A Fool For You (Foolproof Love #3)
   by: Katee Robert

Publication Date: Oct. 3, 2016
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Adult
Source: e-ARC received via the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 141 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 3/5 stars

It’s been thirteen years since Hope Moore left Devil’s Falls, land of sexy cowboys and bad memories. Back for the weekend, she has no intention of seeing the man she never got over…or the two of them getting down and dirty. It’s just a belated goodbye, right? No harm, no foul.

Until six weeks later, when her pregnancy test comes back positive…

Daniel Rodriguez hasn’t forgiven himself for how things went down with Hope all those years ago. He knows she’s better off without him, but when she shows up on his doorstep, panicking because she’s pregnant with his baby, he can’t help seeing it as a chance to make up for the past.

Too bad Hope has no intention of going along with his plans.  

 

 

I was really looking forward to Hope and Daniel's book after Fool Me Twice. There is so much history between these two and after the death of Hope's brother, things have never been the same. Daniel made some poor decisions and he has to live with those every day of his life along with the guilt he feels over his friend's death.

I would have enjoyed this one more, had it not been so rushed. For this kind of story, I really wanted to see more development and build up between the characters. Hope and Daniel were both frustrating to me. Neither one of them can admit they want the other to stay and start over. They loved one another once and those feelings never went away. Hope is hurt that Daniel left her all those years ago and she can't take his feeling sorry for her. She doesn't want him to be with her out of guilt. She wants his love and he is certainly not making that easy. Daniel doesn't feel worthy of Hope and he does still blame himself for her brother's death and the scars she still bears from that accident. I get that these two are facing a lot, but the execution just wasn't there for me. I was disappointed because of how excited I was for this book, but in the end, I am glad to see they got their HEA.

 

I also don't think one is very memorable. It's been a couple of weeks since I've read it and I really didn't remember much, except that it felt too fast. I'm looking forward to the next book by Robert. I do love her writing and hope the next one will be more to my liking.

Twisted Palace (The Royals #3)
   by: Erin Watt

Publication Date: Oct. 17, 2016
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Mature Young Adult
Source: e-ARC received via Nina Bocci in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 370 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 3.5/5 stars

These Royals will ruin you…

From mortal enemies to unexpected allies, two teenagers try to protect everything that matters most.

Ella Harper has met every challenge that life has thrown her way. She’s tough, resilient, and willing to do whatever it takes to defend the people she loves, but the challenge of a long-lost father and a boyfriend whose life is on the line might be too much for even Ella to overcome.

Reed Royal has a quick temper and even faster fists. But his tendency to meet every obstacle with violence has finally caught up with him. If he wants to save himself and the girl he loves, he’ll need to rise above his tortured past and tarnished reputation.

No one believes Ella can survive the Royals. Everyone is sure Reed will destroy them all.
They may be right.

With everything and everyone conspiring to keep them apart, Ella and Reed must find a way to beat the law, save their families, and unravel all the secrets in their Twisted Palace.

 

 

This series has been the biggest guilty pleasure for me. I am so completely invested in these characters and all the drama that surrounds them. After the mega double cliffhanger of Broken Prince, I was so ready to get my hands on Twisted Palace.

 

Overall, I enjoyed the book. It wasn't my favorite because I didn't really like some of the developments that occurred. However, I was engaged the entire way through, even though I felt it was a bit of a slower paced read. The action and adventure really ramps up at the end and then I felt it just went too fast for me. I didn't feel resolved. I do think they will write more books with these characters (or I'm hoping so!).

I did love Ella and Reed together though. These two have come a long way and we really see that. While the Royals will always be protective of Ella, they have come to realize that she is a force on her own and they definitely respect that.

While I didn't love this one like the others, I am seriously hoping for more. We definitely need an Easton book and I personally would like a Gideon one. We barely saw him in this one and after all the shit with Dinah, I felt he should have played a larger role and gotten some resolution.



The Goal (Off-Campus #4)
  by: Elle Kennedy

Publication Date: Sept. 26, 2016
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Source: e-ARC received via Nina Bocci in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 350 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 4/5 stars

She’s good at achieving her goals…

College senior Sabrina James has her whole future planned out: graduate from college, kick butt in law school, and land a high-paying job at a cutthroat firm. Her path to escaping her shameful past certainly doesn’t include a gorgeous hockey player who believes in love at first sight. One night of sizzling heat and surprising tenderness is all she’s willing to give John Tucker, but sometimes, one night is all it takes for your entire life to change.

But the game just got a whole lot more complicated

Tucker believes being a team player is as important as being the star. On the ice, he’s fine staying out of the spotlight, but when it comes to becoming a daddy at the age of twenty-two, he refuses to be a bench warmer. It doesn’t hurt that the soon-to-be mother of his child is beautiful, whip-smart, and keeps him on his toes. The problem is, Sabrina’s heart is locked up tight, and the fiery brunette is too stubborn to accept his help. If he wants a life with the woman of his dreams, he’ll have to convince her that some goals can only be made with an assist.  

 

 

I am such a huge fan of this series. It is definitely one of my all-time favorites in New Adult. After the massive bomb Tucker dropped at the end of The Score, I was psyched to get this book to see how everything had built up to that point.

 

I absolutely LOVED Tucker. He is just such a sweetheart and I loved how he went after Sabrina, even despite how much Dean ranted about her. He really got to know Sabrina and how to treat her. She has been through a lot and has quite a bit of shit to deal with already. Her homelife is a disaster and all she wants to do is be successful, so she can move upwards and onwards with her life. I knew she would be reluctant with Tucker and would be a hard nut to crack, but I actually really liked her. She's resilient and independent and that doesn't just change overnight.

 

I did feel parts of this book dragged a bit for me and I honestly wish we had had more interaction with Tucker's friends. I understand why, as they were keeping their relationship a secret, but I did find myself missing them. The scenes they were in though, completely made my day. I love that crew.

I really hope Dean's sister gets a book with Fitzy. Fingers crossed. 

An Indecent Proposal (The O'Malleys #3)
   by: Katee Robert

Publication Date: Aug. 30, 2016
Publisher: Forever
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Adult
Source: e-ARC provided via Barclay Publicity and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 352 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iTunes
My Rating: 4/5 stars

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Katee Robert continues her smoking-hot series about the O'Malleys-wealthy, powerful, and full of scandalous family secrets.

Greed. Ambition. Violence. Those are the "values" Olivia Rashidi learned from her Russian mob family-and the values she must leave behind for the sake of her daughter. When she meets Cillian O'Malley, she recognizes the red flag of his family name . . . yet she still can't stop herself from seeing the smoldering, tortured man. To save her family, Olivia sets out to discover Cillian's own secrets, but the real revelation is how fast-and how hard-she's falling for him.

Plagued by a violent past, Cillian is more vulnerable than anyone realizes. Anyone except Olivia, whose beauty, compassion, and pride have him at "hello," even if she's more inclined to say good-bye to an O'Malley. While his proposal of sex with no strings seems simple, what he feels for her isn't, especially after he learns that she belongs to a rival crime family. Cillian knows that there is no escape from the life, but Olivia may be worth trying-and dying-for . . .

 

 

 

 

I just can't get enough of the O'Malley family. Seriously. Their stories are not only addicting and super sexy, but I am FASCINATED by their lives. The O'Malleys are one of the three most powerful families in Boston and after tragedy struck their family in book one, they are all handling their grief in different ways.

 

Perhaps one of the hardest hit is Cillian. He feels responsible for what happened and it killed me to see him carry so much of that weight on his shoulders. He is trying to be better and doesn't want to be known as the screw up of the family. Meeting Olivia ends up changing a lot for him and not just because he falls for her. He shows how selfless he really is by putting her needs first and working to protect her and I just loved him for that. He was such a swoonworthy hero and I am so happy with how his story turned out!

 

Olivia is my girl! She was fierce, didn't take crap from anyone and is an amazing mom to her adorable daughter. I loved the dynamic there and it just felt right for this particular story. Olivia has a past and while she isn't proud of it, she wouldn't trade it for the world because of the outcome: Hadley, her daughter. While she is tough, she does have a vulnerable side too. She doesn't want to be chained to her family and just wants to be free to live her life without constantly looking over her shoulder to see if her ex is going to drag her back to where she 'belongs'. Cillian may have started out as a way of releasing tension, but I really liked how she let him in and allowed herself to fall for him.

 

They have steaming chemistry together and like all of Robert's couples, are not lacking in sexy times together. This book is definitely intense and I liked that the story drove itself. There was no unnecessary drama or angst and I think that says a lot.

 

I am beyond excited for Sloan's book. That girl has quite the story to tell and after the preview we got I am SO ready. It's going to be scorching hot and I can already feel the tension oozing off the pages!

I can't recommend this series enough guys. I love the mob element and the characters are so well written and developed. I am going to be devastated when I have to say to goodbye to these characters.

“Hey, stop!”

She ran after him, thankful she’d put on her badass studded boots instead of the pair of heels she’d been jonesing after. An eight-hour shift on her feet would have her hating herself if she’d gone with the pretty shoes—and they would have made it impossible to catch up with the O’Malley.

She grabbed his arm and froze at the feel of his muscles flexing in her grip. Holy wow.

He finally turned to face her and it struck her that, without the bar between them, he was so much larger than she was. Not large like her ex, Sergei—this man was built lean instead of for brute strength—but he still dwarfed her. And he smelled good, like some kind of spicy men’s cologne that instantly had her thinking thoughts she had no business entertaining.

Like what it would be like to bury her nose in his neck and inhale deeply. The insane desire to do so almost overwhelmed her.

Everything about him was overwhelming, from his beautiful face, to his impeccably styled dark hair, to the tattoos peeking out of his clothes at neck and wrists. The ink creeping up the side of his neck was like a wild thing trying to escape from his insanely expensive suit, a strange combination of brutal strength and poised polish that she should have known better than to be attracted to.

Except, apparently, her body hadn’t gotten the memo.

She realized she was still clutching his arm and made herself let go so she could offer back the cash. Right, because that’s why you chased him down a dark street. “I don’t want your money.”

“It’s called a tip, sweetheart. It’s just good manners.”

“I don’t want it.” Even as she said it, she wondered why she was being so damn stubborn about this. He hadn’t asked anything of her. All he’d done was throw too much money at a bartender, which was something plenty of drunks did from time to time. Except he wasn’t drunk. She should be elated at having the extra cash—God knew she needed it. Instead, there was a growing recklessness in her chest, one she’d thought she’d outgrown a long time ago. “Just take it, okay?”

“No.” His gaze narrowed on her face, giving her the sudden thought that he saw too much. Before she could decide what to do with that, he moved closer, giving her another whiff of that cologne that made her whole body break out in goose bumps. Or maybe it was the man himself, the streetlights creating a skeleton’s mask of his face, turning his eyes into dark pits of shadows. “Why do you care so much?”

“Oh my God, just take it back.” She should drop the cash and head for home. Or, hell, at least take a few steps away so that she wasn’t in danger of brushing against him if she took a deep breath.

But she couldn’t force her hand to unclench or her feet to create any distance between them. She cleared her throat, trying to get her thoughts back on track. “I didn’t ask for your charity.”

“Yeah, I got it. You win. I’m an asshole.”

“I didn’t say that.”

“Not in so many words, no.” His gaze raked her body much the same way it had back at the bar, making every alarm in her head go off. Spending any more time in this man’s presence was dangerous, though she couldn’t say for sure what she was most afraid of. She lifted her chin in challenge, demanding…She wasn’t sure what she was demanding. Her gaze dropped to his mouth, and she licked her lips. What am I doing? Walk away. Walk away right now.

No. Not yet.

He murmured, “If the shoe fits…”

And then he gripped her jaw and kissed her.

 

New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Katee Robert learned to tell her stories at her grandpa’s knee. She found romance novels at age twelve and it changed her life. When not writing sexy contemporary and speculative fiction romance novels, she spends her time playing imaginary games with her wee ones, driving her husband batty with what-if questions, and planning for the inevitable zombie apocalypse.  Connect with Katee at: Website | Facebook | Twitter| GoodReads | Instagram

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About the Book:

 

Once upon a time, two people fell in love. They overcame obstacles. Persevered through challenges. Came together despite the odds stacked against them. 

 

Now forever and always is within their grasp—he asked, and she said yes. Just a trip down the aisle, an exchange of vows and rings, and they’ll be bound together for the rest of their lives…

 

But even the greatest love can’t silence fears. 

 

Our Love Unhinged is the final novella in the Reluctant Hearts series, and is best enjoyed after reading books 1-3 in the series.

 

 

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His lips part as he looks his fill of me, his gaze sliding down the length of my body encased in white silk before he meets my eyes, and then his lips lift in a smile. It’s a smile that takes my breath away—one that says I’m his whole world. I can’t break away from his gaze for a second, even to look at the guests who showed up for our special day.

He’s all I see.

 

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Fool Me Once (Foolproof Love #2)
    by: Katee Robert

Publication Date: Aug. 1, 2016
Publisher: Entangled: Brazen
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Adult
Source: e-ARC received via the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 170 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 4.5/5 stars

They say opposites attract, but this is just ridiculous.

Aubry Kaiser doesn’t like people—actually, that’s not right. She loathes people. With her crippling anxiety, there’s no way she can demo her favorite video game at a convention with five thousand other people. Maybe if she brings someone to act as a shield…

But the only person available is the sexy cowboy she can’t stand.

Quinn Baldwyn is in a mess of his own. He’s been dodging his wealthy family’s matchmaking attempts—and life advice—for years, but with his sister’s wedding on the horizon, he needs of a shield of his own.

He and Aubry can barely hold down a civil conversation, but in bed…fireworks. And the closer they get to Quinn’s sister’s wedding, the more he realizes that he might actually like Aubry.

Now it’s up to him to convince her she might actually like him, too.

  

 

 

I had so much fun with this book! Enemies to lovers, road trips, fake dating trope... it's like the trifecta of awesome! Oh and Aubry is a freaking gamer and Quinn is a big, sexy cowboy, so yeah- I was won over from the start!

 

I LOVED these two together! They had such great banter and that hate to love relationship was super hot- their chemistry was just so undeniable. I liked seeing them progress from 'dealing with' one another to actually enjoying each other's company. These two might start off their relationship with just sex, but seeing it progress to more was everything.

 

They also balance each other really well. They may be going on this trip together for their own selfish purposes, but it just works. Aubry is terrified of crowds and has social anxiety, where Quinn oozes confidence. He really does a great job helping distract and keep her wits about her. Quinn's reasons for taking Aubry to his sister's wedding may have started as a ruse to shock his parents and give them the proverbial finger, but he ends up really falling for her and it was hard to see him suffer through his parents' hoity toity behavior.

 

I really enjoyed their friends Adam, Jules, and Daniel too. I really hope Daniel's book is next because I just wanted to hug that man hard. He is stealing dealing with the ghosts of his past and I am looking forward to seeing him find peace and move forward.

 

I definitely recommend this book if you're looking for a short, sexy, fun read filled with sexy banter and some very sexy scenes!

 

Worked Up (Made in Jersey #3)
   by: Tessa Bailey

Publication Date: Aug. 1, 2016
Publisher: Entangled: Brazen
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Adult
Source: e-ARC received via the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 186 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 4/5 stars

Factory mechanic Duke Crawford just wants to watch SportsCenter in peace. Unfortunately, living with four divorcee sisters doesn’t provide much silence, nor does it change his stance on relationships. But when a fellow commitment-phobe stumbles into his life, getting him good and worked up, he can’t deny his protective instincts.

Samantha Waverly’s brother just put her in an impossible situation. The only way out? Marry huge, gruff, gladiator look-alike Duke—for show, of course. She doesn’t make promises—she knows too well how easily they can be broken—and this is no exception.

As the blistering attraction between them grows, the lines around the no-strings relationship blur. But Duke and Samantha’s marriage is only for show…or is it?

 

 

Aw yeah, Tessa Bailey bringing the SAWOON! I absolutely ADORED Duke! He was such a bear of a man but had the heart of a puppy. I am such a sucker for gruff, grumpy guys too. This was my first Made in Jersey novel and I really enjoyed it! It was sexy, fun, and sweet.

 

I also enjoyed Samantha's character too. She is only in Hook to meet up with her brother, but stumbles across Duke her first night in town. Duke, being the alpha caveman he is, lays eyes on her and bam! He's a goner. We do have your typical 'doesn't do relationships' in this story, as is the case for both Duke and Sam. Duke is too busy with work and taking care of his sisters to bother with them. His four sisters all live with him after they have divorced, so he has seen firsthand how love can wreck a person. Sam on the other hand, has not seen an example of love actually working, so she is pretty skeptical. Together, the two are a bit of a mess, but man did I love them together.

 

Duke's friends River and Vaughn are great too, and I definitely want to go back and read their story soon. I wasn't the biggest fan of Renner, Sam's stepbrother, but he did redeem himself in the end. I'm looking forward to seeing how his story plays out!

 

Overall, this was definitely a fun read for me. I really enjoyed the storyline, Duke and Sam's characters, their chemistry.... it had everything I could want in a Brazen!

 

Bittersweet (True North #1)
   by: Sarina Bowen

Publication Date: June 14, 2016
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Adult
Source:  e-ARC received via BocciPR in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 348 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 3.5/5 stars

If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the orchard.

The last person Griffin Shipley expects to find stuck in a ditch on his Vermont country road is his ex-hookup. Five years ago they’d shared a couple of steamy nights together. But that was a lifetime ago.

At twenty-seven, Griff is now the accidental patriarch of his family farm. Even his enormous shoulders feel the strain of supporting his mother, three siblings and a dotty grandfather. He doesn’t have time for the sorority girl who’s shown up expecting to buy his harvest at half price.

Vermont was never in Audrey Kidder’s travel plans. Neither was Griff Shipley. But she needs a second chance with the restaurant conglomerate employing her. Okay—a fifth chance. And no self-righteous lumbersexual farmer will stand in her way.

They’re adversaries. They want entirely different things from life. Too bad their sexual chemistry is as hot as Audrey’s top secret enchilada sauce, and then some.

 

 

Oh Grumpy Griff, I just adore you. Having really enjoyed Sarina's Ivy Years series, I was excited to get my hands on her new series! I definitely enjoyed this one, save for a few minor issues. I felt it was a bit on the longer side for a contemporary romance and there were some parts that I felt dragged on a bit. I also wish Audrey and Griff had actually opened up and communicated a bit sooner than they did. Those small things aside, I really did enjoy being in Vermont with Audrey, the Shipley family, Zach, Zara, and Jude!

 

As I said, Griffin is a grump. A bearded, former football playing, grump of a beast. And damn, did I love that. He was hardworking and an overall GOOD guy, which I can never get enough of. After his father's passing, he came home to help his mom run the farm and take care of his siblings. He sacrificed his career in professional football to do this, and while most people would be bitter, he takes his role seriously and with pride. He is looking to change things around the farm and I admired his drive to do so.

 

Audrey is also trying to make her own way, determined to do things on her own and without the help of her micromanaging mother. She found her passion in culinary and in order to hopefully make a name for herself and own her own restaurant, she is forced to do grunt work for a group in Boston. They give her tasks not suited to her career, which is how she lands on Griff's farm. The two knew one another in college and I liked seeing them reconnect. I have to admit Audrey could be a bit frustrating though. She likes Griff and they engage in some very sexy times, but she really holds herself back, knowing they can't start anything with one another due to the fact that she lives and works in Boston. She adores his family, loves helping his mom in the kitchen, and ends up really befriending Zara- all huge motivators for her to figure out how to make it work!

 

I have to mention Jude. Having just been released from prison, he is taking some time to work on the Shipley farm before heading home. I adored his quiet demeanor and am looking forward to the story he has to tell. He was such a good fit with everyone and really ended up holding his own despite Griff's initial hesitations.

 

Overall, I really enjoyed this first book in Sarina's new series and am looking forward to Jude's story next!

Steadfast (True North #2)
   by: Sarina Bowen

Publication Date: July 12, 2016
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Adult
Source: e-ARC provided via BocciPR in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 313 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 5/5 stars

She’s the only one who ever loved him—and the only one he can never have.

Jude lost everything one spring day when he crashed his car into an apple tree on the side of the road. A man is dead, and there's no way he can ever right that wrong. He’d steer clear of Colebury, Vermont forever if he could. But an ex-con in recovery for his drug addiction can’t find a job just anywhere.

For Sophie Haines, coming face to face with the man who broke her heart is gut-wrenching. Suddenly, he’s everywhere she turns. It’s hard not to stare at how much he’s changed. The bad boy who used to love her didn’t have big biceps and sun-kissed hair. And he’d never turn up volunteer in the church kitchen.

She knows it’s foolish to yearn for the man who returned all the heartsick letters she wrote him in prison. But the looks he sends her now speak volumes.

No one wants to see Sophie and Jude back together, least of all Sophie's police chief father. But it's a small town. And forbidden love is a law unto itself.

 

 

Oh my goodness gracious y'all. I loved this book so freaking hard. I knew Jude's story would be a good one and Sarina did NOT disappoint. I am the biggest sucker for second chance romances. I adored Jude and Sophie together and I hated how much of their time was spent in secret, not being able to freely be together. It hurt my heart because they both need one another so desperately in each other's lives.

 

Jude and Sophie have some pretty heavy history together. However, despite everything that's happened, the two still love one another. I thought Jude would have to work harder to get Sophie back, but I felt she was in such a bad place with her own family life, that it was natural for her to crave what Jude once made her feel. He was the only one who actually listened to her and while she knows she shouldn't be going down this road with him again, she doesn't have the energy to stop it.

 

These two have explosive chemistry and I could feel how much they loved and needed one another coming off the pages. Jude is a very different person now than he once was and while he does still get discouraged about his future and fight off cravings every day, he genuinely doesn't want to fall back into old habits. I admired him for that and I also like that Sarina didn't gloss around the issue of addiction and drug abuse. He has such a great support system too that I'm glad he learned to rely on. The Shipleys are the most amazing people ever and I love them to death. Their Thursday night dinner tradition is one that Jude looks forward to every week. He also goes to group on Wednesdays at a local church and he has taken to volunteering in the kitchen along with Sophie. He loves doing that also and just seeing him feel a sense of accomplishment and value was so awesome.

 

I have to give Sophie major props for sticking around and dealing with her family as long as she did. I understand her reasoning for doing so, but I can't imagine living in such a toxic atmosphere day in and day out. She isn't a cynical, bitter woman either. Instead, she is kind and forgiving and I just love how right she was for Jude.

 

I am just so invested in these characters now. I loved seeing the epilogue of this one and I am beyond ready for Zach's book next!

 

 

 

 

Last Mile (Vicious Cycle #3)
   by: Katie Ashley

Publication Date: May 3, 2016
Publisher: Signet
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Adult
Source: Physical copy received via the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 336 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Katie Ashley, the New York Times bestselling author of Redemption Road and Vicious Cycle, returns to the dangerous and seductive world of the Hells Raiders motorcycle club…

After her father was murdered in the line of duty, ATF agent Samantha Vargas is determined to take down the scumbags of the drug trade. When her partner takes on a case to infiltrate the Hells Raiders MC, Samantha agrees to go undercover as his old lady but is surprised to find herself drawn to the very man she is investigating.

Benjamin “Bishop” Malloy has worked hard to carve a place for himself both in and out of the MC world. Working days as a mechanic, he spends his nights rebuilding motorcycles with the hope of one day owning his own shop. After taking one of the club’s new hang-arounds under his wing, Bishop is conflicted over his growing attraction for the man’s girlfriend.

Even though she’s determined to bring down the Raiders, Samantha discovers their world isn’t as black-and-white as she thought. And as the stakes grow higher, she’s in danger of losing more than her heart.

 

 

I have really enjoyed this MC series by Katie Ashley! I am sad to see it end, as I have grown really attached to the Malloy brothers, their family, and Raiders brothers. I was looking forward to Bishop's book and while I enjoyed it, I can't say it was my favorite of the three. I can't quite pinpoint why either. I liked that it was low on emotional drama (because we got quite enough of that in the previous book), but I don't know... it just felt a little lacking to me.

 

I really enjoyed Sam and Bishop's characters. Sam was quite the independent, strong-willed heroine and I had to give her props for her gumption. She doesn't back down and is determined to see her case through even after certain things transpire that make it off limits for her to do so. She ends up falling for Bishop, despite everything, and I liked seeing her come to that point. However, with the undercover premise and loyalty being a huge value for Bishop, you knew things weren't going to end well. It was a bit predictable in the end, but that didn't detract from my overall enjoyment.

 

I love Bishop's loyalty. He not only is loyal to his MC brothers, but also to his friends. He knew feeling the way he did for his friend's girl was wrong and he had immense guilt over it. He's just a good guy to the core and while I hated how he acted after things went south, I get how hurt he was too.

 

While they had some sexy, steamy scenes together, I felt like I needed to see more of a connection between the two. I don't doubt that they loved one another in the end, but I don't know... I just felt something lacking there.

 

While this wasn't my favorite of the Vicious Cycle books, I did still enjoy being back in the world. I loved seeing how happy Alex, Deacon, Willow, and little Wyatt are, as well as Rev and Annabel. These characters have been through so much... they deserve their happiness! I felt it was a satisfying end to the series and I'm glad I gave Katie Ashley a try!

 

Welcome to my stop on the Everywhere and Every Way blog tour hosted by InkSlingerPR!

Today I am excited to share my review with you all!

Everywhere and Every Way (The Billionaire Builders #1)
    by: Jennifer Probst

Publication Date: May 31, 2016
Publisher: Gallery Books
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Adult
Source: e-ARC received via the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 384 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Google Play | Kobo
My Rating: 4/5 stars

Hot on the heels of her beloved Marriage to a Billionaire novels, New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Probst nails it with the first in an all-new sexy romance series featuring red-hot contractor siblings who give the Property Brothers a run for their money!

Ever the responsible eldest brother, Caleb Pierce started working for his father’s luxury contracting business at a young age, dreaming of one day sitting in the boss’s chair. But his father’s will throws a wrench in his plans by stipulating that Caleb share control of the family business with his two estranged brothers.

Things only get more complicated when demanding high-end home designer Morgan hires Caleb to build her a customized dream house that matches her specifications to a T—or she’ll use her powerful connections to poison the Pierce brothers’ reputation. Not one to ignore a challenge, Caleb vows to get the job done—if only he can stop getting distracted by his new client’s perfect…amenities.

But there’s more to icy Morgan than meets the eye. And Caleb’s not the only one who knows how to use a stud-finder. In fact, Morgan is pretty sure she’s found hers—and he looks quite enticing in a hard hat. As sparks fly between Morgan and Caleb despite his best intentions not to mix business and pleasure, will she finally warm up and help him lay the foundation for everlasting love?

 

 

I absolutely love Jennifer Probst's books, so I was super excited to see she had a new series coming out! I'm not really into HGTV and that kind of stuff, but I was definitely pulled in and was actually able to keep up with the building aspects of the story. I adored the Pierce brothers and seeing them try to repair a very broken family. They have years of stored up anger, resentment, and hurt to try and fix and it's not as easy as opening up and talking it out. They have to earn each other's trust again and learn how to not only cohabitate, but also work together with the construction company. Each brother has their own talent to offer and their views on how things should be done, so it's been a learning process to compromise and share the load.

 

I really liked Caleb's character. There is just something so positively sexy about a grumpy man who loves his dogs. He has a complicated relationship with his brothers, as he was the one to stay behind and manage the company with his dad after the two left. They had their reasons for leaving and while their relationship is still pretty rocky, they are brothers first and foremost and I think that means more than any of them realized. Caleb is a complete workaholic, so he hasn't had much time for relationships. He's content to work and spend time with his dogs, but when Morgan enters the fray, all bets are off.

 

Morgan was actually quite fun. She isn't a pushover or afraid to get dirty on the job, despite her outward Southern belle appearance. She acts uptight, but she's really just very guarded, having been hurt deeply in the past. There is so much tension between her and Caleb and I have to say, I love how downright primitive he could be when it came to her. He was jealous of other guys flirting with her and wanted her for himself, even though he knew that would bring along a whole new set of problems. Their banter was such fun to read and I loved seeing them go from being completely frustrated to one another, to not being able to keep their hands to themselves. Probst always delivers on the sexy times!

 

We met a few secondary characters that I definitely want to know more about. I am hoping both Raven (the new bartender in town) and Sydney (long time family friend of the Pierce's and secretary) are cast as leading ladies in future books. I am a sucker for second chance romances, so I'm hoping one of those comes in to play here as well!

 

Overall, I definitely enjoyed this first installment in Probst's new series and will definitely be looking forward to the next one!

 

 

 

Jennifer Probst wrote her first book at twelve years old. She bound it in a folder, read it to her classmates, and hasn’t stopped writing since. She took a short hiatus to get married, get pregnant, buy a house, get pregnant again, pursue a master’s in English Literature, and rescue two shelter dogs. Now she is writing again.

She makes her home in Upstate New York with the whole crew. Her sons keep her active, stressed, joyous, and sad her house will never be truly clean.

She is the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of sexy and erotic contemporary romance. She was thrilled her book, The Marriage Bargain, was ranked #6 on Amazon's Best Books for 2012. She loves hearing from readers. Visit her website for updates on new releases and her street team at www.jenniferprobst.com.

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Ride Hard (Raven Riders #1)
   by: Laura Kaye

Publication Date: Apr. 26, 2016
Publisher: Avon Romance
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Adult
Source: Physical copy received via the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 320 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 4/5 stars

Brotherhood. Club. Family.

They live and ride by their own rules.

These are the Raven Riders . . .

Raven Riders Motorcycle Club President Dare Kenyon rides hard and values loyalty above all else. He’ll do anything to protect the brotherhood of bikers—the only family he’s got—as well as those who can’t defend themselves. So when mistrustful Haven Randall lands on the club’s doorstep scared that she’s being hunted, Dare takes her in, swears to keep her safe, and pushes to learn the secrets overshadowing her pretty smile.

Haven fled from years of abuse at the hands of her criminal father and is suspicious of any man’s promises, including those of the darkly sexy and overwhelmingly intense Ravens’ leader. But as the powerful attraction between them flares to life, Dare pushes her boundaries and tempts her to want things she never thought she could.

The past never dies without a fight, but Dare Kenyon’s never backed down before . . .

I just adore motorcycle club books, so when I saw this one pop up for review, I HAD to give it a go. I am so glad I did, because I really enjoyed Kaye's first installment in the Raven Riders series! I definitely want to go back and read Kaye's Hard Ink series now and fans of that series will see some familiar faces!

Haven and her best friend are on the run and end up finding solace at the Raven Riders' compound. Their president, Dare, has always had a soft spot for those who need help and he can't help but give it to those in need. He's a good guy through and through and I really liked him. He could be a little back and forth when it came to Haven and her feelings for him, but he ultimately was trying to do what was best for her and it took him a minute to realize that her time with them had changed her from the timid, frightened young woman, into a vibrant, strong woman who was done hiding. The two had great chemistry and I did enjoy them together, despite Dare's hot and cold act at times.

This book is defined by its strong relationships. I love the bond between the MC brothers and the way they look out for their own. Haven and Cora really lucked out with this crowd. I especially loved their friendship. They complement each other really well and I am both super excited and terrified of Cora's book because I think she has been through something big and has been hiding it from Haven. They are great friends and I love the support system they have built.

I did feel the plot was a bit slower moving and it didn't turn as suspenseful as I thought it might, with Haven's father on the hunt for her and a new neighboring MC that may cause problems.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one. I am looking forward to continuing the series because I really came to love the characters and I didn't want to leave them!  

The Wedding Pact (The O'Malleys #2)
   by: Katee Robert

Publication Date: April 26, 2016
Publisher: Forever
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Adult
Source: e-ARC received via the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 352 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iTunes
My Rating: 4/5 stars

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Katee Robert continues her smoking-hot series about the O'Malleys—wealthy, powerful, and full of scandalous family secrets.

 Carrigan O'Malley has always known her arranged marriage would be more about power and prestige than passion. But after one taste of the hard-bodied, whiskey-voiced James Halloran, she's ruined for anyone else. Too bad James and his family are enemy number 1.

Hallorans vs. O'Malleys—that's how it's always been. James should be thinking more about how to expand his family's empire instead of how silky Carrigan's skin is against his and how he can next get her into his bed. Those are dangerous thoughts. But not nearly as dangerous as he'll be if he can't get what he wants: Carrigan by his side for the rest of their lives.

 

 

This is absolutely my favorite Katee Robert series, you guys. I LOVE learning about the three main crime families in Boston- the Sheridans, O'Malleys, and Hallorans. Seeing how they work, how they forge alliances, who their enemies are... it's all so fascinating to me! Not to mention- the romance! I really liked seeing Teague and Callie fall for one another in The Marriage Contract and I was all about James and Carrigan from their encounter in that book. There is so much passion between these two- it really is a force that's greater than them.

 

Carrigan O'Malley knows she shouldn't be lusting after James Halloran, especially after what his family did. She is still angry at him, but he knows just how to push her buttons. I love how relentless James is. He can't get her out of his mind or the extremely sexy encounter they shared. He knows there are a million other things that should get his complete focus, but it's definitely hard to forget the feisty brunette. My heart ached for them as they are really in difficult situations. Carrigan is expected to marry someone from her father's preapproved list and she has always been the obedient O'Malley. She craves her family's approval and wants to do right by them. Family is everything and you do not go against your family.

 

James has a lot on his plate as I said. He is the head Halloran now and has to maintain order in a crumbling establishment. His younger brother Ricky is a wildcard that can't be controlled. He is always looking to usurp James and cause problems for him. Ricky has to be managed and that's a seriously tiring effort. Not to mention, James wants to do right by his family name, but he wants to do good. He has a big heart and I really liked seeing that. Together he and Carrigan really are unstoppable and I loved seeing them together. It's very much a forbidden kind of love, what with Carrigan's impending marriage and the fact that her father is not looking to align himself with the Halloran clan.  

 

Not only do we get to see Carrigan and James's relationship develop, but we also get to see a bit into Cillian and Sloan's worlds, which was awesome because I believe they will have books as well. I already love Sloan and I definitely hope she finds happiness amidst such a constricted life.

 

Even though James and Carrigan can't be together, there's no denying they should be. They have so much chemistry together and I just couldn't get enough of their banter. They complement each other so well and I hope we hear more about how they are doing in Cillian's book, An Indecent Proposal.

 

I can't get enough of these characters and I am already ready for more!

 

New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Katee Robert learned to tell her stories at her grandpa’s knee. She found romance novels at age twelve and it changed her life. When not writing sexy contemporary and speculative fiction romance novels, she spends her time playing imaginary games with her wee ones, driving her husband batty with what-if questions, and planning for the inevitable zombie apocalypse. 

Connect with Katee at: Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads | Instagram | Tumblr | Youtube