Category: Random House Publishing Group – Loveswept

Love, Again by L.P. Dover

~ Jolie ~ 1 Comment
Love, Again by [Dover, L.P.]

4 Stars

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Loveswept, Loveswept

Date of publication: April 9th, 2019

Genre: Romance

Where you can find Love, Again: Barnes and Noble | Amazon | BookBub

Book synopsis:

Sometimes all you need is a second chance.

“L. P. Dover knows how to create the men who make us swoon, the book boyfriends we all want.”—New York Times bestselling author Heidi McLaughlin

Aubrey Reynolds is a small-town girl who’s made it big. A successful Hollywood director, Aubrey doesn’t have time to linger on what could have been. But when a routine blood test comes back with a false positive, she decides to take some time off to do the things she’s always wanted to do: taste the famous chocolate chip cookies at the Minnesota State Fair, hike the Grand Teton National Park, scuba dive in the Caribbean. But after Aubrey admits to herself what she’s really missing, she heads back home to Dusty Valley, Oklahoma . . . and the man she left behind.

Cole Haywood is a small-town fireman and that’s just fine with him. Sure, when the love of his life left their hometown to chase her dreams he was heartbroken and—he’ll admit—damn mad. But Cole would have never forgiven himself if he had held Aubrey back from success. So the last thing he expects after all these years is to walk into his favorite bar one night and find the girl he’s always loved—there—looking for him. Maybe now’s the time to make his dreams come true. 

Love, Again is about how a love lost can be revived. Aubrey left Cole behind when she moved to Hollywood to pursue her dream of being a successful director. Ten years, go by and Aubrey has never forgotten Cole. Then a misdiagnosis puts everything into focus. Aubrey puts her career on hold to follow her bucket list. The list includes going back to Oklahoma and making amends with Cole. Can Cole forgive Aubrey? Will they make amends? Will they revive their relationship?

I so needed to read Love, Again. I needed to read a book with a simple plot. The last few books I have read have had plots that were all over the place. So, reading a book that was focused only on one thing was terrific. It was a balm for my brain.

I liked that Love, Again was a second chance romance. Out of all the genres/troupes, second chance romances is in my top 5. I love reading about characters who get back together after being separated for years. I like seeing those characters reconnect. Audrey and Cole was no exception.

I liked Aubrey. I did think that she was too chill about certain things (like her misdiagnosis). I loved her bucket list. There were a few things on there that I want to do. She didn’t come across as a typical Hollywood person. She seemed genuine to the people that she met. I didn’t understand how she could leave Cole a month before the wedding. That was the only time I thought she was selfish. But, when it was revealed why she left and who was behind it, then I understood. My feelings about her being selfish went away, and I pitied her. Talk about being stuck between a rock and a hard place.

I did like Cole, but I didn’t get as good as a connection to him. His chapters were introduced rather late in the book. Don’t get me wrong; he was excellent for Aubrey. I felt that something was missing on my end. I wish I could explain it. But I can’t.

Love, Again was a perfect fit into the romance category. Being a second chance romance, I didn’t have an issue with Cole and Aubrey falling in love . Usually, I would be screaming “Instalove,” but in this case, it wasn’t. Aubrey and Cole had a history. They knew they were soulmates. So, yeah, I had no issue with them saying the “L” word as soon as they did in the book.

Aubrey and Cole’s romance was relatable to me. They were soul mates that separated. It did take them ten years, but once they got back together, it was almost like they were never apart. Their love for each other came off the pages.

The sexual tension and chemistry between Aubrey and Cole were steaming hot. From the minute they saw each other, I could see the zings. The author did have them have sex shortly after they saw each other. Again, something that would bother me, but in this case, it didn’t. The sex was red hot. The author was able to keep the sexual tension going, which made every single sex scene amazing.

I did have a small complaint. If you have been reading my blog for any length of time, then you know how I feel about the characters having unprotected sex. I know that Aubrey and Cole were soulmates but to go bareback after ten years? Yeah, no thank you.

I did have the ending figured out. I had it figured out when Aubrey and Cole went to Turk and Caicos. Of course, I liked how the book ended up. It was the ultimate HEA. But I thought that Aubrey took an unnecessary risk cliff jumping. The epilogue was my favorite part of the book. I was hoping for an Emilia/Bennet book, but from what I read, that isn’t happening.

The author did a fantastic job at wrapping up all the plotlines in Love, Again. There was no lag in the plot. All the storylines were wrapped up, which meant that there were no dropped storylines or characters. I liked that the author took events that happened at the beginning of the book and tied it in to the end. For some reason, that made me happy.

I would give Love, Again an Adult rating. There is sex. There is language. There is mild violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread Love, Again. I would recommend it to family and friends.

I would like to thank the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Love, Again.

All opinions stated in this review of Love, Again are mine.

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

Have you read Love, Again?

What are your feelings on it?

Second chance romances?

Love them or hate them?

Let me know!!

Breaking His Rules By Aliza Mann

~ Jolie ~ 1 Comment
Breaking His Rules by [Mann, Aliza]

4 Stars

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Loveswept, Loveswept

Date of publication: April 2nd, 2019

Genre: Romance

Where you can find Breaking His Rules: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | BookBub

Synopsis:

An international playboy finds true love in a sexy new standalone contemporary romance from Aliza Mann.

Ashton Lyle is a man in control. His rules are simple:
Discipline.
Hard work.
No deviation.
And lucky for him no one is able to resist his mega-watt smile, dazzling wit, sexy British accent, and ability to manipulate any situation in business . . . and in bed.
That is, until he meets a woman with rules of her own.

Terra Ellis is a self-made woman who knows what she wants.
A successful entrepreneur, she has worked hard to cultivate an impeccable image.
A tumultuous relationship with her ex-husband has reinforced her drive but it has also made her question serious relationships.
After all, a busy woman has no time for romance.
That is, until Terra meets a man who sees through her façade.

Ashton and Terra are about to discover that some rules were made to be broken. . . .

My Review:

When I started reading Breaking His Rules, I was a little put off by Ashton’s rules. I will give everyone a breakdown of his rules to dating. I thought that they were ridiculous. I also want to remind everyone that I am taking the rules from an ARC. The wording might change.

1. Never pick the prettiest woman. They’re usually merely a pretty face, have no real power, and are high maintenance or looking for more than what one has to give. No, the pretty girls will ruin your chances at playing the field. The less attractive friends always want attention and will be far more appreciative in the long run.

2. Don’t think of her as a one-night stand. Think of her as a new friend you can call at 3 a.m. asking to come round her place.

3. No discussing family history.

4. No deep conversations that linger into the wee hours. Keep things light. Airy. Like fresh laundry on a clothesline in the spring.

5. Never treat a woman poorly. Be distant instead. Not too distant, though. It’s a fine line after all.

6. Whatever you do, don’t hang out until the next morning. It gives the wrong impression. No need to contradict the aloof vibe you’ve perfected.

7. No actual dates of Friday or Saturday, as these are universally known as couples nights.

8. No consecutive days of seeing one another, either.

9. No sharing of clothing items.

10. No taking personal items to one another’s homes.

Ashton Lyle’s Playbook

Can you see why I thought they were ridiculous? But, at the same time, I did see the humor and truth in them. I dated (and remained friends) with a few guys who had different versions of Ashton’s Playbook.

I did like Ashton. I loved seeing his character evolved throughout the book. He went from being an emotionless lady killer to someone who broke all his own rules to be with Terra. What I liked, even more, was that he was able to move past his horrible childhood and make peace with it.

I loved Terra. Like Ashton, I liked seeing her character’s growth in the book. I did understand why she stayed to herself, why she was afraid to let people get to her. Baggage like she had can do that to people.

I loved that Breaking His Rules was an interracial cougar romance. I have read interracial romances (one of my favorite subgenres to read). I have read a couple of cougar romances. But them together, nope. This book was my first one, and I want more!!

The author did a fantastic job of building up the sexual tension between Terra and Ashton. She kept stroking the flames so when they had sex, it was terrific. But, what impressed me even more, was that she kept sexual tension up the entire book. What I also liked is that she had Terra be sexually adventurous. Light bondage and public sex were a theme in Breaking His Rules.

The only thing that I didn’t like about Breaking His Rules was Marcus. He made my skin crawl. I know the author kept true to what happens in the real world. It still didn’t lessen my shock and horror about what he did. I wished he hadn’t been in the story. But I do understand why the author chose to have him there. She wanted to show us what Terra was up against and what she came from.

I had the same feelings about Ashton and his father. I did think that Terra overstepped her bounds. But, if something like that happened to one of my kids, I would want to know. Her doing that did open a line of communication between Ashton and his father.

The end of Breaking His Rules was perfect. The author did a great job of wrapping up all the storylines. I loved the HEA!!! It made me happy to read that.

I would give Breaking His Rules an Adult rating. There is sex. There is language. There is violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread Breaking His Rules. I would also recommend this book to family and friends.

I would like to thank the author, Loveswept, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Breaking His Rules.

All opinions stated in this review of Breaking His Rules are mine.

Have you read Breaking His Rules?

What are your thoughts?

Did you/do you have rules like Ashton when you are dating?

Let me know.

Play to Win (Wynn Hockey: Book 1) by Kelly Jamieson

~ Jolie ~ 5 Comments
Play to Win: A Wynn Hockey Novel by [Jamieson, Kelly]

4 Stars

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Loveswept, Loveswept

Date of publication: March 19th, 2019

Genre: Romance, Sports

Series: Wynn Hockey

Play to Win—Book 1

In It To Win It—Book 2 (expected publication date: July 23rd, 2019

Where you can find Play to Win: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | BookBub

Synopsis:

Meet the Wynns—a hockey dynasty built on family, money, and drama. From USA Today bestselling author Kelly Jamieson, the first novel in a new series is a total win-win.

“Kelly Jamieson is an auto-buy for me.”—Carly Phillips

After an injury forced Théo Wynn to give up professional hockey, he turned to his second love: numbers. Now, as the general manager of his grandfather’s NHL team, the Los Angeles Condors, Théo is dying to prove to the rest of his family—especially the brother who betrayed him—that he’s just as successful as the rest of them. If only Théo had a gorgeous woman on his arm to complete the picture. . . .

Lacey Olson needs to get out of Las Vegas right now, thanks to her no-good, crooked brother. When a handsome stranger who’s out partying with friends comes to her rescue in the cocktail lounge where she works, they strike up a conversation that leads to a crazy plan: her leaving with Théo for L.A. tomorrow. A few drinks later, the idea gets even crazier: a quickie marriage that works for both of them.

But back in California, Lacey immediately turns Théo’s precise, well-ordered life into one big beach party. And before long, she’s tempting him with her smart mouth, sexy body, and sunny charm. The last thing Théo needs is a real relationship to distract him. Because he only plays to win. . . .

My Review:

When I saw that Kelly Jamieson had a new series out, I was pumped. I was disappointed when the Aces Hockey series ended. I was also wondering when the next series was going to start. So, when I saw the book up for review on NetGalley, I pounced on it. I am glad that I did. Play to Win is an excellent start to what I hope is going to be an excellent series.

Theo Wynn was forced to give up professional hockey after an eye injury. Not to be deterred, he became the GM of an expansion hockey team based out of Las Vegas. Theo’s grandfather approached Theo with a job offer. Become the GM for his hockey team, the California Condors. Theo accepted the offer but was aware of the backlash that it would cause. When he meets Lacey and hears her story, Theo has a proposition for her. Become his “fake” wife to show his family that he made it. But can Theo keep Lacey at arms length? Or will he fall for her?

Lacey Olson is between a rock and a hard place. Her brother has stolen all the money in her checking account and disappeared. He also tries to pimp her out to his bookie to pay off his debt. She wasn’t expecting her brother’s bookie to show up at her job in a cocktail lounge. She wasn’t expecting the cute customer she was serving to step in and comfort her when she gets fired. She also wasn’t expecting to accept Theo’s crazy proposition. Or have a quickie Vegas wedding. Can Lacey go through with the charade? Or will she fall hard for Theo?

I liked Theo even if I thought he was too uptight. I understood why he didn’t want to jump in the pool with his clothes on. But I didn’t understand why he was so anal about suitcase packing. His horror in watching Lacey pack was amusing. I did enjoy watching his character grow in this book. He went from an uptight, grudge holding guy to a more laid back version of himself. Lacey was good for him.

I loved Lacey. She was one of the most easy going, go with the flow characters that I have read. Not that she didn’t have issues. Because she did. It was the way that she chose to deal with her issues that endeared her to me. She chose to look at the sunny side of things. Even her relationship with her brother (who I didn’t like). But, she wasn’t a pushover. She ruled when she met Theo’s ex. I did a “You go girl“.

Theo’s family wasn’t perfect. They were dysfunctional. Of course, not every family has a suggested gold-digger. Or sons’ suing their father. Or brother’s stealing girlfriends. But that’s what made this book fun to read.

Unfortunately Lacey’s family was all too realistic. Having an addict in your life is draining, emotionally and financially. The author was able to capture it perfectly.

I liked that Play to Win is a romance that didn’t have Instalove. Sure, Theo and Lacey got married the night they met. But the author chose to make up for that by having them build their relationship. Loved it!!

The sex scenes were steamy, once they had sex. I did roll my eyes when Theo and Lacey made the “no sex” pact. That screamed that they were going to have sex, but not right away. When they finally did bump uglies, it was explosive. I also liked how the author had Theo be on the receiving end of something kinky. That sex scene was through the roof!!

I loved the ending of Play to Win. Handsdown, it was one of the better endings that I have read. The talk that JP gave Theo was epic. What Lacey was knitting was epic. Actually, I was laughing my fool head off at that. Then I went to google it. Note to self: Never google that again. Images are forever seared into my brain. But it was the epilogue that made the book. Loved it. I also loved how it set up Book 2. Which I can’t wait to read.

I would give Play to Win an Adult rating. There is sex. There is language. There is mild violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread Play to Win. I would also recommend this book to family and friends.

I would like to thank the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Play to Win.

All opinions stated in this review of Play to Win are mine.

Have you read Play to Win?

What are your thoughts on it?

Do you like reading about dysfunctional families?

Let me know!!

Moonlight & Whiskey by Tricia Lynne

~ Jolie ~ 1 Comment

5 Stars

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Loveswept, Loveswept

Date of publication: March 12th, 2019

Genre: Romance

Where to find Moonlight & Whiskey: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Goodreads synopsis:

When life gives you curves, you gotta learn how to rock them.

Successful businesswoman Avery Barrows likes her dips and curves, but she’s sick of the haters telling her that she should be ashamed of her body instead of embracing it. Determined to send them a big f*** you, Avery resolves to cut loose during a girls’ trip, hightailing her quick-mouthed, plus-sized self to New Orleans. So, what’s a smart woman with a little extra gotta do to get laid in this town?

Not much if you ask Declan McGinn, the lead singer of BlackSmith. Tall, dark, and tattooed, with a body made for sin, Declan prefers his women as curvy as his guitars. Avery’s sharp tongue and keen mind makes him want her even more.

As they burn up the sheets, Avery and Declan realize this is no one-night (or even one-week) stand. But for all of her bluster, Avery isn’t sure she can handle any more rejection. Besides, Declan has demons of his own. Now Avery has a choice to make: play it safe, or place her trust in the hands of a man who’s as tempting as the devil himself.

My review

Moonlight & Whiskey is Avery and Declan’s story. Avery is a plus size engineer who is sick of the body shaming that she has been put through. Heading to New Orleans with her bestie, Avery is determined to give the middle finger to all the haters by having the time of her life. Then she meets Declan. Declan hits all Avery’s must-haves: tall, dark, handsome and brooding. With her vacation ending, Avery has some tough choices to make. Will she make the right ones? Or will she lose Declan and her chance for happiness?

It is very rare when a book knocks me off my feet. It is even rarer when that book keeps me off balance for the entire book. Moonlight & Whiskey did that to me. I loved it!!

I loved Avery. I knew I was going to like her when she was getting a Brazillian. My loving her was cemented by the fact that she was relatable. She did have her issues, though. She was afraid of being hurt and kept walls up. Her past with men was horrible. Some of the situations that she had been through made me tear up. Even in the present, she was treated horribly because she was plus size. Miss Piggy and chubs were two of the more awful ones that were in there. How she dealt with the people who put her down was epic.

Declan was sex on a stick. He had me from the minute he walked into Avery. My mental image of him was well kinda like Jason Momoa. No one else existed for him except Avery. I loved that. I also liked that he, too, was relatable. He did awful things in the past. Things that he was still atoning for. He wasn’t perfect. That made him more real to me.

There is a lot of sex in Moonlight & Whiskey. A lot of sex. A lot of different types of sex. Anal. Vanilla. Sex in public (twice). Sex in the shower. Blowjob in front of friends. The author did not hold back and I loved it. Normally I don’t like it when half of the book takes place in bed. But in this case, I was OK with it. It didn’t take away from the book. Mainly because Avery and Declan were getting to know each other on a personal level while going at it like rabbits.

I loved the secondary characters also. Jamie, Matt, Shaun, Kat. They were as fleshed out and relatable as Avery and Declan. I will admit that I was confused with the whole Matt, Declan, Avery pseudo-triangle until it was spelled out at the end of the book. At that point, I went, “Oh okay, now everything makes sense.” But up until that point, I was oh so confused.

I want to get into the end of the book. Oh man, I have so many opinions about what happened between Declan and Avery. But, I can’t because I’d be giving away some major spoilers. I will say that I would have thought the same thing as Avery. I also would have done the same thing also.

You will need tissues for the last few chapters of the book too. There will be happy tears. There will be surprised tears. There will be mad tears. Let’s cut to the chase, you will be a blubbering mess. I know I was. The author did a fantastic job of wrapping up the Avery and Declan’s storylines. But I do hope that she goes on to write Jamie/Kat’s story and Matt’s story. They need to be told.

I would give Moonlight & Whiskey an Adult rating. There is explicit sex. There is explicit language. There is moderate violence. There are triggers. They would be body shaming, self-esteem issues, the death of a parent, and alienation of a parent. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread Moonlight & Whiskey. I would also recommend this book to family and friends.

I would like to thank the publishers, the author, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Moonlight & Whiskey.

All opinions stated in this review of Moonlight & Whiskey are mine.

Ice Hot (New York Nighthawks: Book 1) by Tracy Goodwin

~ Jolie ~ Leave a comment
Ice Hot (New York Nighthawks, #1)

4 Stars

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Loveswept, Loveswept

Date of publication: March 5th, 2019

Genre: Romance, Sports

Series: New York Nighthawks

Ice Hot—Book 1

Where to find Ice Hot: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Goodreads synopsis:

The Nighthawks are hockey’s new expansion team. They’re ice hot. And they’re all about the chase.

Christian: They call me a hockey god because I’m a beast on the ice . . . and off. Men want to be me and women just want me. But now that the New York Nighthawks expect me to lead their team to victory, it’s all work and no play. My eyes are on the prize. Until I meet Serena Ellis, a sexy, curvalicious blonde who doesn’t know me from jack. And just like that, I’m hooked.

Serena: I don’t do one-night stands—especially with celebrity jocks who date models. Lots of models. But the god of hockey is a temptation that’s hard for mere mortals to resist. And after the best kiss of my life, I’m ready to throw my one-night stand rule out the window. Except Christian Chase won’t let me. He doesn’t want a one-night stand. He wants it all.

My review:

I noticed lately that I have had a lot of hockey-themed romances in my TBR pile. Which is funny because I haven’t followed hockey in years. All these hockey themed romances are telling me something. They are telling me that I need to turn on the games again.

When I read the blurb for Ice Hot, I was kind of “meh” about it. No lying. I got burned out on alpha males. I also got burned out on women who think that they can handle the alphas but end up becoming submissive.

I surprised when Christian and Serena blew those misconceptions out of the water. While the book did start off with a typical alpha male situation, it turned into anything but. Christian was still very much an alpha male on the ice. But off the ice, when he was alone with Serena, he showed a different side. A side that I wasn’t expecting to see in a book like this. I loved it!!

I thought Serena was awesome!! The whole situation with the Slurpee had me cracking up in bed. But what I liked the most about her was that she was one of the most genuinely written characters I have read to date. I read a lot, so that says something. By the end of the book, she morphed into almost hero status in my eyes.


To the young women out there who are watching this, I have a wish. That you embrace the concept that no one defines who you are but you. No man defines you. Neither does social media. Be yourself. Be fearless. Forge your own path. That’s what I am doing with this video**


The author chose to detail cyberbullying in this review. As well as slut/fat shaming. Serena was at the end of that. She had been at the end of the fat shaming her entire life. Her parents did nothing about it. In fact, her father hired the guy who humiliated her. I thought she was strong and my admiration grew as the book went on.

I was heartbroken when Serena and Christian broke up. Now, I wouldn’t normally be mentioning that but it was huge in the book. I am not going to say why they broke up but I will say that I understood why Christian did it. He wanted to protect Serena and in his mind, this was how he could do it.

The only thing that I found fault with was how the team and management handled Mighty. I know that a hockey team needs to be a cohesive unit. Which is why I didn’t understand why nothing was done about Mighty until the end of the book. He caused so much harm, it wasn’t even funny. I was very surprised that Christian held off as long as he did.

The sex scenes were as emotional and intimate as the book was. The author kept up the sexual tension throughout the book. It didn’t go away at all. Actually, it intensified the deeper Christian fell for Serena. It was amazing to read.

You will need tissues for the end of the book. Thankfully, I had a bunch next to me (I am battling a cold). I started bawling the minute Serena met up with her mother and didn’t start until the end of the book. I loved the epilogue and thought the Slurpee was great!!!

I gave Ice Hot an Adult rating. There is explicit sex. There is violence. There is language. There are triggers. They would be online bullying, face to face bullying, fat shaming, slut shaming and bigotry. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread Ice Hot. I would also recommend this book to family and friends.

**This quote was taken from an unedited ARC.

I would like to thank the publishers, the author, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Ice Hot.

All opinions stated in this review of Ice Hot are mine.

Let’s Talk About Sext (Let’s Talk About Sext: Book 1) by Evie Claire

~ Jolie ~ 3 Comments

2 Stars

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Loveswept, Loveswept

Date of publication: February 19th, 2019

Genre: Romance

Series: Let’s Talk About Sext

Let’s Talk About Sext—Book 1

I Wanna Sext You Up—Book 2 (expected publication date: August 20th, 2019)

Where you can find Let’s Talk About Sext: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Goodreads synopsis:

Her: Unstoppable, workaholic, driven force of nature. Him: The exact opposite of that.

Phebe Stark needs a punching bag. No, on second thought, she needs a donut. No, on third thought, she needs to escape into a dark bar with a strong drink. She’s just been harassed, for the umpteenth time, by the slimy supervisor standing between her and a shattered glass ceiling at her high-pressure Atlanta firm. But then a tall, bearded, sexy lumberjack of a bartender saunters over, and suddenly Phebe knows she doesn’t need gin . . . she needs him.

Brody Cantrell didn’t exactly intend to become a bartender. He planned to help out at his ailing uncle’s bar for a year, then get an advanced degree and rise to the top of his field. Instead, he got a Ph.D. in Real Life from his customers. Brody thinks he’s seen everything—until he meets Phebe Stark. And when he gets a load of her fearless sexting skills, he just has to see what’s under that power suit. Brody’s certain they’ll have a good time or two—nothing serious. Then again, all these steamy messages and breathless trysts have him seriously considering . . . Why not?

My Review:

I hate leaving negative reviews. I do. But that is part of the job of writing a book blog. You need to showcase the bad along with the good.

I did not like Phebe at all. From the minute she appeared outside of Brody’s bar, I got the vibe that she was a ball buster and a snob. My vibe was confirmed in the next chapter when she went from zero to witch on Brody. My dislike of her started around that time also. It grew and grew until the first breakup scene happened. That is where her true colors came out. She was a snob and was all about money. From that point on, I read her scenes a bad taste in my mouth.

I did like Brody but I thought that he was a pushover. I also couldn’t understand why he kept taking Phebe back after everything she put him through. I would have told her to go take a flying leap after what happened at the Boys and Girls Club gala.

Because of my dislike for Phebe, I couldn’t get into the sex scenes. They did nothing for me. If Phebe had been more likable, then the sex scenes would have been fun. But they were colored by her actions throughout the book.

I did like the secondary characters in this book. Phebe’s friends weren’t afraid to call her out and let her know how she was acting. When she told them what she said to Brody during their last fight, their reaction was the same I would have had.

I did appreciate the author trying to reign Phebe in. I did. But I didn’t believe that she changed in that short amount of time. I mean what she said to Brody was awful.

A bartender with Daddy issues

Who says that to someone that they loved? And over something that she had no business being a part of? What Brody did with that land was up to him. Not her. I would have booted her butt out of the door and blocked her number.

Which takes us to the end of the book. I know because its a romance, they are supposed to have a HEA. But in this case, I can’t see it happening. I have a feeling that Phebe and Brody’s relationship will be a quick one. Like a Kardashian marriage. I was left feeling unfulfilled by the ending. Which is something that I rarely feel when reading any type of book.

I would give Let’s Talk About Sext an Adult rating. There are explicit sex and sexual situations. There is language. There is mild violence. There are triggers. They are sexual harassment, women’s rights, talk of alcoholism and talk of parental neglect and abuse.

I would not reread Let’s Talk About Sext. I also would not recommend this book to family and friends. I would be open to reading more books by the author.

I would like to thank the publisher, the author, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Let’s Talk About Sext.

All opinions stated in this review of Let’s Talk About Sext are mine.

Katie’s Highlander (Highlander Protector: Book 3) by Maeve Greyson

~ Jolie ~ 1 Comment
Katie's Highlander (Highlander Protector, #3)

3.5 Stars

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Loveswept, Loveswept

Date of publication: January 22nd, 2019

Genre: Romance, Historical Fiction

Series: Highland Protector

Sadie’s Highlander—Book 1 (review here)

Joanna’s Highlander—Book 2 (review here)

Katie’s Highlander—Book 3

Where you can find Katie’s Highlander: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Goodreads synopsis:

An archaeologist with a zest for life finds herself stranded in small-town North Carolina—with a brooding Highland hunk who’s straight out of ancient Scotland.

Ramsay MacDara wishes the goddesses had left his arse back in the tenth century. That way he never would have met the gold digger who made a fool out of him. A loner at heart, Ramsay is riding his beloved horse through the woods near his family’s North Carolina theme park, Highland Life and Legends, when he hears tires squealing—followed by a thud—and rushes to the scene to help. That’s when he sets his eyes on a pair of long legs sticking out of the moon roof of a car. His interest piqued, the rest of her will soon arouse his greatest desires…and deepest fears.

Archaeologist Katie Jenson is on a six-month sabbatical from her job at Princeton University. Following the death of her beloved father—whose dying request was for Katie to live life to the fullest—she’s headed to a friend’s beach house in North Carolina. But a momentary distraction takes her off the road and on the journey of her life…with a sex god in a kilt at her side. Ramsay’s passion is the stuff of legend—and it just may be Katie’s greatest discovery.

My review:

I was stoked when I saw that there was the 3rd book in the Highlander Protector series. I wasn’t sure who the next was going to be about. I had a 50/50 chance of it being either Ramsay or Ross. When I read the blurb, I had a mini-freakout because it was Ramsay. I loved Ramsay in Joanna’s Highlander. I couldn’t wait to read the book.

While I did like Katie’s Highlander, I thought that it fell short in several areas. The plotline didn’t seem as well developed as the previous books. The characters didn’t seem as vibrant.

There were things that I did like about the book. I thought that Katie was a perfect heroine. I loved Ramsay. And while I thought the plotlines weren’t as developed as the previous books, I did like reading them.

Kate was a hoot in this book. I loved that she owned her geekiness. That she knew her self worth. She was raised to value herself above everything else. It was an amazing message to read. More people, women especially, need to know that. I liked how real she was. Except for the driving while looking at the constellations. That wasn’t real. That was kinda stupid. But, in hindsight, she wouldn’t have met Ramsay.

I loved Ramsay in this book. He had been hurt by his ex-fiancee. He didn’t want to like Katie. Heck, he didn’t want to fall in love with her. I did think that he was a bit stubborn at times in the book. When he realized that he was in love with Katie, he was willing to let her go so she could be happy.

There is Instalove in this book. Katie and Ramsay meet and fall in love within 2 days. I do wish that there was more time for them to get to know each other. 2 days didn’t cut it with me.

I wasn’t expecting Katie and Ramsay to go back in time. It was a nice twist in the plot and gave the book that added “ummph” that was needed. I liked seeing Katie’s reactions to being in Medieval Scotland. She was out of her element and wanted to go home. I didn’t blame her.

The other twist in the plotline was not expected. It didn’t add anything to the plotline because Ramsay was so accepting of what happened. That made me to “WTH“. I was waiting for the other shoe to drop with it. Like something bad happening to Katie. So, I wasn’t expecting it when it ended the way it did. It was another “WTH” situation.

I did like the sex scenes but I didn’t love them. I was a little skeeved about the period sex. I also didn’t appreciate the scene where Ramsay was cleaning himself off after sex. We all know guys do it but reading about it. No thank you.

The end of Katie’s Highlander was bittersweet. I loved that Katie made the right choice. I also like how Ross and Esme put Adam in his place.

I gave Katie’s Highlander an Adult rating. There are sex and sexual situations. There is language. There is violence. There are triggers. They would be the death of a parent and child abuse. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread Katie’s Highlander. I would also recommend this book to family and friends.

I would like to thank the publisher, the author, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Katie’s Highlander.

All opinions stated in this review of Katie’s Highlander are mine.

Game On (Aces Hockey: Book 8) by Kelly Jamieson

~ Jolie ~ 2 Comments
Game On (Aces Hockey, #8)


4 Stars

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Loveswept, Loveswept

Date of publication: January 15th, 2019

Genre: Sports, Romance

Series: Aces Hockey

Major Misconduct—Book 1

Off Limits—Book 1.5

Icing—Book 2

Top Shelf—Book 3

Back Check—Book 4

Slap Shot—Book 5 (review here)

Playing Hurt—Book 6 (review here)

Big Stick—Book 7 (review here)

Game On—Book 8

Where you can find Game On: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Goodreads synopsis:

Cam Brickley and his pro hockey teammates bet on everything: who can win five faceoffs in a row, who can do forty pushups in less than a minute, who can eat a ghost pepper without puking. But when his buddies bet him he can’t date the same woman—like, say, the hot blonde over at the bar—for two months and not fall in love, he’ll take that bet all day. Then he’ll laugh all the way to the hockey arena, where they’ll be washing his jock straps for the rest of the season because Cam’s never giving up his bachelor lifestyle.

Olivia Lockwood, the heiress to the Lockwood Industries fortune, is used to people using her for her money and family connections. When Cam Brickley hits on her in a club, Olivia’s first instinct is to brush him off. But he couldn’t be using her for her money since he has more than enough of his own. Cam’s gorgeous and built, and it would be no hardship to go out with him . . . besides, he’d be the perfect spokesperson for the children’s charity she works with. Maybe it’s time for her to start using people.

Cam and Olivia are both in it for something. What they don’t know yet is that they’re playing for keeps.

My review:

This was a bittersweet read for me. I had come into the Aces Hockey series late in the series (Slap Shot). But, I enjoyed the series from that point on. I got to see Hallsy, Chaser, and Nick get their HEA’s. I was left wondering who was going to be the next one to fall. When I saw that it was Brick, I went “Yes!!” I liked his character and couldn’t wait to see who he fell in love with.

I thought that the bet that Brick made with his teammates was immature. I didn’t like that he could potentially be playing with someone’s feelings. So, I was a little “eh” when he went on the first couple of dates with her. I figured that everything that happened on those dates was karma for the bet. Then Brick did something that surprised me. He told Olivia about the bet. He did it early on in the book. I thought it was awesome. Olivia did react the way I figured she would (who wouldn’t have). Then, in another move that surprised me, she decided to help Brick win the bet. I was like “no way“.

Let’s talk about the first two dates they had. I thought that the location of the first one was original and made me wonder if there is such a thing. It is a great way of getting to know someone. Take them and play a board game. I did feel bad for Olivia and Brick after the date. I have been on a lot of dates Not lately, though. Been in a relationship for 15 years. I have never had someone get sick at the end of the date. I also have never gotten sick at the end of a date. I am glad that Olivia did the right thing and let Brick stay at her condo. Poor guy would have been puking all over the Uber home. The second date went about as well as the first. A walking tour of Chicago and then dinner. What happens. Brick somehow ends up cracking his head on the floor and then Olivia dumps her drink in his crotch. For the record, I have had the drink dumping happen to me. Poor Brick…lol. The ribbing he took from the guys the next day made me die laughing in bed.

I liked Olivia but she did get kind of annoying after a while. She kept bringing up that she never felt that she measured up to her brother and sister. Which caused issues with her self confidence. While I understood it hurt, it did get old after a while. I did think that her work at her nonprofit was fascinating. I wish that it was featured a bit more than a couple of scenes at her office and the celebrity appearance Brick made.

I liked Brick. I liked that he was honest with Olivia. I liked that he made sure she knew that feelings were out of the question for him. I liked that he was a goofball. But he did annoy me towards the end of the book. He handled the situation with Olivia badly. I do wish that the Ashley substory was explained earlier in the book. Because, until it was, Brick looked like a huge jerk. After that explanation, I went “Well, no wonder he didn’t seriously date anyone.” I wouldn’t have if I had been put through that.

The sexual attraction and chemistry that Olivia and Brick had. It was off the charts hot. I loved that the author kept amping it up. I also liked that Olivia and Brick didn’t have sex right away. So, when they did, that first sex scene was smoking hot.

Speaking of sex scenes, the author kept the heat on with them. I loved it. I loved that Olivia was a bit wilder than the other girls in bed. Plus the lingerie she wore. Fantastic!!

The end of the book was bittersweet. I am not going to get into it but I had tears in my eyes. The author did a great job of bringing each character in the previous books and highlighting them. What got me was what Nick said to his brother Aleks. I was also sad that this was going to be the last book in this series.

I would give Game On an Adult rating. There is explicit sex. There is mild violence. There is language. There are triggers. They would be mental illness.

I would reread Game On. I would also recommend this book to family and friends.

I would like to thank the publisher, the author, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Game On.

All opinions stated in this review of Game On are mine.

Devil’s Honor (The Devil’s Keepers: Book 1) by Megan Crane

~ Jolie ~ 2 Comments
Devil's Honor: The Devil's Keepers by [Crane, Megan]

3 Stars

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Loveswept, Loveswept

Publication Date: November 1st, 2016

Genre: Romance

Series: The Devil Keeper’s

Devil’s Honor – Book 1

Devil’s Mark – Book 2

Devil’s Own – Book 3

Where you can find this book: Amazon

Goodreads synopsis:

In the start of a sizzling new series, bestselling author Megan Crane takes readers deep into bayou country, where the sultry swamp has nothing on the heat of Louisiana’s fiercest bikers: the Devil’s Keepers.
 
Merritt Broussard grew up knowing she had two choices if she stayed in Lagrange: run with the outlaws or get left in their dust. So she got the hell out, leaving behind a bad-boy biker and scorching memories of their summer fling. Now Merritt’s back, with trouble on her tail, and the sergeant-at-arms of the Devil’s Keepers is the one person she can still trust. But Greeley isn’t the boy she remembers. He’s harder now, more dangerous—and even more alluring.
 
Joseph “Greeley” Shaw loves two things: his bike and his club. At eighteen, he escaped a rough life, found the Devil’s Keepers on the wrong side of a bad weekend, and never looked back. Greeley swore to live and die by their code: Devil’s Keepers first, Devil’s Keepers forever. No one comes between him and his brothers—except for the tantalizing woman who touched his soul. Greeley’s the kind of man who honors his commitments . . . and Merritt is one promise he’s determined to keep.

My review:

Merritt Broussard had vowed that she would never return to Lagrange, La after finally escaping it when she was 18. She was briefly tempted when she was 22, about to go to law school, and came home on break. What, or should I say, who lured her? A biker named Greeley, who was a member of the Devil’s Keepers, the local biker club that ran Lagrange. She was hellbent on getting out of Lagrange and getting away from her swamp rat roots, and she left, breaking Greeley’s heart.

Five years later, and Merritt is returning to the one place she vowed she would never go back. Lagrange. She didn’t even return there when her father died, that’s how much she hated her hometown. The only reason she is returned is that she has an abusive ex-boyfriend and her hometown is the last place that he would look.

But Greeley is in Lagrange, and Merritt knew that it would be a matter of time before he showed up. The last time she saw him, he warned her about coming back.

Greeley is at the club’s clubhouse when another brother tells him that Merritt is back in Lagrange and staying at her father’s house. He leaves the clubhouse and has a confrontation with Merritt that almost ends with sex. Almost because right as he was sliding home, the phone rings, and he has to go back to the clubhouse.

Merritt and Greeley do hook up, and oh boy, is it hot. The pages burned when they had sex. And, of course, they do it bareback. If you have been reading my blog for any length of time, you know how I feel about that. Like I have said in previous blogs, I really should start a movement: Safe Sex For Fictional People (SSFFP)….lmao.

Anyways, back to the review.

The plotline with Merritt’s abusive boyfriend was anticlimactic. After what Merritt told her best friend, I thought that Antony would be more of a badass. Instead, when he did make an appearance, he came across as flat. I don’t know how to describe it. I was expecting Greeley to kill him and was a little put off that he got away with just a beating (hey, I’m bloodthirsty sometimes).

The end of the book was pretty good. All the storylines got wrapped up, and there is a HEA for Merritt and Greeley. I am pretty excited to read the other two books in this series once they come out, and I do hope that the author doesn’t stop with just 2. There are a few characters that I would like to read their stories.

I would give Devil’s Honor an Adult rating. There are sexual situations. There is language. There is violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread Devil’s Honor. I would recommend it to family and friends.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

Hers to Heal (Black Eagles Ops: Book 2) by Vonnie Davis

~ Jolie ~ 2 Comments
Hers to Heal: A Black Eagle Ops Novel by [Davis, Vonnie]

4 Stars

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Loveswept, Loveswept

Date of Publication: November 22, 2016

Genre: Romance

Series: Black Eagle Ops

Her Survivor – Book 1 (Review Here)

Hers to Heal – Book 2

Where you can find this book: Amazon

Book synopsis:

In this powerful, sensual romance from the author of Her Survivor, a broken woman meets a shattered warrior—and discovers a passion strong enough to heal each other’s deepest wounds.
 
Navy SEAL Reece Browning sacrificed body and soul in the line of duty. He survived torture at the hands of America’s enemies, but lost his career and his voice in the process. Traumatized and desperate to get his PTSD under control, Reece escapes to Eagle Ridge Ranch. Under the big Texas sky, he finds peace, a renewed sense of purpose—and a woman who makes him feel like a man again. Her smile lights up his dark days, and her caress helps him forget the night terrors.
 
Ex-Marine Gina Wilson also bears painful scars: emotional wounds inflicted by men she once trusted with her life. She has fought hard to overcome her demons and build a good life for her daughter, and Reece is too intense, too damaged, too raw to let into her heart. Yet she’s drawn irresistibly to his steely gaze and heated embrace. No one else understands what it’s like to suffer in silence. And when Gina’s daughter is threatened, it’s Reece who risks everything to save the day.

My review:

I am a big fan of Vonnie Davis. This series that I have been reviewing (Black Eagle Ops) has struck a chord with me. Call me a sap, but I do not like seeing people (even fictional people) in pain and Reese, Ashley and JJ were in a ton of it. My heart broke reading why Reece suffered from PTSD. It broke, even more, when it was revealed what happened to Ashley.

I liked Gina. She took no crap from Reese, at all. Which is fine because a man like Reese needs a strong female who he can’t push around. And he couldn’t definitely push her around.

Piper is my favorite character in the whole book, along with Junebug. She was a 6-year-old wise guy. Her immediate latch on to Reece to be her Daddy was hilarious as was his reaction when she told him. She flat-out told him that he was going to be her Daddy. I did find that she would morph from sounding 6 to sounding 18 and then back in the same sentence. The first time it happened, it threw me off. Didn’t take away from Piper’s cuteness, though.

Once the secondary plot got going, it didn’t lack for anything. The action was great and I did end up in tears when Reese did what he did.

The end was pretty typical and I loved it. I do hope that there is going to be a story on Ashley and JJ or any of the other members of the group.

I would give Hers to Heal an Adult rating. There are sexual situations. There is language. There is violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread Hers to Heal. I would recommend it to family and friends.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**