ARC Review: Baller Made by Rie Warren

Baller Made is the conclusion to the three part Carolina Crush football romance series. This is the story of Calder and Reggie and it's got some really interesting twist as did all of the books in this series. Calder is on his second chance in the NFL. He blew his first chance by getting caught up in drugs because he could not deal with the death of his brother. Since then Calder has really been punishing himself for so many things. One of the long list of things he has beat himself up over is Reggie.

Reggie is a Vegas showgirl and Calder's widowed sister in law. I wasn't sure how I would feel about Reggie and Calder hooking up but the author does a lot of things to make it more palatable. The most important thing is that Calder was in love with Reggie before his brother. Calder just didn't step up in time to do anything about it. The other thing is that Reggie and Calder's brother's marriage was falling apart completely independent of anything happening with Calder and Reggie. Calder and Reggie's relationship might make you a little uncomfortable but this is fiction so try to use your imagination. Just so you know there is absolutely no cheating in this book. Reggie did not hook up with Calder or even see him in that way until after his brother was totally out of the picture.

Reggie is a really great character. She is just what Calder needs to move forward in every way. Calder needs to accept his feelings for Reggie, reunite with his family and forgive himself. Reggie gives him exactly what he needs to do all of that. Reggie understands how Calder is torn up about his choice. She admits that she doesn't have all the answers but she is brave and she doesn't want to waste her life. Reggie's bravery helps Calder to stop being afraid to do what he really wants to do which is love Reggie.

If you've read any Rie Warren book you know that the books are like chili pepper levels HAWT. This book is no exception. Reggie and Calder burn up the pages. Even when Calder is trying to deny what he wants with Reggie, there is still some scorching hot contact between them. You get to see all the other members of the Carolina Crush from the series that you probably loved wrap up their stories in this book. In fact, the epilogue is split between the three couples that make up the Carolina Crush series. If you didn't read the other books and you start here, there will be spoilers and you will feel like you missed something.  Baller Made is my favorite book of the whole series but the series is all entertainment.

**ARC provided by Author**

Purchase: | Amazon |

ARC Review: Free Baller by Rie Warren

This is the second book in the Carolina Crush football/romance series. You don't have to read these books in order but if you skip the first book, this one is going to open with an entire spoiler of the plot in book #1. I've also read the last book in this series and it doesn't contain as much spoilage of this one as Free Baller does of book #1. So read as a standalone if you want but if you plan to read the whole series, start with book #1. If you already read book #1 and didn't love it, the plot of this one is totally different. I like Warren's writing but I hated the direction the story went in during the first installment. You don't need to worry about similar themes in this book, it's quite different.

This is the story of Brooklyn and Delaney. Brooks is a recent divorcee who is the tight end for the crazy and completely entertaining Carolina Crush. Because of Brooks unsatisfactory history with romantic relationships, when this book begins, he's committed to nothing more than "no strings" hooking up. That changes when he meets and immediately becomes obsessed with Delaney.  Delaney is the QB of Carolina's uber hot/scantily clad female football team, the Carolina Cougars. I did some serious eye rolling regarding a bunch of super hot women tackling each other but whatevs.

Brooks really meets his match with Delaney and I think that is one of the things I like about this book so much. Delaney is not a hook up type of girl and she refuses to change that for Brooks. Brooks has to decide to take Delaney strings and all and he does. After Brooks makes that decision, Delaney doesn't just trust that he has made some miraculous change. Brooks has to do a little pursuing and we get to see how intense he can be and how Delaney can match him.

 The other thing I like about this book is the banter between the characters. All the Carolina football series are wildly entertaining and this is no exception. All of the football players make appearances in all of the books and shenanigans ensues whenever everyone is together. Oh and I did I mention that Rie Warren books are ALWAYS smoking hot when it comes to the actual hooking up. I mean, oh my damn. There is some stuff in all of these books that you really don't want to be reading out in public. 

Fun book, great characters, hot sex. I recommend this one.

**ARC provided by Author**

Purchase: | Amazon |

ARC Review: Love, In the Fast Lane by Rie Warren

Carolina Bad Boys #2 follows Nicky Love, paranormal romance writer who was “outed” as straight in the first book Stone, at Your Service. I just couldn’t get into this one as much as Stone. It was in first person POV as told by Nick, and it didn’t quite seem to be as entertaining as the first one. I’ve read this troupe before, the straight laced guy falls for the tattooed bad girl, and I have read better. The one thing that sets this aside from the others is that he is a male romance writer heavy into the social media scene. I didn’t hate it; I just couldn’t get into it.

Catarina Steele has a cool personality, and as it is in Nick’s first person you slowly discover why. Catarina has had a difficult past and keeps everyone at a distance but Nick and his sexy well everything worms his way into her heart giving her the hope that she could be herself. Her slow acceptance of letting him into her life is amusing seeing how determined he is to get there, but when he finds out everything he just may be stupid enough to lose her completely by pushing her away. The gentle manipulations from the people they love are amusing and probably my favorite part.

**ARC provided by Author**

Purchase: | Amazon |

ARC Review: Stone, At Your Service by Rie Warren

A contemporary romance from Stone’s POV, started off a little iffy for me but quickly picked up and ended all wrapped up in a neat little bow. Typically not a fan of first person or of having it in the guys perspective is what had me hesitant to how much I was going to enjoy this, but the quirky and eclectic characters together with the funny and unfortunate series of events leads to a very enjoyable read. Stone is a great Dad who really stepped up when his wife just up and left. He is a manly man but when it comes to his son he is all mush he even sings Disney princess song for him, such an awww kind of thing. Leelee is also a great character she is so sweet, she just needed to find her back bone. The secondary characters are the hysterical flamboyant wild and crazy authors. Makes you think if they are written from experience or just a gross exaggeration.

Josh Stone puts his son first than a close second the shop his father left him a family legacy that he plans to pass down. It’s also a great place to pick up chicks not that he has gotten serious about anyone since his ex-wife left him. She is only his ex by the luck and sheer determination of his best friend, Nick, who searched high and low for her and made her sign divorce papers. To pay Nick back and just because he is like a brother to him, Stone agrees to pretend to be Nick’s boyfriend. Nick a straight man that has made it big writing romance novels lied to fellow authors to get their nagging to stop, so he lied and told them he was gay and in a relationship. His lie is finally catching up with him and now he needs Stone to pretend he’s the boyfriend for the convention. Stone grudgingly agrees. Of course when you least expect it love smacks you in the face. Leelee Songbird is a rising new star in the romance world and one look at her and Stone is in deep shit. Leelee’s bad break up has left her wary but Stone is charming and he quickly wins her over, if only he wasn’t pretending to be gay it would be so much easier, (but not as fun to read.) The week they are together Stone being gay and Leelee needing a friend they fight off pervie agents and ball busting talent scouts, as well as Stone strutting down the cat walk and both becoming the talk of the romance community. But secrets this big rarely can be kept and after Leelee’s last disaster of a relationship can she trust Stone with her heart?

It was a fun read and I enjoyed this more than the last Rie Warren book I read. The next book in the series is Nick’s story; do I plan on reading it? Maybe, depends on how intriguing the story sounds, especially since it hinted at it at the end of the book.

**ARC provided by Author**

Purchase: | Amazon |

Feature and Giveaway: Stone, At Your Service by Rie Warren

Hell on wheels meets hell in high heels.

Bad boy mechanic Josh Stone likes to get his hands dirty any way he can—the filthier, the better. Ever since his wife walked out on him and their young son, he’s only had room in his heart for two loves: the kid and cars.

Roped into playing his best buddy’s gay boyfriend during a romance writers convention, the player meets the girl who’s gonna rock his world. Leelee Songchild. Shy, bashful, beautiful Leelee who blushes at the drop of a hat yet writes hardcore smut to rival Josh’s backlist of Penthouse Forum.

The only problem is his hands are tied. Josh can’t stab his old friend/fake lover in the back even though all he wants to do is take luscious Leelee to bed, and maybe, love her. When the truth comes out, all hell breaks loose.

Too bad romance is just for books.

Purchase: | Amazon |

Interview with Author Rie Warren and Giveaway

Please welcome author Rie Warren to RFTC. Rie is celebrating the release of her newest book, In His Command and has stopped by to answer a few questions.

A Yankee transplant via the UK and other wild journeys, Rie happily landed in Charleston, South Carolina, with her English artisan husband and their two small daughters--one an aspiring diva, the other a future punk rocker. After earning her degree in Fine Arts, Rie promptly gave up paintbrushes and canvas for paper and pen (because she decided being a writer was equally as good an idea as being an artist, of course it was). That was fifteen years ago, her writing career started! With a manuscript of super epic proportions! Safely stored under a lace doily in a filing cabinet. Possibly in England . . .

Since then she’s done this and that, here and there, usually in the nonprofit arena, until she returned to her dream of being a writer. Even though Rie basks in the glorious southern sunshine as often as she can, she’s mostly a nocturnal creature adjourning to her writer’s atelier (spare bedroom) in search of her next devious plot twist or delicious passionate tryst.

No matter what genre or gender pairing she’s writing, she combines a sexy southern edge with humor and heart--and a taste of darkness.

Places to find Rie:

| Site | Blog | Facebook | Twitter |