Review: Chasing Lady Amelia by Maya Rodale

Chasing Lady Amelia

Keeping Up with the Cavendishes

TERRIBLY IMPROPER
Lady Amelia is fed up with being a proper lady and wishes to explore London, so one night she escapes... and finds herself in the company of one Alistair Finlay-Jones. He's been ordered by his uncle to wed one of the American girls. How lucky, then that one of them stumbles right into his arms!

TOTALLY SCANDALOUS
Alistair and Amelia have one perfect day to explore London, from Astley's Amphitheater to Vauxhall Gardens. Inevitably they end up falling in love and making love. If anyone finds out, she will be ruined, but he will win everything he's ever wanted.

VERY ROMANTIC
When Amelia finds out Alistair has been ordered to marry her, he must woo her and win back the angry American girl. But with the threat of scandals, plural, looming... will he ever catch up to the woman he loves.

Review:
Chasing Lady Amelia is the second book in Maya Rodale's, Keeping up With the Cavendishes series.

Lady Amelia is an American and if she had her way she would still be living in America. She has no interest in becoming the proper lady everyone in London expects her to be. Let it not be said that Lady Amelia doesn't at least put her best foot forward (foot only wearing stockings that is, as her shoes are hiding in the planter in the ballroom, as they were terribly uncomfortable). After a ball that was guaranteed to cause scandal in the society pages she finds herself a little drugged (unknowingly) and lured to the city streets by a singing siren.. in the form of one Mr. Alistair Finlay-Jones

Alistair Finlay-Jones feels he owes a debt to his Uncle and the best way to satisfy that debt is to grant his wish and marry one of the American girls. Her dowry will give them the financial boost they need. He never expected one of the girls to literally cross his path and make her way to his home and bed, all in the same day. He also never expected to fall in love.

Lady Amelia spends an amazingly adventurous day exploring London with Alistair Finley Jones, but with Amelia's family desperately.. but quietly, hunting all over London for her she is forced to return to reality. Once she realizes that Alistair knew who she was all along, he has his hands full convincing her that he fell in love with her, not her money.

5 STARS for Chasing Lady Amelia. It was a delightful, uplifting escape from reality. I enjoyed the fast pace of the story, the non-stop humor and the romance, oh the romance. This is the first book of this series that I've read, so it can be read as a stand alone book. That being said, I have already purchased the first book in this series Lady Bridget's Diary and plan to preorder Lady Claire Is All That (releasing 12/27/16). All of the books in this series are written to be taking place at the same time, which adds an extra element of fun to the mix. I became a fan of Maya Rodale after reading her Writing Girls books. I loved every book in that series and have reread it more times than I can count. I have a feeling that the Keeping Up with the Cavendishes novels will be joining my shelf of favorite books as well.  If you are looking for an fun, romantic happily ever after you must read Chasing Lady Amelia!

Buy Links:

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Add Chasing Lady Amelia to your Goodreads!

About the Author:
Maya Rodale began reading romance novels in college at her mother's insistence. She is now the bestselling and award winning author of numerous smart and sassy romance novels. A champion of the genre and its readers, she is also the author of the non-fiction book Dangerous Books For Girls: The Bad Reputation of Romance Novels, Explained and co-founder of Lady Jane's Salon, a national reading series devoted to romantic fiction. Maya lives in New York City and her darling dog and a rogue of her own.

Note: I was given an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I honestly loved this romance!

Review: Sweet Little Lies by Jill Shalvis

Choose the one guy you can't have...

As captain of a San Francisco tour boat, Pru can handle rough seas- the hard part is life on dry land. Pru loves her new apartment and her neighbors; problem is, she's in danger of stumbling into love with Mr. Right for Anybody But Her.

Fall for him- hard...

Pub owner Finn O'Riley is six-foot plus of hard-working hottie who always makes time for his friends. When Pru becomes one of them, she discovers how amazing it feels to be on the receiving end of that deep green gaze. But when a freak accident involving darts (don't ask) leads to shirtless first aid, things rush way past the friend zone. Fast.

And then tell him the truth.

Pru only wants Finn to be happy; it's what she wishes for at the historic fountain that supposed to grant her heart's desire. But wanting him for herself is a different story- because Pru's been keeping a secret that could change everything....

Review:
Pru has spent a good portion of her adult life making amends for a tragic accident caused by her parents. She's helped everyone involved in one way or another and her last wish is to see Finn O'Riley happy. Selflessly, she places a wish in the magic fountain. Her heart's desire is for Finn to find happiness. However, I don't think she planned for that happiness to come in the form of... well, her. Finn has been taking care of his brother and their business since his father died. He's not really taken time for himself, but he can't seem to not spend time with the lovely ship captain, Pru. From their first eye lock in the beginning of the book to their last kiss at the end of the book, Jill Shalvis reeled this reader in hook, line and sinker.

Sweet Little Lies the first novel in the new Heartbreaker Bay series by Jill Shalvis is an example of contemporary romance at its best. The romance is steamy with the perfect amount of comedy and angst. The characters felt real. I want to be friends with these people. I loved EVERY single page. Heartbreaker Bay has officially made my list of favorite fictional towns. It may not be as small town, as say Fool's Gold (Susan Mallery) or Sweet, Texas (Candis Terry),  but with this tight knit group of friends it certainly has that small town feel. I can't wait to see what's next for Heartbreaker Bay!

Buy Links:

AMAZON  **  B&N  **  HarperCollins  **  iTunes

Add this book to your GOODREADS

Review: Dreaming Up A Dare by Catherine Gayle

Hockey star Jackson Maddox and gymnast Pepper Wilson have been best friends since childhood...

Just friends. 

When Jackson needs a date to a prestigious party, he calls upon his petite and dazzling BFF to be his arm candy for the night. Nothing could be better than walking into a room with Pepper on his arm. Jackson won't ever admit how he really feels about her, because they're...

Just friends.

With her gymnastics career over, Pepper welcomes the chance to let her freak flag fly- especially with Jackson by her side. Pepper can't confess she's loved him since childhood. He's her best friend and there's no reason to jeopardize what they've got. But they're still...

Just friends.

But when a seemingly harmless game of Truth or Dare gets a little too close and entirely too personal, can Jackson dream up a dare that could give them both what they really want?

Review: 

The backstory of the life long friendship between Jackson and Pepper immediately made their relationship feel real from the beginning. The alternating POV's did a masterful job of quickly revealing that they both have similar hidden feelings for each other. The sexual chemistry is steamy from the beginning and the Truth or Dare games adds an element of fun to the equation. They've both had more than friend feelings for each other for a long time, so when they finally come together it's pretty amazing and SUPER hot! This quote is from the aftermath of their first little Truth or Dare session when Pepper is a little drunk:

"I'm not saying you're too drunk," I cut in. "I just think that this has been a lot for both of us to process for now. Maybe you should go to bed. Sleep it off. See what tomorrow brings."

"Jackson," she said not even attempting to hide the plea in her tone.

"Go to bed, Pepper." I shut the faucet off and tossed the bottles in the recycling bin under my sink. "Before I change my mind and take you to mine."

I totally loved this story and finished reading in one sitting. It felt complete and not rushed, as I find some novellas.  That being said, if Catherine Gayle were to tell me she was going to develop this into a full length novel, I would be over the moon. I feel like there is an open door to expand this story to make it even more amazing. For example, Jackson's longtime ex-girlfriend is now dating one of his teammates. A teammate that he reluctantly has to play nice with for the good of his team. Pepper's transition with her new career could also be expanded and bringing in more athletes and storylines.

Dreaming Up a Dare get's five stars from me! I look forward to more Catherine Gayle hockey romance to come.

Buy Links:
Dreaming Up a Dare by Catherine Gayle is a Kindle Worlds Novella and is available now on Amazon.com. Click here to find this book on Amazon.com!

Click here to add this book to your Goodreads! 

Author Info:

Catherine Galye is a USA Today bestselling author of more than thirty contemporary hockey romance and Regency-set historical romance novels and novellas, with more than half a million books sold. She's a transplanted Texan living in North Carolina with two extremely spoiled felines. In her spare time, she watches way too much hockey and reality TV, plans fun things to do for the Nephew Monster's next visit, and performs experiments in the kitchen which are rarely toxic. 

 Author Links:
catherinegayle.com  **  Amazon Author Page  **  Facebook  **  Twitter @catherinegayle


Note: I was given an Advanced Reading Copy of Dreaming Up A Dare in exchange for an honest review. I honestly loved this story! 

Cover Reveal: I SEE YOU by Molly McAdams

Futures are uncertain, unpredictable-like ink spilled across then purest surface. Nearly imperceptible ripples move and flow until a unique stain is formed. The ink is permanently embedded in the surface...

During one wild night in college, Jentry Michaels is a tidal wave of ink that brands Aurora Wilde's soul. An unparalleled stain she can't forget despite the many months that have passed-and despite the distraction she'd hoped to find in her new relationship with Declan, the charmer who captured her heart soon after. Jentry has irrevocably touched her soul, and he is intertwined in her present and future in ways she never fathomed. Now Aurora is faced with keeping that night hidden though it feels as if the ink has inedibly etched their story across her own skin.

When Declan is confronted with his own personal demons, Aurora must decide if she will continue to hold tight to their relationship and a safe, reliable future with him, or if she will turn to Jentry- the guy she can't forget no matter how hard she tried...

ON-SALE: 11/1/2016- William Morrow

Pre-Order Links: ON-SALE: 11/1/2016

Harper Collins  **  Amazon **  B&N  ** Google Books  **  iBooks

About the Author:
Molly McAdams grew up in California but now lives in the oh-so-amazing state of Texas with her husband, daughter and fur babies. Her hobbies include hiking, snowboarding, traveling and long walks on the beach... which roughly translates to being a homebody with her husband and dishing out movie quotes.