Book Review: Heat Of The Moment By Robin Kaye

Heat Of The Moment
By Robin Kaye

Blurb:
Cameron O’Leary, a 4th generation firefighter turned arson investigator, thinks he’s the luckiest man in the world—after a year of sickness in the family, everyone’s finally on the mend, and his life can go back to its even keel. But even though Cameron has moved to Boston to be there for his family, some sort of live-in nurse is still necessary, given the demands of his job.

Erin Crosby is financing her master’s thesis in social work by acting as a home health care nurse. Working for Cameron seems like the perfect gig—low key, plenty of time to work on her thesis, and the patient is lovely. She might never have lived with a man before—she’s never found anyone she cared about that much, had barely even considered it—but Cameron is easy to live with, and an easy friendship blooms between them.

But it gets harder and harder for Cameron to keep his hands off of his charming employee—and for Erin to remember that she hasn’t really moved into Cameron’s life.

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Candie's Review: 

This book was short and sweet! At just over a hundred pages, you instantly fall in love with Cameron O’Leary.  The responsibility and care that he shows his daughter Janie is enough to make anyone melt. I enjoyed Erin’s character and thought that she was fun and quirky. My only complaint is that the book ended too soon! I wanted more of Cameron and Erin’s story. This is a must read for standalone book lovers.

Rating: 4 Stars - Loved It

Disclaimer: 

We received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley, PENGUIN GROUP Berkley, NAL / Signet Romance, DAW in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

Book Review: Coming Home (The Surrender Trilogy #3) By Lydia Michaels

Coming Home 
(The Surrender Trilogy #3)
By Lydia Michaels

Blurb: 
The conclusion of the savage, sensual Surrender trilogy in which betrayal, pain, and vengeance threaten to destroy a passion between two damaged souls…

Evelyn “Scout” Keats thought she finally found her long-sought happiness in billionaire Lucian Patras. But even though Lucian has always treated her like a queen, she has discovered she is nothing more than a pawn in his own secret game.

Worse, her long-time friend and supposed shining knight, Parker Hughes has also used her for his own interests by playing a part in Lucian’s game. Everyone’s honor is suspect, and no one can be trusted. It is Scout’s worst nightmare come to life.

As she struggles to comprehend the cost of a broken heart and the value of love, she must choose, once and for all, how much her pride can endure—and how much she is willing to risk to be truly happy.

Available for purchase at 

   

Candie's Review: 

So, so good! The ending to this trilogy was AWESOME. There was heartbreak, death and major revelations going on in this dark fairytale. Scout is seriously my hero! She was so prideful and determined to do things on her own! A remarkable heroine that finds her hero in hunky Lucian Patras. Once again, I read a Lydia Michaels book in one sitting. Her books just have that effect on me. Go out and get your copy today! You won’t be disappointed.

Rating: 4 Stars - Loved It

Disclaimer: 

We received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley, PENGUIN GROUP Berkley, NAL / Signet Romance, DAW in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

Book Review: Breaking Out By Lydia Michaels

Breaking Out
(The Surrender Trilogy, Book 2)
By Lydia Michaels

Blurb: 
Second in the darkly compelling, sexually-charged contemporary romance trilogy, in which two men vie for the mind, body, and heart of a woman who may never give in to their wishes—or her own…

Evelyn “Scout” Keats has left behind her painful past of surviving on the streets, and is now living in the luxurious penthouse master suite of Hotel Patras with her lover, billionaire Lucian Patras. But what she doesn’t know is the price Lucien paid for her freedom.

To protect Scout’s life, Lucian cut a deal with a dangerous man from her past, Parker Hughes. He swore to stay away from her for thirty days, even though he knows Parker will be fighting to keep them apart for good and take Scout as his own.

Yet neither man realizes that Scout is not about to be used as a prize or a bargaining chip for any man’s power play—and she falls back on her hard-earned self-respect and courage to show both men that the only person she truly needs is herself.

But Lucien has other plans…

DON’T MISS COMING HOME, THE THIRD AND FINAL NOVEL IN THE SURRENDER TRILOGY 

Available for purchase at 

   

Candie's Review: 

I wish I had been given book 1 of the Surrender Trilogy to read first for review because I flew through book 2 in one day. Whoa it was good! I did feel that I was missing some key insight into Lucian, but overall I loved the story.

Scout’s determination to be stand on her own was very admirable. I liked that she was headstrong and stubborn. The sparks flew between her and Lucian. I cannot wait to read book three in the Surrender Trilogy to see how the story concludes. I am definitely going to buy book 1 and three to get the full story. I highly recommend this to all new adult fans.

Rating: 4 Stars - I Loved It

Disclaimer: 
I received a complimentary copy of the book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

Book Review & Giveaway: I Saw Her Standing There by By Marie Force

I Saw Her Standing There 
(Green Mountain #3)
by Marie Force 

Blurb:
There’s a budding romance on Butler Mountain, but in the hornets’ nest known as the Abbott family, keeping a secret is no easy feat…

Colton Abbott and Lucy Mulvaney have a secret. Colton’s nosy siblings have begun to put the pieces together, but it’s not like Lucy to keep things from those closest to her—especially her best friend, Cameron, who recently moved to Vermont to live with her true love, Will. But Lucy isn’t about to tell Cam she’s having a fling…with Will’s brother.

Flitting between New York and Vermont is exhausting, so Lucy is looking forward to a long weekend with Colton at the Abbott family lake house in Burlington. Too bad Will and Cameron have the same idea, and once Colton and Lucy are caught red-handed (and red-faced), will their clandestine romance lose its appeal or will their secret beginnings be the start of something lasting?

Contains an exclusive Green Mountain short story!

Available for purchase at 

   

Candie's Review:

Fans of Marie Force will not want to miss this next installment of Green Mountain Romance! I was given an advance copy of the book for review and I can’t say enough good things about this story! This is my first look at Green Mountain, but I find that I will be going back and buying book 1 and 2 to get the family’s full background. I love a book that has more than 250 pages, and this one packs a full 400. Sit back and enjoy Colton and Lucy’s ride. :)  No pun intended.

Rating: 4.5: I REALLY LOVED IT

Giveaway

Prize Pack Includes:
1. Green Mountain series sticker
2. Stuffed Fred the Moose
3. Signed copy of I Saw Her Standing There
4. Sample of Vermont Maple Syrup
5. Vermont Country Store catalog (we are requesting this—will see if they’ll do it)
6. Marie Force pen
7. a $25 Gift card to BN, Amazon or iBooks

(US DOMESTIC ONLY)


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: 

I received a complimentary copy of the book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

Book Review: Madness by J.L. Vallance

Madness

By J.L. Vallance

Blurb: 

I never wanted to fall in love.

I lived a life tainted by mental illness and the stigma that came with it. That illness almost claimed my life once and I had a promise to keep¬¬, a promise that I would live, no matter how much it hurt. All I craved in life was marginal happiness, a little success, and an unfractured mind. I longed for the normalcy that the rest of the world thrived on while fearing the intimacy that could snap the thin thread with which I held onto sanity.

I may not have had it all, but I was close...until he crashed into my world.

He turned everything upside down and shifted the scales of my balanced world. He was charming and charismatic with a healthy dash of trouble and volatility rolled in. He was completely and perfectly damaged. I tumbled hard and fast.

I fell in love with Rory O’Neill and our world was little more than madness....and it was fucking beautiful. 

Available for purchase at 

   

Candie's Review: 

I can't even say how much I loved this book. I read it in one sitting! Frankie is one bad-ass chick! I aspire to be more like her when I grow up. ;-) There are such relate-able characters and a very yummy bad boy to swoon over. I will warn you though; this is NOT a sweet fairy-tale love story, but a messy complicated one that depicts real life more than fiction. Kudos to the author for taking the subject-matter to heart, displaying how ugly addiction can be, life altering depression can be, and that there can be hope found in this messed up world.

Rating: 5 Stars - Perfection

Book Review: Destruction of the Soul (The Guild Series, #3) by J.L. Vallance

Destruction of the Soul

(The Guild Series, bk 3)

By

J. L. Vallance

Blurb: 

“There is more at stake in Aedan’s war than any of you realize.”

Vivienne Drake is lost. 

She’d let every one of her walls down, finally allowing others into her guarded circle, and all it brought her was pain and devastation. Now, out of fear and desperation, she’s turning to the one being she believes will be truthful with her; the only being that’s dared to give her anything resembling an honest answer--Linux, The Cruciatum. 

The Daemonium is dangerous and mysterious, and offering Vivienne things that she’s been begging for. He offers her a chance at discovering what lies just beyond her reach. Though his motives remain far from clear, there is something within him that Vivienne is drawn to. And she wants nothing more than to believe in him, to believe in the things he tells her. 

Together, they uncover details of Aedan’s plans, and discover what he intends to use his daughter for. Vivienne learns that she carries within her a destructive darkness, that if she allows, will consume her, and destroy the goodness she contains. 

Fighting an endless battle against lies and deception, Vivienne must find the strength within herself to remain on a virtuous path. She’ll be forced to overcome pain and obstacles in order to discover the truth of just how deep the deceit runs within The Guild. 

Can she remain above the darkness for the sake of Humanity and herself, or will she allow it to devour her light and destroy her soul?

Available for purchase at 

   

Candie's Review:

OH MY DEAR LORD…This book was amazing!!! I can’t even tell you how fast I read it.  This story took a turn that I never expected and has blown me away. I don’t want to spoil anything for you readers, so let me just say this - LINUX!!!!!  From the beginning this has been an emotional roller-coaster for Vivienne and in true form continues to do so. When J.L. says Vivienne is lost, she means it. Having everything torn from her, she seeks refuge with Linux. She needs answers to her questions and leaves it up to him to help her find them.   Many crazy, sad, revelatory things ensue, and the ending…oh the ending is quite awesome. I think it maybe may be my favorite part of the book. 

Book Review: Revelations of the Souls by J.L. Vallance

Revelations of the Souls
(Guild Series, bk 2)
By J.L. Vallance

Synopsis: 
“Evangeline had prayed Spiro would be able to protect Vivienne, prayed that he’d keep her safe. The truth was, no one would be able to protect her from what was coming, and Evangeline knew that now. She knew that Vivienne was going to have to fight if she wanted to survive.”

Aedan, Lord of the Daemonium, has claimed Vivienne Drake as his prize and will stop at nothing to keep her. As his captive, Vivienne is forced to spend her days interacting with the monster that’s haunted her dreams for the past fourteen years.

Truths of her mother’s past continue to surface, bringing to light the reality of who Vivienne Drake truly is. All the while, Vivienne can do nothing but watch as the façade of the carefully constructed life her mother fashioned crumbles around her; leaving devastation in its wake.

Will secrets and lies be her ruination, or can Vivienne overcome her pain in order to become the salvation The Guild and Humanity needs?

Available for purchase at 

Amazon and Barnes & Noble

Candie's Review: 

AAAH, the second installment of the Guild Series did not disappoint! I loved it as much and maybe even a little more than Deep into the Soul. 

Revelations of the Soul picked up right where Deep Into the Soul left off. I couldn't wait to dig into this book because at the end of Deep into the Soul, Aedan, Lord of the Daemonium, kidnaps Vivienne. This is the man/being that has been tormenting her dreams for years in which she sees him killing people through his eyes. I was on the edge of my seat waiting to find out what he would do to/with her. Despite keeping her captive, he didn't want to hurt her, but wanted her for some greater devious purpose. Once this purpose was revealed to her, she desperately wanted Calum to come to her rescue. She needed to be back with the Guild to tell them what was coming. 

Book Review: If I Were You (Inside Out #1) by Lisa Renee Jones

If I Were You 
(Inside Out #1)
By Lisa Renee Jones

Blurb: 
When Sara McMillan finds a stack of journals in a storage unit, she’s shocked and enthralled by the erotic life the writer led. Unable to stop reading, she vicariously lives out dark fantasies through Rebecca, the writer—until the terrifying final entry.

Certain something sinister has happened, Sara sets out to discover the facts, immersing herself in Rebecca’s life. Soon she’s working at the art gallery Rebecca worked at and meeting Rebecca’s friends. Finding herself drawn to two dangerously sexy men, the manager of the gallery and a famed artist, Sara realizes she’s going down the same path Rebecca took. But with the promise of her dark needs being met by a man with confident good looks and a desire for control, she’s not sure anything else matters. Just the burn for more.

Available for purchase at 

  

Candie's Review: 

Wow, Wow, Wow, I loved this book!!! I couldn't put it down! I think I may have read it in one day!  I was so glad that the second book Being Me was just released so I wouldn't have to wait to read more! 

Book Review: Dead Ever After By Charlaine Harris

Dead Ever After
(Sookie Stackhouse Series)
By Charlaine Harris

Blurb: 
There are secrets in the town of Bon Temps, ones that threaten those closest to Sookie—and could destroy her heart...

Sookie Stackhouse finds it easy to turn down the request of former barmaid Arlene when she wants her job back at Merlotte’s. After all, Arlene tried to have Sookie killed. But her relationship with Eric Northman is not so clearcut. He and his vampires are keeping their distance…and a cold silence. And when Sookie learns the reason why, she is devastated.

Then a shocking murder rocks Bon Temps, and Sookie is arrested for the crime.

But the evidence against Sookie is weak, and she makes bail. Investigating the killing, she’ll learn that what passes for truth in Bon Temps is only a convenient lie. What passes for justice is more spilled blood. And what passes for love is never enough..

Available for purchase at 

   

Candie's Review: 
The last few Sookie books left much to be desired as her relationship with Eric Northman started to fizzle out. This disappointed me greatly, as Eric was always my dark horse for Sookie in the series.  As time went on, I could tell where the series was headed and while I understand Charlaine’s choices for Sookie, they just didn't sit right with me.

Book Review: Colors like Memories by Meradeth Houston

Colors Like Memories
By Meradeth Houston

Blurb: 
Julia has a secret: she killed the guy she loved. It was an accident—sort of.

Julia is a Sary, the soul of a child who died before taking her first breath. Without this 'breath of life' she and others like her must help those on the verge of suicide. It's a job Julia used to enjoy, until the accident that claimed her boyfriend’s life—an accident she knows was her fault. If living with the guilt weren't enough, she's now assigned to help a girl dealing with the loss of her mother, something Julia's not exactly the best role model for. If she can't figure out a way to help her, Julia's going to lose her position in the Sary, something she swore to her boyfriend would never happen.

Available for purchase at 

   

Candie's Review:
I LOVED the opening line of the book- “I greeted his tombstone the way I always did—with a swift kick.” It made me smile and definitely caught my attention. I couldn't wait to find out what the person may have done to incite such a greeting.

Book Review: Hitched by Jessica Hart

Hitched
By Jessica Hart

Synopsis: 
Planning the most-talked-about wedding of the year is enough to break engineer Frith Taylor out in a cold sweat. She's used to construction sites, not wedding fairs! But estate manager George Challoner's offer of help is one that's too good to resist.

George may be the rebel of the prestigious Challoner family, but his insanely good looks are giving Frith wedding fever! Charm personified, he's making her feel things she hasn't dared feel before. Maybe her little sister's wedding won't be the only one Frith's planning...?


Harlequin KISS has 4 new fun, flirty and sensual romance books available every month.

    

Book Review: The Downfall of a Good Girl By Kimberly Lang

The Downfall of a Good Girl 
By Kimberly Lang

Synopsis:

When she was good...Southern debutante Vivienne LaBlanc can't believe bad-boy rock star Connor Mansfield is back in town for the New Orleans annual Saints and Sinners pageant. He has a reputation as wicked as his devilish smile, and Vivi has no intention of becoming one of his latest groupies! 

He once crushed her high school heart, so playing the saint to Connor's sinner should be easy. But how can Vivi get those less than angelic thoughts out of her head - especially when Connor's so good at tempting her to be bad?

Available for purchase at 

  

Candie's Review:

Vivi hated Connor since he broke her heart in high school. She couldn’t believe that he was back in town and tormenting her with his rock star status and the love of the town. I loved the verbal sparring between Vivi and Connor. She was trying her best to but on a brave face and be the Saint that the pageant contest required so she could win, but Connor just brought out the worst in her. This was a very cute romance and I enjoyed it very much. I had a hard time putting it down once I started reading. For you voracious book readers, this one could be read in one sitting. 

Rating: 4 Stars - I Loved It