December 31, 2017

PROMISE NOT TO TELL BY JAYNE ANN KRENTZ - ARC REVIEW

A painter of fiery, nightmarish visions throws herself into the sea—but she leaves her secrets behind . . .

Seattle gallery owner Virginia Troy has spent years battling the demons that stem from her childhood time in a cult and the night a fire burned through the compound, killing her mother. And now one of her artists has taken her own life, but not before sending Virginia a last picture: a painting that makes Virginia doubt everything about the so-called suicide—and her own past.

Like Virginia, private investigator Cabot Sutter was one of the children in the cult who survived that fire... and only he can help her now. As they struggle to unravel the clues in the painting, it becomes clear that someone thinks Virginia knows more than she does and that she must be stopped. Thrown into an inferno of desire and deception, Virginia and Cabot draw ever closer to the mystery of their shared memories—and the shocking fate of the one man who still wields the power to destroy everything they hold dear.



 If you have read Jayne Ann Krentz, you have a pretty good idea what to expect from one of her titles.  You are going to get interesting, charmingly quirky characters who seem all the more human for their faults and eccentricities.  The writing will be sharp, the pacing will be quick.  The mystery will move quickly and will end up drawing people into the mix who seemed to only be on the periphery.  The pacing will be strong and the book will be enjoyable.

All of this is present in the story of Virginia and Cabot.  And, really, I am not sure what else I can say about this book without giving things away.  The issue, from a review standpoint anyway, of a book that is this well constructed is that it is impossible to review.

I could talk about the characters, and the plot, and I could ruin it for everyone else.

So, I am going to keep this short and say that I enjoyed this book.  A lot.  And that I highly recommend it.



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December 30, 2017

Our #7 Picks for 2017


Melissa's Pick

Some men are born responsible, some men have responsibility thrust upon them. Henry John Edgar Thomas Pembrook, Prince of Wessco, just got the motherlode of all responsibility dumped in his regal lap.

He’s not handling it well.

Hoping to help her grandson to rise to the occasion, Queen Lenora agrees to give him "space"—but while the Queen’s away, the Prince will play. After a chance meeting with an American television producer, Henry finally makes a decision all on his own:

Welcome to Matched: Royal Edition.

A reality TV dating game show featuring twenty of the world's most beautiful blue bloods gathered in the same castle. Only one will win the diamond tiara, only one will capture the handsome prince’s heart.

While Henry revels in the sexy, raunchy antics of the contestants as they fight, literally, for his affection, it’s the quiet, bespectacled girl in the corner—with the voice of an angel and a body that would tempt a saint—who catches his eye.

The more Henry gets to know Sarah Mirabelle Zinnia Von Titebottum, the more enamored he becomes of her simple beauty, her strength, her kind spirit... and her naughty sense of humor.

But Rome wasn’t built in a day—and irresponsible royals aren’t reformed overnight.

As he endeavors to right his wrongs, old words take on whole new meanings for the dashing Prince. Words like, Duty, Honor and most of all—Love.

What We Said About Royally Matched!


 


Laura's Pick


Dillon Alexander has been Kit Derby’s nemesis since third grade, when he beat her in the school spelling bee. They’ve been competing ever since, driving each other to be the best at everything from science fairs to bake sales. While working together one night during their senior year, they stopped bickering long enough to share an emotionally charged kiss. But a tragedy that same night left them both racked with guilt, driving Dillon out of town and leaving Kit determined to keep her distance.

Now an emergency room physician, Dillon has returned to their hometown of Chance, Nebraska. Soon he and Kit fall back into old habits, sparring in public while trying to stay out of each other’s arms. But when a blizzard traps them overnight at Kit’s grandmother’s farmhouse, the real competition begins: Who will be the first to give in to the feelings they’ve denied for a decade?




    What We Said About Turned Up!


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December 29, 2017

COWBOY UP BY HARPER SLOAN - BLOG TOUR

Hang on to your Stetsons, because you’re in for another wild ride! COWBOY UP by New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Harper Sloan is a passionate and breathless romance about the sparks that ignite when a cautious cowboy and a once-scorned woman open up to each other in the third installment of the Coming Home series.

As the eldest Davis, Clayton has always tried to lead by example. He takes his job as head of the family businesses seriously, making sure the farm and auto shop are running smoothly—along with keeping an eye on his brother and sister. For him, there's a time and place to let go of the control he holds with an iron grip. And with the way he grew up, coupled with disastrous end to his last relationship, he's just fine with his quiet, solitary life.

Most of the time.

What he hadn't counted on was cute, quirky, shy bookstore owner, Caroline Michaels. She's the proverbial woman next door—well, the next town over, that is. Caroline hasn't lived an easy life, but after escaping an abusive ex, she's finally living it for herself. The last thing she ever expected was a one-night stand with Clay Davis, a night she can't stop thinking about.

So when she falls on hard times and Clay comes out of nowhere to her rescue, she realizes just how impossible it'll be to stay away from him. Now all she has to do is convince him to live a little...

Will Clay be able to give up the reins and finally settle down? And, more importantly, will Caroline muster enough courage to lasso him up?

COWBOY UP is the third go-round in this Texas-set series which has everything readers could want in truly authentic Western romance novels filled with sizzle, heart...and plenty of horses and cowboy boots!





Clayton and Caroline were an interesting couple. You meet Clayton in the first 2 books in the series, and you get to know who he wants to be, and who he thinks he should be. And, you know that he is the kind of man who tries to be what he thinks he should be for everyone.

So, to watch him meet and fall for Caroline was interesting, although at points I thought it was a little more of an insta-love situation than I was expecting. There were parts that I thought Clayton and his reactions to things were a little too intense and maybe too over the top, although overall I liked him.

I also liked that Clayton and Caroline talk. They have conversations and they talk about the things that happen to them. There were no misunderstandings or huge issues created because of assumptions the other makes...he tells her they will always communicate, and that it might be harsh or angry, but always with love. I liked this a lot, and it was one of my favorite things about the book...that they were able to communicate.

I liked the ending also, there is an idea of what happens to each of the couples you have met in the series and I liked the ending a lot.

I recommend this title.



Praise for The Coming Home Series:


“Sloan’s sexy love story also has a strong, satisfying emotional arc that seems especially romantic in the modern ranch setting…the fun interactions among the Davis siblings and the satisfying second-chance theme will please readers.”

—Booklist (Cowboy Up, Book 3 in the Coming Home Series)


“Modern Cliterature...Enjoy [this] lusty [passage] adapted from summer’s raciest reads…”

—Cosmopolitan, July 2017 (Kiss My Boots, Book 2 in the Coming Home Series)


“Engaging characters and an appealing small-town setting; [This] second-chance-at-love romance resonates emotionally…Sloan knows her way around sexual tension and emotional intensity.”

—Kirkus (Lost Rider, Book 1 in the Coming Home Series)

About the author:

Harper Sloan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Corps Security and Hope Town series. She started using writing as a way to unwind when the house went to sleep at night. Harper lives in Georgia with her family. Visit her at AuthorHarperSloan.com or Facebook.com/HarperSloanBooks.

Our #8 Picks of 2017


Melissa's Pick

Sex. Lust. Lies.
New York Times bestselling author, Emma Hart, brings the heat and heart in a brand-new series of sexy standalone novels, starting with SIN...

Damien Fox lived up to his name.
Cunning, sly, and dangerous, fifty percent of Vegas’ strip clubs were his.
Whatever he wanted, money, attention, women, he got.
And now he wanted to buy my bar, no matter the cost.
I wanted him to go to hell on a first-class ticket.
He played a dirty game, and I followed his rules. I let him think he would win.
Despite our differences, it was clear to see that we were no more than two broken hearts colliding in the darkness.
Closed off, sexy, and holding a pain that would crush a lesser man, he was the ultimate sin.
One I couldn’t deny myself, even though I knew better than to trust a fox...

(SIN is book one of the Vegas Nights series. Each book in this series is a standalone novel.)

                 What We Said About Sin!




Laura's Pick

Mister Romance by Leisa Rayven

 

Max Riley is the man of your dreams. Or at least he will be, for a price.

As his alter-ego Mister Romance, Max is a drop-dead gorgeous escort who makes romantic fantasies come to life. No sex, just swoon-worthy dates to die for, and the cream of New York's socialites can't get enough. Whether they want a dominating billionaire, bad boy with a heart of gold, hot geek, sexy biker, or best friend who loves them from afar, Max can make it all happen, but he's careful to keep his real identity a secret.

Enter investigative journalist Eden Tate. Having caught wind of the urban legend of Mister Romance from a lovestruck client, Eden is determined to publish a scathing expose on Max and his ability to swindle lonely society women out of their fortunes.

Desperate to protect his anonymity and his clients, Max challenges Eden to give him three dates. If she doesn't fall in love with him, she can run her story with his blessing. If she succumbs to his charms, the story dies.

Cynical Eden has no doubt she can resist his fake romance personas, but when the real Max admits he’s falling for her, she has to decide if the professional liar is telling the truth, or if the passionate man with the mysterious past is just one more character designed to con her out of her career-making story

What We Said About Mister Romance!



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December 28, 2017

Our #9 Picks of 2017


Melissa's Pick

The conclusion to the story begun in the USA Today Bestselling Dirty Filthy Rich Men.

I've discovered Donovan Kincaid's secret.

It's dirty and filthy and rich - as dirty and filthy and rich as he is - and it haunts me as much as he ever did.

Even after knowing what I know now, I still want to talk to him, to touch him. But there's an ocean between us, and I'm not sure it can be crossed with something as easy as a phone call or a plane ride.

Yet I'm willing to try.

He doesn't know this yet, but this time I'm the one with the power. And maybe - just maybe - if the air were cleared and all our secrets bared, there could still be a chance for us.

And this dirty, filthy thing between us might end up being love after all.

What We Said About Dirty Filthy Rich Love!


 


Laura's Pick

Easy Nights by Kristen Proby


The Boudreaux Series—Sexy. Intriguing. Easy.

No one said change was easy…

Savannah Boudreaux knows what it is to hurt. To bleed. To be afraid that the man she’s promised to be true to until “death do us part” might in fact separate them far sooner than anyone had ever anticipated. But Van also knows what it is to survive. To move on. To live life to the fullest. With five brothers and sisters and a loving mother as her constant source of strength during the pain and the healing, Van realizes there is little else she needs.

But some things never change…

Benjamin Preston sat on the sidelines of the Boudreaux family for years, in love with a woman he couldn’t have. As the best friend of the Boudreaux brothers since childhood, Ben has seen both tragedies and joys in the family. And as a former MMA fighter and Krav Maga expert, Ben’s used to fighting for what he wants—and winning. His hands were tied when Savannah married her high school sweetheart not long after graduation, but now two years have passed since Ben found Savannah broken in her own home.

Sometimes what you need most has been right in front of you the whole time…

Van’s convinced that happiness isn’t in the cards for her, no matter how right it feels to be in Ben’s strong arms—and his bed. Ben is determined to win her heart and fight for her trust. He’s promised to protect her, to be her friend. But more than anything, he wants to finally make her his, and this is one fight he’s not willing to lose


What We Said About Easy Nights!



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