THE REVERSE OF PERFECTION (BAD DECISIONS #2)

Dylan Royce, ex-teen pop star, needs a sexy image makeover. His first adult solo album came out under his perfect, white-washed persona and tanked. Joining a band equally famous for their music and their between-the-sheets escapades is only the start. He needs to get raunchy. Sleep with a different girl every night. But there’s only one woman he wants, and she still sees him as a goody two-shoes boy-bander. 

Ariel Watson is the publicist in charge of turning Dylan into the sex-god every woman dreams of doing. Frankly, she doesn’t see the appeal. Until one hot kiss changes her mind. Now she wants to keep him for herself--without losing her job. Or losing Dylan the legions of drooling fans she’s supposed to be building for him. 

Turning bad got Dylan the woman of his dreams. But how will he choose between her...or his career catapulting him back to superstar status?

Release Date: May 17, 2016

Bad Decisions #2

Contemporary Romance

Review copy provided by publisher

I'm really enjoying the Bad Decisions series from Christi Barth. While The Reverse of Perfection is the second book in the series, it can be read as a stand-alone story. I found The Reverse of Perfection a fast-paced read.

I liked both Dylan and Ariel from the moment we met them. I liked that they both were in the process of re-starting their careers. The attraction between Dylan and Ariel was obvious from their very first meeting, and while I loved they acted on their attraction, I loved the focus was more on their careers than just hooking up. I did worry about the company Ariel was currently working for and if they had the same moral compass she had. They seemed to kick ethics to the curb and are willing to do anything to keep their clients in the news, even when it isn't the best way to get them in the news.

While I loved the chemistry between Dylan and Ariel, I liked they could talk about the dreams for their futures together and actually listened to what the other said. I found myself falling for Dylan more and more with each page. I liked Ariel, but wanted her to be stronger in her convictions on how she worked in the public relations business. While she messed up in a big way, she also fixed things in a big way too.

I look forward to the next book in the Bad Decisions series and getting to spend more time with the characters from the series. Ms. Barth has given her readers a fast-paced, fun and sexy story with The Reverse of Perfection.

THE OPPOSITE OF RIGHT (BAD DECISIONS #1)

Kylie Stafford has spent her whole life doing exactly what’s expected. The right major, the right sorority, the right guys, just like her mother and her sister before her. But when everything falls apart for her, Kylie wonders if doing everything right has been utterly wrong. There’s only one way to find out. 

She decides to try making all the wrong choices for three months. Hit on a tattoo-covered rock musician? Check. Go back to his dressing room for a hot hook-up against the wall? Gulp. Drop everything to be a roadie for him to binge on more of the best sex of her life? Maybe. Start falling for him despite her better judgment? Um….yeah. Figure out why doing everything that seems wrong feels so darn right?

Release Date: November 3, 2015

Bad Decisions #1

Review copy provided by publisher

Liza’s Review:

I've been a fan of Christi Barth for as long as I've been reading her books. I was super excited to get to read her new rock star book early. The Opposite of Right is a fun, sexy and super fast read. At 89 pages, I'd consider it a novella length book and I was able to read it pretty quickly. 

The Opposite of Right had me hooked from page one. Who doesn't dream of hooking up with a rock star at some point? I love that Kylie decides to make all the wrong decisions for a bit after everything falls apart from following the "right" path for so many years. I think the funniest thing to me was she didn't recognize Cam when she propositioned him for a kiss until after they had kissed. They had really great chemistry from the very beginning and I loved seeing them be able to extend their initial hook-up into something more. I loved all of the members of Riptide and found the dynamics between the men to be much like brothers than simply band mates. Much like brothers, Cam, Jones, and Jake sometimes don't see eye to eye and sadly Kylie is in the middle of a touchy situation between the band mates.

The Opposite of Right was a great start to the Bad Decisions series. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

BACK TO US (SHORE SECRETS #3)

Ward Cantrell always went for the long shot. But that recklessness cost him his college scholarship and his chance to play pro ball, and—worst of all—it ended his relationship with the girl next door. Neither the town nor the girl has ever forgiven him. Now he's taking one last long shot by opening a boutique distillery on the family farm he inherited.

Piper Morrissey spent high school in Ward's shadow, but she's come into her own in the years since. Maintaining her spotless image, and that of her family's winery, is priority number one. Nobody knows that she still yearns for her golden-boy ex. Or at least they didn't—until Ward agrees to sell Piper the land she needs to start her precious port line. The caveat? She'll need to date him for one month.

Ward hopes a month is all it'll take to convince his former sweetheart that while he's changed, his love for her hasn't. But when the chance arises to thumb his nose at the town that turned its back on him, he can't afford not to reject Piper's offer. Will that make her reject him and his love—for good?

Release Date: July 13, 2015

Carina Press

Shore Secrets #3

Review copy provided by publisher

Liza’s Review:

I'm a huge fan of Christi Barth and especially love her Shore Secrets series. I was super excited we finally got Ward and Piper's story and have to say it is my favorite book in the series.

I've wanted Ward and Piper back together pretty much from the moment we met them in the first Shore Secrets book, but knew they both needed time to make it work. I love that even though their relationship ended years ago, they have remained friends all these years. I especially love that Ward's 3 best friends are all women and they always have each other's back.

I absolutely loved how hard Ward was willing to work to win Piper back. Making a deal for them to date for 30 days so she could lease a section of his land to fulfill her dream, was a stoke of genius in my opinion. Ward has never stopped loving Piper all these years, and this will allow him another chance to win Piper over. Of course, Ward has no idea that Piper has never stopped loving him and is just as happy to spend time with him. I love a reunion story and especially loved watching Ward and Piper reconnect as a couple. It cracked me up that Ward wanted to move slowly this time while Piper was the one who wanted to take their relationship to the next level. I really loved the chemistry between Ward and Piper and loved them as a couple. My absolutely favorite part of the book was their date to the sing-along of The Sound of Music and Ward knowing so much about the show. Honestly he won my heart completely at that point.

Of course everything wasn't easy for Ward and Piper this time anymore so that it was when they were in high school. I have to say I absolutely hated the way Piper's parents treated her. As someone who grew up in a home where I never questioned how much my parents loved me, it broke my heart to see how Piper's parents belittled her and showed her no love. Piper has been running her family's winery business very successfully and yet her father and mother show no support for anything she has done. Honestly the only part of the book I didn't enjoy was the time Piper spent with her parents. I also wished Ward had talked to Piper about everything that was going on with his property and his business. I felt that they needed to be able to share everything going on in their lives for their relationship to truly have a chance this time. 

Back to Us was a wonder addition to the Shore Secrets series. I generally don't read books in a series out of order, and really think with this series, you understand the dynamics between all the characters better if you read the books in order. I loved getting to revisit the group of friends in each of the books in the series. Back to Us is the perfect blend of sweet, funny, and sexy romance.

Up To Me (Shore Secrets)

Ella Mayhew's always appreciated the beautiful view of Seneca Lake from the spa window of her family's hotel.But the view improves dramatically when a hot stranger runs across the grounds—shirtless. He's the first man to kickstart her hormones in the three years since she lost her parents, and she doesn't even know his name.

Graydon Locke's on his umpteenth undercover assignment. The routine's always the same: assess a business, recommend it for closure, then roll out before anyone discovers his decisions impact hundreds of lives. He's always believed nothing good comes out of small towns. Why would this one be different? Then he makes two classic rookie mistakes—falling for the sweet, sexy girl who owns the very business he's on the verge of axing. And letting the town's residents get involved in both his life, and his relationship with Ella.

Ella's the best thing to ever happen to Gray, but he's lied to her from the start. If he pulls the plug on Mayhew Manor, the entire town may crumble. Ella couldn't save her parents, but it's up to her to save their hotel. Even if that means turning her back on true love.

Carina Press

June 23, 2014

Up to Me

Shore Secrets series Book 1

I was lucky enough to be given a review copy from the publisher through NetGalley. I'm a huge fan of Christi Barth and was excited to start reading her new series.

I loved Ella from the very first page. She has had to heavily rely on her friends and her hometown since her parents were killed 3 years ago, yet is still such a strong person. I could tell that Ella didn't really trust herself completely to make decisions when the book started. It started to change once she met Gray.

Gray was visiting Ella's hotel to establish if it was a good investment for his company to take over. Of course, he didn't let anyone know that was his real reason for his vacation. I loved Gray and Ella together from the moment they met. They had great chemistry and even with Gray's lie between them, I wanted them to work as a couple. I honestly felt like Gray helped Ella to find the strength she had always had and Ella helped Gray to be more human. I also felt like when Gray befriended Ella's friends, he found the first real friends in his life. I knew it would be an issue when Gray's secrets came out, and I completely understood Ella's reaction. Ella showed once again how strong she really was as she stepped up to take care of her hotel and herself. Gray has much to grovel about to make thing right with Ella, and I loved that he showed her how much he not only loved her, but understood her hometown to try and win her back.

Up to Me is a wonderful start to a new series. I'm excited to see each of Ella's friends get their own stories.