ANYONE BUT CADE (Anyone But… Book #2) by Penelope Bloom is
the second contemporary romance in the King Brothers trilogy. These books are an
enjoyable mix of romance, laughter and smokin’ hot sex.
Cade King is the other twin, who is never serious unless it
comes to negotiations for work. Seven years ago, he cost his girlfriend her
soccer scholarship with a stupid prank that went wrong. Since then he has never
been in a serious relationship and hides behind his money and success. He can’t
be hurt, if no one really knows him, right?
Iris swore seven years ago with her two best friends to
never again date a King brother. But they are back in town and already one of
her friends has fallen. Iris values the success she worked hard for to become a
law enforcement officer, but something is missing. Cade is still a temptation
hard to resist.
Cade receives the news that he is the father of a five-year-old
son that he never knew was out there. He asks Iris for her help and even though
she knows she shouldn’t, she cannot resist Bear. Can Iris forgive Cade and can
the two work together for Bear?
I really enjoyed this book. The dialogue was laugh out loud
funny at times and ridiculously funny at others. As much as Cade and Iris were
great for each other, Bear made them even better. I loved when Bear would be a
mini-Cade and the action between the two throughout shows the difference, I
felt realistically between how a man or a woman play with a child. Even when it
seemed as though all the secondary characters were against them, Iris and Cade
stayed positive and worked things out. The sex scenes were explicit, but not
gratuitous. I love when I finish a romance and have a smile on my face.
I love all the brothers and I am looking forward to Nick and
Miranda’s story!
***
Author
Biography
Penelope
Bloom is a USA Today, Amazon, and Washington Post bestselling
author whose books have been translated into seven languages. Her popular
romances include His Banana, Her Cherry, Savage, and Punished.
Her writing
career started when she left her job as a high school teacher to pursue her
dream. She loves taking her imagination for a spin and writing romances she’d
want to live. She likes a man with a mind as dirty as sin and a heart of gold
he keeps hidden away. Her favorite things include getting to wear socks all
day—pants optional—and being a positive example for her girls. Showing her
daughters that no dream is too big, no matter what anyone tells them, is worth
all the late nights, doubts, and fears that come with being a writer.
Today I am giving everyone another look at the Brothers In Blue Trilogy by Jeanne St. James. I previously reviewed all of these books separately as they were released.
Below you will find my book reviews for Max, Marc and Matt and author info. Enjoy and give these books a read and/or listen on audiobook if you missed them the first time around. You will not be disappointed.
***
RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars
BROTHERS IN
BLUE: MAX (Brothers in Blue #1) by Jeanne St. James is a HOT contemporary
romance read that introduces the reader to a rich, immature party girl that has
her whole life turned upside down and a small town cop, who is an ex-Marine and
all Alpha.
Amanda
Barber is a young, rich girl partying all over Miami with her friends and no
responsibilities. Suddenly, she has to move to small town PA to live in her
dead father and stepmother’s home to care for her 22 year old special needs
half-brother and his dog. She has never met Greg and Chaos due the messy
divorce of her parents and has no idea how to deal with him or his needs.
I did not
like Amanda at first, but as the story progresses and you see how she is trying
to learn to help Greg and stand on her own two feet for a change, she pulled me
to her side. You learn her backstory slowly, and like me, the small town folk
did not care for Amanda at first either. She makes mistakes, but you also watch
her mature quickly. She wants to go back to her old life at first, but things
conspire to make her want to stay more and more as the story progresses.
Max Bryson
is a third generation police officer in his hometown and the oldest of three
Bryson boys. When he first runs into Amanda, he has trouble believing such an
immature girl has been assigned the care of Greg, but even as her attitude
chafes, he finds her extremely hot. The back and forth between these two was
extremely well written. You can see in each encounter the strength in Amanda
continues to grow as she stands up to him and takes control her own life and
Greg’s. How much Max’s attitude changes towards Amanda is also realistically
written. The emotional growth of both Amanda and Max is what makes this an
engaging romance.
It was great
getting to know all the secondary characters in this story, also. Max’s loving
and stable parents and his teasing younger brothers. Not so nice, but necessary
to understand Amanda were her mother and ex-boyfriend from Miami. I am looking
forward to reading Marc’s story next.
Please Note:
Although this is a small town love story it does contain many explicit sex
scenes throughout the story. They are well written, integrated into the story
and very, very hot!
***
RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars
Another HOT
book about a Bryson brother from Manning Grove!
BROTHERS IN
BLUE: MARC (Brothers in Blue #2) by Jeanne St. James has the second Bryson
brother having to train the new police recruit who just happens to be female.
For an alpha male like Marc, who also happens to still believe there should not
be any female officers, being made her FTO (field training officer) by his brother
the chief seems like a sick joke.
Leah Grant
is determined to be a police officer just like her deceased father. She has
fought all the stereotypes and risen to the top of her training class to have
no one, but Max offer her a job. Manning Grove is very small town to her old
home of Philly, but she is determined to make it, even with the chauvinist
beliefs of her FTO.
As Marc and
Leah train and ride together, their chemistry starts to override their common
sense. They try to keep their work life separate from their increasing
attraction, but Marc wants her in his bed as much as Leah wants to prove she is
as capable as any male officer. The taboo of trainer and trainee does not stop
these two, but they do keep it out of work hours.
These two
have explosive chemistry in bed and are so perfect for each other. There are
explicit sex scenes that are well written and have a surprising appearance of
nipple rings and other sex toys. I also loved that Leah stayed at Marc’s
parents’ house when she moved to town so that we continue to be involved with
the whole family from Max’s story in Book #1. This romance can be read as a
standalone because of its own HEA, but the family ties and small town life
carry over.
I love that
Ms. St. James has made each of these books in this series unique so far. I
appreciate that they are not both the same premise with new names inserted. I
am looking forward to what happens with the last Bryson boy, if he ever comes
home!
***
RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars
What a great
addition and emotionally charged finale to the Bryson brother trilogy of books!
BROTHERS IN
BLUE: MATT (Brothers In Blue #3) by Jeanne St. James has the youngest Bryson
finally returning home after several deployments overseas to a job and extended
family that he is finding very difficult to deal with due to PTSD.
Matt Bryson
believes his mind is broken. He is not ready to accept help except what is
forced on him by his brother to keep his job as a police office in their small
town. He has buried his emotions and is barely making it day to day.
Dr. Carly
Stephens is Amanda’s obstetrician at the local hospital. She is tall, calm and
extremely professional working hard to help her elderly parents and save money
to adopt a baby of her own one day that she cannot have herself. When Matt ends
up being the brother to rush Amanda to the hospital to deliver, he is attracted
to Carly’s calm and leadership. Carly is attracted to the hot police office.
They start
out as landlord and tenant, but soon agree to a sexual, no commitment
relationship. They are just too different and want different things out of
life. Matt with his OCD and PTSD believes he will never be able to love and he
never wants children. Carly is too busy earning and saving money for her future
home and adoption and just wants the hot sex. But can they truly keep to this
arrangement? Hot, steamy sex is great, but soon emotions become entangled and
they will have to find a way to compromise or break.
Matt had me
all tied up in knots emotionally. There are many forms and degrees of PTSD and
I feel Ms. St. James handled Matt’s character responses in a realistic way. I
especially agree with the way that Matt had to handle a lot of his decisions on
his own and in his own time. Carly was an equally strong character because even
though she is a doctor, she knows she can’t heal Matt, she can only love and
help him. The plot was a delicate back and forth written with empathy and
compassion.
It was great
reading about all the characters from the previous two books, also. I am going
to miss these brothers, the loves they found and the entire extended family.
This is an excellent contemporary romance series with plenty of hot and steamy
sex scenes. They can all be read as standalones, but is much more fun to read
them all in order and get three HEAs.
***
Author Info
JEANNE ST. JAMES is a USA Today bestselling romance author who loves an alpha male (or two). She was only thirteen when she started writing. Her first paid published piece was an erotic story in Playgirl magazine. Her first erotic romance novel, Banged Up, was published in 2009.
She is happily owned by farting French bulldogs. She writes M/F, M/M, and M/M/F ménages. Want to read a sample of her work? Download a sampler book here: BookHip.com/MTQQKK
STARTING OVER AT BLUEBERRY CREEK (Sweetwater Springs
Book #4) by Annie Rains is another wonderful addition to the Sweetwater Springs
contemporary romance series. Ms. Rains has written a friends-to-lovers story
that pulled at every one of my heartstrings.
Brenna McConnell put her college education to become a
teacher on hold to finish raising her younger sister, Eve when their parents are
killed in an accident. Brenna takes over her mother’s catering business with
her aunt and when her sister graduates from high school she fears her sister’s
desire to become a firefighter like their father. Eve is headstrong and
difficult with Brenna acting like a mother instead of the sister she misses
which causes a rift between them.
Firefighter Luke Marini moves next door to the sisters to
start over in a new town. He immediately notices the beautiful brunette next
door, but one of the reasons he moved was to get away from his previous
neighbor and have people not know about his past. Brenna welcomes her new
neighbor even as he seems cold to her neighborly advances, but Luke is finding
he cannot stay away from the temptation of the sweet Brenna.
Luke helps Brenna realize that her sister is an adult, even
though she may not act like one at times and it is time for Brenna to work on
realizing her own dreams. Brenna is used to sacrificing for others and she is
finding it difficult to only think of herself, especially when wonderful
firefighter may be her chance at a future that may be slightly different than
what she always dreamed of.
I love Ms. Rain’s storytelling! It pulls me in to her small-town
characters and lives effortlessly. Brenna and Luke both had so much going on
emotionally, past and present and yet Ms. Rain’s writing makes you feel empathy
and not sympathy. The growth and changes flow throughout the story, including Brenna
and Eve’s relationship. Sometimes what we believe will make us happy, is not
necessarily so and both of the main characters learn that and grow. All the
secondary characters are fully fleshed out and the sex is all behind closed doors.
I love this book and all the Sweetwater Springs books and recommend them all! I want to thank Forever Books and Net Galley for allowing me to read this eARC. It was very much my pleasure.
Today is my turn on the Chemical Attraction Audiobook Blog Tour. This Feature Post and Audiobook Review is for the romantic suspense CHEMICAL ATTRACTION (The Chemical Attraction Series Book #3) by Christina Thompson and narrated by Gary Bennett. This book can be read as a standalone in terms of the suspense plot, but there is a lot of crossover of characters from the previous two books.
Below you will find a book synopsis, my audiobook review, an author interview with a character from her books, the author and narrator’s info and social media links and a Rafflecopter giveaway. Enjoy!
***
About the Audiobook
Author: Christina Thompson
Narrator: Gary Bennett
Length: 10 hours 3 minutes
Publisher: 48fourteen⎮2019
Genre: Romantic Thriller
Series: The Chemical Attraction Series, Book 3
Release date: Dec. 26, 2019
***
Book Synopsis:
Working in nanotechnology, Madeline Pierce, a dedicated scientist, has pain in her heart from an abusive relationship. She hides in her research. Charismatic yet brooding, Joe Roberts searches for an instant chemistry with his soulmate, the one person who will love him for his faults not in spite of them.
Dr. Pierce teams up with Agent Roberts to uncover a criminal network within her medical research facility in West Michigan. Feeling an undeniable attraction, they struggle to stay professional while they determine the degree of company involvement.
In the nearby farming town, animals violently attack the residents. Someone is experimenting outside the laboratory. Are human test subjects next? With the help of Joe’s sister Eva, a physician assistant at the local hospital, and her husband Chief Matt Connor, Joe and Madeline hunt for this new bio-weapon before the death toll rises in this gripping third book of The Chemical Attraction Series.
CHEMICAL ATTRACTION (The Chemical Attraction Series Book
#3) by Christina Thompson is the third romantic suspense in this engaging
series. In this story it is Joe’s turn to feel the chemical attraction. The suspense
story can be read as a standalone, but there is a lot of character crossover
between the books in this series. I suggest you read or listen to them all in
order. You will not be disappointed.
Dr. Madeline Pierce is a scientist who specializes in nanotechnology.
She discovers discrepancies on invoices at the medical research facility where
she works. When her questions lead to answers that do not add up, she asks the
FBI for help.
FBI Agent Joe Roberts is sent to meet with Dr. Pierce. The
two use the pretense of a relationship to work together to get to the truth. Joe
never believed he would find the chemical attraction his sisters talk about
until he meets Madeline, but she is his contact on this dangerous case.
As they work together, they struggle to keep their
relationship professional. Joe has a history of being a player and Madeline has
been terribly abused in the past. Can she trust this chemical attraction to be
real? And can their relationship survive as they fight a horrific threat to
humanity?
I have been waiting for Joe to meet his “one” and this story
did not disappoint. I love when a player is brought down by a strong and
intelligent woman. Even with her past and some insecurities, she is a heroine that
fits with Joe. The suspense plot is well paced, realistic and terrifying in that
aspect. There are some graphic scenes, but they are in line with the plot so
for me they were not gratuitous. I enjoy Eva and Matt being active participants
in this story and crossovers from “The Kindred Code”, book #2 in this series.
None of the characters in this series have it easy in love or danger.
I listened to the audiobook this time after reading the
first two books in this series. Gary Bennett narrated this audiobook and this
was my first time listening to him. I enjoyed his voice and I would definitely
look for other audiobooks with his narration.
I recommend this audiobook and all the books in the Chemical
Attraction series!
***
Author Character Interview:
Matthew Connor from Chemical Attraction
Hello Everyone! I’m Christina Thompson, the author of Chemical Attraction, a romantic thriller. I’m joining you today to promote Chemical Attraction’s Audiobook narrated by Gary Bennett.
I’ve had the privilege of getting to know the people in this story. Eva Connor and Joe Roberts are siblings by choice. They’ve told me their story, and I wrote about their amazing journey. These interviews take place just after their adventure. [trivial spoilers/no plot spoilers]
Ruggedly handsome with a calm demeanor, Matthew Connor had pushed any romantic life aside to focus on raising his eight-year-old son, David. Then, he met Eva and watched her take his hometown by storm. Now as the police chief, he helped Joe on his FBI case.
CHRISTINA: When you first saw Eva with David, what was your first thought?
MATT: Mesmerizing came to mind. She definitely spiced up my life. The first time she visited my home, she turned the town upside down. I didn’t think the Allenton gossip circuit could travel faster than the speed of light. Boy, that weekend it had.
CHRISTINA: How hard was it to be a single dad for the first eight years of David’s life?
MATT: Tough. Like I mentioned before, gossip is big in this town and stereotypes are even bigger. I’ve been the chief for nine years, but I’m still known as the guy who knocked up his high school girlfriend. Beth gave up her rights to David right after he was born while I embraced fatherhood. I wouldn’t have changed a thing though. David makes me a better person, and I strive to be the man he looks up to.
CHRISTINA: Uncovering a criminal network in your town, Joe created tension by not informing you about his case from the beginning. How’s your relationship with him?
MATT: Man, I don’t want him to visit us anymore … too much drama when he’s around. Joking aside, I love Joe like a little brother. Years ago, I helped him out of a sticky situation, which cemented a brothers’ bond. I could do worse than having a federal agent as a brother.
CHRISTINA: I get the feeling that your responsibilities take over much of your life. What do you do for fun?
MATT: Ha. Not having much fun these days. I enjoy spending time with my wife and I crochet to relax. It’s meditative. My mother taught me years ago. I made David’s first baby blanket, and I donate the baby blankets I make now to our local hospital. After seeing the basket of yarn next to our sofa, Joe gave me a hard time until Eva told him what I did with the finished ones. Boy, did he feel bad. His niceness lasted for a month. It really creeped Eva out.
Thanks for stopping by. You can find the audiobook of Chemical Attraction on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Chemical-Attraction-Book/dp/B0833H7YSV/
***
About the Author: Christina Thompson
Christina Thompson has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from Nazareth College in Kalamazoo, Michigan. She is a certified massage therapist from the Health Enrichment Center’s School of Therapeutic Massage in Lapeer, Michigan. She also has a Diploma in Traditional Chinese Acupuncture from the Midwest College of Oriental Medicine in Racine, Wisconsin.
Her background in biology gave her a love of science and an insight into the physical realm of the body. Her holistic understanding of Traditional Chinese medicine taught her that the mind and spirit affect the body in powerful ways.
As a former holistic practitioner with over 20 years of knowledge, experience, and service, Christina now enjoys writing about the physical science, the emotional workings of our mind and heart, and the spiritual energy that taps into our passions.
She is the author of the romantic thrillers in The Chemical Attraction Series, which include Their Rigid Rules, The Kindred Code, Chemical Attraction, Chemical Reaction, and an anthology of short stories, Searching for Her. She has also written the romantic adventures, The Trucker’s Cat and The Garden Collection.
Narrator Gary Bennett is a SAG-AFTRA audiobook narrator. He was born and raised in California and then in Bozeman, Montana, and is the oldest of 4 children. He now calls the greater Seattle area his home, and he’s a huge fan of the Seattle Seahawks
He’s always been passionate about not just telling a story, but telling it well! From reading bedtime stories with his children to performing in front of the microphone, bringing a story truly to life is one of his greatest joys.
Gary has pursued his career in audiobook narration with zeal, investing in not only personal coaching from some of the best in the field, but in also some of the best equipment for his professional home-based studio. There are few things he enjoys more than stepping into his StudioBricks home studio and recording his favorite books!
Gary is also a licensed electrical engineer and a private pilot, loves to listen to and play music and is an avid outdoor enthusiast.
A Favor for a Favor (All In Book #2) by Helena
Hunting is a contemporary romance that will have you laughing out loud and/or teary
eyed more times than you can count throughout this fun and entertaining read.
This is the second book in the “All In” series featuring alpha professional hockey
jocks from Seattle’s new expansion NHL team, but it is easily read as a standalone
romance.
Stevie Bowman is excited to surprise her boyfriend returning
from her trip early to her and her boyfriend’s new apartment in time for her
birthday. But the surprise is on her when she walks in and finds him in bed
having sex with someone else.
Her brother, Rook helps her out by letting her live in his
team apartment he is not using while she gets back on her feet. As she stumbles
in late at night, she wakes her neighbor, who is not happy to be woken up. Stevie
just wants to hide and get away from this jerk of a neighbor.
Bishop Winslow cannot believe his strait-laced team captain
is keeping a side piece in his apartment. He already hates that Rook was made
team captain instead of him and this makes it even worse. Imagine his surprise
when he finds out the mistress is actually the hot younger sister.
Bishop suffers a severe groin injury in the very first
pre-season game. Stevie offers Bishop a deal. She will assist with his rehab so
he can return to the ice sooner, if he will give her a letter of recommendation
which will help advance her career in sport physiotherapy. Can they keep it
strictly professional?
I absolutely love Bishop and Stevie. They are perfect
examples of “do not judge someone because you don’t know what they are going
through privately.” The underwear war had me laughing out loud.
I am fast becoming a huge fan of Helena Hunting’s romances. The
characters are realistic, full-fleshed and the dialogue is pitch perfect. She
captures the sex appeal and down-and-dirty language and foibles of young
professional male athletes. The women she creates are strong, but surprisingly
quirky and/or have an emotional impediment that I would never think would work as
a match for these men and yet each is the perfect match.
I highly recommend this contemporary romance and author!
***
Author Biography:
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Helena Hunting lives on
the outskirts of Toronto with her incredibly tolerant family and two moderately
intolerant cats. Helena writes everything from contemporary romance with all
the feels to romantic comedies that will have you laughing until you cry.
It is time for my third and final stop on the Blog Tour for another book in The Mer Chronicles. OUTRUSH (The Mer Chronicles Book #3) by Errin Stevens. This book features Maya and Aiden’s second chance for love.
Below you will find a book synopsis, my book review, author and narrator info and a giveaway. Enjoy and as always good luck on the giveaway.
***
About Audiobook #3
Author: Errin Stevens
Narrator: Sean Posvistak
Length: 11 hours and 16 minutes
Publisher: Errin Stevens⎮2019
Genre: Romantic Fantasy
Series: The Mer Chronicles, Book 3
Release date: Jul. 17, 2019
***
Book Synopsis:
“Falling, falling…. Maya was airborne again, suspended between a landless platform above and an inscrutable expanse of water below.” Maya’s headlong rush into marriage isn’t working out…and it isn’t the only collision course she’s on these days. Her saltwater distractions aside, her father-in-law wants her gunned down for reasons unknown, and her pesky bodyguard – when he’s around – seems intent on drowning her in want and regret.
Maya is desperate to hold onto any small part of herself she understands. When escape becomes her only option, she finds herself in a race against a past – and a man – she can’t outrun.
OUTRUSH (The Mer Chronicles Book #3) by Errin Stevens is the
third paranormal/urban fantasy story in the world of the Sirens of Griffin Bay
though this addition to the series takes the listener/reader all over the US. The
story picks up seven years after the events of Breakwater and focuses on the
second chance romance of Maya and Aiden.
Maya has tried for years to make her marriage to her college
sweetheart work, but when she catches him having sex with another at a party at
her in-laws, she finally accepts there is no fixing their broken marriage. As
she works through the revelation, her father-in-law catches her in his office.
He believes she has seen incriminating papers and to save himself he orders her
followed and killed if she goes to authorities.
Aiden may not be married to Maya, but he feels bonded and
therefore goes against all efforts of the Siren community to keep them apart. Using
his powers to cloak, he stays on the periphery of Maya life and marriage. When
he learns of the danger she is in, he helps her get away, but their troubles
are just beginning.
I have to say that I was once again drawn into the Siren
world of Ms. Stevens and enjoyed all the characters. I was happy when Maya
stood on her principles and strength to continue with her medical education and
practice, even with all the chaos around her. She is a strong independent female
character, which is why I had some difficulty listening to the first part of
the book. It is a lot of internal struggle over several chapters that if she
was so strong should have been more limited and resolved sooner in my opinion.
I also love Aiden and his devotion to Maya, but the mind manipulation bothered
me in some instances. Even with these two complaints, I still cheered their
romance on. I was glad to see Ms. Stevens added the proof of Maya and Stu’s
divorce before Maya and Aiden came together, also.
There are several subplots going on in this story that I am
looking forward to listening/reading about in future books in this series. Once
again there is plenty of romance, action, adventure and intrigue in The Mer
Chronicles that keeps me coming back for more.
***
About the Author: Errin Stevens
Errin Stevens writes paranormal romantic suspense stories from her home in Minnesota. When not wrestling with unruly narrative – or reading literary and commercial fiction like a fiend – you’ll find her poring over seed catalogues (winter) or gardening (the other three days of the year).Twitter⎮Facebook⎮Goodreads⎮Instagram⎮Pinterest
About the Narrator: Sean Posvistak
Sean is an aspiring game developer who’s used his years of work on Youtube to excel at audiobook narration.
