Review: Demanding Ransom by Megan Squires

Demanding Ransom
by Megan Squires
Publication date: April 30, 2013
Genre: NA Contemporary Romance
Source: Author in exchange for unbiased review
Purchase*: Amazon
*purchases through buy links support this blog

Determined to move forward, Maggie embarks on her first year of college, hoping to finally put her past behind her, exactly where it belongs. But that’s hard to do when the present is just as difficult. And even harder when someone like Ran, the gorgeous paramedic that keeps crossing Maggie’s path, challenges her to face things head on, rather than bury them like she always does. Ran hasn’t had a perfect life either. But there’s something different about him, and something different about the way he makes Maggie feel. Maybe meeting Ran is life’s little gift for Maggie—a sort of consolation prize for enduring everything she's had to go through. But things don’t come easy for Maggie. Why should love be the exception? And just when everything starts to settle, it’s all turned on its head once again. If there is one thing Ran has taught Maggie, it’s that you can’t sit on the sidelines of your own existence. When life takes something that’s yours, you have every right to demand it back. Only for Maggie, that is easier said than done.

Going into Demanding Ransom I expected the book to be filled with romantic angst based on the synopsis but Megan Squires delivered a twist I didn’t see coming and a ride I thoroughly enjoyed. This is a wonderful romance, filled with growth, forgiveness and taking chances. Three word review: memorable, heartwarming, tender

Maggie Carson hasn’t had the perfect text book life and in her first year of college she hopes to move forward.  Enter Ran, a drop dead gorgeous paramedic who turns Maggie’s world upside down and teaches her that sometimes you need to face the past to move forward. The tale that unfolded grabbed me from the first page and held me captive.

Things haven’t come easy for Maggie and she carries a pretty big chip on her shoulder. She isn’t always an easy character to embrace but as Squires peels back her layers and reveals things you begin to understand her. She is more courageous then she knows and her love of family, determination and willingness make her believable.  From the start Ran is smexy, snarky and almost too good to be true. Squires gave him depth and like Maggie peeled back his layers showing how his vulnerability and personal growth. The romance built slowly, and I loved the snarky banter these two shared. I was rooting for them and hoping for a happy ending. Cora, Maggie’s boy crazy, high on life roommate was a hoot and Tate a fellow paramedic was a solid friend. While they weren’t as fleshed out, they were good friends and interesting enough that I would not mind their stories. Family is present, and I loved some and loathed others.

Squires’ world immediately sucks you in and is action packed from the beginning. From the way Maggie and Ran meet, to their slow building romance and personal growth I was captivated. At times Maggie annoyed me as she tried to hold up the carefully constructed walls she has placed around her heart. She is fully functional, and uses snark and avoidance when things get too real, but Ran sees right through her and his patience and acceptance were wonderful, making him completely swoon-worthy. The characters were completely fleshed out allowing me to form connections enhancing my experience. The romance builds slowly, is low on angst and develops out of trust making it feel genuine. This was relatively clean for NA but we do get some seriously hot kissing scenes. Just when everything is feeling wonderful and I am giddy, Squires throws in a twist I couldn't even imagine. I was flabbergasted and turned back the pages trying to somehow undo or change what I had just read. *loved it* The event floored me and kept me up reading to see how it would all unfold. The tale focuses on some emotional issues such as forgiveness, acceptance and trust. The flow and easy writing style made this an easy read that held my attention from the first page.

Demanding Ransom was a wonderful love story and while labeled New Adult, there is nothing to keep young adults from enjoying it. I look forward to trying more of Megan Squires’ books.

Four cups of coffee out of five

Tour Review: From This Moment On by Bella Andre

As part of the Summer of Love tour with BookTrib and Media Muscle each month we will be sharing a new review of Bella Andre's Sullivan series. Today I am sharing book two From This Moment On and this was bittersweet, hot and tugged at my heartstrings. Did I mention it's hot? Enjoy my review and pick up a copy today:

From This Moment On
by Bella Andre
Series: The Sullivans #2
Publisher: Harlequin/ Mira
Publication date: June 25, 2013
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance
Source: Tour in exchange for unbiased review
Purchase*: Barnes and Noble/Amazon/Book Depository
*purchase made through buy links support this blog 

Just one night-Marcus Sullivan has always been the responsible older brother, stepping in to take care of his seven siblings when their father died. But when the perfectly ordered future he's planned turns out to be a lie, Marcus needs one reckless night to shake free from it all. Known throughout the world by only one name—Nico—pop songstress Nicola Harding is seen as the ultimate sex kitten. But it's all a lie. After a terrible betrayal she refuses to let anyone else close enough to find out who she really is or to hurt her again. Especially the gorgeous stranger at the bar. One night is all Nicola and Marcus agree to share with each other. But instead, a deeper connection than either of them could have anticipated begins.

I absolutely loved The Look of Love by Belle Andre and almost immediately began reading From this Moment On. The tale features Marcus Sullivan who impressed me in book one and made me fall in love with him in book two. Andre has created such a wonderful and interesting family with the Sullivans’ and her writing style allowed me to slip into the pages and escape. Three word review: romantic, touching, hot.

Marcus is the oldest Sullivan and has always felt responsible for his seven siblings since his father’s passing.  For the past two years he has dated a woman whom he thought he would marry and create a family with.  In one afternoon he discovers he had it all wrong.  Wounded and needed to let loose a little he sets out to have a wild one night stand. Nicola Harding is tired of life in the spotlight and the demands of her career. She wants a little escape and sets out to have an anonymous night of fun. When these two meet the sparks fly, and they agree to share one night but sometimes one night is never enough!

Marcus is totally swoon worthy and 99% good guy with just a hint of naught in the bedroom. *swoons* He is a successful family man and a natural at making some of the best wine. Marcus is loyal, caring, intelligent and grounded but he can also be uptight while appearing to be all cool and collected. Seeing him cut loose was wonderful and I loved that he had no idea who Nicola was or any of the movers and shakers. Nicola is sweet and hides behind her public image. She appears so confident and assured on the outside but Marcus sees below the persona. I loved the banter and heat between them. Andre allows both characters to grow and I loved watching it unfold. Of course we see the other siblings and I cannot wait to read all of their stories.

I literally consumed this in a single evening as the rest of the world slipped away. I laughed, burst out giggling, blushed and fell completely for the characters.  Andre gave us some twists and turns on the way to our happily ever after, and I enjoyed watching it all unfold and fall into place. Marcus took me by surprise in the bedroom, adding a little more heat with his dominating side. Ooh-la-la peeps!  Even though the relationship developed rather quickly, Andre made it feel genuine. While the romance was hot, one of the things that appealed to me the most was the growth and healing we see in both characters as they lean on and learn from the other. I closed the book with a smile and cannot wait to crack open the next book.

Fans of close-knit siblings and hot little romances will enjoy From this Moment On and the entire Sullivans’ series. Can’t Help Falling in Love is the next book in the series. Look for my review in August.  Bella Andre is quickly becoming one of my favorite new series authors. Fans of Robyn Carr who wouldn’t mind a little more heat will adore this series. 

Four and half cups of coffee out of five 

First Three Sullivan Books Now Available in Paperback 

Review: If the Shoe Fits by Megan Mulry

If the Shoe Fits
by Megan Mulry
Series: Royal Pain #2
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Publication date: July 2, 2013
Genre: Adult  Contemporary Romance 
Source: publisher in exchange for unbiased review
Purchase*: Barnes and Noble/Amazon/Book Depository

Second in a sexy, playful new series of women's fiction imagining what it might be like for a modern American woman to fall in love with a British aristocrat, from new author Megan Mulry. Sarah James is an accomplished American woman who heads her own chic shoe company. Devon Heyworth is the rakish, ne'er-do-well younger brother of the 19th Duke of Northrop. When the two meet at the Duke's wedding they embark on a whirlwind weekend romance. And what begins as a casual fling at a royal wedding quickly proves to be far more meaningful. But when a string of misunderstandings threaten to tear them apart, their meddling aristocratic relatives join forces to reunite the star-crossed lovers.

When I began If the Shoe Fits I didn’t realize it was part of the Royal Pain series, but it worked well as a standalone. It is the tale of a modern day American who falls in love with a British aristocrat.  Filled with humor, shoes, angst and a delicious romance I enjoyed this romantic tale. Three word review: steamy, charming and entertaining.

We meet Sarah James a young successful owner of a shoe company who has dreams of having her boutiques all over the world. She is the maid of honor at her best friend’s wedding who happens to be marrying the nineteenth Duke of Northrop. At the rehearsal dinner she meets his very sexy, smooth talking younger brother Devon Heyworth. They have a whirlwind weekend fling where they agreed to enjoy themselves, no strings attached. Well we all know how those turn out. The tale is steamy, but as the couple discovers this isn’t a fling things get complicated since these two have zero experience in the relationship department.  Devon’s family and Sarah’s forward thinking Grandma step into the mix and the tale that unfold was entertaining and at times overly complicated.

Devon is such a player, an aristocratic brat who is bloody brilliant but hides it behind a never care facade. He has never been in a committed relationship and is overwhelmed by his emotions regarding Sarah. Sarah has daddy issues, has managed to start up a successful company and has her future all laid out. Until Devon she hasn’t even considered a relationship as her business has been her only lover. I loved their interaction, and their tryst. Sarah has some secrets and it leads to some mishandling of situations, misunderstandings and some hilarious moments. I really enjoyed watching these two come together and figure out their emotions. I enjoyed the other characters, especially Devon’s mother and Sarah’s grandmother. Throw in a sexy American, a meddling BFF and her hubby and things get interesting.  

The relationship between Sarah and Devon felt genuine and the sexual tension and steamy love scenes were hot and I found myself rooting for them. While I love angst, and twists and turns before a couple reaches their HEA, I felt some of this was overdone making me scream, “enough already!” Devon makes some serious mistakes, and the author does a good job of making us understand his actions even if they were bone-headed. Sarah was also hot and cold at times, and reacted over the top since she really had no clue and missed signals. The characters were fleshed out and the tale easy to slip into.  We get some interesting back history and side stories but I found myself skimming a few times because of the unresolved angst. This is something I rarely do, which makes me believe some of the story could have been tighten up. Or maybe I just wanted less talking and more relationship development. LOL!  Despite two many conflicts I enjoyed this tale and found myself laughing aloud and turning the pages to get my happily ever after. There is a thread regarding Devon’s younger sister and the author hinted about things which has me curious and I will pick up the next book. 

Fans of humor, angst, and steamy romances and ooh shoes will find If the Shoe Fits to be an entertaining read.  A Royal Pain is the first tale and features Devon’s older brother Max and Sarah’s BFF Bronte. R is for Rebel is the third book and releases in November. 

Three cups of coffee out of five 

Review/Giveaway: Anything But Sweet by Candis Terry

Anything But Sweet
by Candis Terry
Publisher: HarperCollins/Avon
Publication date: June 25, 2013
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance
Source: Publisher in exchange for unbiased review
Purchase*: Barnes and Noble/Amazon/Book Depository

HE’S STUBBORN AND THOROUGHLY MALE . . .If Charlotte Brooks thinks she and her TV makeover show can turn Reno Wilder’s hometown upside down, he’ll be happy to prove her wrong. The x-Marine has seen too much turmoil and he likes Sweet, Texas, just the way it is. Traditional. Familiar. A little dull. Everything Charli isn’t. But instead of backing off from his scowls like everyone else, Charli digs in her skyscraper heels. SHE’S TENACIOUS AND WICKEDLY TEMPTING . . .Reno Wilder is a one-man unwelcoming committee, but Charli isn’t budging. It’s clear the gorgeous cowboy needs an overhaul just as much as Sweet. Someone needs to break him out of that gruff shell and show him how fun and rewarding a little change can be. THEY’RE ABOUT TO FIND THAT LOVE IS ANYTHING BUT PREDICTABLE.

When it comes to contemporary romance one of my personal favorites are those set in small-towns. Anything But Sweet by Candis Terry set in Sweet, Texas delivered a delicious tale with townsfolk that captured my heart, had me singing country western songs and swooning over a hot, ex-marine, cowboy. Three word review: romantic, captivating and hot.

Sweet, Texas is off the beaten track, where everyone knows everyone and tradition and family are everything. When townsfolk apply for and win a makeover from a TV makeover series the town is elated. Well everyone that is but Reno Wilder whose suffered loss and deliberately and stubbornly avoids change. When Charlotte Brooks the spunky, sexy and friendly host of the show and her team arrive, Reno has no intention of being part of the welcoming committee, but Charli has a way of getting under his skin. The tale that unfolds is romantic, filled with memorable moments and maybe just maybe change is a good thing.

Reno Wilder is yummy, honorable, a family man and his heart has been damaged. He is mourning the loss of loved ones and trying to honor his father’s memory. He is also stubborn, afraid and I just wanted to hug him. He takes care of his mama and siblings but keeps the world and his heart at a distance. Charlotte or “Charli” is bubbly, loves people and is a constant chatter box. Life wasn’t easy growing up as a military brat and she is envious of the small-town folks and the roots they have established. She loves interior and exterior decorating and thrives in helping people make their lives brighter. I loved watching these two tango as she took two steps forward and he jumped three steps back even as he wanted to turn things into a hip-hugging slow dance. Their banter was delicious and I couldn’t get enough. Terry mixed in other characters who added to the tale, with threads about them and I am desperately hoping we will see additional books in Sweet, Texas.

I loved the idea of the town makeover and getting to know the different townsfolk. Learning about Reno, his family and others held me captive as I devoured this tale. Terry created genuine characters that were fleshed out and I felt as if I knew them. The romance developed slowly but went it heated up-woozier! Terry gave us some scenes that curled my toes with just enough details to make the pages burn beneath my finger-tips. Filled with lessons of loss, love, family and taking chances this was a feel good tale, low on angst and high on realistic issues. It’s a book you will close with a smile on your face, hope in your heart and an unbelievable yearning to pack your bags and move to Sweet, Texas. Yeha!

I highly recommend Anything But Sweet to fans of small town feel good romances. If you like Robyn Carr, Shannon Stacey and Bella Andre you will adore Candis Terry.

Four cups of coffee out of five

US/CAN Rafflecopter Giveaway of 3 paperback copies of Anything But Sweet

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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

Review: Losing Hope by Colleen Hoover

Losing Hope
by Colleen Hoover
Series: Hopeless #2
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication date: July 8, 2013
Genre: NA Contemporary Romance
Source: purchased
Purchase*: Barnes and Noble/Amazon/Book Depository

In Hopeless, Sky left no secret unearthed, no feeling unshared, and no memory forgotten, but Holder’s past remained a mystery. Still haunted by the little girl he let walk away, Holder has spent his entire life searching for her in an attempt to finally rid himself of the crushing guilt he has felt for years. But he could not have anticipated that the moment they reconnect, even greater remorse would overwhelm him… Sometimes in life, if we wish to move forward, we must first dig deep into our past and make amends. In Losing Hope, bestselling author Colleen Hoover reveals what was going on inside Holder’s head during all those hopeless moments—and whether he can gain the peace he desperately needs.

Hopeless was the first book that I read by Colleen Hoover and I adored the characters and was swept up in the tale, so I was really excited and nervous to read Losing Hope. Told from Holder’s point of view Hoover gave us a fresh look at the events and insight into Holder himself. Three word review: captivating, heartbreaking, beautiful.

Say good-bye to your heart as Hoover whisks it away in the very first pages of this tale as she takes us into the mind of Holder, his sister’s suicide and his interactions with Sky. In Hopeless we learned everything from Sky’s perspective and in Losing Hope the tale that unfolds shares those events as well as things we didn’t see and the impact it all had on this swoon-worthy, broken, sensitive young man. The tale held my heart hostage.

I connected with and enjoyed both Holder and Sky in the previous novel, but getting inside Holder’s head as he deals with losing his sister, returning home and discovering Sky took my emotions on one heck of a ride. Hoover slowly peeled back Holder’s layers showing his emotions and the guilt he carries regarding his sister and the little girl who disappeared. We see his sensitive side; how he struggles, his concern for Sky, his parents and doing the right thing. It is powerful and raw and felt very genuine. In the midst of YA and NA bad boys Dean Holder is refreshing. He is basically an all around good guy dealing with some pretty traumatic crap. Yet, he has just enough of an edge to appeal to those who adore their bad boys. Sky is innocent, complicated and naive; I loved seeing her through Holder’s eye. Holder’s best friend Daniel is back and he is a strong secondary character who is loyal, hilarious and supportive. Now Breckin is Sky’s best friend and I adored him and his sense of humor in the first book and we get more glimpses of him and his interactions with Holder making me one happy reader. While Les, holder’s sister gets less page time, her presence is powerful and her story captivating.

This is the second author to amaze me when telling the same tale from a different POV. The first was Jamie McGuire with Travis’s story in Walking Disaster and as much as I adored that book Hoover took it to another level. This wasn’t just a play by play of the same scenes from Holder’s POV, she gives us new scenes, information is revealed, answers are given. Tremendous insight into Holder and his struggles apart from Sky make this unbelievably fresh, and had me whipping the pages and devouring the words. OMG, I think I’ve gone all fan-girl and no I haven’t had any Monster Java today! While this plays off the first book, it can stand on its own. Both books toyed with my emotions, had me connecting to the characters and caught up in the tale as it unfolded. A part of me loves Losing Hope even more than Hopeless, but I am honestly not sure if it’s because I read the first book and together they made me fall completely and madly in love with a smexy, sweet, troubled young man named Dean Holder.

For fans of Colleen Hover Losing Hope is a must read, and if you liked Jamie McGuire’s’ Walking Disaster and Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry will enjoy this tale. 

Five cups of coffee out of five

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

 
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 

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