PUCKED Up by Helena Hunting

PUCKED Up by Helena Hunting

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Having laughed my butt off while reading Pucked (and why can’t that be literally?), I dove at the chance to read Pucked Up. Let me first assure those that have not read Pucked that you absolutely can read Pucked Up as a stand-alone book, but you are seriously shortchanging yourself on the experience that is Vi, Alex, and the MC. Those who read Pucked will be delighted to know that Vi and her filter-less mouth make many appearances in this installment as she is Buck’s step-sister after all. And while the humor is certainly rampant within this book, I was surprised by how much the humor was toned down from book one considering that Buck is a guy and all. But it worked because Hunting revealed Buck’s character in such a way that I realized that I was just as guilty of misjudging him as so many of the people around him were – and I even knew how good of a brother he was to Vi. Yep, I fell in love with the yeti!

Where Pucked was a romantic comedy featuring the borderline adolescent sense of humor of Vi, Pucked Up is more a comedy of errors with a sprinkling of adolescent humor. If there was a way for a situation to go wrong and lead to Buck looking like a manwhore on social media, it happened. Rather than the incidents feeling contrived as a way to add humor to the book, they felt like naturally occurring misfires as they were rarely situations of Buck’s making. The charity carwash is a perfect example of this because Buck went to the event with two very admirable goals and found himself plastered all over social media – again – in what looked to be a compromising situation when it wasn’t. Buck is one of those guys who can actually say “It’s not what it looks like” and it be completely true. He was also far deeper of a character than I would have ever expected from reading book one. His feelings for Sunny were genuine and made him want to be a better man. While their sexy fun times were seriously hot, I found the romance between Sunny and Buck to be far sweeter than I ever expected. And I loved it.

As much as I liked Sunny and felt badly for her when she messed up, she messed up HUGE because she let people close to her who didn’t know Buck and the relationship they had try to tell her what to think of him. That said, I loved it when she stood up to Alex and let him know that she wasn’t going to let him tell her what to think. But Hunting didn’t stop there with clearing the air because more than one person took the time to “man up” in this book and apologize for jumping to conclusions about Buck and what they assumed was going on. Human nature often leads to a level of immaturity when peoples’ feelings are hurt, causing them to lash out, but I liked how Hunting’s characters showed growth by owning up to what they did wrong and apologizing for it. It’s not something you see in a lot of romances, especially the new adult genre, so it was quite refreshing. Pucked Up was “incrawsome” and I really hope that Hunting plans to continue the series as I love this group of friends and would love to revisit them … and find out what went down between Lily and Randy.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

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Nuts by Alice Clayton

Nuts by Alice Clayton

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Clayton has done it again! Granted I have only read her Cocktail series, but that will soon be remedied as the brief meeting of Grace and Jack in Nuts has guaranteed that the Redhead series (which I apparently snagged on sale) will be gracing my vacation reading list this holiday season. But I am happy to report that the same level of humor that Clayton brought to the Cocktail series is as present as ever in Nuts and I for one am already salivating over the plethora of plots that Hudson Valley has to offer. Before I get to the actual story, I STRONGLY recommend you read the Acknowledgements. I rarely do, yet for some reason I found myself reading (and snorting) my way through it and it gave me a frame of reference that I think increased my enjoyment of the book.

Roxie is a blast. She’s a hoot. A one-woman comedy act, whether she means to be or not. She’s the kind of woman you want to count as one of your closest friends because you know your life will never be dull as long as she’s in it. Yes, I may very well have a girl-crush on Roxie. But it’s only fair as I was seriously crushing on Leo too … that man could farm my dell any day. What starts out as an extremely reluctant (and that’s putting it mildly folks) Roxie returning home to Hudson Valley for the summer to run the family diner while her mother runs The Amazing Race (I know!!!) quickly shapes up to be one of the best summers of Roxie’s life, all thanks to a man who really knows his nuts … and fruits and vegetables and come on, you might as well get used to it because Clayton’s writing insures that there are more opportunities for double entendres than I can possibly resist. But seriously, Leo’s passion for organic and sustainable farming was well-matched by Roxie’s passion for cooking, so their relationship made sense. Despite the built-in expiration date on their relationship – because Roxie was going back to California as soon as the summer was over – Roxie found herself falling for Leo and beginning to wonder if maybe, just maybe, the small-town feel of Hudson Valley was less suffocating and more comforting than it was in her youth. Yet when Roxie learns Leo’s secret, she feels as though her world is imploding once again and she’s left feeling confused, betrayed, and stung.

While there are tons of laughs throughout, it’s Roxie’s reaction to bees that had me chuckling fondly as they reminded me of a childhood friend. The chemistry between Leo and Roxie is perfect both in the bedroom and outside of it. Their first and second meetings were priceless and had me in stitches. Roxie’s reaction to Leo’s secret felt realistic and we learned far more about her in that moment than I think she was even aware of herself. Even when she decides to give Leo a chance to explain, the resolution isn’t instant as they are both hesitant as to how to move forward. Although the book is told from Roxie’s point of view, I love that Clayton tends to reserve the Epilogue for a different character’s point of view and in the case of Nuts we are treated to Leo’s. And it was perfect as was this book. I cannot wait for the next book in the Hudson Valley series. Until then, I leave you with this: ZOMBIE PICKLES!!!

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Nuts (Hudson Valley #1) by Alice Clayton blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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Don't Stake My Life on It by Bailey Bradford

Don't Stake My Life on It by Bailey Bradford

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I know this is only the second book but I am so loving this series. After Tony and Augustin's unconventional romance in My Life Without Garlic I was excited to see what Ms. Bradford had in store for Claude's coven. Don't Stake My Life on It does not disappoint as Radney sets out to prove that he's not the loser or psychotic vampire his stunt with Augustin would indicate. And if along the way he happens to meet someone that captures his attention, well that's all for the better.

Truth be told I really didn't remember who Rad was until mention was made of his encounter with Augustin, which still only left me with a vague recollection of him. As the details of Rad's past are hinted at and revealed I realized that there was far more to him than previously known. While it's pointed out in the book that few vampires had a good experience when turned, we learn that Rad's was worse than most and that his early years were particularly traumatic due to a sadistic sire. Because of this he is squeamish about biting humans and avoids it whenever possible. Yeah, you read that right! A vampire who doesn't like to bite humans. Can you understand why I love this series? Ms. Bradford's characters do not fit the usual vampire romance stereotype. In the same vein (no pun intended), Andrew is not a super sexy human whose body is cut beyond belief. No, he's a slightly nerdy college student with a "soft" body, a big heart, and a double-dog dare from his twin brother to sex it up with the next attractive gay man he meets. It turns out that the attraction is mutual and that makes for one seriously hot make-out session.

While not fraught with the same level of snark as book one, Ms. Bradford insures that there are plenty of amusing moments to lighten the mood when needed. I like the new element she has added with the introduction of the hunters as they present a danger for both the vampires and the humans who love them. The relationship that develops between Rad and Andrew is sweet because they don't jump right in – at least not emotionally – preferring to get to know one another better before making an eternal commitment. I loved their chemistry and how well their personalities complemented one another. The end was great as Claude showed in no uncertain terms why he's the head of their coven. Don't Stake My Life on It was a great combination of humor, sexy fun times, romance, action, and a KILT and I enjoyed every page of it. I cannot wait for the next book in the series to find out who finds their mate next.

I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.

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Sustained by Emma Chase

Sustained by Emma Chase

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Ms. Chase is one of my favorite romantic comedy authors and I jump at the chance to review her books. Having read and loved Overruled, I could not wait to begin Sustained, but I had to because I had to insure that I had the proper reading environment. You know the one – a place where you can read uninterrupted and not be bothered while laughing like a loon. Oh yes, Ms. Chase did not disappoint and there were a few times I was laughing so hard I suspect my upstairs neighbor was questioning my sanity. Why? Because being inside Jake Becker’s head is a riot. Add to that his prowess in the bedroom (or bathroom, or pantry, or door … you get the idea), and Sustained was everything I had hoped for and more.

While not a great day for Jake, I absolutely loved the wake-up call he got regarding his revolving bedroom door. The manwhore is a popular character in current contemporary romance, especially the reformed manwhore, but few authors write scenes that include the consequences of being one. Not only did Ms. Chase give Jake a huge dose of reality, she still manages to infuse the related scenes with humor (for the reader) while still conveying the seriousness of the issue. Doing so makes his first “real date” hilarious and his encounters with the McQuaids extremely entertaining. Considering what we learn about how the Judge helped Jake turn his life around, I wasn’t surprised by his reaction to Rory and the subsequent encounters with the McQuaid children. Even though Jake convinced himself that he was “helping out” for a chance at Chelsea, it became clear quickly that there was more to the situation than that. That it had the side benefit of getting him into Chelsea’s good graces (and pants) that much quicker was just a bonus. And man what a bonus that was! While there is plenty of drama to go around, the relationship angst is kept to a minimum and is understandable when Jake tells Chelsea about his father. Fortunately for Jake, he has an awesome group of friends that have no problem give him the metaphorical kick in the arse he needs to keep him from throwing away his chance at happiness.

Watching the romance between Jake and Chelsea build was great, but it’s the interactions of the “family” as a whole that made the book truly entertaining for me. I will admit that kids in a romance are an iffy subject matter for me. Some authors focus too much on the children and they take over the book and while that’s fine for a family drama, it’s not so good for a romance. But knowing Ms. Chase’s style of writing I wasn’t too concerned about that happening and, again, she proved me correct. The six, yes SIX, McQuaid children are a hoot. They are a delightful group of endearing, frustrating, c**kblocking (Jake’s word) kids that enrich Jake’s life and the book. I fell in love with the kids just as much as I did with Jake and Chelsea. I cannot believe I’m going to say this, but I’m not sure what I enjoyed more – the hot as heck sex scenes or the heartwarming interactions between Jake and the children. While I loved that we got to see Jake in action in the courtroom, the circumstances surrounding it were heartbreaking. But the ultimate ending of Sustained made it all worth it. I was so glad that Jake was able to rectify the professional dilemma he found himself in and I cannot wait to see how that venture unfolds in Appealed. Ms. Chase has another hit on her hands with Sustained and I have another book to add to my reread pile.

I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
Check out the Sustained by Emma Chase is Now Available & Reviewed post on Wicked Reads.


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My Life Without Garlic by Bailey Bradford

My Life Without Garlic by Bailey Bradford

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Is it wrong that I had no idea whatsoever that Ms. Bradford could write comedy? I’m not talking about a humorous scene here or a funny line there, but a full-fledged comedy. I laughed my butt off while reading My Life Without Garlic and I can only hope that with as snarky as the author made Augustin that that was her intent because that’s what made it a 5-star read for me.

As far as vampire stories go, the idea of a “fake” vampire dating site established by vampires to weed out the crazies was one I’ve never encountered before. Nor have I encountered a character as real and in your face as Augustin. I LOVED Augustin because he’s not perfectly chiseled and has a mouth on him that would make him one of my favorite people to hang out with. Augustin deals in sarcasm and snark and both increase significantly when he’s scared. Needless to say, learning that vampires do exist and that you might not be allowed to live because you have said knowledge sent his fear, sarcasm, and snark through the roof. And this is exactly why I loved this book. Rather than trembling in fear, Augustin faces the situation head on and does so hilariously.

Because My Life Without Garlic is a novella, the relationship between Augustin and Tony moves very quickly. There is an obvious physical attraction between the two men and it is hot! While they both fight moving beyond attraction, or at least admitting that it may be more than just physical, they do get to the love stage by the end of the book – which is typical of the other books I have read by Ms. Bailey. With this being the first book in the series, there were a lot of side characters introduced and most of them were quite delightful. I can only hope that the next book in The Vamp for Me series continues to center around this vampire coven because I look forward to hanging out with them all again.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the My Life Without Garlic (The Vamp for Me #1) by Bailey Bradford blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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Overruled by Emma Chase

Overruled by Emma Chase

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I LOVED IT! As a fan of Ms. Chase's Tangled series, I jumped at the chance to review Overruled and was delighted that Drew made a couple of cameo appearances in the book. At his first appearance I got quite giddy at the prospect that the author was going to infuse the same level of humor, conflict, miscommunication, romance, and no-holds-barred sex that she did in the Tangled series. And Ms. Chase absolutely delivered all this and more as she kicks off The Legal Briefs series.

Unlike Tangled, Overruled is told from both Stanton and Sofia's points of view. Mind you, the first three chapters were told from Stanton’s point of view and do a wonderful job of laying the foundation for the book as we learn about the relationship he had with his high school sweetheart, how she refused to let a positive pregnancy test derail his education and career plans, and how their family plans changed over a decade’s time. As I was in the groove of Stanton’s storytelling (and it being reminiscent of spending time in Drew’s head), I was thrown quite a LOT when the author switched to Sofia’s point of view as I completely missed the chapter subheading; but once I laughed at my mistake and the chapter made far more sense coming from Sofia, I got down to brass tacks and buckled in for one seriously witty, unbelievably sexy, and emotionally satisfying romance as Stanton comes to the realization that he has gotten far too comfortable with the life he leads and that he’s the only one happy with it. After all, the man does have his cake and get to eat it too.

I loved the banter between Stanton and Sofia. Their passion for their careers was as obvious as their passion for one another. In the beginning it is clear that theirs is a friends with benefits arrangement between two colleagues who respect one another, are truly friends, and are able to fulfill one another’s sexual needs without crossing the line from loving one another to being in love with one another. This is an important distinction because of the relationship Stanton has with Jenny (one which I suspect will tick off some readers) and that distinction becomes the crux of the problem when one of them begins to worry that they may be crossing that line by falling in love and worries that it will ruin their friendship. But then again, dragging your best friend (who happens to be the woman you’re sleeping with) back home so you can prevent “your girl” (who is the mother of your child) from marrying someone else pretty much guarantees that that friendship will never be the same, no matter the outcome of the trip. And boy what a trip it was! Ms. Chase has created yet another wonderful cast of characters who kept me entertained from beginning to end, whether they had me crying from raw emotion or from laughing so hard that my fact hurt. I absolutely loved Overruled and cannot wait to see what Ms. Chase has in store for them in the next book in the series.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Overruled (The Legal Briefs #1) by Emma Chase blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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Pucked by Helena Hunting

Pucked by Helena Hunting

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



OH! MY!! GOD!!! Pucked was freaking hilarious. The romance is heartbreaking and heartwarming. The sex is unbelievably hot. But it is the massive amounts of humor that Ms. Hunting infused throughout the book that completely made it for me. I chuckled. I giggled (I know!). I snickered. I snorted. I guffawed. I was even ROTBLMAO (B = bed) at this book. You give me a synonym for laugh and I probably did it at least once while reading Pucked.

Violet is a hoot. She is one of those unfortunate souls who is a tad bit nerdy (her opinion), socially awkward, and whose brain-to-mouth (B2M) filter malfunctions regularly. The problem with this is that her stepbrother Buck is a professional hockey player and her stepfather Sidney is a hockey scout, so she often finds herself thrust into social situations that just seem to highlight her B2M filter problems. Well, it’s a problem for Violet, not the reader because we are treated to so much intentional and unintentional humor with Violet’s propensity for mouthing off at Buck and her overall nervousness in social situations. And it seems as though her sense of humor catches the attention of Alex, one of her brother’s new teammates. A teammate whose manwhore reputation rivals that of her brother’s. A teammate who Violet finds herself immensely attracted to yet repelled by because he is a hockey player. But when Alex reveals himself to be more than just a pretty face, all bets are off and Violet gives him a chance to prove that he really does want to be more than his reputation.

Violet and Alex are a great couple. I loved their banter and that they were able to just have fun with each other. That they had chemistry that was only outdone by their sexual appetites for one another was one heck of a bonus because Ms. Hunting can write some REALLY great sex scenes. Their relationship develops gradually and proves to be very entertaining … until the shot heard ‘round the (sports) world. Just friends. I actually groaned in pity for Alex when Violet heard him utter those two words…to a reporter…during a national interview. At least when Alex does it, he does it big (pun intended and an inside joke you’ll get when you read the book). And after such a spectacular failure, Alex had to make an equally spectacular attempt to fix his mistake. I loved that Violet didn’t cave immediately when Alex attempted to apologize. I also loved that her friends and family were there to support her and run interference for her when Alex would try to see her. Thankfully she didn’t have that gaggle of girlfriends who thought that he deserved to be forgiven just because he was a hot hockey player (yep, those characters do exist in books). I absolutely loved the ending, especially the cape – yet another hilarious Violet incident. In case you haven’t figured it out yet, I LOVED Pucked. I cannot wait to reread it and I will be purchasing a copy of it for my Kindle library (THAT’S how much I enjoyed reading it).

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Pucked by Helena Hunting blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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Hey There, Delilah by M.D. Saperstein & Andria Large

Hey There, Delilah by M.D. Saperstein & Andria Large

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Delilah has had the worst birthday ever. Her boyfriend turns down morning sex and then fails to remember her birthday. She returns from lunch early to find her boyfriend of eight years schtupping her boss … over her boss’s desk … while wearing nothing but chaps. Despite this unbelievably devastating blow, she handles the situation with class by handing her boss her ripped panties and resigning her job and kicking Ryan to the curb in a cool, calm, and collected fashion. That scene was EPIC!

Fortunately for Delilah, her mother knows someone who knows someone who is looking for a new assistant, so despite the sh!tstorm that is her life right now, she dusts herself off, dons the best outfit fitting of the “frump girl” she is, and sets off to interview for a job bright and early the next morning. Sadly at 5’2” she doubts she has a chance at the job when she sees all the statuesque blondes vying for the position. But what does she have to lose? It turns out, it’s her breath when she first lays eyes on Nick. What she isn’t privy to is that Nick needs a secretary he isn’t attracted to and her “frump girl” outfit makes her the perfect choice – the fact that she is actually intelligent and educated is a massive bonus for Nick. Within a week, Nick knows that Delilah is a godsend because she not only gets the job done, she does it while doing the little things for him his previous assistants didn’t – like getting his coffee in the morning. Although she is lusting after her boss, their relationship remains strictly professional but as time goes by Nick begins to notice her more and decides that he is overdue for a trip to Club M. I loved the idea of Club M. We of course know who Nico and LaLa are but they do not, so as the two strive to keep their work relationship strictly professional, their personal relationship flourishes even if they don’t know it. Through a series of events, Nick realizes who LaLa is but is so thrown by it he keeps the secret, so when the secret is revealed and Delilah realizes that Nick knew, the proverbial excrement hits the fan and Delilah once again finds herself unemployed and Nick finds himself oddly heartbroken. Nick must decide whether or not he is willing to do what it takes to win her back and exactly how far he is willing to go to do it.

I loved the chemistry between Nick/Nico and Delilah/LaLa. Their work relationship becomes friendly and Nick enjoys her sense of humor and company – something that doesn’t happen with women. I found myself laughing out loud while reading their banter. When they’re at Club M. the chemistry is off-the-charts hot. They push one another’s buttons and boundaries so perfectly that I could feel the heat coming off my Kindle. Hey There, Delilah was an entertaining read and I enjoyed Ms. Saperstein’s writing style. I’m looking forward to reading Unmasking Charlotte because I really liked Charlie and Calvin and cannot wait to see the sparks fly between those too.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Hey There, Delilah by M.D. Saperstein & Andria Large blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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Unmasking Charlotte by M.D. Saperstein & Andria Large

Unmasking Charlotte by M.D. Saperstein & Andria Large

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Having read Hey There, Delilah, I was already familiar with Charlie and Calvin and was really looking forward to reading their story. As funny as those two were in book one, I never imagined that I would be bawling like a baby while reading the Prologue of Unmasking Charlotte. The way in which Charlie and Calvin’s lives intertwined long before the ever met one another was heart wrenching. I was devastated for Charlie to learn what she went through at 16, yet relieved to learn that her family’s support and love for her never wavered.

Unmasking Charlotte is exactly that, the tale of how Charlotte became the Charlie we met in the first book and how the tap dance she does with Calvin helps her to recover Charlotte – and no, I’m not making mental health references to split personalities here. Rather the traumatic incident that is revealed in the Prologue forced Charlotte to leave her innocence of youth behind and reinvent herself as Charlie – the spunky, feisty spitfire that says what she means and means what she says. I adored Charlie before, but I fell in love with her character is this book. Despite all that has happened to her, she refuses to live her life as a victim, but rather lives her life to the fullest. Her sense of humor and antics kept me laughing throughout the book – although it was the scene in which Calvin meets her cat that had me laughing so hard I nearly peed my pants. As for Calvin, when his initial attempts to get close to her are shot down, he tries to keep his distance from Charlie in order to avoid temptation. This becomes more and more difficult as their best friends are involved and social events keep putting them in one another’s paths. When Charlie realizes that her feelings toward Calvin are more important than her fears, all bets are off and the sparks fly. Calvin and Charlie have some serious chemistry going on and that made for some scorching sex scenes.

I thoroughly enjoyed watching Calvin and Charlie fall in love. And when Charlie’s past came back to confront her, I was freaking out because I really didn’t know what to expect. Yet Ms. Saperstein managed to give that scene an unbelievably satisfying resolution. As the blurb states, Unmasking Charlotte can be read as a standalone. However, if you read book one you will be pleased to know that you will get to catch up with Nick and Delilah and see how their relationship continues to develop. This was a great addition to the Taboo Love series and I am looking forward to reading Crossing the Line because I cannot wait to read Parker’s story – and get an update on all the other characters.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Unmasking Charlotte by M.D. Saperstein & Andria Large blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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Dirty Rowdy Thing by Christina Lauren

Dirty Rowdy Thing by Christina Lauren

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



They’ve done it again. The writing team of Christina Lauren has made my face hurt yet again with all the laughing and smiling I did while reading Dirty Rowdy Thing. Thankfully they tempered it with a little bit of angst and a couple of moments between Harlow and her mother that were so profoundly moving for me personally that they gave my smile muscles a break. But regardless of what part of the rollercoaster I was on, it was certainly one heck of a ride watching Harlow and Finn navigate the difficulties in their lives, use one another as a distraction from said difficulties, and eventually realize that they wanted more.

I absolutely LOVED Harlow. She’s feisty, funny, loving, and loyal – she’s the kind of person you want to count among your friends. And when the bottom of her world drops out from under her, she is left reeling and with no idea of how to find her balance. That it, until she finds her anchor in the last place she expected – her Vegas ex-husband, Finn. As Finn is dealing with the potential loss of his family’s livelihood, he’s got a lot on his plate and cannot even entertain the idea of a relationship with anyone. But he is more than willing to give Harlow the distraction they both need for one night. As one night turns into two and three and more, they agree to keep things physical – no feelings to muck up the sex. Not only was the sex H.O.T! hot, Finn knew just what to do to tie Harlow up in knots … literally. Oh my god I was not expecting the rope scenes and that was a REALLY nice surprise!!!

Dirty Rowdy Thing is a wonderful read that sucked me in from page one. I loved the interactions between over-sharing Harlow and the non-sharing Finn. Their chemistry was intense and that made their witty banter that much more entertaining. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series, but I must plan for a series re-read the next time so that I can get the full Christina Lauren effect.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Dirty Rowdy Thing by Christina Lauren blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.



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The Hooker and the Hermit by L.H. Cosway & Penny Reid

The Hooker and the Hermit by L.H. Cosway & Penny Reid

My rating: 5 of 5 stars





I LOVED IT!!! I am a huge fan of Ms. Cosway’s and when I saw that she was co-writing a book featuring an athlete as the main male character, I was beside myself with glee. Although I have never read Ms. Reid’s writing before, I’ve heard good things about it so I was doubly looking forward to The Hooker and the Hermit. Let me just say that these ladies did not disappoint me.

Annie has a secret … she’s one of the most popular anonymous bloggers on the internet. As her online persona – the Socialmedialite – Annie is witty, charismatic, and pokes fun at unsuspecting celebrities (mostly male) in a good natured way while raising awareness and money for various charities. Because her posts are often satirical and she avoids “attacking” her celebrity victims, most of them are pleased to be featured … that is, until her most recent post. Ronan Fitzpatrick. The rugby player who was recently suspended for assaulting a teammate. The rugby player whose image is so messed up that he is about to become her new project at work. The rugby player who is so much more than she expected, who makes her pulse race, and who is becoming more important to her with each new bit of information she learns about him. That Ronan seems to be just as taken by Annie doesn’t help any because while the Socialmedialite is all about attention, Annie is not. She goes to great lengths to blend in with the crowd and keep to herself. So when the two are photographed together and the PR agency decides that she’s perfect faux-girlfriend material to help reform his image, Annie is thrust into the public eye and the Hermit becomes the center of attention – her worst nightmare. She must decide what’s more important to her – the man she has come to love or her anonymity.

I absolutely loved Annie, Ronan, and Annie & Ronan. Each character is written so that they feel like real people, people I would love to be friends with. As individuals, they’re great, but as a couple they are a freaking decadent treat – éclair anyone? I loved the connection that they had for one another and how gradually it grew from just a physical attraction to falling in love. Even though we were past the half-way point before they finally had sex, the sexual tension between Annie and Ronan was fabulous. As for the sex scenes, mmmmm……. I wasn’t expecting any BDSM in the novel so it was a wonderfully tingly surprise. I completely forgot to mention that on top of everything else, Ronan is Irish; so I was thrilled as I imagined him speaking with a brogue. I quite enjoyed the balance the authors bring of melancholy drama and over-the-top antics that had my heart breaking for the two and then snorting out loud a few pages later; thankfully my snort does not sound like it belongs to “the love child of a pig and an alligator.” The Hooker and the Hermit was a thoroughly enjoyable read for me and will definitely be added to my re-read list. Obviously Ms. Cosway is already on my go-to author list, but I will certainly be checking out some of Ms. Reid’s writing.

I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.

Check out The Hooker & The Hermit by L.H. Cosway & Penny Reid Blog Tour post on Wicked Reads.


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Life Next Door by J.D. Hollyfield

Life Next Door by J.D. Hollyfield

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Straight out … I loved it. It’s the second closest I’ve come to recreating that feeling I get when I finish a KA book – Nicola Claire being the first. To sum it up, Priscilla Westcott is Murphy’s bitch, Murphy’s Law that is – if it can go wrong, it will … spectacularly. I spent a good part of the book outright laughing at the situations Priscilla found herself in because I could so easily relate; case in point, the fence jumping scene is eerily similar to something I’ve experienced myself. Sadly though, I cannot claim to have gotten cozy with the sexy neighbor next door.

I adored Priscilla. Every time life tried to knock her down, she’d get right back up and keep moving forward. That’s not to say that she handled the stumbles gracefully or in the most mature manners, and that’s actually what made her so much fun. Priscilla did what so many of us would love to do, but don’t and her obsession with egging is a perfect example of that. So of course I was tickled pink for her when Trent stepped up his Alpha male ways and pursued her relentlessly. Trent was so freaking sexy that Priscilla wasn’t the only one engaging in some thigh clenching. Again, a man who is skilled at wall sex always gets extra points in my book. Not that Trent needed any extra points because the man wasn’t just alpha hot, he could be unbelievably sweet when Priscilla needed it. Even though I saw the flashing “Danger” sign before either of them, I was still devastated for Priscilla when she and Trent broke up.

Life Next Door is a great example of why I love reading romances. Knowing that the couple is going to get their happy ending is a good thing, but it is the journey they must take to get there that truly makes the read for me. And Ms. Hollyfield had done a wonderful job with the journey she has created for Priscilla and Trent. I loved Priscilla. I loved Trent. What I loved most was Priscilla and Trent as a couple. Life Next Door was an easy read and I am so glad that it was a stand-alone book because I didn’t have time to read book one first, but I will be going back to read Life in a Rut, Love Not Included because I definitely enjoyed the author’s writing and look forward to reading more of her work.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Life Next Door Tour Stop! blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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Review of Reality Check by V.L. Locey

Reality Check by V.L. Locey

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



One of the most striking things about this series is that each of the women that have been the focus of the books is completely different from the others and Ms. Locey has done a superb job of writing each of the leading lady’s story from a unique perspective. There is no confusion from one character to the next because they come from different backgrounds and have different life circumstances, thus making each of their voices unique. The Wildcat’s owner, Isabelle Lancourt is no exception and Ms. Locey has created a character that is so beautifully cultured yet fiercely driven that I found myself swept up in her story.

I found Isabelle to be utterly charming and surprisingly funny considering her circumstances. A widow of less than a year, she finds herself having to prove that she does indeed know hockey and is well qualified to be the Wildcat’s owner. As if being a woman isn’t enough of a handicap, that she is a former model and black just seems to add to the strikes against her. Determined to prove that she is more than just arm candy, she takes off to Russia in order to secure an up and coming hockey player. Unfortunately the Wildcat’s coach, Philip Moore finds out about the trip and intercepts her at the airport and accompanies her to Russia. During negotiations tempers flare and Isabelle finds herself between Coach Moore and a wall and gets a starring role in one of the hottest wall-sex scenes I have read in a while. Oh my goodness I was jealous as could be. Russia proved to be a VERY successful trip for Isabelle as she got both of her men. ;)

I really enjoyed the chemistry between Isabelle and Philip and how Ms. Locey injected a healthy dose of reality in one of the sex scenes when his back started bothering him. I loved that they could both laugh about it rather than getting upset with one another when their age (50) reared its ugly head. Admittedly there was a time when I would have cringed at the idea of a couple in their early 50s having sex, but with age comes wisdom and the fact that these two are smoking hot in their own right made Reality Check an immensely enjoyable read. My only complaint about the book was that it ended before I was ready for it to. There are questions I need answers to. As such, I cannot wait for the next book in the To Love a Wildcat series because I am really hoping for news on the progression of Isabelle and Philip’s relationship and how their unexpected expansion pans out.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Reality Check by V.L. Locey blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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Review of Tied by Emma Chase

Tied by Emma Chase

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Oh to be back in Drew’s head! What a glorious place to be. Drew is actually one of my favorite character’s heads to spend time in, quite possibly the very top of the list. Why? Not because he’s a guy and we’re treated to the male’s perspective. Nope. It’s because Drew is bluntly honest in his assessment of situations and people (including himself), he is sarcastic, and he is a smarta$$. Put most simply, he is of my people – those of biting wit for whom sarcasm is an art form. And Tied proves that while he is still all of these things, he has also grown up a lot since Tangled as his impending nuptials to Kate close in.

Most of the action in Tied occurs during the Bachelor and Bachelorette weekend in Las Vegas a week before the wedding. In case I thought the antics of this crew couldn’t get any crazier, they proceeded to prove me wrong … again. From Drew giving Billy pick-up lessons, to strippers (at both parties), to fist fights (again, among both parties), and enough alcohol to insure their level of drunkenness achieved being completely effing obliterated (thanks Drew for that handy breakdown), the Tangled crew kept me laughing almost the entire time. For goodness sakes, Drew has a mini-argument with his two-year-old son as to whom mommy’s breasts belong to … and, yeah, Drew won that argument. LOL.

As implied by the title of this book, Tied is the wedding fans of the series has been waiting for. And as much as I love Drew and the way he keeps me laughing, it is his love for Kate that is his most endearing quality. When he wakes up with a hangover the day after the bachelor party, the devastation he experiences when he realizes that the woman in his room is not Kate is heartbreaking. Of course the revelation of the preceding night’s events immediately thereafter is as funny as ever, it is Drew’s love for Kate that gets me every time and the wedding and reception are no exception. Ms. Chase has done a wonderful job of wrapping up the series with Tied and I can only hope that Drew invades her head and forces his way out so I can spend more time with my favorite smarta$$ – even if it is just for a novella. But until that happens, it’ll be rereads for me.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Tied by Emma Chase blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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Review of Tamed by Emma Chase

Tamed by Emma Chase

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



In Tamed, Ms. Chase gives us Matthew and Dee’s story – from Matthew’s perspective. Can I just say that being inside Matthew’s head was almost as much fun as being inside of Drew’s? Tamed occurs concurrently to Tangled and while it gives you a little bit of a peek into what happened when Kate and Billy broke up, the focus of the book is on Matthew and Dee and what Matthew had to do in order to get his girl – and I’ll just say that Dee kept him on his toes the whole time.

Matthew is funny, he’s sarcastic, his sense of humor mirrors my own, and when he cares, he cares deeply. He set out to show Dee how much he cared and how much she could trust him – unfortunately for him, Dee’s history is not conducive to trusting men and this makes his job that much harder. But Dee is not the only one with ghosts from past relationships – his just happen to make an ill-timed appearance that nearly ends everything before it really had a chance to start. Fortunately for Dee, Matthew subscribes to the belief that something worth having is worth fighting for and he refuses to go down without a fight.

Tamed is a great addition to the Tangled series and is chock full of laughs. I have never before found food poisoning funny but the author managed to make it hilarious. Ms. Chase’s talent as an author is impressive. I’ve spent time all day in the heads of three different characters of her creation and never once felt like I was in the same character’s head. There was never any confusion as to which character’s perspective I was experiencing. While I typically don’t enjoy books or movies in which the character addresses the audience, she somehow manages to pull it off. Sadly, my time with the Tangled crew must come to an end … well temporarily, as I must wait for the release of Tied, when I can once again spend time in Drew’s head (YAY!!!).

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Tamed Tour Stop! blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.



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Review of Tangled by Emma Chase

Tangled by Emma Chase

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



It's been a little over a year since I've read this book. After rereading it I really don't understand why I've only read it the one time. I absolutely love this book. I don't usually enjoy books in which the main character talks to the reader, but Ms. Chase does an excellent job with the way she has Drew tell his story. And there is no doubt about it, this is Drew's story and his unflinching honesty is what makes it so enjoyable.

Drew has no qualms about how he lives his life. He plays hard because he works harder and he's honest about his intentions with the women he hooks up with. While I understand that Tangled is written by a woman, the book's dedication makes it clear that Ms. Chase obtained the male perspective when developing Drew's character and my experience with my male friends is why I found Drew so believable. And for the record, yes it is possible to have male friends – I tend to bond well with my friends’ husbands and because I don’t shock or offend easily, they get rather comfortable in what they say to and around me and it has made for some rather enlightening conversations over the years. Drew’s unflinching honesty is what makes him so realistic – he says and does stupid stuff, he will make you laugh, he will frustrate you to no end, he will excite and stimulate you, he will make your heart ache, and he will make you fall in love. Or at least that’s what he did for me.

I had so much fun watching Drew fall in love with Kate that I cannot believe that I forgot how much I enjoyed it the first time around. Tangled has been added to my re-read list and I can only hope that I enjoy Twisted just as much as I will begin reading that momentarily. As much as I loved being in Drew’s head (and I REALLY did), I am looking forward to getting Emma’s perspective. Scratch that, Holy Frigging Matrimony: A Tangled Series Short Story is up next – I thought I could skip the short story but it appears that I cannot, but I’m not complaining because I get to spend a little more time in Drew’s head.




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Review of Holy Frigging Matrimony: A Tangled Series Short Story by Emma Chase

Holy Frigging Matrimony: A Tangled Series Short Story by Emma Chase

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Typically I don't buy short stories like this because I consider them overpriced. Honestly, 99¢ for less than 40 pages rarely turns out to be a good use of my money. One of my favorite authors recently released a 140 page novella for the same price, so in my bargain-hunting mind Holy Frigging Matrimony is not a good buy. But because I'm reviewing Twisted and Tamed and had to go back and reread Tangled, I figured I'd grab Holy Frigging Matrimony too so that I had the full story. I mean, it is the wedding story after all. And as it turned out, it might not have been THE wedding I was expecting, but getting back into Drew's head was so frigging worth the price of admission. If you enjoyed Tangled, you'll definitely enjoy Holy Frigging Matrimony too. So go ahead and splurge – you won’t be disappointed.



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Review of Twisted by Emma Chase

Twisted by Emma Chase

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I am absolutely delighted to be spending the weekend with Drew and Kate. As characters go, they’re pretty freaking cool. I loved being in Drew’s head while reading Tangled and Holy Frigging Matrimony and was looking forward to getting to know Kate just as well. Two years have passed since Tangled, and while I knew I was in for a bumpy ride based on the blurb, I wasn’t prepared for the loop de loop rollercoaster ride Ms. Chase threw me on.

Kate’s pregnancy insured emotional upheaval – nope, that’s not a spoiler because if you didn’t figure that out from the blurb you don’t need to be reading the book. But the epic level of misunderstandings that lead to Drew and Kate’s separation is freaking heartbreaking. For two people whose profession requires clear and concise communication, their failure to communicate clearly during their relationship-destroying argument speaks to the level of hurt and devastation they both felt. No one knows how to hurt you more thoroughly than the person who loves you – they know your strengths and weaknesses and know what weapons to use and precisely where to aim them to do the most damage.

For me, the part that makes a book enjoyable is the journey. I pick up certain books expecting a happy ending, so knowing the ending isn’t as important as what the couple endures to get there. Twisted is a perfect example of this. I knew Drew and Kate would find their way back to one another (or at least I really hoped they would). But it is the journey of self-discovery that Kate must take that made this such an enjoyable read for me. Despite how she came off in Tangled, Kate really doesn’t have it all together and she learned a LOT about herself and what she is capable of when all the chips are down. Twisted is a great addition to the Tangled series and I am looking forward to reading Tamed next because I love Dee.

And for all you Drew fans, don’t worry because Ms. Chase was nice enough to let us back into his head for Twisted’s Epilogue.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Twisted by Emma Chase blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.

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Review of With This Ring, I Thee...Oh, Sh*t! by Dane Waters

With This Ring, I Thee...Oh, Sh*t! by Dane Waters

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



With This Ring, I Thee…Oh, Sh*t! was a hoot and a half to read. It reads like a reality show on steroids. If there was anything that could go wrong at a wedding it seemed to happen. Murphy’s Law in action. And of course, because everything is bigger in Texas, the drama and hilarious incidents seemed to be that much more.

Dean. He's such a nice guy that he comes off as a bit of a pushover at times – but when he holds his own, boy is he sexy. Dean has accompanied his fiancée to Texas where the finishing touches are being put on their upcoming wedding. Everything seems to be going as planned until he meets Leo, his soon-to-be brother-in-law. Leo sparks an interest Dean hasn't felt since college. Dean finds himself attracted to Leo and is confused by it because he thought he had determined in college that he really wasn’t attracted to men like he thought. But when Dean and Leo get into an argument, Dean ends up kissing Leo and suddenly feels like Leo might be the one. Except he’s marrying Elaine, so what is he supposed to do? Decides that there can’t be anything more than that kiss, but Leo has other ideas. Quickly Dean finds himself dodge wedding minefields while experimenting with Leo to find out if he really does like guys too. And experiment, they do. YeeHaw!!! Ride ‘em cowboy. As for Leo, I adored him. It takes a lot of strength of character to enter the viper’s nest knowing that you’re going to be attacked repeatedly.

Ms. Waters has penned a wonderfully entertaining novel that is both sexy and funny with just a bit of suspense as Buck (Elaine and Leo’s father) wasn’t the only reason that Leo has stayed away from Texas. The wedding scene has to be one of the funniest I have ever read and I absolutely loved it. With This Ring, I Thee…Oh, Sh*t! is a great read and I look forward to read more of the author’s work.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the With This Ring, I Thee...Oh, Sh*t! by Dane Waters blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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Review: Screwdrivered by Alice Clayton

Screwdrivered by Alice Clayton

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



WARNING – This book made my stomach hurt from laughing so hard and my face hurt from the near constant grin I couldn’t seem to get rid of. Yes, Ms. Clayton has done it again. This installment in the Cocktail series was a blast to read and I already want to read it again.

Even though I read Rusty Nailed less than two months ago, I admittedly didn’t remember who Viv was at first. Now, as soon as she started talking about her tattoos and piercings I had that “AAAAAAHHHHH” moment and got that giddy feeling you get when you realize a book is going to be even better than you first anticipated. I knew I was going to like it because the series is a hoot, but when I realized who Viv was and recalled all that moxie, I knew I was in for a treat. What I didn’t realize, and what made the book so much fun to read, was exactly how much of a romance junkie Viv was and how Ms. Clayton was going to exploit that character trait. It was awesome! She did not disappoint.

What’s even better, is that Ms. Clayton has leveled the playing field of the sexy librarian stereotype with Clark. Oh My! Who knew that tweed and elbow patches could be hot? Not me. But I was more than happy to go along for the ride with Vivian to find out just how hot they could be. And while the chemistry between Clark and Viv was apparent to everyone BUT Viv, their banter and arguing made for some extremely entertaining verbal foreplay. Despite Viv’s overactive imagination, we only get one actual sex scene but it was bringing down the house hot!!!

Screwdrivered is an excellent addition to the Cocktail series. Fans of the series get to catch up with Simon and Caroline as they do make an appearance in the book. As expected, the cast of characters that Viv meets when she moves to Mendocino are a fun bunch and it almost made me want to move to a small coastal town in California. This was an entertaining read from beginning to end and I am already salivating for Mai Tai’d Up.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Screwdrivered Tour Stop blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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