ARC Book review: All I Need Is You (Loving You #2) by Wendy S. Marcus

Available Oct 6th 2015
eARC provided by publisher through Netgalley

As a dancer who creates mesmerizing visions onstage, Neve James is looking for the same kind of stability in her love life. Her pen pal, Rory McRoy, is on leave from deployment in Afghanistan, so she heads to Boston to surprise him. After corresponding for months as part of a “Support Our Troops” initiative—and exchanging dozens of “Read When You’re Alone” letters—Neve knows what Rory likes, and she intends to fulfill his every fantasy. But all they get are a few blissful moments together before they’re interrupted by a woman claiming to be Rory’s fiancée.

Rory has fallen hard for Neve’s letters. When he finally meets her in person, he has to have her, right then and there—until Neve takes off in a fit of anger. Forced to return to Afghanistan before he can fix things between them, Rory waits four agonizing months to prove that he’s not the man Neve thinks he is. But by the time he arrives in New York, she’s already made up her mind. Luckily, Rory never backs down from a challenge, and he’s prepared to put everything on the line for love.

This is one of those books where the heroine isn't the easiest person to love.She had to work on  getting my affection but she did.  I also have to say i have not read book one so i don't know if there was something in there to change how i would view the characters in this book. Neve James is a dancer, a short women with a lithe dancers body. Men adore her. She regretting some of her choices in that area but some old hookups won't let her go. Rory McRoy is her Army penpal. Home on leave when Neve surprises him. The surprise is on her when it appears he has a fiance. After numerous for your eye only letters she thought she knew him and now she thinks he's a liar. Rory has to go back to Afghanistan before he can get Neve to listen. When his tour is up and he gets out of the military he heads straight to Neve. I loved that the hero and the heroine are shorter in stature. Guys are almost always tall six feet or more in most romance books. Rory is a shorter guy but Neve is shorter still. I want to say that it's refreshing to see this. Rory and Neve both have some serious hang ups. Beating themselves up over their own issues while helping the other with theirs. It seems like maybe just maybe they might have a chance when Rory's one second of indecision blows the whole works. Now what? A sweet and sometimes very sexy read. You have to love Rory's family. They are loud but loving. It's been a while since i have read anything by Wendy S. Marcus but i remember now how much i enjoy her work. 

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

ARC Book review: Texas Hustle (Texas Montgomery Mavericks #6) by Cynthia D'Alba

Available Nov 24,2015

eARC provided by publisher through Netgalley


They’re different as night and day…but it’s the right time for love.

Texas Montgomery Mavericks, Book 6

Porchia Summers was born into a family who gave her everything except affection. She acted out until her parents sent her to Whispering Springs before their high-society friends found out about her arrest record.

She builds a good life in Texas, but then the old boyfriend who got her in trouble tracks her down. Desperate to find a way to keep her past and present separate, she places a bid at a bachelor auction on the one man who’ll get her out of town for a few days.

Darren Montgomery is thrilled when Porchia wins him and a week of camping with his entire family in a charity bachelor auction. He’s also curious. He’s been flirting with the town’s sweet, sexy baker for years. Sometimes she flirts back, but she’s never let things go further than that. Darren’s not complaining, but he wonders just what’s going on behind Porchia’s pretty eyes.

Texas Hustle is 6th in the Texas Montgomery Mavericks series. Porchia Summers has been hiding something from her friends for years. The towns baker is much liked by everyone around especially Darren Montgomery. Darren has had his eye on her for years she flirts but that's as far as he can seem to get her to go until a celebrity auction. When it looks like Darren might get won by a women whose been stalking him Porchia throws her paddle up for the win.  It couldn't come at a better time for Porchia since a bad part of her past rears up and threatens her livelihood and her reputation in town. Escaping with Darren and his family just might be the best idea. Darren has one weeks to show Porchia how good they could be together and to crack that shell around her. I loved the the interaction between the Montgomery family. Besides Porchia and Darren getting together there are other surprises to unearth in this story. I would have liked to see a little more conflict from the bad guy. He didn't seem to be much of a threat until the end. I wanted to kick Porchia's parents too. I found it a little hard to believe at the end they do a total 180. I was also glad to see Darren wasn't going to let himself be a doormat for Porchia while she decided what and who she was. It's one of those times when reading a book you want to yell to the heroine are you NUTS!!! Overall the book was enjoyable and the Montgomery clan as a whole are always a lot of fun to read about. 

Find out more about the series here www.cynthiadalba.com

Barefoot with a Stranger (Barefoot Bay Undercover #2) by Roxanne St. Claire

Available October 16th 2015
eARC Provided by publisher through author

Francesca Rossi might be the youngest in a long line of badass siblings, but this computer whiz would rather hack a database than pack a pistol for the family business in Barefoot Bay.  When an assignment forces her out of her comfort zone and into the field, Chessie decides to amp up the excitement quotient and has her first one night stand with a sexy stranger she’ll never see again.

Former CIA agent Malcolm Harris is fresh out of prison for a crime he didn’t commit, and knows the government is watching his every move, waiting for him to slip up.  But the only mistake he makes is to assume the sexy, sassy woman he seduces on the way to Barefoot Bay is a spy.  He learns too late that the beauty he’s bedded is really his best friend’s sister…and his undercover partner on a risky mission.

Chessie and Mal have to stay one step ahead of the CIA, navigate their way through a perilous country, and fight the insane chemistry that sizzles between them.  It doesn’t take long for this hacker and spy to discover the power of their unplanned partnership…and learn that falling in love might be the riskiest business of all.

I have got to say i was so glad when Roxanne St Claire found a way to give loyal fans the Rossi (Guardian Angelino's)  family back in her Barefoot Bay series. I am pretty sure most of her fans know who Gabe Rossi is. I was afraid that what she wrote about Gabe wouldn't live up to what fans thought he should be. Me included. This book has a lot about Gabe in it but he is not the main focus just yet. He's been slowly edging us all into the story of Gabe. This book involves another Rossi, Francesca.  On her way  from Boston to Florida to help Gabe when her flight is delayed she runs into  new ex-con Malcom Harris. Fresh out of prison.  He is also on his way to see Gabe but neither one knows they both know Gabe and are heading to the same place. Former CIA Malcom is suspicious of everyone and everything. He thinks Francesca is there to spy on him. Oh no when he finds out how really wrong he is. lol Gabe reveals a couple of secrets in this book and Malcom and Francesca are teamed up to go into Cuba to check some things out for him. It's cool to see Francesca (Chessie) figure out with some help from Malcom (Mal) that she is just as good being in the field as all her Rossi siblings. Mal is in a rock and hard place and doesn't see a real way out pf his situation but Chessie isn't a quitter and she fights for Mal. This time Roxanne throws us some of her well known romantic suspense writing abilities. Kind of took me back to her Guarduian Angelino and Bullet Catcher series. Some of my favorite all time books. Chessie has always been more of a background player in previous books she appeared in and i am so glad to see her fleshed out and we are able to see who she really is. Lord knows Malcome deserved to get something good in his life after all he has been through. Chessie fits the bill. Can't wait for Gabe's story which i believe is next up i n this series. Way to go Rocki!

Find about more about this series and the other series mentioned above check it out here www.roxannestclaire.com

ARC Book review: A Bad Boy for Christmas (Second Chance #3) by Jessica Lemmon

Available now!
eARC Provided by publisher through Netgalley

'Tis the Season to Be Naughty 

Connor McClain knows what he wants. And after four harrowing years in Afghanistan, that's a quiet life in the lakeside town of Evergreen Cove. But coming home has land mines of its own-the most dangerous of them being long-legged bombshell Faith Garrett. Now getting her into his arms this holiday is going to require more than mistletoe . . . 

With a cheating ex behind her, all Faith wants is a relaxing holiday free from man drama. And even though every moment with gorgeous Connor is a sweet temptation, Faith is determined not to give in. But Jack Frost has other plans, and soon Faith and Connor are snowbound in a winter wonderland with only the sparks flying between them to keep them warm. As one hot kiss leads to another, they'll have to decide if they're ready to give each other the best gift of all-love. 

Jessica Lemmon brings the sexy to Christmas time in the form of Connor McClain. Faith is on a break from men but with something weird going on around her apartment Ex military and all around good guy Connor McClain insists on checking into it. When he ends up staying with Faith things start to get interesting. It was fun to watch Connor and Faith's relationship grow. Both Connor and Faith have personal issues to work out for themselves and in doing so working out where their relationship will go too. I loved how Connor's loud and loving family welcome Faith in and show her what a family should be like. Of course it was great to see the characters from past books in this series and find out how they are doing. Only sad part is when one of Connor's military friends dies. I didn't see that coming. Connor is one of my favorite characters in a book in a while. Big, bad and sexy with a giving and loyal heart. Can't wait to see what happens with Asher next!

Find out more about this series and Jessica Lemmon here www.jessicalemmon.com

ARC Book review: Rock Redemption (Rock Kiss #3) by Nalini Singh

Available now!
eARC provided by publisher through Netgalley

Kit Devigny could have loved rock guitarist Noah St. John. Their friendship burned with the promise of intense passion and searing tenderness…until the night Noah deliberately shattered her heart.

Noah knows he destroyed something precious the night he chose to betray Kit, but he’d rather she hate him than learn his darkest secret. All he has left is his music. It’s his saving grace, but it doesn’t silence the voices that keep him up at night. Chasing oblivion through endless one-night-stands, he earns a few hours’ sleep and his bad boy reputation.

When a media error sees Noah and Kit dubbed the new “it” couple, Kit discovers her chance at the role of a lifetime hinges on riding the media wave. Wanting—needing—to give Kit this, even if he can’t give her everything, Noah agrees to play the adoring boyfriend. Only the illusion is suddenly too real, too painful, too beautiful…and it may be too late for the redemption of Noah St. John.

I have really enjoyed this series. Noah has been a bit of mystery in the previous books. A bit dark and brooding, Noah has a big secret. Something so devastating for him he's never discussed it with anyone except Fox and only once. Kit met the the guys in Noah's band when they were new and she was a struggling actress working as a waitress. While she got along with all the guys there was something about Noah. When Kit starts to get to close to Noah he panics and does the unthinkable and destroys the friendship they have. Noah has some serious emotional baggage and has been living a life in hell for years. Surviving day to day while the world sees a bad boy rocker on the inside Noah was a shell. When Kit gives him a opening back into her life he takes it. For once because of Kit he'll do whatever it takes to not hurt her again.  While there were part of this i loved there were parts that were hard to read. Kit has to be strong to help Noah and Noah has to be strong to let Kit in and let go of the past. Can't wait for book four.

Find out more about Nalini Singh and this series here www.nalinisingh.com