Showing posts with label 5 stars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 5 stars. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

#BookReview - Christmas Lovebirds - Romance

Love is in the air, especially around Christmas time. Meet the Hart family in my new sweet Have A Hart series. These romances are PG-rated, clean and wholesome, just in time for the holidays.

Melisa Hart has a soft spot for her brother Connor’s ex-best buddy, Rob Reed. Unfortunately, Rob slept with Connor’s girlfriend and is no longer welcome with any of the Harts.

Melisa lends her pet lovebird for a Christmas Toy Drive, but a mix-up brings her face to face with Rob and his lovebird. Melisa is drawn into a whirlwind romance with Rob and discovers he hasn’t told her the entire story.

Can two little lovebirds and Christmas cheer open Melisa’s heart to giving Rob another chance?

Amazon Kindle US UK DE FR ES IT NL JP BR CA MX AU IN


~~Review~~
Melisa, Rob, and their pair of lovebirds are the perfect Christmas read! When a kindergarten school teacher runs into the man she's had a crush on her entire life but her entire family hates for something that happened in the past, what can the girl do? What besides find a reason to see him again!

Heartthrob Dr. Rob is charming, handsome, and so attentive to all Melisa's needs. He's a man any of us would love to take home! Not to say he's perfect, and when Rob messes up big time, he'll have to pull out all the stops to win Melisa's heart before Christmas.

I thought this was a fun, cute read with some parts that made me actually laugh out loud. I really enjoyed it!
~~Excerpt~~

He took a breather and stared into her eyes, knowing he was grinning and not caring one bit. “You know what I want to do?”

She lowered her gaze and bit her lip. “Whatever you want.”

“Yeah, I got that the first time.” A shiver went through his spine and he trailed a finger down the side of her cheek. “I want to cherish you, hold you close, make you happy. I want you to feel loved, but also give you wings to fly. Protect you. Let you explore, conquer, and do, knowing I’ll be here whenever you need and want me.”

Her eyes sparkled along with the look of wonder on her face. “That’s the most romantic thing anyone’s ever said to me.”

His heart blossomed full of love and happiness. “That’s what I want to be for you. The guy who’ll celebrate your successes, cheer you on, but wipe the tears when you fall, then pick you back up.”

“You’re too perfect. What’s going to happen?” Her brows furrowed. “Am I dreaming? Or did you put something in those pain pills?”

He chuckled and dotted a kiss on her cheek. “Speaking of, let me check your hand and the swelling. If you’re able to tolerate it, we’ll get you onto Tylenol, then you won’t be fuzzyheaded and have an excuse for kissing me.”

“No excuse needed. I had a crush on you forever, but I guess no one told you.”

“No one did. Family code of silence?”

“You make us Harts sound like the Mafia, but true.”

“Guess it cuts both ways then.” He tipped her chin and rubbed his nose on hers. “Because all the Reeds knew how I felt about you and no one told.”

About Have a Hart Romances:
Fall in love with the Hart Family of firefighters. Brave, caring, and compassionate, they put themselves in danger and don't expect any applause. Their motto is "Heart Comes First," and they put their hearts in their family, jobs, and their animal friends. Join each of the Hart brothers and sisters as they find the one heart destined for their love, along with a cute little pet bird, puppy, kitten or more.
Cait
Connor (Spring Fling Kitty, #3)
Twins: Jenna (Valentine Hound Dog, #2) and Grady
Melisa (Christmas Lovebird, #1 - Available NOW)
Dale

~~About the Author~~

Rachelle Ayala is a bestselling author of contemporary romance and romantic suspense. Her foremost goal is to take readers on a shared emotional journey with her characters as they grow and become more true to themselves. Rachelle believes in the power of love to overcome obstacles and feels that everyone should find love as often as possible, especially if it's within the pages of a book.

Her book, Knowing Vera, won the 2015 Angie Ovation Award, and A Father for Christmas garnered a 2015 Readers’ Favorite Gold Award.

She is also a writing teacher and founder of the Romance In A Month writing community. She lives in California with her husband and has three children and two birds.

Message:
Hello everyone. I am a writer who loves to combine romance with suspense and humor. My foremost goal is to take you, the reader, on a shared emotional journey with me as my characters grow and become more true to themselves. I believe stories are the means for us to connect and experience life in new ways. As a writer, I’m privileged to share my private dreams and visions with readers. I’m a romantic. I believe in the power of love to overcome obstacles and feel that everyone should find love as often as possible, even if it's within the pages of a book. Happy reading and loving!

Download a FREE surprise ebook by subscribing to her newsletter: http://bit.ly/RachAyala and find her books at online retailers Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, Apple iBookstore, Google Play, and Smashwords. Borrow her books at Scribd.

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

#BookReview - Intercepted by Love #1 - Romance

newinterceptedreleasetour
What would you do if you threw away the Super Bowl on a last minute end-zone interception? Meet Cade Prescott: backup quarterback for the Los Angeles Flash in their new Hollywood Stadium. He alone is responsible for his team losing the Super Bowl, so he escapes to a small college town in upstate New York to hide and lick his wounds. Meet Andie Wales: Research librarian. She and her archaeologist family share a vivid interest in King David. In addition to his official history, she's also an expert on his love lives [plural, because of his multiple wives]. She works in a library in a small college town in upstate New York.
“… enchanting story of two people from completely different worlds” – Keli Morgan
Cade-Andie-493x772
~ Description ~
Pro quarterback Cade Prescott’s last play was to lose the Super Bowl for his team. To escape the bad press and recover from the disastrous season, he changes his appearance and hides away at a sleepy university town. Andie Wales’s first love is researching ancient bad boy kings. She is blissfully unaware of the Super Bowl and modern day bad boys. When her dog meets and mates with Cade’s dog, Andie’s first concern is to get her dog to a vet. She gets waylaid by Cade and his hunky good looks and has no idea just how out of her league Cade is. Despite his secrets, Cade feels differently about Andie and thinks he might be falling in love. Unfortunately, his past catches up with him, and he is forced to make a difficult decision. Can a professional athlete and a research librarian truly prove the axiom that opposites not just attract, but were meant for each other?
diamondswirl
~ My Review ~
Be prepared to spend your afternoon with this couple once you start reading! Couldn't pull myself away as I dove into this lusty book. Cade and Andie are hot! Even though they try to deny anything more than physical attraction going on, I couldn't wait to see what would happen when they started seeing each other differently.

They are both great characters. I love how independent and strong Andie is. I think the thing I love most about Cade is learning about his past and seeing the man he will grow into as the series develops. The secondary plot of them both loving dogs and working together because of that was intriguing too. 

My only complaint? The darn cliffhanger and the fact that the other book isn't out yet! A fun read and I look forward to the remaining books in the series! 5 big stars! 

Intercepted by Love #1 is available at Amazon, Read FREE if on KindleUnlimited or buy for 99cents
Intercepted by Love #2 is available for Pre-order
and #3 is in the works. :)
diamondswirl
~About Rachelle ~
rachelle-ayala-author-photo
Rachelle Ayala is a bestselling Asian American author of dramatic romantic suspense and humorous, sexy contemporary romances. Her heroines are feisty and her heroes hot. She writes emotionally challenging stories but believes in the power of love and hope. Subscribe to her mailing list for upcoming books and giveaways: http://bit.ly/RachAyala and find her books at online retailers Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, Apple iBookstore, and Smashwords.
Books by Rachelle Ayala
Sánchez Sisters
Jewells in Love
Sports Romances
Intercepted-collage-trio
Want to Contact Rachelle?


Wednesday, March 4, 2015

#BookReview - 5 stars - Romance (Coming Home)

Title: COMING HOME (The Santa Monica Trilogy, #2)

Author: Jill Blake
Genre: Contemporary Romance
My rating: 5 big stars!



Eight years ago, Grace went to New York to meet the father she never knew. Drawn into a frenetic life among Manhattan's über-rich, she ends up staying—until the collapse of her marriage sends her fleeing back to California.

After his college girlfriend dumped him without explanation, Logan spent eight years building his career and sampling some of L.A.’s finest talent. Now that Grace is back in town, he can’t stop thinking about her and wondering, What if…?

Sometimes first love deserves a second chance.





My Review: 
This story is so great! I read it in just one day, unable to put it down. The characters have a lot to work out, and my heart ached for poor Grace as she worked through the aftermath of being with an abusive husband. Logan was just so dang sweet. Really great hero material. Perfect book boyfriend!

The writer’s style is wonderfully easy to read with great pacing and flow. The story itself is a real page-turner. I read this book before reading book 1, but loved it so much that I’m going back to read the first in the series and see what Eva’s story is all about. I highly recommend this! 5+ stars!!

Friday, February 20, 2015

#BookReview - Fear of Striking Out - Romance

TITLE: Fear of Striking Out
AUTHOR: Lyssa Layne
GENRE: Contemporary Romance
RATING: 5 stars


Shortstop Tate James has been traded from the all-American town of Milwaukee to the trendy City of Angels. 

Pink hair, manscaping, dogs in purses... not his thing. This ball player is less than excited about his new hometown. That is until he crosses paths with beautiful Mia Tomko. She lets him know that not all L.A. women are just after fame and fortune.

As Tate and Mia find that their interest in each other isn't the only thing they have in common, neither are prepared for what their future holds. 

When someone from both of their pasts arrives, will it tear them apart or make them closer?

~~My Review~~

I was happy to get to read the continuation of Layne’s baseball books. I think this second book is even better than the first. Mia and Tate are a couple I really enjoyed reading. While Mia is running from a bad past and Tate should be focused on his position on the new team, there is something that keeps drawing them together. Even with the long distances that separate them at times, this slow burn romance makes you want things to work out for the pair.

One thing that impressed me the most was Mia and how strong she really was. Sure, she’d had a rough life and a past that is hard to handle, but she is a strong heroine and someone to admire.

It was also nice to have Collie and Grant get in on some of the action in this book, like revisiting old friends.

This author continues to improve and I enjoyed this story.

~~Book Links~~

Thursday, January 22, 2015

#BookReview - Time Out, Valentine - Melinda Dozier

Time Out, Valentine
by Melinda Dozier
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: January 21, 2015




Lexi’s life is one big dump. Or so she thinks. To keep her mind off her latest breakup, she stays busy with work. It’s no big deal, since writing for Time Out Portland Magazine is a blast…except for the one small snag – Grant Reeds.

Grant, a shy but sexy computer geek, is new to Time Out, working as the Networking Director for the online magazine. Even though Lexi thinks he doesn't notice her, he sure as hell does. The owners have a plan for their upcoming Valentine’s Special, pairing up the two to explore romantic date ideas around the city.

Soon, Lexi and Grant learn that the old adage, “Opposites Attract,” can ring true.


~~My Review~~

So much fun! The heat between Lexi and Grant is a palpable tension that the reader feels from page one in this fun romp of a story! Lexi's been hurt in the past and swears off men, but who can resist sweet, geeky Grant? Besides, one kiss from him... yowza!

Be prepared for some fun dates and sizzling love scenes! These two are hot! I spent an enjoyable evening watching their love unfold and it was time well spent! Highly recommend this title and can't wait for this author's next! 5 stars!

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

#BookReview - Starting Over by Michele Shriver




Title: Starting Over
Author: Michele Shriver
 Release Date: December 9, 2014


Synopsis

Liz Matthews agrees to a blind date for her daughter’s wedding with only one goal in mind- making her ex-husband jealous. The plan works, but also backfires as she finds herself enjoying the company of her younger date.

Widower Bennett Grayson has his hands full enough adapting to single parenthood of a teenage son and has no intention of falling in love again.  When a friend arranges a blind date, Ben reluctantly accepts as a favor to his friend, but gets more than he bargained as the funny and charming divorcee catches his eye.

Brandt Matthews has much to atone for in life, starting with his daughter and his ex-wife. In spite of their troubled marriage, the one constant for Brandt has been Liz, until a new man in her life makes him realize how much he stands to lose- or has already lost. 

As Liz and Ben embark on a new adventure called dating, they are faced with a host of challenges, including the ghosts of the past and Ben’s son Landon, who wants nothing to do with his father’s new girlfriend.  Can they overcome the obstacles and start a new life together,  or will Liz succumb to Brandt’s charms again?






Links to Buy

AMAZON US / UK / AU / CA / FR / DE




Review

Another hit! The thing I love about this author is the way she takes real issues that I feel like could happen to any person I know and turns them into a compelling story. Liz is a character that I really enjoyed. She might be over 50, but that doesn’t mean she’s out of the dating market or doesn’t deserve true love! Now, if only her new beau’s son would be just as happy about the budding relationship as Liz’s daughter, Chelsea is.

I loved watching the relationship develop from a simple blind date into something that may help Liz get over her ex-husband (who she’s always loved, even if he didn’t deserve it) and help Ben realize there is life after love. Now, if the two of them can just work out the details and learn to trust, we might have something to celebrate.

I cheered for these two throughout, hoping they could both overcome their problems to find the happily ever after they so deserve! Another great story! 5 stars!




Excerpt

Something was wrong with this picture, Ben decided as he watched Liz dance with her ex-husband. Oh, they certainly made a very attractive couple as they moved across the floor with a grace that reflected many dances together. And Brandt looked at Liz the way Ben expected she wanted him to look at her—as if she was the only woman in the world. Heck, at one point it even appeared Brandt would kiss her, right there in front of his date, and hers, and an entire wedding party. Liz’s plan to get Brandt’s attention seemed to be working to perfection.
So why didn’t she look happy to be on the receiving end of that attention? Why did she pull away, rebuffing Brandt’s attempt to kiss her, rather than moving into it? And why was Ben so relieved when she did? His role was supposed to be to make Brandt jealous, and suddenly Ben was the jealous one.
The song ended and Liz separated herself from Brandt and made her way back to where Ben stood. “Sorry about that,” she said.
“Don’t be. I know my role.” He’d played it well so far, and Ben planned to continue. “I would like to dance with you, if you’re still interested.”
“I am, yes.”
Ben took Liz’s hand and led her to the dance floor and settled his hand in the small of her back. He hadn’t shared a slow dance with anyone but Amy in two decades, and he hoped he wouldn’t trip over his own feet. “We get a better choice in songs, at least,” he remarked as Lifehouse’s You and Me began to play. The lyrics were appropriate, too, since Ben couldn’t seem to keep his eyes off of Liz, and he sure couldn’t explain why.
“I was thinking the same.”
“So you don’t like Endless Love, either?”
“Not so much, no,” Liz said. “Brandt thought he was being cute by requesting it. It was our wedding song.”
She didn’t sound at all happy about it, which would match her expression during the dance. Ben officially had no idea what to make of Liz’s relationship with her ex-husband. “And you don’t look back on your wedding day fondly?” He hoped he wasn’t prying. Surely, she’d understand that he had some questions, given the events of the afternoon.
“Oh, the wedding day was fine,” Liz said. “It’s the marriage that left something to be desired.”
“Yet you still want him back.” It was a statement, not a question.
Liz frowned. “What gave you that idea?”
So she claimed to not want Brandt back? Now Ben was more confused than ever. “Not what. Who. Todd, when he suggested this whole thing to me.”
“Of course. I should have figured.” Liz chuckled. “I’m afraid our mutual friends don’t always understand my somewhat twisted history with Brandt.”
“That makes three of us, then,” Ben said. “Are you saying you don’t want him back?” He found himself hoping that was the case, although the whole jealousy plan would then make even less sense.
“I wish I could give you an easy answer.” Liz sighed. “It’s a long story. Maybe I’ll get a chance to tell you sometime. I probably owe you that much, given what you’ve had to put up with today. For now, can we just dance? I like dancing with you, Bennett Grayson.”
Ben nodded, happy to oblige. “I like dancing with you too.”

 ***

By the time she left the museum following the reception, Liz wanted a warm bath, a cold glass of wine and the chance to unwind and reflect after an afternoon that managed to be joyous, bittersweet, and maddeningly confusing all at the same time. First, she had an obligation to get her date back home safely. Although he’d played his part to perfection, Liz figured Ben was probably more than ready for their date to be over. And who could blame him? He’d just endured an afternoon with a babbling, blubbering mother-of-the-bride who couldn’t seem to make up her mind what she wanted from her ex-husband.
She silently cursed Brandt as she drove back to Concord. Maggie had certainly nailed it when she remarked on Brandt’s ability to mess with Liz’s head and heart. He’d done plenty of both today, from showing up with Marissa, to choosing their wedding song for the dance, the barely-averted kiss attempt and then almost sounding regretful when she reminded him of the infidelities that ended their marriage.
“You’re very quiet all of the sudden,” Ben remarked.
“Just tired. It’s been quite a day,” Liz said. “Besides, I figure you’ve probably had enough of me by now.”
“Actually, I had a good time today. I enjoyed getting to know you, Liz.”
“Me too,” she admitted as she pulled the car to a stop in front of Ben’s house. He was intelligent, funny and a perfect gentleman. Oh, and gorgeous. How could she forget that? “You’re a good sport for going along with all of this.”
“Like I said, I enjoyed it.” He shrugged. “And hey, I got to put those acting classes to good use.”
Acting classes. That’s right. None of his attention was real. She needed to remember that. “I’m glad they came in handy.” She gave him a smile. “Good night, Ben.”
 He unfastened his seatbelt, but instead of reaching for the door handle he turned to face her. “Good night, Liz.” He put his hand on her cheek and brushed his lips across hers.
When Brandt tried to kiss her, Liz’s first instinct had been to pull away. This time, her body had the opposite reaction. It didn’t want to pull away. It wanted to move closer. It wanted to respond to the sensation of Ben’s lips on hers. Common sense prevailed, though. “There’s no one else around.” The words came out slightly breathless. “You don’t have to pretend to be interested in me anymore.”
“I know that,” Ben said, then let himself out of the car.



Author Bio


Michele Shriver writes women’s fiction and contemporary romance. Her books feature flawed-but-likeable characters in real-life settings. She’s not afraid to break the rules, but never stops believing in happily ever after. Michele counts among her favorite things a good glass of wine, a hockey game, and a sweet and sexy book boyfriend, not necessarily in that order.



Author Links

Giveaway


Friday, September 26, 2014

#Bookreview ~ Laurel Heights ~ Paranormal Romantic Suspense

LAUREL HEIGHTS
Author: Denise Moncrief
Genre: Paranormal Romantic Suspense
My Rating: 5 stars!

Tagline:
Murder, revenge, and nightmares. Can their love survive the haunting of Laurel Heights?

Blurb:
A dark cloud of deceit hovers over her family tree...

Left an estate by an aunt she’s never met, Laurel Standridge takes possession of Laurel Heights, hoping it will be the safe haven she needs to recuperate from her ill-fated relationship with Rand Peterson. Secrets long buried rise to the surface when her cousin James is murdered and dumped on the highway just outside the gates of Laurel Heights.

Her past trails her to the mountains of Arkansas...

Caught in an obligation Chase Peterson feels he cannot ignore, he agrees to help his brother Rand take back the property he believes Laurel stole from him, but Chase remains at Laurel Heights after he discovers Laurel took nothing of Rand’s away with her except nightmares, fading bruises, and a broken rib.

Unexplained disturbances shatter her hopes of a normal life...

Are the strange bumps, thumps, and bangs reverberating through the night caused by the murderer of Laurel’s cousin James, someone Rand has sent to exact his revenge, or a disturbed soul existing in another dimension, trying to communicate with the living? Drawn together by the intrigue surrounding Laurel Heights, Chase and Laurel become hopelessly entangled in a relationship that goes deeper than lust. Can their love survive the haunting of Laurel Heights?


My Review:
I’ve read several books by this author now, but this is by far my favorite! The creep factor of the haunted house mixed in with Laurel’s horrible past and all the things she’s running from while trying to rebuild her life. It is a compelling read that left me pouring over my Kindle well into the night.

I liked Laurel from the start, identifying with her introverted ways, while sympathizing with what her jerk of an ex did to her. Of course, Chase makes great hero material. Who doesn’t like a sexy handyman? So much was happening throughout the book with a great mystery underlying it all, but I enjoyed the paranormal aspects most of all.

If you like mysteries, romance, or a great paranormal read, don’t miss this one! 
Five stars!! 

Buy it now! 

Friday, August 8, 2014

#BookReview - Lost Avalon: A Finding Nolan Novel

Title: Lost Avalon: A Finding Nolan Novel
Author: K.S. Thomas
Release date: July 22, 2014
Genre: Contemporary Romance
My rating: 5 stars!


lostavalonEBOOK

Fame, fortune and a future paved with rock and roll gold. Blaise Nolan has it all. With his brooding good looks, haunting voice and troubled lyrics of a soul gone lost, it's no wonder Finding Nolan has been climbing the music charts with back to back hits. Only Blaise didn't wind up brooding, haunted and lost by accident...

Avalon Jennison has been the girl next door since she was five. The best friend since she was eight. The band manager since she was sixteen and the keeper of his secrets always. Ava's been there every step of the way, helping him live his dreams and keeping his nightmares at bay. But the years of putting Blaise's needs above her own are about to be over.

However, Blaise has one secret even Ava doesn't know..and it could be the thing that breaks her heart completely, or finally puts it back together.

**CONTENT WARNING ~ ADULT LANGUAGE**




REVIEW: 
Another winner for me and a real page turner! Ava and Blaise have so much to overcome and deal with throughout the book, and I rooted for them to work things out and for Blaise to defeat his problems. Mostly, I wanted to see Ava get the love she deserved and realize how much she really did deserve it. She's such a great character. I loved her attitude and the way she views things, but she also let herself be taken advantage of so much. She gave too much of herself, and I hoped she'd learn to stand up for what she needed. 

Blaise fighting his demons and the troubles that come along with that seemed so realistic that I worried the hurts he had could ever be healed. There were parts that were so tough, mixed with the sweetness and romance. I really wanted him to figure this all out and go after what really mattered to him.

K.S. Thomas' skills improve with each novel she writes. I loved this story and look forward to her next book!

Friday, July 25, 2014

#BookReview - Played by Love - Rachelle Ayala

Title: Played by Love: A #Played Novella
Author: Rachelle Ayala
Genre: Romance (Novella)
Length: 77 pages
Rating: 5 stars!!

Soccer goalkeeper, Jaden Sloup, has his eye on Ella Kennedy, a woman who won’t date jocks or frat boys. He dons a pair of nerd glasses and hugs a laptop to convince her he’s a techno geek, and she agrees to go to Las Vegas with him for a cosplay convention where his team’s playoff game happens to be.

Jaden must juggle sizzling in the sheets with Ella against a soccer match and hanging with his frat brother teammates. When a bully harasses Ella and challenges Jaden to a fight, he proves that even a goalie can score.

WARNING: must be over 18 to read, so fasten your seatbelts, because sporty men and enthusiastic women make the very best lovers.

Played by Love is available from Amazon only and available through Amazon's #KindleUnlimited plan! Pick up your copy before Comic-con and see what fabulous costumes Ella comes up with.

http://amzn.to/1nSbmhF
REVIEW:
What would you do for lust, or love? Rachelle Ayala has done it again. Her writing talent just continues to grow with every new project. I've not read a lot of novellas, so the fast pace was a bit different for me, but it was a fun romp with all the delicious romance and steam you could ask for. I liked Jaden - a sweet man trying to be a macho frat jock, never suspecting that his plans to woo Ella would turn into anything more than a fun time, especially if she ever discovered the truth about his deception. Ella is great - maybe a bit odd, but in a good way. Funny and someone I could see myself being friends with. I really liked her and wanted her to get a happy ending and be able to put her past troubles behind her.

And when Jaden swoops in to rescue her and they really open up to each other... sigh. I rooted for these two all the way through. Steamy, sexy, and a lot of fun! Can't wait for Rachelle's next book!