HOT RESPONSE (BOSTON FIRE #4)

The men of Boston Fire are back and hotter than ever! Don’t miss this brand-new novel from New York Times bestselling author Shannon Stacey.

Gavin Boudreau lives for the job, but he also believes in “work hard, play harder.” As the youngest guy in Ladder 37, he figures he’s got plenty of time before settling down becomes a priority. Soft, pretty women who aren’t looking for promises are exactly his type, and he’s comfortable with that. Working with a gorgeous EMT isn’t going to change who he is.

The last thing Cait Tasker needs in her personal life is a firefighter whose challenges on-scene have been a thorn in her side from minute one. Her plate’s too full for a man anyway. Back in her childhood home to help her family cope with an unexpected tragedy, she’s got enough to handle without throwing a hot, testosterone-laden fireman into the mix.

As long days on the job lead to long nights together, Gavin and Cait will discover how far temptation can take them—and what happens when the one you thought was all wrong for you turns out to be the person you can’t live without. 

Release Date: April 24, 2018

Carina Press

Boston Fire #4

Contemporary Romance

Review copy provided by publisher

Liza's Review:

I really enjoyed Hot Response. Shannon Stacey writes such strong heroes and heroines and I found myself wanting to know Gavin and Cait better from the moment I started reading. I have to say I loved Gavin from the moment he appeared on the page. It was funny, smart, and caring. He seemed like the type of guy you could always count on when needed. I honestly felt like he was way more mature than his age and thought he was just a really good guy. The fact his was a smoking hot fire fighter, was really just icing on a very yummy cake.

I will be honest and say I liked Cait from the moment we met her, but worried her putting herself second to her family would be an issue in the long run. I think the fact that both Gavin and Cait were first responders made it so much easier for them to date with few issues. I loved that Gavin offered up his apartment to Cait if she needed time away from her family even before they had their very first date. I also loved that once they went on their first date, they seemed to want to be together as much as possible. Again, Cait putting her family above herself seemed to come up again and again. I understood her wanting to be there for them after her mom lost her husband and her brother lost his dad, but I really felt like they had started to take advantage of her giving nature without really realizing it. I have to say I loved that Cait and her family came to the same conclusion about their lives at the same time. 

I really did like Gavin and Cait as a couple. They got each other from the very beginning. They had a pretty instant attraction to one another from the very first moment they met. I loved once they made love for the first time, they pretty much couldn't keep their hands off each other. I felt a real connection with them, even when they didn't see eye to eye on something. I love reading a story when I fall in love with he couple, and Hot Responsewas one of those books.

Hot Response is another winner in the Boston Fire series from Shannon Stacey. I enjoyed each of the books in the series so far and look forward to more books in this series in the future.

Rating: 4 stars (B)

WHAT IT TAKES (KOWALSKI #10)

Revisit all of your Kowalski favorites while falling in love with a brand-new romance in this reunion novel from New York Times bestselling author Shannon Stacey

Laney Caswell is looking for a change. A decade's worth of less-than-happy matrimony behind her, she wants peace—movies, books and, best of all, a new job at the Northern Star Lodge in Whitford, Maine. Spending the summer living in a camper is her chance to rediscover what makes her happy, and a perfect transition to her new life.

Being a paramedic in Whitford is nothing like Ben Rivers's city life, but when Josh Kowalski offers him the job, the lure of his hometown is too much to resist. Also too much to resist: Laney Caswell. Ben always thought he'd have a wife and kids, a happy family like the Kowalskis have all built, but he never made time in his life. Now he's found a woman who draws him like no other and helps him dream again—and the last thing she wants is a husband.

When the annual Kowalski family camping trip is moved to the Northern Star, both Ben and Laney are surrounded by the kind of happiness they've always wanted but never had. It just might be theirs—if they can put aside the past and reach for it together.

Release Date: February 28, 2017

Contemporary Romance

Carina Press

Kowalski Family #10

Review copy provided by publisher

I was super excited to get a Kowalski vacation of doom. The Kowalski family series is one of my favorite ever. I loved getting to spend time with the entire family, and seeing how the family has grown since the last book.  I will say if you haven't read the rest of the series, you will be lost with all the family dynamics if you try and start with this story. I highly suggest starting with the first book in the series, Exclusively Yours.

With all the members of the Kowalski clan in one book, there was lots going on and I'll admit it was hard to keep up with the growing family at times, but I loved every minute with them. What It Takes also had a budding romance between Laney and Ben. While I liked both Laney and Ben as individuals, I had trouble with them as a couple for most of the book. Ben and Laney didn't seem to be on the same page to start a relationship. Laney had just ended her marriage and not ready for anything serious, while Ben was at the point in his life that he was ready for a serious relationship. I thought Laney and Ben had great chemistry, but had trouble buying into them as a couple for the majority of the book. I did love that Laney received immediate acceptance into the Kowalski family, which was so nice as her own parents didn't support her decision to divorce her ex-husband. I also loved that Ben's family also accepted Laney so quickly. 

I did end up liking Ben and Laney as a couple by the end of the book. I think since there was so much focus on the Kowalski family, their story took a bit of a backseat at times and it took me until about the last 20% of the story to really become invested in their relationship. 

Rating: 3.5 Stars (B-)

HOLIDAY WITH A TWIST

After a messy breakup, Leigh Holloway is ready to start her life over. Until her parents put the family home on the market and call her back for one final, memory-making Christmas. The last thing she wants to do is deprive her mom of the perfect holiday, so she'll lie her way through the visit and worry about her future in the New Year. Too bad the only bar in town is owned by a guy she seriously wronged in high school. 



Leigh's best friend broke Croy Dawson's heart, and Croy knows it was Leigh's fault. They've never liked each other, but Croy isn't cruel: he'd never turn away a pretty woman in need of some family-Christmas fortification. He doesn't expect her to drink just enough candy-cane martinis to tell him her secrets—and he definitely doesn't expect to get caught up in her holiday madness. 



Despite the surprising love and laughter, Croy and Leigh can't escape the truth: he can't walk away from his family obligations and she has a life and career to reboot. But anything is possible if your holiday comes with a twist… 

Release Date: November 21, 2016

Carina Press

Contemporary Romance

Review copy provided by publisher

Liza’s Review:

Holiday with a Twist was a fun, fast-paced novella-length story from Shannon Stacey. Leigh Holloway is going home for Christmas to spend one last Christmas in the family home before her parents move to a smaller home. She has broken up with her fiancé and is looking for a new job, but decides to hide those facts from her family not to put anything else on them. 

Croy Dawson and Leigh Holloway were friends growing up until Croy's girlfriend, who was Leigh's best friend broke his heart. Leigh always felt a little responsible, so they haven't spoken in years. I really liked they had a history, though they had never been more than friends. I loved they seemed to pick up their friendship right where it had ended and it felt completely natural to me. I loved that Leigh had told Croy about what was going on in her life before sharing with her family and he was just fine with keeping her secret.

I really liked the pace at which Croy and Leigh moved from friends to more. While they had never seen themselves as more than friends when they were younger, there was a natural progression to their relationship. I did fear that Leigh keeping her secret too long would end up being a big issue for me, especially once I felt like she and Croy were heading to a real relationship. Happily her family discovered the truth before it was too big an issue for me.

I'm a big fan of the friend to lover trope and felt like Ms. Stacey did a wonderful job with in in Holiday with a Twist. I highly recommend this story to help get you into the holiday spirit this year.

Rating: 4 Stars (B)

A FIGHTING CHANCE

All work and no play makes Adeline Kendrick a dull girl, so when she heads to a casino resort for a friend's bachelorette weekend, she's ready to have a good time. Until she runs into Brendan Quinn, professional fighter and the one who got away—the one her family drove away—and things take a turn for the interesting.

Running into his ex won't shake Brendan. Even if it brings up the old pain of loving her when she was only slumming. Even if she looks really good. In fact, what better way to get over the past than to take advantage of the still-sizzling chemistry running hot between them? He's there to win an MMA fight, but he won't say no to a little physical relief of a different kind.

But when the weekend is over, Adeline isn't ready to give up her second chance that easily. Brendan is still the one for her, no matter what her family thinks. Now, if only she can convince him of that…

Release Date: February 1, 2016

Carina Press

Review copy provided by publisher through NetGalley

A Fighting Chance is a novella length story from author Shannon Stacey, so it was a really fast-paced story. I love the second chance/reunion troupe, so A Fighting Chance was right up my alley.

Adeline (Del) and Brendan had broken up 6 years ago and hadn’t seen each other since their break up. As Brendan broke up with Del, I have to say I found myself laughing out loud when Del sees Brendan’s MMA fight picture for the first time and she flip the picture off.  It was the perfect reaction to seeing your ex’s picture.

As both Del and Brendan were both still wildly attracted to one another, and not in another relationship, I knew it wouldn’t be long before they acted on their attraction. I felt like Del wanting one more night with Brendan totally fit her personality and her need for closure to their relationship. I actually wanted them to find a way to make a relationship work. They had great chemistry and once they started talking about what had happened in the past, I felt like pretty much started over.

I loved that Del made time for Brendan, even though she was there for a girl’s weekend. She didn’t let him interrupt her time with her friends, but he still stayed the whole time just in case she had a free minute. I absolutely adored their sexy text messages and he would find her just for a kiss.  I even loved that Del confronted her dad for his talk with Brendan all those years ago and had no problems telling him about her real feelings for Brendan back then and the fact she still had real feelings for him now.

A Fighting Chance was a fun and sexy reunion story. It was a really fast read for me and even being a novella length book, it was a very satisfying story.

MISTLETOE MADNESS WRAP UP POST

Wow! I really enjoyed joining in for Mistletoe Madness event this year at Blogging by Liza. I'd like to say thank you and give a shout out to my two co-hosts this year: That’s What I’m Talking About and Books Make Me Happy! I hope you all had as much fun as we did!

I want to give a HUGE thank you to each of the authors who participated in this year’s event. I would also like to thank each of you for coming by, reading the posts, and leaving comments. Finally, I’d like to thank my co-hosts, Jennifer and Jen, for all the hard work that goes into this awesome event.

Here is a wrap-up of this year's posts at Blogging by Liza. And be sure to visit That’s What I’m Talking About and Books Make Me Happy to catch all of this years participants!

KICK OFF POST

Kelsey Browning

Jennifer Estep

Kimberly Lang

Carly Phillips

Silver James

Shannon Stacey

Tigris Eden

Erika Wilde

Marquita Valentine

Tracy March

Since a couple of the contests are still underway, I'll wait and post the winners for all of the giveaways featured at Blogging by Liza on December 26, 2015.

I hope each of you have a wonderful holiday season and Happy New Year! Be sure to come back all throughout 2016 for lots more fun & contests, author interviews & posts, and our reviews!

MISTLETOE MADNESS AUTHOR SHANNON STACEY

Thank you for stopping by Blogging by Liza for today’s Mistletoe Madness spot. This year’s event is hosted by Blogging by Liza, Books Make Me Happy, and That’s What I’m Talking About. It’s a two week event where authors with 2015 winter releases (November 2015 – January 2016) will take over our blogs with guest post written from their character’s POV with a holiday theme (Christmas, Hanukkah, Festivus, New Years, etc.). For a line up of all the authors featured at all three blogs, please click on the image above or go to the kickoff post from December 1, 2015.

Today’s Mistletoe Madness author is…

Shannon Stacey

Book: Controlled Burn

Release Date: November 24, 2015

Series: Boston Fire #2

Being a lieutenant with Boston Fire’s Ladder 37 company keeps Rick Gullotti busy, so somewhere in the pile of paperwork he’s avoiding on his desk, there’s a scratchpad on which he jots down things he needs to get done before Christmas.

Rick Gullotti's Holiday To-Do List

* Delegate decorating the can drive boxes before the community starts dropping off donations. Make sure the box in front of Ladder 37 is better than Engine 59's because their half of the station has taken in more cans three years in a row. More garland, maybe.

* Make the guys sign the Christmas cards we give out as thank you notes for all the baked goods people in the neighborhood are going to bring us. Threaten them with all manner of dire punishments if they don’t sit and get it done.

* Make a list of dire punishments that won’t get me called to the chief’s office.

* Figure out what to get Jessica for Christmas. (Don't delegate that.) Her grandmother says if I buy Jess thermal underwear because she's a California girl in Boston, I should buy her jewelry to offset the practicality. But I know my Jess and warm will trump shiny.

* Get recommendations for local jewelers because I’m not taking any chances.

* Check the long range weather forecast before the grocery shopping list is finalized. Digging out 13,000 fire hydrants if it snows means more slow cooker meals. (Okay, Ladder 37 and Engine 59 don't have to shovel out all 13,000 hydrants in Boston. It just feels like it sometimes.)

* Attach the wreath to L-37's grille. Correction: Delegate attaching the wreath to L-37's grille.

* Draw names for the station’s Secret Santa. Make sure whoever draws Grant Cutter’s name remembers there needs to be payback for the Easter dish of jelly beans that tasted like ear wax and skunk spray.

About the Book:

Meet the tough, dedicated men of BOSTON FIRE—and the women who turn their lives upside down 

Rick Gullotti lives the good life, fighting fires and dating beautiful women—though none for very long. And thanks to helping his elderly landlords, his rent is low. But when his concerns about their health lead to a long-legged girl appearing on his doorstep, life as he knows it starts getting away from him. 

Jessica Broussard has no interest in leaving sunny San Diego for the rougher side of Boston, but she's been dispatched to deal with grandparents she's never met. She's wholly unprepared for the scruffy-but-hot danger-junkie firefighter who lives upstairs. 

At first, Jessica is determined to get out of Boston Fire country as quickly as possible. All she has to do is talk her grandparents into selling their monstrosity of a house. But nobody's taking advantage of Rick's friends on his watch, even if that makes Jessica his adversary. Unfortunately for them both, the only thing more urgent than the matter at hand is their sizzling chemistry—and it's quickly becoming too strong to resist.

About the Author:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Shannon Stacey lives with her husband and two sons in New England, where her favorite activities are writing romance and really random tweets when she’s not riding her ATV. She loves mud, books, football & watching way too much TV. You can contact Shannon through her website, http://shannonstacey.com, where she maintains an almost daily blog, or visit her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/shannonstacey, her Facebook page, http://facebook.com/shannonstacey.authorpage, or email her at shannon@shannonstacey.com.

Giveaway:

Shannon is generously giving away one (1) $100 gift card to winner’s choice. To enter through Rafflecopter, AND leave a comment telling us one of the items on your holiday to-do list. The giveaway is open during the time specified on the Rafflecopter form. Winner(s) chosen at random from all eligible entries. This contest is open internationally, where not prohibited by law. Open to participants, 18 years or older, who are legally allowed to participate in such a contest as allowed by their local laws. All federal, state, local, and municipal laws and regulations apply. Void where prohibited. No purchase necessary. By participating in the contest, participants agree to be bound by the decisions of the contest sponsor. Prize will be delivered by the author. This blog, its reviewers, and the owner are not responsible for items lost in the mail. By entering this giveaway, participants agree to abide by these terms.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Now, head over to BOOKS MAKE ME HAPPY to see today’s feature with Terry Spear and THAT’S WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT to see today’s feature with Suzanne Johnson