SINK OR SWIM

Series:  Beach Kingdom #3

Author: Tessa Bailey

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: August 20th, 2019

Andrew Prince wakes up before everyone else. He schedules the bar shifts, demands perfection from Long Beach’s lifeguards—most of all himself—and makes sure the family debts are paid. His unfaltering worth ethic might leave him exhausted, but it comes with one advantage. It distracts him from the love he’s been harboring since childhood for the girl next door—who he cannot have.

Jiya Dalal has dreams. To fly a plane, see the world below…and prove irresistible to her best friend, Andrew. But she needs to be a good daughter first, which is becoming an increasingly difficult task, since her parents expect a good marriage and the man she loves with all her heart refuses to pursue the blistering connection between them. Just when she’s beginning to believe Andrew truly doesn’t want her, a moonlight tryst on the beach exposes his true feelings. But an echo from the past kept them apart before…and it’s only growing louder with every stolen kiss…

4 ‘ Ask Me The Question’ Stars

Gahhh, the angst… The believed to be unrequited love… The inner battle between full on ALPHA and the tortured self deprecating male… And most of all the omnipresent, full body and mind scorching, SEXUAL TENSION!!! Sink or Swim is without a doubt an emotional and sexiness overload!!! 

This book was one of my most anticipated this year, as Beach Kingdom is without a doubt one of my all time fav series. And these two sure put me through the ringer! The angst and sexual pull between Andrew and Jiya about killed me.

“You’re worth it, Andrew.”
And in that moment, Andrew Prince knew he’d love Jiya Dalal for the rest of his life.

He would only ever be with Jiya, the object of his admiration, affection and lust, within the walls of his own brain.

Andrew and Jiya are indeed the personification of best friends to lovers trope, with how much they adored each other and their growing love ever since they were little kids. Believing to be suffering from unrequited love none of them took a step in that direction, first by pure fear, reservation and then, after a terror happens, in Andrew’s eyes, it was too late, because he would never pull his most precious person, his forever love, to the dark hole he was living. No, not leaving, surviving… And the only thing truly tethering him to the ground was her. Jyia. 

I hurt so much for Andrew, being in his mind we could FEEL the helplessness, the desperation, craving and LOVE, so much love and devotion he had for Jiya since their childhood. Something akin of worship, it’s a better description. And for that, his sexual past made no sense for me, and it’s the very reason for which I couldn’t give the full five stars even though I loved this couple. Even if for a short duration and shallow, and even taking into account what led to it, Andrew’s deep seated love and obsession for Jiya would never even consider that – I was kind of blind sided on it, tbh, because it is not something I’m used to from my beloved Tessa Bailey’s heroes once they ‘focus’ on his one – so I felt it completely out of character, even with his ‘explanation’ and the very long devotion after. Specially considering he was the one that NEVER tried taking a step in the direction of more, when he had many years before the event that changed everything along with the chance to ever being with ‘his girl’ in his mind. After that I can understand his fear and helplessness devastation, but he had almost two decades before it to man up, damn it. LOL. So this bit of the past revelation was an character inconsistency to me, because this man was WELL of swoon worthy silent declarations!

The girl was every man’s dream come true. She had been his since moving to Long Beach from India when she was nine, trading the western state of Gujarat for their busy beach town.

Nonetheless, minus that mistep, Andrew character was so rich and emotional it’s impossible not to feel for him. And Jiya… How that girl put us in her corner! So strong but yet unsure, such dreamer, but yet so family devoted, she was a dichotomy between family ‘duty’ and personal dreams, and when she decided enough, I cheered for her! 
I would have loved a bit more true couple time after the push and pull came to fruition, but yeah, am a self assumed greedy reader. But worry not because even within the emotional angst and battle, there are plenty of naughty and ‘off the charts’ HOT moments with a lot of dirty talk going on, it is a Tessa Bailey’s after all! 😉

The girl that held his pulpy, bloody heart in her hands.

He needed this girl in the most basic, vital, urgent way.

I can’t believe my beloved Beach Kingdom is coming to an end *sniff*, and wish there was many more characters so we could get even more glimpses of this gang in the future. Ms. Bailey wrapped up this emotional, heart touching and panty melting story love story with a beautiful Epilogue that no doubt satisfies us HEA lovers, but I still wanted more and more of these guys – like I said, greedy reader here – and every so much interaction with Rory and Olive, Jamie and Marcus in this book, and they are indeed very present here, I’m beyond sad to say goodbye to them all, truly bittersweet even with this amazing closure. Can’t wait to see what romantic deliciousness Tessa Bailey will give us next! <3 <3 <3 <3

She wanted more. She wanted what he’d threatened. His soul. After all, he already had hers.

“I love you more than life. I don’t remember a second that wasn’t filled with love and more love and need for you.”

ARC kindly provided by the author for an honest review

MOUTH TO MOUTH ( Beach Kingdom #1)

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Tessa Bailey is originally from Carlsbad, California. The day after high school graduation, she packed her yearbook, ripped jeans and laptop, driving cross-country to New York City in under four days.

Her most valuable life experiences were learned thereafter while waitressing at K-Dees, a Manhattan pub owned by her uncle. Inside those four walls, she met her husband, best friend and discovered the magic of classic rock, managing to put herself through Kingsborough Community College and the English program at Pace University at the same time. Several stunted attempts to enter the work force as a journalist followed, but romance writing continued to demand her attention.

She now lives in Long Island, New York with her husband of ten years and six-year-old daughter. Although she is severely sleep-deprived, she is incredibly happy to be living her dream of writing about people falling in love.

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WALLFLOWERS: ONE HEART REMAINS

 

 

Series: Happily Ever Alpha World (Wallflowers/Until Crossover)

Author: CP Smith 

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Release Date: August 16th, 2019  

 

Sometimes the greatest love comes in the middle of your life.

Joe Rouger (Uncle Joe from the Until Series by Aurora Rose Reynolds) is ready for a woman who completes him. He finds what he’s looking for in a feisty Southern belle named Bernice Armstrong (Wallflower Series by CP Smith) The question is, can he leave his world behind for a chance at happiness?

And if he does, can he keep Bernice away from outside sources that threaten to steal what he’s waited for his whole life: a soul mate he can live and die for!

Part of the Happily Ever Alpha World brought to you by Boom Factory Publishing LLC, Aurora Rose Reynolds, and Author CP Smith.

 

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5 ‘Lighthouse In Her Storm’ Stars

Awww, talk about a full on #BOOM and the proof that it’s never too late to have your own HEA! Emotional, funny, sweet and oh so sexy, Until Joe gave us all the spectrum of feelings. CP Smith provided us with the PERFECT combo of two of my all time fav series,  Wallflowers and Until. Utterly fantastic! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

Joe Rouger was one of those characters that instantly intrigued us when reading Aurora Rose Reynolds Until series, so when CP Smith, announced this book, Until Joe and that would be coupled with the sweet and sassy Bernice, and therefore a crossover with The Wallflowers, I was beyond thrilled. 

And what a ride! It’s so amazing and refreshing to read about a more mature couple, and still enjoy the brand new feeling of passion and witnessing the building love between them. Joe and Bernice were truly meant to be.

Again I will repeat what I’ve said before about this series, because Until Joe fit there right in, it’s not only a love story, but a story about love, all types of loves, and even complicated takes on love. Without giving anything away I’ll just say how shocked I was to end up kind of emphasizing with a side character that I never expected to, but like I said, so many takes on love, but most of all, FOREVER kind of love! A true #Boom! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

CP Smith lives in Oklahoma with her husband and five children. She loves football, reading, and card games. Writing for her is about escape. She writes what she loves to read, and leaves the rest to those with better imaginations.

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Author: Lani Lynn Vale

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Release Date: August 6th, 2019

Oakley Spurlock is dying. 

She only has weeks to live thanks to a freak infection that totally and completely destroyed her kidneys.

Despite her family’s desperation, not a single one of them is a match. 

In a last-ditch attempt, Oakley’s father takes to social media to beg for help to save his daughter’s life. 

***

Pace Vineyard is lost. So lost, in fact, that he’s not sure he wants to be found. 

But then a beautiful woman’s face is splashed across social media, and Pace finds a spark in his soul for the first time since a bomb went off beside him. 

He’s already missing two legs. What’s one more kidney? 

At least, that’s what he tells himself. 

What he doesn’t expect is to give his heart to the woman, too. Or for the woman to run away with it and force him to follow.

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5 ‘You’re everything special’ Stars

Gaaahhhhhh! THIS BOOK, people!!! You NEED this book in your lives!!!
It is PERFECTION!! Pace and Oakley are the BEST of the best together, the purest of #RelationshipGoals I tell you!!!! 

This series is fast becoming my LLV fav, with all these swoon worthy heroes! From the very first page I fell HARD for Pace. He was what my literally dreams are made of. The way he was introduced, and is connection with Oakley even was written so incredibly naturally, that I FELT fate weaving their lives together, and after he sees Trance’s plead and jumps right in even after all the pain he had endured so far, wow, just wow. How could we resist?! We truly can’t, serendipity working its way, sure, but the devotion and full on adoration? That was all Pace! *heart eyes*

Something about Oakley Spurlock did things to my soul.
Things that actually made me want to participate in life instead of just watch it pass me by.

 

“I think so, too,” he admitted. “I’ve done nothing but hold onto that goddamn rabbit for years now. It’s been with me everywhere. And every time I have it in my hand, I think of you. And when I saw that you were sick, days away from dying, I had this feeling that urged me to do it. To help you. Now, look where I am. I’m with you.”

My highlights are basically every single line that came out of his mouth, for real, this man was pure ‘book boyfriend’ gold! I believe he is now at the TOP of my fav LLV Heroes, and that’s saying a lot with how many times Ms. Vale made me fall ardently in love with her male characters. There is just something on how she writes them that they feel ideal, but yet so real and tangible, making them irresistible and oh so addictive.

“You’re beautiful and kind. You’re everything that I’ve ever wanted in a woman. I used to dream about the perfect life. And there was always someone exactly like you in my dreams. Someone that would love me for me. (…) You’re the most beautiful and precious thing I’ve ever had in my life.”

Oakley, daughter of one of my fav couples, Viddy and Trance, is just as fantastic as her parents were, I loved everything about her, from her quirks, to her bluntness, her sweetness and her passion, and as ever with Lani Lynn Vale’s female main characters, she was so relatable, that we can’t help but feel like she’s part of us, and feel right there with her and for her in her intense scenes. She was just as devoted and passionate as Pace, and gave herself so freely to this man and their feeling immediately after meeting, but we truly felt why, because it was meant to be. They we always meant to be. Proof in point, him being the perfect match for her kidney, and saving her life, just like in a way, she – even unknowingly – saved his. And they got each other in the end. Talk about Fate, ‘Silver Lining’, ‘Full Circle’ kind of thing. Epic love story right here!

“I love when you smile at me. I love when you throw yourself in my arms, knowing without a single doubt in your mind that I’ll catch you. I love that you talk to me like I’m your closest confidant and your best friend. I love that you called your dad to talk about us and not your mom. I love that you love me.”

I’d Rather Not, with its perfect balance of emotional charge that brings tears to your eyes, but you know without a doubt it will be worth it; funny and lighthearted moments that leave you warm and happy; steamy, scorching hot sex scenes and moments that will leave you hot and bothered; and that trademark Lani Lynn Vale gripping suspense, that give you heart palpitations and right on the edge of you seats, this book was without a doubt one of my favorite reads of this year. So packed full of deliciously intriguing and enticing secondary characters – beside the Trance and Viddy’s scenes which I soaked up to the max, lol – like Ford, Justice and Lock, that leave us begging to know their story,   these books are as addictive as they get. Case in point I NEED of their books NOW!!! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

“I’d give up my life for just one of your breaths,”

“Keep dreaming, Pace.” He squeezed me tight.
“I don’t need to dream, baby. I’m already living the perfect life.”

 

ARC kindly provided by the author via Wildfire Marketing Solutions

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HIDE YOUR CRAZY (KPD Motorcycle Patrol #1)

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IT WASN’T ME (KPD Motorcycle Patrol #2)

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MAKE ME (KPD Motorcycle Patrol #4)

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SINNERS ARE WINNERS (KPD Motorcycle Patrol #5)

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IF YOU SAY SO (KPD Motorcycle Patrol #6)

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Lani Lynn Vale is a USA Today Bestselling Author of over thirty titles.  She is married with three children, two dogs, two cats, a donkey, and a couple (a couple also meaning over twenty) chickens.

When she’s not writing, you can find her curled up in her favorite chair reading.

Lani is married with three children, and lives in the Great State of Texas.

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ALL IT TAKES

Series: Romancing Manhattan #2

Author: Kristen Proby

Genre: Contemporary Romance

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kristen Proby’s second novel in her Romancing Manhattan series delivers the sizzling story of a playboy who’s vowed never to commit until he meets the one woman he’s tempted to break his promise for.

Quinn Cavanaugh doesn’t do anything halfway. He drives fast, works hard, and plays even harder. And the word “commitment” doesn’t exist in his dictionary. He has no plans of settling down with one woman for he needs to be free to move on to the next big thing—whatever or whoever that may be. Each party knows the score going into it, and it’s all been working out fine. That is, until a sexy new colleague enters the scene.

Sienna Hendricks doesn’t give much thought to Quinn and the revolving door leading to his bedroom. She’s way too picky about who she shares her time or her body with and screwing around with a colleague isn’t part of her plan either. Quinn doesn’t intimidate her. And unlike most other members of her sex, she doesn’t melt into a puddle at his feet whenever he’s near. Most importantly, she has no issues telling him no.

But for a man who has the world at his feet, Quinn isn’t accustomed to being rejected. And he’s not about to let that change—no matter how persistent Sienna is. To his surprise, Sienna is everything he thought he’d never find. Pursuing her, and convincing her he’s changed, is going to be the biggest challenge of his life. One he’s completely up for….

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5 ‘ You are Home’ Stars

Holy mother of SWOONFESTS!!! All It Takes indeed took it all, most of all my breath away! Kristen Proby’s masterfully unique and realistic writing style strikes once again with this deeply closed to the heart emotional and sexy love story.

Quinn and Sienna’s story really involved me from the very beginning and kept me immerse in ALL the huge range of emotions that I’m addicted to in Ms. Proby’s writing. So deceitfully effortless realism that I truly feel as though this characters and situations could be me or the ones surrounding me every day, that’s how beautifully crafted this story is.

He’s not a good kisser.
No, he’s a freaking exceptional kisser. The kind of kisser who should come with a damn warning label. He could win the kissing Olympics.
And now my lips are ruined for all of mankind.

Quinn and Sienna met in quite a very unique setting and sparks instantly fly, equal parts anger – mainly on her part, lol –  and attraction, we could already see the insane sexual chemistry and attraction coming forward, but with their relationship development, it just took it to new, and off the charts HOT heights.

“Being with you is never enough, Sienna. I love every minute.

“The only way I can describe it is, I saw you for the first time, and I knew my life would never be the same. You are seated squarely in the heart of my being, Sienna.”

I couldn’t have loved more every single piece of this story, from the most perfect of boyfriends, Quinn – and my new KP best book boyfriend – to the retable and oh so strong and independent Sienna, passing through all the extraordinary side characters both from the previous book, and hopefully from the books to come, all the extremely engaging backstory and subplot, the storyline was absolutely perfect! And SCORCHING, did I mean that already?! 😉

“You’re mine, Sienna. This.” I press in balls deep and pin her hands to the desk. She’s panting, watching me with wide blue eyes. “Is mine. And this.” I kiss her chest, over her heart. “This is mine.”
“All yours,” she confirms. “And you’re mine back.”

All It Takes had such a great ‘enemies to lovers’, ‘office romance’ vibe, specially at the beginning, that I adore, and add the PERFECT way that the author portrayed the ‘reformed player’ trope that not always works for me, I was completely and utterly sold. Ms. Proby surpassed all my expectations, and considering how much I love and devour her words, that’s saying something. The addiction is so real, that I am already DYING for Carver’s story. Specially after the teasing we got here, I need his book – and all the other side characters, like Lou – STAT!!! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

I’m so in love with you that I ache with it.

Quinn is my rock. My constant. And I know I don’t want to do this life without him.

No, life’s not going to be dull. It’s going to be thrilling, and fun, and maybe a little scary sometimes. And you know what? I can’t fucking wait.

ARC kindly provided by the author via publisher Avon / Harper Collins 

for an honest review

ALL THE WAY (Romancing Manhattan #1)

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Kristen was born and raised in a small resort town in her beloved Montana. In her mid-twenties, she decided to stretch her wings and move to the Pacific Northwest, where she made her home for more than a dozen years.

During that time, Kristen wrote many romance novels and joined organizations such as RWA and other small writing groups. She spent countless hours in workshops, and more mornings than she can count up before the dawn so she could write before going to work. She submitted many manuscripts to agents and editors alike, but was always told no. In the summer of 2012, the self-publishing scene was new and thriving, and Kristen had one goal: to publish just one book. It was something she longed to cross off of her bucket list.

Not only did she publish one book, she’s since published close to thirty titles, many of which have hit the USA Today, New York Times and Wall Street Journal Bestsellers lists. She continues to self publish, best known for her With Me In Seattle and Boudreaux series, and is also proud to work with William Morrow, a division of HarperCollins, with the Fusion Series.

Kristen and her husband, John, make their home in her hometown of Whitefish, Montana with their two pugs and two cats.

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Author: Aurora Rose Reynolds 

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Cover Designer: Sara Eirew

Photographer: Wander Aguiar

Gareth Black is drawn to December Mayson the moment he spots her across the room at her cousin’s wedding. When he approaches the beautiful woman, she captivates him with her shyness and wit, making him crave her.

With a pull so strong it’s impossible to ignore, December knows there’s something between her and Gareth. She just hopes they’re capable of jumping the hurdles ahead of them. 

Two boys, an ex, a surprise that will change everything, and a disgruntled co-worker, guarantee these two will have their work cut out for them if they are going to find their happily ever after.

5 ‘If you run or if you fall, I’d catch you’ Stars

The best of BOOMS in single parent romance PERFECTION!!! Heartwarmingly sweet, body sizzlingly scorching and soul touchingly realistic, Until December grips you in the most addictive of ways in an emotional journey where, doing justice to its origins – OG Mayson -, family is what matters most and the core of our beings. I couldn’t have adored more this brand new family of Gareth, December and his boys. I fell in love right along with them: Mayson phenomenon at its purest! 

Everything about her and this moment is my undoing. 

What will you do if I run?”

“Chase.”

Ms. Reynolds characters always spoke to the deepest part of myself, but never any as much as December. I was and am her! Such incredible world building in this Until universe, but even more masterful character creation. I rarely relate with a heroine as much as I did with every trait of December’s. And Gareth… Holy mother of single dads! Not only him, but also his boys, completely stole my heart right along with hers.

“I’m a Mayson, Gareth Black. I know I’m not adventurous or very outgoing, but I’m still a Mayson.” His brows draw together, and I lift my hand to rub away the lines etched between them. “Family, love, devotion, and determination are what I grew up seeing all around me. I know what’s important. I know why it’s important. And I understand that sometimes, even when it’s scary, you have to do everything within your power to protect it. I love you.”

I can never get enough of this Mayson and all the Until characters, main or secondary. It’s such an incurable joy to dive back into this world, and ARR always leaves me simultaneously warm and fuzzy in a happy bubble, but also craving immediately my next Until fix! Indeed I’m already dying for the next victim of the Mayson BOOM!!! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

“You don’t even realize that the roots you’ve planted have become something to cling to in a storm, a safe place to go to when the winds start to pick up.”

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UNTIL JULY (Until Her #1)

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UNTIL JUNE (Until Her #2)

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UNTIL ASHLYN (Until Her #3)

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UNTIL HARMONY (Until Her #4)

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Aurora Rose Reynolds is a New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author whose wildly popular series include Until, Until Him, Until Her, Underground Kings and Shooting Stars.

Her writing career started in an attempt to get the outrageously alpha men who resided in her head to leave her alone and has blossomed into an opportunity to share her stories with readers all over the world.

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Author: Lani Lynn Vale

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Release Date: July 2nd, 2019

Piper Mackenzie first sees him shirtless, standing in front of the military plane she was about to board, with one rather large wrench in his hand. The fact that he has the plane—the one that she’s about to be flying on for hours—in pieces only minutes before she’s set to take off on it doesn’t faze her. At least not until a flippant joke about dying in mid-air leaves his lips.

The second time she sees him, he’s helping her from the wreckage of her car. The wreckage that he helped cause.

The third, he’s laying across from her in the same bed, and there’s no denying what happened the night before.

The fourth, well that time would be the first of many. Being Mrs. Jonah Crew has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?

*****

Jonah Crew saw her for the first time as she stared at him in awe. It was snowing, the temp was in the negative degrees, and he couldn’t think about anything but her and the look of horror on her face when he tells a badly-timed joke.

The second time he sees her, his heart skips a beat, but not for the reason that one might think. Mainly, it’s due in part to the fact that his truck smashed into her car so hard that his chest hits the steering wheel and his heart decides to stop working right.

The third time, he’s fairly positive that he’s died and gone to heaven. At least, that’s what waking up next to a beautiful woman like her signifies, right?

The fourth? Well, he’s not quite sure how he got there, but he’s already said ‘I do’ so what’s a guy to do?

HIDE YOUR CRAZY (KPD Motorcycle Patrol #1)

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I’D RATHER NOT (KPD Motorcycle Patrol #3)

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MAKE ME (KPD Motorcycle Patrol #4)

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Lani Lynn Vale is a USA Today Bestselling Author of over thirty titles.  She is married with three children, two dogs, two cats, a donkey, and a couple (a couple also meaning over twenty) chickens.

When she’s not writing, you can find her curled up in her favorite chair reading.

Lani is married with three children, and lives in the Great State of Texas.

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FIX HER UP

Series: Hot and Hammered #1

Author: Tessa Bailey

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: June 11th, 2019

Georgette Castle’s family runs the best home renovation business in town, but she picked balloons instead of blueprints and they haven’t taken her seriously since. Frankly, she’s over it. Georgie loves planning children’s birthday parties and making people laugh, just not at her own expense. She’s determined to fix herself up into a Woman of the World… whatever that means.

Phase one: new framework for her business (a website from this decade, perhaps?)

Phase two: a gut-reno on her wardrobe (fyi, leggings are pants.)

Phase three: updates to her exterior (do people still wax?)

Phase four: put herself on the market (and stop crushing on Travis Ford!)

Living her best life means facing the truth: Georgie hasn’t been on a date since, well, ever. Nobody’s asking the town clown out for a night of hot sex, that’s for sure. Maybe if people think she’s having a steamy love affair, they’ll acknowledge she’s not just the “little sister” who paints faces for a living. And who better to help demolish that image than the resident sports star and tabloid favorite?

Travis Ford was major league baseball’s hottest rookie when an injury ended his career. Now he’s flipping houses to keep busy and trying to forget his glory days. But he can’t even cross the street without someone recapping his greatest hits. Or making a joke about his… bat. And then there’s Georgie, his best friend’s sister, who is not a kid anymore. When she proposes a wild scheme—that they pretend to date, to shock her family and help him land a new job—he agrees. What’s the harm? It’s not like it’s real. But the girl Travis used to tease is now a funny, full-of-life woman and there’s nothing fake about how much he wants her…

4 ‘The girl who loved me, even when I couldn’t love myself’ Stars

HOT DAMN!!! Tessa Bailey’s masterful writing strikes again in Fix Her Up! And what a perfect name for the series, because this book left plenty of HOT – still fanning myself, it is a #QueenOfDirtyTalking original, after all – AND hammered, to all these characters!

Everything about this book since it was announced it had been appealing to me, so much so that I couldn’t wait to read it, and considering my general wariness of the best friends’ little sister trope, that is saying a lot, but giving Ms. Bailey’s addictive prose, the additional fake relationship theme and a female main character I that I could see in advance I would love, I just had to jump right in! 

“I see you,” he rasped. “Dammit, Georgie. You had to be exactly what I need, didn’t you?”

 

Had anyone ever kissed him with so much trust? No. No one kissed or exposed themselves like her, honest and unrestrained. No one had ever pulled him in so deeply.

And dive right in I did, to the point that I couldn’t put it down. Even with some pet peeve in the mix, at start, I just couldn’t stop reading it! Yep, Fixe Her Up was just as deliciously addictive as I expected! And Georgie… Can you all say ‘GIRL CRUSH’?! <3

Might as well admit it. She could turn him on in a goddamn clown suit. As if that wasn’t enough to scare him, since being reintroduced to Georgie the adult, he’d run the gamut of feeling protective, possessive, and straight-up missing her.

He had the urge to confide in her. Wanted to hand her a piece of himself, because he knew she would take care of it.

Now, before my raving starts – and there will be plenty of it! – , and considering this issue was mainly at the start of the book, it’s best if I pull the cat out of the mad on what bothered me in Travis and Georgie’s story. Because with how much I enjoyed this book, I have to confess Fix Her Up was one tough nut to crack for me, rating and reviewing wise, hence why I seated a couple of days in posting it, because like I said above, I tend to generally not be a fan of the trope best friends’ little sister, but the scenario that really ends up putting me off, and it was the case here is, being one of my PERSONAL pet peeves, is that exact setting in addition to the über manwhore/virgin, so here I have to indeed confess I was kind of blindsided by that fact. First because that secondary trope is not at all what I’m used to by Ms. Bailey, no matter the age, the setting or even the circumstances, one thing was always constant in her spectacular writing, and it’s one of the things that have me so addicted to her male characters, I have no doubt, how much they are smitten, changed and devoted after meeting their ‘one’, even if they don’t acknowledge it at first. So I did not expect at all so, so many references of Travis endless sexual ventures to be in our – and specially Georgie’s – face, and most of all, for her to be fully aware of those, in detail, and still, never tried to move on. I know, I know, a lot of readers adore this setting, but yours truly is  not one of them, so like I said, it’s all subjective, and if that doesn’t bother you – and even if it does – I just reading it all the same, because otherwise you are missing out on a amazing read.

He had her number. She was a giver in all things. Right now, he had to convince her to take. He needed to be the giver. For her. Just . . . her.

“How do you do that? You . . . accept me. Exactly as I am. But you still change me for the better.”

To tell you the truth, the reason for which that single fact impacted more was, never once in the past had he looked at her with more than a little girl, there in a family that was more family for him than his own, but it just made it less believable for me that all of the sudden, she was all he could see and want. The ‘in your face’ uber experienced/manwhore/player coupling with the virgin/completely unexperienced/hung-up really aggravates me… Le sigh… Ok, I digress, but I really had to clear this main thing that truly bothered me, because if not for that I would have given Fix Her Up all the stars! And goddammit, I really wish it wasn’t set like that, because it would have been absolutely perfect, if not for the manwhoring/hung-up virgin thing! LOL

He kissed her like he was . . . taking care of her. Soothing her.

Who wouldn’t look at her like she was a fucking angel? That’s exactly what she was in that moment. Every moment. A being sent straight from the clouds.

That being said, and the second reason why it took me this long to decide, is because if not for all this references from THE PAST, the book in it’s timeline, was so darn exquisite!!! Even Travis, the man himself, was on page absolutely swoon worthy most of the times, every delicious bit of Tessa Bailey’s usual Hs. He was every bit obsessed and devoted, protective and possessive as them, as soon as they met again at the start of the book, which I adored. Broken, but oh so redeemable, clueless to matters of the heart, but ‘take action’ all Alpha when it came to Georgie. And oh boy, was the man SCORCHING HOT!!! That is no surprise, right?!  

“That hug you gave me yesterday in your parents’ living room?” His palms skimmed up her thighs, setting off a low tug in her belly. “I’ve been jerking off thinking about it. Jerking off to a hug, Georgie. Your hands need to report for duty.”

Georgie was so completely FANTASTIC!!! I adored everything – ok, minus the complete hung up/ virgin thing, lol – about her. She was everything I love in a female lead: sweet, sassy and a bit snarky, and so devoted to her objectives, passion and family, even considering they downplayed her constantly. She was amazingly rich, complex and so very realistic. Travis was right to snatch her up as soon as he realizes just what treasure he had, because she indeed was precious! Totally Georgie fangirling here.

“What you’ve done for me, baby girl . . . bringing me out of the dark? It’s a miracle. Not a thing. You’re a miracle.”

Tessa Bailey truly rocked this rom-com, and took the genre to WHOLE new level of hotness! Yes, for those of you who are, like myself, die hard Bailey’s fans, Fix Her Up is every bit as steamy as usual TB trademark, as in, volcanic porpotions/shower needed after, HOT!  

Fix Her Up, is so much more than the typical rom.com, it runs through a huge spectrum of emotions and shows us a story of healing, of self discovery, redemption, friendship, and most of all,  LOVE! Love in all forms and shapes, familial, self, friend, and romantic. What surprised me the most is that not only you see the journey of healing of the broken man, Travis, but also the amazing introduction of the friendship and complicity and support of the Just Us League (which I want to be part of too!), that allow Georgie to truly blossom, as a person, and as a human! It was INCREDIBLE!!! And speaking of the the other two main members of the Just Us League – which will be the other two books of the series – OMG, way to stun us and intrigue us. I. AM. DYING. HERE. With all that teasing about Rosie and Dom!!! Seriously, I need they story, now! Married Couple trope is one of my all time fav tropes, so believe me when I say, I’ll be stalking Ms. Bailey religiously – more than usual – for Love Her or Lose Her!!!! <3 <3 <3 <3 

Her heart had created an extra chamber for loving Travis Ford.

“I’ve met her twice in my life. This time, I was smart enough to fall in love with her.”

“I’ll make sure she knows every single day that she’s the air I breathe. That’s a promise.”

 

ARC kindly provided by the author via Avon / Harper Collins for an honest review

Tessa Bailey is originally from Carlsbad, California. The day after high school graduation, she packed her yearbook, ripped jeans and laptop, driving cross-country to New York City in under four days.

Her most valuable life experiences were learned thereafter while waitressing at K-Dees, a Manhattan pub owned by her uncle. Inside those four walls, she met her husband, best friend and discovered the magic of classic rock, managing to put herself through Kingsborough Community College and the English program at Pace University at the same time. Several stunted attempts to enter the work force as a journalist followed, but romance writing continued to demand her attention.

She now lives in Long Island, New York with her husband of eight years and four-year-old daughter. Although she is severely sleep-deprived, she is incredibly happy to be living her dream of writing about people falling in love.

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