RETREAT BY JAY CROWNOVER - SPOTLIGHT REVIEW

Every once in a while, you need to get away from it all.

I was a woman on the edge, shaken and shattered after a breakup that felt like it tore my entire world apart.

My best friend, sick of watching me drown in misery and melancholy, harassed me until I agreed to go with her on a week-long wilderness retreat.

She promised days spent bonding and getting in touch with our inner bad-asses.
It was supposed to be all about the two of us roughing it and making do with the bare minimum. She assured me we were going to be pushed to our limits in ways that were unimaginable. Neither one of us could have ever guessed just how right she was.

Nowhere in the glossy brochure did it say anything about the fact I was going to have to battle the insufferable but deliciously rugged and sexy trail guide instead of the elements. The brochure also forgot to mention the part that warned when you left civilization behind, there was no place to pack your inhibitions and fears.

I was told that I would be facing a week where the only thing I should expect was the unexpected. However, no one mentioned that I was going to have to fight for my life…and my heart as soon as I ventured into the unknown.

I was a pro at hiding from my feelings but when it came time to face a real threat, one that could change everything, I learned I was more of a no surrender, no retreat kind of girl.

Retreat is a standalone novel, the first in the Getaway series which centers on the hardheaded and brokenhearted Warner brothers and the women that dare to love them.

These boys are very good at putting the wild in wilderness.

I enjoyed this book, a lot. There were a couple of parts where I thought the pacing was a little off compared to the rest of the book, not slow or fast, just not in keeping with other similar scenes, but this was not something to really remove me from the story itself.

I liked that the blurb doesn't tell you the names of the main characters or all that much about them, and I am not going to here either...as a lot of fun with the story is getting to know the characters, who they are, and deciding whether or not you like them. For the record, I liked both of them a lot. The author does have a bit of a warning in the beginning to give the heroine a chance,that she has been through some things...although while I was not always fond of her, I thought she was authentic and likely behaving as most would after similar events. The blurb mentions a breakup, but it was maybe a little more than this, one of those breakups that make you really assess if you were the problem, not the other person.

The writing was strong, the characters were great, and I really enjoyed the scenes after they got together. They had amazing chemistry...and the scene in the campground shower...Oh. My. Let's just say, it made me want to go camping, just so I could have an excuse to clean up with him.

This is the first in a series of books, although it did not have the plot issues that I often find in the first of a series, namely that too much time is spent setting up the next books, and it ends with the story told for the lead characters in this, but with a set up for what is coming next for the characters we met in the first book. I am looking forward to the next book.

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FALLING UNDER YOU BY LAURELIN PAIGE-SPOTLIGHT

Norma Anders has always prided herself on her intelligence and determination. She climbed out of poverty, put herself through school and is now a chief financial advisor at Pierce Industries. She’s certainly a woman who won’t be topped. Not in business anyway.

But she’s pretty sure she’d like to be topped in the bedroom.

Unfortunately most men see independence and ambition in a woman and they run. Even her dominant boss, Hudson Pierce has turned down her advances, leaving her to fear that she will never find the lover she’s longing for.

Then the most unlikely candidate steps up. Boyd, her much-too-young and oh-so-hot assistant surprises her one night with bold suggestions and an authoritative demeanor he’s never shown her in the office.

It’s a bad idea…such a deliciously bad idea…but when Boyd takes the reins and leads her to sensual bliss she’s never known, the headstrong Norma can’t help but fall under his command.

I am not usually all that fond of novellas, as I think they go to insta-love and have no story to speak of. I should have known, if anyone can pull off a novella and make it great, it would be Laurelin Paige. And, she did. And it is great, and I loved it. And, I wanted more. But, I usually want an epilogue AFTER the epilogue, so me wanting more is nothing new.

Boyd (BOYD!!!) and Norma are so great together, and from the very beginning you get the sense that there is more to them getting together than him just wanting her on a temporary basis. He's too careful, he's too controlled (ok, that is kind of his thing), he's too invested in making sure that she is on board with what he needs from her for them to have a relationship. And, she is. So, when she finally realizes that he has been in love with her for a while now, Norma is pretty much the only person for whom that is news.

I loved the twist with why he chose to work for Norma, I will not give it away here, but I absolutely loved it. I liked that he was younger, I liked that he respected what she did for a living and was ok that she was not only successful, but also his boss.

I liked the time jumps, which I usually don't, but in this case they worked. Yes, it left me with a story that did not feel as deep as some of her other books, but it is a novella, so you know that going in...and what you got from this was a great story, great characters, and a little glimpse of Hudson before the Fixed stories...not a lot, but a little, and that was all sorts of fun. We like Hudson. And Boyd.

It was great to revisit the Fixed world for a bit, to get a little more of other people's stories in that world. And, Norma and Boyd were just plain fun. And hot...

The men at Pierce Industries...do you suppose that company is hiring? :)

 

 

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FLY WITH ME BY CHANEL CLEETON-SPOTLIGHT REVIEW

From the author of the Capital Confessions Novels comes the first in the steamy Wild Aces Romance series.

U.S. Air Force fighter pilot Noah Miller—call sign Burn—loves nothing more than flying hard and fast. When he meets a gorgeous and sassy woman while partying in Las Vegas, he immediately locks on to her.

Jordan Callahan owns a thriving clothing boutique, but her love life is far less successful. Her luck changes when six feet, two inches of sexy swagger asks her to dance and turns her world upside down.

One scorching weekend becomes an undeniable chemistry that they can’t leave in Vegas. But the long distance relationship and their different lives threaten to ground their romance. And when the dangers of Noah’s job become all too real, Jordan learns being with a fighter pilot means risking it all for a shot at love…

I am not sure what I was expecting, but wow did I get a heck of a book.

When you try out a new author, it is a bit of a gamble, will I like the writing? The story? Will I be able to engage with the characters; the writing style; the story itself?

Yes. YES. YES!!!

You like Noah and Jordan from the very beginning, and you can feel their connection. Their attraction is electric and it jumps off the page. The scene in the nightclub is wonderful, you feel that connection between them and it is written so well, you feel like you were there for the beginning of their love story.

It is not a shock when neither of them want what they have to end when they leave Vegas. And, the author leaves enough breadcrumbs in the way they are behaving that you see this coming. Jordan doesn't want this to be a one-night stand, she wants Noah to make some effort. And he does, enough that Jordan and the reader are convinced that there is something between them that is a lot more than just a weekend Vegas fling.

But Vegas was easy.

Then things get real, they get tough, they become work, and disappointment, and heartbreak, and struggle. The characters have to really work for their story to continue, but you never doubt for a second it is what they each want. Real life intrudes...the one where she owns a store in Florida and he is a fighter pilot in Oklahoma...for now. As he makes clear, his life is not his own, and that any sacrifices that are made for the relationship have to be made by her, out of necessity, because he does not have the say to make changes in his.

I didn't know that this story actually mirrors Cleeton's actual life until after I finished and read her bio on Amazon, but I did have the impression throughout the story that she knew what she was talking about, that the struggles felt authentic.

I loved that the drama in their relationship really didn't come from them...Noah means it when he tells Jordan that he is not going anywhere.

The way he finally tells Jordan that he loves her was so perfect, so wonderful and felt so real.

For me, what draws you in is the way this story is told in a series of little moments, flowers, the mustache, phone calls, spontaneous emotional confessions, missed events and visits...some of them are bigger than the others, but in the grand scheme of things, none of them life-altering. it is the way they are strung together that allows these series of small, human moments to string together to create a very big love story. This just felt real. It felt like the life lived by people I know.

This is a re-read...for the story and the emotion. In fact, I have already re-read it.

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STAY BY SARINA BOWEN AND ELLE KENNEDY-SPOTLIGHT

Can you fall in love with someone you've never even met? 

Hailey Taylor Emery has a hunch that her favorite client at Fetch—an anonymous virtual assistant service—is actually hockey star Matt Eriksson.

Although it's against the rules for her to check his file, she's 95% sure she spends at least part of each day texting with her lifelong crush and catering to his every need. Still nursing a wounded heart thanks to her recent breakup, Hailey is perfectly content with some harmless online flirting... until she has to meet her client. Face to face. Cue: utter panic.

Matt Eriksson is no stranger to heartbreak. He's still not over the destruction of his marriage, and it sucks to be the only guy on the team who knows the truth—that hockey and long-term relationships are a toxic mix. He barely sees his kids, and dealing with his ex makes him feel insane. The only person in his life who seems to understand is someone who won't show her pretty face.

But it's nothing that a pair of fourth row hockey seats can't fix. Hailey can't resist the offer. Matt can't resist Hailey. Good thing he doesn't have to. Fire up the kiss cam!

Warning: Contains rabid hockey fans, misunderstood dick pics, hockey players at the opera and exploding ovaries.

I feel like I need to put a disclaimer here...I'm not a hockey fan. Sometimes I shy away from hockey books (even though I LOVE sports romance) because there are too many details thrown at me that I just don't know and can't follow. I never have to worry about that with Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy's writing. Though hockey is definitely a part of this book it doesn't consume it-the focus is on the characters and I loved it. This book is flirty, sexy, and fun. I absolutely loved it.

While this is technically the second book in the WAGs series from these authors this book can be enjoyed as a standalone. Stay gives us the story of Hailey and Matt and I loved every second of their journey.

I loved Hailey. She's co-owner of a brilliant business called Fetch. Clever and apt name, since basically Hailey runs a team of people who will literally fetch whatever someone needs. She's put her heart and soul into this business, focusing on its growth after her failed marriage to the co-owner of Fetch. Hailey's fun. She's sweet, she's somewhat shy with herself. I loved seeing her grow in this book, finding out what she liked, what she wanted. I was really proud of her, which seems odd to say about a fictional character I suppose, but Hailey felt like a girl I could know.

Matt Eriksson slayed me. This is a hot, sexy, vulnerable man. Yes, you read that right. Matt is so vulnerable and raw in this book. He's coming off of a failed marriage-in a time frame similar to Hailey's failed marriage-but he has so much self doubt. There were a couple moments where I wanted to shake him and other times I just wanted to slap his ex because I just didn't get it. I mean, this guy is a catch. Sweet, funny, sexy...and single?? It was great to see him find his confidence in his personal life again.

I adored these two together from their very first text message. They're flirty and fun and when Hailey realizes who Matt is? I couldn't stop laughing at her reaction. There's a chemistry between them that neither seem to know what to do with at first, and I liked that. I liked that they were confused about how to handle each other because it made the book that much more real for me. It made the journey to their resolution that more fun as well.

The supporting cast of characters is fantastic. If you've read works from these authors previously you'll see familiar faces. If you haven't read previous works, you're going to want to after you meet some of these people. They're a team and the way they behave around one another and play off each other is amazing. Also, there are some really adorable kids in this book, which just happen to be a weakness of mine.

The writing in this book is phenomenal. It's sharp, it's witty. But it's also realistic. The pacing of this book was great, too. It's a delicate balance with these characters figuring out the timing so that nothing seemed rushed but these authors absolutely nailed it.

This book is a fun, flirty look into two people who suddenly find themselves in a situation they didn't think they'd be in again. Watching them find their confidence again was so satisfying. This is a book I'll come back to time and again. I highly recommend this book!

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SHAMELESS BY LISA RENEE JONES-SPOTLIGHT

The second and final book in the sexy and tantalizing White Lies Duet from New York Times Bestselling Author Lisa Renee Jones.

Nick "Tiger" Rogers, sought out Faith Winter with revenge as his agenda. He made her his obsession. He seduced her. He made her want him. He made here trust him. And then he trusted her. He wanted her. He loved her.
But now, the lies will be exposed, the truth revealed.
Hearts will be broken. Lives shattered.
Nick. Faith.
The truth. The passion.
The SHAMELESS obsession.

Books like this one are why I enjoy Lisa Renee Jones. This was so great, with great characters and scenes that were long enough that by the end of the book, you really felt that you know the characters.

And, that matters as this is a really character driven story, and knowing the relationships, the ties and the connections matters a lot.

This is also the second book in a duet, so any review is difficult as it gets really close to accidentally giving away a spoiler, so I am going to keep this short.

I enjoyed the writing, and the book overall. I did think the pacing at the end was a lot faster than at the beginning of the title, but that didn't really impact my enjoyment of the story.

I recommend this title.

I've been waiting for Shameless since I finished Provocative, which is book one in the White Lies Duet. I wanted to know what was going to happen with Nick and Faith-I had become invested in them and was left wanting more, which to me is the sign of a great book. Shameless did not disappoint me, either.

Shameless is hard to review plot wise without spoilers, so I'm going to avoid that completely. I'm going to say that I liked the growth we got to see these characters make. I loved seeing inside of both Nick and Faith as they navigated exactly what they were doing. I did like them both as people and thought together they really, truly worked. The chemistry they share oozes off the page.

I have to say the pacing of this book seemed a bit off to me. The beginning was definitely a slower start than I expected but the ending felt a bit rushed to me. I still enjoyed it but was surprised at the slower start.

This isn't my first book from Lisa Renee Jones and it won't be my last. While I do recommend reading the first book in this Duet before picking up this book, I definitely recommend it.

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BEAUTIFUL MISTAKE BY VI KEELAND-SPOTLIGHT

The first time I met Caine West was in a bar.
He noticed me looking his way and mistakenly read my scowling as checking him out.
When he attempted to talk to me, I set him straight—telling him what I thought of his lying, cheating, egomaniacal ass.
You see, the gorgeous jerk had wined and dined my best friend--smooth talking her into his bed, all along failing to mention that he was married.
He deserved every bit of my tongue-lashing and more for what he'd done.
Especially when that lazy smile graced his perfect face in response to my rant.
Only it turned out, the man I'd just told off wasn't the right guy.
Oops. My mistake.
Embarrassed, I slunk out without an apology.
I was never going to see the handsome stranger again anyway, right?
That’s what I thought…until I walked into class the next morning.
Well, hello Professor West, I’m your new teaching assistant.
I’ll be working under you…figuratively speaking.
Although the literal interpretation might not be such a bad thing—working under Professor West.
This was going to be interesting…

Vi Keeland is a one click author for me and books like Beautiful Mistake show why that's the case. I practically devoured this book. I tried to slow down with it but I was hooked from the first paragraph and never looked back. I laughed, I swooned, and I cried. This book was simply incredible.

Rachel, our heroine, is so sharp and sassy that you can't help but love her. I facepalmed on her behalf in the very first chapter but I love how she handled herself. I felt a connection to her-one I didn't figure out until the day after I'd read the book-and then I was even more in love with this character. I loved her wit, her humor and her heart.

Where can I find a Caine West? From the moment we met him I was head over heels for him. He was sexy, smooth and smart. So, so smart. Was he secretive? Yep, and I wanted to know all of his secrets. I loved how he developed through this story and he absolutely had me in tears-twice.

There's an undeniable connection between these two characters. I loved the push-pull between them; it was a necessary evil given their positions, but oh the sexual tension just oozed off the pages. But it was more than sex, too. There was a mutual respect and admiration, a level of which you don't often see in romance novels. Do characters like each other? Yes. But what these two went through to be together was so much more. It was incredible.

The writing here was flawless. I loved how there were flashbacks, I loved the dual POV. Getting inside these characters and feeling the way they felt? Perfection.

I don't often cry when I read but this book touched me and had me in tears more than once. The characters, the situations everything was so well written that I was swept away into the story and didn't want to come back out. I absolutely loved this story and would highly recommend it.

 

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MR. PRESIDENT BY KATY EVANS-SPOTLIGHT REVIEW

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Katy Evans comes a sizzling new contemporary romance.

He's won the hearts of millions. But is he willing to lose his?

I met the president’s son when we were both young. Matthew Hamilton was handsome, polished, and intelligent. I’d never met a guy like him.

He promised me that he’d never run for president. I promised that if he did, I’d be by his side.

Three terms later, an invitation to join Matthew Hamilton’s campaign is the most exhilarating opportunity I’ve ever experienced. I'm determined to make a difference; he is determined to win.

Focused on his goal, Matt is steadfast, ruthless, and disarming. All eyes are on him and his popularity is surging. But soon, the next possible president of the United States is possessing me in more ways than one—and despite the risks, I'm helpless to resist.

We're stealing touches, stealing moments, and stealing away at night. But our chemical connection is quickly becoming dangerously combustive, putting not only my heart, but Matt's chance at the presidency on the line. 

Winning will take everything. Walking away will be the hardest thing of all.

This book, somehow, was my first by Katy Evans.

I'm not sure how that happened. And, now I have a lot of reading to do... because if her other books are even half as good as this one, I have a lot of fun to look forward to...

Matt is wonderful. I'd probably vote for him, honestly. And the idea that he's in the judge of a presidential campaign is different. Matt wasn't planning to run when he was younger, but as he says, life and time have a way of changing what you want.

He's been in the White House before, as the son of the President of the United States. He's seen what the office can do to a family and to the life them live. And he's refusing to do that to anyone. So, he decides he will stay single.

The best laid plans, and all that....

Charlotte is 22. There's a lot she doesn't know and she's figuring out who she is in a lot of ways. But what she does know is that she loves this country and believes Matt is the best thing for it. She also learns that she is in life with Matt. And has a pretty good idea he just might be with her.

Their chemistry is intense. There's a scene in a limo, before anything has happened with them where you can see the steam coming off your Kindle. It's hot, it's amazing.

The writing is strong, you adore and believe the characters. The pacing moves from one event to the next quickly. There are some small time jumps, but nothing that messes up the continuity.

The book is a forbidden romance. They can't afford a scandal... but Matt also refuses to acknowledge that he's going to have to give her up if he wins, because of his own rules. He doesn't want to admit this, so he avoids it.

Until he can't. It's not really a spoiler as the next book is Commander in Chief... but it's going to be interesting watching them try to figure this out, to balance what they want with who he is...

And I'm looking forward to it.

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OUT OF BOUNDS BY LAUREN BLAKELY-SPOTLIGHT

The first rule of football--don't screw with a streak.

My career is finally looking up, and I'm leading a new pro team down the field every Sunday. No way will I mess with that. But when I meet the most stunning and captivating woman I've ever seen, I tell myself one night will have to be enough.

But it's not. And now I can't get her out of my mind. Even when I'm playing. Even when I need to focus. Even when I’m on the hottest streak of my life.

And it turns out, she's not just some random woman I met. She works for the team. My team.

***

I only have one goal this season--do my part as the team's lawyer to keep them out of trouble. Help rebuild their reputation on and off the field. There's no room for error and certainly no room for a secret tryst with a player . . . even if he's the quarterback.

Lauren Blakely has done it again. This sexy novella was chock full of my type of kryptonite. Hot hero? Check. Dirty talking football player? Check. Sexy, strong heroine? Check. Sizzling chemistry? Check. Sexy times? Check, check and check.

Dani is a smart, strong and sassy heroine. She’s an attorney for the football team the Los Angeles Knights and the daughter of a football coach, so it’s no surprise she recognizes quarterback Drew Erickson once she gets a good look at him on the beach. She plays it cool when he introduces himself as Andrew, respecting his seeming need to fly under the radar. There’s undeniable heat between them and I loved the banter they shared.

As for Drew-who wouldn’t fall for a dirty talking, yet sweet, sexy, quarterback? Not this girl, that’s for sure. Drew was so different from every other football hero I’ve read recently and that was so refreshing. I loved his values, his loyalty, definitely his dirty mouth, and his arms…and hands ;). I appreciated his focus and determination, on and off the field.

There’s a touch of forbidden here, what with Dani being an attorney for the team Drew was recently traded to, but it just adds to the heat that exists between them naturally. I also LOVED that Dani was a smidgen older than Drew, which is not something you often see in these types of books. The tiny bit of angst thrown into the mix here wasn’t what I would have expected it to be, either. To me, that’s what makes Lauren Blakely’s writing so unique and refreshing-she takes a concept that some might think is predictable and turns it into something completely unexpected. This was a fun and sexy quick read, with just the right amount of sweet to make me swoon.

Lauren Blakely really is perfect. She writes a story that is engaging with characters that you enjoy and want to get to know.

This was a shorter novel and I was impressed with how much depth of character and development of the story arc that was present, as it was closer to a novella in length. That right there makes it worth of 5 stars, as usually novellas leave me feeling a little unfulfilled, like I wanted more. Ok, so I want more of Drew and Dani...but not because their story wasn't over, but because

Lauren Blakely

Wrote A Book About a Football Player

Let that sink in. A Lauren Blakely sports romance.

It's as good as it sounds.

Drew is hot. Really hot. Dani is sexy. They have the best time in traffic. And in other places.

The writing, as always, was spot on. The pacing of the story perfect. the meet-cute hilarious in a perfect sort of way. As I mentioned already, I was impressed by how much was able to be put into this story.

I highly recommend this and I can't wait to read Blakely's next sports novel (HINT!!)

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SOMEONE LIKE YOU BY LAUREN LAYNE-SPOTLIGHT

Lauren Layne’s bestselling Oxford Series continues with the poignant, heartwarming story of New York’s most eligible bachelor, Lincoln Mathis, a man who’s living a lie—until his dream woman takes away the pain.

Lincoln Mathis doesn’t hide his reputation as Manhattan’s ultimate playboy. In fact, he cultivates it. But behind every flirtatious smile, each provocative quip, there’s a secret that Lincoln’s hiding from even his closest friends—a tragedy from his past that holds his heart quietly captive. Lincoln knows what he wants: someone like Daisy Sinclair, the sassy, off-limits bridesmaid he can’t take his eyes off at his best friend’s wedding. He also knows that she’s everything he can never have.

After a devastating divorce, Daisy doesn’t need anyone to warn her off the charming best man at her sister’s wedding. One look at the breathtakingly hot Lincoln Mathis and she knows that he’s exactly the type of man she should avoid. But when Daisy stumbles upon Lincoln’s secret, she realizes there’s more to the charming playboy than meets the eye. And suddenly Daisy and Lincoln find their lives helplessly entwined in a journey that will either heal their damaged souls . . . or destroy them forever.

Lincoln.

There is a lot I could say about this book, but unfortunately most of the things I can say will be spoilers...and I am not going to spoil this for anyone. It was that good.

Lincoln is so much more than you think, and so much more than he seems. What he needs is someone who sees through the facade to the person he is underneath. Daisy is this person, and you learn this almost immediately. They get one another, they see through one another, and in a lot of ways they are the same. What this allows is for them to forge an intimacy that they don't have with anyone else and to let one another into their lives in ways that they do not allow others.

And, this works. This is a slow burn friends to lovers in which the attraction is there from the beginning but it takes both of them a little while to be ready to move to the romance of the relationship.

Lauren Layne is a favorite of mine because she writes amazing stories about people you absolutely love, and this is no different. I enjoyed it a lot, and I am so glad that Lincoln got his book, and his HEA. He definitely deserves it...but I am going to let you figure out why on your own.

I recommend this book. It is a New York Times Bestseller for a reason!

 

I adore all of Lauren Layne’s books, especially her Stiletto/Oxford series, so I knew I was going to love this book. I was torn on this one because I wanted desperately to read it but at the same time I didn’t-because I KNEW it was the end of the series. Oh my, was this ever worth it. I cannot praise this one enough. This can be read as a standalone, but really, this entire series is amazing.

Lincoln has intrigued me from the start. I just felt that he had so much more beneath the surface, and was I ever right. Lincoln is one of the sweetest, heartfelt men I’ve ever read. Getting to know more of him in this book made me laugh, cry and sigh. His journey is truly an incredible one.

Daisy Sinclair…I’ll admit I was totally on the fence with her being the heroine of this book when her name was first released months ago. However, Lauren Layne more than proved me wrong, she had me championing Daisy from the first chapter. The nickname Lincoln gives her totally suits in the beginning of the book, and watching her grow from that was a joy. These two characters could not have been better suited.

I can’t deny I loved getting to see all of my Stiletto and Oxford friends again. They don’t overwhelm the story, so if you haven’t read them (what are you waiting for?!) you won’t be lost, but I do recommend reading them. This book ties the series up so perfectly. I know I’ll be going back to it to read over and over. 

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EGOMANIAC BY VI KEELAND-SPOTLIGHT

A new standalone novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Vi Keeland

The night I met Drew Jagger, he’d just broken into my new Park Avenue office.
I dialed 9-1-1 before proceeding to attack him with my fancy new Krav Maga skills.
He quickly restrained me, then chuckled, finding my attempted assault amusing.

Of course, my intruder had to be arrogant.
Only, turned out, he wasn’t an intruder at all.

Drew was the rightful occupant of my new office. He’d been on vacation while his posh space was renovated.
Which was how a scammer got away with leasing me office space that wasn’t really available for rent.
I was swindled out of ten grand.

The next day, after hours at the police station, Drew took pity on me and made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. In exchange for answering his phones while his secretary was out, he’d let me stay until I found a new place.
I probably should have acted grateful and kept my mouth shut when I overheard the advice he was spewing to his clients. But I couldn’t help giving him a piece of my mind.
I never expected my body to react every time we argued. Especially when that was all we seemed to be able to do.

The two of us were complete opposites. Drew was a bitter, angry, gorgeous-as-all-hell destroyer of relationships. And my job was to help people save their marriages.
The only thing the two of us had in common was the space we were sharing.
And an attraction that was getting harder to deny by the day.

Egomanic is not my first Vi Keeland book but it is my favorite so far. Start to finish I was invested in these characters and their journey to each other. Everything in this book just clicked for me. The pacing worked, the plot was fresh and did I mention I loved the characters-who thinks to put a marriage counselor and a divorce attorney together and makes it work? Vi Keeland.

I feel Drew is Vi's most developed male character to date. We see him as a young man in flashbacks and the man he is today-a foul mouthed, sexy as hell attorney. I fell hard for him right from the start and the more I learned about him the deeper I fell. He's witty, charming and mostly honest. His banter with Emerie had me chuckling and there were moments that had me swooning so hard I had to just stop and smile.

Emerie was such a little firecracker. Vi usually has strong heroines so that wasn't anything new here, but Emerie's sassiness was tempered with a sweet, romantic and hopefulness that I identified with. I wanted to be Emerie-and not just because I was lusting after Drew, too.

The sex between these two was definitely hot. Again, I expect that but I feel like there was a whole new level explored here. There were definitely some squirm in my seat moments as I read this.

The plot overall was great. A complex story about relationships-both between Emerie and Drew and then additionally with their families-that just worked. The pacing was spot on to me as well. We got time to know Drew and Emerie separately before knowing them together as a couple. I would highly recommend this book.

This is my second book by Vi Keeland (3rd if you count the co-written one) and I can definitely say that this one is the one where I finally started to understand the thrill of her writing and why there is such excitement around her books.

Let me explain...I have always thought the writing was strong, but I have never totally loved the characters or have been fully invested with them. That was not the case for tyhis one. I loved Drew and Emerie, and I loved them together. I liked their meet cute, I liked that he was nice to her despite his own better judgment. I liked getting to know Drew as Emerie did. I liked that this evolved from pseudo-enemies to friends to lovers.

I was impressed by how seamlessly the development of their relationship was handled. The pacing was spot on, as was the character development and the development of their changing reactions to one another. I liked that Drew was an "egomaniac" and that this never really changes. It is a part of who he is, and by the end the reader (and Emerie) see this as an endearing quality and not the annoying one it may have been at the beginning.

The chemistry was amazing, and the sex was hot...which is always important. And, with the strength of the story arc itself, there was a great connection between Drew and Emerie that I really enjoyed.

I thought, personally, that there was too much emphasis placed on a couple of characters outside of the relationship. On his side, I was mostly ok with it, as I think the story line worked and stayed realistic. But on Emerie's side, I felt that the issue was resolved, came back, was resolved again and reappeared again, and this started to frustrate me a little. But, this is the only criticism I have of the book.

There is a lot more I could say, but the evolution of their relationship contains a lot of spoilers, mostly for Drew, which I would not want to ruin for others.

I recommend this book and I am already looking forward to the next one.

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SUSTAINED BY EMMA CHASE-SPOTLIGHT

A knight in tarnished armor is still a knight.

When you’re a defense attorney in Washington, DC, you see firsthand how hard life can be, and that sometimes the only way to survive is to be harder. I, Jake Becker, have a reputation for being cold, callous, and intimidating—and that suits me just fine. In fact, it’s necessary when I’m breaking down a witness on the stand.

Complications don’t work for me—I’m a “need-to-know” type of man. If you’re my client, tell me the basic facts. If you’re my date, stick to what will turn you on. I’m not a therapist or Prince Charming—and I don’t pretend to be.

Then Chelsea McQuaid and her six orphaned nieces and nephews came along and complicated the ever-loving hell out of my life. Now I’m going to Mommy and Me classes, One Direction concerts, the emergency room, and arguing cases in the principal’s office.

Chelsea’s too sweet, too innocent, and too gorgeous for her own good. She tries to be tough, but she’s not. She needs someone to help her, defend her…and the kids.

And that—that, I know how to do.

 

It's no secret I love Emma Chase. She has a knack for making me laugh and making me swoon with her books. There's something just a touch more special about Sustained that has had me coming back to this book time and time again-and falling in love with it each and every time.

Sustained has a little something for everyone in it. It's laugh out loud funny in spots, sweet in other spots. It has moments that break my heart every single time I read them. There's also passion, sexy times and love. It's the love that gets me every time. It's not just the romantic love between Jake and Chelsea, though lord knows that's enough on its own, but it's the love of family that has me sighing endlessly. There's something about seeing a man with kids/babies that just makes me melt.

Focusing on Jake for just a moment...he's one of my all time favorite book boyfriends. The growth he goes through in this book is tremendous. Is he perfect? No. But he's perfect for Chelsea. Together they represent a true relationship to me. Both are human and have flaws but they are truly the perfect match for one another.

The writing here is superb. You truly get the sense that you are living in the moment with these characters, experiencing what they're experiencing. Good, bad or ugly. The pacing is great, too. There's no mad rush at the end to give these characters the ending they truly deserve.

I enjoy the peeks into the secondary characters lives. This is a standlone, but there are characters from other books mentioned. They don't take away from the story at all, they simply enhance it.

This book truly has something for everyone in it. It's one I find myself coming back to time and time again and I can't recommend it highly enough. I wish I could give it more than 5 stars-it deserves them all.

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