Sure Shot Review Tour

* * * 3/4

A new stand-alone hockey romance from USA Today bestseller Sarina Bowen.

On the eve of her thirtieth birthday, sports agent Bess Beringer is ready to make some changes. Armed with a five-year plan—indexed and color coded—she’ll tackle her personal life with the same zeal that she brings to her successful agency.

A big, tall, ripped hunk of hockey player who’s just been traded to the Brooklyn Bruisers is not a part of that plan. Mark “Tank” Tankiewicz has a lot of baggage. He’s a ride-or-die loner with a bad reputation. He’s on the rebound. He’s also the sexiest thing on two legs, and for some crazy reason it’s Bess that he wants.

She knows better. But then she falls stupid in love with him anyway. And for a while it seems like maybe he’ll do the same.

Until she asks him for the one thing he can never give her…


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


Tank and Bess are at two drastically different stages in their lives. Tank's coming off a divorce, relocated to Brooklyn after being traded from Dallas, and dodging all the rumors surrounding his failed marriage and clashes with former teammates. Bess is just turning 30 and is a successful sports agent who has now branched out to start up her own agency. After years of putting her career first, she's ready for the next phase - meet a great guy with whom she can have a future. Tank is not that guy right now. Right now what they have is great spine-tingling, rock-their-worlds chemistry in the sheets and that's as far as it'll go. That's all Tank can offer and Bess knows there's no future there. Even though they know this they still keep circling back to each other. Years might have passed since their original interlude and brief hookup but there still remains this effortless companionship and ease when they're together. It's like they understand what they need in that moment, and that's comfort and the need to feel wanted. 

They really do have great chemistry and Tank's maturity since they first met when he was 23 shows. Bess has also grown from that starry-eyed youngster she was to become a determined, successful woman in a male-dominant industry. As older and wiser versions of themselves, they bring more to the relationship that they appreciate about each other. I was with the story up until it kind of veered off in a different direction for me. I'll have to delve into a bit of spoilery in order to explain ...

Like I said, the story worked for me when Tank and Bess hit it off again. He was getting used to his new life and she was kicking butt at her job. What threw me off was that all of a sudden Bess wanted kids when they'd only just reached the decision to become official. It was mentioned at the beginning of the story that she had put a plan together for her life but - and herein lies my problem - there was absolutely no inkling about this particular detail until she dropped that bombshell on Tank. I can't help wondering if I missed something earlier because apparently it was something she had wanted for a while but I don't think I came across a hint of it in her POV prior to that revelation. When they realized that their individual goals for their future didn't mesh, it made sense that they'd part ways. The the next thing you know, they got back together a month later with that "having children" elephant still in the room (and she had been researching her options while they'd been apart). Tank explained what he was feeling emotionally and Bess finally understood where he was coming from, and it seemed like they were going to take their time. Instead, things seemed to move even faster. 

I guess I felt I was suddenly reading a different book with completely different priorities that sprung up overnight. Maybe if there was a physical section break with a "Part 2" that happened a few months (or even a year) later that would've allowed for more time and introspection rather than just the one month pause, then I would've felt it a more organic progression in their relationship. Tank's emotional baggage about children seemed to be glossed over too easily by Bess' idea of a compromise. I'm all for happily ever afters but the second half of the book fell into place way too suddenly for me. 

My reservations aside, I was still won over by the tight-knit Bruisers hockey family that provided laughs and what felt like a massive group hug. There's always joy and guaranteed ridiculousness when they're around, so you're hard pressed to not love them. Although aspects of the story confused me, I still liked Bess and Tank, and had fun reading Sure Shot. I know that a lot of fans will be excited for this!

Bel

Awk-Weird Release Day & Review Blitz

There’s more to me than just being awk-weird. I own my own flower shop, have some great friends, and I have my eye on adopting the most adorable kitten. But sadly, hot guys don’t tend to be blown away by my trivia-spouting, dorky self.

So, when a Thor-lookalike who happens to be a professional hockey player hits on me at my bestie's wedding rehearsal party ... You better believe I climbed that tree like a cat. And the face that it happened not once, not twice, but three times? Yeah, that's pretty much a once-in-a-lifetime experience for a woman like me. 

There's zero chance I'll end up ever seeing him again...right? 

Until the pregnancy test comes up positive. What happens next?

Oh my God, I wish I knew...

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USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling romance author Avery Flynn has three slightly-wild children, loves a hockey-addicted husband and is desperately hoping someone invents the coffee IV drip. Avery was a reader before she was a writer and hopes to always be both. She loves to write about smartass alpha heroes who are great with a quip and relatable heroines who are feisty, fierce and fantastic.

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Review:

If there's one thing I can count on from Avery Flynn it's her sense of humour that's always pervasive throughout her books. She writes charming, funny, and awkward so well that every book I've read of hers has been entertaining and always brings a smile to my face. Naturally I was all over it when it came to Awk-Weird, and come on, that's one brilliant title!

Tess and Cole meet the night before a wedding, neither of them are in a particularly great mood. She unwittingly gets pulled into a strange trivia game between Cole and his Ice Knights teammates. Cole and Tess are a super duo of crazy information and data. They're basically the phone-a-friend lifeline you want to keep in your back pocket.

Tess and Cole grew up with a lack of stability and adapted to their circumstances in different ways. Tess who bounced around family members as a kid felt the strain of trying to fit in and eventually developed a penchant for blurting out factoids as a way to cope. Cole's family moved around a lot and he found one thing gave him the stability he craved: hockey. These are the things that give them comfort, like a security blanket and explains plenty about their personalities and view about life. I like that Cole's not what one would expect of a popular athlete being a bit of a domestic guy who keeps a neat home, bakes to de-stress, would rather stay in and party it up, and most impressively, is a one-woman guy. Yeah, he's kind of a unicorn which makes me have massive heart eyes emojis for him. Tess' tendency to babble random facts when she's feeling awkward or under pressure is just a part of who she is, and her friends and Cole never make her feel bad about it. That Cole can keep up with her fast-working brain and match her intensity is freaking sexy. When she ends up pregnant thanks to their one-night stand and has to move in with him thanks to peculiar circumstances, his structured life and her spunky attitude clash often. It also upends his fantasy about his ex for whom he's still pining after hoping that their on again, off again relationship will be back on. Tess recognizes the temporary nature of their arrangement - she's used to temporary since that's been her entire experience growing up - so she's not exactly holding out hope that Cole will magically forget his ex and see her as a possible fixture in his life, even if she is pregnant with his baby. 

Awk-Weird is such a sweet, entertaining and sexy read. I mean, we've got a a guy who looks like he could be Thor's brother and a woman who's gorgeous and both of them unbelievably smart. I also think it's wonderful that Avery Flynn has created a sensitive hero much like she did in Parental Guidance. These guys have insecurities that they're not proud of but they don't act out negatively because of them. I'm so grateful for that. And let's be honest that there's a little bit of Tess in all of us with our quirks and silliness seeking to belong. Together they make a positively charming couple. Throw in Kahn, Tess' cat from hell as Cole likes to put it, and you're treated to some funny scenarios. 

~ Bel

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

Head Coach (Hellions Angels #2) by Lia Riley

* * * 3/4

Neve Angel’s life is all work and no play, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. One of Denver’s top sports reporters, she's fought hard to make it in a male-dominated world, and she won’t back down from a fight with anyone–not even the Hellions’ gruff head coach, Tor Gunnar. Her hostile relationship with the icy Scandinavian is the stuff of local legend.

Tor Gunnar hates dealing with the media; at best, they are a nuisance and at worst, a distraction. And no one distracts him more than the scrappy, sexy reporter who gets him hot under the collar. When he wins a not-so-friendly bet with Neve, he decides it’s high time they either kiss or kill each other, and invites her as a date to an out-of-town wedding.

But what happens when enemies become lovers? Will they be able to smother their sizzling attraction, or is it time to start playing for keeps?

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


If ever anyone needs to get me in a good mood, just hand me a Lia Riley book, any one of them because that'll do the trick. Revisiting the Hellions Hockey World was such a joy for me because Riley always mixes humour with the serious.

Tor is the Hellions head coach who's facing a tough season without his ace player (Jed West from Mister Hockey) and it's only gotten more stressful with the lockout. Everyone wants a piece of him or the latest scoop from him and none more so than Neve Angel, a reporter who seems to be more of a pain in his backside than anything. They've had an adversarial relationship for as long as they can remember that they both seem to hate and love. Hate because Neve pushes his buttons. Love because Neve pushes his buttons unlike any other woman in a freaking long time. And Neve is equally as affected by their frequent jabs at each other.  With hockey on hold that buffer that was between them has been removed. It just so happens that Tor's still tight with Jed who's girlfriend is Breezy Angel, Neve's sister. So when they wind up at a bar together one night and agree to a bet that she loses (to be his date for a weekend at his ex-wife's wedding), you know what that means. TROUBLE. Now all that underlying attraction that's been brewing will finally erupt. 

I enjoy these enemies-to-lovers stories because it's always fun to see who gets to whom first and how they respond. Additionally, with both of them being in the same business but on different sides of it makes things tricky for them. Getting involved with a coach could ruin her credibility as a journalist. As a coach, dating a journalist would be a huge conflict of interest for Tor. What keeps it all moving is Riley's effortless wording and humour. I just like how she gets creative with her descriptions. And oh my goodness, I died laughing through all the puns because who doesn't love puns? Especially when it involves a moose. 

The only thing that was off to me was how quickly a resolution presented itself because I don't think I got an inkling of it at any point as a possibility. It is also entirely possible that I might have even missed it if it was mentioned earlier but that's minor in comparison to the fun, sweet, sassy and sexy story that Head Coach is. If you're looking for something featuring two people who seem to barely stand each other but secretly want to jump each other's bones, you must read Head Coach! 

~ Bel

Pre-Order THE GOAL (Off-Campus #4) by Elle Kennedy

Hey everyone! It sounds like Elle will be sharing some pretty spectacular news in the coming weeks. In the meantime ... feast your eyes on this holy-hotness-Batman-gorgeous cover for The Goal (Off-Campus #4) that comes out soon! Not a bad way to spend a few minutes on a Friday, huh?

Also, you can find the pre-order links below. You know you want to ;)

   

     

   

 

She’s good at achieving her goals…

College senior Sabrina James has her whole future planned out: graduate from college, kick butt in law school, and land a high-paying job at a cutthroat firm. Her path to escaping her shameful past certainly doesn’t include a gorgeous hockey player who believes in love at first sight. One night of sizzling heat and surprising tenderness is all she’s willing to give John Tucker, but sometimes, one night is all it takes for your entire life to change.

But the game just got a whole lot more complicated

Tucker believes being a team player is as important as being the star. On the ice, he’s fine staying out of the spotlight, but when it comes to becoming a daddy at the age of twenty-two, he refuses to be a bench warmer. It doesn’t hurt that the soon-to-be mother of his child is beautiful, whip-smart, and keeps him on his toes. The problem is, Sabrina’s heart is locked up tight, and the fiery brunette is too stubborn to accept his help. If he wants a life with the woman of his dreams, he’ll have to convince her that some goals can only be made with an assist.

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US by Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy COVER REVEAL!!

Ohhhh... we've been waiting for this ever since HIM melted our hearts. Our favourite hockey couple is back! Take a look at this fantastic cover!

US is available March 8th!

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Summary:

Can your favorite hockey players finish their first season together undefeated?

Five months in, NHL forward Ryan Wesley is having a record-breaking rookie season. He's living his dream of playing pro hockey and coming home every night to the man he loves–Jamie Canning, his longtime best friend turned boyfriend. There's just one problem: the most important relationship of his life is one he needs to keep hidden, or else face a media storm that will eclipse his success on the ice.

Jamie loves Wes. He really, truly does. But hiding sucks. It's not the life Jamie envisioned for himself, and the strain of keeping their secret is taking its toll. It doesn't help that his new job isn't going as smoothly as he'd hoped, but he knows he can power through it as long as he has Wes. At least apartment 10B is their retreat, where they can always be themselves.

Or can they? When Wes's noisiest teammate moves in upstairs, the threads of their carefully woven lie begin to unravel. With the outside world determined to take its best shot at them, can Wes and Jamie develop major-league relationship skills on the fly?

Warning: contains sexual situations, a vibrating chair, long-distance sexytimes, and proof that hockey players look hot in any shade of green.

Making A Play by Victoria Denault Launch Day Blitz

Ladies and gentlemen, today we are celebrating hot hockey players, thanks to Victoria Denault.  The second book in the Hometown Players series releases today.  If you haven't read One More Shot (book 1), you definitely should.  Check out the holy hotness below, including the cover for the third book, The Final Move.  

About the author:

Victoria Denault loves long walks on the beach, cinnamon dolce lattes and writing angst-filled romance. She lives in LA but grew up in Montreal, which is why she is fluent in English, French and hockey.

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MAKING A PLAY by Victoria Denault (September 8, 2015; Forever Yours E-Book; Hometown Players: Book 2)

He'll do whatever it takes to win—on and off the ice.
Luc Richard is the hottest player in the NHL—and it has nothing to do with hockey. His racy relationship with his supermodel ex set the tabloids on fire but nearly put his career on ice. To avoid being traded, Luc agrees to take a break from the spotlight—and from women—and spend the off-season at home in Silver Bay, Maine. It's the perfect plan... until he reconnects with Rose.

Rose Caplan is tired of being shy, sweet, and safe. She's ready for passion, romance—and Luc. Having loved him longer than she can remember, she's finally ready to prove she's not the same innocent little girl he once knew. Off the ice Luc doesn't do games, but this new Rose makes him feel like playing a little dirty. If he's really got a shot at her heart then he's not just playing to win. He's playing for keeps.

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ONE MORE SHOT by Victoria Denault (June 2, 2015; Forever Yours E-Book; Hometown Players: Book 1)

They say you only get one shot at making your dreams come true. Jordan is determined to take two.
Drafted by the NHL at eighteen, Jordan Garrison was headed for fame, and there was only one person he wanted to share it with—Jessie Caplan. He was crazy in love with her, and had finally told her so. They shared an amazing night . . . and then everything fell apart.

Jessie tries not to think about the night she gave herself to Jordan-or how he broke her heart. She tries not to think about it, but she does. Especially now, when she's staring into his sky-blue eyes for the first time in six years. After so much time and torment, she can't tell if she loves him or hates him. But Jordan has learned enough to know a connection like theirs is rare. He was lucky to find Jessie once. No way will he lose her again.

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THE FINAL MOVE by Victoria Denault (December 8, 2015; Forever Yours E-Book; Hometown Players: Book 3)

Hockey legend Devin Garrison thought he blew his shot. But his relationship with Callie Caplan just went into overtime.

Sexy, rich, and one of the biggest stars in the NHL, Devin Garrison has always been the one who had it all. That is until his marriage falls apart and he realizes he has to start over. If he’s honest, there has only been one woman who ever really excited him—Callie Caplan. They shared a night that was hotter than the late-summer sun, but in an instant Callie was gone, pretending it never happened.

Callie Caplan isn’t the wild child people think she is. It’s true she’s avoided relationships, but only because she’s seen how crazy love can be. And her messy, imperfect life is crazy enough without opening her heart to a man—even one as picture perfect as Devin. But when fate brings them back together—just as they need each other most—Devin is determined to convince Callie that what she’s feeling is real. And this final play may be their chance at forever…

Him by Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy

* * * *

They don’t play for the same team. Or do they?

Jamie Canning has never been able to figure out how he lost his closest friend. Four years ago, his tattooed, wise-cracking, rule-breaking roommate cut him off without an explanation. So what if things got a little weird on the last night of hockey camp the summer they were eighteen? It was just a little drunken foolishness. Nobody died.

Ryan Wesley’s biggest regret is coaxing his very straight friend into a bet that pushed the boundaries of their relationship. Now, with their college teams set to face off at the national championship, he’ll finally get a chance to apologize. But all it takes is one look at his longtime crush, and the ache is stronger than ever.

Jamie has waited a long time for answers, but walks away with only more questions—can one night of sex ruin a friendship? If not, how about six more weeks of it? When Wesley turns up to coach alongside Jamie for one more hot summer at camp, Jamie has a few things to discover about his old friend...and a big one to learn about himself.

Warning: contains sexual situations, skinnydipping, shenanigans in an SUV and proof that coming out to your family on social media is a dicey proposition.

It's been some time since I’ve read a good m/m story that made me feel all warm and fuzzy. Him was my welcome back to the genre that did just that!

We start off with Wes, a powerhouse star on his college hockey team who’s headed to the pros. He’s made a habit of one-night stands, refusing to get emotionally involved with anyone because no one deserves a place in his mind other than Jamie, his best friend from hockey camp. But because things went awry after one drunken dare, Wes cut off all contact with him and has spent the past four years trying not thinking of him. That comes to an end when both Wes and Jamie’s teams are in the college tournament. Suddenly Wes has to man up and face the friend he walked away from. This isn’t going to be easy and even harder to leave again.

Jamie is hesitant about seeing Wes again. After all these years he’d like answers as to why he ended their friendship. Seeing Wes again brings up fond memories of their summers at camp playing hockey and being regular teenage knuckleheads. So what if that one dare was a bit weird? Jamie’s more concerned about why that was the last night they were friends.

Wes coming back to camp to coach alongside him is move towards fixing things. His feelings for Jamie will not derail their reconnection as friends again. Although Jamie forgives him, they're re-establishing trust and before they know it, they’re back to their easy-going friendship.

What I loved about Him is how nicely their changing relationship developed over the course of the book. Wes tries hard to keep his feelings in check, always so worried about scaring off Jamie. You wouldn't think that a big, tough guy joker like Wes would feel so vulnerable and afraid about having his heart broken, too. Jamie for his part notices how he begins to see Wes differently. I think Jamie’s growing awareness about his own feelings and sexuality, and the confusion that comes as a result, are handled very well here. The tension is often dissolved by some well-timed humor – one of my favourite moments being a reference to Sex and the City. But what got me, and hopefully will get you too, are the quiet, private moments that are so tender. A soft kiss on the neck, a quick peck on the cheek - those are swoon-worthy moments in any romantic situation.

If you love m/m romances or if you’ve never read one, Him is a good one to start with. The other reason I enjoyed this so much is that it didn’t carry a lot of angst. I don’t mind reading angsty novels (believe me, I've read my fair share) but in this case it was nice not to have that distraction as the story evolved from friends to lovers. The growing intimacy is some of the sweetest that I've read. Oh and just wait until you meet Jamie’s family – they’re crazy awesome!

Him is funny, engaging and heartfelt; I certainly hope that Bowen and Kennedy write more of these together. Believe me, you'll love these boys! 

~ Bel

   

     

   

One More Shot by Victoria Denault

**** 1/2

From Forever Romance (Grand Central):

They say you only get one shot at making your dreams come true.

Jordan is determined to take two.

Drafted by the NHL at eighteen, Jordan Garrison was headed for fame, and there was only one person he wanted to share it with - Jessie Caplan.  He was crazy in love with her, and had finally told her so.  They shared an amazing night... and then everything fell apart.

Jessie tries not to think about the night she gave herself to Jordan - or how he broker her heart.  She tries not to think about it, but she does.  Especially now, when she's staring into his sky-blue eyes for the first time in six years.  After so much time and torment, she can't tell if she loves him or hates him.  But Jordan has learned enough to know a connection like theirs is rare.  He was lucky to find Jessie once.  No way will he lose her again.  

I loved this book!  I loved almost everything about this book.  Jordan, despite being a womanizer, is a decent man.  He throws himself into hockey and meaningless sex to distract himself from his broken heart.  

Jessie, for her part, is a coward and the one thing I did not enjoy about this book.  Granted, I hate Jessie as an 18-year-old more than the contemporary Jessie, but still.  Both are cowards.  She ran away from home because she was so afraid of getting hurt and spent years hating Jordan for something he had no control over and ran instead of speaking to him.

The thing I did like about Jessie was her refusal to take any shit from Jordan, the superstar, when they do run into each other again.  After years of getting whatever he wanted, it was good for him to have someone tell him "oh hell no!"

The supporting characters of One More Shot were great.  I loved Jordan's brothers and cannot wait to see what's in store for them!  We need more Ms. Denault!!

~Shel

The Deal & The Mistake (Off-Campus 1 & 2) by Elle Kennedy

The Deal * * * *

She’s about to make a deal with the college bad boy...

Hannah Wells has finally found someone who turns her on. But while she might be confident in every other area of her life, she’s carting around a full set of baggage when it comes to sex and seduction. If she wants to get her crush’s attention, she’ll have to step out of her comfort zone and make him take notice... even if it means tutoring the annoying, childish, cocky captain of the hockey team in exchange for a pretend date.

...and it’s going to be oh so good.

All Garrett Graham has ever wanted is to play professional hockey after graduation, but his plummeting GPA is threatening everything he’s worked so hard for. If helping a sarcastic brunette make another guy jealous will help him secure his position on the team, he’s all for it. But when one unexpected kiss leads to the wildest sex of both their lives, it doesn't take long for Garrett to realize that pretend isn't going to cut it. Now he just has to convince Hannah that the man she wants looks a lot like him.

I’d first heard of The Deal when I saw someone highly recommend it on Facebook. The Hook Up by Kristen Callihan had almost burned up my ereader with its hot college sports romance and had definitely whet my appetite for more like it. Readers, I went on a bit of a bender and read both The Deal and The Mistake in one weekend. Go me! Hence, I’m covering both books in this review and no spoilers included.

The Deal gives you Hannah and Garrett who are in the same ethics class together but where she’s passing, he’s failing. One look at her score on the latest test has Garrett begging her to tutor him. She doesn’t succumb to his fame or flirty ways so refuses him because she honestly has no time. Garrett doesn’t give up easily and eventually wears her down by dangling a carrot in front of her – help him pass the class and he will make sure that she gets noticed by her crush, a popular football player in their class.

Despite everything he tries, Garrett can’t break Hannah’s defenses. That’s okay though because while he’d never noticed her before, he’s actually enjoying her company now. Hannah finds him growing on her though she won’t admit it out loud. There’s a reason why Hannah guards herself so closely and when she’s finally brave enough to admit it, Garrett shows that he can actually be a really stand-up guy. He also has his issues which would break any illusions people have of him and his family. When Hannah and Garrett come together, it’s beautiful and also maddening because of some despicable interferences from outside sources.

I liked The Deal a lot. At first I couldn’t help but notice similar themes with other novels but whatever similarities I’d noticed were fairly innocuous. The story pulled me in and I took to both characters. I mean, I have a soft spot for sarcastic and cocky guys…in fiction. And Hannah is awesome because she doesn’t back down to anyone or follow the pack. Her sarcastic nature is something I adored about her. Combine all their qualities and some sexual tension and you have yourself one helluva read!

~ Bel

The Mistake * * * *

He’s a player in more ways than one…

College junior John Logan can get any girl he wants. For this hockey star, life is a parade of parties and hook-ups, but behind his killer grins and easygoing charm, he hides growing despair about the dead-end road he’ll be forced to walk after graduation. A sexy encounter with freshman Grace Ivers is just the distraction he needs, but when a thoughtless mistake pushes her away, Logan plans to spend his final year proving to her that he’s worth a second chance.

Now he’s going to need to up his game…

After a less than stellar freshman year, Grace is back at Briar University, older, wiser, and so over the arrogant hockey player she nearly handed her V-card to. She’s not a charity case, and she’s not the quiet butterfly she was when they first hooked up. If Logan expects her to roll over and beg like all his other puck bunnies, he can think again. He wants her back? He’ll have to work for it. This time around, she’ll be the one in the driver’s seat…and she plans on driving him wild.

By now we’re aware that our hockey player guys in the Off-Campus series are serious players. Being in a relationship is not high on the agenda. Hook-ups are the way to go and there are a few right off the bat here.

Logan is Garrett’s best friend and fellow teammate. Things between them are a bit off lately because now Garrett has a girlfriend and Logan may or may not be silently crushing on said best friend's girl in a bad way. He feels like a collosal jerk and the only way to alleviate the guilt is by being with other women. It leaves him empty inside but it’s a better alternative than being around the two love birds.

Grace is a sweet and awkward girl. She has a confidence about her that gets overshadowed by her tendency to blab too much when she’s uncomfortable. She runs across Logan one night at a party which leaves an impression on her. Let's say he's living up to his reputation. The next day in an attempt to avoid Garrett and not feel like a loser, he decides to take up a friend’s offer to meet them at a dorm party but when he arrives there, he doesn't remember the room number. He knocks on a door which turns out to be Grace’s room. That leads to some awkward chatting. Happy coincidence, she's been watching a movie (Die Hard) and he just so happens to share her love of action movies so he says yes to staying when she invites him in. One thing leads to another and they kind of sort of hook up. But then he bolts. Yes, that’s a jerk move. But he can’t get over how he left her feeling.

Logan attempts to make things up to her and thus begins a bizarre relationship. Even Logan can’t fathom what he’s doing. Whatever they’re embarking on, he’s worried that he may be leading her on and Grace isn’t exactly sure what’s happening between them.

Just as with The Deal, Logan and Grace have other matters in their lives that need attention. For Logan it’s his family obligations that could hinder his own career goals. For Grace, it’s her changing relationship with her best friend and a need to break out of her friend’s shadow.  Even with all the confusion and miscommunication between Logan and Grace, what I admire most about her is that she will not be anyone’s consolation prize. When Logan screws up big time, she makes him work to earn her trust back. Believe me, she makes him do it in the most hilarious and inventive ways possible!

The added bonus to The Mistake is seeing a bit more of the other guys in the house, Dean and Tucker. They’re both fun and sometimes shockingly insightful. Oh and one part that made me squeal was a shout out to a certain other fictional character that many may recognize.  I wasn’t expecting it and it was a nice touch!

In conclusion (like I’m debating here or something), The Deal and The Mistake both make for a great time. They both highlight some serious issues that affect many people and I think they’re dealt with sensitively here. I'm impressed by these heroines who aren’t afraid to be smart and won’t compromise their principles. And the guys – got to love them for all their brawn and ego but they do gain some maturity and wear their hearts on their sleeves. If that didn’t happen, there’d be no way I’d enjoy this series as much as I do.

Now the wait is on for the next story ...

~ Bel

Undressed by Shannon Richard - LAUNCH DAY BLITZ!!!

We are super excited to part of the Undressed Launch Day Blitz!  By now you probably know that I've become a huge fan of Shannon Richard. UNDRESSED is the last in the Country Roads series. A sexy and romantic novella that is set in the world of the NHL.  I swear, her heroes and heroines get hotter and hotter with every book.  Keep reading for info on the book and excerpt AND a list of the TOP 5 actors Shannon Richards would love to see play Logan James.  And if you don't mind my gushing, check out our previous post with my review of UNDRESSED!

About UNDRESSED

She knows the rules of the game . . . but she can't resist his moves

Publicist Abby Fields's career is on the rise. And with failed romances in her past, she has no time for men. When a job opportunity opens up with a sports team in Florida, Abby eagerly packs up and heads south. Yet after a work event in Mirabelle, Florida, Abby finds herself in the arms of a hockey player whose heartstopping smile leads her to the steamiest night of her life . . . Logan James is hot on and off the ice. With his team on an epic winning streak, life couldn't get better . . . until he meets Abby, the fiery redhead assigned to protect his team's image. Now Logan's finding it difficult to concentrate on anything other than getting Abby undressed. But after a secret is leaked to the press, the taste of betrayal opens old wounds. If they can't learn to trust each other, they may risk losing more than their hearts.

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The Top 5 Actors you would like to see play Logan in a movie...

Jensen Ackles is who I picture for Logan, so I’d say he’d be first on the list. 

 Henry Cavill wouldn’t do too shabby in the role. 

 Scott Eastwood would be able to do Logan justice.

 Chris Pine would look good in a pair of skates.

 Matt Bomer…because, well, it’s Matt Bomer. 

As a reader and a fan, I am behind these choices 100%.  And not going to lie....I had a GREAT time picking photos for this list...

Now picture one of those 5 beutiful Logan's in the following excerpt...

“You already want me out of here?” he asked as he walked up next to her, leaning against the railing of the porch and looking out at the view. The Rigels’s house was built on stilts by a river, the dark waters rushing behind it.

“I just figured you’d want to get home and back to normal.”

“You have no idea what I want, Red.”

Her entire body tensed up more, something that he didn’t even know was possible. If she got any more rigid, her spine would probably snap. It was such a contrast, this moment compared to how pliant she’d been the night before.

What he wanted was more of that. Her beneath him…or on top. He wasn’t all that picky.

He turned to her, and she automatically moved in response, looking up at him. He reached out slowly, running his fingers down the side of her face and to her chin where he lightly pushed up.

When she didn’t pull away he lowered his mouth to hers, just a soft kiss to her lips. Her mouth opened on a sigh and her entire body seemed to relax into his. He took that as his cue and his other hand came up, sliding around her hip and to her lower back. He pulled her fully into his body as he slipped his tongue passed her lips.

“I’ve been craving that since I woke up this morning,” he whispered against her mouth before he dove back in.

This time her hands came up and were in his hair, her fingers trailing down the back of his neck. Holy hell she made him hard in an instant. As she was flush up against him, he was pretty sure she was fully aware of it, too.

He pulled away from her just enough to where he could look down into her face. Her eyes opened slowly, those startling blues more than a little bit dazed.

“I take it back,” he said as he ran his thumb across her lips. “I do want to know why last night can’t happen again.”

Within a matter of seconds, Abby managed to get ahold of herself. His words bringing her back to reality. She dropped her hands from the back of his neck and reached for his wrists, pulling his hand from her face and the other from her lower back.

“We work together.” She took a step away from him, and despite her best efforts at composure, her breathing was still erratic.

“All right, I promise to be just as uncooperative as I was before. No one will suspect a thing.”

About Shannon Richard

Shannon Richard grew up in the Florida Panhandle as the baby sister of two overly protective but loving brothers. She was raised by a more than somewhat eccentric mother, a self-proclaimed vocabularist who showed her how to get lost in a book and a father who passed on his love for coffee and really loud music. She graduated from Florida State University with a BA in English Literature and still lives in Tallahassee where she battles everyday life with writing, reading, and a rant every once in a while. Okay, so the rants might happen on a regular basis. She's still waiting for her Southern, scruffy, Mr. Darcy, and in the meantime writes love stories to indulge her overactive imagination. Oh, and she's a pretty big fan of the whimsy.

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