Release Blitz + Review: "A Hate Like This" by Whitney Dineen and Melanie Summers

I'm excited to join the release blitz celebrating "A Hate Like This" by Whitney Dineen and Melanie Summers, book #2 of A Gamble on Love Mom-Com Series. Characters from the previous book make return appearances in this one, but it reads as a standalone.

Tired of dealing with his whiny, entitled clients, Los Angeles-based entertainment attorney Ethan Caplan has decided to take a 6-month sabbatical to pursue his lifelong dream of writing a novel. He'll be spending that time in the small town of Gamble, Alaska, the new home of his best friend, actress Harper Kennedy. He's sure there won't be anything to distract him in the tiny town - that is, until he meets Harper's future sister-in-law Moira Bishop. Between running the local diner, caring for her three young boys, and ensuring that their fixer-upper of a house doesn't fall down around them, single mom Moira has more than enough on her plate. The last thing she needs is a man to take care of too, though her brother seems determined to find her a date. Ethan, too, is determined to avoid relationships after his last girlfriend humiliatingly turned down his marriage proposal. He can't help being drawn to Moira and her boys, however, so when the opportunity to host them in Los Angeles presents itself, Ethan jumps at the chance. He hopes to show Moira that there's a chance for them to start a new life together as a family. Will he succeed, or will the glitz and glamour of his life in California prove to be too much for her?

I loved the way Ethan and Moira's relationship evolved from a sort of easy, teasing friendship into something more. They made an adorable family unit with her three sons, whose relationship with Ethan was also a highlight of the book. When everything started to go wrong while they were in California, it was honestly crushing. While I understood Moira's fears, I wish she hadn't been quite so mean and insulting in her rejection of Ethan. It's no wonder he was hurt and angry; he just wanted to do something nice for her and the boys and she threw it back in his face. That said, Ethan was stubborn too. He and Moira both needed to get over their fears and figure out a way to compromise in order to move forward together. 

Overall, I loved this super cute, funny, and sweet story and highly recommend it for all contemporary romance and romantic comedy fans. I look forward to the next book in the series.

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

 

About "A Hate Like This"

Single mother Moira Bishop hates when her family interferes in her love life. If life as a young widow isn’t hard enough, just add three boys, a slew of unruly pets, and ownership of Gamble, Alaska’s only diner. The last thing she needs is a man to look after too.

Entertainment lawyer to the stars Ethan Caplan hates his clients. There’s only so much coddling and placating a man can do in a lifetime. He’s finally decided he’s had enough, so he escapes to the tiny no-horse town of Gamble to work on the novel he’s always wanted to write.

Positive that Alaska will be distraction-free, Ethan’s sure he can pen a bestselling legal novel. That is until he lays his eyes on Moira Bishop. Suddenly he finds himself having five meals a day at the diner, just so he can talk to her for a few minutes.

When Moira's son wins tickets to a Dodgers' game in L.A., Ethan jumps at the chance to play host to the family. He's sure he can win her over by showing her how glamorous life could be with him. With the help of his friends, he plans the date to end all dates, hoping one incredible night will change her mind about giving love a second chance.

Will Moira open her heart to Ethan? Will Ethan do what it takes to prove that he can be the man Moira and her boys need in their lives?

Find out in the deliciously fun second installment in the Gamble on Love Mom-Com series. 

 

Review: "Falling for a Friend" by Melonie Johnson (part of Dissent: A Charity Romance Anthology)

Dissent: A Charity Romance Anthology by Brighton Walsh, et al.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Review for "Falling for a Friend" by Melonie Johnson

Children's librarian Mark Martin has been asking single mom Luna Ibarra out for a long time, but she's always turned him down. Between running her farm and raising her 9-year-old son Toby, she has more than enough on her plate. Will a dare from her sister-in-law Sadie finally get her to take a chance and say yes to the handsome librarian?

This super cute, short, and sweet story was an absolute delight, filled with Johnson's signature blend of humor and heart. Readers familiar with the Sometimes in Love series may remember Luna as Bo's sister from the third book of the series, but it works well as a standalone for those who are new to Johnson's work. I'd highly recommend this story for all contemporary romance fans and wouldn't mind seeing more of Luna and Mark in the future.

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

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Release Blitz + Review: "Dr. Off Limits" by Louise Bay

I'm delighted to take part in the release blitz celebrating "Dr. Off Limits" by Louise Bay, book #1 of the Doctors series. It's a spinoff of the Mister series and also connects to "Private Player," but works well as a standalone. 

 

Recent medical school graduate Sutton Scott is both excited and nervous to start her new job as a junior doctor at London's Royal Free Hospital, one of the best in the country. To distract her from anxiety over her first day, Sutton's best friend Parker sets her up on a blind date with a fellow doctor who's about to leave for an overseas assignment with Doctors without Borders. He's a perfect choice for Sutton since she needs to focus on building her career, not a potential new relationship. They hit it off over dinner and end up spending the night together, but Sutton's sure she'll never see him again. Everything changes when her date walks into the orientation room on her first day of work and Sutton realizes that he's actually a senior doctor at her new hospital. She soon learns that her blind date had a last-minute emergency, so he arranged for his older brother, Dr. Jacob Cove, to take his place. Sutton and Jacob agree to keep their history a secret, but with the flame still burning between them, it might not be so easy to keep their hands to themselves.

I really liked Jacob and Sutton as a couple and thought that the challenges they faced were both relatable and realistic. The obstacles they thought were standing in the way of their relationship turned out to be mostly of their own making, but working through them taught them both important lessons about ignoring other people's opinions and following the path that made them happy. There can be more than one right way to achieve a goal, and rigid adherence to a plan isn't always the best one. 

Overall, I very much enjoyed "Dr. Off Limits" and recommend it for all contemporary romance fans. I look forward to the next book, which will feature Jacob's younger brother Zach. 

 

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

 

About "Dr. Off Limits"

Dr. Off Limits? I have a fever and I think you might be the medicine I need.

I’ve sworn off men to focus on my dream job that starts on Monday. But my best friend talks me into a final night of fun—a blind date.

I only agree because the guy is going to work as a doctor in Africa.

It’s the best date of my life. Dr. Africa makes me laugh and swoon and I want to give him a thorough physical examination.
He turns into Dr. One Night Stand, and I’m not sad about it.

Monday morning, I’m enthusiastic and excited, until I bump into . . . you guessed it.

Apparently Dr. Africa got his brother to fill in on our date, and now I work at the same hospital as the guy I got naked with on Saturday.

Did I mention he’s my new boss?

I need to go right to the Emergency Room and find a cure for my crush on Dr. Off Limits. 

 

Blog Tour + Excerpt + Review: "Resisting the Grump" by Ashley Munoz

Today, I'm pleased to join the blog tour celebrating the release of "Resisting the Grump" by Ashley Munoz, book #1 of the Mount Macon series.

 

As a teenager, Raelyn Jackson had a massive crush on Davis Brenton, but she was sure he didn’t know she existed until the day she received a note inviting her to a secret rendezvous in the town library. She expected a romantic declaration of his feelings for her; instead, she arrived to find him hooking up with someone else. Heartbroken, she headed off to college and tried her best to get over him. Four years later, Rae is a recent college graduate living in New York City. She's struggling to make ends meet and her social life is basically nonexistent, so when her parents admit that their diner is in trouble and ask her to come home and help them launch a new local delivery service, she does. The last thing she expects is for them to have befriended Davis in her absence, or for him not to recognize her as the awkward teen who followed him around years ago. 

 

For the most part, I enjoyed this steamy small town, age gap romance. Davis and Rae had fantastic chemistry and the sparks between them practically flew off the page. That said, some of the steamy scenes seemed kind of strange to me, in terms of location, timing, and other factors. (A hookup in a hen house? Did I accidentally start reading farmer porn? To each their own, I guess.) Also, while the book is marketed as a romantic comedy, there was some genuine angst to this story, particularly having to do with Davis's past and family situation. It was a lot more emotional than I expected based on the description and to me didn't fit the classic definition of a rom-com, but that, as with most things, is subjective.

 

More importantly, however, I felt as if there were a few plot threads left dangling at the end of the book. For example, it wasn't clear to me what motivated the person who sent the note to Rae asking her to meet Davis at the library when she was a teenager. There were times throughout the story when it seemed as if that person had a vendetta against Davis, but the reason behind it was never explained. Further, I didn't entirely understand why the rest of the town disliked Davis so much. Did they blame him for the same thing as his parents did, or was it just because he was so grumpy and anti-social? 

 

Despite those frustrations, I would recommend "Resisting the Grump" for fans of angsty/emotional contemporary romance and plan to pick up the next book in the series. The brief introduction to Rae's best friend Nora and her neighbor Colson in this story was a lot of fun, and I can't wait to read more about them. 

 

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

 

About "Resisting the Grump"

Resisting the Grump, an all-new small-town romantic comedy full of heat and humor from bestselling author Ashley Munoz is available now!

Stalking the town recluse wasn’t exactly wise.

Davis was five years older than me…antisocial and temperamental. And there was the little fact that he didn’t know I existed.
Still, I gave him my heart, and he crushed it.

So I picked up the pieces and ran away to New York City. I had a plan that kept my heart intact for four years.
But one phone call changed everything.

Returning home meant facing the past…and the man who ruined me.
I had hoped that the mountain had swallowed him whole. Alas, as I set out to help my parents, I discover he’s not only alive and well, but that they apparently love the jerk.

He has no idea that we have a past, which is both a relief and salt in the wound.
I promise myself I’ll ignore how his eyes linger on me, or the way his touch feels like a live wire, and I’ll remember that once upon a time he broke me and for that I refuse to fall for him again.
But I can’t control that he seems to be falling for me this time.

 

 

Read an Excerpt from "Resisting the Grump"

“Can I kiss you, Rae?” he whispered, moving along my skin.

Shaking my head, my throat bobbed. “No.”

“You don’t seem like the kind of girl who likes to be asked, so I’m just going to do it.”

“Try it and see what happens,” I smiled wickedly.

He stared at me, a tiny smile lifting in the corner of his mouth. “You can’t resist me forever.”

“Watch me.” I glared defiantly, hating that he’d called out something that simmered so close to my core.

His body pressed against mine for a second longer then it vanished. “I think I’ll kiss you when you’re least expecting it. Maybe in church or something.”

“Why bother with this ruse? I overheard you talking that night in the garage. I know my dad asked you to place the order, and I know you think I’m too much work to befriend.” My palms went flat against the brick, so I could somehow find balance.

His stormy glare cut through me, as if I were a cold stick of butter and he was the searing knife, just pulled from the fire.

“You misheard…or at least misunderstood.”

Tilting my head, I asked, “Did he tell you to place the order and lie to me?”

Without a single hitch in his voice, or flicker in his gaze, he answered. “Yes.”

“Then I don’t know what’s left to—”

His grip returned to my waist as his body pressed into mine, pushing me tighter against the brick at my back.

“You misunderstood…I don’t want to be your friend, Rae, and you are a lot of work, but if you haven’t noticed, work doesn’t scare me off. I like work. I like trouble. You’re a fucking delicious mixture of both, and please understand me when I say this”—he lowered his head, his lips just barely a breath away from mine—“I like kissing you.” 

 

***

Review: "Bitter Sweet Heart" by H. Hunting

Bitter Sweet Heart by H. Hunting
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As much as I enjoyed the first book of this series ("Little Lies"), I think "Bitter Sweet Heart" was even better. The book's protagonists, Maverick Waters and Clover Sweet, were incredibly likeable and three-dimensional, and despite their age difference, they were absolutely perfect for each other. I loved their immediate chemistry as well as the deep bond they formed as they got to know each other.

Clover and Maverick's story was something of an emotional roller coaster, both because of the initially forbidden nature of their relationship and because of the emotional baggage they were each carrying. For example, Maverick blamed himself for his sister Lavender's childhood trauma and put a lot of his time and energy into making up for that perceived failure. He was also struggling with the idea of forever living in his hockey legend father's shadow if he decided to follow in his footsteps with a career in the NHL. Even as she faced her own challenges, Clover was incredibly supportive of Maverick as he tried to figure out his path, and he was just as supportive of her.

Overall, I loved this story and highly recommend it for all fans of emotional contemporary romance. I can't wait for Maverick's cousin BJ's book next!

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

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Review: "The Penalty Shot" by Maren Moore

The Penalty Shot by Maren Moore
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"The Penalty Shot" by Maren Moore was everything I never knew I wanted in a hockey romance and more. I loved that the lead character, Asher Hart, didn't fit the stereotype of a typical athlete; he was an introvert who preferred staying home to going out most of the time, enjoyed classic literature, and was a talented artist. He was also incredibly sweet and protective, qualities that only became more apparent after he met his neighbor, single mom Auden Claire. Auden was a teen mom and had been on her own since she was only 16, when her parents kicked her out for refusing to give up her baby. Even though she seemed shy at first, Auden was actually a fierce mama bear who'd do anything for her son, Alex. Asher's love and support made Auden feel safe for the first time in a long time, and she absolutely blossomed as the story progressed. Alex and Asher shared a special bond as well because of their common interests and the similar challenges they faced growing up. Without a doubt, the three of them were meant to be a family, and I was rooting for them the whole way.

I highly recommend "The Penalty Shot" for all contemporary/sports romance fans and can't wait for Maren Moore's next release.

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

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Review: "The Last Chance Road Trip" by Sara Jane Woodley (Fall Back Into Love anthology)

Fall Back Into Love: A Romantic Comedy Collection by Ginny Sterling, et al.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Review for "The Last Chance Road Trip" by Sara Jane Woodley

This novella is a prequel to the Love in Mirror Valley series, but works well as a standalone.

On the way to her first day as a receptionist at the Brookrose Inn, Valentina "Val" Reyes-Murphy decides to take a detour to her old childhood treehouse. Unfortunately, she manages to tear her brand-new trousers as she's climbing up, which of course is when her childhood friend and former boyfriend, Ethan Holmes, walks up. He's just in time to catch Val when she falls out of the treehouse after being spooked by what she thinks is a giant spider. Ethan and Val haven't seen or spoken with each other since their breakup four years ago, after which Ethan left town for culinary school in Montana. He's back in Mirror Valley to honor his late grandfather's final request: a road trip treasure hunt with Val. Now he just has to persuade her to go with him...

Even though this was a relatively short story, it didn't feel much like a novella to me at all because the characters were so endearing and three-dimensional. I think a lot of that can be attributed to the story's structure, which relied on a series of flashbacks to slowly reveal the exact circumstances behind Val and Ethan's breakup back in high school. The flashbacks were very helpful in understanding why Val was so hesitant to trust Ethan again as well as how they might be able to work towards their second chance in the present.

Overall, I loved this funny, sweet, and heartfelt story and highly recommend it for fans of sweet contemporary romance and romantic comedy. I look forward to reading whatever Sara Jane Woodley writes next!

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

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