ARC Review: Dream Maker by Erin McCarthy

I have been a fan of Erin McCarthy's for years. I have really enjoyed a lot of her books, and she is one of the first authors that I read when I began to read romance novels. That being said, I was not a fan of the first book in this series and I had quite a few issues with it. I was hoping for better here, and while there were some things I liked, this one left me with mixed feelings as well. 

Shane is determined not to be like his father, so he doesn't do commitment and doesn't get emotionally involved. So he has no problem helping Avery out when she needs it, but that is as far as he is willing to let things go. Avery has her own agenda, and nowhere on it is falling for Shane. But Shane and Avery quickly realize that what they thought they wanted and had planned are no match for the growing connection between them.

I will admit that a lot of what I struggled with here were the characters themselves. While I wanted to love both of them, I had some issues with things that they each did. I especially had some issues with Shane in the second half of this book. He got pushy and I didn't like the way he was acting or treating Avery. Avery was hard for me to warm up to, and I never fully did. I had a hard time relating to her, and I found the fact that she had been in a relationship for so long yet was as inexperienced as she was to be unrealistic. 

Overall, I am beginning to think that this series is just not for me. I think a lot of people will really enjoy it, but it seems to just not fit for me. The characters are a bit on the immature side, and I just haven't been able to connect with either couple in this series so far the way that I would like to. If you are a fan of Erin's or if this one sounds like something you might like, I recommend giving it a shot. I have enjoyed a lot of Erin's books and she is a talented writer, so I think that maybe this series just doesn't work for me personally.

**ARC Provided by Publisher**

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ARC Review: Twelve Truths and a Lie by Christina Lee

I have read and several books from Christina Lee, but if I am honest the last few I have read from her haven't been my favorites. Something about the cover of this book really drew me in though, and honestly I didn't even really read the blurb before starting. While I did like things in this story, this book left me wanting and I just felt like it was missing something. 

Though Aurora Jones appears to have it all, the one thing that is missing is a good love life. She has had terrible luck with men and hasn't been single since she was a teenager so she decides to take a 12 month break from dating. Cameron Miller has had a bad year and has spent his time drowning his sorrows in booze and women. So when his friends finally get through to him, Cameron decides to focus on his job and straighten out his life. Cameron and Aurora agree to hang out once a week, as members of their own chastity club. But when Cameron asks Aurora to be his fake date to an event his ex is attending, things begin to change as sparks fly between them.

I liked both Cameron and Aurora. I thought that they worked well together and were a good fit. They had chemistry and were developing a connection that was easy to see. My problem was that things just felt kind of shallow and I wanted more. I think that there was a lot of potential for a great story here, but things didn't seem to go beyond surface deep. 

I started to get invested more in what was going on around them and other characters, and I wish that I had felt that same way about Cameron and Aurora. While it wasn't my favorite of Christina Lee's, I did enjoy it and I am glad I read it. I will definitely read more from her in the future, and I think if this one sounds like something you might like that it is worth taking a chance on.

**ARC Provided by Bocci PR**

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Feature and Giveaway: Baron by Joanna Shupe

New York City’s Gilded Age shines as bright as the power-wielding men of the Knickerbocker Club. And one pragmatic industrialist is about to learn that a man may make his own destiny, but love is a matter of fortune . . .

Born into one of New York’s most respected families, William Sloane is a railroad baron who has all the right friends in all the right places. But no matter how much success he achieves, he always wants more. Having secured his place atop the city’s highest echelons of society, he’s now setting his sights on a political run. Nothing can distract him from his next pursuit—except, perhaps, the enchanting con artist he never saw coming . . .

Ava Jones has eked out a living the only way she knows how. As “Madame Zolikoff,” she hoodwinks gullible audiences into believing she can communicate with the spirit world. But her carefully crafted persona is nearly destroyed when Will Sloane walks into her life—and lays bare her latest scheme. The charlatan is certain she can seduce the handsome millionaire into keeping her secret and using her skills for his campaign—unless he’s the one who’s already put a spell on her . . .

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ARC Review: The Goal by Elle Kennedy

I have loved this series since I first read The Deal. Each character is interesting and deep, and I have loved them all. Elle Kennedy has created a brilliant world that I never want to leave, and I was so excited for Tucker's story after how things ended in The Score. I will say that this book was probably my least favorite of the series though and if it wasn't for Tucker himself, I probably would have rated this one at 3 stars. 

Sabrina has always planned her life, determined to get out of the circumstances she has been raised in. Driven to succeed and get into law school, she doesn't have time for distractions While she is instantly attracted to Tucker, she knows that it can only be one night between them. But one night and Tucker's want for more with Sabrina quickly proves to be something she hadn't planned for. Can Tucker convince Sabrina that they belong together? 

I absolutely loved Tucker. He was fantastic from start to finish, and honestly he is what kept me flipping pages here. He was so sweet and patient, and I admired him so much for how he was with Sabrina and those around him. He was loyal to those he cared about, but he made his own decisions. I do think that there were times that Tucker let Sabrina push him away too much or get away with things when he should have pushed back, but ultimately he was amazing and I wasn't too upset about it. Sabrina was hard for me to relate to. It wasn't that I didn't like her, yet I didn't love her either. She herself said that at times she was aloof, and I felt that was the case here. I just didn't feel like I could ever connect with her and I wanted more out of her character. 

There was chemistry between them, but I did feel like there wasn't as much of an emotional connection as I would have liked. I think a lot of that is because things felt rushed here, as though things were a bit skipped over. These two spent more time not together than actually together, so because of that it seemed that we never got to see their relationship fully form. As much as I wanted to love this book for Tucker, Sabrina kept that from being possible. While this wasn't my favorite of the series, I did still like it and I always enjoy getting to see the characters from the previous books. This definitely won't be the last I read from Elle Kennedy, and I think fans of this series will enjoy this one.

**ARC Provided by Bocci PR**

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Feature and Giveaway: Mistletoe Cottage by Debbie Mason

'Tis the season for love . . .

Sophie DiRossi loved growing up in Harmony Harbor. But after fleeing in disgrace many years ago, it is the last place she wants to be. Left homeless by a fire, she's forced to go back to the small coastal town that harbors a million secrets, including her own. Sophie sees this secret reflected every day in her daughter's blue eyes-and she must keep it hidden from the only man she has ever loved.

Sophie's return is a shock for everyone . . . especially Liam Gallagher. The firefighter had some serious feelings for Sophie-and seeing her again sparks a desire so fierce it takes his breath away. Now Liam will do whatever it takes to show Sophie that they deserve a second chance at love, even if everything they've concealed threatens to keep them apart. In this special town at this special time of the year, Sophie and Liam can only hope for a little holiday magic . . .

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