Category Archives: Dawn’s Reviews

Review: The Sugar Cookie Sweetheart Swap by Donna Kauffman, Kate Angell, Kimberly Kincaid

The Sugar Cookie Sweetheart Swap by Donna Kauffman, Kate Angell, Kimberly Kincaid
Publication Date: September 24, 2013
Reviewed by: Reading In Pajamas/ Dawn
Rated: 4 Stars

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BOOK DESCRIPTION:

For friends Clara, Abby and Lily, only one thing is more delicious than the Pine Mountain holiday cookie exchange – finding the right man before they ring in the New Year!
Where There’s Smoke. . .
USA Today bestselling author Donna Kauffman

When flames from a recipe gone disastrously wrong send hunky firefighter Will Mason to pretty Clara Parker’s rescue, the sparks really begin to fly! And once Will gets a taste of Clara, he aches for more than just a little sugar from the famously single food columnist. . ..

“Donna Kauffman writes smart and sexy, with sizzle to spare!” –Janet Evanovich

The Gingerbread Man
National bestselling author Kate Angell

Folks have always told fun-loving Abby Denton that her anatomically correct Gingerbread cookies are. . .impressive. But those erotic cookies have nothing on the sexy stranger Abby saves from a snowy country road. Could Lander Reynolds be the Christmas treat she’s truly been longing for?

“No fan of the genre should miss Angell’s surefire romances.” –Booklist

Sugar And Spice
Kimberly Kincaid

When caterer Lily Callahan goes up against hotshot pastry chef Pete Mancuso in the bake-off of the season, the stakes are high–and scandalously passionate. Will the gorgeous gourmand steal Lily’s heart–and the top prize in the Christmas cookie competition?

“A mouth-watering, heart-warming, toe-curling holiday romance!” –Amanda Usen, author of Luscious

REVIEW:

Three wonderfully romantic steamy stories in one book. What could be better?

Where there’s Smoke – Donna Kauffman
Great story from the first page. I couldn’t help laughing out loud reading about Clara’s misfortune. And then when she found Will I was her very own cheerleader. I enjoyed the humor, the reality of their story and the steamy passion.

The Gingerbread Man – Kate Angell
I have never read any of Kate Angells books, so I was not sure what to expect. I was very pleasantly surprised. I fell completely in love with Abby and Lander. Their story was so moving and their love felt so genuine and pure…and the sex was sizzling.

Sugar and Spice – Kimberly Kincaid
Lily and Pete’s story was was the perfect story to finish this great book. A little competition in the kitchen between Lily and Pete was smoldering….I was just waiting for these two to combust.

I enjoyed how the authors each told a story and added their own Christmas magic to each story.

*Review copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Buy links:
Kindle | Amazon Paperback | B&N | Kobo

Review: The Christmas Cookie Collection by Lori Wilde

The Christmas Cookie Collection by Lori Wilde
Release date: October 29, 2013
Reviewed by Reading In Pajamas/ Dawn
Rated: 5 Stars

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BOOK DESCRIPTION

The New York Times Bestselling Author ofThe First Love Cookie Clubreturns to Twilight, Texas,with one brand-new story and three storiesnever before in print!

There’s a legend in Twilight, Texas. It says that if on Christmas you sleep with kismet cookies under your pillow and dream of your one true love, he will be your destiny.

Carrie, Raylene, Christine, and Flynn are all members of the Christmas Cookie Club. Each has a story to tell, and each discovers the miracles of the season and the power of love.

Carrie: Reconnects with her high school sweetheart . . .the only man she’s ever loved.

Raylene: Discovers that the daughter she gave awayat birth is living right in Twilight . . .

Christine: Has given up on love . . . until the man ofher dreams walks through her shop door.

Grace: It’s Christmas Eve and Flynn and Jesse Calloway are thrilled to be expecting a new baby. Then Flynn’s car hits a patchof ice, and Jesse must move earth . . . and heaven . . .to save her and their unborn child.

REVIEW

I loved everything about this book. Once again Lori Wilde made me like I had been dropped in the middle of Twilight Texas to continue learning about the characters. I enjoyed Carrie, Raylene and Christine’s stories. The emotions felt so real I found myself staying up way to late and letting the dishes wait so I could keep reading. I highly recommend this book. This story can be read as a stand alone, but is a wonderful series.

* Review copy provided by Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

BUY LINKS:
Kindle ($6.64) | Amazon Paperback ($7.19) | B&N (Paperback $7.99/ Nook $6.99) | iTunes ($6.99)

Review: Two of a Kind (Fool’s Gold) by Susan Mallery

Two of a Kind (Fool’s Gold) by Susan Mallery
Publication Date: July 1, 2013
Reviewed By: Reading In Pajamas/ Dawn
Rated: 4.5 Stars

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BOOK DESCRIPTION:

New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery welcomes readers back to Fool’s Gold, where a onetime fling could become the real thing.…

Felicia Swift never dreamed she’d hear a deep, sexy voice from her past in tiny Fool’s Gold, California. The last time Gideon Boylan whispered in her ear was half a world away…on the morning after the hottest night of her life. Her freaky smarts have limited her close friendships, and romance, but she came to Fool’s Gold looking for ordinary. Gorgeous, brooding Gideon is anything but that.

Black Ops taught Gideon that love could be deadly. Now he pretends to fit in while keeping everyone at arm’s length. Felicia wants more than he can give—a home, family, love—but she has a lot to learn about men…and Gideon needs to be the man to teach her.

As these two misfits discover that passion isn’t the only thing they have in common, they just might figure out that two of a kind should never be split apart.

If you’re a fan of Fool’s Gold, you’ll love Ana Raquel and Greg’s delicious romance, featured in Susan Mallery’s Fool’s Gold Cookbook, along with her favorite recipes from the land of happy endings.

REVIEW:

Susan Mallery has once again brought magic to Fools Gold. Gideon and Felicia’s story was refreshing. Felicia is such a brainiac and Gideon such a loner. A love story with all of the elements, with a twist thrown in the mix to make the story all that much more enjoyable. You could almost feel the changes the two main characters were making throughout the story. All of Susan Mallery’s Fools Gold books can be read as a stand alone book, but it such a wonderful series.

Buy Links:
Amazon Paperback ($7.19) | Kindle ($5.99)
B&N (Paperback $7.99/ Nook $7.49) | Kobo ($6.49) | iTunes

READING ORDER

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✦Fool’s Gold Book 1: Chasing Perfect (May 2010) http://amzn.to/14Ayv05
✦Fool’s Gold Book 2: Almost Perfect (July 2010) http://amzn.to/13sOrE1
✦A Fool’s Gold Novella: Sister of the Bride (August 2010) http://amzn.to/17ZblXh
✦Fool’s Gold Book 3: Finding Perfect (September 2010) http://amzn.to/13sP3cO
✦Fool’s Gold Book 4: Only Mine (August 2011) http://amzn.to/17ZbYzW
✦Fool’s Gold Book 5: Only Yours (September 2011) http://amzn.to/13sPQdW
✦Fool’s Gold Book 6: Only His (October 2011) http://amzn.to/1aftWg6
✦A Fool’s Gold Novella: Only Us (November 2011) http://amzn.to/17NlB0V
✦A Fool’s Gold Novella: Almost Summer (May 2012) http://amzn.to/14Ayj0L
✦Fool’s Gold Book 7: Summer Days (June 2012) http://amzn.to/1aVrcqT
✦Fool’s Gold Book 8: Summer Nights (July 2012) http://amzn.to/14ABi9z
✦Fool’s Gold Book 9: All Summer Long (August 2012) http://amzn.to/14ABu8M
✦Fool’s Gold Book 9.5: A Fool’s Gold Christmas (October 2012) http://amzn.to/14twlVi
✦A Fool’s Gold Novella: Halfway There (May 2013) http://amzn.to/15Holky
✦Fool’s Gold Book 10: Just One Kiss (June 2013) http://amzn.to/19ulaK8
✦Fool’s Gold Book 11: Two of a Kind (July 2013) http://amzn.to/13sTdBC
✦Fool’s Gold Book 12: Three Little Words (August 2013) http://amzn.to/1epKN2t
✦Susan Mallery’s Fool’s Gold Cookbook (September 2013) http://amzn.to/1afwYkn
✦Fool’s Gold Book 12.5: Christmas on 4th Street (October 2013) http://amzn.to/1afx1wH

Review: Run to You by Rachel Gibson

Run to You by Rachel Gibson
Release Date: September 24, 2013
Reviewed by: Reading in Pajamas/ Dawn
Rated: 5 Stars

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BOOK DESCRIPTION

Rachel Gibson, New York Times bestselling author of Rescue Me, returns to Texas with a tale of what happens when a tough guy meets his match—and falls harder than a ton of red-hot bricks . . .

There’s nothing like fleeing Miami to ruin a girl’s day.

Stella Leon’s bartending gig was going fine until gorgeous ex-Marine Beau Junger decked her mob-connected boss, spirited her out of the city, and claimed that Stella’s half-sister—the one with the perfect life—sent him. Now Stella has no choice but to go along for the ride . . . and seduce

Beau’s military-issue socks off . . .

The Marine Corps was Beau’s escape from his old man’s legacy of naval heroism and serial philandering, but no amount of training could prepare him for the day he looked in the mirror and saw his father staring back. The answer: swear off meaningless sex. Oh, and find a way to make Stella Leon quit being so damn hot . . .

REVIEW:

Stella is a fun carefree woman. Beau is a sexy alpha Marine. I loved following the antics on their road trip. Laugh out loud humor mixed with sexual chemistry made this a great book. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough, needing to know what would happen next. I loved everything about this book.

According to Rachel Gibson’s website, this book is not part of a series. Rescue Me, released in May 2012 is about Stella’s sister Sadie. I read this book last year and remember I couldn’t put it down. Run to You can certainly be read as a stand alone, but I enjoyed Rescue Me just as much as Run to You.

*Review copy provided by Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

BUY LINKS:
Amazon Paperback ($4.79) | Kindle ($6.64) | B&N (Paperback $7.99/ Nook $6.99) | Kobo ($6.99) | iTunes

Review: So Tough to Tame by Victoria Dahl

So Tough to Tame by Victoria Dahl
Publication Date: September 24, 2013
Reviewed by: Reading In Pajamas/ Dawn
Rated: 5 Stars

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BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Tough to tame, but not too tough to love…

Charlie Allington is supposed to be on the fast track to the top—a small-town girl who was making it big in her career. Instead, she’s reeling from a scandal that’s pretty much burned all her bridges. Now, out of options, she needs a place to lick her wounds and figure out her future. True, working at a ski resort in rugged Jackson Hole, Wyoming, isn’t her dream job. But if there’s one perk to coming back, it’s a certain sexy hometown boy who knows how to make a girl feel welcome.

Cowboy Walker Pearce never expected a grown-up Charlie to be temptation in tight jeans. She’s smart and successful—way out of league for a man like him. But he’s not about to let that, or his secrets, get in the way of their blazing-hot attraction. Yet when passion turns to something more, will the truth—about both of them—send her out of his life for good…or into his arms forever?

REVIEW:

Absolutely amazing from the first page to the last. This book is a fantastic combination of chemistry, humor, mystery and smoking’ hot sex! Victoria Dahl sex scenes always nearly light my hair on fire and this book does not disappoint. So Tough to Handle can be read as a stand alone, but it is such an amazing series.

*Review copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

BUY LINKS:
Kindle | Amazon Paperback | B&N | Kobo

READING ORDER:

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THE JACKSON SERIES
• Jackson Hole #1 – Close Enough to Touch (August 28, 2012) http://amzn.to/17O4Hgy
• Jackson Hole #1.1 – Be Mine anthology, “Too Fast to Fall” (January 22, 2013) http://amzn.to/1eucuqI
• Jackson Hole #1.2 – “Strong Enough to Love” (March 1, 2013) http://amzn.to/1dU2rNb
• Jackson Hole #2 – Too Hot to Handle (April 1, 2013) http://amzn.to/13xNAC2
• Jackson Hole #3 – So Tough to Tame (September 24, 2013) http://amzn.to/13xIq9b

Review: Just One Kiss by Susan Mallery

Just One Kiss by Susan Mallery
Publication Date: May 28, 2013
Reviewed by: Reading In Pajamas/ Dawn
Rated: 5 Stars

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BOOK DESCRIPTION:

He won’t hesitate to put his life on the line…but will he ever risk his heart?

Falling for Justice Garrett was a high point in Patience McGraw’s otherwise awkward adolescence. Even after he disappeared, Patience never forgot the boy who captured her heart. Now he’s back in Fool’s Gold, California, and her passion for him is as strong as ever. But how can she trust that he won’t abandon her again—and her daughter, too?

When bodyguard Justice Garrett was a young man, witness protection brought him to this idyllic town and he never forgot its warmth, or the sweet beauty of his childhood friend. He’s returned to open a defense academy, and the Patience he once knew is all grown up. He can’t resist her smile, or her curves. But Justice’s past doesn’t make him husband, or father, material.

Patience and Justice think they’ll succumb to just one kiss… Then one more… Okay, just one night together. But they might learn that falling in love is beyond anyone’s control.

If you’re a fan of Fool’s Gold, you’ll love Ana Raquel and Greg’s delicious romance, featured in Susan Mallery’s Fool’s Gold Cookbook, along with her favorite recipes from the land of happy endings.

REVIEW:

Love, passion, family, friends, community and mystery were all captured in Just One Kiss. I love how Susan Mallery makes you feel like you are part of her books. Just the right amount of everything. All of her books can be read as a stand alone, but every one of the books in this series is amazing.

Buy Links:
Kindle | Amazon (Paperback) | B&N | Kobo | iTunes

READING ORDER

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Fools Gold Book 1: Chasing Perfect (May 2010) http://amzn.to/14Ayv05

Fools Gold Book 2: Almost Perfect (July 2010) http://amzn.to/13sOrE1

A Fools Gold Novella: Sister of the Bride (August 2010) http://amzn.to/17ZblXh

Fools Gold Book 3: Finding Perfect (September 2010) http://amzn.to/13sP3cO

Fools Gold Book 4: Only Mine (August 2011) http://amzn.to/17ZbYzW

Fools Gold Book 5: Only Yours (September 2011) http://amzn.to/13sPQdW

Fools Gold Book 6: Only His (October 2011) http://amzn.to/1aftWg6

A Fools Gold Novella: Only Us (November 2011) http://amzn.to/17NlB0V

A Fools Gold Novella: Almost Summer (May 2012) http://amzn.to/14Ayj0L

Fools Gold Book 7: Summer Days (June 2012) http://amzn.to/1aVrcqT

Fools Gold Book 8: Summer Nights (July 2012) http://amzn.to/14ABi9z

Fools Gold Book 9: All Summer Long (August 2012) http://amzn.to/14ABu8M

Fools Gold Book 9.5: A Fool’s Gold Christmas (October 2012) http://amzn.to/14twlVi

A Fools Gold Novella: Halfway There (May 2013) http://amzn.to/15Holky

Fools Gold Book 10: Just One Kiss (June 2013) http://amzn.to/19ulaK8

Fools Gold Book 11: Two of a Kind (July 2013) http://amzn.to/13sTdBC

Fools Gold Book 12: Three Little Words (August 2013) http://amzn.to/1epKN2t

Susan Mallery’s Fool’s Gold Cookbook (September 2013) http://amzn.to/1afwYkn

Fools Gold Book 12.5: Christmas on 4th Street (October 2013) http://amzn.to/1afx1wH

Review: All Out of Love (Cupid, Texas Series, Book 2) by Lori Wilde

All Out of Love (Cupid, Texas Series, Book 2) by Lori Wilde
Publication Date: June 25, 2013
Reviewed By: Reading In Pajamas/ Dawn
Rated: 4 Stars

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

From bestselling romance author Lori Wilde comes All Out of Love, the sizzling second book in her Cupid, Texas, series, set in a town where every wish for love comes true.

Millie Greenway and her friends have tried for years to keep the Cupid legend alive in their hometown, but she’s not getting much help from her granddaughters. Lace Bettingfield knows the legend is bogus. As a teen, she left a letter at the Cupid statue and got nothing in return but humiliation. But now the guy she dreamed of is back in town, Lace begins to wonder if the tale might just prove to be true.

All Out of Love features the humor and heartfelt emotion that fans have come to expect from the author of The First Love Cookie Club and A Cowboy for Christmas.

REVIEW:

All Out of Love was a very cute love story. Lori Wilde has a way of making you feel like you know the characters in all of her books. I was rooting for Pierce through out the book. I could feel his love for Lace from the beginning. This book can be read as a stand alone, but it’s such a great series that I would recommend reading both of the books in the Cupid, Texas Series.

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BUY LINKS:
Kindle | Amazon Paperback | B&N | Kobo | iTunes

PREVIOUS BOOKS IN THE CUPID, TEXAS SERIES:

Book 1: Love at First Sight (Cupid, Texas Series, Book 1) By Lori Wilde
Publication Date: May 28, 2013

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BUY LINKS:
Kindle | Amazon Paperback B&N | Kobo | iTunes

Review: Always on My Mind (A Lucky Harbor Novel) by Jill Shalvis

Always on My Mind (A Lucky Harbor Novel) by Jill Shalvis
Series: A Lucky Harbor Novel (Book 8)
Publication Date: September 24, 2013
Reviewed By: Reading In Pajamas/ Dawn
Rated: 5 Stars

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

There’s nothing like the real thing.

After dropping out of pastry school and messing up her big break on a reality cooking show, Leah Sullivan needs to accomplish something in her life. But when she returns home to Lucky Harbor, she finds herself distracted by her best friend, Jack Harper. In an effort to cheer up Jack’s ailing mother, Dee, Leah tells a little fib – that she and Jack are more than just friends. Soon pretending to be hot-and-heavy with this hunky firefighter feels too real to handle…

No-strings attachments suit Jack just fine – perfect for keeping the risk of heartbreak away. But as Jack and Leah break every one of their “just friends” rules, he longs to turn their pretend relationship into something permanent. Do best friends know too much about each other to risk falling in love? Or will Jack and Leah discover something new about each other in a little town called Lucky Harbor?

REVIEW:

In a word….amazing! This book can be read as a stand alone, but it is a fantastic series. I would recommend reading them in order to get the back story on characters occasionally mentioned In this book. Jill Shalvis never disappoints, but she may have outdone herself with Always on My Mind. Leah and Jack nearly set my hair on fire more than once. I found myself biting my lip with anticipation of what was going to happen next. Between the laugh out loud parts and the scorching sex I could not put this book down or turn the pages nearly fast enough.

*Review copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Buy links:
*Prices may change. These were the prices on 8/29/13.
Amazon Paperback ($4.80) | Amazon Kindle ($5.69) | B&N (Paperback $8.00/ Nook $5.99) | iTunes ($5.99)

READING ORDER:

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Book 1 ~ Simply Irresistible by Jill Shalvis (October 1, 2010) http://amzn.to/15Am1ZJ
Book 2 ~ The Sweetest Thing by Jill Shalvis (April 1, 2011) http://amzn.to/14272te
Book 3 ~ Head Over Heels by Jill Shalvis (November 22, 2011) http://amzn.to/17lHlCG
Book 4 ~ Lucky In Love by Jill Shalvis (May 22, 2012) http://amzn.to/17lMZXj
Book 5 ~ At Last by Jill Shalvis (June 26, 2012) http://amzn.to/17lMZXj
Book 6 ~ Forever and a Day by Jill Shalvis (July 31, 2012) http://amzn.to/15myUCs
Novella ~ Under The Mistletoe by Jill Shalvis (December 4, 2012) http://amzn.to/1dtKsh4
Book 7 ~ It Had To Be You by Jill Shalvis (May 28, 2013) http://amzn.to/15iOwhh
Book 8 ~ Always On My Mind by Jill Shalvis (September 24, 2013) http://amzn.to/17lzPtk

Connect With Jill

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Jill on Twitter
Jill on Facebook
Jill on Goodreads

Review: Against the Ropes by Sarah Castille

Against the Ropes by Sarah Castille
Publication Date: September 3, 2013
Reviewed By: Reading In Pajamas/ Dawn
Rated: 5 Stars

BOOK DESCRIPTION

He scared me. He thrilled me. And after one touch, all I could think about was getting more…

Makayla never thought she’d set foot in an elite mixed martial arts club. But if anyone needs a medic on hand, it’s these guys. Then again, at her first sight of the club’s owner, she’s the one feeling breathless.

The man they call Torment is all sleek muscle and restrained power. Whether it’s in the ring or in the bedroom, he knows exactly when a soft touch is required and when to launch a full-on assault. He always knows just how far he can push. And he’s about to tempt Makayla in ways she never imagined…

REVIEW

I absolutly loved this book.The passion was amazing between Mac and Max, the sexual tension sizzled from the first page. I could not read this book fast enough…needing to know what happened next. I had not read Sarah Castille before and was pleasantly surprised. Loved the characters and the story line. I’m rating it 5 stars…only because I can’t give it 6.

*Review copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Buy links:
Kindle | Amazon Paperback | B&N | Kobo | iTunes

Review: Blue By You by Rachel Gibson

Blue By You by Rachel Gibson
Publication Date: September 3, 2013
Reviewed by: Reading In Pajamas/ Dawn
Rated: 3 Stars

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Rachel Gibson, the New York Times bestselling author of Crazy On You and Rescue Me, once again shows that there’s nothing quite like a man in uniform!

They say you never forget your first time, but there’s nothing Blue Butler and Kasper Pennington would rather forget than their brief but fiery teenage love affair. Yeah, it was hot while it lasted, but then he went off to join the Marines, leaving Blue in New Orleans. She’s tried to block him from her mind for good, but nothing can really erase the feeling she had when she was with him.

And now he’s got the nerve to return—leaner, meaner, and strong enough to pull her into his arms and kiss her senseless. Blue’s a successful businesswoman now, with no time to figure out what went wrong all those years ago. But Kasper knows she’s the one woman for him … and now he’s got to prove it to her all over again.

REVIEW:

Not one of my favorite Rachel Gibson books. As a novella the book was fast paced and the plot lacked depth. I think Rachel Gibson could have made this a full length book and added more characters and more of a story line. Blue and Kasper were young lovers that reunited after many years apart. The sex was good….but the book was very predictable. I’m rating this 3 stars, only because you could feel the passion and because the book was fast paced enough to be read in one sitting.

*Review copy provided by Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

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Buy links:
Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iTunes