*[Blog Tour Review & Giveaway] The Sweet Spot by Stephanie Evanovich

 

 

 

Summary:

The amazing Stephanie Evanovich returns with The Sweet Spot, the sizzling story of everyone’s favorite couple from her New York Times bestseller Big Girl Panties: hunky professional baseball player Chase Walker and his sassy wife Amanda

When pro baseball player Chase Walker first meets Amanda at her restaurant, it’s love at first sight. While Amanda can’t help noticing the superstar with the Greek-god-build, he doesn’t have a chance of getting to first—or any other—base with her. A successful entrepreneur who’s built her business from scratch, Amanda doesn’t need a Prince Charming to sweep her off her feet. And a curvy girl who likes to cook and eat isn’t interested in being around the catty, stick-thin herd of females chasing Chase and his teammates.

But Chase isn’t about to strike out. A man who isn’t interested in playing the field, he’s a monogamist who wants an independent woman like Amanda. His hopes rally when she discovers that squeaky-clean Chase has a few sexy and very secret pre-game rituals that turn the smart, headstrong businesswoman on—and into his number one fan.

Then a tabloid discovers the truth and turns their spanking good fun into a late- night punch-line. Is Amanda ready to let loose and swing for the fences? Or will the pressure of Chase’s stardom force them to call it quits?
Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com
Length: 272 pages (Hardcover)
Source: Review Copy
Available Formats: Print/E-book/Audio
Publication Date: July 8th 2014 by William Morrow

I went into reading this one without knowing that Chase and Amanda were introduced in Evanovich's previous book Big Girl Panties, but that didn't effect my over all experience with the book because I thought their story in the Sweet Spot was perfect.

I was really surprised that I enjoyed this one so much because I wasn't really the mood to read it when I did but since I had to read it for a tour I just dug in and really ended up losing myself for an afternoon in the pages. I just loved my first read of a Stephanie Evanovich book and though it turned out to be a really awesome summer time read. It was light, and funny, and had a sizzling romance but I didn't find it fluffy at all which was a relief.

I really liked getting to know Amanda and Chase, both individually and as a couple. Sometimes when I read I end up liking one partner more than the other but with these two I just couldn't pick who I liked more, and I think it's because of how good they were together. Neither was perfect, but they accepted each other's imperfections and kind of fell for each other for those imperfections. I thought their romance was not only sizzling when it came to the sexy times but sweet too, which I love because then a relationship between characters seems more real to me. They we're just one of those couples I felt at easy reading about. Sure there was a little conflict, a little drama but it wasn't over the top and it was used in a way that made sense.

Plus, the side characters in the book were just as good and I liked how they added to the story and weren't just used as props. I also liked seeing how Amanda and Chase interacted with other people and they really did have some lovely people in their lives that care for them.

Overall, this one just what the doctor ordered. It was as I said, funny, spicy and sweet and very well written. There was more than just romance between Amanda and Chase. There was also genuine friendship between them and I thought they were a hoot. Stephanie Evanovich definitely earned herself a new fan with me and I can't wait to read more by her.

I'd recommend The Sweet Spot to all fans of contemporary romance who want a couple that will really make you love them, have you laughing your ass off at times and smiling 95 percent of the time your reading. It was fast paced and definitely a book I'd recommend packing for vacation, a day at the beach or a pool side read.

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my free and honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are 100% my own.

Really Liked It!
★★★★ 1/2

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Giveaway:

 

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*[Blog Tour Review & Giveaway] Catch Your Breath (The O'Leary's #4) by Shannyn Schroeder

 

 

 

  

Summary:

 

As kids they steered clear of one another–but now a beautiful, well-connected reporter and a sexy, driven detective are all grown-up and on the job. . .

Moira O’Leary’s work as a reporter gives her access to some of Chicago’s swankiest soirées. She knows how to navigate the jet-set crowd, and her style and confidence help her blend right in. But when her childhood crush starts popping up at posh events, her poise begins to falter–until she realizes she has the upper hand in a high-stakes game of secrets and seduction. . .

Jimmy O’Malley has always tried to avoid his friend Liam’s little sister. Something about Moira spelled trouble. But he’s out of his element working undercover in Chicago’s high society, and Moira is his ticket to the inner circle. As sparks begin to fly–and their chemistry heats up–Moira gets dangerously close to his investigation. Will Jimmy be forced to push her away to keep her safe–or will they surrender to a desire that could leave them breathless?

Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 358 pages (Kindle)

Source: NetGalley ARC

Available Formats: E-book

Publication Date: July 3rd 2014 by eKensington

 

I love Shannyn Schroeder.

I really do, not it a creepy way but her romances are quickly becoming some of my favourites to read. Earlier this year I read the third book in this series and absolutely loved the romance between Moira's brother and his girlfriend so I was so stoked to sign up for the tour for Moira's book since I loved her in Something to Prove and wanted to see her find the right guy.

 

Moira is just one of those characters that I felt immediately kinship for. She's sweet and caring and loves her family to bits and pieces and absolutely loves her career but she knows something's missing. All her friends are getting hitched, having kids and she's left out but she doesn't seem so down about it. She didn't think it was The Moira Show, but she didn't take crap either, especially from Jimmy.

 

Jimmy was your typical cop, but with a really sweet side too. He's trying to get to the bottom of a case he's working on but his friend's kid sister is the one person who can help him, but he's very unwilling to put her at risk. I just loved him to bits. He was smooth without being creepy and was still a mans man with a soft side.

 

The chemistry between the two of them was fantastic. I'm talking nuclear here. I loved the passion between the two of them and the fact that there was the added suspense due to Jimmy's investigation really solidified the two as a couple for me and brought the heat out more.

 

All in all, this was a superb romance. It had great characters who played off each other well and were good not only as a couple, but as individual characters. I had fun catching up with the other O'Leary's I met in the last book I read and I thought this was a fast paced sizzling romance and shouldn't be missed at all.

 

If you love contemporary romance novels with some suspense, some witty dialogue between your two main characters and lots of heat (but not overly done). Give this one a try. I haven't read the first two books in this series so I think it's safe to say you can read this one on it's own.

 

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my free and honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are 100% my own.

 

Loved It!
★★★★★

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Author Bio:

 

Shannyn is a former English teacher, who now works as a part-time editor while raising her three kids.

Even though she wrote from high school through college (mostly poetry), she’d never considered a career as an author. Writing fell by the wayside as she focused her energy on creating lesson plans and new and fabulous ways to torment her teen students. One group in particular dubbed her “The Torture Master,” a title she carried into motherhood.

After the birth of baby number two, Shannyn resigned from teaching and fell in love with reading romance novels. She read so many books so quickly that her husband teased, “If you’re going to read so many damn books, why don’t you just write one?”

So she did.

That first book is safely buried on her hard drive, but the process set Shannyn on the path to where she is today—agented with a debut ebook coming out with Kensington in late 2012.

She is recovering from her Diet Coke addiction, fears putting her foot in her mouth on social media, and has a renewed appreciation for the bad girls of the world.
 

Giveaway:
 

($10 gift card to Amazon or B&N, a digital copy of one of the first 3 O'Leary books (More Than This, A Good Time, or Something to Prove) or Three Swag packs including: Keeper Kase with signed cards, O'Learys bottle opener, and O'Learys post-its)

 

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*[Blog Tour Review & Tour Wide Giveaway] Lady Broke by Rachel Donnelly

 

Summary:

 

East meets west when a high-principled Boston socialite teams up with a revenge driven bounty hunter to catch a gang of outlaws in the wilds of Nevada.

It’s tough being a witness when the last one turned up dead. But Christie Wallace is determined to bring the Everett gang to justice. Unfortunately, the law can’t protect her from pistol-toting outlaws or the intoxicating lure of a dangerous man. But, after escaping the suffocating prospects of an arranged marriage, she has no intention of allowing her heart to rule her head, even when temptation comes in the form of an incorrigible lawman named Nat Randall.

Dead or alive—it made no difference to Nat Randall. He’d tried to bring the Everett gang to trial once before, but the law let him down. It seems frontier justice is all he has left. But he didn’t count on protecting a bewitching Easterner whose courageous spirit challenges him as much as her beauty distracts. It’s not long before he’s torn between pursuing her or the outlaws.

A timeless, rollicking adventure of unlikely lovers, set in the Wild West.

Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 318 pages (E-book)

Source: Review Copy

Available Formats: E-book

Publication Date: July 8th 2013 by Crimson Romance

 

Back in the day I used to be big on western historical romances, and when I mean back in the day I mean back in grade 9 and 10. However, it seemed like the genre kind of got phased out by many of my favourite romance publishers so I've read less and less of them over the years but now it seems like they're coming back in style so with me reading Lady Broke I'm hoping to get back into the genre.

 

Lady Broke, I think was a really good way for me to start reading western historical romances again because it had a classic opposites attract story, and one where the characters fought against each other almost as much as they fought for each other. I'm not big on socialite Heroines but I did like Christie even though liking her wasn't my first instinct I warmed up to her considerably.

 

As for Nat, I had to take awhile to warm up to him as well but I ended up liking him a lot especially because of his strength and determination in trying to make his own way because he wanted to make his own way and distance himself from his past and his father. So he turned out to be a rather admirable guy and I liked how he handles Christie and vice versa.

 

Since this was my first time reading a Rachel Donnelly book I found myself loving her writing style and I liked the way she had the who east meets west theme going on with the characters. The was drama, betrayal and a ton of action and chemistry between the characters and I really enjoyed my first foray into the author's address.

 

Overall, I really enjoyed Lady Broke and am looking forward to reading more books Rachel Donnelly in the future. I loved being transported back into the wild west with the characters and the story that she created and am really glad I signed up for this tour.

 

I would recommend this to fans of western historical romances who want a bit more action in their stories as well as those who are fans of the Crimson Romance Historical imprint. This was a really fun, quick read and recommend it to any fan of the genre.

 

 *I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my free and honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are 100% my own.

 

I read this book for the following reading challenges:

 

2013 150+ Reading Challenge

 

Really Liked It!
★★★★

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Giveaway

($5.00 Amazon Gift Card)

 

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*[Book Spotlight} The Governess Club: Claire & Bonnie by Ellie MacDonald

Summary:

For fans of Christina Dodd and Elizabeth Boyle.

Claire Bannister just wants to be a good teacher so that she and the other ladies of the Governess Club can make enough money to leave their jobs and start their own school in the country. But when the new sinfully handsome and utterly distracting tutor arrives, Claire finds herself caught up in a whirlwind romance that could change the course of her future.

Jacob Knightly has a secret. He is actually the notorious Earl of Rimmel. He's just posing as a tutor to escape his reputation in the city. He never expected to fall in love with the kind and beautiful governess. She is the first person to love him for himself and not his title.

But when Jacob's true identity is revealed, Claire realizes she has risked her reputation and her heart on a man she doesn't truly know. Will Jacob be able to convince her that the Wild Earl has been tamed and that she is the true countess of his heart?

Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 192 pages (Mass Market Paperback)

Publication Date: September 3rd 2013 by Avon Impulse

 

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Summary:

Miss Bonnie Hodges, governess to the Darrow family, is desperately trying to hold it together. Tragedy has struck, and she is the sole person left to be strong for the two little boys in her care. When the new guardian arrives, she hopes that things will get better. She wasn't expecting her new employer to be the most frustrating, overbearing, and…handsome man she's ever seen.

Sir Stephen Montgomery is utterly distracted. He should be trying to figure out how his two best friends were killed in a suspicious accident and why the new young viscount seems destined to be the next victim. But he can't concentrate on anything but his growing infatuation with the beautiful, mysterious, and utterly captivating governess.

Together they're doing their best to save the two boys, but will Stephen's feelings for Bonnie get in the way of their search for a killer?

Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 192 pages (Mass Market Paperback)

Publication Date: September 17th 2013 by Avon Impulse

 

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Author Bio:

 

Ellie Macdonald has held several jobs beginning with the letter t: taxi-driver, telemarketer and most recently, teacher. She is thankful her interests have shifted to writing instead of taxidermy or tornado chasing. Having travelled to five different continents, she has swum with elephants, scuba dived coral mazes, visited a leper colony and climbed waterfalls and windmills, but her favorite place remains Regency England. She currently lives in Ontario, Canada. The Governess Club series is her first published work.

 

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*[Cover Reveal] The Keepers Series: Sienna by Rae Rivers

 

 

 

 

The Keepers:  

Sienna, Archer, Declan, Ethan 

By: Rae Rivers 

Published by Harper Impulse, Harper Collins 

SIENNA available September 26th 

Blurb- The Keepers: SIENNA 

A full moon in Rapid Falls. 

Sienna Beckham is a powerful witch, and along with her four fiercely protective Keepers, it is her destiny to maintain the balance of nature in this world.  

Tonight, it's the town carnival and everyone will be there: Sienna's family, her friends, her protectors. Archer.  

Laughter and flirtation await. 

But in a few hours, Sienna's life will have changed forever and her powers stretched to their very limits. 

For something is lurking in the forest… 

Murder. Sorcery. Revenge. 

And no one sees it coming.  

Find out how it all began… 

The FREE PREQUEL to Rae Rivers' magical new series, The Keepers. 

Buy Links 

Available for pre-order now! 

Amazon US

 

 

 

Amazon UK 

 

 

Author Info

 

 

I’m an avid reader and writer with a passion for writing romance novels. I live in Cape Town, South Africa, with my gorgeous husband, two beautiful children and a zoo of house pets. Besides writing, I love family time, the outdoors, travelling, watching TV series, reading and chocolate. For more information about my books, or me, please visit www.raerivers.com 

I can also be found here: 

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/rae.rivers.180 

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