Waiting on Wednesday: Make You Remember by Macy Beckett

   

Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine,that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's WoW selection is...

 

Series: Dumont Bachelors #2

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Signet

Publication Date: 11/4/14

GoodReads

 

Ten years ago, Beau Dumont made the biggest mistake of his life by letting his high school sweetheart, Devyn Mauvais, slip through his fingers. Now the reformed bad boy will stop at nothing to get her back. Even if it means tricking her into taking a job on his family's riverboat, The Belle of the Bayou.
When Devyn's old flame offers her a stint at the boat's day care center, she sees it as a chance to prove she isn’t just the descendant of Louisiana's most infamous voodoo queen. Besides, it beats leading ghost tours around New Orleans. Yet when it comes to Beau, Devyn's all business. She won't give the sweet-talking playboy another chance to break her heart.
But there's no escaping temptation in such close quarters, and Beau won't be satisfied with a few hot nights with the girl he's always loved. As he strives to make Devyn remember the good times, will his passion and heart be enough to regain her trust?

 

 

Why I'm Waiting ~ I have enjoyed every single Macy Beckett book I've read. Make You Mine was so good and I can't wait for Beau and Devyn to reconnect!

Review and Giveaway: For the Longest Time (Harvest Cove #1) by Kendra Leigh Castle

Series: Harvest Cove #1

Genre: Contemp Romance

Series: Harvest Cove #1
Genre: Contemp Romance

Publisher: Signet

Publication Date: 7/1/14Format: Paperback

Pages: 352

Source: Publisher

Rating: 4 stars

GoodReads  |  Amazon  |  B&N

For Samantha Henry, it took a ten-year absence to appreciate the close-knit New England town with an appeal all its own....  

After a perfect storm of events leaves Sam high, dry, and jobless, she has to head home to Harvest Cove to regroup. Growing up, she was the town misfit, and a brief high school romance that resulted in heartbreak made her realize she was never going to fit in. But now with the support of her mother and an unexpected circle of allies, Sam starts to wonder if she’s misjudged the town all these years.  

Life’s been good to Jake Smith. He transitioned from popular jock to town veterinarian without any trouble. But Sam’s homecoming makes him question his choices. The sharp-tongued beauty was never a good fit for the small community, but he’s never forgotten her—or how good they were together. While she makes it clear she’s not about to repeat the past, Jake’s determined to convince her to give him—and Harvest Cove—a second chance. 


My Review

I love a good second-chance romance. I love the history between the characters, even when it's painful. I love that one of the characters is usually returning home after several years away, which is a struggle in its own right. And I love that in romance, those second chances always turn out to be the last, the best.

In For the Longest Time, we have a painful, yet beautiful reunion between Sam Henry and Jake Smith. When Jake and Sam parted ways after a very brief and secret relationship, Sam was ripped apart. As it turns out, despite his bad behavior, Jake was ripped also, though he doesn't realize how badly until Sam returns. When she does return, down and unsure how to move forward, it doesn't take Jake long (approximately five minutes) to determine that he will win Sam back and he won't ever let her go again. Sam is not convinced in the slightest. Rightfully so.

What made this reunion so difficult is how badly Sam was treated by Jake and his friends in high school. Words hurt when your a teen misfit, especially when the cruelty comes from the boy you've fallen in love with. Jake Smith was beautiful, athletic and popular, and Sam loved him. When Jake finally sees the girl behind the dark makeup and weird clothes, he begins to fall for Sam, too. But life is hard, even when you're popular, and to keep the peace with his friends, Jake shoots down publicly, breaking her heart.

Sam moved on, to a different city and a different life. But she never forgot how Jake broke her, and when he begins to make his move, she is not buying it. Sam's inner strength wowed me. Jake still gets to her, and when you get to know him better, you can see why. He was an easily swayed, misguided teen, but he is a good man. A man who cares about his people and his community. So the fact that Sam was so tempted by Jake was a no-brainer. The fact that she made him prove his character to her made me happy.

If someone really cares for you, they will prove themselves with words and actions. The fact that Jake is still close with his high school friends was a big stumbling block between the two. This group of jerks annoyed me to no end! But they served a purpose in that Jake has to make a decision whether he'll go with the flow or forge ahead and become an even better person. And if he can drag a few other friends out of the high school glory days, all the better.

For the Longest Time was such an endearing love story. I adored Sam, with her witty spirit and her unwillingness to let the past defeat her again. Jake was a great romantic lead, full of the swoons and experiencing growth to make him worthy of Sam's heart. We also get a nice array of secondary characters. I personally crossing my fingers for a Jason (Jake's cousin) and Zoe (Sam's boss) story. Those two are a match made to win my heart.

Every Little Kiss, book two in the Harvest Cove series, centers on Sam's sister Emma, her near-opposite in many ways. I'm looking forward to her story and to revisiting Harvest Cove!

Favorite Quotes

  When she looked surprised, he leaned in close so she could hear him better -- and so he could breathe in her perfume just a little bit more. There was something she needed to understand, something he'd keep repeating until Sam accepted it as the truth...because it was.

  "I told you, Sam. I grew up. You're going to find that out."

  Jake pulled back enough to look in her eyes, his hair wild from her fingers in it, his skin glistening. And she felt something inside her, in the dark and hurt places she kept hidden, finally begin to warm. To heal.

  Jake touched his forehead to hers, and she could feel him shaking, waiting at the edge himself. For her. She pressed a kiss to his lips, different from the ones that come before.

  The boy she'd loved was right here in her arms. And no amount of anger or past hurt could change that everything that had drawn her to him remained.

 Jake pressed a kiss to the top of her head as she clung to him, eyes wide as the realization hit her with all the force of the speeding train. She loved him. Still. Again. More.

  And it terrified her.

I have one copy of For the Longest Time to give away, courtesy of the publisher. Open to US only; must be 18+ years of age to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About Kendra Leigh Castle

Kendra Leigh Castle is the author of numerous paranormal romances, including the MacInnes Werewolves trilogy, the RITA award-nominated Renegade Angel, the Dark Dynasties series, and the Hearts of the Fallen series. 2014 will see the release of her first contemporary romance, For the Longest Time, which will be the first in her Harvest Cove series. Kendra lives in Maryland with her husband, children, two Newfs, and one obnoxious cat.

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Blog Tour: Riding the Wave/The Red Bikini - Top Five Beaches + Giveaway

Welcome to The Red Biking - Riding the Wave Blog Tour! I will start by saying that I have read - and loved- both of these books. Today I have authors Lauren Christopher (The Red Bikini) and Lorelei Brown (Riding the Wave) sharing their Five Favorite Beaches. Enjoy their choices, a few photos, and the tour giveaway. I also have the book details below along with purchase links. Trust me, both are perfect summer reads!

P

Lauren’s 5 Favorite Beaches

Since I grew up in Southern California, my favorite beaches are all here within driving distance. There are about 50 named beaches in Orange County, all known for any number of fun seaside activities. But these are my 5 all-time favorites:

Laguna Beach: There are so many great things about Laguna, I’m not even sure where to start. But when my family goes to the beach, we usually go to Laguna. It’s quirky; it’s weird. It’s got great restaurants, shopping, and one of the coolest record stores ever. The main beach is pretty standard fare (although it has a cool old lifeguard tower there and some awesome volleyball). But there’s romantic Heisler Gazebo up on the hill, natural tidepools below, great art galleries up and down the street, a trolley running up and down Pacific Coast Highway in the summer, and an entire art festival going on in the eucalyptus canyon. I love Laguna so much I put several scenes from there in THE RED BIKINI!

My son on the Laguna Beach trolley

Treasure Island Beach in Laguna Beach: Although technically in Laguna also, I’m calling out Treasure Island specifically because my photog-loving teens and I like coming here to snap great photos. Amazing sunsets. Beautiful foliage. Craftsman style buildings. Teak benches looking out over the ocean. (You can see one on my website at www.laurenchristopherauthor.com) You can take two different sets of stairs down to two surprisingly quiet beaches – one a nice beach strand great for skimboarding, and the other a quiet cove with a tidepool, a blowhole, and cool nooks to lay down a towel and enjoy some unbelievable natural beauty in peace and quiet. Love it here.

The Wedge in Newport Beach: Sometimes in the winter, my youngest son, hubby and I pick up a quick dinner and head down to The Wedge to just sit in the sand and watch some of the best surf theater. Due to the way the jetty comes in at an angle here, and when the swells come up from the Southern Hemisphere just so, The Wedge can see waves of up to 30 feet. You’ll know the days it’s big because the beach is packed with cameras and looky-loos like us, all watching the daredevils take on this craziness. Here’s one of my favorite videos of it.

Take a look for yourself
 

 

 

Huntington Beach: If you’re into surfing, Huntington Beach is a must-stop. The Surfing Walk of Fame is on the corner of Main Street and Pacific Coast Highway. The International Surfing Museum is one block north of Main Street. And the U.S. Open of Surfing is held right there, next to the pier, every July. It gets a little overcrowded in the summer, but if you can visit in the winter or spring months, Huntington settles into a more peaceful vibe, and you can enjoy places like “Dog Beach” in Huntington Cliffs, where doggies can run right into the surf, and the bird estuary across the highway, which has great walking and biking trails. And nothing beats roasting marshmallows at night around a fire ring here.

Crystal Cove: Crystal Cove is really made up of a bunch of tiny beaches, but they all form to combine a surprisingly quiet enclave that provides scenic hiking, amazing scuba diving and snorkeling (it’s called an “underwater park”), gorgeous tidepools, and even a romp through history with a small boardwalk of historic cottages. (One is where the movie “Beaches” was filmed.)Wildflowers, cliffs, and steep trails to the beach make this one of the prettiest and most natural places. I feel like this beach is one of Orange County’s best-kept secrets, but we’re all friends here, right? A day here is like a trip back in time.

 

 

 

Lorelie’s 5 Goal Beaches

Like Lauren, I grew up in Southern California too. (My time was almost exclusively spent at Huntington Beach. What can I say, I’m a loyalist.) Due to life circumstances, I now live north of Chicago! Which means I spent almost the entire Arctic Vortex day dreaming about beaches to hit up. So here’s my some-day list…

Bora Bora: I’m going to get one of those thatch-roofed bungalows out on the crystal blue water. How great would that be to be completely surrounded by the ocean? It would lull you to sleep. And in the morning you could dive off from your deck for your morning wakeup. Live in a swimsuit for the whole time you’re there, and never have to put on real pants. Bliss!

Banzai Pipeline, The North Shore, Hawaii: This is all for the view. I wanna see Pipeline going off. Even though I’ll likely be staked out on shore, because I wouldn’t have the slightest clue what to do in a wave that big. It’d break me! But I’d love to see it surfed in person, not just vids.

The Hidden Beach, Mexico: I just recently heard about this one. It’s got this volcano formed half-shell over it, but the sun peeks through. You can only access the sand from the water. You really have to check it out [http://twistedsifter.com/2013/04/hidden-beach-las-marietas-islands-mexico/] to understand the appeal. It looks like…magic. Like mermaids would frolic there.

 

 

The Gold Coast, Australia: Mostly because I want to go to Australia. Heh. It’d be way cool.

Now, this last one is sort of a cheat, because it isn’t really a particular beach. More like I wanna go to one of those really fancy, adult resorts. Where there are no kids for miles and a houseboy brings me fruity, boozy drinks on a tray while I lounge at the water’s edge. God, that sounds like heaven!

 

About the books...

 

 

 

 

Series: Pacific Blue #1

Genre: Contemp/Sports Romance

Publisher: Signet

Publication Date: 7/1/14

GoodReads

The gray-green swells of San Sebastian haven’t changed in ten years, but Tanner Wright has. The last thing he expects to find back on his home turf is the love of his life.... 

With a make-or-break world championship on the line, professional surfer Tanner Wright has come back to the coastal California hometown he left a decade ago, carrying only his board and the painful knowledge of his father’s infidelity. Now that Hank Wright is dead, Tanner intends to keep the secret buried to spare his mother and sister the burden.

The last time Avalon Knox saw her best friend’s brother, she was fourteen and he was a twenty-year-old surfer god. She’s never understood or respected the way Tanner distanced himself from the family that has embraced her. But now she has the professional chance of a lifetime: to photograph Tanner for the competition—if he’ll agree.

Out on the waves, they find in each other passion that’s impossible to resist. And Tanner’s not the only one trying to move forward from his past. As the competition heats up, secrets get spilled, and lust takes over. How close can Avalon get to this brooding surfer…without getting burned?

 

The Pacific Blue Series

 

 

 

(covers lead to GoodReads page)

 

 

 

  Purchase Riding the Wave

 

Barnes and Noble  |   Amazon  |  iBooks  |  Kobo  |   Powell’s

Series: Sandy Cove #1

Genre: Contemp Romance

Series: Sandy Cove #1
Genre: Contemp Romance

Publisher: Berkley

Publication Date: 7/1/14

GoodReads  

 

A sparkling debut romance where a getaway vacation turns into an unexpected new beginning……

For the last five years, Giselle McCabe’s life has been about sippy cups and playdates. But when her husband suddenly leaves her, Giselle flees to her sister’s California beach house for a two-week getaway. Out of her element, she’s surprised to receive such a warm welcome—especiall...moreA sparkling debut romance where a getaway vacation turns into an unexpected new beginning……

For the last five years, Giselle McCabe’s life has been about sippy cups and playdates. But when her husband suddenly leaves her, Giselle flees to her sister’s California beach house for a two-week getaway. Out of her element, she’s surprised to receive such a warm welcome—especially from gorgeous celebrity athlete Fin Hensen……

Fin is escaping his pro tour for a season, trying to lie low until all the hubbub over a huge mistake in his past blows over. And when he sets his sights on Giselle, he realizes that the beautiful good girl just might be the ticket to his success.

But Giselle never expected romance to enter the picture again—especially with a hot twentysomething from a completely different world. And even though it feels like Fin is everything she’s trying to run away from, she can’t help coming back for more……

Purchase The Red Bikini

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a Rafflecopter giveaway  

 

 

 

 

 

 

About Lorelei Brown

 

After a semi-nomadic childhood throughout California, Lorelie Brown spent high school in Orange County before joining the US Army. After traveling the world from South Korea to Italy, she’s returned home to California. Lorelie has three active sons and a tiny shih-tzu who thinks he’s son number three—not four, he’s too important to be the baby. Writing romance helps her escape a house full of testosterone.

 

Website  |  Twitter  |  Facebook  |  GoodReads 

About the Lauren Christopher

 

After graduating with an English degree from UCLA, Lauren launched a 23-year career as a nonfiction writer and editor -- writing more than 100 newspaper, magazine, and online articles on everything from the history of auto racing to the origins of Santa Claus. Lauren lives in Southern California with her husband and three teenage children.

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Review: Riding the Wave (Pacific Blue #1) by Lorelei Brown

Series: Pacific Blue #1

Series: Pacific Blue #1

Series: Pacific Blue #1
Genre: Contemp/Sports Romance

Publisher: Signet

Publication Date: 7/1/14

Format: ARC

Pages: 336

Source: Publisher

Rating: 4 stars

GoodReads  |  Amazon  |  B&N

The gray-green swells of San Sebastian haven’t changed in ten years, but Tanner Wright has. The last thing he expects to find back on his home turf is the love of his life.... 

With a make-or-break world championship on the line, professional surfer Tanner Wright has come back to the coastal California hometown he left a decade ago, carrying only his board and the painful knowledge of his father’s infidelity. Now that Hank Wright is dead, Tanner intends to keep the secret buried to spare his mother and sister the burden.

The last time Avalon Knox saw her best friend’s brother, she was fourteen and he was a twenty-year-old surfer god. She’s never understood or respected the way Tanner distanced himself from the family that has embraced her. But now she has the professional chance of a lifetime: to photograph Tanner for the competition—if he’ll agree.

Out on the waves, they find in each other passion that’s impossible to resist. And Tanner’s not the only one trying to move forward from his past. As the competition heats up, secrets get spilled, and lust takes over. How close can Avalon get to this brooding surfer…without getting burned?

My Review

 

I love the ocean and beach, in theory. No, I actually do love it. It's really the last great mystery on earth, so beautiful and wild. I respect those who set out to explore it, and those who set out to conquer its waves. What I don't like about the ocean is swallowing so much salt water that I get sick, though it's good for clearing the head. And I don't like getting sand all up in my bits, especially since I'm responsible for cleaning my two little kidlets. That is one of the reasons why I so love books with an ocean-side setting. I get the chance to experience the beach without the messiness. In Riding the Wave, I became the surfer, the photographer.

  

Riding the Wave made me all sorts of happy. Along with the gorgeous setting, we get the coming home story, a personal favorite of mine. We get the "falling for little sister's best friend" trope. And with our pro-surfer hero Tanner, we get a great sports romance. My reading friends, this makes Riding the Wave a triple threat in Andrea's World.

 

After a heated, secretive falling-out with his father ten years prior, Tanner Wright left his family behind. When it became clear he wasn't backing down, dear old dad pretty much wiped out his existence in the family's home. His mother and younger sister stayed in touch, but because of Tanner's fear of hurting them with the truth, he remained emotionally distant. He's an angry man. So angry at his father, who's secrets and lies drove him away, in an effort to protect his mother and sister. Angry he's missed so much time, his home. And angry that he must be the one to end the secrets. After his father's death, Tanner finally comes home to compete in his last world championship. Years of surfing have left his body older than its years, and he wants to go out on top. While he's home, Tanner begins to reconnect with his mom and sister, and family friend Avalon. But his father's secret has followed him home, and now Tanner will finally be forced to break their hearts.

 

But guys, there's a bright side here! Riding the Wave is a romance, after all. And that bright side is Avalon Knox, up-and-coming photographer, supportive best friend, and world-class ball buster when it comes to Tanner Wright. Of course this means that I adored her. Avalon essentially raised herself until the Wright family took her in and loved her as their own. Considering the Wrights as the perfect family anyone would be lucky to be part of, Avalon repaid their love by always protecting them, no matter the cost. When Tanner comes home and the drama unfolds, Avalon struggles with a way to spare them pain, even if it causes her own. But she's also protecting Tanner, and falling in love with the broody, elusive man, at the same time.

 

The relationship between Tanner and Avalon was pretty delicious. The chemistry between the two was at a constant smolder, with flare-ups that had me grinning and swooning and fanning myself the entire time. There was a latent sexuality to Tanner.  It was barely beneath the surface, suggestive, an invitation. He was a raw, wild man. It was in the way he looked at Avalon, the way he thought of her, the way he moved. It wasn't overwhelming or overdone, but always present.  

 Brown's writing was pretty amazing. As  with the relationship and chemistry between and Avalon, her portrayal of their emotions was spot-on. All the little details, especially the non-verbal cues she places into the narrative, gave me a clear description of every moment, upping my emotional investment. I wanted these two to truly connect, to work out the issues that might hold them apart, and to find a great ending together. I love when an author can truly make me connect with the story and has me thinking about their story weeks after I've turned the last page.

 

I adored Riding the Wave, and am excited to continue the Pacific Blue series. I was hoping Ahead in the Heat would be about Tanner's sister Sage and rival Jack, but it looks like I'm out of luck this round. I'm still excited to see what comes next.

Favorite Quotes

 

 

  The way she kissed went straight to his head. She took and took, as if every motion was worship. Every taste a gift she gave him. He knew without saying a word that she'd ask for exactly what she needed from him. No guessing. No secrets.

  God, that sounded good.

 

 

  She was overwhelmed by him. She was overwhelmed by who she was with him. Everything else dropped away, until there was only their miniscule corner of the world. The way he moved in her, made her feel.

  Her eyes drifted shut, better to run from the crackling-fire rush. She wanted to close her arms around it, hold the blitz close. Hide away.

  But she felt his grip across the back of her neck.A thumb stroked hard over her jaw. "Here.Look at me."

 

 

The Pacific Blue Series

 

 

 

(covers lead to GoodReads page)

 

 

 

 

About Lorelei Brown

 

After a semi-nomadic childhood throughout California, Lorelie Brown spent high school in Orange County before joining the US Army. After traveling the world from South Korea to Italy, she’s settled north of Chicago. Because going from California warmth to northern snow seemed like the proper order of events...

Lorelie has three active sons and a tiny shih-tzu who thinks he’s son number three—not four, he’s too important to be the baby. Writing romance helps her escape a house full of testosterone.

In her immense free time (hah!) Lorelie co-writes contemporary erotic romance under the name Katie Porter. You can find out more about the “Vegas Top Guns” and “Club Devant” series at www.KatiePorterBooks.com or at @MsKatiePorter. You can also contact Lorelie on Twitter @LorelieBrown.

 

 

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REVIEW: WILDFLOWER WEDDING by LuANN McLANE

Series: Cricket Creek #6
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Signet
Publication Date: 4/1/13
Format: eARC
Pages: 304
Source: Received from publisher for review
Rating: 3.5 stars

GoodReads  |  Amazon  |  B&N  |  iBooks

Cricket Creek, Kentucky, is a sweet river town known for its baseball, shopping, and weddings. After the recession, business is finally bouncing back, but old insecurities—and heartaches—are slower to heal…

Growing up on the wrong side of the tracks, Gabby Goodwin had more to prove than the rest of Cricket Creek. Even now, as the successful owner of the local flower shop, she hasn’t forgotten her humble beginnings. So when her high school crush, the former class bad boy, walks back into her life, she keeps him at arm’s length, protecting her heart—and her pride.

Reese Marino gave up most of his wild ways years ago, graduating from college and becoming part owner of his uncle’s pizza parlor. The fact that Gabby still treats him like a troubled teenager drives him mad, but that’s not the only thing about the sassy florist driving him to distraction. Despite Gabby’s reluctant attitude, Reese is determined to win her over and show her that love often blooms right where you least expect it.

The Cricket Creek series is comfort. You have a small yet thriving town, full of kind people who look out for one another. There's very little high drama, and love. Wildflower Wedding is only the second full-length novel of the series that I've had the chance to read (in addition to a Christmas novella) but I can still say I recommend the entire series.

In Wildflower Wedding, you get not only one love story, but two. I've noticed this pattern with the series, and I like it. With the primary love story, we have Gabby and Reese. They both grew up on the poorer side of town, and were friends. As they got older, Gabby tried to stay out of trouble while Reese searched it out. Both held affection for the other, but believed theirs was unrequited. With Reese's return to Cricket Creek, these two finally get a chance.

The secondary love story involves Reese's uncle Tony and Trish. Both are new to town, and skittish after painful divorces. I really liked their initially antagonistic relationship, and loved how they slowly warmed to one another. I wish the blurb mentioned this couple as well as Gabby and Reese, because I do believe they're an asset to the story. I enjoyed their love story just as much as the Gabby and Reese's.

I wish I could live in Cricket Creek! Between Wedding Row and the newly formed Restaurant Row, there's a lot going on. I want to go to the barn weddings, baseball games, and girls nights out. I love the strong female relationships in this series, and the sense of kindness each character exudes. If you're looking for a comfort read that will leave you peaceful and happy, take a trip to Cricket Creek.


Favorite Quotes

 

  "Yeah, all I ever wanted was you." He closed his eyes and sighed. "I'm not a little boy or a mad-at-the-world teenager. I'm a grown man and my feelings for you are real." He opened his eyes and looked at her. "But I wanted to wait to tell you how I feel. I wanted to gain your trust and show you I'm not that messed-up kid anymore."

 

 

Embarrassment vanished. She felt bold and beautiful. After living a life of restraint, trying to please instead of being herself, this felt even better than a flying leap. This felt airless, like soaring.

  Tonight could not come soon enough.  

 

 

      The Cricket Creek Series

            

(covers lead to GoodReads page)

 

 

 

About the author

LuAnn McLane writes southern bent romantic comedy for NAL and is currently penning her third novel in her Cricket Creek book series.  Her books have appeared on best selling lists including Barnes and Noble, Rhapsody and Doubleday Book clubs. She recently collaborated with country superstar Wynonna Judd with the novel Restless Heart. She lives in Florence, Kentucky and when she isn’t writing… she enjoys family, friends, cooking, reading, music, travel and University of Kentucky basketball.

 

 

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TWO-FOR-ONE REVIEWS: MAKE YOU MINE / IT HAPPENED ONE WEDDING

Series: Dumont Bachelors #1 
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Signet
Publication Date: 5/6/14
Format: Paperback
Pages: 356
Source: Publisher
Rating: 4 stars

GoodReads  |  Amazon  |  B&N  |   iBooks

For ninety-nine years, every man in the Dumont family has remained a perpetual bachelor. Residents of Cedar Bayou, Louisiana, whisper about a voodoo hex cast upon the family, sabotaging each man’s chance at marriage. In truth, the Dumont men have their own player personalities to blame, and Marc is no exception. As captain of his family’s riverboat, he’s broken hearts up and down the Mississippi. That is, until his high school crush strolls onboard...

Allie Mauvais rocks the boat when she fills in as pastry chef. She hasn’t seen Marc since senior year, when rumors flew that her great-great-grandmother was the one who cursed the Dumonts. After two weeks on the water, neither can deny the attraction that still burns between them. But to truly reach Marc’s heart, Allie must show him that the hex isn’t real, and it’ll take more than her mouthwatering sweets to prove it. Will Allie’s love be enough to finally make Marc hers?

 

As a big fan of Macy Beckett's Sultry Springs series, I was so excited to see she had a whole new series lined up. Even better: it's set in south Louisiana. Even better than that: the series centers around a nearly century-long curse. Many years back, Allie Mauvais' great-great grandmother apparently cursed the Dumont men, to be doomed to fail at love and marriage. Though the series is only hints at a touch of magical realism, there is a strong sense of superstition surrounding the curse. That combined with the community's wariness for Allie's family, gave me a bit of a Practical Magic vibe. I was all in from the get-go.

The Dumont curse seems to be holding true, for no Dumont man has married since. Crazy, right? Right. What's fun about this is, the women in the story is the completely reasonable part, whereas the men, they are bananas. It was cute, really.

Allie Mauvais fell for Marc Dumont in high school. Marc fell right back, and was so into Allie, despite the curse. That is, until it seemed to strike him. Rather than take a chance, Marc dumped Allie, and has spent the next decade burning up the sheets with woman after woman. When fate, or the curse, puts Allie and Marc back together, on a riverboat at that, Allie wants another chance to prove that the curse is just old superstition. Will the girl get her man this time around, or will the curse keep another Dumont man from settling down?

Allie has to continually remind Marc that he is better than he believes. He's not his father. He's not bound by a curse. Marc had so many opportunities to mess up and lose my loyalty, but the poor boy, he's just a bit frazzled and love-shocked and nervous. He wants to make a go with Allie, but the curse keeps getting in his way every time he tries to take the next step. Well, he says curse and I say superstition. Silly man. Luckily Allie isn't going to give up easily, and this creole babe is gonna prove her man right in order to prove him wrong. (Just go with it, I know what I speak) There's trickery and a bit of deceit and gaslighting (totally okay in the name of love) and it was fun!

And by the way, if you've read Beckett's Sultry Springs series, then you already know that humor is a strong point of hers. If there's anything I love more than a swoony, worthwhile romance...it's a swoony, worthwhile romance that makes me laugh.

Based on Make You Mine, the Dumont Bachelors will be a great series with a lot to offer readers. Between all the brothers, there is a lot to look forward to, starting with older brother Beau. He's gunning to win his girl (who happens to be Allie's super snarky sister, Devyn) back. I can't wait for the next installment.

 Favorite Quotes
   By sunset, Marc had a residual cramp in his gut and balls the size of coconuts. If it was possible to die from sexual frustration, he'd be rocking a toe tag before dawn. He could barely walk upright as he climbed the stairs to the captain 'a suite, which of course was all the way on the top level. Allie had damn near crippled him.

  Allie closed her eyes, mentally kicking herself for being so careless. This was it--the game was over. He'd won. If only she hadn't been so distracted by Marc in his underwear...
  "Want some help?" Marc asked, his voice thick with anticipation. "I'm an expert panty remover with years of dedIcated experience. I can have them around your ankles, lickety-split."


  "Is that what I think it is?"
  "That depends," Marc said to lighten the mood. "Do you think it's a left-leaning peen?"
  "Yeah, and it's really happy to see me." Beau's upper lip hitched in disgust. "Do folks actually eat these?"
  Devyn threw down her icing bag and shouted, "I don't work here. I'm just helping out." then ran into the back room without another word. With a sigh, Allie handed her frosting bag to Marc and followed her sister, leaving him with a red-faced Beau and a tray full of half-decorated penis cookies.
  "Real smooth," Marc said, handing his brother the bag of white frosting while retrieving the flesh-colored one. "How could she possibly resist you now?" He bent over the counter and picked up where Devyn left off, outlining each member with a steady hand. The task was harder than it looked, no pun intended.
  Beau used the other bag to frost the tips. "When I woke up this morning, I never guessed I'd be doing this."
  "Or running into you ex, I take it."
  "No, I definitely didn't see that coming." Beau glowered at the white buttercream trickling from the end of each cookie. "No pun intended."
  Marc snickered. "I know, right?"

Dumont Bachelors Series

 
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Series: FBI/US Attorney #5

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Jove

Publication Date: 5/6/14

Format: Paperback

Pages: 304

Source: Publisher

Rating: 3.5 stars

 

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SHE KNOWS BETTER THAN TO SAY “I DO”

After a humiliating end to her engagement, investment banker Sidney Sinclair is done with commitment-phobic men. But when her sister winds up engaged after a whirlwind courtship, she’s thrown in to close contact with exactly the kind of sexy playboy she wants to avoid—the gorgeous best man. She’s stuck with him, for better or worse, until her sister walks down the aisle, but that doesn’t mean she has to give in to his smooth advances, no matter how tempting they are…

BUT HE MAKES IT HARD TO SAY “I DON’T”

Special Agent Vaughn Roberts always gets his man on the job and his woman in bed. So Sidney’s refusal to fall for his charms only makes him more determined to win over the cool and confident redhead. Only what starts out as a battle of wills ends up as a serious play for her heart. Because the one woman who refuses to be caught may be the only one Vaughn can’t live without…

 

 

Julie James is an author whose come to my attention more and more lately. That so many romance readers adore her books, particularly the FBI/US Attorney series, made giving this book a chance a no-brainer. I have to say, I can see why James is so popular. It Happened One Wedding was a sassy and sexy story that left me a happy reader.

There is a lot to like about It Happened One Wedding. I'll start with the lead characters' names. Sidney and Vaughn. Let that sink in a moment, if you need to.... Yes, the fact the hero and heroine's names are Vaughn and Sydney immediately tripped my Alias trigger. I mean, how could I not adore a book that reminded me of two beloved characters.

I'm not quite sure how to place the story. It's not enemies-to-lovers, because Vaughn and Sidney actually like each other, respect the snark flying in both directions. It's just that Sidney doesn't think . Vaughn is long-term material. And he really isn't. Vaughn is openly interested in having a good time with Sidney, she's only interest in finding Mr. Forever.

It Happened One Wedding isn't a best friend's little sister story either. How about two brothers fall for two sisters and it's sweet and funny, and an endearing story? Due to the whirlwind relationship and speedy wedding between their siblings, the two are forced together. Their relationship has a ton of antagonism. Both are confident and a bit snarky, and wildly attracted to one another. Obviously. And Vaughn and Sidney are in denial, which is truly so much fun.
 
 It Happened One Wedding isn't a truly fresh story, but it is a well-told one. The conflict between the characters, their reluctance to see how exactly right they are for each other, was frustrating, but only in a good way. I wanted to tell Vaughn and Sidney to open their eyes, but getting to that point was what made the story fun. I thought the story was fun, steamy, and touching. Most importantly, I believed in the happy ever after.


Favorite Quotes

  She'd only been gone a few minutes now, and he knew she couldn't go far. Although...there was always the possibility that she could stumble into some poison ivy. Or an angry badger. Or she could slip in those scrappy designer sandals and tumble headfirst down the hill and into an entire nest of angry badgers.


  "Um, did he just walk in on a complete stranger taking a shower?" Isabella asked.
  "Not...exactly."
  Simon strode back into the kitchen.
  "Yep. It's my brother." Isabelle blinked.
  "What?" She turned to Sidney. "Vaughn's here? You slept with Vaughn?"
  "By any chance would you believe we just went for a morning run together?" Sidney asked, going for a smile. Judging from their expressions, they would not.

 

FBI/US Attorney Series

 

       

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About the authors

 I write hot and humorous romances set in the fictional towns of Sultry Springs, Texas and Cedar Bayou, Louisiana, where first loves find second chances. My brand new "Dumont Bachelors" series launches this year from Penguin Group.

I also write romantic sci-fi for young adults under the name Melissa Landers. Check out ALIENATED, now available from Disney-Hyperion, and the sequel INVADED, coming February 3, 2015.

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New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Julie James practiced law with one of the nation's largest firms for several years until she began writing screenplays. After Hollywood producers optioned two of her scripts, she decided to leave the practice of law to write full-time. Her books have been translated into fourteen languages and Julie’s next novel, IT HAPPENED ONE WEDDING, will be available on May 6.

Julie James lives with her husband and two children in Chicago, where she is working on her next novel.

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REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY: CHRISTMAS ON MAIN STREET, A HOLIDAY ANTHOLOGY

Genre: Contemporary Romance/Holiday Antho.
Publisher: Signet
Publication Date: 11/5/13
Format: Paperback
Pages: 416
Source: Received from publisher
Rating: 3.5-4 stars

‘Tis the season to fall in love in these four small towns.

In “Christmas in Shelter Bay,” New York Times bestselling author JoAnn Ross returns to Shelter Bay, where Kelli has long tried to keep her feelings for her friend Cole a secret. But when the local matchmakers conspire to send them to a secluded lakeside cabin, the two friends soon discover that a little love will keep them warm.

TV producer Nathaniel Ravelle knows the Bayberry Island mermaid legend is a joke— how could a statue grant a wish for true love? But when a Christmas Nor’easter lands him in close quarters with local Annie Parker, they see magic at work in matters of the heart in New York Times bestselling author Susan Donovan’s “A Seaside Christmas.”

In LuAnn McLane’s “Mistletoe on Main Street,” Clint isn’t sure how to rekindle his romance with high school sweetheart Ava—until his father bows out of playing Santa at the annual Cricket Creek holiday parade and Clint gets the chance to make this Christmas one to remember.

And in Alexis Morgan’s “The Christmas Gift”, business is booming at Bridey Roke’s pastry shop. Everyone in town stops in to sample her holiday treats. But in her spare moments, she’s perfecting a special recipe to charm the handsome new neighbor—who has his own surprise gift for her come Christmas Eve!

I debated on how to review Christmas on Main Street. I wasn't sure if I should review each story separately, or on the whole. But then I realized that if I reviewed these individually, each review would read basically the same. Put simply, each novella was sweet, funny, and charming.

I am a fan of novellas, but an even bigger fan of holiday novellas, particularly Christmas and New Years. In these novellas, we get a piece of holiday spirit, set in small town America. You will get a reporter and an author, or new neighbors, neither couple looking for love, but finding it among magic. Happily, there are also stories involving one of my all-time favorite tropes, the "coming home" story, one involving a rekindled romance, another with a heroine who's in love with her brother's best friend. Despite the obvious similarities, all the stories read as unique and special.

Christmas on Main Street was a treat for me, despite reading it way too early in the season. Or more accurately, before the Christmas holidays begin. If you're looking to be put in a festive mood, give this anthology a try.

 

Purchase Christmas on Main Street

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GIVEAWAY
In an effort to help spread the holiday cheer, I'm giving my copy of Christmas on Main Street away.
To enter, leave your name/email address in the form. For an extra entry, tell me your favorite Christmas movie or song. My favorites are "Love Actually" and "All I Want for Christmas (Is You)" by Mariah Carey.

Open to US only. Must be 18+ to enter.

 

 

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About JoAnn Ross

New York Times bestselling author JoAnn Ross has written around a hundred novels for a bunch of publishers. Two of her titles have been excerpted in Cosmopolitan magazine and her books have also been published by the Doubleday, Rhapsody, Literary Guild, and Mystery Guild book clubs.

A member of the Romance Writers of America's Honor Roll of best-selling authors, she's won several awards, including Romantic Times's Career Achievement Awards in both category and contemporary single title.

Currently writing for NAL, JoAnn lives with her husband (her high school sweetheart, who proposed at the sea wall where her Shelter Bay book are set), and three rescued dogs, who pretty much rule the house, in the Pacific Northwest.

 

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About Susan Donovan

I grew up in the Cincinnati suburb of Milford, Ohio and spent my formative years in the cineplex, the mall, the drive-in, and the convertible MG of some guy named Gary. My mother claims I was destined to be a writer. As a kindergartner, I reported that I’d just seen a giraffe, elephant and rhinoceros at the bus stop. When Mom told me I was a good storyteller, I assured her that it was not a story, but the absolute truth! (See the rest of Susan Donovan's bio here)

 

 

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About LuAnn McLane

LuAnn McLane writes southern bent romantic comedy for NAL and is currently penning her third novel in her Cricket Creek book series.  Her books have appeared on best selling lists including Barnes and Noble, Rhapsody and Doubleday Book clubs. She recently collaborated with country superstar Wynonna Judd with the novel Restless Heart. She lives in Florence, Kentucky and when she isn’t writing… she enjoys family, friends, cooking, reading, music, travel and University of Kentucky basketball.

 

 

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About Alexis Morgan

Alexis Morgan grew up near St. Louis and received a B.A. in English from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. She and her husband have made the Pacific Northwest their home for more than thirty years, where she launched her career as a writer. She is published in paranormal romance, fantasy romance, American West historicals, and most recently, contemporary romances with her new Snowberry Creek series.

 

 

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