Incense and Sensibility (The Rajes #3)

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The author of Recipe for Persuasion—“not only one of the best but one of the bravest romance novelists working today” (Shelf Awareness)—adds an Indian American twist to Jane Austen's classic Sense and Sensibility in this delightful retelling that is a feast for the senses.

Yash Raje, California’s first serious Indian gubernatorial candidate, has always known exactly what he wants—and how to use his privileged background to get it. He attributes his success to a simple mantra: control your feelings and you can control the world.

But when a hate-fueled incident at a rally critically injures his friend, Yash’s easy life suddenly feels like a lie, his control an illusion. When he tries to get back on the campaign trail, he blacks out with panic.

Desperate to keep Yash’s condition from leaking to the media, his family turns to the one person they trust—his sister’s best friend, India Dashwood, California’s foremost stress management coach. Raised by a family of yoga teachers, India has helped San Francisco’s high strung overachievers for a decade without so much as altering her breath. But this man—with his boundless ambition, simmering intensity, and absolute faith in his political beliefs—is like no other. Yash has spent a lifetime repressing everything to succeed.

Including their one magical night ten years ago—a too brief, too bright passion that if rekindled threatens the life he’s crafted for himself. Exposing the secrets might be the only way to save him but it’s also guaranteed to destroy the dream he’s willingly shouldered for his family and community . . . until now.

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

I wish it could be enough to say that I love Sonali Dev's writing, I wish I had a gift for words and that they flowed from me as easily as they do from her, but really, you should read her latest novel because it is wonderful! 

The next installation in The Rajes, sees us finally getting to know Yash, the much-loved and admired brother who's running for governor of California. The action is instant in the first chapter when an attempted assassination takes place. Yash is spared any physical harm thanks to his quick-thinking and fast-acting bodyguard. Yash is grateful to be alive until he learns that his bodyguard is now is a deep coma. The survivor's guilt and the shock from the shooting resurface old trauma that now seems to paralyze him. He can't face a crowd or make a speech. His mind is all over the place. They're all valid reactions after going through something horrific. He's aghast when someone suggests he might want to seek help. However, the help they're suggesting isn't the usual go to see a therapist kind of thing. It involves meeting with a family friend, India, a talented yoga instructor who also does yoga therapy with her clients. It's not the first time these two are meeting. There was that incident years ago at Yash's sister's wedding when they had that incredible moment together that's stayed with them ever since. Yash isn't sure that this is the best solution for him, but since he'd rather not have his issues leaked out to the public, he goes with it. India, just has to maintain an emotional distance and not let on that she's hurt by Yash's actions from that the past. 

This was a slowburn romance. A good deal of healing takes place in between Yash and India meeting and them finally coming together. I thought Yash's emotional journey was handled sensitively and I was fascinated and empathetic of the traumahe had to sift through. This being the third book in the series, I was already familiar with the Raje family history and the weight of the legacy that's bestowed on all the children, in particular Yash. Unfortunately, multiple tragedies have been visited upon the Rajes but they're not mined for extreme emotional reaction as much in Incense and Sensibility, which I'll be honest was a relief to me. The previous book was exceptionally heavy on the tragedy and it was difficult to take in all in. Yash and India's connection, while unsteady at first is magical. India understands him and sees through to his core the way no one else can. Even his best friend and fake girlfriend of the last however many years doesn't know Yash this intimately.  It's an unnerving sensation but exactly what he needs to remember his original purpose.  India is such a fresh breath of air, so secure in herself and steadfast in her love of family. 

Speaking of ... family is once again important but it does feel like their presence overwhelms the story at sometimes. I did not like the storyline involving India's sister, China and her love interest, a popular Korean actress who's firmly planted in the closet. It's mainly because China is an extreme character where everything about her is overdramatic. She's more distraction that addition to the story for me. Other than that, I enjoyed the close familial bond that India shares with her mother and sister which contrasts to the strained relationship Yash haswith his ambitious and emotionally-distanced father. 

Incense and Sensibility does touch on some controversial issues with Yash's run for governor such as racism, immigration, and voters' general perception of what a trustworthy candidate should look like - someone in a committed relationship. It's this fake relationship that's a sore sticking point and could land Yash in hot water if the truth comes spilling out. It's a problem that gradually grows way too big. Yash's fake girlfriend morphing into the role of villain is done so subtly but effectively that you don't even realize it until it's happened. 

I have yet to actually read a Jane Austen novel. I know, it's ridiculous and I should remedy this before the year ends. Anyway, I have no way to tell how Dev's retelling compares to the original on which it's based, but maybe that's a good thing? My main takeaway from Incense and Sensibility is that it's important and okay to question why we do things. Why we put so much effort into achieving something, and how much our initial intention changes over time. Yash and India are a power couple on their own terms, fulfilling their dreams, and that's what I love about this story.

~ Bel

Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors by Sonali Dev

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Award-winning author Sonali Dev launches a new series about the Rajes, an immigrant Indian family descended from royalty, who have built their lives in San Francisco...

It is a truth universally acknowledged that only in an overachieving Indian American family can a genius daughter be considered a black sheep.

Dr. Trisha Raje is San Francisco’s most acclaimed neurosurgeon. But that’s not enough for the Rajes, her influential immigrant family who’s achieved power by making its own non-negotiable rules:

·       Never trust an outsider

·       Never do anything to jeopardize your brother’s political aspirations

·       And never, ever, defy your family

Trisha is guilty of breaking all three rules. But now she has a chance to redeem herself. So long as she doesn’t repeat old mistakes.

Up-and-coming chef DJ Caine has known people like Trisha before, people who judge him by his rough beginnings and place pedigree above character. He needs the lucrative job the Rajes offer, but he values his pride too much to indulge Trisha’s arrogance. And then he discovers that she’s the only surgeon who can save his sister’s life.

As the two clash, their assumptions crumble like the spun sugar on one of DJ’s stunning desserts. But before a future can be savored there’s a past to be reckoned with...

A family trying to build home in a new land.

A man who has never felt at home anywhere.

And a choice to be made between the two.

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


In her update of the Jane Austen classic, Dev not only flips gender roles - Trisha as Darcy and DJ as Elizabeth - she also spices things up with a diverse cast whose cultural backgrounds add interesting new layers to this story of privilege and stereotypes. Trisha may come from a family with a rich royal heritage and with all the conveniences to make her upbringing ideal, but that doesn't mean her life doesn't come with its own set of complications. She's a successful neurosurgeon who since a young age has always been able to identify a problem and set her mind to solve it. She prides herself on her work but the rest of her life is a different story. Her dating life is weird and her relationship with her parents is strained, to say the least. Still, as an ever dutiful daughter brought up to value family, she is devoted to them. DJ's history is complex for different reasons. After his father died, his father's racists family disowned him, his sister and his mother. His single mother then worked herself to the bone to support them before she passed away while DJ and Emma were still young. They were on their own then relying on the kindness of a family friend who provided shelter and a safe haven for them. When Emma gets sick and the only person who can help her is Trisha, DJ drops everything and relocates his catering business from England to the States so he can be there for her. 

Trisha and DJ meet when he's catering her parents' event and it's not a meet-cute as they instantly rub each other the wrong way. It seems that with every encounter after that they manage to find new ways to unintentionally offend the other. DJ, a by-product of his tough upbringing and experiences, is a hardened character who doesn't have time for distractions or people who'd discount him so easily. He's sensitive about how he's perceived and this makes his personality a bit prickly. The trouble for him is that Trisha discounts him constantly while simultaneously making him mad for her. And she also happens to be Emma's doctor, the only person capable of saving his sister. Trisha herself is a bit oblivious as to how her demeanor and tone can put people off.

Along with economic disparity Dev includes current hot button issues such as colourism, racial profiling, and how successful career-driven women are perceived and treated in the workplace. There's also the ups and downs of family relationships. I took to Trisha right away. I liked her straight-forwardness and her dry humour but what makes her stand out is her unflappable confidence in her gift as a neurosurgeon. There's just something impressive about a woman who fights sexism in the workplace by simply being adept at her work and not rising to the bait when others try to ruffle her. The fact that she doesn't have it all together in every aspect of her life made her real to me. Same with DJ who's talented in the kitchen but is cool around people he's unfamiliar with. The bad guy, who has ties to Trisha, comes in the form of Julia Wickham as a sly, devious scoundrel who betrays people's trust during their most vulnerable moments. She's the worst and slimy to the core.

I knew I had to read this novel as soon as I'd heard about it. Sonali Dev impeccable at drawing you in to the story rather than leaving you there as a bystander. And let's talk about the food! DJ's French-Indian creations are mouthwatering temptations. If only I could reach in and taste some of them. As a retelling of the classic, it's fun to see it in a contemporary setting with what feels like a brand new cast of characters. I would LOVE to see this turned into a movie by none other than Gurinder Chadha (director of one of my favourite movies, Bend it Like Beckam). Can you just imagine how awesome that would be? Anyway, make sure you read Pride, Prejudice and Other Flavors while I pray that my wish comes true.

~ Bel

The Last Wolf (The Legend of All Wolves #1) by Maria Vale

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For three days out of thirty, when the moon is full and her law is iron, the Great North Pack must be wild.

If she returns to her Pack, the stranger will die.
But if she stays…

Silver Nilsdottir is at the bottom of her Pack’s social order, with little chance for a decent mate and a better life. Until the day a stranger stumbles into their territory, wounded and beaten, and Silver decides to risk everything on Tiberius Leveraux. But Tiberius isn’t all he seems, and in the fragile balance of the Pack and wild, he may tip the destiny of all wolves… 

Source: purchased ebook and also borrowed audiobook from Hoopla


I've just read a book that I normally wouldn't have chosen on my own were it not for a glowing recommendation from another author I like. The Last Wolf is not my typical fare but I was ready for something different and I got an amazing story out of it!

Silver is a runt in her pack because she was born with a lame leg. But don't feel pity for her because she has learned how to survive with what she has and surprisingly, she does pretty well for herself. She may be physically slower than the rest of her pack but she has a smart brain and keen senses that have kept her alive this long. Tiberius stumbles upon them one night and starts a chain reaction that will affect the entire pack down the road. Since he's a shifter he cannot be trusted but he's wounded and without help, he'll die. Silver, at the risk of her own safety and guarantee of belonging to a pack, offers to help this stranger. What begins as an odd pairing ends up being one of the strongest relationships of the pack.

It took me about a quarter of the book to truly get in to the story. I think it's because it's a genre that's unfamiliar to me so I spent some effort trying to understand this world and make things fit my expectations. At some point Silver finally got my attention with her astute skills and observations, and then I began to notice all the many details that Vale has infused into this story. The world-building is fascinating from the centuries-old social hierarchy where the wolves are divided into echelons, to the culture of the Great North Wolfpack to which Silver belongs, how they've adapted to the modern world, to the myriad of differences between human and animal nature. Social networking and interactions for both wolf and human are detailed in such a way that also had me realizing that I've never noticed those particulars about people before. It was incredibly fascinating to me to read how the wolves established bonds and respect, also how they enforced discipline. I think one of the biggest "aha" moments for me was when Silver talks about the differences in communication. That wolves talk and move with meaning whereas humans tend to talk a lot but not really have anything to say half the time. Silver encourages Tiberius to get in touch with his wild side, to trust his animal instincts, while he helps her to understand her own human side. There is a funny sequence where she and Ti go into town and she tries to engage in conversation with the townsfolk that winds up going awry. It is hilarious! 

The Last Wolf is an enthralling debut from Maria Vale. On a side note, it still has me considering all the nuances of how we communicate with each other, and I love when a book has that kind of impact on me!

~ Bel

  

Us Against You (Beartown #2) by Fredrik Backman

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After everything that the citizens of Beartown have gone through, they are struck yet another blow when they hear that their beloved local hockey team will soon be disbanded. What makes it worse is the obvious satisfaction that all the former Beartown players, who now play for a rival team in Hed, take in that fact. Amidst the mounting tension between the two rivals, a surprising newcomer is handpicked to be Beartown’s new hockey coach.

Soon a new team starts to take shape around Amat, the fastest player you’ll ever see; Benji, the intense lone wolf; and Vidar, a born-to-be-bad troublemaker. But bringing this team together proves to be a challenge as old bonds are broken, new ones are formed, and the enmity with Hed grows more and more acute.

As the big match approaches, the not-so-innocent pranks and incidents between the communities pile up and their mutual contempt grows deeper. By the time the last game is finally played, a resident of Beartown will be dead, and the people of both towns will be forced to wonder if, after all they’ve been through, the game they love can ever return to something simple and innocent.

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


I loved Beartown though I know a lot of people had a hard time with it because it is a tragic story. It's not easy reading and neither is its startling sequel, Us Against You. As you know, I deeply admire Fredrik Backman and Beartown was so different from what I was used to from him. I wasn't expecting a follow up because I was satisfied with how it ended. I realize now as I'm writing this why despite how heavy these books are, I love them so much. When people are put under the microscope and you keep zooming in closer, those people start to behave differently. The way they respond to the pressure is a glimpse into their personalities.

Same thing applies here in Us Against You where the story picks up a few weeks after a devastating crime that has run the accused and shamed hockey captain out of town and his accuser is left behind to face the town's wrath. Beartown is on the brink of implosion. It doesn't happen immediately. Instead Backman methodically demonstrates how each of Beartown's citizens are reacting to and are affected by the upheaval of their hockey team's demise. It's not just about hockey, but about what it represents to this town and how its identity and economy are closely entwined with its success. 

I was hyper aware of how fragmented the story is this time and admittedly it makes it slightly tougher to a reading groove so to speak. It jumps from one character to the next quickly as he sets up the story which requires patience as he leads to something big. He also introduces a new character who felt rather abstract  and sinister to me. The whole point of him is to prey on people's weaknesses and fears and spur on action. 

As an entire piece, I liked Us Against You. However, it did take me a while to finish it because the story is choppier and it is sad. Everyone involved is going through massive life changes and reeling from the reverberating effects of what happened to a few if its own. What kept me going is Backman's insight into human nature. He's able to pick apart and analyze things and know the truth of them. It's how I felt when I first read his debut, A Man Called Ove. I believe I said then that he's somehow able to put into words emotions that I myself hard to describe, and he does so in a way that makes them accessible. Us Against You might present an ugly side of people whose flaws we can easily recognize in ourselves, but there's also a glimmer of hope somewhere in there and it's that that I latch onto. Backman is a brilliant storyteller, sincere, vulnerable and honest in every word he writes.

~ Bel

Loving the Secret Billionaire (Love At Last #1) by Adriana Anders

* * * 1/2

Mystery man, recluse, finance guru… Virgin.


I was a shut-in for a reason. With too many secrets, too much to hide, and way too much at stake, I spent years in my mansion in the woods, never trusting a soul.


So, when a stranger showed up at my door, with her plans to save the world, I should have sent her away, like I’d always done. 


But from the second she arrived, I couldn’t resist Veronica Cruz. She was all the things I’d been missing—passionate, generous, and so damned sexy. 


I let her into my life, gave her everything—including my heart. 


Now, the one thing she wants is the truth. The question is, will she still love me when she knows my secret?

Loving the Secret Billionaire is a sexy standalone novella in the Love at Last series, featuring a virgin hero and a slightly older woman.

Originally published in the Rogue Desire anthology, this edition has been expanded with new material. 

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



Veronica is running for local city council. She has no prior experience or proper funding but runs her campaign on pure passion to do right by the community. Her rich opponent has plenty of donors to fill his coffers so it's a massive uphill battle for Veronica to just keep up and get her message out there. Then her life literally changes when she overcomes any qualms about canvassing the last house in a neighbourhood. One that doesn't look very inviting but she can't leave any stone unturned when she doesn't have too many other means to get her message in front of the people. The reclusive Zach opens his doors and winds up enchanted by Veronica's zeal and reasoning for running for office. Never having the need before to be involved in something, he finds himself inspired and wanting to be on her side, and before you know it he's helping her in ways she couldn't have fathomed. T

As you can gather from the title, Zach has the dollars to help make a difference to her campaign. But it's not just that that's a draw between these two. Veronica's genuine interest in people and desire to help contrasts with Zach's isolated life. Meeting her has been life-changing for him, too. The spark that was there when they first met burns stronger the more they're in contact, and they have heat! I do like the twist that he's an inexperienced younger man and is drawn to Veronica's confidence and sense of purpose. I also like the big secret surrounding him but I'm not going to tell here ;-)

Loving the Secret Billionaire was first featured in the Rogue Desire anthology where the idea is to present short romance stories with some politics thrown in. It's a chance to highlight any pressing social undercurrent in a less in your face kind of way. I didn't get the chance to read it in this anthology but the expanded novella is a fast-moving delicious sweet treat of a read that you can devour quickly. Filled with passion, sexy times, and most importantly heart, it'll bring you smiles!

~ Bel

Next Year In Havana Blog Tour

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After the death of her beloved grandmother, a Cuban-American woman travels to Havana, where she discovers the roots of her identity--and unearths a family secret hidden since the revolution...

Havana, 1958. The daughter of a sugar baron, nineteen-year-old Elisa Perez is part of Cuba's high society, where she is largely sheltered from the country's growing political unrest--until she embarks on a clandestine affair with a passionate revolutionary...

Miami, 2017. Freelance writer Marisol Ferrera grew up hearing romantic stories of Cuba from her late grandmother Elisa, who was forced to flee with her family during the revolution. Elisa's last wish was for Marisol to scatter her ashes in the country of her birth.

Arriving in Havana, Marisol comes face-to-face with the contrast of Cuba's tropical, timeless beauty and its perilous political climate. When more family history comes to light and Marisol finds herself attracted to a man with secrets of his own, she'll need the lessons of her grandmother's past to help her understand the true meaning of courage. 

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


It's 1959 and the opening scene is fraught with tension as Elisa Perez and the rest of her family silently walk through the airport under the guise of a happy family going on vacation. The truth is that this well-to-do family, the cream of the crop of Cuba's upper class is leaving the country for good. They've watched their country change before their eyes and seeing the writing on the wall, they accept that they must say goodbye for now and hope to return in a few years when the political climate has settled down. Elisa couldn't have known then that it would be the last time she'd see her beloved country. That when she'd finally return decades later, it would be so her precious granddaughter Marisol could bury her ashes in her homeland that she never stopped yearning for. It's through the dual points of view of Elisa and Marisol that Chanel Cleeton shows us the Cuba of the past leading up to Castro's revolution, and the Cuba of now years after the revolution. The old family friends that Marisol meets welcomes her with open arms. But it's with the help of a young man, a history professor, who serves as her tour guide who shows her the Cuba of the in between. And as she searches for the perfect place to bury her grandmother's ashes, she unearths secrets about her that sends her on a life-changing journey.

Simply put, Next Year In Havana is stunning and exquisite. Based on and inspired by her Cuban grandmother, Cleeton has delivered a love letter to the country and its people, inviting her readers to see its complex history and wealth of culture. I hardly know anything about Cuba but I feel I've received an outstanding introduction through the historical information that she includes in the story. Perhaps most illuminating is what it means to be Cuban and the dividing line between those who stayed and those who left. 

Amidst the political turmoil is a heartbreaking love story and another that rings of a possible future. I'm always looking for that book that'll draw me in and become a part of me. This one wrung my heart out. I've read all of Cleeton's books - she's written a variety of genres - and I can say that Next Year In Havana is the most beautiful story she has written. With breathtaking descriptions, she brings the Cuba of her grandmother's generation to life and also shows compassion for what Cuba is today. The contrast between the before and after are staggering. But at its very heart is the people and through reliving the past, a budding romance and a suspenseful turnabout, I cannot express enough how much I've been moved by Next Year In Havana and that it's one of my favourite books of this year.

~ Bel

Check out the Next Year In Havana Release Day Blast & enter to win a $10 Amazon gift card!

Flirting with Fire (Hot in Chicago #1) by Kate Meader

* * * 1/2

The first installment in Hot in Chicago, a brand-new, sizzling series from Kate Meader that follows a group of firefighting foster siblings and their blazing hot love interests!

Savvy PR guru Kinsey Taylor has always defined herself by her career, not her gender. That is, until she moved from San Francisco to Chicago to be with her fiancé who thought she wasn’t taking her “job” of supporting him in his high-powered career seriously enough—and promptly dumped her for a more supportive and “feminine” nurse. Now, as the new assistant press secretary to Chicago’s dynamic mayor, she’s determined to keep her eye on the prize: no time to feel inferior because she’s a strong, kick-ass woman, and certainly no time for men.

But that all changes when she meets Luke Almeida, a firefighter as searingly sexy as he is quick-tempered. He’s also the second oldest of the Firefightin’ Dempseys, a family of foster siblings who have committed their lives to the service—if Luke’s antics don’t get him fired first. When Luke goes one step too far and gets into a bar brawl with the Chicago Police Department, Kinsey marches into Luke’s firehouse and lays down the law on orders from the mayor. But at Engine Co. 6, Luke Almeida is the law. And he’s not about to let Kinsey make the rules.



Hot-headed firefighter butts heads with authority. Sounds like a recipe for disaster. But what if that authority comes in the form of an attractive, no-nonsense representative from the Mayor's office? Maybe not quite so disastrous.

Kinsey has been given an assignment by the Chicago Mayor and that is to turn a negative incident involving two city departments into a positive for the City and for the Mayor's eventual re-election bid. The recent Chicago transplant is looking forward to the task to keep her mind off of the debacle of her engagement. Nothing like throwing yourself into your work. But then she comes face-to-face with Luke and soon realizes that he presents a lot of work. He's gruff, rude and condescending. Thankfully she doesn't scare easily. She'll get it done, no worries. She just has to make sure not to fall for Luke in the process. While he doesn't care for the politics, Luke does have to acknowledge that he helped make a mess of things and will have to work with Kinsey to correct his mistakes. Kinsey being a smart, attractive women certainly helps matters though he doesn't want to get involved because that's not his schtick. It's only a question of time before these two go at it but whatever they decide affects their careers and their personal convictions.

There's substance to these characters making them more than just one-dimensional fantasies. They're flawed - Luke's initial condescending attitude and arrogance towards Kinsey in the first few pages irritated me so badly that I didn't know if I could manage the rest of the book but there was something there that made me stay. Then there is also the beautiful discovery underneath - what drives Luke, what matters to him. Learning that changed my mind about him. I liked Kinsey's quest to redefine herself and her goals after her breakup. Her self-analysis is refreshing because it can't be easy to admit the bad decisions. There's also depth to the story so it's not just about two people falling in love. The story encompasses other aspects of their lives (friends and family), their past, present and future. I just felt that I was painted a big picture while simultaneously zeroing in on Luke and Kinsey in their bubble.

This is my first Kate Meader novel and I liked it! Side note: my daughters seemed to enjoy the blurb on the back, "a man this smoking should set off alarms". Have I mentioned they're teenagers and general pains in the backside? Anyway, Flirting with Fire is pure pleasure and escape and I'm looking forward to making my way through the rest of the Hot in Chicago series!

~ Bel

Bedmates by Nichole Chase Blog Tour - Review & Excerpt

 

We are thrilled to get to bring to you the Review & Excerpt Tour for New York Times Bestselling Author Nichole Chase’s BEDMATES, the first standalone novel in her new American Royalty Series! Be sure to check out all of the stops in this amazing tour and grab your copy of BEDMATES today!  

   

From the New York Times bestselling author of Suddenly Royal comes the first in a sparkling new series about America’s favorite royal—the First Daughter.

Everyone makes mistakes, especially in college. But when you’re the daughter of the President of the United States, any little slip up is a huge embarrassment. Maddie McGuire’s latest error in judgment lands her in police custody, giving the press a field day. Agreeing to do community service as penance and to restore her tattered reputation, Maddie never dreams incredibly good looking but extremely annoying vice president’s son, Jake Simmon, will be along for the ride.

Recently returning from Afghanistan with a life-altering injury, Jake is wrestling with his own demons. He doesn’t have the time or patience to deal with the likes of Maddie. They’re like oil and water and every time they’re together, it’s combustible. But there’s a thin line between love and hate, and it’s not long before their fiery arguments give way to infinitely sexier encounters.

When Jake receives devastating news about the last remaining member of his unit, the darkness he’s resisted for so long begins to overwhelm him. Scared to let anyone close, he pushes Maddie away. But she isn’t about to give up on Jake that easily. Maddie’s fallen for him, and she’ll do anything to keep him from the edge as they both discover that love is a battlefield and there are some fights you just can’t lose.

   

Order BEDMATES in ebook or paperback, releasing 10/4/16

Amazon | iBooks | BAM| Barnes & Noble

Add to your Goodreads

   

Excerpt:

“I asked if there was any sex.” His shoes came into view and I looked up slowly.

“Oh, there will be.” I met his eyes. “But not yet.”

His eyes widened just a smidge, his nostrils flared ever so slightly, and I realized how what I’d said sounded.

“I mean, um, that I wouldn’t mind—” Shit, that was worse. “I promise to cover her eyes.”

“What wouldn’t you mind, Madeline?” His voice dropped an octave, making my heart speed up. Madeline, not Maddie or MadLlibs.

“I, um—what?” My voice was breathy as he took a step even closer to me.

“You mentioned something about sex, I believe.” He reached out, using his fingers to brush some of the hair out of my eyes.

“I did? I mean, yes, I did. On the show.” I fumbled over the words. “Buffy! That’s what I was talking about. I wouldn’t mind having sex with—damn it—I mean I wouldn’t mind seeing—shit. No matter what I say this sounds wrong.”

“Nothing wrong with sex.” His eyes twinkled and I realized his hand was still on my face when he lifted my chin up.

“I—I—know that.”

His thumb ran over my bottom lip. “Then why do you have such a hard time talking about it?”

“I don’t!” My spine stiffened. “Sex doesn’t scare me.”

“Then it’s me.” He lowered his head close to mine and I swallowed the lump in my throat. “I make you nervous.”

I swallowed again, my throat scratchy like sandpaper. “No you don’t.”

“Yes, I do.” His hand swept around to the back of my neck. “I always have.”

“I was, what, seventeen when you left for officer training?” I tried to calm my racing heart. “So what if I was a little nervous around you?”

“So you admit it?” His eyes twinkled and his mouth moved a little closer to mine.

“I admit nothing.” I jerked my chin up.

“Are you nervous now?” His body pressed closer to mine and I licked my lips. “Am I making you nervous?”

“Yes.” I whispered the word, not taking my eyes from his.

“Is it a good nervous?” His eyes grew serious. “Or are you scared of me?”

“I’m not scared of you, Jake.” I touched his chest and noticed that my hand was steady despite how fast my heart was beating. “You never scared me.”

Review

I love the premise of Bedmates - the President's daughter and the VP's son.  As someone with a degree in Political Science, I'm sure you understand how I would geek-out over this idea.  But Bedmates is so much more than an interesting premise; it has heart, tragedy, selflessness; selfishness; political gaming; social consciousness, without being preachy; love; and an adorable dog.  Also, references to Buffy - who doesn't love a book that references Buffy?!  And it's so much better when it's discussing watching Buffy in the White House!  

Maddie and Jake are, for the most part, hilarious together and a seemingly ideal couple.  Jake's harbouring some secrets about his time as a soldier and the aftermath, but otherwise, they are funny and sweet together.  Jake's Mom is a bitch and a thorn in their sides and Jake's little sister has some abandonment/jealousy issues about Maddie and Jake together, but otherwise, the families are supportive (I LOVE the President's conversations with Maddie about the two of them).  

But the course of true love never did run smooth and obstacles abound for our young couple.  I will admit to shedding a few tears reading Bedmates.  Bedmates is a fast-paced, fun read that will hit you right *there*.  Bravo Nichole Chase!  I cannot wait to see what's in store for the First and Second families next!  

Nichole Chase’s BEDMATES Review & Excerpt Tour Schedule:

September 26^th

AC BOOK BLOG – Review

The Bookworm Lodge – Excerpt

2 Girls & Their Kindles – Review

Books,Dreams,Life – Excerpt

BookWorm221 – Review

Deluged with Books Cafe – Review & Excerpt

Friends Till The End Book Blog – Excerpt

The Silver Dagger Scriptorium – Excerpt

September 27^th

BiblioJunkies – Review & Excerpt

Captain Reads A Lot – Excerpt

Julalicious Book Paradise – Review & Excerpt

Sammi's Bookish Reality – Review

SBB Reviews – Review & Excerpt

Short and Sassy Book Blurbs – Review & Excerpt

Theory of A Dreamer – Review & Excerpt

September 28^th

Barbara's Book Reviews – Excerpt

Blog of Books – Review

Books and Things Blog – Review & Excerpt

For The Love of Fictional Worlds – Review & Excerpt

Jen's Reading Obsession – Excerpt

Krista's Dust Jacket – Review & Excerpt

Vagabonda Reads – Review & Excerpt

September 29^th

BFF Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

EskieMama Reads – Excerpt

Fiction Fare – Review

Lea's Book Blog – Review

Melena's Reviews – Review & Excerpt

My Book Filled Life – Review & Excerpt

TAKE ME AWAY TO A GREAT READ – Review & Excerpt

September 30^th

Delish, Devine and All Mine – Review & Excerpt

Jack of All Trades, Master of None – Review & Excerpt

Nice Ladies, Naughty Books – Excerpt

PopCrunchBoom Books – Review

Readers Retreats – Review & Excerpt

The Accidental Reader – Review & Excerpt

Typical Distractions – Review & Excerpt

October 1^st

Read Love Blog – Review & Excerpt

Bad boys and Bedtime stories book previews – Review

Book Bitches Blog – Review & Excerpt

Fangirls Ahead! – Review

Oh My Growing TBR – Review & Excerpt

Reads and Thoughts – Review & Excerpt

Smokin Hot Reads Book Blog – Review

October 2^nd

Addicted to Happily Ever After – Review & Excerpt

I'm Lost in Books – Review & Excerpt

Love Affair With Fiction – Review & Excerpt

The Butterfly Reads – Review

The Pervy Ladies Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

underneath the covers – Excerpt

PBC – Review & Excerpt

The Phantom Paragrapher – Review

October 3^rd

Collector of book boyfriends – Excerpt

Book Angel Booktopia – Review

Book Starlets – Review & Excerpt

Ceres Books World – Review

The Heathers' Blog – Review & Excerpt

I'm A Book Shark – Excerpt

Lustful LIterature – Review

October 4^th

Naomi’s Reading Palace – Review

FMR Book Grind – Review

My Favorite Things – Review

OMGReads – Review

The Lovely Books – Review

V's Reads – Review

Southern Vixens Book Obsessions – Excerpt

October 5^th

Books, Coffee & Passion – Excerpt

Book Binge – Review & Excerpt

A Fortress of Books – Review & Excerpt

Bound by books book review – Review

Dog-Eared Daydreams – Review

JOJO THE BOOKAHOLIC – Review & Excerpt

Reading Tigress – Review & Excerpt

October 6^th

Pretty Sassy Cool – Review & Excerpt

Book Lover in Florida – Excerpt

Book Boyfriend Reviews – Review

Reading Between the Wines Book Club – Excerpt

Smut Book Junkie Reviews – Review & Excerpt

The Unofficial Addiction Book Fan Club – Excerpt

Toot's Book Reviews – Excerpt

October 7^th

The Book Avenue – Review

Beneath The Covers Blog – Review

Bookaholics Reading Haven – Review

Cocktails and Books – Excerpt

Girls with Books – Review & Excerpt

I'm A Sweet And Sassy Book Whore – Review & Excerpt

Kate's Book Life – Review & Excerpt

October 8^th

G & T's Indie Café – Excerpt

Amo& Sarah Book Corner – Review & Excerpt

Books 2 Blog – Review & Excerpt

Fictional Rendezvous Book Blog – Excerpt

In Between The Pages – Review & Excerpt

My Girlfriends Couch – Review & Excerpt

Reese's Reviews – Excerpt

 

 

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About Nichole Chase: Nichole Chase is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Suddenly Royal, The Accidental Assassin, Flukes, The Dark Betrayal Trilogy, The American Royalty Series and several short stories. Nichole lives in Georgia with her husband, energetic daughter, two rescue dogs, Sulcata tortoise, and two cats. When not writing, you may find her reading, painting, crafting, or chasing her daughter around the house while making monster noises.    

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