Review: Don't Let Go

DON'T LET GO
Hope #6
Jaci Burton
Contemporary Romance
304 pages
Jove
Available Now
Source: Finished copy from publisher for review

THE STORY (from Goodreads)
Brady Conners is hardly the settling type, but when tragedy strikes in his family, he has no choice but to return home to Hope, Oklahoma. Setting up shop to work on custom motorcycles and pass the time, Brady has no intention of letting anyone get close—until he meets Megan.

Pastry shop owner Megan Lee is drawn to quiet, brooding Brady. Their connection is undeniable, and it quickly develops from physical attraction into something much stronger. But with Brady putting up barriers, Megan is afraid to truly open her heart—unless she can convince him to let go of the past…

MY THOUGHTS
Don't Let Go is an easy, sexy read as Ms. Burton's books always are, giving us an enjoyable lead couple along with a scene-stealing (and stuffed chicken-loving) canine companion.

Megan is the stronger of the two in terms of characterization; Brady embodying the classic brooding romance hero with absolutely no desire to fall in love while Megan makes herself a bit more memorable. Instead of waiting for Brady to show interest, or throwing herself in his path in the hopes that he'll take notice and ask her out, she puts herself out there and takes matters into her own hands by inviting him to dinner. When it looks like maybe things might not go the way she hopes despite some pretty strong signals from him, she neither gives up hope nor comes on too strong, instead giving him a little time before she she again takes the initiative.

Brady, while perhaps not stepping outside the romance hero box, is still smoldering in the way of all Ms. Burton's men, ensuring there is no shortage of swoon-worthy moments. His attachment to a tiny stray dog named Roxie only ratchets up his hotness level, bringing a smile to our faces every time he puts her on his motorcycle and trucks her around town. Though he makes us want to shake him when he decides things can't possibly work with Megan and behaves in predictable brooding bad-boyish fashion, Megan more than makes up for his actions by refusing to allow him to cut her down. She stands strong through his bluster, demanding respect when he lashes out in anger and remaining cool, collected and classy when met by his cruel words.

Overall, Don't Let Go is maybe not the strongest book in this series, but it does give us a highlight of a heroine, an adorable dog, and a romance with plenty of heat and heart.

Rating: 3.5/5

Find Jaci:

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This book was sent to me by the publisher free of charge for the purpose of a review. 

I received no other compensation and the above is my honest opinion.

Review: Rock Hard

ROCK HARD
Rock Kiss #2
Nalini Singh
Contemporary Romance
387 pages
TKA
Available Now
Source: Bought

THE STORY (from Goodreads)
Wealthy businessman Gabriel Bishop rules the boardroom with the same determination and ruthlessness that made him a rock star on the rugby field. He knows what he wants, and he’ll go after it no-holds-barred.

And what he wants is Charlotte Baird.

Charlotte knows she’s a mouse. Emotionally scarred and painfully shy, she just wants to do her job and remain as invisible as possible. But the new CEO—a brilliant, broad-shouldered T-Rex of a man who growls and storms through the office, leaving carnage in his wake—clearly has other plans. Plans that may be equal parts business and bedroom.

If Charlotte intends to survive this battle of wits and hearts, the mouse will have to learn to wrangle the T-Rex. Game on.

MY THOUGHTS
Rock Hard is another shining example of Ms. Singh's ability to write an engaging, poignant and funny romance all wrapped up in layers of sexual tension, keeping us on the edge of our seats waiting for the moment our lead couple is going to combust.

Thanks to an abusive ex-boyfriend, heroine Charlotte suffers from severe anxiety in her day to day life, anxiety that spikes to extreme levels when she's faced with imposing men like her new CEO Gabriel. It's impossible not to want to spend a good portion of our time reading wanting to hug Charlotte and never let her go as her nerves get the better of her repeatedly, but she is in no way meek, and finds a spine of steel when she needs it most. Once Gabriel makes his romantic interest in her known, she opens up to him about her past, and continues to be upfront with him when something he says or does triggers a flashback so that they can move forward instead of getting stuck in the past.

Gabriel is every bit as good at communicating as Charlotte (with a few small exceptions which only add to the humor and tension), asking for her honesty but never demanding it, and letting her know when his protective instincts are at an all-time high so she can take a step back and let him work through it. They two of them together are ridiculously adorable, and while waiting until well past the halfway mark for things to really heat up between them physically seems like it would kick their romance into frustrating territory, it instead feels perfectly paced, and Ms. Singh ensures that we're not left wanting for swoon.

Overall, Rock Hard is an outstanding contemporary romance, and one that easily stands alone despite being the second book in the Rock Kiss series. Longtime fans of Nalini Singh or newcomers to her work should add this one to the TBR list for a sweet and sexy summer read!

Rating: 4/5

Find Nalini:

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Guest Post: Catherine Bybee + Doing It Over

Happy Friday Everyone! Today I have a very special guest post from author Catherine Bybee as part of the promotional tour for her latest contemporary romance release, Doing it Over. You guys know there's never a time I'm not in the mood for a good romance, so I'm thrilled to welcome Catherine back to the blog. She's here to share a little bit about Doing It Over and life during her high school years, so I hope you guys enjoy and add this one to your lists!

THE HARDEST PART ABOUT MY HIGH SCHOOL LIFE

Jumping off a new series based on three high school besties, was both cathartic and fun. It helps that I have two teenage children either in high school, or just out of high school sparking my muse.

So when asked…what was my worst high school experience, and one that truly shaped my life…this is what I came up with:

I didn’t have a lot growing up. My mom fell in and out of love a lot, dragging her children along for the ride. My older siblings dropped out of school leaving me to set the example of doing it right. I was determined to graduate and go on to college. I learned early on that a university was out of the question. My grades weren’t such that I could compete on that level to get in, and money wasn’t there at all.

I worked as a waitress every day I could and still found time for after school plays and homework. Not that I gave much attention to the latter, but I did manage to pull halfway decent grades. My senior year in high school offered me the lead in two plays, which thrilled and challenged me. I was skating toward the finish line with the couple of academic classes I needed and the rest revolving around my passion. Theater and choir. I’d made the jazz choir, was vice president of the drama club…and lets not forget the lead roles of Annie Sullivan in The Miracle Worker and Marty in the musical Grease.

Then… during the Christmas break, my mother came home to the apartment she was renting, and told me we were being evicted. She was moving in with her friend ‘Stoney’… name given for obvious reasons…and I should find a place to live.

Holy Shit! 

Yeah, that isn’t made up folks. I was six months away from graduating high school, 17 years old…and being told to ‘figure it out’.

I did!

I dropped out of all my fun classes, acting, directing, choir…gone were the after school roles in the plays. I added classes like computers…remember MS DOS?  I took a ten key class, and left school around noon to work so I could pay my way.  I had two families over the next six months take me in and offer a room. I paid them rent…not a lot, but something. I often only came to their homes to sleep.

I was on my own!

So there you go… the hardest part of my high school years.
The drive and determination I learned during that time has sat with me my whole life. But boy it sucked at the time!

Happy Reading
Catherine 

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

DOING IT OVER

One small town. Three close friends. True love to last a lifetime.

Voted Most Likely to Succeed, Melanie Bartlett ended up anything but. The down-on-her-luck single mom wants a complete do-over—is that too much to ask? With her family long gone from River Bend, strong, independent Mel is as surprised as anyone to end up in the quaint small town she once called home. But with her friends, Jo and Zoe, by her side, and a comfortable room at Miss Gina’s quirky bed-and-breakfast, she just might have turned the corner on a new life.

Wyatt Gibson never liked the big city. River Bend suits the ruggedly handsome builder just fine. Wyatt knows he’s home, even if that means being charmed by the appearance of Melanie and her spunky, adorable daughter. Is Wyatt’s calm devotion—even amid a coming storm—enough to convince Mel she may have found a home to call her own, a family that never leaves, and a true love to last a lifetime?

Amazon • B&N • BAM • Book Depository

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

CATHERINE BYBEE

New York Times & USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bybee was raised in Washington State, but after graduating high school, she moved to Southern California in hopes of becoming a movie star. After growing bored with waiting tables, she returned to school and became a registered nurse, spending most of her career in urban emergency rooms. She now writes full-time and has penned the Weekday Brides Series and the Not Quite Series. Bybee lives with her two teenage sons in Southern California.

Website • Blog • Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • Pinterest

Review: Ride Hard

RIDE HARD
Raven Riders #1
Laura Kaye
Contemporary MC Romance
320 pages
Avon
Available Now
Source: eARC from publisher for review

THE STORY (from Goodreads)
Brotherhood. Club. Family.

They live and ride by their own rules.

These are the Raven Riders . . .

Raven Riders Motorcycle Club President Dare Kenyon rides hard and values loyalty above all else. He’ll do anything to protect the brotherhood of bikers—the only family he’s got—as well as those who can’t defend themselves. So when mistrustful Haven Randall lands on the club’s doorstep scared that she’s being hunted, Dare takes her in, swears to keep her safe, and pushes to learn the secrets overshadowing her pretty smile.

Haven fled from years of abuse at the hands of her criminal father and is suspicious of any man’s promises, including those of the darkly sexy and overwhelmingly intense Ravens’ leader. But as the powerful attraction between them flares to life, Dare pushes her boundaries and tempts her to want things she never thought she could.

The past never dies without a fight, but Dare Kenyon’s never backed down before . . .

MY THOUGHTS
Ride Hard is a fast-paced, swoon-worthy start to this series, giving us a delightfully mismatched leading couple with a rough and tumble hero and a sweet-as-pie heroine more than a decade his junior. Though they're miles apart in age and personality, unfortunate life experiences bring them together, and the romance that develops between them has us setting this one on that special shelf that houses all the books we plan to read over and over again.

Though Haven is initially as timid as they come thanks to an abusive father and life as part of a criminal organization, she never comes across as weak, merely a young woman attempting to survive in a potentially threatening environment the only way she knows how. She knows she's letting fear drive her in the beginning, and though she gets mad at herself for it, she still can't quite bring herself to be the life of the party the way her best friend Cora is. Slowly but surely however, we see her begin to find herself thanks to her new environment and the camaraderie with many of the Raven Riders, and by the end she has a spine of steel that causes more than one leather-clad biker to take a step back and give her space.

Dare is just the right amount of bad boy, running his MC as above board as possible while still being able to help those the law can't, giving a little kiss of danger along with our heart of gold. He's incredibly patient with Haven as she tries to figure herself out, never trying to be the missing piece that suddenly makes her whole, but rather content to be by her side as she completes herself and then shares her newfound wholeness with him.

As is always the case with a romance by Ms. Kaye, Haven and Dare sizzle throughout, but the heat is more than backed up by emotional substance. Dare and Haven are also surrounded by an outstanding cast of characters, many of whom are sure to get their own stories in future books, and I for one can't wait to dive back into this world with another one of the Raven Riders!

Rating: 4/5

Find Laura:

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This book was sent to me by the publisher  free of charge for the purpose of a review. 

I received no other compensation and the above is my honest opinion.

 

Review: The Harder You Fall

THE HARDER YOU FALL
Original Heartbreakers #3
Gena Showalter
Contemporary Romance
384 pages
Harlequin
Available Now
Source: Bought

THE STORY (from Goodreads)
Millionaire video-game creator Lincoln West has a dark and tragic past. The sought-after bachelor lives by a rigid schedule and a single rule—one relationship per year, lasting no more than two months. No exceptions. He moved to small town Strawberry Valley, Oklahoma, with his brothers-by-circumstance hoping to escape the worst of his memories—until a brash beauty dredges up long-buried emotions.

A reformed party girl, Jessie Kay Dillon is determined to walk the straight and narrow. But her love-hate sizzle with West is just too irresistible. They can't be near each other without tearing off their clothes, but the last thing she needs is to be his next two-month dump. Can she be the one exception? Because as any former girl-gone-wild knows: rules are made to be broken.

MY THOUGHTS
The synopsis for The Harder You Fall leads us to believe we'll crack the spine of this book and find a hate-sex fueled relationship that eventually turns into so much more, and while that would have undoubtedly been entertaining, what we uncover instead is a slow burn romance full of delightful banter to offset the baggage both Jessie Kay and West carry.

Jessie Kay has a past she's not entirely proud of, labeled a sure thing by the men in her small town and therefore burdened with their suggestive comments and wandering hands whenever in public, and though she wishes she had made different choices here and there, she's not overly self-pitying or convinced she's deserving of such treatment. She's instead determined to find a man who's willing to give and take with her in equal measure, and while West tests that resolve through the majority of the book, she sticks to her guns and gives herself the respect she's so long overdue. She and West fully admit to their mutual attraction early on (once they take the animosity down a level that is), and what follows is two people taking baby steps toward a future that's not limited by the sins of their respective pasts.

It takes West a little while to recognize how low Jessie Kay's self-esteem truly is, distracted as he is by her ability to make light of any situation, but once it becomes clear that her self-worth is linked to her reputation he does everything in his power to show her who he sees when he looks at her. He knows his offer of a 2-month relationship (which stems from the aforementioned baggage) isn't good enough for her, and he's both frustrated and proud in turn when when she tells him she wants and deserves more. They both push each other at just the right moments, never asking for more than the other person can give and content to wait until they're both emotionally ready to be all in, and the journey they take to get there plasters a smile to our faces throughout.

The intensity of their feelings for one another is over the top at times, but the two of them are just so much fun together it's hard to be too bothered by their boldly possessive declarations. Overall, The Harder You Fall is the perfect read for those (like myself) who love tension and banter in their romances, the chemistry between Jessie Kay and West off the charts from page one as they push each other's buttons, and it only builds as their enmity shifts to lust and finally love.

Rating: 4/5

Find Gena:

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Review: Maybe This Christmas

MAYBE THIS CHRISTMAS
O'Neil Brothers #3
Sarah Morgan
Contemporary Romance
384 pages
Harlequin
Available Now
Source: Bought

THE STORY (from Goodreads)
This winter, ex-skiing champion, reformed heartbreaker and single dad Tyler O'Neil has only one mission—making sure his daughter, Jess, has the best Christmas ever. The fact that his best friend, Brenna, is also temporarily moving into his chalet at the overbooked Snow Crystal resort is a delicious distraction he's simply going to have to ignore. Theirs is the one relationship he's never ruined, and he's not about to start now.

Ski pro Brenna Daniels knows all about the perils of unrequited love—she's been in love with Tyler for years. But living with him is absolute torture…how can she concentrate on being his friend when he's sleeping in the room next door? Then when Tyler kisses Brenna, suddenly the relationship she's always dreamed of feels so close she could almost touch it. Could this be the Christmas her dreams of a happy-ever-after finally come true?

MY THOUGHTS
Maybe This Christmas gives us a delightful best friends to lovers romance, one rippling with all the delicious tension that stems from a relationship in transition, and we can’t help but flip the pages at record speed to see how long it takes buried feelings to come bubbling to the surface in all their exhilarating glory.

Brenna is someone who kicks our protective instincts into high gear from the first page, the fact that she’s been completely in love with Tyler O’Neil her entire life but has found herself relegated inescapably to the best friend role making our hearts hurt instantly. She’s in no way maudlin about her predicament however, instead she’s largely come to terms with the firm boundaries of their friendship, but like anyone who’s experienced unrequited love, hope springs eternal. It’s easy to root for her chapter after chapter, hoping she finally works up the nerve to tell him how she feels but of course completely understanding when her fear of losing him altogether keeps her silent.

The tension between them is so thick we practically have trouble breathing as we read, the air heavy with all the words that continue to go unspoken yet charged with possibility as things ever-so slowly start to change. Even though we’re well aware this is a romance and we’re therefore pretty much guaranteed a happily-ever-after, Ms. Morgan does a beautiful job of making us question whether or not such a thing is actually possible for these two time and again.

We’re of course left with a smile on our faces though, infused with the warmth that comes from vicariously experiencing a woman get the one thing she’s always wanted but never dreamed she’d actually have.

Rating: 4/5
 

Find Sarah:

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Top 5 of 2015

Happy Friday Everyone!

Since December is flying by at record speed (seriously, I'm pretty sure Thanksgiving was yesterday?) I thought I'd go ahead and share my top 5 reads for 2015. When I searched through all my ratings for the year I discovered I only gave three books a 5/5 and only a handful more a 4.5/5. Apparently I was impressively stingy with my high ratings this year. Whoops. Below are the three titles that absolutely blew me away and left me no choice but to give them the highest rating possible, and two more that were outstanding and secured themselves a place on my shelf of favorites.

SIX OF CROWS

I want to live inside Leigh Bardugo's mind for an hour. I won't be selfish and demand more time than that, just an hour so I can see what it's like. I was initially wary of this book as I tend to struggle when I'm bounced around from person to person, but Leigh made every single character so intriguing and rich in personality that I was desperate for more time with each of them rather than less. I couldn't recommend this book more highly.

Find Leigh

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A COURT OF THORNS AND ROSES

Beauty and the Beast is my all-time favorite fairy-tale, so I jump at the chance to devour every retelling I can find. This version I thought was particularly well done, especially the final third where court politics really come into play and Feyre has to prove what she's made of. Sarah J. Maas can be brutal to her readers though, tearing beloved characters down again and again before building them back up, so I'm mildly nervous about what the next book holds in store but have no doubt it will be worth it:)

Find Sarah:

 

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THE START OF ME AND YOU

Contemporary YA is not my go-to genre; those of you who read this blog with any frequency know I tend to gravitate toward the paranormal and fantasy, but I will forever read anything Emery Lord decides to write. Her characters always feel completely genuine and lacking in any unnecessary drama to cause me stress as I read. If you've yet to read any of her books, I hope at least one goes on your letter to Santa this year!

Find Emery:

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MAGIC SHIFTS

Kate and Curran. I feel like that's all that really needs to be said about this one.

Find Ilona:

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THIS HEART OF MINE
 

This one would have passed me right on by if not for Candace inviting me to be a part of the tour, so THANK YOU CANDACE! I have a soft spot for stories where a character has been grievously wronged and continues to be so through a good chunk of the story because I can't wait for the moment when everyone realizes their error. Phoenix spent 17 years in prison for a crime she didn't commit, and when she gets out she continues to be a pariah in her small town. Despite that however, she shows no weakness or self-pity, and holds no ill-will toward those who are cruelest to her. Instead she holds her head up high for the sake of her son and her own self. LOVED it!

Find This Heart of Mine:

Goodreads • Amazon • IndieBound • B&N

Review: Best Worst Mistake

BEST WORST MISTAKE
Brightwater #3 (can be read as a stand-alone)
Lia Riley
Contemporary Romance
235 pages
Avon Impulse
Available Now
Source: Bought

THE STORY (from Goodreads)
Sometimes the worst mistakes turn out to be the best…

Smoke jumper Wilder Kane once reveled in the rush from putting out dangerous wildfires. But after a tragic accident, he’s cut himself off from the world, refusing to leave his isolated cabin. When a headstrong beauty bursts in, Wilder finds himself craving the fire she ignites in him, but letting anyone near his darkness would be a mistake.

After her Hollywood life went up in smoke, Quinn Higsby decided to leave Tinseltown behind and return to Brightwater to care for her ailing father. She spends her days in a small bookstore, until her peaceful existence is up-ended by a fascinating but damaged man. Quinn is determined not to be scared off by Wilder, not once she’s experienced the heat of his passions.

But when an arsonist targets the community and Wilder is accused, he must confront the ghosts of his past. Will his desire for Quinn burn him up or will he be able to tame the wildness inside and rekindle a hope for their future?

MY THOUGHTS
Best Worst Mistake has the type of romantic setup sure to make us avid romance readers swoon and fall immediately in love: a damaged, lonely hero who finds a second chance at living in the arms of an utterly adorable woman. Ms. Riley leaves us with little choice but to become swept up in the free-flowing honesty, endearing awkwardness and heated moments between Wilder and Quinn, and we find ourselves with a dopey grin on our faces more often than not throughout.

Wilder has complete ownership of our hearts from page one as we bear witness to the tragic accident that robs him of his leg and leaves him with an extremely surly (but also charming) disposition. He understandably feel like less of a man in the aftermath, the physical loss combining with a lifelong emotional loss to turn him into a recluse with little other than sharp words to offer people. His initial interactions with Quinn are as cute as can be though, characterized by both the blurting of possibly the worst compliments ever and a series of weighted silences that Quinn feels a compulsion to fill. Quinn, for her part, is as thoroughly enjoyable as Wilder, taking his grumpiness in stride and returning nervous ramblings the likes of which he's never seen before. The two of them together are light and fun despite the seriousness of their life situations (Wilder's guilt over his role in his parents deaths and the possibility of Quinn developing early onset Alzheimer's like her father), and spending several hours with them is time more than well spent.

The only minor complaint with this contemporary romance is that it starts much stronger than it finishes, the hilarious interactions between a crabby Wilder and determinedly positive Quinn turning a bit sappy as their romance progresses in intensity. It's not enough to detract from the overall success of them as a couple, but their tendency to continuously compliment one another and share their ever-deepening feelings again and again does serve as a reminder that we're reading a romance novel. Overall however, Best Worst Mistake is a quick, feel-good read sure to bring a little warmth in preparation for cold winter months ahead.

Rating: 4/5
 

Find Lia:

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Review: All I Want

ALL I WANT
Animal Magnetism #7
Jill Shalvis
Contemporary Romance
304 pages
Berkley
Available October 6th
Source: ARC from publisher for review

THE STORY (from Goodreads)
Pilot-for-hire Zoe Stone is happy to call Sunshine, Idaho, her home base. But her quiet life is thrown for a loop when her brother’s friend Parker comes to stay with her for a week. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife special agent is a handsome flirt with a gift for getting under her skin. And the situation only escalates when Parker hires her to fly him around the area while he collects evidence on a suspected smuggler.

Now she has to live and work with the guy. But when they’re in the air, she sees another side of him. He’s driven, focused, and sharp. And while he enjoys giving commentary on her blind dates, she quickly realizes with a shock that it’s Parker who gets her engines going…

MY THOUGHTS
All I Want is yet another fun, engaging romance from Ms. Shalvis, delighting us with a sweet couple and a standout supporting cast of animal characters. Like the relationships before them, Zoe and Parker’s romance is low on the drama and high on the charm, starting with a kiss meant for someone else and continuing with a series of moments that should have been awkward but are completely endearing instead.

Zoe is a woman adapting to an empty nest since her younger brother and sister moved out to be with their significant others, so used to being the responsible, reliable one that she doesn’t know what to do with herself when Parker enters the picture and offers her help in small ways. She’s humorously outraged when she attempts to fix things and ends up making them worse instead, only to wake up the next morning and find her plumbing mishaps and other household issues not-so mysteriously remedied by her new tenant. It takes some convincing to get her to take a chance on Parker knowing his time in Sunshine, Idaho is short-lived, but once she does decide to go all-in she stays honest with herself and Parker for the duration of their fling. She knows he’s leaving, and as much as she wants to tell herself not to get emotionally attached, she knows herself better than that and just admits the feelings to Parker as they come.

Parker is as amused by Zoe’s determination to handle of all aspects of her life herself as we are, adorably enduring her narrowed-eyed glances when she notices that he’s gone behind her and fixed what she couldn’t. He’s as open and honest as she is, never once pretending that a relationship between the two of them is possible long term, and their communication is as much a highlight as their chemistry and their shared love of animals.

While all the books in the Animal Magnetism series have show-stealing furry and feathered characters, none (aside from Peanut the foul-mouthed parrot who does make a brief appearance) is as endearing as Zoe’s dog Oreo. His continual surprise over the fact that he farts nearly every time he barks will have dog owners giggling throughout, completely understanding the look of utter bafflement he directs at his hind end when it happens. Overall, All I Want is one of the strongest installments in this series, Oreo’s prominent role and the honesty (and heat!) between Zoe and Parker ensuring that we breeze right through this romance in no time at all.

Rating: 4/5
 

Find Jill:

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This book was sent to me by the publisher free of charge for the purpose of a review. 

I received no other compensation and the above is my honest opinion.

Treasured By Thursday: Excerpt + Giveaway!

Happy Monday Everyone! Wait. No. That doesn't really work does it? Mondays are never any fun, but today I hopefully get to make your Monday a little better by sharing a swoon-worthy excerpt from Treasured by Thursday, the latest contemporary romance from Catherine Bybee. You're welcome ;-) Be sure and check the bottom of the post too for a chance to win all sorts goodies!

And now, the promised swoon:

“I think we should talk about what’s going on here.”

She swallowed. “We’re cooking.”

“Gabi, look at me.”

She shook her head, taking the coward’s way out. If she noticed the lock of hair falling into his eyes a second time, she might have to push it back in place.

“Gabriella?” The smooth texture of his voice was like chocolate on her tongue.

His sticky hand tucked under her chin and forced her to meet his gaze.

He stepped closer, his frame molding to hers and pressing her back against the counter.

She couldn’t breathe.

His thumb traced her bottom lip. “This is a bad idea,” he mumbled her thoughts.

She nodded. “Very poor choice.” Her hands gripped the side of the counter to keep from touching him.

Hunter sucked in a deep breath. “You smell like flowers.”

“I’ll change my shampoo.”

He started to dip his head and she kept talking. “Something musky, so you won’t notice me.”

“I don’t think that’s going to work.”

He was close enough to catch the scent of mint on his breath. “I don’t even like you.” One of her legs lifted and rubbed against one of his.

“I don’t trust you.” His hand moved from her lip the side of her neck.

“You blackmailed me.”

“You tricked me into cooking with your mother.”

She smiled. “The two hardly compare.”

Instead of dropping his lips to hers, he detoured to the side of her neck and kept talking, his breath brushing her skin. “Have you met your mother?”

“That’s sill—”

His lips found her neck.

She moaned and closed her eyes. Such a deliciously bad idea.

• • • • • • • • • • • •

TREASURED BY THURSDAY

The seventh and final tale in the dazzling, heartwarming, and pulse-racing Weekday Brides series.

Gabriella Masini: She’s a woman haunted by her past, with the scars to prove it. She believes that fairy tales are for other people. An elite matchmaker at Alliance, she’s great at crunching numbers, but something doesn’t add up with her latest prospective client: a billionaire bad boy with his own secrets. When Gabi refuses to be his temporary wife, Hunter forces her hand with an offer she can’t refuse. But marriage to a man like that could never last…or could it?

Hunter Blackwell: Only his bank account is bigger than his ruthless ability to obtain anything he wants. These days, he has a secret reason to settle down, at least for a while—and he thinks the sensual and sassy Gabi will fit the bill perfectly. But when their marriage of convenience becomes downright dangerous, Hunter must decide how far to take his vow to honor and protect Gabi forever.

Amazon • B&N • Books A Million • Book Depository

• • • • • • • • • • • 

CATHERINE BYBEE

New York Times & USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bybee was raised in Washington State, but after graduating high school, she moved to Southern California in hopes of becoming a movie star. After growing bored with waiting tables, she returned to school and became a registered nurse, spending most of her career in urban emergency rooms. She now writes full-time and has penned the Weekday Brides Series and the Not Quite Series. Bybee lives with her two teenage sons in Southern California.

Website • Blog • Twitter • Facebook • Pinterest • Instagram

• • • • • • • • • • •

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Review: Hard as it Gets

HARD AS IT GETS
Hard Ink #1
Laura Kaye
Romantic Suspense
368 pages
Avon
Available Now
Source: Finished copy from publisher

THE STORY (from Goodreads)
Tall, dark, and lethal...

Trouble just walked into Nicholas Rixey's tattoo parlor. Becca Merritt is warm, sexy, wholesome--pure temptation to a very jaded Nick. He's left his military life behind to become co-owner of Hard Ink Tattoo, but Becca is his ex-commander's daughter. Loyalty won't let him turn her away. Lust has plenty to do with it too.

With her brother presumed kidnapped, Becca needs Nick. She just wasn't expecting to want him so much. As their investigation turns into all-out war with an organized crime ring, only Nick can protect her. And only Becca can heal the scars no one else sees.

Desire is the easy part. Love is as hard as it gets. Good thing Nick is always up for a challenge...

MY THOUGHTS
Hard as it Gets is a fast-paced, low-angst romance, giving us a lead pair who handle everything thrown at them with maturity and make communication one of their top priorities. The result is a relationship that brings a smile to our faces, the perfect amount of heat and tension combining to give us more than a little swoon while sparing us frustration with either party as they start unraveling what's clearly going to be a series-long military-based mystery.

Becca is everything we could want in a heroine, a young woman who's out of her depth when it comes to her missing brother and knows it, leading her to ask for the help she do desperately needs instead of going off half-cocked and trying to fix things on her own. Given Nick is ex-Special Forces, Becca could have easily fallen into one of two categories of heroine: One, she could have played a damsel in distress to the fullest, completely relying on him to save both her and her brother; or two, she could have been bound and determined to be the exact opposite, wanting to prove her mettle by tossing herself into the middle of everything dangerous. Thankfully, Becca creates her very own category, fully recognizing that Nick has skills she doesn't, but at the same time refusing to allow him to run roughshod over her and dictate her every move. She's honest at all times, both with feelings and with any information she has that might help the investigation, and even when she learns what a binding non-disclosure agreement keeps Nick from telling her, she handles it in a way that has us wanting to reach out and hug her for being awesome.

Nick, for his part, is as enjoyable as Becca, possessing an excess of alpha qualities but never once coming across as bossy or overbearing. He has every reason to bear a grudge against Becca's family, but after their initial meeting, he never once holds the sins of the father against either Becca or her brother Charlie, throwing himself wholeheartedly into helping them both. He respects what Becca brings to the table regarding her brother's disappearance, never once disregarding her opinion or relegating her to the sidelines because she doesn't have his training. They're partners every step of the way, and the two of them together delight from first to last page.

Overall, Hard as it Gets is an outstanding first installment to the Hard Ink series, introducing us to a military cover up that will span multiple books, but ensuring we turn the last page fully satisfied with a complete story in this first installment. We also find ourselves acquainted with the remaining living members of Nick's Special Forces team, a group of men who bring a sense of humor and camaraderie to the story, deepening our emotional investment as we look forward to seeing each of them find their own slice of happiness in future books.

Rating: 4.5/5
 

Find Laura:

Website • Facebook • Twitter • Goodreads • Amazon

This book was sent to me by the author  free of charge for the purpose of a review. 

I received no other compensation and the above is my honest opinion. 

The Billionaire's Fantasy: Meet Jaiven Rodriguez + A Giveaway!

Today I have the pleasure of introducing you guys to Jaiven Rodriguez, the oh-so gorgeous hero of Kate Hewitt's newest romance, The Billionaire's Fantasy. (Seriously, look at those abs! He looks like he's got six rock-hard dinner rolls hiding out under his skin, whereas my midsection is more on par with a large angel food cake. Awesome ;-). Anyway, baked-goods midsections aside, I'm super excited to share a couple Jaiven tidbits with you, and be sure and stop by Bewitched Bookworms for a few extra Jaiven-related details. Before I get to Jaiven and all his sexiness though, a little bit about The Forbidden Series:

The Forbidden Series is a trilogy of sexier reads with serialized release dates and a different author for each title. Each week a new part of these seductive reads will be released so be sure and follow along for some flirty fun!

For Logan Black, Jaiven Rodriguez and Zair al Ruyi, New York is spread out before them like the Garden of Eden…and no one knows the sweet taste of forbidden fruit better than America’s most ruthless billionaires! Jaded, cynical, with a darkness that threatens to consume them whole, they think they’ve seen it all. But temptation has something new in store for each of them…

MEET JAIVEN RODRIGUEZ

What he looks for in a girl: 

Secretly he wants someone who values him. On the surface he looks for a woman who only wants a good time.

His one weakness: 

He secretly doesn’t think he’s good enough for anyone.

That's all you get ladies (well, that and a few more details in Danny's post), but he's clearly a man of mystery. To know more, you'll just have to read ;-)

• • • • • • • • • • •

THE BILLIONAIRE'S FANTASY

When Louise Jensen spent one wicked night with the devastatingly handsome Jaiven Rodriguez, she thought it would be enough. But now Jaiven has had a taste of his greatest fantasy, he wants more! Louise is about to be taken on a sensual journey by this billionaire bad boy.

Get the Book:

Part 1 – Free! : Amazon | B&N:
Pre-order the whole book here: Amazon | B&N



Get the different parts:
Purchase Part 2:  Amazon | B&N
Purchase Part 3: Amazon | B&N
Purchase Part 4: Amazon | B&N

Release dates:

June 14: Part 1 is available for FREE!
June 16: Part 2 is available for sale
June 18: Part 3 is available for sale
June 21: Part 4 is available for sale
June 24: The complete book is available for sale

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KATE HEWITT

Kate Hewitt has worked a variety of different jobs, from drama teacher to editorial assistant to church youth worker, but writing romance is the best one yet, and she has written over 25 books for Harlequin. She also writes short stories and serials for women’s magazines, and all her stories celebrate the healing and redemptive power of love. Kate lives in a tiny village with her husband, five children, and an overly affectionate Golden Retriever.

Twitter | Facebook  | Website

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GIVEAWAY

The amazing team at Harlequin is offering up a $100 gift card (Amazon, B&N or iTunes) to one lucky winner! Please enter via the Rafflecopter form. Giveaway is open internationally.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don't forget to check out all the stops for the entire Forbidden series!

The Billionaire’s Intern:

• Sunday, June 7th – The Book Cellar
• Tuesday, June 9th – The Bookmark Blog
• Thursday, June 11th – Romancing Rakes For The Love of Romance
• Sunday, June 14th – Read My Mind
• Tuesday, June 16th – Whirlwindbooks  & Fresh Fiction for Today’s Readers

The Billionaire’s Fantasy:

• Sunday, June 14th – Reading Between the Wines
• Tuesday, June 16th – The Irish Banana
• Thursday, June 18th – Bewitched Bookworms
• Sunday, June 21st – Literaria
• Tuesday, June 23rd – Supernatural Snark

The Billionaire’s Innocent:

• Sunday, June 21st – Lynn’s Romance Enthusiasm
• Tuesday, June 23rd – Read My Mind
• Thursday, June 25th – Curling Up With A Good Book
• Sunday, June 28th – The Book Swarm
• Tuesday, July 1st – Parajunkee

Review + Giveaway: Brokedown Cowboy

BROKEDOWN COWBOY
Copper Ridge #2
Maisey Yates
Contemporary Romance
368 pages
Harlequin
Available Now
Source: eARC from publisher for review

THE STORY (from Goodreads)
There are lines best friends shouldn't cross, but in Copper Ridge, Oregon, the temptation might be too much…

If practice makes perfect, Connor Garrett should be world champion of being alone. Since losing his wife he's concentrated exclusively on his family's ranch. Until his dear friend Felicity Foster needs a place to stay and Connor invites her to move in temporarily. That's what friends do—and Liss is his rock. What friends don't do? Suddenly start fantasizing about each other in their underwear. Or out of it…

Since high school, Liss has kept her raging crush in check. Another few weeks should be a breeze. But helping Connor rebuild his life only reinforces how much she longs to be a part of it. One explosive encounter, and she'll discover that getting what you always wanted can feel better than you ever dreamed…

MY THOUGHTS
Brokedown Cowboy is a romance fraught with the kind of tension that can only exist between longtime friends as they navigate the potentially treacherous waters of a shifting relationship, keeping us on edge throughout despite knowing a happily every after is awaiting us at the end. What makes this friends-to-lovers romance so successful is leading lady Liss, a woman who ensures the channels of communication between her and Connor are wide open even as she holds the full depth of her feelings back as a means of self-preservation. Where there could have been miscommunications and unnecessarily hurt feelings we find instead a woman who knows when to push Connor and when to take a step back, and we can't help but want her to have her fairytale ending with every fiber of our being.

Liss is upfront with Connor from the get-go, letting honesty serve as the foundation for their relationship and sparing us all the drama that accompanies silence or misdirection, but while she doesn't allow either of them to get away with hiding, she's unable to keep herself from throwing her heart in Connor's direction and hoping he catches it. She's careful as she can be though, as honest with herself as she is with Connor about what their relationship is and what it isn't, until she reaches the point where her careful honesty turns blunt and she starts fighting for all that she deserves. 

Connor, while not quite as strong a character as Liss, is a thoroughly enjoyable romantic hero, lost and adrift after his wife's death three years prior until Liss steps into his field of vision and blithely rips away his Jack Daniels-soaked blinders. Both Connor and Liss have a well-developed sense of humor that works its way into their everyday banter, able to laugh at the inevitable awkwardness that accompanies the change from friendship to intimacy while keeping intact what made them best friends in the first place.

The only minor drawback is the speed with which the damage caused by Connor's resistance to admit there's anything serious between is repaired, Liss granting forgiveness and exhibiting a willingness to jump back into them as a couple with an ease that's a tiny bit surprising given how careful she'd been all along. That being said though, when the man you've loved for years with no real hope of him ever being yours is standing in front of you professing his love in return, it's hard to do anything other than grab hold of what's being offered and never let go. Overall, Brokedown Cowboy is the perfect combination of sweet and sexy, with just a kiss of heartache to ensure we're emotionally invested in our couple's happiness. Ms. Yates also does a beautiful job of setting up our next romantic pair, and I can't wait to see how things unfold for Connor's younger sister Kate and his womanizing best friend Jack.

Rating: 4/5

Get Brokedown Cowboy:

Amazon • IndieBound • B&N • Goodreads

• • • • • • • • • • • 

MAISEY YATES

USA Today Bestselling author Maisey Yates lives in rural Oregon with her three children and her husband, whose chiseled jaw and arresting features continue to make her swoon. She feels the epic trek she takes several times a day from her office to her coffee maker is a true example of her pioneer spirit.

In 2009, at the age of twenty-three Maisey sold her first book. Since then it’s been a whirlwind of sexy alpha males and happily ever afters, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Maisey divides her writing time between dark, passionate category romances  set just about everywhere on earth and light sexy contemporary romances set practically in her back yard. She believes that she clearly has the best job in the world.

Website • Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads 

• • • • • • • • • • • 

TOUR & GIVEAWAY

Up for grabs today are 5 paperback copies of Part Time Cowboy (book one!). To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Giveaway is open to US/Canada only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For more tour details and the full list of participating blogs, visit CBB Book Promotions.