Category: Contemporary Romance

Review: Caught Up In You by Kim Boykin

Posted April 18, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 2 Comments

Caught Up in You Title: Caught Up In Love
Series:
Author: Kim Boykin
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: April 21, 2015
Publisher: Tule Publishing
My Rating: 3 stars
Source: NetGalley
Synopsis:

After attending her baby sister’s destination wedding, Shelby Worthington decides she’s ready to do some husband hunting of her own. The only problem? She’s still insanely attracted to Declan Enright, her high school and college crush. He’s now a wildly successful painter who’s temporarily back in Magnolia Bay, but Declan should be Shelby’s last choice for possible husband material. He didn’t earn the reputation of runaway groom for nothing…

Declan has worked hard to make his mark on the New York art scene and has succeeded at everything he’s ever done…except love. But Declan has come back to the Bay to change that and care for his dying father, even if he’s still never forgiven Declan for leaving the family business. Shelby is determined to steer clear, but while her lips keep saying no, her heart is pounding out yes each time she and Declan are together. While she can’t deny her attraction, Shelby’s convinced that Declan’s track record means he will break her heart. Or has Declan changed for good, and made love worth the risk?

Read on for my thoughts on Caught Up In You. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Red Carpet Day Job by Tasha Cotter

Posted April 17, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: Red Carpet Day Job
Series:
Author: Tasha Cotter
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: February 9, 2015
Publisher: Bookfish Books
My Rating: 4 star
Source: NetGalley
Synopsis:

Most residents of New York City don’t have to wrestle their skirts from beneath roosting chickens, or clean egg yolk off their stilettos each day before work. But Sophie Waldrop does, thanks to the organic egg business her boyfriend Scott runs from their 5th floor walk-up. Though they were high school sweethearts, nothing can make up for Scott’s inattention now. Finally, Sophie works up the courage to send him and his chickens packing.

Then Sophie’s boss introduces her to Nick Jackson, the hottest up-and-coming actor in Hollywood. When Nick asks her to go to a red carpet awards show with him, Sophie can’t believe her luck. She never expected to meet Nick, let alone like him. And she certainly never expected him to like her, too.

When her dream job lands in her lap, Sophie rejoices that her hard work has finally paid off. But she soon finds out that being a busy agent to the stars is nothing compared to being Nick Jackson’s new girlfriend. Tabloid tell-alls, Nick’s hectic schedule, persistent leading ladies, and Sophie’s own promotion and career ambitions further complicate their fairy-tale romance.

Can Sophie and Nick make their love last, or will their relationship be more like the paparazzi’s camera flashes—fast, bright, and fading?

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

Texas Sunrise Boxed Set 1-5 by various authors

Posted April 16, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: Texas Sunrise
Series: Somewhere, TX
Author: Various Authors
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Paranormal Romance
Published: December 16, 2014
Publisher: Chick Tales LLC
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Synopsis:

Welcome to Somewhere, TX
Five Authors, One Town, No Limits…

Volume 1

THE COWBOY ROCK STAR by KC Klein (Contemporary Western Romance)

She’s off-limits and he’s off his game, but together, they could make perfect harmony…

SADDLE UP by Jodi Vaughn (Contemporary Western Romance)

She can heal his broken ribs, but it will take more than medicine to repair her reputation…Things are about to get a whole lot hotter in Texas.

FIRE AWAY by R.L. Syme (Contemporary/Foodie Romance)

When two people fall for the same cupcake, more than tempers flare…

TO SAVE A MATE by Krystal Shannan (Paranormal/Werewolf/New Adult Romance)

A chance he’d never thought he’d have comes at a price he never wanted her to pay.

WONDER LUST by Lavender Daye (Contemporary Romance w/Paranormal Elements & BDSM Elements)

The Jackalope café wasn’t known for romance, but when Max and Delia met, the rules disappeared. Could a one-night-only affair be enough?

Read on for my thoughts on Texas Sunrise. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Rescued by the Rancher by Victoria James

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

Title: Rescued by the Rancher
Series: Tall Pines Ranch #2
Author: Victoria James
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: April 14, 2015
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Synopsis:

Meredith Anderson left her difficult past behind to create a new life for herself in Tall Pines—where she can be the independent, confident woman she always dreamed of being. Now she’s a partner in her sister’s wedding planning business, helping brides realize their happily-ever-afters…even as she promises herself to never fall in love.

Meredith’s sweetness and vulnerability brings out the protective side of rancher Gage McAllister—even though their worlds are miles apart. All it takes is one night for desire to take hold of them both, a sizzling encounter that can only lead to the promise of more. But Meredith isn’t looking for more, and even if she was, Gage is set to leave Tall Pines behind him…

Read on for my thoughts on Rescued by the Rancher. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Unbound ~ Colours of Love by Kathryn Taylor

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

Unbound Colours of Love Title: Unbound ~ Colours of Love
Series: Colours of Love
Author: Kathryn Taylor
Genre: Romance, Erotica, Womens Fiction
Published: April 13, 2015
Publisher: Bastei Entertainment
My Rating: 3 stars
Source: NetGalley
Synopsis:

Grace is young and has led a sheltered life. She hasn’t yet taken much of an interest in men. It’s only while doing an internship in London, where she meets the alluring Jonathan Huntington, that our sleeping beauty is awoken from her slumber. Jonathan is rich, incredibly attractive, and stems from British royalty – but he is a far cry from Prince Charming.

He lures Grace ever deeper into his world of sinister passion, and she is sucked further and further into the maelstrom of her own growing desires. But when Jonathan demands she do the unthinkable to prove her love for him, she realizes just how dangerous her feelings for him are.

Read on for my thoughts on Unbound ~ Colours of Love. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Just For Appearances by Jenna Rutland

Posted April 12, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Just For Appearances Title: Just For Apperances
Series: Lake Bliss
Author: Jenna Rutland
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: April 14, 2015
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Synopsis:

Rachel Clarke is a single mom with three boys, and she needs help. Now. Unfortunately, her only option is John MacDonald-her high school sweetheart and the disgraced hometown hero who’s just returned to Lake Bliss. He’s perfect for the job. He cooks, he cleans, and he’s amazing with kids. He’s also still far too sinfully hot for Rachel’s comfort…

Rachel is just as gorgeous as John remembers. But in order for his new youth activity center to be a success, John needs Rachel’s help to earn the town’s trust back. In exchange, he’ll take care of her boys for the summer while she works. Except keeping their relationship strictly business is harder than he imagined. But summer can’t last forever, and when it ends, so will their arrangement-and John’s time in Lake Bliss.

Read on for my thoughts on Just For Appearances. no true spoilers, promise.

Review: The Closer We Get by Ann Jacobs

Posted April 12, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: The Closer We Get
Series: The Oil Barons #2
Author: Ann Jacobs
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: April 8, 2015
Publisher: Beyond The Page Publishing
My Rating: 3 stars
Source: NetGalley
Synopsis:

Erin Winters has struggled ever since the accident that took her husband’s life and left her young son seriously injured. Desperate to get her son the surgery he needs, she agrees to become a surrogate mother. But when the wife dies unexpectedly, Erin is suddenly faced with the demands of the grieving husband and carrying a child she has come to think of as her own.

Blake Tanner had it all—marriage to a woman he adored, a successful career as a lawyer, and a child on the way. Now, tormented by his loss and overwhelmed by the prospect of single fatherhood, Blake comes up with a solution that might be his final undoing.

In the hopes that he can give his child the life he deserves, he asks Erin and her son to live with him. In exchange, he will provide them both with all the advantages a wealthy Texan has to offer. It’s a simple financial arrangement that makes perfect sense to Blake, until the grief that marks his days is slowly replaced by the glimmer of hope, and desire, the beautiful woman stirs in him.

As Erin and Blake surrender to the powerful sensual force that neither can ignore, the two must help each other overcome their anguish and dare to build a new life, and love, together.

Read on for my thoughts on The Closer We Get.. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Veronika Layne Gets the Scoop by Julia Park Tracey

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

Title: Veronika Layne Gets The Scoop
Series: Hot Off The Presses #1
Author: Julia Park Tracey
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: October 28, 2014
Publisher: Booktrope
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Synopsis:

Veronika Layne. Sassy, tattooed, twenty-something newspaper reporter. Never saw herself working for the “man.”

When her small weekly is swallowed up by Singh Media Group, that’s exactly where she ends up. Stuck writing fluff pieces that might as well be ads, how can she resist digging into rumors that a real estate developer is destroying native burial grounds? Warned away at every turn by her editor, she worries whether the story will see the light of day.

And dazzled by her sexy rival-turned-coworker, what is she going to do about her love life?

Read on for my thoughts on Veronika Layne Gets The Scoop. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Taken by Love by Sharon Kleve

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

Title: Taken By Love
Series: The Taken #1
Author: Sharon Kleve
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: March 18, 2015
Publisher: Books To Go Now
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Synopsis:

Book one of the exciting Taken Series will slip you into the world of drug cartels, DEA operations, and the never-waiving love between Arden and Lucy.

Arden Jones is a DEA agent and has seen and done it all. His transfer to a desk job is finally in reach. But, when his good friend is brutally murdered he must go after the cartel one more time while protecting the ones he loves.

Lucy Farris arranges flowers for a living, lives in a quaint house in the outskirts of Seattle, and has two adorable Siamese cats. The last thing she expects is to be kidnapped and used as bait to by the cartel to hunt the man she loves.

Read on for my thoughts on Taken By Love. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Barbara’s Plea by Stacy Eaton

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

Barbara's Plea Title: Barbara’s Plea
Series:
Author: Stacy Eaton
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: April 10, 2015
Publisher: Nitewolf Novels
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: NetGalley
Synopsis:

Barbara lives in constant fear of her husband. She finally summons the courage to leave with their young daughter, Allie, but dreads the moment her husband learns of their escape. In his desire to control them and bend them to his will, he will leave no stone unturned to punish them–especially Barbara.

Grey’s future seems bleak, especially the day he is fired, but everything begins to turn around the moment he absently sinks down on a bench occupied by wealthy Gloria Withers. Gloria sees something in him that no one else bothers to notice and, within moments, a friendship is sparked that will withstand many trials.

When Barbara makes good her escape and arrives on the doorstep of her grandmother, Gloria, whom she hasn’t seen for years, Barbara is greeted instead by Grey. It doesn’t take long for a different kind of spark to fly as Barbara takes up residence in the Withers mansion.

When Grey falls inexorably in love with not only Barbara, but also her daughter Allie, he vows to do everything he can to protect them from her husband who is out for revenge.

Read on for my thoughts on Barbara’s Plea. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Her Secret Prince by Madeline Ash

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

Title: Her Secret Prince
Series: Royal Holiday #2
Author: Madeline Ash
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: April 9, 2015
Publisher: Tule Publishing
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Synopsis:

At sixteen, Dee Johnson gambled her heart on her best friend Jed Brown – and lost when he disappeared without a trace.

Ten years on, Dee’s life is uprooted when Jed turns up on her doorstep, asking for her help.

Dee has been left behind by everyone she’s loved: her parents, her close friend Alexia, and a stream of lovers. She moves fast with men and suspects this is why they move on fast. Now that’s Jed’s back in her life, she’s taking no chances. Despite the attraction ripping at her seams, she holds back, knowing she wouldn’t recover from being loved and left by him a second time.

A constant traveler, Jed has only felt at home once in his life – with Dee. Now that he’s found her again, he’s determined to make up for lost time. He’ll never leave her again.

Until an unexpectedly royal revelation threatens to strip Jed of his freedom and future – including his place by Dee’s side.

Read on for my thoughts on Her Secret Prince. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: The Wedding Cake Tree by Melanie Hudson

Posted April 5, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: The Wedding Cake Tree
Series:
Author: Melanie Hudson
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: April 7, 2015 (Original December 1, 2012)
Publisher: Choc Lit
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Synopsis:

Can a mother’s secret past provide the answers for a daughter’s future?

Celebrity photographer Grace Buchanan has always known that, one day, she’d swap her manic day job for the peace and quiet of her beloved childhood cottage, St Christopher’s – she just didn’t expect it to be so soon.

At the reading of her mother’s will, she’s shocked to learn that she hardly knew Rosamund at all, and that inheriting St Christopher’s hangs on one big – and very inconvenient – condition: Grace must drop everything for two weeks and travel the country with a mysterious stranger – war-weary Royal Marine, Alasdair Finn.
Caught in a brief but perfect moment in time, Grace and Alasdair walk in Rosamund’s footsteps and read her letters at each breathtaking new place. As Grace slowly uncovers the truth about her mother’s incredible life story, Alasdair and Grace can’t help but question their own futures. Will Rosamund’s madcap scheme go to plan or will events take an unexpected turn?

An emotional, fun-filled and adventurous journey of a lifetime.

Read on for my thoughts on The Wedding Cake Tree. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: The Wedding Audition by Catherine Mann, Joanne Rock

Posted April 4, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: The Wedding Audition
Series: Runaway Brides #2
Author: Catherine Mann, Joanne Rock
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: April 7, 2015
Publisher: Tule Publishing
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Synopsis:

The tabloids call her the Hit and Run Bride after reality show star Annamae Jessup walked out on Atlanta’s favorite baseball player on cable television. Eager to escape her notoriety, Annamae takes a road trip to find the grandmother she’s never met and winds up discovering a whole lot more than a band of back woods relatives. There’s no escape from reality TV, even in Beulah, Alabama, population 3000.

The last thing Wynn Rafferty needs in his new life is a spoiled television princess who can’t even know his real name. He’s in temporary witness protection as an apple farmer after his undercover work put his life in danger. He needs to lay low until the heat dies down from his last case— even if he sucks at growing apples as badly as he sucks at relationships. But Annamae turns his new town into a media circus, unwittingly threatening the lives of him, her and most of Beulah. Wynn is an expert at keeping the world at arm’s length, but when it comes to Annamae, the only way he can keep her safe is to keep her very, very close.

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

Review: License to Date by Susan Hatler

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

Title: License to Date
Series: Better Date Than Never #6
Author: Susan Hatler
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: January 14, 2014
Publisher: Hatco Publishing
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Synopsis:

After discovering her fiancé cheated on her, Kaitlin is focused on two things: remodeling her new home and avoiding men at all costs. But her friends insist she get back in the driver’s seat and date again. They strike a hard bargain and agree to paint her house if she goes on five dates.

Anxious to get the paint job started, Kaitlin schedules five dates in five days, but her plan falls to pieces when a sexy bartender at her venue-of-choice makes her swoon. Even though he observes each of the dates from afar, she can’t help but want him to come a little closer.

The last person she should fall for is a mysterious bartender with a sinful smile, but Paul makes her want to take risks again. Will the charming man with electric blue eyes break her heart or will he prove to her that a license to date is what makes life worth the drive?

Read on for my thoughts on License to Date. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: The Cinderella Princess by Melissa McClone

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

Title: The Cinderella Princess
Series: Royal Holiday Book 1
Author: Melissa McClone
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: April 2, 2015
Publisher: Tule Publishing
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Synopsis:

Thanks to a philandering father, ad exec Emily Rodgers knows happily ever after doesn’t exist. Relying on a man only leads to heartache. She takes care of herself, and work defines her life. But Emily soon finds herself in the hands of a real-life prince who defines the words charming and sexy. Not to mention reckless. If Prince Lucas doesn’t find a royal bride, Emily’s dream of being named a partner at the advertising firm will die.

Luc’s fun-loving ways have made him a magnet for scandal. His father gives Luc an ultimatum—find a wife on a reality TV show or be disowned. Rules require him to marry nobility, but after he meets the uptight American sent to find him find a princess bride, his search for Cinderella might be over. Too bad Emily wants nothing to do with him. Perhaps he can show her that fairytale endings can happen in real life…

Read on for my thoughts on The Cinderella Princess. No true spoilers, promise.