Kiss the Girl by Melanie Jacobson

 

 

Not even the hottest teacher in town can convince Grace to date a small-town guy.

At 26, Grace Winters must her promising career on pause to run her dad’s hardware store. She can’t wait to leave Creekville again, and she’ll keep everyone at arm’s length until she’s out of there. That especially means the new high school coach…no matter how cute and charming he is.

Noah Redmond knows Creekville is just a detour for Grace, the funniest—and sexiest—woman he’s ever met. He even joins forces with her to defeat the matchmaking schemes of . . . well, just about everyone trying to get them together. But when he and Grace must also tackle building a Christmas booth for the town’s biggest event of the year, he sees his chance for escape from the friend zone.

When Grace agrees to a fake relationship to convince Noah’s boss he's ready for a promotion, the plan works perfectly until they share an unplanned kiss that changes everything. With the lines between friendship and romance blurred, is their undeniable chemistry worth risking their friendship when their future is anything but certain?

 * Amazon * Goodreads * 

This book was yummy!  The tension and build up were fantastic and gave my belly all the flutters of anticipation.  I love when that happens.  Even after the first kiss, it was all charged tension.  Chemistry swirling.  Mmmmm, yummy.

Grace and Noah are both great characters.  I'm definitely a Noah fan, if we are picking sides, and I am.  Noah is such a stand up guy- making his sister and her daughter his priority, working hard and keeping a level head with a great dose of humor.  See?  Why wouldn't I be his fan?  Plus, the way he looks at Grace?  Sigh. . .

I loved the feeling of family and community in this book and the setting around the holidays.  There was a lot of fun happening in these pages.  We start with a wedding, and then have both Thanksgiving and Christmas.  It's the perfect book to read right now!

Content:  some mild cursing, including hand gesture.  Kissing.

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

Wedding Belles: A Novel in Four Parts by Melanie Jacobson, Jenny Proctor, Becca Wilhite, Brittany Larsen

Harper is an event planner with dreams of taking over the Charleston wedding scene . . . until she meets the biggest Bridezilla of her career. She needs the job, but the only way to keep it is to hire a temperamental chef with big dreams of his own.

Janie is a classical cellist booked to play a posh Charleston wedding. She’s excited to have the lucrative gig until the groom’s brother, Emmett, shows up and asks her to help him play a song he wrote for the happy couple. The only trouble? Emmett is her unrequited high school crush.

Lily has been Dahlia's best friend, partner-in-crime, and now her maid of honor . . . until suddenly there's no wedding, and she's left to clean up Dahlia's biggest mess of all. She's been friends with Deacon, the jilted groom, for just as long, and it's up to her rescue him after Hurricane Dahlia blows through.

Sutton is a photographer running from her past. Only the pleas from her best friend to photograph her wedding could bring Sutton back to Charleston. Her plan is to get in and get out before her ex knows she and their daughter are in town. At least it’s the plan until she meets Max, who turns out to be the safe place she didn’t know she was looking for.

Can each of these couples trust their growing chemistry, or are they on the verge of new disasters?

 * Amazon * Goodreads *

I'm so glad I got to read this book!  I just adored it.  These authors did a fantastic job of creating a world of characters around one specific event- a wedding gone wrong.  Each story was individual and unique but it was that wedding link and some references to characters in the other stories that gave it that feeling of continuity and community.  We see the wedding from the viewpoints of the wedding planner, the brother and a performer, the maid of honor and the groom, and the photographer and groomsman.  

I loved the Charleston setting and the clear "southern" influence.  Although, one story is set mostly in New York and that was fun too!

There is definitely no favorite for me in this collection.  I loved them all and I think this was a very fun idea.  I hope these authors will do this again!

Content:  clean romance, kissing

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

Perfect Set by Melanie Jacobson + $25 and Book Giveaway!

Bree Mercer is an ambitious sports reporter who has risen through the ranks to land her dream job. Basking in the sun, sea, and seriously cute guys in her new singles ward, things couldn't be better. That is, until she's assigned to write a feature on the one person she can't stand—professional beach volleyball player Kade Townsend. A typical cocky athlete, Kade's previous attempt to woo her was foiled by Bree's hard-and-fast rule: don't date athletes. Ever.

Kade loathes the media, and for good reason: when his hard-partying ways were exposed by a reporter who claimed to be his friend, the scandal rocked his entire family. Now reformed, Kade has put his life back together, and he has no interest in talking to reporters—least of all Bree Mercer. But when the pair is thrown together despite their best efforts, their chemistry is undeniable. They can't seem to put the brakes on their feelings—until their connection threatens Bree's reputation and Kade's hard-won redemption. Now they must decide if there is a place for love in their plans for the future.

 * Amazon * Goodreads * Deseret Book *

I love this cover!  It is a perfect representation of what is inside.  Plus, it's just cute!!  I love it.  I also loved this story.  

There was a perfect balance of tension and banter between these two characters.  The chemistry was sparking throughout the whole book.  I loved how I got to know both Bree and Kade more and more as the book went on- their likes, their personalities and what made them tick.  I really felt like I was getting to know them like I would get to know someone in real life.  And perhaps most importantly, even with their obvious flaws, I liked them!  

I read through this book so quickly.  It was a fun, diverting story and it made me happy.

Content:  LDS fiction so some mention of going to church and some things specific to the LDS religion (not drinking coffee, temples) but nothing preachy.  Mention of pornography addiction.  Kissing.

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

 

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*May 22^nd: https://www.rockinbookreviews.com/, http://gettingyourreadonaimeebrown.blogspot.com/, http://empowermoms.net/, http://www.wishfulendings.com/

*May 23^rd: https://www.singinglibrarianbooks.com/, http://ldswritermom.blogspot.com/, https://rachellechristensen.com/blog/, http://minreadsandreviews.blogspot.com/

*May 24^th: http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/, http://literarytimeout.blogspot.com/, http://katiescleanbookcollection.blogspot.com/, http://thethingsilovemost.com/

* May 25^th: http://www.iamareader.com/, http://bonnieharris.blogspot.com/, http://www.blogginboutbooks.com/, http://booksaresanity.blogspot.com/

 

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Delilah's Desserts (A Tangerine Street Romance #4) by Melanie Jacobson, Heather B. Moore, Julie Wright

Tangerine Street is a must-see tourist stop with a colorful mix of one-of-a-kind boutiques, unique restaurants, eclectic museums, quaint bookstores, and exclusive bed-and-breakfasts. Delilah's Desserts, situated in the middle of this charming collection of shops and cafés on Tangerine Street, is a bakery that offers a different variety of desserts each day. The emotions that Delilah bakes into these desserts have a strange effect on customers, sometimes altering the course of their lives . . .

 * Amazon * Goodreads *

I love everything about this book and this series.  The ocean side setting is one I could happily live in forever, I think.  Each book has three stories written by three different authors but they intertwine and connect perfectly while never losing their individuality.  It's so much fun.

I loved all three of the stories in this book.  The characters were charming and I felt like I could be friends with all of them.  I think I pretty much smiled my way through this book.  Delilah's baking is a touch magical and I really wish her bakery were real and in my little town!  Yumma yumma.  Her baking touches all the characters in this book.  I was happy to see characters from previous books make an appearance- especially the Fortune Cafe.  The cross over moments made me happy.  Well, the whole book made me happy. 😊

Content:  kissing, a couple instances of mild swearing, mentions of a previous intimate relationship with no details.

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

Southern Charmed by Melanie Jacobson + $25 and Book Giveaway!

Lila Mae Guidry is a Southern girl through and through. As a fourth-generation Latter-day Saint in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, she’s proud of her heritage as both a Southerner and a Saint—and she doesn’t take kindly to people who disparage either. Ten years ago, Max Archer was just that kind of jerk. As the mission president’s son, Max spent his entire three years mocking the South . . . and teenage Lila. After Max’s family moved away, Lila forgot about her sworn enemy. Almost.

When a new job brings a grown-up Max back to Baton Rouge, Lila is less than thrilled with his reappearance, especially since everyone seems intent on throwing her together with this old adversary. Yet fight as she may, Lila soon realizes resistance is futile—their connection is undeniable. Max embodies everything she wants in a man—except perhaps the most important thing—her life is rooted in the city she loves, but his dreams are bigger than Baton Rouge. With such mismatched visions of the future, Max and Lila are faced with a life-altering decision: jeopardize their aspirations or risk losing love.

 * Amazon * Goodreads *

Can you hear my heart right now?  It's breathing out a very contented <sigh>.  That's because it's happy and full of all kinds of romantic notions.  Seriously.  It might be on overload.  <sigh>

This is contemporary romance at it's best for me.  Witty dialogue, playful banter, characters who are flawed but so endearing and a vibrant setting full of food descriptions that will make your mouth water.  What more could you want?!?!

I love when I get butterflies in my stomach while reading a book.  This one gave me some butterflies and to quote the book, "My heart did a Cajun jitterbug."  

I probably can't tell you anything better than that.  I loved this book!

Content:  Clean, LDS fiction (some religious elements specific to the LDS religion)

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

*Sept. 12th: http://mybookaday.blogspot.com/, http://rockinbookreviews.com/, http://ldswritermom.blogspot.com/

*Sept. 13th: http://thethingsilovemost.com/, http://www.blogginboutbooks.com/, https://joyinthemoments.wordpress.com/, http://empowermoms.net/

*Sept. 14th: http://melsshelves.blogspot.com/, http://iamareader.com/, http://bonnieharris.blogspot.com/, http://heidi-reads.blogspot.com/

*Sept. 15th: http://katiescleanbookcollection.blogspot.com/, http://ldsandlovinit.blogspot.com/, http://www.wishfulendings.com/, http://sweetlymadejustforyou.com/blog/ 

*Sept. 16th:http://booksaresanity.blogspot.com/, http://gettingyourreadonaimeebrown.blogspot.com/, http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/, http://literarytimeout.blogspot.com/, http://www.singinglibrarianbooks.com/, http://fireandicereads.com/ 

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The Mariposa Hotel (A Tangerine Street Romance) by Julie Wright, Melanie Jacobson, Heather B. Moore

The Mariposa Hotel
A Tangerine Street Romance
(a novel in three parts)

Welcome to Tangerine Street

Tangerine Street is a must-see tourist stop with a colorful mix of one-of-a-kind boutiques, unique restaurants, eclectic museums, quaint bookstores, and exclusive bed-and-breakfasts. The Mariposa Hotel, a new resort, has revitalized Seashell Beach, bringing new life to the sleepy beach town. In the charming gardens of the hotel sits a three-hundred-year-old wishing well transported from Mexico. One toss of the coin, a sincere wish, and lives are changed forever…

 * Goodreads * Amazon *

I really love this idea and this series.  This is the third installment in this Tangerine Street Romance series.  All three books revolve around different businesses on Tangerine street and each book has three different stories about three different people.  (The magic number today is three!)  One of the things I love is seeing places and people from previous books pop up in the stories.  It gives the books a feeling of community and familiarity to me as a reader.

I loved each one of these stories.  These authors are good at what they do and they make reading so enjoyable.  I immediately knew when I started Melanie Jacobson's story. Snappy dialogue is her trademark, I think.

The Mariposa Hotel came alive for me.  I could picture the people, the places, and the whole hotel vibe.  I enjoyed every minute I spent reading this book.  It was the perfect diversion for this cold winter day.

Always Will by Melanie Jacobson + $25 and Book Giveaway!

Handsome twenty-eight-year-old Will Hallerman has finally had enough of the dating world—he's ready to find a wife and settle down. This announcement is catastrophic in Hannah Becker's world. After knowing Will her entire life and adoring him from afar since junior high school, she realizes her chance at love with him is in grave danger. Hannah's problem? To Will, she will never be more than his best friend's little sister. Determined to open his eyes to her charms, Hannah sets out to sabotage Will's wife hunt by placing nightmare dates in his path and taking his search on a wild goose chase. Her plan is risky, but she's willing to take a chance to catch the eye of her soul mate.

Despite her crazy schemes, nothing seems to be working. Hannah can't help but wonder if it's time to set aside this childhood crush—to move on and settle down herself. She's ready for a fresh start with a great guy. If only Will weren't suddenly changing the rules of the game... And how can Hannah move on when Will just won't let her forget?

 * Goodreads * Amazon *

Love, love, love.  That's what I have for this book.  Why?  This book drove me nuts!  I was ready to pull my hair out in anticipation, frustration, COME ON ALREADY!  

Hannah has loved Will forever.  When this book starts, they are the best of friends.  They know each other well.  But Hannah longs for more while Will seems content to treat Hannah like a sister.  Will sure seems pretty dense for most of the book because Hannah is giving off some strong signals.  It was pure agony to see Hannah try so hard and get nowhere in her quest.  My poor little Hannah!  I loved the dialogue in this book.  It was entertaining and snappy.  Just how I like it.

Man, I have to say that I barreled straight through this book.  I could not put it down.  It was a sort of frenzied reading I was doing because I just had to get to the end before anything else in my life could happen.  ha!  I seriously love when that happens.  

This book is so fun.  I was fully caught up in this romantic comedy (clean!) and I loved it.  

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*October 5th: http://heidi-reads.blogspot.com/, https://joyinthemoments.wordpress.com/, http://www.iamareader.com/

*October 6th: http://fireandicereads.com/, http://www.blogginboutbooks.com/, http://ldsandlovinit.blogspot.com/

*October 7th: http://ilovetoreadandreviewbooks.blogspot.com/, http://www.wishfulendings.com/, http://literarytimeout.blogspot.com/, http://mybookaday.blogspot.com/ 

*October 8th: http://www.bonnieharris.blogspot.com/, http://littlelightdesigncollective.com/, http://www.rockinbookreviews.com/, http://melsshelves.blogspot.com/

*October 9th: http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/, http://katiescleanbookcollection.blogspot.com/, http://www.singinglibrarianbooks.com/index.html, http://gettingyourreadonaimeebrown.blogspot.com/, http://booksaresanity.blogspot.com/