Four Adult Contemporary Romance Mini-Reviews

You know the drill.  Here are some mini-reviews to work on getting myself caught up!

On the Plus Side (A Perfect Fit #2) by Alison Bliss:

Published:  June 27th, 2017

Source:  Won copy of book
Genre:  Adult contemporary romance
My rating:  4 stars

I did enjoy this one. Although while Valeria may have been supposed to be a bigger woman, I don't know that any of that came across on her side.  Yay for all the self-confidence that I  know is good for her, it sometimes made it a little hard to connect to her because I am not that way.  But I did like the romance, even if  Logan totally irritated the crap out of me for all his not wanting to get with her because of her brother.  And in the end, her brother's overprotectiveness to the point of how angry he got when he found out about the two of them, well that was really annoying, and pretty over the top.  All in all a good, quick read though.  I look forward to reading on in the series, and I liked how we got to have some glances back at the couple from the first book, Size Matters.  

Here is the synopsis from Goodreads:

Big girls don't cry. They go after what they want.

Thanks to her bangin' curves, Valerie Carmichael has always turned heads-with the exception of seriously sexy Logan Mathis. Just Valerie's luck that the object of her lust-filled affection is also best friends with her overprotective brother. But Valerie's determined to get Logan's attention . . . even if it means telling a teeny little lie to get a job at his new bar. 

Logan can't remember a time when Valerie didn't secretly fuel all his hottest fantasies. Now the curvaceous she-devil is working behind his bar, tempting him every damn night. It's only when he finds Valerie's naughty things-to-do list that Logan decides to break every rule in the book-by making each red-hot deed a reality. 

No one warned them that they were going to fall this hard. And no one warned them that sometimes the smallest secrets can have the biggest consequences. 

Friends Without Benefits (Knitting in the City #2) by Penny Reid:

Published:  October 1st, 2013
Source:  Purchased paperback
My Rating:  5 stars

I am such a huge fan of Penny Reid, now that I've started her books.  I'll admit I did have a short time as I started this that I wasn't sure if I'd get into it, but once I actually picked it up, it got to where if I was reading before bed I could barely put it down so that I could get some sleep since I had to get up in the morning for work.  I wished I'd have read it over winter break so that I could have stayed up all night reading.  The characters are funny, the sex is steamy, the romance is sweet, it just all fits together perfectly.  Not only did we get some time with the characters from the first book, Neanderthal Seeks Human, but we keep in touch with others that I know must feature in future books in the series.  I highly recommend you pick up Penny Reid if you haven't had the chance yet.

Here is the synopsis from Goodreads:

There are three things you need to know about Elizabeth Finney: 1) She suffers from severe sarcastic syndrome, especially when she's unnerved, 2) No one unnerves her like Nico Manganiello, and 3) She knows how to knit. Elizabeth Finney is almost always right about everything: the musical merits of boy bands are undervalued by society, "benefits" with human Ken dolls are better without friendship, and the sun has set on her once-in-a-lifetime chance for true love. But when Elizabeth's plans for benefits without friendship are disarmed by the irritatingly charismatic and chauvinistic Nico Manganiello- her former nemesis- she finds herself struggling to maintain the electric fence around her heart while avoiding electrocution or, worse, falling in love.

Three Blind Dates by Meghan Quinn:

Published:  January 4th, 2018
Source:  Egalley won through Facebook giveaway
My Rating:  4 stars

This is the first book I've read by Meghan Quinn, even though I've been following her on Facebook for awhile now.  I have to say that I wish there was a real dating service like this, and that I could join.  All three of the main characters dates were great guys, but in the end, I was sad when each one didn't work out.  The little twist towards the end, that helps you figure out who will be the right guy, well, I didn't see that coming!  And while I'm happy with who she ended up with, I still think one of the others would have been my first choice.  One downside, I don't know how to pronounce the main character's name, Noely, so my thoughts tripped over it as I read, which did pull me out of the story at times.  Overall though, it was a fun read, hard to put down, and only made me more intrigued to read more books by this author.

Here is the synopsis from Goodreads:

"Good Morning Malibu, it’s another beautiful day on the west coast! I'm Noely Clark, your host: and I'm in the market for love…”

When the publicity team of the new local restaurant, Going in Blind, began their search for a hot, local celebrity to promote the wildly popular eatery, they couldn’t have found a better person than me. 

Outgoing? Check.
Single? Check.
Open to finding love? Check. 

I signed up immediately. 

A hopeless romantic with an exceedingly demanding schedule, I've found it impossible to find the man of my dreams—so Going in Blind seems too good to be true! That’s until they start setting me up on dates—three very different, very attractive, very distinct blind dates—and only one thing is for certain . . .

I’m in big trouble. 

Good Morning Malibu,
I'm Noely Clark, and I have a choice to make.
The question is who will I choose; the suit, the rebel, or the jock.

Sweet Ache (Driven series #6) by K. Bromberg:

Published:  June 1st, 2015
Source:  Downloaded digital audio from library
My Rating:  5 stars

I remember not liking, then liking Colton's sister Quinlan when we first met her in the earlier books in this series.  But I really got to like her in this one.  And then there was Hawkin Play.  A rock star, and I do love a good rock star romance.  Hawkin had some baggage he was pulling along, but something about Quinlan kept him interested and fighting for a chance.  I loved his sweet tooth, and how it played into the story.  I have to say that at times I felt Quinlan might have given in sooner than I would have, but yeah, that's probably why I'm still single.  So many sexy parts in this one, parts that I was listening to before I had to go into work, and other times I didn't want to get out of the car to stop listening because of how things were going.  Once again another great story from this author.  I was lucky enough to get selected to be in the author's audio review group, and so I have the next book in the series to listen to after my next two audiobooks that I'm required to listen to and review for tours.  But I can't wait!

Here is the blurb from Goodreads:

The New York Times bestselling author of Slow Burn turns up the heat when a sexy bet turns into so much more…

Hawkin Play, the bad boy rock star with a good guy heart, has lived a lifetime of cleaning up after his twin brother’s mistakes. Hunter’s most recent screw-up could land Hawke in jail and risk the band’s future. Hawke agrees to guest lecture at a local college to stay in the judge’s good graces—and a bet with his bandmate to seduce his sexy teaching assistant is icing on the cake.

Quinlan Westin is harder to bed than Hawke imagined. She knows his type and is determined to avoid the rocker at all costs—even if their attraction runs deeper than simple lust.

Just as Hawke might finally be winning over the girl, his brother has other plans. When Hunter realizes his twin finally has a weakness, he’ll stop at nothing to take advantage…
 

Five Adult Romance Mini-Reviews

Well, the pile is much smaller now, but I've still got a few to get through. So you get five today. These are all books that I had a physical copy of the book to read.

Shooting Scars (The Artists Trilogy #2) by Karina Halle:

Published:  January 1st, 2013
Source:  Purchased copy from bookstore where I work
My rating:  3 stars

Unfortunately I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first one in the series, Sins and Needles.  While it definitely had a lot of drama and suspense, as well as a lot of action.  But since the two main characters were really apart for most of the story, that is what the problem was.  What I loved about the first one was the chemistry between Ellie and Camden.  I bought this one and the third one right after finishing the first one because I was so hanging after how it ended.  I'm hoping that book 3 will bring me back to how much I loved the first one.

Here is the synopsis from Goodreads:
A Dangerous Kind of Love . . . 
When Ellie Watt offered herself to her thuggish former lover Javier to save Camden's life, she never imagined the twisted game Javier had planned for her. Trapped by him and his entourage of killers, Ellie is forced to commit a dangerous, heinous crime-or Javier will kill Camden. Now ex-con artist Ellie must find a way to stay ahead of the game . . . before it destroys her and the only man she ever loved. 
Camden McQueen can't forget Ellie Watt. Seeking revenge and pursued by the authorities for a crime he didn't commit, the talented tattoo artist does things he never thought himself capable of to save Ellie. As Camden straddles the line between love and retribution, he vows to do everything in his power to get her back. But if Camden unleashes his dark side, will Ellie still love him?

With Every Breath (Wanderlust #1) by Lia Riley:

Published:  December 29th, 2015
Source:  Purchased at Dollar Tree store
My rating:  3.5 stars

I found this for  $1.00 at the Dollar Tree store, and I grabbed it because the author is supposed to be at ApollyCon 2018 so I figured I could read it and get it autographed when I go.  The story was okay.  I read it pretty quickly. But I definitely had some issues with how Rhys acted, and I definitely did not like Auden's sister, but of course that is how you are supposed to feel about her.  I think I might go on with the series at some point, but no rush.

Here is the synopsis from Goodreads:
BREATHE DEEP . . . AND JUMP IN
At the ends of the earth, Patagonia is a land where ambition trumps reason and the savage summit of La Aguja lures the most determined climbers. It's also the last spot a "play-it-safe girl" like Auden Woods expects to find herself. But she'll lace up her brand-new hiking boots and do whatever it takes to secure a dream job at an adventure magazine . . . even if it kills her. And it just might. When disaster strikes, her only chance at survival comes in the form of the surliest, sexiest mountaineer ever to come out of Scotland.

After a climbing accident cost him his brother, professional mountaineer Rhys MacAskill is at the end of his rope. Redemption is not in his future. That is, until a terrifying storm blows a budding journalist into his tent and it's up to him to make sure they both survive until morning. Despite the demons weighing on him, Rhys can't resist the temptation of the charming American and one wild night just isn't enough.

Auden and Rhys soon learn there are no shortcuts as they navigate their way between life, death, and atonement, and discover something they never expected—love.

Tease (The Ivy Chronicles #2) by Sophie Jordan:

Published:  May 13th, 2014
Source:  Received as a gift through the Great Paperback Pay It Forward group on Facebook 
My rating:  4 stars

I definitely enjoyed this one as much as the first in the series, Foreplay.  This book had a situation that I connected with a bit due to my own experience in college, although when we found out exactly what Emerson went through in her past, that was a bit different than my own experiences.  It was a pretty crazy thing, and what I liked is how Shaw saw it in action and so had no doubt she wasn't lying and understood her.  But she did react in ways that I didn't always agree with, and of course, I know those are the things that lead to the drama in stories, so I get it.  Anyway, I'm looking forward to reading the third book, which I also have on my TBR shelf.

Here is the synopsis from Goodreads:
A young college woman gets schooled in life, sex, and love in New York Times bestselling author Sophie Jordan’s sizzling New Adult romance series—where three Ivy League suite-mates testing their boundaries as they seek higher knowledge of just how far they can go.

A born flirt and good-time party girl, Emerson has never had a problem finding a willing guy. She’s always chosen her hook-ups carefully, and she's never broken her three cardinal rules:

Never let them see the real you.

Never fall in love. 

Always leave them begging for more.

Then comes Shaw. A hotty from the wrong side of the tracks, he’s immune to her flirtatious banter and come-hither smile. After rescuing her from a disastrous night at a biker bar, he doesn’t even try to take her to bed—he calls her a tease and sends her home instead. Unable to resist a challenge, or forget the sexy dark-eyed bad-boy biker, she vows to bring him to his knees.

But instead of making Shaw beg, she finds herself craving him. For the first time in her life, she’s throwing out her rulebook. Suddenly, she’s the one panting for a guy she can’t control. A guy who won’t settle for anything less than the real Emerson, who forces her to do things she’s never imagined, including facing a past she thought she'd buried.

A guy who just might leave her wanting more . . .

Where I Belong (Alabama Summer #1) by J. Daniels:

Publication:  June 27th, 2014
Source: Won copy from author
My rating:  4.5 stars

This is another author that I'm going to get the chance to meet at Apollycon next March, and so I was excited when I won this set of books - this series, from the author.  I picked it up to read and could barely put it down!  I loved this book, and can't wait to continue on in the series.  The twists in the story were definitely good, and definitely kept me reading to see just how things would go.  I think I'm now a fan of this author and am looking forward to meeting her.

Here is the synopsis from Goodreads:
When Mia Corelli returns to Alabama for a summer of fun with her childhood best friend, Tessa, there's only one thing keeping her on edge. One person that she’d do anything to avoid.

Benjamin Kelly. World’s biggest dickhead.

Mia hates him with a fury and has no desire to ever see him again. When she decides to start her summer off with a bang and finally give away her v-card, she unknowingly hands it over to the one guy that excelled at making her life miserable, learning a valuable lesson in the process.

Always get the name of the guy you’re going home with.

Ben can’t get the girl he spent one night with out of his head. When she leaves him the next morning, he thinks he’ll never see her again. Until he sees her lounging by the pool with his sister.

Mia is determined to hate Ben, even though she can’t forget him.

Ben is determined to prove he’s not the same guy he used to be.

What happens when the one person you wish never existed becomes the one person you can’t imagine being without? 

Size Matters (A Perfect Fit #1) by Alison Bliss:

Publication:  November 29th, 2016
Source:  Stripped cover from bookstore where I work part-time
My rating:  5 stars

I've been interested in reading this book since I first saw the cover at the bookstore, and when I saw it was going to be thrown away at the bookstore, I had to grab a copy. I also won a copy of the sequel from Goodreads I think, so I can't wait to move on to that story as well.  I loved the chemistry between Leah and Sam, and like one of the first reviews on Goodreads says, the story is almost basically one huge mistake that just goes on and on forever.  But it is done in a good way, even as you get frustrated as the reader wondering when one of them will figure it out!  I like it though. The way that Sam sticks up for Leah with her mom, the way he feels about her, the way she feels about herself is realistic, or at least familiar enough to me.  A great story, I look forward to reading more by this author in the future!

Here is the synopsis from Goodreads:
The rules of (fake) engagement . . .
Leah Martin has spent her life trying to avoid temptation. But she's sick of low-fat snacks, counting calories, and her hyper-critical mom. Fortunately, her popular new bakery keeps her good and distracted. But there aren't enough éclairs in the world to distract Leah from the hotness that is Sam Cooper - or the fact that he just told her mother that they're engaged . . . which is a big, fat lie.

Sam sometime speaks before he thinks. So what started out as defending Leah's date-ability to her judgmental mother soon turned into having a fiancee! Now the plan is to keep up the fake engagement, stay "just friends," and make Leah's family loathe him enough to just call the whole thing off . But Sam has an insatiable sweet tooth, not only for Leah's decadent desserts but her decadent curves. Her full lips. Her bright green eyes. Yep, things aren't going quite according to plan. Now Sam has to convince Leah that he's for real . . . before their little lie turns into one big, sweet disaster.