Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Review: The Girl He Needs

For this review, I chose The Girl He Needs by Kristi Rose.

I received a copy of the ebook for a honest review of this book.

Here is a brief description from Goodreads:
The safe choice can be the riskiest of all…

Ever since her beloved older brother disappeared after an accident, Josie Woodmere’s been on a mission to find him—and maybe herself—along the way. That’s meant leaving her pampered, parent-approved life behind. Two years, four moves, and a body piercing later, she’s finally got a lead on her brother’s whereabouts, and she’s headed to Florida. She didn’t plan to ditch her sputtering car and accept a ride from Brinn McRae. But she didn’t plan to be attracted to a straight-laced guy like him either, much less land in his hometown, Daytona Beach…

A self-made man with a tough past, Brinn is a workaholic who allows very little room for pleasure—until he meets Josie. Their powerful chemistry is a distraction neither wants, yet neither can resist. Hoping they can burn it off, Brinn agrees to a no-strings arrangement. But they can only hide their deepening feelings for so long—until a disaster strikes, exposing truths that threaten to ruin everything…

Now, not only will Josie have to contend with the troubling secret her brother has finally revealed—she’ll have to convince Brinn she’s more than a rich girl playing at being free. This time, she’s playing for keeps.



I loved this book.  Josie lived a life that her parents controlled.  They told her where she had to go to school.  Her parents did not tell her everything that happened the night of her older brother's car accident. All Josie knew was that her brother, Will, disappeared, but had no reason.  Josie needed those answers.  She had questions Will had to answer.  Where has Will be since he left 2 years ago?  What has he been doing for a living?  We know why Josie was moving from town to town.  Because she got clues to where Will could be.  That is how she ended up in Daytona Beach.  Will Will be there?  Will Will tell her all of her questions she needed answered?

What she did not except was Brinn McRae.  In the beginning of the book, Josie called him McRae, but someone in there he started to be Brinn to her.  I think this is when Josie stopped being someone moving from place to place.  I think she finally found home.


☆☆☆☆☆
I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.
Recommend this book? Yes! Author? Yes!
Read more from this author? Yes!

Happy Reading!
Melissa 
Review coming next: The Millionaire's Gamble by Sarah Ballance

FTC Disclosure: The Publisher/Author/Book Tour Company has provided me with a copy of this book for review or I have purchased the book with my own funds.  The opinion I share about the story are mine and have not been influenced by the The Publisher/Author/Book Tour Company if received for review.

Review: Dinner for Three

For this review, I chose Dinner for Three by Reana Malori.

I received a copy of the ebook for a honest review of this book.


Here is a brief description from Goodreads:
Celina Jefferson never expected to find love and fulfillment with more than one man, especially not at the same time. Adrian Marshall and Jake Huffington were two men who knew what they wanted out of life, and right now, they wanted Celina. A game of seduction is underway as Jake and Adrian try to convince Celina that the three of them are made for each other.


Celina is at a crosswords in her life.  She is missing something, but not sure what.  She is a strong woman.  The company she works for has been sold.  Now Celina feels like she is not sure about her employment status.

Adrian Marshall and Jake Huffington are 2 men who knew what they want out of their lives and right now they both want Celina.  Jake and Adrian are playing a game of seduction to try to convince Celina that she is made for each of them.

I do not think this story between the 3 of them is finished.  I wish there could have been more.

☆☆☆☆
I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.
Recommend this book? Yes! Author? Yes!
Read more from this author? Yes!

Happy Reading!
Melissa 
Review coming next: 

FTC Disclosure: The Publisher/Author/Book Tour Company has provided me with a copy of this book for review or I have purchased the book with my own funds.  The opinion I share about the story are mine and have not been influenced by the The Publisher/Author/Book Tour Company if received for review.

Review: Beauty and the Geek: Hidden Depth

For this review, I chose Beauty and the Geek: Hidden Depth by Reana Malori.

I received a copy of the ebook for a honest review of this book.

Here is a brief description from Goodreads:
Roxanne Barnes is beautiful, but a certified klutz. Adam Marshall is a recovering jock and who now proudly proclaims his geek status from the highest mountain. At a conference full of people who have alphabet soup letters behind their names, two former high school classmates realize you cannot always judge a book by its cover. The beautiful, but shy wallflower who transformed into a butterfly and the confident jock that morphed into a certified geek find
passion and desire in each other’s arms.

Will they find that once just isn’t enough as they explore what’s hidden beneath the surface?
 





I loved this book.  Roxanne trips on stage at her company's symposium and Adam recognizes her from high school.  Adam had a crash on her back then.  She was a shy wallflower in high school while Adam was a jock.    She is now beautiful and he is now a geek.  They decided to have dinner together and are attracted to one another.

This book was a quick read, but it was like Roxanne and Adam had only one thing on their minds- sex.  I wish we could see more on the development of these 2 character.


☆☆☆☆
I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.
Recommend this book? Yes! Author? Yes!
Read more from this author? Yes!

Happy Reading!
Melissa 
Review coming next:  Dinner for Three by Reana Malori.

FTC Disclosure: The Publisher/Author/Book Tour Company has provided me with a copy of this book for review or I have purchased the book with my own funds.  The opinion I share about the story are mine and have not been influenced by the The Publisher/Author/Book Tour Company if received for review.

Review: Claiming Lana

For this review, I chose Claiming Lana by Reana Malori.

I received a copy of the ebook for a honest review of this book.

Here is a brief description from Goodreads:
What do you get when two strong-willed people are thrown together? When their need for each other becomes too hard to resist. When Jake Bradford meets Lana Miller, she's all he can think about. Lana on the other hand, doesn't like Jake very much and she's not afraid to show it. At least that's what she tells herself. Due to an expected opportunity, they're forced to spend time together. The end result is something neither of them could have expected or dreamed of.

This was a quick read.  Jake is the new COO.  He has noticed Lana from the first time she walked into the office.  Jake asks Lana for her help on this project.  She agrees.  Will they be able to work together?  Will the hatred that Lana feels for him go away?


☆☆☆☆
I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.
Recommend this book? Yes! Author? Yes!
Read more from this author? Yes!

Happy Reading!
Melissa 
Review coming next:  Beauty and the Geek: Hidden Depth by Reana Malori.

FTC Disclosure: The Publisher/Author/Book Tour Company has provided me with a copy of this book for review or I have purchased the book with my own funds.  The opinion I share about the story are mine and have not been influenced by the The Publisher/Author/Book Tour Company if received for review.

Monday, June 13, 2016

Review: Falling into Love

For this review, I chose Falling into Love by Reana Malori.

I received a copy of the ebook for a honest review of this book.

Here is a brief description from Goodreads:
Camden Turner has his life right on track. He lives in a great town with a small business that keeps him in the black, doing what he loves. He's convinced he has everything he wants until he realizes he doesn't have what he really needs, Lexie Martin.

Lexie Martin has left the hustle and bustle of Bay Area California for the quiet simplicity of Falling Falls, Colorado. Her small business is often times more play than work and she couldn't be happier until she realizes, happiness is subjective until you have someone to spend it with.

Will Lexie and Camden realize that falling into love isn't as painful as it sounds or will they keep on their separate paths?



This was a quick read.  I loved that Camden and Lexie was always at each other's throats.  The tension was always there.  Lexie has her own bike shop and is big into fitness.  Camden takes his niece to the fall festival where she wants a mountain bike for her birthday.  Of course, Camden sees it as something more than just a birthday gift.  He sees it as a way to talk with Lexie and get into her heart.  Will it work?  Will they stop fighting to realize what they will or could have?

I wished it was longer and it had more in the story of how they became a couple.

☆☆☆☆
I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.
Recommend this book? Yes! Author? Yes!
Read more from this author? Yes!

Happy Reading!
Melissa 
Review coming next: Claiming Lana by Reana Malori.

FTC Disclosure: The Publisher/Author/Book Tour Company has provided me with a copy of this book for review or I have purchased the book with my own funds.  The opinion I share about the story are mine and have not been influenced by the The Publisher/Author/Book Tour Company if received for review.

Review: What Happens in Texas

For this review, I chose What Happens in Texas by Carolyn Brown. 

I requested ARC copy of the ebook through Netgalley in exchanged for a honest review.

Here is a brief description from Goodreads:
Carolyn Brown brings her unique voice to this tale of twin sisters finding love in a small Texas town

Cathy Andrew's biological clock has passed the ticking stage and is dangerously close to "blown plumb up." While her twin sister Marty thinks settling down with one man is just a waste of good cowboys, Cathy wants it all: the perfect husband, the baby, and a little house right there in Cadillac. But even as the town is laying bets on whose wedding will be next, Cathy doesn't see happily-ever-after happening anytime soon.

Fortunately, Cathy and Marty have best friends who aren't afraid to stir up a ruckus-and if it means Cathy's got to bust out and set the town on its ear they'll back her up-no matter how hot things get.
 


In this book, a lot was thrown at me.  At first, I was confused with who was who.   Too many characters and not a main woman character and a main man character like I am used to.  Too many relationships to keep track of.

Cathy wanted kids.  Her twin sister, Marty does not want to be married.  Cathy wanted it all.  The perfect husband, the baby, and the house of their own.  I felt like she was settling for the man she is going to marry in this book.  He was not right for her at all.  That mother of his was something else.  The mother reminded me of someone I know.

Both Cathy and Marty had best friends who loved to stir up trouble and they were a lot of fun reading about.  Aunt Agnes is a hoot.  She is just as much trouble as the 2 best friends, maybe more.


☆☆☆☆
I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.
Recommend this book? Yes! Author? Yes!
Read more from this author? Yes!

Happy Reading!
Melissa 
Review coming next: Falling into Love by Reana Malori.

FTC Disclosure: The Publisher/Author/Book Tour Company has provided me with a copy of this book for review or I have purchased the book with my own funds.  The opinion I share about the story are mine and have not been influenced by the The Publisher/Author/Book Tour Company if received for review.

Review: Desperate Match

For this review, I chose Desperate Match by Lynne Silver.

I requested ARC copy of the ebook through Netgalley in exchanged for a honest review.

Here is a brief description from Goodreads:
A woman on the run…

Abused wife, Jill Thompson knows she has to get out of her bad marriage. Like yesterday. With no money, no job and no friends, this small town girl can’t find a safe harbor. But when she sees a news report that The Program, a US military base, is seeking women to be matches for their genetically enhanced soldiers, she sees her opportunity. If she is lucky enough to be a match, her snake-mean husband, Jack, won’t be able to find or hurt her ever again.

A man looking for acceptance…

Rowan Blacker is the only soldier of his cohort to request a breed match. He’s the newest soldier on campus and thanks to his genetic defect, he feels like an outcast. Matching and breeding with a woman will help him fit in with the team. Unfortunately Rowan’s match is nothing like the sexy, fun woman he was hoping to romance. The woman they claim is his perfect DNA match, is a scared shell of a woman carrying a trunkful of emotional baggage. Against their better judgment, they move in together and as Jill shakes off the shackles of abuse, their attraction ignites.
 




I love this series.  With each book from page 1, I was drawn into the lives' of the main characters.  With each book, I fell in love with the entire community of enhanced soldiers and their ladies.  

Jill ran from her abusive husband to the only place where she knew it would be safe....The Program.  Now with her match, Rowan, wants to help her and give her the time she needs to heal from the abuse she experienced from her husband, Jack, who is a snake.

I love series.  Getting to read about previous characters and learning what they are up to is a favorite of my.  This series is a must read.  I have already read Book #6, First Match, and loved it, too.


☆☆☆☆☆
I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.
Recommend this book? Yes! Author? Yes!
Read more from this author? Yes!

Happy Reading!
Melissa 
Review coming next: What Happens in Texas by Carolyn Brown. 

FTC Disclosure: The Publisher/Author/Book Tour Company has provided me with a copy of this book for review or I have purchased the book with my own funds.  The opinion I share about the story are mine and have not been influenced by the The Publisher/Author/Book Tour Company if received for review.

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Review: Animal Planet Wild Animals

For this review, I chose Animal Planet Wild Animals.

I requested ARC copy of the ebook through Netgalley in exchanged for a honest review.

Here is a brief description from Goodreads:
With more than 200 gorgeous animal photos of lions, giraffes, ibexes, flamingos, hippopotamuses, and many others, Animal Planet Wild Animals is a fun, habitat-by-habitat guide that provides kids in the first years of schooling with the perfect bite-sized view of their favorite wild animals. Arranged thematically with focus on animal behavior and family relationships, young readers will explore sections about animal bodies, baby animals, food, play time, conservation and more. Special book features designed for this age group include Quick Bites sidebars with cool animal facts, simple infographics, and illustrated maps of life in the African savannah and Amazon rain forest.

For more Animal Bites books, check out Animal Planet Farm Animals, Animal Planet Polar Animals, and Animal Planet Ocean Animals.

A portion of the proceeds will benefit Animal Planet's R.O.A.R. (Reach Out. Act. Respond.) campaign that partners with leading animal organization to make the world a better place for domestic and wild animals.




Beautiful colorful pictures. Very educational.   Wow!  African bullfrog can be underground for up to a year.  African elephants uses their ears to lower their body temperatures.  A favorite animal is the gray wolf.  Amur Tigers are beautiful animals.  Mountain gorilla are as tall as a teenager.  Baby ostriches are adorable.  Another favorite animal of my is dolphins, which my daughter loves.  She also loves flamingos.  We have flamingos at our Aviary and they are a must see when we are there.  Love how it is written about the grizzly bears.  Bald Eagles are gorgeous animals.

Great wild activities in the end of the book!

☆☆☆☆☆
I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.
Recommend this book? Yes! Author? Yes!
Read more from this author? Yes!

Happy Reading!
Melissa 
Review coming next: Desperate Match by Lynne Silver.

FTC Disclosure: The Publisher/Author/Book Tour Company has provided me with a copy of this book for review or I have purchased the book with my own funds.  The opinion I share about the story are mine and have not been influenced by the The Publisher/Author/Book Tour Company if received for review.

Review: Animal Planet Farm Animals

For this review, I chose Animal Planet Farm Animals. 

I requested ARC copy of the ebook through Netgalley in exchanged for a honest review.

Here is a brief description from Goodreads:
With more than 200 gorgeous animal photos of cows, pigs, sheep, goats, chickens, llamas, and many others, Animal Planet Farm Animals is a fun, habitat-by-habitat guide that provides kids in the first years of schooling with the perfect bite-sized view of their favorite farm animals. Arranged thematically with focus on animal behavior and family relationships, young readers will explore sections about animal bodies, baby animals, food, play time, conservation and more. Special book features designed for this age group include Quick Bites sidebars with cool animal facts, simple infographics, and illustrated maps of life in on the farm and at the petting zoo.

For more Animal Bites books, check out Animal Planet Wild Animals, Animal Planet Polar Animals, and Animal Planet Ocean Animals.




Beautiful colorful pictures. Very educational.  This would have been a great book to have if my grandparents were still with us.  They had a farm and I remember visiting there as a child.


My daughter, Ashleigh, loves horses.  The section, "Horses on the farm", Ashleigh would love.  The one thing I had no idea about is that rabbits compete in jumping hopping contests.  Another thing I did not know is that ducklings do not fly until they are 8 weeks old.

Great farm activities at the end of the book!

☆☆☆☆☆
I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.
Recommend this book? Yes! Author? Yes!
Read more from this author? Yes!

Happy Reading!
Melissa 
Review coming next: Animal Planet Wild Animals

FTC Disclosure: The Publisher/Author/Book Tour Company has provided me with a copy of this book for review or I have purchased the book with my own funds.  The opinion I share about the story are mine and have not been influenced by the The Publisher/Author/Book Tour Company if received for review.

Saturday, June 4, 2016

Review: Desire Unmatched

For this review, I chose Desire Unmatched by Lynne Silver. 

I received a copy of the ebook for a honest review of this book.

Here is a brief description from Goodreads:
Genetically enhanced soldier Xander Bristack has spent his life under the imposing rule of his dictatorial, controlling father. Under his father's watch, he is the Program's deadliest and coldest killer. But when Xander is kidnapped by enemies of the Program, only one thing motivates him to escape. His true match, the sexy Emma Harrison. He's been obsessed with Emma from afar, yearning to have her in his life and in his bed, but knowing he should never involve the beautiful blonde in his messed-up world. However, when Xander breaks out of his prison and returns home, Emma refuses to let him keep his distance, enticing him to surrender to the heat between them. She teaches him that passion trumps duty and love doesn't mean blind obedience. His desire for her cracks the shell he's hidden in his whole life. 



This is book #4 of the Coded for Love series.  We met Emma in an earlier book when she was saved from being held captive by the geneticist.  Emma answered an ad for egg donation, but she had no idea that she would be held captive in an evil plan.  Xander's father did not allow him to do much growing up.  He had to follow what his father wanted or he would have to be taught an consequence.  

Emma was saved by Xander and they both felt the pull to one other, but Xander did not want to have children because of his father.  Xander was kidnapped and he realized that Emma is worth everything to him, but he had to get home to her.

I loved how Emma stood up to Xander's father.  She had this fire inside her and she wanted to protect and love Xander with everything she had.

I can not wait to read more in this series!!

☆☆☆☆☆
I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.
Recommend this book? Yes! Author? Yes!
Read more from this author? Yes!

Happy Reading!
Melissa 
Review coming next: 

FTC Disclosure: The Publisher/Author/Book Tour Company has provided me with a copy of this book for review or I have purchased the book with my own funds.  The opinion I share about the story are mine and have not been influenced by the The Publisher/Author/Book Tour Company if received for review.

Review: Nookietown

For this review, I chose Nookietown by V.C. Chickering.

I received a copy of the ebook for a honest review of this book.

Here is a brief description from Goodreads:
Recently divorced, 40-something single-mom, Lucy, is lonely, bored and craving physical connection. So, when her trusted long-time married friend, Nancy, begs Lucy to sleep with her husband to save her marriage, Lucy goes for it. It's such a success, the two friends invent a town-wide underground barter system whereby Nancy's married girlfriends sub-contract Lucy's divorcee friends to sleep with their husbands so they don't have to as often. It's a win, win, win- for a while. Then it all goes to hell in a hand-basket.

Laugh-out-loud funny, emotionally provocative and at times racy, V. C. Chickering's Nookietown is a story of risk-taking, marriage, honesty and desire, and what one woman rationalizes in order to get what she wants.
 


This book was a funny suspenseful read.  There were a lot of parts where I was laughing out loud.

Recently divorced single mom, Lucy, was lonely and bored.  She wanted physical connection more than anything.  I have never read a book where the heroine wanted sex as much as Lucy did.  It was like she craved it.  Once Lucy got it, it transported her somewhere life was not as crazy and lonely as her life.  For that time, all was perfect.


Lucy has 2 sets of friends: Marrieds and the Divorcees.  The Marrieds were too tired to please their husbands.  The Divorcees were all sex craved.  Nancy wanted Lucy to sleep with her husband, Ted, who did.  If this happened to me, I would say no.  If I was Nancy, I would make the time to spend with my husband because one day the kids will not be at home and it will only be the 2 of you alone.  Then what?

My favorite part was when Lucy was in front of the crowd having "her moment" but I can not tell you anymore about it.  You need to read it.

I am looking forward to see what else V.C. Chickering has in store for her next book!

☆☆☆☆☆
I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.
Recommend this book? Yes! Author? Yes!
Read more from this author? Yes!

Happy Reading!
Melissa 
Review coming next: Desire Unmatched by Lynne Silver

FTC Disclosure: The Publisher/Author/Book Tour Company has provided me with a copy of this book for review or I have purchased the book with my own funds.  The opinion I share about the story are mine and have not been influenced by the The Publisher/Author/Book Tour Company if received for review.