ARC Book review: Truly (New York #1) by Ruthie Knox

Available now!
ARC ebook provided by publisher through Netgalley

May Fredericks hates New York. Which is fair enough, since New York seems to hate her back. Just weeks after moving from Wisconsin to Manhattan, she receives the world's worst marriage proposal, stabs her boyfriend with a shrimp fork in a very public venue, and accidentally becomes notorious. And that’s before she gets mugged.

At her wit's end, May washes up at a Packers bar in Greenwich Village, where she meets a surly, unhelpful guy who hates her shoes and calls her ex a douche.

His name is Ben. He used to be a chef. Now he's a rooftop beekeeper with anger management issues. She wouldn't even like him, but he reminds her of home … and he knows where to find all the best food in the Village.

She makes him laugh. He buys her tacos and cowboy boots. The longer they’re stuck together, the better May and Ben get along … and the harder they fall. TRULY is a quirky, modern New York love story unlike any you've read before.

This book is so much more than a romance. I wasn't sure i would like it at first but as i read on i became more and more engrossed. This story wasn't one of those that you can see what's coming and as i read a long it became clear this was  going to be a bit more complicated than a simple read. Both May and Ben are these widely different people but somehow they fit. Both have perceptions of themselves that aren't what they really are and it takes them a long while to see it and to confront it and move on from it.  Ben is a Beekeeper when May meets him. He appears simple and maybe a little poor but in reality he's stuck in limbo with his life right now. He's actually a divorced world class chef with anger problems but has plenty of money.Right now he is living simply and actually staying in a friends apartment. May doesn't know this at first. May, well Ben could see what happened to May and her Pro Football fiance on social media or the news. She meets Ben after being mugged and wandering into a bar with her last five bucks. May doesn't think she's beautiful and thinks she's kind of dull. She's never felt like she fit in anywhere in her whole life and but in reality she's kept her real self hidden.  This is a wonderful story with hot sex scenes and plenty of laughs and perhaps a lesson or two about life. Loved it so much. I hated to see it end. Ruthie Knox really went above and beyond on this one.

Find out more about this book and Ruthie Knox here www.ruthieknox.com

ARC Book review: No Limits (Ultimate #1) by Lori Foster

Available August 26th!
eARC provided by publisher through Netgalley

A surprise inheritance reunites a mixed martial arts fighter with the woman he's never forgotten in the first in a smoldering new series from New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster… 

Cannon Colter is quintessential hero material: chiseled jawline, shredded body—the works. He's also the guy who rescued Yvette Sweeny from kidnappers, only to put an end to her romantic dreams. These days, she's older, smarter, determined to face whatever life throws her way. Even the prospect of sharing a house and business with Cannon. 

Cannon knew Yvette wanted him three years ago. But she was young—and some things are worth waiting for. Thrown together by her grandfather's legacy, he realizes how deep Yvette's scars really go, and how much danger lurks in their quiet town. As pent-up desire explodes between them, protecting her becomes the only fight that matters. And he'll break all the rules to do it…


This is the beginning of a brand new series by Lori Foster. She's bringing back her MMA writing skills and also bringing back some character's from her previous series of MMA fighters. This one starts out with Cannon Colter and Yvette Sweeney. Fans of Lori Foster might know these character's from her Love undercover series. In this book we learn that Cannon is still running the rec center for kids along with the help of some other MMA fighter's. In the novella that came out before this book we met them briefly but they get more page time here. Cannon is a rising star in the MMA fighting world. Well known by man with tons of fans. Yvette has been living in California trying to forget what happened to her years ago in her hometown and move on but when she has to go back to Ohio to settle her grandfather's estate after his death she comes face to face with Cannon.  Cannon has never forgotten Yvette and now that she's older and more mature he's ready to claim her now. First he's got to convince her she's worth loving and she can be happy. Throw in a crazy ex-boyfriend stalking her and Yvette opening a new shop with the MMA boys chipping in and it's crazy, intense and hot. Cannon feels like this big protective sweet guy when it comes to Yvette but still a hard kick ass fighter who protects the innocent people in his neighborhood. How can you not just love a guy like that. Yvette is sweet and fierce and strong even if at first she doesn't see that in herself.  Cannon slowly helps her to see that she is that even more.  Lot's of fun surprises in this book. You definitely need a few hours of free time before starting this one! Loved from beginning to end! 

Find out more about this book and the other related books on Lori Foster's website www.lorifoster.com

ARC Book review: Expose Me (Fifth Avenue Trilogy #3) by Kate Hewitt

Available now!
eARC provided by the publisher through Netgalley

The third and final step to revenge in the fifth avenue trilogy. Alex has the power…

TEN YEARS AGO ONE DEVASTATING NIGHT CHANGED EVERYTHING FOR AUSTIN, HUNTER AND ALEX. NOW THEY MUST EACH PLAY THEIR PART IN THE REVENGE AGAINST THE ONE MAN WHO RUINED IT ALL.

With ruthless determination, Alex Diaz has risen up from his deprived roots to become the head of a global media empire. But he has one last thing to achieve…avenge his friend by destroying the man responsible for her death, Jason Treffen. With stunning talk-show host Chelsea Maxwell about to interview Treffen live on TV, this is Alex’s chance.
He’ll use her show to exact a very public revenge—and seducing Chelsea, if needed, would certainly be no hardship. But he underestimates Chelsea and the attraction between them, and as their relationship deepens, Alex realizes that to annihilate Treffen could also shatter the life that Chelsea has built to protect herself…

This is the last book in a trilogy of books written by three different authors. Having read all three i don't feel like it's something that you can tell by the writing. Each author for me has successfully picked up the story and went with it seemlessly. Each book in the trilogy is about one of three best friends who are dealing with guilt and regret of the death of a woman who was their friend as well and they feel they let down to detriment of her life. Now years later they are working at avenging her. This book in the culmination of that and hopefully forgiveness for themselves. In Expose Me Alex Diaz needs to get Chelsea Maxwell on board with the plan to destroy Jason Treffen. Chelsea is a talk show host that gets has been stars to break down and tell all their secrets but she dreams of being a serious newswoman and Jason Treffen is her chance.  She has scored a exclusive interview with him. Alex needs her to expose him. He doesn't want to tell her details of what that entails until she agrees. It doesn't take Alex long to find out Chelsea is tougher that he thinks. They constantly are butting heads but in between all that Alex starts to see the slight cracks in Chelsea and just maybe there is a reason she is so ice cold on the outside. Alex has his own issues and if Chelsea has to share he's going to have to as well. Great ending to the series but for me it came kind of quickly at the end. It left me feeling like there should've been just a little bit more. Maybe a epilogue 6 months later or something. This is a very dramatic and emotional series with a serious topic but you can feel the love that is brought out in the character's by learning how to trust in themselves and in each other. I wasn't sure how i would like this trilogy written by three separate authors with a continuing story but having now finished i would say they knocked it out of the park. Well done.


Find out more about Kate Hewitt here www.kate-hewitt.com

ARC Book review: Hard Knocks (Ultimate 0.5) by Lori Foster

Available now!

eARC courtesy of the publisher through Netgalley

In the stunning prequel novella to her new mixed martial arts series, New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster brings together an elite fighter and the woman he’s determined to win.

Power. Brute strength. Unforgettable moves. It’s no wonder Harper Gates hasn’t been able to get her fling with Gage “Savage” Ringer out of her head. Months have passed since she laid eyes—or any other body parts—on him. Months without a word of contact… until, sidelined by injury, he comes back to town.

Staying focused on his training seemed like a smart move to Gage, even if he thought about Harper every day. Seeing her again only makes it clear how much is at stake. He’s got one night to earn back her trust. One night to show her that behind his breathtaking skill and ripped body is a man who’ll give her everything she needs.

Don’t miss No Limits, the first novel in Lori Foster’s Ultimate series

Goodness let's just start by this cover! Wow Lori Foster must be one of the luckiest author's when it comes to covers. This is a sneak peek into a brand new series. If you have read some of Lori Foster's back list you might have read her previous MMA series. There is supposed be appearances by some of those character's that series and there are in book one coming out later this month. As for this novella it's a quick fast glimpse into the series starting out with a bunch of the secondary character's from book one. Gage Ringer is a huge well built fighter but he's got a soft spot for Harper Gates. A great chance for possible promotion in his career comes about taking him away from her for months. Thinking he really needs to not concentrate on her but on his training he doesn't contact her...... at ALL! Not a good move when you really care for a woman and want her to care for you back. Injured before his big fight he get replaced and now is back and getting the cold shoulder.  Love this novella. Lori Foster gives you a big tease to Cannon's book by mentioning him a lot but concentrating on introducing secondary characters. Those character's jump off the page with the setting at the Community center that fans of this author will recognize from her Love Under Cover series. Gage is this clueless man who can't seem to figure out at first where he went wrong because of course he thought he could pick up where he left off before. Harper has to figure him out as well and it's fun to watch the two dance around each other the night of Cannon's big fight while they help host a viewing party at the community center. Of course their friends offer their help and are the comic relief of the story. I'm looking forward to seeing where this series goes especially after Cannon's book and into the characters not as well known.

Find out more about this series and Lori Foster here www.lorifoster.com

Hot Cover Monday! Her Lone Wolf (x-ops series book 2) by Paige Tyler

Available November 4th 2014

Leaving him was Impossible...
It took everything she had for FBI Special Agent Danica Beckett to walk away from the man she loved. But if she wants to save his life, she has to keep her distance. Now, with a killer on the loose and the stakes higher than ever before, the Department of Covert Ops is forcing these former lovers into an uneasy alliance...whether they like it or not.

Seeing her again is even worse
The last thing Clayne Buchanan wants is to be shackled to the woman who broke his heart. She gets under his skin in a way no one ever has and makes him want things he has no right to anymore. All he has to do is suffer through this case and he can be free of her for good. But when Clayne finds out why Danica left in the first place, everything he's tried to bury comes roaring back-and there's no way this wolf shifter is going to let her get away this time.

Find out more here www.paigetylertheauthor.com/

ARC book review: Taken by Lora Leigh

Available July 22nd 2014
ARC ebook provided by publisher through Netgalley

#1 New York Times bestselling author Lora Leigh has captivated millions with her sizzling tales.  Here, together for the first time, in a short story collection:

Reno’s Chance
Ever since she was a girl, Raven has longed for her friend's brother, Reno, a Navy SEAL. What she doesn't realize is that his true mission is to get into her heart.

For Maggie's Sake
Maggie is in custody with Joe's SEALs team.  Joe, her ex-lover, thinks Maggie is hiding information.  He plans to seduce her to get it, but when an enemy captures Maggie, only Joe can save her.

Atlanta Heat
Em has wanted Macey forever. But as a SEAL under the command of her overprotective godfather, Macey is off-limits…until a kidnapping attempt forces them to share close quarters—and a forbidden desire.

Night Hawk
For three years, Travis “Black Jack” Caine and Lillian “Night Hawk” Belle have been meeting, late at night. No names given. But tonight is different. An enemy has returned, and Travis and Lillian may never meet again.  Are they brave enough to give in to desire and stand together?

Cooper’s Fall
Former ranger Ethan never expected to get an eyeful of prim Sarah Fox from his window. But now his blood is on fire for her.

Sheila’s Passion
As an ex-Marine, Nick's been through some hard things.  But when it comes to Sheila, he has his biggest challenge yet. Sheila has sworn off love, but when Nick tempts her into becoming friends with benefits, he intends to make her his forever.

Taken is a collection of novella's and shorts from author Lora Leigh. They have been previously published but put together finally in one book for readers. I had previously read most of these so it was fun to go back and experience them once again. This is a compilation from several of the series Lora Leigh has published.  Fun quick sexy reads with plenty of alpha guy heat for your enjoyment. Sit back and relax while you read since there is no pressure to read a entire book to get to the conclusions.  After reading these small doses from Lora Leigh you might be interested in trying some of the full novels in the series these novella's go with. Great way to try this author if you haven't yet. 

Find out more about Lora Leigh here www.loraleigh.com

ARC Book review: Looking for Trouble (Jackson: Girls' Night Out #1)

Available July 29th
ARC ebook provided by publisher through Netgalley

A good reason to be bad...

Librarian Sophie Heyer has walked the straight and narrow her entire life to avoid paying for her mother's mistakes. But in tiny Jackson Hole, Wyoming, juicy gossip just doesn't go away, so the last thing she needs is for history to repeat itself. Falling hard for the sexiest biker who's ever rode into town would undo everything she's worked for. And to add insult to injury, the sexy stranger is none other than Alex Bishop--the son of the man her mother abandoned Sophie's family for. He may be temptation on wheels, but Sophie's not looking for trouble!

Maybe Sophie's buttoned-up facade fools some, but Alex knows a naughty smile when he sees one. Despite their parents' checkered pasts, he's willing to take some risks to find out the truth about the town librarian. He figures a little fling might be just the ticket to get his mind off of family drama. But what he finds underneath Sophie's prim demeanor might change his world in ways he never expected.

I wasn't sure if i was going to like this one but it quickly picked up and drew me in.  You have this big but old scandal that just won't die. Sophie's mom and Alex's dad ran away together years ago. They both disappeared but it took a while to figure out the two disappearances were related.  Alex's brother found the bodies in the middle of no where in a deep crevice in the camper their dad owned. That finally broke the story on what officially happened to them. Now Sophie is trying to live in her small hometown but Alex's mother won't let her be. This is a case of accusing the daughter of being just like the mother for no reason. Alex has been gone for years. Soon as he was able he took off and left Jackson Hole and his mother who took him and his brother on impromtu trips to places she thought her husband supposedly could be when they thought he'd only been missing.  This went on for years after he disappeared and Alex fed up with it and his older brother for supporting their mother's crazy ideas. Now he's back for a short time to attend a memorial service for his dad he wants no part of. Things heat up though when Alex meets Sophie and figures out she is not as button up and staid as she is trying to appear. She rocks the sexy librarian look and Alex is a shaved headed, tattoo covered motorcycle hottie! Alex doesn't blame Sophie for what her mother did and knows that his dad would have to share any blame. He brings out the adventurous side she's been trying to hide publicly for years. Amazingly fun book to read. The girlfriends of Sophie cracked me up. True friends! I was cheering for Alex and Sophie to find their way in all the mess. Great start to a new series.

To find out more about this series and author Victoria Dahl along with buy links check out her website here www.victoriadahl.com

Hot Cover Monday! Texas Twist (Texas Montgomery Mavericks #4)by Cynthia D'Alba

Available September 2, 2014

Real bad boys can grow up to be real good men.

Texas Montgomery Mavericks, Book 4

Hit hard by the death of her parents, Paige Ryan needs to figure out what to do with her life. She moves to Whispering Springs, Texas, to be near her step-brother. But just as she starts to get her life on track, the last man she ever wanted to see again sends it right back off the rails.

Cash Montgomery was on the cusp of having it all. Three bull riding titles, fame, fortune and respect from his family. Until a bad bull leaves him injured, angry and searching for comfort at the bottom of a bottle. With nowhere to go, he moves into his sister-in-law's old ranch house in Whispering Springs which he's surprised to find already occupied.

As Cash rebuilds the dilapidated home and Paige starts out on her medical career, their old friendship begins to reemerge and sparks are ignited. Paige knows that Cash is nothing but a heartache waiting to happen. But maybe this bad boy has grown up to be a real good man?

Warning: Watch out for falling lumber, falling in holes, and falling for the wrong guy again. You can leave your hard hat on.

Find out more on Cynthia D'Alba and this series here www.cynthiadalba.com