Once Touched by Laura Moore

Book Description

The youngest of the three Knowles siblings, Quinn has in her blood the love of the land and its beautiful creatures. Raising enough money to build an animal sanctuary is a dream Quinn lives every day—while fending off her family's well-intentioned matchmaking schemes. Though harboring secret fears about intimacy, Quinn soon realizes she cannot fight her growing attraction to a man who has suddenly entered her life.
 
Scarred by his months in Afghanistan and the violence he witnessed there through his camera lens, photojournalist Ethan Saunders throws himself into hard ranching work as a prescription for healing. But falling for Quinn has given him the one thing he thought he'd lost forever: hope. Ethan discovers that Quinn, like the innocent animals she rescues, is shy, and afraid of entrusting her heart to a man. Passion soon awakens Ethan's strength, and his tender seduction may be just what Quinn needs to believe in herself—and in his love.

AVAILABLE: November 24, 2015

Once Touched was my first book my Laura Moore and the third book in her Silver Creek series.  Each book can be read as a standalone since each focuses on a different Knowles sibling finding love.  

As the youngest Knowles sibling and the only girl, Quinn has learned to be independent and hard working on their family ranch.  She has watched her two older brothers find love, and while she is happy for them, she doesn't think being in a relationship is in the cards for her right now, maybe ever.  She has a less than steller track record when it comes to relationships with the opposite sex.  So she gives her heart and time to rescuing abandoned and tortured animals in need.  

Ethan Saunders has traveled all over the world, but he always remembered the summers he spent ar Silver Creek when he was a young teenager.  After being nearly killed in Afghanistan for his job as a photojournalist, Ethan craves a view other than the military hospital he has been trying to recover in.  He believes Silver Creek is just what he needs to heal physically and figure out the next step of his life.  What he didn't expect was the little pig - tailed girl he used to babysit stirring up a feeling he didn't think he'd feel again: HOPE.

As their relationship turns from friendship to lovers, Quinn knows Ethan is holding back a part of himself. Quinn feels she must make Ethan face his past in order for them to have a real chance at a future together.

But will Ethan be able to move past the grief and guilt that haunts him?

Rating: 4 out of 5

** I received an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.**

Killer Curves by Naima Simone

Book Description

Lately, things have been a little weird for Sloane Barrett—late night crank calls, disturbing images inher inbox, her tires slashed. She tries not to let it bother her. She tries to pretend everything is ok. Then someone breaks into her house and attacks her...and Sloane realizes she needs professional help. Tall, gorgeous and overwhelmingly intense help.

But Sloane knows all too well just how much trouble intense guys can be.

Security Specialist Ciaran Ross's priority is to ensure Sloane is safe. His gut tells him she's in danger, but his feelings for her are pulling his focus. Ciaran has already made the mistake of falling for a client, and the results were disastrous. He won't risk it again. He can't. But running from love is the surest way to get Sloane killed...

AVAILABLE: December 7, 2015

Someone has been threatening Sloane Barrett.  She has been receiving threatening emails and creepy phone calls for weeks now.  And after returning home from her best friends engagement party, these threats turned physical when someone broke into her house and tried to kidnap her.  Turning to GDG Security Solutions for help, she is shocked to see Ciaran Ross, whom she met the night before.

Ciaran is just as shocked to see Sloane again too.  And when he learns what has been happening to Sloane he becomes determined to protect her from the threat against her.  And if posing as her "date" to her parents anniversary party is what he has to do to stay close to her body, then that's what he'll have to do.  And the longer that Ciaran is protecting Sloane and the more he gets to know her, another threat becomes clear to Ciaran... his well-guarded heart.        

But Ciaran has lost someone he was supposed to protect before and is determined not to let it happen again.  

While this book is called Killer Curves, there was WAY to much focus on Sloane's figure.  Literally, every other thought or sentence talked about Sloane's body (both negative and positive).  I got that Sloane was a stick figure LITERALLY from the first sentence.  And it just.... Didn't... Stop.  It was like beating a dead horse... Over and over.  It made me skip pages and just roll my eyes at the repetition.

Rating: 2 out of 5

**I received an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.**

The Billionaire Heartbreaker by Mandy Baxter

Book Description

In The Billionaire Heartbreaker, Travis Christensen's life is one big party. He only has two concerns: being a star goalkeeper on the ice for the Dallas Stars, and keeping a revolving door of women at his beck and call. But when a feisty, fiery PR rep comes to tone down his image before the coach benches him, Travis has got a whole new mess on his hands...and he can't help but want more.

Reily Martin never met an image she couldn't make squeaky clean. So when the coach of the Dallas Stars hires her to reform their bad-boy goalie, Reily is more than up to the challenge. But dealing with the arrogant-and incredibly sexy-Travis Christensen proves to be more than she bargained for. She knows she shouldn't fall for hockey's most notorious playboy-but as the heat blazes between them, it gets harder and harder to say no.

AVAILABLE: December 8, 2015

A Billionaire's Club Story

Christmas with the Billionaire Rancher (Book 1)

The Billionaire Single Dad (Book 2) Review here

The Billionaire Heartbreaker (Book 3)

Travis Christensen doesn't give a shit what people think of him.  His family knows who he is and that is all that matters to him.  So when the press only focuses on his "extracurricular" activites, he could care less.  But his team is starting to get annoying with the media circus that is following him around.  His coach lays it out for him, clean up his image and behave or Travis will find himself benched, and possibly off the team.  They have hired a PR rep, Reily Martin, to his Travis assist and guide him into better decision making.

From their first meeting, Travis can't resist getting under Reily's skin.  It has quickly become his favorite pastime.  And after spending everyday teasing and flirting with the woman, Travis can no longer keep his hands (and finally, mouth) off her.  But after a career of not giving a shit what people think of him, how can Travis prove to Reily that he cares about her and what she thinks of him as a man

I wish this book was longer.  To me, it seemed to be missing the second half to Travis and Reily's story.  It just seems to end.  No growth from Travis, he is still just as self-centered at the end of the book as he was at the beginning.  I think of changed if this wasn't a novella, made it more of a complete story.  Just so much was missing for me with Travis.    

Rating: 2.5 out of 5

**I received an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.**

In From the Cold by Meg Adams

Book Description

Perfect families don’t always start with perfect ingredients.

Professional nanny Claire Iverson has wiped enough noses, butts and spills to qualify for a PhD in raising kids. She knows a toddler with a potty crisis when she sees one, and it’s clear this child’s impossibly handsome father doesn’t, since he’s sound asleep on the flight to Jackson, Wyoming.

Getting burned by her ex-boyfriend left her gun-shy around men, but when it comes to this beautiful little girl, she has to speak up. Just her luck, it turns out the man she just dressed down is her new boss.

Between his roles as full-time CEO and full-time father, Drake Driscoll is exhausted. If he can seal the next deal at his upcoming holiday house party, he’ll have room to breathe. He never expected for his daughter’s new nanny to take his breath away.

Claire hesitates to accept the warmth that beckons in Drake’s arms. But soon their attraction ignites, pulling them in deeper than either of them expected. Into passion that could weld them forever—or burn them to cinders.

Product Warnings: Hot chocolate, cozy fires, snowball fights and sizzling ski hut sex = one very merry holiday!

AVAILABLE: November 10, 2015

Claire is on her way to starting over.  After being burned by an ex-boyfriends she is ready to get out of her life-funk.  She's been hired to watch the children of a few attendees at a two-week business meeting/party/function.  On the way, she sees an adorable little girl in the middle of a potty emergency and reems into the little girls father, Drake, about his lack of attention on his daughter and overall lack of parenting.  

Little does she know, that adorable little girl is one of the children she is the nanny for...

Over the next two weeks, Drake and Claire's attraction towards each other ignite in the Wyoming snow.  But life has a way of intruding in their cozy little cabin life and will they trust in their feelings or will they let past experiences break them apart.

<<Potential spoilers below>>

Okay, so I had some problems with this book...

I thought that the drama Drake had with Sharon/Miles was a little much throughout the book.  

Next, Claire is almost raped by Miles AND right after (maybe in the same room with a knocked out Miles, not quite sure from the book) has sex with Drake... Idk about you, but I KNOW I'd be a wreck/scared/crying/pissed off hot mess.  My first thought would definitely NOT be "Ok, I'm good to have sex now!! TYSM".  No.

No. No. Noooooo.

There were parts of the book I liked with Claire, Drake, and the girls.  But I found it completely unbelievable that Sharon would request Claire to take Yvette when she was dying... Granted Sharon was a TERRIBLE mother, but come on... she's "known" Claire all of two weeks and her last wish is that Claire and Drake get married and raise her daughter... =/

Rating: 2.5 out of 5

**I received an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.**

Heart Taker by Sasha Devlin

Book Description

When the evidence doesn't add up, follow your heart

"My name is Aya Bedel. I have killed before. I will kill again."

Detective Will Speedman knows guilt when he sees it. And the delicate, dark-eyed pixie sitting before him in the interrogation room doesn't look strong enough to have overpowered and murdered a string of women.

Yet Aya knows grisly details about the killings that haven't been made public. And something about her sinful shape reaches deep into his primal core and yanks. Hard.

Aya has been having increasingly gruesome visions over the past few weeks. Not only does she witness the murders, she feels the victims' flesh beneath her fingers, feels their last breath caressing her face. She must confess or go mad.

As time runs short, Will's superiors demand answers. Aya's only hope for salvation rests in the desire glowing in Will's eyes and his seductive touch that draws clues from her subconscious.

Warning: Contains a woman driven nearly mad and a detective driven to seduction to find the truth. Darkly sexual imagery could keep you awake at night trying to figure out why you're trembling. It may not be purely from fear...

AVAILABLE: December 29, 2015

I have to be honest... Heart Taker was probably one of the most bizarre books I've ever read.  I don't even know how to rate it... I literally had a confused/strange look on my face the whole time I was reading this.  Trust me, my husband kept asking me what was wrong as I was reading and I could explain WTF was going on.  Luckily, this book is pretty short (it only took me about an hour to read), so the "look" didn't last to long.

Rating: ??????? out of 5

**I received an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.**

Saving Grace by Kristen Proby

Book Description

Sparks fly like snowflakes when a klutzy but gorgeous novice crosses skis with a hot resort owner in this tempting tie-in to New York Times bestselling author Kristen Proby’s popular Love Under the Big Sky series!

Grace Douglas is on a practice run for her friend Cara Donovan’s bachelorette party ski weekend in Aspen. The problem is, despite living in rugged and picturesque Cunningham Falls, Montana, Grace is the clumsiest person ever born. To prepare for the trip, she is taking lessons at a local ski resort. She just prays that they have an ambulance on standby.

Sexy hotelier Jacob Baxtor is ready to play ski instructor, but he quickly discovers that the best place on the mountain for Grace is in the lodge with a hot toddy. Her sense of humor and easy laugh quickly pull him in, and soon he’s determined to help her get off the bunny slope for a fun vacation with her friends. He just didn’t expect their steamy chemistry to trigger an avalanche of desire straight to his heart.

AVAILABLE: November 30, 2015

Love Under the Big Sky Series
Loving Cara (Book 1)
Seducing Lauren (Book 2)
Saving Grace (Book 2.5)
Falling for Jillian (Book 3)

Saving Grace by Kristen Proby is novella in her Love Under the Big Sky series.

Grace Douglas' friends send her on a weekend getaway to prepare for a girls weekend in Aspen.  See, Grace is a bit of a klutz, so her friends wanted her to have a couple ski lessons before the trip.  They set her up with a night at a local resort with a couple of ski lessons and a message for after.  Once she arrives, she meets her ski instructor, sexy BRITISH Jacob Baxter.  But Jacob is more than just a ski instructor, he is the billionaire who recently bought the recort.

Will this weekend ski exhursion last a weekend or will Grace and Jacob extend past the bunny slopes and the weekend?

Rating: 4 out of 5

**I received an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.**

The Royal Conquest by Stacy Reid

Book Description

After being cruelly jilted by a lord who claimed to adore her, Miss Payton Peppiwell swore her future husband would be as ordinary as she. Now if only her family would listen to her. Then she meets Mikhail Konstantinovich, an untitled horse breeder, in a highly improper and scandalous encounter. Never had Payton expected to be so attracted to the dark, intriguing man, who seduces her to recklessness with a mere stare.

Mikhail abhors anything to do with intimacy. Yet Miss Peppiwell stirs hunger and a need long forgotten in him. But Mikhail has a dark past—one that means his lust must be sated in a way entirely unsuitable for a lady. But his biggest secret will be the hardest for Payton to overcome: Mikhail is not only titled, he’s a prince…

AVAILABLE: November 30, 2015

I thought The Royal Conquest had a lot of potential, but it just fell flat for me.  Boy hides out from society and their judgements.  Girl was jilted by fiancee and is judged by society.  Boy and girl meet, drama drama drama, fall in love.  Potential, but where it fell flat for me were the actual characters.  

I thought Payton was very fast to judge others, especially when that was her problem with "society".   I thought she WAS the hypocrite throughout the book.  It was like there were two completely different Payton's throughout the story and they didn't mesh well.  One was inexperienced and shy, while the other was demanding, judgmental, and mean.  She complained that society "judged" her for not having a title, yet she judged Mikhail for HAVING one... makes no sense to me.  

As for Mikhail, I felt bad for what happened to him when he was a teenager.  I didn't dislike his character exactly, I just didn't connect with his or understand why he was so infatuated with Peyton.

Rating: 2 out of 5

**I received an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.**