5 Stars for A Little Wilder (Wilder Adventures #4) by Serena Bell

 

 What happened in Vegas? Definitely didn’t stay in Vegas. 

Gabe’s the oldest. Brody’s the bad boy. Clark’s the strong, silent warrior. Amanda’s the girl. And Easton—well, Easton’s the panty melter. 

I’m Kane. 

Don’t get me wrong. It’s not a bad job. But usually, I’m not the one people are talking about. 

That’s about to change. Because the woman I had a smoking hot one-night stand with in Vegas? The one I should have stayed far, far away from, since women like her are my kryptonite? 

She’s the same woman my brother just hired to redesign his fancy new glamping RVs.

I haven’t seen her since Vegas, but the instant I lay eyes on her, I can tell my quiet role as the boy-next-door brother is about to change. 

She’s pregnant.

And it’s mine.

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What I thought about A Little Wilder

I've been loving this series based on the Wilder family. Forced to change their livelihood in response to market changes in their small town, each of the Wilder men have also found love along the way. This book tells the story of Kane Wilder, the youngest brother in the group.

Kane has always been seen as the dependable one, the "boy next door." But one fateful night he decides to break from his usual and has a mind-blowing one night stand in Las Vegas. Only the woman has a connection to the family business, and ends up at the Wilder homestead and business. It's a surprise to all, especially her pregnancy. I adore the whole "secret-baby" trope and this is just such a great moment.

Being the good guy that he is, he tells Marigold Barrymore (yes, that's her name -- and she lives up to it! ) Kane is determined to show the nomadic Mari why she needs to stay with him after the baby is born. In the process of spending time together, Mari sees some of Kane's deepest feelings and abilities, forging a real connection between them. These two just click on all cylinders from the start.

But there is the question of whether she will stay or not that haunts Kane. I absolutely loved the post-partum scene where everything falls apart and Mari gets to experience just what being a Wilder is all about.

I loved this. It's sweet and sexy. Kane and Mari are made for each other. I loved his strength and honor and her view of the world was a perfect complement. This is a terrific romance series if you are looking for something with realistic drama and a melt-your-heart HEA.

About the Author

USA Today bestselling author and RT Reviewers’ Choice Award nominee Serena Bell writes richly emotional stories about big-hearted characters with real troubles and the people who are strong and generous enough to love them.

A former journalist, Serena has always believed that everyone has an amazing story to tell if you listen carefully, and she adores hiding in her tiny garret office, mainlining chocolate and bringing to life the tales in her head.

When not writing, Serena loves to spend time with her college-sweetheart husband and two hilarious kiddos—all of whom are incredibly tolerant not just of Serena’s imaginary friends but also her enormous collection of constantly changing and passionately embraced hobbies, ranging from needlepoint to paddle boarding to meditation.

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5 Stars for The Bodyguard by Katherine Center

 

She’s got his back.
Hannah Brooks looks more like a kindgerten teacher than somebody who could kill you with a wine bottle opener. Or a ballpoint pen. Or a dinner napkin. But the truth is, she’s an Executive Protection Agent (aka "bodyguard"), and she just got hired to protect superstar actor Jack Stapleton from his middle-aged, corgi-breeding stalker.

He’s got her heart.
Jack Stapleton’s a household name—captured by paparazzi on beaches the world over, famous for, among other things, rising out of the waves in all manner of clingy board shorts and glistening like a Roman deity. But a few years back, in the wake of a family tragedy, he dropped from the public eye and went off the grid.

They’ve got a secret.
When Jack’s mom gets sick, he comes home to the family’s Texas ranch to help out. Only one catch: He doesn’t want his family to know about his stalker. Or the bodyguard thing. And so Hannah—against her will and her better judgment—finds herself pretending to be Jack’s girlfriend as a cover. Even though her ex, like a jerk, says no one will believe it.

What could possibly go wrong???
Hannah hardly believes it, herself. But the more time she spends with Jack, the more real it all starts to seem. And there lies the heartbreak. Because it’s easy for Hannah to protect Jack. But protecting her own, long-neglected heart? That’s the hardest thing she’s ever done.

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What I thought about The Bodyguard

The world of executive protection, blockbuster actors and small town life mash up together in this absolutely lovely opposites-attract romance from Katherine Center.  I just loved this story,Hannah, Jack and everyone in the executive protection group. What a terrific reading experience this was!

Hannah is facing some very serious and debilitating situations at the start of the story.  She's just lost her mother, her job isn't going great, her boyfriend has dumped her and worse.  And in order to get a much-coveted assignment in London, she'll have to be the bodyguard for the hottest Hollywood actor, who just happens to have disappeared from the acting scene.

Definitely not a girly-girl, Hannah likes her pantsuits and everything just-so. Then she meets Jack.  In order to blend in, she pretends to be his girlfriend.  She has to give up her pantsuits for summer dresses and sandals.  I absolutely related to Hannah in so many ways -- I just loved her so much. 

Jack is the heartthrob everyone wants, but he's very aware of the pitfalls of fame.  He's also nursing a Texas-sized ache in his heart for his recently deceased brother who died in a car accident they were both involved in. He's estranged from his brother and his mother is in a serious medical situation.  He's asked to come home, and like the good man he is, he returns home.  With fake-girlfriend/bodyguard at this side, he returns to the family ranch to be with his mom.  It's here on the ranch that both Hannah and Jack find friendship, healing and love as they deal with everyday things. 

The writing here is so easy and just flows. I fell right into the story by the third page and couldn't put it down until I finished it.  I just wanted to spend time with these characters.  And the ending is just perfect -- there's a twist that provides some action, but I just can't say enough about how it's the friendship between Hannah and Jack that made this story for me. There's humor and understanding, patience and progress in how both these characters experience life and the world.  I just can't say enough about this story.

Definitely recommended.  Romance readers-- this is what it's all about!  Get this one and enjoy!

 

About the Author

Katherine Center is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of How to Walk Away, as well as the upcoming novel, Things You Save in a Fire (August 13, 2019). She’s also written five other bittersweet comic novels about love and family, including The Bright Side of Disaster, The Lost Husband,and Happiness for Beginners. The Lost Husband is currently in production as a feature film starring Josh Duhamel and Leslie Bibb. Katherine’s work has appeared in Redbook, InStyle, People, USA Today, Vanity Fair, The Atlantic, Real Simple, Southern Living, InTouch, the Dallas Morning News, and the Houston Chronicle, and many others. 

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4 Stars for What Lies Beneath (Laura Chambers Mystery #2) by J. G. Hetherton

 

The deeply flawed but intrepid Laura Chambers, from the "dark and vivid rabbit hole" (David Bell) of a thriller Last Girl Gone, finds herself lost in the deadly webs of small town secrets as she hunts for the truth about her father, who mysteriously disappeared several years ago.

Tell me two truths and a lie.

A year after her tangle with a local killer that left her disfigured, Laura is done licking her wounds. And she's done with the small town of Hillsborough, North Carolina. But the sheriff just found the mangled body of a woman who was reported missing several weeks ago. Her last phone call was to Laura.

With an unidentifiable face, Laura can't shed light on why she was this woman's final call. To break free of the hostile sheriff's suspicion, Laura digs into the history of the deceased. What she finds completely upturns all she thought she knew or remembered. It's an old picture of Laura from when she was just a young girl, standing with her father, her father's best friend, and another little girl who Laura could have sworn was just a figment of her imagination. What else has she been mistaking for fiction? For truth? And more importantly--what did this woman have to do with her missing father? What was she calling to tell Laura?

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What I thought about What Lies Beneath

When reporter Laura Chambers is called into the investigation of a fatal vehicular incident, it turns out her roots are quite deep in the bigger mystery of why a Jane Doe calls her minutes before she is killed.

Laura is an interesting character. She's not above fibbing or worse to get what she needs in her investigation. She wasn't always likable to me, and that was a surprise for this reader. I liked that Laura wasn't my favorite character in this story.

As Laura's investigation continues, she learns that she has connections to the mysterious victim and to the local man on death row, called the Shotgun Slayer. When she finally puts it all together, there's certain danger for her as she uncovers the family secrets, real motivations and killers.

I liked how all the clues came together in this story. I did think it took a little while for this reader to get into the story, but somewhere after all the clues started making sense and the pace picked up, I fell into it and couldn't read to the end fast enough to find out how it all fit together.

I also thought that things really worked for me when Laura was partnered up with FBI Agent Timinski. There was a certain energy to the story when these two characters were together that left me wanting more of their story.

When I selected this book to read and review, I didn't realize it's the second book in a series. I have not read this author before. It didn't keep me from enjoying this book, and this one works as a standalone. I can't say how much reading book 1 would have enhanced Laura Chambers' background for this reader. Maybe I would have liked her more, I don't know, but this book works as a standalone and you might be intrigued to learn more about her. I liked the writing in the second half of the book a bit more than the first half.

Overall, a well-crafted mystery with characters who are often difficult to like, but also interesting and complex. I would read another book by this author and I may have to find some space in my reading list to catch up by reading book one in the series.

 Last Girl Gone, the first book in this series
is currently on sale for $1.99 on the Zon.  

 

About the Author

J.G. Hetherton was raised in rural Wisconsin, graduated from Northwestern University, and lived in Chicago for the better part of a decade. Along the way to his first novel, he dabbled in many different day jobs before moving to North Carolina for a girl. They live in Durham, North Carolina with their twin daughters, and when he’s not writing, you can find him on the hiking trail or sitting down with a good book. 

 

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5 Big Stars for Love Lessons (Brooklyn #7) by Sarina Bowen

 

Cover Design: Hang Le
Cover Photo: Wander Aguiar Photography

He needs an image makeover, she needs a mojo upgrade. A new lessons-in-seduction hockey romance from Wall Street Journal bestselling author Sarina Bowen.

After I’m arrested for throwing a raucous party, my hockey team says I have an image problem. And I need to fix it, stat.

Charity work? Check. Haircut? Sure. But I draw the line at hiring my neighbor to style me. In the first place “style” shouldn’t be a verb. And I’m tired of people who’d judge me on appearances.

Vera and I don’t see eye to eye on anything. She wants me to try on clothes, while I just want to remove hers. She's distractingly pretty, with soulful eyes and a sinful mouth that likes to argue with me.

But when management threatens my summer vacation, I grudgingly agree to Vera’s unusual proposal: she’ll give me an image makeover. But in return, she wants lessons in the art of seduction.

It sounds a little nutty, but I know a good opening when I hear it. Besides, it’s not like I’ll ever fall for her…

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Audio: COMING SOON

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What I thought about Love Lessons

Sarina Bowen has used many contemporary issues in her romances, and she's taken on the opioid crisis, infertility, and now accessibility.  Not easy topics for romance and yet she pulls it off each time with an uplifting story that brings awareness to these issues. I find that very sensitive and smart. It's what brings me back to this author each release.  The current release is Love Lessons. 

Brooklyn Bruiser Ian Crikey meets Vera Vestini the stylist in this opposites attract story.  When Ian needs a stylist and Vera asks Ian to help her learn seduction, he's all-in with bells on.

But Ian has a few of his own demons to slay and at first he views Vera as a distraction from the state of his career and the state of his personal life.  Things take a physical turn when Vera joins the players and their significant others on vacation together, giving Ian and Vera plenty of opportunity to get to know each other better. These two are super hot and sexy together, but even better, they develop some real feelings for each other that neither one expected.

The supporting cast from previous books in the series brightens the story in a way that fans of the series will appreciate, and the villains in the story don't muck things up too much for the featured couple.  Everything was just perfectly tuned in Love Lessons.

One thing that sometimes bugs me about romance is when the ending is rushed.  That's not the case here.  There are loose ends to tie up, and they do get addressed, which I absolutely loved.  I'll admit to a wet eye or two over O'Doul... well, not going to spoil anything, but I thought the ending (and really the entire story) was top-notch romance material all the way around, both the love story between Ian and Vera and the bro-mance between these hockey teammates.

I was smiling and satisfied by the time I got to The End, which is exactly what I want when I read romance.  Definitely recommended. (Oh, and did I mention my favorite team doc? ;-)

 

 

About Sarina

Sarina Bowen is the award-winning author of more than thirty contemporary novels. She has hit the USA Today bestseller's list sixteen times and counting. Formerly a derivatives trader on Wall Street, Sarina holds a BA in economics from Yale University.

Sarina is a New Englander whose Vermont ancestors cut timber and farmed the north country since the 1760s. Sarina is grateful for the invention of indoor plumbing and wi-fi during the intervening 250 years. She lives with her family on a few wooded acres in New Hampshire.

Sarina's books are published in a dozen languages on four continents.

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Release Blitz & Review:Be With Me (Adair Family #4) by Samantha Young

 

 A best friends to lovers story set against the atmospheric backdrop of the Scottish Highlands.

 Be With Me by Samantha Young is now live!

 It was the friends-with-benefits proposition he never saw coming...

While Arran Adair might have followed the call of wanderlust in his younger years, it isn't the reason he stayed away from Ardnoch. Home now, desperate to put the sins of his past behind him, and rebuild his life in the Scottish Highlands, Arran could never have predicted Eredine Willows. The Ardnoch Estate Pilates instructor is a complicated mystery and one Arran can't help but want to solve.

Eredine has spent the last eight years hiding in Scotland and building walls between her and the people she cares about. Arran is the first Adair who doesn't treat her as if she's fragile and demands a genuine friendship. Yet, the attraction sizzling between them is undeniable. So when she realizes she trusts him, Eredine surprises them both by offering Arran one night of no-strings passion.

Arran knows one night will inevitably lead to a desire for more and he's willing to stay by Eredine's side for as long as it takes to convince her there's something real between them. However, just when Arran thinks they might build a future together, Eredine's past returns to stalk her. And Arran won't just have to battle her demons to keep them together. He'll need to battle his own.

 

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What I thought about Be With Me

In Be With Me, the fourth installment of the Adair family series from Samantha Young,  Arran Adair finds a connection with the mysterious Eredine, but will their past come back to ruin everything?

Arran Adair returns home after being away from Scotland and his family for three years.  He's not up to discussing what happened to him and what brought him home, and his family is just glad to have him back.  He develops a friendship with Eredine and wants more, but she tells him that she doesn't do relationships.

But the gently and well-meaning teasing of the Adair women gets Eredine thinking of a one night stand with Arran, but it doesn't quite work out that way. But both Arran and Eredine have secrets from each other that threatens their relationship.

There's also continuing criminal behavior between Eredine's past and an unseen enemy.  While I thought this vengeance-type plot was done already in this series, there was a bit of a twist to make it interesting.  There's also a good setup for Brodan's story, which I'm looking forward to.

Overall, I liked Arran and Eredine's story.  It's a great addition to the series, and the covers are amazing!

 

Meet Samantha

Samantha Young is a New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. She's been nominated for several Goodreads Choice Awards. Samantha writes adult contemporary and paranormal romance, YA urban fantasy and YA contemporary fiction and is currently published in 31 countries.

She resides in Scotland.

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Release Day Review: Hottie On Her Shelf by Christi Barth

 

The more they fight, the more they want to kiss...

All Hallie Scott ever wanted was to be a librarian. Now she had her dream job. Life was perfect. Until her best friend secretly signed her up to run for mayor of their small Maine town. All Mayor Fitz Montgomery ever wanted was...well, it didn’t matter what he wanted. His family had run Swan Cove--and owned much of it--for almost two centuries. It was expected that he take up the mantle of mayor. He didn’t like it. He didn’t hate it. Mostly, Fitz didn’t want to rock the boat.

Raised in the much poorer neighboring town all of Swan Cove sneered at, Hallie didn’t think she had a chance at winning. She marched down to City Hall to pull out. Until she heard handsome-and-he-knows-it Mayor Fitz making jokes about her last-minute addition to the ballot. Now she still doesn’t so much want to be mayor--she just wants him to lose. So she turns to her beloved books to find a way to beat his entitled ass.

There’s no way the current mayor can lose to the librarian. But she’s...awkward at campaign events. Fitz wants it to at least be a fair fight. He starts helping her--even when she starts gaining in the polls. He’s still certain he’ll win the mayorship he doesn’t want. The chances are growing, however, that he’ll lose his heart in the process...

 

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What I thought about Hottie On Her Shelf

Small town politics gets a spotlight in Hottie on Her Shelf, when local librarian Hallie is put on the ballot by a well-meaning friend to unseat the incumbent -- Fitz Montgomery.  There's been a Montgomery in the mayor's seat forever, and Fitz is about to have some real competition from Hallie. 

Hallie is just about to withdraw from the competition when she overhears Fitz and his campaign manager talking about the campaign and she gets irritated by their attitude.  What I really liked about this story is that Fitz's attraction to Hallie is evident from the very start, but he's put in a precarious situation if he wants to get closer to her, seeing as they are now political rivals.

But he does find a way in by helping Hallie navigate the political climate and the campaign, as they fight and flirt and fall in love along the way.  Fitz is terrific -- he's insightful and for the first time in his life seems to really look at what he wants in life.  So there was a nice bit in this about finding yourself and what kind of person you want to be.  Both Hallie and Fitz have a nice character arc her in this respect, as secrets unfold, and family drama could put a block on their relationship.

Hottie On Her Shelf is really a cute story with a very contemporary theme.  It's a very nice marriage of politics and romance, which especially in today's climate isn't an easy task.  This book was fun, and it left me with a smile.  Even though Hallie could be a bit irritating, I loved them together.  This is a feel good story that entertained me from start to finish. 

 

About the Author

 

 Christi Barth spent years performing in musicals, singing about love and giving people a happy ending in every performance. Then as a wedding planner she spent every day immersed in romance. Now - she writes it!

It is exciting to be able to share her love of the theatre with the world through her writing. Plus, her parents are thrilled that - in some fashion - she's still getting use out of her master's in music. She lives in Maryland with the absolutely best husband in the world (sorry ladies, it's true!).

www.christibarth.com

 
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http://christibarth.blogspot.com 

 

 

Blog Tour Review: Heads on Fire by Elora Nicole Ramirez

 Heads on Fire by Elora Nicole Ramirez is out now!
Check out the gorgeous new release and be sure to grab your copy today!

About Heads on Fire

Nova Scofield isn’t looking for anything serious. She’s not looking for anything at all, actually. Still recovering after walking away from her narcissistic fiancé weeks before their wedding, she is happily focused on her floral shop, Wild Flora.

But then Jax Stratford walks into the shop and Nova suddenly remembers what it’s like to feel the gravitational pull of chemistry. For one night, she allows herself the freedom of letting her desire lead her.

The only problem is Jax isn’t a one night stand — he’s a potential business partner. Despite her best judgment, she agrees to a date and finds herself falling head over heels.

But Nova’s ex refuses to let go — he keeps showing up and threatening to take over the flower shop she built with her best friend — making it impossible for Nova to move on from their relationship and the control he had over her.

To make matters worse, history surfaces and her ex shares something with her, making it seem Jax has kept the truth from her this entire time.

Will she give into the heat she feels with Jax?    Or will everything she’s worked for turn to ash?

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What I thought about Heads On Fire

 

The blurb for this story does a nice job of covering the plot so I'm going to skip a rehash of the story. In a nutshell its about a woman working to get out of a bad relationship and learning to love again.

Nova owns a flower shop with her girlfriend Gabi. This is a terrific depiction of two female friends which I loved about his story. They really looked out for each other.

During the course of business, Nova meets a customer named Jax who makes her feel attraction again and it gives her hope. She's hesitant and rightfully so because her ex is domineering and possessive. Not to mention that Jax is looking at Nova's shop as a business partner. It's all gonna get complicated.

Heads on Fire is a straight-up romance. It's cute and there isn't a huge amount of conflict. It's all about finding love again. Jax is just a bit of a unicorn man,but okay, that's why we read romance, right?

Overall, a quick romance read with likable characters.I'd call this a beach read because it's something you can devour in a few hours. Lovely summer title.

About the Author:

Elora Ramirez has always been a word girl.   It started when she was four, when she taught herself how to read and write as a way to entertain herself while her grandmother kicked and danced in aerobics class. She cut her teeth on books from Dr. Seuss and writing anywhere she could find the space — including her Fischer Price kitchenette, the pages of picture books, and Highlights Magazines.   She's matured a bit since then, now choosing to write in the margins of her books and on the mirrors of her bathroom ideas and thoughts surrounding story and what makes us human. By day she leads a team at a tech company, waking up before the sun rises to get in her love for words before stepping into her role of helping others see the plot line of their own story under development.   Intuition and beauty get her through the day, as well as her chef-husband and their little lion son. Curious Obsession is her fourth novel.  

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