luck to start the new year without one. It turned out to be a terrible kiss, but Ben enjoyed their conversation so much that he asked Brooke to be friends with him instead. Five years later, they've become best friends and Ben is practically part of the Johnson family. After he supported them through the loss of her mother two years earlier, Brooke's feelings for Ben began to change, and now she's sure she's in love with him. The problem is that she doesn't know how to tell him without messing up their friendship and losing him completely. When sports agent Ben starts dating his client's supermodel sister and decides to set Brooke up with his client, a superstar wide receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, will that put an end not only to Brooke's secret romantic hopes, but their friendship as well?

This was honestly one of the best friends-to-lovers stories I've ever read. I sometimes get annoyed when reading stories featuring this trope because the protagonists could solve most of their problems if they would just talk to each other. That wasn't the case here; not only did Brooke and Ben have a history that included a terrible kiss, but there were also external factors complicating their relationship. I loved the way their friendship grew and deepened over the years, as well as how cute and flirty they were with each other. There was so much pining and jealousy hidden beneath the surface, but the author handled it incredibly well. My heart broke a little bit for Brooke every time Ben told her just how "okay" he was with her dating his client, Trey. He was obviously not okay with it, as evidenced by his awkwardness (and series of hilarious mishaps) whenever he was around Brooke and Trey. It just took him a while to recognize his feelings for what they were.

Overall, I adored this book and highly recommend it for all fans of sweet contemporary romance and romantic comedy. While I'm sad that this series has come to an end, I'm very much looking forward to whatever the author writes next.

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

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Release Blitz + Review: "Make You Mine" by Laura Pavlov

I'm thrilled to take part in the release blitz celebrating "Make You Mine" by Laura Pavlov, book #3 of the Honey Mountain series. Characters from the previous books play supporting roles in this one, but it reads as a standalone.

 

Ashlan Thomas recently graduated from college and moved back to her hometown of Honey Mountain. She dreams of becoming a published author but needs a way to support herself while she writes her first book, so she takes a temporary job as a nanny for family friend Jace King. Firefighter Jace has been raising his two young daughters alone ever since his wife walked out on them and needs someone to care for Paisley and Hadley while he's on duty at the firehouse. Ashlan's had a secret crush on Jace for some time, and she's looking forward to the chance to get to know him better. Jace is secretly drawn to Ashlan as well but won't let himself act on his feelings; he believes that she deserves better than a man who's nearly a decade older than her with the kind of baggage he's carrying. Against all odds, Ashlan and Jace begin to grow closer, but just when it seems as if there might be a chance for them to build a future together, the past comes back to haunt them. Can they overcome the challenge or will it tear them apart?

 

I don't know how, but this series keeps getting better with each book! Ashlan and Jace's love for one another was so beautiful and their story gave me all the feels. They always put each other and the well-being of Jace's daughters first, even when it meant making personal sacrifices. Ashlan was very mature for her age and I loved her sweet relationship with Jace's daughters. She connected with Paisley and Hadley in a very genuine way, maybe because she had also lost her mother when she was young (though under different circumstances) and understood a lot of what they were going through. I also loved that Paisley and Hadley were such realistic characters. They were adorable, but not everything they did was cute; there was some typical gross kid behavior mixed in there as well!

Overall, I adored "Make You Mine" and highly recommend it for all contemporary romance fans, especially anyone who enjoys the age gap trope. I can't wait for the next book in the series. 

 

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

 

 

About "Make You Mine"

A sexy firefighter. A much younger nanny. The heat between them could burn down a small country. He doesn't believe in forever. And she won't settle for anything less.

Jace King is a smoking hot firefighter, a single dad and my new boss.

He's also the most beautiful man I've ever laid eyes on.

It's totally fine to secretly crush on the guy you nanny for, right?

Did I mention that he's also a decade older than me, works with my dad and he's a close family friend?

If you looked up OFF LIMITS in the dictionary, you'd find an eight by ten photo of my sexy boss.

But something happens every time we're in a room together.

The attraction is almost overpowering.

Jace is insistent that we can't act on it.

And I've always been a rule follower...
but maybe sometimes rules are meant to be broken. 

Release Blitz + Review: "Flirting with the Playboy" by Gia Stevens

I'm delighted to take part in the release blitz celebrating "Flirting with the Playboy" by Gia Stevens, part of the Harbor Highlands series. Characters from the prequel novella, available for free by subscribing to the author's newsletter, make appearances in this story, but it reads as a standalone.

 

Real estate agent Bennett Pierce has had a thing for receptionist Charlie Hansley since her first day on the job, but they got off on the wrong foot, and now she thinks he's a jerk. He's too focused on his career for a relationship anyway, so he's actively tried to maintain his reputation as the office playboy so that he wouldn't be tempted to let anything happen between them. Besides, Charlie has a boyfriend, which makes her off-limits. Things begin to change one night when Charlie and her best friend Olivia decide to head out to the bar after a rough week at work. Their waitress accidentally sees a photo Charlie's showing Olivia from a weekend away with her boyfriend, Jared, and recognizes him as the guy she recently met on a dating app. A few drinks later, Olivia convinces Charlie to create a fake profile on the app so that she can catch her cheating boyfriend in the act. While checking for a response to their message to Jared the following day, Charlie ends up chatting with a different guy for hours. It's mostly innocent, both of them just venting frustrations to a stranger, but there's a strong connection (and a bit of flirtation) between them. What Charlie doesn't know is that the other guy is actually office playboy Bennett, who joined the app to get his mother and sister to stop trying to set him up. How will she react when she learns the truth?
 

I really enjoyed the banter and steamy chemistry between Bennett and Charlie, and they were very cute together once they started dating. That said, I did find myself growing slightly frustrated with them at times because of their many misunderstandings and failures to communicate. They were both likeable characters, however, and I couldn't help rooting for them to work through their issues and end up together.

"Flirting with the Playboy" is technically the author's first published book, and it shows at times. For example, there's a timeline problem in the first half of the story; after Charlie and Bennett chatted the first time through the app, he tells his friend Trey that they'd been chatting for the past several nights, and Charlie later tells someone that they had been chatting for "a few weeks," which wasn't possible since it was the day after she confronted her boyfriend about the cheating. While these issues were at times a bit confusing, they fortunately didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story, and I have every reason to believe that the author's storytelling will only improve with experience.
 

Overall, I enjoyed this funny, sweet, and steamy story and recommend it for all fans of the enemies-to-lovers and workplace romance tropes. I look forward to the author's next book.

 

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

 

About "Flirting with the Playboy"

Flirting with the sexy stranger on a dating app was easy.
Finding out the sexy stranger is also the office playboy…
I wasn't expecting that.

They don't call Bennett Pierce the office playboy for nothing. The parade of women through his doorway makes me want to dry-heave. Sure, he looks like he strolled off the page of a male fashion magazine, but his personality is anything but desirable.

But after catching my ex cheating on a dating app and Bennett witnessing my very public break up, his offer of margaritas is too hard to pass up. Tequila didn't make my clothes fall off, but it did lead to one scorching hot kiss.

Instantly, I regret it but an unexpected message on the dating app distracts me from too much self-loathing. And when the friendly banter quickly turns into steamy flirting, Bennett Pierce is one swipe right forgotten.

And when we finally meet, I realize…
I've been flirting with the playboy.

 

Release Blitz + Review: "My Worst Best Mistake" by Kenzie Reed

I'm happy to join the release blitz celebrating "My Worst Best Mistake" by Kenzie Reed, book #2 of the Sugar Sands series. Characters from the previous book make return appearances in this one, but it reads as a standalone.

 

Ever since she sent her 11-year-old daughter Mary off to a boarding school for gifted children in Connecticut, Caroline Wheeler, the reluctant mayor of tiny Sugar Sands Island off the Florida coast, has been working a second job at a restaurant on the mainland to cover the tuition. She's at the restaurant one evening when a table specifically requests her as their server. She quickly recognizes the arrogant man seated there as the older version of the boy with whom she had a fling 12 years earlier, resulting in Mary's birth. She's so startled to see him again that she accidentally spills a tray of drinks on him and gets fired. Grant Kingsley, now the COO of Kingsley Oil, is in town with his stepmother, Magdalena, to deal with a PR crisis resulting from a recent accident on an offshore oil rig near Sugar Sands. Grant is convinced that he can handle the problem on his own, but Magdalena knows they need someone with local connections to help get the community back on their side, so she tracks Caroline down and offers her a temporary job as the local liaison for Kingsley Oil. As much as she wants to refuse, Caroline knows that the money Magdalena's offering will cover Mary's tuition for an entire year, so she accepts the job. Now she just has to figure out how to work with Grant, who has made it clear that he will do everything in his power to make her quit. Not only that, she has to figure out how to tell him that he has a daughter. Should be a piece of cake...

This book was a tremendous amount of fun and I enjoyed it immensely. Grant was so used to getting his way in business and just about every other aspect of his life, but every time he tried to intimidate Caroline into quitting, she would just laugh at him, and I loved it. His usual tactics didn't work on her, which both confused and frustrated him. He didn't stop trying, however, which led to great banter and so much delicious tension and chemistry between them. Ultimately, they really seemed to bring out the best in each other, and I loved cheering them on to their HEA.
 

I highly recommend "My Worst Best Mistake" for all romantic comedy fans and look forward to whatever Kenzie Reed writes next.

 

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

 

 

About "My Worst Best Mistake"

He thinks he can make me quit...I think I can drive him crazy. We've got 8 weeks to find out who's right...

When it comes to sexy oil baron Grant Kingsley, you can leave out the drilling jokes—I’ve heard them all before.

The question is, how did I, mayor of a tiny island on the Forgotten Coast of Florida, end up working directly under him? And why does my mind go to the most inappropriate places every time I ask myself that question? And what would he look like without that custom-tailored wool suit and expression of insufferable arrogance?

Doesn’t matter. After vanishing from my life when I needed him most, he’s swooped into town with plans to turn our little slice of paradise into an ecological disaster. And he’s forcing me to help pave this highway to Hades—well, he thinks he is. I’m here to block him by any means necessary, and as he’s about to find out, I fight dirty.

So dirty. Just like my thoughts about Grant Kingsley. In fact—

Wait, where were we again?

Oh yes. All I have to do for the next eight weeks is 1.) Resist the charms of a delightful family of eco-villains, 2.) Hide an earth-shattering secret, and 3.) Try not to fall in love – again – with my greatest nemesis.

That last one may be the toughest assignment of them all.

 

Review: "Eloise and the Grump Next Door" by Emma St. Clair and Jenny Proctor

Congratulations to authors Emma St. Clair and Jenny Proctor on the surprise release of their first co-written novel, "Eloise and the Grump Next Door," book #1 of the Oakley Island Romcom series. I was lucky enough to read an early copy of this book over the weekend and have been bursting to talk about how much I loved it ever since. I'm so happy that I can finally share my excitement!

 

With her future up in the air after being rejected from the only graduate program to which she applied, recent college graduate Eloise "Lo" Markham doesn't feel much like celebrating on her 21st birthday. Besides, she's all alone in a pirate-themed bar on Georgia's Oakley Island, waiting for her father and sisters to arrive the next day for her grandmother Genevieve's funeral. She decides to have a couple glasses of wine anyway, but since she hasn't eaten all day, it goes to her head before she's even finished the second glass. She's rescued from an impromptu bar nap by a handsome man in a suit, who carries her back to her B&B. The next morning, Lo arrives for the reading of her grandmother's will and is stunned to discover that the attorney, Jake Fieldstone, is the man from the bar. Not only that, Jake's about to become her neighbor thanks to the provision in her grandmother's will that requires one of her granddaughters to stay on the island while Genevieve's house is renovated into a B&B.

 

I completely adored this funny, sweet, and heartwarming story along with its endearing, sympathetic characters. Before I had even finished reading the second page, I was laughing thanks to the Shakespeare-quoting parrot. From there, I was hooked and didn't want to put it down. There was so much chemistry between Lo and Jake from the moment they met, and I loved their witty banter. As much as they tried to stay away from each other, they couldn't help being drawn back together, and I was rooting for them the whole way.

The book's secondary characters were also a tremendous amount of fun and added a lot of depth and humor to the narrative. I particularly enjoyed Jake's sister Naomi and nephew Liam. I hope Naomi will be back in a future story of her own! Jake's best friend Benedict was intriguing too, and I couldn't help but wonder if he would be a good match for Lo's sister Sadie.
 

I highly recommend "Eloise and the Grump Next Door" for all sweet contemporary romance and romantic comedy fans. I can't wait for the next book in the series.

 

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

 

About "Eloise and the Grump Next Door"

I’m not sure which is worse--the lawyer handling my grandmother’s estate or the attack pelican living on the screened-in porch. Just kidding--I’ll take the pelican any day.

After graduation, I thought I’d be off to grad school, doing research on my favorite poet. Instead, I’m renovating my late grandmother’s home and posting about the process on Instagram. Talk about a detour …

But here I am. Turning Gran’s beach house into a bed and breakfast--a process that would be a lot easier if I didn’t have to deal with the grumpy lawyer living next door. It doesn’t help that the night Jake and I met, I got a little tipsy, and he had to carry me back to my hotel.

But the longer I stay on Oakley Island, the more I feel a connection to my childhood and to my grandmother. This isn’t the life I dreamed of, but dreams can change. Especially when new dreams include a future with Jake. On the outside, he might be pricklier than a puffer fish, but I catch glimpses of a delicious, cinnamon roll center.

Did I mention the tattoos he hides underneath those crisp button-down shirts? Yowza.

When I’m suddenly presented with the academic opportunity of my dreams (former dreams?), my picturesque life on Oakley starts to unravel.

A part of me wants to stay. If only a certain tattooed grump didn’t seem so determined to send me away …

Eloise and The Grump Next Door is a grumpy sunshine, closed door romantic comedy. The Oakley Island Romcom series follows three very different sisters as they renovate the house they inherited and find love on the island along the way. Each book will have sizzling chemistry but no spice.

 

Release Blitz + Review: "Kiss the Girl" by Samantha Chase

I'm pleased to take part in today's release blitz celebrating "Kiss the Girl" by Samantha Chase, book #11 of the Magnolia Sound series. Characters from the previous books make appearances in this one, but it works well as a standalone.

 

When his military service comes to an end due to a knee injury, Jackson Coleman must figure out a new plan for his life. Not quite ready to face his family, he decides to spend a few weeks hiding out in nearby Laurel Bay before returning to his hometown of Magnolia Sound. He's out for dinner one night when a beautiful woman catches his eye from across the room and he decides to approach her. Massage therapist Savannah James is new in town and out to dinner celebrating her recent divorce. She invites Jackson to join her and they spend a fun evening together dancing and playing darts, but don't exchange phone numbers. A few days later, Jackson and Savannah are shocked to see each other again and learn that they share a connection through Jackson's estranged father Cash, who's dying of liver cancer and recently returned to try and make amends with his family before he passes. After losing both her biological and adoptive parents, Cash is the closest thing to family Savannah has left. As they get to know each other better, Jackson and Savannah can't help being drawn to each other, but the relationship is fraught with complications and awkwardness because of his father. Can they overcome their past hurts and fears to build a brighter future together?

 

While it felt a bit like an emotional roller coaster at times, "Kiss the Girl" was overall a heartwarming and hopeful story that featured likeable, three-dimensional characters and an engaging plot. I couldn't help but empathize with Savannah and everything she'd been through before moving to North Carolina. Despite everything, she remained a remarkably sane, functional, and positive person, though she did have to battle through the fears that remained in order to build a relationship with Jackson. He had his own set of issues to work through, but I loved the two of them together and found it very easy to cheer them on to their HEA.
 

I very much enjoyed "Kiss the Girl" and highly recommend it for all contemporary romance fans. It was a great way to bring the Magnolia Sound series to a close, and after meeting a couple of the Donovan brothers in this book, I'm really looking forward to Chase's upcoming spinoff series, coming this fall.

 

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

About "Kiss the Girl"

Savannah James is no stranger to heartache and loss. It wasn't enough to lose two sets of parents, now she's losing the only person she has left. Escorting Cash Coleman back to Magnolia Sound so he can say goodbye to his family is a no brainer if it means she gets to spend whatever time he has left with him. Once he's gone, it's back to her lonely life in Seattle. At least, that's what she thought would happen before she met Cash's family—and his youngest son.

When it comes to his father, Jackson Coleman isn't short on anger. So when the old man comes back to Magnolia Sound to say goodbye, he's determined not to care. But with Cash comes Savannah, and Jackson starts to question everything he's ever thought about his father—like why was he able to be a parent to a friend's daughter when he couldn't even be there for his own sons? As much as Savannah represents everything he resents about Cash, he also can't deny the intense attraction he feels for her.

After a lifetime of being left behind, Savannah finally found the one person she wants to stay. But in order to have a chance at a happily ever after with Jackson, she'll have to fight every instinct she has to not get attached.

 

Review: "The Asshole Heir" by Whitley Cox and Ember Leigh

The Asshole Heir by Whitley Cox and Ember Leigh
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Following the death of their estranged father, Carson Winters and his brothers Callum and Colton relocated to the small town of Winter Harbor, Oregon in order to claim their inheritance. Per the terms of the will, they must spend a full year living together at the family estate, which they're in the process of renovating. Carson's on his way to the local hardware store one day when he unexpectedly runs into his ex, Amaya Peterson, who'd broken his heart when she ghosted him about six months earlier. Now visibly pregnant, Amaya is in town to care for her great aunt, who recently broke her hip. Carson is stunned to learn that the baby is his and that Amaya cut off contact with him because his anger issues were starting to remind her of her own father. Besides, Carson had expressed in no uncertain terms that he never wanted kids. Even though she has no expectations of him, she gives him the opportunity to be involved in their child's life, but makes it clear that her own heart is off limits. Determined to do better than his neglectful father and be there for his child, Carson quickly comes to realize that he wants nothing more than to create a family with Amaya. Can he convince her that he's changed for the better and she should take a chance on him?

This book gave me all the feels, and I loved it even more than the first one of the series! Carson and Amaya's chemistry and feelings for each other were as strong as ever when they met again after six months apart, but they were understandably hesitant with each other and needed time to rebuild the trust in their relationship. They had to fight to be together, but that just made their eventual HEA all the sweeter. I loved seeing Carson's obvious commitment to doing better even before Amaya came back into his life. His efforts paid off not only in his relationship with Amaya, but also in his relationships with Callum and Colton. While their father's methods were unorthodox, forcing them to live together for the year might actually be exactly what they needed to find their way back to each other.

I highly recommend this book for all fans of angsty/emotional contemporary romance and can't wait for the next book in the series.

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

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Blog Tour + Review: "Fling" by Adriana Locke

I'm delighted to participate in the blog tour celebrating the release of "Fling" by Adriana Locke, book #2 of the Carmichael Family series. Characters from the previous book make appearances in this one, but it reads as a standalone.

 

After realizing that she was about to make the biggest mistake of her life, Ashley Thompson called off her wedding a month before the big day, broke her lease in Orlando, and moved back to her hometown of Kismet Beach. The only thing she couldn't cancel was the honeymoon trip to an all-inclusive resort in the Bahamas, so she decides to turn it into a girls' trip and invite her best friends Rebecca and Sara to accompany her. Unfortunately, neither is able to travel on such short notice, but they don't want Ashley to go alone either, so they come up with a plan to find her a "blind date" travel buddy through social media. She never expects them to pick Maddox Carmichael, who's been friends with Ashley since the first grade. While there's been plenty of flirtation between them over the years, they've never crossed the line from friends to lovers; Maddox doesn't believe in long-term relationships while Ashley wants the white picket fence. They can't help but give into their attraction while sharing a bed in Ashley's honeymoon suite, however. Is their romance destined to be nothing more than a vacation fling, or will their feelings follow them home?

This was such a fun story! Maddox and Ashley were so flirty and cute together. I loved their witty banter and sizzling chemistry, as well as Maddox's gradual realization that Ashley had always been the one for him. The book's secondary characters were tremendously entertaining too, particularly Maddox's younger brother Banks and Ashley's friends Becca and Sara. I hope Becca and Sara will get stories of their own in the future!

Overall, I absolutely adored "Fling" and highly recommend it for all contemporary romance and romantic comedy fans. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book of the series.

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

 

 

About "Fling"

CONTEST: WIN A DATE TO MY HONEYMOON

I realize that a social media post isn’t the usual way to secure a date to your honeymoon—for obvious reasons—but here we are.
My wedding was canceled. What’s not canceled is the nonrefundable, ten-thousand-dollar all-inclusive vacation at a luxury resort, and I’m not about to let it go to waste.
I’m packed and ready to hit the beach. But I can’t deny that it might be more interesting to honeymoon with someone.
Since my track record of picking dates isn’t exactly golden, I’ve done something that I hope I don’t regret. In a moment of weakness—mixed with panic and fueled by margaritas—I agreed to let my friends choose someone to go with me.
It’ll be a blind date / postnuptial vacation—without the nuptials. A few fun days in paradise with no expectations. No obligations.
Before you say, “pick me for a free vacay!” a few things to consider …
The perfect candidate will be single. He won’t talk too much on the plane. And he’ll be able to leave town quickly.
He will also be okay with sharing a bed. It’s a honeymoon suite, after all.
If you want to be considered, email Rebecca and Sara your application at the address below. (Get creative. There’s a free vacation on the line.)
Wheels up next week!
Godspeed, honeymooners.

Grab your suitcase and prepare for the time of your life in this swoony tale that’s as hot as the tropical destination itself. Fans of runaway brides, close-proximity, one-bed, and friends-to-lovers tropes will fall hopelessly in love with this fling-to-forever romance.

 

Review: "Bruno & Gloria and the Five Golden Rings" by Ellie Hall

Bruno & Gloria and the Five Golden Rings by Ellie Hall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

After her engagement ends, Gloria Cardellini decides to make a fresh start in Hawk Ridge Hollow, the small town her late father loved as a child. The apartment she rented sight unseen turns out to be a little less than welcoming, but she's still hoping for good things from her new job. Unfortunately, when she arrives for her first day, she discovers that her new boss is the same man with whom she went on a blind date the night before, and his attitude has completely transformed from friendly to frosty.

Bruno Costa is also new in town, having moved to Hawk Ridge Hollow from New York City to help out with his family's new business. In an effort to keep his parents from nagging him about settling down, he'd joined a dating app to find a fake date for several upcoming family gatherings. He's just as stunned as Gloria to find out that they'll be working together, and even though they'd hit it off and talked for hours over dinner the night before, there's no way he can risk getting involved with someone at work. He'd tried that back in New York and the relationship ended badly; now, his sole focus is moving forward in his career. However, the more he tries to keep his distance from Gloria, the harder it seems to be. Can Gloria convince Bruno that there's more to life than work and that he should give love a chance?

This book was even better than the first one of the series! The way Bruno and Gloria bantered, teased, and played games in the office gave me major "Hating Games" vibes, and I loved it. Bruno was so sweet and protective when he finally started to let his guard down. Gloria really seemed to bring out the best in him and it was a joy to watch them fall in love.

Overall, I adored this funny, sweet story and highly recommend it for fans of the grumpy-sunshine trope. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in the series!

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

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Review: "Kiss and Tell" by Melanie Jacobson

Kiss and Tell by Melanie Jacobson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Celebrity chef Tabitha Winters is both excited and nervous to be returning to Camp Oak Crest, where she spent some of the happiest summers of her life working as a counselor. Her old friends Natalie and Ben recently purchased the camp and have invited Tabitha to cook for their grand reopening gala. She accepts with the understanding that Sawyer Reed, the final member of their foursome from those long-ago summers, won't be in attendance. Sawyer was Tabitha's first love but they haven't spoken in the nine years since their breakup. He's still friends with Natalie and Ben, however, and it doesn't take long for Tabitha to figure out that they may not have been telling her the truth about Sawyer staying away. A series of old-school summer camp pranks brings Sawyer out of hiding, and Tabitha is surprised to learn that he's there to ask her for a chance to rebuild their friendship...and maybe something more thanks to the marriage pact she'd nearly forgotten.

I completely adored this laugh-out-loud funny, sweet, and heartfelt second chance romance. Tabitha and Sawyer were such a cute couple and I loved their witty banter. It took some time for Tabitha to work through the lingering pain of their breakup and decide to give Sawyer another chance, but after learning exactly how Sawyer broke up with her, I completely understood why she was so hurt by his actions. That said, I could tell how sincere he was in his apology, and his efforts to rebuild their friendship were very sweet.

I highly recommend "Kiss and Tell" for all sweet contemporary and romantic comedy fans and look forward to whatever Melanie Jacobson writes next.

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

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