Hot Cover Monday!! Thrown by a Curve Book Five in the Play-by-Play Series

 Out tomorrow March 5th!!

She thinks she knows this player—but he has a few surprise moves.

For Alicia Riley, her job as a sports therapist for the St. Louis Rivers baseball team is a home run—until she becomes the primary therapist for star pitcher, Garrett Scott. Out of the lineup with an injury, he's short-tempered, hard to handle, and every solid inch, a man.

Right now, the only demand he's making on Alicia is that she get him ready to pitch in time for opening day. Except the sexual chemistry between them is so charged, Alicia's tempted to oblige Garrett just about anything. But both their careers are at stake—one bad move and it's game over for both of them.

Garrett also feels the hot sparks between them, and the way he figures it, what better therapy is there than sex? Now all he has to do is convince the woman with the power to make the call.

Read a excerpt here jaciburton.com

Book Review: Romancing the Holiday(Anthology) HelenKay Dimon, Jaci Burton, Christi Barth

We wish you a merry Christmas…and a happily ever after!

A memorable three-night stand gets rekindled in a cabin in West Virginia. An office romance is sparked by an impulsive holiday kiss. And two best friends scout locations for a marriage proposal and discover that they make a perfect match. 'Tis the season for laughter, love and a lifetime of happiness.

Edited by Angela James this anthology includes: 

We'll Be Home for Christmas by HelenKay Dimon
The Best Thing by Jaci Burton
Ask Her at Christmas by Christi Barth

We'll Be Home for Christmas by HelenKay Dimon( Holloway book3)

No man likes having his bedroom skills described as forgettable, but that's just what Lila Payne does when she runs into Spencer Thomas again. When she discovers that he'd lied about his name during their brief three-day romp a few months before, she's so angry that she pretends she doesn't remember him.

Spence regrets his deception, but not as much as he regrets that their time together didn't last longer. When she shows up in his town, looking to revitalize her uncle's mountain resort, Spence is determined to help. Maybe rescuing Lila from a hopeless renovation project will get him in her good graces—and back in her bed.

Lila has no interest in being rescued, and Spence is insulted by her stubborn rebuffs and her "faulty" memory. But when rehab work turns into an after-hours meeting, the two of them are in for a night that just might prove unforgettable

I am starting to love HelenKay Dimon work. I have been able to read a handful of her books so far and have yet to be disappointed. This is the 3rd novella in a series and oh so yummy good. Spence doesn't take relationships seriously but he isn't used to being the one walked away from and told sex with him was no big deal. When he meets Lila Payne at a hotel and they hit it off in bed for three days both think they'll never see each other again but both also regret that they won't a little too. Turns out never isn't that long when Lila shows up in Spence's work world and she finds out he's not who he said he was. Hurt she lashes out at him with words. For some reason he can't let it go once she accepts his apology. He wants to help her and perhaps finally find that he DOES so relationships. Loved this one. Definitely 5 out of 5 stars for me. Read as a stand alone or better yet buy the whole series. 

The Best Thing by Jaci Burton( Kent Brothers book 3)

Tori Lewis had a perfect working relationship with Brody Kent, until a year ago, when a flaming hot kiss changed everything between them. With passion dancing a wicked tease around them, they have to decide which direction their relationship is going. But Tori doesn't want to risk losing her job and the only family she knows, while Brody wants to shake things up and make Tori his. Can he convince her he's worth the plunge into the unknown?

Another great continuing series. You can also read this one alone or buy the entire series so far. This is a quick read you can enjoy snuggled up on your couch for the evening. Tori and Brody work together with the other Kent brothers in their construction business. Last Christmas Brody surprised Tori when he hauled off and gave her a scorching kiss. He doesn't know that Tori has had a crush on him forever and is probably in love with him. Tori also has no family to speak of and the Kent family pretty much took her in when she came to work for them and she doesn't want to lose that so she has been avoiding Brody ever since. Plus he has a playboy love em and leave em reputation around town. No heartbreak for her. Brody  has his work cut out for him if he wants to capture her heart. Think he can manage it without screwing it up at least once or twice? Ah the fun is reading and finding out. A must read! I very much enjoyed this one too. 5 out of 5 stars for The Best Thing!

Ask Her at Christmas by Christi Barth

Caitlin McIntyre’s heart stops when her best friend drops to one knee and proposes. Kyle Lockhart never once hinted over the years that he has any idea she’s in love with him. Not wanting to jeopardize their friendship, she’s never let it slip. Good thing, too, since it turns out he’s only practicing—he’s about to propose to someone else.

A business merger might not be the most romantic reason to propose to a woman he barely knows, but Kyle’s determined to win the respect of the dying father who’s never seen him as quite good enough. Kyle’s always depended on Caitlin’s friendship, while trying to ignore the physical response she arouses. So he turns to her when it comes time to craft his proposal, not realizing his decision will affect their relationship, forever.

This Christmas, Kyle and Caitlin get one last chance to admit their feelings for each other, and find a mutual happily ever after, before he commits his life to another woman and Caitlin leaves town and him…for good.

This is a new to me author so i didn't know what to expect. Caitlin is best friends with Kyle and both are in love with each other but neither one knows it. When Kyle proposes Caitlin is stunned and then knocked back when she finds out he's only practicing so he can ask another woman. This one didn't really work for me. The characters are all kind of shallow and/or mean. It wasn't very uplifting  or fun for a holiday book. I did like the ending where Kyle finally got a clue and also a backbone. I would still give this author another chance. This was only a novella which isn't enough to judge if you like a author or not. Unfortunately this one is only 2 out 5 stars for me. 

Overall Romancing the Holiday anthology as a whole is a solid 4 out of 5 stars. Definitely worth picking up and reading. HelenKay Dimon and Jaci Burton's novella's are totally worth it.

Find out more about the authors on their website's.
www.helenkaydimon.com
www.jaciburton.com
www.christibarth.com

Book Review: Holiday Kisses Alison Kent,Jaci Burton, HelenKay Dimon,Shannon Stacey

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like...Love!


A man gives the gift of trust and receives a second chance at love in return. A woman helps to heal the wounded heart of a soldier. A couple finds that true love knows no distance. And a young widow learns that there can be two great loves in a lifetime. Love, romance and passion come together in this collection of four seasonal shorts.

Anthology includes:
This Time Next Year by Alison Kent
A Rare Gift by Jaci Burton
It's Not Christmas Without You by HelenKay Dimon
Mistletoe and Margaritas by Shannon Stacey

Stories also available for purchase separately.

This is four really good short novellas. Most novellas make me feel like i want more and i need more but really none of these really did that to me this time. As a matter of fact This Time Next Year i kind of forgot this was a novella. This Time Next Year by Alison Kent is about Brenna Keating trying to get to her grandmothers for Christmas before she leaves for a year in Africa as a volunteer nurse. A car crash in blizzard conditions lands her in the home of  Dr Dillion Craig home from the Army for good after spending a lot of time in a war zone. Each helps the others hearts heal but Dillion has the most to over come with his war time memories. I think this one was my favorite. First time reading Alison Kent to so that's a bonus. A+ for this one. A Rare Gift was Jaci Burton's contribution to the anthology.  This one is a bit of fun. Calliope has always been in love with Wyatt but Wyatt fell for her older sister first and now a few years divorced she's decided it's time to get her man.  Wyatt's construction company takes on the job of adding a addition on to Calliope's daycare center and that finds Wyatt the one in charge of work being done there. The man can't seem to get away from Calliope and that's just how she wants it. Cute and funny this one will make you laugh at Calliope antics to get her man. Solid B for this one. It's not Christmas Without you by HelenKay Dimon is the next one up in the anthology and another funny one. Carrie moved to Washing DC for her dream job. The man she loves Austin thought it was going to be temporary. He didn't understand her dream. It was to hard to face him again for Christmas so Carrie decided to stay in DC and work this year. Once Austin finds this out he decides it's time to go get his woman and drags his brother Spence off with him to DC to set up a Christmas tree lot across from her apartment and find a way to get her to see she belongs back in West Virginia back home with him. What follows is some of the funniest scenes. I admit i did some giggling. Will Austin ever get the picture she's not just playing at a career this is what she loves. Definite A material here folks. The last one Mistletoe and Margaritas by Shannon Stacey bring up the end of this anthology book. This was had it's funny moments but was sweet too. Claire meets these two incredible guys who are best friends. Marries one who dies in a terrible car accident she partly blames herself for. The other guy, Justin who has been her best friend secretly has been in love with her. He feels guilt for wanting his best friends wife. Claire starts finding she has feelings for Justin that are not best friend type feelings. Now what? Attending a party together and getting a little sloshed gives Claire the courage to go after her man but can they truly get past the feelings of guilt to find love? This one made me want to go for a ride in a snow plow truck. Read the book to find out why. A- for this one. As a whole this was one of the best Christmas themed books I have read this year. I Hope you'll give it a whirl i don't think you'll be disappointed.  5 out of 5 Modokker Book Pick Stars for Holiday Kisses. Find out more about the authors by clicking the links below. The anthology cover is a beauty but if you go the authors websites you can see their you can see their individual covers which are pretty cool as well.

www.alisonkent.com
www.jaciburton.com
www.helenkaydimon.com
www.shannonstacey.com

Book review: The Heart of Killer ( Book 1 The Killer series) by author Jaci Burton

ARC provided through netgalley.com



The Heart of a Killer

Book One in The Killer Series
Available now at: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books a Million, Chapters, The Book Depository.

No one said coming home would be easy. But for Dante Renaldi, it's murder.

Before the Special Forces hero has even unpacked his bags from twelve years of active duty, he's embroiled in murder—corpses bearing the brutal trademark he's seen only once before—on the worst night of his life.

The last time Detective Anna Pallino saw Dante Renaldi, they were in love. Now, he's part of the connection to a string of fresh homicides and a horrible assault Anna only survived thanks to him.

More than anything, Anna wants to trust Dante. But as the bodies and the coincidences stack up, Anna will have to decide, and fast: Is the man she owes her life to the very same one who wants her dead?

This is a brand new series by Jaci Burton called The Killer series. The heart of a Killer is book one. On her website she doesn't have any info on the next book so I'm not sure how this series will go. If the characters from book one will be in book two and so on. Time will tell. For this book  I have to say I have not read anything like this from Jaci before. I am only familiar with some of her contemporary books. This one was good but here and there i got kind of bored. Just a smidge though. In the beginning of the book starts with a prologue that explains how the main characters know each other as teenagers first, bonded as friends that ends with a terrifying ordeal and a death. Anna and Dante are a item and he just picks up and leaves it seems after the ordeal.  The book picks up after that 12 years later with Dante coming back after being gone for those 12 years and another murder. This book is heavy on thrilling suspense and light on romance.  It definitely leans more to the suspense. There are several murders that surprised me and the killer was a surprise as well. I had a suspect in mind but then he ended up dead so when i thought i had it maybe figured out i was wrong. lol This is a good sign in a book. If you can figure it out before your halfway through where's the fun? I can honestly say i was surprised and a bit shocked by who the killer was. You start liking your characters it sucks when they are not what you thought. I am excited to see where Ms. Burton goes with this series.  Aside from being bored a few times it was a great read with well written characters and a good plot. Certainly kept me guessing. 3 1/2 Modokker Book Pick Stars for Heart of a Killer. You can find out more about this book and Jaci Burton's other works by check out her website here. www.jaciburton.com/