Category: Contemporary Romance

Distilled Heat by Jennifer Bramseth

Posted February 26, 2016 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance, Series / 0 Comments

Title: Distilled Heat
Series: Bourbon Springs #6
Author: Jennifer Bramseth
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: February 23, 2016
Publisher: Woodford Press
My Rating: 4.5 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Pepper Montrose has only known bad luck for most of her life. But when incredible good luck finally strikes, her life is irrevocably changed by unexpected good fortune—as well as an unexpected encounter with Jon Buckler, her lifelong best friend.

Yet after finding each other, Pepper discovers something that opens old wounds and strikes at the heart of her fears about their new relationship. Jon doesn’t give up and is there for Pepper as she faces new challenges in her new life. His instincts emerge to protect her, but those same instincts end up threatening the future he desperately wants to claim with his best friend….the love of his life.

Read on for my thoughts on Distilled Heat. No true spoilers, promise.

A Girl’s Guide to Moving On by Debbie Macomber

Posted February 23, 2016 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance, Series, Women's Fiction / 0 Comments

Title: A Girl’s Guide to Moving On
Series: New Beginnings #2
Author: Debbie Macomber
Genre: Women’s Fiction, Contemporary Romance
Published: February 23, 2016
Publisher: Ballantine Books
My Rating: 4.5 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

When Nichole discovers that her husband, Jake, has been unfaithful, the illusion of her perfect life is indelibly shattered. While juggling her young son, a new job, and volunteer work, Nichole meets Rocco, who is the opposite of Jake in nearly every way. Though blunt-spoken and rough around the edges, Rocco proves to be a dedicated father and thoughtful friend. But just as their relationship begins to blossom, Jake wagers everything on winning Nichole back—including their son Owen’s happiness. Somehow, Nichole must find the courage to defy her fears and follow her heart, with far-reaching consequences for them all.

Leanne has quietly ignored her husband’s cheating for decades, but is jolted into action by the echo of Nichole’s all-too-familiar crisis. While volunteering as a teacher of English as a second language, Leanne meets Nikolai, a charming, talented baker from Ukraine. Resolved to avoid the heartache and complications of romantic entanglements, Leanne nonetheless finds it difficult to resist Nikolai’s effusive overtures—until an unexpected tragedy tests the very fabric of her commitments.

An inspiring novel of friendship, reinvention, and hope, A Girl’s Guide to Moving On affirms the ability of every woman to forge a new path, believe in love, and fearlessly find happiness.

Read on for my thoughts about A Girl’s Guide to Moving On. No true spoilers, promise.

Call Me, Maybe by Ellie Cahill

Posted February 19, 2016 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: Call Me, Maybe
Series:
Author: Ellie Cahill
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: February 9, 2016
Publisher: Loveswept
My Rating: 3 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Clementine Daly knows she’s the black sheep. Her wealthy, powerful family has watched her very closely since she almostgot caught in an embarrassing scandal a few years ago. So when Clementine’s sent on a mission to live up to the Daly name, politely declining isn’t even an option. Of course, the last thing Clementine does before departure is grab a stranger’s phone by mistake—leaving the hunky journalist with her phone. Soon his sexy voice is on the line, but he doesn’t know her real name, or her famous pedigree—which is just the way Clementine likes it.

Despite all the hassles, Justin Mueller is intrigued to realize that the beautiful brown-eyed girl he met at the airport is suddenly at his fingertips. They agree to exchange phones when they’re both back in town, but after a week of flirty texts and wonderfully intimate conversations, Justin doesn’t want to let her go that easy. The only problem? It turns out that Clemetine has been lying to him about, well, everything. Except for the one thing two people can’t fake, the only thing that matters: The heat between them is for real.

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

Hidden Heat by Carla Swafford

Posted February 19, 2016 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance, Series / 0 Comments

Title: Hidden Heat
Series: Brothers of Mayhem #1
Author: Carla Swafford
Genre: Romance, MC Romance
Published: February 16, 2016
Publisher: Loveswept
My Rating: 3.5 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Cassidy Ryder refuses to be intimidated by anyone, even the hell-raising, hard-drinking Brothers of Mayhem. The daughter of their former president, she’s not above smashing a few heads to keep her teenage brother safe. But when Cassidy’s big mouth gets her in trouble, the only thing that saves her is some quick thinking from the Brothers’ bartender. He’s commanding and strong, and as smooth as the whiskey he pours: the ultimate temptation for a girl who swore she’d never be a biker’s plaything.

But Thorn Savalas is no ordinary biker. He’s a cop, and he’s worked too hard earning the Brothers’ trust to blow his cover over a female—even one who rocks a pair of jeans like Cassidy. The only way to protect her is by claiming she’s his old lady. Trouble is, Thorn can’t just pretend. He wants Cassidy, and every scorching touch tells him she feels the same. But acting on their hottest fantasies could leave them both exposed . . . even if nothing else has ever felt so real.

Read on for my thoughts on Hidden Heat. No true spoilers, promise.

The Turning Point by Marie Meyer

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

Title: The Turning Point
Series:
Author: Marie Meyer
Genre: Contemporary Romance, New Adult
Published: January 12, 2016
Publisher: Forever Yours
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: Author’s Gift
Cover Description:

It’s funny how a piece of paper can change your life-a diploma, a ticket . . . a plain, white envelope.

For as long as I could remember, I was the girl with the plan. Good college, good medical school, good career. I would save lives instead of standing by helplessly, watching while they slipped away.

That was before my father called for the first time in fifteen years to tell me about the terminal illness stealing his life-an illness that might be stealing mine, too. It was before he gave me the name of a doctor and a plane ticket to Italy. Before I flew across an ocean. Before I realized how brilliantly bright life could be. Before I met Lucas.

He’s everything I’ve always wanted, and the timing couldn’t be worse. I can’t do this to him-he deserves so much better. My head tells me I can’t afford to fall in love with Lucas, but my heart won’t listen. Lucas is fearless about the future, while I’m not even sure I have one. There’s only one way to know what’s ahead and it’s waiting for me at home inside a plain, white envelope.

Read on for my thoughts on The Turning Point. No true spoilers, promise.

Loving Her Crazy by Kira Archer

Posted January 18, 2016 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance, Series / 2 Comments

Title: Loving Her Crazy
Series: Crazy Love #3
Author: Kira Archer
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: January 18, 2016
Publisher: Entangled Lovestruck
My Rating: 4.5 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Iris Clayton is supposed to be on a tropical island, soaking up the sun and a few dozen mojitos. Instead, she’s snowbound in Chicago overnight, holding out hope the morning flight isn’t cancelled. Good thing there’s a hot cowboy to keep her company. And it doesn’t hurt that Mr. Tall, Calm, and Sun-Streaked can make her tremble with one sultry look from under his well-worn hat.

Montana rancher Nash Wallace sucks at ice skating, has no clue what a selfie is, and may be a tad averse to breaking and entering, but being with Iris makes him want to bend a few rules. Or, hell, throw them out the window altogether. She’s fun, spontaneously crazy, and can rock a Muppet fur coat like no one’s business. He’s falling hard and fast, but wanting to spend his life with someone after one night is insane.

Except, nothing has ever felt so right, and neither of them wants the night to end.

Read on for my thoughts on Loving Her Crazy. No true spoilers, promise.

For Seven Nights Only by Sarah Ballance

Posted January 18, 2016 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance, Series / 0 Comments

Title: For Seven Nights Only
Series: Chase Brothers #2
Author: Sarah Ballance
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: January 18, 2016
Publisher: Entangled Lovestruck
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Kelsie Reed is over bad luck and bad men. Newly dumped, she’s now the pathetically single maid of honor in her sister’s wedding—and her ex is the best man. Her bad luck continues when a plumbing meltdown in her apartment sends her sexy neighbor running to her rescue. He’s got “serial dater” written all over him, which is unfortunate because the man is hot.

Sawyer Chase loves women, but settling down? He’ll leave that to his brothers. But when Kelsie confesses she’s a dating disaster and is about to become the laughing stock of her family wedding, Sawyer takes control. He’s got one week to teach her how to land the man of her dreams, and he’ll do it on her terms: no touching, no kissing, and definitely nothing more.

But some rules need to be broken, especially when, for once, there’s something on the line worth fighting for.

Read on for my thoughts on For Seven Nights Only. No true spoilers, promise.

A Weekend of Misbehaving by Carmen Falcone

Posted January 11, 2016 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: A Weekend of Misbehaving
Series:
Author: Carmen Falcone
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: January 11, 2016
Publisher: Entangled Indulgence
My Rating: 4.5 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

When fantasy becomes reality…

The last thing nanny Alice Sommers needs is to be caught skinny-dipping by her sexy, cranky-pants boss—in his pool. Her sister owes a crap-load of money to a slimy loan shark and Alice really needs this job if she has any hope of saving her family. Fortunately, her boss is richer than sin and needs her just as much.

Art dealer Lorenzo Baldi will lose his prestigious career if his anarchist father’s paintings are revealed to the art world. He’s determined to persuade the paintings’ eccentric owner to sell them to him, even if to pull it off, he’ll have to blackmail his daughter’s nanny—a woman with the sexy curves of a Botticelli masterpiece—into being his fake fiancé.

The gorgeous island of Capri inspires some major misbehaving. But even as the loan shark breathes down Alice’s neck and the paintings move closer to the art scene, Lorenzo drops one more bomb that will change everything.

Read on for my thoughts on A Weekend of Misbehaving. No true spoilers, promise.

Bride by Chocolate by Alexis Lusonne Montgomery

Posted January 4, 2016 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: Bride By Chocolate
Series: Sweet Seduction
Author: Alexis Lusonne Montgomery
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: January 4, 2016
Publisher: Entangled / Ignite
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

She’s everything he’s not looking for in a wife…

When not-so-sweet sabotage strikes Bebe Waterston’s gourmet chocolate factory, things start looking hopeless. But she’s not a quitter. After sacrificing her personal life to prove she can run the family business, she’ll do anything to save it—including accepting help from an unlikely source: San Francisco’s high society “ Prince Charming” .

Sam Sugarman’s on a mission to marry. And in Sam’s family, finding a wife follows a recipe that starts with a box of Waterston’s Chocolates. When the supply runs out right before Valentine’s Day, the savvy CFO steps in to solve the problem, and finds the cure for his sweet tooth in the spitfire redhead. But now his dilemma is two-fold: convince Bebe he isn’t the serial-dating playboy she believes him to be and keep her safe from the person menacing her and her business.

Thrown together as the danger escalates, the mismatched duo tangles in and out of the bedroom. With a benefit gala and the fast-approaching, day-of-love deadline, they’ll need more than the gold-foil delicacies destined for a bride by chocolate.

Read on for my thoughts on Bride By Chocolate. No true spoilers, promise.

Cowboy Take Me Away by Soraya Lane

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

Title: Cowboy Take Me Away
Series: Texas Kings #2
Author: Soraya Lane
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: December 29, 2015
Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

NEVER SAY NEVER

As a veterinarian and single mother, Hope Walker knows how to handle most emergencies, inside and out. But when she shows up at the sprawling cattle ranch belonging to Chase King. Hope finds herself in a state of panic: How could Chase be even hotter after all these years? And why does Hope feel more attracted to him than ever?

WHEN IT COMES TO LOVE

Chase can’t believe that Hope – the gorgeous, brilliant woman who disappeared after one blazing night of passion – has walked back into his life. After all this time he still thinks of her as the one who got away . . . and he’s not about to lose her now. But is Hope ready to get back in the saddle and ride into the sunset with the cowboy of her dreams? Or will a long-buried secret rise to the surface – and tear the two reunited lovers apart?

Read on for my thoughts on Cowboy Take Me Away. No true spoilers, promise.

The Devil Wears Spurs by Soraya Lane

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

Title: The Devil Wears Spurs
Series: Texas Kings #1
Author: Soraya Lane
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: June 30, 2015
Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks
My Rating: 4.5 stars
Source: Owned, Paperback Edition
Cover Description:

Always in the shadow of his over-achieving brothers, youngest brother Ryder fell in love with rodeos as a teenager and soon became the most successful bull and Bronco rider in the state. The ultimate playboy, Ryder likes to party hard, and he often makes bad decisions… including gambling. He’s so used to winning that he doesn’t hesitate to up the stakes one night, betting more than he can handle—his third of the King Ranch.

Chloe has seen Ryder on the rodeo scene, but she’s also noticed him at the bar where she works. She’s trying to work to save enough to put herself through college—she completed two years before she had to bail her dad out of a bad debt—losing all her savings in the process. Her father gambled all her life, and she had it tough as a kid, but the one thing she does know how to do is play—and win—at any kind of card game. When she finds Ryder in trouble, she makes him an offer—she will win his ranch back, if he pays her college fees and promises to walk away from gambling, for good. But while she’s winning back Ryder’s cash, what she doesn’t count on is winning his heart.

Read on for my thoughts on The Devil Wears Spurs. No true spoilers, promise.

Wrapped In You by Kate Perry

Posted December 26, 2015 by Marsha in Christmas Romance, Contemporary Romance, Series / 0 Comments

Title: Wrapped In You
Series: Laurel Heights #10.5
Author: Kate Perry
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Christmas Romance
Published: November 17, 2014
Publisher:
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: Owned, Kindle Edition
Cover Description:

Trudy Hawke’s mission: to go on vacation and have fun.

A prison sentence, more like it. She doesn’t take vacations, and she especially doesn’t go anywhere during the holidays. But her boss insists it’s the price she needs to pay to become a full partner in his new private investigation firm. She’ll do anything to become partner–even subject herself to love, peace, and Christmas music.

Trudy figures it’s no big deal: she’ll hole up in a hotel in Laurel Heights, drink gin, and watch action movies until she can return to London. Only her tyrant boss gives her a holiday list of to-do items, for which she must email picture proof of completion.

It’s impossible… Until she meets Mason, who proposes a deal: he’ll help her with the list if she’s his date to his office holiday events, to show his edgy tech employees that he’s more than a nerd from Iowa.

From the moment she agrees, Trudy gets more than she bargained for, but she refuses to be corrupted by the magic of the season–or love.

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

Jessica’s Christmas Kiss by Alison May

Posted December 24, 2015 by Marsha in Christmas Romance, Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: Jessica’s Christmas Kiss
Series: Christmas Kisses #3
Author: Alison May
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Christmas Romance
Published: December 12, 2015
Publisher: Choc Lit
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Real Christmas miracles only ever happen in the movies – don’t they?

When Jessica was fifteen, she shared the perfect kiss with a mystery boy at a Christmas party. It might have only lasted a moment, and the boy might have disappeared shortly afterwards but, to Jessica, it was just a little bit magic.

Fourteen years later, and Jessica is faced with a less than magical Christmas after uncovering her husband’s secret affair. And, whilst she wouldn’t admit it, she sometimes finds herself thinking about that perfect Christmas kiss, back when her life still seemed full of hope and possibility.

But she never would have guessed that the boy she kissed in the kitchen all those years ago might still think about her too …

Read on for my thoughts on Jessica’s Christmas Kiss. No true spoilers promise.

A Soldier’s Love by Tammy Godfrey

Posted December 24, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance, Series / 0 Comments

Title: A Soldier’s Love
Series: A Soldier For All Seasons #2
Author: Tammy Godfrey
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Military Romance
Published: December 1, 2015
Publisher: Booktrope / Entice
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Melody and Jason are stationed in Fort Jackson, counting down the days both until their wedding and the birth of their baby. Neither one can even begin to imagine the chaos that’s in store for them when their families arrive to celebrate with them.

Looking to cause trouble, Melody’s older sister soon reveals a devastating family secret that threatens to rip everything apart. Life for this new couple is about to be anything but easy. If Melody and Jason are ever going to make it down the aisle during the season of love, they’re going to need to forget the past in order to look to the future and their life together.

Read on for my thoughts on A Soldier’s Love. No true spoilers, promise.

Wild Cowboy Ways by Carolyn Brown

Posted December 22, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance, Series / 0 Comments

Title: Wild Cowboy Ways
Series: Lucky Penny Ranch #1
Author: Carolyn Brown
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: December 22, 2015
Publisher: Forever
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Allie Logan isn’t the type to land a hot hunk of cowboy. Truth is, she’s given up on dating since shedding her no-good ex. But the new owner of the most ramshackle ranch in Texas might just change her mind about that. He’s six-foot-plus of tall, dark, and charming—the kind of guy who could make a girl throw caution to the wind . . . or the kind of guy who could break her heart.

Blake Dawson hopes he can make Lucky Penny Ranch finally live up to its name, but the property needs a ton of work. Allie and her carpentry skills are his best shot at getting things in order. Besides the fact that her brown eyes and dangerous curves have him roped and tied. Now Blake only needs to convince her that a wild cowboy can be tamed by love—and she’s just the one to do it.

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