DEAR SANTA

A holiday retelling of You've Got Mail that will make you fall in love with the Christmas Season!

Angela Carson wants nothing more than to be the third-generation to run her family’s holiday store, Heart of Christmas, successfully. They’ve weathered over sixty tourist seasons, major hurricanes, and urban sprawl, in their old decommissioned lighthouse. But the national chain that set up shop in their small North Carolina town of Pleasant Sands may be more than Heart of Christmas can survive.

Geoff Paisley has been at his mother’s side running the mega-chain Christmas Galore for the last ten years. When his mother falls ill, Geoff promises to answer the town’s Dear Santa letters in her stead. Soon he realizes the woman he’s been corresponding with on Dear Santa is Angela. How could the woman that grates his every last nerve in person have intrigued him so deeply through those letters?

Encouraged by her niece to ask Santa for help, Angela gives in and lets the words fly in a way that, if Santa were real, would no doubt land her on the naughty list. What’s the harm when it’s just a computer-generated response?

When Geoff reveals that he’s her Dear Santa, will Angela be able to set aside their very public feud to embrace the magic of the holiday and possibly find true love?

Release Date: October 16, 2018

St. Martin's Griffin

Contemporary Romance/Women's Fiction/Holiday Romance

Review copy provided by publisher

Liza's Review:

Dear Santa was a heart-warming Christmas Story from author Nancy Naigle. It is a retelling of one of my favorite movies, You've Got Mail and Ms. Naigle did an amazing job with this story.

Angela Carson has been running her family store, Heart of Christmas since her grandmother passed away. The store sells high quality Christmas decorations and has been in trouble for some time. When Christmas Galore, a mega-chain discount store moves into town, Heart of Christmas seriously has very little chance of staying open. I loved that Angela's adorable niece talks her into writing to letter on the "Dear Santa" app to ask for a Christmas miracle. Unknown to Angela, none other than Geoff Paisley, one of the owners of Christmas Galore takes over answering the Dear Santa letters from his mother and starts communicating with Angela not knowing who she actually is. I absolutely loved while they were each fighting for their companies; they were becoming fast friends through their email communication.

Dear Santa gave me all the happy feels as I read it. It was truly just such a feel-good story with a slow building romance between two people who look at business pretty differently, yet were each attracted to the other from the first moment they saw each other. They really just seemed to get one another via email message in a way they couldn't react in person because of their businesses. I love the banter between Angela and Geoff and especially love the slow moving sweet romance. I've said it many times before, that Nancy Naigle writes stories that are absolutely perfect for Hallmark movies and have to reiterate it here. I know when I pick up a book from Nancy that I'm going to get a solid romance that is going to leave me with a smile as I read it. 

I've enjoyed each of the stories I've read from Nancy Naigle since I first discovered her books many years ago. I have to say that Dear Santa is absolutely one of her best stories to date. I highly recommend Ms. Naigle's books to readers who enjoy sweet romances with lots of emotion.

Rating: 5 Stars (A)

X MARKS THE SPOT

Opal Carew takes desire to a whole new level in her latest erotic, standalone romance! 

Abi has been in love with Del for years, but they never got around to acting on their mutual attraction. And then she met and married his best friend, Liam.

But when Abi and Liam's marriage falls apart, Abi decides to take control of her life and find her happily-ever-after with Del. So when they're all staying in a country inn for her brother's wedding, Abi decides to slip into Del's bed and seduce him...except she accidentally ends up in Liam's instead.

Liam never stopped loving Abi, and he plans to use every blazing hot trick in his book to keep her in his bed...even if it means sharing her with Del.

Release Date: April 3, 2018

St. Martin's Griffin

Contemporary Romance

Review copy provided by publisher

Liza's Review:

Somehow X Marks the Spotis the first book I've ever read by Opal Carew. Yes I know I'm late to the game, but I can say I'm happy to have a back list of books to read now that I've discovered Ms. Carew's books.

I honestly liked all three of the main characters in X Marks the Spot. My heart broke a bit about Abi and Liam's history with the loss of their baby, but I still liked them both as well as Del. My only real issue was the fact the three of them waited so long to find a solution to their situation. Abi and Liam were incredible together as were Abi and Del. I could tell that Abi loved both men and both men loved her. I'm here to tell fans of super sexy romances, Ms. Carew writes some pretty smoking hot love scenes between the couples, and once they became a ménage, they were even hotter. 

I did feel like X Marks the Spotmoved a bit slowly in the beginning. Not when it came to the love scenes and they were there from the beginning, but from a real relationship standpoint. There were even times I found Abi to be a bit too whiny when she had two amazing men in love with her and she was in love with them as well. I did understand her overall dilemma and let some of it go. Even both Liam and Del had their moments of "woe is me" when Abi was with the other man. I have to say I almost didn't finish reading this book, until Liam walks in on Abi and Del and he is completely entranced in watching them together. It was the first time I had hope for the three of them to work it out. Honestly it was the point I started loving the characters rather than just liking them.

While X Marks the Spot did start out a bit slow for me, I really did end up enjoying the story. I found myself absolutely loving Abi, Del, and Liam as individuals and as a group. I have to say Liam was probably my favorite character by the end of the book and really hope we get to see the three characters in future books from Ms. Carew. 

Rating: 3.75 Stars (B-)

THE BILLIONAIRES: THE STEPBROTHERS (LOVER'S TRIANGLE #3)

This pair of stepbrothers have their sights set on just one woman...

Scarlet Drake is an insurance fraud investigator hot on the heels of the thief who stole a multimillion-dollar art collection from tycoon Michael Vandenberg's Hamptons estate. Unfortunately, the sexy Wolf of Wall Street is also her prime suspect--along with his equally mouthwatering stepbrother, Montana rancher Sam Reed. Scarlet quickly finds herself tangled up in the two devilishly handsome men, and ensnared in a web of family lies.

Michael is used to getting what he wants--and he wants Scarlet in his bed. Sam had no intention of getting emotionally or romantically involved with a woman again, but he can't deny the sizzling chemistry with Scarlet. And when the three of them cave to one sinfully delicious night of sheer decadence, their sexy menage becomes a fiery affair of the heart. But they don't stand a chance at a happily ever after unless all of the absolute truths are finally revealed...

This is a standalone menage romance with an HEA.

Don't miss these other two standalone menage romances THE BILLIONAIRES and THE BILLIONAIRES: THE BOSSES.

Release Date: December 26, 2017

St. Martin's Griffin

Lover's Triangle #3

Contemporary Romance 

Review copy provided by publisher

Liza's Review:

I read and loved the first two books in the Lover's Triangle series, and couldn't wait to see Scarlet get her story. While I liked aspects of the story, sadly it just didn't grab me as the first two books in the series did.

First of all I'll admit I did like all three of the main characters. Scarlet, Michael, and Sam were all really well developed characters and I loved the time they spent together. I totally felt the attraction between Scarlet and Michael and Scarlet and Sam. In fact the times Scarlet was with the men individually and when they were all together was freaking HOT! I so wanted them to work as a trio, but something kept bugging me about the situation. I think part of the problem I had with this story was the actual distance between where Michael and Sam lived. I didn't ever really feel like either man would change his living situation to make the trio actually work long-term. 

I love suspense in a romance, but that was the other part of the story that fell flat for me. I think more so because it kept dragging on than it not being a good bit of mystery. I had figured out who was behind it long before it was revealed, even if I didn't have the correct reason. It just went on way too long and seemed to overshadow the actual romance between Scarlet, Michael, and Sam.

Rating: 3 Stars (C-)

Nikki’s Review:

This book started out with a bang. It was sultry and sexy from the get go. The steam between Michael and Scarlet was hot. And then when Michael's stepbrother, Sam, was introduced into the mix...wow! My love for this book ends here. It had such promise and then it took a nose dive. 

Scarlet is investigating a possible insurance fraud. During her investigation she falls fast and hard for Sam and Michael.

By the time I hit about half way through the book, I started to get bored. The suspense aspect wasn't thrilling me anymore. It felt like it was dragging on and not really adding to the story. I wanted more time with the three main characters building the relationship. The chemistry that I picked up on at the beginning started to fade. It kinda left me not caring anymore. 

The ending was meh at best, and the epilogue was inadequate. It just didn't feel like it was finished. I wanted to love this book, and I thought I would because I was so into it at the beginning, but it fell short. This is book three in the series, but I don't think you need to have read the first two follow along. 

Rating: 2 Stars (C)

HOPE AT CHRISTMAS

A recently divorced woman and her daughter look for a fresh start by moving to a small town that embraces them in ways that only fate and the magic of Christmas can explain.

Sydney Ragsdale is divorced, but her husband is still calling the shots. In an attempt to shake free from his hold, she and her daughter, Ray Anne, head for tiny Hopewell, NC to the only asset her ex has no control over – a decaying farmhouse that once belonged to her grandparents. She finds solace at The Book Bea, the bookstore she’d loved as a child during her summer stays.

Kevin MacAlea, Mac to his friends, is the local high school history teacher and baseball coach. Father of a twelve-year-old son, he’s Hopewell, North Carolina’s most sought after bachelor. His young bride abandoned him and his son just before Christmas and has never come back. It has left his son bitter about Christmas which is hard for Mac who loves the magic of the season. He’s been the Santa here in Hopewell since the year Seth was born.

But when a catastrophe forces The Book Bea to close before the end of the year, everyone in the small town is feeling the loss. While Sydney is already off-balance by the bad news, her ex-husband breaks a promise to their daughter that sends Ray Anne running away. As Sydney tries to figure out what her next steps are she discovers all of the answers are right here in Hopewell.

Release Date: October 10, 2017

St. Martin's Griffin

Contemporary Romance

Review copy provided by publisher

Liza's Review:

Hope at Christmas is the newest release from author Nancy Naigle. Ms. Naigle is my go-to author for sweet and emotional romances and she delivers every single time.

I have to say that after all Sydney's ex had put her through, I loved she decided to move her daughter to Hopewell to start over. Hopewell is a small town and honestly made me think a little bit of the small town where I grew up. My favorite part of the story was the fact that Sydney felt at home again in Hopewell once she found The Book Be was still open. I especially loved Bea who owned and ran the bookstore. Honestly, if felt a bit like the bookstore itself was a character in this story.

My heart broke for Ray Anne and how her father kept breaking promises to her over and over again. I loved that with Sydney's love and new friends in Hopewell, Ray Anne started to find her footing in their new town. I really loved that Seth; Mac's son seemed to become Ray Anne's new best friend. As she was a bit of a tomboy, it made total sense she would have a best guy friend. I also loved the fact that the kids kept pushing their parents together so they were able to spend more time together.

Both Mac and Sydney had really bad experiences with love in the past. Granted Mac's bad experience had been many years ago. I loved how patient he was with Sydney in giving her the time she needed to be ready for more than just friendship. I did love they were friends before they moved into a romantic relationship. Not that everything was completely smooth sailing for them, but I loved that Mac was willing to give Sydney the time and understanding she needed after everything she had been through with her ex.

Nancy Naigle writes emotion filled sweet romances. I've always thought her books would be perfect for the Hallmark Channel and have to reiterate that fact with Hope at Christmas. I highly recommend Hope at Christmas to romance readers who love sweet romances.

Rating: 4 Stars (B+)

THE BILLIONAIRES: THE BOSSES

What will it take to make her theirs? 

Bayli Styles leaves California wine country behind for the bright lights of New York City, in search of fame and fortune. However, fame and fortune are a little further out of reach than she had hoped, so to supplement her meager modeling income, she seeks a hostess position at Manhattan's hottest new venue, owned by billionaires Rory St. James and Christian Davila. Bayli gets much more than she bargained for when both devastatingly handsome and magnetic men make her blood sizzle...and offer her the guiltiest of all pleasures--themselves.

Bayli is the perfect solution to the two problems currently plaguing entrepreneurs Rory and Christian, professionally and sexually. She'd make the ultimate -face- for their current joint venture, but both men are thinking beyond business and waste no time seducing Bayli into their brand of double pleasure. In the end, the threesome will put it all on the line--their bodies, their hearts, their souls--either destined for failure, or for the redefinition of true love.

This is a standalone menage romance with an HEA.

Release Date: September 5, 2017

St. Martin's Press Griffin

Lover's Triangle #2

Contemporary Romance

Review copy provided by publisher

Liza's Review:

The Billionaire: The Bosses is Bayli's book. I'll be honest and say I was so glad her book was the second book in this series, as when we first met her, I knew I needed her story as soon as possible. While it is the second book in the current Lover's Triangle series, I believe it easily can be read as a stand-alone story if you missed out on the first book in the series.

I loved that Bayli is finally going after her dream in New York City and is willing to work any survival job to make her dream come true of being a rich and successful model. I loved that Bayli is not just a beautiful woman, but also a woman who is super smart and willing to do research to make sure any job she takes on is done right.

I loved how different Christian and Rory were from one another. They are both so intense, but in different ways.  I loved they each knew as soon as they met Bayli that she was the woman for them and didn't worry what others thought about their relationship. I loved that Bayli had individual time with each man before they were all together for the first time and also loved she was strong enough to stand up for any limits she had in and out of the bedroom. There are some seriously sexy times with these men, and I found myself falling for this triangle of lovers.

I will say the bit of suspense that was thrown in was good, but I figured out who was behind everything the moment the person appeared on the page. I still liked that it allowed Christian and Rory to show their more protective sides to Bayli without freaking her out and I honestly think it might have moved their relationship into something real much faster. 

The Billionaires: The Bosses is another sexy and fun romance from Calista Fox. I'm so glad I found Ms. Fox's books as I know with each story I'll get super sexy times with the lovers and an happily ever after by the end. 

Rating: 4 Stars (B)