Last Kiss by Laurelin Paige Review

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4.5 Smooches!

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Synopsis

“Visceral, enticing, shining with white lies and dark truths, seductive twists and turns, and a love that takes your breath away.” – Katy Evans, New York Times bestselling author

A GAME OF CAT AND MOUSE FILLED WITH DARK DESIRES AND DANGEROUS SECRETS…

Emily Wayborn has made a decision.

She might not fully trust handsome and deadly Reeve Sallis, but he is the one person that gives her what she needs. With Reeve she can finally be herself. Submitting to him is the only thing keeping her grounded as the rest of her life falls apart. But the hotelier is a master at keeping secrets and as she continues her quest for answers someone is making sure she doesn’t find them.

Time is running out and she is questioning everything she thought she knew about friendship and love. She must now make an impossible choice that will determine if she will survive with her heart…or at all.

 

Review

Last Kiss is the sequel to First Touch by Laurelin Paige and you absolutely must read First Touch before reading Last Kiss.  This is a two part story and the first left us with the biggest cliffy I have ever read.  I mean, I was seriously like what just happened and then all of a sudden bam, I had to wait on the next book.  But I admit I kinda love a cliffy.  Not because I am a masochist and enjoy how it hurts so good to wait on another book.  Not because I get giddy just thinking about and anticipating the second half of a book.  And definitely not because of the unparalleled satisfaction of it finally landing on my kindle after a months of pining for it.  OK, so maybe I am a masochist because I absolutely love the wait and excitement that comes from reading a series or serial.  This one was especially hard to endure but it hurt so good.  Because Emily, Reeve, and yes even Amber are back, people!

OK, so I admit that the beginning of this book might have moved just a tad slower than I wanted it to.  I know it had been a while since First Touch and the author wanted to give us a little recap but I found it moved a bit slow in the beginning because of this.  But do not give up because once the going gets going it gets really really good and the story picks up very nicely.  We get the answers to so so many questions that we have had and we more from Amber and God knows we have been wanting some answers from this lady!  We also find out how much we can or can’t trust Reeve.  And let’s not forget just how darn sexy this man is.  Holy alpha dominant!  Goodness Reeve.  Just goodness.  So really enjoyed the conclusion of Emily and Reeves story.  The ending is action packed and angst filled with a good bit of hot alpha sexy time thrown in.  I always enjoy this authors books and I cannot wait for more.  I am hoping she will give me some more Joe soon.

~Amie

 

 

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Unexpected Circumstances: The Seduction (book 2) by Shay Savage Release Blitz with Excerpt

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UNEXPECTED CIRCUMSTANCES by Shay Savage

BOOK 2: THE SEDUCTION

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SYNOPSIS

As Alexandra tries to conform to her new life, she soon discovers that betrayal lies inside the castle walls. When noblewomen plot against her, Alexandra ends up on the receiving end of Branford’s rage. Earning the trust of her wary husband will be no easy task for the young handmaid.

Branford may know his way around their bedchamber, but he’s finding himself ill-prepared to handle the duties of both prince and husband. His missteps bring down the wrath of the queen, and he will have to do everything in his power to atone for his transgressions. Branford must find a way to open his heart to his new wife if either of them has a chance of overcoming the treachery ahead.

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 Check out our 5 smooches review HERE.

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Excerpt:

“Please don’t get rid of me!” I finally cried out and then covered my mouth with my hand, horrified.

“Oh, Alexandra!” Branford shook his head. “Why would you think such a thing?”

I had to look into his eyes because he sounded so sincere, and I needed to understand.

“Because I’m not good enough,” I said. “I’m only a handmaid. I don’t know how to be your wife. I have no idea how to behave as the wife of a prince.”

“Alexandra,” he said, slowly drawing my name out. “I’m not going to send you away.”

“You could,” I whispered, “or worse.”

“Alexandra,” Branford repeated, his voice nearly as quiet as my own. “Have I given you any reason to think I would do such a thing?”

Sunniva’s words about assertiveness and being noble of heart came back to me. Maybe he hadn’t said as much in my presence, but he hadn’t said anything to the contrary, either.

“You haven’t given me reason to think you would not.”

“Why would I cast you out?” Branford asked.

Did he want me to list all the reasons again, or was he looking for something else? I was certain I had spent more time second-guessing myself in the last two days than I had in my entire life.

“You have…you could…there could be someone else you want to choose instead,” I whispered.

“What on earth are you talking about?”

I took a deep breath and decided if I didn’t say it now, I probably never would.

“I saw you…last night,” I said, hesitating a moment. I took a deep breath. “You were with that pretty woman from the court.”

I felt his chest muscles contract under the side of my face, and his arms gripped me tighter for a moment before he relaxed again.

“What do you mean, you saw me?”

“You were in the garden,” I said. “While I was waiting for you, I went out to see what it looked like at night. You were there…with that lady.”

“And?”

“You were talking…and I heard you say…” I paused, both to try to remember his exact words as well as wonder what on earth I thought I was doing. If my words were taken as an accusation—right or wrong—against my husband and prince, the consequences could be dire. He owned me, and if he decided to either cast me out for the favor of a new wife or keep me to the side as he entertained himself with someone else, there would be nothing I could do about it.

“Say what, Alexandra?”

“That you would have to replace me.”

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shay savage

Shay Savage lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with her family and a variety of household pets. She is an accomplished public speaker, and holds the rank of Distinguished Toastmaster from Toastmasters International. When not writing, she enjoys science fiction movies, masquerading as a zombie, is a HUGE Star Wars fan, and member of the 501st Legion of Stormtroopers. When the geek fun runs out, she also loves soccer in any and all forms – especially the Columbus Crew, Arsenal and Bayern Munich. Savage holds a degree in psychology, and she brings a lot of that knowledge into the characters within her stories.

 

Stalk Shay Here: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Unexpected Circumstances: The Seduction by Shay Savage Review

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5 Smooches!

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Synopsis

As Alexandra tries to conform to her new life, she soon discovers that betrayal lies inside the castle walls. When noblewomen plot against her, Alexandra ends up on the receiving end of Branford’s rage. Earning the trust of her wary husband will be no easy task for the young handmaid.

Branford may know his way around their bedchamber, but he’s finding himself ill-prepared to handle the duties of both prince and husband. His missteps bring down the wrath of the queen, and he will have to do everything in his power to atone for his transgressions. Branford must find a way to open his heart to his new wife if either of them has a chance of overcoming the treachery ahead.

 

Review

I can’t even with this series, you guys!  I just can’t!  Because look at freaking awesome and amazing historical sexy as all get out cover.  And this author is is doing pre-orders for $.99 for all of these books which is just insane because they aren’t especially short and they are amazing.  This is the second book in this serial so you definitely need to read the first but man, I am hooked and Shay Savage needs to just release all of them now.  I WANT!  I WANT!  I WANT!

“Let it happen…just let go…fell my touch on you…”

OK, So this one is The Seduction and boy is it seductive.  Because this book is about Branford earning Alexandra’s trust especially in the bed chamber and goodness, it really is smoking hot.  The sexual tension is through the roof in this book.  Swoon!!

“That is what you desire from me.”

Just ridiculously hot!  And let me tell you, I just love Branford.  He is so quick to anger but sweet at the same time.  His character just has me all hot and bothered. I am literally dying for this next book, The Consummation!  I don’t think I have ever been so excited for consummating to happen!  LOL

~Amie

 

 

 

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A Wildly Seductive Night by Lauren Blakely Release Blitz with Giveaway

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Lauren’s hottest and most passionate couple ever, Julia and Clay, return in this brand new novella! Set a few years after the end of ONE MORE NIGHT, this new novella answers the question of what if your fantasy becomes your reality.

What if all your nights were seductive?

What if your life with that sexy, handsome man turned into one deliciously dirty fairytale?

Cocktails, dirty talk and one fantastically filthy fairytale in a brand new novella for Lauren Blakely’s sexiest couple ever, Julia and Clay, in A Wildly Seductive Night.

Come inside the world of Seductive Nights for a glimpse at a dirty, naughty, seductive happily ever after in A WILDLY SEDUCTIVE NIGHT!

 

 

 

A WILDLY SEDUCTIVE NIGHT - cover

Come inside the world of Seductive Nights one more time in A WILDLY SEDUCTIVE NIGHT!

Once upon a time there was a very happy couple who had wild, hot, passionate, seductive nights every day, and every night. But that’s not all they had between them. They had love, and trust, and respect. He adored her and treated her like a queen. She was so very good to him, and made his life complete. Their sexy marriage was the stuff dirty fairytales were made of.

But there was one thing they didn’t have.

One thing they both secretly wanted.

One thing better than pearls.

Enjoy another visit with Lauren Blakely’s sexiest couple ever, Julia and Clay, in this brand new novella!

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon AU | iBooks | Barnes & Noble

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Lauren’s sexiest couple ever, Julia and Clay, are back!

That’s right! Fans asked and Lauren is delivering!

The one question Lauren has received regularly in the last two years since the publication of ONE MORE NIGHT, the final novel in the Julia and Clay story in the Seductive Nights series, is “Can you please tell us what Julia and Clay are up to now?”

A WILDLY SEDUCTIVE NIGHT is the answer to that reader request!

 

 

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And be sure to check out the new look for the Julia and Clay books in the NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING SEDUCTIVE NIGHTS SERIES…

 

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NIGHT AFTER NIGHT

 

 

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AFTER THIS NIGHT

 

 

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ONE MORE NIGHT

 

 

If you’re new to the Julia and Clay books, you can find NIGHT AFTER NIGHT, AFTER THIS NIGHT, and ONE MORE NIGHT here.

 

 

Author pic - Lauren BlakelyABOUT LAUREN BLAKELY:

Since self-publishing her debut romance novel CAUGHT UP IN US three years ago, Lauren Blakely has sold more than 1 million books. She is known for her sexy contemporary romance style that’s full of heat, heart and humor. A devout fan of cake and canines, Lauren has plotted entire novels while walking her four-legged friends. She lives in California with her family. With ten New York Times bestsellers, her titles have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestseller Lists more than forty times. Her bestselling series include Sinful Nights, Seductive Nights, No Regrets, Caught Up in Love, and Fighting Fire as well as standalone romantic comedies like BIG ROCK and MISTER O, which were both instant New York Times Bestsellers. To receive an email when Lauren releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter at laurenblakely.com/newsletter.

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Sweet Jayne by K. Webster Review

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5 Smooches!

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Synopsis

Nadia Jayne’s world is full of villains.

Kasper thinks he hates her.
Donovan thinks he loves her.
Logan thinks he owns her.

Sweet Jayne is a complicated girl…

She needs Kasper.
She hides from Donovan.
She has a plan for Logan.

But maybe complicated Jayne isn’t so sweet after all…
In fact, she might just be the biggest villain of them all.

WARNING: Story contains dark taboo themes and violence both sexual and physical which could trigger emotional distress in reader.

 

REVIEW

Nadia Jayne lives in a dark world, is in a dark relationship and has dark secrets. Three men after her, one wants to destroy her, one wants to love her and the other wants to own her. But Sweet Jayne has her own agenda. An agenda which could cost her more than the man she loves…it could cost her her life but she won’t give up…too many people are depending on her to survive and make it through.

“But if my play didn’t work in time? If I failed, the cost would be unmeasurable. Brutal. Life-altering. Deadly. And that is exactly why I wait.”

I f**king LOVED this book. Omg it was so so intense, so dark, so full of twists and turns. It literally had me mesmerised right until the very end. It is one of my all time favourite dark reads and something completely different to the other dark books I’ve read before. BIG, HUGE, GINORMOUS, 5 stars.

“With Logan, you just have to accept that he’s going to destroy you from the inside out. Once I finally made peace with that, it soon became easier to take all of the crooked, brutal parts of him.”

I honestly don’t know where to begin to describe all the things I loved but let’s start with the characters. So many come into play and each have such developed personalities and great back ground stories but I’ll stick with a run down of the 4 biggest players;

Nadia Jayne- a strong, brilliant, brave, slightly dark young woman who I actually loved right from the beginning. Yes she goes through some awful situations, situations she puts herself forward for and I was shouting at my kindle WHY?! But you know she is doing it for a reason and it made me love how determined and unbreakable she was.

Logan- he was a very dark, mean, twisted but complicated individual. I hated him and then he would do something where I would pause for one tiny second and think, “is there something more behind him? Can he be a good man?” I’m not going to give it away but you will question him and yourself throughout the whole book.

Donovan- LOVE Donovan. That’s all there is to it. LOVE HIM!

Kasper- very complicated again. I really didn’t like him at the beginning. He was so twisted up inside after what happened to his sister and yeah I felt sorry for him because it was awful but he was too bitter and angry to see that it wasn’t Nadia’s fault and I was angry at him for not seeing the bigger picture. As the story progresses you understand him more and he definitely has his moments where he proves he isn’t a bad guy.

“But the time for crying is over. The armor is going up. This warrior princess is strapping up for battle.”

The plot was so mouth-hanging-open-the-whole-way-through type of plot. It was honestly one of the deepest, most developed, most creative plot lines I have read. So many characters come into play with their own stories and the characters develop so much that you can’t settle into one theory. You will think one thing and then BAM! You are thrown upside down and to the right and you are left staring at your kindle thinking, “what just happened?” And you have no idea where it is going again. 

“Everything was once all screwed up and terrifying and confusing. At times, I didn’t think this life was even worth living. But all the bad got me here. To the now.”

It’s definitely a dark read, some really intense and sometimes shocking plot lines develop so you have to enjoy those types of stories. But if you do, you are in for a treat. There’s kidnap, betrayal, sex, murder, love, passion, hate, captivity, plots, plans, deceit. So much. So many questions. Why is Nadia staying there? Where is Donovan? What is Kasper going to do? What is Logan holding over Nadia? What is he TIMING AND ENTERING A CODE INTO THAT DRIVES NADIA TO INSANE PANIC IF SHE THINKS HE IS GOING TO FORGET???? This question plagued me and I didn’t guess it right at all. Read this book, you won’t regret it!

~Bethany

 

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Falling Completely by Aidan Willows Review

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4.5 Smooches!

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Synopsis

MALIYA

Falling in love is not for me. I don’t do relationships, they never end well.
I don’t believe in fate, soul mates or happy, fairy tale endings. I’m definitely not a sweet little princess in search of her prince.
I have a plan to follow and falling in love is not part of that plan.
Nothing is going to change my mind.
Not even a domineering, gorgeous, blue-eyed firefighter who seems to be everywhere I go.

CALEB

The moment I saw her, I knew.
I knew the funny, curvy, raven haired beauty was supposed to be mine.
She may not agree with me at the moment, but I’m a patient man.
I’m not afraid to play dirty to get what I want.
And I want Maliya Abbott.

When her sister decides to move from London, across the Atlantic Ocean to Starling Falls to run an estranged relative’s bakery, Maliya Abbott is pretty sure her sister has lost her ever-loving mind.

Not wanting to be separated from the only family she has left, Maliya goes with her, a move that was only supposed to last a year. After all, training to be a doctor at the same University her parents did had always been her goal.
What she hadn’t planned on, was meeting Caleb Jameson. A man who is adamant they are destined to be together. That would be great, if she actually believed in any of that crap.

She also hadn’t planned on his insane, lovable, meddling family trying to derail her plans.

Maliya is a smart girl. She knows what she wants and what she doesn’t want. She definitely wants to go to Oxford University and train to become a doctor. She definitely does NOT want anything to do with Caleb Jameson.

Now, if only she could get her stupid heart to listen to her head.

Authors Note: 18+ For mature readers only. Book contains graphic language, scenes of a very sexual nature, a dirty-talking and determined alpha male, a sassy and food obsessed heroine who talks to herself far too much, a cynical and suspicious geriatric aunt, a meddlesome family, some very unhelpful friends, a mind controlling goldfish and a possibly cannibalistic cat…

REVIEW

Falling Completely is Aidan Willows’ debut novel, and she did a great job penning this funny, sexy, sweet story.  I liked all of the characters – there were A LOT of them introduced here – and I’m looking forward to some of their future stories. I love a small town romance, and she painted a picture of Starling Falls that was vivid and richly developed.

“Oh how perfect. A firefighter and a nurse. It’s like a Hallmark Movie.”

I really liked Caleb and Maliya, or Liya as most people call her, together. They had an immediate spark, and Caleb was hot in pursuit of Liya right from the start. He was a great hero, a perfect blend of sweet and sexy, and let me tell you, Caleb no problem ramping up the alpha when he needed to. What started out as a friends with benefits situation, though, slowly and very sexily burns into more. Family dinners, movie nights, text message bantering, and some seriously steamy between the sheets—and on the front porch—action paves the way as they both fall harder for each other every day.

“…this thing between us is the real deal. If you don’t believe it, that’s fine. I’ll believe it enough for the both of us.”

But Liya is only in Starling Falls temporarily. She has plans to return to London, so she is hesitant to get involved with the sexy firefighter. She is one feisty, sassy-mouthed chick, but what is she hiding with all that smart-alecky spiritedness? Their chemistry is undeniable and impossible to ignore, but will Caleb be able to break through Liya’s walls or will her fears and guilt get the best of her and send her running?

“What…am I doing? I don’t want to live a life filled with regret.”

Maliya’s relationship with her sister, Annika or Nika as Liya calls her, was also hilarious, and Aunt Trudy was a crotchety old woman with a mile-wide sarcastic streak – I loved her instantly. Caleb comes from a big, boisterous and in your business family, and the possibility of stories down the line for each of his siblings has me adding Willows’ titles to my Goodreads TBR. (I believe the next book is about Nika and Caleb’s brother, Jake the chef.)

All in all, this was a pretty low-angst read; there wasn’t any drama from exes or other suitors in this relationship at all, and I really liked that. This book had so much humor in it, I found myself laughing loudly and often while reading it. There were some grammatical issues, wrong words or incorrect tenses of a word, that made for a few awkward stumbles, but I was able to keep my head in the story through them. Bottom line was that I enjoyed this story, and I wouldn’t hesitate to read more of this series. I was impressed with Aidan Willows’ debut, and Falling Completely gets 4.5 smooches from me!

~ Danielle Palumbo

 

 

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The Darkest Torment by Gena Showalter

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5 Smooches!

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Synopsis

Driven to his death by the demon of Distrust, Baden spent centuries in purgatory. Now he’s back, but at what cost? Bound to the king of the underworld, an even darker force, he’s unable to withstand the touch of another…and he’s quickly devolving into a heartless assassin with an uncontrollable temper. Things only get worse when a mission goes awry and he finds himself saddled with a bride—just not his own.

Famed dog trainer Katarina Joelle is forced to marry a monster to protect her loved ones. When she’s taken hostage by the ruthless, beautiful Baden immediately after the ceremony, she’s plunged into a war between two evils—with a protector more dangerous than the monsters he hunts. They are meant to be enemies, but neither can resist the passion burning between them…and all too soon the biggest threat is to her heart.

But as Baden slips deeper into the abyss, she’ll have to teach him to love…or lose him forever.

REVIEW

Like everyone else, I feel as though I have been waiting an eternity for the next book in the Lords of the Underworld Series.  These are my absolute favorite paranormal books.  There are a few reasons why.  Gena manages to create a very intricate and vivid world for her readers.  Her characters are hilarious and her heroines are always my favorite.  For this very reason, I have also been reading her Contemporary books lately and they are just as amazing.  So, I have to recommend that you read all of her work if you love this series, and then it won’t feel like you have to wait forever for this particular set of books.  Although, this series is quite fantastic and this book was no exception.  I adored it.

“Your hardest times often lead to your greatest moments.  So get hard.”

-William the Ever Randy

I know that everyone wasn’t expecting Baden’s story next but I am telling you that it needed to happen this way in my opinion.  I truly loved his and Katarina’s story.  Probably because I really love an over-the-top alpha male and that is exactly what Baden is, much to his own detriment.  And Katarina is no shrinking violet so there are many many crazy lovers quarrels which I thoroughly enjoyed.  I love me some angst.  And when they aren’t fighting these two are so very very hot.  The sexual tension was thick and full through out the entirety of the novel.

“All I want from a man is everything and nothing at the same time but different times, sometimes and never but always.”

-Kelleycael, the Red Queen

But, the main reason, that I feel like Baden’s book had to be right now was simply because Gena set up the next books in this series beautifully during his story.  I was seriously excited for Cameo and Lazarus, William and Gilly, and Galen and Legion before I read this book but now I am positively dying for these books.  These characters appeared quite a bit through out the novel as is common with Gena.  She always does such a magnificent job of setting up future books and I was just as absorbed in these side stories as I was in Baden and Katarina’s.  Also, revisiting with all of my favorite immortals always plays a significant part of why I love Gena’s novels and there were an abundance of hilarious scenes with my favorite angels, demons, harpies ect…

“If this situation sucked any harder, I’d have an orgasm.”

-Paris, keeper of Promiscuity

Basically what I am saying is that this book is just as awesome as the rest in the series.  Even if it wasn’t who we all wanted to be next or expecting for Gena to give us a book about.  I loved it and I cannot wait and I really mean CANNOT wait for the rest in this series.  But I will.  Because that is all I can do, is wait and run out and buy the book as soon as I can and support the authors I love by doing just that.

“Game of Thrones?  No.  Game of loans.  I’m going to loan my foot to your ass.”

-Taliyah, the Cold Hearted

~Amie

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Dirty Royals by Michelle A. Valentine Review

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4 Smooches!

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Synopsis

My evil plan is right on schedule.
I have her right where I want her, and soon I’ll be ready to lower the boom.
That is, if I can force myself to screw her over.
She’s got to me—made me care about her—and now I have two loves—my company and the Feisty Princess.
I can’t have them both.
It’s time to choose.

 

REVIEW

I don’t know about you guys but I have been waiting like a crazy person for the conclusion of Margo and Alexander’s story.  It started off so very good.  I do love a book that is enemies to lovers to friends.  Haha.  I guess that is how you would describe it because this third book they seem to be putting a little trust and faith in each other and things seem to be finally coming together for these two while everything else is falling apart around them.

“I won’t hurt you.  I promise.  You can trust me with your heart.  Can I trust you with mine?”

As usual Yamada stole the show with his funny antics and sweet heart.  This one was funny, angsty, and sweet.  Personally my favorite was the first in this series but this last one was a close second.  These books are definitely worth a read so pick them up!

~Amie

 

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For The Win by Sara Rider Review

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4.5 Smooches

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Synopsis

What happens when you fall for your biggest competition? Sara Rider scores with this charming romance about soccer stars battling their tough opponents and playing the field of love.

Lainey Lukas has sacrificed everything—sleep, family, carbs, a life—to earn her spot as the top player and captain of the Seattle Falcons women’s soccer team. She’s determined to lead her team to a national championship and finally earn the sport the respect it deserves—and nothing will throw her off her game. When Lainey’s hero Gabe Havelak, star of the Seattle Surge, crashes her team’s first press conference—making the Falcons look like a joke to the local media and humiliating Lainey in the process—she’s hell-bent on revenge.

Charming, confident Gabe is practically a god to Seattle soccer fans, but he doesn’t mind a little friendly competition from tough-as-nails Lainey, with her top-notch athletic skills, her mile-long legs, and her girl-next-door freckles. But when he learns the Falcons are booting the Surge from their coveted practice space to the notoriously cursed Cricket Field, those warm feelings give way to crippling superstition. With his contract up for renewal and his thirty-fourth birthday just weeks away, Gabe will risk anything to protect his position with the Surge.

The rivals agree to settle their differences in a Battle of the Sexes competition—a test of skills, fitness, and willpower. At first the situation seems win-win: Gabe gets the chance to earn back the Surge’s practice space, and Lainey’s team will finally get some much-deserved media attention. But as the friction between them becomes hot enough to spark and smolder, Lainey and Gabe are entering new territory—and with both of their careers on the line, love might just be the toughest opponent of all.

Review
“Then what? You think that just because you have some magical penis that you’re automatically better than us?” . . . “Oh my god. You really believe that, don’t you? That’s what this is all about. You think men are better athletes than women.”

For The Win was a surprisingly good find from a new author for me. I love me a sports romance especially one with a sport that gets less attention, like soccer. So the cover had me eager to jump in. Now this story is told in third person which I usually don’t enjoy but the writing is so clean and well down that I honestly had to go double check because I couldn’t even remember if it really was in third person. Sara Rider is a fantastic writer and her story was a wonderful slow burn romance that has me giddy for more from her.

‘He’d expected sex with Lainey to be explosive and angry, based on the kind of chemistry they’d had leading up to this weekend. He hadn’t expected to feel like his heart had been scrubbed raw afterward. This was more intimate, addictive and mind-blowing than he could have ever imagined.’

Gabe and Lainey have a bit of a rivalry going and in the process of constantly trying to one up the other and prove a point they end up spending more and more time together and what was at first a small spark grows to a full on inferno. Gabe and Lainey constantly bump heads. In the beginning of the book Gabe came across as a playboy with a laid back personality and Lainey comes off overly stick and regimented. She is very very serious and takes soccer more seriously than anyone else. But as the book progresses we find out there is so much more to these two and watching them discover this about one another makes for a great story. Sara Rider is definitely a romance author to watch and I for one am excited for the next book in this series.

~miranda

Third Base by Heidi McLaughlin Review

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Synopsis

Ethan Davenport is already Boston’s most eligible bachelor. In his second season with the Boston Renegades he has set his eyes on the girl behind the visitors’ dugout.

That girl is Daisy Robinson, a journalism student at the University of Boston and a die-hard Renegades fan.

But with new found love comes challenges and Ethan and Daisy have to deal with his crazy schedule, school finals and his presence on her campus for some much needed media training.
For Ethan nothing can come between him and Daisy, until a secret that she’s been keeping threatens to destroy them both.

Review

I am a big fan of sports related romances so I was really excited to start reading Third Base. This is my first book by Heidi McLaughlin and I have heard amazing things about her. Sadly, I was slightly let down by this one but I do look forward to trying out a different book by her in the future.

The entire book is told from the hero Ethan’s point of view which is something I typically enjoy but this time I think it left me feeling unconnected to the two main characters. We are constantly told there was a spark between them but I personally had difficulty feeling it. I believe this book could have benefitted with a bit more dialogue especially between the H/h. Now it was not all a let down, there were some really cute and endearing parts of the story as well. I loved that she was a fan and sat behind third base and he called her his “Third Base Girl.”

The overall story was nice and the writing was clean but something along the way just didn’t work for me. However everyone looks for different things in books so if you are a sports fan, specifically baseball, and love a book told from the man’s pov give this one a shot.

~miranda