ARC Review: Down With Love by Kate Meader

Kate Meader is an automatic read for me whenever I see one of her books available for review and/or purchase. I first discovered her when I won a book on Goodreads. “Flirting with Fire” part of her “Hot in Chicago” series is one of my favorites. If you are recently discovering her, there are many series written by her. Her most recent is “Chicago Rebels.” Whether she is creating hockey players, firefighters, divorce attorneys or wedding planners Meader always writes interesting, multifaceted characters that are of all different backgrounds and races! So, kudos to her for that! To add to her already wonderful writing her storylines are always unique and intriguing. Once I start reading about one of her couples I can’t wait to see how their story will evolve and how the characters will work out their differences.

“Down With Love” is not different! Our heroine, Charlie Love ( how fantastic is that name?) is a wedding planner. She is planning the wedding of the hero’s brother. Max Henderson is a divorce attorney and a sync when it comes to love. When they meet there is an instant attraction but Charlie is focused on finding her partner in life and she already has Max pegged as a bachelor that is enjoying being single. Max also jumps to the same about Charlie, although he finds her attractive he already “knows” about the type of person that she is. As Max and Charlie spend more time together they begin to realize that they are not over past hurts that they both have endured. They also realize that as they begin to get to know each other more, they are also more attracted to each other.

For me, this is a classic book by Meader. She writes about diverse characters ( yippee!). Her characters always evolve and she strips away the layers and we get to really see not only past events that shaped these characters but we, as readers, get to have a new way of looking at these characters. One of my favorite things about reading Meader is that she is so funny, her characters have such funny, witty and enjoyable dialogue! The scene with the dog in the park- so funny 😊 That is my teaser. The worst part of reading Kate Meader is that now I am counting down to her next book and already hooked on Grant and his ex-wife! Happy Reading!

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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ARC Review: Irresistible You by Kate Meader

Irresistible You is the first book of Kate Meader’s new sports romance series Chicago Rebels. I like sports romance so much more than actual sports, and I always end up comparing them to Susan Elizabeth Phillips’ Chicago Stars series because those are some of my absolute favorites. In a way this one reminded me of It Had to be You, that’s not a bad thing there were some of similarities but more than enough to make this a great book on its own. I really enjoy Kate Meader’s books and besides the beginning of the book, which was I little difficult for me to get into it was a really nice romance. I’m probably an oddity here but I don’t like the Cajun accent, for the exception of Gambit from X-Men. Remy, once you get past him acting like a child who isn’t getting his way, is a good ‘ole boy whose momma raised him right. He goes from acting like a petulant child to such a sweetie especially with how he treats Harper, I mean come one homemade muffalleta.

Harper Chase has spent most of her life trying to make her Dad proud; Clifford Chase was not an easy man to please. Upon his death he left his hockey team, the Chicago Rebels, to his three daughters with the stipulation that they have to co-own the team for a year and win the Stanley Cup or lose it. Harper and her sisters haven’t had the best relationship, but they agree to set aside their differences and run the team and try to be sisters as well as owners. Harper has worked from the bottom up trying to show her dad that she has what it takes to run the team, his lack of faith in her is devastating but she has a plan and even though it doesn’t seem like it now she knows what she’s doing. 

Remy DuPre is nicknamed Jinx because every team he has played for almost wins the Stanley Cup he gets traded and then they win. Remy is determined to win this year if only he hadn’t been traded to one of the worst team. As much as he hates it and the fact that he had to blackmailed Harper into trading him again before the cut off and he’ll play along with what she wants him to do, Remy can’t resist Harper. There is something about her that just calls to him he wants to see her with her hair down and relaxed. There is so much more going on that he doesn’t know about that Harper isn’t telling him, but Remy want to understand her. Harper has had experience getting involved with one of the players before and it didn’t end well Harper is afraid to let herself go down that road again even though everything feels right she’s scared of it at the same time.

Overall, once I got into the book and Remy stopped acting like a brat I really enjoyed this one. The sisters are different from each other and it really seems like this is going to be a great series.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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ARC Review: One Week to Score by Kate Meader

One Week to Score is the third book in the Tall, Dark, and Texan series by Kate Meader. This is my first book by her and can easily be read as a standalone story, though the books in this series are interconnected. I really enjoyed this story, and I liked the characters a lot. After reading this book, I will definitely be reading more from Kate Meader in the future. I can't wait to go back and read the previous books in this series. 

Olivia Kane just found her fiance hooking up with her maid of honor on her wedding day, and heads to the hotel bar to drown her sorrows and maybe find a hook-up of her own. But when her brother's best friend and the man who broke her heart shows up, her day goes from bad to worse. Flynn Cross has no intention of letting Olivia find comfort in the arms of another man, and he sets out to make sure that if she is looking for sex it will be with him. He follows her on her honeymoon, and they begin a week filled with pleasure. What starts out as them fulfilling their forbidden desires they have always fantasized about but never acted on quickly turns to more, and soon both Flynn and Olivia are wondering if there is something more between them. But Flynn's secrets could destroy everything they are building, and the truth always comes out in the end.

I really liked both Flynn and Olivia. I hated how he had hurt her before, but the more we got to see of Flynn the easier it was to see why he had done the things he did. It didn't excuse his actions, but I did feel for him. He was sweet and sexy, and the perfect match for Olivia. Olivia was strong and easy to like and relate to. She hadn't had the easiest childhood, despite the wealth and status of her family and I loved that Flynn had always seen how great she was. These two had so much chemistry between them, but they also had a great connection. Their relationship had been easy and filled with friendship and so much more, even if they had never acted on it. I really enjoyed seeing them explore that side of their connection though, and I couldn't get enough of them together. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and read it pretty much straight through. It was sexy and sweet, and really funny! I was surprised just how witty these two were and I had such a great time with their banter. They were so much fun to read about, and this book was exactly what I had been looking for. It was light and easy to lose myself in for a few hours, while also being filled with enough steam to keep me flipping the pages and hungry for more. I liked these two so much and I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a great contemporary read. I look forward to reading more from Kate Meader in the future and I am excited to go back and read the previous books, especially Olivia's brother's story.

**ARC Provided by Publisher**

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Feature and Giveaway: One Week to Score by Kate Meader

He’s the man she loves to hate . . .

Olivia Kane’s wedding day has just imploded spectacularly. Shots lined up at the bar? Bring it. Hot stranger on the hook? Come on down. What this party does not need is six feet and change of home-grown Texas cockiness in the form of her brother’s best friend, the man who broke her heart seven years ago.

She’s the woman he has to have . . .

Flynn Cross won’t stand by while Liv finds sensual solace in the arms of a stranger, not when his own hard-for-her body is more than up for the task. For one week, he’ll make her honeymoon-for-one a sizzling party for two.

Breaking the rules, one steamy night at a time . . .

But the taboo they’re breaking is only the beginning . . . and Flynn’s part in Liv’s wedding debacle could bring about their end.

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ARC Review: Taking the Score by Kate Meader

I'm relatively new to the sexy nerd genre but I mus say there is something really offbeat about the sexy nerd books that I really get into. This was the story of Emma and Brody. It's a fun story with lots of quirky dialogue and some interesting twists and turns. It's not a literary work of art but it's entertaining and easy to read.

Emma is the dutiful big sister who gets caught up in a predicament trying to bail her hot mess of a little sister out of another bad situation. The story with Emma was really interesting. When we meet Emma, from Brody's POV, she is this frumpy secretary who's all business. From Emma's POV she is a reformed party girl who is determined not to make the same mistakes she has made in the past with men. It turns out that Emma's frump is more a disguise (an effective one) than anything else. Despite Emma's baggy clothed exterior, Brody finds himself attracted to her and fantasizing about his secretary. The situation ratchets up 1000 notches when he visits a strip club where Emma is working as a stripper...sort of. You have to read the book to get the exact story but I will tell you that Emma is the worst stripper ever. Of course Brody wants to know why the company compensation package is not enough for Emma and boy does he find out. Taking care of her sister is really sinking Emma financially and Brody turns into the white knight character. Frankly, I love the Cinderella ish and it totally worked for me.

I loved the explosion once Emma and Brody finally got together. I loved how dirty they both were with each other and how they both brought out the underlying freak in the other one. I am all about the bossy alpha men with endless financial resources so Brody was giving me serious life. If I had an issue with this book, it would just be that Emma's plans seemed really ill conceived. I HATE it when I'm reading one of these books and the heroine is in a near impossible situation but doesn't want to accept help from the Hero. I'm just not noble enough to understand suffering or trying to figure it out on your own when there is a hot guy there who can solve all your problems. Yes, the feminist did just revoke my monthly membership but seriously, I'm here for the fantasy.

I have to give a shout out to Emma's crazy ass cat. He was a great supporting character and I truly appreciated his shenanigans. This book is good fun, it doesn't offer anything life shattering or unexpected but I definitely recommend you give it a try.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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A Naughty New Year...Brazen Style with Kate Meader and Giveaway

Originally from Ireland, Kate cut her romance reader teeth on Maeve Binchy and Jilly Cooper novels, with some Mills & Boon thrown in for variety. Give her tales about brooding mill owners, oversexed equestrians, and men who can rock an apron or a fire hose, and she’s there. Now based in Chicago, she writes sexy contemporary romance with alpha heroes and strong heroines who can match their men quip for quip.

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ARC Review: Playing with Fire by Kate Meader

“Playing with Fire (Hot in Chicago) is what great romance novels are made out of. Needless to say I have been waiting for this story since I read “Flirting With Fire.” I could not wait to see what Kate Meader would do to Alexandra Dempsey and the ever cocky-self-assured- Eli Cooper. I’m happy to say that she does not disappoint.

First, I could not wait for this book, which is sometimes a downfall because I build up so many expectations. Eli and Alexandra had my interest in the first book in the series. Eli is the mayor of Chicago. He is gorgeous and ruthless. He will stop at nothing to get what he wants. Alexandra Dempsey is the only female firefighter at Engine Co 6. She is often fighting to be taken seriously and is at the receiving end of people not believing in her. Eli Cooper is one of these people. He thinks that women are not as effective as men when it comes to the profession of firefighters. Alexandra breaks through all of Eli’s barriers. She is determined to prove herself and show the city, and Eli, that she is a great firewomen.

When Eli and Alexandra met in the previous book their chemistry was intense. They were so perfectly matched. They are both very strong and stubborn people. Eli, although the handsome untouchable mayor, had a rough childhood. He was orphaned when his parents were murdered in their home. Eli’s father had the reputation for being tough on crime and for taking down criminals. Alexandra also had a very different upbringing, she was the only girl in her family. Alexandra’s family consist of different foster brothers and she is the only one the Dempsey’s legally adopted. This has placed a huge responsibility on her shoulders. Following in the footsteps of her adopted father and her foster brothers has not been easy.

Although Eli would never have guessed it Alexandra is just what he needs to turn his reelection around. He wants to be mayor of Chicago for a second term but his poll numbers are very low. The public however loves Alexandra for heroic acts and her deviance. She is tough and ready to stand up for what she believes in. When there is a fire at a restaurant where Eli is, she invariably ends up saving him and he saves her. I thought this was so metaphorical for the rest of the book. As the public starts to express an interest in them Eli “convinces” Alexandra that it is in their mutual interest to give the public what they want- a romance between them.

I cannot fully express how much I LOVED this book. Meader did an extraordinary job. She left no stone unturned. We learned about Eli and his past. There were some skeletons in his closet. She also covered all aspects of the characters evolutions. Alexandra is so determined to be seen as “one of the guys” that she thinks her femininity as liability. For her part Alexandra is like no women Eli has ever met. Her bravery helps him come to terms with his past and make a new start. This book was so funny, so endearing, so sweet, so tender, so romantic, so sexy. I can go on and on. There was one part (not quoting because it’s an advanced copy) but she is all dressed up and ready to go out with him. He takes down her hair because he doesn’t want her to change for anyone… especially not him. I mean there were moments when I wanted to strangle Eli, but other moments I just could not love him more! The secondary characters consist of Alexandra’s family. Their bond is so beautiful that their interactions added to the beauty of this book. Needless to say, I’m already counting down the day until the next book in the series about Wyatt Fox and his movie star love interest- Molly Cade.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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ARC Review: Melting Point by Kate Meader

Pardon me while I drool over this cover…

Melting Point is Kate Meader’s second Hot in Chicago novella. If you have read the first book Flirting with Fire then you have read the intro to Gage and Brady’s love story, if you haven’t then there is a very nice in a nutshell telling of it, so it can be read as a stand-alone. I normally don’t read M/M romance, I just got burned out on it, unless I know and love the author. Having read the previous book and getting the sneak peek of these two, I could not resist this novella; and it is very well done. It is not erotica it’s not overly graphic, that’s one reason I like it, it leaves much to the imagination. It was perfect as a novella; Gage and Brady have way to much of a story for a side story but not enough for a full length book. At this length there is plenty of romance and heartache. Both Gage and Brady are delicious; each with something to hide and a lot to admit to before they can fully commit to a true relationship.

Gage loves being a fireman, and would be considered a ladies’ man if he swung that way, but his real passion is for cooking and when he met the tall, silent, and broody Brady he knows his days as the love ‘em and leave type are over. It was love at first sight for Brady as well but his past in the military traumatized him worse then he wants to admit. He started a fling with Gage but as an ‘I can touch you, you can’t touch me thing’ and when Gage acts first and kisses him, Brady freaks and calls things off. When their paths cross again they start off slow. Brady is afraid that he is too damaged for the happy go lucky Gage. Gage has a good façade going on, he knows he had it lucky growing up with the family he did, but before that he hides what happened. He was never able to be fully adopted because his birth mother wouldn’t let go and now that he has grown and she is suffering from Alzheimer’s he keeps going back to visit her hoping that one day she will remember him and apologize for her treatment of him as a child. It will take a lot of honesty and trust for Gage and Brady to finally get their HEA.

Overall, I had no doubt this would be a good one and I’m glad it didn’t disappoint. I absolutely love Gage and Brady.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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ARC Review: Flirting with Fire by Kate Meader

“Flirting with Fire” by Kate Meader was the first story I have read by this author. At first the story was ok and I was lukewarm about it (no pun intended). But the more I read the more interested I became in the story and finally I could not put it down.

So not only was it my first time reading Kate Meader but it was my first time reading a M/M story, although only a subplot in the story. Also it was the first time I read about such diverse characters, it was very refreshing. Also, the hero and the heroine were not the main focus for me but I did enjoy them.

As I mentioned before at first I was not really loving the story. When the story starts Kinsey Taylor is at the Chicago Fire Department at Engine 6 with the specific purpose of reimaging in Luke Almeida. Kinsey is originally from California but after her fiancé leaves her. So, I really enjoyed both Luke and Taylor, BUT and this is a huge BUT. My ultra-pet-peeve when I read a romance is when the authors don’t stink to their characters personalities. It drives me crazy. I almost stopped reading this story because of it. Taylor is great. She is tough as nails, has her insecurities, just like any normal person, but the minute she is around Luke she loses herself. She goes from hot to cold so often and the same for Luke. They have this “I like you and am attracted to you and I’m going crazy but I don’t want you, until I see you again and I want you.” Ok, now that my rant is over. Once I was able to put this aside the secondary characters made this story for me. So Taylor works for the City of Chicago and it’s her job to change the “bad boy image” of the firehouse. The Mayor, Elli, has asked her to reform the image of Luke and his Engine house because they have developed a very wild image, this is thanks to the bar fights, etc. Needless to say Luke is a little resistant. His family is the Dempsey’s.

The Dempsey’s took in Luke and his foster siblings. They are all different and from different ethnicities and backgrounds. The secondary characters really made me interested in the story. I really enjoyed reading about Gage, Luke’s foster brother and fellow firefighter. I thought his romance with Brady was very good. The author has a novella out in August about these two characters and I can’t wait to see how she unravels their story. Cage was a great character and I’m looking forward to seeing him get his happily-ever-after with the very complex Brady.

The other secondary character that I loved was Alexandra Dempsey. Unlike Luke and Gage the Dempsey’s legally adopted her. She is fantastic. She is the only female at the firehouse and she can definitely hold her own. Her love interest is Eli Cooper. Eli was such a difficult character to like. I could not believe some of the things that he said and came out of his mouth! Alex and Elli had incredible chemistry, I’m hooked on what the author plans to do to them!

Needless to say, I really enjoyed this book and if the hero and heroine had been more sturdy it would have been a five star read. I highly recommend this story, really enjoyed it and am counting down the days until August so we can see what Gage and Brady go through. Never looked forward to a novella before but I definitely am now. Plus, I’m sure Alex and Elli will be an incredible read.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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ARC Review: Hot and Bothered by Kate Meader

Jules Kilroy is in labor. The man coaching her through it and holding her hand, Tad DeLuca, is not the father. Both wish he was, but for now, he’s her best friend. And her brother Jack’s friend, who’s British, a celebrity chef, and overprotective of Jules. Tad is opening a restaurant with Jack’s financial backing. Tad’s family has a long history in the restaurant business. Although his deceased parents hoped he’d be an engineer, different circumstances brought him to the wine bar. He blames himself for their deaths and sees himself as a failure. Jules is dyslexic. She has trouble reading, but loves to cook. She memorizes recipes and creates her own. Tad gives her a job and a book with pictures to help her remember the wines and menu. Her son, Evan, is now eighteen months old and she has decided to date. Her girlfriends help her upload a profile on some dating sites. She was a party girl because she lacked self-confidence in her youth. She’s recovered and wants a father for Evan. Plus a healthy sex life would be a nice bonus. Tad can’t stand the idea of her dating other men. He makes her a deal, he’ll provide the sex in a safe no strings attached relationship. They’ll work and play together. Since the dating sites offer no one of interest and she craves Tad, she agrees. When Evan’s father makes an unwelcome return, Jules turns to Tad for advice. She doesn’t like what she hears, but knows he’s right. Can they both accept all the other’s past baggage and become a family?

Tad is a Beatles fan and decides Jules is George, the late bloomer. A wonderful way to have her hit the reset button and move on in life. Tad and Jules make a good couple and parents for Evan. Jules keeps her son in the forefront of every decision. Tad treats him with the same love, respect, even enjoys babysitting. They have both been wounded from the outside and inside. They can heal each other.

Italian proverbs or sayings are used to start every chapter and provide a glimpse of what’s to come. The cast of characters add to the tension and joy in the story. Her brother, Jack, is domineering and clueless at the same time. Tad’s family is warm and accepting. The foods served add to the flavor too. Recipes handed down through generations connect and restore broken hearts and relationships.

This is the third in the Hot in the Kitchen series and I’m hungry to read the first two.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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Feature and Giveaway: Feel the Heat by Kate Meader

IF YOU CAN'T STAND THE HEAT . . .

Photographer Lili DeLuca spends all her time managing her family's Italian restaurant, instead of following her dream of getting an MFA. When famous British chef Jack Kilroy unexpectedly challenges her father to a cook-off, Lili decides she's tired of playing it safe and vows to seduce the tempting Brit. But once a video of her and Jack kissing goes viral and her luscious butt starts trending on Twitter, Lili fears she's cooked up a recipe for disaster.

. . . GET INTO THE BEDROOM

Jack Kilroy's celebrity has left him feeling used and used up. While Lili's oh-so-sexy moans when she tastes his delicious creations turn him on, he's even more aroused by how unimpressed this beautiful, funny woman is with his fame. He knows they could be amazing together, if she could only see past his bitch fork-wielding fan base. Now, as he's about to start a new prime time TV cooking show, can Jack convince Lili to realize her own ambitions - and turn up the heat in his kitchen?

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Cover Reveal and Giveaway: All Fired Up by Kate Meader

Her sweetest mistake . . .

Cool as a Chicago winter, private events planner Cara DeLuca is a model of self-control . . . until she meets the one temptation she can’t resist: Shane Doyle. The sexy, Irish pastry chef is too hot, too sure, too young, and after a crazy night in Vegas—her new husband. While at first Cara wants nothing more than a way out of her sham marriage to Shane, she soon finds that beneath his farm boy demeanor lies a man who can match her drive, both in and out of the bedroom. How can the wrong guy feel so deliciously right?

. . . Tastes so, so good

Shane has carefully structured his career and life around one goal: connecting with the family that doesn’t know he exists. Marrying a woman with more issues than a magazine stand wasn’t part of the plan, but melting Cara’s icy exterior is so worth the detour. Now as the annulment date nears and long-buried secrets are revealed, Shane will have to fight for the one thing guaranteeing the perfect life he craves . . . the current Mrs. Shane Doyle.

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Guest Post with Author Kate Meader and Giveaway

Today I would like to welcome debut author Kate Meader to RFTC. Kate is celebrating the recent release of Feel the Heat and has stopped by to chat. Please give Kate a warm welcome.

Kate Meader writes contemporary romance that serves up delicious food, to-die-for heroes, and heroines with a dash of sass. Originally from Ireland, she cut her romance reader teeth on Catherine Cookson and Jilly Cooper novels, with some Mills & Boons thrown in for variety. Give her tales about brooding mill owners, oversexed equestrians, and men who can rock an apron, and she’s there. She has a bachelor’s in law (useless), a master’s in history (not as useless), and another master’s in library and information science (yay, using). When not writing about men who cook and the women who drool over them, she works in an academic library. Her stories are set in her adopted home town of Chicago, a city made for food, romance, and laughter – and where she met her own sexy hero. For news, excerpts, and recipes, check out her website at http://www.katemeader.com.

Places to find Kate:

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