Review -- Melting the Ice

Melting the Ice

Play-By-Play—Book 7

By: Jaci Burton

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: February 3, 2014

Jaci Burton’s Play-By-Play books have quickly become one of my favorite contemporary series. They feature gorgeous, sports-playing heroes and strong, self-reliant heroines who enjoy lots of hot lovemaking. And let’s face it; these books have some of the best covers in romance! But they are more than just drool-worthy covers...they have a lot of heart.

Carolina Preston and Drew Hogan share a past—the two had a hot one-night stand in college. Carolina finally got up the nerve to act on her long-time crush on her brother’s best friend at the time of his graduation...and then she didn’t hear from Drew for a very long time. Feeling hurt and embarrassed, Carolina held a grudge for years. Now, she is about to embark on her life-long dream of launching her own design company. She enlists the help of her brother, Gray (One Sweet Ride), a top-rated race car driver and owner of Preston Racing, to model some of her designs for the upcoming Fashion Week. Naturally, Gray agrees and suggests she recruit Drew, too. Because of their history, Carolina is reluctant to ask Drew but is desperate to make her budding company a success. Ultimately, desperation wins out over reluctance.

Drew Hogan does not hesitate when Gray and Carolina ask him to help. Despite what Carolina thinks of him, Drew had not forgotten that long ago night they shared in college. At the time, he wasn’t ready for anything serious. He wasn’t ready to deal with the strong feelings she evoked in him. He had a promising hockey career ahead of him and had to concentrate on that. But now that he has stability in his life and is a successful pro hockey player, he is ready to try to win Carolina’s heart. She proves to be difficult in that respect but Drew is nothing if not persistent.

I love Melting the Ice! I adore stories where the hero is in love with his best friend’s sister (and vice versa) and Drew and Carolina are so likable, so engaging, and so perfect for each other. They both work hard in their respective vocations (I would even go as far as calling Carolina a workaholic), so it’s no surprise that they work hard to overcome their rocky history and take a second chance at love. This passage from when they visit Carolina’s family during Christmas and attend church on Christmas Day sums it up wonderfully.

...they listened to the minister talk about new beginnings.

A lot like Carolina and him. Their relationship had started out as a disaster, and she’s harbored a grudge for a long time. But the ice between then had slowly been melting. So maybe this was a new beginning for them.

Fans of the series will love catching up with Gray and Evelyn, and if the excerpt from the next book (Straddling the Line) is any indication, we will be in for a treat with Trevor’s story! It releases in July and promises to be an emotional one. Melting the Ice is a great addition to Burton’s Play-By-Play series and a super spicy contemporary that I highly recommend!

~Andrea

Today's Special - - Jess Michaels

Jess Michaels is a woman with multiple personae.  She writes historical romance as Jenna Petersen, snarky urban fantasy as Jesse Petersen and, as Jess Michaels, is an award-winning author of erotic historical romance.   I first met this talented author -and really fun lady - as Jenna Petersen but today we're welcoming her as Jess Michaels, writing geek.  When Jess isn't busy writing, she can be found hiking the desert surrounding her Arizona home, spending time with family and designing jewelry (which she sells).  Find more information about her at her website.

Welcome, Jess!

Confessions of a Romance Writing Geek

Jess Michaels

Hi everyone and thanks so much to PJ and Andrea for having me here on Romance Dish. I think we’ve known each other since the dawn of time. Okay, so maybe more like 7-8 years. Sometimes that feels like the dawn of time to me.  But some of you lovely readers may not know me quite so well, so here is what you need to know about me: I write erotic historical romance as Jess Michaels set in the Regency period. I write dark, emotional erotic stories and it’s pretty darn fun. I have also written historical romance as Jenna Petersen and I write snarky urban fantasy as Jesse Petersen. I wear a lot of hats.

But the big thing I’m here to talk about today is I am also a self-proclaimed, loud and proud geek. It didn’t used to be cool to say that. As a kid, my geekish tendencies had me ignored on the playground, but now is a great time to be a geek. So how am I a geek? Well, my home is decorated with art from comic books, Star Wars and Venture Brothers for one. I am a huge fan of anime. I wear t-shirts with Star Wars on them and lines from Portal (a video game). Oh, and I play video games. A lot. And Munchkin.

So basically, your happy geek. But lately I’ve been thinking about the fact that my geekishness is what helps me write. As a kid, I was always entangled in pretending. My brother and I had friends (The Davlin Kids) who used to come to stay with their Dad in the summers. As soon as they got to town, they’d practically live at our house, playing Star Wars, writing our own movies and generally wreaking havoc on the order of my Mom and Dad’s house.

Pretending got me through a lot of days. Telling and acting out stories was a fun escape we all indulged in. Now I do it for a living. Though instead of acting out the stories I’m telling, I write them down on the page and eventually they become available for mass consumption. I don’t think I’d be doing that if I hadn’t played Princess Leia in a dozen new adventures in my back yard as a kid.

So what makes you geek out? Or did you ever do anything as a kid that led you to the path you’re on now?

Review -- The Care and Feeding of an Alpha Male

The Care and Feeding of an Alpha Male

Bluebonnet, Texas—Book 2

By Jessica Clare

Publisher: Berkley Heat

Release Date: October 2, 2012

Beth Ann Williamson grew up in privilege as the daughter of small-town Bluebonnet’s mayor. She has never wanted for anything—including during her off and on relationship with her high school sweetheart, Allan—except for maybe a little fidelity. That’s not too much for a girl to ask for, is it? Apparently, it is. Beth Ann is tired of Allan’s frequent cheating and is especially tired that the rest of the town does not believe that their relationship is finally over.  

No one knew why they’d finally broken up, just that they had. Beth Ann hadn’t wanted to destroy his character in town—that didn’t seem fair to a man she’d spent nine years with. And she didn’t hate him, not really. She was just disappointed in him, and in herself most of all for putting up with it for so long. 

Beth Ann opened a salon, a long-time dream, and wants to make it on her own. At a silent auction for the Bluebonnet Historical Society, Beth Ann’s mother approaches her to ask a favor. She wants her to discreetly find Lucy, Beth Ann’s seventeen year old sister, who her mother believes ran off for the weekend to a costume group’s camp out with a guy nicknamed “Colossus”. By the time Beth Ann gets to the site, it is raining cats and dogs. In fact, it’s raining so bad that while she’s out searching for Lucy, the local fire department comes to evacuate the campground. 

Survival expert Colt Waggoner is one the volunteers helping to evacuate the site. Everyone is accounted for except for whoever owns the VW bug. Colt searches for the owner and discovers the town’s high and mighty princess, Beth Ann Williamson, looking messy and bedraggled. The two have a prickly relationship, at best, despite each of their best friends being engaged. Beth Ann snaps at him when he finds her, thinking that her best friend set her up. Colt decides to teach her a lesson claiming that they are stranded and have no choice but to seek shelter for the night. As Colt helps her, Beth Ann begins to soften toward him and he realizes that she isn’t who he thought she was...which makes him feel a bit guilty about deceiving her. Soon, their mutual attraction is difficult to deny. 

Wouldn’t the town just love that, he thought with a wry twist of his mouth. Sweet, perfect Beth Ann, stolen away from handsome Allan Sunquist by one of the white-trash, no-good Waggoners. 

The Care and Feeding of an Alpha Male is the second book of Ms. Clare’s Bluebonnet, Texas series and a wonderful good girl/bad boy erotic romance. I haven’t read the first book, but that didn’t matter while reading this one as it stands completely on its own. Though I will say that I want to read the first one now.  

Colt and Beth Ann grew up in the same town, but on the opposite side of the tracks. While in high school, she was the popular girl with the popular guy, while Colt was one of the trailer-park-trash Waggoner brothers. He left right after high school to join the marines in the hopes of making something of himself...and he did. He is the quintessential alpha male who is protective of what’s his. And once he and Beth Ann start dating, she falls into that category. At first, Beth Ann doesn’t know what to think about what is transpiring between her and Colt, but one thing she does know is that Colt is definitely not Allan. Colt doesn’t question everything she does, nor does he hold her back from doing what makes her truly happy. I’m not sure if I could have done like Beth Ann and held out on telling people why she and Allan broke up, but I chock that up to Beth Ann’s good-natured character. These two had scorching chemistry and the love scenes were smoking hot and plentiful. The secondary characters helped advance the story and two in particular have me counting down the days until their story is published.  

If you enjoy super spicy small town romances, The Care and Feeding of an Alpha Male is one that I definitely recommend!

 

~Andrea

Today's Special -- Katie Porter

Today we welcome erotic romance author Katie Porter! Who is Katie Porter, you ask? From Katie's website: Katie Porter is the co-writing team of Lorelie Brown and Carrie Lofty, friends and critique partners of six years. Both are multi-published in several romance genres. Carrie has an MA in history, while Lorelie is a US Army veteran. Generally a high-strung masochist, Carrie loves weight training and has no fear of gross things like dissecting formaldehyde sharks. Her two girls are not appreciative. Lorelie, a laid-back sadist, would rather grin maniacally when Carrie works out. Her three boys love how she screams like a little girl around spiders. To learn more about the authors who make up Katie, like them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter: @carrielofty, @LorelieBrown, and @MsKatiePorter. Welcome, Katie!

What’s in a Name?

By Katie Porter

 

Consider how many names you respond to. Mommy. Sis. Grandma. Your given name and goofy names and nicknames. Names have power. They help us denote personal relationships and where we fit within society. So I wanted to look at the names in HOLD ’EM. One hero. One heroine. Easy, right? Not so much…  

Leah: Her given name, used by her friends and by Mike when they’re just hanging out. 

Mike: Shortened for of his give name, used by all his friends, family, and even Leah when she’s exasperated or sharing a joke. 

Capt. Girardi: Duh. Leah’s in the Air Force. 

Capt. Templeton: Sometimes just “Templeton,” it’s a military thing. 

“Princess”: Her fighter pilot call sign—as in Princess Leah. She hates it, which means her colleagues use it constantly. Mike gets the serious cold shoulder when he tries. 

“Strap Happy”: Occasionally shortened to “Strap,” Mike’s call sign is used exclusively by his male colleagues. It has something to do with his kink, but we won’t spoil that. 

Michael: No one uses his given name but Leah. It’s endearing, possessive, and she can use in plain company—a hint of sexy things to come. 

Ma’am: Mike’s name for Leah during their BDSM play. He would never call her this in mixed company. Ever.  

Pet: Leah’s name for Mike when he becomes her own personal playground. He’s the biggest, baddest guy she’s ever known…and he gives himself to her.

 

Here are two brief exchanges to demonstrate how important their names are in the progression of their love affair. These moments reveal everything. 

 

“You’re looking at me like I’m your buffet. Turns me on, Princess.”

She tweaked his nipples so hard that he flinched. “No. No ‘Princess’. Not here.”

His laugh felt good, just a small release to the pressure. “Noted.” He caught her gaze again then ducked his eyes. “It turns me on, Leah.”

“But you don’t look at me. Why not?” She smiled and licked up from his navel—all wet and ticklish and sexy as hell. “Wait, don’t tell me. Permission again?”

He nodded.

“Well, here’s the deal, Michael.” A shudder worked down his spine. Leah tipped her head. “What…? Michael?”

Rolling his eyes to the ceiling, he fought for calm. Fought to breathe.

“That’s it, isn’t it? You like your full name.” She grinned against his stomach then bared her teeth. At that sweet scrape, testing such sensitive skin, Mike made fists. She tugged the waistband of his jeans.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“And that’s what you’ll call me.”

 

***

 

She stopped with her hand on the doorknob. Her mouth worked over so much she’d like to say. At the chapel, she’d been sure he would take her hand if she offered it. The ice in his eyes said that chance was long gone.

“Michael…”

“Mike.” He punched the TV’s off button with one finger. “Call me Mike. Or Templeton. Or asshat. I don’t give a shit. I better not hear Michael come out of your mouth again. I can’t be held responsible for what I’d say in return.”

She shriveled up and died inside. Flat out. Nothing left. “Just…take care of yourself.”

A sarcastic twist folded his mouth and angled his eyebrows. “Oh, don’t you worry about me, Princess. I’m going to be just fine.”

 

 

 

 

So what’s in a name? In romance, names denote intimacy—the many levels of intimacy a couple can experience during the mating dance. They can be bestowed, and they can be taken away. Both indicate serious events. As for these two lovebirds, I’ll give you a hint…she calls him Michael again by the time they reach their happily ever after. Of course she does!

 

***

 

Up next for Katie Porter, the co-writing team of Carrie Lofty and Lorelie Brown: 

Now that the first three of the RT BookReviews 4½ Star Top Pick “Vegas Top Guns” series have been released, readers can anticipate the final two installments, HARD WAY and BARE KNUCKLE, in 2013.

 

November brings the m/m Christmas-themed CAME UPON AMIDNIGHT CLEAR, described as “masterful” by Publishers Weekly. In January, LEAD AND FOLLOW will launch the five-part “Club Devant” series of erotic multi-partner romances set in a hot New York City burlesque club. 

Where to find us: 

http://KatiePorterBooks.com

Twitter: @MsKatiePorter

Or individually: @carrielofty and @LorelieBrown

 

We'd like to give away a copy of DOUBLE DOWN, INSIDE BET or HOLD ’EM (winner's choice) in any format. Just answer the question: Do you have a pet name for your significant other, one your significant other has for you, or an embarrassing name your parents STILL use after decades of adulthood?

 

Thanks again to The Romance Dish for featuring Katie Porter and Hold ’Em!

Review -- Playing to Win

Playing to Win

Play-By-Play—Book 4

By Jaci Burton

Publisher: Berkley Heat

Release Date: September 4, 2012

Football star Cole Riley is thrilled to finally be playing for his hometown team, the St. Louis Traders. He’s played with other teams and was eventually let go mostly due to his frequent altercations with the media. He has since been labeled as wild and a hot head. If he wasn’t such a great player, one would wonder why St. Louis would take a chance on him. Because he is such a terrific wide receiver, the team and his agent, Liz Darnell (heroine of Changing the Game), hire an image consultant to help with Cole’s off-field behavior. Naturally, Cole is not happy about it or about having someone tell him what to do and how to act. He believes the problem lies solely with the interfering media. However, once Cole gets a look at the woman charged with helping him, he is more open to the idea.

Savannah Brooks has worked hard to get to where she is, including never mixing business with pleasure. Despite her initial attraction to Cole, she takes on the task of attempting to tame the wild sports star. Her first few interactions with him leave her confused as he acts like a gentleman. But later when the media shows up, he handles himself poorly and doesn’t know how to deal with them. Cole desperately wants to keep his public life completely separate from his private life and won’t even talk to Savannah about his family. She works hard to help him but in order to do that she needs to get to know the man behind the mask—to see what makes him tick. When she is finally able to crack that wall, her outlook begins to change...and her feelings begin to grow. 

Playing to Win is a great addition to Jaci Burton’s popular Play-By-Play series. At first you believe Cole is nothing but a cocky jock—and he is—but he begins to come to terms with some of his issues. He never let himself get involved with other teams he played for so that if/when he left, he wouldn’t get hurt or be upset. He took things the media said personally and Savannah helps him to handle them in a positive way and not allowing them get under his skin. Savannah has her own baggage that she has suppressed that comes to light when she sees similarities between her and Cole. 

It was like listening to a version of herself. Only Cole was a lot more honest in how he felt, something she’d never allowed herself to be. He was saying all the things she felt inside but had never given voice to. 

“How does it feel?” she asked. 

“How does what feel?” 

“To be that open and honest with someone.” 

He shrugged. “I’ve never done it before. I’ve never said those things to anyone but you.” 

Her heart squeezed. “Why me?” 

“I guess I just wanted to say it—to someone. Or maybe you needed to hear it. I don’t know.” 

Throughout the book, they both grow and Cole ends up helping Savannah as much as she helps him. I must say, it was quite enjoyable to watch the tough jock fall for the sweet Southern belle. But don’t let that fool you, because these two positively heat up the pages! Fans of the series get to visit previous characters and meet new ones as Cole’s sister, Alicia, is the heroine of the next book in the series. I’m especially looking forward to it because Alicia is a sports medicine specialist and that’s what I wanted to be once upon a time. J 

Playing to Win not only has a great cover (hawt!), but it is a wonderful contemporary erotic romance that I recommend!

 

~Andrea

Stock Up Saturday

Taking a Shot
Play-by-Play—Book 3
By Jaci Burton
Publisher: Berkley Heat
Release Date: March 6, 2012


Jenna Riley is surrounded by sports. One of her brothers is a quarterback in the NFL (Mick Riley, The Perfect Play) and her other brother plays major league baseball (Gavin Riley, Changing the Game), so naturally her entire family loves any and all sports. On top of that, she owns and runs Riley’s, the family’s sports bar where local players and fans come to have a good time. One of those players is Ty Anderson, who plays for the St. Louis Ice, the local NHL team. Ty has been coming in a lot lately and Jenna has noticed his interest. Because her life is so full of sports, she certainly does not want to date anyone involved in sports. But there’s something alluring about the perceptive hockey star that Jenna can’t seem to resist.

Ty Anderson is good at reading people and he gets the impression that there is something more to Jenna Riley that what she shows in public. While she doesn’t resemble the type of girl he normally dates—with her short black hair tipped with purple, multiple piercings and tattoos—Ty wants to know her better. Despite Jenna saying no several times, Ty doesn’t give up...and one night it finally pays off. But Ty may be in for more than he bargained for when he discovers the real Jenna and learns of her hidden dream. Now, all he wants is to help her achieve that dream; and despite her objection to dating sports jocks, maybe find more along the way.

Taking a Shot is the third book in Jaci Burton’s popular Play-by-Play series, which has some of the best covers out there. I love this series featuring hot sexy athletes and strong, independent women...and you don’t have to be a fan of sports to enjoy them. Jenna was introduced in the first book of the series (The Perfect Play) and it was evident to me that there was much more to her character. She is not your typical-looking heroine and I like that about her. And I’m so glad that she got her own story. I was pleasantly surprised by her secret and adored Ty because he was adamant about helping Jenna realize her dream. To me, that is super sexy and makes him an unforgettable hero. The loves scenes are plenty and extremely HOT! I enjoyed visiting the previous couples, Mick and Tara, and Gavin and Liz, and also meeting the hero of the next book in the series, their cousin Cole. If you like super hot contemporary romance, pick up Taking a Shot!

~Andrea