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Book Review: More than Sexy by Carly Phillips

One protective alpha male plus one curvy damsel in distress equals an instant attraction they can’t deny.

Billionaire nightclub owner Jason Dare doesn’t stand a chance. From the moment he lays eyes on the luscious blonde stuck on the side of the road and realizes she’s in danger, he goes from playboy to bodyguard.

Faith Lancaster’s sweet body won’t come to any harm on his watch. And watch Faith he does. He can’t take his eyes off her. Jason will stop at nothing to keep Faith safe. Even if it means moving her into his apartment and letting her into his once private life.

Hiding from her past, Faith has spent the last year building her candy business into a profitable company while keeping to herself and staying under the radar … until she meets the delicious Mr. Dare. Alpha and irresistible, he awakens desires she has long denied. It doesn’t take her long to succumb to his charms and fall hard for the man.

They both have their reasons for keeping things casual but when Faith’s past catches up with her, can Jason finally claim the woman meant to be his?

My Thoughts:

Jason is a nightclub owner with his two bests friends. Each of the men have a strict rule. Keep women as a fun one-night experience. Jason takes that to heart more than they do. With his family history and some painful past with friends, he’s not in the market for more loss. He makes that clear and is honest as he can be. Until he finds Faith Lancaster on the side of the road with her tire slashed.

Faith is a candy store owner in the market of increasing her business. With secrets of her own, which come out too quickly for my taste, she is wary of Jared. He has the need to protect and helps her with her tire. When he can’t stay away, he finds her store has been broken into. In protective mode, he insists she take his spare bedroom so he can protect her.

The story is a fast-paced story where he protects her until her troubles are over.

While the story was sexy and fun at times, I found it was too easy. Faith just lets a stranger move her to his apartment, lets him keep her under the guide of a bodyguard she doesn’t know, and lets him pay for upgrades to her store. Jared tells her his painful past way to easily for someone he doesn’t know. It just seemed way too easy for my taste but I did like the story.

I did enjoy that not only was there a curvy model on the cover, but she was a curvy character. Kudos.

Book Review: Invite Me In by Stephanie Julian

Antiques dealer Annabelle Elder’s life is nowhere near as passionate as the erotic art she collects. A cheating ex-boyfriend and her business have seen to that. So when she attends a New Year’s Eve party at Haven Hotel, she sees a chance to blow off some steam. But she never expected to meet anyone like Jared—or to experience such passion in his arms…

Handsome, rich, and charming as hell, Jared Golden brought his Midas touch to Haven Hotel—and created an anything-goes pleasure palace on one floor to cater to his special friends and their very special desires. After falling in lust with Annabelle at first sight, seducing her was easier than he expected. What he didn’t expect was to be seduced in turn…

But unrestrained passion in the bedroom is not the only spark between Annabelle and Jared. Their mutual attraction is confounded by their separate pasts. Caught in an ever-growing web of painful secrets and sensual fantasy, will they be able to face the truth about themselves and trust in true love?

My Thoughts

Annabelle attends a party with her best friend Kate after a bad breakup. She wants to let loose and enjoy herself. She meets one of the owners of the hotel, Jared. They instantly hit it off. They are sexy and sizzling and unapologetic in their discovery of one another. So much so that Jared monopolizes her evening with dancing and conversation. After the party, he invites her to the Salon where she discovers sex with not only him, but with others.

Annabelle has a secret past with pain attached so she introduces herself by Belle. Jared doesn’t have relationships and doesn’t expect to be drawn to her.

I found the mystery elements and the family dynamics in Jared’s family relatable and engaging. I love when the characters have depth and lives that don’t just stop when someone walks into their lives. The secrets and support they offer one another brings them together.

It was full of angst, humor, tension, sex, and communication. I enjoyed it and will be reading more from this author.

Book Review: Dating Games by T.K. Leigh

My rules for being a Manhattan billionaire’s fake girlfriend… No kissing. No fooling around. No falling in love. What can possibly go wrong?

Note to self:

When your boyfriend dumps you on your thirtieth birthday, it’s probably not the smartest idea to drink so much that you wake up in the same bed as the mysterious hottie wearing the gorgeous suit who you noticed sitting across the bar.

The only silver lining in my obvious lack of judgment is the promise of never seeing Mr. Suit again, not in a city the size of New York.

Or so I thought, until a story I’m working on about the country’s most sought-after and elusive escort lands me in the same café as Mr. Suit. So I do what any self-respecting woman of my age would do in my shoes… Try to ignore him.

But he won’t let me.

Instead he makes a proposition that leaves me questioning whether I need to have my ears checked. Be his fake girlfriend for a summer of wealth and excess in the Hamptons. In return, he’ll help me win back my boyfriend’s heart.

Juvenile? You bet.
Effective? Could be.
Bad idea? Most likely.

But what do I have to lose?
Apparently, a lot more than I originally bargained for.

Let the games begin…

My Thoughts:

Evie is excited for her thirtieth birthday and is expecting a proposal from her boyfriend of twelve years. What does she get? Her boyfriend breaks it off with her. Distraught, she meets her friends at a bar and drinks her sorrows away. In true, Evie fashion, she doesn’t take it sitting down. No, she tells the entire bar her story and feels better for it. Until she wakes up in a strangers bed with no recollection of how she got there. Sneaking out before he could wake, she intends to pretend that little rendezvous didn’t happen.

Later, she’s approached by said mystery man. He proposes she date him for the summer. He needs a woman on his arm and she wants to get her ex back. She scratches his back, he scratches hers. No sex, no kissing, just dating. So, she agrees.

It’s sexy and fun to watch these two skirt around each other and know the attraction they pretend to have is real. There is some hurt on his end, some hurt on hers. They complement each other and there’s a lot of mystery and intrigue. Enjoyable and fun. I love the Breakfast at Tiffany’s references.

You won’t be disappointed when you read this story. These characters will be left with you after the story is over.

Book Review: The Wild Irish Series by Mari Carr

Come Monday

Forbidden fruit is always the sweetest.

Keira recognizes daydreaming about her sexy professor is cliche, but that doesn’t help curb her fantasies of Professor Wallace bending her over his desk night after night.

Will Wallace has never been tempted by a student…until Keira. Now he’s willing to break all the rules, offering sweet punishments and sweeter rewards. His sexual authority slowly strips away some of her precious control.

But that’s the one thing Keira’s not ready to relinquish…

Come Monday is the first book in New York Times bestselling author Mari Carr’s Wild Irish series.

My Thoughts

Keira lives above the restaurant her family owns, she feels the need to take on all her family’s responsibilities. Her siblings are all grown but she seems to have filled the slot of their mother. While taking some time for herself and going to school, she is attracted to her professor. He’s sexy and off-limits.

Will is a professor and finds his attraction for a student to be less the ideal. So, for two weeks he spends time with her while he helps her with her English assignments. Her assignment: to add emotion to her papers and not just details. As he helps her with her work, he counts down the time until he can act out his fantasies with her. He won’t break his teacher/student relationship. Once she’s no longer his student, all bets are off.

The chemistry between Keira and Will is sizzling and the relationship they develop is even sweeter. I found it to be enjoyable and sexy.

Ruby Tuesday

He wants so much more than just her music…

Bad boy rocker Sky Mitchell wants to buy Teagan’s song. Only it’s not for sale.

Neither is she, but that doesn’t stop him from challenging her to a contest, a game of winner take all.

Ruby Tuesday is book two in the Wild Irish series by New York Times bestselling author Mari Carr.

My Thoughts

Sky Mitchell meets a buddy at a restaurant in a disguise to hide from paparazzi while he takes a much needed vacation. While he drinks a beer in and tries to write, he comes across Teagan. She plays a song that strikes him and he wants to buy the song. As he approaches her, he finds that her song isn’t the only appealing thing about the woman.

Teagan works at her family restaurant and is a kind soul. She sings because it makes her happy, teaches the kids and visits her neighbors to encourage and make them happy. When Sky offers her a chance to sell her son, she denies him. Which only intrigues him more. She fights it until he challenges her to a contests and she loses.

The more they spend time together, the more the chemistry sizzles. They find what the other needs and both have no qualms about acting on it. Until unlikely and rather disharmonious events thrusts them in a tense situation. That event only solidifies their feelings for each other. A sexy and fun read.

Waiting For Wednesday

Lane used to be hands off and Tris knew it. He followed the rules and left her alone. Now she’s back and the game has changed.

When Lane returned, she believed she could resist the far-too-sexy Tris. A life of disappointment had destroyed her ability to love, to trust a man.

Or so she thought.

Waiting for Wednesdsay is the third book in New York Times bestselling author Mari Carr’s Wild Irish series.

My Thoughts

Lane has a past that she tries to keep locked tight. Each Wednesday night, she used to sit at the bar and drink her wine while talking to the bartender, Tris. One night she isn’t there and Tris finds she’s been hurt. When he shows up to offer his support, he thinks that he can protect her. Only, she disappears.

For a year, Tris tries to forget her and move on with his life. But on a Wednesday night, she shows up again. He can’t deny his feelings or his attraction to her. So, he plays on it. Even when he knows there are consequences.

There were some pretty dark moments in this book but Tris is there to mend the bad and offer her good. The relationship was more than I thought it would and I’m grateful. It was sexy but the communication really did it for me.

Sweet Thursday

Lily intends to rewrite the past at her high school reunion. When she was younger, she was too shy to act on her feelings, but she’s all grown up now. And ready to take what she wants. Even if it’s only for one night.

Soldiers Justin and Killian are blown away when quiet Lily proposes a night too tempting, too hot to resist. But just one no-holds-barred, explosive evening with the stunning woman will never be enough.

Sweet Thursday is the fourth book in New York Times bestselling author Mari Carr’s Wild Irish series.

My Thoughts

Lily, Justin, and Killian were best friends in high school. Lily was the shy and quiet one, while the boys sowed their wild oats. Lily didn’t have the guts to tell them how she felt about them after graduation and was too chicken to after.

At their ten-year reunion, she redeems herself and admits how she feels about them. She asks them for one night where she doesn’t have to feel like she’s the good girl. One night turns into a weekend. A weekend turns into them trying to honor their friendship only for it to lead to more.

It’s not the ideal relationship their families and friends would understand but it works for them.

I wasn’t too into this storyline but I didn’t hate it.

Book Review: The Cowboy Meets His Match by Sarah Mayberry

All Cassidy Jane Cooper wants is to fulfill her dream to compete in pro rodeo. CJ knows she’s going to have to work harder and smarter than everyone else to prove herself in the traditionally all-male saddle bronc competition. That means she shouldn’t look twice at handsome, charming cowboy, Jesse Carmody. She needs to focus on the competition, not one of her competitors. If only he wasn’t so damn hot…

Jesse Carmody thinks he’s seen it all–until CJ’s arrival throws him for a loop. She’s tough, sexy, and challenging. Jesse quickly realizes he wants to know a whole lot more about this intriguing woman. When CJ faces ugly opposition from others on the circuit, Jesse is there to offer a friendly hand–and more, if she wants it.

Between her trials in the arena and fighting to get the other riders to respect her, CJ knows getting involved with Jesse is the last thing she should do. But she can’t seem to keep away. Which leaves her with a choice–the man of her heart, or the career of her dreams? Or can she have them both?

My Thoughts

I really enjoyed this story. The female MC is a bronc rider who competes with men. I love that she was tough and didn’t let the men push her around. Even when she had to work through some sabotages, she kept her cool.
I enjoyed the male MC had his own family drama. It was nice to see how the family dynamics were. The sister was fun to see her wrap all her brothers around her finger. fun.
The romance was cute and fun. They challenged each other and they pushed each other at times.
First time reading Sarah Mayberry. I’m happy to say this won’t be the last.

Scotch Broth

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds lamb shoulder or shanks (or beef with bones)2 tablespoons quality lard or butter1 medium yellow onion, diced3 cloves garlic, minced1/2 cup pearl barley1/3 cup dried green split peas4 sprigs thyme2 bay leaves1 teaspoon salt6 cups quality chicken broth (I use and recommend Aneto)1 large carrot, diced1 turnip, peeled and diced1 rutabaga, peeled and diced1 parsnip, peeled and diced1/2 cup shredded green cabbage1 medium leek, chopped, rinsed and drainedFresh chopped parsley for garnish



[image error]Daring gourmet. Com

Instructions

Cook the onions and garlic in the lard or butter until softened, 4-6 minutes.  Add the lamb, herbs, barley, split peas, salt and broth.  Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for 2 hours.  Skim off any foam.  Add the carrot, turnip, rutabaga and parsnip.  Simmer for another hour.  Remove the bay leaves and thyme sprigs.  Remove the meat, shred it and discard the bones.  Return the shredded meat to the pot along with the leek and cabbage.  Simmer for another 30 minutes.  Add salt to taste.  We like this soup on the thick side, almost a stew.  If you prefer the soup a bit thinner, add some more broth.Serve garnished with fresh chopped parsley.

Book Review: His Many Demands by Ali Parker

My Needs.
My Demands.
Your Pleasure.
You’re Welcome.

She had one year left of college when our parents got married. And thanks to being raised in poverty, she needed help with her expenses.

My dad, being the benevolent billionaire, stepped up without question.

But there was a catch. She had to intern at the firm for a year. With me.

As her boss. Poor sweet little thing.

She has no clue what she’s up against, but she’ll figure it out soon.

I don’t play typical games, but the ones I do play, I always win.

And regardless of how taboo our relationship might become, I’m all in.

The reward is worth the risk.

I just hope she can keep up with my many demands.

A Bad Boy Billionaire Novel.

My Thoughts

Beth is a woman who has struggled in her past. Her father was a drug dealer and left her and her mother with debt. As the years pass, she graduates from college. Her mother is set to marry a billionaire and Beth asks her mother to talk him into helping her pay for her master’s program.

Damon is the boss and soon to be step-brother to Beth. He’s guarded and demanding. He wants what he wants and if women want him, it has to be on his terms. I felt at times, he was a dick and not until the end did you see him being a human being to people. I would’ve liked to see him soften at least a little.

Beth and Damon have sizzling attraction, they work together and play together. The problem is he offers her a no nonsense physical relationship. He tells her his heart is unavailable. He peruses her even when he knows it’s what she wants. A commitment.

It was pretty enjoyable, I enjoyed Matthew and her mother. I even enjoyed the friends she had on the side. What I found a little off was how quickly Beth fell in love with him when he wasn’t even nice to her. It was a bit strange but I get what the author was going for in his demeanor.

I found the whole Jake and her friend thing so out of the blue and unnecessary. It seemed like it was an afterthought, in my opinion. It didn’t really give with the rest of the book.

Book Review: Play Me by J.H. Croix

One kiss…so hot it scalded me.
One year later…a second chance to give her the one thing she’s never had.

I’ve known Daisy for years.
She’s all curves, but I’m not supposed to notice.
Because we’re just friends.
I want her anyway.
She wants two things—commitment and that elusive O.
I can only give her one, so I make a deal.
One month and more O’s than she can count.
Relationships are messy, and I don’t do messy.
I’ve never had a problem keeping my distance.
But the clock is ticking.
This was supposed to be easy.
I didn’t count on wanting more.

My Thoughts

3.5 Stars

Tristan is a British Soccer player who had to take time off sports after an ACL injury to the knee. He got his Ph.D. in the meantime and works at the research facility for a hospital. He’s a typical guy in a romance for not wanting to settle down and is discrete about who he dates. He lays it out before getting involved and hates drama. In walks Daisy, a blast from the past, and he’s into her. So into her that he starts to spend all his nights with her.
Daisy wants orgasms and commitment but Tristan can only promise to deliver on one front. Her feelings get mixed as their relationship progresses. Despite her friends warning her, she ignores their advice and focuses on the month she committed to stay with Tristan.

It was cute and sexy but I didn’t see enough sport in it to qualify as a sports romance. Just my opinion. I also found it a little weird that Daisy is friends with these people but managed to miss all the engagements for a year where Tristan attends. How exactly would she maintain a friendship with them while focusing on her demanding career? Overall it was a quick enjoyable read.

Book Review: The Cowboy and the Doctor by Eve Gaddy

Dylan Gallagher loves playing the field. The only serious relationship he’s ever had was with his horses and his ranch, and he had no intention of ever changing that… Until he met Dr. Samantha Striker, a challenge too tempting to resist.

Samantha Striker doesn’t fall easily, not even for Dylan and his heart-melting charm. But she can’t deny that the more time they spend together, the steamier their relationship becomes. Soon, she finds that their relationship is more than just simple desire.

When Samantha is threatened by a series of incidents, each one more terrifying than the last, she realizes that someone doesn’t want her to be happy–with Dylan or anyone else. Can they find the man responsible before his actions turn from dangerous to deadly, and Dylan loses the woman he’s discovering he can’t live without?

My Thoughts

Dylan Gallagher works hard on his ranch where he breeds horses. He’s a friendly sort of man who seems to have dated a lot of women all over town. I found this a little unbelievable given that he hadn’t ever fallen for a woman. I let it pass but it was irritating for it to be brought up more than warranted.

Samantha Striker is a trauma surgeon from Texas who has a guarded heart. I found the dialogue and her personality to be immature for her work title and age. She is guarded from finding the wrong men. Yet, she falls for Dylan very easily and without a lot of hesitation.

There were parts of the book I found irritating and unnecessary. There were conversations and arguments within the character’s mind that I found to be distracting from the story. There were a few times it was warranted. Like within the villain’s mind, that was perfectly fine. But other times, it was unnecessary and annoying, to be honest.

Despite the irritating and annoying bits, I did find myself wanting to find out what was going to happen and the romance was okay. I found it was a little too easy, but I overlooked it to find what was happening.

I didn’t read the rest of the series, so the ending did catch me off guard. It was abrupt to say the least.

Book Review: Mine Until Moonlight by Jennifer Bernard

It’s a fine line between feuding and flirting…

Ever since Megan Miller arrived in stunning Lost Harbor, Alaska, she’s been at odds with boat captain Lucas Holt. They’re opposites in every way. She’s a city girl, he’s from an Alaska homestead. She runs nature tours, he’s all about big-money charters. He’s also arrogant, annoying and oh yeah, wildly attractive. Lost Harbor would be the perfect escape from the tragedy that sent her running–except for her feud with the hottie captain.
Lucas Holt came home for one thing—settle his father’s affairs then hightail it back to Colorado. So why is he still here? Is it because there’s something fishy about his father’s death? Is it the endearingly eccentric locals and enchanting scenery? Or could it be Lost Harbor’s newest resident, a sassy scientist who’s as sexy as she is stubborn? Arguing with Megan is the best foreplay he’s had in years.
Until one of Lost Harbor’s dangerous storms tosses everything up in the air, and a feud turns to a passionate affair–with stakes higher than Megan ever imagined.

My Thoughts

Megan Miller runs a nature tour guide for birds in Alaska. With her eight-year old daughter, she set off to start fresh after a harrowing ordeal. She’s hiding from her past and trying her best to create a home and community for her daughter. Her ex-husband wants her daughter to excel being she’s a math genius. Megan will do what she can to provide her daughter with more than just a fancy education.

Lucas Holt grew up in Lost Harbor and he’s got their stamp of approval. Reeling from the death of his father, he’s been an ass to everyone including Megan Miller. He tries to make up for it and be friendly, but it backfires. When she’s lost in a storm, he comes to the rescue.

They start an affair that neither of them planned on. Their feelings are stronger than either would’ve guessed.

I really enjoyed hearing about life in Alaska. I’m not sure if this holds any weight to the area, but I enjoyed the scenery, the legends, and the community. The book was entertaining, adventurous, and romantic.