Mini review: Snowflake Wishes by Maggie McGinnis

Snowflake Wishes by Maggie McGinnis

Release Date: October 13, 2015

Publisher: St. Martin Paperbacks

My rating: 4

Buy here: Amazon

Synopsis:

Noah Drake was that guy--the one always on the lookout for his next adrenaline high, so it was no surprise when he took off across the world, seeking adventure as a travel writer. But one thing he could never escape was Piper Bellini, the girl who got away--the girl he let get away, a fact he's never let himself forget. When he returns to Echo Lake to see if there's any chance the flame between them can be rekindled, he never expects to spend the night holed up with Piper in a roadside diner while a blizzard rages outside. It's exactly the kind of situation that sent Piper running years ago. But this time, Noah may have been handed a Christmas miracle, and he intends to make all of his and Piper's wishes come true...

My Thoughts:

This was the sweetest book I've read in a while. Piper and Noah used to be a couple, but after he got hurt in an accident, Piper decided that she couldn't handle his job. She has a really good reason though, I promise. They break up and don't see each other till years later at the Christmas ball. After spending some time together and getting snowed in at a diner, they soon realize that they still do love each other, but nothing has changed because Noah still has the same job and Piper can't lose him. There's also a cute story about snowflakes that Piper's Mother used to tell her. Second chance love at it's best. Maggie McGinnis at her best in this sweet, charming novella. 

Blog tour: Coming Back by Lauren Dane

COMING BACK by Lauren Dane (December 8, 2015; Forever Trade Paperback; Ink & Chrome Book #3)

Mick Roberts, the newest partner at Twisted Steel's custom hotrod and motorcycle shop, looks like a man with everything. But secretly he still craves the connection he lost when his best friend Adam and the love of his life Jessilynn walked out. Then, he wasn't ready for the pleasure they promised. Now, things have changed.

Rich, powerful, and insatiable, Adam Gulati is used to getting what he wants. And there's nothing he wants more than Mick and Jessi. He hasn't seen either in over a year, but the second he sets eyes on them again his memories-and his desires-can't be denied.

After trying to live without them, Jessi Franklin realized no one else can satisfy her like Adam and Mick. The three of them need one another-in more ways than one. It's time to stop pretending and submit to the hunger they all share. But once they go down this road, there's no turning back. As deeply devoted as they are, no one knows what great bliss their forbidden fantasy will find-or the price they may pay . . .

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My Thoughts:

This is the third book in the Ink and Chrome series and it's Mick's story along with Jessi and Adam. This book was sexier than the first two, and it's not because it had all three together. Each character is dealing with something, whether it be family who don't approve or in Jessi's case, a secret about something that happened years ago. I loved these characters separately, but together they were awesome. Lauren Dane is an amazing writer, I always get sucked into the worlds she creates with these wonderful characters. I've loved this series just as much as I loved the Browns. This is a can't miss book. Y'all go read it. If you missed my review of Opening Up, PJ and Asa's story, you can read it here. 

My Rating: 4

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OPENING UP by Lauren Dane (June 16, 2015; Forever Trade Paperback; Ink & Chrome Book #1)

The men of Twisted Steel are great with their hands. And they're not afraid to get dirty.

Asa Barrons is never lonely for long. Co-owner of the Twisted Steel custom motorcycle shop, he works hard and plays harder. But he never allows his after-hours affairs to interfere with business-until he meets racing royalty PJ Colman. While the blue-eyed blonde is all princess on the outside, on the inside Asa can see that this woman is ready to take a walk on the wild side.

PJ knows trouble when she sees it, and Asa is the complete package: fast bike, killer ink, and a sinfully sexy smile that has her imagining things nice girls never do. She talks her way onto the Twisted Steel team to prove her painting skill, and soon learns that Asa is eager to show off some skills of his own.

With the help of Asa's expert touch, PJ is initiated into a world of wicked desire. No limits. No inhibitions. No turning back. But as perfect as their passion seems, a new challenge awaits, forcing them to ask just how far they are willing to go . . .

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FALLING UNDER by Lauren Dane (August 4, 2015; Forever Trade Paperback; Ink & Chrome #2)

Duke Bradshaw, co-owner of the Twisted Steel custom motorcycle and hot rod shop, may devote his days to chrome and leather, but his nights belong to Carmella. His sultry redheaded neighbor has a smile like an angel and a body built for sin, and for the past year both have dominated Duke's dreams. When a problem at Twisted Steel requires a fast fix, Duke sees his chance to finally make his fantasy a reality.

Ever since she first heard the low rumble of his engine, Carmella Rossi has wondered if Duke Bradshaw handles his women as expertly as he handles his bike. When he shows up at her door offering her a much-needed job at his shop, she gets her chance to find out. Beneath Duke's masterful touch, Carmella soon submits to a world of unimaginable pleasure. 

But history has taught Carmella how bad a boy boy can be. If she doesn't put on the brakes fast, her hard-bodied heartbreaker could drive her right over the edge . . .

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About the author:

The story goes like this: While on pregnancy bed rest, Lauren Dane had plenty of down time, so her husband took her comments about "giving that writing thing a serious go" to heart and brought home a secondhand laptop. She wrote her first book on it. Today, Lauren is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than 60 novels and novellas across several genres.

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Book Blast: Persuasion by Violetta Rand

Don't Miss the first in a Brand New MC Romance Series!

PERSUASION

Sons of Odin MC #1

Violetta Rand

Releasing December 8th, 2015

Loveswept

If you love the motorcycle romances of Joanna Wylde and Julie Ann Walker, don’t miss Violetta Rand’s irresistible novel about a sexy-as-sin biker who tempts a good girl to go bad.

Lang Anderson may be the new leader of the Sons of Odin motorcycle club, but his personal life is in shreds. He’s struggling to take care of his three young sisters in the wake of tragedy, while rumors of drug dealing within his ranks jeopardize everything he’s built. The last thing he needs is another distraction—like a bar brawl over a woman—but Lang is a sucker for a damsel in distress. And this one gets him roaring like a finely tuned engine.

High school guidance counselor Lily Gallo is no fender bunny. So why can’t she get Lang off her mind? Lily’s head says the rugged, rough-and-tumble biker who came to her aid is bad news. Her body begs to differ. But when Lang’s troubled kid sister walks into her office, Lily’s determined to help, even if it puts her in the crossfire of a gang war. On a crash course with danger and desire, Lily partners up with Lang to fight for his family—and for love.

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An environmental scientist by day, Violetta Rand has been in love with writing since childhood. Struck with an entrepreneurial spirit at a young age, she wrote short stories illustrated by her best friend and sold them in her neighborhood. Rand enjoys outdoor activities, music, reading, and losing herself in the world she brings to life in the pages of her stories. The only thing she loves more than writing is her wonderful relationship with her husband.

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Mini Review: Do you believe in Santa? by Sierra Donovan

Do you believe in Santa? by Sierra Donovan

Release date: September 29, 2015

Publisher: Zebra

My Rating: 4

Buy here: Amazon

Synopsis:

Miracles don’t just happen on 34th Street. They can happen right in your living room—if you’re willing to believe…
 
What grown woman claims to have seen Santa Claus? Mandy Reese, for one—on a very special Christmas Eve when she was eight years old. These days, Mandy works at a year-round Christmas store in Tall Pine, California, where customers love to hear about her childhood encounter with Saint Nick. But when Jake Wyndham arrives in town—charming, gorgeous, extremely practical—Mandy faces a dilemma. Deny what she saw, or let Jake think she’s sugarplum crazy?
 
Jake scouts hotel locations all over the country, but he’s never met anyone quite like Mandy before. Her warmth and sparkle are irresistible, but…meeting Santa? Really? Jake’s no Scrooge but he’s definitely skeptical. Then again, there are all kinds of things Jake never experienced until he came to Tall Pine. Like autumn snow. Mind blowing kisses. And the magic of falling head-over-heels, madly in love…

My Thoughts:

This was such a cute book about believing in Christmas Magic and the spirit of Santa Clause. When Mandy was 8, she saw Santa Clause in her living room and all her life she has always had to deal with the people who thought she was crazy. When Jake comes to town in hopes of opening up a chain hotel, him and Mandy click. I really loved these two. I'm such a sucker for a Christmas love story. If you need a little holiday cheer pick-me-up, look no further than this sweet magical read. 

Side note: Sorry y'all, I had a family thing and I didn't get a Christmas review up on Sunday or Monday :( 

12 DAYS OF STILETTO: The Sex, Love & Stiletto Boxed Set by Lauren Layne

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THE SEX, LOVE & STILETTO Series Boxed Set

After the Kiss, Love the One You're With, 

Just One Night & The Trouble with Love

Lauren Layne

Released November 24th, 2015

Loveswept

Hailed by Ruthie Knox as “fun, sexy, and sharp as a spike heel,” the Sex, Love & Stiletto series from USA Today bestselling author Lauren Layne introduces the glamorous columnists of Stiletto magazine and the ridiculously hot men who love them. Now all four novels—After the Kiss, Love the One You’re With, Just One Night, and The Trouble with Love—are together in one eBook bundle.

AFTER THE KISS 

Book One

“After the Kiss is a knock-your-stilettos-off, total page-turning treat that had me fan-girling up within the first chapter.”—USA Today bestselling author Mira Lyn Kelly

Julie Greene loves flings: first dates, first kisses, that first sexy romp between the sheets. But when Julie has to write an article about the magical shift between dating and “I do,” she’ll need a man brave enough to reform a total commitment-phobe. Normally, that man would be Mitchell Forbes, a devastatingly handsome workaholic who stays in relationships far too long. But Mitchell is looking to cut loose for once, and Julie’s exactly the type of no-strings fling he’s looking for. In other words, he’s the polar opposite of what she needs—and exactly what she wants.

LOVE THE ONE YOU’RE WITH 

Book Two

“Spunky, flirty, and full of sass, Love the One You’re With is everything a romance should be! Lauren Layne has a winner.”—New York Times bestselling author Christie Craig

After her fiancé turns out to be the kind of rotten, cheating liar she always warns her readers about, Grace Brighton swears off relationships for six months. She makes an exception for a joint article on dating with a gorgeous counterpart from the men’s magazine Oxford—and tries to tell herself she’s not instantly smitten. Jake Malone only agreed to this fluffy assignment because his playboy reputation makes his new editor nervous. But after just one date with snooty, sumptuous, sensational Grace, Jake starts taking this assignment a whole lot more seriously.

JUST ONE NIGHT 

Book Three

“Sexy, sassy, and surprisingly sweet, Just One Night is a total page-turner!”—New York Times bestselling author Donna Alward

As Stiletto’s resident “sexpert,” Riley McKenna writes articles that are the magazine’s most read. But when Riley is forced to confront a long-hidden secret—that her own sexual experience is limited to one awkward college encounter—she calls in the favor of a lifetime. Sam Compton knows two things about his best friend’s little sister: She’s the woman for him, and she’s completely off-limits. Sam shouldn’t even consider Riley’s proposition. But after a one-night stand in the name of research, they learn firsthand that, with each other, there’s no such thing as just one night.

THE TROUBLE WITH LOVE 

Book Four

“The Trouble with Love is a heartwarming read I devoured in one sitting and haven’t been able to stop smiling over since.”—New York Times bestselling author Violet Duke

Five years ago, Emma Sinclair was a blushing bride-to-be. Now she’s the ice queen of the Manhattan dating scene—and her latest article forces her to face the devilishly sexy guy who ditched her at the altar. After giving up everything for a pro soccer career, Alex Cassidy is hanging up his cleats and taking a shot at journalism . . . in the same city as his former fiancée. But Emma isn’t the innocent girl he remembers. She’s chic, sophisticated, and assertive—and she wants absolutely nothing to do with him. The trouble is, Alex has never wanted her more.

http://www.marthastewart.com/1095102/new-years-eve-sparkler

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Lauren Layne is the USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary romance.

Prior to becoming an author, Lauren worked in e-commerce and web-marketing. In 2011, she and her husband moved from Seattle to New York City, where Lauren decided to pursue a full-time writing career. It took six months to get her first book deal (despite ardent assurances to her husband that it would only take three). Since then, Lauren's gone on to publish thirteen books, including the bestselling Stiletto series, with several more on the way in 2016.

Lauren currently lives in New York City with her husband and spoiled Pomeranian. When not writing, you'll find her at happy hour, running at a doggedly slow pace, or trying to straighten her naturally curly hair.

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Book Blast: Fooling around with Cinderella by Stacy Juba

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FOOLING AROUND WITH CINDERELLA

Storybook Valley #1

Stacy Juba

Released November 9th, 2015

Self Published

What happens when the glass slippers pinch Cinderella's toes?

When Jaine Andersen proposes a new marketing role to the local amusement park, general manager Dylan Callahan charms her into filling Cinderella’s glass slippers for the summer. Her reign transforms Jaine’s ordinary life into chaos that would bewilder a fairy godmother. Secretly dating her bad boy boss, running wedding errands for her ungrateful sisters, and defending herself from the park’s resident villain means Jaine needs lots more than a comfy pair of shoes to restore order in her kingdom.

First in the Storybook Valley series, a blend of sweet romance, chick lit, and fairy tale fun.

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Stacy Juba got engaged at Epcot Theme Park and spent part of her honeymoon at Disneyland Paris, where she ate a burger, went on fast rides, and threw up on the train ride to the hotel. In addition to working on her new Storybook Valley chick lit/sweet romance series, Stacy has written books about ice hockey, teen psychics, U.S. flag etiquette for kids, and determined women sleuths. She has had a novel ranked as #5 in the Nook Store and #30 on the Amazon Kindle Paid List. 

When she’s not visiting theme parks with her family, (avoiding rides that spin and exotic hamburgers), or writing about them, Stacy helps authors to strengthen their manuscripts through her Crossroads Editing Service. She is currently writing the next book in the Storybook Valley Series, Prancing Around with Sleeping Beauty.

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Review: The great Christmas Knit-off

THE GREAT CHRISTMAS KNIT-OFF

Alexandra Brown

Releasing Oct 13th, 2015

Harper Collins

My Rating:4

The perfect seasonal tale of how laughter, friends and wacky Christmas sweaters can mend a broken heart.

Heartbroken after being jilted at the altar, Sybil has been saved from despair by her knitting obsession and now her home is filled to bursting with tea cozies, beanies, and sweaters. But, after discovering that she may have perpetrated the screw-up of the century at work, Sybil decides to make a hasty exit and, just weeks before Christmas, runs away to the picturesque village of Tindledale.

There, Sybil discovers Hettie’s House of Haberdashery, an emporium dedicated to the world of knitting and needle craft. But Hettie, the outspoken octogenarian owner, is struggling and now the shop is due for closure. And when Hettie decides that Sybil’s wonderfully wacky Christmas sweaters are just the thing to add a bit of excitement to her window display, something miraculous starts to happen…

My Thoughts:
I loved the Cupcake series, so when I got the chance to review this book, I jumped on it. This was the perfect little Christmas book. There is nothing better than Christmas in a charming New England town. I pretty much loved my way through this delightful book. The characters were spot on and the writing style is on point as well. If you're looking for a book to put you in the Christmas spirit look no further than this book. You'll giggle your way through to the last page and then sigh because it was just that good.