Bee Armstrong is used to being the ugly duckling in her family. Her sister is the one who gets all the love and affection, including from her parents. She’s learned to deal with being alone, so when a strange man can’t keep his eyes off her, she’s not prepared for what she feels.

Ragnar Black isn’t a decent man. He makes his money illegally and does whatever it takes to get what he wants. One night he’s walking home after a job and sees a girl so beautiful he can’t believe his eyes. He should walk away and not look back, but she calls to him like nothing ever has before.

Warning: Will Ragnar do every dirty thing in the book to his sweet, innocent Bee? Come on, this is us, and we wouldn’t let you down! Find out just how far he’s willing to go to make her his. Spoiler: it’s all the way!

Title: Kissing Her
Author: Alexa Riley
Series: /
Pages: tbc
Genre(s): Short, Contemporary
Hot Buttons: /

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Sometimes you just need a bit of over-the-top insta-love with a strong, sexy alpha and a shy, innocent virgin. Sometimes you just need a shot of Alexa Riley for that fix.

This follows that tried and tested pattern with a few minor differences thrown in. Our dirty, successful criminal hero is called Ragnar. And I mean, you introduce me to a man called Ragnar and I will be throwing myself at him and never letting go. No other description is needed except that name. *Fans self*

Bee is another great name that tells us all we need to know about our sweet, adorable little heroine. Despite Alexa’s heroine’s nearly always being young - I must be feeling a wee bit testy today because 19? Not even sure I can remember when I was 19! But she is a lovely lass and I wanted her to escape her life and go on to a happily ever after with Ragnar.

Despite this being insta-love, we don’t get the usual quick win. Sexually speaking, of course! Instead, Ragnar takes Bee out on a wee date - bless - after some manipulation of her horrible, culty parents. Bad parents and horrid sister. Saved by the criminal in shining armour. I definitely felt some parallel world cinderella thing going on here and I liked it.

But of course we have the sex. And it was gooood. However, I wanted more. I’m just as stunned at writing that statement as you are reading it. Yes, this is Alexa Riley. And yes I wanted more sex. But as I said, I am feeling testy today!

And in what’s becoming an annoyingly common occurrence, I did notice a large number of editorial mistakes and errors. For such an established writer with so many books, I feel there should be much better editing. It’s a shame because I love Alexa Riley and I love losing myself in their books. I don’t want to be pulled back to real life with silly mistakes. Grrrr.

But enough about that…

The story is cute and that perfect insta-love fairytale. We get our happily ever after and, count them, two of my beloved epilogues. Everyone knows how much I love an epilogue. That’s why Alexa Riley are my soul sisters!

This is a classic Alexa Riley tale with all the elements that you expect - and everything you need for a quick, 1-hour insta-love fix. 4 stars.

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Let your homeless best friend stay with you, he said. Being roommates will be fun, he said. It's only temporary, he said.

He never said I'd fall for him.

You know what isn't 'temporary?' The endless stream of dirty socks in my bathroom and empty food packets under the sofa—and don't even get me started on the hot guys who take over my living room every Sunday to watch sports.

I can't take anymore.

So I propose a roommate agreement. One that will bring peace and order back to my life, complete with rules that might just stop my newfound crush on my best friend in its tracks.

After all, there’s only so many times you can see your best friend naked before you start to lose your mind.

Rules. They're meant to be broken... Aren't they?

Title: The Roommate Agreement
Author: Emma Hart
Series: /
Pages: 199
Genre(s): Contemporary, US
Hot Buttons: n/a

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This is the first book by Emma Hart that I’ve ever picked up and I can tell you right now that it will not be my last. I honestly don’t know if I’ve ever laughed so much while reading a book. Not just a slight smile and laughing in my head - but actual guffawing/snorting type laughter. Lucky that I didn’t read this book in public!

There’s almost no build up to this story - you’re flung right into the lives of Shelby and Jay in their apartment and see exactly what them living together is actually like. While I like this immediate fast pace, because the pair’s banter is familiar and sassy (especially on Shelby’s part) it took me longer to get into the swing of their friendship than if I’d seen their relationship grow over time.

As I said, Shelby is quite high strung, quite sarcastic, bossy and slightly kooky. She is forever on Jay’s case, telling him what to do and what not to do - hence the roommate agreement. Much like Shelby’s beloved Big Bang Theory - I would consider her a female Sheldon type. She never annoyed me, but I couldn’t really see myself being friends with her. I probably saw too much of myself in her at times, too, which I’m not sure I was comfortable with. I did manage to get some tips though. A chore schedule? Yes, please!

Jay was a typical man - and I say that with bemused affection. He left his dirty socks everywhere, got highly confused by Emma’s female eccentricities, and loved sports and scratching his, erm, man parts when confused about the washing machine. But fear not - he’s no stereotype and I found myself liking him rather a lot.

Together there was a perfection in their coupling. Jay was carefree and boyish. Shelby was uptight and liked her rules. They just worked - balancing each other out in a way that made me smile and think they were perfect for each other. There were some shenanigans and dirty chat, but that was at the end once we were good and ready for the action.

But it really is the writing that makes this book such a hit. It’s engaging, fast paced and - as I mentioned - absolutely hilarious. The wit and sass in the book just killed me. I found myself starting to highlight the funny parts - and soon realised I was highlighting most of the damn book. This is the kind of lighthearted, fun romance that you need in your life. It’ll brighten your day with it’s likeable, relatable characters and laugh out loud comedy, and all wrapped up with a happily ever after. I can’t wait to read more of Emma Hart. 4 stars.

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* I received this book from the publisher/author in exchange for an honest review. *


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AUTHOR BIO!

 

Emma Hart is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over thirty novels and has been translated into several different languages.
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She is a mother, wife, lover of wine, Pink Goddess, and valiant rescuer of wild baby hedgehogs.
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Emma prides herself on her realistic, snarky smut, with comebacks that would make a PMS-ing teenage girl proud.
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Yes, really. She's that sarcastic.

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EXCERPT!

Shelby shut the door with a click and peered over at me. “What are you writing? If it’s permission to use the feather duster as a sex toy, the answer is no. Unless you buy your own, but if you haven’t figured out where the laundry room is yet, I doubt you’ll find where to buy one.”

She was as funny as a car crash, this one.

“Hilarious,” I drawled. “No, I’m making amendments as I go. I added a new rule.”

“You added a new rule?” She raised one dark eyebrow and walked over, hovering over me. “All right, what is it?”

“Decent clothes must be worn. Do you know how many times I wake up early on a morning to open the gym and find you basically in your underwear in the kitchen?”

“Basically in my underwear? Who are you seeing in the kitchen? I wear shorts and a tank top at the very least.”

“Yes, but the shorts barely cover your ass, and you’re sure as hell not wearing a bra.”

She paused, eyes glittering as she said, “And why are you looking at my ass and my boobs?”

That was an excellent question.

“Because there’s nowhere else to look!” I rushed out before my stupid cock could get any ideas. “Look, waking up in the morning can be challenging for a guy.”
She stared at me.

“I don’t need to get up for a coffee with… you know.” I motioned to my groin. “And see you half-clothed.”

She flicked her hair over her shoulder and walked to the kitchen, turning her back to me. “Why does it matter? I’m your best friend. I hardly think your little friend is remotely interested in whether or not I’m wearing a bra.”

Yeah, well, he is.

“Fine. If I have to wake up and see your perky nipples prancing around the kitchen, I’m going to stroll around in my underwear so you can get a good view of my morning glory.”

She spun, lifting up a finger. Her cheeks were flushed, and she had to swallow before she could speak. “My nipples do not prance. They are not horses.”

I grinned.

“Also, I have no desire to have anything to do with your morning erection, much less get a good view of it, thank you very much.”

“Have I told you that you’re cute when you blush?”

“Have I told you that you’d be a cute dead guy?”

I laughed, leaning back on the sofa. “C’mon, Shelbs. We need to respect each other’s privacy. You don’t want to see my cock hard over your breakfast, and I don’t want to see your nipples standing to attention when I make a coffee.”

She sighed. “Why did I ever let you move in again?”

“Because I was going to be homeless and you’re the best friend ever?”

“Mm.”

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What else can a virgin do when she’s ditched at the altar? Seattle heiress Mackenzie Dupont is treating herself to a single-girl honeymoon in Mexico and a desire to relinquish her innocence to a gorgeous one-night stand. Fake names. True pleasure. But when she wakes up alone, Mackenzie realizes just how much anger is left in her broken heart.

Suffering a tragic personal loss, pro soccer player Slade Rodriguez has his reasons for vanishing without a goodbye. Right or wrong, he’s blaming the beautiful and infuriating stranger he never wants to see again. They’re both in for a shock when Mackenzie shows up as his new personal assistant. And they both have a lot to learn about each other. Because they share more than they could possibly know, including a common enemy who’s playing his own games. And he’s not afraid to get dirty.

Now there’s only one way Mackenzie and Slade can win: to trust in each other and to stop hiding from the lies they’ve told, the secrets they’ve kept, the mistakes they’ve made, and the attraction that still burns between them.

Title: Risky Play
Author: Rachel Van Dyken
Series: Red Card Series
Pages: 288
Genre(s): Contemporary, US
Hot Buttons: death of a parent / grief <-- highlight to reveal (may contain spoilers)

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Oh, my my my…where has Rachel Van Dyken been all my life and why is this the first book of hers I’ve ever read?! Seriously - this book hit all the marks for me and then some.

To get all the important bits out the way first - this is the first book in Van Dyne’s Red Card series - which I’m hoping will continue to focus on players from Slade’s Seattle soccer club. But this book stands completely alone - no pesky cliffhangers - and has the required HEA.

While being keen to read this story, I was also slightly wary based on a couple of things from the blurb. I tend to shy away from heavy emotions - such as grief - in my romances. And, I was already annoyed at Slade for blaming Mackenzie for his father’s death before I even picked up the book. So if you’re in the same position as me - please believe me when i tell you to put your fears at rest - this book is worth taking the chance on and then some.

The first thing I noticed is Ms Van Dyken’s writing style. It’s so fresh, fast and you’re engrossed in the book before you even realise what’s happened. Reading it feels like you’re chatting with your bestie - it’s funny, comfortable and I just loved when I could really get stuck in and spend some time with the characters. The chapters are also quite short, which I found tempted me to read just one more. Then another. And another.

Normally in a novel I fall in love with one of the main characters more than the other. Not so in this book. I loved both of them. Everyone. And Alfie the dog, too!

Slade is perfection in his annoying, jackassy, sexy, teasing way. He was so broken that I just wanted to give him a big ol’ hug. And then slap him around the head for being such an idiot on more than one occasion. But I still loved him.

Mackenzie turned into one of the best heroines for me - which surprised me quite a lot. She grew so much in the course of the book - from quite a shy, reserved person who bent to the whims of others, to a strong - yet still vulnerable - woman who became herself and owned it. At times, I saw so much of myself in her fears and vulnerabilities that I was in awe of the connection I felt with her.

But it was when Slade and Mack came together that things really came to life. I felt the heat and the sparks, the anger, recriminations, the teasing and the nervousness. It was just their connection - no matter how you framed it - they clicked. And it was glorious. The little texts they sent each other. The banter. Top notch.

And that extends to more than just our main couple. The banter between Slade and Matt. And Slade and Jagger. And Slade and Jagger and Matt. It just made my day - it was bloody hilarious! There was a total bromance going on with those three and I’ve got my fingers firmly crossed that both Jagger and Matt get their own stories in the rest of this series and we get more moments of magic between those lovely men.

I’m not going to lie, I shed a wee tear with a few of the scenes about Slade and his Dad. But it never goes too deep, which I’m thankful for. There were many occasions where I laughed out loud and even more when I found myself sighing in delight with my hand clutched at my throat like a Victorian virgin. Sigh.

It was also delightful to read a book where our hero - despite being a worldwide celebrity - has the same fears as the heroine about their relationship. That he puts himself and his feelings on the line before our heroine. That there truly is balance in their relationship.

You can tell how much I rated this book because I’m giving it five stars despite this atrocious line being included:

“What the hell kind of name was Joanna, anyways?”

*side eye*

This is the kind of book that really rings my bell. It’s sexy, sweet, funny and with banter for miles. A really highly recommend romance and an author I think I’ll be heading out to buy up her back catalogue. 5 stars.

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AUTHOR BIO!

 

Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. When she's not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching The Bachelor.

She keeps her home in Idaho with her Husband, adorable son, and two snoring boxers! She loves to hear from readers!

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* I received this book from the publisher/author in exchange for an honest review. *

The Red Card Series:

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