[Review] A FAVOR FOR A FAVOR (All In, #2) by Helena Hunting

Source: Egalley through work/Canadian distributor, Thomas Allen & Son.
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Release Date: January 28, 2020
Number of Pages: 302 (Paperback)

DESCRIPTION

From the New York Times bestselling author of Pucked and A Lie for a Lie, a new stand-alone romance about trading favors, battling wills, and winning love.

When I joined Seattle’s NHL expansion team, I thought it was the start of something great. But nothing ever goes the way you expect. Take my introduction to my new neighbor. She came rolling in on the hot mess express at midnight, making a racket while she tried to get into my team captain’s apartment. Did I mention that he’s married to a woman who definitely was not her?

Imagine my surprise when I end up with an injury that has me out of the game for weeks, and she’s the one to offer to help me. I should probably add that she’s not the captain’s mistress. She’s his sexy, pastel-haired younger sister.

So we come up with an arrangement: she rehabs me so that I can get back on the ice sooner, and she can add a professional athlete that isn’t her brother to her client list. Seems simple enough. As long as I can keep my hands to myself and my hormones in check.

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

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REVIEW

First Impressions...

Wow! I thought A FAVOR FOR A FAVOR was amazing! I absolutely loved Bishop and Stevie! I loved the way that their relationship developed, all of the crazy intense chemistry, and every single moment between them! They were wonderful! I also loved seeing more of RJ and Lainey and some of our favourite Pucked characters. ;) I've been a bigtime Helena Hunting fan for a while now, but this is quickly becoming my favourite series of hers so far!!!

This Book In 5 Words:

Sexy. Funny. Hilarious. Adorable. Exceptional.

As I mentioned, I loved A FAVOR FOR A FAVOR! I thought that Bishop and Stevie were wonderful! Bishop was surly, broody, and so awkward at times, but it was in the most endearing of way. He was also so freaking sweet...and genuinely tried so hard and I really just loved seeing him do his best to support Stevie...it was so sweet! Stevie, on the other hand, was a lot less awkward and definitely not broody. She was sassy, strong, and determined to make her own way. I loved that she was contradictory in many ways, but always managed to stay true to herself. :)

Stevie and Bishop were fantastic apart, but they were even better together and their romance was amazing! It was definitely a slow-burn...but boy was it worth it. I loved how their connection grew even before their romantic relationship ever started. I also loved the animosity between Stevie and Bishop at the start...I wouldn't call it hate, but there was definitely some fiery reactions going (their morning battles were hilarious...and I totally loved all of Bishop's "wardrobe choices" :P). It was clear right from the start that they had some intense chemistry! Once feelings started and things were underway...well bam! Their chemistry was phenomenal and I really loved how compatible they were...I'm honestly super excited just to get to see more of them in the next book now that they're together!!! :D

I highly recommend this one to anyone who loves slow-burn romances, especially if you love sport romances, broody, well-meaning heroes, and sassy, strong heroines!

Star Rating:

★★★★★

Overall, I loved A FAVOR FOR A FAVOR! I thought that the characters were wonderful, the romance was a fantastically sexy and well-developed slow-burn, and the story and side-characters were wonderful--I couldn't put it down! I absolutely ADORED the first book in Helena Hunting's All In series, A LIE FOR A LIE, and I loved this one, so I am ridiculously excited for the third book now, A SECRET FOR A SECRET! RJ and Bishop are amazing...and I just can't wait to see how amazing King is, too! ;D

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What do you think?
Does A FAVOR FOR A FAVOR sound like a book you'd like?
Have you read any of Helena's books yet?

[Sneak Peek] ANGRY GOD (All Saints High, #3) by L. J. Shen

I don't know about you all, but I'm counting down the days until the release of L. J. Shen's next release, ANGRY GOD, and today I have a sneak peek to share! 

Keep scrolling to read it for yourself. :)

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About ANGRY GOD . . .

“A top 2020 read hands down.”
--Helena Hunting, New York Times bestselling author

ANGRY GOD, an all-new angst-filled new adult standalone romance from USA Today bestselling author L.J. Shen, is coming February 18th!

ANGRY GOD

Series: All Saints High, #3

Author: L. J. Shen 

Release Date: February 18, 2020

Cover designed by: Letitia Hasser, RBA Designs
Model: Emilio Flores

Vaughn Spencer.

They call him an angry god.

To me, he is nothing but a heartless prince.

His parents rule this town, its police, every citizen and boutique on Main Street.

All I own is a nice, juicy grudge against him for that time he almost killed me.

Between hooking up with a different girl every weekend, breaking hearts, noses and rules, Vaughn also finds the time to bully little ole’ me.

I fight back, tooth and nail, never expecting him to chase me across the ocean after we graduate high school.

But here he is, living with me in a dark, looming castle on the outskirts of London.

A fellow intern. A prodigal sculptor. A bloody genius.

They say this place is haunted, and it is.

Carlisle Castle hides two of our most awful secrets.

Vaughn thinks he can kill the ghosts of his past, but what he doesn’t know? It’s my heart he’s slaying.

Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/35oUOMC

Sign up here to be notified FIRST when Angry God is live: http://bit.ly/36MnmAQ

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SNEAK PEEK . . .

        We were told we were a cut above the rest, the future of artists all over the world. We had the talent, the status, the money, and the opportunity. But if we were silver, Vaughn Spencer was gold. If we were good, he was brilliant. And when we shone? He gleamed with the force of a thousand suns, charring everything around him.

        It was like God had carved him differently, paid extra attention to detail while creating him. His cheekbones were sharper than scalpel blades, his eyes the palest shade of blue in nature, his hair the inkiest black. He was so white I could see the veins under his skin, but his mouth was red as fresh blood—warm, alive, and deceiving.

        He fascinated and infuriated me. But just like everyone else, I kept my distance from him. He wasn’t here to make friends. He’d made that clear by never attending the food hall or any of the social functions.

        Another thing Vaughn had and I didn’t? My father’s admiration. I didn’t know why the great Edgar Astalis fawned over some boy from California, but he did, nonetheless.

        Papa said Vaughn was going to do something special. That one day, he would be Michelangelo big. I believed him.

        And so, I hated Vaughn.

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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:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Bookbub | Goodreads | Amazon

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Well, what do you think?

Are you excited to read ANGRY GOD and get Vaughn and Lenny's story?

[Review] A LIE FOR A LIE (All In, #1) by Helena Hunting

Source: Egalley through work/Canadian distributor, Thomas Allen & Son.
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Release Date: October 15, 2019
Number of Pages: 277 (Paperback)

DESCRIPTION

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Pucked series comes a romantic comedy about instant attraction, second chances, and not-so-little white lies.

Sometimes I need an escape from the demands, the puck bunnies, and the notoriety that come with being an NHL team captain. I just want to be a normal guy for a few weeks. So when I leave Chicago for some peace and quiet, the last thing I expect is for a gorgeous woman to literally fall into my lap on a flight to Alaska. Even better, she has absolutely no idea who I am.

Lainey is the perfect escape from my life. My plan for seclusion becomes a monthlong sex fest punctuated with domestic bliss. But it ends just as abruptly as it began. When I’m called away on a family emergency, I realize too late that I have no way to contact Lainey.

A year later, a chance encounter throws Lainey and me together again. But I still have a lie hanging over my head, and Lainey’s keeping secrets of her own. With more than lust at stake, the truth may be our game changer.

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

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REVIEW

At this point, I've already read A LIE FOR A LIE twice, and both times I couldn’t put it down until I’d finished reading it. I absolutely adored this book!!! It has drama and some angst, but mostly it’s just charming and full of feel-good moments that lure you in and keep you smiling! I'm already chomping at the bit to pick it up and read it all over again--this was without a doubt my top book for 2019 and I loved it so, so much!

This Book In 5 Words:

Heart-warming. Sexy. Sweet. Riveting. Adorable.

RJ and Lainey were absolutely amazing and the romance was steamy, intense, and also so ridiculously adorable in the best possible way! I loved that it’s a spin-off of Helena’s Pucked series (but still works completely as an all-new standalone series), so it was wonderful to get to see some of our favourite Pucked characters, but I also loved meeting Lainey and getting to know our leading man, RJ, better. I'm pretty much always a fan of Helena's leading characters, but I have a serious soft spot for RJ. I love him so, so much. He was sweet, generous, loving, and gives the best safety cuddles. ;) 

If you can't tell already, I basically loved everything about A LIE FOR A LIE. I loved the romance. I loved the story. I loved the way that the story itself was set up--parts of it happen in the past and I thought that Helena did an amazing job in weaving the two storylines together. I also loved the friendships, and getting to see RJ and Lainey grow closer was truly wonderful. I also really, really loved that so much of this story focused on RJ and Lainey getting to know each other, and on how their relationship evolved. We actually get to enjoy a pretty large chunk of the story where we see them bond rather than just face drama and let me tell you...it...is...so refreshing! I can't remember a time before this where you're given a chunk of a book to just savor the actual relationship part of a romance. It was spectacular! :D
 
I'll stop now because I could just go on and on forever about how amazing A LIE FOR A LIE was, so I'll wrap this up and I have to say that I can’t wait to see what happens next in the All In series! I’ve already read (and LOVED) the next book, A FAVOR FOR A FAVOR, and now I'm really looking forward to seeing my new faves in the final book, A SECRET FOR A SECRET!!!

Star Rating:

★★★★★

I highly recommend A LIE FOR A LIE to Helena Hunting fans, sports romance fans, and anyone who loves romances that are full of heartwarming moments that will leave you feeling like you’ve just been given safety cuddles/snuggles and a comforting cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows!

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What do you think?

Does A LIE FOR A LIE sound like something you'd enjoy?
Have you read any of Helena Hunting's books yet?

[Cover Reveal] ANGRY GOD (All Saints High, #3) by L. J. Shen

I have a happy surprise for L. J. Shen fans everywhere! The cover for her next All Saints High book, ANGRY GOD, has been revealed!!!

.
.
.
.

“A top 2020 read hands down.”
--Helena Hunting, New York Times bestselling author

ANGRY GOD, an all-new angst-filled new adult standalone romance from USA Today bestselling author L.J. Shen, is coming February 18th! 

ANGRY GOD

Series: All Saints High, #3

Author: L. J. Shen 

Release Date: February 18, 2020

Cover designed by: Letitia Hasser, RBA Designs
Model: Emilio Flores

Vaughn Spencer.

They call him an angry god.

To me, he is nothing but a heartless prince.

His parents rule this town, its police, every citizen and boutique on Main Street.

All I own is a nice, juicy grudge against him for that time he almost killed me.

Between hooking up with a different girl every weekend, breaking hearts, noses and rules, Vaughn also finds the time to bully little ole’ me.

I fight back, tooth and nail, never expecting him to chase me across the ocean after we graduate high school.

But here he is, living with me in a dark, looming castle on the outskirts of London.

A fellow intern. A prodigal sculptor. A bloody genius.

They say this place is haunted, and it is.

Carlisle Castle hides two of our most awful secrets.

Vaughn thinks he can kill the ghosts of his past, but what he doesn’t know? It’s my heart he’s slaying.

Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/35oUOMC

Sign up here to be notified FIRST when Angry God is live: http://bit.ly/36MnmAQ

---

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:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Bookbub | Goodreads | Amazon

---

I love this cover! :D The model totally looks similar to the model on the original VICIOUS cover, so I love that he reminds me of Vicious and Emilia and could be believable as their son!!! :D

 Vicious has always been my favourite of L. J. Shen's leading guys, and his book has always been my favourite, so I'm extremely excited for ANGRY GOD! Here's hoping that it's as wonderful as I hope it will be! ;)

What do you think of this cover?

And who else can't wait to read ANGRY GOD?

[Review] SHIMMY BANG SPARKLE by Nicola Rendell

Source: Received a sample copy through work/the Canadian distributor, Thomas Allen & Son.
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Release Date: August 21, 2018
Number of Pages: 320 (Paperback)

DESCRIPTION

To catch a thief…or fall for one?
 
All Nick Norton wants is to stay on the straight and narrow…and never get caught stealing again. Then he lays eyes on her: Stella Peretti—100 percent sexy and absolutely irresistible. Especially when he sees her smooth moves lifting a two-karat diamond. Nick realizes he’s found the sparkling woman of his dreams—one so perfect for him it’s almost criminal.

The Shimmy Shimmy Bangs are master jewel thieves who are planning the heist of the century. And Shimmy leader, Stella, isn’t about to let anyone—even if he is a hunky, tatted-up studmuffin—get in her way. But when two of her girls are put out of commission, Stella realizes that Nick isn’t just a red-hot distraction. He might be the answer to her pilfering prayers.

Now, Nick and Stella are putting everything on the line for one last job. But when two thieves have this much chemistry, it’s only a matter of time before somebody’s heart gets stolen.

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

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REVIEW

😍😍😍

This was my first time reading one of Nicola Rendell’s books, but you can bet it definitely won’t be my last! In her bio, she says she writes “naughty romantic comedies” and that is sooooo accurate and it’s the perfect way to describe this book!

SHIMMY BANG SPARKLE was deliciously sexy and naughty, but soooooo funny and sweet, too! Stella and Nick were amazing and their chemistry was on fire...a few chapters in and these two had me swooning and giggling. I loved both of them apart, but I really loved what they brought out in each other! Special mention goes to the adorable dog Queen, Priscilla! I absolutely loved all of the parts where Priscilla was with Stella and Nick, they were too cute! It made me remember just how much I love dogs in books.

Along with the wonderful romance aspect of SHIMMY BANG SPARKLE, the story itself was amazing! I loved the idea of a jewel heist and I loved that Stella belonged to gang of female jewel thieves. The dynamics between her and her besties, Ruth and Roxie, fellow members of the Shimmy Shimmy Bangs were fantastic!

And the heist...wooowwweee! I’m not going to tell you about it because I think you need to read about it yourself, but I loved seeing the plans come together and how detailed everything was. Mostly I just loved seeing Nick and Stella fall further and further in love during it. *dreamy sigh*

Overall, I loved SHIMMY BANG SPARKLE! If you’re a fan of steamy romances where the characters have amazing banter and chemistry, or if you just straight-up love romantic comedies and sexy books, I definitely recommend this one! And if you’re a fan of romances and heist films separately, definitely check this one out! I don’t mind heist films, but I feel like this sexy romance aspect is the part that would make me go from liking them to loving them. I always love what a good ol’ romance brings to a story. 😉

Highly recommend this one!

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What do you think?
Does SHIMMY BANG SPARKLE sound like something you'd like to read?

[Review] #STARSTRUCK (A #Lovestruck Novel, #1) by Sariah Wilson

Source: Received a sample copy through work/the Canadian distributor, Thomas Allen & Son.
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Release Date: January 16, 2018
Number of Pages: 320 (Paperback)

DESCRIPTION

“You’ve done better.”

With one uncharacteristically sassy tweet to her longtime celebrity crush, Zoe Miller’s life turns upside down. Ultrahot A-lister Chase Covington doesn’t just respond to Zoe’s tweet, he does the unthinkable: he messages Zoe directly. Now she must decide between walking away or meeting her crush in person.

Chase knows better than to trust anyone from the Internet, but Zoe’s saucy challenge has totally caught his interest—and her girl-next-door personality is keeping it. He’s been burned enough to know he needs to keep his heart close. But his feelings for Zoe might be a lot more than just an online flirtation. He just has to convince her…

When the press gets wind of Zoe and Chase’s secret relationship, their romance turns into tabloid headlines. Will they be able to hold on to their Hollywood love story?

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REVIEW

While this was my first Sariah Wilson book, it definitely won't be my last!

I thought that #Starstruck was an absolute delight to read! It was absolutely adorable and I was grinning and giggling throughout like crazy! I loved Zoe and Chase soooo much! I honestly can’t wait to read more from Sariah Wilson now, and I seriously cannot gush about this book enough!

I loved the Twitter meet-cute, the little texts and tweets interspersed throughout the book, and all of the dialogue and moments between Chase and Zoe were wonderfully and ridiculously cute...and sometimes sweetly sexy! It’s on the tamer side romance-wise which I have to admit I haven’t been reading much of lately, but it worked really well with this story and I loved every single moment!!!

I highly recommend this one! I already want to read it again! :D

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Does #Starstruck sound like a book you'd like to read?

[Review] SIDELINED by Suzanne Baltsar

Source: Received an egalley through Edelweiss.
Publisher: Gallery Books
Release Date: August 27, 2019
Number of Pages: 320 (Paperback)

DESCRIPTION

From the author of the whip smart and charming Trouble Brewing comes a fast-paced story about a female football coach that will have you laughing out loud and cheering for the home team as you wait for the final whistle of the game.

When Connor McGuire loses out on his dream job of being the head coach of the local high school football team, he thinks life can’t get any worse. Then he discovers just who got the coveted position—it was a handout to the kid of a well-known, successful college coach. Connor’s sure this is just a publicity stunt, but the kid turns out to be not only a sharp strategist, but a driven and sexy young woman, too. Frustrated in more ways than one, Connor realizes that he might have to step up his game or risk losing altogether.

Coach Charlotte “Charlie” Gibb calls a flag on the play when she finds out that her very male, very attractive, but definitely-rooting-for-her-to-lose assistant coach resents her for taking what he considers to be his rightful position. But never one to back down from a little healthy competition, Charlie is determined to prove her worth—both on and off the field.

Baltsar’s “sweet, funny, witty, addictive writing,” (New York Times bestselling author Samantha Young) is not to be missed!

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REVIEW

I absolutely loved this one! 

Charlie and Connor were fabulous and I loved their hate-to-love, feisty romance! I was a bit frustrated at times by how the they communicated at times, but I also thought it was super in character for them both and it fit with the dynamics of their relationship, too. :p

While I adored the romance and the characters, and all of the fabulous friendships in SIDELINED, I also loved how much attention was placed on Charlie’s position as the head coach of a high school football team in regards to her gender. I loved seeing how all of the characters approached it and how they openly discussed the struggles that women face in male dominated fields. This book was entertaining, made me swoon, and also inspired me. At one point while considering her past positions in her career, Charlie thought something along the lines of the fact that mediocre men are celebrated, while skilled women are doubted. That definitely stood out to me! There were some great family moments between Connor and his mom, and Charlie and her dad that had me tearing up, too...so many feelings!

Star Rating:

★★★★★

Overall, I loved SIDELINED! Now I need to go back and read TROUBLE BREWING and I’m thoroughly looking forward to reading more of Suzanne Baltsar’s books!

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What do you think?
Does SIDELINED sound like a book you'd enjoy?