SHIMMY BANG SPARKLE
by Nicola Rendell
Book Synopsis
All Nick Norton wants is to stay on the straight and narrow…and never get caught stealing again. Then he lays eyes on her: Stella Peretti—100 percent sexy and absolutely irresistible. Especially when he sees her smooth moves lifting a two-karat diamond. Nick realizes he’s found the sparkling woman of his dreams—one so perfect for him it’s almost criminal.
The Shimmy Shimmy Bangs are master jewel thieves who are planning the heist of the century. And Shimmy leader, Stella, isn’t about to let anyone—even if he is a hunky, tatted-up studmuffin—get in her way. But when two of her girls are put out of commission, Stella realizes that Nick isn’t just a red-hot distraction. He might be the answer to her pilfering prayers. Now, Nick and Stella are putting everything on the line for one last job. But when two thieves have this much chemistry, it’s only a matter of time before somebody’s heart gets stolen. |
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My Review
Shimmy Bang was all full of Sparkle! I could not have asked for a better read to escape from the mundanity of life! A wonderful cast of characters was created to make up this female-lead caper.
Along with her two best friends, Stella has plans, big plans, until that is she meets a man that may just derail her ideas for an early “retirement.” While making her second guess everything she thought she ever wanted in her life, Nick also seems to be the only one to help her out of a precarious situation. Nick is anything but hero material, with his harsh exterior and a past full of bad decisions, he isn’t looking for anything with anyone, until he meets Stella that is. Nick soon begins to wonder what a future worth having might just look like; a future with Stella and him together. However, with a dirty, no good scoundrel, known as the “Texan” in the mix, along with the cutest dog that you could imagine; anything is possible in this grand adventure. Full of devious plotting, and hot and heavy passion, it is a book sure to satisfy almost anyone’s appetite. As a long-time fan of Nicola’s, I find that she never disappoints, in this book, she took it up to another level entirely. If you want to fall in love with a new book boyfriend, as well as a smart as hell heroine, this is the book for you! As Always, Happy Reading! |
THE REAL DEAL
by Lauren Blakely
BOOK SYNOPSIS
April Hamilton wants you to know she hasn’t been on GigsforHire since that time she sold her futon after college. She doesn’t even spend that much time online. And even if she did, she would not be looking up personal ads. But going home alone for her family's summer reunion is an invitation for every single relative to butt into her personal life. She simply can’t handle another blind date with the butcher, the baker or the candlestick maker from her hometown. So when she finds the GigsforHire ad for a boyfriend-for-hire, she’s ready to pay to play.
Heading Home and Need a Buffer? I’m the REAL DEAL. Theo Banks has been running from the past for years. He’s this close to finally settling all his debts, and one more job as a boyfriend-for-hire will do the trick. He’s no gigolo. Please. He’s something of an actor, and he knows how to slip into any role, including pretending to be April’s new beau -- the bad boy with the heart of gold. Even if it means sleeping in close quarters in that tiny little bed in her parents’ inn. Even if it means spinning tales of a romance that starts to feel all too true. What neither one of them counts on is that amid the egg toss, the arm wrestling, and a fierce game of Lawn Twister that has them tangled up together, they might be feeling the real deal. She only wanted to show her family once and for all that she had no need to settle down. He didn’t expect to have the time of his life at her parent’s home. They didn’t plan on loving every single second of the game. But can a masterful game of pretend result in true love? |
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MY REVIEW
Trying to make it in the Big Apple is hard enough, but when successful and independent April has to go back home for her family’s annual family reunion, she decides she needs to go in equipped for battle. Being on a self-proclaimed man diet and sick of being set up by family, April decides to go in to the reunion fully equipped.
To put it simply, Craigslist describes Theo as a “boyfriend for hire.” He will attend any function, in a purely platonic manner, to help aid women of New York who may be in need of a plus one or a buffer for that matter. The boyfriend for hire gig also helps supplement his income while tending bar. The moment they meet to discuss the job they are both instantly hit with an intense attraction that is beyond physical. But, with the love of April’s welcoming family, the quaint small town, and the stories they both make up to keep the rouse going, will they be able to tell what is real and what is make believe? I have read nearly every one of Lauren’s books and I have to say that this book made me feel so many wonderfully exciting and swelling emotions that I just didn’t want the book to end. I could read dialogue between these two characters for years to come and never get tired of them or their story. Theo is by far one of my favorite all time book boyfriends! This was not only a great way to escape from the summer heat, but it made me believe that maybe, just maybe, The Real Deal could be out there! |
MISTER TONIGHT
by Kendall Ryan
Book Synopsis
Last night was the most embarrassing night of my life.
I was that girl. You know, the highly intoxicated chick celebrating her thirtieth birthday with her two best friends—who are happily married. And the more I drank, the more I wanted to do something reckless to celebrate. By reckless, I mean the sexy and alluring man dressed in a business suit standing near the bar. You know his type—tall, dark, handsome. I was sure he was out of my league, but I’d had just enough alcohol that things like that no longer seemed to matter. I’m not fat, mind you, but you can tell I like french fries, so there’s that. He took me home, and I enjoyed the hottest birthday sex of my life. Well, until it came to a screeching and rather unwelcome halt. There’s nothing quite like being interrupted mid-ride with a little voice asking, “What are you doing to my daddy?” Just kill me now . . . or so I thought. Come to find out, the man I rode like a bull at the rodeo is my new landlord. |
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My Review
Out of the hundreds of books that I have read in the past few years, I can count on one hand how many of those I would re-read. Mister Tonight is one title I would happily read over and over again.
Never have I wanted to be a character in a book like I wanted to be the curvy and determined, heroine, Kate. She was fiercely independent, confident in her body, and stuck to what she believes she wants in life. Never to cave in her own beliefs just to fit the mold or make others happy, Kate thought for herself and was happy doing so. The biggest reason I wish I could be Kate in Mister Tonight, would be the relationship she has with her love interest, single dad, and her drop-dead gorgeous, and soon to be landlord, Hunter. Hunter is out on the prowl when he meets Kate and fireworks soon ignite. He is incredibly handsome and says all the right things. The one small little tidbit that Hunter doesn’t mention to Kate however is that he is a full-time single dad. But, she soon figures that one out on her own! The chemistry between these two characters is off the charts. Yet their relationship is also tender and full of timid moments. Both characters, finding themselves in foreign territory, tread lightly with one another, in the hopes that they don’t hurt or scare off the other with their honesty about their true feelings. But, when it comes to love and finding that one person you can truly be yourself with – do you take a chance and be honest with them? Or do you hold off and consider a hookup for what it was, just a hook up? Resigning yourself to the fact that he might not be your Mr. Forever because he was simply your Mister Tonight? As Always, Happy Reading! |
PART-TIME LOVER
by Lauren Blakely
Book Synopsis
I’ll say this about Christian — he made one hell of a first impression.
When I first saw the strapping man, he was doing handstands naked on a dock along the canal. His crown jewels were far more entertaining than anything else I’d seen on the boat tour, so I did what any curious woman would do — I took his photo. I might have looked at the shot a few dozen times. Little did I know I’d meet him again, a year later, at a secret garden bar in the heart of the city, where I’d learn that his mind and his mouth were even more captivating. But given the way my heart had been trampled, I wanted only a simple deal — No strings. No expectations. Our arrangement worked well enough until the day I needed a lot more from him… *** Let me just say, this whole part-time lover thing was her idea. I’d have gone all-in from the start, but hey, when a gorgeous, brilliant woman invites you into her bed, and only her bed…well, I said yes. But then, one hysterical phone call from my brother later, begging me to find myself a wife so grandfather’s business stays in the family, and I need a promotion with Elise. Turns out a full-time husband suits her needs too, and a temporary marriage of convenience ought to do the trick, until we can simply untie the knot… As long as no one finds out… As long as no one gets hurt… As long as no one falls in love… But our ending was one I never saw coming. |
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My Review
Smells of sweet breads and candies; blossoming, vibrant colored flowers; and the soft light highlighting the beauty in the European cities our characters navigated throughout this story, held me captive from the beginning of this book until the very end.
Fate and the question of does fate exist is questioned and argued by, in my opinion, two of Lauren Blakely’s most marvelous characters to date - Elsie and Christian. I don’t want to take away one thing from this book by trying to describe the characters or the plot of the story. I want you to experience this for yourselves. Instead, I have to be honest. It has been a long time since I was completely and utterly consumed by a romance story. As I read this story, I was given back a spark - something that I once loved so much about reading and had ceased to exist for me for some time now. The passion I have for stories like these was reawakened and I felt rejuvenated and hopeful again and for the first time in a long time – that may be, like in our story, fate could play a role in all of our lives. As Always, Happy Reading! |
COME AS YOU ARE
by Lauren Blakely
Book Synopsis
I couldn’t have scripted a more perfect night.
For one fantastic evening, at a masquerade party in the heart of Manhattan, I’m not the millionaire everyone wants a piece of. Fine—multimillionaire. But who’s counting all those commas? Not me, and not the most intriguing woman I've ever met, who happens to like dancing, witty banter, and hot, passionate up-against-the-wall sex as much as I do. There's no need for names or business cards. And that’s why I’m eager to get to know her more, since my mystery woman seems to like me for me, rather than for my huge…bank account. Everything’s coming up aces. Until the next day when things get a little complicated. (Newsflash — a lot complicated.) *** He's charming, brilliant, an incredible lover, and right now I want to stab fate in the eyeballs. I've had one goal I've been working toward, and lo and behold, my mystery man is the very person who stands between me and my dream job. A job I desperately need since my hard-knock life has nothing in common with his star-kissed one. But it’s time to put that fairytale night behind me, and focus on learning what makes him tick. Too bad it turns out his quirks are my quirks, and his love affair with New York matches mine. And as we spend our days together, I discover something else that feels like a cruel twist of fate — I’m falling for this naughty prince charming, and that’s not an ending I can write to our story. |
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My Review
A pineapple, empty potato chip bags, Monopoly money, and a mascaraed party with a hidden library… You may think you have come across a strange scavenger hunt list, however, these words combined with the masterful mind of Lauren Blakely and you have an off the charts romance!
This book was incredible and it left me with a feeling of deep yearning for the type of connection that our main characters, Sabrina and Flynn, share with one another. From the beginning Sabrina and Flynn shared a spark for one another like neither of them had ever experienced before. Each time they meet up, they enjoy the time of old New York. As they share their time exploring the old landmarks of New York City, the city neither of them can get enough of, they are simultaneously creating the foundation for a possible future with one another. There is just one catch. One of these great characters has much more to lose if true feelings are revealed and acted upon. Come along to find out if leading with their hearts will pay off in the end. As Always, Happy Reading! |