Tuesday, March 21, 2023

Book Release Blast for Just a Little Hookup by Carly Phillips & Erika Wilde (REVIEW)…..

 Fans of the theme of friends to lovers will find much to enjoy about this tale of two people who've known each other for years but who form a deeper connection after a charity auction gives them a weekend of intimate opportunities.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Just a Little Hookup by Carly Phillips & Erika Wilde, along with getting my impressions of it, then add this first installment in the Dare Crossover series to your bookshelf!

Being a bachelor has its perks. It also has its downside. Just ask Derek Bettencourt.
Standing on stage and being auctioned off in the name of charity is awkward AF...until his business partner’s younger sister wins him for the weekend. He’s all hers to do with as she pleases and he can’t say he’s unhappy with the prospect. Especially since she saved him from an ex-fiancĂ©e determined to get her claws into him again.
Jessica Cavanaugh never intended to bid on the man she’s had a lifetime crush on. But her spur-of-the-moment decision gives her a chance to exact a bit of playful payback, for old time’s sake. And Derek is all too happy to indulge Jessica's whims.
What starts as a fun, flirty, game, with Derek acting as her personal handyman, quickly turns into a steamy and forbidden weekend. Lines are crossed that they never intended and emotions unravel their playful facades.
Afterward, he can’t get the gorgeous, full-figured woman out of his head and he’s determined to make her his.
But how can they concentrate on a future when someone is threatened by their relationship and will do anything to come between them?

BUY LINKS:  AMAZON (Kindle)  |  AMAZON (Print)  |  iBOOKS  |  KOBO  |  BN (Nook)  |  GOOGLE PLAY


MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

From the moment I started reading this book there was a definite sense of familiarity with a storyline that's been done before.  But in the hands of these two talented authors it was also a storyline that was cleverly crafted, featuring a likable main couple with witty banter and a sizzling connection.  Issues regarding body image were also depicted in a way that was both positive and empowering...and for that I applaud this writing duo.

Jessica Cavanaugh has always had a crush on her brother's best friend (and current business partner), Derek, but for many reasons the two never moved out of the friend-zone.  Jessica's not the kind of heroine who needs a man to be complete though and at the start of the story she's a newbie designer catering to plus-sized women and starting to make a name for herself.  She has no intention of bidding on a man at the charity auction she's attending, but discovering that Derek's nasty ex is going to bid on him has Jessica rescuing him from her nefarious plan.  His weekend of servitude might start off with him doing house repairs but it soon takes a more intimate turn as they grow closer together through shared truths.  Jessica's a likable and strong-willed woman, one who's confident in who she is after years of feeling insecure.  When it comes to Derek she knows what she wants and is no longer willing to hold back.  She's a good friend to others too, supportive and talented in making women look and feel their best and she's someone you could easily see yourself being friends with.

Derek Bettencourt is a delicious hero, one who's proven himself to be caring and protective in a previous story featuring his younger sister.  Six months ago he dumped his unpleasant ex but she's not done with him yet which fuels this story and has me rooting for her to get her comeuppance by the final page.  Derek and Jessica are delightful together with a sweet and sizzling connection and knowing each other for so many years adds a level of comfort to their interactions.  He respects Jessica, admires her talent and her defense of his sister, all while watching her make her own decisions while standing beside her in support.  With her business facing sabotage, and her reputation on the line though, he'll have to support her more than ever in a romantic tale nicely balanced with moments of suspense.

On a whole this is a feel-good story, a sweet and sexy connection that slowly becomes something more.  With a romance that crackles and a connection that pulls at your heartstrings Jessica and Derek are a delight to watch.  I cheered their unwavering support for each other while feeling every emotional up and down they experienced throughout the book.  This is a quick read overall and one I was ready to start over the moment I reached The End!

My rating for this is a B+

*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.


AUTHOR'S INFO:

NY Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestseller, Carly Phillips gives her readers Alphalicious heroes to swoon for and romance to set your heart on fire. She married her college sweetheart and lives in Purchase, NY along with her three crazy dogs: two wheaten terriers and a mutant Havanese, who are featured on her Facebook and Instagram. The author of 50 romance novels, she has raised two incredible daughters who put up with having a mom as a full time writer. Carly’s book, The Bachelor, was chosen by Kelly Ripa as a romance club pick and was the first romance on a nationally televised bookclub. Carly loves social media and interacting with her readers. Want to keep up with Carly? Sign up for her newsletter and receive TWO FREE books at www.carlyphillips.com.

Erika Wilde (aka Janelle Denison) is the USA Today bestselling author of over 50 contemporary romances for multiple print publishers.
So, why the new pen name?
As Janelle Denison I’ve always written sexy books, but lately my writing has taken on more erotic elements that I wanted to keep separate for readers because not everyone likes their reading material on the spicier, kinkier side of romance. However, please be assured that even as Erika Wilde, you will still get an emotionally layered story with characters you’ll care about and fall in love with. That is always my goal, whether I’m writing straight contemporary romances, or more erotically charged stories.
Currently, I’m working on The Marriage Diaries and making sure that Dean and Jillian enjoy exploring the more erotic side to their marriage. The series will be on-going, with no foreseeable ending as of right now, for as long as readers want to be voyeurs to Dean and Jillian’s sizzling new relationship.
I’m also planning a spin-off series in the future, featuring the hot military men that work security for Dean at Noble and Associates. Sign up to receive my newsletter for updates and news!
Want to interact with me personally? You can do so at my Erika Wilde Author Fan Page on Facebook.

Book Teaser for Shoulda by Pepper North…..

 The theme of friends to lovers is a favorite of mine and fuels this upcoming story of a school reunion that sets two friends on an unexpected path to HEA.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Shoulda by Pepper North, then start counting down the days until this second installment in the A Second Chance at Mr Right series hits bookshelves on April 4th!

Fake relationships happen all the time at reunions, right?

Harper has adored Colt since the first day of third grade. The talented athlete shoulda avoided his chubby, academically-challenged classmate, but somehow they've always been the best of friends. As they grew up together, Harper hid her deeper feelings for her best friend, knowing there was no way the handsome hunk felt the same way.

Colt's friends have always meant everything to him. In high school, he wanted to be more than friends with Harper, but she kept him at arm's length. Pouring his heart and soul into his music, Colt headed for Nashville after Harper's rejection, but when she calls to ask him to pose as her boyfriend at their upcoming reunion, wild horses couldn't keep him away.

For some, there is a second chance at having Mr. Right. Coulda, Shoulda, Woulda explores a world of connections that can't exist... until they do. Forbidden love abounds when these Daddy Doms refuse to live with regret and claim the women who own their hearts.


PRE-ORDER here.


AUTHOR INFO:

Ever just gone for it? That's what USA Today Bestselling Author Pepper North did in 2017 when she posted a book for sale on Amazon without telling anyone. Thanks to her amazing fans, the support of the writing community, Mr. North, and a killer schedule, she has now written more than 70 books!
Enjoy contemporary, paranormal, dark, and erotic romances that are both sweet and steamy? Pepper will convert you into one of her loyal readers. What's coming in the future? A Daddypalooza!
Stay up on the latest news and get insider updates and previews of Pepper's stories HERE.

Wednesday, March 15, 2023

Book Release Blast for Snared by Stephanie Kay (REVIEW)……

 A female drummer in the usually male-dominated role is a dream come true for Charlie who just wants to be admired for her playing.  But when her heart becomes involved things turn complicated for her and her new band's manager with their fake marriage quickly becoming all too real.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Snared by Stephanie Kay, along with getting my impressions of it, then add this third installment in the Steelwolf series to your bookshelf!

He's been the bane of my existence since the day we met, so how did I wind up wearing his ring?
Charlie Jones is living her dream as the drummer for Steelwolf, one of the top rock bands in the country. But as the newest member of the band, and a woman, the scrutiny is endless. Steelwolf has had more than enough drama over the years and she's not planning to add to it, so she focuses solely on her career, pouring her heart into every beat.
Josh Harrison has everything he's ever wanted. He's been Steelwolf's manager since the beginning and they've been through it all. But he epically screwed up a few months ago. To get back in the band's good graces, he's agreed to do whatever they want, including being their lackey for the rest of the tour. Which means he'll be on a bus with the woman who's gotten under his skin since she walked into the studio two years ago.
She thinks he sees her as a gimmick to sell albums. His cockiness grates on her nerves. He thinks she's amazing. He craves her. But he has one rule: no hooking up with musicians, especially not a client. Now--- somehow --- she's in his bed, in Vegas, with a ring on her finger. And she's agreeing to stay married to him until the end of the tour.
When their fake marriage starts to look --- and feel --- all too real, Charlie must decide. Will she listen to her head and run? Or has the man who drives her crazy finally snared her heart?


BUY here.


MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

As a fan of rockstar romances I jumped on this one the moment I read the synopsis. With its strong-willed female drummer, a manager trying to make amends, and its colorful and outspoken bandmates, Ms. Kay has crafted an entertaining tale of forbidden romance set in the world of rock music.  A bit of angst, a lot of witty banter and steamy interludes, makes this a satisfying yet unexpected romance between two people trying hard to not give in to the attraction eating at them.  When a morning after in Vegas leads to an out of the blue marriage, what started out as fake soon becomes all too real!

Charlie Jones is that rare female in the male-dominated world of drummers, a role she's honored to have.  Past experiences as a bandmate have left her burned and desperate to be seen for her talent instead of her sex.  Joining Steelwolf gives her just such an opportunity as her new bandmates treat her like one of the guys, engaging in playful banter and anointing her with a nickname.  With the guys she gives as good as she gets, treating them like brothers in a connection that took on a familial feel.  When it comes to band manager Josh, though...well, she definitely doesn’t feel brotherly around him.  The moment these two meet there's sparks!  There's a definite attraction that both try to ignore, but a stop in Vegas changes their lives irrevocably as what happens in Vegas won't stay in Vegas.  Once the media learns about their "marriage" Charlie will need to decide whether to listen to her head or her heart as what was once fake soon becomes all too real.  Charlie's a likable heroine, down to earth with tons of talent.  She's a good fit with the other members of Steelwolf, easily engaging in playful banter that made her seem like one of the guys.  She wants to be taken seriously as a drummer, have the focus be on her talent instead of her looks, and I rooted for her to achieve that desire as she truly earned it.  She and Josh are a sizzling pair and I enjoyed seeing their connection grow with each turn of the page.

Josh Harrison, the smart and controlled manager to top rock band Steelwolf, messed up big time by letting a recent secret get out to the media.  To make amends to the band he agrees to go on tour with them and do whatever they ask of him.  It's a rocky journey for the arrogant manager, being given menial tasks, but it's even rockier being so close to the sizzling new drummer.  Though there's a no-fraternization policy, Josh can't help being attracted to the sexy and talented Charlie.  Up until now he's been able to keep his hands to himself...but being in close quarters with her makes it harder to ignore his desires.  When the two of them blow up the internet with a wedding ring and a morning after in Vegas, Josh will have to prove what his heart has known all along...that he and Charlie are meant to be together.

Not having read the first two books in this series wasn't a detriment to enjoying this one. It was easy to see and feel the brotherly bond between the bandmates, seen in their witty banter and playful nicknames for each other.  The rockstar world was realistically depicted, the highs and lows of fame, along with the pressure of reaching the top of the charts.  The overall storyline of this installment was familiar though, has been done before, and I was left hoping for something more/something different from these two assertive characters.  The connection between these two though was satisfying.  Their connection crackled from the very start and I applaud Ms. Kay for making Josh work for his HEA in a journey that had a few bumps along the way but had a nice balance of steam and heart and soul!  Along with the appealing main couple were the other bandmates of Steelwolf, sexy and larger than life men who playfully poked at one another.  Among them, it was Jax who kept me smiling the most with his nicknames and outspoken nature.  He's everything you hope to see in a rockstar and I look forward to seeing him take center stage in matters of the heart!

My rating for this is a B+

*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.


AUTHOR INFO:

USA Today Bestselling Author, Stephanie Kay has always loved a good romance, and she got hooked on the dirty ones at the tender age of 14, when she told her mother that if the cover wasn’t a bodice ripper, then there was no sex in the book. As an avid mystery reader, her mother never checked to see if Stephanie was lying. Twenty plus years later, Stephanie’s most prized possession is her Kindle, and she may have a Hallmark movie obsession.
​She has called California and Maryland her home, but now lives in New England with her husband where she asks him incessant questions until he escapes to go hiking in the mountains. That’s the only time she can get him out of the house so she can get her writing in. Married couples shouldn’t both work from home!
​Sports were never her thing, but after beta reading for another hockey author and buying NHL Game Center within one month of watching her first hockey game a few years ago, she dove into learning everything she could about the sport and the hot men that play it. Now she spends her spare time visiting hockey arenas in the name of research and loving every second of it.
Follow Stephanie on Instagram and Facebook for updates and puppy pics. And join her reader group, Stephanie Kay's Sassy Strikers to talk about books, hockey, hockey butts, and dessert!
You can also email her HERE.

Friday, March 10, 2023

New Series From Lani Lynn Vale On the Way…….

 As a fan of Ms. Vale's books I celebrate each new release, being given a gift of her steamy reads full of heart and soul...as well as unforgettable characters.  Readers have much to look forward to with a new series from her on the horizon!


WELCOME TO THE CIRCUS...revolves around a family-owned circus and will be hitting shelves on August 15th with the release of Fun House!


FUN HOUSE PRE-ORDER LINKS:  AMAZON  |  iBOOKS  |  BN  |  KOBO


FREAK SHOW (Book #2) — September 19, 2023


SHOW OFF (Book #3) — October 24, 2023


CLOWN MOTEL (Book #4) — November 21, 2023


SOLD TO THE CIRCUS (Book #5) — January 23, 2024


KILLING BOOTH (Book #6) — February 27, 2024


THE FOOL (Book #7) — April 1, 2024

Book Release Blitz for Sins of the Father by Franca Storm (REVIEW)…….

 Readers will be drawn to this MC story full of grit and steam that promises to be an exhilarating thrill ride as it brings together the Iron Kings MC along with the Black Thorns MC.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Sins of the Father by Franca Storm, then add this tale of sins from the past leading to a fight for the future to your bookshelf!

We don’t bend.
We don’t break.
We’re tried and tested warriors.
War is on our doorstep.
The enemy is coming for everything we have, everything we are.
They’ll use what we love against us.
Old blood feuds are resurrected, vengeance reigning unchecked. They want us to pay for our sins.
We stand united with our allies.
But we’ll fall with them if we make one wrong move. It’s all on the line.
The stakes have never been higher.
It’s not about winning territory this time. It’s about survival.
If we falter, it’ll cost us everything.
Our clubs.
Our families.
Our lives.



FIND AT GOODREADS here.

BUY here.

THE PREVIOUS INSTALLMENTS IN THIS SERIES:  WRAITH  |  SPARTAN  |  DEVIANT  |  ANARCHY  |  SHIELD  | TRICKS


MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

Holy Moly!  As a fan of MC romances I can never get enough and gobble up each new release like they're candy!  Franca Storm has crafted just such a series, the Iron Kings MC series, and has brought it to a rousing end in this seventh installment in the series. Each installment was captivating with larger than life characters and a delicate balance of heartfelt romance and gritty action.  Everything came to a head here with each previous installment a puzzle piece that fueled this story and kept me frantically turning the pages to connect the dots.  The action was exhilarating, edge of your seat, and in the middle of it all Ace found his own HEA with an unlikely heroine who was a major piece of the overall puzzle putting the MC through the wringer.

Though I haven't read all of the previous installments in this series, the ones I've read were immensely satisfying with sexy heroes and heart pounding action in and out of the bedroom.  This finale gave readers all that and more as it roared to a conclusion that I never wanted to see come to fruition, an ending that required a few tissues along the way while bringing out a blush or two as well.  And now that it's ended, I'm ready to go back and re-read the entire series from the start!

My rating for this is an A.

*I got this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.


AUTHOR INFO:

Franca writes emotional and gritty reads about alphas with a dark side and the kickass women who turn their worlds upside down.
A Marvel and DC fan, you’ll often find her binging on superhero shows and movies. Away from that heart-pumping action, she’ll relax with a good book, or work on conquering her next 1,000- piece puzzle.
She writes to alternative and hard rock with her storyboard of inspiration by her side and some tasty snacks along for the ride. A cross between a pantser and a plotter, she’s happiest when she’s fully immersed in crafting her fictional worlds.
She created Franca Storm United Universes in 2021, which brought together her different book universes under one umbrella.

Thursday, March 9, 2023

Book Cover Reveal for Fearless Heart by Brighton Walsh…….



Readers will find themselves drawn to this third installment in the Starlight Cove series with its tale of unrequited love and a fake marriage that soon becomes all too real.  Keep reading to get a tempting glimpse of Fearless Heart by Brighton Walsh, then count down the days until this book hits shelves on April 11th!


Quinn Cartwright sees me as nothing more than her rival...her enemy. But I’ve been obsessed with her since we were teenagers. She's gorgeous and brilliant with a tongue sharp enough to cut glass...and she has no idea I love it as much as I do.
So when she needs someone to put a ring on it because of her a-hole boss, I marry her without hesitation. We draw up a contract on a napkin. This marriage might be fake, but no one in our small town has to know.
She may never see me as anything more than a playboy, but sleeping in the same bed together night after night makes me want to put my skills to use and prove just how good this fake marriage can be...


FIND AT GOODREADS here.

PRE-ORDER here.


AUTHOR INFO:

Award-winning USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Brighton Walsh spent a decade as a professional photographer before taking her storytelling in a different direction and reconnecting with her first love—writing. She likes her books how she likes her tea—steamy and satisfying—and adores strong-willed heroines and the protective heroes who fall head over heels for them. Brighton lives in the Midwest with her real life hero of a husband, her two kids—both taller than her—and her dog who thinks she’s a queen. Her boy-filled house is the setting for dirty socks galore, frequent dance parties (okay, so it's mostly her, by herself, while her children look on in horror), and more laughter than she thought possible.

Friday, March 3, 2023

Book Release Countdown for Sins of the Father by Franca Storm…….

 There's a new MC story roaring onto bookshelves next week with the gritty and steamy Sins of the Father by Franca Storm and it promises to be an exhilarating thrill ride that brings together the Iron Kings MC along with the Black Thorns MC.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of this upcoming release of sins from the past leading to a fight for the future, then start counting down the days until this book hits shelves on March 8th!

We don’t bend.
We don’t break.
We’re tried and tested warriors.
War is on our doorstep.
The enemy is coming for everything we have, everything we are.
They’ll use what we love against us.
Old blood feuds are resurrected, vengeance reigning unchecked. They want us to pay for our sins.
We stand united with our allies.
But we’ll fall with them if we make one wrong move. It’s all on the line.
The stakes have never been higher.
It’s not about winning territory this time. It’s about survival.
If we falter, it’ll cost us everything.
Our clubs.
Our families.
Our lives.


FIND AT GOODREADS here.


PRE-ORDER here.

Thursday, March 2, 2023

Book Release Blast for Boomer by Marie James (REVIEW)……

 Two men hiding from their personal truths find a connection worth fighting for in this contemporary m/m romance.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Boomer by Marie James, along with my impressions of it, then add this 25th installment in the Cerberus MC series to your bookshelf!

Secrets are poison.
They eat away at you from the inside.
I doubt there’s a single person in the club that would have a problem with who I am.
Keeping my mouth shut is all about my own shame.
Who I am isn’t acceptable.
That’s what my Fundamentalist family raised me to believe, but even after leaving home, I couldn’t be myself. Fighting against it never really became a struggle until the flirty bartender set his eyes on me.
He made me wish for things I couldn’t have.
Resisting him was easy until that first kiss.
Now there’s a very real chance my shame will ruin us both.

BUY here.


*AUDIO NARRATED BY AARON SHEDLOCK & ALEXANDER CENDESE here.*


MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

After 24 books Ms. James continues to give readers unforgettable stories with larger than life characters...and this 25th installment in the Cerberus MC books is no exception! Painful pasts, angst, and tons of inner conflict fuel this m/m romance and kept me glued to the pages as each heartache made my own heart ache.

Alexander “Boomer” Smith grew up in a religious cult where his feelings for men were seen as a sin.  For 18 years he tried to conform to the cult's beliefs, tried to be the way others were, but in a single moment everything came crashing down through an act of betrayal that left him forever bruised.  A stint in the Marines didn't change his views of himself either.  He eventually found himself becoming a member of the Cerberus MC, finding a sense of acceptance from others though not acceptance from himself.  Years of judgements, years of condemnation, have made him closed-off and untrusting of others. The depiction of his upbringing broke my heart as it forever changed the man he could've been, left him a stoic and serious-minded shell.  When readers first meet Boomer they see a man broken down by a life full of judgments but with each turn of the page, and a life-altering connection to bartender Drake, Boomer undertakes a slow but steady journey of inner growth that warms my heart.

Drake Hill seems the exact opposite to Boomer, a young man full of joy and living life to the fullest.  He had his own childhood issues though, ones he was able to work through and who will become a beacon of acceptance and support for Boomer as their journey progresses.  Drake's interacted with the Cerberus brothers for years, flirtatiously interacted with them, but he's always had eyes for only Boomer.  Getting Boomer's attention though won't be easy as Boomer's racked with self-doubt and teeming with trust issues that the immensely appealing Drake will have to work through.  Drake's a delicious hero, one with a bubbly attitude that is just who and what Boomer needs in a crackling connection that captivated me.

Boomer's an immensely satisfying read with a main couple who were supportive of each other while burning up the pages in a contemporary tale of overcoming the past and becoming who you're meant to be.  Boomer and Drake seemed like opposites early on but with slightly similar childhoods they formed a bond of both the heart and soul that had me cheering them on every step of the way.  The action flowed nicely while matters of the heart pulled at my emotional strings to keep me fully invested in this story.  With its unforgettable main couple, and equally supportive cast of secondary characters, this story was an epic one!  And with an ending that left my heart pounding, setting up Ugly's story flawlessly, I'm now counting down the days until the next installment in this series hits bookshelves!

My rating for this is an A-

*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.


AUTHOR INFO:

Let's see...where to begin...
I'm inching up on the BIG 4-0. The gray hairs are doubling what seems like daily, and the wrinkles and laugh lines are more pronounced than ever.
I have an amazing husband (Married just over 15 years.)
We have two boys we're doing our best to raise as respectful gentlemen.
I have a master's degree in criminal justice which I used to work as a juvenile probation office until deciding to write full- time in June of 2019. So that means there's usually always some criminal/law element to my novels.
If I'm not writing; I'm reading.
My favorite genres recently are bully/reverse harem and enemies to lovers. Maybe I'm reliving my traumatic teen years through the girls who actually end up with the boys. (Not that I would change my history since it's gotten me exactly where I need to be!)
I love coffee. I miss carbs. Music is LIFE. I try not to be too serious.

Book Release Blitz for Reverse Pass by Maggie Rawdon (REVIEW)………

 Fans of sports romances have much to look forward to with this older woman/younger man tale...a romance full of speed bumps, sweetness, and steam.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Reverse Pass by Maggie Rawdon, along with getting my impressions of it, then add this fourth installment in the Plays & Penalties series to your bookshelf!

Violet
He’s the star wide receiver and the most wanted player on campus. He has it all—the body, the voice, the charm and the dimples.
Plus he flirts constantly and cooks dinner shirtless in my kitchen.
There’s just one problem—he’s my best friend’s younger brother.
She sent him to live with me so I can help him get his life back in order. Which makes him off limits in every way possible.
But now we share a wall and secrets.
Like the confession he makes after he accidentally walks in on me one night.
Ben
I’m usually so good with women that my teammates come to me for advice.
But they don’t know my secret. They don’t know about her.
The one woman I want—the one I can’t stop thinking about—barely knows I exist.
Until everything goes wrong, and I land on her doorstep.
The worst day of my life might just turn out to be my luckiest.
Because she’s fresh off a broken engagement—single for the first time in forever. And she can’t keep her eyes off of me.
I just need to convince her I’m worth breaking the rules.


BUY here.


MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

As a fan of sports-fueled romances this book captivated me from the very start with its crackling connection between a slightly older woman and the younger man who's the brother of her best friend.  From the moment these two met there was a very obvious connection that was both steamy and sensual, growing stronger the more they saw each other openly and honestly.  Living together shows them without any facades and as they fell for each other, I fell for them too in a romance that put a smile on my face.

Ben is the proverbial football god with guys wanting to be him and gals just plain wanting him!  A moment of bad behavior though leads to his suspension from the team and no place to live.  His sister luckily has the perfect idea for his housing dilemma...and that's when everything changes for him.  Ben's a decadently delightful hero, sexy and sweet...with a longtime crush on his new roommate that he's just now ready to do something about.  He's charming, witty, and the banter between him and Violet was everything to me!  He charmingly worked his way into Violet's heart, cooking and cleaning, reading romance novels, and showing a mature and endearing side of himself to her.  With each turn of the page I fell more and more in love with him and was cheering him on in his claiming of Violet.

Violet's the kind of heroine you can relate to and the connection between her and Ben practically jumped off the page courtesy of witty banter and undeniable chemistry.  She's fresh off a break-up but is leery of putting her heart on the line once again, especially with someone who's seen as a playa.  She continues to see Ben as immature, but behind the facade is a determined man who's the perfect match to Violet...if she just takes a chance on Ben.

This was a quick read, one full of steam and sparkling banter that amped up the sensuality.  Ben's the quintessential book boyfriend, making me smile and blush, along with warming my heart.  Violet's a good match...and I was particularly proud of her when she proved herself worthy of Ben at the end of the story.  Along with a delightful main couple was an equally entertaining cast of secondary characters who leant an air of family and familiarity to this book, giving a sense of family to the story. From start to finish I found this an immensely satisfying tale, one that gave me an afternoon of delights that I wholeheartedly recommend to others!

My rating for this is an A-

*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.


AUTHOR INFO:

Maggie Rawdon loves books, travel and wandering through museums. She lives in the Midwest where you can find her writing on her laptop with her two pups at her side, in between binge watching epic historical and fantasy dramas and cheering for her favorite American (and European) football teams on the weekends. She loves writing dirty athletes and smart women and has a soft spot for writing characters who banter instead of flirt.