Review: Best Served Cold by Tawdra Kandle

Best Served Cold by Tawdra Kandle was a quick and really enjoyable story. It wasn't exactly what I had been expecting after reading the blurb, but I actually loved that it wasn't exactly what I had gone in thinking it would be. This story was so much more than just a girl scorned looking for revenge. It was interesting and kept me turning the pages because I loved the characters and had to know what would happen next. I am really glad that I took a chance on this one, and would recommend this story to Contemporary and New Adult fans.

Julia has been planning a surprise birthday party for her boyfriend Liam for weeks. When he finally arrives at the party, the last thing she expects is for him to show up as he is making out with another girl. He goes on to further humiliate her by saying that he just forgot to break up with her in front of everyone. Julia decides with the help of her best friend Ava that she will get her revenge by making him jealous and getting him to want her again only to turn around and humiliate him this time. They enlist the help of their friend Giff (who is also Liam's roommate and best friend), and Giff thinks that he is helping to get Julia and Liam back together. Giff calls in some favors with some friends and makes sure that Julia is seen around with different men, and before long Liam is trying to get Julia to talk to him again. But Julia meets Jesse while all of this is going on. He is the older son of a guy that she babysits for and they are instantly drawn to each other. They begin to see each other and find out that they have more than attraction between them. Soon, Julia must decide if she is willing to give up a chance at a new relationship or if her revenge is more important.

I really loved Jesse. He was smart and sexy, sweet and patient. Jesse was a really great guy and I loved that there was no drama with him. He took things slow with Julia and was determined to have more than just a physical relationship with her. I loved how he was always honest and straight up with Julia, especially when he had something to ask her or tell her that could have caused problems. I also really liked Julia. I thought that her whole revenge plot was a little immature and not a very good idea, but I understood that she was hurt. I liked that Julia was such a great friend though, and I loved watching her with Des. She was a really likable heroine, and it was fun to see her fall for Jesse. I liked how she was always cooking for Jesse and his family, and that they had so much in common. I thought that their dates were sweet and showed how much the connected. They also had really amazing chemistry.

Overall, I thought that this book was a really great read. The only reason that I didn't give this one five stars was because the revenge plot didn't quite work for me. I didn't understand why she was so intent on this revenge when she wasn't heartbroken about Liam. She admitted that she didn't really love him and that after everything she realized that they shouldn't have been together. I also didn't like that Liam didn't really acknowledge what he had done to her and was pretty intent on hooking up with her best friend Ava. I liked Ava a lot, but I thought that it was kind of strange how she would all of a sudden be having these feelings for Liam after he had dated her best friend for almost a year and then treated her horribly. I'm not sure I like the direction that is headed in, but since Ava's book is next I am interested to see how things play out. I am hoping that Liam can redeem himself if he is meant to be with Ava. I really did like this book though, and Jesse and Julia were great. I loved seeing them fall for each other and it was great to see Julia move forward past what had happened. These characters were all really likable and fun to read about. I highly recommend this story, and I can't wait to read more from Tawdra Kandle in the future.

**Copy provided by Author**

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Guest Post with Author Jane Ashford and Giveaway

Meet Jane Ashford, author of The Bride Insists.

Jane Ashford discovered Georgette Heyer in junior high school and was captivated by the glittering world and witty language of Regency England. That delight was part of what led her to study English literature and travel widely in Britain and Europe. She has written historical and contemporary romances, and her books have been published in Sweden, Italy, England, Denmark, France, Russia, Latvia, the Czech Republic, and Spain, as well as the U.S. Jane has been nominated for a Career Achievement Award by RT Book Reviews. Born in Ohio, she now lives in LA. For more information, please visit http://janeashford.com/.

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Feature and Giveaway: Best Kind of Broken by Chelsea Fine

SOMETIMES MOVING ON MEANS MOVING IN

Pixie Marshall wishes every day she could turn back time and fix the past. But she can't. And the damage is done. She's hoping that a summer of free room and board working with her aunt at the Willow Inn will help her forget. Except there's a problem: the resident handyman is none other than Levi Andrews. The handsome quarterback was once her friend-and maybe more-until everything changed in a life-shattering instant. She was hoping to avoid him, possibly forever. Now he's right down the hall and stirring up feelings Pixie thought she'd long buried . . .

Levi can't believe he's living with the one person who holds all his painful memories. More than anything he wants to make things right, but a simple "sorry" won't suffice-not when the tragedy that scarred them was his fault. Levi knows Pixie's better off without him, but every part of him screams to touch her, protect her, wrap her in his arms, and kiss away the pain. Yet even though she's so close, Pixie's heart seems more unreachable than ever. Seeing those stunning green eyes again has made one thing perfectly clear-he can't live without her.

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ARC Review: Three Weeks with Lady X by Eloisa James

India St. Clair, aka Lady Xenobia, has a knack for placing quality servants into deserving homes. She also has a flair for interior design. In 1799, she decides to share these rare gifts and carve out a profession for herself. Her reputation suffers, but her dowry account grows. She plans to retire and marry soon. At 26, her prospects are dimming. She is encouraged to take on one more extreme makeover. Thorn Dautry needs to woo a respectable woman to be his wife. As the illegitimate son of a duke and a former mudlark, his home and wealth must persuade the lady’s nervous parents of his future redemption. Thorn buys a rundown country estate known for its former’ owner’s debauchery and wild parties. Some of the risqué statutes remain as silent reminders of the sordid past. India is tasked to redo the house top to bottom, hire servants, and help host a party for Thorn’s future in-laws. She is handed carte blanche and goes to work. Thorn acquires a young girl as his ward. Her father lived on the streets with Thorn when they were children. Rose becomes part of the landscape India must incorporate into the comfortable life of the recast gentleman Thorn. The close proximity to Thorn ignites a passion in India she didn’t know existed. Plus she finds a how to sex book amongst the former owner’s belongings. Thorn offers to be her personal guide to all carnal pleasure. No promises of love and marriage, just live in the now. India accepts his terms and believes the other lady will suit him as a wife. Thorn decides to invite his friend to meet India. He is very interested and so is she. Will the imperfect couple split up and join better halves?

India is a modern business woman trapped in a backwards time. All of her talents are used against her because she is unmarried. Do we still judge a woman’s worth by her lack of a spouse? She rises to every occasion, even with young Rose. She knows the way to the girl’s heart is to be interested in all of her plans. Thorn also shows his best qualities with Rose. He includes her, spoils her, and will be her father, not keeper. Thorn is scarred inside and out. His father reclaimed him, but not after he suffered many cruelties. His is a heart to be healed. India never coddles or praises him. She matches his intellect and prowess. No shy wallflower or holding back insults for her. They make a true couple, pointing out each other’s flaws and loving in spite of them.

My only qualm is one final act Thorn performs for India. He enlists old friends to find her family’s jewels. Literally a pouch of gems lost years ago in an accident. India’s parents’ carriage fell into the Thames, killing them. Her father had the jewels in his pocket. He risks his life and others for an impossible feat. Unrealistic in practice and unbelievable in outcome.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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Feature and Giveaway: Moonlight on my Mind by Jennifer McQuistion

To ruin a man’s life once takes a regrettable mistake.

To do so twice takes a woman like Julianne Baxter.

Eleven months ago, Julianne’s statement to the authorities wrongly implicated Patrick, the new Earl of Haversham, in his older brother’s death. The chit is as much trouble as her red hair suggests, and just as captivating. Now she has impetuously tracked him to the wilds of Scotland, insisting that he return home to face a murder charge and save his family from ruin. A clandestine wedding may be the only way to save her reputation—and his neck from the hangman’s noose.

Julianne has no objection to the match. More and more she’s convinced of Patrick’s innocence, though when it comes to igniting her passions, the man is all too guilty. And if they can only clear his name, a marriage made in haste could bring about the most extraordinary pleasure…

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