Friday, June 30, 2017

Review:The Cartographer (The Compass series Book 6) by Tamsen Parker

Reyes Walter is the man who engineers everyone’s happiness, and he’s never wanted anything else. He’s got a lucrative job as sovereign of the kink world, and he delights in playing puppet master for those under his purview…which is everyone.
Allie Hart has got his hands full trying to find a job and being there for his sister and her kids. Loyal to the bone, he’s not looking for anything to get in the way of his obligations.

When a chance encounter throws Allie into the wide swath of Rey’s concern, Rey resolves to play the hero as usual, and Allie is determined to tell him where to stick it. The last thing Allie needs is some rich know-it-all treating him like a damsel in distress.

But the attraction between them leads to more than a back-alley tryst—although not anywhere close to for-keeps. All of Rey’s previous lovers have been polished up and paired off with someone more suitable. After all, there’s always someone in need, and Rey vowed a long time ago not to let anything or anyone come between him and his responsibilities. But Allie Hart may be the one gift
he’s tempted to keep for himself.

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What I thought about The Cartographer

Fans of this series have been waiting for Rey's story -- after all, he's the guy who always knows how to "fix" things for other people. Oh, and a kink-master, too. That's his specialty.

By chance, Rey meets Allie Hart and they hit it off right away. Allie isn't looking for favors or handouts, and that messes with Rey's head. The reader gets a very intimate look into Rey and how he feels -- the book is entirely in his first person point of view. Sometimes it was a little much and made me cringe a bit. There was a lot about this book that I didn't expect, and that made it an interesting reading experience.

There's lots of heat between Rey and Allie, and there are some nice moments in between the hot stuff in the dungeon and kink parties. But this is really is Rey's story, and his struggle to really look at his own needs instead of just looking at others. I love that he gets some help from characters in previous books in the series.

I can't say this is my favorite book in the series, mostly because I just didn't connect with Rey. I did love the San Francisco / Oakland setting, and there was a nice cast of secondary characters. I'd love to know more about Matthew and Allie was very likable. And can I say that cover is outstanding...I just want to get lost in it.

So overall, a mixed experience for me on The Cartographer. It's one of those books that got under my skin though, and that makes me eager for the next title from this author.

An ARC was provided for review.

About Tamsen Parker

Tamsen Parker is a stay-at-home mom by day, USA Today bestselling erotic romance writer by naptime. She lives with her family outside of Boston, where she tweets too much, sleeps too little and is always in the middle of a book. Aside from good food, sweet rieslings and gin cocktails, she has a fondness for monograms and subway maps. She should really start drinking coffee.

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Saturday, June 24, 2017

Review:How to Murder a Millionaire (Movie Club Mysteries, Book 3): An Irish Cozy Mystery by Zara Keane

Armed with her newly issued private investigator's license, Maggie Doyle is on the case…of a sheep that went missing twenty-two years ago. When she trips over a dead body on the first day of the investigation, Maggie realizes there’s more to this cold case than a fight over lamb chops.

An invitation to spend the weekend with her grandmother’s oldest friend and her family, the super wealthy Huffingtons, gives Maggie the perfect excuse to sniff out the killer. After the family patriarch is electrocuted in the swimming pool, Maggie finds herself embroiled in yet another murder inquiry. With the body count rising, can Maggie catch the killer before they strike again?

***Includes a recipe for one of Maggie's favorite cocktails!***

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What I thought about How to Murder a Millionaire

A crotchless mankini, puffy chicken balls, and a missing sheep investigation. Maggie Doyle has her hands full again in How to Murder a Millionaire.

While investigating a twenty two year old case of a missing sheep, Maggie finds another dead body and so begins a mystery that will end with another murder. When the Huffingtons of chicken ball fame come to visit, it's more of a case of who didn't kill the family patriarch.

I really like this series. There's a nice dose of humor in all of the stories, and the growing romance between Maggie and Sargeant Liam Reynolds is so adorable. (Although I'm hoping they get to the good stuff soon!) Maggie is a likable character too as she stands on the threshold of starting a new relationship while still grieving the ending of her marriage. She loves her job on Whisper Island.

Lenny is a terrific sidekick for Maggie, and I'm glad to see he's worming his way into working for her because they are terrific sleuths together. And Zara Keane does the awesome job as always of making the setting as interesting as the characters.

If you are looking for a mystery that will make you smile and keep you interested, then you might like this series and How to Murder a Millionaire

An ARC was provided for review.

About the Author

Zara Keane grew up in Dublin, Ireland, but spent her summers in a small town very similar to the fictional Ballybeg.

She currently lives in Switzerland with her family. When she’s not writing or wrestling small people, she drinks far too much coffee, and tries – with occasional success – to resist the siren call of Swiss chocolate.

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Tuesday, June 20, 2017

Release Day Blitz & Excerpt:Lost and Found Sisters

From New York Times bestselling author
Jill Shalvis comes her first women's fiction novel—an unforgettable story of friendship, love, family, and sisterhood—perfect for fans of Colleen Hoover, Susan Mallery, and Kristan Higgins.

Order your copy today!

They say life can change in an instant…

After losing her sister in a devastating car accident, chef Quinn Weller is finally getting her life back on track. She appears to have it all: a loving family, a dream job in one of L.A.'s hottest eateries, and a gorgeous boyfriend dying to slip an engagement ring on her finger. So why does she feel so empty, like she's looking for a missing piece she can't find?

The answer comes when a lawyer tracks down Quinn and reveals a bombshell secret and a mysterious inheritance that only she can claim. This shocking revelation washes over Quinn like a tidal wave. Her whole life has been a lie.

On impulse, Quinn gives up her job, home, and boyfriend. She heads up the coast to the small hometown of Wildstone, California, which is just a few hours north, but feels worlds apart from Los Angeles. Though she doesn't quite fit in right away, she can't help but be drawn to the town’s simple pleasures…and the handsome, dark-haired stranger who offers friendship with no questions asked.

As Quinn settles into Wildstone, she discovers there's another surprise in store for her. The inheritance isn't a house or money, but rather something earthshattering, something that will make her question everything she thought she knew about herself, about her family. Now with a world of possibilities opening up to Quinn, she must decide if this new life is the one she was always meant to have—and the one that could finally give her the fulfillment she's searched so long for.

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Excerpt

Coop whined and Mick looked down at the twelve-year-old golden retriever, ball in his mouth. Coop panted happily and dropped the ball at Mick’s feet, his rheumy brown eyes ever hopeful.

Mick shook his head. “Last time I threw it, you decided you didn’t mean it.”

Coop gave a talkative “woo woo woo.”

Translation: Mick was full of shit. “I had to go get it myself,” he reminded the dog. “Remember that?”

This bought him another “woo woo woo.”

“Okay, okay.” Mick picked up the ball, and because there was a lot of old-man dog pride on the line here, he gave it a dramatic throw, making sure it went only about twenty feet.

Coop gave an energetic leap. A single energetic leap. After that, he eyeballed the sea of sand ahead of him, huffed out a sigh, and sat. Then he craned his big, fuzzy golden head and gave Mick a sad-eyed look.

“Are you kidding me?” Mick asked him.

Coop lay down, set his head on his front paws, and stared forlornly out at the ball that his brain wanted to chase but his sore joints and tired body wouldn’t allow. It was a daily reminder for the dog, who in his own mind clearly wasn’t elderly, forgetful, or more than half deaf. Nope, in Coop’s opinion, he was still a rambunctious, energetic puppy.

Mick blew out a sigh and fetched the damn ball. When he came back, the dog sat up, eyes bright, tongue lolling.

“Not a chance,” Mick said on a laugh. “I’m not throwing it again. This was about your exercise, not mine. I already had my run today.”

A Lexus pulled up. A woman sat behind the wheel and stared out at the dunes and the ocean. All Mick could see of her was a cloud of whiskey-colored waves of hair and a pale face. She stared at the water and then set her head to the steering wheel and banged it a few times.

Then, head still down, she went utterly still.

Coop whined about the ball and nudged Mick’s knee, eyes pleading.

With a head shake, Mick threw the ball five feet.

Coop happily pounced on it.

While his dog pranced around proudly, ball in his mouth, Mick turned back to the car. The woman hadn’t moved. Had she knocked herself out? Was she still breathing? “What do you think?” he asked Coop. “Stay out of it, or ask her if she’s okay?”

Coop, who’d never been impressed by a single one of the women in Mick’s social life, yawned.

“Right,” he said. “Stay out of it.”

But the woman suddenly sat up straight and fumbled her way out of the car, falling to her knees on the rough gravelly asphalt, gulping in air like she was suffocating.

Realizing she was hyperventilating, Mick rushed to her and crouched at her side, having to push Coop back from making her acquaintance—which he tended to do with a rude nose push to the crotch. “Stay,” he ordered and looked the woman over.

Young. Late twenties maybe. Definitely having a panic attack of some kind. Not touching her, he spoke quietly and calmly. “Take a deep breath through your nose.”

She had to quiet herself to hear him, but she did as he said. She took a deep breath, shuddery as it was.

“Good,” he said, still holding Coop back from trying to say hello. “Stay.”

“What?” she gasped.

“Sorry, not you. My nosy-ass dog. Keep breathing. That’s it,” he said when she worked at it.

When she had it under control, she met his gaze, her own eyes hooded and clearly embarrassed. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.”

Coop, tired of being held back, shoved his big old head between them and licked her from chin to forehead. Mick palmed the dog’s face and pushed his head away from the woman whose shoulders were now shaking.

Aw, hell. He patted his pockets—for what, he had no idea. It wasn’t like he carried tissues or napkins on him to offer her. He rose to his feet to go search the truck, which was when she lifted her face and he saw that she was shaking with laughter, not tears.

She was laughing at his ridiculous dog.

About Jill Shalvis: New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill’s sexy contemporary and award-winning books wherever romances are sold and click on the blog button above for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.

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Monday, June 19, 2017

ARC Review:Stay (Wags #2) by Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy

Stay (Wags #2)

Can you fall in love with someone you’ve never even met?

Hailey Taylor Emery has a hunch that her favorite client at Fetch--an anonymous virtual assistant service--is actually hockey star Matt Eriksson.

Although it’s against the rules for her to check his file, she’s 95% sure she spends at least part of each day texting with her lifelong crush and catering to his every need. Still nursing a wounded heart thanks to her recent breakup, Hailey is perfectly content with some harmless online flirting...until she has to meet her client. Face to face. Cue: utter panic.

Matt Eriksson is no stranger to heartbreak. He’s still not over the destruction of his marriage, and it sucks to be the only guy on the team who knows the truth--that hockey and long-term relationships are a toxic mix. He barely sees his kids, and dealing with his ex makes him feel insane. The only person in his life who seems to understand is someone who won’t show her pretty face.

But it’s nothing that a pair of fourth row hockey seats can’t fix. Hailey can’t resist the offer. Matt can’t resist Hailey. Good thing he doesn’t have to. Fire up the kiss cam!

Warning: Contains rabid hockey fans, misunderstood dick pics, hockey players at the opera and exploding ovaries.

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What I thought about Stay

Matt Ericksson needs an assistant and he's got one at Fetch, a virtual assistant service that can provide anything he needs at anytime. It can even give him confidentiality so the people who are "fetching" for him, don't know it's him. But he's been intrigued by HTE, dubbed "Hottie" who he guesses is the young woman in the picture on the website.

Hailey Taylor Emery (HTE) is co-owner at Fetch, and she's wondering if her favorite mystery client is actually her hockey crush, Matt.

When these two finally get together, they are so incredibly adorable! Hailey's anxiety is off the charts when she's around Matt. It takes him a little time to realize why she acts that way around him, but once he does, he also figures out how to make her feel more comfortable! Wowza! These two are so hot together. It's just lovely.

But Matt still has some unfinished business with his ex-wife who pops up at the worst times and he's carrying around a load of guilt from his failed marriage that has him making a stupid decision. Thank goodness for the WAGS!

I loved how Matt and Hailey talk to each other, and how they dealt with his ex-wife and children. Kudos to Sarina and Elle for not demonizing the ex and for showing how powerful friendship between spouses can be. I loved these little themes carrying throughout the story.

I loved Stay (and the previous title in the series, Good Boy). It has everything, but mostly I just love these characters. All of them -- the hockey players and their wives and girlfriends!

I know I've got a 5 star read when my first reaction after getting to "the End" is to write the authors and thank them for the lovely escape I just had with their words. Stay is one of those books for me. I couldn't stop smiling when I got to the final pages.

The WAGS series is really pretty special. It's a sweet romance with lots of fun moments. (Did I mention there's Blake and Mama Riley too?)

Stay left me feeling good. It left me feeling hopeful. It left me feeling the power of love. And that's worth the price of a book any day.

Recommended.

An ARC was provided for review.

About the Authors

Sarina Bowen is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance. She lives in Vermont's Green Mountains with her family, six chickens and too much ski gear and hockey equipment.

http://www.sarinabowen.com

https://twitter.com/SarinaBowen

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A New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Elle Kennedy grew up in the suburbs of Toronto, Ontario, and holds a B.A. in English from York University. From an early age, she knew she wanted to be a writer, and actively began pursuing that dream when she was a teenager. Elle writes romantic suspense and erotic contemporary romance for various publishers. She loves strong heroines and sexy alpha heroes, and just enough heat and danger to keep things interesting!

http://www.ellekennedy.com/

https://twitter.com/ElleKennedy

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorElleKennedy/?fref=ts

Sunday, June 18, 2017

Review, Excerpt & Giveaway:Salvaged by Jay Crownover

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jay Crownover continues her delightfully sexy Saints of Denver series with the next thrilling standalone, SALVAGED!

Order your copy today!

Hudson Wheeler is a nice guy. Everyone knows it, including his fiancée who left him with a canceled wedding and a baby on the way. He’s tired of finishing last and is ready to start living in the moment with nights soaked in whiskey, fast cars, and even faster girls. He’s set to start living on the edge, but when he meets Poppy Cruz, her sad eyes in the most gorgeous face he’s ever seen hook him in right away. Wheeler can see Poppy’s pain and all he wants to do is take care of her and make her smile, whatever it takes.

Poppy can’t remember a time when she didn’t see strangers as the enemy. After a lifetime of being hurt from the men who swore to protect her, Poppy’s determined to keep herself safe by keeping everyone else at arm’s length. Wheeler’s sexy grin and rough hands from hours restoring classic cars shouldn’t captivate her, but every time she’s with him, she can’t help being pulled closer to him. Though she’s terrified to trust again, Poppy soon realizes it might hurt even more to shut Wheeler out—and the intense feelings pulsing through her are making it near impossible to resist him.

The only thing Poppy is sure of is that her heart is in need of some serious repair, and the more time she spends with Wheeler, the more she’s convinced he’s the only man with the tools to fix it.

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Excerpt

I put my hands to my cheeks and held my face. I could feel heat under the surface and I could hear the rush of blood between my ears.

“Are you going to be okay? Do you need me to get you something? Should I grab Dixie?” He sounded genuinely concerned about me and that only made me shake even harder.

“No, I’m fine.” I wasn’t fine and hadn’t been in a very long time. “Dixie is in Mississippi. She took Dolly down because Church moved into the house he rented for them and she wanted the dog to get used to their new home and so she could see what it was like to have a yard.” I was babbling but I couldn’t stop the words from pouring out. “How do you move me without laying a hand on me?”

He looked up from where he was watching the puppy dig into his chow. Those blue eyes were like lasers as they cut into me from across the room. He put his hands on the counter and leaned forward. “What are you talking about?” His voice held that same even tone but there was something in it, some deeper note, that let me know he knew exactly what I was talking about.

I wrapped my arms around myself in a protective hug and met his look with a pointed one of my own. “I get stuck, frozen with fear. I end up caught between memories and reality. Most people grab my arm or touch me somewhere to get me moving again. Either that or they go around me like I’m in the way. You made me move without doing anything.”

His eyebrows shot up and the corners of his mouth pulled down in a frown. “People shouldn’t touch you unless you tell them it’s okay, even if you are in the way.”

His words had me shivering in a completely different way than I had been before and I was the opposite of cold. “I didn’t use to mind it.” The words cracked and sounded almost as broken as I felt on the inside. “I mean being touched. It was until…after.”

He lowered his gaze and I saw his chest rise and fall as he sucked in a deep breath. “The reason doesn’t matter. If you don’t like it, people should respect that. No one has a right to put their hands on you unless you want them there.”

Right there in that moment I thought I wouldn’t mind it too terribly much if he walked across the room and replaced the frail and thin arms that were currently holding me together with his thick, strong, tattooed ones. It was probably the only touch I would ever crave but I would never be brave enough to ask for it, so I cleared my throat and awkwardly made my way closer to where he was standing. I lifted myself up into one of the barstools that was across the counter from him and put my hands on the cool surface separating us and prayed they would stop shaking.

What I thought about Salvaged

If any character deserves an HEA and a good man, it's Poppy. She's been through a lot at the hands of men, and it's no surprise she's still recovering from the abuses done to her by the men in her life. Her scars are deep and could keep her from fully living her life.

When she meets Wheeler, he's so different from the other men she's been involved with. His colorful tattoos draw Poppy to him, and his kindness and sensitivity gives her the courage to reach out to him with a puppy from the veterinarian office where she works.

Wheeler is also dealing with the breakup of his relationship and cancellation of his wedding and the loneliness that follows. It's that loneliness that Poppy and Wheeler see in each other that draws them closer.

I've got to say that I adored Hudson Wheeler. He's had a rough life, but he hasn't let that keep him down, as a matter of fact, his hard life is what has propelled him into the sensitive man he's become.The way he treats Poppy made my heart swell, he's just so sweet and patient with her. It's like watching a flower blossom as Poppy responds to Wheeler and becomes more confident by degrees. He's sweetly romantic and so understanding, I fell in love with him right along with Poppy.

It's a very good thing that Wheeler is there when unfinished business with Poppy's parents comes looking for trouble.

I just loved Salvaged. I couldn't put this book down and devoured it in a day. Both Poppy and Wheeler have gone through so much, but together, they rise above all of that with the love they feel for each other and that's what makes this a very romantic read for me. I like this entire Saints of Denver series, and this might be my favorite of all of the books so far in the series.

There's a good sprinkling of past characters in Salvaged, so while this can be read as a standalone, you'll probably want to try the entire series! There's also a sweet subplot involving Wheeler and a mysterious car collector that you will probably be able to figure out before the reveal in the book.

Definitely recommended for romance readers.

An ARC was provided for review.