Review: "A Summer with the Earl" by Maude Winters

A Summer with the Earl: An Age-Gap Billionaire Instalove Fake Relationship Romance by Maude Winters
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After graduating from university in Canada, Princess Sabine of Kent returns to London to take up her responsibilities as a working royal before starting a graduate law course in the fall. She and her sister Margaux will spend the summer on display for the eligible bachelors of their social class in the hopes of attracting a husband. The problem is that Sabine has no interest in marriage, at least not yet. That's not to say that she has no interest in men or dating, however. When she meets Malcolm Ferguson, the son and heir of the Duke of Lauderdale, at an event hosted by her parents, the attraction between them immediately burns white hot. Like Sabine, Malcolm's parents are pressuring him to get married and produce an heir, but he has no interest in giving up his carefree life as a London barrister. Quickly realizing that a fake relationship would benefit them both, Sabine and Malcolm agree to spend the summer pretending to fall in love. When the summer draws to a close, will they be able to part as friends or will they find that that their pretend feelings have become very real?

This story is a prequel to the Regency and Rivalry series, and just as in those books, Maude Winters has created a fun and engaging royal world. Malcolm and Sabine were both quite likeable and surprisingly relatable, and despite their age difference, they had a lot in common. I really liked them together and was rooting for them from the moment they met.

That said, some of the spicy scenes went beyond my personal comfort zone. This is obviously an individual preference and there are many readers who will absolutely adore this aspect of the story. For me, however, the first half of the book focused a bit too much on the steam and not enough on the growing emotional connection between Sabine and Malcolm. The second half of the book was better IMO, and I particularly felt for Malcolm's family situation and the challenges it presented for his relationship with Sabine. I was satisfied with where they ended up and the genuine connection I sensed between them.

Overall, I enjoyed "A Summer with the Earl" and would recommend it for all fans of steamy contemporary romance. I look forward to the author's next release.

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

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Release Blitz + Review: "Falling" by Willow Aster

I'm happy to take part in the release blitz celebrating "Falling" by Willow Aster, book #4 of the Landmark Mountain series. Characters from the previous books make appearances in this one, but it reads as a standalone.

 

After learning that he's only marrying her to get his hands on her parents' land, Ruby Jones leaves her fiance at the altar and flees Utah in her vintage RV. She heads to her uncle's home in the small town of Landmark Mountain, Colorado only to find that he's traveling for the next few weeks. His neighbor, Callum Landmark, offers Ruby and her emu, Dolly, a place to stay. When grumpy Callum and sunshine Ruby form an unlikely attachment, will they fight their feelings or find themselves falling for each other despite the obstacles standing in their way?
 

For the most part, I enjoyed Ruby and Callum's story, though I must admit that it wasn't my favorite book of the series. It's difficult to explain without getting into spoilers, but the pacing of their relationship development felt off to me; it was a bit too slow in the first half of the book but a bit too fast in the second half. That said, I did like them as a couple and found them both to be quite endearing and relatable. Their interactions with the animals were entertaining, and it was great to catch up with Callum's siblings and their partners. In fact, I think the Landmark siblings' teasing banter was actually my favorite part of the story.

I'd recommend "Falling" for all contemporary romance fans and look forward to the next book in the series.

 

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

 

 

About "Falling"

When Little Miss Sunshine and a Hot, Grumpy Rancher are forced to live together, what could possibly go wrong?

 

To the small town of Landmark Mountain, Callum Landmark is a man of few words and considered to be the family grump. Uninvited and unexpected, I crash into his world like a wrecking ball and disrupt the delicate balance of his carefully constructed existence.

Forced to live together due to my life's unexpected adventure, I find that the more time I spend with him, the more I see beneath his impenetrable exterior and into the heart of the man that not many are privileged to witness.

And against all odds, that vulnerability draws me in, tugging at the strings of my heart with an undeniable force. Coupled with his love for animals—nothing could be more charming than to watch this sexy, rugged rancher and animal whisperer at work.

But our connection is forged at the worst possible timing. I'm running from past mistakes, and meeting Callum has me jumping headfirst into a whirlwind of new complications. Yet, I can't resist his allure and the sizzling tension between us.

As I navigate the twists and turns of my new life in this quaint town, I can't help but wonder if falling for Callum might be the most unpredictable adventure of all.

Falling is book four in the standalone Landmark Mountain series. 

 

Release Blitz + Review: "P.S. You're Intolerable" by Julia Wolf

I'm pleased to participate in the release blitz celebrating "P.S. You're Intolerable" by Julia Wolf, book #3 of The Harder They Fall series. Characters from the previous books make cameo appearances in this one, but it reads as a standalone.

Catherine "Kit" Warner's entire life changes in the blink of an eye when she learns that she's pregnant following a one-time hookup with a travel buddy. Unable to return to her former job building houses for a charity organization abroad, she instead lands a position as executive assistant to billionaire Elliot Levy, CEO of Levy Development. Seemingly oblivious to anything not directly related to his work, Kit's pregnancy somehow escapes Elliot's notice for months. He does notice what a great assistant she is, however, so when he learns that Kit and her newborn daughter Joey are in need of a place to stay, he offers up his own house. After all, the sooner Kit's personal life is settled, the sooner she can get back to work. Spending so much time with Elliot outside of the office - and seeing the sweet way he interacts with Joey - helps Kit see a different side of her boss, and it's not long before she realizes that her feelings for him are more than just professional. Is there any hope for them to be together, or will office politics get in the way?

This was the first book I've read by Julia Wolf, but it definitely won't be the last. Elliot was such a delightful surprise as a protagonist! Every time I thought he was about to show his true colors and act like a jerk or tyrant (in other words, like a typical billionaire), he surprised me by doing something incredibly kind and thoughtful instead. I particularly enjoyed his attempts to justify the nice things he did for Kit by claiming that he had selfish motives, such as creating a pumping room on the executive floor because it would allow her to get back to work sooner. He may have been ruthless in his business dealings, but Elliot was a big ol' softy when it came to Kit and Joey, and I loved it.

The one thing that could have improved this story for me was a bit more resolution with Kit's parents in the end. There was a brief mention in the epilogue, but not enough to satisfy the questions I still had. For example, if her parents really didn't care about her, why did they supposedly look for her for so many years?

I highly recommend this funny, sweet, and steamy story for all contemporary romance fans and look forward to checking out more of the author's work in the future.

 

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

 

About "P.S. You're Intolerable"

My boss, Elliot Levy is intolerable, and I tell him so everyday…in the little notes I write and then hide in the back of my desk.

I can’t exactly say to his face that I’m convinced he’s a cyborg, considering I'm about to become a single mother and I really need to keep my job as his assistant.

Elliot never looks at me, so he doesn’t even notice I’m pregnant until I’m seven months along. The first thing he asks is if I’m planning to come back to work once I have the baby.

Not unexpected.

What is unexpected is Elliot coming to my rescue when I need a place to stay after my daughter is born. While living with him, I get to see a whole other side of him…especially when he walks around his house without a shirt on.

Which he does, ALL. THE. TIME.

I shouldn’t look, but I can’t help it. He’s gorgeous in a suit, but out of one? Devastating.

Elliot shows me he isn’t the heartless robot I once thought. It’s still terrifying to take a chance on him, even when he holds my baby like she’s precious to him, and he touches me like he’s been longing to for ages.

Now that he has me, he isn’t letting me go without a fight.

And Elliot Levy didn’t get where he is in business without learning a few underhanded tricks. What will he do to keep me? To keep us?

P.S. I think I’m falling for you.

 

Review: "Dare to Marry You" by Julia Jarrett

Dare to Marry You by Julia Jarrett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"Dare to Marry You" by Julia Jarrett, book #5 of the Donnellys of Dogwood Cove series, is a follow up to the first book of the series, featuring Kat and Hunter's Christmas Eve wedding at the Martin farm.

Kat couldn't be more excited as their big day approaches, while Hunter's anxiety continues to increase at the thought of being the center of attention. Further complicating matters is an unexpected training opportunity that sends Hunter out of town for most of the two weeks leading up to the wedding. Kat's left on her own with the last-minute details - and the surprising discovery that she's pregnant. When a massive snowstorm rolls in and strands Hunter on the mainland a few days before the wedding, will it force them to cancel all of their carefully laid plans?

Kat and Hunter are one of my favorite Julia Jarrett couples and I loved revisiting their story in this novella. Having struggled with anxiety myself, I've always found Hunter to be a particularly relatable protagonist. I appreciated that Kat was so patient and understanding with Hunter, and when she recognized that the wedding was a trigger for him, she adjusted the plans so that he could enjoy the day too. I also loved the way Hunter looked out for Kat, such as when he made sure that her brothers were available to help her shovel snow when he couldn't make it home during the storm. They were always taking care of each other in both big and small ways, and it made their relationship feel like a partnership in the truest sense of the word.

Overall, I adored "Dare to Marry You" and highly recommend it for all contemporary romance readers. I look forward to the next book in the series.

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

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Review: "Over the Line" by Elise Faber

Over the Line by Elise Faber
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In need of an escape after losing both her job and her boyfriend in the same day, photographer Nova Cassidy gratefully accepts her best friend's offer to spend a week at her brother's house in Lake Tahoe. Unfortunately, there's more bad luck waiting for Nova on the road; her car slides into a snowbank and she's unable to dig it out, leaving her stranded. She's reluctantly rescued by professional hockey player Lake Jordan as he's driving past on his way home from practice. When she informs him of her destination, they're both surprised to learn that Nova's friend gave her Lake's address instead of her brother's.

After a grueling stretch of away games, all Lake wants is to be left alone to rest and recover, but with the snow continuing to fall, he has no choice but to let Nova stay with him. Making her feel welcome isn't part of the deal, however. A rocky start to her stay gradually gives way to the growing attraction between them, but their respective pasts make the prospect of a relationship difficult. When the storm ends, will Nova and Lake be able to overcome their past hurts and build a new future together?

Lake came across as quite a jerk in the early chapters, but as I got further into the story, I came to understand that his behavior was actually an effort to push Nova away and protect himself from getting hurt. Similarly, Nova had to fight her instinct to run when things got too serious. They both had demons to battle, and I appreciated that they each made a conscious choice and put in the effort to be together in the end. I also enjoyed the story's lighter moments, particularly the ones involving Nova's "demon dog," Steve the pug.

I really like the direction Faber seems to be taking with this new hockey series. For a number of reasons, this story didn't feel like a "typical" hockey romance to me, which was refreshing. The Sierra are a dysfunctional team, many of the players don't get along, and some of them have a questionable work ethic. As captain, Lake had to try and figure out how to change the team's culture to give them a chance at winning the Cup. It will be interesting to see how this dynamic plays out through the next few books of the series.

I highly recommend "Over the Line" for all contemporary/sports romance fans and look forward to the next book in the series.

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

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Release Blitz + Review: "Something Like Lust" by Piper Rayne

I'm delighted to take part in the release blitz celebrating "Something Like Lust" by Piper Rayne, book #2 of the Chicago Grizzlies series. While it does work as a standalone, the main characters' first meeting actually takes place in a free prequel to the series. I'd recommend reading that first for context.

Piper Rayne's sports romances have all been pretty great, but I think this one is my new favorite of theirs. The authors did a fantastic job of redeeming bad boy football star Damon Siska. Learning that he was about to become a father brought out a completely different side of Damon's personality, and I loved the way he stepped up and became a true partner to middle school teacher Adeline Morgan. Their banter and chemistry was phenomenal, but what I most appreciated was their awareness of the challenges they faced and efforts to talk through how to handle them. The one topic that seemed to be off limits was Damon's fear of relationships, but when I learned the reason behind it, my heart broke for him. Adeline and the baby were exactly what Damon needed to move on from his past into a brighter future.

 

I highly recommend "Something Like Lust" for all contemporary/sports romance and romantic comedy fans and look forward to the next book in the series.

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

 

About "Something Like Lust"

Do it.
Don’t do it.

Never in my life did I think I’d wager in my head whether to sleep with Chicago Grizzlies wide receiver, Damon Siska.

He’s the perfect package—hot body, killer smile, and flirts like he earned a doctorate in it. But anyone who reads gossip blogs knows he is looking for one amazing night and nothing more.

I’m not the usual type of woman he beds. I’m a middle school teacher who cherishes her quiet nights in, drinking wine, and watching romantic comedies, dreaming I’m the heroine. I’m not embarrassed to admit—I want the fairy tale.

But Damon caught me at a weak moment. Fresh off a break-up and feeling lousy about myself, I gave into temptation and left the next morning like every other woman he’d slept with.

Except I walked away with more than just the memories when three weeks later the little white stick glowed with two pink lines.

 

Review: "On the Defense" by Piper Rayne

On the Defense by Piper Rayne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"On the Defense" by Piper Rayne is a prequel novella to the Chicago Grizzlies series. Professional football player Miles Cavanaugh, recently traded to Chicago from the San Francisco Kingsmen, moves into an apartment in the same building as two of his new teammates. A new season is about to begin and it's a fresh start for all of them, not just in football, but maybe in love, too.

I'd recommend this novella for all readers who plan to pick up the other books in the series. It helps bridge the gap between the Kingsmen Football Stars series, which concluded with Miles's sister Twyla's story, and the beginning of the Chicago Grizzlies series. It also provides helpful context for later events in the Grizzlies series, especially those of book 2, "Something Like Lust."

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