Wednesday 29 May 2019

[Review] PASSION ON PARK AVENUE (Central Park Pact, #1) by Lauren Layne

Source: Received an egalley through Edelweiss.
Publisher: Gallery Books
Release Date: May 28, 2019
Number of Pages: 288 (Paperback)

DESCRIPTION

From the author of the New York Times bestselling Stiletto and Oxford series, the first in a sizzling new series following the unlikely friendship of three Upper East Side women as they struggle to achieve their dreams and find true love and happiness in the city that never sleeps.

For as long as she can remember, Bronx-born Naomi Powell has had one goal: to prove her worth among the Upper East Side elite—the same people for which her mom worked as a housekeeper. Now, as the strongminded, sassy CEO of one of the biggest jewelry empires in the country, Naomi finally has exactly what she wants—but it’s going to take more than just the right address to make Manhattan’s upper class stop treating her like an outsider.

The worst offender is her new neighbor, Oliver Cunningham—the grown son of the very family Naomi’s mother used to work for. Oliver used to torment Naomi when they were children, and as a ridiculously attractive adult, he’s tormenting her in entirely different ways. Now they find themselves engaged in a battle-of-wills that will either consume or destroy them…

Filled with charm and heart and plenty of sex and snark, this entertaining series will hook you from the very first page.
G E T   Y O U R   C O P Y   N O W !
Amazon US | Amazon Canada | Indigo | B&N


REVIEW


Well I just absolutely loved Naomi and Oliver! This book was fun, sweet, and full of amazing banter! I loved this couple soooo much, and I didn't want their story to end! I also loved all of the friend dynamics and I'm seriously excited to read Claire and Audrey's books! :D

I think my only criticism for this one was that it didn't have the steamy aspects to the story that Lauren Layne's other books have! I'm a bit disappointed to see how often the romance books on Gallery's list have started to go the fade-to-black route. It made the sexier parts of the story fall flat because you can feel that it should be there, but it's not. Sad to see some of the steam taken out of Lauren Layne's books here...but I'm gonna end on that note before I go into a rant or I'll be on here all day.

When it comes to Passion on Park Avenue, I did really loved this book for the story...and the characters were so good! I loved Naomi and Oliver so much, and all of the side characters made me want more and more of this book! As per usual, I thoroughly enjoyed Lauren Layne's writing and thought it was fantastic, but I really do wish that the sexy side of their relationship hadn't been fade-to-black. Here's hoping that Gallery doesn't water down the sexy bits for the next two books in the series! This book gave me serious feels, but I definitely did miss the steam that I've come to love from Lauren Layne...she writes sexy books very, very well! ;)

Star Rating:

★★★★★

Read If You Like:

Sweet and sexy romances with feisty and fierce heroines and thoughtful, generous, sexy heroes! You'll also love this one if you love romances with great friend groups and if you're a fan of good banter! ;)

To Read Next:

- Lauren Layne's backlist...she's written so many FABULOUS books! I particularly love her 21 Wall Street series, and I've also been really enjoying her Oxford books as I make my way through them. :)
- R.S. Grey's books...if you like this one, I'd maybe go with The Foxe and the Hound -- I'd recommend all of her books though, her rom-coms are fabulous!

Overall, I absolutely loved Passion on Park Avenue! The romance was engaging, all of the characters were fabulous, and I really enjoyed how the story evolved! And since I loved all of the friends so much, I'm extremely excited to read the next two books in the series!



What do you think?
Does Passion on Park Avenue sound like something you'd enjoy?

Tuesday 28 May 2019

[Cover Reveal] SUPERFAN (Brooklyn, #3; Brooklyn Bruisers, #6) by Sarina Bowen

Hello romance readers! 

Is anyone else a fan of Sarina Bowen's Brooklyn Bruisers books? 
Well...Ive got something special for you today: a cover reveal for her next book in the series, SUPERFAN! It's coming out on June 25th! :)

I won't keep you waiting any longer, so here's the cover:

BLURB

Sometimes lady luck shakes your hand, and sometimes she smacks your face. Sometimes she does both on the same day.

Three years ago I met the most amazing woman. We were both down on our luck. Then I got that call—the one that tells you to get your buns on a plane to go meet your destiny.
But the girl was left behind. I didn’t have her phone number, and she didn’t know my real name.

While I became a professional hockey player, she became a superstar, with platinum records and legions of fans. And a slick, music producer boyfriend who treated her badly.
But fate wasn’t done with us yet. When Delilah turns up at a hockey game, I can’t resist making contact. The internet swoons when I ask her out on a date.

She might not remember me. But her jerkface ex does. He’ll do anything to keep us apart.

Good thing athletes never give up. This time I’m playing for keeps.

 
LINKS:

GIVEAWAY

Be the first to read! 

Three winners (US or Canada) will win early signed paperback copies of Superfan




EXCERPT

      “Would you like a beer?” the cute bartender asks me.

      I glance at the pile of mint leaves on his cutting board and hesitate. “Sure,” I say. But the mint looks so fresh and pretty.

      “I could make you something different.”

      “Beer is great. A cold…”

      “—lager,” he finishes. “No glass, no opener.”

      When I look up to flash him a smile, my heart does a little somersault. Those kind eyes are smiling at me, too. “Thank you,” I whisper.

      “It’s really no problem.” He turns toward the beer cooler. “You’re an easy customer, trust me.”

      But I really meant—thank you for remembering. As he leans down to grab a bottle for me, I find myself admiring the strong muscles in his back. Stop it, I admonish myself. It only gets worse when he turns around and places the bottle in front of me. I’ve never seen hands like his. I didn’t even know wrists could look muscular.

      Even so. Ogling him is not why I came here. I pull out my keychain opener and remove the cap from my beer.

      He discards it, gives me another pleasant smile and then picks up his paring knife again.

      I take a sip, wondering when he’s going to mention my show at the Coconut Club. He was there. I saw him.

      He separates some mint leaves from their stems and says nothing.

      I last about seventeen seconds. “Well?”

      “Well?” He looks up. “Sorry?”

      “Jesus lord.” I close my eyes and then open them again. This is not going how I’d hoped it would. “What did you think?”

      “Of…?” His amazing eyes are studying me.

      “Forget I asked.” I take a swig of beer.

      “Think about what?” He pushes the cutting board aside, and his smile turns knowing.

      “My set at the Coconut Club! I saw you holding up that wall in the back. Don’t lie.”

      He tips his head back and lets out a sudden laugh. “I’m so busted. I loved your show, but I didn’t expect you to spot me.”

      “You loved it so much you weren’t going to say anything?” The sentence sounds crazy to my own ears. I put down the beer. “You know what? Never mind. I’m just being psycho right now. This town is getting into my head.”

      “Listen, girly.” He braces both (muscular!) hands on the bar and looks me right in the eye. “I loved it so much that I don’t even know what to say about it. From that moment at the beginning—when you shut that asshole’s maw? To the part where you made a lady cry.” He shakes his head. “I couldn’t look away. And I never wanted it to end.”

      I give him a slow blink, just trying to take that in. It’s so much more than I was even hoping to hear.

      “Shit, Delilah. If that set doesn’t win you whatever contract you’re looking for, they don’t even deserve you.”

      Something warm and unfamiliar settles into the center of my belly. “That might be the nicest thing anyone ever said to me. Which only means you’re still trying to get my phone number.”

      He laughs immediately. “Can’t both things be true? Both my musical assessment and my interest in your evening plans?”

      “Because you know so much about music.” I flip my hair and take another sip of beer.

      “Look. I don’t know shit about music. But I know plenty about talent.” He leans down on a set of forearms I shouldn’t be noticing. “I know that talent sometimes takes a nap at just the wrong moment, but it never stays asleep for long. I also know that luck matters, too. If they don’t give you what you want, it won’t be your fucking fault.”

      “Thank you,” I say quietly.

      But he’s not done. “I saw something else valuable the other night. You’re good in the clinch. And that counts for double, I swear to God.”

      “The clinch?”

      “Yeah. You’re not just good at practice.” He pauses, wrinkling up his interesting nose. “What word would a musician use? Okay—you’re not a rehearsal musician. That stage was like your home. Either that or you fake it really well. That’s going to pay your rent someday, I promise.”

      “Wow.” It’s like he looked right into my terrified little soul and found the very thing I needed to hear. Those beautiful eyes of his are practically burning me right now, so I have to look away. “Thank you. Really. I really needed that pep talk.”

      I make the mistake of looking up at him again, and, for a split second, I see pure yearning. It’s like our souls vibrate at exactly the same frequency. And I have no idea what to do with that.



Gah! 

That cover! 

That excerpt....I am soooo ridiculously excited for SUPERFAN! I've been excited for Silas's story ever since we met him! I loved how his teammates teased him about his love of Delilah's music...and then we got a hint that there was something in his past involving her and I was chomping at the bit for this story even more...and now it's almost here! Wooot!

What do you think? 
Do you like the cover, and did you enjoy the excerpt for SUPERFAN?

Wednesday 22 May 2019

Cover Catch-Up (37): Upcoming Summer Romances!


In "Cover Catch-Up" I share some covers that have either been recently revealed, or that I've just found and really wanted to share. 

Well, it's been a while since I've done one of these, but I think I'd like to bring them back...so this week I'm going to pick a couple of my most anticipated romance releases that have had recent cover reveals!



MAKING UP (Shacking Up, #4)
by Helena Hunting
Publisher: Swerve
Release Date: July 16, 2019

Description:

A new standalone, laugh-out-loud romantic comedy by New York Times bestselling author Helena Hunting.

Cosy Felton is great at her job—she knows just how to handle the awkwardness that comes with working at an adult toy store. So when the hottest guy she’s ever seen walks into the shop looking completely overwhelmed, she’s more than happy to turn on the charm and help him purchase all of the items on his list.

Griffin Mills is using his business trip in Las Vegas as a chance to escape the broken pieces of his life in New York City. The last thing he wants is to be put in charge of buying gag gifts for his friend’s bachelor party. Despite being totally out of his element, and mortified by the whole experience, Griffin is pleasantly surprised when he finds himself attracted to the sales girl that helped him.

As skeptical as Cosy may be of Griffin’s motivations, there’s something about him that intrigues her. But sometimes what happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay in Vegas and when real life gets in the way, all bets are off. Filled with hilariously awkward situations and enough sexual chemistry to power Sin City, Making Up is the next standalone in the Shacking Up world.
 

I'm a HUGE Helena Hunting fan, and I've been loving her Shacking Up series! I can't wait to get this story since I loved Griffin's brothers, Bane and Lex! ;)



PLAYING FOR KEEPS (Hot Jocks, #1)
 by Kendall Ryan
Release Date: August 13, 2019

Description:

 I've never been so stupid in my entire life.

Elise Parrish, my teammate's incredibly sweet and gorgeous younger sister, should have been off-limits, but my hockey stick didn't get the memo.

After our team won the championship, our flirting turned physical, and I took her to bed. Then shame sent her running the next morning from our catastrophic mistake.

She thinks I don't remember that night - but every detail is burned into my brain so deeply, I'll never forget. The feel of her in my arms, the soft whimpers of pleasure I coaxed from her perfect lips....

And now I've spent three months trying to get her out of my head, but I'm starting to understand she's the only girl I'll ever want.

I have one shot to show her I can be exactly what she needs, but Elise won't be easily convinced.

That's okay, because I'm good under pressure, and this time, I'm playing for keeps.

Get ready to meet your new favorite hot jocks in an all new stand-alone novel. If you like sexy, confident men who know how to handle a stick (on and off the ice), and smart women who are strong enough to keep all those big egos in check, this series of athlete romances is perfect for you!


Yet another author that I'm a bigtime fan of! I'm also a sucker for sports romances, so sign me up immediately for one written by Kendall Ryan! ;)



What do you think of these covers?
Are you excited for either of these books?

Wednesday 15 May 2019

[Cover Reveal] COLDHEARTED BOSS by R.S. Grey


Hello fellow romance fans!!!

I have a super exciting cover and description to share today!
 
R.S. Grey's next romantic comedy, COLDHEARTED BOSS, releases June 6th (less than a month from now--eek!!!)! 

See the gorgeous cover below and find out more about COLDHEARTED BOSS!  




About COLDHEARTED BOSS (available June 6th)

I’m desperate and destitute when Lockwood Construction rolls into my small town with an offer too good to pass up: high wages to any able-bodied man willing to join their crew.

Say no more. I throw on baggy clothes, tuck my long hair under a baseball hat, and apply for a job. Unfortunately, my half-baked idea of disguising myself as a guy is flawed from the beginning. As Shakira says, these hips don’t lie.

Still, I like to think I might have pulled the whole thing off save for one thing:

I know my boss.

Last month, we met at a bar, and after a fiery first encounter, it seems we’re destined to be sworn enemies.

Ethan Stone is ruthless and arrogant, a man I never would have crossed had I known how much he likes to toy with his prey.

He should just fire me and be done with it. Instead, he decides to make me his personal slave. Oh right, I think they’re calling it personal “assistant” these days.

It’s torture, all of it—his bad attitude, his ruggedly chiseled face, his desire to grind me into dust.

Every one of our friction-filled battles burns hotter than the last.

A girl can only hold out for so long. Soon, I’m bound to go up in flames.

My objective? Survive the heat long enough to send home a paycheck.

My real objective? Stop having X-rated fantasies about my coldhearted boss.

 
Expand in a new window to get a full peek at this GORGEOUS cover jacket! ;D

COLDHEARTED BOSS releases June 6th
You'll be able to preorder your copy for .99c a few days before release! 

Keep an eye on R.S. Grey's Facebook page for the link!

  About R.S. Grey

R.S. Grey is the USA Today bestselling author of thirteen novels, including THE FOXE & THE HOUND. She lives in Texas with her husband and two dogs, and can be found reading, binge-watching reality TV, or practicing yoga!

Visit her at rsgrey.com

Connect with R.S. Grey:


Woooooowwwwweee!

I am absolutely SMITTEN with this cover! It's so absolutely gorgeous, and the description sounds phenomenal!!! I love R. S. Grey's books already, and I seriously LOOOOVE hate-to-love, so this is 100% up my alley! I can't wait to read COLDHEARTED BOSS

What about you?
What do you think of this cover, and are you excited for COLDHEARTED BOSS, too?

Thursday 9 May 2019

[Review] BOYFRIEND BARGAIN by Ilsa Madden-Mills



Source: Received an egalley to participate in blog tour. All opinions are my own.
Release Date: May 5, 2019
Number of Pages: 354 (Kindle edition)

DESCRIPTION

Wall Street Journal bestselling author Ilsa Madden-Mills returns with an all-new swoon-fest of a novel about what happens when you take a chance on love.

Wanted: one hot guy with rock-hard abs and a big stick.

Broke and desperate, Sugar Ryan has no use for arrogant, bad boy athletes . . . until she’s forced to bargain with the cockiest of them all.

If only he knew she was alive.

Her mission? Get on this hockey player’s radar any way possible.

Zack Morgan is the king of the ice and the bedroom—but nothing prepares him for the mystery girl who shows up everywhere he does—frat parties, his favorite bar, and finally his front door with an offer he can’t refuse. The only rule in her boyfriend bargain: no falling in love.

But after one (um, two) smoking-hot hookups, he’s done with pretending and vows to make their fake relationship real. Too bad she can’t trust a player with a reputation for breaking hearts.

Will this hockey star score his forever girl or will their Boyfriend Bargain end in heartbreak?

A standalone hockey romance.

G E T   Y O U R   C O P Y   N O W !
Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!
Amazon | Amazon Worldwide

REVIEW


This Book In 5 Words:

Sexy, sweet, funny, quirky and sporty!

What I Liked:

- The characters were amazing! I loved Zack and Sugar, and their friends were fabulous, too. I'm hoping for a couple of side stories featuring a some of their friends...especially Eric and Julia. ;)
- The banter and chemistry between the characters was off the charts...absolutely phenomenal!
- The story was fresh, and kept me hooked! It swept me up, and I was rooting for Z and Sugar the entire time!

What I Didn't Like:

- The ending felt a bit rushed, so it left me a little underwhelmed.

Star Rating:

★★★★

Read If You Like:

- Sports romances, alpha heroes, shy and/or snarky heroines, and romances that tackle some hard-hitting topics, like grief, anxiety, and coping with mental illness.

To Read Next:

- The Last Guy by Ilsa Madden-Mills (My first of her books and it was FANTASTIC!)
- Taking a Shot by Jaci Burton (Perfect if you're looking for more hockey sports romances ;D)

Overall, I really, really liked Boyfriend Bargain! The characters were fabulous and they had some of the best chemistry I've read in a long time. The ending was a bit rushed for my taste, but I'd still recommend this one to anyone who loves sports romances with super sexy alpha heroes!



I'm trying out a new review format, so please let me know what you think! I'm sharing star ratings on my blog for the first time, and I'm trying to work at being a bit more brief. :P

 Anything that you think I should add to flush the reviews out a bit? Do you like this new format?

And finally, what do you think of Boyfriend Bargain?
Does it sound like something you'd like?

Thursday 2 May 2019

[Review] BIRTH OF A BABY DADDY (The Baileys, #3) by Piper Rayne

Source: Received a copy in exchange for a honest review. Also purchased a finished kindle copy.
Release Date: May 2, 2019
Number of Pages: 267 (ebook)

DESCRIPTION

If you're having fun living your bachelor life in your Alaskan hometown and out of nowhere a woman shows up holding a baby she insists is yours, you need a plan-a birth plan.

BP Step #1 - Lift your jaw off the floor.

BP Step #2 - Figure out the baby's age-do the math.

BP Step #3 - Try to remember the woman and with any luck, her name.

BP Step #4 - Double check that she's not confusing you with your twin brother.

BP Step #5 - Ignore your five sister's scowls as your entire family watches the drama unfold.

There's only one thing you shouldn't do.

BP Step #6 - Don't assume she's there because she wants your daughter to call you Daddy. You'll only end up disappointed.

Time to figure out a new plan-one that changes her mind.


G E T   Y O U R   C O P Y   N O W !
Amazon US | Amazon Canada

REVIEW

I've never seen this show...but this GIF is so perfect for this book! haha

Initial Reaction:

Absolutely looooved this one!!! The couple was fabulous! I loved Harley and I loved getting to know the Baileys even better...especially our mystery baby daddy! 😉

This Book In 5 Words:

Surprising. Flirty. Delicious. Tender. Daddylicious.

What Did I Like: 

- The characters! One of my favourite things about Piper and Rayne's books will always be their characters! They put you completely in their characters' heads and really bring them to life! Harley and our baby daddy were fabulous!!! They were flawed and had some issues to overcome, but seeing them rise to the task was wonderful! And seeing them together...well that was even better! :D
 - All the daddy moments! Romance has taught me several things about myself, and one of those things is that I am an absolute sucker for moments in books where we get to see our heroes being good dads...and this one did it very, very well! Seeing our mystery baby daddy grow into his role within his new family was soooo wonderful, and he was such a good dad! I can't wait to see more of those dad moments in later books!
- The entire Bailey family! I seriously love this family so much, and with each book I'm getting more and more attached! I can't wait for each and every one of their stories, and I also can't wait to see Grandma Dory continue to meddle in all of their lives. :P

What Didn't I Like:

- I wanted more scenes with our mystery daddy interacting with his siblings. We did get some scenes, but that was the one part of the story that I wanted more of...so really, I just wanted more of this story, which frankly isn't really a bad thing. :P

Star Rating:

★★★★★

Read If You Like:

Stories of redemption, finding love in unexpected places, second chances, and stories where both the hero and heroine have flaws, but they grow together and overcome the things that are holding them back!

To Read Next:

- Meet Cute by Helena Hunting (If you like the whole single guy suddenly becomes thrust into a father/father-like position, then you will LOVE Dax...I know, I sure did! ;D)
- Single Dads Club Series by Piper Rayne (Once again...I'll have to recommend this one! I totally blame it for my love of the single dad trope now! :P)

Overall, I thought that BIRTH OF A BABY DADDY was wonderful! I loved this story! I loved the characters, and I'm absolutely loving this entire series! Wholeheartedly looking forward to the next one! :D


ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Piper Rayne, or Piper and Rayne, whichever you prefer because we’re not one author, we’re two. Yep, you get two USA Today Bestselling authors for the price of one. Our goal is to bring you romance stories that have "Heartwarming Humor With a Side of Sizzle" (okay...you caught us, that's our tagline). A little about us... We both have kindle’s full of one-clickable books. We're both married to husbands who drive us to drink. We're both chauffeurs to our kids. Most of all, we love hot heroes and quirky heroines that make us laugh, and we hope you do, too.

Connect with Piper Rayne:


Join our newsletter, HERE, and get 2 FREE BOOKS!
 


Be one of our unicorns: http://bit.ly/2snaBtK


What do you think?

Does BIRTH OF A BABY DADDY sound like a book you'd like?
Anyone else bigtime Piper Rayne fangirls? :P

Wednesday 1 May 2019

[Review] ADVICE FROM A JILTED BRIDE (The Baileys, #2) by Piper Rayne

Source: Purchased a copy.
Release Date: March 21, 2019
Number of Pages: 337 (ebook)

DESCRIPTION

What’s a girl to do after being ditched at the altar by text message? That’s right. Text. Message.

How does she pick up the pieces and move on? I’m no Dear Abby but here’s a little free advice…

Advice #1 – First, purge your apartment of all things him—by tossing his belongings off the balcony.

Advice #2 – Do not, I repeat do not, throw anything out into the hallway because you’ll injure your hot new neighbor.

Advice #3 – When said neighbor brings over Chinese Food do not let him stay and keep you company. It’s awkward when you realize he’s your boss.

Advice #4 – Accept his offer to help you with your side business but think twice before using a date to his sister’s wedding as collateral.

Advice #5 – Investigate who your mystery neighbor really is. Don’t trust his word even if he’s the world’s best kisser.

If you listen to nothing else, pay attention to that last one. It’s the most important and will save you a lot of heartache.

Xo,
LOVESICK IN LAKE STARLIGHT


G E T   Y O U R   C O P Y   N O W !
Amazon US | Amazon Canada

REVIEW

Initial Reaction

I loooooved Brooklyn & Wyatt soooo much! This was the perfect slow burn, and I loved seeing Brooklyn and Wyatt go from strangers...to friends...to lovers! Sooooo good!!! :D Loving how this series is going and I'm really looking forward to seeing all of the siblings get their own story!  

This Book In 5 Words:

Adorable. Funny. Heartwarming. Sexy. Tantalizing.

What Did I Like: 

- The characters. I loved Wyatt and Brooklyn so much! They were both wonderful characters, and I was rooting for them!
- The family dynamics. I am loving seeing all of the Bailey siblings find love...and I'm loving the antics of the entire town of Lake Starlight!
- The story and the drama. I loved how this story built so much, and there was so much drama! I'm not always a fan of drama, but it really worked for me here. It was super fun, and none of the drama was cruel...it just worked so well!
- The tropes. Oh boy! This love story went from strangers to friends to lovers...and it was PERFECT! I need to find me a guy like Wyatt...not sure if I'm prepared to be jilted at the altar to find him, but am willing to try. ;P 

What Didn't I Like:

- Honestly...nothing. I thought this was simply a perfect, sweet love story!

Star Rating:

★★★★★

Read If You Like:

Lighthearted romances that will leave you grinning and giggling! While these books are a bit dramatic, they always have the sweetest endings! This series is also perfect for anyone who loves companion series where you get to see all of your fave couples again...it's following nine siblings as they all find love, so we'll get to see our faves for a while still! ;)

To Read Next:

- Single Dads Club Series by Piper Rayne (I was first introduced to Piper and Rayne through the second book in this series, Dirty Talker, and I still wholeheartedly ADORE this series...and all of their other books...HIGHLY RECOMMEND!)
- Hooking Up (Shacking Up, #2) by Helena Hunting (If you like seeing a spurned bride find new love with a SUPER sexy guy, then you will love Amalie and Lex! ;D)

Overall, I absolutely loved ADVICE FROM A JILTED BRIDE! The characters were fabulous, and I couldn't put this one down once I started it! :D


ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Piper Rayne, or Piper and Rayne, whichever you prefer because we’re not one author, we’re two. Yep, you get two USA Today Bestselling authors for the price of one. Our goal is to bring you romance stories that have "Heartwarming Humor With a Side of Sizzle" (okay...you caught us, that's our tagline). A little about us... We both have kindle’s full of one-clickable books. We're both married to husbands who drive us to drink. We're both chauffeurs to our kids. Most of all, we love hot heroes and quirky heroines that make us laugh, and we hope you do, too.

Connect with Piper Rayne:


Join our newsletter, HERE, and get 2 FREE BOOKS!
 


Be one of our unicorns: http://bit.ly/2snaBtK


What do you think?
Does this sound like a romance you'd like?