ARC REVIEW Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez

Debut novel from the multi-talented Abby Jimenez, Wow. This was an incredibly awesome book. The characters are hysterical, Kristen is a filterless crazy best friend with a heart of gold, the kind of best friend who sends you a glitter bomb and TP's your house but will also defend you tooth and nail. Kristen's best friend, Sloan, is getting married to a fireman named Brandon, Brandon's best friend, Josh, just moved to Cali from South Dakota after breaking up with his girlfriend after he realized she would never change her mind about not wanting kids.

When we first meet Kristen she is already in a long distance relationship with a marine, Tyler. As much as Josh likes Kristen is content to being her friend because that's what they become thick as thieves friends almost as close as her and Sloan and him with Brandon, they get along great he understands her and she would settle for no less than that. They laugh at the same things they have little inside jokes. He finds her irresistible even when she's trying her hardest to not look attractive because once he met her all other women pale in comparison in his eyes. But they have one thing looming over their heads a secret that Kristen hasn't told Josh it's the main reason they could never be a couple even after her and Tyler break up, Josh wants a big family and that's the one thing she can't given him.   

Overall, this book was so good. It was as funny as it was heart wrenching. I think I cried the last quarter of the book. I couldn't put it down I finished it in practically one sitting. Excellent writing, the characters seemed so real to me, I can't wait for the next book.

ARC REVIEW Dear Santa by Nancy Naigle

My favorite this year, so far, for Christmas books. Dear Santa is a Christmas version of You Got Mail and I think I liked it better than YGM. This was a heartwarming romance with funny situations and lovable characters especially one adorable niece. I haven't read Nancy Naigle before but if her other books are just as good as this one then I have a new potential favorite author for this genre, right up their with Debbie Mason and Emily March.

In the little tourist town of Pleasant Sands is a decommissioned lighthouse. The lighthouse is home to Heart of Christmas an all year round Christmas store. After three generations the store is on the verge of closing. The owner Angela Carson is desperate to keep it open but the mega store that opened up is sealing the stores fate. Geoff Paisley opened Christmas Galore with his mother their success has been enormous in the last ten years they opened fifteen stores the newest in a small town that technically didn't fit their target location but Geoff's mother, Rebecca, wanted it there so they built there.

Angela hates Christmas Galore it seemed everything she tried to save her store didn't work, logically she knows it's not Christmas Galore's fault her store was already starting to go down hill before they opened but they are an easy and convenient target for her anger. Wanting to be helpful her niece suggested writing Santa. Not wanting to hurt her nieces feeling Angela writes one using the Dear Santa app on her tablet. She never expected an actual person to respond or for that person to understand her pain of giving up her dream of keeping the family business alive. When Rebecca winds up in the hospital she tasks Geoff with answering the Dear Santa letters. Geoff begrudgingly agrees he never expected to find a penpal. It takes almost half the book for Geoff to realize the woman who fascinates him beyond believe the same woman who picks fights with him in public and out right hates him is the same woman he's been exchanging emails with online. Seeing things different now Geoff finds himself wanting things he's never wanted before and he wants them with Angela. Angela wants to hate Geoff but he really is a nice guy and even though she's picked fights with him she still wants to kiss him like crazy but her life is too up in the air right now her future undecided she can't worry about a relationship.  

Overall, I loved this book. There is plenty of character development for both Angela and Geoff. Angela is trying to figure out her future and Geoff is finding out about his past. It fits in nicely with the You Got Mail, In the Good Old Summertime, and Shop Around the Corner style, a feel good romantic comedy with plenty of feels and Christmas spirit.  

BLOG TOUR REVIEW STOP The Charm of You by Jennifer Probst

Today we are celebrating the release of THE CHARM OF YOU by Jennifer Probst. This book is a sexy standalone, RomCom title. Check out the purchase links below to reserve your copy now, and read an excerpt from the book!

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THE CHARM OF YOU by Jennifer Probst

Available Now

Synopsis:

It Takes Three Simple Steps To Make a Guy Fall in Love with you… 

Determination. 

Seduction. 

Charm. 

Let the game begin... 

Presley Cabot has come a long way from the overweight, awkward college student who fell hard for the gorgeous track star, Nolan Banks, only to be humiliated after their one night together. Now, she’s one of the billionaire badass owners of LWW Enterprises and has everything she’d ever wanted in life, leaving her past behind. But when Nolan comes back into town, and doesn’t even recognize the girl he once destroyed, she decides to invoke her own personal revenge. The plan is simple—make him fall hard for her, then dump him. She transforms herself into his perfect woman using three simple steps to spin her web. But she never planned on getting caught up in old feelings…and new promises…

Nolan Banks leaves Wall Street behind to open up a brewery in his small college town. Finally ready to carve out his life away from the dreams of his family, he never expected to find an immediate attraction to the sexy corporate mogul who challenges him at every step. He falls hard and fast, determined to show her they’re meant for each other, until the truth of their shared past shatters their fragile foundation. But Nolan is playing for higher stakes, and he’s not about to let Presley walk away without a fight. Can he convince her his feelings have nothing to do with the game rules, and everything to do with the woman she is?  

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The Charm of You is a new book from Jennifer Probst it's her first book in the LWW. In the book Presley Cabot is one of the owners and founders of LWW, Ladies Who Write, well in real life the LWW is a group of seven authors who got together "to bring sexy love stories and emotional romance to our readers' lives. What's better than a fun, sensual ride to a happily ever after?" Sounds awesome right? Well this is just the beginning and lets hope we get many more books.

At first I wasn't thrilled about the guy falling in love with the girl after she lost a whole bunch of weight but through the flashbacks Presley kept having we learn he liked her even back then when she was overweight. Through the flashbacks you really see how naive she was because to me it was obvious what was going on with Nolan even if it was from her POV. In keeping with Jennifer Probst fantastic writing style this book full of humor, heartfelt emotions, and characters that become more real than fiction.

She’d known all along he’d lied about his identity in order to secure this appointment. Admiration flowed through him, along with a strange punch in his gut that urged him closer. The spicy scent of orange blossoms and clove filled the air, making him want to breathe deeper. “How did you know?” he asked, stopping on the opposite side of the monstrous espresso structure that held two oversized monitors, dozens of papers, and a toppling pile of books. “I thought I covered my tracks nicely.”

She gave a half shrug and reached for her Starbucks cup, seemingly already bored with his conversation. “You’re predictable.”

Male pride stung, he still couldn’t help laughing. Why did he have to be attracted to a woman who gave him shit? Would be so much easier to find a more complacent partner for an affair. Unfortunately, Nolan knew it was way too late for him. He was officially smitten. “Then I’ll have to up my game.”

Another shrug. “Maybe you have no game left.” She sipped her coffee and studied him, those stunning eyes shielding her secrets. He ached to know every detail about this woman, but knew he’d have his work cut out for him.

“Come to lunch with me and find out.”

She tilted her head. Tapped her index finger again those bee stung lips as if considering. “Why?”

Her question delighted him. “Because the moment you walked into my brewery I haven’t been able to get you off my mind.”

“How sweet.” She fluttered her lashes. “Too bad I forgot you the moment I walked out of your brewery.”

He dropped into the chair opposite the massive desk and hooked his foot over his knee. He made no attempt to hide his naked admiration for those amazing legs or the brazen way she challenged him to go and try. Her foot flexed, lifting the spiked heel, and those sleek muscles clenched under golden skin. His dick practically wept and got strangled in his jeans. “Ouch. What if I confessed you were the first woman in a long while to intrigue me?”

“Yeah? What intrigues you so much?”

He warmed up to the topic. “Besides your rapier wit, and superior intelligence? Your eyes. When I look into your eyes, I seem to lose track of time. I don’t want to be anywhere else.”

Was it possible she actually looked bored with his compliment? She gave a long-suffering sigh, regarding him like he was mentally challenged. “Please tell me you have better things in your arsenal. And you better upgrade from that Peter Gabriel song because it’s been overdone. I spend every Saturday with a personal trainer who makes me throw up for fun, so I really don’t want to hear about my pretty eyes or wit. Go ahead and bring it. Tell me I have a slamming body and get creative, dude, or I’m throwing you out and you won’t get another chance to bang me.”

God, she was magnificent.

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AUTHOR INFORMATION:

Jennifer Probst - Bio: Jennifer Probst wrote her first book at twelve years old. She bound it in a folder, read it to her classmates, and hasn’t stopped writing since. She took a short hiatus to get married, get pregnant, buy a house, get pregnant again, pursue a master’s in English Literature, and rescue two shelter dogs. Now she is writing again. She makes her home in Upstate New York with the whole crew. Her sons keep her active, stressed, joyous, and sad her house will never be truly clean. She is the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of sexy and erotic contemporary romance. She was thrilled her book, The Marriage Bargain, was ranked #6 on Amazon's Best Books for 2012. She loves hearing from readers. Visit her website for updates on new releases and her street team at www.jenniferprobst.com.

CONTACT LINKS:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

ARC REVIEW I Think I love You by Lauren Layne

Oxford #5 Okay this is the last Oxford novel and I know I've said that before but I mean it this time. The final couple finally realizes their potential. Brit Robbins is tired of being every guys friend, her latest break up with a loser momma's boy was a real eye opener. Hunter Cross couldn't ask for a better friend than Brit but when she asks him to give her lesson on how to seduce a guy she just may be pushing the limit. He hesitantly agrees because it's better if comes from him, right? Hunter almost immediately starts to doubt the logic in the plan especially when he start to have thoughts about Brit that he's never had before and suddenly the thought of her doing any of this for another guy makes him feel jealous. Brit is learning a bunch from Hunter she's also learned she loves her best friend, when their fake dating leads to a practice kiss they are both taken by surprise at how strongly they want each other. But love is never easy in Lauren Layne's world and insecurities and family emergencies threaten to get in the way of their HEA, mostly it's Hunter's hardheadedness.

Once again LL makes a perfect couple with humor and romance combined and some really sexy scenes. I really loved it, their friend to lovers romance was believable because I think it was always there, everyone else saw it but because neither Brit and Hunter went ready to see each other as anything but friends they couldn't see the love and the passion that could be there until they looked for it. The hardest part of that was not only them accepting it but admitting it to themselves. This was a bittersweet end and yes it's really the end this time there is a really nice tear jerking farewell at the end.   

ARC REVIEW Christmas at Two Love Lane by Kieran Kramer

A little bit of Christmas Romance for your ever growing TBR list...

 Christmas at Two Love Lane is the start of a new series for Kieran Kramer. Two Love Lane is the name and location of Charleston's most elite matchmakers. It could be that they have a great algorithm for matchmaking or just maybe it could be that they have their own little cupid. Macy Frost comes from a long line of matchmakers, one of them even claiming to be a descendant of Cupid himself. Two Love Lane reminds me of another matchmaker series I read by Jennifer Probst, three woman matchmakers each with a unique and different personalities with one having a special matchmaking talent. It's all good. I love matchmaker romance.

Macy was looking forward to her typical Charleston Christmas until he walked into her office. Deacon Banks was just visiting, making sure his aunt was settling into her new house alright and spend Christmas with her. Aunt Fran raised Deacon after his parents died, Fran is a well known talk show host newly retired and decided to settle in Charleston. At the request of his Aunt Fran Deacon agreed to "settle down" but what he really plan to do is go on a couple of dates and show that he's at least trying, but not really. Deacon goes to Two Love Lane to find some dates. Initially Macy turns him down but something about Deacon intrigues her and it's not just that New York accent of his and Macy ends up reluctantly agreeing but she's still not going to stop from trying to find a soul mate for him.

It turns out Aunt Fran is Macy's newest neighbor and so she starts seeing a lot more of Deacon than she planned and the more time they spent together the more they like each other. Deacon just thinks it's just because he's fascinated with Macy and when the other woman he has dates lined up with find out they manipulate the whole situation so Macy ends up going on all those dates with him. By the time she finds out what he did he's fallen completely in love with her and will do anything to prove it to her. Macy has her own hang ups when it comes to love and falling for Deacon pushes her to her limits.

Overall, it was a good romance. In the beginning Deacon is a little bit of a prick and pushy, and toward the end Macy is a bit immature. I liked the side story with the missing treasure of Two Love Lane . The secondary characters are a hoot especially Aunt Fran. 

BLOG TOUR Oh Henry by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff

Oh Henry

Ohellno Series 

by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff 

Publication 

Date: August 25, 2017 

Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romantic Comedy

Purchase: Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Kobo | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Paperback

SHE'S GOT ME BY THE FOOTBALLS...

My name is Henry Walton, and though I've been called many things throughout my life--tree trunk, moose, walrus--I am now six foot five, solid muscle, and the hottest defensive end in the NFL college draft. This is the moment I've been waiting for: fame, women, and glory.

Just one problem: I'm suddenly in a bad slump. And it started the moment I got dumped by Elle, the nerdy goddess with thick glasses, a smokin' hot body, and a genius IQ.

So what gives? We only dated for a few weeks, and it's not like I've missed her. (Much.) Regardless, all the facts point to one conclusion. Elle is my lucky nerd-charm.

Call me superstitious, but I have to get her back before I lose everything. Even if she's the last girl I should want and she now hates my guts.

I did not know what to expect with this book. In Smart Tass, Henry could have been preserved as the dumb jock type, he didn't talk much and  his actions seemed very neanderthal-ish. In a way it's almost better to read this as a stand alone, in this one you see there's so much more to Henry. He is that one one sweet jock who is so cocky and full of himself but he's adorable at it you can't help but like him. What Henry doesn't let on is how unsupportive his parents are and how everything he's doing is just to prove his father wrong. Elle, I don't know what I think about Elle, she's brilliant and she's not humble about it. She never wanted to go to college she's been reading college type text books and basically everything she can get her hands on since she was little. The only reason she's at the college is that it is her mother's dying that Elle goes. Elle is a sweetie but she can be a bitch when her defenses are up. Elle is devastated her mother is going to die and the only way she can deal with it is to completely separate her home and school life. 

Henry and Elle are an odd couple who just seem to work. Of course they don't see that until it's too late. Elle thinks she wants one thing and ends the non-relationship they are in and suddenly Henry starts to play badly, and he can't afford that he in h is senior year he needs to play well so he can get drafted. Henry doesn't believe in superstition like some football players but it isn't until he realizes he played his best games when Elle was around. Thoroughly convinced that Elle is his good luck charm he is determined to get her back with three sisters he thinks he knows exactly how to do it, he really does pull out all the stops trying to win her back, but he goes too far when he shows up at her family's house and breaks down that carefully placed wall erected. The more Henry tries to win her back the more he realizes it was more than just sex with Elle. Elle can't fathom why Henry,  she eventually figures it out that he may not be what she expected or wanted but he definitely is what she needs. But then the unthinkable happens and Henry life turns upside down. Can Elle woman up and face it with Henry or will she use it as an excuse to bail?

Overall, it's typical Mimi, well it's not quite typical Mimi the MC hero isn't an asshole. The narration is first person POV that switches between Elle and Henry. It has that trademark snarky and humorous storytelling that made me fall in love with her books. IT'S NOT A CLIFFHANGER, not technically. Henry and Elle's story does have a conclusion but the ending is a teaser for the next book Digging A Hole.         

Smart Tass

Ohellno Series 

by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff 

Publication Date: April 11, 2017 

Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romantic Comedy

Purchase: Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Kobo | Barnes & Noble | iBooks

From New York Times Bestseller Mimi Jean Pamfiloff comes SMART TASS, a new Romantic Comedy.

He’s the hot quarterback all the girls want.

She’s the smart girl he loves to pick on.

And now that they’re all grown up, things are about to get geekin’ ugly…

My name is Tass. I’m smart, I’m driven, and I am determined not to let prankster Hunter Johnson continue raining on my parade. When we were little, he’d pull my hair and call me names. When we were teenagers, he’d throw food and tease me for being a flat-chested virgin.

But now that we’ve ended up at the same college, he’s out of his hot head if he thinks he can keep messing with my life. It’s like he’s fixated on me or something. Well, guess what, Mr. Amazefootball? I’m not that geeky little girl anymore and you do not screw with a smart woman.

So what’s my plan?

It’s definitely wild, and he’s about to find out…

            a Rafflecopter giveaway

About Mimi Jean Pamfiloff

Mimi Jean Pamfiloff is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling author of Paranormal and Contemporary Romance. Both traditionally and independently published, Mimi has sold over 800,000 books since publishing her 1^st title in 2012, and she plans to spontaneously combust once she hits the one-million mark. Although she obtained her international MBA and worked for over 15 years in the corporate world, she believes that it’s never too late to come out of the romance-closet and follow your dreams. When not screaming at her works in progress, Mimi spends time with her two pirates in training, her loco-for-the-chili-pepper hubby, and rat terriers, Mini & DJ Princess Snowflake, in Arizona. She continues to hope that her books will inspire a leather pants comeback (for men) and that she might make you laugh when you need it most.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Newsletter | YouTube

RELEASE BLITZ Oh Henry by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff

Oh Henry

Ohellno Series

by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff 

Publication Date: August 25, 2017 

Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romantic Comedy

Purchase: Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Kobo | Barnes & Noble | Paperback

SHE'S GOT ME BY THE FOOTBALLS...

My name is Henry Walton, and though I've been called many things throughout my life--tree trunk, moose, walrus--I am now six foot five, solid muscle, and the hottest defensive end in the NFL college draft. This is the moment I've been waiting for: fame, women, and glory.

Just one problem: I'm suddenly in a bad slump. And it started the moment I got dumped by Elle, the nerdy goddess with thick glasses, a smokin' hot body, and a genius IQ.

So what gives? We only dated for a few weeks, and it's not like I've missed her. (Much.) Regardless, all the facts point to one conclusion. Elle is my lucky nerd-charm.

Call me superstitious, but I have to get her back before I lose everything. Even if she's the last girl I should want and she now hates my guts.

Smart Tass

Ohellno Series by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff Publication Date: April 11, 2017 Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romantic Comedy

Purchase: Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Kobo | Barnes & Noble | iBooks

From New York Times Bestseller Mimi Jean Pamfiloff comes SMART TASS, a new Romantic Comedy. He’s the hot quarterback all the girls want. She’s the smart girl he loves to pick on. And now that they’re all grown up, things are about to get geekin’ ugly… My name is Tass. I’m smart, I’m driven, and I am determined not to let prankster Hunter Johnson continue raining on my parade. When we were little, he’d pull my hair and call me names. When we were teenagers, he’d throw food and tease me for being a flat-chested virgin. But now that we’ve ended up at the same college, he’s out of his hot head if he thinks he can keep messing with my life. It’s like he’s fixated on me or something. Well, guess what, Mr. Amazefootball? I’m not that geeky little girl anymore and you do not screw with a smart woman. So what’s my plan? It’s definitely wild, and he’s about to find out…

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About Mimi Jean Pamfiloff

Mimi Jean Pamfiloff is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling author of Paranormal and Contemporary Romance. Both traditionally and independently published, Mimi has sold over 800,000 books since publishing her 1^st title in 2012, and she plans to spontaneously combust once she hits the one-million mark. Although she obtained her international MBA and worked for over 15 years in the corporate world, she believes that it’s never too late to come out of the romance-closet and follow your dreams. When not screaming at her works in progress, Mimi spends time with her two pirates in training, her loco-for-the-chili-pepper hubby, and rat terriers, Mini & DJ Princess Snowflake, in Arizona. She continues to hope that her books will inspire a leather pants comeback (for men) and that she might make you laugh when you need it most.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Newsletter | YouTube