ARC Book review:What a Devilish Duke Desires (The Sinful Scoundrels #3) by Vicky Dreiling

Available Feb 24th 2015
eARC Provided by publisher through Netgalley

WILL A FEW FLIRTATIOUS STEPS

Harry Norcliffe never wanted to inherit his beloved uncle's title. The rigidity of the ton, the incessant reminders from his marriage-minded mama that he must settle down with a highborn lady and produce an heir and a spare: it's all such a dreadful bore. So when his mother asks him to take part in a dancing competition, he patently refuses. The last thing he needs is another chore . . . until a beautiful, brilliant, delightfully tempting maid makes him rethink his position.

LEAD TO A SCANDALOUS SEDUCTION?

Most women would be over the moon to be pursued by a wickedly handsome—not to mention wealthy—duke like Norcliffe. But Lucy will not be any man's trophy. She could use a friend, though, and what begins innocently soon ignites into desire. As Lucy tries to resist Harry's scorching kisses, he makes an utterly irresistible offer. Enter the dance contest with him, and win a prize that could change her life forever . . . if falling in love doesn't change it first

Oh how i forgot how much i enjoyed the first two books in the Sinful Scoundrels series. When i started this book i stopped and went back to Goodreads to check out the previous two books in this series which i also read and reviewed. A few minutes to refresh my memory and i was excited to find out what was in store for Harry. Harry never wanted to be a Duke but after his uncle's passing he had no choice and therefore had to deal with all the stuff that comes along with being a duke. Unfortunately or fortunately since Harry was never really groomed to be a duke he keeps the fun and goodhearted parts of him from before intact. He puts up with stuff he has to do but really would rather just be himself. He runs into Lucy one night on the streets walking home. He witnesses her being attacked and hurries to rescue her. Lucy doesn't need a rescue though. She has been on her own for years taking care of herself and her beloved blind grandmother. Instantly Harry finds himself attracted to her.  The one thing that comes between Lucy and Harry is the fact that he's a duke and she's a maid. He doesn't care but she sees nothing but heartache in a future she doesn't think is possible.  I have to admit i loved all the male hero's in this series. Each one has had a big heart and i found them endearing to the women they wanted. Harry certainly gave me that feeling early on. He wasn't going to give up on a future with Lucy no matter what and that never faltered even working against several big obstacles. I could pretty much guess how everything would work out but i thoroughly enjoyed the path taken to get there. 


Find out more about Vicky Dreiling and her other work here www.vickydreiling.com

ARC book review: The Hitwoman's Downward Dog (Confessions of a Slightly Neurotic Hitwoman #9) by J.B. Lynn

Available today
eARC provided by author for review

So many men….so little help.

Maladroit hitwoman Maggie Lee has never been one to ask for help. But now she’s found out that her niece, Katie, will soon be discharged from the hospital--making Maggie her guardian not just in name--and her semi-psychic friend Armani Vasquez has been kidnapped. Suddenly Maggie could really use some help.

While her crazy, but lovable, aunts are ready to help out with Katie, none of the men in her life are willing (or able) to lend a hand to save Armani. With both cops and bad guys telling her not to go after Armani alone, she knows the smart thing to do, would be to listen to them. But Maggie’s not the type to abandon those she loves.

Even with Patrick, Maggie's murder-mentor and almost-lover, and her old friend Zeke, out of the picture, Maggie’s not desperate enough to bring herself to involve crime reporter Jack Stern in her quest.

Armed with only Armani’s cryptic clues, and assisted by her snarky lizard, her dumb, but extremely loyal dog, and a one-eyed cat, Maggie decides to take on whoever's taken Armani.

Will the lack of human help prove to be her undoing?

Or will a special guy come through for her in the end?

Maggie Lee is at it again in the newest installment in the Confessions of a Slightly Neurotic Hitwoman series by JB Lynn. Seems like a day doesn't go by without a little drama for Maggie. She finds out that her beloved niece Katie is going to be coming home soon from the hospital and the reality of her life comes crashing down on her. All her doubt about if she can really take care of the girl and her life as a hitwoman make her worry about the future. Then her friend Armani is missing and no one knows where to find her and she can't seem to get any help. A new guy in Maggie's life crime reporter Jack Stern seems to pop up everywhere she goes. She's not sure if she can trust him but he seems to generally be concerned about her and offers to help if she can accept it.  This book has all of Maggie 's charm and craziness along with her menagerie of talking animals who are always willing to help. She seems to juggle her aunts, her men, her animals and come to the rescue of  Armani although it's never as smoothly as she would like.  A bit of a thriller you can actually laugh at while reading. If you want to read a series that full of laughs and craziness start right here with this series. 

Find out more about the Hitwoman series by JB Lynn or her other work here www.jblynn.com

ARC Book review: Want Me (Dark Obsession #2) by Cynthia Eden

Available now!
eARC provided by publisher through Netgalley

She doesn’t play it safe…

Sophie Sarantos has a weakness for dangerous men. She doesn’t like safe lovers—she likes men with a wild, rough edge. But Sophie may have attracted a lover who is too dangerous, even for her. Someone is stalking Sophie, slipping into her home, watching her day and night. The stranger seems to know all of Sophie’s darkest secrets, secrets that should never be revealed.

Out of options, Sophie turns to ex-solider Lex Jensen for protection. Lex is part owner of VJS Protection, Inc., and Sophie hires him as her bodyguard. She thinks Lex is one of the “good guys” out there, but she couldn’t be more wrong. 

He doesn’t play at all…

Lex has his own secrets. Dark, deadly secrets. And as his feelings for Sophie grow, Lex knows that he is going to have to stop pretending to be a gentleman and, instead, he’ll have to show Sophie who he really is. A man trained to kill. A man too used to evil. A man who will take any risk…as long as he can claim Sophie.

Because there is one thing that Lex wants in this world…one person he desires above all others…Sophie. And no one will hurt her, not on his watch. 

We met Sophie Sarantos in book one of this series. She's a hot shot attorney with a attitude and a reputation for being good and tough. Lex Jensen is one of the owners of VJS protection and we also met him in book one. He saved Sophie's life in book one and sparks flew when they met. Now Sophie needs his help and protection to find out who is stalking her. This is a quick thrill ride of a book. While i liked the suspense in this book i thought that lex was a little over the top with his obsession with Sophie. Thought it happened really quick but given the length of the book i understand it needed to be pretty quick. Cynthia Eden makes it crazy hard to figure out who the stalker turned killer is. I know i was surprised, but the obvious choices seemed... well too obvious. Love when a author can keep you in the dark and keep you guessing. Interested to see what happens in book three with Dev. All around Want Me is a enjoyable book you can easily read in one evening.

Find out more about Cynthia Eden and her books here www.cynthiaeden.com

ARC Book review: Feeding the Flames (Flirting with Fire book 1) by Leah Braemel

Available Feb 7th 2015
eARC provided by author
This novella was also in the Five Alarm Alpha boxed set.

Sometimes your soulmate has been right in front of you their whole life. It shouldn’t take almost losing them to find them. 

Volunteer firefighter Zac Buchanan has been carrying a torch for Tabatha Morgan since…well, forever. A promise he made years ago backfired, sending Tabatha into the arms of another man, and him into a decade of heartache. Now Tabatha’s back in town, newly divorced, and the sparks between them are setting them both aflame.

Tabatha would have bet her secret five-alarm chili recipe that her school girl crush on Zac had died out long ago. Except those slumbering embers reignited the moment Zac walked into her diner. Now each time she sees him—hears him, thinks about him—she can’t imagine her life without him again.

But if their new-found love and sizzlin’ hot action in the bedroom—and living room, kitchen and bathroom—is to survive, Tabatha must also accept the smoke, flames Tabatha must also accept the smoke, flames and danger of Zac’s job. Or their happy-ever-after will forever be extinguished.

I read this when it was part of the Five Alarm Alpha's boxed set some months ago. It has been released as a single now and is the first in a new series by Leah Braemel. This is a hot little read about second chance love and being brave enough to let that other person know you care for them as more than a friend and hope the same is returned. Zac Buchanan is fighfighter along with his best friend Quinn. Thinking he owed it to that Quinn he tries to push Tabatha Morgan the woman he's wanted for years, together. All out of some dumb sense that he owed his friend and a promise made years earlier. It doesn't take his friend long to nip that in the bud and set Zac and Tabatha on a romantic path together. The two just click but like any relationship there are always obstacles in the road. They have to decide if they can deal with that might happen in the future. Love how Leah Braemel starts out this new series about Firefighters. Zac is sex on a stick and Tabatha is as crazy about him as he is for her. My only complaint is i wish the book had been longer. Can't wait to hopefully see more of this couple in future books in the series.

Find out more about Leah Braemel and her work here www.leahbraemel.com

ARC Book review:The Rebel of Copper Creek (Copper Creek Cowboys #2) by R.C. Ryan

available now!
eARC Provided by publisher through Netgalley


A love worth fighting for...

The last thing widow Juliet Grayson needs is a man in her life. Between caring for her two young sons and maintaining her husband's ranch, her hands are more than full. Then she meets Griff Warren. With his quiet strength and his easy way with her boys, she's tempted to trust him. But if there's anything she's learned, it's that love only leads to heartbreak.

Former Marine Griff Warren never thought he'd settle down. Rebellious and proud, he's always been on his own . . . until the father he never knew he had died, leaving him with land that is his legacy and brothers to share the load. He doesn't need more than that. But Juliet touches something deep inside him—and he wants nothing more than to protect her and her sons. Now if only he can convince her to take a second chance at true love.

This is the 2nd book in the Copper Creek series. In the first book  right off we learn that Bear Mackenzie has been murdered. Part of that book is spent with the why and how and who done it. The rest is the fact that Bear had another son he didn't know about until right before his death. That son shows up at the ranch as he is left a share of it in the will. Of course we also got the story of Ash MacKenzie one of the other brothers along with the back story of Bear and his lost son who is Griff Warren. Now in book 2 we are still looking for Bear's killer but we are finding out more about Griff. A former Marine he found out just a little too late that Bear MacKenzie was his father. The family welcomes him like he is one of them. Learning ranching is hard and rewarding work for Griff but being a Marine he is no stranger to hard work. On the invitation of a old military buddy he is invited to join him on the Grayson ranch. From what he hears the place is being run by a widow with her two small boys as a therapy ranch but the whole place is falling apart. Meeting Juliet Grayson and her boys does something to Griff. He can't keep from reaching out to her and her little boys are hard on his heart. I absolutely loved this book. Juliet's husband was also in the military and he died after a tragic accident and months of therapy. Now 3 years later she is on his families ranch with her boys ages 3 and 6 trying to survive and fulfill his last wishes. Griff is attracted to her but does his best to honor her wishes of going slow but neither one can push back the attraction they feel for each other. No one can quite bowl you over like the MacKenzie family does as they throw in behind Griff to help Juliet get on her feet. There is of course a little danger lurking in Copper Creek and just when you think you know who is to blame there's a twist to throw you off. R.C. Ryan really did a number on me with this book. I just love Griff. He is everything a woman could hope for in a man and more. Many heart clenching moments from cover to cover.

Find out more about R.C. Ryan and her books here www.ryanlangan.com

ARC Book review: Gilt by Association (Caprice De Luca Mystery #3) by Karen Rose Smith

Available now!
eARC provided by publisher through Netgalley

Caprice De Luca's latest house staging is all about hearts, flowers, lace and chintz since Valentine's Day is around the corner. She never expects her client to be murdered in the greenhouse the day of the open house.
With her six-month-old cocker spaniel pup Lady by her side and her own love life in disarray, Caprice ferrets out clues from the victim's best friend, Caprice's mother, the housekeeper and a special male friend who insists his relationship with the victim was platonic. However, as Caprice digs deeper, she finds the victim's past is filled with secrets that she kept from her husband for thirty years.
The past isn't merely history. The present isn't always what it seems. When hearts are involved, passion and even murder aren't far behind.


I have never read a Karen Rose Smith book until now. I have a few on my kindle but never got around to reading them yet so this is my breaking in book. It's the third in a series and i didn't realize that at first either but was not especially a problem. Certain things are eluded to in the book that make you realize this cannot be the first book. Caprice De Luca is a person who stages houses to help sell them. Unique in how she dresses and in her business she is a strong woman who can take care of herself but is confused by men. Hurt before, she is leary and lacks trust. You can't blame her. Now she is juggling two men neither of which is doing what she thinks they would be if they were truly interested. In between all that she finds herself involved in solving another murder when her mother's best friend is found murdered right before her open house.  I wasn't sure how much i would enjoy this book because it's not my usual read but i do like to mix it up and often when i do i get a nice surprise.  I love the De Luca family. They are kind of big and boisterous and aren't perfect by any means but they do have family loyalty and love for each other. Caprice doesn't doubt her abilities in area except men and her love life but she is slowly making her way through that as well. This is a great series and while you can enjoy any book on it's own i would go back and grab book one and read on for the full effect.


Find out more about Karen Rose Smith on her website here www.karenrosesmithmysteries.com

ARC Book review: Getting Naughty by Kristin Daniels

Available Feb 14th 
eARC provided by author 

Patience isn’t Tara North’s best virtue. She’s tired of her husband’s workaholic tendencies, tired of not being a priority. And very tired of the lack of action in their bedroom. So she sits in his employee parking lot, impatiently waiting for his coworkers to vacate the building. Why?
To seduce her husband, of course.
Tara’s going to get their sex life back on the fast-track to Blissville. As she strips in his office, Tara issues an erotic challenge. Only question is, can Jared meet the terms of her sexy throw down before the cleaning crew reaches his office?
There’s only one way to find out. It’s time for Jared to really get to work...


This is a sexy little fast paced read about a married couple who has fallen into a rut a lot of married couples can easily fall into. Taking each other for granted. Tara North is done with that though as she cooks up a surprise for him at his office where he is AGAIN working late. This is a quick short story but i love stories that involve married couple reconnecting. If you like them too and enjoy a quick hour or so of reading this is a great place to start.

Find out more about this author and her work here www.kristindaniels.com/

ARC book review: Direct Deposit by Marilyn Baxter

Available now!
eARC provided by author

She wanted to make a withdrawal from a sperm bank. He would give all he has to make a direct deposit. 

INVESTING IT ALL 

Family law attorney Maddie Prescott is driven to succeed. A pawn in her parents’ messy divorce, she devoted her career to representing children in court, and when her husband’s early death makes it seem like she can’t have it all, she’s ready to beat the odds by going to a sperm bank. One advantage to single parenthood is that her child will never be a pawn. That, and she’ll never have to deal with sarcastic ladies’ men or liars. 

Jack Worth promised to look out for his dying best friend’s wife: a small repayment for someone who once helped an irredeemable bad boy find the path to happiness. So, while Maddie Prescott’s baby plans are questionable, duty and loyalty prompt Jack first to volunteer as the sperm donor...and then to propose a marriage of convenience. And the more he gets to know her, the more this onetime player will see that Maddie is the woman of his dreams, and that the child they will make deserves to be from a direct deposit.

This is my first Marilyn Baxter book and it's a quick evening or weekend read if you are looking to curl up and get lost in a good book. Maddie Prescott is a successful lawyer and helping children has been her passion. That's what she does now, represents children in court. It's also helps her get by and deal the best she can with the loss of her husband. Jack Worth had a messed up childhood, a dad he never knew and a mom who was only there in body but not for him. One night after a particularly bad argument with her he got drunk and tore up a building under construction only to be caught by the builder.  That builder would eventually become his best friend and business partner and was Maddie's husband Alex. A year after Alex's death Maddie wants to have a baby and Jack made a promise to take care of Maddie so he offers to help. Little do they know what's in store for them when they start a journey into parenthood. I liked this story so much because both Maddie and Alex are tormented by things from their childhood. You can tell how much Alex loved both Maddie and Jack by the things that he said to them before passing and you feel a sadness to lose such a great man. Jack steps up to take care of Maddie and in the meantime falls in love and feels himself changing. Maddie is tore up with her attraction to Jack mixed in with some guilt. I don't want to paint this as a sad story although in places it is but as a story of hope and love. I found myself anticipating in the final pages there would be a epilogue and happily there is. I needed to get that little bit of the future to feel i got the whole story. I think you will enjoy that too. 


Find out more about Marilyn Baxter and her books here www.marilynbaxter.wix.com