Perfectly Imperfect by Harper Sloan

Format: Kindle Edition

• File Size: 1482 KB
• Print Length: 409 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1518893414
• Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
• ASIN: B017O4W3V8

Mirror, mirror … who’s the fairest of them all?

I still cringe when I hear that line. A fairy tale that had girls pretending they were the fairest, the most beautiful, and the most entitled. A fairy tale most couldn’t grow out of turned my haunted childhood memories into a living nightmare. Girls who grew up believing that pile of garbage became the meanest of all ‘mean girls.’

And those mean girls were right – it was a line meant for all the beautiful people in the world – and I knew the answer would never be me.

The women with long legs, flat stomachs, and perfect chests.

The type of women Kane Masters gravitated toward.

Well, that’s definitely not Willow Tate.

No. That will never be me.

Because I’m completely imperfect.

And … I hate myself.

I have no idea what Kane could possibly see in someone like me when he could have them.

Cover:  I really like the colourful colours on this one, and that there’s no cover models on there so I can imagine the characters myself.

I stumbled across this one, I think on Goodreads and knew I had to read it.  And I’m so glad I did.  Willow Tate thinks the way I do- a woman on the bigger side that has been taunted, bullied and put down for her weight.

But when Kane Masters first sees Willow, he’s instantly struck by her, wants to get to know her.

Willow thinks it’s some kind of cruel joke and can’t believe movie star Kane would really be interested in her, but his passionate pursuit of her eventually shows her otherwise, and she will learn to be more confident in herself.

I found this book really kind of empowering, having a chunkier chick as the protagonist, and her self deprecating ways really did make her relatable.  I really felt for Willow, her half-sister and step-father were so cruel, but she rose above it.

Kane was just drop dead gorgeous, and I loved how he treated Willow, and how he made her see herself.

“When I look in the mirror, I won’t see the things they will most likely say about me. I’ll see me, Willow Tate, the woman who isn’t perfect, but she is perfect in her imperfections.” 

Sexy times were also well done.  Lots of sizzle there.

Definitely recommend picking up this sexy stand alone, that had a lot of depth to it.

5/5 stars.

Blush For Me (Fusion #3) by Kristen Proby

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 1984 KB
• Print Length: 323 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0062434799
• Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks (7 Mar. 2017)
• Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
• ASIN: B01HM24IAG

New York Times bestselling author Kristen Proby continues to delight the senses with the latest novel in her delectable Fusion series.

As the take-charge wine bar manager of Seduction, Portland's hottest new restaurant, Katrina Meyers is the definition of no-nonsense, and she isn't afraid of anything. Well, almost anything: she hates to fly. When she's forced to travel on a death trap with wings, the turbulence from hell has her reaching for any safe haven—including the incredibly handsome guy sitting next to her.

Ryan "Mac" MacKenzie hasn't been able to get his sexy seatmate out of his head. The way she clung to him stirred something inside him he didn't think existed: tenderness. As the owner of a successful wine touring company, Mac thinks he's got a handle on what life can throw at him and he's not prepared for any surprises, especially in the feelings department. And when he brings a tour into Seduction, he sees the petite spitfire he just can't forget.

Mac is determined to discover what else they have in common besides fine wine and the inability to keep their hands off each other. But what will it take for two stubborn people to realize that what they have is so much more than a hot chemistry between the sheets and to admit to falling in love…?

Cover: I don’t know what it is, I can’t put my finger on it, but I’m just not a big fan of the covers for this series.  Also, for this particularly one, I’m not a fan of the cover models.

I’ve really enjoyed a few of Kristen Proby’s series – The Bordreaux being my favourite, but I’ve also enjoyed the With Me In Seattle series and the Love Under The Big Sky series.  While I’ve enjoyed the Fusion series so far, it’s not been my favourite.

I did enjoy this novel- Kat is a stunningly sexy character.  She runs the wine bar in the restaurant, has tattoo sleeves and dresses in vintage style dresses.  But she’s terrified of flying.  The passenger next to her calms her down.

Mac doesn’t do commitment, so when he finds out Kat and he are at the same wine event, both are happy for a fling, or ‘sexcation’.

However neither one of them expects to end up feeling more, so when they reconnect after, can they make a relationship work?

Definitely a great, quick contemporary romance read.  Would recommend reading the books in order.

4/5 stars.

The Protector by Jodi Ellen Malpas

Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Orion (8 Sept. 2016)
ISBN-10: 1409166406
ISBN-13: 978-1409166405
A new standalone novel from Jodi Ellen Malpas, the bestselling author of the THIS MAN and ONE NIGHT trilogies

People think they have Camille Logan nailed: daddy's girl, beautiful, spoiled young woman with her father's bank balance to fund her lifestyle. But Camille is determined to have a life free from his strings. Now, after fighting so hard to be independent and happy, she finds her life threatened as a result of her father's ruthless business dealings. Caught between resentment and fear, Camille prepares herself for the measures her father will take to protect her. But nothing could prepare her for the ex-SAS sniper who crashes into her life.
Jake Sharp resides in his own personal hell. He was distracted from duty once before, and the consequences were devastating - both personally and professionally. Accepting the job of bodyguard to Camille Logan isn't the kind of distraction from his demons he should take. Women and Jake don't mix well, yet protecting the heiress seems the lesser of two evils. But Jake soon discovers that she isn't the woman she's perceived to be. She's warm, compassionate, her presence settling, and his duty to protect her soon goes deeper than a well-paid job, no matter how hard he fights it. He needs absolution. He comes to need Camille. But he knows he can't have both.

Cover: I don’t love or hate the cover- it definitely matches the story anyway.

I’ve not read any of Jodi Ellen Malpas’s books, but when I saw someone haul this book, I was intrigued.

And I was happy when I was accepted to review it via netgalley.

Typical plotline- rich girl falls for bodyguard.  But I have to say I really enjoyed it.  Jake is ex-army, suffering with a form of PTSD, he gets through life with the help of meds, alcohol and sleeping around…and taking security jobs.

When he accepts the job to guard Camille Logan, he expects her to be a spoiled little princess.  But what he finds is that she strives to be fiercely independent, a loyal friend and a shrewd business woman.

Sparks immediately fly between them, but a relationship just wouldn’t work…would it?

I really liked both characters, and the immediate chemistry between them.  I did think it was more insta-lust than anything else.  And I wish it had more of a gradual build up- instant attraction is one thing, immediately acting on it is another. 

I loved seeing the change in Jake- how he starts off as a total hard ass, but softens towards Camille.  I’m not gonna lie I love a protective, possessive alpha male.  They’re a guilty pleasure.

I also love that it was set in London.

Over all, a great stand alone contemporary romance read.  Would definitely recommend picking it up.

4/5 stars.

The One Real Thing (Hart's Boardwalk #1) by Samantha Young

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Piatkus (6 Sept. 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0349412588
• ISBN-13: 978-0349412580
• Welcome to Hartwell, a quiet seaside escape where uncovering old secrets could lead one woman to discover the meaning of a love that lasts…
  
  While Doctor Jessica Huntington engages with the inmates at the women’s correctional facility where she works, she’s always careful to avoid emotional attachments in her personal life. Loss and betrayal taught her that lesson long ago. But when she comes across a set of old love letters in the prison’s library and visits the picturesque town of Hartwell to deliver them to their intended recipient, she finds herself unable to resist the town’s charm—and her attraction to the sexy owner of a local bar proves equally hard to deny.
  
  Since his divorce from his unfaithful ex-wife, Cooper Lawson has focused on what really matters: his family and the boardwalk pub they’ve owned for generations. But the first time Jessica steps into his bar, Cooper is beyond tempted to risk his heart on her. Yet as their attraction grows hotter and Jessica remains stubbornly closed off, he begins to realize it will take more than just passion to convince her there’s only one real thing in life worth fighting for…

Cover:  I find this such a pretty cover.  The colours of it are just stunning.

I love Samantha Young's books.  She's one of my favourite contemporary romance authors.  Her On Dublin Street series is fantastic, and the stand alone novel Hero is one of my all time favourites.

So I was really excited for The One Real Thing- the first book in a new series.

And I wasn't disappointed.

Another beautiful story- with characters you can really root for, beautiful setting, and a romance with substance.

On paper Jessica and Cooper don't make sense- a doctor and a bar owner.  But they have an amazing chemistry, and more in common than anyone would think.  I loved them together, and while it wasn't always easy, and they had to overcome a fair few issues to get their HEA, I always rooted for them.

The other characters we meet along the way, the residents of Hart's Boardwalk are so charming and endearing that you just can't but love them!  I'm looking forward to seeing more of them.

Over all, I loved this book from start to finish- and highly recommend Samantha Young fans picking this one up, or anyone that enjoys a good contemporary romance.

4.5/5 stars.

Every Beat Of My Heart (Sullivans 14.5) by Bella Andre

• Format: Kindle Edition
• Print Length: 79 pages
• Publisher: Oak Press, LLC (5 Aug. 2016)
• Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
• ASIN: B01JVEHJPO
• "You are cordially invited to a very special wedding..."
  
  What do you get when two Sullivans pick the same wedding date?
  Two super-sexy grooms.
  Two beautiful brides.
  Two very unconventional (four-legged and furry) ring bearers.
  And Sullivans from around the word coming together to celebrate vows of forever with auto mogul Zach Sullivan and dog trainer Heather Linsey--and pro baseball star Ryan Sullivan and sculptor Vicki Bennett.
  
  This is the double wedding millions of Sullivan fans have been waiting for...
  
  Special Note: EVERY BEAT OF MY HEART is part of Bella Andre's New York Times and USA Today #1 bestselling series about The Sullivans. If you are already a fan of the series, you will love getting to reconnect with all your favorite San Francisco and Seattle Sullivans. If you are just getting started, this is a great way to meet everyone--and you'll likely enjoy reading the other books, too. 

 

Cover:  I just love The Sullivans covers, there's just something super cute about them that I love.

 

I'm a huge fan of The Sullivans series.  I love how they're simple contemporary adult romances. 

And with this little novella it was great to catch up with some of the earlier characters from the series with a double wedding.  Seeing Heather and Zach, and Vicky and Ryan finally tie the knot was great- getting that little bit extra after their stories ended.

Definitely worth picking up if you're up to date with the series.

4.5/5 stars.

Leo's Chance by Mia Sheridan

• Format: Kindle Edition
• Print Length: 237 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1490381716
• ASIN: B00DFTUSB4

A companion (alternate POV) novel to the USA Todaybestselling book, Leo. 

Does everyone deserve a second chance? Even someone who lies and deceives to get it?

Do we all have a second chance coming? Even if we play a part in our own destruction?

How hard would you fight to have a second chance at love? A second chance at life? Another chance to tell your own story?

Every love story has two sides. Evie told hers. This time it's Leo's chance.

THIS IS A POV NOVEL OF LEO (LEO SHOULD BE READ FIRST). New Adult Contemporary Romance: Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18.

Cover:  Another simple cover.

After reading Leo, I immediately wanted to pick up the companion novel, Leo's Chance.  Essentially getting the other side of the story.
And I'm glad I did.  You definitely need to read Leo's POV if you've only read Evie's.
I can understand why the author didn't initially use both points of view in alternating chapters in Leo as it would have 'ruined' the intended big reveal.  This works better.  Even though you are essentially reading the same book twice, so some aspects can be a little repetitive- I still really enjoyed reading it, and would recommend picking up this New Adult duology for fans of the genre.
4/5 stars.

Read from September 21 to 25, 2015