Saturday, November 25, 2017

Make Me Want by Katee Robert


I think this book is a pretty good start to the new Harlequin Dare line.  The story is a bit edgier, a little more explicit, but still a very tasteful romance.  The story, the dialogue and the setting are realistic and contemporary.  I love that Lucy, is a high powered attorney that always wins.  She wants a promotion, but since she works for old fashioned men, she feels like she might need to get married to secure the promotion.  I don’t think this was meant in a disrespectful way, but it is still the reality for women in the workplace.  Lucy is pretty much ready for an arranged marriage.  She can’t trust herself to find the right guy.  She tried and she is still recovering from the heartache and betrayal from her ex-fiance. She asks for some help from Gideon Novak, who was her ex-fiance’s friend (but her friend as well), because he is a successful headhunter who knows a lot of people.  The reader will quickly see that Lucy and Gideon have a thing for each other and have for a very long time.  Gideon can’t believe that Lucy is asking him to find her a husband, but he agrees because he feels partly responsible for what his cheating friend did to her.  Lucy also asks Gideon for some sex lessons because she has been made to feel like she is totally inadequate in the bedroom based on what her ex used to tell her.  Gideon is reluctant to agree to this outrageous request, but not because he doesn’t want Lucy, but because he doesn’t want to lose her friendship again *swoon*.

Hot sex ensues and you can tell that both characters are getting their feelings for each other all mixed up.  Gideon finds it almost impossible to try to find a husband for the woman he loves, but doesn’t totally realize that he loves...you can see where this is going…  It takes some meddling from others to get things on the right path for Lucy and Gideon.  Fortunately, the reader gets to enjoy some scorching sex, witty dialogue and just an all out enjoyable story that will have you cheering at the end.  Pick this book up if you are ready for a happy ending!

Getting Down to Business by Allison B Hanson


I picked up this book because I had read the first one and really enjoyed it.  It can be read as a stand alone, but a few of the characters from the first book are mentioned in this one.  Our characters, Alyssa and Grayson, are in New York City.  Alyssa does not do relationships, but she does do one night stands, which is how she meets Grayson.  As she leaves the next morning, she figures she won’t have to see him ever again and there will be no awkward 2nd date.  However, Alyssa’s roommate is pissed that she was kicked out of her apartment for a hookup and she decides to kick Alyssa out.  She needs to find a place and quickly.  To make things worse, she runs into Grayson while at her usual coffee stop and then comes to find out he works in her building for the same company!  Things cannot get any worse as far as running into a one night stand.  However, both Alyssa and Grayson keep thinking about each other and it’s clear that the chemistry is explosive between them.  They seem to be a perfect match.  However, Alyssa’s past has something dark in it and she won’t let herself end up in another relationship.  Grayson has his work cut out for him.

There is a secondary couple in this book, Chanda and Doug.  They seem to be an opposite match, but they are so cute together that you can’t help but root for them.  Both Alyssa and Doug had their self-confidence shattered in previous relationships, so a lot of patience is needed from Grayson and Chanda.  But that is what keeps the reader hooked.  You won’t be able to put this book down once you start reading it.  You’ll be rooting for most everyone to have a HEA :)  So far, it’s been a cute series that takes place at work and will make your heart happy.

Off Limits by Clare Connelly book review


This is a fun, sexy, steamy romance to start and finish during a lazy weekend.  The author will introduce you to billionaire sexy Irishman, Jack Grant.  He’s been very successful in his business life and not so much in his love life.  Although he does manwhore his way through hordes of women.  Gemma Picton, Jack’s in house counsel, has been developing feelings for her boss and she tries pretty hard not to feel those feelings.  She knows something bad happened with Jack’s wife, but she doesn’t push because that part of his life is closed off to everyone. The reader will be along for the ride with Gemma as she discovers his secrets.  Gemma also has some secrets of her own that deal with her family.  It is important for Gemma to use her education to help other people and she is really good at what she does.  Gemma is very career driven and successful.  Her grandma plays a very sweet and funny secondary character and as a reader, I was rooting for Grandma to make Gemma listen to her advice.

There is a lot of sex in this book, but it does not take away from the plot and the romance.  The reader will be drawn into the story, trying to figure out what makes Jack and Gemma finally change their minds about love.  Their chemistry is off the charts and this makes for a perfect HEA read.

Friday, November 24, 2017

A Week to be Wild by JC Harroway book review

I was really excited to start reading the new Harlequin Dare line of books and as I started reading this story, I realized I had read it before.  I must have received a copy through some other reader group.  It was probably a pretty early ARC so that I hadn’t seen a cover reveal yet.  This cover is pretty hot!  I’d say that it goes along perfectly with the new Dare line.


Overall, it’s a pretty quick read, but if you are looking for a quick romance with an erotic edge, this book might be for you.  I had expected that newer stories would be a bit more erotic/explicit, not crossing over into anything taboo...but just a bit more risque.  This book definitely dials up the heat a bit, but there is still some mystery and you are trying to figure out more about the characters backgrounds.  I’d still put it in the contemporary romance category.


The main characters are Libby and Alex Lancaster, who is a sexy, single, British billionaire. He is clearly successful and usually gets what he wants, and his pursuit of Libby is no exception.  Libby is a small business owner who is really good at marketing.  She goes to London to present at a lecture and Alex has definitely noticed her.  He wants to hire Libby for some work, but she doesn’t really understand why he would ask her, so she keeps turning him down.  Partly because she is totally attracted to him and cannot imagine a strictly professional relationship...the story is gets pretty good as Alex puts some effort into pursuing Libby ;)  Their chemistry is definitely explosive and they grow to mean a lot to each other in just a short week.  Libby is convinced this is all going to be over because she lives in the US and Alex lives in England, so she is still a bit hesitant, although she does decide to enjoy her week with Alex.

This book is a great choice when you know you are in the mood for a HEA and some steamy sex scenes. The cover is sexy and I think it does a good job reflecting the tone of the story.

Tempted & Taken by Rhenna Morgan book review


I feel like I can’t do this series justice with this book review of Tempted & Taken.  First of all, I LOVE THIS SERIES!!!  I’ve read each one at least 3 times.  It’s not particularly easy to find a good romance series that you want to keep coming back too.  It’s a good day when a new book is released in this series….although I know it’s also going to be a long night because this book was just as un-putdownable as the previous three.

Soooo, I feel like I keep coming back to #TeamZeke, but for the duration of this book and a few days after….I was #TeamKnox.  I love myself a hot, smart, computer nerd.  I am all about a partner who can continuously challenge you intellectually.   The loyalty he demonstrates towards his friends and family is worthy of a swoon.

I think this book could be a standalone, but it is SO much better if you have read the previous ones because you will feel like you already know the character a little bit.  And you have the backstory as to what is going on and how Jace, Zeke and Trevor found their significant others.  You also have high expectations for some hot, kinky, scorching sex scenes. *fans self*

As soon as you meet, JJ Simpson (aka Darya Volkova), you know she is hiding something.  She has a job that pays her bills, but she wants more for herself and she went through great lengths to set up a meeting with Knox Torren to ask him to become her mentor.  It seems as though Knox knows she is hiding something, but he can’t figure it out and it’s driving him crazy because he can always figure things out.  He agrees to mentor Darya, but they try to keep things at a friend level because they are co-workers.  Their attraction is off the charts and being “friends” is not going to work out.  They both fall hard for each other, they just need to figure out a way to get out of the mysterious mess that Darya is in.

This book took a bit of a different approach as to who the “bad guy” was.  Because of Darya’s background, the storyline is a bit more international.  Some high-tech spying, hacking, mystery, suspense and off the charts sex, you will wish you picked it up sooner. Once you start reading about Darya and Knox, you won’t be able to stop.  If you have been reading this series, then you probably already bought this book.  If you are looking for a new series to start on this Black Friday, you can’t go wrong with this one.

Halloween at the Graff by Sinclair Jayne book review

Walker Wilder found herself in the small town of Marietta, Montana, trying to move forward after her previous life imploded, leaving her at the point of starting over.  We get the impression at the start of the book that she is done with men.  Her energy is focused on bring guests to the Graff hotel and making them a destination.  She wants to start by working on a family friendly Halloween event.  Walker needed some publicity for the hotel, so she invited Calum Quest and his Ghost Quest to see if the setting at the Graff would make for a good show.

Calum wants to be done with is show because it’s just gotten too big and he is not passionate about it anymore.  He’s been on the road too long and now something is just missing.  He is more than ready to film the finale of his show.  He came to Marietta because it’s on his way to his friend, Laird Walker’s, house where he will take a much needed break.  He wasn’t really looking for a location for his last show.

This was the first book that I have read by Sinclair Jayne and I didn’t really know what to expect.  It was definitely a sweet romance.  I love the Halloween holiday theme and the bit of paranormal activity.  I don’t think I have ever read a ghost hunting romance, so it was fun!  This book has some hot chemistry, some awkward moments, funny lines, an underlying mystery and definitely adventure.  The dialogue between the characters flows effortlessly and the sparks definitely are flying.  Calum was totally my book boyfriend while I was reading this book.  He was hot, romantic and had a take-charge attitude.  The author can’t go wrong with a man looking for a long term commitment ;)  Read this book if you are looking for a sweet romance. *dreamy sigh*