Author: Marsha

After The Hurt by Shana Gray

Posted March 29, 2016 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: After The Hurt
Series:
Author: Shana Gray
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: march 29, 2016
Publisher: Loveswept
My Rating: 3 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Pepper Chapman refuses to throw in the towel. Six months ago, she made the biggest mistake of her life. Blinded by grief after her mom’s death, Pepper abandoned the man she loves. Now she wants a second chance at everything she gave up: strong hands driving her to ecstasy . . . a deep voice whispering naughty promises in her ear . . . the future they’d planned since they were teenagers. So Pepper comes home looking for forgiveness, ready for a new beginning—if he’s willing to give her a shot.

Retired MMA star Tank Sherman may be used to low blows, but Pepper’s emotional sucker punch left him reeling. Trying to ignore the pain and forget the pleasure of her body beneath his, Tank is prepared to ring the final bell on their relationship. Then Pepper shows up out of the blue, radiating pure sex. But Tank won’t let himself get hurt again, and that means resisting the heat that still burns between them. Because if he takes Pepper back, he knows he’ll never be able to let her go again.

Read on for my thoughts on After The Hurt. No true spoilers, promise.

Training The Temp by Melinda Di Lorenzo

Posted March 29, 2016 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: Training The Temp
Series:
Author: Melinda Di Lorenzo
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: March 21, 2016
Publisher: Tule Publishing
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: Owned, Kindle Edition
Cover Description:

Part-time journalist Beth Styles has been assigned the terrible task of reporting on one of Seattle’s most eligible bachelors. All she has to do is get in, get the story, and get out. Everything is going fine, until she opens her big mouth and challenges the man of the hour to a bet. Thank goodness the only thing on the line is her career. And her integrity. Oh, and her hand in marriage…

Real estate mogul Parker Stephenson likes to be in control, and he hates the press, so he’ll do anything to keep from ruining his reputation, including taking on this pretty, mouthy journalist. Even if that means promising – in front of thirty witnesses, no less – that he can make her fall in love with him in just 28 days. Too bad he can’t seem to take charge of her, the way he takes charge of everything else.

Read on for my thoughts on Training The Temp. No true spoilers, promise.

Marry Me by Karen Stivali

Posted March 28, 2016 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 1 Comment

Title: Marry Me
Series:
Author: Karen Stivali
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Light Erotica
Published: March 24, 2016
Publisher: Tule Publishing
My Rating: 3.5 stars
Source: Owned, Kindle Edition
Cover Description:

When British drummer Ben Davis lost his childhood sweetheart, he vowed to never love again. He immerses himself in his music, which propels him to international stardom and a lavish lifestyle, but has left his heart cold—until he meets creative and sexy clothing designer Julia Jones.

Julia’s career may be skyrocketing, but her personal life tanked when her last boyfriend crossed the line from controlling to violent. Certain that romance is not in the cards for her, she focuses on her career. Then devastatingly sexy Ben strolls into her life and his intoxicating charisma is impossible to resist.

Once Julia allows Ben into her bed and her heart, they fall hard and fast. But when Julia’s life is endangered, Ben’s reaction terrifies her. They both must confront their past demons if they want a chance at a future together.

Read on for my thoughts on Marry Me. No true spoilers, promise.

Playing The Witch’s Game by Zoe Forward

Posted March 25, 2016 by Marsha in Series / 0 Comments

Title: Playing The Witch’s Game
Series: Keepers of the Veil #3
Author: Zoe Forward
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Published: March 21, 2016
Publisher: Entangled (Covert)
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Pleiades witch Jennifer Marcos is certain that the host of Extreme Survivor is her soulmate. All she has to do is find a fake boyfriend, get on the show, and voila! She’ll have her destiny.

Unfortunately, she has to rely on ex-Russian spy Nikolai Jovec’s six-foot-something of gorgeous, infuriating hotness. To make matters worse, the electric attraction between Jen and Nikolai is hotter than ever.

But the only way Nikolai can protect Jen is by hiding the identity of her true Destined…him.

Read on for my thoughts on Playing The Witch’s Game. No true spoilers, promise.

Doing It Scared But Determined

Posted March 15, 2016 by Marsha in Discussion Post / 2 Comments

knee injury In a couple hours I’m going to be offline for a while – not exactly sure just how long. See at this time tomorrow I’ll be in an operating room having my right knee replaced. So kinda hard to get reviews up when that’s happening. *trying for ironic humor here :)*

Wish I could say I’m being all brave and happy about this – I’m not. I am scared, more scared than I can ever remember being… and I’ve had some scary moments in my life. And it’s not a fear for myself, what is to be will be I’ve long ago accepted that in my life. It’s for that kid of mine – the 35 year old young man who is such an amazing person – even when a disease has kept him in a wheelchair and dependent on a ventilator for his every breath… he’s still an upbeat, amazing kid of mine. But I’ve always been there in the forefront and now in the background, his safety net so to speak – so this surgery, though totally necessary, is frightening for us both for perhaps different reasons. I can already imagine the guilt for me when he needs something that I (for the moment) simply cannot do. Or should there be complication to the surgery… hey, it happens there are no guarantees in life.

But there comes a time when a person simply has to take care of them first – even when it goes against every instinct. Today I am in a level 9 on the 1 -10 pain level the doctors ask about. It’s been that way, with spikes higher, consistently for two years now… I cannot do it any longer. That level of pain is slowly wearing me down to the point of barely functioning.

Yes, the pain of the next few weeks will likely make that seem like a stroll in the park – but down the line, in a couple months, if I do what I need to do – then I can be almost pain free and get back to living life, doing what I need to do and those things that I want to do – like planting a garden, getting a puppy and taking long, energetic walks through the woods that border our back yard. Simple things but things I want to do again.

So for the rest of today I’ll be getting my home in order, last minute trips to the grocery story – all those things that you do when you don’t really know what is coming but you’d better be prepared. And trying not to overthink – trying to find that calm place where I can just go with the flow and hope for the best outcome.

Yep I’m scared… but determined.

See ya all when I can get back online and back to the stories that I love to tell you about.

Rebel Cowboy by Nicole Helm

Posted March 10, 2016 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance, Series / 2 Comments

Title: Rebel Cowboy
Series: Big Sky Cowboys #1
Author: Nicole Helm
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Cowboy Romance (modern), Sports Romance
Published: January 5, 2016
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Mel Shaw is determined to keep her family ranch from going under, so she takes on a job helping some city slicker get his old ranch up and running. And if that means being in tight quarters with the hot NHL-star-turned-cowboy? Well, she did say she’d do anything for family.

After leaving his NHL career behind, Dan never expected to find a home on his rundown Montana ranch, but with Mel guiding the way, he finds that and so much more.

Read on for my thoughts on Rebel Cowboy. No true spoilers, promise.

Risking It All by Christi Barth

Posted March 8, 2016 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance, Series / 2 Comments

Title: Risking It All
Series: Naked Men #1
Author: Christi Barth
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: March 8, 2016
Publisher: Loveswept
My Rating: 3.5 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Who doesn’t love Naked Men? In Christi Barth’s irresistible series, a group of close-knit friends talk out their problems with naked honesty on a popular blog. Bonded by a high-school tragedy, they’re moving on from the past—and fighting for the future with strong and sassy women.

Griffin Montgomery helps people. As a teenager, he kept his best friends alive after their soccer team’s bus crashed in the Alps. Now, as a Coast Guard search and rescue pilot, he saves lives with reckless abandon—until he goes too far and earns a lengthy suspension. Working on the Naked Men projects keeps his mind busy, but Griff’s itching to get back in the action. That’s when he finds his latest rescue mission: a pretty wallflower who’s stuck in her comfort zone.

Chloe Widmore doesn’t take risks. As a professional letter writer, she gets enough excitement out of expressing other people’s emotions. So when the hottest man she’s ever seen invades her coffee shop, Chloe surprises herself with how much she wants to be with him. Routines make her feel safe. Griff makes her deliciously unsafe, in so many ways. But falling for him is one risk she might just have to take . . . whether she’s ready or not.

Read on for my thoughts on Risking It All. No true spoilers, promise.

Jackson’s Trust by Violet Duke

Posted March 8, 2016 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance, Series / 2 Comments

Title: Jackson’s Trust
Series: Fourth Down #1
Author: Violet Duke
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: March 8, 2016
Publisher: Loveswept
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

It’s no secret that sports analyst Jackson Gray doesn’t do relationships. What is a secret, however, is the reason why. Jackson’s life is . . . complicated. And it doesn’t help that his current hands-off “friendship” is with the cute-as-hell new sideline reporter he’s assigned to train. Turns out, not only is the woman damn sweet, she also knows as much about football as he does. Like it or not though, Jackson has to remind himself that sex is the only thing he has to offer . . . until now.

Leila Hart’s fast-growing friendship with Jackson is something she’d never risk, no matter how unbelievably seductive the reward. Becoming an NFL sportscaster has always been the goal, and thanks to Jackson’s fierce support and mentoring, it all finally seems within reach. Problem is, a girl can only take so much of that sexy-as-sin voice whispering dirty, filthy football stats in her ear before she loses all self-control. A workplace romance with Jackson is a disaster waiting to happen, especially for someone with big dreams . . . and secrets of her own.

Read on for my thoughts on Jackson’s Trust. No true spoilers, promise.

Worth The Trouble by Jamie Beck

Posted March 3, 2016 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance, Series / 0 Comments

Title: Worth The Trouble
Series: St. James #2
Author: Jamie Beck
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: February 23, 2016
Publisher: Montlake Romance
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Cover girl Cat St. James’s picture-perfect life is anything but flawless. Luckily, she’s a master of hiding the truth from the camera. Relying on that skill, she conceals her latest secret from her family while attending her brother’s wedding. Her only trouble now is Hank Mitchell—the soft-spoken carpenter she’d once brushed aside. Seeing him at the reception underscores her private heartache and ignites unwelcome longing, which she promptly drowns in champagne.

Hank is no stranger to sacrifice, having set aside his own ambitions to take care of his family. One thing he won’t forsake is his pride, which Cat already wounded once. But when the maddening beauty’s reckless behavior forces him to rush to her rescue, he sets in motion a series of events that leads Cat to make a business proposal granting him his dream job.

When Cat and Hank mix business with pleasure, promises and secrets unravel, and each must decide if and what they’ll surrender for love.

Read on for my thoughts on Worth The Trouble. No true spoilers, promise.

How To Handle A Scandal by Emily Greenwood

Posted March 3, 2016 by Marsha in Series / 0 Comments

Title: How To Handle A Scandal
Series: The Scandalous Sisters #2
Author: Emily Greenwood
Genre: Regency Romance, Historical Romance
Published: March 1, 2016
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
My Rating: 3 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Seven years after fleeing to India brokenhearted, Tommy Halifax returns to be knighted for his service to the crown, and of course he would run into his first love, the more beautiful than ever Eliza Trueheart.

Widowed already, Eliza is no longer a careless flirt—in fact, she spends her time looking out for such wayward young women. She finds Tommy to have become quite the gentleman, too, and she wants to be honest with him, but she can’t decide what’s right: making up for her years as a wanton, or falling willingly into Tommy’s arms.

Read on for my thoughts on How To Handle A Scandal. No true spoilers, promise.

Wedding Night with the Earl by Amelia Grey

Posted March 3, 2016 by Marsha in Series / 1 Comment

Title: Wedding Night with the Earl
Series: The Heirs’ Club of Scoundrels #3
Author: Amelia Grey
Genre: Historical Romance, Regency Romance
Published: March 1, 2016
Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks
My Rating: 4.5 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Can An Improper Proposal

Adam Greyhawke is through with marriage. After losing his wife at a young age, he’s more interested in carousing and gambling at the Heirs’ Club than taking another trip to the altar. When his obligations as the Earl of Greyhawke thrust him into the heart of Society, he dreads the boredom that only a ballroom can inspire in a roguish scoundrel. That is, until he meets a bewitching young woman who captures his curiosity—and reminds him just how delicious desire can be.

Lead To True And Lasting Passion?

Miss Katharine Wright is accustomed to men interested only in her generous dowry. Adam’s attraction is far more powerful—he tests her wits and her courage at every turn, until she finds herself longing to fulfill an everlasting passion she never imagined was possible. But the breathtakingly handsome nobleman is as stubborn as he is scandalous, and Katharine must be the one to convince him that real love is worth any risk.

Read on for my thoughts on Wedding Night with the Earl. No true spoilers, promise.