ARC Review: The Vault: A Sinfully Sexy Collection

The Vault is a collection of sexy short stories by 22 different authors. Some of these stories have cliffhangers and lead to more, and some are just meant to be quick and hot reads that can stand alone. While anthologies are usually pretty hit or miss for me, the great thing about them is that they give you a chance to read something when you are limited on time and that they also are a way to experience the work of authors that you might not be familiar with. I love getting to take a chance on new authors without feeling like if I don't like them that I am out a bunch of money and more often than not I end up discovering authors that I wouldn't have otherwise and end up loving their books.

The Vault contains the following stories:

A.D. Justice Warning

A.M. Hargrove For The Love of My Sexy Geek 

Aleatha Romig Unconventional

C.A. Harms Raw 

Gina Whitney Stilettos and Broken Bottles 

Hilary Storm Ridin’ Dirty 

Katherine Rhodes Innuendo 

Kate Benson Redemption 

Kathy Coopmans Parole 

Katie Ashley The Plan 

Liv Morris Sweet Seconds 

M.C. Cerny Declan's Demand 

M. Stratton In His Arms 

Michelle Dare Uncuffed 

MJ Fields Terzetto 

Nina Levine Risk 

S. Moose Author Adjusting the Deal 

S.D. Hildreth Mister Prick 

T.K. Leigh Inferno 

Terri E. Laine Honey 

Tia Louise Sundown 

Toni Aleo Not The One 

While I didn't love every single one of these, I am glad that I was able to take a chance on some new stories and it helped me to read some authors that I definitely will check out more from. My favorites of this were C.A. Harms, Katie Ashley, A.M. Hargrove and Tia Louise. Each of these were so good, and are by some of my favorite authors. None of them have disappointed me yet, and they definitely didn't here. While these were my favorites though, I enjoyed many of the stories and it is hard to really go into the details when there are so many stories included in the Vault. I will say that while I loved some of these, I did have some issues with a few of the stories. Some were a part of an established series and that can be tough if you are unfamiliar with it. This was especially true for me with Katherine Rhode's Innuendo. I wanted to get into it but I felt like I just didn't know the world and things were confusing for me. 

I am really glad that I read this anthology though, and this is one I recommend to readers. Not only is there a lot of content here by several authors, but this is one of the better anthologies I have read before. There are several authors that I was new to here but will be checking out in the future. The Vault is definitely worth the read and I think readers are going to love this sexy collection.

**ARC Provided by Social Butterfly PR**

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Feature: Second Chances: A Romance Writers of America Collection

Do you believe in second chances?

Romance Writers of America brings together seventeen of today's hottest authors in an anthology of never-before-published tales that reveal true love always deserves a happy ending.

Follow New York Times best-selling authors J. Kenner and Christina Lauren back to reader-favorite worlds.

New York Times bestseller Alyssa Day sprinkles djinn magic in her humorous paranormal romance, while Rachel Hauck brings the enchantment of the holidays in her New Year’s Eve contemporary love story.

And Liliana Hart delivers thrills and adventure in her characters’ search for the impossible.

With characters who find love through tough situations, in an elegant 1800s ballroom, with an old friend who shows up when least expected, at a tender age when cliques and homework get in the way of relationships, or after a random encounter in an unlikely setting, Second Chances delivers romance to strike every reader’s fancy.

Plus tales from:

Marilyn Brant

Kerri Carpenter

CiCi Coughlin

Cassandra Dean

Tina Ferraro

Renee Luke

Ariella Moon

Brandi Willis Schreiber

Lizzie Shane

Sharon Sobel

Damon Suede

Tara Wyatt

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ARC Review: Glamour: Contemporary Fairytale Retellings Anthology

I have a love/hate relationship with anthologies, but when I saw the list of authors attached to Glamour: Contemporary Fairytale Retellings, I knew I had to read it. I am so glad that I took a chance on this one as it was one of the best anthologies I have ever read. Each story was one I enjoyed, without a single disappointment in the bunch. 

Glamour includes novellas based on classic fairytales, including the following stories: 

Knot by Lili St. Germain (Rapunzel) 

Red Hot Pursuite by A.L. Jackson (Little Red Riding Hood) 

Ripples by Aleatha Romig (Prince and the Pauper) 

In A Stranger's Bed by Sophie Jordan (Goldilocks) 

Bedtime Story by Skye Warren (Sleeping Beauty) 

Royal Mattress by Nicola Rendell (Princess and the Pea) 

Music Box Girl by Sierra Simone (Twelve Dancing Princesses) 

Broken Harp by Nora Flite (Jack and the Beanstalk) 

Each one of this was quick and sexy, and just what I was looking for. These are the perfect quick bits steam for those that don't have time to sit down and read a full novel. I loved that they were modern retellings, taking what we have grown up loving about classic fairytales and putting their own modern twists on them. While I enjoyed all of these and would recommend this to readers, my absolute favorite here was Music Box Girl by Sierra Simone. I loved each story, and I think fans of Erotica as well as fans of fairytales will definitely want to check this one out.

**ARC Provided by Enticing Journey Book Promotions**

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Review: Bad Romeo Christmas by Leisa Rayven

I am a huge fan of Leisa Rayven and this series is one of my all time favorites! I couldn't wait to get more of my favorite characters, and Leisa Rayven definitely didn't disappoint. If you haven't read the Starcrossed series yet, you will want to start there though as this book is three novellas about three different couples from the series and will spoil the previous books. For fans of the series though, this is a must read!

The three novellas feature Ethan and Cassie, Liam and Elissa, and Josh and Angel. Ethan and Cassie's first Christmas with the hold family is approaching and they are both trying to make it perfect when Ethan's past suddenly reappears. Liam and Elissa have been apart for months and are looking forward to being reunited when their Christmas away from the public eye turns into a nightmare. Josh and Angel are ready to celebrate the new year, but with everything going on around them things don't go according to plan.

I love all these characters and honestly was so glad for a check in with them. This is one of those series that I really just never want to end. I love the characters so much that I am greedy for any tidbits that Leisa Rayven gives us. My absolute favorite is Liam and Elissa, but I truly love each couple in this series. The only reason this wasn't absolutely perfect to me was the fact that I am greedy when it comes to them, and I wanted more. It was so nice to see these characters living their lives and dealing with real world issues together, but it just made me hungry for more. I highly recommend this entire series as Leisa Rayven is a brilliant writer that knows how to write engaging stories filled with characters that you are instantly invested in. I really hope that she never stops writing, and revisits these characters again in the future.

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ARC Review: When We Met Anthology by A.L. Jackson, Molly McAdams, Tiffany King and Christina Lee

I was so excited to read the When We Met Anthology. It has such great authors contributing to it, and I knew it would be a good one! This anthology centers around four roommates with each author telling one of the girls' story.

 Behind Her Eyes by A.L. Jackson

Behind Her Eyes is Misha's story. She is just returning to school after her former boyfriend hurt her. Misha has a lot of trust issues and is scared that everyone will look at her differently after what Hunter put her through. When she finds out that the boys next door kicked Hunter out and got a new roommate, she is intrigued by him. Misha is instantly attracted to the new neighbor Darryn. But she is also afraid to let anything happen after her trust was destroyed before. But Darryn is determined to show her that things between them can be different and that he is worth taking a chance on. I really liked Darryn and Misha. They were really sweet together and you could feel the attraction between them. Darryn was kind and patient, and he really cared about Misha. He made a few bad choices, but you could tell that he was still a great guy. Misha had been through so much, and I felt really bad for her. But she was also strong and determined, and I thought that she was really brave to go back to school and face the past. Darryn and Misha were great for one another, and I felt like their connection was real and didn't feel rushed at all. I did feel as though this story was a bit slow though and that was the reason that I didn't rate this one higher. This one had a lot of depth for the short length though, and I liked how some tough issues were dealt with.

 Saving Me by Molly McAdams

This novella was amazing! Molly McAdams once again proved that she is an amazing writer and is able to tackle the tough topics. This one had me feeling so many emotions, and I really felt like these characters were special. Indy had been abandoned in horrible ways. Her brother was killed, her parents kicked her out, and she returned to school only to find her boyfriend of two years sleeping with someone else. Indy ended up drinking to escape and didn't discriminate when it came to hooking up with random guys. But she also knew that she could always go to the one place she felt safe and rely on the guy who helped her out, even if she never remembered him when she was sober. Kier had wanted Indy for awhile, and after seeing what her ex did to her he knew he finally had a chance. But he also knew that she needed time to get over everything and that he wanted her to figure things out on her own without him informing her himself. When Indy finally figures out how much Kier has been a part of her life, she wants nothing more than to get to know him better. But Kier is also suffering and has secrets of his own. I loved Kier and Indy. They were so easy to like and relate to. While I have never experienced anything like they had, I really understood where they were each coming from. They were both vulnerable and looking for a way to move past the guilt and pain they were feeling. They were great for one another, and I loved seeing them help each other heal. Kier was so sweet and protective, he just wanted to take care of Indy in any way he could. Indy was so much stronger than she knew, and had been through more than anyone should have to go through. These two had amazing chemistry and shared a strong emotional connection as well. They could not have been more perfect for one another, and I could have easily read a full length novel featuring these two!

 Fouling Out by Tiffany King

Fouling Out by Tiffany King is Courtney's story. I was really looking forward to this one because of the history between the characters and because I love me some sports romance stories! Courtney works at a local sports bar as a waitress and refuses to date athletes. She was once best friends with Dalton, the star of her school basketball team. They were inseparable until he suddenly became too cool to hang out with her and started spending all of his time playing basketball and hanging out with the cool kids. When Dalton shows up in her bar one night though, he tries to get her to talk to him only Courtney wants nothing to do with him. Dalton has no idea what has happened to make Courtney so cold, but he is determined to get back their friendship and see if there is something more between them. Dalton was really sweet, and I loved that he was determined. He wasn't afraid to do whatever it took to win Courtney over, and I loved his public declarations for her. I thought that Courtney was great and I loved that she made Dalton work for it. She was funny and I loved the witty banter between these two. I do think that Courtney was a little harsh with Dalton at times, but I was glad that she got over it and was able to give Dalton a second chance. These two were cute together and had a lot of chemistry. I really felt the connection between them, and I think a lot of that was because of the history between them. This one was really cute and I enjoyed it a lot.

 Beneath Your Layers by Christina Lee

I really enjoyed this novella, and I loved that it was an enemies to lovers story. Christina Lee did a great job with this one and I loved getting Chloe's story. Chloe's goal is to work hard and head to New York after graduation to work in the fashion industry. She is always put together and prefers to wear dresses and heels rather than jeans and sneakers. When her boss offers her the chance to turn her school project into a possible job for the future, Chloe agrees reluctantly because it means working with her boss's nephew Blake. Blake has nothing in common with Chloe and views her as nothing more than an uptight girl with a stick up her butt. But as the two begin working together they quickly realize that they have more in common than they thought and that they have made assumptions about one another. But what will happen when the project is over and they no longer have to spend so much time together? Chloe did come off as uptight at first, but it was clear that she was much more than that after getting to know her better. She was smart and sassy, and I loved that she was comfortable with who she was. She was put together and enjoyed dressing up, and fashion was something that she was really passionate about. But I felt bad for her because of her mother. Blake was really good for her, and I thought that he was exactly what she needed to get her out of her comfort zone a bit. He got her to loosen up and that was good to see. Blake was a good guy and he was dedicated to his family. He sacrificed so much for others, and I liked seeing him have such a good attitude about everything. The chemistry between these two was amazing, and I loved how the tension continued to build. Christina Lee was able to take these two characters through so much in such a short amount of time, and it felt so natural. I really enjoyed Chloe and Blake's story.

 Overall 

 Overall, this was a really great anthology. The stories all felt real and believable to me, and they didn't have any feelings of insta-love or feel rushed. That is usually one of my complaints about anthologies, but this one was so much better than I ever expected! I am a huge fan of all these authors, and I think that NA and contemporary fans will find this anthology to be a must read!

**ARC Provided by Penguin Group Berkley/Signet**

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ARC Review: Confessions of a Secret Admirer by Jennifer Ryan, Candis Terry, and Jennifer Seasons

Confessions of a Secret Admirer is an anthology featuring four different novellas by Avon authors.

Waiting For You - Jennifer Ryan

Waiting for You by Jennifer Ryan follows Taylor Larson back to her hometown. She sees her friend from high school, Seth Devane with his daughter. She’s glad to see him and reminds her of her true love lost, his brother Grant. She’s under the impression he doesn’t like her. She couldn’t be more wrong. He’s been waiting for her to come back to apologize for a misunderstanding. Her grandmother died and she returns to help with her store. Her time is limited so Grant gets busy: cleans her barn, tends to the horses, and makes dinner. He invites her to the town’s Valentine’s Day dance. They rekindle what they never lost. The setting is an extra character. Denver looks gorgeous and inviting in the snow. Taylor and Grant were teenagers and fell in love. Too much, too fast, but still smoldering. Sweet story and recommended.

Sweet Fortune - Candis Terry

Sweet Fortune by Candis Terry begins with Sarah Randall contemplating a fortune cookie’s advice. “If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.” She’s recently lost her dream job as an assistant to a television host. She moves from Los Angeles to Texas. She lands a job at Bud’s Nothing Finer Diner as a waitress. With the approach of Valentine’s Day a list of the town’s most eligible bachelors appears in the newspaper. Deputy Brady Bennett is listed and with good reason. He’s stunning and Sarah has noticed. Now how to get his attention and hold it. He likes sports so she signs up to play baseball, but her talent lies in playing pool. She gives him a lesson he won’t forget. She also hand delivers cookies to his home anonymously as a hat tip to her fortune. Sarah and Brady make a cute couple. She tries so hard to be nonchalant and he falls in love with her. Her plot to get his attention makes this a good read.

Major League Crush - Jennifer Seasons

Major League Crush by Jennifer Seasons is the funniest of the three. Bertie Cogswell writes a comic strip, F@#$ MY LIFE. It’s based on her real life. She’s an ordinary woman who is obsessed with her professional baseball player neighbor. Drake Paulson lives across the hall from Bertie. They finally meet when she picks up her newspaper. He asks her if she follows the comic strip. He thinks it’s hilarious. She’s thrilled, but doesn’t admit it’s her work. He invites her to a Valentine’s Day party in the building. She agrees and has too much to drink. She tips her hand and he figures it out. She’s horrified at her behavior and avoids him. To win her back, he shows her his scrapbook of the comics. He’s her biggest fan. This one has a Bridget Jones vibe to it. Bertie is awkward, but Drake sees her beauty and brilliance. Some of the things he does to win her over are worth the read.

Overall

Overall the stories follow the idea of a secret crush on someone. It’s not just for kids. Adults try to catch each other’s eye too. My favorite is Major League Crush. She’s crazy about him and when he finds out, she’s so embarrassed. She goes out of her way to avoid him and he won’t let up. Nice to see her devotion returned tenfold. The trio of stories flow well together and make an enjoyable read.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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