BREAKING HIS RULES

BREAKING HIS RULES                        ALISON PACKARD
Oct. 22, 2014

Breaking His Rules (Feeling the Heat, #4)Losing fifty pounds is an incredible achievement. But for Melissa Atherton, progress doesn’t come with praise—a scathing comment from an evil cousin at a bridal shower threatens to crush her new self-esteem. Who will she bring to the upcoming wedding? Showing up without a date would be humiliating. It just isn’t an option.

Personal trainer Jake Sawyer was attracted to Melissa before she lost weight, but her progress has him floored. When she admits she plans to hire a male escort—and why—his heart all but breaks. Melissa’s come too far to be knocked down, especially by her own family. He’ll go as her date…and figure out a way to keep his hands to himself.

But when a steamy hotel room encounter takes them both by surprise, Jake balks. He’s sworn never to date one of his clients, not again. And Melissa can’t bear to be just friends with the man who treated her so tenderly, even if it was only for a weekend. Jake’s helped her see she’s strong enough to stand up for herself, but will she find the strength to pursue the only man who’s ever seen the real her?

MY REVIEW:
     The world is a cruel place when you have bullies like Melissa Atherton’s cousin Shauna and her sidekick and maid of honor Denise around.  You see Shauna’s dad is blood and forced her to ask either Melissa or Paige her fraternal twins cousins to be in the wedding party.  Neither wanted to be in it because the one time Musketeer with them turned on them and became a bully.  While in the stall at Shauna’s bridal shower Melissa overheard Shauna talking about why she even bothered to have Paige in the wedding when she was still a big fat pig, basically.  Shauna explained the reason she picked Paige over Melissa to be in the wedding even though she had already lost 50 pounds that Melissa would have ruined all of her bridal pictures because she was so fat, not that Paige was that much better.  That’s when she said neither could get a date.
     So, when she goes to work out later that afternoon Jake Sawyer her personal trainer sees she’s out of sorts and asks.  She explains that she’s so pissed she’s thinking of hiring a escort to be her date so she could prove her cousin wrong.  Jake, who didn’t want to admit it to himself, likes Melissa and considers her a good friend.  He right away right then and there says he would be her escort.  She says no at first but once she gets a phone call from Shauna later that afternoon she calls Jake and says she will take him up on the offer and says she will pay for everything and he says no way. He will. 
     After that Jake starts suggesting that they meet up after hours to go over their background stories and stuff so they do over the next two weeks.  When he gets tickets to his brothers game for the Blaze team he takes her to it with them under the pretense that they will have several hours to talk over the likes and dislikes and all other background.  When to go out for dinner and drinks after the game they keep telling his brother and sister in law that they are just friends.  So when she goes to the bathroom his brother J.T. hits him up and says basically what is going on?   She is more to you that just a friend.  His wife does too.  He still says no and that he has the rule of not dating clients at work.  They both roll their eyes.  When his brother rolls his eyes again when he is looking at the bar, then he shakes his head no.  Jake asks what’s up his brothers says well I’m glad you’re just friend’s cuz it won’t matter to you that our pitcher is making time with your friend. It’s all he can do to stay in his seat.  The just friend this is killing him but his business can’t take it after what happened two years prior.
     Now the thing that keeps happening right in front of him since she lost the 50+ lbs. is that guys are flirting with her, where were they 50+ lbs. ago when she was heavy?  She doesn’t flirt back but it still kills him.  So, it’s off to the wedding the check in, get to their room and there is a problem…a king size bed not the double beds they thought they would have.  Jake tries to change it but, no can do.  This is the start of one funny book.  Melissa’s twin is like her alter ego.  Paige has defended her sister for so long she knows how to cut to the wick quickly. 
     But she and Jake do have one flaming hot chemistry to say the least.  The thing beside the relationship that I like is that this book is about finding yourself through fitness.  Not dieting and exercise but eating when and what your body is actually hungry for.  Listening to your body.  Plus keeping fit, through “Yes”, exercise in the way of fitness so it is done in a way of endurance and well-being.  It’s about not listening to all the garbage all the external things people wanting to shove at you.  Negativity about your weight, never being happy with how much you love or what you look like, wanting to be thinner.
     Learning to be happy in your own skin.  I personally loved the part when Melissa stands up to Mr. Black the photographer.  Bravo!!! The speech all plus size woman want to give.
     I give this book 5 +++ stars.  This book had a great deal of typos.  I don’t know if that was due to whoever inputted the book on to the computer or if was just the way the book downloaded from Amazon.  Which has happened before from the site because the typos tended to be making words that shouldn’t be compounded words.  Provided by net galley.
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THE DOCTOR'S FAKE FIANCEE


THE DOCTOR'S FAKE FIANCEE       VICTORIA JAMES
Posted:  Oct. 22, 2014

The Doctor's Fake Fiancee: a Red River novel (Entangled Bliss)Their marriage bargain is just what the doctor ordered…
 Former surgeon and self-professed life-long bachelor Evan Manning has one thing on his mind—to reclaim the career that a car accident stole from him. But when he’s forced to return to his hometown of Red River, Evan comes face-to-face with the gorgeous woman who’s haunted his dreams for the last year—the woman he rescued from the burning car that injured his hand. Now Evan needs her help. In a month, he'll have the job opportunity of a lifetime...he just needs a wife to get it. Artist Grace Matheson is down on her luck again…until she walks into Evan Manning’s office. When her sexy former hero hears that she needs work, he offers her a job and a home—if she’ll pretend she's his fiancée. Grace knows she shouldn't fall for him. Once the month is up, Evan will be back to his old life. But the more time they spend together, the more real their feelings become—and the more likely heartbreak is.

MY REVIEW:
   What do you do when you are an up and coming star on medical surgery team, a mover and a shaker, a the top of your game and then you do an heroic deed of saving a single mother and her son from their fiery car?  Making you permanently unable to ever do surgeries again. Not to mention you lose you fiancée and lose most of your friends by this act of kindness.  Well meet Evan Manning our hero.
     To show your willingness to be a team player you take a 5 week job in the hometown you swore never to come back to but to do day visits with the family you don’t really care for or least that’s what you say.  You see the doctor that Evan followed around like a puppy dog since he was a little boy and wanted so badly to be like had a heart attack and needs him so he comes.  Saying it will look good to the place he is trying to get to hire him so he can get back on top again.  But surprise surprise the place is not even a place where he will be doing doctoring, he will be a CEO.  But for now he is in Red Rock.  The place he hates and tried so hard to get out of.  But he hoped it would look good on his resume.  Since he wants to work for Metcorp in a CEO Position to be back on top basically selling his soul to the devil.  Yet, they are a family oriented company so he needs a family fast.
     When a year after the crash Grace Matheson and her son Christopher walk into the office that Dr. Chalmers’ nurse just walked out on Evan for being a task master.  It couldn’t be more perfect timing, When Grace and Christopher walk in he comes up with a perfect idea and he wasn’t beneath using a little guilt to get her to go along with it.
     The thing that startles him is that not only is he attracted to this frumpy single mother, he’s starting to enjoy her company, and the thing that he really likes is her precocious 4 year old son Christopher.  He reminds him a little of himself as a kid. 
     At about 80% into the book the mood takes on a dark change and makes me think oh no are we going to go south after going so well.  But no it goes to the dark side of their personalities to get to the heart of the relationship and then is takes a turn and unusual turn.  The rawness that Ms. James pulls from her characters is gut wrenching.  She has the ability to Make you just laugh out loud with Christopher, Grace’s son.  He is outspoken and lacks an edit button but that is what makes him so endearing and funny as hell. Also seeing Evan have to deal head on with his past is just gut wrenching at times.  I give this book 5 stars.  Provided by Net Galley.  Follow us at: www.1rad-readerreviews.com  

HOLIDAY AT MAGNOLIA BAY

HOLIDAY AT MAGNOLIA BAY            TRACY SOLHEIM
Posted:  Oct. 22, 2014

Holiday at Magnolia Bay by Tracy SolheimWhen Navy SEAL Drew Lanham sees Jenna Huntley rising out of Magnolia Bay, she reminds him of the goddess of the sea, but he has to ignore her siren’s call as he’s home on a brief leave trying to recover from a devastating mission where he lost a teammate. 

Jenna’s more interested in protecting and studying Sea Turtles and building a local hatchery than in men; except when she first locks eyes with Drew, she realizes he just might be the one man who can pull her out of her lab and into his bed to celebrate Christmas Magnolia Bay style.

MY REVIEW:
I really enjoyed this holiday short.  This is centered on Andrew Lanham (Drew) who is at his godmother’s home in Magnolia Bay, South Carolina.  He is on R & R.  You see Drew is a Navy SEAL who is suffering from PTSD, due to his last mission where he was ordered to board a chopper and leave remains of a SEAL member behind in the desert overseas.  You see they have a code that they live by as SEALs “Never leave anyone behind.”
     The nightmares and the sounds of the chopper blades in his nightmares bring him to the mission with a earth shattering remorse of being alive.  You see Drew felt this need to save everyone due to an event that happened in his past.  But with him on orders for the R & R it was killing him.  So, instead of heading to San Diego he came to Aunt Evie’s beach home to recoup.
     His first day there he meets the “Turtle Goddess of the Sea” as he likes to call her, privately of course.  Jenna Huntley but on that first day he only finds out it is Jenna.  She had walked out of the ocean to go over to a group of curious boys who were looking at the turtle eggs that were behind the fence clearly marked, “NO TRESSPASSING!”  He had seen the boys and wouldn’t have let them hurt anything considering the nest were in front of Aunt Evie’s and she loved them with a passion.  But he knew boys were curious and needed to check things out that’s how they learned.  But Jenna came out full force and hot as hell at them.  She was a curvy sexy as hell vixen. He finally said something in the boy’s defense and she jumps not knowing he was there.  She started to turn on him, when he used his SEAL voice like he used with his team on the boys.  He explains their wrong they agree and they agreed not to do it again he said, “OK.”  She goes to yell at the boys some more after she regains her composer and stare down with him.  When she realizes that the boys had already run off.  So starts the hotty totty dance between Jenna and Drew.
     I loved the batter of this couple throughout this whole story.  They were not easy on one another at all and yet they had such a soft spot for one another.  They knew there was something there to be leery of but also there was something there to be loved too.  That is where the fears come in.  Causing so many mistakes that take us all on a wild ride.  I give this story 5 stars.  Provided by Net Galley.
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CONFESSIONS OF THE WORLD'S OLDEST SHOTGUN BRIDE

CONFESSIONS OF THE WORLD'S OLDEST SHOTGUN BRIDE  
GAIL HART
Posted:  Oct. 22, 2014

Confessions of the World's Oldest Shotgun BrideRules were meant to be broken; condoms not so much… 

Business executive Katie St. John has given up on love, which she sucks at, to focus on her red-hot career. All she wants from Steve Tyler, an ultra-sexy, surprisingly sweet, and much younger Air Force pilot, is help crossing some items off her secret to-do list of sexual fantasies. Sure, the chemistry between them is hotter than the Cayman sun, but once this vacation’s over, she’ll say good-bye and go back to plotting corporate coups.

But Steve won’t settle for being her temporary boy toy. He’s lusted after Katie, the glamorous older woman who lived next door when he was a kid, since he was old enough to know what lust was. Now that she’s finally moved from his fantasies to his bed, he’s not about to let her go without a fight– especially once he learns she’s returned home with the mother of all souvenirs! 

MY REVIEW:
    How do you handle the world when you never been validated by the ones that should love you the most?  Katie St. John, now known as Kathryn to those she works with, was in George Town, Grand Cayman to have a wild week.  It was her time to be with any or as many boy toys as she could.  You see one year earlier her longtime boyfriend of ten years, dumped her and married a much younger woman.
     Kathryn’s already half tattered ego could only take so much so she wrote out a list of sexual fantasies she would like to have fulfilled by the end of her vacation in the Cayman’s with the best friend Amanda Conrad as her wingman.  Then, at the last minute Amanda’s boyfriend decides he wants to take her home to meet his parents for New Year’s week.  Leaving Kathryn on her own.
     So on her first real night, New Year’s Eve she is at a bar getting ready to leave seeing her prospects were getting lower the closer she got to midnight and the couples hour.  She was finishing the last of her drinks when a group of men came in.  She noticed the talk, muscled, blond male with them all.  Then she turned back to the bar discounting them all when she realized they were all “Fly Boys” with the US Air Force. Being a Consultant doing Defense Contracting in D.C. with the military she knew these high risk guys to well.
     Before she has a chance to turn all the way around the tall blond hones in on her like a heat seeking missile.  He comes over as she turns to face him and he says, “Hi there, gorgeous.”  Making shivers run through her. She teases him about using a better come on line.  Then he says, “I could, but I didn’t think I had to, since we’re such old friends.”  She questions that, then he says, “Don’t you recognize me?”  Teasing expression implied.  “Darlin’,” she says, “if I’d met you before, I guarantee I’d have remembered.”  “You may not remember me, but I remember you.  You’re Katie St. John.”  “Kathryn,” she says surprised. “I haven’t let anyone call me Katie since college.”  Looking at his face.  “Who are you, anyway?”  “I used to be the boy next door.”  The boy next door?  I don’t think so.  That would be Mike Tyler, and even in his wildest dreams, he never looked like you.”  He grins big.  “I’ll tell him you said so.  I’m the other Tyler boy.”
     Her mouth dropped open.  “Little Stevie?” 
     From this point on this story becomes much more erotic-yes, complicated-yes, and emotional-yes all at the same time.  The emotional highs and lows that Kathryn’s character takes you on can sometimes even be frustrating.  This was a case of your upbringing forms the person you will be.  Steve truly loved her and loved her enough for both of them.  But would or could she come around? This is a case of cougar going after the much younger man at the beginning but then in an instant it was the younger man going after the love of his life.
     I give this 4 stars only because it had some lulls in it for me where I would find my mind wandering. Provided by netgallery.com
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STIRRING UP TROUBLE

STIRRING UP TROUBLE                       KIMBERLY KINCAID


Stirring Up Trouble by Kimberly KincaidSloane Russo's turned a decade of crazy jobs and whimsical travel into a career writing steamy novels set in exotic places. Trouble is, Sloane's flat broke now—and she can't channel sun-drenched beaches in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The only fast cash in town comes with some seriously distracting temptation: Gavin Carmichael, hot, handsome and oh-so-hard-headed.

Gavin isn't the impulsive Don Juan of Sloane's novels. He's raising his thirteen-year-old half-sister, and he's pretty sure he's supposed to act like he's never heard of fun. Sloane is way too sexy and irresponsible to be his idea of a good tutor for Bree, but the unpredictable anti-nanny may be irresistible as well...


MY REVIEW:
     This I believe is the fourth book by this author I have read but the third in this series.  I have to say I really enjoyed it.
     I really believe Ms. Kincaid captured the emotional turmoil that one or all people go through just losing a loved one, two having to move, and then start your life over again, but the third being the sibling rivalry.  Yet, the love and hate pull them together through it all.
     Gavin and Bree Carmichael had just lost their mother ten months ago.  Although they had been close since it was just the three of them for so long.  But when Gavin’s career took off he was gone for 3 years (at that time Bree was only 10 when he left) he only came home a whole 72 hours in 3 years.  He traveled all over the world starting up restaurants.
     Bree wanted to call and let him know their mom was ill but she kept thinking she would get better.  Then, their mom had no choice but to call him.  By then it was too late and it was a matter of when she would die not finding a cure anymore.  He couldn’t find a job in Philly after his mother passed like he wanted and needed so they had to relocate.  Which meant uprooting Bree his 13 year old sister away from her friends, her home and all she knew that tied her to their mom.
     The restaurant he was at he was a manager for, La Dolce Vita.  Chef Carly’s best friend, Sloane Russo, was in visiting her.  When he walks in, Gavin overhears Sloane talking about never achieving an orgasm that she didn’t give to herself. The things that went through his head… Well, he mentions to Chef when he interrupts that he had a sitter problem.  Chef recommended Sloane to care for his challenged teen sister.  The both looked to surprise for words.  Chef continues saying that Sloane is a romance writer who is broke at the moment but her editor has requested that her next books be set from Greece.  So, she needs money to get there, rent, etc…
     Gavin is desperate.  So he will give it a practice run especially since Chef said that Sloane was good with the English language and it just so happened that she knew that Bree was failing her English and needed to make up work and be tutored.  So, a practice run for the weekend it is.  What sold him is when Chef said she could tutor Bree on the English work she was so far behind on. 
     Once for whatever reason just the little things Sloane says and does, life starts changing for all of them.  She seems to find a sense of purpose and her writing that she thought she could only do on the road starts coming out of her a mile a minute.  What was going on with her?  She felt like she was losing her mind and Gavin held the key which couldn’t because they don’t even like each other.
     This a story worth reading.  There are so many emotions that come into play with this story you can’t believe it.  Not to the depths that you would think but still nice.  It is funny to it lets you see a lot of mishaps that we all go through when we are trying to find our way.
I give this story 5 stars.  Provided by Net Galley.
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