ARC REVIEW Totally His by Erin Nicholas

Totally His is the third book in Erin Nicholas' Opposites Attract series, and it is probably my favorite out of the three. Never mind that I am a reformed theatre junkie I just really liked everything about this book. And I'm hoping with Finn Kelly's huge family we get a spin off, hint hint nudge nudge wink wink.

Sophie was raised by a manipulative father, he would seduce woman and charm them into marriage and when the charm stopped working or he just got tired of them he took his Sophie and left and went on the look out for the next ex-Mrs. Birch. The times when Sophie didn't have a mother she would often live in the car. This made Sophie very jaded toward men, she also longed for a big family with open arms and unconditional love. That is the Kelly family, a big Irish bunch who argue and meddle and love unconditionally, Sophie already loves Angie Kelly, she met Angie at her playhouse and they fell into a very easy friendship. Angie also understood Sophie's need to stay out of her family life, after all with a father like her's she couldn't take the risk that he would show up and ruin it all for her.

Finn is a fixer, he likes to help out when he can, he also has a bit of a hero complex which is a good thing he became a cop. When his Mom's favorite playhouse catches on fire, one he was on the scene for and had to physically remove a woman from the theatre, he feels it's only right for him and his buddy's help out with the repairs. Finn is pleasantly surprised when he finds out that the woman he had to pull out the theatre is the Sophie his mother has been talking about. Even though he promised his mother he would go after Sophie he can't help but flirt with her and feel jealous when any of the other guys flirt with her. They decide an easy way for them to raise money to repair the playhouse is to put on a play with the firefighters and policemen. Lucky for them Angie just happens to have one ready, one based on how she fell in love with her husband and the troubles that arose when they did. Finn and Sophie are cast as the leads. The sexual chemistry between Finn and Sophie goes deeper than just that they feel comfortable around each other and Sophie shares more with him than she's ever shared with anyone else before.

Just when Sophie starts to feel comfortable around the Kelly family her father introduces himself to the family as well. Sophie tries to warn Angie and Finn not to let him in but they do and trying to convince Finn that her father can not be fixed is the one thing that just might tear them apart. Overall, it was a really good read, I loved the characters and especially Angie. It was an emotionally charged story and the chemistry between Finn and Sophie was so perfect.     

ARC REVIEW Forever Mine by Erin Nicholas

Forever Mine is book two in Erin Nicholas' Opposites Attract series. I enjoyed this much more than the first book. Maya is a real life super hero, a former police officer who got injured in the line of duty and had to quit due to her injury. But still she has no issue putting herself at risk to help someone who needs it, and she wants to make sure people can save themselves, she runs a martial arts and self defense studio where she teaches kids to stand up for themselves and what they believe is right and that they can be their own superhero. Alex is a doctor with a rare blood disorder who grew up and became an expert in that field. A several months ago he discovered he had a daughter who inherited his blood disorder from him. Alex tries to relate to his daughter the only way he can think of and that is through her favorite superhero movie series. Alex discovers Maya's superhero class the plan, because it is to dangerous for his daughter to do it herself, was for Alex to join and then teaches his daughter what he learned in a controlled environment. Alex and Maya have instant chemistry and because of that Maya works with Alex just so she can spend time with him. Even though he feels guilty for not spending time with his daughter Alex looks forward to spending his time with Maya.

The conflict that both Alex and Maya face is just as much internal as it is between them. Alex growing up was constantly overprotected by his mother, he hated that but now with a daughter of his own he is trying to do things differently, but he is still very sensitive about the subject of his own disorder. For a doctor who does conferences and speeches he is horrible when it comes to communication. Maya doesn't know when to give up she is constantly pushing herself to prove that she can still do things even with her physical limitations. Maya falls head over heals for Alex but he's not very communicative, and it makes it seem to Maya that what she is feeling is one sided. Alex needs to face his inner demons before he can fully open up to not only Maya but his daughter as well.

Overall, a very emotional and heartfelt book, you can tell the author feels deeply about the topic. The characters are very well written, I pretty much wanted to slap Alex upside the head there for a bit that's a good thing in this case.    

REVIEW Against the Sky by Kat Martin

I LOVE THE BRODIES OF ALASKA!!!! 

As always Kat Martin writes an exciting adventure and romance. Against the Sky is book two of the Brodies of Alaska series; this one follows Nick Brodie retired Anchorage Police Detective former Army Ranger and pet grooming marketing director Samantha Hollis. Your standard opposites attract, strangers in the night, lust at first sight, I say standard but nothing Kat Martin does is standard this is another example of her brilliance. I loved the characters both the main and the second tier. Nick and Samantha are opposites; Samantha a city girl and Nick the rugged manly man but they are exactly what they need in each other.

Bored with nothing to do now that he is retired Nick takes on some private security detail for a friend; it's an easy job and less stressful than being a cop. In need of a distraction Nick's brothers make him take a vacation a little time in Vegas can do the body and mind good. While their Nick saves a woman from a drunks unwanted advances. Samantha is in Vegas for a pet store convention and isn't looking to make it anything but business but when the tall, blond and gorgeous Nick scares off the unwanted advances of another guest he convinces her otherwise. After keeping it strictly platonic their last night in Vegas they give in and make the last night the night to remember always. Three weeks later Samantha feels completely different about it because now she is pregnant. Unsure about what to do she just planned on contacting Nick and getting a feel for how he would react what she got was an invitation to Alaska. 

Nick has been unable to stop thinking about Samantha so on a whim he invites her to spend time with him in Alaska. What was supposed to be a nice two week vacation turned into an exciting adventure investigating the death of his neighbor at the insistence of his the man's son and that turns into tracking down and exposing a drug ring and an underage white slavery ring run by some Russian Mobsters. With the help of Nick's best friend, brother and more they manage to make a mess of an FBI undercover operation and expose the mole. Nick and Samantha fumble through their problems and fall in love but can they work through their differences for a HEA? I loved it, very page turning action and steamy romance.      

REVIEW Nothing But Trouble by J.L. Hammer

Anything that can go wrong will go wrong. As amusing as it is it seemed at times it made me think, "Sheesh, really". Frankie is a smart girl she just doesn't think and Wes like most scorned men in romance novels is judgmental. The antics are amusing Frankie falling through the ceiling into Wes' bathroom, walking in stilettos and short shorts in the middle of a Colorado winter and uncanny coincidences that make you think "You have got to be kidding me, as if it couldn't get any worse" their situation not the story.  It was good but there was something about it that only made it a three star.

Frankie Delenski is a cocktail waitress in a Las Vegas Gentleman's Club, she is only working there because her father got sick and died and she had to get money somehow to pay for everything. Unfortunately she talks to a loan shark who charges her an outrageous APR. Now Frankie has no way to pay him back, he is willing to forgive the loan of she stars in a porn movie of his making. Disgusted Frankie flees, once again, unfortunately the same night she makes a run for it a bunch of money goes missing from work and she gets blamed. Meanwhile Frankie is driving through snow, and crashes her car. She finds a place close by but it is fortunately occupied by one former Santa Fe deputy, Wes Malone. Wes left Santa Fe and all the bad memories that came with it. His first wife upset that she wasn't priority one in his life cheated on him with his partner. One quickie divorce later and Wes is waiting on confirmation to work up in Colorado when Frankie crashes into his life. Wes knows she is trouble, she lies so poorly he knows she needs help and she just so damn sexy in that sequined bra and red high heals.

The events that follow the very fun intro run from the neighbors delinquent son goes missing, dead Las Vegas strippers in dumpster, conniving exes showing up out of the blue and the errant skunk to a fancy party and a very naked overweight dentist. If I friend asked about this book I would recommend it if I thought it was their kinda book, I just felt like something was missing.    

SPOTLIGHT BLOG POST: What To Do With A Bad Boy by Marie Harte

What to Do with a Bad Boy

Author: Marie Harte

Series: The McCauley Brothers #4

Pubdate: November 4^th, 2014

ISBN: 9781402287435

WHAT IS WITH MIKE McCAULEY?

Every time Delilah Webster runs into Mike McCauley, he practically bites her head off. The rough-and-tumble contractor clearly has baggage. Del has her own emotional scars and knows she’s better off keeping her distance, but Mike’s temptation in jeans and a T-shirt and she’s always been good with her hands…

There’s something about the strong-willed mechanic that sets Mike’s motor running—and scares the hell out of him. Mike has loved and lost and will never hurt like that again, even if that means walking away from a woman who makes him feel alive for the first time in years.

When a simple kiss turns hot and heavy, Mike discovers he can’t stay away, no matter how certain he is they’re destined to crash and burn…

Caffeine addict, boy referee, and romance aficionado, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author MARIE HARTE is a confessed bibliophile and devotee of action movies. Whether hiking in Central Oregon, biking around town, or hanging at the local tea shop, she’s constantly plotting to give everyone a happily ever after. Visit www.marieharte.com and fall in love.

He leaned down, so that his nose was all but touching hers. “Sweetheart, you couldn’t handle what I’m really made of.”

Stupid Del wanted to drag his stubborn mouth closer for the kiss she could all but taste. From the look in his eyes, he wanted the same. Mike might not like her much, but the man wanted her. She could feel the chemistry between them, and it burned.

Self-preservation reared its head, and she ducked under him and hustled to the door leading to the hall. She opened it and waited. “Don’t let it hit you in the ass, Mike.”

He chuckled as he sauntered to join her. “You’ll watch what you say around Colin?”

“Yep. When I see him Wednesday night, I promise to call you a buttwipe instead of an asshole. Fair?”

He sighed. “Guess it’ll have to do. For now.” To her shock, he dragged a rough finger down her exposed neck. “Nice hair, by the way. I like the braids pulled back. Shows off your pretty neck. No tats here, sweetness?”

She didn’t know what to say, frozen by the combustible lust and confusion drowning her system.

He stared into her eyes again, gave a satisfied smile, then left.

She watched his fine ass leave the building, heard a few choice remarks from the guys in the garage who also watched him leave, and yelled at them to get back to work. Then she slammed into her office and plopped her butt in her chair, staring without seeing at the mess on her desk.

She rubbed her neck over the spot he’d touched and tried to be madder about what he’d done. What he’d called her.

Sweetness?

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1vcuTiT

Apple: http://bit.ly/1mJOcki

B&N: http://bit.ly/1slJxY3

BAM: http://bit.ly/1ojALXI

Chapters: http://bit.ly/1oMG8gP

Indiebound: http://bit.ly/1skZKf2

Book Four of the McCauley Brothers series. Finally Del and Mike. As off put as I was with the last one I really enjoyed this one. Mike is a devoted father but stubborn, especially when it comes to Del. Del doesn't want to like Mike but he is everything she needs she just doesn't want to play second fiddle to his dead wife. I liked Mike and Del's characters and I liked the banter between them. Mike is the typical manly man, not on to show his emotions or even deal with them in a healthy way; and Del is not your typical woman a tattooed mechanic from a dysfunctional family setting and is the exact opposite of Mike's first wife. Everyone knows that despite the differences Mike and Del are just a time bomb waiting to happen, everyone except Mike's mom who keeps trying to set him up with a weak passive aggressive woman who is a little too much like Mike's first wife. Throw in Mike's son, Colin, and Del's brother with some mischief matchmaking and the story line is a fun and entertaining read.

Mike doesn't want to be over his first wife, in fact he does everything possible to avoid relationships. Mike is a firm believer that you only love once, but when foul mouthed Delilah shows up and wins over Colin without even trying he looks at her at a completely different light as any other woman. They start an affair with no expectations. But when Betsy tries setting  Mike up with her neighbor's daughter a single mother with a son of her own, Mike balks at the idea of dating someone so like his late wife but in pushing Del away he agrees to see her for his mother's sake and hurts Del in the process. Del fighting against her own heartstrings falls in love with Mike but doesn't think she is good enough for him or his son especially since his mom doesn't seem to like her. There are some very funny scenes with Colin, as well as some very snarky remarks from Del to little miss passive aggressive, who is just annoying and manipulative.

In typical Marie Harte fashion it is has some very graphic and hot sex. The McCauley family has it's faults but is still a very loving family. I liked this one because unlike the last it centered around Mike and Del without a secondary story to distract you. It was a very satisfying read and I think if it is the last book a very good book to end the series.      

REVIEW Made For You: by Lauren Layne

The Best Mistake book two is just a good as the first one. What I loved about this is that even if you haven't read the first book it goes back over their entire past, even what happened in the first book, so you get the full picture of their relationship. I love the opposites attract trope especially when it comes to Brynn and Will with such a deep hidden attraction between them it's funny to read. Brynn who appeared so stuffy and slightly bit of a Bitch is shown in a different light, you learn why she acts the way she acts and how good Will is for her. Will is such a sexy lust worthy man, a bit of a player but when it comes to his relationship with Brynn he couldn't be anymore serious or sensual.

From High School to current Will and Brynn have bickered and snipped at each other, outwardly they hate each other. Will has always loved Brynn from when she was a beautiful young well put together cheerleader. But Brynn still suffering self esteem issues didn't know how to handle it when the hottest guy in school started to flirt. Will had his chance with Brynn when she finally admitted she wanted Will, but only seeing him as a lazy and as a ladies man she never thought it would be more than once, just an inch to scratch. Will is obviously hurt by the news and leaves town.

Three years later, Will is back in town and Brynn's current boyfriend of two years just broke up with her. Brynn has a bit of an identity crisis chops of all her hair dies it dark from her glorious blond and buys some new casual clothes so different from her snazzy matching outfits. As part of her wild side she agrees to an affair with her new neighbor, Will. Will shows Brynn that spontaneity can be a good thing. Will also learns the why of Brynn's ice princess attitude and tries his best to melt his way past it. Brynn also learns that she doesn't know Will like she thought she did all because she tried to push him away it all changes when they become intimate. But Brynn is scared of the uncertainty that comes with a relationship with Will and break it off, to revert back to the way she was. Will knows he loves Brynn but unless she can face what she really wants he can't be around her, because it hurts to much. I loved reading about Brynn and Will. I hope the next book is about Gray's sister.