Showing posts with label contemporary romance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label contemporary romance. Show all posts

Wednesday, 26 November 2014

Book Review: Six Months In Montana by Pamela M. Kelley

Title: Six Months In Montana
Author: Pamela M. Kelley
Series: Montana Sweet Western Romance - #1
ISBN-13: 978-0-6159-3291-0
Publisher: Piping Plover Press
Release Date: December 11th 2013
Genre/s: Contemporary Romance
Format: E-book; 215 pages
Source: Purchased

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Synopsis

Molly Bishop loves living in Manhattan and managing a boutique luxury hotel. A visit home to Montana and a meddling matchmaking grandfather of childhood friend Christian Ford, (who is now too hot for his own good) may result in a marriage in Montanta... It's not real, but could it be? 

This is what I would call a cozy romance, it's romantic and sweet and is set in a small fictional town about 30 miles from Bozeman, MT. Warning, if you prefer your stories with the bedroom doors wide open and the windows steamed up, you may be disappointed. :) 

I love to cook and try new recipes and if you do too, you may want to check out the recipe I included at the end of the book, for Lazy Lobster Casserole, the dish that Molly serves her guests at the Rose Cottage Inn's first wine dinner. It's a recipe I know by heart and have made a million times and is great for special occasions. It's a holiday tradition in our family to have it every Christmas Eve. :) 




Book Review: Crash by Vanessa Waltz

Title: Crash
Author: Vanessa Waltz
Series: Billionaires - #2
ASIN: B00JXO4WGW
Publisher:
Release Date: April 24th 2014
Genre/s: Contemporary Romance
Format: E-book; 177 pages
Source: Bought

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Synopsis

Will Pardini is a temptation Natalie does NOT need right now. 

Months after calling off her engagement, Natalie is trying to rebuild her failing career and impress her eternally disappointed parents. She has too much on her plate already, but the offer Will gives her - to travel the world working as a graphic designer for his luxury hotels - is much too tempting to refuse. 

Reformed bad boy billionaire Will Pardini has had his fill of ditzy golddiggers. Natalie is everything he'd ever hoped for but never dreamed could be real. Around her, he's just a normal guy. 

Around her, he doesn't feel like such a monster. 

Will has been hiding a dark secret... one that shows up just when he thought he would be able to move on with his life. One that threatens to tear apart the fragile connection he's been building with Natalie and turn his world upside down. 

Is it right to let someone love you more than you deserve to be loved? 



Monday, 10 November 2014

Book Review: Loving Lauren by Jill Sanders

Title: Loving Lauren
Author: Jill Sanders
Series: West - #1
ASIN: B00J096MG8
Publisher: 
Release Date: March 13, 2013
Genre/s: Contemporary Romance
Format: E-book; 219 pages
Source: Bought

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Synopsis

Lauren had been raised to not be afraid of anything, and she lived by that code, that is until her dad died and left everything in her hands. Now she’s not only in charge of her two younger sisters, but she’s running a full-blown Texas ranch. Caring for a thousand‑acre ranch has its ups and downs, physically, mentally, and financially. All she is looking for is a little break. What she doesn't have time for is someone who will only complicate her life further.

Chase is back in his hometown. Helping his dad with his veterinary practice is high on his list. So is being with the lovely Lauren West. Years ago, he found a unique way to bind them together. Now all he has to do is prove to her that he’s the right man to spend the rest of her life with.



Wednesday, 1 October 2014

Book Review: Love Finds You by Ivy Alexander

Title: Love Finds You
Author: Ivy Alexander
Series: Helena's Grove - #1
ISBN-13:
Publisher:
Release Date: June 7th 2014
Genre/s: Contemporary Romance
Format: E-Book; 176 pages
Source: Bought

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Synopsis

Jennifer Berkley is a straightforward, ambitious, soon-to-be lawyer in the fast, driven city of New York. She doesn’t have the patience or time to deal with people who can’t or won’t give her what she wants. When her father asks her to visit her aunt in Ohio as her last dying wish, Jen is immediately resistant, but reconsiders when her father makes her an offer she can’t refuse. 

Jen finds Ohio a much different pace than New York, and is beginning to enjoy country life when she meets Zack LaFaye, a good-looking, helpful man who is adored by her aunt. Each encounter with him leaves Jen flustered and annoyed. The question is glaring: does she have feelings for him, or does she hate him so much that she can’t decide? ...

Tuesday, 2 September 2014

Book Blitz!! The Boys Next Door by Rosalie Lario




The Boys Next Door by Rosalie Lario
Release Date: September 1st 2014
Genres: New Adult & Contemporary Romance


The Blurb

Life just got a bit more complicated…
After a heartbreaking betrayal, Lexi Ferrell is determined to get far away from her small hometown. So when she scores a scholarship to a prestigious law school in Miami, she jumps at the chance to live right on South Beach. Sun, sand, and an endless stream of beautiful people: who could resist? But her apartment complex provides far more than she asked for…in the form of two yummy new neighbors.

Matt Eisler and Ben Santos are best friends. Nothing could tear them apart...or so they thought. But when Lexi enters their life, neither one can resist wanting to make her his own.

Torn between the hot surfer boy and his exotic Latino roommate, Lexi vows to stay away from them both. But as she soon discovers, Matt and Ben are impossible to resist. And they’ll take her any way they can get her…even if it’s together. Could the three of them ever make it work? Because now that she’s experienced one night of unforgettable passion, the last thing she could ever do is choose between the boys next door.


About The Author

Rosalie Lario is the award-winning, paranormal romance author of the Demons of Infernum and the Fallen Warriors series. Rosalie double majored in Anthropology and Classics as an undergraduate student, and briefly considered becoming an archaeologist before realizing they don’t actually live the life of Indiana Jones. So what was a classical geek armed with a lot of useless knowledge to do? Become a lawyer, of course!

After attending law school in Florida, she practiced real estate law for several years before finally admitting to herself that negotiating contracts wasn’t  nearly as fun as dreaming up stories. She never imagined all the mythology she studied would one day make the perfect fodder for the paranormal romance stories she now dreams up!

When not writing, she enjoys spending time with her family in their home state of Florida




Excerpt

Matt turns to me and says, “Lexi, I want to talk about what happened between us a few weeks ago.”
My body stiffens and I suck in a breath as he turns to face me.
A slow smile transforms his features, and he reaches a hand out to cup my cheek. “You’re so difficult to read sometimes.”
“I am?” This comes as a shock to me. Here I’ve been terrified I was too easy to read.
He nods. “Sometimes I think you like me, that you’re interested in being more than friends. But other times, I don’t know.”
“I …” Blinking, I admit, “I don’t know what I want.”
“That’s okay. I know what you went through with your ex. I know how that probably affected you.” His eyes softens, and his voice drops to a whisper. “I want you to know that I’m interested in you. Definitely as more than friends.”
“I know,” I whisper back, then he’s there in front of me. His mouth lowers to mine. I consider drawing back, but before I can figure it out, his lips are on mine, soft and pliant. They coax my mouth open, and his tongue slips inside.
Waves of erotic pleasure glide through my body, meeting right at my hardening nipples and between my thighs. He deepens the kiss, and I barely notice the bottle dropping from my hand to the sand. Caught up in the kiss, I return to reality when he drops his own bottle and closes his hands around my thighs, lifting me to straddle his hips. The thickness of his arousal grazes that sensitive spot between my thighs through our clothes, and suddenly I’m all too aware of what’s happening.
“No.” I tear away from him, almost collapsing as I drop to the ground and stumble backward.
“What?” His expression is tortured. “What is it, Lexi? You’re not a virgin, are you?”
“Huh?” A shocked laugh tumbles from my mouth. “N-no.”
Sighing, he rakes a hand through his hair. “Then what?”
My chest is tight and my stomach rumbles like I’m about to throw up. I can’t keep doing this anymore. I can’t. “I … something happened with Ben.”
Matt stops cold, his eyes going wide in disbelief. “Ben? My roommate Ben?”
“Yes.” Shame spirals through me as I scrub my hands across my face. ”We didn’t mean for anything to happen. It just did. And now I’m so confused.”
He’s silent for a long time, so long I finally get the nerve to look him in the eye. His brows are scrunched together, and he looks bewildered.
“Did you two sleep together?” he finally asks.
“No!” I start toward him, but stop once I realize what I’m doing. “No, we didn’t. We kissed.”
And other things, but I’m not about to go into specifics with him, that’s for sure.
He shakes his head. “When?”
“I-Islamorada. That night you crashed early.” Suddenly cold, I wrap my arms around my waist. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t want to keep it from you, but I didn’t know what to do.”
He glances over the ocean, scrubbing his hand through his hair, then turns back with a sigh. “I don’t know what to say.”
His perplexed tone makes me want to cry. I could have avoided all this had I been honest. Better yet, had I honored my vow to stay away from boys this year. Instead, I’ve screwed it all up, and I’ve hurt a genuine and sweet guy.
I hope I haven’t ruined a friendship as well. I know firsthand what it’s like to lose a friend to betrayal. It sucks. I still miss talking with Amy and hanging out with her. If my friendship with Matt and Ben ends because of my stupid indecision, it will devastate me.
Oh shit, Ben is going to kill me when he finds out.
Suddenly, I have to get away. I have to flee.
“I’m so sorry, Matt.”

Turning on my heels, I race through the sand.


Friday, 29 August 2014

Book Review: Random

Title: Random
Author: Lark O'Neal
Series: Going the Distance - #1
ISBN-13: 978-1-9376-8848-6
Publisher: Barbara Samuel
Release Date: March 20th 2014
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Format: E-Book; 265 pages
Source: Purchased

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The Blurb

Life is random... 


19-year-old Jess Donovan knows better than most that life is random. Her mom is dead, and she's on her own, patching together a living as a waitress when a car crashes through the restaurant where she works. In two seconds, she loses her job, watches her best friend hauled away in an ambulance...and meets Tyler Smith, one of the hottest, most fascinating--and mysterious guys she's ever met. 

Both for the good and the bad... 

Within days, Jess is swept up into the mesmerizing force that is Tyler. Their every touch sizzles, every kiss dissolves them both, and the sex is...fierce. But there's more to Tyler than his hypnotic eyes. He's adrift, too, and his body--and his soul--are covered with scars. How can she find herself with a guy who is lost himself? 

Until you take charge.... 

Jess is determined to find her way, and make a life that is better than the one she was given. But how?

My Thoughts


This book didn't really do it for me. It was okay, but it didn't really keep my interest, which is why it took my like eight days to read. I really liked the end, and only because it was a total blindside: Tyler's Past - I definitely didn't see it coming. But I was also quite sad because after everything that happened I felt that Jess deserved some happiness in the end. 


The novel dragged and I really didn't fully understand Lena's completely outrageous hatred towards Jess. The characters were okay...Henry was a really oddball, and the same with her "real" father. 


The book left me with a lot of questions that will probably go unanswered. I don't think I'll read the rest of the series. 


My Rating: 2.5


About The Author


Lark O’Neal has waited tables, dispensed drugs to schizophrenics, loaded trucks, answered phones in a call center and tended bar, but the only thing she ever really wanted was to write novels. She writes new adult contemporary romance and paranormal young adult. 


As a noted romance and women's fiction writers, she has won many awards for her books, and writes full time from Colorado. 



Thursday, 21 August 2014

Book Review: Random Acts of Crazy


















Title: Random Acts of Crazy
Author: Julia Kent
Series: Random - #1
ASIN: B00CXVTKA0
Publisher: Createspace
Release Date: May 21st 2013
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Format: Ebook; 334 Pages
Source: Purchased

Goodreads

Synopsis: (From Goodreads)

I never intended to pick up a naked hitchhiker wearing nothing but a guitar. A guitar. Really. I don't collect guys like that (don't ask what kind of guys I do collect), but when you spot a blonde, tanned, sculpted man with a gorgeous smile and his thumb poking up and practically begging you to stop – you stop.

And I definitely never thought I'd be staring into the bright blue eyes of Trevor Connor, the lead singer for Random Acts of Crazy, an indie rock star I followed like the slobbering fileshare fangirl I am. How he came to be nude and lost six hundred miles from home is quite the tale, but how we fell in love is even more unreal.

Because someone like Trevor Connor, headed to Harvard Law next year, isn't supposed to want someone like me, a rural Ohio chick majoring in Boredom at Convenience Store University who is all curves and frizzy blonde hair and manners so unpolished they have sharp edges that make you bleed.

But he did.

When his best friend, Joe Ross, the bass player for Random Acts of Crazy and a man who makes Calvin Klein models look like Shrek, drove eleven hours through the night to rescue him, though, it got real complicated. It's one thing to like two different guys and be torn.

What do you do, though, when maybe – just maybe – you don't have to choose?

As my Aunt Josie says sometimes, "It's always complicated."

My Thoughts

I was really disappointed with this book. It had great potential in the beginning but took a running start in the opposite direction.

I made a great attempt or so I thought, to like this book, but I failed. What really threw me off first was the author's writing style. The way she wrote I had to make sure who was talking because I felt that sometimes the attitude never changed. It probably also didn't help, with the vastly large amount of profanities dropped in one sentence. I understand that Darla was raised in a trailer park but there should have been a line drawn somewhere and there wasn't. There was also a large amount of inappropriate sexual innuendos every time a conversation started up between Darla, Trevor and Joe. 

I felt the characters were....they could have been a lot better. 

Joe was too shallow and way too much of an asshole. 
Trevor was shallow and selfish
Darla was pretty much the trailer trash ho she was protrayed as though she could have done better for herself but she gave up too easily. Life isn't handed to you on a silver platter. 

It was over dramatized Darla and Trevor were from too different worlds way too much. Again I feel there should have been a line drawn. 

While reading this novel I cringed. I didn't want to but it happened. I really wanted to like this novel but unfortunately it didn't happen. 

My Rating: 1/5


Tuesday, 19 August 2014

Book Review: Own the Wind


Title: Own the Wind
Author: Kristen Ashley
Series: Chaos - #1
ISBN-13: 978-1-4555-9925-7
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Release Date: January 1st 2013
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Format: Paperback; 389 pages
Source: Purchased

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Buy Here: Amazon & Kobo

Synopsis
(From Goodreads)

Tabitha Allen grew up in the thick of Chaos--the Chaos Motorcycle Club, that is. Her father is Chaos' leader, and the club has always had her back. But one rider was different from the start. When Tabby was running wild, Shy Cage was there. When tragedy tore her life apart, he helped her piece it back together. And now, Tabby's thinking about much more than friendship...

Tabby is everything Shy's ever wanted, but everything he thinks he can't have. She's beautiful, smart, and as his friend's daughter, untouchable. Shy never expected more than friendship, so when Tabby indicates she wants more--much more--he feels like the luckiest man alive. But even lucky men can crash and burn...


My Thoughts

The novel overall was good, it started out pretty awesome but I was really disappointed in the end. The ending was good too, but it just felt like it took forever to get there, and it dragged to the point where I admit I started skimming pages.

I loved Tabby from Motorcycle Man and I felt bad for her having to go through all that bullcrap her mom put her through. Her life also leading up to the start of her relationship with Shy was quite sad and there were a lot of tears shed.

This book did drag in the end with the bit about her friend and after everything that happened I'm very disappointed with the results = it was all for nothing!

Needless to say the end wasn't my favourite part. But the beginning was.

I didn't like how some of the characters acted in the novel, when Shy and Tabby came out of dating in secret. I thought the way they were treated was unjust and unfair considering their both consenting adults.

I feel my least favourite character who has made an appearance in ever novel I've read so far including this one is now to me an attention hog. Like why does she keep popping up!

My Rating: 3.5/5

About the Author

Kristen Ashley grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana, and has lived in Denver, Colorado, and the west Country of England. Thus she has been blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her posse is loopy (to say the least), but loopy is good when you want to write.

Kristen was raised in a house with a large and multi-generational family. They lived on a small farm in a small town in the heartland, and Kristen grew up listening to the strains of Glenn Miller, the Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon, and Whitesnake. Needless to say growing up in a housefull of music and love was a goodway to grow up. And as she keeps growing up, it keeps getting better.

You can find her here:

Goodreads
Website
Facebook & Twitter

Sunday, 10 August 2014

Book Review: Nora Roberts Land

Title: Nora Roberts Land
Author: Ava Miles
Series: Dare Valley - #1
ISBN-13: 978-1-4905-2751-6
Publisher: CreateSpace
Release Date: July 2nd 2013
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Format: E-book; 378 pages
Source: Purchased e-book

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Synopsis

Journalist Meredith Hale's ex-husband claimed her Nora Roberts addiction gave her unrealistic expectations about marriage, and she believed him. All dreams of happily ever after - or Nora Roberts Land as her mother calls it - went up in smoke. But when her family asks her to temporarily help their Dare Valley, Colorado newspaper, she decides it's time to change her life and prove her ex wrong. She's determined to find her own small-town Nora Roberts hero, prove that true love exists, and publish a story about her quest.

War correspondent Tanner McBride has just returned stateside to work for a major newspaper, and the last thing he expects is blackmail. Yet, before he can even unpack, he's headed to Colorado. His assignment? Make his boss's ex-wife fall for him and then break her heart. Her article about discovering love a la Nora might air dirty laundry about her marriage to the media mogul, threatening his senate run. The mogul wants Meredith stopped, and he makes sure Tanner has no choice in the matter.

When the two meet, the sparks between them are undeniable. Meredith who vowed never to date another journalist, begins to succumb. Could Tanner be her Nora Roberts hero? As they work together to uncover the truth behind suspicious death, the depth of their feelings unfolds and both realize they've kept their secrets for far too long. But before the truth can be revealed, their investigation takes a deadly turn, one that might make Meredith's personal Nora Roberts Land go up in flames.

My Thoughts

I love Nora Roberts, I'm a huge fan and I have even made it my mission to read all the books she's ever written. So when I stumbled upon this novel on Amazon I said "hey why not give this a shot"

I was not disappointed. This book was hilarious, and sad. There were moments when I had a crying jag. It was extremely well written and all the characters were likeable even Meredith's ex-husband Richard; whom you pretty much hated the majority of the novel for making Meredith's life hell.

I loved Meredith and her sassy alter ego. It gave me quite a laugh. The references to Nora Roberts novels - and the characters was refreshing and different.

The play stayed unexpected, there was never a dull moment. The bad guys were unrelenting and at moments it made me scared at what would happen next.

I can't wait to read the second novel in the series. I really can't wait to find out about Jill and Brian.

My Rating: 4/5

About the Author

USA Today Bestselling Author Ava Miles burst onto the contemporary romance scene after recieving Nora Roberts' blessing for her use of Ms. Roberts' name in her debut novel, the #1 National Bestseller Nora Roberts Land, which kicked off her small town series, Dare Valley, and brought praise from reviewers and readers alike. Ava has also released a connected series called Dare River, set outside the country music capital of Nashville.

Far from the first in her family to embrace writing, Ava comes from a long line of journalists. Ever since her great-great-grandfather won ownership of a newspaper in a poker game in 1892, her family had something to do with telling stories, whether to share news or, in her case, fiction. Her clan is still reporting on local events more than one hundred years later at their family newspaper, much like the Hale family in her Dare Valley series.

Ava is fast becoming a favourite author in light contemporary romance (Tome Tender) and is known for funny, emotional stories about family and empowerment. Ava's background is as diverse as her characters. She's a former chef, worked as a long time conflict expert rebuilding warzones, and now writes full time from her own small town community.
(from goodreads)

You can find her here:
Goodreads
Website
Facebook & Twitter

Thursday, 31 July 2014

Book Review: Heart Racer

Title: Heart Racer
Author: Marian Tee
Series: Heart Racer - #1
ASIN: B00JZVLFP4
Publisher: Jaded Speck Publishing
Release Date: April 27th 2014
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Format: E-book; 87 pages
Source: Purchased E-book

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Synopsis

With the elections coming up and his father wanting a seat in Parliament, Leandro Christopoulos needed to reinvent his public image from playboy underground motor racer to boring upright role model.

The Solution: Bobby Granger. Bobby, which was short for Roberta, supposedly the smartest girl in school, and recently voted as Young Philanthropist of the Year.

Unfortunately, she was not his type - snarky, old-fashioned, bookish and most importantly of all - the kind who needed to be in love before going to bed with a guy.

High maintenance was his first thought. Find another girl was what his initial instincts told him. But then accidentally Leandro saw her naked, and he knew he was just going to have to lie about falling in love with her. (From Goodreads)

My Thoughts

This was a good book, well novella, and I'm interested in seeing where Bobby and Leandro's story goes. It was a tad short but action packed from the beginning. After reading it though I fear the synopsis is a bit off from my perspective.

There were a few things that I didn't like, things that will hopefully be explained in other books (hopefully!!).

The synopsis of the book I felt made Leandro out to be a tad shallow when in the book he's not really. I mean he comes off a bit like a pompous ass (pardon my language) in the beginning but that wears off and we really see how he is. I hope his story and background is told in a bit more detail and I have to admit I had the wrong impressions about him in the beginning but impressions change and mine definitely did.

I liked Bobby in the beginning though I feel by the end after the whole sex bit her personality changed completely, which correct me if I'm wrong does sex really change a person that much? Not as much as I felt it changed her.

A few characters I felt were thrown in there just for the hell of it; Leandros' motorcross group. One chapter maybe two and thats it?

And what happened to his father's pollitics? The novel cut off at the center of it all, it was all starting to come together when the novel felt she had to end the book. So now what? Hopefully all will be explained in the next one.

My Rating: 4/5

Favorite Passage

...he found himself at the front door of a red-brick building asking for Bobby.
"Are you Leandro Criss-Cross?" Leandro nearly choked at the way the older harried-looking woman butchard his family's last name, which was one of the oldest and most illustrious in Greece. 
"I am Leandro Cristopoulos, yes."... 

About The Author

Marian Tee is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of steamy romantic comedies. She is Filipino-Chinese and lives in the Philippines. She is a frustrated mangaka, is addicted to horror movies, misses hip-hop dancing, and loves all things Japanese. Her best works include The Greek Billionaire Romance Serials, of which the first installment, The Art of Catching a Greek Billionaire, is available to download for free. (From the book)

You can find her here:
Goodreads
Website
Facebook & Twitter

Wednesday, 23 July 2014

Book Review: Motorcycle Man

Title: Motorcycle Man
Author: Kristen Ashley
Series: Dream Man - #4
ISBN-13: 978-1-4555-9924-0
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Release Date: January 28th 2014
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Format: Paperback - 487 pages

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Synopsis

Tyra Masters has had enough drama to last a lifetime. Now she's back on track and looking forward to her new, quiet life - until she meets the man of her dreams. The tattooed, muscled biker plies her with tequila...and the best sex of her life. She knows it isn't just the tequila and hot sex talking - he's the kind of man she's always wanted. Unfortunately, he's also her new boss.

Kane "Tack" Allen has a rule. He doesn't employ someone he's slept with. So when he learns he spent last night in bed with his new office manager, he quickly fires Tyra. Yet when Tyra stands up to him and fights for her job, Tack is intrigued. He tells her she can keep her job on one condition: no more sex. Ever. But as things heat up between them, Tack finds that he'll be the one breaking all the rules.

My Thoughts

HOLY HELL!! THAT WAS FREAKING AWESOME!!!

Ok, the whole series was awesome but man did KA ever save the best for last. Motorcycle Man was explosive! Beyond words explosive!! Not to mention Tack is now my favourite guy from the entire series by far. MM had the right amounts of bits of everything, the perfect amount of steamy, the right amount of rough, tough, hot piece of man and the daring heroine.

I was quite sad when Tack was first introduced in Mystery Man and his thing with Gwen was a tad short lived , but after being introduced to Tyra and getting to know her in this book, I was kind of glad that Gwen ended up with who she did. Tack and Tyra are perfect for each other and they even each other out.

I really hope that now KA has introduced Chaos that there will be more novels on Chaos MC. She introduced a lot of interesting biker's that I would love to get to know more. The setting she created and background is quite intriguing and I can't wait to read more. I absolutely love Kristen Ashley.

My Rating: 5/5

Kristen Ashley grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana, and has lived in Denver, Colorado, and the west Country of England. Thus she has been blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her posse is loopy (to say the least), but loopy is good when you want to write.

Kristen was raised in a house with a large and multi-generational family. They lived on a small farm in a small town in the heartland, and Kristen grew up listening to the strains of Glenn Miller, the Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon, and Whitesnake. Needless to say growing up in a housefull of music and love was a goodway to grow up. And as she keeps growing up, it keeps getting better.

You can find her here:

Goodreads
Website
Facebook & Twitter

The Dream Man Series


Mystery Man
Book - #1
My Rating - 4/5 & Review

Synopsis

While drinking cosmopolitans, Gwendolyn Kidd meets the man of her dreams. Then she takes him home. Then she wakes up alone. But her fear that she lost her dream man turns into a relationship with a mystery man when, night after night in the dead of night, he comes back for more. Hoping it will blossom into something real, she lets him.

But she doesn't even know his name.

Gwen's struggling with the decision to end their crazy non-relationship when her sister-from-hell Ginger's best friend pays a visit and warns Gwen that if she and her sister don't get smart, they'll both get d-e-a-d, dead. Gwen has no clue what's going on but she's used to Ginger's antics and decided to lay the problem on her sisters biker boyfriend's doorstep. Bad choice. She hits the Denver Underground radar with a big, loud ping.

This means Gwen's Mystery Man, Cabe "Hawk" Delgado has to step in to keep her safe. But when Hawk gets a dose of Gwen in the daylight, he makes the decision that he finally wants real with Gwen. However when Gwen gets a dose of badass, bossy, straight-talker Hawk in the daylight, she decides she's done.

Thus begins the head-to-head of the Commando vs. Cosmo Girl as Hawk woos Gwen in his own unique way, Gwen survives firebombs, drive-bys, kidnappings, hot pursuits by biker hotties and gorgeous police detectives and discovers the heartbreaking reason why Hawk kept her at arm's length.

And as all this happens, Gwen finds that her sister's troubles are serious trouble and she must decide who to keep alive: her sister-from-hell or the man of her dreams.
(From Goodreads)

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Wild Man
Book #2
My Rating: 5/5 & Review

Synopsis

While filling her display case in her bakery, the bell over the door sounds and Tessa O'Hara looks up and sees the man of her dreams. Within thirty seconds he asks her out for a beer. Thirty seconds later, she says yes. But after four months of falling in love, she discovers he's an undercover DEA Agent investigating the possibility she's involved in her ex-husband's drug business.

Obviously Tess decides this means it's over.

But DEA Agent Brock Lucas disagrees. A man on a mission who's really committed to his job, he's spent years in the underbelly of Denver with the dregs of society. And spending four months with Tess who's as sweet as her cupcakes, he seriously enjoyed his job. But during Tess's interrogation, Brock learns the devastating secret Tess is carrying and he's determined to be the man who helps her heal as well as take her back as she walks on the wild side.

As wild and sweet mix, they face challenge after challenge of family struggling with history and terminal illness. Not to mention, Tess's ex-husband, the drug lord and Brock's ex-wife, who has a very big playbook are scheming to tear them apart.

But Brock Lucas has wild in him and once in his past on the trail of vengeance he let that wild loose, making a mistake that he would have no idea years later will put his sweet Tess in the position to pay his penance.
(From Goodreads)

Buy Here: Amazon
Kobo
Add to Goodreads

Law Man
Book - #3
My Rating - 3.75 & Review

Synopsis

Love is just around the corner...

Sweet, shy Mara Hanover is in love with her neighbour. For four years, she has secretly watched her dream man from afar. Handsome police detective Mitch Lawson is way out of her league. She's a girl from the wrong side of the tracks, and theres no way a guy like Mitch would want anything to do with her. But when Mara has a leaky faucet that she can't fix, it's Mitch who comes to her rescue.

Mitch has been eyeing his beautiful neighbour for a long time. He jumps at the chance to help her, and soon their formerly platonic relationship gets very hot and heavy. But when Mara gets a disturbing phone call from her cousin's kids, she gets pulled back into the life she's tried so hard to leave behind. Can the hot law man convince Mara to let go of her past - and build a future with him?

Buy Here: Amazon

Add to Goodreads

Monday, 21 July 2014

Book Review: Law Man

Title: Law Man
Author: Kristen Ashley
Series: Dream Man - #3
ISBN-13: 978-1-4555-9922-6
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Release Date: February 4 2012
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: Purchased Paperback

Goodreads
Buy Here: Amazon

Synopsis

Love is just around the corner...

Sweet, shy Mara Hanover is in love with her neighbour. For four years, she has secretly watched her dream man from afar. Handsome police detective Mitch Lawson is way out of her league. She's a girl from the wrong side of the tracks, and theres no way a guy like Mitch would want anything to do with her. But when Mara has a leaky faucet that she can't fix, it's Mitch who comes to her rescue.

Mitch has been eyeing his beautiful neighbour for a long time. He jumps at the chance to help her, and soon their formerly platonic relationship gets very hot and heavy. But when Mara gets a disturbing phone call from her cousin's kids, she gets pulled back into the life she's tried so hard to leave behind. Can the hot law man convince Mara to let go of her past - and build a future with him?

My Thoughts

So I'd have to say that out of three of four books that i've read of this series, this one is my least favourite. Don't get me wrong it was good, damn good, I just didn't find it as good as the other two.

Since theres a gigantic amount of things that I do love about this book I'll name the few that made me not like this book.

Number 1: I loved the characters, they were awesome, I liked especially the way characters from the other books were tied in and made appearances. However there were somethings about the female main character: Mara Hanover that I didn't like. She was a well rounded character but I felt that the way the author wrote her in, her personality it became to repetitive throughout the book. It was always in your face that she was again taking a step back because she was afraid. Every time things got good she'd turn around and run right back into "Mara World". I felt like I spent too much time in Mara world. Maybe you were supposed to feel like that, but it was something I didn't like and it made the novel drag a little bit.

Number 2: Elvira. I liked her appearances in the other novels but this time not so much. For the brief appearance she did make in this novel I felt that she was quite overbearing, and despite that being her personality I felt it was too overdone in this novel.

Number 3: In the novel when the "trailer trash twins" showed up, I never really got that. Sure Mara's mom wanted to one up her daughter and try to put her in her place < her own thoughts, but what was in it for her aunt? Did her mom really spend whatever little money she had to her name to track down her daughter that she hadn't seen in years just to get under her skin and give some undeserved payback? And again might I mention what did her aunt get out of it? The reasoning for them even showing up in the first place  was a little vague. It didn't go into detail too much and I kinda felt they popped up out of nowhere and disappeared just as fast.

But like I said at the beginning of my review, it was still a good book.

My Rating: 3.75/5

About the Author

Kristen Ashley grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana, and has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus she has been blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her posse is loopy (to say the least), but loopy is good when you want to write. Kristen was raised in a house with a large and multigenerational family. They lived on a very small farm in a small town in the heartland, and Kristen grew up listening to the strains of Glenn Miller, the Everly Brothers, ROE Speedwagon and Whitesnake. Needless to say, growing up in a housefull of music and love was a good way to grow up. And as she keeps growing up, it keeps getting better.

Goodreads
Authors Website

The Dream Man Series

Mystery Man
Book #1
My Rating: 4/5 & Review

Synopsis

While drinking cosmopolitans, Gwendolyn Kidd meets the man of her dreams. Then she takes him home. Then she wakes up alone. But her fear that she lost her dream man turns into a relationship with a mystery man when, night after night in the dead of night, he comes back for more. Hoping it will blossom into something real, she lets him.

But she doesn't even know his name.

Gwen's struggling with the decision to end their crazy non-relationship when her sister-from-hell Ginger's best friend pays a visit and warns Gwen that if she and her sister don't get smart, they'll both get d-e-a-d, dead. Gwen has no clue what's going on but she's used to Ginger's antics and decided to lay the problem on her sisters biker boyfriend's doorstep. Bad choice. She hits the Denver Underground radar with a big, loud ping.

This means Gwen's Mystery Man, Cabe "Hawk" Delgado has to step in to keep her safe. But when Hawk gets a dose of Gwen in the daylight, he makes the decision that he finally wants real with Gwen. However when Gwen gets a dose of badass, bossy, straight-talker Hawk in the daylight, she decides she's done.

Thus begins the head-to-head of the Commando vs. Cosmo Girl as Hawk woos Gwen in his own unique way, Gwen survives firebombs, drive-bys, kidnappings, hot pursuits by biker hotties and gorgeous police detectives and discovers the heartbreaking reason why Hawk kept her at arm's length.

And as all this happens, Gwen finds that her sister's troubles are serious trouble and she must decide who to keep alive: her sister-from-hell or the man of her dreams.
(From Goodreads)

Buy Here: Amazon
Goodreads


Wild Man
Book #2
My Rating: 5/5 & Review

Synopsis

While filling her display case in her bakery, the bell over the door sounds and Tessa O'Hara looks up and sees the man of her dreams. Within thirty seconds he asks her out for a beer. Thirty seconds later, she says yes. But after four months of falling in love, she discovers he's an undercover DEA Agent investigating the possibility she's involved in her ex-husband's drug business.

Obviously Tess decides this means it's over.

But DEA Agent Brock Lucas disagrees. A man on a mission who's really committed to his job, he's spent years in the underbelly of Denver with the dregs of society. And spending four months with Tess who's as sweet as her cupcakes, he seriously enjoyed his job. But during Tess's interrogation, Brock learns the devastating secret Tess is carrying and he's determined to be the man who helps her heal as well as take her back as she walks on the wild side.

As wild and sweet mix, they face challenge after challenge of family struggling with history and terminal illness. Not to mention, Tess's ex-husband, the drug lord and Brock's ex-wife, who has a very big playbook are scheming to tear them apart.

But Brock Lucas has wild in him and once in his past on the trail of vengeance he let that wild loose, making a mistake that he would have no idea years later will put his sweet Tess in the position to pay his penance.
(From Goodreads)

Buy Here: Amazon
Goodreads



Wednesday, 2 July 2014

Book Review: Wild Man

Title: Wild Man
Author: Kristen Ashley
Series: Dream Man - #2
Publisher: Forever
Release Date: October 29th 2013
ISBN-13: 978-1-4555-9920-0
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: Purchased Paperback

Goodreads
Buy From: Amazon

Synopsis

While filling the display case in her bakery, Tess O'Hara hears the bell over the door and looks up to see the man of her dreams. Within thirty seconds he asks her out for a beer. But after four months of dating, she discovers he's an undercover DEA agent - and he's investigating her possible role in her ex-husbands drug business. For Tess, this means their relationship is over.

Brock disagrees. He's commited to his anti-drug mission, but he's fallen in love with the beautiful woman who's as sweet as her cupcakes - and he'll do anything to win her back. Standing between Tess and Brock are their own exes, one of them a drug lord whose determined  to get what he wants. Now as danger threatens, can Brock break the rules he's lived by and let loose his wild side to protect the woman he loves?

My Thoughts

LOVED IT!!!!
This one was better than the first one, for me in the sense that it didn't introduce a crap load of characters that didn't really have a major play in the plot. The set up was awesome, and I didn't really expect the second book to have a major character that wasn't in the first one. In the first book we just had met Det. Brock, it was a curve ball that he'd was the MMC, a lovely surprise.

There were some serious sad moments and some hilarious moments but Tess and Brock battled through it all and they eventually and finally got their happily ever after that they had been searching for. The author didn't leave any loose ends and I'm happy to say that I have no complaints.

I will definitely read the rest of the series.

My Rating: 5/5




Monday, 23 June 2014

Book Review: Mystery Man

Title: Mystery Man
Author: Kristen Ashley
Series: Dream Man - #1
Publisher: Forever
Release Date: August 27 2013
ISBN-13: 978-1-4555-9981-9
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: Published Paperback

Goodreads
Buy Here: Amazon

Synopsis

Gwendolyn Kidd has met the man of her dreams. He's hot, he's sexy, and what started as a no-names-exchanged night of passion has blossomed into a year-and-a-half-long pleasure fest. Sure it's a little strange that he only appears in her bed at night, but Gwen is so sure he's the one, she just can't turn him away.

Hawk Delgado knows more about Gwen than she could ever imagine. She's gorgeous, headstrong, and skittish about relationships. But Hawk is facing his own demons, demons that keep him from connecting with anyone. Yet when Gwen is drawn into Denver's lethal underground scene, Hawk's protective nature comes out in full force. The problem is, when Gwen gets a dose of Hawk's alpha attitude in the daylight, she's not so sure he's the one anymore...

My Thoughts

I really liked this novel. It was just what I was looking for; something to fill my head with fairytales and happily ever afters and was just what the book store clerk recommended. I didn't really like it off the top though, I felt like the author introduced too many characters at once and after the first chapter I had to read the back of the book to check and see which guy Gwen was seeing after dark.

After that though the novel really did grow on me. So much so that I can't wait to read the rest of the series. There were some parts though that I felt were kind of thrown in there and the time in the plot didn't really call for them. And with all the available men the author introduced I wonder if they'll be in the rest of the series.

My Rating: 4/5

About the Author

Kristen Ashley grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana and has lived in Denver, Colorado, and the west country of England. Thus she has been blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her posse is loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write.
Kristen was raised in a house with a large muilti-generational family. They lived on a small farm in a small town in the heartland, and Kristen grew up listening to the strains of Glenn Miller, the Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon, and Whitesnake.
Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music and love was a good way to grow up. And she keeps growing up, it keeps getting better.

You can find her: Goodreads & her website

Tuesday, 13 May 2014

Book Review: Her Knight In Shining Armour

Title: Her Knight In Shining Armour
Author: Robyn Rychards
Series:
Publisher: Escape Publishing
Release Date: March 1st 2014
ISBN-13: 978-0-8579-9138-6
Source: Netgalley
Genre: Romance

Synopsis

She may not need a knight in shining armour to save her, but that doesn't mean she's going to look a gift knight in the visor...

Paisley doesn't needs a knight in shining armour to rescue her from her high-powered abusive ex-husband. She's got it covered on her own: she's changed her name, liquidated her assets and has a plan to disappear in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Psychiatrist Sterling James has absolutely no intention of being anyone's savior. The only woman he has any time for is his sister. But circumstances change when Sterling finds Paisley in an unexpected and life-threatening situation. Brought in to the drama of her escape, Sterling finds himself invested, and he can't move on until he knows Paisley is going to be safe.

It should be simple enough exercise to get Paisley out of the park and into her new life. But nothing is ever as good as it should be, and Sterling soon discovers that even if her ex-husband buys the setup, he might not be able to watch Paisley go...

My Thoughts

Definitely going to be added to my "must reread" list. This novel was both hilarious and sad in different situations.

I really enjoyed this book, it was a genuine love story, guy saving girl type novel and really hit my inner girly girl. It was short and sweet and didn't drag on, the novel was full of adventure and action which is what I like to see most of the time. The plot kept you on the edge of suspense - and your wondering at every turn if Paisley is going to be found by her ex. It was thrilling, and the characters were very loveable.

The novel was set in a setting that was different from the ones i'm used to reading about. It's not every day your heroines find themselves falling in love while camping in the national park. It was different and a breath of fresh air. The camping setting made Paisley and Sterling's, situation a bit humorous and I had a great laugh.

My Rating: 5/5

About The Author
Robyn Rychards grew up in the granola bowl of the United States, Boulder Colorado, a town filled with fruits, flakes and nuts. She considers herself a Jack-of-all-trades-master-of-none and has taught herself to sew, paint, play the piano, garden, cook, the list goes on. But now that her books are published, she’s thrilled to finally be considered a master of one. At least as much as a person can be, for the learning never really stops.

She feels her active imagination is a blessing and a curse, with the blessing far outweighing the curse since it has led her to fulfil her dream of writing for Harlequin. Robyn started writing stories when she was a teenager because she didn’t have enough books to read. Sometimes she finds it hard to believe that people are willing to pay her to do something she enjoys so much, but mostly she’s happy to have such a wonderful excuse not to cook and clean. And a job that means you can stay in your jammies as long as you want? Priceless.

Her Knight In Shining Armour on Goodreads
Robyn Rychards