Andie
Books, Coffee & Passion
Trish is an actress that just landed the role of her dreams. Her only problem is that the movie will feature America's hottest rock star, Boone Stryker, who's also her celebrity crush, and his first move is to ditch their first work meeting. Trish takes her job very serious, so it's hard for her to deal with Boone's apparent lack of commitment to his role. It's even harder because she's insanely attracted to him. But Trish was never one to shy away from confrontation or to allow someone to walk over her, therefore she gives Boone a piece of her mind.
Boone is a famous rock star, lead singer of his band Strykeforce, he's used to the spotlight and he knows how to play the role that everyone expects from him. But now Boone is under pressure, one of his oldest friends is in trouble and he needs to film this major movie, which means he's torn between his responsibilities and then there's also an intense heat between him and the beautiful actress that he's trying to keep at bay. When it's clear that Boone is struggling with a particular intense scene, the director steps in and sends both Trish and Boone alone to a farm house to figure out their roles together. Sparks flying everywhere, confessions are made and soon they just can't fight their feelings anymore...
I really loved Trish! She's definitely my favorite character in the Love in Bloom series, sorry Boyd (Love in Blooom Series – The Remingtons )!
I started reading Chased by Love, expecting to fall head over heels for Boone. And guess what? I did. But I loved Trish even more! Boone is a little mysterious at first and I loved to get to know him so I won't reveal much of his life or his personality because that would just ruin the story's appeal.
The strong chemistry between them, their interactions, the intense love for their families, the secrets, the fears and the hot nights together are absolutely perfect! I really hope we get more of Trish and Boone on the next books.
Chased by Love is an emotional, captivating, low-angst, fast paced, touching romance, it can be read as a stand alone but I highly recommend reading the whole series (yes, it's totally worth it!) and it will definitely blow you away. Melissa Foster is one of my all time favorite authors, I'm addicted to her books and I just can't wait for her next swoon-worthy story.
Seaside Whispers is the newest addition to the Seaside Summers mini series, although it's book 8, it can be easily read as a standalone.
Mira is a single mom totally dedicated to her six year old son, Hagen. She works for Matt's father at his hardware store and she's focused on helping to turn the store profitable again. She has a huge crush on Matt since they met, a year ago, at his brother Grayson's engagement party. Mira thinks that her crush on Matt is a terrible idea for several reasons: he's her boss's son, he lives hours away from Cape Cod and she doesn't have much time to date because her son is always her top priority.
Matt is a hot Princeton professor and the last single Lacroux. He works very hard and he doesn't has much time to spend with his family, but suddenly his goal to become dean is off the table, which makes him take a three month sabbatical to write a book, so he returns home to do it. He wants to spend time with his family and after seeing his brothers fall in love, he's beginning to wonder if he's got his priorities right, after all he can't stop thinking about Mira. It's time to give their connection a chance, if only he can convince Mira to let him in her heart... and Hagen's.
I really don't think Matt and Mira's relationship started too fast, this is definitely not a insta-relationship, they've been circling each other for a year, Matt has been flirting with Mira every chance he got, so everything happens naturally between the two of them. I loved how Seaside Whispers is so much more than a contemporary romance, the sense of family in this story is absolutely perfect, I loved how Matt kept including Hagen in everything, how he was head over heels not only with Mira but with Hagen too. I think there were tears in my eyes while I was reading their moments together and how the three of them fit perfectly as a family.
I have to admit Melissa Foster never ceases to amaze me. When I started reading I actually expected a different type of hero, I definitely didn't expect Matt to have such a dirty mouth and I loved every second of it!
Seaside Whispers is the perfect, steamy, sweetest, low-angst, dreamy romance with characters so real that you can't help falling in love with all of them! If you love romance, I highly recommend it.
Books, Coffee & Passion
6 stars!
The Trouble with Mistletoe is the second book in Jill Shalvis' Heartbreaker Bay Series, it can be read as a standalone but I definitely recommend the first book in this series Sweet Little Lies.
Willa Davis is funny, cute, curvy, petite and, just like Pru, her best feature is her heart. Her huge heart. She is absolutely amazing, the way she cares, her kindness, selflessness and the way she connects with animals and people is so heart warming and inspiring. I absolutely loved her!
Keane is the perfect example of sex on a stick, the perfect guy for a one night stand but nothing more because he doesn't feel anything too deep. Or so he thinks... He's charming, smart,very good with his hands (pun intended!), dedicated to his job, he doesn't have a close connection to his family and he was always a loner. However, out of the bloom, his great-aunt shows up and leaves her feline from hell, Petunia aka Pita, with him. So he's desperate for help because he can't control the cat and goes to South Bark where he meets the sexy owner... Willa. He begs for her help but he can't help noticing that she acts like she already knows him and doesn't really like him much. Still, sparks flying everywhere, Keane is intrigued and Willa always throws a coin in the fountain to make a wish...
Jill Shalvis did an amazing job with this one. Every time Willa was at work, at her pet shop, everything just jumped out of my e-reader and came to life. I could actually see every little detail with the vivid descriptions of dogs, cats, fishes and all their interactions, baths, pet weddings, the Christmas decorations, all the setting is absolutely stunning.
I gotta say that even though I loved Pru and Finn's book, I loved even more Willa and Keane's story and surprise, surprise, although I loved Keane, Willa is the true shining star here. I think I have a girl crush! Willa is freaking amazing. She's such a sweet heart but she's not too perfect. She's got a rough past nevertheless she's trying to help others that had similar experiences in their lives while dealing with being afraid of letting someone in. I really liked the back and forth between Willa and Keane, their steamy moments (let me just add: insanely hot, hot, hot moments), I loved how the whole gang kept meddling in their relationship (it kind of reminds me two tv shows that I absolutely loved: Friends and How I Met Your Mother) and how we get a glimpse of some of their future paths.
Sweet Little Lies was a fantastic start to this series, even so The Trouble with Mistletoe raises the bar higher which I didn't think was possible, yeah, I stand corrected! Definitely a must read with a perfect balance of character's self-growth, romance, passion, unconditional friendship, a touch of angst, hilarious and emotional moments and also... mistletoe everywhere! Can't wait for the next one in this series (Elle and Archer's story) and it's only releasing January 2017. Is it January yet??
Books, Coffee & Passion
John and Pete are best friends and Cara is John's little sister. So, Pete and Cara are in love with each other since they were kids but, bro code and all, Pete fights his feelings for her out of respect for her father and of course for his best friend. He also tries to resist her because he thinks he's not good enough for her, but he can't help to protect her from everything, especially from other guys. Cara doesn't understand he's struggling to avoid crossing a line that goes way beyond friendship. They have a huge fight, in the beginning of the book, and in the next day Pete leaves to join the Marines without saying goodbye.
6 years later, Pete gets back home from a tour, injured and John asks Cara to pick him up from the airport. Even though Pete kept in touch with John, he never contacted Cara, so there's still tension between them and the chemistry is off the charts. Pete returns a different man, suffering from PTSD, having nightmares, dealing with survivor guilt and on top of that he has to deal with the fact that even after 6 years, he still has strong feelings for Cara.
Cara is a sweet, virginal, independent woman who couldn't forget Pete while he was away and now that he's back, she has to deal with the fact that he isn't the same Pete anymore. I really liked how Cara was tough enough to help Pete, I was actually doubting she could deal with this new Pete but she proved me wrong!
There's a lot of angst in this book, jealousy, passion, sizzling chemistry, tears, drama, fights, you name it! It's a roller coaster ride and it's totally worth it.
I was really excited about reading Dirty Love after watching the trailer. I knew that the book would be dark but I was quite unprepared for this roller coaster ride.
Olivia is an exotic dancer who works in Liam's club, she's in a relationship and she thinks Liam is totally off limits not only because he's her boss but because she thinks he doesn't like her much. Liam is infatuated with Olivia, she's all he can think about and dream about but she's got a dumbass boyfriend so he just lurks in the shadows watching her every move until... a sudden development allows Liam to come closer to Olivia. And that's a chance he won't miss. But both of them have secrets that they aren't willing to share.
Dirty Love is much, much, much darker than what I was expecting. I think that, most of the time, I read it with my mouth hanging open. This may not sound very appealing but let me just say that if you love thrillers and dark romance, you'll definitely love Dirty Love.
Unfortunately, I wasn't expecting a book this darker, so I struggled a little through it, especially because I couldn't quite connect with the characters and every time I thought I was getting the story... BAM...
Another twist. It's actually hard to write this review because I can't give away much of the story or I'll ruin this psychological thriller and all the suspense that comes with it to anyone who's interested in reading it.
If you want a book full of suspense, twists, turns, steamy sex scenes, mystery and a totally unexpected ending (I think I've read the ending 3 times while shouting WTF!) Dirty Love is definitely the right choice.
I received a copy of this book from Sassy Savvy Fabulous PR.
I'm deeply in love with all the Ryders! I mean it! Every single one!
Jake Ryder is a SAR professional, he's committed to his job because there's nothing more he loves than being outdoors, he's also, like all the Ryders brothers, a gorgeous alpha male who has been lusting after Addy, his sister in law's best friend, for months. Even though, he's been relentless pursuing and charming her, Addy's still resisting the chemistry between them and that's driving him crazy.
Addy is a stubborn independent woman, she's the queen of one night stands and she's perfectly happy in her skin. But then she meets Jake, she knows she can't give in to their mutual attraction because Jake is her best friend's brother in law and they keep running into each other. Jake is off limits, even if he's trying so damn hard to drive her crazy.
At Duke and Gabriella's wedding, hot steamy looks, tequila and a little bit if jealousy finally tear down Addy's resistance but after one night, Addy can't keep Jake out of her mind. And Jake, after finally having Addy where he wants her, realizes that he's in for the fight of his life.
Jake and Addy are two of a kind, really perfect to each other and I couldn't stop reading their story. It was so intense that I just couldn't put my e-reader down! The banter, the flirting, the chemistry between them was absolutely incredible. I loved Jake so much, he's the perfect mix of sweet, alpha, protective, romantic and sexy. I also loved all the Ryder family moments (especially Cash & Sienna and Trish & Boone because they are still my 2 top favorite couples in this series).
Rescued by Love can be read as a standalone but I highly recommend reading the complete series. Melissa Foster delivered another perfectly balanced hot, steamy, emotional romance. I literally can't wait for Gage's book!
6 stars
I finished re-reading The Castle two minutes ago. It's the first time I ended a book and jumped back to the first page again. I literally couldn't let go.
I'm so amazed by how brilliantly Skye managed to wrap up this trilogy! I really liked The Pawn and The Knight and I was a little worried because we all know the final book can make or break an entire trilogy. The Castle didn't just make the trilogy, it skyrocketed it. Absolutely mind blowing!
“The societies we build, the secrets we hide. Men and women. The gods themselves.”
3.5 stars
Running Hot is the second book in the Hell Ryders MC series, not exactly a second chance romance (Cuss and Tiff weren't romantically involved in the past) and not exactly a friends to lovers story too, J. L. Sheppard managed to create a beautiful mix between this two tropes and it worked for me.
Cuss has been in love with Tiffany since high school, one look was all it took but she was a rich classy girl and Cuss knew they were worlds apart. He never acted on his feelings because he thought his heart wasn't enough for her, although he always protected her from harm when she found herself in the middle of messy situations. So, when her dad who definitely thought Cuss was beneath his daughter, contacts him, Cuss knows she has to be in deep trouble. Will he be able to save her? And will he be able to walk away again?
Tiffany just got out of a serious relationship that ended because no one can ever live up to her biggest crush: Thomas “Cuss” Layne. Even though the last time Thomas saved her, he wasn't very nice to her at all, she just can't seem to get him out of her head and heart. Now, she's scared and she did promise Thomas, years ago, she would always call him if she needed but she just can't bring herself to ask him for help again. After all, they weren't even friends... right? But suddenly Thomas is on her door step prepared to rescue her again while demanding to know why she didn't keep her promise.
Tiffany and Cuss are mostly walking on eggshells around each other, trying not to say too much, both terrified of getting hurt or rejected. Sometimes, I wanted to shake both of them: Tiffany for not seeing what was right in front of her and Cuss for his stupid belief he didn't have to say the words because anyone could see how much he cared! Their miscommunication was a little too much sometimes, I wish Tiff would speak up instead of second guessing everything. I did love how Cuss tried to win Tiffany's trust, how he struggled to keep things platonic because he thought she needed to get used to having him in her life again. That was so sweet and the movie nights... absolutely perfect!
Running Hot is a slow burn romance with suspense, drama and lots of sparks flying. Cuss and Tiff's story is captivating and kept surprising me, I'm curious about Running Wild, the first book in this series, and I'll probably go back to read Jace and Allie's story.
Lindsay Rivera is a former puck bunny who got her heart broken by a hockey player, so she changed her behavior and she's going out of her way to avoid all things hockey. Especially hockey players. Because like an addict, she knows she might relapse, so she just wants to move on by severing all her ties with all of it. She throws herself into work: studying hard and working even harder in the newspaper. Anyway, she has a small problem: Math. Math is driving her crazy and she just can't seem to grasp all the concepts. She needs a tutor, preferably one who doesn't make her heart beat faster or who she might be picturing shirtless... which means said tutor can't be Ryder. Of course that means she has to resist him.
Ryder “Ox” Maddox is a determined defenseman, a math genius and a stunning man. He has a crush on Lindsay, since the first time he saw her, but she doesn't give him the time of the day. After a few failed attempts, he finally finds a surprising way to spend time with the girl he wants: by tutoring her in Math. He just has to break down her walls and get her to give him a chance because he knows how good they will be together. But that's easier said than done.
I really loved Ryder, he's so sweet, sexy and his jokes... hilarious! I loved how he could read Lindsay so well, how they started slowly to open up to each other and the way their connection deepen with each interaction. Ryder was very persistent because Lindsay kept running from him any chance she got, I loved that he didn't give up but also how he respected her boundaries and her wishes. Tough balance but he definitely stepped up! I think I developed a huge crush on Ryder!
Cindi Madsen delivered a sweet story, with great characters (I loved their friends, I definitely have to go back to read the previous books in this series, especially Dane's story!) and emotional moments, definitely a very engaging read. If you love New Adult Romance or Sports Romance, I highly recommend Confessions of a Former Puck Bunny: a book with the perfect amount of steam, humor, romance, banter, friendship and angst.
Blue Balls is a roller-coaster. Seriously, it's one hell of a ride and I spent 99,9% of it laughing out loud! It can be read as a standalone but I definitely recommend Clam Jam to be read first (trust me, Ry and Maggie's story is totally worth it).
Sarah and Jack have been attracted to each other ever since they met and now they are both single... and the chemistry between them is hot, hot, hot!
Sarah is hilarious. Her thoughts are a little crazy, she even compares her glare to Darth Vader's “little Jedi move” (you know, he remotely – as in without physical contact – chokes people) and I loved her craziness but sometimes it got a little repetitive.
Jack is sexy, witty and so easy to love. I loved him in Clam Jam and he did not disappoint in his own story! Mr. Blue Balls is something else! Sarah and Jack really wanted to give in to their attraction but they kept getting blocked, it was absolutely funny and refreshing even though sometimes I wondered if it would actually happen between them!
While I kept loving Jack more and more through the story, Sarah slowly started to annoy me. I wanted to shake her and tell her to open her eyes to see what was right in front of her and of course that's mainly because I really, really loved Jack.
If you love romantic comedies, I highly recommend Clam Jam and Blue Balls. Blue Balls is funny, sexy, flirty, well written, unique, low-angst and will definitely make you laugh out loud.
Books, Coffee & Passion
Shining Through is the fourth book in the Red Hot Russians series but it can be read as a standalone. I've read the second book in this series (you can read my review of Turning it on here) and honestly, after reading Shining Through, I think I need to go back and read the complete series!
Tabitha is America's golden girl, some call her The Ice Princess and she has a high chance of winning a gold medal on figure skating. The ultimate dream of any athlete. But Tabitha is starting to slip, after all everyone's expectations are high, her trainer, her family, her country, but the highest of them all – her own. She wants to make it up to her family, after all that they sacrificed for her career, but she can't seem to find her passion while performing, she's struggling to connect with her inner self and to let her emotions shine in the rink. Even though her technique is flawless, she finds herself at odds with her program and she knows she has to get it all together to really have a chance to win gold. She's aiming for perfection but she feels she is still far from it.
Daniil is the hottest bad boy in the rink, a figure skater too, he's known to get in trouble from time to time, oh well – most of the time. But Daniil is determined to succeed, he wants nothing more than to compete at his best level yet and to get a place at the Winter Games. He knows he's far from perfect but his competitive nature, his anger, his passion sets him apart from his competitors. He takes it all and leaves it all, flawlessly executed, in the rink. And he absolutely loves to prove people wrong!
Tabitha watches Daniil practicing and loves his passionate and emotional performance, she knows Daniil has in his program what she's been lacking and she's drawn to him even before knowing who he really is. Daniil watched one of Tabitha's interview during a troubling moment in his life and thinks she is stunningly beautiful, he actually hopes he gets to meet her and when he does... sparks are flying and their chemistry is undeniable. But... can they have a future together?
I loved how Elizabeth Harmon characterized both Daniil and Tabitha physically and emotionally. I have both of them perfectly pictured in my mind! There were a lot of secondary characters which some times could be a little distracting, even though I really enjoyed Tabitha's sister and the coaches/choreographers moments. Daniil and Tabitha's love story is unique, I loved the figure skating world: the pressure, the hard work, the competitiveness, the hopes and expectations. And mostly I loved how two strong characters that were fighting to reach their dreams, deeply needed one another to achieve something even more important than that: their true selves. Absolutely delightful!
If you love a heart warming romance I highly recommend Shinning Through: with hot Russians, intense chemistry, well developed characters, a not so glamorous figure ice skating world and a Winter Games competition, you won't be able to put it down.
I wasn't swept into love like Gage and Sally, I was utterly blown away by their romance! Honestly, I knew there was going to be some drama with Rusty (Sally's twenty year old son) and I don't usually like when a hero or heroine has to sacrifice his/her happiness in order to keep his/her children happy but I truly wanted to read Gage and Sally's story and I can't really resist to Melissa's books. Melissa Foster is one of my favorite authors and once again she amazed me with a beautiful, swooning, steamy romance that was the perfect culmination of years of true friendship.
The best team ever.
What took you so long?
Jill Shalvis is an amazingly talented author and I'm seriously in love with her Heartbreaker Bay series, so I was eagerly waiting for Spencer's story since I finished reading Accidentally on Purpose. Obviously, Jill Shalvis delivered again a flirty, genuine, romantic story that I read in one sitting because I literally couldn't put my Kindle down!
Spencer is a workaholic, hot, sexy, sweet, caring nerd with a huge heart but he thinks he lacks the necessary skills to have a loving, lasting relationship. He is very successful professionally and he tends to focus almost all his time in his projects and inventions. Unfortunately for him, after one interview conducted by someone he thought he could trust, he's now on the paparazzi radar and he's been considered one of the hottest San Francisco's bachelors so he's just keeping it low key while working on a very important project.
Colbie is a writer, she's facing a dreadful writer's block because she's under pressure, from her publisher to her agent, to write another book in her famous series which already ended in her mind. She's a loving, caring, strong, successful woman with a crazy dependent, yet loyal, family. Somehow, along the way, Colbie lost herself and she knows that she has to listen to her need to take a break from everything or she won't be able to write another word. So, she just goes to the airport with the intention to run away to a paradise island but, due to a hurricane, she ends up traveling to San Francisco.
And then the magic happens: Spencer and Colbie meet in a very wet, clumsy chance encounter... There's a deep attraction, a strong connection and since Colbie will only be in town until Christmas Eve, both of them decide they can give in and live a hot, fast, weak-in-the-knees affair.
Honestly, I loved how Colbie's struggles felt so vivid and real. The way her publisher and her agent were pressuring her to write something she just didn't want to write anymore, the way her family kept waiting for her to fix everything, I almost felt exhausted just by reading about their demands! And I really, really, really loved Spencer! Spencer's dialogues with Elle, Caleb and Joe are hilarious!!! His moments with the gang are absolutely perfect and their friendship and loyalty is heart warming. And the girls night out is absolutely epic (even if there was a moment or two that my heart broke when I realized the depth of Colbie's loneliness). However, I have to confess that Elle and Archer are still my #1 couple! Can't wait for Joe and Kylie's book!
A heart warming romance, with quirky humor, an intense chemistry, lots of passion and amazing characters (including a group of nosy yet loyal-to-the-bone friends) that will make you want to move into their world.
I received a copy of this book from HarperCollins via Edelweiss.
We're breeding hate. And it has to stop. We have to start loving each other. That's what I have to say.
Books, Coffee & Passion
I love a cowboy romance and Cowboy Up was a perfect choice. Caroline and Clayton are explosive together! They're too very different people but they've been hurt in their past relationships and none wanted a new relationship. As soon as they meet, their chemistry burns bright so a one night stand seems like a fun, no strings attached, “let's burn this place down” kind of thing. But sometimes amazing chemistry can turn into so much more...
This book is hot, hot, hot. I was really surprised with the amount of steam in this book. And I loved it! There's a lot going on, but Harper Sloan managed a perfect balance between sweet, sexy, family unity and suspenseful moments. I loved Clayton and Caroline's background story, their interactions with each other, the funny moments, there are amazing moments in this story that will make you laugh and cry. I really liked Clay's relationship with his siblings and the glimpses we get about the two other couples previously featured in this series. Even though I haven't read the previous books, Clayton and Caroline's story was so beautifully written that I really didn't feel like I needed to read them, but I am so curious about them that I think I'll go back to read both, can't really miss Maverick and Quinn's stories after reading Cowboy Up. I'm a little in love with the Davis siblings and I couldn't put my kindle down!
There's a little over the top drama, towards the end, with the villain (can't give it away because I don't want to spoil it), but overall I really enjoyed Cowboy Up.
A beautifully written, fast paced, full of emotions, very sweet, very steamy, entertaining small town cowboy romance.