Wednesday, June 24, 2015

ARC Book review: A Royal Amnesia Scandal by Jules Bennett

Available July 1st 2015
eARC Provided by author

She's about to have an unforgettable affair...with her royal boss. 

He was desperate to forget a broken engagement...until an accident has Prince Lucas Silva forgetting his fiancee's identity. Now he believes his loyal assistant, Kate Barton, is his bride-to-be. And she's under strict orders to keep up the pretense. 

Playing the role of beloved is no stretch for Kate; she's had a crush on her boss for years. But palace rules prohibit royalty from mixing with the help, so Kate knows her happiness can't last. Once Luc regains his memory, she could very well be tossed aside...unless the prince is willing to forget the rules, too

 Oh my! Kate Barton pretty much grew up around the palace and royalty. Her parents work for the family so when Prince Luc needed a assistant she was a natural for the job.  There was automatic attraction between the two but unfortunately it's unwritten law that royal family members do not get involved with the staff.  Shelving their attraction the two have tried to go one without letting it out again. After Luc's fiancee is found out to be a liar and a fraud of sorts though he is left reeling by the betrayal. On a island getaway Luc is trying to just get away from it all and relax for a bit but rethinks his idea of bringing Kate along with him when his attraction to her comes to the forefront again. After a freak accident leaves him with short term amnesia and thinking Kate is his fiancee things get a little crazy. Even though Prince Luc goes from pretty OK guy to really great guy, to a real ass and fortunately groveling guy i enjoyed this book. Prince Luc is a little messed up with his emotions for a while as he sorts himself out and Kate is caught in the middle of it all.  I read this in one evening and was sucked in from page one and spit out at the end. I felt the gamut of emotions from happy contentment to sad and hurt for Kate.  When you can read a book and place yourself in it somewhere, in this instance Kate i think you're reading a well written and thought out story. Jules Bennet put me right there.



Find out more about this book and the author here www.julesbennett.com

Monday, June 22, 2015

ARC Book review: Kiss Me (Fool's Gold #17) by Susan Mallery



Available June 30th
eARC provided by publisher through Netgalley


After Phoebe Kitzke's kind heart gets her suspended from her job in LA, she swears off doing favors—until her best friend begs for help on the family ranch in Fool's Gold. Unfortunately, sexy cowboy Zane Nicholson isn't exactly thrilled by the city girl's arrival. 

Thanks to his brother's latest scheme, Zane has been roped into taking tourists on a cattle drive. What Phoebe knows about ranching wouldn't fill his hat, but her laughter is so captivating that even his animals fall for her. One slip of his legendary control leads to a passionate kiss, but she's exactly the kind of woman a single-minded loner needs to avoid. 

In his arms, Phoebe discovers she's a country girl at heart. Yet no matter how much the small town feels like home, she can't stay unless Zane loves her, too…but is this cowboy interested in forever?


Susan Mallery always seems to find new ways to keep her Fools Gold series fresh and this new book is definitely fresh. Phoebe Kitzke has a big heart and that unfortunately gets her in trouble from time to time. After helping her boss she finds herself in court but luckily not in jail. While she waits to see if the fall out from her problems lead to more permanent issues she heads to Fools Gold to help her friend and get away. Rancher Zane is trying to teach his younger brother how to be a adult but he constantly seems to get into trouble anyway. His latest scheme is a doozy but instead of bailing him out he's making him follow through. When Phoebe arrives though he finds himself distracted. To teach his brother a lesson he's going to take 50 head of cattle and a bunch of greenhorns including Phoebe and his ex-step sister Maya on a cattle drive. Things are not as clear cut on the whole giving baby brother a lesson though. Zane might have bit off more than he should but with Phoebe there to lighten things up, some luck and some friends it just might be OK. I loved how different this book was from the rest of the series. There are still several cameos from previous books in the series to make sure you understand this is still a Fools Gold book. Zane is such a uptight guy trying to be a father figure to his brother but also not wanting him to go through what he did when he was younger with his dad. Phoebe makes him see in her own way what he's been missing. She's quirky and cute and he's tough and serious. Add in the secondary story with the couple and the two orphans and everything else and it's a entertaining and fun read. I think if you haven't ever read a Fools Gold book before you could safely start right here with Kiss Me and feel right at home. 

Find out more about the Fools Gold series right here www.foolsgoldca.susanmallery.com

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

ARC Book review: Second Chance Summer (Cedar Ridge #1) by Jill Shalvis

Available June 30th 2015

RESCUE ME
Cedar Ridge, Colorado, is famous for crisp mountain air, clear blue skies, and pine-scented breezes. And it's the last place Lily Danville wants to be. But she needs a job, and there's an opening at the hottest resort in her hometown. What has her concerned is the other hot property in Cedar Ridge: Aidan Kincaid-firefighter, rescue worker, and heartbreaker. She never could resist that devastating smile . . .

The Kincaid brothers are as rough and rugged as the Rocky Mountains they call home. Aidan has always done things his own way, by his own rules. And never has he regretted anything more than letting Lily walk out of his life ten years ago. If anyone has ever been in need of rescuing, she has. What she needs more than anything are long hikes, slow dances, and sizzling kisses. But that can only happen if he can get her to give Cedar Ridge-and this bad boy-a second chance . . .


Sad as it was to see Jill Shalvis end her wildly successful Lucky Harbor series its' exciting to see a brand new series start. Second Chance Summer is the first in the brand new Cedar Ridge series. Set in Colorado in the mountains it features a family held together mostly by three brothers that own and run a ski lodge. Aidan the second from the oldest helps out at the lodge as much as he can while also working as a fire fighter and S&R person. His plate is pretty full but when Lily Danville comes back to town he has no trouble adding one more thing. Lily left 10 years ago after the loss of her beloved baby sister and her dad all in the same week. Blaming herself and needing to escape she left but in doing so she left Aidan behind. Now she's back and she can't figure out how to let someone love her and he can't not love her even though his bruised heart says not to. Love this first book in the series. We meet many of the secondary characters and family of Aidan's. It'll be interesting to see what shakes out as the series continues. Aidan is pretty much every woman's dream man. He's sexy, he's ambitious and you can count on him to come through when you need him. Doesn't make him perfect but it sure makes him attractive. Lily has just been a lost soul for the past 10 years. She thought she was happy or at least happy enough until losing her job brings her back to Cedar Ridge where her best friends helps her with a job and a place to stay.  Typical of Jill Shalvis there is plenty of romance, plenty of humor and plenty of sexy! A must read!

Find out more about this series here www.jillshalvis.com

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

ARC Book review: A Buckhorn Summer (Buckhorn Brothers #8) by Lori Foster


Available now!
eARC provided by publisher through Netgalley

n a sexy new Buckhorn Brothers novella, New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster welcomes readers back to the small town that’s big on romance…

Lisa Sommerville’s wild one-night-stand was completely out of character for the workaholic businesswoman. So when she arrives in Buckhorn, Kentucky to spend a summer rethinking her career, she’s stunned to find that Gray Neely has stepped out of her steamy memories and taken up residence in her hometown. What’s more, the laid-back ex-cop wants to pick up where they left off.

Lisa has been on Gray’s mind every day since that mind-blowing encounter. He was reeling from a tragedy in the line of duty, and their connection was instant and intense. Still is. But sleepy Buckhorn is a million miles from her corporate world. And he has one sweet, hot summer to prove they have a future there, together…


Lori Foster takes us back to Buckhorn with this new novella and a reissue of last summer's novella. Lisa Sommerville is back home. Burned out from her job she has a one night stand a month ago in Chicago with a man she can't forget. Imagine her surprise when her one night stand turns up in Buckhorn as the new owner of the local convenience/bait store. Gray Neely finds it a pleasant coincidence when he runs into Lisa at the lake in his new store. After his partner's death he needed a change and this is perfect for him. Lisa's huge family is not a turn off at all. He likes her big crazy family. This is a quick read but so fulfilling a story at the same time. I loved this series and i get excited to see the four original brothers are still the same. Gray and Lisa are awesome and i loved how he treated her and looked out for her without being pushy. There is some suspense in this story and Lisa's whole family gets involved. Would you expect any less? The bonus story in Buckhorn Summer is a novella reissued from last summer which was Garrett's story. If you haven't read it yet here's your chance to get two novella's in one book.

Find out more from Lori Foster's website here www.lorifoster.com

Monday, June 15, 2015

ARC Book review:Barefoot with a Bodyguard (Barefoot Bay Undercover #1) by Roxanne St. Claire


Available now! 
eARC provided by author for review

The Barefoot Bay Undercover Series

Introducing Barefoot Bay Undercover, a romantic adventure series set on the tropical beaches of Barefoot Bay. When former CIA consultant Gabe Rossi creates a secret “privatized witness protection” operation hidden within the security firm at the local resort, things get a little more suspenseful on the island paradise. Gabe’s clients need to keep a low profile and stay safe while he helps them create new identities...and, sometimes, they find love. (To find out how Gabe started the operation, be sure to read the series prequel novella, Barefoot Bound.)

Barefoot with a Bodyguard – book one in the series

About to take the bar exam after ending a five-year marriage that derailed her career plans and her life, Kate Kingston craves independence and a vacation. Somewhere warm with sea breezes, sunshine, sand...and no scary threats against her that have been showing up in her dad’s office. Barefoot Bay is the perfect place for some serenity while she studies and puts her life back together. But when she meets the brooding wall of muscle her father hired to protect her, Kate feels her hard won independence slipping away as fast as her resolve to avoid men who wield power over her.

Mixed martial arts trainer Alec Petrov has been on the run for a long time. Guarding a young attorney-to-be while pretending to be her husband is not a bad way to live off the grid, hidden from the Russian mobster who is hunting Alec with deadly intent. But Kate brings out a tender side Alec doesn't understand, or believe he deserves, and he soon realizes that keeping them both safe is only half the challenge. Keeping his hands off her and his attraction under control will be every bit as difficult in the closed quarters of an exclusive resort.

When their make-believe honeymoon in paradise turns sensual, complicated, and dangerous, Alec and Kate realize it’s not just their lives that are in jeopardy, it’s their hearts. And they’ll have to fight to the end to save each other…and their love.


First in the new Barefoot trilogy, Barefoot with  a Bodyguard kicks it off with a bang!  Gabe Rossi gets his first 2 clients in his new security business. The two couldn't be any more different. You know what they say though. Opposites attract! Kate Kingston finds herself at the resort to protect her from a unknown enemy of her father's.  After getting out of a disastrous marriage with a controlling ex husband she wants to concentrate on finding herself and studying to pass the bar and becoming a attorney. She doesn't understand why she has to hole up in paradise. She doesn't know how bad the threats against her are though. Then she finds a sexy rugged man in her villa who is to be her bodyguard. Alec Petrov is a mixed martial arts trainer but has had a hard life with a good part of it running from the Russian mob. It's finally come down to hiding while other people try to help him disappear. In the meantime he's doing bodyguard duty for a women so out of his league but so sexy he's torn by his attraction to her. Fake names and histories can't stop love from finding their hearts. I loved this story. If you are a Bullet Catcher fan, one of Roxanne St Claire's earlier series, you are in for a pleasant surprise. There are also appearances from the Guardian Angelino series and past Barefoot series books. All this along with a story packed with action, adventure and some sizzling sex scenes and a beautiful location make this a must read for someone who would like to be riveted to a great story! Make sure to read the excerpt at the end to get a glimpse at what comes next!


Find out more about this book and series here www.roxannestclaire.com 

Thursday, June 11, 2015

ARC Book review: Ravaged (Eternal Guardians #7.5) by Elisabeth Naughton



Available now!
eARC provided by author

AriOnce an Eternal Guardian, now he's nothing but a rogue mercenary with one singular focus: revenge.

His guardian brothers all think he’s dead, but Ari is very much alive in the human realm, chipping away at Zeus’s Sirens every chance he can, reveling in his brutality and anonymity. Until, that is, he abducts the wrong female and his identity is finally exposed. It will take more than the Eternal Guardians, more even than the gods to rein Ari in after everything he’s done. It may just take the courage of one woman willing to stand up to a warrior who’s become a savage.


This is my favorite Elisabeth Naughton series. I stumble across it a few years back and started reading the back list that was already out and then started reviewing the new books as they came out. I don't think i have ever read a similar series. In this novella we find out who Ari is. Up until now we didn't really know much about him except he was supposedly crazy. The rest of the Argonauts think he is dead. He faked his own death to protect them and his son who is one of the Argonauts. Daphne was orphaned at age 7 when her whole village was wiped out. Taken from a orphanage to be trained as a Siren she thought she'd finally belong but something never felt right. Then Zeus tells her she has to find Ari and essentially take him out. Things are never what they seem when you're talking about the gods and it doesn't take Daphne long to see the truth. With a little help from Ari they both learn more about each other and possibly find love at long last. Loved this for only 100 pages it had the feeling of a full book. With the limited page number you don't get a lot of extra characters until the end but what there is was exciting and so much is revealed but also so many new questions. Exciting from beginning to end!

Find out more on Elisabeth Naughton's website here www.elisabethnaughton.com

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Book review: What the Prince Wants by Jules Bennett



Available Now!
eARC provided by author

What happens when a royal daddy falls for his child's live-in nanny? 

Widowed Prince Mikos Colin Alexander wants to raise his little girl out of the spotlight. Granted a six-month leave from his royal duties, he escapes to Los Angeles, posing as a regular guy, one in need of a live-in nanny. Colin reluctantly hires Darcy Cooper, the curvy beauty who easily wins over his baby duchess. But soon the lush, love-shy American wins him over, too. Now he's torn between duty to the crown and what feels like his new found family. But when Darcy discovers her emotionally distant boss is royalty, will all bets be off?



What the Prince Wants is the brand new release by Jules Bennett. I love these smaller Harelquin books that usually top out at around  200 pages. The most skilled authors can make you feel like you've read a longer book if their story telling abilities are good. This is a good example of one of those. Prince Mikos Colin Alexander is widowed and still suffering from a serious rock climbing injury when he moves himself and his toddler daughter to California. Going by just Colin Alexander he hires a nanny for his little girl who takes his breath away the moment he lays eyes on her. Darcy Cooper is pretty much the opposite in background from the prince.  She had a thriving nanny/day care business until her then boyfriend stole all her money and ran the business into the ground. She is literally one job, this job away from having nothing. She's lost her home, her car, her life basically and one bag that all her belonging fit in is all she has left.  This job will either make her or break her. Loved all the characters in this book. Darcy is great with the little duchess and finds herself getting attached to both her and her father. Colin has to learn to think about the people he cares about and to let those people see his vulnerabilities and to take help when it's offered and ask when it's needed. Darcy has to learn to love herself as she is and to learn to trust again. Great story. I could really feel what Darcy and Colin were feeling and it put me right in the story.

Find out more about this book and Jules Bennett's other work on her website here www.julesbennett.com