ARC Review: Just a Little Crush (Sterling Family Crossover #1)

Just a Little Crush (Sterling Family Crossover #1)

Carly Phillips, Erika Wilde

Blurb:

It’s just a little crush. What could possibly go wrong?

I’ve had more than enough relationship drama to last a lifetime, so romance with Stevie Palmer, the gorgeous server I had a hot one-night stand with, isn’t in the cards. However, she would make the perfect fake girlfriend to help me win my custody battle.

When I offer her an obscene amount of money to play along, she agrees. I insist this arrangement is strictly business. No feelings. No complications.

Easy, right?

Except nothing about Stevie is easy. She’s unexpected softness, stubborn as hell, and impossible to ignore. I tell myself I can keep my hands off of her. That I can ignore the way she makes me feel. Then one kiss turns into another. One night into more. And suddenly, our perfect little arrangement is anything but simple or straightforward.

With so much at stake, can I turn our fake relationship into a real happily ever after?

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 4.5 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

An all-new series begins, linked to one of our favorite families that is making a splash in NYC as they each find their own loves, and now we get to see some of their friends find love as well. Carly Phillips and Erika Wilde team up again for a crossover series that gives us glimpses of not only the crazy sexy Sterling Family, but also the awesome Dares and Kingstons in this first in a series as we see Raven Sterling née Kane watch her best friend and brother fall madly in love. I have been a fan of this ever evolving series from the very beginning and with each new introduction of an H/h I find myself falling more and more in love with the world that Carly (and Erika) show me as we get to see NY socialites in an all new light, not as vapid and money hungry women and men obsessed only with their beauty and status but with hearts and souls that they are looking to share with someone that truly sees and loves them, just like the rest of us. I am really looking forward to this new crossover series and cannot wait for more of the Sterling friends to find their mates and loves.

Caleb Kane’s life is complicated right now and he has no time for women, but he can’t deny that there is one woman that draws his eyes and interest repeatedly. Stevie Palmer, his sister’s best friend and the server at her bar draws Caleb like no other woman ever, but she is also so much more. Stevie has flirted with Caleb, harmlessly for a year, but when they finally give into their lust and have a single night together life becomes complicated once again. Now they have to pretend to be in a relationship in order for Caleb to keep custody of his son, but Stevie is stubborn as hell and isn’t a fan of being a kept woman. The longer their situationship lasts the deeper their connection and the harder it is to deny their feelings. Caleb wanted their relationship to continue after their “fake” arrangement ends, but can he convince Stevie to stay with him, despite all her hangups and fears. And then there are all the others that are working against them having a  chance at an HEA, but then again stubbornness is Stevie’s superpower, so will she fight for what she really wants?

I was thrilled when I learned that this story was about Caleb, because I have to say I fell in love with him, and his boy Owen, in Raven’s story and I really hoped he would get his own love story. He is such a great character, a loving brother—giving Raven his love and support when his own twin is a pyscho, a model father, and an all around sexy alpha male that has what Stevie’s sister labels perfectly as BDE (Big Dick Energy) in all the best ways. His confidence, intelligence, swagger, and sexiness exude from him, but he isn’t arrogant in the way that make him annoying or toxically masculine. He’s just the perfect kind of protective and sweet male that is just what Stevie needs after the crappy males she has dealt with in her life. Stevie is obvious guarded after not only her upbringings, but her sister’s recent abusive relationship, but she also knows that Caleb is a good man and she slowly opens her heart to him and I love seeing her find her way to him. She is smart, sweet, sarcastic, witty, strong, and determined to protect those she loves no matter the drama that comes into their lives. Despite everything that has come at her she hasn’t lost her love of life or her ability to find fun where she can and she knows that when she grabs onto Caleb that not only is he going to steal her heart and she will be the one to bring fun into his life again. They match and balance one another perfectly and bring to each other the missing pieces of their hearts and you can easily see they were meant to be.

While Caleb and Stevie’s story might have started as Just a Little Crush they both quickly lose their hearts and souls and the deeply abiding love that develops is undeniable. I loved getting to experience the sensual and heartfelt journey these two went through as they found a way through the drama of a situationship, dangerous exes, and family drama, but through it all they had one another’s back. Stevie is the kind of woman that stands by her friends and when her one night with Caleb puts custody of his son in jeopardy, she is willing to help him, but the more time she spend with them the more her heart is invested and soon she knows that she wants to make their relationship real.  Caleb uses whatever he has to in order to get what he wants, but he never really sees their arrangement as a fake relationship. Caleb has claimed Stevie and once he convinces her of the truth of that claim he will finally have everything he has ever wanted in life, because she stole his heart from him long ago. I loved seeing these two trying so hard to deny their feelings for one another while they were both so deep, but in the end there was no denying the passionate fire that they share or the love that will lead to a marriage and life for two people that need family more than anything. I am dying for the rest of this series and seeing it weave in with the continuing Sterling series. The magic between Erika Wilde and Carly Phillips never fails to blow me away and they definitely have another hit on their hands!

*eARC provided by author for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review. No compensation was provided.

ARC Review: Fighting for Mari (Redemption Harbor Security #6)

Fighting for Mari  (Redemption Harbor Security #6)

Katie Reus

Blurb:

He’s her brother’s best friend…

Corporate pilot Mari had a crush on Colin when she was a teenager, but that ended abruptly when she heard him say something awful about her. She’s ignored him ever since. Now that he’s out of the military and started a company similar to hers, they’re rivals and he’s trying to ruin her latest business deal—so she steals one of his biggest clients.

And she’s hated him since she was sixteen…

When Colin goes to confront Mari about blowing up his biggest deal, he ends up saving her from a murderer. For some reason she seems to hate him and he’s never understood why—especially since she’s his walking, talking fantasy and their families are friends. With a smart mouth and lean curves, the badass woman is everything he’s ever wanted. When it’s clear someone wants her dead, he refuses to let her out of his sight—and they wind up stranded in the middle of nowhere with a plane that’s been sabotaged and a killer hunting them. If they can’t put the past behind them and find a way to work together… they’ll die together.

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

Katie Reus is back with the next in her Redemption Harbor Security series with the story of a firecracker pilot that finds herself in trouble when one of her clients turns on her. Katie had taken us on some amazing adventures with her crew as this series has progressed but with each new chapter we learn more about the team and get glimpses into the craziness and I for one love it. This latest installment is about the firecracker pilot that is friends with many of the ladies that make up the RHS crew and has had a small part in a few of the previous novels. Mari finds herself not only caught in the web of a dangerous killer, but also in the arms of a sexy rival pilot that has been the bane of her existence and her biggest crush since her teens. All the drama unfolds beautifully and with such speed that you find yourself wondering if Colin and Mari are going to get out of their predicament more than once, but you never question that their feelings are developing at mach speed. I am really looking forward to the next story which Katie hinted at a few times and if I am correct will be a crazy one.

Mari Kim has always lived her life in fast forward, reaching for the highest goal and refusing to back down from any challenge, even when her biggest crush broke her young heart. Colin Lockhart has been best friends with Mari’s brother since childhood and has watched her grow into a gorgeous and remarkable woman, but for years she has treated him like an enemy and he has no idea why. With the latest battle, Mari has stolen a client from his company and bought a parcel of land right from under him and when she comes to rub his nose in it Colin is forced to accept that she will not ever tell him what he’s done wrong. When he goes to confront her again, he inadvertently saves her from an attempted murder and they find themselves forced into close quarters as the RHS team look into the attempt and try to find out who is after Mari. But the more time they spend together, even when their plane goes down in the middle of nowhere, the harder it is for Mari and Colin to deny the attraction they feel and soon their feelings are out of control. Once the danger passes can they build a true relationship or will old fears and habits keep them apart even as their love soars—and what if the danger isn’t as over as they think?

I have been dying to get to know more about Mari as we have seen so many little quirks in her attitude and behavior in previous novels I knew she was going to be an awesome character to get to know. She is sarcastic, smart, brave, and sweet when she wants to be, but she definitely isn’t sappy or a pushover in any way. She has a tough outer shell that she uses to keep her softer nature protected and rarely shows that softness to anyone outside her very tight inner circle. When she finally forgave Colin and allowed him back into her heart, the sweetness and connection they formed was one that showed us how great of a partner she will be for him and how important their love will be. She had the kind of bravery that I could only aspire to, embracing her life full speed ahead and determined to live every moment her way. Colin is a perfect match for Mari, even if she didn’t know it for far too long; he is the kind of protector that will be right beside her was she embraces her adventurous spirit, helping her spread her wings but being there as her safe spot to land. Colin is intelligent, brave, sweet, loving, and dedicated to protecting those he cares for, which definitely include Mari, even when she was being a little bit bitchy to him. He knows himself and his limits and he will never leave a friend behind or allow anyone to be hurt when he can step  in to offer protection. That bravery is not something that can be taught, it’s a natural reaction that one either has or doesn’t have in their hearts. I loved getting to see Colin lose his head and heart to Mari and vice versa.

Sometimes you come across a story that will truly stick with you forever and Fighting for Mari is one of those books because there is no way I will be forgetting Colin and Mari’s story anytime soon. Mari is one of the bravest and most stubborn women that you’ll meet, but she is determined to live life on her terms and won’t let any struggle keep her down, even though the guy she’s never stopped lusting after continues to make her crazy. Her bravery and grit are all she needs to pull her through any danger, along with the help of her friends at RHS and maybe the sexy guy she finally decides to forgive and accept into her heart. Colin is a badass and he will use every ounce of his skills if it means keeping Mari safe from the killer that are one their tails. His determination in the face of deadly challenges prove that nothing will stop him when he has his heart set on the one woman he has always lusted after and has finally decided he wants for his own. The passion between these two is apparent from the very beginning, even when they are just squabbling, but when they finally allow themselves to embrace the heat the fire burns out of control. I am dying for the next in the series (Fighting for Hope) because we will finally get to see Bradford get his HEA hopefully and I can already tell that story is going to be a serious journey. Katie has done it again with the magic of two pilot losing their hearts in a big way.

*eARC provided by publisher (via NetGalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review. No compensation was provided.

ARC Review: Accidentally Forever (Montgomery Ink Legacy #8)

Accidentally Forever (Montgomery Ink Legacy #8)

Carrie Ann Ryan

Blurb:

In the world of romance, Aria Montgomery knows two things for sure:

She’s not in love with the man everyone thinks she is.

And she refuses to let herself love Crew McTavish.

Her former best friend is spiraling, and her photography career seems to be standing in her father’s shadow. Aria knows she needs to find her way out of the darkness. Yet she’s afraid if she allows Crew inside, he’ll not only take over—but he’ll get hurt in the process.

Crew McTavish enjoys being the mysterious friend of the Montgomerys. They may joke that he’s dating his way into their family one-by-one, but in the end, it’s only one Montgomery he wants: Aria.

Their pull to one another is inevitable and once a line is crossed, the heat between them ignites.

Only his family’s dark secrets threaten to pull him down and when Aria is threatened, Crew will stop at nothing to protect her.

Even if it means watching the world he’s built burn.

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 4.5 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

 Once again, we find ourselves caught up in the crazy, sexy, and loving world of the Montgomery’s and to nobody’s surprise the drama and emotional stress is there right to the very end of the story.  Carrie Ann Ryan has been thrilling us for so long now with this series that you might think you’ve seen it all, but I am here to tell you that she never ceases to find something to break our hearts and remind us of the power of love. We’ve been hoping for this story for a long time, wanting both Crew and Aria to find their HEA, not knowing that they would be meant for one another from the very beginning. This is a story of two people that have circled one another for years, always seeming to tear one another down, but have finally found their time and now they are determined to give their hearts to one another. I am dying for the next story after that last chapter because I can already tell it is going to be traumatic and filled with pain before Carrie Ann brings us another fabulous HEA.

Crew McTavish has been a friend of the Montgomery family for decades and he has always hated his own family for the pain and suffering they caused him. Aria Montgomery has always been far beyond his reach, despite the fact that he slowly feels in love with her from afar and that they have given into their lust multiple times.  Now Aria and Crew have decided that they are going to give their relationship a real try, even with the other Montgomerys breathing down their necks. But there is a shadow hanging over their new relationship in the form of Aria’s childhood friend, Travis, and the more she pulls away from him the more daring and dangerous he becomes to Aria.  With family drama coming from both sides,  danger around every corner, and their own issues to work through, can Aria and Crew find a way to have a future together or will they loose their chance at a forever?

The connection between Aria and Crew was there from the very beginning and undeniable but they were at their best when they finally admitted that they were meant to be together all along instead of hiding their feelings. Crew is the type of self-made man that becomes a good and loving friend and partner despite instead of because of his parents and upbringing. HE was abused and mistreated as a child and the only time her was shown love was when he was with the Montgomery family but he used their example to become a good man instead of being an awful human like his parents.  He is strong, smart, loving, sweet, and sexy in the way he shows his love to Aria and his friends.  It was sad to see how he had to continue to deal with his abusers, but when he finally found his strength to let them go thanks to Aria, it was a proud moment. Aria is the perfect cross of her mom and dad, determined to be there for those she loves and considers her friends, determined not to give up those that have even given up on themselves.  She is a calm in the storm, intelligent, loveable, brave, and self-sacrificing but she also knew when to stand up for herself and fight back. That strength and determination showed that she knew her worth and was going to demand that her partner acknowledge her importance of their relationship. Together they were a perfect balance for one another issues and hang-ups and you see they will be perfect together long into the future.

Crew and Aria’s story takes us through two people that learning what it takes to accept the love they are both deserving of and accept that they were always meant to be together Accidentally Forever. Crew has had a very difficult life, with an abusive childhood, an adulthood filled with a distinct lack of connection outside the Montgomery’s, and falling in love from afar with a woman he thought he’d never be good enough for.  He never could have hoped that he would actually one day find her not only in his bed, but in his heart, and finally being able to call Aria his love has changed his outlook forever and made him into a better man. Aria has lived her life in the shadows for years, trying to find her way in there art without being shadowed by her dad, trying to help her friend, but being beat down for it, and never being able to find the man that would earn her heart. When she finally allows herself to admit her feelings for Crew her world just opens up and she is free, her heart expanding and her fears finally releasing her.  The passion between these two is apparent from the very moment they enter one another’s hemisphere and when they finally stop hiding their relationship from others the heat explodes like an atom bomb.  As always Carrie Ann added a sneak peak of the next book as the last chapter and I can already tell that poor Lexington is going to have a hell of a time finding his own HEA, and I cannot wait to go a long for the ride.  The wait is going to kill me, Ms. Ryan, but I suspect that was your evil plan.

*eARC provided by publisher (via NetGalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.