Category: 4-Stars

Posted on

Book Review: The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba by Chanel Cleeton  

The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba
by Chanel Cleeton 

 

Amazon / B&N / GP/ Kobo/ Apple

At the end of the nineteenth century, three revolutionary women fight for freedom in New York Times bestselling author Chanel Cleeton’s captivating new novel inspired by real-life events and the true story of a legendary Cuban woman–Evangelina Cisneros–who changed the course of history.

A feud rages in Gilded Age New York City between newspaper tycoons William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer. When Grace Harrington lands a job at Hearst’s newspaper in 1896, she’s caught in a cutthroat world where one scoop can make or break your career, but it’s a story emerging from Cuba that changes her life.

Unjustly imprisoned in a notorious Havana women’s jail, eighteen-year-old Evangelina Cisneros dreams of a Cuba free from Spanish oppression. When Hearst learns of her plight and splashes her image on the front page of his paper, proclaiming her, “The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba,” she becomes a rallying cry for American intervention in the battle for Cuban independence.

With the help of Marina Perez, a courier secretly working for the Cuban revolutionaries in Havana, Grace and Hearst’s staff attempt to free Evangelina. But when Cuban civilians are forced into reconcentration camps and the explosion of the USS Maine propels the United States and Spain toward war, the three women must risk everything in their fight for freedom.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

It feels as though we are waiting to die here, growing mad minute by minute, our bones aging, the life leeching from us.

 

My debut was far from a splash, more like a slow drizzle, and now at twenty-five, unmarried and living with my mother’s eccentric sister, I am hardly marriage material.

 

In my current attire, everyone makes a concerted effort not to make eye contact with me as I pass by them. My appearance provides the perfect opportunity to work as a courier because no one, least of all the wealthy and privileged citizens of Havana, wants to confront the human face of this war.

 

It’s impossible to feel victorious when the “victory” leaves your country in ruins.

My Review:

 

I must confess other than knowing where it is on the map and the lore of their famous cigars, I am woefully ignorant about Cuba, Cuban history, and Cuban culture. I wore Mr. Google out while I read this tome and was astounded at how much of this story was actually true or based on true events.   The author must have researched thousands of hours and brought history to life. She often walked a fine line to avoid being overwrought, as there was agony in every character’s storyline, so – much – agony. This was an informative as well as a challenging read for me and she implanted me so deeply within the narrative, I was struggling along with the characters. There was no shortage of despair, fear, misery, abuse, deprivation, and horrific conditions. The writing was highly descriptive as well as emotive and heart-squeezing and was intermittently paced yet quite eventful and busy. I need a spa day and a vat of wine to recover.

Chanel Cleeton is the USA Today bestselling author of Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick for Next Year in Havana. Originally from Florida, Chanel grew up on stories of her family’s exodus from Cuba following the events of the Cuban Revolution. Her passion for politics and history continued during her years spent studying in England where she earned a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Richmond, The American International University in London, and a master’s degree in Global Politics from the London School of Economics & Political Science. Chanel also received her Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law. She loves to travel and has lived in the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia.

 

Posted on

Book Review: Primrose Park (Love Heart Lane #6) by Christie Barlow   @ChristieJBarlow @rararesources 

 

Primrose Park
(Love Heart Lane #6)
by Christie Barlow 

Amazon  / B&N / Apple / GP

Vet Molly has always been career-driven and focussed on caring for her animals, but when she meets a gorgeous Mystery Man at a conference and their connection is off the charts, well, one night off work won’t hurt anyone…except the next morning he’s vanished and all Molly knows about him is his first name.

Three months later, back in Love Heart Lane, everyone loves the story of Molly’s amazing one-night stand.  It’s so unlike her! But when Mystery Man turns up walking his dog through Primrose Park and their night together seems to mean nothing to him, Molly needs her friends and neighbors more than ever. And especially when she’s left with the most unexpected of surprises…

My Rating:

Favorite Quote:

 

‘Darling?’ Molly raised an eyebrow. ‘I know. Her name isn’t very fitting, is it? But it’s better than my son’s name for her … Effin.’ ‘Effin?’ Molly looked perplexed. ‘Will that effin dog ever shut up!’

 

My Review:

 

I continue with my adoration for Christie Barlow with this sweet and perplexing tale that had generous helpings of several genres combining for an amusing read. There were loads of family drama in this predominantly women’s fiction and small-town romance blend with welcome sprinkles of humor and a cute canine throughout. I enjoyed the insightful and shrewdly paced character development, although I wasn’t sure I was going to appreciate the main character of Cam as he was blowing hot and cold and needed to save up for the surgery to have the stick removed that was precariously wedged up his backside. I feared it was to be a terminal condition for the faltering man, although it thankfully seemed to magically work loose for a miracle cure. I will gladly return to Love Heart Lane for more juicy tales of the oddly enticing and curiously appealing residents.

 

About the Author

Christie Barlow is the international bestselling author of A Year in the Life of a Playground Mother, The Misadventures of a Playground Mother, Kitty’s Countryside Dream, Lizzie’s Christmas Escape, Evie’s Year of Taking Chances, The Cosy Canal Boat Dream, A Home at Honeysuckle Farm, Love Heart Lane, and Foxglove Farm. Her writing career came as somewhat a surprise when she decided to write a book to teach her children a valuable life lesson and show them that they are capable of achieving their dreams. The book she wrote to prove a point is now a #1 bestseller in the UK, USA, Canada & Australia.

Christie is an ambassador for @ZuriProject raising money/awareness and engaging with impoverished people in Uganda through organizations to improve their well-being.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christie_barlow/?hl=en

Website www.christiebarlow.com

Twitter @ChristieJBarlow

Facebook page Christie Barlow author

 

Posted on

Book Review: My Little Girl by Shalini Boland @ShaliniBoland @Bookouture 

 

My Little Girl
by Shalini Boland 

Amazon  / B&N / Apple / GP / Kobo

Your daughter is missing. Did someone close to you take her?

Seven-year-old Beatrice has gone missing. Her mother Claire’s whole world has been turned upside down in just one moment and she can’t stop shaking. She’s desperate to find her precious daughter, but nothing about the day she disappeared makes sense…

The mother-in-law: Jill was meant to be looking after Beatrice. She says she didn’t take her eyes off the little girl but her version of events doesn’t add up… Claire has never got on with her, so why should she trust her now?

The husband: He should have been with their only child. Instead, he changed the plans without telling Claire. She didn’t think there were any secrets between them, but maybe she was wrong?

The first wife: Laurel has always been jealous of Claire’s family. Has her husband’s ex-wife taken her daughter?

Which one of them is lying? And who really knows where Beatrice is?

From the million-copy bestselling author, this totally addictive psychological thriller will keep you guessing all the way to the final shocking twist. Perfect for fans of The Girl on the Train, Gone Girl, and The Wife Between Us.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

I feel my cheeks grow warm under her gaze. It’s as if I’m back at school in assembly where we’re all being scrutinised by the headteacher for some misdemeanour and you still feel guilty even though you’ve done nothing wrong.

 

I feel as though I’m speaking from a long way away. Like I’m not even here. All these words and acronyms sound so official, like something out of a TV crime drama. Why are they now part of my real life?

 

Laurel’s voice is on a register that could cut through double glazing.

 

The room deflates. You can hear it, the sudden shrinking of sound, the shrivelling of hope.

My Review:

 

This was my first experience in reading this author and I found her writing easy to follow with the suspense intriguing and held taut, although the family drama was center stage with bold choices made with her characters. The main cast of players wasn’t generally likable most of the time while being true-to-life damaged, realistically and deeply flawed, and prone to poor decisions.   While they were bordering on obnoxious and greatly annoying me, they were also human and struggling with an extremely stressful and agonizing situation.

I reacted the strongest to the least likable personality of Claire, as she was arrogant, angry, and petulantly lashing out and systematically accusing everyone. Claire had me cringing and wanted to tell her to shut her pie hole and take a handful of Xanax to chill out enough to be civil. The grandmother was rather ditzy and unfocused and prone to tunnel vision and moronic choices, yet she was well-meaning and kind-hearted, although I doubt the merchants in her area would agree. The husband was the biggest disappointment, what a milksop, he needed some foot to derriere therapy, and my toes were tapping and itching to volunteer. The author was certainly doing something right to have me so deeply invested while antagonized yet also terminally curious with her maddeningly paced tale.   She fooled me but good as I didn’t puzzle this one out until right before the identity of the abductor was revealed. Shalini Boland is as sly as she is insightful.

About the Author
Shalini lives in Dorset, England with her husband, two children, and Jess their cheeky terrier cross. Before kids, she was signed to Universal Music Publishing as a singer-songwriter, but now she spends her days writing suspense thrillers (in between school runs and hanging out endless baskets of laundry).
Posted on

Book Review: Vampire Man (The Librarian’s Vampire Assistant #6) by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff

Vampire Man
(The Librarian’s Vampire Assistant #6)
by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff

Amazon  / B&N / GP / Apple / Kobo

From New York Times Bestseller Mimi Jean Pamfiloff, comes a standalone Paranormal Romcom about second chances.

CAN THIS EVIL VAMPIRE CHANGE HIS WAYS?

Just a few short years ago, a medical miracle turned this ancient evil vampire into a human baby. Just a small setback in Mr. Nice’s plans for world domination, right?

Wrong. Because now a slight problem with the transformation has left him aging five times faster than a regular human.

Sure, he’s happier and stronger than he ever was in his past human life (These vitamins do wonders!), but if he wants to live, he’ll have to find a vampire willing to turn him. Fast!

Of course, none of them are crazy enough to do it. Not after the hell he put the vampire world through, including the vampire king.

“Will no one give me a second chance? I’m only a little bit evil now!”

Then, just when all hope is lost, he walks into a library and meets the new head librarian. She might be the only vampire on the planet who has no clue who he is.

Can he convince her he’s a good man, one who deserves to live forever? Because she’ll only turn the man who’s destined to be her mate.

My Rating:

Favorite Quote:

 

My most recent coven was founded by yours truly, the New Orleans Spicy Gumbo Society. I am quite proud of the name since we refer to humans from that region as spicy gumbo. They are quite flavorful.

My Review:

 

This is my first time delving into this popular series and while I swear it isn’t on purpose, but it does seem to be my fate to pick it up an amusing series near or at the tail end of the tale.   I don’t read a lot of paranormal as I’m just far too lazy for all the worldbuilding and strange rules, but I didn’t seem to mind it so much as Ms. Pamfiloff layers hers with extra servings of clever irony and caustic humor – such as chocolate being a narcotic for vampires and used as a weapon against them.   Although I would be a poor soldier in an army against them as I would be tempted to eat my ammo.

This was a quick and lighthearted read that had me smirking my way through the clever digs, snarky observations, and witty inner musings of Mr. Nice as he schemed and considered his master plan of World Domination! Now I’ve done it, I’m going to have to amass the rest of the series and start it from the beginning.

About the Author

MIMI JEAN PAMFILOFF is a USA Today and New York Times bestselling romance author with over a million books sold worldwide. Although she obtained her MBA and worked for more than fifteen years in the corporate world, she believes that it’s never too late to come out of the romance closet and follow your dream. Mimi lives with her Latin Lover hubby, two pirates-in-training (their boys), and the rat terrier duo, Snowflake, and Mini Me, in Arizona. She hopes to make you laugh when you need it most and continues to pray daily that leather pants will make a big comeback for men.

Sign up for Mimi’s mailing list for giveaways and new release news!

Website | Facebook  | Instagram | Goodreads |Bookbub | Newsletter

Posted on

Book Review: Last Day Alive (Detective Kimberley King #2) by J.R. Adler @JRAdlerAuthor @bookouture

Last Day Alive
(Detective Kimberley King #2)
by J.R. Adler

Amazon / B&N / Apple / GP

 

One hot summer evening, ten-year-old Piper Chase went off on her pink bicycle towards the dark woods on Black Heart Lane. She never came home…

Piper cycles off one hot Oklahoma evening for a sleepover with her new friend Miley from summer camp. But when she doesn’t come home, her grandparents raise the alarm.

Detective Kimberley King knows that the first twenty-four hours in a missing child investigation are the most critical, but with no witnesses, and darkness falling in the small town of Dead Woman Crossing, she begins to fear the worst. She longs to find the little girl with wide blue eyes and an infectious smile, but when her team discovers Piper’s body in a woodland clearing, lying on a bed of moss, something inside her dies.

Then she gets a call that chills her to the bone. Piper’s friend Miley has gone missing

Desperate to find the monster who has taken these little girls, Kimberley chases down all the leads she has. The summer camp counselor, who got too close to Piper and Miley and lost his job. Piper’s shifty uncle, who arrived back in town the day she disappeared…

And as another dark night descends on Dead Woman Crossing, Kimberley can’t stop thinking about Miley, trapped in the darkest place of all. With the clock ticking, Kimberley knows she must act fast before another innocent life is stolen.

A gripping, heart-wrenching crime thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat, holding your breath. Last Day Alive is perfect for fans of Rachel Caine, Lisa Regan, and Carol Wyer.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Barb was their first line of defense. But Barb was feisty, and Kimberley had recently learned she had a conceal and carry permit. She kept her Glock in her top desk drawer when she was working and then had it holstered on her hip, underneath her flowery, flowy blouses when she was off the clock. She had named it Helen. When Kimberley had asked her why the name Helen? Barb had replied, “Because Helen was an ex-friend that stole my famous chocolate chip cookie recipe, and she was a real bitch. It seemed fitting.”

 

“What do I got to do to get you to call me sir?” … “Build a time machine and take me back to the nineteen-fifties,”

 

Yeah, her name is Ginger. That’s not even a name. It’s a root… There was a chance I would have gotten back with him. We have kids together, for God’s sake…but now, not a chance in hell. He can have the skanky root vegetable.

 

He’s trying to woo her… You gotta woo before you do.

 

You just gotta be patient with Sam. He’s like a ten-thousand -piece puzzle without the box for reference. It just takes a little while longer.

My Review:

 

I am continuing to enjoy this series and new author. It is surprisingly enjoyable to read a story that incorporates a small rural area that I was once familiar with. I felt so engaged and familiar with the unfolding story that I was expecting to see family names and gossip of the actual denizens reported. The storylines were active, tragic, and tense with anxiety, grief, and frustration as the small rural county police force labored to find a missing child, only to experience the heartbreak of finding her body and then endeavoring past exhaustion to solve her murder with little to go on. So much for a peaceful downsized job after leaving the NYPD.

In addition to the murder case bonus entertainment value was provided by additional servings and tasty offerings of family drama, potential romantic considerations, and observations of small-town issues and the off-beat and eccentric characters residing there.   I’m always eager to get the down-low on secrets and amusing sightings of quirk.  But, of course, my favorite character continues to be Barb, the ever cheerful, spunky, genius baker, and gun-toting senior citizen who seems to be three steps ahead of everyone’s needs, both in and outside the office. We all could all use a Barb in our lives.

About the Author

.
Originally from Wisconsin, J.R. Adler currently lives in Ithaca, New York with her husband, Drew, and her English Bulldog, Winston. When not writing, you can find her reading, playing board games, traveling, and binge-watching The Office for the umpteenth time.
.
Posted on

Book Review: Under Pressure (Lessons Learned #1) by Allie Winters @SmartyPantsRom

Under Pressure 
(Lessons Learned #1) 
by Allie Winters

Read for FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon / B&N / GP

 

Mia knows stress. She’s dealt with it her whole life. So when she gets an opportunity to run a psychology study to help her get into grad school, it should be no problem dealing with the prickly guy she suddenly finds herself paired with.

The one she had a secret crush on last year. The one who refuses to let anyone close. The one she’s discovering by the day may have a softer side than he lets anyone else see…

Tyler knows stress. He’s grappled with it for as long as he can remember. And just because he has to share credit with this girl on his new psychology study doesn’t mean he has to be friends with her. Except she somehow keeps worming her way into his life. In school. In the boxing gym.

In his bed.

But everyone knows it’s safer to keep to yourself. You can’t hurt anyone that way. Even if it means giving up the best thing that’s ever happened to him.

As things heat up in the Stress Lab, will this match be able to work together without disruption, or will this growing attraction between them eventually… combust?

‘Under Pressure ‘ is a full-length new adult contemporary romance and can be read as a standalone. Book #1 in the Lessons Learned series, Educated Romance World, Penny Reid Book Universe. 

My Rating:

Favorite Quote:

 

My heart is in your hands.

My Review:

 

This was my first exposure to the steamy delights of an Allie Winters story – and sizzle and snap – she had me gasping and seeking libation to rehydrate. I struggled with the heavy angst, which isn’t on my list of favorite things, but I enjoyed the premise and humor while also intrigued by the complexity and allure of the characters, although I wanted to give Tyler more than a few pinches and the name of a good proctologist to remove his head from his colon, although he finally achieved that on his own.

 

About Allie Winters

Allie is the author of the Suncoast University series, the Bishop Brothers series, and the Lessons Learned series. She lives in sunny Florida with her husband, daughter, and two cats. A librarian by day, she spends her nights writing happily ever afters. She enjoys reading, playing video games, and all things Disney.

Find Allie Winters online

Website: http://bit.ly/357VYOr

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/389mnNO

Facebook: http://bit.ly/3b5KJdk

Instagram: https://bit.ly/3pOJNhB

Connect with Smartypants Romance

Facebook: http://bit.ly/2kvDnb4

Twitter: http://bit.ly/2lzyduO

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2lGdIMQ

Instagram: http://bit.ly/2kwKsYK

Website: https://smartypantsromance.com/

Newsletter: https://smartypantsromance.com/newsletter/

Posted on

Book Review: The Ticklemore Tattler by Liz Davies @LizDaviesAuthor @rararesources 

.

The Ticklemore Tattler
by Liz Davies

Amazon  

Sometimes you have to write your own future…

The life of former journalist Juliette Seymour has been quiet and unassuming. Up until now, she’s been concentrating on running the local newspaper and raising her daughter.

But all that is about to change when Juliette is informed that the Ticklemore Tattler is to fold and that she’ll be out of a job. She begins to wonder whether she can buy the newspaper and try to make a go of it herself.

Aware that she needs some advice she contacts Oliver Pascoe, little knowing that when her old colleague re-enters her life, his help isn’t the only thing she wants him for!

As she begins to fall in love, however, what she doesn’t realize is that Oliver has something he’s keeping from her.

A gorgeously uplifting story, perfect for fans of Holly Hepburn, Heidi Swain, and Isabelle Broom.

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Your mum was in here yesterday with a face like a wet weekend, so I guessed there was something going on. I pretended I knew about it, so don’t go blaming her because she spilt the beans… You’d be surprised how often that ploy works on people.

 

‘He’s just a bloke… The trick is to imagine him naked,’ he added. Juliette shuddered. ‘Please, no, you’ve put that image in my mind now and I don’t think I’m going to get rid of it… Out, before you do any more damage. If I start giggling halfway through the meeting because I’m imagining his man-boobs and his paunch, I’ll blame you.’

My Review:

 

This was an enjoyable and sweet read featuring mature characters reuniting for a second chance romance in a small village decades after meeting. The storylines were relevant and easy to follow while staffed with a colorful cast of likable and quirky villagers. I adored Hattie, although I would afraid to live anywhere near her for fear she would uncover and expose all my secrets. The main characters were appealing and endearing people that I enjoyed getting to know as they problem-solved their issues and worked their way towards each other for that highly prized HEA.

About the Author

Liz Davies writes feel-good, light-hearted stories with a hefty dose of romance, a smattering of humor, and a great deal of love.

She’s married to her best friend, has one grown-up daughter, and when she isn’t scribbling away in the notepad she carries with her everywhere (just in case inspiration strikes), you’ll find her searching for that perfect pair of shoes. She loves to cook but isn’t very good at it, and loves to eat – she’s much better at that! Liz also enjoys walking (preferably on the flat), cycling (also on the flat), and lots of sitting around in the garden on warm, sunny days.

She currently lives with her family in Wales, but would ideally love to buy a camper van and travel the world in it.

 

Posted on

Book Review: The One That I Want (Scorned Women’s Society #3) by Piper Sheldon @piper_sheldon

The One That I Want (Scorned Women’s Society #3) by Piper Sheldon

The One That I Want, an all-new opposites attract contemporary romance from Piper Sheldon, is available now in Kindle Unlimited!

Read for FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2J4TW9O

Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/35VCMUQ

Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/35YaZn2

Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/2Hzal60

Amazon Print: https://amzn.to/3p3KmDb

Audible: http://adbl.co/3us8tPP

Other Audiobook Links: http://bit.ly/3pTOh6g

There is no such thing as luck.

Roxy Kincaid isn’t a biker chick anymore. She’s made herself more than Jethro Winston’s castoff, and she’s never going back to her old life with the Iron Wraiths. But one summer night, a charming stranger threatens to sweep Roxy off her feet. Ignoring fate and their instant attraction, she has to get back to her real-life in Green Valley. He couldn’t be the one that she wants when he’s exactly the thing that could ruin everything. If only she could stop thinking about him.

Luck is everything.

Sanders Olsson is going to fix his mistakes. He’s determined to show his best friend he’s a reliable business partner not the distracted flake he’s been lately. But he has to listen when the universe brings him a sign in the form of a guarded beauty he can’t keep his eyes off. Their instant connection is almost magical but she leaves without giving him even a last name. When fate gives Sanders a second chance in life and love, he sets out for Green Valley without a backward glance.

Their summer lovin’ happened so fast but what will it take to make it last?

‘The One That I Want’ is a full-length contemporary romance and can be read as a standalone. Book #3 in the Scorned Women’s Society series, Green Valley Chronicles, Penny Reid Book Universe. 

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

“You’re a tough cookie, aren’t you?” I asked her and squeezed her hand. “Just ask the guy who told me to smile once,” she said. “You’ll have trouble though because his jaw is still wired shut.”

 

He was as hard to read as a French dictionary…

 

He smiled at me and I smiled back. A full smile. If it were a movie, the needle would scratch on a record and everything would go silent.

 

I finally let my smile drop because it was beginning to hurt and experience told me that it was getting that strained look that caused the elderly to scurry away.

 

It occurred to me in that this was one of the reasons why women go in pairs to the bathroom. I always thought it was just so they could discuss the deepest secrets of their mysterious sex. But they obviously had a more practical application for avoiding men who were waiting for drunk “easy targets” to break off from their friends.

 

My Review:

 

I enjoyed this book overall but I also struggled with it as the storylines were heavy with angst and conflict, which are not items on my Christmas list. Thankfully, there were also generous servings of snarky humor and sizzling sensual scenes that had me gasping. The writing was easy to follow and kept me curious despite character behaviors that had me grinding my teeth with the prickly push/pull.

Both main characters were beautiful piles of hot mess while loaded with inner turmoil and less than appealing traits. They were also emotionally scarred to the point of damage. RBF Roxy was the most difficult for me to warm up to as she was fatally insecure and on a constant boil of hostility and gave mixed messages yet was easily annoyed when others misunderstood. Roxy was unpredictable and edgy, which intrigued me, although she was also more than a bit tiresome. Sanders was her polar opposite and appeared blithely cheerful while childishly ignoring and denying his unresolved issues and personal pain. He was often reckless and irresponsible as he scurried away rather than deal with unpleasant yet necessary adulting. Yet both were driven, good people at heart, and working hard improve.

Jethro Winston has a lot to account for.

 

 
 

Start the Scorned Women’s Society Series of standalones today!

Read for FREE in Kindle Unlimited

My Bare Lady

http://bit.ly/3c7jMEW

The Treble With Men

http://bit.ly/3kR82KE

Excerpt

“Watch it,” I mumbled as I was steadied by strong hands on my shoulders. Then I remembered to be nice and tried to scoot to the side.

The arms held me gently in place. When I looked up, glaring pointedly, he dropped them. It was Mr. Eye Contact from across the room. A little thrill tickled the back of my knees. He was damn fine this close up. Not my taste, but definitely a certain appeal. Like, if I wanted to know someone with a yacht to “summer on,” he’d be my type.

His eyes were startlingly blue. His hair was this dark shade of blond, thick waves swept back with lighter tips that looked as though it had been bleached naturally by the sun. A smile quirked his mouth and my focus moved there. He had soft crinkles around the corners of his eyes and a natural tan that spoke of time outside.

He said something with the tilt of his head and a soft smile on his lips. I blinked away, wondering if my mouth had been hanging open catching flies as I took him in.

“What?” I yelled and pointed to my ear. The band had just started back up.

His smile grew to expose that two front teeth protruded just a little. It was a disarmingly charming flaw, like a puppy with just one floppy ear. His gaze moved over the exposed skin of my neck and shoulders under my tank top, seemingly studying the tattoos.

I wasn’t knocking my edgy looks, but I typically didn’t attract men who could have been plucked straight from an Ivy League fraternity mixer. At least the collar of his black button-up wasn’t popped. And he wore nice sneakers and jeans, not boat shoes and pink shorts. Okay, so he wasn’t preppy per se, but squeaky? Like he’d hurt my teeth to take a bite out of. He didn’t even have a beard, for crying out loud. Not to box this guy in, but guys like this did not go for girls like me. Then again, sometimes there were the guys who liked to “slum it” with the easy small-town girls from Green Valley.

Mr. Eye Contact leaned closer. He smelled like a shower after a hard workout. It was like the cleansing smell of a spring morning after working all night at the Dragon Bar. My jaw was clenched tight, thinking about taking a bite out of him again.

“Dance?” he asked. His voice had a rich and deep timbre that sent a tiny shudder down my spine.

His confidence was sexy without being overwhelming. He tucked his hands deep into his pockets and waited patiently as I took him in, studying him head to toe. There was no pressure in his question. I suspected if I said no, he’d walk away without another word. I told myself I wanted to dance alone but suddenly I wasn’t so sure. Wouldn’t it be nice to have hands on me? Wouldn’t it be an escape to just be a woman dancing with a man to good music?

Shocking myself, I realized I was interested. So I felt a zing for this man? It didn’t mean anything. It meant that my warning system wasn’t going off. It meant that I was a person who wanted to dance. It didn’t have to mean anything.

He extended his hand. I bit my lip. I was here to celebrate my hard work. It was one night before an early flight home tomorrow.

“What the hell?” I said unheard in the club.

I slid my hand into his. His hand was not the buttery-soft warmth of an Ivy Leaguer. His hand was calloused and hot. What might it feel like to have those rough palms gripping the tender skin of my hips?

He pulled me only long enough to let me pass, then he let me lead the way to the floor. As I made my way to the other dancers, I felt his gaze on my backside like the vibration of a motorcycle. I risked a glance over my shoulder. His focus returned to mine as he licked his bottom lip.

“Lord, help me,” I mumbled to myself.

Good thing it was just one night and just one dance. This guy would be way too easy to fall for. But what could one dance with a stranger hurt?

About Piper Sheldon

Piper Sheldon writes Contemporary Romance and Paranormal Romance. Her books are a little funny, a lotta romantic, and with just a little twist of something more. She lives with her husband, toddler, and two needy dogs at home in the desert Southwest. She finds writing bios in the third person an extreme sport of awkwardness.

Find Piper Sheldon online

Facebook: http://bit.ly/2lAvr8A

Twitter: http://bit.ly/2kxkioK

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2kx2RVn

Instagram: http://bit.ly/2lxxV7H

Website: http://bit.ly/2kitH3H

Connect with Smartypants Romance

Facebook: http://bit.ly/2kvDnb4

Twitter: http://bit.ly/2lzyduO

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2lGdIMQ

Instagram: http://bit.ly/2kwKsYK

Website: https://smartypantsromance.com/

Newsletter: https://smartypantsromance.com/newsletter/

Posted on

Book Review: A Cup of Compassion (A Recipe for Love #4) by Kelly Collins  @kcollinsauthor

A Cup of Compassion 
(A Recipe for Love #4)
by Kelly Collins

He needs to balance the books. She needs to stabilize her life. Can two opposites be the perfect mix for true love?

The last thing on waitress Kinsley Culpepper’s mind was  romance when she found the Recipe for Love cookbook. What she needed was a way to feed her growing son. Working at Luxe Resorts, the tips were nice but barely paid the bills. Accused of stealing, she ends up on the radar of Julian Dowling, the sexy Chief Financial Officer who’s convinced she’s the reason food costs are up. Afraid to lose her job, she uses a recipe to sweeten his disposition, but will she have the ingredients to convince him she’s not his thief?

Julian Dowling isn’t interested in people. As Luxe resorts Chief Financial Officer, all he cares about is the bottom line. With food costs out of control and his “always a profit” reputation on the line, he turns to the most likely culprit, a down on her luck waitress with a pretty smile and sticky fingers. When dessert shows up on his desk, he has to ask himself, is Kinsley bringing in homemade treats because she’s nice, or is she sugarcoating her deceit?

Will distrust scorch what they’ve whipped up together, or can they turn their distaste for each other into something sweet?

Find out in A Cup of Compassion …

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

He had a heart. It was honed from granite, but he had one.

 

He needed a girlfriend like he needed a bloody nose. In his opinion, the bloody nose was less painful and less messy.

 

Julian knew the cogs were turning in his best friend’s mind. He always had that faraway look when he was thinking. Like all the power went off so his brain could work twice as hard.

 

Kinsley couldn’t hate anyone. She was the kind of woman who was deathly afraid of spiders but would spend an hour catching one to put it outside rather than smash it with the heel of her shoe.

 

I’m a guy. You know how we are. We already talked about food, and now we’re on to sex.

My Review:

 

I am a late arrival to this series but that didn’t seem to matter, I enjoyed all the characters and plotlines without feeling lost or confused. Ms. Collin’s smirk-worthy humor and snarky wit are always a welcome addition to any storyline, as are her steamy love scenes. The endearing characters and the issues they faced were real-world and easily relatable, regardless of culture or status. I need to catch up on the earlier installments, as I am curious to know the stories of the previously featured characters.

ABOUT KELLY COLLINS   

 

  Goodreads  / Website  / Amazon /

International bestselling author of over 30 novels, Kelly Collins writes with the intention of keeping the love alive. Always a romantic, she blends real-life events with her vivid imagination to create characters and stories that lovers of contemporary romance, new adult, and romantic suspense will return to again and again.

Posted on

Book Review: Mr Right Across The Street by Kathryn Freeman  @KathrynFreeman1 @rararesources  @BoldwoodBooks

.

Mr Right Across The Street
by Kathryn Freeman 

 

Mia Abbott’s move to Manchester was supposed to give her time and space from all the disastrous romantic choices she’s made in her past. But then the hot guy who lives opposite – the one who works out every day at exactly 10 a.m., not that Mia has noticed thank-you-very-much – starts leaving notes in his window…for her.

Bar owner Luke Doyle has his own issues to deal with but as he shows Mia the sites of her new city he also shows her what real romance looks like for the first time. And when he cooks up a signature cocktail in her honor, she realizes that the man behind the bar is even more enticing than any of his creations. And once she’s had a taste she knows it will never be enough!

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

Men like Luke, cocky and good looking, didn’t go for geek girls, she reminded herself. She attracted the shier, solid guys, who then turned out to be flakier than a Danish pastry.

 

The Luke Doyle I grew up with had the biggest heart of anyone I’ve ever met… He still has, but over the years he’s tried so hard to protect it, he’s forgotten how to use it.

 

Is this the part where I pretend I’m not interested and change the subject? … I hate to disappoint you but I’m nosey, so that’s not going to happen.

My Review:

This was a fun and light read filled with amusing and wry humor, family drama, and a fledgling romance between two people in transition. Mia was a small nerdy woman with technicolored hair, and Luke was her sexy, rabbit-loving, bar owner, neighbor who had a way with women, lots and lots of women. The pair had instant chemistry and gave clever and witty banter, but his reputation as a ladies man put her off, and truthfully, it was putting him off as well. Although that didn’t keep her from perving and lusting after him every day while she watched him exercise from her window. The storylines were easy to follow, engaging, and converged slowly with the plot being more character-driven than action-packed, which was fine by me. I enjoyed these surprisingly endearing characters as they struggled with their inner musings and worked through their issues to find their way to each other.

And I picked up a new entry for my ever-expanding Brit Words and Phrases List with, threw his toys out of the pram – which Mr. Google informs me means to react with ill-temper. I really like the visual on that one.

 

About the Author

A former pharmacist, I’m now a medical writer who also writes romance. Some days a racing heart is a medical condition, others it’s the reaction to a sexy hero. 

With a husband who asks every Valentine’s Day whether he has to buy a card (yes, he does), any romance is all in my head. Then again, his unstinting support of my career change proves love isn’t always about hearts and flowers – and heroes come in many disguises.

Social Media Links –

Website:  http://kathrynfreeman.co.uk

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/kathrynfreeman

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/KathrynFreeman1