NetGalley REVIEW - Catching the Cowgirl (Cotton Creek, #3) by Jennie Marts

More importantly, he needs to find a way to keep her.

Catching the Cowgirl
Cotton Creek, #3

by Jennie Marts

Releasing July 3^rd 2017
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The Book Junkie Reads . . . Review of . . . CATCHING THE COWGIRL (Cotton Creek, #3) . . . My journey back to Cotton Creek brings me to Skye, a dude ranch owner and single mom, and Adam, the city slicker that wants an authentic western experience as a research project for work. Adam never expected to get so much more than answers to his research. This was a light, fun, and entertaining read. The bonding between Cody and Adam was just a bonus. Children have a way of making the read a bit more entertaining. But Cody was not your ordinary child. He was a pre-teen and there was so much more that could be done with that aspect.

For me this was good Sunday afternoon read. It was not overbearing or overwhelming. The pacing was perfect for the lightness of the read. The atmosphere made for a beautiful sunny afternoon. At least in my mind it did.

Cotton Creek series:

Romancing the Ranger – Cotton Creek, #1

Hooked on Love – Cotton Creek, #2

Catching the Cowgirl – Cotton Creek, #3

Blurb
California video game designer Adam Clark knows that, in his business, authenticity is the key. So, for their newest Western adventure game, he and his partners decide to try out Cowboy Camp. Only Adam’s friends never arrive, leaving him a bit—okay, a lot—preoccupied, trying to resist the gorgeous cowgirl who owns the ranch.

Single mom Skye Hawkins is too busy trying to keep her family’s dude ranch out of the red to even think about romance. But she’s having trouble avoiding Adam. He’s smart, he’s sweet, he’s funny…and he’s hot! Maybe it’s the mountain air, but she finds herself letting down her guard. And the fireworks are definitely worth it.

The only problem—they live in totally different worlds. Still, Adam is nothing if not resourceful. Sure, he wants to catch the cowgirl. But more importantly, he needs to find a way to keep her.

 

“This ledge is crazy. I’ve died ten times trying to make this jump. I can’t make it across the river,” she said, passing him her controller. “Can you just get me past this part so I can move on?”

Normally he wouldn’t even consider it. It would take away from the game play and the integrity of the puzzle. But nothing about this was normal. And he was quickly realizing that he would do just about anything for Skye Hawkins—wear cowboy boots, muck out disgusting horse stalls, even attempt to country dance. Whatever she wanted.

He took the controller and easily maneuvered her character over the ledge and into the river.

“Oh no, be careful.” She tapped his leg anxiously. “This is the part where my character usually drowns.”

“I got this,” he assured her with a laugh. But her enthusiasm was so contagious, he played up the drama for her benefit. “I don’t remember this being so tough, though. I might not make it after all.”

But he knew he would. He’d designed this part and replayed every feature of it a hundred times. But he couldn’t resist the way she clutched his arm and hopped up and down in her seat with anxiousness.

“Watch out for the crocodile,” she shouted, pointing at the screen. “You’re almost there.”

He worked to manipulate the character so it swam past the crocodile and crawled out on the other bank, almost losing his concentration when she buried her head against his shoulder, laughing as she claimed she couldn’t watch.

When she saw that he’d made it across the river to the other side, she let out a sigh of relief. “You did it.” She gave him a hug. “Thank you for sharing this with me.”

Adam caught his breath as her cheek pressed to his.

As if it had a mind of its own, his hand slid around her waist, pulling her to him as he hugged her back.

She drew back, but just slightly—just enough for him to see her face and take in her wide-eyed look of surprise.

His gaze dipped to her mouth—to her slightly parted rose-colored lips—and she inhaled a quick sharp pull of breath.

Not him. He couldn’t breathe at all, couldn’t move.

He was frozen in place, even though every synapse in his body was firing on all cylinders sending sparks of heat surging through his veins.
He looked back up, into her eyes, searching for a sign, anything that would tell him she was feeling the same thing, the same swirling sense of dizziness that had his own stomach in knots and his mouth going dry. Anything that would give him a glimpse of permission.

But she seemed to be frozen as well, suspended in the moment, as if she were waiting, afraid to move.

He leaned in—just a fraction of an inch—but close enough that his mouth was a whisper away from hers. She didn’t pull back, and he moved the smallest bit closer and brushed her lips softly with his.

She sucked in a soft gasp, the tiniest sound but full of gigantic meaning. A sound that was a cross between pleasure and pain. It pierced his heart.

He stopped, not pressing, but not pulling away, as he felt the slight tremble of her lips against his. He waited, his heart pounding hard against his chest, somehow knowing that this moment could change everything. 

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Author Info

Jennie Marts is the USA Today  Best-selling author of award-winning books filled with love, laughter, and always a happily ever after. Readers call her books “laugh out loud” funny and the “perfect mix of romance, humor, and steam.” Fic Central claimed one of her books was “the most fun I’ve had reading in years.”

She is living her own happily ever after in the mountains of Colorado with her husband, two dogs, and a parakeet that loves to tweet to the oldies. She’s addicted to Diet Coke, adores Cheetos, and believes you can’t have too many books, shoes, or friends.

Jennie loves to hear from readers. Follow her on Facebook at Jennie Marts Books, or Twitter at @JennieMarts. Visit her Website and sign up for her newsletter to keep up with the latest news and releases.

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NetGalley REVIEW - Virtual Tour - A Taste of You (Bourbon Brothers, #3) by Teri Anne Stanley

Her bourbon-flavored kisses threaten his carefully constructed boundaries. 

A Taste of You

Bourbon Brothers, #3

by Teri Anne Stanley

Releasing July 3^rd 2017
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The Book Junkie Reads . . . Review of . . . A TASTE OF YOU (Bourbon Brothers, #3) . . . Fun. Flirty. Sexy. Light. Engaging but not overwhelming. This was a read that told you of the hardships and pain without overwhelming you with the intense or over stimulating details of it all. The characters were able to still live life without having their past take joy and pleasure out of it. Eve was due for some fun and flirt a little. Nick needed to live in the now and not the past so much. Eve understood herself and allowed for life to happen and went along with it for the most part. She was strong and realistic.  These two took life in different strides but came together and made a whole new path form and it worked.

Looking for a light, quick, fun, flirty read. Need a smile that will get you through. Then I suggest you pick up Teri Anne Stanley’s latest release A Tasty of You.

Bourbon Brothers series:

Drunk on You – Bourbon Brothers, #1

A Shot with You – Bourbon Brothers, #2

A Tasty of You – Bourbon Brothers, #3

BlurbOffice supply addict Eve McGrath’s meticulously organized life is on the verge of crashing at her feet. Blue Mountain distillery’s new tasting and visitor center has to be finished pronto or her mother will lose her mind. Good thing Eve likes a challenge—which is exactly what she’ll face trying to convince the flaky contractor’s hot son to finish the job.

Nick Baker is back in Kentucky just long enough to get his wayward dad back on his feet. Then he’s gone. Unfortunately, he can’t resist helping Eve, the sexy distiller-in-distress, whose addictive, bourbon-flavored kisses threaten his carefully constructed boundaries. And if he can’t rein himself in, the uncomfortable secrets of past will nail him to the wall…

They were alone. Eve was suddenly nervous. What was the deal? She wanted to ask Nick if the incident in the truck last weekend was a one-shot deal, if he’d decided he really wasn’t that into her, or if there was going to be more, but reminded herself that she was taking things as they came.

Not stressing over the future. The bag with her planner inside banged against her hip as she led Nick down the hall to a door at the end. “Well, this is it,” she told him.

“Your mecca.”

“No. The Office Superstore out on 62 is my mecca. This is just a temple.”

“You really like office supplies, huh?”

“Oh yeah,” she told him. “Those times I get to take the company credit card and go to the office store? All that potential for organization and efficiency? It’s like Christmas and New Year’s Eve all rolled into one.”

“Copy paper.” He said it in a deep, growly voice that could have come from a 1970’s R&B singer. “Thumb tacks.” He waggled his eyebrows at her, and she giggled.

She turned away to grab the door handle, and he stepped closer, so she could feel him almost but not quite touching her from shoulder to butt. No, it wasn’t the thought of file folders that had her nipples tightening and heat pooling low in her belly. She stepped back, bumping into him as she pulled the door open, revealing her stash of office supplies.

“Paper clips.” This was more of a husky whisper. Which did actually send a shiver down her spine, but not because of the words themselves, more about the way he said it. Right into the place where her shoulder met her neck. His hands were on her hips now, and with just a tiny bit of effort, he could have her fully back against him. “Ball point pens.”

Her entire body flushed, and she took a chance asking the question, because leaving this up to fate was no longer an option. “Are you trying to seduce me with sexy language?”

“Is it working?”

“I think it is,” she told him and turned to face him.

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Teri Anne Stanley has been writing since she could hold a crayon--though learning to read was a huge turning point in her growth as a writer. Teri's first stories involved her favorite Saturday morning cartoon characters, followed by her favorite teen idols.  She has also authored a recipe column (The Three Ingredient Gourmet), and scientific articles (Guess which was more interesting!).  Now she writes fun, sexy romance populated by strong, smart women and hunky heroes. 

Teri currently supplements her writing income as a neuroscience research assistant.  In her nearly non-existent spare time, she is the human half of a therapy dog team, an amateur genealogist, and a compulsive crafter (if there are directions on the internet, she can probably make it). Along with a variety of offspring and dogs, she and Mr. Stanley enjoy boating and relaxing at their weekend estate, located in the thriving metropolis of Sugartit, between Beaverlick and Rabbit Hash, Kentucky.

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NetGalley REVIEW - Virtual Tour w/Interview - The Right Ranger (The Men of At Ease Ranch, #3) by Donna Michaels

The Right Ranger
The Men of At Ease Ranch, #3

by Donna Michaels

Releasing June 12^th 2017
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The Book Junkie Reads . . . Review of . . . THE RIGHT RANGER (The Men of at Ease Ranch, #3) . . . Haley has trouble at her ranch. With her husband gone and just his sexy hot friend there to offer assistance. She swallows her pride and takes the help she needs to make things work. It just leads to doors that she rather stayed closed.  Cord made a promise and he was determined to keep that promise no matter what may happen.

Secrets can close a door much faster than it will open one. Haley and Cord both were keeping secrets and all the time they were spending together was nudging those doors to opening sooner than later. There was good chemistry between Cord and Haley. There were other things there also.

Donna Michaels gave me another hot, sexy, ranger cowboy mix romance that had a lot of unopened doors that needed to be opened. This latest addition to the Men of At Ease Ranch makes its presence known.

The Men of At Ease Ranch series:

In a Ranger’s Arms – The Men of At Ease Ranch, #1

Her Secret Ranger – The Men of At Ease Ranch, #2

The Right Ranger – The Men of At Ease Ranch, #3

BlurbHaley Wagner’s life just got a lot more complicated. As if turning her struggling ranch around isn’t tough enough, she’s forced to call him for help. With his hard eyes and even harder body, Cord is an irritatingly sexy contradiction of hot and cold. How can she possibly hide her embarrassing secret when just looking at Cord is a combustible event?

Former Army Ranger Cord Brannigan has a secret, too. He promised his fallen teammate he’d protect the tempting, fiercely independent Haley from a distance, but now they’re stuck together for three weeks. Alone. Keeping his hands off will take every ounce of control he can muster. And that control is slipping…

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As soon as he cut the engine outside the barn, he heard a large crash from inside followed by a slew of curses.

Haley.

With his gut knotted tight, he crossed the yard and entered on a sprint. “Haley…Jesus,” he muttered, finding her underneath a pegboard and a pile of tools. Sharp ones. Shit.

“Now you show up,” she scoffed.

He hoisted the peg board and tossed it aside. “What the hell happened?” 

“Had a fight with a wall and lost.” A smirk twitched her full lips and gleamed in her whiskey gaze.

“That’s not funny.”

“Damn straight.” She frowned. “It hurts like a bitch.”

He ran a hand through his hair. “How the hell did you manage to knock this over?”

“Quite well, actually.”

Smartass.

He knelt beside her and leveled his gaze on her. “That’s not what I meant, and you know it.”

“Did I?” She tipped her chin and narrowed her eyes. “Hard to tell underneath all that accusation and condemnation dripping from your tone. I’m not one of your Rangers, Warlock. That hard stare of yours won’t work on me.”

Christ. He didn’t need this shit.

She made to get up, pushing a few tools out of the way, and that’s when he noticed the blood dripping down her arm.

“Stay still,” he ordered, grasping her unharmed arm to hold her steady. “Let me have a look.”

A quick inspection deemed it deep but not stitch-worthy, thank God. He yanked off his shirt and wrapped it around her arm, ignoring her gasp as he tied it tight until he could get her in the house for some proper first aid. But he didn’t want her moving until he examined the rest of her body for injuries.

With his training kicking in, he ran his hands over her, noting a small cut on her cheek, another on the back of her hand, and a bruise on her other wrist, no doubt from covering her face.

“You okay?” he asked, staring into her dazed eyes. “Are you hurt anywhere else?”

She blinked and focused her gaze on his face, then shook her head after she opened her mouth and nothing came out.

Christ.

His insides twisted when he took in the mash of clippers, hammers, screwdrivers, and pliers scattered around them. She was lucky. So damn lucky.

After helping her to her feet, he bent to scoop her in his arms.

“W-what are you doing?” She wiggled as he carried her across the yard, trying his damndest not to notice the soft curves brushing his chest.

“Taking you inside to fix your arm. Stay still.” Awareness already spread through his body, waking up parts that had no business enjoying the feel of his dead friend’s widow cradled against him.

Haley grunted. “I can walk.”

“Good to know,” he replied, but continued to hold her as he stepped onto the porch. “Get the door.”

With a loud sigh, she reached out and twisted the knob. “Okay, you can put me down now.”

“Where’s your first aid kit?” he asked, ignoring her protests.

She closed her mouth and stared at him, her eyes twin pools of pissed-off brown. God, she was gorgeous. And damn, he did not need to have his arms full of her hot curves.

He muttered an oath. “You can keep quiet all you want, but I’m just going to stand here and hold you until you tell me.”

Even if it killed him.

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Tasty Q&A with Donna Michaels

Describe yourself in five words or less.

I love to entertain readers.

Name one thing you won’t leave home without.

My cellphone. Yep, I’m one of them. But only because I am usually waiting for an email or message from an author, publisher, editor…etc, and need to multitask my personal life errands into my day, too.

What types of scenes are your most favorite to write?

My favorite scenes to write are the sparring scenes between the hero and heroine. When the hero has met his match, or vice versa . There were several of those scenes in The Right Ranger.

Are there certain characters you would like to go back to, or is there a theme or idea you’d love to work with?

Yes, there are several characters I’d love to go back to, but shhh…don’t tell my other ones. The two that immediately come to mind are Kit Katt and Pierce DeVein from my humorous paranormal, The Spy Who Fanged Me. They are agents from different departments. She’s a black panther shifter and he’s a vampire and they’re forced to work together to bring down a dangerous gnome. Kit was by far the most fun I ever had writing a heroine. Between her can do attitude, her capabilities, and the fact she has catlike tendencies that get in the way at the most inopportune times, I would love to write another mission for her and her man/vampire. 😊

Can you tell us about your upcoming book?

Right now, I’m writing book 4 in The Men of At Ease Ranch series. This is Vince’s book. He’s been the easygoing happy guy throughout the series, and longs to have a relationship like his buddies have found. But, it’s like they say, be careful what you wish for. He’s discovering that his idea of the ideal significant other is flawed, relationships aren’t always easy, and they come when you least expect it. He is definitely one of my fun characters to write.

Author Info

Donna Michaels is an award winning, New York Times & USA Today bestselling author of Romaginative fiction. Her hot, humorous, and heartwarming stories include cowboys, men in uniform, and some sexy, primal alphas. With a husband in the military fulltime, and a household of nine, she never runs out of material to write, and has rightfully earned the nickname Lucy…and sometimes Ethel. From short to epic, her books entertain readers across a variety of sub-genres, and one has even being hand drawn into a Japanese translation. Now, if only she could read it.

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NetGalley REVIEW - Virtual Tour - Betting the Bad Boy Behind the Bar, #3 by Stefanie London

Betting the Bad Boy
Behind the Bar, #3

by Stefanie London

Releasing May 8^th 2017
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The Book Junkie Reads . . . Review of . . . Betting the Bad Boy (Behind the Bar, #3) . . . Paige for the first time in her life may have bitten off more than she can chew on more than once. First she bets on the wrong man. Then determined not to do it again she makes a bet that she can keep her hands of the second man. This was a fun, light-hearted, well-paced read that gave as good as it got. Paige had to figure her life out and fast. She was on a downward spiral after make a very huge miscalculation. Needing to keep thing flowing along she takes the job with very sexy Noah. She feels the heat and the heat of the passion burns strong. But she was determined to not make that mistake again. Noah being well Noah did all he could to make her lose that bet and succumb to his alluring ways.

Noah was a hit for me from the very beginning. A bad boy doing a good deed with naughty intentions towards one sweet, innocent, sexy, naïve woman that needed a job. Did this make him a bad boy, well duhh that was why it’s called Betting the Bad Boy. She taunted and egged him on with each new addition to the bet. She was making herself more and more open to him. I understood her need to be independent and strong but her way of teasing, that was how it felt to me, Noah was a bit nerve racking. I was not sure if I wanted to hit her or skip her.  Regardless of this, I still go myself a good read and would find myself at some point going back and reading the prior two books of this series. 

Behind the Bar series:

The Rules According to Gracie – Behind the Bar, #1

Pretend It’s Love – Behind the Bar, #2

Betting the Bad Boy – Behind the Bar, #3

BlurbSelf-confessed perfectionist Paige Thomas isn’t used to failing. But when a critical error in romantic judgment sends all her big city career dreams crashing down, she scrambles to find a job—any job—to make ends meet.

Noah Reid may as well have “trust issues” tattooed on his forehead. Being raised in the foster system didn’t give him a positive outlook on relationships, but now he’s looking after his best friend’s bar for one month, and he can’t do it alone.

Things get steamy when Noah hires Paige, but she’s determined not to repeat her mistakes and she bets Noah that she can keep her hands to herself while they’re working together. Too bad for her, Noah is an expert at breaking the rules…    

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She held the blindfold while trying to ignore the flutter of excitement in her stomach. Her fingers toyed with the elasticated band meant to hold the mask in place. 

“Both partners are going to get a turn at being blindfolded,” Libby said from the front of the room. “Between yourselves, pick who’s going to go first.”

Noah looked down at her, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. He ran a hand along his jaw, catching the reddish-gold bristles of his burgeoning beard. For a moment, Paige was totally captured with the idea of how the bristles might feel on her skin. Would they be smooth or rough? Would she shriek if he brushed them along her inner thigh?

“What do you say, new girl?” He cocked his head. “Would you rather do the blindfolding or be blindfolded?”

At that point she would have been happy to go all in— blindfolded, tied up, and held down.

Holy crap, would you listen to yourself? This is a work function, not a goddamn re-creation of Fifty Shades.

“Blindfolded,” she squeaked, thrusting the mask into his hands and spinning so quickly that she almost lost her footing.

“You know, I’ve never done this before.” His hand steadied her, the reassuring warmth of his touch seeping into her skin. Her bones felt like jelly.

“Blindfolded someone?” she asked, cringing at how shaky her voice sounded.

“Ah, no. I meant the taste test.” He chuckled as he slipped the mask over her eyes.

Heat rushed up to Paige’s cheeks. Of course he meant the taste test. What an idiot she was. Just because her brain was earning an R-rating tonight didn’t mean his was, too. She fought back a tremor as he brushed some loose hairs from her neck so he could adjust the strap on the mask.

Everything went dark, and Paige gripped the edge of the table for support.

Warm breath whispered over her ear, and she could tell he’d leaned in a little closer. The scent of coffee and faded cologne tempted her to turn her head toward the source.

“I’ve definitely blindfolded someone before, but it wasn’t for a taste test.”
Her breath hitched, and she was grateful that she’d had the presence of mind to hold on to something.

“Oh.”


He chuckled. “Yeah, that’s what she said.”


Holy. Freaking. Shit.

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Tasty Q&A with Stefanie London

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

100% it’s the banter. Writing dialogue is always my favourite part of any book, but in particular I loved it in Betting the Bad Boy because there’s so much back and forth between Paige and Noah. He loves to wind her up and she does her best not to let him have the upper hand, which results in some really snappy, flirty and fun conversations. There are plenty of jokes, one-liners and great teasing. I had a blast writing it!

What gave you the most trouble with this story?

I always end up re-doing the ending of a book in some way. I think it’s such an important part of the story, because what happens after the black moment (aka the ‘all is lost’ moment) is what really gives readers the warm and fuzzy feeling that draws them to the romance genre. Which means the ending needs to fit the characters and their growth. I love how Betting the Bad Boy ended, but it didn’t come out that way in the first draft. It took some brainstorming and a few re-writes to get there.

Name three things on your desk right now:

A cup of coffee, my stuffed llama (my writing mascot, Romance Llama) and an essential oil diffuser.

A la Twitter style, please describe your book in 140 characters or less:

A good girl from the country, a bad boy from the city and a kissing bet to turn up the heat!

What are you favorite types of stories to read?

I’m a really broad reader. I love contemporary romance and romantic comedies, erotic romance, YA (especially fantasy and dystopian), anything post-apocalyptic (especially zombies!), crime and thrillers, mysteries, general commercial fiction, non fiction…the list goes on. Variety is the spice of life, as they say!

What 5 things should readers know about you?

1.     I was born in Australia and, even though I live in Canada now, I still love my Tim Tams, Flat Whites, Lamingtons, Freddo Frogs and Caramello Koalas…but I hate Vegemite.

2.     I love llamas. I have a little collection of stuffed llamas, one in particular that comes to conferences with me and always sits at my table whenever I’m signing books.

3.     Because of fact #2, The Emperor’s New Groove is one of my all-time favourite movies.

4.     Game of Thrones is the only TV show that I’ve watched every episode of while it was still airing.

5.     I love hearing from readers! Interacting with people who love romance novels if one of the best parts of being an author, so if you ever want to catch me on social media or email to say hi, please do so.

How long have you been writing, and what (or who) inspired you to start?

I started writing in late 2012, although I have wanted to be a writer ever since I was a little girl. When I told my family that I was thinking of writing a romance novel, I got overwhelming support. My mum even went to our local charity shop and bought me a stack of Mills & Boon (Harlequin) books so I could get some inspiration.

I think I wanted to be a writer because of Agatha Christie, RL Stine, Ann M Martin and Francine Pascal. The Babysitters Club and Sweet Valley books dominated my childhood, and I moved on to Fear Street and Agatha Christies mysteries as I got older. These authors were the ones who made me rush to the bookstore after school with my pocket money in hand.

Author Info

Stefanie London is the USA Today bestselling author of over ten contemporary romances with humour, heat and heart. Growing up, Stefanie came from a family of women who loved to read. Thus, it was no surprise Stefanie was the sort of student who would read her English books before the semester started. After sneaking several literature subjects into her ‘very practical’ Business degree, she got a job in Communications. When writing emails and newsletters didn’t fulfil her creative urges, she turned to fiction and was finally able to write the stories that kept her mind busy at night.

Originally from Australia, she now lives in Toronto with her very own hero and is currently in the process of doing her best to travel the world. She frequently indulges in her passions for good coffee, lipstick, romance novels and zombie movies.

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