THE TEMPTING ONE

THE TEMPTING ONE                                 ROCHELLE FRENCH
Posted:  May 2, 2015

Tempting the One (Meadowview Heat, #4)Country-girl Chessie Gibson’s always been a giver. Billionaire Theo Courant’s always been a player. Since childhood, the two have irritated the heck out of each other. Only when Theo breaks both wrists and ankles in a snowboarding accident, Chessie’s asked to care for her family friend. But being stuck with egotistical Theo in her Meadowview farmhouse is most definitely not her idea of fun.
Theo sees Chessie as part pin-up girl, part hippie-chick—nothing like the models and social climbers he’s used to dating. She’s gorgeous and luscious, but he’s never made a move on his best friend’s younger sister. The two of them are opposite in almost every way imaginable. But wow—is she ever hot!
But when Theo and Chessie end up stuck together for weeks, they come to know each other in ways neither thought possible. Seeing a different side of Theo—he’s not exactly the frivolous playboy he seems—Chessie finds herself unable to resist the temptation to try a “friends with benefits” situation. But their differences continue to come between them…and if Theo doesn’t learn love is something that cannot be bought, the chance of a lifetime could pass them both by.
MY REVIEW:
     What a really delightful story to read.  You all know what a sucker I am for small town family sagas.  Well, this falls right in with a lot of fun moments, tense, sexy, and sad moments in the life of a couple connected through family and friends.
     This story revolves around Theo Courant the “Oh Too Wealthy” best friend to Chessie Gibson’s brother, Jack.  Being that their parents were best friends and the guys are four years older than she is, she has known Theo all her life.  As kids normally do the three would bicker and tease one another.  As Theo did with his sister, Sadie, his friend Ethan’s sister Lia.
     But as Chessie got older and started to develop Theo really poured on the teasing.  The reason being he felt an attraction and all three guys had “The Bro Code” in effect.  This kept him aware of that fact and kept him away from her.  Then it just became a fine art of making her crazy just to see what she would do.  Chessie was really easy to get riled up.  So, it became second nature to do so.
     Now all these years later he has been injured in a skiing accident and his sister Sadie calls Chessie in a panic asking Chessie to go check in and be with him at the hospital.  She is not a happy camper.  One, it is snowing.  Two, she has been working her tail off and it’s her first night off in weeks.  Three, she just can’t stand Theo!  Yes, he is sexy as all hell, he’s rich and he has a killer smile but the minute he opens his mouth she just wants to choke him.  Then, in the next he can say something funny and make you laugh, pissing her off.
     When she finally gets to him he is just obnoxious.  But it could be when she got there she looked like a drowned rat and the grocery bag she was using as a purse broke and one thing that fell out amongst many was a strip of condoms.  Asking if she wanted to put them to use wasn’t too far off the mark. 
     Their bantering is a lot of fun it gives a lot of insight into who they are a people and what they each want.  How little they truly knew about each other. And what they can still learn of their heart and of each other’s heart.  You will totally enjoy this book.  Short and sweet.  I give this:  5 stars.
Provided by Net Galley. 
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CONFLICTING WEBS

CONFLICTING WEBS                                 DARLENE QUINN
Posted:  May 2, 2015

Conflicting Webs by Darlene QuinnThe Toddman-Taylor saga continues in a new direction, exploring love and loss, career and family, forgiveness and redemption in this stand-alone addition to the gripping Web series. Fast-paced chapters propel unforgettable characters through the turmoil of overlapping and often conflicting commitments.

Wedding bells are set to ring. April Toddman, the darling of the Jordon’s retail dynasty, feels blessed. Her handsome, amiable fiancĂ©, Kyle Clark, is passionate and shares her dreams. No couple could ask for a more promising future. And yet, just days before they are to exchange their marriage vows, their perfect world begins to crumble. Fate steps in and puts April and Kyle to the test. Will they successfully thread their way through the conflicting webs to secure their happiness?

With unfamiliar ground beneath their feet, April and Kyle must confront an unrelenting tsunami of obligations: to other—to their budding careers—and to themselves.

A child without a mother . . . A wedding without a honeymoon . . . A mother without a family . . . Beloved characters old and new weave secrets, mistakes, accidents, and lies into intricate webs of conflict as they strive to protect the generation of tomorrow.

Readers young and old will be held captive by the bold decisions these characters make to take charge of their destinies.
 

MY REVIEW:
     Wow!  Conflicting Webs is right.  You never really know how you actions can affect the village until a road block.  One night of quick sex effect the life of so many?  When then the life of a child is being held in the balance by an unstable mother.
     The cast of players are many and all their worlds are rocked by vengeance of Britany Levin, the mother of four year old, Lindsay, who by the way has not been raised by her but by her grandmother, Nora.  The problem as I see it is Nora and her ex Dr. Howard have never agreed on anything when it has come to Britany.  Dad likes to be the good time dead who gives her everything and bears no responsibility for her daily care, discipline, or her respect for boundaries.
     As for Nora she has no backbone and wears rose colored glasses where her daughter is concerned, but a mother’s love and all that.  Instead of standing up to her ex when she has gotten in trouble outside of the house she allowed him to bail her out of every scrape.  No consequences.
     Britany when she first became pregnant named 4 men but the “oh so not lucky one” Kyle Clark was the father to Lindsay.  Although at first he asked for a blood test to prove once he found out he stepped up sending a check faithfully every month.  He has even now along with his fiancĂ© become a big part of his daughters’ and Nora’s life.  Britany was not aware of the situation because she was in a long term mandatory rehabs by the courts.
    The thing is when she finds out a couple of weeks before she is to get out all she can think about is the revenge that she could inflict on Kyle and his bride to be, April.  Her way was by not allowing Lindsay to not be the flower girl in their wedding not taking into account how much her daughter wants to do this very thing.  Further showing dis-connect of her feelings and between mother and child.  Britany and her roommate from rehab have a plan which is sure to cause nothing but heartache for Lindsay and Nora.  Britany being so selfish though looks at it as since her mom loves her daughter more than she ever loved her she would kill two birds with one stone.
     Britany is about to have the fight of her life on her hands and her father will be backing her play.  The thing is even his own lawyer doesn’t think they have a leg to stand on.  Being the control freak and having anger issues beyond normal humans.  Howard’s judgement is clouded.  Especially, what he wants to introduce into court, his lawyer has warned him that they will bring up his back history into play as well as Britany’s, without changing his mind.
     April on the other hand being the kind and gentle heart she is has fallen in love not only with Kyle but with his daughter, Lindsay.  To have her being treated this way kills her.  April being adopted knows how different her life would have been without her parents Mark and Paige Toddman.  She knew that they too have fallin’ in love with Lindsay.  So if needed they would help in the battle to protect her.
     There is so, so much more to this story.  This is just the tip of the ice burg.  I could not put this book down.  Hated when I had to go to bed with it unfinished.  You won’t be disappointed for sure the characters are beyond what’s on the page they are so alive you can almost use all your senses and see them.
     I give this 5 ++++ stars.  Provided by Net Galley.
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UP BY FIVE

UP BY FIVE                                                  ERIN NICHOLAS
Posted:  May 2, 2015

Up by Five by Erin NicholasHe's in the middle of the last thing he wanted… and the best thing to ever happen.

Ace paramedic Conner Dixon has sworn to never live with another woman after raising his four younger sisters. They have been giving him gray hair since they lost their father fifteen years ago. Now they're all in love and Conner's ready to retire-- from worrying, fixing problems and cleaning up messes.

Of course, when his fellow paramedic, Gabrielle Evans, needs a place to stay after her apartment burns down, Conner can't say no. But it's no problem-- Gabby's just one of the guys.

Gabby's penchant for poker and her ability to overhaul a transmission definitely make her different from Conner's usual women. She also has no interest in getting involved with him. Conner's crazy mix of family and friends is the last thing Gabby needs right now. She has her sights set on medical school in the fall and knows success depends on focus and commitment.

But within forty-eight hours of moving in, Gabby's in the middle of a family crisis that could disprove all her I-don't-need-anyone bluster and Conner's in the middle of the last thing he wanted-a girl and all her stuff, all over his stuff. Still, the more she makes herself at home, the more he thinks that's maybe exactly where her stuff should be. For good.

Warning: Contains a girl who thinks she wants to be just one of the guys, a guy who happily proves why that won't work, and a very good reason to buy cinnamon roll icing-you know, other than for use on cinnamon rolls.

MY REVIEW:
     This was an absolutely fun story to read.  The characters were so engaging from the very start they just pulled you right in.  They were so funny and close you couldn’t help but like them.  They were people you would want as your own friends and family.  As most of you know I love stories with big families and their interactions, I know it’s because I can relate and can say I truly miss it now that I live so far away from it in spoonful sizes only. Hahaha.
     Yet, I could relate to Connor Dixon and the way he felt he was free now that his 4 sisters were grown and with partners he trusted.  You see at first he hated their partners of choice not the men per se but the fact that each one had secretly dated and chosen on of his best friends to date.  Whatever happened to the “Bro Code?”  Poor Connor! 
     The one he had the hardest time with was Cody because they had been and done everything together.  He was a great guy down deep but in college he was a full on player as Connor was.  The difference was Connor didn’t know Cody had a girlfriend back home he was stringing along.  He found out when she started calling looking for him.
     Connor trying to fix it caused a small riff between him and his roommate because Cody wouldn’t cut this girl loose and do the right thing.  Although they stayed friends Connor knows his true nature.  Connor took his work as caretaker/protector of his mom and sisters very serious.  He was glad when the day came and the last sister was now with a good man but it was strange taking on a new roll.  As he put it he was “retired.”  The thing was his personal life suffered for his way of thinking on his new found freedom.
     Connor only liked one night stands made it clear and wanted no ties.  Was it his fault when the next morning came and he was walking away with the lady of the moment “all pissy?”  Connor had the flirting down to a science all women wanted him and he knew so he played all angles.  One day he’s in the break room talking with Gabby “G” Evans about the shameless way he flirts with Mac’s wife, Sara, for fun to piss Mac off.  He said it was fun to make Sara blush too.  Truth be told he would never ever go near Sara for real.  Anyway, there was an unfortunate situation that happened when he was visiting the happy new parents, Mac and Sara.  He tried to play it off, like Mac told him to, but the girl’s saw right through it.
     Sierra and ‘G’ started teasing him about how not being able to put forever at the end of a sentence and one of his ladies took offence.  He said. “I never said, ’I gotta be with you.  Them thinking the work FOREVER was at the end of that sentence. When really what I said was, ‘suck my co-k’ she heard, ‘Suck my co-k forever.’”  Gabby doesn’t even blink at that she just says, ‘understand no time for a blow job.’  “But maybe you need to be more specific with these women.  Like, ‘suck my co-k until I come so hard I can’t stand up.’”
     Gabby tried to tell him he needed to date a woman who knew he was full of sh-t.  The problem was getting rid of the women after he was with them.  That they believe all your B.S. is charming and romantic.  He tells her he sells it that way.  He was too good because he couldn’t get rid of them after.  ‘G’ says what he really wants is someone who’s hot, sweaty sex, and then to watch the game on TV with pizza, and of course the co-k thing.
     There was a huge fire all were saved from the blaze in big part because of ‘G’ she saved like 18 people by herself getting them out.  When it had slowed down Connor being the lead had no way of knowing this because the scene was crazy.  Things were more under control and he started looking for her but he couldn’t find her.  He started to panic inside a little. 
When Mac called out to him.  When he finely looked at him he saw who he was treating he ran over.  Realizing then she was in night clothes but still yet covered but her hair was down.  He couldn’t stop looking at her.  Her face and everything…She’s beautiful.
     Why hadn’t he ever noticed before?  Once she was checked out she just laid there breathing oxygen.  Then, Sierra and Cody came by to check on her.  Sierra started to tell her she could sleep on her couch.  When all of a sudden Connor gets her to her feet and says, she’s staying with him.  Which shocks even him but in that moment seeing her vulnerable eyes and knowing she was first on scene was because this was her apartment complex just knocked him for a loop.
     You won’t be sorry when you read what goes on from here.  This will be so worth your read.  You will find yourself smiling several times throughout this whole book.  I give this book 5 stars.  Provided by Net Galley.
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LEAD ME HOME

LEAD ME HOME                                    CANDI WALL
Posted:  May 2, 2015

Lead Me Home (Home is Where the Heat Is, #2)He knows just how to tame this filly, but it’ll be one wild ride.
Home Is Where the Heat Is, Book 2

As far as Chloe Garrison is concerned, Nick Westing was carved by the gods. Her one and only plan while visiting her best friend in Texas: get that sexy cowboy into her bed as often as possible until it’s time to return to New York.
After a whirlwind week she slips away, thinking it best to make a clean break. Exceptshe can’t get Nick out of her head. And when he unexpectedly walks into her office, her first instinct is to find her defenses before she loses her panties.
Nick jumped at the chance to accompany his brother to New York for a photo shoot,but now that he’s here, he’s pissed. Seems Chloe is doing everything in her power to ignore him. The tender part of him understands her need for space.
The wilder side of him teases and torments her until she finally admits she’s missed him. Even though she walks away, in his book it’s a win. Because one way or another, he’s going to convince her they belong together.
Warning: Contains a commitment-phobic city girl who wants her cowboy—and hates that she wants him. And a hot, sweet-as-sin Texan with the patience and skill to show her she belongs by his side, in his world, and in his bed.
 

MY REVIEW:
     Welcome to Chloe’s world.  One she was dealt at a young age when her father died.  Her mom trying to find what she had found with her dad, meanwhile 4 men later.  When at 16 the men started to notice her a little too much she hit the road never looking back.
     She made her way to New York City.  Where it’s the fittest of the fit.  Always wanting to prove everyone wrong she knew she would beat the odds.  She learned early that being the “feel good girl” keeps people from asking questions which in fact keeps them away.  Making Chloe Garrison a survivor. 
     Yet, Nick Westing, he saw Chloe in a much different way.  When he saw her, when she came into town with Mija, the first time, as a loyal and loving friend that she is.  How he knew this was because with people like Mija she couldn’t hide her love and how much her friendship means to her.
     So, when Chloe came into town this time not only did he want to see what made her click but in his bed.  They meet up at a bar.  He’s challenged her to a hand standing contest him not knowing she was a gymnast.  The stakes are just too important to them both.  Without losing their balance they have to do the other’s favorite shot drink.  This is where things get wobbly.  In the end Nick wins.
     They go to his place he takes the role of Master that he won as his prize and she as his Sub serious but in a fun way.  They had finally progressed to doing the act of S-E-X when there’s a loud knock at the front door and a woman’s voice calling out to him.  They both stop thinking this No This Can’t Be Happening!  For they have to stop in the middle of the
S-E-X!  Then the knock comes again.  She thinks does he have a wife or a girlfriend?  He’s like sh-t it’s my aunt, I can’t not answer she’ll just keep knocking.  They both jump up to get dressed.
     He introduces her to his aunt and gets her to not flee like a scared jack rabbit.  His aunt needs a place to stay.  Her house is being debugged.  What could Nick say but it was like pouring cold water on them both.  Now Chloe was really trying to leave.  Instead, he takes her into the kitchen to help him get his aunts tea.  They start to mess around until the teas ready and while his aunt is watching TV.  They get her tea to her and Nick walks Chloe home.  As he walks her home they talk…
     That is when he finds out about her home life.  He said it made sense though.  Chloe said how?  He explained that he noticed that she’s distant.  Reserved.  Not open and welcoming to others.  She has great manners, great smile, but you hold back if it gets past cordial.  What throws Chloe is that she has always thought of herself as an extrovert.  Nick said she is but it isn’t the same as showing who you, Chloe, truly is.  He wouldn’t have been able to have seen it if not for him being friends with Mija’s boyfriend.
     They both agree it’s only a one night stand with no strings attached.  Ground rules are important.  In fact that is how they choose to live their lives and are always up front with their “dates with benefits.”  So, imagine how shocked Chloe is when after S-E-X Nick wants to see her the next afternoon and for a split second that truly pleases her until she remembers what they agreed to.  She reminds him so he says, lunch to that she agrees…
     This was a deceit story.  I just personally liked the story of Mija and Shawn much better.  This one had me having brain freezes.  I just couldn’t seem to warm up to Chloe the way I could to Mija.  I give this 4 stars.  Provided by Net Galley.  Follow us at:  www.1rad-readerreviews.com

                                                                      Back to You #1 Hard Crush HARD CRUSH                                  ...