Review: "Tents & Tights" by Molly O'Hare

Congratulations to Molly O'Hare on the release of her latest standalone novel, "Tents & Tights." It's no secret that I am a huge fan of her book "Learning Curves," so I have been on pins and needles waiting to get my hands on this one. It did not disappoint; this book was so much fun and I loved it.

Eve Morgan and Austin Flynn met four years ago when he came into her boutique to ask about plus size outdoor apparel, and they've been best friends ever since. Eve had a secret crush on Austin early in their friendship but has tried her best to put it behind her; she's even made an effort to date other guys, though she only seems to match with losers on her dating apps. As for Austin, he's always thought Eve was attractive, but he's only recently started to realize that his feelings for her may be more than just friendship. It's harder than ever for him to fight his feelings when she asks for his help in launching a new line of lingerie for her boutique. Will their new partnership bring them closer than ever, or will Austin and Eve find that business and friendship shouldn't mix?

Eve and Austin were super cute together and I adored their witty banter. I also loved how hard Eve tried to be body-positive, though even she couldn't help having doubts and insecurities sometimes. In that sense, I found her character to be very relatable. The other thing I particularly loved about this book was the humor. There were so many aspects of the story that made me laugh, but I think my favorite was Eve's obsession with gnomes when she and Austin went camping. Her cat, Marshmallow's, constant attacks on Austin were also hilarious. Finally, the book's secondary characters were tremendously entertaining, and I'd love to see a few of them return in future books. (Am I the only one hoping for Jake and Mikayla to get together?)

Overall, "Tents & Tights" was a laugh-out loud funny and sweet story with the perfect touch of steam. I highly recommend it for all romantic comedy fans and can't wait to find out what Molly O'Hare comes up with next. 

 

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

 

 

About "Tents & Tights"

From the USA Today bestselling author of Learning Curves comes a best friends to lovers, opposites attract romantic comedy with a curvy, hates the outdoors, boutique owner and an annoyingly attractive, loves the outdoors guy who would rather be in nature than anywhere else. It’s a fine line between friendship and love, right?

Being fed up with never finding clothes in her size or worse, being sent to the maternity section, finally, Eve decided enough was enough and started her plus size boutique. Somewhere along the line, though, her shop led Eve to a friendship with the well-known owner of the famous outdoor adventure store in town. They were complete opposites in every way, but it worked. And even though she’d hate to admit it, he was by far the best friend she’d ever had.

Austin didn’t quite know how it happened. Four years ago, he walked into Own Your Curves to inquire about making plus size outdoor clothes for his shop. And the next thing Austin knew, he was best friends with the feisty, always kept him on his toes, pain in his backside woman. So when she asked for his guidance on expanding her shop, how could he tell her no? There was only one problem, as Austin helped Eve with the expansion, he couldn’t stop his imagination from running wild. Now, if he could just convince her to see it too…

Friendship could definitely end up being more, right?

 

Review: "Star Bright" by Susannah Nix

Congratulations to Susannah Nix on today's release of "Star Bright," book #1 of the Starstruck series. It's a standalone prequel to the previously published "Fallen Star" and "Rising Star," both of which I loved and highly recommend. In addition, the first 60 or so pages appeared in last year's multi-author "Tinsel and Tatas" anthology (no longer available); that version of the story has been republished as "Play the Part" (currently free).

Actress Kimberleigh Cress has avoided speaking with entertainment reporter Spencer Devlin ever since he embarrassed her during an interview and her response went viral. When they run into each other at a gala and he helps her through a panic attack, however, she's forced to admit that there's more to him than she previously believed. Similarly, Spencer realizes that Kimberleigh might not be as much of an "ice queen" as her reputation suggests, and he can't help being drawn to her after their shared experience at the gala. When it starts to seem as if their relationship might be more than just a fling, can notoriously private Kimberleigh trust Spencer to keep her secrets out of the headlines?

Susannah Nix has a gift for creating likeable, relatable protagonists, and Kimberleigh and Spencer were the perfect examples. Behind Kimberleigh's reputation as an ice queen was a kind, loving introvert who, quite simply, didn't "people" well. Not only can I relate to that, I very much admired her for pursuing her dream of being an actress - and being so successful - in spite of it. I can't blame her for wanting to keep her private life private, either; the story did an excellent job of demonstrating some of the downsides of fame for someone in Kimberleigh's position. As for Spencer, I loved that he owned up to the mistakes he made in conducting past interviews, seemed genuinely remorseful, and made an effort to do better in the future.

Overall, I very much enjoyed "Star Bright" and highly recommend it for all contemporary romance fans. I can't wait for the next book in the series. 

 

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

 

About "Star Bright"

She’s an A-list Hollywood starlet. He’s a gossip reporter. Sleeping with the enemy has never been sweeter…

Kimberleigh Cress didn’t get to be one of the hottest young actresses in Hollywood without learning how to protect herself. Rule number one? Don’t show weakness. Ever. Especially not in front of the press.

So when a sleazy tabloid reporter comes upon her during a vulnerable moment, the last thing she expects is kindness.

Sexy, charming, and surprisingly thoughtful, Spencer Devlin isn’t at all who Kimberleigh thought he was. After their fateful encounter, she can’t seem to stay away from him—even though she knows she should.

Spencer never expected to share an unlikely connection with the spoiled starlet who hates his guts. With the face of a goddess and an attitude to match, Kimberleigh Cress is one ice queen he’d love to melt.

Now that she’s gotten under his skin, he’ll do anything to keep her in his life. Or will he? 

Release Blitz + Review: "Meant to Be" by Jennifer Probst

Congratulations to Jennifer Probst on the publication of her latest novel, "Meant to Be," book #1 of the Twist of Fate series.

 

After Chiara Kennedy co-founded online women's magazine Quench with her three childhood best friends, she was living her best life - that is, until one of the members of their tight-knit group, Rory, was killed in a car accident. Two years later, Chiara has reluctantly taken over Rory's role as Quench's CEO and editor-in-chief. She's out at a bar one night doing research for a story when she runs into Rory's widower, high school guidance counselor Sebastian Ryder. He steps in when a creepy guy hassles Chiara and gets roofied for his trouble, so Chiara decides to take him back to her place so that she can make sure he's OK. She stays up most of the night watching him but finally falls into an exhausted slumber; later, Ryder wakes up, stumbles into her bedroom, and they "accidentally" hook up, both believing that they're in a dream. When they wake up the next morning and realize the truth, Ryder pushes for them to spend time getting to know each other again in case their night together has unexpected consequences, however unlikely. As much as Chiara tries to resist, she can't help growing closer to Ryder the more she gets to know him, but her feelings of guilt and disloyalty towards her late best friend are equally strong. Can Chiara and Ryder put the past behind them and start a new chapter together, or is their relationship doomed before it even begins?

I had mixed feelings about this book, but unfortunately, they trended more negative than positive. I almost DNF'd it around 20% after Chiara and Ryder's accidental/dream hookup because I found the whole thing to be so unbelievable. Ryder was still under the influence of drugs, so I understood why he might have been confused, and I could also understand Chiara being confused at first because she had just woken up from a deep sleep, but I found it incredibly hard to believe that she wouldn't have realized it was happening for real at some point. Later that same day, Ryder miraculously remembers what happened the night before and insists that they spend time getting to know each other in case of a pregnancy that they both admit is highly unlikely. The reasoning for them spending time together at that point was so incredibly flimsy as to be laughable. It would be one thing if Chiara already knew she was pregnant, but to start planning for a co-parenting relationship on the slim possibility that she might become pregnant made no sense to me.

At any rate, I kept reading in the hopes that the book would get better from there, but I was mostly disappointed. I had a tough time liking or connecting with either of the main characters, particularly Chiara. She continually bemoaned the fact that she was "stealing her best friend's life," which drove me crazy because her best friend had died two years ago, and it's impossible to steal anything from a dead person. As for Ryder, I didn't like how pushy he was with Chiara. He repeatedly disrespected her boundaries and tried to dictate his involvement in her life. Their relationship was a constant roller-coaster, and I'm not sure I believed it was really over by the end.

 

While this book wasn't for me, I found it to be well-written, as Probst's stories always are. Fans of second chance romance and/or the accidental pregnancy trope may well enjoy it. I will likely pick up the next book in the series because I genuinely enjoyed the friendship/found family aspect of the story, and would like to get to know Chiara's friends Malia and Tessa better.

 

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

 

About "Meant to Be"

Two broken hearts discover an unpredictable path to healing in an emotional romance about fate and second chances by New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Probst.

Meant to Be by Jennifer Probst is now live!

It's been two years since Chiara Kennedy lost her dearest friend, Rory. Chiara misses everything about her. Rory's widowed husband is another story. Sebastian Ryder is a man Chiara had secretly wanted, let slip away, and hoped to never see again. Then fate throws them together for an unexpected one-night stand and a morning after of new challenges.
 

Sebastian had a soulmate in Rory. Shut down after his tragic loss he kept a cool distance from everyone, including Chiara with whom he once shared a deep if fleeting affection. That was over and done with a long time ago. But when they meet again, old emotions resurface along with a heart-wounding past that haunts them both.

As Chiara and Sebastian grow closer, finally getting to know each other, Chiara struggles between feelings of guilt and those of a cherished second chance with Sebastian. Will fate allow them to overcome the past, or are they destined to always wonder if they are truly meant to be? 

 

Release Blitz + Excerpt + Review: "Flirt" by Adriana Locke

I'm very excited to participate in the release blitz celebrating "Flirt" by Adriana Locke, book #1 of the Carmichael Family series. 

Brooke Bailey needs a date for her grandmother's upcoming 85th birthday party, but after a tough divorce, the last thing she wants is an actual relationship. The solution? Find a guy who's willing to enter into a "situation-ship" (read: fake relationship) with her. An epic social media fail almost puts an end to the plan before it begins, but an uncomfortable conversation with her impossible-to-please mother prompts Brooke to take a chance on meeting one of the guys who responded to her post. She never expects that the guy she chooses will turn out to be her co-worker and friend, Moss Carmichael, who agrees to play the part of her "boyfriend" at the party in exchange for her help with a little revenge on his brothers. Will they be able to pull it off or will their real feelings for each other prove to be too much to handle?

 

Moss and Brooke were such a fantastic couple! I loved their flirtatious banter and genuine friendship, as well as the way their relationship so naturally progressed from friends to lovers. They were both incredibly likeable, relatable characters, but I particularly empathized with Brooke. She was a total boss babe, super smart and successful in her career, but also in touch with what she needed to be happy in her personal life. I truly admired the way she advocated for herself and refused to accept less than what she needed and deserved in her relationship with Moss.

The book's secondary characters were also fantastic, and I am so excited to learn more about them in upcoming books of this series. The youngest Carmichael brothers, Banks and Maddox, are one heck of a 2-man comedy team. They made me laugh every single time they were in a scene together. I also loved Brooke's best friend Jovie and hope we'll see her again in a future story.

Overall, I absolutely adored "Flirt" 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 "Flirt"

I’m a single female who’s tired of relationships ruining my life. However, there are times when a date would be helpful. If you’re a single man, preferably mid-twenties to late-thirties, and are in a similar situation, we might be a match.

Candidate must be handsome, charming, and willing to pretend to have feelings for me (on a sliding scale, as the event requires). Ability to discuss a wide variety of topics is a plus. Must have your own transportation and a (legal) job.

This will be a symbiotic agreement. In exchange for your time, I will give you mine. Need someone to flirt with you at a football party? Go, team! Want a woman to make you look good in front of your boss? Let me find my heels. Would you love for someone to be obsessed with you in front of your ex? I’m applying my red lipstick now.

If interested, please email me. Time is of the essence.

From USA Today and Amazon Charts Bestselling author Adriana Locke comes a “fun and flirty!” fake dating situation between two coworkers that quickly straddles the line between friends and lovers. 

 

Read an Excerpt from "Flirt"

He stretches his long, lean body until the toe of his work boot hits my desk and his fingertips touch the wall behind him. The hem of his dirty black T-shirt rides up his six-foot-something frame. A hint of his chiseled abdomen is visible above the waistband of his jeans, and it takes everything that I have not to stare.

I’m only human. Even if he can be a jerk, he’s still drop-dead gorgeous.

“Stop it,” I say, shuffling papers around on my desk.

He sits up and flashes me a megawatt smile. “Stop what?”

“I know what you’re doing.”

“And what might that be? I’m just loosening my muscles after a hard day’s work.”

I keep my face blank. “It’s early afternoon, Moss.”

“Okay, well, I put in a heck of a half-day, thank you.”

I fold my arms on my desk and look at him. It’s difficult to ignore his pursed lips, arched brows, and stupidly long eyelashes. He’s good enough to eat, and he knows it. That’s one of the problems with him. 

 

Review: "Hollywood Games" by Evie Alexander

Congratulations to Evie Alexander on the publication of her latest novel, "Hollywood Games," book #2 of the Kinloch series. It continues the story of Rory McGinley, Earl of Kinloch, and Zoe Maxwell, which started in book #1. I recommend reading these two books in order for the best experience.

 

As the story begins, Rory and Zoe are very much together and in love, but secretly, Rory still fears that Zoe will grow tired of the inconveniences of life in the Scottish Highlands and leave him to return to her old life in London. He's been working around the clock to renovate the cabin she inherited from her great-uncle Willie in the hopes that having a comfortable place to live will prevent her from leaving. Unfortunately, that's not the only thing Rory has to worry about; a lawsuit is driving the Kinloch estate ever closer to bankruptcy, a huge New Year's snowstorm causes part of the castle's roof to collapse, and a health scare has Rory's mother Barbara clinging to him like never before. When Hollywood megastar Brad Bauer shows up and announces his plans to make Braveheart 2 on location in Kinloch, it turns out to be exactly the financial windfall Rory needs, but it's also a massive headache that has Rory and Zoe scrambling to deal with the demands of the movie's cast and crew. Will their relationship survive until the final scene is filmed?

I absolutely adored this laugh-out-loud funny, sweet, and steamy story. Zoe and Rory were super cute together, and their chemistry just kept getting better as the story progressed. I loved that their grumpy-sunshine vibes were still so strong even though Rory was completely besotted with Zoe. Their banter along the way was a tremendous amount of fun, as were the book's secondary characters. I especially enjoyed Zoe's "second family," Morag, Fiona, and Jamie. I look forward to seeing more of them in the next two books of the series.

I highly recommend "Hollywood Games" and can't wait to get my hands on the next book in the series. It seems there's never a dull moment in Kinloch!

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

 

About "Hollywood Games"

When Hollywood meets the Highlands, things will never be the same again…

Rory’s found the love of his life but can he be sure Zoe feels the same? What can he offer her when his job’s on the line, and his mother’s out to destroy her? When Hollywood superstar, Brad Bauer, shows up wanting to film Braveheart 2 at Kinloch castle, it seems like the answer to all his prayers. However, there’s a catch.

Zoe’s had a crush on Brad since she was a teen. Now he’s here, hotter than ever, and convinced he was married to her in a past life. As Hollywood descends on the tiny village of Kinloch, it’s not just the castle that’s under siege.

A mystical holy man, a sexy starlet, an intense megastar and a couple pushed to the edge. Can Rory navigate the glitter storm and keep his eye on the prize, or by saving the estate, is he about to lose the best thing that’s ever happened to him? 

 

Release Blitz + Review: "One More Chance" by Lea Coll

I'm pleased to take part in the release blitz celebrating "One More Chance" by Lea Coll, book #2 of the Second Chance Harbor series. It's a spinoff of the Annapolis Harbor series and features appearances from past characters, but each of the books works as a standalone. 

 

Math teacher Zoe Hart and restaurant owner Max Pierce met as children dealing with their family members' cancer diagnoses and have been best friends ever since. Apart from a single kiss in high school, their relationship has always been platonic, but secretly, Zoe is curious about what would happen if she and Max tried to be more than friends. She finally gets a chance to find out when her younger sister Aubree announces her engagement. In an effort to put a stop to her mother's nagging about finding a date for the wedding, Zoe impulsively blurts out that she and Max have started dating. He agrees to go along with her plan in exchange for her help straightening out his restaurant's finances, and with the understanding that they will stage a breakup as soon as the wedding is over. Their arrangement forces them to see each other in a whole new light, and it's not long before the chemistry between them ignites. Will they really be able to go back to being just friends, or is there a chance for their fake relationship to turn into real love?

 

I loved the slow burn as Max and Zoe shifted from friends to lovers, as well as how naturally their relationship progressed. However, I found myself growing a bit annoyed with both of them in the second half of the story because of their failure to communicate. Instead of having an honest conversation, they kept assuming that they already knew what the other was thinking. While their concerns about losing their friendship were realistic and relatable, it still kind of bothered me that they both seemed to be so willing to walk away after the wedding without even discussing the possibility of giving the relationship a real chance.
 

Despite that relatively minor frustration, I enjoyed "One More Chance" and recommend it for all contemporary romance fans. I look forward to the next book in the series.  

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

 

 

About "One More Chance"

Unlikely friends. An undeniable attraction.

Telling everyone my best friend, Max, and I are dating was a panic move. But when my younger sister announced her engagement, I knew my parents were going to crank up the pressure cooker to see me settle down.

We were polar opposites. A tattooed bar owner and a straight-laced math teacher. Who’d actually believe it? I knew he’d play along, though.

The plan was simple. Fake date through all the wedding festivities, then stage a break-up. We were so close to pulling it off. That is, until the chemistry between us felt all too real.

To save our friendship, I tried to ignore the magnetic pull. Every thought betrayed me. He made me happier than I ever dreamed possible. If only I knew he felt the same way.

 

Release Blitz + Review: "Something Like Love" by Claudia Burgoa

I'm happy to take part in the release blitz celebrating "Something Like Love" by Claudia Burgoa, book #2 of the Against All Odds: St. James Family series. It's a spinoff of the original Against All Odds series complete with various character cameos, but each book reads as a standalone.

 

Chloe Lafferty doesn't think things can get much worse when she arrives home from a weekend catering job to discover that her roommate, Maddox Curtis, sold their house and its contents out from under her, leaving her broke, homeless, and without a kitchen in which to prepare meals for her catering clients. She soon learns that Maddox also conned his billionaire employer, Burke St. James, prior to disappearing. Burke is determined to find Maddox and hold him accountable for his misdeeds, but in the meantime, he's trying to close a deal to purchase another winery to add to his current holdings. The owner will only sell to someone family-oriented, which is a problem for perpetual bachelor Burke. He convinces Chloe that they can help each other; if she agrees to play his fake fiancee until he closes the deal, Burke will provide her with a place to stay and invest in her business so that she can fulfill her catering contracts. Chloe doesn't like Burke but doesn't have any other good options, so she agrees to go along with the plan. It's not long before their pretend relationship starts to feel very real, especially after Burke's family gets involved. Will Burke and Chloe go their separate ways at the end of their arrangement, or could they actually have found a lasting love?

 

I really enjoyed this low angst, funny, and sweet story, which featured likeable characters, great banter, and a fast-paced plot. I especially loved Chloe's snark and the fact that she wasn't a pushover. Despite everything that had happened and the tough situation she was in, she didn't just meekly go along with whatever Burke wanted. She actually negotiated with him and made sure that their deal worked for her, too. The push-pull between her and Burke was so much fun, and it was impossible for me not to root for these two to find their way to each other.

 

I recommend "Something Like Love" for all contemporary romance and romantic comedy fans, and look forward to Claudia Burgoa's next release.  

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

 

 

About "Something Like Love"

USA TODAY bestselling author Claudia Burgoa pens a fun and sexy romantic comedy where playing pretend turns to playing for keeps…

We have to pretend that what we have is something like love…

I’m down on my luck.

Scratch that. This is the worst week of my life.

Enter the last person I want to deal with: Burke St. James.

He’s wealthy.

He’s a womanizer.

And a big liar.

And it turns out we need each other.

Burke needs a fiancée to seal the deal of a lifetime. I need help or my business is going belly-up. So, Burke very non-romantically asks me to marry him. Well, he asks me to be fake engaged to him, anyway.

I’ll attend a few dinners, pretend I’m in love, and meet the family.

In exchange, he’ll invest in my company and help me launch it off the ground.

All is easy, except his kisses feel more real than they should.

And the sex…damn, we’re not supposed to have sex.

It’s all for show…right?

Did I mention he’s a really good liar?

Pretending not to fall in love is more complicated than I thought.