Geri’s Review: Magic Strikes (Kate Daniels #3) by Ilona Andrews

October 26, 2017 by ·

MAGIC STRIKES
Series: Kate Daniels #3
Genre: Adult Urban Fantasy
Author: Ilona Andrews
Release Date: February 20, 2009

When magic strikes and Atlanta goes to pieces, it’s a job for Kate Daniels…

Drafted to work for the Order of Knights of Merciful Aid, mercenary Kate Daniels has more paranormal problems these days than she knows what to do with.

And in Atlanta, where magic comes and goes like the tide, that’s saying a lot.

But when Kate’s werewolf friend Derek is discovered nearly dead, she must confront her greatest challenge yet.

As her investigation leads her to the Midnight Games—an invitation-only, no-holds-barred, ultimate preternatural fighting tournament—she and Curran, the Lord of the Beasts, uncover a dark plot that may forever alter the face of Atlanta’s shapeshifting community…

 

AMAZON | iBOOKS | B&N

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I was conceived, born, raised and trained with one purpose in mind: to become the best killer I could be. It’s what I do.”

There are two things that I was curious about coming into this series. One, I wanted to know why Kate Daniels is so universally beloved by readers. Two, I wanted to know why the Curran-and-Kate pairing was deemed the OTP by so many who loved the series.

It becomes readily apparent why Kate and Curran are so loved by so many as the series progress. By the third book, I’m now a certified Kate Daniels evangelist.
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Yes! I love Kate’s character. She is one of my favorite heroines ever, if not my ultimate favorite. You just can’t help but love her character! If you look up “badass” in the dictionary, her picture would be in there. She’s brave, resourceful, and so hilarious. She’s also very relatable.

I had imagined our encounter a dozen times. I had constructed long conversations in my head, full of barbs and witty comebacks.
The bastard didn’t show.

And Curran is just the perfect scary, alpha, beast Lord who matches Kate perfectly. They infuriate each other and their interaction and dialogue are so hilarious and scary cute, I can’t help but fall in love with them more and more. I really get why there are so many Tumblr posts dedicated to this couple. They are amazing as individuals and as a couple.

Every time, I think you’ve reached the limit of your arrogance, you show me new heights. Truly, your egotism is like the Universe—ever expanding.”

You sure you don’t want to kiss me goodbye, baby?”
“How about a goodbye kick to the throat?”

Magic Strikes is a high-quality adult UF. It’s not just tightly plotted, with twists and turns, and enormous stakes, it’s also very character driven. Kate Daniels, our titular heroine who now works for the Order of Knights of Merciful Aid is working against the clock to find the people who attacked one of her friends. Her investigation led her to the Midnight Games, an illegal fight-to-death tournament attended and participated by powerful and magical beings. And one of them are out to annihilate Kate and the people she’s come to recognize as her friends.

From the gladiator arena type battles to the intriguing and sinister plot, Magic Strikes is a book that once you start, you can’t put down until you’ve finished it. It will consume you. I was so invested in these characters and the story that I couldn’t possibly leave them while their lives hang in a balance!

I think you’re confused as to the nature of our relationship. You and I, we don’t get along. You’re a psychopathic control freak. You order me around and I want to kill you.”

 

I love how heroine-centric this series is. And it’s not just Kate, by the way. One of the things that used to frustrate me with UF is that its heroines tend to be so special that they can’t have any other female characters in the story that might take away from the specialness of the heroine. Every guy has to be in love with her, etc. etc.

Not so with Kate Daniels. There are other female characters that are as beautiful, (if not more so), intelligent and as skillful as Kate. It makes me so happy to see female characters of color in all shapes and sizes having and exercising their agency.

We need a team name.”
“Hunters,” Raphael said.
“Valiant Knights of the Fur,” Dali said.
“Justice Group.” Jim said. “Since Justice League is taken.”

I can’t say enough about this series. If you’re a fan of urban fantasy, I highly recommend you guys read this. Even if you haven’t tried UF before, this series is definitely a great way to immerse yourself in this genre. Yes, the romance may not be central but it still very strong and swoony.

His Majesty needs a can-I girl anyway. And I’m not it.”
“A can-I girl?” Andrea frowned.
I leaned back. “ ‘ Can I fetch you your food, Your Majesty? Can I tell you how strong and mighty you are, Your Majesty? Can I pick out your fleas, Your Majesty? Can I kiss your ass, Your Majesty? Can I…”
It dawned on me that Raphael was sitting very still. Frozen, like a statue, his gaze fixed on the point above my head.
“He’s standing behind me, isn’t he?”
Andrea nodded slowly.
“Technically it should be ‘may I,’” Curran said, his voice deeper than I remembered. “Since you’re asking permission.”

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Ilona Andrews is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing team. Ilona is a native-born Russian and Gordon is a former communications sergeant in the U.S. Army.

Contrary to popular belief, Gordon was never an intelligence officer with a license to kill, and Ilona was never the mysterious Russian spy who seduced him. They met in college, in English Composition 101, where Ilona got a better grade. (Gordon is still sore about that.)

Gordon and Ilona currently reside in Oregon with their two children, three dogs and a cat. They have co-authored two series, the bestselling urban fantasy of Kate Daniels and romantic urban fantasy of The Edge.

 

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· Filed Under: Adult Urban Fantasy, Reviews · Tagged With: ,

Geri’s Review: Tell Me by Abigail Strom

October 16, 2017 by ·

TELL ME
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Abigail Strom
Release Date: October 1, 2017

Shy bookstore owner Jane Finch grew up hiding in the margins of her own life while her vibrant, adventure-loving sister, Samantha, dominated every plotline.

She’s made peace with it, unlike Sam’s business partner, Caleb, who’s always nudging Jane to go after what she really wants.

Why should she care what blunt, brash Caleb thinks? They’ve never had much in common, except for Sam.

After tragedy strikes, they don’t even have that.

Caleb can’t quite remember when Sam’s little sister stopped being like a surrogate sibling to him and became just…Jane. She’s the most intriguing woman he’s ever met, and so much sexier and stronger than she thinks.

On the emotional journey to honor Sam’s memory, the spark they’ve tried to deny becomes an inferno.

This journey was meant to be an ending, but will they discover an unexpected new beginning?

AMAZON | iBOOKS | B&N 

 

First off, thank you Arabella ~♡AB♡~’s review for bringing this book and this author to my attention. I enjoyed this book so much. I cried and laugh, and let me tell you that I’ve never rooted so hard for a couple as much as I did with Jane and Caleb.

Both are deeply flawed and complex characters whose differences might be too great that love might not be enough!

Yes, you read that right! There were moments in the book where I was like…

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Why? Because the conflict is that good. Simple but really effective and it’s not very obvious if we go by the blurb. In fact, I thought initially that it’s going to be something else. But I prefer the direction that the author took. It’s a very mature conflict and she was able to really flesh out the story and each of the characters.

Aside from the conflict, what I also loved about this book was how tight the writing was. Not one scene or interaction was wasted. Everything that you read has a purpose. And the author did a fantastic job tying up all the loose ends and giving readers the answers to questions they have about the characters and the story. It was masterful.

But what really made this book a favorite was its cast of characters. Jane and Caleb felt real. Jane is a shy bookstore owner. At first, I was skeptical because the character sounds really cliched. I mean, hello, shy, plain-Jane bookstore owner? That’s like classic character trope.

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But the more you read, the more you see the nuances of Jane’s character. And the same goes for Caleb. He’s a tough nut to crack. He was a very intriguing character. At first, he came off really cocky and was a bit annoying. The moment the two of them are together on page, you could feel the tension that was borne out of their differences despite the fact that there’s definitely an attraction there.

I loved how Anne of Green Gables was used as sort of a backdrop in the story. It was clever and it made me want to read Anne of Green Gables again. It made me curious about the lore behind that series.

Another intriguing layer to this book was Sam, Jane’s beautiful and adventurous older sister who also happens to Caleb’s best friend and business partner. She was the thread that connected Jane and Caleb at first. Her tragic death served as a catalyst for Jane and Caleb’s relationship. I personally didn’t feel that her presence detracted from the romance between Jane and Caleb. I thought that Jane’s feelings about Sam was handled really well. Again, it felt real and it was so heartbreaking.

There are so many thing I loved about this book. I especially loved how the author brought everything in full circle, giving readers what they long for. The resolution wasn’t perfect but it fit the story really well.

Tell Me is a heartwarming story about two people who couldn’t be more different from each other fall in love. It’s a beautifully written romance which I highly recommend you guys read.

 

· Filed Under: A-Z, All Reviews, Contemporary Romance ·

Blog Tour: Excerpt & Geri’s Review of Chasing Christmas Eve by Jill Shalvis

September 30, 2017 by ·

CHASING CHRISTMAS EVE
Series: Heartbreaker Bay #4
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Jill Shalvis
Release Date: September 26, 2017

Meet cute…

Run for the hills—temporarily. That’s Colbie Albright’s plan when she flees New York for San Francisco. Wrangling her crazy family by day and writing a bestselling YA fantasy series by night has taken its toll. In short, Colbie’s so over it that she’s under it. She’s also under the waters of a historic San Francisco fountain within an hour of arrival. Fortunately, the guy who fishes Colbie out has her looking forward to Christmas among strangers. But she’s pretty sure Spencer Baldwin won’t be a stranger for long.

Make merry…

Spence’s commitment to hiding from the Ghosts of Relationships Past means he doesn’t have to worry about the powerful—okay, crazy hot chemistry—he’s got with Colbie. Just because she can laugh at anything, especially herself… just because she’s gorgeous and a great listener just because she gets Spence immediately doesn’t mean he won’t be able to let Colbie go. Does it?

…and hope for a miracle.

Now the clock’s ticking for Colbie and Spence: Two weeks to cut loose. Two weeks to fall hard. Two weeks to figure out how to make this Christmas last a lifetime.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BAM | IndieBound | iBooks | GooglePlay

At the unexpected sight of Spence, Colbie startled hard. How was it that he was the one who needed glasses and yet she’d not seen him standing against the window? “No, I don’t kill a lot of people,” she said cautiously because she was wearing only a towelin front of a strange man. “But I’m happy to make an exception.”

He laughed, a rough rumble that was more than a little contagious but she controlled herself because, hello, she was once again dripping wet before the man who seemed to make her knees forget to hold her up.

“I didn’t mean to scare you,” he said and pushed off the wall to come close.

She froze, but he held up his hands like, I come in peace, and crouched at her feet to scoop up the clothes she hadn’t realized she’d dropped.

Leggings, a long forgiving tee, and the peach silk bra-and-panty set that hadn’t gotten so much as a blink from the TSA guy.

But it got one out of Spence. He also swallowed hard as she snatched them back from him.

“Hold on,” he said and caught her arm, pulling it toward him to look at her bleeding elbow.

“Sit,” he said and gently pushed her down to a weight bench. He vanished into the bathroom and came back out with a first aid kit.

It took him less than two minutes to clean and bandage the scrape. Then, easily balanced at her side on the balls of his feet, he did the same for both her knees, which she hadn’t noticed were also scraped up.

“You must’ve hit the brick coping as you fell in the fountain,” he said and let his thumb slide over the skin just above one bandaged knee.

She shivered, and not from the cold either. “Not going to kiss it better?” she heard herself ask before biting her tongue for running away with her good sense.

She’d raised her younger twin brothers. Scrappy, roughhouse wild animals, the both of them, so there’d been plenty of injuries she’d kissed over the years.

But no one had ever kissed hers. Not surprising, since most of her injuries tended to be on the inside, where they didn’t show. Still, she was horrified she’d said anything at all. “I didn’t mean—”

She broke off, frozen like a deer in the headlights as Spence slowly lowered his head, brushing his lips over the Band-Aid on her elbow, then her knees. When he lifted his head, he pushed his glasses higher on his nose, those whiskey eyes warm and amused behind his lenses. “Better?”

Shockingly better. Since she didn’t quite trust her voice at the moment, she gave a jerky nod and took her clothes back into the bathroom. She shut the door and then leaned against it, letting out a slow, deliberate breath. Holy cow, she was out of her league. He was somehow both cute and hot, and those glasses . . .

 

What happens when an author suffering from writer’s block and an inventor who can’t finish his latest project meet and fall in love despite their protestations? Well, you get Chasing Christmas Eve.

She’d offered him her friendship. Her body. And he’d taken both. He wanted to keep them both. And he also wanted more, so much more. He wanted her heart, like she had his.”

I adored this book.

Once again, Jill Shalvis takes us through whimsical San Francisco to tell the story between Colbie and Spence. Colbie is running from her responsibility back home in New York, a looming deadline and a writer’s block she can’t break. Spence, as most readers of the series know, owns the building that’s the centerpiece of the Heartbreaker Bay series.

Anyway, serendipitously, Colbie found herself living in Spence building, temporarily, of course. Spence, like Colbie, has been having a hard time finishing an invention needed to deliver medicine to remote and far-flung areas of the world. He doesn’t need a distraction. And besides, he’s bad at relationships anyway. The last time he tried it, it almost broke him.

Spence found himself drawn to Colbie and she to him and soon enough they both give in to their attraction. Besides, Colbie will go back home on Christmas Eve anyway so this thing between them would be intense but more importantly, it will be temporary.

I’m only here until Christmas Eve. I don’t think we’ve got time for games or to be coy.”

But of course, they found themselves getting more involved with each other, and I, as a reader, enjoyed reading Spence and Colbie fall deeper for each other despite the secrets that they try so hard to keep. There’s something about the way Jill Shalvis writes romance. She writes about characters aren’t perfect but they are ready to fall in love and meet the one even though they think they’re not. Both Colbie and Spence are like that. Despite their accomplishments, they are two people who need each other.

Their chemistry is undeniable. Loved their banter and of course, their sexy times. I also enjoyed how San Francisco was used as a backdrop in the book.

Another enjoyable thing about this book and this series in general are the characters that live in and around the apartment building. It’s like Melrose Place except that the women are actually supportive of each other and there’s a lack of backstabbing and bed-hopping.

With Chasing Christmas Eve, we get to see the characters from the previous series including Archer’s security team. And it’s fun. These characters feel like family now, and I’m looking forward to reading more of it.

Home is wherever you are.”

New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill’s bestselling, award-winning books wherever romances are sold and visit her website, www.jillshalvis.com, for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.

 

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· Filed Under: Blog Tours, Contemporary Romance ·

Release Day Blitz: Hot Stuff by Kim Karr

September 27, 2017 by ·
HOT STUFF
Author: Kim Karr
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: September 27, 2017
Get ready to fall in love with this new standalone sports romance from New York Times bestselling
author Kim Karr. 
He’s the newly drafted
quarterback.
Hot. Arrogant. Too
sexy for words. 
Ready to score.
I’m an athletic
intern, and the coach’s daughter.
Driven. Determined.
Prepared to conquer the world.
Completely off-limits.
You get the picture.
The NFL is full of
rules. Rules I’ve never broken. Never challenged. Never even scratched—until
the day Lucas Carrington crashes into my life with his hard body and
I-don’t-give-a-f*ck attitude.
After I almost
injure my father’s star player, I volunteer to make sure he’s in top
shape. At first, it’s hell. I don’t like his cockiness, his easy smile. Don’t
like the way he oozes sex. Or how his penetrating eyes follow me
everywhere. 
That doesn’t stop me
from wanting him.
He’s meant to be a
distraction—something to occupy my mind for these precious few remaining hot
summer nights before I’m forced to leave football behind forever.
I know what we’re
doing will lead nowhere good. I know we’re crossing the line. And I know my
father will never understand.
None of that
matters.
But maybe it should.
Rules aren’t meant
to be broken.          
Or are they?
AMAZON
Free on Kindle Unlimited

Disappointed, she unwrapped her arms from her body, and then pivoted on her toe in the direction of the open door. “Then it looks like we have nothing further to discuss, Lucas.”

I reached for her and tugged her to me. “I don’t want to want you,” I breathed, my mouth hovering just centimeters from hers.

Gillian tried to pull away, but not whole-heartedly. If she wanted me to let her go, I would have, but I knew she didn’t. “Then stop,” she sighed.

I took her face in my hands. “I can’t. I don’t know how to.”

“Neither do I,” she whispered.

Unable to stop myself, I crashed my lips to hers and drove my tongue into her mouth to retrace every inch that I had explored days ago.

Also Available
AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
 
Free on Kindle Unlimited
AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
 
Free on Kindle Unlimited
 
Reader * Chocolate Lover * Writer * Coffee Lover * Romantic

* Beach Lover * Yoga Beginner

Kim Karr is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of eighteen
novels. Best known for writing sexy contemporary love stories, she enjoys
bringing flawed characters to life.

Her romances are raw, real, and explosive.
Her characters will make you laugh, make you cry, make you feel.
And her happily-ever-afters are always swoon worthy.

From the brooding rock star to the arrogant millionaire. From the witty
damsel-in-distress to the sassy high-powered business woman. No two storylines
are ever alike.

Get ready to fall in love. 

 
· Filed Under: Blog Tours, Release Blitz · Tagged With: ,

Excerpt & Geri’s Review of Maybe This Christmas by Jennifer Snow

September 26, 2017 by · Leave a Comment

MAYBE THIS CHRISTMAS
Series: Colorado Ice #3
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Jennifer Snow
Release Date: September 26, 2017

All wrapped up . . .

One more game. That’s all that stands between NHL star Asher Westmore and a major career milestone.

But then his brother bashes him against the hockey boards, sidelining him for months. Over Christmas holidays, no less.

If staying off the ice doesn’t drive him crazy, staying with his family will. The only bright spot amidst the mistletoe and twinkle lights: His best friend, Emma, is a physical therapist. And working out with her improves his body and his spirit.

One last time. Emma Callaway was in trouble the minute she and Asher added benefits to their friendship.

How is she supposed to resist a funny, caring guy who makes her toes curl? Her heart was safe while he lived in a different state. Now that he’s back home recuperating, though, it’s only a matter of time before she blurts out her feelings.

Emma’s only hope is that with a little holiday magic, she’ll get the best Christmas gift of all.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BAM | IndieBound

Asher climbed out of the car. “Nah. I’ll hang out with Em tonight. I’m her last patient of the day,” he said, suddenly feeling a little better and eager to get this appointment finished so they could go back to her place for the evening. Without the meds, he was suffering a little more, and she was the only thing that eased his pain.

“All right, man. Take it easy,” Jackson said as he closed the door.

Entering the clinic, he tugged the big, heavy old door closed behind him.

“Hey, Asher,” Jane said, standing as she saw him.

“Hi, Jane. How are you?” he asked, approaching the desk and leaning over it. If he sat again, getting up would be a struggle.

“I’m great. Um, actually, I wanted to ask you…if maybe you wanted to grab a drink at the Grumpy Stump tonight?”

Caught slightly off guard, he laughed. “You don’t hang out there, do you? You’re far too pretty to be slobbered on by all the local single men.”

She blushed. “Thanks. Actually, I don’t hang out anywhere. Single-mom life doesn’t lend itself it to many dates. Not that this would be a date…”

Oh, damn. He felt like an ass saying no to the woman who was obviously putting herself out there…but he wasn’t interested in dating. In fact, since his last semi-permanent situation ended a while ago, he’d been enjoying how things were going with Emma. Right now, she was certainly the only one he wanted to be with. “I…uh…”

Emma appeared in the reception area, an unreadable expression on her face as she glanced back and forth between the two of them.

“Well, the thing is…I promised Emma I’d do that…thing with her tonight,” he said, looking at her to save him.

Her expression softened slightly as she slowly nodded. “Right, you did promise me you would do that…thing tonight.”

He smiled. Saved. Now he could resume getting excited about a full evening with her, naked, with no pressure of a flight out the next day or having to be anywhere at all. The idea excited him beyond the sexy thoughts coming to mind. He looked forward to just being with her, holding her, kissing her, and talking. He’d been so caught up in his own problems the last few weeks, he had no idea what was going on with her.

“Ok, yeah, no problem,” Jane said, busying herself with the papers on her desk.

He felt like a jerk. He turned to Emma for help.

“Um…maybe Asher could get you and Aiden tickets for a game in Denver,” she said.

Perfect. Right there—that’s why he loved her so much. The thought made him pause. Love? Of course, love. She was his best friend.

“Right, Ash?” she said when he’d yet to confirm her suggestion.

“Oh, yeah…no problem.”

Jane smiled. “Aiden would love that. Thank you,” she said, sitting back down at her desk as the phone rang.

Emma’s eyes held a hint of amusement as he followed her into her therapy room.

“What?” he asked.

She closed the door behind them and grinned. “You just turned down a hot date to suffer through dinner at my sister’s house tonight.”

Oh shit.

**Excerpted from MAYBE THIS CHRISTMAS by Jennifer Snow. Copyright © 2017 by Jennifer Snow. Reprinted with permission of Forever. All rights reserved.  

This was another heartwarming, holiday read from Jennifer Snow about two best friends who found love with each other. You know me, I’m a sucker for a good friends-to-lovers story, and Maybe This Christmas delivered on the romance big time.

Asher Westmore and Emma Callaway have been best friends for years. Then they became best friends with benefits, which suited both of them just fine. Asher is a hockey placer for New Jersey while Emma is pursuing a snowboarding career. Then life comes at you fast.

For Emma, that change came when she took a serious tumble during a qualifying snowboarding competition for the Olympics, ending her career. These days, she’s a physical therapist in her small town of Glenwood Falls. Her friendship with benefits with Ash is going strong but lately, she had been feeling adrift. Not really sure whether she should get back into snowboarding or pursue a doctorate in physical therapy. There’s also her relationship with Asher. Emma’s feelings for her best friend is definitely deepening and she’s not quite sure if he feels the same.

Asher is about to hit a huge milestone of his career. He could almost taste it. But a knee injury and a hard hit from his own hockey-playing brother derailed that milestone for him. Now he’s back in Glenwood Falls to recuperate with Emma’s help, of course.

She was the one person in the world he always knew he could count on and the only one he wanted to be with.

While this book can be read as a standalone, I would highly recommend that you read the previous books in the series to get a background of Emma and Asher’s relationship. I don’t think it’s necessary but I think it would enhance your reading experience.

That said, I have not read any book in the series prior to this one but I didn’t feel lost and I was able to pick up the threads of the story very easily.

I enjoyed how Asher and Emma’s relationship transitioned from friends to so much more. It helped that the author already established that these two have an intimate physical connection. At the start of the book, they’ve been FWB for a long time. Years, I think. So it wasn’t a leap in any way.

Despite being friends and then lovers, they both had to deal with a lot of issues not just between them but also with their families and careers.

For Asher it’s dealing with his feelings of resentment for his brother Ben, Emma, and the thought of having to give up hockey. who always seem to achieve every accolade that Asher wants without struggle. Emma herself is dealing with a meddling sister and a father who is losing himself daily.

And speaking meddling…Emma’s sister Jess got on my last nerve.

Related image
I mean, come on! She was positively heinous in her treatment towards Ash, turns up her nose at her sister’s accomplishment, and she makes decisions about Emma’s lovelife and career without consulting her. Sure, I believe that she’s doing it because she loves her sister but gah! It was still annoying. I had to resist the urge to throw my Kindle against the wall whenever she was in the scene because I just can’t deal with her meddling.

Fortunately for me, Jennifer Snow was able to write a really convincing romance between Asher and Emma. Despite some hiccups along the way, they were able to deal with their issues like adults. No unnecessary flouncing, drama or whatever. And Ash proved himself to be a really sweet and caring hero worthy of Emma and that one revelation in particular (which I won’t spoil here) sealed the deal for me.

So if you’re a fan of sports romance and the friends-to-lovers trope, I would recommend this book!

 

Jennifer Snow lives in Edmonton, Alberta with her husband and son. She writes sweet and sexy contemporary romance stories set everywhere from small towns to big cities. After stating in her high school yearbook bio that she wanted to be an author, she set off on the winding, twisting road to make her dream a reality. She is a member of RWA, the Writers’ Guild of Alberta, the Canadian Authors Association, and the Film and Visual Arts Association in Edmonton. She has published over ten novels and novellas with many more on the way.

 

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Leave a Comment · Filed Under: All Reviews, Blog Tours, Contemporary Romance, Release Blitz, Reviews, Sports · Tagged With: , , ,

Geri’s Review: Forever With You by Beverley Kendall

September 22, 2017 by · Leave a Comment

FOREVER WITH YOU
Genre: New Adult Romance
Author: Beverley Kendall
Release Date: September 12, 2017

I’d never fallen harder for anyone than I did for Graham Prescott. The British hottie was like no other guy I’d ever met. And the attraction between us was mutual and red-hot.

I would have done and said almost anything to be with him. So I’d told him one harmless, little lie…

But it hadn’t been.

Harmless or little.

That lie nearly destroyed his life.

Seeing him again after four years stirs up feelings I have no right to feel.

So I tell myself the only thing I want from him is his forgiveness.

But first I have to earn his trust—something easier said than done.

Especially when he makes it clear there’s only one thing he wants from me.

To stay the hell out of his life.

AMAZON

This book had all the elements I was looking for in a book, from its flawed characters to the almost impossible situation that was the result of those mistakes.

Graham Prescott’s life was nearly destroyed because of one little lie that Emily Leighton told. It set off a chain of events that had Graham hightailing it back to England and out of Emily’s life. Wracked with guilt, Emily was waiting for a chance to make things right and apologize. Her chance came about four years later.

The premise for this book is quite unique. I had some suspicion based on what happened in the last book but I wasn’t 100% sure. I wasn’t even sure if I was going to like it.

Fortunately, the author did a great job at telling the story as it is. She didn’t shy away from the difficult story line and the implication it would have on the lives of the characters. There were moments in the book where I thought, “I don’t think they’re going to get past this.” The situation they were in was quite bleak, and worse, it could’ve been avoided if only Emily hadn’t told that lie.

The angst almost killed me. And the thing is, I hated what Emily did but I couldn’t hate her. I wanted to but I couldn’t. I did like that she also suffered the consequences especially when it came to her relationship with Graham. I couldn’t fault Graham for how he acted in the book especially after it was revealed how much Emily’s lie affected his life.

I was a little worried about the transition from hate to love because as I’ve said, the rift between them was humongous. I didn’t know if the transition would feel organic at all. Once again, Beverley Kendall proved me wrong. The shift from hate to love was handled very well and the chemistry was fantastic. The story flowed well and the third act was anxiety-inducing but the ending more than made up for it even though it was tied up too neatly for my taste. Even then, the ending did my heart good.

I really, really enjoyed this book. I read this in one sitting and didn’t regret it one bit. I highly recommend this book. You like angst? Characters that messed up? This book is for you!

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Release Blitz: We Own Tonight by Corinne Michaels

September 9, 2017 by ·

WE OWN TONIGHT
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Corinne Michaels
Release Date: September 7, 2017

I’m not a one-night stand kind of woman. I’m especially not the woman who has a few drinks at a concert and ends up in bed with my childhood celebrity crush, Eli Walsh.

However, that’s exactly where I find myself.

What’s a girl to do after a drunken mistake?

Run.

I grab my clothes and get away from the powerful, irresistible, and best-sex-of-my-life superstar as fast as I can. His gorgeous green eyes, rock-hard body, and cocky smile have no place in my world. My life is complicated enough.

Someone forgot to tell him that.

Eli is relentless. Pushing his way into my heart, wearing me down, proving he’s nothing like I assumed, and everything I need.

But when my world shatters to pieces, he holds the broken bits together.

Unwillingly, I fall desperately in love with him.

He made me think we’d have forever . . . I should’ve listened when he said we could only own tonight.

From New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author Corinne Michaels, comes a sexy new STANDALONE romance novel.

 

WE OWN TONIGHT is available now!

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PURCHASE NOW!

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New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestseller Corinne Michaels is the author of nine romance novels. She’s an emotional, witty, sarcastic, and fun loving mom of two beautiful children. Corinne is happily married to the man of her dreams and is a former Navy wife.

After spending months away from her husband while he was deployed, reading and writing was her escape from the loneliness. She enjoys putting her characters through intense heartbreak and finding a way to heal them through their struggles. Her stories are chock full of emotion, humor, and unrelenting love.

 

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· Filed Under: Blog Tours, Uncategorized ·

Geri’s Review: Fallen Heir by Erin Watt

September 1, 2017 by ·

FALLEN HEIR
Series: The Royals #4
Genre: Young Adult Romance
Author: Erin Watt
Release Date: August 28th, 2017

These Royals will ruin you.

Easton Royal has it all: looks, money, intelligence.

His goal in life is to have as much fun as possible. He never thinks about the consequences because he doesn’t have to.

Until Hartley Wright appears, shaking up his easy life.

She’s the one girl who’s said no, despite being attracted to him. Easton can’t figure her out and that makes her all the more irresistible.

Hartley doesn’t want him. She says he needs to grow up.

She might be right.

Rivals. Rules. Regrets. For the first time in Easton’s life, wearing a Royal crown isn’t enough.

He’s about to learn that the higher you start, the harder you fall.

 

AMAZON | iBOOKS

You guys!

I’m sorry. Please don’t hate me.

I liked Fallen Heir and I enjoyed it but I just DIDN’T love it the way I did Paper Princess.

*cue my awkward face
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Before I go into the whys, let me tell you what I did enjoy about this book.

One. The writing as usual was impeccable and seamless. The way they write the dialogue and East’s POV is on point.

Two. I adored the secondary characters especially Pash and Bran. Pash is Easton’s best buddy and comic relief in the book. Brandon is the new guy in Astor Prep and his character is a breath of fresh air full of farts. Privileged Astor farts. I hope he doesn’t get screwed over by that crowd and lose his innocence too soon. He’s the perfect foil for Easton’s rich boy arrogance and privilege.

Three. The Easton-Ella dynamic. Boy, this one…I knew a few chapters in that something is up and I have my suspicions (which was proven to be right, by the way!) but I just like the way Erin Watt slowly unraveled that thread. It played out perfectly. And nope, I won’t spoil it for you. You have to read the book yourself. Trust me. It’s worth it.

Now for the so-so parts…

Easton. I know, I know. I loved him in PP. Maybe not as much as the other readers but I was interested to know what made him different from Reed and his other brothers. And I gotta say…he’s OK. I sympathized with his issues and feel for him but other times, he annoys the crap out of me.

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I’m SORRY but he does. The whole book is written in his POV and sometimes I wish I could take a break from it because he can be real douchebag.

I would’ve loved to get Hartley’s POV because I want to know what she sees in him. I want to see him through her eyes. I want to see what she thinks of him. I want to read her thoughts about Easton and whether or not he’s redeemable.

Like I said, I needed another POV, another lens through which I could see his character grow and change. Which brings me to my second so-so. Hartley.

I needed her POV. Did I say that already? Yes, I did.

I needed it to get to know her and relate with her. Without it, I’m kind of apathetic towards her. Aside from being the girl that Easton like, she’s…meh so far. I think that would change once we get her POV…maybe in the next book but for now. I’m not loving her but I’m also not hating her.

Now for the not-so-great part…I only have one issue, which is why I said I still enjoyed this book. But the main reason why I didn’t outright loved Fallen Heir is that it’s a little repetitive.

Okay, more than a little.

What I’m saying is for most of the book, about 70% of it, we get the same Easton-Hartley interaction which basically goes like this: Easton pursues, Hartley demurs and then acquiesce. Easton then does something stupid and Hartley gets hurt and pulls away. Easton gets wasted and does something even more idiotic things. Wash. Rinse. Repeat.

Just when there’s progress in their interaction, you get pulled back into the very beginning and start all over again. One step forward, two steps back. It’s great for maybe one or two instances but after the second time, it became annoying and frustrating.

It wasn’t until the last 30% where the plot got tighter and we see breakthrough in Easton that the book really took off! Only to have the rug pulled out from under me with that wicked cliffhanger!!!

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But I ain’t even mad. I was just so happy that the story progressed beyond the Easton and Hartley drama. But OMG, that last scene is stressing me out.

The wait for the next book is gonna be brutal.

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Blog Tour {Excerpt & Review}: When the Scoundrel Sins by Anna Harrington

August 29, 2017 by ·

WHEN THE SCOUNDREL SINS
Series: Capturing the Carlisles #2
Genre: Historical Romance
Author: Anna Harrington
Release Date: August 29, 2017

A MOST INDECENT PROPOSAL

Annabelle Green needs a husband-and quickly. To inherit the only home she’s ever known, she must be married by her twenty-fifth birthday.

But finding a suitor has been next to impossible after a reckless rogue named Quinton Carlisle seduced her into a scandalous midnight tryst. Her reputation in ruins, Belle now needs a rather large favor. And she knows just who to turn to . . .

Quinn can hardly believe that the shy bookish girl he teased as a child has grown into such a brazen beauty. The very idea of marrying Belle to right the wrongs of his past is downright shocking . . . and deliciously tempting.

Too bad marriage, convenient or otherwise, is the last thing Quinn wants. He’ll help Belle find a husband and be on his way.

But if he can’t control his attraction to the bride-to-be, this marriage could go up in flames-of wicked desire.

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“You look much more like your father now,” she commented, nervously licking her suddenly dry lips but only serving to draw his attention to her mouth. Which made her even more nervous, so nervous that she couldn’t stop the trembling of her fingertips as they wrapped into the skirt of her night rail. “But you’re still a troublemaker.”

A faint smile played at his mouth. “And you’re still a bluestocking,” he countered. Unintentionally simmering a slow heat low in her belly, he reached up to tuck a stray curl behind her ear. “Still retreating to the sanctuary of your library.”

“Because books are usually more pleasant than most people,” she answered, swallowing hard when he trailed his fingers down the side of her neck. She forced out, not at all as firmly as she’d hoped beneath the soft touch of his fingers,

“And more trustworthy.”

Ignoring that jab, he slid his hand lower to let his fingers play at the edge of her shawl. “Yet there are things that people can do that books can’t.” His fingers tugged gently at the shawl and pulled it down her shoulder to reveal the scooped neck of the nightdress beneath. His gaze flicked to the small patch of revealed skin at the base of her throat, then back to her eyes. “All kinds of interesting things.”

She should stop him, swat his hand away, shove him back—but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. Just as she couldn’t hold back the hot shiver that swept through her or the gooseflesh that formed on her skin. His touch was proving to be as equally intoxicating now as that night six years ago.

“Then I have no interest in learning them,” she countered, although from the way her blood hummed, her body was very interested.

Madness—that after what he’d done to her, she could ever want to be in his arms again. Yet she desired just that, although that could never happen. Kissing him once had ruined her reputation. Kissing him again might destroy her entire future.

She thrust her chin into the air. “I know of your reputation.”

“Thank you,” he half purred.

His finger hooked beneath the wide shoulder strap of her sleeveless nightgown and slid it slowly down her arm. But this time, with a stretch of bare shoulder revealed to his eyes, he didn’t bother feigning propriety by looking away and instead flamed a prickling heat beneath her skin everywhere he gazed.

She pulled in a deep breath to steady herself. Oh, why did she always go light-headed when she was alone with him?

“That was not meant as a compliment.”

“Wasn’t it?”

 

When Annabelle Greene needed to marry to keep her inheritance, the only man she’s ever considered was Quinton Carlisle, AKA, the man who ruined her reputation six years ago. But Annabelle is desperate. If she doesn’t marry before her 25th birthday, she’ll lose the only inheritance she has, putting her future in jeopardy.

The only problem is Quinn isn’t interested in marriage, no matter how tempting Annabelle is. He already has a plan: sail to America, make his fortune there and make his family proud and a marriage to Annabelle would put an end to his plan. So when Annabelle proposed to him, he rejected her. He did offer to help her find a suitable person for her to marry.

But Quinn quickly finds out that it’s hard to find a suitable suitor for someone you want for yourself. And Quinn wants Anabelle. He wants her and none of her suitors seems suitable enough. Despite their raging attraction to each other, Quinn and Annabelle continue to stubbornly resist one another. It’s clear from the get go that Quinn would end up marrying Annabelle but the book went through great lengths to make Quinn as stubborn as a mule.

So even though I enjoyed the story overall, I couldn’t help but feel a tad frustrated with how long it took them to come together. It was frustrating and annoying. I was disappointed with Quinn because there were so many instances where he could’ve manned up and marry Anabelle. But nope. He was so set in his ways that he refused to even consider marrying her because he already has a plan.

He did realize in the end what needed to be done and we got our HEA. But yeah, the book could’ve used a little less frustration in that area. Nevertheless, I enjoyed this book a lot. I read it and couldn’t put it down.

 

Anna Harrington fell in love with historical romances–and all those dashing Regency heroes–while living in London, where she studied literature and theatre. She loves to travel, fly airplanes, and hike, and when she isn’t busy writing her next novel, she loves fussing over her roses in her garden.

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Geri’s Review: Ready to Run by Lauren Layne

August 26, 2017 by ·

READY TO RUN
Series: I Do, I Don’t #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Lauren Layne
Release Date: August 22nd 2017

The Bachelor meets The Runaway Bride in this addictive romance novel about a reality TV producer falling for her would-be star: a Montana heartthrob who wants nothing to do with the show.

Jordan Carpenter thinks she’s finally found the perfect candidate for Jilted, a new dating show about runaway grooms: Luke Elliott, a playboy firefighter who’s left not one but three brides at the altar. The only problem? Luke refuses to answer Jordan’s emails or return her calls. Which is how she ends up on a flight to Montana to recruit him in person. It’s not Manhattan but at least the locals in Lucky Hollow seem friendly . . . except for Luke, who’s more intense—and way hotter—than the slick womanizer Jordan expected.

Eager to put the past behind him, Luke has zero intention of following this gorgeous, fast-talking city girl back to New York. But before he can send her packing, Jordan’s everywhere: at his favorite bar, the county fair, even his exes’ book club. Annoyingly, everyone in Lucky Hollow seems to like her—and deep down, she’s starting to grow on him too. But the more he fights her constant pestering, the more Luke finds himself wishing that Jordan would kick off her high heels and make herself comfortable in his arms.

AMAZON | iBOOKS

You can always count on Lauren Layne to deliver a well-written and heartfelt romance between two very different people.

In this Runaway Bride meets The Bachelor love fest, Lauren Layne ventured into something she’s never quite done before–a small town romance. And I dig it.

Jordan Carpenter is a producer of a new show called Jilted. Jilted is basically The Bachelor for runaway grooms. She’s tasked to rope in Luke Elliot as the first runaway groom to be featured in the show. The problem is Luke isn’t interested in being a reality star or letting the whole world into why he jilted those bride, not once but three times.

So Jordan decided to go to Lucky Hollow to convince Luke herself and she not only found the prospective groom reluctant, he also doesn’t think highly of her and her “city” ways. She found herself attracted to Luke which complicates things. And Lauren Layne didn’t shy away from writing complications. It’s why I enjoyed this book so much.

At first I wasn’t quite sure whether I actually like Jordan or not. And I was afraid that she was going to constantly harp on the city versus small town cliches too much. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case because Jordan was a much more complex character than I initially pegged her to be. Her backstory is quite heartbreaking which totally surprised me.

The chemistry between two characters was fantastic. The romance took time to develop which was plus because the journey to get to that place was enjoyable. I loved Jordan’s interaction with Luke’s friends and the people of Lucky Hollow.

There were some things to nitpick. Most notably Simon AKA Jordan’s very gay, very flamboyant best friend. And the ending was also very rushed. There was a sweet epilogue though so it wasn’t a complete disappointment.

Overall, this is typical Lauren Layne. Meaning, it’s lighthearted and fun but with enough emotional heft to make it thoroughly satisfying.

 

· Filed Under: A-Z, All Reviews ·
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