Review: In Bed With Mr. Wrong by Katee Robert

Title: In Bed With Mr. Wrong

Author: Katee Robert
Publication Date: January 13, 2014
Publisher: Entangled: Brazen
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Find It: Goodreads, Amazon, B&N
Source: Purchased

The blind date from hell is about to get hotter…

Brianne Nave is never doing her friends a favor again. When they begged her to go on a blind date, she didn’t expect someone so perfectly gorgeous. She’s a mousy librarian—totally not in this man’s league. And judging by his odd reaction when she opens the door, he knows it, too.

Air Force Pararescuer Ryan Flannery avoids his hometown at all costs. He’s not thrilled about the date until he’s shocked silent by the prickly little librarian’s sweet curves and kissable lips…and her smart mouth. But then an argument leads to a kiss that spirals out of control. How can two people have so little chemistry outside the bedroom when they fit together so perfectly in it?

When their friends strand them in a cabin to "work things out," Bri’s not sure whether to kill him or put the industrial-sized box of condoms they find to use. Bottom line—Ryan’s career military and hates the tiny town she loves. He’ll leave, just like everyone else in her life. And if she’s foolish enough to give him her heart, he’ll take it with him.

One of the things I like about the Entangled Brazen line is that I can usually find some fun, fast reads. Katee Robert's In Bed With Mr. Wrong fits this description to a tee. This was my first book by Katee Robert and the first in her new Out of Uniform Series. I discovered it while I was browsing either GoodReads or Amazon, and something in one of the reviews made me give it a shot.

In the story, Ryan (the hero) is home from the military for a visit. His brother Drew and his girlfriend, Avery, set him up on a blind date with Bri (the heroine). Ryan is soldier, and very good looking. However, Bri sees herself as a "plain" or "mousy" librarian. When they meet for the first time, Bri misinterprets Ryan's silence to mean that he is underwhelmed by her or not interested. This initial communication breakdown triggers verbal sniping and misunderstanding between the two of them. It also leads to some hot sex. Though Bri is convinced that Ryan is not the man for her, Drew and Avery have other plans which include stranding Ryan and Bri at a cabin in the woods. The couple can either argue their way through the weekend or see if there is something more.

In Bed With Mr. Wrong is truly a fun, fast read. I think I read it in nearly one sitting. I liked Ryan a lot and liked how he cared for Bri. Though Bri had moments where I wanted to shake her, overall I liked her, too. They may have seemed mismatched but the story reveals that the two may be more alike than different. Some of the verbal sparing was hysterical and I found myself laughing so hard that I had to keep wiping the tears from my eyes. However, there were also tender moments as Ryan realizes that Bri is trying to hide behind her walls and avoid the pain that comes with getting too close. It was touching to see how Ryan attempts to provide Bri with some of the experiences she had missed out in her childhood. As a reader, you do understand Bri's background and what causes her to behave in the way she does. It takes her a bit longer than Ryan to come to the realization that he really cares. The epilogue at the end provides readers with a sweet HEA.

I am looking forward to checking out some of Robert's other books and hoping for another fun read such as this one.

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Visit the author online at www.kateerobert.com, Facebook and follow her on Twitter @katee_robert

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Review: Obsession

Obsession (An Arum Novel)
by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Publication date: 31 May 2013 by Entangled Publishing

ISBN 13: 978-1-62266-160-2
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo 

Category: Adult Paranormal Romance
Keywords: Aliens, romance, Happy Ever After
Format:  eBook
Source: Purchased

Synopsis from GoodReads:

This is a stand alone novel that is an adult spin-off of the Lux Series.

He’s arrogant, domineering, and... To. Die. For.

Hunter is a ruthless killer. And the Department of Defense has him firmly in their grasp, which usually doesn’t chafe too badly because he gets to kill bad guys. Most of the time he enjoys his job. That is, until he’s saddled with something he’s never had to do before: protect a human from his mortal enemy.

Serena Cross didn’t believe her best friend when she claimed to have seen the son of a powerful senator turn into something... unnatural. Who would? But then she witnesses her friend’s murder at the hands of what can only be an alien, thrusting her into a world that will kill to protect their secret.

Hunter stirs Serena’s temper and her lust despite their differences. Soon he’s doing the unthinkable—breaking the rules he’s lived by, going against the government to keep Serena safe. But are the aliens and the government the biggest threats to Serena’s life… or is it Hunter?

Review:

Adult fans of Jennifer L. Armentrout's Young Adult Lux Novels will have a new book to enjoy and Obsession frankly blew away the other series in my mind.  I read and liked Obsidian (A Lux Novel #1), but the others were just okay for me.  And though you do not need to read the Lux series to read and enjoy Obsession, I do think it is helpful if you have read at least Obsidian.

In Obsession, Armentrout turns the tables on readers.  Instead of seeing things from the perspective of the Lux (who have pretty much been the heroes in the previous books), Obsession is from the perspective of the Arum.  The Arums are considered enemies of the Lux.  Wow!  Hunter, the main character of the book, is the ultimate anti-hero.  In many ways, Hunter shouldn't be liked or trusted, and he even admits this to Serena.  However, Hunter is definitely a 15 on the 1-10 scale of hotness.

In addition to loving Hunter, and I am not really even into arrogant "bad boys", Serena is a great female character.  She is strong and funny, and gives it right back to Hunter.  I loved when she threw a statute/figurine at Hunter.  Of course, Serena does a few things that made me roll my eyes but seriously, we wouldn't have some of the action scenes without some eye rolling choices.  And the action at the end is definitely worth the wait.

I couldn't put Obsession down and I would definitely recommend it to previous fans of Armentrout, as well as to new readers.

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Visit the author online at jenniferarmentrout.com, her blog, like her on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter @jlarmentrout

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Tall, Dark, and Divine - Review

Tall, Dark, and Divine (Bagging a Greek God #1)
by Jenna Bennett

Publication date: 23 April 2013 by Entangled Publishing

ISBN 10/13: 1622669533/978-1622669530
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo 

Category: Adult Paranormal Romance
Keywords: Greek gods, romance, Happy Ever After
Format:  eBook
Source: Bought

Synopsis from GoodReads:

Annie Landon has given up on finding Mr. Right, and has gone out looking for Mr. Tonight instead. A conversation overheard in the bathroom of Dionysus’s Bar about a jilted and lonely "Greek god" in need of a quick pick-me-up sounds like just what she’s looking for. But picking up the god of love for a one-night stand is easier said than done--especially when he's sworn off mortals forever.

Eros has been down and out since his ex-wife left him, and falling for another mortal woman is the last thing he needs. Which means a maddening desire for the woman across the street is not in the cards. Thus begins his quest to find a match made in heaven for Annie. It's the perfect plan ... if only Eros can bear to let the girl of his dreams go.

Can a woman looking for love, and a matchmaking god who wants her to find it—with someone else—have a shot at a happy ending, or will Eros's golden arrows miss their mark, for once?

Review:

As I read Tall, Dark, And Divine, I kept thinking this would make a great movie for the Hallmark Channel or one of the other channels that specialize in romantic comedies.  Of course, if it were going to be shown on Hallmark, the hot sex scenes would totally need to be eliminated, which would be a total shame.

I enjoy stories where Greek deities are living in modern day settings.  Bennett has set her book in present day New York where Greek gods have assumed every day lives and run businesses such as bars, detective agencies, and even a matchmaking business.  The Greek god of love, yep, is the owner of that matchmaking business. Across from his office is a woman named Annie who owns a doggie bakery.  Harry, an accountant type, stops by the bakery to buy biscuits for his dog.  Eros is struggling some since his break-up with Psyche, but believes that by matching up Annie and Harry that he will be making the perfect match.  However, Harry has fallen for Brita (Britomartis, the Cretan goddess of hunting), and once Annie has met Eros (who goes by the name of Ross), she doesn't really have any interest in Harry. This "perfect match" may be a bit of a challenge, especially as Eros starts having feelings for Annie.

Tall, Dark, And Divine had a mix of things that I really enjoyed.  First, all of the characters are quite fun and likeable.  There are also quite a few humorous lines and scenes that just make you laugh out loud.  And the sexy scenes between Eros and Annie have some great heat without going over the top or dominating the story plot line.

While there were a number of things that I really enjoyed about this book, there were a few things that kept me from giving it a higher rating.  The story line is fairly predictable and at times resulted in some serious eye-rolling when certain scenes were just too obvious.  Annie's negative self-image and Eros's denial of his feelings for Annie became tedious.  I was glad that overall the book read quickly so the scenes that irritated me did not drag on.  Also, for Greek gods and demi-gods, Eros and the others really didn't have too many special abilities/powers, which just seemed strange. 

The last scenes of the book were pretty funny and really made me feel like I could visualize them unfolding on a small screen.  I can almost imagine the music that would play in the background and see who would star in each of the roles.

If you are looking for a fast, fun read, and don't mind a bit of predictability, I would recommend Tall, Dark, And Divine by Jenna Bennett.  

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Visit the author online at jennabennett.com, her blog, like her on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter @bennett_jenna

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Love Me Blog Tour & Author Interview with Diane Alberts

 

If you have been reading our blog recently, you know that I (Liv) am a big fan of Diane Alberts.  Recently, I reviewed her latest book LOVE ME (Take a Chance #2) and loved it.  I was thrilled that Diane was able to stop by and answer some questions for our readers here at Read Now Sleep Later/Nite Lite.  Let's welcome Diane to the blog.

I read somewhere that you have 4 children. That is enough to keep anyone busy. How do you find time to write and where do you like to write? 

I do! They range from the age of 14-4, and they keep me busy, busy, busy! I generally only write during the day, primarily from the hours of 11am-4pm. If I’m on a deadline, then I’ll write all day until they come home from school, but that’s only when needed.

The rest of the day, I’m mommy…or wifey, if the time merits. ;)

And I write at my desk, which is positioned in front of a window in my Dining Room. It’s my mini-office.

Not that long along, I went into one author’s writer space and her whole wall was covered with things that inspired her for her current WIP. Do you like to post pictures and note cards with details about your characters and setting while you are writing? Or are you more high tech and prefer something like Pinterest? 

I actually keep a huge, yes, huge, whiteboard. I make an outline of all the things I need to know. And then on my desk I keep a synopsis next to me, and cross off stuff as I write the book.

Occasionally I’ll look for pictures to give me better idea for my characters, but for the most part, I just go off of my head. ☺

Since I discovered (and fell in love with) the Take a Chance series, I am slowly working my way through all of your books. One of the things I really love about your books is your characters, how do your create your characters and do they ever end up doing something that surprises you? 

That makes me very happy to hear! A lot of the time, I worry my characters will come across as blah, or will be too similar. It’s nice to know they’re not!

But I try to create flawed characters. One of my very first books I wrote, a lot of people said the hero was too perfect. And I looked at him, then realized they were RIGHT. Who wants to read about perfect little people in their perfect little worlds? I try to create real people with real issues—and then do my best to stay true to those characters. My editor helps me a lot with that, thankfully! ☺

It’s almost summer time. Aside from your books (which I would highly suggest to anyone for summer reading), can you name a couple of books that you consider great beach reading?

Oh, any of the Brazen Books from Entangled Publishing. I’m seriously hooked on that line. Can’t wait until mine come out! ~happy dances~

What is the funniest/strangest reaction you have received when you tell someone that you write romance stories/books? 

A lot of the time they kind of look at me and go “O-Oh. I don’t read those, or I’d check them out. But give me your card.” And then you just know half of them are going home and looking it up later. ;)

Thanks Diane for stopping by and answering a few questions! - Liv

Thank you for having me here today. - Diane

Check out Diane's latest book, LOVE ME:
Thomas Jones has come to Vegas to win yet another account for his marketing company. But when he sits across from beautiful and sensual Brianna Faulk to deliver his pitch, his desire to leave Vegas as quickly as possible is replaced by the need to get close to her. Yet she resists his charm. 

Brianna knows a date with Thomas could jeopardize her job, but he’s so maddening and insistent, she has a hard time denying him just one date. But that’s all it can be: one date. Because she has to protect her job and her secrets, even if it means giving up a chance at a life she never thought she’d have again.

About Diane:
Diane Alberts is a multi-published, bestselling author with Entangled Publishing, Swoon Romance, and Decadent Publishing. She has, as of this date, four books with Entangled Publishing, one book with Swoon Romance, and five older books with Decadent Publishing. Her February release with Entangled Publishing, ON ONE CONDITION, hit #18 on the Barnes and Noble bestseller list, and TRY ME hit #76 on Amazon. Her Swoon Romance novella, CAPTIVATED BY YOU, hit #31 on the Barnes and Noble bestseller list. Diane is represented by Louise Fury from the L. Perkins Agency.

Where you can find her:
Website: http://dianealberts.com
Blog: http://dianealberts.com/blog
Twitter: @dianealberts
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Diane-Alberts/121705201245084

Where to find LOVE ME: GoodReads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes

For more interviews and guest posts check out the Blog Tour for LOVE ME, here.

Diane is giving away a Kindle and a customized LOVE ME cover, if LOVE ME makes it into the Top 100! Click here to read more about the giveaway and enter or just enter the Rafflecopter widget below. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Love Me - Review

Love Me (Take a Chance #2)
by Diane Alberts

Publication date: 13 May 2013 by Entangled Publishing

ISBN 10/13:
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo

Category: Adult Contemporary Romance
Keywords: Romance, second chances, ever after
Format: eBook
Source: e-ARC from Entangled Publishing

Synopsis from GoodReads:

Thomas Jones has come to Vegas to win yet another account for his marketing company. But when he sits across from beautiful and sensual Brianna Faulk to deliver his pitch, his desire to leave Vegas as quickly as possible is replaced by the need to get close to her. Yet she resists his charm.

Brianna knows a date with Thomas could jeopardize her job, but he’s so maddening and insistent, she has a hard time denying him just one date. But that’s all it can be: one date. Because she has to protect her job and her secrets, even if it means giving up a chance at a life she never thought she’d have again.
Review:

Some things make me very happy. Getting to read a copy of a much anticipated novel before it is released is one of those things. I had read Try Me (Take a Chance #1) a few months ago and really loved it. I knew there would be another book in the series, but wasn't sure when that would be happening. And then, last week, we received an email about reviewing the e-ARC for Love Me and I think I squealed and danced some when I read that email. A couple of days later, I moved Love Me to the top of the "to-read" pile, curled up and read this in one sitting.
Here is a snippet of my conversation with my co-blogger Thuy and author, Diane Alberts after reading it:

As you can tell, I liked the book a lot.

In Love Me, we get to see more of Erica's brother Tommy (or Thomas as he prefers).  Thomas originally managed marketing accounts in Las Vegas for his company in order to see his sister regularly.  With Erica now living in California, Thomas doesn't really have any reason to be in Las Vegas - until he meets Brianna Faulk.  Thomas needs to convince Brianna to accept his marketing proposal, but by the end of lunch, it is much more than a marketing campaign that Thomas wants to propose to Brianna.

Though the book kicks off with a lot of insta-attraction between Thomas and Brianna, things end up slowing down.  Thomas and Brianna both have issues that they carry into their relationship with one another.  As the story develops, readers learn about those issues and secrets and find themselves rooting for Thomas and Brianna.  There is a lot of great chemistry between the two which translates into some really hot scenes, but also some very tender ones too.  Some I want to talk about but won't since I don't want to spoil anything.  Alberts had me teary at some parts, fanning myself at other parts, and laughing, too.

Overall, this was a great read and once you start, you won't want to put it down.  Love Me is longer than Try Me.  I would have been really okay if Alberts had made this one even longer and developed some of the story a bit more.  However, I was just as happy with it at the length it was and I will definitely be re-reading parts of the book again - just for fun.  As for Diane Alberts, she is my new favorite author and I can't wait for the third book in the Take a Chance series, Play Me.          

*I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

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Visit the author online at www.dianealberts.com, like her on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter @dianealberts

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The Demon's Song - Review

The Demon's Song (Hearts of the Fallen #1)
by Kendra Leigh Castle

Publication date: 21 April 2013 by Entangled Publishing

ISBN 13: 9781622661817
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iBooks

Category: Adult Paranormal Romance
Keywords: romance, fallen angles, vampires,
Format: eBook
Source: e-ARC received from Entangled Publishing

Synopsis from Entangled Publishing:

The road to Hell is paved with good intentions. At least, that’s how it seems to Sofia Rivera when her attempt to help a friend ends in a blood-soaked confrontation with creatures that aren’t even supposed to exist. With a group of rogue vampires determined not to leave a single witness to their violence hot on her heels, Sofia finds herself saddled with an immortal bodyguard—Phenex, the fallen Angel of Song. While the vampire king roots out the corruption threatening to take down his underworld kingdom, Sofia will have to deal with a fallen angel whose dark beauty is often at odds with his ornery nature. Slowly, Sofia and Phenex give in to the strange attraction neither can deny. And as the darkness closes in around them, Phenex begins to wonder whether even the wickedest Fallen might find his own happy ending…and his heart.

Review:

One of the fastest ways that an author can wrap me up tightly in a story is to create characters that I like, care about, and want to know what happens to them.  Kendra Leigh Castle did exactly that in The Demon's Song.  I was 2 maybe 3 chapters in when I decided that I needed to know what was going to happen to Phenex (a Fallen Angel) and Sofia (a human).  The chemistry between the pair was there from the beginning and only continued to grow throughout the story.  There were also a lot of other characters that I liked and found interesting.  There were some that I would like to have gotten to know a lot better - like all of those other fallen angels hanging down in Terra Noctem.

Though I loved the characters in this story and also really enjoyed the romance between Phenex and Sofia, I occasionally felt that parts of the story went too fast or weren't fully developed.  At one point, I realized that I had happily (note...I really did mean happily) read 3/4 of the book but, aside from the relationship growing between Sofia and Phenex, the rest of the plot had kind of stalled.  In the last couple of chapters, lots of important action and drama seemed to be skipped over and the readers just end up at the end.  Granted, I love the ending.  It was perfect as far as I was concerned, but I would have liked to have a little more story fleshed out on the way to the ending.      

I firmly believe that an author needs to take her story in the direction that she sees fit.  Though I might agree or disagree with that direction, I tend to respect those decisions.  Fallen angels and romance aside, Castle has the potential to go much further with this series if she decided.  I couldn't help but feel that The Demon's Song and the Hearts of the Fallen series could develop into a great paranormal/urban fantasy series with an element of romance, rather than just a paranormal romance.  If I had a chance to sit down and talk with Castle, I would ask her a couple of questions about her thoughts on paranormal romance vs. urban fantasy.  Was she aiming for a really fun paranormal romance? Or was she targeting something more?  Not that I particularly want to lose the romance aspect, but with a great setting/world such as Terra Noctem and the potential for an amazing cast of characters and interesting creatures, I would be willing to go on that journey with Castle if she so desired.

As this was my first fallen angel romance novel, I am curious to explore other fallen angel stories and to also find out what happens in future Hearts of the Fallen books.  I would definitely recommend The Demon's Song to friends who are looking for a paranormal romance with a great hero and heroine.

*I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

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Visit the author online at www.kendraleighcastle.com and her blog and follow her on Twitter @kendralcastle

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Two-Timer Review - Rules of Entanglement

Rules of Entanglement (Fighting for Love #2) 

by Gina L. Maxwell

Publication date: 31 March 2013 by Entangled Publishing

ISBN 13: 9781622667949

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo

Category: Adult Contemporary Romance

Keywords: Romance, sports, ever after

Format: eBook

Source: Olivia (Bought), Thuy (e-ARC received from NetGalley)

Go to the end of the review for our individual ratings.

Spoiler Alert:  Though we tried to avoid big time spoilers, there may be a few references that will hint at a spoiler.  

Where Thuy & Liv discuss Rules of Entanglement:

Hi, Liv!

This is our first ever joint review. We’re kicking it off with Rules of Entanglement by Gina Maxwell. Her second book in the Fighting for Love Series which features some super hot MMA fighters. Rules of Entanglement is the story of Jax, Lucie’s brother from Seducing Cinderella and her best friend Vanessa. The two must pretend to be an engaged couple in Hawaii in order to make sure that Lucie has the wedding of her dreams. They decide to have fling that will last exactly three days after which they will both go their own way, no harm, no foul. Of course things don’t go as planned and to two fall in love despite what either of them planned.

Thuy: Before we get to the actual discussion, I want to just get off my chest the one thing that sort of annoyed me about the whole premise of the book. It wasn’t that they fell in love after three days (heck, I read romance so I am totally used to that). It was the premise that Jax and Vanessa had to pretend to be Reid and Lucie because of an eccentric wedding planner. I just thought it was far fetched that this wedding planner would be so fabulous as to dictate what the bride and groom had to do. I also thought it was odd that the engaged couple would have to be at the hotel a whole week before the wedding in order to actually plan the wedding. Vanessa and Jax were picking a cake, flowers, the whole shebang. I just can’t imagine any bride doing that one week before her wedding, especially if this place is as elite as they made it out to be. Surely the bride and groom would have had to make some of these decisions way before the wedding week. But that’s my mini rant about that. I suspended my disbelief in order to move on. So Liv - what did you think of Rules of Entanglement?

Liv: Hi Thuy! I can already tell that this is going to be a great discussion. Are there any “realistic” scenarios in contemporary fiction? Seriously, after the first book, where an MMA fighter is playing the role of a “fairy godmother” of sorts, you take issue with the last minute wedding plans in this one? You make me laugh.

But onto the serious stuff...my thoughts on Rules of Entanglement...First, I loved the chemistry between Jax and Vanessa. Both are strong characters in their own way and evenly matched. In some books, I feel like one person in the relationship is much stronger than the other one but here, I felt they each had strengths and weaknesses and complimented each other nicely. The back and forth banter between Jax and Vanessa had me laughing and all of Jax’s nicknames for Vanessa were fun. As a result, my love for the characters probably blinded me to some of the other issues that you mention above. Additionally, the setting is Hawaii which is a great backdrop for a very sexy romance story. I’m still thinking about those Tequila shots and the Waterfall scene. *fans self*

Thuy: Haha - yes, I guess you’re right about unrealistic scenarios. :) I totally agree that Jax and Vanessa had great chemistry. I loved that they were both really strong characters who weren’t afraid to call the other out. Jax was so charming and playful and I could totally see why women loved him. And Vanessa was a total ball buster! I loved that she didn’t fall for Jax’s charm right off the bat and make him work for it. Both of them had their own baggage and it was really interesting to see them both start to trust the other and open up. They had some really hot moments but also some really sweet ones. I also loved the Hawaii setting and reading this made me really want to go there.

Liv: So, what did you think about Vanessa’s rules?

Thuy: While I understood Vanessa’s need for The Rules, I did get frustrated with her because of them. She saw everything in such black and white terms that she was closing herself off to new and positive experiences. I was especially annoyed with her near the end of the book when she wouldn’t talk to Jax after their big fight. After all they had gone through, I wish she would have given him a chance to explain instead of just running off.

Liv: I had mixed thoughts about The Rules. I liked how Maxwell structured the book with 7 days instead of chapters. However, the drawback is it made the book more predictable. You immediately knew from the beginning what would be the conflict. Despite the predictability of the story, it didn’t seem to take away from my enjoyment. As for Vanessa and her refusing to speak with Jax after their fight, I expected that on some level, but I was more disappointed with Vanessa’s lack of support for Lucie in her role as Maid of Honor. Vanessa seemed stronger and more responsible than that.

Any favorite scenes?

Thuy: I agree. The conflict was pretty predictable but Jax and Vanessa had such great chemistry that I wanted to see how it played out. I wish there had been more of a resolution to the situation with V’s sister. It seemed like it was thrown in there as a catalyst for their big showdown but was left unresolved. I really enjoyed the first scene between Jax and Vanessa where she pretty much kicks him to the curb. I don’t know why but I just loved that she wasn’t falling for his charm and was ready to leave him there. Of course the waterfall scene was pretty awesome. There was another scene I loved and I can’t quite remember how it started but it ended up with Vanessa falling asleep with Jax holding her. Cue the “awwwwww.” What about you? 

Liv: Yeah, I wonder what ever happened with Vanessa’s sister?! Anyway, as for favorite scenes, I loved the waterfall scene of course. I am a big fan of waterfalls and that one was just hot. And earlier, I mentioned the tequila shots scene was pretty steamy and wonderful. Overall, I loved the book. Maxwell has a way of creating characters and a story that hook me in.

Thuy: Agreed, I had a lot of fun with this book and Maxwell certainly knows how to write characters with great chemistry. I would definitely recommend this to contemporary romance fans.

Final verdict

Liv: 4 stars for a story with one super sexy couple that made me laugh, tear up a little, and *fan myself* throughout the book.

Thuy: 4 stars to this fun, steamy romance set in a tropical paradise with a super hot love/hate relationship. 

Thanks for joining up on our first ever joint review. We had a lot of fun and hope you did, too!

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Visit the author online at www.ginalmaxwell.com, like her on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter @gina_l_maxwell and pinterest

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Try Me - Short Story Review

Try Me (Take a Chance #1)
by Diane Alberts

Publication date: 24 May 2012 by Entangled Publishing

ISBN 10/13: 1622669282 | 9781622669288
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo

Category: Adult Contemporary Romance
Keywords: Romance, second chances, military, ever after
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased

Synopsis from GoodReads:

What happens in Vegas...can lead to romance.

It took one wild night for Sergeant Jeremy Addison to realize that Vegas? Was a bad idea.

Bloody. Bruised. Dehydrated. Abandoned in the desert, and left to stagger down the road. The only way this leave could get worse was if his savior was his ex-best friend's sister...and the girl he'd loved since childhood.

The last person Erica expected to find on the roadside was her high school crush. She hadn't seen Jeremy in seven years—ever since the night he said he loved her, and she ran away. Losing him then had been a mistake, but wanting him now could be catastrophic if he discovered the secret that chased every other man from her life. But with a tall, tattooed Marine determined to prove he's always been faithful, can Erica resist his advances...or will she surrender ground and give love a try?

Review:

Novellas can be tricky.  How do you develop a believable story in such few pages?  TRY ME by Diane Alberts is one of the first novellas that I enjoyed.  I picked it up to read one day when I was looking for something short and liked the description and the fact that it was definitely going to be a HEA story. Alberts doesn’t disappoint with this one.

Though some of the story felt a bit rushed, which I can understand given the length of the book (only 7 chapters and an epilogue), it helped to make it more believable that both Jeremy and Erica had a previous history rather than having just met up and gotten together.  No insta-love here which helps make the story line more believable.  Jeremy and Erica both have insecurities and issues that at times feel insurmountable to them.  I think it is easy for readers to think "Oh, that isn't such a big deal."; however, the issues were real to Jeremy & Erica and a stumbling block to their being able to move forward.

Some of my favorite things about this book -

Hot cover! - Seriously, I can stare at those abs for a very long time.

One very sexy, desirable man! - Sergeant Jeremy Addison was tough, with a fun sense of humor and a good character down deep.  He also has felt the same way about Erica for seven years.  You have to admire a man who knows what he wants and when he has a second chance he goes for it.  

One not so annoying female! - Erica has also had feelings about Jeremy over the past seven years, but some things have happened that make her feel like no man is ever going to love her, including Jeremy.

And a really sweet romance to boot!  - Though the steamy parts aren't overly descriptive, they are certainly hot and sweet.  The epilogue at the end also makes you want to say "awwww".

TRY ME was the first story by Diane Alberts that I read which only made me want to read more of her stories. It is also says it is the first story in her Take a Chance series and I am holding her to more books.

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Visit the author online at www.dianealberts.com, like her on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter @dianealberts

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Frosted - Short Story Review

Frosted by Wendy Sparrow

Publication date: January 2013 by Entangled Publishing

ISBN 10/13: 1622668601 | 97816226688601
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | iTunes

Category:  Adult Paranormal Romance
Keywords:  Romance, fantasy, ever after, contemporary
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased

Synopsis from GoodReads:

Seven years ago, Kate Finley fell through the ice into the Winter World and straight into the heart of its king, Jack Frost. Then cold feet set in and Kate ran from the one man who made her feel complete.

Jack let his queen go back to the mortal world to say goodbye but she escaped out of his reach to sunny Florida. Now time is short, and he must convince his runaway bride to give him a second chance to melt her heart.
Review:

Recently, I was on a hunt for novellas that were happy ever after stories. I like something short for when I don't have a lot of time or to squeeze between longer reads. As I was perusing Entangled Publisher's website, I noticed this one by Wendy Sparrow. I have followed Sparrow on Twitter for awhile and was curious to read her book.

In Frosted, Sparrow has created two characters who are both flawed and in many ways, relationally challenged. Kate Finley is a young mortal woman from a broken family. Both of her parents had no idea how to be married and as a result, Kate suffers from fear of repeating their patterns. Jack Frost isn't exactly what we have seen before. He has lived essentially alone in the Winter World for 200 years. He is impulsive and not really very good about communicating but better at showing or doing. There is a prediction that Kate will enter his world to be his queen. He is excited about this but has no idea how to really court her or be in a relationship with this mortal. Kate is fascinated and overwhelmed by her arrival in Jack's world. She does not fully understand the meaning of everything and beings to feel trapped at the prospective of a forever relationship with Jack.

After the introduction to Jack & Kate, the story picks up seven years later. Jack and Kate have essentially been estranged for all those year except for during the evening/in her dreams. Much of the story deals with how Jack has been trying to win Kate back and how Kate has misunderstood much of his attempts. When Kate realizes that there may be serious consequences to her choice, and Jack begins to communicate more, the two have some significant decisions before they can reach their happy ever after.

This story was part second chance and part HEA. Readers will find themselves experiencing the same emotions that Jack and Kate struggle with through the story. Jack's attempts to court Kate are charming. Kate's struggle to recognize that her parents' relationship is not necessarily the one she is destined to have with Jack was frustrating at times though understandable. Though the romantic scenes are not very explicit, there is still a steamy element to their relationship. And the end was very sweet and charming.

I definitely enjoyed this short story and read it in one sitting. I am looking forward to further stories from Sparrow.

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Visit the author online at www.wendysparrow.com and follow her on Twitter @wendysparrow


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Game for Marriage - Review

Game for Marriage by Karen Erickson

Publication date: 11 January 2013 by Entangled Publishing

ISBN 13: 9781622667970
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

Category: Adult Contemporary Romance
Keywords: Romance, Sports, Realistic
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased

Synopsis from Goodreads:

He’s going in deep to make her his…

Struggling artist Sheridan Harper never imagined she’d spend a sizzling night with Jared Quinn, the smoking-hot star quarterback of her local professional football team, the San Jose Hawks. And she’s even more shocked when Jared’s publicist offers her a proposition: a fake marriage to keep Jared out of the gossip mags. Being that close to Jared would be too tempting, so to protect her heart, she insists on secretly including a clause forbidding sex between them.

Jared just wants to keep his starting QB job and keep it in San Jose. His reputation as a ladies’ man has landed him in the headlines one too many times, but there’s something about his kind, passionate new wife that tempts him beyond reason. Any sort of intimacy between them is completely forbidden, but as their bodies fall in deep, will their hearts follow suit?

Review:

Fake marriage is a common trope used in romance novels which made me wonder if I would like this one or not. However, both Jared Quinn and Sheridan Harper are highly likeable characters, and Erickson's writing style kept the story interesting. After some initial chemistry and a hot night together, Sheridan gets hit with the proposition of entering into a fake marriage with Quinn to help him save his image and career.

Readers can already anticipate what one of the biggest conflicts will be in this story - what happens when people discover that the marriage is fake?  Additionally, with the pressure of the no sex clause the possibility of exposure becomes all that more of a challenge.  The strength of the story for me was that throughout the story Jared and Sheridan truly have to discover themselves and their feelings for each other.  Initial chemistry is great but can it develop into deeper feelings? Erickson kept the story moving with just the right amount of tension, conflict, hot sexiness, and character development.

Final thoughts on Game For Marriage, this is a sweet romance with great characters, and just the right amount of sexiness. I am eager to see where Erickson takes readers in the second book in this series which I suspect will involve Sheridan's best friend, Willow and Jared's teammate, Nick.       

Check out these Bonus Features for Game for Marriage, from Karen Erickson's blog.

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Visit the author online at www.karenerickson.com , like her on Facebook,  follow her on Pinterest, follow her on Twitter @karenerickson

Seducing Cinderella - Review

Seducing Cinderella (Fighting for Love #1)
by Gina L. Maxwell

Publication date: 20 July 2012 by Entangled Publishing

ISBN 13: 2940014977678
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Category: Adult Contemporary Romance
Keywords: Romance, Sports, Fairytale, Cinderella
Format: Paperback, Mass Market Paperback, eBook, Audiobook
Source: Purchased

Synopsis from Entangled Publishing:

He’ll teach her the art of seduction…for a price.

Mixed martial arts fighter Reid Andrews’s chance to reclaim his title as light heavyweight champ is shattered when he’s injured only months before the rematch. To make sure he’s healed in time, his trainer sends him to recuperate under a professional’s care—Reid’s best friend’s little sister, all grown up.

Disorganized and bookish Lucie Miller needs some professional help of her own. She’d do anything to catch the eye of a doctor she’s crushed on for years, so when Reid offers seduction lessons in exchange for 24/7 conditioning for the biggest fight of his career, Lucie jumps at the chance.

Soon Reid finds himself in the fight of his life…winning Lucie’s heart before she gives it to someone else.

Review:

Romance novels tend to possess several elements for the reader's enjoyment.  Many readers seem to expect the hero to be hot and sexy and have a balance between being a bad boy while falling madly for a heroine who does not recognize how special or attractive she is.  Of course there needs to be chemistry and some kind of conflict between the hero and heroine to round out the story.  Writers then mix in a bit of humor or drama and angst depending on their own personal preferences.  Each reader then searches for just the right mix that works for them. 

Very seldom do I expect a book that has the perfect balance of everything I like, but I do search for ones that will hold my attention from the beginning.  Better yet, give me a female heroine that doesn't drive me completely insane and a male hero who is hot, sexy, tough but not crude. Throw in some humor, a few touching moments and I am on my way.  If the author can manage a few friends for the main characters that I like, all the better.  Gina Maxwell's debut novel Seducing Cinderella is one of those romance novels that worked for me.  Yes, I have a definite book boyfriend crush on the very hot, sexy, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter Reid Andrews.  His relationship with the female heroine, Lucie Miller, is sweet with just the right amount of hot, sexy scenes.

Since I had read the blurb about this book, I already knew there would be "eye-rolling".  Seriously, a MMA fighter as the fairy godmother in this make-over story who is clearly being set-up as Prince Charming? And the offering of seduction lessons? Yes, I could see the where this was going.  However, the question for me, could Maxwell make the chemistry and relationship between Reid and Lucie enough that I would happily ignore the stuff that causes me to say "yeah, right".  Yes, Maxwell managed to have me rooting for Reid and Lucie and their relationship and their Happily Ever After throughout the story.  There are also several scenes that I just love going back to read again.              

Remember how I mentioned that if an author can throw in a few friends that you can like as a reader, then all the better?  Well, Vanessa is Lucie's best friend and one of my favorite side characters in the story.  As a result, I am looking forward to reading the second book in the Fighting for Love Series:  Rules of Entanglement which comes out on March 31, 2013 in eBook according to Maxwell's website.  The story follows Lucie's brother Jax and her best friend, Vanessa.
 
Check out the Character Interview with Reid Andrews over on Becca the Bibliophile.
 
Check out the Book Trailer:

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Visit the author online at www.ginalmaxwell.com , Like her on Facebook, follow her on Pinterest, follow her on Twitter @GinaLMaxwell