Tag Archives: Novella

Michael: A Scrooged Christmas

By F.G. Adams

Synopsis

Do holiday wishes really come true?

For kindergarten teacher, Holly Mary Edwards, she’s banking on a miracle when the man of her dreams returns from duty abroad.

Decorated army doctor, Michael Barnes, is not ready to face the holiday season after his fiancé leaves him for another man. Michael is convinced it’s time to put happiness in a tight little box and ship it back to the North Pole.

He wasn’t expecting Holly. And when the sexy Holly-jolly nymph takes it upon herself to divest him of his Mr. Scrooged attitude, she’ll do anything to bring him into the jingle bell jolly.

Can Holly convince him ‘tis the season for love?

Review

Unfortunately, MICHAEL: A SCROOGED CHRISTMAS was a DNF for me at the 18% mark. I usually try to last a little longer than that, but I just couldn’t continue on when a flashback scene appeared out of nowhere and had no connection to the scene I was reading. At least, I think it was a flashback scene. I honestly can’t be certain. It appeared so randomly and without notice that I thought I’d missed an entire page, so I went back two pages and re-read everything, but the result was still the same: great confusion about what I was reading. So I made the decision to stop reading and move on to another book. I researched the author’s work and found out that the two people Michael was angry at⏤Grayson and Ella⏤had their own story already, and I wonder if the flashback would have made more sense if I had read that other book first.

Michael: A Scrooged Christmas

My Rating:

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Daddy’s Home

By Zoe Blake

Synopsis

No one escapes their past.
Two years ago she ran, but now he has found her.
He will make her pay for her past mistakes.
Trapped alone in a cabin with him, there is no hope for rescue or redemption.
He wants information and refuses to believe she doesn’t have the answers he seeks.
He’s willing to do anything…anything…to break her.
And he will get what he wants.

Review

Daddy’s Home is a quick and very decadent read, a bit longer than a normal novella. By saying that it means we got much more of a story along with the instant attraction.

Logan manipulates and controls Chloe in a dark and very sensual way. It definitely hits all the right spots.

Due to having a hard life growing up, Chloe is very young at heart. Despite her love of all things youthful, she had a darkness and strong sensuality.

Chloe’s past connections in her short life have been dangerous and they provide the drama and mystery.

Also, I really connected to Chloe from the first few pages, she was a loner for so long she needed to be cared for and Logan was perfect.

Finally, Daddy’s Home is finished off nicely and I was satisfied and could have read so much more on this couple.

Daddy’s Home

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Stubborn as a Mule (Sex and Sweet Tea # 2)

By Juliette Poe

Synopsis

Down in Whynot, NC, there are three things that hold true: 1) life moves just a little bit slower, 2) family means everything, and 3) you don’t mess with history.

When his family decides to sell a home that’s been part of their history for over a century, Lowe Mancinkus is madder than a hornet. To add insult to injury, the woman who purchased it is some fancy pants, city girl looking to fix it up and sell it off. Doesn’t matter that she’s sexy as hell or that just being near her gets his blood racing like never before. That home belongs to his family, or at least it did until she came to town.

Well that just won’t do, now will it?

From the moment that she laid eyes on the historical home in rural North Carolina, Melinda Rothschild knew Mainer House was something special. The perfect escape from life in New York City, Melinda signed the papers and set to work restoring the house to its natural beauty. That is until an angry Lowe showed up on her doorstep one day. With a scowl on his handsome, chiseled face. And a shotgun in his strong, muscular arms.

Is it getting hot in here?

Melinda’s about to get a lesson on life in the south, but Lowe is about to learn a lesson of his own – this city girl doesn’t back down from a fight.

Review

I wasn’t sure if I wanted to read STUBBORN AS A MULE, because I knew it was going to be about Lowe and I really disliked him in the previous book. He was rude, bitter and angry, and I just couldn’t see him redeeming himself. Well, it doesn’t happen very often, but I’m happy to say that I was wrong. Very wrong. Once you get inside his head and hear why he was so upset, it is very easy to understand and forgive his behavior. I ended up liking him a lot, especially his sense of humor.

I can’t say much about Melinda, other than the town (including Lowe) judges her a little unfairly simply because she’s an outsider with money. She can be just as stubborn as Lowe, which was why their relationship was so volatile in the beginning. Despite their rocky start, they were both able to quickly calm down and act like grown ups, and I liked watching their affection for each other grow. I loved Morris D—Melinda’s gay, drag queen best friend—and the pranks between him and Lowe were hilarious.

STUBBORN AS A MULE is a very quick and enjoyable read, and I loved how the first chapter really drew me into the story and the battle between Lowe and Melinda. If you’re looking for a steamy read, you won’t find it here because all the action happens behind closed doors. My only complaint is that the conflict towards the end was easily predicted at the halfway mark, so I spent the rest of the book hoping to be surprised, but ultimately not.

STUBBORN AS A MULE is told not just in Lowe’s and Melinda’s POV, but also in the POVs of several of Whynot’s residents, which gives a little extra kick to the story. While it’s part of a series, it can be read as a stand-alone as it comes with a HEA for Lowe and Melinda. I’m looking forward to reading BARKING UP THE WRONG TREE, the next book in the Sex and Sweet Tea series.

Stubborn as a Mule (Sex and Sweet Tea # 2)

My Rating:

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Sex and Sweet Tea Series

Creep (Karma Inc. # 4)

By Gillian Zane

Synopsis

Case # 4 of the Karma Incorporated Series.

What goes around comes around…it’s called Karma.

Working for Karma Incorporated might sound like the best job in the world, but there’s one really big catch: you’ve got to die to get it. Cassandra Mercier died at the ripe old age of twenty-one and is now gainfully employed by the Afterlife Corporation as a Karma operative…and she’s been working overtime.

Cassandra is given the task of playing the psychic medium Castalia Rosso, and she’s on the hunt to give a few pretend ghost hunters a bit of cosmic retribution.

Her targets are two Creeps.

Twins Raul and Roselle, who have made a name for themselves in the ghost hunting community as renowned demon hunters. They’ve gotten so much notoriety that they’ve landed themselves a reality television show. The network insisted that they include a psychic on the show with them, though — and this is where Castalia Rosso comes in. Joining the twins on an investigation of one of the most haunted houses in the area, Cassie must expose the brother and sister ghost hunting duo, and all their dirty behavior and deal with some real ghosts all while trying to sort out her own tumultuous existence.

As the case gets more and more complex, so does the world Cassie exists in. Life and death aren’t exactly what they seem when working for the Afterlife Corporation.

Review

CREEP is another great addition to the Karma Inc. series, though I can’t say too much about it, because this series is connected and I’m trying not to give away any spoilers. But I’m very glad my suspicions about Drake were confirmed. Yes, we finally find out what Drake is, and it definitely makes things more interesting. In this story, there was no further investigation into Cassie’s murder, but I think we’ll get a lot of information in the next book, given where her next case is taking her.

CREEP is told only in Cassie’s POV and ends in a cliffhanger of sorts. Each book in this series is connected and cannot be read as stand-alones. The next book in the series is CROOK, and though I don’t know when it’s coming out, I can’t wait to read it.

Creep (Karma Inc. # 4)

My Rating:

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Karma Inc. Series

Thirty Day Boyfriend

By Whitney G.

Synopsis

I should’ve never agreed to this arrangement…

Thirty days ago, my boss–Mr. Wolf of Wall Street, came to me with an offer I couldn’t refuse: Sign my name on the dotted line and pretend to be his fiancée for one month. If I agreed, he would let me out of my employment contract with a “very generous” severance package.

The rules were pretty simple: No intimate kissing, no actual sex. Just pretend to love each other for the press, even though I’ve secretly wanted to knock that sexy smirk off his face since the first day we met.

I definitely didn’t need to think twice about this. I signed my name and started counting down the seconds to when I would never have to deal with his special brand of ass-holery again.

I only made it to one minute…

We argued the entire four-hour flight to his hometown, failed to make a convincing impression with the welcoming press, and right when I was about to knock that arrogant look off his face in real life? He purposely dropped his bath towel in front of me, distracting me with his nine-inch cock to “show me who the bigger person was” in our relationship. Then he gave me his trademark smirk once again and asked if I wanted to consummate our marriage.

Tragically, this is only day one.
We still have 29 more days to go…

Review

THIRTY DAY BOYFRIEND was a very quick and entertaining read that will grab you from the first chapter and won’t let go.

“Are you checking to make sure I haven’t broken away from my chains today?”
“You’ve fantasised about me putting you in chains? Let’s discuss that.”

Emily is the Executive Assistant to one of the most powerful men in New York, and one does not get—and hold—that position by being weak or a pushover. She’s not afraid to go head-to-head with Nicholas, and she’s very good at negotiating to get what she wants. As much as she “hates” her boss and her job, it’s clear that she’s very well respected by Nicholas and by all those that deal with her.

I’ll be honest, I don’t know why Emily “hated” Nicholas so much. Sure, he’s a little cold and detached, but he’s a high-powered CEO, so that kind of behavior is to be expected within the workplace. Sure, he’s also a little bullish, but I found some of his bullish ways to be very entertaining. But deep down, underneath the cold and aloof exterior, lies a man who’s a total sweetheart…for the right woman.

THIRTY DAY BOYFRIEND is told in dual POVs and comes with a HEA for Nicholas and Emily. It’s a stand-alone novella, and the only complaint I have with it is that the ending is rushed.

Thirty Day Boyfriend

My Rating:

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Forbidden Seduction (Lee County Wolves # 2)

By Teresa Gabelman

Synopsis

Hunter Foster single-handedly exposed the shifter community after shifting in front of humans to protect a Vampire Council Warrior. With no regrets, he heads home to answer for his crime of breaking an outdated law.

Back in his town, he is faced with rogue packs challenging their alpha, his brother, as well as the woman he has spent years avoiding. Finally, he has to come to terms with what his wolf has been telling him and what he as a man has been fighting against.

Review

FORBIDDEN SEDUCTION is the second book in the Lee County Wolves series, and it’s been over two years since I read the first book, FORBIDDEN HUNGER. Because of that, I wondered if I’d have a problem following on from the first story, and I did, but not for that reason. I hit a few trouble spots because some characters and events introduced and talked about in this book relate to a different series. Because of that, I did feel like I was missing something, but it didn’t really affect my enjoyment of the story.

I liked Hunter, but his treatment of Emily when they were younger meant he had a lot to apologize for, and I don’t think he apologized enough. That being said, I did feel that he was truly regretful for how he treated her and will spend the rest of his life making it up to her.

I loved Emily. She was very sweet and she’d make sacrifices for those who deserved it, even if it came at her expense. Her sister was a vile human being, and as much as I loved that Emily did stand up to her most of the time, there were some times that she didn’t and during those times, she did come across as a bit of a doormat. If anyone deserved to be bitch-slapped, it was her sister. But when she confronted Hunter about how he hurt her in high school, she was absolutely magnificent.

“Never in a million years did I think you or anyone else for that matter would have to be threatened to take me out. I’m actually a pretty nice person who’s fun to be around.”

FORBIDDEN SEDUCTION is told in dual POVs and while it’s part of a series, it can be read as a stand-alone. Although, as I said above, it is connected to another series and if you haven’t read that other series, you might feel a little lost a few times throughout this story. It’s a fairly quick read and a good way to spend a few spare hours, and I already have the third book waiting on my Kindle.

Forbidden Seduction (Lee County Wolves # 2)

My Rating:

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Lee County Wolves Series

Steel Ridge: The Beginning (Steel Ridge #1)

By Kelsey Browning

Synopsis

PREQUEL

Four Determined Brothers ~ One Broken Town ~ A Mountain of Secrets

The Steele brothers have a problem.

A big one.

In his own way, each is slowly dying inside.

Grif is jaded.

Reid is unsettled.

Britt is restless.

Jonah is bored.

But what none of them realize is their loyalty to their hometown will force them to decide between the life they each thought they wanted and a love they can’t live without.

In The Beginning, the Steele brothers go all-in to save their small-town from bankruptcy, and readers will catch their first glimpse of Grif and Carlie Beth, Reid and Brynne, and Britt and Miranda. And let’s not forget the baby brother billionaire, Jonah, who has secrets of his own.

The Beginning is a 10,000-word prequel to the Steele Ridge series, including full-length titles Going Hard, Living Fast, and Loving Deep.

Review

Steele Ridge is a prequel novel for the entire Steel Ridge series.

The story is very fast flowing and at times I became a little confused. You get to quickly meet a few of the women who are going to form romantic relationships with the brothers.

The Steele brothers also have two sisters and one is a twin and I am very intrigued with their secrets. It must have been interesting growing up with four overbearing brothers. Their mother made an immediate impact on me with her love of her sons.

Griff is the first brother to have a story and I am looking forward to reading his romantic reunion story.

One of the brothers I really loved was Jonah and how he wanted to save the town. It is going to be interesting to following the whole story of Steele Ridge.

This prequel just gives you enough to want to buy the next book in the Steele Ridge series being Going Hard.

Steele Ridge: The Beginning

My Rating:

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The Stocking Was Hung (The Holidays # 1)

By Tara Sivec

Synopsis

What happens when your life goes to crap the week of Christmas? You invite a hot Marine you met in an airport bar to come home with you for the holidays, to distract your crazy family from the truth.

With a handsy aunt, a meddling mother and a father concerned for the wellbeing of his daughter’s eggnog, there’s no chance Sam and Noel will have time to fall in love…or will they?

Review

I honestly can’t remember how I came across this book, but I’m glad I did because THE STOCKING WAS HUNG was pretty damn funny.

Mother of God, I’ve turned into a teenage chick, two seconds away from scribbling her name on my Science book.

I. LOVED. SAM. He is so kind, patient, generous and loyal. He’s never had a family, so every time Noel’s family did something nice for him, he soaked it right up. Though it was a little sad to see that the smallest of gestures made him so happy. He may not have known what it was like to be part of a family, but he fit in with Noel’s perfectly.

I liked Noel, but I can’t say much about her because Sam stole the show in my opinion. I loved her first meeting with Sam, and you could tell from the start that nothing in her life ever seems to go right. Her family is definitely crazy, but they’re a very loving bunch.

While I liked this book so much that I quickly purchased the next book in the series, there were a couple of things that didn’t sit too well with me. As funny as Aunt Bobbie is, she sexual assaults men and everyone considers it a part of her charm. There’s also a bit of drug usage, which is talked about like it’s not a big deal. I know this is supposed to be a funny and lighthearted read, and I only mention these two things because they might greatly bother some readers.

THE STOCKING WAS HUNG is told in dual POVs and comes with a HFN ending for Sam and Noel. It’s a novella and an insta-love, with the story taking place over just a few days. I’m normally not a big fan of insta-love romances, but this one was done really well and I really felt their connection. Sam and Noel’s story continues on in CUPID HAS A HEART-ON.

The Stocking Was Hung (The Holidays # 1)

My Rating:

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The Holidays Series

Mating Bite (Bite # 2)

By Cynthia Eden

Synopsis

Werewolf Carter Sinclair is on the hunt. He’s tracking a newly turned vamp, a beauty with bite named Lauren McIntosh. Hunting her is the easy part. After all, no one can hide from a wolf. But once Carter gets the vamp in his arms, his easy mission suddenly goes straight to hell.

One taste, one bite that should never have happened…and Carter is hooked—mind, body, soul. Nature has plans for him and Lauren. They’re to be mates, but there is a vicious vamp waiting in the dark—a killer who has already claimed Lauren as his.

Now Carter has a new mission—keep Lauren safe at all costs. Make her fall for him. And hide all of the very dark and dangerous secrets that fill his closet. He needs Lauren to trust him, he needs her to stay with him, and the last thing he wants is for Lauren to know just how deeply he’s already betrayed her. What she never knows can’t hurt her, right?

Their mating is forbidden, but Carter is about to break every werewolf and vamp rule out there in order to claim Lauren. And those fools who try to get in his way will find out just how deadly his beast can truly be…because there is no one in the world more important to a wolf…than his mate.

Review

MATING BITE was an enjoyable and quick read, but it is pretty similar to FORBIDDEN BITE, in that we have a male vampire hiring a werewolf to track down a female vampire, for reasons other than what is claimed. In this case, Carter is hired to track down newly-turned vampire, Lauren, and return her to her maker and “mate”.

Rule Five: Mating is forever. If you don’t believe that, try taking away a wolf’s mate. See how well that shit works for you.

Because it’s a novella, it is a fairly quick read, so I can’t say much about Carter and Lauren other than I liked them. I loved how protective Carter was of Lauren, and I really felt for her when she explained how she was turned against her will, the fear she felt as she was being murdered, and the fear of losing her humanity. I did struggle to understand her reason behind the conflict, but it all worked out in the end.

MATING BITE is told mostly in Carter and Lauren’s POVs, but is also occasionally told in the POV of other characters. It comes with a HEA for Carter and Lauren, and with the introduction of two new characters (Natalie and Riley), I wonder if there’ll be another book or two in the future. I hope there will be because I want to read them.

Mating Bite (Bite # 2)

My Rating:

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Bite Series

Breaching The Contract (Conflict Of Interest # 1)

By Chantal Fernando

Synopsis

Katerina Dawson knows exactly what she wants from life. And as the new associate at the top law firm in the city, she’s ready to live out her dreams of becoming a criminal lawyer. But going on coffee runs and babysitting kids during the day was definitely not what she had in mind. She knows that anyone else would kill to be in her shoes, but she has to draw the line somewhere. That’s easier said than done, though, when Kat has to confront her handsome boss…

Tristan Channing and Jaxon Bentley run a successful law firm together and the two partners couldn’t be busier right now. When Jaxon suddenly takes a leave of absence, Tristan begrudgingly assumes responsibility of the new associate, the hot new associate, who has curves for days. Needing to keep his distance from her, Tristan sends Kat on needless errands and has her doing work even an intern wouldn’t touch, like picking up his kids. But his plan backfires when he sees his children grow attached to Kat and sees her getting comfortable in his home. It triggers something deep within him, and it feels right to have her there. Will Tristan be able to keep his work and personal lives separate, or will he find that his heart holds the final verdict?

Review

BREACHING THE CONTRACT was a quick and enjoyable read, and the first book I’ve read from Chantal Fernando. That being said, it is a novella, so it moves really fast and there isn’t much depth to the story or its characters. The story could have benefited from being fleshed out, especially in regards to the two big reveals made towards the end. They had the potential to really bring out your emotions, but because they were skimmed over, it was hard to feel much of anything at all. Also, while this story revolves around two lawyers who work at the same firm, you won’t see any legal action, so if you are hoping to see some legal battles, you will be disappointed.

BREACHING THE CONTRACT is told in Kat’s POV, with the epilogue being told in Tristan’s POV, and it comes with a happy ending for Tristan and Kat. It is the first book in a new series, but it can be read as a stand-alone as each book in the series will be about another couple. From the looks of it, the next book will be a full-length novel and because of that, I would be interested in reading it.