Silver Tongued Devil ~ Rosalind James ~ New Release

Silver-Tongued Devil
Rosalind James
(Portland Devils)
Publication date: November 15th 2016
Genres: Adult, Romance, Sports

No more wild rides. No more wild side.
Blake Orbison’s pro football career may have ended with a bang, but not calling the signals anymore just gives him more time to devote to his business enterprises, including the latest and greatest: the opening of the Wild Horse Resort in scenic north Idaho. And that other one, too. Blake’s on the marriage track, and he’s got a game plan. But when he runs into a trespasser leaping from his shoreline boulders into his lake, what’s a good ol’ boy to do but strip down and join her?
Dakota Savage is nobody’s temporary diversion, least of all the man responsible for her family’s semi-desperate circumstances. Some people may think she has a piercing too many, but she’s had more than enough of being called trash in this town. She’s come home to Wild Horse to run her stepfather’s painting business, and any extra time she has goes into creating her stained glass. An overpaid, entitled, infuriating NFL quarterback is no part of her life plan, no matter how sweet he talks. No matter how slow he smiles. No matter what.

Goodreads / Amazon

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EXCERPT:

It wasn’t Jerry. That much, she could tell as he got closer. It was somebody a whole lot slimmer. Tall, check. Short dark hair, check. Black shirt, check. But no gut, and she thought there was some darkness around the jaw that wasn’t quite a beard. Another security guy. She could be cute enough for him. Maybe. What would he care, really, what she did?
“Hi,” she said as he approached. “Next time maybe don’t yell right when I’m jumping.” Taking the initiative. Projecting confidence. She was better at that than “cute.”
“Hell of a graceful landing,” he agreed, and glasses or no, she could see the flash of white teeth through the dark stubble just fine. Also that he had a pair of shoulders to die for, and some very nice arms in that T-shirt. Not to mention long legs in dusty jeans and work boots, and about six foot three of lean muscle. Nobody she knew, because she’d have noticed him. She might not be able to see him, exactly, but she could see enough.
“If you’re security,” she said, “I was just going.”
“I’m not security. And I hope that’s a lie that you were just going, because that looked real fun.”
He had a Southern drawl she’d surely never heard in Wild Horse. Slow as molasses, and just that thick and sweet. Ah hope thass a lah that you were juss goin’. “Let me guess,” she said, feeling a sneaky little surge of excitement. “You’re out here to do wrong. Sign says ‘No Trespassing,’ and you’ve been given the big lecture, but you’re not worried, because you’re a badass like that.”
Some more grin. “Could be. Is that water deep enough to be safe? We’re both too pretty to get ourselves paralyzed.”
“Oh, yeah,” she assured him. “Best spot on the lake for it. No place else has rocks like this or a pool this deep. Which means, of course, that the Man comes and fences it off and tells you that you can’t use it anymore, even if you’re working out here. Gotta love capitalism, and this is about the worst.”
He gazed into the distance and scratched thoughtfully at his cheek. “Bad place to work, you think? Huh.”
“I wouldn’t do it for a heartbeat if I didn’t need the money. You could say that I’m not in love with Mr. Blake Orbison or his company. But you know, we all need the money.”
“That we do. Arrogant guy?”
“Let’s say that I don’t like the way he treats people. On an . . . institutional scale.” Whoa, girl, she told herself. Lose the bitter and get back to reckless. More attractive, and a whole lot more fun. Trust her to meet a truly prime specimen of manflesh for once and immediately put him off. “So I’m sure I shouldn’t jump off his rocks. But hey, what’s life without a little danger?” There, that was better.
“Now, see, darlin’,” he said, his voice getting even deeper, the accent going a shade richer, “that’s what I tell myself all the time. It’s a real shame that so few people think like us.”

Author Bio:
Sign up for my newsletter and never miss a release, special, or free book! http://www.rosalindjames.com/mail-list
Yes, ALL the books are stand-alones except JUST ONCE MORE and FRACTURED.
Rosalind James, a publishing industry veteran and former marketing executive, is an author of Contemporary Romance and Romantic Suspense novels published both independently and through Montlake Romance. She was raised in North Idaho, but now lives in Berkeley, California, with her husband and a Labrador Retriever named Charlie. Rosalind attributes her surprising success to the fact that "lots of people would like to escape to New Zealand! I know I did!"
Visit www.rosalindjames.com to listen to the songs from the New Zealand books, follow characters on their travels, watch funny and fascinating New Zealand videos, and learn about what's new.

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Found ~ Rosalind James ~ New Release and Review

I'd lived my life according to two principles: discipline and control. Until now.

There's that phrase, though, isn't there. "How's that working out for you?" The answer, when it came to Hope Sinclair, was, "not so well." She might be little, she might be sweet, and she might be young, but if I'd thought she'd be compliant anywhere but in bed, I'd learned my lesson.

To keep her, I had to let her go. To hold her, I had to turn her loose. To have her in my life, I had to accept that she was nine thousand miles away in New Zealand, in my grandfather's house in Katikati, surrounded by the loving members of my Maori whanau and much too close to the not-so-loving ones.

All of that was killing me. On the other hand, I thought it might be working, so I was going to do it. No matter what.

Goodreads ~ Amazon (free on Kindle Unlimited)

Elizabeth's Review

4 Stars - Would Recommend to a Friend

Review Copy Provided by Author

Sometimes you read a book and when you get to the end, there is almost a sigh or relief. That's how I felt with Found....

The Not Quite a Billionaire trilogy is a departure from Ms. James normal work, but contains all of the hallmarks that make her books so enjoyable. The characters in the series went a little off track (for me anyway) in book 2, so it was nice to see them get straightened out in the series conclusion. Hope and Hemi's road to reconciliation isn't exactly smooth, but it was wonderful to see them evolve and become the people they need to be for a lasting relationship to work. It was also nice to see a couple operate under the premise that issues could be worked out, even if the process wasn't easy, instead of giving up.

Family relationships, respect, and humor are undertones to an entertaining and sexy story. Fantastic secondary characters - one hallmark of Ms. James - are present and there are a couple I could see having their own books down the road.

If you are new to Ms. James, or even just the Not Quiet a Billionaire series, don't start with Found. It's the third in the series and very much needs the back story in books 1 and 2 to make sense. If you have read the prior books in the series, you will be very please with the strong conclusion.

Fractured by Rosalind James

What do you do with a person who’s out of control and won’t listen to reason? Especially if that person might be you?

When I’d taken Hope Sinclair and her sister to New Zealand to meet my grandfather, I’d known I’d be making the return journey as her husband. I hadn’t reckoned, though, on the demons of my past coming back to threaten our future. And, as always, I hadn’t reckoned on Hope.

I had hundreds of millions of dollars and thousands of employees to tell me I had better judgment and more self-discipline than most people, and neither my self-control nor anything else I possessed had been won the easy way. That was why I was a New Yorker with a fashion empire instead of a dirt-poor Maori boy in New Zealand with too much tattoo, too many muscles, two alcoholic parents, and not much more. So why did Hope continually dig in her heels and refuse to go along with my perfectly rational plans? And why did I keep compromising?

Because I couldn’t resist her, couldn’t say no to her, and couldn’t stand to see her unhappy, that was why. And there’s more than one way to bring a strong man to his knees.

Note: This is a full-length, 400-page novel with a cliffhanger that will be resolved in Part 3 (early August). It contains one Maori multimillionaire with control issues, one fierce blonde with a mind of her own, and some very dirty loving.

Goodreads ~ Amazon

Elizabeth's Review

3.5 Stars - Worth a Reader's Time

Have you read the first book in the Not Quite a Billionaire series? If no, then stop and walk away from Fractured. This is the second book in a series and it is NOT a stand alone work.

In Fractured, we pick up Hope and Hemi's story right where book one left off. Things seem to be going their way, then well, they don't. To be honest, I alternated between rooting for Hemi and then wanting to choke him. Hope wasn't much better, I was actually fairly frustrated with her for most of the book because she seemed a bit whiny. Even when I was annoyed with Hope, I appreciated the message she had - that to stand with Hemi, she needed to also stand on her own.

If you are expecting this to be like Ms. James' Escape to New Zealand or Paradise, Idaho books, it's not. It has the characteristics you would expect from her work, well written with interesting characters (even when you don't like them!), relationships playing a central role, good advise, and doses of humor.

To be honest - this is series probably wouldn't be my favorite work of Ms. James'. That said, I've enjoyed it and I'm hooked! I want to see what happens next for our Alpha hero and his lady love.

View all my reviews

Turn Me Loose ~ Rosalind James ~ COMING SOON & REVIEW

Rochelle Marks is working hard to build a name for herself that has nothing to do with her pinup-girl curves. She’s made mistakes in the past, and now she’s trying to stop her little sister, Stacy, from making worse ones. Rochelle’s done with being nothing more than someone’s good time. Even if that someone is the one-night stand who turned her life upside down before vanishing—and who’s just arrived in Paradise, Idaho, looking to pick up where they left off. 

Tech mogul Travis Cochran’s hard-won new priorities have brought him to town as a university lecturer, but he’s come for something else, too: the smart, sassy, gorgeous woman who’s been in his head for months. When Stacy’s choices draw her big sister into a web of down-home crime and cold-blooded murder, Travis’s mission gets a whole lot more urgent. Now convincing Rochelle to trust him isn’t just about winning her back. It may be the only way to keep her alive.…

Goodreads ~ Amazon

Elizabeth's Review

4 stars - Would Recommend to a friend

Review Copy provided via Net Galley 

In Turn Me Loose, we return to Paradise, Idaho for another suspense filled adventure. We meet Rochelle (she also appeared in Books 1 & 2 of the series) a hard working 30 something who has pulled herself up by her bootstraps to make a good life for herself. She is also trying to help her college age sister, Stacey.

Rochelle gets a shock when Travis, a one-night stand from 9 months earlier, appears in her life after promising to call and then disappearing. There are two stories going in Turn Me Loose, there is the romance between Rochelle and Travis and a murder of a young woman in the community. Ms. James does a fantastic job of weaving the two story lines together and tying everything in with Rochelle's commitment to her family.

I enjoyed Rochelle as a character. She's a fantastic example of someone who battles the social stereotypes to carve out the life she wants. Life hasn't always been easy, but she is making progress to get where she wants to be. I also appreciated that even though her attraction to Travis was present from the moment he stepped into her office, she made him earn the second chance. Travis is a fun guy and it was fantastic to watch him woo Rochelle and make the effort to do things right for her. He had some fantastic romantic gestures, both big and small.

The suspense story line is intriguing and keeps you guessing right until the very end. As we moved through the story, I think I had at least different theories on what was going on and I was completely wrong! Turn Me Loose is a well written story with great characters and a good balance between romance and suspense so that both story lines are evenly represented. This is another great installment to the Paradise franchise!

Just Stop Me ~ Rosalind James ~ REVIEW

Sometimes you have to run away to find yourself. 

 Lots of young women dream of being a princess. Nina Jones isn't one of them. After escaping from her palace/prison in the back of a gardener's van, she ends up in a beach cottage on New Zealand's South Island. She's meant to be looking after a cantankerous widower. Too bad she doesn't know how to boil an egg. 

 Iain McCormick may be an All Black, a member of New Zealand's elite rugby team, and a bona fide celebrity. During the offseason, though, he's meant to be a regular Kiwi bloke. A good son, a good neighbor, and a good citizen. But civility comes harder when you've been dumped at the altar. He doesn't need anybody he has to look out for. He definitely doesn't need to fall in love. 

 Yeah, right.

Goodreads ~ Amazon 

Elizabeth's Review

4 Stars - Would Recommend to a Friend

Just Stop Me is another strong entry in the Escape to New Zealand series. Don't worry if you are new to Ms. James' work, even though this is the 9th book in the series, it stands completely on it's own.

 In Just Stop Me, we meet Iain (our All Black/Auckland Blues Rugby player) who is nursing a bit of a bruised heart and ego after his would be marriage came apart at the alter. He is at his parent's home for the tail end of his rugby off season. We also meet Nina, a model who walked away from her own wedding less than a week before the big day. She is running from her fiance and mother, neither of whom seem to treat her as an adult. A chance encounter with his mother on a flight from London leads Nina to Iain when she agrees to work as a companion to his grandfather.

One of the things I really enjoyed about Just Stop Me is that Iain and Nina really didn't like each other at first. He kept "stuffing" things up and having to apologize. Even though the time line wasn't terribly long because it was Iain's holiday, we got to see them get to know each other and become friends and then become attracted to one another. We also had a front row seat for Nina's growing independence and Iain softening from his heartache. These two were a lot of fun to watch together, even when things weren't going smoothly. It was a treat to see them being willing to work on their relationship to make sure they were the other's "shoe." There are sweet moments, romantic moments, and a few fun sexy times too.

The supporting cast was also fantastic, more family than ruby based in this book. Iain's parents are having a rough patch in their own relationship and it was wonderful to see an example of people continuing to work on their relationship 30 years in versus just giving up. Arthur, Iian's Grandfather is a fun addition to the story. His gruff exterior hides a caring heart and he is great source of advice for both Nina and Iain.

 Just Stop Me is well written, as expected from Ms. James, and runs the gamut of experiences. There is romance, humor, growth, and even a little suspense before we find out if our couple can find their happy ever after. Definitely a book I would recommend, whether you are a fan of Ms. James or new to her work.

Just Stop Me ~ Rosalind James ~ NEW RELEASE

Sometimes you have to run away to find yourself.

 Lots of young women dream of being a princess. Nina Jones isn’t one of them. After escaping from her palace/prison by burying herself under sacks of fertilizer, she ends up in a beach cottage on New Zealand’s South Island. She’s meant to be looking after a cantankerous widower. Too bad she doesn’t know how to boil an egg.

Iain McCormick may be an All Black, a member of New Zealand’s elite rugby team, and a bona fide celebrity. During the offseason, though, he’s meant to be a regular Kiwi bloke. A good son, a good neighbor, and a good citizen. But civility comes harder when you’ve been dumped at the altar. He doesn’t need anybody he has to look out for. He definitely doesn’t need to fall in love. Yeah, right. 

Note: This book, like New Zealand, contains some steam. In fact, it gets downright hot in a few places, and more than a little adventurous. If that isn't your cuppa, maybe visit another country . . . er, book.

Order HERE

Hold Me Close ~ Rosalind James ~ NEW RELEASE and REVIEW

Kayla Chambers knows what love is—and what it isn’t. When her boyfriend turns abusive, she and her son escape to a new life in a place where he’ll never find them. The idyllic town of Paradise, Idaho, has everything she needs to get back on her feet. Survival is her only goal, and the last thing she wants is another man in her life. 

 But Kayla’s new neighbor, high school principal Luke Jackson, is determined to change her mind. Luke usually takes the fast lane with women, but he can see that Kayla and her son need help, and he wants to earn her trust—even if that means taking things slow. He strikes up a friendship that soon simmers into something passionate and real. But when Kayla’s past catches up with her, Luke knows he has to find a way to keep her safe…or risk losing her forever.

Goodreads ~ Amazon

Elizabeth's Review

4 Stars - Would Recommend to a friend

If you are expecting a fun, flirty book typical of Ms. James' other work - STOP! Hold Me Close is not that book. Now, that I've told you that, let me also tell you that I continue to be impressed the the range of story telling and sensitivity to complex issues the author displays with this book.

In Hold Me Close, we return to Paradise, ID and meet Luke, the younger of the Jackson brothers. He is the high school principal and has sailed under a golden star for just about everything. We also meet Kayla and her son Eli. They have survived some of the worst that life can throw at you and land in town to start over again.

As we follow Kayla, Eli, and Luke we see a gracious, sweet man quietly court as scared woman who is learning to live again. We also see a small family start to blossom into life as they learn to not be scared anymore.

One of the things I loved about this book is that the issue of domestic violence is treated with the gravity it deserves, but it doesn't get too graphic. Luke feels an instant attraction to Kayla, but he respects her and that is a theme we see occur in the book over and over again. The respect he shows her needs (and those of Eli) allow them to ease into a relationship that was there before they even knew it.

The fantastic storytelling we expect from Ms. James is evident in Hold Me Close, but it is a much "softer" and more emotional book that her normal fair. I enjoyed the book and the change of pace. I connected with Luke and Kayla and rooted for both of them. This works as a stand alone book. There is cross over with characters from the first Paradise book, but not enough to bog you down if you haven't read it.

Fierce by Rosalind James

A sexy new STAND-ALONE NOVEL by the bestselling author of the Escape to New Zealand series I never asked Hemi Te Mana to rescue me. It was true that I had a lousy job. Not to mention a lousy apartment and too much responsibility, although it was a responsibility I wouldn’t have given up for the world. That still didn’t mean I needed rescuing, if that was what you’d call the situation I ended up in. And anyway, I knew that a multimillionaire Maori CEO with too many muscles, a tribal tattoo, and a take-no-prisoners attitude was way, way out of my league. So, no, I didn’t ask him to, but he rescued me anyway. Because Hemi was fierce. But you know what I found out? So was I. Note: This is the “book within a book” that Faith is writing in Just in Time: Escape to New Zealand. Hemi isn’t Will, but you may see some of Faith’s feelings about Will coming out...

Elizabeth's Review

4.5 stars

Review Copy Provided by Author

In Rosalind James’ most recent Escape to New Zealand book, Just In Time, one of the characters is an author and her book causes some issues with the man she loves. In Fierce, we get to read the book that caused such a stir. Before reading Fierce, I had an expectation that it was going to be “different” from Ms. James other work. And it is, but it isn’t……

How is it different? Location and the careers of the characters are a departure for Ms. James. Hemi is not her usual hero, at least he appears to not be at first. The Cinderella aspects of the story are something we haven’t seen in Ms. James work before.

How is it not different? Two people with an unconventional start to their relationship; both grow and learn about themselves and each other. Strong characters, both the male and female leads are people that you respect and want to get to know better. Steamy sex scenes in just the right dose and just the right “attitude” for the story being told. Romance that isn’t just about sex and showing that there are other aspects to relationships.

I went into Fierce, not being sure if I was excited about it or not. Since I am a huge fan of Ms. James that was unusual. I have to say that I was pleased to discover a work that meets the standards she has set for herself with prior work and I would be thrilled to read more of this type of book from her.

Buy Fierce HERE

Just In Time - Rosalind James - New Release

What happens in Vegas… Will Tawera doesn’t do commitment, except on the rugby field. Moving to Las Vegas to become a kicker for the NFL would be a big change from New Zealand rugby, but then, he’s ready for a change. And when he’s asked to do a little modeling on the side? Thousands of dollars to hold a beautiful blonde while looking dark, dangerous, tattooed, and Maori? He could do that. Faith Goodwin doesn’t do dark, dangerous men. Especially not when they make her laugh, take her miniature golfing with four-year-olds, and are far too sexy and sweet for comfort. But when Will finds himself in hot water back in New Zealand, who’s he going to call? And who would be able to resist answering? Note: This book was previously published in Brenda Novak's SWEET TALK boxed set. This version contains an added chapter and added steam. If you prefer your books without steam...this may not be the book for you!

Elizabeth's Review

4.5 Stars 

Copy provided by Author in exchange for review

Just In Time was originally released as part of a box set with other authors earlier this year. The new version is a little spicier with more sexy time between the two main characters. I gave the original version a 5 star review, but couldn’t get there with the new version.

Here is my original review:

I have to confess that I am a huge Rosalind James fan and have been ever since I discovered the Escape to New Zealand series a couple of years ago. The wonderful storytelling that I have enjoyed in her other books is in full force in this, the 8^th installment of the series.

Just In Time features Will, our rugby playing All Black hero, and Faith, a super hard working photographers assistant/author. The rugby world actually takes a pretty big back seat in this book and Will and Faith have a different journey than James has taken us on before. This is definitely a friends to lover’s story and an emotional one too. From an emotional stand point, I think this might be the strongest entry in the Escape to New Zealand series.

All of the Escape books are interconnected, but most of the work as stand-alone novels and this is definitely true of Just In Time. Reading the previous books is helpful, but not at all necessary.

The changes from the original version are really pretty small and mainly seem to be expanded sexy time. It was definitely fun to read, but it didn’t add anything for me. Part of me liked the fact that Will and Faith’s relationship was on the “sweeter” side and some of the additions actually seemed to dim some of the emotional connection I felt with the original version.

Now that I’ve said that, let me also say that I still love Will and Faith and think their story is a wonderful addition to the Escape to New Zealand series.

Where to find Just In Time:
Amazon
Goodreads

Where to connect with Rosalind James:
Amazon
Goodreads
Facebook
Website

Carry Me Home - Rosalind James

By now, you all know that I'm a little fan girl for Rosalind James. Most of her work has been self-published, but her newest release not only starts a new series, it also is the first of her books published by the Montlake imprint. Congrats to Rosalind!

Paradise, Idaho, may not be the largest town, but for newly minted professor Zoe Santangelo, it’s the first step on the path to her big break. After teaching in a small Idaho school, her next stop is the Ivy League, and no one is going to stand in her way. She’ll do what it takes to move up, to protect her students from a creepy campus stalker—and to protect her heart from Cal Jackson, the hot, hunky cowboy who keeps coming to her rescue. After a career-ending injury, Cal has left professional football behind and come home to work the family farm. He’s determined not to get mixed up with any more city girls who don’t want to settle down with a country boy. But after he rescues sassy geologist Zoe from a snowy ditch, he can’t stop thinking about her. Can Cal keep Zoe safe from whoever is targeting her—and can he show her that having ambition doesn’t mean she has to sacrifice love?

Elizabeth's Review

5 Stars

Review Copy provided by author

Before I started reading Carry Me Home, I knew that I enjoyed Rosalind James’ work. I knew that she wrote strong female characters that are “real” and easy to relate to along with male characters that are strong and gentle at the same time. I knew that she could write a really good sexy scene and that she could make me laugh.

What I didn’t know was if she could make me nervous and sit at the edge of my seat waiting to find out what was going to happen next.

What I found out is that she can!

In Carry Me Home we meet Cal and Zoe. He is a retired NFL player turned farmer in a small Idaho community and all around good guy. She is a newly minted PhD and associate professor at the local college. At first, this seems like Ms. James’ other works; a slightly unlikely couple meet and start working on whether or not they want to pursue the attraction that is present. An attack on one of Zoe’s students leads her to get involved to help the young lady feel safer on campus, making her the bad guy’s new target.

Cal and Zoe’s budding friendship has him helping her and sheer luck has him rescuing her which paves the way for their romantic relationship to grow. Ms. James does a great job of balancing the romantic aspects of Cal and Zoe’s relationship while building and maintaining the suspense of trying to figure out who the bad guy is.

Carry Me Home has the hallmarks of Ms. James’s work. It is well written with romance, relationship and personal growth elements, humor, and characters that you like and really root for. This book adds the excellently executed element of suspense – when Cal figured out who the attacker was I was shocked!

I genuinely enjoyed Carry Me Home and hope we can come back to Paradise to see what happens next.

Carry Me Home comes out TOMORROW - click to go order a copy so you can come back and tell me what you think.

How to find Rosalind:
rosalindjames.com
Amazon
Facebook

Love Down Under Box Set

One of my favorite authors, Rosalind James, recently put together a box set of other books set in New Zealand. Most are written by authors who live in Australia and New Zealand as well as setting their work there. It's a fun box set and extremely reasonably priced - just 99 cents for 8 full length novels.

100% pure escape. Escape to the Land Down Under, where the sky is bluer, the living is slower, and the loving is sweeter. This summer, dive into eight heartwarming feel-good beach romances by bestselling Australian and New Zealand authors. And because size matters, they're all novel or long novella length! We've got cheeky, sexy, funny, steamy, sweet--and all with heaps of heart. Enjoy with a tall pitcher of iced tea or a bottle of chilled white wine--we'll never tell! * Eight standalone novels (NO cliffhangers!) spanning 1,500+ pages * Over 95% off retail for the individual books sold separately * Only available through July--get your copy today! Eight perfect indulgences to get your summer sorted! ROSALIND JAMES, - Just for You (Escape to New Zealand) TRACEY ALVAREZ - Melting Into You (Due South) DIANA FRASER - The Playboy's Redemption (The Mackenzies) H.Y. HANNA - Playing to Win (Summer Beach Vets) JOANNE HILL - Falling for Jack KRIS PEARSON - The Boat Builder's Bed (Wicked in Wellington) ANNIE SEATON - Beach House (Bondi Beach Love) SERENITY WOODS - A Secret Between Friends (Treats to Tempt You)

Elizabeth's Review

4 Stars

Review Copy provided by Author

It's hard to rate a box set like this. Some of the books I loved and some were just okay. Since there are 8 books involved, I've given each one just a small little blurb.

Melting Into You – 3.5 stars

I wasn’t sure about this one early on, I really didn’t like Ben at all. The author did a great job of peeling back his layers and showing that he could be a really good guy. His sisters and friends are an absolute hoot and were perfect for moving the story along. Looking forward to reading more from this author.

Playboys’s Redemption – 3.5 stars

A great second chance romance. Susie and James reconnect 10 years after adolescent heartbreak and just when things seem to be perfect, James keeps a secret and trust goes out the window again. Parts of the story seem rushed to me, especially how Susie “falls back in love” with James after 10 years apart and then at the mere hint of trouble runs away.  The author makes it work, but it would have been nice to see that a little more fleshed out. 

Playing to Win – 3.5 Stars

A sweet, quick read.  American PR executive, Ellie has moved to an Australian beach community to help get a new resort up and running. A no-good, very bad day leads her to meeting local vet, Dan, a cute little boy and his dog, Will and Milo. Romance and friendships bloom and Ellie discovers that there is more to life than work. She messes things up and gets in her own way before she gets her priorities straight. A great read for a relaxing afternoon.

Falling for Jack – 3 stars

A sweet story – Jack and Robyn knew of each other growing up and run into each other as adults where they discover roles have reversed to a certain extent. When Jack discovers that he has a son he never knew about, he turns to Robyn for help. The story is more about relationships and personal growth with elements of attraction and love woven through. I like both Jack and Robyn and the growth curve they each experienced, but I didn’t really connect with either of them.

Just for you – 5 stars

It was a true treat to see how Hemi and Reka came to be together. This is a fun read to be enjoyed by anyone just discovering the Escape series as well as anyone who has joined Ms James on her wonderful trips before.

The Boat Builder’s Bed – 4 stars

The build-up in this one is worth it! The beginning is a little slow as it seems like Rafe and Sophie have this odd tug-of-war going on, but once they finally give in they are great together. There is a snarky ex and secrets revealed at the worst time to deal with, but they make it through and they both get the ending they want.

Beach House – 3 stars

While I enjoyed this story, I felt like it really could have been so much more. The premise is a lot of fun; an aunt/guardian who meddles in the lives of loved ones by making them share a house in order to inherit. Rosie’s longtime crush on Taj complicates things for her. There are a couple of really fun moments and there is great chemistry between them, but we don’t get to know either of them very well. We see a little bit of what drives Rosie, but Taj’s motivations are a little murky for me even though what he does is very kind. My only complaint is that this story doesn’t seem to live up to its potential.

A Secret Between Friend’s – 4.5  stars

I think this may have been one of the books I enjoyed most in the set. Genie and Niall are both genuine and like-able characters who are also a lot of fun together. They have history together and a pretty big tragedy in between them that makes them and unlikely pair, but I loved how Niall fought for them. Interesting secondary characters add a great flavor to the story too.

If you want to go buy this box set - and it's really a great summer read - go here to pick it up.

Just In Time by Rosalind James

Every year Brenda Novak puts together boxed sets of books to raise money for Diabetes Research. I haven't read the whole set yet, but I did get a chance to read an advance copy of Rosalind James' submission - Just In Time.

Just In Time by Rosalind James

5 Stars – Copy provided by Author in exchange for review

I have to confess that I am a huge Rosalind James fan and have been ever since I discovered the Escape to New Zealand series a couple of years ago. The wonderful storytelling that I have enjoyed in her other books is in full force in this, the 8th installment of the series. Just In Time features Will, our rugby playing All Black hero, and Faith, a super hard working photographers assistant/author. The rugby world actually takes a pretty big back seat in this book and Will and Faith have a different journey than James has taken us on before. This is definitely a friends to lover’s story and an emotional one too. From an emotional stand point, I think this might be the strongest entry in the Escape to New Zealand series. All of the Escape books are interconnected, but most of the work as stand-alone novels and this is definitely true of Just In Time. Reading the previous books is helpful, but not at all necessary.

The Sweet Talk Box Set is only available for a limited time and can be purchased  on Amazon.
You can connect with Rosalind through her website or facebook.

Rosalind has been a very busy lady this spring. She has also published a Love Down Under box set and her Romantic Suspense book, Carry Me Home will be coming out in June. We will be talking about these soon! Happy Reading!