Category Archives: Instant Love

#WOTR23 – #Review – Between the Pines by Jennifer Daniels

Between the Pines by [Jennifer Daniels]

On her eighteenth birthday, Sloan Remson thought it would be just like any other day. She went to school, was excused early to get her driver’s permit, then was taken out for a nice lunch by her mother.

Waking up the next morning was an entirely different story. Shivering and in the middle of the clearing up the road and being warmed by a wolf should have scared Sloan stupid. Instead the beautiful snow-white wolf was calming and gave her peace.

Jump seven years into the future, and after several beers with her BFF Mary, once again Sloan finds herself alone in the middle of a clearing. But this time with the handsome Fletcher Remington watching over her. They were friends throughout school and she’d had a secret crush on him for as long as she could remember. Within a few minutes of catching up, secrets are revealed. After a quick mind-dive from Mary, who also happens to be a witch, Sloan finds out Fletcher is a wolf and that he is her mate.

How can Sloan be anyone’s mate when she can’t even shift into the one thing she should be able to? She is a supernatural dud who is in love with a snow-white wolf. Let the adventures begin.

Goodreads

Review by Twinsie Kelly

One can really start questioning their self, especially when they sleepwalk and wake up in the clearing between the pines…with a wolf. However, the second time this happens, she wakes up with Fletcher watching over her. These two have been friends since they were little, but nothing ever came of it. Ultimately, the more these two are together, the stronger the pull is between the two.

Between the Pines was a really sweet, YA/NA fated mates story that did have a sweet happily ever after. The relationship evolving between Sloan and Fletcher is very cute and the fact that they are learning with each other is super adorable. Chivalry is not dead, folks!

I feel that some parts of the book were rushed and not enough explanation in some areas. There was a sort of restlessness that I felt waiting for some turbulence to happen that would really push our MC, but it wasn’t quite as grand as I expected. I wish it was a bit longer so that we could learn more about the other characters’ pasts and to possibly give the antagonist a bigger part. Overall, this was a cute read.

**********Spoiler Alert***************

There are a few things that I felt needed more explanation and the reason why I am giving this 4 stars, instead of 5. A lot of familial secrets are uncovered and Sloan finds out that her father is a wolf. This was kept from her for her entire life. I was a little confused by this because she knew of her mother and her BFF being witches, so I am not really sure why her father being a wolf, and a high-ranking wolf at that, was being kept from her. Sloan really just sort of “went with it”. She questioned things to herself but there were never any real explanations. So, the entire time I waited for something really crazy to happen so that this would eventually be uncovered, but it never did. Additionally, when Sloan and Fletcher bonded, it was discovered that they are the King and Queen of all the wolves. Things were then very rushed and I think some of the “meat and potatoes” of the story were missed.

An image posted by the author.

#review #standalone #seriestarter The Valentine Wager (Lange Brothers 1) by Nan Reinhardt 

He’s a notorious flirt, so she lays down a challenge she’s sure she’ll win. 
 
When playboy police lieutenant Ryker Lange stops Kitt Boynton for driving on the wrong side of the road, his attraction to the feisty Irish lass is immediate. Yet, despite the sizzling chemistry between them, Kitt quickly turns him down. 
 
Kitt has moved to River’s Edge for a fresh start and is ready to focus on her new marketing job at her cousins’ winery. She’s done with players, and vows she won’t let the local sexy cop distract her, but Kitt, a flirt herself, is definitely tempted. To keep her sanity as she prepares for several Valentine-themed winery events, she and Ryker make a bet: for the next three weeks, neither of them can flirt with the other. 
 
The game starts out lighthearted, but when the town takes sides, Ryker and Kitt must choose between winning a wager or finding lasting love. 

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58524645-the-valentine-wager?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=NvrnkJ2Cr0&rank=9

Amazon https://amzn.to/3d4EqKm

Review by Twinsie Dee

I bought this book here is my honest review 

After a terrible breakup Kitt ran away to America to stay with her cousins with their winery and help them make it amazing. But coming from Ireland to America she had to get use to a few things starting with driving on the right side of the road, but she was driving on the left side and that got her pulled over by Lieutenant Lange. Thinking he was pulling over a drunk driver Ryker defiantly got way more than he ever expected when making this traffic stop, he’s pretty sure he found the one and that it was love at first sight, something he didn’t think was real until he stopped Kitt. Well Ryker is known around town as the heartbreak kid and a charmer, and after Kitts breakup she wasn’t wanting to fall for anyone but she couldn’t help how good-looking Ryker was. When Kitt just wants to be friends with Ryker they make a wager, if they can go 3 weeks as just friends no flirting, or anything like that for 3 weeks then Kitt has to go on a date with him but if Kitt wins, Ryker has to apologize to one of the girls who heart he broke. Who will win this bet before valentine’s day or will they both give in and call it a truce.  

Nan Reinhardt is a USA Today bestselling writer of romantic fiction for women in their prime. She is also a wife, a mom, a mother-in-law, and a grandmother. She’s been an antiques dealer, a bank teller, a stay-at-home mom, a secretary, and for the last 17 years, she’s earned her living as a freelance copyeditor and proofreader. 

But writing is Nan’s first and most enduring passion. She can’t remember a time in her life when she wasn’t writing–she wrote her first romance novel at the age of ten, a love story between the most sophisticated person she knew at the time, her older sister (who was in high school and had a driver’s license!) and a member of Herman’s Hermits. If you remember who they are, you are Nan’s audience! She’s still writing romance, but now from the viewpoint of a wiser, slightly rumpled, woman in her prime who believes that love never ages, women only grow more interesting, and everybody needs a little sexy romance. 

#REVIEW – Loveless: A Male-Male Forbidden Romance by C.L. Matthews

I lie to everyone my entire life.
Hiding.
Lonely.
Loveless.
Then he came along.
The light to reveal me, casting my shadows away.
The partner to be here for me, who never allows me to be lonely again.
The man to prove I’m worthy, promising to show me I’m not loveless after all.
My little prince.
My savior.
My happy ending.
Mine.

Oh this little story was delicious!! While it was short, I didn’t feel like it took away from the story at all. I do wish there was more, just like an update kind of thing but alas, I’ll have to wait for Cassie to give us more MM fun.

Prim and Texas are best friends. After Texas has a horrible run in when his father catches him in the middle of something, Texas runs to Prim for help. Little did he know that he would meet a secret person in the mean time.

After a delicious encounter at a bar, super super hot scene by the way, Texas lets Prim help him.

And when he meets Prim’s father…well…you’ll just have to read to find out. 😉

Amazon – https://amzn.to/34Aa5fT
C.L. Matthews lives in lala-landia with her husband and invisible friends. She wants to riot the lack thereof authentic Mexican food in her state, but she’s an introvert at heart. She enjoys tacos, Red Bull, and warm water, because she’s crazy. She’s an oddball, and realizes it’s been mentioned before, just go with it. Her joys in life consist of writing unconventional romances, making book covers, causing havoc to her reader’s hearts, and genre hopping when she needs a change of scenery. She’s a special kind of weird and enjoys every moment of it. https://www.facebook.com/clmatthewsauthor

#Review – Buy Me (Mistress Auctions, #1) by Alexa Riley

The Cortez men have found the one, and they’ll do anything to own her…including buying her.
Their obsession has driven them to the point of deceit, but they didn’t get to where they are today without getting their hands dirty to get what they wanted, and they’ll do anything to have her.
Stella is desperate, and selling her virginity is her only option to save the family land. The Mistress Auction is her last hope, but when she sees the two men who buy her, she’s worried her heart won’t make it through the thirty days.

Twinsie Jo’s Review

Well this story was fun! I was looking for something short and hot to read. So I went through my list of favourite authors who write the shorties and came across this one. And it’s a menage! Even better!

The Cortez men were on fire! They grew up together and end up being business partners as well but they were missing something. A woman.

Stella was desperate to make ends meet when it came to her father. Having a gambling problem led his daughter to the two men who swore to do anything and everything to have her between them. Literally.

This story is book one in the Mistress Auctions series. It’s fun, short, and spicy! Perfect for nights where you just want to curl up with a glass of wine and disappear into another world for a bit.

One click now!

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/buy-me-6

#WOTR2020 – #Review – Better Where It’s Wetter by Ava Cuvay

Better Where it's Wetter

Alana LaRue assumes the sexy merman pictured on the lake house wall is “just art.” Then a violent storm topples her into his arms and she discovers the ocean isn’t the only thing that gets her wet.

Originally published in the Crossroads Romance Authors “Lake House” Anthology, this 13K short story has been expanded, with more details and a love scene added.


Goodreads


Amazon

“Be nice to the sharks, pretty mermaid. They’re not mean. They’re misunderstood.”

Alana is on  Aquata-Prime housesitting. Well, the house is surrounded by a lake and the only way to get to it is by boat. She is from the city but has done everything she can to land this job in order to be closer to the water. The house has a mural of a beautiful merman on the wall and she cannot help but be drawn to it. A storm comes in and she finds herself in the arms of the beautiful merman. What she thinks is a dream and turns out to be her new reality. She and this mysterious merman go on an excursion but cannot deny the feelings of love blossoming between the two of them. 

This is a fast paced and very wet story of being better where it’s wetter. If you want a quick, hot read, this is the one for you!

Ava Cuvay

Ava Cuvay writes out of this world romance featuring sassy heroines, often-alien-but-always-sexy heroes, and an alcoholic beverage or two… Set in a galaxy far, far away. She resides in central Indiana with her own scruffy-looking nerfherder, kiddos who are growing up without her permission, and two kitties that make her laugh. She believes life is too short to bother with negative people, everything is better with Champagne, and Han Solo shot first. When not writing, Ava is thinking about writing. Or wine. And she’s always thinking about bacon.

#REVIEW – A Reason To Breathe (Reason Series #1) by CP Smith

WARNING: Author believes in soul mates and insta-love. Proceed with caution if you’re not a romantic at heart.

Love at first sight was never so dangerous.

Jack Gunnison has a problem, well, two, actually. One stands 5’5″ and the other? . . . A killer.

Jennifer Stewart needs a change after losing her husband and sending her daughter off to College. Jenn moves to the high country of Colorado to start her life over and follow her dreams. Unfortunately, she gets more than she bargained for when she attracts the eye of a killer.

Together, Jack and Jenn must figure out his identity before he strikes again.

Mature content 18+

Twinsie Jo’s Review:

So before I picked up this book, I wasn’t reading as much as I would have liked. My editor gave me “homework” and told me to pick up a book. She recommended CP and I’m SO glad she did. I’ve known CP for quite a few years but haven’t actually read her. Well, now I’m on a mission to read every book by her. It’ll take a while but I will get there.

This book is the start of the Reason To Breathe Series. It has Alpha men and strong females. I already know that just from reading the first book.

Jack…oh Jack. Yeah…his Alpha grumpy broodiness totally did it for me. He was protective…maybe over protective at times but it worked for him. And also annoyed the heroine, Jenny at the same time. Their banter was hilarious. I laughed out loud so many times while reading this book.

Jenny moves to a small town. Since her daughter is away at school and Jenny’s husband died, she needed a change. Well insert new town, new job and new man? And I think she got more than what she bargained for.

This book had some suspense in it too! And if you can figure out who the bad guy is, good job because I know I sure couldn’t!

#REVIEW – Sweet Enough To Eat by Alexa Riley


Nikki’s been crashing weddings with her bestie Sugar as she tries to find the one. When she least expects it, Dean pops up and he’s on the same page as she is. But a catastrophe involving a piercing, an IUD, and a trip to the emergency room has her running for the hills.

Dean always knew that when he found the woman that was meant to be his, he would know it. And the second he saw Nikki, he was ready for the white picket fence. But when they get separated she takes off… But not to worry – he loves the chase.

Warning: This quick follow-up to Wedding Cake Crasher gives you the whole story on Dean and Nikki. Read their side of the story and fall in love all over again…

Twinsie Jo’s Review:
This story is about 2 side characters from Wedding Cake Crasher. I haven’t read that story but plan on it. Even though this is a follow up, I wasn’t confused and I didn’t feel like I missed anything.
This story is super short but fun and of course, HOT.
Dean and Nikki meet at a wedding. Sparks fly and they feel an instant connection. Well things get moving pretty fast and while they’re getting hot and heavy. They get stuck. Literally.
How embarrassing??
After that unexpected incident, it doesn’t stop them from finding that happiness and love they feel from the very start.

#REVIEW – Too Many by Alexa Riley


Nellie has a desire so filthy she can’t say it out loud, but having two men at once was never on her radar until she met the twins. Now all she can think about is being sandwiched between Owen and Elijah. It’s all just a fantasy, because she could never have it in real life. Right?

Elijah and Owen have finally graduated college and are taking over the family business from their dad. The final step in creating the life they want is claiming Nellie. She’s the one they’ve been waiting on, and though she might be shy, they know she’s made to take them.

Warning: Can a woman really have too many men love her? We don’t think so! Grab the follow-up to Too Hard and find out if these three can find their happily ever after.

Twinsie Jo’s Review:
This hot little number continues right where Too Hard ends.
Nellie is attracted to both Elijah and Owen and wants them. Both of them. Not one or the other. Both. But she thinks it’s wrong because she doesn’t know that they feel the same way.
This little story is just that. Little but hot. And so delicious.
Elijah and Owen are twins who have been determined to get Nellie as soon as they graduated college. Now that their schooling is done and their careers are set, they just need their woman.
Grab this short but hot story now! And if you’re anything like me, you’ll end up binge reading the rest of the books by AR!

#REVIEW – Too Hard by Alexa Riley


Harlow Harrison has just moved into a new apartment. The only problem is that Harlow thinks she can do everything on her own when it’s better to leave it to a professional After a disastrous water leak and an emergency call, the man that comes to her rescue might be more than she can handle. 

Butch Barton is busy running his company and raising his adopted twin sons. They’re almost ready for college and he doesn’t know what he’s going to do with himself when they’re gone. One night on an emergency call he meets a young woman who calls to every dark place inside him. He’s old enough to be her dad and he has to keep his distance. The only problem is, Harlow doesn’t agree and it won’t take long for her to break down his resolve. 

Warning: Butch isn’t too old to find love and Harlow isn’t too young to be taken like she wants. Find out what happens when these two finally give in to what their bodies have been begging for.

Twinsie Jo’s Review:
I’ll be honest. I grabbed this one because I want to read the one that comes after it. I’m a sucker for threesome stories and these ladies don’t disappoint! I also didn’t want to read out of order AND I need to catch up on all the AR books I’ve missed anyway, so it’s a win-win all around.
It’s been awhile since I’ve read an AR book and man, I have I missed these ladies and their filthy minds.
Harlow is a gamer/hacker/techy type person while Butch is a contractor. Sparks start flying high when she tries fixing a leaky faucet and water starts spraying everywhere. Butch comes to her rescue and fixes the issue but not the issue of his feelings for a much younger woman.
They try and fight their feelings and the intense connection they have but we all know, that neither of them win that fight.
This story was short, hot and oh so filthy.
Now onto the next one!!

#WOTR19 #Review #SweetRomance – A Girlfriend for Christmas by Aly Grady

A Girlfriend For Christmas

When a blizzard prevents teacher Caroline Crawley from getting home for the first Christmas after her mother’s death, a stranger makes her an offer she can’t refuse.

Dr. Colin Pepper is traveling home, but without the non-existent girlfriend his family is expecting.

Can a pretend girlfriend be Colin’s true Christmas miracle?

Goodreads

I received this book from the author for an honest review.

When Aly asked if I would like to review her new “sweet holiday book”, I jumped.  Her books have that feel good vibe you get when reading.

The story is about Caroline who is stuck in the airport trying to get home to her dad in Iowa for Christmas.  She meets and chats with a kind and attractive man who hands her the phone and says “hey talk to my mom would ya.”…yup and that is how this whole story starts.

Colin told a small white lie to his family about bringing a non-existent girlfriend home for the holiday.  When he finds out Caroline’s story, he offers to help her if she helps him.  Upon entering his childhood home, he throws the final grenade at her…she is his liv- in girlfriend!!

Caroline is a trooper, but she enjoys the family time since she is an only child and being around Colin’s mom since she has lost her own mom helps to heal her heart.  There is insta-love but honestly this whole book is just a feel-good story.

We do have some conflict in the form of LAURA….Growl…not a fan of her at all but the end of the story was adorable and I can say I enjoyed reading it the night before Thanksgiving when the Holiday seasons officially kicks off.

Indiana. He said we had to move to Indiana. Was I in for a shock. Actually, no, but it would have been a great story. I love living and raising my family in the Midwest. Living with a racer spurred my imagination and I created The Racer’s Widow series. Since then, I’ve gone on to start the Homecoming series with A Home to Love. You can find me on Twitter @AlyGrady and FB AlyGrady2012 where you can also sign up for my newsletter. My personal website at www.alygrady.com has links to my blog too. Look me up and give me a shout. I’d love to hear from you.