REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: NOT QUITE PERFECT by CATHERINE BYBEE

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Not Quite Perfect

Not Quite #5

By: Catherine Bybee

Released September 20th, 2016

Montlake Romance

 

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In Not Quite Perfect (Not Quite #5) by Catherine Bybee, being in a serious relationship has never been in Mary Kildare's plans, but with her friends finding happy ever after, it's hard not to want what they have. The only thing is - the one man she wants lives three thousand miles away, is a total playboy and has absolutely no clue what the word commitment means. Will Glen Fairchild ever be ready to give the chemistry between them a chance?

 

Ever since Glen Fairchild met Mary Kildare a year ago, he's thought about her constantly. Now he finally has the opportunity to convince Mary to give a relationship with him a chance, and he's not going to let it slip by. A bi-coastal romance is perfect -- at least at first -- until an unknown threat starts targeting Mary. Can he keep her safe, so they can finally get the happy ever after they both deserve?

 

Having absolutely loved the first four books of this series, and being introduced to Mary and Glen because of their connections to Monica and Trent (the hero and heroine from book three - Not Quite Enough), I couldn't wait to dive into this story and I've got to say that it does not disappoint. Right from the beginning, this book was captivating, fast-paced had me laughing due to it's opening paragraph. Dealing with plumbers can be a real pain, especially when they're exposing a little bit of a certain body part.

 

As for the dialogue, it was intense due to Mary's stalker and the main characters back stories, especially that of the heroine. She's never had the close bonds of family like Glen has with his brothers, but she does have someone that did their very best to look out for her. Indeed, I loved the mother-daughter like bond she had with the woman that found her when she was abandoned. Yet, most of all, I loved the teasing banter between Mary and Glen. She can't help but throw the fact that he's a player in his face with some of her comments. Moreover, her friendship with Dakota (the heroine from book four - Not Quite Forever) had me laughing. They tell each other everything, and the moment where Mary is asking for help when it comes to shopping for bikinis was priceless. Certainly, Glen needed Mary's texting mistake to stop him from missing her so much.

 

Both the main and secondary characters are riveting, and I couldn't help but be immediately drawn in by Mary and Glen's strong chemistry. Certainly, their teasing banter ups the sexual tension until I kept asking myself, 'which one would make the first move?' So, I was glad and pleasantly surprised to read that it wasn't who I thought it was going to be. Mary isn't the sort of woman to make the first move.

 

The heroine is strong, brave, very independent and I liked that she was willing to take a chance on Glen, even though a relationship between them wasn't going to be easy because they don't live close to each other. However, in saying that, their relationship worked because she's not used to relying on anyone but herself and needed time to realize that she could depend on Glen as well as figure out that he wouldn't abandon her. While Glen, he's hard-working, confident, and I liked how protective he was of Mary when her life is threatened. He proved to Mary how different she is to the other women he's been with. That he'll do anything to help her while she's being threatened and find a way for her to accept that help. Also, I enjoyed how he showed her a good time. That being a pilot comes in handy when they go out on one of their dates.

 

Overall, this fifth book of Ms. Bybee's Not Quite series was contemporary romance at its best, especially with the dash of suspense included. The way this story ended with the epilogue had me so glad that not only did Mary and Glen achieve their happy ever after, but so did someone that the heroine loves. Moreover, I liked whose feet the bouquet landed at. That will make things interesting for the next book of this series, which I hope features Jason Fairchild as the hero. I would recommend Not Quite Perfect, if you enjoy contemporary romance with a dash of suspense or the friends to lovers trope. I would also recommend the other books of this series, as they're definitely worth reading.     

 

OVERALL RATING: 

 

 

 

    

 

BLURB:

With true love, there’s no such thing as a safe distance.

Mary Kildare knows how to read people. It’s both why she makes a great therapist and why she refuses to trust the average bachelor. Staying fiercely independent has been her primary relationship strategy—until wealthy playboy pilot (and commitmentphobe) Glen Fairchild reappears in her life. After a yearlong teasing tug-of-war, Mary and Glen test the waters of attraction, only to find that their physical chemistry runs deeper than flirtation.

At first, a bicoastal romance suits them both—especially since Glen can swoop in and whisk Mary away on one of his company’s planes. But no matter how close they get, they’re still three thousand miles apart. And when Mary’s life is threatened, Glen realizes the one luxury he doesn’t have is time. Can he close the distance between them before it’s too late?

 

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New York Times & USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bybee was raised in Washington State, but after graduating high school, she moved to Southern California in hopes of becoming a movie star. After growing bored with waiting tables, she returned to school and became a registered nurse, spending most of her career in urban emergency rooms. She now writes full-time and has penned the Weekday Brides Series and the Not Quite Series. Bybee lives with her two teenage sons in Southern California.  

 

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Praise for the Not Quite Series

“Bybee’s magnetic fourth Not Quite contemporary proves that romance can happen in the most unlikely places...The love scenes are sizzling and the multidimensional characters make this a page-turner. Readers will look for earlier installments and eagerly anticipate new ones.”

— Publishers Weekly on Not Quite Forever

 

" Not Quite Dating offers a sweet and satisfying Cinderella fantasy that will keep you smiling long after you've finished reading..."

— USA Today, Happy Ever After

 

"Bybee's gift for creating unforgettable romances cannot be ignored. [Not Quite Enough] will sweep readers away to a paradise, and they will be intrigued by the thrilling story that accompanies their literary vacation."

—     RT Book Reviews, Top Pick

 

REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: MIXING TEMPTATION by SARA JANE STONE

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Mixing Temptation
Second Shot #3

By: Sara Jane Stone

Releasing September 13, 2016
Avon Impulse

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In Mixing Temptation (Second Shot #3) by Sara Jane Stone, ever since the trauma she suffered at the hands of a fellow officer in her career as a marine, Caroline Andrews has been looking over her shoulder waiting for the day she'll be taking into custody for being MIA from her military duty. Even worse, it's hard to trust another man besides the one man that stood up for her. Still, it doesn't stop the handsome Josh Summers from pursuing her. Can she put her past behind her and find comfort in Josh's arms?   

 

Josh Summers hasn't had it easy after the accident that landed him in a coma for a short time, and robbed him of his short-term memory for a little bit. Still, he isn't going to let anything stop him from convincing Caroline Andrews to give him a chance, especially not his siblings concerns and the overprotectiveness of one of Caroline's fellow marines. Will Josh finally convince the woman of his dreams that she can trust him, or will he have to give up on being with Caroline?  

 

Finally, I got to read Josh and Caroline's story, and I've got to say this is the best book of this series so far. The prologue opens the story brilliantly, and I loved how it gave me -- as a reader -- knowledge of the first time this couple met. Over the previous books of this series, I have enjoyed how Caroline has grown and in this story she really blossoms with the way she's ready to move on from the trauma she suffered at the hands of a man she thought she could trust.

As for the dialogue, it was the perfect combination of intense and playful. The light-hearted moments when they're jokingly bantering about superheroes and costumes had me laughing as to did the moments where either the main characters are talking about their growing relationship with the secondary characters. I could understand why Noah was so protective of Caroline after everything she's been through, but at the same time, Josh is a good guy that  proves over and over again he would do anything for her. However, it was the intense dialogue due to both the main characters back stories that I absolutely loved. Josh and Caroline have both suffered traumatic events, so it's good that they've found each other. Josh helps Caroline realize that there are still good men in the world, and that she shouldn't allow her past to keep affecting her future.          

Both the main characters were highly entertaining, because of their playful banter and their back stories. Josh is lucky to be alive, and Caroline makes him feel more so. He's confident, charming and I loved how he didn't push Caroline for more than she was willing to give. She needed time to come to terms with her past; become comfortable enough with the hero to realize she can  trust him. The way he joked with her about dating and baked for her made me like this hero a lot, because she needed a man that would take care of her. That would appreciate her for the woman she was instead of trying to take advantage of her vulnerable state. 

While Caroline, she really grows throughout this story, and I couldn't wait to see how she would move forward from her past. What would she do about her military situation, considering she was awol from duty? How far was she willing to go to pursue her relationship with Josh? Would she be capable of confronting her past? Really, I found Caroline quite strong and brave with how she deals with her past, even going so far as to help someone in need. Help a woman that she barely knows because she's been in a similar if not the same situation as the woman she aids.

Overall, Ms. Stone has penned another incredible novel for her Second Shot series, which was compelling and kept me entertained from start to finish with its wonderful characters, fast-paced plot and such strong chemistry between the hero and heroine that could not be denied. So much so that eventually their intense chemistry spilled over onto the pages in red hot sex scenes.

The way this story ended left me on hanging on every word, wanting to know how Caroline and Josh would find their way back to each other after what she does to make things right when it came to her military duty. But what I liked most of all was how far Josh was willing to go to help Caroline. What a way to prove how much he loves her, and show her that she can put her faith in him to do things right by her. I would recommend Mixing Temptation by Sara Jane Stone, if you enjoy the friends to lovers trope or stories that contain a vulnerable heroine and a hero willing to do whatever it takes to prove that she can trust him. 

OVERALL RATING:

            

BLURB:
In the third installment in Sara Jane Stone's dazzling Second Shot series, a beautiful but broken woman must decide if true love is worth risking everything...including her freedom

After a year spent living in hiding—with no end in sight—Caroline Andrews wants to reclaim her life. But the lingering trauma from her days serving with the marines leaves her afraid to trust the tempting logger who delivers friendship and the promise of something more.
 

Following an accident that nearly robbed him of his hopes for the future, Josh Summers believes life has given him a second chance. He wants to settle down with the woman who stole his attention and his heart. And he’s willing to wait until she’s ready to be more than “just friends.” When fear of discovery leaves Caroline pretending to be his date, Josh tempts her to try the real thing—a relationship built on trust, not lies.
 

But then the past threatens and Caroline must risk everything—including her freedom—to bury her demons before she can take a chance on happy-ever-after.

 

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“May I lick the whipped cream off your face?”
 

Josh lowered his fork to the pie dish and waited for the Big Buck’s dishwasher to catch up with the conversation. Pie—not flowers—had offered him the perfect way to transition from the guy who found her in the woods to her friend. And he couldn’t resist the temptation to switch from small talk to damn near close to begging for a kiss.

And a date, he thought. I’m going to ask her out today.

Caroline raised one perfect, dark eyebrow. One hand clasped a spoon and the other rested on the stainless steel work surface that on busy nights held stacks of dirty pint glasses waiting for her attention. Right now, it was just the two of them and the pie. The bar wouldn’t open to Forever’s local logging population and the university students who outnumbered the men and woman born and bred in this section of the Willamette Valley for another hour.

“No,” she said. Her tongue darted out from between her pink lips that always looked as if she was wearing a kiss-me-now lipstick. Or course, he knew the woman whose ideas of accessorizing involved a concealed weapon tucked into the waistband of her pants did not bother with makeup. She licked the whipped cream teasing the edge of her mouth. “I’ve got it under control.”

He nodded, refilled his fork and lifted another bite of key lime pie to his mouth. He always asked—for a touch, a taste, a kiss—but he never pushed. Caroline would shift the parameters of their dessert-based friendship in her own time. Or she wouldn’t and he’d be forced to come to terms with the fact that the future he daydreamed about—settling down with Caroline, buying his own home, maybe a dog—would replace sleeping with Megan Fox on the top of his Never Going to Happen list.

“You’re going to Noah’s wedding on Saturday night?” he asked, sliding back into friendly chitchat. He’d waited a year to kiss Caroline the first time. And he’d sit tight for another if it meant more sugarcoated kisses. To hell with his siblings’ opinions.

“Just because I can take the dishwasher apart and fix it every time it tries to quit on us”—she nodded to the restaurant-grade appliance behind her—“doesn’t mean Noah wouldn’t fire me for missing his wedding. Plus, he’s closing the bar for the night. Everyone else is going.”

“Everyone else is in the wedding,” Josh pointed out. Big Buck’s owner and manager was marrying Forever’s former bad girl, who’d burst into his life over a year ago, demanded a job, and quickly worked her way up to assistant manager. And the only other bartender on the payroll right now was the groom’s best friend and the bride’s big brother.

“True. But I owe Noah. I can’t miss his wedding.”

Fair enough, he thought.

“A couple of months ago, you asked me out on a date,” Josh pointed out.

“I was feeling brave at the time.”

“Are you canceling?” he challenged. If she said yes, he’d kiss her again. Maybe not today, but one day soon. And he’d reminder her why she’d summoned the courage to ask in the first place. He’d caught her looking, her eyes roaming over his biceps with a flicker of something more than friendship in their green depths. And if given the chance, he would let her run her fingers over his T-shirt, mapping the muscles beneath . . .

“No, I’m not canceling,” she said thoughtfully. “I’m still working out the details.”

“Be my date to the wedding.”

Her eyes widened, staring back at him as if he’d dropped to one knee and suggested they follow her boss down the aisle.

“No,” she said firmly. “Josh, I . . . Just no.”

Caroline refused to look away. She’d spent months learning to read Josh’s facial expressions, forcing herself to look past the red-gold stubble that screamed ‘I’m too sexy for this bar.’

Or his shirt.

Or her . . .

Right now, the corners of his mouth threatened to fall into a frown. Disappointment. But he never let his smile falter for long. He always took a moment. Looked away and then returned his gaze to her as if she hadn’t turned him down twice in ten minutes.

But he knows I’m a long way from whipped cream kisses in the bar’s back room.

And dates.

Yes, she’d asked him out once. But then reality had come crashing down on her. Her life consisted of washing pint glasses and staying out of sight. She couldn’t hope for more—not even a single night out at one of the restaurants near the university—with a federal warrant hanging over her head.

Of course, the police weren’t actively looking for her. As far as she knew. But if the local cops, or even a state trooper passing through town, found out who she was . . . If they learned why she kept to the shadows, she would be under arrest and turned over to the military. She would have to pay the price for her unauthorized absence. For refusing to deploy alongside the men who’d turned a blind eye when their commanding officer ordered her into his bed. The men who’d laughed with Dustin when he’d said he would force open her mouth and make her take him between her lips . . .

And then there was the elephant in the bar’s back room that would also tag along on their date. She hadn’t had sex—oral or otherwise—because she wanted to since before she joined the marines. Josh had never treated her like a victim, but there was a first time for everything.

“I’m sorry,” she added. “But I can’t go to the wedding as your date. There will be too many people. And everyone knows you. If they see me with you . . . they’ll ask questions. And I can’t give them answers. I need to stay in the background, hiding behind a plant or something. And then leave as soon as they cut the cake.”

“A wedding probably isn’t the best place for a first date.” He pointed his fork at her. “Maybe once I get my own place, you can help me christen the kitchen.”

She raised an eyebrow. “That assumes a lot for a first date.”

He laughed. And the familiar sound threatened to lead her into his version of the future. One where they would kiss in the kitchen and then—

“I was talking about baking a pie together,” he said. “I’d invite you over to the farmhouse, but I didn’t think you’d take kindly to receiving the third degree from my siblings and their significant others.”

“Probably not a good idea,” she murmured. She’d spent the past year trying to avoid his two older brothers and his sister. It wasn’t hard seeing as his family lived in Independence Falls, a solid hour’s drive from Big Buck’s Bar. Chad Summers, the middle brother, had tried to befriend her, stopping by the bar’s back room with his girlfriend, a drop-dead gorgeous woman who’d served in the army. But Caroline had shut down their attempts.

Josh Summers remained the one and only person she’d let in since she’d showed up on Noah’s doorstep. There was something about the way he accepted the word ‘no’ that broke down her defenses. He never tossed the word aside, questioning whether it was a knee-jerk response. He never pushed—not once—under the pretense that he knew what was best for her. Not since that first night when he’d found her in the woods. Even Noah, who’d had her back when they were deployed together, pushed. Her fellow soldier turned boss tried over and over to talk her into visiting the local gun club with him. She said no and he asked again and again.

But Josh always listened.

“Have you started looking for a new apartment?” she asked, steering the conversation away from dates that might lead to compromising situations.

“I’m looking, but not for an apartment. I’m still sitting on my split from when we sold the family trucking company. I want to use the cash to buy a piece of land. Someplace with a nice view of the mountains, maybe space to put those viticulture classes I’ve been taking to use and grow some grapes. Not a lot. I’ve learned enough to know that is one tough business. I’d rather keep my day job with Moore Timber and put my blood, sweat, and tears into building my own home.”

“You can do that?” The question slipped out before she could mask the surprise in her voice.

“I’ll need help, but I know what I want. Four bedrooms. Maybe five. Plenty of space to spread out. Timber frame. A second story that is open to a great room below. And one helluva kitchen with all the modern appliances. I’ll hire an architect, and a builder. But I can swing a hammer with the best of them.”

Four bedrooms. Plenty of space . . .

 

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After several years on the other side of the publishing industry, Sara Jane Stone bid goodbye to her sales career to pursue her dream-writing romance novels. Sara Jane currently resides in Brooklyn, New York with her very supportive real-life hero, two lively young children and a lazy Burmese cat. Join Sara Jane’s newsletter to receive new release information, news about contests, giveaways, and more! Visit www.sarajanestone.com and look for her newsletter entry form.

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REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: LOVE FROM LEFT FIELD by MEGAN RYDER

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Love From Left Field
Knights of Passion #2

By: Megan Ryder

Releasing September 13, 2016 
Tule Publishing

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In Love from Left Field (Knights of Passion #2) by Megan Ryder, Miranda Callahan's father is stubborn and doesn't listen to anyone, even his own daughter  when it comes to saving the Georgia Knights baseball team. But when a heart attack puts him out of action, Miranda will do everything in her power to turn things around and save the team she loves. Even if it means working alongside Lucas Wainwright, a turnaround consultant assigned to help. The only thing is, she's not sure whether she can trust him.

 

I have been looking forward to reading this second story of Ms. Ryder's Knights of Passion series ever since reading the first book, and I've got to say that it does not disappoint. This story encompassing the revenge trope was a little slow to get started, but once the heroine learns the name of the turnaround consultant assigned to help her turn the Knights around and make them profitable, it became compelling, fast-paced and a book I could not put down.

The dialogue was intense due to the main characters back stories, especially that of the hero. He's a complete loner, determined not to get too close to people because of his job and things that have happened in his past. But more than anything, Miranda is the daughter of his enemy and getting involved with her could be risky. Could he take a chance in helping her, even though it went against everything he was working towards in his plan for revenge? Moreover, I liked that there were some light-hearted moments between Miranda and Lucas. The moments they reminisced about when it came to baseball and being at the stadium to cheer on the Knights.

I absolutely loved both the main characters, as well as the secondary ones. Miranda has a tough time with her father, but she's persistent and determined to turn things around for the Knights. No way will she allow her dad to continue to do things his way, not if she can help it. Besides, desperate times lead to desperate measures and trusting Lucas may be her only option to secure the Knights future and for her family to hold onto the team they own. Can she trust Lucas? Will he betray her? The answers to those questions had me glued to every word of this story, wanting to know how things would turn out between Lucas and Miranda because they made such a good couple.

While Lucas, he's hard-working, successful and confident. Yet, I felt sorry for him. He's torn between helping Miranda because their chemistry is so intense and his plan for revenge, and the choice he eventually made in doing what's right versus doing what's wrong made for interesting reading, especially because of what his boss wanted him to do. Also, I liked how he finally began to get close with people again, instead of continuing to be a loner. He needed the growing relationship with Miranda and the loving bond he shares with his mom to make him realize that the choices he made in the past shouldn't affect his chance at love.

Overall, Ms. Ryder has again penned a worthwhile read with sex scenes that were hot and revealed this couple's strong chemistry really well. Both know it's probably not a good idea to get involved, especially when Lucas is so torn between wanting to help the heroine and his revenge, and Miranda doesn't know whether she can trust him, yet their chemistry couldn't be denied. The way this story ended was perfect, as Miranda's dad finally proved that she's worthy of her position and it's palpable that the decision he made was the right one. No way could the Knights continue with her father making the decisions. I would recommend Love from Left Field by Megan Ryder, if you enjoy the revenge trope or sports romance.

OVERALL RATING:

  

BLURB:

She wants to save the Knights…

When Miranda Callahan’s father, principle owner and hands-on dictator of the Georgia Knights, has a heart attack, the responsibility to make the team an independent success becomes solely hers. Though everyone expects her to fail in her new role, Miranda is determined to take her team to the top and earn her father's love and respect on the way. The only other obstacle is the League's consultant – a secret crush from her past – the man trying to take over the team, and the one person who can save them all.

 

He wants revenge…
 

Lucas Wainright is a turnaround consultant, hired by the League to save the Knights and so many other teams – only this time it’s personal; before being ousted by Seamus Callahan, Lucas' family had been the owners of the team. Now, he has the perfect opportunity to regain his rightful position with the Knights, if he’s willing to suppress his scruples and his attraction to Miranda Callahan.
 

 Can Miranda and Lucas let go of old grudges and hold on to their new love?

 

Buy Links:      Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Google Play | iBooks

 

            "Really? So you think that I'll be here, ready to kiss you whenever you want?"

The smile that crossed his face was one of pure male arrogance, confident in his own sex appeal. "Oh yeah. No obligation here."

He stood and stalked around the desk. Too late she realized that she'd poked the tiger and he was deadly serious about his intentions. He swiveled her chair so she faced him, her chair bracketed between his knees. He braced his hands on the arms, trapping her neatly so she couldn't escape. Only she had no intention of trying to get away. That kiss had replayed in her mind several times in the few days since the event and she wanted to see if it was exhaustion that had made it so great, or something else.

She tilted her head to the side and relaxed her body, allowing a small smile to spread across her lips. "So now you're going to prove it was a good kiss? Give it your best shot, lover boy. Let's see what you got."

He leaned forward and gently brushed his lips across her, lightly, as if drawing a feather across her skin. She shivered and he chuckled, a low male sound deep in his throat. His lips skimmed her jaw line, brief, barely whispers of a touch, designed to tease, to taunt, to increase her desire. She moaned and went to reach for him.

"Oh no. Stay still for this." He grabbed her hands with his, and placed them on the arms of the chair, imprisoning them with his own.

He nudged her face up with his nose then rewarded her with a deep kiss, soul stirring yet innocent. After a moment, his tongue slid along the crease of her lips and she opened them, welcoming him in. The kiss quickly turned deeper, hotter, their tongues entwining and exploring. His mouth tasted of coffee and sweetness, like the butter-cream frosting of cake, and she couldn't get enough of it.

Slowly, chest heaving with exertion, he pulled back, resting his forehead on hers while they both caught their breath.

"Still think it was obligation?"

 

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Ever since Megan Ryder discovered Jude Deveraux and Judith McNaught while sneaking around the “forbidden” romance section of the library one day after school, she has been voraciously devouring romance novels of all types. Now a romance author in her own right, Megan pens sexy contemporary novels all about family and hot lovin’ with the boy next door. She lives in Connecticut, spending her days as a technical writer and her spare time divided between her addiction to knitting and reading.

 

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