Stella is divorced, a mom, and hasn't had a date in years. Her 16 year old son needs her less and less and her ex has remarried and happily moved on. Stella is divorced, a mom, and hasn't had a date in years. Her 16 year old son needs her less and less and her ex has remarried and happily moved on. However that's all great because a couple of Fridays a month, Stella puts on a disguise and hops a flight to wherever she can travel and be back by Monday.
Sometimes, having reached her destination, she never makes it further than one of the airport hotels. Stella isn't traveling for the sightseeing or the tourist tours. She has one purpose and she's extremely good at taking care of business. All she needs is a handsome fellow traveler who craves a no strings attached adventure as much as she does. She has few requirements. She's perfected her seduction skills, along with a great body that lets her well chosen clothes and lingerie do their work. She has her demons and a deep but managed grief that fuels her need for no questions and no commitments. At the end of a satisfying weekend she heads back to her life, content with her independence until the desire to fly comes around again.
She never counted on Matthew, however, and before long she's taking all her flights to be with him. Is this a chance to change her life, or is she too scared to let someone try? All she knows is that he makes her happy and when her "real" life begins to get more complicated, he gives her the love and connection she needs.
Matthew has his own demons, though, and when they eventually all come out, he and Stella have to decide if what they have is worth fighting for.
This is not for everyone due to graphic portrayals of adult "relationships" but if that doesn't stop you, it's a pretty good story. My only real complaint is the last few pages. There is a pretty serious conflict that is suddenly resolved with no lead-up and no real explanation or conclusive details. This just didn't strike me as good storytelling and I felt a little put out. Overall, though, the novel flows fairly fast with very little unnecessary bits, a tight plot, and a cast of relatable and likable characters....more
This is a well-done, sexy romance that isn't sappy or eye-roll inducing. It is smart and funny, with flirty dialogue and relatable characters who you This is a well-done, sexy romance that isn't sappy or eye-roll inducing. It is smart and funny, with flirty dialogue and relatable characters who you can enjoy reading about.
Sam, and Riley, are like brother and sister. They squabble at family gatherings like siblings would and over the past 10 years have not given any indication that they want anything to change. That's not nearly all the story, though.
Sam made a promise to his best friend Liam that he wouldn't ever even think about Liam's little sister, Riley and he sure isn't going to admit to spending the past 10 years doing exactly that....especially to Riley.
Riley has measured every guy she has ever dated by how Sam makes her feel and found them all seriously lacking. After 10 long, frustrating years of waiting for Sam to finally notice her, she is ready to speed up the process and force him to notice.
Riley convinces Sam to help her out on a story she has to write for the fiftieth anniversary edition of the magazine she writes for, and before long they both realize that they have spent way too long denying their feelings and that their happily ever after may just be each other.
Read this for a feel good story about a couple of fun characters finding love where they think they shouldn't be looking but realizing it was the absolute right place all along.
I was afraid that this too would be like most of the new adult genre of books I have tried recently. Characters that were too immature, poor writing oI was afraid that this too would be like most of the new adult genre of books I have tried recently. Characters that were too immature, poor writing or just an eye-rolling plot. Thankfully, it was not.
Granted, it is not a deeply world changing story, nor is it for everyone as it does involve a good bit of graphic language and action, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
The writing was decent enough that I wasn't distracted by obvious errors, or lazy editing, plotting or character development. In fact, I stayed engaged and intrigued, even eager to get back to it when I wasn't reading.
This a love story, with a HEA, and a triangle of intriguing characters who will invoke your emotions, capture your heart, and leave you all twisted up over who should win the girl. Spoiler alert....the right one gets the girl ;-) The author is wonderful at writing scenes that put you "into" the story, makes you really experience what the characters are experiencing and truly care about what happens to them.
I loved this story and can't wait until she releases her next one. (Which conveniently, is about the one who DIDN'T get the girl!)...more
After The Kiss, by Lauren Layne was such a fun story to read! I typically don't read books labeled as "novellas". They seem to always leave me wanting After The Kiss, by Lauren Layne was such a fun story to read! I typically don't read books labeled as "novellas". They seem to always leave me wanting more of the story, or finding myself totally unconnected to the characters with such a brief visit. This one was different, though, and I am happy that I took a chance with it. It seems to be longer than your average novella and I found it to be a satisfying story.
Julie and her two best friends, Riley and Grace, head up one of the most popular sections of the New York Magazine, Stilletto. The Dating, Love and Sex columns. Julie writes the Dating part, and she is very good at it. She knows the best ways to get a guy to ask her out, have fun for a few dates, then cut ties amicably before anything gets remotely serious. Nobody gets hurt, everyone has fun and she never has to worry about settling into the staid relationship her friend Grace is in.
Then, her boss Camille throws her a curve ball. She has given Julie a story assignment that she knows absolutely nothing about. Keeping a guy. Who besides boring people who can't do any better would ever want to do that? That would mean too much familiarity, boxers in her laundry, yoga pants and catching a movie in on Friday nights.....shudder, her worst nightmare! But the alternative is letting another co-worker who she despises write the story in her place and Julie refuses to let that happen!
So she does the unthinkable, she decides to date a guy for more than a few dates.....to have the dreaded "movie night". Then she will have the experience she needs to write her story with the authenticity she prides herself on and her readers have come to expect. She can do this, then get back to her carefree dating style...no harm done.
What she doesn't expect is to get a guy she really wants to fall for...a guy who makes her want to do more than the casual dating she has been accustomed to. To do more than research for a article.
How it all plays out is entirely entertaining and well worth the time spent. The emotions catch you, the love story tugs at your heart, and the sex is tasteful, but hot, hot, hot!
If you want a emotional, fun love story...this is the ticket.
I received a digital galley from NetGalley for my honest opinion.
Megan Hart has a broad scope when it comes to genre's. This newest offering is not one of her spicier romances, but more of a contemporary fiction stoMegan Hart has a broad scope when it comes to genre's. This newest offering is not one of her spicier romances, but more of a contemporary fiction story with a bit of romance.
Janelle moves back to a small Michigan town she once called home as a wild teenager to care for her Nan, who is dying. She and her 13 year old son find it somewhat difficult to readjust after living in California. Next door to her Nan are the Tierney's. A father and his three sons, one of whom is Gabe, her secret boyfriend from high school.
As the story slowly unfolds, we learn why Janelle spent her senior year with her Nan, why her relationship with Gabe was a secret and the real story behind the accident that injured Gabe's brother so long ago.
Scenes sway between the present and the past in a dance that is smooth and intriguing. Sometimes the tempo could use a boost when it becomes bogged in scenes of daily care of Nan, but otherwise it shimmies along steadily.
I enjoyed the story, the characters, and the light mystery. It was an entertaining way to spend a few hours.
ARC courtesy of NetGalley for an honest review....more
In my humble opinion.....for all the fans of the (in)famous erotic trilogy that is all the rage right now, *this* is how you do erotica fiction. With DIn my humble opinion.....for all the fans of the (in)famous erotic trilogy that is all the rage right now, *this* is how you do erotica fiction. With Dirty, we have a couple of characters who are intelligent, flawed and intriguing; imbued with depth and color; trying to make sense of their lives in an authentic, emotional way.
I loved it!
My infatuation with Dan was instantaneous. He was certainly imperfect, but, Wow! What a man. He was just exactly what Elle needed, though she didn't know it, and apparently in command of an unending supply of patience! The story was absorbing and brimming with feeling, not always fun, but so worth the read. Also, lest it be perceived as of minor importance....it was scorchingly sexy though not *just* about their sexual relationship.
I've got a girl-crush on Megan Hart...love the way she concocts these delicious characters and stories ;-) ...more
This was an intriging read....it's been a while since I first read it but I do remember thoroughly enjoying it. This was an intriging read....it's been a while since I first read it but I do remember thoroughly enjoying it. ...more