REVIEW: Always On My Mind by Bella Andre

Always On My Mind

(The Sullivans #8)

by Bella Andre

4.5 HEARTS

From Goodreads

Lori “Naughty” Sullivan finally falls in love in ALWAYS ON MY MIND, the new book in Bella Andre’s New York Times and USA Today bestselling series about the Sullivan family.

After a tragic loss three years ago, Grayson Tyler left his life in New York City behind and started over in the rolling hills of the California coast. He's convinced himself that all he'll ever need again is the blue sky, a thousand acres of pasture, and the crashing waves of the ocean. Until one day, Lori Sullivan barges into his life and promptly blows his emotionless and solitary world to shreds, driving him crazy as only a woman nicknamed “Naughty” can. But will Lori be able to convince him that it's safe to love her...and that forever isn't actually out of reach?

Who would've thought Lori's story would've been my favorite? Not me! Always on My Mind is the 8th book in the always awesome The Sullivans series by Bella Andre and my favorite, so far. This is saying something considering this series is filled with absolutely great reads.

Lori Sullivan has always been labeled the naughty one in the nicknames naughty and nice given to her and her twin sister. She doesn't mean to get into trouble; she's just bold, impetuous, energetic and full of life. She doesn't feel so bold and full of life right now, however. Catching her boyfriend in bed with her lead dancer was bad enough, but she let him steal her love of dance. Running away isn't usually her style, but she couldn't take it anymore. Renting a car and just driving seemed like such a good idea at the time. Finding the flyer requesting help as a ranch hand seemed like an even better idea. No, she didn't have any experience on a ranch, but she can do anything she puts her mind to and a month on a ranch will be exactly what she needs to put her life in perspective. Picturing a kind, old farmer Lori can't wait to apply for the position. Finding the sexy, young rancher glaring at her when she swerves to miss his chickens and slams into the fence he just got up, is nothing she imagined. Never one to back down from a challenge she convinces him to hire her on. She's ready for the adventure of ranching, working hard and getting back to basics. She's not ready for the feelings of protectiveness and want that she feels for her new boss.

Grayson Tyler left his big city life behind after the death of his wife. He blames himself for her car accident and pretty much wants to be left alone. That's why when Lori Sullivan came crashing into his life and fence he wants nothing more than to send her on her way. How she convinced him to give her a chance he'll never know, but he does know that she drives him crazy. She's loud and always asking questions. She's social and pushy. She's great with the animals, hard working and kind. She's beautiful and sexy. And he's in big trouble. He knows her life isn't on a ranch. She was made for dance and the city life. He knows he's headed for heartbreak and all he can do is hang on and enjoy the ride.

I listen to this book in audio format. Eva Kaminsky does a great job narrating the wild, crazy and loving Sullivan family.

Grayson and Lori were so much fun to read about. He tried so hard to be surly and grumpy and Lori did a fabulous job at knocking down his walls. Their attraction and heat was palpable. I loved every page! Best Sullivan story, yet!

Heat Rating
3 out of 5

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The Look of Love (The Sullivans #1) - My Review || Alyssa's Review

From This Moment On (The Sullivans #2) - My Review || Alyssa's Review

Can't Help Falling in Love (The Sullivans #3) - My Review || Alyssa's Review

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If You Were Mine (The Sullivans #5) - Alyssa's & My Joint Review || Jodie's Review

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REVIEW: Hot Pursuit by Lynn Raye Harris

Hot Pursuit

(Hostile Operations Team #1)

by Lynn Raye Harris

4.5 HEARTS

From Goodreads

The last man she ever wanted to see…

Might be the only one who can save her…

Things are about to get HOT in the bayou!

Evie Baker’s luck just ran out. Thanks to an ex-partner with organized crime ties, she’s lost her restaurant, her money, and nearly all her self-respect. Forced to return to her hometown and work as a shampoo girl in her mother’s salon, she doesn’t think her luck can get any worse.

But then someone starts shooting at her, her sullen baby sister is suddenly missing, and the high school heartthrob who stole her heart—and her virginity—is the only man big enough and bad enough to help.

Captain Matt “Richie Rich” Girard can’t afford to get involved. He’s already on the verge of a court-martial after a Top Secret op gone wrong, and he’s been ordered to stay out of trouble while he’s home for his sister’s wedding.

But when Evie’s ex-partner turns up dead, staying out of trouble is the last thing on Matt’s mind. He failed Evie once before; he can’t fail her again. If he’s going to protect her from a killer, and find her sister before time runs out, he’ll have to risk his entire future—and both their lives—to do it.

Holy, hot hostile operations! This book is every bit as sexy as the cover. Hot Pursuit is the first book in the Hostile Operations Team series by Lynn Raye Harris and in case you can't tell I loved it! I definitely wouldn't categorize it as erotica or even graphically sexy, but the story, the plot, the characters sucked you in and wouldn't let you go. This book has it all...action, intrigue, heat, banter and tons of depth.

Evie Baker is back in town to lick her wounds and get back her life back. Right after culinary school she moved away and started her own business. Trusting in the wrong guy turned out to be her undoing. The accountant she had hired was helping her to make money and everything seemed on the up and up, so she gave him more and more freedom. That was until he took off with all her money and she lost her business. There were even rumors of mob ties, but that was never proven. So, here she is back in the hometown she escaped washing hair in her mom's hair salon. The townspeople have always been nice to her, if you can forget the last 2 years of high school when she was labeled as easy and teased mercilessly. But, people grow up and move on and that's exactly what she wants to do; get back on her feet and move on. Enter Matt Girard, her childhood best friend, her high school crush and the first guy she ever slept with. Now, he's back to witness her humiliation and he wants, of all things, to be her friend, again.

"You've made mistakes, and you have every right to regret them. But don't let them own you, Evie. Don't let them be more important than they are."

Matt "Richie Rich" Girard is back in town for a short time. All he needs to do is keep his head down and stay out of trouble. As the head of an elite special ops team he is in charge of completing his missions and keeping his men safe. The last mission didn't follow those lines. Yes, he followed orders, but he should've followed his gut instincts and pulled out. Now, he's awaiting trial to see what his fate holds. He could be kicked off his team or worse be court martialled. He doesn't know what he would do without his team and his job. Yet, seeing Evie again is giving him ideas. He has missed her so much over the years and has always felt guilty about the night he took her virginity and then told his friends. He had no idea the hurt she suffered after he left with all the teasing and propositioning. Evie was always his best friend and never wanted to see her hurt, especially knowing he caused it. He would love nothing more than to make amends and show her a really good time while he's home. His heart doesn't seem to have gotten the message that a fling is all he's capable of and now he has to keep her alive long enough to convince her they would be perfect together.

Evie and Matt were great together. You could feel the comfort they had with each other after years of being friends. But, that comfort did nothing to soften the attraction they fought as adults. On top of everything else, Evie's accountant is back demanding something he left behind and the mob is involved. Talk about action packed. I highly recommend it! I can not wait for the next book in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley.com for the loan of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Heat Rating
4 out of 5

REVIEW: Fire Inside by Kristen Ashley

Fire Inside

(Chaos #2)

by Kristen Ashley

4.5 HEARTS

From Goodreads

Lanie Heron isn’t looking for love—no surprise, considering her last serious relationship nearly got her killed. So when Lanie propositions Hop Kincaid, all she wants is one wild night with the hot-as-hell biker who patrols with the Chaos Motorcycle Club...

For Hop, Lanie has always been untouchable. She’s too polished and too classy for his tastes. But when she gives Hop the once-over with her bedroom eyes and offers him a night in paradise, he can’t say no. And he doesn’t regret it when he finds that Lanie is the best thing that’s ever happened to him—in or out of bed. Now the trick will be to convince her of that.

She did it, again! Fire Inside is the 2nd book in the Chaos series by Kristen Ashley and my favorite of this series, so far. To be honest, when I heard this story was Hop and Lanie's I was not excited at all. In the previous books Hop was not my favorite biker and I had no idea how Ms. Ashley was going to make him likeable after all that he did in Motorcycle Man. When am I going to learn to not question the master?

Lanie Heron has given up on men. She loved her fiance, truly loved him and that ended up worse than imaginable: her best friend was stabbed, Lanie was shot and he was dead. Granted this was all a result of really bad choices on his part, but Lanie was left to deal with the guilt of it all. That's why when she decided she was ready to "get back in the saddle" Hop was the perfect choice. After all, he's as hot as hell, but everyone knows that a great one night would be right up his alley. She had no idea....

"Every step, every breath, every second I lived on this earth, I'm thankful for, no matter how fu*ked up or whacked or hard or good, 'cause all that shit led me to you."

Hopper Kincaid is a member of the Chaos motorcycle club, a loyal friend and brother, a great father, a badass biker and he refuses to apologize or be ashamed of any of it. If nothing else, he's realistic about life and as much as he has always been attracted to Lanie he never thought to have her. That is until that night she walked up to him and asked him for one night that she would never forget. He gave her almost everything she asked for: there was no way he could ever stop at one night.

"The way you look at me when I tuck you in bed, like I gave you diamonds, something precious, something you wanna keep safe, something you want forever. Woman like you could get diamonds just crookin' her finger, so a woman like you shouldn't find a man tuckin' you in bed precious. But you do. It's also about you tellin' me you won't take it there with me but, I kiss you, you ignite. Some men like a game. Others like a challenge." His smile got wider. "You found a man who likes a challenge."

I seriously went from Hop's story being my least anticipated to my favorite of all. I swear I could hear his deep, gravelly voice as I read each page. I was sad to finish because I knew I would miss him. Lanie was great! She had tons of demons to battle and did her best to get through each day. I loved how she was finally able to heal with the love and help from Hop.

Thank you to NetGalley.com for the loan of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Hotness Rating 

5 out of 5

Click here for my review of Own The Wind (Chaos #1)

REVIEW: The Rancher's Homecoming by Cathy McDavid

The Rancher's Homecoming

(Sweetheart, Nevada #1)

by Cathy McDavid

4.5 HEARTS

From Goodreads

A Time To Rebuild

It's gone--everything Annie Hennessey, and two generations of Hennesseys before her, had worked so hard to build. The devastating forest fire didn't just claim her family's Sweetheart Inn--it also burned half a town whose livelihood is wedding tourism. Now the struggle to rebuild is just beginning, and Sam Wyler's sudden reappearance isn't going to make things any easier on Annie.

Nine years ago, Annie and Sam were deeply in love. When he left to seek his fortune, Annie couldn't forgive him. Now Sam, widowed with a young daughter, is back and eager to help the town recover. But Annie needs more than bricks and builders to heal her proud and wounded heart. Could the love they once shared hold the key?

The Rancher's Homecoming is the first book in the Sweetheart, Nevada series by Cath McDavid. I really enjoyed this peek into Sweetheart, Nevada and it's quirky townspeople. I can't wait to read more by Ms. McDavid and more of this town and the people who call it home.

Annie and Sam were high school sweethearts. Everyone believed they would have a happily ever after. They had their future all planned and then Sam did the unthinkable. He dared to leave Sweetheart. He promised he would come back after gaining the job experience he needed to make a life for himself and Annie. Annie, however, couldn't forgive this and the couple couldn't overcome the anger and distance.

Nine years later Sam Wyler is back. His wife died in a car accident leaving him a single father. But, that's not what brought him back. Sweetheart was wiped out by a fire and Sam wants to help the town get back on it's feet. He bought the local landmark and is turning it into a bed and breakfast. He's also picking up the tab for a lot of the renovation of the local businesses and homes. It doesn't take long for him to realize the love he once had for Annie is still as strong as ever. The townspeople may be welcoming him back with open arms, but Annie isn't as accepting.

Annie Hennessey is at her wit's end. The Sweetheart Inn that has been run by 2 generations of Hennessey women is gone. Her mother is suffering from a deep depression and her grandmother's dementia is getting worse everyday. To make matters worse, her ex-husband is making noise of taking their daughter just until she gets back on her feet. Feeling like she's drowning, Annie can't imagine things getting any worse. And then they do. Sam is back and acting like nothing ever happened. She doesn't want to admit her part in the break up years earlier or even face how his life is great and hers is falling apart. If only he wasn't there every time she turned around or the old attraction wasn't as strong as ever.

Thank you to NetGalley.com for the loan of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Hotness Rating 

2 out of 5

REVIEW: When Snow Falls by Brenda Novak

When Snow Falls

(Whiskey Creek #2)

by Brenda Novak

4.5 HEARTS

From Goodreads

After growing up in cheap motels, moving from town to town with her sister and mother, Cheyenne Christensen is grateful to be on her own. She's grateful, too, for the friends she found once her family settled in California. But she's troubled by the mystery of her earliest memories, most of which feature a smiling blonde woman. A woman who isn't her mother.

Although Cheyenne has repeatedly asked for explanations, the people who could help aren't talking. Cheyenne is set on finding answers, but without so much as a birth certificate, it won't be easy.

Things get even more complicated when her closest friend is attracted to the man Cheyenne has secretly loved for years. For Eve's sake, she decides to step aside—which lands her right in the arms of Dylan Amos, oldest and baddest of the hell-raising Amos brothers. He's the kind of guy she's sworn to avoid. She can't afford to make a mistake, not when she finally has a chance to learn who she really is and change her life for the better. But…maybe there's more to Dylan than she thought. Maybe letting him go would be a bigger mistake.

Ack! When Snow Falls is the 2nd book in the Whiskey Creek series by Brenda Novak. I didn't think I could like a story better than the first one, but I do! I couldn't read this book fast enough.

Cheyenne Christensen is the good girl of the group. Raised by a nomadic, grifter mother she was so happy to finally settle down in Whiskey Creek as a teenager when her mom was diagnosed with cancer. She vowed to be the opposite of her mom and drug addicted sister. It's not an easy vow to keep somedays. With her mom in the final days of her diagnosis and not a nice patient Cheyenne is running herself ragged. It doesn't help that all her friends have left for a Christmas cruise and she's all alone dealing with memories of a nicer life that her mom swears she is making up. Yes, her sister is still there, but some days her sister needs as much help as her mom. Surprisingly, the town badboy becomes her biggest help. In a weak moment, she ends up in his bed and gives him her virginity. It was just one night, right? She has to find a way to fight her attraction and keep it from her friends.

Dylan Amos is the town badboy. As a child his mom died of a drug overdose and his dad is in prison for stabbing a man in a bar. He stepped up to raise his hellion brothers and has earned quite a name for his self. It doesn't matter to the town of Whiskey Creek that he hasn't done anything wrong in years. He will always be one of the hoodlum Amos boys. Because of that, he never imagined he would get the chance to act on his long time attraction to Cheyenne. Imagine his surprise when she not only comes on to him, but she gives him her virginity. He can't believe his luck, but then the games begin. Cheyenne comes to him at night, but then fights her attraction by day, insisting on hiding their association. Can he hold on long enough to convince Cheyenne that no one will ever love her like he does?

"I'll do whatever I can to get you what you need." "What's love, if not that?"

Dylan was so hot and everything you would ever want in a guy. Cheyenne annoyed me so many times with her callous disregard of Dylan's feelings. Although, I totally get where she was coming from. Her mom was abusive and neglectful in health and even worse in sickness. She never had a life to be proud of and the fear of losing the respect of her friends because of Dylan's reputation paralyzed her. She stepped up and did the right thing in the end and that's all that mattered.

Hotness Rating 

3 out of 5

ARC REVIEW/ GIVEAWAY: Crash Into Me by K.M. Scott

Crash Into Me

by K.M. Scott

4.5 HEARTS

From Goodreads

What would you give up for everything?

Tristan Stone was powerful, commanding, sex incarnate. And he wore it all so well. From the moment his mesmerizing gaze met mine, I had no choice but surrender to everything he was. His power. His decadence. His passion. He was all I never knew I needed. 

He wanted to possess me, and I wanted to be his everything. All I had to do was accept what he offered. But everything has a price. 

The world he gave me fulfilled my wildest dreams, but would that be enough when the past crashed into the present?

Crash Into Me is a great book but it take me a one or two chapters before I really got into it. The characters were extremely well developed but at first Tristan gave off this “creeper vibe”. Eventually I could tell he cared about Nina and the creepiness faded away.

I really like Nina but at times I didn’t understand her choices. Getting into a car with a man you don’t know is not smart!!! I was yelling (in my head) “Don’t do it!” She had every right to be confused about Tristan because he was so hot and cold. I’m sure she had emotional whiplash. Lol 

Tristan was a bit creepy in the beginning. I kept wondering why he would disappear so often and why he answered his phone in a different room. After a few chapters I adored him. He took amazing care of Nina and wanted to do his best and make her happy. Though in my opinion his jealousy and protectiveness got a bit out of hand. 

The book had a great plot and I couldn’t put it down after chapter three. I knew something was going to go wrong and when it did; DAMN! It was a huge plot twist and I kind of felt a little betrayed for her. I must go on the record and say I hate cliffhanger endings but it actually worked here. It wouldn’t have worked for them to have a happy ending after Nina’s world was rocked. 

~ Special thank you to the author for the ARC in exchange for a honest review.~

Hotness Rating

3 out of 5

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