Monday, July 22, 2013

Review: Fair Play by Tracy A. Ward

Fair Play
by Tracy A. Ward
Publisher: Entangled
Publication date: June 10, 2013
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance
Source: Publisher in exchange for unbiased review
Purchase*: Barnes and Noble/Amazon


Writing three plays for a nationally acclaimed theater in Phair, Texas, wasn’t supposed to put my inheritance at risk and force me into constant contact with Noah Blake--the very guy I love to hate. But with one chance to prove to my controlling father that I can succeed as a playwright, I’ve developed a major case of writer’s block. Cue Noah, my older brother’s best friend and the guy I’ve avoided since my crush-gone-bad days. And now my director thinks he’s the key to unleashing my creativity. He thinks Noah is my muse. Discovering the fate of the theater is also in my hands, I have no choice but to collaborate with my worst enemy. But it’s more than just a great scene Noah inspires. Now everything I thought I wanted is put to the test. And the guy I swore I was over still has a hold on my heart. 
Fair Play caught my attention from the cover to the synopsis and I was eager to jump in and read Noah and Ashlyn's story. This was a fun, hot read that I consumed in a single evening. Three word review: sweet, sexy and entertaining.

Ashlyn is a struggling writer who has been hired to write three plays for the nationally acclaimed theater in Phair, Texas. Her first two increased sales but didn’t enthrall the critics. With just a few weeks to go before the playwright festival she hands in a rough draft of her first scene and admits she is suffering from writer’s block.  Her director thinks there is a link between her characters and her relationship with her brother’s best friend Noah Blake. He wants Noah to be her muse and insists they spend time together. Blake runs a successful pub chain across the street from the theater that is about to go international.  She has a love/hate relationship with Noah and the tale that unfolds found me laughing, swooning and completely captivated.

The tale is told from Ashlyn’s POV which in my opinion added to the tale. I found her to be strong, brilliant, witty and carrying around a few issues. It was fun seeing her overcome them and take a chance. Noah just oozes smexy from his handsome good lucks, smirky smile and brilliant career mind. He has known Ashlyn forever but as his best friend’s little sister she is off limits. The banter between them was hilarious with an edge of snark. They both have commitment issues which only added to the tale and had me wanted to bop them over the head. We meet other characters and a sleazy character from their past, all of which had me turning the pages. The town of Phair is one I would like to visit and the townsfolk we met added to the story and made you envious of the people who lived there. I am hoping the author decides to revisit this small town and create new stories there.

I love troupes that force two characters together. Especially when it’s obvious the couple is attracted to one another and are the only ones who can’t see it. Ward added some clever twist including the play Ashlyn was writing which created some delightfully sinful and smoking hot scenes. I laughed and giggled despite the predictability of the tale. The romance and sexual tension built slowly and when it all collided it was oh-la-la! I found the characters to be fleshed-out, genuine and believable. This book offered me a lovely escape as reality simply slipped away. I loved that it made me burst out laughing and had me sighing the next moment. 

Fair Play is the perfect late night or beach read that allows you to slip away from reality for a short time. This is Tracy A. Ward’s first published work and I look forward to seeing what she delivers next.

Three and half cups of coffee out of five
Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer

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Saturday, July 13, 2013

Coffee Pot Reviews: Try Me by Diane Alberts & Faking It by Cora Carmack


 Coffee Pot Reviews
Welcome to Coffee Pot Reviews! These are short and sweet reviews done in the length of time it takes my coffee pot to brew! I have two yummy adult books to share with you.  Adult books contain mature content and are not intended for readers under 18 years of age. I've got iced mocha coffee so grab a cup and enjoy! 




Try Me
by Diane Alberta 
Series: Take a Chance #1
Publisher: Entangled (Ever After)
Publication date: May 24, 2012
Genre: Adult Contemporary
Source: Purchase
Purchase*: Barnes and Noble/Amazon


What happens in Vegas...can lead to romance. It took one wild night for Sergeant Jeremy Addison to realize that Vegas? Was a bad idea. Bloody. Bruised. Dehydrated. Abandoned in the desert, and left to stagger down the road. The only way this leave could get worse was if his savior was his ex-best friend's sister...and the girl he'd loved since childhood. The last person Erica expected to find on the roadside was her high school crush. She hadn't seen Jeremy in seven years—ever since the night he said he loved her, and she ran away. Losing him then had been a mistake, but wanting him now could be catastrophic if he discovered the secret that chased every other man from her life. But with a tall, tattooed Marine determined to prove he's always been faithful, can Erica resist his advances...or will she surrender ground and give love a try?
Try Me is a novella and the first book in the Take a Chance series. It features military men, which I adore and it tackled some issues like trust, physical scars and misunderstanding. I liked Erica and Jeremy and their banter. The author's writing style was smooth and easy. She took us from beginning to end fairly well but in order to do that we lost some sweet moments, information and the slow-building that I love in my romances. I think I would have enjoyed a full-length novel of their story more. Overall this was a quick, sweet read that I devoured in about twenty minutes. It was written well and I would try this author again. 

Two cups of coffee out of five 
Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer

Faking It 
by Cora Carmack 
Series: Losing It #2
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication date: June 4, 2013
Genre: New Adult Contemporary
Source: Purchase
Purchase*: Barnes and Noble/Amazon/Book Depository
My Review of book one: Losing It 

Mackenzie “Max” Miller has a problem. Her parents have arrived in town for a surprise visit, and if they see her dyed hair, tattoos, and piercings, they just might disown her. Even worse, they’re expecting to meet a nice, wholesome boyfriend, not a guy named Mace who has a neck tattoo and plays in a band. All her lies are about to come crashing down around her, but then she meets Cade. Cade moved to Philadelphia to act and to leave his problems behind in Texas. So far though, he’s kept the problems and had very little opportunity to take the stage. When Max approaches him in a coffee shop with a crazy request to pretend to be her boyfriend, he agrees to play the part. But when Cade plays the role a little too well, they’re forced to keep the ruse going. And the more they fake the relationship, the more real it begins to feel.
Predictable? Yes. Worth the Read? Heck yes! I really enjoyed Losing It and was determined to read Cade's story on release day and I am so glad I did! Faking It was wonderful, with flesh-out characters and hot steamy scenes with enough angst, heartbreak and tender moments to keep you turning the pages. Carmack switched things up and offered us a smexy good-boy and a jaded bad girl and what a delicious combination. I loved Max, from her colored hair to her breathtaking music. The chemistry between them felt real, and was so hot my fingers got burned! I laughed, cried and giggled my way through this one. Next up is Finding It and we will get Kelsey's story. Carmack is easily one of my favorite new authors.

Four cups of coffee out of five
Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer Kimba The Caffeinated Book Reviewer Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer

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Sunday, June 23, 2013

The Sunday Post #61 ~sharing blog news and book haul

The Sunday Post ~ 61st Edition
The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~ It's a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. 
Hello my Caffeinated Peeps! I hope everyone is having a lovely weekend. It has been quite hot and humid here so I've been spending time reading. *as if that surprises you* I also discovered that Monster makes coffee flavored drinks. Now I know some of you like to get your caffeine from those energry drinks, but I think the others taste like icky medicine. So a friend had one called Mean Bean and I took a chance and bought one..holy coffee flavored goodness! *Note do not crack one open at 11:30 at night no matter how much that cold drink calls to you* I was up till 3 am jabbering. My poor husband was like what are you on?
Last week on the blog we brought you
This week on the blog look for
  • Giveaway: If the Shoe Fits by Megan Mulry 
  • Surrender Your Love by J.C. Reed (spotlight/giveaway)
  • Imaginable by J. Meyers (review)
  • The Newcomer by Robyn Carr (review)
  • Excerpt of Michael Palmer book and Info on Thrillfest VIII in NYC
  • Wanted: Wife by Gwen Jones (review)
  • The Best Man by Ana Blaze (review)
  • A Human Element by Donna Galanti  (review) 
  • How the Heck Did You Do That?!? Blogger Tips & Tricks - Writing Negative Reviews and Handling the Fallout
Around the Blogosphere 
New arrivals to the Caffeinated Cafe
For Review


Can't Help Falling In Love by Bella Andre
thanks to Media Muscle, Mira and BookTrib 


Uncharted by Tracey Garvis Graves
thanks to Penguin


Tandem by Anna Jarzab
thanks to Random House

Won/Gifted or for Review Consideration


A B&N gift card from the Entangled Publishing's Bliss Party 

won from Jennifer @ Some Like It Paranormal 

  Purchased





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*leave a comment and I will stop by*

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Saturday, June 8, 2013

Coffee Pot Reviews: The Marriage Bargain & Weekend Agreement


 Coffee Pot Reviews
Welcome to Coffee Pot Reviews! These are short and sweet reviews done in the length of time it takes my coffee pot to brew! I have two romances from Entangled Publishing to share with you today about arrangements and deals. Adult books contain mature content and are not intended for readers under 18 years of age.  Grab a cup of coffee and a scone! 




The Marriage Bargain
by Jennifer Probst
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Publication date: February 14, 2012
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance
Purchase*: Barnes and Noble/Amazon/Book Depository
Source: won
*purchase supports this blog


A marriage in name only... To save her family home, impulsive bookstore owner, Alexa Maria McKenzie, casts a love spell. But she never planned on conjuring up her best friend's older brother—the powerful man who once shattered her heart. Billionaire Nicholas Ryan doesn’t believe in marriage, but in order to inherit his father’s corporation, he needs a wife and needs one fast. When he discovers his sister’s childhood friend is in dire financial straits, he offers Alexa a bold proposition. A marriage in name only with certain rules: avoid entanglement. Keep things all business. Do not fall in love. The arrangement is only for a year so the rules shouldn’t be that hard to follow, right? Except fate has a way of upsetting the best-laid plans…
I love arranged marriages and contract troupes ..they always end up with delicious results. The Marriage Bargain while completely predictable was a fun fast read and one I thoroughly enjoyed. All the ingredients were there; sexual attraction, fear of commitment, tension and bittersweet moments. Alexa was a strong, caring, romantic character and I just clicked with her. Nicholas is our damaged, pretty boy who needs Alexa more then even he can imagine. The chemistry felt genuine and there was a nice mix of tender and funny moments. 

Three and half cups of coffee from the corner cafe
Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer Kimba The Caffeinated Book Reviewer Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer

Weekend Agreement
by Barbara Wallace
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Publication date: March 15, 2012
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance
Purchase*: Barnes and Noble/Amazon
Source: won 
*purchase supports this blog
Some deals were meant to be broken… Cynical billionaire Daniel Martinetti works hard; plays harder and has one ironclad rule. Never trust a woman. Bad news for historian Charlotte Doherty who shows up at exactly the wrong time. Like every other woman in Daniel’s life, Charlotte wants something from him–the deed to her family farm. Daniel agrees, but only if he gets something in return: Charlotte’s company for the weekend! The property is Charlotte’s only link to the mother she never knew. Desperate to keep her history alive, she’ll accept Daniel’s indecent proposal, but not without a few terms of her own. Namely, a propriety clause. No flirting. No kissing. No sex. Daniel has no intention of honoring her conditions, but after one weekend with Charlotte leaves him hungering for more, he can’t help wondering if she could be the exception to his unbreakable rule…
Weekend Agreement was a short, touching, and sweet read. I easily consumed this in a single sitting. I connected with both characters and felt for smexy Daniel. The characters were fleshed out enough that I felt I understood them and despite a little insta-attraction it felt genuine. While the tale was fairly predictable, it had some cute moments and a little drama to spice things up. I found myself, giggling, and rooting for this pair. Purely entertaining this makes a perfect late night read that is low on heat, but heartwarming. 

There and half vanilla lattes out of five
Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer Kimba The Caffeinated Book Reviewer Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer

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Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Guest Post: Diana Quincy author of Seducing Charlotte

Today I have a guest post from author Diana Quincy and will introduce you to her debut novel Seducing Charlotte the first in a new adult historical romance series. Grab a cup of joe and enjoy! 

Guest Post 
 Why the Most Interesting Characters Aren’t Perfect

My debut novel, Seducing Charlotte, begins with the hero receiving a sex act from a woman he barely knows.

While the reader might automatically assume the Marquess of Camryn is a rake, he isn’t. But you don’t know that right off. Exploring Cam’s character as the story unfolds is—I hope—one of the book’s pleasures.   

In real life, the fact that people aren’t all good or all bad is what makes them uniquely interesting. My favorite novels slowly reveal different facets of a character’s personality and I tried to bring a little of that complexity to Seducing Charlotte.

The story takes place at the dawning of the Industrial Revolution. Charlotte, an advocate of workers’ rights, automatically assumes the worst when she learns Cam is a factory owner who uses the new steam-powered looms that deprive weavers of their livelihood.

On the surface, the character of Charlotte fits the spinster stereotype; she’s a plain bluestocking who pays little attention to her appearance. You might expect her to be shrewish and uptight, but she’s nothing of the sort.

Instead, Charlotte is smart, sensual and tends to say things that get her into trouble. In fact, when she catches Cam in a compromising position, her reaction is the opposite of what you might expect.

Neither character fits a precise archetype. She’s not the frigid old maid waiting for a hero to unlock her true passion, and he’s not the perfect but misunderstood man who needs the love of a good woman to reform him

As the story unfolds, their true characters are unveiled.

Charlotte is outspoken, forward thinking and honest to a fault.

Cam’s a passionate man with a temper—maybe even a bit of a dark side—that causes him to say or do things he often regrets later. While the beginning of the book might lead readers to believe otherwise,  by the end of the story, we’ve no doubt he has a strong sense of right and wrong. 

Perhaps this Goodreads reviewer put it best:

“Despite some evidence to the contrary, he was a true gentleman. He was definitely an easy hero to adore.” 

And that’s exactly what I was going for. ~Diana



Seducing Charlotte
by Diana Quincy
Series: The Accidental Peers #1
Publisher: Entangled: Scandalous 
Publication date: April 15, 2013
Genre: Adult Historical Romance
Purchase*: Barnes and Noble/Amazon




 Even if he is the catch of the season, Charlotte Livingston has a low opinion of the wildly handsome Marquess of Camryn. He’s an industrialist who thinks nothing of replacing workers with machines, depriving them of an honest living. Camryn is everything a social reformer like Charlotte detests. Besides, her loyalty belongs to another man. Yet, as a violent machine-breakers rebellion rages across England, an undeniable attraction flares between the passionate adversaries. Camryn vows to destroy the rebel movement, unaware that the spinster who has captured his heart, harbors a secret - a shocking connection to one of its leaders that could shatter them both.
Sounds interesting right? How about a little teaser?  

Excerpt 
He marveled at the way the sun illuminated the clear blue in her eyes. “I won’t bother to dissemble, Miss Livingston.” Taking hold of her hand, he pulled Charlotte around the massive tree trunk, out of the sight of the rest of the guests. “I hope to steal another kiss. Actually, I have thought of little else since our last one. Will you allow it?”

She flushed, her gaze floating beyond him. “Really, Camryn, if you ask for permission, it hardly qualifies as stealing a kiss.”

Blood raced to his vitals when it registered she’d just told him to take what he wanted. Shaking his head, he wondered what is was about this woman that made him desperate to touch her again. It had been an agonizing week since he'd last felt her lips beneath his. Now, finally offered the opportunity, he greedily grasped it.

Cupping Charlotte’s cheeks, he marveled at their satiny softness before lowering his face to hers, kissing one side of her succulent mouth and then the other. Then he intensified his actions, pressing down on her lips, bidding her to open them to him as she had once before. When she did, he kissed her as deeply as he had ever kissed a woman.

He licked and plunged his tongue deeper, greedy to taste more, losing himself in her subtle floral scent. She tasted of lemonade, a woman’s softness, and unlimited possibility. Her untutored tongue ventured to taste him as well, provoking a delighted sound of surprise from him. The wondering hum that sounded from the back of her throat made his body quicken in a rush of heat.

Awareness gradually filtered back to him, reminding Cam of their surroundings. He pulled away with great reluctance, his blood at a boil, and forced himself to take a step back lest he pull Charlotte to the grass and make love to her right there with other guests nearby.

She stood frozen in place with her eyes still closed, red circles burned into the high arches of her cheeks. After a moment, as if in a daze, her lids fluttered open. He easily recognized the hazy arousal in those unfocused blue depths for they mirrored his own.

They stood facing one another for a moment, bodies apart, but gazes interlocked. She blinked. “When I said you had a clever tongue, I really had no idea.” 


About the Author 
Diana Quincy is an award-winning former television journalist who decided she’d rather make up stories where a happy ending is always guaranteed. Growing up as a foreign service brat, Diana lived in many countries and is now settled in Virginia with her husband and two sons. When not bent over her laptop or trying to keep up with  laundry, she enjoys reading, spending time with her family and dreams of traveling much more than her current schedule (and budget) allows. Diana loves to hear from readers. 

You can keep up with her online at the following links:

I agree that the most interesting men aren't perfect.
What do you think? 

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Sunday, March 31, 2013

The Sunday Post #49~sharing blog news and book haul

The Sunday Post ~ 49th Edition
The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~ It's a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. 
It's Easter Sunday and I hope the bunny left you a little chocolate :) We are finally warming up here and the snow is gone. I have been sick on and off all winter and cannot wait to open the windows and let in the sun. This is the last day of reading for Take Control, be sure and enter your read books in the rafflecopter which closes on the April 2nd at midnight. 


Last week on the blog we brought you
This week on the blog look for
  • 13 by Amy Lignor (review)
  • Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers (review)
  • Waiting on Wednesday
  • Scarlet by Marissa Meyer (review)
  • The Prophet by Amanda Stevens (review)
  • Coffee Pot Reviews: Pushing the Limit by Katie McGarry & Blood, Smoke and Mirrors by Robyn Bachar 
Around the Blogosphere 
New arrivals to the Caffeinated Cafe
For Review

Summer in Napa by Marina Adair
courtesy of author and Montlake Romance 


Tempting Cameron by Karen Erickson
thanks to Entangled Publishing

Outcast Prince by Shona Husk
thanks to Sourcebooks 


Gifted or Won


won from Bea @Bea's Book Nook and author 


I won a box of books from Diana @ Book of Secrets
and it's a delightful mix of genres. I cannot wait to try them.



Purchased or Downloaded




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