Review : Before Nightfall

Before Nightfall by Kat Martin

(Maximum Security #2.5)

Genre: Novella, Romance, Suspense, 

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Purchase Link: Amazon | BN | Walmart eBooks 

Pages: 109

Published:  July 1st 2020 by HQN Books

Kat Martin is back with another thrilling Maximum Security novella filled with danger, suspense and one smoldering road trip to the mountains of Mexico!

When her best friend’s son is kidnapped, private detective Lissa Blayne drops everything to focus on the missing boy. Julie and Lissa have been close for years, so when Julie’s friend Colt Wheeler joins the investigation, Lissa bristles at the former ranger’s take-charge attitude. Lissa doesn’t need a man calling the shots, even if there is something about Colt’s protective side that has her tough exterior melting away. As Lissa and Colt take their search on the road, the tension between them slowly morphs into trust and understanding—and they’ll need both in order to outsmart the dangerous abductor they’re tracking. The only thing hotter than their attraction is the heat of the Mexican sun, but this road trip is no vacation

First of all that cover is killing me! I've read a few of this authors books enough to by pass it but when reviewing the book I got a good look at it and was dying. Not a fan if I wasn't already familiar with the authors books I probably wouldn't have given this book a second glace.

As for the book in general it was actually pretty good for a novella. It was pretty short so not enough time for a complex backstory which I would've preferred so I can appreciate the characters more. I'll also excuse the fact that the love attraction between the two main characters were very rushed because it was a novella. What I did love was watching the case unfold as the who go out and seek the child from the father who had kidnapped him. The father is unpredictable and anything could be happening and Lissa friend who is the parent of the child is worried sick. There are many factors making this a high risk but Lissa and Colt will do everything they can. Great novella I really enjoyed it.

Review : It's all about that Cowboy

It's all about that Cowboy by Carly Bloom

(Once Upon a Time in Texas #1.5)
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Novella,

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Purchase Link: Amazon | BN | Walmart eBooks 

Pages: 144

Published: Published January 14th 2020 by Forever Yours

Head back to Big Verde, Texas, where a homecoming queen and the bad-boy-turned-sheriff get a second chance at first love!

Once Jessica Acosta left Big Verde, Texas, she didn't look back . . . until now, when a temporary homecoming brings her face-to-face with her high school sweetheart. Still devastatingly sexy, Casey Long sets off the same sparks that drew them together years ago. But Jess can't forget how he broke her heart . . . or the secret that came between them.

Casey may have traded in his bad boy rep and big rodeo dreams for a sheriff's badge, but he's never gotten over Jess leaving. Having her back in town feels like a second chance, especially when it's clear that their chemistry is as strong as ever. But can Casey and Jess move beyond the pain of the past . . . to have the future they both deserve? 

I didn't expect this to be a novella and even though it was short it still packed in a bit to make the readers enjoy and love the characters. If you liked small town feels, and second chances at romance you'll like this short contemporary story. From the moment I started the book I was pretty much sucked into this book and really enjoyed it.

Review : Unbroken

Unbroken by Jay Crownover

(Loveless, Texas 0.5)
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Western, Novella,

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Purchase Link: Amazon | BN | iBooks | Walmart eBooks | Kobo

Pages: 160

Published: May 14th 2019 by Forever Yours

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Marked Men series comes a captivating novella about a rugged rodeo star who will do anything to protect the people he loves.

When rodeo star Crew Lawton loses everything in a bad bet, he has no choice but to take a new job to pay off his debts – even if it means becoming the face of an expensive male skincare line. Crew is used to getting sweaty and rustling in the dirt, not posing for photo shoots. And he’s certainly not used to being bossed around by a woman who doesn’t even know the difference between bulls and broncs. But Crew owes money to dangerous criminals, and he’ll do anything Della says in order to pay them back and keep them far away from his family in Loveless, Texas…The launch of her new men’s line for her family’s company means everything to Della Deveaux, and she’s not willing to let some rugged, arrogant cowboy ruin her campaign. Crew Lawton is the last man she would have chosen to represent her chic, sophisticated brand. Unfortunately, her father already invested millions in Crew’s stupidly handsome face. Yet the more time they spend together, Della and Crew realize that opposites do attract. But when the time comes for Crew to face his past mistakes, will he be able to protect his family…and the woman he’s come to love?

Crew a rodeo star who has landed himself in trouble with his gambling habits that have gotten out of hand. Now he needs to make up the money he owes and fast. For a short while he needs to be a face of a skincare line that'll give him the big bucks he needs but that includes dealing the Della. This would be your classic case of opposite attract. I thought that this was a pretty good book I pretty much devoured this book in one sitting. It took a hour or two to read. It was quicker then I expected but I didn't realize that it was a novella but with in the impression this book left I am curious to see more from this author with the series. 

Review : Seaside Serenade

Seaside Serenade by Melissa Foster

(Seaside Summers #9)

Genre: Contemporary, Romance,

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Published: May 15th 2019 by World Literary Press

Goodreads Series Link: Click

Discover the magic of New York Times bestseller Melissa Foster's writing and see why millions of readers have fallen in love with the Love in Bloom series. 

Seaside Summers is a series of stand-alone steamy romances with beautifully flawed and fiercely loyal, alpha heroes and smart, sassy heroines.

Friendships and family abound during this fun-filled weekend of love, laughter, and happily ever afters! Spend the evening catching up with your favorite Seaside characters in this Valentine’s Day celebration and fall in love with the newest Seaside couple, Brock and Cree!

What’s more romantic than finding your forever love on Valentine’s Day?

They say opposites attract, but for former boxing champ and gym owner Brock Garner, having the beautiful dark-haired, tattooed, combat-boot wearing pixie Cree Redmond flitting around his club has nearly driven him mad. Brock has wanted Cree since the first time he saw her, and when he learns she has the singing voice of an angel, it speaks to another part of his heart and he’s unwilling to hold back any longer. But Cree’s dating a burly biker and is firmly off-limits. Or so he thinks…

SEASIDE SERENADE is a novelette and part of the Love in Bloom big-family romance collection. All Love in Bloom stories are filled with family, fun, and the truest, deepest love of all. Characters from each sub-series appear in future books so you never have to leave your favorite characters behind. Readers are kept up to date with engagements, weddings, and births. Visit Melissa's website for FREE Love in Bloom first-in-series, family trees, series checklists, and more.

Amazon | Kobo | iBooks | Google Play | Nook | Paperback

While going into this book I didn't realize it was a novella so it was pretty short and rushed but still a good little steamy romance for you readers who want a bit more of the side characters in the series but are pressed for time. Since its short not much I can say but that it was a cutesy little novella and I enjoyed reading it.

Melissa Foster is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance and new adult romance with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Melissa’s emotional journeys are lovingly erotic and always family oriented–perfect beach reads for contemporary romance lovers who enjoy reading about wealthy heroes and smart, sassy heroines.

Author Links:  

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Review : Free Trade

Free Trade by Lynda Aicher

(The Boardroom #3.5)

Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Erotica, Novella,

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Purchase link: Amazon | BN | Kobo

Pages: 53

A room full of people. A bowl of names. A night of chance—until a trade is made.

Drake Hanson has it all—success, wealth and the freedom to experience every sexual indulgence imaginable in the Boardroom. The open, uninhibited sex with anonymous partners suited him just fine—until he got a taste of something better. 

Shelly Carrigan revels in the freedom of the Boardroom. It’s her escape—a place she can indulge her sexual needs without judgment. But her attraction to Drake is starting to affect her experience. No matter her partner, the only hands she feels on her body are his. 

Tonight, when names are drawn, Drake will make a trade. He’ll break the rules of the Boardroom to get what he wants.

One way or another, he’ll have Shelly—this time for more than a night.

This book is approximately 13,000 words

I'm familiar with this series and it goes to say its no different from the rest with full steam ahead with another different way. (Did that even make sense?) I've heard Drakes name pop up a time or two in the first book so I'm a bit familiar with his character for some reason I thought it would be a douche but this book he seemed different. This book was plain old steamy scene and lacked much of anything else. The two have been attracted to eachother for a while now and will see if they can as the description says more then just one boardroom night. It was nice enough. I like my books with more to the story but this was a novella and can't expect too much from it.

Review : His Undercover Virgin

His Undercover Virgin by M. Never

Genre: Novella, Contemporary, Romance,

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Purchase link: Amazon | BN | Kobo

Sorority Secrets: The virgins of Beta Kappa Nu would do anything for each other. Even auction off their most valuable asset… 

Officer Eli Kirschner is accustomed to going deep undercover. This time—this job—is different, though. A suspected prostitution ring, with college girls sent off to the highest bidder. 

A face like an angel. The thought of someone taking advantage of her makes my blood boil.

Eli is blindsided by Ash’s innocent allure. The instant pull she has on him and the way she makes him feel again. 

I’ve encountered a lot of women, but none that have affected me on a primal, paramount, primitive level. The desire to protect is immeasurable.

Caught between duty and desire, reality and fiction, Eli continues the ruse as the intensity of his relationship with Ash deepens. 

I’m not a wealthy businessman. I’m a cop who barely has two nickels to rub together.

When Ash comes clean about her reasons for auctioning off her virginity, Eli’s decision is made. 

I want her in my life, in bed and in my heart indefinitely.

He could never turn the girls in and risk losing Ash forever. But will Ash stay once she learns the truth about him? 

For those times when size does matter. The Dirty Bits from Carina Press: quick and dirty, just the way we like it.

This book is approximately 16,000 words

One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise: all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise

 

Officer Eli is going undercover to find out about a sorority prostitution ring and had bid for the lovely Ash. He wasn't sure what he was expecting going into this case but now he can't help but want to protect to women and people he was supposed to take down.

It was a nice little novella good for if you are pressed for time and was a interesting story with plenty of steamy scenes. I wasn't much interested in the steamy scenes but the story line was how everything played out was interesting enough. I was curious to see if it was just be steamy scenes based or if there was going to be a storyline to go with it and from what I can see it was good.

Review : The Boy Next Door

The Boy Next Door by Stevie J. Cole

(Sorority Secrets #2)

Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Novella

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Purchase Link: Amazon | BN

Published September 10th 2018 by Carina Press

 Sorority Secrets: The virgins of Beta Kappa Nu would do anything for each other. Even auction off their most valuable asset… 

I’ve been in love with Emma since we were thirteen years old.

That part is real. But nothing else they say about me is true. 

The way she looks at me from across the room, how she makes my old T-shirts look good, how perfect she feels when she’s in my arms. That’s what I want to picture when I think about Emma. Not a crazy auction where she gives it up to some random creep. 

I can’t let it happen. I won’t let it happen.

Despite the tattoos, despite the rumors, despite my reputation as a class-A player—there’s never been anyone else. In my bed or in my heart.

It’s always been Emma.

This book is approximately 19,500 words.

For those times when size does matter. The Dirty Bits from Carina Press: quick and dirty, just the way we like it.

One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise : all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!

Emma and her best friend have known each other for a long while and one of each other but not wanting to ruin they're good relationship. As a way to raise money for a good cause her sorority sisters are auctioning off their virginity.

This was an interesting little steamy contemporary novella and I thought was pretty good. There wasn't much to the book but what they was I thought was pretty good. Good for a quick read but not something I'd read outside because it's pretty steamy. Because it's so short it's hard to speak about it from what you got it is pretty good. 

Review : Bidding for Keeps

Bidding for Keeps by K. Webster

(Sorority Secrets #1)

Genre: Novella, New Adult, Romance, Erotica

Goodreads: Click

Purchase link: Amazon | BN | Kobo

Pages: 54

Sorority Secrets: The virgins of Beta Kappa Nu would do anything for each other. Even auction off their most valuable asset… 

Vivi Prescott loves Beta Kappa Nu. It’s her escape after a lifetime of living under her wealthy father’s overbearing thumb. She’ll do anything to help her sisters, including auction off her virginity to the highest bidder.

One tiny hitch. She’s not a virgin.

She gave that up three and a half years ago. Right there in the back of her brother’s best friend’s pickup truck. Dallas Monroe was a smug country boy with a dirty ball cap, torn jeans and a perpetual smirk. He showed her what pleasure could be, then let her go without a fight.

The mysterious, arrogant playboy who places the winning bid won’t ever know her secret. But his touch is so familiar, his mouth the one she’s been fantasizing about since forever.

Dallas is all grown up. And he was never bidding for sex…he was bidding for keeps.

This book is approximately 14,000 words.

For those times when size does matter. The Dirty Bits from Carina Press: quick and dirty, just the way we like it.

One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise : all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise! 

Vivi is auctioning off her virginity for a good cause that's important to her, the only catch is that she isn't a virgin. That has been taken by a man who shed rather remain nameless. Now shes gotta go off and meet this stranger and hope for the best.

This was such a quick and steamy read took me like 45 minutes to finish maybe less. It would be hard to talk about this book without spoiling it but I'll just tell you if you are looking for a good steamy read with a bit of a quick story then this book just might be for you. I didn't even check out the description of this book when picking it up but it turned out to be a pleasant surprise.

Review : Whiskey Dick

Whiskey Dick by Ryan Ringbloom

(Whiskey Dick #1)

Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Humor, Novella

Goodreads: Click

Purchase link: Amazon | BN | Kobo

WHISKEY DICK 
A NIGHT WITH NO HARD FEELINGS

Nothing like this has ever happened to me before. It's a fluke. Too much whiskey. Believe me when I say, it will NEVER happen again. 

I’m trying not to take it personally. Sh*t happens. It’s not a reflection on me. He claims it was too much whiskey. A one time occurrence. And I believe him. 

But then why the hell does it happen a second time? 

Fate’s a funny thing. 
He likes her.
She likes him. 
They say the third time's a charm…

 

Both Paisley and Jax meet in the airport for a delayed flight feeling unsettled with the thought of flying needing to take the edge off. When we find out the flight is cancelled, they decide to take a road trip together to get where they need to go since it's in the same direction. But before they go they decide to spend the night in a hotel and things didn't go quite right. 

If you're looking for a little humorous contemporary read that gets steamy you're going to want to pick up this book. With a novella the short you don't really get back stories just on the surface impressions of the characters and from what I can see I liked. This novella well was pretty well written I enjoyed it.

Review : Candy Cane Christmas

Candy Cane Christmas by Laura Trentham

(Cottonbloom #3.5)

Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Holiday Reads, Novella

Pages: 90

Purchase Link: Amazon | B&N | Kobo
Published October 25th 2016 by Swerve

A very Cottonbloom Christmas!

Jeremy Whitehurst has tried to leave his bad-boy behavior and tarnished image behind in Alabama for a fresh start in Cottonbloom, Louisiana. Unfortunately, trouble has dogged him across state lines. Stepping up and protecting a young woman from her abusive boyfriend earned him a beat-down and got him fired. Although the thanks in the girl’s dark eyes made it all worth it, he recognizes she’s just a different kind of trouble. A trouble he’s not sure he can stay away from.

One rebellious summer dented Kayla Redmond’s carefree innocence. Now her focus is on completing her associate’s degree for bookkeeping, and no one is going to derail her plans. Unfortunately, her job at Fournette Brothers Designs puts her in the path of the one man who has seen her at her worst, yet his blue eyes don’t judge her. He sees beyond the brokenness inside of her and rouses her wild side once more. But, that’s what got her in trouble in the first place.

Christmas is coming and Kayla’s ready to forgive herself and take a chance. But the holiday has only ever brought heartache to Jeremy. No Christmas miracle kept his mother clean or out of jail. Will one reckless night and some time spent in the back of a cop car be the best present Jeremy’s ever been given? 

Overall I thought that this was a short, sweet, and enjoyable holiday read. Wish this novella could've been longer but its good for what it is. I thought it was interesting getting to see the brief history between the two and seeing their relationship now seeing friendship going into something more heated and sweet. This book is great to give you the holidays feels and if you are pressed for time and want a short escape into a book then I think this book is for you.

Review : If Santa Were a Cowboy

If Santa Were a Cowboy by Melissa Cutler

(One and Only Texas #2.5)

Genre: Holiday books, Christmas, Contemporary, Romance,Novella,

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Purchase Link: Amazon | B&N | Kobo

This Christmas, Santa wears a Stetson. 

Paul Savage loves Christmas at Briscoe Ranch Resort, when he gets to take a break from being a back country guide to play Santa in the resort’s lobby and talk to kids about toys. The last thing he expects is his high school crush to come waltzing in as his new assistant photographer, wheeling a suitcase that's more naughty than nice.

Kelly Walker is a disaster. All she’d wanted was spice up her life by saying ‘yes’ to every opportunity, which is when the universe started pelting her with ‘no’s. So when she comes across a job listing for a holiday photographer working with the sweet, scrawny boy whose advances she’d laughed off in high school, she jumps on the chance to turn her bad Karma around by giving Paul a second chance.

Trouble is, Paul’s anything but scrawny anymore, and his cowboy swagger throws her grand plans for a loop—especially when he tempts her with a red hot proposition of his own. Kelly’s in way over her head, but as she gets swept up in the magic of Briscoe Ranch’s holiday charms—and Paul’s—could Kelly’s year of ‘no’s be leading up to the ‘yes’ of a lifetime?

Kelly is just having a rough time and back to her hometown to lick her wounds and now taking up a temporary job as a photographer at a santa event. Little did she expect to run into Paul a guy she once knew nerdy at the time while she was popular you already see where this is going. Now hes older and hotter then ever and Kelly him decides to heat up their holidays together.

This book was pretty good a really fast read. You can probably read it in one sitting with how quick I was able to read it. Although it was fast read I feel that it was too fast I wish there could've been more, I mean I really really liked the story and the characters. So its pretty much a compliment. Theres drama, steam and holiday stuff going on which is a great mix if you ask me.Overall I really enjoyed this book.