Monday, 30 July 2018

REVIEW: BAD REPUTATION by STEFANIE LONDON


Bad Reputation
Bad Bachelors #2
By Stefanie London
Releasing August 7th, 2018
Entangled Publishing





Wes Evans, son of Broadway royalty, just wants to achieve something without riding on his family's coattails. Too bad the whole world is talking about his sex life after the notorious Bad Bachelors app dubs him "The Anaconda." But when he sees a talented ballet dancer, he knows she is exactly what he needs to make his show a success.

Remi Drysdale only had one thought when she fled Australia for New York--never mix business with pleasure again. Ever. She gets the perfect chance to reclaim her career when a handsome stranger asks her to audition for his show. Remi promises herself not to tangle with the guy who holds her career in his hands...no matter how enticing his reviews are on the Bad Bachelors app...

BUY  LINK:  Amazon





In Bad Reputation (Bad Bachelors #2) by Stefanie London, Wes Evans has decided it's time to start living his dreams instead of doing what his parents wants him to do. However, finding the right person to be the star of his show and getting his show launched isn't as easy as he thought it would be until he meets Remi Drysdale and asks her to audition. Since clearly, she's the best woman for the lead role. Will Wes and Remi be able to work together and get their shot at happy ever after or will Remi walk away before history has a chance to repeat itself?

Ms. London writes such incredible books with great characters, dialogue that always manages to draw me in from the very beginning and offers a wonderful combination of intense moments, playful banter and plenty of passion; and a fast-paced plot that encompasses tough obstacles for the hero and heroine to overcome in order to achieve their happy ever after and this story was no different. Really, the way this story started had me smiling immediately because of the conversation that sounds juicy, but turns out to be quite innocent. However, it was from the moment the hero and heroine come face-to-face for the first time where things really take off for this story, as Remi doesn't trust easily and doesn't know whether giving Wes a chance is the right thing to do, especially with everything she's been through in her past. She's been burned badly before. 

As for the dialogue, it was compelling, intense and emotionally-animating due to the main characters back stories and what's happening to Wes because of the Bad Bachelor app. However, there's also the situation with Remi's friends that had me sympathizing with her too, because of the secret they're keeping that makes her think she's not trustworthy enough to know. Will her friends put their trust in her or will their friendship be broken? Moreover, I liked the heroine's resilience, her courageousness and that she took a chance on the hero, even though history could easily repeat itself, if she gets involved with the hero and things don't work for the best between them. While the hero, he's confident, driven, persistent in his pursuit of the heroine and I liked how he handles what's going on when it comes to the Bad Bachelor app. Then again, I was a little impressed by the comments for him on the site, especially since the app dubs him 'The Anaconda'. 

Overall, Ms. London has delivered an utterly engaging and memorable read in this book where the chemistry between this couple was off-the-charts; the romance was tangible and absolutely hot; and the ending had me loving the hero's determination to show Remi that he has her back always and isn't about to let anything come between them. However, it was the epilogue that wrapped this story up perfectly because the heroine's hard work pays off. Really, through the author's words she soars and shines when it comes to her ballet. I would recommend Bad Reputation by Ms. London, if you enjoy the opposites attract trope or books by authors Cat Carmine, Noelle Adams, Pippa Grant and Sarina Bowen. I would also recommend this series, as the Bad Bachelor app is very interesting and doesn't shine the heroes in the best of lights, but in the end, it's absolutely delightful that the heroines see them as much, much more than just an abysmal profile. 



  












































Sunday, 29 July 2018

REVIEW: HALF EMPTY by CATHERINE BYBEE


Half Empty
The First Wives #2
By Catherine Bybee
Releasing July 31st, 2018
Montlake Romance





New York Times bestselling author Catherine Bybee continues her sassy series with another of the First Wives finding that love and secrets are a dangerous combination.
Trina Petrov’s marriage-by-contract was only meant to be temporary. But when tragedy strikes, Trina is left one of the wealthiest women in the world. To recover from the shock, she takes some time off in Italy, swearing not to fall for any men while there. But that doesn’t mean she can’t fall for anyone on the trip home
Country-music superstar Wade Thomas is lying low in a hotel bar when he gets the cold shoulder from the woman next to him. He’s used to fans fawning at his boots, and Trina is a refreshing change—so is the fact that she has no idea who he is.
As things begin to heat up, Trina discovers that the circumstances of her late husband’s death are not what they seemed. Now she’s in trouble, and Wade isn’t about to let her out of his sight. Getting close to love and danger could get them killed…or it could sweep them both off their feet.
BUY LINK:  Amazon


In Half Empty (The First Wives #2) by Catherine Bybee, Trina Petrov is a rich woman thanks to her marriage-by-contract arrangement. However, being rich isn't all it's cracked up to be, considering it's been more bad than good with the trouble she's had since her husband died. Dragging country-music heart-throb Wade Thomas into the trouble she's facing isn't something she wanted, especially knowing how dangerous the people coming after her are. Still, she's lucky to have him on her side. Will Trina and Wade find a way to be together or will someone determined to take everything from Trina get their way?

Reading a new book by Ms. Bybee is always exciting and I've got to say that this second book of her First Wives series was an absolutely engaging, fast-paced, marvellous read about the tight bonds of friendship; a heroine's fight for survival and finding the kind of love she deserves; and a hero determined to protect the woman he's coming to love. Will Trina and Wade come out on top against the trouble the heroine faces because of her past?

With the dialogue, it was intense due to the main characters back stories and everything both the main and secondary characters go through on their journey to happy ever after. However, there were moments where I was shaking my head at one of the women Trina is friends with because she has serious daddy and trust issues and was a little too opinionated for those reasons. Then again, it could be she's just overprotective of Trina because she doesn't have much else to do with her time than worry about her friends, look pretty and spend money. Yet, in saying that, I loved the direction Ms. Bybee took this story in, which had me warming up to the heroine's friend, especially with what she goes through that sends her from a confident woman to a very vulnerable one, which will make things interesting for the next book of the series.

As for Trina and Wade, they were two brilliant main characters with interesting back stories; off-the-charts chemistry; and tough obstacles to face to be together including winning over Wade's mom. Will Trina be able to win the hero's mom over? Moreover, the heroine is resilient, courageous, determined to protect those that she cares about and I liked how she handled everything she faces when it comes to someone coming after her, which gets more and more dangerous and harrowing, especially because of things Trina and her friends discover. While the hero, he's charming, confident, good for Trina and I liked how determined he was to protect her. I also liked how Wade handled everything thrown at him when it comes to Trina's past and her friend's protectiveness. Yet, what I liked most of all about the hero was his determination to make those that care about him know that Trina is the one for him no matter what anyone says. 

Overall, Ms. Bybee has delivered an enthralling read in this book where emotions run high; the nicely-detailed romance does justice to this couple's intense chemistry; and the ending had me on the edge-of-my-seat with worry due to what the main characters experience at the hands of a madman, but had me loving how right everything turns out. Really, Trina is lucky to have such wonderful support in the secondary characters. I would recommend Half Empty by Catherine Bybee, if you enjoy romantic suspense, contemporary romance mixed with a good dose of suspense, second chance romances or books by authors Melinda Leigh, Kendra Elliott, Jill Sanders and Ruth Cardello.


































































Friday, 27 July 2018

BLOG TOUR - REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: ABOVE ALL by REBECCA BROOKS


 

Above All
A Heart of the Adirondacks #1
By Rebecca Brooks
Releasing July 20th, 2018
Self-Published

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Reeling from a sudden breakup, Casey Webb leaves Brooklyn, drives north, and settles in a sleepy mountain town in upstate New York. She’s convinced she’s happy being alone—until she reads the acknowledgments in her ex-boyfriend’s hit debut novel, thanking his new girlfriend “above all.”

Good thing Ben Mailer is in town. The hot, young Brooklyn-bound chef offers the perfect distraction. Soon the backwoods are heating up… But as their fling turns into more, the demands of Ben’s family and budding career make moving to her idyllic town impossible.

Now Casey must decide what she can’t live without—her life in the mountains, or the man she wants to be hers above all.

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In Above All (A Heart of the Adirondacks #1) by Rebecca Brooks, Casey Webb is running from her heartbreak and settling in the small mountain town she's found herself in is the perfect place for her to heal. However, when Ben Mailer comes to town, Casey finds herself succumbing to the intense chemistry they share, even though she's sworn off men. Will Casey take a chance on Ben or will she let her shot at happy ever after slip away?

What an interesting and engaging read Ms. Brooks has delivered in this first book of her Heart of the Adirondacks series where the heroine is a few years older than the hero; the storyline was fast-paced and kept me entertained from start to finish because of the obstacles these two have to face to be together including whether the hero or heroine will be willing to move to be with the other since the heroine loves where she lives and the hero needs to be in the city for his career. 

As for the dialogue, it was intense due to the main characters back stories because the heroine was hurt big time by her ex and I could understand why she's reluctant to give another man a chance, even though she shares such strong chemistry with Ben. However, in saying that, I liked that she took a chance on Ben because he's a good guy, despite everything he puts the heroine through. Moreover, the heroine is resilient, courageous and I liked how Ben helps her to heal from her past and renews her faith and trust in men, even if there are a few speed bumps along the way that had me worried Casey would give up on Ben. While the hero, he's confident, charming at times, a good friend, persistent when it comes to getting to know Casey and I liked the decisions he made, even though they were hard ones when it came to his relationship with Casey. Will he find a way for the pair to be together without hurting those that want what's best for him when it comes to his career?

Overall, Ms. Brooks has delivered a really good read in this book where the chemistry between this couple was strong; the romance heats up the pages and had me liking that Casey took a chance on Ben; and the ending had me loving the hero's determination to prove to the heroine that she's the one for him and he's not going anywhere, especially with the commitment he's made in following his dream. I would recommend Above All by Rebecca Brooks, if you enjoy a story encompassing an older heroine-younger hero romance, the opposites attract trope or books by authors Tessa Bailey, TS Joyce, Alexis Daria and Lauren Layne. 











Rebecca Brooks lives in New York City in an apartment filled with books. She received a PhD in English but decided it was more fun to write books than write about them. She has backpacked alone through India and Brazil, traveled by cargo boat down the Amazon River, climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, explored ice caves in Peru, trekked to the source of the Ganges, and sunbathed in Burma, but she always likes coming home to a cold beer and her hot husband in the Bronx. Her books are about independent women who leave their old lives behind to try something new—and find the passion, excitement and purpose they didn’t know they’d been missing.







































































COVER REVEAL: UNTIL WE'RE MORE by CINDI MADSEN


Until We're More
Fighting for Her #2
By Cindi Madsen
Releasing August 20th, 2018
Entangled Publishing





Chelsea is smart, funny, gorgeous, and the best friend I’ve ever had. Ever since she left, I’ve been a wreck. I’ve been focused on keeping my family’s MMA gym afloat while I train and coach fighters, anything to not miss her more. But now she's finally back, along with her grumpy, possessive cat, and things are weird between us.

By weird, I mean I can’t stop thinking about her in that way. She’s in the room next door, and it takes all my control not to storm in there, sweep her up, and bring her back to my bed. Even stranger, I’m pretty sure she’d be into it.

And this time, I’m not going to stop fighting until we’re more.
 






Cindi Madsen is a USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary romance and young adult novels. She sits at her computer every chance she gets, plotting revising, and falling in love with her characters. Sometimes it makes her a crazy person. Without it, she’d be even crazier. She has way too many shoes, but can always find a reason to buy a new pretty pair, especially if they’re sparkly, colorful, or super tall. She loves music, dancing, and wishes summer lasted all year long. She lives in Colorado (where summer is most definitely NOT all year long) with her husband and three children. 


Cindi’s Media Links:
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COVER REVEAL: HER ALPHA VIKING by SHERYL NANTUS


Her Alpha Viking
The Odin's Bastards #1
By Sheryl Nantus 
Releasing August 27th, 2018
Entangled Publishing




Some loves are bigger than this world…

Former soldier Erik Harrison is a dead man walking. The sole survivor of an ambush, the guilt of losing his friends is crushing. He questions his own sanity, remembering the vision he saw as he was dying –– a battle angel come to collect his friends' souls.


Valkyrie Brenna Lund doesn't know why she failed in her duty to reap Erik's soul on the battlefield. He deserves his place with the other mighty warriors in Valhalla, and if she wants to return home, she has to kill him.

There are consequences for betraying the gods. But the closer Brenna and Erik become, the more they both want to risk everything for a future together. If only an immortal hunter weren’t sent to kill them both.




















































BLOG TOUR - REVIEW: HOW TO TRAIN YOUR BARON by DIANE LLOYD



About the Book:


When Elsinore Cosgrove escapes a ballroom in search of adventure, she has no idea it will lead to a hasty marriage. The youngest daughter of a duke, all she wants is to make her own choices. Now she’s engaged to an infuriating, handsome Scottish baron who doesn’t even know her name! Using all her feminine wiles, along with advice gleaned from a training guide for hunting hounds, Elsinore is determined to mold her baron into the husband she wants.

Quin Graham is a man with many secrets. If another scandal can be avoided with a sham marriage, so be it. Only his fiancee isn’t at all what he expected and the clumsy, curious, and clever Elsinore refuses to be set aside. For reasons he’s unwilling to explain, the last thing Quin needs is to fall in love with his wife.

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo

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In How to Train Your Baron (What Happens in the Ballroom #1) by Diane Lloyd, Elsinore Cosgrove is sick of her family treating her like a child. However, when she sets out on her own during a night out, she never imagined leaving the ballroom would lead to her becoming engaged. Will Elsinore find a way to be free of her betrothal or will getting married be the end of her chance to have the kind of adventures she wants in her life?

What an enthralling, fast-paced, splendid read Ms. Lloyd has delivered in this first book of her What Happens in the Ballroom series where I loved everything about it from the heroine's need for adventure and the sticky situation she finds herself in at the beginning with the hero because she needs his help to the heroine's determination to show the hero that they wouldn't be a good match to the heroine's determination to challenge her husband and show him that she's not going to be the compliant woman he wants. 

The way this story started drew me in immediately and had me loving the main characters, as I could understand the heroine's need for adventure with the way her family treats her. Moreover, the heroine is resilient, courageous, feisty, stubborn and I liked how much of a challenge she provided the hero because she's a grown woman that can make her own decisions instead of someone continuing to dictate what she can and can't do. Will the heroine get her way more times than not? While the hero, he's been through hard times and it's understandable why he is the way he is. No way will he allow anyone to deceive him again and take away the ones that matter. I also liked the hero's confidence; and his determination to protect the heroine, even if it means protecting her from him. Will the hero be able to keep the heroine safe from his past?

Overall, Ms. Lloyd has delivered a fantastic Historical Romance in this book where the emotionally-charged back story of the hero had me reading quickly, determined to discover more about him; the chemistry between this couple was intense; the romance was delightful and had me loving these two together, especially with the tricks they play on each other; and the ending had me on the edge-of-my-seat because of the danger these two face, but had me loving how things work out for the best for the pair. However, it was the epilogue that wrapped this story up nicely, as the hero and heroine are so happy together and have so much to look forward to. I would recommend How to Train Your Baron by Diane Lloyd, if you enjoy Historical Romance, the opposites attract trope or books by authors Eve Pendle, Jess Michaels, Lily Maxton and Scarlet Peckham.






“What shall you tell them?” Elsinore called out the question from behind the brocade-paneled screen.
“Tell who about what?”
“The servants to begin with, and then your friends and neighbors, of course.” She stepped out from behind the screen, a vision of sleepy virtue in a white sleeping gown trimmed with ruffles and lace.
“And upon what subject am I to enlighten them?” She walked to the bed, standing for a moment in front of the fire, the bright flames revealing the sheerness of the fabric. Wicked thoughts curled his lips into a smile.
“About us. I mean, how we met and came to be married so quickly.” She ran her hands through her hair, found a stray pin, plucked it out, and frowned at it.
“It’s nobody’s business but ours. I don’t see why I should need to say anything at all.” She rolled her eyes at his response. He grabbed a brush and comb out of his open valise and motioned her over.
“Surely they will wonder.” She pushed a chair over so that she could sit while he tended her hair. “You didn’t come to London just for a wife, did you?”
She was fishing again. It was clever of her to always choose an innocent moment of distraction. The sheer gown was no more an accident than this line of questioning. Both her curiosity and her cleverness, however, hardened his resolve to keep her safe from his secrets. His resolve wasn’t likely the only thing to grow hard this evening.
“I employ good and loyal staff. Our bargain is safe with me.” Avoiding the question was the best he could do at the moment. Even he wasn’t foolish enough to think it would appease her forever.
“I made no bargain.” Elsinore turned and snatched the brush from his hand. “People talk. Servants deal in gossip the way rich men deal in ancient coins or rare books.”
“My servants mind their duties and keep their mouths shut.” With all the family
deaths, every member of the household was on edge, looking at each other with side-glances, whispering behind hats and closed doors. A new wife was not as easily hidden as a bottle of poison and a secret. “You have an idea of what should be said I suppose?”
“Having a story we both agree upon will cause less of a fuss.” She handed back the brush so he could resume his attention to her hair. “Perhaps we could agree that we met in the ballroom and were properly introduced by an acquaintance.”
“Lord Byron?” he teased, curious as to her reply.
“Don’t be daft; no one would believe you know Lord Byron.”
“Actually—no, never mind. Lord Guillotine, then?” Her dismissal chafed. As a lowly Scottish baron, was he assumed to be devoid of culture?
“All good lies are simple in construct and contain a kernel of truth. It was the Winchcombes’ ball, we need only say it was Lady Winchcombe.”
“I never realized lying was such an art form.” She lied easily, but not well. A true expert of fabrication, like a gambler, would never admit their system.
“I’m the youngest of six children, I learned deception as a matter of survival.”
“That admission makes me nervous.” He smiled. It was a rare woman who told the truth about her own falsehoods.
“Stop trying to change the subject. What happened after we met?”
“We were at a ball. One might suppose we danced.”
“A waltz?”
“It’s your lie; it can be any sort of dance you want.”
She frowned at him. “It’s our lie and our stories better match unless you want people to gossip.”
“Fine. We waltzed. I’m a wonderful dancer, and you were quite taken with me.”
“You’re an adequate dancer, and I found you mildly interesting.”
One eyebrow rose. “And I found you passably good looking.”
“And I found your accent only slightly annoying.” She rose and paced about the small room while plaiting her hair. “I allowed you to escort me into the dining room for
midnight supper.”
“Then I captured your heart with my clever and insightful dinner conversation.”
“Balderdash,” he protested. “We should attempt some believability.”
“It’s our story. They’ll believe whatever we tell them as long as we’re consistent.” There was logic in her argument. Perhaps it was best to have a ready-made tale.
“Did I petition your father for your hand right then, or did I at least wait until a more reasonable hour?”
“You came calling the very next afternoon, and I invited you to take tea.”
“How very civil of you. Considering my accent and all.”
“You decided then and there that you couldn’t return to Scotland without me as your bride.”
“That must have been some tea.”
“There were biscuits as well.”
“Make them lavender-honey biscuits and suddenly the tale will be much more believable to those that know me.”
“Fine. You proclaimed your love over a tray of lavender honey biscuits and begged my permission to petition my father for his consent.”
“Begged?”
“Begged. On bended knee.”
“Och. This tale grows as thick as the honey on those biscuits. So, your father consented and here we are.”
“No, my father refused you.”
“Whatever for?” Real anger bubbled up over her made up courtship, and his face pinched into a scowl.
“He thought you rash. And Scottish.” She smiled sweetly. “But I threw myself at his feet, weeping and proclaiming my affection for you, and he at last relented.”
“And we were married by the end of the week because…?”
“Your business in town was finished, and we could not bear to wait to begin our life together.”
“Do you honestly expect me to repeat that tale without bursting into flames?”
“You were finished with your business in London, weren’t you?”
“I was lucky enough to find a suitable man…” He let his words fade into nothing as he realized he was about to reveal too much to her. She’d done it again. It was dangerous to underestimate her. “Yes. My work there was done.”
“Then our story stands.” She crawled into the bed and pulled the blanket up to her chin. “Do you agree to promote it and keep our true circumstances a secret?”
“Aye. I agree.”
“Good. I should not like to be the laughingstock of all of Scotland, too.”
“You’ll not be the one they’re laughing at.”




Diana Lloyd, mother of gingers, first of her name, is a stay-at-home wife, a hockey mom, and writer of stories with kissing in them. Diana defends her writing time like a rabid goalie while simultaneously volunteering for things she doesn’t really have time for. Diana is a member
of Hearts Through History chapter of Romance Writers of America and was a 2017 RWA Golden Heart Finalist. Her Regency romp, HOW TO TRAIN YOUR BARON, the first book in the “What Happens In the Ballroom” series, is scheduled for publication in July 2018. Connect with Diana on Twitter at @DianaLloydBooks, or give her a shout-out on Facebook.

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