eARC Review: Kiss Me, I'm Irish by Roxanne St. Claire, Jill Shalvis + Maureen Child

KISS ME, I'M IRISH by Roxanne St. Claire, Jill Shalvis & Maureen Child
FORMAT: eBook via Netgalley
GENRE: Contemporary
LENGTH: 384 pages
PUBLISHER: Harlequin (February 21,2012)

The Sins of His Past by Roxanne St. Claire
For one incredible night, Kendra Locke gave Deuce Monroe everything she had. Then he walked away without a backward glance to chase his big-league dreams. Now after one too many daredevil stunts, he's back in his hometown ready to pick up where they left off—but Kendra has no intention of giving in so easily….

Tangling with Ty by Jill Shalvis
Dr. Nicole Mann, a child prodigy who graduated high school at the age of thirteen, has no room in her mind or her schedule for romance. But when the architect renovating her apartment turns out to have a charming Irish accent, all bets are off—and Ty Patrick O'Grady plans to use every trick in his book to stay in her life for good.

Whatever Reilly Wants by Maureen Child
Connor Reilly only has a few weeks to go in his "no sex for ninety days" bet with his brothers—and he figures no woman is safer to be around than his best friend, Emma Jacobsen. Until Emma shows up at a bar in a short skirt and high heels, and suddenly seems anything but safe!

Find Roxanne: Author Site | Twitter | Facebook | Blog
Find Jill: Author Site | Twitter | Facebook | Blog
Find Maureen: Author Site | Twitter | Facebook | Blog
Where To Buy: Amazon(pb) | Kindle | B&N(pb) | Nook | Book Depository
Book Extras: Read an Excerpt of The Sins of His Past

I love it.

REVIEW:

The Sins of His Past by Roxanne St. Claire ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
That Deuce Monroe is something else. He's returned home due to being stupid and racing a car just to end up wrecking it. Now he's back and wonders what in the heck happened to Monroe's, the bar that has been passed on from father to son. Why is Monroe's spelled with a lowercase m and who put all these computers in it and why is the smell of coffee drifting from it's open doors? Oh Deuce, you've been gone far too long.

Kendra Locke has held a torch for Deuce since she was a little girl, listening through the heater duct for all her brother's conversations with friends. One night was all it took to change Kendra's life forever and a secret that only those closest to her know. She's put Deuce out of her mind but from the minute he walks through the front doors of monroe's, her heart begins to open again; old feelings resurface. Damn you Deuce Monroe!

Everything has changed for the better. The small seaside town of Rockingham, Massachusetts has become a destination place and the economy is picking up again. Kendra must at all costs keep her secret from Deuce all the while trying to fall back in love with him. Not that she ever stopped. Now, Deuce must not only fight for changing monroe's back into Monroe's but also try to keep himself from having a reason to stay in a town that he no longer knows.

Favorite Quote:

"...Do you have everything you need?"
No. She needed blinders to keep from staring at him, and a box of tissue to wipe the drool. Throw in some steel armor for her heart and fail-safe chastity belt, and then she'd be good to go.

Overall: Roxanne St. Claire, I need to read more of you. For real. The moment Deuce was introduced, I fell in love with him. He was the bad boy with the cocky attitude who got your heart pounding but your head asking you where the heck your sanity went because he was bound to be a total jerk. Deuce hit it and quit it. Just like that. He didn't even think about the consequences. Kendra had a right to be all sorts of angry and then some. Plus, if a guy ever came waltzing back into your life with the notion that things are going to be the same the way he left it should be made to beg on his knees.

Tangling with Ty by Jill Shalvis ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
An Irishman who has tried to distance himself from his horrible beginnings gets the surprise of his life in 1)a long lost half sister and 2)a workaholic doctor who has no time for a man in her life and lives by the mantra of "stay single". Ty Patrick O'Grady has been a drifter throughout his life. After getting taken in by a man he tried to steal from and getting an education, he's moved from place to place; wanderlust in his veins. He's been tapped to renovate the building that Dr. Nicole Mann lives in.

Nicole is a child prodigy. Straight A student, graduating early, not really a people person, annoyed by her mother and her perfect sister with the nice house, white picket fence, doting husband and 2.5 children. Ty sends everything she's ever thought about staying single right down the drain. He's funny, sexy as hell and has a sometimes accent. After Ty falls through her ceiling ogling her while she's rocking out in her mismatched underwear, she takes to nursing him. The fall brought out a caring side of her that goes beyond doctor/patient feelings. She forgets what's she's supposed to do and her friends have to help her. Um, she's a doctor for goodness sake!

As Nicole nurses Ty back to health, she realizes that there's more to this sometimes accented Irish man. She must decide whether she'll go the way of her friend Suzanne and allow herself to fall in love or follow in the footsteps of her sister in singlehood, Taylor. Meanwhile, Ty is getting mysterious emails from someone claiming to be his long lost half sister. He wants to deny that she might be it but knows that it's a possibility due to his mother's sexual promiscuity.

Favorite Quote:

She'd slept on her feet before, during med school, during the long nights of residency...
A sharp click had her blinking rapidly blinking at her...door? Ty Patrick O'Grady, architect, sometimes owner of a sexy Irish lilt, man of a thousand curses and one incredible smile, held up a credit card. "Handy, these things, aren't they now?"
"You...broke in?"
"Easily."
"Are you a criminal?"
He laughed, low and sexily, damn him. "Let's just say I've been around. You need a better lock."

Overall: I think I fell in lust with Ty the moment he popped Nicole's door open with a credit card. That's a very handy skill to have. Not that I'm confessing to have knowledge of said skill. He's rough around the edges and only the right woman could make him stay. Nicole staying single didn't seem doable to me. Sure, she pretty much lived by the whole "singlehood is good" thing but puh-lease. The moment a man with an accent takes interest in you (albeit, the accent may fluctuate), get him any way you can. Being single doesn't mean you can't have sex with someone. Being single isn't taking a vow of celibacy. Oh Nicole, you poor girl. You've been looking at singlehood the wrong way.

Whatever Reilly Wants by Maureen Child ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Emma Jacobsen and Connor Reilly have been BFFs for a while and so they can shoot the breeze anytime they feel like it. No sexual tension whatsoever. Emma is one of the guys and Connor shares everything with her.

A bet between the brothers Reilly already has one brother out of the running of winning a nice sum of money bequeathed by a deceased uncle. Last man standing takes all. One catch: last man standing has to be celibate for three months. Do you know how long that is in guy time? Ages and ages and ages! Brian has gotten back with his ex-wife so that takes him out. Liam has taken vows to the church so he'll probably win considering that he'll be celibate the rest of his life. Aidan and Connor still have a chance at that money, only 2 more months.

Emma's father left her Jake's Garage. She works there fixing cars and trying to convince a little old lady to sell her son's (who's been dead for quite some time) '58 Corvette so she can restore it to its former glory. She still has yet to convince her. Emma was hurt by a jerk named Tony who got to know her (cute feminine clothes wearing Emma) and realized that he didn't much like her the way she was (coveralls, car fixing Emma). She vowed to never again let any man in.

All it takes is Connor telling Emma that he doesn't see her as a woman but a mechanic to make her go ballistic. She'll show him. Dressed up to the nines in Short Skirt and Tiny Tank Topville, Emma sets out to make Connor lose the bet by getting him in bed. Warnings from Liam and her friend Mary Alice that the plan may backfire only makes her scoff at them. Bad idea Emma!

Once the line between friends (especially a guy and a girl) is crossed, there is no turning back. Nothing will be the same again. I guess Emma didn't see Friends with Benefit or No Strings Attached. It can't be done! Nuh-uh. No flipping way. For guys, sex is physical. For girls, it's emotional. You can keep telling yourself that it's only sex but your heart will tell you otherwise.

Favorite Quote:

As a Marine, he'd learned long ago to trust the impulses that drove him. He didn't question, didn't doubt. He just did. That confidence in his own subconscious had saved his butt more than once.
And tonight those instincts had brought him here.
To Emma.
"What are they telling you to do now?"
If he told her that, she'd probably run for the hills. Because it was taking all of his self-control to keep from tearing her clothes off and tossing her onto the cool, damp grass. He wanted her naked. He wanted her beneath him. Over him. Astride him. He wanted her in every possible way, and as they stood there in the starlit shadows, that want continued to pulse and grow. "You don't want to know."

Overall: Ah yes, the best friends to lovers trope. This one does it beautifully. I laughed my way through this one. Connor's antics and thoughts after seeing Emma in a short skirt, tiny tank top and heels definitely were all sorts of inappropriate. I loved that Emma had that 'I'll show him!' attitude but wanted to scream at her that she wouldn't come out unscathed by trying to get Connor into bed. I've seen this sort of thing play once or twice before my very eyes. It's not a pretty thing. Either both parties live to laugh about it after falling head over heels in love or both parties become so very bitter that no one is allowed to ever speak the other's name in front of them. Emma didn't have to change herself. She knew who she was and totally confident in herself. Connor should have thought before he spoke. Really? A mechanic instead of a woman? *shakes head*


***review copy from Netgalley***

Review: With This Kiss by Bella Riley

WITH THIS KISS by Bella Riley
FORMAT: eBook via Netgalley
GENRE: Contemporary
LENGTH: 400 pages
PUBLISHER: Forever (March 1,2012)

Fireworks. That's what innkeeper Rebecca Campbell wants. And no matter how close their friendship, she and her former fiance never shared that. Now, with a broken engagement behind her and a promise she's vowed to keep, Rebecca is determined to make a new life for herself in Emerald Lake. She just never expected sparks to fly this quickly... Coming home and falling for his little brother's girl wasn't Sean Murphy's plan. Rebecca's sweet smile and kind heart make Sean feel at home--something he's never felt before. But a secret lingers between them, and no matter how powerful their attraction, Sean can't give his heart to a woman he can't trust. Or can he? As the days pass, Rebecca and Sean find it harder and harder to deny their desire. And they are in beautiful Emerald Lake, the perfect place for falling in love . . .

Find Bella: Author Site | Twitter | Facebook
Where To Buy: Amazon(pb) | Kindle | B&N(pb) | Nook | Powell's

Go and Buy it NOW!

Other Books in Series:

available now

REVIEW:

Everyone has secrets. For Rebecca, her secret is someone else’s secret but it doesn’t make it any easier.

Rebecca Campbell hasn’t been having a great couple of weeks. First, her wedding to Stu Murphy was called off two weeks before it was suppose to take place and then Stu just ups and leaves leaving Rebecca to run the Inn. The whole town is trying to figure out what she did to make him leave, when really the secret lies with Stu. Now, on the eve of her wedding, Stu’s brother Sean shows up and sparks fly.

Sean arrives back home just in time for his brothers wedding but it seems he missed the memo that it was canceled. Then matters get worse when he realizes that the women he was checking out was Stu’s fiancé and the woman who ran him off.

Sean can’t deny the sparks between him and Rebecca but he’s reluctant to get involved, and not just because she was his brothers fiancé. He has a secret of his own that keeps him at a distance. He knows Rebecca deserves more and he can’t offer it. Sean has been hurt by the one person who he trusted, and now his trust is basically nonexistent.

It’s unusual that I love the heroine, I don’t know why but usually she annoys me but not Rebecca. She doesn’t have the best track record with men, Stu included, and finds herself falling back into old habits of falling for unavailable men with Sean. She knows she’s going to get hurt but she can’t resist. I have a lot of respect for her. What she does to try and help Sean knowing full well that it will most likely ruin
everything for her makes me want a friend like that.

FAVORITE QUOTE:

“Sometimes loving someone enough means breaking a promise that will only hurt them if it’s kept.” She steeled herself to reopen her eyes, to hold his gaze, to keep the tears back. “You’re more important that any promise I could ever give you.”

OVERALL:
I was blown away reading With This Kiss. My stomach was in knots and I couldn’t read it fast enough. It was a story that was full of romance and just a hint of mystery. I immediately fell in love with the character and didn’t want it to end. I can’t wait to read more from Bella Riley and go back to Emerald Lake.



***review copy from Netgalley***

Review: Last Chance Beauty Queen by Hope Ramsay

LAST CHANCE BEAUTY QUEEN by Hope Ramsay
FORMAT: Paperback
GENRE: Contemporary
LENGTH: 356 pages
PUBLISHER: Forever (February 1,2012)

Dear Reader,
Gracious me, my beautiful daughter Rocky sure could use my help. I always knew she wasn't much interested in the local boys - but who'd have thought she'd come home with English royalty?
Trouble is, Hugh wants to buy some of our folks' land. We don't want to sell, but Rocky's job depends on her closing the deal. And though Hugh's obviously smitten, I'm not sure he's right for my Rocky. Oh, he's classy and handsome - and you should've seen the way he judged pies and fixed stock cars at our Watermelon Festival! - but what do we know about him, really? I know I sound like a nervous mother hen, but after forty happy years with my Elbert, all I want is to see my little girl find the same.
Well, time for me to quit chattering and get back to Miss Bray's wet set. Always nice talking to you, and remember: the Cut 'n Curl's got hot rollers, free coffee, and the best gossip in town.
See you real soon,
Ruby Rhodes

Find Hope: Author Site | Twitter | Facebook
Where To Buy: Amazon(pb) | Kindle | B&N(pb) | Nook | Book Depository
Book Extras: Read an Excerpt

I loved it

Other Books in Series(click for more):

available now

available now

coming soon

REVIEW:
This is a charming story full of laugh-out-loud moments and a sweet, down home feel that bring to mind peach cobbler, watermelon festivals and Southern beauty queens.

Caroline Rhodes has worked very hard to separate herself from her small town roots. She's now the aid to a senator and has been tasked with trying to convince the owner of Golfing For God to sell his land to an English lord so he can build a textile factory.

9 Problems and A Mean Girl Is One of Them...
1. The owner of the mini golf attraction is none other than her father. Who happens to talk to angels. Don't laugh. The angels and he have quite the relationship.

2. The dashing English lord (Hugh deBracy aka Lord Woolham) personifies every woman's vision of what an English lord should be. It's like he's stepped out of the pages of a romance novel. *sigh*

3. Caroline's real name is Rocky Rhodes and she's a former Watermelon Beauty Queen. Not something you want to announce to the outside world. She's changed her name, taken to wearing conservative clothes and straightening her hair.

4. Rocky's ex still has a thing for her while her BFF has a thing for her ex. Bubba Lockhart embarrassed the heck out of Rocky in front of the whole town by proposing to her even after she told him 'no' the first time. Now that she's back in town, he's ready to rekindle whatever they had...12 years ago. Rachel, the BFF, has always had a thing for Bubba but being the friend that she is, she kept her feelings to herself.

5. Cissy Warren, the senator's daughter, has her eyes set on Hugh and his loom design. She will do anything and everything to get it. After all, no one says 'no' to Cissy Warren.

6. Miriam Randall has foretold what kind of person each resident of Last Chance will end up with for quite some time and she's never been wrong. She sees a working man for Rocky and someone who will hand him a fortune for Hugh. According to that, Rocky and Hugh aren't supposed to end up together but what do two people who are attracted to each other do? No one wants to end up with their heart broken.

7. Small towns are notorious for having gossip spread like wildfire. It's like a horrible game of telephone where one person says one thing and it ends up being something else at the end of the line. The town thinks Bubba and Rocky are going to get back together then Dash Randall lassos her off the float and rides away with her so now the town thinks they're sweet on each other. But then Rocky was seen kissing Hugh...

8. The Committee to Resurrect Golfing for God... no one likes to tick off a group of church ladies. There's just something about the power of them that gets everyone shaking in their boots. They're totally against Rocky's father selling the land even if it means no revenue to help the small town of Last Chance not end up like other small towns who have been hit by the economic downturn.

9. A bad business partner has got Hugh in a bind. Before disappearing in a "plane crash", his business partner bought some land in Last Chance for Hugh to set up his textile factory. Thing is, there's swampland, the land was bought at a higher price and the man who owns the land next to it won't sell it because of a tourist attraction called Golfing for God. Welcome to the South Hugh.

FAVORITE QUOTE:

Too bad her libido didn't believe in Miriam Randall and her forecasts.

OVERALL: A wonderful story full of Southern charm and hilarious small town antics. Um, why have I not read any Hope Ramsay books before? This was such a cute story. Take one former Watermelon Beauty Queen turned senator's aide trying to hide her past, throw in a dashing English lord who either has to make it work in the small town of Last Chance or go home and marry a wealthy heiress, add the resident mean girl and background BFF, some eccentric family members (one both sides including a father and niece who talk to angels and an aunt who can see spirits) and a crazy ex-boyfriend and you've got one heck of an unputdownable read. Take one part Hart of Dixie, 2 parts Sweet Home Alabama and a whole lot of Southern comfort and you get a giggletastic modern day Cinderella. I'll be putting the rest of this series on The List.

***review copy provided by publisher***

Review: Sex, Lies and Valentines by Tawny Weber

SEX, LIES AND VALENTINES by Tawny Weber
FORMAT: Paperback
GENRE: Contemporary
LENGTH: 224 pages
PUBLISHER: Harlequin Blaze (January 24, 2012)

My naughty valentine...

Con artist Gabriel Black just got busted. By a babe. Drool-worthy (and clearly sneaky) FBI agent Danita Cruz is forcing Gabriel to choose between hard time and scamming his own family for an undercover sting. Now he has to present Danita to his family as his girlfriend. And it's the perfect opportunity to get wickedly even with her...

But Danita has some tricks of her own, and Gabriel's control begins slipping away as raw sexual energy takes over. Their sham relationship starts feeling a lot like...well, the real deal. The Big Question is, will overwhelming desire be enough to make a liar go legit?

Where To Find Tawny: Author Site | Twitter | Facebook
Where To Buy: Amazon(pb) | Kindle | B&N(pb) | Nook | Book Depository

I loved it

Other Books In Series(click for excerpts):


REVIEW:

Whoa! Totally did not see that ending coming. I think it's time for me to hang up my sleuthing magnifying glass and awesome Sherlock hat. This trying to figure out whodunit thing isn't working out for me.

The con man is about to get conned into the biggest game of his life---love. Gabriel Black is the youngest of the Black children and he took after his old man not only in looks but in skill. He set out to prove that he could be a greater con man than his father going as far as selling the Golden Gate Bridge to some poor idiot.

Danita Cruz does everything by the book until the devilishly handsome Gabriel shows up. She's pulled herself up from absolute poverty and bagging Tobias Black as the man behind the illegal activity in Black Oaks could land her the promotion of a lifetime. All she has to do is act as Gabriel's floozy for hire. Easier said than done.

Gabriel is being blackmailed into helping Danita try to catch his father in the act. The surprising news of his big brother Caleb getting married on Valentines day and the pressure from the FBI send him back to the town he tried to stay away from. Caleb is in love and about to marry the woo woo queen's daughter, Maya is happily in love with an FBI agent. Seems like everyone but him has found that special someone.

After Gabriel gets an 'in' with the crime ring, he uses his charm, wit and suaveness to get the chosen men to give up some of their secrets as Danita plays his ditzy companion. Danita dressed up in sexy clothing doesn't help the matter and things get heated. But they must stay focused and either find out that Tobias is behind the illegal activity or someone else that Gabriel's known his whole life.

As the stakes get higher and their chemistry practically turns into an inferno, Gabriel and Danita must figure out not only who is the kingpin but if they are willing to give in to their sizzling attraction. Forever.

FAVORITE QUOTE:

Then she unzipped the bottom of the suitcase. Gabriel frowned, wondering what she was going to pull out of her FBI bag of tricks next. A cache of weapons? A computer station complete with homing signals and listening devices? Some weird but erotic form of bondage so she could tie him to the bed and ensure he didn't run off and get into trouble during the night?

OVERALL: A solid finish for this series. Ms. Weber definitely kept me on my toes and totally blindsided me with the ring leader. Yup. That one was a doozy. The instant attraction between Danita and Gabriel had me sucking in my breath and screaming "Just do it already! Bend her over the dresser." Whaaat? Like you wouldn't do the same thing. Gabriel was charming and Danita had me laughing with her witty quips. What a pair.

***review copy provided by author***

eARC Review: Twisted Up by Lissa Matthews

TWISTED UP by Lissa Matthews
FORMAT: PDF
GENRE: Contemporary Erotic
LENGTH: 55,149 words
PUBLISHER: Samhain Publishing, Ltd. (December 20, 2011)

One rope. Three days. And two hearts on the line.

Justin has had enough. Ella, the woman who healed his broken heart, has been cancelling on him for two months straight. Sure, she’s busy with her job, which has her traveling far and wide. But that never stopped her from sharing nights of trivia, long conversations and blazing hot sex—until now. Truth to tell, he misses their easy friendship, the way her sighs fill his ear as he fills her body.

What he can’t figure out is, what’s changed?

At work, Ella finds it easy to talk to rooms full of strangers. Once back at her lonely apartment, though, she’s back to her painfully shy self—until Justin. Their chance meeting grew over the months into a year-long affair, but she can’t shake the feeling that rejection and pain are just around the corner. Best thing to do? End it now, before their intimacy digs too deep.

Suddenly he’s at her door with a length of neon-green rope and a naughty proposition, daring her to say no. Just how good could it be? There’s only one way to find out…

Warning: The sheets are tangled, the hat is crumpled, and the jeans are worn low on the hips. The cowboy is hot, determined, and helpless in the face of bunny slippers. Readers may need extra batteries to get this one out of their system.

Where To Find Lissa: Author Site | Twitter | Facebook

Where To Buy: Kindle | Nook | All Romance

I really liked it.

REVIEW:
Holy hell! Hold on to your hat, kick off your cowboy boots and keep the shower running. On cold. Heck, just read this book in a bath of ice.

This starts off with a bang *snicker*. Justin has spent a whole day driving from Texas to Alabama to see Ella. She has been avoiding him but he can't get her out of his head. He's ready for more than weekend booty calls, emails, texting and sexting. He's been in love with Ella for quite some time now but he has to convince her to stay with him.

So basically Justin kidnaps her for a few days before Ella has to be at some conference. And the road trip goes something like this:

• Justin tells Ella to take her panties off and hang on for the ride. lol
• A lot of teasing and touching and super sexy demands.
• The Sexy Times
• Flashing some random truck driver who totally approves

When they arrive at their destination, Ella realizes that she hasn't packed the right clothes for a ranch. What the heck does she needs clothes for anyway? There's a super sexy cowboy within reach. Get your priorities right, woman! 

In between The Sexy Times, Justin and Ella argue about how their relationship should progress. Justin wants to make Ella his, Ella is still a little burned from her failed marriage. She actually met Justin when she was out with friends celebrating her divorce. Anywho, Ella doesn't understand why Justin wants to be with her since she's older than him and he could find some nice younger woman to settle down with. Justin is hell bent on making Ella see that they're meant for each other even if it takes him tying her up and having crazy sexy with her all over the house, over and over and over and over again. 

After their panty melting few days together, Ella has to go to a conference. Justin drops her off at the airport and yes, The Sexy Times happens in the parking garage. He lets Ella know that she's his and that she IS going to say yes to being with him no matter what. If not, he'll just come right back and kidnap her until she relents. 

FAVORITE QUOTE:

His Ella needed affection, needed romance, needed to be manhandled more than once in a while. She needed to be treated like a woman, strong and independent. She needed to be treated as a sexual fantasy come to life, a precious slut, a desired submissive. He could give her all those things if she'd trust him enough to let him into more than just her body.

OVERALL: Lissa Mathews definitely had me blushing and gasping out loud. Holy carp! This one is a scorcher and then some. I felt like a total voyeur just reading this. The Sex was EVERYWHERE! In the car, on the bed, against the wall... Justin was a bit too possessive and somewhat whiny for me to actually like him that much but Ella somehow did not see that. If you're looking for a make you blush all the way to your toes read, this one's for you. Warning: you may begin to fan yourself so try not to read it in public. Unless you're into that. :)


***review copy provided by Brandy W***

ARC Review: All I Want Is You by Sherill Bodine

ALL I WANT IS YOU by Sherill Bodine
FORMAT: ARC
GENRE: Contemporary
MASS MARKET PAPERBACK: 352 pages
PUBLISHER: Forever (January 1, 2012)
ISBN: 9780446584357

SHE'S STEALING HIS HEART...
Vintage boutique owner Venus Smith is stunned to realize her newest acquisition comes with a larcenous legend. Stolen years ago, the antique mermaid brooch belongs to the Clayworth family. The right thing to do would be to return it, but that means facing Connor Clayworth O'Flynn, the sexy department store heir Venus has had an unrequited crush on since childhood---and the man who helped ruin her father.

ONE KISS AT A TIME.
Connor knows that Venus has never forgiven him for what happened between their families. But business isn't personal, even thought Venus's father's betrayal still cuts him like a knife. So when Venus proposes a deal---she'll return his family's brooch if he helps clear her father's name---he reluctantly agrees. As action-packed days turn into flirtatious fall nights, it isn't long before old memories resurface...and new desires ignite. Can two young lovers leave the past behind? Or must they first admit that all they've ever really wanted...was each other?

Where To Find Sherill: Author Site | Facebook | Twitter
Where To Buy: Amazon(pb) | Kindle | B&N(pb) | Nook

I loved it.

Other Books In Series:

REVIEW:
Poor Venus Smith, unlike her name, she feels like she's no goddess. She's been in an on-again, off-again "relationship" with a guy named Brad, her father's been accused of embezzlement at the company he's worked for all his life, she has weird feelings for he man who fired her father and there's just something not right about the brooch she found in the closet of Connor Clayworth O'Flynn's aunt.

Venus runs a store with her sister Diana called Pandora's Box where they sell vintage jewelry and clothing donated or on consignment from some of the well to do residents of Chicago. Her latest acquisition from an old family friend, Bridget O'Flynn, turns her whole world upside down. After a closer look at the piece, Venus realizes that the mermaid brooch is the real, honest to god, one-of-a-kind that was made for Clayworth's Department Store years ago.

Connor feels betrayed by Venus's father, Alistair due to the fact that he funneled money from the company. It was Alistair's signature on the papers, but something doesn't seem to add up. Venus is on a mission to clear her father's name as well as get to the bottom of who stole the mermaid brooch all those years ago and trying to patch up Bridget and Tony's relationship. (Backstory: Tony gave Bridget the brooch but it caused a rift between them. Tony continued to go the Taylor Street (known for an underground gambling den) but Bridget turned a blind eye. When Venus tells them that it's the real thing, another rift is torn between Tony and Bridget.)

Connor wants to get the brooch back from Venus, going as far as lying to her and telling her that Bridget wants it back. Venus refuses to give it back until she figures out a way to lure the thief and clear her father's name. Apparently, there's a connection somewhere. Venus lays out a plan, a truce of sorts, with Connor but doesn't count on falling for him.

Connor can't believe he's going with this cockamamie scheme that Venus has cooked up but he'd do anything for family. Or so he tells himself. Between his mother throwing women at him, his aunt and uncle fighting and not talking, suddenly having feelings for Venus and feeling betrayed by one of the men he looked up to, Connor must sort it all out and realize that it's okay to show emotion even if it's been ingrained into you that emotion is a weakness.

Venus is as stubborn as they come. Once she sets her mind on something, she won't let go until it's done. Clearing her father's name is her number one priority. At least it is until she ends up digging out old secrets in the form of a mermaid brooch in a closet. She must now get Bridget and Tony back and figure out who stole the brooch. After her store gets ransacked, she has no other choice than to involve Connor. As they spend more time together, Venus develops feelings for Connor which in turn confuse her. She must keep her resolve and stick to her mantra of we're just doing this to get Bridget and Tony back and my father's name cleared. Keep telling yourself that girl. *snort*

FAVORITE QUOTE:

Pulling herself together, she sat up. Every woman admitted it was possible to feel physical attraction to a gorgeous guy even if she thought him a jerk.
But what she's never thought possible before this moment was that, jerk or not, she felt sad when Connor left.

OVERALL: I enjoyed my first Sherill Bodine book. It's a wonderful laugh out loud, heartwarming read with a hint of danger. Venus was such a headcase at times that I wanted to shake her and tell her to just let it go and throw herself at Connor. I mean come on! Who wouldn't? Oh yeah. Venus wouldn't because her father was fired from his long time position as treasurer of Clayworth's. There were memorable characters like Aunt Bridget who told it like it is, Diana (Venus's sister) who was like a freaking psychic and Gregori (the kid who Connor was mentoring) who was quite cheeky. Halfway through the book I had my "aha! I know who did it" moment and for once I got it right. Bodine's naming the Smith sister's after goddesses and their father writing a book featuring goddesses brought a smile to my face. Also, the mention of two couples from previous books have peaked my attention. Thanks to the excerpts at the end of the book, I'll be adding the previous two books to The List.


***review copy provided by publisher***

ARC Review: Sanctuary Cove by Rochelle Alers

SANCTUARY COVE by Rochelle Alers
FORMAT: ARC
GENRE: Contemporary
MASS MARKET PAPERBACK: 352 pages
PUBLISHER: Forever (January 1, 2012)
ISBN: 9781455501403

SOMETIMES LOVE IS THE SIMPLEST CHOICE OF ALL.
Still reeling from her husband's untimely death, Deborah Robinson needs a fresh start. So she decides to pack up her family, box up her bookstore, and return to her grandmother's ancestral home on Cavanaugh Island. The charming town of Sanctuary Cove hold happy memories for Deborah. And, after she spies a gorgeous stranger in the local baker, it promises the possibility for a bright, new future.
Dr. Asa Monroe is at a crossroads. ever since the loss of his family, he has been a quest for faith and meaning, traveling from one town to another. When he meets Deborah, the beautiful bookstore owner with the warm eyes and sunny smile, Asa believes he has finally found a reason to stay in one place.
As friendship blossoms into romance, Deborah and As discover they may have a second chance at love. But small towns have big secrets. Before they can begin their new life together, the couple must confront a challenge they never expected...

Where To Find Rochelle: Author Site | Twitter | Facebook
Where To Buy: Amazon(pb) | Kindle | B&N(pb) | Nook

I really liked it.

REVIEW:
Ecclesiastes 3 is one of my all time favorite verses in the Bible. I'm not going to get all religious but it's the verse provided at the beginning of the book. You know the one (variations and all): "To everything there is a season... a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance..."

Deborah Robinson is a recent widow who has sold her house and moved her family from Charleston to her grandmother's home in Sanctuary Cove. She's got 2 teenagers, is opening a bookstore called The Parlor and reconnecting with old friends. Sanctuary Cove is a small town where everyone knows everyone else's business (thanks to the town gossip) including Deborah's. Her husband was accused of having an affair with a student and later drowned saving someone.

She's come to Sanctuary Cove as a way to start over. Her kids and The Parlor are her main concerns. At least until the handsome and charming Asa Monroe catches her eye. He's a snow bird, just coming down for the winter and going back home in the spring.

Asa Monroe lost his wife and child in an accident. He's been traveling from place to place, repressing his grief and all the while waiting to hear from Doctors Without Borders. Coming to Sanctuary Cove might be the best thing that's happened to him since the death of his family. In the form of one, Deborah Robinson.

Of course, Asa has had women throw themselves at him while he was staying at the boarding house but none have intrigued him as much as Deb. He knows she's looking to hire someone part time to manage The Parlor so he steps up to the plate and offers his knowledge. In a spoken agreement (after some negotiating) between Deb and Asa, he would live in the apartment above the bookstore if she could give him food money.

Once the The Parlor opens, business is booming. Deb has events planned for the bookstore including themed months, book clubs and tea time,  just to name a few. Asa is a fantastic piano player and this brings the ladies in. Things are going great. Asa and Deb are getting closer even though they're still a bit hesitant to succumb to their feelings. Deb knows that Asa is only there temporarily but her friends urge her to take a chance. She looks content and happy, like before her husband died.

FAVORITE QUOTE:

She may not have been the traditional employer, but there was no way she was going to permit someone to work for free. And she knew instinctually Asa Monroe was worth more than fifty dollars a week, perhaps even ten times that amount. His intelligence, take charge approach, and the fact that he was a very attractive man was certain to bring customers into The Parlor---female customers in particular.

OVERALL: This is such a heartwarming story of a woman and a man who lost someone very close to them but found love again. I liked the fact that Deborah was a little older than most of the heroines I normally read about (I do get a tendency to get stuck in the Regency era) and she also has older children. I think the children add a little something more to the story. They're not just fillers. Asa's inner turmoil was heartbreaking. Of course, Deb's situation was as well but losing both a spouse and child is hard. Ms. Alers introduced quite a few of the townsfolk that had me laughing, cursing and wondering. The teaser at the end of the book definitely will have me coming back to Cavanaugh Island.


***review copy provided by publisher***

Review: Crash Into You by Roni Loren

CRASH INTO YOU by Roni Loren
FORMAT: Paperback
GENRE: Contemporary Erotic
LENGTH: 352 pages
PUBLISHER: Berkley Trade (January 3,2012)
ISBN: 9780425245248

Sometimes the past can bring you to your knees...

Brynn LeBreck has dedicated herself to helping women in crisis, but she never imagined how personal her work would get, or where it would take her. Her younger sister is missing, suspected to be hiding from cops and criminals alike at a highly secretive BDSM retreat—a place where the elite escape to play out their most extreme sexual fantasies. To find her Brynn must go undercover as a sexual submissive. Unfortunately, The Ranch is invitation only. And the one Master who can get her in is from the darkest corner of Brynn’s past.

Brynn knows what attorney Reid Jamison is like once stripped of his conservative suit and tie. Years ago she left herself vulnerable only to have him crush her heart. Now she needs him again. Back on top. And he’s all too willing to engage. But as their primal desires and old wounds are exposed, the sexual games escalate—and so does the danger. Their hearts aren’t the only things at risk. Someone else is watching, playing by his own rules. And his game could be murder.

Where To Find Roni:  Author Site | Twitter | Facebook | Tumblr(NSFW-seriously)
Where To Buy: Amazon(pb) | Kindle | B&N(pb) | Nook | Book Depository | Powell's | IndieBound | Books-a-Million
Book Extras:  Read Chapter 1

I loved it

REVIEW:
The book is told with every other chapter going back to 10 years before.

THEN:
Brynn LeBreck has had quite a hard life. Her mother comes home bruised, battered and drunk from whatever man she's been with, her baby sister having to witness her mother's behavior. She's taken a job as a receptionist in the campaign office of a soon-to-be senator. On her first day she notices all the girls fawning over the soon-to-be senator's son, Reid Jamison and thinks nothing of he. After all, he's got money, is well connected and everything has been handed to him on a silver platter. What the heck would he want with a girl who would never measure up to his social circle? But want her he does. She's not like all the other girls and this intrigues him.

As the summer goes on, Brynn and Reid become closer, go out on dates and even get caught in an almost inappropriate position in his truck in a field. Reid is being pushed by his aunt and uncle (who have been like a mom and dad to him) to get together with a girl from their social circle. Brynn knows that this thing they have going on won't last. Just a summer thing since, well, she's not really the girl for him. Reid also has a secret which his aunt wants him to bury. He's got a penchant for something deviant. He wants to tie Brynn up and dominate her. His aunt thinks that Reid could end up like his father so he thinks there's something wrong with him for wanting to do that.

Brynn chances upon Reid at his friend Jace's house when he said he had family plans. When she sees the girl that Jace has invited over to help "cure" Reid, Brynn realizes that it's time to get out of their relationship. Reid confesses that there is a darker side to him and Brynn wants to help him with it. At first he refuses to allow her to do so but Brynn pushes him until he takes control.

Brynn finds out that Reid has a girlfriend and this breaks her heart. Here she was, falling for him when all along he's kept this secret from her. The way that she finds out completely broke my heart. It was just horrible.

NOW:
Brynn meets Reid at a fundraiser for The Women's Crisis Center of Dallas where she works. He's agreed to be the new lawyer for the center. From the moment Brynn's boss re-introduces them, faint feelings thought long hidden in the past resurface. She's vowed to feel nothing. This man was the lawyer for the guy who murdered her mother.

Reid is still attracted to Brynn and heaven help him, he wants to do things to her that he did 10 years ago. But he can see that she won't go for it. He soon realizes that maybe there's still something there. She wants him too but is hesitant.

The case of the guy who was sent away for Brynn's mother's murder is innocent and Reid feels it. A call from Brynn's sister saying she found something pertaining to the case brings Brynn and Reid together. After a frantic call from her sister, Brynn arrives at her sister's apartment only to find out that she's not there. Reid saves her from almost getting raped. After seeing Brynn off, looks around, trying to find the evidence that could prove his client not guilty.

Brynn soon learns that her sister may have gone to The Ranch, an invitation only club where the elite can fulfill any sexual fantasy. She decides to infiltrate the club, having had a bit of experience with being a sub, thanks to Reid. With the unwanted help of Reid who has connections, she sets out to find out more. Well, it turns out Reid's "friend" is none other than his buddy Jace. Brynn starts to freak out a bit after Jace tells her what will happen once she gets into the club: she must perform in front of an audience with her chosen Master. She asks if he will be there. He says no.

When Brynn arrives at the club, she is prepped and is introduced to the owner of The Ranch. She freaks out and blurts out that she was raped and the owner, Grant, tells her that she can use the safeword ("Texas") should she feel uncomfortable at any time during the weekend. Brynn knows that she must do this. She must find her sister even if it means giving herself over to a total stranger.

Brynn gets the shock of her life when she chooses her Master. Will she able to put aside old feelings and put on a show long enough to convince everyone that she's there to be a sub and nothing more, or will she rekindle a passion for the man that once broke her heart 10 years ago? And will they finally figure out what really broke them apart? A weekend at The Ranch will reveal secrets long buried and a gasp worthy, omg-omg-omg-I-knew-it-but-not-really-cause-I-only-figured-out-half-of-it ending.

FAVORITE QUOTE: 

The elegantly scrawled sign for Wicked blended in with the upscale shops around it, but its name left no question about the store's purpose. Leave it Reid to fail to mention that the uptown address he'd given her was a sex shop. She sighed. What else would it be? She wasn't exactly applying for membership to the PTA.

OVERALL: Roni Loren has written a sexy, sizzling, holy-carp-I-thought-my-book-might-burst-into-flames-cause-the-sex-is-smoldering-hot, heartbreaking erotic tale. Yeah. You don't see erotic and heartbreaking in the same sentence but Ms. Loren's debut is a wonderful balance of real, hard hitting issues, a bit of suspense and smoking hot, did-I-just-moan-out-loud? smexing. I was left utterly speechless once I put it down. It took me a couple of days to figure out how to go about this review. I figured out half of the answer to the long awaited mystery halfway through the book but a twist out of nowhere definitely had my jaw dropping and getting weird stares from fellow passengers as I neared the end. (Oh, did I mention that I finished this book at the airport? Yeah I did.) Well done, Ms. Loren. I look forward to your next book. The little teaser for Melt Into You had me shaking my fist at the book and wanting more.


***review copy provided by the publisher***

eARC Review: Deep Disclosure by Dee Davis

DEEP DISCLOSURE by Dee Davis
FORMAT: eBook via Netgalley
GENRE: Contemporary
MASS MARKET PAPERBACK: 369 pages
PUBLISHER: Forever (September 1, 2011)
ISBN: 9780446582926

After spending years in prison under deep cover, black ops agent Tucker Flynn joins A-Tac, an elite CIA unit masquerading as faculty at an Ivy League college. Nothing can shake him-except a vulnerable young woman marked for death.

DUAL DECEPTION

When Tucker is assigned to protect-and secretly investigate-Alexis Markham, he expects a routine mission. But this mysterious beauty has a past even darker than his: her father created a horrifying new biochemical weapon-and was murdered to keep it secret.

Alexis has spent the last decade racing to stay one step ahead of the shadowy operatives who will stop at nothing to possess her father's formula. She can trust no one, not even her handsome new bodyguard. But the heat that flares between them is impossible to resist. Will giving in to passion bring her the safety she's always craved, or will her love for Tucker draw him into a killer's sights?

Where To Find Dee: Author Site | Twitter | Facebook
Where To Buy: Amazon | Kindle | B&N | Nook | Book Depository
Book Extras: Read an Excerpt

Go and Buy it NOW!

Other Books in Series(click for excerpts):

REVIEW: 

From a sleepy little town in California to the plains of West Texas to a bank in New Orleans to a cabin near South Fork to an office of a man bent on finding the formula for aerosolizing biotoxins in Montreal to a liberal arts college that is a front for A-Tac in New York, I was taken through a dangerous high octane adventure of flying bullets at every turn, buildings getting blown up worthy of a Michael Bay production, betrayal, attraction, adrenaline pumping action, twist and turns you don't see coming. Good grief! I couldn't put this book down.  

Alexis Markham has been on the run since the night her whole family died in an explosion due to her father's involvement with creating something that could tip the scales in chemical warfare. She should have died in that explosion but due to her sneaking out to go to a game instead of the library, she survives. Her father's friend George takes her away and gives her a new identity so everyone will think she also died that night.

Tucker Flynn, presumed dead in Colombia when an undercover operation went awry, is rescued by his brother. Betrayed by his fellow operative and losing the love of his life to the hands of his traitorous operative, he's a scarred and closed off man.

From the moment Tucker sees Alexis walking into the cafe where he's having his customary cup of coffee and caramel roll, he's intrigued. He observes the her and her older friend talking, laughing and having an argument. Alexis storms out and the booth she was previously sitting in with George gets blown up. Tucker realizes that something is off. He throws himself into the investigation, going as far as introducing himself to Alexis as an old friend of George.

With the help of A-Tac, Tucker's back story regarding his history with George is implanted into the system in case someone goes snooping to confirm it. Alexis asks a friend to look Tucker up and confirm who he is. At first, she's leery of why he's helping her but the attraction between them starts to grow. Thrown into the mix is resident computer hacking guru Harrison. He helps with Alexis and Tucker's flight from the unknown bomber as they race against time to prove that neither George or Alexis are trying to selling the formula to the highest bidder. Alexis becomes suspicious as Tucker and Harrison are able to obtain get away vehicles, top secret information and anything else to help them get away from the men trailing them.

Alexis's past resurfaces and her world come crashing down. Everything and everyone she has known aren't who they seem and the worst betrayal doesn't come from Tucker (who she realizes is with the government and not a friend of George's from prison) but from her own family.

Alexis goes from not trusting anyone and running, always looking behind her to finding a group of people who automatically accept her as one of their own. At least the ladies of A-Tac do. Tucker can't believe this woman has gotten under his skin. He's willing to stick with her come hell or fire power. As the stakes get higher, the chemistry gets hotter and a jaw dropping secret is revealed, Tucker and Alexis must put aside their doubts, stand together and find their happily ever after. All while trying to stay one step ahead of 2 factions wanting a go at the formula for aerosolizing biotoxins and dodging gun toting hired muscle.

FAVORITE QUOTE: 

"Alexis felt as if she'd been dropped into some kind of fractured fairy tale where the evil king captures the prince and demands the princess give him up in order that he could live."

OVERALL: Um, Dee Davis, where have you been all 6 months of my romantic suspense reading life? Heart pounding action, cinematic worthy explosions, car chase scenes that Michael Bay would be proud of, betrayal, danger, a sizzling attraction that even flying bullets and bombs can't deter. Now this dear readers is how you get the blood pumping and the page turning faster and faster. From the first page until the last, I couldn't get enough. This was a series I jumped into and boy howdy! I'm going to have to pick up the first book for some back story. 

***review copy from Netgalley***

Review: Sex, Lies and Mistletoe by Tawny Weber

SEX, LIES AND MISTLETOE by Tawny Weber
FORMAT: Paperback
GENRE: Contemporary
MASS MARKET PAPERBACK: 224 pages
PUBLISHER: Harlequin (November 15,2011)
ISBN: 9780373796601

He sees her when she’s sleeping…

Undercover DEA agent Caleb Black is home for the holidays—possibly to bust his own father. But maybe Caleb’s con-man dad isn’t the one running drugs through the small town of Black Oak. Maybe it’s the green-eyed goddess who runs the New Age shop and has Caleb under her sultry spell.

Pandora Easton saved the family store with two words: sex sells. And her delectable aphrodisiacs really work, as she’s proven with notorious bad boy Caleb again and again and again. Little does she guess that, in the end, her most potent potion will be the truth…. (source)

Where To Find Tawny: Author Site | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
Where To Buy: Amazon | Kindle | B&N | Nook | Book Depository | Harlequin
Book Extras: Read an Excerpt

I loved it.

Other Books in Series(click on covers for excerpts):

coming January 2012

coming February 2012

REVIEW:

Whoa! Hellooo sexy prodigal son biker dude with a chip on his shoulder with a magic hoo-hoo that induces fourteen orgasms in one night.

Caleb Black ran wild when he was younger, pulling cons with his father and being a total badass with a reputation with his brother. He got tired of that life and joined the DEA. Before retiring, his friend from the FBI pulls the "owe-me card." Now he must go back to his home town (where his family pretty much runs the town) to find out who is responsible for the spike in drug trafficking. The FBI think it's his father but Caleb swears his old man is out of the business. He's gone straight and is running a bike shop (West Coast choppers style).

Pandora Easton has come back to Black Oak to run the New Age store that's slowly failing while her mother is away on a retreat. She's included a cafe where she sells aphrodisiac foods like four-layer Foreplay Chocolate Cake to help drive the sales to save the shop. There's a little something-something in there. The whole town is sexed up with these little morsels of goodness and Pandora gets feedback from the elderly citizens regarding their sex lives. Eww, no thanks.

The moment Caleb walks into Moonspun Dreams decked out in a leather jacket and butt hugging jeans, Pandora is physically attracted to him. He's all sorts of yummy and gorgeous but after getting burned by The Ex, she's cautious about who she hooks up with. The Ex was into some sort of shady dealing and she was implicated. Running away from it all, she heads to Black Oak.

The attraction is instant between Caleb and Pandora and hotter than the fire blazing in the fireplace during the coldest winter day. Caleb wonders if this woman is involved in something illegal, operating from the back of her shop. After a sizzling, panty melting, do-it-with-your-boot-on-cause-you're-too-far-gone night together, Caleb can't believe Pandora has gotten under his skin. His lust meter is sky high and Pandora feels the same. The town gossips have a new rumor to spread and happily do so. The good girl who turned down Sheriff McHottiepants and got together with Biker Bad Boy Caleb Black.

As Caleb and Pandora spent more time together, their feelings change. Caleb feels like an Asshole of The First Order for snooping around trying to find any incriminating evidence that would point to Pandora dealing drugs and using her store as a cover. After all, it's full of New Age woo-woo and people have been acting a little off since indulging in all the aphrodisiac-y treats. Pandora can't believe that she's falling for Caleb. Never again, she'd vowed to herself.

Caleb must clear his father's name as well as Pandora's while sneaking around making sure no one is the wiser about his intentions. Falling for Pandora only complicates things. He's not meant to feel tingly, sugarplum-y feelings. He's freaking Caleb Black, resident Bad Boy for goodness sake! *snort* Merry Christmas Caleb Black, you've just been hit with the magic of the holidays and her name is Pandora Easton.

FAVORITE QUOTE: 

"Are you looking for a hero?" he asked, mentally rolling his eyes. At the question, because wasn't that what all women were looking for? A mythical guy to sweep them away and make all their dreams come true? And at the idea of him being hero material.

OVERALL: A sexy, sizzling, oh my god!, laugh out loud read. A must add to your Christmas romance book reading list. My first Tawny Weber book and let me tell you, I was fanning myself when Pandora and Caleb were getting their aphrodisiac induced sexy on. This is the first of the Undercover Operatives series and I look forward to the other two Black sibling's books.

***review copy provided by Tawny Weber***

Review: Silver Sparks by Starr Ambrose

SILVER SPARKS by Starr Ambrose
FORMAT: Paperback
GENRE: Contemporary
MASS MARKET PAPERBACK: 400 pages
PUBLISHER: Pocket Star (November 29, 2011)
ISBN: 9781451623635

Her fifteen minutes are about to begin.
The Larkin sisters have been trying for years to escape their wild child reputations. So maybe breaking arrogant playboy Rafe de Luca's nose in the middle of a posh ski resort wasn't the best way for thirty-two-year-old Maggie to prove she's actually an upstanding citizen. Fortunately, Cal Drummond saw the whole incident--from Rafe's groping hands to Maggie's fiery palm in his face--and stepped in to save the day. Only now the paparazzi might blow Cal's cover. He's been trailing Rafe secretly for weeks, trying to prove the star of reality television's Trust Fund Brats is not just a jerk--he's a killer. And now that Maggie has pissed off the powerful De Luca clan and soiled Rafe's reputation, she could be his next victim. The tabloids are going crazy over the "bar bimbo" and her "love triangle," but Cal will be damned if he'll let some sleazeball get his hands on the sassy, sexy redhead. Now all he has to do is convince Maggie he's one of the good guys so together they can get their man...(source:back cover)

Where To Find Starr: Author Site| Facebook | Blog
Where to Buy:Amazon | Kindle | B&N/Nook | Book Depository
Book Extras: Read an Excerpt

I loved it.

REVIEW:

Take one fiery redhead who broke the nose of a stuck up trust fund playboy, an out of town cop on leave pursuing the murderer of his estranged sister and a rich playboy who may or may not be behind the attacks on  the aforementioned redhead and you've got a recipe for a laugh out loud, 'oh my gosh, what?!', slightly sexy and dangerous read.

Maggie Larkin, former wild child, owns and runs a reputable store that sells things that only the rich and famous would buy because it looks cool in their home. She doesn't take too kindly to being grabbed by playboy Rafe de Luca and punches him in the nose. Enter cop on leave, Cal Drummond who has been pursuing the killer of his sister. He helps her out of a jam once things go down and warns her that the De Lucas would make her life a living hell.

Being headstrong, Maggie doesn't back down. Even with the threat of her name smeared by the tabloids, stories of a bad break up and jealousy over Rafe, she keeps on chugging through thinking that scandal isn't all that bad. But as things escalate and get dangerous, Maggie realizes that maybe Cal was right. She should take precaution. Between almost getting strangled, a truck driving through the window of her store and her sister (the one who has been living a normal life and not under the Larkin spotlight) not getting a research assistant position due to her association with Maggie, everything is starting to look bad on the De Lucas.

From the first time Cal sees Maggie defend herself against Rafe to her resisting his help in finding out if the De Lucas are behind everything bad happening to her, there's a growing attraction that he can't afford to have to this reckless fiery redhead.

It seems like the sleepy little town of Barringer's Pass has some connection or other to the De Lucas. No one in wants to cross them and soon business goes down for Maggie. She must join forces with Cal and a reporter bent on exposing Rafe for who he really is and show the world that Rafe de Luca is not just partying trust fund brat but a killer and rapist. Before time runs out, Maggie and Cal must prove that the De Luca family is covering up something and they both must keep Cal's sister from being Rafe's next victim.

FAVORITE QUOTE:

"Maggie hesitated, censoring the first words that came to mind, such as smart, stubborn, bossy, arrogant and sexy as sin. She gave an involuntary jerk. Where had that last one come from?"

OVERALL: This is my first Starr Ambrose book and let me just say that I will be reading another one. To me, Maggie was such a great character. She was sassy, witty, funny and willing to stand up for herself even if it meant having the most powerful family in her town threaten her within an inch of her life. Cal on the other hand, was a by the books kind of guy. He's always alert, always prepared should anything happen. It's mostly due to the fact that he's a cop. Duh. Ms. Ambrose writes a well balanced story of laugh out loud moments paired with dangerous, heart pounding action. I must say that I sure as heck didn't see that coming at the end. I might just have to surrender my Nancy Drew sleuth card. *sigh*

***review copy provided by J.Gruenspecht at Pocket Books***

ARC Review: Any Given Christmas by Candis Terry

ANY GIVEN CHRISTMAS by Candis Terry
FORMAT: PDF
GENRE: Contemporary
PUBLISHER: Avon Impulse (November 22,2011)
ISBN: 9780062105233

Dean Silverthorne’s mother may be dead, but she still has matchmaking to do.

When an injury dashes NFL Quarterback Dean Silverthorne’s Super Bowl dreams, he heads back to Deer Lick, Montana with a chip on his wounded shoulder and more determined than ever to get back in the game. He loves his kooky family, but his trip home is nothing but a very brief Christmas visit.

His game plan didn’t include an instant attraction to Emma Hart, a feisty kindergarten teacher who seems to be the only person in Deer Lick not interested in the hometown hero. Or his dearly departed mom popping up with mistletoe in hand and meddling on the mind. Now Dean can’t help but wonder if there’s more to love than life between the goal posts.

Where To Find Candis: Author Site | Facebook | Twitter
Where To Buy: Kindle | Nook
Book Extras: Read an Excerpt

I really loved it!

Other Book in Series(click on cover to learn more):



REVIEW:

Another great Christmas read. This one had me cracking up and rooting for the all star quarterback to be brought to his knees by a small town kindergarten teacher. A story of opposites attract and the magic of the holidays that brings people together. Plus, there's a friendly ghost involved. The quarterback's mother, to be exact.

Dean Silverthone, golden boy quarterback of the Houston Stallions can no longer play due to a hard sack resulting in a torn shoulder. He's in limbo, wondering when he can get back to playing with his team or if he ever would. He's returned home to Deer Lick, Montana for his baby sister's wedding to the local sheriff and to his surprise, find a woman who says no to him.

Emma Hart, kindergarten school teacher with a hussy for a mother, an unknown father and a loving grandmother with dementia, can't believe The Dean Silverthorne has struck up a conversation with her, much less ask her to dance. She's so over guys like him. The love 'em and leave 'em type. She's heard all the gossip and rumors, seen the tabloids with his picture splashed across it, skinny supermodels on his arm. Who was he to assume every woman would fall at his feet, tear off their clothes and beg him to ravish them. Not her.

At eighteen years old, Emma got her heart broken and since then, she's tried to stay away from any sort of relationship. She's focused on teaching, getting her Masters and spending time with her grandma even if she doesn't remember Emma. When Dean comes back into town for his sister's wedding, she wonders why he's paying so much attention to her. She does everything she can to keep him at arms length.

Dean returns to Deer Lick for the holidays since his shoulder is still healing. He hasn't forgotten Emma. Funny that. She's not his type. She's got curves, she's intelligent and she challenges him like no other woman he's know, excluding his sisters and mother. Driving the old clunker that once belonged to his deceased mother, he soon starts receiving A Christmas Carol-like visits from her. (Not as creepy as the ghosts in the original Christmas Carol). Apparently she's appeared to his sister before. At first, he thinks he's gone crazy and tries to rationalize his "hallucinations". Even in death, his mother is trying to play matchmaker with the help of his newlywed sister, Kate.

Emma doesn't want to have any sort of feelings for Dean but as she gets to know him better, there's a giving and compassionate side of him the rest of the world doesn't get to see. He's has a penchant for dealing with kids and is even able to break through to one of her autistic students. Emma keeps telling herself that once Dean's shoulder is healed and the doctor gives him the okay, he'd be on the next flight out. She tries to keep from falling but sometimes Fate has a way of bringing two unlikely people together.

Dean's life has always revolved around football, it's who he is. Now that his shoulder might force him to retire from what he loves, he's at a loss until Emma comes into his life and shows him that there's more to life than football.

FAVORITE QUOTE: "For twenty years he'd played it smart and safe. A guarded heart and reliable condoms. Emma Hart was his first without either." (***quote subject to change in finished copy***)


OVERALL: This book surprised me. I thought Dean was going to be one cocky, all too confident, look at my swagger kind of football player but he's been raised right by his parents and can be knocked down a peg or two by his 2 sisters. I liked Emma. She was never one to back down. Take one injured all star NFL quarterback, a small town kindergarten teacher with a secret and one Christmas they'll never forget. Simmer in a hot tub with a sprinkling of teasing touches and witty banter. Add a few toe curling orgasms and some endearing cartoon pajamas. Heat up until it's too hot. Cool with some time apart. Throw in a meddling ghost mother and newlywed sister and you've got a recipe for a laugh out loud, sigh worthy, heartbreaking holiday read.

***review PDF provided by J.Edwards at HarperCollins in conjunction with Candis's blog tour with Goddess Fish***