๐ ๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐๐ ๐๐จ๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฌ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ซ, ๐๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐, ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฑ๐ฒ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ซ๐ญ-๐ฐ๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ง๐๐ฐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ง๐๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ฒ ๐ฌ๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ฌ๐จ๐ซ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฆ๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ฅ๐. 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
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.
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.
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.
Connect with Jami!
Subscribe to my newsletter to receive a free novel and be notified of new releases, special sales, and contests.
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.
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.
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.
My name is Laura, and my obsession/fascination with hockey romance is still going strong almost 2 years later.
What's that, you didn't know I was a hockey romance fan? Well just click on that hockey romance tag, and you'll see all the wonderful books that I have read. It's a lot. Trust me. And all my reviews are not even posted here on What Laura's Reading. I can't help it. I just love it.
If you've been around for a while, then you know I fell hard for the Boston Hawks series by Gina Azzi at the beginning of this year. Here we are at the end of September, and I am still loving the series. I can't tell you though if Torsten or Jake is favorite though. It's pretty closely tied. That being said, The Heart Chaser is all about Panda. If you've read the series, then you've seen him in the background of the other stories, and chances are he's made an impression on you. Well it's time for his story to be told, and oh I wasn't prepared.
Luca and Abbi had an amazing weekend together, and before she left town, Luca promised to call. He was going to, until a family emergency made that difficult to do. Flash forward 6 months, and Abbi is now an employee with the Boston Hawks organization. It is here that she and Luca meet again. Things in both their lives have been overwhelming, and both are tired and hurting. It's just been a lot. Abbi has every right to be mad at Luca for not calling, but at the same time she could have reached out to him as well. She's here in Boston now though, and as much as she'd like to keep this professional, she can't deny the attraction. Same goes for Luca. He still wants her, but between his family and his career he's being pulled in too many directions. Abbi is also dealing with her ex texting her, and he isn't making life easy for her. Can these two work to overcome their current situations (family/job/ex/trust) to make it as a couple? Or will it all blow up in their faces?
Luca is an amazing man. Plain and simple, he just is. Yes he's been a player in the past, but this current Luca is amazing. He is doing what ever he can for his family, all while continuing on with his career. Yes, he wants Abbi in his life too, but things need to settle down a bit. Then there's Abbi. Oh Abbi. My heart hurts for her, and I just want to wrap her up in a giant hug. This woman has been through so much loss! Then there are these men who have just decimated any trust that she may have had. Her exes are just horrible, and so it isn't shocking to see the trust issues that she has. But when that situation happened with her ex, and all that went down, OH MY WORD. GRRRRR. Then there is Luca, and his family. I think I love them. His family just seem like a fantastic group who just want what is best for their loved ones. There is so much I want to say about The Heart Chaser, and everything that happened in the book, but honestly I can't put it into words. Luca has pushed Austin out of my top 3. He just has. I can't help it. Abbi is joining Claire and Chloe in the top 3 as well. These characters! I tell you. Their stories, their friendships, the environment that they are in, I just can't get enough.
I can't scream it loud enough, but go read the Boston Hawks series. Please. Just do it. Go fall for these characters, and you just might find yourself wishing they were real people so you could befriend them. Or that could just be me.
Thank you for taking time to read my thoughts on The Heart Chaser. If you read Luca and Abbi's story, please let me know what you think. I'd love to talk about the book with you. (or any of the Boston Hawks books for that matter!)
Laura
BLURB
Notorious ladies’ man and hockey hotshot Luca Pandatelli broke his own rules when he tangled up with me.
Not only did we spend an entire weekend in bed together, but he confided in me, sharing painful truths about his past. With a kiss good-bye and a promise to call, something sparked between us. Something that broke through my walls.
Except he didn’t call. And I re-enforced my walls with steel and barbed wire.
Now, I’ve accepted a job with the Boston Hawks franchise, making it inevitable that I see the last man I want to cross paths with. I’m prepared to dismiss him and pretend like our weekend together never happened.
But the regret in Luca’s eyes and the apology in his voice catches me off-guard. The harder I push him away, the harder he pulls me in.
Until the one thing I can’t accept, can’t forgive, comes to light.
And I’m left wondering, is Luca only interested in the chase? Or is really playing for keeps?
Gina Azzi writes emotional and captivating contemporary romance novels with heart-warming happily-ever-afters. She is the author of Second Chance Chicago Series, The Kane Brothers Series, Finding Love in Scotland Series, The College Pact Series, and Corner of Ocean and Bay. All of her books can be read as stand-alones.
A Jersey girl at heart, Gina has spent her twenties traveling the world, living and working abroad, before settling down in Ontario, Canada with her husband and three children. She's a voracious reader, daydreamer, and coffee enthusiast who loves meeting new people. Say hey to her on social media or through www.ginaazzi.com.
I have been waiting for this day! After reading the first two books in the series, I was counting down to the release of TIMEOUT. TIMEOUT is the third book in the VEGAS ACES: THE QUARTERBACK series that is following the story between Jack Dalton, his fiancee Michelle, and his "assistant" Kate. Please know that this series must be read in order! So if you haven't read Traded yet, please do so.
I'm not even going to recap the book this time, because honestly the teaser (below) says everything you really need to know. Plus by not recapping I don't really need to worry about potential spoilers. Just know we are picking up where we left off, and the wedding is coming quickly.
I am obsessed with this series. I need to know what is going to happen with Jack and Michelle, Jack and Kate, as well as with Jack and the owner of the team (aka Michelle's dad). What is going to happen next? Is Michelle going to keep their son away from Jack? Would she really do such a thing? Can Kate keep Jack in line, and out of trouble? What is going on with Jack's business? Because it sounds like some sketchy shit is about to go down. These cliffhangers are torturing me! Yet at the same time, I am loving it, and find myself eagerly anticipating the next book. Damn you Lisa Suzanne! Also, I can't believe there are only two books left in Jack's story! There had better be a third season to the Vegas Aces series. Please, please, pretty please!
I highly recommend you go read Timeout. Just make sure that you've read Traded and Tackled first, because that is very much necessary. Go read this series! Go, go now!
Thank you Lisa Suzanne for yet another fabulous book in the Vegas Aces world.
Laura
Release Date: September 23
As Jack’s wedding draws nearer, the cloud over him seems to darken as he goes through the motions. Instead of enjoying the bachelor party and rehearsal dinner, he needs a timeout from the woman he’s set to marry.
If he really walks down the aisle toward her, I can’t keep working with him. Not when I’m in love with him. My boss didn’t hire me to help this pro football quarterback make better decisions. He hired me to make sure Jack marries his daughter.
And as the day of the wedding dawns, my one job responsibility is one of the most morally conflicting things I’ve ever had to do.
