Review: Seducing Fortune by Brinda Berry

Seducing Fortune is the first book that I have ever read by Brinda Berry. This is the third book in her Serendipity series, but each book can be read as a standalone. The characters are interconnected, but it is not necessary to read these in order. I feel like this is sort of a hard review for me to write because while there were things that I really loved about this book, there were also things that I had a hard time with as well. This one left me with mixed feelings, but I am curious to read the first two books in this series to see if they have the same issues for me or if it was just this book. 

Emerson works several jobs in order to support herself and her younger sister. While trying to balance her jobs, she is also attending school. What she doesn't have time for is dating, especially not Dylan who is the last kind of guy that she needs. Dylan and Emerson shared a kiss one night, and it was never mentioned again. Dylan is playboy type that doesn't settle down with one girl for long. But when Emerson starts receiving threats, Dylan is determined to look out for her. Dylan wants a shot with Emerson, but can he convince her to take a chance on him? The more Emerson gets to know Dylan, the more she realizes she doesn't know about him. But will they be able to get past themselves as well as the danger Emerson finds herself in to have a chance at something together? 

I liked both Dylan and Emerson, but they both frustrated me a lot as well. Both of them made assumptions about one another and didn't really allow the other to inform them differently. Dylan was especially bad about this, and I really hated that he kept on doing it. Though he had his sweet and thoughtful moments, he would revert right back at the first sign of something bad. Emerson was trying to handle everything on her own, and I wanted her to let someone in. She seemed to feel as though she couldn't ask for help, and it was really frustrating to see her keep others at arm's length. These two were clearly attracted to one another and had a lot of chemistry together, but they also had a really tough time being honest and talking to each other. I am convinced that the majority of their issues could have been solved with better communication, and while I understand part of that is what makes up the conflict in this story, it got old. 

My biggest issue with this book is that while this story started off really strong and I was loving it, the middle slowed way down and I found myself losing interest. There was so much going on and so many players that I felt like it just bogged the whole thing down. Suddenly there was a ton going on with Dylan's roommates and their girls, Emerson's sister, Toby, and Emerson's neighbors etc. It just got to be too much and I felt like it got out of hand. By the end of the story it really felt like I didn't know which way was up or down, who was good or bad, and what was really happening. I missed the romance in all the other stuff that was going on, and it seemed as though the relationship beginning between Emerson and Dylan was no longer at the heart of this story but rather a side story that didn't much matter. While I enjoy some suspense and twists in a story, I read romance for the main couple and I just felt like that got lost in everything else here. So while this was a potentially great story, it just fell flat for me. I am curious about the previous two books after having seen those characters in this book, but I am not sure that I would rush right out to get them. I will give Brinda Berry another shot in the future, and I am sure that I will get around to reading the rest of this series. This one just wasn't what I had been expecting.

**Review Copy Provided by Good Choice Reading**

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Guest Post with Author Tina Leonard and Giveaway

Meet Tina Leonard author of Last of the Red Hot Riders.

USA Today Bestselling and award-winning author Tina Leonard has sold over 3 million books, making the USA Today, Waldenbooks, Bookscan, and Ingrambook bestseller lists, and publishing over seventy titles. Her work has been contracted by Random House Loveswept, Samhain Publishing, Harlequin, London Bridge, and most recently Diversion Books. Leonard is known for her sparkling sense of humor, endearing communities, snappy dialogue, and memorable characters that include sexy hunks with attitude and heroines with plenty of sass. 

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Feature: Going The Distance by Christa Cervone

Boxing saved Gabriel’s life…

From surviving a hellish childhood, to reuniting with his lost brother, only to struggle with helping him battle his drug addiction—a whirlpool of addiction that threatens to drag his brother under.

Life’s been a roller coaster for Gabriel ‘The Saint’ Vega…

Just when his career hits the fast track, he finally finds love with Salem, at least for a short time. But social differences, obligations, and misguided good intentions tore Gabriel and Salem apart before they could ever really get started.

Is Salem capable of breaking away from the ropes that bind her to doing what’s expected rather than what and whom she desires? Can Gabriel convince Salem that their feelings are worth fighting for?

Does their relationship have what it takes to go the distance?

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ARC Review: Sincerely, Carter by Whitney Gracia Williams

I have become a huge fan of Whitney G.'s and I couldn't wait to read Sincerely, Carter! I love a good friends to lovers story, especially when it comes to two people who have been friends since childhood. Whitney definitely didn't disappoint with this story, and I really liked these characters. Their story was fun and interesting, and I really liked the connection they had. 

Arizona Turner and Carter James have been best friends since fourth grade (fifth according to Carter). Though they have been close since then, nothing has ever happened between them. While Arizona tends to over-think her relationships and even keeps a spreadsheet to keep track of her compatibility results, Carter tends to jump right in with his relationships typically maxing out at 6 months. But as they get closer to graduation and their lives begin to change, so do their feelings. One night everything changes, and they both begin to wonder if they are still just friends. 

As I said before I really liked these two and the friendship that they had. They were so great together, and I loved that they could talk about anything. They were always there for one another no matter what, and their bond was unbreakable. Carter and Arizona knew each other through and through, in a way that no one else knew them and it was easy to see how others on the outside would be threatened by their friendship. They were a lot of fun to read about, and I liked seeing them figure things out with one another. They were facing completely new feelings and how to act around one another, and I loved every bit of that. They also had great chemistry together, and I liked how compatible they were when it came to sex as well. It was clear that the sex together was so much greater than anything they had ever experienced before, and that was due to the feelings between them that had developed over a lifetime of knowing one another. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this story as I have with everything I have read from Whitney. And I know you are probably wondering why just four stars instead of five with everything I loved about this book. The reason I couldn't give this one a full five stars was because I felt like the feelings of more than friendship between each of them was too sudden. It was instant and random, and completely out of nowhere. Carter is with friends and they see her walking towards them and he literally sees her differently. I just felt like that was a bit unrealistic and there was no apparent reason for the sudden new way of seeing one another. It wasn't spurred on by jealously or someone else, and there was really no progression from friends to more in their thoughts. The actual transition to acting on those feelings took a bit more time, but the feelings themselves were what I thought happened too rapidly. I still really liked this story and Carter and Arizona, and I definitely recommend anything by Whitney G. I just would have preferred to see these two change their feelings a bit more naturally than the insta-love sort of way. I will definitely be reading more from Whitney in the future though, and I can't wait for more from her!

**ARC Provided by Author**

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ARC Review: Falling for His Best Friend by Katee Robert

Follows the friends to lovers formula but delivers humor, sincere romance and some hot sex scenes.

Falling For His Best Friend is quite obviously a book about two best friends who...fall for each other. Avery and Drew have been friends since elementary school. Drew has developed a commitment allergy as a result of his Daddy issues but when Avery decides to have a baby with a random sperm donor, Drew decides to "help" her. Of course Drew missed the memo that the baby making was supposed to be via test tubes and petri dishes and promptly insists on making a baby, with his best friend, the old fashioned way.

Drew and Avery's story is derived from the common theme in romance novels of two people who never say precisely what they mean. The interesting thing about this type of conflict is that you realize while reading a book that even though each character knows they are not saying what they mean, they assume the other person is being completely honest and take that person at their word. For example Avery keeps talking about her future husband or partner with Drew because their "bargain" only includes making a baby. Drew continuously gets pissed at Avery referencing another man (even one who she hasn't yet met) but doesn't clarify his rapidly developing feelings for her. Are we this crazy in real life? Yes. Yes, we are.

What distinguishes this book from other similarly thematic books, in my opinion, is that it is very well written and there is an element of humor that flows through out the plot. For example, at one point Drew says that a baby in the book looks like a wrinkled old man which is funny and an accurate description of babies fresh out of the womb. Another thing that I like about this book is the depiction of Avery. I like strong heroines and Avery is one of those. In the book Avery may or may not punch somebody in a most unexpected way, you have to read it to find out. But if something like that did happen, I would be HERE for it!

I like Drew's character though I must say that I get tired of the reformed manwhores in romance novels. I mean is it really every woman's fantasy to get a guy after he's been ridden more than a Metro Bus? I jusssst don't know, but I digress. Drew is focused, possessive and despite is inability to say what he means, his commitment to Avery comes across. Drew also has some angst over the fact that his Father was an alcoholic which causes issues when he is developing a relationship with Avery. I know there has to be some justification for relationship conflict but I found the whole 'I might be just like my Dad' issue a bit contrived. It was also too easily resolved to have been as significant as it was portrayed.

The relationship between Drew and Avery is well depicted even though it happens rather suddenly. I guess that makes sense considering they have been friends for years. I like the fact that the awkwardness that would accompany sleeping with a long time friend is included in the story. It lends it a certain authenticity.

All in all this is an easy, enjoyable read with some decent sex scenes to keep things interesting. I would recommend it.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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