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Take one stuffy Earl with some decidely non-stuffy pastimes, add one plucky Lady who's best intentions often land in her trouble and what you get is the best slow-burn, sensual, and beautiful historical romance I've readin 2018. Phew.
Lady Constance Stonewell is abashed to discover her attempt to protect a friend from marrying the uptight Julian Haywood, the Earl of Apthorp, a man who's vexed her and entranced her for over eight years, has actually ruined him on the eve of the political triumph he needs to finally drag himself out of debt and ruin. Julian is doubly ruined by the poem accusing him of enjoying have his "arsethorpe" whipped at a notorious local pleasure house.
Chagrined that her attempt to secretly warn her small set of female followers has become public and caused Julian real harm, Constance is intent on fixing her wrong. But Julian has secretly loved Constance for years and was finally about to gain the courage to tell her. Now that she's propsing they fake an engagement until she can help reclaim his place in society and get his bill passed, Julian doens't know whether he should be thrilled the beauty could finally be his or whether he can ever forgive her.
And while Constance's poem wasn't exactly right, it wasn't exactly wrong either. Lies and secret desires draw these two lovers together and tear them apart, and watching their dance to a completely fulfilling happily ever after was the best way to spend a day sick on the couch.
Also, I'll never look at an apple the same way again. Deliciously naughty.
Free copy given in exchange for a fair review. Thank you to the publisher and the author.
Lady Constance Stonewell is abashed to discover her attempt to protect a friend from marrying the uptight Julian Haywood, the Earl of Apthorp, a man who's vexed her and entranced her for over eight years, has actually ruined him on the eve of the political triumph he needs to finally drag himself out of debt and ruin. Julian is doubly ruined by the poem accusing him of enjoying have his "arsethorpe" whipped at a notorious local pleasure house.
Chagrined that her attempt to secretly warn her small set of female followers has become public and caused Julian real harm, Constance is intent on fixing her wrong. But Julian has secretly loved Constance for years and was finally about to gain the courage to tell her. Now that she's propsing they fake an engagement until she can help reclaim his place in society and get his bill passed, Julian doens't know whether he should be thrilled the beauty could finally be his or whether he can ever forgive her.
And while Constance's poem wasn't exactly right, it wasn't exactly wrong either. Lies and secret desires draw these two lovers together and tear them apart, and watching their dance to a completely fulfilling happily ever after was the best way to spend a day sick on the couch.
Also, I'll never look at an apple the same way again. Deliciously naughty.
Free copy given in exchange for a fair review. Thank you to the publisher and the author.
Zoe Ferris, once a cutthroat corporate lawyer job defending a pharmaceutical company and now an unemployed lottery winner, thinks it is time to atone for all of the wrongs she did in her past life. She's even created a jar of her mistakes and sins, one she'll draw from to get started on her mission to make things right.
When she draws the name of one of the victims of her former employer, it brings Zoe smack dab into Aidan O'Leary, the brother of the man who died from an overdose in large part due to the the drug her company created.
Aidan, an EMT, is upset to see the cold lawyer who his parent's had to deal with to get the settlement money for his brother's death. The lawyer who helped put a price on his brother's life. But there's something about Zoe, even if she's passed out on his childhood home's front porch from nerves. Even if she's beautiful.
In Zoe, Aidan sees an oppotunity. She wants to make things right, gain his forgiveness? She can help him secure the property he wants to buy with the settlement money, the property he'll use to create a treatment camp for addicts. She can do that by pretending to be his fiancee, to impress and show the couple selling the land that he's a family man at heart, that he has his shit together, that he's wants this for the right reasons.
Zoe agrees, reluctantly, but also because she thinks it is the least she can do. As the weekends wear on, and Zoe and Aidan form a tentative friendship, a tentative attraction, the ghosts of the past continue to haunt them. Can they ever forget how they came to each other? Does Aidan truly want this camp, or is just something he feels he needs to do? Will Zoe ever forgive herself?
So utterly compelling, and such a lovely slow-burn with competely realistic feelings and problems. I fell in love with Kate Clayborn with Beginner's Luck, and Best of Luck was EVEN BETTER.
The audiobook is especially great, and I think Aidan may be my favorite book boyfriend of 2018. I imagined him as a Bearded-Chris-Evans EMT. Huzzah.
I have read this way more than the 2x Goodreads has me down for it, but whatever! It is my favorite contemporary romance of basically all time and wow I needed this re-listen as 2020 ended.
When she draws the name of one of the victims of her former employer, it brings Zoe smack dab into Aidan O'Leary, the brother of the man who died from an overdose in large part due to the the drug her company created.
Aidan, an EMT, is upset to see the cold lawyer who his parent's had to deal with to get the settlement money for his brother's death. The lawyer who helped put a price on his brother's life. But there's something about Zoe, even if she's passed out on his childhood home's front porch from nerves. Even if she's beautiful.
In Zoe, Aidan sees an oppotunity. She wants to make things right, gain his forgiveness? She can help him secure the property he wants to buy with the settlement money, the property he'll use to create a treatment camp for addicts. She can do that by pretending to be his fiancee, to impress and show the couple selling the land that he's a family man at heart, that he has his shit together, that he's wants this for the right reasons.
Zoe agrees, reluctantly, but also because she thinks it is the least she can do. As the weekends wear on, and Zoe and Aidan form a tentative friendship, a tentative attraction, the ghosts of the past continue to haunt them. Can they ever forget how they came to each other? Does Aidan truly want this camp, or is just something he feels he needs to do? Will Zoe ever forgive herself?
So utterly compelling, and such a lovely slow-burn with competely realistic feelings and problems. I fell in love with Kate Clayborn with Beginner's Luck, and Best of Luck was EVEN BETTER.
The audiobook is especially great, and I think Aidan may be my favorite book boyfriend of 2018. I imagined him as a Bearded-Chris-Evans EMT. Huzzah.
I have read this way more than the 2x Goodreads has me down for it, but whatever! It is my favorite contemporary romance of basically all time and wow I needed this re-listen as 2020 ended.
Clover Greene is definitely not excited to host her judgmental family for Thanksgiving, the family who make her feel less than, despite her success as a business owner, her happiness with her career. So, when her seventeen-year-old employee Ruthie offers up her hot dad as a fake boyfriend buffer, Clover is just desperate enough to consider it, kind of.
Obviously she won't do that though right? Erick Fields is super hot, a contractor who can build cedar desks and roofs and makes Clover smile, especially with his endearing and hilarious relationship with his prickly daughter. Asking him for such a ridiculous favor is just something Clover can't bring herself to do.
But when Erick shows up at Clover's nursery because Ruthie "forget her cell phone" they both know Ruthie is attempting to set them up. And it totally works (good job Ruthie). And some fun banter turns into immediate sexual chemistry as they both confirm their mutual crushes. Erick agrees to be her fake boyfriend, but with real benefits.
So, starting off with a bang (woo) Clover and Erick enjoy their new real sexual relationshp as they quickly realize their fake one should really be something more.
Such a fun, low angst romance that is awesomely well-rounded for being not super long. I loved Ruthie's character (not just a plot moppet teen), Erick's relationship with her, and how supportive and sexy Erick is as Clover figures out how to deal with her shitty family. I liked how Reisz dealt with the concept of "virginity" and how Erick uses the feminist lessons his daughter taught him to be a great guy.
Super fun!
Obviously she won't do that though right? Erick Fields is super hot, a contractor who can build cedar desks and roofs and makes Clover smile, especially with his endearing and hilarious relationship with his prickly daughter. Asking him for such a ridiculous favor is just something Clover can't bring herself to do.
But when Erick shows up at Clover's nursery because Ruthie "forget her cell phone" they both know Ruthie is attempting to set them up. And it totally works (good job Ruthie). And some fun banter turns into immediate sexual chemistry as they both confirm their mutual crushes. Erick agrees to be her fake boyfriend, but with real benefits.
So, starting off with a bang (woo) Clover and Erick enjoy their new real sexual relationshp as they quickly realize their fake one should really be something more.
Such a fun, low angst romance that is awesomely well-rounded for being not super long. I loved Ruthie's character (not just a plot moppet teen), Erick's relationship with her, and how supportive and sexy Erick is as Clover figures out how to deal with her shitty family. I liked how Reisz dealt with the concept of "virginity" and how Erick uses the feminist lessons his daughter taught him to be a great guy.
Super fun!
Reindeer Games: A Holiday Romance Anthology
HelenKay Dimon, Kelly Maher, Tamara Lush, Adriana Anders, Ainsley Booth, Eve Dangerfield, Andie J. Christopher, Tracey Livesay, Charlotte Stein
I love when I can find romance stories that embrace both the spirit of the holiday seasons along with a nice dose of raunchiness. This anthology features a wonderful selection of authors, some new to me and some well loved, all writing stories with characters who are "snowed-in" and fall in love.
My only mild grievance the utter lack of Reindeer names for characters. Missed opportunity, hah!
I especially enjoyed the following:
Eve Dangerfield's Dysfunctional, featuring a country club waitress having some sexy times with a customer after being locked into a meeting room.
ALL THEY WANT FOR CHRISTMAS by Andie J. Christopher. I loved this story of second-chances and expanding personal boundaries when three people come together to form the perfect relationship. So naughty!
STUCK by Ainsley Booth had a perfect surprise moment for me, and perfectly capture the "what-if" feeling of getting a second chance with someone who broke your heart.
My only mild grievance the utter lack of Reindeer names for characters. Missed opportunity, hah!
I especially enjoyed the following:
Eve Dangerfield's Dysfunctional, featuring a country club waitress having some sexy times with a customer after being locked into a meeting room.
ALL THEY WANT FOR CHRISTMAS by Andie J. Christopher. I loved this story of second-chances and expanding personal boundaries when three people come together to form the perfect relationship. So naughty!
STUCK by Ainsley Booth had a perfect surprise moment for me, and perfectly capture the "what-if" feeling of getting a second chance with someone who broke your heart.
After sharing one night of the best sex of their lives, Ian dumped Veronica "Flash" Redding, an act that left her seething mad. So mad she welded a pair of truck nuts to his truck bumper and has made it her mission to terrify him whenever their paths cross at work.
Now welder and metal artist Flash is quitting, meaning Ian is no longer her boss. And now that Ian is no longer in power to hire or fire her, he can share why he had to end their barely started relationship all those months ago.
With the past hurt sorted, Ian and Flash rekindle their hot romance, but both are afraid to admit their feelings are real and they both want forever. With a little bit of holiday magic, some beautiful art, and the blessing of family, blood and found, Ian and Flash may just find their HEA after all.
This was so much fun! I loved Flash, a bisexual welder/artist, who is confident, kind of intimidating in the best ways, and knows what she wants. I loved the description her 88 year old best friend, a delightful Jewish grandmother, gave for flash - a crab with a hard shell and a soft center. Flash is my hero.
Ian was also delightful. After clearing up the misunderstanding from the beginning, and his reasons for keeping Flash at arms length, I really appreciated how much he worships Flash. Just is gaga for her.
I hope Tiffany Reisz publishes more of these naughty contemporaries.
Now welder and metal artist Flash is quitting, meaning Ian is no longer her boss. And now that Ian is no longer in power to hire or fire her, he can share why he had to end their barely started relationship all those months ago.
With the past hurt sorted, Ian and Flash rekindle their hot romance, but both are afraid to admit their feelings are real and they both want forever. With a little bit of holiday magic, some beautiful art, and the blessing of family, blood and found, Ian and Flash may just find their HEA after all.
This was so much fun! I loved Flash, a bisexual welder/artist, who is confident, kind of intimidating in the best ways, and knows what she wants. I loved the description her 88 year old best friend, a delightful Jewish grandmother, gave for flash - a crab with a hard shell and a soft center. Flash is my hero.
Ian was also delightful. After clearing up the misunderstanding from the beginning, and his reasons for keeping Flash at arms length, I really appreciated how much he worships Flash. Just is gaga for her.
I hope Tiffany Reisz publishes more of these naughty contemporaries.
Oh holy night reading! Wow. Sweet holiday novellas are all well and good, but I prefer mine with heat.
Breath on Embers by Anne Xalhoun is scorching, poignant, and the best romance I've read exploring grief and falling in love again after loss.
A NYFD lieutenant and a widow have a hot hot hit hookup situation, but as the holidays approach Ronan knows he wants more. For Thea, she's convinced she has nothing to offer Ronan, but he'll do anything, including a threesome, to prove her wrong.
Expertly blended holiday, specifically Christmas activities, including some very sexy present shopping, this will keep you warm on a cold night.
Content warning for discussions of death, grief, and a MFM threesome.
Breath on Embers by Anne Xalhoun is scorching, poignant, and the best romance I've read exploring grief and falling in love again after loss.
A NYFD lieutenant and a widow have a hot hot hit hookup situation, but as the holidays approach Ronan knows he wants more. For Thea, she's convinced she has nothing to offer Ronan, but he'll do anything, including a threesome, to prove her wrong.
Expertly blended holiday, specifically Christmas activities, including some very sexy present shopping, this will keep you warm on a cold night.
Content warning for discussions of death, grief, and a MFM threesome.
Looking for a delightfully wicked and fulfilling revenge story?
Jane Doe by Victoria Helen Stone features a cat-admiring sociopath who is playing a deadly game with an unknowing man, a man who very much deserves the punishment Jane is out to give.
Victoria Helen Stone is a pen name of the author I know and love as Victoria Dahl who writes fiercely feminist romance novels. She stays true to her roots in this story!
Jane Doe by Victoria Helen Stone features a cat-admiring sociopath who is playing a deadly game with an unknowing man, a man who very much deserves the punishment Jane is out to give.
Victoria Helen Stone is a pen name of the author I know and love as Victoria Dahl who writes fiercely feminist romance novels. She stays true to her roots in this story!
Hello Jenny Holiday, thank you for making my day! *hugs book to chest*
Jane Denning, YA author, eternal good girl, mother hen, and most dependable of her group of girlfriends, is given the task of making sure her best-friend's future brother-in-law doesn't mess up her wedding.
Taking the kind of bridezilla-y behavior in stride, Jane takes on the task, and is shocked when she discovers Cameron MacKinnon is going to be a far more difficult challenge then hand-waving table-runners out of sea grass.
Cameron, recently kicked out of the Canadian Armed Forces for reasons, is out to live up his unexpected freedom and return from deployment. Being saddle with a nerdy, good-girl baby-sitter was not on his list of things to do. Until he realizes Jane is exactly what he wants, maybe even needs, to do.
They may be perfect for each other, but they have their own hangups to conquer before they can be each other's one and only.
Gah. I am so happy after reading this book. Cameron, tattooed muscle-y ex-soldier with a heart of gold, a "fallen angel," is my new favorite book boyfriend. Everything about the conflict in this story felt realistic. There is witty banter, SUPER sexy times that Holiday makes you want long before you get them, and super great geek moments.
I also adore that Jane's gal pals are true friends. Even Elise, the "bridezilla," isn't really a bridezilla. She's obsessed with her wedding, but she isn't awful. And her friends take her to task, but also love her and go with her dreams. <3
Excellent, can't wait to read Wendy's book.
Jane Denning, YA author, eternal good girl, mother hen, and most dependable of her group of girlfriends, is given the task of making sure her best-friend's future brother-in-law doesn't mess up her wedding.
Taking the kind of bridezilla-y behavior in stride, Jane takes on the task, and is shocked when she discovers Cameron MacKinnon is going to be a far more difficult challenge then hand-waving table-runners out of sea grass.
Cameron, recently kicked out of the Canadian Armed Forces for reasons, is out to live up his unexpected freedom and return from deployment. Being saddle with a nerdy, good-girl baby-sitter was not on his list of things to do. Until he realizes Jane is exactly what he wants, maybe even needs, to do.
They may be perfect for each other, but they have their own hangups to conquer before they can be each other's one and only.
Gah. I am so happy after reading this book. Cameron, tattooed muscle-y ex-soldier with a heart of gold, a "fallen angel," is my new favorite book boyfriend. Everything about the conflict in this story felt realistic. There is witty banter, SUPER sexy times that Holiday makes you want long before you get them, and super great geek moments.
I also adore that Jane's gal pals are true friends. Even Elise, the "bridezilla," isn't really a bridezilla. She's obsessed with her wedding, but she isn't awful. And her friends take her to task, but also love her and go with her dreams. <3
Excellent, can't wait to read Wendy's book.
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Wes has loved Caitlin Ng since she knocked him out with a door in college, but Wes knows he's not good enough for the now rich CEO. But, he's happy to offer up his bed when Caitlin's power goes out on Christmas Eve, even if he only as the one.
Caitlin has never really thought of Wes that way, but there's just something about his verve for life, his fancy blow-up T-Rex costume dance moves, and the sweet way he's honoring his mother this Christmas. His arms also look pretty darn good as he's rolling out cookies.
A little bit of snow, cold, and the need to share a bed land these two friends onto the road for a perfect Christmas romance.
A delightful holiday novella from Jackie Lau, setting up a picture perfect Canadian village I can't wait to read more about in 2019!
Caitlin has never really thought of Wes that way, but there's just something about his verve for life, his fancy blow-up T-Rex costume dance moves, and the sweet way he's honoring his mother this Christmas. His arms also look pretty darn good as he's rolling out cookies.
A little bit of snow, cold, and the need to share a bed land these two friends onto the road for a perfect Christmas romance.
A delightful holiday novella from Jackie Lau, setting up a picture perfect Canadian village I can't wait to read more about in 2019!
In order to inherit the massive amount of money his friend and fellow Napoleonic War veteran left him, Christopher “Kit” Ellingsworth and recent Earl of Blakemere must wed.
Within a month. Aghast he must put aside his libertine ways but also desperate to secure the money so he can fund his secret dream project, Kit luckily finds a most willing bride, one Miss Tamsyn Pearce. Tamsyn is also desperate to wed as she needs both money and a husband to ensure she can carry on with her illegal smuggling business, buy her crumbling family estate, and keep her Welsh townspeople fed and in work.
Quick marriage complete, they find out there is another stipulation in the will. Tamsyn, as Kit's new wife, has been given total control of the funds! Kit can't even buy his new wife a piece of jewelery without her written permission, throwing a huge wrench in his plans.
It doesn't help Tamsyn is for all rights and purposes is a penny-pinching saver, so Kit believes he must seduce and make his wife fall in love with him before he can ask her to fund his project, a Pleasure Garden he is sure will help heal his broken spirit, so damaged after the horrors of the war he so recently fought.
Secrets, misunderstandings, and love lead to a lovely romance with a hard-won but totally fulfilling HEA.
I especially enjoyed this tale because of the very dear way the love scenes were handled. Kit is very patient with Tamsyn, who comes to the marriage a virgin, and does not force her or coerce her into immediately consummating the marriage. He talks to Tamsyn, and they discuss their wants and desires. This leads to an excellent slow-burn seduction between both characters, and I ate up every minute of it...until a scene leading up them FINALLY boning that I felt was really bonkers! I'm assuming this scene is the set-up for the next story in this series.
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There are also fun secondary characters, especially Tamsyn's maid, and gosh darn I love Wales. I will definitely be reading the other books in this series!
Spoiler alert!!
Within a month. Aghast he must put aside his libertine ways but also desperate to secure the money so he can fund his secret dream project, Kit luckily finds a most willing bride, one Miss Tamsyn Pearce. Tamsyn is also desperate to wed as she needs both money and a husband to ensure she can carry on with her illegal smuggling business, buy her crumbling family estate, and keep her Welsh townspeople fed and in work.
Quick marriage complete, they find out there is another stipulation in the will. Tamsyn, as Kit's new wife, has been given total control of the funds! Kit can't even buy his new wife a piece of jewelery without her written permission, throwing a huge wrench in his plans.
It doesn't help Tamsyn is for all rights and purposes is a penny-pinching saver, so Kit believes he must seduce and make his wife fall in love with him before he can ask her to fund his project, a Pleasure Garden he is sure will help heal his broken spirit, so damaged after the horrors of the war he so recently fought.
Secrets, misunderstandings, and love lead to a lovely romance with a hard-won but totally fulfilling HEA.
I especially enjoyed this tale because of the very dear way the love scenes were handled. Kit is very patient with Tamsyn, who comes to the marriage a virgin, and does not force her or coerce her into immediately consummating the marriage. He talks to Tamsyn, and they discuss their wants and desires. This leads to an excellent slow-burn seduction between both characters, and I ate up every minute of it...until a scene leading up them FINALLY boning that I felt was really bonkers! I'm assuming this scene is the set-up for the next story in this series.
Spoiler
Kit and Tamsyn finally decide to have sex! Yes! Everything is going smoothly until Tamsyn again expresses nervousness. Instead of talking about things and slowing down a bit, Kit decides this moment would be an excellent time to take Tamsyn to a sex club with his buddy. Whut. So, virginal Tamsyn who was so nervous is taken to an exhibitionist spectacle which makes her super horny and they finally go home and bonk. I'm totally fine with this, it just seemed sudden and a little out of character for the way their relationship had progressed up to this pointThere are also fun secondary characters, especially Tamsyn's maid, and gosh darn I love Wales. I will definitely be reading the other books in this series!
Spoiler alert!!