Friday, September 30, 2016

New Arrivals To The TBR Pile In September

Title: A Shoe Addict’s Christmas by Beth Harbison
Description: From the author of the beloved bestseller Shoe Addicts Anonymous comes a heartwarming twist on a classic tale filled with holiday cheer.

Noelle is not a fan of the holidays and to make matters worse, she is at a crossroads in her life when it seems that love and adventure are no longer possible. When she stays late at her job in a department store on a snowy Christmas Eve she accidentally gets locked in after closing. She isn’t too concerned about the prospect of spending the night in the store…until a woman appears out of nowhere and tells Noelle that she’s her guardian angel. Soon Noelle finds herself camped out in the shoe department facing several “ghosts” of Christmases past, present, and future...Will visiting the holidays of yesterday and tomorrow help Noelle see the true spirit of Christmas? And will the love she has longed for all her life be the best surprise gift of all?


Title: Apprentice In Death by J.D. Robb
Description: Nature versus nurture...

The shots came quickly, silently, and with deadly accuracy. Within seconds, three people were dead at Central Park’s ice skating rink. The victims: a talented young skater, a doctor, and a teacher. As random as random can be.

Eve Dallas has seen a lot of killers during her time with the NYPSD, but never one like this. After reviewing security videos, it becomes clear that the victims were killed by a sniper firing a tactical laser rifle, who could have been miles away when the trigger was pulled. And though the locations where the shooter could have set up seem endless, the list of people with that particular skill set is finite: police, military, professional killer.

Eve’s husband, Roarke, has unlimited resources—and genius—at his disposal. And when his computer program leads Eve to the location of the sniper, she learns a shocking fact: There were two—one older, one younger. Someone is being trained by an expert in the science of killing, and they have an agenda. Central Park was just a warm-up. And as another sniper attack shakes the city to its core, Eve realizes that though we’re all shaped by the people around us, there are those who are just born evil...


Title: Dorothy by Anya Wylde
Description: Anya Wylde is back with yet another Fairweather sister novel full of comedy, adventure and, of corse, toe curling romance.

The Fairweather sisters adore each other and always stand by one another. But when circumstances force Dorothy May Fairweather to marry Lord William Edmund Huxley, the man her best friend is in love with and the Duke’s arch enemy, things change.

With her one foolish mistake, Dorothy manages to vex all those that mean the most to her.

Now all alone and miserable, Dorothy has to win back her sisters, the duke, her in-laws and of course, her breathtakingly handsome new husband.


Title: Driving Me Wild by Maria Benson & A.L. Ford
Description: In a dating scene full of well-educated, ambitious and attractive players, is the “terminally single” woman her own worst enemy?

That’s the accusation hurled at Aimee Chase, a young Chicago sports marketing executive who finds herself confronted with professions of love from Michael Blake, a handsome but bland high school classmate. When Aimee tries but fails to let him down easy, habitually nice Michael hits below the belt, implying she’s too damaged to appreciate a good man. Check, please: An insulted Aimee showers Michael in her glass of sweet-but-smoky Merlot.

Truth is, Michael's accusations drew blood. With a romantic history littered with cheaters and bad boys–including a married one with a very big job who is still in her life–Aimee fears that she has sabotaged her chances of ever finding the right guy. Months later, as her career implodes and she finds herself enveloped in a high-profile scandal, she’s not sure what to think when a suddenly captivating Michael reappears.

Thrilled to find that this “safe” guy now makes her weak in the knees, Aimee ultimately has her ecstasy interrupted by the revelation that Michael has transformed into a promiscuous, cold-hearted pick-up artist he thinks women like Aimee want. When he’s caught with related baggage but declares his fidelity, should Aimee toss aside a promising relationship, or just accept that “it’s complicated?”


Title: New York Dolls by Catherine L. Hensley
Description: It’s Fashion Week in New York, and Denton Hodges just got her first big assignment for Glitter magazine.

Denton’s assignment: Get in the show at the posh Regency Viscount Hotel, and find a story. But a chance encounter with hard-partying starlet Amber Donovan forever changes the course of the night—and Denton’s life. After a night of being chased by the paparazzi, swimming in swag bags, and falling heart over heels for Hollywood hunk Chris West, Denton’s not just on the story. She is the story.

Suddenly, Denton’s no longer merely a low-level assistant. Amber’s latching on like a BFF from hell, Chris is flirting and cooking her dinner, and as Denton falls for the real people behind the tabloid screen, neither knows about her ties to Glitter. Only Denton holds the secret—or so she thinks. Is Anna Creel, Glitter’s icy beauty editor, on to her? Will Denton be able to write a story exposing her new friends? And is Chris more than just a friend, or did Glitter get the headline right—“Chris and Amber: Hot Nights!”?

Step into the spotlight, and peek beyond the red carpet in New York Dolls.


Title: Nothing Stays In Vegas by Elena Aitken
Description: What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas...except when it doesn't.

Lexi Titan has mastered the art of pretending everything's fine. After all, how else could she ignore the fact that her husband is never home, her son barely knows him and the last time she had sex, well, who can remember?

With her life crumbling, the last thing she wants to do is go on a trip, especially back to Vegas; a city full of glitz, excess, and Leo, the man she's spent the last six years trying to forget. But when her best friend announces she's getting married, Lexi doesn't have a choice. Besides, it's ridiculous to avoid an entire city because of one guy. Even if he is the father of your child.

Face to face with memories of the past and the gorgeous man who started it all, Lexi can no longer deny the truth to anyone, especially Leo. But honesty will come at a price, and Lexi must decide if she's wiling to take that risk. And what exactly will she tell her husband?

Because as she now knows, NOTHING STAYS IN VEGAS.


Title: Sundaes With Nora by Anna Garner
Description: Nora Finch has a sweet life. She’s married to one of San Francisco’s wealthiest venture capitalists, she lives in a gorgeous old Victorian mansion in one of the city’s most sought-after neighborhoods, and she just launched an ice cream business with her two best friends, Cricket and Lindsay.

However…exactly one week after Sweet Dreams opens its doors to the public, Nora’s husband, Kenneth, informs her he wants a divorce.

Talk about bad timing. Now, on top of the tremendous pressure she feels to drive sales, Nora has to deal with the breakdown of her marriage, adjust to a more frugal lifestyle, find a new place to live and prepare to dip her toes in the dating pool for the first time in four years. If that weren’t enough, everyone keeps trying to get her to “process” her feelings. For an overachiever like Nora, juggling the demands of a new business along with a total overhaul of her personal life should be doable…right?


Title: Turbo Twenty-Three by Janet Evanovich
Description: In the heart of Trenton, N.J., a killer is out to make sure someone gets his just desserts.

Larry Virgil skipped out on his latest court date after he was arrested for hijacking an eighteen-wheeler full of premium bourbon. Fortunately for bounty hunter Stephanie Plum, Larry is just stupid enough to attempt almost the exact same crime again. Only this time he flees the scene, leaving behind a freezer truck loaded with Bogart ice cream and a dead body—frozen solid and covered in chocolate and chopped pecans.

As fate would have it, Stephanie’s mentor and occasional employer, Ranger, needs her to go undercover at the Bogart factory to find out who’s putting their employees on ice and sabotaging the business. It’s going to be hard for Stephanie to keep her hands off all that ice cream, and even harder for her to keep her hands off Ranger. It’s also going to be hard to explain to Trenton’s hottest cop, Joe Morelli, why she is spending late nights with Ranger, late nights with Lula and Randy Briggs—who are naked and afraid—and late nights keeping tabs on Grandma Mazur and her new fella. Stephanie Plum has a lot on her plate, but for a girl who claims to have “virtually no marketable skills,” these are the kinds of sweet assignments she does best.

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

REVIEW: All Shook Up by Chelsey Krause

Title: All Shook Up
Author: Chelsey Krause
Publisher: Tryst Books
Publication Date: August, 2016
Genre: Chick-Lit
Buy The Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Description: Natalie’s world is shaken to its core when she discovers an old photo of a woman who looks like her. Could this woman be related to her birth mother, who put Natalie up for adoption as a baby? When she tracks down the person who dumped the photo album at her thrift shop, she’s shaken again. Especially when the gorgeous fire-fighting guitarist offers to help her find the owner. They quickly become friends – which is all they’ll be, as far as Natalie’s concerned. Her rebellious youth turned her off cheating men, and the new Natalie is looking for true love and a family of her own – something Casey isn’t willing to provide. But how long can Natalie ignore her undeniable attraction to the man with the Irish accent and the broken-down ’57 Chevy?

In Chelsey Krause’s second novel, friends become lovers over a whirlwind summer of rockabilly rhythms, twirling skirts, and a mystery that takes them hilariously far out of their element.

My Thoughts: A fantastic story about a young woman’s search for her birth family and the love she finds on the journey. Natalie and Casey were fantastic characters. I loved the chemistry they have that is immediately obvious when they first meet. Casey’s flirtatious nature is a perfect match to Natalie’s grounded personality. When the reader learns about Natalie’s wild past, it adds more dimension to an already complex character. I loved his willingness to help her find her birth family and the easy level of comfort they have with one another is both sweet and sexy.

My Final Verdict: Chelsey Krause writes wonderful characters that are easy to relate to, empathize with and care about. The story is both fun and intriguing that keep the reader engaged and entertained. I highly recommend this story to readers looking for romance, laughter and friendship that blossom into love.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of All Shook Up from the author in exchange for an honest review.


Friday, September 02, 2016

REVIEW: What A Lady Demands by Ashlyn Macnamara

Title: What A Lady Demands (The Eton Boys Trilogy #2)
Author: Ashlyn Macnamara
Publisher: Loveswept
Publication Date: November, 2014
Genre: Historical Romance
Buy The Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Description: Viscount Lindenhurst cannot seem to find a governess who meets his impossible standards—until Cecelia Sanford becomes the first woman to interrupt the widower’s brooding in years. Lind had returned home from the Napoleonic wars, broken in body and soul and longing for his wife’s embrace, only to find her changed. Before they could reconcile, an accident struck their son and claimed her life. Now enter Cecelia, with her soft curves and sharp tongue—a tempting distraction, it is true, but not a welcome one.

Past the usual marrying age and haunted by a scandal of her own, Cecelia soon finds herself caring for both the child and the man. The viscount is brittle and even abrupt at times, yet she cannot deny the attraction that stirs her body in his presence. Moved by the deep sense of abandonment that tortures his soul, Cecelia aches to fully awaken Lind’s heart from its rancorous slumber—if she can just keep their pasts from destroying a second chance at love.

My Thoughts: The Eton Boys Trilogy continues with the story of Viscount Lindenhurst and Cecelia Sanford, who we first met in What A Lady Craves. Lind used to be the best friend of Alexander, the male protagonist of the first book and Cecelia is Alexander’s sister. This story stands alone, but I highly recommend you read the first book before this one to better understand the character’s history and events that occurred in the first book to bring you up to speed on this story.

I quite enjoyed this story even more than the first. I really connected to Lind and Cecelia and felt the chemistry between them was a perfect blend. They are both hiding deep and painful secrets and both feel unworthy of love. Lind hires Cecelia to be a governess for his young son. I found it interesting and disturbing that he refused to address his son by name. I found myself getting a little outraged on the child’s behalf….hello, his name is Jeremy! As more of Lind’s past is revealed, I felt more empathy for him and happily he redeems himself.

I really liked Cecelia’s spirit, determination and tenacity. She has no problem standing up to anyone to defend her beliefs. She is not a shy young girl who keeps her eyes downcast in the presence of the man who stirs her blood and makes her heart race. No, she looks him straight in the eye, boldly, without hesitation. I also enjoyed her connection with Jeremy. She refuses to let his reluctance to accept her in his life and instead views it as a challenge that she is determined to overcome.

The characters are well written with many layers that reveal more depth to their personalities. The story kept me engaged and entertained and curious to what was going to happen next. The author does a wonderful job of creating characters and an environment that the reader can easily connect to and feel comfortable in.

My Final Verdict: A wonderful sequel to a very good trilogy about second-chances at love, personal redemption, forgiveness and finally laying the demons of the past to rest. I highly recommend this trilogy and look forward to reading the third book.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of What A Lady Demands from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.


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I am not a professional reviewer, but I love to read and share my opinions on my reading with others who are interested. I work full time but my ideal perfect day would be to curl up with a good book. The majority of the books I review here are from my private collection and my reviews are provided purely for entertainment purposes. I receive no compensation whatsoever for sharing my thoughts and review on any book. If you would like me to review your book, please email me at sharalsbooks@yahoo.com Happy Reading! :o)