Category: Romance

Studmuffin Santa (Ponderosa Resort Romantic Comedies Book 1) – Tawna Fenske

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Studmuffin Santa

Find it on Amazon

Is Christmas over? I don’t even care!

This book was so cute! I love me a RomCom and this one didn’t disappoint.

  • A buff hometown hero fresh from the military
  • A strong heroine who has some issues from high school (Don’t we all?)
  • A Reindeer Ranch

Yes!

Brandon is one of the good guys (and you know by now how much I love me a good guy) and Jade’s high school crush. When weird things start happening on Jade and her sister’s Reindeer ranch, Brandon is hired to not only play a sexy santa, but to do some security. Lucky for us! He’s a Christmas hater and Jade’s whole world revolves around Christmas, so we get to see him work out a whole slew of issues.

 

*Crush Sidenote* – I had a crush on this guy in high school when I was in the 9th Grade. So, I was 13ish? Has a Junior or a Senior, I don’t remember. I followed him around. Instead of being quiet around my crush? Nope – me, I babbled. he must have had a friend or girlfriend who was in my Algebra class, or had a class close, because he was in the hallway outside of my 5th period everyday. He was popular and played in a band (Maybe? I may 100% be making that part up in my memories) – Uh, Hello High School Talent Shows. Do they still do those?! – and good looking. I can’t remember one conversation I babbled at him though. You know the main thing I remember? He always had a smile on his face and he was so damn nice to me. He never rolled his eyes at me or acted like he had somewhere he’d rather be.  He gave me a styrofoam cup that he had signed one time. Why? I have no idea. Did I ask for it? Sounds like something I would do, but I don’t remember how I ended up with it, but I remember it sitting on my bookshelf in my room, so I know it’s true- ha!  He didn’t have any reason to put up with a freshman following him around and while he never showed any interest in me, he never made me feel bad about myself either – and as a fat 13 year old, everything made me feel bad about myself. I wonder how he is today? I hope he’s good! **Full disclosure, I’mma have to look him up and see if he’s on FB.

Okay! – Therapy Over! Back to the Book!

I love how Jade trieds to resist him, and can’t help herself. The two of them together makes me smile.  I know they were quite literally written for each other, but sometimes that seems forced with RomComs. Not here. Not at all.

It is a RomCom with a dash of mystery trinkled in (which I love) and there is a lot of growth with the characters and how they look at the world. It explores how just because you remember something exactly how it happened, that there wasn’t more to the story. You can never really tell what a person has going on or is going through from the outside. Some people hide it and don’t outwardly show any kind of distress. Others, shout it out to the world.

I really enjoyed this book, and I’ve got the 2nd one in the series high on my TBR!

 

 

Ex-Con Times Two: A Bad Boy MFM Romance – Jay S. Wilder and Bella Love-Wins

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Ex-Con

First of all.. Damn! Look at that Cover. Hot!

Find it on Amazon – It’s in Kindle Unlimited

I  liked parts of this story. Two hot boyfriends who rescue you when the bad guys come and try to get you? Go Katelynn! I liked the fact that Love-Wins and Wilder had fun playful sex scenes instead of just writing a book where a girl goes from a virgin to a pro at DP!

The issues that I did have with the story should have been spotted during beta-reads. An example was that after the first weekend Katelynn spent with the guys, that next morning she talks about the few times shes been to the apartment. But, it was the first time! There were several places where the timeline has moved ahead but the characters haven’t.  **Spoiler Alert**  After the first night the guys go out with Katelynn, they are talking about her fake ID and how they can’t fuck around with underage girls, but between seeing the fake ID and this conversation, they tried to fuck her in the bathroom of the bar.  ***  It’s shit like that gets on my nerves. Don’t talk about staying away from someone when 10 pages ago you didn’t care if she was a minor or not. It made me not really like them as much as I would have. They were so obsessed with staying out of prison, but not actually making good choices just to be good.  — Like I said, issues that could/should have been resolved with a good editor and beta readers.

Note: I’ve beta read for a couple of authors and I drove them nuts with notes on type of shit. But, that is the distracting shit that readers get irritated with.

It isn’t very long. The Amazon page says it’s 222 pages, but the book ends at 32%. There are a bunch of books after it though, so if you’re going to purchase it, you’ll get more for your $3.99. I didn’t read them.

 

*When I was looking in my Contents and Devices trying to figure something out with my KU, I noticed that there is a banner under the book that says “Update Available”, so maybe the issues that I had with the book have been fixed. I apparently borrowed it March 17, 2017 and with switching out KU books all this time, never gotten around to reading it. I’m not going to reread it to find out what the update is all about, but maybe the issues that I noticed aren’t there anymore. Maybe it’s a whole new story…. who knows?!  Or, maybe the bonus books aren’t there any more.  I’m glad I read it on KU, because I’d have been irritated and returned the book if I had paid $3.99 for it. :/

 

When Daddy Wasn’t Looking (Nice and Dirty Series Book 1) – Lola StVil

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When Daddy Wasn't Looking

It’s in Kindle Unlimited on Amazon

Doesn’t the cover model dude look like Kerr Smith with a beard?!

kerr-smith

He played Jack on Dawson’s Creek… If you didn’t know that, go find Dawson’s Creek and watch it. All of it…. Is it on Netflix or Amazon? I don’t know. I have the DVD’s from like 2007, so I’m not sure! But find it, watch it, make fun of it and yourself at 16. It will do you good 🙂

So, the book caught my attention because I am a Kerr Smith fan, so even though I hate the title and I’m 95% turned off from anything that has the word “Daddy” in the Book Title, Blurb, or Promo, I gave it a shot

**I wish I had saved a copy of the “Sponsored Ad” that showed up in my Facebook News feed. I’ve seen a couple of them for this book just this past week, but I don’t think either of them was the one that caught my eye. If it ever comes back around, I’ll edit and put it here!

For the most part, I really liked this book. “Daddy’s Best Friend” books are iffy for me. Add in 18 year old virgin troupe and I never know what I’m going to end up with!

I love that Hawk really is a good guy, despite fucking his best friend’s daughter (but he loves her, so I forgive him). I am a sucker for a rough around the edges good guy, even though the whole rest of the world seems to exclusively love bad boys turned “good” -to varying degrees.

It’s been a long time since I’ve been 18 (or a virgin, for that matter) so it’s hard to relate to Lucy, but Lola StVil did a good job of not turning her into an “I’m 18 and cute and the world revolves around me!” that seems to irritate the hell out of me in the “New Adult” genre of Romance. The fact that I’m Hawks age and think that maybe he needs to find himself a woman our age, who maybe deserves a good fucking for making it through life so far, didn’t stop me from enjoying the book. It’s the first book I’ve read by Lola StVil and I’ll have to check out her others.

 

 

Delivered Through the Storm – Nicole Garcia

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Delivered Through the Storm

Narrated by Kai Kennicott and Wen Ross

Find it on Audible

If you’d rather the book, you can find Nicole Garcia on Amazon

OH, Ryder! Just a sweet, good guy! Madison deserves him and the calm and love that he brings to her and the boys. Especially after dealing with that asshole of an ex, Mitch!

Nicole Garcia does a wonderful job writing a story that really captures what a struggle it is to be a single parent and to be “on” and in charge of everything -all the time! I don’t personally have to deal with that, but I’ve got close friends who do and I see how they struggle and conquer every day!

***Don’t Read, Momma!***

So, lets talk about Ryder’s cock piercing! I got way too excited for something that I’ve never even experienced. hahaha! And for a split second, I sad that I never will!!

***********************

Fucking Mitch! I just wanted to beat him with my fucking flip flop. I have friends who are/were married to this motherfucker and he just makes me so angry!

As always, Kai and Wen were perfection! I could really feel Madison’s exhaustion, frustrations, and finally acceptance. Kai never fails to make you want to climb into a story and be friends with the heroine, and this wasn’t any different! There were also other female characters with accents in this audiobook, that Kai does without losing her cadence and warmth! Amazing as always!

Wen did so many characters for this book – He was Aiden (a 7 year old), Ryder (all sexy and sweet), Tyler (the gay best friend), Rico (Ryder’s Cuban best friend), and Mitch (the nasty asshole ex-husband) – And he just proved how wonderful of a narrator and voice actor that he is. If nothing else, the way that he fed that hate for Mitch with his squeaky, condescending, and snide tone. I’m not so sure had I just read the words on the page, that I would have been so invested in my hate for Mitch!

**Spoiler Alert** As a mom, I was scarred as hell and could really relate to the pain Madison was feeling while Aiden was missing! When Ryder started punching Mitch at the hospital, I wanted to cheer!

 

The Bachelor Contract: A Bachelor of Arizona Novel – Rachel Van Dyken

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The Bachelor Contract

This is the cover from the Library:

The Bachelor Contract 2

 

 

Find it on Amazon

This is the 3rd book in the Bachelor of Arizona series.  This book was not my favorite. I hate to say that, because you know I have nothing but love for Rachel Van Dyken, but damn! How come when a dude is all “I lost the love of my life” that he has to become a man-whore to fuck his ex-love away? That shit just gets on my nerves.  It took me a long time to read this book. I’d sit it down and then come back later and read another chapter. Very unlike me.  I just didn’t like Brant at all. Like, I actively disliked him. I was surprised by that, because I felt like in the other books of the series, that I thought he was funny. :/.

There were parts of the book that I liked. I liked the dates that he tried to recreate and show her how much he really did care, and how Brant and Nikki found their way back to each other. Being part of the healing process was heartwrenching, and of course I cried. The loss that they had to endure clawed out at me, even though I didn’t really *want* them together….. Speaking of which, I’m wondering if Cole is going to get a book! I was kind of hoping Rachel had written another Sanchez-y story line. No such luck….. I was still happy that they could be reunited.

To be fair, I’m not a huge fan of Second-Chance romances. I’m a grudge holder, so I find it hard to get involved in a story where two people try and get back together. Maybe that is something I should work on! Personal Growth! 🙂

 

More to Love – Alison Bliss

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More to Love

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This is the 3rd Book in the Perfect Fit Series: Size Matters – Alison Bliss and On the Plus Side – Alison Bliss are the first two.

First of all, I was really surprised by Max in this book. He was nothing like I thought he would be. There were parts that I saw snippets of who I thought he was (like bending Jessa over the damn kitchen table), but for the most part I had no idea where Alison was going with him!

I did enjoy reading the psychology of losing weight and try to keep it off from the male point of view. I know from doing weight watchers, that if you’re not careful you can become super obsessed with all of it. I wonder what happens when you meet your goal weight, for real. That obsession doesn’t just go away, right?

Max lies to Jessa about being the health inspector so she’ll move her food truck and stop stealing business from Pop’s restaurant. As you can imagine, because of this there are some funny and some cringeworthy scenes in the book! We even get to see some of Logan…. sigh… I love me some Logan.. ❤

 

On a side note – When I was about halfway through the book, Alison posted in an event group I am in on Facebook. She seemed super nice, and hinted that there may be some more Perfect Fit books in the future! Yay!

 

 

Misadventures of a Backup Bride – Shayla Black

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Misadventures of a Backup Bride

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This is #4 in the Misadventure Series

I’ve read:

#3 Misadventures of the First Daughter – Meredith Wild & Mia Michelle

#5 Misadventures on the Night Shift – Lauren Rowe

#11 Misadventures with The Boss – Kendall Ryan

They are all read and stand alones and it doesn’t matter what order. I’ve found those at my library!

This one was not my favorite. There were parts of it that I really liked. I liked both Carson and Ella, but I didn’t really feel their chemistry.  I felt like it was forced, even though it was a “fake-fiance” trope which I normally really love, I just didn’t feel it. I didn’t hate it either, so I’m left lingering in lukewarm land. I hate lukewarm land :/

Carson is engaged to Kendra as part of a business deal with her father but they don’t really want to get married. Enter Ella and trying to convince Gregory Shaw that her and Carson belong together. I really wish I had liked it (or hated it, damn-it).

This is the first book I’ve read by Shayla Black, and I’m going to read another one. I’m just not sure what it was about this one that I didn’t click with.

The Playboy Bachelor: A Bachelors of Arizona Novel – Rachel Van Dyken

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The Playboy Bachelor

This is the cover that was at the Library:

The Playboy Bachelor 2

 

 

Find it on Amazon

This is the 2nd book of The Bachelors of Arizona Series. The first one was about brother Brock. This one follows Bentley.

Another Rigged Auction Casualty. The brothers are all going down thanks to their Grandfather and his 89-year-old matchmaking Girlfriend .

Bentley and Margot used to be best friends, but haven’t talked in years and years. Not a gentle growing apart that more often than not happens between best friends, but a ripping, crushing parting. Margot lost her parents, part of her leg, and Bentley all in one swoop. Bentley lost the grounding that Margot gave him.

Honestly, Margot forgave Bentley much faster than I think I would have done had it been me. Maybe. You really can’t predict how you’re heart will react to things. I mean… Look at all the people who give significant others’ chance after chance to break their hearts. Maybe it comes from wanting to see the good in people…..even when it’s clearly not there. Maybe we see the “best case scenerio” even when people haven’t lived up to it….  Ha…. there is some free therapy for you today… hahaha

 

 

 

On the Plus Side – Alison Bliss

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On the plus side

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This is Book 2 of the ‘The Perfect Fit’ Series. The First one Size Matters – Alison Bliss was great. This one did not disappoint!

I love  “friends to lovers”, “enemies to lovers”, and “brothers best friend” books. This one had all 3. And was plus size friendly – again without the fetish. Everything about this book made me happy! 🙂

Logan has just moved back into town and him and Valerie (who we met in Size Matters) is his best friends little sister, and sparks fly. Valerie makes a list of Sexy things that she’s not interested in. Logan finds the list and thinks it’s a bucket list, so he sets out trying to check things off for her! All while keeping it a secret from Brett, Valerie’s brother!  It really is hilarious and sexy. And Logan. Damn, Logan! ❤  I was actually really sad when I was done with this book because I really enjoyed it!

 

Misadventures of the First Daughter – Meredith Wild & Mia Michelle

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Misadventures of the First Daughter

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This is Book #3 in the Misadventures Series.  They are all stand alones and can be read in any order. I’ve read Misadventures on the Night Shift – Lauren Rowe  and   Misadventures with The Boss – Kendall Ryan. 

I found it at the Library!

WooHoo for my library. Who knew they had such drity stuff?  And this book got some dirty in it.

I loved Zane and Charlotte together. Of course, I’d love Zane anywhere with anybody. ha. He has moved up and become one of my favorite book boyfriends. He’s a dirty-talking Dom. I have a type. hahaha

Charlotte is the presidents daughter. Ugh. Could you imagine? Everyone watching your every move?! Not being able to be who you are because of who your parents are?! No. Fucking. Thanks….. Unless I was guaranteed a bodyguard like Zane. Then, maybe I’d be up for it!

This book was hot and sweet. Everything that I love about Romance! ❤