Monday, January 30, 2017

Review: Playing the Player by Amy Andrews

Playing the Player by Amy Andrews
Series: Sydney Smoke Rugby, Book 3
Publisher: Entangled: Brazen
Genre: Erotic Contemporary Romance
ISBN: 9781682814161
Release Date: January 30, 2017
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N

After a long history with crappy guys, high school teacher Em Newman is going man-vegan. Four months of revirginization has opened her eyes to her doormat imitation but, baby’s got spine now, and some smooth-talking—even if he is sinfully hot—rugby player, won’t be adding her as a notch anytime soon.

Lincoln Quinn loves rugby, women, and poker. And he likes to win at all three. When his team mates bet him he can’t break through Em’s resolve, he’s more than up for the challenge. But this lady has a shoebox of stipulations before she’ll even go on a date with him, much less use that mouth for kissing instead of giving orders.

Something’s gotta give but this time Em’s not settling. And Linc’s questioning everything he ever knew about matters of the heart.

A rugby star who plays hard on and off the field meets his match in a teacher who has no problem making him work for it in Playing the Player. Amy Andrews has a gift for penning romances that are funny and sexy, and this book definitely has humor and heat in spades.

Linc and Em charmed me with their banter and were definitely hot together – both things I expected going into this book. What I didn’t expect was them touching my heart. I absolutely loved peeling back the layers to their characters. At the start, Linc and Em seem like opposites when it comes to love. She’s a relationship-only girl and he’s a player through and through. However, both of them faced childhood abandonment, which helps them understand one another and how they approach relationships. Linc’s upbringing made him cynical about love and he doesn’t believe in marriage. Em, in turn, craves love and commitment and has been burned repeatedly in her search to find it. They both think they won’t work in the long run, but their attraction to one another is impossible for them to resist. I loved the sexual tension between them and the buildup leads to one hell of a payoff. Em and Linc are explosively hot as a couple, and to make things even better, they’re fun.

I was a bit wary going into Playing the Player because I’m not a fan of the romance trope where a character and his friends bet on getting someone into bed. However, because I adore Ms. Andrews’s writing – and am completely hooked on the Sydney Smoke Rugby series – I was willing to give Linc a fair chance. I’m so glad I did. I won’t spoil the story, but I will say that Ms. Andrews turns the tired trope on his head and spares readers from false drama. I was actually delighted with how things turned out, and I truly loved watching their relationship develop. Em and Linc are perfect for each other, and it was a joy to see them come to that realization as well.

Playing the Player is the third book in the Sydney Smoke Rugby series, but it can easily be read as a standalone. What I love about the series is that each book has been filled with great characters, steamy scenes, and wonderful banter, yet while they’re tied together in terms of tone and world, each story is unique. The interaction between the teammates and the women who love them only add further dimension to the world and make me incredibly eager for more books. All in all, I loved Playing the Player. Linc and Em’s love story was a blast to read – so much so that I wanted to dive back in for a re-read right after finishing it.


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, January 29, 2017

Review: Planned Seduction by Jess Dee

Planned Seduction by Jess Dee
Series: Seduction, Book 1
Publisher: Entangled: Brazen
Genre: Erotic Contemporary Romance Planned Seduction Cover
ISBN: 9781682814178
Release Date: January 30, 2017
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N

Daniel Tanner’s been in love with Amy since they were teenagers. If she would only give him a chance to show her how good they could be together, he could convince her the fiery attraction between them won’t burn up and ruin their friendship.

Amy Morgan’s had a front row seat to the parade of women coming in and out of Daniel’s life for years, so she’s not interested in risking what they have for something that would eventually end with her heart being broken by her best friend. And life has taught her broken hearts is the way love always ends.

But no one knows Amy better than Daniel, and he’s devised a plan to show her they can have it all.

Amy and Daniel have been best friends for seventeen years and – unbeknownst to Amy – Daniel has been in love with her all that time. To Amy, Daniel is the most important person in her life, the only one she can rely on, and she will not allow her unwanted attraction to him ruin their friendship. She’s had her heart broken more than once and Daniel isn’t the type to commit, so she shuts down any hint of desire for him. However, Daniel has finally reached his limit. He can never commit to any woman because the only woman he’s ever truly loved is Amy. If he has to resort to a little trickery to seduce her into his bed and win her heart, then that’s fine by him. So long as he finally has his chance to prove to Amy that he’s the man for her.

I always enjoy a good friends-to-lovers romance, and Jess Dee’s Planned Seduction is a steamy one. I was charmed by Daniel from early on. He’s confident, charming, and sexy-as-sin, but what really got me is his big, slightly vulnerable heart, and how head-over-heels he is for Amy. The two of them have been best friends for nearly two decades, have been there for each other through thick and thin, and it’s clear they’re perfect for each other. I’m generally indifferent to games or planned seduction, but in this story it worked because Daniel and Amy knew each other so well and he would cut off his arm before he ever hurt her. Their friendship comes through and gives their romance a solid base so that the eroticism of the story can take over without the heart of the romance being sacrificed. When things get hot, they get really hot and I loved watching Daniel and Amy’s relationship change and reach its full potential.

Planned Seduction wouldn’t be much of a story if there were no obstacles, and in this case the hitches on the road to happily ever after all come from Amy. I understood that she’d been badly burned, and Ms. Dee made it clear why Amy feared changing her relationship with Daniel. However, Amy also triggered one of my biggest pet peeves: she’s a character who decides how other people feel for them. She insists Daniel doesn’t know his own feelings and tells him what he feels for her. The fact that Amy is a counselor who should know better than do to that only detracted from the story further, and I lost a bit of patience with the unnecessary drama. Fortunately for both the characters and plot, the majority of the story is fun, erotic, and Daniel and Amy have excellent chemistry. When things go right in Planned Seduction, the story is truly entertaining. So while it had some ups and downs, I liked Amy and Daniel’s book enough that I’ll definitely be reading Ms. Dee’s next Seduction book.


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.

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Book Blitz: Avery Flynn's Killer Style Series

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Get lost in the Killer Style series by Avery Flynn!


Killer Temptation, 99¢ for a limited time!

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About Killer Temptation:
Security expert Tony Falcon has never had a problem keeping his distance from his clients--until now. When his murder investigation leads him to a feisty fashionista in need of a bodyguard, he realizes he may have met his match. Going undercover as Sylvie's boyfriend might be his best chance at catching the criminals who killed his best friend, but soon his attraction to her--and the danger she's in--has him wondering if solving the case is worth it...

Sylvie Bissette has a closely guarded secret--she's the woman behind a must-read blog for fashionistas everywhere. When an internet troll discovers her secret identity and escalates from stalking her to threatening her life, she turns to Tony for help. The sexy investigator from the other side of the tracks is the olive oil to her Evian water and aggravates her to no end. But if they want to find her revenge-obsessed stalker before Sylvie ends up with a literal knife in the back, they'll have to learn to work together.

Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo | Goodreads



Killer Attraction

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About Killer Attraction:
Devin Harris may have given up his MMA fighting dreams, but that doesn't mean he isn't always in control. So when someone embezzles millions under his watch, he isn't going to let the private investigator working the case go it alone--even if she is the woman who blew him away in bed and then blew him off.

A fighter since birth, Allegra "Ryder" Falcon would rather trade in her all-black wardrobe for
head-to-toe hot pink than let anyone ever see the cracks in her tough exterior. So when she finally gets an assignment she can prove herself on, she's horrified to realize it's with her one-night stand. The one she hasn't been able to forget. Too much is at stake for her to walk, but staying means risking more than just her life...

Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo | Goodreads



Killer Charm

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About Killer Temptation:

Security expert Tony Falcon has never had a problem keeping his distance from his clients--until now. When his murder investigation leads him to a feisty fashionista in need of a bodyguard, he realizes he may have met his match. Going undercover as Sylvie's boyfriend might be his best chance at catching the criminals who killed his best friend, but soon his attraction to her--and the danger she's in--has him wondering if solving the case is worth it...

Sylvie Bissette has a closely guarded secret--she's the woman behind a must-read blog for fashionistas everywhere. When an internet troll discovers her secret identity and escalates from stalking her to threatening her life, she turns to Tony for help. The sexy investigator from the other side of the tracks is the olive oil to her Evian water and aggravates her to no end. But if they want to find her revenge-obsessed stalker before Sylvie ends up with a literal knife in the back, they'll have to learn to work together.

Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo | Goodreads



Killer Seduction

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About Killer Seduction:

Mika Ito combines her two favorite things in life--textile design and live-action role-playing (LARP)--by creating costumes for her fellow Magic Battledome gamers. Lately, someone's been assaulting LARPers and stealing their costumes. Concerned for the safety of her friends, Mika hires Maltese Security...only to discover that the lead investigator is the super-hot stranger she just hooked up with.

Carlos Castillo is all too familiar with Magic Battledome. A former legend in role-playing circles, he was all about gaming, until things went very, very wrong for him. Now he's forced to return to the game undercover--as Mika's boyfriend--to find some answers. Only playing "boyfriend" with his gorgeous one-night stand is more temptation than a guy can withstand...

Someone wants the costumes enough to kill for them. And when it comes to murder, nothing is what it seems...

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About Avery Flynn:

When Avery Flynn isn't writing about alpha heroes and the women who tame them, she is desperately hoping someone invents the coffee IV drip. She has three slightly-wild children, loves a hockey-addicted husband and has a slight shoe addiction. Find out more about Avery on her website, follow her on Twitter, like her on her Facebook page or friend her on her Facebook profile. Also, if you figure out how to send Oreos throughthe Internet, she’ll be your best friend for life. Contact her at avery@averyflynn.com. She’d love to hear from you.

Connect with Avery: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Newsletter

Monday, January 23, 2017

Review: Wicked in His Arms by Stacy Reid

Wicked in His Arms by Stacy Reid
Series: Wedded by Scandal, Book 2
Publisher: Entangled: Scandalous
Genre: Historical Romance Wicked in His Arms Cover
ISBN: 9781682814024
Release Date: January 23, 2017
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N
Stacy Reid Reading Order

Tobias Walcott, the Earl of Blade, has learned it is best to exercise rigid control over his passions and emotions in all that he does. Uncaring that it makes him seem cool and aloof to most in the ton, he is content with his desire to only woo agreeable and demur females. Then unforeseen circumstances see him trapped in a closet at a house party with the last woman he would ever make his countess.

Lady Olivia Sherwood is everything he should not desire in a female—unconventional, too decisive, and utterly without decorum. But passion ignites between them and they are discovered. Honor demands they wed, and while Tobias finds himself unwillingly drawn to the bewitching beauty, he must do everything not to tempt the passion that burns in him for her, lest it leads to disastrous consequences.

A passionate artist ahead of her time meets her match in a seemingly glacial earl in Wicked in His Arms. The first Wedded by Scandal book, Accidentally Compromising the Duke, was one of my favorite books of 2016, so I eagerly dove into this story.

Livvie is a delightful heroine. She’s bold, outspoken, and completely out of place in society. Of course, this makes it difficult for her to find a husband and since her stepfather’s health is fragile her mother is pushing her to secure a future for herself and her sister. Thus Livvie ends up as a guest of Tobias’s mother who is to give her the polish she needs to catch a husband…and of course winds up in Tobias’s path. Tobias has the weight of his family’s name on his shoulders. With generations of scandalous earls tarring the family reputation, Tobias has taken the opposite path and is instead ice cold with no patience for tears or dramatics. Tobias wants a sensible woman to be his wife, a woman who is nothing like Livvie. Only he can’t stop thinking about her…

Livvie and Tobias’s romance is a rocky one to say the least. I struggled with Tobias’s character because he was hard to like. He can be cruel and deliberately embarrasses Livvie at one point. And he runs so hot and cold that I sometimes had a hard time understanding why she was falling for him. I struggled with rating this book because if Tobias hadn’t been the way he was, there wouldn’t have been much of a story. The conflicts are generally internal and the characters needed room to grow. But as a hero, Tobias wasn’t my favorite, even though I understood why he acted the way he did. It’s no spoiler to say that he redeems himself (what happily ever after would there be if he didn’t?), and I definitely loved the way in which he did. When he and Livvie weren’t fighting, they were fantastic together and the pages of the story flew by. I yearned to see more of that excellent chemistry, because when Wicked in His Arms worked, it worked really well. And even when I had problems with the characters, I still enjoyed Stacy Reid’s excellent writing.

Wicked in His Arms is the second book in the Wedded by Scandal series, but it can easily be read as a standalone. Edmond and Adel (the hero and heroine of the first story) do briefly appear, but it’s the dark and mysterious Westfall who threatens to steal the page. I absolutely adore the Wedded by Scandal series and Wicked in His Arms definitely made me excited to see what Ms. Reid delivers next!


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.

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Cover Reveal: Wolf Moon by Lisa Kessler

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The Wolf Pack is BACK!

5 stars! "The author works her own type of magic on the reader pulling you into her world of wolf shifters and romance. A combination that has become a guilty obsession of mine.....not to mention my love of everything I've read by this author. It's sure to become a guilty addiction of yours too!" ~Patricia, Goodreads

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About Wolf Moon:

As the last Pack member without a mate, Luke Reynolds has become an outsider. When he takes a job as the head horse trainer in Sedona, Arizona, he’s looking forward to starting a new life. But everything changes the night he finds a beautiful woman stranded on the side of the highway.

Raven Wood has been bitten and turned against her will. Luckily, her spirit is stronger than most, and she has every intention of escaping the Sedona Pack. Somehow. The sexy lone wolf who rescues her might be just the answer she’s looking for.

But the Sedona Pack Alpha has a mission, and unless Luke and Raven can stop him, they’ll lose everything.

*Note: Each book in the Moon series is a standalone, full-length story that can be enjoyed out of order.*

Amazon | iBooks | Kobo | Goodreads

5 stars! "Lisa Kessler has done it again!!!! I started reading this story...and could not put it down!!! The whole MOON SERIES!!! Is awesome!!" ~Jan M, Goodreads


About Lisa Kessler:
Lisa Kessler is an award winning author of dark paranormal fiction. Her debut novel, Night Walker, won a San Diego Book Award for Best Published Fantasy-Sci-fi-Horror as well as the Romance Through the Ages Award for Best Paranormal and Best First Book.

Her short stories have been published in print anthologies and magazines, and her vampire story, Immortal Beloved, was a finalist for a Bram Stoker award.

When she's not writing, Lisa is a professional vocalist, performing with the San Diego Opera as well as other musical theater companies in San Diego.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Goodreads | Newsletter | Amazon


Don't miss the Wolf Moon Book Release Party on Facebook!

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

Review: Stealing Taffy by Susan Donovan

Stealing Taffy by Susan Donovan
Series: Bigler, North Carolina, Book 3
Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks
Genre: Contemporary Romance
ISBN: 9781250008053
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N

Ten weeks in a swanky Arizona rehab center and Tanyalee Newberry, aka Taffy, is ready to give up everything that isn’t good for her―her forgery habit, taking (i.e., stealing) things that don’t belong to her, and, of course, men. But when her flight home gets rerouted, she finds herself in a hotel room with her smoking-hot travel companion. One night together is all it should have been. But passion is oh-so sweet…

Special Agent Dante Cabrera has been duped at his own love-’em-and-leave-’em game by this so-called Taffy. To forget she ever existed, Dante buries himself in his work…until a case leads him to North Carolina and, impossibly, right back to her. He has no business messing around with this felonious femme fatale, especially one who could be in more danger than she thinks. But Dante also knows there’s more to her than great looks and hot nights―a soul-searching woman who wants amend her past sins. Is he ready to take their desire to the next level…and steal Taffy’s heart?

Return to Bigler, North Carolina and see a former villain become an endearing, slightly daffy heroine in Stealing Taffy. Susan Donovan had an uphill battle turning Tanyalee into a heroine I could like. Tanyalee’s past and her treatment of others (especially her sister, the heroine of Cheri on Top) was despicable and there was no excuse for it. The newly-reformed Tanyalee in Stealing Taffy is a women who doesn’t make excuses for her past and is trying to make amends, and I actually liked her villain-to-heroine arc. The new Tanyalee is a bit out of her depth when she returns to her hometown, and I liked seeing her work on being a better person. Part of her efforts includes mentoring a troubled young girl, Fern. Fern and Tanyalee’s relationship was, for me, the highlight of the book. The two of them gave this book genuine heart and had it just been their respective journeys, I would have adored Stealing Taffy.

Where the story falters is the romance. Dante is an interesting hero with lots of potential, but we never go into depth on any of his issues. Because of this, he felt a bit cardboard, and this was a pity because Ms. Donovan tells us he’s a hero with issues of his own, ones that are passed over in favor of other storylines. Mostly Dante feels like a springboard for other characters (Tanyalee in particular) and plotlines to bounce off of. His relationship with Tanyalee is fluffy and fun, but there’s a real case of missed opportunity. I couldn’t connect with the characters and the romance felt superficial, so I was left wanting more. Stealing Taffy isn’t a bad book – it’s enjoyable, lighthearted entertainment – but the romance is missing heart. With a bit more depth, this book could have gone from ok to great.


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.

Tuesday, January 3, 2017

Waiting on Wednesday: Playing the Player by Amy Andrews


Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine which spotlights eagerly anticipated upcoming releases!

I have a weakness for rugby player heroes and I'm a fan of Amy Andrews's writing, so it's no surprise that my Waiting on Wednesday pick this week is Playing the Player. Playing the Player is the third book in Ms. Andrews's Sydney Smoke Rugby series, and I absolutely adored Playing By Her Rules and Playing It Cool - they're wickedly hot, highly entertaining reads. I can't wait to see what Ms. Andrews has in store for Linc!

Playing the Player Cover Title: Playing the Player
Series: Sydney Smoke Rugby, Book 3
Author: Amy Andrews
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Entangled: Brazen
Release Date: January 30, 2017

Book Description (from Goodreads):

After a long history with crappy guys, high school teacher Em Newman is going man-vegan. Four months of revirginization has opened her eyes to her doormat imitation but, baby’s got spine now, and some smooth-talking—even if he is sinfully hot—rugby player, won’t be adding her as a notch anytime soon.

Lincoln Quinn loves rugby, women, and poker. And he likes to win at all three. When his team mates bet him he can’t break through Em’s resolve, he’s more than up for the challenge. But this lady has a shoebox of stipulations before she’ll even go on a date with him, much less use that mouth for kissing instead of giving orders.

Something’s gotta give but this time Em’s not settling. And Linc’s questioning everything he ever knew about matters of the heart.

Monday, January 2, 2017

Review: Unf*ck Your Habitat by Rachel Hoffman

Unf*ck Your Habitat: You’re Better Than Your Mess by Rachel Hoffman
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Genre: Non-Fiction
ISBN: 9781250102959
Release Date: January 3, 2017
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N

Finally, a housekeeping and organizational system developed for those of us who’d describe our current living situation as a “f*cking mess” that we’re desperate to fix. Unf*ck Your Habitat is for anyone who has been left behind by traditional aspirational systems. The ones that ignore single people with full-time jobs; people without kids but living with roommates; and people with mental illnesses or physical limitations. Most organizational books are aimed at traditional homemakers, DIYers, and people who seem to have unimaginable amounts of free time. They assume we all iron our sheets, have linen napkins to match our table runners, and can keep plants alive for longer than a week. Basically, they ignore most of us living here in the real world.

Interspersed with lists and challenges, this practical, no-nonsense advice relies on a 20/10 system (20 minutes of cleaning followed by a 10-minute break; no marathon cleaning allowed) to help you develop lifelong habits. It motivates you to embrace a new lifestyle in manageable sections so you can actually start applying the tactics as you progress. For everyone stuck between The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up and Adulting, this philosophy is decidedly more realistic than aspirational, but the goal is the same: not everyone will have a showcase of a home, but whatever your habitat, you deserve for it to bring you happiness, not stress.

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I started Unf*ck Your Habitat. I’m someone who adores Marie Kondล’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up but finds it highly impractical for real life. The blurb (and, of course, title) for Unf*ck Your Habitat caught my eye, so I had to give it a try.

Rachel Hoffman has a friendly, no-nonsense writing style that makes her relatable from the start and is sure to set any reader at ease. What sets Unf*ck Your Habitat apart is that Ms. Hoffman recognizes that a large majority of people who are cleaning and organizing their space aren’t traditional homemakers. This book addresses a wide range of people, highlighting issues that arise for single people with full-time jobs, those with roommates, students in dorm rooms, people with mental illness or physical limitations, and so forth. I was impressed by the inclusiveness of this book first and foremost. Ms. Hoffman provides helpful tips for multiple situations and gives ideas on how to talk people should you require assistance. I have never before seen a cleaning/organizational book that addresses such a wide range of people who don’t live in the traditional homemaker model, and I really appreciated it.

Glossy magazine articles and idealized Pinterest home organization pins give the idea of a home that is just not attainable for most people. Ms. Hoffman’s 20/10 system (twenty minutes of cleaning and then a ten minute break) is modifiable for those who need it. Furthermore, her method of cleaning and organizing is one most people can adapt to their needs. In this book, there’s no shame in being overwhelmed and not knowing where to start. Ms. Hoffman’s tips and tricks keep you on-task and prevent you from getting worn out and giving up. All in all, I found Unf*ck Your Habitat to be an interesting, motivational, and – most importantly – practical book for a wide range of people interested in, well, unf*cking their home.


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.

Review: On Broken Wings by Chanel Cleeton

On Broken Wings by Chanel Cleeton
Series: Wild Aces, Book 3
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Contemporary Romance
ISBN: 9781101987001
Release Date: January 3, 2017
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N

A year after losing her husband, Joker, the squadron commander of the Wild Aces, Dani Peterson gets an offer from his best friend, Alex “Easy” Rogers, to help fix up her house. Dani accepts, and their friendship grows—along with an undeniable attraction.

Racked by guilt for loving his best friend’s widow, Easy’s caught between what he wants and can’t have. Until one night everything changes, and the woman who’s always held his heart ends up in his arms. Yet as Easy leaves for his next deployment, he and Dani are torn between their feelings and their loyalty to Joker’s memory.

But when Dani discovers something that sends them both into a spin, the conflicted lovers must overcome the past to navigate a future together…

On Broken Wings is a raw, emotional, utterly breathtaking romance. I’ve been eagerly anticipating Dani and Easy’s book since the first Wild Aces story, Fly with Me, and Chanel Cleeton did not disappoint. I smiled, I cried, and I loved every bit of this book.

I absolutely loved Dani and she just about broke my heart. She’s lost at the beginning of the story, her life shattered not just by the death of her husband or the miscarriage she’d suffered before that, but the way her life has broken apart around her. She was used to being part of a unit, and as a military wife her life was built around Joker’s career. Ms. Cleeton gives a compelling portrait of a widow putting her life back together, of how she handles grief and comes back to life. Dani is so strong, but the weight she carries threatens to crush her even as she works to build a new life. I loved that Dani felt real, that Ms. Cleeton managed to give her grief and struggles weight without dragging down the story. I especially loved watching Dani come back to life and fall in love again. It isn’t an easy to have a romance where the heroine genuinely loved and was loved by a good man and then falls in love a second time. Too often either her first marriage is glossed over or her new love doesn’t feel as powerful. Fortunately, Easy and Dani’s love story is as fantastic as I could have hoped for.

Easy grabbed my heart from the very first Wild Aces book and didn’t let go. He’s a cocky F-16 pilot with an easy charm, lethal sex appeal, and gorgeous looks, but most people don’t look beyond the surface to see the man within. Easy has a heart as big as the ocean and he’s so completely gone over Dani that it broke my heart. Her husband was one of his best friends and Easy never wanted either Joker or Dani to know how he felt. His guilt and his grief over the death of his friend make him want to put some distance between himself and Dani, but when she needs him he can’t help but be at her side. His love for her is selfless and beautiful, and I couldn’t put On Broken Wings down because I wanted to see that love returned.

The romance between Dani and Easy isn’t a smooth ride, but it’s a great one. Watching them go from friends to lovers was fantastic. While Easy has been in love with Dani from the start, obviously it’s not the same for her and I liked how their relationship developed organically. Seeing them handle the complications of their attraction to one another and their very realistic emotional reactions that sprung from the changes in their lives kept me reading late into the night. There’s no false drama in this book, only mature protagonists in tough situations doing the best they can. For all the emotional ups and downs in On Broken Wings, it’s a story of hope and finding love and happiness. The heartbreak is so worth it when the happily ever after is as amazing as Easy and Dani’s is.

On Broken Wings is the third book in the Wild Aces series, and if you don’t mind spoilers for Fly with Me and Into the Blue it can be read as a standalone (though you’d be missing out). Every book in the Wild Aces series has been exceptional, and On Broken Wings brings everything together in such a way that fans of the series are sure to have big grins on their faces by the end of the book. I loved everything about Dani and Easy’s romance; it’s one of those special stories that stays close to your heart.


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, January 1, 2017

2017 A to Z Reading Challenge

I've had a blast doing this challenge for the past few years and I can't resist another go 'round. I've discovered a few now-favorite books I might not have otherwise noticed because of this challenge :)

Challenge details:
- Duration: January 1, 2017 - December 31, 2017
- Read 26 books which titles begin with the letters of the alphabet.
- You may ignore articles like A, An and The at the beginning of the title.
- For the letter X, any book title with the letter X in it is acceptable if you can't find one that begins with X.
- You can sign up anytime.
- Please only list books you have read. You can read them in any order.
- A book only counts once, so you can include a re-read the first time you read it.

Date Completed: November 26, 2017

My List:
Accidentally Compromising the Duke by Stacy Reid – 1/14/17
Because of Miss Bridgerton by Julia Quinn – 2/6/17
Cards on the Table by Josh Lanyon – 6/22/17
Duke, The by Kerrigan Byrne – 2/1/17
Echoes in Death by J.D. Robb – 2/24/17
Fair Game by Josh Lanyon – 2/4/17
Gauntlet by Holly Jennings – 4/7/17
How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days by Kerrelyn Sparks – 3/10/17
Invisible Library, The by Genevieve Cogman – 1/11/17
Just Desserts by Josh Lanyon – 5/15/17
Kodiak’s Claim by Eve Langlais – 4/24/17
Librarian and the Spy, The by Susan Mann – 4/24/17
My Boss is a Grumpy Werewolf and I Think He Wants to Eat Me! by Jane Wallace-Knight – 1/7/17
Never Trust a Pirate by Valerie Bowman – 4/30/17
On Broken Wings by Chanel Cleeton – 1/1/17
Planned Seduction by Jess Dee – 1/26/17
Quinn’s Hart by Cassandra Gold – 11/26/17
Rock Chick Regret by Kristen Ashley – 2/28/17
Spoonful of Sugar, A by Kate Hardy – 2/5/17
Teaspoon of Trouble, A by Shirley Jump – 2/10/17
Unf*ck Your Habitat by Rachel Hoffman – 1/2/17
Very Personal Trainer, A by Justine Elyot – 10/8/17
Wicked in His Arms by Stacy Reid – 1/21/16
Rock Chick ReduX by Kristen Ashley – 7/26/17
You Melted Me by Kari Gregg – 5/15/17
Zircon by Terry Bolryder – 10/22/17

2017 New (to me) Author Challenge

I've done this challenge for the past seven years and discovered some great new-to-me authors along the way (not hard to believe since I've read 506 new (to me) authors from 2010 to 2016). A few of my favorite authors that I've "discovered" over the past few years are Jenn Bennett, Kerrigan Byrne, Chanel Cleeton, C.C. Galloway, DJ Gross, Larissa Ione, Robin LaFevers, Jeanette Murray, Lilah Pace, Tiffany Reisz, Abigail Roux, Riley Shane, Cherise Sinclair, Dee Tenorio, Lynn Viehl, Amanda Weaver, and Elia Winters.


The Challenge: Read 20 or more books this year by authors you’ve never read before.
Dates: January 1, 2017 - December 31, 2017

My list:

1. Author: Rachel Hoffman
Title: Unf*ck Your Habitat

2. Author: Jane Wallace-Knight
Title: My Boss is a Grumpy Werewolf and I Think He Wants to Eat Me! (My Boss Is a Grumpy Werewolf, Book 1)

3. Author: Angela Quarles
Title: Must Love Breeches (Must Love Time Travel, Book 1)

4. Author: Genevieve Cogman
Title: The Invisible Library (The Invisible Library, Book 1)

5. Author: Jess Dee
Title: Planned Seduction (Seduction, Book 1)

6: Author: Tara Crescent
Title: Dirty X6

7. Author: Kate Hardy
Title: A Spoonful of Sugar (Bachelor Bake-Off, Book 2)

8. Author: Carrie Fisher
Title: The Princess Diarist

9. Author: Jennifer Faye
Title: Sprinkled with Love (Bachelor Bake-Off, Book 3)

10. Author: Jessica Gilmore
Title: Baking for Keeps (Bachelor Bake-Off, Book 4)

11. Author: Lara Van Hulzen
Title: A Recipe for Romance (Bachelor Bake-Off, Book 5)

12. Author: Kerrelyn Sparks
Title: How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days (The Embraced, Book 1)

13. Author: Rebecca Brooks
Title: Make Me Beg (Men of Gold Mountain, Book 2)

14. Author: Brooklyn Skye
Title: A Moment of Madness (Boston Alibi, Book 2)

15: Author: Tara Sue Me
Title: Master Professor (Lessons from the RACK, Book 1)

16: Author: Susan Mann
Title: The Librarian and the Spy (Librarian and the Spy, Escapade 1)

17: Author: Lauren Hawkeye
Title: Kiss of the Irish (Foreign Fling, Book 1)

18: Author: Kari Gregg
Title: You Melted Me

19. Author: Craig Ferguson
Title: American on Purpose: The Improbable Adventures of an Unlikely Patriot

20. Author: Sophie H. Morgan
Title: Her Wish (Playboy Genie, Book 1)

21. Author: Heather McCollum
Title: The Wolf of Kisimul Castle (Highland Isles, Book 3)

22. Author: Santino Hassell
Title: Illegal Contact (The Barons, Book 1)

23. Author: Raymond Chandler
Title: The Big Sleep (Philip Marlowe, Book 1)

24. Author: Marie Harte
Title: All I Want for Halloween

25. Author: G.S. Denning
Title: A Study in Brimstone (Warlock Holmes, Book 1)

26. Author: Al Franken
Title: Al Franken, Giant of the Senate

27. Author: Terry Bolryder
Title: Zircon (Awakened Sea Dragons, Book 1)

28. Author: Stefanie London
Title: Trouble Next Door

29. Author: Nicole McLaughlin
Title: Maybe I Do (Whiskey and Weddings, Book 1)

30. Author: Alethea Kontis
Title: The Simi's ABCs: Adventures with Dark-Hunters (Dark-Hunters Series)

31. Author: Kevin Hart
Title: I Can't Make This Up: Life Lessons

Books I've Read in 2017

For the past seven years I've kept track of the books I read. I read so much that everything tends to blend together in my mental library. It's always fun at the end of the year to look back and see what I've read, loved, and want to re-read (and - on the rare occasion - want to avoid). Plus, it's great to share and compare lists with other book bloggers :)

This list is only of books and novellas I've read and finished (though if I read an entire anthology, I list only the anthology title). The books are listed in the order I read them.

There are sure to be many wonderful stories on the list, but the ones with a ** by them are ones I highly recommend.

1. On Broken Wings (Wild Aces, Book 3) by Chanel Cleeton **
2. Unf*ck Your Habitat: You’re Better Than Your Mess by Rachel Hoffman
3. My Boss is a Grumpy Werewolf and I Think He Wants to Eat Me! (My Boss Is a Grumpy Werewolf, Book 1) by Jane Wallace-Knight
4. Must Love Breeches (Must Love Time Travel, Book 1) by Angela Quarles
5. The Invisible Library (The Invisible Library, Book 1) by Genevieve Cogman
6. Accidentally Compromising the Duke (Wedded by Scandal, Book 1) by Stacy Reid (re-read) **
7. Wicked in His Arms (Wedded by Scandal, Book 2) by Stacy Reid
8. Planned Seduction (Seduction, Book 1) by Jess Dee
9. Dirty X6 by Tara Crescent
10. Playing the Player (Sydney Smoke Rugby, Book 3) by Amy Andrews
11. Manners & Mutiny (Finishing School, Book 4) by Gail Carriger
12. The Duke (Victorian Rebels, Book 4) by Kerrigan Byrne
13. Fair Game (All’s Fair, Book 1) by Josh Lanyon **
14. A Spoonful of Sugar (Bachelor Bake-Off, Book 2) by Kate Hardy
15. Because of Miss Bridgerton (Rokesbys, Book 1) by Julia Quinn
16. A Teaspoon of Trouble (Bachelor Bake-Off, Book 1) by Shirley Jump
17. The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher
18. Sprinkled with Love (Bachelor Bake-Off, Book 3) by Jennifer Faye
19. Echoes in Death (In Death, Book 44) by J.D. Robb
20. Rock Chick Regret (Rock Chick, Book 7) by Kristen Ashley
21. Fair Play (All’s Fair, Book 2) by Josh Lanyon **
22. Baking for Keeps (Bachelor Bake-Off, Book 4) by Jessica Gilmore
23. Fair Chance (All’s Fair, Book 3) by Josh Lanyon **
24. A Recipe for Romance (Bachelor Bake-Off, Book 5) by Lara Van Hulzen
25. How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days (The Embraced, Book 1) by Kerrelyn Sparks
26. Make Me Beg (Men of Gold Mountain, Book 2) by Rebecca Brooks
27. Water Bound (Sea Haven/Sisters of the Heart, Book 1) by Christine Feehan
28. A Moment of Madness (Boston Alibi, Book 2) by Brooklyn Skye
29. The Thing About Love by Julie James
30. Alpha & Omega (Alpha & Omega, Book 0.5) by Patricia Briggs (re-read)
31. Spirit Bound (Sea Haven/Sisters of the Heart, Book 2) by Christine Feehan
32. Master Professor (Lessons from the RACK, Book 1) by Tara Sue Me
33. Gauntlet (Arena, Book 2) by Holly Jennings
34. Air Bound (Sea Haven/Sisters of the Heart, Book 3) by Christine Feehan
35. Earth Bound (Sea Haven/Sisters of the Heart, Book 4) by Christine Feehan
36. Emergency Attraction (Love Emergency, Book 3) by Samanthe Beck
37. Midnight Target (Killer Instincts, Book 8) by Elle Kennedy
38. Kodiak’s Claim (Kodiak Point, Book 1) by Eve Langlais
39. The Librarian and the Spy (Librarian and the Spy, Escapade 1) by Susan Mann
40. The Legendary Lord (Playful Brides, Book 6) by Valerie Bowman (re-read)
41. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by J.K. Rowling
42. Never Trust a Pirate (Playful Brides, Book 7) by Valerie Bowman
43. The Girl Who Knew Too Much by Amanda Quick
44. Burn for Me (Hidden Legacy, Book 1) by Ilona Andrews (re-read) **
45. Azagoth (Demonica Book 10.5/Lords of Deliverance Book 5.5) by Larissa Ione (re-read) **
46. Kiss of the Irish (Foreign Fling, Book 1) by Lauren Hawkeye
47. You Melted Me by Kari Gregg
48. Just Desserts (Petit Morts, Book 14) by Josh Lanyon
49. White Hot (Hidden Legacy, Book 2) by Ilona Andrews **
50. The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband (Rokesbys, Book 2) by Julia Quinn
51. Wild Man (Dream Man, Book 2) by Kristen Ashley (re-read)
52. The Art of Sinning (Sinful Suitors, Book 1) by Sabrina Jeffries (re-read)
53. Private Reserve (Dossier, Book 1) by Cathryn Fox
54. House Rules (Dossier, Book 2) by Cathryn Fox
55. The Mermaid Murders (The Art of Murder, Book 1) by Josh Lanyon
56. Angels Fall by Nora Roberts (re-read) **
57. The Monet Murders (The Art of Murder, Book 2) by Josh Lanyon
58. Silver Silence (Psy-Changeling Trinity, Book 1) by Nalini Singh **
59. Lost and Found Sisters (Wildstone, Book 1) by Jill Shalvis
60. The Red by Tiffany Reisz
61. Rock Chick (Rock Chick, Book 1) by Kristen Ashley (re-read) **
62. American on Purpose: The Improbable Adventures of an Unlikely Patriot by Craig Ferguson
63. The Pleasures of Passion (Sinful Suitors, Book 4) by Sabrina Jeffries
64. Cards on the Table by Josh Lanyon (re-read)
65. Wired (Buchanan-Renard, Book 13) by Julie Garwood
66. Paper and Fire (The Great Library, Book 2) by Rachel Caine
67. My Boss Is a Grumpy Werewolf and I Think He Wants to Marry Me! (My Boss Is a Grumpy Werewolf, Book 2) by Jane Wallace-Knight
68. Heroine Worship (Heroine Complex, Book 2) by Sarah Kuhn
69. Royally Roma (The Royals, Book 1) by Teri Wilson
70. Interlude in Death (In Death, Book 12.5) by J.D. Robb (re-read)
71. Ash and Quill (The Great Library, Book 3) by Rachel Caine
72. Wildfire (Hidden Legacy, Book 3) by Ilona Andrews
73. Royally Romanov (The Royals, Book 2) by Teri Wilson
74. Mind Over Matter by Nora Roberts
75. Rock Chick Revolution (Rock Chick, Book 8) by Kristen Ashley
76. Her Wish (Playboy Genie, Book 1) by Sophie H. Morgan
77. Rock Chick Redux (Rock Chick, Book 8.5) by Kristen Ashley
78. His Command (Playboy Genie, Book 2) by Sophie H. Morgan
79. The Wolf of Kisimul Castle (Highland Isles, Book 3) by Heather McCollum **
80. From Duke Till Dawn (The London Underground, Book 1) by Eva Leigh
81. One Snowy Night (Heartbreaker Bay, Book 2.5) by Jill Shalvis
82. How to Marry a Marquess (Wedded by Scandal, Book 3) by Stacy Reid
83. Illegal Contact (The Barons, Book 1) by Santino Hassell **
84. The Big Sleep (Philip Marlowe, Book 1) by Raymond Chandler **
85. Make Me Want (Men of Gold Mountain, Book 3) by Rebecca Brooks
86. Compromised in Paradise (Compromise Me, Book 3) by Samanthe Beck
87. My Fair Lover (Legendary Lovers, Book 5) by Nicole Jordan
88. Under Pressure (Dossier, Book 3) by Cathryn Fox
89. Going Dark (The Lost Platoon, Book 1) by Monica McCarty
90. Untold (Country Roads, Book 7) by Shannon Richard
91. The Widow’s Auction by Sabrina Jeffries (re-read)
92. Midnight in Death (In Death, Book 7.5) by J.D. Robb (re-read)
93. Changing the Play (The Game Changer, Book 1) by Julia Blake
94. High Noon by Nora Roberts (re-read) **
95. Accidentally on Purpose (Heartbreaker Bay, Book 3) by Jill Shalvis
96. A Little Thing Called Love (Marrying the Duke, Book 0.5) by Cathy Maxwell
97. All I Want for Halloween by Marie Harte
98. Chasing Christmas Eve (Heartbreaker Bay, Book 4) by Jill Shalvis
99. Playing with Forever (Sydney Smoke Rugby, Book 4) by Amy Andrews
100. Archangel’s Viper (Guild Hunter, Book 10) by Nalini Singh
101. A Talent for Temptation (Sinful Suitors, Book 4.5) by Sabrina Jeffries
102. When All the Girls Have Gone (Cutler, Sutter & Salinas, Book 1) by Jayne Ann Krentz (re-read)
103. The Scot Beds His Wife (Victorian Rebels, Book 5) by Kerrigan Byrne
104. Make Me Yours (Men of Gold Mountain, Book 4) by Rebecca Brooks
105. A Study in Brimstone (Warlock Holmes, Book 1) by G.S. Denning
106. A Very Personal Trainer by Justine Elyot (re-read) **
107. Al Franken, Giant of the Senate by Al Franken
108. Most Likely to Succeed (Girls Most Likely to..., Book 1) by Kate Davies
109. Secrets in Death (In Death, Book 45) by J.D. Robb
110. Duke of Desire (Maiden Lane, Book 12) by Elizabeth Hoyt
111. The Right Kind of Rogue (Playful Brides, Book 8) by Valerie Bowman
112. Zircon (Awakened Sea Dragons, Book 1) by Terry Bolryder
113. Complicated by Kristen Ashley
114. The Governess Was Wild (Governess, Book 3) by Julia Kelly (re-read)
115. Trouble Next Door by Stefanie London **
116. Once Upon a Maiden Lane (Maiden Lane, Book 12.5) by Elizabeth Hoyt
117. Dirty Games (Tropical Temptation, Book 4) by Samanthe Beck
118. The Mermaid Murders (The Art of Murder, Book 1) by Josh Lanyon (re-read)
119. The Devil of Dunakin Castle (Highland Isles, Book 4) by Heather McCollum
120. Duchess by Day, Mistress by Night (Rebellious Desires, Book 1) by Stacy Reid
121. Come Sundown by Nora Roberts
122. Winter Kill by Josh Lanyon
123. Once Upon a Christmas Eve (Maiden Lane, Book 12.75) by Elizabeth Hoyt
124. One Hot December (Men at Work, Book 3) by Tiffany Reisz (re-read) **
125. Quinn’s Hart by Cassandra Gold (re-read) **
126. Maybe I Do (Whiskey and Weddings, Book 1) by Nicole McLaughlin
127. Outfoxed by Love (Kodiak Point, Book 2) by Eve Langlais
128. Stephen Colbert’s Midnight Confessions by Stephen Colbert **
129. Crash Plus Expenses (Crash Plus Expenses, Book 1) by Astrid Amara
130. Holiday Wishes (Heartbreaker Bay, Book 4.5) by Jill Shalvis
131. The Simi's ABCs: Adventures with Dark-Hunters (Dark-Hunters Series) by Sherrilyn Kenyon and Alethea Kontis **
132. I Can't Make This Up: Life Lessons by Kevin Hart
133. Dangerous Ground (Dangerous Ground, Book 1) by Josh Lanyon
134. Old Poison (Dangerous Ground, Book 2) by Josh Lanyon
135. The Dickens with Love by Josh Lanyon (re-read)
136. The Invisible Library (The Invisible Library, Book 1) by Genevieve Cogman (re-read)
137. A Soupรงon of Poison (Kat Holloway Mysteries, Book 0.5) by Jennifer Ashley
138. Death Below Stairs (Kat Holloway Mysteries, Book 1) by Jennifer Ashley