REVIEW: FAKING FOREVER by CATHERINE BYBEE

Faking Forever

First Wives #4

By Catherine Bybee

Releasing March 12th, 2019

Montlake Romance

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In Faking Forever (First Wives #4) by Catherine Bybee, Shannon Wentworth wants a baby and feels time is running out. Mexico seems to be the perfect place to find a willing baby daddy, especially since no-one knows her and she won't run the risk of ever seeing the man she chooses again. However, when the bride of the wedding party whose photographs she'll be taking decides to flee before saying 'I Do', Shannon finds she could be in trouble with the groom since he believes she sabotaged his wedding. Will Shannon be able to convince Victor that he's lucky the wedding was called off or will they lose their shot at happy ever after because his ex-bride-to-be wants him back?

Ms. Bybee always impresses me with her writing style, which encompasses enthralling dialogue that keeps me entertained from start to finish; hot and delicious heroes that know how to please the woman they want while battling tough obstacles to get the girl; and amazing friendships between strong women where their motto should be something similar to 'All for one and one for all', as they support each other through thick and thin. 

The way this story started had me immediately hooked, as the heroine has a plan and I loved how that plan goes totally awry and she finds herself falling for the groom whose wedding was called off. Then again, it felt like Victor dodged a bullet in having his wedding called off since his bride-to-be was an immature brat and Shannon is the perfect match for him. Moreover, the main characters are relatable, likeable and I loved their growing relationship because there's instant chemistry between them, but that doesn't mean either are going to give into it. Not when Victor is a workaholic and Shannon deserves a man that would put her first in his life instead of work. 

As for the dialogue, it was intense due to the main characters back stories and had me sympathizing with the heroine because her divorce hit her hard. Yet, in all honesty, she's better off without her ex-husband and is lucky to have such good friends in Lori, Avery and Trina. So, what more could she ask for, especially when she's looking to become a single mother? Furthermore, the heroine had me smiling constantly throughout this story with her sassiness and the way she speaks her mind, especially in the moment when she and Victor first meet and how Shannon tells the hero what women want from a relationship. Which made me think, 'Take that, Victor' and I liked how he began to realize how right Shannon is when it comes to his personal and professional lives. Certainly, being all work and no play makes Victor 'Mr. Monotonous' and having Shannon in his life definitely shakes things up. I also liked how resilient and courageous the heroine is because having a plan doesn't always work out and being spontaneous can sometimes be a good thing. And, in the heroine's case, meeting Victor is a very good thing. 

While the hero, his character progression is brilliant, as he goes from Mr. All-work-and-no-play to Mr. Play-and-less-work. Really, Shannon brings out the best in him and makes him realize that there's more to life than work. Furthermore, I enjoyed the tight knit relationship the hero has with his family. It's as close as the one Shannon has with her friends and I loved how the hero's brother teases him. Yet, what I liked most of all about the hero was his determination to win over Shannon because they're meant to be. Certainly, there are a few hiccups along the way, as trust is important to Shannon and without trust their relationship couldn't possibly survive. Yet, I'm glad that he never gave up, even when the going got so tough that the heroine might not forgive him. 

Overall, Ms. Bybee has delivered another spectacular and highly entertaining read in this fourth book of her First Wives series where the chemistry between Victor and Shannon was off-the-charts; the romance was sizzling and heated up the pages at the right moments; and the ending had me loving the hero's determination to show Shannon that she's the one for him and nothing will keep them apart. However, it was the epilogue that wrapped this story up perfectly, as the four women are so lucky to have each found their Mr. Right and be as happy as they are after everything they've been through individually and together as friends. I would recommend Faking Forever by Catherine Bybee, if you enjoy the opposites attract trope, the enemy to lovers trope or books by authors Marina Adair, Jill Sanders, Jill Shalvis and Miranda Liasson. 

Shannon Wentworth’s biological clock is ticking, and she isn’t going to let her single status keep her from having a baby. When her wedding-photography business takes her to Mexico, she has every intention of finding a willing baby daddy to help her out. Until the bride goes AWOL, leaving Shannon to coddle the arrogant fiancé who has accused her of sabotaging his wedding.

Victor Brooks never could have imagined that he’d be on a honeymoon for one. Only here he is, taking a hard look at his life after the younger women he thought he loved walked out. The woman who volunteers to help him reflect is the last person he expects to be attracted to. Between the tequila, the sun, and one earth-shattering kiss, Victor finds Shannon a distraction too sexy to ignore.

They strike a deal: wait three months, cool off, and see if their tropical beach attraction is worth taking up when they go back home. Unfortunately, that’s just enough time for the past to come calling. All their best-laid plans are at risk. So is the last thing Shannon expected to matter the most: her heart.

BUY LINK: Amazon

REVIEW: PROMISE ME YOU by MARINA ADAIR

Promise Me You

Raising Kane #2

By Marina Adair

Releasing 23rd October, 2018

Montlake Romance

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In Promise Me You (Raising Kane #1) by Marina Adair, Mackenzie Hart is in love with her best friend, Hunter Kane. Too bad he up and married someone else causing her to disappear from his life. Now three years later, they're reunited and Hunter is determined to convince Mackenzie to help him write songs for his upcoming album while making sure she doesn't disappear from his life again. Yet, the more time they spend together, the more Mackenzie finds herself falling for Hunter all over again when she knows she should keep her distance. Will Hunter be able to convince Mackenzie that she's the right woman for him or will their chance at happy ever after slip by again?

What an emotionally-charged, fast-paced, enchanting read Ms. Adair has delivered in this first book of her Raising Kane series where the main characters have quite the history and I could understand why the heroine is scared to face the hero after everything that's happened in her life and the secret she's kept from him for three years. How well will the hero deal once he learns the heroine's secret?

The way this story started had me feeling sorry for the heroine because there's nothing like feeling so scared about the future; a future where she feels no other option but to walk away from those that care about her in order to protect her heart and hide the truth about her future being so bleak. Will she be able to handle everything once Hunter comes back into her life? Moreover, both the characters are wonderful and I loved the hero's determination to win over the heroine because they've always been close -- until they weren't -- and he wants nothing more than to be with her. 

With the main characters, I absolutely loved this couple. They've both had tough pasts that have made the resilient characters they are; characters whose emotions I felt alongside them, as they're reunited and the hero fights hard to get their friendship back to how it was and then make it so much more if only he can convince the heroine that she's the one he wants forever with. Furthermore, the heroine is resilient, courageous and I liked that she let the hero in because life hasn't been easy without him, especially when he's always been there for her. Why didn't the heroine trust him enough to tell him the truth of what was happening in her life? While the hero, he's confident, driven to succeed when it comes to the new album and I liked how determined he was to win the heroine over because he wants her back in his life, as his life hasn't been the same without her. I also liked the close relationship the hero has with many of the secondary characters and that they'd do anything to bring Mackenzie and Hunter together again. 

Overall, Ms. Adair has delivered a fantastic read in this book where emotions run high; the chemistry between this couple was powerful; the romance was nicely-detailed and had me loving this couple together; and the ending had me cheering for this couple's happy ever after because they're meant to be together. I would recommend Promise Me You by Marina Adair, if you enjoy second chance romances, the friends to lovers trope or books by authors Jill Sanders, Catherine Bybee, Jill Shalvis and Melissa Foster. 

  

A heartening romance of friendship, second chances, and the healing power of love…

Mackenzie Hart has made a career out of writing about eternal love, so when she finds her perfect match in Hunter Kane, she decides to put it all on the line. Irresistibly charming and drenched in alpha-male swagger, Hunter isn’t just the catch of the town—he’s Mackenzie’s best friend. Only someone beats her to the altar. After a fresh start and three years to recover, the last thing Mackenzie expects is for her old life to come knocking…

Recently divorced, musician Hunter Kane wants to reconnect with the woman he left behind. Admitting his biggest mistake comes first. What comes next is up to Mackenzie. He hopes she’ll give him a second chance. He may have been the one to break her heart, but he knows he can also be the one to mend it.

As a tenuous friendship turns into something more, Hunter’s life on the road beckons once again. Will love be enough to keep them together, or will their wildly different worlds be too much for them to overcome?

BUY LINK:  Amazon

REVIEW: WHAT I'VE DONE by MELINDA LEIGH

What I've Done

Morgan Dane #4

By Melinda Leigh

Releasing September 18th, 2018

Montlake Romance

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Haley Powell wakes up covered in blood, with no memory of the night before. When she sees a man lying in the backyard, stabbed to death, she has only one terrified thought: What have I done?

Agreeing to take the case as a favor to her PI friend Lincoln Sharp, Morgan must scale a mountain of damning circumstantial and forensic evidence to prove her client innocent. Haley couldn’t appear more guilty: her bloodstained fingerprints are on the murder weapon, and she has no alibi. But Morgan can’t shake the feeling that this shocked young woman has been framed.

Someone out there is hell-bent on sabotaging her defense, targeting Morgan, her partner, and especially Haley. Someone who will stop at nothing—and whose next move will be deadly. 

BUY LINK:  Amazon

In What I've Done (Morgan Dane #4) by Melinda Leigh, Morgan Dane has a tough case ahead of her when she takes on Haley Powell as a client. She's been charged with murder, but the more Morgan and her exceptional PI team in her boss Sharp and her boyfriend/partner Lance Kruger investigate the case, the more they think Haley is being framed. Will they be able to get Haley off the charges or will the person who framed Haley do everything they can to stop Morgan from discovering the truth?

If you've never read a book by Ms. Leigh than as a reader you're missing out on some brilliant writing because her romantic suspense consist of a brilliant amount of suspense with a nice dose of sweet romance to match it. Really, the hero and heroine are always on-the-go, tracking down leads and this book certainly takes the pair on an adventurous journey to get to the truth of what happened to the man that Haley is accused of murdering. 

As for the dialogue, it was entertaining and intense due to the case they're determined to solve and the obstacles they face to get to the truth. Really, I was on the edge-of-my-seat at times with worry for the main characters. Moreover, the heroine is strong, brave and I love reading bits about her back story every time I read a new book for this series. She's such an interesting heroine that has been through so much. Things that have made her the resilient admirable woman she is that lots of people want as a lawyer because she's so good at what she does. Really, she goes above and beyond in her pursuit of the truth, especially in this case that could definitely spell danger if Morgan isn't careful. 

Overall, Ms. Leigh has delivered an absolutely fantastic read in this book where the investigation sets the fast-pace of the story, as Morgan and her partner get to the bottom of what really happened; and the ending had me loving what Morgan learns. Will Morgan be able to prove Haley is innocent? Certainly, it's not an easy case to figure out who was responsible for the murder. I would recommend What I've Done by Melinda Leigh, if you enjoy romantic suspense or books by authors Kendra Elliott, Laura Griffin, Mary Burton and Cynthia Eden. 

REVIEW: CHASING SHADOWS by CATHERINE BYBEE

Chasing Shadows

First Wives #3

By Catherine Bybee

Releasing November 13th, 2018

Montlake Romance

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Falling in love can come with the most unexpected risks in this First Wives novel from New York Times bestselling author Catherine Bybee.

Avery Grant doesn’t date. Her first marriage was a mutually beneficial contract that gave her the financial freedom she needed to step away from her controlling parents. Wealthy and single, the last thing she’s looking for is love sneaking in to mess up her life plans. And after a brutal attack, she’s determined to never be vulnerable again, even if the new man in her life helps her feel safe.

Mesmerized from the moment he sets his eyes on Avery, Liam is driven to learn everything about this tough, sexy, challenging woman. Breaking down her defenses won’t be easy, but Liam refuses to be pushed away. All he needs is a tiny crack in Avery’s armor to wiggle his way into her heart.

But when a terrifying lie about her attacker’s fate comes to light, Avery’s past returns to haunt her. Now she’s willing to put herself in danger to get the answers she needs. That means jeopardizing the best thing that’s ever happened to her: Liam.

Buy Link: Amazon

In Chasing Shadows (First Wives #3) by Catherine Bybee, Avery Grant barely survived a brutal attack, but it's made her stronger. She's determined never to be caught off guard again. Yet, there's something about Liam that makes her think about tossing her no dating rule aside and giving a man a chance. Except when Avery's past has her looking for answers, will she push away the person she's coming to love or will she let him in completely to achieve her happy ever after?

I have had this book on my kindle for the past three months and have been putting off reading it because I couldn't warm up to Avery in the first two books of Ms. Bybee's First Wives series. Since I thought she was too opinionated and interfering when it came to her friends love lives and too much of a socialite that loves attention and to spend money. Really, she just annoyed me until something terrible happened to her in the second book of the series that left me shocked. Still, I've been hesitant to read this book, but I'm glad I finally did, as it was highly entertaining, fast-paced and has exceptional emotional depth that shows how much of a warrior Avery is. 

The way this story started drew me into the story immediately, as Avery is determined never to be a victim again. However, it was from the moment the hero and heroine come face-to-face for the first time where this story really takes off, as Liam is an absolutely delightful hero who is relatable, likeable, sensible and so straight-forward. A man who doesn't hold anything back and goes after what he wants and what he wants is Avery. Really, his pursuit of her was genius, even if it does come off a little stalkerish -- at first -- to some of the secondary characters. 

As for the dialogue, it was intense due to the main characters back stories, especially the heroine as she's been through a lot in her life and it's understandable why she needed to break away from her parents. Her mother is totally pretentious and has some very outdated views of women. Luckily, Avery has discovered what she wants out of life and has gone for it when it comes to a career. Moreover, the heroine is resilient, courageous and I liked how driven she is when it comes to her career, even if she does get a little sidetracked because of personal issues that have her wanting answers. I also liked how she stood up to her friends when it comes to her life being hers and she can do what she wants. Yes, they are her friends, but she doesn't need them to save her. That is something she can now do herself. Really, her courage shines throughout this story with all she's done and does to be able to keep herself safe.

Overall, Ms Bybee has delivered an absolutely incredible read in this book where the chemistry between Avery and Liam was off-the-charts and tangible from the moment they meet; the romance was hot and shows how right these two are for each other; and the ending left me completely satisfied because of what Avery undercovers and how it helps her to heal completely from what she went through. However, it was the epilogue that wrapped this story up perfectly, as Liam and Avery are absolutely adorable together. I would recommend Chasing Shadows by Catherine Bybee, if you enjoy the opposites attract trope or books by authors Marina Adair, Jill Shalvis, Jennifer Probst and Erin Nicholas. 

REVIEW: GOING UP by TAWNA FENSKE

Going Up

By Tawna Fenske

Releasing July 17th, 2018

Montlake Romance

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In Going Up by Tawna Fenske, Lexi Allison is used to men hitting on her. It happens all the time, especially in her line of work as a bartender. But when she becomes stuck in an elevator with the gorgeous Noah Donovan, she can't help but resort to her ruse that she's married. Not that it's true, but it's the only way she can ward off unwanted advances. However, when she leaves her cute and cuddly packrat behind in the elevator, Noah tracks Lexi down to give the cuddly rodent back. Will Noah be able to win Lexi over once he learns the truth about her being single or will they lose their shot at happy ever after?

Ms. Fenske always writes such fun and interesting reads with plenty of great banter between the main characters that either makes me laugh or smile and I've got to say that this story was no different. Really, I loved the way this story started, which drew me in immediately and made me want to get to know more about the main characters. Why does the heroine always use the ruse of being married to ward off unwanted advances? What happened in her past that made her need to use such a ruse? Is she coming off a bad break-up and not willing to give her heart to another man? However, it was from the moment the hero and heroine come face-to-face for the first time where this story really gets interesting, as the hero and heroine find themselves stuck in an elevator together. Will they be able to handle being stuck in the elevator? 

As for the dialogue, it was very entertaining and I loved the banter between Noah and Lexi, as they get to know each other, even if there are plenty of obstacles along the way such as lies, misunderstandings and a case of mistaken identity. Moreover, I really liked both the main characters and could understand the heroine's need to protect herself by using the ruse after all she's been through. It's actually quite genius, even though Noah turns out to be a good guy and wouldn't push her into anything she wasn't ready for. Yet, she has to decide that for herself. Not everyone is as good a guy as the hero. 

Furthermore, with the main characters, I loved their back stories and their growing relationship, which made this story go really fast. The heroine is strong, brave and I liked that she gave Noah a chance. Really, she couldn't have found a more perfect guy than Noah, which is proven by all he does when it comes to the heroine's packrat. While the hero, I absolutely loved him. He's kind, caring and I enjoyed how he won the heroine over, especially since she doesn't trust easily. 

Overall, Ms. Fenske has delivered a really good read in this book where the chemistry between this couple was tangible from the moment they meet; the romance was worth the wait, as their relationship goes from platonic to physical intimacy; and the ending had me worried that a misunderstanding could end this couple's relationship. Will Noah allow the heroine to explain? However, it was the epilogue that wrapped this story up wonderfully, as I loved the playful banter between Noah and Lexi. I would recommend Going Up by Tawna Fenske, if you're looking for a quick entertaining read or if you enjoy books by authors Marina Adair, Jill Sanders, Avery Flynn and Catherine Bybee. 

USA Today bestselling author Tawna Fenske’s outrageous romantic comedy about love and lies between perfect strangers…

If someone had told Noah Donovan he was going to be stuck in an elevator with a very beautiful, slightly odd bartender and her fluffy packrat, he never would have believed it. Fortunately, the quirky brunette leaves the very cuddly rodent behind. Unfortunately, she’s married.

In Lexi Allison’s job, she’s accustomed to warding off unwanted advances with a fake wedding ring. So when she meets a tatted-up hunk in an elevator, she’s quick to revert to her default tall tale. This guy certainly knows how to push her buttons, but the thing is, they’re the right buttons. Not that it makes any difference. She won’t see him again anyway.

Noah and Lexi are about to discover that fate has plans for both of them—and that their ups and downs are just beginning. Because it’s going to take two lies, three misunderstandings, a case of mistaken identity, and one very persistent rodent to prove that perfect strangers can make the perfect couple.

BUY LINK: Amazon