Tuesday, April 14, 2015

ARC Book review: From Best Friend to Bride (Book 3 in the St. Johns of Stonerock Harlequin Special Edition) by Jules Bennett



eARC provided by author for review
Available April 21st

MARRYING HIS/HER BEST FRIEND

Therapist Megan Richards provides her patients with expert counsel but she can't remedy her lifelong love for her best friend. Police chief Cameron St. John is the perfect man kind, thoughtful and oh-so-sexy. Megan doesn't want to confess her feelings and risk their closeness even if it means finding the happiness she's always longed for.

Cameron keeps citizens safe for a living, but even he can't protect his own heart from Megan. He's always steadfastly been by her side, but as a buddy. Until he realizes that his feelings for her are anything but friendly and that by declaring himself, he might lose her friendship, but gain so much more.

What do you do when you are attracted to your best friend and he appears to be clueless. This is Megan Richard problem. Her best friend Cameron St John is also the police chief and says he is does not want a long term  relationships because of the danger in his job. If They cross the friendship barrier and things go south then what? Once they finally cross that line though all bets are off.



Megan and Cameron have been best friends for years. As they got older at some point each realized that they had feelings that were more than just friends. Megan is on the fence about telling Cameron how she feels, because Cameron keeps bringing up the fact that he will never get into a serious relationship with a woman. He won't subject someone he loves to the worrying and the possibility of something happening to him on the job.He's the chief of police.  Megan gets a job offer that will elevate her career and mean more money. If she can't have Cameron as more than a friend then maybe she should take the job and get away from  him so that maybe she can get over wanting him. Should she at least risk it before leaving? It's fun to watch Megan and Cameron negotiate their way through the changes in their relationship. Not only to they have to decide if they should pursue their feeling they also have to worry about Megan's brother Evan who can't seem to stay out of trouble. A great friends to lovers story. 


Find out more about this series and author Jules Bennet here www.julesbennett.com

Monday, April 6, 2015

ARC Book review: Hold Me (Fool's Gold #16) by Susan Mallery


Available April 28th 2015
eARC provided by Publisher through Netgalley

New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery's classic blend of lighthearted humor and intense emotional conflict works its magic on two newcomers to the California town of Fool's Gold, which Library Journal calls "a setting so real and appealing readers will want to start scoping out real estate." 

Destiny Mills believes passion has its place—like in the lyrics of the country songs that made her parents famous. After a childhood full of drama and heartache, she wants a life that's calm. Safe. Everything that Kipling Gilmore isn't. Her temporary assignment with the Fool's Gold search and rescue team puts her in delicious proximity to the former world-class skier every day. Part of her aches to let go for once…the rest is terrified what'll happen if she does. 

Though an accident ended his career, Kipling still lives for thrills—and a hot fling with a gorgeous redhead like Destiny would be a welcome diversion. Yet beneath his new coworker's cool facade is a woman who needs more than he's ever given. With her, he's ready to take the risk. But love, like skiing, is all about trust—and before you soar, you have to be willing to fall.



Back to Fools Gold California with Susan Mallery. Kipling Gilmore was mentioned in the last book of this series but just a blip really. Mayor Marsha turned up in his life long enough to make a promise to him and that's about it. Now it's a year later and he is living in Fools Gold and running the town's new HERO program for rescuing people who get lost in the mountains. This brings him in contact with Destiny Mills who travels for the company that is providing the software program for HERO. Destiny is the one who sets everything up and helps train the people who will use it. Destiny has always kept to herself and led a very singular life. Always on the fringe. This is because of her family and her upbringing. She learned that love is something that hurts and she wants no part of it. Kipling on the other hand has a need to fix everyone's problem. Guilt over not helping his sister sooner from a abusive situation drives him to do this. He's never experienced real love and doesn't want to get tangled up either. Add in people and situation popping up for both in this book and there  is a lot of stuff going on. For me this one had something missing. I kept waiting for something to bring it together for me. It felt like the relationship dragged and then jumped ahead and then it was over. I didn't like the whole situation with Kipling's bar "The man Cave".  He went into the bar business with several friends and they all bailed out on him without doing anything to help out. For Fools Gold being so friendly i was disappointed in this. The whole idea there can only be one bar in town in crazy for the size of the town. I think i liked the secondary characters better than the main characters. It's not my favorite by any means but it overall it was still enjoyable.

Find out more about the series and Susan Mallery here www.susanmallery.com

Friday, April 3, 2015

ARC Book review: Still the One (Animal Magnetism #6) by Jill Shalvis


eARC provided by publisher through Netgalley
Available April 7th 2015

Darcy Stone is game for anything — except sexy Navy veteran and physical therapist A.J. Colten, the guy who'd rejected her when she'd needed him most. Now the shoe is on the other foot and he needs her to play nice and help him secure grants for his patients. Unfortunately, Darcy can't refuse. She needs the money to fund her passion project: rescuing S&R dogs and placing them with emotionally wounded soldiers.

A.J. admits it — Darcy is irresistible. But he's already been battle-scarred by a strong-willed, vivacious, adventurous woman like Darcy, and he's not making the same mistake twice—until he and Darcy are forced to fake a relationship. Growing closer than they'd ever imagined possible, Darcy and AJ have to ask themselves: how much between them is pretend? What's the real thing? And where does it go from here?

Jill Shalvis takes us back again to Sunshine, Idaho. Darcy Stone has slowly worked her way back to the land of the living after a terrible car accident nearly killed.  A.J. Colton is the physical therapist and her brothers best friend that patched her back together. She works part time for him as a receptionist and sparks fly between the two of them. Darcy likes to come off as a snarky and a bit rude but she has a heart of gold and is really vulnerable. A.J. is the one person who can see right through her though. After finding out he did alot of the therapy on her for free she agrees to go along with him to a weekend trip to get grants for his patients. It all seems simple if they don't kill each other first. Jill Shalvis always rights an enjoyable book. There are always funny and emotional moments along with a little sexy. Darcy is a tough one for me. I wasn't sure i could like her when she first appeared in this series but each time we see her we find out more and more about what makes her tick. In reality she's had to deal with a lot of family issues growing up and then her accident and losing her independence as well as her income is devastating. Anyone would fall apart, but with a little help from her siblings and A.J. she pulls herself through. You can't help but hope it works out between her and A.J. Another great story from Jill Shalvis!


Find out more about this book and Jill Shalvis here www.jillshalvis.com

Thursday, April 2, 2015

ARC Book review: Wrapped Around Him (Moroad MC #1) by Debra Kayn


Available now!
eARC Provided by author

Empathy is an emotion that has always evaded Cam Farrell, president of the Moroad Motorcycle Club and prisoner #18794. He's gambled with his life to finish the gun chain running across the states, get the majority of his MC brothers working inside the prison system, and place the smoke screen in Federal, Idaho. He only needs one more thing—Christina. What he wants, he takes, and freedom doesn't mean a damn thing.

Christina Nickelson keeps to herself and uses her part-time job for Silver Valley's Department of Children's Services to help those who are also alone and hurting. The anger and fear she thought she'd overcome after her parents were murdered resurfaces when an ex-convict and leader of a motorcycle club claims a teenage boy in her care. She can't let her worries go. Putting herself at risk, she finds herself held hostage, witnessing a murder, and questioning fate. The only person she can rely on is the biker who will kill her if she tries to leave.
 


This is a brand new MC series by Debra Kayn. This is a spin off from the Bantourus MC series and starts off with Cam Farrell president of the Moroad MC you met in the Bantourus series if you read that series. If you haven't there is no problem starting with Wrapped Around Him. I have got to say i was unsure i could enjoy a book where the hero is a convict. Cam is a guy torn up by his past and put himself on a path of crime in order to survive. Going to prison is nothing to him. It's part of his life. Then he gets a letter from a young woman (Christina) asking him questions in hopes of understanding  the man who murdered her parents when she was 18. This is not just your run of the mill MC story. This is a very intense book in a lot of ways. Most people will not be able to relate to what the characters are going through and some might find it hard to understand. I know my feeling were all over the place while reading this book. I can't say i didn't like it but i can say that it make you do some thinking. The characters are interesting and complex. For me i had a love hate with most of them. I guess the jury is out on how i feel about Cam. Book 2 is getting ready to come out April 7th i believe so you see what happens next. That's what i am going have to do to see where Cam takes me next. 

Find out more about the series and Debra Kayn here www.debrakayn.com

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

ARC Book review: Catnapped (A Matchmaker Mystery #3) by J.B. Lynn



Available Now~
eARC Provided by author

Cats have nine lives.

People don’t. 

When cyber-sleuth Pete Hanlon goes to the gym, he has no idea he’ll reconnect with the red-hot woman he shared a single, memorable dance with at his brother’s wedding. 

Coolly confident ex-cop Alyssa Montgomery agreed to help out a friend, but soon discovers she must deliver the ransom for a stolen cat. Worse, she needs Pete Hanlon’s help to save the kitty and solve a potentially deadly mystery. 

Can the two work out their differences in time to figure out what’s really going on before something terrible happens? 

Or will they miss out on their one chance love?

Armani is at it again playing matchmacker with her quirky mysterious ways. In Catnapped She matches up Pete Hanlon and Alyssa Montgomery although neither one really is sure they believe in Armani's talents.  Before he knows it Pete is caught up with Melissa helping to find the missing cat and protecting Mrs. M. Melissa is fighting fears from things that happened in her past and letting Pete in isn't a easy to do. It's fun to watch the characters in this story interact. You'll definitely do some laughing reading this book. Armani pops up here and there to give Alyssa or Pete a push in the right direction or at least that's what she thinks she's doing. While trying to solve the mystery Pete and Alyssa get closer and of course there is some action in this book along with the mystery and humor. All around great book and a excellent addition to this series. 

Find out more about this book and series and JB Lynn www.jblynn.com