Marriage of Inconvenience (Knitting in the City #7) by Penny Reid

Blurb:

There are three things you need to know about Kat Tanner (aka Kathleen Tyson. . . and yes, she is *that* Kathleen Tyson): 1) She’s determined to make good decisions, 2) She must get married ASAP, and 3) She knows how to knit.
Being a billionaire heiress isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. In fact, it sucks. Determined to live a quiet life, Kat Tanner changed her identity years ago and eschewed her family’s legacy. But now, Kat’s silver spoon past has finally caught up with her, and so have her youthful mistakes. To avoid imminent disaster, she must marry immediately; it is essential that the person she chooses have no romantic feelings for her whatsoever and be completely trustworthy.
Fortunately, she knows exactly who to ask. Dan O’Malley checks all the boxes: single, romantically indifferent to her, completely trustworthy. Sure, she might have a wee little crush on Dan the Security Man, but with clear rules, expectations, and a legally binding contract, Kat is certain she can make it through this debacle with her sanity—and heart—all in one piece.
Except, what happens when Dan O’Malley isn’t as indifferent—or as trustworthy—as she thought?

Find on Goodreads

Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2FGyPHv
Amazon PB: http://amzn.to/2FHOgit
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2gjf2j4
Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2I2Vs79
iBooks: https://apple.co/2gPDN7a
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2zRl42J
Nook: http://bit.ly/2yycreU
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2FhmzJO
Smashwords: http://bit.ly/2o7gvfA
Audiobook: http://amzn.to/2FhsZwR

Kristine's Review:

Reviewed: March 2018.

I AM SHOOK!! I shouldn't be because duh...it's Penny Reid I'm talking about here, and yet nevertheless here I am, days later still shrouded in the elation that only comes after reading an incredible book.
Dan the Security Man and Kit Kat have long been an enigma, everything about these two intrigued me way back when I first discovered the artistic styling of Ms Reid. Everything about this story had my romantic spidey senses tingling, melding all of my most loved sub genres and plot lines together....
Unrequited crushes.....check 
Friends to lovers..... check 
Marriage of convenience..... check check check!!

Little Kit Kat has been keeping secrets, busting her butt to not only keep her job as an administrative assistant but to also maintain her role in her family business. Between work, study and family obligations  there is not much time for romantic entanglements even for her long time crush Dan. When Kat is faced with an impossible situation her only option is to get  married, her spouse needs to be trust worthy, impervious to corruption and able to see this for what it is... a business decision.

Kat has been starring in Dan's dirtiest dreams for years, every interaction they've ever had only served to increase his infatuation with her, despite trying to move on and find someone else when she seemed uninterested in him, he's no closer to getting over her.

I so desperately want to tell you every little detail of this story, I want to tell you all the moments that had me swooning, like when Dan declared his love to Kat...

“I’m in love with you. You’re my fucking—fucking sunshine. My goddamn everything. You’re the center of my whole fucking universe. I’d give up swearing for you, I swear. If you asked, I’d never say the word fuck ever again, that’s how much I love you. I love you more than fuck, so that’s a whole fuckavalot.”

Or when Kat spoke with such raw vulnerability about mental health and her concerns for her life and future...

“I’d thought for so long that I would become a schizophrenic, and if I was a schizophrenic, that’s all I would ever be. But a person doesn’t become their diagnosis. Your mom isn’t breast cancer, you don’t become cancer. You live with cancer. So often, we think of a person living with mental illness as their mental illness, and that’s unfair. A person is never their diagnosis, not even my mom. Delilah showed me that. She lives—and has lived—a full life. She has a husband. They travel. She’s a photographer, an artist. She tells the funniest knock-knock jokes I’ve ever heard. She takes her meds every day, but still has hallucinations from time to time. She is not schizophrenic. She lives with schizophrenia.”

Or when I laughed so hard that I almost choked on my tea...

“Now that you’ve crushed this little man’s evil hopes and dreams, I imagine he has a hairless cat to stroke and a monologue to prepare.”

Marriage of Inconvenience was uproariously funny, so utterly full of real, raw emotion that my heart couldn't take it, and so damn sweet that I wanted to wrap my arms my kindle and just lose myself in the story Reid created. I want to say I adored this book, but even my undying adoration isn't enough, because MOI restored my faith in people, it restored my faith in second chances, it's message of acceptance and self worth resonating with my battered and bruised heart. For those new to Penny Reid or her Knitting in the City series it's possible to read and immensely enjoy Marriage of Inconvenience as a stand alone, for those self confessed Reid fan girls and boys, grab your favourite tea or wine, sit back and enjoy Kit Kat and Dan the Security Man's story, the final tale in the much loved Knitting in the City series.

About Penny Reid:

Penny Reid is the USA Today Best Selling Author of the Winston Brothers and Knitting in the City series. When she’s not immersed in penning smart romances, Penny works in the biotech industry as a researcher. She’s also a full time mom to three diminutive adults, wife, daughter, knitter, crocheter, sewer, general crafter, and thought ninja.

Connect with Penny on Facebook

The Beau and the Belle by RS Grey

Blurb:

Beau Fortier starred in most of my cringe-worthy teenage fantasies.

I met him when I was a junior in high school, a time that revolved exclusively around bad hair, failed forays into flirting, and scientific inquiries into which brand of toilet paper worked best for stuffing bras.

That is, until Beau moved into the small guest house just beyond my bedroom window.

A 24-year-old law student at Tulane, Beau was as mysterious to me as second base (both in baseball and in the bedroom). He was older. Intimidating. Hot. Boys my age had chicken legs and chubby cheeks. Beau had calloused hands and a jaw cut from steel. Our interactions were scarce—mostly involving slight stalking on my end—and yet deep down, I desperately hoped he saw me as more of a potential lover than a lovesick loser.

Turns out, I was fooling myself. My fragile ego learned that lesson the hard way.

Now, ten years later, we’re both back in New Orleans, and guess who suddenly can’t take his eyes off little ol’ me.

My old friend, Mr. Fortier.

But things have changed. I’m older now—poised and confident. My ego wears a bulletproof vest. The butterflies that once filled my stomach have all perished.

When I was a teenager, Beau warned me to guard my heart.

Let’s hope he knows how to guard his.

Find on Goodreads

Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2CjrHuP

Amazon PB: http://amzn.to/2spPTfk

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2o2U23o

Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2EmTqwx

Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: February 2018.

I've been such a huge fan of RS Grey's for a long time now, in fact when I first discovered Grey's unique narrative I was so infatuated that I devoured every title in her back catalogue that was available. I spent days lost in a Rachel Grey bubble and I loved every single second of it. Her subsequent releases have often hit my best of each years top buying guide, without a doubt she is and will continue to be a must read author for me. It's the reason why this review is so hard to write because unfortunarely The Beau and the Belle was not for me, I struggled to connect in the way I usually would with Grey's words. I found myself putting it down in the early chapters and when I picked it back up not finding that thing that would grab me and fail to let go.

“It didn't eat away at him like it did me. I wanted us to both suffer & that's why I'm here now. He owes me heartache.”

I continued but failed to truly connect with the story the way I'm accustomed to with Grey's work, while I could recognise the strength of her talent, and a well crafted story, I found I lacked that illusive oomph that usually has me so invested in Grey's characters that I find it near impossible to stop for even the briefest of breaks. While I did eventually find my AHAAA moment at the half way mark, my inability to initially connect hampered my enjoyment through the second half of the story.

“When I'm 40, I'll be able to re-enact this scene for my therapist with chilling accuracy”

I desperately wanted to love Beau and Lauren, and there were moments where my hope glimmered, this story was never quite the perfect fit for me. Funny in parts, sweet most definitely, The Beau and the Belle will no doubt be a hit for many, unfortunately it wasn't my favourite.

About RS Grey:

R.S. Grey is the USA Today bestselling author of fourteen novels, including THE FORTUNATE ONES. She loves books, chocolate, reality TV, and cold weather. She lives in Texas with her husband, daughter, and two dogs. 

Connect with RS Grey on Facebook

The Upside To Being Single by Emma Hart

Blurb:

If anyone asks, I knew better than to flash my boobs for Mardi Gras beads.

I still don’t know why I did it.
Maybe it was the dare from my two best friends.
Maybe it was the guys on the balcony saying they’d throw Fireball shots with the beads.
Or maybe it was the quiet guy in the corner of that same balcony with piercing gray eyes, wavy dark hair, and a smile so tempting I wanted to climb up there and lick it off his face.
Maybe it was because I never thought I’d see them again.
Not that it matters. Not today.
Because the hotel I manage was finally bought—and the guy who walks in and introduces himself as my new boss is Mr. Tall, Dark, and Silent.

There are many upsides to being single.
Your new boss knowing what your boobs look like?
Not one of them.

(THE UPSIDE TO BEING SINGLE is a standalone, romantic comedy from the author who brought you MISS FIX-IT and BEING BROOKE.)

Find on goodreads

Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2GzEpZL

Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2rTVjPz

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2DRoA2W

Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2B42jN8
Nook: http://bit.ly/2xBTDYB
iBooks: http://apple.co/2gfZmkl
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2kJEV0A

Kristine's Review:

Reviewed: February 2018.

I'll be honest, Emma Hart has been on my radar for a while now, I've one clicked book after book of her most recent releases, each filled with quirky, bright covers and fun, catchy names, and yet somewhere along the way, during a time where far too much overtime was logged and distractions seem to mount, they found their way to my To Be Read pile, instead of my What I'm Reading Now pile. The Upside To Being Single though... that cover, the opening line of the blurb, the fact that the author would be signing at an Author Event I'm co-hosting in mere months meant I had to dive right in and forsake job hunting (what I am doing right now should any family members ask).

I often wonder if there is important information I should be privy to before I dive into a new to me authors work, with little more than a handful of online conversations with the author herself and a fun blurb I switched on my kindle and got to work. Almost instantly I felt a connection to Melanie “Mellie” Rogers, I mean for starters my maiden name is Rogers so there's that, but after twenty years working in customer service, retail and hospitality that opening scene made me smile for all the right reasons. There's a saying that the customer is always right, let me tell you that you'll disagree with that statement quick smart after handling ridiculous requests, rude customers and silly complaints on  daily basis. It's not all bad though, in between the newest entries into the MOST BIZARRE CUSTOMER File each customer service manager complies mentally, there are days filled with happy customers and great friends. Add to the obvious connections, is my uncanny ability to do something stupid when I have an audience, if its not making bad decisions, it's falling over, slipping, stumbling or just being downright awkward. 

Mellie is without a doubt one of those heroines you want to know in real life, funny, real, self deprecating, she may have doubts about her ability to adult most of the time, but her skills, experience and personality is what makes her the perfect person to manage the aging complex she has devoted the last several years to. Her voice is both young and genuine and her often awkward moments only make her more endearing. 

“Because you are a spitfire. You’re so gentle but at the same time, you’re incredible, fierce.”

Jacob Creed is every bit of the Tall, Dark & Silent Mellie purports him to be, the dual POV added to my enjoyment, giving me the insight into his thoughts and actions, his initial thoughts of a more intimate nature are clear, but so is his enjoyment of the continued interactions. 

This book hit all the right marks for me to forget time and just revel in the sights and sounds of New Orleans. If I wasn't already desperate to travel to NOLA and experience Mardi Gras I would be adding it to my travel bucket list. A book filled with chemistry, exuding fun and frivolity, with a heroine who expunged all the reasons why dating and settling down was absolutely the wrong choice for her, to a hero who proves that finding someone who not only accepts your quirks but relishes them is the very best rebuttal to her argument. For an introduction to Emma Hart's writing The Upside To Being Single seemed to be the perfect choice, sexy, light and filled with laughs.

About Emma Hart:

Emma Hart is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over twenty novels and has been translated into several different languages. She first put fingers to keys at the age of eighteen after her husband told her she read too much and should write her own.
Four years later, she's still figuring out what he meant when he said she 'read too much.'

She prides herself on writing smart smut that's filled with dry wit, snappy, sarcastic comebacks, but lots of heart... And sex. Sometimes, she kills people. (Disclaimer: In books. But if you bug her, she'll use your name for the victims.)

Connect with Emma on Facebook

Tempting Tanya (NSFW #3) by C.C. Wood

Blurb:

Jordan Hawke is the one temptation that Tanya Blake can't resist.

Two years ago, the cynical attorney wasn't interested in relationships. Tanya only wanted a fling with the sexy British lawyer. Then she made the mistake of falling in love with him. She was shattered when he left for a job in New York and decided she learned her lesson. Never again would she allow herself to be vulnerable.

She moved on and built an impenetrable wall around her wounded heart.

When Jordan returns to Dallas to take a position at the law firm where she works, he makes it clear that he wants to pick up where they left off. Tanya refuses, determined to protect herself from more pain.

But Jordan won't give up so easily. In fact, he plans to use whatever means necessary to draw Tanya back into his life and his bed. She's not the only one who made a mistake two years ago and he will do whatever it takes to make it right.

Find on Goodreads

Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2lK3jxt
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2m9FLAK
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2luxvOx
Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2mV9aym
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2mK0hLp

Kristine's Review:

Reviewed: March 2017.

It's been quite a while since I could sink my teeth into the Not Safe For Work series, in saying that I was momentarily worried that I would forgot characters or some of the back history, but as always with Wood's writing I was instantly able to find my way, I was reacquainted with Lucy and Yancy and easily figured out where the girls were up to in their lives.

"For years, I'd held the conviction that love never lasted, that things would never work out. But what I really believed was that it would never happen for me."

Tanya is definitely the cynical one of the group, every day she watches once happy couples bitterly arguing over shared assets as their marriages dissolve, has left her feeling that relationships are not meant to last, after meeting and enjoying a short term tryst with the only man who could ever make her question  her resolve to stay free or romantic commitment and watching him walk away she is even more set in her ways to live the single life.

"For the first time since I met Jordan Hawke, I was seeing exactly what he was thinking and feeling. Nothing hidden. Nothing protected."

Jordan walked away from Tanya once over two years ago when his career took him in another direction, when Jordan's career brings him back Dallas, to the very law office Tanya works at, Jordan has his chance to see if the explosive chemistry he remembers is still there and if he can recreate it once again.

"She walked into the room and I knew that I had to learn everything I could about her. When I got to know her better, I knew Tanya was everything I could ever want in a partner."

There was something incredibly endearing about Tempting Tanya, in this story about adults overcoming their past hurts and very present fears, the author could of crafted a story with overly dramatic flair, with big angsty moments that screamed out for attention, and drew the reader away from her very sweet message about taking leaps and second chances, but instead crafted a strong, solid story, that was a joy to read, one that left my heart happy, that left a smile on my face. I often find myself questioning the overly dramatic actions of thirty somethings when too much angst in thrown in the mix, I find myself dissociating from the story, and losing that loved up feeling that usually envelops me when I'm enjoying a good book, with Tempting Tanya I never felt anything other than the emotions the author no doubt wanted to elicit, this sparkling addition to one of my much loved series left me smiling from ear to ear.

About C.C. Wood:

Born and raised in Texas, C.C. Wood writes saucy paranormal and contemporary romances featuring strong, sassy women and the men that love them. If you ever meet C.C. in person, keep in mind that many of her characters are based on people she knows, so anything you say or do is likely to end up in a book one day.

A self-professed hermit, C.C. loves to stay home, where she reads, writes, cooks, and watches TV. She can usually be found drinking coffee or wine as she spends time with her hubby, daughter, and two beagles.

Connect with C.C. on Facebook

P.I.T.A. by Brooke Blaine

Blurb:

As one of the most prestigious wedding coordinators in Los Angeles, Paige Iris Traynor-Ashcroft is known for being classy, elegant, and the orchestrator of many happily-ever-afters.

But in the words of Paige herself: “What a crock of shiitake.”

Known affectionately (or not) as P.I.T.A. to those closest to her, she’s never been one to buy into the whole monogamy thing for herself. Sure, her BFFs are getting picked off by Cupid one by one, but his arrows have nothing on her semiautomatic.

Richard “Dick” Dawson does his best to live up to his name. A long-time frenemy and manwhore extraordinaire, he thrives on pushing limits, pushing up skirts—and pushing every single one of Paige’s buttons. He’s the itch she can’t scratch, and doesn’t want to. Or does she?

What happens when blazing-hot rage turns to crazy, unexplainable lust? Surely not...love? Because that would just be a total P.I.T.A.

Find on Goodreads

Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2kPfFCb
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2kanIwA
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2karKEV
Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2l0qIe8

Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: February 2017.

Prior to the L.A. Liaison's series I had not been introduced to Brooke Blaine, and yet the quirky bright colours and bold title of the first book in the series instantly intrigued me. Throughout the previous two books in the series Paige Iris Traynor-Ashcroft aka P.I.T.A. struck me as a strong, business savvy, man eater, loyal to a fault to her friends but filled with contempt at the thought of true love and marriage, despite two of her bestfriends finding love. 

“I appreciate the strip show, but you can keep your clothes on and Channing your Tatum some other time.”

When the wedding planner who doesn't believe in marriage ends up in a battle of the wits with her arch nemesis Richard Dirty Dick Dawson sparks are sure to explode. Two former best friends that now seem to thrive on annoying the other creates the kind of animosity that breeds my favourite kind of chemistry. In between the battle for control, unbridled chemistry and I can't believe I want you this badly even though I don't want to lust, there was a sweet story about two old friends that were perfect for each other if they could just get out of their own way.

"That was how it always was with us—constantly trying to one-up each other, always fighting for dominance. It put things back on comfortable ground."

The third book in the series was just a quirky and fun as the previous two, with their witty banter and sizzling chemistry it has become an easy read favourite of mine, Brooke Blaine shows both her depth and comedic timing here, interspersed with humour and heat, was sweet moments that left the heart swelling in anticipation of what was to come. P.I.T.A. left me sated and yet anxious for the final part of this series.

"I want to be the goddamn reason you can’t wait to wake up in the morning. I want you to be unable to sleep if I’m not there with you at night. And I want to be the only fucking man that you let come near you when you’re moving those hips like you’re having sex on the dance floor."

About Brooke Blaine:

You could say Brooke Blaine was a book-a-holic from the time she knew how to read; she used to tell her mother that curling up with one at 4 a.m. before elementary school was her ‘quiet time.’ Not much has changed except for the espresso I.V. pump she now carries around and the size of her onesie pajamas.

She is the author of Flash Point, a romantic suspense standalone, as well as the co-author of the erotic series, A Desperate Man, with Ella Frank. The latter has scarred her conservative southern family for life, bless their hearts. Licked, a romantic comedy, will be released November 11th, 2015 and is the first in the L.A. Liaisons series.

If you’d like to get in touch with her, she’s easy to find - just keep an ear out for the Rick Astley ringtone that’s dominated her cell phone for ten years.
Connect with Brooke on Facebook

Anything You Can Do by R.S. Grey

Blurb:

Lucas Thatcher has always been my enemy.

It’s been a decade since I’ve seen him, but our years on opposite coasts were less of a lasting peace and more of a temporary cease-fire. Now that we’re both back in our small town, I know Lucas expects the same old war, but I’ve changed since high school—and from the looks of it, so has he.

The arrogant boy who was my teenage rival is now a chiseled doctor armed with intimidating good looks. He is Lucas Thatcher 2.0, the new and improved version I’ll be competing with in the workplace instead of the schoolyard.

I’m not worried; I’m a doctor now too, board-certified and sexy in a white coat. It almost feels like winning will be too easy—until Lucas unveils a tactic neither of us has ever used before: sexual warfare.

The day he pushes me up against the wall and presses his lips to mine, I can’t help but wonder if he’s filling me with passion or poison. Every fleeting touch is perfect torture. With every stolen kiss, my walls crumble a little more. After all this time, Lucas knows exactly how to strip me of my defences, but I’m in no hurry to surrender.

Knowing thy enemy has never felt so good.

Find on Goodreads

Purchase Links:

Amazon US:  http://amzn.to/2kv32y9
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2kGbloA
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2kLZoN7...
Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2jvvVGd

Kristine's Review:

Reviewed: February 2017.

Positively giddy, that's the only way to describe how I'm feeling right now. It's no secret that I've been suffering through something akin to reader's burn out of late, injury, illness and some family issues coupled with a packed reading schedule over the last few years have impacted on the joy I once found in reading. I had this looming sense of what if I can't get into this book when it landed on my kindle, and yet instantly, and I mean instantly, on the very first page I was hooked, my fears and doubts were replaced with loud cackles of laughter, R.S. Grey set the scene for a fast paced, fresh take on frienemies turned lovers and even as I'm typing this I still have huge smile on my face.

"I am Daisy Bell, rival to Lucas Thatcher, and the weight of carrying around that hatred has started to wear on me. Deep down I'm starting to forget what exactly it is I hate about Lucas."

The ongoing rivalry between Daisy and Lucas is the stuff legends are made of, neighbours since birth, the pair have seemingly been in competition since conception. Where once upon a time their rivalry caused nothing but fights and friction, as they grew older it also served to push them both to strive for the best, their careers as Doctor's is a testament to that. With dreams of owning their own family practice Daisy and Lucas return to their hometown of Hamilton after a decade away, even with years apart their need to one up each other still burns bright, now fighting over the same practice it seems the games have only just begun.

"Lucas Thatcher, bane of my waking life and lead role in my nightmares is kissing me, and my good hand is wrapped around the collar of his white coat and tugging him. Hard. Against me."

The animosity between these two is humming just below the surface, the chemistry between them white hot, the angst, oh God the angst of will they/won't they is EXPLOSIVE, it's a living breathing thing, tangible and so very real that it seeped from the pages and left my body buzzing in the way that any avid reader longs for. I was clutching my kindle to my chest and grinning like a fiend, every fibre of my being twisted in anticipation desperate for more.

"You listen here, Lucas Thatcher. I hate you, but you're going to kiss me. You're going to kiss me and you're not going to stop."

I have been a long time fan of R.S. Grey, from the moment I read Scoring Wilder all those books ago I was enamoured, with a style that is inherently hers, I found myself #1clicking without preamble, sight unseen, I just knew that I needed to dive into whatever she released next, while I have loved her previous titles, Anything You Can Do was a step above the already high standard she had set. With it's electric chemistry, laugh out loud banter and relatable human connection that Grey excels at, Anything You Can Do deserves my very first GOLD LIPSTICK of 2017, absolutely impossible to put down, my only complaint is I wish I could experience it for the first time again.

"For 18 years, I loved you. Now, I've loved you for 28. It sounds like quite the accomplishment, but it's always been so easy for me to love you. Through all the pain, all the conflict, I've always known the truth. We cared about each other. Nobody fights over something that doesn't matter - they just walk away..."

About R.S. Grey:

I am a lover of books, chocolate, reality TV, black labs, and cold weather. Seriously, if I had it my way I would be curled up on the couch with all of those things… everyday.

I live in Texas where I spend my free time writing and reading. My favorite authors are Mindy Kaling & Jonathan Safran Foer. I’m a comedy geek and love all things “funny”. Women like Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Mindy Kaling are definitely the biggest inspirations for my writing, though I think my work tends to skew a bit smuttier than theirs.
Connect with R.S. Grey on Facebook

                                                    

The Dead Come Calling (The Wraith Files #2) by C.C. Wood

Blurb:

I'm Zoe Thorne and I speak to the dead. Unfortunately, dead isn't always synonymous with good-natured. In fact, most of the spirits I meet have dirty minds and a tendency to create mischief and mayhem.

For the past two months, I've been traveling with the cast of The Wraith Files, a paranormal investigation web show. Stony and Blaine are like the perverted, annoying brothers I never had. Our boss, Malachi Flemming, well, he makes my heart beat faster and my hormones dance.

During a break from filming, I've returned home to my resident ghost, Teri, an exotic dancer who died thirty years ago. I'm on a mission to find the man who murdered her and see that justice is served.

Preoccupied with my search for a killer, I'm unaware that something dark and twisted lies in wait for me. Not one, but two faceless entities intent on terrorizing me before moving in for the kill.

With unseen enemies shadowing my every move, it's time to discover how deep my abilities run. I need every bit of power I possess...or I'll be taking my place among the dead.

*This book contains a perverted ghost, two men who act like teenage boys, and lots of sarcasm.
Find on Goodreads

Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2htNGcn

Amazon PB: http://amzn.to/2gusJOM

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2htPMcD

Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2gBMvpR
Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2hCAYUH
iBooks: http://apple.co/2fMG44r
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2h13Nyd

GPI's review of Don't Wake The Dead (Wraith Files #1)

Kristine's Review:

Reviewed: December 2016.

As a self confessed non reader of the paranormal genre I always find myself at a bit of a loss with C.C. Woods books, there's something inherently special about her words, some magical culmination of her storylines, covers, and witty prose that have me so utterly invested that I can't put them down. The Wood Effect usually takes hold in the first chapters, it's in those initial pages that I forget about werewolves this and vampires that, it's when I don't even notice that a main character is a ghost, it's when I forget entirely that I have an aversion to the fantastical and just allow the Author to capture my imagination and take me wherever she pleases.

"I'm sick and tired of you using our working relationship as an excuse to deny our feelings for each other."

Right there is one of the many reasons I adore Wood's work, in between stories of fiction, some that absolutely profit on her ability to make believe is those brilliant reminders of the human condition. For those already introduced to the newest paranormal offering from Wood, you would of no doubt fondly remembered the slow burning chemistry of our hero and heroine. She created so wonderfully this smouldering connection between Mal and Zoe that it was palpable, you could feel it clawing it's way off the page, and yet much like it's predecessor, Don't Wake The Dead didn't rely on sexual intimacy to strengthen the story.

"I'm a man who knows what he wants and had the patience to wait for it."

I found myself devouring the pages, skimming in parts, not out of boredom but in desperation to know what came next, as the drama intensified, and the action increased I found myself restless and deliberately jumping ahead so I could get to the end quicker, for a usually fast reader, you can only imagine the utter excitement that was coursing through my veins as I absolutely devoured this book. Wood mixes her trademark wit with her ability to build tension perfectly here, Don't Wake The Dead was addictive, utterly impossible to put down. As Zoe frantically searched for Teri's murderer, and the pressure mounted, I found myself on the edge of the seat, yelling at my kindle like a childhood pantomime "look behind youuuuuuuu". Wood's latest offering was a breath of fresh air at a time when I find myself more and more underwhelmed by lackadaisical sex scenes that seem to only serve as filler. With a strong push toward character development and really crafting a story that I can't wait to continue, The Wraith Files has easily become one of my newest favourites.

  

About C.C. Wood:

A native Texan, C.C. grew up either reading or playing the piano. Years later, she’s still not grown up and doing the same things. Since the voices in her head never shut up, C.C. decided to share their crazy stories and started writing books.

Now that she has a baby girl at home, C.C.’s non-writing time is usually spent cleaning up poopy diapers or feeding the poop machine. Sometimes she teaches piano, cooks, or spends time bugging her hubby and two beagles.

Connect with C.C. on Facebook

Tonic by Staci Hart

Blurb:

Joel Anderson doesn’t take anything seriously.

Not his relationships, which have been few and far between since his brutal divorce. Not the drama of working in a tattoo parlor, which seems to be around every corner. When things get him down, he smiles and cracks a joke. But he’s not the kind of man you cross, or you’ll find yourself at the wrong end of his fists.

Annika Belousov takes everything seriously.

Like her job as a reality television producer, given that she typically has something to prove. Or her love life, which is defined by a series of requirements — affluent, ambitious, accomplished, to name a few. Definitely her family, who worked their whole lives to afford her every opportunity, a sacrifice she doesn’t take lightly. When she’s tapped to produce a reality show at Joel’s shop, she doesn’t think twice, just goes in for the kill, as if there were any other way.

The second Annika walks into Joel’s shop, he makes it his mission to crack her open, but she’s not having it. He’s all wrong — too crass, too hairy, too un-serious. But it doesn’t take her long to find out there’s more to him than smirks and tattoos. And what she finds could put her career and his heart on the line.

Not that Joel cares. Because for the first time in a long time, he’s found his tonic.

Find Tonic on Goodreads

Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2eJetwc

Amazon PB: http://amzn.to/2efhTsa

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2dNPMzD

Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2ewR2tt

Kristine's Review:

Reviewed: October 2016.

There's something effortlessly cool about Tonic, in fact there's something effortlessly cool about the author Staci Hart too, fans of the Bad Habits series will remember Joel Anderson, his turn as Tricky's boss, mentor and friend in Last Call was both hilarious and endearing, the hulking piece of bearded man meat was the kind of secondary character I personally was hoping we would get more of. Hart's previous Bad Habits series and follow up stand alone Wasted Words cemented her an Author I follow, with eye catching, gorgeous covers and quirky, intriguing blurbs Tonic was sure to pique my interest. With Joel taking his place front and centre made me giddy with excitement, the man who affectionately tattooed his hand and fingers THIS and THAT was bound to be the kind of leading man I was sure to love.

“He didn’t shy away from my glare — which would level most men — instead, he met it with heat that burned through me like molten lava. Or indigestion.”

Annika Belousov has not only mastered the art of resting bitch face, but mastered the stone cold demeanor to match, as cold as ice, professionally a shark who can sniff out the proverbial blood in the water. She wasn't always the ice queen she is now, but a baptism of fire in her chosen career shaped her into a formidable task master, capable of deception and manipulation to rival the best. As Executive Producer on what will hopefully be the breakout hit of an over saturated reality television market focusing on Joel and his tattoo shop Tonic.

“Three steps and I was in his arms.
Two heartbeats and I looked into his eyes.
One breath and I kissed him.”

Everything about Joel and Annika is electric, volatile, all consuming... their chemistry, their passion, like a match waiting to be struck, the only certainty is once they come together they are sure to go up in flames. The back and forth, the banter, the push and pull of animal magnetism between them made Tonic was one fast paced ride. Two people desperate to keep their cards close to their chest with a hero who never takes anything too seriously and a heroine who never lets her guard down, and a cast comprised of old favorites and new friends, Hart crafted an addictive story that was impossible to put down. Equal parts funny, sexy and sweet made Tonic another winner for me.

About Staci Hart:

Staci has been a lot of things up to this point in her life -- a graphic designer, an entrepreneur, a seamstress, a clothing and handbag designer, a waitress. Can't forget that. She's also been a mom, with three little girls who are sure to grow up to break a number of hearts. She's been a wife, though she's certainly not the cleanest, or the best cook. She's also super, duper fun at a party, especially if she's been drinking whiskey.

From roots in Houston to a seven year stint in Southern California, Staci and her family ended up settling somewhere in between and equally north, in Denver. They are new enough that snow is still magical. When she's not writing, she's reading, sleeping, gaming, or designing graphics.

Connect with Staci on Goodreads

A Place In The Sun by R.S. Grey

24/10/2016

Blurb:

When her mother’s incessant matchmaking hits an all-time high, Georgie Archibald does what any sensible woman would do: she flees the country.

Seeking refuge in the picturesque seaside village of Vernazza, Italy, Georgie’s only plan is to lie low, gorge herself on gelato, and let the wine and waves wash her troubles away...that is until she wakes up in a bed that belongs to the most romantic-looking man she’s ever seen.

Gianluca.

After going out of his way to rescue her, the former London financier turned mysterious recluse makes it clear that despite acting as her white knight, he has no plans to co-star in her fairytale.

But Georgie isn’t asking for his heart—she’s merely intrigued.

After all, Gianluca isn’t just gorgeous—tall and tan from days spent in the sun—his touch sets her world on fire. With him, Georgie experiences the most intoxicating passion she’s ever known, and it only takes a few steamy nights for her to realize that sometimes running away from trouble is the best way to find it.

Find on Goodreads

Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2efcxxg

Amazon PB: http://amzn.to/2emxyqX

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2en28Dr

Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2eJcW9o

Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: October 2016.

For fans of R.S. Grey, Georgie Archibald burst onto the scene in Settling The Score (The Summer Games #1) as Olympic Gold medalist Freddie Archibald's loud and energetic younger sister, everything about the gregarious and often misunderstood by her mother Georgie intrigued me, in terms of female side characters, Georgie was certainly one I hoped to know better. When the younger Archibald has had enough of her meddling mother and her incessant match making ways, she spins a globe and lands on Vernazza, Italy. Off on an adventure, Georgie is determined the live the life she imagined, find love and step out from under the expectations of her demanding mother.

"The day I got intimidated by another woman would be the day I was no longer Georgie Archibald."

Georgie isn't the only one that found themselves in Italy because of love, whereas she hopes to find it, Gianluca hopes to forget the pain and destruction it brings. Scarred and broken from his past dalliance with love, Gianluca is in no way ready for a second go around the block regardless of how attracted he may be to the British spitfire that seems to be everywhere he is.

"Because women always do," explained Katerina. "They think they'll swoop in and coax him out of his shell. They want to heal him like a bird with a broken wing, but it's actually easier with birds, because they want to fly so badly. Gianluca-well, for the past five years, he's made it clear he doesn't want to be healed. He wants to stay on the ground."

Full of Grey's trademark wit, A Place in the Sun is equal parts sweet and sexy, with the perfect amount of angst thrown in for fun, Georgie and Luca's chemistry was tangible, so real it jumped from the page, their burgeoning relationship was everything I look for a romantic comedy, funny, sweet, sexy as hell, the more I read, the deeper I fell down the rabbit hole that is the worlds Grey continues to create. For lovers of quintessential contemporary romance, who want to relax with a book and lose themselves within the words, who want something a little deeper than your stereotypical rom com, A Place in the Sun is destine to be a sure fire hit.

About R.S. Grey:

I am a lover of books, chocolate, reality TV, metaphors and similes, black labs, and cold weather. Seriously, if I had it my way I would be curled up on the couch with all of those things... everyday.
​
I live in Texas where I spend my free time writing and reading. My favorite authors are Mindy Kaling & Jonathan Safran Foer. I'm a comedy geek and love all things "funny". Women like Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Mindy Kaling are definitely the biggest inspirations for my writing, though I think my work tends to skew a bit smuttier than theirs.

Connect with Rachel on Facebook