Category: After Hours

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Book Review: But First, Coffee by Sarah Darlington 


But First, Coffee

by Sarah Darlington 

Goodreads  /   Amazon

 

She’s the boss.
I’m only a barista in her company.
I really don’t give a f**k about her one way or the other.And then there’s Doug Maddox, a man with a lot of power over me. He’s blackmailing me. Making me spy on her. I’m supposed to find her weaknesses and destroy her. But the closer I get, the more the lines between us start to blur.She’s sweet. She’s kind. She’s sexy as hell.
Why am I the only man who see’s this?

So now I’m stuck—between keeping my sister safe against Doug, because that’s what’s really at stake here, and these feelings I can’t deny for a woman who shouldn’t mean anything to me.

I know what I have to do. I’ll destroy her.
It doesn’t matter if I have to destroy my own heart in the process.

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Joe Coffee. His name sounded like a cartoon character from the 1990s.

 

I gave up on the possibility of love and romance years ago. My last encounter with a man had been a blind date, set up by my mother, where I drank too much wine and ended up crying on my date’s shoulder by the end of the night. Needless to say, I never heard from that guy again. Until I saw him, awkwardly enough, at my parents’ Christmas Eve party last year. He avoided me like I had a highly contagious flesh-eating virus while I ended the night trying not to get too drunk off the eggnog in my parents’ basement. The eggnog won that battle.

 

I was hanging out with the most gorgeous man on Earth, and I looked like someone had thrown me into the washing machine. Wasn’t that the way things always went? Wear your baggy sweatpants with holes in them onto an airplane, and you’ll be seated next to some hot celebrity. Wear your makeup and your best outfit, and you’ll be seated next to a grandma who needs your help giving herself an insulin shot halfway through the flight.

 

My Review:

 

For some reason, I was expecting a steamy NA romance, what I found was an engaging, well-crafted, and addictive novel of romantic/suspense with clever twists and turns and a smokin’ love story. The intriguing storylines were seductively laced with blackmail, corporate espionage, manipulation, coercion, guilt, long-held grudges, scheming, steamy sensuality, addiction, wry humor, and a blossoming and transformative romance.   The enticing characters of Joe and his immature and irresponsible sister Kitty held questionable motives and veracity, yet they tantalized me. I felt conflicted in wanting to trust the alluring and captivating Joe as his complex issues and personality fascinated me.

Narrated from a dual POV, the writing was smartly plotted, easy to follow, well-paced, and continually plucked at my curiosity. I have read just a few of Ms. Darlington’s irresistible and titillating stories and have enjoyed each one. I definitely need to shuffle my overstuffed TBR to include more of them.

 

About the Author

Twitter @sadarlington

Goodreads

Sarah Darlington grew up traveling the United States (Navy Brat)—although, she’s called Virginia home for most of her adult life. She’s the proud mom of two beautiful children on the autism spectrum, who makes every day an adventure.   She believes in true love, soul mates, unicorns, rainbows, and that Hogwarts really does exist. Before having kids she worked as a flight attendant. And when she’s not writing, she’s busy plotting her next grand adventure (aka vacation).

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Book Review: Sparrow by Emma Nichole – Meet Me in Savannah Collection

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Meet Me in Savannah: A Collection
Authors: Various
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: August 30, 2018
Blurb
The summer heat isn’t the only thing steamy in Savannah.


Seven authors bring you seven scorching stand-alones about love, lust, suspense and second chances set amongst the historic cobblestones and plantation homes of this southern city where the only thing hotter than the weather is the men that call Savannah home.

 

Behind every great hatred there may be a love story,  but behind the face of an angel and his sweet words was nothing but pretty little lies.
My hatred for Noah Hill really did start as love – hard as it is to believe.
A love that was the earth-shattering, forever type that not everyone is fortunate enough to experience in their lifetime… or so I thought.
Take a picture, it’ll last longer.
That’s what he said to me.
That was the biggest lie of them all.
Because the broken heart remained long after the pictures burned.

 

 

AMAZON – COMING SOON

 

Free in Kindle Unlimited
LA Taylor

 

LA Taylor lives Down Under. Makeup Artist, Shoe whore, Taylor Swift enthusiast, beach bum, coffee drinker, nap taker, bad driver, snake charmer and dreamer. Often can be found having dance parties in her lounge, watching Top Gun or at the beach or at Kmart and Target buying things she doesn’t need.

 

 

Once college sweethearts, Poppy and Keir were the all American couple.

 

Until the big time came calling.
Misunderstandings and miscommunications lead to broken hearts and broken trust.
But fate throws them a second chance when their paths cross again.
Now they have to decide if they are ready to take another try at forever, or if the past is better left behind them.
Kier knows this is his final down. His last opportunity to make it right, but Poppy’s going to need a little more convincing.
Throwing out a Hail Mary, he gives it all he’s got.
With a little luck, this time he may just be able to Score.

 

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
Free in Kindle Unlimited
Emma Louise

 

A long time lover of all things romance, Emma Louise is a book blogger turned debut writer.  She’s a die hard bibliophile, addicted to tea (Real British tea) and speaks fluent sarcasm.
She lives with her husband, three children and overgrown puppy in South Wales, UK.
Having been an avid reader for as long as she can remember, she’s recently decided to try her hand at writing a love story of her own.

 

 

The roller coaster called life can take you on many different journeys.

 

Some you crave and long for, others you regret and wish you could forget, but some claw their way inside of you and refuse to let go.
Amelia’s journey has included flips, twists, turns and scares, but when she is finally brave enough to take the reins for herself, her path leads back to her past.
Back to Grayson Aldrich.
He’s the man who embodied all three types of journeys. Longing, regret, and a love so deep it would be forever embedded in her heart.

My Rating:  

4.5

Favorite Quotes:

 

“A sparrow. They symbolize vigilance and hard work. It can guide you to a happy and full life. It’s a symbol of protection. Even if we never see each other again, I’ll always be there…” he reaches down to touch the necklace, “over your heart.”

 

“A dark secret, huh?” She laughs. “I hate chocolate.” “Excuse me? That’s downright blasphemous… I need to speak with your boss. I can’t have a nurse who doesn’t like chocolate. You’re clearly unhinged and not trustworthy,” I say, feigning seriousness.

 

Amelia, that man looked at you like you were a piece of cake, and he wanted to get all up in your frosting.

 

My Review:

 

Sparrow was a quick and super sexy second chance romance. Written in my favorite dual POV, this crafty writer packed a steamer trunk load of contemporary issues into her compelling novella including postpartum depression, spouse abuse, addiction, active-duty injury, single parenting, divorce, abandonment, and grief. Despite all the tragedy, the storylines were well balanced and engaging with hefty handfuls of sensuality, wit, and an adorable preschooler.   The main characters were destined to be together by gravitational pull, vibrantly alluring, endearing, and swore like champions.

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

 

Free in Kindle Unlimited
Emma Nichole
After years of living vicariously through so many characters and stories created by others, Emma Nichole has taken the plunge herself.
A southern girl born, raised, and still residing in Tennessee, she holds the quirks of this area of the world close to her heart, and showcases it in her writing.
She’s a wife, a mother of two, an avid college football fan (Go Vols), a best friend, a sister, a lover of all music, movies, and above all else… a lover of books.

 

 

She was the one that got away.
Destined for culinary greatness, Bethany left behind the only life she’d ever known. And the man who broke her heart.
He was the one she could never forget.
Three years could change a man. Gideon was proof of that.
Pride and selflessness forced him to make choices that altered his life forever. But his biggest regret would always be letting her go.
What happens when true love is set to simmer?
For Bethany and Gideon, it may be a second chance to set fate right.
Meet them in Savannah and fall in love all over again.
AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
Free in Kindle Unlimited

 

C.G. Burnette

 

I’m a self-proclaimed book addict. It’s sad but true. I want ALL THE WORDS! My love of words led me to blogging and blogging led me to this newest and most awesome adventure as an author. What a ride this will be!
I’m a mommy to two really cute little guys who run me happily ragged on most days and a wife to a wonderful man who has had my heart since the day he said hello. I have a vast collection of Godzilla toys, dinosaurs, LEGO pieces and blocks in all shapes and colors. Romance novels have been my thing since my aunt snuck me a Harlequin when I was ten. And let’s not forget the binge watching of all things anime, Vikings and old B movies.
Let the fun begin!

 

 

You know how fairy tales start?
Once upon a time…blah, blah, blah.
Girl meets handsome prince…blah, blah, blah.
They kiss…blah, blah, blah.
Throw in an apple and she almost dies, he swoops in and saves her life. Then they live happily ever after?
My story is just like that, but with a few minor changes.
Goes like this: Girl sees family being murdered; girl runs for her life, then finds out she isn’t exactly who she
thought she was because she’s been lied to. Oh yeah, as it turns out, she’s also in quite a bit of danger, with a lovely bounty over her head.
With one man ordered to “watch me,” and another one who promised to protect me, who exactly am I supposed to trust, when I’m just finding out who I really am?
Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Scarlett.

 

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
Free in Kindle Unlimited

 

Jenna Cole

 

Jenna is a book hoarding, book boyfriend stealing author from Florida. She’s the wife of an Army veteran (Hooah) and the mother of a teen daughter (send wine). She works in the corporate world, where she’s been busted several times for breaking out her kindle to finish a book. When she’s not spending time with her family, you can find her reading, hitting up the beach, and blogging and chatting about books with friends.

 

Protecting her is easy.
Falling for her is dangerous.
Loving her could destroy them both.
Melanie Quinn has given up on finding a man until she meets her sexy new bodyguard with an irresistible smile. She trusts him with her protection but refuses to hand over her heart.
Chase Taylor, ex-marine, has given up on life until he lands a job as a bodyguard for a beautiful, fiery red-head. His emotional wounds run deep, but when danger lurks, he’s always willing to go to war. Protecting his Princess could prove to be deadly.
Fate brought them together. Scars from their past could tear them apart.
AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
Free in Kindle Unlimited

 

JM Kelley

 

JM Kelley loves to write sexy hot Romance as much as she loves to read it. She grew up and still resides in Long Island New York with her husband of twenty-nine years and her three sons. She is a lover of baseball and has been a Yankee fan since the day she was born. If you can’t find her reading or writing she’s probably in Disney World since that’s her favorite place in earth.

 

Cover Design: Kari Nappi, Kovers by Kari

 

Deception and betrayal caused us to swerve off our path of forever.
Camryn James –
One night. One decision forced me to walk away from my future. Tragedy brings me home after twelve years, forcing me to face my past and the truths I refused to hear. Surviving Trystan once almost broke me completely. A second time would be impossible.
Trystan Harrison –
One mistake. One disaster of epic proportion left the only woman I have ever loved, broken and devastated. After twelve years, Camryn is back home and will be forced to realize that everything is not always as it seems. Second chances are not always promised and I refuse to waste mine.
AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
Free in Kindle Unlimited

 

Kristi Lynn

 

Kristi Lynn is a certified book whore who has been getting lost in the words of others for years. After going through a tough time a few years back, she decided to put pen to paper as a means to heal. Stories started coming out of nowhere and the decision was made to self-publish. Kristi lives in Connecticut with her rescue pup Jazmine. Coffee is her elixir of choice, followed closely by good sangria, or captain and coke. Music is playing 24/7 around her and she is often singing along (watch those ears, she never claimed to be a good singer). Fall and football season are her preferred time of year (Go Pats! And Julian Edelman is her husband. She has the shirt to prove it.) She lives in flip flops year round (except when mother nature showers her in that blasted white stuff New England is known for in the winter). She swears like a sailor, and has and addiction to finding the perfect quotes for any occasion. She loves to connect with new people, so don’t be shy.
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Book Review: Last Heartbreak (A Nolan Brothers Novel Book 5) by Amy Olle 

Last Heartbreak

(A Nolan Brothers Novel Book 5)

by Amy Olle 

Falling in love was easy, instant, and dangerously all-consuming. Breaking up won’t be so simple.

Shea and Isobel were teenagers when they had a baby together, months before they’d even gone on their first date. Now, after nearly eighteen years of marriage, the heartaches have piled one on top of the other, dousing the fire of their passion and drowning the memories of a life built together. Though he is her first and only love, two years spent living separate lives has convinced Isobel it’s time for them to let go.

Except quitting isn’t in Shea’s blood. Every day of his life has been a fight—to save his brothers, to put food on their table, to hold on to the tattered shreds of his dignity—and now he’s in for the toughest fight of them all: the battle to win back his wife. But with Isobel already one foot out the door, is it too late for their second chance at happily ever after?

LAST HEARTBREAK is a full-length, stand-alone steamy contemporary romance from USA Today bestselling author Amy Olle. Fans of emotional, sexy romances will fall in love with this fifth installment in the series about the five Irish-born, fiercely loyal, beautifully flawed Nolan brothers. Books in the series may be read in any order.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

“Eighteen years. The porcelain year.” Porcelain. Like a toilet. Seemed fitting.

 

“Is this my T-shirt?” He rumpled the cotton in his grip. “I’ve been looking everywhere for this.” “Hmm? Oh, you must’ve left it here by mistake. I sleep in it sometimes.” A smug smile curved his impossibly pouty mouth. “And I also wear it when I clean the toilets.”

 

“You know what’s crazy?” Sophie nudged Isobel with a soft elbow. “Your only real flaw is your perfectionism.” Isobel narrowed her eyes. “I don’t want to be friends with you anymore.”

 

My Review:

 

The Last Heartbreak was an angsty and insightful read featuring a failed marriage where both participants had starved the relationship to a skeletal level. Yet the bones hadn’t quite been picked bare.   I held my breath for this deeply flawed couple, they were struggling with each other as well as their own complex issues and family dramas. While I was rooting for them I wasn’t sure they could or should find their way back to each other.

I recall feasting on the first two divinely written books of this series two years ago yet seemed to have lost track when the third and fourth books arrived. I am drawn to this family of complicated brothers as well the author’s skilled and agile style of storytelling. As with my previous experience with her work, Ms. Olle’s engaging narratives were emotive, observant, and heart squeezing with lashings of wit and sensuality – oh my, at one point I was actually gasping for breath and in desperate need of libation.

About the Author

Goodreads

Amy Olle writes sexy contemporary romances filled with hope, heart, and humor. She is delighted to put her Psychology degrees to good use writing romance.

Her debut novel, BEAUTIFUL RUIN, is the first book in a series about the five Irish-born Nolan brothers sent as children to live with family on a remote island in northern Michigan.


BEAUTIFUL RUIN received a Readers’ Favorite 5-star review!

Amy lives in Michigan with her long-suffering husband, brilliant son, and (female) turtle named George.

If you would like to receive notifications of Amy’s new releases, join her mailing list at: http://www.amyolle.com/newsletter/

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Book Review: Restored Dreams – #sexysilverfoxes Series by L.B. Dunbar

Title: Restored Dreams
Series: #sexysilverfoxes
Author: L.B. Dunbar
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: August 22, 2018
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Blurb
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More romance for the over forty.

Brut Paige needs a life break.
As caretaker to his brother, his business, and his son, he’s used to being the man to get things done.
Yet, along the way, he’s forgotten how to have fun.

Lily Warren deserves a vacation.
She’s worked hard to establish her bakery, a lifelong dream. She’s proud of her accomplishments.
But, she knows there’s something missing.

A broken heart tore them apart.
A little matchmaking forces them together…
Twenty-two years later.

Funny thing about being over forty—forgiveness and frosting can lead to all kinds of trouble…or restored dreams.

+ + +

If you loved Hank Paige in Midlife Crisis, you’ll want to learn more about his brother, Brut, a sexy silver fox mechanic, and the lost woman of his dreams.

 

Purchase Links
$2.99 for a limited time
AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
Free in Kindle Unlimited
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My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

His abs stack like a pile of books, and I want to read every page.

 

I feel like a puzzle poured out of the box for the first time. Pieces scattering, nothing matching, waiting to be assembled.

 

He’s gotten through so many things, but I understand at some point, you wish for more than merely getting by.

 

I wanted to grow old with you, not wait until I was old to have you.

 My Review:

Second chances don’t come around often yet this couple frittered away their second chance but thankfully they heeded the third, and the difference echoed throughout their family and friends. Written in my favorite dual POV, the engaging storylines were well-paced, atomically sexy, easy to follow, and full of feels. The premise was original and interesting and the mature yet vibrant characters were endearing and inspiring human beings. I adored Brut’s kind and caring manner, inventive games, creative use of scrabble tiles, and the supportive and sweet relationship he was determined to forge with his Lily Pad, even if it took him over twenty-two years to get it right.

Also Available

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

Free in Kindle Unlimited

 

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

Free in Kindle Unlimited

 

Author Bio

 

L.B. Dunbar loves the sweeter things in life: cookies, Coca-Cola, and romance. Her reading journey began with a deep love of fairy tales, medieval knights, Regency debauchery, and alpha males. She loves a deep belly laugh and a strong hug. Occasionally, she has the energy of a Jack Russell terrier. Accused—yes, that’s the correct word—of having an overactive
imagination, to her benefit, such an imagination works well. Author of over two dozen novels, she’s created sweet, small town worlds; rock star mayhem; MMA chaos; sexy rom-coms for the over 40; and intrigue on an island of redemption.

In addition, she is earning a title as the “myth and legend lady” for her modernizations of mythology as elda lore. Her other duties in life include mother to four children and wife to the one and only.

 

Author Links
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Book Review: Why Her? (Mistaken Identities #2) by Rie Warren

Why Her? 

(Mistaken Identities #2)

by Rie Warren 

Goodreads

Amazon

If you believe in second chances . . . 

All I did was dance with her at a bar. Just once.
Then this undeniably gorgeous party girl, Stevie, turns up at my house, the contractor in charge of my remodel.
Ha!
How am I supposed to take her seriously?
The problem is she’s excellent at her job, which aggravates me even more.
She’s changing my house, changing my life, and my animal urge to protect and possess her feels like a betrayal to my deceased wife.

She’s absolutely unsuitable.
He’s uptight, f*** hot, and there’s no way she can compete with the ghost of his wife.

A book full of filthy sex and beautiful tortured romance. Why Her? is a standalone novel with a tear-worthy HEA, no cheating, no cliffhangers, just all yes. Keep the fan handy, you’ll need it.

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quote:

“I ordered pizza.” “I thought you said you were making dinner.” … “I am. I’m making it come to the door.”

My Review:

This atomically hot and lusty couple had amazing sexual endurance and supernatural stamina, I feel so clumsy and inadequate by comparison. For a middle-aged widower with a relatively sedate first marriage, Kane seemed to be making up for lost time as once he finally caved for his attraction to the feisty Stevie, they want at it like savages. They scorched the sheets with rapturous abandon every-single-time with their wild and passionate interplays that occasionally had me flinching. Rie Warren seems to have a proclivity for filthy pillow talk and copious amounts of body fluids since this lewd lipped pair habitually went off like geysers. In addition to their creatively lascivious exploits, there were clever naughty bits of humor, family drama, and a heart-enlarging and transformative romance. And as an added bonus, a new euphemism for spanking the monkey was gleaned when Stevie confessed to unwittingly witnessing Kane “shuck his corn.” ~ Smirk, I doubt I could ever have too many alternative expressions in my pockets for that…

Rie Warren   

Home of Alpha Male Romance and the Original Bad Boys, Author of the Carolina Bad Boys, the Bad Boys of Retribution MC, the Bad Boys of X-Ops and the Don’t Tell series.

All of Rie Warren’s self-published series are available to read on Kindle Unlimited, including the instant hit Bad Boys of Retribution MC, Carolina Bad Boys, Bad Boy Ballers, and many more!
Badass, sassafras Rie Warren is the author of Sugar Daddy and the Don’t Tell series—a breakthrough trilogy that crosses traditional publishing boundaries beginning with In His Command.
She lives in gorgeous Charleston, South Carolina with her small family where she basks in the sunshine during the day, and adjourns to her woman cave at night. A nocturnal creature, she stays up way too late talking to herself, her characters, and anyone who will listen. She’s all about writing with heat, heart, and a hint of the dark, and she doesn’t shy away from the impossible.

Rie’s work has been called “edgy”, “daring”, and “some of the sexiest smut around”.

Sign up for my newsletter for special promotions and release news:

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Book Review: BACK TO YOU by Claudia Burgoa

Back to You by Claudia Burgoa

Chaotic Love, #2

Amazon  |  Nook  |  iBooks  |  Kobo

Add the book to Goodreads

Synopsis:

 For the first time in his life, Wes Ahern has encountered something—someone—he can’t fix. Not with his hands, his words, not even with his love. 

His head tells him Abby had to get out of Colorado to heal from the nightmare that nearly took her from him. To mend her wounded body, piece her broken spirit back together, and find out who she is behind the mask she felt forced to wear.

His first instinct was always to protect her. Still is. But as he faces his own pain, an agonizing realization dawns: that while he needs her more than his next breath, the best place for her may not be with him. Because while he always had her back, the secrets they kept—even from each other—have the power to destroy them.

When their paths cross again, will their souls still recognize each other?

Note: Back to You is the conclusion of the Chaotic Love Duet. Often dark and sometimes jarring, this book also contains references to childhood trauma, rape, kidnapping, and PTSD.

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

He never plans on settling down with anyone. Sterling should come up with a warning. A tramp stamp, not for sale, samples only.

There’s a part of my heart that’s incomplete. You have it.

My Review:

 

After the taut suspense and heinous cliffhanger from Begin With You, I was most anxious to dive into Back to You before my tiny cranium deleted the salient details to make room for something else. But… Holy Angst-Fest Batman! I was bitterly disappointed and wanted to throw my precious Kindle against the wall then murder a pint of Ben and Jerry’s. I was in agony and seriously considering a DNF after several hours of reading a story that continued to circle the same painful memories and regrets. The doleful storyline was mired in despair and going nowhere… I know many of my book friends enjoy a good chewy tale of woe, however, for me, listening to someone’s detailed misery on a repetitive loop is just not a palatable form of entertainment. After whining to my fellow readers on FB, I was assured it would be worth my while to continue, and it kinda was, however, the tedium and hefty negative imbalance were too much to overcome. I guess I was just lucky someone answered me… and that my wine rack was empty.

The storylines were laden with insightful observations and emotional tension while tilting heavily to the Land of Distress with over-servings of conflict, debilitating anxiety, chronic waffling, disabling guilt, and self-doubt. The romance was far and away on the back burner with nary a lip-lock until 80% in, but once the obstinate Abby’s ice finally thawed, it was steam heat for the final 20%. I enjoyed Wes’ ten-date plan and marveled at his patience, generosity, and thoughtfulness. The ending was a welcome shot of HEA and I relished the inclusion of therapy dogs. Helpful tip – it is always a smart choice to add in precious animals.

 ——————–

Begin with You by Claudia Burgoa

Chaotic Love, #1 – Available Now

Amazon  |  Nook  |  iBooks  |  Kobo

Add the book to Goodreads

—————————–

AUTHOR INFORMATION:


Claudia is an award-winning, international bestselling author. She lives in Colorado working for a small IT company, managing her household filled with three confused dogs, two daughters wrought with fandoms and a son who thinks he’s the boss of the house. And a wonderful husband who shares her love for all things geek. To survive she works continually to find a purpose for the voices flitting through her head, plus she consumes high quantities of chocolate to keep the last threads of sanity intact.

 

AUTHOR LINKS:

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Book Review: Why Him? (Mistaken Identities #1) by Rie Warren

Why Him? 

 (Mistaken Identities #1)

by Rie Warren

Goodreads

Amazon  /  Series Link

 

If you believe in romance . . . 

I don’t want to know his full name.
I don’t even want his phone number.
In fact, the only thing I want from Jude is the filthy hot sex the masterful hung stud delivers on a weekly basis.
He’s way too young for me . . . and much too good at fulfilling my every dirty desire.
He definitely isn’t supposed to show up one morning on my doorstep with an offer I can’t refuse.
Now he’s in my life on a daily basis, and I can’t shake him no matter how hard I try.

He’s absolutely unsuitable.
She’s everything he knew he wanted from the first moment he saw her.

A book full of filthy sex and beautiful tortured romance. Why Him? is a standalone novel with a tear-worthy HEA, no cheating, no cliffhangers, just all yes. Keep the fan handy, you’ll need it.

My Rating:

Favorite Quote:

There are no words to describe that blight to the human eye…

My Review:

Oh, my… This couple was deliciously naughty and with explosive sensual chemistry, I felt sorry for the ladies working housekeeping in the hotel they frequented as I’m sure their room required steam cleaning and their linens could only be tossed upon their exit.   The writing was salaciously scandalous and occasionally went a bit past my comfort zone for eewwww with the body fluids, while their activities were punctuated with the filthiest of bawdy talk, OMG, I couldn’t read fast enough, err, I mean, for review and research purposes, of course… hmmm. Yep, that’s it… All right, I will confess to experiencing a sharp increase in respirations while reading, as well as frequent gasping for breath, elevated heart rate, and an uptick in my laundry needs.

Rie Warren left me breathless! While the storyline was highly lascivious, there was also a highly amusing family drama as well as a sweet romance building between decidedly endearing characters. The story was original, easy to follow and smirk-worthy and enjoyable, despite the lubricity and sticky residue. And I learned a new word – fapping – what the boys used to call spanking the monkey in my highly sheltered youth.

 

Rie Warren

Home of Alpha Male Romance and the Original Bad Boys

Author of the Carolina Bad Boys, the Bad Boys of Retribution MC,

the Bad Boys of X-Ops and the Don’t Tell series.

www.riewarren.com

All of Rie Warren’s self-published series are available to read on Kindle Unlimited, including the instant hit Bad Boys of Retribution MC, Carolina Bad Boys, Bad Boy Ballers, and many more!

Badass, sassafras Rie Warren is the author of Sugar Daddy and the Don’t Tell series—a breakthrough trilogy that crosses traditional publishing boundaries beginning with In His Command.

She lives in gorgeous Charleston, South Carolina with her small family where she basks in the sunshine during the day, and adjourns to her woman cave at night. A nocturnal creature, she stays up way too late talking to herself, her characters, and anyone who will listen. She’s all about writing with heat, heart, and a hint of the dark, and she doesn’t shy away from the impossible.

Rie’s work has been called “edgy”, “daring”, and “some of the sexiest smut around”.

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Book Review: Bentley by Melanie Moreland

Bentley 

(Vested Interest #1)

by Melanie Moreland 

Goodreads

Amazon / B&N


Three young men meet in university and form a lifelong friendship.

Their pasts dictate the men they are, but their present shapes their future.

What happens when these men meet the one person they are destined to be with? Can they fight their feelings and walk away? Or will they each succumb and learn the sweet agony of love?

Bentley

The leader of the group. He is uptight, formal, and cold. Rigid and set in his ways, always following the same path. Until the day, he stumbles upon her.
Emmy.
She brings with her spontaneity and light. The world she lives in is so different from his, yet he cannot control the draw to her. Nor can he explain the way she makes him feel.
Happy.
Protective.
Loved.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

My name isn’t Emmy… Winifred Windfall. That means, really, I’m Freddy Money.

 “Does he go with you everywhere?” I nodded, winking covertly at her. “He’s like a fungus I can’t get rid of.”

 We headed toward the counter, and I made a beeline for an older woman, thinking she’d be the safest bet. Except when she looked up, her frank appraisal made me hesitate. When she licked her lips, I felt Maddox’s yank on my arm. “Abort, abort,” he hissed. “Cougar.” Like a well-oiled machine, we veered to the right…

 Aiden, maybe you can teach me some of your karate skills. I bet I could take them if I tried. I don’t know if there is, like, a kidnapper network, but if word got out I wasn’t to be messed with, that would help keep them away.

My Review:

I adored each of these characters and am eager to delve into the rest of the series. The storylines were crisp, intriguing, cleverly amusing, and unfailingly entertaining. The character of Bentley was initially that of a frosty and arrogant businessman, but underneath he was a considerate and swoony teddy bear. I relished the easy banter and bawdy teasing among the group and was in awe at the deft and insightful handling of several rather heavy and vexing emotional issues.   Ms. Moreland’s smooth and engaging writing style held my interest, attention, and admiration from start to finish.

About the Author

New York Times/USA Today bestselling author Melanie Moreland, lives a happy and content life in a quiet area of Ontario with her beloved husband of twenty-seven-plus years and their rescue cat, Amber. Nothing means more to her than her friends and family, and she cherishes every moment spent with them. 
While seriously addicted to coffee, and highly challenged with all things computer-related and technical, she relishes baking, cooking, and trying new recipes for people to sample. She loves to throw dinner parties, and also enjoys traveling, here and abroad, but finds coming home is always the best part of any trip. 
Melanie loves stories, especially paired with a good wine, and enjoys skydiving (free-falling over a fleck of dust) extreme snowboarding (falling down stairs) and piloting her own helicopter (tripping over her own feet.) She’s learned happily ever afters, even bumpy ones, are all in how you tell the story.
Melanie is represented by Flavia Viotti at Bookcase Literary Agency. For any questions regarding subsidiary or translation rights please contact her at flavia@bookcaseagency.com
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Book Review, Giveaway: Maddox by Melanie Moreland

Title: Maddox
Series: Vested Interest Series
Author: Melanie Moreland
Genre: Contemporary Romance/Romantic Suspense 18+
Release Date: July 9, 2018
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“Every reader is going to tell you that Maddox is a dirty talker. He also likes control, but the one thing he can’t control is Dee’s heart.The joy of this story is the characters learning to trust one another with their hearts.” Mae Wood, author of Pig & Barley series

“There’s a new book boyfriend on the block and his name is Maddox. Hands off ladies, he is all MINE.” Eva LeNoir, author of UCC Saga series

“Right, let’s get one thing straight. Maddox = MINE. I mean, I claimed him way, back when, and now I’ve read his story, I’ve even more obsessed with him. Even more in love with him. Even more in love with this series, TBH.” B. Cranford, author of The Avenue series

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Brought up in chaos and fear, Maddox requires order and control to cope with life. He has his career and his two closest friends. That is all he needs. Until Dee enters his life. She brings forth feelings he has denied himself his entire life, threatening his control.
He wants to hold.
Keep.
Love.
Live.
 
Damaged by her past, Dee cannot admit her feelings for him, fighting him at every turn.
Is he strong enough for both of them?
Can he prove to her that they would be perfect together?
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My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

“I don’t date,” she insisted, stubborn as a child being told something they didn’t want to hear. I scrubbed my face. “I hate to break it to you, my lovely. We’ve been dating the past few months.” She sat up, clutching a pillow in front of her like a talisman. “We have not!” I sat up as well, grabbing her shoulders. “Listen to me. We’ve been having dinner, meeting with our friends, talking on the phone, texting. Having sex.” I dropped my voice. “Amazing, crazy sex. Neither of us is seeing anyone else… Whether you like it or not, we’re in an exclusive relationship.” She gaped at me, making me laugh.

 “If I have to beat you for this, Mad Dog, I will—but I’ll try to be gentle.” “Whatever,” I snorted. “I can take you, big man.” “You think so? I could snap you like a twig.” “I’ll throw a couple of lemon Danish at you and run. You’ll be so busy trying to catch them, I’ll be fine.”

 … he was such a pretentious asshole. He makes Bentley look like a laid-back hippie. The pole he has shoved up his backside must tickle his throat.

My Review:

This series has become one of my favorites to date – I’m intrigued by this endearing and bossy group of successful entrepreneurs who had met and became best friends during their college years. Each had suffered a traumatic past with no desire for a serious relationship, until one-by-one, the mighty fell, and I so enjoyed watching them tumble. The three friends, having each miraculously paired off, were assisting Bentley and Emmy in wedding preparations, with cleverly amusing results. The character of Maddox was happily settling into his first satisfying relationship when an unpleasant part of his past places everything he had worked for at risk and proved to be a sticky thorn to dislodge. Written from my favorite dual POV, the storylines were entertaining, amusing, and quite erotic. Maddox was a salacious and sensual read with breath-stealing scenes that left me gasping and seeking cool hydration. Clutch the pearls; this lascivious couple was scorching the sheets with reams of bawdy talk. I relished the humor, ease, and supportive nature of this colorful and vibrant collection of curiously alluring personalities, and eagerly anticipate equally entertaining tales of their expanding circle of friends and employees.

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Until one day, I was browsing my local bookstore for something new to read.
Studying a book jacket, I was distracted when a woman’s silhouette caught my attention. She was lissome and pretty, the sunlight catching her light red hair. She was reading the back of a book, her finger running over the spine. Something about her beckoned to me yet seemed familiar. With a grin, I realized it was Dee, and I approached her. “Find something good?”
She glanced at me, startled. I was close enough to see the flecks of brown in her wide green eyes. She smiled and slid the book back onto the shelf. “Not really.” She indicated the books I had in my hand. “I think you’ve had better luck.”
“You can borrow one if you like. I tend to buy in batches.”
She tilted her head, silently mouthing the titles. She looked up with a smile. “That would be lovely.”
“I was gonna grab a cup of coffee. Can I interest you in joining me?”
“I’d love to.”
Seated across from her, I realized it was the first time we’d ever been alone.
“You come here often?”
She shook her head with a wry grin. “Is that your best pick-up line, Maddox?”
I chuckled. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in here until today.”
“I was in the office for a short while, then dropped in here. Usually I browse on my lunch hour.”
“That makes sense.”
Silence fell as we sipped our coffee, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. I noticed she nibbled at the end of her thumb, and it struck me as odd. Given her stoic persona, I found it rather endearing.
And I found my thoughts strange. Endearing wasn’t a word I used often—if ever.
She met my gaze. “So, is it?”
“Is it what?”
“Is that your best pick-up line?”
I studied her as I drank my coffee. “I don’t typically do pick-up lines.”
She smirked. “I’m not surprised.”
“Sorry?”
“With that whole silver fox thing you’ve got going, I’m sure you don’t have to.”
I frowned. “Silver fox?”
“Maddox, the silver fox. Young, sexy, wealthy, plus that premature gray? I bet you beat them off with a stick.”
I shook my head, amused at her thoughts. “I’m sorry to disappoint, but no.”
“Really? I’m surprised.”
I sat back, crossing my legs, swinging one foot. “What about you, Deirdre? All prim and pretty. You drive the lawyers crazy at your firm?”
She laughed. “Dee. No one calls me Deirdre. It’s stuffy and formal.”
“No. It’s a lovely name for a lovely woman. It suits you. The lawyers you date don’t call you by your full name?”
She ignored my comment about her name. “I don’t date lawyers, or anyone else at my firm,” she stated firmly. “In fact, I don’t date.”
“Ever?”
She hesitated, then shook her head. “No. Love, romantic love, isn’t for me.”
I took in a deep breath and spoke. “Why is that?”
“It’s dangerous. It overwhelms and kills you.”
At my raised eyebrow, she continued.
“I’m not saying I don’t see people. I have…needs. But I don’t do romantic relationships. I’ve seen the way love destroys people.” She held up her hand before I could speak. “I know it works for some, but I’m not built that way.”
I drained my coffee, then leaned forward. “Neither am I.”
She widened her eyes. “Really?”
“Love equals power. The power to destroy. The ability to hurt and cause pain. The chaos it causes. That’s what love means to me. It destroys trust and leaves you weak.”
“You feel that way about everyone?”
“There are a few exceptions. And I will never break them for a woman.”
Our eyes met, silent understanding passing between us. The air shifted, and I felt our mutual desire grow. It stretched out, pushing tentatively against the boundaries we had erected. She propped her elbow on the table, lifting her thumb to her mouth. Her small teeth gnawed at the flesh. It was an innocent gesture, yet I found it provocative.
“I have needs too,” I murmured. Reaching over, I tugged her thumb from her mouth, inspecting it. From the roughness of the skin, and the fact that it was the second time she’d done it since we sat down, it was clearly a nervous habit for her. I slowly dragged my fingers across her palm, then laid her hand on the table.
Her breathing hitched. “I’m older than you are.”
“Three years,” I scoffed. “It’s nothing.”
“I’m serious. I don’t do relationships.”
“Nor do I.” I bent forward, lowering my voice. “May I be blunt with you?”
“I prefer blunt.”
“I find you incredibly attractive, Deirdre. Very sexy in your buttoned-up clothes and calm exterior. I’d like to see what happens when you’re naked and aroused.” I tilted my head, studying her. “Like now—are you aware in the past few minutes, your breathing picked up and your eyes darkened? You have the loveliest color across your cheeks. Even the tips of your ears are pink. I wonder how far down I could make you flush that way.”
Her color deepened, but she didn’t flinch. She shifted closer, our knees pressed together under the table. Her normally husky voice was even lower, turning me on. “You want honest?”
I nodded.
“I think you’re one of the sexiest men I’ve ever met, Maddox. I see how your toned body moves when you walk, and I imagine you moving in me. You use your hands a lot when you talk, and I want to feel them on my skin. Your muscles flex under your expensive suits, and I want to feel them tighten under my touch.” She ran her finger over her lips. “I want to taste you and watch you fall apart.”
“Then maybe we should go and explore each other.”
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New York Times/USA Today bestselling author Melanie Moreland, lives a happy and content life in a quiet area of Ontario with her beloved husband of twenty-seven-plus years and their rescue cat, Amber. Nothing means more to her than her friends and family, and she cherishes every moment spent with them. 
While seriously addicted to coffee, and highly challenged with all things computer-related and technical, she relishes baking, cooking, and trying new recipes for people to sample. She loves to throw dinner parties, and also enjoys traveling, here and abroad, but finds coming home is always the best part of any trip. 
Melanie loves stories, especially paired with a good wine, and enjoys skydiving (free-falling over a fleck of dust) extreme snowboarding (falling down stairs) and piloting her own helicopter (tripping over her own feet.) She’s learned happily ever afters, even bumpy ones, are all in how you tell the story.
Melanie is represented by Flavia Viotti at Bookcase Literary Agency. For any questions regarding subsidiary or translation rights please contact her at flavia@bookcaseagency.com
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Book Review: Crash & Burn (A Crashing Series Standalone) by Kristen Hope Mazzola

Crash & Burn

A Crashing Series Standalone

by Kristen Hope Mazzola

Goodreads

Amazon

My girl left me for a rockstar.
I thought I was in love.
There wasn’t anything left of me. So I ran.
And when I stopped, everything began.
She was tattooed and badass.
She was the piece I never knew I was missing.
She was real love.
And she was keeping us a secret.
But all secrets are bound to break free. I just hope that when ours does, she knows that this time, I’m staying.
NOTE: A shorter version of this story was previously published in the BURN ME Anthology. This is the extended and complete story that will make your heart burst into flames. Grab an ice-cold drink and a fan; it’s about to get hot in here! Crash & Burn is a standalone romance. It is a companion novel to the Crashing Series.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Here’s to the breezes that blow through the treezes, that lift the girl’s skirt high above her kneezes, it reveals a spot that teases and pleases. Here’s to snatch, down the hatch!

I do not sleep with the guys here. Self-preservation thing, ya know.” Bryn was talking a mile a minute. “I have to make sure that they never think of me as a chick or a piece of meat. It took me a long time to gain the respect of all those twat waffles with egos the size of Texas in there.”

 

My Review:

 

I giggle-snorted and smirked my way through this delightfully naughty and scorching hot firefighter romance. This dirty talking, well-tatted and nimble couple needed flame retardant sheets and fire extinguishers in every room. This was my first exposure to Ms. Mazzola’s wordcraft and I adore her endearing characters, clever use of levity, and bawdy sense of humor. I’ll be on the lookout for future opportunities to indulge in her tales.

About the Author
Bestselling author, Kristen Hope Mazzola, lives in the suburbs of Tampa soaking up the sunshine while watching hockey or football at beach bars. She writes contemporary romance ranging from steamy romantic comedy, angsty new adult, all the way to sports romance – with dirty bikers, hot military men, and swoon-worthy rockstars in between. A portion of her royalties goes to the Marcie Mazzola Foundation.