Category: Contemporary Romance

Review: Angels’ Share by Jennifer Bramseth

Posted July 15, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: Angels’ Share
Series: Bourbon Springs #3
Author: Jennifer Bramseth
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: July 14, 2015
Publisher:
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

After the deaths of her parents and husband, high school history teacher Lila McNee inherits her family’s land and retreats to her childhood home in search of safety and solitude in Bourbon Springs, Kentucky. Yet instead of the peace she needs to heal, she discovers her neighbor to the north, Bo Davenport, the owner-distiller of Old Garnet Distillery, desperately wants a big chunk of her land along the property line which has been subject to dispute for years. Bo wants land to expand the distillery, one of his father’s last wishes, and sees the property as rightfully belonging to Old Garnet. But the land is Lila’s refuge against a world that has only brought her heartbreak, and is the home to her beloved and historic springs–the very spot from which Bourbon Springs derived its name over two centuries earlier.

After months of fruitless negotiations, Bo sues Lila. And she sues him back. Drawn together by conflict born of love of the same place, the two find themselves falling for each other. But if they can’t find a solution to the land dispute and figure out a way to share that which is most dear to them, they not only risk losing the lawsuit, they also risk losing their chance at love.

Read on for my thoughts on Angels’ Share. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Maggie’s Turn by Deanna Lynn Sletten

Posted July 15, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 2 Comments

Title: Maggie’s Turn
Series:
Author: Deanna Lynn Sletten
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Women’s Fiction
Published: July 14, 2015
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Maggie has always put her family’s needs in front of her own, until one day—without forethought—she drives away, leaving behind her indifferent husband and two sulking teenagers.

As she begins a quest of self-exploration, she meets new people, enjoys new adventures, and rediscovers long-neglected passions. For the first time in years, Maggie contemplates what she wants from life and soon realizes that her deteriorating marriage can no longer continue as it is. Can she and Andrew repair their broken relationship, or is their marriage over?

Left to his own devices, Andrew is forced to take over the household responsibilities and bridge the growing divide between himself and his children. Slowly, he begins to understand what drove Maggie away—and how he can’t bear to live without her. But is it too late? Will Andrew lose Maggie forever?

Read on for my thoughts on Maggie’s Turn. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Hittin’ It by Amie Stuart

Posted July 15, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: Hittin’ It
Series: Marked for Love #2
Author: Amie Stuart
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: July 14, 2015 (original with 2 stories 2009)
Publisher:
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

As a professional hit man, Will Collier has more secrets than most. But on a sweltering Texas night, the lives he’s taken rank second place to the love he’d like to be making with a sensual Bohemian beauty.

Sabrina Walker is intimately familiar with the havoc Cupid can wreak. She’s determined that love will never seduce her again, until she meets Will Collier and discovers that some secrets are better when shared.

Warning: This book contains a spunky, plus-sized heroine, a sassy Beagle named Scamp, and a sexually frustrated hitman who can’t figure out what women want…Then again, what man can?

Read on for my thoughts on Hittin’ It. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Heart and Sole by Miranda Liasson

Posted July 14, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: Heart and Sole
Series:
Author: Miranda Liasson
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: July 14, 2015
Publisher: Entangled Indulgence
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Getting even.
One step at a time…

Maddie Kingston just walked away from everything in order to take over her family’s struggling shoe business. And she’s in some serious trouble. The majority of the company’s shares have been bought out by none other than Maddie’s ex-boyfriend, self-made billionaire Nick Holter. Now Maddie needs his help…even if it means buying Nick from a charity bachelor auction.

After the Kingstons destroyed his grandfather’s career, Nick vowed to take over their company. He’s inches from victory when he finds himself bought and paid for…by his sexy ex-girlfriend who’s hell-bent on saving her family’s company. Between their families’ feud and their own unfinished business, tempers – and emotions – run hot. Too hot.

Because kissing with the enemy is a guaranteed shoe-in for trouble.

Read on for my thoughts on Heart and Sole. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Always Remember by Shelia Seabrook

Posted July 13, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 2 Comments

Title: Always Remember
Series: Rocky Mountain Romance #1
Author: Sheila Seabrook
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: August 9, 2013
Publisher:
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: Borrowed, Kindle Unlimited
Cover Description:

A midnight summons from rancher Nate Coltrane brings singer Jessie Adams back to the heart of the Rocky Mountains. Seventeen years ago, Jessie gave up Nate’s child for adoption and she hasn’t been home since. How can she sit by her mother’s side, surrounded by constant reminders of all she loved and lost? How can she face Nate without telling him the truth about the child he never knew existed?

Nate doesn’t think Jessie has the guts to return home and face him, but when she does, he’s afraid of losing everything he loves…for the second time in his life. But he’s made a promise. Bring Jessie home. Give her mother one last opportunity to heal the rift with her daughter. Nate will do anything for Jessie’s mother because if not for her, he might never have known the love of his child.

But sometimes the truth turns out to be a lie.

Read on for my thoughts on Always Remember. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Friends & Fortune Cookies by Elizabeth Bemis

Posted July 11, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: Friends & Fortune Cookies
Series: The Mendoza Sisters #2
Author: Elizabeth Bemis
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: May 12, 2015
Publisher:
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

When columnist Grace Mendoza is handed the dream assignment of a “Dating for Dummies” series, she knows it’s her ticket to national syndication. Too bad that when it comes to dating, she’s the biggest dummy of all. Jilted at the altar, abandoned by her best guy friend, Grace is about to hang up her keyboard for good until said best-friend lands back in town. He OWES her, and she’s determined to collect.

Rehabber Joe Baker is good at fixing things, but he can’t fix his emotions for Grace. When he realized he’d fallen for the quirky columnist right around the time he’d had to give her the bad news about her bastard of a bridegroom, he knew he had to split town, fast. Now he’s back and stuck on a job that may make or break his business. He can’t escape—especially when Grace demands that he tag along as a watch-dog for one disastrous date after another, all in the name of giving her avid readers what they want. Joe may be Grace’s biggest fan, but all he wants… is a second chance with her.

Read on for my thoughts on Friends & Fortune Cookies. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Love & Oreos by Elizabeth Bemis

Posted July 11, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Love and Oreos Title: Love & Oreos
Series: The Mendoza Sisters (A Sudden Falls Romance)
Author: Elizabeth Bemis
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: March 10, 2015
Publisher:
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: Owned, Kindle edition
Cover Description:

Katherine Mendoza is curvy PR exec whose passion for Oreos is tempered only by her workaholic lifestyle. But when an invitation to her high school reunion lands on her doorstep the same day she takes on the obscenely attractive owner of a chain of fitness centers as a client, she decides it’s a sign from the gods. Who better to get her backside into shape than the guy whose backside she’s about to save?

Fitness-master Quinn Mitchell is more than happy to help Katherine slim down, but keeping his hands off her curves is proving to be the bigger challenge. Unfortunately, he’s got oversized problems of his own: his fitness centers are coming under fire from a reporter with a vendetta, he’s behind schedule and losing backers, and his business partner insists that being seen with anyone who’s not model-thin is bad for business.

In an epic clash of wits, wagers–and Oreos–Katherine and Quinn put everything on the line to succeed… but can they win it all without losing their hearts?

Read on for my thoughts on Love & Oreos. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Fairytale Beginnings by Holly Martin

Posted July 10, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: Fairytale Beginnings
Series:
Author: Holly Martin
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: July 10, 2015
Publisher: Bookouture
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: Owned, Kindle edition
Cover Description:

Love is an open door…except when it keeps slamming in your face.

Hopeless romantic Milly Rose has had her fair share of heartbreak. Obsessed with all things Disney, she refuses to give up on finding her Prince Charming – he’s out there somewhere, isn’t he?

When Milly is given a job to investigate the origins of an historical building in the village of Clovers Rest, she’s not sure what to expect. What she discovers takes her breath away – a beautiful real life Cinderella castle, complete with turrets, a magnificent drawbridge AND a very handsome owner…Cameron Heartstone.

As Milly and Cameron begin to unearth the secrets of Clover Castle, they can’t ignore the intense chemistry building between them. But they’ve both been hurt badly before. Can they take a big leap of faith and find their own happily-ever-after?

Read on for my thoughts on Fairytale Beginnings. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: The Rest Of My Life by Sheryl Browne

Posted July 10, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 2 Comments

Title: The Rest Of My Life
Series:
Author: Sheryl Browne
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: July 10, 2015
Publisher: Choc Lit
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

You can’t run away from commitment forever …

Adam Hamilton-Shaw has more reason than most to avoid commitment. Living on a houseboat in the Severn Valley, his dream is to sail into the sunset – preferably with a woman waiting in every port. But lately, his life looks more like a road to destruction than an idyllic boat ride…

Would-be screenplay writer Sienna Meadows realises that everything about Adam spells trouble – but she can’t ignore the feeling that there is more to him than just his bad reputation. Nor can she ignore the intense physical attraction that exists between them.

And it just so happens that Adam sees Sienna as the kind of woman he could commit to. But can he change his damaging behaviour – or is the road to destruction a one-way street?

Read on for my thoughts on The Rest Of My Life. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Ride Steady by Kristen Ashley

Posted July 8, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: Ride Steady
Series: Chaos #3
Author: Kristen Ashley
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: June 30, 2015
Publisher: Forever (Grand Central Publishing)
My Rating: 5+ stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

The ride of her life . . .
Once upon a time, Carissa Teodoro believed in happy endings. Money, marriage, motherhood: everything came easy—until she woke up to the ugly truth about her Prince Charming. Now a struggling, single mom and stranded by a flat tire, Carissa’s pondering her mistakes when a vaguely familiar knight rides to her rescue on a ton of horsepower.

Climb on and hold tight . . .
In high school, Carson Steele was a bad boy loner who put Carissa on a pedestal where she stayed far beyond his reach. Today, he’s the hard-bodied biker known only as Joker, and from the way Carissa’s acting, it’s clear she’s falling fast. While catching her is irresistible, knowing what to do with her is a different story. A good girl like Carissa is the least likely fit with the Chaos Motorcycle Club. Too bad holding back is so damned hard. Now, as Joker’s secrets are revealed and an outside threat endangers the club, Joker must decide whether to ride steady with Carissa—or ride away forever.

Read on for my thoughts on Ride Steady. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: His Kiss by Jolyse Barnett

Posted July 7, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: His Kiss
Series: Summer in New York #2
Author: Jolyse Barnett
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: July 7, 2015
Publisher: Tule Publishing
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

After a motorcycle accident and subsequent alcohol abuse, Jeremy Engel has managed to claw his way back from the dark depths of personal hell. He’s now a successful comic book author and working on his second book, and when the woman he met while on a rare getaway—the one he hasn’t been able to forget—opens a shop in his neck of the woods, he thinks he’s even learned to trust and hope again.

Elizabeth Desmond may have been born with a silver spoon in her mouth, but she’s determined to make a success of her shop in the Adirondack tourist town of Lake Placid. And just when she thinks it can’t get any better, the mysterious stranger she kissed on a moonlit resort beach walks back into her life.

But when Jeremy’s old demons return, it’s up to Elizabeth to show him they’re not so different after all.

Read on for my thoughts on His Kiss. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Evie Undercover by Liz harris

Posted July 7, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 2 Comments

Title: Evie Undercover
Series:
Author: Liz Harris
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: July 7, 2015 (Original Pub Date Sept. 2012)
Publisher: Choc Lit
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

When libel lawyer, Tom Hadleigh acquires a perfect holiday home – a 14th century house that needs restoring, there’s a slight problem. The house is located in the beautiful Umbria countryside and Tom can’t speak a word of Italian.

Enter Evie Shaw, masquerading as an agency temp but in reality the newest reporter for gossip magazine Pure Dirt. Unbeknown to Tom, Italian speaking Evie has been sent by her manipulative editor to write an exposé on him. And the stakes are high – Evie’s job rests on her success.

But the path for the investigative journalist is seldom smooth, and it certainly never is when the subject in hand is drop-dead gorgeous.

Read on for my thoughts on Evie Undercover. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Twice in a Lifetime by Dorothy Garlock

Posted July 7, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: Twice in a Lifetime
Series:
Author: Dorothy Garlock
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: July 7, 2015
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Sunset, Missouri, 1954. As hope flourishes in postwar America, a young widow dares to dream of a second chance at a forever love…

Clara Sinclair has learned to live one lonely day at a time. It was the only way she managed to survive her husband’s death in World War II and raise their young son alone. But now she’s at a loss as to how to handle the defiant teenager he has become, even as she struggles to keep her family financially afloat. She’s fresh out of ways to turn her luck around-until a daring stranger’s unexpected kindness sparks hope she hasn’t felt in a long time . . .

Drake McCoy lives for risk, speed, and putting his incredible drag racing skills to the test. One night in this quiet rural town is all he needs to win a big score and be on his way . . . until he meets Clara. Drawn in by her quiet strength and her beauty, Drake is tempted to become someone he never imagined-a family man.

But a vicious and unseen enemy is closing in fast, throwing Drake and Clara’s fragile future into a dangerous tailspin. Can their love survive?

Read on for my thoughts on Twice in a Lifetime. No true spoilers, promise.

Romancing the Alpha An Action Adventure Romance Box Set by Various Authors

Posted July 7, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: Romancing the Alpha box set
Series:
Author: Various Authors
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: July 7, 2015
Publisher: Beaverstone Press
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

HOT NEW adventure romance super bundle. Spice up your summer with 10 never-before-published action-adventure romance stories by bestselling authors. Kick butt and fall in love with sexy Navy SEALs, treasure hunters, mercenaries, and more. Let the adrenaline flow!

Zoe York — FALL BACK
When Navy SEAL Cade Duncan partners up with Mel Vincent for an endurance race, he doesn’t expect to tumble into a romantic fling in paradise—or to be so pissed with the beautiful woman when he finds out she’s been keeping secrets.

Ruby Lionsdrake — THE PIRATE CAPTAIN’S DAUGHTER
When firefighter and mercenary Marat Azarov rescues a beautiful slave woman from a life of certain torment, he gets more than he bargained for.

Zara Keane — HER TREASURE HUNTER EX
When underwater photographer Katy Ryan embarks on a secret mission to salvage priceless jewels from the wreck of the RMS Lusitania, she’s pissed as hell to be be pitted against Dex Fitzgerald, her super sexy treasure hunter ex.

Anna Hackett — AMONG GALACTIC RUINS
When astro-archeologist Lexa Carter discovers a map to an old Earth treasure, she’s thrilled about a treasure hunt to a dangerous, desert planet—but not about being saddled with head of security, Damon Malik. She thinks he’s arrogant. He thinks she’s a trouble magnet. But when the hunt turns deadly, they’ll have to trust each other just to survive.

Ember Casey — THE DEVIL’S SET: JACKSON
Charlotte knows she’s in trouble the moment Jackson North shows up at her door in the middle of the night. She always suspected her ex had secrets, but she never thought those secrets would lead her on a wild treasure hunt through Croatia’s islands—or throw her back into the arms of the dangerous man who once broke her heart.

Anna Lowe — UNCHARTED
The last thing archaeologist Julie Steffens needs is a gang of armed mercenaries after her for a crime she didn’t commit. And the last rescuer she wants is Seth Cooper, the sizzling vacation fling who disappeared from her bedside two months before. But right now, she needs a way out — and Seth’s sailboat is it.

Sadie Haller — TAINTED PEARL
The last person Biddy expects to greet her at the start of her secret four-week eco-activism island adventure is a red-blooded alpha male, and the irresistible camera operator proves to be a big, bad complication she’s unable to resist.

Lyn Brittan — THE DUKE OF AMBRA
When treasure hunter Kent Avery ends up partnered with Swedish military officer Elena Haaland in search of a stolen Russian artifact, he’s not expecting love. Guns? Sure. Fist fights? No problem. But love? Well that’s the one danger he’s just not prepared for.

Lydia Rowan — ULTIMATE ESCAPE
A bad breakup sent Nola Bailey to Vietnam. Instead of cold cocktails and sandy beaches, she finds the irresistible Duarte Cruz and trouble. Cruz thinks she’s up to no good, but if she convinces him she’s not—and dodges the flying bullets—her ultimate escape could end with love.

Leigh James — COVER ME
Matthew Riley is determined to leave his dangerous mercenary lifestyle behind. But when he takes what’s supposed to be a relaxing vacation to the Yucutan Peninsula with his wife Meredith and their friends, he discovers that he can’t afford to leave his job behind, in more ways than one.

Read on for my thoughts on Romancing the Alpha An Action Adventure Romance Box Set. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Fire Inside by Kristen Ashley

Posted July 6, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: Fire Inside
Series: Chaos #2
Author: Kristen Ashley
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: June 4, 2013
Publisher: Forever
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: Owned, Kindle edition
Cover Description:

Lanie Heron isn’t looking for love-no surprise, considering her last serious relationship nearly got her killed. So when Lanie propositions Hop Kincaid, all she wants is one wild night with the hot-as-hell biker who patrols with the Chaos Motorcycle Club . . .

For Hop, Lanie has always been untouchable. She’s too polished and too classy for his taste. But when she gives Hop the once-over with her bedroom eyes and offers him a night in paradise, he can’t say no. And he doesn’t regret it when he finds that Lanie is the best thing that’s ever happened to him-in or out of bed. Now the trick will be to convince her of that.

Read on for my thoughts on Fire Inside. No true spoilers, promise.