Synopsis

April Hamilton wants you to know she hasn’t been on Craigslist since that time she sold her futon after college. She doesn’t even spend that much time online. And even if she did, she would not be looking up personal ads. But going home alone for her family’s summer reunion is an invitation for every single relative to butt into her personal life. She simply can’t handle another blind date with the butcher, the baker or the candlestick maker from her hometown. So when she finds the Craigslist ad for a boyfriend-for-hire, she’s ready to pay to play.

Heading Home and Need a Buffer? I’m the REAL DEAL.

Theo Banks has been running from the past for years. He’s this close to finally settling all his debts, and one more job as a boyfriend-for-hire will do the trick. He’s no gigolo. Please. He’s something of an actor, and he knows how to slip into any role, including pretending to be April’s new beau — the bad boy with the heart of gold.

Even if it means sleeping in close quarters in that tiny little bed in her parents’ inn. Even if it means spinning tales of a romance that starts to feel all too true. What neither one of them counts on is that amid the egg toss, the arm wrestling, and a fierce game of Lawn Twister that has them tangled up together, they might be feeling the real deal.

But can a masterful game of pretend result in true love?

Review

I’ll be blunt, I debated for quite a while about whether to read THE REAL DEAL or not. I’ve read a few books from Lauren Blakely before and my most recent reads did not win me over. But THE REAL DEAL sounded different from those books—it sounded light and fun—so I decided to give it a go. Boy, am I sooooo glad I did.

I really liked Theo and April. Despite the crappy hand life had dealt him, Theo was a nice guy. He was very down-to-earth and he had a wonderful sense of humor. April came from a more blessed background, but she never acted like a spoiled princess. She never judged Theo for his past and she worked hard to carve out her own life and successful career path. I really liked April’s family as well, especially her mother and father.

As the bulk of this story takes place over five days, THE REAL DEAL is most definitely an insta-love romance. But what I found interesting is that it didn’t feel like one. The chemistry between Theo and April was exciting from the moment they met, and watching that chemistry build as the story progressed made their time together feel a lot longer than just five days.

THE REAL DEAL is told in dual POVs and is currently listed as a stand-alone. If you’re looking for a read that flows well and includes a fake boyfriend, meddling but well meaning family members, competitive games, and some laughs, then THE REAL DEAL is for you.

The Real Deal

My Rating:  

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Synopsis

BOUND BY DUTY…

Bodyguard and former military man Cutter Bryant has always done his duty–no matter the cost. Now he’s taking one last high-octane assignment before settling down in a new role that means sacrificing his chance at love. But he never expects to share an irresistible chemistry with his beautiful new client.

…TEMPTED BY PLEASURE

As the star of a steamy television drama, Shealyn West knows fame well, but it has come at the expense of her heart. With a blackmailer watching her every move and the threat of career-ending exposure looming, Shealyn hires Cutter to shore up her security and keep her safe, never imagining their attraction will be too powerful to contain.

As Shealyn and Cutter navigate the scintillating line between business and pleasure, they unravel a web of secrets that threaten their relationship and their lives. When danger strikes, Cutter must decide whether to follow his heart for the first time, or risk losing Shealyn forever.

Review

In this first full length cross-over book between the Wicked Lovers series and the Devoted Lovers Series we find Cutter having to decide between his heart and his loyalty to his best friend.

This book captures everything that made the Wicked Lovers series so good.  It picks up at the end of Holding on Tighter.  Cutter and One-Mile definitely hate each other.

Cutter is a great guy who believes in loyalty.  He is even willing to sacrifice is own heart to save his friend from small town ridicule and her fathers wrath. When he starts to fall for the woman he is protecting he has to make serious decisions.

Shealyn is also just a good person but she has been caught in a complicated situation with no easy way out. People are depending on her for the show and their personal lives.

I loved Devoted to Pleasure.  It has great characters that just build on each other.  It was fast paced and over too soon.  I really liked the internal struggle that Cutter was having between what to do with his best friend and Shealyn.  And I really liked the mystery in this story. I can’t wait for the next addition to this series to come out.

Devoted to Pleasure

My Rating:  

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Synopsis

“You’ve done better.”

With one uncharacteristically sassy tweet to her longtime celebrity crush, Zoe Miller’s life turns upside down. Ultrahot A-lister Chase Covington doesn’t just respond to Zoe’s tweet, he does the unthinkable: he messages Zoe directly. Now she must decide between walking away or meeting her crush in person.

Chase knows better than to trust anyone from the Internet, but Zoe’s saucy challenge has totally caught his interest—and her girl-next-door personality is keeping it. He’s been burned enough to know he needs to keep his heart close. But his feelings for Zoe might be a lot more than just an online flirtation. He just has to convince her…

When the press gets wind of Zoe and Chase’s secret relationship, their romance turns into tabloid headlines. Will they be able to hold on to their Hollywood love story?

Review

#STARSTRUCK has been on my radar since it was released at the beginning of the year, and I finally had the time to give this book a go. At the time, I wasn’t feeling too well and I really just wanted something that was sweet and easy to read. #STARSTRUCK fit the bill perfectly and it did not disappoint.

“It’s weird, especially because we don’t know each other that well yet, and I know this sounds bizarre, but it’s like . . . I want to protect you. I’ve never felt that way about a girl before.”

I really liked this book. I liked the story, the buildup, the flow, the conflict, the apology and finally, the HEA. I liked Chase and Zoe, who were both honest with each other about their expectations and their life choices. Though I have to say that Zoe did annoy me a little with her insecurities.

From memory, #STARSTRUCK is told only in Zoe’s POV. It is part of a series, but going by the next book’s blurb, it sounds like each book within the series can be read as a stand-alone.

#Starstruck (#Lovestruck # 1)

My Rating:  

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#Lovestruck Series

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Synopsis

To high-end defense attorney Henry Garrison, Win Hughes is a woman he met during one of the most trying times of his life. She’s soft and warm, and he finds solace in their brief relationship. But Win has a secret. She’s actually Taylor Winston-Hughes–born to one of the wealthiest families in the country, orphaned as a child by a tragic accident. Win moves in the wealthiest circles, but her lavish lifestyle hides her pain.

When her best friend is murdered in the midst of a glittering New York gala, Win’s charged with the crime, and the only person in the world she wants to see is Henry.

Henry is shocked at the true identity of his lover, but he can’t reject the case. This trial could take his new firm into the stratosphere. Still, he’s not getting burned by Win again. And yet every turn brings them closer together.

As the case takes a wild turn and Win’s entire life is upended, she must look to the people she’s closest to in order to find a killer. And Henry must decide between making his case and saving the woman he loves…

Review

Order of Protection takes us on an emotional journey.  Two people who are very successful but are both missing pieces of their lives.

Henry meets Win and falls for her but doesn’t really know who she is.  Win meets this incredible guy who she has great chemistry with but knows that there is an expiration date on their relationship. When she is charged with murder Henry is there to save her.  Even if he can’t trust her again.

I loved this story.  The characters are well developed.  I definitely have a true sense of who Win and Henry are and why they rushed to judgement.  I also love that this series has a connection to the Lawless series.  Noah another sibling of the Lawless clan shows that he is just as brilliant as the rest of the family.

This story also had a definite theme that everyone’s vision of perfect is different.  And I liked the fact that Win suffered with an eating disorder challenged her perception of what perfect is. This part of the story took more personal turn for me but didn’t dominate the rest of the story lines.

I really found this story to be fast paced and full of surprises. I can’t wait for the next book in this series.

Order of Protection

My Rating:  

Buy Links:  Amazon

Visit Author:  Lexi Blake

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Synopsis

One dare and he’ll lose his heart…

Determined to qualify for the fire department’s grueling physical, former marine Jessie Sullivan never gives up, despite the pins in her leg. The last thing she needs is a tall, incredibly hot action movie star sharing her gym…and who makes her want to trade in her reps for some sexy physical activity. Of the naked kind.

Blake Johnston is more than just a Big Screen Sex Machine, and he’s willing to prove it. Especially to a spirited and sexy ex-marine like Jessie. But when a harmless dare leads to sizzling fireworks, Jessie and Blake’s workout ends up generating some serious heat between the sheets. And it’s more than Jessie could have imagined. Much, much more.

But flings don’t last forever. And in two weeks, Jessie will have to say goodbye to her red-hot Christmas fantasy…

Review

THE MOVIE STAR’S RED HOT HOLIDAY FLING was not a bad read, but not one that I’d pick up and read again.  Given that it’s a novella, I thought this would be a quick read, but it just didn’t grab me and it ultimately took me a couple of days to finish it.

I didn’t feel a connection between Blake and Jessie, and the conflict was predictable.

I also thought it was a little too neat and tidy that Blake—an action movie star—was the only person who had the investigative skills and technology required to solve Jessie’s mystery.  Was it sweet and did it give Jessie the closure she needed?  Most definitely.  Was it realistic?  No, not really.

My biggest issue was the huge amount of inner monologue throughout this story.  In one chapter, there was one page of conversation followed by nine pages of inner monologue.  There was so much that sometimes, by the time the second character spoke, I’d forgotten what the first character had said or asked.

THE MOVIE STAR’S RED HOT HOLIDAY FLING is told in dual POVs and comes with a HEA for Blake and Jessie.

The Movie Star’s Red Hot Holiday Fling

My Rating:  

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Sweetbriar Springs Series

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Synopsis

She needed a nanny.
I needed a lead actress.
Somehow I became The Manny.

Secrets and lies are a killer way to start any partnership—especially a horizontal one.

Now, I’m a glass half full kinda of guy, so, after the ‘you’re fired’ speech was directed at me, I figure now’s the time to be the screenwriter I came to sunny California to be. Unfortunately, there are about as many people trying to sell a script in L.A. as there are vegans in the pacific northwest.

But lucky for me, a few weeks ago my agent found an investor for my script. Hooray, all my problems are solved! NOT.

Because the investor will only agree to fund my film if I use one specific actress. And that one specific actress? Well of course, it just has to be the same actress I screwed over only months before. But she doesn’t need to know about that one tiny detail, does she? All that matters is getting her to agree to do the film and I’ll do whatever it takes. We can leave the past, in the past, right?

I thought my charm would win her over. Never would I have been prepared for the terms she laid out on the table.

Review

I quite enjoyed THE MANNY, so much so that I already have the second book in the series, DOGGIE STYLE, ready to go on my Kindle.

I am in way over my head. Changing my first diaper is one thing. Changing my first diaper full of shit and dealing with a biological disaster is another entirely.

I liked Vance, who was really a good guy. Did he screw Layla out of a job because he was too busy thinking with his dick? Well, yeah, but he knows that was wrong and hates that he did it. Did Karma pay him back? Yep, and rightly so. For a man intent on staying a bachelor, he took to Layla’s kids pretty damn well. I really enjoyed the scenes where he was interacting with them, because they were all really sweet with just the right amount of humor thrown in.

“But right now I have to go check to make sure a four-year-old little boy isn’t cooking meth or something in his bedroom. It’s too quiet in there.”

Layla was a very easy character to like. She’s a single mother to two kids, and her ex-husband is more interested in sleeping around and maintaining his career than being a responsible and helpful parent. Because of all the people in her life that have let her down, placing her trust in someone is a big deal, so you really felt her devastation and anger when she found out the secret Vance was keeping from her. That anger was good for her though, because it gave her the strength to stand up to both Vance and her ex, and it was good.

“I’m at a crossroads with my career and I need people who will help me push my self-doubt to the side and who will believe in me. I thought you were one of those people, but it turns out you didn’t believe in me either.”

I only have two complaints with this story, but I consider them to be fairly minor. The conflict was predictable right from the start, and I thought the Kimmel scene was a little cheesy.

THE MANNY is told in dual POVs and is the first book in the Dirty Truth trilogy. Vance’s two best friends, Jagger and Leo, will get their own books and all three can be read as stand-alones. THE MANNY comes with a lovely HEA for Vance and Layla, and I hope we see more of them in the next two books, because I want to know if Vance’s film is a huge success.

The Manny (Dirty Truth # 1)

My Rating:  

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Dirty Truth Series

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Synopsis

He puts the “screw” in screwball comedy…

BRYNN
At thirty-four, I’m reeling from a divorce. I don’t want to party or try to move on. I just want to stay home and post a new recipe on my blog: Brynn’s Dips and Balls.
But my friends aren’t having it. Get out there again, they say. It will be fun, they say. I’m still taking a hard pass.
Free designer cocktails, they say. And that’s a game-changer.
Too bad my ex shows up with his new arm candy. That’s when I lose my mind. But when my besties dare me to leap on the first single man I see, they don’t expect me to actually go through with it.

TOM
All I need right now is some peace and quiet while my home renovation TV show is on hiatus. But when a curvy woman in a red wrap dress charges me like she’s a gymnast about to mount my high bar, all I can do is brace myself and catch her. What follows is the hottest experience of my adult life.
I want a repeat, but my flying Cinderella disappears immediately afterward. She doesn’t leave a glass slipper, either—just a pair of panties with chocolate bunnies printed on them.
But I will find her.

Review

In MAN HANDS, we have two people recovering from failed relationships.  Tom is mostly in hiding after having his girlfriend reject his proposal…on live TV.  The same woman who only used him to propel her own career.  Brynn is recently divorced from a man who loved her cooking skills but was not attracted to her fuller figure, who made her feel so undesirable it greatly affected her confidence.  Trying to regain some of that confidence, and with her best friends at her back, she literally jumps on the first man she sees at a party, which happens to be Tom.

I liked Tom and Brynn, and I thought they were perfect for each other.  I liked that even though they had both been hurt, it didn’t stop them from trying a new relationship together. Their relationship gave both of them the confidence they needed to stand up to their exes when they popped in to cause trouble, and both scenes were magnificent.  What I also liked about Brynn was that she listened to her heart, and didn’t make wrong assumptions about Tom’s feelings for her.  And Tom?  Well, he always knew the right things to say.

“Like my ex would even notice.”
“Of course he will. If I were married to you, and then I lost you, the regret would be pretty intense.”

MAN HANDS is labelled as a romantic-comedy, and I won’t deny that it was funny.  For example, here’s the ending to their first time together, and I cracked up laughing.

He pulls out and collapses next to me. His leg is over mine, and he reaches across my naked breast to grab my hand.  “I’m Tom,” he says.
“Brynn,” I breathe back.
“Well, Brynn…It’s really nice to meet you.”
We shake hands.

However, I did feel that some of the humor was a little too much, a little too forced, and a little too immature given we’re talking about two people who are 34 and 38 years old.  Tom’s dick talks to him throughout the story—it even has its own mini chapter towards the end—and I can’t decide whether I thought that was funny or not.  That being said, the story made me laugh, and isn’t that the point?

MAN HANDS is told in dual POVs and comes with a HEA for Tom and Brynn.  While it’s part of a series, I think each book can be read as a stand-alone because each book will be about a different couple.  The second book in the series, MAN CARD, comes out in January and I am looking forward to reading it.  It will be about Tom’s best friend, Braht, and one of Brynn’s best friends, Ashley, who had an interesting and fiery “relationship” throughout this story.  Will Brynn’s other best friend, Sadie, get her own story?  I’m not sure, but given she seems to be in the middle of an unhappy marriage, anything is possible.

Man Hands (Man Hands # 1)

My Rating:  

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Man Hands Series

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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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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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Visit Sawyer Bennett:  Click Here

Love Hurts Series

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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:  

Buy Links:  Amazon | iBooks

Visit Kate Meader:  Click Here

Chicago Rebels Series

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