The Reluctant Countess Preview

NEW IN JANUARY is debut Wendy Vella from New Zealand!! Her book, THE RELUCTANT COUNTESS is on sale 1/14/2013!! 'Secrets, lies, and raging desires - the journey to love has never been more thrilling!' ~ Award winning author Brownwen Evans From rising romance star Wendy Vella comes a Cinderella story of whirlwind passion between a dashing earl and a beautiful countess—and the secret that threatens to tear them apart. The Reluctant Countess by Wendy Vella (Excerpt) And, here’s the buy link: http://www.randomhouse.com/book/221633/the-reluctant-countess-by-wendy-vella #aboutthebook

Doc Holiday

Doc Holiday is the newest Loveswept Classic release from author Debra Dixon. From the author’s website.~

With poignant humor and sizzling romance, Debra Dixon presents a story about the magic of Christmas and promises made under a starry winter sky.
 
Drew Haywood needs a feminine touch to help give his young son a holiday to remember—and no one does Christmas better than Taylor Bishop. She knows how to transform a house into a home that sparkles. But when Drew lets his guard down, he finds that Taylor has much more to offer. Kissing her is like coming in out of the cold—and Drew doesn’t want to go back out.

Taylor has already raised one family—she grew up with six brothers, after all—and she doesn’t need another. She may have fallen for Drew as a teenager, but he’s asking for a Christmas miracle that would break all her rules. Still, the chemistry she shares with this sexy, single father has nothing to do with the past. Perhaps the gift of a young boy’s smile, not to mention stolen kisses beneath the mistletoe, will point the way to the one thing on Taylor’s wish list.

I was lucky enough to get an early copy of Doc Holiday from NetGalley thanks to the publisher. I love how the Loveswept Classic line is helping me find so many new to me authors.

I really enjoyed Doc Holiday. I’m a sucker for a love story where the hero and heroine have had feelings for one another since they met in their teens. Taylor and Drew are that type of couple. Drew is six years older than Taylor, so he was warned off of her by her older brother when they were kids, but neither has ever forgotten the other. When Drew finally gets custody of his little boy Noah, he knows Taylor is the perfect person to make their Christmas better. The chemistry between Taylor and Drew is really great. I liked them as a couple, but could see that Taylor had issues with getting into a relationship with a ready-made family. Taylor had been the one to step in after her mother died when she was a teen to help raise her 4 younger brothers and keep the house running like her mother had. I could see how much Taylor loved both Drew and Noah from early on. Drew and Taylor are a great couple. I loved how they had both loved one another for years.

Doc Holiday and was a fast, fun and sexy holiday read. The official ebook release date was November 12, 2012 and can be purchased from your favorite online bookstore.

Undercover Professor

Undercover Professor is the debut release from author December Gephart. The publisher is Carina Press and the official release date was November 19, 2012. From the author’s website.~

Rule Number One: Must not lie.
Rule Number Two: Must not live with parents.
Rule Number Three: Must have a job.
Rule Number Four: Must not be a friend's ex.
These dating rules shouldn't be hard for Lucy Benoit to follow—after all, she made them. But she didn't plan on falling for Andy Sullivan, a scruffy-yet-attractive man who lives with his mother and is between jobs. These should be deal-breakers, but in other ways Andy is just her type. And there's something intriguing about him…

Andy isn't the geeky gamer he claims to be—not by a long shot. But what seemed like a harmless social experiment has put his chances of a relationship with Lucy at risk. Even if she can get past the silly rules she has set for herself, will she ever forgive him for breaking Rule Number One?

December Gephart is a new-to-me author. When I read about Undercover Professor on NetGalley, I knew I had to give her books a try.

I really liked both Andy and Lucy in this story. Andy is really Dr. Drew Sullivan working undercover to find out more about women in the gaming community for an article he is writing. He has come home to take care of his mother and has to use an alias since his name is so well know in the gaming world. The attraction between Andy and Lucy is sizzling from the moment they meet. I was cheering for them as a couple from the very beginning. I really only had one issue with the story. I thought Andy should have told Lucy who he really was before he left town to go to Comic Con. I know his publicist didn’t want him to let anyone know, but he knew it would hurt Lucy once the truth came out and I’m not sure I could be as forgiving in the long run as she was. Taking that out of the mix, I really enjoyed the author’s writing style and I loved the romance between Andy and Lucy.

Fated

Fated is the latest novella release in the Serendipity series from NYT bestselling author Carly Phillips. The publisher is Berkley. From the author’s website.~

Dear Readers:

Whether you've read a previous book in
the Serendipity series or not, FATED is for you! 

Kate and Nick danced
around each other in SERENDIPITY but in FATED Nick is finished with
niceties. He's getting his girl, no matter what it takes! No worries
about book order. Just dive in and enjoy this steamy story meant to warm
you right up as well as show you just how far a man will go to win the
woman of his dreams!

Happy Reading!
Carly Phillips

I’ve been asking for Kate and Nick’s story since I met them in Serendipity. I have to say Carly Phillips totally delivers a fun and sexy story with Fated. I was lucky enough to get an early copy through NetGalley thanks to the publisher.

 Kate has been burned in the past by a boyfriend, so she isn’t ready to trust Nick when he repeatedly ask her out. Especially since he had showed signs of having feelings for his high school girlfriend, Faith, who also happens to be Kate’s best friend, when Faith first moved home to Serendipity. Nick quickly realizes the woman for him has been under his nose the entire time and will do anything to convince her of his feelings. The chemistry between Nick and Kate has been there all along. I loved how Nick pulled out all the stops to show Kate how great they could be together. I loved both the passion and the sweetness between Nick and Kate.

Fated fits into the timeline after Serendipity (book 1), but before Destiny (book 2). While reading Serendipity first is a good idea because it is one of my favorite books ever, I think Fated is a fabulous love story that stands alone just fine. The official release date for Fated is December 4, 2012 and can be purchased from your favorite ebook retailer. For more information about the Serendipity series or other books from Carly Phillips, check out her website.

Dirty Little Christmas is Coming Soon

Dirty Little Christmas is coming soon from USA Today and NYT bestselling author Julie Leto. Dirty Little Christmas is Book Three in the Marisela/Dirty Series and is set for ebook release very soon. I can’t wait to spend more time with Marisela and am currently doing a re-read of book 1 (Dirty Little Secrets) and book 2 (Dirty Little Lies) to get ready. I also have to say I think the cover for this book is killer!!!


Julie was kind enough to send me the blurb for DIRTY LITTLE CHRISTMAS and I couldn’t wait to post about it on my blog.


Marisela Morales has a secret...and after a year of successful missions as a security specialist, she knows how to keep one. But when a man on a mission to claim his birthright changes Marisela’s Christmas surprise into a treacherous game of cat and mouse, she’s forced to turn to the one partner who has never let her down—sexy Frankie Vega. Can they save an unborn child, caught in a deadly power-play...or will this holiday season end without a Christmas miracle?



Sex, lies and mistletoe...you can always count on Marisela Morales for a DIRTY LITTLE CHRISTMAS

All He Ever Desired

All He Ever Desired is the newest book in the Kowalski series from Shannon Stacey. The publisher is Carina Press. From the author’s website.~

A second shot at first love

After college, Ryan Kowalski decided to leave Whitford, Maine, rather than watch Lauren Carpenter marry another man. Now his siblings need his help to refurbish the family-owned Northern Star Lodge and he's forced to face the past sooner rather than later when he collars a vandal—and learns the boy is Lauren's son…

The last person Lauren needs back in her life is Ryan Kowalski. With a bitter ex-husband and a moody teenage son, she has enough man trouble already. But her son needs to learn a few lessons about right and wrong, even if Lauren has to escort him to Ryan's door every day to work off his crime.

With all this close contact, Ryan and Lauren can't deny the chemistry between them is as powerful as ever. But can a few searing kisses erase their past and pave the way for a second chance at true love?

I was lucky enough to get an early copy of All He Ever Desired from NetGalley. I’m a huge fan of Shannon Stacey and especially love her Kowalski series.

Ryan Kowalski has been in love with Lauren Carpenter pretty much his entire life. When she marries another man, he leaves his hometown rather than watch her with another man. When he comes home to help out his brothers with the family-owned lodge, he runs into Lauren as soon as he gets back to town. He plans to avoid Lauren like always when he is home until he catches her son vandalizing the lodge. He agrees to let Nick work off his debt and Lauren and Ryan now get to see each other almost daily.

The chemistry between Ryan and Lauren was off the charts. Even when Ryan and Lauren were trying to avoid one another, if they were in the same room, you could totally feel their connection. I’ve come to expect some pretty sexy love scenes from Shannon Stacey, and she delivered yet again with All He Ever Desired. Much like in real life, things aren’t perfect just because Ryan and Lauren finally admit and act on their feelings.  Ryan’s business and home are in another state and his business is starting to suffer with him being in Maine for an extended time. Lauren’s ex-husband is a jerk about Ryan being in Nick and Lauren’s life. Ryan and Lauren are an amazing couple and I loved watching them find their HEA.

I also loved the amount of time we got to spend with the rest of the Kowalski family. The entire family comes in for Mitch and Paige’s wedding. I fell in love with the Kowalski family in the very first book and can’t wait until the next Kowalski book is released.

All He Ever Desired official release date is November 12, 2012 and can be purchased at your favorite online retailer. For more information about Shannon Stacey and her books, check out her website.

Operation Cinderella

Operation Cinderella (Suddenly Cinderella: Book One) is the latest release from author Hope Tarr. The publisher is Entangled Publishing (Indulgence) From the author’s website.~

Manhattan magazine editor Macie Graham always gets her story—and she’ll do anything to uncover the dirt on famous radio personality Ross Mannon. After he smears her article on his show, nearly costing Macie her job, she devises a plan to masquerade as a modern-day Cinderella and get her revenge on the infuriating Texan.

All Ross wants is a woman with old-fashioned values to be his housekeeper and role model for his troubled teenage daughter. When the perfect woman shows up, Ross is relieved—until he finds himself drawn to his gorgeous, red-stiletto-wearing new employee. “Martha Jane” is opinionated and sexy, and Ross is intrigued…and more than a little turned on.

Macie thought Operation Cinderella was foolproof, but Ross, with his rugged good looks and southern charm, proves to be as perfect behind-the-scenes as he does in public. But when she finally uncovers a secret that could destroy Ross's reputation, she faces losing her job or losing the fairy-tale ending she didn't even know she wanted.

I read about this book at NetGalley and was excited to get a chance to review it. I’ve read other books from Hope Tarr and was intrigued by the premise of this one.

I’ll say right off the bat I loved Macie “Martha Jane”, which is Macie’s legal name, from the moment she appeared on the page. She is such a strong character, even if she doesn’t completely see herself that way yet. I wasn’t huge on the idea of her going undercover to take care Ross Mannon’s daughter, but did love the chemistry between them from the moment they met. I also liked how Macie really worked to have a real relationship with Sam, Ross’s daughter.

I thought Macie did a really great job becoming Martha Jane. While she had to hire out help with fixing dinner and cleaning house, she really did become a little more like Martha Jane than she ever expected. I really liked how the romance developed between Martha Jane and Ross, and could feel their chemistry getting stronger with each page.  Of course the truth has a way of coming out and lies don’t always set well with Ross. Loved what it took for him to finally wake up and see the light.

I really enjoyed the first book in the Suddenly Cinderella series.  The official release date was October 14, 2012 and can be found at your favorite ebook retailer. For information on this book or others from Hope Tarr, check out her website.

Let It Snow

Let it Snow is the latest Blaze release which includes 2 Christmas novellas from authors Leslie Kelly and Jennifer LaBrecque. The publisher is Harlequin. From the back cover.~

Put some heat in your holidays with these scorchin'-hot fairy tales from bestselling authors Leslie Kelly and Jennifer LaBrecque

The Prince Who Stole Christmas by Leslie Kelly

Between her ne'er-do-well brother and her candy shop, Claire Hoffman has her hands full. But when sexy sparks start flying between Claire and her gorgeous but enigmatic tenant "Phil," Claire wonders if all the chocolate has made her a little Christmas crazy. But what will happen to her fantasy when her dishy fling tells her that, er…he's actually a prince?

My True Love Gave to Me… by Jennifer LaBrecque

Years ago in the town of Good Riddance, Alaska, Gertie and Knox were best friends—until Knox fell under the "spell" of a rather cold, remote woman. But three years later, Knox and Gertie are reunited at the Chrismoose festival…and all it takes is a snowed-in night in a cabin for Gertie to turn Knox's chill into a red-hot blaze of sexstasy!

I got a copy of Let It Snow for review thanks to NetGalley. I’ve been a fan of both Leslie Kelly and Jennifer LaBrecque forever, and was really excited to read their latest stories.

I really loved both The Prince Who Stole Christmas and My True Love Gave to Me…very much. I’ve come to expect fun and sexy reads from the Blaze series as well as both authors, and can only say I wasn’t disappointed at all.

I totally feel for “Phil” right along with Claire in The Prince Who Stole Christmas. It was so wonderful to see someone else step in to take care of Claire since she had been taking care of everyone else her entire life. I also loved the chemistry between Phil and Claire and was excited to see them each finally get their own HEA.

I loved Gertie from the very beginning of My True Love Gave to Me…and wanted her to get her HEA with Knox. I have to say Knox was a bit of a jerk at the beginning of the story, but I gave him a pass since he had just lost his grandmother. Was glad to see him finally wise up and realize the woman of his dreams had been right in front of him all along. Of course, Gertie must decide if she can trust Knox after the way he treated her all those years ago.

Let It Snow is a Blaze release, so it is only available in bookstores for a limited time. However, you can order from your favorite online retailer in either print or digital format.

No Reservations

No Reservations is the newest ebook release from Lilly Cain. The publisher is Carina Press. From the Carina Press website.~

Travis Morgan is thrilled to encounter the one woman who's never failed to get his blood pumping. Seeing Alicia Davis again brings it all back: their fierce academic rivalry, and the fact that he never followed through on his erotic fantasies about her.

Alicia can't resist Travis's smoldering sensuality—or the opportunity to finally bed the man who starred in so many of her lustful daydreams in college. Unable to avoid the temptation to best Travis one more time, Alicia plans to submit to one night of pure pleasure and then leave Travis empty-handed and craving more.
When Travis wakes up and realizes Alicia's played him, the gloves are off, and the game heats up as they each try to emerge on top—by whatever means necessary...

I’ve never read anything by Lilly Cain, but when I saw this up on NetGalley, I knew I had to read it. No Reservations is a novella length story and was a fun and sexy read.

I have to say I really liked both Alicia and Travis, and liked them together even more. The fact Alicia wanted to get Travis back for something from college was a little funny to me. I will say I loved they both were attracted to one another in college, yet never got a chance to act on it. Luckily all these years later, they have no problem acting on those feelings and desires. The chemistry between Alicia and Travis was pretty hot and I look forward to reading more books from Lilly Cain in the future.

The official ebook release date for No Reservations was October 29, 2012 and can be purchased from your favorite online retailer.

Barefoot in the Rain

Barefoot in the Rain is book 2 in the Barefoot Bay series from NYT bestselling author Roxanne St. Claire. The publisher is Grand Central Publishing Forever. From the back cover.~

A Barefoot Bay Novel

They say you can never go home again . . .

When "Life Coach to the Stars" Jocelyn Bloom is embroiled in scandal, the only place she can hide is the one place she wishes she could forget. She left Barefoot Bay-and the boy next door who knew all her secrets-years ago. Now nothing about the tiny island off the coast of Florida is quite how she remembers it, especially Will Palmer. He's even more gorgeous and tempting . . . and still capable of turning her world inside out.

But what if someone is waiting for you?

To Will Palmer, Guy Bloom is more than the elderly, senile neighbor he looks after-he's the last connection to Jocelyn, the woman Will loved and lost. But the reunion with Jocelyn doesn't go smoothly. Shocked by the change in her father's personality, Jocelyn struggles to reconcile her dark childhood with the sweet, confused man who has grown close to Will. Jocelyn has guided countless clients to happiness-but can she escape the rainy days of her past for a new sunny future with Will?

I was lucky enough to get a review copy of Barefoot in the Rain from NetGalley. I’m a huge fan of Roxanne St. Claire and couldn’t wait to read her newest Barefoot Bay book.

I knew there was some sort of past for Jocelyn when reading the first book in this series and thought I was prepared for her book. However, I wasn’t prepared for all that had happened to her in the past. Will Palmer was the boy next door when they were growing up. Will know pretty much all of Jocelyn’s secrets from when they were kids, and he still lives in the house next to her dad. While Jocelyn has so many horrible memories of her childhood, her dad is suffering from Alzheimer’s and seems to have no memories of anything from their past. While Will knows most of what happened with Jocelyn while she was growing up, he doesn’t know her biggest secret, since she has stayed away from him for so many years.

I have to say this was a really rough read for me. I really enjoyed reading this book and loved the chemistry between Will and Jocelyn so much. However, seeing Jocelyn’s dad struggle with his memory loss and she with her know memories had me in tears more than once. Luckily for Jocelyn, she has her best friends Zoe, Tessa, and Lacey there to support her. I still have to say the friendship between the four women is one of my favorite parts of this series. Jocelyn also still has Will there to lean on not only as a friend, but as a lover. The chemistry between Will and Jocelyn is stronger now than it was when they were teens. I could feel how much they loved one another the more time they were together. Jocelyn is one of the strongest characters I’ve read about in a long time. She will do anything to protect those she loves and it only made me like her more.

Barefoot in the Rain was another winner in this series, and I've already bought a copy for my keeper shelf. I warn you now, you will need tissues while reading this book. While I love Roxanne St. Claire’s romantic suspense books, I love her contemporary romances just as much. The official release date for Barefoot in the Rain was October 30, 2012. For more information about this series or any other books from Roxanne St. Claire, check out her website.

My Kind of Christmas

My Kind of Christmas is the newest Virgin River book from author Robyn Carr. The publisher is Harlequin MIRA. From the back cover.~

The Riordan brothers may have a reputation for being rough-and-tumble, but Patrick has always been the gentle, sweet-natured one. These days, his easygoing manner is being tested by his high-octane career as a navy pilot. But for the Riordan brothers, when the going gets tough…the tough find the love of a good woman.

Except the woman who has caught Patrick's attention is Jack Sheridan's very attractive niece.

Angie LeCroix comes to Virgin River to spend Christmas relaxing, away from her well-intentioned but hovering mother. Yet instead of freedom, she gets Jack Sheridan. If her uncle had his way, she'd never go out again. And certainly not with rugged, handsome Patrick Riordan. But Angie has her own idea of the kind of Christmas she wants—and the kind of man!

Patrick and Angie thought they wanted to be left alone this Christmas—until they meet each other. Then they want to be left alone together. But the Sheridan and Riordan families have different plans for Patrick and Angie—and for Christmas, Virgin River-style!

I’m a huge fan of Robyn Carr and thank my friend Paula every single time I pick up a new book in this series. Without Paula raving about this series, I might have missed out on it with so many fabulous contemporary romances out right now. Luckily, I listened and was hooked before I even finished the first book. Thanks to NetGalley, I was able to read My Kind of Christmas before the release date.

I love the Riordan brothers and was really pumped to get Patrick’s story and even happier it was this year’s Christmas story in Virgin River. The fact Jack’s niece Angie was the woman he fell for only made it better.  Angie is in Virgin River to continue her recovery from a life-altering car wreck. Patrick is on leave from the Navy following the loss of his best friend and wingman. While neither is looking for a long-term relationship, they can’t fight their attraction to one another. I really loved seeing so many of my favorite Virgin River characters in this story. With so many family members in town, Angie and Paddy became the focus of them all the more time they spent together. Neither Angie nor Paddy would let their families showing up keep them from being together. I was really loved the chemistry between Angie and Paddy whether they were making love or just spending time together.

My Kind of Christmas is yet another winner in the Virgin River series.  I loved getting 4 new books in the Virgin River series this year and really can’t wait to see what happens next with this series. For more information about Robyn Carr or her books, check out her website.

The Three Musketeers: Midnight Heat

The Three Musketeers: Midnight Heat is the latest classic release from author Donna Kauffman. The publisher is LoveSwept. From the author’s website.~

The third novel in the Three Musketeers series by Donna Kauffman is Midnight Heat, a tantalizing story of two people finally learning to fly.
 
They call themselves the Three Musketeers: three lifelong friends, men who will put it all on the line in the name of honor and loyalty. Friendship is the most important thing in Dane Colbourne’s life—apart from his job as a determined investigator who never leaves a case unsolved. After the near-catastrophic midair collision of two planes, Dane focuses his laserlike intensity on the air traffic controller who appears to be responsible. But when she claims innocence with equal ferocity, Dane knows he may finally have met his match.
 
Adria Burke has gone over the details of “the incident” in her head: She is certain there was a third plane in the air at the time of the collision, and that she actually saved hundreds of lives with her commands. But how can she convince Dane of the truth? As they try to ignore the fact that there is an undeniable spark between them, together Adria and Dane uncover evidence that there was something else going on in the sky the night of the incident. But will their passion leave both of them permanently grounded?

I was able to get a copy of Midnight Heat thanks to NetGalley. The Three Musketeer series is the first series I’ve read from Donna Kauffman, and I have to say I’ve enjoyed each story, but Zach and Dara’s is still my favorite in the series. That being said, I was really excited to get to read Dane’s story.

Dane has been a by-the-book investigator from the moment he started his job. Adria Burke is one of the best air traffic controllers in the area. However, she has “an incident” occur where she knows there were 3 planes involved, yet only 2 planes show up when Dane is investigating the incident. I liked the bit of mystery with this story, but loved the romance between Dane and Adria. You could tell they were attracted to one another from the moment they met and their chemistry only grew stronger the more time they spent together. Only by working together, can Dane and Adria figure out what was really going on with the planes.

The official ebook release date was October 8, 2012. You can buy Midnight Heat from your favorite online retailer. From more information about this series or other books from Donna Kauffman, check out the author’s website.

Naughty and Nice Preview

Release date for Naughty & Nice is set for 11/5/12!!! I'm super excited for this book since it has a novella from Ruthie Knox. Also excited to read stories from Molly O'Keefe and Stefanie Sloane as both are new to me authors

. Buy Link:

 Book Copy: ’Tis the season for romance with three original holiday-themed novellas! Unwrap this festive eBook bundle and discover why these authors are quickly becoming the biggest names in the genre. Ruthie Knox tells a heartwarming contemporary story of first loves given the gift of a second chance; Molly O’Keefe releases the ghosts of Christmas past with a prequel to her novel Crazy Thing Called Love; and Stefanie Sloane weaves an irresistible Regency tale of fiery passion that burns deep on a cold winter’s night. 

ROOM AT THE INN by Ruthie Knox

 Carson Vance couldn’t wait to get out of Potter Falls, but now that he’s back to spend Christmas with his ailing father, he must face all the people he left behind . . . like Julie Long, whose heart he broke once upon a time. Now the proprietor of the local inn, Julie is a successful, seductive, independent woman—everything that Carson’s looking for. But despite several steamy encounters under the mistletoe, Julie refuses to believe in happily ever after. Now Carson must prove to Julie that he’s back for good—and that he wants her in his life for all the holidays to come.

 ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU by Molly O’Keefe

 Maddy Baumgarten and Billy Wilkins are spontaneous, in love, and prepared to elope the day after Christmas—that is, if Maddy’s family doesn’t throw a wrench in their plans. After all, Maddy’s barely out of high school and Billy’s a notorious bad boy. Maddy doesn’t care about Billy’s rough past—all she cares about is living in the here and now. But after Maddy’s mother stops speaking to her in protest, and a Christmas Eve heart-to-heart with her father leaves her with butterflies, Maddy starts to get cold feet. She loves Billy, but is she taking this big step too soon?

 ONE PERFECT CHRISTMAS by Stephanie Sloane

 After being jilted by her fiancé, Jane Merriweather turns to her dear childhood friend, the Honorable Lucas Cavanaugh, for support—and unlocks the smoldering desire simmering in the man’s troubled heart. Frightened by his newfound feelings, Lucas flees to Scotland. But when the Christmas season brings them together again, one glance is all that’s needed to reignite his yearning. If Lucas can convince Jane that his intentions are as pure as the falling snow, they’ll turn a dreary December into a joyous Yuletide affair.