Title: Her Heart’s Surrender

Author: Allison Merritt

Published by: Three Worlds Press

Date published: April 9, 2015

Genres: Historical

Book Length: 167 pages

Steam Rating: Steamy

Main Characters: Ealasaid & Hella

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“I adored this book. I loved the story line, the historical aspect of things, the romance, the challenges they faced and the ending left me hoping for a second book! (You can’t ask for more than that!)” ~Becca

After sneaking out with her brother, Eoghann, one night, Ealasaid discovers Viking ships sailing up the river to sack their home in Northumbria. They attempt to warn their father, but it’s too late and the Vikings slaughter or enslave all the inhabitants of Suibhne. In attempt to save her family, Ealasaid stabs a young Viking warrior, but her father is killed, her family scattered, and she’s taken to Solstad Hall where she serves as a thrall for the Viking king. Years later, the king’s son, Hella, ventures on many raids and to trading sites across Europe, but his desire is to set up a farm in Solstad with Ealasaid as the thrall in charge of his household. He tells her of his plan and they expression their passion for one another. When Hella petitions the king for her freedom, but is turned down and order to the Frankish lands in retaliation for raids on the Viking coastal villages. Ealasaid, aware the king would never free her, tells him that he should look for a brighter future across the sea, away from his father and resigns herself to be his slave for the remainder of her life.Called home to watch his father die, Hella is stunned when his father’s final command is that Hella must marry or the throne will go to his adopted brother. Furious with his father’s orders and worried about being left without lands or money, Hella looks to the thrall who’s always captured his attention—Ealasaid. Ealasaid harbors a secret—the single afternoon she spent in Hella’s arms resulted in a son, her treasure, her reason for living.

When it comes to Historical romance novels I am always skeptical. I just never know if I’m going to enjoy them or not…okay let me explain…

-I worry that the author will take the language too far and it be to a point where I have to use a glossary just to understand the page to page story. (So not cool…)

-I can’t help but compare the story line to what I know of actual history…

-The balance between time period accuracy and boring explanation is hard.

Those are the basic 3 reasons that I steer away from most historical romances. However, when I was approached about Her Heart’s Surrender something grabbed me and told me that this was a book I wanted to read. I’d like to say that it was the blurb…but while it did initially grab my attention and make me want to read the book, I was rather disappointed to realize that the blurb gives away way too much information about the story line. There aren’t many surprises left. I would rather see the blurb look something like this:

After sneaking out with her brother, Eoghann, one night, Ealasaid discovers Viking ships sailing up the river to sack their home in Northumbria. They attempt to warn their father, but it’s too late! Her father is killed, her family scattered, and she is taken to Solstad Hall where she serves s a thrall for the Viking king.

Years later, the king’s son, Hella, feels it is finally time to obtain that which he desires most; set up a farm in Solstad with Ealasaid as the thrall in charge of his household. After telling her of his plan and their expression of passion for one another things do not go as hoped.

Ealasaid harbors a secret — the single afternoon she spent in Hella’s arms resulted in a son, her treasure, her reason for living. But the king nor Hella must never know of her sons parentage.

Called home to watch his father die, Hella is stunned when his father’s final command is that Hella must marry or the throne will go to his adopted brother. Will his father’s demand lead to the life he has always desired? Or will it lead to disaster?

I’m not a blurb writer or whatever they are called, but I guess I just feel that the current blurb just gives away too much!

Allison’s writing style is unique and works so beautifully for a historical romance. The characters in Her Heart’s Surrender are each very well developed and I was easily able to relate to them even though they live in a different world than the reader. I understood why each decision was made and why things were handled the way that they were (Yep I know…vague..sorry no spoilers from me!), it all just made sense. As I read the book I was taken back in time and felt like I was a part of everything as it developed.

The relationship between Hella and Ealasaid was wonderful. While the beginning was a little lacking (I sort of wish there had been a little more sneaking around and hidden sweet moments…but I also get why there weren’t.), the relationship flowed well and made sense with the time period. 

I adored this book. I loved the story line, the historical aspect of things, the romance, the challenges they faced and the ending left me hoping for a second book! (You can’t ask for more than that!)

A life-long love of reading turned Allison Merritt into an indie author who writes historical, paranormal and fantasy romances, often combining the sub-genres. She lives in a small town in the Ozark Mountains with her husband and dogs. When she’s not writing or reading, she hikes in national parks and conservation areas.

Allison graduated from College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri with a B.A. in mass communications that’s gathering dust after it was determined that she’s better at writing fluff than hard news.

She serves as the newsletter editor during the 2013-2014 year for Ozarks Romance Authors in Springfield, Missouri and has been a member since 2009.

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Have you ever read a book and then wished the blurb hadn’t given quite so much away?

Title: The Baby Arrangement

Author: Samantha Chase

Series: Life, Love & Babies

Published by: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Date published: Feb. 10, 2014

Genres: Contemporary

Book Length: 76pages

Steam Rating: Steamy

Main Characters: Derek & Kayleigh

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“All I could do was focus on how wonderful the story was and how much I didn’t want to put the book down.”~Becca

What do you do when a baby is dropped on your doorstep and you’re not sure if the father is you or your wayward brother? If you’re Derek Sloan you freak out as your perfectly organized world suddenly becomes filled with chaos. With his brother nowhere to be found and fatherhood is suddenly thrust upon him, Derek is desperate for any help he can get.

What do you do when the man you’ve been crushing on suddenly has a need and you are the only one he wants to fill it? You do a little happy dance and pinch yourself to make sure you’re not dreaming! For five years Kayleigh Mitchell has longed for her boss to notice her and now that he has, she can only hope that he’ll come to see her as more than a temporary solution to his problem, but someone that he wants around for the long haul.

This is a Valentine’s Day SHORT STORY of approximately 27,000 words

Alright, I will admit it….

The Baby Arrangement is predictable…

it is an extremely quick read…

and yep…you got me…it is a bit cheesy!

Want to know something else that it is!?!

IT IS ABSO-FREAKING-LUTELY AWESOME!!

Hehe, this story had me giggling, ooohing, aaahhhing and crying! As I read I honestly didn’t even care about any of the things I listed above! All I could do was focus on how wonderful the story was and how much I didn’t want to put the book down.

For such a short story, Samantha really did an amazing job of character and plot development. Nothing felt rushed or skimped on.

While the story line has been done a dozen times at least, it hasn’t been done quite like this. The crazy and unexpected occurrences were a welcome distraction from the slightly predictable plot line.

To put it mildly, The Baby Arrangement is short, sweet and an epic romance. I highly recommend it and cannot wait to dig into the next book in the series!!

New York Times and USA Today Bestseller/contemporary romance writer Samantha Chase released her debut novel, Jordan’s Return, in November 2011. Although she waited until she was in her 40’s to publish for the first time, writing has been a lifelong passion. Her motivation to take that step was her students: teaching creative writing to elementary age students all the way up through high school and encouraging those students to follow their writing dreams gave Samantha the confidence to take that step as well.

When she’s not working on a new story, she spends her time reading contemporary romances, playing way too many games of Scrabble or Solitaire on Facebook and spending time with her husband of 25 years and their two sons in North Carolina.

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Don’t you just love running across a book that makes you forget you’ve read the story line before?

Title: Falling for Fitz

Author: Katy Regnery

Series: English Brothers

Published by: Indie

Date published: July 27, 2014

Genres: Contemporary

Book Length: 166 pages

Steam Rating: Steamy

Main Characters: Fitz & Daisy

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“The witty banter, epic second chance romance, and the sweet gestures were just perfect when mixed with Katy’s superb writing style!”~Becca

“Falling for Fitz” is the second of six books about the Philadelphia-based, wildly-handsome English brothers who are absolutely not on the look-out for love.

(Except Barrett, who fell in love when he was eight-years-old. And Fitz, who met the girl of his dreams at nineteen. And maybe even Weston, who just doesn’t know it yet.

Fitz English and Daisy Edwards fell in love during one magical summer when they were teenagers. When something tragic happens at the end of the summer, Daisy tells Fitz she never wants to see him again. Despite his feelings for her, he respects her wishes and for almost a decade Fitz and Daisy go their separate ways.

Almost ten years later, when Daisy moves home to Philadelphia, they meet again, and both are shocked to discover that the feelings they had that summer are just as deep and real today. There’s a little snag, however. It seems that Daisy is engaged to someone else, and she’s come home to get married.

Can Fitz get Daisy to fall for him all over again before it’s too late? Only if Daisy can learn to trust the man who shattered her heart once upon a time.

From book one in this series I was hooked on Katy Regnery’s writing and couldn’t wait to get started on book 2! I mean come on…who doesn’t want a little Fitz??

I adore a second chance romance book! Something about them just really make me grin and giggle and I can never get enough!

To make this book even more to die for and addictive Katy added in the fun aspect of the main character being such a serious non-rule breaker…except around Daisy of course! Watching as Fitz let loose and showed more of a laid back romantic side was just awesome!

The break up between these two (the first go round) was epic and life changing. Who would have thought that uptight Fitz was capable of such things. What an awful thing for both of them to have to go through!! I definitely teared up quite a bit while reading about their summer romance.

We learn rather quickly that both Fitz and Daisy both use one another as their “measuring stick” when it came to relationships…both miss the other terribly…. and both regret their decisions during that summer.

Needless to say that this book is impeccably written and just as great as Breaking Up With Barrett. The witty banter, epic second chance romance, and the sweet gestures were just perfect when mixed with Katy’s superb writing style! I adore the fact that we get glimpses of Emily and Barrett. I am always thrilled when I get to read a book about a new couple while keeping up with the others  

Trust me when I say that this book, this series, is one that you will not want to, nor be able to, put down!

Katy Regnery, award-winning and Amazon bestselling author, started her writing career by enrolling in a short story class in January 2012. One year later, she signed her first contract for a winter romance entitled By Proxy.

Now a hybrid author who publishes both independently and traditionally, Katy claims authorship of the six-book Heart of Montana series, the six-book English Brothers series, and a Kindle Worlds novella entitled “Four Weddings and a Fiasco: The Wedding Date,” in addition to the standalone novels, Playing for Love at Deep Haven and Amazon bestseller, The Vixen and the Vet.

The Vixen and the Vet is included in the charity anthology Hometown Heroes: Hotter Ever After, and Katy’s novella “Frosted” will appear in the upcoming (Jan ’15) anthology, Snowy Days Steamy Nights. Additionally, Katy’s short story, “The Long Way Home” will appear in the first RWA anthology (Feb ’15), Premiere.

Katy lives in the relative wilds of northern Fairfield County, Connecticut, where her writing room looks out at the woods, and her husband, two young children, and two dogs create just enough cheerful chaos to remind her that the very best love stories begin at home.

Katy LOVES connecting with her readers and answers every e-mail, message, tweet and post personally!

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How do you feel about a second chance romance?

Title: Stud Unleashed: Barry

Author: Kylie Gilmore

Series: Clover Park

Published by: Extra Fancy Books

Date published: Feb. 24, 2015

Genres: Contemporary

Book Length: 320 pages

Steam Rating: Steamy

Main Characters: Barry & Amber

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“As usual, Kylie’s writing is way, way, way above par! Her writing style is amazing! It grabs the reader and drags them in…even if you weren’t ready for it!”~Becca

Each book in the Clover Park STUDS Series can be read as a stand-alone novel, or for more fun read them in order. Characters you’ve loved from past books frequently pop up in other books.

Successful, not-so-great-with-the-ladies, and all around nice guy Barry Furnukle can’t believe his luck when Amber Lewis agrees to date him. But when his attempt to woo her with the world’s most “awesome” date (birding and fro-yo) lands him in the friend zone, he wonders if a guy like him ever had a chance.

On advice from his ladies’ man brother, Barry returns to his acting roots for a little confidence rehab. Suddenly he’s got more female attention than he knows what to do with. But will his new found popularity make him happy? Or will he finally release his inner stud to win the woman he can’t forget?

The Clover Park STUDS Series

Book 1: Stud Unleashed: The Prequel* (Barry & Amber meet)

Book 2: Stud Unleashed: Barry (Barry & Amber in love)

Book 3: Stud Unleashed: Dave

Book 4: Stud Unleashed: Will 

*Sign up for my newsletter at kyliegilmore.com to read Stud Unleashed: The Prequel for FREE.

Stud Unleashed: Barry was ALMOST a 5 for me….soooo very close that I almost said screw it and gave it the 5…but then the things that I didn’t like kept poking at me saying “nuhuhuh…you always say you’ll give an honest accurate review of your thoughts….” so it gets a 4…sorry!

I know that Barry has gotten some pretty amazing reviews on Goodreads already and I can’t blame them! Barry the dancing cow that can’t say probiotics properly is one sexy man!

Let’s start off with what I LOVED about this book

As usual, Kylie’s writing is way, way, way above par! Her writing style is amazing! It grabs the reader and drags them in…even if you weren’t ready for it! Amber and Barry’s relationship is amazing. It’s fun, witty, and so real that I couldn’t help but keep reading…and reading…and reading until my husband looked at me and asked “Are you ever going to put that book down and sleep??”

Umm…clearly I wasn’t! I sat up and read this book in one sitting! It totally rocked!!

The story line is just awesome, the characters are beautifully developed, and don’t even get me started on how perfect the romance is written! Everything flows so wonderfully and I just cannot get over how amazing Barry is! Barry is sweet, goofy, sexy and best of all (in my opinion…but I did marry an IT nerd lol) a bit nerdy! I’m not sure how anyone could NOT fall in love with him! Even though he does talk about his 6 pack abs and 2 pack butt A LOT! (Okay so this drove me absolutely nutty…I know he didn’t say it out loud all that much…but the man thought the exact same words over and over and over until I was about ready to break his DVD…which I probably should get a copy of lol)

Amber is one adorable, sexy bad ass artist with a sweet side. When her new next door neighbor develops into a friendship that she didn’t realize she needed until now, she gets scared when she has thoughts about him that aren’t quite friendly. Things are definitely escalated when Barry kisses her and it rocks her world! (Though the washing machine could have something to do with that right?)

After not one, but two dates that end in disaster Amber decides that enough is enough and they totally should stick to just being friends…if only Barry would give up as well!

When Barry lands a role in a local play that Amber is working on the set…lets just say that things get interesting!

So what didn’t I like about the book?

I’ve already mentioned the fact that Barry loves to think about his abs and butt…and it annoyed me greatly!

But there is a bit more that kept Stud Unleashed from being a 5 for me.

Let’s talk about how he likes to ‘hold her’ when they are together. Not just when they have sex…nope he likes to reach down, insert his fingers and ‘hold her’ whenever he gets the chance….

Umm..sorry but nope…not sexy to me…just sort of weird!

I even read a few instances of this happening to my hubs to see if it was just me…and nope…he thought it was creepy too!

Soo….Mr. Sexy Geek Dancing Cow Man…stop sitting around randomly with your fingers in your girl!!

Also…I was really upset with the way that Amber treated Barry…even when they were just friends! If she can’t accept all of him then she doesn’t deserve him! I mean really, making him take off the magnets from his car and telling him he can’t ever use the Moo button when she is in it. That’s just silly! She knew who she was getting with to begin with! Don’t try to change him!

As you can see…my reasons for Stud Unleashed: Barry not being a 5 have nothing to do with the writing…because come on…we all know that Kylie is one damn fine author! The story just had some quirks that ‘weren’t for me’ I guess you could say. 

If you are looking for a great read with a geeky romance then this is definitely the book for you! I know that I will most certainly be getting the rest of the books in the series!!

So head on over to Amazon and pick up your copy now!!

Kylie Gilmore was lucky enough to discover romance novels at a young age as they were strewn all over the house (thanks, Mom!). She writes quirky, tender romance with a solid dose of humor. Her Clover Park series features the O’Hare brothers, three guys you’d definitely have a drink with and maybe a little more. The Clover Park STUDS series unleashes three adorable studs into the world—Barry, Dave, and Will. Look out, ladies!

Kylie lives in New York with her family, two cats, and a nutso dog. When she’s not writing, wrangling kids, or dutifully taking notes at writing conferences, you can find her flexing her muscles all the way to the high cabinet for her secret chocolate stash.

Find out more about Kylie and upcoming books at www.kyliegilmore.com. Sign up for my newsletter to hear about new releases, exclusive excerpts, and subscriber-only giveaways.

What would you do if everything you did seemed to come off wrong? What if you were considered the town “goof”?

Title: My Last

Author: Melanie Shawn

Series: Crossroads

Published by: Red Hot Reads

Date published: July 28, 2013

Genres: Contemporary

Book Length: 259 pages

Steam Rating: Steamy

Main Characters: Riley & Chelle

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“I found myself paying close attention to the background characters constantly wondering who I would get to read about next…who will fall for who and how will it happen. By the end of this book I had come up with all sorts of love connections that should happen…I even have something in my head for Grandpa J! Lol” ~Becca

He was the bad boy…

After twelve years in the Marines Special Forces Riley Sloan is more than ready to start his new civilian life. No one to answer to. No one depending on him. No more dangerous rescues…he thought. After receiving a distress call he is sent on a recon mission to check on the one girl that is completely off limits and the only girl that ever made him question his loyalty. His best friend’s little sister. She is the last girl he should want…but the only one he does. This could end up being the riskiest operation of his life.

She was the good girl…

Rachelle Thomas wouldn’t hurt a fly. She is honest, kind and always sees the best in people. So she is completely blindsided when her fiancé dumps her for his pregnant 18 year old secretary. Confused and heartbroken she decides to head out of town to regroup. When her attempt to hide from the world worries her friends and family they send out a search party of one, Riley Sloan. Her brother’s best friend and the star of all of her teenage (and adult) fantasies. She knows wanting him is wrong but she is tired of always doing the “right thing”…especially when Riley made the “wrong thing” feel so right.

Soo…book 1 (My First) ended…needless to say that I was pumped and ready for book 2! I mean come on…Jason and Katie’s story was just SOOOO good, how could I not want to read more?

My Last focuses on Riley and Chelle. While we met Chelle a bit in book one, we never really got much on Riley…other than the fact that he is Marine and has been away for a really long time. Chelle is the sweet good girl that everyone loves…and Riley is the bad boy that no one knows anymore. I think my one issue with this story was that it was extremely sweet. I think what I’m trying to say is that there wasn’t any big suspense or issue that they had to deal with other than Riley deciding to stay or not…

Not that being sweet is a bad thing. I mean, I adored this story and think that it is really well written. It just felt like there was something missing…something that would have made me worry for the characters…bite my nails as I turned the page…that sort of thing. (Now there is a bit of a twist near the very end…but still not really a nail biter.)

Now, lets talk about the story a bit. Basically, if you’ve read a best friends little sister book…the story line is sort of predictable on that front. However, Melanie Shawn manages to work in fun little things that do make it unique and totally worth reading. Honestly, I couldn’t put it down. While My Last doesn’t come close to the amount of love I have for My First, it was definitely an awesome read!

I was disappointed in Chelle’s big brother Eddie though. That man was pretty freaking rude about things…I mean come on! You haven’t seen him in 12 years and you expect him to be exactly the same as he was as a teenager? Not fair man…not fair at all! Riley is a total sweet heart alpha male and I adored reading about him. 

Each of the characters was, yet again, extremely well developed and absolutely addictive! I found myself paying close attention to the background characters constantly wondering who I would get to read about next…who will fall for who and how will it happen. By the end of this book I had come up with all sorts of love connections that should happen…I even have something in my head for Grandpa J! Lol

The romance is adorably sweet and absolutely magical. These two together left me in tears and had me crossing every known appendage that they would figure out a way to make their love work…I mean come on! Riley and Chelle are totally MFEO material!!

Anyways…over all this was an excellent read. Not my favorite ever…but definitely worth picking up! So pop on over to Amazon and give it  a go!

Melanie Shawn is the writing team of sister duo Melanie and Shawna. Originally from Northern California, they both migrated south and now call So Cal their home.

Growing up, Melanie constantly had her head in a book and was always working on short stories, manuscripts, plays and poetry. After graduating magna cum laude from Pepperdine University, she went on to teach grades 2nd through 8th for five years. She now spends her days writing and taking care of her furry baby, a Lhasa Apso named Hercules. In her free time, her favorite activity is to curl up on the couch with that stubborn, funny mutt and binge-watch cable TV shows on DVD (preferably of at least eight seasons in length – a girl’s gotta have her standards!).

Shawna always loved romance in any form – movie, song or literary. If it was a love story with a happy ending, Shawna was all about it! She proudly acknowledges that she is a romanceaholic. Her days are jam-packed with writing, being a wife, mom aka referee of two teens, and indulging in her second passion (dance!) as a Zumba instructor. In the little free time she has, she joins Melanie in marathon-watching DVDs of their favorite TV programs.

They have joined forces to create a world where True Love and Happily Ever After always has a Sexy Twist!

What would you do if the guy you have been secretly in love with your ENTIRE life popped up in your bedroom?!?

Title: Eight Inches to Make Johnny Smile

Author: Claire Davis & Al Stewart

Published by: Beaten Track Publishing

Date published: Feb. 1, 2015

Genres: Contemporary, LGBT

Book Length: 40 pages

Steam Rating: Steamy

Main Characters: Mat & Johnny

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“Claire and Al’s writing style definitely leaves a deep impact on the reader. Their words drag the reader into a world that is so real that it’s difficult to remember that you are reading about a make-believe world.” ~Becca

New job, new flat, new man?

Shy Mat finally gets a chance to break free from his parents and strike out on his own. But joining the local diet club, Weight Fighters, and hopping on the scales takes everything he has; does he have enough left in him to stick to his diet and act on his feelings for gorgeous Johnny who runs the group?

Flirty Johnny has staying power as far as diets are concerned, and all he wants is to win the Valentine’s Challenge. But meeting Mat changes everything. Can Johnny find the staying power to battle his own demons and get what he realises he really wants – to win Mat’s heart?

Eight Inches to Make Johnny Smile was quite a wake up call for me. I realized how tired I am of reading those ‘perfect’ characters that just don’t represent the reality of who or what people are. Books often show these women that think they are fat…but are a damn size 6…sorry honey that’s not fat! That’s normal! Since when does a woman have to be a size 2 to be pretty?

Ugh! Okay sorry so I’m rambling!

This book quickly sent me back to my childhood issues that effect me to this day. I grew up with a small built mom and a sister that never weighed more than 100lbs. I wasn’t big…I was normal. But a few people that were important to my emotional growth (Not going to name them sorry.) screwed me up something awful. They would force me to eat until my plate was clean (always more food than I needed) and then shove diet pills down my throat and tell me how I should work out more..or watch what I ate. To make things fun…I was only about 12 when this crap started…and I wonder why I still can’t look in a mirror and see myself as beautiful. To this day I see only my imperfections…I see someone that is majorly over weight…when I’m not!

I have never wanted to GUT PUNCH a character as badly as I did Mat’s parents! Oh my gosh…can you say jerks! I mean really…who in the hell treats their kid that way! I don’t care how old they are…it will never be okay!

Okay…so lets see if I can get off of my crap and back onto the review huh?

Moving past the impact the book had on me, which was a good thing in case you were curious, I want to touch on the characters themselves.

Mat is a really sweet computer geek with weight issues that no one lets him live down. When he gets his own flat and a new job (where his coworkers are jerks) he decides to try something new to lose the weight. Joining a group was the last thing he expected to work…but he’s willing to give it a try.

Johnny is the groups leader and motivator. He has lost a ton of weight and is looking awesome…even if he does still wear the baggy clothes from his past. (I could say more but don’t want to spoil it.)

When Mat and Johnny meet lets just say that things get seriously interesting! I adore these two and their romance panned out beautifully. Everything was well planned, well worded and expertly developed.

Claire and Al’s writing style definitely leaves a deep impact on the reader. Their words drag the reader into a world that is so real that it’s difficult to remember that you are reading about a make-believe world. The message within this story is an important one for everyone in my opinion. To get an insight into the life of someone that is doing everything that they can to lose weight….and the people around him just laughing and throwing around painful words and actions…if you can read this and not be moved in some way…well I’d be surprised!

Want to know the only negative thing that I can say about this book? 

It ended too soon!! I wanted to know so much more about the characters…

Not just Mat and Johnny…but there is a lot I want to know about them and their relationship as well. For instance I want to know if they reach their goals, where does their relationship go…oh so many things! I also want to know about Mary and Shelley and that jerk Simon!

Each and every character is so well developed that I quickly became attached and wanted to know what made them tick. Yep…for a 40 page book…this one packs a punch that leaves the reader wanting more!

So, if you haven’t already figured it out…I highly recommend this book and think you should head on over and one-click that bad boy!

Claire Davis and Al Stewart are best friends and writing partners. They like to challenge themselves by exploring the darker side of humans, and by finding compassion and beauty even in the most desolate of places. 

Al sometimes describes himself as a mixture of Darth Vadar and the tooth fairy, while Claire is less grounded. Al has led an unconventional life, and experienced all of the events he writes about.  Above all, they believe in the power of magic and good manners.

Do you prefer the ‘perfect’ characters or the ones that represent real life?

Title: Checking Him Out For the Holidays

Author: Debbie McGowan

Series: Checking Him Out

Published by: Beaten Track Pub.

Date published: Dec. 21, 2014

Genres: Contemporary, LGBT

Book Length: 75 pages

Steam Rating: Steamy

Main Characters: Sol & Adam

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“I enjoyed the easy going plot line (which had a few small and quickly resolved twists thrown in), the steamy and sweet romance and the holiday fun that mixed together in this story. Thanks for giving me a chance to fall in love with Sol and Adam Debbie!!” ~Becca

Freelance engineer Sol Brooks doesn’t do the festive season. He thinks it’s boring and overly sentimental. With the rest of the household laid up with ‘the flu’, Sol’s planned on using the time to crack on with some work.

His mother, however, has other ideas.

And so does Sol’s husband, Adam.

A stand-alone holiday special featuring Sol and Adam from Checking Him Out.

Woohoo…Sol and Adam are back…and like I said in my last review, I’m willing to give them a fighting chance to win me over!

I’m excited to say that I didn’t have to cringe and bite my tongue in this one….there is NO CHEATING! Yay for that!

Another really awesome thing is that Elise is finally not being a massive bitch! From the looks of things she is actually being a pretty decent human being and a relatively good friend. I was very happy to see this. I loved that she got a small part in this book and we got to see that maybe she isn’t as bad as we originally thought her to be. Fingers crossed she gets her own book soon and we can find out just what makes her tick and hopefully I will fully adore her instead of standing on the edge.

So on to the main characters…our sexy alpha men: Sol and Adam!

Again, you wouldn’t think that this would work. Two alpha guys together? Umm…that’s a recipe for disaster! But somehow these two make it work. Yep, the butt heads and have issues…but overall they have a solid relationship.

Both guys really stepped it up a notch in Checking Him Out For the Holidays. Neither is overly whiny or needy, even when they are sick! There is a decent amount going on in this relatively short novella, however, at the same time…nothing really happens. lol

This isn’t exactly a bad thing…just a relatively non-eventful book. I read it in about an hour or so and actually enjoyed it quite a bit. I liked that the book wasn’t over flowing with action and suspense. I got to focus on the characters and who they are. It really helped me to understand more about book one in the series and get a better handle on why they behave the way that they do. I liked that the story focused solely on their romance and not on so many different struggles. The only real ‘issue’ that pops up is that Sol doesn’t ‘do’ celebrations and his and Adam’s families are coming down for Christmas/Hanukkah.

The sex in this book is pretty steamy! There were a few scenes that left me with my jaw on the floor with my Kindle in my hand wondering what in the world I just read (I guess it’s just me but there is one part that honestly I just couldn’t ever imagine doing or having done to me…but everyone has their thing right?) and then there were scenes that were so sweet and perfect that I couldn’t put it down! Trust me…no matter what your preference sex wise…there is something in here that you will enjoy reading! Sol and Adam pretty much cover it ALL in this one!

I thought it was a really sweet story and thoroughly enjoyed learning more about Matty. I honestly have my fingers crossed for a book that focuses on him as well. I think he could make for an extremely intense and interesting story if written properly.

Overall, this book is a solid 4 deep breaths for me. I enjoyed the easy going plot line (which had a few small and quickly resolved twists thrown in), the steamy and sweet romance and the holiday fun that mixed together in this story. Thanks for giving me a chance to fall in love with Sol and Adam Debbie!!

So there you have it…head on over to Amazon and check it out!

Author, publisher, social scientist. Debbie’s academic specialism is gender and sexual politics and identity, so you can expect this to crop up now and then in her writing too! Not in an “in your face” kind of way – subtlety wins hearts and minds.

She lives in Lancashire, UK, with family and rescued dogs. It’s green and pleasant, and they get long, long, lovely perfumed days in late spring / early summer. Her favourite place in the world is Watergate Bay, Cornwall, but she hasn’t traveled much. The most amazing thing she has ever experienced is the call to prayer at 11 p.m. on a terrace in Istanbul. Goosebumps+ and she’s an atheist!

She writes character-based/driven fiction – mostly general/contemporary, some (M/M & F/M) romance and a bit of sci-fi fantasy (light). Basically, she writes about life. She’s written a few stand alone novels and short stories, but her main work is the Hiding Behind The Couch series, which these days she referring to as a literary soap opera. Each novel/novella concludes, but there are always a few loose ends to be picked up and threaded on to the next instalment. There are longer threads and shorter threads.

Connect with Debbie McGowan

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How do you feel about holiday books? Love them or hate them…or just plain addicted?

Title: Charlotte’s Bed

Author: S.J. Stava

Published by: Indie

Date published: Nov. 27, 2014

Genres: Contemporary

Book Length: 291 pages

Steam Rating: Steamy

Main Characters: Charlotte & Mason

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“I am so very happy that I put my biased thoughts aside and gave Charlotte’s Bed a fighting chance. The story is fun and humorous, with just a touch of deepness that makes you crave more.” ~Becca

How do you choose between the life you’ve always imagined and the love you’ve suddenly discovered?

At thirty, Charlotte is sick of the single life. Sick of online matchmaking, sick of bad first (AND second) dates, and sick of the dreaded “I can’t believe you’re not married yet!” pitying stares. So when her boyfriend proposes – who just happens to be a Dean at the university where she works – she’s thrilled to bid her singledom adieu. At the start of the new semester, she seems to have it all: a great job, great friends, and now. . . a great fiancé.

So what’s the catch? An annoyingly handsome new teaching assistant and the opportunity to direct the school’s fall production. Still can’t see the downside? Neither can Charlotte until suddenly, what she thought she wanted, might not be enough anymore.

With wit and humor, Charlotte’s Bed explores what happens when your heart interferes with your head.

In all honesty…I had to set my own beliefs and feelings towards cheating aside and read this book without bias. Not always an easy thing to do! So…once I got past the cheating and made myself focus on the story and how well the book was written…well…the only way to explain it is…

I WAS HOOKED! I didn’t want to put it down…I would get to the end of a chapter and think ‘okay, now I can go to sleep’ and then add on ‘well, I really want to know what happens…so one more chapter won’t hurt right?’

Charlotte is such a strong character. It was difficult to watch her being walked all over by Richard. Don’t get me wrong, I totally understand why she felt that he was the ‘right’ choice. But sometimes we have to remember that the ‘right’ choice may not actually be the best choice for us.

Charlotte’s Bed is a quick read with an amazingly new plot line. While I have read books with similar plot lines in the past…nothing has come close to this one! The way that S.J. writes really pulls you in as a reader and makes you want to be a part of the story. I was cringing and crying and shaking during so many parts of this book. I just knew that things weren’t going to end well and I cared for the characters so deeply that I wanted things to have an HEA. 

I think what made it possible for me to enjoy this book and connect with the characters so completely was the angst, the confliction, the honesty, the confusion. Charlotte didn’t take what she was doing lightly. She knew what she was doing was wrong…she wasn’t doing it to get Richard’s attention or to feel wanted or special. She didn’t even go into it expecting the outcome that she got. The huge differences between Richard and Mason made her situation just that much more real. 

I was surprised by the depth of emotion and self-exploration that this book evoked. Reading about Charlotte’s struggle with her choices and where she wanted her life to go made me think back to when I had to make similar decisions. While mine didn’t involve a guy…it still made me feel that much more connected to the story and characters.

Character development was back and forth for me. I felt that Charlotte’s character was very well rounded and I learned so very much about her. On the other hand, Mason and Richard’s character development was rather lacking. I kept finding myself wishing for some more insight into Mason’s character. Possibly a scene or two from his POV. 

I am so very happy that I put my biased thoughts aside and gave Charlotte’s Bed a fighting chance. The story is fun and humorous, with just a touch of deepness that makes you crave more. The writing style is amazing and addictive. I will definitely be looking for more from S.J. in the future! 

S.J. Stava is a young, new author who knows that “chick lit” can be smart, funny, and provocative and aims to prove it.

She has loved to read for as long as she can remember. Most childhood summers were spent schlepping to and from the local library with shopping bags full of books. Her passion for books led her to study literature at UCSB, where she graduated with her B.A. in English. After working in a plethora of different careers – from wedding planning to market research to fundraising – she’s never stopped reading…or writing.

Having spent time dallying in ghostwriting, she got bit by the bug and decided to publish her very own book, Charlotte’s Bed, under her very own name.

Connect with S.J. Stava

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Have you ever read a book that you didn’t expect to fall quite so in love with?

Title: Taking You

Author: Jessie Evans

Series: Always A Bridesmaid

Published by: Self Taught Ninja

Date published: Dec. 11, 2013

Genres: Contemporary

Book Length: 84 pages

Steam Rating: Steamy

Main Characters: Lark, Mason, Aria, Nash, Melody & Nick + Nana!

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“Taking You lets us get a glimpse into the lives of all of our favorite characters from the Always a Bridesmaid series. I absolutely died laughing over the addition of Nana’s voice in this book!” ~Becca

A Summerville Novella
Always a Bridesmaid Book 5

Weddings, engagements, and babies, oh my…

It’s the eve of Lark and Mason’s wedding, and Lark has a secret she’s been hiding from everyone, even her husband-to-be. Melody and Nick make a choice that will change their lives, and Aria and Nash learn that sometimes love doesn’t go according to plan.

Join all your favorite characters as well as a new, surprise couple, in the heart-warming conclusion to the “Always a Bridesmaid” series.

Perfection til the end!

Taking You lets us get a glimpse into the lives of all of our favorite characters from the Always a Bridesmaid series. I absolutely died laughing over the addition of Nana’s voice in this book! Oh my gosh…she is just insanely awesome! I thought it gave the book a really awesome and unexpected twist

I was so very happy to get to hear from everyone that I have come to love in this series and learn about the exciting things that are going on in their lives. For such a short story this book is totally packed with romance, laughter, surprises and love!

We get to see how everyone’s HEA is working out and get a glimpse into what may be coming in their futures. I think the only thing I didn’t like about this book is that it is supposed to be the last one in the series…that is so totally not cool! Come on Jessie…you know you want to write some more about these guys! I know Fire and Icing touches on them as well…but after reading those books I’m still dying for more!

Both the Fire and Icing series as well as all of the books in the Always a Bridesmaid series are extremely high on my recommended list! These books are all amazingly quick and definitely awesome reads that you will not want to miss out on!

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Jessie Evans, gave up a career as an international woman of mystery to write the sexy, contemporary romances she loves to read.

She’s married to the man of her dreams, and together they’re raising a few adorable, mischievous children in a cottage in the jungle. She grew up in rural Arkansas, spending summers running wild, being chewed by chiggers, and now appreciates her home in a chigger-free part of the world even more.

When she’s not writing, Jessie enjoys playing her dulcimer (badly), sewing the worlds ugliest quilts to give to her friends, going for bike rides with her house full of boys, and drifting in and out on the waves, feeling thankful for sun, surf, and lovely people to share them with.

Connect with Jessie Evans

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Have you ever been so addicted to a series that you cried when it ended?

Title: Catching You

Author: Jessie Evans

Series: Always A Bridesmaid

Published by: Self Taught Ninja

Date published: Dec. 10, 2013

Genres: Contemporary

Book Length: 50 pages

Steam Rating: Steamy

Main Characters: John & Kitty

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“Catching You is short and sweet with a romance to die for! I spent pretty much this entire book with a huge grin on my face and a smile in my heart. I highly recommend not only this book but the entire series!” ~Becca

A Summerville Short Story
Always a Bridesmaid Book 4

A bad case of the love bug…

John O’Grady has been making a reputation for himself as a player since returning to Summerville. The former geek turned sexy tattoo artist has been loving the single life, bringing home a new girl every weekend. That is, until he meets Kitty, and catches a bad case of the love bug. Too bad Kitty seems to be immune to his infamous charm…

Kitty Nance is convinced she’s cursed. It’s been over a year since she’s made it past date three with a guy, and she’s begun to think she’ll never meet Mr. Right Now, let alone Mr. Right. Jonn O’Grady seems like a great guy, but she’s not going to risk her heart until he’s proved he’s ready for more than a fling.

John agrees to three tests, and the couple set out on a day of adventure to see if they’re mismatched or meant to be.

I really enjoyed Catching You. John and Kitty are both super characters that kept me begging for more. I’m not typically a huge fan of novellas…I just feel that things are rushed and not nearly as much fun. I am always left with that feeling that something is missing…

However, Jessie Evans has a way of writing novellas that makes me forget that the book is short. Things are far from rushed and so well developed and detailed that there is nothing left for me to question…that is unless there is supposed to be a cliffie at the end.

Jessie’s writing style is so addictive that I am already drooling for the next book before I finish the one I’m reading. I keep finding myself trying to figure out who gets a story next. Which characters that met do I get to hear from! It’s exciting and I love it! I am definitely an official Jessie Evan’s junkie!

Catching You is short and sweet with a romance to die for! I spent pretty much this entire book with a huge grin on my face and a smile in my heart. I highly recommend not only this book but the entire series!

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Jessie Evans, gave up a career as an international woman of mystery to write the sexy, contemporary romances she loves to read.

She’s married to the man of her dreams, and together they’re raising a few adorable, mischievous children in a cottage in the jungle. She grew up in rural Arkansas, spending summers running wild, being chewed by chiggers, and now appreciates her home in a chigger-free part of the world even more.

When she’s not writing, Jessie enjoys playing her dulcimer (badly), sewing the worlds ugliest quilts to give to her friends, going for bike rides with her house full of boys, and drifting in and out on the waves, feeling thankful for sun, surf, and lovely people to share them with.

Connect with Jessie Evans

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Newsletter

What are your thoughts towards novellas? Love ’em or hate ’em?