THE WAGER ~ RACHEL VAN DYKEN

TV reporter, Char Lynn has known Jake Titus since childhood and had a crush on him that long. With their mutual best friend, Kacey, marrying Jake’s brother, Travis, the two are thrown together (with a lot of help from grandma) in a discovery of their true feelings.

Grandma makes it awkward at every possible turn for them.

Jake, being the rich, handsome and arrogant bachelor is a one night stand kind of guy. Char on the other hand is looking for HEA. The sparks and insults fly between the two of them as they take us on a journey.

Grandma is now one of my favorite characters in any book. She is an eighty year old, meddling woman with more stunts and capers up her sleeve. I absolutely laugh every time she does something underhanded.

4.5 Stars

GOODNIGHT MOON ~ SARAH JIO

Thirty Five year old June Anderson, a banker that forecloses on small businesses is overworked and stressed. She learns that she is to inherit a small bookstore from her Aunt Ruby who has passed on. June goes in thinking she can take a few days off from work and clear up the store and sell it while resting.

Once June arrives, she finds a man who she befriends, letters from Ruby alluding to secrets and some family issues that must be dealth with. The secrets come in the form of letters between her Aunt Ruby and Margaret Wise Brown (the author of Goodnight Moon). There is pain, sorrow, suffering and joy told throughout this book. There are some painful moments with her sister and mother and some loving moments as well. Will June find love and friendship at the book store or will she go back to banking?

Jio is quickly becoming a must read author for me. Her stories are unique and this one read like a fairy tale and I loved the reference to all the children's books and the famous authors.

5 stars

LADY LUCK ~ KRISTEN ASHLEY

Wrongfully imprisoned and walking out of jail, Ty Walker sees his "ride" and not only is the car gorgeous, but so is the woman, Lexie.

OMG, this book is so swoon worthy.

I loved Ty as an Alpha Male and I loved how he protected Lexie, right until he didn't and sent her packing. There were so many sweet and tender moments as Lexie and Ty go to Vegas to get married and from there to set up house in Colorado.

The series, up until this point had me a bit baffled, but now there are familiar characters and it is making much more sense to me. I loved being back in Carnal and hooking up with old "friends", i.e., Tate, Bubba, Wood, Deke, Krystal, Ned & Betty, and many more. The author leaves such vivid pictures in my head as I read her books and it is the type of book that I don't want to/can't put down.

Take a journey with Ty and Lexie, you won't be disappointed. Watch them go from two people who have not had the best upbringing to two people who rock each other's worlds. Also, watch a town come together to fight injustice.

Loved, Loved, Loved..................this book

5++++++ Stars

HELLER'S REVENGE ~ J.D. NIXON

I'm enjoying this series, but I found this book to be very frustrating. There were so many great parts, but at points I thought it was a bit over the top and I was not loving bed jumping Tilly.

This book had a totally different feel from the first book, but sometimes I don't love the second book as much as the first and then they get better for me. I'm hoping (and pretty sure) that this will be the case.

Heller, Tilly Chalmers’ boss, has a score to settle with Tilly's brother, Brian. The way he settled the score was not to my liking, nor was the confrontation that Heller and Brian had.

Tilly is now and official Security Guard and once again is given the oddest security jobs where she gets in all kinds of dramas and predicaments She is tasked with crowd control at a lingerie parade and instead ends up in the Lingerie Show. She is an escort/security office for a Gaming IT man, with roving eyes and lastly and most sadly, she is given the job of standing with a famous environmental activist, who lost his girlfriend to this cause and knows his time on this earth is limited, but wants someone to witness his death.

Heller is a temptation for Tilly, but Tilly spends any time that she is not spending with Niq and Daniel with her boyfriend. In that department there are also a few shocks.

Suffice it to say that I love this series and am definitely continuing, but so far, this was not my favorite book.

3.5 stars

FIXING JUSTICE ~ SUZANNE HALLIDAY

This book is about 007 sexy (Draegen St. John) and the newest employee at Justice, Victoria (Tori) Bennett.

From the start Drae is in a pissing contest with Victoria. Alex tries to warm Drae away from Tori. Tori dresses very frumpy, hiding her real attributes. She was recently burned by a Royal after she blew the whistle and is hiding out at the Justice Compound and getting her life back on track.

Going away on a business trip to Vegas can either make or break Drae and Tori.

Tori has a retort for everything that comes out of Drae's mouth. Once they are back at the Justice Compound, Drae can't keep his foot out of his mouth.

I really enjoyed this book and excited to read the next book in the series.

4.5 stars

BEHIND HIS EYES - TRUTH ~ ALEATHA ROMIG

This book felt a bit like a re-read, but I did like finding a softer side to Tony, realizing his life wasn't complete even though he had fame and fortune and it answered some of the questions/thoughts I had while reading the original book.

I also saw a more confident side to Claire and it showed her personality in a bit more depth.

I did enjoy reading it and it brought back memories.

4 stars

UNBREAKABLE SEAL ~ J.M. MADDEN (ARC REVIEW)

My review is only (currently) for Unbreakable Seal by J.M. Madden.

I am such a huge fan of her LNF series and these novellas bring such an epic feel to the books with lots of new characters and a story that packs a punch.

ep·ic adjective \ˈe-pik\

: telling a story about a hero or about exciting events or adventures

This is Max and Lacey's story. Max was on a downward spiral until Lacey came into his life. His SEAL career was over and he was overmedicated. Lacey, a former Nurse at Walter Reed saw something was going on and followed him to an alley and extending a lifeline.

***SPOILLERS***

Lacey put herself out there and kept extending olive branches to Max. Max finally took Lacey up on her offer to make a call for him to get the needed help and everyone from this point on has been someone that Lacey has worked with over her career.

Ultimately, Max will interview at LNF and Lacey will interview with the Colorado VA and off they go on their new rewarding careers.

***END SPOILERS***

I am so excited and can't wait for the next LNF book because J.M. Madden is an absolute "must read" author for me and I have loved each an every book and novella.

I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

DARKNESS, MY OLD FRIEND ~ LISA UNGER

We are once again back in The Hallows where retired from the police force, Jones Cooper is front and center in this mystery. It begins with Jones in therapy and we discover he now does little things for his neighbors to keep busy. He receives a visit from Eloise Montgomery with a vision she had and saying he would be in more demand and she saw him drowning.

Another aspect of the story involves Willow Graves who was moved to The Hollow by her mother after her divorce (an author) to get her out of the City and to bring her up and get away from bad influences and help her to no longer lie.

Michel Holt is another main character who has hired Eloise to try to find out what really happened to his mother all those years ago.

I found this story to be a bit distracting and confusing, but seeing that there are more books in the series and since I enjoyed the first book so much, I'm looking forward to see where the next books in the series go.

I went back and forth on who was the killer, but should have stuck to my first instinct on this one.

3.5 stars

LANDLINE ~ RAINBOWEL ROWELL

I received this at BEA and was excited since this was an author I was anxious to read. I'm aware that she is known for her YA books, but this book had a unique twist to it.

Georgie McCool is finally getting her big break, but will it come at the expense of her marriage. Just days before she is to leave on a Christmas Holiday trip to Omaha with her husband and children to visit her MIL, Georgie breaks the news to Neal that she can't go because she has to work toward her ultimate goal, her own pilot series.

I admit I was a bit lost at the beginning of this book until I had my "AHA" moment.

Loving the unique twist of using a landline vs. a cell phone, this book revolves around the relationship between Georgie and Neal and actually includes their dating years.

Georgie realizes her marriage has some trouble but when Neal goes to Omaha without her, she has to decide whether to save her marriage or her career. This book is filled with some raw and emotional issues as well as fun and clever "magic".

I definitely enjoyed this and would definitely read more by this author.

4.5 stars

THE DARE ~ RACHEL VAN DYKEN - RELEASE DAY

The Dare Release Info

From #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Rachel Van Dyken, comes the third and final book in the New York Time's Bestselling Bet Series...


Boring Beth Lynn has always lived up to her nickname... until she wakes up in a hotel bed next to a sexy as sin state senator she re-connected with at a wedding the previous night.



The biggest problem? She can't seem to remember anything about the night before except for crying into a box of cookies, and she's pretty sure Grandma Nadine slipped something in her drink. And what should have been a one night stand turns into a six day adventure when Grandma whisks them off to Hawaii to save them from the ensuing media firestorm.



Jace isn't looking for commitment -- he believes he made that clear when he left the wedding with Beth. Then again, he can't remember much of anything other than the way her skin felt beneath his hands. Now he's stuck with her at some lame couple's retreat and trying his hardest to fight the attraction only a woman like Beth could invoke.



He doesn't think it can get any worse.



But one spider attack... A donkey ride from hell... And an unfortunate episode with Viagra tea -- and there's one thing Jace knows for sure: He should never have agreed to Grandma Nadine's suggestion in the first place.

Because if this isn't paradise, and it isn't a vacation -- that only leaves one option.



Survival.



But to make it through alive... they might lose their hearts in the process.

(Romantic Comedy, Friends to lovers, Vacation Romance, New Adult Romance, Funny Stand Alone, Bargain Books, Humorous Romance)


BLURBS:
"The Dare is a laugh out loud read that I could not put down. Brilliant. Just brilliant.” —NYT Bestselling author Cathryn Fox

THE DARE somehow manages to be equal parts funny, sweet, and brimming with edge-of-your-seat tension, both romantic and situational. And I wouldn't mind a Grandma Nadine of my own. Maybe. – NYT Bestselling Author Jasinda Wilder



AUTHOR Info:
About Rachel Van Dyken:

Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. When she's not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching The Bachelor.
She keeps her home in Idaho with her Husband and their snoring Boxer, Sir Winston Churchill. She loves to hear from readers! You can follow her writing journey at www.rachelvandykenauthor.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RachelVanDyken

HTML

From #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Rachel Van Dyken, comes
the third and final book in the New York Time's Bestselling Bet Series...





Boring Beth Lynn has always lived up to her nickname... until she wakes up in a
hotel bed next to a sexy as sin state senator she re-connected with at a
wedding the previous night.




The biggest problem? She can't seem to remember anything about the night before
except for crying into a box of cookies, and she's pretty sure Grandma Nadine
slipped something in her drink. And what should have been a one night stand
turns into a six day adventure when Grandma whisks them off to Hawaii to save
them from the ensuing media firestorm.




Jace isn't looking for commitment -- he believes he made that clear when he
left the wedding with Beth. Then again, he can't remember much of anything
other than the way her skin felt beneath his hands. Now he's stuck with her at
some lame couple's retreat and trying his hardest to fight the attraction only
a woman like Beth could invoke.




He doesn't think it can get any worse.




But one spider attack... A donkey ride from hell... And an unfortunate episode
with Viagra tea -- and there's one thing Jace knows for sure: He should never
have agreed to Grandma Nadine's suggestion in the first place.



Because if this isn't paradise, and it isn't a vacation -- that only leaves one
option.




Survival.




But to make it through alive... they might lose their hearts in the process.

(Romantic Comedy, Friends to lovers, Vacation Romance, New Adult
Romance, Funny Stand Alone, Bargain Books, Humorous Romance)

"THE DARE somehow manages to be equal parts funny, sweet, and brimming with edge-of-your-seat tension, both romantic and situational. And I wouldn't mind a Grandma Nadine of my own. Maybe."

--NYT Bestselling Author Jasinda Wilder

"The Dare is a laugh out loud read that I could not put down. Brilliant.  Just brilliant." 

 --NYT Bestselling Author Cathryn Fox

"This book deserves more stars than I can give. Rachel is a diabolical mastermind with these books. No joke...Also have I mentioned this is the funniest book known to book literature? No? Well it is."

--Sammies Book Blog

BUY NOW:

AMAZON

http://amzn.com/B00KLJCUIK

Barnes & Noble:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-dare-rachel-van-dyken/1119573016?ean=2940045955768

iTunes:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-dare/id880917031?mt=11

EXCERPT:

“I’m not saying I didn’t get a little help.” Grandma shrugged. “What woman doesn’t want to look twenty years younger? These old things still have some perk left.” She pointed to herself and winked.

“I’m sorry, but what does this have to do with our national security?” The FBI agent took off his glasses and groaned.

“Oh, it doesn’t. I was just bored with all the silly questions about kidnapping and death. So depressing! You wouldn’t happen to have any wine, now would you?”

About
Rachel Van Dyken:

Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today
Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. When she's not writing
you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while
watching The Bachelor.

She keeps her home in Idaho with her Husband and their snoring Boxer, Sir
Winston Churchill. She loves to hear from readers! You can follow her writing
journey at



www.rachelvandykenauthor.com



Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RachelVanDyken

HAPPY (LATE) 4TH OF JULY

Today was a busy day for us. We were in a parade in Ridgewood, NJ and then off to the American Legion for some food and friendship. After that it was home to watch Frozen (finally). I hope you all had a wonderful day.