Kitty Smile

Breaking His Rules by R.C. Matthews - Review

Synopsis:

When I landed the best bartending job in downtown Chicago, the rules were as clear as the Grey Goose martini I mixed for him. Don’t sleep with the patrons. I had no problem with that. Money didn’t impress me. But Damon Baxter’s eyes did. Midnight blue, just like the name of his nightclub. The way they undressed me made me consider risking the most sought after job in the service industry. Nailing the position had been hard. Obeying the rules? Even harder.

Good thing I like it hard. I was never one for following orders. For one night with him, I would have sold my soul to the devil. And that’s exactly what I did. Let me tell you, hell in the company of Damon Baxter was blissfully hot. I offered him a single night of pleasure, but when he demanded another in that deep and sexy whisper, what could I say? He was my boss, and I always aimed to please…when it pleased me.

He didn’t care that I broke his rules. But was I ready to break my own?


My Review:

A very steamy work place love story.

Samantha Rayne left New York for Chicago to get away from her controlling father who sabotaged every job she had gotten in hope that it would make her return home.  When Samantha finally got a coveted bartending position as at Midnight Blue, Chicago’s hottest night club, she had no idea what she was in for. 

Billionaire playboy Damon Baxter could have any woman he wanted, but he had set his sight on Samantha.  There was a reason he hired her and he had no plans on letting her know the truth.  He would follow through with his plan and then set her free.  But Damon was starting to fall in love with Samantha.  That was definitely not part of the plan. 

When a man from Samantha's past arrives in town, everything changes.  She is afraid of Giovanni and how far he will go to get back together with her.  Damon vows to keep Samantha safe.  But how will Samantha react when she finds out Damon wasn't entirely honest with her when they first met? 

Lies, deception, wild passion and new beginnings make this book one I that I was instantly hooked on. 

 

Kitty Smile

Scandal with the Rancher (Whiskey River) by Julia Justiss - Review

Synopsis:

After building a trading empire, establishing Whiskey River, and charming most of the females south of the Pedernales, Ronan "Booze" Kelly finds himself restless. Until his idea to start a ranch leads him to widowed rancher Marguerite McMasters. The Tejana beauty claims she’ll never sell her land—or succumb to the fiery connection between them.

Marguerite will let nothing stop her from realizing her dream of running a horse-breeding ranch—not lack of money, and certainly not her strong attraction to Booze Kelly. Much as she misses a man’s embrace, a schoolmarm can’t risk everything she has for him.

But there’s nothing Booze loves more than a challenge, whether it’s a new enterprise to begin—or a lady to beguile. Despite her convictions, can Marguerite continue to resist Booze—or will Booze be exactly what she never knew she was missing?


My Review:

A passionate affair turns into happily ever after. 

Ronan “Booze” Kelly could have any woman he wanted.  But once he set his eyes on the widow Marguerite McMasters, no other woman would do.  Marguerite is a proper lady and though she feels the attraction to Booze, she resists him to save her reputation.  Booze was known for having a wondering eye when it came to women.  Everyone in knows he will never settle down and get marry. 

Marguerite had a dream and she wouldn't let anything get in the way.  When Marguerite and her husband Aiden moved to Whisky River, they planned to start breeding horses.  After Aiden died, Marguerite worked hard to keep their dream alive. 

It was a big mistake when Marguerite gave in to her temptation to Booze when he came out to visit her one day.  Marguerite didn't want a bad reputation as it would ruin her teaching career.  But it was too late when spiteful Lydia sees Booze kiss Marguerite.  After that, Lydia sets out to ruin Marguerite any way she can, turning the townspeople against her and causing her to lose her job.  How far will Booze go to protect Marguerite?  Will he be able to convince her that he is a changed man and wants to marry her? 

As a fan of the Whiskey River series, I was excited to read Booze Kelly's story to see how it all started out.  This is a very well written story.  It answered a lot of questions that I had about Booze's legacy.  If you have read any of the other books in the series, you don't want to miss this one. 

 

An Unpredictable Match (The Match Series Book 5) by Barbara Dunlop - Review

Synopsis:

When Hammond Vashon’s family mansion is invaded by a Hollywood film production, he senses a conspiracy. He knows his grandmother Daisy has plans to match-make him, and it doesn’t take long to identify his grandmother as the force behind the production and starlet Pippa Carrington as his intended match.

Line producer MacKenzie Bowen is shocked when Hammond kicks her boss off the set and promotes her to producer. She’s attracted to handsome, wealthy mansion owner, but she knows better than to get romantically involved with the guy at the top of the film food chain—at least, she ought to know better.

Fascinated by MacKenzie, and more than interested in a exploring their mutual attraction, Hammond lets his guard down. Busy avoiding Pippa and worrying about his grandmother’s machinations, he doesn’t realize his true match is MacKenzie until it’s too late.

The Match Series
Book 1: An Unlikely Match
Book 2: An Impractical Match
Book 3: An Extraordinary Match
Book 4: An Astonishing Match
Book 5: An Unpredictable Match

My Review: 

This is a cute story about a group of retired friends who have a match making program and use it to bring couples together.  In this book, Daisy Vashon and Lizbet Blythe use their program to match their grandchildren Hammond Vashon and MacKenzie Bowen.

MacKenzie and Hammond have no idea what is about to happen.  They are thrown together when MacKenzie goes to Boston to film a television pilot in the Vashon mansion.  At first Hammond is against all of these people invading his home, but he quickly changes his mind when he meets MacKenzie. 

This was a fun book to read with a sweet story line.  I really enjoyed the characters and could picture the friends sitting around deciding who to match next.  The romance part didn't miss a beat.  MacKenzie and Hammond are the perfect match. 

 

Kitty Smile

Lawyer for the Cat: A Sally Baynard Novel by Lee Robinson - Review

Synopsis:

Sally Baynard is one of the best lawyers around. In the years since her divorce from Family Court Judge Joe Baynard, she dedicated herself to representing the worst and craziest Charleston, S.C. had to offer. But none of the murderers, burglars, or angry divorcing clients compared to Sherman, the dog her ex-husband appointed her to represent. Although the miniature Schnauzer found his way into her heart (and brought his handsome vet Tony along too), his case was a thorny one. With that business out of the way, Sally is happy to move back to non-canine clients... until a probate judge asks her about a cat.

Agreeing to represent Beatrice, a black cat who's the beneficiary of a multi-million dollar trust and a plantation, Sally must put her wit, charm, and brains to the test, choosing among three colorful potential caregivers while dodging the former owner's angry son. Meanwhile, Sally must juggle the demands of the court with those of her aging mother and make a decision about Tony, who wants to get more serious. Lawyer for the Cat is Southern women's fiction at its most delightful, featuring strong, smart characters, a charming setting, and plenty of adorable critters.


My Review:

Attorney Sally Baynard has had some crazy court cases since divorcing her husband, a family court judge.  Recently, she had great success representing Sherman, a dog in a divorce case.  Now, she has been asked to represent Lila Mackay's cat Beatrice, who is beneficiary to Lila’s multi-million dollar trust and plantation. 

This case proves to be quite involved as Sally weeds through the individuals listed on the will trying to find a suitable guardian for Beatrice.  While Sally is working on this case, she juggles her other cases and her personal life that seems to be getting a little out of hand.  And now she has to care for a cat on top of everything else.  How will Sally keep a level head to do the job that needs to be done? 

This is a well written book that I had a hard time putting down.  I enjoyed everything about it.  The characters were well defined and the story moved along nicely to a purr-fect ending.

On a side note, I don't know the first thing and lawyers or court cases, but the story was told in a way that was easy to understand and follow.

 

Kitty Smile

Kitty Smile

Four Weddings and a Fiasco: The Wedding Charade (Kindle Worlds Novella) by Melissa McClone - Review

Synopsis:

Growing up in her twin sister's shadow, Claire O'Ryan has made a life for herself away from family and the Hollywood limelight. But when her sister's lies start spinning out of control and she finds herself in trouble, Claire and her former crush are forced to help out.

A-list actor Brady Simms enjoys playing a good part and pretending to be engaged to his childhood best friend, Claire, sounds like an interesting role. Planning a fake wedding happens all too easily. Acting like he's madly in love with the quiet, sweet librarian feels all too right. And her kisses...all too perfect. Will a game of make-believe turn into a real-life happily ever after?

My Review: 

A fake engagement turns into much more.

Brady Simms needs help from his good friend Claire O'Ryan.  Brady has been dating Claire's sister Cate for years and they become one of Hollywood's favorite couples.  But they have been living a lie recently.   Brady and Cate broke up a year ago and have only been living together as friends.  Cate has secretly been seeing a co-star from her most recent movie and he recently proposed.  When Cate got caught going into a bridal salon, she blurted out that her and Brady were broke up and Brady was engaged to her twin sister. 

Claire is shocked to hear what Brady wants from her.  How can she pretend to be engaged to him?  It had disaster written all over it.  But Claire reluctantly agrees to go along with the fake engagement if it will help her sister's movie.  Will Claire be able to keep herself from being swept up into a fantasy?

From a wedding charade to a happily ever after, this fast paced book was a lot of fun to read.  I enjoyed the characters and story.  My heart went out to Claire having a sister who never once thought of anyone else's feelings, and only cared about herself.

 

Twins for the Texan (Billionaires and Babies) by Charlene Sands - Review

Synopsis:

Twins…and another baby on the way for this cowboy from USA TODAY bestselling author Charlene Sands! 
After Wyatt Brandt rescues Brooke McKay en route to a Texas wedding, they spend one hot night together before going their separate ways. Now Brooke's back with news she isn't sure the wealthy rancher is ready to hear—especially when she discovers he's already a father…of twins!
Being a single dad is a full-time job Wyatt can't do alone. He doesn't expect the ideal nanny to be the beauty who briefly shared his bed. But he accepts her help gladly—not knowing her little secret will change his family forever…


My Review:

It all started out as a one night stand.  Brooke McKay had run out of gas on the way to her friend's wedding and Wyatt Brandt found her on the side of the road.  He was also headed to the same wedding and offered to give Brooke a ride.  They got to know each other during the event and afterwards spent the night together in the hotel.  The next morning Wyatt left before Brooke woke up.  She wasn’t prepared for that.

Wyatt is still mourning the loss of his wife and the day of the wedding would have been her birthday.  So it was especially hard on Wyatt.  But thanks to Brooke, he was actually able to enjoy himself.  He would forever be grateful to Brooke for temporarily taking his mind off Madelyn.  But the next morning he had to return to his ranch and his eighteen month old twins. 

The result of the one night stand wasn't anything either of them had expected.  Brooke ended up pregnant?  When Brooke and Wyatt start seeing each other again, she still can't find the words to tell him.  Brooke soon finds herself pretending to be the nanny when Wyatt's mother comes to visit to keep her from wanting to move in him to care for the kids.  How long will Brooke be able to keep her secret?  And how will Wyatt react when he finds out he fathered another child when he thought his two children were all the family he would need? 

This book was well planned out and had a lot of depth and emotion to it.  It was pleasure to read. 

 

The Blue Bath by Mary Waters-Sayer - Review

Synopsis:

Kat Lind, an American expatriate living in London with her entrepreneur husband and their young son, attends an opening at a prestigious Mayfair art gallery and is astonished to find her own face on the walls. The portraits are evidence of a long-ago love affair with the artist, Daniel Blake. Unbeknownst to her, he has continued to paint her ever since. Kat is seduced by her reflection on canvas and when Daniel appears in London, she finds herself drawn back into the sins and solace of a past that suddenly no longer seems so far away.
When the portraits catch the attention of the public, threatening to reveal not only her identity, but all that lies beyond the edges of the canvases, Kat comes face to face with the true price of their beauty and with all that she now could lose.
Moving between the glamour of the London art world and the sensuous days of a love affair in a dusty Paris studio, life and art bleed together as Daniel and Kat's lives spin out of control, leading to a conclusion that is anything but inevitable.

My Review:

A brilliant story full of passion and emotion. 

While Kat Lind's husband is away on a business trip, she hears about a new art exhibit in town.  The name Daniel Blake takes Kat back to her college days where they lived together in his tiny studio in Paris.  When it was time for Kat to go back home, the affair ended.  Kat had no idea Daniel continued to paint pictures of her during the twenty years since she last saw him.  Daniel's art exhibit was filled with paintings of a mysterious red head girl that people had come to admire.  Kat wanted it to remain a secret that the girl in the paintings was her. 

Shortly after the exhibit, Kat and Daniel reunite and become involved in a full blown affair.  She is torn between her love for Daniel and the life she has built with her husband and son.  Kat faces the tough decision of which man she wants to spend her future with.  But fate has a way of making that decision on its own.  What happens in the end, no one expects. 

I was fully involved in this book.  It started out a little slow but picked up pretty quick.  It's one of those stories that will stick with you long after you finish it.  It left me thinking of lost loves and what might have happened if given a second chance.


Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

 

Cowboys Don't Quit (Tanner Brothers Book 2) by Anne McAllister - Review

Synopsis:

Cowboy on the Run . . .

Once upon a time Luke Tanner had it all. Well, almost all. Then a Hollywood stunt gone wrong stole his best friend -- and Luke knows it was all his fault. He could have stopped it, should have stopped it.

Jillian Crane doesn't agree. When she tracks her late fiancé’s best friend to his Colorado mountain hideaway, she is determined to make Luke start living again. She doesn't know she's the last person on earth Luke wants to see. And she certainly doesn't anticipate the feelings she develops for Luke ... nor realize how deep Luke's are for her.

But can they get over the past they share? And even if Jill can forgive him, can Luke ever forgive himself?

The Tanner Brother series
Book 1: Cowboys Don't Cry
Book 2: Cowboys Don't Quit
Book 3: Cowboys Don't Stay

My Review: 

It was all his fault.  At least Luke Tanner, cowboy/stunt double, thought so.  He lost his best friend when he insisted on doing his own stunt which went very wrong.  Luke is in hiding and still mourning the loss of Keith and is back to doing what he knows best, being a cowboy.

Luke’s memories are quickly brought back to the surface when Keith’s fiancé Jillian Crane shows up looking for him.  She is writing a book and needs Luke’s help.  She also wants to help Luke start living again.  She knows Luke wasn’t responsible for Keith’s death.

Luke was once tempted by Jillian, but swore he would never give into his feelings.  Jillian didn’t expect to fall for Luke the way she has.  Will they be able to move away from the tragic past and move forward with the attraction they have for each other? 

Great character development and writing keep this book entertaining.  You can tell the writer did a lot of research for her book.  I thoroughly enjoyed the story.