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Review: Foreplay (The Ivy Chronicles #1) by Sophie Jordan

Before she goes after the life she’s always wanted, she’s about to find the one she needs.

Pepper has been hopelessly in love with her best friend’s brother, Hunter, for like ever. He’s the key to everything she’s always craved: security, stability, family. But she needs Hunter to notice her as more than just a friend. Even though she’s kissed exactly one guy, she has just the plan to go from novice to rock star in the bedroom—take a few pointers from someone who knows what he’s doing.

Her college roommates have the perfect teacher in mind. But bartender Reece is nothing like the player Pepper expects. Yes, he’s beyond gorgeous, but he’s also dangerous, deep—with a troubled past. Soon what started as lessons in attraction are turning both their worlds around, and showing just what can happen when you go past foreplay and get to what’s real…

Buy book: Amazon | Kindle

Excerpts from Foreplay

Review:

Pepper (awesome name btw) has had this crush on Hunter since she was like seven. It's something everyone knows about, except him of course. When she hears the wonderful news that he broke up with his long time girlfriend, Pepper realises this is her change. Only there are two problems: he only sees her as a little sister and Pepper is so inexperienced (on all accounts) she's afraid she might actually faint if she ever tried to kiss him.

Luckily for her she's at college and has these two amazing roommates, who know all about dressing up, going out and seducing guys. Together they come up with this brilliant plan that Pepper needs to find a random guy, preferable a Player (yes, that's with a capital), hook up with him and get some experience under her belt (literally).

This is where the major hot bartender Reece enters the scene. Because if you come up with a plan like that, you might as well aim as high as you can. After hearing all the rumours about him and well after just looking at him (gorgeous body, intriguing tattoos and a smile that will make you drop your panties), nice girl Pepper tries to give it her all. Somehow her being Ms. Nice is what draws his attention.

After one sweltering kiss, Pepper explains her plan and strangely enough, Reece agrees to help her. So of we go on this roller coaster ride of high emotions and plain old lots and lots of hot stuff. Honestly why Hunter is even mentioned in this story, I don't really understand. I would have started reading this story solely based on her plan to get some sexual experience from a bad boy.

Since sex can never be just sex, there are some emotions getting involved from both sides. Pepper will need to do some reevaluation on what or more specifically who she wants and hopefully make the right decision before she messes it all up.

Foreplay was such a fun, but mostly hot read. I didn't really like Pepper in the beginning, I'm not for that insecurity thing she got going on. But I was happy she matured a lot towards the end of the book. Reece was of course such an overprotective hottie the whole book through. He definitely knew what he wanted and took it anyway he was able to get it (you may read that in anyway you want).

The second book in the series is called 'Tease'. It's about one of Pepper's roommates, Emerson. The title pretty much sums up the character. I can't wait to see what is going to happen to her.

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Excerpt: The Boy From The Woods by Jen Minkman

SNEAK PEEK into…

THE BOY FROM THE WOODS

By Jen Minkman

Expected release: December 1, 2013

Young Adult Contemporary/Paranormal Romance

Pre-order: iTunes | Kobo

Julia has been in love with Michael for years. He’s the hottest guy in school, and she can’t believe her luck when they finally hit it off during Senior Prom. Her dream doesn’t last, though: after a few dates, he callously dumps her out of the blue. Summer vacation starts with Julia feeling heart-broken and miserable.
But then she rescues Michael in the woods when he has a motorcycle accident in a heavy thunderstorm. From that point onward, her life is turned upside down. Michael has changed completely after the blow to the head that nearly killed him... and he wants her back. But why is he so different? And will she be able to trust him this time around?

Can the boy who broke your heart ever win it back again..?

Sneak Peek Excerpt

Julia trailed behind her boss as she walked over to the cash register, looking left and right to catch a glimpse of her other colleagues.

“Kolbe!” her brand-new boss shouted toward the entrance. “Come and help me out, will you?”

Julia stopped dead, frozen in her tracks. Was she going deaf, or had Martin just said… Her heart hammered ridiculously fast as her eyes zoomed in on the front door.

“He’ll come and help you at the register.” Martin’s voice sounded as though it was coming from far away. He left her standing there, rooted to the spot.

Julia tried to snap out of her paralysis and stumbled the final few steps to the counter. Her breath hitched when she saw an all-too-familiar figure walking in her direction. She swallowed. But surely it couldn’t be. Oh God, no. No, no, no. This was not happening.

And then, she couldn’t look anywhere else but up, straight into two eyes green as the forest.

“What on earth are you doing here?” Julia stared at him in alarm.

“I work here,” he replied unfazed, a half-smile tugging at his lips.

“Since when?” It was simply not possible that she, in her unfailing stalker mode, had somehow missed this: Michael holding a job at the same bookstore she’d applied to two days ago.

“Since last week.”

His smug composure quickly turned her initial befuddlement into outright infuriation.

“Why?” she demanded fractiously.

He raised an eyebrow. “To earn some extra cash?” he declared in an ‘isn’t-that-really-obvious’ tone.

“But why here?”

Michael started to chuckle. “Why are you giving me the third degree?”

“Are you following me or something?” she grumbled, her heart treacherously leaping in her chest for a moment as she considered the possibility.

“Well, I’m sorry to burst your bubble here, but I think it’s the other way around. First, you turn up at the pub I always hang out at on weeknights, then, you decide to take a jog near the place where I almost had a fatal accident, and now you turn out to have applied for a job at the same store I’ve been working at for the past week. What does it look like to you?”

Shucks, he was right. Julia resisted the urge to stamp her foot like a little girl. “In your dreams, you arrogant bastard,” she muttered. “Everybody says I should stay away from you.”

In the silence that followed, she could still hear her heart beating in her throat.

About the Author
Jen Minkman (1978) was born in the Netherlands and has lived in Austria, Belgium and the UK during her studies. She learned how to read at the age of three and has never stopped reading since. Her favourite books to read are (YA) paranormal/fantasy, sci-fi, dystopian and romance, and this is reflected in the stories she writes. In her home country, she is a trade-published author of paranormal romance and chicklit. Across the border, she is a self-published author of poetry, paranormal romance and dystopian fiction. Her books are available in English, Dutch and Chinese.

She currently resides in The Hague where she works and lives with her husband and two noisy zebra finches.

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Review: Miracle on Regent Street (Evie Taylor #1) by Ali Harris

Evie Taylor, a girl with a big heart, gets lost in the big city. For the past two years, Evie has lived an invisible life in London. Her neighbours think she’s just moved in, her sister mistakes her for a live-in nanny, and even Evie’s manager at work can’t remember her name.

But all that is about to change …this Christmas has brought a flurry of snow and unimaginable possibilities into town. Evie works in the stockroom of an old-fashioned, family-run, London fashion department store. Hardy’s is a beautiful, wood-panelled jewellery box of a building, but it’s in dire need of a makeover. One day Evie overhears that if the entire store’s takings don’t turn round by Dec 26th – 3 weeks’ time – the family who own it will be forced to sell to one of the big chains.

Hardy’s is in need of a Christmas miracle. Determined to save her beloved store, Evie hatches a plan to secretly transform it into a magical place to shop again. But has the time come for her to be noticed too? When an accidental romantic encounter with handsome, enigmatic Joel gives her the chance of a whole new identity, she takes it.

Buy book: iBook | Kindle | Amazon

Review:

You know when someone says "that's nice", what they mean is "I don't hate it, but I don't really love it either." This pretty much sums up my view of this book. Don't worry I will get more in to detail than just saying "it was nice."

Miracle On Regent Street is a chick lit book all the way. It all starts with a 20-something woman, who has become stuck in some dead end job, gave up on social and a possible love life. Evie has gone so far in the background people don't remember her, take her for granted and they don't even know her real name, all calling her Sarah. Which to me just blows my mind, that your self confidence is so low or that you have become so shy, you can't even correct people on your name.

So to me the heroine of this book is too bland. Don't get me wrong, she's nice and sweet, but so passive it's borderline boring to read about. The thing that mostly kept me going through this book were the other characters in this book, mostly Lily and Felix. They have been at Hardy's so long, they've almost become part of the decor. Evie bonds with them, because like her they are kind of invisible and have been taken for granted.

Now it can't be a romance if there isn't some guy involved. Actually there are two guys, but Evie only sees one. Joel is an American financial adviser, Hardy's has hired to help them. When Evie literally runs into him at the store and he asks her out, who is she to say no, right? It has been so long she could use a little romance. Unfortunately I don't feel the connection/attraction between those two. They go out, it's fun and all that. But once again it's just nice.

Then there is this other guy, Sam. He is the delivery guy and from the beginning of the book you know he's got the hots for Evie. Only, of course, she's oblivious to his interest in her. Here you could really see the sparks vibrating with anticipation between them and girl goes totally the other way around. She isn't out to hurt him, she just doesn't realise, not even after two years. It's stuff like that, which frustrates me to no end.

All in all, Miracle On Regent Street is very well written, fun characters and has a vintage chic feel to it, even though it is a bit too long. It was my first Christmas book this year, so it has gotten me a bit in the mood for the holiday season. And like I said, it was nice.

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Waiting On Wednesday: Blue Lines (Assassins #4) by Toni Aleo

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating.

I've started reading this series a couple of weeks ago and I am hooked! Sport romance novels are one of my favourites and when it involves ice hockey I can go a little gaga. Only a little month before this beauty appears on my iPad mini.

Also Toni Aleo is having a major giveaway on her website right now. So if you want lots and lots of goodies and books (also from other authors) head on over there.

Opposites do more than just attract in Toni Aleo’s latest Nashville Assassins novel about a very bad boy and the good girl he can’t resist.

The instant Piper Allen sees Erik Titov, she wants him—wants his rock-hard body, sure, but the strength and mystery that lies behind that superstar hockey jock demeanor, too. So when he sidles up to her at a bar and slinks his arm around her waist, she’s lost. What follows is the wildest night of her life . . . followed by inevitable heartbreak the next morning. And then, a few weeks later, a very big surprise: two blue lines on a pregnancy test.

Only a check to the head could make Erik fall for a nice girl like Piper. But since their crazy-sexy night together, he’s been trying to forget about her alluring body by falling into bed with every woman in Nashville, and it’s not working. So when Piper shows up at his house with a baby-bomb to drop, it doesn’t take much for Erik to suggest the nuclear option: marriage. While it’s supposed to be all for show, the second they say “I do,” the ice between them starts to melt into sizzling steam.

Includes a special message from the editor, as well as excerpts from these Loveswept titles: Taking Shots, Trying to Score, and Empty Net.

Buy book: iBook | Kindle | Amazon

December 9th 2013

Connect with Toni Aleo:

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This one is free :)

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Review: Breaking Brandon (Fate #2) by Elizabeth Reyes

This release caught me totally by surprise as in I had to find out through Elizabeth Reyes' editor. It's definitely one of the best early birthday presents ever!

Fate is a Moreno Brothers spinoff series.

He ruled out attachments years ago. Then one day he crosses paths with a beautiful but pampered daddy's little princess. History has taught him one thing about women like her—steer clear.

She was starting over. She moved back to her home town, took a new job assignment, and left her past behind. For the first time in over eighteen months, she's even intrigued by a man—a sexy but cold and indifferent drill sergeant. Despite feeling drawn to him, she has no time to figure out his inexplicable aversion to her.

Then Fate steps in one night, forcing them together. There's a connection neither can refute, and they both consider giving into the undeniable attraction.

Fate however can also be cruel. Just when they surrender to their heart's desires, past demons resurface in the most unexpected way, threatening the happiness neither realized they so desperately needed.

Review:

Brandon was definitely one of my least favourite characters after Sweet Sofie. Everything that had happened between those two, was just too weird and I was rooting for Eric at that moment. So yeah, Brandon could have gone to hell for all I cared.

Enter my surprise when I found out the guy was getting his own book. Obviously I had my doubts, but like always I trust in Elizabeth Reyes to make it good and she definitely did. Goodbye weird stalker boy, hello hot marine! A couple years have gone by and after what has happened in his past, Brandon is no longer the same boy. Now he's a man who has forced himself to become stoic and absolutely make no attachments to anyone, certainly not with women.

Brandon has been able to keep his distance from everyone all these years, until this little Ms. Brady walks into his life. Now he tries to stay away from her, often even gives her the evil eye, but it doesn't work when she literally falls for him. This was not intentionally of course, but it turns out all kinds of interesting.

I really love that Brandon is an all or nothing kind of guy and so straight forward. It's just nice to read a love story where it's not all about miscommunication and high drama. Though I do have to mention there is one surprise I did not see coming and makes we want to read 'Romero' again. For those people who have a better memory than mine, this might not be a surprise. But anyway I loved it!

Regina Brady was also a very interesting character. She's not necessarily the first woman I would have picked for Brandon, but it just works so great. This all could have gone so stereotypical, but the way Elizabeth Reyes has written it, makes it so easy to read. Honestly I finished it and barely noticed any time had gone by. It flows just so well and that's one of the reasons I love reading her books.

My favourite part of the book might be the Epilogue. Without giving away any spoilers, it once again shows what a great and sweet guy Brandon really is. Seriously I think he might have ruined the Moreno's for me; he's my new favourite!