Show Me the Way by A.L. Jackson

Rex Gunner. As bitter as he is beautiful. 

The owner of the largest construction company in Gingham Lakes has been burned one too many times. His wife leaving him to raise their daughter was the last blow this single dad could take. The only woman he’ll let into his heart is his little girl. 

Rynna Dayne. As vulnerable as she is tempting. 

She ran from Gingham Lakes when she was seventeen. She swore to herself she would never return. Then her grandmother passed away and left her the deed to the diner that she once loved. 

When Rex meets his new neighbor, he knows he’s in trouble. 

She’s gorgeous and sweet and everything he can’t trust.

Until she becomes the one thing he can’t resist. 

One kiss sends them tumbling toward ecstasy. 

But in a town this size, pasts are bound to collide. Caught in a web of lies, betrayal, and disloyalty, Rex must make a choice. 

Will he hide behind his walls or will he take the chance . . .

A.L. Jackson is one of my all-time favorite authors.

If you want a story that encompasses love, lust, agony, heartbreak, and second-chances... this, as all her stories, is the story for you!

She doesn't just tell the tale of her characters, she inspires you! So many thought-provoking messages woven through this beautiful story!

"All moments matter. We just rarely know how important they are until the chance to act on them has already passed."

Rex and Rynna.

You could just feel the anguish, turmoil, and desperation rolling off of these characters. 

Especially Rex. 

Good god was this man tantalizing and beautiful to read about.

Sexy, brooding, rough exterior who's been battered and broken. 

Such tragedy and heartbreak behind those walls of his, but once the damn is opened ... dayum! Look out!

"A little dirty and a whole lot sweet. Just the way I thought you'd be."

You will never look at cherry pie again without thinking of Rex Gunner ... trust me on that!

Show Me the Way is about two damaged characters fighting to find their way despite it all. 

Fighting for that chance... that second-chance.

It's emotional and at times gut wrenching.

But throughout there's so much love, friendship,  smoking chemistry, and a little ray of sunshine that comes in the form of Frankie Leigh, Rex's daughter!

I absolutely enjoyed this story. It has everything I need in a book! And I'm most definitely looking forward to reading more in this series. Rex and Rynna's friends are funny, sexy, and intriguing. Can't wait!

"Do what makes you happy ... joy is a choice. Life is rough. Don't expect it not to be. But if we aren't laughin', we're crying. Choose to laugh. Choose what brings you joy. And when you choose your path, it might not always be the easiest one, but it'll always be the right one."


Amazon US / UK

Survival Game (Me of London, #9) by Susan Mac Nicol

HANDLE...

Kyle Tripper has led an interesting life. Currently the manager of London's famous Club Delish, he used to be a croupier extraordinaire in Las Vegas. But not everything in that life was so glamorous; his ex was a piece of work. Now gun-shy, Kyle hopes there is someone special out there for him, and secretly wishes it's luscious paramedic, Eric Kirby.

WITH CARE

Every day Eric Kirby goes through the motions. Yeah, he saves lives, and, sure, he makes a difference, but he doesn't feel it anymore - not since he lost his one true. But, when he meets wild, flamboyant Kyle Tripper and learns there's a skittish, apprehensive man beneath the bold façade, the best of Eric's protective nature kicks in and opens his heart to a new love.

This story is about Kyle and Eric, whom we both met in previous books.

These men have an instant attraction, hitting it off right off the bat.  Very flirtatious and sexually-charged air about them.

"Strong on the outside, vulnerable on the inside. Mouthy and too damn sexy for his own good."

Unbeknownst to them, they're the same in several ways.

They equally have hidden demons. Traumatic pasts they fight daily to survive.

Heavy material without being too "heavy," if that makes sense. Tragic and sad, very much so, but, of course, Susan's usual witty and cheeky banter is front and center, helping to ease the heaviness.

I will say, Eric's job is so stressful and sad. I felt for him so much! So much heartache on the daily. It's a wonder he found the time to smile! My heart went out to him.

"We both suffered, just in different way."

This was definitely a quick and pleasant read. I love the inclusion of past characters, which is always nice.

A new character emerges as well...looking forward to hearing more about him!

Amazon US / UK

Beautiful Mistake by Vi Keeland

 

The first time I met Caine West was in a bar.

He noticed me looking his way and mistakenly read my scowling as checking him out.

When he attempted to talk to me, I set him straight—telling him what I thought of his lying, cheating, egomaniacal ass.

You see, the gorgeous jerk had wined and dined my best friend--smooth talking her into his bed, all along failing to mention that he was married. 

He deserved every bit of my tongue-lashing and more for what he'd done.

Especially when that lazy smile graced his perfect face in response to my rant.

Only it turned out, the man I'd just told off wasn't the right guy. 

Oops.  My mistake. 

Embarrassed, I slunk out without an apology. 

I was never going to see the handsome stranger again anyway, right?

That’s what I thought…until I walked into class the next morning.

Well, hello Professor West, I’m your new teaching assistant.  

I’ll be working under you…figuratively speaking.

Although the literal interpretation might not be such a bad thing—working under Professor West.

This was going to be interesting…

Oh my gawd! Professor West is panty-melting! Now that that's been said, I can continue!

Beautiful Mistake is so much more than I had anticipated. 
Student/teacher? Check. Reformed bad boy? Check. Feisty heroine? Check.

Caine and Rachel's story had me hooked from the hilarious holy-shit meeting in the very beginning! 
Their scorching chemistry and taboo student-teacher attraction kept me reading nonstop.

"...something about the way his large hand gripped the shifter just worked for me. Not to mention his forearm... and that damn vein. God help me. I was still finding a vein attractive."





But sexy banter and electricity wasn't all it was. 
There were sweet and endearing moments all over the place! 
I'm not gonna lie, I shed a tear or two.

There were also flashbacks on occasion in Caine's pov. I was so darn intrigued and tried, and failed, to figure out what was going to happen. What was this twist?

And then BAM! I got it... and I literally broke out in goose bumps!!!

Past mistakes and unconventional answered prayers wrap up with beautiful, sexy, and kinda emotional journey!

Another 5-star, unputdownable read by Vi Keeland!


"We all make mistakes. Life doesn't come with instructions. Someone who loves you will forgive you for them."

US / UK

Trust by Kylie Scott

Being young is all about the experiences: the first time you skip school, the first time you fall in love…the first time someone holds a gun to your head.

After being held hostage during a robbery at the local convenience store, seventeen year old Edie finds her attitude about life shattered. Unwilling to put up with the snobbery and bullying at her private school, she enrolls at the local public high school, crossing paths with John. The boy who risked his life to save hers.

While Edie’s beginning to run wild, however, John’s just starting to settle down. After years of partying and dealing drugs with his older brother, he’s going straight—getting to class on time, and thinking about the future.

An unlikely bond grows between the two as John keeps Edie out of trouble and helps her broaden her horizons. But when he helps her out with another first—losing her virginity—their friendship gets complicated.

Meanwhile, Edie and John are pulled back into the dangerous world they narrowly escaped. They were lucky to survive the first time, but this time they have more to lose—each other.

Kylie can definitely write high-school angst, teenage feelings, and lust. She'll make you contemplate life, death, and the what ifs through the eyes of a traumatized teenager. 
Though, in true Kylie fashion, all this is done while making you laugh! Her characters are sarcastic, witty, and hilarious.
My husband asked if I was enjoying my book, because the entire time he watched me I'd had a smile on my face while reading!! 







Edie and John couldn't be any more different. 
A straight-laced, body-conscious, timid virgin has absolutely nothing in common with the gorgeous, playboy, high school drug dealer... until they share one unbelievably terrifying and life-changing night.
From then on, it seems nobody understands their thoughts, actions, and, least of all, their fears...except each other.


I enjoyed every minute of this book, reading it all in one afternoon, nonstop.
I can honestly say Edie is one of my favorite heroines. 
She's real!
And her internal thoughts had me constantly laughing out loud.

"Summer had a smell, but so did he. I don't think I'd ever wanted to rub my face in someone's sweaty chest before."

"Nipple viewing should really be reserved for special occasions. Christmas, birthdays, bar mitzvahs, stuff like that."

I also loved the secondary characters, which really, secondary is not really an accurate label for them. Hysterical antics!
I would definitely read a book all about Anders someday!


"In life, unless you're willing to run away and live in the woods and risk being eaten by bears, some things just were unavoidable."



 It honestly doesn't matter what Kylie writes—rock stars, bar owners...high schoolers unexpectedly thrust together through tragedy—she is a master storyteller, and she does it all with hilarious banter and a sarcastic flair!

US / UK

Tease (Temptation Series) by Ella Frank

Tease - verb: to tantalize especially by arousing desire or curiosity often without intending to satisfy it....unless your name is Tate Morrison.

It’s been four years since Logan Mitchell walked into Tate’s life and irrevocably changed it. Four years since the sexy as sin lawyer dared him to try, and four years since Tate won his love.

Now, as they approach the next chapter of their lives Logan is determined they won’t end up like many of their friends. Settled. Domestic. Boring. However, that’s easier said than done. With busy careers and working odd hours, finding time for one another is becoming increasingly difficult.

But that sh*t isn’t going to fly with Logan or Tate.

The two of them are determined to compromise to get what it is they want, and what they want is each other.

Tease is the sexy, tantalizing continuation of the two men who stole your heart... and popped your cherry.

What do you do when one of your favorite authors announces she's adding to one of your favorite series?? You do a little dance... that's what! After you finish screaming, that is!

Tease to me was a loving and very sweet, where are they now kind of read. Not only that, but some matters that were previously left unfinished/unanswered where brought to light and touched on.

It wasn't a drama-filled... OMG what happens now... it was like visiting with old friends for me (unfuckingbelievably hot friends that do unbelievably hot things to each other).

A sweet revisit of our guys... 

I know, Logan and sweet? no worries, still lustful and hot as only L&T can be, but at the same time, so very loving with a  family-esque feel to it!

"kiss"

Can't wait to see what happens next!!

Amazon US / UK

Twist (Dive Bar) by Kylie Scott

From New York Times bestselling author Kylie Scott comes the second sizzling stand-alone novel in the Dive Bar series!

When his younger brother loses interest in online dating, hot bearded bartender Joe Collins only intends to log into his account and shut it down. Until he reads about her.

Alex Parks is funny, fascinating, and pretty much everything he's been looking for in a woman—except that she lives across the country. Soon they're emailing up a storm and telling each other their deepest, darkest secrets...except the one that really matters.

When Alex pays Joe a surprise visit, however, they both discover that when it comes to love, it's always better with a twist.

This was a cute twist on soul mates.

What do you do when you find out you are the perfect match to someone in every single way... yet they aren't who you thought they were at all? Or are they really?

Joe!!

Big, bearded, and SEXY!

I really enjoyed how this one started... a case of mistaken identity. 

I loved the playful banter between these two. 
Joe with his quiet and unassuming ways... until he wasn't all that quiet after all.

Joe was a naughty one, he was! rawr
But he was also kind, caring, and totally lovable.

And Alex was a hilariously goofy chick. 

She was eighty percent sarcasm and twenty percent Little Miss Fucking Sunshine!

The story was cute, funny and sweet. 
There was an OMG moment that had me teary-eyed, and then there was some WTF ones that, to be honest, left me a little bit pissy!

In the end, I'm happy to have been able to not only get lumberJoe's story, but a little reunion with both the Dive Bar folks and Stage Dive as well!!
Looking forward to more Eric in Chaser!

Amazon US/UK

Mister Moneybags by Penelope Ward and Vi Keeland

From the New York Times Bestselling authors of Cocky Bastard and Stuck-Up Suit, comes a sexy new standalone novel.

I met Bianca in an elevator.

She was on her way to interview me when we got stuck.
The beautiful raven-haired reporter assumed I was a delivery guy because of the way I was dressed.

She had no clue I was really Dex Truitt, the wealthy, successful businessman she’d dubbed “Mister Moneybags”―her afternoon appointment.

Bianca told me how much she hated Dex’s type―snobby, over educated, silver-spooned men who didn't appreciate the simple things in life.

So, after the elevator finally started moving again, I cancelled the interview and let her believe I was someone I wasn’t―a bike messenger named Jay. I loved the way she looked at the fake me and didn't want it to end.

I began dating her as “Jay”―all the while letting her interview the real me over email.

I didn’t expect that our chemistry online would be just as hot.
I didn’t expect the mess I’d gotten myself into.
I didn’t expect that Jay and Dex would fall in love with her.

And she was falling for two men.
Only, both men were me.
And when she found out, we were both going to lose her.

Nothing could have prepared me for that day. And I certainly wasn't prepared for what came after.

All good things must come to an end, right?
Except our ending was one I didn't see coming.

Another hilarious and sexy read by the dynamic duo, Penelope and Vi!

I read this book in one sitting! After starting with a laugh-out-loud opening chapter, I couldn't put it down. Goats, dogs, balls, oh my!!

You never know where a chance meeting in an elevator will take you.

I have to admit, I didn't see it all coming. A unique twist on hot CEO meets blushing beauty. 

As always with this duo, the characters have amazing chemistry, there's witty sexual banter, constant hilarity, and it didn't hurt that Dex is smoulderingly beautiful, charismatic, and down to earth. 

The drama that ensues is a bit different than I've read before, and I liked it very much.

You just knew something was coming... but didn't know what.

Sweet, charming, adorable and sexy. 

Quite the enjoyable read for a Sunday afternoon!

Amazon US / UK

Below Deck by Tara Sivec

Declan McGillis can't stand rich people. But working as a deckhand on a luxury charter yacht, he also can't escape them. Declan has spent years kissing their ass and doing their bidding...whatever it takes to make his dreams come true, and nothing will get in his way of being the captain of his own yacht one day.

Mackenzie Armstrong knows what people think when they look at her. She knows from the outside looking in, it seems like her family has it all and doesn't have a care in the world. Things aren't always what they seem, and not only does Mackenzie have the weight of her family's struggles on her shoulders, she also needs to prove to Declan that she's not the spoiled princess he believes her to be.

Declan can't ignore the sparks of lust between them, even though Mackenzie is completely off limits and absolutely out of his league.

Mackenzie thinks a vacation fling is just what she needs to forget about the mess her life has become, and Declan is the perfect man for the job.

Will this be a quick romp in the water, or will it turn into something more when Mackenzie finally gets below Deck? 

I'm a huge fan of the show with the same name... and I honestly felt like I was watching an episode come to life on my Kindle!

Ms. Sivec paints the perfect picture, from a luxurious yacht, breakfast on the deck, to the beauty of the islands, all you're missing is a little umbrella in your drink!

Then there's the steam! This two characters have an insta-connection, and yes, dare I say, an insta-love. Together they are explosive, not just in the bedroom...er...did they ever make it to an actual bedroom?...but also with their feelings.

From hunky deckhands to laundry room shenanigans, this is a funny, quick, and super sexy romcom!

Amazon

Preston's Honor by Mia Sheridan

There were two brothers—identical twins—and though I loved them both, my soul belonged to only one. 

Annalia Del Valle has loved Preston Sawyer all her life. The daughter of an impoverished migrant farmworker, she grew up as an outcast in what was no more than a tiny, cooped up shack in California’s Central Valley. But her heart found freedom in the land, in the wide-open spaces of Sawyer Farm, and in the boys who were her only friends. 

Preston has yearned for Annalia since he was a boy. But a sense of honor kept him from pursuing her until he’s unable to hold back any longer and their worlds—and bodies—collide one hot summer night. A night that sets off a chain of events that will alter their lives forever. 

Now Annalia is back in town after disappearing without a trace for six long months. Determined to reclaim her heart, her life, and the baby she left behind—the son who was created in a moment of lust and love and pent-up yearning. 

Preston has survived grief, a ravaging drought, and the despair of heartache, but he’s not sure he can survive Annalia again. And he might be unwilling to try. Will pride and bitterness keep him from the one thing he’s always longed for? 

How do you heal what is irreparably broken? How do you forgive that which is unforgivable? How do you discover that real honor comes not from circumstance, but from the place deep in our hearts where truth resides? And how do you move beyond the wounds of the past to discover that some loves are as solid as the ground beneath your feet, and as enduring as the earth itself? 

Mia writes it... I read it. Did I know what it was about? No. Did I freak out when I finally learned it was brothers both vying for one girl's attention? Yes! 

That had angst written all over it!! 

But it wasn't what I was anticipating, and I hope others don't shy away thinking "love triangle." Don't do that. You'll be doing yourself a grave disservice. Preston's Honor is a must read!

Mia has written another beautiful story with so much heart and emotion.

I should have known and been prepared with tissues in hand... but, silly me, I wasn't ready!!

I cried. Happy tears a time or two, but a lot of sad ones. 

My gut clenched with sympathy so many times for Lia and the cards life dealt her... not only her, but for Preston and Cole as well.

This book was beautiful. Full of anguish, love, family, and strength. 

Another superb story by Mia Sheridan!

Amazon US / UK

Mack Daddy by Penelope Ward

They called him Mack Daddy. No, seriously, his name was Mack. Short for Mackenzie. Thus, the nickname. Perfect, right?

So was he: perfect. The perfect physical male specimen.

At the private school where I taught, Mack Morrison was the only man around in a sea of women.

Everyone wanted a piece of the hot single father of the sweet little boy.

I was riddled with jealousy, because they didn’t know that—to me—he was much more.

They didn’t know about our past.

He’d chosen my school for his son on purpose, because Mack and I, we had unfinished business.

As my friend Lorelai so eloquently put it: “Unfinished business between two people who are clearly attracted to each other is like an eternal case of blue balls.” And I was suffering in pain from my case.

I was still intensely attracted to Mack. I tried to resist him, immersing myself further into a relationship with another man just to protect my heart.

Not to mention, getting involved with a parent was strictly against school rules. But seeing Mack day in and day out was breaking me down.

And soon I might be breaking all the rules.

Author's note – Told in alternating points of view, Mack Daddy is a full-length standalone novel.

This book had such a different feel to it. It put off a vibe of melancholy, of deep longing, of honesty.

Yes, there's hot hot hotness going on, there's much laughter and sarcasm, and a hilarious next door neighbor... but the overall vibe was different for me, and I really enjoyed it.

I appreciate how you get what you want right off the bat! Penelope doesn't drag it all out to the end to find out WHAT HAPPENED in their past. I feel like you get it right smack in the face from the beginning. Yes, more is revealed along the way, so much more... but you don't go through biting your nails trying to figure out what their connection is. It starts right off with it!

"...regrets. That's what it's all about, living with no regrets."

This book was honest. Is that weird to say? There's no games, there's no lies... well... okay, there's a few times I wanted to cut a bitch... but...

The connection between Mack and Frankie was incredible, the chemistry, the realness.

I laughed, I teared up, I just loved it. 

"Well, once you go Mack, you never go back."

Amazon