Book Review: Beautiful Player (Beautiful Bastard #3) by Christina Lauren

Hanna "Ziggy" Bergstrom is a 24 year old graduate student in New York City and she has completely immersed herself in school and research, leaving little time for a social life. Scratch that; she has zero social life. So her big brother Jensen decides to stage an interventions and tells her she needs to start living. His big plan is for her to contact his best friend Will who lives close by in NYC.

Will Sumner has been a player since he discovered sex as a young teenager. He doesn't think that is a bad thing. His lovers know the score: he is not looking for anything more than just sex and he has multiple lovers scheduled for specific days of the week. (Um, ew!) Lately, however, his arrangements aren't satisfying him like they once did.

When his best friend asks him to help his baby sister get into the social scene, Will is happy to oblige. After all, The Bergstrom's have been like a second family to him. But he is expecting the awkward "Ziggy" that he knew 12 years ago, not the beautiful woman standing in front of him.

Book Review: Unconventional Fling by Allyson Lindt

Jade's job has her traveling the majority of the time, which makes relationships difficult. Men she has attempted to date in the past eventually can't handle all of her time away. So maybe just having a little fun is what she  needs. Brandon is the voice behind popular anime characters which often has him traveling to various conventions. His good looks and flirtations have unfortunately left him with an undeserved "love em and leave em" reputation. When these two meet at the hotel breakfast one morning, it is instant chemistry and they look to have some fling fun.

Brandon realizes that he wants more than just a few hours with Jade, but she doesn't see how that is possible with both of them constantly on the go. Can they navigate their heavy travel schedules and actually have a real relationship?

This is my third book by Allyson Lindt and I have really enjoyed them all. What I love the most about all of her stories is that she uses geeks as her heroes/heroines. And dammit, I'm glad someone realizes that us geeks can be sexy too! I really got a kick out of Unconventional Fling as it starts off at an anime convention. As someone that goes to New York Comic Con ever year (in 2012 I dressed up as Black Widow and my 4 boys as other Avengers characters), I could totally picture the scene in my head. This was a quick, fun and sexy novella and I will continue to look forward to more books from this author.

Book Review: Take Me Home For Christmas (Whiskey Creek #5) by Brenda Novak

Sophia DeBussi hasn't been all that nice to the people of Whiskey Creek. In high school she was the mean girl. The spoiled, rich, gets whatever she wants girl. Thirteen years ago, she broke Ted Dixon's heart when she married Skip DeBussi. She has since continued to live in the lap of luxury; or so everyone believes. On the outside her life looks perfect: rich husband, huge house, fancy cars, designer clothes, etc. But what no one sees is the verbally, emotionally and physically abusive husband that has pushed her to depression and alcoholism. Then while on their anniversary vacation with their daughter, Skip mysteriously disappears. Part of her is concerned while the other part is relived he is gone. But her world comes crashing down around her when the FBI informs her that Skip is wanted for fraud and then his body washes up on the shores of Brazil. Her "loving" husband and left her and their daughter with literally nothing except a town full of angry people he robbed. How can she get herself back on her feet when everyone hates her.

Ted still hasn't forgiven Sophia for what she did to him over a decade ago. At first he doesn't give a damn about what she is going through now. But when he sees everyone in town ganging up on her, he feels like he has to do something. He might still be angry, but he isn't heartless. So when no ones steps up to help her, he offers her a job as his housekeeper and assistant. While she works for him, Ted starts to learn the truth about her marriage and sees just how much she has changed over the years. Can he finally forgive Sophia for breaking his heart and marrying another man? Can their reconnection go deeper than friendship and back to the deep love they once shared?

Release Day Blitz: Finding the Right Girl by Violet Duke

From the New York Times & USA Today bestselling author who brought you the Nice Girl to Love trilogy, comes A Nice GUY to Love spin-off...

Brian Sullivan has been in love twice in his lifetime. He lost his first love to early-onset Huntington’s, and he lost the other more recently…to his brother. And somehow, his heart has managed to heal itself after both. Amazingly, without therapy. That doesn’t mean he hasn’t gotten a bit more cautious, however. Lately, Brian’s been thinking that maybe his brother’s now retired nothing-but-flings rule isn’t such a bad idea after all. Unfortunately, as the unofficial nice guy poster boy, Brian isn’t exactly versed in the fine art of flings. So he looks to the outrageously ‘unique,’ inexplicably enigmatic, provokingly button-pushing Tessa Daniels for a crash course.

There’s absolutely no way he’s falling in love with this one...right?

Book Review: Only For You (For You #1) by Genna Rulon

Everleigh has just one semester of college left and she can't wait to finish and start with her coffee business. Unfortunately, a series of viscous attacks on the female students has everyone on edge. The attacks are getting worse and the police don't seem to have any leads. When Ev's best friend Sam signs them up for a school sponsored self defense class, she is reluctant but goes because she knows it is the smart thing to do. Then she lays eyes on the instructor.

Hunter is pure perfect of chiseled, sexy man. Ev's first encounter with him is a disaster, getting her thrown out of the self defense class. But when they see each other in classes later, their witty banter has Ev wanting him as a friend. As their friendship blossoms, Everleigh realizes how much she is starting to care for him, but Hunter insists they stay just friends. Why is he holding back from her? And as the attacks become more frequent and more violent, will the monster be caught before someone close to them gets hurt?

I have a difficult time believing this is author Genna Rulon's debut novel because it was just that good. She did a fantastic job of blending a serious and scary subject along with every day life and humor. Because the reality is that even when tragedy is going on around us we do  have to continue on with our lives.