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BOOK REVIEWS: The Naughty, The Nice and The Nanny l The Snowflake Inn l All My Christmases


BOOK REVIEWS: The Naughty, The Nice and The Nanny l The Snowflake Inn l All My ChristmasesThe Naughty, The Nice and The Nanny (Holiday Brothers #1)
by Willa Nash
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

One week with one little girl—an angel, according to my staffing agency. Acting as the short-term nanny for a single dad should have been an easy way to make some extra cash. Until I show up for my first day and face off with a demon disguised as a seven-year-old girl wearing a red tutu and matching glitter slippers.

Oh, and her father? My temporary boss? Maddox Holiday. The same Maddox Holiday I crushed on in high school. The same Maddox Holiday who didn’t even know I existed. And the same Maddox Holiday who hasn’t set foot in Montana for years because he’s been too busy running his billionaire empire.

Enduring seven days is going to feel like scaling the Himalayas in six-inch heels. Toss in the Holiday family’s annual soiree, and Christmas Eve nightmares really do come true. But I can do anything for a week, especially for this paycheck, even if it means wrangling the naughty, impressing the nice, and playing the nanny.

Review:

Violet was a tutu-toting terrorist, but there was no way in hell a  seven-year-old girl was going to best me.

The Naughty, The Nice and the Nanny was a heartfelt story of new beginnings, family and love.  And while normally that’s something I would fall had for, unfortunately I wasn’t ever able to connect to any of the characters.  I liked them all, including the little girl.  I loved that we got to alternate between Natalie and Maddox and hear all of their thoughts.  And the story unfolded in a way that felt like an adorable Hallmark movie, with a little bit of steam.  But unfortunately, it just didn’t work for me.  Everyone else seems to love this story, so I’m thinking it’s definitely me!  Here’s hoping you love this one, if you pick it up!

Maybe this was fast. Maybe it was reckless and a little crazy. But there  was something here. Something powerful and something worth holding on  to.
Something to chase.


BOOK REVIEWS: The Naughty, The Nice and The Nanny l The Snowflake Inn l All My ChristmasesThe Snowflake Inn by Samantha Chase
Purchase on: AmazoniBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

She’s looking for a home for the holidays.
He wants to be anywhere but home for the holidays.

After ten years of tragedy and disappointment, Grace thought she had finally found a place to call home when she walked through the doors of The Snowflake Inn. But all her hopes and dreams for a future and a forever-home are dashed the moment Riley walks through the doors of the Inn.

Riley never had any desire to return to The Snowflake Inn, never mind run the place, but when his world is turned upside down, he has no choice. It was always his family’s dream that he one day take over running the Inn, not his, and now he’s ready to cut his losses and leave as soon as he can. Or that was his plan before meeting Grace.

Grace and Riley’s plans couldn’t be more different, but neither one of them can deny the attraction they feel for the other. With a little help from the magic of the Christmas season, The Snowflake Inn may just be the place where both their dreams come true.

Review:

The Snowflake Inn was a heartwarming Christmas story!  With characters with jaded pasts, a beautiful setting, and a story-line that you can easily read in one sitting, this book was a lot of fun.  Riley and Grace were so easy to love, even when they both made mistakes.  Riley was back home from being in the Marines after being injured.   His mom, Corrrine, had a bed and breakfast and it wasn’t the best memories from his childhood.  So with the full focus to get his mom to sell the inn, Grace was the hiccup he never saw coming.  Grace became best friend’s with Riley’s mom and I adored their friendship.  And with Grace now working for Riley’s mom, I loved how that didn’t change their friendship.  Owning a bed and breakfast was Grace’s dream.  So to say Riley and Grace butted heads is an understatement lol.
 
Riley knew Grace was beautiful. Hell, it was one of the reasons he kept following her. She intrigued him, and he couldn’t seem to help himself. But now, with her standing here in his arms? Everything about her called to him. So he did the only thing he could do.
He kissed her.
 
Riley could be so focused and dense at times.  He thought what was best for others, was what he ultimately wanted.  So I loved watching him grow and finding out how to accept what is and how to make others happy.  He also showed us that he was kind and thoughtful. And while him and Grace were both attracted to each other, they didn’t get along at first.  So it was great being able to alternate between the two of them.  Grace had a lot of healing to do too and we got to watch that slowly happen within the pages. We were also given both of their backstories, and it added so much depth to Riley and Grace. With a wonderful happily for ever, this book was adorable and steamy too.  I will definitely be checking out other books by Samantha Chase, since this was my first!

BOOK REVIEWS: The Naughty, The Nice and The Nanny l The Snowflake Inn l All My ChristmasesAll My Christmases by AJ Alexander
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

I don’t do Christmas. I’d even go as far as to say I hate it.

But when my baby sister asks me to walk her down the aisle on Christmas Eve, I can’t say no. So, instead of soaking up the sun on a remote island, I’m freezing my ass off, surrounded by mountains of snow.

What I didn’t expect was for my baby sister's best friend to turn into a curvy snow bunny. She’s too young, too innocent, and too good for the likes of me.

But no matter how hard I try, Noelle Eden has thawed my ice cold heart.

I didn’t come here looking for love, but I plan to ensure that the rest of my Christmases from now until forever are with her.

Review:

All My Christmases was a sexy Christmas story that was  a quick read!  Lincoln was jaded from his past and was coming back home for his sister’s wedding.  But he desperately wanted his sister’s best friend, Noelle, who was half his age.  He had never made his wants known before, but from the moment he laid eyes on her again all bets were off.  She was his.  We got to the sexy scenes quickly and they were definitely spicy and kinky!  If you adore dirty talk, Lincoln is your man!  But with a few hiccups along the way, family showed how they can be your best friend.  We were left with a wonderful happily ever after and a wonderful peek into the future!
 
“Why are you looking at me like I’m something to eat?”
“Because you  are,” he groans before capturing my lips with his in a heated kiss and  pushing my back into the wall, trapping me with his body. 

BOOK REVIEW: Silk (The Princess & The Spy #3) by Lisette Marshall

BOOK REVIEW: Silk (The Princess & The Spy #3) by Lisette MarshallSilk (The Princess & The Spy #3)
by Lisette Marshall
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

They escaped the darkness of foreign lands. But now the familiar faces at home hide the deepest shadows of all…

The Princess…

Back in Rock Hall, with the horrors of the Floating Castle weeks behind her, Viviette is finally safe from the man she was supposed to marry. But here at home, the danger is coming from within… Just when happiness lies at her fingertips, a brutal murder rips all her hopes and dreams apart, leaving her reeling in a world that will never be the same again.

The Spy…

Rock Hall has never held secrets for Jaghar. His masked service has always traced every word, every look, every footstep. But the king’s violent death is a menacing mystery even to him – a mystery that puts the future of an entire kingdom on the line. If he cannot solve it soon enough, not Velvet but her uncle will be crowned the next ruler of the Peaks.

A fight for the crown…

With the wrong man about to take the throne and Trystan’s murderer still on the loose, the princess and the spy find themselves tangled in a web of political deceit and deadly revenge. They must play the game well, and play it fast. Because if they fail, they may not only lose their kingdom – but each other too.

Silk is the riveting finale of The Princess & The Spy, a steamy fantasy romance trilogy taking place in the dangerous, passionate world of the Five Kingdoms. Perfect for readers of enemies to lovers fantasy and adult fairy tale romances, it tells a story of deadly intrigue, dark secrets and sizzling forbidden love.

Review:

Silk was a wonderful conclusion to The Princess & the Spy Trilogy!  Fantasy lovers that are a fan of tortured heroes, fearless heroines, and steamy moments may fall hard for this book!  With a fabulous HEA and tons of heart, this story was a lot of fun!

‘You’ll stay with me, won’t you? Whatever happens?’ 
‘Velvet…’ The joyless smile on his lips nearly made her burst out in tears again. ‘I’ll never not be on your side. I promise.’

Viviette and Jaghar were back home, but again mystery was laced throughout the pages.  With a murder to solve and their enemy unknown, they had to work harder than ever to find out what was going on.  Trials tested and pushed them to their limits, but Viviette and Jaghar kept proving themselves worthy.  They were both so clever and smart, and while I was nervous a future between them wouldn’t work, I kept the hope alive!  

‘It’ll be alright. Stay with me. I don’t want to let go of you tonight.’  
He pulled her back against his chest, wrapping the blankets around them with trembling arms. ‘But tomorrow…’ 
‘Tomorrow,’ Viviette said, nestling herself against him and closing her eyes, ‘we fight.

With this story, I guessed one of the huge twists.  But I definitely didn’t guess the next part of it or what one of our favorite characters would do eeps!  So much was more than meets the eye and this story kept me on my toes and turning those pages faster.  As the story unfolded, I loved how so many questions were answered and that we were given a fabulous ending to this trilogy!  But at the same point, so much is still going on in the Five Kingdoms and I can’t wait to see other series set in this world!  If you’re looking for a completed fantasy series to binge and are a fan of star crossed lovers, then definitely check this one out!

BOOK REVIEW: Leather (The Princess & The Spy #2) by Lisette Marshall

BOOK REVIEW: Leather (The Princess & The Spy #2) by Lisette MarshallLeather (The Princess & The Spy #2)
by Lisette Marshall
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

She must be a queen. He could never be a king. When duty tears them apart, will their love survive the dark secrets that threaten them?

Steamy medieval fantasy romance ◆ Forbidden love ◆ Arranged marriage

The Princess…
Never did Viviette expect to find this much happiness in the shadows of Rock Hall. And now she must lose it all again – her mask, her freedom, the man she was never allowed to love in the first place… When her father announces her engagement to the widowed king of a neighbouring nation, she has no choice but to leave her home and heart behind and travel to the castle where she is to marry.

The Spy…
Jaghar always knew their affair couldn’t last. He always knew his loyalty to her father would keep them apart. But when the news of assassins on Velvet’s trail reaches him, loyalty is the last thing on his mind. He must protect her, even if he has to follow her deep into foreign territory to keep her safe – and even if it forces him to face the man who’ll take his place by her side.

A buried secret…
But in the idyllic Riverlands, danger is lurking around every corner. A knight with vicious intentions. A palace like a prison. And then there’s the mysterious disappearance of the king’s first wife… With darkness closing in and the desire between them still burning bright, how long can duty hold the princess and the spy apart?

Leather is the second book of The Princess & The Spy, a steamy fantasy romance trilogy taking place in the dangerous, passionate world of the Five Kingdoms. Perfect for readers of enemies to lovers fantasy and adult fairy tale romances, it tells a story of deadly intrigue, dark secrets and sizzling forbidden love.

Review:

Leather was a fabulous continuation of the Princess & The Spy Trilogy!  Not only was this book extremely steamy again, but it also had political intrigue, creepy foreshadowing and a few twists that left me reeling!  Fantasy lovers definitely need to check out this trilogy!

‘I did what I thought was best for you.’
‘But you didn’t bother asking what I thought was best for me.’ 

Viviette and Jaghar were both forced to put duty ahead of their own needs, when she was told by her father that she was to be married to another.  My heart ached for them.  Because regardless of what was expected of them, they still wanted each other.  Unfortunately that just couldn’t be.  So as the story unfolded, we found them again searching for clues, trying to discover the bigger picture and I loved watching them work as a team.  Together they seemed unstoppable, even with so many obstacles in their way!  And when some twists not only left them blindsided, but me too, I was left gasping and hoping for blood or retribution!

‘Tell me if you want to get out of here,’ he muttered. The words left a bitter taste of treason on his tongue, but for once, with the mixture of rage and concern burning in his veins, he couldn’t bring himself to care.

Jaghar was definitely my favorite in this book.  I loved how he could be so smart, calm, collected, clever, and selfless.  It not only made me fall harder for him, but my heart ached for life to be fair to him.  It seemed like an impossible feat at times since who he cared for was to be married to another.  But that didn’t matter when it came to protecting Viviette.  The things he did in this story to keep her safe?!  *Swoon* Jaghar was amazing!  Viviette stepped up her game too and I loved how she tried her best to do what was expected of her but at the end of the day she did what she thought was right.  My respect for her climbed even higher.

‘I never told you…’ His voice was hoarse, but the words fell from his lips easily as if he had written them out in his mind. ‘I never really told you – what you do to me, what you’ve been doing to me since the day you came storming into that corridor to eavesdrop on your own bloody father—’
A smile broke through on her face at the memory.

With mystery, intrigue, sacrifice, romance and the stakes being even higher, Leather was a fantastic addition to The Princess & The Spy Trilogy!  I’m definitely thankful that this series is complete because I have to know how Jaghar and Viviette’s story ends!  Fans of steamy Fantasy should check this one out!

BOOK REVIEW: Velvet (The Princess & The Spy #1) by Lisette Marshall

BOOK REVIEW: Velvet (The Princess & The Spy #1) by Lisette MarshallVelvet (The Princess & The Spy #1)
by Lisette Marshall
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

She despises his coldness. He loathes her nosy questions. But when a war threatens their small kingdom, they have no choice but to work together...

The Princess...

Three years at a foreign court have completed Viviette’s education as crown princess of the Peaks. Now the threat of war forces her to return home: back to the thorny intrigues of Rock Hall, and to a father who still believes she’s a helpless little girl. Despite his concerns, Viviette is determined to protect him and her kingdom – even if it means she must cooperate with the cold, bitter Spymaster she hates nearly as much as their enemies. And even if it means using the most dangerous weapon she has: her body.

The Spy...

Jaghar is already dealing with a looming war, a spurned lover and an old enemy stirring up memories he never wanted to confront again. The last he needs is the return of his king’s daughter, with her rebellious streak and her endless questions. But the princess is no longer a little girl he can easily ignore… And as she manipulates herself into the diplomatic machinations of the kingdom, she awakens something in him too – something he thought the pain of his past had killed for good.

A threat of war…

Armies are gathering at the Peaks' borders. Dark conspiracies are taking shape in the shadows of Rock Hall. Someone must budge – or someone must die. But even with the king's life on the line, the princess and the spy cannot deny the forbidden fire flaring up between them…

Velvet is the first book of The Princess & The Spy, a steamy fantasy romance trilogy taking place in the dangerous, passionate world of the Five Kingdoms. Perfect for readers of enemies to lovers fantasy and adult fairy tale romances, it tells a story of deadly intrigue, dark secrets and sizzling forbidden love.

Content warning: Velvet is an adult fantasy romance. Featuring a broody, experienced hero and a curious, rebellious heroine, the story contains generous doses of consensual steam and other mature themes.

Review:

‘You’ll make one hell of a queen, Velvet.’

The Princess & The Spy was a seductive tale of mystery and intrigue!  I devoured this book way too quickly and can’t wait to do that with the rest of this completed trilogy!  If you like your fantasy steamy, fun and with some grittiness to it too, then you definitely need to add this one to your tbr!

Her eyes were like bright stars even in the darkness, measuring him with so much interest that he suddenly started worrying what else she might see.

Viviette came back three years later, after studying in another court, so she would be more mature and act appropriately.  Truth be told, she was already wise above her years but her father and his spymaster always saw her as just a little girl.  And while her father still saw her that way, events led the spymaster to see her in a completely different light.  Viviette was strong, determined and wanted to learn to rule.  She could be so clever at times and I absolutely adored her!

‘You can always turn back, Princess,’ he muttered.
Viviette closed her eyes. She hadn’t expected such tenderness, not from a man like him.

The spymaster Jaghar, could be such a mask of indifference.  He was the king’s right hand man and was to keep him and his daughter safe.  Yet the Viviette that returned after three years, wasn’t the one he was familiar with anymore.  She shocked, surprised him and even got him to show his emotions time and again.  And as parts of the story unfolded and we were given a full picture of what truly went on behind the scenes at the castle, and how they obtained their secrets, it pushed Jaghar and Viviette closer together.  While there was a strong attraction there, they both thought that the other one couldn’t want them.  All the while the stakes around them kept getting higher!

‘Look me in the eyes,’ she muttered, ‘and tell me you don’t want me to make you.’
He didn’t open his eyes. He would be lost if he opened them. 
‘That is an order, Spymaster.’
Jaghar inhaled slowly, bracing himself, and looked up. Her face was close enough to kiss her, if kissing her wouldn’t violate every last limit between them. 

With secret passages, seductive moments, and characters that were so easy to love, The Princess & The Spy was a spellbinding adventure!  While I guessed how one thing was going to play out, there were still so many other parts of it that were such an unknown.  This book kept me on my toes and was so fun to discover what was going to happen next.  Plus I loved that this story not only made me laugh but I also found myself gasping out loud quite a few times!  Such a huge hit, I can’t wait to binge the next two books!

‘You – you won’t hurt me, will you?’
‘Princess,’ he said, kissing her neck as he lowered himself between her legs, ‘I would rather die than  hurt you.’

PS I didn’t even see the title of this book coming at all lol!

BOOK REVIEW: The Stocking Was Hung (The Holidays #1) by Tara Sivec

BOOK REVIEW: The Stocking Was Hung (The Holidays #1) by Tara SivecThe Stocking Was Hung (The Holidays #1)
by Tara Sivec
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

What happens when your life goes to crap the week of Christmas? You invite a hot Marine you met in an airport bar to come home with you for the holidays, to distract your crazy family from the truth.

With a handsy aunt, a meddling mother, and a father concerned for the wellbeing of his daughter's eggnog, there's no chance Sam and Noel will have time to fall in love...or will they?

The Stocking Was Hung is the first of three books about The Holiday family. It's a full-length Christmas novel that will make you laugh, make you HOT, and maybe even make you say, "Awwwww" a few times.

Review:

I had so much fun reading Christmas Cliche, so I had to try another book by Tara Sivec.  The Stocking Was Hung was over the top, laugh out loud hilarious.  While I adored the main characters, Sam and Noel, the rest of the characters didn’t mesh so well with me.  So I won’t be continuing on with this series, but I’ll still be picking up another book by Tara Sivec down the road.

I’m happy for the first time in a long time, and something about that scares the shit out of me. How could a guy I just met make me feel this way?

When Noel’s boyfriend proposed to her, she bolted.  Afraid to tell her parents she “failed” at something else, she ended up bringing another guy home for the holidays.  Noel and Sam met at the airport and there was definitely an instant attraction. When she suggested for him to pretend to be her ex, and to come home with her for the holidays, I was addicted.  The chemistry between them was smile inducing and I was so giddy that Sam went along with Noel’s crazy plans.

He smile, her laugh, her smell, her skin…I need her. Just her. I realize how crazy that sounds when we haven’t even known each other for twenty-four hours, but I don’t give a fuck. This woman has turned me inside out in less than a day and I just. Don’t. Give. A. Fuck.

Noel was so down to earth and easy to connect with.  And Sam was the sweetest guy ever.  And while he agreed to pretend to be Noel’s ex, the man was not altruistic lol.  He definitely had an end game of hooking up with Nicole.  Their moments together had me glued to the pages and the chemistry between them was scorching hot!  But the more time they spent around each other, they both started to see that there was so much more than just a physical attraction between them.  I loved watching how kind Sam was to Noel, he defended and helped her.  And Noel gave Sam the possibility of a true family, something he never had.

“Mom, do you have pot hanging from the ceiling?” Noel asks.
“You know your father needs it for his arthritis,” her mother sighs. “Pot—mistletoe, potato—potahto. It’s green and it’s festive, and you have to kiss under it.”

My hiccup with this story was Noel’s family.  Her mom would say things so seriously it horrified me. Telling her daughter that her father doesn’t believe in oral before breakfast, that’s a little tmi for even me lol. And her dad’s analogy with milk and his daughter was just a little too awkward. So when you throw in her Aunt Bobbie’s comments, drinking and drug use, plus groping Sam…I’m sad to say I struggled. Her family was way too much for me.  

I want to tell him to never leave. I want to tell him this stupid charade stopped being a charade the moment he kissed me under the pot mistletoe. I want to ask him if he’ll be my boyfriend for real and not for a fake show for my family.

But here’s the thing, Tara Sivec writes characters that are so vividly real and the story flows so seamlessly that it’s all so easy to devour.  And again we got an over the top story with an adorable romance, crazy side characters and a happy ending that made me smile.  It pains me that I struggled with her family, especially since I adored the main characters so much.  I’m hoping the next book I pick up by her will be a much better fit.

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