Category: Contemporary Romance

Review: Year of Living Blonde by Andrea Simonne

Posted May 21, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: Year of Living Blonde
Series: Sweet Life in Seattle #1
Author: Andrea Simonne
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: May 17, 2015
Publisher: Liebe Publishing
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: NetGalley
Synopsis:

A funny and sizzling romp about discovering your inner pin-up girl….

Plain-Jane bakery owner Natalie Anderson has always followed the recipe for a safe life. When her husband dumps her for a seductive older woman though, it’s time to throw out that recipe and start from scratch. She cooks up a plan to transform herself from mousy brown to sexy blonde. Meanwhile, she’s trying to expand her Seattle bakery, La Dolce Vita, but runs into an obstacle in the form of her irritatingly handsome landlord.

Astronomer Anthony Novello’s good looks and charm usually guarantees him a free pass with women, though that’s not the case with his new tenant, Natalie. Plain, plump, and persnickety—he’s never met a woman more annoying. But when Anthony returns from a telescope observing run, he makes a discovery of the non-celestial kind—Natalie has changed. He’s amazed to find himself attracted to her. Sparks fly as he tries to convince her there’s more to him than meets the eye.

However, when Natalie’s ex-husband tries to win her back, she’s forced to choose. Is her year of living blonde over? Or is this the start of a new and much sweeter life.

Read on for my thoughts on Year of Living Blonde. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Wish You Were Here By Phillipa Ashley

Posted May 19, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: Wish You Were Here
Series:
Author: Phillipa Ashley
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: June 1, 2011
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
My Rating: 3 stars
Source: NetGalley
Synopsis:

Beth Allen has moved on…

It’s been eight years since she and Jack Thornfield met on an exotic holiday and sparked up a seriously promising romance. But then he disappeared without a trace, and Beth’s life got dreadfully busy, demanding, and altogether complicated.

Then Jack and Beth run into each other again…while she’s applying for an exciting new job in London-at his company. For necessity’s sake, but against her better judgment, she takes the job, and from that moment on, complicated doesn’t even begin to describe it.

Read on for my thoughts on Wish You Were Here. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Forget Me Not by Erika Marks

Posted May 19, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 2 Comments

Title: Forget Me Not
Series: Loveless and Dunn #3, Magnolia Bay
Author: Erika Marks
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: May 19, 2015
Publisher: Tule Publishing
My Rating: 4.5 stars
Source: NetGalley
Synopsis:

When aspiring-writer Mallory Reynolds packed up for New York City, she ditched more than her quiet hometown of Magnolia Bay—she left her high-school sweetheart, Josh Loveless, behind. But when the big city didn’t deliver big contracts on her novels, she turned to writing erotica under the pen name Farrah Ivory to spare her family any embarrassment. Soon, her scandalously-sexy series, The Lost Diaries of Scarlet, is a break-out hit. Just as Mallory begins to enjoy her sweet success, her publisher leaks her true identity and a media firestorm ensues. Exposed, she decides there’s nowhere to hide—except for home.

For Josh Loveless, getting over Mallory Reynolds hasn’t been easy, but he’s done his best to move on. For starters, he’s turned his love of the outdoors and rock-climbing into his own business. And just as things are starting to settle for him, he learns Mallory’s coming home to ride out her scandal, and suddenly his world is turned upside down again…

Can Mallory convince her friends and family that she’s still the same good-hearted girl they knew? And more importantly, can Josh trust the woman she’s become, and give her a second chance to rewrite their love story with a happy ending?

Read on for my thoughts on Forget Me Not. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Shatter Me by Tori St. Claire

Posted May 19, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: Shatter Me
Series:
Author: Tori St. Claire
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: May 19, 2015
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC Brazen
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Synopsis:

Bound by honor, caught by desire…

Former Marine Alex McCray is ripped up inside over the knowledge that his best friend died saving him. Now he’s returned to his hometown to honor a promise he made-to take care of his buddy’s widow. Semper fidelis. “Always loyal.” But Alex’s loyalty is about to be tested, because there’s never been a time when Reagan Sanders didn’t make him burn with desire.

All it takes is one night for Reagan and Alex to give in to the deep, carnal need they’ve denied themselves for so long. But Reagan has secrets of her own?secrets Alex can never know about her marriage, or the kind of man her husband really was. But one night with Alex isn’t enough. Not even close. Now Alex must choose between his sense of honor…and his heart.

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

Review: This Wedding is Doomed! by Draven, Lin, Madison, Berry

Posted May 19, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: This Wedding is Doomed!
Series:
Author: Stephanie Draven, Jeannie Lin, Shawntelle Madison, Amanda Berry
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: May 19, 2015
Publisher: PENGUIN GROUP Berkley, NAL / Signet Romance, DAW
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Synopsis:

In these stories of matrimonial madness from four sensational authors, unexpected couples find their happily ever after at a wedding that’s counting down to disaster…

When a perfectionist and a troublemaker have to stick together in Amanda Berry’s The Wedding Planner: Flirting with Disaster , more than sparks fly…

In Shawntelle Madison’s The Maid of Honor: Lovers in Lockdown , two best friends trapped in a wine cellar decide to sample the wine—and each other…

Covering up the groom’s many misdeeds forces the best man to choose between loyalty and the love of a wedding singer in Stephanie Draven’s The Best Man: Sex, Lies and Karmic Catastrophe .

And finally, a runaway bride, a hunky caterer and a stolen cake hit the road in a hijacked van in Jeannie Lin’s The Bride: Love on the Run

Read on for my thoughts on This Wedding is Doomed!. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Bride by Mistake by Nicole Helm

Posted May 18, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: Bride by Mistake
Series: Montana Born Brides #3
Author: Nicole Helm
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: May 18, 2015
Publisher: Tule Publishing
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Synopsis:

Wedding fever has hit the little town of Marietta…

And Kaitlin Shuller’s groom of her dreams is marrying someone else… her sister.

Worst day ever. Her heart is broken, and all her carefully laid plans destroyed. Enter Beckett Larson, her older brother’s best friend and a very good bad decision.

Beckett has spent his life trying to outrun his bad reputation, but everyone already thinks the worst of him, so when Kaitlin offers herself to him — virginity and all— he just can’t say no.

But one night together has permanent consequences, and this time Beckett knows he can’t outrun his bad boy reputation. He’s determined to make Kaitlin his bride…even if he has to seduce her down the aisle.

Read on for my thoughts on Bride by Mistake. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Macyn’s Letter by S. L. Stacker

Posted May 18, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance, Mystery / 0 Comments

Title: Macyn’s Letter
Series: Macyn McIntyre series #1
Author: S. L. Stacker
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Mystery
Published: May 18, 2015 (original October 2013)
Publisher: Booktrope Editions
My Rating: 3.5 stars
Source: NetGalley
Synopsis:

A near-death experience at the hands of her husband would cause any woman to cling to her crippling trust issues and dating phobia, and Macyn McIntyre is no exception. Falling into the lap of a sexy stranger may persuade her to change her mind, but before Macyn realizes what’s happening, a second potential love interest is vying for her affections.

When a threatening letter turns up in her mailbox, Macyn realizes choosing between two guys is the least of her worries. Abduction, violence, and rescue by an elite squad change the course of her life forever. When she seeks revenge on those who hurt her, she has to decide if she can trust the ones who vow they love her.

Will Macyn be able to overcome her past and use their aid in her vendetta, or will she take matters into her own hands?

Read on for my thoughts on Macyn’s Letter. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Bet The House by Erika Marks

Posted May 14, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 2 Comments

Title: Bet The House
Series: Magnolia Bay #1 (A Lowcountry Love Story)
Author: Erika Marks
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: May 10, 2014
Publisher: Tule Publishing
My Rating: 4.5 stars
Source: Owned, Personal Collection
Synopsis:

Willamena Dunn is having a lousy week. Not only is her baby sister about to marry into the family of Dunn-Right Preservation’s biggest professional rival, but the historic bungalow of her dreams has just been bought by the most infuriating (not to mention exceedingly handsome and notoriously wicked) man to ever hammer a nail in Magnolia Bay, Knox Loveless.  

But when Knox offers her a wager she can’t refuse, a bet with the coveted bungalow as its prize, Willa is sure her bad luck might finally be turning around—until Knox surprises her with a passionate kiss, and suddenly all bets are off.

Could this be just another one of Knox Loveless’ games, or will two rivals finally surrender to a long-simmering attraction and declare a truce once and for all?

Read on for my thoughts on Bet The House. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Welcome to Temptation by Charlotte Hughes

Posted May 13, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: Welcome To Temptation
Series:
Author: Charlotte Hughes
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: May 14, 2015
Publisher: Authorfriendly
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Synopsis:

Reckless, bad boy Cajun . . .

With a hurricane closing in on Temptation, Louisiana, Michelle Thurston fails to convince her stubborn grandmother to leave her home on the bayou. Sheriff Gator Landry arrives by boat, hell-bent on forcing the elderly recluse to evacuate. He is stunned to find Michelle, who was just 16 years old when he courted her one steamy summer.

Now, at 32, Michelle comes face-to-face with the man whose kisses tempted her to lose control, only this time there is no place to run. Although Gator is not about to leave the two women defenseless, Michelle can’t help but wonder if he is more dangerous to her than anything the storm can do.

Read on for my thoughts on Welcome to Temptation. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Where There’s A Will by Katherine Garbera & Eve Gaddy

Posted May 13, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: Where There’s A Will
Series: Whiskey River #1
Author: Katherine Garbera & Eve Gaddy
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: May 13, 2015
Publisher: Tule Publishing
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Synopsis:

Where There’s A Will…
Sexy attorney Ryder Ford always knows exactly what he wants and how to get it. But Addison Wells, his gorgeous secretary, is one woman he wants but can’t have. Or can he? One scorching, unforgettable kiss under the mistletoe is all that either have allowed. Addison is focused on her studies and becoming a lawyer herself and she plans to leave the dust of Whiskey River behind. Unless…

There’s A Way…
Addison has mastered ignoring her hotter than sin boss until one stormy day when a threatening tornado forces them to find shelter from the storm. Despite the fact that Addison is weeks from moving to another city, she finds herself breaking her own “no office romance” rule. She’s not meant to settle down—but how can she resist someone as persuasive and tempting as Ryder? She’s determined that he should be her going away present but will Ryder let her go that easily?

Read on for my thoughts on Where There’s A Will. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: His Blushing Bride by Dani Collins

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

Title: His Blushing Bride
Series: Montana Born Brides #2
Author: Dani Collins
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: May 11, 2015
Publisher: Tule Publishing
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Synopsis:

Wedding fever has hit the little town of Marietta…

Piper Tierney is busy wrapping up the school year and planning the music for Marietta’s Wedding Of The Century. She does not need one of her parents’ backpacking hippies under foot. Except the guy they let stay in their house is so much more than the California couch-surfer he resembles. Before she knows it, she’s making time to make time, even though he’s only in town for a couple of weeks.

Taking a break from working on his doctorate in political science, Sebastian Bloom wants to reassure himself his sister isn’t making another mistake with her upcoming wedding to a Marietta rancher. He’s definitely not looking for a bride for himself. Marriage and family are a trap. But Piper is cute, funny, and wants to move on from her ex.

They agree to a no strings affair, but will they wind up tying the knot?

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