review: Love, Technically by Lynne Silver

Love, Technically ~ Lynne Silver

4 of 5 stars

DRC provided by NetGalley for an honest review

Published: July 29, 2013

Genre: Contemporary Romance/Novella

Summary –

Billionaire CEO and computer whiz Noah Frellish is a king among geeks. Women are attracted to his money, but he'd love to meet someone who's actually interested in him. When he helps the sweet and sexy Michelle Kolson with a printing problem, she confuses him for a help desk technician. Noah knows he should clear up this case of mistaken identity, but would she still like him if she knew he was the boss?

Michelle thinks life in Chicago is perfect, as is the whirlwind romance with her smoking-hot coworker. When she unexpectedly finds her job on the chopping block and the man she fell headfirst into bed with running the company, will she abandon her dreams?

Noah must convince the small-town girl to stay in the big city—and that he really is the man she fell for. (Thanks to GoodReads.com for the summary)

My Thoughts –

Where does the story take place? Chicago

Is the title a good/bad choice for the story? Absolutely

List 3 characters and 1 word to describe them each. 1) Michelle – Clueless  2) Sark/Noah – Lonely  3) Sydney - Conniving

Give the book an alternate ending…or were you happy with it? It was great

Did you cry, laugh, sigh, cringe, fume or feel nothing? I know I shook my head a lot. I laughed and sighed as well – oh Sark…

I really liked this story. Michelle and Sark had chemistry right off the bat and it was intense. I think both of them were a bit naive when it came to relationships and communicating. Overall, I really loved both character and thought they were perfect for each other. I wanted to flick Noah in the forehead a ba-jillion times for lying to Michelle, but then I think she really should have known who he was. I love that he went after her and met her parents. And of all places to make up – Walmart…classic!! This is a fast paced, quick, wicked hot read – I look forward to more from this author:)

review: Friday Night Alibi by Cassie Mae

Friday Night Alibi ~ Cassie Mae

3 of 5 stars

DRC provided by NetGalley for an honest review

Published: 7.29.13

Genre:  New Adult

Rising star Cassie Mae introduces New Adult readers to a practical soon-to-be college freshman who seems to have everything—until a special guy shows her what she’s been missing.

In the wealthy town of Sundale, Kelli Pinkins has hatched the perfect plan to capitalize on her sweet reputation. For a generous fee, she will be every trust-fund baby’s dream: a Friday-night alibi, the “girlfriend” or “BFF” that parents dream about. With college approaching in the fall, Kelli’s services are in demand more than ever, which means that her social life is nonexistent. But Kelli is A-okay with that. She’s raking in cash for school. Besides, relationships are tricky, and sometimes very messy. She’d rather be at home on Xbox LIVE, anyway. Then the unexpected happens: She meets college stud Chase Maroney.

Chase isn’t like the preppy, privileged guys Kelli usually meets in Sundale. For starters, he’s twentysomething, always wears black., and he shoots back one-liners as fast as she can dish them out. But Kelli’s attempts to drive Chase away falter when she realizes that he treats her like he really knows her, like he cares about knowing her. When Kelli finally gives in to the delicious kiss she’s been fighting for so long, she faces a tough decision: make Chase a real-life boyfriend and risk her heart . . . or keep her clients and lose her first true love. (Thanks to GoodReads for the Summary)

My Thoughts - 

Where does the story take place?

Rich town in GA called Sundale.

Is the title a good/bad choice for the story?

Absolutely

List the top 3 characters and 1 word to describe them each.

Stinky – LONELY

Moron – GREAT

The BFF (cannot remember name) - SELFISH

Give the book an alternate ending…or were you happy with it?

Ending was as good as it could get.

Did you cry, laugh, sigh, cringe, fume or feel nothing?

May have laughed and sighed not in a good way.

 

This was a cute story. I thought the idea to be quite unique and the characters to be pretty cool. Kelli was was ok with her life, seemed to have a decent head on her shoulders and had a plan. She realized almost too late that she really wasn't living though - she just getting through the days until she could begin her dream - and almost too late. I thought Mason was awesome. He was understanding, irresistible and an all around great guy - cheesy pick up line and all.

I felt but for Kelli for most of the story - I mean she really didn't have that great of friends and she didn't have much of a life...until she made the big mistake with Mason. Then I wanted to slap her.

Like I said earlier, this was a cute book. It was fast paced, quick, easy read. Kind of fluffy. Had it been a little more in depth, I think it would have rated higher.

cover reveal + Giveaway!!! Love and Other Games by Ana Blaze, Melinda Dozier, Aria Kane, and Kara Leigh Miller

Love and Other Games is a collection of four sexy new adult stories centered around athletes competing in the Winter Games by Ana Blaze, Melinda Dozier, Aria Kane, and Kara Leigh Miller. It releases October 1^st from Swoon Romance in all major electronic formats.

Worth More Than Gold by Ana Blaze

Amy Pierce, the klutzy sister and manager of America’s Skating Sweetheart, is used to being invisible. But when a friend drags her to a party near the Olympic Village, Amy catches the eye of a sexy Norwegian ski jumper. It’s a magical night, but an awkward next morning has her running.

Everyone knows Erik Andresen’s best shot at an individual medal was back in 2010, before an injury pulled him from the competition. He’s there for his team, but a hot night and a remarkable final training session have him wondering if a gorgeous good-luck charm could give him another chance at the podium. With a little bit of luck, these two might have a shot at something worth more than gold.

Ana Blaze's: Website | Twitter | Facebook

Trouble With Gold by Melinda Dozier

US snowboarder and notorious prankster, Ty (Trouble) Madsen is only getting a taste of his own medicine when his Olympic teammates shackle him to a fence wearing nothing but his boxers.

Reception and protocol volunteer, Nadia Hoffman, gets up close and personal with the sexy snowboarder to rescue him, but she's not the kind of girl who lets her hormones get in her way. A professional performance could help her land her dream job at Olympics Committee Headquarters, but her new assignment supervising the rambunctious US Snowboarding Team is making that difficult.

Can she see behind the snowman in the community center bathroom and into the warm heart of the man everyone calls Trouble?

Melinda Dozer's: Website | Twitter | Facebook

The Girl Behind the Gold by Aria Kane

Greek aerial skier Lia Milonas’s parents are about to lose the family farm. Saving it means medaling and landing a huge sponsor. While her no-nonsense attitude has her well on her way to a medal, it hasn’t won her a place in fans' hearts.

“Come back with a story that will make readers cry, or don’t come back.” This is what Brandon James’ boss told him before he left New York to cover the Winter Games for Moment Magazine. With a wink and a smile, he can charm his way into any invite-only party, but that career-making story is nowhere to be found – until he meets Lia.

The two strike a deal that should get them both what they want - but neither would have guessed they’d also find what they need.

Aria Kane's: Website | Twitter | Facebook

Ice Gold by Kara Leigh Miller

Colton Campbell thrives on the fast paced, adrenaline rushed lifestyle of being an Olympic hockey player. Despite Brenna Jessup's abhorrence for the games and the athletes, she's hand-picked as the official photographer for the U.S. Olympic Hockey Team. When a faux pas by Brenna almost costs Colton his career, she owes him. Too bad for her, Colton doesn't want apologies -- he wants retribution! And he knows just how to get it -- and her -- in the process.

Kara Leigh Miller's: Website | Twitter | Facebook

To celebrate the cover reveal, the authors are giving away a $20 gift card to the bookstore of the winner's choice. Check out the rafflecopter below to enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway Rafflecopter direct link

review: Guarded Heart by C.A. Harms

Guarded Heart by C.A. Harms

My rating: 3.5/5

DRC provided by Irresistible Reads for an honest review

Published: 3.30.13

Genre: Romance

Summary –

Life can be very scary...Really Scary when a wounded heart is involved. Giving your entire heart to someone is hard enough once but when it is completely shattered by the one person you believed would always keep it safe only makes it almost impossible to give it away a second time.

Insecurity and Jealousy play a huge roll in Samantha Riggins life as she has her whole world ripped from her when she least expects it. Will she recover and be able to allow herself to love again or continue pushing away the one person that would give anything to be able to heal her and himself by loving one another (Thanks to GoodReads.com for the summary)

My Thoughts –

Is the title a good/bad choice for the story?  

Very good choice – described Sam and Wes perfectly

List the top 3 characters and 1 word to describe them each.

Sam – hurting

Wes – willing

Allison – awesome

Give the book an alternate ending…or were you happy with it? 

 I was happy with how the story ended

Did you cry, laugh, sigh, cringe, fume or feel nothing? 

Cried, sighed, cringed, fumed and loved it!

I really thought this story was great!! It was easy to read, faced paced and used modern/normal wording. The sensual scenes were wicked hot and the romance/love story was sweet.

I liked Sam right off the bat when she told Tony to “Get.The.Fuck.Out.” I was proud of her and thought it took a lot of courage to do so. A lot of women wouldn’t have had the courage to do that in real life. Wes is unbelievably the best thing ever to happen to Sam. He’s fun and sexy and kind. I just love him to death.Allison and Mitch were also a superb addition the book.  They were great friends to Sam and were also a great pair together.

My main issue with the story is the POV from Wes. It’s not really his POV and I think that it should be. It’s third person, but I think since Sam was 1st person, so should Wes. This really puts a dent my rating for the story for me. I’d go up to 4.5 if it weren’t for that. Great story, great characters and great ending/conclusion.