With Love from London by Sarah Jio

* * * * 1/2

A librarian inherits a bookshop from her estranged mother, leading her halfway across the world on a journey of self-discovery that transcends time and honors the unbreakable bonds of love and family.

When librarian Valentina Baker was a teenager, her mother, Eloise, unexpectedly fled to her native London, leaving Val and her father on their own. Now in her thirties and fresh out of a failed marriage, Val feels a nagging disenchantment with her life--and knows she is still heartbroken over her mother's abandonment.

In a bittersweet twist of fate, Val receives word that Eloise has passed away, leaving Val her Primrose Hill apartment and the deed to a bookshop Val never knew she'd owned. Though the news is devastating, Val finds herself more determined than ever to discover who her mother truly was. She jets across the Atlantic, departing Seattle for a new life in charming London.

Slowly but surely, Val begins to piece together Eloise's life in the UK, falling in love with her pastel-colored flat, cozy neighborhood, and tucked-away storefront. But when she discovers that The Book Garden is in danger of going under, Val must work with its eccentric staff to get it in working order. In the process, she learns more about Eloise than she ever thought possible. And as Val races to save the shop, Eloise's own story unfolds, leading both mother and daughter to unearth revelatory truths.

Source: NetGalley; ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review

The main draw of With Love from London for me, and I suspect loads of other readers, is that it's a story about the love of books. How they transport you, how they comfort you and how magical they can be. As a librarian, Valentina knows all about this, having a love for books she inherited from her mother at a young age. Even after her mother disappeared from her life, Val continued to find solace in books, both old and new discoveries. Soon after her divorce, she receives word that her mother has passed away and that she is the beneficiary of her mother's treasured bookshop and flat. It fills Val with conflicting emotions. On the one hand, she's still traumatized by her mother walking out on her. On the other, she's curious to learn what drew her mother back to her homeland and kept her there. And since she's divorced and has nothing at the moment to tie her down, she could use the the change of scenery.

With Love from London is charming from the get go. I could easily understand Val's apprehension about what lies ahead, just as easily as I could sense the wounded child within. She's looking for answers and doesn't realize how much she wants to understand her mother's motives until she arrives in London. I appreciated that the story was told in two POVs - Eloise's and Val's first person voice. In a way, both storylines are tragic. Both women in different ways experience perfect timing and bad timing, the paths taken and not taken, new opportunities that are born out of disappointments. It's also a joy to see how similar they are like when they have the same visceral reaction to the same book but decades apart. Val's journey to discover her mother's story is laid out through several riddles Eloise had set out for her before she passed. 

I did cry a little at the end. I couldn't help it, it was just so darn sweet and poignant. Even with some predictable elements I thought the the story was engaging and lovely. I looked forward to it every time I picked it up because I knew that after the heartbreaks and grieving would come second chances. If anything, With Love from London is an ode to any passionate booklover out there of any age or genre, who appreciates how a good book is good for the soul!

~ Bel

Content warning: 

- divorce, illness (Eloise - ovarian cancer; brief mention of the diagnosis but no graphic details)

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

Anne Boleyn: A King's Obsession by Alison Weir

* * * * 

A novel filled with new insights into the story of Henry VIII’s second—and most infamous—wife, Anne Boleyn. The second book in the epic Six Tudor Queens series, from the acclaimed historian and bestselling author of Katherine of Aragon.

It is the spring of 1527. Henry VIII has come to Hever Castle in Kent to pay court to Anne Boleyn. He is desperate to have her. For this mirror of female perfection he will set aside his Queen and all Cardinal Wolsey’s plans for a dynastic French marriage.

Anne Boleyn is not so sure. She loathes Wolsey for breaking her betrothal to the Earl of Northumberland’s son, Harry Percy, whom she had loved. She does not welcome the King’s advances; she knows that she can never give him her heart.

But hers is an opportunist family. And whether Anne is willing or not, they will risk it all to see their daughter on the throne…

Source: advance copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review



I adore Alison Weir immensely. I've always been a fan of history but while I was in college I lost the desire to read it much. A couple of years after I graduated, I happened upon her book Elizabeth I and instantly became a fan. She is singlehandedly responsible for my renewed love of history, particularly The Tudor era. I own many of her books. On the other hand, I tend to be a bit skeptical when it comes to historical fiction because I have a tendency to fact-check details which is rather annoying and takes away all enjoyment of the subject matter. But I'd read one of her historical fictions not too far back and liked her approach, and now that she's doing a series on the 6 Tudor wives of Henry VIII, I couldn't be happier!

I think most people who've heard of Anne Boleyn and are familiar with her fall into two camps: she was a power-hungry, manipulative woman or she was a pawn used by her father and maternal uncle for the sole purpose of raising the family's rank in the English aristocracy. Nowadays, some even view her as an early feminist. Any which way you look at it there's no denying that she's a controversial figure who was at the center of a major religious reform in England that had long-lasting reverberations around the European continent. 

In Anne Boleyn: A King's Obsession, Weir explores Anne's life from a young girl who became lady-in-waiting at several royal courts, and how her experiences there helped shaped the woman who would become Henry VIII's future queen. Anne's family wasn't super rich but her father's growing stature as the King's foreign diplomat meant that Anne and her older sister were afforded certain privileges, the most important of them being an education. Anne took to her studies easily whereas her sister Mary is mostly remembered for her looks and eventually becoming the King's mistress. I feel that Weir chose to show how Anne's intelligence and critical thinking along with her proximity to some very important female figures she looked up to at the time helped her develop her feminist ideas. Well as feminist as you could be in the 1500's. I was surprised by how likeable and even admirable she was during the early years when it came to some of her beliefs including how she was determined to keep her good name. It's in the later years when she became the object of Henry VIII's affections and succumbed to him that her narrative changed. She became corrupted by the power she wielded over an infatuated King, taking advantage of him to suit her needs or those of her family. Her arrogance led to her thinking she was invincible but ultimately it's what led to her downfall. She garnered a lot of enemies along the way, any one of them happy to see her out of the picture. Weir lays it all out there - the intrigue and the plotting - showing how Anne went from King's darling to scorned wife. More impressively, Weir does a brilliant job of demonstrating the mental and emotional changes Anne went through over the years, the last few being filled with anguish and uncertainty. The final paragraph in this novel is a haunting image that stays with you. 

If you're a fan of historical fiction and this is an area you'd like to explore, you'd be in good hands with Alison Weir. Familiar as I am with this piece of history and its outcome, I was glued to this book because Weir offered a few different perspectives. When it comes to Anne Boleyn, I'm pretty open-minded. I do believe she's a complex woman, so divisive yet, I also think a woman who is not given her due. She did help encourage some necessary church reform though the greedy nobles took that in a different direction. I think Henry VIII was indeed in love with Anne, and she wanted to give him, even promised him a son but that never came to be. Who knows if her place at court might have been secured had she been able to bear a male heir. The irony is something she could not have known at the time: that her greatest legacy would be that of her only surviving child, a daughter and the future queen, Elizabeth I. 

~ Bel

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

My Not So Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella

****

From Random House (Dial Press)

Part love story, part workplace drama, this sharply observed novel is a witty critique of the false judgments we make in a social-media-obsessed world. New York Times bestselling author Sophie Kinsella has written her most timely novel yet.

 

Everywhere Katie Brenner looks, someone else is living the life she longs for, particularly her boss, Demeter Farlowe. Demeter is brilliant and creative, lives with her perfect family in a posh townhouse, and wears the coolest clothes. Katie’s life, meanwhile, is a daily struggle—from her dismal rental to her oddball flatmates to the tense office politics she’s trying to negotiate. No wonder Katie takes refuge in not-quite-true Instagram posts, especially as she's desperate to make her dad proud.

            

Then, just as she’s finding her feet—not to mention a possible new romance—the worst happens. Demeter fires Katie. Shattered but determined to stay positive, Katie retreats to her family’s farm in Somerset to help them set up a vacation business. London has never seemed so far away—until Demeter unexpectedly turns up as a guest. Secrets are spilled and relationships rejiggered, and as the stakes for Katie’s future get higher, she must question her own assumptions about what makes for a truly meaningful life.

            

Sophie Kinsella is celebrated for her vibrant, relatable characters and her great storytelling gifts. Now she returns with all of the wit, warmth, and wisdom that are the hallmarks of her bestsellers to spin this fresh, modern story about presenting the perfect life when the reality is far from the truth.

Source:  Electronic Advance Copy in exchange for an honest review.

That moment when you are reading on the treadmill at the gym and start laughing uncontrollably at the standard Sophie Kinsella madness?  Yep.  That's me.  The woman on the treadmill laughing.  And for good reason.  If you've read a Sophie Kinsella book, then you know her trademark hilarity in awkwardness.  If you've not read Sophie Kinsella - what the heck are you waiting for?  

My all time favorite Sophie Kinsella book is Can You Keep a Secret?  Holy crap that book is funny.  My next favorite is Undomestic Goddess.  It makes me smile just thinking about it.  My third favorite is now My Not So Perfect Life, because Katie-Cat's life is sooo not perfect.  It's day-to-day drudgery - that kind when you have a crap job, a crap apartment, and no money to do anything fun.  But, she works in a field she loves, lives in a city she loves, and well, pretends everything is great.  

My Not So Perfect Life is all kinds of fun!  I won't give any spoilers, but there are twists and turns here that are unexpected and entertaining.  Revenge plots and "sunbathing" and a Dad who is a little bit crazy - it all comes together to bring you hours of fun and laughs.  Kinsella's writing is, as always, quick, witty, and hilarious.  Sometimes, you even get a good message out of the laughs, like the grass is always greener and don't believe everything you see on Instagram.  

My Not So Perfect Life is the perfect addition to your TBR.  For more information, visit Sophie Kinsella's website.

~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

Curious Minds by Janet Evanovich and Phoef Sutton

****

From Random House:

Janet Evanovich, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Stephanie Plum series, teams up with Emmy-winning writer Phoef Sutton for a brand-new series of thrillers featuring the invincible and incompatible pairing of Knight and Moon.

 

Emerson Knight is introverted, eccentric, and has little to no sense of social etiquette. Good thing he's also brilliant, rich, and (some people might say) handsome, or he'd probably be homeless. Riley Moon has just graduated from Harvard Business and Harvard Law. Her aggressive Texas spitfire attitude has helped her land her dream job as a junior analyst with mega-bank Blane-Grunwald. At least Riley Moon thought it was her dream job, until she is given her first assignment: babysitting Emerson Knight.

 

What starts off as an inquiry about missing bank funds in the Knight account leads to inquiries about a missing man, missing gold, and a life-and-death race across the country. Through the streets of Washington, D.C., and down into the underground vault of the Federal Reserve in New York City, an evil plan is exposed. A plan so sinister that only a megalomaniac could think it up, and only the unlikely duo of the irrepressibly charming Emerson Knight and the tenacious Riley Moon can stop it.

Source:  Advance Copy from the Random House (Ballantine Books).

If you are a regular here, you know I love Janet Evanovich.  Ranger is my number one book boyfriend!  

Nat and I met her a few years ago.  She was just as awesome as I'd imagined her to be. 

Curious Minds reminded me why I love her so.  It's a great mystery with lots of laugh out loud moments and unique, quirky characters.  Emerson is like a new agey Sherlock, while Riley is his reluctant side-kick.  Emmie (as he's known to his badass Aunt) drags Riley into a quest to solve the question of where his banker has disappeared to and in his quest to lay eyes on his gold reserves.  Hilarious shenanigans ensue.  

I love this new series and cannot wait to see what happens next!  

~ Shel

Heart Breaker by Erin McCarthy

***

From Random House:

They’re perfectly in tune—but only when it comes to their music. This sizzling romance from New York Times bestselling author Erin McCarthy follows Nashville’s hottest country music duo as they fight for love in a city where dreams often cost a broken heart.

 
Self-made singer/songwriter Jolene Hart loves everything about being on top in Nashville. Well, everything except her very public breakup with Chance Rivers, her sexy masculine other half. Once the hottest duo on the scene, they turned Music City on its ear. Now their careers are as cold as their relationship. Which is why their manager has practically locked them in a remote cabin with nothing but a guitar, a bed, and time to do what they do best: make some beautiful music together.
 
As Nashville royalty, Chance has big boots to fill—and the pressure that comes with ’em. He fell hard for Jolene, but he couldn’t handle the spotlight, the crowds, and the fights that made headlines and killed any notion that love and success could go hand-in-hand. Still, Chance is more than willing to rekindle the one thing that worked: the wild passion behind their hit songs. Soon they’re making up for lost time, in the steamiest ways possible. But Chance finds himself wishing for the impossible: that their intimate hideaway could last forever.

SOURCE:  Advance Copy from Publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Jolene wants to be a star.  Chance wants to write and sell music, but when he's introduced to Jolene he agrees to form a band with her.  The problem?  Chance never wanted to be on stage.  He hates the spotlight and paparazzi.  When Chance and Jolene get together they can't handle the pressure of the spotlight  on their relationship and everything falls apart.  

When it comes time to write their next album, can they put aside their anger and hurt to work together?  Can they both get what they want and be in love at the same time?  They sequester themselves in a cabin to write and sparks fly.    

Heart Breaker is a great summer romance.  It's got heat, heart, and a fantasy hot country rocker.  Heart Breaker is all about how dreams can change when you find the right person.  It's sweet, a little sassy, and should be on your TBR!

~ Shel

The Scam by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg

**** 1/2

From Random House:

Nicolas Fox is a charming con man and master thief on the run. Kate O’Hare is the FBI agent who is hot on his trail. At least that’s what everyone thinks. In reality, Fox and O’Hare are secretly working together to bring down super-criminals the law can’t touch. Criminals like brutal casino magnate Evan Trace.

Evan Trace is running a money-laundering operation through his casino in Macau. Some of his best customers are mobsters, dictators, and global terrorists. Nick and Kate will have to go deep undercover as high-stakes gamblers, wagering millions of dollars—and their lives—in an attempt to topple Trace’s empire.

It’s a scam that will take Fox and O’Hare from the Las Vegas strip, to the sun-soaked beaches of Oahu’s North Shore, and into the dark back alleys of Macau. Their only backup—a self-absorbed actor, a Somali pirate, and Kate’s father, an ex-soldier who believes a rocket launcher is the best way to solve every problem. What could possibly go wrong?

No one can replace Ranger Manoso as my number one book boyfriend, but if anyone could give him a run for his money, it might be Nick Fox.  Hot in a completely different way and roguishly charming, Nick's scoundrel ways with his heart of gold, make him swoon-worthy.  And don't forget the completely badass Kate, who shows, once again in The Scam, that she can kick ass and look great doing it.  

When Kate's dad runs afoul of the Japanese mafia, Kate & Nick reunite their hilarious cast of characters, including a geriatric pirate, in an elaborate plan to take down the mafia and a psychopath casino owner who launders money for all sorts of terrible people.  Unfortunately, old enemies surface to endanger the scam and the players.  A perfect mystery for a fall weekend.

The Scam is crazy adventure, hilarious hijinx and a little bit of romance, with a cliff-hanger that will have you yelling for more (seriously, I yelled)!  

~Shel

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

Caged in Winter by Brighton Walsh

***1/2

From Penguin:

In this emotional and sexy New Adult debut from Brighton Walsh, the only thing more frightening than commitment is hope…

Aspiring chef Cade Maxwell is immediately, viscerally attracted to Winter Jacobson. But it’s not her mouthwatering curves he’s drawn to—it’s the strange emptiness in her eyes. When Cade saves her from a drunken customer with grabby hands, he’s shocked at her response…

Winter doesn’t need Cade’s help. After a lifetime of getting by on her own, she’s happy to rely on herself. She’s exactly seventy-six days away from graduating college, and if she can hold it together that long, she’ll finally be able to rise above the crappy hand she was dealt.

But now, every time she turns around, Cade is there, ready to push her, smile at her, distract her from her plans. Winter knows she can’t afford to open up—especially to a man she’s terrified to actually want…

Big, bad Cade Maxwell with his mountainous size and tats, is a forever boy.  Who woulda thought?  What I love most about Cade is that he is completely open - openly thoughtful, openly caring, and openly protective of those he loves.  There's no posturing with Cade.  

Winter has an obsession with doing everything for herself, accepting no assistance, born from a childhood in rotten foster homes.  Trust is difficult when everyone you've ever known has broken any measure of trust placed in them.  For someone so hell-bent on relying solely on herself, Cade's giving and protective nature is problematic.  Conflict abounds, and Winter has to face her past if she wants a future with Cade.  

This was my first Brighton Walsh book and it was fantastic!  I can't thank Jessica (Walsh's publicist) enough for recommending Caged and Tessa Ever After!  This is new adult romance at it's finest!

~ Shel

The One That Got Away by Bethany Chase

* * * *

Perfect for fans of Emily Giffin and Jennifer Weiner, this bright, funny debut from a fresh voice in fiction offers a delicious take on love, family, and what it means to build a home of one’s own.

Sarina Mahler thinks she has her life all nailed down: a growing architecture practice in Austin, Texas, and an any-day-now proposal from her loving boyfriend, Noah. She’s well on her way to having the family she’s hoped for since her mother’s death ten years ago. But with Noah on a temporary assignment abroad and retired Olympic swimmer — and former flame — Eamon Roy back in town asking her to renovate his new fixer-upper, Sarina’s life takes an unexpected turn.

Eamon proves to be Sarina’s dream client, someone who instinctively trusts every one of her choices — and Sarina is reminded of all the reasons she was first drawn to him back in the day. Suddenly her carefully planned future with Noah seems a little less than perfect. And when tragedy strikes, Sarina is left reeling. With her world completely upended, she is forced to question what she truly wants in life — and in love.

Full of both humor and heartbreak, The One That Got Away is the story of one woman’s discovery that, sometimes, life is what happens when you leave the blueprints behind.

Sarina is a well-respected and successful architect in her early thirties whose career is gaining traction. She’s her own boss, managing her own projects and genuinely in love with what she does for a living. She has a wonderful roommate Danny, a fun best friend Nicole and a devoted boyfriend, Noah. Noah’s a corporate lawyer and currently in Argentina working on a huge merger. This means that they’re apart for months at a time, resorting to phone calls and skyping to keep in touch. Sarina feels happy with her world, that is until Eamon comes back into her life.

Eamon is the one (night stand) that got away. She thought they’d hit it off perfectly but when the next morning came he had an abrupt change in attitude and left after promising to call her. That left Sarina wondering all sorts of things. Could she have done something wrong? Why didn't she ever hear from him? She was understandably hurt by the quick departure and kept their involvement a secret from Danny, his best friend. She eventually met Noah with whom she has found that stability she values. Eamon’s reappearance illicits mixed emotions. She acknowledges that though she’s happy to see him, there’s still some level of hurt there, naturally making things a wee bit awkward. Worse, he’s still as gorgeous and as sweet as ever. Not that she’s willing to admit that aloud. When he announces that he’s ready to move back to Austin to lay down roots, he hires Sarina to help him find a place to rehab. Great, so now he’s a client!

Here’s what I loved about this book: while it’s a romance, it’s not focused solely on Sarina's love life. She is written as a well-rounded character with so many facets to her. She is a career woman who enjoys her job and has ambitions for expanding. I really liked how absorbed she’d get in her projects and how she described her euphoria over light-bulb moments or ideas that inspired her creations. She’s a go-getter who’s smart, calm and confident in her skills. The other side of her is her close relationship with her step-dad whom she adores. He’s the last connection to her beloved mother and the way she looks up to him is just so incredibly sweet.  

Trouble does arise when she starts developing feelings for Eamon just as her relationship with Noah starts to get shakey. The distance hasn’t helped and as they discuss their long-term future, she realizes that they may not want the same thing. Now as she enters the next stage in her life, she has to give serious thought as to how her ambitions fit into a marriage and possibly children. Or is it the other way around – how do marriage and children fit in with her ambitious plans to become a well-known architect? The fact that she and Noah have differing opinions on the matter is troublesome. Then there’s Eamon on the periphery who's praising her talents while encouraging her to pursue her dreams. He finally comes clean about his feelings for her and why he left all those years ago. Now Sarina is not a whimsical little thing and won't drop everything simply because he announces that he's ready. And this is what I love best about her: as confusing and frustrating as life has become, she's still level-headed enough to examine her motives and not throw away years she has invested in a relationship with Noah without some serious contemplation.

The One That Got Away is simply adorable and I fell for it hard. For me personally it was refreshing to read a female protagonist with that level of maturity and self-assurance. And I can't forget the other co-star in this story - the city of Austin. All I know about it is that it's home to Austin City Limits, South By Southwest and incredibly hot in the summer. Bethany Chase's description of some of the local areas and markets has me wanting to visit sooner rather than later. If you're in the mood for a well-written, well-balanced romance, don't pass up The One That Got Away!

~ Bel

Connect with Bethany on Twitter and Instagram. Being an interior designer herself, she often posts gorgeous pictures that capture her attention!

Third Degree by Julie Cross

***

I used to be "Isabel Jenkins, child prodigy." As lame as that sounds, at least it was an identity.  But now I'm not sure what I am.  I just failed the most important exam of my life - the emotional readiness test required to get into a medical residency program - and it turns out my parents can't stand each other.  Now I'm trying to figure out how to pick up the pieces of my life, and that means re-enrolling as a college freshman, but this time I'm shutting the books and majoring in being eighteen.  

But so far, my roommate hates me and I'm not into the party scene.   The only good thing about school has been getting to know my insanely hot RA.  Marshall Collins makes me wonder about everything I missed while I was growing up too fast.  Pretty soon we're hanging out constantly, but for the first time, I find myself wanting more than a no-strings-attached physical relationship.  And the lesson I really need is one Marsh definitely can't teach me: love.  Because I'm going to be alone forever if I don't learn fast.  

Isabel is a cross between Doogie Howser and Sheldon Cooper, which makes for some hilariously awkward moments.  She has absolutely no concept of inappropriate behavior or tact, so it's hard to feel anything for her.  Despite her high IQ, she's childish, immature and emotionally stunted.  I couldn't agree more with her supervisor's decision that she was not emotionally ready to be a doctor.  

Marsh on the other hand is awesome.  He's smart, dedicated, driven, sweet and understanding.  And hot, let's not forget hot.  I can't really figure out why he would fall for Isabel, he's far too good for her.  

With the funny social awkwardness and hot boys, Third Degree is an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon.  If you like new adult romances, you should check this one out.

~Shel

One Week Girlfriend by Monica Murphy

***1/2

From Random House:

Temporary.  That's the word I'd use to describe my life right now.  I'm temporarily working double shifts - at least until I can break free.  I'm temporarily raising my little brother - since apparently our actual mother doesn't give a crap about either of us.  And I always end up as nothing but the temporary girlfriend - the flavor of the week for every guy who's heard the rumor that I give it up so easily.  

At least Drew Callahan, college football legend and local golden boy, is upfront about it.  He needs someone to play the part of his girlfriend for one week.  In exchange for cash.  As if that's not weird enough, ever since he brought me into his world, nothing really makes sense.  Everyone hates me.  Everyone wants something from him.  And yet the only thing Drew seems to want is...me.  

I don't know what to believe anymore.  Drew is sweet, sexy, and hiding way more secrets than I am.  All I know is, I want to be there for him - permanently.  

I'll be honest.  I didn't love the writing style of One Week Girlfriend, but it is a compelling story that kept me involved.  These characters are all kinds of messed up and have a completely messed up relationship.  If you don't like books that deal with sexual abuse, I wouldn't recommend this series.

The book deals with a lot of complex issues - abandonment, lack of self-esteem or self-worth, sexual abuse and dysfunction - all woven together in a story that will keep you interested and involved.  After reading One Week Girlfriend, I had to jump immediately to Second Chance Boyfriend.   Plus, the covers are hot. 

~Shel

The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

****

From Random House:

Seventeen-year-old Cassie is a natural at reading people.  Piecing together the tiniest details, she can tell you who you are and what you want.  But, it's not a skill that she's ever taken seriously.  That it, until the FBI come knocking: they've begun a classified program that uses exceptional teenagers to crack infamous cold cases, and they need Cassie.  

What Cassie doesn't realize is that there's more at risk than a few unsolved homicides - especially when she's sent to live with a group of teens whose gifts are as unusual as her own.  Soon, it becomes clear that no one in the Naturals program is what they seem.  And when a new killer strikes, danger looms close.  Caught in a lethal game of cat and mouse with a killer, the Naturals are going to have to use all their gifts just to survive.  

The The Mentalist meets Pretty Little Liars - Jennifer Lynn Barnes' The Naturals is a gripping psychological thriller with killer appeal, a to-die-for romance, and the bones of a gritty and compelling new series.  

I agree that The Naturals was a gripping psychological thriller that totally creeped me out, but I disagree with the comparison to Pretty Little Liars (which I find incredibly annoying).  The Naturals is my first Jennifer Lynn Barnes experience and I am glad I picked it up.    

It's always tricky to bring together an ensemble cast in the first book of a series, but Ms. Barnes seamlessly brings together The Naturals Team and I look forward to much more character development in the next installment.  I think there are endless possibilities and The Naturals was a great start.   

To me, there's no better time for creepy mysteries than fall and The Naturals does not disappoint.  The story is a chilling, nightmare inducing mystery that will keep you guessing to the very end.

~Shel

The Deepest Night (The Sweetest Dark #2) by Shana Abé

* * * *

It’s 1915, and sixteen-year-old Lora Jones is finishing up her first year as a charity student at Iverson, a prestigious, gothic boarding school on England’s southern coast. While she’s always felt different from everyone around her, now she finally knows why: She is a drákon, a rare, enchanted being with astonishing magical abilities.

As war hits Britain’s shores, and Lora reels from an unimaginable loss, she finds that her powers come with grave and dangerous responsibilities. At the request of Armand Louis, the darkly mysterious boy whose father owns Iverson, Lora will spend her summer at his lavish estate. To help the war effort—and to keep Lora by his side—Armand turns his home into a military hospital, where Lora will serve as a nurse. For Armand is inescapably drawn to her—bound to her by heart-deep secrets and a supernatural connection that runs thicker than blood.

Yet while Lora tries to sort out her own feelings toward Armand, fate offers an unexpected surprise. Lora discovers there is another drákon, a prisoner of war being held in Germany. And that only she, with her newly honed Gifts, will be able to rescue him.

With Armand, Lora will cross enemy lines on an incredible mission—one that could bond her to Armand forever, or irrevocably tear them apart.

Beautifully written, deeply romantic, and filled with daring adventure and magic, The Deepest Night is a mesmerizing novel of the enduring pull of destiny, and the eternal strength of love.

In all honesty, not many books have made a major impact on me so far this year which has been kind of disappointing.  Thankfully a few have stood, one of them being the Sweetest Dark series which has cast its spell on me.

In The Deepest Night Lora and Armand are recovering from the tragic events of the previous book. With Armand’s father in the looney bin, Lora’s future at her school is uncertain as he is her benefactor. When the summer break rolls around, rather than being shipped off elsewhere, Armand arranges for Lora to stay at Iverson to assist with the recovering soldiers who are coming to Iverson to recuperate.  Nice to have friends in high places, right? Naturally all of this is a rouse for Armand to keep Lora close by and for them to work together to learn more about their dragon nature. Their adventure together also takes them across the channel into France and Germany. Despite these areas being war torn, their landscape provides a dramatic and beautiful backdrop to Lora's and Armand's complicated and growing friendship.

It’s hard for me to pinpoint exactly why I enjoy this series. I love the chemistry between Lora and Armand.  The sparks between them are constantly flying. Their mutual love of dry humor and quick retorts always make their conversations enjoyable. I love Armand’s vulnerability and his undying affection for Lora. He is so patient as he pines after her. The fact that he notices little things about her tugs at my heart. It will certainly win him a few fans. I have great admiration for Lora too. She’s a sharp young woman who knows her mind and makes no apologies for her circumstances. It's almost as if she doesn't belong in that generation. I also admire how Abé describes the physical changes that they both go through. Lora may be new to it but she is all Armand has and she has to be strong enough to help him through it. There is one scene in particular involving a dance on water that built such a stunning visual in my mind, I had to re-read it a few times to be fully satiated. 

But perhaps what really won me over is how Abé dared to take the plunge with Jesse’s character in the first book that seriously affected the dynamic between Armand and Lora in this one. Complicated is an understatement. And when the story shifts perspective briefly to either Armand or Jesse, I find myself almost squealing inside from all the romantic tension.

I definitely think The Deepest Night and the entire Sweetest Dark series is perfect for anyone looking for a touch of old-world romance. There are times when the mood feels so ethereal. And then the images of dragons against the horrors of World War I fighting machines stand in stark contrast to one another. But I think that is also why I like the series so much because these images, these worlds, when they collide into each other create such urgency and momentum. And Lora and Armand both so damaged and so beautiful are perfectly matched.

~ Bel