Friday, 16 August 2019

[Release Week] THE WALLFLOWER WAGER (Girl Meets Duke, #3) by Tessa Dare

Title: THE WALLFLOWER WAGER
Author: Tessa Dare
ISBN: 9780062672162
Price: $7.99
On-Sale Date: 8/13/19

Description:

They call him the Duke of Ruin.

To an undaunted wallflower, he's just the beast next door.


Wealthy and ruthless, Gabriel Duke clawed his way from the lowliest slums to the pinnacle of high society—and now he wants to get even.

Loyal and passionate, Lady Penelope Campion never met a lost or wounded creature she wouldn’t take into her home and her heart.

When her imposing—and attractive—new neighbor demands she clear out the rescued animals, Penny sets him a challenge. She will part with her precious charges, if he can find them loving homes.

Done, Gabriel says. How hard can it be to find homes for a few kittens?

And a two-legged dog.

And a foul-mouthed parrot.

And a goat, an otter, a hedgehog . . .

Easier said than done, for a cold-blooded bastard who wouldn’t know a loving home from a workhouse. Soon he’s covered in cat hair, knee-deep in adorable, and bewitched by a shyly pretty spinster who defies his every attempt to resist. Now she’s set her mind and heart on saving him.

Not if he ruins her first.
G E T   Y O U R   C O P Y   N O W !

AUTHOR BIO

TESSA DARE is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than twenty historical romances. Her books have won numerous accolades, including Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA® award (twice) and the RT Book Reviews Seal of Excellence. Booklist magazine named her one of the “new stars of historical romance,” and her books have been contracted for translation in more than a dozen languages.

A librarian by training and a booklover at heart, Tessa makes her home in Southern California, where she lives with her husband, their two children, and a trio of cosmic kitties.

Follow Tessa:

Excerpt

She circled back, standing before him. “There now. Better?”

He gave a reluctant nod.

“Can you move your arm in all directions?”

He rolled his shoulder to prove it. “Yes.”

“What about your grip?

“My grip is strong.”

“Perhaps I should wrap the arm in a sling.”

“I do not need a sling.”

“Wait here. I’ll dash upstairs to fetch some linen and—”

“For the love of God, woman. My shoulder is fine.” He took her by the waist and lifted her straight off the floor, until they were eye to eye. “There. Believe me now?”
 
She nodded, wide-eyed.

“Good.”

In his hands, she was delicate, breakable. Her hair was a golden treasure he should never, ever touch. And oh, how he hungered for those soft, pink lips.

The familiar voice echoed in his ears.

Don’t touch, boy. She’s not for the likes of you.

Put. Her. Down.

But before Gabe could lower those beribboned pink slippers to the floor, she captured his sooty, sweaty face in her hands— And kissed him on the lips.


I've got all of the books in this series, but I still haven't read them yet...I really need to get on that, especially after that teaser!!! *heart eyes*

What about you?
Have you started Tessa Dare's Girl Meets Duke series yet?

Monday, 12 August 2019

[Review] MEET CUTE by Helena Hunting

Source: Received a sample copy through Hachette Book Group Canada for #SuperSexyBookClub
Publisher: Forever
Release Date: April 9, 2019
Number of Pages: 384 (Paperback)

DESCRIPTION

Talk about an embarrassing introduction. On her first day of law school, Kailyn ran - quite literally - into the actor she crushed on as a teenager, ending with him sprawled on top of her. Mortified to discover the Daxton Hughes was also a student in her class, her embarrassment over their meet-cute quickly turned into a friendship she never expected. Of course, she never saw his betrayal coming either...

Now, eight years later, Dax is in her office asking for legal advice. Despite her anger, Kailyn can't help feeling sorry for the devastated man who just became sole guardian to his thirteen-year-old sister. But when her boss gets wind of Kailyn's new celebrity client, there's even more at stake than Dax's custody issues: if she gets Dax to work at their firm, she'll be promoted to partner.

The more time Kailyn spends with Dax and his sister, the more she starts to feel like a family, and the more she realizes the chemistry they had all those years ago is as fresh as ever. But will they be able to forgive the mistakes of the past, or will one betrayal lead to another?


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


REVIEW

First Impressions...

I absolutely loved MEET CUTE! It was sweet, funny, sexy, and also soooooo heart-wrenching! It had me feeling all the feels and I loved every minute of it! Kailyn and Daxton were amazing! I loved their chemistry, their banter, and I loved seeing their relationship evolve!!! I’ve yet to meet a Helena Hunting book that I didn’t love, so I’m not surprised that this one was a bit hit! It was an absolute pleasure to read and I highly recommend it to rom com fans, especially if you like your rom coms a bit heavier with a whole lot of heart!


This Book In 5 Words:

Sexy. Fun. Emotional. Daddylicious. Amazing.

What Did I Like: 

- EVERYTHING!!! This was easily one of my favourite books this year already...so much to love!

- Kailyn and Dax. I absolutely loved both of them as individuals, and I absolutely ADORED them together! Their chemistry and banter were fabulous, and seeing their relationship grow was amazing! I loved their utterly adorable meet cute and I loved seeing their relationship transition from hate to love...truly, I loved every moment of it!

- Dax and Emme's relationship! I'm a sucker for a good single dad trope, and this one was really interesting! Seeing Dax do everything that he could for Emme was wonderful. He may not have been her actual dad, but seeing him be the best big brother and father figure he could be was soooo good!

- The writing, and the story! I'm a huge Helena Hunting fan, so I loved the writing as I always do with her books, and I also just loved this story! I loved how it had light, romantic, and funny parts, but I also loved that it had some very serious elements and that it brought all of those things together into the same story. While the premise of this story is pretty unlikely, I still thoroughly enjoyed getting to see it all unfold!

What Didn't I Like:

- Honestly, nothing. I absolutely adored this book! I already knew the premise of MEET CUTE, so I went into it expecting it have heavy moments mixed in with all the funny bits so it was exactly what I wanted and hoped for...especially Dax, I loved him so freaking much. *heart eyes*

Star Rating:

★★★★★

Read If You Like:

Stories that mix both light-hearted moments and heavy ones. MEET CUTE is hilarious, but it's also packed full of super emotional moments that might just leave you in tears.

Overall, I absolutely loved MEET CUTE! It balanced sweet, sexy and fun moments with some emotionally heartrending ones. I also loved that it included some teen heartthrob fangirl elements along with a surrogate single dad trope...sooo many things to love!!! Highly recommend!!!




So, I'm clearly a sucker for the hate-to-love trope...and I also have a thing for single dads. I read this with my book club, and they all said that as they were reading it they knew that I was loving it because it was EXACTLY up my alley. haha

What are some of the tropes you find irresistible?
And does MEET CUTE sound like something you'd enjoy?

Thursday, 8 August 2019

[Review] DISCRETION (The Dumonts, #1) by Karina Halle

Source: Received a sample through Thomas Allen & Son
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Release Date: August 6, 2019
Number of Pages: 288 (Paperback)

DESCRIPTION

From New York Times bestselling author Karina Halle comes a delicious saga of wealth, luxury, and scandal—and the wicked secrets of success behind an envied family dynasty.

The Riviera means indulgence—if you’ve got money. For Sadie Reynolds, a down-on-her-luck student, the Riviera means dingy hostels and back streets. When a wrong turn puts her in jeopardy, the last thing she expects is to be saved by the most handsome stranger she’s ever locked eyes with. When she later wakes up in a luxury suite with a Mediterranean view, she’s in the tender care of her rescuer: Olivier Dumont, France’s most eligible bachelor, billionaire hotelier, and heir to the Dumont fashion fortune.

Olivier also owns his reputation for scandal. But Sadie is unlike any woman he’s ever met. Her humble persona and wild innocence promise real passion. He’s promising Sadie something too: anything she wants. From Bordeaux to Cannes to Paris, Sadie’s past in America is swept away and replaced with a fantasy too good to be true.

Pulled into Olivier’s orbit of wealth, glamour, and excess, Sadie discovers that the Dumont dynasty comes with a legacy of wicked secrets. And Olivier’s secrets may be the most damning of all…

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


REVIEW

First Impressions...

I was hoping for a steamy, Dynasty-like romance and that’s exactly what I got! I absolutely loved DISCRETION! Sadie and Olivier were fantastic, their chemistry was phenomenal, and the steam in this book was intense!!! Loved every single minute of it and I’m super excited to see where this series goes!


This Book In 5 Words:

Addictive. Sexy. Thrilling. Dramatic. Intense.

What Did I Like: 

- The characters! I loved Sadie and Olivier! I loved how down-to-earth and determined Sadie was, but most of all, I loved that throughout DISCRETION she was always willing to take a chance and she was absolutely always there for those that she loved. And Olivier....*dreamy sigh* boy was he wonderful! I loved how right away we were able to see beneath his public persona. He was thoughtful, kind, doting, and I especially loved how he opened up to Sadie and showed her his true colours. Both characters were fairly closed off, so one of my favourite parts of their relationship was seeing them open up and seeing how their banter and chemistry evolved throughout the story.

- The romance...the steam...oh my! I'm going to be one of the first to admit that I like steam in my romance. I'm okay without it, but I will admit that I do prefer my romances on the steamier end and DISCRETION had so much glorious steam! It was sexy, fun, and I loved every single second of it!

- The drama and story! I know drama isn't for everyone, but personally I love it when I go into a story knowing that it'll be there and DISCRETION doesn't hide it's drama at all. Right from the description, we know that this is going to be part of a dramatic series, and let me tell you, it certainly is! I absolutely love dramatic TV shows, so I found this book to be super addictive and NEEDED to know what was going to happen...now I'm eagerly waiting for book two, DISARM! ;)

- The cover!!!! *heart eyes* I don't normally factor covers into reviews at all, but I just have to comment to say that I've been smitten with this cover since the moment I saw it. ;)

What Didn't I Like:

- Nothing! I went into this book expecting it to be dramatic and thus slightly unrealistic, so I was 100% super, duper ready for it! While I didn't like some of the characters as people...they were fantastic as villains in this story. :P

Star Rating:

★★★★★

Read If You Like:

Steamy contemporary romances where the characters have phenomenal chemistry that blossoms into something deeper! High-stake dramas! Billionaire romances!

Overall, I loved DISCRETION! I thought that it was an absolutely amazing story and I had so much fun reading it! I loved that it was romantic, sexy, and extremely dramatic all rolled into one epic package, and once I started, I was hooked and I didn't want to put it down! Highly, highly recommend this to anyone who loves steamy romances, too!



What do you think?
Does DISCRETION sound like something you'd like?

Wednesday, 7 August 2019

[Cover Reveal] BROKEN KNIGHT (All Saints High, #2) by L. J. Shen


Well, it's a happy, happy day for L. J. Shen fangirls like myself because today is all about her next All Saints High book...BROKEN KNIGHT!!! 
.
.
.
.

“Not all love stories are written in the same way.
Ours had torn chapters, missing paragraphs, and a bittersweet ending.”


Broken Knight, the highly anticipated new standalone in the All Saints High series from USA Today bestselling author L.J. Shen is coming August 25th, and today I'm sharing the absolutely gorgeous cover!

BROKEN KNIGHT
Series: All Saints High, #2
Author: L. J. Shen 
Release Date: August 25, 2019
Photography by Andrew M. Gleeson
Model: Orri Helgason
Luna Rexroth is everyone’s favorite wallflower.
Sweet.
Caring.
Charitable.
Quiet.
Fake.

See, under the meek, tomboy exterior everyone loves yet pities is a girl who knows exactly what – and who – she wants.
Namely, the boy from the treehouse, who taught her how to curse in sign language.
Who taught her how to laugh.
To live.
To love.

Knight Cole is everyone’s favorite football hero.
Gorgeous.
Athletic.
Jagged.
Popular.
Liar.

See, the daredevil hellraiser could knock you up with his gaze alone, but only has eyes for the girl across the street.
But Luna is not who she used to be. She doesn’t need his protection anymore.
When life throws a curveball at All Saints’ golden boy, he is forced to realize that not all heroes are knights.
Sometimes, the greatest love stories could flourish amidst the worst tragedies.
Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2YbCrun

Sign up here to be notified FIRST when Broken Knight is live: http://bit.ly/2umcYPg

Click to see the full size version of the entire cover jacket. ;)

About the Author


L.J. Shen
is a USA Today, Washington Post and Amazon #1 Best-selling author of contemporary, New Adult and YA romance. Her books have been sold to nineteen different countries.

She lives in California with her husband, son, cat and eccentric fashion choices, and enjoys good wine, bad reality TV shows and catching sun rays with her lazy cat.

Connect with L.J. Shen:


I'm absolutely smitten with this cover!!!

I have to admit that out of all of L. J. Shen's Todos Santos guys that Dean is my least fave and Vicious is my ultimate fave out of all of her leading dudes, so I've been more excited for Vaughn's book than Knight's, but this cover and description have me absolutely shaking with excitement!!! I'm ridiculously excited for BROKEN KNIGHT, and I already want a physical copy of this gorgeous books in my hands as soon as possible. ;) 

What do you think of this cover?
And who else can't wait to read BROKEN KNIGHT?

Tuesday, 6 August 2019

[Review] SUPERFAN (Brooklyn, #3) by Sarina Bowen

Source: Received an egalley for reviewing.
Release Date: June 25, 2019
Number of Pages: 312 (Paperback)

DESCRIPTION

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 girl in the world. 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.

More information at SarinaBowen.com
G E T   Y O U R   C O P Y   N O W !
Amazon US | Amazon Canada | B&N | iBooks | Kobo


REVIEW

First Impressions...

Oh boy!!!! I have been eagerly waiting for Silas and Delilah’s story ever since we discovered her was her superfan...and it was so worth the wait! Silas was sweet, spectacular, and just so wholeheartedly good and nice! I loved him so much, and I adored Delilah! She was guarded, and cynical, so it was amazing to see her open up throughout this story!!! I loved every single minute of it!


This Book In 5 Words:

Sexy. Spectacular. Sweet. Serendipitous. Scintillating.

What Did I Like: 

- Basically everything. ;)

- Silas and Delilah. I have loved Silas since the first time we met him in Sarina's earlier books, and each time we learned more about him, I grew to love him more and more! I especially loved seeing how much of a "superfan" he was of Delilah Sparks and I just knew there had to be more to their story than him just being a fan...getting to see the two of them together and learning their history was wonderful! I also loved Delilah! Both characters are so passionate and they were so supportive of each other and I really loved seeing how they fit together....soooooo good!!! :D

- The other characters! One of the things that I've loved about Sarina Bowen's Brooklyn and Brooklyn Bruisers books is seeing how all of the characters interact! The team/organization dynamics, and seeing how everyone fits together has been so fantastic! I loved getting to see so much of it in SUPERFAN--it was perfect! :D

- The romance!!!! Wooooowwwwzers! I adored Silas and Delilah together...so...freaking...much! They were sweet, worked well together, and the romance was also so intense and their chemistry was amazing! It was exactly what I'd hoped we would get when I was eagerly hoping for Silas and Delilah's story to be shared next!

What Didn't I Like:

- Nothing! I thought that this book was absolutely wonderful and I loved every minute of it. It had me feeling all the feels and I was 100% here for all of it. ;)

Star Rating:

★★★★★

Read If You Like:

Second-chance romances! Sports romances of any kind! Even if you don't like sports romances, but just love romances that will pull you in, leave you breathless and swoony...then totally pick this up!

Overall, I absolutely loved SUPERFAN! It was fun, sweet, sexy, and totally wonderful! It can be read as a standalone, but you can also read the full series if you want to get to know everyone who's a part of the Brooklyn Bruisers team and organization! ;) Highly recommend this one! It's been one of my favourite romances for the year!



Anyone else a huge fan of Sarina Bowen's Brooklyn and Brooklyn Bruisers series?

Monday, 5 August 2019

[Review] A PIZZA MY HEART (Slice Series, #1) by Teagan Hunter

Source: Received an eARC to give an honest review.
Release Date: June 19, 2019
Number of Pages: 256 (Paperback)

DESCRIPTION

Most people would probably be embarrassed to land themselves back in their hometown and working at a pizzeria after an ugly divorce.

Not me.

It’s home, and I have one last shot to make Wren Daniels see me as more than just her brother’s best friend.

When the opportunity to show her what’s been right in front of her this whole time presents itself, I take it, holding nothing back this time.

Wren thinks we’re pretending, but there’s nothing fake about the way I feel.

After all, she’s always had…a pizza my heart.
G E T   Y O U R   C O P Y   N O W !


REVIEW

First Impressions...

Awww, well this was an absolute delight!!! This was my first Teagan Hunter book, and it definitely won't be my last. The characters were fun, and the story was quick and super, duper cute! I loved all of the banter, the silly jokes between the two characters, and I loved all of the side characters, too!

Definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a lighthearted and sweet rom-com. :)


This Book In 5 Words:

Fun. Flirty. Adorable. Sweet. Silly.

What Did I Like: 

- The characters! I loved Wren and Hunter! I loved them as friends, and I loved them as more. I really enjoyed getting to see snippets into their past, especially since we got to see it from both of their POVs...it was so interesting! I also really loved all of the side characters and I'm seriously excited to see where this series is headed next. ;)

- The writing and all the jokes. I loved how engaging Teagan's writing was--it was quick and kept me hooked, and the all of the jokes felt so organic to the story. It made me feel like I was on the inside of all of the inside jokes between the characters--so fun!

- The story and the romance. I love rom-coms. I love puns...and I loved how everything fit together in this book! It was such a lighthearted, fun read and was exactly what I'd hoped for it to be!

What Didn't I Like:

- Nothing big. It was a bit rushed once the characters got together, but I still really enjoyed it and that didn't take away from my love at all. :)

Star Rating:

★★★★★

Read If You Like:

Rom-coms that feature goofy puns, and some classic tropes (so many good ones here: friends-to-lovers, brother's best friend, second chance)!

Overall, I absolutely loved A PIZZA MY HEART! It may have been my first book by Teagan Hunter, but I definitely plan to go back and read as many of her other books as I can! Highly recommend this to all rom-coms lovers, especially if you're a fan of puns! ;)



Have you ever read any of Teagan Hunter's books?

Friday, 2 August 2019

[Blog Tour Review + #Giveaway] BRAZEN AND THE BEAST (The Barenuckled Bastards, #2) by Sarah MacLean

Source: Received an egalley through Edelweiss.
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: July 30, 2019
Number of Pages: 382 (Mass Market Paperback)

DESCRIPTION

The Lady’s Plan

When Lady Henrietta Sedley declares her twenty-ninth year her own, she has plans to inherit her father’s business, to make her own fortune, and to live her own life. But first, she intends to experience a taste of the pleasure she’ll forgo as a confirmed spinster. Everything is going perfectly…until she discovers the most beautiful man she’s ever seen tied up in her carriage and threatening to ruin the Year of Hattie before it’s even begun.

The Bastard’s Proposal

When he wakes in a carriage at Hattie’s feet, Whit, a king of Covent Garden known to all the world as Beast, can’t help but wonder about the strange woman who frees him—especially when he discovers she’s headed for a night of pleasure . . . on his turf. He is more than happy to offer Hattie all she desires…for a price.

An Unexpected Passion

Soon, Hattie and Whit find themselves rivals in business and pleasure. She won’t give up her plans; he won’t give up his power . . . and neither of them sees that if they’re not careful, they’ll have no choice but to give up everything . . . including their hearts.

About the Author

A life-long romance reader, Sarah MacLean wrote her first romance novel on a dare, and never looked back. She is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of historical romances and a columnist for The Washington Post, where she writes about the romance genre. She lives in New York City.

Visit her at www.sarahmaclean.net.

REVIEW

First Impressions...

Well that was AMAZING! I've been wanting to start this series and read something by Sarah MacLean for a while now, and I'm so glad that I chose BRAZEN AND THE BEAST as my first book of hers! It was such a wonderful story, the writing was super engaging, and Hattie and Whit/Beast were fantastic! Loved this book so much!


This Book In 5 Words:

Sexy. Smart. Intriguing. Dramatic. Naughty.

What Did I Like: 

- The characters!!! Hattie and Whit/Beast were absolutely AMAZING!!! I loved both of them, and I loved seeing them get to know one another. Their chemistry was sooooo sexy! Hattie was remarkably brave, incredibly intelligent, driven, and so inspiring! Whit was pretty broody...and boy did he love to grunt, but when he spoke, he spoke with purpose and it was easy to see just how protective, thoughtful, and inspiring he was. I'm also partial to dirty talk...and Whit did dirty talk very, very well. ;)

- How unique the story was! I've read my fair share, of historical romance and this was one of the most unique premises that I've ever read. The characters, the setting, and the plot/story...everything was so unique! I loved seeing a heroine that wanted more than to just get married—a heroine with a plan! I loved that she had insecurities that were addressed in a realistic way. And I loved that the two characters had moments of miscommunication, but they were honest and forthright and they powered through it all...and I loved that Hattie was the driving force throughout so much of the story...she was utterly perfect!

- The writing! I still have to read Felicity and Devil's story (the first book in this series), so this was my first foray into Sarah MacLean's writing and it was wonderful! Her writing is engaging and I loved every single second of this book!

- The romance! From the flirty banter to the sexy times, BRAZEN AND THE BEAST was fun, flirty, and super steamy while also tackling some pretty serious subjects. I actually teared up a couple of times because Hattie was so easy to relate to and connect with and I loved that despite her insecurity she always spoke her mind and let Whit see the truths she'd never shared with anyone else. The way that Hattie and Whit saw each other was truly remarkable!

What Didn't I Like:

- I can't think of anything. I loved the characters, the story, the writing...everything! I can't wait to go back and read the first book in the series now, WICKED AND THE WALLFLOWER...luckily it's already on my shelf. ;)

Star Rating:

★★★

Read If You Like:

Historical fiction with smart, competent, and driven heroines and broody heroes that are so much more than they seem! If you're a fan of curvy heroines and big, broad heroes who show them how much they love their "more" (as Hattie calls it), then you'll love this one, too!

Overall, I absolutely loved BRAZEN AND THE BEAST! The characters and the story were unique and I loved everything about this book! Highly recommend it to all historical romance fans!


GIVEAWAY

Exciting news! I'm giving away one copy of the book to a lucky reader thanks to the publisher!!!

Here are the details:
- 1 winner will get a mass market copy of BRAZEN AND THE BEAST
- US/Canada Only
- Giveaway will end on August 16th @ 12:00 AM EST
- Winner will be contacted via email and will have 48 hours to claim their prize.

Enter using the Rafflecopter below:

GOOD LUCK!!!!


Are you a fan of historical romance?
 
Does Brazen and the Beast sound like a story you'd enjoy?