L-L-L-Little Reviews: Four Adult Romances

Only one from last year, the rest are all from this year, trying to stay on top of reviews this year!

Most Valuable Playboy by Lauren Blakely:

Release Date: September 5th, 2017
Genre:  Sports romance
Source:  Audiobook purchased from Audible.com
My rating:  5 stars

I knew I needed to listen to this one after there was a short prequel at the end of the other Lauren Blakely book I listened to, Unzipped.  While the prequel was from Violet's viewpoint, this full length novel was from Cooper's viewpoint.  And Zachary Webber was the narrator, and I love him!  This was a lot of fun, although I wonder if the prequel or this came first.  As usual, Blakely writes a lot of sexy steam with a lot of humor.  I loved several different things, like the "mind over erection zone".  As with the other book, I loved that really the characters didn't do extremely unrealistic things. They were pretty honest when needed, and the other one believed without going nutty.  And I liked how the coaches were, and how the owner's sister was as well, I mean in the end.  I love how real this author is in her storytelling.  And it only encourages me to read more!

Here is the blurb from Goodreads:
Hands down, my favorite thing in the world is to score. Touchdowns. Don't let the fact that I'm the leading pick in the Most Valuable Playboy charity auction fool you. These days, I'm only a player on the field. I've kept my pants zipped all season long - and it is long - because nothing's more important than leading my team to victory every week. Except maybe escaping from the team owner's recently widowed and handsy-as-hell sister, who's dead set on winning more than a date with me. Enter Violet and a well-placed Hail Mary. She's my best friend's sister with a smile as sweet as cherry pie, and a mind that runs quicker than the 40-yard-dash.

After Violet saves the day with the highest bid, I don't even give her a two-minute warning before I kiss her in front of the whole crowd, and then announce that she's my girlfriend. Which would be fine, except my agent tells me we've got to keep up the act while he's negotiating my contract. Violet takes one for the team and pretends to be mine, but our boyfriend-girlfriend scrimmage quickly turns into a full contact sport, and I want it to go into overtime. The problem is - I've been riding the bench for years. How can a guy like me, who finally has a chance to prove his worth on the field, convince the girl she's most valuable to his heart? 


Sure Thing (Gemini Duet #1) by Jana Aston:

Release Date: October 2nd, 2017
Genre:  Adult romance
Source:  Audiobook purchased from Audible.com
My rating:  5 stars
  
My first thought as I began listening was that I wished I had the guts to do what Violet did.  Hey, just realized this is two audiobooks in a row that the main character was named Violet!  Although in this story, she had to go by the name Daisy, because she was pretending to be her twin.  I did get a little annoyed at times when there were too many chapters from the same character.  I get why it's done, it adds the drama/suspense for knowing what the other character is thinking, but sometimes I just need/miss the other character's viewpoint!   As the story went and we learned just how awesome Jennings was in bed, I couldn't help but compare to my own experiences and thought about who was that for me.  Now, I did agree with her sister Daisy about some things, like carrot cake, yuck!  This was one that I feel like neither of their secrets were bad enough to make the other upset when the learned them. But the way that Jennings kind of connected the dots and the assumptions he made based on seeing something out of context at the end, I can understand his being upset.  In the end though, we got more chapters from his point of view, and when he realized she was a twin, I'm glad that helped him see that her secret wasn't what he would think.  Loved so much about this.  I did want to strangle the author though for how she left us off at the end of one chapter with Jennings.  I couldn't believe when we joined him again towards the end that she'd done that to us!  One other thing to share, there is a quote that really hit me, really resounded with me:  Prepare for the inevitable or hold out hope.  That is how I feel about my love life.  I've kind of just given up and realized I'll be alone for my whole life.  Done holding out hope.  Now getting any love and romance from the books I read.  

Glad to hear there is going to be a book for Daisy too!

Here is the blurb from Goodreads:
Have you ever set out to have a one night stand with a sexy stranger?
No? I’m the only one?
Just kidding, I would never. 
Ever.
Not usually. 
 
But then I figured, why not? My entire life I’ve been good and it’s gotten me nowhere.
No job. 
No apartment. 
No boyfriend. 
 
I’m owed a little fun, aren’t I? A reward for being good.
Sure, a new pair of shoes would be more appropriate, but Mr. Sexy Stranger is more appealing. And when he speaks—in that British accent—it’s a done deal. Every American woman has a hot British guy fantasy. Well, most do. I haven't taken a poll or anything, but I’m pretty sure it’s a fact. 
 
Except… 
You know that saying about best-laid plans? 
Good, because I don’t either, but I assume they go awry.
Like my one night stand… 


Cocktales:  The Cocky Collective:

Release Date: May 26th, 2018
Genre:  Many different types of adult romance
Source:  Purchased physical copy
My rating:  4 stars

So, if you follow the romance book world, you probably remember the whole deal with the author who tried to copyright the word "cocky" last year.  And the author's books that she reported to Amazon and they had to change their title and it cost them a lot of money.  This anthology was published by authors in support of the authors who had been hurt by this crazy idea of trying to copyright a word.  So of course, I had to buy a copy!  I got a lot of autographs in it at Book Bonanza last summer.  I just finally finished reading it this year though.  There are almost 40 different stories in this anthology.  I didn't actually read all of them, because they weren't my types of stories.  I'm not going to talk about every single story, that would take too long.  I'll just go over a few of my favorites.  As soon as I got it, I immediately turned to the Amy Daws story and read it, and of course loved it. Cam is my favorite Harris brother after all!  Surprised I didn't immediately turn to Kylie Scott's story next, because it was Mal, my favorite book boyfriend, or one of the top three.  But I did love that one too!  Some new authors I think I've found from this book are Dylan Allen, Whitney Barbetti, Ruth Clampett, Mariah Dietz, Lex Martin, Jessica Prince, Julie A. Richman, Kate Stewart, and maybe Karla Sorensen.  A great book!  You can't get it anymore I think, other than used copies.  Not sure if they're even selling the ebook anymore either.  But they made a good chunk of money to donate to those authors who needed the legal fees and such.  So if you can get a copy, you should check it out!

Here is the blurb from Goodreads:
Cocktales is a limited-release anthology (available *only* from May 26 – August 26, 2018) of original, never before published material, some of which is raw and unedited. Each story was specifically written for this anthology.

The goal of the Cocktales Anthology is to raise funds to fight against obstruction of creative expression. Specifically, what we believe are obstruction attempts through the trademarking of common (single) words for titicular use in books / or as a book series (eBooks, print, and audio).

*ALL* net profits will be donated to:
1) Authors already impacted by creative-obstruction (10%), and
2) Romance Writers of America (RWA) (90%) as a general donation intended for their Advocacy Fund.

Disclaimer: This anthology is not being conducted on behalf of RWA, nor does RWA endorse this anthology or effort. They have, however, graciously agreed to accept the funds. 
  

Clam Jam by R.C. Boldt:

Release Date: January 10th, 2017
Genre:  Adult romantic comedy
Source:  Purchased physical copy
My rating:  5 stars

Okay, my first book by this author and I'm hooked!  Loved so much about it!  It had so many pop culture references that are right up my alley.  Like a reference to one of my favorite kid books, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, and then a reference later on to Pretty in Pink, about how Duckie should have got the girl in the end.  Vocabulary such as the word "stabby" which made me think of my favorite tv show of all time, Buffy the Vampire Slayer.  This book was not only perfect for me personally, it was hilarious, the whole clam jamming idea, so funny! The way that he did it, I laughed so hard at that. And then, later, it got so darn steamy!  Loved this story and characters so much.  I got to meet the author and get it signed at Book Bonanza last year, hope to read more soon!

Here is the blurb from Goodreads:
"Clam Jam" 
Definition: the female equivalent of a cock block. 
Example: You're chatting with a guy you're interested in and your friend comes along and lays claim to him. 
Maggie
That's my life--except it's worse. My friend who keeps "jamming" me is my gay roommate, and if that isn't a W.T.F. moment, I'm not sure what is. 
Fact: He went home with three--yes, three--of the guys I had been so sure were into me. 
Fact: He's really pissing me off. I mean, hello? I'm trying to get back in the saddle, but I'll never manage to get a boyfriend before the age of fifty if he keeps this up. 
Fact: Secretly, I wonder what it would be like if he weren't gay. Why do all the hot, sweet, tender-hearted guys have to be gay? 
Fact: My gay-dar needs a serious tune-up. 
Ry
The day I interviewed for the room to rent, everything changed. I knew I had met "the girl," except there was one small problem: she didn't want anything to do with men. I recognized a top-notch force field when I saw one. She'd been burned badly and didn't want to deal with a heterosexual guy as a roommate. I could've turned around and found another place to live, but I wanted to live there--with her. 
So I had to go "undercover." 
Fact: I'm in love with my roommate. 
Fact: I'm a likely candidate for carpal tunnel surgery since all the action I've had for the past year has been my hand. 
Fact: She's going to hate me if I come clean now. 
Fact: I'm not giving up. Which means I'll just have to continue to run defense until I figure out a way to get Maggie to see the "real" me. 
The me that loves her. 
The me that would never do her wrong. 
Until then, I'll keep running off every guy who shows any interest. 
Until then, I'll continue to Clam Jam.  
  

Blog Tour with Review: Pucked Love (Pucked Series #6) by Helena Hunting

Pucked Love, the final sexy and emotional standalone in the NYT bestselling Pucked Series from New York Times bestselling author Helena Hunting, is available NOW!

As an NHL player, relationships haven’t been my thing. Shrouded in secrecy and speculation, they never last very long. But then that’s what happens when you require an NDA before the first date.

Until Charlene. She’s like a firefly. She’s elusive, and if you catch her she’ll burn bright, but keeping her trapped dulls her fire and dims her beauty.

I caught her. And as much as I might want to keep her, I’ll never put the lid on her jar. Not at the risk of losing her. So I've let her set the rules in our relationship.

But as long hidden secrets expose us both, I discover exactly how fragile Charlene is, and how much I need her.

We’re all broken. We’re all messed up. Some more than others. Me more than most. 

Download your copy today!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2lVtrVi

AppleBooks:  https://apple.co/2IzemWD

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/PuckedLove

Kobo:  http://bit.ly/2u2nrhi

Nook:  http://bit.ly/2NnyFpj

Audible: https://amzn.to/2IWTNPI

Amazon Print: https://amzn.to/2lWZ0yd

Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2CP8hTR

Excerpt:

You’re turning twenty-six. It’s your champagne birthday, so we need to do something fun.” Violet bounces, making her boobs shake and my mimosa slosh perilously. “It should be themed! We can all wear leather chaps!”  

“Could you be any more cliché?” I roll my eyes. “Just to be clear, Darren doesn’t own chaps.”

“Just a ball gag and a mask with no eye holes, according to Alex.”  

And we’re back to my sex life. I knew I was getting off so easy.  

I wonder if Darren is catching this kind of heat today. I seriously doubt it’s worse than what I’m getting since I don’t think his friends are likely to push his buttons, but I’ll have to ask when I speak to him next. I’m not sure when that will be, either. The message I sent about Gertrude was pretty straightforward and doesn’t necessarily require a response. Maybe I should’ve worded it differently.  

Sunny raises her hand, like we’re all still in middle school and she’s waiting her turn to speak. “Wouldn’t a mask with no eyeholes be dangerous? You wouldn’t be able to see where you’re going.” Her eyes widen, and she looks around the room. “And what’s a ball gag?”  

I honestly love that Sunny has grown up in this highly overinformed society and still manages to be innocent.  

“Yeah, Char, wouldn’t a mask with no eyeholes be dangerous?” Violet props her fist on her chin and smiles. “And please, do explain what a ball gag is.”  

“I’m not sure you really want the answer to that, Sunny.” Poppy gives me a look I can’t quite decipher.  

Sunny twirls her hair around her finger. “Why not?”  

“Where’s the harm in a little bondage-sex education? It’s not like Miller’s ever going to go out and buy either item for her. First of all, Alex would murder him, and secondly, I don’t think that’s Miller’s thing.”  

Sunny’s face lights up, and she does jazz hands. “Oh! I think I know what Miller’s thing is!” 

Lily grins. “Eating your cookie?”  

“He really likes to do that, a lot. When my belly gets too big I’ll have to watch from the mirror.” She gets a faraway look in her eyes. “But he has another thing! Kind of like how you and Randy are always getting it on in bathrooms, except I think it’s a bit more sanitary.”  

“And it doesn’t cause thousands of dollars of damage,” Violet adds.

Lily throws her hands up in the air. “That sink was already falling off the wall. It’s not my fault it broke!”  

“That was one expensive orgasm,” I say.  

“And Randy says it was worth every penny.” Lily’s smile is devious as she bites her knuckle, then turns to Sunny. “Anyway, back to Miller’s thing.”  

Sunny wiggles around excitedly in her chair. “So Miller paints my toenails for me.”  

“Miller’s thing is painting your toenails?”  

“Yes. Well, no. I think he likes my toes.” Her fingers go to her lips, and she looks around the room, her cheeks flushing.  

“Say what now?” Violet asks.  

”Sometimes he kisses them.” She covers her mouth with her palm and says something unintelligible.  

Violet sits forward in her chair. “Hold on a second, does Buck have a foot fetish?”  

“Um, I don’t know.” Sunny looks worried now. “Is that weird? Is it, like, mask with no eyeholes kind of weird?”  

My Review:

My rating:  5 stars

If you know me, you know I rarely pre-order and pre-pay for books.  I just prefer to wait till they're out.  But this book was released as audio before physical book, and I decided I had to go ahead and pre-order it.  I thought about saving it for my drive to Book Bonanza, since Helena Hunting was one of my MUST meet authors, but I couldn't wait, and as soon as it was available, I had to start listening.  Charlene and Darren have always just kind of been in the background of the other books in a way.  In the way that Charlene was Violet's best friend and she was dating Darren.  Now, I love Violet, and her craziness. But let's just say that Charlene and Darren have their own brand of crazy, sexy, you name it.  As usual with one of Hunting's books, I had a ton of notes that I made on Goodreads as I listened to this.  At first I wasn't sure if I was going to like Darren. But after he had a talk with Alex, and I realized that he just wasn't really up on how to have a real relationship, I got to like him a lot more.  I loved the stats that Charlene said he kept about their relationship.  I loved hearing about where Charlene's box of "I thought it would be fun, but I changed my mind" came from.  

Charlene's mom killed me. But then most of the parents in these stories are so funny.  And then when the girls all went to the sex convention, OMG!  I totally knew that Violet was going to have a "sword-fight" with the strap-on.  I just knew it.  Then Charlene's background at The Harvest Co-op was one that I wasn't sure just how bad it got.  That was something that kept going throughout the story, and kept me on the edge waiting to hear just what had happened there.  Darren's family issues fit perfectly with Charlene's, well, especially with her mother.  I loved the bit about Charlene's candy as well.  

One funny thing about the story tied in perfectly to something the author said at a panel at Book Bonanza. She said that she has to actually sometimes get into the positions for the sex scenes to figure out how to write them.  I was having trouble picturing the final scene in this book, so I told her that and we laughed and figured it out.  It was also cool that her husband was there and he was chatting with everyone while we waited in line to see her.  And Helena Hunting was so nice as well, spent a lot of time with each person in line, which was great, even though I felt bad for people behind us in line!  :-)  But it wasn't just me, it was everyone.  

(Review originally published here on Lisa Loves Literature on July 29th, 2018)

  

Me with Helena Hunting at Book Bonanza 2018

  About Helena Hunting

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Helena Hunting lives outside of Toronto with her amazing family and her two awesome cats, who think the best place to sleep is her keyboard. Helena writes everything from contemporary romance with all the feels to romantic comedies that will have you laughing until you cry.
 

Connect with Helena  

Instagram: http://instagram.com/helenahunting 

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Website: http://www.helenahunting.com/  

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L-L-L-Little Reviews - Kiss and Make Up Series #1-3 by Sara Ney

So, while I did go ahead and post my reviews of the first two books in this series on retailers as I read them, I wanted to do one big post on my blog of all three together. So that's what this one is!  All of these are Sports romances, we have hockey players for our leading men.  And while the first one is YA, I'd call the 2nd two more NA.  Also, I received all three of these from InkSlinger PR for reviews, which did not influence my opinion in any way.

Kissing in Cars:

Release Date:  January 26th, 2014
Order in Series:  #1
My rating:  4.5 stars

So this one was really pretty close to a YA, whereas I'd call the other two in the series New Adult.   I know a lot of people will probably complain about how this is written, but honestly it flows a lot like how I think. And to me, it sounded perfectly like the way I'd imagine a teenager thinks, or the way at least I thought as a teenager. So much about it cracked me up. I was laughing out loud sitting in public. There were a few things that were predictable, another thing people might have issues with. Personally though, I found that those really were done almost tongue-in-cheek, or they felt like they were done that way. Reminds me of how the scary things happened in the Scream movie franchise. Then there is the part where Weston does basically the same exact thing by telling people Molly is not his girlfriend, loudly, adamantly. She'd already told him once about doing something like that, not just told him, but gotten really mad at him about it. So for him to do it again, I basically called him a dumbass. He'd fit well into the future douchebag series. And as I am reading book 2 in the series right now, Weston is keeping up with that, although loving his girl now.

In a way this reminded me of my own writing. At least how I think I write, others who read my writing may not agree. But it gave me hope to keep writing, because I love this author, and so if I do, and I know others do, maybe I can do something with my writing as well.

Now, I think the cover above is the newest, but I like the one below better.

Here is the blurb from Goodreads:

Will she, or won't she... 

Studious and (mostly) sensible, the only thing Molly Wakefield wants to do is get through Senior Year and graduate. Well, that and hit the beach in her spare time. Okay, fine - and go shopping every once in a while for a new dress... (and who could blame her?) 

And things are going according to plan - until the day she spies Weston McGrath, handsome star athlete and scholar, spying on her in study hall. 

A tad creepy? Maybe. 
Thrilling? Absolutely. 

You see, Weston McGrath happens to be one guy no one can get close to. 

Despite her best efforts to avoid it (because let's face it - the guy isn't exactly "boyfriend material") Mollly and Weston form a friendship. 
And more.... 
Sort of. 
But it's a friendship that comes with a price - because Weston just cannot seem to stop screwing things up. Or saying all the wrong things. Possibly in that order... 
And who has time for an 18 year old "fixer-upper" that should know better? 
Not Molly. 
Or does she? 

He Kissed Me First:

Release Date:  November 27th, 2014
Order in Series:  #2
My rating:  4.5 stars

Book 2 was really funny because I already knew Molly and Weston, and I have to say that I adored Weston in this one. While he was definitely pretty much whipped/in love, whatever you want to call it, he was still an annoying boy. I laughed so hard out loud so many times during this book! Matthew was definitely fitting of the douchebag title that Ney's other series uses to describe its leading men. You'd start to think he was coming over to be a good guy, then out would pop the jerk again. There were definitely times I wanted to shake Cece a little, but that seems to happen a lot in romance books, so that's nothing bad. This one was definitely a lot different from the first book, in that was set in a high school, and this one is two people almost past what I'd consider even new adult, more just adult. But with the college aspect it could stay as a new adult level. And the amount of steam in it was definitely on the lower range, or should I say there just was less of it? 

Weston and Matthew's friendship also cracked me up. I love how they interacted. The date that Matthew took Cece on to the hockey game and the players that came up and harassed him about it were cute. Definitely a page turner that I couldn't seem to stop reading! On to book 3!  (Oh yeah, same thing, I like both covers, kind of the original below better though!)

Here is the blurb from Goodreads:

"Trust me - If there's one thing I'm not attracted to, it's an arrogant, selfish and foul-mouth hockey player. I know what I want, and Matthew Wakefield isn't it." - Cecelia Carter 

From the first moment they laid eyes on each other, all Cecelia Carter and Matthew Wakefield do is bicker. Fight. Even though he is her roommates brother, Cece just can't stand the sight of him, and Matthew - well. He could never resist a challenge... 

That can't be a good combination, can it? 
But sometimes, love happens when you least expect it. 

This book is intended for those 17 and older - If you're offended by "F" bombs, sarcasm, sexual situations and Alpha Male jackasses - this book is not for you... 




A Kiss Like This:

Release Date:  May 31st, 2015
Order in Series:  #3
My rating:  4.5 stars

All three of these stories were really good.  This book actually made me think that maybe I should give shy guys a little more of a chance. But the awkwardness that the two faced in this book is so much what I dread and have dealt with in my own life as a shy person on a date with a shy guy.  Unfortunately the shy guys I went out with were not hot hockey players like Caleb is.  So many times as I read this though, I could feel the awkwardness coming off the page, and it felt like a chapter of my own life in that way.  For me that made it so perfect and not necessarily easy to read, but easy in that I was extremely familiar in the way those things go.  Now, I knew that the whole ring thing was going to come back and bite Caleb in the end. But I also feel that Abby definitely overreacted about that whole situation.  As you may know from my other reviews though, that is something that I realize is often a standard part of a romance novel, to add that last bit of drama needed.  So no matter how frustrating it is for me, I can get over it when I love the rest of the story so much, and realize it is for that very purpose.

Something I love about series like these is getting those supporting characters into main character roles in future books, and then it makes me want to go back and read the earlier books, knowing what I know now about them.  Of course their bits and pieces from the earlier stories help to make their own books more humorous at time as you remember what they'd done in the past.

I have to admit that when I first discovered this author with the 3rd book in her How to Date a Douchebag series, I just assumed that there would be a ton of her past stories to go back and read once I fell in love with her writing.  There wasn't a ton out there, so having these suggested and maybe re-released or re-publicized was great for me, as I wait for more books to come!  Sara Ney is definitely an auto-buy/read author for me!  I do have to say though, unlike the first two books in the series, there isn't an "original" cover for me to share with you.  Just the one you see above.  Although there is this one below as well.  Not sure which is the most accurate one, although I might like the one below best.

Here is the blurb from Goodreads:

ABIGAIL DARLINGTON IS AWKWARD… 

She will never be “that” girl. You know the one: that girl on campus, confident in her own skin. Always saying the right things. Putting herself out there. Knows how to talk to a guy without stammering. 

Nope. Shy but clever, and easily embarrassed, Abby is fine being the wallflower in her circle of outgoing, beautiful friends; she would rather read about a sexy book boyfriend than actually have a live, breathing one. 

…BUT CALEB LOCKHART IS WORSE. 

Star goaltender for the University’s hockey team, Caleb is quiet and broody, preferring the solitude of his orderly, regimented life. He doesn’t like, or need people—and plans to keep it that way. One more year left of hockey and he’ll be long gone. 

AWKWARD NEVER LOOKED SO GOOD. 

Both their lives change the day that Abigail falls for Caleb. Well, falls directly on top of him, to be accurate. Because sometimes we don’t settle into love. 

We fall there. 

WARNING: This book contains cursing, and LOTS of it. It also has sex, uncomfortable sexual situations, and secondary characters who say some really inappropriate shit. RATING: R

Had to wrap up this post with a picture of me and the author from Book Boonanza 2018!