ARC Review: Kissin' Tell by Lorelei James

She once led him around by a string. Now he’s the one holding the reins.

Georgia Hotchkiss swore wild horses couldn’t drag her back to Sundance, Wyoming. So it’s ironic she’s forced to take a rodeo PR job in her former hometown—right before her ten-year class reunion. The only thing worse than facing her cheating ex-husband and his pregnant wife? Showing up to the reunion without a date. Fate smiles on her when she runs into her former classmate and current cowboy hottie Tell McKay. With his infectious smile and fun-loving ways—not to mention his banging body—he’s the perfect solution to her problem.

Tell McKay had it so bad for Hot Lips Hotchkiss during high school that he let her run roughshod over him. But he is no longer that easily manipulated boy—these days he’s earned a reputation with the ladies that lives up to the McKay last name. He agrees to escort her to the reunion with one stipulation; that Georgia proves she has left behind the goody-goody cheerleader of the past—by sharing his bed.

Their sexual chemistry flashes so bright, they barely notice that the reunion has come and gone, and now they’re tangled up in another dreaded “R” word—relationship. But if Tell wants to get the girl this go-around, he’ll have to come up with a whole new set of knots to tie up her heartstrings.

Warning: Contains a sweet talkin’ wild cowboy with a wagon load of crazy-hot sex fantasies and the mad bedroom skills to back up his claims.

Yeehaw! Lorelei has nailed it!!! She has managed to create a book that stands along in the Erotic Western Romance genre. This book took the Rough Riders to a whole new level. It is, for lack of a better word, phenomenal. It has everything, a story line that sweeps you away, well developed characters that hold true to themselves, and hot cowboy loving that will make you sweat. The problems are real, the feelings are real, and the story will suck you in until you forget you are not part of their world. 

Tell McKay is the middle child. His parents just divorced, his cousins think he is a clown, his brother gives him shit all the time, and the girl of his dreams just waltzed back into his life. To say the least, he is in an emotional whirlwind. Of course because he is a McKay and stubborn as all get out, he doesn't deal with this in the best of ways. 

Georgia is an ex-cheerleader who had a reputation in high school for being a stuck up prude. Only she knows why she was that way, and why she continued to leave Tell hanging. Now that she is back in Sundance, she is going to not only prove to Tell that she is a changed women, but also to half of her High School class. She also has her own family situation to deal with and her own feelings of self doubt that prevent her from dealing appropriately. 

Watching them discover themselves and deal with life's events is part of the reason I love reading Lorelei's books. The characters don't just miraculously "figure it out" they make mistakes, they do stupid shit, they make bad decisions. But they always find a way to get to where they belong and the endings never fail to pull at my heartstrings.

When Tell and Georgia get together and strike up the "deal" the story takes a whole new turn. Holy smokes, these two can burn up the sheets like nobody's business. The fantasies that Tell has from High School just add to the heat. The chemistry is smokin' and the emotional pull between these two is heartwarming. They learn to open up to each other and trust each other and that is when the story settles into and emotionally heartwarming story.

I really enjoyed this book all around. There is not a place in the book that I would have changed. The story flows off the pages like a well played out movie and the characters keep you on your toes. It keeps you sucked in and invested until the very last page. The little glimpses of the family members are perfect and they keep you updated on how they are doing. I also enjoyed how there was a little secondary story with Brandt and Jessie, showing that even though they got their HEA, they still have stuff to deal with. I will tell you, if you have not managed to pick up this series, do it! I guarantee you will not be disappointed. 

  For more information on Lorelie or the Rough Riders series visit her website

Leagh's Review: Time Out by Jill Shalvis

ign up for recreational adult programs now!
Class: How to Drive Him Crazy
Instructional program for women unexpectedly facing the totally dishy guy from their past. Everyone welcome!

NHL coach Mark Diego’s plan to spend his off-season volunteering in his hometown goes awry when he learns that not only is he coaching teenage girls, but that the program is coordinated by energetic (and five feet two inches of trouble) coordinator Rainey Saunders, his childhood friend—and the woman he could never stand to see dating any other guy….

When their tempers flare, Mark and Rainey discover their fireworks don’t just burn angry—they burn very, very hot! But that’ll just sweeten the victory. Because Mark always plays to win. And with Rainey, he’s planning on playing very dirty, too…

This was a truly amazing book. It was funny, sexy, and a lot of fun to read.

NHL coach Mark Diego’s team has gotten themselves into trouble. In order to punish them and make them earn their spot on the team he is taking them home to his hometown to do community service.

Rainey Saunders needs coaches and needs them bad. She works for the local community center with underprivileged teens. When her softball/baseball coaches show up, she cannot believe her eyes. Never in a million years would she think that when her best friend said he was bringing in coaches that he would bring in his brother, the one man she is struggling to forget.

These two are freaking hilarious. Rainey is a 5’2” ball of fire and Mark has no problem trying to put out the flames. The only problem is, when the two of them are together, putting out the flames is the last thing on either of their minds. Mark is tall, dark, rich, and dangerous to her heart but she just can’t help herself, she is drawn to him. The chemistry is HOT, and the banter and dialogue had me cracking up the whole time. There really isn’t one big problem with this book and I think that is why I liked it so much. It is very realistic and the way Mark, Rainey, and the players work with the teens and help them really touches on the heart strings.

In my opinion this book has all of the elements of a fantastic read, humor, heat, and a fantastic HEA. A definite must read.

For more information on Jill Shalvis and her books, visit her website HERE

Leagh's Review: Undone by Her Tender Touch by Maya Banks

Pippa Laingley should have known better. When an unplanned evening of passion with Cameron Hollingsworth results in unplanned pregnancy, she's at a crossroads. She knew going in that the enigmatic entrepreneur had built a fortress around his feelings. What she's just discovered is that he's loved and lost before—wife and child. Tragically. 

Now Cam stands to lose it all again. If he lets Pippa get too close. If he pushes her away with loveless arrangements of financial support. Either way, he's doomed…unless he can let himself love again.
Pregnancy & Passion: When irresistible tycoons face the consequences of temptation…

Cam and Pippa’s story is one of emotion, honesty, and courage.  It is a story that will suck you in and keep you reading until the very last pages. 

We have met Cam a few times throughout the series and he has always been the quiet one. You could tell that he had a secret and it was tearing him up inside. He is the fourth of the friends that are partners and the last to find his happily ever after.  Pippa is the best friend of Ashley who we met in TEMPTED BY HER INNOCENT KISS. She is a baker/caterer and is working on setting up her store. When as unexpected pregnancy turns her world upside down she has no choice but to accept Cam’s help. He is hot and cold the entire time. His actions show he cares, his words say he doesn’t. Can Pippa keep up with his mood swings or is it going to be too much and push her to walk away?

 I thought Pippa was an extremely strong woman. She was not afraid to back down, and speak her mind and that was very refreshing in this story. Throughout the story she seemed to lose some of herself and she started caving and giving in too easily. It didn’t really fit her personality but it just goes to show that when a person is emotionally down, it is hard to hang on to your true self.

Cam is damaged so badly that it is controlling his life. Every decision he makes, every action he performs is based on a past experience. He is a very gently, sweet, and generous man but is afraid to let anyone in. He pulls Pippa in and then pushes her away when she gets too close.  It is very frustrating to watch him. Throughout the whole book I just wanted to reach in and smack some sense into him but I had faith that Pippa was gonna get the job done. 

The two of them have chemistry that threatens to burn the house down. They are absolutely perfect for each other but are having a terrible time finding common ground.  When that actually happens is so heart wrenching that you can’t help but feel for them. This is a great all around story with exceptional characters, a riveting plot, and an ending that will make your heart melt. 

The perfect ending to an amazing series. A definite must read!!!

For more information on the Pregnancy and Passion series or Maya Banks please visit her website HERE

Leagh's Review: Tempted by Her Innocent Kiss by Maya Banks

Devon Carter was her first; now Ashley wants their passion to last. But her dreams of true love are crushed by the discovery that their marriage is another of Daddy’s business deals. Her strategy: act the part of perfect wife and make Devon love her.

But Devon misses the bubbly, no-holds-barred woman his wife used to be. Who is this Ashley with the steely demeanor of a society wife? And will he find a way to rekindle the fire in her eyes...especially now that she's pregnant?

Devon is a business man and in order to better his business that he shares with his friends, he has struck up a deal to merge the business with another. Ashley is a woman in love. She feels so blessed to have a gorgeous, rich man want to marry her and the best part is her father supports it and seems to get along great with Devon. Little does she know, her life is about the take a turn for the worse and what she thought was truth, turns out to be nothing but lies.

I truly enjoyed this story. From the first book in the series, I saw this coming so it wasn’t a surprise to me. When Devon and Ashley’s father strike up a business deal that included Devon marrying Ashley, I was pissed. I mean what kind of father would marry off his daughter and risk her happiness in order to better a business deal? Well, unfortunately this happens in the real world. What I really liked about this story was Devon did everything, except tell her, to make this the most it could be. He made sure she got the proposal and wedding of her dreams and always took care of her and made sure she never wanted for anything.  He was truly a dream man. He was sweet, caring, generous, gorgeous, and not to mention rich *sigh*. When Ashley found out what was going on, she was hurt, to say the least, but she sucked it up and was determined to be the woman that she “thought” Devon wanted, based on some heated words said by him. She turned into a robot and lost all of her personality. It really broke my heart to watch her go through this and I wanted to strangle Devon for not realizing it even though he saw it with his own eyes. Ugh, men can be so blind sometimes, lol.  The chemistry was smoking, the banter was hilarious and fun, and the two of them just seemed to fit. I was rooting for them the whole way through.

I would recommend reading this series from the beginning in order to learn about the characters and the turn of events but I don’t think it is necessary to enjoy this story. A definite recommended read!

For more information on the Pregnancy and Passion series or Maya Banks visit her website HERE

Kissin' Tell Kick Off Hop

Hello and welcome to my post to help celebrate the release of Kissin' Tell. I don't know about you but I am a HUGE fan of the Rough Riders and the McKay/West boys and well, just cowboys in general. I am so excited for this book to release. Now more about the series.

The Rough Riders

By: Lorelei James

AND FINALLY!

She once led him around by a string. Now he’s the one holding the reins.

Georgia Hotchkiss swore wild horses couldn’t drag her back to Sundance, Wyoming. So it’s ironic she’s forced to take a rodeo PR job in her former hometown—right before her ten-year class reunion. The only thing worse than facing her cheating ex-husband and his pregnant wife? Showing up to the reunion without a date. Fate smiles on her when she runs into her former classmate and current cowboy hottie Tell McKay. With his infectious smile and fun-loving ways—not to mention his banging body—he’s the perfect solution to her problem.
Tell McKay had it so bad for Hot Lips Hotchkiss during high school that he let her run roughshod over him. But he is no longer that easily manipulated boy—these days he’s earned a reputation with the ladies that lives up to the McKay last name. He agrees to escort her to the reunion with one stipulation; that Georgia proves she has left behind the goody-goody cheerleader of the past—by sharing his bed.
Their sexual chemistry flashes so bright, they barely notice that the reunion has come and gone, and now they’re tangled up in another dreaded “R” word—relationship. But if Tell wants to get the girl this go-around, he’ll have to come up with a whole new set of knots to tie up her heartstrings.
Warning: Contains a sweet talkin’ wild cowboy with a wagon load of crazy-hot sex fantasies and the mad bedroom skills to back up his claims.

Pre Order Now!

For more information about the Rough Riders and/or Lorelei James, visit her website HERE

My thoughts on the series:

About 3 yrs ago, my sister in law came up to me and said "This is my all time favorite book, but it might be too hot for your tastes" Keep in mind, I had only read Nora Roberts and one Lora Leigh up to this point. Well, I couldn't let her show me up so I picked it up to read it. Within the first 5 pages I was absolutely hooked. I read it in one day, called my sister in law asking if there was more and have never looked back. 

Over the years and throughout the series, I have fallen in love with a number of things... 

1) The writing: Lorelei has a way of capturing your attention and hanging on to it. She puts the perfect balance of tension, heat, and emotion into these books and it is utterly impossible to put one down once you pick it up. 

2) The characters: They are so real. I have always felt like I could hop on a plane and head to Wyoming and be welcomed with open arms at the McKay ranch. They have real emotions, lives, and problems. The family dynamics are amazing and actually make me envious. I would love to have a huge family that loves the way the McKays do... unconditionally. 

3) The storylines: The books focus on the people and their lives. The relationships are unique yet perfect and again very real. There are never "villians" in the books so there is nothing to distract from the romance. Oh, and I should mention the heat. Oh, my, Lorelei knows how to burn up the pages with her hot cowboy smexin. She is not afraid to show sexual diversity and understanding of alternate lifestyles. 

4) Lorelei herself: I have had the pleasure of hanging out with Lorelei a few times and I am proud to call her a friend. She is an amazing person with a great personality. Sweet, caring, funny, and a whole lot of fun. She appreciates her readers and respects them and is always kind when approached. I was so nervous the first time I met her but I quickly realized that she is very easy to talk to. I am honored to have had the chance to get to know her and I hope to see her again real soon.

I would HIGHLY recommend starting this series from the very beginning. I know it seems like a lot but trust me, once you get going, you will fly through the books and be bummed you are done. 

Thank you to Under the Covers and Guilty Pleasures for putting this hop together and Thank you to Lorelei for keeping us entertained all these years.

::Smooches::

Excerpt:

KISSIN’ TELL-Rough Riders book 13

****

Tell McKay had a boner.

In history class.

At least it hadn’t happened in math, where he’d have to stand at the board to solve a problem and then everyone could see…his problem.

His cheeks burned imagining how much that would suck.

He shifted in his seat and blamed his situation on the distraction seated in front of him.

The oh-so-hot, oh-so-out-of-his-league, sweet, sexy and amazingly perfect class beauty, Georgia Hotchkiss.

Yeah, Georgia was always on his mind.

She was something else. A petite powerhouse. The ultimate diversion. Those damn short, damn tight cheerleading skirts that showcased her athletic body. If he angled his head to the side, he caught a glimpse of her muscular thigh instead of the back of her head. Not that the view was bad. Her hair was as black and shiny as a crow’s wing in the sun. Add in her china white skin, full ruby lips and Georgia could be a modern day Snow White.

You’re a real poet, McKay. More like a fuckin’ pervert. Think about something else.

“Tell?”

Startled by the husky rasp of his name, he glanced up from his notebook, right into pale, icy blue eyes that made him stammer like a fool. “W-what?”

“Did you do the homework assignment?”

Be cool. Do not imagine Hot Lips Hotchkiss whispering that in your ear. “Yep.”

Her mouth curved into a smile. He wondered if the gloss glistening on her lips was flavored. Would it taste like bubblegum? Peaches? Ripe black cherries?

“Thank God. Can I copy it?”

Tell managed to rip his focus from her plump lips. Before he could speak, she cranked the charm on high.

“Please? You let me do it before. And I didn’t have time because I was…”

Sucking face with your asshole boyfriend?

Now for the contest information! One commenter from this blog will get a set of Romance Trading Cards and an "Official McKay Buckle Bunny" button from Lorelei and a SIGNED copy of  COWGIRLS DON'T CRY and a RT 2012 Western Round Up bag from me. 

**Comment with your EMAIL and tell me what your favorite thing(s) about cowboys is. 

**Also be sure to fill out the rafflecopter below for a chance at the GRAND PRIZE at the end of the tour.

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Thanks for dropping by!

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Blurb:

All Angela wants is to understand why her father, security specialist Mac McKenzie, dropped dead on a sidewalk in Boston. Instead, she is thrust into the midst of an international conspiracy when she discovers that her father was working on a classified project at the time of his death. Now, the FBI, a terrorist and a killer have her in their sights.

Former Navy SEAL turned undercover operative, Chase Romero thinks his boss is overreacting when he orders Chase to small town America to protect Angela. But he changes his mind when her home is burglarized and “accidents” begin to happen. The real question becomes, how can he keep her safe if he keeps tripping over his own heart?

After shooting an intruder, Angela flees the scene, and the FBI issues a warrant for her arrest. On the run for her life and her freedom, she places her trust in Chase. As they travel from New England, to the nation’s capital, to the shores of Lake Michigan, the trail – and their attraction – grow hotter. Together, they team up to prevent a global financial market meltdown and face a killer who will stop at nothing to get his hands on the project Mac protected with his life.