Fool Me Once by Nicole Williams ~ Review & Teaser (@nwilliamsbooks)

I picked this one up after reading another of Nicole Williams reads, and lets just say I love this cover, so of course I was drawn to it. Fool Me Once was a cute read and I enjoyed getting to know Chase and Emma.
Fool Me Once
Title: Fool Me Once
Author: Nicole Williams
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: January 14th 2019

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He wants a second chance with his first love.

Before he was writing chart-topping hits and smashing record sales, Chase Lawson was Emma’s childhood friend and first love. They promised each other forever, but forever expired at eighteen, when he landed a major record deal and left Emma and their hometown behind.

Ten years later, he shows up at their high school reunion with a proposition she can’t refuse. Six months. Seven figures. He gets a chance to clean up his reputation, and she gets the means to restore the old family farmhouse. It’s only for show—hold hands in public, kiss for the cameras—but boundaries blur behind closed doors.

It isn't long before Emma feels her resolve slipping, crushed by the shadow of the boy she grew to love in the man selling out stadiums of present. Can Emma resist one of the most irresistible bachelors in the world? Or will she fall for the same man twice?

Nicole Williams usually writes sweet romances that I adore, and I really enjoyed Fool Me Once. It was a second chance romance which restarted with a fake relationship. It was amusing to see these two together after they had spent so much time apart, and watching their relationship develop once again.

I liked going on the road with Chase and Emma, as Chase was touring with his band. The journey brought them closer and they learned more about one another after spending so much time apart. Emma had every intention of keeping Chase at arms length, but every touch and interaction blurred the lines that she'd drawn.

I felt that this read could have been fleshed out a bit more. The book jumped to the next stage when I felt that there was more to that particular part in the story. Chase had a confession for Emma, which I didn’t really believe, because come on, he’s a famous country singer, and it’s been 10 years, I just didn’t think it would be realistic.

Otherwise, it was a really cute read, and I enjoyed the way Chase won Emma over. He treated her nicely and wore his heart on his sleeve. Emma was a bit reluctant but had a goal in mind, and was determined to get there, despite breaking her own heart. The ending, not my favourite, but it was sweet for these two. They were meant to be together, so somebody had to give.
This was a tipping point for Emma, as Chase constantly aired his feelings to her.

“Em,” he breathed, his eyes drowning in an emotion I didn’t have a name for. “I need you for everything.”
Something buried deep in my chest went soft. “You’ve got people who take care of every component of your life, from planning your meals to changing your sheets to planning your schedule down to the last minute. There’s no room for whatever else you think you might need from me in there.”
A puff of air burst from his nose as he gaped at me in utter disbelief. “Every person on this planet needs a reason to get up in the morning, and you, you are that for me.” One of his hands molded into the bend of my neck. “You’re my reason, Em.”
My lips met his before I’d consciously reacted to his words.

Kindle Loc 2012

Nicole  WilliamsBiographies are impossible for me to write without landing somewhere in the realm of lame. Which is ironic since I’m a writer attempting to, you know, do what I do and write. For whatever reason though, trying to sum up who I am is enough to make me rock myself into a psychiatric-something in a dark corner.

I could try explaining what I love: books, writing, adventures, the outdoors, animals, my family, my friends. I could list what I don’t love: hate, needles, narrow-mindedness, pantyhose, celery. I could go into my background and my sources of inspiration, sprinkling throughout witty bits of commentary and the expected author-fare of a few words that make a person scratch their head and reach for a dictionary. But the true biography of who I am is penned on the pages of my books, hidden between the words. Where I’ve been, who I am, where I’m going—it’s all there.

At the end of the day, I’m an open book.

Now that you know who I am, I’d love to get to know who you are. Life is about connections—here’s where you can connect with me:





Other reviews featuring Nicole Williams 
Glass Castle Prince 
Exes with Benefits 
Trusting You and Other Lies
The Outsider Chronicles
Hard Knox #1
Damaged Goods #2
Lost and Found series
Lost and Found #1
Near and Far #2

Finders Keepers #3

read more "Fool Me Once by Nicole Williams ~ Review & Teaser (@nwilliamsbooks)"

Sweet Thing by J.A. Huss ~ Review & Teaser (@jahuss)

This is the second book in the Naughty Things series, and although I haven't read any of the other books in the series, I quite enjoyed this standalone read. It was fun and sexy and I cannot wait for more! 
Sweet Thing
Title: Sweet Thing
Author: J.A. Huss
Series: Naughty Things #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: April 28th 2019

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I knew how old she was.
I just didn’t care.

RYKER
Aria Amherst lied about her age the first night we met.
But when I kissed her… I knew exactly how old she was.
And once I kissed her… I needed more.
I wanted all of her. I wanted everything she wasn’t really offering.
Until I found out that her father was making a deal with my business partner.
Then I wanted her more.

ARIA
Ryker North blew into my life like a wall of hot, tattooed muscle.
And did I mention he’s a drummer?
And a businessman?
And thirty-five years old?
And my father is going to kill me when he finds out I’m dating his new client?
It’s… complicated.
But take my word on this. He’s worth every risk I’m taking.

SWEET THING is a full-length standalone older-man-very-young-woman sexy romance filled with forbidden lust, too many ‘first times’ to count, inappropriate touching in public, and an angsty, but perfect, HEA.

What a sweet read this was! I’m used to Huss and her mind bending, reads, but this one was just so darn cute even though it had a touch of taboo mixed through it. There was a huge age difference between the characters, and when I first met Aria, she was only 17. Even though it felt a little wrong for these two to hook up, I secretly wanted them to!

Aria was a quiet girl who lived under the shadow of her sister. She was daddy’s little girl and always did the right thing. Staying at her sister's apartment was a way for her to grow and try to do new things. Once she met Ryker she experienced a lot of new things, in and out of the bedroom!

Ryker was infatuated with Aria right from their first meeting. He has always liked his women a little younger as he liked to take his time and teach them all he could about the fun of sex. Ryker would push Aria out of her comfort zone, and explore aspects she probably wouldn’t have done. Ryker was very patient with Aria as she was a little childish at times.

I always love to read what Huss writes, and that this book was a little different. I liked that it was dirty, the sex scenes were super hot and that Aria tried to keep Ryker to their deal but he continued to pursue her anyway. It was such a fun and light hearted read that I couldn't help but devour! I'm so excited to read more stories in this series!


Hehe... I loved that Aria tried to keep Ryker away, but he would get under her defences pretty easily!

“Kiss me,” he says.
“No,” I say. “I’m not getting involved with you. You’re too old, and too…”
“Too what?”
“Too much, OK? You’re way too much for me. I’m going to find a nice boy to date at class tomorrow and forget all about that kiss up in my sister’s apartment.”
“You sure about that, Aria?” I’m still watching his lips when he leans in.
Still very sure that this won’t happen because I say, “I’m sure.”
Except I say it just before his lips touch mine.
It’s the same kind of kiss as it was on Friday. Open mouth, probing tongue, and then he grabs my hair with both hands and won’t let me go.
He makes me kiss him.

Kindle Page 66

J.A. HussJA Huss is the New York Times Bestselling author of 321 and has been on the USA Today Bestseller’s list 21 times in the past four years. She writes characters with heart, plots with twists, and perfect endings. 

Her books have sold millions of copies all over the world, the audio version of her semi-autobiographical book, Eighteen, was nominated for a Voice Arts Award and an Audie Award in 2016 and 2017 respectively, her audiobook, Mr. Perfect, was nominated for a Voice Arts Award in 2017, and her audiobook, Taking Turns, was nominated for an Audie Award and Voice Arts Award in 2018. In May 2018 MGM Television optioned five of her books (Slack, Guns, Come, Come Back, and Coming For You –collectively called THE COMPANY) for a TV Series. She and Johnathan are partners in that TV series project —in fact, they started out writing the teleplay for The Company and soon after found themselves writing novels together too.

Johnathan McClain is her first (and only) writing partner and even though they are worlds apart in just about every way imaginable, it works.

She lives on a ranch in Central Colorado with her family.






Other reviews featuring J.A. Huss
The Dirty Ones
Jordan’s Game 
The Pleasure of Panic #2
Turning series
Taking Turns #1
Turning Back #2
SuperAlpha series
Anarchy Found #1
Anarchy Missing #2
Anarchy Chained #3
Mister series
Five #0.5
Mr. Perfect #1

Mr. Romantic #2
Mr. Corporate #3
Mr. Mysterious #4
Mr. Match #5
Mr. & Mrs. #6
Rook and Ronin series
Tragic #1
Manic #2
Panic #3
Happily Ever After #3.5
Rock
Other reviews featuring J.A. Huss & Johnathan McClain
Tall, Dark, and Handsome series
The Sexpert #1
Pierced #2
read more "Sweet Thing by J.A. Huss ~ Review & Teaser (@jahuss)"

Luna and the Lie by Mariana Zapata ~ Review & Teaser (@marianazapata_)

I'm really enjoying Mariana Zapata's books, each one hooks me and I loved meeting Luna and Rip! They were perfect for one another, it just took time for them to work it out!
Luna and the Lie
Title: Luna and the Lie
Author: Mariana Zapata
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: December 12th 2018

Buy Now - Amazon USAmazon Aus

The problem with secrets is that they’re too easy to keep collecting.

Luna Allen has done some things she would rather no one ever know about. She also knows that, if she could go back in time, she wouldn’t change a single thing.

With three sisters she loves, a job she (mostly) adores, and a family built up of friends she’s made over the years, Luna figures everything has worked out the way it was supposed to.

But when one of those secrets involves the man who signs her paycheck, she can’t find it in her to regret it. Despite the fact that he’s not the friendliest man in the world. Or the most patient.

Sometimes there are things you’re better off keeping to yourself.

I've read a couple of Mariana Zapata's books now, and each one starts like a slow burn, introducing the characters, building the world and she gets me hooked. I found that Luna wasn't as loud or outspoken like other heroines Zapata creates. She was quiet, sweet and easy to like. She cared a lot about her sisters, and had demons in her past that she tried to bury.

Rip mysteriously came into the company that Luna worked for three years ago. He was a big, broody, intimidating man who seemed to dislike Luna, but over time I could see him softening towards her. He went out of his way to help her when she needed it most, despite how hard Luna tried to push him, away.

I enjoyed the way that Luna and Rips relationship grew slowly throughout the book. Luna was reluctant to allow someone close again, as she'd been hurt by people that she loved most. Rip never thought that he'd find someone to share his life with and found it hard to express himself. I had hope that Luna would open her eyes and see what she tried to deny.

Again, I enjoyed Zapata's work. The story began slowly, but it's the way that she builds her world and characters. I thought that this read was a little darker and more serious than others of hers that I've read. Even though Luna and Rip took a long time to get together, I liked the lead up and the way Rip, in his own way, tried to win Luna over and show her how he felt. I'm looking forward to my next Zapata read.


Rip wasn't much of a talker, but these two moments made me happy!!

“I’m getting you flowers because I want to. Because you said nobody has ever given them to you, and I’m not about to let anyone else do it. This isn’t some boss shit, baby. This doesn’t have shit to do with Cooper’s. This is Luna and Rip. This is me trying to get you to give me a chance. Understand me?”

Kindle Loc 92%

“Yeah, I did, Luna. You wanna go out to eat? I’ll take you. You wanna go out and get a Sprite? Tell me. You want to watch a fucking movie? I’ll take you to the goddamn movies. If you want to go to beat the shit out of your cousin again, I’ll fucking take you. You want to meet someone to be your best friend and your fucking partner? I’m right fucking here, baby girl.”

Kindle Loc 94%

Mariana Zapata began writing love stories soon after she learned how to spell. She probably shouldn’t admit that she started sneaking romance novels from her aunt’s bookshelves way before she was old enough to even understand what it meant when a man flipped up a woman’s skirt… don’t tell her mom. Luckily, she stuck to stories about princesses and princes for a while. In her teens, she wrote boy band fanfiction (there’s still a website up somewhere on the internet with those masterpieces), and in her early twenties, she picked it back up again with Sookie Stackhouse and Twilight. Eventually, her significant other finally told her to do what she wanted to do and she began working on her original work. Her novels tend to include potty humor, bodily functions, and bad words. Mariana lives in a small town called Pagosa Springs, Colorado with her husband/best friend, Chris Letchford, and their two well-beloved (and emotionally manipulative) Great Dane children, Dorian and Kaiser. When she’s not pretending to write, she’s reading sci-fi, fantasy, steampunk or historical romance novels. You can usually find her harassing her dogs, being a hermit at home or cracking jokes at the expense of her family members.




Other reviews featuring Mariana Zapata
The Wall of Winnipeg and Me
Wait for It
read more "Luna and the Lie by Mariana Zapata ~ Review & Teaser (@marianazapata_)"

Plan B by Jana Aston ~ Review & Teaser (@JanaAston)

It's about time we got a new Jana Aston book, so you know I devoured it when I got it! However, it's taken me a little while to get my review up, so here it is!
Plan B (Best Laid Plans, #2)
Title: Plan B
Author: Jana Aston
Series: Best Laid Plans #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: July 2nd 2019

Buy Now - Amazon USAmazon AusB&N Kobo

Mistakes were made, okay?

The moment I laid eyes on Kyle Kingston I knew he was a mistake. A satisfying, toe curling, hair pulling, best night of my life mistake, but a mistake all the same. I didn’t yet know his name, or who he was, but I knew he was a bad idea.

I take comfort in that, because it means my instincts are still good. Too late, but it’s something.

Because, FYI, I’m pregnant

… and did I mention my baby daddy is both heir to a retail empire and impossible to get ahold of?

I do what any girl would. I break into his Grandfather’s retirement gala by telling the prissy gatekeeper Kyle’s my fiancé. It was a halfway decent plan at the time, trust me.

But it blows up in my face, disastrously so. You see, Kyle Kingston is all about representing the family values his family’s retail empire was founded on. At least in public. In private- well I’ll tell you about that later.

He proposes – a marriage of convenience.

Convenient for everyone but me, because while I’m falling in love with my convenient husband, he’s keeping a billion-dollar secret. From me.

I love it when Jana Aston releases a new book, because I know I am in for an amusing ride! That is exactly what I got with Plan B, plenty of awkward moments, laugh-out-loud situations and toe curling sexy times that had me eagerly flicking the pages!

There were so many times that Daisy put herself into situations where I was thinking no, no, no... but of course she would go ahead and do it, and it would have me cracking up, seeing her backtrack out of those awkward moments. She was a strong character though and wouldn't let anyone bring her down, and determined to get to Kyle so he knew what was going on.

I liked Kyle too, he did have his own secrets, but I could see that he had good intentions when it come to Daisy. They had great chemistry and he did everything to keep Daisy close once she re-entered his life. It was good to see his family welcome Daisy so easily, they just wanted to see Kyle happy.

Once again I thoroughly enjoyed Jana Aston's work, and the way that this story crossed over with Sure Thing, Violets book who is Daisy's twin sister. I enjoyed seeing the characters grow and adapt to the new situation that they found themselves in. It was a funny and sweet read and I loved being back in this world.

This was a sweet but amusing moment between Daisy and Kyle!

"I like how you charmed my grandmother within five minutes of meeting her. And how happy you made her with your crazy stories."
Well, that's new.
"I like the way you're unapologetically you, all the time. That you don't try to be someone you're not."
"Really? I feel like I've spent most of my twenties trying."
"You don't try with me."
"No, but I'd really let myself go by the time I met you."
He's joined me on my side of the counter and he sits down beside me. He takes my hands in his and meets my eyes. "I like how I feel when I'm with you."
Then he kisses me. Softly, a perfect press of his lips to mine. Then firmer.
"Is this okay?"
"Yes, God, yes. Is that what you've been waiting for? Some kind of invitation?"
"You were the one who asked if I was going to expect marital rights like it was the 1950s. I didn't want to push you."

Kindle Arc Loc 1581

Jana AstonJana Aston likes cats, big coffee cups and books about billionaires who deflower virgins. She wrote her debut novel while fielding customer service calls about electrical bills, and she's ever grateful for the fictional gynecologist in Wrong that readers embraced so much she was able to make working in her pajamas a reality. 

Jana's work has appeared on the NYT, WSJ and USA Today bestsellers list, some multiple times. She likes multiples.






Other reviews featuring Jana Aston
Good Girl
Best Laid Plans
Sure Thing #1
Wrong Series
Wrong #1
Right #2
Fling #2.5
Trust #3
read more "Plan B by Jana Aston ~ Review & Teaser (@JanaAston)"

A Nordic King by Karina Halle ~ Review & Teaser (@MetalBlonde)

I've been keen to get my hands on Askel's book... and it was a lot different than I thought it would be. It was a little darker and intense, but I still enjoyed it!
A Nordic King
Title: A Nordic King
Author: Karina Halle
Series: Royal Romance #3
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: September 20th 2018

Buy Now - Amazon USAmazon AusB&N Kobo

A widowed father of two little girls. The beautiful nanny he's hired to raise them. A forbidden romance unlike any other. A Nordic King is the newest standalone royal romance from the New York Times Bestselling author of The Pact and The Swedish Prince.

When I first applied for the job I thought it would be like all the others: working as a nanny for an aristocratic family.
Then I got the job and found out how wrong I was.

Now I’m the new nanny for two adorable little girls who happen to be princesses.

Their father is the widowed King of Denmark.
And my new home? The royal palace in Copenhagen.
Adjusting to my new life isn't easy but the hardest part hasn’t been the girls who still grieve over the loss of their mother.

It’s their father.

Cold, mysterious and moody, with an icy stare that seems to penetrate your soul, King Aksel may have hired me to take care of his daughters but he wants as little to do with me as possible.

Yet the longer I share these palace walls with this man, the more that I’m drawn to him. His chiseled face and sexual swagger are only part of the package. It’s in the long, intense glances at the dinner table, the way we’ll brush up against each other in the halls, the rare glimpses of the man deep inside, like the sun passing through clouds.

But no matter how I feel about him, we can never be together.

You think it's bad enough being in love with your boss?

Try falling in love with a king.

I've wanted to read A Nordic King since I read the first two Royal Romance books last year, and meeting the widowed King, who was the father of two little girls. I was excited to see who could bring him out of his shell, and hopefully she would bring light back into his life.

Aurora was an Aussie (as you may know I am too) and I was happy to see her have the opportunity to land herself a great job. It was difficult at first, because Aksel didn't want to give her a chance, but his beautiful cherubs were able to persuade him! It was amusing the way that Aurora would do things just to annoy Aksel, and rub him the wrong way... but I could see that sexual tension building and it would only be a matter of time!

Both Aksel and Aurora had dark issues in their pasts they needed to deal with. They were both so tortured and sad about what they were hiding and found it hard to open up. They found happiness with each other, and with the girls, but secrets always come back to haunt you. When Askel was around Aurora I loved seeing him grow into a happier person, considering how broody and cold that he was to begin with.

I enjoyed meeting the secondary characters; Maja (Aksel's Aunt) and Stella (Aksel's sister) were easy to like as well. They could see the goodness that Aurora brought to Aksels life. I wished that I could've seen more of the characters from the other books though, I only heard about Aksel seeing them. Overall, it was a little darker than the other two books in the series, and the characters had a big age difference, but it really was a rags-to-riches read. 

I liked how Aksel would make Aurora's heart soar, just by telling the truth.

“I do what any nanny would do.”
“Not even close. You don’t even do what some mothers would do. You are always going above and beyond for them. More than that, you let them be who they need to be without trying to contain them, without putting them in a box. They’ve never had that before, and it’s what I’ve always wanted for them. It’s what I never had growing up. You have such a big, beating heart and you love them and they feel that. You have no idea how invaluable that is. It’s worth more than a vase. It’s worth more than I can ever give you.”

Kindle Page 171


“You love me,” he whispers, closing his eyes and rocking back and forth slightly on his feet. “You love me. I am home.”
Tears spring to my eyes. “Home?”
He nods, just an inch, brow forever furrowed. “I’ve waited forty years for my heart to have a home,” he says softly. “I’ve waited for you.”

Kindle Page 261

Karina HalleKarina Halle is a former travel writer & music journalist and The New York Times, Wall Street Journal & USA Today Bestselling author of The Swedish Prince, The Pact, Love, in English, The Artists Trilogy, Bad at Love & over 45 other wild and romantic reads. She lives on an island off the coast of British Columbia with her husband and her adopted pup Bruce, where she drinks a lot of wine, hikes a lot of trails and devours a lot of books.





Other reviews featuring Karina Halle 
Royal Romance series 
The Wild Heir #1
The Swedish Prince #2

My Life in Shambles
Before I Ever Met You
Nothing Personal
Smut
The Debt
read more "A Nordic King by Karina Halle ~ Review & Teaser (@MetalBlonde)"