Tag Archives: Actor/Model

The Cinderella Fantasy (Playing The Princess # 1)

By Sara Jane Stone

Synopsis

A princess who has lost her faith in love . . .

Lucy Linden’s prince charming (a.k.a. her fiancé) disappeared three months before the Big Day. Determined to pick up the pieces, she dives into the world of online dating. But the only men interested in a woman whose day job involves playing Cinderella leave Lucy looking for an exit strategy before the main course. And the man rushing to her rescue isn’t the solution to her problems. Jared is a walking, talking fantasy—if Lucy’s daydreams began and ended in the bedroom. No one would ever mistake South Florida’s bored billionaire bachelor for a long-term prince.

A man willing to risk everything to prove he’s her prince . . .

Jared Mitchell pushes the limits, in the boardroom and in bed. When his best friend and business partner’s little sister sends up red distress flares, he’s thrust into the role of pseudo-big brother. He’s never had a thing for Cinderella. But now he’s fighting his desire to make the princess his—even if he has to risk his empire to deliver her happy-ever-after ending.

Review

I picked up THE CINDERELLA FANTASY because I was after a quick and lighthearted read, and that’s exactly what I got. I liked it enough, but after I finish this review, I will probably never think about it again.

My biggest dislikes were the excessive number of fairytale/fireworks/magic references made throughout the story, and that the ending comes up on you really fast.

My biggest likes were that Jared was upfront with Lucy’s brother about his feelings for her, and her brother was supportive of their relationship. Usually these relationships are kept hidden from the brother and it never ends well, so it was refreshing to see it play out this way and that everyone could be a grown up about it.

THE CINDERELLA FANTASY is told in dual POVs and comes with a happy ending for Jared and Lucy. It appears to be the beginning of a new series, one that sounds like it will follow Lucy and her two princess-playing best friends as they find love. If you like sibling’s-best-friend romances and novellas, THE CINDERELLA FANTASY will be right up your alley.

The Cinderella Fantasy (Playing The Princess # 1)

My Rating:

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Jilted (Love Hurts # 2)

By Sawyer Bennett

Synopsis

Eden Goodnight went to Los Angeles to make it big, not to be publicly humiliated by her cheating fiancé at a red-carpet premiere. But when Eden returns to her hometown to put the scandal behind her, she can barely find a sympathetic shoulder to cry on. Turns out the locals are worse than the paparazzi, and they all think she’s turned into a spoiled brat. But in a strange twist of fate, the one person who seems to understand what Eden’s going through is Cooper Mayfield . . . the boy she left behind.

Small-town charm is no match for the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. At least that’s what Coop’s been telling himself all these years. As Eden’s old flame—and the landscaper for her family’s historic home—Coop feels some responsibility for getting her out of her funk. But as soon as he sees that million-dollar smile, he’s a goner. Soon they’re making out like teenagers again. But when a life-changing role falls into Eden’s lap, Coop just hopes she doesn’t give up on a love that’s meant to be.

Review

JILTED is the second book in the Love Hurts series, and while I get the feeling this is supposed to be a light and easy read, I found myself surprisingly emotional at times. That’s not a bad thing, it’s just something I thought I should point out.

Eden is a lovely woman and I really liked her. My heart broke for her in the very first chapter, and then again when she returns to her home town only to realise that she’s being shunned by everyone. She is a woman who wears her heart on her sleeve, but that doesn’t mean she’s not strong because when she’s pushed, she pushes back just as hard.

Cooper is a good guy, but it’s hard to see that at the beginning because of how harsh he is to Eden. Obviously he has his reasons, and you will find out what those reasons are, but for a man who says he’s doesn’t care, he was certainly holding on to some bitterness. But when he learns the truth and starts treating Eden better, that’s when we see the real Cooper, and he’s a keeper.

As much as I loved JILTED and would happily read it again, there were a few things that bothered me. Firstly, the synopsis doesn’t exactly match the events in the story, which is odd. Secondly, Brad makes an sudden appearance in the middle of the book and then we never hear from or about him again. Third and finally, what happened with Brad’s movie that Eden was supposed to cameo in? There was talk of a lawsuit, but just like Brad, we never heard anything further with that. These things might not be a big deal to some people, but for me, points two and three gave those parts of the story an unfinished feel.

JILTED is told in dual POVs and, while it’s part of a series, it can be read as a stand-alone. JILTED is set in a different location and involves a completely different set of characters from the previous book. I’m not sure if there’ll be a third book in this series, but if there will be, I’ll definitely be reading it.

Jilted (Love Hurts # 2)

My Rating:

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Love Hurts Series

In Skates Trouble (Chicago Rebels # 0.5)

By Kate Meader

Synopsis

He’ll give her what she needs . . .

Addison Williams isn’t looking for romance, but when she encounters an eavesdropping stranger on an adjoining hotel balcony, she figures she’s due a little fun. She just hadn’t reckoned on the “fun” escalating so quickly to “out of control.” One minute she’s flirting with a whiskey-graveled voice in the dark, the next that same voice is telling her to do things. Hot, wicked things.

Cup-winning hockey player Ford “Killer” Callaghan can’t believe he let the anonymous woman who blew his mind slip away into the night. He’ll track her down because once could never be enough–even if discovering her identity places her strictly out of bounds.

Stolen kisses. Secret hook-ups. Deliciously forbidden in every way. Can a passion that started in the dark find a lifetime of love in the light?

Originally published in Hot on Ice: A Hockey Romance Anthology, this sexy prequel to the Chicago Rebels hockey series features an older, curvy woman, a younger, driven hero, and a happily-ever-after you’ll swoon over. Bonus: Includes the first chapter of Irresistible You, the first full-length book in the Chicago Rebels series.

Review

IN SKATES TROUBLE is the prequel novella of the Chicago Rebels series. Here we are introduced to Ford and Addy, whose first sexual encounter was definitely…unique. I loved the fact that they never had sex in a bed. Not. Once.

I liked Addy, but she’s still trying to come to terms with the fact that she “allowed” her ex-husband to control her every move while they were married. Because of this, she got upset (overly, in my opinion) when Ford tried to pave the way for them to be together, out in the open. I loved Ford. He’s six years younger than Addy, but he knew he wanted to know her before he’d even laid eyes on her. Her voice and boldness made him want her. There’s something to be said about a man who is not afraid of his feelings for a woman; one who is willing to jeopardise everything to be with her.

“You like him. I could tell at the dinner table before you sullied my first-floor guest bathroom with your hot ‘n’ heavy fuckfest.”

IN SKATES TROUBLE is told in dual POVs and comes with a HEA for Ford and Addy. The other “main” character we were introduced to was Harper, the daughter of the Chicago Rebels owner, and she’ll get the next book. This story isn’t all sunshine and roses, but for the most part I found it to be a light and enjoyable read.

In Skates Trouble (Chicago Rebels # 0.5)

My Rating:

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Chicago Rebels Series

Vegas Love (Love # 1)

By Jillian Dodd

Synopsis

Hollywood actress, Ashlyn Roberts, just had the worst week of her life. Her ex released a sex tape of them and just when she was convinced her current boyfriend was a keeper for standing by her side, he breaks up with her at a friend’s wedding. She’s planning to drown her sorrows in booze when she meets a sexy stranger as she’s leaving the wedding and they end up in Vegas, married.

Cash Crawford is offered a dream job working with his brother as a junior talent agent. He’ll put his shiny new law degree to good use and make a bunch of money in the process. His first task is simple: Keep Ashlyn Roberts out of trouble and don’t sleep with her.
Which might be kind of tough, since they definitely consummated their Vegas wedding.

Will this one night stand end in the quickie divorce they promised each other? Or will they realize they got lucky in love?

Review

VEGAS LOVE is a book I’d seen around Amazon for a while now, and when I saw it was available through Kindle Unlimited, I downloaded it right away. I wanted something light and fun, and I thought this would fit the bill.

Unfortunately, the writing had me thinking about giving up several times by the 30% mark. The story moved at an incredibly fast pace. I’m talking warp speed. It moved so fast that I didn’t have time to get emotionally invested in the story or it’s characters. Most chapters were broken down into several smaller scenes, which I found not only odd and annoying, but also added to that rushed feeling. There were so many repetitive and abrupt changes in thoughts and topics that I thought I’d end up with whiplash trying to keep up with it all. Finally, if you’re after some sexy reading, you won’t find it here because all the sex either happened behind closed doors or was over with in less than a page.

VEGAS LOVE is told in dual POVs and comes with a HEA for Cash and Ashlyn. While I considered not finishing this story, I kept giving it a chance and made it to the end. But sadly, even the sweet ending wasn’t enough to save this book from a 1❤️ rating.

Vegas Love (Love # 1)

My Rating:

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Love Series

Worth The Trouble (St. James # 2)

By Jamie Beck

Synopsis

Cover girl Cat St. James’s picture-perfect life is anything but flawless. Luckily, she’s a master of hiding the truth from the camera. Relying on that skill, she conceals her latest secret from her family while attending her brother’s wedding. Her only trouble now is Hank Mitchell—the soft-spoken carpenter she’d once brushed aside. Seeing him at the reception underscores her private heartache and ignites unwelcome longing, which she promptly drowns in champagne.

Hank is no stranger to sacrifice, having set aside his own ambitions to take care of his family. One thing he won’t forsake is his pride, which Cat already wounded once. But when the maddening beauty’s reckless behavior forces him to rush to her rescue, he sets in motion a series of events that leads Cat to make a business proposal granting him his dream job.

When Cat and Hank mix business with pleasure, promises and secrets unravel, and each must decide if and what they’ll surrender for love.

Review

WORTH THE TROUBLE is the second book in the St. James series and, as with the first book, it was a light and easy read and a good way to spend a few hours. Cat and Hank shared a moment when they first met a year or two ago through her brother Jackson, but then Cat got back together with her boyfriend and things have been strained between them ever since.

Hank is one of those honest-to-God good guys and is so easy to like. After his father died while he was a senior in high school, he gave up his college dreams and went straight to work to support his ailing mother and four younger sisters, allowing them to go to college and chase their dreams. Despite his busy and hard-working life, he’s a simple man with simple tastes; all he wants is a wife, a family of his own and to make custom furniture.

“We’re two friends enjoying an attraction, right? Not falling in love.”
“Well, then, I’ll try to rein in my charm. But don’t be shocked when you fall hard. I’m a loveable guy.”

What can I say about Cat? She finally kicked her psycho boyfriend from the first book to the kerb, and good riddance I say. She’s determined and, when she comes up with an idea, she goes from 0-60 is 2.5 seconds. She’s smart and does her research, but I do think she rushes into things too quickly. I loved her journal entries where she’s talking to her mother; I thought they added a nice touch and made her seem softer.

WORTH THE TROUBLE is told in dual POVs, comes with a nice HEA and while it’s part of a series, it can be read as a stand-alone. While this story focuses on Hank and Cat, quite a bit of it also focuses on Jackson and his behaviour that has everyone concerned. Here, we learnt what happened between him and his ex-girlfriend and why he’s been spiralling ever since, but I’m sure we’ll hear more about it in his own book, WORTH THE RISK.

Worth The Trouble (St. James # 2)

My Rating:

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St. James Series

Until We Collide

By Charlotte Fallowfield

Synopsis

What do you do when the guy you’re in love with is seeing someone else?

That’s the dilemma facing Paige Taylor. All of her life she’s only ever had eyes for the gorgeous Alec Wright, but despite their undeniable chemistry, their timing has always been off. Fast approaching her thirtieth birthday, Paige despairs of ever finding love and a happy ever after. Her best friend Poppie tells her that she can either watch life pass her by, or grab it with both hands. She convinces Paige to throw herself back into the dating pool, or she could be waiting for Alec forever.

What Paige didn’t expect was the catalogue of dating disasters to follow. A neck brace, jelly fish, stitches, flashing and an encounter with a gorilla were some of the most memorable. Despite some downright hilarious, humiliating and cringe worthy dates, her biological clock is ticking and Paige is determined to keep trying until she finds the one. Was Alec Wright always her Mr. Right, or is he still out there waiting to be found?

Join Paige in her quest to find the ultimate prize. Love.

Review

First off, I want to say that I did enjoy this book. I really did. However, I would not classify UNTIL WE COLLIDE as a romantic comedy. Was there comedy? Yes. Paige is a walking disaster who ends up dating the worst kind of men imaginable and finds herself in some highly embarrassing situations. Her best friend, Poppie, is an absolute delight and a great source of laughs as well. That being said, take out those few scenes and I found this book to be sad and depressing. Why? Because it took Paige and Alec thirteen years to finally come together. Yep, you read that right…thirteen years. It’s lust at first sight when they meet when Paige was just seventeen and Alec was twenty-one. But from that moment on, they’re separated by boyfriends, girlfriends, work, miscommunications and a shitload of bad luck and bad timing.

I liked Paige, who I think tried really hard to move on from Alec. She’s a wonderful woman with an amazing career, who simply wants to fall in love, get married and have a family. It’s a simple dream, which makes it all the more heartbreaking that she spends all those years chasing it. Since this story is only told in Paige’s POV, it’s hard to get a read on Alec, especially since we don’t really see a great deal of him. He annoyed me when he made Paige wait six years before telling her he wanted her again. Paige spent those six years completely single while he slept around with a huge number of women. When she finally decides to quit waiting for him and starts getting serious with another guy, that’s when he decides to make his move. I also felt bad for the woman he strung along for years while waiting and hoping for another chance with Paige.

As I mentioned above, UNTIL WE COLLIDE is told only in Paige’s POV and is a stand-alone. The story takes place over thirteen years, with the epilogue taking place about seventeen years later. I’m trying to remember if there was any sex, but I don’t think there was. I think it was all done behind closed doors. It does come with a HEA for Paige and Alec, and if you can handle reading about years of missed opportunities, then I’d recommend picking this one up.

Until We Collide

My Rating:

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Dirty Girl (Dirty Girl Duet # 1)

By Meghan March

Synopsis

Desperately seeking rich, famous, single guy with a giant cock to make my lying, cheating, should’ve-been-born-dickless ex-boyfriend realize what he’s just lost.
Oh, and I give great head. Just sayin’.

No man in his right mind would answer that ad.
Except thousands did.

My name is Greer Karas, and I should never be allowed near another bottle of booze again. Because when I drink, my friend and I do stupid things. Like take a page out of my older brother Creighton’s playbook and post something completely asinine on the Internet. Waking up with a giant hangover to find my humiliating personal ad has gone viral is not my finest moment.

Cue my look of shock when one of Hollywood’s hottest new bad boys, Cavanaugh Westman, comes knocking at my door and drops his pants to prove that he does indeed have a giant cock.
What he doesn’t have is an explanation for why he disappeared from my life without a word three years ago, only to show up on the big screen two years later, killing bad guys in action flicks.

Now he wants me again.
What the hell do I do now?

Review

After reading the synopsis for DIRTY GIRL, it was quickly added to my TBR list. It sounded like it was going to be a witty, funny, sexy and entertaining read, and while the story starts out that way, it quickly turns into something that’s just sex, sex and more sex with a smidgeon of a story thrown in. While that might be perfect for some people, it was a disappointment for me.

I couldn’t connect with Greer, who throughout the entire story tries and fails to stand up for herself. Her lack of strength was evident early on when she slept with Cav within minutes of seeing him for the first time since he left her abruptly, and without a word, three years beforehand. As for Cav, well, it’s hard to like Cav, who thinks that being dominant means treating a woman like a child throwing a tantrum. Thinking and saying things like “she’s begging to be taken in hand”, “she needs a keeper”, and “If your brother isn’t going to keep a leash on you to keep you safe, then I will.” doesn’t come across as dominant in my opinion, but rather controlling and demeaning. I was also not a fan of him calling her a slut or that he turned everything into a threat of sexual punishment. The dom and dirty talk felt cheesy and don’t even get me started on that anal sex scene.

DIRTY GIRL is told in dual POVs, is the beginning of a new series and ends in a cliffhanger. It’s clear that Greer’s brother, Creighton, has had a series written about him before, and if you haven’t read his series you’ll feel like you’re out of the loop in a couple of scenes. DIRTY GIRL is a novella so the story moves at a fairly quick pace, with some of the chapters being only a couple of pages long. It also includes some flashback scenes which I felt weren’t worked into the story in a seamless way. If you like stories that involve bullying men and an abundance of sex, then you’ll enjoy this one. Sadly, it wasn’t for me, and I was really looking forward to enjoying this one.

Dirty Girl (Dirty Girl Duet # 1)

My Rating:

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Dirty Girl Series

Into The Whirlwind (BOSS Inc. # 2)

By Kat Martin

Synopsis

A bodyguard, a bounty hunter, a private investigator, no one can handle the heat like the men of BOSS, Inc.

Megan O’Brien is at her wit’s end. Her three-year-old son has been kidnapped. No police, says the ransom demand. Fearing for her son’s life, Meg has no choice but to turn to her former bodyguard, Dirk Reynolds.

Dirk’s never forgiven Meg for the way she left him after their brief affair. But with bounty hunter Luke Brodie on his side, Dirk knows he’s got to help Meg rescue her son.

The few clues they’ve gathered send them spiraling into a murky world of big banking and international crime. Meg may be way out of her depths, but she’s seeing a side of Dirk she never suspected—one no woman could possibly resist.

Review

I was quite looking forward to reading INTO THE WHIRLWIND, but I have to admit that it left me a little disappointed. At one point I considered not finishing it because I just wasn’t feeling it; the story was sounding old and I wondered if it was a reboot of an older book. But I persisted and I felt the story improved as it went along.

So why only 2 hearts? I know it shouldn’t bother me, but it’s hard to fall in love with a guy named Dirk because that is not a name I would consider sexy. I think the author was trying to make Meg seem strong by insisting she could play with the big boys when they went out on their recon missions, but all she did was sit in the car and wait for them to come back. She could have done that at home. After she’s reunited with her kidnapped three year old son, twice in the next two days she leaves him at home alone with the nanny. As a mother, if my son had been kidnapped, I wouldn’t leave his side ever again until he went to college. Maybe not even then. It would ruin his social life, but hey, at least I’d know he was safe. I also couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that without any evidence whatsoever, they were certain they knew who one of the kidnappers were. It turns out they were right, but nothing pointed to that person other than a hunch.

INTO THE WHIRLWIND is told in dual POVs and while it’s part of a series, it can be read as a stand-alone. That being said, I get the impression you’d learn more about the start of Dirk and Meg’s relationship if you’d read INTO THE FURY first. If you like books with a lot of action involving kidnappings, boat chases, drownings and international criminals, this book just might be for you.

Into The Whirlwind (BOSS Inc. # 2)

My Rating:

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EXRATED

By Stevie J. Cole

Synopsis

Tyler Westbrook, better known as Johnny Depth, is taking the adult film industry by storm. With his playboy looks, it’s no surprise a few coworkers have attempted to take things off set and into the bedroom, but Tyler refuses to blur the lines between work and play…until the new assistant to the director walks in.

Jemma Morgan was recently fired from a lead role on a kid’s TV show that was supposed to be her big break. Unable to get another acting gig, she’s accepted a job in an industry she never expected to be a part of. Although she anticipates being shocked her first few days on set, nothing could prepare her for the moment she’s asked to hold the reflector as her ex-boyfriend plows through a woman like a Kansas cornfield.

In a world of lube and fake moans, is there a place for a second chance? Exes and some
serious ohs…the term ex-rated just took on a whole new meaning.

Review

It’s not often a book really grabs you from the start, but EXRATED is most definitely one of those books.

“Okay. Good Size. Good girth. You got a good looking dick, man.”
“Uh…” What the fuck do I say to that? “Thanks…”

There’s a first time for everything in life, but never did I imagine Hudson Matthews would one day ask me to beat off in his office and then pull out a measuring tape to see what kind of distance my ejaculation has.

Tyler and Jemma have known each other since they were six years old, and even at that age he knew she was special and would be an important part of his life. But their relationship fell apart soon after Tyler left for college and Jemma moved to LA to pursue acting. Four years later and after both their lives have changed course drastically, they meet again in the most mortifying of circumstances…on a porn set…where Tyler is the star also known as Johnny Depth. While there’s still love between them, there’s also anger and bitterness, and they both know exactly what to say to hurt the other. While Tyler wants to make up for the past and try again, Jemma is reluctant because she can’t get her head around the fact that her ex is now a porn star.

What’s beyond amazing is that right now I’m strutting up to a beautiful skyscraper in downtown LA and why? Oh, to go help my porn star, ex-boyfriend make a mold of his huge dick so thousands of women can shove a silicone replica of it up their vaginas.

I loved the humour and the awkward situations in this story, and there’s plenty of both from beginning to end. But I’ll be honest, I didn’t feel the connection between Tyler and Jemma. We’re told they love each other, but I just didn’t feel it. On another note, I’m one of those people that needs to know all the answers, so it bugs me that we were not told why they broke up. We know that Tyler broke up with Jemma shortly after he left for college, and while long distance is hinted at, I’m fairly certain he never gave her a reason for the breakup. That might not be a big deal to most people, but I thought it was worth mentioning.

EXRATED is told in dual POVs and appears to be a stand-alone. It’s full of embarrassing situations, dildos, hilarious best friends and sex. Lots of sex. There’s sex between M/F, M/M, F/F and M/F/F, so there’s a bit of something for everyone.

EXRATED

My Rating:

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Love, Chloe

By Alessandra Torre

Synopsis

You know girls like me. You hate girls like me. The privileged blonde who skips her Ivy League classes when she’s had too many martinis. The one draped on the asshole’s arm because he drives a Bugati and screws like a champ.

I was that girl. I loved being that girl.
Then, my door was broken in. Literally.
And in that moment? Everything changed.

Review

LOVE, CHLOE is the story of Chloe Madison, a NYC society girl who falls from grace when the FBI seizes her family’s assets for insider trading. Left with only the clothes on her back, she’s forced to *gasp* work to pay for basic necessities such as food and rent. While she’s navigating the singles scene and trying to fix the disaster that is her life, she also has to deal with a very demanding psycho-bitch of a boss, a secret that’s tearing her up inside and parents that seem to have forgotten she exists. Each challenge and setback she faces turns her from a spoilt and shallow princess to a woman who, well, who acts like a grown-up.

LOVE, CHLOE is a stand-alone that is told in Chloe’s POV, except for the epilogue which is told in the POV of the man she chooses. I had a love/hate relationship with the “Who is Chloe going to pick?” guessing game. Will it be Vic, her wealthy but cheating ex-boyfriend who clearly still loves her and is willing to do anything to get her back? Will it be Carter, the really nice Super in her building who will never earn enough to provide her with the life to which she was accustomed? Or will it be Joey, the hot but egotistical actor working alongside her boss? I’m not going to tell you, so you’ll just have to read it for yourself. LOVE, CHLOE was my first book from Alessandra Torre and I quite enjoyed it. The only issue I had was with the number of characters throughout the story and I found myself wondering more than once “Who’s this again?”, especially when most of those characters faded in and out. But other than that, it’s a cute read.

Love, Chloe

My Rating:

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