Monday, February 29, 2016

Review: Fight to the Finish by Jeanette Murray

Fight to the Finish by Jeanette Murray
Series: First to Fight, Book 3
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Contemporary Romance
ISBN: 9780425279281
Release Date: March 1, 2016
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N

Kara is a single mom working hard to keep life running smoothly for herself and her son, but a custody battle is wearing her down. When her friend suggests asking a JAG officer for some unofficial advice, Kara agrees—and soon finds herself officially head over heels…

As a Judge Advocate, Graham has seen his share of nasty custody disputes—and he plans on keeping his distance from this one. But this purposeful, passionate woman has a way of drawing him ever closer to the edge. And when Kara’s ex starts to throw his weight around, Graham will have to choose between toeing the line or stepping into the ring…

Fight to the Finish is sexy, funny, and completely addictive. I’ve been dying to read Kara and Graham’s story since they first struck sparks off one another in Below the Belt, and author Jeanette Murray did not disappoint. Kara and Graham’s book is a wonderful blend of reality and romantic fantasy – aka the perfect kind of story to be swept away by.

Graham won me over from the start. He’s a sexy-as-hell Marine and a lawyer to boot, but it’s his incredibly open heart that grabbed my attention. He’s head-over-heels for Kara and fully admits it to himself, but he’s patient and respectful of her boundaries. He’s generous to a fault, but no doormat. Graham is essentially the perfect combination of strength and protectiveness with a healthy dose of sensuality and humor thrown in. I loved that he not only fell for Kara, he developed a father-son relationship with her son, Zach, that stood on its own two feet and wasn’t a by-product of his burgeoning relationship with Kara. As for Kara, she’s a single mom who has worked her tail off making a life for her son. I admired her strength, resilience, and her intelligence. Life isn’t easy for Kara, between her son’s severe food allergies and Zach’s deadbeat dad. Going into Fight to the Finish, I was a bit worried what I’d think of Kara’s reasons for pushing Graham away (since it’s been obvious throughout the series he has a thing for her). The obstacles in Kara’s path aren’t merely ones thrown in for romantic tension. I won’t spoil the story, so suffice it to say her ex is a jerk who would ruin her life and Zach’s if he could. Ms. Murray makes every obstacle in Graham and Kara’s path worth overcoming, because these two are downright fantastic as a couple. Their romance is the perfect blend of sexy and sweet.

Fight to the Finish is the third book in the First to Fight series. What makes this series as a whole so charming are the relationships between the main characters. Brad, Marianne, Greg, and Reagan (from Below the Belt and Against the Ropes) all play strong supporting roles and the book would not have been the same without them. The friendships are an integral part of the story, adding a lot of humor and even more heart to the tale. Add in the resolution of the mystery involving who is trying to sabotage the Marine Corps boxing team and you have an incredibly full, interesting story.

All three First to Fight books have featured smart, likeable, mature characters, and Fight to the Finish is no exception. I absolutely adored Kara and Graham and I am completely enamored with their romance. I finished Fight to the Finish a well-satisfied reader and I cannot wait to read Graham and Kara’s story again!


FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Monday, February 22, 2016

Review: Magic Shifts by Ilona Andrews

Magic Shifts by Ilona Andrews
Series: Kate Daniels, Book 8
Publisher: Ace
Genre: Urban Fantasy
ISBN: 9780425270684
Paperback Release Date: February 23, 2016
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N
Ilona Andrews Reading Order

Magic is coming and going in waves in post-Shift Atlanta—and each crest leaves danger in its wake…

After breaking from life with the Pack, mercenary Kate Daniels and her mate—former Beast Lord Curran Lennart—are adjusting to a very different pace. While they’re thrilled to escape all the infighting, Kate and Curran know that separating from the Pack completely is a process that will take time.

But when they learn that their friend Eduardo has gone missing, Kate and Curran shift their focus to investigate his disappearance. As they dig further into the merc’s business, they discover that the Mercenary Guild has gone to hell and that Eduardo’s recent assignments are connected in the most sinister way…

An ancient enemy has arisen, and Kate and Curran are the only ones who can stop it—before it takes their city apart piece by piece.

Magic Shifts is a gripping, high-energy, fascinating read the likes of which only the dynamic writing team that is Ilona Andrews can deliver. Fans of the Kate Daniels series have come to expect an exciting, well-crafted, humorous, and unique adventure with each book in the series and Magic Shifts does not disappoint.

In their latest outing, Curran and Kate are adjusting to their new roles in life. No longer the Beast Lord and Consort, they must separate themselves from the Pack, which is easier said than done. While there are definitely some benefits to being civilians, Kate and Curran’s lives have been so wrapped up in the Pack for so long that it’s not always an easy adjustment. It’s interesting to watch them – and their friends – deal with the new order, and between Curran adjusting to life in the suburbs and Pack members circumventing the rules there are plenty of laughs to be found in this story. I can’t count the number of times I grinned at Kate’s one-liners and I am in awe of how seamlessly the authors blend humor and action.

But Magic Shifts isn’t all wry humor and ghoul-slaying. When one of their friends goes missing, Kate and Curran are thrust into the middle of a mystery that involves monsters, mercs, and mayhem. I won’t go into detail for fear of spoiling the story. Suffice it to say that – while the book’s main villain is as interesting and well-researched as one would expect and the stakes are high – the real treat for fans is that we learn new and important information about Kate that moves the overarching story forward. We also get to see how Kate and Curran are likely to find places for themselves on this new path they’ve taken. There is a lot going on in Magic Shifts, but somehow the authors keep the story light on its feet. Every new piece of information we learn is woven perfectly into the fabric of the overall series, making this an incredibly satisfying read on two levels – as an individual book and as a piece of a greater world. Also, don’t get me started on the scenes with Roland. I never expected to love the big bad of the series, but the authors have really outdone themselves in crafting a complex, interesting, shockingly appealing villain.

Magic Shifts is the eighth main novel in the Kate Daniels series. Though the authors do provide a sufficient amount of background information so that you could follow along if you were new to the books, this is unquestionably a series best read in order. Kate, Curran, and the family they’ve made for themselves have all grown and developed in fascinating ways over the course of the series. Every new story adds layers to the overarching plot and these fully-drawn, endearing characters, making it impossible not to care about them. The small moments and the large in this book all have meaning when you follow the series, and truly, there isn’t a dull moment to be found. I simply cannot do this story justice without spoiling the book, so I’ll leave you with this: fans of Kate Daniels, don’t miss Magic Shifts!


FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Monday, February 15, 2016

Review: Sweet Seduction by Daire St. Denis

Sweet Seduction by Daire St. Denis
Publisher: Harlequin Blaze
Genre: Erotic Contemporary Romance
ISBN: 9780373798896
Release Date: February 23, 2016
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N

All it takes is one sweet taste…

Daisy Sinclair knows how to make a guy moan with raw pleasure. She should, as owner of the best damn bakery in Chicago. Her cinnamon buns are borderline orgasmic! Of course, standing in front of the city’s biggest (and sexy-as-hell) food critic in her skivvies isn’t the most professional first impression. Especially when he has a wicked glint in his eye…

Jamie Forsythe isn’t exactly a food critic; his twin brother is. One look at Daisy’s mouthwatering curves, and Jamie knows only that he wants to have his cake and Daisy, too. Attraction mixed with deception is a recipe for disaster—the naughtiest, hottest kind imaginable. And there's no way Jamie can resist being sent to bed…with Daisy as dessert!

A sweet baker with some serious skills in the kitchen meets a sexy lawyer with equally serious skills in the bedroom in Sweet Seduction. Daire St. Denis will make you crave cinnamon buns from Nana Sin’s…and perhaps will also leave you wanting a certain handsome lawyer for your own as well.

Sweet Seduction starts off as a simply case of deception. Jamie’s twin, Colin, is a renowned food critic who has run into some problems. He needs Jamie to do the write-up on Nana Sin’s and (good brother that he is) Jamie agrees. Jamie doesn’t expect the instant attraction he feels for Daisy, and now he’s stuck between a rock and a hard place. Fortunately, the deception doesn’t last long, which enables readers to sit back and enjoy Daisy and Jamie’s romance. It’s easy to like both our hero and heroine – they’re likeable, hardworking characters and they have great chemistry in and out of the bedroom.

Where Sweet Seduction falters for me isn’t the romance, but the obstacles in Jamie and Daisy’s path. There are a lot of them in a relatively short book. Daisy’s divorce (and the ethical grey areas Jamie jumps into as a lawyer in this plotline), the threat of losing Nana Sin’s, Daisy’s issues with her mother, Jamie’s concerns about his brother, and Jamie’s past wounds that haven’t healed all vie for page space. Fortunately, the multiple issues Jamie and Daisy must face don’t overtake the romance. Unfortunately, there is so much going on that none of it is ever truly fleshed out. This does the story a disservice and left me wanting more. If the book was longer or there were fewer backstories/subplots relevant to it, the story would have been a far more satisfying read. Still, Daisy and Jamie were likeable characters, their romance was steamy, and I enjoyed the supporting characters in Sweet Seduction so much that I will definitely be reading the sequel, Big Sky Seduction.


FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Entangled: Brazen New Releases



You've been waiting for it. Aching for it. Nibbling your lip in anticipation of it. Begging for it. Your next deliciously naughty read... what did you think we meant? ;)


Emergency Engagement by Samanthe Beck




Glass artist Savannah Smith expected a marriage proposal for Thanksgiving—just not from her strong, silent, super-hot neighbor. But when misplaced mail and a wayward can of paint lands them in a compromising position right as her family arrives for dinner, they assume he’s “The One” she’s been talking about.
Then his family shows up.
Fate dealt a crippling blow to paramedic Beau Montgomery’s heart, and he isn’t about to put it at risk again. Except, with his mother crying tears of joy over his surprise engagement to the sexy little blonde next door, he can’t bring himself to ruin her “Christmas miracle.”
Somewhere between the paint can to the head and the chaotic family trip to the ER, Beau manages to talk Savannah into being his fake fiancée long enough to survive the holidays.
If, of course, they don’t fall in love first…

Find a copy of EMERGENCY ENGAGEMENT: 




About Samanthe Beck: 



Samanthe Beck lives in Malibu, California with her husband, their young son, a furry ninja named Kitty, and Bebe the trash talkin’ Chihuahua. When not writing fun, contemporary, melt-your-Kindle sexy romances for Entangled Publishing’s Brazen imprint, she searches for the perfect cabernet to pair with Ambien.




Connect with Samanthe Beck


Taking the Score by Kate Meader


Paying down her sister’s debts has left personal assistant Emma Strickland with little more than the thrift store suit on her back. And as if the suckfest couldn’t get worse, she’s forced to get a second job as a waitress to support herself and her cat. At a strip club. Her uptight, sexy-as-hell boss Brody Kane can never find out.




Texas property tycoon Brody Kane hired Emma for her spreadsheet skills, but her prim and proper demeanor sealed the deal. There’s no room in his life for a sexy distraction…and yet, he can’t stop lusting after the delicious Ms. Strickland.
But then he takes an important client to a Chicago strip club and gets the worst lap dance in adult entertainment history. From Emma.




Now that he knows his office good girl has a naughty streak, Brody makes it his mission to uncover her secrets, one illicit, over-the-desk encounter at a time. But Emma is hiding more than her side job, and her final secret could end up destroying them both.





Find a copy of TAKING THE SCORE: 
Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo | Entangled | Goodreads


About Kate Meader: 



Originally from Ireland, Kate cut her romance reader teeth on Maeve Binchy and Jilly Cooper novels, with some Mills & Boon thrown in for variety. Give her tales about brooding mill owners, oversexed equestrians, and men who can rock an apron or a fire hose, and she is so there. Now based in Chicago, she writes sexy contemporary romance with alpha heroes and strong heroines who can match their men quip for quip.




Connect with Kate Meader


Fade Into You by Tracy Wolff




Wyatt Jennings has been called a lot of things by the media. Bad-boy rocker. Intense drummer. Addict.
Finally out of rehab and desperate for a fresh start, Wyatt rejoins his mega-platinum rock band Shaken Dirty as they prepare for their world tour. But Wyatt’s demons are never far behind, always nipping at his heels for one. More. Fix.


Enter Poppy Germaine, the band’s new social media consultant. A beautiful bombshell who somehow manages to get underneath Wyatt’s skin, Poppy’s an addiction Wyatt can get behind. And even though she’s with the label—and therefore off-limits—he craves her. Needs her.


Except Poppy isn’t actually a social media consultant. She’s the daughter of the label’s CEO, sent undercover to babysit Wyatt and keep him from falling off the wagon again. Proving herself to her father is Poppy’s only goal—until she finds herself in Wyatt’s bed. But if Wyatt discovers the truth, it could send him spiraling all over again…





Find a copy of FADE INTO YOU: 
Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo | Entangled | Goodreads




About Tracy Wolff: 



Tracy Wolff collects books, English degrees and lipsticks and has been known to forget where—and sometimes who—she is when immersed in a great novel. At six she wrote her first short story—something with a rainbow and a prince—and at seven she forayed into the wonderful world of girls lit with her first Judy Blume novel. By ten she’d read everything in the young adult and classics sections of her local bookstore, so in desperation her mom started her on romance novels. And from the first page of the first book, Tracy knew she’d found her life-long love. Now an English professor at her local community college, she writes romances that run the gamut from contemporary to paranormal to erotic suspense.




And for all of those who want the unedited version:
Tracy Wolff lives with four men, teaches writing to local college students and spends as much time as she can manage immersed in worlds of her own creation. Married to the alpha hero of her dreams for twelve years, she is the mother of three young sons who spend most of their time trying to make her as crazy as possible.




Connect with Tracy Wolff

Sunday, February 14, 2016

Sunday in Review

Happy Valentine's Day!

Below are the newest reviews I’ve written here on Wit and Sin. The master list and categorical lists on the right-hand side are updated as well.

Reviews for upcoming releases:
- Emergency Engagement (Love Emergency, Book 1) by Samanthe Beck (available 2/15/16)
- Taking the Score (Tall, Dark, and Texan, Book 2) by Kate Meader (available 2/15/16)

All other new reviews:
- How to Wed a Warrior (Broadswords and Ballrooms, Book 2) by Christy English
- The Art of Taming a Rake (Legendary Lovers, Book 4) by Nicole Jordan
- Carolina Dreaming (Dare Island, Book 5) by Virginia Kantra
- Midnight Revenge (Killer Instincts, Book 7) by Elle Kennedy
- What a Gentleman Wants (Reece Family Trilogy, Book 1) by Caroline Linden
- Brotherhood in Death (In Death, Book 42) by J.D. Robb
- The Millionaire Makeover (Bachelor Auction, Book 2) by Naima Simone
- A Duchess in Name (The Grantham Girls, Book 1) by Amanda Weaver

Upcoming reviews:
- The Conquering Dark (Crown & Key, Book 3) by Clay and Susan Griffith
- Burn for Me (Hidden Legacy, Book 1) by Ilona Andrews
- Magic Shifts (Kate Daniels, Book 8) by Ilona Andrews
- Truly, Madly, Sweetly by Kira Archer
- Skies of Steel (The Ether Chronicles, Book 3) by Zoë Archer
- The Wicked Deeds of Daniel Mackenzie (Mackenzies & McBrides, Book 6) by Jennifer Ashley
- Wild Man (Dream Man, Book 2) by Kristen Ashley
- Down for the Count (Dare Me, Book 1) by Christine Bell
- Down and Dirty (Dare Me, Book 2) by Christine Bell
- The Professional: Part 2 by Kresley Cole
- The Professional: Part 3 by Kresley Cole
- Wicked Ever After (Blud, Book 4) by Delilah S. Dawson
- Filthy Rich by Virna DePaul
- How to Ravish a Rake (How to Series, Book 3) by Vicky Dreiling
- Soul Weaver by Hailey Edwards
- Some Like It Hot (Rising Star Chef, Book 2) by Louisa Edwards
- Hot Under Pressure (Rising Star Chef, Book 3) by Louisa Edwards
- Air Bound (Sea Haven, Book 3) by Christine Feehan
- Earth Bound (Sea Haven, Book 4) by Christine Feehan
- Fire Bound (Sea Haven, Book 5) by Christine Feehan
- Ain’t She Sweet (Green Mountain, Book 6) by Marie Force
- His Game, Her Rules by Charlene Groome
- Captured (Fallen Siren, Book 0.5) by S.J. Harper
- Reckoning (Fallen Siren, Book 2) by S.J. Harper
- One Taste of Scandal (Redcakes, Book 2) by Heather Hiestand
- Trifling Favors (Redcakes, Book 7) by Heather Hiestand
- Kosher USA by Roger Horowitz
- Base Instincts (Demonica) by Larissa Ione
- The Volatile Amazon (Alliance of the Amazons, Book 4) by Sandy James
- Breathe (In Vino Veritas, Book 2) by Lauren Jameson
- Linger (In Vino Veritas, Book 3) by Lauren Jameson
- When the Rogue Returns (The Duke’s Men, Book 2) by Sabrina Jeffries
- If the Viscount Falls (The Duke’s Men, Book 4) by Sabrina Jeffries
- The Art of Sinning (Sinful Suitors, Book 1) by Sabrina Jeffries
- The Study of Seduction (Sinful Suitors, Book 2) by Sabrina Jeffries
- Arena by Holly Jennings
- Archer (Hard Body, Book 1) by Debra Kayn
- Before You Break (Between Breaths, Book 2) by Christina Lee
- There You Stand (Between Breaths, Book 5) by Christina Lee
- Caught Up in You (Loving on the Edge, Book 4) by Roni Loren
- Yours All Along (Loving on the Edge, Book 6.5) by Roni Loren
- Break Me Down (Loving on the Edge, Book 8.5) by Roni Loren
- Wish Upon a Wedding (Cricket Creek, Book 10) by LuAnn McLane
- Kiss of Steel (London Steampunk, Book 1) by Bec McMaster
- Keeping Secrets in Seattle by Brooke Moss
- Fight to the Finish (First to Fight, Book 3) by Jeanette Murray
- While You Were Writing (Watkins Pond, Book 2) by Virginia Nelson
- Captive Prince (Captive Prince, Book 1) by C.S. Pacat
- Prince’s Gambit (Captive Prince, Book 2) by C.S. Pacat
- Kings Rising (Captive Prince, Book 3) by C.S. Pacat
- Asking for More (Asking for It, Book 2.5) by Lilah Pace
- Raw Desire by Kate Pearce
- Soul Sucker by Kate Pearce
- ‘Til Death Do Us Part by Amanda Quick
- The Fifth Favor by Shelby Reed
- Laugh (Burnside, Book 2) by Mary Ann Rivers
- Festive in Death (In Death, Book 39) by J.D. Robb
- Blood Magick (The Cousins O'Dwyer Trilogy, Book 3) by Nora Roberts
- The Obsession by Nora Roberts
- Beauty’s Kingdom (Sleeping Beauty, Book 4) by A. N. Roquelaure
- Nights of Steel (The Ether Chronicles, Book 4) by Nico Rosso
- Nobody But You (Cedar Ridge, Book 3) by Jill Shalvis
- Rock Addiction (Rock Kiss, Book 1) by Nalini Singh
- Fighting the Fall (Beyond the Cage, Book 2) by Jennifer Snow
- The Bourbon Kings (The Bourbon Kings, Book 1) by J.R. Ward
- Takeover by Anna Zabo

Review: Emergency Engagement by Samanthe Beck

Emergency Engagement by Samanthe Beck
Series: Love Emergency, Book 1
Publisher: Entangled: Brazen
Genre: Erotic Contemporary Romance
ISBN: 9781633755581
Release Date: February 15, 2016
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N

He needs the kind of rescue only she can provide…

Glass artist Savannah Smith expected a marriage proposal for Thanksgiving—just not from her strong, silent, super-hot neighbor. But when misplaced mail and a wayward can of paint lands them in a compromising position right as her family arrives for dinner, they assume he’s “The One” she’s been talking about.

Then his family shows up.

Fate dealt a crippling blow to paramedic Beau Montgomery’s heart, and he isn’t about to put it at risk again. Except, with his mother crying tears of joy over his surprise engagement to the sexy little blonde next door, he can’t bring himself to ruin her “Christmas miracle.”

Somewhere between the paint can to the head and the chaotic family trip to the ER, Beau manages to talk Savannah into being his fake fiancée long enough to survive the holidays.

If, of course, they don’t fall in love first…

Samanthe Beck has kicked off her Love Emergency series with one heck of a steamy romance! Emergency Engagement is by turns sexy, funny, and heartbreaking and its characters will keep you captivated from the first page to the last.

Beau is the strong, silent type with walls built a mile high around his heart. He’s suffered the kind of devastating loss that will scar a person forever, and my heart broke for him. Beau has a lot to offer – he’s caring, protective, and a fantastic paramedic – but because he lost so much, he refuses to open his heart again. Instead he lives a half-life, one that’s sterile and lacking in true human connection. Savannah brings color, laughter, and life back into his world. She’s an artist who has had a string of bad luck lately, but she never loses her sunny nature. I absolutely adored her liveliness and determination; it’s clear that she’s just the person to break down Beau’s barriers.

When an accident lands Savannah and Beau in a compromising position and both sets of their parents believe them to be engaged, Savannah agrees to go along with it. Both she and Beau know getting involved for real would be a terrible idea, but the sparks that fly between them are too hot to resist. Together they make a dynamite pair. They’re charming, seriously funny, have incredible chemistry both in and out of bed, and are wholly endearing. It’s easy to be swept away by Emergency Engagement because the story feels light on its feet. That doesn’t mean it lacks depth. Savannah and Beau have their fair share of obstacles to overcome and they need to look into themselves and decide if they are brave enough to risk their hearts for a chance at happiness. It isn’t easy for them, and I loved that they owned both their strengths and their flaws. Though the ending of the story felt a bit rushed and I would have loved another chapter to give it that “complete” feeling, I still finished Emergency Engagement a well satisfied reader. My only true complaint is that I now have to wait for the next Love Emergency story. Savannah’s sister and Beau’s partner are such delightful supporting characters that I desperately hope they get books soon. Emergency Engagement is the first book of Ms. Beck’s that I’ve read, but Savannah and Beau’s romance was so entertaining that you can bet I’ll be back for more of her work.


FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Saturday, February 13, 2016

Review: Taking the Score by Kate Meader

Taking the Score by Kate Meader
Series: Tall, Dark, and Texan, Book 2
Publisher: Entangled: Brazen
Genre: Erotic Contemporary Romance
ISBN: 9781633755642
Release Date: February 15, 2016
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N

His office temptation is now his full-blown fantasy…

Paying down her sister’s debts has left personal assistant Emma Strickland with little more than the thrift store suit on her back. And as if the suckfest couldn’t get worse, she’s forced to get a second job as a waitress to support herself and her cat. At a strip club. Her uptight, sexy-as-hell boss Brody Kane can never find out.

Texas property tycoon Brody Kane hired Emma for her spreadsheet skills, but her prim and proper demeanor sealed the deal. There’s no room in his life for a sexy distraction…and yet, he can’t stop lusting after the delicious Ms. Strickland.

But then he takes an important client to a Chicago strip club and gets the worst lap dance in adult entertainment history. From Emma.

Now that he knows his office good girl has a naughty streak, Brody makes it his mission to uncover her secrets, one illicit, over-the-desk encounter at a time. But Emma is hiding more than her side job, and her final secret could end up destroying them both.

Taking the Score is a fabulously wicked and oh-so-fun office romance. Kate Meader knows how to write snappy dialogue and sizzling sexual tension, and both are on full display in this second Tall, Dark, and Texan story.

Emma Strickland is no buttoned-up good girl wanting to take a walk on the wild side. No, she’s a down-and-dirty bad girl at heart who has made a new life for herself. I respected Emma for her hard work and strong will. But I loved that she owned her sexuality and smart mouth. The boss/assistant romance is a well-known trope, but Ms. Meader gives it new life with Emma being a fun and refreshingly different kind of heroine. Emma is working herself to the bone trying to pay off her sister’s debt. She has never been able to rely on anyone but herself, but things get even complicated when her boss sees her at her second job and turns her life upside-down. Emma has the hots for Brody Kane, but she’s never let him see it. Until now…

I have a weakness for sexy nerds, and boy does Brody fit the bill. He’s a sci-fi geek with a sharp mind for business, but buried beneath that is a hot-as-hell lover. When he sees Emma in the strip club he’s shocked, turned on, and loses all control. The sexual tension between them explodes, and that’s just the start of their adventure. Brody is protective, but even though he’s got Emma’s best interests at heart, he can be autocratic. He’s used to Emma the personal assistant, who does whatever he asks. He’s at a loss when she won’t let him simply fix her problems, and the push-pull between them adds drama to Taking the Score. The story does hit a snag because Brody and Emma create a lot of their own obstacles simply because they don’t talk to each other. They both need to learn to open up, to trust, and to truly listen to one another. When they do, it’s clear they’re made for one another because Brody and Emma just fit each other like lock and key.

Taking the Score can be read as a standalone, but fans of the first Tall, Dark, and Texan book, Even the Score, will be charmed by the brief appearances of Brody’s partner, Hunter (I definitely was). Both books in the series are fast-paced, red-hot, and high energy. I adore Ms. Meader’s hot Texan heroes and I’m looking forward to seeing what she has in store for the final Score Property partner, Flynn.


FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Sunday, February 7, 2016

Review: The Millionaire Makeover by Naima Simone

The Millionaire Makeover by Naima Simone
Series: Bachelor Auction, Book 2
Publisher: Entangled: Indulgence
Genre: Contemporary Romance
ISBN: 9781633755284
Release Date: February 8, 2016
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N

He promised to stay away…but some promises are made to be broken

Plain-Jane computer programmer Khloe Richardson needs a date—one to make the prince of her dreams jealous. Maybe then he'll finally see her as a desirable swan and not the ugly duckling in the second office from the left.

But when she bids on a bachelor at a charity auction, the man she wins is millionaire Niall Hunter—who once made intense, passionate love to her and then left without a word. She's determined not to let her guard down again—among other things—around the infamous Irish lothario.

Niall never imagined his penance for one hot-as-hell night with his best friend’s little sister would be transforming her from a shy wallflower to a sultry siren. Helping her attract another man is torture...especially when he promised his friend he’d stay away. Plus, she wants forever, and he's not a forever kind of guy. But Niall can't stop wanting her. Can't stop touching her. Can't stop, period. And damn if he can remember why he has to…

It’s not often you get a Cinderella tale where the hero is both the fairy godmother and Prince Charming. Niall Hunter plays both roles in The Millionaire Makeover, and the results are fantastic. Naima Simone’s second Bachelor Auction novel is fast, fun, sexy, and tugs on the heartstrings in the best way.

Khloe Richardson had a huge crush on her brother’s best friend, but after tragedy brings her and Niall together for one hot night, Niall cuts her out of her life. Khloe wants to hate him, but when she accidentally wins him at a bachelor auction and can’t get out of spending time with him, she decides to have Niall help transform her into a desirable woman. What Khloe doesn’t know is that – to Niall – she is already the most desirable woman on the planet. But Niall made a vow to her late brother to stay away from Khloe and he intends to keep it, even though helping her attract the attention of another man is slowly killing him.

What makes The Millionaire Makeover shine are its characters. Khloe is sweet and has a generous heart, but she has no qualms about standing up for herself and telling Niall straight out what she needs. Niall, in turn, is a tortured hero who lost the closest thing he had to family when Khloe’s brother, Michael, died. There is nothing Niall wouldn’t do for Michael, but it’s clear to see that – though he thinks he’s not the kind of man Michael would want falling for his sister – Niall is exactly the man for Khloe. I absolutely loved that Niall thought Khloe was the most beautiful woman ever long before he helped her with her makeover. Her Cinderella moment is to help her see herself for the beauty she is, to give her the confidence she longs for. The attraction between them is sizzling and watching the sparks fly between them is truly fun. What grabbed me the most, however, was their emotional connection. Niall and Khloe bring out the best in each other, and the way they fit both as friends and lovers makes it easy to be swept away by their romance. Of course, Ms. Simone doesn’t make things easy on either of them. Khloe will have to decide if she can take a risk on Niall again and he will have to fight his inner turmoil, become the man she needs, and go for what he wants. Every bump in the road is worth it, because these two deserve a true happily ever after.

The Millionaire Makeover is a captivating modern-day fairytale and I absolutely adored it. Though it’s the second book in the Bachelor Auction series, it reads like a standalone tale. That being said, I enjoyed Khloe and Niall’s romance so much that I absolutely have to go back and read the first book in the series, Beauty and the Bachelor. The Millionaire Makeover is the first book of Ms. Simone’s I’ve read and I can’t wait to read more of her work!


FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Monday, February 1, 2016

Review: Carolina Dreaming by Virginia Kantra

Carolina Dreaming by Virginia Kantra
Series: Dare Island, Book 5
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Contemporary Romance
ISBN: 9780425269701
Release Date: February 2, 2016
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N

After escaping a disastrous marriage, bakery owner Jane Clark has convinced herself that she has everything she needs—her precious son, a thriving business, and a roof over her head. But the arrival of a handsome stranger on the island shows her exactly what she’s been missing…

The only home Gabe Murphy ever had was the Marine Corps. He's working hard to rebuild his life. It will take a special place, and a special woman, to make him want to stay.

Now Gabe is determined to prove that he's worthy of Jane’s trust—and her love. But when her past reappears, that trust will be tested, and Jane and Gabe will have to fight hard to hold onto their love and make their dreams a reality…

Two endearing characters get a shot at happiness they never thought they’d have in Carolina Dreaming. In this fifth Dare Island novel, Virginia Kantra manages to deliver a romance that’s incredibly sweet, but never edges into saccharine territory.

Gabe Murphy is a hero who has been through hell – an abusive home, war, and then jail. Despite all this, Gabe has never broken. He arrives on Dare Island because it’s the home of his best friend and he has nowhere else to go as he tries to put his life back together. Dare Island is like a dream come true for Gabe. Though people are wary of him, they give him a shot to prove himself, which is more than Gabe expects from anyone. Gabe’s past and the way he’s been treated broke my heart, but I loved watching him find a life and a home for the very first time. Best of all, Gabe finds love with bakery owner Jane Clark. Jane’s life hasn’t exactly been easy either. She escaped an abusive marriage and is now a single mom working hard to make a life for herself and her son. Jane has a huge heart and is a soft touch, but she’ll go to the mat to defend those she loves, which makes her a great heroine. She and Gabe just click right off the bat, and it’s easy to be swept away by their romance, which is by turns sensual and sweet.

I have a weakness for small town romances and Carolina Dreaming is a lovely one. Ms. Kantra’s writing style is so smooth that you slip right into the story without noticing, which made the story all the more enjoyable. Dare Island isn’t an idyllic small town (that kind of perfection would be boring), but it’s close enough that you wish it were real so you could move down there. Fans of series will love revisiting some of their favorite characters, but for readers like me who haven’t read the first four Dare Island novels, you needn’t fear – this book can easily be read as a standalone. Of course, I was so hooked by Gabe and Jane’s story that I will definitely be reading the rest of the series. If you enjoy quietly romantic stories with genuinely kind characters, you won’t want to miss Carolina Dreaming.


FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.