My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Not his fault he’s got a gigolo brain, a stripper body, and a Boy Scout smile.

It’s official. She’s a loser who gets turned on by dental products. There’s probably porn about this.

“Chimbo?” “It’s penis slang in Colombia. Weirdly enough, it means ‘fake’ in Paraguay and ‘worn out’ in Venezuela.” Nic gives him a sweet smile. “All phallic words, if you think about it.”

He was thinking of growing old together. Of the pair of them sharing smiles and secrets and maybe gun mounts on their walkers.

My Review:

 

If a fun and beloved series has to be concluded, this is the way to do it. The busy storylines were active in all directions while engaging, amusing, surprisingly twisty, and delightfully unpredictable with generous helpings of smirk-worthy snark. I was pleasantly surprised at the multiple layers, clever texturing, and unexpected complexity of the characters, they were not who I was expecting them to be. Tawna Fenske is a wily one, and I revel in her easy-to-fall-into and humorously entertaining style, highly enjoyable storylines, and unfailingly quirky and appealing characters.

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Tawna lives in Bend, Oregon, with her husband, stepkids, and a menagerie of ill-behaved pets. She loves hiking, snowshoeing, standup paddleboarding, and inventing excuses to sip wine on her back porch. She can peel a banana with her toes and loses an average of twenty pairs of eyeglasses per year. To find out more about Tawna and her books, visit www.tawnafenske.com.

 

    For the reasonable price of $1, Natalie Malone just bought herself an abandoned villa on the Amalfi Coast. With a detailed spreadsheet and an ancient key, she’s arrived in Italy ready to renovate–and only six months to do it. Which seemed reasonable until architect Pietro Indelicato began critically watching her every move… .  

My Rating:

 

Favorite Quotes:

 

Betrayal was never accidental. It was always a choice.

Pietro’s charm was universal— not something meant specifically for, or uniquely affecting, her. Natalie had seen toddlers swoon in his presence.

That’s why I came to Italy. To live in a beautiful little town with quirky but lovable people, great weather, and delicious food. Jorge gave me a rundown on the merits of naked beekeeping last week. Between him and Signora Carlota, I’m exceeding my goal.

She had once thought kissing straightforward— formulaic— then she experienced what Pietro could do with his tongue. Natalie was torn between wanting to be jealous of all the practice that had left him with skills like that and wanting to write personal thank-you notes to every woman who had contributed to his technique.

She didn’t think she’d ever felt so many different emotions at once. Pietro appealed to her sense of freedom, to her sense of humor, and even to her sense of logic. He knew how to get at her from anywhere.

 

My Review:

  This was an entertaining and relatable read with generous sprinkles of humor, a slowly developing new romance, gasp-worthy sensuality, observant insights, family drama, DIY renovations, gorgeous Italian sightseeing, and an interesting mystery. The writing had a smooth and easy-to-follow flow with taunting tidbits that teased my curiosity and kept me reading when the clock argued otherwise. The angst and contrived conflict levels were low, which is exactly how I like it. This was my second time reading her work and I find I enjoy Ms. Blade’s engaging writing style and liberal injections of humorous descriptions and amusing observations, which are some of the excellent reasons why she has been added to my list of favorites.   Kilby Blades is a USA Today bestselling author of Romance and Women’s Fiction. During her fifteen-year career as a digital marketing executive, she moonlighted as a journalist, freelanced as a food, wine, and travel writer, and lived it up as an entertainment columnist. She has lived in five countries, visited more than twenty-five, and spends part of her year in her happy place in the Andes Mountains. Kilby is a feminist, an oenophile, a cinephile, a social-justice fighter, and above all else, a glutton for a good story.  

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The One Month Boyfriend
(Wildwood Society #1)
by Roxie Noir 

 

It’s a simple enough agreement: for one month, Silas Flynn is my boyfriend of convenience.

 

He needs his old-fashioned boss to think he’s ready to settle down.

 

I need some arm candy to prove to my jerk ex-fiancé that I’ve moved on.

 

Perfect, right? Except for one minor detail: we can’t stand each other.

 

Everybody thinks he’s this perfect guy, but I know the real Silas. He’s a cocky, obnoxious jerk who thinks he can charm his way out of trouble and get anything he wants.

 

But there’s one tiny problem with fake dating: it looks a lot like real dating. Worse, it feels a lot like real dating.

 

I know once this is over, we’ll go our separate ways. No matter the smoldering looks he gives me, the possessive way he touches me, or the dirty things he whispers in my ear, Silas isn’t falling for me.

 

That’s fine. No matter how good being with him feels, I’m not falling for him, either.

 

One month. That’s it.

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

God, I love air conditioning. The pinnacle of human achievement.

‘…if you want me to break into his car and put shrimp paste under the floor mats, I will.” Now that’s the kind of friendship I need. “In August, no less,” I say. “Can you imagine?” “I don’t want to.” “My cousin’s friend’s roommate said someone did it to her once when she left her car somewhere for a whole weekend, and it smelled so bad she called the cops because she thought there had to be a dead body in there,” she says, comfortingly. “Wow,” I say, my chin digging into her shoulder. “One of the cops puked. She had to sell the car for scrap.

My face goes hot. My lips go cold. My body is somehow every temperature at once, I can’t feel my fingertips, and I think I might pass out from the sheer, all-consuming blinding rage. It feels like someone hooked my brain stem to a car battery, it’s so forceful, so palpable that I swear if I move at all I’ll send shockwaves through the room.

I’ve had one drink and I feel like I’m made of night air and fireworks.

Sentences feel like tetris when I’m like this: all pieces that could easily fit together if only I had enough skill and speed to make it work, which I never do.

 

My Review:

 

This is a fun and humorous read despite being filled with a cast of complicated and fractured characters with a multitude of issues they struggle with on a daily basis. Some were obvious and some were masked. This clever scribbler obviously knows a thing or two about anxiety and the ridiculousness of the scenarios the sufferer can conjure to endlessly fret over.

The characters were well-textured and frequently annoying yet oddly endearing and endlessly entertaining. I unequivocally adored Silas, and I knew I would, based on this wily writer’s skills.

While the overall plot was a common one, the storylines were original, authentic, highly amusing, smirk-worthy, atomically steamy, and unpredictable. Just like every other book by Ms. Noir that I’ve been lucky enough to stumble upon. The gal has mad skills and remains near the top of my list of favorites.

 

I love writing sexy, alpha men and the headstrong women they fall for.

 

My weaknesses include: beards, whiskey, nice abs with treasure trails, sarcasm, cats, prowess in the kitchen, prowess in the bedroom, forearm tattoos, and gummi bears.

 

I live in California with my very own sexy, bearded, whiskey-loving husband and two hell-raising cats.

 

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http://roxienoir.com

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When Tawna Fenske finished her English lit degree at 22, she celebrated by filling a giant trash bag full of romance novels and dragging it everywhere until she’d read them all. Now she’s a RITA-nominated, USA Today bestselling author who writes humorous fiction, risqué romance, and heartwarming love stories with a quirky twist. Publishers Weekly has praised Tawna’s offbeat romances with multiple starred reviews and noted, “There’s something wonderfully relaxing about being immersed in a story filled with over-the-top characters in undeniably relatable situations. Heartache and humor go hand in hand.”

Tawna lives in Bend, Oregon, with her husband, stepkids, and a menagerie of ill-behaved pets. She loves hiking, snowshoeing, standup paddleboarding, and inventing excuses to sip wine on her back porch. She can peel a banana with her toes and loses an average of twenty pairs of eyeglasses per year. To find out more about Tawna and her books, visit www.tawnafenske.com.

 

Smart Mouth, an all-new opposites-attract romantic comedy from Emma Lee Jayne, is now available.

 

The rockstar

 

There are lots of assumptions people make about rockstars. Shallow. Player. Addict. The truth? I’m none of those. 

 

The even bigger truth…the only opinion I care about is her’s and she hates me. Her as in Gwen Matthews, my twin brother’s best friend, the unrequited love of my life. She thinks I’m a liar and a jerk which is why I pretend to be my brother when she needs help one night. 

 

Except Gwen is a genius. Literally. So it doesn’t take her long to figure out it’s me and not my brother, but maybe, just maybe, she’s willing to give me a second chance. Because maybe when she looks at me, she only sees a rockstar with her best friend’s face, but when I look at her, I see my other half. She centers me in a way that no rhythm or line of lyric ever could. 

 

 

The scientist

 

I have three priorities in life at the moment: finish my research, defend my dissertation, and get my Ph.D., so that I can actually figure out what I’m supposed to do with my life. Tom Mendoza won’t help me achieve any of those things. Yet I can’t help the sudden feeling that I’ve been completely wrong about him all this time. 

 

The day we first met when we were both teenagers, I saw a glimpse of a sweet, funny boy that felt very much like a kindred spirit; awkward and full of energy and dreams. But that guy seemed to disappear and in his place was this stereotypical stupidly hot rock star that did not make sense in my world. 

 

Being a scientist means being willing to admit when you’re wrong and reevaluating everything. I might not understand much about human behavior, but I can clearly see the tender underbelly that Tom protects. The subtle rituals he uses to stave off his anxiety. Yes, he’s ridiculously hot, but his soul just might be more beautiful than his face and I’m not sure what to do with that. 

 

Especially when I find out that he’s in love with me. 

 

‘Smart Mouth’ is a full-length contemporary romance and can be read as a standalone. Book #4 in the Work For It series, Educated Romance World, Penny Reid Book Universe.

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quote:

 

I stop talking when I realize I’m speaking in choppy phrases that all sound like questions. I’m a smart woman who is about to get her Ph.D., and here I am, talking to the hottest man I’ve ever met about tilapia and compost, and I can’t even do that without sounding like a moron. Ladies and gentlemen, this is why I’m still single.

 

My Review:

 

This was a fun and witty tale full of insightful observations and amusing encounters between a brilliant but socially awkward microbiology doctoral candidate and the man who has pined for her for half his life. The characters were authentic and accessible and I particularly enjoyed the character of Tom being the complete antithesis of his culture, birth order, and successful career.

The storylines were active, well-paced, and engaging with smirk-worthy writing that pulled strong visuals to my mind’s eye. There was a small amount of breath-stealing and gasp-worthy sensual steam yet the heat level was high enough to singe my eyebrows.

This was my first exposure to the clever word voodoo of Emma Lee Jayne but I definitely feel a habit forming.

Not Fooling Anyone, an all-new fake relationship college romance from Allie Winters, is available now in Kindle Unlimited!

The deal is simple—pretend to be Ethan’s girlfriend for a psych study and we each get a nice payday. Despite him being a dumb jock who willingly gets punched for fun at my dad’s boxing gym, I can handle it. I’ve mastered the art of keeping others at a distance. Especially after… Well, never mind that.

Except, I didn’t count on him not understanding the definition of boundaries. Suddenly, we’re having to fake being in love all over campus to keep up the ruse. And when he tries to slip under the barriers I’ve worked so hard to create? Yeah, that’s not happening. Even if it turns out he’s surprisingly understanding… and funny… and charming… and smarter than I ever would have given him credit for. Not to mention that muscled body from all that boxing…

No, that’s irrelevant. I may have misjudged him, but that doesn’t mean I’m interested. He has no idea what kind of baggage I’m carrying. A relationship is the last thing on my mind.

Even if I’m not fooling anyone.

‘Not Fooling Anyone’ is a full-length contemporary romance and can be read as a standalone. Book #2 in the Lessons Learned series, Educated Romance World, Penny Reid Book Universe.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

He squints at me. “Are you making small talk? The Lexie I know wouldn’t do that.” I bite my lip, not keeping my grin very well contained, and push his shoulder. “Shut up.” Delight flares in his gaze. “If an alien’s taken over your brain, blink twice. Three times if you’re possessed by something else.”

All you need to know about Russian literature is that something depressing happens, they drink vodka, and a bunch of people die tragically. The end.

“There are some things that are hard to share,” she whispers. “They bare a part of your soul. And you have to hope the person you show it to will keep it safe. Will protect it. You have to take a leap of faith.” She looks up at me, her face tear-stained again, but she’s never looked more beautiful. “I want to take that with you. I know you’ll be there to catch me on the other side.”

“Babe, you’re turning into a romantic.” Her lips tilt up at the corners in amusement. “I know, it’s awful. You’ve given me…” She pauses for dramatic effect. “Feelings.” “I’m a monster.”

Every time I order a salad, I think this is the one. This is the salad that’ll make me love salads. But then, you know, it’s not. It’s just a boring salad.

“Where does he find these girls?”… “Some kind of girlfriend store?” I suggest. “Maybe on clearance? That’s why they don’t last long.”

My Review:

 

Another easy home run for the sparkling writing style, wily wit, and insightful observations of Allie Winters writing for the Smartypants crew. Why didn’t I latch on to this talented scribe sooner? I adore her humor and clever detailing that stealthily tucks amusing yet thought-provoking perceptions and inner musing into her engaging prose. The characters are realistically flawed with topical issues that entertain as well as inform with the inclusion of educational tidbits as they process their daily living. I am wiggling on the hook and looking forward to her next installment.

 

 

Lola Landry stares through the window of her locked car with the keys in the ignition and the radio blaring Beck’s “Loser.” While standing there and sweltering in the soupy Tennessee humidity, she wonders how her orderly life had crashed and burned so badly. Then her high school nemesis saunters up in all of his tall, strapping, fireman-to-the-rescue glory, slapping her with the humiliating proof that it can always get worse.

When the uber-confident Jedediah Lawson requests a date in return for popping her lock, a lightbulb goes off. Revenge is sweet. He would make the perfect victim—guest, that is—for her next podcast episode on Kiss and Tell. What shocks her is the casual way he not only agrees to the post-date interview on air, but ends up hijacking her audience and wooing them with his swoony, southern charm. Not even a low score on the date-o-meter can dissuade the man or keep her fans from demanding more of the charismatic Jed.

What’s worse, she secretly wants a second date with this man who is so different from his teenage self. His unwavering patience and dimpled smile erode her will, until she breaks the Kiss and Tell rules by agreeing to a second…and a third date. It’s a disaster. Not the date. They’re wonderful. The disaster is that she is falling for a man she once dubbed Jockstrap Jed.

‘Parks and Provocation’ is a full-length contemporary romance and can be read as a standalone. Book #2 in the Green Valley Heroes series, Green Valley Chronicles, Penny Reid Book Universe.

 

Favorite Quotes:

 

Ever since the layoff, my ego had been suffering from severe fracture lines, splintering into a million spiderweb breaks. I was holding it together with duct tape and a prayer, the most reliable of southern adhesives.

 

“Welcome to the annual man-meat show.” I was horrified and stupefied and in complete danger of swallowing my own tongue. I hoped there was a defibrillator in that ambulance just in case.

 

I bit my bottom lip, determined not to regret anything in the past. There was no use to it. Like my dad always told me, “Don’t waste your time looking back. You’re not going that way.”

 

Life is never fair. You just have to make roses out of shit-hills most of the time.

 

Meeting Jed’s family was like falling into a vortex and being squeezed tight by fluffy teddy bears and sharp-toothed piranhas at the same time.

 

My Review:

 

This was a cleverly written, fun, and frisky romp that kept me smirking, gasping, and seeking libation to rehydrate my desiccated body.   This engaging couple had a compelling yet tempestuous history as well as undeniable physical chemistry that singed the sheets.

My Kindle was smoking and my mouth was frequently parched. This was my first exposure to Ms. Cross’s delightfully delectable word voodoo as her listing looks primarily paranormal, a genre I don’t often peruse, although I can’t help but cross all my fingers and toes she churns out more of these clever Smartypants romantic comedies.