​Life has not been easy for Penelope Summers. Specifically, the last month, when her high-profile boyfriend dumped her, her indecent exposure record surfaced, and her favorite thing in the world, tequila, failed her.

Good thing for Penelope, she has her best friend to pick her up, and take her on the vacation of a lifetime. A seven-day cruise that will change the direction of her downward spiral. But will that spiral shift in the direction Penelope needs? Or will it throw her into a bigger whirlwind of trouble?

With Reckless Abandon as her motto, tequila as her wingman, and a hot one-night stand as her much needed reward, will the tables finally turn for Penelope, or will life as she knows it continue to fail her?

Sometimes you just have to ride the wave of crazy to find out.

Maureen Evans has had a crush on Smith Harrington since they were in college together. She always knew he didn’t see her as anything more than his best friend—just one of the guys—but that didn’t stop her from weaving sexy fantasies about him. 

Now, after years of maintaining a long-distance friendship, Smith’s moving to Burton, Georgia, Maureen’s hometown, to become her partner at the veterinary clinic. After all this time, she should be able to handle working with him without getting hot and bothered. 

Or maybe not. 

The more determined Maureen is to maintain their just-friends bond, the more Smith seems intent on testing those boundaries. And when flirting crosses the line into something more, it ends in a night neither of them can forget. 

When friendship is no longer enough, there’s always love. ​

Maureen and Smith met on their first day of college.  They fought against the love they felt for each other, for fear of ruining their friendship. Their roommates and friends felt the love they had for each other and tried  to convince them to tell each but the fear of rejection always won.

Maureen was from a small town and has always been unsure of herself.  Smith  was from a big city and had a very confident personality.

After college the two went their separate ways to start their work as vets. When years later Maureen gets her own practice and wants a partner, who does she call but Smith.

And, with the  help that Smith gets from her friends the story heats  up.  Their ups and downs makes you keep reading to see what happens next. Keeping me wondering if will they ever get together and have a relationship despite Maureen fight against it.

I loved this book and can't wait to read the rest of the series. 4 beautiful stars.

Before reading Bright Side I was told to emotionally prepare myself, which excited me even more to read this book. Kate is a smart, funny, lovable and truly one of the best characters I have had the pleasure to read about. After a few chapters you know in your heart that the two of you could be best friends, if she weren’t a character in a book. Kate leaves to go to college in a small town that she soon falls in love with. She has been through more than any young person should go through and is now doing something for herself by attending this college.

Gus is the sexy surfer-rock star that has an incredible heart and love for music. He is Kate’s best friend since they have known each other and being neighbors growing up has made them incredible close. Reading Gus’ part you can tell how much he truly loves his best friend and possibly in more than a friendly way. His band recently got a record deal and they go on tour while Kate attends college.

Keller is a sexy, smart, charming, and lovable; but Keller has a past of his own that keeps him at a distant from Kate for the most part. Keller works for the small town coffee shop which is where he meets Kate and quickly starts to fall for her without even talking to her. Being friends with Kate brings out the old Keller and the more confident Keller that just makes you fall in love with again.

I was so excited to read this book because of the recommendation I received saying that this was right up my alley, and boy was she right! I could not put this book down, every chance I got I had to keep reading to see what happened next. Reading about Kate and her friends will make you want to be a better person. The outlook on life she expresses shows you how to look at life and embrace what you have been given.

I highly recommend this book to everyone with a warning to be prepared of the emotional journey you will go on with these characters. This is a book you will read more than once. I give Kim Holden’s Bright Side 5 stars for the incredible journey!

Molly Madden has always been looking for something more. Growing up in a small town, she never quite fit in. She didn’t fit the preacher's daughter mold. Now at twenty-four, she has graduated from nursing school and has found a job far away from her small town. Chicago. Something was leading her there. Her excitement turns to lust, then to fear, and the shock of her life. This wasn’t a part of her plan. She never planned on Noah Stone...he just happened.
Noah Stone has returned to Chicago, after his six year serving as an Army Doctor. His only family lives here, his two brothers that he would do anything for. At thirty-five, he doesn't need anyone else. One and done is good enough for him. His past made sure he was incapable of love. By chance and circumstance, a young, smart-mouthed nurse keeps showing up in his life. Slowly, Noah realizes that he's changing. Changing the way he is thinking, the way he is acting. As much as he tries to fight it, he realizes he can’t fight the fate that keeps bringing them together.
This book is for mature audiences over 18 years of age due to language, abuse and sexual situations. If you are sensitive to this subject matter this book might not be for you.

Noah Stone is a handsome ER doctor, the oldest of three brothers, and a man whore. Every woman wants him, but he doesn't do relationships. But when new nurse, Molly Madden, doesn't fall over backwards for his charm, it throws him for a loop. 

I love Molly! She is smart, funny, quirky, and gives him a run for his money. She stands up for herself and she's not afraid to do what's right. Being the new person in town, with a new job fresh out of nursing school, she's just trying to find new friends. 

Noah has it all on the surface, but Molly is able to make him take a look at himself, and once she breaks a crack in his facade, he becomes putty in her hands.

T Saint John has created a family of brothers, who have been alone their whole lives. With Molly, suddenly they have a dysfunctional extended family full of interesting friends. Loved this first book, can't wait to read about Noah's brothers. I'm giving Finding Stone a 4 1/2 stars!!   

An Erotic Romance

Aron McCoy has sworn off women - except for sex. When Libby Fontaine arrives at Aron's Tebow Ranch, she is determined to cram a lifetime of living into a few short months. The doctor has told her that she can't count on her remission from leukemia being a permanent one. Their attraction to one another is instantaneous and overwhelming. But when Aron finds out that Libby is innocent - he backs off. He has nothing to offer a girl who deserves white lace and promises. Then Aron catches Libby pleasuring herself in his stock tank and hears her cry out his name - and the heat is on.

Cowboy Heat is book one in Sable Hunter's Hell Yeah! series. It is a humor-filled, sexy, hot read. It doesn't take itself seriously and I loved every minute of it. The McCoy Brothers are all contemporary cowboys, and who doesn't love a cowboy. Aron McCoy, the oldest, has been stung once though, in a bad way, by his ex-wife. Enter Libby Fontaine, new housekeeper. She sweet and funny and very innocent.


I love stories like this one. Yes, it is very erotic (it even says so in the synopsis) and short, but it's a fun read. Cowboys with hats and muscles and attitudes...whew! Sable Hunter creates a hot series, and I have to read about each and every one of the characters she creates. I'm giving Cowboy Heat...4.5 stars. 

Debut author Kay Lindy moved me with her book Fearing Love.  I think Lindy is someone that will be a rising star.  She portrayed the deep, emotional trials someone would go through after spousal abuse.

Jessica just left an abusive relationship and she is still very scared.  But she is one strong woman, she doesn’t realize it.  She took the most difficult first step and got away from the abuse.  She is learning to live again.  Everywhere she goes, she feels self-conscious.

Her sister, Roxy means well.  Roxy is honestly trying to help Jessica but like many people who go through this kind of traumatic event, Jessica is resistant.  All Jessica really wants is to crawl inside of herself and stay.

Sometimes a person comes into your life and can help you heal, and that is what Logan did for Jessica.  He was patient and gentle with her, just being a friend.  Couldn’t we all use a friend just being there for us?  (Being as hot as Logan is just a bonus).

This isn’t your normal love story, it’s unique and beautiful.  Watching Jessica learning to love herself again and allowing herself to be loved, will touch even the hardest of hearts.

I hope we see more from Kay Lindy in the future, she has a lovely way with words and quite talented with emotional description.

I give Fearing Love 5 beautifully broken stars.

Sky meets Fletcher when she wakes up after she wrecks her car in a rainstorm. She is in a tee shirt and boxer shorts in a strange bed and has no clue who the hot guy sitting in the chair next to her is. Although it takes a couple of days and some inner turmoil ,Sky is finding moving on is easier than she thought possible. Only then does she finally decides to give into her feeling for Fletcher.

Fletcher feels a pull toward Sky that he cannot explain, he felt it when he pulled over to help her out of her wrecked car and he feels it even more when she wakes up and shows she has class and sass. She has awaken something in him he long thought was dead. Fletcher is an Alpha male that will stop at nothing to claim Sky as his and keep her safe when his past comes back to haunt him.

I loved the banter between these two and I found the usually mild tempered Sky hilarious when she lost her cool. Fletcher was a tough nut to crack but once he figured out what he felt he was sweet.  The secondary characters of Old Man and Terri where hilarious. The crazy ex and the mystery throughout the book keep you interested beyond the love story.

The story is beautiful, suspenseful, emotional, sweet and sexy. It is told from dual points of view, which made for a bit of double dialogue. I could have done without hearing how much these two felt about each other every other paragraph of inner dialogue.

I look forward to reading more from this author. ** THIS BOOK WAS GIFTED IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW** 

Excerpt:


“Is it really gonna be like this?”
 
“Like what?”
 
I sit in my chair, back to him, and start twirling pasta. His arms cage me in from behind and his stubble tickles my cheek. “You acting pissed at me. I told you. I fucking told you that I can't do more. I told you to make me leave, but you didn’t.”
 
He runs his nose behind my ear, and I clench the arms of the chair, forcing myself to stay still. I don’t want him to see how affected I am. “But you didn’t. So we fucked, Courtney. And we could do it again. In fact, I jack off thinking about doing it again. You know where I live if you want a repeat.”

"Trust is a fickle bitch, and it doesn't come easily for me." ~ Sam


Sam was not kidding about his issues with trust. Spend the majority of the book being a jerk. Okay that was harsh but he is not the nicest guy when it comes to his feelings or the feeling of others, especially Courtney's. He uses women for one thing and that is it. He cannot be what Courtney deserves. He is not her hero.


Poor Courtney, she is a single mom forced to work two jobs so that she can support her 5 year old son Ben,, that her ex (Matt) denies being his. She rents a place from Sam and cannot help but find him hot. He is kind to Ben and is easy on the eyes. Too bad he has an endless stream of women coming and going from his place, so she know that he is not for her. 


The complication in their relationship comes in the form of drunk Courtney making a pass at Sam. She makes him experience "feelings" that he does not want to have. He has been burned by people in his past, people that mattered, and cannot take that chance again.  Sam and Courtney do eventually give in to their mutual attraction only to have the moment ruined by Sams insensitive remarks afterward. 


***RANT ALERT*** I will stop right there and say Sam kinda made me mad a few times in this book with his self sabotage BUT Courtney pissed me off. She KNEW that Sam was flawed and was emotionally detached yet she gets involved with him anyway. She has visions of "hearts and flowers" and he is all about the "wham, bam, thank you ma'am".  Knowing he is a man whore and she gets him to agree to be exclusive should have been enough for a while but she really was pushy and kinda clingy. She knew better, he did not lie or misrepresent himself to her. She did all that to herself. Okay, I feel better now. Sorry, so uh, anyway where was I...**End Rant**


Even though their relationship is complicated and gets even more so when Matt (the ex) decides he wants to have custody of Ben, Sam never falters in his loyalty to Courtney and Ben. When it matters, Sam steps up, but he may be a day late and a dollar short when it comes to a relationship with Courtney.

On a side note Ben is the sweetest and most adorable 5 year old in the world. The loves to "help" out Sam in his garage and loves to spend time with his mom, when she can spare it between her two jobs.

This book makes you mad, (see rant above), it makes you cry, (Sam and Courtney equally have some baggage) but it also makes you smile. The sign of a good book is its ability to make you FEEL and boy did it ever. 

This is a tale of 'he said, she said' in the extreme. Classic cases of insecurities, self doubt and betrayal come into play in this heartbreaking and sweet second chance story.

The story is told in 3 sections, 20 year old Gavin, present day Baylor and present day Gavin.

The 20 year old Gavin was not that interesting but it gave much needed insight into the mindset and depth of his feeling for Baylor. Gavin was your typical fictional college boy that in all honesty was a "man slut". One night stand after one night stand never giving his heart a chance to get in the mix. So needless to say he wants in Baylor's pants like any other girl he finds attractive but yet there is something more with her. He wants more and he is happy to take it slow with Baylor who is a not as experienced as him.

We follow the journey of Gavin falling head over heels in love with Baylor but jealousy is an ugly emotion and both Gavin and Baylor have a bad case. Karen who is Gavin's best friend from childhood is a constant in his life, much to the dismay of Baylor and Chris, Baylor's childhood friend and ex-boyfriend is also a fixture in her life that Gavin would love removed. All is well in the world of "Bavin" until the ultimate betrayal is uncovered.

Fast forward 8 years later, Baylor and Gavin meet by chance in a hotel and all the things they both thought true were lies. 

Now they must find a way to move forward for a common goal and Gavin is determined to get Baylor back. However she is having trust issues but he is determined. And what Gavin wants, Gavin gets.

Gavin was likable if not a bit soft for a "man-slut" and Baylor was a bit gun shy considering her normal family background. However, together they had chemistry and made a very adorable couple. 

The story was well developed and well written. 

Note to reader: This book is a standalone novel. It is the first in a series that follows three sisters.


4 out of 5 stars