Just Desserts by Barbara Bretton

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Barbara Bretton

Just Desserts Barbara Bretton

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: originally Berkley;
this is a digital indie reprint

Date of Publication: print 2008;
digital 2013

ISBN: 9781940665047

ASIN: B00G2EE306

Number of pages: approx. 320

Word Count: approx. 88000

Cover Artist: Erin Dameron-Hill

Smashwords     Amazon    iTunes    BN

Book Description:

Hayley had sworn off bad boys
until Finn Rafferty set out to win her heart…

Once upon a time, Hayley had
believed that a good woman (her) could turn a bad boy (her ex) into a knight in
shining armor (pure fantasy). Ten years of marriage had finally drummed the
truth into her head. In the real world bad boys didn’t turn into knights in
shining armor. Bad boys grew up to be even worse men and the world would be a
much happier place if little girls were taught that basic fact along with their
ABCs.

Hayley Maitland Goldstein knew
all about how these things worked. First a girl giggled, then she sighed, and
the next thing you knew she was in Vegas taking her wedding vows in front of a
red-haired Elvis with an overbite. You knew you had made a bad choice when
Elvis slipped you his divorce lawyer’s business card while you were still
shaking the rice from your hair.

But then Finn Rafferty came into
her life and everything changed.

Hayley should have seen the kiss
coming but it surprised her just the same. He had been looking at her with a
crazy kind of unfocused intensity and she had been about to ask him if he was
having a stroke when she realized she was about to be kissed by a man she
actually wanted to kiss back.

Every now and then life handed
you a perfect moment but the secret was figuring out how to make it last.

Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQ7ruFHrV1I
Review

4 stars

Lawyer Finn Rafferty wasn’t sure what to expect when he sought out the unknown child of a rock legend, but Hayley Maitland Goldsetin wasn’t it.  Hayley questioned every motive for Finn being in her bakery ordering a cake for a rock star.  Why would he drive four hours out of his way to order a cake from a local bakery?

Hayley is waiting for the shoe to drop, the saying too good to be true is ever present in her mind.  It doesn’t help that she finds herself falling for Finn.  When Hayley discovers the truth though will she be able to forgive Finn for keeping her in the dark?

This was a delightful read.  I thought the pacing was good and was eager for Hayley to discover the truth.  Lizzie, the daughter of Hayley is highly entertaining and brings a very family feel to the story.  A true gem.

Praise
for Just Desserts

“Very few romance writers
create characters as well developed and realistic as Bretton’s. Her books pull
you in and don’t let you leave until the last word is read.”—Booklist
(starred review)

“Once again Bretton produces
a wonderful, heartwarming story full of strong emotion, humor, charming pets,
delightful characters and a lovely romance. There’s also a poignant secondary
romance. The way Bretton brings all this to life and pulls it all together for
a satisfactory conclusion are what make her a wonderful storyteller.”   —Susan
Mobley, ROMANTIC TIMES

“Good pacing and dialogue
make this warm-hearted story one that readers are sure to relish. The romances
have both serious and funny elements. If you like light-hearted, feel good,
romantic tales, you are sure to enjoy reading JUST DESSERTS.”  —Marilyn
Heyman, ROMANCE REVIEWS TODAY

“There are surprising, funny
twists to this story and a lot of touching episodes to pique the emotional
side. I found Barbara Bretton’s JUST DESSERTS to be highly entertaining,
cleverly written and hard to put down. Being a witty and warm read, I recommend
JUST DESSERTS and look forward to reading other novels by this author.” —Kay Quintin, FRESH FICTION

“If you’ve not ever read Ms.
Bretton then you are in for a real treat with Just Desserts.” –Sandi, A Romance Review

“Just Desserts is a fun,
romantic read. I enjoyed it and recommend it for all those who like a great
story filled with humor and romance.”–Victoria
Kennedy, Midwest Book Review

“JUST DESSERTS is a warm
family drama filled with tender humor . . . Fans will appreciate Barbara
Bretton’s invasion of South Jersey as everyone receives their JUST
DESSERTS.” —Harriet Klausner, Genre
Go-Round Reviews

“Ms. Bretton gives her
readers an easy, yet not bland, story with wonderful, vibrant characters and
wholly believable situations. You’ll want her backlist in your library, if it’s
not there already.”--Amanda
Killgore, Huntress’ Book Reviews

Excerpt:

Trish, one of
the high school girls Hayley was currently mentoring, burst into the kitchen
looking like she had just bumped into Justin Timberlake and then ricocheted off
Johnny Depp.

“There’s two
guys outside who want to see you and they’re unbelievably hot!” Trish was
seventeen, the age when the arrival of any biped with a Y chromosome rated a
breathless announcement. “One of them looks like a rock star from, you know, way
back in the eighties.”

Ouch. She had
been Trish’s age in the eighties.

“A rock star?”
she asked, lifting a brow. Rock stars were in short supply in Lakeside.

“A rock star,”
Trish confirmed. “And he’s wearing leather.”

There was only
one reason an aging leather-clad hottie would show up at Goldy’s Bakery at
three o’clock on a Wednesday afternoon and it had nothing to do with brownies,
cheesecake, or bagels.

“Tell him Mr.
Goldstein doesn’t live here anymore.” And that Mrs. Goldstein couldn’t be
happier about it. Not even sending him his monthly share of the store’s profits
dimmed her joy.

“But he didn’t
ask for Mr. Goldstein. He asked for you.”

Why did that
surprise her? She was the Goldstein with a bank balance, after all. It had been
a while since someone had come looking for her ex but the knot in her stomach
was painfully familiar. The faint stench of danger still lingered in the air.
She wished she had a dollar for every angry enabler who had shown up at Goldy’s
in search of the reluctant Mr. Goldstein. She’d be able to buy him out once and
for all and still have money to spare.

“Then tell him
I’m not here.”

“But, Mrs. G., I
already told him you were.”

“Then tell him
the truth,” she said. “I’m busy working on a cake that should have been
finished an hour ago. I can’t spare a second.” And here she’d thought her life
would settle down after Michael moved to Florida to mooch off his mother. The
man’s problems had the half-life of uranium.

Trish rearranged
her pretty features into an even prettier frown. “He really wants to see you,
Mrs. G. Maybe—”

Hayley could
feel the hot breath of the Cumberland County Association of Female Realtors on
the back of her neck. She whipped out The Look, the same look every mother on
the planet had down cold, aimed it in Trish’s direction, then hoped for the
best.

“I’ll tell him,”
Trish mumbled, then pushed through the swinging door to deliver the bad news.

The Look had
stopped working on Lizzie when she was seven, but it was nice to know she still
had enough maternal firepower at her command to keep her young staff in line.

She pressed her
ear against the swinging door but she couldn’t make out Trish’s words, just a
high apologetic string of female sounds that was followed by a male rumble.
Leather Boy had a good voice, baritone, a little smoky. She couldn’t make out
his words either but Trish’s answering giggle conjured up some painful memories
of herself at that age.

First a girl
giggled, then she sighed, and the next thing you knew she was in Vegas taking
her wedding vows in front of a red-haired Elvis with an overbite. You knew you
had made a bad choice when Elvis slipped you his divorce lawyer’s business card
while you were still shaking the rice from your hair.

She listened
closer. Trish said something girly. Leather Boy rumbled something manly. This
time Rachel, her other counter girl for the week, giggled too, a sound that
sent Hayley’s maternal early-warning system into overdrive.

Rachel Gomez was
a serious straight-A student bound for Princeton next year on full scholarship.
She needed the paycheck more than any mentoring Hayley might have provided her.
Rachel had probably never giggled before in her life.

If Rachel
giggled, then even Lizzie might not be immune. Fourteen was when it started,
that fizzy sensation in your veins, the yearning for things you couldn’t
define, the sudden realization that boys were infinitely more interesting than
global warming or the fate of the humpback whale.

Fourteen was
also when young girls parted company with their self-confidence and traded in
their love of math and science for a date for the prom.

Sometimes she
wanted to lock Lizzie away in her room with her computer, her books, and a cell
phone (maybe), and not let her out again until she was twenty-one. Thirty
sounded better but even fantasies had their limits. The advisor at Olympia Prep
had suggested that Lizzie might be better served intellectually by skipping the
rest of high school and starting college in the fall but Hayley was dead set
against it. Lizzie might be brilliant when it came to science but when it came
to life, she was still only fourteen.

The world could
be a scary place. A mother did her best to protect her kid from fast cars,
drunk drivers, broken bones, flu, the common cold, but there was nothing she
could do to protect her kid from growing up. No matter what you did or how well
you did it, your little girl wasn’t going to stay a little girl. Right before
your eyes she was going to grow up on you anyway and all you could do was pray
she didn’t follow in your foolish footsteps.

Once upon a
time, Hayley had believed that a good woman (her) could turn a bad boy (her ex)
into a knight in shining armor (pure fantasy). Ten years of marriage to Michael
Goldstein had finally drummed the truth into her head. People didn’t change with
time. They just became more of who they were to begin with.

In the real
world bad boys didn’t turn into knights in shining armor. Bad boys grew up to
be even worse men and the world would be a much happier place if little girls
were taught that basic fact along with their ABCs.

Why didn’t women
teach their young how to cope with the things that were really important
instead of how to walk in their first pair of heels? Why didn’t they make a
point of sitting their girl children down and telling them the truth about men
instead of letting some guy in a leather jacket seduce them over a tray of
black-and-white cookies?

That was one of
the many reasons why she had helped institute the mentoring program at the high
school. Lizzie claimed her overflow worrying needed an outlet but it went far
deeper. She saw herself in those girls, insecure, struggling, hungry for love,
and ready to hand over their futures to the first guy who came along.

Those idiot
girls out there were like ripe fruit on a very low-hanging branch. The
slightest breeze would be enough to shake them from the tree and into the
waiting arms of Leather Boy or someone just like him and their entire lives
would be changed forever.

Except it wasn’t
going to happen on her watch. With apologies to the good real estate agents of
Cumberland County, it was time to prepare for battle.

About
the Author:

 

Oh, how I hate bios! All of that
deadly dull information about name (Barbara Bretton) and date of birth (June
25) and geographical data (born in New York City; lives near Princeton, NJ),
marital status (many years married), and hobbies (who has time??). How do you
gather up all of those dull, dry facts and turn them into something
interesting?

No wonder I tell lies for a
living.

I considered weaving a story for
you about life on a houseboat on the French Riviera. Or maybe my years as a
concubine, hidden away in a golden pleasure palace in the shimmering desert.
Then I decided to do the unthinkable and tell you the truth.

When I sold my first book and my
life changed forever. I sent in my manuscript on Thursday February 21, 1982 and
four days later the telephone rang and I heard the amazing words, “We want
to buy your book.” How I wish you could have seen me. I was standing by
the kitchen door of our North Babylon house, the picture of cool
sophistication, as I listened to Vivian Stephens explain the terms of the deal
to me. You would have thought I’d sold a first book every single day of my
life. Yes, I said. Sounds wonderful. Thank you so much for calling. I look
forward to our association. That cool sophistication hung on until I hung up
the phone, took a deep breath, then promptly threw up on my shoes.

I was thirty-one years old,
unagented, unschooled, unfamiliar with anything to do with the business of
publishing. To put it mildly, I was in shock. My husband was working in
Manhattan at the time (and finishing up his degree at night) so it would be
hours until I could break the news to him. This was too exciting to waste on a
phone call. I wanted to see his face when I told him that my dream had finally
come true — and came with a $6000 advance!

He pulled into the driveway at
midnight. I was waiting in the doorway, holding a bottle of champagne and two
glasses. I didn’t have to say a word. He knew right away and the look of joy
and pride in his eyes warms me now, years later, long after the advance faded
into memory.

A lot has happened to me in the
years since that first sale. I’ve learned that this is a difficult and
demanding business (it takes a tough writer to write a tender book) and that I
am happiest when I am most ignorant. I’ve also learned that a good friend, a
writer and pal who truly understands, is worth her weight in good reviews and
royalty checks.

I fell madly in love with Skye
O’Malley in early 1982 and wrote an unabashedly gushy fan letter to our beloved
Bertrice Small. By the time Sunny answered, I had joined the ranks of the
published and Sunny became friend and mentor, guide and confidant. She has held
my hand through broken dreams, disappointments, family illnesses, and accepted
my bizarre need to go underground from time to time with great affection and
understanding. Over the years I’ve come to understand the difference between
the writer and her work, that loving the book doesn’t guarantee that I will
love the author. But what a joy it is when you discover that the author of a
beloved favorite is even more wonderful and witty and wise than the characters
she creates.

So this bio is for you, Sunny,
for being the best of friends during the worst of times and — even more
wonderful — during the good times as well.

And now for the statistics:

Barbara Bretton is the USA Today
bestselling, award-winning author of more than 40 books. She currently has over
ten million copies in print around the world. Her works have been translated
into twelve languages in over twenty countries.

Barbara has been featured in
articles in The New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Romantic Times,
Cleveland Plain Dealer, Herald News, Home News, Somerset Gazette,among others,
and has been interviewed by Independent Network News Television, appeared on
the Susan Stamberg Show on NPR, and been featured in an interview with Charles
Osgood of WCBS, among others.

Her awards include both
Reviewer’s Choice and Career Achievement Awards from Romantic Times; Gold and
Silver certificates from Affaire de Coeur; the RWA Region 1 Golden Leaf; and
several sales awards from Bookrak. Ms. Bretton was included in a recent edition
of Contemporary Authors.

Barbara loves to spend as much
time as possible in Maine with her husband, walking the rocky beaches and
dreaming up plots for upcoming books.

www.barbarabretton.com

www.barbarabretton.net

www.facebook.com/barbarabretton

www.facebook.com/authorbarbarabretton

www.twitter.com/barbarabretton

www.goodreads.com/barbarabretton

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Taming Johnny by Kaylie Newell

Taming Johnny by Kaylie Newell

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Emma Beaumont has been crushing on her boss for a year, no one understands her infatuation with the surly Lieutenant Johnny Street. Johnny is a hard man, he is curt, barks his orders, and unapproachable but Emma believes that there is more to him than his steely edge. When a compliment gives Emma hope, she decides to pursue Johnny whether he wants it or not, but Johnny is keeping his feelings close to his heart and may end up losing the best thing in his life, Emma.

Full review on Single Titles

http://singletitles.com/?p=9369

View all my reviews

Lisa’s Bear by Rayne Rachels

Tags

shifter

Lisa’s Bear by Rayne Rachels

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Bear Shifter, David wants to throttle his nephew when he gets coerced to chaperone his dance. However, the minute he meets Lisa he realizes he has met his mate.

Lisa has been burned before, a full figure woman she knows she is not what a handsome man like David could possibly want. She couldn’t be more wrong and David plans to prove her wrong. As David sets out to woo her his efforts are abruptly brought to a halt when an attempt on Lisa’s life is forcing David to keep her protected.

There were things I liked, like the inner bear dialogue, but I wanted more of the story. It was a bit rushed and had a well crafted enemy but you didn’t really grasp why. Would try another in the series though.

View all my reviews

Stranded With A Billionaire by Jessica Clare

Stranded with a Billionaire by Jessica Clare

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Perfect (most horrible) vacation checklist

Win vacation on radio station CHECK

Find annoyingly worst most self absorbed companion possible CHECK

Make sure a hurricane is about to arrive CHECK

Find yourself stranded with a stranger and have your own blue lagoon moment CHECK

Bronte Dawson doesn’t live above her means, she is a sock hop waitress who won a dream vacation, which has quickly turned into a livable nightmare. She ends up stranded in the middle of the hurricane with a complete stranger, Logan Hawkings. Bronte thinks Logan is the manager of the hotel and finds a comfort in the uptight intense man.

Logan is used to being used by women, he is a billionaire and he is so tired of the fake behavior of women just looking for a one way ticket to his pocket book. Realizing that Bronte has no clue who he is, he finds himself giving in to the pull of the quirky waitress who quotes ancient philosophy. There intimate island experience quickly implodes though when Bronte finds out who he really is. Logan is willing to fight for Bronte, but he is not used to dealing with a woman who holds her own and wants nothing from him other than just being himself.
Loved, loved, loved if I was caught in a hurricane, please give me Logan. He is curt to all others but to Bronte he softens into this incredible man who is just trying to win Bronte’s heart. Need an escape, this is the book for you.

View all my reviews

The Greatest Fight of All by Dixie Lynn Dwyer

Tags

fighter

The Greatest Fight of All by Dixie Lynn Dwyer

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Amelia Jennings is ready to start over. After a disastrous relationship with an abusive ex, her father and brothers tumultuous relationship she needs a completely new environment. Moving to Texas for her new job and be with her best friend sounds perfect.

Meeting the Haas brothers has Amelia treading lightly. Murphy, Waylon, Brody, and Ricky are dominant, large, men. They are also her bet friend’s brothers. When all four show interest Amelia is not sure she wants to go down that road, after all that is what she left New York for.

Ricky falls hook line and sinker from the minute he meets Amelia. Murphy doesn’t do relationships, in fact none of the brothers do but he can’t seem to keep from wanting to silence her feisty nature with a kiss that would bring her to her knees. Waylon doesn’t trust easily and Brody is the quieter of the bunch, but with Amelia they all seem to be breaking out of their shell.
Overall good story, had a few yo yo (should I or shouldn’t I) moments. Out of the guys I like Brody the best, he is moody but there was something about him that drew me in. Another great addition in the series.
View all my reviews

Give Me Hope by Zoey Derrick Review Tour

BLURB:

An Angel is he…

From the first moment he saw her, MIKAH BLAKE was seized by
an inexplicable need to protect Vivienne Callahan, a fragile but fiery
young woman who’s awakened a slumbering power within him. With his
encouragement, Vivienne has begun to turn her life around, and things seem to
be heading in the direction of a slow but certain happily-ever-after. But
that happy ending is side tracked by a rising evil that is determined to
destroy her. 

When her dark past comes back to claim her, Mikah is caught in a
whirlwind of events that lead him down a path he was born into but never
understood. Until now. 

Can Mikah save
Vivienne?  Will his love be enough? Will he be able to control his angelic
powers and use them to protect his newfound love?

Review: Give Me Reason

5 stars

Vivienne Callahan has hit rock bottom without even attempting to. After her abusive ex attacks her, she is left trying to move on and take care of herself, but not as successfully as she would like.

Mikah Blake sees Vivienne for the first time and she radiates something that Mikah needs in his life. If he had his way, he would protect and care for Vivienne with no questions asked, but he sees he proud young lady in front of him and tries to form a friendship. 

This was a page turner for me. Vivienne is a strong, proud, but so vulnerable young woman who is just trying to survive day to day. I loved Mikah, he is a mystery which you don’t get to much revealed but know he is a pivotal piece i Vivienne’s life. I eagerly await the next book in the series. Entrancing.

Review: Give Me Hope

4 stars

The second in the Give Me series, taken from Mikah’s point of view.

Mikah is restraining himself from doing the one thing he feels strongly about, swooping in and protecting Vivienne. Although Vivienne has asked for some space, Mikah still has been keeping an eye on her from afar.  If it were not for his instincts, he may have never have found Vivienne hurt and in need of help.

This was a wonderful sequel.  You get to learn more about Mikah and the mysterious marks on his back.  He begins to evolve while watching over Vivienne.  I am so rooting for this couple who can’t seem to catch a break.  A fantastic addition to the Give Me series.

BIO:

 

It is from Glendale, Arizona that Zoey Derrick, a
mortgage underwriter by day and romance and erotica novelist by night, writes
stories as hot as the desert sun itself. It is this passion that drips off of
her work, bringing excitement to anyone who enjoys a good and sensual love
story.


 


Not only does she aim to take her readers on an erotic
dance that lasts the night, it allows her to empty her mind of stories we all
wish were true.
Her stories are hopeful yet true
to life, skillfully avoiding melodrama and the unrealistic, bringing her
gripping Erotica only closer to the heart of those that dare dipping into it. 
 


The intimacy of her fantasies that she shares with her
readers is thrilling and encouraging, climactic yet full of suspense. She is a
loving mistress, up for anything, of which any reader is doomed to return to
again and again.

ONLINE LINKS:

·       Website WWW.ZOEYDERRICK.COM

·       Facebook WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/ZOEY.DERRICK

·       Facebook WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/ZOEY.DERRICK.1

·       Twitter WWW.TWITTER.COM/ZOEYDERRICK

·       Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7060851.Zoey_Derrick

·       Amazon Page http://www.amazon.com/Zoey-Derrick/e/B00CNZYGZU/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

BUY NOW LINK:

·       Amazon  http://www.amazon.com/Zoey-Derrick/e/B00CNZYGZU/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

·       B&N

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Baiting the Boss by Coleen Kwan

Tags

boss-employee romance

Baiting the Boss

by Coleen Kwan

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

For
years Grace Owens harbored a secret crush on her boss, Jack Macintyre, the heir
to the Macintyre Corporation. But after tragedy upends his life, Jack relocates
to a remote tropical island, cutting off all contact with his past. Now Grace’s
new boss issues an ultimatum: return Jack to the family fold or pack her
briefcase and move on.

When
Grace turns up at Jack’s bungalow, he can’t deny his attraction to the fiery
woman determined to lure him out of his tropical paradise. He lets her bait him
with temptation, but little does she know that returning to his old life is not
an option—he’s nobody’s boss, and he likes it that way. Grace is playing a game
she can’t win.

Or
can she?  Will Jack give up his island
paradise to help Grace keep her job? If he stays, she’ll lose her job. But if
he goes, she’ll lose her heart.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Excerpt:

As she turned
to float on her back, she spied Jack at the water’s edge and almost went under.
He’d taken off his T-shirt, and the sight of his bare, toned abdomen took her
breath away. Desire spiraled in her as she drank in his burnished chest with
its flecking of hairs pointing straight down into the waistband of his board
shorts. His shoulders flexed as he smoothed back his hair, the heat haze
bathing him in a sultry, golden aura. He was a demigod, with the power to make
her forget who she was.

She’d never
experienced such a visceral reaction to a man before, and it scared her. What
would happen if they got too close? If he kissed her again, she wouldn’t be
able to resist. Swiveling away, she dived underwater and kicked her way through
the crystal-clear water.

But why
should she resist? They were both single, unattached. Why shouldn’t they kiss
as much as they wanted? The idea sent her corkscrewing to the surface. She
popped up and refilled her lungs, treading water. Jack shot up with a splash
not far from her.

“You took off
like a tadpole.” He flicked the hair away from his eyes. “Where are you going?”

Away from
temptation. “Uh, nowhere in particular.” She felt for the bottom of the pool,
but found only more water.

In a couple
of strokes he was right in front of her. “I can stand here. Hold onto me.” As
she glanced nervously at the bulk of his shoulder, his eyes twinkled. “I don’t
bite, you know.”

Oh, it wasn’t
his bite she was afraid of. She placed a hand on his shoulder. “Thanks.”

“On the other
hand…” His eyes sparkled even brighter. “The eels in this pool have been known
to nibble.”

“Eels!” She
grabbed onto him with both hands, casting a jittery look at the still waters
around them.

A low chuckle
rumbled in his chest. “Just kidding. They don’t bite.”

“But there
are eels?”

“Small ones
only, and they’re shy.”

She couldn’t
suppress a shudder. “I don’t know whether to believe you or not.”

“Would I lie
to you?”

“Probably.
You’re a man, aren’t you?”

His teeth
gleamed white. “Glad you noticed.”

How could she
not notice? Then she realized that Jack’s arm was around her waist, and she was
clinging to his shoulders. Eels weren’t the only danger here. Far more
dangerous was the way their chests were stuck together, her breasts pushing up
against the water-dappled wall of his chest.

She swallowed
and noticed he was breathing heavily, too. Up close in the brilliant sunshine,
she could see every detail of him, from the fascinating specks of violet in his
gray irises, to the black stubble peppering his chin, to the faint quirk in his
lips. A tiny muscle pumped in his jaw, an indication that her proximity was
affecting him, too.

“I told
myself I wouldn’t do this again,” he muttered, almost talking to himself.

“Do what?
Joke about eels?”

“Yeah, that
too.” Using his free hand, he traced a finger down the curve of her cheek. The
unexpected tenderness in his gesture made her senses leap. “You’re going home
tomorrow.”

She nodded,
unable to speak.

“And I won’t
see you again. At least, not in the foreseeable future.” He smoothed back her
hair, tucking a wet tendril behind her ear. “It wouldn’t be fair to take
advantage of you.”

He was
talking as if she were still a naive young graduate. “Maybe I’m the one taking
advantage of you.”

His eyebrows
shot up. His hand stilled on her cheek. “But you’re…”

“A grown
woman able to make my own decisions.” When it came to men she’d always been too
shy to make the first move, but Jack made her feel so different, so sensual and
wanton. She wanted him, right here and now, and she couldn’t think of a single
reason to hold back. “Also, a very horny woman right now.”

Review:

4 stars

Grace Owens always harbored a secret crush for her old boss and when she is asked to bring him back, after leaving three years ago, she becomes a woman on a mission.  What she finds is a surf bum in lieu of her boss and it puts her a little off her game.

 

Jack MacIntyre walked away, blaming his family and circumstances for a tragedy he felt deep in his heart. Seeing Grace in a whole new light though is unexpected, their tempers flare as well as an undeniable attraction but Jack is not willing to give his heart and Grace is quickly losing hers.

 

Wonderful story, I thought this was an unexpected plot line that I have not read before.  I liked that Grace was frustrated with Jack, his reasoning make sense but he also had put a lot of weight into the blame game.  a fun read.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Casting
My Characters – Coleen Kwan

When writing a
book, I find it often helps to think of it as a movie and to picture my story
as a series of scenes. It helps even more if I can populate my imaginary movie
with real actors playing the characters in my book. My new book, Baiting the Boss, starts off in a
tropical island, so naturally there’re plenty of opportunities for skimpy
clothing and hot bodies! So which actors would I cast to play my hero, Jack
Macintyre, and my heroine, Grace Owens?

Joe Manganiello. Famous
for his role as a werewolf in True Blood, Joe would make a great Jack
Macintyre. With his dark good looks, brooding magnetism, and a fantastic set of
abs, he’d make any woman swoon. Jack is also a hero tormented by the mistakes
he made in his past, and I think Joe Manganiello has the right maturity to
convey this. He’d make an awesome Jack Macintyre.

Jennifer Lawrence. This
gifted actor has been called “the most talented young actress in America” by
Rolling Stone magazine. I’m picking her to play Grace Owens because in the film
The Hunger Games she showed guts and determination, and in my story Grace has
to cope with a lot of setbacks. On top of all that acting talent, Jennifer
Lawrence is beautiful in a natural way, which is exactly how I picture my
heroine.

Marquesas Islands.
These islands, which are part of French Polynesia, were my inspiration when I
invented Filemu Island, the tropical island which features in my book. The
Marquesas Islands are remote and stunningly beautiful, with towering mountains
and waterfalls cascading down volcanic cliffs. As I scrolled through images of
these idyllic islands, it was all too easy to imagine my hero and heroine in
this paradise, enjoying their surroundings, and gradually, bit by bit, falling
for each other.

So there you are! I have my lead actor, lead actress,
and the location all sorted for the movie of Baiting the Boss. How could any Hollywood producer resist? In the
meantime, I hope you enjoy reading my book.

Thanks for having me on your blog!

Coleen Kwan

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Coleen Kwan
has been a bookworm all her life. At school English was her favorite subject,
but for some reason she decided on a career in IT. After many years of
programming, she wondered what else there was in life — and discovered writing.
She loves writing contemporary romance and steampunk romance.

Coleen lives
in Sydney, Australia with her partner and two children. When she isn’t writing
she enjoys avoiding housework, eating chocolate, and watching Criminal Minds.

Website:
http://www.coleenkwan.com

Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/ColeenKwan

Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/coleenkwan.authorpage

Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5210210.Coleen_Kwan

Buy Links:

Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Baiting-Boss-Entangled-Indulgence-ebook/dp/B00FCQQ1GY/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1381276384&sr=1-1

BN:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/baiting-the-boss-coleen-kwan/1116968323?ean=9781622661886

 

Coleen will be
awarding a $10 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

 

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BEARed to You by Tawny Taylor

Tags

shifter

BEARed to You by Tawny Taylor

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Abby Clumm can’t believe she is stranded in Alaska alone. She is frightened and seems to have attracted a bear who keeps trying to get in the door. When it looks like it has finally gone away she finds someone knocking on the door and is eager for company, finding a naked man there is a bonus.

Research scientist Tarik Evert doesn’t know what is going on, but the woman answering the door drives every instinct in him to claim her.

Fun read, did not really warm to Abby who comes off a bit spoiled in the beginning. Clever idea for a story though.

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Enforcer by Lauren Dane

Tags

shifter

Enforcer by Lauren Dane

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Nina Reyes worked hard to get to where she is today. It took some not quite legit ways to get there but she has been on the straight and narrow since. Her brother though has continued on that fine line, especially once he was bitten by a werewolf. When he ends up in trouble again and seeks Nina’s help, she finds herself being watched by the hottest wolf she has ever met.

Lex Warden is the enforcer of the Cascadia Pack, he is feared by all and always gets his way. Until he meets Nina, who looks like a spinster but after a most interesting encounter catches him off guard. Lex knows she is his mate, but if there is a woman who has proceed with caution written all over it, it is Nina.

Tempers flare, chemistry explodes, and a heck of a good time in reading a book ensues. I liked this one a lot, Nina is a firecracker and Lex although mighty, has fallen hard. Excellent read.

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A Virgin For The Wolf by Harmony Raines

Tags

Harmony Raines, shifter

A Virgin For The Wolf by Harmony Raines

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Ellie Carter knew she got her job dishonestly, but she needed it in order to provide a stable home for her brother. When she is confronted by her boss Nathaniel Greystone, she misinterprets his suggestion to fix the problem and flees.

Nathaniel has been waiting for his mate and can’t believe his luck at finding her in his own building. Of course his first attempt at getting to know her blows up in his face. His wolf is nipping hard wanting to claim his mate, but getting Ellie to understand is quite another matter all together.

Cute story, but there was a lot that goes unanswered at the end. If the story would have been more complete would have rated it higher.

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