Reviews Published Professional Reader Challenge Participant 80% 2016 NetGalley Challenge 50 Book Reviews

Tuesday, January 29, 2019

One Tough Cowboy (Moving Violations #1) by Lora Leigh, Veronica Chadwick

My Rating: 5 Stars
Sex Scenes: Yes.
Series: Yes, Moving Violations #1.
Subject: The forever kind of love.
Synopsis:
First in a brand-new series from #1 New York Times bestselling author Lora Leigh and Veronica Chadwick about one man’s pursuit of justice—and unbridled desire. 


LAW AND ORDER. 
For as long as Samantha can remember, Hunter—a man as strong as steel, with a heart of gold—has been her hero. It came as no surprise to Samantha when she found out that the ranch-hardened cowboy who always protected her from bullies went on to become the town’s sheriff. What does surprise her is how incredibly hot he still is. And how much she still wants him…


PRIDE AND PASSION


And, lo and behold, Hunter still has feelings for Samantha. The long-smoldering heat of their innocent flirtation has grown into a full-raging fire. But when tragedy strikes, and their small-town community is shattered, Hunter vows to do everything he can to keep his childhood sweetheart safe. But can Samantha trust that Hunter has her best interests at heart…and that, after all these years, his love is true?





























This book was amazing! it had everything, a super hot and sweet cowboy, a really strong and beautiful woman and a strange and dangerous mystery to be solved.

I think Sam and Hunter's story was really cute, the fact that they've known each other since forever and their feelings for each other had been growing since childhood gave their love story more essence. 

No love at first sight for them, they grew up together and Sam was always this messy kid for Hunter. But not anymore, now he can see her for the strong woman that she is and he can't stop himself from falling hard.

They team up in order to solve the mystery deaths of their love ones, but they can't help themselves and things get hotter by the second.

Sam's character has been through a lot and even though she knows Hunter, it's hard for her to trust him and put everything in his hands.

Hunter is used to saving her, and he is finding hard to let her help him. She is not a little girl anymore, and he needs all the help he can get.

If they survive the corruption and violence of their enemies they might have a chance at true love.
















ABOUT THE AUTHORS:


#1 New York Times bestseller Lora Leigh is the author of the Navy SEALS, the Breeds, the Elite Ops, the Callahans, the Bound Hearts, and the Nauti series.

Veronica Chadwick started storytelling when she was a little girl. She was first published in 2004. She lives in Tennessee with three cats, a very spoiled Shih Tzu and two grand dogs. When she’s not writing, she’s hanging out with friends, reading or badly playing video games.








Author website: https://loraleigh.com/

Author Twitter: @LoraLeigh_1

@RoniChadwick




SMP Romance Twitter: @SMPRomance or @heroesnhearts







Excerpt

He hadn’t changed much. He seemed bigger, his shoulders broader. His signature thick, black hair was cut in a shorter style. As he got closer, Samantha noticed his face had changed quite a bit. Any boyish softness he’d once had was all gone and had been replaced with hard planes and angles, except for his full, well-defined lips. There were fine laugh lines fanning out from the corners of his steel gray eyes. Those eyes were more intense, hard. The easy laughter that lit them when he was younger seemed to be gone.
“Ms. Bell.” He nodded in greeting to the diminutive lady.
“Good of you to come by, Sheriff. Little Samantha is handlin’ all this by herself.” She winked and patted his arm. “She could use a little help, I’m thinkin’.”
Samantha wanted to walk away. She also wanted to throw her arms around Hunter and hold on for dear life. Not just because he still made her heart pound, but because he was a part of her life she thought she’d lost. She wanted to hold on to a stable, warm part of her past where she was happy and safe. Seeing him again brought those memories and emotions all rushing back. “Hey, Sam.” The smooth, deep bass of his voice was
quiet and soothing.
“Hey, Hunter.” His name left her lips with more composure than she felt.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t make it to the funeral, but I wanted to come by to extend my condolences, and to see how you’re doin’.” He stepped closer and rubbed her bare upper arm. “You holdin’ up okay?” His hand, a bit rough and callused from real work, was warm, reassuring.
She crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m okay, Hunter, thank you.” She cleared her throat. “Everyone brought food. The dining room table is overflowing. Help yourself.”
He followed her through the living room to the dining room. She turned and almost jumped back. He was standing inches away, looking down at her. His brows furrowed, his gaze sharply assessing her. He smelled in- credible, and he stood so close she could feel the heat from his body.
She opened her mouth to say something but forgot what she wanted to say. She must look completely ignorant gaping up at him like that.
“Are you sure you’re all right?” Sympathy and concern shadowed his expression, softening the harsher lines of his face.
“It’s been a long day. I’m fine, really.” She was a basket case, and not just because of her aunt’s death.
Hunter gave her a gentle smile and pulled out a chair. “No doubt. Sit and talk to me for a while. I haven’t seen you in what? Ten years?”
Samantha welcomed the chance to get off her feet and get away from the crowd for a bit. “Yeah, about ten years, I think.”
He pulled out the chair beside her, turned it toward her, and sat, staring at her solemnly. “I’m real sorry about Dottie.”
“Me too.” She looked into his eyes, assessing whether she could or should continue. “I really didn’t get enough time with her. I’ll always regret that.”
Hunter shook his head. “Sam, you know Dottie thought the world of you. She knew you loved her and she loved you.”
Had she? Samantha couldn’t help but question the observation. School, her career, and far too many emotions had seemed to always get in the way of returning to Deerhaven.
“Yes, I know, but I look around at these people and think of how some of them probably knew her even better than I did, her own niece.” Samantha frowned and gestured toward a blue-haired woman sitting on the couch sobbing, clutching another woman’s hand. “Mrs. Holt is devastated.”
She obviously had not talked to her aunt on the phone enough either, because Dottie had never mentioned the other woman.
A small smile touched Hunter’s far-too-sensual lips as he lowered his head and leaned closer. “Sam, Irene Holt never even met Dottie. She attends any and all funerals and wails and carries on like that at every one of ’em.” Amusement touching his gaze.
Samantha looked at him incredulously until he raised his hand and said, “Hand to God. Every one of ’em.”
“Wow.” No wonder her aunt Dottie had never mentioned the other woman.
“Yep.” Hunter’s smile broadened. “As for the rest of them, they’re just being neighborly or nosy. Most of ’em still remember your family and you. You were pretty hard to forget . . . Pixie Pest.” His brows lifted playfully. Teasingly.
Samantha narrowed her eyes. “Ugh. That nickname.
I don’t know which is worse, that or Sami Jo.”
She protested it. Just as she always had. That flare of warmth she felt whenever it passed his lips was still there, though.
“You earned it.”
“Psh, whatever.” She’d actually worked at it at the time.
Hunter chuckled and she nearly sighed. Lord, she’d missed his laugh, his smile, even the way he’d tease her. She’d missed him.
“Aw, you know I was always fond of you, Pixie. You were a great kid, even if you were a pest that was constantly following me around and giving my girlfriends hell.”
She had been such a tomboy with wild, young girl fantasies of being swept off her feet by the cutest boy in Deerhaven, or the whole wide world, for that matter. He’d called her his Pixie Pest whenever he’d seen her and tugged at her long, tangled hair.
“I’m not a kid anymore.” She held his gaze and couldn’t imagine how she’d gotten so bold.
Hunter’s gaze traveled over her body, a single black brow arching slowly in acknowledgment. “I’ve noticed. I’m trying really hard to remember what a pain in the ass you used to be.”
Samantha lifted a brow. “I can still be a pain in the ass.”
“I bet you can.” The look in his eyes was making her feel way too hot, way too needy.
She didn’t want to go there. Not now. After Tom Novak, the very last thing she needed was another relation- ship. Besides all that, she was here to get answers, not to get laid.

Clearing her throat again, she changed the subject to the one on which she had to keep her focus. “Hunter, what really happened to Aunt Dottie?”






Thursday, January 17, 2019

Birthday Suit by Lauren Blakely

My Rating: 4 Stars
Sex Scenes: Yes.
Series: No. 
Subject: Years in his eyes.
Synopsis:
There is no rule in the Man Code as unbreakable as this: no matter how beautiful, smart, clever, and witty she is, do not—under any circumstances—fall in love with your best friend’s woman. 
Yeah. So there’s that. Look, it’s not like I didn’t know I screwed up by falling for her. 
Also, for the record, unrequited love sucks big time.
And, I might have cut myself some slack by now, given everything that went down in the last few years, but Lulu just walked back into my life in a big way.

***
There are three things I've never been able to resist—my friends, my family, and chocolate.
Leo Hennessy? He was nowhere on that list. He's been a true friend—a friend who walked through hell and back with me.
Now, I'm stepping into my new future. I didn't expect it to include a riddle-filled, race-against-the-clock scavenger hunt across New York City.
With Leo.
Suddenly, I'm looking at this man with new eyes...
But my life spun out because of a man once before, and I can’t risk my fresh start, no matter what the temptation. And Leo is most definitely a temptation of the sexiest, sweetest, and most dangerous variety. 
More irresistibly delicious than chocolate...

Temptation never tasted so good…
What do you get when you mix a long-simmering attraction, a dangerous secret, and a swoony hero who will sweep you off your feet? BIRTHDAY SUIT—a delicious standalone forbidden romance from #1 NYT bestseller Lauren Blakely that you’re guaranteed to love! Get your copy of BIRTHDAY SUIT now!


✮✮✮BIRTHDAY SUIT is here! Grab your copy today! ✮✮✮


ORDER YOUR COPIES HERE!


✦ Kindle US ➜ https://amzn.to/2Fojsnp
✦ Kindle UK ➜ https://amzn.to/2CiH4Wl
✦ Kindle AU ➜ https://amzn.to/2ALzzYe
✦ Kindle CA ➜ https://amzn.to/2QHDU3D
✦Apple Books ➜ https://blkly.pub/BdaySuit-AB
✦Google Play ➜ https://blkly.pub/BdaySuit-GP
✦Amazon PB ➜ https://amzn.to/2ySLrXw






Leo and Lulu had a love story of many lifetimes. They were two people meant to be together but destiny had other plans, and up until now they had been suffering through life without each other. 

They have no idea how good they could be together. Promises, friendship and loyalty stand in their way and Leo has accepted long ago that she is not meant to be his.

But life surprises them again, giving them a chance to figure out what's between them. 

Lulu has never seen Leo under this light but now that she has, she can't unseen him, it's like he has always been right there in front of her but she was blind to it.

Guilt weight on them,and the fear of making bad choices could destroy this chance once again. 

Will they be able to let go of the past and move forward? Or will they be always carrying the backpack of past hurts and mistakes that keeps pulling them down?

Lulu was such a strong character. The way she sets the standards for what she is not willing to accept for her life and relationship is a role model to every girl going through a decision moment in their lives. 

Sometimes you have to make the hard decisions, otherwise you get stuck in the same place, never growing, never moving on, never finding true happiness.




✦Performed by Andi Arndt and Sebastion York, with a Full Cast including Joe Arden, RC Bray, Jason Clarke, Shane East, Dion Graham, January LaVoy, Erin, Mallon, Robin Miles, Savannah Peachwood, and Julia Whelan✦

"A cast of TWELVE narrators work together to deliver an unforgettable performance!"

—Yvette at Nose Stuck In a Book 



"The best audiobook of 2019! Blakely has set the bar with this audio production."

—Joc, The Audio Flow Bookin Around Town










EXCERPT 

I take a moment to add up the facts, only the facts.

Lulu is here.

She’s living in New York.

I’m living in New York.

I’m about to add in one more fact, but I can’t in good conscience go there.

Besides, my heart is pounding too fast.

It’s from the incident, I tell myself.

It’s from the adrenaline rush.

It’s not from feelings.

I don’t feel a thing.

I leave the men’s room, take a drink from the water fountain, and wipe my hand across my mouth.

When I look up, she’s there.

With outstretched arms, she spins in a circle, waiting for an appraisal of her new outfit.

Her new, jaw-dropping, sexy-as-sin, might-as-well-throw-in-the-towel-and-raise-the-white-flag-of-surrender outfit.

What the hell was I thinking?

I clearly wasn’t using my brain at all. Because she’s even more alluring in this garb.

She’s only wearing the chef jacket and heels.

“Are you…?” I gesture to the outfit, the end of my words making my meaning clear? Are you naked under that?

She rolls her eyes. “Please. I have on my alpaca panties.”

“Alpaca panties?”

Her eyes twinkle. “I couldn’t resist. There was a sale on cute animal print undies with faces, you know, right here.” She gestures to her pelvis. “A six pack of giraffes, zebras, dolphins, and llamas too.” She casts her eyes down. “Wait. I have on the llama ones. I always get them confused.”

“Alpacas have shorter ears. Llama ears are banana length.”

She snaps her fingers. “Yes. Exactly. I’m wearing the big-eared animal undies, so it’s totally fine.”

Great. Now I’m thinking of her in underwear. In fucking llama underwear. Precisely the visual I’ve assembled way too many times without help, thank you very much. Minus the llamas, of course.

She tugs at the hem of the jacket, revealing the bare flesh of her thigh.

“Lulu.” It comes out like a warning.

She laughs at me. “Relax. I’m tiny; this jacket is huge. It’s like a short dress on me.”

“A very short dress.”

“I can handle a short dress. I’ve worn shorter.”

“Shorter as in ass-cheek length, Lulu?”

Her eyebrows wiggle. Her eyes—green and not so green—sparkle. “Yes. I’ve worn ass-cheek length, Leo. But I’m still decent. And you’re still my hero.”

She leans closer, rises on tippy toes, and moves her lips close, closer, closest. She dusts those lips across my cheek, and it’s like she’s an arsonist.

In one swift move, I’m on fire.



"Once again I am left dazzled by Ms. Blakely's words. Birthday Suit is a top notch romance loaded with sweetness, sexiness and heartwarming feels!! Nobody does romance quite like she does, her witty words and uniquely crafted characters are incomparable!"





~ Misty at Reds Romance Reviews


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About Lauren Blakely:

A #1 New York Times Bestselling and #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary romance style that's sweet, sexy and witty. Her heroines are strong and smart and her heroes have hearts of gold and fantastic funny bones. She lives in California with her family, including her smoking hot and hilarious husband and her two brilliant and kind children. She has plotted entire novels while walking her dogs -- she might have four dogs, or maybe five. If she's lucky, she'll soon have six dogs. With fourteen New York Times bestsellers, her titles have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestseller Lists more than 100 times, and she's sold more than 3 million books. In January she'll release BIRTHDAY SUIT, in March BEST LAID PLANS and in April THE FEEL-GOOD FACTOR. To receive an email when Lauren releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter! laurenblakely.com/newsletter



Tuesday, January 8, 2019

Reckless Love (Cowboys & Angels #7) by Kelly Elliott

My Rating: 4 Stars
Sex Scenes: Yes.
Series: Yes, Cowboys & Angels #7.
Subject: Is love strong enough?
Synopsis:
The first time I kissed Scarlet, I knew I was in trouble. 
The night I slept with her, my life changed forever. 
The day I found out I was going to be a father, I ran from her. 

Now that I’ve been given a second chance I won’t be so reckless.

Will my love be enough to prove to her that even in the darkest times I won’t repeat the past? 

Reckless Love is the last book in the Cowboys and Angels series.



Amazon Paperback - https://goo.gl/LXh5oz
Amazon UK – https://goo.gl/7NdnRK
Amazon AU – https://goo.gl/KkpRj6
iBooks UK – https://goo.gl/oqkZkc
iBooks AU – https://goo.gl/Nz5BEM
Barnes and Noble – https://goo.gl/7iN9px
Audiobook – coming soon































We already knew a little bit about Trevor and Scarlet’s story from the last Cowboys and angels book, and from the little that we knew I was sure it was going to be a painful book at first at least.


Trevor had no idea what he wanted and he for sure didn’t’ want Scarlet, or that was what it seemed like at first. He kept hurting her time and time and again and I was sure there was no turning back.



After reading this book though, I understood him a little bit more, he was scared. That didn’t make him any less of a piece of work, but it showed that he actually cared about her. The problem was that he was so scared of himself, that he was sure being with her would destroy her. 



It took almost losing her, to realize that he was not ready to let her go for good. But now he had to fight for her because he had broken her in a way that he wasn’t sure there was anything left inside of her that loved him.



Scarlet was lost; Trevor’s behavior left her wishing she could run away from everything. But things are not easy for our protagonist, she has a secret that could change everything, but revealing it could mean she would never find out his true feelings for her. 

So she became stronger, she was decided to move on; the problem now is that he is determined to not let that happen. 


Trevor is the perfect reformed bad boy, but during his road there, he was toxic and the worst thing for her. I still love him, because I enjoy a good redemption story, he started to become the person she needed him to be, but would that be enough?


I can’t believe this is the last of The Cowboys and Angels Series! I’m going to miss these amazing people who now feel like family!
























ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Kelly Elliott is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling contemporary romance author. Since finishing her bestselling Wanted series, Kelly continues to spread her wings while remaining true to her roots and giving readers stories rich with hot protective men, strong women and beautiful surroundings.
Her bestselling works include, Wanted, Broken, Without You, and Unconditional Love, to name just a few.
Kelly has been passionate about writing since she was fifteen. After years of filling journals with stories, she finally followed her dream and published her first novel, Wanted, in November of 2012.
Kelly lives in central Texas with her husband, daughter, and two pups. When she’s not writing, Kelly enjoys reading and spending time with her family. She is down to earth and very in touch with her readers, both on social media and at signings.
To find out more about Kelly and her books, you can find her through her website.



www.kellyelliottauthor.com





Monday, January 7, 2019

Finding Alexei by Kendall Ryan

My Rating: 4 Stars
Sex Scenes: Yes.
Series: No.
Subject: Not your regular fairy tale.
Synopsis:
He’s bossy, moody, and overprotective. 

He’s also a pro athlete who needs to focus on winning games and staying out of the headlines.

I’m fiercely independent and need a man like I need a second period each month.

So when our worlds collide, I never expected him to be the one to jump in and save me. Especially not when my roommate disappears, leaving me with her baby.

I’m clueless about babies—and it shows. Good thing Alexei isn’t. With six nieces and nephews and an apparent hero complex, the dude is both sexy and more than capable. It’s a combination that makes it easy to forget we’re just playing house.















The moment Alexei sees her he knows she needs him and he is also sure that he is in trouble. Ryleigh is like nothing he has ever seen, he feels drawn to her in a way he can't quite understand yet. 

What he is certain of is that he needs to help her. After finding out about baby Ella he makes it his problem to be there for them. There's no apparent reason for why he is doing this for them, other than the fact that he feels he has to with every part of his being.

Ryleigh is used to struggling, this amazing guy showing up and doing things for her scares her because nothing about the situation is normal, and lowering her guard could mean heartbreak in the near future. She won't believe the fairy tale yet, she needs to be smarter than that.

Alexei has the biggest task in front of him, will he be able to resist this woman, and if he isn't, will he mange to make her trust him?

Sometimes in life you are given an unexpected gift and it's up to you to make the best of it, or you might end up missing out on the best thing of your life.







Finding alexei kendall ryan