The Heat is On by Katie Rose

Review by TashNz | 4.5 Stars

The Heat is On
by Katie Rose

Loved this read. Delighted to see it’s part of a series. Can definitely be read as a stand alone.

Pro baseball player, Connor Jackson has come home. He’s come home to play his last series of baseball and hopefully win the world series with the New Jersey Sonic's, but most importantly he has come home to take the make gamble of his life and try win the game of life and love with his college girlfriend Tracy Coleman.

Going out to dinner both Connor and Tracy are surprised how easy it is to pick up where they left off and they talk and talk and simmering below is mutual attraction. But Connor doesn’t know what Tracy’s life is like now except that she is happily divorced. Fifteen years is a long time but to both time feels just like yesterday when they were kids in College.

Tracy Coleman is a happily divorced mother of 4. Yes you did read that correctly and what ensues is quite a realistic tale of a single bachelor looking up his old girlfriend who turns out to be a mother of 4. Tracy is reluctant to mention her children so early in the piece, she needs to figure out where this is going first. But as you know secrets have a way of exposing themselves and in the story, quite hilariously. Tracy is frightened Connor is going to run straight for the hills.

When Connor discovers Tracy is a Mum he takes it in his stride and I quite liked his way of looking at things. He was a strong character who was extremely likable and who I praise for sticking up for his loved ones when it counted. I loved his totally hilarious ways of dealing with kids and the adventure or two they went on and seeing things from his point of view.


I really liked the author’s portrayal of a proud mum with four kids and the battles faced with a divorce, the oldest and wisest son being upset and the effects the divorce had on him and the psycho ex also added a great angle. Realistic in a great read kind of way. Being a Mum myself I could totally relate.
The feelings Tracy felt were believable and I was totally caught up in the story, not realising how many chapters I’d read. Interspersed with Connor and Tracy’s story was Connors journey with the Sonics. I really enjoyed this and thought the trials and tribulations with a difficult team and players all panned out and I really got caught up in it.


I’m stoked to be reading a new author and will definitely be checking out the other books in the series and I highly recommend this one. It was a delight to read with realistic moments of life with kids and with likeable characters who you just wanted to both have their happy ever after. I liked the secondary characters just as much and will be looking them up.

Bad Boys of Summer Book 4
Published by Loveswept January 2016

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The Heat is On (The Boys of Summer #4)

Katie Rose



Reviewed by Helen

What a great story this is it is the first book I have read by this author but it won't be the last and this book is no 4 in The Bad Boys of Summer series but can be read as a stand alone and I will be reading the first ones in the series.

Pro-Baseball player Connor Jackson is thinking about retirement and decides to go back to his home town for his last year but there is also someone else back home his college sweetheart that he left behind to make it big in the baseball league he knows from his parents that she is now divorced and is determined to make it work this time but there are four reasons that may make this a bit harder than he thought can Connor open up his heart to all of them.

Tracy Coleman Carter is a divorced mother of four young children and finding it tough but she has great support in her family and best friend and of course her children mean everything to her but when her college sweetheart pro-baseball player Conner Jackson walks back into her life the spark is still there but there is a lot to think about before they can look to a future together especially with her ex causing problems.

Firstly this is an emotional and very sensual story the hero Connor is such a caring fabulous hero and Tracy has so much at stake if she re-kindles her love for Connor but that love between them has never waned it is still there as strong as it was. The author has bought the characters in this one to life so much so that you will be crying laughing and smiling not only that but I was on the edge of my seat through the baseball games as if I was there (and I don't know a lot about baseball). I highly recommend this book it was a fabulous read and I look forward to more in the series.

5/5 stars for a great story.

Touch&Go by Mira Lynn Kelly

Reviewed by Desere

Ava Meyers is vivacious and successful, and living the dream life. Except for one thing, or rather someone. Ever since her childhood she has been in love with her best friend, Sam Farrow. Damaged and with a tough past he's not the kind of guy a woman willingly get's involved with. But that was the younger version of Sam, now he's supremely confident, super -sexy but sadly still totally untouchable, Ava can look all she wants but to touch might been ruining their friendship.
That all comes to a screeching halt when Sam steps in to save Ava from some rather very unwanted attention.

Sam has always hidden his feelings for Ava really well, but after within seconds of coming to her rescue the blistering hot sexual chemistry spirals out of control and he takes what he wants, and Ava gives it back ten times over! Sam knows one night with Ava will never be enough so he proposes they spend a few weeks together acting out all their long kept fantasies , then simply go back to being friends and nothing more, it's a straightforward mission of touch all we want then let go. It's the perfect plan, but there's one flaw, the part where they give each other up, because the more they indulge the more tempted they become to let go of friendship and instead go for forever!

This author has always been able to ramp up the sexual tension and still make it all sound so sweet and kind, I realize that is a odd statement, because when there's sexual tension oozing the sweet words don't seem to exactly always fit, but somehow this author is always able to  make it happen and that my dear reading friends just make it all the better!  And when it's a best friends to lovers trope written in this very stunning manner by a fabulous author, voila ... PERFECTION!

I really liked the character of Ava, sensible and somewhat willing to take a risk, or at least willing to risk a little the moment Sam lays one heck of a kiss on her! I really, really admired her courage when it came to make decisions about the future, it's not every girl that will be able to walk away and start a new life try to move on as best as possible all the while knowing this is not where they are meant to be.

Sam, oh my wonderful, smart, hotter than hot, sexy ass'ed , kind and caring in that special bad boy way Sam, the man totally melted my heart and I wanted to wrap him up and simply just hold him. His past made him a stronger person, but it also caused the don't trust always build walls personality, but when it all comes crumbling down my oh my , it took my breath away!

Through both characters the author showed how trust and honesty are the most important things in any relationship, friends only, friends with benefits, no matter without trust and honesty it will simply break apart and there will be no way to rebuild it.

I recommend this read for all fans who love romances with great kick and that extra something special that just let's your heart soar!

4.5 star review
" They can touch every part of each other night after night, but who will be the one to let go?" 

Truth or Dare by Mira Lyn Kelly

Reviewed by Desere 


Mira Lyn Kelly is back and this time she proves that when playing the age old game of truth of dare, you always pick dare! That is unless you meet the love of your life, then all dares are off the table and the truth is what shall set you free.

We meet Maggie Lawson, her one attempt at commitment has ended with the discovery that her fiance already has a wife and kid, and therefore she vows that the only people she'll ever love till death do us part are her friends.

Unfortunately for Maggie this gives her best friend the perfect opportunity to rope her into a year long dating dare. It's as easy as score a new date each month or pay a penalty, no biggie. Until Maggie's date for the month stands her up, leaving her one option only, grab recently moved in upstairs Mr Hotter than hot Tyler beg him to take her on a date and voila , score for that month complete and penalty avoided.

The only problem: Tyler and Maggie have had some serious arguments and cannot seem to stop fighting at all about everything! And then there's the fact that Tyler would rather focus on getting his selfish ex back in order to reclaim the child he once thought was his and he needs to keep the frustrating as all hell, but so much more tempting Maggie out of his bed and that is a challenge all on it's own because he wants her and he wants her bad!  Before you can say truth of dare these two reach a crossroad, it's time for a new kind of dare : real, forever love.

Fabulously hot sexual tension , riveting emotion and kick ass conflict, this book had it all!  I adored the character of Tyler. A really honest to goodness nice guy always doing the right thing even when it hurts like hell. I fell hook line and sinker for this hero from the start go. Through his character the author showed it is always best to do the right thing, yes it hurts and afterwards you wish you never did it in the first place but somewhere along the line it's going to pay off. The trick is to be able to know when to hold out for that moment to arrive instead of simply just doing the opposite of what you know is right so that it does not hurt so bad.

The character of Maggie was really fun, I liked her feisty spirit and get go attitude even though she had been let down in the past she still pushed for what she knew she had to have. Of course as we all know being hurt in the past does not make it a smooth ride at all and therefore I could identify with her insecurities. Through this character the author showed we all get moments of doubt but when you love someone that love is always stronger than the doubt and can be overcome.

I am taking away a message of life has a way of daring us to get out there and take on the unexpected, it results in happiness and sadness in the end you either win or lose but either way you will know you tried and that is more than what other's ever do. Dare to believe !

I highly recommend this off the charts hotter than hot, sharp and funky dialogue, excellent plot , delicious tension and passionate read for all fans of romance. It's a romance with quite the kick that you will never forget!

5/5 star review
" Truth: They want each other bad, Dare : How long can they resist each other?" 

Loving You Is Easy by Wendy S Marcus

Reviewed by Desere



The super talented Wendy S Marcus is back!!! And I could not be happier, I have been a huge fan of her work form her very first mesmerizing release and ever since I have devoured everything she has written so of course I squealed with pure delight when this new release landed in my very happy hands.

The read tells the story of Brooke Elstein,a politician's daughter and always quiet, in control and thus the perfect image of dutiful always do what makes dad look good gal. All that comes crashing down when a the son of a wealthy donor sinks his teeth into her and sadly also gets away with it. But Brook is no sissy and gets up and moves on as best she can.

One stroke of luck that allows her to easily get out there again is the perk of heading up the governor's " Support out Troops" pen-pal initiative, and thus she's able to get first pick on the smoking-hot sergeant , whose picture sends Brook's heart racing and shakes her right out of her always perfect shoes.

They correspond back and forth, but sexy Shane Develen instinctively hides his commando tattoos and blue collar roots, he knows Brooke is also hiding something, he's not too sure what but he knows there is definitely something there. None the less he knows he has gained her trust when she sends him a off the charts blisteringly sexy photo. But as fate will have it, Shane is injured in an ambush and a fellow solider posts the sexy shot online for all to see.

And so once again Brooke's perfect image turns to ashes in the blink of an eye. Then Shane turns up at her doorstep determined to set things right and discovers the that right or wrong for each other has gone nothing on the chemistry they share, but will Brooke believer him when he tells her the truth or will she again retreat to her always perfect shell in order to protect what little dignity she has left?

I have always been a huge fan or romance books, but when it comes to military related romance books I go absolutely gaga! As in I fall head over heals to dive right into the book, and with this author being one of my ultimate favorites I was in absolute heaven from the first page right through till the very end.

I adored Brooke's vulnerability , but what stood out was her strength among all the vulnerability. I of course could completely understand her being so very vulnerable after what happened to her in the past, but getting back up and fighting to overcome it, especially when you are in the public eye, now that takes a lot more guts! The author beautifully pained Brooke as a strong fighter heroine that just as us all only every now and then lets the armor drop.

Shane was so awesome! Hotter than the Iraqi sun and more lethal to any woman's peace of mind than a Glock 17! I adored this man from the start, yes he does withhold his true and completely honest identity but not in that " I am going to strangle this hero, lying jerk!" kind of manner but more in a knows this is not the time for it all to be revealed manner. In real life of course most woman would fly off the handle when the truth get's revealed but the author did such an amazing job at painting Shane as a true hero of hearts, that if the man was standing in front of me ( of course I would have to be blind folded , because believe me ladies this man is super hot, and yes the author's description is that good so no pictures needed), I would not even think of yelling at him for not telling me from the start who and what he really is.

So with a really hotter than hot remarkably sweet and kind hero and a strong always fight back slightly damaged heroine,  one heck of a picture mix up and a off the charts chemistry that simply cannot be denied, all set within the military and political world,  got one pretty dang awesome read!

The descriptions of surroundings and characters were absolutely perfect, I was right there with Brook for the hurt and the pain of betrayal, I felt Shane go down and blood drain from my veins when he is injured, I could taste the angst and smelt the passion burning up the sheets as these two get down and dirty, outstanding writing Wendy!

I am taking away a message of there is a way and reason for everyone to come together, in this case two smoking hot pictures intertwined two lives of two people who both had a little piece of their hearts missing and needed each other to be healed. The trick would be to be able to send the healer away when you mistakenly think him or her to be the enemy and then to run off back to your own special created camp of doom and glum telling yourself you're safe. Always stay two steps ahead, it's one of the hardest things in life to do, but in the long run you will walk out on the other side , definitely not in tact but with the knowledge that you gave it your all.

I highly recommend this read for all fans of romance, with drama, passion, intrigue and one of the most beautifully written endings I have read in a long time.

5/5 star review
" He aims for her heart and makes a direct hit, but will she trust him enough to give it to him forever?" 



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Reviewed by Nas

LOVING YOU IS EASY by author Wendy S. Marcus is a December 2014 release by Loveswept, Random House.

Brooke Elstein joined the pen-pal initiative and became Sergeant Shane Develen’s pen-pal. After long emails back and forth, she felt she knew him enough to hand deliver him some sexy photos of herself on his next leave home.

But these photos get into wrong hands when Shane gets injured on duty. Brooke’s life crumbled around her as one photo ended up on social media and her students started commenting on it. What would Brooke do now? Could she ever trust Shane again?

And how would Shane ‘make it right’? Could he now? And he was an injured soldier now; could he fit back into Brooke’s life?

LOVING YOU IS EASY is a fast, super sexy and enthralling story. The romance was tender and sigh-worthy. Author Wendy S. Marcus entices her readers into the world she creates and makes them glued to the book till the last page.

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Reviewed by Janie

"Loving You is Easy" by: Wendy S. Marcus is one of those books that you don't want to put down. It makes you want to continue to read to find out what is going to happen.

Brooke Elstein is a politician's daughter. She's the sort of shy, quiet, girl who is in control of her life. That is until she meets Shane Develen through 'Support our troops pen-pal' and decides to meet him when he comes home from his tour of duty. 

Sexy Shane Develen is blue collar but finds himself attracted to Brooke. He gets her to trust him and she sends a racy photo of herself. With the knowledge that it is for his eyes only. He technically doesn't betray that trust, but something happens and the photo falls into the hands of a fellow solider who posts the sexy shot online for all to see. What happens next is a story that is a must read.

I personally love romance books. The military romances were not high on my list, but when I read this book I couldn't put it down. You'll love it from start to finish. I enjoyed seeing the friendship, caring, and then romance between Brooke and Shane.