Month: May 2017

Feeling the Love: DANCED CLOSE–A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a recently released contemporary M/M romance form Annabeth Albert. DANCED CLOSE is the 6th book in her Portland Heat series, and I’ve enjoyed each of these standalone romances including WRAPPED TOGETHER and KNIT TIGHT. This romance features a wedding planner in a bind, and a baker with hidden talents–and dark secrets.

About the book:
Portland, Oregon, is one of the hottest cities in America. Just ask all the hard-working men sweating it up behind the counters of the restaurants, boutiques, and cafés all over town …

Newly clean and sober, Todd’s taken a shine to his job at Portland’s most talked about bakery. It’s not just the delicious desserts they sell, but the tasty treats who keep walking through the door. That certainly includes Kendall Rose, a wedding planner with eyes the color of brown sugar and skin to match. Todd doesn’t try to hide his attraction to Kendall’s elegant confidence and unique style, even as he worries about exposing the secrets of his past.

For Kendall, the attention is just part of the anything-goes Portland he’s grown to love. But he’s still looking for that special someone who will embrace all of him—including his gender fluidity. So he takes a chance and asks Todd to be his partner in a dance class leading to a fundraiser. When the music starts and he takes Todd in his arms, Kendall is shocked at how good it feels. Turns out taking the lead for once isn’t a mistake. In fact, it might be time to take the next step and follow his heart …

My Review:
Todd is a twenty-two year old starting his life over again. He’d struggled with weight issues, and addiction in his childhood, but he’s clean and sober, now. Still, it’s not easy to make his way in the world. A former runaway/homeless teen, he’d seen the worst of life on the streets. He doesn’t have a fancy degree–or even and unfancy one–but he’s a true blue spirit, willing to go the extra mile and work twice as hard as the next guy. He’s currently working in an upscale bakery, and that’s where he meets Kendall.

Kendall is a genderqueer man who is definitely gay, but unhappy in his usual “role” due to his feminine-leaning fashion and slighter stature. He’s met Todd on several occasions when he brings wedding-planning clients to the bakery. And, there’s a spark, for sure. Todd has old-fashioned manners, and treats Kendall with respect. When Kendall’s partner for ballroom dancing classes cancels, he asks Todd to stand in–delighted to learn that Todd was a champion dancer in his early childhood. Todd isn’t a spotlight kind of guy–not anymore–but he agrees to be a partner to Kendall when he learns it’s all part of a benefit for the homeless shelter that rescued Todd from the streets.

I really liked the slower pace of this romance, because Todd’s history isn’t like those of the men Kendall usually dates. Todd wants a partnership, more than a casual partner. They have dinners together, and talk, and dance, and have some shenanigans. But that’s only after some very frank and honest discussions about risk. Because those conversations are necessary for these guys. I also really liked the way that Todd accepted Kendall’s genderqueer identity. Kendall has had many experiences of being belittled for his outre habits, yet, Todd admires him earnestly. This is a sweet tale, and the love story spoke to me–for all of it’s challenges.

For series fans we get a little bit of Vic from BAKED FRESH, as Todd works in his bakery. I liked how close Todd was with his Gran, and how hard he works to remain sober. It’s interesting at the beginning when Kendall teases Todd about his age, and Todd thinks about how aged he is for such a “young” person. He’s a guy who thought his life was mostly over before it had even begun, and considers himself unworthy of love. But, Kendall’s insecurities fit him–they fit each other in the right ways. They are able to support one another emotionally, and that means a lot to these two guys who really do want a solid love. It was an interesting and engaging read in this novella series, and I devoured it in one night-time gulp.

Interested? You can find DANCED CLOSE on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes and Kobo. I received a review copy via NetGalley.

Annabeth Albert avatarAbout the Author:
Annabeth Albert grew up sneaking romance novels under the bed covers. Now, she devours all subgenres of romance out in the open—no flashlights required! When she’s not adding to her keeper shelf, she’s a multi-published Pacific Northwest romance writer.

Emotionally complex, sexy, and funny stories are her favorites both to read and to write. Annabeth loves finding happy endings for a variety of pairings and is a passionate gay rights supporter. In between searching out dark heroes to redeem, she works a rewarding day job and wrangles two children. Represented by Saritza Hernandez of the Corvisiero Literary Agency.

Find Annabeth online on her website, Goodreads, twitter and Facebook.

Happy Book Birthday to LOCKE AND KEY!


Hi there! I’m excited to wish a Happy Book Birthday to a new romantic suspense novel from Cristin Harber. LOCKE AND KEY is the eighth book in the NYT best-selling Titan series, but it’s a standalone romance, so newcomers should still enjoy it. I sure hopw so, because I’m planning to review it in the coming week.

In the meantime, you can check out the book info, and read an excerpt to see if this book is one for you.

About the book:
THE STOIC SPECIAL FORCES OPERATOR
There’s only one person to blame for darkening the last years of Locke Oliver’s military career: Cassidy Noble. And damn if he doesn’t have to save her from the side of a frozen mountain. Even after the job is done, he can’t shake the woman from his thoughts. He blames her for the deaths in his Army unit so many years ago, and he’s not ready to let that go. It’s driving him to the point of distraction, and now his Titan Group boss says to get his act together or get out.

THE FEISTY, FALLEN REPORTER
Cassidy is a disgraced journalist, once accused of treason—Or she’s an American hero. It depends on who you ask. She’s on a mission to rebuild her name and started with a simple question but discovered a complex web of spies and possible human trafficking.
Titan Group believes in her. Locke does not. Until he can’t deny the truth any longer about the past or what she’s uncovered in her investigation.

BECOME AN INSEPARABLE TEAM
Cassidy volunteers to go undercover. Locke would do anything to stay by her side as she slips into the network and is sold to the highest bidder. All is going right until everything goes wrong. Nothing is as they expect including falling in love with the woman he thought he hated.

How about a little taste?

Locke ducked close to her ear, purposefully rasping a five o’clock shadow against her neck, and again asked, “Do we know anything new?”

She whimpered. He had to have heard the quiet groan, and he swayed them together and— damn, she felt him. Cassidy’s eyes went wide as he held her backside against his crotch.

Was Locke turned-on? Locke was turned-on. And he wanted her to know. The realization was as potent as a narcotic. It hit her blood, and she was high.

But he’d asked about work. What was she supposed to do? She tried to recover. Shaking and stupidly pretending this wasn’t a thing, she turned. Eye to eye, she couldn’t read him!

He didn’t move. Didn’t touch her. Was the ball in her park? He’d asked about Alex, twice. But he had a hard-on!

Cassidy was so confused and turned on that she couldn’t trust her instincts. She needed to do what she did best— work. Focus on the job.

“He’s in there.” Cassidy, failing to regain her composure, was still breathless.

Locke smiled. “Good to know.”

She’d made the right choice in focusing on work. She was there for Alex. If Locke wanted to… pursue something, he could do it when she wasn’t busy. He had her number.

“Cass…” His eyebrows challenged her to admit their tension escalating.

There was Cass again. She hated nicknames— until they flowed from his mouth. They needed space, but she didn’t trust her legs. They were weak as her mind was wild. She tried to swallow, shifting away—

“Don’t go.” He was holding her, hugging her. Locke cupped her cheek and let his fingers slide along her jaw. She was drowning in him as Locke’s hand moved down her neck, letting the thump of her pulse jump against his fingertips. “I—”

“Excuse me,” a woman snapped as she bustled in, grabbing her shawl, and she sneered on the way out.

“Oh, God.” Cassidy jumped, her cheeks hot and her embarrassment swallowing her alive. She choked on the knot in her throat and covered her face, backing away from him. “I’m so sorry.”

“Cassidy.” Locke reached for her.

“So, so sorry.” She tilted to face him, and they stood in the dark shadows. She was the reporter; he was the protector.

His voice rumbled, not judgmental or embarrassed. “You have nothing to say sorry about. To anyone.”

“We might disagree on that.” She’d staked the rebound of her career on Alex, but when Locke came around, she always seemed to forget.

“I don’t try to upset you.” The pregnant pause hung heavy. “Not on purpose anyway— maybe for fun, playing around, but I won’t do that again.”

“Okay…”

He was playing down their moment of intimacy. Maybe for him it had been nothing but an erection and a tease, while for her it was the stuff of nightly fantasies. How foolish was she? Embarrassment made her stomach drop.

But still.

Again, they were almost stomach to stomach. Too close. Too intimate. Too… much. “I’m not upset.” But that wasn’t true.

“You’re something,” he said.

“Something,” she agreed. “True.” Something she’d never, ever admit to. Tugging her bottom lip between her teeth, she couldn’t map out his intentions-

“Don’t do that.”

“Do what?” Cassidy froze, wondering what she’d done wrong.

His gaze lasered on her lips. “That.”

Finally, she saw the same desperate hunger on his face. The authority in his command made her shiver. Unquenched lust boiled in his eyes, and Cassidy didn’t know how to handle this Locke— the uncontrolled and unscripted one. “Oh… um. I…”

In a tailspin, she couldn’t decide whether to fight for what she could finally read on his face or pull her act together and act like they were working together. She did neither, standing there, still unsure.

“You keep biting that lip, Cass.” Locke lifted an eyebrow and scorched her panties. “Don’t do that.”

“Okay.” The devil on her shoulder whispered, Bite your lip again. Or bite his. Maybe they could kiss and work.

Locke lifted his chin, his gaze falling past her. “Alex is leaving.”

Wait— what? Damn it.

I’m excited to read this one!

Interested? You can find LOCKE AND KEY on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, Kobo, and Google Play.

About the Author:
Cristin Harber is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling romance author. She writes sexy, steamy romantic suspense and military romance. Readers voted her onto Amazon’s Top Picks for Debut Romance Authors in 2013, and her debut Titan series was both a #1 romantic suspense and #1 military romance bestseller.

You can catch up with Cristin on her website, Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, Team Titan Facebook, or sign up for her newsletter.

Coming Soon! SEX IN THE STICKS-A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a new contemporary romance from Sawyer Bennett. SEX IN THE STICKS marks the beginning of a new Love Hurts series and was a hoot of an odd-couple romance. It releases May 2nd, but you can get all the pre-order info below.

About the book:
Wake up and feel the wood! In the first of a series of irresistible standalone romances from New York Times bestselling author Sawyer Bennett, a city girl rediscovers love and lust in the Alaskan wilderness.

Valentine French may be the sassiest dating columnist in New York City, but the abundance of metrosexuals in her adopted metropolis is seriously cramping her style. Where are the beefy all-American boys? Hoping to find some inspiration, Val heads to Alaska, where the men outnumber the women fifteen to one and wrestle grizzly bears for sport. Or so she can only imagine. Suddenly the most eligible bachelorette in a town full of horny lumberjacks, Val is writing her best columns ever. But if she doesn’t get her nose out of her laptop, she just might miss out on Mr. Right.

Logan Burke is the sheriff of the little podunk town that Val finds so charmingly backward. He’s not that different from the guys she’s using for her little experiment; it’s just that one date would never be enough for Logan. As he listens to Val complain about love over beers in the local tavern, he realizes that she can’t see the forest for the trees. Because if she would ever give up her Prada bags and fourteen-dollar martinis, Logan would give her the only luxury that matters: his heart.

My Review:
Valentine French is a NYC socialite who writes a scandalous–to her upper crust parents–blog about her sexcapades. Dispirited of ever finding a strong, loving man amongst the self-involved metrosexuals of NYC, she takes her dear cousin Jeremy’s advice to go into the wild and find a Man’s Man. In Alaska.

Val is way out of her element when she lands in Ketchikan and learns there’s no taxis to drive her 45 minutes into East Merritt, a sleepy fishing village. Stranded, she’s lucky to be offered a ride by Logan Burke, a burly, manly man who happens to be both sheriff and mayor of East Merritt. Logan’s taken aback by what a beautiful wealthy woman, and her companion dog, Sassy, are doing heading into his neck of the deep woods. But, he’s a public servant, isn’t he? So he helps Valley into his truck, and into her plain-old, stripped-down boarding house. (Not quite the kitschy B & B Val had been expecting.) And, the threat of bears devouring her little Sassy has Val totally freaked about her plan to score some dazzling sexytimes with Real Men for her blog.

During her time in East Merritt, Val needs to be rescued more than once by Logan, mostly because she’s a hot mess in this locale. None of her clothing is suitable for the weather, and while she has more suitors than a girl could dream of, her eye keeps catching on Sheriff Logan. And that feeling is mutual, until the gossip-mongers have their way. Lots of yummy sexytimes in store for this couple, however. So much fun beneath the sheets has Val considering extending her stay, well, indefinitely. Meanwhile, the blogging goes sideways as Val decides what’s growing between her and Logan is too special to share with her thousands of fans.

Naturally, there’s a big conflict on the horizon, and Logan’s sure he’s given his heart to the absolutely wrong girl. Valley’s upset, but she’s unwilling to simply give up. Finding the perfect man is more than she’d dreamed possible. Letting him go, well, she’s not afraid to fight for who she wants. I loved the small-town support/gossip network. It was so funny when Valley went on some of these “dates” with loggers and lumberjacks and yes, one ornery sheriff. Logan had lots of making up to do–after he got schooled more than once on his prejudice. And wow do these two get it on, and on, and (oh yeah) on. Valley feared the metrosexuals had killed her orgasm, but Logan unquestionably brought it back to life. Fans of contemporary romance will surely like this odd-couple rom-com.

Interested? You can find SEX ON THE STICKS on Goodreads, and pre-order it in advance of its May 2nd release on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Google Play and Kobo.

About the Author:
Since the release of her debut contemporary romance novel, Off Sides, in January 2013, Sawyer Bennett has released more than 30 books and has been featured on both the USA Today and New York Times bestseller lists on multiple occasions.

A reformed trial lawyer from North Carolina, Sawyer uses real life experience to create relatable, sexy stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From new adult to erotic contemporary romance, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.

Sawyer likes her Bloody Marys strong, her martinis dirty, and her heroes a combination of the two. When not bringing fictional romance to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to a very active toddler, as well as full-time servant to two adorably naughty dogs. She believes in the good of others, and that a bad day can be cured with a great work-out, cake, or a combination of the two.

You can catch up with Sawyer on her website, Facebook, twitter, BookBub, Amazon and Instagram.