Category: Contemporary Romance

Review: Summer Flings and Dancing Dreams by Sue Watson

Posted July 3, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: Summer Flings and Dancing Dreams
Series:
Author: Sue Watson
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: July 3, 2015
Publisher: Bookouture
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Dance like nobody’s watching. Love like you’ll never get hurt…
Laura Watkin’s heart isn’t broken, she’s just forgotten how to use it.

After years on her own, the highlight of single mum Laura’s week is watching Strictly Come Dancing with a glass of Pinot Grigio and a large helping of imagination.

With her daughter Sophie going travelling, Laura knows the time is right to do something for herself for a change. One disastrous Zumba class later and Laura ends up at the feet (literally) of gorgeous dance instructor Tony Hernandez.

A natural dancer and inspiring teacher, Tony rekindles in Laura a passion she inherited from her ballroom dancer father – and with it comes a dream… to make him proud.

But when Tony enters them to perform at the National Dance Festival, can Laura’s new-found confidence survive the test? And with a once-in-a-lifetime chance to learn Flamenco in Spain, could Laura truly learn to dance like nobody’s watching… and love like she’ll never get hurt?

A laugh-out-loud, uplifting comedy about finding the courage to be yourself, the importance of dreams, and learning to grab life by the glitter balls.

Read on for my thoughts on Summer Flings and Dancing Dreams. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: The Wedding Reject Table by Angela Britnell

Posted July 3, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 4 Comments

Title: The Wedding Reject Table
Series: Nashville Connections #2
Author: Angela Britnell
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: July 1, 2015
Publisher: Choc Lit
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

When Maggie Taylor, a cake decorator, and Chad Robertson, a lawyer from Nashville Tennessee, meet at a wedding in Cornwall it’s not under the best circumstances.

They have both been assigned to ‘the reject table’, alongside a toxic collection of grumpy great aunts, bitter divorcees and stuffy organists.

Maggie has grown used to being the reject, although when Chad helps her out of a wedding cake disaster she begins to wonder whether the future could hold more for her.

But will Chad be strong enough to deal with the other problems in Maggie’s life? Because a ruined cake isn’t the only issue she has – not by a long shot.

Read on for my thoughts on The Wedding Reject Table. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: To Love A Texas Cowboy by Julie Benson

Posted July 2, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: To Love A Texas Cowboy
Series: Wishing, Texas #1
Author: Julie Benson
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: July 1, 2015
Publisher: Tule Publishing
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

New York artist Cassie Reynolds moves to Wishing, Texas to raise her orphaned niece, and discovers she’s in way over her head. Then she meets Ella’s financial guardian, Ty Barnett, a handsome hardworking rancher, with his own ideas on child rearing.

Ty and Cassie clash over almost everything, especially Ella, but when two people have the welfare of one child at heart, suddenly they find themselves looking at each other in a whole new light…

Will Ty make room for another lady in his life? And will Cassie allow herself to love a Texas cowboy?

Read on for my thoughts on To Love A Texas Cowboy. No true spoilers, promise. Read More

Review: His Touch by Patty Blount

Posted July 1, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: His Touch
Series: Summer in New York #1
Author: Patty Blount
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: June 30, 2015
Publisher: Tule Publishing, Holiday Books
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

When a surly paramedic finds Kara Larsen‘s lost toddler, only to berate her for failing to mind her child, Kara is embarrassed and relieved she’ll never have to deal with that jerk again. Doesn’t he know being a single mom is a lot harder than it looks?! But when baby Nadia has trouble breathing one night, Kara’s frantic 911 call brings that same jerk right to her door…

NYFD paramedic Reid Bennett has a compulsion to help frantic parents. But after the way he over-reacted to the beautiful woman in the department store that day, she wants nothing to do with him. But it’s not his fault he keeps running into her all over the city…

When Kara bumps into Reid for the third time in a week, she can’t help but wonder if the mom she lost in 2001 is playing matchmaker. As Kara and Reid form a cautious friendship, he quickly becomes baby Nadia’s favorite person. But Reid has no interest in long-term commitment, or so he thought. So when Nadia’s father calls out of the blue and Kara agrees to see him, Reid realizes he has some triage to do if he hopes to keep his girls.

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

Review: The Perfect Bargain by Jessa McAdams

Posted July 1, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: The Perfect Bargain
Series: How To Marry a Highlander #1
Author: Jessa McAdams (Julia London)
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: June 30, 2015
Publisher: Entangled Lovestruck
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

American lass seeks brawny Scot…

As if being newly single isn’t brutal enough, Sloane Chatfield’s friends are getting obnoxious about setting her up. When Sloane insists she’s waiting for a certain sexy fictional Highlander to come along, her friends surprise her with a trip to Scotland to find her a new boyfriend. She’d rather have a root canal. But if she can find a Highland hunk to “break her heart” before her friends arrive…

In a remote Highland village, Galen Buchanan is struggling to keep the family pub afloat. Everything is falling apart, he’s running out of money, and now there’s an opinionated American lass parked at his best table, driving him mad. But then Sloane asks Galen to be her pretend Highland boyfriend…and offers him enough money to save the pub. It’s only for a few days, he figures. What’s the worst that could happen?

Read on for my thoughts on The Perfect Bargain. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Don’t Let Go by Sharla Lovelace

Posted July 1, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: Don’t Let Go
Series:
Author: Sharla Lovelace
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: June 30, 2015
Publisher: Montlake Romance
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Noah Ryan and Jules Doucette had spent every moment of their lives together, first as childhood best friends and later as young lovers. The two had their future all planned out—until one unspeakable decision tore them apart.

Twenty-six years later, Jules is living her life by someone else’s plan. She’s running her mother’s store, living in her mother’s house, following her mother’s rules, and keeping the secrets her mother made her bury.

Then Noah comes home, and any sense of order and structure flies out the window. Noah’s return does more than just stir up old memories—it also forces Jules to see her life in a whole new way and uncover secrets even she didn’t know were hidden. But can the power of first love triumph over years of pain and lies?

Read on for my thoughts on Don’t Let Go. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Red Carpet Kiss by Melissa Brown

Posted July 1, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 2 Comments

Title: Red Carpet Kiss
Series:
Author: Melissa Brown
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: June 30, 2015
Publisher: Amazon Publishing, Montlake Romance
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

After penning a series of bestselling novels, Eleanor Riley vowed to leave her past—and the man who broke her heart—far behind. As the creator of one of television’s most beloved dramas, Elle couldn’t have written a better comeback for herself. But her success doesn’t leave much room in her life for romance…until Luke Kingston enters the scene.

Luke, a stunningly handsome star, is set to play the latest love interest in Elle’s show…but he’s got his eye on Elle, and she can’t deny their sizzling chemistry. Then Elle has a chance encounter with Troy Saladino—the man who had been the love of her life—and suddenly a million old feelings are rushing back.

With two gorgeous men pursuing her, Elle can’t decide who holds the key to her heart: her new love or her old flame. Will her choice bring her happiness—or more heartbreak?

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

Review: Neighbors with Benefits by Marissa Clarke

Posted June 30, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: Neighbors With Benefits
Series: The Anderson Brothers #2
Author: Marissa Clarke
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: June 30, 2015
Publisher: Entangled Lovestruck
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Love thy sexy jerk of a neighbor…

CEO Michael Anderson might be something of a “control freak.” Still, he’s not quite sure why his therapist thinks dogsitting will fix anything—especially since he and the canine share a kind of mutual loathing. And to make matters worse, a house sitter moves in next door disrupting his peace—and his dates—with the worst possible music at the worst possible time… every time.

Free-spirited artist Mia Argaropolis has settled into the perfect gig—house sitting in NYC’s Upper West Side while working as an art therapist. Too bad she’s stuck living next door to a bossy control freak with a penchant for calling building security when she blasts music to drown out the noises coming through his bedroom wall.

Post-apocalyptic dinner rolls that nearly take her kitchen with them, a douchebag ex, and a Shih Tzu with the personality of Godzilla attack Mia in one day, and her unlikely neighbor comes to the rescue. Like it was her fault. And now, somehow, they find themselves engaged? Both agree, this neighborly feud just got taken to a whole new level.

Read on for my thoughts on Neighbors With Benefits. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Bridesmaid Blues by Boone Brux

Posted June 30, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: Bridesmaid Blues
Series: Wedding Favors
Author: Boone Brux
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: June 30, 2015
Publisher: Entangled Lovestruck
My Rating: 5 star
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Maid-of-Honor Dani Brown can handle anything that comes her way when it comes to her best friend’s wedding. That is, until the bride asks for a huge favor—Dani needs to distract the best man, who happens to be Dani’s ex. The ex she has fantasized dismembering for a year now. The ex she’ll have to suck it up and play nice with if this wedding is to go off without a hitch.

Businessman Jamie Kingsland is back in Seattle for a wedding. There’s just one problem – the maid of honor wants him dead. Except she doesn’t. Even though he knows he broke her heart last year when things got too serious and he panicked and left, she’s being way too nice about it now. And it scares him.

Something is up with his favorite bridesmaid, and he’s determined to find out what.

Read on for my thoughts on Bridesmaid Blues. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Last Chance Hero by Hope Ramsay

Posted June 30, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: Last Chance Hero
Series: a Last Chance novel
Author: Hope Ramsay
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: June 30, 2015
Publisher: Forever (Grand Central Publishing)
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Ross Gardiner has had his fill of difficult relationships. Returning to Last Chance after a rough divorce, the town’s handsome new fire chief just wants safety and stability-a tall order given his dangerous job and the way he has the attention of all the single women in town. All except Sabina Grey, the girl who stole his heart when they were teenagers.

Sabina knows a lot about playing it safe. Always the good girl, she’s now responsible for her antiques store and caring for her sister. But having Ross in town brings back the memory of one carefree summer night when she threw caution to the wind-and almost destroyed her family. Now that they are both older and wiser, will the spark still be there, even though they’ve both been burned?

Read on for my thoughts on Last Chance Hero. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Seduced by the Baron by Amy Andrews

Posted June 29, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: Seduced by the Baron
Series: Fairy Tales of New York #4
Author: Amy Andrews
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: June 29, 2015
Publisher: Tule Publishing
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Once upon a time, Faith Sullivan dreamed of being a famous painter who lived in an apartment overlooking Central Park. Unfortunately, life had other ideas and at 26, she’s still running, working and living at Sully’s, her family’s traditional Irish pub in Brooklyn with her stubborn, ailing father. And she was perfectly fine with her lot until suddenly her three best friends each found their prince, and her own happily ever after seemed like another dream lost. Until one day a long, tall Australian walks into her bar and her loved-up besties decided to play Fairy Godmothers.

Ex pro-surfer turned beer baron, Rafael Quartermaine is in New York for a month on business. He’s looking for a pub to launch Baron lager on the American market and Sully’s is perfect. All he has to do is convince Faith, the traditionalist, to say yes. And once he’s done that, maybe he can convince her that all work and no play makes Faith a dull girl.

Faith’s connection to her family and Sully’s is absolute, and Raf’s business drive and itchy feet aren’t conducive to long term, so it should be an easy break when duty calls Faith back into the fold on the evening of the ball. But running out on the baron is harder than she ever imagined… Will their fling sizzle out, or become something more?

Read on for my thoughts on Seduced by the Baron. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: The Cowgirl Jumped Over The Moon by Linda Ballou

Posted June 29, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 2 Comments

Title: The Cowgirl Jumped Over The Moon
Series:
Author: Linda Ballou
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: June 30, 2015
Publisher: Wind Dancer Press
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Gemcie and her Irish Hunter, Marshal, are about to capture the World Cup when a nasty fall dashes their chances. While she is mending, her arch rival seizes this opportunity to catch a ride on Marshal, and to seduce her young husband.

Confused and dazed by her new circumstances, Gemcie heads for the high Sierras hoping the majestic spires that captured the heart of the father she never met will provide the answers she seeks. She finds strength and solace riding solo on the John Muir Trail, but a bear attack ends her time of introspection and places her in the care of a solitary cowboy manning a fire lookout.

Brady, who seems to love animals more than people, shows her love and gives her the courage to get back in the saddle. Haunted by images of Marshal being abused by his owners, Gemcie returns to rescue him and fly high with him once more.

Read on for my thoughts on The Cowgirl Jumped Over The Moon. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Sleeping with the Boss by Marissa Clarke

Posted June 28, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: Sleeping with the Boss
Series: The Anderson Brothers #1
Author: Marissa Clarke
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: August 11, 2015
Publisher: Entangled Lovestruck
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: Owned, Kindle edition
Cover Description:

Seducing the enemy has never been so tempting…

For the last five years, bookish Claire Williams has been living for the dying. Now that her stint as caretaker is over, she’s off to see the world. She needs quick cash first, so a temp job at Anderson Auctions seems perfect, especially with the unexpected benefits, including the hottest man she’s ever laid eyes—or hands—on.

Former Marine William Anderson has been burned one time too many. His military training makes him the perfect man to flush out the spy undercutting his family business, but no amount of training can prepare him for the kind of undercover work he’ll have to do when the sexy new temp is implicated. Desire lands them in bed…but duty may cost him his heart.

Read on for my thoughts on Sleeping with the Boss. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Taming the Beast by Lucy King

Posted June 27, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: Taming the Beast
Series: Fairy Tales of New York #3
Author: Lucy King
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: June 26, 2015
Publisher: Tule Publishing
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Once upon a time, Mercedes ‘Mercy’ Hernandez had the most enormous crush on her best friend’s older brother, Seb Madison. Now, though, she can’t stand the beast. Forget that he’s as spine-tinglingly gorgeous as ever. He’s a lousy brother and a manipulative bastard, not that she ever thinks about that disastrous one night stand they once had…

Still riddled with guilt over the death of his parents, billionaire loner Seb Madison has spent so long emotionally shut off that when beautiful, fiery Mercy bursts into his life again, he doesn’t know what’s hit him. All he knows is that she confuses him and he doesn’t like it.

Yet their chemistry hasn’t faded and, when hostility turns to attraction, a no-strings affair seems the logical solution. Mercy’s taking a much needed break from her family’s Argentinian vineyard to study for an MBA and Seb doesn’t do relationships. Neither have either the time or inclination for anything other than weekends-only red-hot sex. Or do they.

Read on for my thoughts on Taming the Beast. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Breaking Clear by M J Summers

Posted June 26, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: Breaking Clear
Series: Full Hearts #3
Author: M J Summers
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: June 30, 2015
Publisher:
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Harper Young is a talented, feisty art director at Style Magazine. Sitting at her desk one Tuesday morning she answers a call that will forever change the well-worn path of her life. Her father has had an accident and needs Harper to leave Manhattan to go home to Boulder, Colorado to care for him. Given an ultimatum by her heartless boss, she chooses family, leaving her career behind. She drives across the country to find that the only man to make her heart ache with desire will be her new neighbour.

Evan Donovan is a contractor who’s been dealt a rough hand when it comes to love. His wife, Lisa, left him just as the recession forced him to shut down his home building company. Now after three years of rebuilding, he is finally getting back on his feet again. When Harper drops back into his life, he does his level best to keep things on a ‘just friends’ level. Her older brother, Evan’s best friend, won’t take kindly to Evan dating Harper.

Proving that old flames are easily relit, Harper and Evan quickly find themselves in each other’s arms. But will Harper’s career come calling her back to New York when her father has recovered? Will a man whose heart has been snapped in pieces learn to trust again?

Lose yourself in Harper and Evan’s romantic journey as they fight for their forever.

Read on for my thoughts on Breaking Clear. No true spoilers, promise.