Frosted Sweets A.M. Willard

Frosted Sweets 

A Taste of Love Series: Book 1

A.M. Willard

Jayden Rivers knows the moment he accidently bumps into a sweet Morgan carrying her wedding dress that there is something special about her. When he realizes that she ownes the bakery that the studio orders food from--he thinks fate is intervening. But Morgan begins dating Nick, Jayden's boss. Jayden steps away since Jayden believes that Morgan is engaged or newly married to Nick since Morgan ran into the bakery wearing her wedding dress. He stays with her after the company Christmas party when she eats a bite of Chocolate icing (which she is allergic to milk chocolate). Jayden knows this but not Nick. Jayden remains with her for the remainder of the night at the hospital and the next morning. He loves to watch her bake something Simon couldn't tolerate. Simon wanted her to sell her bakery. Jayden encouraged her baking creativity and informed that she tastes like the sweet treats that she creates. 

Morgan Lewis is the owner of The Polka Dot Cafe and Bakery. Just days away from her dream wedding, she finds out that her fiance, Simon cheated on her. Simon doesn't take the hint after she breaks up with him. He interrupts her date with Nick and shows up at her bakery. He also doesn't cancel the wedding when she tells him to. Simon Kensington isn't use to being dumped. 

What's a girl to do? She bakes. She finds herself through her baking. 

The Story After Us Fiona Perrin

The Story After Us

Fiona Perrin

Ami Fitch is wife, mother, and small business owner of Brand New, advertising company. Lately, all she does is argue with her husband, Lars. Lars files for divorce. Ami beggs him to stay but he doesn't. Lar changes his mind when their youngest son is nearly sufficated by their daughter Tessa. Tessa is going through a funeral phase when she re-enacts funerals. Tessa "buried" her brother--nearly sufficating him in cusions and blankets while the au pair left them to shag the footballer two doors down. Lars makes numerous changes to his lifestyle for his family, yet he only does these things for his children not for Ami. 

Numerous aspects of this story was conflicting for me. At various points, it felt that Ami wanted Lars back then she didn't. She wanted Lars to do certain things and he finally does it but now she doesn't want him back. Ami was a very wishy-washy character to me. I get that the author wrote her to show how a woman doesn't need any man as Ami's advertising pitch very blantly showcased. But yet Ami has issues making up her mind of what she truly wants. I felt that Lars character could have been more developed. The title made it a bit confusing for me. The title implied that there is a story after "us"meaning after Ami and Lars. But it only implied that Ami was moving on with someone else. I was yearning for more from Lars since the story kept flashing back to Ami and Lars past which implied to me that perhaps they may re-create or re-find aspects of their love. 

Things I'd Rather Do Than Die Christine Hurley Deriso

Things I'd Rather Do Than Die

Christine Hurley Deriso

Jade Fulton works at Royal Gym, who is brillant and a bit pretentious with her best friend Gia. One night Ethan Garrett comes into the gym right at closing. Jade is required to stay until Ethan finished his workout. Ethan is the star quarterback, dates a cheerleader, a devote Christian, and all around good guy. While Jade is waiting for Ethan to finish his workout, a masked man enters the gym--robs them and locks both of them in the aerobics room. The duo spend over eight hours together talking, joking and pondering various aspects of their lives. Jade questions Ethan's devotion to Christianity even though Jade's stepmother is a practicing Catholic. 

Shortly after the two are rescued, both return to their normal lives. Jade is still sarcastic but now realizes hoe empty her life is. Ethan questions how much of a nice guy he is. Both teens ponder their roles in life and what impact their actions are within their loved ones lives. Though Jade and Ethan have vastly different lives, they have a common ground--being locked in that room and questioning their place in the world. 

This is a terrific novel for teens who are confused bout their place in the world. 

Tossed Into Love Aurora Rose Reynolds

Tossed into Love

Aurora Rose Reynolds

Libby Reed has a terrific job at one of the posh salons on 5th Ave. She has a side business where clients can rent designer dresses. But she feels empty--not even discount shopping for her favorite designer brands helps. She always feels better after spending a few moments in her favorite pizza place--Tony's. She frequents so often that she has become friends with the owners. When Tony has a heart attack, Libby steps up to help out at the pizza place. Her helpful nature comes at a price--she has to work with their incredibly gorgeous son, Antonio who she has had a crush. Antonio has always been mean and almost cruel to Libby. As the two of them work together, Libby realizes that Antonio has a softer side. 

Antonio has always hated Tony's. He spent copious hours of the day, slept on the office sofa waiting for his parents to close up for the night, summers spent cooking pizza instead of vacationing. Now, that his father has decided to sell the restaurant, Antonio can breathe. No more spending hours working the pizza place after working a 48 hour shift at the station house. But he has been able to spend more time getting to know Libby. He has always liked Libby but he has to protect his heart. Libby loves designer clothes much like his superficial ex who wanted him to change jobs so that he could afford to buy her all the designer things. He's not going to make the same mistake twice. He's an asshole to Libby. It's the only way to protect himself. He only has to make it until the new owners take over. Then he's done. No more Libby even though she's all he thinks about. He walks her home to make sure she's safe after closing. He also decides to take her to dinner. But Libby is keeping a secret that could end their relationship before it even begins. 

The Memory of You Jamie Beck

The Memory of You
Jamie Beck

Ryan Quinn had his heart shattered by his high school sweetheart, Steffi Lockwood. He thought the gorgeous Val was the answer to his prayers. But returning to his parents house with his daughter, Emmy after his marriage to Val failed--Ryan realizes that Val wasn't the only person at fault for the failure of his marriage. 

Steffi Lockwood is starting a new business with her best friend Claire. She doesn't have the option of being picky who her clients are--even Molly Quinn, who Steffi hasn't spoken to since she ghosted Molly's son in college. Steffi thought breaking up with Ryan was the right thing to do. She wanted to see the world without any hinderances. Ryan wanted to start a family and begin a new life together. Steffi ghosted him with the support of her women's soccer team. But ten years later, she questions whether she made the right decision even though Ryan seems happy with his wife and daughter. After Molly hires Steffi to convert the screened in porch to a fuctional family room. Steffi has to deal with Ryan and his daughter Emmy during the construction. Steffi wants closure with Ryan. Ryan hates her for what she did to him. 
Ryan notices how sweet Steffi is to his daughter and how Emmy confides in Steffi. All of his old feelings resurface, but Steffi has a secret that even she doesn't entirely understand. She blanks out and freaks out. Steffi thinks its from the numerous concussions she suffered while playing soccer--the last concussion, a mugging in Hartford. But Ryan knows it's something more. Something that she blocked out and that could keep them apart. 

Blind Kiss Renée Carlino

Blind Kiss 
Renée Carlino

Penny is a suburban housewife living in a McMansion and feeling completing unsatisified with her life. On the outside, she has the perfect life--a 14 year old genius who is going to MIT in the fall, an attractive husband, volunteering at her son's school, yet nothing feels right. She loves her son Milo dearly. But he will be leaving soon for college. Penny sits outside of a Subway that used to be the ballet studio she studied at in her youth. She dreams of what could have been before her dance partner dropped her tearing two of her tendons and ending her dancing career.
Gavin has been in the friendzone since shortly after he and Penny participated in a psych study to help out Penny's best friend Ling. Gavin and Penny were blindfolded and asked to kiss to determine whether people can have chemistry without the physical attraction. Gavin asked Penny out immediately after the study but Penny needed to focus on her studies and dancing. But a decision Penny made her senior year changed their relationship.
Gavin has always loved Penny even after the decision she made that changed their relationship. Now, the table have turned. It's Gavin's turn to decide whether their relationship can be pursued or if they will forever be stuck in the friendzone with each other even though they both have incedible chemistry together. But horrible timing. Will Penny find that something to fulfill the emptiness in her soul? Will Gavin make the same mistake that Penny did 14 years ago?

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36622744-blind-kiss

Switch and Bait Ricki Schultz

Switch and Bait

Ricki Schultz

Blanche Carter is the manager of Literature and Legislature--a book store in Washington DC. She also runs a side business to help women connect with men. As part of Blanche's services, she takes control of the client's dating profile and begins the small talk with potential dates until the meet up. Then they switch back. This has never been an issue until klutzy Ansley picks an old flame, Henry--who is Blanche's best friend, Isla's brother-in-law. Henry and Blanche had a one night stand on New Year's three years ago. Henry is the adviser to House Representative Byrd. Blanche helps Ansley become comfortable around men Ansley finds attractive by guiding and talking Ansley through her dates. Until finally Ansley is ready to meet Henry. Unlike with her other clients, Blanche doesn't pretend to be Ansley when chatting online with Henry. Blanche blurs the lines between Blanche and Ansley. The more Blanche chats with Henry the more she falls in love with him. Blanche decides to distance herself from Henry by expanding her own love life through a gorgeous book store customer that Ansley spilled hot coffee on--Cliff. But Cliff is not what he appears to be. Can Ansley and Henry find the sparks or are the sparks only online with Blanche and Henry?

Against All Odds N.L. Taylor

Against the Odds: Redline Series

Jake Masercotti is a broken man. His mother committed suicide when he was 12 and his little brother is still in foster care. Yet thanks to Jake's bad choices is unable to gain custody of his brother, Dario. At 21, he is still mourning her death. When he was a teen, he used to spend every Sunday at her gravesite mourning her death. Every Sunday, a blonde angel was doing the same. They both felt alone in their anguish but hearing the other gave them both comfort that someone knows how the other feels. Ironically, both keep a journal about their suffering and mourning. Jake works for Tiger's Den, automotive shop that Sean owns. Jake is Sean's best mechanic even though cars are not his true passion. Photography and art is but that won't pay the bills or help him get custody of his brother. Jake helps out his best friend Johnny by looking at a Mustang when he sees his "angel" at the gas station driving a Sunbeam Tiger. He is determined to find her. His life has been a wreck since he lost his journal in the cemetery and losing his "angel."

Nikki Elliot lost both of her parents. She was lucky that a family friend--Sean took her and her older brothers in instead of going into the system. She was able to continue her racing career that she and her father started when she was 5. But now her mentor, coach, and greatest fan is gone. The only thing she has left of him is his Sunbeam Tiger and her racing. Both of which are put to the test after a horrible crash at Le Mans. Nikki crashed her own Tiger during that race and she lost part of her short term memory. She cannot remember the days leading up to the race or the after the race which is bothersome for her since every racer learns from every race. 

Nikki's racing career is hanging on by a thread. Her older brothers own their parents' auto body shop and occasionally assist her with her racing team. But she's running out of money and sponsors. Her friend and ex-boyfriend Damon who has Mafia connections tries to encourage Nikki to quit racing. He is also still in love with her. But other forces keep them apart. Damon is scared that Nikki will eventually regain her lost memories. What will happen to her if she does?  Will Jake find Nikki? Who will Nikki be with at the end? Will she find her sponsorship to return to the professional circuit?

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39922836-against-the-odds?from_search=true

Clutch by Lisa Becker

Clutch

Clutch features numerous types of handbags that the designer Caroline Johnson creates. It is the name of her designer handbag company, she started after graduating Harvard MBA program. During her graduate program, she meets Mike Barnsworth or as his family calls him Michael Fredrick Barnsworth the Third, whose family owns the largest brokerage firm in New York--Barnsworth Brokerage Firm. Mike doesn't want to follow in his father or grandfather's footsteps instead Mike wants to own a bar--just like in the move Cocktail that he used to watch with his favorite nanny.
Each chapter is a different type of handbag--backpack, messenger, doctor bag, diaper bag, briefcase, wallet, cosmetic bag, and clutch. Each type of bag represents the various men that Caroline is dating. Through all the types of bags, men, and business meetings, Caroline and Mike maintain their friendship. Caroline goes to Mike's bar on a regular basis even bringing her dates to the bar for Mike's opinion of the men. While Mike is a love 'em and leave 'em mode especially with the women in his bar. Caroline doesn't understand why one of the waitresses that Mike has "dated" refuses to be friendly with her until the head bartender informs Caroline that the waitress thinks that Mike is in love with Caroline that why none of the women have a chance with him. Will Caroline see how Mike really feels?

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The Break-up by Erin McCarthy

I didn't realize this book was a sequel to The Hook-Up until I was over halfway through the novel. I did have one or two moments where I felt that I was missing an inside joke between Sophie--Bella's little sister and Cain--Christian's identical twin brother. But that didn't take anything away from Bella and Christian's story. Bella is a rich girl from Boston whose family has a vacation home in a tourist town on the coast of Maine. Bella is engaged to Bradley Alexander--was--until she found lewd texts from and to him from various women only days before the wedding. Feeling vulnerable and inept at sexual behaviors sue to the types of texts on Bradley's phone, Bella asks local bad-boy Christian to help her lose her prudish and close-minded ways. Since Bella is still engaged Christian declines her offer--until Bella texts Christian on her wedding day to come pick her up. The duo spend the weekend together. Bella's journey is more than learning about sex--it is also her own self-discovery. Before she blindly followed Bradley because he offered her what she always wanted--a family, stability, the dream of motherhood. Bella's mothering nature is what lead her to social work and the job she left just days before her wedding--social worker at an adoption agency. 

Since Bella gave up her apartment, quit her job, and broke up with Bradley, she has no where to go. She manipulates Bradley into giving her the house that he bought as a wedding gift to her in the small tourist town. Bella decides to remain in Maine to begin her new life. In this sleepy tourist town doesn't have many opportunities for an adoption social worker, so Bella begins working at one of the local bars which Christian also happens to work in. Christian inadvertently fulfills one of Bella's dreams and in the process his own. 

Overdrive by Juanita Kees

Chase Calhoun and his family run Calhoun Customs Garage, where their retired NASCAR driver father started. His father, Marty was just diagnosed with Parkinson's disease thus far only Marty's hands are shaking but that enough that they garage needs to hire a graphic artist for his father to mentor. Chase never expected the girl with a baby to be the one they hire especially after finding her and her three month old baby, Zoe hiding in the attic of the garage--a place that he has rarely gone since his mother's death. 

Charlotte Jackson is used to garages and fast cars since her father and brother are both NASCAR drivers. But unlike her brother, Charlie must follow her father's orders that means giving her beautiful daughter up for adoption. Something that she's not willing to do--so she runs away with her baby. Her original plans fell through so she went to the infamous Calhoun Custom Garage knowing that they are looking for a graphic artist--something she is passionate about but her father doesn't allow her to do.  Charlie is also running from the PI her father hired her to bring her home. Tony Jackson is never told no. He is a sore loser. 

Chase brings Charlie into the family fold and Marty mentors her. The Calhoun family also assist Charlie with standing up to her father. Her brother, Ronan is also finally able to break free of Tony's command. 

The Invitation by Keris Stainton

     

This novel focuses just as much on body image as it does on the romantic notion that a person can find that "one who got away." Piper James is body positive blogger. She focuses on having a healthy body image over healthy living. Yes, Piper is considered "chunky" or "fat" but she works out and maintains a healthy lifestyle. Piper works for a record label in the legal department. But that is not how she lands herself on Hey UK! morning show debating the differences between dieting and maintaining a healthy body image. After her television premier, Piper hears from her high school crush, Robbie Kingsford. She again runs into Robbie at the Starbucks in her hometown of New Brighton when she has to rush home due to her great aunt falling ill. Rob invites her to return home for their high school reunion in a few weeks.

But Piper never wants to return to her old stomping grounds. There are too many memories in New Brighton for her. She can see her parents ghosts almost everywhere in New Brighton. She also hasn't dealt with the fat shaming from her childhood either. Rob just wants a chance to be with his high school crush--Piper.   

    

https://www.keris-stainton.com/

                                                                                                                                      

All I Want is You by Patricia Mar

Mar puts a different spin on this romantic novel--the story of Sara De Michele and Daniel Gant isn't the beginning of their love story but the middle. How couple need compromise and trust to grow as a couple. The storyline was not what  I expected. My expectations were of the couple runs into a few hiccups--they break up and get back together. Instead Sara and Daniel are madly in love with each other. The conflict of the story is they are so madly in love that it blinds them and feeds their insecurities especially for Sara since Daniel is a highly sought after male model with the media and Hollywood knocking on his door.
Another surprise for the reader is Daniel is just as much if not more insecure about himself and his relationship as Sarah is. His cousin enters the scene at the height of Daniel's insecurities and when Daniel has to leave for a meeting in Hollywood. The media adds to both Sara and Daniel's insecurities when Daniel is photographed at a party with a Hollywood actress. Of course, the quirky sister and best friend also assist the duo with finding their true passion and reminding both Sara and Daniel what they each want--each other. 

Fling Club Review by Tara Brown

Evidently, I am out for revenge or the universe is trying to tell me something because this is the third novel I've read that focuses on revenge. Fling Club is a secret society organized by Caitlyn Landry, the queen bee of the Hamptons. Her best friend-slash-frenemy Cherry Kennedy was always Cait's yes-man.The duo ran the secret and manipulative club that has 10 rules to live by for the summer flings. Cherry blindly followed Cait with these rules.  Until Cait committed the ultimate betrayal. Now, Cherry wants revenge in the form of destroying the club that Cait and Cherry built. Cherry couldn't enact her revenge alone. She has her older brother, Andy and baby sister, Ella to help her. The plan is to get Cait to break all of her Fling Club rules. 
Ashley Jardine is a MIT robotics student who needs a summer job. His new "job" is to help the Kennedy children force Cait to break all ten of her rules. Ashley doesn't have a problem with manipulating the ice queen but he does fall for naive, Cherry. 
Brown fills the novel with suspense, manipulation, sex, and self-awakening. 

Revenge Love Review

Releases July 26, 2018!!

Revenge Love is a sweet friends to lovers romance novel that features the pitfalls of college life from cyberbullying to Greek life to the unattainable perfectionism. Sweet lovable Emma Hastings is a member of Sigma Sigma Theta, strives to fit into the perfectionism lifestyle of her sorority. But she never quite feels like she fits in. Her best friend, Jason Gould knows and accepts that he doesn't fit in due to a genetic skin mutation called neveus flammeus which leaves his skin scarred and red. The two along with Emma's on-off bed buddy, Kieran and her lesbian sorority sister, Rosie--the foursome hatch a revenge plot to teach the "rich snobby assholes" a thing or two. Of course, nothing goes as planned. A suicide, expulsion, fight club, Jello wrestling, and one of the four drops out of Wellbridge University. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40134313-revenge-love 

But what each of the four learns is far greater than anything they can teach others.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40134313-revenge-love