Book Review: The Billionaire's Intern (Billionaire Fairytales #3) by Jackie Ashenden

Lorenzo De Santis: Ruthless. Driven. Ambitious. 
 
Lorenzo De Santis is the boss. He's an uncompromising hardass, he doesn’t suffer fools, and he doesn’t have time to deal with witless young interns. But when an old friend asks for a favor, Lorenzo can’t refuse. Even if it means taking on the man’s daughter as a project. 

Kira Constantin: Rich. Party girl...Spy. 
 
Kira Constantin feels like she has been half-alive since that one night of partying ended in tragedy. So when her father demands that she go undercover at De Santis Corp as a spy, there’s no way she can refuse. She must redeem herself, even if that means dealing with a boss like of Lorenzo De Santis.

Except neither of them counts on the forbidden heat that flares between them. As Kira and Lorenzo draw closer, spying on him becomes harder and harder. And then Kira discovers that the real villain might be closer to her than she thinks…

 

This is the second book I've read by Jackie Ashenden and it did go better for me than The Dangerous Billionaire. You felt a 'but' in there, didn't you. Yeah ... there is one ... but I'll get to that later. 

Contrary to what others are saying about this book ... I really liked the main characters. Lorenzo was probably in my top ten favorite male leads for this year. I thought that he was obnoxiously cocky and rude but for some reason, that does it for me. I think that I like male characters like that because there's usually another, sweeter, side to them and it's even more sweet when they are rude as all get out and you are able to see the contrast. As a character, I really liked Kira as well. I thought that she was a very strong chick that was dealt a bad hand in life and she's getting over it. (More on THAT later). And what do you get when you put Kira and Lorenzo together? A blazing inferno. The chemistry that was created between these two was hot and exciting. Absolutely perfect for a romance novel. 

The story had a great pace, an awesome plot and everything played out in an exciting way. I actually really enjoyed my reading experience with this one. Nothing was super deep but it was enough to make the story feel full and complete. 

BUT. Here it is. This isn't a secret ... it's in multiple reviews on every site ... (I checked) ... Kira has ADHD. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. A fairly common diagnosis these days. Both of my kiddos have ADHD and unlike how it is stated in the book ... this is not a death sentence. From here on out, everything I write is purely my opinion and I'm going to hop on my soapbox because this is something that our family deals with on a daily basis, so I'm pretty well acquainted with it. ADHD is not a "condition" it is just part of who that person is. Like I said, our boys have ADHD ... they are hyper, they have problems focusing, they talk constantly and they have massive impulse control issues. ADHD was referred to as a condition within the pages of this book MANY times and each time, I wanted to set my Kindle on fire. It made ADHD sound like it was similar to cancer. That just isn't how our family sees it. One of our kiddo's ADHD is severe and the other's is not. I've seen both sides of this diagnosis and in no way is it as dramatic as it is presented in the book. Yes, kids who have it are at a disadvantage - some more than others. Some parents couldn't care less about whether their child has a diagnosis or not, they expect a perfectly robotic child and some parents baby their child because of it. In my mind ... it just felt like a mountain was made out of a mole hill on this whole ADHD issue. It just rubbed me the wrong way and since it played a major part in the book, it did bring my rating down one star. I'll jump off that soapbox now. You've suffered enough.

Now there are people out there who couldn't care less how ADHD is portrayed and honestly, that's great. That means you won't be as judgy as me and then you'll probably rate this book a little higher than I did. 

* I received this novel in exchange for an honest review *

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Book Review: The Ones Who Got Away by Roni Loren

Twelve years ago, tragedy struck the senior class of Long Acre High School. Only a small number of students survived, a group the media dubbed as The Ones Who Got Away.

Now, web designer Liv Arias, along with the rest of the survivors, have returned to the small Texas town to tell their stories for a documentary. Which means Liv seeing former star-athlete and old flame Finn Dorsey. A lot happened between them that night and Liv is ready to end their decade-long riff and move on. But when her attempt at closure turns into a steamy kiss, moving on proves much more difficult than either of them thought...

Liv's words cut off as Finn got closer. The man approaching was nothing like the boy she'd known. The bulky football muscles had streamlined into a harder, leaner package. The smooth face was now dusted with scruff, and the look in his deep green eyes held no trace of boyish innocence. A thousand things were in those eyes. A thousand things welled up in Liv.

 

When I first saw that there was a "sneak peek" of this book on NetGalley, I was totally against reading it because I thought that it was just a snippet. And I'm an idiot. Yeah, turns out, it wasn't a snippet but the whole book. Thank goodness I got the whole book because IT. WAS. AWESOME. 

I've never read anything by this author, which gives further validation to the argument that I'm an idiot. Let's just say that I'm a fan. A big fan. Not only were the characters absolutely amazing but the book was funny in spots and I had not been expecting that at all. I also didn't expect to really connect with the main character, Liv. I'm not entirely sure why I became so attached to her because I've never directly been through such a harrowing experience ... maybe it's because of my empathy towards her but I really think it's just because the author wrote Liv in such a way that you can't help but root for her from the very first page. She's such a well written character that she becomes an old friend very quickly. 

I couldn't have picked a better dude for Liv than Finn. Finn is everything that I that I've ever wanted in a literary hero. He's protective and loyal and sweet and adoringly possessive - which I didn't even know was possible. Well, it is. Then there's this captivating character growth that Finn goes through. You're able to experience Finn morphing into what he thought he had lost so very long ago and it's completely endearing. Now for the important part ... when Finn and Liv are together ... talk about hot. So incredibly steamy and it didn't feel forced!! It was natural and totally believable. Not always something you find within the pages of a romance novel but it seems to come to author Roni Loren easily.

When I said before that Liv became a friend, that also goes hand in hand with the way this story was written. The book is about a past horrific experience but it's written in such a way that you find yourself immersed in the book - not just as a spectator but almost as if you're a part of what is going on. Actually, while reading this book, you'll find that it becomes a part of you. You never want to let it go. This is one that I will reread many times. Gosh. I miss Liv and Finn already. 

* I received this novel in exchange for an honest review *

Available: January 2nd, 2018

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Book Review: Thursday Afternoon by Beth Rinyu

I'm just your typical working girl who never mixes business with pleasure. Although some may say my business is all about pleasure. For the past four years, I’ve allowed my profession to define me, distancing myself from family, friends and most of all love. Hating the reflection I see staring back at me in the mirror, I muddle through each day with my heart sealed off like a tomb, until two strangers enter my life.

One teaching me the true meaning of friendship.

The other teaching me the true meaning of love.

She’s everything I’m not.
Humble, loving, and devoting her life to others.
We’re an unlikely duo who are polar opposites, but at the same time so alike.
Never in a million years could I be friends with someone like her...until I was.

Then there’s him.
He’s my Thursday afternoon client.
Just like all the others: handsome, rich and charming…yet so very different.
Trying to overcome a painful past, he seeks out my services as a refuge, only to find that we’re opening our hearts to each other in ways that neither of us could've imagined.
I could never fall in love with someone like him...until I did.
And now I'm finding myself longing for it to be Thursday afternoon all week long.

I've never read a book by this author, so I really didn't know what to expect as I dove into the pages. The whole concept of the book was intriguing ... you've got this female escort/call-girl that (as the blurb states - no spoilers, promise!) falls in love with her Thursday John. I mean client. And before someone jumps their soapbox, I have no problem with that profession, to each their own but let's not sugar coat it - a polished penny is the same as a dirty penny, you know?

As I started to read, I really thought that when I got to know our main character, Bree, that she would be one of two extremes - either she really hated being a paid escort and detested every moment or that she loved what she did and didn't want to give it up. But Bree was neither of those. She was just kinda 'meh' about everything. I was a little surprised. With her lackadaisical outlook on her career, it made the story a little convenient. And by convenient, I mean she didn't have any real hurdles to get over. There wasn't enough conflict, in my mind at least. I won't lie, there was one situation that happened and that added to the story but other than that one struggle, there really wasn't anything else for Bree to overcome. Which is sad. Because it took away some of the depth that Bree could have had with more inner strife or something.

And along those same lines, the story felt really drawn out and sluggish. That could be attributed to the conflict issue that I experienced throughout in the book. It felt like I was trudging up a super steep mountain and every once in a while, I'd find a pretty flower but for the most part, I was just wearing myself out. Or the sluggishness could have come from the characters themselves. 

I liked the characters enough but there was just something missing. It didn't feel like there was any real chemistry between Bree and Thursday. There weren't enough sparks. Now, in MY mind, if you're reading a book about a paid escort, you expect some good stuff when it comes to the steamy scenes but I didn't get that. It was a bit ... wah-waaaah ... in my mind. I just wish that there had been more between those two. This book had so much potential but it just didn't ring any bells for me. 

* I received this novel in exchange for an honest review *

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Book Review: Arm Candy (Real Love #2) by Jessica Lemmon

Last call! At the end of the night, a clean-cut hunk and a rebellious bartender act on their unlikely chemistry in this frisky standalone novel from the author of Eye Candy.

Davis: I’ve had my eye on Grace Buchanan for a while now. Unlike the bubbly blondes I usually date, the feisty, flame-haired bartender both intrigues and bewilders me. Something about Grace—the tattoos? the nose ring?—makes every part of me sit up and beg. There’s only one problem: She hates me. Trading insults and one-liners has become our M.O. But when Grace bets me that I can’t get a date with a non-blonde if my life depends on it, I’m determined to prove her wrong by landing the ultimate non-blonde: her.

Grace: I’m used to regulars hitting on me, and I’ve turned them all down, except for one: Davis Price. I like giving him a hard time, and he’s kind of cute in his suit and tie—if you’re into that kind of thing. Anyway, I don’t care how many blondes he takes home . . . until one of them sidles up to him in my bar. Nuh-uh. But after my little bet with Davis backfires, our first date lands us in the sack. So does the second. And the third. Neither of us wants more than the best sex of our lives. The trouble is, it’s not a question of what I want. It’s what I need. And what I need is Davis.

 

I've read quite a few books by Jessica Lemmon and one thing I know that I can always count on with one of her books is that it will keep me entertained and I'll enjoy my reading experience. Once again, Lemmon delivered. Not that I expected her not to, but it's always a pleasant surprise when a book is awesome. 

I liked Arm Candy. Was it my favorite book by Lemmon? No. But it also wasn't the worst book I've ever read. I think that my only issue with it was how slow it was. There's nothing wrong with a book that is at a slower pace ... it's just not something I had experienced with this author before, so I was a little taken aback. Now all of that being said, I think that the pace really matched up with the characters - especially Davis. Our leading man, Davis, is some sort of day trader or stock something-or-other. He goes to the bar that Grace works out to decompress a little bit. I think that the pace of the book was really just the pace of Davis as he sits on that bar stool a few times a week. I liked Davis ... he wasn't one of those characters that made me fan myself, but I liked him. 

Now Grace ... this chick is awesome. I really liked her character and just the way that she presented herself. She's sassy and doesn't really care what you think about it. I think we could all use a little inner Grace sometimes. And Grace and Davis together ... he changed a little bit when the sparks started flying between them. I enjoyed the little transformation that he went through. 

The story itself was great. I liked the direction that the book went in and I really have no complaints about it. Everything was stellar, even if the pace was a little slow for my liking - it seemed perfect for the characters though and that's really what counts. It seems that it doesn't matter what Lemmon writes, I'll be picking it up. Guaranteed good time with her stuff. 

*I received this novel in exchange for an honest review *

Available: September 5th, 2017

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Book Review: The Dating Bender by Christina Julian

Here I am, on my knees in front of the Trevi Fountain, hoping like hell the legend is true. That the fountain gives you solace and love by a mere toss of a coin.

Why am I here, exactly? Let's see...

It started with my parents telling me to get married. Of course, being the good Catholic girl I am, I did.

Needless to say, that marriage nosedived, and my parents weren't exactly happy about it.

Newly ditched and shamefully disowned, I decided to follow the advice of Babs, a tart-of-a-mentor, who offered me a job in Colorado.

Her advice? Sex...and lots of it.

The temptation of freedom, to do whatever--whoever--I wanted was too damn strong for me to say no.

And that's how it all started. The men, the sex, the journey...

The dating bender.

Because everybody deserves a do-over.

 

You know how when you're driving down the road and you see an accident off to the side and you tell yourself not to be one of those annoying rubberneckers and then you find yourself looking anyway as you drive past? That accident is this book for me. I knew I shouldn't finish it but I'm no quitter and I just had to see if it could redeem itself. To put it nicely, it did not. This review is going to be rough and I'm going to try super hard to behave and be constructive with my criticism. But it will be difficult.

I was approached by someone to read this book ... it wasn't the author and I'm not entirely sure who she was ... the author's rep or a PR rep or something. Anyway, I was intrigued when I first read the blurb and I wanted to know more. But I'm going to be super honest right now and tell you I don't know where in the blue bloody blazes this blurb has come from because it doesn't even sound like the main character, Samantha and part of it doesn't go with the book. As I was getting this review together, I reread the blurb and what the hell ... I had to double check that I had the right book info because it did not match up to the book ... I mean seriously, W.T.F. Let's go to the 3rd sentence in this blurb ... it talks about the parents telling Samantha she needed to get married ... um ... in the book, it is made VERY clear in the VERY beginning that Samantha is getting married to ESCAPE her parents. That is really said quite a few times and I remember zero times that her parents were on her ass to get married. I could be wrong. Maybe her parents harped on her over and over but all I remember is the parents being uncaring douchecanoes and telling her they were going to disown her if she didn't do exactly what they wanted.

So she goes from that super healthy relationship with her parents saying ugly things to her constantly and immediately jumps into a super healthy marriage with a dude that I don't even think she knew well. Which would be fine, IF THAT WAS EXPLAINED. She seemed in love with him and totally sure about marrying him. Sheldon seemed like a nice dude and then he stops talking to her for months and treats her horribly? I mean come on. Unless the dude you're marrying is a sociopath, they wouldn't change THAT much after you get married. Yes, people change after they get comfortable in a relationship but to pull the stuff that this donkey, Sheldon, did? No. I doubt it. But then again, Samantha and Sheldon barely had a relationship at all. Not that you get the chance to find out that they didn't have a relationship with the way this book's timeline jumps around.

That's another thing. A distinguishable timeline is absolutely non-existent with this book. The author skips days, weeks and even months. And then the reasoning for the jumps from the main character are as flimsy as her marriage. There needs to be a REASON to skip 6 months. Hell, there should be a reason to skip even a week. Readers don't want stuff skipped over unless there is a payoff in the end from that skip. If the story is enriched by the skip, I'll take that. I'll even take it if the character slipped on her brother's cousin's dog's uncle's hat and she was in a coma for a month because she landed on a stack of Harry Potter books and knocked her head on a Monopoly box. I don't care what the darn reason is, just give one the readers a reason that does justice to the storyline. 

This is the last thing I'm going to say and then I'll get off my soap box and the lovers of this book can take a moment to go grab their voodoo dolls and name them after me ... this main character ... Samantha ... I'm 98% sure she has never had an original thought in her entire life. She quotes magazine articles and tv shows like they are the damn bible and she worships them at an alter in her garage. I don't know if Samantha spouting off every five seconds what some nobody wrote on the pages of Cosmo or some other nonsense magazine is supposed to be endearing but it wasn't. It was irritating. It made me want to light my Kindle on fire. 

I don't know why this book has enraged me so much. Maybe it's because the time I invested in what I thought would be a good book ... but this isn't the first time ... maybe it was the relationships or the lack of entertainment I found in the book. Who knows. It is probably a combination of things. I should ask someone at Cosmo why I didn't like this book. Or write in to Dr. Oz. What am I thinking, Oprah probably knows ... I bet she'd tell me why I didn't like this book and why I prefer the outside of the TicTac to the inside.

*I received this novel in exchange for an honest review *

Available: August 22nd, 2017

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Book Review: Ready to Run (I Do, I Don't #1) by Lauren Layne

The Bachelor meets The Runaway Bride in this addictive romance novel about a reality TV producer falling for her would-be star: a Montana heartthrob who wants nothing to do with the show.

Jordan Carpenter thinks she’s finally found the perfect candidate for Jilted, a new dating show about runaway grooms: Luke Elliott, a playboy firefighter who’s left not one but three brides at the altar. The only problem? Luke refuses to answer Jordan’s emails or return her calls. Which is how she ends up on a flight to Montana to recruit him in person. It’s not Manhattan but at least the locals in Lucky Hollow seem friendly . . . except for Luke, who’s more intense—and way hotter—than the slick womanizer Jordan expected.

Eager to put the past behind him, Luke has zero intention of following this gorgeous, fast-talking city girl back to New York. But before he can send her packing, Jordan’s everywhere: at his favorite bar, the county fair, even his exes’ book club. Annoyingly, everyone in Lucky Hollow seems to like her—and deep down, she’s starting to grow on him too. But the more he fights her constant pestering, the more Luke finds himself wishing that Jordan would kick off her high heels and make herself comfortable in his arms.

As I was starting to write this review, I realized that I have NEVER given this author, Lauren Layne, less than a 5-star rating on any book that I've read by her. That's pretty amazing!! I can't say that about too many authors. 

So I guess it comes as no surprise that I gave this one five stars as well. Once again, Layne has created some unforgettable characters. Jordan is our leading lady this time and she's this polished city girl and she is as stubborn as a mule. Jordan goes for what she wants and she refuses to take no for an answer. You find out really quickly that when Jordan hears no, she interprets it as "find another way". And sometimes ... the ways she tries to go around that no are absolute genius. You can't help but just love her right from the beginning. 

And on to my favorite ... good ol' Luke. Luke is a country boy. A hunky country boy. A hunky firefighter country boy, actually. Goodness. With each word I added on there, it made me want to read this book all over again. Luke is as loyal as they come. He sticks by his friends and will take a beating if it will protect someone he cares about. I think the best thing about Luke is how he would let Jordan get under his skin and not even realize it. Let me tell you, it made for some interesting situations. The booth!!! OMG. If you have to read this book just to hear about the booth, it would be totally worth it. That was one of about a hundred of my favorite scenes in the book.

The story flows so smoothly along that before you know it, you've read the whole thing and you're left sitting there wishing that there were more pages. Layne writes such a phenomenal romance - the sex scenes are steamy, the laughter inducing situations are heartfelt and hilarious, the few sad parts are soul crushing and as a whole, the story is always absolutely unforgettable. Here's the deal ... if you're looking for a new author and you've not read anything by Layne (first of all, shame on you), give her a shot - she's one of my favorites and an author I can go to if I want a guaranteed amazing reading experience. Especially if you read this one.

* I received this novel in exchange for an honest review *

Available: August 22nd 2017

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Book Review: The Playboy Bachelor (The Bachelors of Arizona #2) by Rachel Van Dyken

She's no Sleeping Beauty. And he's definitely no prince . . . 

  Margot McCleery could have lived her whole life without seeing Bentley Wellington again-her ex-best friend and the poster boy for Hot, Rich Man-Whores everywhere. But Margot's whiskey-augmented grandmother "buys" Bentley at a charity bachelor auction, and now suddenly he's at her door. Impossibly charming. Impossibly sexy. And still a complete and utter jackass. Bentley's just been coerced by his grandfather to spend the next thirty days charming and romancing the reclusive red-haired beauty who hates him. The woman he abandoned when she needed him the most. Bentley knows just as much about romance as he knows about love-nothing. But the more time he spends with Margot, the more he realizes that "just friends" will never be enough. Now all he has to do is convince her to trust him with her heart . . .

I've really loved this author since I got hooked on her Eagle Elite series a few years ago. I was more than excited to give this book a shot once I saw that it was by her. 

This book is the second in a series that I've not read any of before. That's usually a no-no for me but I'm doing it more and more often lately. I kind of wish that I hadn't. This book IS a stand-alone but I think that my reading experience would have been enriched greatly if I had read the first book. I think that's just because while I didn't feel like I was missing anything, I also felt like I didn't know the characters as well as I could have. I mean, who wouldn't want a little more Bentley, right?

Bentley was a fascinating character. It's not often that you read a romance novel with an intense anxiety angle and it's SUPER not often that the character with anxiety is male. I think that the author was really able to show how anxiety can be crippling and have a massive impact on someone's life. It was interesting to watch Bentley interact and cope with the issue that caused his anxiety to begin with. I really couldn't get enough of this man. And our leading lady, Margot was this reclusive firecracker that was equally as captivating. These two together were positively explosive. Bentley brought out the worst in our little stubborn Margot. 

The story read very quickly. I don't know if it was because the characters were so completely intriguing or if it was just an all-around great book ... probably a bit of both. You just get hooked from the very first page and it doesn't let up until the very last period. Such a great romance novel. One that I'd read again. And the list ... the list was adorably hilarious. I would read the book again just to experience that list again. 

* I received this novel in exchange for an honest review *

Available: August 29th, 2017

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Book Review & Giveaway: On the Plus Side (A Perfect Fit #2) by Alison Bliss

Today is the day!

The newest installment in the A Perfect Fit series by Alison Bliss is now available and she's running a giveaway for copies of her book - check it out at the end of this post! 

I was lucky enough to get my hands on the very first Bliss book years ago and I've been hooked ever since. Bliss is one of those authors that you blindly reach for in the bookstore because you just KNOW that what is within those pages is going to take you on an amazing ride. I can't wait to see what the next book has in store for us!

Why do I love this book? Because of moments like this ...

Big girls don't cry. They go after what they want.

Thanks to her bangin' curves, Valerie Carmichael has always turned heads-with the exception of seriously sexy Logan Mathis. Just Valerie's luck that the object of her lust-filled affection is also best friends with her overprotective brother. But Valerie's determined to get Logan's attention . . . even if it means telling a teeny little lie to get a job at his new bar.

Logan can't remember a time when Valerie didn't secretly fuel all his hottest fantasies. Now the curvaceous she-devil is working behind his bar, tempting him every damn night. It's only when he finds Valerie's naughty things-to-do list that Logan decides to break every rule in the book-by making each red-hot deed a reality.

No one warned them that they were going to fall this hard. And no one warned them that sometimes the smallest secrets can have the biggest consequences.

One of the many things that I love about Bliss is her way of consistently bringing old characters back into the new books. It's nice to be able to catch up with the characters you fell in love with from the previous book. And in this one, Leah and Sam don't take center stage but they are a big part of the plot and our new leading lady's life. 

I could really just go on and on about how amazing this book and Bliss are. But it would probably make you uncomfortable after I start to drone on and on about character development, how full the plot is, the pace of the story and everything in between because I would start to sound like a nutjob. But this story really is that great. All of the characters are so fully fleshed out that you feel as if they have become your friends by the time you get to the end of the novel. The pacing is set so that there isn't a dull moment and you'll find yourself not wanting to skip a single word because you don't want to miss something. And this is something that happens with each of the Bliss novels. You will love every single moment that you get to spend with her books. 

This book is sexy as hell. I was just waiting for my Kindle to burst into flames and start melting in my hands through some of these passages. Good Lord. I'm happily married but I decided that I need to find myself a Logan for my second marriage. You know when you read something sexy and you get paranoid thinking that everyone around you knows what dirty stuff you're reading? Yeah. I had that multiple times with this book. While at the doctor's office. I know that my cheeks were just flaming with embarrassment and I was sure that the little security cameras could see what I was reading. Which is completely illogical but always happens when I read the naughty bits in one of my Bliss books. 

Anyway ... a perfect book, a perfect fit (get it?) in the series and a perfect way to spend a summer afternoon by the pool. After you check this series out, you should totally look at her other series, Tangled in Texas - it is one of my all-time favorite series!

* I received this novel in exchange for an honest review *

Valerie Carmichael needed a drink. A strong one. Because it was the only way she envisioned herself getting through the night.

An elbow nudged into her side, bringing her thoughts back to the crowded bar. “I can’t see anything through all of these people,” Brett said, scanning the room with his eyes. “Come on, let’s go to the other side so I can get a better view.”

Sighing, Valerie trudged behind him without a word.

When Brett had asked her to attend the grand opening of Bottoms Up, a new bar in their hometown of Granite, Texas, she’d hesitated to say yes. Sure, she was curious what the inside of the recently remodeled bar looked like and had no doubt the place would be jam-packed with handsome, available men. But it was still the last place on earth she wanted to be.

She knew better than to hang out in bars with her older and only—thank God—brother. Every time she’d done so in the past, the nights had always ended the same way. Brett would spend the entire evening hovering over her like a rabid pit bull, daring any single guy with a glint in his eye to look her way. Because Valerie turned heads. She always had.

Oh, she wasn’t silly enough to believe she looked like some gorgeous supermodel with a lean, trim figure or anything. She definitely didn’t. But she had a pretty face, banging plus-size curves, and a lively personality. And that was good enough for her. Valerie was just…Valerie. And damn proud of it.

Across the room, Sam and Leah emerged from the dense crowd, with a beer bottle for him and a glass of water for her. Apparently, Leah was still on that damn diet and counting  calories so she would fit into her wedding dress. Though why she didn’t just buy the dress in  a larger size was beyond Valerie.
Leah blinked at the sight of her. “Val? What are you doing here? You said you weren’t coming.”

Valerie shrugged. “I changed my mind.”

“Are you feeling okay?”

“Yeah, sure. Why?”

“When you said you didn’t want to go out, I assumed you were sick. You never turn down a night out.” Leah placed her palm lightly against Valerie’s forehead. “You sure you don’t have the flu or something?”

Valerie laughed and pushed her friend’s hand away. “Oh, stop it. I just didn’t feel like getting dressed up. I’m getting tired of the whole bar scene.”

Then Valerie’s heart stopped, along with her lips. Oh God.

Brett stood there talking to a tall, dark-haired man who had one thumb hooked in the front pocket of his jeans while he leaned comfortably against the wall with his right shoulder. She couldn’t see the other guy’s face, but she didn’t need to. Valerie recognized all six feet, two inches of him. Logan Mathis.

Available Today!

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Alison Bliss grew up in Small Town, Texas, but currently resides in the Midwest with her husband and two sons. With so much testosterone in her home, it's no wonder she "girl books". She believes the best way to know if someone is your soul mate is by canoeing with them because if you both make it back alive, it's obviously meant to be. Alison pens the type of books she loves to read most: fun, steamy love stories with heart, heat, laughter, and usually a cowboy or two. As she calls it, "Romance...with a sense of humor".

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Enter the giveaway HERE!