ARC Review: Taming the Country Star by Margo Bond Collins

Taming the Country Star is a Hometown Heroes novella by Margo Bond Collins. This book was short and sweet, and a light and easy read. This is a "red hot" Bliss title from Entangled and does feature more of the physical aspects of the relationship between the characters than their usual Bliss books. I would keep that in mind if you are looking for a clean read with closed door scenes only. Kylie Andrews had been trying to forget Cole Grayson since she spent time with him in Mexico before she found out who he really was. That is hard to do when he is a huge country star. When he shows up in town for a concert, she figures that she won't run into him. But when her best friend wins front row seats to his concert and drags her along, they end up making eye contact and are drawn to each other just as they were before. Cole let her get away once before, but he isn't willing to let that happen a second time. But can he convince her to give him a shot despite his fame, or will she run from him again?

I liked Cole and Kylie. Cole was sweet and determined. I liked his playful and fun side, and I loved that he didn't give up on Kylie. He had continued to think about her all that time and made sure that he let her know that he was going to fight for a chance with her. Kylie was harder to warm up to for me. Yes she was blindside by his fame and by pictures taken by the paparazzi, but she also refused to get even his last name when they first met. She didn't want to know about him, and then was made that she didn't know about him. It was pretty irritating that she would react the way she did, when he had tried to tell her but she wouldn't let him. I did like the chemistry between them, and I thought that they got along great. But their relationship was pretty rushed considering that they had only spent a bit of time together and it was in the past. Things progressed rather quickly in this story and it wasn't as believable as I had hoped.

I do think that the length really hurt how real their relationship was, and I think that had we been given some more or seen more of them dating that this would have worked better. But they were already saying I love you after only a few days of being reacquainted and he was talking about relocating there when he wasn't traveling. It was just too much too quickly for me. By the time I had warmed up to Kylie and got behind them having a chance, things were rapidly getting serious. I also felt that while this one was sweet and had a happy ending that things were pretty predictable. While the characters were great together there really wasn't anything new or different about this one. I would give this one a shot if you are looking for a short and sweet second chance love story, but if you are looking for something deeper and more established I might steer clear on this one. I am interested to read more from Margo Bond Collins though, especially something a bit longer to see if it was just the length that bothered me with this one.

**ARC Provided by Publisher**

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ARC Review: Making Waves by Ophelia London

Making Waves is a short novella in Ophelia London's Perfect Kisses series, but it can be read as a standalone. This one was short and sweet, and everything that you would expect from a Bliss story. I liked this one and it was a great light and easy read that would be perfect at the beach or by the pool. I will say that this one felt a bit like a new adult read to me, and that even though it was a contemporary it had a younger feel to me. Justine heads to Hawaii to visit her friends on a much needed vacation. She used to love the water but after a tragic accident, she hasn't been able to go near it. She is also still hurting from losing Will, the sweet nerdy guy who left her and broke her heart. While in Hawaii she goes to cover a surfing competition in which Chase Ryder the famous surfer has come out of retirement to compete in. When she tries to get a story from him, she realizes that Chase is none other than Will, the guy who broker her heart. Seeing each other brings all their feelings back. Can they move forward together, or will there be too many obstacles for them to overcome?

I liked both Will and Justine. I thought that they were both sweet and easy to like. Will had made a bad decision in leaving Justine, but after finding out why it was a lot easier to understand. He was trying to do what he thought was best for her. He was a really good guy and he was so patient and kind with Justine. Justine was vulnerable and was scared after losing someone close to her. She was really struggling and Will was able to help her and ease her back into the life she loved. I thought that they had a lot of chemistry and they had a natural ease to their relationship. They just fit well together and I thought that they made a great couple.

Overall this novella was a good read, and I enjoyed it. Because of the length I felt like this one didn't really get into much of the relationship between Will and Justine and I would have liked to have seen more about how things turned out after the end of this one. I wish there would have been either an epilogue or maybe a few more chapters. But I think that the ending was still satisfying for the most part. I also felt like this one was a bit predictable and there wasn't really anything new or different about this one. I would recommend this one to those looking for a sweet and fun read though, especially if you are looking for something a bit shorter. I really like Ophelia London's writing style, and I will read more from her in the future.

**ARC Provided by Publisher**

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ARC Review: Fall To You by Lexi Ryan

Fall To You is the second book in Lexi Ryan's Here and Now series, and is meant to be read in order. This is the continuing story of Hannah, Nate and Max. If you haven't read Lost In Me yet, you are definitely going to want to read that book first so that you know what is going on and has happened plus its an amazing book! I have been waiting for this next installment since I finished the first book, and I can honestly say that this book was worth the wait! I am absolutely loving this series and these books are beyond fantastic. I need the next book after reading this one and I cannot wait to get my hands on it!

Fall To You picks up where Lost In Me left off with what is going on in the present, but we are also given more of the past. Hannah is still trying to figure out her present with both Nate and Max, and she is also still piecing together her past. When we left off at the end of the first book, Hannah has just found out that not only is she not the virgin she thought she was, but that she is also pregnant. As she struggles with trying to find out who the father is, she is also having a tough time trying to navigate how to tell her mother than the wedding is off with Max. Hannah doesn't know if she can trust Max and the things that he is telling her, yet she knows that she still loves him. Hannah also knows that she loves Nate, but that he would make her no promises of a future together. As more truths are revealed, the more Hannah begins to question everything. How can she possibly chose one guy when they both have part of her heart and she still doesn't have all of her memories?

If you read my review of Lost In Me, you know that I have been solidly Team Nate from the beginning. I knew that Max had been hiding things from Hannah and that there were things about him that we didn't know. I liked him well enough, but I just felt like Nate was the one for Hannah. He cared about her for who she really was and he seemed to bring out the best in her. She seemed to really come alive with him, and she also seemed to feel more comfortable with him. While I still love Nate and think that he and Hannah belong together, this book really made me start to see how Hannah was also really great with Max as well. Max really did care about Hannah, and we get to see so much more of him in Fall To You. I was glad that we got to understand more of Max's character and see how he was willing to fight for Hannah and give her whatever she needed. He went out of his way to give her whatever he could, and he was really sweet with her. Hannah could very easily be with either Nate or Max and have a happy life and a great relationship with either of them. She has chemistry with both and she also has an emotional connection with both. But they bring out completely different sides of her, and I still think that Nate is the right choice for her even though I love Max now too.

 This series has really brought on the emotions, and Fall To You was no different than the first when it came to being an emotional roller coaster. We are still discovering so much about Hannah's past and everything that happened before the accident. There is so much left to be revealed, and after this cliffhanger I am dying to know what happens next. I have to admit that I didn't expect to end up liking Max as much as I did, and he really surprised me in this book. I missed Nate in this one though, and this book focused much more on Max than Nate. I really hope that we get a lot of Nate in the next book, because I love his character so much. I also love how this series really keeps you guessing. There are twists and turns and for every question answered so many more come up. I can't wait to read All For This and see how things turn out and get more of Hannah's story. Lexi Ryan is a great writer and I absolutely love her writing style. She draws you in from the very beginning and keeps you interested well beyond the last page. These characters are interesting and deep, and their story feels so real to me. I highly recommend this series, and if you have read the first book you absolutely need to read this installment to see what happens. I can't wait to get All For This and to read more from Lexi Ryan in the future.

**ARC Provided by AToMR**

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June Bliss Book Releases

This month Bliss is excited to release two novellas you will not want to miss. Making Waves by Ophelia London and our second Red-Hot Bliss, Taming the Country Star by Margo Bond Collins. So whether you are in the mood for something sweet or something with a little more spice Bliss has you covered.

She’s in over her head and he’s in hot water…

Visiting her friends Ellie and Charlie in Hawaii was supposed to be a much-needed vacation for journalist Justine Simms. But when she learns the notoriously reclusive pro-surfer Chase Ryder is coming out of retirement for a competition, she knows she’s found the perfect exclusive to save her career. Of course, then she learns he’s the gorgeous, secretly nerdy guy who broke her heart a year ago.

Will Davenport—aka Chase Ryder—doesn't do interviews. He keeps his real name out of the papers and doesn’t mix his public life with his private. That is, until the still-heartbroken Justine blackmails him into giving her an exclusive. Seeing Justine, stunningly beautiful as ever, brings back all the feelings he had before. But despite their smoldering attraction, nothing has changed since he had to leave her the first time.

Get your copy of Making Waves for just $.99

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He'll do anything to win her heart. She'll do anything to keep him away.

Country star Cole Grayson is in town, and Kylie Andrews is less than thrilled. As if months of changing the radio station and tearing down his posters weren’t bad enough, now she has to deal with a town of fans swarming toward the man who deceived her the year before. But when Kylie’s eyes meet Cole’s again, she can’t deny the electric chemistry that drew her to him the first time around.

Cole Grayson is on a mission. Ever since Kylie left him, he hasn’t been able to forget her sweet country smile. After writing a song just for her, he sets off for her hometown to prove he’s not the player she thinks he is. But as much as Cole can’t forget her, Kylie wonders if she can forgive him…

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Join both Ophelia London and Margo Bond Collins as well as fellow Bliss readers for a chance to chat, get to know each other, ask those questions you have been dying to ask and have a chance to win some fabulous prizes.

Stop by the Bliss Facebook page to join the fun from 7 - 10pm EDT on June 16.

ARC Review: Legal Briefs by N.M. Silber

Legal Briefs is the third book in the Lawyers in Love series by N.M. Silber. This book can be read as a standalone, but I would highly recommend starting at the beginning if you haven't already read the first two books. These stories are fantastic, and they have everything that you could ask for in an entertaining and captivating read. There is always love, sex, and humor and I just love N.M. Silber's writing style. I can never get enough of these characters and their stories, and I always breeze right through them because I just can't put them down.

Adam and Lily have been enemies since childhood. It all started when Adam licked Lily's fruit roll up and Lily put glitter in Adam's hair. Over the years they have never stopped fighting, and things have progressively become worse. Suddenly though their feelings are starting to change for one another, and they are unable to fight the attraction between them. Adam has grown tired of hooking up with random girls and Lily is tired of just writing about romance. Adam and Lily decide that they are finally ready to try something between them. Before long they are no longer fighting as much and the tension between them has turned into something much more passionate. Can Lily and Adam make the switch from enemies to lovers without everything ending in disaster while trying to avoid the many obstacles that are thrown in their way?

I loved Adam. He is cocky and sarcastic and has always given Lily a hard time. He makes fun of her and purposely annoys her to try and get a reaction. But you could tell that he was always like that with her because he had feelings for her. He might not have always known how to handle them, but it was obvious that they were there. I liked that he was possessive of her and made sure that he staked his claim. He was also really protective, and I liked that once he had figured his feelings out he didn't have any problems changing his life and making an effort for Lily. Lily was funny and sweet and a lot more feisty than I had expected. I knew from the previous books that she was more than just a librarian and that she also wrote romance books. But it was nice to really get to see more of her personality and everything that was sort of hidden under her librarian facade. I think that Adam and Lily were absolutely a perfect match and they had such a great connection on all levels. They were so hot together and it was great to see all their tension and banter finally explode into more.

Overall, I thought that this book was a really great addition to the Lawyers in Love series. I honestly didn't think that I would like Adam and Lily as much as Gabrielle and Braden. I had become so attached to those characters that I was really not expecting them to be surpassed. But Lily and Adam were just as great if not better, and I ended up adoring them both! Legal Briefs still had the humor and banter as well as the great sex that I have come to expect from N.M. Silber. However I felt like this book wasn't quite as humorous as the previous books, and I think that this story focused a little more on Adam and Lily's relationship rather than the group as a whole. There were less group interactions, and even though I love all the characters it honestly didn't bother me at all. I didn't miss it like I thought I would because I was so drawn in by Adam and Lily and I was invested in their relationship right from the start. We still got some really great moments with everyone, but this story had a slightly different feel than the first two books. My only reason for not rating this book higher is that I felt the ending was rushed. This book is definitely a high four and had it not been so rushed at the end it would have been a five for me. Adam and Lily really surprised me, and I just loved them both. This series is one of my absolute favorites and these books are must reads for anyone who likes some humor with their romance. I can't wait to get more of all these characters and see what crazy adventures await them in the future. N.M. Silber is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors, and her books are definitely auto-buy for me at this point. I highly recommend this series and anything from N.M. Silber.

**ARC Provided by Book Enthusiast Promotions**

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