Jennifer’s Review: Too Hot To Handle by @mstessabailey

too-hot-to-handle-reviewTOO HOT TO HANDLE
Series: Romancing the Clarksons #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Tessa Bailey
Release Date: May 17, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

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When rescue looks like a whole lot of trouble…

The road trip was definitely a bad idea. Having already flambéed her culinary career beyond recognition, Rita Clarkson is now stranded in God-Knows-Where, New Mexico, with a busted-ass car and her three temperamental siblings, who she hasn’t seen in years. When rescue shows up—six-feet-plus of hot, charming sex on a motorcycle—Rita’s pretty certain she’s gone from the frying pan right into the fire . . .

Jasper Ellis has a bad boy reputation in this town, and he loathes it. The moment he sees Rita, though, Jasper knows he’s about to be sorely tempted. There’s something real between them. Something raw. And Jasper has only a few days to show Rita that he isn’t just for tonight—he’s forever.

 

Buy LinksAMAZON | iBOOKS

Review4.5 stars

4.25 Tessa-has-a-waaaay-about-her Stars!!!!!

I don’t know what it is….but I know that I can’t live without her.

Her men are so classic, almost iconic, and I can’t help but love them. Her brain is classically dirty. She is able to capture these moments and write them so well that I feel like I’m right there.
à la Mode St. » fashion

A man who woke up, stretched his flexing biceps over his head, scrubbed a hand down his abs, and grinned before getting up to drink coffee naked in his kitchen. Because why spend one unnecessary moment dressed? And speaking of clothes, the warmth coming off his tucked-in flannel shirt rivaled the sun. She would bet anything that if she sniffed the material curing around his shoulder it would remind her of snuggling into pajamas fresh from the dryer.

à la Mode St. » fashionAs I was reading this book, I finally figured out one of the many reasons why I love her writing so much. She is an artist at writing similes and metaphors. They are always the most eloquent or poetic, but they make me understand EXACTLY what that character is thinking or feeling. Most of the time, I smile and highlight them, and that’s why I love her books so much….because of all the smiling. I truly believe that Tessa Bailey is underestimated because she is a powerful writer, so I don’t underestimate her at all. She can write anything, and I’ll read it. She emotes, but it’s not always elegant. It’s raw and blue-collar and makes me FEEL ALL THE FEELS!!! Tessa, I would read your grocery lists.
à la Mode St. » fashion

Promises dug like tiny tractors in his gut, excavating vital components of what impulse directed him to say, leaving messes behind.

à la Mode St. » fashion20703796The 4 Clarkson siblings are on a road trip to fulfill their mother’s wish for them. They are not close siblings so there is automatically tension between them. When the car breaks down, of course Jasper is riding by on his sexy motorcycle. Tess is the queen of insta-lust, alpha-male, dirty-talker who wants his woman.
à la Mode St. » fashion

”Play offense,” he demanded in her ear. “Push down into it. Fuck yourself up against it. I’ll help you get where you need to go, beautiful. You answered the door begging for something bad from me. So that’s what I’m giving you. You and this sweet, neglected pussy. Now fuck your vibrator.”

à la Mode St. » fashionMy Jasper: (without the cig)

Jasper Ellis was a twenty-ounce hanger steak with a side of garlic mashed potatoes. 

 :

My Rita:

 :
Jasper is the owner of the Liquor Hole (get it!), the local bar. He is a reformed playboy trying to be good and responsible now, but his reputation precedes him. As he starts to pursue Rita, he can’t escape the playboy stigma.

Rita is a little black sheep of the family. She is a chef who tried to follow in her mother’s footsteps, but felt like she was never able to measure up. I loved watching her transform her strength and how Jasper helped her get there. Jasper and Rita think they only have a day together until the car is fixed. Well, due to some unexpected events each day (I love all of this), they end up getting a few more days together, enough time for the 4 siblings to help Jasper open his new restaurant.
à la Mode St. » fashion

”….stop stealing my breath when I’m trying to catch it.”
“No.” He pressed their foreheads together. “I don’t want you to catch it. I want it to stay lost and I want to be the man who steals it. All day, every day. Forever. Stay with me right here.”

à la Mode St. » fashion20703797I fell in love….with this whole family! I feel like I already have a clear picture of who each sibling is, but I know Tessa is going to pull out so much more in each book. I cannot wait to learn more about every single one of them. If you like series that involve brothers and sisters and FEELS, then you will love this book. I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It is different than Tessa’s other series, and I can’t wait to jump into Aaron’s book.

One word….BELMONT. And Sage! Gah! Of course, Tessa is saving his book for last! But I know I will enjoy the journey.


ROMANCING THE CLARKSONS SERIES

TOO HOT TO HANDLE | TOO WILD TO TAME |
TOO HARD TO FORGET
(releasing 4/27/17)

Review: Down Shift by @KBrombergDriven

review-down-shift-by-k-brombergDOWN SHIFT
Series: Driven #8
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: K. Bromberg
Release Date: October 4, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

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The New York Times bestselling Driven series continues with a standalone story about finding love where you least expect it…
 
Behind the wheel, racing champion Zander Donavan is at the top of his game. But after too much excess in his personal life, he’s forced to step away. He needs to accomplish something all on his own—outside of his famous father’s shadow.

Getty Caster is running away from the abuse that clouds her past. She thinks she’s found the perfect escape—until she discovers a stranger in the beachside cottage she’d been promised. He’s undeniably sexy, but she’s there to heal. Alone.

Before long though, fighting with each other turns into fighting their attraction. And giving into desire sets off a chain reaction that has their pasts colliding. With an unexpected love on the line, can they overcome the fallout to build a future?

Buy LinksAMAZON | iBOOKSReview-DGR5 starsdown-shift-dgr-teaser

“Even if you gave me a hundred reasons why we shouldn’t be together, Getty, I’d still look for the one reason to fight like hell for you. Remember that.”

See that pile of goo right there?
No! Not there! That’s the melted ice cream I used to eat my feelings. I’m talking about the other pile. Yes, yes, that one right there. That would be me. Melted into an gooey pile of swoon filled goo. All at the hands of a man with a moody disposition but a heart of gold named Zander and the incredible talent that is K. Bromberg. Goo I tells ya!

His love roared loader than my demons.

A recent revelation from his past has unraveled Zander Donovan’s world. He’s spinning out of control, angry and bitter, and lashing out at those that love him most. When he makes one stupid mistake too much, he’s forced to take a step back from the racing world and his family, finding peace in quiet seclusion.

Everyone’s churning ocean is fueled by a different type of storm.”
“What’s your storm?”
“My storm?” he chuckles, self-deprecation in his tone and a look in his eyes he doesn’t give me a chance to read. “I don’t think it’s ever really stopped churning, but there’s definitely been a few surprise white squalls thrown in.”

Getty is looking for a fresh start. Running from a past of her own, her scars are of the hidden variety. A woman broken doesn’t mean a woman that can’t heal, and she’s looking to heal the woman she wants to be. Having a sexy stranger crash her own quiet seclusion isn’t what she expects, nor the undeniable chemistry that brews between them from the very first sarcastic barb they exchange.

What starts as an unwilling cohabitation soon turns into friendship and begins to turn into something much deeper.

I know you’re stubborn as hell and gorgeous as fuck. And that your kiss tastes like an aged whiskey: something I want to sip slowly, feel on my lips, savor on my tongue, and take my time with before I get drunk on it.”

Getty is not the heroine I typically enjoy. She’s a lot damaged and a bit withdrawn, but she’s also endearingly sweet and caring in spite of her past. She’s not naive or a wallflower, but she’s not a warrior either. She’s someone that’s incredibly relatable. She’s a woman with a past and hidden hurts, but she doesn’t chose to dwell on that. She wants to heal, she wants to move on.

Zander is fighting a different demon from his past, but it’s no less darker than Getty’s. Together, they just…made sense. They were the perfect halves of a whole. K. Bromberg did an incredible job painting a story of two broken souls finding a healing touch in one another. They weren’t emotional crutches for the other. They were complete opposites, but together they just made sense. I adored these two. I loved their banter, I loved their push and pull, and I couldn’t get enough of their chemistry.

And their chemistry? Off the walls hot!

Time passes in pure sensations. The bite of his fingers into my thighs. The mist of sweat on my skin. The groan he emits as he slowly comes undone. The tingle of ecstasy throughout my body.

Goo I tells ya!

The author manages to bring everything in a full circle. The writing was spellbinding and beautiful, the story was emotional and gripping, and the romance was heart wrenchingly good. If you’re looking for a book that packs just as much feeling as it does steam, THIS is the book that needs to be on your list! It was pure perfection and I loved every page of it!


DRIVEN SERIES

DRIVEN | FUELED | CRASHED | RACED | ACED | SLOW BURN |
SWEET ACHE | HARD BEAT | DOWN SHIFT

Jennifer’s Review: His by Brenda Rothert

review-his-brenda-rothertHIS
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Brenda Rothert
Release Date: June 28. 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

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Quinn
I’d say I’m down on my luck, but that’s an understatement. I’m flat on my ass. Homeless, hungry and in hiding with my little sister at the age of twenty-one, I’ve never been so desperate. I’ve hit rock bottom when I get an offer I can’t refuse. Sell my body to save my sister? There’s nothing I won’t do to keep her safe. I make the rules and I’m not afraid to defend myself if this rich guy crosses the line. But once I see beneath his cold, calculating façade, the lines aren’t so clear anymore.

Andrew
She’s an intoxicating mix of tough and vulnerable I’ve never known before. This homeless woman who fits right into my upper-class world is running from someone powerful, and I’ll do whatever it takes to protect her. But Quinn isn’t meant to be controlled, so I’m forced to choose between owning her and loving her. I’ve finally met my match, and I’ll do whatever it takes to make her truly mine.

Buy LinksAMAZON | iBOOKSReview-DGR3.5 stars

Beginning – 5 Strong Stars!
Middle – 4 Still-Good Stars!
Ending – 3 Aw-man-but-I-still-liked-it Stars!

This book has a kick-ass, awesome beginning. Quinn and her sister are homeless. They are running from a secret, so they have to stay low. I really enjoyed how the author doesn’t give all of the secrets away so it made me want to keep reading. Quinn needs money because her sister is sick. She is given an offer that she can’t refuse, but I loved that she was on her guard even at the beginning and didn’t just give into the offer, but knew she would have to do what needed to be done to save her sister. I enjoyed the relationship between Quinn and Andrew. It was unexpected and sweet and sexy how they got to know each other.

My Andrew:

.:

My Quinn:

.:
I enjoyed the premise of this book. The fact that I read the whole thing says a lot because I am usually a quitter if I am not enjoying a book. There were definitely some cheesy lines where I kinda rolled my eyes. Overall, I liked the characters, but I thought they could use some polishing. Quinn came across as this strong homeless girl who doesn’t put up with shit, and I loved her in the beginning. I think the author wanted her to also show her vulnerable side, which is great, but there was a disconnect between Quinn’s strength and her vulnerability. They just didn’t seem like the same person.

The ending felt rushed. The secret reveal of Andrew’s job is a little too easy. The overall ending was a little anti-climactic. I wanted it to be more badass.

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Review: The Trouble With Mistletoe by Jill Shalvis

the-trouble-with-mistletoe-reviewTHE TROUBLE WITH MISTLETOE
Series: Heartbreaker Bay #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Jill Shalvis
Release Date: September 27, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

 

the-trouble-with-mistetoe

If she has her way …

Willa Davis is wrangling puppies when Keane Winters stalks into her pet shop with frustration in his chocolate-brown eyes and a pink bedazzled cat carrier in his hand. He needs a kitty sitter, stat. But the last thing Willa needs is to rescue a guy who doesn’t even remember her …

He’ll get nothing but coal in his stocking.

Saddled with his great-aunt’s Feline from Hell, Keane is desperate to leave her in someone else’s capable hands. But in spite of the fact that he’s sure he’s never seen the drop-dead-gorgeous pet shop owner before, she seems to be mad at him …

Unless he tempers “naughty” with a special kind of nice …

Willa can’t deny that Keane’s changed since high school: he’s less arrogant, for one thing—but can she trust him not to break her heart again? It’s time to throw a coin in the fountain, make a Christmas wish—and let the mistletoe do its work …

Buy LinksAMAZON | B&N | iBOOKSReview-DGR4 starsthe-trouble-with-mistletoe-dgr-teaser

The


It’s just that you’re always so . . .”
“What?”
“Everything.”

Le swoon. *Happy sigh*

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Jill Shalvis books are my happy place. Her stories never fail to give me the warm and fuzzies and a huge case of the happy feels. They’re romantic, swoony, sweet, sexy, and yet never cheesy. They’re the perfect feel good romance with none of the craziness and yet they’ll keep me reading well into the night with a happy smile on my face. I just love them.

Ever since the preview of Willa’s book in Sweet Little Lies I’ve been eagerly anticipating the full story of what happened with her and Keane. Because let’s be real here, a high school crush that broke her heart shows up years later with a disgruntled pussy on her doorstop? You bet I want to read it!

Willa and Keane were pure magic together. Willa grew up hard but has a hard of gold. She had amazing friends, she has a job she loves taking care of animals that love her just as much back. But what Willa doesn’t believe in is love…at least not for herself. So when her high school crush shows up on her doorstep with a cat he’s stuck taking care of for his aunt and no memory of her, suffice it to say she’s not exactly thrilled to see him or help him out. What ensues is a whole lot of Jill Shalvis magic.

The sparks between Keane and Willa are instant, but man do I appreciate the slow burn. Keane is a bit damaged himself, but I adored how sweet he was with Willa at times. When the man sets to wooing, he certainly woos. And Willa may put up a good front at first, but it’s not long before he begins tearing down her walls.

I love the camaraderie of all the friends and the way they grumpily took Keane into their fold. Well, the men anyway. The women were just entertaining. I love the friendships in this series almost as much as I love the romance. It’s low on the angst but with plenty of feeling. It’s high on the swoons but with just enough sexy. It’s the perfect holiday romance to curl up with by the fireplace and get the perfect case of the happy feels.

If you’re looking for a light, feel good sort of romance, this series is an absolute must read.


HEARTBREAKER BAY Series

Sweet Little Lies (Heartbreaker Bay, #1)
The Trouble with Mistletoe (Heartbreaker Bay, #2)
Accidentally on Purpose (Heartbreaker Bay, #3) 

Review: Unsuitable by Samantha Towle

unsuitable-review-dirty-girl-romanceUNSUITABLE
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Suspense
Author: Samantha Towle
Release Date: October 1, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

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From New York Times bestselling author, Samantha Towle, comes a new sexy, romantic suspense standalone novel…

Daisy Smith has spent eighteen months of her life paying for a crime she didn’t commit. Now out of prison, she has only one focus—to get back custody of her younger brother, Jesse, who is deep in the foster care system. Desperate to rebuild her life and show the system that she is responsible enough to care for Jesse, she takes on the only job available to her—working as a maid at the Matis Estate.

On day one of her new job, Daisy meets Kastor Matis, the only son of the owners and her new boss. An enigmatic, handsome Greek god of a man, Kas is closed off, cold, and…well, kind of a bastard.

The more time Daisy spends around Kas, she starts to see there might be more to him than just his cold, bastard ways. He may actually have a heart beating in that frozen chest of his.

But Kas has secrets, too. Secrets that he’s determined to keep.

Secrets make Daisy curious.

And you know what curiosity can do…

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Review-DGR4 starsunsuitable-dgr

Fuck, baby,” he groans before taking my mouth again. He kisses me with more intensity, bordering on crazy. And I match him stroke for stroke. We’re pulling on each other, both taking what we need.

What. The. Heck. Was. That?!!!!

I had NO idea Samantha Towle had something like this in her. This book was…something else entirely. It was nothing that I expected and everything I wanted. (See what I did there?) You know that moment when you start reading a book and you’re hooked from just the first few pages? So you know, you just know you got something different and exciting on your hands. Something that will not only hook you but will keep you riveted to the pages until the end? Yeah. Unsuitable was that book for me. I was hooked, riveted, and enthralled.

Kas was simply one of the most complex and magnetic heroes I’ve read in a long damn while. He was hypnotizing in his intensity. And let me tell you, he was INTENSE.

This is so much more than just a romance with an alphahole hero and a heroine that’s down in the dumps and crawling her way back. It was multi-layered, cleverly and deeply developed, and with a sexual tension so intense that it practically crackles the pages with it.

Daisy is a heroine that’s impossible not to like. This is a woman that has been in hell; wrongly imprisoned, betrayed by those she trusted, she’s lost everything and now has to rebuild everything having had almost nothing to start with. Yet she’s got sass to her, she’s funny and endearing and while she may be jaded in some things, she’s not eternally pessimistic. She wants to experience the good even while not believing it will happen for her.

The chemistry between her and Kas is instant. And let me tell you, you’ll want to hate Kas. This is a man that’s a downright a-hole to Daisy. Blatantly so. But there’s always something that’s so clearly brewing beneath the surface with him that you just know that there has to be a good reason for his behavior and it isn’t just that he’s an ass.

The complexity of this story blew me away. The complexity of these characters blew me away. Sure there was some cheese in some parts, and while I could have done without it in parts, it worked for me, too. It’s no secret that I love a good alphahole, and Kas was definitely that. But he was so SO much more too.

What I feel for you is debilitating and terrifying and exhilarating…and the best thing to ever happen to me. You are the best thing to ever happen to me. And, if you only ever believe one thing I’ve told you, then believe this; if I could love someone, then it would be you, Daisy. A million times over, it would be you.”

It was a gripping romance, a story of second chances and redemption and healing. It was a fluid combination of light and dark, filled with plenty of depth. Samantha Towle seriously hit it out of the park with Unsuitable.

Review: The Goal by Elle Kennedy

the-goal-reviewTHE GOAL
Series: Off-Campus #4
Genre: New Adult Romance
Author: Elle Kennedy
Release Date: September 26, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

thegoal-ibooks

She’s good at achieving her goals…

College senior Sabrina James has her whole future planned out: graduate from college, kick butt in law school, and land a high-paying job at a cutthroat firm. Her path to escaping her shameful past certainly doesn’t include a gorgeous hockey player who believes in love at first sight. One night of sizzling heat and surprising tenderness is all she’s willing to give John Tucker, but sometimes, one night is all it takes for your entire life to change.

But the game just got a whole lot more complicated

Tucker believes being a team player is as important as being the star. On the ice, he’s fine staying out of the spotlight, but when it comes to becoming a daddy at the age of twenty-two, he refuses to be a bench warmer. It doesn’t hurt that the soon-to-be mother of his child is beautiful, whip-smart, and keeps him on his toes. The problem is, Sabrina’s heart is locked up tight, and the fiery brunette is too stubborn to accept his help. If he wants a life with the woman of his dreams, he’ll have to convince her that some goals can only be made with an assist.

Buy LinksAMAZON | iBOOKSReview-DGR3.5 stars

I hate to tell you this, Sabrina. But you’ve made a big mistake.”
“What? Why?”
His fingers draw my thong tight, the fabric cutting into my swollen lips.
“Because I’m going to ruin you for all future guys. I apologize in advance.”

Time out. Did anyone else just have a pervy hot flash here? No? Seriously? You’re a bunch of lying liars, is what you are. You totally did. Admit it. That line right there just totally revved your engines.

It’s always the quiet ones, isn’t it? Well if I had known the mouth that beard of Tucker’s was hiding all this time, I probably would have been stalking Elle Kennedy down on a daily basis and waving my fist menacingly at her to write his story sooner. What? I like pervy bearded heroes, and don’t you judge me either! Those BILFs get things done, I tells ya. But I digress.

Tucker has always been the calm, quiet, rational and unassuming one of the hockey bunch. Compared to the likes of Dean and Garrett, he always kinda shied away in their spotlight…or so it seemed. BOY was I wrong. Because when this man has a target he goes after, he spares no apology and isn’t afraid to play dirty. But Tucker is also incredibly sweet, humble, and beyond patient and understanding. All those things make him absolutely perfect! And dirty…so very dirty

Oh sweet baby Jesus. Sex with Tucker is dirtier and hotter than I thought it would be. He doesn’t look like he’d be this way, but isn’t it always the quiet ones?

The Goal runs parallel to the events in The Score, so if you haven’t read that book yet, I highly recommend reading it prior to this or some details may be lost on you. Admittedly, I hated Sabrina in the previous books. She was extremely waspish and off putting, to put it frankly. Luckily having her background and really getting down to the truth of why she is the way she is helped connect more with her character. That’s not to say she’s my favorite heroine of the series, but I certainly understood and liked her more in this book than the previous ones.

She’s not certain of me yet. I need to bide my time, but as long as I’m in the game, I’m not worried about the outcome.

Sabrina is driven and highly independent. She doesn’t want or need a man, unless it’s for one night of tension relief. But that all changes when the man is Tucker, because Tucker wants more than a few orgasms from her, and he’s not hesitant to show her what she’s missing. Did I mention I adored Tucker?

So why the lower rating? Weeeelll….I actually wasn’t a fan of a particular trope used in this book. The hows of it seemed a little eye raising in the believability department, and the back and forths of it drove me a little bonkers. There were parts that I wanted to hug Sabrina, and others where I wanted to beat her with the nearest blunt object…or a really really big stick. But I digress once more.

Was The Goal my favorite in the series? Probably not. Did I enjoy it? Absolutely. Ultimately it was an entertaining read that kept me invested in the story and their characters and especially the romance. Tucker definitely is a large part as to why, but Sabrina did grow on me at the end as well.

Fans of this series will certainly enjoy this newest installment. And if you’ve been curious about the silent bearded one, you surely won’t be disappointed.


THE OFF-CAMPUS SERIES

THE DEAL | THE MISTAKETHE SCORE  |  THE GOAL

Review: Too Wild To Tame by Tessa Bailey

too-wild-to-tame-reviewTOO WILD TO TAME
Series: Romancing the Clarksons #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Tessa Bailey
Release Date: September 6, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

toowildtotame

Sometimes you just can’t resist playing with fire . . . 

By day, Aaron Clarkson suits up, shakes hands, and acts the perfect gentleman. But at night, behind bedroom doors, the tie comes off and the real Aaron comes out to play. Mixing business with pleasure got him fired, so Aaron knows that if he wants to work for the country’s most powerful senator, he’ll have to keep his eye on the prize. That’s easier said than done when he meets the senator’s daughter, who’s wild, gorgeous, and 100 percent trouble.

Grace Pendleton is the black sheep of her conservative family. Yet while Aaron’s presence reminds her of a past she’d rather forget, something in his eyes keeps drawing her in. Maybe it’s the way his voice turns her molten. Or maybe it’s because deep down inside, the ultra-smooth, polished Aaron Clarkson might be more than even Grace can handle . . .

 

Buy LinksAMAZON | iBOOKS

Review3.5 stars

She was forcing him to consider light and shadows, when he’d only ever dealt in black and white. And she was the light. Shining bright enough to flay him.

When I read Too Hot to Handle, Aaron was a character that intrigued me right away. Tessa Bailey gives the reader just enough to catch their curiosity but then like the sadist that she surely is, she makes you wait until that particular Clrackson’s book to appease it. Aaron is in his own personal hell; in a car with his siblings on the trek to NY with a brother that would sooner glare at him than talk to him and the regrets of what sent him away in the first place.

Aaron is advisor to the politicians and loves his job, but a mistake he made cost him everything. Now his only chance to resurrect his career, is to get on the good side of a senator that’s on the fast trek to presidency. But then he meets the woman that throws a wrench into all his plans and good intentions

Getting close to another person was suicide, as far as he was concerned. People eventually walked away, although he wasn’t sure if that was a universal rule, or one that pertained only to him. His father had replaced Belmont as the male rock in his life, built him up, and then he’d gone and fucked off, too, hadn’t he? Left him bitter and self-sufficient. He was grateful for seeing human nature for what it was, deep down. The women he took to bed didn’t seem to mind, either.

Aaron is broody and grumpy, but when that man lets his mouth loose? Holy explosive ovaries! Tessa knows how to write a hell of a dirty talker and she definitely doesn’t disappoint with Aaron Clarkson.

This book had all the things I felt lacking in the first book; angst, sexual tension, and that sweet sweet burn of a sexual tension that burns to scorching levels. So why not rate higher? Well, my picky self was still missing a certain connection with the story. I just wasn’t invested enough in the characters and the romance to be yearning to turn the pages. Don’t get me wrong, it was entertaining and I definitely enjoyed it for the most part. But will it be something I come back to? Probably not. I also loved Grace’s story, but something about her as a character just didn’t connect me with her.

I loved getting a glimpse into the other two Clarkson siblings, and I’m practically salivating for Sage and her brooding Clarkson brother to get together already but I’m thinking Tessa is saving that bad boy for last.

If you’re looking for a sexy contemporary romance with a whole lot of dirty talk and a brooding but completely endearing hero, definitely give this book a shot.


ROMANCING THE CLARKSONS SERIES

TOO HOT TO HANDLE | TOO WILD TO TAME |
TOO HARD TO FORGET
(releasing 4/27/17)

DGR Favorite & Review: Sparking The Fire by @KittyMeader

sparking-the-fire-reviewSPARKING THE FIRE
Series: Hot in Chicago #3
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Kate Meader
Release Date: September 27, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

sparking-the-fire

Kate Meader’s blazing Hot in Chicago firefighter series has “everything you want in a romance” (RT Book Reviews, Top Pick)! The flames of desire burn out of control in this sexy third novel when ex-lovers unexpectedly reunite for a sizzling affair that will have the director yelling, “Quiet on the set!”

Actor Molly Cade, America’s fallen sweetheart, finally has her shot at a Hollywood comeback with a dramatic new role as a tough-as-nails firefighter that promises to propel her back to the big time and restore her self-respect.

Wyatt Fox, resident daredevil at Engine Co. 6, needs a low-key job to keep him busy while he recovers from his latest rescue stunt. Consulting on a local movie shoot should add just enough spark to his day. Especially when in struts Molly Cade: the woman who worked his heart over good, and then left him in the Windy City dust.

Their story is straight out of a script: irrepressible, spunky heroine meets taciturn, smoldering hero. But these two refuse to be typecast, and when the embers of an old love are stoked, someone is bound to get burned…

Buy LinksAMAZON | B&N | iBOOKSReview-DGR5 starssparking-the-fire-dgr-teaser

He’d thought he could control himself around Molly, yet every second in her presence loosened the granite hold on his emotions one more slippery, dangerous inch.

That’s it! Stick a fork in me, I’m done! I am a pile of dead and melted goo, all at the hands of a broody, silent, former Marine turned firefighter. I would like my headstone to read that my ultimate demise came from the hottest BILF I’ve ever read, and I regret nothing. NOTHING.

What’s a BILF you ask?

She poked him in the chest. “Drunk, sober, any state, I would be doin’ you tonight, Mister. Lucky. That’s what you are. A total BILF.”
“BILF?”
“Beard I’d like to fuck.”

When I’m in a book funk, I know all I need is 5 minutes with a Kate Meader book and I’ll have an instant goofy grin on my face and the worst case of blue ovaries known to man kind. Why? Because the woman writes some of the best alpha heroes and I can’t get enough of it!

So what happens when a silent and socially awkward firefighter that likes to stay in the shadow of his infamous foster siblings meets a woman that’s in the very center of the spotlight? A. Whole. Lot. Of. Awesome.

Their lives did not mesh. She was Hollywood designer duds. He was Chicago Dumpster diving. And he wanted her more than his next breath. But since when in hell had he ever gotten anything he wanted?

Wyatt Fox is the quietest one of his siblings, the unassuming one, the one that sticks to himself. But for six nights years ago, he let his inhibitions fly with a woman that left him in the dust but he hasn’t stopped thinking about since.

Molly Cade is used to the media attention, but after an ugly divorce brought her on the wrong end of public scrutiny, she’s hoping the new movie she’s starring and producing will turn things around on her. Little does she expect that the new CFD consultant on the movie set is none other than the man that she never expected to see again. Suffice it to say that sparks fly and fires are set!
Sparking The Fire is written in Meader’s signature sassy style with plenty of sexy and a whole lot of banter which I’ve come to be addicted to.

She placed her palms on his shoulders. “You planning to glare me into orgasm, Marine?”
“I don’t glare. I smolder.”

I am head over ovaries in love with this series. I’d set my house on fire just to get my very own Wyatt Fox to come over and put out my fire…uhem.

The romance is full of sizzle and spark, and just enough sexual chemistry to set your kindle on fire. I loved the back and forth between Molly and Wyatt. The odds are stacked against them and they’re complete opposites, but yet they can’t stay away from each other.

Molly was absolute perfection. She’s sassy and funny and doesn’t let anything get her down. She has a backbone but still has this perfect amount of vulnerability to make her incredibly endearing. As for Wyatt? Wowza! I’m all about the BILF.

Nothing had ever felt this good. No one had ever felt this good. It had always been her.

If you haven’t read this series, you’re seriously missing out. If you haven’t read anything by this amazing author, you’re seriously missing out. And if you haven’t made plans to meet Wyatt Fox, then you’re SERIOUSLY missing out!

Kate Meader is going to spoil me with her awesomeness soon, but you won’t hear a peep of complaint out of this reader.


HOT IN CHICAGO SERIES 

REKINDLE THE FLAME | FLIRTING WITH FIRE | MELTING POINT | PLAYING WITH FIRE | SPARKING THE FIRE

Review: HOT SEAL Rescue by @LynnRayeHarris

hot-seal-rescue-reviewHOT SEAL Rescue
Series: Hot SEAL Team #3
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Author: Lynn Raye Harris
Release Date: September 27, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

hotsealrescue

From New York Times bestselling author Lynn Raye Harris comes the next explosive story in the HOT SEAL Team series!

Navy SEAL Cody “Cowboy” McCormick is in Las Vegas for a little R & R before his friend’s wedding when a beautiful blonde jams a gun in his side and abducts him from a casino in broad daylight. He could stop her, but he plays along because he’s intrigued—plus he’s convinced she’s in danger.

CIA agent Miranda Lockwood’s life is on the line when an undercover operation goes wrong. Little does she know when she sashays up to the biggest, baddest looking dude in the casino lobby that she’s kidnapping a Navy SEAL—or that she’ll be unable to resist his charm when he turns up the heat.

When the CIA labels her a rogue agent, Miranda’s faith in everything she believes in is shaken to the core. Cody’s the only one she can trust to help her find the traitor in the agency. But even though she’s forced to betray him, she can’t get over the SEAL who made her feel safe in his arms. Miranda will have to fight harder than she’s ever fought for anything if she wants his forgiveness—but Cody’s not in a forgiving mood in spite of the sparks that still fly when he’s forced to team up with her again.

When disaster strikes and they’re caught in the line of fire, Cody will do everything in his power to keep them both alive. Because if he doesn’t, he’ll never get to hold Miranda close again…

Buy-Links10PRE-ORDER
AMAZON | iBOOKS | B&N


Review4.5 starshot-seal-rescue-dgr-teaser

She was his for the taking. And he was going to take her. Every which way he wanted, damn her. Every which way that made her beg him for more. And then he was going to walk away and never think about her again.

Cody “Cowboy” McCormick.
Sorry. Quick pervy thought intermission….

And I’m back!

Lynn Raye Harris is filled with magic. MAGIC I tells ya! How else would it be possible for the woman to keep coming up with these sexy military heroes that are hotter than the last? I’ve devoured her Hostile Operations Team series and she’s got another huge winner with the spin-off, HOT Seal Team.

If you haven’t read the HOT series yet, no worries, you can easily read this series first and enjoy each book as a standalone. That being said, I highly recommend each book in both this series and HOT, so you won’t want want to miss it.

Harris has a knack for writing strong, kick-ass heroines, and Miranda Jane is certainly no exception. A CIA agent that’s undercover to bring to justice the man that killed her mentor, she finds herself in hot water when her identity is compromised. So what’s a girl to do? Kidnap the nearest badass looking man in the Vegas hotel lobby at gun point, of course. Unbeknownst to her, the man she thinks is not just badass looking, but really IS a badass. Navy SEAL Cody knows he can disarm the woman that’s holding a gun to him in seconds, but his curiosity gets the best of him when he sees the desperation shadow in her eyes. What begins is a whole lot of awesome!

Miranda Jane wasn’t delicate or useless. She was beautiful and lethal. And sexier than fuck, damn her.

I love that Harris is always able to combine amazing story telling, with heart pounding suspense and wrap it around an extremely sexy and satisfying romance. And boy was this sexy! I loved me some cowboy Cody. Cody is easy going and first to laugh, but he’s so intense with Miranda. I couldn’t get enough of it. Miranda was the perfect combination of vulnerable and strong. No one writes an awesome heroine quite like this author.

Why had he gotten to her? He was just a man she’d abducted in a casino so she could escape Victor Conti. A random stranger- and now he was in her system so deep she didn’t think she’d ever get him out.

Hot Seal Rescue was another huge winner for me. Each time I finish a book by Lynn Raye Harris, I say to myself that it can’t possibly get any better, and then I read the next book and it always does! I love the new SEAL additions to the HOT boys and I’m already salivating for the next installment in what’s now become one of my favorite series by an author that’s my go-to when I need a guaranteed unputdownable read that’s equal parts entertaining and sexy, with plenty of action in and out of the bedroom!


HOT SEAL (Hot SEAL Team #1)
GOODREADS | AMAZON | MY REVIEW

HOT SEAL Lover (HOT SEAL Team #2)
GOODREADS | AMAZON | MY REVIEW

Jennifer’s Review: Do You Want To Start a Scandal by @TessaDare

do-you-want-to-start-a-scandal-reviewDO YOU WANT TO START A SCANDAL
Series: Spindle Cove #5
Genre: Historical Romance
Author: Tessa Dare
Release Date: September 27, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

do-you-want-to-start-a-scandal

On the night of the Parkhurst ball, someone had a scandalous tryst in the library. Was it Lord Canby, with the maid, on the divan? Or Miss Fairchild, with a rake, against the wall? Perhaps the butler did it.

All Charlotte Highwood knows is this: it wasn’t her. But rumors to the contrary are buzzing. Unless she can discover the lovers’ true identity, she’ll be forced to marry Piers Brandon, Lord Granville—the coldest, most arrogantly handsome gentleman she’s ever had the misfortune to embrace. When it comes to emotion, the man hasn’t got a clue.

But as they set about finding the mystery lovers, Piers reveals a few secrets of his own. The oh-so-proper marquess can pick locks, land punches, tease with sly wit . . . and melt a woman’s knees with a single kiss. The only thing he guards more fiercely than Charlotte’s safety is the truth about his dark past.

Their passion is intense. The danger is real. Soon Charlotte’s feeling torn. Will she risk all to prove her innocence? Or surrender it to a man who’s sworn to never love?

Buy LinksAMAZON | iBOOKS | B&NReview-DGR5 stars

5 “Oliveview” Stars!!!!
This book is a combination of James Bond and the game of Clue, and I enjoyed every second of it. It’s witty. It’s sexy. It’s everything “Tessa Dare.” When I think of Tessa Dare, this is the perfect amount of all that she is, wrapped up in one book. Can you tell that I love her?

à la Mode St. » fashion

She unsettled him; he anchored her. Together, they could be more than they were apart.

à la Mode St. » fashionThis book is…..ONE…..GIANT……SWOON. And if you don’t like this book, then you can suck my aubergine (see below for definition of “aubergine” or you can just read this book!).

Ps. Just kidding. If you don’t like this book, that’s fine. Everyone can have their own opinion….please don’t hate me for saying suck my aubergine.

The Aubergine…aka Eggplant!!! Tessa, you put an eggplant in this book! Hilarious!!!!!!

Ok, let’s actually talk about the book.

Granville. Piers Granville…. is a spy for the Crown. He is on a mission as a guest of the house, but when Charlotte corners him to “save him” from herself, and they are caught in a misunderstood compromising situation, they have no other choice but to pursue marriage. Piers pursues Charlotte relentlessly, but I love that Charlotte doesn’t give in at first. She is determined to prove that they are too different, and she is also determined to keep her independence. I love that Charlotte knows exactly who she is and what she wants.
à la Mode St. » fashion

“Those walls, as you called them…They’re part of me now, and they are iron strong.” He lifted a hand to her face, skimming his thumb over her lower lip. “Even if I wished to, I wouldn’t know how to dismantle them.”

“I know,” she said quietly. “I know.” She wreathed her arms around his neck. “That’s why you need me. I’m going to burn them to the ground.”

à la Mode St. » fashionMy Piers:

”There is nothing untoward in Lord Granville’s mind. He has the most toward mind I’ve ever encountered.”

Men's Fashion Post on Instagram: “You can't ever go wrong with a classic style suit. Happy Friday ya'll Follow @MensFashion for more inspo!”:
My Charlotte:

No matter how she tried, Charlotte Highwood was unable to be anyone other than herself.

 :
Charlotte is…….absolutely hilarious. And so endearing. She is described as “innocent, not ignorant,” and that is perfect because she isn’t worldly like Piers, but she has a natural inclination of reading people and solving mysteries. She pursues this mystery and finds hints here and there throughout the book. I’m usually not a big fan of mystery novels, but there was less mystery and more romance, so it was perfect for me.
à la Mode St. » fashion

”If I let myself come anywhere near you” – he caught her wrists and lifted them, pinning her arms to the wall – “I’d have your skirts tossed up to your ears and my cock buried inside you before the rest of them looked up from their tea.”

à la Mode St. » fashionTessa Dare is easily in my top 5 favorite historical romance authors. Whenever I read Tessa Dare, I just know there will be swooning, and giggling and sexy times. She has the whole package when it comes to historical romance. Her books and stories are always so much fun! I have loved every Tessa Dare book that I have read so far (I’ve read 4 of her books). I got an ARC of this book…..but I’m going to be buying the paperback to have on my shelf FOREVER!!!

This is the 5th book in the series. It is a standalone, so you don’t have to read the first 4 to read this one. I only read one other book in this series before I read this one.


THE SPINDLE COVE SERIES

A NIGHT TO SURRENDER (bk 1)
ONCE UPON A WINTER’S DARE (bk 1.5)
A WEEK TO BE WICKED (bk 2) ~ Jennifer’s Review
A LADY BY MIDNIGHT (bk 3)
BEAUTY AND THE BLACKSMITH (bk 3.5)
ANY DUCHESS WILL DO (bk 4)
LORD DASHWOOD MISSED OUT  (bk 4.5)
DO YOU WANT TO START A SCANDAL (bk 5)

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