A BAD BOY FOR CHRISTMAS

'Tis the Season to Be Naughty

Connor McClain knows what he wants. And after four harrowing years in Afghanistan, that's a quiet life in the lakeside town of Evergreen Cove. But coming home has land mines of its own-the most dangerous of them being long-legged bombshell Faith Garrett. Now getting her into his arms this holiday is going to require more than mistletoe . . .

With a cheating ex behind her, all Faith wants is a relaxing holiday free from man drama. And even though every moment with gorgeous Connor is a sweet temptation, Faith is determined not to give in. But Jack Frost has other plans, and soon Faith and Connor are snowbound in a winter wonderland with only the sparks flying between them to keep them warm. As one hot kiss leads to another, they'll have to decide if they're ready to give each other the best gift of all-love.

Release Date: September 29, 2015

Forever Hachette Book Group

Second Chance #3

Review copy provided by publisher

Nikki's Review:

She did it again. I swear, I'm completely awed by this author...every damn time! I'm struggling to find the appropriate words to describe how so incredibly fantastic this book is. Can I just say, read it? Probably not right? You need a little more than that. So here goes....

Sweet baby Jesus, Connor McLain is everything that makes my heart skip a beat! He's all growly and protective, and so damn sweet that he makes my tummy flutter. He's struggling to find some semblance of normal after serving his country in the Middle East and from the betrayal of his ex girlfriend. This landscaper extraordinaire wants Faith Shelby something fierce. But the great thing about Connor is that he's patient and willing to slowly win her over. Playful smiles and teasing...sigh, I love him. 

Faith is jaded, really jaded. She's been betrayed by her ex fiancé and raised in a home by a mother who views marriage like the antichrist. Believing that she's cursed to be alone forever, Faith isn't so sure that spending time with Connor is a good idea. 

These two together are combustible! Once Faith lets down her walls, holy hell...feelin' hot, hot, hot! Connor has moves that could melt the panties off a nun...and me. While Faith is protecting her heart at all costs, she is more than happy to let Hunky Connor play her body and make it sing. Jessica Lemmon writes hot, sweaty, and oh so delicious sex. The scenes are beautifully written and truly grab at my heart.

There's so much going on in this story. So many emotions and growing pains. Ms. Lemmon has the ability to take simple words and knock you to your knees with them. I can literally lose myself in her books. She writes characters that you can really care about and root for. And let me tell you, I fell hard for both Connor and Faith. I went on the emotional roller coaster with them. It left me dizzy and completely enthralled. When the climax of this story unfolded I held my breath, waiting to see how these beloved characters would find their way to a happily ever after. The fall. The fall was so gorgeous. When they stopped fighting what was so very clear, the fall made me sigh and my heart happy.

I'm not sure I've done this book justice. I love it so much. All the books in this series are very dear to me. I read a lot, like a whole lot. And not every author or book grabs at me. But every now and then I come across an author or book that are so unforgettable that I think about them often, like an old friend. Jessica Lemmon does that for me. She has pulled me into her written world and each time I start a new chapter, I find myself smiling. I can hardly wait for Asher and Gloria's book. I want to see that uber hot rock god, fall to his knees for Gloria. And I imagine her sharp tongue will make that happen!

BODY SHOTS (MASTERS OF PLEASURE)

FREE TO DESIRE

No longer trapped in an abusive relationship, Crystal Shaw is ready to commit her body to the pursuit of sex. When her best friend invites her to an alternative club called Kinks, it’s the perfect opportunity to realize her long dormant desires…

COMMITTED TO PLEASURE

Inside the hot, throbbing club, Crystal finds herself drawn into the orbit of two of the sexiest men she’s ever laid eyes on. It turns out Trent and Mac are co-owners of Kinks, and Crystal quickly discovers business isn’t the only thing the two share. The feelings are indescribable as she gives every inch of her insatiable body to their experience and imagination. And she knows that once and for all, she is completely alive…

Release Date: September 29, 2015

Kensington

Review copy provided by the publisher

Nikki’s Review:

I have been a long time fan of Anne Rainey's. I typically gobble up anything she writes. I was so excited when this book loaded onto my reader! I love romances that are ménages. It adds a little of the forbidden and a whole lot of excitement! This book started with a punch. It was heart pounding right from the get go! The heroine, Crystal, is running through the woods for her life. She's broken and battered, and her husband is the predator. I was thinking that if the story starts out with this much of bang, then the rest would surely be fabulous. Not so much. My excitement kinda ended there.

Crystal is finally granted a divorce from her abusive husband. Then we fast-forward five months and she's ready to start living life again. She literally steps inside the club, Kinks, and is approached by the two hunky owners, Mac and Trent. And man, are they super sexy and oh so yummy! Everything from this point on happens at super sonic speed! She ends up in a threesome with these two dudes, who she just met. Now, I'm no prude, I love a smokin' threesome in my books, insta love...sure! But a heroine who has been beaten within an inch of her life by her spouse for several years, I would think she'd be more cautious, maybe a little skittish about jumping into bed with two hulking males. It's only been five months since she's gained her freedom and escaped the clutches of evil.

Once the sex starts, it never really ends. I love the hot yummy stuff...a lot! But this was a whole bunch of bed yoga and not a lot of substance otherwise. It was like, 5 pages of sex, 1 page of story, then more sex...rinse and repeat. I found myself skimming the love scenes half way through. I never do that! Who wants to skip the sweaty delicious stuff? But alas, I did in this book. The love scenes were really well written. Very descriptive, titillating, and completely drool worthy. The problem was, there just wasn't enough story in between the sexy stuff. I wanted more relationship building between the three characters. But everything felt kind of superficial.

Crystal's ex starts lurking around again and causing some trouble. But even that didn't add enough to the plot to give it more substance. I will absolutely continue to read Ms. Rainey. I just think that this wasn't her best book. There were a couple of secondary characters that I think could have their own story. If they do get their own book, I hope we get more plot and relationship building along with the bumping and grinding! But let's not be hasty here; I want said bumping and grinding to stay, just add a few more ingredients for a more complete story.

SECOND CHANCE SUMMER (CEDAR RIDGE #1)

RESCUE ME

Cedar Ridge, Colorado, is famous for crisp mountain air, clear blue skies, and pine-scented breezes. And it's the last place Lily Danville wants to be. But she needs a job, and there's an opening at the hottest resort in her hometown. What has her concerned is the other hot property in Cedar Ridge: Aidan Kincaid-firefighter, rescue worker, and heartbreaker. She never could resist that devastating smile . . .

The Kincaid brothers are as rough and rugged as the Rocky Mountains they call home. Aidan has always done things his own way, by his own rules. And never has he regretted anything more than letting Lily walk out of his life ten years ago. If anyone has ever been in need of rescuing, she has. What she needs more than anything are long hikes, slow dances, and sizzling kisses. But that can only happen if he can get her to give Cedar Ridge-and this bad boy-a second chance . . . 

Release Date: June 30, 2015

Grand Central Publishing

Cedar Ridge #1

Review copy provided by publisher

I love each and every series from Jill Shalvis. I was so sad to see the end of the Lucky Harbor series happen, but was super excited when I read we would get a new series and I loved the first book in the Cedar Ridge series so much.

I have to say I loved both Lily and Aidan from the moment we met them both. Aidan loves to take care of everyone in his life and has always been the one to try and protect his family and friends. Lily pulled at every single one of my heartstrings. She really was such a strong character and has been living with the unnecessary guilt from her sister's death for 10 years.

I really felt like Lily had no chance of finally coming to terms with her sister's death until she came back to Cedar Ridge. I also think she really needed to be around Aidan again to help move forward, as she left town and him behind with no warning after her sister died. I loved that Lily and Aidan had major chemistry from the moment they saw each other again. Lily continuing to say she was only in town until she could find a new job pretty much killed me as I could tell that Aidan still loved her and I didn't want him to get hurt again.

I also love the family dynamics between Aidan, his brothers and his sister. I loved they are all so protective of one another, with Aidan being the most protective of everyone. I love reading about a small town, family run business and the Cedar Ridge lodge run by the Kincaid family is the perfect setting. I absolutely loved Aidan and Lily's romance and can't wait to see the rest of the Kincaid family find their own happily ever after.

Second Chance Summer was an awesome start to the new Cedar Ridge series from Jill Shalvis. Fans of Jill Shalvis will be happy to have a new small town series after leaving Lucky Harbor, and new reader will quickly see why her fans fall in love with each of her books.

DEVOTED IN DEATH (IN DEATH #41)

Eve Dallas tracks a couple whose passion is fueled by cold brutality in the newest crime thriller from the #1 New York Times–bestselling author of Obsession in Death and Festive in Death.

When Lieutenant Eve Dallas examines a body in a downtown Manhattan alleyway, the victim’s injuries are so extensive that she almost misses the clue. Carved into the skin is the shape of a heart—and initials inside reading E and D . . .

Ella-Loo and her boyfriend, Darryl, had been separated while Darryl was a guest of the state of Oklahoma, and now that his sentence has been served they don’t ever intend to part again. Ella-Loo’s got dreams. And Darryl believes there are better ways to achieve your dreams than working for them. So they hit the road, and when their car breaks down in Arkansas, they make plans to take someone else’s. Then things get messy and they wind up killing someone—an experience that stokes a fierce, wild desire in Ella-Loo. A desire for Darryl. And a desire to kill again.

As they cross state lines on their way to New York to find the life they think they deserve, they will leave a trail of evil behind them. But now they’ve landed in the jurisdiction of Lieutenant Dallas and her team at the New York Police and Security Department. And with her husband, Roarke, at her side, she has every intention of hunting them down and giving them what they truly deserve . . .

Release Date: September 15, 2015

In Death #41

G.P. Putnam's Sons

Personally purchased copy

I've been reading the In Death books since before it was known JD Robb was Nora Roberts. They are my comfort reads and my original book crack. 41 books in the series and I'm still completely hooked.

Devoted in Death was a little bit different, as the reader knew the names of the killers from the beginning. Ella-Loo and Darryl don't start out intending to kill anyone, but it only takes one kill for them to be hooked on the excitement and the power and they are on a roll. Of course, we all knew it would end once they arrived in New York and Eve Dallas, Peabody and team were on the case.

I honestly loved how fast the story seemed to move in Devoted in Death. I was pulled in from the very first page and didn't want to put the book down until I reached the end. I loved we got to spend time with so many favorite characters, though I'm really missing Nadine being in the books. Hope she makes it back to the next book as I miss her snark and humor. I loved the Arkansas officer that helped work the case with Eve and Peabody. He blending in well with the team and I'd love to see him back in New York in future books.

I always love watching Eve and Roarke traverse their marriage and the various rules they have established within their marriage. I love that Eve really needs those rules in place not to make mistakes and even with them, they still have at least one good argument per book. I think the honesty of their relationship, i.e. not everything being perfect all the time, is one of the reasons Eve and Roarke remain one of my favorite couples ever. Add in their super sexy alone time, and I totally swoon when I'm reading.

Devoted in Death was a winner from the first page for me. As always, I read the new In Death book as quickly as possible and now have to wait until next year for my next full length novel. Luckily, there is a novella coming out in October to tide me over until Brotherhood in Death comes out February 2, 2016.