Category Archives: Tina

Happy Release + Review: Playing Dirty by Helenkay Dimon – Bad Boys Undercover Series – Book 1

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Playing Dirty 

Bad Boys Undercover Series – Book 1

By Helenkay Dimon

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rtdigitalmagcoverfeb15Synopsis

As an elite Alliance agent—the joint undercover operation of MI6, the British Secret Intelligence Service, and the CIA—Ford Decker lives for the adrenaline. But when he befriends sexy property manager Shay Alexander in hopes of finding her cousin, a known national security threat, Ford crosses the line, getting to know her better . . . in bed.

After being burned by her last relationship, Shay wants to take things slow. Yet she can’t keep her hands off the drop-dead gorgeous hottie who’s moved into her apartment building. So when Ford’s identity as an undercover agent is exposed, his betrayal cuts deep. Shay never wants to see him again, but Ford can’t let her go, not when her life is still in danger. He will sacrifice everything to protect her, then be prepared to walk away from the only woman he’s ever loved, even if it breaks him.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

4 star

Tina’s Review

A lab employee and vial of deadly toxin go missing. Chatter of a deadly release is picking up. A mission to acquire the target goes horribly wrong, suspiciously, with too much malfunctioning hi-tech equipment to missing intelligence.
Ford’s new landlord is the young employee’s cousin. He gets close to her in hopes of gaining intel, or so that was the original plan… under the guise of an IT tech, he’s finding it harder and harder to lie to her. Soon enough, his lies will catch up to him. Add to all of that, there’s a mole in the Alliance group and a very rich and well-connected uncle spinning some tall tales.
The characters are intriguing and the plot pulls you in with strong dialogue, believable interaction and plenty of dynamics. The flow of the story is smooth, however there are a few small parts that seemed a bit slow or unnecessary. The mystery and thrills continued to the end with virtually no predictability. The conflicts were met with mature and timely resolutions and the conclusion was mostly solid. There were a few minor, secondary threads that were left a little loose, but I would not classify it as open-ended and it definitely did not have a cliffhanger. Overall, this was a very good book and I enjoyed reading it very much.

About Helenkay Dimon

helenkayHelenKay Dimon is a former divorce attorney turned full-time romance author. Odd transition, right? She has sold over thirty novels, novellas and shorts to numerous publishers, including Kensington, Harlequin and Penguin, Samhain, Carina Press, and HarperCollins. Her nationally bestselling and award-winning books have been showcased in numerous venues and her books have twice been named “Red-Hot Reads” and excerpted in Cosmopolitan magazine. But the best part of the job is never having to wear pantyhose.

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ARC Review : Maya -And The- Tough Guy by Carter Ashby – Big Girl Panties Series – Book 2

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91OR+PPrvoL._SL1500_Maya ~And The~ Tough Guy

Big Girl Panties Series – Book 2

By Carter Ashby

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Synopsis

Maya Bradley is on her own now. With the help of her dear friends, Zoey and Addy, she’s determined to give her children the lives they deserve, away from their abusive father. But the journey is destined to be difficult, and she meets her first roadblock when she asks sexy, tattooed bar owner, Jayce Gilmore, for a job serving drinks.

Jayce has two reasons for not wanting to hire Maya. One: she deserves a more respectable job. And two: he’s been madly in love with her since he was a young boy. But when he finally realizes how desperate she is for work, he has no choice but to bring her on.

With Maya struggling to earn a living, get an education, and raise two children, Jayce finally finds himself in a position to help her. And though she isn’t interested in a relationship, Maya is showing definite signs of physical attraction. Jayce is sure he can keep his love hidden and fulfill her every fantasy. Unfortunately, he has severely underestimated the needs of his heart. As the moment of truth fast approaches, Maya must decide whether to break a tough guy’s heart, or open her fragile soul to the risks that come with loving again.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble 

4 star

Tina’s Review

This is the second book in the Big Girl Panties series. It can stand alone, but would be more meaningful if you’ve read book one first.
Eight years ago, Jayce and Maya almost had a “moment” on the night of their high school prom. When she backed out, Jayce was kind about it. He took her home and gave her his number. That was the night that irrevocably changed Maya’s life forever. With Maya trying to gain some independence after a lengthy healing process and having Damon arrested, she tries to find a job. Not an easy task for someone afraid of her own shadow. After discovering the lengths she’ll go to to provide for her children, Jayce employs her. Suddenly he’s nearly as afraid of her as she is of him!
Emotional. I laughed, I cried. I love Maya and if I thought she broke my heart in the first book, it was nothing compared to this one. Jayce pulls off such a strong and confident persona for the world, but inside, he’s still pretty broken too. What a wonderful pair. The secondary characters are terrific. They are strong and supportive without trying to take over the plot. The interaction and dialogue is real… it sucks you in, makes you *feel*. The plot is terrific and the story flowed quite smoothly. The conflicts are plentiful, some minor while some are complex and most were resolved. It’s a small puzzle piece, but no further mention is made of Maya’s dad’s outcome. Predictability was not obvious. This story concludes well, but leaves you anticipating Addy and Grey’s story.

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Author Bio:

7059335When I got my first email from the man who would one day be my husband, it was very clear that he did not want to email me. Friends had set us up and he was obviously bowing to their pressure. His email consisted of a numerical list of facts about himself that he clearly meant to be the end of our correspondence.

My snarky response was a numerical list of facts about myself, and for some reason, he liked it. So that’s what I’m going to do here, since I’m not so good at writing about myself.

Carter is not my real name. Imagine how you would feel if your strictly right-wing religious family and friends found out you wrote stuff with sex and bad words in it.
I’ve been married 11 years and have three kids and two dogs.
I like to garden but I DO NOT like to talk about gardening. So please, let’s not talk about gardening.
I’m deeply introspective and welcome anyone who wants to bitch-slap me back into reality, should I float away a little too far into my own thoughts.
I think fiction is a basic and essential element of our existence as humans. I think it’s part of what makes us human. And I think we relate better to each other through stories than we do through fact–bitch slap me now, I’m getting introspective.
I’m a little flighty about hobbies. Reading, writing, and bread baking are the only ones that have stood the test of time. Current hobbies include mixing drinks, making mead, gardening, fermenting stuff from the garden…I think that’s all at the moment.
I’ll read anything. Most of my loved ones stick to their favorite genre, so I will go read what they’re reading so we can have stuff to talk about at the dinner table.
I homeschool my children. Not because of religious reasons. Not because I hate the system (although I’m not overly fond of it). But because I just want to be with them. And playing school is fun. Remember that? Playing teacher and making your younger sister do a bunch of homework? Was that just me?
Last one: The first time I dropped out of college was because I was having one of those existential crises teenagers are so fond of having. When I went home, I found stacks and stacks of notebooks in my closet full of unfinished (and god-awful) stories. I didn’t even remember writing them. But that’s when I realized that I was a writer. Because I have to do it. It’s who I am. The publishing thing is virgin territory, but I have always, and always will, write. Because I have to.

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ARC Review: The Marriage Match by Tracy March- Suddenly Smitten Series – Book 3

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The Marriage Match

Suddenly Smitten Series – Book 3

By Tracy March

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Synopsis

Hot bachelor seeks bride…

Resort tycoon Trent Hawthorne is looking for a wife. His all-business, no-nonsense grandmother (and the matriarch of the small town of Maple Creek) has selected three potential brides―all beautiful and approved. Each “fantasy date” will take place in a lush Caribbean setting, filmed like a reality show to promote the Hawthorne family’s chain of resorts. All of Trent’s hopes for love combined with a clever marketing gimmick…what could possibly go wrong?

As it turns out, all it takes is a kiss. A sizzling, sweet-as-sin kiss. But Cynthia Sawyer isn’t one of the bachelorettes, and she’s definitely not supposed to be making out with her boss’s sexy grandson. Not to mention it’s strictly against company policy. But Cynthia has her own reasons for hooking Trent up with a bride who isn’t her as soon as possible. And losing her heart is a price that she’s willing to pay…

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / IBooks

4 star

Tina’s Review

Cynthia “Cyn” Sawyer is the personal assistant to “The Queen”, Fairleigh Hawthorne. Daughter of a minister and librarian, she grew up under the strict regimes of How to become a Proper Young Lady, which she was not inclined to go along with. She’s already stressed over the elaborate annual garden party that the manor hosts, but now the Queen has devised a scheme of epic proportions that would take her in a whole new direction.
Trent Hawthorne couldn’t decide if his grandmother’s marketing idea was insane or genius. As CEO of the family’s chain of resorts, It’s been proposed he partake in a Dating Game meets The Bachelor style reality adventure. Spend a weekend with three potential brides for the next upcoming three weeks leading up to a proposal and marriage.
He remembered her as a gawky Goth girl, but she’s all grown up now and he can’t help but notice. While going over plans, they realize that they truly get each other on an elemental level. Unfortunately she works for the Hawthornes because when she’s around, he forgets there are other girls waiting to to be chosen to become his bride.

As the third book in the series, you meet the characters that obviously were in the previous installments, but this book does stand solidly on it’s own. The characters are quite enjoyable and maintain believable interaction and dialogue throughout. The plot and concept are light and fun with an easy reading flow. This made for a very pleasurable experience. There were several conflicts layered into the story that were fully resolved by the end. Predictability was a given in some areas, but it did not take away from anything. The conclusion was tight and solid, very well done.

About Tracy March

4575285Award-winning author Tracy March writes romantic thrillers influenced by her interest in science and politics. She also writes lighthearted romances inspired by her real-life happily ever after.

Look for Tracy’s Suddenly Smitten contemporary romance series including THE PRACTICE PROPOSAL, TEMPTED IN THE TROPICS (both selected as RT Book Reviews Top Picks), and THE MARRIAGE MATCH releasing in January 2015. Tracy’s romantic political thriller, GIRL THREE, was selected by Kathy Altman of USA Today as a Top Read of 2013, and her romantic suspense novel, A SHOT OF RED, was chosen as a Night Owl Reviews Top Pick.

Always up for travel and adventure, Tracy has flown in a stunt plane, snowmobiled on the Continental Divide, ziplined in the Swiss Alps, and been chased by a bull in the mountains of St. Lucia. She loves Nationals baseball, Saturday date nights, and Dairy Queen Blizzards—and rarely goes a day without Diet Coke and Cheez-Its.

Tracy lives in Yorktown, Virginia, with her superhero husband who works for NASA. They recently spent two years living in Washington D.C., and enjoy visiting often—especially when the Nats are in town.

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Review: Angel In Armani by Melanie Scott- New York Saints Series- Book 2

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Angel In Armani

New York Saints Series- Book 2

By Melanie Scott

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Synopsis

WILL A LOVE OF THE GAME
Sara Charles is striking out on her own. With her dad out of commission, Charles Air has only one helicopter left—and only Sara to fly charters. With the family business in jeopardy, Sara needs all the clients she can get and the newest one is New York Saints team surgeon, Lucas Angelo. When an unexpected flirtation escalates into a night of pure blind passion, Sara is in agony over what she believes was extremely poor judgment on her part. She wants nothing more than to avoid Lucas. And keep her business her business. But she needs him—in more ways than one.
LEAD TO A FIELD OF DREAMS?But there is a catch: Lucas also needs Sara. Spring training is upon him, and his schedule is madness. So he asks Sara to be his personal pilot. It’s an offer she can’t refuse. She intends to keep him at arm’s length—especially when she discovers just what different lives they have. Little does Sara know that, for Lucas, the only thing more important than business is pleasure. He only plays to win. And he intends to hit it out of the park…

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / IBooks

4 star

Tina’s Review

She needs a miracle to save the family business
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Sara resigned from the military to help her father after her father’s helo crash leaves him severely injured. With no other pilots on the roster, Charles Air is in jeopardy of closing their business. She still suffers some battle stress effects and has been left opinionated of the rich and elite because of a tragic loss too close to home that never truly met justice.

He needs someone he can trust to guide him through the hell of flying.

Lucas still, after nearly twenty years, suffers blank spots of lost time from the explosion that forever altered his life in college. He remembers running into the stadium to help trapped victims – then nothing – until he was being lifted into a medevac helicopter, strapped to a gurney. Since then, he’s had a hellava time flying. He’s pretty much the black sheep in his socialite family and often is made to suffer the fallout for his freedoms.

The characters are well-written with good dimension. Their interaction and dialogue is believable and their conflicts are real and not over-the-top. I feel we get a better and more rounded back story on Sara than we do Lucas, but given what we are shown of Lucas’s past, there may not be too much that is desirable to share. The secondary characters add a vibrant fullness to the cast; I love Dougal. The plot is very good, if you can overlook Sara’s reversed snobbery. The story flows very well, however I did seem to notice several words used that conflict with American terminology (ie: lift for elevator, flock for dress / gown, car park for parking lot). The conflicts are finally all sorted out, leaving a satisfactory and solid conclusion.

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Author Bio:

Melanie ScottMelanie Scott is an unrepentant bookworm. Luckily she grew up in a family that fed her a properly varied diet of books and these days is surrounded by people who are understanding of her story addiction. When not wrestling one of her own stories to the ground, she can generally be found reading someone else’s. Her other distractions include yarn, cat butlering, dark chocolate and fabric. She lives in Melbourne, Australia. To keep in touch, sign up for her newsletter at http://www.melanie-scott.net.

She also writes fantasy and urban fantasy as M.J. Scott To find out more about M.J’s books, check out her website or sign up for her newsletter at http://www.mjscott.net.

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Happy Release + Review: You Can’t Always Get What You Want by Chelsey Krause

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You Can’t Always Get What You Want

By Chelsey Krause

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Synopsis

Fans of Jill Shalvis and Molly O’Keefe will love this deeply romantic and uplifting debut novel about losing everything you thought you wanted—and getting exactly what you need.

Sophie Richards has been looking forward to a much-needed girls’ night out: a Rolling Stones tribute-band concert, a few drinks, a distraction from her grueling nursing shifts in acute care. But when her best friend bails, Sophie gets stuck with a blind date.

Although Brett Nicholson may be the hottest carpenter alive, and Sophie may technically be single, she isn’t exactly on the market. Six years ago she found The One. He was everything Sophie dreamed a man could be—and then she lost him. In an instant, her whole life changed, and she forgot all about happily ever after.

But as she gets to know Brett, Sophie starts to wonder about the future for the first time. With a broken heart still clouding her mind, jumping into a new relationship feels impossible. When she’s in his arms, walking away feels even harder. Now Sophie faces an impossible choice: living in the past or choosing love in the here and now.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / IBooks

4 star

Tina’s Review

:: DEBUT NOVEL :: First-person, present tense narrative with some flashback windows into the past.
Two not-so social people with common friends agree to go together to a concert. Neither have really dated in years. She’s experienced a tragedy, he grew tired of casual dating. They defy the odds and find they have an easy, immediate connection and chemistry. The reader is provided ample backstory on Sophie, but not a lot on Brett, it’s almost like he’s a secondary character rather than a lead male. The characters are very feel-good and well-written. They are all very likable and the interaction is good. I just really wish there was more depth and background for Brett’s character. The plot is sweet and flows nicely. The main conflict runs through the length of the book and is finally resolved in the last few chapters, which provides enough time to tie all loose ends and provide a solid and satisfactory conclusion. Predictability is virtually non-existent. Overall, this was quite a pleasant debut novel.

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Author Bio:

8583948Chelsey is a Canadian nurse. She lives with her husband and two children.

She loves thrift shops and musty old books stores, DIY projects, and has a serious Starbucks addiction.

She has recently published her first novel with Random House. Check out Chelsey’s thoughts on reading and writing at: http://www.chelseykrause.com

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Review: Walk Beside Me by HJ Bellus- Walk Series- Book 2

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Walk Beside Me

Walk Series- Book 2

By HJ Bellus

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Synopsis

When Tess was forced to leave town, she vowed never to return. That meant no Finn and no Finn meant a life filled with heartache. It wasn’t her choice, but what in her life has been? Tess was never one to believe in fairytales while growing up, and her past has only confirmed her skepticism.

With a baby on the way and her family needing her, Tess has no choice but to go back to the small town she never thought she’d have to step foot in again. She has been gone for six months and a lot can happen in that time. Tess is slapped with this reality just when she thinks life couldn’t get any more complicated.

This is Tess and Finn’s ending…but will it be a happy one? Will Tess finally believe fairytales exist?

Buy: Amazon 

4 star

Tina’s Review

Novella, under 100 pages.
It’s been six months since Finn’s father ran Tess out of town. Now, seven months pregnant, she’s returned to town with only two goals: attend granddaddy’s funeral and see her niece or nephew be born. Then she plans to leave town again before Finn’s father can act upon the threats he’d made against her loved ones. But things are not that simple. The closing scene of WALK ME DOWN overlaps with the opening scene of WALK BESIDE ME, providing a seamless continuance of the story. The characters are the same as before, only several circumstances have shifted or altered. Dialogue is believable, interaction is natural. HJ Bellus writes in a style that flows extremely smooth, making the pages fly by like nothing. It’s a very pleasurable experience. The plot is pretty good, for being so short. While it has plenty of dynamics to carry it, it lacks the fullness of a full-length novel. Several aspects of the conflicting elements were predictable, but it wasn’t until moments before the reveal that I knew what was going to happen (My Opinion: Blech! LOL)! This finale novella closes Finn’s and Tessa’s story off with solidly. I enjoyed this 2-piece set rather well.

Author Bio:

LOGOI am an independent author excited about releasing my first novel very soon. A big dream coming true!!! I’m all country…the kinda country where green grass grows and corn pops up in rows….love Miranda and her bad ass music!!! Just a simple country girl getting one story out of her head at a time…I always fall hard for a trucker style hat…especially if it’s a John Deere hat….loves me a good ol’ farm boy!!!!!!

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ARC Review: Playing Doctor by Kate Allure – Meeting Men

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Playing Doctor

By Kate Allure

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Synopsis

The doctor will see you now…
Three sizzling-hot erotic romance stories to stoke your mood

In The Intern, the temperature of Dr. Lauren Marks’s office quickly rises when her new medical intern Courtney turns out to be a passionate and sexy young man.

Valerie realizes all of her fantasies when her sexy surgeon and her loving husband team up to offer her some extra-special treatment in My Doctor, My Husband, and Me.

Nikki gets more than she bargained for in Seize the Doctor when the hot guy she recently met at a bar walks into her exam room wearing a white coat. Good thing she wore her sexiest lingerie.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

4 star

Tina’s Review

*** Provided by Netgalley in Exchange for an Honest Review. ***

The doctor will see you now…
Three sizzling-hot erotic romance stories to stoke your mood…
In THE INTERN, the temperature of Dr. Lauren Marks’ office quickly rises when her new medical intern, Courtney, turns out to be a passionate and sexy young man.
Valerie realizes all of her fantasies when her sexy surgeon and her loving husband team up to offer her some extra-special treatment in MY DOCTOR, MY HUSBAND AND ME.
Nikki gets more than she bargained for in SEIZE THE DOCTOR when the hot guy she recently met at a bar walks into her exam room wearing a white coat. Good thing she wore her sexiest lingerie.

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My Thoughts:
AUTHOR DEBUT — 3 novella anthology, approximately 60 – 100 pages each.
THE INTERN –
Approximately 100 pages. Lauren is a mid-thirties, divorced general practitioner. Her ex-husband left her with the practice and all the bills. She gratefully allowed a buy-in partnership to alleviate some of the financial stress & now is taking on an intern as a favor to an old college friend. Only she doesn’t realize that she’s a he & he’s smokin’ hot! But she’s way too old for a young Adonis like him, isn’t she?
Courtney “Court” applies for a summer internship to determine if this is truly the path he wants to follow before he enrolls into med school. He’s attracted to his new boss in ways that he’d never imagined, but what chance does a kid have with an experienced woman?
A fun, quick story with humorous moments. The cast of characters were unique and enjoyable. Dialogue and interaction was great. The plot was fairly simple as many novella with not a lot of dynamics, but it flowed well nonetheless. The conflict gets thrown out and the results are fairly hot (but a little clinical). There was no predictability. The ending read like it was “wrapped up”, I was left feeling a bit confused and short-changed. Not your typical conclusion.
Score: 3.6, Stars: 4
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MY DOCTOR, MY HUSBAND AND ME –
Approximately 65 pages. Valerie needs surgery on her foot to correct an old injury that did not heal properly and has been bothering her. She been married to Elliott for eighteen years and they have two teen children together. The marriage has not been without it’s faults, but they are happy. But now that she’s seen her doctor, she’s fantasizing of more.
Luka is the specialist that will perform her surgery. He’s handsome with a swoon-worthy bedside manner and hot, silky Eastern European accent. He’s attracted to her, but she’s his patient. Her wedding band hasn’t gone unnoticed either.
A proposal is made at her final appointment… an erotic proposal, a proposal she can only hope Elliott will go along with.
Lead female and her husband are in their early to mid-forties, the doctor about mid-thirties so they are a little older than typical characters. Characters are good, dialogue and interaction believable. The plot is thin, but flows smoothly. The sexual descriptions are sort of blunt and clinical; it does not come off as hot or erotic. There’s not a lot of conflict, no predictability. Again, the ending is written as if it’s a wrap, but you are left feeling cheated…
Score: 3.4, Stars: 3
—– —– —–
SEIZE THE DOCTOR-
Approximately 75 pages. Earlier in the week, Nikki broke up with her boyfriend of a year after he’d cheated on her. Now her friends convince her to go out to the club with them to forget the jerk.
Hunter’s celebrating with his friend when he meets Nikki. After spending over an hour getting to know one another, her friends see his friends playing a numbers game (collecting girls’ phone numbers) and call the night off, dismissing the man-whore douches and their ridiculous “I’m a doctor.” lines.
Little did they realize…
Lead characters are great, seconds are good. Humorous and fun dialogue. The sex scene(s) is/are a bit funny with the over-exuberant commentary and jerking pole terminology, but at least it’s less clinical than the previous novellas were. Enjoyable, light plot with an easy flow. There was a mild conflict that was quickly resolved. Virtually no predictability. The conclusion was the most solid and satisfying of the three novellas. I enjoyed this one most.
Score 4.2, Stars: 4

Author Bio

8172727Kate Allure is the author of the Meeting Men erotic romance anthology series about real women meeting handsome professional men as they go about their everyday lives—and the fun they have with them behind closed doors! In addition to her debut novel, Playing Doctor, the series includes Lawyering Up (Sourcebooks, June 2015), Getting Serviced, and Extra Credit. Her second series, Club Exotica, is set in a posh, ultra-private London club where a woman’s every naughty fantasy can come true (Sourcebooks, late 2015).

Kate has been a storyteller her entire life, writing plays, short stories, and dance librettos throughout her childhood and later for semi-professional theater and dance companies. Her non-fiction writing included working for American Ballet Theatre and New York City Ballet and authoring a weekly arts column for local papers. Beyond writing, Kate’s passions include traveling and exploring all things sensual with her loving husband.

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Holiday Review: The Naughty List by Jodi Redford

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The Naughty List

A Holiday Romance

By Jodi Redford

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Synopsis

Makin’ a list, and rocking it…twice.

Perpetual good girl Lacey McGuire has two Christmas wish lists. One suitable for public consumption…and a private one that’s too hot to handle. Right at the top: wild, wicked fantasies about her best buddies and business partners Ryan Hollister and Bram Colton.

Besides the fact they’re both poster boys for Hunks ’R’ Us, they’ve been there for her through thick, thin and the heartbreak of a cheating fiancé. So what if her boys will never know they star in her sexiest daydreams? In her fantasy world, her heart will never get trampled again.

Ry and Bram are pretty sure Lacey never meant to email a list of some of her raunchiest wants. Particularly the one that tightens their shorts—she wants a threesome. With them. Although they’ve loved her for years, they made a pact to keep Lacey off limits in order to protect their friendship. Now all bets are off. And the quest to give her all she wants—and more—is on.

Warning: This book contains a wickedly hot M/F/M ménage that will heat up the holidays. Friends steaming things up in a hot tub. Bondage and blindfolds. Sexy shenanigans at a Christmas tree lot. And maybe even a glimpse of Santa…in a Speedo.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

4Tina’s Review

** Won from and Provided by Author , Thank You Ms. Redford! **

— Off the Cover —
Makin’ a list, and rocking it…twice.
Perpetual good girl Lacey McGuire has two Christmas wish lists. One suitable for public consumption…and a private one that’s too hot to handle. Right at the top: wild, wicked fantasies about her best buddies and business partners Ryan Hollister and Bram Colton.
Besides the fact they’re both poster boys for Hunks ’R’ Us, they’ve been there for her through thick, thin and the heartbreak of a cheating fiancé. So what if her boys will never know they star in her sexiest daydreams? In her fantasy world, her heart will never get trampled again.
Ry and Bram are pretty sure Lacey never meant to email a list of some of her raunchiest wants. Particularly the one that tightens their shorts—she wants a threesome. With them. Although they’ve loved her for years, they made a pact to keep Lacey off limits in order to protect their friendship. Now all bets are off. And the quest to give her all she wants—and more—is on.
Warning: This book contains a wickedly hot M/F/M ménage that will heat up the holidays. Friends steaming things up in a hot tub. Bondage and blindfolds. Sexy shenanigans at a Christmas tree lot. And maybe even a glimpse of Santa…in a Speedo.

— In Review —
M/F/M Holiday Novella, 100 – 150 pages.
Bram has the looks of a surfer and is more carefree and fun-loving. Ryan is darker in coloration and more serious and intense. Lacey’s the smart, beautiful and “boring” girl. The boys are in love with her and she with them, but only Bram and Ry know how the other feels. Lacey, Bram and Ryan have been best friends since high school and now they run a bar and restaurant together.
The personalities of the three are lively, intense and passionate. There are plenty of laugh out loud moments between the mental meanderings and the verbal sparring. After drunk-emailing a Christmas Wish List by accident, every kinky desire is known and the guys are more than happy to fulfill her -and their own- fantasies.
Once the list is “out”, the story line kind of re-prioritizes, keeping the sexual tension and encounters in the foreground and pushing any real elemental depth back. There was some conflicting drama available to add a bit of dimension that lingered throughout the story, but was resolved quite suddenly in the end. A solid ending was provided with minimal predictability.

An enjoyable, fun, quick Raunchy Holiday read!

Author Bio

10524303_10201399336823829_3583092706995309271_nAt the ripe age of seven, I penned my first epic, complete with stick figure illustrations. Sadly, my drawing skills haven’t improved much, but my love of creating fantasy worlds is still going strong.
Yep, I still love writing about fairies, ghosts, and other supernatural creatures, only my stories pack a little more heat these days.

I currently reside in Michigan with my husband and overgrown lapdog. I’m a member of Romance Writers of America and Greater Detroit Romance Writers of America.

When I’m not writing or working the day job, I’m usually tinkering in the garden (weather permitting) or drooling over those smokin’ hot Winchester Brothers from Supernatural. Strictly for research purposes, of course.

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Holiday Review: All I Want For Christmas Is A Cowboy by Katie Lane, Jennifer Ryan, and Emma Cane

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All I Want For Christmas Is A Cowboy

A Holiday Romance Anthology

By Katie Lane, Jennifer Ryan, and Emma Kane

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Synopsis

From Emma Cane, Jennifer Ryan, and Katie Lane come three wildly romantic holiday stories featuring snowstorms, proposals, a sleigh ride … and, yes, cowboys.

The Christmas Cabin by Emma Cane

Sandy and her young son, Nate, are Christmas tree–hunting when a snowstorm strikes and an old ranch hand points them to an abandoned cabin. Little does Sandy know he sent cowboy Doug Thalberg to the same place. It’s a Christmas all of Valentine Valley will remember.

Can’t Wait by Jennifer Ryan

Before The Hunted Series began …

Though she is the woman of his dreams, Caleb Bowden knows his best friend’s sister, Summer Turner, is off limits. He won’t cross that line, which means Summer will just have to take the reins if she wants her cowboy for Christmas.

Baby It’s Cold Outside by Katie Lane

Alana Hale hits the internet dating jackpot when she finds Clint McCormick. He’s sensitive and responsible—not to mention wealthy. When he invites her to spend the holidays on his family’s ranch, she readily accepts. But on the way there, a blizzard strands her with a womanizing rodeo cowboy who could change everything …

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

4.5

The Christmas Cabin by Emma Cane
Sandy and her young son, Nate, are Christmas tree–hunting when a snowstorm strikes and an old ranch hand points them to an abandoned cabin. Little does Sandy know he sent cowboy Doug Thalberg to the same place. It’s a Christmas all of Valentine Valley will remember.
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This novella opens with Sandy and Doug Thalberg hosting a family gathering in their cozy cabin in the woods and traditional retelling of a romantic tale that began two days before Christmas. Reporter, Jessica Fitzpatrick, sits in to hear the local, infamous story first-hand. The tale is not told in a narrative form, but rather as if it were happening real-time. It concludes with the family and Jessica in the cabin.
The full cast of characters are well-written. The plot, dialogue and character interaction are believable, flow is smooth. Because of the time frame and novella length, it’s hard to pack a lot of dynamics in, but it did have some minor dimension. The conflicts were fairly mild and handled maturely. Predictability was virtually nil. Overall, a super short, but sweet, read.

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Can’t Wait by Jennifer Ryan
Before The Hunted Series began …
Though she is the woman of his dreams, Caleb Bowden knows his best friend’s sister, Summer Turner, is off limits. He won’t cross that line, which means Summer will just have to take the reins if she wants her cowboy for Christmas.
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Summer is in love with Caleb, but Caleb has it in his mind that regardless how he feels about Summer, he cannot act upon it because she is Jack’s little sister. Jack’s his best friend and there’s a bro-code to follow. If that’s not enough, they served in Iraq together and he feels he owes his life to Jack. Even more, now he’s even working for Jack on the ranch. To say Summer is off-limits is an understatement. But she’s determined as all get-out to make him hers.
Very few novellas manage to create character depth and a full and dynamic plot worthy of a 5-star rating from me, but… here we are. Is it possible for a reader to fall in love with a novella’s hero? Most definitely. Caleb and Jack’s tormented souls each deserve a full-length novel. Great characters, written with loads of depth and dimension. The dialogue is smart and sassy by turns. The plot is very enjoyable and flows so smoothly I wanted more. The entire plot was based on the conflict, which obviously gets resolved in a wonderful way. I easily would have enjoyed this story and these characters if it would have been a full-length novel and am intrigued with the rest of the series as a result.
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Baby It’s Cold Outside by Katie Lane
Alana Hale hits the internet dating jackpot when she finds Clint McCormick. He’s sensitive and responsible—not to mention wealthy. When he invites her to spend the holidays on his family’s ranch, she readily accepts. But on the way there, a blizzard strands her with a womanizing rodeo cowboy who could change everything …
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Alana perpetually makes poor decisions when it comes to men, but she’s done with that. Through an online date-matching site, she finds her perfect man. She decides to surprise him for the Holidays at the family ranch in Taos, NM but the Hawaiian is ill-prepared for the blizzard that causes her to slide into a ditch somewhere on the ranch’s property. She’s even less prepared for a snow-laden calf or a sexy Cowboy Viking – Winter Warrior that finds her.
This was a fun read. I totally and thoroughly enjoyed Alana. Her winter warrior wasn’t too bad either. This was a REALLY short story, or is was written so well that it felt shorter than short. The flow, dialogue, interaction was smooth and believable. The plot was light and fun. Not predictable, really. There was just enough dynamics and dimension to keep it from being flat. A very well-liked novella.
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Author Bios

Emma Cane

emma caneEmma Cane grew up reading and soon discovered that she liked to write passionate stories of teenagers in space. Her love of “passionate stories” has never gone away, although today she concentrates on the heartwarming characters of Valentine Valley, her fictional small town in the Colorado Rockies.

Now that her three children are grown, Emma loves spending time crocheting and singing (although not necessarily at the same time), and hiking and snowshoeing alongside her husband Jim and two rambunctious dogs Apollo and Uma.

Emma also writes USA Today bestselling historical romances under the name Gayle Callen.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Jennifer Ryan

jennifer ryanNew York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Hunted Series and The McBride Series. Jennifer writes romantic suspense and contemporary small-town romances.

Jennifer lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and three children. When she isn’t writing a book, she’s reading one. Her obsession with both is often revealed in the state of her home and how late dinner is to the table. When she finally leaves those fictional worlds, you’ll find her in the garden, playing in the dirt and daydreaming about people who live only in her head, until she puts them on paper.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Katie Lane

Katie Lane’s interest in romance was sparked in high school in the backseat of a ’65 mustang-okay, so maybe it wasn’t romance as much as raging teenage hormones. Still, coupled with a wild imagination, those make-out sessions inspired many a steamy storyline along with a strong belief that true love does prevail. Katie lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico with the owner of that mustang and would love to hear from her readers.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

 


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Happy Release + Review: The DeLuca Family Collection by Susan Rae

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The Deluca Family Collection

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Genre: Romantic Suspense

Heartbeats – Book 1

Ice Blue – Book 2

True Blue – Book 3

Synopsis

DeLuca Family Collection A Suspenseful Romance CollectionComing December 12th 2014 from Musa Publishinghttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23678047-deluca-family-collectionSynopsisLove makes your heart race, but passion can kill.Three strong, captivating women. Three intense, driven men. One family devoted to justice. Come journey with the DeLuca Family from the tumultuous streets of Chicago to the majestic peaks of Glacier National Park in these three intriguing full-length novels loaded with passion, suspense…and danger.

Buy Links Coming Soon

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Excerpt From Book 1 Heartbeats

 She knew it was crazy that her hands should tremble on this occasion, considering she could thread a catheter to the heart as precisely and steadily now as the best in her field, but Dr. Elizabeth Iverson never felt comfortable in the limelight.

“I know many of you share my story in one way or another,” Elizabeth said, her gaze moving from table to table, guest to guest, as she scanned the seven hundred or so university alumni seated in the Grand Ballroom of Chicago’s Palmer House Hilton, “or know someone who has benefited from the fund.

I grew up on a farm about forty-five miles northwest of here. When I was little girl, I always dreamed of becoming a doctor. My Barbie dolls didn’t wear clothes; they wore bandages and tourniquets, and I was always pretending to try the latest medical procedure on some poor, unsuspecting farm animal — with some very interesting results, as you can imagine.” Now well into her speech, she raised a playful eyebrow and was rewarded with mild laughter.

“Back then, though, college seemed financially out of the question. That’s why what we’re doing here tonight is so important. We’re helping to fuel dreams. For me, it’s not about the glamour of being a doctor. As a cardiologist, it’s about looking into a patient’s eyes and seeing that spark of hope shine back when she’s just learned she has another lease on life. To me, that’s priceless.”

Her attention moved to the guests at the back of the room. “With our silent auction tonight, we’ll help more students turn their dreams into realities. With the money you’ll so generously donate, I know —

” Elizabeth’s lips froze in mid-sentence. Her words caught in her throat as her heart did a major flip-flop. She recognized him instantly. There was no mistaking the identity of the man who stood in the entrance to the ballroom, nametag in hand, as if he had just arrived. She stood, motionless, staring, unaware of the murmurs of uneasiness arising from the gathering. She watched, mesmerized, as his lips curved into that slow, Mona Lisa smile of his and his chin lifted in acknowledgment of her awareness of him. Although quite a distance away, Elizabeth could easily make out the slight cleft in his chin, the sexy, firm line of his jaw — and those deep-set eyes, which she knew were the most amazing shade of midnight blue.

“Dr. Iverson, are you all right?” the alumni president asked at her side.

Suddenly the awkward coughing of the guests, the clinking of glasses, the shuffling of chairs reached her senses. Embarrassed and frustrated by her reaction to him, she broke contact with those eyes and grabbed for her water glass as if reaching for a lifeline. When she looked up again, he was gone. The twinge of disappointment she felt at that surprised her, but she forced it to the back of her mind as she turned her attention once more to the gathering.

“I’m sorry, where was I? Yes, the dreams…”

4 star

Tina’s Series Review

DeLuca Family Collection by Susan Rae
Released: December 12, 2014

** Provided by Author in Exchange for an Honest Review. **

Heartbeats (#1)
Originally released: November 1, 2005
As cardiologist Elizabeth Iverson delivers her speech at a University Alumni dinner, a man from her past walks into the room. It’s been six years since they’d parted ways, but she’d recognize him anywhere. FBI Special Agent Drake McGuire spent a spectacular weekend with Elizabeth six years ago and never managed to rid his system of her. Their encounter at the dinner did not go as planned so he goes to her house after. But things quickly become chaotic. On the eve of their brief, ill-worded reunion, she returns home to the scene of a murder. Drake makes it his business to figure out if the victim was the intended or if Elizabeth was the target.
An intriguing murder mystery mixed with a reunion romance. Add to that one bright and adventurous little girl, and you’ve got an exciting read! While the main characters are well-written and very likable, it’s a couple of the supporting characters that the series is named for. Supporting cast is strong. The dialogue and interaction are mostly believable and the plot is dynamic and dramatic, creating a smooth flowing story that compels the reader to keep turning pages. Never mind sleep, just keep reading! It was moderately predictable, but it did not take away from the overall story. The conclusion was solid and neatly tied up. No cliffhangers here. I’d recommend this to anyone who likes action, mystery and intrigue mixed with some hot sexual tension.

ICE Blue (#2)
Originally released: March 29, 2013
Angela is the youngest of six siblings in the DeLuca family. Where most became cops, she became a paramedic. Troy Deavers is the southern boy, the son of a corrupt politician. He purposely removed himself from that to become an ICE agent in Chicago. An abandoned newborn in a box is left on Angela’s back porch, kicking in her maternal and protective instincts. CPD is determined to find and charge the mother. Troy is convinced the baby is tied to illegal immigration. Is there any winning solution to be found? Being a paramedic and a leading supporter in the new neighborhood health clinic, she is seen as capable, caring and compassionate. Having lost a baby of her own, she’s also protective and vulnerable where the baby is concerned, especially since he is suffering from a heart defect. Troy does not tolerate rule breakers well and he’s sure the cute and feisty paramedic knows more than she’s saying.
The main characters are strong, smart and smoldering. Secondary character are solid and supportive. We have the opportunity to catch up with previous characters and meet new ones. The dialogue and interaction is believable, providing a good foundation for a full plot that flows smoothly. There was plenty of conflict throughout the story, all finding satisfactory resolution. I was a little disheartened with my ability to predict several key elements long before the reveal, but I still enjoyed reading the scenes as they unfolded. The conclusion was tight, leaving no cliffhangers. Another fantastic suspense-filled read!

TRUE Blue (#3)
Originally released: May 16, 2014
Things are feeling off-balance for CPD detective Lt. Joey DeLuca. One of his detectives was just killed, he’s up for a promotion soon, and his marriage to Andi is feeling a bit strained. Now, just when his guard is at it’s weakest, his teen crush resurfaces after twenty-four years. All those years ago, Meghan McConnell’s father served on the CPD alongside Joey’s dad and was gunned down late one night. The murder was never solved. Fearful, her mother packed them up and the moved to Arizona never to return and demanded they never speak of the incident again. Now with her mother passed on, Meghan is determined to solve her father’s murder. She is certain there’s more to the case than what they’ve released to her. She does the only thing she can think to do, contact and plead her case to her dear old friend Joey… only, she swears him to secrecy. Meanwhile, Andi’s own detective’s instincts are lighting up like a Fourth of July fireworks display. She sees her husband’s evasiveness and feels he’s distancing himself emotionally. What will happen when past and present collide?
This installment of the DeLuca Family features less of the family as in ICE blue. It can stand alone. The conflict flowed as a constant undercurrent throughout most of the story and was maturely resolved in the end. I’m extremely pleased to learn that any of my suspicions were wrong and there was virtually no predictability. The conclusion felt a little rushed and there were some minor strings left untied, but there were no serious cliffhangers. Once again, Susan Rae delivers a riveting, suspenseful romantic drama with strong, smart characters, dynamic interaction and plot elements and a pace that flows quite smoothly. I did not particularly like some of the decisions made by the characters, but that’s only my opinion and does not effect the overall book rating. This series is written in such a way that the reader quickly become cynical and trusts no one. Everyone is suspect & it’s exciting to be on the edge of your seat, not knowing the “who” of it all.

Overall, this series is riveting. The plots are intriguing, action-packed, and exciting. Even with the higher predictability of ICE blue, the DeLuca Family series was a fantastic read. I feel this is a series that can easily please both genders of reader.

Author Bio:

pic_susan-rae-3_20113Susan Rae Susan grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Columbia College, Missouri with an emphasis in creative writing.She penned her first melodrama in fifth grade for a Girl Scout Drama badge. Complete with hero, heroine, and dastardly villain, it wasn’t so very different, really, than the romantic suspense she writes now. “I love writing romantic suspense because it allows me to combine a sexy, passionate love story with a gritty suspense tale—in my opinion, the best of both worlds.It also allows me to express my appreciation for the outdoors in the setting that I recreate on the page.” When she is not sketching characters, you might find Susan on the golf course working on her handicap, or traveling around the country seeking out new settings for her novels with her husband and empty nest puppies, Ginger and Nikute.

Website ~ Facebook  ~ Goodreads

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