Scoring Beauty by Alley Ciz {a review}

 

Scoring Beauty by Alley Ciz is a sporty, sexy romcom featuring a hot-mess (at least in her eyes) single mom who’s about to knock this swoony motherpucking hockey player on his very fine behind. This interconnected stand-alone comes complete with your favorite can’t-mind-their-own-business Covenettes, a next generation trying their hands at the matchmaking shenanigans, and a guaranteed happily-ever-after. You are going to love Ryan and Amara! 

Oh how to even recap Scoring Beauty?!? So we have Ryan, he is the captain of the Blizzards, and he is about to give up on dating. At least during the hockey season. That is until a gorgeous woman bumps into him in the locker room. Amara had been in there looking for Coach Watson, but instead ran into Ryan.  Ryan, not knowing that Amara is connected to Coach Watson, is instantly attracted to this woman! He cannot get her off his mind. Amara is also taken by Ryan, but she has vowed to never get involved with a professional athlete again. From this point on, the ball just gets rolling until a major miscommunication/misunderstanding throws everything off course. Amara is worried because a breakup doesn't just affect her anymore. Now she has to worry about Maverick as well. Especially since her son has grown so attached to Ryan.

Friends, this was my first BTU Alumni book, and I need to go back and read the others. No, not because it is necessary to do before reading Scoring Beauty, but rather so that I can get to know these characters! They captured my attention, and I love their sense of humor, and the way they are involved in each others lives. The friendship is just fantastic. Now I will say that Maverick stole the show in this book. Yes it's about Ryan and Amara, but this little 9 year old swooped in there and took over. I have a feeling that when Alley writes the stories for the next generation, Maverick's is going to be amazing. Back to Ryan and Amara though. Loved their meet-cute. I'm always up for a good awkward moment. Then when Ryan meets her again at Coach's house? So good. I could also see Ryan trying to put the breaks on his interest in Amara. I love how their relationship evolved, and this slow burn was handled wonderfully. The relationship that Ryan had with Maverick melted my heart. Even after things with Amara became rocky, Ryan was still there for Maverick. He was a constant for that kid, and that just warmed my heart. That whole big moment where the relationship skidded off course? That was a bit rough to read. I can see why Alley Ciz chose to reveal that information the way she did, but it also made me question Amara a little bit. Knowing how she felt about Ryan, why would she assume that he knew this when she never told him? I mean I was even a bit shocked to read that revelation. Yes, we knew a tiny snippet of Amara's past, and that Maverick's father was a hockey player. But that's all we knew. There's nothing that can change that though, and it definitely caused some drama. Loved all the characters. Loved how Ryan's ex was trying to help him find his HEA. All of it was just so good. Also, those group text messages? Freaking loved it. I need a circle of friends like that. I was laughing so many times. 

If you're read the previous BTU Alumni books, then you are definitely going to want to go read Ryan's story! If you have not read any of the BTU Alumni books, but you love hockey romances, single parent romances, and/or a good slow burn, then you'll want to read Scoring Beauty!

Thank you for taking time to read my thoughts on the book. I greatly appreciate it.

Laura

RYAN

I’m done with dating.

Happily-ever-after isn’t in the cards for me, so I’m officially taking myself off the market.

Hockey is my mecca.

The arena my temple.

The ice the altar I worship at.

Then…I met her.

Strip me naked and run me over with a Zamboni—she’s the textbook definition of a bad love match.

Amara Miller, beyond beautiful and effortlessly drawing me into her orbit and making it impossible to resist her.

AMARA

It should have been a simple cross-country move.

Instead, it sent me crashing—quite literally—into the captain of Coach’s new hockey team.

Did I mention he was half-naked when it happened?

It doesn’t matter that he’s sexy as sin and the swooniest motherpucker I’ve ever met.

I will not lust after hockey players.

Been there.

Done that.

Bought the maternity shirt.

And Ryan Donnelly? He’s pretty much Mr. Hockey.

The problem is, I’m not the only one enamored with him—my kid is too.

It’s turning into a problem, because this mama doesn’t have time to play games when it comes to our hearts.

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GIVEAWAY

To celebrate the release of Scoring Beauty, Alley Ciz has a signed paperback up for grabs! Stop by her Facebook page to enter!

Meet Alley

Alley Ciz is an internationally bestselling indie author of sassy heroines and the alpha men that fall on their knees for them. She is a romance junkie whose love for books turned into her telling the stories of the crazies who live in her head…even if they don’t know how to stay in their lane. This Potterhead can typically be found in the wild wearing a funny T-shirt, connected to an IV drip of coffee, stuffing her face with pizza and tacos, chasing behind her 3 minis, all while her 95lb yellow lab—the best behaved child—watches on in amusement.

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One Eye is coming October 15

 

🏍🔥COVER REVEAL🏍🔥

Calling all MC Romance fans! ONE EYE by KL Savage is coming October 15! This is the third book in their Ruthless Kings Atlantic City series, and you are not going to want to miss this one!

Pre-order here!

I had her and I lost her.

That’s what pain and fear does to someone; they make someone run.

And Alicia ran far...

Taking my heart with her.

We agreed we both had things to work on, but to be honest, I didn’t know how to improve.

She did.

She fought for us. She got stronger. She did what she said.

I lied.The truth is... I’m not the man she needs me to be.

And I don’t know how to be it.

I’m hideous. I’m a monster. My face is abnormal.

Who could love a man with one eye?

Who could love a man that’s... bad on the inside?

I’m a rotten soul.But she turns this rotten soul into something more.

She gives me hope.

Until she dares to move on from me.

And then all hell breaks loose.

Make no mistake, she’s mine.

And she’s about to learn what happens when someone pisses off a beast.

They become the monster they were born to be.But just as I have her, someone from her past comes looking for something that no longer exists.

Wedding bells ring in the distance.

And they aren’t mine.

No one marries her, but me

I, object.

 

Meet K L Savage

K.L. Savage writes about gritty, alpha males, sometimes their dark sides, and the women they love. If you have the same itch, their alpha males should fix that.

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Coming soon from Laura Lee!

𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐔𝐒𝐀 𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫, 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐫𝐚 𝐋𝐞𝐞, 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐱𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭-𝐰𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝. BROKEN PLAYBOY is the fourth book in the Windsor Academy world. While it may be read as a standalone, as it focuses on a new couple, your reading experience may be enhanced if you read the entire series in order.

Cover created by: Lori Jackson Designs
Photographer: Scott Hoover
Model: Adrian Conrad

𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝗺𝐞 𝐚 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫.

A joker.

The guy always down for a good time.

But if they knew the secrets I’ve been keeping, they’d call me something else entirely.

For the last two years, I’ve been buried in shame, numbing the pain with various vices. Drowning in self-hatred and concealing it with a smile.

I had a system in place, a surety that no one would learn the truth. Then Sydney Carrington came waltzing back into my life.

She’s the new headmaster’s daughter.

The most beautiful girl I’ve ever met.

The one person on Earth who can expose what I’ve worked so tirelessly to hide:

𝑇ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝐼’𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑢𝑐𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑣𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑎𝑖𝑛 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑦.

ℙ𝕣𝕖𝕠𝕣𝕕𝕖𝕣 ℍ𝕖𝕣𝕖: http://mybook.to/BrokenPlayboy

Add to your Goodreads TBR here!

New to Windsor Academy, and want to start from the beginning?  Click below, and if you're a KU subscriber, you can read it for FREE!

Wicked Liars | Ruthless Kings | Fallen Heirs

Laura Lee is the USA Today bestselling author of steamy and sometimes ridiculously funny romance. Laura won her first writing contest at the ripe old age of nine, earning a trip to the state capital to showcase her manuscript. Thankfully for her, those early works will never see the light of day again! Laura lives in the Pacific Northwest with her wonderful husband, two beautiful children, and three of the most poorly behaved cats in existence. She likes her fruit smoothies filled with rum, her cupboards stocked with Cadbury's chocolate, and her music turned up loud. When she's not writing or watching HGTV, she's reading anything she can get her hands on. She's a sucker for spicy romances, especially those that make her laugh.

Connect with Laura

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Off-Season by Jami Davenport {a review}

I'm back with yet another new hockey romance novel! Off-Season by Jami Davenport is the sixth book in her Scoring series, and it is now available! So let's take a trip to Seattle, where Andy is just finishing up his rookie season with the Seattle Sockeyes, and he's making plans for the off-season.

Andy and his team had an amazing season! No, they didn't win the Stanley Cup, but they made it pretty far. That last game was rough though, and afterwards, Andy was given some hard truths. Now here it is the off-season, and Andy just wants to escape to the woods for some alone time. How difficult can it be to go camping in an RV? Who cares that he has zero experience, he can figure it out! Except that is where it all starts to go south. After arriving to the campground, Andy is attempting to back in his trailer. Except he's never done this before, and that is showing based on the fact he is about to crash. Thankfully Kennedy is at the campsite right next door, and she is a very experienced camper. After all her job is to do PR for her family's RV brand. So she's done it all, and is very confident in her skills. She offers a helping hand, and gets Andy's RV all settled in. Even though he's a grump the entire time. Kennedy isn't letting that put a damper on her time though. Things keep going wrong for Andy, and each time he finds himself at Kennedy's door obtaining assistance. As time goes on, Kennedy and Andy are spending more time together. With that time, comes sharing of their lives, and Andy slowly beings to open up about his struggling relationship with his family. All is going great between Andy and Kennedy, a bond is being formed, and the attraction levels are quite high. That is until Andy's teammates track him down. That changes the entire dynamic, and the relationship between the two begins to shift.

I went into Off-Season with extremely high hopes. Hockey romance is the best thing ever, and it is my happy place. I lead with that because something was off with this book. Not only did it take me a lot longer to read than normal, but I didn't feel the connection between Andy and Kennedy. I really enjoyed Kennedy's character, and she is an amazing woman. She has traveled all over the world, often times on her own, and she is the brand ambassador for her family's RV company. She knows her stuff, and she is more than willing to teach others what she knows. She is a giving person. She is the sunshine in this grumpy/sunshine romance. Then there's Andy. He's obviously the grump in this trope. Andy comes across as someone who is better than you. He's above you. He can do it all on his own, he doesn't need any help or guidance. Which is why he received the hard truths that he did at the end of the season. He's really just an ass, and even knowing his history, that didn't change my thoughts towards him. He isn't a likable character. Or at least not from my perspective. There wasn't a redeeming moment with him that had me flipping my thoughts. The saving grace of this book, and the reason I gave it 3.5 stars on Goodreads, is the storyline between Andy and Gage. These two are teammates on the Seattle Sockeyes team, as well as half-brothers. But there is an issue between them, and they do not get along for a variety of reasons. THAT captured my attention. The romance with Kennedy was a nice distraction, but I really would have loved to have dove deeper into the relationship between these brothers.

So, did I like the book? Yes, kind of. I liked Kennedy. I liked the setting. I liked the tension between Gage and Andy, and everything that was unfolding there. Would I re-read it? No I wouldn't. But to be fair I rarely re-read books, so there's that. However there are books that I am open to re-reading in the future, and this one doesn't fit the bill.

Do I recommend Off-Season? Yes, yes I do. As I've said before, just because a book doesn't vibe well with me, doesn't mean that it won't for another person. That is why ratings are so subjective. How I feel about a book, or what I took away from a book, isn't going to be the same for you.

Should you choose to read Off-Season, please come back and fill me in on your thoughts. I'd love to chat about the book, the characters, and all that jazz. Thank you for taking time to read my thoughts. I appreciate you stopping by.

Laura

Andy

I just ended my rookie year with the Seattle Sockeyes in a win-or-go-home game, and we went home. I played a big part in that loss thanks in part to my lack of team play. It's time to lick my wounds, re-examine my role, and come to terms with demons I've been avoiding for too long. I buy an RV and take to the wilderness for a little solitude and lot of soul-searching. Just me, my dog Bones, and nature. There's one problem. My campsite neighbor is a too-cheerful, busy-body camp host. She brings out the worst in me, but I can't stop thinking about sharing a sleeping bag with her.

Kennedy

As a brand ambassador for a large RV manufacturer, it's my job to make sure everyone is enjoying their camping experience. Usually I'm quite good at fixing problems and assisting campers until I meet the hot, grumpy hockey player next door. He claims he wants to be left alone; but after one look at his lost expression, I'm certain that's the last thing he needs. To complicate things, we have chemistry, the kind which blazes past all misgivings and singes everyone in sight.

Now Available on ALL Platforms!

Add Off-Season to your Goodreads TBR!

About the Author:

USA Today Bestselling Author Jami Davenport writes sexy contemporary and sports romances, including her two new indie endeavors: the Game On in Seattle Series and the Madrona Island Series. Jami’s new releases consistently rank in the top fifty on the sports romance and sports genre lists on Amazon, and she has hit the Amazon top hundred authors list in both contemporary romance and genre fiction multiple times. Jami ranked Number Seven on Kobo’s Top Ten Most Completed Authors, an honor bestowed on the year’s “most engaging” authors based on an average page completion rate by their readers.

Jami lives on a small farm near Puget Sound with her Green Beret-turned-plumber husband, a Newfoundland cross with a tennis ball fetish, a prince disguised as an orange tabby cat, and an opinionated Hanoverian mare.

Jami works in IT for her day job and is a former high school business teacher. She’s a lifetime Seahawks and Mariners fan and is waiting for the day professional hockey comes to Seattle. An avid boater, Jami has spent countless hours in the San Juan Islands, a common setting in her books. In her opinion, it’s the most beautiful place on earth.

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Thank you to Jami Davenport, and Elle Woods PR, for providing me with a copy of Off-Season.

Sinful Kisses by Emily Bowie {a review}

Can I tell you something? When I started reading Sinful Kisses by Emily Bowie, I found myself wondering if I had read this before. Why did the characters feel familiar? Especially Gia. Like what is going on here? Um, well, you see, it's because I read Sinful Daughter not long ago, and so that story was still fresh in my brain. In Sinful Daughter, Gia was a side character. So NATURALLY my brain was tying them together, but I just couldn't remember everything. I guess that's what happens when you read as many books as I do. Thankfully once I figured it out, I was good to go!

In Sinful Kisses we have Gia Rossi and Romeo Mancini. These two are from rival families, and shit's about to go down. Romeo is still upset that his family has been ousted from leadership, and is doing what he can to regain control. Then there is Gia. Gia is set to marry Alfonso. He is one of her good friends, and this wedding will happen. Until Alfonso reveals a tidbit of truth to her. That throws everything out the window. They agree to a very public fight at a party, and it is at this party where things between Romeo and Gia begin. Gia leaves the party in a hurry, takes Romeo's car, and then crashes it not too much later. Romeo rescues her, gets her medical attention, and it is revealed that she is dealing with temporary memory loss. Romeo decides to have Gia stay with him at the farm, and tells her all these false truths. One thing leads to another, and things are intensifying.

This book...UGH. I couldn't put it down. Yes, the whole pig farm thing had me gagging a bit, but it's a mafia romance, so it just fits. Still though. Then there's the whole situation with Romeo and Gia, and oh my word. I was sucked into the story, and did not turn off my kindle until the story was over. I HAD to know 1) when Gia would get her memory back, 2) how she would be reunited with her family, 3) what would happen between her and Romeo, and 4) if Romeo would ever regain his status and power in the mafia world. There was so much going on in this book, that I can't even begin to talk about it all. Then the ending...oooh, I tell ya. Yes, I saw one part of the ending happening, I called that, but how everything played out, and how the reunion happened, I loved it. So good.

Emily Bowie has my complete attention with the Dark Mafia Sins series, and I need to see what else she has written. I have a strong feeling I will enjoy all of her other books. She just might become one of those authors who I need to read everything from. So there's that.

If you enjoy mafia romances, I strongly encourage you to pick up the Dark Mafia Sins series. Yes I could say to pick up Sinful Kisses, but I really think you'll like Sinful Daughter as well. No, you don't need to read one to read the other, and I can't even say that the first book gives backstory. It does a smidgen, but it's not necessary to read them in order. Read it, and then come talk to me so we can discuss!

Thank you for reading my rambling thoughts about Sinful Kisses. I appreciate you taking the time out of your day.

Laura

BLURB

They ruined my family... so I kidnapped their daughter.

Romeo Mancini:

Her name is Gia Rossi.

She’s gorgeous, untouchable, and promised to be married to someone who’s not me. Her family destroyed mine, ruining decades of reputation.

I once was the spare to the heir. Now I’m the heir that will rule nothing. It was stripped from my family. I’m determined to erase the disgrace of my father and brother before me and will rise to the power that is mine by birthright.

To do that, I need leverage. I need a queen. When Gia Rossi enters my path my mind becomes made. She will be mine at all costs. Kidnapping her was the easy part. Will I be able to break her to rule beside me? The road to reclaiming my throne is paved with betrayal, and war.

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AUTHOR BIO

Emily Bowie is from a small town in Western Canada. She has been making characters come to life through her writing since she was old enough to put her thoughts on paper. She loves her white wine cold, her heels red, and her books spicy. 

She married her high school sweetheart and they have two amazing children. 

She is the author to the Bennett Brothers Series. 

Recklessly Mine, Recklessly Forbidden, & Recklessly Devoted. 

When she is not writing she can be found reading a good book, making digital scrapbooks and being physically active—whether it is at the gym, going for a walk, or playing /keep up with her children.

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Thank you to Emily Bowie, and Give Me Books PR, for providing me with a copy of Sinful Kisses.