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Kissing Under the Mistletoe

ABOUT KISSING UNDER THE MISTLETOE

Publication Date: October 16, 2012 | Series: A St. Helena Vineyard Novel (Book 1)

Paperback: $12.95 / Kindle: $3.99 Publisher: Montlake Romance

Regan Martin stopped believing in Christmas miracles six years ago when she lost everything—her house, her job, and her impeccable reputation in the wine industry—after she fell in love with a man she had no idea was married. Then Regan gets a chance for a fresh start in the Napa Valley. With her dream job, dream home, and her daughter enrolled in a wonderful new school, she starts wondering if holiday wishes really do come true.

But she soon tumbles back down to earth when she learns that her new boss is none other than Gabe DeLuca, the scorned wife’s brother. Gabe wants nothing more than home-wrecking Regan Martin out of his life, his sister’s world, and his family’s business. Mostly, he wants the lush beauty out of his head. Yet his attempts to run her out of town have him thinking twice, especially when he sees that Regan may hold the key to tracking down his sister’s stolen start-up capital. Even worse for Gabe, Regan might just be his Christmas wish and hold the key to his heart.

I was sent a copy of Kissing Under the Mistletoe from the author, Marina Adair, with the promise of an honest review.

I love contemporary romances and was pulled into the story from the very beginning. I loved Regan from the moment she appeared on the page. She is such a strong character and was the best mom. She would do anything to make sure her daughter Holly is happy. Enter Gabe DeLuca, who has been out to get her since he caught her with his sister’s husband 6 years ago. Gabe figures he can keep Regan and his sister away from one another, and even thinks Regan might be the way to find Richard, his sister’s ex-husband.

However, neither Gabe nor Regan expected to be so attracted to one another. They have the type of attraction that makes it hard to be around one another without touching. Really their chemistry was pretty great whether they were arguing, laughing together or making love. I also loved how Regan’s daughter Holly totally wrapped Gabe around her little finger. Of course, with most of the DeLuca family out to get Regan, Gabe and Regan have a huge obstacle standing in their way.

I really loved watching Gabe and Regan fall for one another. I did have a problem with Gabe trying to use Regan to find Richard, but felt like he totally proved himself worthy of her love in the end. I felt so much with this book. I laughed out loud at times, wanted to scream at times, and even had a few tears of happiness. While most of the DeLuca clan made me angry, I loved Gabe’s grandmother ChiChi. I did love how protective the DeLuca clan was of one another and would like to get to know the other brothers and Abby better in future books.

I really enjoyed Kissing Under the Mistletoe and look forward to future books from Marina Adair. For more information about the author and upcoming books, check out her website.

Born to be Wild

The Three Musketeers: Born to be Wild is the latest Loveswept Classic Romance release from author Donna Kauffman. From the author’s website.~

Born to Be Wild, the second novel in the Three Musketeers series by Donna Kauffman, is another sensational story of a professional thrill-seeker—and the woman who might just be his ultimate high.
 
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. Of course, that’s nothing for musketeer Zach Brogan, who risks life and limb daily as the owner of an adventure vacation outfitter. Skydiving into active volcanoes, hang gliding off glaciers, diving in shark-infested waters—Zach lives and breathes heart-stopping scenarios. But nothing can prepare him for seeing his childhood friend Dara again—or for the visceral reaction their reunion incites.
 
Dara Colbourne is living her professional dream: granting elaborate wishes to ill children. Yet when her new project puts her face-to-face with the guy who teased her all through school, Dara is far from pleased. But she is unprepared for the handsome, flirty man that Zach Brogan has become. As the two spar over trip logistics, the heat rises to levels neither can ignore. Is the thrill of adventure all there is between them, or can Dara trust this magnetic bad boy with her heart?

I requested Born to be Wild from NetGalley and was so excited to get approved so I could tell others about this book.

First I have to say I love the friends to lovers’ story so much. Add in the reunion element and you have me from page one. The fact that he is one of her twin brother’s best friends only makes it better in my opinion. I loved Dara and Zach from the very beginning. While they seemed very different from one another initially, as they spent more time together, I could see they were very much alike. Not that Dara didn’t fight her attraction to Zach. She had already lost 2 men in her life because they were thrill seekers, and she doesn’t know if her heart would survive this time. However, things with Zach are different as he may take risk, but always calculates all risk before he goes on his adventures. As Zach and Dara would talk about adventures they did as kids, I could totally see Zach always liked Dara. After all he picked on her as a kid like any boy who likes a girl does. However, now they are all grown up and the chemistry between them is really off the charts. There were plenty of sexy times with them, and the tender and funny love making was every bit as sexy as the steamy times.

I loved that Zach helped Dara see a side of herself she had thought was gone following her dad’s death. She could take risks again, especially since she trusted Zach to have her back. Zach and Dara’s story pulled me in fast. I’ve enjoyed the first two books in The Three Musketeers series and can’t wait to start Dane’s book, Midnight Heat soon.

Until There Was You

Until There Was You is the latest release from Jessica Scott. The publisher is Loveswept. From the author’s website.~

From the author of Because of You comes an all-new contemporary eBook romance. He plays by the rules, she's not afraid to break them. Now these two strong-willed Army captains will prove that opposites attract . . .
 
A by-the-book captain with a West Point background, Captain Evan Loehr refuses to mix business with pleasure--except for an unguarded instance years ago when he succumbed to the deep sensuality of redheaded beauty Claire Montoya. From that moment on, though, Evan has been at odds with her, through two deployments to Iraq and back again. But when he is asked to train a team prepping for combat alongside Claire, battle-worn Evan is in for the fight of his life.
 
Strong, gutsy, and loyal, Captain Claire Montoya has worked hard to earn the rank on her chest. In Evan, Claire sees a rigid officer who puts the rules before everything else--including his people. When the mission forces them together, Claire soon discovers that there is more to Evan than meets the eye. He's more than the rank on his chest; he's a man with dark secrets and deep longings. For all their differences, Evan and Claire share two crucial passions: their country and each other.

I was lucky enough to get an e-ARC of Until There Was You from the author. I’m a really big fan and was really excited to get a chance to read Until There Was You early.

I was pulled into Until There Was You from the moment the book started. I really liked both Claire and Evan and thought they had amazing chemistry together. Even when they were at odds with one another about how the training should go, you could feel how much they wanted one another. Add in Claire protecting her best friend Reza, who is a senior noncommissioned officer with an alcohol problem, and Evan and Claire have another issue to battle about. Loved the passion between Claire and Evan when they finally can’t keep their hands off one another any longer. They both loved one another already, and you could feel those emotions when they were together.

Both Claire and Evan have really big protective tendencies, but I think Claire’s are even stronger than Evan’s. She has protected Reza for years and even is willing to take the fall for her team’s mistake rather than let anyone else get taken down. While Claire is wrong it this choice, I could see it was really just part of who she was, and just another reason Evan loved her.

The official released date for Until There Was You was October 8, 2012 and you can buy it from any of your favorite online ebook retailers. I personally am now on the countdown for Jessica’s next book which will be Trent and Laura’s story. For more information about Jessica Scott and her books, check out her website.

The Three Musketeers: Surrender the Dark

Surrender the Dark, the first novel in the Three Musketeers series by Donna Kauffman, offers the tantalizing story of a hardened, highly trained operative—and the woman who must save him. From the author’s website.~

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. Jarrett McCullough values those bonds as seriously as he values his job heading a covert group of operatives skilled in handling sensitive international information. But his current mission has suddenly gone very wrong—and he finds himself wounded and near death in the last place he ever expected to be.

Rae Gannon is stunned to find her ex-boss bleeding from a gunshot wound, mere paces from her front door. It has been two years since her move to the remote Blue Ridge Mountains, where she tried to erase the memories and the pain she suffered from having been part of McCullough’s team. Yet as Rae tends to Jarrett’s battered body she realizes that the air between them is still sizzling with a slow-burning need. But this time there are more than just hearts at stake. The mission that almost got Jarrett killed threatens to put Rae back in harm’s way. And if they surrender to their desires, it may cost them their lives.

I somehow missed this series in its original release, but was lucky enough to get an early copy of the digital release from NetGalley. I can now add Donna Kauffman to my auto-buy list of authors.

I was pulled into the story from the very beginning. I loved how strong Rae was on site and there is just nothing better than a sexy Alpha Hero in need of help from a strong woman. Not that Rae is without baggage. She is still recovering from the life she lead while working with McCullough and his team. However, there is no way she can not help her former boss when he shows up so near her home needing help.

There is really great chemistry between Rae and Jarrett, and you can tell that the feelings they have for one another are more than just physical attraction. Not that they aren’t amazingly hot when they are together. However, there was an underlining tenderness there that really grabbed my heart.

I really loved Surrender the Dark and am already reading book two in The Three Musketeers series, Born to be Wild and am totally hooked. The official release date from Loveswept is October 8, 2012 and you can find from any of your favorite online retailers. For more information about the author, please check out her website.