Electric Heartstrings (Fantasy Music Festival Romance #5) by Lisa Swinton

 

 

He can’t date his client. She can’t forget his kiss. They can’t stand to be together or apart. Something’s got to give.

It’s been a year since YouTube music star Aurora shared an unforgettable drunken kiss with her manager, Trevor. Each day is a little more torturous than the last since he won’t break his vow to not date his clients. Being with him at the Fantasy Music Festival in Kauai should feel like paradise, but Aurora’s at her breaking point. She’s willing to risk their professional and personal lives for the love of a lifetime.

Trevor’s losing his grip on keeping his promise. He can’t deny his connection to Aurora or how her killer smile makes his insides go crazy. Lately all he wants to do is wrap her in his arms and crush his lips to hers.

By the end of the festival, Aurora will have to fire Trevor unless he confesses his love. Her heart just can’t take the pain.

If you like fake relationships, a heroine willing to risk it all to get her man, and a hero who values commitment, then you’ll love Electric Heartstrings by award-winning author Lisa Swinton. 

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If you are looking for a quick romantic fix, try this story!  It's short and sweet.  It took me about a half an hour to read so when I say short, I mean short.  Haha.  This author has written several of these short stories revolving around a reoccurring Fantasy Music Festival with this one being set in Hawaii.  (where I wish I was right now!)

Because this story is so short, you don't get much time to really know Aurora and Trevor but you have enough time to root for their romance to get a chance.  Aurora fakes a relationship to try to prod Trevor into revealing his feelings.  I wish I had more of this story.  It was over too fast for me.

Content:  kissing, mild peril

- I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own.

 

Under Snowflakes & Stars (Fantasy Music Festival Romance Book 4) by Lisa Swinton

 

Her hula hips have him spinning. His cowboy skills will keep her alive. When a blizzard strands them together, sparks fly under snowflakes and stars at the Fantasy Music Festival.

When Noelani sees snow for the first time, she’s amazed by it’s beauty, but unprepared for the cold. She plans to spend her downtime at the Fantasy Music Festival curled up by a fire under a blanket with a perpetual mug of hot cocoa.

Cache hasn’t had a girlfriend in a decade, but the sun-kissed Noelani has him rethinking his flirty ways and craving something deeper. He invites her on a snowmobiling adventure, hoping she’ll love the serenity of winter. Having her arms around him is a bonus.

They both get more than they bargained for when a blizzard blows in, stranding them. Cuddling goes from pleasure to necessity in a heartbeat.

When the crisis ends, can they make a future together or have they only been under a yuletide spell?

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This was the cutest little story!  I loved the flirtations and the good dialogue between Noelani and Cache.  I also loved how different they were but how those differences were attractive and interesting to each other.  There's nothing like being stranded together in a potentially dangerous situation to bring you closer together faster.

I read through this story in less than an hour.  It's short and sweet!

This title is just $.99 right now and is also on KU if you have that.

- I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Falling Down Under (Opera Dynasty Romance Book 2) by Lisa Swinton

 

Her wedding will save her family from ruin. But opera's Aussie bad boy won't let the ring on her finger stop him. Will she choose her family or her heart?

Giada's sick of hearing Jack Wellington's name before she even lands in Australia for her next opera. And her mother doesn’t need to be there to ensure Giada doesn't fall prey to his charms. She's a grown woman who can take care of herself, and she's well aware that a scandal could prevent her wedding to one of Italy's most eligible bachelors. Not to mention, his wealth will save her family. If only Giada could shake the lingering doubt that she doesn't know what love is.

Jack's used to getting the woman he wants. For this opera, he has his sights set on Giada. The ring on her finger only adds to the challenge. When his usual tactics fail, he's forced to face his inner demons to become a man worthy of her. But such a man wouldn't entice her into his arms to break her engagement.

When the opera ends, Giada must decide between a marriage that will save her family or risk it all on a man trying to steal her heart.

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Shall we take a trip down under?  Australia, here we come.  A land I'd love to visit one day, but for now books will have to take me there.

Wow, this book was kind of like a soap opera.  It had lots of drama and vibrant characters.  Jack the playboy, who uses women and throws them aside.  He's a love 'em and leave 'em kind of guy in need of a personality overhaul.  He decides after meeting Giada that he's after a better life and redemption.  Giada is under the thumb of her overbearing, controlling, manipulative, mean and arrogant mother.  She doesn't have much say in her life and she is almost 30!  What?!  I know.  It's nuts.  Then add in extended family with their own drama and yup, it feels a bit like a daytime soap.  The mother, though.  She is a nightmare.  She's the character you will love to hate.

In the beginning of the book, I really doubted that Jack could transform enough to make me like him.  I did end up liking him (not loving), even though I wouldn't have trusted him like Giada did.  It would have taken longer for me.  Jack did take many admirable steps and made restitution where he could.  He faced his demons with help and it felt redeeming to me.  

I feel like I have to give Giada's fiance some props though.  I actually liked him better than most of the characters in this book, even with his limited page time.  Even better than Jack.  😳  That might be bad to say.  I felt like he deserved better from Giada in the end.  

Overall, this was a very diverting read.  I was definitely interested in what was happening and how things would all play out.

This is book two in the series but can easily stand alone.

Content:  some innuendo, kissing.

This book is on Kindle Unlimited which is where I read it.

Loving the Greek Billionaire: A Destination of Heart Romance Book 5 by Lisa Swinton

She despises the wealthy. He’s the billionaire in disguise. It’ll take all the wonders of Greece to overcome their differences.
When her sister injures her foot, Rose comes to the rescue to nanny for a billionaire despite her reservations. But enduring the rich lifestyle for a month turns out better than expected when the children are darlings and the head of security grows ever more attractive. But a staff romance is against the rules.

Leo’s been posing as his head of security since his wife died and the gold diggers came crawling out of the woodwork. The new nanny intrigues him, but her prejudices against the wealthy creates an instant barrier. He’ll have to discover the source of her distaste so he can overcome it. However the deception he employs to protect himself and his family put a life with Rose at risk. Convinced he’ll lose Rose if he reveals his identity, he delays telling her.

When the truth comes out, Rose will have to choose to forgive Leo’s deception or leave them all in a bigger ruin than the wonders of Greece.

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This is such a fun series by author Lisa Swinton.  I read this book a couple weeks ago and it's still fresh in my mind.  Usually if I wait long after reading a book I forget details and have to look back through the book to remind myself before writing my review.  Not this time though. 

I love the way Rose stepped into the situation of this job because it felt natural and believable.  Leo's deception definitely made things interesting and I was anxious to know how it was all going to play out.  The children were a fun addition to the story line and helped create some memorable and realistic moments.  I don't know that I totally bought into the fact that Rose really believed the real Leo (aka the head of security) wasn't the father even when the children called him that but it's fiction, right?  And I want to be swept away to far away places immersed in romantic notions.  This book took me to Greece (with yum, yum food) and filled my mind with all sorts of romantic notions.  It was an excellent diversion.

This book is only $.99 right now!  It is also on Kindle Unlimited if you have that.

Sugar & Spice: A Destination of Heart Romance Book 4 by Lisa Swinton

She’s sugar. He’s spice. Can the dance of passion bring these two together during a romantic mix-up in Spain?

Sweet and shy Clara takes a leap of faith and lands in Spain to pursue her dream of becoming a travel writer. While there, she runs into a woman who could be her visual twin—and her personality opposite with a fiery persona and penchant for drama. Isabella is a Flamenco dancer for a troop that’s facing financial ruin. When she leaves them high and dry, they beg Clara to take her place. She agrees, believing the experience will make for a great travel article.

Spicy Teyo becomes Clara’s Flamenco mentor, teaching her to embody everything that is passionate about the dance. When things heat up between Clara and Teyo during tourist-filled days and dancing nights, Clara knows her heart’s in trouble. With no sign of Isabella’s return, she feels obligated to continue the switch, even if it means letting the press think Teyo and Isabella are dating.

But when Clara learns that Teyo once held a flame for Isabella, she wonders if he's truly in love with her or the woman she pretends to be—and how will she know the difference? If she can't figure it out before Isabella returns, her whirlwind romance in Spain may leave her head spinning and her heart on the dance floor.

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First, I the couple on the cover of this book.  I love her dress (those swirls make me happy!) and I love how the cover represents the book so well.  💙

Clara is really the sweetest.  A bit naive as well, but I love how Clara's sweetness captures all around her.  People cannot help but be drawn in.  I love how Teyo tries so hard to protect Clara.  They meet under very unusual circumstances but they build a solid foundation of friendship and trust as the book progresses.

The dancing was awesome.  It was my favorite part of the book because that was where the passion and connection came in.  I could envision the dancing in my mind and I loved it!  Teyo and Clara visited many places on their tour and sometimes the descriptions of these places got a little long and drawn out but other than that, I really enjoyed this book!  The ending was dreamy. This is a fun series and I'm always looking forward to the next book.  While this is a series, each book can easily stand on it's own.

This book is just $.99 right now (!!) AND it's also on Kindle Unlimited if you have that.  

Content: kissing, mild peril, mention of intimate relations outside of marriage

- I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Love in Bloom: A Destination of Heart Romance Book 3 by Lisa Swinton

Camille is supposed to keep her stress level down. A fake marriage is definitely against the doctor’s orders. 

Following a collapse at Lakr, her makeup company, workaholic Camille is sent to the French Riviera to reshape her health habits. The beach is beautiful, but boring, until Camille reunites with university chum Tristan. He does things to her heart her doctor wouldn’t approve of.

When he offers her the chance to attend the exclusive French Royal Château and Garden Tour, Camille jumps at this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. However they’ll have to enter into a fake marriage to go on the tour.

On holiday from his research lab in India, Tristan is delighted to be reunited with Camille, his university crush. With each passing day, his feelings for her grow. Self doubt convinces him that he’s unworthy of her love. Tristan must protect her from the secrets of his past, even if it means breaking both of their hearts.

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I was so excited to see a new book in this series!  Camille finally gets her love story.  Camille appeared in the previous book as such a vibrant character I was really hoping this book would be about her.

Camille starts this story out in a bad way.  She is overworked and has a complete physical collapse.  Her mind and body are in need of some healthy R&R and what better place to find that then the French Riviera?!  I'd sign up for that in a heartbeat but not Camille.  She is not happy to be there at all.  Crazy girl.

But then Tristan.  Camille sure perks up at the sight of him!  But poor Tristan is holding on to difficult things from his past and just can't seem to let them go.  He is so convinced in his mind that he isn't good enough for Camille.   There is a lot of frustration on both sides of this story and I felt that too.

I loved that there was some added depth to this story through Tristan's struggles.  It was a slow reveal of information which is really what kept me invested throughout this story.  I loved the concept of second chance at love and the pretend engagement that added some dynamic situations.  Although I love flowers and gardens, that part of the story got a little long for me.  The story definitely slowed down at the long descriptions of the many places the couple toured.  I could have done without quite so much of that.  Overall though, I think this was a lovely addition to this series.

Content:  some descriptions of violence, torture.  Kissing.

- I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Kiss & Makeup (A Destination of Heart Romance Book 2) by Lisa Swinton

One kiss is all they need to go from friends to lovers. Who will cross the line first?
 Maddie regrets putting Connor in the friend zone by kissing another man. Her chance at redemption comes when she’s hired as a makeup artist on a film in London, Connor’s city. All she needs to do is apologize, and coax him across the friendship line—if Connor still wants her.

Connor should’ve moved on from Maddie when she made it clear she wasn’t interested in a relationship with a stuffy British banker. With her arrival in London, Connor plans to make the most of his second chance. But his secrets will either win her heart or drive her back across the Atlantic for good.

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I think the cover for this book is SO cute!  I love it.   The story inside is pretty cute too.  Connor has got to be the sweetest guy ever.  Honestly, all the things he did for Maddie?  Way above and beyond.  He was so thoughtful, so intent, so patient.  He really proved in all things how much he really knew Maddie.  I was so fully entrenched in Conner's corner that a bulldozer could not have moved me.  haha 

This book has me dreaming of London and the day I get to go there for myself.  I added a couple more things to my list of what to see there.  It all felt very romantic.  I liked the brief snippets with characters from the previous book which gave it that feeling of continuity although you definitely don't need to read the first book in order to enjoy this one.  You just might be happier if you do.  😉

This book is available on Kindle Unlimited!

  

Content:  kissing 

 - I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own.

 

Silver Star by Lisa Swinton

Her cowboy might just be another broken-heart ballad waiting to happen…

Country superstar Sara Silver has it all: fame, fortune, and a mantel full of Grammys. She also has a string of chart-topping heartbreak songs to go with them—all based on her miserable love life. Now her manager says Sara doesn’t sing with the heart she used to. If she doesn’t come up with another hit album soon, then her label will move on to the next big thing.

Sara heads to a ranch in Wyoming to get back to her country roots and rediscover herself. To keep the press away, she hides her identity and is determined to let nothing distract her. Then she meets Cal: tall, brooding, and all cowboy. Sara falls for Cal and the quiet ranch life, but with each song she writes her time there draws to a close.

Sara will have to choose between the country stars of Nashville or the glittering stars of a Wyoming sky…unless she can find a way to have both.

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For me, a great story has to have characters that I both like (hopefully love!) and feel an emotional connection to.  That is what I found here.  Cal, Sara and little Stella were so likable!  The connection for me happened so naturally and easily.  I loved that.

The journey for Sara isn't so much an awakening as it is a re-awakening.  Her soul has just forgotten joy.  As Sara reacquaints herself with the core of who she once was, she finds her joy returning and it was so satisfying as a reader.  

I loved the gentle, developing romance even though I had to wait sooooooooooooo long for a kiss.  Good grief.  The build up!  It was killing me.  I loved the inclusion of music and how important it was to Sara.  And the ending?!  So good.  Yay for happily ever after endings!

This story was so good!  I loved every page of it.  💙

Content:  clean, kissing, one assault scene (almost rape)

- I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own.

   

12 Days to Love (A Destined for Love Romance) by Lisa Swinton

Lily is free. Free from home. Free from work and everything she built the last eight years. And she’s scared to death. With her half of the Etsy business sold, Lily is persuaded by Maddie to take advantage of her windfall and go on a cruise around Italy, explore new possibilities, and meet new people, especially the male kind. Feeling as unstable as the waves rolling beneath the ship, Lily is reluctant to agree to a romantic flirtation, even with a man as intriguing as Zander.

The cruise is supposed to be a fresh start for Zander and an opportunity to expand his freelance photography business. It also marks the one year anniversary of his fiancé’s death. All he’s interested in gaining from the experience is a larger portfolio, but finds himself irresistibly drawn to Lily, who looks nearly as lost as he feels.

A cruise ship romance couldn’t possibly last, and yet how can Lily and Zander resist falling in love in the most romantic country on earth?

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I'm really loving this Destined for Love series.  The setting in Europe is dreamy!  The books in this series stand alone and can be read in any order.  They are novella in length and that's my biggest problem because I always want MORE! 

This story had all kinds of romantic tension.  The build up had me pulling my hair out!  Come on and KISS ALREADY!!  Yeah, that was me.  Yelling.  At a book.

And, thanks to this book, now I NEED to go on a cruise around Italy.  It sounds so incredible.

This book was fun!  Lily and Zander may have had me pulling my hair out, but I liked them a lot!  I hope Lily's friend Maddie gets her own story sometime soon.  I'm so curious about her.  

Content:  clean

- I received a copy of this book from the author.  A positive review was not required and all opinions expressed are my own.