Single mom Anne Edmond can handle and hand-make just about anything. From table settings to party favors, floral arrangements to nursery décor, there is no project her creativity and a glue gun can’t tackle. But dating? That’s a whole another story. Case in point: Mike Everett. He’s a gorgeous mechanic and known car-whisperer, a man who can work with auto parts like nobody’s business. And he has thrown a monkey wrench into Anne’s carefully-crafted life.

 

One look at Anne is enough for Mike to know that she’s no fixer-upper. She’s perfect just the way she is and the chemistry between them works like a charm. Mike’s always been a no-strings kind of guy, but Anne’s impressive self-reliance and gorgeous exterior gives him pause. This time, a fast joyride just doesn’t seem like enough. But first he has to convince Anne that he means to take her all the way…

Amazon/B&N

*EXCERPT*

As the party wrapped up, Mike excused himself from the table, on a mission to grab Bailey and leave, when all the little girls ran inside. He followed, just in time to catch sight of them running up the stairs. Well, he certainly wasn’t going to follow her up into the personal living space. He walked back toward the kitchen and straight into Anne. They stopped in the narrow hallway between the living room and the kitchen, their bodies close. A light sheen of perspiration had built up on her cleavage and on her temples. He realized the floral smell wasn’t only the home, it was also her.

“Hey, this was a really nice party, Anne. Bailey seemed to have a great time,” he said.

“Thank you for bringing her. Bailey and Claire have become best friends this year at school. I think the party turned out well, too.” She looked genuinely happy about his comment, which made him think of a few inappropriate things he’d like to thank her for. He took a deep breath and tried to resist his baser urges, the ones telling him to get closer… ask her out, say something to let her know he was into her.

No, he’d already decided that was not going to happen. Never mind the fact that his sister would kill him if while doing her a favor he ended up trying to hook up with one of the school moms. As if Anne was even the hookup type. No, she was definitely the making-love kind of woman. He expected her to rotate any second, put some space between them, but she shocked him by stepping slightly closer as she spoke.

“So, I . . . um, put some stuff in a box.” He glanced down, and she was holding a pink pastry box with the Callie’s Confection’s logo on it. He raised an eyebrow, and she instantly looked embarrassed. “I mean, there were just so many cupcakes left . . . and Lord knows the last thing I need is more sweets in the house.”

She bit her bottom lip and scrunched up her nose in the most adorable nervous tic he’d ever seen. He was pretty sure she was trying to flirt with him by giving him take-home treats. She wasn’t offering any of the moms boxes to take home. At least he didn’t think she was. In that moment he wanted to take the awkwardness away, assure her that flirting with him was not only welcome, but a complete turn-on.

“You’re perfect. I think you should eat all the sweets you want.” He edged closer, placing his fingers over hers on the box. The sharp hitch of her breath made him feel a little bolder and a lot like ignoring the part of his brain telling him this was not a good idea. She chewed again lightly at her lower lip, the sight of it sending inappropriate signals throughout his body. Well, fuck it. “And thank you, I’m sure what you’re offering is . . . delicious,” he murmured.

Her lips parted on a tiny gasp and he worried he had gone too far, misunderstood the gesture. Some women liked to feed the dude in the room. But then her expression softened. Her mouth slid into a little smile, relaxing his nerves along with it. She was so out of his league, and he didn’t exactly fit the mold of ready-made stepdad. At least he hoped he didn’t. So what really was her motivation? Maybe she was interested in a little fun.

“You know.” Her head tipped to the side and her voice had gotten soft. “Claire and I were going to head to Settlers Park in about an hour… you are more than welcome to bring Bailey and meet us there. I mean since they’re best friends . . .”

“Oh, Anne, I’d love to, but—” Shit, there was nothing more he would like to do than go to the park with Anne, which surprised him almost as much as her asking him to do it. But he had a date with Katie. He couldn’t even bring himself to say it out loud. “I can’t.”

“Oh my gosh, I mean, of course. God, I’m so sorry, I don’t even know why I asked . . .” She made the cute little scrunched face again, and it was killing him to see her uncomfortable. He didn’t want Anne to regret being forward with him, hell it was amazing, but why did she have to suggest today of all days? “It’s Saturday, you probably have . . . oh gosh, you would never want to go to the park. Never mind, the girls will see each other at school, and gymnastics class or . . . something.”

“Uncle Mike has a hot date tonight. He told me.” Bailey was jumping down the stairs above them, and each thud of her feet hitting the squeaky old wood matched the pounding of his heart as he watched the expression of understanding and then embarrassment on Anne’s face.

“Well . . . good for you. How fun, it’s such a beautiful day. It should be, umm, perfect for a date.” Anne’s words were excited and over-the-top happy, making this even harder and more uncomfortable.

“I’m sorry—” he started.

“Oh goodness, stop.” She held a hand up to shush him and smiled. “No need for all that, let me just, um. Let me get Bailey’s goodie bag and you guys can get outta here.”

She walked away, her pink dress swishing around her legs. He caught her rubbing her temple, a gesture that implied she was upset or embarrassed, and it pissed him off that the situation had gone from flirty to awkward in a matter of seconds. It was only a hunch, but he would bet that Anne Edmond didn’t make the first move often. She likely wouldn’t be repeating it anytime soon after this.

Then again, maybe it didn’t really bother her. Hell, it wasn’t like she could possibly be looking for something serious, not with some random blue-collar guy that showed up at her daughter’s birthday party. She probably felt safe flirting with him, testing the waters before she worked up to someone who was her equal, some- one she would want to build a family with in this cute little house. It was really for the best. He had no business considering spending any more time with Anne

because they were complete opposites and she needed the sushi-loving man who wore a tie. Mike was not that guy. No, he was the man that would get grease stains on her matching pillows. It wasn’t a natural fit, not by a long shot, and he’d known it from the moment he laid eyes on her.

He had done his job, covered for Erin, played the parent for the day, and now it was time to go back to his very unpink, uncluttered, and unhomemade life. He had a date with Katie and he was pretty damn sure her hobbies were more of the carnal variety. Which was exactly what he needed in order to forget Anne Edmond.

About the Author:

When she’s not writing, cooking, or hanging out with her husband, NICOLE MICHAELS is a portrait and wedding photographer. She enjoys writing love stories with happy endings and lives outside of Kansas City with her husband and three sons. Visit her at http://nicolemichaelsbooks.com/

Jennifer’s Review of Start Me Up

Review (4.5 Stars): Start Me Up was a sweet and charming romance that had me laughing at the humor that was laced throughout most of this  book.  I liked Anne and Mike together even though he was used to playing the field and Anne had a hard time believing that she was as wonderful as everyone told her that she was.  There were times in this book that I wanted to smack Mike for the way that he treated Anne because she deserved happiness in her life and Mike needed to step up to the plate to be that guy for her.  He redeemed himself in the end and I hope he spends the rest of their lives making up for it.  Start Me Up was a delightful story and I can’t wait to read more from this talented author.

Giveaway

I’m excited to give away a copy of Start Me Up. This giveaway is for US Residents only.  To be entered in the drawing by March 7th, please leave me a comment below:

There’s nothing like a hot kiss on a cold day…

Librarian Maureen O’Connell might have predicted she’d find herself crying into the ice cream case at the supermarket after a bad breakup—but she definitely never imagined that a guy hot enough to melt the Rocky Road would flirt with her right there in the freezer aisle. Only Gavin Fraser isn’t a fantasy, he’s a mouth-watering new flavor…

When a freak snowstorm strands Maureen at Gavin’s after just one date, it’s a perfect excuse for something a lot steamier than hot chocolate in front of the fire. It’s definitely lust. Can it also be love?

Amazon/B&N

By the time she got to the ice cream freezer, Maureen couldn’t hold it in any more. So she just let it go. Why not?
It was a Friday night. Now that she was apparently single, why not let fat, ugly tears stain her oversized, hooded sweatshirt while she stood in the ice cream aisle of the grocery store?
“There’s frozen yogurt, you know.”

Maureen jumped and turned to see . . . well, a god. He was at least a head taller than she. His brown hair was a smidge too long and curled into the collar of his flannel shirt. His jaw was strong and sharp—a man face. His dark eyebrows emphasized deep blue eyes—eyes that were looking at her with curiosity, sympathy, and, if she wasn’t mistaken, a hint of mischief.

“I’m sorry?”

“If you’re so upset about the calories, try frozen yogurt.” “Oh, no, it’s not that, it’s just—” Maureen was stammering.

Stammering in front of a god.

“Kidding.”

“Oh. Ha.” Bad jokes. Okay, so he wasn’t perfect.

“Sorry. I do my best work in produce.” Damn, that was cute. He’s definitely perfect, Maureen thought as she stood there dumbly, unable to process the perfection of his face (and those shoulders—even through his beat-up leather jacket she could see he had strong shoulders).

Not to mention the fact that a god was making bad jokes at her while she stood crying with the freezer door open.

“Can I just—” He reached around her for a pint of mint chocolate chip.

“Oh, my gosh, yes, sorry.” Maureen completed that articulate thought by backing into her shopping cart.

“Hey, easy now,” the god said as he placed a steadying hand on her arm. Even through her sweatshirt she could feel his hand was warm and strong.

“Listen, are you okay?”

“What? Yes! I’m fine.”

“It’s just that I don’t always see beautiful women crying in front of the ice cream.”

Ha. Beautiful. “Where do you usually see them crying?” He laughed. “Nowhere, if I can help it.” “Well, I don’t usually do this. I’m just a little . . . emotional,” she sniffed, wiping her nose on her sleeve. Smooth, Maureen. Real smooth.

“I can see that.”

“I didn’t mean to bother you.”

“The only thing that will bother me is if I leave this store without seeing you smile. I bet you have a great smile.” She raised an eyebrow. Was he flirting? He was pretty sure of himself. Probably came from being so perfect.

“Ah, a look of disdain,” he said. “We’re getting somewhere.

So, what’s it gonna take to make you smile?” “Maybe I just don’t feel like smiling, okay? Maybe I have nothing to smile about.”

“Did your dog die?”

“What?”

“Is that why you’re crying? Your dog?” “No, I don’t have a dog.”

“Did you lose your job?”

“No.”

“Inoperable cancer?”

“No! That’s not funny.”

“Well, what else is there to cry about?” “My boyfriend, okay? My stupid boyfriend decided after two years that he’s ‘not feeling it’ so he dumped me.” “Idiot.”

“And I was naked!”

She caught him looking her up and down, no doubt taking in her spinster sweats and frazzled hair. “Double idiot.” “Yeah, right.”

“You know what you need?”

“A hit man?”

He laughed again, quick and smooth. “No. What you need is someone to take your mind off your boyfriend. Exboyfriend.” “Are you propositioning me? In a grocery store?” He looked a little flustered, but soldiered on. “I’ve seen it dozens of times. Beautiful, sharp women dropped by undeserving idiot men. And you’re going to go home and drown your sorrows in ice cream and wonder what you did wrong.” “Are you suggesting I shouldn’t eat ice cream?” “Hey, I’ve got no problem with ice cream,” he said, indicating the pint melting in his cart. “I have a problem with you feeling bad.”

“You don’t even know me.”

“I know you’re gorgeous.”

Maureen snorted.

“Okay, almost a smile. Have a drink with me?” He took a step forward.

Maureen felt somewhere in the back of her mind that she should step back. But he smelled good, like that crisp Irish soap she loved, so she didn’t.

Instead, she matched his step forward.

“Gorgeous, huh?”

“Absolutely. I love this hair.” He fingered a blonde curl that had escaped her ponytail. “Your freckles are adorable.” He ran a finger over her cheeks. “Your lips,” he ran a thumb over her lower lip, and Maureen couldn’t take it anymore.

She took that last step, closing the distance between them, and his mouth came down to meet hers. His lips were soft and warm, and she felt his fingers gently tickle her neck as she opened her mouth to let him in.

All of her tension, all of her heartache rushed out of her the moment her tongue touched his. At first he was tentative, but she began to wrestle his mouth, fighting to get closer.

His hands moved boldly down her back, pulling her hips until she slammed into him. She threw her arms around his neck and tilted her head so he could move deeper, deeper, exploring her with teeth and tongue. She lifted her foot onto the lip of the open freezer, tipping her knee out so she cradled his hips and the impressive bulge in his jeans. She clamped her fingers in his hair to get a hold on him because she thought she was melting away and she wasn’t ready for this to be over. This was nothing like kissing Dave. This man was a complete stranger and his kiss possessed her, bewitched her more thoroughly than Dave ever had. He wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her off her feet so she was pressed against him, molded to solid muscle. He felt so strong and so sure.

But a girl had to breathe. Reluctantly, she pulled back and he gently lowered her to the ground. She was glad to see he was as dazed and breathless as she was.

“Whoa.”

His simple exclamation, said on a swift exhale, hit her right in the gut. She had done that to him. She, disheveled and in sweatpants, had flummoxed a god.

She looked up into those deep blue eyes, still dark with passion.

And she smiled.

“I guess I do have something to smile about.”

About the Author:

By day, Sarah Title is a (sort of) mild-mannered librarian in West Virginia, and by night, she writes funny, steamy, comfort reads.  Sarah holds a B.A. in English from Vassar College and an M.L.S. from Indiana University.  Her first book, Kentucky Home, was released by eKensington in April 2013.  The follow-up novella, “Kentucky Christmas,” came out, surprisingly, the following December.  She also contributed to the anthology, Delicious, with Lori Foster and Lucy Monroe.

Website/Twitter/Facebook

 

Jennifer’s Review of Snowed In

Review (4 Stars): Snowed In was a delightful romance where two people discover that fate steps in when you least expect it.  Maureen has just been dumped by her boyfriend and finds herself in tears in the middle of the ice cream aisle when Gavin steps in, trying just about anything to make this beautiful stranger smile.  What started as a chance encounter turns into something more when they find themselves snowed in with no option but to get to know each other better.  Things are about to heat up for these two and this one night may turn into forever.

This was a fun, sexy novella that is fast-paced and will definitely keep your attention.  I liked Maureen and Gavin together and I thought it was extremely brave of Maureen to take a chance with Gavin right after meeting him in the grocery store.  They barely knew each other’s names but they had that spark and instant attraction that made them want to find out more about each other.  Their chemistry was off the charts and I was sad when this story came to an end because I wanted to read more about these characters.  Ms. Title did a great job with Snowed In and I would love to read more from her Southern Comfort series.

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IF YOU CAN’T STAND THE HEAT…

Teagan O’Malley can handle a crisis. She’s a paramedic, it’s her job. But she never expected to land in the kitchen of her father’s pub, with no notice, no cash, and no room for error. The kitchen is not her favorite place. Lucky for her, she just scraped a bad-boy chef off the pavement after a motorcycle accident—and something about him says he can turn up the heat in more ways than one.

Adrian Holt has had a rough few years, and he’s not eager to get tangled up in anything more complicated than a good risotto. But with a broken arm and a head full of bad memories, he needs a challenge to keep him sane. Teagan’s dare-me attitude and smoldering mess of a bar are just what the doctor ordered. And the two of them together might cook up some even better medicine…

Amazon/B&N

The astringent bite of rubbing alcohol reached Teagan’s nose as she tore into the packet in her hand, and she measured the intricate black tattoo on Adrian’s right forearm with a casual glance. Placing a line was more about feel than anything else, but it didn’t make this a cozy jaunt down Main Street, either. Still, procedure was procedure, and she wasn’t about to tell the docs in the emergency department that she didn’t start an IV en route when she knew damn well they were expecting her to do it. Explaining the shoulder thing was going to be bad enough.

Taking her eyes off a guy like Adrian in the first place had been the highest order of stupid. She wasn’t screwing up his care again.

“So how come you’re sticking me, exactly?”

His much-softened tone snagged her attention, and she adjusted hers to match. “Because you need painkillers on board before we get to Riverside. The doctors there are going to give you a pretty good workup. It’s not going to be fun.”

“I’m okay with the pain,” he said, although the thin sheen of sweat on his brow coupled with his skin’s growing pallor said otherwise.

Teagan shrugged. “You need the IV regardless. Might as well let the meds take the edge off.” She sat on the bench seat at Adrian’s side and flipped his right arm palm-side up, running her fingers down the corded length from elbow to wrist in search of a good spot.

“So what language is this, anyway?” she asked, folding his hand into a fist before tracing the thickly scrolled letters spanning his skin from wrist to elbow. Maybe if she distracted him, he’d let her do her job without complaint.

“Italian.” He didn’t elaborate, but he also didn’t balk as she ripped open the IV kit she’d pulled from the med box.

“Oh. What does it mean?” Teagan tapped the pad of one gloved finger against the vein now standing in relief against his skin right above the words vivere senza rimpianti.

“You ask a lot of questions, don’t you?”

The edgy little smile that had caught her so off guard in the middle of the road was back in full force, and it hadn’t lost an ounce of steam in its absence.

Teagan’s cheeks prickled with the unfamiliar sensation of a blush. “Sorry. Little pinch here. Ready?”

He nodded, keeping his smile locked in place. “Whenever you are, Red.”

Right. Because that nickname hadn’t haunted her enough in the third grade. “Just hold still.”

She guided the IV into place with a few deft movements despite the fact her pulse had just taken on all the properties of a freight train. “I’m going to put some Fentanyl in here to ease some of your pain. It works pretty quickly, so you should be able to relax soon.”

“Whatever will get this over with faster.” Adrian looked away, the smile slipping from his face as he shifted his weight against the semi-reclined surface of the cot. It figured he’d go and get all agreeable when they were halfway to the hospital, but truly, Teagan knew better than to complain.

She drew two hundred micrograms of Fentanyl into a syringe and worked it into the IV, doing a visual sweep to make sure all systems were go. “I’m just going to recheck your vitals here and see if we can manage some focus assessment before those pain meds get in the way.”

“Focus assessment sounds like something my high school guidance counselor tried once. Hate to break it to you, but it didn’t work out so well then. Doubt you’ll have much luck with it now.”

Teagan’s laugh popped out before she could swallow it, and she palmed the penlight from her bag. “Don’t worry, it’s not that tough. Look up for me.”

Adrian fastened her with a dead-on stare, and whoa, there was a lot roiling around in those hazel eyes of his. No matter how big and bad, most car accident victims experienced some form of shock or another in the aftermath. Her social skills might not be impeccable—or hell, even good—but it was time to keep this guy as calm as possible.

So, tell me,” she said, slipping the pulse ox clip over his finger. “What do you do, Adrian?”

His forehead creased, making his surprise a dead giveaway.

“I’m a chef.”

Looked like surprise was catching. “And how long have you been a chef?”

“Since the day I was born.”

The laughter pushing past her lips caught her off guard for the second time in as many minutes. “You’ve been busy, then. You must work at the place in the resort.” That tiny tickle of recognition fanned over her again, but as soon as she flicked her attention toward it, it was gone, like smoke in a stiff breeze.

“What makes you say that?” He canted his head to the side, his shoulders seeming to loosen slightly.

Teagan noted his current vitals before continuing with the exam. “Because unless you count the bakery on Main Street, there are only two other full-service places to eat in Pine Mountain, and there isn’t a chef in either one.”

The thought of Lou, the lanky guy who worked his magic at her father’s bar and grill, working up a hoity-toity dish like on those reality shows was downright laughable. Not that Adrian really fit that mold either, but still. He’d been the one to use the c-word, not her.

As if he’d just climbed into her head for an easy looksee, Adrian teased, “Careful making assumptions over there. I ditched the tall white hat as soon as I graduated from culinary school.”

She held up her hands, busted. “Okay. But for the most part, we townies tend to just sling hash and be done with it.” Teagan examined him carefully, and this time the vague recognition darting around in her brain snagged and held. “The restaurant at the resort! You were there last year, when we responded to that call for the other chef. A woman.”

The tumblers and gears of her memory locked into place over the image. They’d been first on scene, and Evan had gone to secure the patient—a nasty facial trauma, if she remembered right. Teagan had been too busy securing the rest of the scene, namely trying to peel Adrian off of Jackson Carter, a local guy she’d known since middle school.

The fight had been short-lived. And Adrian had been boiling-point furious.

“She’s my boss,” Adrian said, dispelling only a touch of the mystery running through her head. “You remember that?”

“Small town. And you have a memorable right hook.”

His eyes flared, in way more panic than irritation. “It wasn’t like that, exactly.” A pause, and it looked like hers weren’t the only gears sliding into place. “Wait, that was you who jumped in the middle of things.”

Teagan nodded, sliding down the bench toward his feet and laying the flat of her hand against the bottom of one monstrous boot. “Securing the scene to administer care is part of the job. Press forward as far as you can.”

He did, and when she prompted, he gave a quick repeat on the other side. “You could get hurt like that, being in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

“Said the guy on the gurney,” she said, unable to bite back a wry smile. “How’s your arm feeling?” Now that she’d had more time for a more focused exam, it was clear the broken arm was likely the only injury he’d sustained, and even that looked pretty straightforward. Lucky bastard.

“Pretty good.” He closed his eyes for a fraction too long to be a blink, and that, coupled with his answer, signaled the Fentanyl was starting to kick in nice and hard.

“Good. We should be at the hospital in another seven minutes, give or take. You can close your eyes if you want.”

Another blink, this one shuttering his eyes just enough to be sexy as hell. “That might not . . . be the best idea.”

Concern splashed through Teagan’s chest, and she leaned forward from her perch on the bench seat at his side. “Are you sure you’re feeling okay?”

“Relax.” A lazy smile joined his bedroom eyes, sending an entirely different sensation through her chest. “I’m not going to code on you or anything. It’s just, ah, easier to forget about the pain if I’m distracted, that’s all.”

Oh, buddy. If you only knew. “Okay, but consider yourself forewarned. I’m not sure I’m the best person for the job.” Teagan bit her lip over a pause. “Polite conversation isn’t exactly my forte.”

“Polite conversation is for amateurs,” he said. “Tell me something important.”

A streak of shock popped through her veins. “You want me to tell you something personal?” That Fentanyl must be knocking him sideways if he thought she was going to spill her soul.

“Yeah,” Adrian said on nothing more than a rumble. “Personal. What’s your favorite ice-cream flavor?”

More laughter escaped in an unexpected burst, but at least it was a painless question. Poor guy probably was a little loopy from the meds. “Umm, wow. Coffee, I guess.”

“I could see that.” His voice was slow, and it dashed all the way down her spine, lingering only when it reached the lowest point between her hips.

Desperate for something clinical to keep her busy, Teagan snatched a few packets of alcohol wipes. She tore one open and leaned in, dabbing methodically at a scrape above Adrian’s eye.

“Ah.” She shook her head, giving the cut a closer look.

“You’ve got a pretty nasty lac here. It’s small, but looks kind of deep. I hate to tell you, but you’re probably going to have to lose this piercing to have it stitched up.”

“Great,” he said, although the sarcasm didn’t quite stick. “You can go ahead and take it out, I guess.”

Teagan made quick work of removing the stainless steel barbell, sliding it into a plastic bag before giving voice to the question in her head. “So how about you?”

“How about me what?” He angled the side of his face so it fit tight into the curve of her hand, and she scooped in a shallow breath at the increased contact.

“What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream?” she murmured, surprised to find herself actually wanting to know. His eyes went from warm hazel to smoky quartz in the time it took her to exhale, and he dipped his gaze to her mouth.

“Strawberry.”

“And what’s so great about strawberries?” Oh hell. Was that her voice, all breathy and ridiculous?

“They’re perfect.” He curled the fingers of his uninjured hand around hers, pulling her in and reducing the space between them to a mere sliver. With his stare resting right on her lips, he said, “And red.”

Before the word even sank in, Adrian lifted his mouth to hers in a slow stroke. His lips were the exact opposite of the rest of him, soft and accommodating, and Teagan gasped against them. He tasted like cinnamon, spicy and dangerous, and he tightened beneath her like he had every intention of parting her mouth with his own and discovering all of her. Her brain screamed that she should pull back, give him what-for, do something other than just sit there and let him kiss her, but all her good intentions fell prey to one simple fact.

She didn’t want him to stop.

But then, just as quickly as he’d closed the space between them, Adrian pulled away, and the resulting rush of cool air brought Teagan back to earth with a hasty snap.

“Sorry. I . . .” Adrian trailed off, eyes at half-mast. “I’m so tired.”

“Close your eyes.” Thank God she’d at least faked her way back to her normal speaking voice. The sound of it steadied her ever further. “We’ll be at Riverside in a couple of minutes.”

As if on cue, Evan leaned back and aimed his voice into the narrow pass-through, one eye still on the road as he hollered an ETA of ninety seconds. Teagan shucked her gloves and swept up the debris in the rig, double-checking Adrian’s vitals even though her own probably looked like a skyline shot of Mount Everest. His eyes were closed, his chest rising and falling in smooth rhythm. She’d given him enough Fentanyl to knock out a basketball team, so it really wasn’t a shock that he’d gotten a little goofy. He probably wouldn’t even remember kissing her when his eyes opened up again.

The smartest thing she could do was forget it, too.

About the Author:

Kimberly Kincaid writes contemporary romance that splits the difference between sexy and sweet. When she’s not sitting cross-legged in an ancient desk chair known as “The Pleather Bomber”, she can be found practicing obscene amounts of yoga, whipping up anything from enchiladas to éclairs in her kitchen, or curled up with her nose in a book.

Kimberly is a 2011 RWA Golden Heart® finalist who lives (and writes!) by the mantra that food is love. Her digital Line series is all about the hot cops and sexy chefs of Brentsville, New York. She is also the author of the Pine Mountain series, which follows small town singles as they find big-time love. Kimberly resides in Virginia with her wildly patient husband and their three daughters.

Website/Twitter/Facebook

Jennifer’s Review of Fire Me Up

Review (4.5 Stars): Fire Me Up is my first visit to Pine Mountain and I am excited to say that it definitely won’t be my last.  Teagan and Adrian were a great couple that had a lot of sexual chemistry and you could see the attraction from the moment that they saw each other after Adrian’s accident.  Teagan was a firecracker who could handle herself in pretty much any situation and characters that are medically trained have a special place in my heart. Ms. Kincaid did a great job describing what Teagan’s life was like as an EMT and I’ve worked with several people with personalities similar to Teagan’s and they are definitely the person that you want taking care of you after an accident.

Adrian was a bit of a mystery to me for most of this book because I know that he had secrets that he was hiding but he was such a great guy.  He was stubborn at times, an amazing cook and extremely sexy, all wrapped up in this tough looking biker dude.  If Teagan didn’t take him, I would just because most of us would never turn down a guy that can cook for us as well.

Fire Me Up was a sizzling romantic read that will have you wanting more from this charming community.  I enjoyed my time with Teagan and Adrian in Fire Me Up and I can’t wait to spend more time getting to know the characters in the first three books of the series.

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YOU CAN’T STOP A RISING TIDE

When Lily Doyle spots her high school crush Aiden Flynn on the inbound ferry, she knows trouble is about to dock in Seashell Bay. And not just because he’s more handsome than ever. If Aiden’s in town, the rumors must be true about his family’s plan to sell their coastal land to the highest bidder. But Lily will do whatever it takes to convince the hottest guy on the beach to protect their idyllic island home.

Gorgeous Lily Doyle was the only thing Aiden missed after he escaped from his hometown to play pro baseball. Now all Aiden wants is to wrap up the business deal and get back to his life, not relive a past that still haunts him. But as memories rush in about the night of passion he and Lily shared long ago, everything else washes right out to sea-everything except the desire that still burns between them.

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Lily put her hands on her nicely curved hips, her feet planted apart like she was about to give him a lecture. Aiden remembered that stance so well. Lily Doyle had been feisty as a teenager, and time hadn’t changed that.

But she surprised him with her soft tone, sweetly colored by that gentle island lilt she would never shake.

“You still hate it back here, don’t you? You’ve been away almost half your life, but it feels to me like not much has changed since we were kids.”

As far as Aiden could tell, she wasn’t bitter or judgmental. If anything, she sounded sad for him. “Hate’s a strong word,” he said cautiously.

Was she right that not much had changed? Sometimes it felt like everything had changed. He’d left Seashell Bay fourteen years ago with his dreams in full bloom, a pro contract in his pocket, and the promise of a major-league baseball career. Now, that career was in tatters and his future in the game murky at best. The golden boy had come home with a decidedly tarnished luster.

“I wish you could see the island the way I see it, Aiden,” she said, her green eyes so earnestly intense. “See the people the way I see them. Seashell Bay is such a beautiful place, and the people are just so damn decent, despite their faults. I hate it that your father took that away from you.”

Aiden pressed his lips together, his tangled emotions keeping him silent.

“There’s so much good here,” Lily went on in a gentle but relentless voice. “So much that’s right for the soul. You just have to be able to see it.”

He wanted to. He really did, but he could still see her father stomping down the pier, eyes full of suspicion and fury. And then there was his dad, whose contempt and anger toward him—an anger Aiden had never fully understood—had colored everything about the place. There was too much ugliness in his past, too much darkness to ever make the island right for him again.

But he couldn’t say that. Not all of it, anyway.

“The only good thing I see in Seashell Bay is you, Lily, just like always,” he said, briefly cupping her soft cheek.

“But you’re right, nothing’s changed for me. Nothing fundamental, anyway.”

When Lily’s pretty mouth pursed in dismay, it was all Aiden could do not to grab her and kiss away the pain— his pain more than hers, he suspected. Instead, he turned away to gaze across the channel and think about the complicated mess his life had become.

“Well, I really should get going,” she finally mumbled. “It’s getting late.”

“Yeah, you should.” He turned to face her and smiled. Hell, there was no reason to take his crappy mood out on Lily, the one bright spot in his life right now. “But will I see you at the Pot tonight? Or are you going to be too busy plotting my downfall in the race?”

Lily’s laughter was sweet music as it echoed over the still waters of the harbor. “No and no. I’m sure I’ll be too exhausted to hang out at the Pot.”

It sucked that he wouldn’t see her, but he couldn’t deny the pleasure in hearing that she obviously wasn’t doing the bar scene. He guessed that made him a jealous ass-hole when he had no right to be, but he could live with it.

“That’s a shame. But if you change your mind, I’ll buy you a drink. Or two.”

“I won’t,” she said as she climbed back into her skiff. “But maybe I’ll see you at the Blueberry Festival tomorrow.” Then she suddenly cut him a teasing smile.

“What?” he asked, as she yanked the outboard’s starter cord and the little engine came to life with a cough and a puff of acrid smoke.

“I still remember how darn cute you looked when you were selling those pies at the festival for your mom,” she yelled over the motor noise. “You did that every year until high school, as I recall. What a good little boy you were back then.”

Aiden gave her a mock scowl as he used his foot to ease the skiff away from the pier. He not only remembered the blueberry pies he’d sold to festivalgoers from a goofy booth, he could still practically smell them and taste their summer sweetness on his tongue. Nobody could bake a blueberry pie like his mother, God rest her sweet soul.

He stood and watched Lily’s skiff putter out to the channel, feeling like he had a strange hole in the center of his chest. Then he turned and retreated back up the dock until he hit the road again at a flat-out run.

About the Author:

V.K. Sykes is really two people – Vanessa Kelly and Randy Sykes, a husband and wife team who write USA Today Bestselling contemporary romance and also romantic suspense. Randy excels at plot and characterization, but tends to fall down on the job when it comes to that pesky old thing called emotion. That’s where Vanessa steps in. She usually writes the sex scenes too, since Randy is a bit uncomfortable when it comes to that sort of stuff. Vanessa also writes award-winning Regency-set historical romance for Kensington Zebra under her own name. You can check out Vanessa’s bestselling historical romances at www.vanessakellyauthor.com

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Jennifer’s Review of Meet Me At The Beach

Review (4 Stars): I loved Aiden and Lily together as a couple and I was so glad that they got a second chance at love.  Aiden Flynn has returned home to Seashell Bay to decide if he wants to sell his piece of land to developers or keep this lovely community the way that it is.  Lily Doyle has always been the one woman that got away and now Aiden has a chance to make things right.  The two of them together will heat up the night but if Aiden decides to sell his land, he may take away everything that the town has worked so hard to create.

Meet Me At The Beach was a sweet light-hearted romance that will have you wanting to visit this lovely seaside community.  I loved Aiden and Lily’s story together and it was amazing that they got together in the first place because their families were fighting for so long. This story was fast-paced and fun to read and I was surprised at how quickly the pages flew by.  Meet Me At The Beach is a great start to a new series and I’m looking forward to seeing which characters we will learn more about in the next book of the series.

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When a McKinney brother falls in love, powerful emotion and overwhelming desire are never far behind.

Two hearts locked away . . . Hannah Walker spends her days coaching children through injury and trauma, one therapeutic horseback ride at a time. She knows all too well how violence can change a child and leave scars that never heal. It’s easy for her to relate to the kids; what isn’t easy is the thought of facing her own harrowing past.

Millionaire playboy Stephen McKinney could use a little coaching himself. Five years ago he encountered his most horrible nightmare—and the nightmare won. No matter what he achieves, nothing can make up for that awful night . . . or so he believes.

Both desperate for a second chance . . . Stephen is used to getting what he wants. And he wants Hannah. So when she turns him down, he’s intrigued. What he doesn’t know is that her secrets will lead him to a place he never wanted to go again . . . to a side of himself he’s tried to forget . . . a side that would scare Hannah away from ever loving him. Now his only chance to win her trust is to bare his soul, risking everything he tried so hard to protect.

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Hannah’s eyes burned and her head ached from the effort not to cry as she pulled into a parking spot at Foodland. At eight o’clock that morning she’d walked into the veterinarian’s office a dog owner. Three hours later she’d walked out . . . not.

She cut the engine, her forehead dropped to the steering wheel. She’d known Max wasn’t himself, that he might be sick, that eleven was old for a dog, especially a large shepherd mix. But she hadn’t expected to hear the words nothing we can do, or best thing for him.

Biting her lip against tears, she forced herself out and into a spring day so bright and beautiful she couldn’t decide if it was cheerful or a slap in the face.

She grabbed a cart and mentally planned her route, hitting produce first. Avocados, jalapeños, tomatoes. She searched her fuzzy brain for what else she needed for guacamole, her standard contribution when she went to her brother’s. Exactly where she did not want to go tonight. She didn’t want to watch the brothers who’d raised her tiptoeing around, giving one another worried looks, thinking they needed to fix it like they always did. They couldn’t fix this. A lot of things couldn’t be fixed.

Finished with that, she silently repeated the rest. Chips, bread, beer. Chips, bread, milk, beer. She added things and ticked them off as she went. But old habits were hard to break, and like a car on autopilot, she found herself in the dog food aisle.

All she saw were Max’s big eyes fixed on hers. Trusting her when she said it would be okay, not understanding the vet’s syringe was filled with enough anesthesia he’d never wake up. The lump in her throat swelled until she couldn’t swallow past it. Her nose burned and the bags in front of her blurred.

Just get the beer and go. She wheeled around and turned the corner of the next aisle.

She couldn’t handle a pity party tonight. Of course if she didn’t go, if she said she just wanted to hang out at home, they’d cancel the whole March Madness deal and insist on coming to her house. Her house, where a certain brown-eyed shepherd wouldn’t be waiting. An enormous weight settled on her chest.

Don’t cry. She scanned the beer case and swiped at her eyes. She wasn’t going to cry. She bit down on her bottom lip.

Damn it. She was. No wonder her brothers treated her like glass. Broken glass.

“Bad day?”

Hannah jerked at the deep voice beside her. Right beside her and way too close. Dark, tall, and wide, the man filled out his expensive-looking black suit like an athlete entering the stadium tunnel before a game.

“I’m fine.”

He angled his head, smiled, and her heart actually stumbled.

“You know, people usually cry in their beer after they drink it. Just saying.”

He continued to study her with soft brown eyes, and for the first time in a long time, she didn’t want to look away. But she did. And pulled the sides of the long-sleeved shirt she wore open over a tank top closer together. Because of the frigid air coming from the beer case, and because no matter what she had on, no matter how covered, she could never shake the feeling people could somehow see through to what lay beneath.

“Well, I’m done now.”

He looked back to the case as well, but even from the side she could see a smirk pulling at his lips. “That’s good.”

She grabbed a six-pack of AmberBock, spun her buggy around, and headed to the front, feeling the stranger’s eyes burning her back the entire way.

About the Author:

Claudia attended Auburn University, where she received her undergraduate and masters degrees in early childhood education, and completed her studies in Sawbridgeworth, England. Always a lover of happy endings, she enjoys movies, reading, and travel, but spends most of her time typing out the love stories of the almost real people that live in her head. Claudia lives near Memphis, Tennessee, with her husband and three daughters.

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Jennifer’s Review of Worth The Risk

Review (4.5 Stars): Worth The Risk grabbed me from the very beginning and through most of the book I wanted to give hug Hannah while wanting to smack the crap out of Stephen.  Hannah was such a sweet and loving character and was in a very vulnerable place emotionally when she first met Stephen.  She had been hurt before and she needed someone that she could trust to not hurt her again.

Stephen went through a horrible loss in the past that still haunted him and he was used to doing whatever he could to numb the pain, no matter if it was at the cost of hurting others. I was glad that he redeemed himself because Hannah’s character deserved happiness in her life for all that she did to help others. I have to say that these two tortured souls needed to find one another to start the process of healing and finding the love that both of them desperately needed in their lives.

This is the second book in the McKinney brothers series and after reading the beautiful yet emotional story of Hannah and Stephen’s journey to love, I can’t wait to read more from Ms. Connor.  I will definitely have the tissues ready next time around.

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When the question is love, the answer is always yes…

Camille Thompson is the best at what she does-closing deals. That’s why real estate developer Vanderhook has sent her to Coral Cove, Florida, where the stubborn owner of the Happy Crab Motel is refusing to sell. Camille’s never had a problem turning a “no” into a “yes”, but then she’s never been so captivated by a man’s sexy smile before.

Laidback Reece Donovan likes life simple. No amount of money – or any other temptation Camille can offer – will convince him to give up the one link to his past. Of course, it would be easier without the powerful chemistry raging between them.

As a fragile romance begins to grow, can Reece trust Camille with his secrets? And when promises are broken, along with hearts, can the charm of Coral Cove help bring them back together?

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“Oh God, I want on top of you,” she said after a while.

And Reece fell for her a little harder.  “See why I like you?” he asked, casting a lusty grin as he gripped her hips and began to roll with her so that he’d end up on his back.

Her eyes went wide as their bodies shifted.  “Because I like it on top?”

He laughed.  “Because you know what you want and don’t hesitate to go for it.  And you’re a little bit of everything.  A little bit hard, a little bit soft.  A little bit sweet and a little bit wicked.”  As she ended up atop him, rising upright, he took in the fact that her long, loose hair had gotten messy and her breasts were just as gorgeous from underneath.  He gave her a wink.  “And I’m ready for you to show me some more wicked now.”

If he wasn’t mistaken, her eyes sparkled with amusement – and maybe even a hint of lechery.  “And what’s wicked?” she asked, beginning to move on him in sexy circular motions.

He glanced down at where their bodies met, then back up at her eyes.  “That’s a little wicked,” he breathed deeply.  At that, her movements intensified and her expression grew more animalistic.  Oh yeah, he liked a messy-haired, animalistic Cami.  A lot.  “Aw baby,” he bit off amid rising pleasure, “ride me.”

As she did, she looked lost in a trance – until she bent over him in a way he read as a silent demand for him to kiss and suck on her breasts some more.  “Looks like you’re having your way with me now,” he told her.

“Do you like it?” she purred.

“Do your worst,” he challenged.  And then he opened his mouth, happy to slip it back around one pretty, pointed pink nipple.

He sucked and she moaned.  Her movements grew harder, rougher.  He pumped up into her, matching her rhythm.  And then finally, she began to grind on him slower, deeper, her body straining with the heat of being on the brink.  It brought him to the brink, too.  He suckled her harder, harder, sensing that was what she wanted, needed.

And then she came, crying out, rocking roughly on him, and he felt it racing through her whole body, jolting her, consuming her for those few seconds in time.  And though he took pride in being a generous lover, he couldn’t remember a time when a woman’s climax had been enough to make him come, too – but it did.  With no means to control it, and no wish to, either, Reece pounded his orgasm into her sweet body, again, again, again, letting it all spill out of him.

Afterward, she gently collapsed onto him, her breasts and tummy warm and moist with the perspiration they’d generated.  His arms closed around her, fulfillment dropping over him like a blanket.

They lay together quietly that way, their bodies still connected, until she asked softly, “So were you right?  Was it worth it?”

“Oh my God, are you kidding?” he murmured, still weakened from it all.  “Let’s do it again.”

About the Author:

USA Today bestselling author Toni Blake’s love of writing began when she won an essay contest in the fifth grade. Soon after, she penned her first novel – nineteen notebook pages long. Since then, Toni has become a RITA-nominated author of more than twenty contemporary romance novels, her books have received the National Readers Choice Award and the Bookseller’s Best Award, and her work has been excerpted in Cosmo. Toni lives in the Midwest and enjoys traveling, crafts, and spending time outdoors. Learn more about Toni and her books at www.toniblake.com.

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Jennifer’s Review of Love Me If You Dare

Review (4 Stars): Love Me If You Dare is a sweet, charming romance about two people who find love in the most unlikely of places.  Camille Thompson comes to Coral Cove to convince Reece Donovan to sell his rundown hotel to a big developer for top dollar.  When he refuses to sell, Camille decides to spend time in the quirky little town to try to get to know Reece better and break down his defenses so she can close her deal.  What she finds is that this small little community of eccentric characters teaches her that there is more to life than the next big deal and sometimes love can find you when you least expect it.

The romance between Reece and Camille started off very slow but that was the whole point.  They started off as adversaries and once Camille made the decision to stay and get to know Reece better, she found that there was more to him than just looking like a beach bum.  She learned that he was trusting, loyal and would do absolutely anything for his friends.  Camille was used to never staying in one place for too long, so being in Coral Cove was one of the first few vacations she had taken in a while.  What started out as just a business deal turned into a love of lifetime and a chance at a future that she thought was out of reach.

The chemistry between these two characters was so hot and it started from the moment that they met each other.  They couldn’t deny the attraction to one another and I enjoyed watching the slow, playful interactions with one another that built into something more.  Love Me If You Dare is the second book in the Coral Cove series and this is one series that you will look forward to visiting again and again.

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Hannah Stark has set her sights on corporate law to assure her a career of paperwork, predictability, and conservative suits. Contracts, finance, and the art of the deal sing to her, while the mess and misery of the courtroom do not. But her daughter needs to eat, so when Hannah is offered a temporary position in a small town firm’s domestic relations department, she reluctantly accepts.

Trent Knightley is mightily drawn to his newest associate, though Hannah is as protective of her privacy as she is competent. When their friendship and attraction heat up, Hannah’s secrets put her heart and Trent’s hopes in double jeopardy.

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*EXCERPT*

James stood beside Mac at the window in Mac’s office, watching the head of the domestic relations department escort his newest associate to her car.

“Why isn’t that idiot sneaking in a little kiss here and there?” James asked. “He’s not even touching her. Didn’t offer his arm, hasn’t got his hand on her back.”

“Some of us appreciate a more subtle approach,” Mac said. “Some of us with a little discretion and tact.”

“I about sat her in my lap at lunch earlier this week. She said I was flirting my eyelashes off, and laughed at me.”

“Laughed?” By a little blue Prius, Trent handed Hannah her briefcase. “You have my condolences, James. You must be losing your touch. We depend on you to carry the Knightley standard into the bedroom of western Maryland, but it looks as if at long last – well, one hopes it’s long last-”

“Shut up,” James smacked Mac’s shoulder for good measure. “It’s just as long and lasting as it ever was, but Hannah Stark has been inoculated against my devastating charms by the only thing that has ever protected a female from falling for me.”

“Common sense?” Mac drawled. “A functioning brain? A sense of humor? An accurately calibrated ruler?”

“She’s fallen for him,” James said, gesturing towards the parking lot. “We have reason to hope.”

  About the Author:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Grace Burrowes’ bestsellers include The Heir, The Soldier, Lady Maggie’s Secret Scandal, Lady Sophie’s Christmas Wish and Lady Eve’s Indiscretion. The Heir was a Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2010, The Soldier was a PW Best Spring Romance of 2011, Lady Sophie’s Christmas Wish won Best Historical Romance of the Year in 2011 from RT Reviewers’ Choice Awards, Lady Louisa’s Christmas Knight was a Library Journal Best Book of 2012, and The Bridegroom Wore Plaid was a PW Best Book of 2012. Her Regency romances have received extensive praise, including starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Booklist. Grace is branching out into short stories and Scotland-set Victorian romance with Sourcebooks. She is a practicing family law attorney and lives in rural Maryland.

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Jennifer’s Review of A Single Kiss

Review (4.25 Stars): I liked Hannah and Trent as a couple in A Single Kiss because they had so much in common even though they didn’t know that in the very beginning.  Hannah was looking for a job as an attorney to be able to take care of her and her daughter, Grace, and would have taken anything as long as it wasn’t Family Law.  Family Law brought back too many painful memories for her and she only had to get through six months of it and then she would be moved to the Corporate Law department, which is what she desperately wanted.  Hannah was very reserved and wouldn’t let people really get to know her because she wanted to keep her life private.  She didn’t want people to know about her past and she kept people at an arm’s length wherever she went.

Trent was this great guy that had given up on love after his divorce.  He had a daughter to take care of and wanted to do the best job that he could for his clients.  Meeting Hannah and having her work for him made him feel things that he thought were long gone.  He knew that Hannah was hiding things about her personal life and he wanted her to trust him so she would open up to him when she was ready.  I couldn’t imagine a more admirable guy than Trent and he was right there by her side when all her secrets came to light.

This is the first book in the Sweetest Kisses series and it has a lot of potential.  I loved how Trent’s family stood by one another no matter what happened and I’m looking forward to seeing Trent’s brothers get their own happy endings.  The pacing was slow in parts but I didn’t feel that it took too much away from the story and I was glad to see everything wrapped up nicely in the end.  Looking forward to the next title in the series.

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