LIVE ~ Taking A Chance by Maggie McGinnis

November 2017 writinstuff Leave a comment

ABOUT:

A rising star in the corporate world, Emma Winthrop enjoys the view from her cubicle in sunny Florida. But when she’s dispatched to a nursing home in Whisper Creek for three months of field experience, she discovers a slice of heaven made of mountains and mayhem—mostly in the form of rugged, drop-dead gorgeous Jasper Stone, who grinds his specialty beans at the town’s best coffee shop in between organizing dodge-ball games and wheelchair races in Emma’s hallways.

When Jasper walks in on this beautiful angel in silky purple underwear trying to rinse out her blouse, it’s a breathtaking view—even for a Montana native. Wreaking havoc here at Shady Acres keeps his dad in good spirits, but getting under Emma’s skin is proving to be even more fun. Jasper knows that he’s falling faster than a man with his past has any right to, but his body and his heart have a mind of their own. And Emma appears to be claiming both.

Get your copy HERE!!!

book reviews, New Releases, Romance

Review ~ An Ex For Christmas – Lauren Layne

November 2017 writinstuff Leave a comment

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ABOUT:

When a psychic tells spunky, superstitious Kelly Byrne that she’s already met her true love, she becomes obsessed with the idea of tracking him down before Christmas. Kelly immediately writes up an “Ex List” and starts contacting old boyfriends to figure out which one is the one. When her college sweetheart rolls into town, Kelly convinces herself that they’re meant to be. The trouble is, sparks are flying with someone she’s never given a chance: her best friend, Mark.

Mark Blakely has watched the guys on Kelly’s list break her heart, and he’s not looking forward to watching them do it all over again. Mark’s always been there for her, but the timing’s never worked out for their relationship to be something more. Now, just as Mark is ready to move on, the sexual tension between them is suddenly off the charts. With Christmas morning around the corner, he just hopes Kelly will wake up and realize that everything she wants has been right in front of her all along.

I really wanted to LOVE this story but it turns out that I only liked it. An Ex For Christmas is a good story but there were times that I wanted to strangle Kelly. Not that I have any problems people believing in or using magic 8 balls, horoscopes, tarot cards and any of that. But letting it rule your life? It grew a bit tiresome way before we got to Christmas Eve and Christmas.

This story was…odd. More than half the story is Kelly tracking down other guys with no mention of having feelings for or even an attraction to her best friend. At fifty percent I had to go back and read the synopsis because I thought maybe I’d misread it. But no, I hadn’t. Then finally something happened but by then I was really just ready to get to the HEA.

As a writer I understand drama and storytelling so I have to give Lauren Layne credit because my reaction to Kelly, at times, was visceral. I screamed “Oh. My. God.” At least ten times from sixty percent to the end. Don’t get me wrong, Mark was no angel either. I mean it was clear he had feelings for her, but not to her.

Did you hear me? Not. To. Her.

I loved parts of this story, the history of their friendship and how close they were, even sharing a dog. I just wished that two people who had such a great relationship, could have communicated a little better. I mean, seriously!

All that being said, Kelly and Mark were adorable together. It was clear they could be a great match if she’d let go of her complete reliance on the supernatural or mystical to guide her life. As someone who used to spend her high school years poring over every horoscope printing in the Sun Times and Tribune, I understand where she’s coming from. Except…I was in high school, not looking for The One.

An Ex For Christmas is good read, probably a great read if you don’t let Kelly annoy you too bad! That’s why I gave it almost 4 stars, let’s call it 3.75 stars.

book reviews, New Releases, Romance

Review ~ Cowboy Christmas Blues – Maisey Yates

November 2017 writinstuff Leave a comment

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ABOUT:

When Cooper Mason left Gold Valley, Oregon behind him eight years ago, he told himself he wouldn’t be back. But when a Christmas promise sends him home to face his demons, he’ll find that not everything is as he remembers—especially family friend Annabelle Preston, who’s somehow morphed from childhood pest to full-grown, hot-blooded and oh-so-tempting woman.

Growing up, Annabelle had built a lot of dreams around the ruggedly gorgeous Cooper—dreams she’s long ago learned to put behind her. Until a chance encounter with Cooper leads to a night neither can forget, and all the old feelings come blazing back to life. Now, Annabelle has a week to prove there’s more between them than a no-strings holiday fling…and with a little Christmas luck, she just might convince Gold Valley’s favorite cowboy to come home for good.

We all know that I super biased towards author, Maisey Yates. Her Copper Ridge series is fantastic so you know when I found out she’d discovered more hot cowboys in Gold Valley, I was all over that. And she starts with a really good one!

This introductory novella was the perfect Christmas bite!

Annabelle has always had it bad for Cooper Mason. She followed him around as a kid because he was her hero. Her one true love. But Mason left Gold Valley and has hardly come back or looked back in years. Of course, he has his reasons—pretty damn good reasons—but this year he’s back to spend time with his family. And the town who won’t let his family forget their biggest tragedy.

One night at the only watering hole in town he spots her. A sexy little number he could lose himself in for the night…only after a super hot orgasm does he realize who she is.

DRAMA, y’all!

So that’s Cowboy Christmas Blues in a nutshell but that’s just what happens. This story is fun and a little bit sad, and filled with holiday hope. Annabelle is all grown up and she wants Cooper for herself. Or just while he’s in town. The point is she wants him and watching her try to navigate new feelings mixed with the old hero worship and his own warnings against developing feelings for him, was exciting. A casual, hot affair is just what she thinks she wants or needs, but come on, who can keep it casual when your childhood crush is tall, dark, handsome and just a little bit broken?

Certainly not me, and definitely not Annabelle either!

There were some great secondary characters that I look forward to getting to know better, but if the rest of the stories are anything like Cowboy Christmas Blues, then there are many more cowboys in my future!

book reviews, Romance

Review ~ Worth The Wait – Jamie Beck

October 2017 writinstuff Leave a comment

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ABOUT:

Thirteen years ago, Vivi LeBrun was sketching a rooster and eating Oreos when she first met—and fell for—her friend’s brother, David St. James. Since then, her love for David has only intensified thanks to years of friendship with his family, who rescued her from a lonely, tumultuous childhood. As she travels to Block Island to vacation with the St. James siblings, Vivi daydreams about reuniting with David, hoping he’ll finally see her as his soul mate.

After his mother’s death, David distanced himself from his siblings, determined to hide a devastating family secret. Now, he’s brought a new girlfriend along to his homecoming—one who’s pushing for a serious commitment. The last thing he needs on his growing list of problems is his budding attraction to Vivi.

With tensions running high, David’s behavior triggers a series of events that might cost him the love he’s always taken for granted and Vivi the only real family she’s ever known.

The tone of Worth The Wait was somewhat…unexpected. As a romance involving the best friend’s older brother, one would expect fluff and heat and some substance. But this doesn’t read like your typical romance even though all the elements are there; a big beach house on an island, an unexpected but well known guest, a new girlfriend and heaps of tension. But despite all that, the whole time I read this story I had a major case of the feels.

Vivi has loved David since about five seconds after she met him, and years later not much has changed. Except everything else has, including David. Watching Vivi contend with the new, uncertain nature of their relationship along with the addition of the girlfriend who followed him halfway around the world, was heartbreaking. She put on a brave face, even when her best friend did her best to make it know how she would feel about a relationship between her best friend and her brother.

I don’t know, I thought Cat was a very selfish person aside from the drama with her boyfriend. She was probably my least favorite character, which doesn’t exactly bode well for me and the next book in the series, though I have doubts the other siblings’ stories could possibly rival Worth The Wait.

I’ve probably made this story sound like a big downer, but it isn’t. At all. The tone is different and I think that’s a good thing. Love isn’t always just chocolates and flowers and hot sex. Sometimes the journey is dramatic and painful and hellish, but you go through it to get to the prize at the other end…or you don’t.

I loved Vivi, I thought she was strong as hell despite all the crap life had heaped on her, and I think David did not deserve her love. He eventually earned it, in my opinion, but I still have doubts on whether or not he deserved it because she was great and there were plenty of times—over the years—he took advantage of that fact without acknowledging that she loved him.

I think Jamie Beck did a fantastic job with this story. I always love her stories and sometimes I dislike the heroine, but I always have a good time. If you love best friend’s older brother love stories, this one is just for you.

book reviews, New Releases, Romance

Review ~ Those Sweet Words – Kait Nolan

October 2017 writinstuff Leave a comment

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ABOUT:

Good old, reliable Pru. Of the four Reynolds sisters, Pru is the natural choice to take on custody of the girl their late mother had planned to adopt. At thirty, suddenly becoming the mom of a teenager means big changes, but Pru’s ready to do whatever it takes to adopt Ari. Before she settles down, though, she wants one thing for herself.

Enter Flynn Bohannon, the sinfully sexy Irish musician in town for her sister’s wedding. He’s led the kind of free, vagabond life Pru can hardly imagine. Definitely not the kind of guy she should be dating, but he’s the perfect guy for a crazy fun fling before her life changes.

When Pru proposes a brief, no strings affair, Flynn’s not about to say no. But when unexpected complications endanger the adoption, the two find themselves in a phony engagement.

Now they have to convince a sharp-eyed, skeptical social worker, a teen who’s too smart for her own good, three dubious sisters, and one protective brother-in-law that Flynn’s willing to give up the gypsy life and settle down. But in convincing everyone that this relationship is real, will they convince each other as well?

Of all the sisters at The Misfit Inn, Pru seemed like the most settled when she was introduced in When You Got A Good Thing. I expected an opposites attract type romance since Flynn was so different, and I prepared myself to dig in with excitement because let’s face it, Kait Nolan rarely lets readers down.

But damn, did Flynn have to be so tempting? So delicious with his Irish lilt and charming words? Oh, hell yeah he did! I mean, who else but a guy like that could bypass Pru’s natural inhibitions? Sure, she had a lot on her plate with a new inn, a new business and oh yeah, adopting a teenager, but she found time for Flynn and though I’m not quite as glad as Pru, I can’t deny how much I loved reading Those Sweet Words.

I did have an issue with the way Pru assumed that Flynn was unsettled and against commitment because of his lifestyle. It was a little annoying, I mean if he’d spent the entire book hemming and hawing because she had a teenager we’d all think he was an insensitive jerk. But she got over it and so did I with his help, because when a guy like that is waiting for you, wanting you, you get the hell on board PDQ.

One of my favorite things, in general, about Kait Nolan is the heroes she creates. They aren’t those bullying alphas that everyone loves, they are really great guys. Good, solid men. You can’t help falling in love with a guy like that, which is the backbone of her stories. Flynn just amped it up by about a million and I’m still contemplating putting him at the number 3 spot of perfect male partners right under my husband and Pacey Witter.

I don’t know how many ways to say I loved this story, more than I thought. I still think the first one was my favorite—so far—but this one was a really good time.

A damn good time, in fact.

In case you’re wondering, When You Got A Good Thing is now #free on Amazon!

Romance

A Little Bit In Love ~ Just 99 CENTS!!!

October 2017 writinstuff Leave a comment

After losing her birth parents and her adopted parents Alexis Mabry is used to being alone. So after a year of bad dates with everyone from sugar babies to cross dressers, she decides to stop dating altogether and focus on what matters most: her business and her friends in Mustang Prairie.

When she meets a handsome stranger on vacation she starts to wonder if maybe its time to get back in the game.

Baxter Thompsen spent the last decade building his empire to the exclusion of everything but sex. Now tired of the socialites and starlets, he wants someone real. When he finds her, Alex only wants a vacation fling and it’s up to Baxter to show her that lust is great, but love is everything.

Is it lust, is it like or are Baxter and Alex just a little bit in love?

Get it here —> Alex & Baxter

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“If you’re real nice to me maybe I’ll let you take me home and show you how well I can earn my keep.” He winked and smiled just enough to reveal a charming dimple.

I don’t believe this shit. Alexis was upset. No she was pissed. After spending an inordinate amount of time getting waxed, buffed and polished at the spa on the top floor of her business World of Wonder, she headed to the second floor to get her thick brown hair trimmed and highlighted by her Brazilian wunderkind Stephan. Once at home she slathered her body in lavender oil before sliding into a feminine rusted orange halter dress. It flowed beautifully around her toned legs, highlighting her tan skin and hugging her chest making it look much bigger than her b-cups. She decided on a sheer scarf to cover her best feature, her toned arms. Since most men were intimidated by her guns Alexis tended to cover them up on first dates. Men, she huffed still fuming over his presumptuousness. I can’t believe I broke in my new wedges for this. “Earn your keep?” She raised an eyebrow in his direction.

“Oh come on, sweetheart. You asked if I was intimidated by money, which means you have it.” He finished off his scotch in one disgusting gulp. “That means you have money but no man and you’re willing to pay for one.” The smug bastard actually sat back like he’d just solved String Theory or something equally difficult and important.

“Yeah, I don’t think so.” The nerve of this guy! Sure he was handsome. More like gorgeous as hell with sparkling blue eyes and a flop of curly black hair with matching inky lashes women would pay good money for. He was tall, over six feet, built for sex and obviously an idiot. “I was merely asking to see if there was a point to continuing this date. Obviously there isn’t.” She threw her napkin on the table, upset she wasted almost a full tank of gas on this long ass drive.

“Hey I’m fine with having a woman pay my way. I’m a modern kind of guy.” He flagged the waiter for another drink. “I mean you’re smokin’ ass hot so I would’ve banged you anyway, but you have money too? I might just marry your fine ass.”

Alexis shook her head, disgust mounting with the passing of every second. This guy was so delusional that the notion of taking him to the nearest hotel and having her way with him was no longer even appealing. “What did you just say to me?”

His eyebrows lifted as he finally caught on that his mouth was digging the hole deeper. “Look doll I’m just saying…” he stopped at her raised eyebrow.

“You did not just say that to me. You did not seriously just say that to me, what the hell is wrong with you?”

He slammed his old fashioned glass down hard on the wooden bistro table. “See this is exactly what’s wrong with you so called powerful women. You go around being all tough and acting like a man and then you wonder why no man will have you.” He reached over and gently laid his hand on top of hers. “But I will have you doll. All of you and any way you want me to take you, I will.” He smiled. Smiled. Like he was offering her some sort of gift.

She smiled her most sugary sweet smile, slowly batting her eyelashes like she was Betty Boop and leaned forward, hoping her B cup was enough to divert his attention from her clenched jaw and steel gaze. “Oh well gee thanks,” she drawled in her best impression of a Southern gentlewoman. “I guess my life is complete if some fucking Neanderthal says he’ll have me as long as I pay for him to sit around on his lazy ass all day long!” Alexis pushed her chair back harshly as she stood, grabbing her purse and leaning into him. “Here’s a little tip for you doll face,” she patted his cheek slightly harder than necessary, “next time a woman looks like this and shows up for a date with your sorry ass, just keep that beautiful mouth closed. Judging by what’s come out of that mouth tonight, I’m sure there’s only one thing you do well with it.” With that parting shot, she headed for the door.

“You’re missin’ out babe!” She didn’t bother to respond since the door cut off whatever other asinine comment he was shouting.

Outside Alex dug her ticket from her nude clutch and handed it over to the gawking young valet who quickly shuffled off to bring her car around. He’s cute, maybe I’ll become a cougar before my time. She shook her head at her wayward thoughts and made her way to the door the now blushing valet held open for her. “Thanks,” she muttered handing him a twenty dollar bill.

“My pleasure ma’am,” the kid turned an even brighter shade of red as he handed her into the driver’s seat while sneaking a long peek at her legs.

“Hey kid.”

He looked up, chagrined at being caught staring. “Yeah?”

“When you’re staring at a woman’s legs like you’re picturing them being wrapped around your head, don’t call her ‘ma’am’. Got it?”

He nodded, this time not bothering to turn his attention away from the way the skirt of her dress rode up her thighs. “Sure thing lady.” He closed the door and moved his gaze to her chest.

“Now kid, do these legs look like they belong to a lady?” She laughed lightly.

He shook his head vigorously. “No lady I know, that’s for sure.”

Alexis laughed harder this time as she slid her seatbelt into place. “Thanks kid, you just made my night.”

“Hey I’m not a kid, I’m almost twenty!”

“If I’m still single in five years I’ll come find you,” she waved as she pulled away with a bright smile on her face.

Events

Join Me At The Fall Book Ball!!!

October 2017 writinstuff Leave a comment

Today kicks off the multi-genre Fall Book Ball! What’s it mean? Well it means that for three straight days–October 26th, 27th & 28th–the hostess with the mostest, Ravannah Rayne, will host authors of all genres so we can talk about what moves us. Love books? Man candy and giveaways?

Stop by and say hi, meet some new authors and maybe walk away with a few books! The party starts here at 2p EST.

book reviews, Romance

Review ~ Pianos & Promises Book 1 – Jennifer Peel

October 2017 writinstuff Leave a comment

Get your copy HERE!!!

ABOUT:

Doesn’t everyone say you should marry your best friend?

Jaime Seger has two goals in life: marry her best friend, the man that owns her heart and soul, and buy her very own grand piano. But Christopher McKay, who has no idea Jaime’s been in love with him since she was eleven years old, never gets the memo and marries someone else.

When Christopher’s wife dies, Jamie finds herself helping him raise his young daughter. A year later, she is on the other end of a very unlikely proposal, promising everything she thought she ever wanted.

But can their friendship survive a marriage of convenience?

After reading book one in the Pianos & Promises series, I think I am becoming a serious fan of Jennifer Peel. It’s no surprise to readers of this blog that I have a very hard time reading books written in the first person. I very rarely make it past the first few chapters and as soon as I started to read this one, I groaned. Oh no, not another first person story!!! But a funny thing happened, I kept reading. And I liked it.

I more than liked it. I f*cking liked it.

Many of my first person objections hold, but Pianos & Promises of Jaime and Chris was so emotional, such a sharp pain to my heart at times that I actually cried. Jaime’s heartbreak was visceral and though this is just a novella, it certainly didn’t feel like it. Jennifer Peel did a fantastic job capturing and bottling that emotion for the page. The characters had layers, such depth as well as a rich history that went back decades.

The premise of this story is right up my alley because I love a friends to lovers trope, and this one tugged on all the heartstrings. It was refreshing to see, for once, the hero working hard to prove himself to the woman, rather than her doing some very creative justifying in order to take him back.

This isn’t a new story but it’s been sitting in my Kindle for quite some time and I finally just cracked it open. I’m glad I did…because it’s a three book bundle, baby!

New Releases, Romance

Emerald Creek Just #99cents!!!

October 2017 writinstuff Leave a comment

Guess what’s just $0.99 TODAY? That’s right, you can read all about Dre, Erick, Shayna and the crew for less than a buck, a euro….a whatever.

The weather is cooling down so why not warm up with a sweet and sexy second chance summer love story?

💚💫💚💫💚💫#EmeraldCreekSummer💚💫💚💫💚💫

My name is Andrea Larson but everyone calls me Dre.
After college I was supposed to return to my hometown of Emerald Creek and set up an online travel business with my high school sweetheart.
Then he knocked up someone else and those plans went to sh*t.
I moved on, sold my website for a ton of money and moved to California.
My life, my business is a success by any measure of the word.
Then I got the call. My best friend needed me.
In Emerald Creek.
I haven’t seen Erick in a decade, maybe more.
Now we’re in the same town where we fell in love and avoiding him isn’t possible.

My name is Erick but everyone knows me by my restaurant name, Maverick
Divorce and a single dad, I don’t date much.
My life is my baby girl and Maverick’s.
And then Dre comes back to town.
Summer in Emerald Creek would be the perfect chance to make her love me again.

If I can get her to talk to me.

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book reviews, Romance

Review ~ This Changes Everything – Gretchen Galway

October 2017 writinstuff Leave a comment

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ABOUT:

There’s more than one way to ruin a beautiful friendship.

Tech entrepreneur Sly has a portfolio of lucrative San Francisco Bay Area start-ups, but while his financial options are unlimited, his romantic options are anything but. Bored with the same old, same old, he finds himself spending more and more time with Cleo, his former piano teacher and current pizza-eating, binge-TV-watching partner.

Already divorced at only twenty-nine, Cleo’s not looking for love. Certainly not with a gorgeous workaholic who usually dates high-powered, MBA-toting supermodels. Although, come to think of it, Sly hasn’t dated anyone in a long time. And Cleo isn’t the only one to notice he seems lonely…

An unexpected weekend trip to Las Vegas forces Cleo to confront her past while Sly slams into his own demons and realizes he’s his own worst enemy. What happens when they cross the line? And then move it, jump over it, trample it, zigzag across it, and forget where the line was in the first place?

What can I say about Sly and Cleo? I read the other books in this series, particularly Mark and Rose’s story, so I already had a bit of a crush on Sylly—though I prefer Sly…a lot—and I was eager for him to have his own story. Gretchen Galway did Sly proud, giving him a worthy heroine both in strength and in baggage.

What I truly loved about This Changes Everything is their genuine friendship. I loved that they just hung out, drinking beer and eating pizza instead of clubbing. The fact that they were great friends added a layer to this story that had me smiling most of the time. Some of those times were heartbreaking but they are few and far between.

There wasn’t much outside drama or angst and really, this kind of story doesn’t need it. Both Sly and Cleo had enough personal baggage, never mind fear of ruining an amazing friendship that provided more than enough drama. Watching them struggle with their emotions was funny at times, cringeworthy at others and really damn hot most of the time.

It was nice to see Mark and Rose and Bev and Liam, plus the tiniest little foot fetishist, Merry! And Trixie is back with her meddling, but Sly and Cleo do a bit of meddling of their own!

Bonus, This Changes Everything is two love stories in one!