ENGAGED TO THE EMT - BLUE COLLAR BROTHERS #3

by Piper Rayne

Book Synopsis

Luca Bianco is a jerk. There I said it.

He thinks he’s so suave and sexy, walking around in his paramedic uniform stretched out by all his hard muscles and saving lives every day. I swear he thinks every woman in the world would kill for a chance to be with him.

Men like Luca are good for one thing only — a one-night stand — not commitment. I don’t care if my friend did pay good money at a charity bachelor auction for me to go on a date with him, I refuse to do it.

That is until Luca offers me a deal I can’t refuse, and I agree to be his pretend fiancé.

The heat that’s simmered between us for a decade ignites and I’m not sure even Luca will be able to kickstart my heart after I call code blue.

What’s that saying? Love is blind?

Not true. I can see this head-on collision coming a mile away.

My Review

I found myself falling for this story from the very beginning.  To say that Luca was my kind of dreamboat is a colossal understatement!  Sure he was a bit conceited, but, this Italian stallion had the goods to back up his swagger!  He was sarcastic, good-humored, and most importantly he had a heart of gold.

The girl that stole Luca’s heart back in high school, but soon became his nemesis over the years, was a girl after my own heart. Lauren, ever the tomboy, was a fierce competitor, avid sports fan, and great friend. 

She loved helping others and while she tried to keep people at a distance to spare her heart from getting hurt, she was a caring woman that put everyone before herself, even if that meant her own happiness. 

Butting heads with Luca since high school, Lauren was livid with her friends when she learned that they won a date for her with him at a charity auction.  So when these two adversaries finally go out on the town, what could go wrong?

Well, neither of them could have predicted where their journey would take them.  As a reader, I for one was so very thankful to Lauren’s besties for winning the very  date that set this wonderful story in motion.  It is one that I will not soon forget. 

If you want a fun, charming, swoon worthy read, full of family and great friendships, look no further!   
As Always, Happy Reading!

MISTER BODYGUARD

by Lauren Rowe

Book Synopsis

A bodyguard, a beauty, and a bet.

“I’m hiring you to do more than guard her, Zander,” my new boss explained. “You’re gonna be her rock. Her human Valium. Her trusted friend. And she’s gonna be your mission from God.”
“So I’m her babysitter?”
“Her babysitter, her bodyguard, her f*cking service doggie. Whatever she needs or wants, that’s what you’ll be. Anything except her booty call.” The vein in my new boss’s neck bulged. “Touch her and I’ll do more than fire your ass, Zander. I’ll rip off your balls.”

My buddies laughed when I told them about my ridiculous new job. They said, “Three months on a tour with a world famous beauty, glued to her hip, catering to her every whim? A hundred bucks says you’re gonna break down and bang her within the first month.”
But I said nope. No way. Never. “I’m a professional,” I said. “Plus, she’s not even my type. And I’m just getting over a broken heart. It’s never gonna happen.”
So I put my money where my mouth was, figuring I’d laugh all the way to the bank. I never thought I’d actually fall in love with the girl. Or that she’d become my reason for breathing.

The job, the bet, the girl. It was nothing but fun and games . . . until it became dead serious.

My Review

A beautiful broken woman; a strong, tenderhearted man, brought together under the guise of work only, these two souls were in for the awakening of a lifetime.

Zander Shaw was simply amazing.  Funny, supportive, brutally honest, and his undying belief in the good in people made me just want to claim this fictional character for my own.  Oh, and did I mention, he was drop dead gorgeous to boot?

Aloha is a superstar and she has only been seen as such all of her life.  So when she is suddenly seen as a real woman, by of all people,

Zander, her new bodyguard, she is running scared.  But she can’t resist her draw to him.  With easy camaraderie and fun times they share just spending time together, she is soon sharing parts of herself she has never shared with anyone before.

With his undying belief in Aloha, the woman only he has seen, Zander will stop at nothing to let her know just how he feels, even knowing he will likely have his heart obliterated.

This book was not only a phenomenal read, full of hot sexy times, swoon-worthy moments, and lots of laughs, but there was so much more.  It revealed to the reader that in life it is not just about being physically strong.  To be fearless, one must put their heart out there, facing rejection as it may come, because without trying are we really living?   So, like this book says…don’t leap into the pool of love, cannonball into the sucker!

As Always, Happy Reading!

CRUSHING ON THE COP - BLUE COLLAR BROTHERS #2

by Piper Rayne

Book Synopsis

Cristian Bianco has two things against him—he’s a police officer and he’s a police officer in the 18th District…meaning my dad is his boss.

Growing up as the Commander’s daughter and having his magnifying glass focused on everything I did was more than I could handle.

Now, I’m out on my own, living by my own rules. Well, mostly. The ‘job’ I created for myself has me in some hot water and my exit strategy isn’t exactly working out how I’d hoped.

Which is why when my best friend bids on Cristian for me at a charity bachelor auction, I’m not having it. A man in blue is only going to be one thing for me—a problem.

Except after his brother starts dating my best friend he becomes harder to ignore. The eight-pack abs. The sense of style only a girl like me can appreciate. The way he puts his family first. It all adds up to make him one irresistible prospect and has me wondering if he knows how to use those handcuffs the right way—by locking my wrists to his headboard.

My Review

Preconceived notions tend to distort a lot of facts in this life, many of which are the ones we grow up learning.  So when Victoria, daughter of the Chicago Police Commander learns that her friends have bought her a date at a charity auction, with one of her father’s officers she is less than pleased -- she wants nothing to do with dating a cop. 

Always the responsible and helpful middle brother, Cristian Bianco, has faced a lot of fights in his time.  While being the constant peacemaker of the family he is also facing the real life difficulties of being a police officer in today’s climate.  But none of that prepares him for the fight he has to face when it comes to winning the heart of Victoria. 

Although she keeps pushing him away, and often against his own rational, Cristian just cannot escape the pull to Victoria.  So, will he be able to prove to her that he is more than just a cop?  This is one hot story you will have to read to find out!

As Always, Happy Reading!

FLIRTING WITH FIRE - BLUE COLLAR BROTHERS #1

by Piper Rayne

Book Synopsis

Everyone knows that if you play with fire you'll end up getting burned…

What happens when you attend a first responder's bachelor auction with your best friends? Well, if your name is Madison Kelly like me, your friends end up bidding on a date for you with your high school crush.

That's right. Even back when I was 'Fatty Maddie' to all my classmates, I had eyes for the quarterback of our football team. Not like I was the only one.

Mauro Bianco may fight fires for a living, but he still sets my heart ablaze. One look at the rugged, muscular man he's turned into and I want to slide down his pole.

One date. That's all I'm committed to. A few hours and I can tuck him back into that tattered old shoebox in my closet.

As always, the universe has other plans. I never would've predicted that in a matter of days he'd turn from my dream guy into my business partner-and that's when things got interesting.

My Review

Every so often a book comes along with characters that I can truly relate to; adding another layer of joy to the escapism I enjoy while reading books.  This was one of those hidden gems that did just that.

Madison Kelly was in high school, when she first saw and fell for the oldest of the three Italian Bianco brothers, Mauro.  They shared a special moment together one night during a high school party, giving Maddie hope that the boy she pined for had actually noticed her.  However, Maddie soon found out that she was living in a fantasy-land.

Fast forward 10 years, along with some well-meaning yet meddling girlfriends, and Mauro was back in her life.  Things were about to get complicated, very complicated.

Piper Rayne wrote a beautiful story, capturing what it is like to live with body image issues and self-doubt, all while trying to be a strong and independent woman.  Also captured to perfection was the Bianco Italian family. 

This story had so much heart and made me feel so much emotion that it was definitely one of my top reads of the year.  I know it resonated with me on a deeper level because I could relate to both characters for different reasons, Mauro’s upbringing and Maddie’s insecurities. 

The lovely story telling within was full of so much tenderness and heart that, although it is a work of fiction, it had a profound effect on me.  It made me believe that love is possible.  For all of the hurt we go through, there is hope and I for one am so grateful for the handful of books that I have read over the years that remind me of this simple fact, a fact that is so easy to give up on once we have been hurt. 

This book will forever hold a special place in my heart.  I hope that you give it a chance.  I am sure that Mauro and Maddie’s story will make you a believer too!

As Always, Happy Reading!

WORTH THE RISK

by K. Bromberg

Book Synopsis

This whole contest was supposed to be easy. I know, I know. Famous last words.

It’s a long story, but I messed up at work. Big time. To earn back the trust of my boss, I promised to save one of our magazines. Yep. That Hot Dad contest you’ve seen advertised all over the place was my idea. And if I’m successful, if I’m able to increase our online readership, then I get a shot at my dream job.

But the one thing I never expected to happen, happened: Contestant number ten, Grayson Malone. Hello, Mr. Difficult. And did I mention sexy as hell?

Unfortunately he knows me. The old me, anyway. And while we might be older now, I remind him of before. Of the woman who broke his heart, who hardened him, and who left him alone to raise the cutest little boy I’ve ever seen.

But I don’t want a relationship. And I definitely don’t fall for single dads with baggage. Even ones with chiseled abs and killer smiles.

But he got to me. They got to me. Him and his son and their messy, crazy life. But I got to him too. I see the stolen glances. I feel the walls he built start to crumble. I recognize that there’s an unexpected beauty to the chaos in his life.

And now that the contest is about to end, we’re left to decide whether the last six months were just fun or if what we have is worth risking it all?

My Review

The title may say, “Worth the Risk,” however, I have to say it was well worth the reward!  You will without a doubt fall head over heels for this heartfelt love story that the talented Kristy Bromberg has woven together.

Sidney is a strong, self-reliant, and determined woman out to prove to her father (and boss) that she can handle anything he throws her way.  With all of Sidney’s resolve to get the job done, she still has to face one tough fact.  She must go back to the small town that she couldn’t get away from fast enough after high school in order to accomplish her mission.

Hometown hero, Grayson, a single dad with a heart of gold and a body that can make a woman stop right in her tracks, has no idea that a blast from his past is about to throw his life upside down.   

I immediately fell in love with both Grayson and Sidney individually.  Her spunk, high energy, and positivity were contagious.  The determination she possessed to prove herself was something I craved to read more and more of.  I loved following her journey of self-discovery as she realized that the most important things in her life were changing before her very eyes.  She began to put others first and was rewarded beyond measure.

Throughout the book Grayson and Sidney struggle with themselves and one another, as to how they each see what they view their futures should look like, and how those futures they had imagined are evolving.

My heart felt like it was on an emotional roller coaster in the best way possible.  I could not put this book down!  I just couldn’t wait to find out what was going to happen next. 

These two multi-dimensional characters kept me captivated and stole my heart as they reluctantly let down their guard and took a risk on each other.  I urge you to take a risk on this book because when you do you will gladly reap the reward.

HERO

by Lauren Rowe

Book Synopsis

The first time I laid eyes on Lydia Decker, I couldn’t speak. Or breathe. Or string two coherent thoughts together.

And I don’t mean any of that figuratively.

I’m not talking about a guy being floored by the sight of a gorgeous woman—although, of course, Lydia is gorgeous beyond words.

No, when I first laid eyes on Lydia Decker—my physical therapist—I was lying flat on my back in the ICU, high as a kite on painkillers, breathing on a ventilator, my bones as broken and splintered as my spirit.

When I first laid eyes on Lydia Decker, she was a ray of light in the dark. Hope for the hopeless. A salve for my singed and battered soul.

She said she’d been assigned to fix me. That she was there to bring me back to life. She said helping me was her calling.

And then she touched me. Physically, emotionally, spiritually. She healed me.

And I fell in love.

But what I didn’t know... what I couldn’t possibly know... was that Lydia Decker needed fixing far more than I ever did.

My Review

HERO was an emotional and captivating love story that had me enthralled from the very beginning.  It delved deep into just how far true intimacy can take two individuals and where it can forge a single love story into a foundation for a lifetime of family love.

The main characters shared an intimacy that went beyond harmonious and brought their passion to intoxicating levels.
The warmth created in this love story left me wanting more and more.  For the first time ever, I was having a difficult time finishing, Lauren Rowe’s HERO.  I believe this was by far her deepest and rawest story to date. It was for simply selfish reasons that I did not want this beautiful love story to end.

As Always, Happy Reading!