Friday, October 28, 2016

Marry Me Mad - The Rousseaus #2 (The Blueberry Lane Series) -by Katy Regnery


Description:

Did you fall in love with The English Brothers? Were you hot for the Winslows? Katy Regnery's New York Times bestselling Blueberry Lane series continues with The Rousseau siblings in 2016!

For as long as Madeleine “Mad” Rousseau can remember, she’s been the “sweet” twin to her sister Jax’s “sassy.” But after an especially painful break-up, Mad decides she’s had enough of being sweet. Children’s librarian during the day, she begins visiting Philly’s seedier nightspots on a quest for adventure.

When Cortlandt “Cort” Ambler, the ex-boyfriend of Mad’s sister, Jax, saves her from disaster on one such evening, an unlikely friendship is born between the rebellious librarian and the moonlighting pianist…and two broken hearts begin a journey toward being whole again.

Get to know the families of Blueberry Lane!

*All books in The Blueberry Lane Series can be enjoyed as standalone novels.*

LINKS:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2dxxsyi
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2d1URTD
iBooks: http://apple.co/2djBVBg
Nook: http://bit.ly/2cGRO71
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2dtAluD

Addicted 2 Romance Review:


- ARC Received by the author for an honest review -

This story is about Mad, sister to Etienne who married Kate English and twin sister to Jax. The description on this story is a little weird in that it was different to what happened in the book. Mad is the good twin. She is ladylike, is a childrens librarian and has been in a relationship for 3 years. Growing up her wealthy, french father cheated on her much younger mother and they stayed together. So Mad was always the peacemaker, the good twin and tried to cause the least amount of trouble.

At 17, ten years before, Jax dated Cort but on the night of prom he broke up with her for a very serious reason. He let her make up a reason and she told everyone it was because she would not put out. Mad, as Jax's twin sister hated how Cort treated her sister and since then did not have positive feelings for him.

Meanwhile Cort has always had a thing for Mad. In fact the reason he ended up dating Jax was he thought he had kissed Mad until Jax showed up the next day and shared that it was her. He sort of ended up in a high school relationship with her that ended at the prom at age 17. Since them he became a musician and is now back in town performing with his musical partner Victoria.

On the night the story begins, Mad gets a promotion at work and calls her boyfriend to share the news. Instead she found out his flinging with his intern and she dumps his ass but is devestated. That is how she ends up at a bar where Cort and Victoria are performing.



She gets smashing drunk and throws up and thats when Cort comes to her rescue. He has always dreamed about her and no one measured up and so he spends the night re-getting to know Mad. Unfortunately for him Mad only sees him as a friend because she can never get involved with her sisters ex even if it was ten years before.

I for one HATE sister exes romances. Sisters having a boyfriend in common. Yuck. But in this case it did not bother me. For one Jax and Cort kissed. There was no sex and everyone knows there was never anything more than petting and kissing. Add in 10 years and it wasn't a big deal for me. On the other hand Jax and Mad are twins and well a guy being into both of them at the same time that was kinda ick but he was 17 and it was ten years before so I could totally let it go.

I loved that even though Mad says they cannot be, well she was just as  into Cort as he was with her. She really cannot stop thinking about him and cannot stay away. This book is really how she gets past a very immature and inconsequential relationship her sister had with Cort for this amazing and big relationship she can have with Cort.


I did have two issues with this book. One is Jax. I read her book and I loved her story and I loved her. In this book she is extremely unlikable. First she comes off very self centered at first. She cancels on her sister and runs off. Then she ends up staying with her sister and its really all about her. The second reason I did not like her is a big spoiler and I am not going into spoiling that but suffice to say 10 years before she was even more self centered and in the end it should have been Jax asking forgiveness rather than Mad asking for permission for a relationship with Cort.

My other issue is that I liked Mad a lot for most of the book. I really did like her but around 80% she just turned into this big coward. Had Jax not forced the issue I am not sure she would have ever told her about the relationship with Cort and I felt Cort deserved more than a coward. Near the end she finally starts facing things but for a portion I really didn't like her at all for her cowardice.

As to Cort I absolutely loved him. This author has a gift for creating these wonderful male characters and Cort OMG he was  sweet, sexy and 100% about Mad from day one and who doesn't love that in a man. I also really loved the scenes with him, Merit and Mad. I also totally loved Sloane. I loved that she told Cort the truth whether he liked it or not.

EXCERPT:

She stood on the sidewalk facing him, a sweet smile on her lips.
Cort gestured to his front door with a flick of his chin. “Want to come in?”
“Yes. But we have to talk first.”
“What happened to ‘Take me to bed’?”
She sighed. “Fresh air cleared my head.”
He glanced down at his swollen cock, all but bursting against the zipper of his jeans. “I’m dying a little here, baby.”
Her eyes followed his, dancing with mirth when she looked back up at him. “So I see.”
“I’m not alone either,” he said, dropping his eyes to her nipples, which strained against her thin, billowy blouse.
“No,” she said, her voice slightly lower, her smile giving way to a hotter, more needy look. “You’re not.”
“So let’s talk inside.”
She shook her head no. “Here.”
Cort sighed, hitching her flowered bag a little higher on his shoulder, waiting for her to continue.
“No talking about Jax or Thatcher,” she said. “If you talk about Jax, I won’t be able to stay. I’ll feel too guilty. And if you talk about Thatcher, I’ll feel too angry. Promise?”
“I promise.”
She took a step closer to him. “And this one’s big…No falling in love with each other. We’re just about impossible, you and me, so we can’t—you know—bring that sort of emotion into this. We can enjoy each other, but that’s all, Cort. Promise.”
He flinched as she finished. He could feel the involuntary muscle reaction that narrowed his eyes and told him that it was too late. It was a lifetime too late to tell him not to love her, because he’d loved her for most of his life. Her gentleness, her quiet grace, the peace he’d always found in her presence now combined with the scorching chemistry between them that couldn’t be denied. Over and over again throughout his life, he’d looked for her, tried to find someone like her, but his heart had fixed on hers so long ago, it was all but impossible for him not to love her. The only way he could promise her was to promise not to “fall” this weekend, only because he’d already fallen years before.
“I promise not to fall.”
She smiled at him, though the smile had lost a bit of the lightheartedness it had held minutes earlier. “Do you need any promises from me?”
He nodded, closing the distance between them. “Yeah, I do.”
Her eyes widened, flaring with heat, the black of her pupils obliterating the green of her irises as she pressed her breasts against his chest.
“Promise to leave nothing on the table, Mad. Give me everything you’ve got for twenty-four hours.”
“Except…” Her voice broke. “Except my love. I promise.”
His heart clenched at her omission, and it made him want to push her out of her comfort zone a little. “Promise to touch me everywhere with your hot little mouth.”
“I promise,” she murmured, her throat moving as she swallowed.
His eyes narrowed. “Promise to open your legs so I can slide inside of you as if I’ve been doing it all my life.”
“Cort,” she whimpered, her eyes fluttering closed as she looked down at where her chest heaved into his. “I need you.”


About the Author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Katy Regnery started her writing career by enrolling in a short story class in January 2012. One year later, she signed her first contract and Katy’s first novel was published in September 2013. 

Twenty-five books later, Katy claims authorship of the multi-titled, New York Times and USA Today Blueberry Lane Series, which follows the English, Winslow, Rousseau, Story, and Ambler families of Philadelphia; the six-book, bestselling ~a modern fairytale~ series; and several other standalone novels and novellas. Katy’s first modern fairytale romance, The Vixen and the Vet, was nominated for a RITA® in 2015 and won the 2015 Kindle Book Award for romance. Katy’s boxed set, The English Brothers Boxed Set, Books #1–4, hit the USA Today bestseller list in 2015, and her Christmas story, Marrying Mr. English, appeared on the list a week later. 

In May 2016, Katy’s Blueberry Lane collection, The Winslow Brothers Boxed Set, Books #1-4, became a New York Times E-book bestseller. In 2016, Katy signed a print-only agreement with Spencerhill Press. As a result, her Blueberry Lane paperback books will now be distributed to brick and mortar bookstores all over the United States. Katy lives in the relative wilds of northern Fairfield County, Connecticut, where her writing room looks out at the woods, and her husband, two young children, two dogs, and one Blue Tonkinese kitten create just enough cheerful chaos to remind her that the very best love stories begin at home 


Author Links: 


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Tuesday, October 25, 2016

The Billionaire Next Door - Billionaire Bad Boys #2 - By: Jessica Lemmon


ENTER TO WIN: $25 Amazon gift card and a complete set of Love in the Balance e-books


About the Book 


Can't Buy Me Love It's Tag Crane's job to be the life of the party. Traveling from one exotic locale to another is just part of running the luxurious Crane Hotel empire. But even paradise isn't perfect. Devising a new business strategy is keeping Tag up at night-and so is the Great Dane barking at all hours in the apartment below his.



To muzzle the problem, Tag charges downstairs . . . right into the most beautiful, blond distraction he's ever seen. Dog-sitting by day, bartending by night. It's not exactly the life Rachel Foster dreamed of. But when Tag Crane rushes in, all mountain-man shoulders and obscenely sexy smile, needing her help for the Crane Hotels, it's a fantasy come true.



What's the harm in a fun no-strings fling? Only a fool would give her heart to a billionaire player like Tag-until suddenly the one man who can't be caught is the one flirting with forever . . .

LINKS





Addicted2Romance Review:

**ARC received by the author for an honest review**


This is only my second book by Jessica Lemmon and I totally loved it.This book easily stands alone but the first book is just as terrific but with a very different storyline and characters.

This story features Tag Crane. The baby brother in the family and he is the fun loving, sweet, player guy. He meets the heroine where he lives as she is housesitting for a neighbor. Rachel is very sweet, naive and she is very aware Tag is a PLAYER.



Her heart has just been broken by a mean ex who didn't just cheat on her but stole her promotion and got her fired. Now she is bartending and housesitting while saving enough for her own place.

Meanwhile Tag who handles the bars from his families hotel business has a major crush on Rachel who always runs away from him. I loved watching him chase Rachel and I loved Rachel, how she liked Tag alot too but he totally freaked her out but in a good way.



This book is happy, light reading while being pure fun. I loved that Tag was this huge mountainey man to Rachel but was a sexy, hot man inside. He never pushes but he has the major hots for Rachel and I loved every second of their journey to couplehood.



When she reached the door, she pulled her fingers through her blond hair, and decided her visitor had earned the penalty of seeing her sloppy hair, leftover makeup, and pale blue flannel pajamas with a polar bear and snowflake design.
She turned the knob and blinked, stunned.
Holy crap, there is a mountain man at my door.
She was faced with wide, round shoulders. A waterfall of caramel-brown, slightly wavy hair cascaded down his arms. He wore a closely trimmed beard, his mouth flat beneath it. One eyebrow was arched over the bluest eyes she’d ever seen.
“Hello,” she managed, before jerking her gaze from his assaulting blues to take in the fitted cream-colored sweater, a pair of gray cargo pants, and laced leather boots.
He was like a sexy city lumberjack.
“Hi.”
Oh. That voice. Deep, rich, and low enough that it registered in her belly.
When his eyes dashed away from her face and he smiled, her brain turned to mush. She couldn’t think of a thing to say. Not a single thing.
“There he is. Hey, buddy.” The giant knelt as Adonis meandered through the living room, pausing to do a downward-dog stretch in front of the man’s feet. The dog received a scrub on the head, and she was rewarded with more of her guest’s low voice. “You’re better today, yeah? Sleep okay?”
Meanwhile, Rachel gawked at the two of them. Her appearance was probably less put-together than the dog’s. She ran her fingers through her hair again, making it worse at this point, and straightened her pajama top futilely. There was no escaping that she looked as if she’d crawled out of bed after a late, late night.
The man stood. “Typically, Adonis has had his walk by now, but I didn’t see you at the elevator, so…”
She squinted one eye and finally her brain chugged into gear.
Oh. Oh.
Oliver had mentioned a dog walker, but Rachel had sworn he said he’d postponed the walks while she was staying here. But since he was here, he may as well take Adonis. She wasn’t anywhere near ready to go for a stroll in the snow.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” She went to where the leash was hanging—on a hook inside the pantry—retrieved it, and chased Adonis for a few irritating seconds while he turned in circles in excitement. “I took him out at three in the morning, so I’m not sure if he’ll have to…you know.” Dog clipped, she handed the leash to the ridiculously good-looking man at her door. “Do you bring your own poop bags? Or do you…” The man was looking at her like she’d sprouted a third eye, so she swept the topic away with one hand. “You know what? I’ll just grab one.”
She shot him a tight smile, went back to the pantry, and returned with a bag made for Adonis’s business. She offered it to the guy, who was holding tight to Adonis’s leash while the pooch lunged for the elevator. The man didn’t budge, despite the dog’s strength.
“Where’s Oliver?” he asked.
She frowned as she crinkled the plastic bag against her body. “You mean he didn’t tell you? He’s on a business trip. I’m housesitting.”
“You his niece?” he asked after running a long gaze down then up to her face again.
She laughed. “No, not at all. He’s one of my regulars. Odd, right? But we hit it off and he likes me, so…”
The man’s frown deepened, those gorgeous eyes darkening to stormy blue. “I’m not the dog walker.” He offered the leash but Adonis stayed in the hallway rather than coming back inside. “I’m an upstairs neighbor.”
“Oh. Oh my God! I’m so sorry!” Rachel took the leash and wrestled with Adonis, who was much, much stronger than she. He knew it. The dog spread his feet wide and stood his ground on the carpeted floor.
“I suggest you find a way to keep him quiet at night while you’re out. I work from home and I can’t listen to him bark for hours.”
Hours?
“If I were anyone else, a noise complaint would be in your future. Oliver follows the rules. He wouldn’t like knowing you’re breaking a big one.” That low voice had dropped lower, the reprimand having the dual result of both pissing her off and making her feel a little tingly.
God. I need more sleep.
“No need to be rude,” she snapped. He blinked, surprised. Probably not used to being put in his place.
Look at him. He’s a wall. Who would stand up to him?
Then she remembered his kind smile, the way his hands rubbed Adonis’s flank with rugged gentleness. A shiver climbed her spine at the same time Adonis jerked hard on the leash.
She expelled a dainty “oh!” and lunged forward at the same time the man in the doorway caught the leash in one hand and her against him. Rachel found every part of her from thighs to breasts plastered to the giant’s body. Her palms flattened over two hard pectoral muscles hidden beneath the sweater, her legs bumping his legs, which felt as solid as two marble columns. She tilted her head, met those aqua blue eyes and…and…remembered she hadn’t brushed her teeth yet.
She shoved off his rock-hard stomach, slapping a palm over her mouth. Then she gave a hard tug to Adonis’s leash, who turned with a sigh and paced back inside. Once he was clear of the door, she sent the hard-bodied hunk at the threshold a glare and slammed the door in his face.
Adonis yipped his disappointment at losing the chance to go outside.
“You’ll have to take him out now!” came a shout through the door. “Don’t blue-ball the poor guy after taking him halfway.”
Adonis wagged his tail so hard, he nearly took out a lamp. The hulk at the door was right. There was no way she could turn down the Dane’s pale eyes and smiling pink mouth, perked pointy ears, and lolling tongue.
“Fine,” she growled and stomped for the bedroom. She snatched up her boots and hastily picked out her clothes, feeling both tired and cranky. Yet as she tugged on her coat, she found her mouth curving into a half-smile.
Blue balls.

Who was that guy?


About The Author 

A former job-hopper, Jessica Lemmon resides in Ohio with her husband and rescue dog. She holds a degree in graphic design currently gathering dust in an impressive frame. When she’s not writing super-sexy heroes, she can be found cooking, drawing, drinking coffee (okay, wine), and eating potato chips. She firmly believes God gifts us with talents for a purpose, and with His help, you can create the life you want.

Author Links:  Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

at 1 comment:

Friday, October 21, 2016

Garrett - Bachelors of the Ridge #2 - by ‎Karla Sorensen‎

Description:

The one thing Garrett Calder and Aurora Anderson have in common is that they absolutely hate each other.

Garrett has the job that Aurora has worked for and wanted for years and it was handed to him on a silver platter, just like everything else in his life. The fact that he manages everything with the most annoyingly handsome smile on his equally annoying, handsome face is just icing on the freaking cake.

Aurora is not only the most beautiful, but the smartest, most infuriating woman Garrett has ever had the misfortune of meeting. Her sharp tongue and inability to be charmed by him makes her somehow more maddening, and she’s never let him get away with a single thing, not for the eight years they’ve worked together.


Garrett and Aurora are pushed into a situation neither of them want to be in— forced to work together for twelve months or risk losing everything. Twelve months where they can’t kill each other. Twelve long months, and only one of them will be left standing at the end. And in the process of surviving it—and each other—they’ll discover that there’s a very fine line between love and hate.

LINKS




Addicted  2 Romance Review:


- ARC Received by the Author for an honest review -

I am a new fan of the author and I read her previous series and the first book in this series, Dylan. This is book 2 and features Dylan's BFF, Garrett. In Dylan we meet and get to know Garret very surfacely. In  this book we really see who he is and his struggles.

I loved this story. If you love enemy turned lovers storylines than this is one of the best I have ever read. Garrett, is prince Caden as our heroine Aurora/Rory calls him. His dad owns a big finance company and  he has no problem with giving Garrett a position of authority. Rory loves Garrett's dad too and he is her mentor. The two met 8 years before and are very happy hating each other until...



Garrett's dad decides they have to work together....and before they can get too much into the project someo]thing major happens to Garrett's dad and the two end up running the company together. I loved how making them work together made them change and grow. These two were pure magic and this book is fantastic.

I really loved this whole book and cannot wait for book 3. In this story we learn more about Cole and his ex wife Julia and I loved how that really played into the story here and created some tension for both Rory and Garrett.


Excerpt:

Damn him, ooooooh, damn him and that highly amused grin that he gave me in answer. That’s what made it so much worse. Garrett Calder was handsome. He was tall and muscled with broad shoulders that looked (I could only admit this in my head, because I’d likely choke on the words if they came out of my mouth) incredible in a suit. Oh, I’d have liked it so much better if he was a hunchback with two teeth and pockmarks covering the left side of his body.

You know, have the outside match the inside.

“But my old man does?”

With brisk movements, I straightened my blue cotton blouse and sniffed. “Yes.”

Garrett leaned up against the door behind him, clearly not planning on going anywhere. Ass.

“How come?”

“You realize that I don’t have to answer you, right? It’s my prerogative who gets to call me a nickname and who doesn’t.”

When he snorted, I risked a look at him under my lashes. Still smiling that stupid smile. It was one of the non-professional things that I envied about him. The ease with which he smiled and joked, making the people around him happy in turn. The people who I reported to and the people who worked under me all respected me and liked me. But we weren’t exactly friends. We didn’t swap jokes or secrets.

But I’d take respect any day of the week, and twice on Sunday. So I straightened and faced him, giving him the full weight of my annoyed expression. “What?”

“Nothing.” He shook his head, completely amused by my snippy response.

“You are so aggravating.”

“And you are so defensive, Rory.”

I narrowed my eyes and he smothered a laugh. “I’m not defensive. I’m simply explaining to you that it’s my right to recognize that certain people are deserving of informalities over others.”

He clutched a hand to his heart. “So many big words. Stop.”

When I lifted an eyebrow, he gave me a mildly apologetic look. “Okay, fine. I’ll stick to Aurora.”


“Thank you,” I conceded. “Can I leave now? This kind of proximity to you gives me hives.”


About the Author:

Well, let’s see ... I’m a wife and a mother. I’m a writer who wants to make people smile when they read my words. I own a dog that sheds roughly eighteen pounds of hair every day. I am obsessed with Outlander (both the books and the show). I’m almost exclusively a romance reader, which means some people will never consider me a literary snob. If I could meet one historical figure, it would be Jane Austen. I received my Bachelors in Public Relations and worked in health care marketing before I had my babies. I hate Twitter. I do it, but I hate it. Also, if you want to get on my good side, bring me wine and I'll love you forever. 


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Monday, October 17, 2016

To Love and To Cherish - The Wedding Belles #3 By: Lauren Layne


Win Two Print Sets of TO HAVE AND TO HOLD and FOR BETTER OR WORSE  (ENTER HERE)


About the Book 


Sex and the City meets The Wedding Planner in The Wedding Belles, a contemporary and witty romance series about three high-powered New York City women who can plan any wedding—but their own.

Alexis Morgan has spent the past six years devoted to turning her tiny start-up into Manhattan’s premiere wedding planning company, The Wedding Belles. Now that her business is thriving, it’s time to turn towards her much neglected personal life, and Alexis approaches her relationships like she does everything else: with a plan.

Not a part of that plan is Logan Harris, the silent partner in the Belles, and the one person who’s been there for her since the very beginning. But Alexis needs someone fun, and Logan’s all business, all the time—except when a late night at the office ends with an unexpected kiss that leaves the usually cool and together Alexis reeling.

Logan has lusted after Alexis since the day he walked into the tiny Harlem apartment that used to double as her office. But the ambitious wedding planner has always been untouchable...until now. Alexis has made it clear that she’s on the dating market—and equally clear that he’s not in the running.

But when Alexis finds herself in need of a date for her sister’s last minute wedding in Florida, Logan knows it’s the perfect time to show Alexis that there’s more to him than numbers and spreadsheets—and beneath the pinstripes and glasses lies a hot-blooded heartthrob. As Florida’s sultry days turn into even hotter nights, Logan’s out to convince Alexis that the fling of a lifetime could just maybe turn into forever...

LINKS





Addicted2Romance Review:

**ARC received by the author for an honest review**



I am a BIG Lauren Layne fan especially of her NY singles stories. This Wedding Belles series has been really terrific and we finally get the head Wedding Belles story along with her long time BFF and partner Logan.

The story begins 8 years ago on the day Alexis meets Logan in a bar. Alexis has a dream and not much else and Logan has money and from that day on they have been together but not in any romantic or sexual way.




Be prepared you won't see any sex until around 80% of the story. They kiss a few times but Alexis is fearful of rocking the boat and so she fights hard to stay just friends and nothing more. One plot device this author has used before and I HATE with a passion are exes getting together with ones sister. Its gross that guys sleep with two sisters and I don't find it hot or attractive. So be prepared that is a big part of why Alexis fights her feelings for Logan. She doesn't really believe she can hold Logan because her ex fell in love with her sister.



Now don't get me wrong her sister and the ex are portrayed nicely. Neither cheated and they waited a year to get together, and they even asked permission and they have been together 10 years. But still it always is a plot device I hate. Thank goodness there are only a few scenes with them but I hate this so I want to warn you.

Logan is terrific but he fell for Alexis 8 years ago. In those years he has been waiting for a sign and well when it comes he almost misses it. Alexis when she hears her sister is "maybe" pregnant realises she is single and wrapped up in her business and thats when she asks the other belles to help her find a man. Thats when the guys finally tell Logan that she is ready.



Meanwhile Logan has been waiting 8 years but his time is almost up. His family wants him to move back to England and they think its crazy he has been waiting around for a woman who has never said she wanted him. I tended to agree with him. He needed a little more 'alpha' in his personality.

When the guys start pushing him I totally loved it. When he drops everything to come to Alexis rescue I loved it. I really wanted more hot scenes in this book but it was still a great story. I thought Alexis and Logan were terrific and fun. But he left alot of decisions up to Alexis and I like my men a little more 'alpha'.

This ends the series and I am really sorry it ended. This book easily stands alone, though the other belles and their partners are very involved in the story and so you might want to read their stories as well.


Hello.”
The sexy British accented startled Alexis out of her thoughts, and she glanced up, both alarmed and intrigued to find that the face that awaited her was every bit as appealing as the voice.
The man was about her age—early, maybe midtwenties—and ridiculously cute. His hair was dark and maybe just a touch too long, as though he intended to get a haircut but kept forgetting. The eyes were brown and friendly, accented by trendy black-framed glasses.
The chunky cable-knit sweater with elbow patches—for real—bordered on dorky, but then, Alexis had always had a soft spot for dorky. He had a bit of the Clark Kent thing going on, which had always been far more her type than the overrated Superman.
“Hi,” she replied quickly, realizing that she’d been staring.
His smile grew wider as he extended a hand. “Logan Harris.”
Darn. Even the name was good.           
“Alexis,” she said.
“Does that come with a last name?” he teased, lowering himself to the vacant barstool beside her.
“Not to strange men,” she retorted.
“I could buy you a drink. Get rid of the ‘strange’ part.”
Alexis’s smile slipped as she remembered that romance, even flirting, wasn’t part of her plan. She’d learned the hard way that she could have one or the other—her own business or a boyfriend—not both. And even if she wanted the latter, the latter didn’t want her back.
“No thanks; I’m fine,” she said, letting the slightest amount of chill enter her voice. The ice-princess treatment, Roxanne called it.
Logan shrugged, undeterred. “All right then. May I borrow your menu?”
She nodded, and he picked it up, perusing it for several moments and paying her no attention.
It was both a relief and also a bit of an insult, if she was being entirely honest, to be given up on so easily.
Alexis tried to turn her attention back to her laptop but watched out of the corner of her eye as he finally shut the menu, waiting patiently to catch the bartender’s eye.
“Hi there,” he said, when the bartender ambled back over. “I’d like a Stella, and a maybe bite to eat?”
Alexis didn’t miss the once-over that the bartender gave Logan before the curvy redhead leaned over the bar, displaying perky boobs as she clicked her pen and pulled a notepad out of her back pocket.
“Shoot,” the bartender said flirtatiously, looking a good deal friendlier than she had when she’d spoken to Alexis.
Not that Alexis blamed her. A cute Brit could do that to a girl.
“All right then,” Logan said. “I’d like the burger, medium, with Swiss. Fish and chips, extra tartar, and . . . how’s your chicken club?”
The bartender blinked. “It’s good. But you want all that?”
“I do. Thank you.”
“Suit yourself,” she said, scribbling Logan’s order on the pad.
“Hungry?” Alexis couldn’t resist asking after the bartender moved away.
Logan gave a sheepish smile. “I’m a recovering student. I sometimes get so wrapped up in my day that I forget to eat.”
“A recovering student. What does that mean?”
He turned slightly toward her. “Someone’s showing plenty of interest in a strange man.”
She bit her lip. “I’m sorry if I was rude before. I’m just not really in the market for . . . you know.”
He gave her an easy smile. “Everyone’s in the market for a friend, Alexis.”
She opened her mouth and then shut it as she realized he was right. She could use a friend. She’d spent her entire life in Boston and knew almost nobody in New York. This guy seemed nice and nonthreatening enough—what would be the harm in a little conversation over dinner? It had been too long since she’d had somebody to share a meal with.
Logan seemed to know the moment she capitulated, because he turned more fully toward her. “A recovering student, Alexis, is a recent graduate. One who hasn’t quite absorbed that there will be no more finals, no more requisite all-nighters, and no more dorm sex.”
Alexis laughed. “Undergrad, then?”
He gave her a wry look. “How young do I look, darling? MBA from Columbia. Just finished up end of last year.”
She felt a little stab of relief that he wasn’t twenty-two.
He leaned toward her slightly. “Twenty-five next month, just in case you were wondering. As a friend.”
She tried to hide her smile and failed. “Columbia, huh? You’re a long way from home.”
“Noticed that, did ya?” He winked. “I came out here for undergrad, also Columbia. Always figured I’d go back to London and maybe someday I will, but . . .” He shrugged. “Seems I have stuff to do here first.”
“Such as?” She took a sip of her wine, dismayed to see that it was half-empty.
“Well, this will probably shock you, given my vast amount of brawn, but I’m an accountant. Or at least I will be, once I get my business up and running.”
Alexis was impressed. “Your own business?”
Most twentysomethings, even those with an entrepreneurial bent, opted to get a few years of work under their belts for someone else before branching out on their own.
He nodded. “I’m working out of my flat for now, but I’m hoping to lease some office space soon, get some legitimacy. If nothing else to get my father off my back.”
“He’s not a fan of your plan?” Alexis asked.
Logan’s shoulder lifted, and for the first time he seemed a little sad. “Both parents have had it in their head that I’d come home. Run the family business in London.”
“Which is . . . ?”
He spun his beer glass idly. “Financial consulting firm. My father’s the CEO, Mum’s the COO.”
“Wow, that’s . . .”
“Scary?” Logan supplied.
“I was going to say impressive. That they work together—without killing each other, I mean.”
“They’re in love. It’s atrocious,” he said with a wink. “What about your folks?”
Alexis laughed. “Not in love. They divorced when I was in high school. Dad’s remarried and happy now, I think. Mom not so much.”
“And you?” he said. “Are you happy, Alexis?”
She pursed her lips, surprised and yet not entirely unsettled by the personal question. “It’s been a while since anyone asked me that. Since I even thought about it, really.”
“Think it out. I’ll wait,” he said with a wink.
She didn’t have to think that long. “I’m almost happy.”
“You sound quite confident on that.”
She shrugged. “Let’s just say that I need a few things to fall into place in my professional life, but once that happens . . . yeah. I’ll be happy.”
She’d make sure of it.


About The Author 


Lauren Layne is the USA Today bestselling author of more than a dozen romantic comedies. She lives in New York City with her husband (who was her high school sweetheart--cute, right?!) and plus-sized Pomeranian.

In 2011, she ditched her corporate career in Seattle to pursue a full-time writing career in Manhattan, and never looked back. In her ideal world, every stiletto-wearing, Kate Spade wielding woman would carry a Kindle stocked with Lauren Layne books.

Author Links:  Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Instagram

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Mistletoe Cottage - Harmony Harbor #1 By: Debbie Mason


Win!!! One Complete Print Set of the CHRISTMAS, COLORADO series by Debbie Mason OR a $25 Amazon Gift Card (ENTER HERE)


About the Book:

About the Book 'Tis the season for love . . . Sophie DiRossi loved growing up in Harmony Harbor. But after fleeing in disgrace many years ago, it is the last place she wants to be. Left homeless by a fire, she's forced to go back to the small coastal town that harbors a million secrets, including her own.

Sophie sees this secret reflected every day in her daughter's blue eyes-and she must keep it hidden from the only man she has ever loved. Sophie's return is a shock for everyone . . . especially Liam Gallagher. The firefighter had some serious feelings for Sophie-and seeing her again sparks a desire so fierce it takes his breath away.

 Now Liam will do whatever it takes to show Sophie that they deserve a second chance at love, even if everything they've concealed threatens to keep them apart. In this special town at this special time of the year, Sophie and Liam can only hope for a little holiday magic . . .

LINKS

Addicted2Romance Review: 

ARC Provided by the author for an honest review.



I have read a few books in the authors Christmas Colorado series so when I heard she had a new series in Harmony Harbor U couldn't wait to check out this new series. To start I want to warn you I was a little confused in the beginning of the book. There are lost of characters and they are introduced very casually and very fast. At first I was very confused who was related to who when Sophia and Mia are first introduced.

However by 10% I started getting who was who and the relationship to everyone. Essentially this book is a best friends brother type romance and 2nd chance at love, love story. I feel I should also warn you one thing this author likes to do in some of the books in the Christmas series is have relatives be former lovers of the main couple. I did not like that in that series and I really hate it in any romance, and I didn't realise that this would be a plot device used here. Be warned that at least its not a brother or sister but an older cousin which made it a little better for me to read, not great but least its not a sibling relationship which Christmas Colorado stories had.

As to the story, the main character is Sophie and I really liked her. I hate that she has this huge thing for Liam and then gives up and goes for his cousin. Liam also had a thing for Sophie except the whole brother/friend thing stopped him from going after her, then she left town and never really came back.

Now Sophie is 26 and back home with her daughter, Mia who has been traumatized and does not speak. Sophie has been arrested and has no job or place to live so she comes back home to live with her grandmother and thats where the story starts getting interesting.

Liam runs in Sophie and Mia when they are trapped in a Halloween Haunted House gone wrong which was fun and exciting and what a way for L and S to see each other again. It also creates this really great bond between Mia and Liam. Liam is now a firefighter and he had a very bad experience and is now hanging at home and working for his dad, a fire chief.

Meanwhile Sophie needs a job very badly and the only job available is working for Liam's family and thats when this book really picks and gets really fun. One aspect that I really lovedin this story is the ghost element. Someone dies in this story and instead of going to the light she becomes a huge part of the story as she manipulates characters. I really loved this aspect of the story and I thought it was perfect for a story publishing close to Halloween.

I also really loved the Gallagher brothers. Not sure who my favorite is next to Liam but Aidan and Harper were very fun. I also really loved Ava, Sophie's cousin and can't to find out what happens to her and her ex Griffin.

**I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.**



Liam lifted his phone and took a picture of Sophie and Mia twirling under a shower of red and yellow leaves that were substituting for snow. Sophie sang “Let it Go” with Mia mouthing the words.
He held up the bag from Jolly Rogers when they took their bows. “Okay, Elsa and Anna, it’s time to go. I’m starved.”
If he didn’t have to take care of the repairs at the apartment before his shift, he’d be happy to watch them play make believe for however long they wanted. He loved seeing this side of Sophie. Loved hearing her laugh, watching her face light up when she looked at her daughter. But what was supposed to be a ten-minute walk through the woods to the cottage had already taken an hour. 
“Kristoff sounds grumpy, Anna. Should we take him to the cottage and feed him, or make him sing for us first?”
Mia spread her arms wide and tipped her head back.
“Sorry, Kristoff. Looks like you’re singing for your lunch.”
He shook his head with a laugh, then belted out a couple choruses of the song. By now, he knew the words. He should since Sophie had been singing the song for the better part of twenty minutes. Mia clapped and ran to hug his legs.
“Be still my heart,” Sophie said, patting her chest. Then she hugged him too. “Thank you.”
“For what?” he asked her when Mia let him go to skip along the path.
 “For being you.”
He took her hand, reminding himself he didn’t do serious. But like the last six times he’d told himself that in the past hour, it wasn’t really working.
Especially when Sophie smiled at him like she was now. “In case you can’t tell, we’re having fun.”
He lifted their joined hands to her face and traced her lips with his thumb. “I got that. I’m glad. It’s nice to see you happy. Both of you.”
She glanced at Mia who’d crouched on the path to collect rocks. “You’re great with her, you know. I should have thought of telling her to mouth words.”
“Forest for the trees, Soph. Sometimes it’s hard to see what’s right in front of you. Cut yourself some slack. You’ve had a lot to deal with.”
“What about you? All we ever do is talk about me.” She gave his hand a gentle squeeze. “How are you doing, Liam?”
“I’m good. Why?”
“Um . . . shot in the line of duty ring a bell? I heard what happened, Liam.”

“Of course you did. It’s Harmony Harbor.” He glanced at her, smiled. “I’m getting there. You don’t have to worry about me.”

About The Author


 Debbie Mason is USA Today bestselling author of the Christmas, Colorado series. Her books have been praised for their "likable characters, clever dialogue and juicy plots" (RT Book Reviews). She also writes historical paranormals as Debbie Mazzuca. Her MacLeod series has received several nominations for best paranormal as well as a Holt Medallion Award of Merit.

When she isn't writing or reading, Debbie enjoys spending time with her very own real-life hero, their four wonderful children, an adorable grandbaby, and a yappy Yorkie named Bella.

Author Links:   Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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Thursday, October 13, 2016

Tonic by Staci Hart

Description:


Joel Anderson doesn’t take anything seriously.

Not his relationships, which have been few and far between since his brutal divorce. Not the drama of working in a tattoo parlor, which seems to be around every corner.

When things get him down, he smiles and cracks a joke. But he’s not the kind of man you cross, or you’ll find yourself at the wrong end of his fists. Annika Belousov takes everything seriously. Like her job as a reality television producer, given that she typically has something to prove.

tonic-ebook-sm


Or her love life, which is defined by a series of requirements — affluent, ambitious, accomplished, to name a few. Definitely her family, who worked their whole lives to afford her every opportunity, a sacrifice she doesn’t take lightly.

When she’s tapped to produce a reality show at Joel’s shop, she doesn’t think twice, just goes in for the kill, as if there were any other way. The second Annika walks into Joel’s shop, he makes it his mission to crack her open, but she’s not having it.

 He’s all wrong — too crass, too hairy, too un-serious. But it doesn’t take her long to find out there’s more to him than smirks and tattoos. And what she finds could put her career and his heart on the line. Not that Joel cares. Because for the first time in a long time, he’s found his tonic.


GOODREADS     -      ORDER ON AMAZON


Addicted 2 Romance Review:


***ARC provided by Give Me Books ****

This book, Tonic is related to the previous series because Joel is the guy that Patrick lived with when he was on drugs and helped him get clean. In the previous book we saw how Patrick finally got together with Rose and we meet Joel who also employs Patrick at his tattoo parlor, Tonic.

Annika and Joel are two extremely different characters and a reality show brings them together. Typically I try and avoid reality tv romances. I don't watch them in real life so I also try and avoid in my romance book life.I will say that this one was very enjoyable at least the reality tv side. Joel, is the books hero. He is a lot older than Annika. In the book Annika says she was 9 to his 21 so its about a 12 year age gap.

Here is a little time history on Joel:
  • Age 19 he got married to Liz
  • At Age 21 his parents die and he opens Tonic with his good friend Hal
  • He says he was married to Liz for 5 hellish years so at 24 he gets divorced. They are split up for close to 15 years at the start of this book.
  • She then moves in with Hal (employee and friend) and they leave and open their own tatoo parlour
  • In this book Joel seems to be 38/39 and no age is mentioned for Annika but I was guessing based on all the hints that she 25ish.
The book is called, Tonic,  after Joel's tattoo shop. The reality show is Annika's baby and she has the cutest nickname for Joel, Hairy. Meanwhile she is this russian, icy blonde beauty. However they share three important things in common and thats really where the two start connecting.They both a deep love for their families. In Joe's case thats  not only his brother but his tattoo shop. Annika comes from a good family where she is close to her parents and cousins. The second is their love of reading and the third is their love of music.


Joel does the reality show to stick it to a rival tattoo shop run my his ex wife, Liz and Hal, an ex friend. And as you know with reality tv that will be exploited.While doing the show both Annika and Joel try and fight this very strong connection and I really enjoyed watching them try and control the flames.



On the whole I really loved Joel and Annika. Neither is what they show the world. Joel is like this tattooed badass but is inside a big, mushy, sweet guy. Annika is very icy,think icy blonde that looks very put together. But inside she is a bunch of goo too. Together I really enjoyed seeing them fall for each other and Joel helping Annika with the books for her parents.



My issue with this book was the big issue that caused Joel to react so badly and start hating Annika and say she betrayed him well I just did not understand. It was nothing Annika did or had any control over. She kept it to herself one night and she had sex with Joel and didn't tell him until the camera was rolling. But it is a reality show and she had absolutely no part in the whole thing except waiting til the next day to tell Joel and he totally knew something was coming. The people he should have been angry with was Hal and Liz and it had nothing to do with Annika. This goes from 80-95% of the book and I just did not understand it. I felt it was a total over reaction and I just didn't understand why he and everyone else made it that Annika had any part in this and the things he said to her and how everyone treated her, I totally would never have ever forgiven him and taken him back and definitely not beat herself up over her tiny part in this.



Even despite the issue above I really enjoyed the story and I loved Joel especially with Annika. There are several unique aspects to this story and one is Annika is Jewish/Russian and I love how they go a little into what her parents faced. This book is extremely HOT!!!! Lots of really hot sexual scenes which I totally loved.


Author Info:


Staci has been a lot of things up to this point in her life: a graphic designer, an entrepreneur, a seamstress, a clothing and handbag designer, a waitress. Can't forget that. She's also been a mom, with three little girls who are sure to grow up to break a number of hearts. She's been a wife, even though she's certainly not the cleanest, or the best cook. She's also super, duper fun at a party, especially if she's been drinking whiskey. Her favorite word starts with f and ends with k.
From roots in Houston, to a seven year stint in Southern California, Staci and her family ended up settling somewhere in between and equally north, in Denver. They are new enough that snow is still magical. When she's not writing, she's sleeping, cleaning, or designing graphics.

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A Fool for You - Foolproof Love #3 - By: Katee Robert



ENTER TO WIN A $20 AMAZON GIFT CARD


About the Book 

It’s been thirteen years since Hope Moore left Devil’s Falls, land of sexy cowboys and bad memories. Back for the weekend, she has no intention of seeing the man she never got over…or the two of them getting down and dirty. It’s just a belated goodbye, right? No harm, no foul.

Until six weeks later, when her pregnancy test comes back positive…

Daniel Rodriguez hasn’t forgiven himself for how things went down with Hope all those years ago. He knows she’s better off without him, but when she shows up on his doorstep, panicking because she’s pregnant with his baby, he can’t help seeing it as a chance to make up for the past.

Too bad Hope has no intention of going along with his plans.

 BOOK LINKS



Addicted 2 Romance Review:

~~ARC received by the author for an honest review ~~


Katee Roberts is an auto buy author for me and so I could not wait for this book. This story is book 3 in the Foolproof Love book series. It features 3 guys who are close friends and this story is about the 3rd friend, Daniel/Danny.

13 Years before Danny was in a car accident with his girlfriend and her brother. The girlfriend was Hope and she survived but her leg was never the same again. Instead of sticking by Hope, he runs away from her. Meanwhile Hope blames him and he blames himself.

Now its 13 years later and Hope is putting together a scholarship for college students to honor her brother. Her and Daniel have a one night and then the condom breaks. Six weeks later she is knocking on his door and they find out what they need to do to be toogether.

This story was fun,  sweet and I really enjoyed it. There are lots of I love yous'. But both Hope and Danny fight so hard, for so long . Danny in this story learns how to forgive himself and move into a better life. And Hope has to learn how to trust Danny that he will stick around.



Hope shook her head. “You’re as much an idiot now as you were then.”

And then she kissed him.

It caught him a little off guard—he hadn’t expected her to be the one to make the first move, especially after the way the scene in the bathroom had gone down—but Daniel wasted no time taking control. He kissed down her neck, sliding his hands beneath her shirt and skating them up to her body to cup her breasts. They filled his palms, familiar and yet not, all at the same time. He cursed.

“Gorgeous Darling, the things you do to me.” He nipped her collarbone. “I’m going to taste you, so if you’re going to change your mind, now’s the time to do it.”

Her only response was to shove her yoga pants down to her knees.

He lifted her onto the counter and disentangled her right leg from the pants so he could spread her fully. He stroked her thighs, pausing when his fingers met the scar. It brought up so many conflicting feelings in him. It was his fault that she had the damn thing, but that didn’t mean he thought of her as less, the way she seemed to think. She was as beautiful now as she’d been at eighteen, and more confident despite her injury. Or maybe because of it. He had no idea.

All he knew was that at some point he was going to have to get up close and personal with her healed injury, and he was going to have to tread very, very carefully to avoid burning what was left of the bridge between him and Hope.

“If you apologize, I might actually kick you.”

That snapped him out of it. As much as he wanted Hope, he had an ulterior motive for pushing her now. All getting distracted by her leg was going to do was fuck up his chance of convincing her to stay, in his house and in his bed. He jerked her to the edge of the counter, spreading her thighs wider. “Don’t scream. You’ll upset Ollie.”

And then he did what he’d been fantasizing about ever since he walked out of her life. Daniel dipped his head and gave her center one long lick. She tasted better than he remembered, her body already shaking for him, so he used his thumbs to part her folds and licked her again, reacquainting himself with every inch of her.

“Oh.”

He looked up her body to find her head thrown back and her chest rising and falling with each harsh breath. “Take off your shirt.”

Hope wasted no time obeying, dragging the material over her head and tossing it away. And then there was nothing hiding her body from his gaze. He licked her again, savoring the way she shook. A tattoo curling around the bottom of her ribs caught his eye, but he was too distracted to read it.

He was tired of teasing her. He wanted to feel her orgasm again, to know she was coming apart at the seams because of him. Daniel sucked her clit into his mouth, stroking the sensitive little nub with the flat of his tongue the way she’d always loved. Sure enough, before he had a chance to truly savor her, Hope cried out his name and shuddered, her thighs squeezing his head as she came. He gentled his touches, licks turning to kisses, turning to the slightest brushing of his lips against her.

Only when she stopped shaking did he raise his head. “Stay, at least until we figure out what we’re doing.”

About The Author 

Author Links:   Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Katee Robert learned to tell her stories at her grandpa’s knee. She found romance novels at age twelve and they changed her life. When not writing sexy contemporary and romantic suspense, she spends her time playing imaginary games with her children, driving her husband batty with what-if questions, and planning for the inevitable zombie apocalypse.

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Hearty - Ashton Family Series #4 - by Carrie Aarons (Evan Ashton and August Percy)

  ABOUT THE BOOK They say you can always go home again, but for August Percy, that didn't apply even when she had to live there until he...