Romance

All posts in the Romance category

Someone to Honor by Mary Balogh(Review Post)

Published July 2, 2019 by bookbesties

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Abigail Westcott’s dreams for her future were lost when her father died and she discovered her parents were not legally married. But now, six years later, she enjoys the independence a life without expectation provides a wealthy single woman. Indeed, she’s grown confident enough to scold the careless servant chopping wood outside without his shirt on in the proximity of ladies.

But the man is not a servant. He is Gilbert Bennington, the lieutenant colonel and superior officer who has escorted her wounded brother, Harry, home from the wars with Napoleon. Gil has come to help his friend and junior officer recover, and he doesn’t take lightly to being condescended to–secretly because of his own humble beginnings.

If at first Gil and Abigail seem to embody what the other most despises, each will soon discover how wrong first impressions can be. For behind the appearances of the once-grand lady and the once-humble man are two people who share an understanding of what true honor means, and how only with it can one find love.

OUT NOW!!!

Heyyyyy Westcott family addicts!!!!

I was so anxiously waiting to get my hands on this next book that I literally stopped reading everything else to start this book.  Mary Balough has delivered another beautiful leading lady who finds her perfect match in the most unlikely place.   I was sure the this story was going to be about Jessica or any of the other Westcotts but was very pleasantly surprised when I discovered it was Abby who finds love in this book.  I loved this story as much as I did the others and truly cannot wait for the next one.

      Abigail Westcott is ready to live a peaceful life as a spinster, after the discovery of her illegitimate birth she has no desire to return to society in spite of her familytrying to encourage her. When her brother returns home from war in ill health she seizes it asthe perfect opportunity to return to her childhood home in the country, get away from it all, and live the life she chooses.  Well she will just as soon as her brother’s friend and escort returns to London.

     Lieutenant Colonel Gilbert Bennington is relieved to be back home in England after so many years away at war.  Before he can return to his own life he must see his friend Henry Westcott on the road to recovery by escorting him home and remaining there until his health improves.  Little did he know that while there he would meet the one woman who can solve all his problems and break down the walls he built around his heart.

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DANIELLE

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A Husband for Hire By Patricia A Knight(Review Post)

Published June 28, 2019 by bookbesties

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Lady Eleanor Russell needed a husband. Immediately. With her father’s death imminent and no male heir to be found, her ancestral home, Rutledge, with its famous Thoroughbred racing stable and the 100,000 acres of surrounding villages and tenant farms would revert to the Crown—never mind that her family had administered the lands for over a century. But no man in his right mind would choose an unattractive, outspoken, thirty-year-old spinster of strong opinions and stubborn independence to be his bride. Well, she’d buy a husband—and send him on his way.
An impoverished third son of a duke, Lord Miles Everleigh, tall, elegant and immensely handsome, relied heavily on the generosity of his friends and the kindness of wealthy widows to keep himself clothed, housed and fed. That he was as well-spoken and congenial as he was handsome won him acceptance into the highest of social circles—and into the beds of the most influential women, but it was a life-style that wore at a man’s self-respect. He was more than the male whore his step-brother named him.

When Lady Eleanor Russell contracted to buy a husband, she never intended to lose her heart.

When Lord Miles Everleigh accepted her contract, he never imagined he’d desire much more than money.

    This is a brand new author for me and I am so glad I found her!!!  I discovered this author because she is going to be an attending author at the Space Coast Book Lovers book signing event that your Book Besties will be attending.  After reading her book I am super excited to both introduce her to all of you and meet her in person.

 This is book one in the Heirs and Spares series and all I can say is that if all her series start this well I am going to be a very busy reader and a HUGE Patricia A Knight fan.   This book was so fun to read and has everything I look for in a good story.   I love the kind of role reversal that takes place in this book where the leading man is a “kept man” as opposed to the mistresses we typically see in historical romance novels.  Our heroine is extremely clever, undeniably intelligent, and incredibly determined to make her life her own by any means necessary.  I adore ALL of the characters in this book and love how even the secondary characters play important roles in the plot.

     Lady Eleanor Constance Russell needs a husband.  But not just any man will do, she needs a husband who is so desperate that he will sign her very unconventional marriage agreement without question.Lord Miles WrothamEverleigh is the third son of a Duke who is known to be a man who has been forced to rely on the generosity of his “friends” to live.  It would seem as if his luck might change when he not only receives but accepts a strange request for marriage from a very wealthy and very determined lady.

     Will their new arrangement lead to a love match or will it be all business for these two?  You will have to read the book for yourself to find out.

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Danielle

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The Assist by Rebecca Jenshak(Review Post)

Published June 26, 2019 by bookbesties

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You know those stories where the smart girl tutors the dumb jock? This isn’t it.

Blair:
What’s the probability of insulting the one guy on campus I need to help me pass statistics? If I knew, I wouldn’t be standing in front of Wes Reynolds begging him to tutor me.

Basketball player, sexy, arrogant, always sleeping through class… these are the things I knew about him. What I didn’t know is that he is a seriously smart jock.

Wes:
What’s the best way to get rid of the peppy and unrelenting girl that keeps asking me to tutor her? If I knew, I wouldn’t be staring at her tan legs and attempting to teach her statistics.

Sorority girl, fine as f**k, determined, ball buster… these are the things I knew about her. What I didn’t know is that she is all the things I didn’t realize I wanted or needed.

Or that one semester with her would change everything.

OUT NOW

Wes is Valleys basketball star and Blair is you college sorority girl who seems to be struggling in Statistics. She wonders how is it that the jock who sleeps in class , just got a big fat ‘A’ and here she is with a big flop on her test. She reaches out to the jocks thinking if she could get her hands on their tutor she can get what she needs for the MBA program but little does she know that Wes is the secret weapon.

So he is sexy with basketball skills and smart. Blair wins Wes tutoring skills and things get complicated from there. Can she get the grade she needs? What happens when the attraction sparks and will they give in and if so can Wes be serious? Can’t spoil what happens but this is a great read.
Ok so this is a new author to me but it was a sports romance so I said hey why not! First the cover is a win, second it’s a Sports Romance and third the characters are great. The setting is in college senior year and when the college romances are written well me as a 40 year old can enjoy lol. Wes is a bit cocky but he is smart. He goes through some struggles dealing with an injury and then a pesky ex of Blairs but he is refreshing. Then there is Blair ,which I was digging the name, she has some struggles with again that pesky ex but I like that in the beginning she wasn’t all over heart eyes for Wes. The romance simmered a bit before she started falling and gave Wes a little run for his money. Interested to see what happens with the other characters.

stars 4

DAMARIS

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More Than A Rogue By Sophie Barnes(Review Post)

Published June 26, 2019 by bookbesties

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All she wanted was a kiss…

What she got, was fiery passion…

Emily Howard knows she is destined to be a spinster. She has accepted this fate, but that doesn’t stop her from wanting to experience kissing. What she doesn’t expect, is for Griffin Crawford, the handsomest man in the world, to do the honors. Or for all her female relations to discover her in his embrace. Naturally, marriage is instantly mentioned, but since Emily knows this is not what Griffin wants, she tries to escape him, her family and the ensuing scandal.

When Emily flees the Camberly ball in the wake of their kiss, Griffin goes in pursuit. He will not allow his sister-in-law’s determined friend to risk her safety for any reason. And risk it she will if she means to return to her countryside home by herself. But the longer he remains in her company, the more he is tempted to kiss her again. If only he could risk falling in love and remain in England forever.

OUT NOW!!!

This is the first book that I have received the ARC straight from the author.  Add to it that the author was none other than Sophie Barnes who you all know I adore, so naturally I was crazy excited to read this.   To say that I enjoyed this book immensely is an understatement.  I count not put it down!  A strong willed woman who knows what she wants, even if that doesn’t include marriage is a woman after my own heart, and the character of our heroine has endeared her to my heart.

    Emily Howard is ready to live the life a spinster who devotes her time to the children’s home she runs with her best friends, but only after experiencing her first kiss.  When that first kiss threatens scandal or marriage Emily decides to run awake from London society back to the children’s home in the county.  The last thing she was expecting was to be followed on her way to her sanctuary by the man who gave her that kiss.

  Griffin Crawford is ready for the London season to be over so he can return to his bachelor life in Vienna.  That is until he gets caught kissing the most beautiful girl in the world.  Despite the risk of ruining her reputation, she refuses to allow him to do the honorable thing and ask for her hand in marriage, and flees London.  He convinces himself he is only following her to keep her safe from the dangers of traveling alone, or maybe is there another reason he is following her that he hasn’t figured out yet?

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Another great book by the amazing Sophie Barnes.  Let me know what you all think!!!

DANIELLE

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The Fadeaway Audio is OUT NOW!!(Sample +Review)

Published June 26, 2019 by bookbesties

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He thinks we’re playing the longest game of hard-to-get ever.  We’re not.

Joel: The hottest girl on campus won’t go out with me. I know, I know, that sounds presumptuous, but this girl… this girl has gotten under my skin, and I can’t seem to walk away.
Every Thursday, I show up at the café where she works. She’s fed me every excuse in the book. I should give up and bang one of the many girls blowing up my phone. I’m not. Even when she says no, Thursday is my favorite day of the week.
Katrina: The hottest guy on campus won’t stop asking me out. I know that sounds like a good problem to have, but this guy… this guy has no idea how complicated my life is trying to juggle being a single mom and college student. Every Thursday, he shows up at the café where I work. His cheesy pickup lines and arrogance should have me completely annoyed. I’m not. I can’t say yes, but Thursday is my favorite day of the week.

Audio OUT NOW

Click below for an audio sample!

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Katrina works at the cafe on campus and looks forward to the one day a week she gets to see Valley U basketball star and certified womanizer Joel. He tries hard to get a date every time their paths cross but Katrina will not give in. Being a single mom has her reserved and reluctant to give in to her desires. Joel himself feels like she is the one girl that won’t throw herself at his feet and he is determined to change that. In the process feelings are going to hit a high and Joel has some past trust issues. Katrina can’t afford to get in too deep and risk hurting not just her but her 3 year old son. Can she be the one to reform this certified player on and off the court?

So this is the second book of the series and she is a new author to me but it has been a win. Some of the reviews about Joel were negative but I am glad I made my own opinion. Great cover and the story has no fluff and flows great. Joel has this arrogant and cocky feel that you first see in the book The Assist but you really see he is a family man but with a bad high school relationship in his pocket he makes sure all the ladies know that there will not be any white picket fences. He is sexy and when he interacts with Katrina son Christian it is swoon worthy. The chemistry between these two is fire and great sexy times! I can’t wait for the next book in the series!

stars 4

Damaris

Save the Date by Monica Murphy(Review Post)

Published June 26, 2019 by bookbesties

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Caroline Abbott loves her job—helping engaged couples pick out the perfect save the date cards and invitations for their dream wedding. Working at Noteworthy means she has to deal with the occasional bridezilla, but Caroline’s always up for the challenge.

Until one particular bridezilla walks into the stationery store whose fiancé happens to be the boy Caroline shared her first kiss with. Alexander Wilder is all grown up now, helping run his family’s successful luxury hotel chain, and is somehow even better looking than she remembers.

When Caroline just happens to catch Alex’s fiancée half naked with another man well, of course she has to tell Alex. Of course, he breaks off his engagement.

And of course, the ex-bridezilla has gone completely bonkers.

At least Caroline has her friends to save her from crazy ex-fiancées. But she also has the sudden interest of…Alex? Caroline knows they share a connection, but is he on the rebound? Or after seeing her all these years later, does he really want something more?

OUT NOW!!!

 This was a new author to me. I really enjoyed the story line and characters. Caroline works at a store called Noteworthy(very cute) where she helps people pick Save the Dates, invitations and thank you cards. She has to deal with a lot of different personalities and who would have known that her client one day would pose a huge challenge. Her client’s fiance happens to have been her first kiss and boy he has grown up.

Alex is a VP for his family hotel chain and recognizes Caroline right away. There is some chemistry that grows throughout the story. Caroline finds Alex’s fiance in a compromising position and tells Alex. From this point you have fake relationships, crazy exs, wicked attraction and Paris of course! The characters are funny and cute together and have great banter. Very much enjoyed and look forward to more from this author.
I received an Arc for a honest review

stars 4

Damaris

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