Category Archives: Jove

September 20, 2020 · 11:57 pm

Review: Well Played by Jen DeLuca

Title: Well Played by Jen DeLuca
Well Met Series Book Two
Publisher: Berkley
Imprint Jove
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 332 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

A laugh-out-loud romantic comedy featuring kilted musicians, Renaissance Faire tavern wenches, and an unlikely love story.

LibraryReads Pick

Stacey is jolted when her friends Simon and Emily get engaged. She knew she was putting her life on hold when she stayed in Willow Creek to care for her sick mother, but it’s been years now, and even though Stacey loves spending her summers pouring drinks and flirting with patrons at the local Renaissance Faire, she wants more out of life. Stacey vows to have her life figured out by the time her friends get hitched at Faire next summer. Maybe she’ll even find The One.

When Stacey imagined “The One,” it never occurred to her that her summertime Faire fling, Dex MacLean, might fit the bill. While Dex is easy on the eyes onstage with his band The Dueling Kilts, Stacey has never felt an emotional connection with him. So when she receives a tender email from the typically monosyllabic hunk, she’s not sure what to make of it.

Faire returns to Willow Creek, and Stacey comes face-to-face with the man with whom she’s exchanged hundreds of online messages over the past nine months. To Stacey’s shock, it isn’t Dex—she’s been falling in love with a man she barely knows.

Review:

Well Played by Jen DeLuca is a charming contemporary romance. Although this newest release is the second romance in the Well Met series, it can be read as a standalone.

Twenty-seven year old Stacey Lindholm always feels a bit of a letdown when the yearly Renaissance Faire comes to a conclusion. The end of this year’s Faire coincides with the engagement of her friends. Although she is happy for them,  Stacey’s vague sense of dissatisfaction with her own life worsens. After drowning her sorrows one evening, she messages her summer fling, Dex MacLean and to her shock, he responds. They spend the next eleven months emailing and texting each other and she is excited to see him at the fast approaching ren fair.  However, Stacey is stunned when she discovers Dex has not been the man she has been getting to know for all these months. She is furious and hurt, but will she allow him to explain why he has deceived her?

Stacey’s life took a major detour just as she was about to embark on her career.  Although she does not regret the reason she returned to Willow Creek, she feels stuck in a life she never wanted. Through her daily text and email exchanges, Stacey gets to know herself a little better while at the same time delighting in her discoveries about Dex.  While she does not know where a relationship between them would go, Stacey is eager to see how things go between them in person.

Well Played is an entertaining romance with an intriguing premise. Stacey is a likable lead protagonist who  has to decide between family expectations and following her heart and dreams. Her love interest is very sweet and caring but can she forgive him for not being completely honest with her?  With a late in the story conflict, Jen DeLuca brings this heartwarming romance to a sigh-worthy conclusion. Old and new readers of the Well Met series will enjoy this latest installment.

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Filed under Berkley, Contemporary, Jen DeLuca, Jove, Rated B, Review, Romance, Well Played

November 4, 2019 · 11:57 pm

Review: The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams

Title: The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams
Bromance Book Club Series Book One
Publisher: Jove
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 352 pages
Book Rating: C+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss

Summary:

The first rule of book club:
You don’t talk about book club.

Nashville Legends second baseman Gavin Scott’s marriage is in major league trouble. He’s recently discovered a humiliating secret: his wife Thea has always faked the Big O. When he loses his cool at the revelation, it’s the final straw on their already strained relationship. Thea asks for a divorce, and Gavin realizes he’s let his pride and fear get the better of him.

Welcome to the Bromance Book Club.

Distraught and desperate, Gavin finds help from an unlikely source: a secret romance book club made up of Nashville’s top alpha men. With the help of their current read, a steamy Regency titled Courting the Countess, the guys coach Gavin on saving his marriage. But it’ll take a lot more than flowery words and grand gestures for this hapless Romeo to find his inner hero and win back the trust of his wife.

Review:

The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams  is an entertaining “save the marriage” romance.

Gavin Scott is a major league baseball player whose best career day turned into his worst personal day. After a demoralizing discovery, he eventually leaves his wife Thea when she kicks him out of the house. While at his absolutely lowest, Gavin’s friends step in to help him save his marriage. But will Gavin be able to convince Thea to give him and their marriage a second chance?

Thea plays the victim extremely well as she punishes Gavin for doing what she demanded he do: leave.  She also blames him for not knowing what she wants although she has NEVER given him a clue about how she feels. Thea is a wonderful mom to their twins Ava and Amelia but she is tired of being seen as nothing but a mother and baseball wife. Having lost herself after putting her dreams on hold for the last several years, she is ready to reclaim her life. And right now, Thea does not plan on Gavin being part of her future.

Gavin will do anything to save his marriage even if it means exposing his vulnerabilities to his friends. At first reluctant to trust his friends’ assertions that reading a romance novel will help him with Thea, he nonetheless takes their advice.  Although Thea is not exactly thrilled with his proposition to let him move home, she eventually and, quite reluctantly, agrees.  Gavin is dismayed by her lack of eagerness and cooperation, but he works hard to woo his wife.

While the premise of the story is cute and unique, Thea is unreasonable and downright  unlikable. Gavin is putting his heart and soul into fixing his mistakes but Thea refuses to admit she is a big part of their problems. For every step forward they make, they eventually wind up back where they started.  It does not help that Thea’s sister Liv is extremely negative about Gavin and she freely expresses her opinion her sister is making a mistake trying to reconcile with her husband. And then there is the fact that Thea and Gavin’s problems could have been avoided if she had bothered to tell him how unhappy she is and why.

The Bromance Book Club is a charming reconciliation romance. Gavin is a bit clueless but he is an overall likable and endearing man. Thea finally becomes self-aware but readers have to wait a long time for her to figure things out.  Although parts of the story are frustrating and a little predictable, fans of contemporary romances will enjoy this first installment in  Lyssa Kay Adams’ Bromance Book Club series.

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Filed under Bromance Book Club Series, Contemporary, Jove, Lyssa Kay Adams, Rated C+, Review, Romance, The Bromance Book Club

October 30, 2019 · 11:58 pm

Review: Spun Out by Lorelei James

Title: Spun Out by Lorelei James
Blacktop Cowboys Series Book Ten
Publisher: Jove
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 336 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

New York Times bestselling author Lorelei James returns for another wild ride in Wyoming with a new Blacktop Cowboys® novel.

Years in the Army equipped Bailey Masterson for many things: target shooting, rappelling off cliffs, dodging grenades. She’s lived through horrors that still give her nightmares. But nothing in Bailey’s life-or-death training prepared her for caring for the tiny terror that is five-year-old Olivia Hale. Or how to control her raging attraction to Olivia’s father, Streeter, the rugged, green-eyed cattle rancher who undermines her every move even when he stars in her dreams.

Streeter Hale has room for only two things in his life: his daughter and his job. He doesn’t date. He doesn’t get attached. Not anymore. So not only is Streeter stunned by Olivia’s improved behavior after just a few days with Bailey, he’s downright floored by his immediate attraction to the woman. But with secrets in her eyes and a body that doesn’t quit, Streeter begins to worry that Bailey Masterson might just be the one woman to heal his fractured family and broken heart.

One thing’s for sure–these two wrecked souls are spinning out of control as they desperately try not to fall in love…

Review:

Spun Out by Lorelei James is a sweet and sizzling hot romance that is an uplifting story of healing, new beginnings and love. Although this newest release is the tenth installment in the Blacktop Cowboys® series, it can be read as a standalone.

Bailey Masterson reluctantly returns to Wyoming while she figures out her future. Her military career is in flux and she is in the midst of determining what she wants to do next.  On the surface, Bailey appears relatively well-adjusted, but there is a sense that something serious is bubbling underneath the surface.  While she remains friendly and outgoing, she is rather tight-lipped about herself. Bailey is instantly attracted to Streeter and she has few reservations about indulging in a no strings fling with the hot, single father.

Shattered by the death of his wife years earlier, Streeter Hale is a devoted single dad to five year old Olivia. The years since his wife’s death have not been easy, but Streeter has carved out a life that works for him and his daughter.  He does not date and he spends most of his time with his family.  Ready to make some much needed changes to his life, Streeter is stunned by his reaction to Bailey Masterson.

Olivia is a precocious little girl who is quite smart and she is an energetic bundle of energy.  She has a unique personality and she is a refreshingly non-perfect little girl.  Streeter’s scenes with Olivia are heartwarming and quite humorous.

Bailey and Streeter are vibrantly developed, three-dimensional characters who are dealing with true to life, relatable issues.  Although their relationship has a shelf-life, Bailey is genuinely interested in Streeter and she is quick to convince him to talk about his past.  Streeter gains confidence in himself and eagerly explores his previously untapped sexual fantasies and desires. Their bedroom scenes are extremely hot and boundaries are pushed as they give in to their mutual passion.

Spun Out is a delightfully charming romance that also deals with some very serious subject matter.  The characters are quite endearing and wonderfully developed. Lorelei James perfectly balances the darker topics with humor and the resulting story has plenty of depth and substance. I absolutely loved and highly recommend this  very realistic addition to the Blacktop Cowboys® series.

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Filed under Blacktop Cowboys Series, Contemporary, Jove, Lorelei James, Rated B+, Review, Spun Out

March 29, 2017 · 11:58 pm

Review: All You Need by Lorelei James

Title: All You Need by Lorelei James
Need You Series Book Three
Publisher: Jove
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 368 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

A pro hockey player and a PR powerhouse burn up the ice in the third sexy Need You novel from the New York Times bestselling author of the Mastered Series and the Blacktop Cowboys® Series.

PR agent Annika Lund can spin any disaster into a win. But revamping the reputation of a notorious Swedish hockey player will take every trick in her arsenal, especially when his agent insists that convincing everyone he’s no longer a playboy is top priority. And that it requires a sham relationship—with Annika playing the part of the loving girlfriend.

On fire in the rink and in the bedroom, Axl Hammerquist couldn’t care less about being anyone’s golden boy. So when his agent forces him to play nice with a new publicist, he takes satisfaction in being as much of a pain as possible. But the more time he spends getting to know Annika, the more Axl starts to think that being Mr. Nice Guy might be worth it if it gets him the girl…

Review:

All You Need by Lorelei James is a marvelous enemies to lovers romance.  Although this newest release is the third installment in the fantastic Need You series, it can be read as a standalone (but I HIGHLY recommend the entire series).

Annika Lund  is loyal to her family which is why she grudgingly agrees to help hockey bad boy Axl “the Hammer” Hammerquist salvage his image.  Annika positively loathes Axl whose list of transgressions is looonnng, so she is rather shocked to realize she is attracted to the hockey hottie.  When Axl’s agent suggests the two pretend to be in a relationship, neither is thrilled with the proposal but they both realize the plan has merit.  What neither Axl nor Annika expect is for their contentious fake relationship to turn into a real romance.  What will happen to their budding romance once Axl no longer needs Annika to save his reputation?

Annika is tough as nails but she loves her family so she will do anything to help them.  Axl is nothing like the men she usually dates and she absolutely despises him right from their first introduction.  Hiding her unexpected attraction behind scathing comments and a slew of hilarious nicknames, Annika is taken off guard once she gets to know the man behind the hockey mask and wild reputation.

Axl is an incredibly talented hockey player but his out of control antics are a PR nightmare for his new team.  No one can bring themselves to look past the bad publicity swirling around him so his agent knows he has to clean up his client’s image sooner rather than later. Axl has his reasons for his over the top behavior, but now that he is with a team that he genuinely likes, he is ready to do whatever it takes to smooth his transition with his new teammates. As he spends time with Annika, he realizes he has misjudged her but will Axl be able convince her he is not as out of control as she believes?

Annika and Axl do not make any effort to hide their disdain for each other when they first meet.  Annika is particularly withering during their initial encounters but Axl’s exploits are so incredibly outrageous, he deserves her inventive nicknames and derisive comments. However, once the fake relationship plan goes into action, Annika and Axl finally take the time to get to know one another.  After the various misconceptions about each other are cleared up, will Annika and Axl give in to their simmering passion?  What will happen to their fledgling relationship in the midst of well meaning interference from family and friends?

All You Need is a sizzling hot romance with a fabulous cast of well-developed characters and dialogue that is brimming with humor.  The relationship between Annika and Axl is an absolute joy to watch unfold as their dislike for one another gradually gives way to mutual respect and eventually, love.  Old and new fans will fall in love with this latest addition to the Need You series and the intriguing glimpses of Jensen Lund will leave readers eagerly awaiting Lorelei James’ next release, When I Need You.

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Filed under All You Need, Contemporary, Jove, Lorelei James, Need You Series, Rated B+, Review, Romance

December 21, 2016 · 11:56 pm

Review: Mulberry Moon by Catherine Anderson

Title: Mulberry Moon by Catherine Anderson
Mystic Creek Series Book Three
Publisher: Jove
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 443 pages
Book Rating: C

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

The New York Times bestselling author of New Leaf returns to Mystic Creek, Oregon, where a wounded heart finds a place to call home. . . .

After a career on the rodeo circuit, Ben Sterling longs to settle down on his farm and start a family like his brothers. He’s searched all over for the woman of his dreams. Yet the only one to spark his interest is the new owner of the local café. Getting her attention, however, won’t be easy.

Sissy Sue Bentley has worked hard to make it on her own, and she doesn’t need another man in her life. From her alcoholic father to the men she’s dated, who were after only one thing, they are nothing but trouble. Except Ben keeps showing up whenever she really needs help. Sissy struggles to deny her growing feelings for him—but soon Ben’s tender concern has her hoping for a happier future. Then her past comes barreling back into her life, and it will take more than the love in Ben’s heart to hold them together.

Review:

Mulberry Moon by Catherine Anderson is a charming small town romance.  Although it is the third installment in the Mystic Creek series, this latest release can be read as a standalone.

Ben Sterling is  a warm and caring man who is ready to settle down.  At one time he hoped that local cafe owner Sissy Sue Bentley might be that person, but she quickly made it clear she wanted nothing to do with him.  Realizing there is no point in pursuing someone who is not interested in him, he abandoned his plan to catch her eye.  Despite his terrible run of bad luck with the women he has recently dated, Ben  remains hopeful he will find the right woman to share his life with.

Unlike Ben, Sissy’s life has been nothing but one hardship after another.  Her childhood was extremely  dysfunctional and as a result, she finds it hard to trust anyone.  Sissy is quite prickly towards Ben and although he goes out of his way to help her, she remains quite distrustful of his motives for his assistance.

Ben has the patience of a saint as Sissy continues to blow hot and cold where he is concerned. She temporarily lets down her defenses and just when he thinks he is making progress, she puts her walls back up. Sissy’s mixed signals towards Ben quickly become tiresome as this push/pull continues although Ben is a perfect gentleman who is always kind and respectful to her.

While there is little doubt that Sissy’s childhood was horrible, the details of her past are so exaggerated that they are impossible to believe. While it is credible that her family moved around a great deal, the number of states she lived is in certainly eye-brow raising since they were so poor.  And it is equally hard to believe that her experiences at EVERY school she attended were EXACTLY the same.  Not a single person was willing to befriend her?  Everyone made fun of her?  No one made any effort to help her without expecting something in return?

Ben and Sissy are a cute couple but Sissy’s hard luck continues for the most of the novel. From runaway chickens to mysteriously vanishing items to a broken leg, Sissy just cannot seem to catch a break. And just when Sissy is finally willing to take a chance with Ben, her past comes back to haunt her and she pushes Ben away in an effort to protect him. Is their love strong enough to withstand this final conflict?

Mulberry Moon by Catherine Anderson is an overly dramatic but sweet addition to the Mystic Creek series.  Ben is an appealing protagonist with a generous heart and a seemingly endless supply of patience.  Sissy is a spunky young woman with a traumatic past that makes her afraid to risk her heart.  Will Sissy allow her considerable emotional baggage ruin her future with Ben?

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Filed under Catherine Anderson, Contemporary, Jove, Mulberry Moon, Mystic Creek Series, Rated C, Review, Romance

August 24, 2016 · 11:57 pm

Review: Homecoming by Shannon Stacey

Title: Homecoming by Shannon Stacey
Boys of Fall Series Book Three
Publisher: Jove
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 303 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

The New York Times bestselling author of Defending Hearts returns to small-town New Hampshire where a substitute football coach and a guidance counselor tackle love.

They were the golden boys of fall: Stewart Mills High School’s legendary championship football team. Fourteen years later, they’re back to relive their glory, save the team—and find themselves again . . .

Sam Leavitt has returned home to Stewart Mills with one goal: to fill in for Coach McDonnell and lead the high school football team to the championship. He doesn’t have time for distractions or commitments—but he’s unable to resist falling for the sexy guidance counselor he shared a hot night with months ago.

Jen Cooper knows what she’s looking for long-term, and it’s not Sam—even though the night they shared was explosive. Now, with Sam back in town and working by her side, picking up where they left off is too great a temptation to resist. But before long their fun fling is looking like a future together. And as the championship approaches, Sam is faced with a big decision that will either break them apart—or help them find their way home.

Review:

Homecoming by Shannon Stacey is a heartwarming novel of redemption, forgiveness and love.  Although this latest release is the third installment in the Boys of Fall series, it can be read as a standalone but I highly recommend the previous two books as well.

After beloved high school football Coach McDonnell suffers a heart attack, Sam Leavitt returns to Stewart Falls take over coaching duties until Coach gets the green light from his doctor to return to work.  With a host of bad memories and unresolved issues stemming from his dysfunctional childhood, Sam does not mind helping out temporarily but he has no intention of moving back to town permanently. So he knows he has to maintain a healthy distance from the woman he had a very hot and unforgettable one night stand with the previous summer, guidance counselor Jen Cooper. His good intentions quickly fall by the wayside as their lives become entangled through their jobs and friends but their simmering attraction becomes too powerful to resist. Deciding there is no harm in indulging in a casual affair, Jen and Sam are both somewhat surprised when their no strings fling begins to look an awful lot like a real relationship. Will their deepening emotions have any effect on Sam’s plan to Stewart Falls when Coach returns to work?

Sam is a caring, compassionate man whose abusive childhood left an indelible mark on him.  While he may have put his horrible memories out of his mind, he has never really dealt with his painful past. His strained relationship with his mom is a work in progress and he is trying very hard to forgive her for not doing more to protect him while he was growing up.  Sam has mixed emotions about being back in Stewart Falls and while he really comes to enjoy coaching the football team and mentoring the players, he still has a difficult time letting go of the hurt and anger he still carries with him. After receiving an unexpected job opportunity, he begins rethinking his plans to return to Texas but he cannot see himself moving back to Stewart Falls. Sam comes up with a viable solution to this problem, but will Jen agree to his plan?

Jen cares deeply for the students she works with and she works tirelessly on their behalf to give them the opportunity to make a better life for themselves. Although her family no longer lives in Stewart Falls, she has strong ties to the community.  Still nursing a little hurt and anger over the way Sam left town the previous summer, Jen resolves to stay away from him. When this plan quickly falls through, she refuses to entertain the possibility of giving in to her desire for him. Slowly but surely, she convinces herself she can handle a no strings fling and they soon embroiled in a heated affair. Although she readily admits she is in love with Sam, is Jen ready to do whatever it takes for them to be together?

With a sweet and steamy romance, a wonderful small town atmosphere and laugh out loud humor (the pumpkin babies and Gretchen’s emojis are hilarious), Homecoming is an endearing and heartfelt addition the Boys of Fall series. Jen and Sam are wonderful protagonists whose romance is believable but with some very real obstacles to overcome, their future is far from certain.  This finely crafted novel of love and healing is sure to be a hit with old and new fans of Shannon Stacey.

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Filed under Boys of Fall Series, Contemporary, Homecoming, Jove, Rated B, Review, Romance, Shannon Stacey