Then Came You (Laws of Attraction #3) by Kate Meader

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Content warning listed at bottom of review

In the courtroom, they’re rivals. In the bedroom, they’re . . . divorced. But could the road trip from hell lead to a second chance at love?

Aubrey Gates is the hottest divorce lawyer in Chicago, a barb-tongued stiletto with legs that go on for miles. When her cool gray eyes meet mine across the battlefield, I want her like I’ve never wanted anyone or anything. Then I remember who she is: the woman who brought me to my knees. The woman who destroyed my faith in relationships.

The woman I used to call . . . wife.

And she needs a favor from me, Grant Lincoln.

It seems my ex forgot to mention the demise of our marriage to her dear old grammie, and now we’re both expected to attend her ninetieth birthday party. In Boston. And because it isn’t already awkward enough, Aubrey and I are driving there together from Chicago. That’s more than a thousand miles of tension, heartbreak, and barely concealed lust.

A little piece of paper might say we’re over, but this road trip is the true test. I intend to get my wife back . . . and I won’t stop until “I do.”

Source: advance e-galley provided in exchange for an honest review



Aubrey and Grant have been divorced for some time and they're still not used to it. There's familiarity that always seems to pull them together but stops just short of reconciliation. With so much unresolved anger and hurt they'd have to sort through before they can even move forward again and possibly have a genuine friendship much less a second crack at marriage. All this matters because they seriously do still love each other. They're also both divorce lawyers who work in close proximity, and they have mutual friends so there's no avoiding each other physically as they have avoided each other emotionally during their failed marriage. In the previous books, their friends speculated about the pair's breakup but no one knew what truly transpired because Aubrey and Grant chose to keep that to themselves. The reason for their separation is heartbreaking and what happened surrounding it is just as sad. It's not exactly a twist that Meader introduces but rather she took whatever assumptions we were going with and gave us something else instead. 

The drive to Aubrey's parents' on the East Coast gives them ample time in the car to talk. Their easy banter, nostalgia and jokes would make you think all was right with the world. Yes, things get physical because lust was never really lacking between them. The emotional intimacy is trickier and that's what needs to be addressed. Meader turned things around by having Aubrey be tight-lipped, steadfastly against confiding in anyone and refusing to discuss her feelings, whereas Grant is the one who's desperate to seek advice and to hash things out. When they do finally unleash on each other, reopening those wounds that are still raw, it gets ugly before any healing or forgiveness can begin.

This is a far more sensitive read that unfortunately, a lot of people are familiar with, and Meader, I think, handled it delicately by offering a reminder that everyone processes their sorrow in their own way and time. You know, I liked both Down with Love and Illegally Yours but Then Came You got me right in the gut. As my heart sank and was wrung out through the shocking truths and brutal pain, I held on to the thought that things would right themselves. The bright spot is that this is a second chance romance with an eventual happily ever after.

~ Bel




Content Warning: divorce, miscarriage, dysfunctional family, pregnancy, marriage counseling

Illegally Yours (Laws of Attraction #2) by Kate Meader

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Rule #1: Never fall for your client.
Rule #2: Never fall for your client’s fiercely protective, smoking hot sister-in-law.

I’m the kind of guy who believes that everyone deserves the best legal representation money can buy—which just so happens to be me, Lucas Wright. Give me your henpecked, your cuckolded, your irreconcilable differences yearning to break free! And if you’re the bad guy in your marriage, that’s cool too. Your green is as good as anyone’s.

Tell that to Trinity Jones. It’s my job to destroy her sister—the soon-to-be ex-wife of my a-hole of a client—and Trinity’s “big sis” instincts are dialed up to the max. I admire that. I admire her. But she won’t stop me from representing my client to the best of my ability.

Not even if my chemistry with Trinity is undeniable. Not even if we can’t keep our hands off each other. Not even if she injects life into a heart assumed to be long dead.
 
Because when faced with a choice between love and duty, the job will always win—or at least that’s what I thought before I met Trinity . . . and suddenly conflict of interest never felt so right. 

This ebook includes an excerpt from another Loveswept title.

Source: advance e-galley provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review


I enjoyed the first book in the Laws of Attraction series, Down with Love, and I absolutely enjoyed a glimpse of a certain cocky British dude who made me laugh in the few scenes that he was in. Lucas is the kind of hero I like - annoyingly charming, funny, and oh hell yeah, sexy! All this makes the attractive Trinity, who is very serious about teaching people the art of savoring and understanding the world of whiskey, his perfect foil.

Man, do I love good banter and it is all over Illegally Yours. Lucas and Trinity can go toe-to-toe with each other which makes their interactions simultaneously amusing and sexy. There's that word again. Trinity drives Lucas batty because she's not so easily swayed by his looks or attempts to break down her defenses. She makes him work for her attention. Of course, she's about as stoic as a wet noodle on the inside because he does make her come alive and boy, oh boy, she is tempted! But trust is something that Trinity does not give away easily. 

The wrench in everything, and one that you see coming almost immediately, is that Lucas represents her future ex-brother-in-law who is hellbent on destroying her younger sister. Trinity is a fierce older sister who sees it as her job to protect her sibling from any additional pain. Unfortunately, Lucas breaches her defenses, making a sensitive and complex situation even more so. Let's also remember that it calls into question his ethical responsibilities to his client and as a lawyer overall.

I enjoyed reading Illegally Yours mostly for the excellent verbal exchanges between Lucas and Trinity. They're both so irresistible when they're going at it. Also, the other partners are pretty visible in this and they always give Lucas the business which is entertaining to no end for me. The hard part for me though was accepting any romantic move forward between them. He's a divorce lawyer and his client is public enemy number one to her family right now. I'd be reluctant to be with someone under those circumstances. I don't think I'd be able to separate the two, therefore, I struggled to believe that Trinity could turn a blind eye to that, too. I appreciated seeing a different side of Lucas which is seriously melt-your-heart magnificent, and understanding the emotional complexities of Trinity's life. This girl has a lot of baggage! Truthfully, they both do and it's interesting to see how it's shaped their worldview.

Even though I was a tad bit reserved about their romance because of the nature of his job and its connection to Trinity, but I still liked Illegally Yours. I adore Kate Meader's writing I always have fun with her books!

~ Bel

Down With Love (Love Wars #1) by Kate Meader

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Sparks fly when the hot-shot divorce lawyer meets the high-powered wedding planner. The only question is, what kind?

If you ever get married, remember my name: Max Henderson. In my line of work, you acquire a certain perspective on supposedly everlasting unions. . . .

1. Pre-nups are your friend. 
2. The person you married is not the person you’re divorcing. 
3. And I hope you didn’t spend much on the wedding because that was one helluva waste of hard-earned cash, wasn’t it? 

But some guys are willing to take a chance. Like my brother, who thinks he’s going to ride off into the sunset with the woman of his dreams in a haze of glitter on unicorns. And the wedding planner—the green-eyed beauty who makes a living convincing suckers to shell out thousands of dollars on centerpieces—is raking it in on this matrimonial monstrosity. 

The thing is, Charlie Love is not unlike me. We’re both cogs in the wedding-industrial complex. As the best man, I know her game—and I can play it better than her. But after one scorching, unexpected kiss, I’m thinking I might just want to get played.

Source: advance e-galley provided in exchange for an honest review

I think enemies-to-lovers might just be one of my favourite tropes as I'm sure is the case for so many romance readers. I enjoy the "showmanship" between the characters as they try to one up each other and try to squash any hope of a truce. On the flip side, I also enjoy that moment when well, the switch flips in the other direction and they don't obsess over hating each other as they have been. It's their reaction to this new knowledge that always gets me -- horror, embarrassment, disbelief -- and then they don't even recognize themselves. That anticipation leading up to when they finally admit that something is there is what I love so much.

Down With Love draws two opposites together thanks to a sudden wedding announcement. I don't think there could be a truer demonstration of opposites than Charlie, the wedding planner who wants nothing more than to create the most magical and memorable of days for her clients, and Max, the divorce lawyer, who sees the downside of marriage where that most magical day becomes the most painful memory for his clients. He sees Charlie's job as the ultimate lie that requires him to eventually swoop in to pick up the pieces at the other end. If only they could avoid each other, but no, the smitten groom happens to be Max's brother. Despite their opposing views on marriage, and Max's conflicted feelings about being both happy and weary for his brother, Charlie still gets under his skin. She may have a romanticized view of wedded bliss but she's also quite grounded in general and there's so much there to fall for. Same goes for her.

I had a blast reading Down With Love. Charlie and Max have that chemistry that made me smile and swoon. I've gotten a bit tired lately of uber alpha male heroes and their testosterones so I've have taken a break from those storylines. I was thrilled that Max is not like that. In fact, Meader does a fun thing with Charlie and Max's personalities when it comes to their views on hooking up and trust. I liked that little touch a lot and it just made them more appealing. The other star of the story is Chicago where you're taken on jaunts to the Peninsula, a Cubs game, and other cool areas around town.

Down With Love is a splendid start to the Love Wars series. Meader's side characters are just as fun which is great because they tend to be hit or miss for me. I know I'd like to get to know that cheeky Brit, Lucas a bit better ... nudge, nudge, wink, wink. Congrats, Kate Meader on another sweet, hot and entertaining romance!

~ Bel

Dirty Deeds by Helenkay Dimon

****

From Random House:

No dirty deed goes unnoticed in a seductive game of cat and mouse. But for Alec and Gaige, the wrong move could get them killed.

Alec Drummond didn’t make his billions by playing nice—or by playing much at all. When it comes to pleasure, Alec only has time for whatever’s quick and easy, which is exactly what he gets from his company’s hot new computer genius. But Gaige Owens isn’t some pushover. He pushes back, and it’s giving Alec a rush. The question is, could Gaige be the one who’s leaking trade secrets? Just to be safe, Alec keeps him close at hand . . . night and day.

Gaige never thought he’d roll over for a man like Alec again, but who could resist sex this mind-blowing? Then there’s the draw of Alec’s mysterious side: his cutthroat ambition, his covert CIA connections, and the murder in his past. For Gaige, a deeper look proves an irresistible temptation. But when Gaige and Alec are stripped of their defenses by an unseen danger, everything they don’t know could bring them closer together—or tear them apart. Only one thing is certain: Before it’s all over, someone’s going down.

Source:  Electronic advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Dirty Deeds is the first in a new series by Helenkay Dimon that you should definitely add to the TBR.  It's a spin-off of the Tough Love Series and we get to see Seth from Guarding Mr. Fine being his usual charming *ahem* self.  Alec was introduced in Mr. Fine as the mysterious businessman, sometimes CIA consultant, and Rick's ex.  In Dirty Deeds, Alex is still the mysterious billionaire businessman, but now he's being forced into another CIA mess to try to clear his name.  

Gaige is similarly being used and blackmailed by Seth to assist in the same investigation.  Gaige is a tech genius who came under Seth's thumb when his ex framed him for espionage - working with the CIA is better than prison.  Gaige breaks in to Alec's company and their computer systems, Seth manipulates them in to working together.  Alec and Gaige inevitably grow closer while investigating.  As things get more dangerous, the men have to deal with the threat to their lives and figure out whether they can trust one another.  

Helenkay Dimon is a master at romantic suspense, and as she proved in the Tough Love Series, that translates just as well to m/m romantic suspense.  Dirty Deeds does not disappoint.  Mystery, intrigue, hot sex, and stubborn men falling in love.  Add Dirty Deeds to your reading list and we can anxiously await Dirty Games together!

If you need something to keep you occupied, check out Helenkay's impressive backlist here.  

~ Shel

Guarding Mr. Fine by Helenkay Dimon

In this steamy novel of seduction and international intrigue, two brave men are stripped of their defenses—and exposed to dangers and desires that simmer below the surface.

As an agent with the CIA’s special activities division, Seth Lang lives for risk—and yet he’s stuck playing bodyguard to the U.S. consul general in Munich. Although Seth’s last assignment nearly killed him, babysitting some desk jockey in a suit sounds way too easy. But when he lays eyes on the new top man, tactical expert Rick Fine, Seth’s thrilled to see just how hard this job is going to get. Mr. Tall, Dark, and Quiet has a body worth guarding—and he requires hands-on attention day and night.

Dispatched to a German consulate to expose the murder of his predecessor, Rick finds himself in an extremely vulnerable position. He needs a man like Seth—in so many ways. This mission will inevitably plunge them both into jeopardy, but each new threat only brings them closer. Rick just hopes that he can keep his deepest, darkest secret hidden—or else risk imperiling a relationship they’re both fighting for their lives to protect.

Fall in love with the men of HelenKay Dimon’s thrilling novels:

MR. AND MR. SMITH | THE TALENTED MR. RIVERS | GUARDING MR. FINE

Congratulations to Helenkay Dimon for her RITA nomination for Guarding Mr. Fine!  The book definitely deserves the nomination and we hope you will all check it out!

If you are a fan of romantic suspense, Mr. Fine is for you.  It's full of spies, intrigue, murder, and two clueless men falling in love - what's not to enjoy?  Mr. Fine is the third book in the Tough Love series and they just keep getting better.  This installment is heavier on the humor and lighter on the angst, which was awesome.  Am I the only one that feels overwhelmed by all the angsty books lately?  I mean, angst has its place and is awesome sometimes, but sometimes I need something less rip-my-heart-out and more laugh-out-loud.  Helenkay is great when you need some suspense or some laugh-out-loud.    

Anyway, back to the amazing Mr. Fine...  Seth and Rick come together to investigate the death of a diplomat in Germany.  These are two intelligent, capable men and when they get together sparks fly and trouble follows.  Mr. Fine has a quick pace and plenty of twists to keep you interested.  I recommend the Tough Love series to any fan of the genre.  

If you haven't read Helenkay Dimon, I suggest you check her out.  She's a prolific writer with an impressive backlist.  We had the pleasure of meeting her at RT a couple of years ago (and hope to see her in Atlanta in a few weeks) and definitely invited her to join us on BFF island for fun and frivolity.  :-)  Check her out at here.  

~Shel

The Talented Mr. Rivers by Helenkay Dimon

***1/2

From Random House (Loveswept):

HelenKay Dimon’s suspenseful, provocative series of double agents and dark desire continues with a novel featuring two men bound by a dangerous job—and by the cravings they feel for each other.

As the son of an international crime lord, Will Rivers only inherited one thing after his father died: trouble. The Pentasus organization deals in kidnapping and murder, and Will wants no part of the power grab that’s tearing leadership apart. But the only way he’ll be able to escape is with some help from his former bodyguard, Hunter Cain, whose sculpted body and brooding looks keep Will awake at night. Somehow, Hunter has resisted the tension between them . . . until, suddenly, he gives in.

As a German intelligence officer working deep undercover, Hunter has a very good reason to keep Will in the dark about his identity and his intentions. Although the sex is hot, Hunter’s true feelings are a growing liability. Now the only way to save Will from his old life is to push him deeper into danger. But when two strong men are each determined to protect the other, the heat isn’t just combustible—it’s a firestorm.

Includes a special message from the editor, as well as an excerpt from another Loveswept title.

SEE LESS

HelenKay Dimon’s suspenseful, provocative series of double agents and dark desire continues with a novel featuring two men bound by a dangerous job—and by the cravings they feel for each other.

As the son of an international crime lord, Will Rivers only inherited one thing after his father died: trouble. The Pentasus organization deals in kidnapping and murder, and Will wants no part of the power grab that’s tearing leadership apart. But the only way he’ll be able to escape is with some help from his former bodyguard, Hunter Cain, whose sculpted body and brooding looks keep Will awake at night. Somehow, Hunter has resisted the tension between them . . . until, suddenly, he gives in.

As a German intelligence officer working deep undercover, Hunter has a very good reason to keep Will in the dark about his identity and his intentions. Although the sex is hot, Hunter’s true feelings are a growing liability. Now the only way to save Will from his old life is to push him deeper into danger. But when two strong men are each determined to protect the other, the heat isn’t just combustible—it’s a firestorm.

Includes a special message from the editor, as well as an excerpt from another Loveswept title.

SEE LESS

HelenKay Dimon’s suspenseful, provocative series of double agents and dark desire continues with a novel featuring two men bound by a dangerous job—and by the cravings they feel for each other.
 
As the son of an international crime lord, Will Rivers only inherited one thing after his father died: trouble. The Pentasus organization deals in kidnapping and murder, and Will wants no part of the power grab that’s tearing leadership apart. But the only way he’ll be able to escape is with some help from his former bodyguard, Hunter Cain, whose sculpted body and brooding looks keep Will awake at night. Somehow, Hunter has resisted the tension between them . . . until, suddenly, he gives in.
 
As a German intelligence officer working deep undercover, Hunter has a very good reason to keep Will in the dark about his identity and his intentions. Although the sex is hot, Hunter’s true feelings are a growing liability. Now the only way to save Will from his old life is to push him deeper into danger. But when two strong men are each determined to protect the other, the heat isn’t just combustible—it’s a firestorm.

The Talented Mr. Rivers picks up where Mr. and Mr. Smith leaves off, this time we are getting the story of Hunter, the super smoking spy and Will, the brainiac would-be heir to a crime syndicate.  While these two burn up the sheets, their secrets could not only tear them apart but get them killed. 

Helenkay Dimon's foray into m/m romantic suspense is amazing.  This series keeps getting better and I may cry if there isn't a book 3.  Hunter and Will are distrustful, set in their ways, and are terrified of their feelings.  All of which make this a thoroughly entertaining story!  Please Helenkay, please give us more of these smoking hot spies and the men who distract them!  

~Shel

Blow by Heidi McLaughlin Excerpt Reveal

And it was lust at first sight for me too. I’m not gonna lie. Bodhi is walking, talking sex, and I let that get to me. I couldn’t resist him, even though I tried. I let my body dictate how I was going to react, my job be damned.

“Oh yeah? What’s that?” Her tone is playful and gives me hope. And I need hope. Not to score with her, but to get through my days.

“You should join me in the shower.” I waggle my eyebrows at her and rub my hand over my abs, pushing up my shirt a little so she can see what’s underneath.

Kim shakes her head, but her smile tells me that she likes the idea. She covers her mouth to stifle a laugh, and I chuckle.

In Blow, the start of an emotionally charged series from bestselling author Heidi McLaughlin, an insatiable heartthrob gets blinded by the spotlight—and learns to fight for love.

Meet the complicated men behind the sexiest boy band in America!  Releasing November 8th!

Pre-Order NOW!

Amazon US     I     Amazon UK     I     iBooks     I     Nook     I     Kobo     

Blurb

Bodhi McKnight has always had everything handed to him on a silver platter: fame, success, money, girls. The raven-haired, blue-eyed hottie is the son of Hollywood A-listers, and when he’s asked to join the boy band Virtuous Paradox, his star shoots even higher. But so do expectations, leading Bodhi down a destructive path of addiction—until a drop-dead gorgeous guardian angel shows him her sizzling brand of tough love.

When Bodhi ends up in rehab, he doesn’t expect to meet someone as cool and down-to-earth as Kimberly Gordon. Although he’s enjoyed the company of beautiful, charming women before, none of them have tried to get to know the “real” Bodhi. But Kimberly isn’t fazed by his stardom. She’d rather go horseback riding, teach Bodhi to play guitar, or ask him about his feelings. Soon Bodhi realizes he’s fallen head over heels for her. He just hopes that he’s strong enough to protect what they have from all the pressures and temptations of the outside world.

Includes a special message from the editor, as well as an excerpt from another Loveswept title.

About Heidi McLaughlin

Originally from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in picturesque Vermont, with her husband and two daughters. Also renting space in their home is an over-hyper Beagle/Jack Russell, Buttercup and a Highland West/Mini Schnauzer, JiLL and her brother, Racicot.

When she isn't writing one of the many stories planned for release, you'll find her sitting court-side during either daughter's basketball games

Heidi's first novel, Forever My Girl, is currently in production to be a major motion picture.

  

NYT & USA Today Bestselling Author

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Take the Fall by Marquita Valentine

**1/2

As a teenager, Seth O'Connor went to jail for a crime he had nothing to do with. He took the fall to protect the girl he loved, but the cruel realities of prison hardened him. After doing his time, Seth shuts her out and enlists in the Marines—until his grandmother's funeral forces him to come home and face Rowan Simmons once again. The woman she's become puts all his high-school memories to shame, and Seth wants her more than ever. Can he be honest about why he denied her for so long?

After Seth pushed her away, Rowan swore that no man would ever hurt her again. But the boy who broke her heart has become a sexy Marine, capable of fulfilling her every desire—and now that he's back in town, old feelings are simmering to a boil. Rowan wants to stay strong, even as her body surrenders to his expert touch. She only hopes that by taking him back, she can finally help heal the wounds that drove them apart.

I have mixed feels about Take the Fall, so much so that I find it difficult to write this review.  The book was interesting and held my attention, but it seemed too easy for Seth and Rowan to get back together after Seth went to jail for Rowan's brother.   This doesn't seem like something you could get around so easily.  Also, the way Seth treated Rowan when he went to jail was awful and she forgives that pretty quickly as well.  I just found it difficult to believe that this would happen as it did.  People aren't that selfless or forgiving.  I know, I know, it's a book and suspension of belief and all that, but it didn't feel honest to me, so I couldn't get lost in the story.  

Valentine has a Boys of the South series that looks interesting, so I think I may give that one a shot.  

~Shel