Review of Crash (Clark Family #3) by Evelyn Sola

“One. More. Word.”

 

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Length: 395 pages

POV: Alternating First Person

Description:

Vivi
For the first time in my life, I’m with the family I choose.
Living with my cousin, who happens to be a newlywed, is the best thing ever.
There is one pesky downside, and his name is Lucas Clark.
He’s a spoiled rich boy who was put on this Earth to torture me.
He thinks he can intimidate me, keep me in my place, but I have news for him. No way is he man enough.

And it’s annoying. Like, why do his eyes follow me everywhere? Why do I lose all self-control, seeking him out whenever we share the same space?
I should be running in the opposite direction, right?
His words are harsh, hostile. Until one night, the hostility is replaced by a kiss that almost set us on fire.

Luke
She’s a tiny ball of energy. Every bitter and combative word out of her mouth is aimed at me.
My family thinks I walk on water, so I could use any excuse to stay away from her.
She’s nothing more than a man-hating shrew wrapped up in a beautiful package.
Those dark eyes of hers? I see them everywhere.
Her red lips? They beg to be kissed.
And one night, I do. I finally get a taste, but it’s not enough. I want more.

She says she hates me.
I’m used to getting what I want, and what I want is to prove to Vivi that hate is the last thing on her mind when it comes to me.

Jennifer’s Review:

*I received this book free from the Forever Write PR.*

Vivi and Luke didn’t have a typical meet cute. They basically crashed into each other, found an instant attraction that neither wanted and therefore created an instant sarcastic hatred. Once they realized that her cousin was marrying his brother and there was no escaping each other they made it a game of torturing each other…something Luke started to curb his attraction and something she started for payback because he made her self-esteem falter.

Everyone in both families could see the attraction they had for each other even though neither one of them would admit it. Each tried to fight the attraction and instead focus on the mutual hate they each assumed the other had. That is until she began working for him and he couldn’t resist her anymore.

“I have the one thing I want. The one thing I didn’t know I needed. I have you.”

I enjoyed the jealousy drama. Luke was hella good at knowing how to make Vivi jealous even before they were together. He wanted under her skin. He wanted her to want him as badly as he wanted her. But oh boy did he go about it the wrong way. And he got stink bombed because of it.

Crash is another Clark Family love story. I love how the Clark brother’s have fallen for cousins and keeps both of their families entwined in the storyline. All the characters have such fantastic personalities and each one comes alive as I read.

*Clicking on the book cover above will take you to the Amazon purchase page.

 

Review of The Russian Savage: Enemy of the Bratva (Krasnov Brothers #2) by Rie Warren

“Always only mine.”

 

Genre: Mafia Romance, Action, Erotica

Length: 354 Pages

POV: Alternating First Person

Description:

I am her enemy.
And I’m going to make her mine.
She might never forgive me, but I don’t care.

Saving the daughter of an enemy was not my intention but, now that I have her, I intend to keep her. Nothing is going to stop me from using this mafia heiress as I see fit, not even her personal vendetta that pits her family against the Bratva.

Kidnapping the beautiful Italian princess is in my best interests even if it’s not good for her. Because I have wicked secrets of my own, which I intend to play out on her luscious body.

She will be my prized possession come hell, high water, or a vicious new war.

The Russian Savage is Arkady’s story and is book two in the Krasnov Brothers series. No cliffhangers. No cheating. Includes vivid, steamy scenes. Can be read as a standalone.

Jennifer’s Review:

*I received this book free from the author.*

Arkady saved Lucia from a brutal attack before he knew who she was. His brother had killed her brother to save the woman he loved. But all she knew was that her brother was dead and she wanted to make those responsible pay. To say her plan was insane and that she was in a little over her head would be putting it mildly.

Arkady kept Lucia “prisoner” to protect his family. Or so that’s what he kept telling himself. Truth was he wanted to protect her…even from herself. He knew what she needed for her pain and he was just the man to give it to her.

“Your are mine.” His voice rasped silkily. “This is my body now and you’re not to hurt it, dragotsennaya printsessa.”

Lucia thought Arkady would take her life, but instead his family was nice to her, and enlightened her to all the deeds of her father and brother. At first she didn’t want to believe them, but then she learned of her father’s plan to wed her off to an old geezer for money. Then the family she once hated became her saving grace, and the man she once loathed and feared became her home.

The Russian Savage is another fantastic Krasnov Brothers book. It mixes the ruthlessness of the the Bratva with the passionate fierceness of enemies turned lovers.

*Clicking on the book cover above will take you to the Amazon purchase page.

 

Review of Rash & Rationality (Happily Ever Austen #2) by Ellen Mint

“Let me be with you.”

 

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Length: 192 Pages

POV: Third Person

Description:

Love is a lot closer and more complicated than Marty ever dreamed.

Marty Dashwood is a true romantic. Hearts, chocolates, kisses on the hand—the whole nine yards. His killjoy brother Eldon doesn’t believe in love at first sight, but one day Marty will have the perfect meet-cute, she’ll fall helplessly in love with him and they’ll live happily ever after.

Brandy’s worked with Marty for almost two years. He’s the best friend she could ever have hoped for after the accident that took her husband. So she should be happy that Marty finally found what he’d always wanted, right?

So why does it feel like every time she sees Marty with the ‘Social-Media Angel’ he rescued from a mugger, a piece breaks off her heart? How can she explain any of this to him before she loses her best friend forever?

Rash and Rationality is a modern gender-swapped friends-to-lovers Sense & Sensibility, set in a cozy bookshop.

Jennifer’s Review:

*I received this book free from the author.*

Marty had been interested in Brandy from the moment he met her, but he respected her and the space she needed to grieve her deceased husband. He put his focus on making her smile and laugh every day they worked together.

Brandy had only been with one man, and that had been her husband. He was amazing in her eyes and when she lost him she never wanted to be interested in another man. Marty became a close friend, but she didn’t realize how close until he met someone else.

Marty was a hopeless romantic and when he saved a girl from being mugged he immediately pictured this entire romantic story to tell their grandkids one day and did everything within and beyond his power to turn their relationship into one for the record books. However, he was completely abandoning Brandy and his job to do it. When he realizes she’s using him for publicity it breaks his heart, but then he realizes she was never the true one for him anyway.

“Why can’t you just goddamn be with me?”

Sometimes you have to lose something to know what you had in the first place. That was Brandy. She had to lose Marty to realize she was ready to move on and lay her husband’s memory to rest. For Marty, he had to realize she was really ready and that he would no longer have to compete with a memory.

Rash & Rationality is a sweet story that brings two people together who fit perfectly in each other’s lives. From the way he wins her back to the perfect ending this book will end with you smiling. I know I was.

*Clicking on the book cover above will take you to the Amazon purchase page.

 

PROMO: Baby Got Bear (Marked and Mated #4) by Milly Taiden

Paranormal Romance (Shifters) – 208 Pages

About the Book:

Lucy Benton, daughter of the Pack Benton wolf alpha, knows there’s only one man for her. Beau. He’s gentle and strong, and she just can’t seem to stay away from him. Training horses at his ranch was her way to get his attention, but it’s been two years and nothing has happened between them. What is going on?

Beau Sampson can’t live without Lucy. She’s his fated mate and he doesn’t care that she’s a wolf and he’s a bear. All he knows is that he’s not letting her go. But he’s too shy to give her a reason to stay until she throws the saddle on him. And, oh, what a fantastic bucking ride it is.

The problem is her father, the oldest alpha in the region who will do anything for money and power, just made a deal with the devil—a black magic wolf who’s taken Lucy for his bride. He knows he can break the wild filly of her rowdy spirit. Now the race is on. Lucy must fight to stay alive and pray her bear shows up before she’s bonded into a loveless mating with a soulless monster who has no idea what he just signed up for.

 

Review of One Hundred Reasons (Aspen Cove #1) by Kelly Collins

“I’d do anything for you.”

 

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Length: 252 Pages

POV: Third Person

Description:

Fresh starts, hope, and happily ever afters…

Nurse Sage Nichols life changed when she lost her favorite patient and inherited a bed and breakfast in a town she didn’t know existed. She traveled to Aspen Cove intent to sell so she could hurry back to her life in Denver. Little did she know, she was about to find everything she ever needed in the tiny mountain town with a big heart. Sage found herself in a place where caring for your neighbor was a way of life. In her case, that happened to be surly Cannon Bishop, the man of her dreams.

Cannon Bishop was a man who learned long ago that hope was a dangerous thing. Closed off from the world after a family tragedy, Cannon lived a lonely life as the owner of Aspen Cove’s only bar and son to the town drunk. When Sage Nichols breezed into town, she offered the possibility of more if he’d only open his heart. Cannon’s protective walls tumble and suddenly a brighter future of healing, hope, and peace was possible… if only Sage would stay.

Jennifer’s Review:

*I received this book free from Show Me Edits.*

Sage’s biggest flaw was that she cared too much. It was a weakness where she worked, but someone was looking out for her and knew exactly what she needed…even if she didn’t. All she had to do was give it a chance.

Cannon has lost too many people, and in order to protect his heart he closed it off. Focused on just getting by and doing what he had to, including taking care of his father, the bar, and the bait shop. He was turning into a cankerous old man.

“I trust everyone until I can’t.”

“I trust no one until I can.”

…maybe opposites do attract. 

He didn’t want to want the new fiery redhead in town. He wanted his status quo. But sometime you get what you need, instead of what you want. And Sage is exactly what he, his father, and the town needed. Of course they are exactly what she’d been needing in her life too.

One Hundred Reasons reminded me of watching a Hallmark mini series. I can only image the rest of the Aspen Cove series would continue the engrossing storyline. The characters are all loveable in their own way and it makes you want to see each and every single one get their own happily ever after like Sage and Cannon.

Of course it’s not all sunshine and roses. There’s a black eye…or two, an emergency delivery, and a few drunken escapades that made my heart tighten. Never a dull moment that’s for sure.

*Clicking on the book cover above will take you to the Amazon purchase page.

 

 

PROMO: Born for Leaving (New England State of Mind #1) by Jude Munro

Gay Romance (M/M) – 238 Pages

About the Book:

When they say be careful what you wish for, do you pay attention?

Neither did Oliver Tunstead.

Oliver wishes for nothing more than to get his mind off his crappy bartending job, pile of debt big enough to swallow him whole, and playboy ex-boyfriend/boss who refuses to back off. Too bad distractions, like the hot little convertible he has his eye on, cost megabucks. And Oliver is flat broke. Renting the spare bedroom in his rundown beachfront cottage is his only option to pick up the cash he needs—a risky proposition, as Oliver is the polar opposite of a people-person. When he responds to a bizarre ad in the Waterfront Gazette seeking summer housing, he gets more than he bargained for. But Oliver can cope… After all, how much harm can a single quirky tenant do to his tightly guarded life in three short months?

Where Oliver is a loner by design, urban cowboy Bodie is a loner by necessity. A family dispute long ago dropkicked him onto the path of a lifelong wanderer. This changes when Bodie moves into the tiny beachfront cottage and starts working the door at Oliver’s bar.

Despite Oliver and Bodie’s nearly paralyzing instinct to avoid commitment, they fall into a wary romance. And to their surprise, life as a couple is sweetly satisfying; that is, until their jealous boss devises a cruel plan to destroy the tentative bond they’ve built. True to form, Bodie hits the road, leaving Oliver to lick his wounds alone.

Can these wounded souls defy their urge to flee and fight for love?

Excerpt:

I needn’t have worried about Bodie keeping up. He’s a born runner, which is surprising for a man of his size. Once again, my mind is drawn to the question of football positions. Would he be a running back? A tight end? The quarterback? I shrug as I chase him along the beach, where the waves meet the sand. The man is big and fast—that’s all I know.

We pace the beach for an hour, sprinting until we’re both dripping with sweat. When we finally stop, Bodie toes off his sneakers, yanks his T-shirt over his wide shoulders, and plunges into the water.

“Shit,” I murmur to Hugo, who is sizing Bodie up, right alongside me. The guy is built like a freaking gladiator. A broad sculpted chest tapers to a narrow waist. A just round enough ass, well displayed by soaking wet basketball shorts. Long, muscular legs. Light auburn fur in all the right places. A crown of russet curls. “My God…”

My dog’s interest runs more to the “Bodie’s swimming without me” direction than my “what an amazing piece of eye candy” bend. He trots out to join him.

“Water’s frigid,” Bodie announces with an exaggerated shiver.

“It doesn’t seem to be stopping either one of you,” I call back. “But pardon me if I don’t join in.”

The sight of my two housemates frolicking in the Atlantic Ocean warms my heart in a way that it hurts to admit. My immediate instinct is to turn my back on them. To make my way up the sand to the street just to distance myself from a vision so bittersweet. But I don’t. I let the sight sink into my soul.

I’m a damned fool.

 

About the Author:

Like Jude Munro, her fictional characters in her adult gay romance novels are drawn to the beach. They’ve sunbathed on the sands of many alluring East Coast beaches, along with the fantastical beaches in Jude’s books. They’ll answer questions like “Who do you think you are, the sun god?” (which they often resemble)if they can hear you over “Boys of Summer” cranking on their headphones. To most of Jude’s men, no shoes and no shirt is reallynot a problem. But even on the sunniest of beach days, the guys in Jude’s booksdohave problems… as in, serious relationship issues. Many of which seem insurmountable. And each character must earn his day at the beach. (Yes, there is always a HEA).

With her YA pen name, Jude’s books have been featured in Kirkus Reviews magazine. They won a 2019 IPPY GOLD award, a 2018 YA GOLD MOONBEAM, a YA Readers’ Favorite Award, several first place Rainbow Awards, a Reader Views’ Book by Book Publicity Literary Award, the Jack Eadon Award for Best Book in Contemporary Drama, a YA Indie Fab Award, a First Place Royal Dragonfly Award, a First Place Story Monsters Purple Dragonfly Award, and a YA category finalist for the Eric Hoffer award, and more.

 

 

Review of Gelato Surprise by Sadira Stone

“Baby, if you’re near, I want.”

 

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Length: 114 Pages

POV: Third Person

Description:

She came to the beach to find herself–and found him.

Forty-two-year-old divorcée Danielle Peters ends up alone on her family’s annual beach vacation. Maybe time to herself is exactly what she needs. That and gelato from her favorite ice cream shop. But when the owner’s intoxicating young nephew offers more than sweet treats, she’s tempted to indulge in a hot summer fling before returning home.

Thirty-one-year-old Matteo Verducci craved a fresh start to mend his broken heart, and he’s found almost perfection in Ocean View, where he scoops gelato by day and crafts furniture by night. But when a sexy older woman stops to sample his wares—Mamma mia! He only has two weeks to convince her their passion is more than a delicious surprise.

Jennifer’s Review:

*I received this book free from the author.*

Danielle was kind of stuck. She’d been cheated on and then through a divorce, and was stuck in the aftermath. She worried about her kids being introduced to another one of their dad’s girlfriends. She was upset that the only time he could take them for two weeks was during their annual trip to the beach. So now while he’s in Florida with the new girlfriend and their kids, she was convinced by her friends to go to the beach anyway. To take some ‘me’ time.

Matteo lead his life with his heart. It’s what ended him up at the gelato shop helping his uncle after his aunt had passed away. He is a handsome sweetheart who everyone either wants to date or wants to fix up with someone. And either way he wasn’t interested. When Danielle comes in to the shop his uncle introduces them and asks her to save him from all the unwanted attention. She does. But then suddenly she’s the only thing catching his attention.

It was only meant to be temporary, but when neither wants it to end that only leaves one solution. And when the kids finally meet Matteo he dazzles them and after a couple days even has them sticking up for their relationship. Hello, panda batter!

Gelato Surprise is a fast-paced, quick read about finding the unexpected. I can’t tell you if it has a happily ever after, but it does end with the potential for one. It would have been perfect had there been an epilogue at the end instead of leaving it open.

I wanted to include a little except instead of a quote or two. I loved this part of their conversation…

“Convince me of what?”

“To give this a try.” He pointed to his own chest, then to hers.

“You mean, a little vacation fling?”

“No, bella. A woman like you could never be just a fling.”

*Clicking on the book cover above will take you to the Amazon purchase page.

 

2020 Edition Book Blogger Directory by Deena Rae Schoenfeldt

eBook: https://books2read.com/BkBlog2020

Print:  https://amzn.to/3i5jGjn

Check it out. We’re in here and so are many others.

Review of The Royal Treatment (Crown Jewels #1) by Melanie Summers

“Gentle Reminder? I nearly peed my pants.”

 

Genre: Contemporary Romance, British Fiction

Length: 283 Pages

POV: First Person

Description:

Ultra-private, ridiculously handsome Crown Prince Arthur has always gotten by on his charm. But that won’t be enough now that the Royal Family is about to be ousted from power once and for all. When Prince Arthur has to rely on the one woman in the kingdom who hates him most, he must learn that earning the love of a nation means first risking his heart.

Twenty-eight-year-old Tessa Sharpe, a.k.a. The Royal Watchdog, hates everything about Prince Arthur. As far as she’s concerned, he’s an arrogant, lazy leech on the kingdom of Avonia. When he shocks the nation by giving her the keys to the castle, Tessa has no choice but to accept and move in for two months. It’s lust at first sight, but there’s no way she can give in to her feelings—not if she wants to have a career or a shred of pride left when her time at the palace ends…

Can two natural enemies find their forever in each other’s arms, or will they ruin each other to save themselves?

Jennifer’s Review:

*I received this book free from Show Me Edits.*

Tessa’s career took a right hand turn into the blogging world, but she made do with what she had. She used her skills to find out what the people wanted to hear about and then ran with it. So what if it was an anti-royal family blog, it paid the bills.

Arthur was facing a potential royal upset. The Prime Minister wanted the royal family out of power and with blogs like Tessa’s he knew the people would agree. The problem was Arthur knew his people needed him, but his mindset wasn’t exactly in the people’s best interest. Tessa changed that.

“How many stars would you give our Arthur here?”

“I don’t know.” I give her a conspiratorial smile. “I’ve never tested him out.”

She went in to get the dirt on the royal family and discovered she’d been wrong. But with her help he will find out exactly what it is that his people need and how to give it to them.

The Royal Treatment is absolutely hilarious! I laughed out loud so many times throughout this book. Tessa could almost be labeled as accident prone and Arthur has made sarcasm an art form. These two characters play very well together.

“Dexter, quit beaver damming me.”

*Clicking on the book cover above will take you to the Amazon purchase page.

 

 

PROMO: The Lost King (The Warriors of Bhrea #1) by T.M. Kohl

Fantasy – 361 Pages

About the Book:

Lauren Strauss never knew much about her parents.

With her father dead and her mother’s past a fiercely-guarded secret, Lauren is forced to admit that her family tree appears to go nowhere. She also hardly knows anything about the strange dreams and headaches which have plagued her since birth.

But when a violent attack rocks downtown Chicago, Lauren’s life is thrown into chaos. Armed with a mysterious amulet and thrust into a strange new world, Lauren soon realizes that the truth about her family is more than she ever could have imagined.

Lost in a land beyond her wildest dreams and hunted by a bloodthirsty enemy, Lauren must discover the truth about her family… and with it, embrace a destiny she didn’t even know she had.

If you like page-turning fantasy with fantastical worlds, ancient mysteries, and gripping danger, then you won’t want to miss The Lost King!

*As always, by clicking on the above cover it will bring you to the Amazon purchase page.