INDECENT SECRETS (INDECENT SERIES #2)

Bryce Rivers is gorgeous, arrogant, and nothing like I anticipated. That’s okay, because I’m not going to be what he expected, either.

Seducing him should have been a piece of cake, until I discover he’s hiding a few indecent secrets of his own.

Secretly infiltrating myself into this land development company wasn’t about the money, it was about making a difference. When I heard that the head of the organization had died and his nephew had inherited the entire corporation, I thought I finally stood a chance to persuade him to my way of thinking.

The new guy wasn’t at all what I’d expected. For a reported “recluse”, he was surprisingly charming, intelligent, and had a rapier wit that matched my own. Our attraction was mutual and scorching hot, which made it incredibly easy to seduce my way into his life and hopefully use that influence to steer him to make changes.

The man knew how to set my sheets on fire, but he wasn’t easily swayed. This might have started out as something impersonal between us, but the more I got to know him, the harder I fell for him, which wasn’t the plan.

I could only hope that once I made my true motives known that I wouldn’t end up destroying something more valuable—us.

And then I discovered that I wasn’t the only one hiding secrets . . .

Release Date: May 23, 2023

Indecent series #2

Contemporary Romantic Suspense (Spicy)

Review copy provided by publisher

Liza's Review:

Indecent Secrets is the newest release in the Indecent series by Erika Wilde. This book hit the ground running from page one and kept me pulled in until the very last page. Both Bryce and Leigh are such strong individuals, and their chemistry was palpable.

Both Bryce and Leigh are both playing roles when they initially meet, and while I’m not big fan of lying, it totally worked for me in this situation. Bryce is posing at Jack Lawton, who has inherited his uncle’s company so Bryce can figure out if Jack’s uncle was murdered and who did it. Leigh is an environmental activist trying to find a way to dismantle Jack’s company from the inside. When Bryce hires Leigh as a consultant, she has her way in.

First I liked both the main characters. They are both very strong willed individuals and both seem to have the greater good as their motivations. Now the chemistry between Bryce and Leigh was so freaking hot my kindle screen might have fogged up a few times. Seriously, so many smexy times in this book!!! There are many light BDSM elements in this book, and it totally worked for me.

I felt the elements of mystery were very well done, and didn’t overshadow the building of the relationship between Bryce and Leigh. I love a good who done it, and Ms. Wilde definitely kept me guessing with this story. I enjoy romantic suspense stories, and Indecent Secrets was the perfect combination of romance and mystery.

Indecent Secrets was a great addition to this series, and now I’m ready to read Seth’s story and see him get his HEA//HFN!

Rating: 5 Stars (A)

JUST ONE FLING (THE KINGSTON FAMILY #9)

It was just supposed to be a fling.

Now she’s having his baby.

Winter Capwell knows all about billionaire Harrison Dare’s bad-boy reputation. His all-pleasure, no-commitment rule worked well for her, too. Until fate changed everything.

Harrison Dare never wanted a wife or kids. His incredibly large family provides all the siblings and children he needs. Besides, no woman has ever tempted him to give up his bachelor lifestyle.

Until the mysterious and sexy Winter entered his life.

But when someone comes after the woman he loves, he will stop at nothing to protect her and make her his. For good.

Release Date: April 18, 2023

CP Publishing

The Kingston Family #9

Contemporary romance

Review copy provided by publisher

Liza's Review:

Just One Fling is the latest book in the Kingston Family/Dirty Dare series of books by Carly Phillips, and we finally get to learn what makes Harrison Dare tick. I have to say I knew he needed a special heroine, and Winter Capwell fits the bill perfectly. I absolutely loved this book with my whole heart!!!

Harrison Dare has always seemed a bit mysterious to me for some reason. Maybe because he is an actor, so I was really excited to get his book. We met Winter Capwell in Just One Taste, and I liked her from the very beginning. I liked that even though she was a journalist, she put those she considered her friends above the job. There were sparks around when Harrison and Winter were near each other, and it was pretty obvious that their mutual attraction had been acted upon in the past. When Winter finds out she is pregnant, she has real concern about how Harrison will take the news as he has always said in interviews, he never wants children and isn't looking for a long-term relationship.

I loved that Harrison pretty much had a WTF moment when he first finds out that Winter is pregnant, but quickly realizes he needs to pull his head out of his butt and make it right with Winter. While it appears that he is doing many things because Winter is pregnant with his child, I felt the genuine feelings from both characters pretty much from the very beginning. Harrison like any of the other Dare men is super protective of Winter and their baby early on. The fact that she has a stalker who is threatening both Winter's life and the life of their baby gave them the chance to spend more time together. I loved that they had incredible chemistry from the very beginning, and the more time they spent together the stronger their connection became. I also loved the fact the Dare family accepted Winter from the moment they all met her. The Dare family is super special, and I love spending time with this crazy huge family. The reveal of the stalker should have been something I saw coming, but it kept me guessing right up to the reveal. 

Just One Fling was absolutely perfection in my opinion! It was an emotional roller coaster ride, and I loved every moment. Up next is Zach's book, and I'm counting down the days for his story, even as I know it will be the last book in the current Kingston/Dare series. Ms. Phillips gave her readers what I believe is one of her best books ever in Just One Fling. I highly recommend this book to romance fans everywhere! 

Rating: 5 Stars (A+)

READ NOW;

Kindle: https://www.carlyphillips.com/JOFKindle

Apple: https://www.carlyphillips.com/JOFApple

Nook: https://www.carlyphillips.com/JOFNook

Googleplay: https://www.carlyphillips.com/JOFGoogle

Kobo: https://www.carlyphillips.com/JOFKobo

Amz Print: https://www.carlyphillips.com/JOFAmzprint

BN Print: https://www.carlyphillips.com/JOWBNPrint

Audio Coming June 15th

Narrated by Jason Clarke and Samantha Cook

Audible: https://www.carlyphillips.com/JOFAudible

Amz Audio: https://www.carlyphillips.com/JOFAmzAudio

HOLD ON TO ME (CAROLINA CLASSICS #2)

 

Hold On To Me (Carolina Classics #2)

Fans of 1990's shows like Dawson's Creek and Mad About You will love this throwback romantic comedy.

After a devastating accident at sea, the only job Sullivan Calloway can get is one that few have survived.

If time and tide wait for no man, neither does Helen O'Neill. She's spent years forging her own path in the movie business. The young hunk she's hired to replace her latest assistant to leave in tears may be a sight for sore eyes, but expectations will not be lowered. If he can’t do the work, he’ll be out on his very fine behind.

If only her heart would get the memo.

Don't miss this slow-burn, boss-assistant, entertainment biz romance from USA Today bestselling author Karen Grey.

Audiobook Release Date: March 9, 2023

Audiobook review copy provided by publisher

Home Cooked Books

Carolina Classics #2

Retro/Nostalgia Romance

Narrators: JF Harding & MacKenzie Cartwright

Listening Speed: 1.4x

Liza's Review:

Hold On To Me is the second book in the Carolina Classics series by Karen Grey. I am a huge fan of the nostalgia romances Ms. Grey writes, and Hold On To Me was another winner in my book.

I’ve wanted to know more about Sully from the moment he first appeared on the page. We met Sully and his friends in You Get What You Give. Sully is in a boating accident, and must find a job until he recovers enough to work on set again. The only job available it assistant to Helen O’Neill, who has already run off multiple assistants, with production starting very soon. Sully feels instant attraction to his boss from day one, and I loved the chemistry between them from the moment they meet.

Let me just say, I absolutely loved how strong Helen is over the entire story. Yes, she has had some rough times in the past, and she fights her attraction to Sully because of something in her past. I loved when they both finally gave into their attraction. OMG they had the best chemistry!!! I liked they really seemed to get one another, even with the age gap between them. Loved Helen is 10 years older than Sully, and yet, they just seemed to work as a couple for me. I think part of it was because Sully truly has an old soul, but most was because Helen never treated him like he was less of a person for being so much younger than her. They worked well both at work and in their relationship.

I thought the audiobook narrators did a fantastic job with this story. Both narrators were spot on with all the different character voices, and I felt like there was a seamless transition between narrators. There were many emotional parts to Hold On To Me, and I felt like the narrators delivered on every single emotion.

Hold On To Me is a fun story that takes the reader back to the late 90’s. I loved all the nods to things from the past, and can’t wait to read the next book in this series. I love the group of friends that is at the center of each story, and can’t wait to read more.

Rating: 4 Stars (B+)

TURN UP THE HEAT (PINE MOUNTAIN #1)

 Ingredients:

One big-city real estate analyst who gets dumped on national TV
One small-town mechanic with a past he wants to keep in his rearview mirror
One weekend getaway thwarted by a broken down car, a boss that makes Atilla the Hun look like a lapdog, and the snowstorm of the century

Mix well and add a whole lot of sparks under the hood.

Serve with a side of adversaries to lovers, opposites attract, sexy banter, and sizzling heat in both the kitchen and the bedroom.
*****

Turn Up The Heat is an updated, spicier version of the first full-length Pine Mountain novel that was originally published in 2014.

Re-release Date: February 7, 2023

Pine Mountain #1

Contemporary Romance

Review copy provided by publisher

Liza's Review:

Turn Up the Heat is the first full length story in Kimberly Kincaid's Pine Mountain series. I missed this series when it was originally released, and am really enjoying the updated re-issued books so far. Turn Up the Heat is Bellamy Blake and Shane Griffin's book, and was a fun and sexy read.

Bellamy's day starts off with finding out her boyfriend is moving across the country for a job without discussing anything with her, and ends with her car broken down on the side of the road. Luckily, super sexy mechanic Shane is there to help her out. Shane and Bellamy's initial meeting was kinda funny, and I loved I could tell they were attracted to one another from the very first. 

Bellamy has the boss from hell, and being stranded at a resort in Pine Mountain with limited cell reception was really just what the doctor ordered, even if Bellamy didn't see it clearly at first. She gets to unplug a bit and spend time cooking for her friends and Shane. Buying and preparing food really is Bellamy's love language, and I loved she was so happy when she was in Pine Mountain.

Shane has a secret he hasn't really shared with anyone, and that includes Bellamy, even when their relationship goes from new friends to lovers. They have off the charts chemistry, and the two of them together could absolutely melt the snow covering Pine Mountain...seriously smoking hot times between these two for sure! As Bellamy had just come from a relationship with a man who kept her in the dark about his plans, I totally got Bellamy feeling betrayed by Shane for keeping her in the dark, even though they had only been together for a short time.

Turn Up the Heat is another winner from Kimberly Kincaid. I'm really loving the Pine Mountain series, and think it's absolutely perfect for fans of funny and sexy contemporary romances. 

Rating: 4 Stars ( B+)

JUST ANOTHER SPARK (KINGSTON FAMILY #7.5)

He’s a rock star wanted by millions.

She’s a wife willing to fight for their love. 

Rock star Dash Kingston is finishing the last leg of his band’s U.S. tour. Exhausted and ready to be home, he can’t wait to see his girl. Time zones, show times, and the demands of his career have made married life harder than expected. Even knowing the rock star life wouldn’t make their relationship easy.

Cassidy Kingston thought she was ready to handle being married to a man idolized by women everywhere. She believes in their love even though the separations when the band is on tour can be torture. But the paparazzi and media don’t make their time apart easier and the gossip headlines hit her harder than they should. She trusts her husband even if she misses him like crazy.

When rumors surface that Dash is seeing someone, what’s a girl to do? Surprise her husband and remind him of what he’s been missing. Except you know what they say about the best laid plans.

Stands alone but if you want to read Dash and Cassidy’s full story:

Just One Spark

Release Date: January 17, 2023

CP Publishing

Kingston Family #7.5

Contemporary Romance

Review copy provided by publisher

Liza’s Review:

Just Another Spark was freaking amazing! I loved Cassidy’s and Dash’s story, and was super excited to get to spend more time with them. Life has kept Dash and Cassidy apart lately. Dash is on tour with his band, and Cassidy is working with the production company almost around the clock. They are missing each other at every turn, yet their love is as strong as ever. Just Another Spark had me laughing out loud more than once, and had all the super sexy times I’ve come to love from Carly Phillips. While this story was novella length, the story was filled with all the emotions, and I loved every moment of this fully developed story.

I adore getting to revisit couples to see where they are in the lives now, and Just Another Spark was the perfect update for Dash and Cassidy. 

Rating: 5 stars (A+)