The Bo0ki3: Contemporary

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Fix Her Up

Tessa Bailey

Hot & Hammered #1

Ebook 400 Pages

Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: June 11, 2019

Overall Rating: 4/5

Disclaimer: I received a ARC of this book from the publisher on Edel in exchange for an honest review. All opinions stated on here are my own.

Georgette Castle’s family runs the best home renovation business in town, but she picked balloons instead of blueprints and they haven’t taken her seriously since. Frankly, she’s over it. Georgie loves planning children’s birthday parties and making people laugh, just not at her own expense. She’s determined to fix herself up into a Woman of the World... whatever that means.

Phase one: new framework for her business (a website from this decade, perhaps?)
Phase two: a gut-reno on her wardrobe (fyi, leggings are pants.)

Phase three: updates to her exterior (do people still wax?)
Phase four: put herself on the market (and stop crushing on Travis Ford!)

Living her best life means facing the truth: Georgie hasn’t been on a date since, well, ever. Nobody’s asking the town clown out for a night of hot sex, that’s for sure. Maybe if people think she’s having a steamy love affair, they’ll acknowledge she’s not just the “little sister” who paints faces for a living. And who better to help demolish that image than the resident sports star and tabloid favorite?

Travis Ford was major league baseball’s hottest rookie when an injury ended his career. Now he’s flipping houses to keep busy and trying to forget his glory days. But he can’t even cross the street without someone recapping his greatest hits. Or making a joke about his… bat. And then there's Georgie, his best friend’s sister, who is not a kid anymore. When she proposes a wild scheme—that they pretend to date, to shock her family and help him land a new job—he agrees. What’s the harm? It’s not like it’s real. But the girl Travis used to tease is now a funny, full-of-life woman and there’s nothing fake about how much he wants her...

Georgie is the youngest sibling in her family and feels like she must fight her way in the family just to be heard. While I, as the oldest in my family have no idea what she is going through I can sympathize with her. I thought Travis was a good fit for her, someone in her life who saw her as an actual person, as an adult with thoughts of her own.

I most definitely didn’t hate this story at all but I didn’t love it the way I wanted to and that’s fine because I still like and enjoyed it. The fake dating troupe is one of my favorites and if a book has that in it, I’m reading it. Georgie was definitely my favorite thing about this book. She was happy with her life even though people judged her for being a clown. She enjoyed her work and wanted to expand on it. I really loved the beginning of the book, I didn’t love the rest of it as much but I liked it. There were some things at the end that I took issue with that was all me and not the fault of the book. I won’t give away what it away because that would spoil it. My real issue with the story was it felt like aside from Travis, and towards to the end her sister no one else really stopped and listened to Georgie, almost as if the problem was resolved but there was no actual resolution.

I do recommend this book to people who are looking for a good quick read with a great heroine. Travis and Georgie are great together, they work to better the life of the other and it really come through the pages. This is a book worth reading.

Since the book has yet to be released details are subject to change by author without warning

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Fight or Flight

Samantha Young

Paperback, 288 Pages

Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Piatkus

Release Date: October 9^th, 2018

Overall Rating: 4/5

The universe is conspiring against Ava Breevort. As if flying back to Phoenix to bury a childhood friend wasn’t hell enough, a cloud of volcanic ash traveling from overseas delayed her flight back home to Boston. Her last ditch attempt to salvage the trip was thwarted by an arrogant Scotsman, Caleb Scott, who steals a first class seat out from under her. Then over the course of their journey home, their antagonism somehow lands them in bed for the steamiest layover Ava’s ever had. And that’s all it was–until Caleb shows up on her doorstep.

When pure chance pulls Ava back into Caleb’s orbit, he proposes they enjoy their physical connection while he’s stranded in Boston. Ava agrees, knowing her heart’s in no danger since a) she barely likes Caleb and b) his existence in her life is temporary. Not long thereafter Ava realizes she’s made a terrible error because as it turns out Caleb Scott isn’t quite so unlikeable after all. When his stay in Boston becomes permanent, Ava must decide whether to fight her feelings for him or give into them. But even if she does decide to risk her heart on Caleb, there is no guarantee her stubborn Scot will want to risk his heart on her….

This book has been on my list for a while now. I just knew it was the type of book I would enjoy. Ava is having a rough time and meeting Caleb at the airport was both the best thing that happened to her and the worst. I’ll be honest Caleb was a complete jerk and I was wondering what was going to change in order to make me like him. There wasn’t a problem between me and Ava, I really liked her from the very beginning and as the story went on, I found myself liking her much more.

This was a quick read. While it was the typical three act romance novel, the characters had depth, real flaws, neither one was too perfect or completely broken. The book was fun and funny yet serious and heartbreaking at times. I really enjoyed the ever-evolving relationship between the two leads, it felt realistic. I loved the dynamic between Ava and her best friend Harper. I really want to know more about Caleb’s brother Jamie, the little we know about him makes me want to dig deeper into his background. Ava and Caleb had problems that they had move past in order for them to be together and their reasons felt like they had merit, it felt believable, not the cheap reasons couple’s breakup just because they have to. I would love to read more about these two or from this world.

I really enjoyed this book and recommend it everyone.

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Pride

Ibi Zoboi

Young Adult Contemporary Romance, Retelling

Hardcover, 304 Pages

Publisher: Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins

Release Date: September 18, 2018

Overall Rating: 4/5

Zuri Benitez has pride. Brooklyn pride, family pride, and pride in her Afro-Latino roots. But pride might not be enough to save her rapidly gentrifying neighborhood from becoming unrecognizable.

When the wealthy Darcy family moves in across the street, Zuri wants nothing to do with their two teenage sons, even as her older sister, Janae, starts to fall for the charming Ainsley. She especially can’t stand the judgmental and arrogant Darius. Yet as Zuri and Darius are forced to find common ground, their initial dislike shifts into an unexpected understanding.

But with four wild sisters pulling her in different directions, cute boy Warren vying for her attention, and college applications hovering on the horizon, Zuri fights to find her place in Bushwick’s changing landscape, or lose it all.

I’ll be honest with you I haven’t read Pride and Prejudice (gasp, I know) I have the book but when I started it, I just couldn’t get into. I have watched the movie and read a few retellings. I love seeing authors or people in general taking something they love and turning it into their own thing while paying respect to the original work. Ibi Zoboi did just that, yes while this book was a retelling of a classic story it was fresh and stood on its own. I don’t think I’ve ever come across a retelling of Pride and Prejudice like this, one that I could relate to, one that touched on what it meant to be black girl in New York City.

Okay so let’s get down to it, I’ve had my eye on this book for months and I was not disappointed, though if I’m being honest I didn’t think this would be a bad book at all. It was well written, well-paced, relatable and just good. Zuri, (huge fan of the name) is smart, stubborn, passionate, family orientated, and extremely judgmental. She had a plan for her life, work hard and go to a good college. I loved that Zuri was excited to spend the summer with her older sister Janae, who just came home from her first year at college. That spoke to me because I do pretty much everything with my siblings, and when the twins went away to college it was weird not to have them around.

My one biggest problem with Zuri was how judgmental she was. It honestly was maddening how she judged Darius and his family solely based off the fact that they had money. She judged them before she had even seen them, and in her head, she knew she was absolutely right about them. Though if I’m being truthful I can’t tell if Zuri was that bad or if the reason I’m so hard on her is because I relate to Darius so much. I’m not rich but I definitely know how it feels to not fit in to that box of what people think it means to black. Darius as a character spoke to me because all my life I’ve done things in a way that was different from what other black people around have done and had people questioning if I was truly black.

Now this is not to say Darius is a perfect character because he too is judgey as hell. If both Zuri and Darius got over themselves, they might have been friends from the beginning. One of my favorite parts of the book was how Zuri felt about her neighborhood. She was worried about people moving in and gentrifying the neighborhood. Sometimes people only see an area they think is “ghetto” or “hood” or that needs to fixed but what they don’t see that these neighborhoods have a culture and life all their own. It showed that neighborhoods are more than the buildings and landscaping, neighborhoods are people and personalities. I might seem like I’m reading too much into it but it’s something I can relate to and it made me happy to see these things reflected in a book.

I recommend this book to any and every one, it was fun book, a quick read and a reminder that sometimes people need to let go of their pride. You do not have to be a person of color to enjoy this book. Please do yourself a favor and get this book when it comes out, I promise you won’t be disappointed.

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Sultry in Stilettos

Nana Malone

In Stilettos Book 2

Contemporary Romance

Paperback, 368 Pages

Release Date: November 11, 2012

Overall Rating: 4/5

Shy, Fantasy Event Planner, Ricca Munroe has never been lucky in love, so when the latest in a long line of Mr. Oh So Wrongs publicly dumps her, she focuses on her career. All she has to do to land the job of a lifetime is work side-by-side with the one man who can break her heart.
Beckett Mills has never been in love. Personal entanglements are a recipe for disaster—that is until one kiss from Ricca Munroe changes everything. Beckett needs this job to fulfill a promise he made. All he has to do is resist the seductive charms of his best friend.
Can Ricca come out of her shell to land her dream job and the love of her life? Can Beckett trust himself enough to actually fall in love and still keep the promise he made? Warning: Sexy, sass talking women will make you laugh, cry and want a pair of killer footwear.

How did I feel about this book?

Honestly I didn’t love it, though I didn’t hate it. It just wasn’t my favorite, I did enjoy it. Beckett, yum, now that I loved. The characters were funny, sassy, and relatable. I found myself really enjoying that back and fourth, I loved the way they all spoke to each other. The relationship between the girls Ricca, Micha, and Jaya was great I love seeing how strong friendships can be.

Even when they had the odds stacked against them, they’re best friends and don’t want to ruin anything, they work together and now are fighting for the same VP job (seriously), and the big issues that his brother is her ex. . .yeah major problem there. But despite all that Ricca and Beckett were amazing together and it killed me that it took the two of them so long to get their acts together and see what was right in front of them.

Well I think the first book Sexy in Stilettos was the better of the two, this one was good and worth reading. Ms. Malone had a real skill and can bring a story to life, making you wish that you were friends with these three sassy women. If there is a book three you better believe I will be reading it.

About the Author:

Nana's love of all things romance and adventure started with a tattered romantic suspense she borrowed from her cousin. It was a sultry summer afternoon in Ghana, and Nana was a precocious thirteen. She's been in love with kick butt heroines ever since. With her overactive imagination, and channeling her inner Buffy, it was only a matter a time before she started creating her own characters.

Waiting for her chance at a job as a ninja assassin, in the meantime Nana works out her drama, passion and sass with fictional characters every bit as sassy and kick butt as she thinks she is. Though, until that ninja job comes through, you'll find her acting out scenes for hubby, baby and puppy while catching up on her favorite reality television shows in sunny San Diego.

Website / Twitter / Facebook

Buy Links

Barnes & Noble / Amazon

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Dare to Act

Leigh Ellwood

Ebook: 175 pages

Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Ravenous Romance

Release Date: August 1 2012

Overall Rating: 3.5/5

When actor Parker Stigwood stuns the world by doing the unthinkable on live television, he's convinced his career is over. Disgusted by Hollywood hypocrisy, he pushes the pause button on his life and retreats to his parents' home in Dareville to contemplate his future. Little does he realize, various forces have plans for him on a personal and professional level.

Luke Hall is excited to direct his first play for the local arts center, more so when the handsome movie star volunteers to watch rehearsals and offer pointers. Luke would rather watch Parker, but there are interruptions to his viewing pleasure. When a well-meaning friend seeking benefits places doubts in Luke's head about Parker's intentions, Luke wonders if their relationship will bomb at the box office.

On and off-stage, Luke and Parker's passion sizzles. But will Parker dare to act on his feelings for Luke and leave his star behind for good?

Right off the bat I had mixed feeling about Parker. I took my hat off to him for taking a stand and calling “the industry” out on their bull. What I didn’t like was the random sex that took place between Parker and some Hollywood actor then a few days later he’s hooking up with Luke in another act of random sex.

I can understand their relationship starting out as this passionate burst of lust that part was actually believable. I liked that the pair let their relationship grow into something. The book had sweet moments and tender romance. There were things they had to overcome.

While it wasn’t the best book I’ve read in no way was it the worst. Though there were moments that gave me pause, a few things seem out of place and a little unnecessary, but that could just be because I’m picky about everything. All in all it was a good read

About the Author:

Leigh Ellwood is an award-winning author of erotica and erotic romance. She is the author of the best-selling Dareville series and several other novels and stories. Her book Dare to Dream was an All Romance Book Club selection, and her book Nuclear Soul won the EPIC Award. She is a Gaylactic Spectrum Honorable Mention and a finalist in the Gold Crown Literary Society Awards. Leigh is very active on Twitter @LeighEllwood and invites readers to visit her at www.LeighEllwood.com.

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