REVIEW: LOVE AND OTHER GAMES by ANA BLAZE, MELINDA DOZIER, ARIA KANE, AND KARA LEIGH MILLER

Genre: Contemporary Romance (Anthology)
Publisher: Swoon Romance
Publication Date: 10/1/13
Format: ebook
Pages: 242
Source: Received from publisher for review
Rating: 3.5 stars

LOVE AND OTHER GAMES is a collection of four sexy new adult stories centered around athletes competing in the Winter Games by Ana Blaze, Melinda Dozier, Aria Kane, and Kara Leigh Miller.

Worth More Than Gold by Ana Blaze

Amy Pierce, the klutzy sister and manager of America’s Skating Sweetheart, is used to being invisible. But when a friend drags her to a party near the Olympic Village, Amy catches the eye of a sexy Norwegian ski jumper. It’s a magical night, but an awkward next morning has her running.

Everyone knows Erik Andresen’s best shot at an individual medal was back in 2010, before an injury pulled him from the competition. He’s there for his team, but a hot night and a remarkable final training session have him wondering if a gorgeous good-luck charm could give him another chance at the podium.

With a little bit of luck, these two might have a shot at something worth more than gold.

Trouble with Gold by Melinda Dozier

US snowboarder and notorious prankster, Ty (Trouble) Madsen is only getting a taste of his own medicine when his Olympic teammates shackle him to a fence wearing nothing but his boxers.

Reception and protocol volunteer, Nadia Hoffman, gets up close and personal with the sexy snowboarder to rescue him, but she's not the kind of girl who lets her hormones get in her way. A professional performance could help her land her dream job at Olympics Committee Headquarters, but her new assignment supervising the rambunctious US Snowboarding Team is making that difficult. Can she see behind the snowman in the community center bathroom and into the warm heart of the man everyone calls Trouble?

The Girl behind the Gold by Aria Kane

Greek aerial skier Lia Milonas’s parents are about to lose the family farm. Saving it means medaling and landing a huge sponsor. While her no-nonsense attitude has her well on her way to a medal, it hasn’t won her a place in fans' hearts.

“Come back with a story that will make readers cry, or don’t come back.” This is what Brandon James’ boss told him before he left New York to cover the Winter Games for Moment Magazine. With a wink and a smile, he can charm his way into any invite-only party, but that career-making story is nowhere to be found – until he meets Lia.

The two strike a deal that should get them both what they want - but neither would have guessed they’d also find what they need.

Ice Gold by Kara Leigh Miller

Colton Campbell thrives on the fast paced, adrenaline rushed lifestyle of being an Olympic hockey player.

Despite Brenna Jessup's abhorrence for the games and the athletes, she's hand-picked as the official photographer for the U.S. Olympic Hockey Team.

When a faux pas by Brenna almost costs Colton his career, she owes him. Too bad for her, Colton doesn't want apologies -- he wants retribution! And he knows just how to get it -- and her -- in the process.

I love the Winter Olympics so much; more than the Summer Games. I've always been fascinated by the skaters, dancers, skiiers, jumpers....And the fact that this anthology is set around the Winter Games made reading this a no brainer. The Olympics are coming next month (!), making this the perfect time to read Love and Other Games.

After the 2012 Olympics, I remember hearing about the insane amount of hook-ups and condom useage in the Olympic Village. Thousands of hard bodied athletes, not to mention all the extra people, in close proximity is sure to cause heightened and fast-paced feelings and actions. Taking that into account, the insta-lust, if not the love, is an easier pill to swallow. In Love and Other Games, we get four stories of these elite athletes having intense encounters with non-athletes, encounters full of raging lust that leave them wanting more, headed towards love.

All the stories in the anthology were fast-paced (duh) and sexy. They were also fun and charming. My very favorite story was Worth More than Gold, featuring a fun heroine and a dead sexy Norwegian. That one was sexy and made me laugh out loud several times. I would recommend the entire anthology based on that story alone. I also really enjoyed Trouble with Gold, which opened with a funny and humiliating prank. I did enjoy the two other stories as well, but the two mentioned really stood out in my mind. I really liked that all the stories were tied together by the superstition surrounding the lucky torch. That aspect gave a sense of cohesion that I appreciated.

If you're looking for a set of fun and sexy stories that will get you in the mood to watch hot athletes in spandex, give Love and Other Games a shot.



Favorite Quotes:

  The guy with the big hands and the sexy voice was named Erik and he was a skier. If the giant flag tacked to the ceiling was any indication he was a Norwegian skier. He was a Viking. She'd had Viking sex. That certainly explained the soreness in places she didn't know she had muscles.  ~ Worth More than Gold

  "Are you really going to 'Alexis' me when you spent the afternoon banging a giant on a train...in the bathroom? I love that part the best. How did that even work? He's huge. It was like seeing a clown car emptying when you came out.  ~ Worth More than Gold


  If this is what being bad felt like, she was ready to take a new notion in life. Words fell through her head as quickly as she skied down a bunny slope. Bad. Frivolous. Naughty. Fun. Trouble. If this was what it entailed, she wanted more. More of Ty. More Trouble.  ~ Trouble with Gold

 

 

  The instant their lips met, Lia's eyes slammed shut. His lips were full and warm against hers. A heady feeling flooded her brain, leaving her seemingly without conscious thought. His hand slipped over her shoulder to cradle the back of her head and the heady feeling exploded into a whirlwind of color and sensation.  ~The Girl Behind the Gold

 

 

  Cole trembled beneath her caress. "You really shouldn't have done that," he whispered against her lips before claiming them once more, deepening the kiss until he stole the breath from her body, making her weak and dizzy. It was a damn good things she was sitting because if she'd been standing, she would've collapsed.   ~Ice Cold

 

 

 

 

Purchase Love and Other Games

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble

About Ana Blaze
Ana lives just outside Washington DC with her very supportive husband and three rather demanding cats. She loves the ocean, Indian food, Ikea, and cooking. Ana admits to watching too much television and she swears that someday she’s going to learn how to play the guitar resting on the bookshelf in her office.

Blog  |  Twitter  |  GoodReads


About Melinda Dozier
Melinda lives in Guatemala, Central America with her husband and three boys. She teaches English to middle schoolers during the day and finds time to write at night. Melinda has always been an avid reader and writer, enjoys watching reality tv, blogs, and relaxes with Zynga games.

Website  |  Twitter  |  GoodReads



About Aria Kane
Aria Kane is a recovering mechanical engineer and romance writer. As a military brat, she grew up all over the country, but now lives in sunny Florida with a 60 lb mutt who thinks he's a chihuahua. She's the author of ONCE UPON A DARKNESS and A TITAN FOR CHRISTMAS.

Website  |  Twitter  |  GoodReads


About Kara Leigh Miller
Born and raised in the small town of Mexico, New York, Kara was an only child who was forced to find ways to entertain herself. Playing make believe with her Barbie dolls and stuffed animals was her first real taste of storytelling before she became old enough to develop a love affair with the written word.

In early 2010, Kara picked up her very first erotic romance novel, and she was instantly hooked. She loves to write contemporary romance, erotica, and young adult romance. Currently she has several full-length novels in the works, a series of novellas, and a handful of short stories. Kara is an active member of the CNY Creative Writers Café and the CNY Romance Writers.

Today, Kara resides in New Haven, New York with her husband, five kids, and three cats. When she’s not reading or writing, she’s thinking about reading and writing. And when she’s not doing that, she’s spending time with her family and friends.

Website  |  Goodreads

REVIEW: GOING HOME AGAIN, BY ABBY CAVANAUGH

 Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Swoon Romance
Publication Date: 8/27/13
Format: ebook
Pages: 300
Source: Publisher
Rating: 3.5 stars

In high school, it was doubtful Michael Day knew Alyssa Jones existed.

Twenty years later, when the now-famous pop star returns home to coastal North Carolina, Alyssa gets a second chance to make a first impression on Michael.

On sabbatical from his failing marriage, Michael agrees to an interview with Alyssa, a journalist for the local tourist magazine.

When the chemistry between them ignites, Alyssa and Michael are hit with the harsh reality that he isn't yet free to love her.

With Michael's wife and son still very much in the picture, can Alyssa hold out until he ends his marriage for good? Or will she risk it all for a second chance with the one who got away?

First Impression ....A story about a woman who falls in love with her high school crush-turn rock star. I'm in.

The Story... Twenty years after he became her crush, Alyssa gets the chance to interview rock star Michael Day for her magazine when he returns to his home town. Instant chemistry sparks between the two. Good news, considering Alyssa gets to live her long-time fantasy. Bad news, considering  Michael is on a break from his marriage and considering divorce. The attraction is intense, and won't be denied. Michael and Alyssa must struggle through the difficulties of ending a marriage, and beginning something new, all in the media spotlight.

The Characters ... I've struggled with this, and have had a hard time reconciling being objective, and my personal thoughts on Alyssa and Michael's actions. Alyssa and Michael were both likable enough characters, considering their actions. I get that they shared an instant chemistry, but being a wife myself, I'm a hard sell on the cheating part. Yes, I got that Michael's marriage was by all intents over, but his wife didn't know that. And even though she was portrayed as a shrew, I felt more sorry for her than anyone else. I've kind of beaten myself up over my feelings for Michael and Alyssa, but then realized that I have read books in which I've felt more empathy for the cheater. I could feel what drove that character to the actions. I can say from an objective standpoint that it makes for a very interesting story. But from a personal angle, I was never on the either main character's side. Feeling so conflicted makes it difficult to review, but also shows that it was a story that made me think.


The Writing .... Was nice and easy. I will say that the first half of the plot felt rushed. Michael and Alyssa reconnected, began their relationship, and fell in love in the span of under two weeks (I think). I know it's possible, sixteen years ago my friend has married a guy she knew six days, they are still married. I was told it was there, but I didn't feel this intense bond that wouldn't be denied. Besides that, the story is really sweet. And the dual point-of-view provided insight into Michael's life and experiences in his marriage, along with Alyssa's long-held feelings for him. I mean, who among us never dreamed about meeting and falling in love with a famous rocker? So that part, I really enjoyed. It's like a great wish-fulfillment for the teenager in all of us. Besides the whole "wife" bit.

Could I Put Going Home Again Down? ... Because of the nice, fast pace, I never struggled with finishing. I wasn't consumed, but I was curious how it would all go down.

In the End ... I enjoyed Going Home Again, though I struggled with Alyssa and Michael's  actions. It took me back to a time when Jordan Knight was my #1 guy, and that's never a bad thing.


Favorite Quote:

  I slid my fingers into her hair and let my thumbs caress her face as I kissed her again. She fell into me and we held each other tighter. Something about the cold rain drenching us and the warmth of her body next to mine as we literally kissed and made up, made me realize this was one of those moments I was going to remember for the rest of my life. And I silently thanked God once again for bringing Alyssa into my life.    ~79%

Purchase Going Home Again

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble 

About the author
Abby Cavenaugh is a writer of romantic women's fiction and YA paranormal. She is a newspaper editor by day, but dreams of someday retiring to the North Carolina coast to write books full-time. She lives near Charlotte with her twin sister, also a writer, six-year-old niece and crazy cat, Gus, and is driven by dreams, Diet Coke and chocolate.


Website  |  Twitter  |  Facebook  |  Pinterest

GUEST POST: ABBY CAVENAUGH, AUTHOR OF "GOING HOME AGAIN"

I would like to welcome author Abby Cavenaugh to the blog today, to tell us about her book, Going Home Again. I will be reviewing Going Home Again soon, and am very excited about it.

 

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Swoon Romance
Publication Date: 8/27/13

In high school, it was doubtful Michael Day knew Alyssa Jones existed.

Twenty years later, when the now-famous pop star returns home to coastal North Carolina, Alyssa gets a second chance to make a first impression on Michael.

On sabbatical from his failing marriage, Michael agrees to an interview with Alyssa, a journalist for the local tourist magazine.

When the chemistry between them ignites, Alyssa and Michael are hit with the harsh reality that he isn't yet free to love her.

With Michael's wife and son still very much in the picture, can Alyssa hold out until he ends his marriage for good? Or will she risk it all for a second chance with the one who got away?

10 Facts About GOING HOME AGAIN 

The fabulous Andrea Thompson asked that I post a guest blog today, to go along with her review of my debut novel, GOING HOME AGAIN. Whether you've read it or not (and if you haven't, I hope you will soon!!!), hopefully you'll find these 10 facts about my novel interesting and fun! 

1. The novel was inspired by my first fan-girl experience with New Kids on the Block. It may sound crazy, but let me explain. In the late 1980s and early 90s, I was a huuuuuuuge fan of NKOTB, especially Jordan Knight. He was my first love in a way, because I never had a high school or college boyfriend that I fell deeply in love with like most people. I had boyfriends but they just weren't spectacular. (Sorry, guys. LOL) Back in the day, I went to three NKOTB concerts, but I never got the chance to get close to Jordan, and definitely never met him. Fast-forward 20 years to Oct. 30, 2008, when they played Charlotte as part of their reunion tour. I was already back to full Jordan Girl status by the end of the first song because after 20 years of desperately trying to get his attention, he finally saw me and smiled and winked at me. Life= made. Haha! BUT, after the show, there was this crazy moment in which Jordan and Donnie Wahlberg ran toward a bunch of us screaming fans in the parking garage underneath the arena. After the craziness cleared, I was standing off to the side and Jordan came right by me. I fan-girled and was 15 again for a second because I jumped on him and gave him this big hug and exclaimed, "Jordan!" He did this cute little laugh and hugged me and said, "Hey!" Now my life really was made. After a few days, I got to thinking how crazy it was that I spent my life from age 13-21 obsessed with this guy and he finally knew I was alive, if even for a brief moment. Then, I thought how cool would it be if by some miracle, some girl like me got to meet her teenage crush and the two of them actually fell in love? Voila! The idea for GOING HOME AGAIN was born. 

2. Although it's published via Swoon Romance, I didn't originally intend for it to be a romance. I realize that contradicts my whole story idea, but honestly, when I first started the book, I intended it for to be about Alyssa and her three best friends, but Alyssa and Michael's story was too good not to be the entire focal point of the story. Apologies to my best friends who were originally a MUCH larger part of the story. ;) 

3. The secondary characters are based on my real-life friends. My twin sister Amy is the basis for Marissa, and my best friend since kindergarten, Angi, is the basis for Haley. As I mentioned above, there used to be much more of Marissa and Haley's stories in the book, but when I had to cut the story down so agents and editors would even consider it, those side plots had to go! 

4. Michael Day's house is a real house in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. When I worked for Wrightsville Beach Magazine (like Alyssa), I wrote occasional stories about homes on the island. This one house stuck out in my mind; it wasn't even my favorite house that I wrote about for the magazine, but once I started writing about Alyssa visiting Mike's house for the first time, I saw this house in my head. I would post a picture of it but I don't want to get sued or something because obviously, it doesn't belong to me!! 

5. Music is a huge part of the story. Not only is Michael Day a pop star in the story, but I also have to have music playing when I am writing. I have a GOING HOME AGAIN playlist on Spotify, which includes some songs I listened to while writing it, but others I became aware of after the book was finished. I would love to have any or all of these songs on the soundtrack if it's ever made into a movie! https://play.spotify.com/user/1297491873/playlist/6fMhYsr60eirbPimVqwcUK (But Tender Love HAS to be on there. If you've read the book, you know why!) 

6. I had massive amounts of input on the cover. I have to give huge kudos to Georgia McBride and Swoon Romance for my cover. Georgia made sure I was 100% happy with the cover before it was approved. In fact, she sent me at least 20 different options, and asked for my yay or nay on each of them. This is something I never thought I'd be able to do as an author and one of the great things about going with a publisher like Swoon. 

7. Married women may not enjoy the story as much as single women. I have been blessed to have mostly five-star reviews, but the four- and three-star reviews are 99% of the time from married women who had a hard time connecting with Alyssa and Mike's motivations at certain parts of the story. I was once married myself (in another galaxy, far, far away...) so I can understand that. But I hope that like most readers seem to have done, those who are married can find themselves rooting for Alyssa and Mike in the end. 

8.The book is dedicated to my cat, Charlie, who passed away Nov. 16, 2011. :( In the book, Alyssa has a chubby black-and-white cat named Charlie. This was my real cat for seven years, and although I was iffy about including my real cat while she was alive, I'm SO glad I did now because this way, she can live on forever through GOING HOME AGAIN's pages. And that's all I'm going to say about that before I burst into tears right now! 

9. My mom still hasn't read GOING HOME AGAIN because I'm a wuss. And also because I'm not sure she understands the concept of eBook. Once it goes to print, I'll have no more excuses and I'll just have to bear That Look when she reads the sex scenes and swearing!!! 

10. Oh, and yes, GOING HOME AGAIN will be available in print soon! No details on the release date yet, but I've been told it will be this month and I am SO EXCITED. :D

 

**Okay, so I am very excited to read Going Home Again! NKOTB was the first band I ever loved, and Jordan was my guy, too. I'll be reading this in the next few days. **

 

 

Purchase Going Home Again

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble 

About the author
Abby Cavenaugh is a writer of romantic women's fiction and YA paranormal. She is a newspaper editor by day, but dreams of someday retiring to the North Carolina coast to write books full-time. She lives near Charlotte with her twin sister, also a writer, six-year-old niece and crazy cat, Gus, and is driven by dreams, Diet Coke and chocolate.


Website  |  Twitter  |  Facebook  |  Pinterest

{WICKED WINTER SATURDAYS} UNWRAP ME by CAROLINA JORDAN and SAMANTHA SPENCER

Baby, it's cold outside! Time to snuggle up with a mug of hot chocolate (or a glass of wine!) and fall into a steamy, sexy book.

Wicked Winter Saturdays is a weekly post created by The Autumn Review, The Bookish Babe, Hackaroo's Reviews, and Sim-Sational-Books. Feel free to join in. (let us know so we can add a link to your post).

The Autumn Review
Sim-Sational Books
Hackaroo's Reviews
Paranormal and Urban Fantasy Reviews

**The books featured on FRISKY FALL SATURDAYS are for adults. If you are under 18 years of age, or do not like smexy books, please stop here. **

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Swoon Romance
Publication Date: 11/13/12
Format: ebook
Pages: 55
Source: Purchased

This year, Christmas comes early for grad-student Peyton Wagner. Being asked to T.A. a handful of classes may not be cause for celebration for her classmates, but for Peyton, it is. Not only will it ensure a snazzy recommendation from her professor at the end of the term, but it keeps her out of her Podunk town—and away from her abusive ex, Blake Hunter. Now that's a holiday miracle.

But as Peyton soon discovers, some miracles come with unexpected and deliciously tempting surprises. And when her past and present collide in a shocking yuletide twist, Peyton has to choose between playing it safe with her mended heart, or risking it all for the chance at a new future . . . and the gift of true love.

Unwrap Me is the first in a series from Carolina Jordan and Samantha Spencer for Swoon Romance.

As soon as I saw Unwrap Me, I just had a feeling it would be a great fit for me. I'm loving these great Christmas romances and this one definitely made me a happy lady.

Unwrap Me is a very short story, GoodReads had it listed at fifty-five pages. Therefore, the story moved very quickly. In a smart move by the authors the story is about two characters, Brody and Peyton, who have known each other for quite some time. This helped give the story some added depth, without feeling like you've jumped into the middle of a story, or feeling rushed.

Unwrap Me was such a sweet story. It was charming and flirtatious, without being overly sexy. Oh sure, the characters have a definite, strong connection, but the bulk of the story is a slow burn. The charm was in the knowing, or at least hoping, the characters would make their way into one another's arms and hearts. When the heat really turns up, it is pretty darn steamy without being overly graphic, for those who prefer their steam to not be scalding hot.

Looking for a Christmas gift to give yourself? Unwrap Me will leave you with a smile.


Favorite Quotes:

  "Don't move," Brody said, leaning across the table. He stretched his arm out and slowly rubbed his thumb above her top lip, his lips twitching into a side grin. A shiver of electricity ran through her. He drew his thumb back and held it up. A line of whipped cream traced the skin on his thumb. Her pulse jumped. Worse, was the visual burst into her head of her licking his sweet skin right then and there at the table. Shit. She knew the whipped cream was a bad idea.


  "You're the best Christmas present I could have ever asked for."
  He paused, a sly smirk sliding up onto his gorgeous face. He raised a dark eyebrow and leveled her with a heated stare. "Then unwrap me." 


You can purchase Unwrap Me at:
Amazon