Once Upon A Bride by Helen Lacey

Reviewed by TashNz

Once Upon a Bride is a beautiful, enriching and moving story set in Crystal Point in which the author, Helen Lacey weaves a brilliant tale.  

At her brother’s wedding Lauren reminds her friends she is “celibate, not comatose”  while discussing her sex life and their thoughts on the best looking man in town, Gabe Vitali.  Lauren is mortified when she discovers Gabe overhears what she thinks of him and to make things worse she then falls into the pool.  Things go from bad to worse when they become neighbours and co-dog-sitters.  Completely attracted to each other, but for many reasons they resist with both believing that “Mr or Mrs Right is NOT Mr or Mrs Right-Next-Door” (again, thank the author for that brilliant piece of writing).

Once Upon a Bride is a beautifully written, completely absorbing, wonderfully compelling and totally exceptional and sweet story.  I thought it was bright and breezy, mixed with emotion all at the right times.  Crystal Point is such a lovely setting and aids the story.  Gabe and Lauren are two people who want what the other can’t give and their journey to happy ever after is truly moving and it’s quite the perfect story with how everything is weaved together.   The story, the characters and the conversation between the two is rewarding and I have read this book more than once. 

I’m such a fan of the angsty type books with billionaires and the such because it’s so far removed from my life that I don’t often read stories such as Once Upon a Bride, but I can’t think of how else to describe how much I loved this book except to say it’s almost the complete opposite of what I normally read and I absolutely loved it.  I would highly recommend if you want to get lost in a true love story with realistic characters.

5 Stars :)


Reviewed by Nas

ONCE UPON A BRIDE by author Helen Lacey is a Harlequin Special Edition series release for September 2014.

Gabe Vitali escaped from his troubled past to a small town in Australia but was he ready for commitment?
Lauren Jakowski is ready for marriage. And she shares an attraction for Gabe, but would Gabe be the one to give her happy ever after? After all he is incapable of happy ever afters, isn’t he?
ONCE UPON A BRIDE is a heartwarming tale of two opposites falling for each other. I loved the drama among all the shimmering emotions as well as revisiting Crystal Point. Author Helen Lacey has a way with words which is incomparable.

Recommended for all lovers of romance.
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A Deal Before the Altar by Rachael Thomas

Reviewed by Desere

Every woman out there who has a sister knows how strong and unbreakable the bond is of sisterly love is. You laugh together, you argue and don't always see eye to eye, you cry together when life's troubles pop up and as years go by and you both grow up, the bond just get's stronger and stronger. But all of that aside there is also the 'we fight together'. You will kill if you have to, yes that sounds completely psycho but it's just how it goes. No one and nothing will hurt our sisters if we have anything to say about it.

In this debut from Mills and Boon author Rachael Thomas this is exactly what Georgina Henshaw sets out to do. Her darling sister Emma is head over heals in love, sadly it is with the brother of the one and only " I'll eat you up and spit you right back out" the ruthless Santos Ramirez. If he allows his brother to marry Emma he will lose the company he worked so hard to bring to success, first brother to make it to the altar gets it all,  a condition of their father's will he has never been able to find a way out off.

But when feisty Georgina walks into his office and demands he marries her in order for him to still have his precious company and thus allowing Emma to have her happy ever after, he sees her as a means to an end of all his problems. Only Georgina thinks this will be a marriage in name only, but Santos wants a heir and he'll do anything to make it happen even if it means seducing his lovely wife into his bed. After all the woman has no feelings what-so-ever she's done this whole marriage for business deal before and won't mind getting her heart a little broken, right?

This read was one of the most beautiful, soul touching, sends your heart racing, has you seeing stars reads I have ever read. The set up of the plot has been done before in other similar books but not quite with this much passion. This author had me hanging onto every word, feeling every emotion and desperately wanting to stay inside this book and continue to experience a love so strong and so romantic it will forever life on in my heart.

The character of Santos was the perfect bad boy, am going to knock this man over the head hero. I loved that he tried so hard to be ruthless all the time yet every now and then that special 'am not half as bad as you think' light shined through. Through this character the author showed that when we hurt we do tend to go all out to be as cold as possible in order to protect ourselves yet the good that lives inside us never truly fades away. The trick is to make sure when it does shine through to not let the darkness of fear overshadow the light.

The character of Georgina was all kinds of amazing and had heroine of the year shouting out from every page. Strong, ready to fight, never backs down and does what ever needs to be done to ensure other's happiness. It did make me very sad that she fights so hard to make everyone happy but never herself. I could understand why she does so for her sister, having two of my own I completely understand that ensuring their happiness is not a duty but springs from the undying love sisters share, but more than once I wanted to yell out at her to stop fighting for everyone else and start taking care of her own needs. Through this character the author showed that sometimes the love we have for others is so strong that we forget to remember we are also human and that we also need love. To make it happen of course we need to be able to gamble with our own lives every now and then instead of always being only the make-others-happy-gambler, if we don't we will end up losing more than just our hearts but the respect of those we love.

I have read many debut's in my lifetime and a lot of them have continued to move through life with me, the lessons I learned, the strong emotions I felt, the overwhelming joy at the end of the books when it all comes together, and this read definitely makes it into that category because the story of Georgina and Santos is one I will never forget.

The entire read was filled with passion, romance, suspense and beautiful on some many levels, but what stood out the most was the truly remarkable bond between the characters, sisters, brothers and the very realistic look at just how strong the bond can be. No matter what life dishes out, it's a bond that cannot be broken,yes it can be damaged but never beyond repair. I am taking away a message of life is full of surprises and sometimes they come in very unexpected forms, in this case , waltzing into a office and demanding marriage, but which ever form or way never only see it as a way to solve your own issues. Take the time to see it for what it truly is , life' s way of showing you there is so much more to life then always remembering the past and hurt, happiness is the only way to banish the past , just make sure you don't let it walk out the door., because unlike sister to sister or brother to brother love it might not be as easy to mend.

I highly recommend this read for all fans of romance reads. The book has so much life, passion and brilliant flare and is brought to one of the most stunning endings I have read.  It will leave you begging for more Rachael Thomas over and over again! A pure romantic bliss filled read that is for sure going to reach out to each and ever romance reader out there. Watch out world Rachael Thomas has arrived !

5/5 star review
" It's all business in front of the altar, but behind closed doors it's all about protecting their hearts" 


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Reviewed by Nas

A DEAL BEFORE THE ALTAR by debut author Rachael Thomas is a Harlequin Presents release for October 2014.

Georgina Henshaw was prepared to do anything for her sister’s happiness, even go as far as getting married to Santos Ramirez as a business deal only. But the sparks that flew when Santos touched her made sure the marriage couldn’t be in name only.

But Santos had been hiding something and what would happen when Georgie finds out? Would she stay in this marriage? Could she stay in this marriage after finding out that Santos had no heart to love? Or would she be able to melt the ice surrounding Santos heart?

A DEAL BEFORE THE ALTAR is a romance filled with red-hot passion and tender moments. Rachael Thomas did a great job of bringing Georgie and Santos together when it seemed it was impossible for them to ever reach a compromise.

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Damaso Claims His Heir by Annie West

Reviewed by Desere



As Princesses go Marisa is to the outside world the typical had a bit of a rough start to life and went the route of using her charm to party up a storm. She only let's the public see what they want to see and hides her pain and insecurities. The latest scandal she finds herself trapped in forces her to take a trip to Brazil.

Once there she comes face to face with delicious, too sexy to be missed Damaso Pires. Damaso knows he should not get involved with Marisa, she's the scandalous Princess of Bengaria and around her you are sure to lose any good reputation you have. But he can't resist her and soon she's in his arms for a night of unbridled passion.

But their brief affair becomes a permanent arrangement when Marisa reveals she's pregnant. Damaso is not the type of man to walk away from his responsibilities, he has learned the outcome of such a grave error and he won't let his child slip from his grasp, there's only one way to ensure he has his child in his life and the woman he has fallen for in his bed every night , marriage! Only Marisa doesn't see things his way and is ready to take off running, to win the game Damaso will need to fight harder then ever before, this is the biggest deal of his life but will it worth it in the end?

I am total over the top mad fan of Annie West's books, she has this unique way of conjuring up so many various emotions of sadness, anger, hurt, pain happiness, joy all at the same time that it is sometimes yes a little overwhelming to try and figure out which one of the emotions I want to deal with first . But in this lies the magic of this author's writing. She sucks you in with a little bit of sexy fun, sends you spiraling into the emotional wreck of confusion, drags you over to the total heartbreaking sadness of life's events and then pushes you over the edge with a large dose of happiness.

In this her latest read she did so again, and the end result is a story that will remain with me for as long as I live. Damaso was the perfect hero, strong, determined and willing to fight for what he wants, I loved him more and more on each page. I felt saddend by his past but so very proud that he worked so hard to reach the top, where most people in his position would have simply given up and just tagged along with everyone else. Him working so hard to achieve his success really made him stand out from the crowd. I loved his passion for Marisa, I was completely addicted to the way he goes full steam ahead to ensure he has her and their child in his life. Most successful rich men of today would the the right thing by offering marriage and if the woman says no , he will simply walk away going " Hey I get brownie points for trying, right?"

Marisa was a very sad character, I wanted to give this woman a big hug and tell her to not give up, to fight back and not go down in history as never trying to even rectify the events that led to her to the road she has had to face all her life. Her finding the courage in the arms of Damaso was one of the most beautiful stories ever written. The author did a stunning job of showing how the love of the right person can guide us to find the strength to push forward to fight for what we believe in.

I am taking away a message of when dealt a set of cards in life, good or bad, there is never any point in not trying to make the best of it, go with the flow but don't go with the flow of everyone else simply to make them happy. Instead follow your own flow of life and find that certain something that drives you to fight for love and happiness. Following your own flow will lead to inner courage shining through and that's what will lead to people seeing the real you.

I highly recommend this truly beyond beautiful, truly romantic on each and every level romance has to offer, simply magical read for all fans of romance. A fantastic read about Scandal, passion, jealousy, love and the right to be happy.

5/5 star review
" The princess finds herself trapped in the scandal her 'prince'  is not letting her escape from" 


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Reviewed by Nas

DAMASO CLAIMS HIS HEIR by author Annie West is a September 2014 release by Harlequin Presents series.

Super hot Brazilian billionaire Damaso Pires couldn’t keep his eyes and later his hands off the sexy scandalous Princess Marisa.

One hot passionate night together and he walks away as he couldn’t deal with the feelings the Princess evoked in him. Then a month later he accidently finds out that Marisa is pregnant. Could he let her walk away now? Is she really the scandalous Princess the media portrays her as?

DAMASO CLAIMS HIS HEIR is a fast-paced romance tale between a hot Brazilian hero and a fiery European Princess. The chemistry between Damaso and Marisa is off the charts and the sensuality just sizzles on the pages. Author Annie West has once again brought this fairy-tale royal romance which will hook all romance readers and keep them glued to the book till the last page.

4.5 out of 5 stars.

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Captured by the Sheikh by Kate Hewitt

Reviewed by Desere


" I took your bride. I 'll take your throne. Because both are mine by right."

Those are the words spoken by Sheikh Khalil al Bakir, the banishment and shame has turned him into  man determined to reclaim the crown of Kadar from his rival. He starts by kidnapping his enemy's bride-to-be. She's a means to an end, so why he get's all inflamed at the thought of her in anyone else's bed but his own is a mystery he simply does not know how to solve, nor does have the time, he has a thrown to take over.

Queen Elena Karras of Thallia is prepared for a cold, mutually convenient marriage but instead she's carried off into the desert sand, where the virgin queen soon discovers an unexpected desire for her sinfully delicious captor, and leaves her craving for more and she get's it but when the game ends will Khalil walk away and leave her broken hearted or will he see himself through her eyes?

This was a truly beautiful read of how two people learn to fight the battles of life together. I loved the fiery passion that Khalil has, but sadly his passion for the throne is overshadowed with the thoughts of revenge and of course this made him the type of hero you can only have luke warm feelings for, but it is only for a certain period on the book , because as all fans of Harlequin Presents books know, there is always something or someone that will turn the person around.

And that person was Elena, beautiful, smart and always seeing the side of a person they attempt to hide from the world. I loved Elena to bits! The author took me on a truly remarkable journey of how one man finds himself willing to fight for what he believes is his, and the one woman who let's him finally see the truth shine out from the revenge-darkness that his mind has become.

I am taking away a message of life has it's way of guiding us on the wrong path, but it's in order to find the right one. The trick of course is to not miss the right turnoff to take whilst on that wrong path, because the road up ahead might not bring along another turnoff to the road where the your calling is waiting for you.

I highly recommend this read for all fans of a excellent, deeply emotional Sheikh romance. Kate Hewitt is simply one of the most remarkable author 's of all time and with each book her writing just get's better and better!

5/5 star review
" To win the game all he has to do is see himself through her eyes" 







REVIEW BY TASHNZ
5 STARS
I love dramatic and exciting beginnings and with an opening such as "Something's Wrong" I was
captured - just like Elena!  Queen of Thallia! Expecting to meet her fiancee, Elena is instead
whisked away by Sheikh Khalil al Bakir, not before a dramatic attempt at escape which ends with
both rolling around on the desert runway.

Khalil intends to hold Elena captive for four days - long enough to stop her from marrying her fiancee
which will also stop Elena's fiancee being crowned ruling Sheikh. Khalil believes heart and soul he
is the rightful ruler and kidnapping Elena is part of his plan to become the ruling Sheikh. Khalil
doesnt realise Elena has her reasons for marrying Aziz, and desperate to remain queen of her people
Elena attempts to be rescued.  It's impossible though and although she's young, Elena has a wise
head on her shoulders.  Proving to Elena Khalil is not some barbaric warlord is a mission in
itself.  It also surprises Elena, she's been kidnapped and held in the neverending desert but has
all the comforts of home.  During their time together the last thing Khalil expects is to have
feelings for Elena... he doesnt have the time or inclination to trust, the last 25 years have been
leading him up to the day he retains the crown, the day is almost here but being in confined
living space in the beautiful desert Elena and Khalil grow closer and closer with Elena questioning
herself.

Khalil was one of the best Sheikhs I'd read.  He was dark and dangerous, strong and fearless,
dashingly sexy, full of pride and very passionate about his people and his reasons for being
ruling Sheikh.  Although raised American, he's at home in the desert and had grown into a
respected leader of his mothers people.  Elena brings out a charming and witty side of himself
and Khalil is worried about these feelings he's developing.


Elena was every inch the queen, a young queen but with a wise head.  She thought before she acted,
she showed grace of a queen and the tenacity of a warrior.  Her plan was always to escape
but she tried to plan well given she was in the desert and death was around every corner. Expecting
barbaric treatment Elena was surprised when she was treated as a queen and with respect.  Elena is at
odds with her heart when she realises Khalil is almost the first friend she has ever had in her
sheltered life.  Her giving heart and compassionate soul recognises Khalil as a man of pride.

Elena and Khalil hadfantastic conversations which I well enjoyed. They were witty and throughly
enjoyable.  I loved their banter and their serious moments and their indepth discussions on war.


Captured by the Sheikh is an exceptionally exciting and gripping story.  Khalil's race to the crown had me on the
edge of my seat. I had breathless moments, for example, when Elena looking up to find Khalil pointing a gun at her and
shooting... My heart litterally stopped while I turned the page!  Beautiful writing with magical
descriptive words flowed from the pen of Kate Hewitt.  Khalil and Elena's back-stories were told with
heart and compassion.  The emotions evoked were heartfelt and I didnt want to reach the end. Kate
masterfully played with Khalil and Elena, attraction was early on in the peace but she made them
wait in such a way that as a reader you almost held your breath wondering if this was it? Is this
the moment they stop wondering what if...

I find it hard to elaborate on certain things because it will give the story away, but since I've
had the book, I have read it twice and it will be read many times in the future.
A Kate Hewitt masterpiece!  I can not wait for Aziz's story, I'm very interested in reading his
point of view and discovering why he does what he does in Khalil's story.

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Reviewed by Nas

CAPTURED BY THE SHEIKH by author Kate Hewitt is a Harlequin Presents release for September 2014.

Sheikh Khalil al Bakir was determined to get back his rightful place as the king of Kadar. He plotted and kidnapped Elena Karas, Queen of Thallia, who was the bride-to-be of his enemy. But Elena brought out feelings in Khalil and they forged a friendship which soon turned to passion as the chemistry between them sizzled.

Could Elena now marry her groom-to-be and go into a staid passionless marriage? After all she was prepared for the marriage of convenience but she was a different person now. Could she go back to the person she was before the kidnapping? And was Khalil ready to make her his Queen?

CAPTURED BY THE SHEIKH is a sizzling tale of unexpected passions. I loved the action packed, fast-paced story with all the shimmering emotions. Author Kate Hewitt will once again hook her readers with her mesmerizing story telling. I’m looking forward to the jilted grooms story now in COMMANDED BY THE SHEIKH.

Recommended for all lovers of romance.

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Someone like you by Karen Rock

Reviewed by Desere

Everyone knows you can't program love. It's meant to happen naturally , and no voodoo spell, or drink this magical potion is going to land you into the arms of the one and only.

But just maybe a new app can, well that's what Kayleigh Renshaw thinks, when she comes up with the idea of a brilliant
"compatibility app" , but the app's not for her to find love, it's only meant for others of the lonely life world to discover their true love, she'll keep playing it safe it 's the right thing to do.

The app is the wave of the future and the best kind of matchmaking software money can buy. All she needs to make it work is a programmer to help her bring the idea to the market.

And she knows the perfect rope me in am yours for the taking to work the magic needed. But there's a catch, because Mr work my magic Naill Walsh is not only Kayleigh's former best friend but also the one that has been avoiding her since his return from Afghanistan.

She can't quite seem to figure out if it's just her or if something far darker is holding him back. Can she gain access to his mind and discover what lies hidden behind his lazy all is well smile, or will she end up running away from her best friend when the truth is revealed?

I have been a huge fan of Karen Rock's truly inspirational reads since her first book. This author manages time and time again to take a everyday situation and turn it into such a vivid and realistic story that it is as if the characters are not simply a name on the page, but right there in front of you going through the worst time of their lives or finding their very own happy ever after. And this time was no different ! During this read I found myself thinking this is not a book, these are not just characters, this is not just a story, this is real life!

In this read I felt each and every single drop of emotion as if I was the one living it. The fear and anger Naill goes through at the loss of friend, the rage he feels at not knowing if what he is doing is the right thing or if he is simply mucking up again.

The heartache and feeling of being completely torn between honor towards her family and the man she has come to love that poor Kayleigh has to face. I more than once pulled out the tissues and bawled like a baby!

The character of Naill was such a heartbreaking one that I simply wanted to grab hold of this man and just hold him. I felt so sad for him and what the demons he had to face, and it reminded me of all the warriors of war out there, that sadly I see each day. They come home with nightmares, flashbacks and truly go through hell trying to try and re-learn life without thinking of what happened out on the battlefield. Some never even find the courage to crawl out from the hell they hide behind and simply fade away from the world. But then there are those like Naill who find a purpose to live again and this author reminded me that there is always hope and a way out. The scars never go away but with someone by your side they do get better and just a little easier to handle.

The character of Kayleigh was so sweet and so kind and just wants to make the world smile. I adored her so much and I saw myself in her all the way. It is a far nicer feeling to make people smile then sad. So yes I totally adored Kayleigh! She was so strong and courageous it made me so proud and I truly wished she could be real because I know for darn sure we would be best friends. Her not wanting to forget her family and the honor anyone would have for one's family made me sad, not because I don't believe in honor, for I definitely do, but because it made it so much harder for her to try and accept what happened to Naill. It is never easy to chose between being angry because of loss and learning to accept what happened and to instead fill your heart with love and not regret and hate. Through this character the author showed me that if we do go with the " I cannot accept what you caused " option then we will be pretty much as good as the walking dead. You will be left behind from the world and find yourself alone and in a pretty dark place, incapable of loving others.

I am taking away so many powerful messages from this read but the one that comes to light the most throughout the read is that we should never hide. Not from the world, not from those we love, and never from those we have lost. The world does not count because they are not ones that determine out happiness we are. The ones we love are the ones that will always be there for us no matter what, so don't push them away. And those ones we have lost, will never truly be gone, the memories of the times you sent together will always be there, and those can never be taken away, so don't let the ghosts of the past hold you back, smile and wave at them each day and thank them for looking down on you and giving you a chance to live.

I highly recommend this read for all fans of romance reads. The book is such an inspirational read you will find yourself having a new zest for life, no matter what the circumstances you are facing might be. You will want to push harder and harder to find a way out of what ever you might be needing to face. A truly remarkable, magical, blow me away, bawl my eyes out, make my heart soar, have anyone and everyone believe in romance read!

5/5 star review
" Together they rescue each other" 

Heir to Scandal by Andrea Laurence

Reviewed by Desere

Congressman Xander Langston has it all, he is in good financial standing, a good society member, great job, his book was just published and he is good looking enough to have any woman in his arms. But his life is about to fall to pieces.

He returns to his hometown to assist his family cover up a scandal that will definitely damage his reelection chances. Whist in town he meets up with the first woman he loved Rose, she has transformed into a radiant beauty and he simply cannot resist her.

They talk , go on a date, have a good time and even discover the passion they once shared is still there. But the date abruptly ends when Rose receives a call that her son is in hospital with a broken arm. Xander always the gentlemen makes sure she does not drive in a state of worry and escorts her to the hospital.

But the second he lays eyes on her son, he knows Joey is his. Understandably he is angry but he also makes it crystal clear he will not walk away from her or their son, only going public might destroy his reelection chances and then there's the family scandal added to the mix. This man has more on his plate than he ever bargained for, the only question that remains is , what's more important his career or his family?

I very much enjoyed this read. I liked the characters and the little bit of conflict. It was nice to see that they fall back into a dating pattern after being separated for eleven years, that does not always happen because people change, so it felt a little unrealistic until I realized that the love they shared was strong enough to create an everlasting bond that no amount of time could erase.

The character of Xander was fun and very enjoyable, he was a very honorable man, takes his duties of his job and his personal life very seriously. He was also very understanding about everything, he does go a little stir crazy with everything that just keeps piling up, but he doesn't take it out on people around him, which is usually what the reaction is from most hero's. He simply handles it all with spectacular fashion. And for this reason I could not help but fall in love with him. Through this character I learned that when life is spiraling out of control there really is no point in losing your cool, rather just face what you need to face and deal with it as best you can.

The character of Rose was really sweet, I liked that she does everything in her power to give her son the best life possible. Every single mother knows how hard it can be to make it all work out. I admired her strength and courage. I did feel she gives into Xander just a little too easily, but it showed that after eleven years of dealing with it all alone she has hit that 'I don't want to do this alone anymore' point and I could understand why she falls for Xander all over again so very quickly.

It also made for a very smooth and easy read, there was none of the major back and forth ,then we are together than we are apart and back together again stuff. The author got to the point and did so nice and quickly.

I am taking away a message of life has a way of bringing us right back to where we are meant to be, but when we get there the rest is up to us. If we turn our back on the second chance then tomorrow will be a lonely and bleak place. If we strengthen up and take one day at a time it will maybe not completely work out in the end but it will show you what you need to know and what you are meant to be doing.

I recommend this read for all fans that love a good sweet, sensual, passionate read with a nice even flow and just the right amount of emotional drama to keep you interested.  **Warning : The read ends with a cliffhanger so be sure to check in on the next release of the series.

4.5 star review
" The bond of love is stronger than ever before, but can it withstand the scandal of the century?" 

Matched to her rival by Kat Cantrell

Reviewed by Desere

Elise Arundel refuses to let anyone mess with her company. She's good at matching people with their soul-mates and no one will take that away from her. So of course when Mr I always doubt Dax Wakefield challenges her, she takes the chance to bring him round to her way of thinking.

But when her full proof match making program matches her as Dax's soul mate, the situation is more than just a little uncomfortable. It's downright unprofessional to get involved with a client, only she craves Dax and he seems to share the attraction.

Only Elise is his enemy and bring down her company he shall, all he needs to do is resist the once ugly duckling turned swan. Naturally avoiding their mutual attraction is a "So not happening" situation and soon they are lost in a world of passion. But Elise is not ready to be someone's soul mate and Dax well he's not so sure about love really existing in the first place, after all how can a match program find the one you're meant to spend the rest of your life with?

This was the third installment in the Happy Ever After Inc, trilogy, and just like the previous two books it was stunning! I adored Elise when I was introduced to her in the previous book, and I could not wait for her story to see her find her very own happy ever after, because let's face it when your job is matching people to the love's of their lives and here you are still un-happy -ever-after life does start to get a little hopeless.

I was delighted to to discover that Elise's perfect match was a very unexpected one, I did not picture her with the brooding and very stubborn Dax. The man is the kind of hero you want to shove into a tiny room and play love songs and romantic movies over and over till he believes in love.  But how I adored him , when the author started showing him in a very interesting and very different light.

Elise was a bit of a shocker , as when I 'met' her in the previous book she was all full of life, go after love and always believe you have a soul mate, and then suddenly when her soul mate is right in front of her she wants to dig a whole and bury herself.  I expected her to go after it and make it happen, but through this the author showed not everyone is always as they seem. There is always something more hiding behind the smiles and 'am always happy' attitudes.

I am taking away a message of we can always tell everyone what do to, what to wear and how to think when it comes to certain things in life such as love. But when our own love comes walking through the door
it's not that easy. The trick would be to see if you can follow your own advise instead of only being able to dish it out.

I highly recommend this read for all fans of happy ever after reads. It was sweet and heartfelt with loads of spice and best of all a story that does a 360 degree bend of the normal meet, fall in love , happy ever after. It's Cinderella meets the Frog prince with a new twist or is that a new ball game?

5/5 star review

" She's always one step ahead of him, but he's right there to catch her when she falls"

Changing Constantinou's Game by Jennifer Hayward

Reviewed by Desere

Jennifer Hayward is back !! This time she takes us the wild ride of a passionate romance between Alex and Isabel.

It starts off when Isabel is trying to corner the current main feature of the story of the century, it will take her for community journalism straight to news anchor. The problem is that her main star Leandros Alexios Constantinou ( isn't that one of the sexiest names ever?)  avoids the press like one would the flu. Fate however plays them both a different set of cards, as they end up being trapped together in a elevator for hours.

The catch ? Isabel thinks the sexy strangers name is Alex and he thinks her to be a communications expert, and that's all they both need to know because all Isabel wants is to fall into his arms for one magical night and Alex, well he recons he can spare a couple of hours with a beautiful woman coming undone in his arms and then walk away, no harm, no foul just pleasure for them both.

One week later and they are thrown back together as Isabel 's boss demands the interview to happen and happen immediately , but what will Alex do when he finds out Isabel's real identity and how will Isabel get herself out of this mess and still make it to the news anchor 's chair?

It's no secret that am a major fan of Jennifer's work so of course I was eagerly awaiting this book from the moment I heard it was in the works, and my oh my was the wait worth it in so many wonderful ways. The book was full of fun , fresh and new awesomeness.

I adored Alex, he does not take no for an answer and plays to win, making him even more sexy than I ever thought a ex-quarter back could ever be. I am use to the powerful, rich business type of hero's, whom I adore very much, but Alex being ex -sporty turned business had a whole other level of hotness that melted my bones. It showed him as always on the move, playing the game as one would in any sports setting and not the usual type of let's see what the deal will bring if we turn the table this way kind of thing. This made Alex a really refreshing hero and I could not get enough of the man. He was kind, sweet, gentle, funny, sexy as hell and combined with a powerful master-fullness he was just plain lethal! Through his deep dark secrets the author showed that even the biggest of stars out there are human just like the rest of us, and judging them can and will break them. Think before you idolize someone.

The character of Isabel was pretty darn cool. This woman had guts and spunk and was not afraid to try anything and everything to get a story done, yes she does back off here and there, but only to the point when she knows she's been cornered and there is no way forward. But just like Alex, Isabel was a different kind of heroine than the ones I am use to , she felt more modern and fun , more real and alive somehow, and I thought every moment of it a pure joy to read.  Through the character of Isabel the author showed we can have all the courage we want to get what we think we want, but the truth is when we have it, will it actually mean anything if we had to sacrifice our dignity to gain it?

I am taking away a message of we may think we're in control of our lives and can control everything that happens, write it down and watch it play out exactly as we planned, the truth is there is no such thing as control over anything in life. We cannot say who we are going to fall in love with, or if we are going to get to the business goals we set out in life to achieve. The best thing to do is handle it all as a game, with challenges that can either work in our favor or go the other way, as long as we keep playing the game in order to know we gave it the best shot.

I highly recommend this read for all fans who love a romance with a fun upbeat, emotionally packed, passionate blow me away heat and a super sexy story of a new chance at life

5/5 star review
" They're about to change up the rules of the game, and the results are electrifying!  "