RESIST

by K. Bromberg

Book Synopsis

Who says you have to play by the rules to get what you want?

Agreeing to meet Ryker Lockhart is my first mistake. Rich, handsome, and more than intriguing, he thinks blackmail will bend me to his will.

But he’s wrong.

I may have done a few things that weren’t exactly legal, but I have my own reasons for that. The last thing I’m going to do is let some high-powered divorce attorney come into my life, have my body, and rule my heart. Not to mention ruin everything that I have carefully built in just a short amount of time.

But as much as I try to resist him, and against my better judgment, there is something about him that has me agreeing to his proposal.

I’m putting everything on the line for him. I just hope I won’t lose everything when this is all over.

My Review

Dynamite! One word that encapsulates this story to a tee.  Having gone into this story a bit blind, I was surprised at the depth and the complexity of the issues its characters, Ryker and Vaughn, face.

As the characters reveal more layers of themselves to one another, and the reader alike, it seems the deeper we all travel down the rabbit hole and into uncharted territory, leaving vulnerabilities open for the taking. 

I was completely engrossed in this story.  By the time I reached the very last few pages I felt as though I wanted to scream and throw my book, hurt and confused for its characters. 

It takes a talented writer to invoke such strong emotions; emotions to hold an audience, and keep them wanting for more, Bromberg does just this in Resist and I for one cannot wait for this story’s conclusion when the duet concludes in  Reveal.

As Always, Happy Reading!

WRITTEN WITH REGRET

by Aly Martinez

Book Synopsis

Every little girl dreams of the fairytale. The one where the white knight rushes in to save her from the clutches of evil. They fall in love, have babies, and live happily ever after.

By that definition, my life should have been a fairytale too.

When I was eight years old, Caven Hunt saved me from the worst kind of evil to walk the Earth. It didn’t matter that I was a kid. I fell in love with him all the same.

But that was where my fairytale ended.

Years later, a one-night stand during the darkest time imaginable gave us a little girl. It was nothing compared to the pitch black that consumed me when I was forced to leave her with Caven for good.

At the end of every fairytale, the happily-ever-after is the one thing that remains consistent. It wasn’t going to be mine, but there hadn’t been a night that passed where I hadn’t prayed that it would be hers.

I owed Caven my life.
However, I owed that innocent child more.
And that included ripping the heart from my chest and facing her father again.

My Review

Enraptured. That is the one and only word that I can use to sum up the experience of reading Written with Regret.

The first of this duet story had me hooked from the very beginning and only had me wanting more by the very end.

Martinez was a new author for me and I could not be happier that I found her work; I only wish I would have discovered her sooner.

With heart stopping action and some of the best angst I've ever read, this story will leave you breathless as it ends with a cliffhanger that will have you begging for more.

If you are looking for a great read with characters with so much depth I could never tire of, this the story for you!

As Always, Happy Reading!

BABY YOURS

by Kennedy Fox

Book Synopsis

The worst day of my life happened when Brandon died.
We had our entire future mapped out.
Careers, marriage, kids—in that order.
Then the universe threw a curveball and ended it all.

As I come to terms with everything, I learn I’m carrying his baby. Now I’m living with his roommate, the guy who’s made my life a living hell the past two years. Hunter’s now the one to hold me up when all I want to do is fall.

Knowing my religious parents will never accept the pregnancy out of wedlock, Hunter offers to be my fake husband. While I think he’s gone crazy, it’s the only plan that’ll keep them in my life. So I do whatever it takes to make our relationship believable—kissing, touching, even letting him hold me when we sleep. The lines are so blurred neither of us want to admit we’re no longer pretending.

The guilt of what we’re doing eats me alive as I struggle to deal with my emotions. I push him away, but he pulls me closer, showing me how he’s always felt.

Just as I begin to follow my heart, I learn Hunter’s been keeping secrets.
And I’m left to make the hardest decision of my life…

**This is book 2 in the Hunter & Lennon duet and must be read after Baby Mine. Recommended for ages 18+**

My Review

A wonderful novel that closes a duet series leaving its reader wanting for nothing.  This story captured life with an authenticity and genuine heart unlike anything I have read in recent memory.

Lennon and Hunter have shared heartache and unimaginable grief.  Together they have mourned the loss of someone close and are finally beginning to come out of it with the support of one another, building a friendship and bond stronger than either of them have ever had with another.

With this newfound closeness, they work towards building a future together as friends, with no idea what the future may hold. 
All consuming emotion had me gripped to this story and its magnetic characters within the pages of this phenomenal read. 

While unpredictable, heartbreaking, tender, and steamy, this book contained all the elements that make for a great book that will leave its reader wanting for nothing and feeling fully satisfied. 

This is by far the best work by Kennedy Fox to date and one of the best duet series I have ever read!

As Always, Happy Reading!

BABY MINE

by Kennedy Fox

Book Synopsis

I saw her first.
Blonde. Gorgeous. Feisty.
I was smitten.

But it didn’t matter because she chose him and he was my best friend and roommate. I’d never be able to compete with that, so I pushed her away instead. It was easy when she lived hours away, and I didn’t have to see her every day, but then she moved in with us.
Now, I’m screwed.

To her singing in the shower every morning, dancing in the kitchen while she makes coffee, and doing yoga in our living room, I can’t stop thinking about her in all the wrong ways. She’s not mine and never will be, but that doesn’t stop me from wanting to push her against a wall and claim her mouth.

She’s constantly on me for making messes, bringing chicks home every weekend, and being a smartass when their PDA gets on my nerves. Considering neither of them know how I feel, it’s not fair for the way I act toward them. I should move out so I can get over her for good; however, the selfish part of me can’t let go.

And then the unthinkable happens...
When my best friend dies in a motorcycle accident, the two of us are left to grieve our loss together. Instead of pushing her away, I pull her closer.

Just as we come to terms with our new reality, she finds out she’s pregnant with his baby.
And I’m left to make the hardest decision of my life.

My Review

A haunting story about love and loss and the true definition of friendship is explored within the pages of this beautifully written novel.

When tragedy strikes after years of putting his unrequited feelings for his best friend’s girlfriend, Lennon, on hold; Hunter will stop at nothing to help her grieve her loss, because he too is lost without his friend, Brandon. 

When a curveball is thrown into the mix, Hunter not only continues to support Lennon, but steps up to the plate in an even more significant way, knowing that his friend would want him to do anything for his girl.  Only in grieving their loss together, the two become closer causing them to rethink everything they thought they knew.

Hunter may be the most incredible and most selfless book boyfriend that I have read to date! Going above and beyond for his best friend and the girl of his dreams, all at the cost of his own happiness, made for a story that will break your heart while simultaneously making you believe that love can conquer all. 

With a twist I didn’t see coming, I was left gasping for air as I read the final pages of this story.  Knowing that this story continues into its duet Baby Yours I just cannot imagine how these characters, that I have come to love, will manage to handle the fall-out from the news that was revealed.

As a long-time fan of the writing duo Kennedy Fox, I believe this is some of their best work to date.  If you have never read them before I urge you to choose this title!

As Always, Happy Reading!

BEST OF INTENTIONS

by L.K. Farlow

Book Synopsis

Nate Reynolds is everything I shouldn’t want. Aside from being my best friend’s older brother, he’s a cocky, smooth-talking, panty-dropping playboy of a cop. And yet, I’m helplessly drawn to him.

His charm and good looks reduce me to a fumbling, mumbling teenaged version of myself, which pretty much guarantees that nothing will ever come of my silly crush.

Until the night of my best friend’s wedding.

Jenny Jones is the definition of innocence. She’s also my little sister’s best friend, making her completely off limits. She’s a forever kind of girl with hearts in her eyes, where I’ve always been more of a love ‘em and leave ‘em kind of guy.

Until a night spent between the sheets with her has me questioning everything I thought I wanted.

I tried my hardest to stay away, but you know what they say about the best intentions . . .

My Review

Unrequited love can be really tough to handle, especially when the object of your affection is the brother of your best friend.  When Jenny finally garners the attention of her crush, Nate, she is over the moon.  But as they say, be careful what you wish for because things can get complicated especially when the heart is involved.

This book made for a fun read, with characters that had great chemistry between them and it was enjoyable to see their relationship evolve over time.  The realism of Jenny living with diabetes and how she handled it while approaching her new relationships was very refreshing. 

However, I felt that Farlow tried to pack in several heavy topics in a rather quick time frame, while never really addressing any of them.  By so casually mentioning the issues that many of her side characters had faced, including; drunken driving, bipolar disorder, and suicide, it seemed that it may have been better off not mentioning them at all as it was just a bit much for one book to handle. 

As a newcomer to Farlow’s work I enjoyed this story and her writing style and would gladly read another.  For a book filled with the push and pull between two characters fighting their natural attraction to one another this is one you won’t want to miss.

As Always, Happy Reading!

LESSONS FROM A ONE NIGHT STAND

by Piper Rayne

Book Synopsis

If you’re a guy like me, and you find yourself having banged your sexy new boss—the school principal—in the back of your Jeep one drunken night, here’s a few takeaways based on my experience...

Lesson One: Always get her FULL name.

Lesson Two: Consider asking what she does for a living.

Lesson Three: Find out why she’s moved to town. Get details. Details are crucial.

Lesson Four: Don’t alter her bio in front of an auditorium of high school students unless you know she has a sense of humor for that sort of thing.

Lesson Five: If you ignore Lesson Four, apologize instead of flirt when you’re sent to the principal’s office.

Lesson Six: NEVER sleep with her again.

Lesson Seven: Pay attention to this one—it’s the most important of them all.
Don’t fall for your one-night stand.

Class dismissed.

My Review

They say you can’t come back home again and maybe that is for the best...  Well, perhaps that is only best in some circumstances.  If you are looking for answers and find yourself amongst a new and welcoming town like Lake Starlight, that you, like most of its residents, may never want to leave. 

Full of gossip, but with all the charms of a small town, Lake Starlight only adds to this engrossing story about a one night stand that becomes so much more. 

Both facing huge family centric stressors of different sorts, our two main characters, Holly and Austin Bailey, seek pleasure and comfort of one another for a night.  They just have no clue how complicated things are about to get once they realize who the other is, after their one night together. 

The complications, antics, and the story that unfolds as we get to know more about these two wonderful characters, the large Bailey family, and the town itself, had me completely enamored from the first chapter and it only got better from there.

I could not get the smile off of my face while reading this book and I cannot wait to discover more as the story continues in future books.  I hope that you too will take time to meet the Baileys and all of those living in Lake Starlight.

As Always, Happy Reading!

FALLING FOR THE COWBOY

by Kennedy Fox

Book Synopsis

Never trust a man who wears nothing more than a cowboy hat and ripped jeans who asks if you’d like to save a horse and ride a... well, you get the picture.

That should’ve been enough for me to walk away.

I’ve been warned on several occasions about southern men — with their sexy accents, charming manners, and the ability to easily get any woman in bed — which is something I’ll be avoiding.

Being a professional photographer has many perks — traveling around the world, calling all the shots, and working with subject matter that isn’t bad to look at — but Colton Langston with his washboard abs and baby blue eyes, could care less about my current project. He’s trouble, I know it, and he’s determined to make me work for every single photo. When I’m forced into riding lessons, I get way more than I ever bargained for, and by the time my trip is over, I’m in too deep.

Being with him was thrilling, but falling for him was unpredictable.

And ignoring him will be impossible.

My Review

Southern charm may have its effects on some women.  But passionate photographer, Presley, is determined to stay focused on her work while on location.  That means not falling for any of the rustic charms surrounding her.

Like many of the guys working on the ranch, Colton is full of swagger, a bit of arrogance, and knows he’s desired by the ladies.  Having had his heart crushed before, he had sworn off love at all costs. 

So, what could possibly go wrong when two people driven by work have an accidental run in?  Well, it is a delicious tale to uncover as this story unfolds. 

I for one could not quit grinning from ear to ear while reading this book.  As I got further into this story I fell a little bit harder for each of these characters.  Not only did they both ooze charm themselves, just like the surroundings of the ranch in which the story takes place, but I was eating up the quick witted and feisty banter between these two irresistible characters. The only complaint I have about this book was that it ended too soon. 

If you are looking for a sweet, sizzling story, with lots of heart, look no further because this is the book for you!

As Always, Happy Reading!

WORK IN PROGRESS

by Staci Hart

Book Synopsis

I never thought my first kiss would be on my wedding day.

But here I stand, clutching a bouquet of pale pink roses behind the doors of a Las Vegas chapel, and at the end of the aisle is the absolute last man I imagined would be waiting for me.

Thomas Bane.

Bestselling author. Notorious bad boy. Savagely handsome, dark as sin, chiseled as stone. And somehow, my soon-to-be husband.

Marry him, and I’ll land my dream job. Save him, and I’ll walk away with everything I’ve ever wanted. All I have to do is remember it’s all for show. None of it is real, no matter how real it feels.

But first, I have to survive the kiss.

And with lips like his, I don’t stand a chance.

My Review

lia, the shy and fiercely private bookworm, meets her match when she is thrust upon covering a book signing; in turn meeting the infamous and renowned author, Thomas Bane. 

Thomas has had his share of misconceptions from being in the public eye and constantly getting into trouble isn’t helping matters. So when he lands himself in trouble yet again, putting his career into limbo, it sparks an idea better than any fiction that he could have ever written. 

Thomas, making Amelia an offer she can’t refuse, hopes that they can mutually benefit one another behind the scenes.  Only neither one knows the depth that this undertaking will lead them both on and the salvation that they might find in one another.

If you are looking for a charming read with an original story, this book is for you. 

As Always, Happy Reading!

HUNKY HEARTBREAKER - 1001 DARK NIGHTS NOVELLA

by Kendall Ryan

Book Synopsis

Everything’s bigger in Texas.

And that includes Duke Wilder’s sexual appetite.

Together with his twin brother, he runs a whiskey distillery, and when their business takes off—suddenly he’s got it all. Success. Money. Family. But he doesn’t have a woman to share it with.

When Valentina storms into his life, her presence is only supposed to be temporary. She’s a feisty attorney hired to help clean up his company’s recent legal mess. He never counted on her being the one to turn his whole world upside down.

After spending most of his life living in the shadow of his brother, Duke has something to prove, and he’s not about to let this distraction get in the way of his plans, no matter how hot things get.

Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story.   For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world.   And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series.

My Review

Duke Wilder was at the cusp of having everything he and his brother had dreamed of having and worked for years building.  But one unfortunate business mishap threatened to ruin their new empire. 

Calling in a favor from a family friend, a feisty, hot shot lawyer, Valentina, comes barreling into the small town of Shady Grove, causing a riptide of emotions and wreaking havoc for the self-proclaimed ladies’ man who thought he didn’t need a woman in his life.

Soon, working closely with Valentina proves to not only challenge Duke’s beliefs, but question the priorities of his life.
For a short, steamy read, with a happily ever after, this is the book for you!

As Always, Happy Reading!

DIRTY SEXY GAMES - DIRTY GAMES DUET #2

by Laurelin Paige

Book Synopsis

A sham marriage to an infamous playboy - what could possibly go wrong?  Don't miss the breathtaking, high-stakes conclusion to the Dirty Games duet by New York Times bestselling author Laurelin Paige!

Their union started with a simple plan: to fake a marriage that would allow Elizabeth to take over her father's company and merge it with Weston's holdings, creating a vast media empire. But what began as a pretend marriage has become all too real....

Now a bombshell about Weston's past is keeping him rooted at home while Elizabeth must travel across the globe to take up the company reigns. But their intense connection could bring the entire game crashing down as they're forced to choose power and family...or the love of a lifetime.

My Review

Dirty Sexy Player left the reader grappling for answers to so many unanswered questions; this, the second in this duet series, only excelled from where it left off from Dirty Sexy Player. 

I could not get enough of Weston King in his pursuit to make the one woman, who finally stole his heart, his.  In doing so, he would have to let down his guard and expose so many of the personal demons that he has fought by himself over the years, filling him with guilt and shame.  Would being so vulnerable with Elizabeth open the doors to a future with him or push her further away? 

Elizabeth, now married to a man who she is finally in love with, despite the circumstances, is suddenly put to the test when Weston shares secrets that threaten to break all that the two finally have been building towards.

So will their new found love and real marriage conquer real life?  This was one book I didn’t want to put down.  Laurelin has written some very swoon worthy men in her time, but Weston King definitely stole my heart in his pursuit to show Elizabeth that, all business aside, he truly is in this for all the right reasons.  Love.  

As Always, Happy Reading!

DIRTY SEXY PLAYER

by Laurelin Paige

Book Synopsis

Weston King knows how to play. But wild nights and owning an extensive collection of women's panties don't carry the thrill they once did, so when his business partner Donovan suggests an outrageous plan to allow them to take over their competition, Wes takes him up on the offer. The crazy idea? Marry the competitor.

Elizabeth Dyson, the bride-to-be in question, is on board with the plan. She wants access to her trust fund and can only get it once she marries. Each has something the other wants - all they have to do is pretend to like each other well enough to tie the knot.

Only trouble is, playing fiancé to Elizabeth isn't quite that simple. Wes finds her sexy and brilliant...and soon wishes their engagement wasn't fake at all. Not that he'd ever tell her that.

But a lover boy like Wes can only stand an empty bed for so long...and even the best of players has to put down his cards eventually.

My Review

Some business arrangements just seem to be better left on paper, especially when the two individuals can’t stand one another.  When Weston King meets Elizabeth Dyson, he agrees to help with a scheme, which if played right, will prove to be beneficial for both their businesses.   

But, after agreeing to the ruse and now playing the parts of “fake finance,” they soon discover that they cannot seem to reconcile their feelings with the thoughts about their arrangement. 

Their acting skills are put to the test, because although they grate on each other’s nerves, they are downright falling for each other.  A foreign feeling to both and something they are unwilling to admit to the other, love is something that their business arrangement didn’t have contingencies in place for. 

Never in my life have I wanted to step into a book just so that I could shake the two leading characters – to wake them up and snap out of it and take some action.  Laurelin wrote incredibly hot tension that I felt all the way to my toes.  I wanted to keep reading while also wanting to throw the book – in my opinion that is the sign of amazing writing.

Without giving anything away, this book ends with one unbelievable cliffhanger.  I don’t know how I will wait to see how this story continues and ends.  But I can assure you that nothing will stop me from finding out.  Just as these two characters fell for one another – I have fallen hard for this book.  I believe you will too!

As Always, Happy Reading!

MUFFIN TOP

by Avery Flynn

Book Synopsis

The only thing about me that’s a size zero is the filter on my mouth. I’ve got a big personality, a big rack, and a big number on the scale. And I’m perfectly fine with that.

But when some random guy suggests I might not be eating alone if I’d ordered a salad instead of a hamburger I’m shocked silent, which is a feat, trust me.

That brings us to one sexy fireman named Frankie Hartigan. He’s hot. He’s funny… And he’s just apologized for being late for our “date” then glared at the fat-shaming jerk. Next thing I know, he’s sitting down and ordering himself dinner.

I have no problem telling him I don’t need a pity date… unless of course it’s to my high school reunion next week. Oops where did that last bit come from? And what do I do now that he’s said yes?!

Because this is no make-over story, and I think Frankie is using me for something. I just have to figure out what…

My Review

How does one date when you don’t happen to fit into the packaging that most of society deems to be “acceptable?” That is a great question that so many of us, myself included face and one that this delightful story delves deep into.

Lucy Kavanagh has just been harassed in public about eating alone and it isn’t the first time, when local firefighter and recent acquaintance, Frankie Hartigan, steps in and helps give the jerk a lesson he won’t soon forget.

Dreading her upcoming high school reunion, and Frankie’s forced vacation from work, the two set out for what is to be a mutually beneficial yet strictly platonic week long trip, never once considering the possibility that love might hit when they least expect. 

Lucy was beyond lovable and so very relatable with her fierce sense of self and tenacity to the bone.  I found her character refreshing, as she stood her ground, not changing herself, or her beliefs, just to be accepted by others. 

Although she struggled with self-acceptance and the ridicule of others, she stayed true to herself and it made me feel that I too could take a stand in the harsh, real world of dating!

As Always, Happy Reading!

COUNTERFEIT BOYFRIEND

by Cindi Madsen

Book Synopsis

My twin brother’s talked me into a lot of crazy things, but taking his place on a road trip with his girlfriend so he can party with his friends is a whole new level of insanity. What’s even more insane is I somehow find myself agreeing to it—thanks, alcohol, guilt, and bribery. I’m determined to undo the arrangement, but then I meet Gwen, this sexy redheaded hurricane of energy and brains.

And then she kisses me. Just like that, I’m driving her up the coast, on our way to a wedding with a mess of complications. With each hour and each stop, I’m falling harder and harder for a woman who doesn’t know my actual name.

I’m trying to do the right thing. Or the lesser of the wrong things. All my life I’ve had to clean up my brother’s messes, but for the first time ever, I’ve landed the upper hand in one of our switcheroo schemes. Now I’ve just got to come clean and convince Gwen that I’m the brother she should be with.

My Review

Trying to help his identical twin brother, Evan, out of yet another jam, all around good guy Ethan is about to be knocked off his feet, when he meets Evan’s girlfriend, Gwen.

That great feeling that you get while reading a book, the feeling that almost makes you feel giddy while reading - the mere fact that you find yourself smiling for no particular reason; that is what I experienced while reading this delightfully enjoyable read.  

The attraction and desire between both Gwen and Ethan was intense and it had me turning the pages faster and faster to see what would happen next.  I don’t want to give any of the story away but I will tell you that the swoons were in full effect!

I for one had an instant and major book-boyfriend crush on Ethan!  He was a great character that went more than skin deep.  This good guy kept me wanting more and had wishing that I was dating him for myself.  So, if you could use a pick me up and a new book boyfriend, this one is for you!

Bro Code

by Kendall Ryan

Book Synopsis

There’s pretty much only one rule when you’re a guy.

Don’t be a douche.

Turns out, the fastest way to break that rule is to fall for your best friend’s sister.

Ava’s brilliant, sharp-tongued, gorgeous, and five years younger than me.

She’s the sexual equivalent of running with scissors. In a word, she’s dangerous. And completely off-limits.

Falling for her could ruin everything.

Yet I can’t seem to stop, even when her company is threatened by a lawsuit, and my promotion hinges on representing the opposing client—and winning.

I can’t see a way out of this mess that doesn’t end in a broken friendship, a broken heart, or a ruined career.

I may have broken the bro code when I fell for Ava. But do I have the balls to handle what comes next?

My Review

Kendall Ryan writes a deliciously hot tale that I just could not get enough of in Bro Code.  The main plot of the story is fairly simple to explain – it is an entirely different beast when you have to live it! 

We see this when we meet the sweet and strong willed Ava.  She is hard-working, dedicated, and most important to note, the sister of Nick.  Meanwhile, Barrett is welcomed into his best friend Nick’s family home for the weekend, to celebrate the retirement of Nick and Ava’s father.  Barrett is hot as sin, keeps his nose down and works hard; determined to make partner at his prestigious law firm in Chicago.  While Ava is taking over the family run factory for her ailing father against the desires of almost everyone she knows.

After not seeing each other for several years, Ava and Barrett both appreciate how much the other has changed.  They share glances here and there all the while trying to ignore the major sexual tension building up between them. 

Ava cannot keep her mind off of the boy that starred in her daydreams as a teenager who has suddenly come back into her life as a man.  While Barrett is struggling to keep his feverish desire for Ava a secret as he keeps trying to explain to Ava that it doesn’t matter how attracted they are to one another, things just cannot happen because she is Nick’s sister.

Want to find out just how convincing his argument to Ava is?  You have to pick up your copy of The Bro Code today and find out for yourself!

As Always, Happy Reading!