REVIEW – THE SIMPLE WILD by K.A. Tucker

August 14, 2018August 12, 2018Leave a comment

SYNOPSIS

City girl Calla Fletcher attempts to reconnect with her estranged father, and unwittingly finds herself torn between her desire to return to the bustle of Toronto and a budding relationship with a rugged Alaskan pilot in this masterful new romance from acclaimed author K.A. Tucker.

Calla Fletcher was two when her mother took her and fled the Alaskan wild, unable to handle the isolation of the extreme, rural lifestyle, leaving behind Calla’s father, Wren Fletcher, in the process. Calla never looked back, and at twenty-six, a busy life in Toronto is all she knows. But when her father reaches out to inform her that his days are numbered, Calla knows that it’s time to make the long trip back to the remote frontier town where she was born.

She braves the roaming wildlife, the odd daylight hours, the exorbitant prices, and even the occasional—dear God—outhouse, all for the chance to connect with her father: a man who, despite his many faults, she can’t help but care for. While she struggles to adjust to this new subarctic environment, Jonah—the quiet, brooding, and proud Alaskan pilot who keeps her father’s charter plane company operational—can’t imagine calling anywhere else home. And he’s clearly waiting with one hand on the throttle to fly this city girl back to where she belongs, convinced that she’s too pampered to handle the wild.

Jonah is probably right, but Calla is determined to prove him wrong. As time passes, she unexpectedly finds herself forming a bond with the burly pilot. As his undercurrent of disapproval dwindles, it’s replaced by friendship—or perhaps something deeper? But Calla is not in Alaska to stay and Jonah will never leave. It would be foolish of her to kindle a romance, to take the same path her parents tried—and failed at—years ago.

It’s a simple truth that turns out to be not so simple after all.

*****Patty’s Review*****

*****FIVE STARS*****
{ARC Generously Provided by Publisher}

He’s not like any other guy I’ve dated or crushed on. And while he’s capable of making my blood boil like no one else, I feel a magnetic pull toward him that I can’t explain.

THE SIMPLE WILD is a story filled with so much heart and emotion. It’s one of those books that will leave a lasting impression on you long after you’ve finished it. K.A Tucker’s writing is brilliant. You feel as if you are in Alaska with how the author brings it to life within the pages of this book. This is going down as one of my top favorites written by Ms. Tucker. I feel as if nothing I can say will truly express how much I connected to this story. I empathized greatly with the Heroine.

Calla Fletcher has just been laid off from her job and also finds out that her boyfriend of the past six months, has been cheating on her. But that’s nothing compared to the shock she gets when she receives a phone call from a close friend of her father’s—a man she hasn’t seen since she was two, nearly twenty-four years ago. The friend asks Calla to come to visit her father in Alaska because he’s terminally ill and his days are numbered. Calla struggles at first, with the idea of going to see the man who never once came to visit her since her mother left him back in Alaska and who stopped calling when she was fourteen. She ends up going because she needs the closure and knows that it would be her biggest regret if she didn’t go to see her father for one last time.

Calla’s dad owns a small airline in Alaska and it’s one of the major reasons he didn’t move to Toronto with her and her mother. One of his pilots, Jonah, flies Calla from Anchorage to the small town her father lives in. From the moment Jonah and Calla meet they are like oil and vinegar. Jonah sees Calla as a snobby city girl who is self-absorbed and won’t last a day without all of her creature comforts. She does have a bit of a hard time getting adjusted to the way of life there. The bickering between them was, at times, hilarious. There was no denying the chemistry between Jonah and Calla.

While we have this intense romance developing via a slow burn, there was also the relationship between Calla and her father, Wren, which was also very much the focal point of the story. It’s the part that brought forth so much emotion. I understood Calla’s hurt and anger. What I took from this story was that it’s wasted energy to dwell on past mistakes that you can never change

Jonah and Calla are at constant odds throughout most of the story, but things eventually heat up for them. Is history doomed to repeat itself? Her parents loved each other fiercely and yet they couldn’t make it work between them because her father’s life was in Alaska and her mother was miserable there. Calla’s life is in Toronto, and Jonah loves flying planes for her dad’s company in Alaska. Will their story end in heart break as well?

Here are my overall ratings

Hero: 5
Heroine: 5
Plot: 5
Angst: 4.5
Steam: 4
Chemistry Between Hero & Heroine: 5

THE SIMPLE WILD is currently available! I highly recommend it!

Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/2Kkaeqc
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2veonRb
B&N: https://bit.ly/2vdWWqq
Books-a-million: https://bit.ly/2AxZhl8
Indiebound: https://bit.ly/2OESvx6
iBooks: https://apple.co/2n49dJI
Blio: https://bit.ly/2n8ZzFK

REVIEW – BISHOP (Arizona Vengeance, #1) by Sawyer Bennett

August 14, 2018August 12, 2018Leave a comment

SYNOPSIS

Meet the Arizona Vengeance, hockey’s hottest new team. They’re burning up the ice—until a one-night-stand with the coach’s daughter freezes one player in his skates.

Bishop Scott, co-captain. Not too shabby, huh? It’s all part of my fresh start with the NHL’s latest expansion team, and that means new teammates, a new coach, a new city, and a big new contract. Basically, I cannot f***ing wait to show my old squad what they’re missing.

But first, I decide to check out the town before the grind begins. Turns out Arizona chicks are totally smokin’, and I’m fortunate enough to meet one who’s looking for the same thing I am: a night of anonymous, unforgettable, no-strings-attached sex.

Fast forward to the Vengeance arena. It’s the last place I expect to see her again—let alone in her own office. Then bells go off and I finally realize who this girl is: Brooke Perron. My new coach’s daughter. All of a sudden, we’re picking up right where we left off, which means our hands are all over each other. That’s when her dad—my boss—walks in. And before I can get a word out, Brooke’s introducing me as her fiancé.

Sure, she just saved my ass. So why do I get the feeling Brooke’s going to turn my world upside down? Maybe it’s because this fake relationship feels way too real. . . .

*****Patty’s Review*****

*****FOUR STARS*****
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}

I know they say love and romance hit you when you’re least expecting it, but I can tell you it knocked into me with the force of a hurricane, because I truly, honest to God, deep down in my heart, wasn’t looking for this with him

I love a good sports romance with a rugged and sexy Hockey player, and Sawyer Bennett’s ”Cold Fury” series is on the list of my favorites. She knows she’s got a good thing going so I have to give her kudos for creating another Hockey series but with a new team. BISHOP is the first installment of the Arizona Vengeance series. The Arizona Vengeance is a new expansion team based out of Phoenix, AZ. Bishop Scott is the first player we meet and his story is off the charts, SMOKING HOT!!

This is another one of those stories that starts off with a wild one-night stand that was never meant to be anything more. But the Hero’s one-night stand turns out to be the coach’s daughter and circumstances force them to be in a “fake”relationship.

At first, I thought the plot was predictable but as the story progresses a character gets thrown in that will wreak havoc for the couple and even for the Vengeance. I didn’t exactly feel the connection between the main characters, but they made up for it with their sexual chemistry.

Overall, the plot was interesting and I did find myself enjoying it. I’d say this series is off to a good start. We meet quite a few of the players and it’s the player that has been broken by personal tragedy, who I am most anxious to read about. I hope the wait isn’t too long for his book!

Here are my overall ratings

Hero: 4
Heroine: 4
Plot: 4
Angst: 4
Steam: 5
Chemistry Between Hero & Heroine: 5

BISHOP is currently available.

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2ELTWbQ
B&N: http://bit.ly/2F3rzFq
iBooks: https://apple.co/2BM7DEO
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2F1GuzS
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2F2IFmH
Audible: https://adbl.co/2n1xPCM

REVIEW – DR. STRANGE BEARD (Winston Brothers, #5) by Penny Reid

August 10, 2018August 10, 2018Leave a comment

SYNOPSIS

Hunches, horse races, and heartbreak

Ten years after Simone Payton broke his heart, all Roscoe Winston wants is a doughnut. He’d also like to forget her entirely, but that’s never going to happen. Roscoe remembers everything—every look, every word, every single unrequited second—and the last thing he needs is another memory of Simone.

Unfortunately, after one chance encounter, Simone keeps popping up everywhere he happens to be . . .

Ten years after Roscoe Winston dropped out of her life, all Simone Payton wants is to exploit him. She’d also like some answers from her former best friend about why he ghosted her, but if she never gets those answers, that’s a-okay. Simone let go of the past a long time ago. Seriously, she has. She totally, totally has. She is definitely not still thinking about Roscoe. Nope. She’s more than happy to forget he exists.

But first, she needs just one teeny-tiny favor . . .

Dr. Strange Beard is a full-length romantic comedy novel, can be read as a stand-alone, and is the fifth book in the USA TODAY bestselling Winston Brothers series.

*****Patty’s Review*****

*****FOUR STARS*****
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}

DR. STRANGE BEARD, the fifth and latest installment of the Winston Brothers series is Roscoe Winston’s story and it’s a friends-to-lovers/unrequited love romance. Roscoe is another quirky but utterly lovable character like his siblings. I was rooting for him to get his girl!!

Roscoe and Simone were the best of friends in High School, but Roscoe had always harbored a secret crush for Simone. One day he decides to confess his feelings for her but Simone doesn’t react the way that he had hoped she would. She rejects him based on her fear that moving to a romantic relationship could end up destroying the friendship. Roscoe is so heartbroken that he cuts off all ties with Simone.

It’s ten years later and Simone is back in town. She moved away and has a career with the FBI, but would come home on weekends to visit her parents. Roscoe always made sure to keep his distance from any place he might run the risk of bumping into Simone because even ten years later, he still hasn’t gotten over the heartbreak. But now Simone is back for the foreseeable future and Roscoe is forced to interact with her. What he doesn’t know is that she’s working undercover for the FBI and her mission involves the motorcycle gang, the Wraiths, that his father is a member of. She tries to rekindle the friendship with Roscoe in hopes of helping her with her FBI assignment, but there also might be some feelings she tried to deny that are bubbling to the surface.

Will Roscoe be able to open up to Simone once more? Or is the fear of rejection going to keep him closed off to the possibilities with her? What will become of these two when the real reason Simone has come home is revealed?

Here are my overall ratings

Hero: 4
Heroine: 4
Plot: 4
Angst: 4
Steam: 4
Chemistry Between Hero & Heroine: 4

DR. STRANGE BEARD is currently available!

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2KqqV41
iBooks: https://apple.co/2twGVeA
Amazon Universal: http://mybook.to/DrStrangeBeard
Nook: https://bit.ly/2tJQl5F
Kobo: https://bit.ly/2yU5zdo
Google Play: https://tinyurl.com/y76ze2x4
Print: https://amzn.to/2LXgohE

REVIEW – IT SEEMED LIKE A GOOD IDEA AT THE TIME by Kylie Scott

August 9, 2018August 5, 2018Leave a comment

SYNOPSIS

Returning home for her father’s wedding was never going to be easy for Adele. If being sent away at eighteen hadn’t been bad enough, the mess she left behind when she made a pass at her dad’s business partner sure was.

Fifteen years older than her, Pete had been her crush for as long as she could remember. But she’d misread the situation—confusing friendliness for undying love. Awkward. Add her father to the misunderstanding, and Pete had been left with a broken nose and a business on the edge of ruin. The man had to be just as glad as everyone else when she left town.

Seven years on, things are different. Adele is no longer a kid, but a fully grown adult more than capable of getting through the wedding and being polite. But all it takes is seeing him again to bring back all those old feelings.

Sometimes first loves are the truest.

*****Patty’s Review*****

*****4.25 STARS*****
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}

He reached out, taking hold of my hand. Our fingers curled around each other out of pure instinct. It was like drawing lines in the sand by the shoreline; waves just kept washing them away. Only my messy heart couldn’t take any more hits.

There are several different tropes to be found in this story – forbidden romance, May/December romance, second chance romance, and even a bit of enemies to lovers! While I still have a hard time finding the beginning of Peter and Adele’s friendship to be believable, I can’t deny that I got totally lost in their story. I loved Adele but disliked more than liked the character of Peter, and yet I still hoped that the two would somehow end up together.

Adele finds herself in a most uncomfortable situation. Her father sent her away when she was eighteen. She got caught with her top off while in the company of one of her father’s employees, Peter, who happened to be fifteen years older than her. Peter ended up getting punched in the face but Adele was able to smooth things over between the two men when she admitted that she had been coming on to Peter and he was an innocent victim. That day she lost her best friend and was sent packing to her mom. Adele met Peter when she was sixteen and while it seemed that he thought of her as a kid sister, she had developed a huge crush on him. They spent a lot of time together and he would even bring her on some of his dates. Peter and Adele shared many meaningful conversations about his family and his strained relationship with his father, but he never would let a woman that he dated get that close to him. It pretty much appeared that he had deep feelings for Adele and that’s why she came on to him.

Now, eight years later, Adele returns to her Father’s home because he’s about to get married, but since there isn’t any room in his house, she is staying in Peter’s guest room. This is the last place she wants to be. They haven’t spoken in all the years she has been gone and when she left their friendship had been ruined. From the moment they see each other again, Peter is sullen, moody, and rude. He’s still holding on to the anger over what happened when she was eighteen. I think back then, he was into Adele but couldn’t act on his feelings because of her age and that her father was his boss, and when he sees that she’s grown into a beautiful woman at twenty-five, he’s even more attracted to her. But Adele is still off limits because he’s now business partners with her father.

Peter runs hot and cold for most of the story but things eventually heat up between the two. He’s never been able to have a committed relationship with a woman, and in the eight years that she’s been away, Adele has never had a relationship last for more than a few weeks. Is Adele going to be the woman who wins Peter’s heart? Or will they end up being just a summer fling?

Here are my overall ratings

Hero: 4
Heroine: 4.5
Plot: 4
Angst: 4.5
Steam: 4
Chemistry Between Hero & Heroine: 4

IT SEEMED LIKE A GOOD IDEA AT THE TIME is currently available.

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AMAZON AU: https://amzn.to/2LyXq18
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REVIEW – NOT SO NICE GUY by R.S. Grey

August 9, 2018August 5, 20182 Comments

SYNOPSIS

“Oh my god. Who that?”
I get asked this question a lot.
“Oh him?” I reply. “That’s just Ian.”

Just Ian is the biggest understatement of the century.
Just the Mona Lisa. Just the Taj Mahal. Just Ian, with his boring ol’ washboard abs and dime-a-dozen dimpled smile.

Just Ian is… just my best friend.

We’re extremely close, stuck so deep inside a Jim-and-Pam-style friendzone everyone at works assumes we’re a couple – that is until one day, word spreads through the teacher’s lounge that he’s single. Fair game. Suddenly, it’s open season on Ian.

He should be reveling in all the newfound attention, but to our mutual surprise, the only attention he seems to want is mine.

He’s turning our formerly innocent nightly chats into x-rated phone calls. Our playful banter sports a new, dangerous edge.

I want to assume he’s playing a prank on me, just pushing my buttons like always – but when Ian lifts me onto the desk in my classroom and slides his hands up my skirt, he doesn’t leave a lot of room for confusion.

I’m a little scared of things going south, of losing my best friend because I can’t keep my hands to myself. So, I’m just going to back away and not return this earth-shattering kiss – oh who am I kidding?!

Goodbye Ian, ol’ buddy, ol’ pal!

Helloooo mister not so nice guy.

*****Patty’s Review*****

*****FIVE STARS*****
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}

For three years, we were best friends who were secretly in love with each other. Three years is a long time to subdue a crush.

NOT SO NICE GUY is a romantic comedy with the friends-to-lovers trope. It is filled with so many laugh out loud moments. I fell head over heels in love with Ian and Samantha’s story. These two were so perfect for each other but seemed utterly clueless to that fact. Waiting for them to finally get together was almost torturous.

Ian and Samantha have been the best of friends ever since they met their first day of teacher’s orientation at Oak Hill High School. They live minutes from each other and have weekly Netflix binge fests of the West Wing. Samantha is a total nerd with the funniest sense of humor but also beyond gorgeous as far as Ian is concerned. But she doesn’t see herself that way. She thinks Ian is absolute perfection and in the past, he’s always dated women who looked like supermodels. Never in her wildest dreams would she think that he had feelings for her. Sam has been secretly in love with Ian since the first day they met, and Ian has also been crushing on her. It’s hard to believe that neither had a clue what the other was feeling.

Ian starts to have an inkling that Sam is into him. He can tell by how she is affected by him whenever they are in close proximity. He decides to take things out of the friend zone with Sam, and since she’s afraid of change he knows he has to take things slow with her. But one day she lets it slip in the teacher’s lounge that she and Ian are not dating. Suddenly Ian and Sam are being pursued by the other teachers at the high school. Ian is not about to let another man take what is his so this forces him to ramp up his plans to stake his claim on Sam.

Sam is overwhelmed by Ian’s confessions to her and terrified that if they try to become romantically involved that she may end up losing her best friend. Will she put her fears aside and take a chance on love? Or will she continue to try and play it safe and wind up losing the friendship anyway?

Here are my overall ratings

Hero: 5
Heroine: 4.5
Plot: 5
Angst: 4
Steam: 4.5
Chemistry Between Hero & Heroine: 5

NOT SO NICE GUY is currently available!

REVIEW – HIS TRUE QUEEN (Smoke & Mirrors, #2) by Jodi Ellen Malpas

August 9, 2018August 9, 2018Leave a comment

SYNOPSIS

The breathtaking conclusion of the Smoke & Mirrors Duology.

A beautiful, defiant princess. A renowned, sinfully gorgeous Hollywood actor.

A love affair that is sure to rock the British Monarchy…and the world.

Their love affair began intensely and passionately. Princess Adeline and Josh Jameson knew any future together was impossible—her status as a princess and his standing as a Hollywood heartthrob dictated that. But the heights of pleasure they could take each other to were wildly unanticipated by them both. Josh’s absolute disregard for Adeline’s status quickly drew her into his hedonistic world. And her perfectly worn mask and false façade captivated Josh to the point of obsession. The boundaries became blurred. The physical became emotional. Their hearts became entwined.

But a cruel turn of events rips their worlds apart and Adeline is more bound than ever by the protocol and expectations her title commands. The army of royal advisors who guard the secrets and scandals of the Monarchy will go to unthinkable lengths to keep the smoke and mirrors in place…and Josh away from Adeline. She knows the power she possesses comes with agonizing sacrifices. Walking away from Josh devastates her…but it keeps him safe from the corrupt institution that has ruled her life.

Yet Josh refuses to lose the woman who has consumed him so completely, distorted his boundaries, and stripped him of all sensibility.

Will the power of the British Monarchy triumph? Or will their fierce love for each other change the course of history?

*****Patty’s Review*****

*****FOUR STARS*****
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}

No one has ever looked at me the way Josh looks at me. Not with this much fire in their eyes. No one has taken so much time to really see me. Not like they want to devour me and box me up all at the same time. And no one has ever gone to such great lengths and taken such risks just to be with me.

In the conclusion of the ”Smoke & Mirrors” duet, tragedy and family secrets have thrust Adeline into a position she never wanted. She has become the Queen of England. Her duties as the new Ruler make a relationship with Josh impossible. She tries to sever ties to him, but Josh is determined to hang on to the woman he loves.

While Adeline struggles with her new title, it’s the matters of the heart that she’s having a harder time dealing with. She soon realizes that there is no way she can erase Josh from her life, but to be with him would be considered scandalous and so she tries to get Josh to agree to keep their relationship a secret. Josh is too stubborn and doesn’t want to hide his feelings for her and is not willing to be Adeline’s dirty little secret.

The two engage in one crazy rollercoaster of a romance. They burn hot one second and in the next, they’re engaging in knock down drag out fights. And seeing as they are high profile celebrities they don’t seem to know what the word discretion means. They took so many stupid risks to be with each other that it was amazing that they weren’t caught early on.

The cards are stacked against them. Not only do they have to deal with the traditional customs of the Monarchy, but there are people with their own agendas who are out to tear the couple apart. Will Josh and Adeline be able to beat the insurmountable odds?

It took me a while to warm up to the story, but once I got nearly halfway through, I found that I couldn’t put this book down. I had to find out how it all would turn out for Josh and Adeline.

Here are my overall ratings

Hero: 4
Heroine: 4
Plot: 4
Angst: 4
Steam: 5
Chemistry Between Hero & Heroine: 4

HIS TRUE QUEEN is currently available.

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2G2hwwM
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2I3wdkd
iBooks: https://goo.gl/wX2kEK
Nook: https://goo.gl/vo8W7F
Kobo: https://goo.gl/bH5LY4

REVIEW – THE CHASE (Briar U #1) by Elle Kennedy

August 7, 2018September 22, 20181 Comment

SYNOPSIS

Everyone says opposites attract. And they must be right, because there’s no logical reason why I’m so drawn to Colin Fitzgerald. I don’t usually go for tattoo-covered, video-gaming, hockey-playing nerd-jocks who think I’m flighty and superficial. His narrow view of me is the first strike against him. It doesn’t help that he’s buddy-buddy with my brother.

And that his best friend has a crush on me.

And that I just moved in with them.

Oh, did I not mention we’re roommates?

I suppose it doesn’t matter. Fitzy has made it clear he’s not interested in me, even though the sparks between us are liable to burn our house down. I’m not the kind of girl who chases after a man, though, and I’m not about to start. I’ve got my hands full dealing with a new school, a sleazy professor, and an uncertain future. So if my sexy brooding roomie wises up and realizes what he’s missing?

He knows where to find me.

*****Dee’s Review*****

FOUR HOT STARS****

I loved it! I loved it, and I Loved it!!!

Hot hockey players, an awesome and strong heroine, and a fun and sexy plot, plus the five-star writing of Elle Kennedy, make this book a wonderful summer read.

Summer is a beautiful girl with an amazing personality, but people are always judging her by her looks. People normally think Summer is a spoiled rich girl who is used to getting everything she wants because of her good looks. But the truth is she always has to work harder than most, to fight the preconceived notions people have of her. This also has messed up with her inner confidence.

Fitz is the sexy, but quiet hockey player who is always trying to fly under the radar. Ever since he was a kid he hated confrontation or any attention on him. He likes the simple and quiet life, that’s until he meets Summer.

Fitz and Summer met when she transferred from Brown to Briar University. From the moment they saw each other, the attraction was instant. Summer being her awesome self, immediately made her intentions known to him, but he was a bit skeptical. The fact that they are so different makes Fitz nervous, so he is constantly pulling away from Summer, even though he really wants to be with her.

Summer feels like her life is a constant chase, and for once she wishes Fitz would be the one going after her. Will she get tired of Fitz’s constantly hot and cold personality, or will they just burn into the passion that is always hot between them?

This was a fantastic read and I cannot wait for more books in this series.

*****Patty’s Review*****

*****FOUR STARS*****
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}

I have been dying to read the latest by Elle Kennedy. Sports romances with hockey players are high up on my list of favorites and the ”OFF CAMPUS” series is still my most beloved of Elle Kennedy’s works. THE CHASE, the first installment of ”BRIAR U” was missing the comedic flair I’ve come to expect from this author’s sports romances. The “MeToo” movement was very much an influence in this plot, but not only does Elle focus on the way women are treated as sexual playthings by men of influence, and men in general—she also points out how even women perpetuate old stereotypes by using derogatory names to cut each other down, instead of standing up for one another.

Throughout the story, the other theme that was very much in the foreground was how many of us are guilty of stereotyping people by their outward appearances. A beautiful blonde who is in a college sorority, is a party girl, an airhead, and has no substance. A football or hockey player is a dumb jock and a menacing bully. Beautiful women who dress sexy are ”sluts”.

There is a romance buried underneath all of the heavy subject matter. Fitz is a quiet guy who shies away from the spotlight. He likes to keep things low key and Summer is a vibrant and outgoing girl who tends to draw attention to herself without even attempting to do so. At first glance, they seem complete opposites but peel back their layers and we learn they have quite a bit in common plus the passion burns something fierce between them.

I liked both characters but at times they were frustrating. The length of time it took for Fitz and Summer to finally admit their true feelings for each other was almost mind-numbing. Also, there were just too many side plots going on that it was almost exhausting.

Even with all the drama, ”BRIAR U” is shaping up to be another sure-fire hit series for Ms. Kennedy.

Here are my overall ratings:

Hero: 4
Heroine: 4
Plot: 4
Angst: 4
Steam: 4
Chemistry Between Hero & Heroine: 4

THE CHASE is currently available!

Amazon: http://geni.us/TCAmz
iBooks: http://geni.us/TCiB
Kobo: http://geni.us/TCKobo
Nook: http://geni.us/TCNook

REVIEW – RUSH (Gods #2) by Samantha Towle

August 7, 2018August 5, 2018Leave a comment

SYNOPSIS

From Samantha Towle, New York Times bestselling author of Breaking Hollywood and Ruin, comes a new powerful, passionate and dramatic contemporary romance.

“With the first pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, the New York Giants select…”

It’s been three years since quarterback Ares Kincaid’s NFL dream came true, and he’s living the high life. The days of cleaning up after his drunk of a father are long gone, and he has no intention of going back.

A car crash and DUI charge meant a lengthy stint in rehab for Arianna Petrelli, and her dream of being a professional artist slips further away when she’s sacked from her position at a gallery. Her need for a job stronger even than her dislike of football, Ari goes to work for her father, the head coach of the New York Giants.

Ares hates alcoholics, which is fine with Ari because she thinks he’s a brainless jock. Yet when Ares rescues Ari from a situation with her ex-boyfriend, an unlikely friendship begins – one that quickly becomes more.

But messing around with the coach’s daughter can only lead to one thing…trouble.

‘A moving and fan-yourself-worthy love story’ USA Today’s Happy Ever After on Ruin

*****Dee’s Review*****

4 Stars****

Nothing better than a super hot athlete and a sassy heroine, written by the talented Samantha Towle to keep me entertained and make my heart dance.

Ari’s life is very complicated. She got fired from her job, recently got a DUI and is fresh out of rehab. It’s been hard finding a new job once you have a police record, but lucky for her, her father is the coach for the New York Giants football team and has given her a job. Ari is an artist, one that hasn’t painted in a long time but an artist nonetheless, and she hates football, so she has no clue what she’s going to do at this new job. But she is desperate for a second chance, and she might just find it in the arms of the star quarterback of the team.

Ares Kincaid is the golden boy of football. Gorgeous, kind and almost too perfect. But the moment he meets Ari he has nothing but bitterness towards her, making her feel less than, and not deserving of the second chance she desperately wants. The problem is Ares is actually very attracted to Ari, their chemistry is hot off the charts but trust issues might dampen the chances of love growing between them.

This story is really sweet but also passionate. I loved Ari’s character, she was strong, and even when she felt down, she would get right back up. Ares was just YUMMY and HOT. They make the perfect couple. This was a delicious page-turner that I’m sure everyone will love.

*****Patty’s Review*****

*****FIVE STARS*****
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}

It’s amazing how life can change in the blink of an eye. One blink, and my hedonistic lifestyle—the one I was so sure that I loved—came crashing down around me, bringing me to a new reality. A clean, sober reality. But also a lonely, empty reality. Then, one person came along and changed everything so very completely again. One kiss changed everything.

RUSH, the second installment from Samantha Towle’s ”Gods” series, was an incredibly sexy, angsty and entertaining read! I am loving this series so much. I have to say this was the perfect enemies-to-lovers romance! The story flowed perfectly and I loved both the Hero and Heroine.

Ares and Arianna’s first encounter is awkward and yet sexy at the same time. You can feel the attraction between them, but it’s like a bucket of ice water is poured on top of his head, when he finds out that Arianna is his coach’s daughter. Ares’ demeanor towards Ari turns sour and downright rude. His hangups from his personal life cloud his judgment and my heart ached for poor Ari.

Ari is a recovering alcoholic. She’s six months sober. She was charged with a DUI when she crashed her ex-boyfriend’s car. Fortunately, no one was hurt including Ari. But she ended up losing her job and her Dad, who is the head coach of the New York Giants, gets her a job working as a personal assistant to the team. At first, she and Ares do whatever they can to avoid each other until they run into each other in the city. Ares’ younger sister, Missy, takes an instant liking to Arianna and can see the effect she has on her brother. So Missy decides to play cupid and of course, her plan works.

The romance heats up pretty quickly between Ares and Arianna. It’s been a long time since Arianna has been truly happy. She’s always had a strained and almost non-existent relationship with her father and her mother committed suicide when Ari was fifteen. It was her mother’s death that caused Ari’s bout with alcoholism. Arianna’s life seems to be taking a turn for the better with Ares in it. But deep down she thinks she isn’t good enough for him and that one day he’s going to realize it and walk away from her.

The romance runs into some rough patches, of course, and for the first time, I was on the Heroine’s side. I love that the author didn’t turn her Heroine into a doormat, I don’t think I would have loved this story as much as I did if Arianna was a weak character. I’m trying not to give too much of the plot away. All I can promise you is that this is one of those stories that you’ll breeze through because it will grab a hold of you from the very first page.

Here are my overall ratings

Hero: 5
Heroine: 5
Plot: 5
Angst: 4
Steam: 5
Chemistry Between Hero & Heroine: 5

RUSH ris currently available!

Amazon US: http://a.co/6w3tHVy
Amazon UK: http://amzn.eu/6eaB91g
iBooks US: https://goo.gl/HTtnnG
iBooks UK: https://goo.gl/jxnHgz
B&N: https://goo.gl/G9gsDn
Kobo: https://goo.gl/MzxEyQ

REVIEW – AS DUST DANCES (Play On #2) by Samantha Young

August 7, 2018August 6, 2018Leave a comment

SYNOPSIS

The New York Times Bestselling author of the On Dublin Street series and PLAY ON returns to the world of the arts in this intense and emotional standalone romance about love, sacrifice, and surviving both.

Once upon a time Skylar Finch was the lead singer of a hugely successful American pop-rock band. But fame made her miserable. When years of living a lie suddenly ended in tragedy, Skylar fell off the map.

Eighteen months later she’s sleeping in a tent in a cemetery in Glasgow, making just enough money to eat by busking on the streets. She manages to avoid recognition, but not the attention of one of Glasgow’s ambitious A&R executives.

Killian O’Dea works at Skyscraper Records, Scotland’s most successful record label. Raised by his uncle and owner of the label, Killian’s upbringing would have been devoid of affection entirely if it wasn’t for his loving sister. Killian is unflinchingly determined to bring the label more success than ever, and the young homeless woman who busks on Buchanan Street is going to help him do that. Her music speaks to him in a way he refuses to over-analyze. All he knows is that if it can touch his dark soul, it’ll set everyone else’s alight.

Skylar makes it clear that she doesn’t want to sign with him. But when she experiences the dangerous reality of a woman sleeping rough, Skylar has no one else but Killian to turn to. An undeniable connection forms between them. But Skylar doesn’t want the career Killian is trying to forge for her, and when her past comes back to haunt her Killian will be faced with a decision that could ruin him. He must either free Skylar from his selfish machinations and destroy everything he’s ever worked for, or lose a woman who has come to mean more to him than he ever thought possible…

*****Patty’s Review*****

*****FIVE STARS*****
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}

I brushed my fingers over his face. What must it be like to be loved by him? I imagined it a heady thing, winning the love of a man who offered it so sparingly.

AS DUST DANCES, the latest contemporary romance by the amazing Samantha Young is incredibly steamy and a total angst fest! In other words, a PERFECT summer read!! I absofreakingutely loved this one ladies and I can’t wait till you all can get your hands on it! The chemistry between Killian O’Dea and Skylar Finch is off the charts HOT!!! I was consumed by this couple’s love story and nearly died from the sexual tension that built between them through the plot development.

Almost two years ago, Skylar Finch was one of the most famous American pop stars known around the world. No one would ever believe how far she would end up falling from grace. Once living the high life, wearing designer clothes and jet-setting around the globe, now she was living on the streets of Glasgow, with only her beloved guitar which was a gift from her mother and a few dollars to her name from busking. Skylar had dreamed of becoming famous with her band when she was a teenager but when her dreams came true, she found that the reality wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. She hated that every aspect of her life was no longer her own and had become fodder for the media. But it was a tragic incident that pushed her over the edge and resulted in her quitting the band and literally dropping off the face of the earth.

Skylar was falling on seriously hard times living on the streets of Glasgow. Ironically it would be a surly record executive who spotted her busking for money that would become her savior. The last thing Skylar wants is to get back into the record making business, but Killian is her only hope for getting off the streets and so she reluctantly agrees to sign a one-album deal with him.

There is seriously chemistry between them from the very start. Even when Skylar looked a sickly and grungy mess, it was easy to see that Killian was drawn to her. His need to protect her was intense and I couldn’t wait till these two finally got past their insecurities and apprehension and just gave into the passion instead!

Skylar and Killian live in a little bubble they created for a while but they know they won’t be able to shut out all the frenzy from the paparazzi once she comes out with her new album. Being in the spotlight is the last thing Skylar wants. Will Killian choose his career over what’s truly best for the woman he loves?

Here are my overall ratings

Hero: 5
Heroine: 4.5
Plot: 5
Angst: 4.5
Steam: 5
Chemistry Between Hero & Heroine: 5