Review: Talk to the Paw by Melinda Metz

Inspired by the true story of a Portland, Oregon, cat who stole from his neighbors—and stole America’s hearts…

SHE’S PUTTING HER LOVE LIFE ON PAWS
Jamie Snyder is thirty-four and single but NOT ready to mingle. After suffering through The Year of the Non-Commital Man, The Year of the Self-Absorbed Man, and The Year of the Forgot-to-Mention-I’m-Married Man, Jamie’s ready to celebrate The Year of Me—and MacGyver, of course. MacGyver is an adorable tabby with a not-so-adorable habit of sneaking out at night and stealing things from the neighbors. That’s right, MacGyver is a cat burglar. He’s still the only male Jamie trusts—and the only companion she needs…

BUT HER CAT HAS OTHER IDEAS
MacGyver knows his human is lonely. He can smell it. It’s the same smell he’s noticed on their neighbor David. David is a handsome young baker who’s tired of his friends trying to fix him up. But now MacGyver’s on the case. First, he steals something from David and stashes it at Jamie’s. Then, he steals something from Jamie and leaves it with David. Before long, the two are swapping stolen goods, trading dating horror stories, and trying not to fall in love. But they’re not fooling MacGyver. When humans generate this much heat, the cat is out of the bag…


My Review: 

Fun and entertaining.  MacGyver stole my heart. 

Jamie Snyder moved to Los Angeles to discover a new life, one that did not include men or teaching high school history.  She called it “The Year of Me”.  She would try new things and hopefully discover a career that she would love.  The one thing Jamie doesn’t expect was to find out her cat MacGyver has been sneaking out at night.  Mac became a thieving matchmaker for Jamie and several others in the neighborhood. 

This is definitely a book for a cat lover.  If you’re not one, you may not get the sense of humor.  I loved reading the parts written in Mac’s point of view.  From a cat’s perspective, things are totally different.  I started looking forward to seeing what new item Mac would steal during his nightly adventures and where they would turn up.  His encounters with a dog named Diogee were fun too.  I laughed at the nickname Bonehead and every time he teased him.  The busy body neighbors were a great addition to the story too.  But, I especially liked how Jamie and David ended up together even though they planned to remain just friends. 

Review: No Saint (Louisiana Lawmen Book 2) by Mallory Kane

New Orleans Police Detective Rick Easterling is no saint. He's the NOPD's best undercover cop. Known as the Man of a Thousand Faces, he's a rogue–breaking rules to solve cases his way. But when his brother dies of a drug overdose and he’s suspected of being a dirty cop, Rick vows to clear his name and avenge his brother’s death.

Rookie police officer Lusinda Johnson has a personal axe to grind with dirty cops, so she volunteers to work undercover and shadow Rick. She tells herself she can remain immune to his sexy, brooding demeanor, but the longer they work together, the harder it is to see him as anything other than a hero.

As “Sin” and Rick investigate the corrupt underbelly of New Orleans night life, the lies they must tell each other imperil them almost as much as the drug lords closing in. Will they learn to trust each other in time to save themselves and explore their growing love?

My Review: 

This book had me on the edge of my seat and I had trouble putting it down.  I really got into the story.

Detective Rick Easterling and rookie police officer Lusinda Johnston are both working undercover at a bar in New Orleans.  Rick is investigating what the city is calling the Bad Dope Murders, people dying from contaminated heroin.  Sin was recruited by the New Orleans Bureau of Integrity to investigate Rick because he is thought to be a dirty cop and has something to do with the murders.  Even though they both live in the same building and work at the same place, neither knows the other is an undercover cop.  When the truth finally comes out, will they be able to trust each other enough to find the killer?

I found this book to be extremely exciting and even though I kind of figured out who the killer was early in the book, I still enjoyed reading how Sin and Rick were able to bust them.  This is the second in a series, but I found it to be a book you can read on its own.  I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good romantic suspense story. 

Izzy As Is by Tracie Banister: Release Week Blitz, Review & Giveaway!

BOOK BLURB: 

The party is over for bikini model Izzy Alvarez. For six years she’s made a good living by flaunting her God-given assets on runways and in front of cameras, but now as she approaches the big 3-0, the bodacious Latina is shocked to learn she’s aged out of the profession that’s kept her in mojitos, mani/pedis, and designer thongs. What’s a girl with a taste for the finer things in life and no marketable skills to do?

Getting a regular job is too boring to even consider, so Izzy decides to follow in the footsteps of her newly-engaged frenemy and become a trophy wife. Although she’s desperate and too broke to get a chipped nail fixed, Izzy still has standards for her future husband, which means no uggos, no vertically-challenged guys, and no geezers who need to pop a blue pill to perform in the bedroom. Enlisting the aid of her computer whiz nephew and her closest pals, Izzy goes on the prowl for a rich, marriage-minded man, encountering likely candidates in a lot of unlikely places.

The high life she’s dreamed of may be within reach when Izzy meets a charming, successful man who’s not only hotter than a steamy summer night in Miami, but ready to settle down. Now all Izzy has to do is make sure her loud, crazy Cuban family doesn’t scare off el hombre perfecto—oh, yeah, and squelch those pesky, romantic feelings she keeps having for the sweet, cash-strapped guy she's known forever. Will Izzy’s hunger for money win out, or will her fiery heart demand to be heard?

MY REVIEW: 

You know a book is good when you instantly wish it were going to be made into a movie.  I could just see this one being a hit with the witty dialogue, Izzy’s sarcasm and her always entertaining family.  This book has now topped my list of favorites. 

Izzy, the self-absorbed swimsuit model, has aged out of her profession.  No one wants her when she is about to turn 30.  What will she do now?  When Izzy runs into one of her former model friends and finds out she has a rich husband, Izzy sets out to find herself a millionaire too.  Since she has no job experience other than modeling, so she thinks a rich husband is just what she needs to remain in the lifestyle she is so accustomed to.  Her hilarious search for love and a new meaning in life made this an unforgettable story. 

I have been waiting for Izzy’s story since she was first introduced as the sassy sister of Pilar Alvarez in the book In Need of Therapy.  Although this book can be read as a stand-a-lone, I would recommend reading Pilar’s story first, because once you read this book, you will want to read it too (and it will save a few spoilers that are revealed in this book). 

I laughed out loud so many times while reading this book.  I especially enjoyed Zane twerking on a dare and the mosquito scene at Flamingo Gardens.  I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good romantic comedy.

UNIVERSAL BUY LINK FOR IZZY AS IS (AMAZON): myBook.to/IzzyAsIs

RELEASE WEEK BLITZ GIVEAWAY: Purchase a copy of Izzy As Is during release week (January 24th-30th, 2018) and you could win a fantastic prize pack inspired by the book’s sassy Latina heroine (nail polish, jewelry, and mojitos are some of her favorite things) and the beachy setting in Miami. People who purchased Izzy during the pre-order period are also eligible for the giveaway!

This prize pack includes:

Deco Miami Custom Trio Set of Nail Lacquer with

Champagne Mami, Feeling Fuego, and Señorita Betsey Johnson Peacock Feather Earrings

Gift Republic Mojito Cocktail Scented Candle Coconut Scented Gift Set from The Body Shop (inc. Shower Gel, Body Scrub, Body Butter, Soap, and Bath Lily)

Bella Pilar Gem-Topped Gold Pen

She Spiral Notepad Set by Kate Spade New York (Quotes on Notepads: 1 - She believed she could, so she did. 2 - "How many shades of red lipstick do you need," they asked. "That question," she replied, "is complex and intriguing." 3 - She adores pretty things and witty words.) 

To enter this giveaway, e-mail Tracie Banister at traciebanister@gmail.com with your proof of purchase. Entries will be accepted until midnight on January 30th, 2018 when a winner will be selected via random drawing. This is an international giveaway, so anyone who buys Izzy As Is within the allotted time frame is eligible to win. Good luck!

AUTHOR BIO:
An avid reader and writer, Tracie Banister has been scribbling stories since she was a child, most of them featuring feisty heroines with complicated love lives like her favorite fictional protagonist Scarlett O'Hara. Her work was first seen on the stage of her elementary school, where her 4th grade class performed an original holiday play she penned. (Like all good divas-in-the-making, she also starred in and tried to direct the production.)
Tracie’s dreams of authorial success were put on the backburner when she reached adulthood and discovered that she needed a "real" job in order to pay her bills. Her career as personal assistant to a local entrepreneur lasted for 12 years. When it ended, she decided to follow her bliss and dedicate herself to writing full-time. She is the proud winner of the 2017 Independent Press Award (Romantic Comedy) and a Bronze Medal in the 2017 Readers’ Favorite Awards (Chick Lit). Although Tracie swore she’d never write a sequel to any of her books, the character of Izzy Alvarez, who first appeared in In Need of Therapy, would not be denied. Izzy As Is is Tracie’s fifth novel, and she hopes readers enjoy this return trip to Miami.

CONNECT WITH TRACIE:
Author Newsletter – The Banister Buzz http://eepurl.com/by0VAv
Blog http://traciebanister.blogspot.com/ 
Twitter https://twitter.com/traciebanister
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/tracie.banister
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/traciebanister/ 
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5448518.Tracie_Banister 

Review: His Best Mistake (The Maclean Family Legacy Book 1) by Lucy King

Is it too much to ask for a relationship that works?

When Stella Grant realises her perfect romance is a lie and that she's the other woman, she flees to her remote cottage in the Highlands to lick her wounds.

Billionaire currency trader Jack Maclean has nothing but contempt for the woman who stole not only his sister’s fiancé but quite possibly a family heirloom to boot. Nonetheless, he wants answers and he intends to get them. A quick trip north should do the trick. Never in a million years could he have predicted a kamikaze sheep and inclement weather would leave him stranded.

Jack might be gorgeous but Stella isn’t in the market for a man, especially one who hates her. No matter how attractive he finds her Stella is the very last person Jack should want. The trouble is, they’re all alone and the chemistry is irresistible, and, well, what happens in Scotland stays in Scotland, right?


My Review:

A passionate tale about two emotionally broken characters and the one night that changes their lives forever. 

When Jack Maclean set out to find Stella Grant, the girl who broke up his sister’s engagement, he had no idea what to expect.  He especially didn’t expect to be so drawn to Stella.  He hadn’t thought of another woman since his wife’s death four years earlier. 

Stella was not in the market for a man after she was used and lied to by Brad, but she sure was attracted to Jack when he showed up at her house.  She tries to fight her feelings, but in the end she gives in.  Besides, what could just one night together hurt? 

I really liked this book.  I felt the connection between Stella and Jack right away.  The story felt real and honest, like it could happen to anyone.  It is the perfect start for a new series.  I can’t wait to read the next book to learn more about Jack’s sister, Cora. 

Cute Kitty Pic

Review: On the Edge (Blue Spruce Lodge Book 1) by Dani Collins

When Glory Cormer’s father introduces her to ‘their’ new business partner, she’s appalled. Viking-like Rolf Johansson exudes the same alpha-intimidation that jocks used to torment her through high school. After nursing her mother the last several years, she’s trying to break out of her shell and secretly pursue a writing career, but Rolf insists she go through with the rotten deal her father struck with his brother to renovate an old chalet.

Rolf envisions this mountain as a world-class resort for elite athletes and other jet setters. As a downhill champion and owner of a world-renowned sports equipment empire, he knows what it takes to get what he wants. Nothing will stop him, especially not a hotheaded wallflower who turns the ice in his veins to lava.

Bonus Story! This book contains Glory’s novella Blessed Winter, a no-room-at-the-inn Christmas romance.


My Review: 

I have to admit, I had a hard time getting into this book from the beginning.  But I decided to keep on trying.  The story turned out to be pretty good although a bit different from most books I read.  

After Glory’s mother passes away from cancer, her father decides to invest all of his money in a fixer-upper ski lodge in Montana.  Glory is forced to go with him to help out even though she thinks it’s a bad idea.   Glory has her own ideas of how she wants to live her life.  She wants to be a romance writer just like her mother.  So, she writes in her spare time.  What Glory didn’t expect was to fall for Rolf, their new business partner.  She hated from the start.  He was stubborn and refuses to let anyone get in his way of building a world class ski resort.  But as in a romance book, they finally end up falling for each other.  

This book is like two in one, the main story and also the book that Glory is writing.  The way it was written made it a bit more difficult to read.  I had to keep going back and rereading parts because I would get confused.  But all around, it is a good and entertaining story.   

Review: Unsolicited Advice (Between the Sheets Book 3) by Melinda Di Lorenzo

Heidi Bluthe is Miss Anonymous—queen of a confident, snark-laced advice column. Too bad she can’t take her own advice to fix the hot mess reality of her life. When one of her readers shows up claiming her advice ruined his life and demands she fix it, Heidi agrees to try. She is, after all, a professional and helping him will help further her career. But what happens next, falling hard for sexy British charmer, William, really knocks them both for a loop.

A year ago, William Rutherford was living the dream. Beautiful fiancée. Perfect home in the suburbs. All that changed in an instant. And the advice Miss Anonymous—aka, Heidi Bluthe–gave might not have been the root cause, but it was certainly the shove that sent things over the edge. William’s determined to have her set things right, even if that means unexpectedly risking his heart in the process…


My Review: 

Lots of funny laugh out loud moments.

Heidi Bluthe is an advice columnist who suffers from anxiety.  She gave advice to a reader, William Rutherford, who claims she ruined his life when he showed up at her house wanting payback.  But it’s not the kind of payback you would think.  He wants Heidi to go with him on a road trip to Las Vegas where he participates in things on his ex’s bucket list along the way.  Throughout this crazy adventure, Heidi suffers from panic attacks and William is there to help her through them.  He also gets her to come out of her shell too and learn to live again. 

I laughed through most of this book.  It was a comical story with Heidi finding herself in so many unusual situations.  But there were also emotional parts in the book which made me feel a connection to the characters.  It is an all-around fun feel good story with lots of laughs. 

My favorite quote in the book:

“Luv. You took a four-day road trip with a man you found in your back garden in his underwear. Four days after that you let him move into your house. Of course I think you’re crazy.”