Sunday Post #1

The Sunday Post is hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated reviewer book blog.

I'm excited because this is my first time doing a recap on Waves of Fiction! 

It's been a busy Summer.  We've (hubby and I) been renovating our home and we're almost done with the downstairs. We have a major project left, painting the kitchen cabinets, which we're doing ourselves (Ack! Wish me luck!).  We won't be tackling it until we get back from our vacation road-tripping the Pacific Northwest coast for 3 weeks.  Not much time for reading lately, but I hope to catch up a bit on our trip.

Read:

Brooklynaire, The Governess Game and Magic Triumphs were my favorites.  I've waited a long time for Nate and Rebecca' romance and Brookynaire was wonderful! I listened to the audio which was fantastic with both a male and female narrator. Magic Triumphs was an awesome end to an amazing series! It deserves a re-read so I'll be listening to the audio with my husband while on our road-trip vacation. You can hardly go wrong with Tessa Dare's historical romances! So clever, funny, and steamy! 

Book Haul:

I almost passed on Fight or Flight, but after reading the book description again I caved.  I can't resist a good antagonistic romance! Elizabeth Hoyt is one of my favorite historical romance writers so I was thrilled to hear she's writing a new romance series! Not the Duke's Darling is the first book.  Carolyn Brown's cowboy romances are filled with down-home charm, sage advice, and always make me laugh! I got my library audio copy of Tailspin today. Yay! Just in time to listen to on my road-trip! Hubby has enjoyed Sandra Brown in the past so I hope this entertains us on some of the long stretches. 

Watched:

I didn't read either book, although I have a copy of Before I Fall somewhere. I thought both movies were well done.  To All the Boys I've Loved Before was a happy feel good movie, just my kind!  Before I Fall was powerful, fascinating, and visually beautiful.  I wasn't a fan of the ending...Did it have to end that way?!

I'm currently in East Bay San Francisco at my daughter's house for a long weekend.  Busy, but stole a few hours with my Kindle this afternoon outside:

It was mostly warm this afternoon, but I felt a cool nip in the air after a while, and the leaves are already starting to fall but it was a gorgeous afternoon!

How was your week?

Review: Good Time Cowboy by Maisey Yates

Good Time Cowboy (Gold Valley #3) by Maisey Yates

Publication Date: August 21st 2018 by HQN

Pages: 480 (including bonus short story at the end)

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

About the book:

In Gold Valley, Oregon, forbidden desire just might turn into the love of a lifetime…

When Lindy Parker lost her cheating husband, she gained a vineyard. She’ll do anything for Grassroots Winery, including teaming up with the hottest devil she knows, rancher Wyatt Dodge. Wyatt is her ex’s friend and has an ego as big as the bulls he rides. But in spite of that, disciplined Lindy has always wanted him…

Lightning struck Wyatt Dodge the first time he saw Lindy Parker. But there were two problems with that: she was married to his friend, and Wyatt doesn’t do strings. But now Lindy is free, and the two of them can finally explore the heat that’s burned between them for so long. But can Lindy make this good time cowboy decide on forever?

My Thoughts:

Wyatt and Lindy have been squaring off since they first appeared as side characters in previous books. Wyatt’s been pushing Lindy’s buttons while she tried to freeze him out and keep her distance.  Too bad for Lindy that they’re partnering up for business because they’re about to get a lot more time together.  Lindy’s promoting wines and tours through her vineyard using Wyatt’s horses, and Wyatt is featuring the experience as an excursion available to his new ranch/inn guests.  There’s been a love/hate thing going on between these two because of the history and that’s about to come to a head.

I love how Maisey Yates gets to the heart of her characters and their motivations, and that’s part of what makes them so hot is that you get their emotions before there’s anything physical between them.  There’s a delicious buildup between Lindy and Wyatt!  Loved that even though there were some bumps in the road for their relationship there wasn’t any over-the-top drama.

I’m really looking forward to Grant’s romance, because that man deserves some loving! And I really hope there’s a romance for Bea and Dane! She’s got such a massive, intense crush on Dane that I’m a little afraid her heart might get squashed, but I’m crossing my fingers that he finally opens his eyes to Bea!

4 Suns

On Dublin Street by Samantha Young-Updated E-book Cover Reveal

I've loved the On Dublin Street series from the beginning so I'm excited to be able to share the new cover and the first chapter from Braden's POV! Yum! See below for his perspective, along with links to buy the book.  If you've never picked up the series you're missing out! Each book focuses on a new couple and all are addictive, funny, emotional, and super hot! 

Buy links:  

Kindle, Nook, iBooks, Kobo, Google Play

Also, COMING SOON by Samantha Young:

Can't wait to read what sounds like a fun antagonistic romance!

Pre-order links:

Amazon, Kindle, Barnes & Noble, Nook, Indiebound, Books a Million, iBooks, Kobo, Google Play

Connect with Samantha Young:

Twitter, Instagram, Facebook

Review: The Governess Game by Tessa Dare

The Governess Game (Girl Meets Duke #2) by Tessa Dare
Publication Date: August 28th 2018 by Avon
Pages: 384
Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

About the book:

He’s been a bad, bad rake—and it takes a governess to teach him a lesson

The accidental governess.

After her livelihood slips through her fingers, Alexandra Mountbatten takes on an impossible post: transforming a pair of wild orphans into proper young ladies. However, the girls don’t need discipline. They need a loving home. Try telling that to their guardian, Chase Reynaud: duke’s heir in the streets and devil in the sheets. The ladies of London have tried—and failed—to make him settle down. Somehow, Alexandra must reach his heart... without risking her own.

The infamous rake.

Like any self-respecting libertine, Chase lives by one rule: no attachments. When a stubborn little governess tries to reform him, he decides to give her an education—in pleasure. That should prove he can’t be tamed. But Alexandra is more than he bargained for: clever, perceptive, passionate. She refuses to see him as a lost cause. Soon the walls around Chase’s heart are crumbling... and he’s in danger of falling, hard.

My Thoughts:

Alexandra Mountbatten can’t get the Bookshop Rake out of her mind after he plowed into her knocking a mountain of books out of her hands and shining his devilish grin at her. Six months later Alex runs into him again when she’s out servicing clocks.  She hasn’t set out to become a governess but a mix up throws her into the position looking after Chase’s two orphaned wards.

Chase is a rake, seducing women left and right, trying to forget his deficiencies, and the fact he feels unworthy of his title.  He feels he’s in no position to be guardian over two young girls. Chase needs a governess to educate the girls enough to send them to boarding school, but the little hellions have chased every hire away. When Alexandra walks through his door and calls him out on his rakish behavior he knows he’s got the perfect candidate to whip the girls into shape. 

Rosamund and Daisy were delightful! Two little mischievous girls desperately in need of structure and love.  The daily funerals cracked me up!    

Chase and Alexandra each have lessons to learn in love and in life, and their education is wonderfully sensual, and steamy! 

Loved The Governess Game!  Tessa Dare writes with clever humor and heart, getting to the motivations of her characters making you feel their pain, hopes and dreams as they fall in love.  I can’t wait for the next in the series, Penny’s romance?

4.5 Suns

Connect with Tessa Dare:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Review: Half Empty by Catherine Bybee

Half Empty by Catherine Bybee

Publication Date: July 31st 2018 by Montlake Romance

Pages: 348

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble 

About the book:

Trina Petrov’s marriage-by-contract was only meant to be temporary. But when tragedy strikes, Trina is left one of the wealthiest women in the world. To recover from the shock, she takes some time off in Italy, swearing not to fall for any men while there. But that doesn’t mean she can’t fall for anyone on the trip home

Country-music superstar Wade Thomas is lying low in a hotel bar when he gets the cold shoulder from the woman next to him. He’s used to fans fawning at his boots, and Trina is a refreshing change—so is the fact that she has no idea who he is.

As things begin to heat up, Trina discovers that the circumstances of her late husband’s death are not what they seemed. Now she’s in trouble, and Wade isn’t about to let her out of his sight. Getting close to love and danger could get them killed…or it could sweep them both off their feet.

My Thoughts:

Trina is in Italy mourning the death of her first husband, not because she was romantically involved (there's a back story), but because she feels a little responsible for his suicide.  Enter Wade Thomas, a famous country singer trying to get dinner after closing time but out of luck since the kitchen is closed.  Trina doesn’t recognize Wade at all, but she’s loaded up with the last call of food, takes pity on him and shares her food.  Wade’s immediately taken with Trina, but she’s not interested considering her circumstances and isn’t impressed with his fame or fortune.  But they end up riding back to the States together and Trina’s resolve starts to crumble in the face of Wade’s charm and sweetness.  Trina is smitten despite her friend’s protestations.  I loved Wade from the start and even more when an unexpected threat takes them all for a surprise and Wade sticks to Trina to help keep her safe.

This is my first Catherine Bybee romance, and at first, I didn’t think it was going to work for me, not because of the main characters, but because of Trina’s friend Avery.  She was so irritating and overbearing when it was clear Trina just wanted to be left alone.  Avery was supposed to (I think) come off as a concerned friend, but instead she came off as an intrusive, nosy bitch!    Thankfully, she backed off at 30% and the story got a lot more interesting.  

I actually started to like Avery, even felt bad for her which is a good thing because I think one of the upcoming books will be her story/romance.  Wade’s mother was another character I didn’t like one bit, and sadly my feelings didn’t change for that cow.  Trina was waaayyy too nice to her IMO, but I guess you need to keep the peace when it comes to your man’s mama.

When all is said and done, I really quite liked this story.  A romance with a bit of danger and suspense thrown in made it an entertaining read!  I’ll be on the lookout for more books in the series!

3.5 Suns

Review & Giveaway: Racked and Stacked by Lorelei James

Racked and Stacked (Blacktop Cowboys #9) by Lorelei James

Publication Date: August 7th 2018 by Berkley

Pages: 352

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

About the book:

Opposites don't just attract in the West--they sizzle--and Wyoming has never been hotter than in the latest sexy Blacktop Cowboys(R) novel.

Growing up with three older brothers, Larissa "Riss" Thorpe defines the term tomboy--a moniker that never mattered to her until she crossed paths with sexy cowboy player Ike Palmer. Seeing him in action on the road, Riss can tell that Ike prefers his women soft-spoken and feminine. And since Riss is obviously not his type, it's unlikely that they'll mix business and pleasure when they're in close quarters together.

Former cattle broker Ike Palmer was ready for a new chapter in his life as a stock contractor when he started working with Riss, a sassy truck driver who gets under his skin at every turn. But Riss is unlike any woman he's ever met and her candor inflames him in the most unexpected ways.

After circumstances force a truce between them, Riss and Ike will have to choose to maintain the stubbornness that keeps them apart or take a chance on the fiery attraction that could lead to something more...

My Thoughts:

Ike and Larissa at one time wanted to tear each other’s throats out, but after being in a truce they’ve come to sort of like each other. On the eve of their friend’s (Tobin & Jade from the last book) wedding the Mud Lilies pull them aside to give the third degree.  Thinking their previous hate has turned into lust making assumptions that aren’t true, but get Ike and Larissa thinking about each other in a new, interesting light. 

As these new thoughts are circling, an unexpected accident throws Larissa and Ike together in close quarters and they struggle with mutual attraction.  Heated looks, accidental brushes, and a few steamy kisses make staying apart an impossible feat. All that pent-up desire turned into fiery hot pleasure once they gave in! Larissa and Ike’s romance was fun, sassy, and at times sizzling hot! Ike was a dirty talker and followed through with action!

But this was more than just a romance. Both Ike and Larissa are at a turning point with their jobs. Larissa because her injury may end the career she loves and Ike because his company is on the rocks. Problems that real people face every day in life. I’m glad they didn’t wallow, they each helped each other look at things realistically and come up with workable solutions.  They came up with cheap dates to have fun while not breaking the bank, all the while growing closer and closer, and I just knew these two were in it for the long haul.  

With Racked and Stacked Lorelei James once again captured my heart, made me laugh, and got me all hot and bothered!  I loved every minute!

4 Suns

Connect with Lorelei James:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Berkley has generously provided a Paperback Copy of Racked and Stacked to giveaway to one lucky reader.  The giveaway is open to US Residents only.  Fill out the rafflecopter for a chance to win. Good luck!

Review: Deep Cover by Scarlett Cole

Deep Cover (Love Over Duty #3) by Scarlett Cole

Publication Date: July 31st 2018 by St. Martin's Paperbacks

Pages: 336

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

About the book:

ARE THEY IN TOO DEEP?

Ex-Navy SEAL Cabe Moss always comes when called to duty―at all costs. Even though the death of his fiancée nearly destroyed him, Cabe won’t let his past interfere with any work that has to get done. When his latest task pushes him to team up with FBI Agent Amy Murray, a fierce beauty with the undercover skills to match, Cabe must admit that, for the first time in years, he wants to do more than just complete their mission together…

Amy was born ready for this assignment, but working side-by-side with the the strong, silent, and frustratingly professional Cabe seems to be the biggest challenge of all. But when the sparks begin to fly―and the stakes rise to dangerous heights―the only thing Amy is left worrying about is how she can resist him. Their lives may be in danger, but their hearts hold the biggest risk of all…

My Thoughts:

FBI Agent Amy Murray is determined to find the women gone missing after working at the Lucky Seven Casino.  The casino is also suspected of being connected to Sokolov, the Russian mobster that Eagle Securities have in their sights.  Money laundering, and a whole host of other crimes are why Eagle Securities and FBI are now teaming up to investigate and take down this illegal enterprise.

Cabe and Amy working together is a little troublesome since they have a powerful attraction brewing between them.  Amy had a bad experience with sexual harassment in the Atlanta FBI offices that caused her to relocate to the San Diego branch.  She’s worried getting involved with someone on the job will impact her reputation after that debacle.  Cabe also had some reservations about getting involved with Amy. He lost his fiancée two years ago to war violence and as an active undercover FBI Agent, Amy’s job isn’t any less dangerous. Her undercover role in this assignment puts her in the path of these criminals, dangling her as bait to suspected human traffickers. Cabe’s afraid his heart won’t recover if he loses Amy.  But the heart wants what the heart wants, and it was only a matter of time before they gave into their desires.

I was so happy Cabe and Amy had a mature relationship; there were conflict and doubts, but they talked things out before it got ugly or overly angsty.   I’m also happy that Amy didn’t agonize over Cabe’s past engagement or worry about coming in second. Both recognized that his past relationship was just that, in the past.  Not that Cabe didn’t have to deal with some guilt, but I was happy he was ready to make peace, let go and move on.

Deep Cover wasn’t only a romance though, danger and suspense over the situations both Amy and Cabe had to face kept me on edge. I worried for their safety while glued to the pages!  Scarlett Cole is fast becoming one of my favorite authors, whether she writes romantic suspense or rocker romances, she makes you feel!

4 Suns