Entangled Publishing Turns 5! - Excerpt and Giveaway

Entangled Publishing is turning 5 and we are so excited that we are offering all the books on our latest bestselling imprint, Lovestruck, at a celebratory price of just $.99 each! At prices like these be sure to fill up your reader.

AND that's not all. From 2/1 to 2/21 we are giving away 5 Lovestruck prize packs including 5 different Sephora Minimergency kits, an Amazon gift card and other surprise gift cards. So be sure to stop by each of our amazing blogger hosts below and visit the Lovestruck Facebook page to find out about the fun events and giveaways we will be having in the coming weeks. You will also get sneak peeks inside our different releases so you can pick out your must reads.

We will also be having a Facebook party on Thursday, February 11th from 8­10pm ET where several of our Lovestruck authors will be chatting with readers and offering prizes as well. So join us on the Entangled Publishing Facebook page.

Haven't read a Lovestruck yet? Take a peek inside...

Pretend It’s Love by Stefanie London Excerpt

“Let’s go,” he said, holding out his arm to Libby. “It’s showtime.”

She stood taller against him, having changed into a pair of her signature crazy-high heels. As much as he knew his relationship with Libby was fake, he couldn’t help imagining what she’d look like in only those heels. Like dessert and heaven and sex rolled into one, he’d bet.

Her hand rested lightly on his arm, her body pushed against him. She teetered on the unsteady paving of his parents’ front steps. Each bump of her hip sent a shot of heat through him.

He’d spent the afternoon trying not to think about how attractive she was with that mane of red hair and that perky butt encased in faded denim. In all likelihood he’d failed but, judging by some of the looks she’d thrown him, the feeling was mutual.

“You’re asking for trouble in those shoes,” he said, forcing his attention to something safer than Libby’s distracting curves.

“I’m asking for trouble anyway.” She offered him a sly smile as he rang the doorbell. “The shoes are just the cherry on top.”

Paul was about to ask her what kind of trouble she preferred when a thumping noise came from the house followed by footsteps. “You’re not scared of dogs, are you?”

Libby’s eyes widened as she stepped toward the door. “Not really…I don’t think.”

At that moment the front door burst open and the Chapmans’ very large, very excited Great Dane burst forth. He immediately locked onto Libby and jumped up, throwing his paws over her shoulders.

“Oh my God!” She wobbled on her heels, but Paul grabbed her around the waist from behind, preventing her from toppling over and taking the dog with her.

She stumbled back against him, her ass pushing squarely against his groin as she tried to wriggle free from the dog’s grip. If she hadn’t known about his attraction to her before, she would now.

Trust his libido to come back in full force with the one girl who had a “no sex” policy.

“Down, Cavallo!” His mother’s voice rang out over the commotion. “Siediti!”

The dog relinquished, its large tail thumping against the doorframe. Even seated, the top of his head came up to the bottom of Libby’s ribcage. Cavallo sniffed her and then proceeded to wipe a long strip of doggy drool across her jeans.

“I am so sorry,” his mother said, shooing the dog inside. “He gets very excited when we have guests.”

“It’s okay.” Libby blinked, looking down at her jeans and then back up to Paul, stifling a smile.

“Excitement is a natural thing.”

Paul tried to subtly adjust the front of his jeans so his hard-on wouldn’t be noticeable, but the quick flick of Libby’s eyes told him he’d been well and truly sprung.

About the book:

Bar manager Paul Chapman is sick of his family’s traditional ideals. Marriage, babies, and a white picket fence? Not his gig. But now that his ‘golden child’ big brother is tying the knot, Paul’s screwed. His ex will be there...and she’s having his cousin’s baby. Unless he wants to show up to the wedding alone and face his family’s scrutiny, he needs a girl on his arm. Now.

Cocktail specialist Libby Harris has spent her life earning the nickname Little Miss Perfect, all to win the love of her wealthy, controlling father. But she deviated from his plan, and now her business is on shaky ground. If it fails, she might as well kiss his respect—and her dream—good-bye. Her only hope? Convince the hottest bar in town to take on her product.

Luckily for her, the owner’s brother is sexy as sin and in need of a perfect girlfriend...

Buy links:

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Review: All Bets Are On by Cynthia Cooke

Title: All Bets Are On
Author: Cynthia Cooke
Source: Entangled Covet
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: Novel
Release Date: September 22, 2013
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Rating - 4
Sexual - 3

The Prince of Hell needs to get laid. Well, according to his minions, anyway. Now
Derek Wescott, ruler of the Eighth Level of Hell, has been set up on an online date. And worse still, his minions are placing bets that Derek won't be able to entice the sweet yet plain Jaclyn Reynolds into bed before midnight. But Derek has no intention of losing the bet. Not now. Not ever.

Jaclyn, on the other hand, is in danger of losing everything. The charity she runs is in trouble, and she is desperate for cash. The moment she sees her absolutely gorgeous—and insanely wealthy—date, she knows she's in way over her head. She also knows his type all too well, and it will be a cold day in Hell before she ever gets into his bed. Yet Derek offers her a friendly wager: he'll give $10,000 to her charity if she can resist him.

The wagers have been set. The game has begun. And Derek will do just about anything to ensure that Jaclyn is completely—and infernally—his...

Derek has been in a bad mood for about 100 years (or so his minions think).  So they have the brilliant idea of setting him up on a blind date through an online dating site.  Now, as a prince of hell, Derek doesn't like the idea too much but follows through when they bet him he can't get her to sleep with him.  Now I know, I know, we're all thinking "what a jerk".  But Derek is really such a sweetheart.  His job is to punish people in the corporate world that do bad deeds.

Jaclyn is another reluctant online dater.  But she has sworn off dating - especially good looking guys - she just knows they're all players and will lover her and leave her behind.  When this reluctant couple finally meet, sparks fly in some very snappy dialogue.  I absolutely loved it!  Jaclyn is a snarky (if a bit obnoxious at times) strong woman that just doesn't realize how strong she is yet.

There is some family drama on Derek's side that drags Jaclyn in as some possible collateral damage, and some crime solving that really freaks her out and hits close to home.  I love how Derek was willing to do anything to try and get to know her better.  He sees something special in her and wants to find out what it is and make her his.

This was a good mix of romance with just a touch of humorous dialogue, some really hot characters, and some nasty bad guys.  I would have liked to see more of the motivation behind Derek's family drama a bit, but at the end of the book a lot is revealed.  It was just quite a surprise.

*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*

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Review: Kidnapping the Brazilian Tycoon by Carmen Falcone

Title: Kidnapping the Brazilian Tycoon
Author: Carmen Falcone
Source: Entangled Indulgence
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: Novel
Release Date: August 18, 2014
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Rating - 3
Sexual - 3

Passion was never in the bargain

Addison Reed lost her fiancé, but she’ll do whatever it takes to protect his legacy. When the gorgeous and arrogant landowner, Brazilian billionaire Bruno Duarte, who is thwarting her at every turn, refuses to meet with her, she puts her plan into action. He will listen to her.

Bruno’s plan was simple: return to Brazil and marry to fulfill his father’s dying wish. But when his engagement crumbles, and he’s then stranded with an idealistic woman hell-bent on saving a tribe of people on his land, he sees the perfect solution. If his feisty and passionate abductor agrees to a bogus marriage, he’ll relocate the tribe.

With the Brazilian heat rivaling the growing heat of their desire, will Bruno and Addison abandon their respective plans and give in to each other, or will their differences tear them apart?

This book started out in a very new way for me.  We have little Addison, the activist, kidnapping the very muscular and hunky Bruno.  The whole scene was a bit amusing - trying to picture her recruiting the help of the bar staff to load her "drunk friend" into a car had me chuckling.  Now, Addison doesn't wish ill to Bruno in any way, she just wants her to listen to him about a tribe that lives on land he's about to sell to a developer.

Addison has a very one-track mind throughout this story.  Everything she does is for this tribe and sometimes her single-mindedness got downright annoying.  I totally understand why Bruno got tired of listening to her talk about it sometimes.  Bruno wasn't much better.  He's so set on pleasing his dying father and making amends for something that wasn't even his fault, that he doesn't realize what an ass he's being most of time.

Now the few moments (generally in midst of sex) that they lost focus on their goals, I really loved them.  They worked well together and seemed to really enjoy each other's company.  All their trust issues really hampered this for them, too.  Neither one would let go and trust that the other would hold up their end of the deal.

The ending was really great though.  I loved how things didn't just magically work out - there was some work involved, some hurt feelings, and having to literally chase down your dreams.  Throw in a reconciling family and it was just happies all over.

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Other posts for Carmen Falcone:

Review: A Night of Misbehaving

Review: The Geek Billionaire Makeover (a Sexy in Seattle Novel) by Theresa Meyers

Title: The Geek Billionaire Makeover (Sexy in Seattle)
Author: Theresa Meyers
Source: Entangled Indulgence
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: Novel
Release Date: August 18, 2014
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Rating - 3
Sexual - 3

She wanted revenge. He wanted the only thing he couldn't have—her. Image consultant
Caroline Parker is willing to resort to corporate espionage to get revenge on Seattle tech billionaire CEO Joshua Martin. He may be king of the computing world now, but when they knew each other in high school, he was just the geeky friend of her younger brother she refused to date.

To successfully launch his new venture, Aeon Industries, Josh’s got to shake off his geek veneer and get into beast mode, and he needs her help to do it. Josh always thought the brass ring was his next big business coup, but once he sees Caroline again, he realizes that old desire to have her has never waned. Now he’s determined to make her his, no matter what the cost.

Caroline knows she can create a superstar from the geek, but she's got a deeper reason to sign on for the job. Helping Josh remake his image gives her an opportunity to get close to him--and get her hands on the plans for Aeon that could save her brother from a ruthless blackmailer. But as Josh's image makeover takes hold, and she starts to fall for her creation, she realizes too late that her venture into espionage could ruin more far more than Josh’s empire.

The storyline on this one really threw me off a few times.  The only reason Caroline agrees to work with the man she hates, Josh Martin, is because she is being blackmailed.  This whole thread seems to be incredibly out of place.  It only pops up a few times and the reasons behind it all seem very far-fetched.  Now, if we pretend that didn't happen and just let Caroline work with Josh so she can get revenge on him for some things that he did to her and her brother - then we would have had a perfectly good story.

I loved Josh's character, but I've always had a soft spot for geeks.  I find them too adorable to resist, and Josh definitely fit the role well.  Afraid of crowds and without a good public image, he has a lot to work on with Caroline - the girl he's loved since high school.  Caroline is an image consultant with a huge bone to pick.  But she wasn't counting on falling for the guy she trying to take down.

There were a lot of cute scenes in the story that really showcased both characters.  If only the whole blackmailing part had either been more prevalent and detailed or left out altogether I would have liked the story a lot more.

*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*

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Review: The Marriage Agenda by Sarah Ballance

Title: The Marriage Agenda
Author: Sarah Ballance
Source: Entangled Indulgence
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: Novel
Release Date: August 18, 2014
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Rating - 3
Sexual - 3

There's a scandal brewing in Washington...

Knox Hamilton wants his father’s recently vacated Senate seat, but the only way his conservative constituents are going to vote for Knox is if he loses his playboy reputation. Which means Knox needs a wife. There’s only one woman with whom he's willing to share his life, but after the way he broke things off with her, will she give him another chance?

Chloe Lochlan's job is on the line. If she doesn't grab a big headline, she'll be ousted from her gig at the major newspaper where she works as a reporter. Knox's offer of marriage chills her to the bone. He already crushed her heart once and she has no intention of letting it happen again. But being with him gives her the kind of access to top tier social events rarely granted to media, access that could land her the story of a lifetime. When the truth she uncovers threatens to destroy the man she still loves, will she bury the story...or his career?

This was a fun read and was a nice change from an overly serious political romance I had tried to read.  While the concepts of bribery, environmentalism, and political fraud are serious, the story had plenty of light and fun points to balance it all out.  Chloe is an amazing character, but I don't think I'll ever quite understand why she agreed to marry Knox to begin with.  I'm glad she did and it turned out to be a wonderful thing, but it didn't look that way at first.

Knox was an interesting character as well.  A handful of cliches mixed with some more unique characteristics lead to a great character.  While he is afraid of love, he's working towards overcoming that - even if he doesn't realize it yet.  His move to help Chloe at the end really shows how great of a guy he is.  He would be a catch for any girl.

The scandal that Chloe digs up is personal on multiple levels, and she knows that it will hurt a person she loves deeply.  But the journalist in her knows that it must be brought to the public's attention so they know what their politicians are doing.  The investigation is mixed in very nicely and it isn't really the center of the story.  Sarah Ballance doesn't dwell on it more than she needs to in order to tell Chloe and Knox's story.

Overall, this was the perfect mix of intrigue, politics, and romance.  Knox left me a little wanting for a good chunk of the story and some of the sex scenes (or lack thereof) seemed to be drawn out or repetitive though.

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Other reviews for Sarah Ballance:

An Unexpected Sin: 3 Rating

Review: Meeting His Match (Match Me #1) by Katee Robert

Title: Meeting His match (Match Me #1)
Author: Katee Robert
Source: Entangled Lovestruck
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: Novel
Release Date: July 21, 2014
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Rating - 4
Sexual - 3

When New York matchmaker Addison St. Claire is tasked with matching her best
friend's new brother-in-law, she almost refuses. But the sexy southern CEO turns out to be a challenge she can't resist, because if anyone needs to meet his soul mate, it's this man. And if matching him with someone else removes the temptation of being near him? Even better.

The last thing Caine McNeill needs is a matchmaker—especially a gorgeous redhead who spouts nonsense about soul mates, critiques what he drives and how he dresses, buys him a dog, and pesters him about a million little things he couldn't care less about. It's a crying shame he has to keep his hands off because chemistry like what's flaring between them ought to be explored. Thoroughly.

And so the battle begins. Addison is determined to stick to her plan of setting him up on dates with other women, and Caine is equally determined to ignore these women and seduce her.

Another really fun one from Entangled's Lovestruck imprint.  Addison is a matchmaker that doesn't believe in second chances.  She firmly believes that everyone has one soul mate and will never find another.  Since hers has passes on, she's sworn off even trying to look for date for herself. Her friends sends her down south to try and find a match for her work-a-holic brother-in-law and things really get interesting.

Addison finds herself falling, but refuses to believe it's true.  A good chunk of the book is about her running from her feelings.  I enjoy this to a certain extent because everyone does this a little, but it lasted a bit too long and was dragged out a little too far.  The rest of Addison's parts in the book were fantastic.  She really takes her job seriously - even bringing a dog (and then some) to Caine's house to make him more "approachable".  The dog was adorable - I want one (or a dozen) now.

Caine is your typical work-a-holic.  He sleeps in the office most nights just because it's easier than driving home between 18 hour work days.  It's the family business so he feels like he owes it to his father to prove himself and be successful.  He's written off having anything else until Addison throws how miserable and boring his life is right in his face.

There is a good dose of healthy confrontation in this book.  It was refreshing to see such real-life emotions come into play and tempers flare during conversations.  There is just enough meddling to help things move along a bit - with plenty of lecturing on staying out of the lives of others in response.  A real life romance that really hit the spot.

*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*

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Review: Fiancee for Hire (Front and Center #2) by Tawna Fenske

Title: Fiancee for Hire (Front and Center #2)
Author: Tawna Fenske
Source: Entangled Lovestruck
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: Novel
Release Date: July 21, 2014
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Rating - 5
Sexual - 3

Former Marine MacArthur Patton has made a small fortune on top-secret government
contracts and black-ops missions, but his new assignment involves something more dangerous—marriage.

Well, fake marriage anyway.

To keep weapons out of the hands of terrorists, Mac has to secure a fiancée. A sweet, demure, compliant fiancée to serve as his arm candy for a few weeks while he completes the covert arms deal in Mexico. His sister claims to know just the woman, and sends her best friend to play the role.

"Sweet" and "demure" aren't in Kelli Landers's repertoire. A badass veterinarian who neuters big dogs and bigger men on a regular basis, she can't wait to bring Mr. Tall-Dark-and-Detached to his knees. Her longtime crush on the commitment-phobe makes her plan to seduce him even sweeter.

Love wasn't part of the plan, but the deeper Mac and Kelli fall into their ruse, the more danger they attract, until more than just their hearts are on the line…

 This book started out with a bit of a WTF! moment for me with Kelli in the vet's office.  She is definitely one of the most unique and bold female characters I've read about.  You'll see exactly what I mean within the first couple pages.  She is smart, won't take crap from anyone, and gets what she wants any way possible.  Mac on the other hand is about as up tight as they come.  At first he comes off as your standard military/mercenary type.  Always thinking about the mission and always in control of everything around him.  Both our characters have a past that plays a HUGE part in their personalities and decision-making process so far.  These elements are used brilliantly to help push them beyond their barriers and really grow.

Their agreement to go undercover as a married couple causes all kinds of problems right off the bat.  Mac doesn't seem to have a clue what married people really do, and Kelli has some serious ulterior motives for finding things out.  There is a bit of suspense - we are dealing with arms dealing terrorists here - but it's not quite enough to really call the story a romantic suspense.  Kelli and Mac's histories keep coming out more and more as the story progresses - sometimes in the absolutely crazies ways.  It was one of the reasons I loved this book so much.

This book really was difficult to put down.  I loved how the humor just seemed to come from out of nowhere and slap you (in a good, sexy way).  I would stop and laugh out loud and have to go back and re-read it just to make sure I could laugh again.  You should definitely give this one a try, and if all of Entangled's Lovestruck's are like this, I may be buying a lot more books - just don't tell my family.

*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*

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Review: The Tycoon's Convenient Bride ... and Baby by Shoshanna Evers

Title: The Tycoon's Convenient Bride ... and Baby
Author: Shoshanna Evers
Source: Entangled Publishing
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: Novel
Release Date: July 28, 2014
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Rating - 3
Sexual - 3

After her brother and his wife go missing and are presumed dead, Lauren Peters plans to
raise their infant daughter. Her brother's will, however, stipulates that baby Callie can only be raised by a married couple. Lauren’s as single as they come.

Mack Hansen can’t stand idly by while his business partner’s baby is thrown into a foster home. As he sees it, there’s only one solution—he and Lauren will marry for the sake of the baby—and he’ll keep his attraction to her at bay.

Lauren knows that Mack is all about business, including their marriage of convenience. But her unexpected feelings for him have her turned upside down. With passion sizzling between them, can Mack keep Lauren from stealing his heart…and becoming his wife for real?

Another interesting take on a marriage of convenience.  Lauren and Mack have known each other for a few years, but never romantically.  When  they need to find a husband/wife to keep Lauren's niece, Callie, out of foster care, Mack has the brilliant idea of marrying each other.  They will divorce once custody is secured and they can both go about their lives.  But nothing is ever as cut and dry and it seems at first.

They both secretly hold a flame for each other, but neither wants to say it out loud to the other one.  Their refusal to talk about the subject of staying together and how they felt and assuming they knew what the other was thinking was a little tiresome at times, but it also led to some really great scenes near the end when it all came out in the open.

Mack was a great man.  Even though he seems to be all about business, he has such a softer side to him, and when Lauren discovers it she falls even harder.  There's a lot of drama that centers around Lauren's brother and sister-in-law as they have been lost at sea.  The book's ending is full of HEA's and you almost tear up a little bit a few times.

*The book was received in exchange for an honest review*

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Review: Resisting the Musician by Ally Blake

Title: Resisting the Musician (Head Over Heels)
Author: Ally Blake
Source: Entangled Indulgence
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: Novel
Release Date: July 28, 2014
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Rating - 3
Sexual - 3

Bridal shoe company owner Lori Hanover is in way over her head. First, her designer sister
has fallen head over heels for the rock star fiancé of a client - talk about bad PR! Now her business is falling apart. Lori's only hope in saving her company is making the world believe it was true love, even if she's not so sure herself. Her best bet? A song. For this she turns to the most frustrating musical recluse in America, Dash Mills, a man who could pass for Thor’s sexier brother. And even though this former rock superstar agrees to help, it comes at a price…

When Lori agrees to Dash’s terms, he thinks she's the one in for a challenge. But the more time he spends with this spitfire bombshell, the more tempted he is to play her—in more ways than one. But Dash left behind the rock and roll life for a reason. And seductive as Lori may be, if she drags him back into that world, this time he won't forgive himself...or her.

This was a difficult one to review.  I loved the characters - they were fantastic.  I loved to overall story line.  It has some elements that worked nicely together.  It just moved a little slow for me.

Lori is a hard working woman that runs a shoe company.  I would LOVE to have her job and get to wear all the new shoes - for publicity purposes of course.  They sound amazing - there was just enough description to keep them a small part of the story and make me want a pair as well.  She's the exact opposite of Dash.  She follows her schedule like the Bible, he doesn't know what day it is half the time.  He's so laid back and seemingly carefree that it almost starts to get on your nerves.  It sure gets on Lori's nerves and she's not sure how she's ever going to be able to work with him on this song idea.

The whole song idea was brilliant.  It was a great way to get the two of them together and continue to throw them at each other until they realized they were actually perfect together.  There was just a tad too much of the throwing together and running away again for me.

In the background we have Lori's sister and Dash's ex-bandmate engaged and planning their wedding in the midst of a huge scandal.  It was a great backdrop and made sure there was always something going on, even when the main characters weren't the center of the all the action.  This is a great book - while it moved a little slow for me it may be just right for others.

*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*

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Review: Her Temporary Hero (Once a Marine #2) by Jennifer Apodaca

Title: Her Temporary Hero (Once a Marine #2)
Author: Jennifer Apodaca
Source: Entangled Publishing
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Length: Novel
Release Date: July 14, 2014
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Rating - 4
Sexual - 3

Can one woman handle two dominant men intent on staking their claim?

Former beauty queen Becky Holmes and her baby are on the run from her dangerous ex. With her dreams of love and marriage destroyed, she’ll do anything to protect her child…even agree to hide out in her boss’s cousin’s house while he’s away.

Wealthy, sexy, and emotionally haunted Logan Knight needs a temporary wife to get his land, per his dad’s rules. No wife, no inheritance. But when that wife lands on his doorstep and comes with a baby, his darkest memories are triggered. He tries to keep his distance, but his efforts are shattered when he starts to have real feelings for his fake wife and child.

Just as Logan begins to think he may have a future with Becky, his attempt to have it all backfires into a betrayal that forces Becky into a heart-wrenching choice no woman should ever have to make.

This was a really fun and incredibly exciting romantic suspense novel.  While it is number two in a series, it does very well as a stand alone, so don't let the fact that you haven't read book one stop you.

Becky was an interesting combination for a character.  As a former beauty queen she knows all the tricks - how to walk, how to smile, how to make her hair do that really cool blowing in the wind thing (even when there isn't wind) - and it drives Logan crazy.  But what drives him crazier is her attitude.  She's a tough cookie that will do anything to protect the very little family she has left, her baby.  When an ex threatens her she finds herself thrown in with Logan in a very unusual way, but it may just work out well for both of them.

Logan has a strange past as well, and it wraps up with a contract saying he has to be married by the time he's 30 to inherit the land his father promised him.  That's a problem until Becky shows up and a plan begins to form in his mind.  She needs protection, he needs a wife - perfect - until they start to fall for each other (it is a romance after all).

What I liked best was that neither of them fell too hard or too fast.  They both held back and they did get to know each other a little before diving into a more serious "real" relationship.  I also enjoyed Becky's little girl - she's a doll and I can just see her come to life in every scene.

*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*

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Review: Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (Speak of the Devil #3) by Patricia Eime

Title: Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (Speak of the Devil #3)
Author: Patricia Eimer
Source: Contest Win
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: Novel
Release Date: February 25, 2014
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Rating - 5
Sexual - 2

Not Even Death Keeps a Good Demoness Down There’s never an end to the crazy when
you’re demon spawn. Not that Faith Bettincourt’s complaining. She’s been patching things up with her angelic on-again off-again boyfriend, Matt, and her best-friend-turned-sister-in-law is soon giving birth to the Anti-Christ Part Deux. Oh, and Faith is saving kids from Death in her pediatric unit one soul at a time. Life is good.

Until Faith accidentally runs over the Angel of Death and is forced to take his place. Now she’s taking lives instead of saving them. Which is kind of a problem when you’re a nurse. As if that weren’t bad enough, she is suddenly thrust into the worst scenario of them all--Matt’s ex Brenda is back, and she’s brought the Apocalypse with her.

Faith’s not about to give up the world...or her man. But when the chips are down, what’s a demoness supposed to do? Besides take matters into her own hands, of course.

Luck of the Devil (Speak of the Devil #1): Review
Devil May Care (Speak of the Devil #2): Review

The third book in the Speak of the Devil series is epic - as in end of the world apocalypse epic.  Faith just can't seem to keep her life normal - or a least normal for the youngest daughter of Lucifer.  Things just keep spiraling out of control and getting even more crazy.

I love Faith more and more with every page.  She is such a riot - her entire family is, but she really stands out as such a unique person.  A lover of children and a nurse, finding herself the Angel of Death is quite the life changing bummer, but she tries to deal with it.  Her way of dealing with it leads to a series of "accidents" and "incidents" that lead to the beginnings of the legendary apocalypse.

Through it all Matt remains loyal - willing to do anything to make their relationship work.  He's a great guy, but we really didn't see much of him in this one.  We do get to see more of her roommate Lisa and a lot of Howard the ghost.  All of these side characters are fantastic in their own way, but when put together the way Patricia Eimer does, they really take off and become very memorable.

This series should be a must read for lovers of snarky, smart-ass, sarcastic demons with a very, very non-traditional family tree.  I loved every minute of it.

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Review: Enemies on Tap by Avery Flynn

Title: Enemies on Tap (Sweet Salvation Brewery #1)
Author: Avery Flynn
Source: Entangled Publishing
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: Novel
Release Date: July 14, 2014
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Rating - 3
Sexual - 3

Brewing up trouble one pint at a time.

Enemies ...After years away, Miranda Sweet returns to Salvation, Virginia to save her family's brewery, but her fate is in the hands of her lover-turned-enemy, Logan. What's a girl to do when the only person who can help her is the man who betrayed her?

Lovers ...Logan Martin can't believe his luck when the woman who smashed his heart to smithereens walks into his bank asking for his help. What she doesn't know is that he needs the land her brewery is on--and he'll do whatever it takes to get it.

An Irresistible Combination ...Their wager becomes a battle between their attraction and their determination to win. But it's in each other's arms that they realize there might be more at stake now than their bet. With the town against the Sweet Salvation Brewery's success, Logan has to choose between what's expected of him and what he really wants...

Enemies on Tap was a really fun read.  Miranda Sweet comes from the wrong side of the tracks in a small town and hightailed it out as soon as she could.  She comes back to flip the family brewery - it needs to make a profit in less than three months or she loses not only the brewery, but her job.  Miranda is a no-nonsense type of girl that isn't afraid to speak her mind, unless it's how she feels about the golden child of Salvation, Logan Martin.  They have a history that goes back to high school that neither one has really let go.

Miranda has a lot going against her.  Most of the town hates her family for good reason.  They have always been troublemakers - and the brewery was poorly managed.  She tackles the uphill battle head on, until things get out of  control and someone tries to sabotage all her plans.  Logan wants to fight fair, but has a lot of pressure to do whatever it takes to get the Sweets out of town.

There's a bit of action and a lot of attitude in this story.  There were some slow spots, but Avery Flynn does a pretty good job of moving the story along and keeping it interesting.  Miranda is one of three triplets so I'm hoping to see more of her sisters in future stories in the series.  There are quite a few interesting side characters that I would love to see matched up with someone.

*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*

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Review: The Maverick's Red Hot Reunion (Sweetbriar Springs) by Christine Glover

Title: The Maverick's Red Hot Reunion (Sweetbriar Springs)
Author: Christine Glover
Source: Entangled Indulgence
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: Novel
Release Date: June 30, 2014
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Rating - 5
Sexual - 3

Corporate Maverick Zach Tanner returns to North Carolina to rebuild his dying friend's
resort. He's got the money, the power, and the will to transform Sweetbriar Springs into a premier spa for the glamorous, but he doesn't count on the woman he once loved…and lost…to handle the construction contract. Zach thought he'd buried his desire for Kennedy five years ago. He was wrong, and now he’s determined to satisfy his craving...

Construction company owner Kennedy Gibson is eager to restore Sweetbriar Springs, but when she realizes Zach is her new boss she's terrified he'll learn the truth about their breakup so long ago. She vowed never to hurt him again, but she can't deny the passion he reignites in her. She wants to believe she has a chance for a different future with him, but will her secret threaten to destroy their red-hot reunion?

This book made me cry - several times.  It takes a lot for a book to do that to me.  It was a good cry, an emotional cry, and I felt better when I was done.  Zach and Kennedy took me such an emotional roller coaster that I was exhausted at the end of the story.  It was almost too much.  Their history was full of so much pain for them to overcome that I still don't know how they managed to do it.

Kennedy is a tough as as mails construction worker that has taken over her father's company.  She's more at home in boots and jeans checking out a roof than anything else.  She has built up a wall around her heart after tragedy struck years ago, and she is determined to never let anyone in.  Zach wants to break down those walls, he just doesn't quite understand why they are there to begin with.

A lot of Zach and Kennedy's problems are because neither of them is completely honest with the other.  Their relationship is full of misunderstanding and pretending.  The truth is too hard for either of them to deal with at first.  It was an amazing story that is full of real life issues as two amazing people have to try and wade through them to find each other again.

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Review: In Bed With the Competition by J.K. Coi

Title: In Bed With the Competition
Author: J.K. Coi
Source: Entangled Indulgence
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: Novel
Release Date: June 30, 2014
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Rating -3
Sexual - 3

This rivalry is too hot for the tropics…

Elizabeth Carlson and Ben Harrison used to be friends, coworkers...and almost lovers. But that was before Ben proposed mixing business with pleasure. Elizabeth refuses to lose her heart to a hotshot tycoon with a cutthroat, take-no-prisoners attitude. Not with the prospect of starting her own company at stake.

Driven to succeed in all areas of his life, Ben couldn’t resist the temptation to make Liz his. But then she walked away, igniting a bitter rivalry. Competing for the same contract at a Caribbean conference ignites sparks too hot to ignore, and Ben’s determined to finish what they started, even if it’ll only last a few steamy, tropical nights.

Elizabeth’s resolve begins to crumble under Ben’s blatant seduction. Can she walk away from a hot island fling with the sexiest man she’s ever known with her heart intact, or will losing herself in Ben destroy everything she’s fought to achieve?

This one got off to a bit of a slow start for me.  The first half was full of both Elizabeth and Ben doubting themselves and their feelings and trying to justify what they felt as something they needed to get our of their systerm - an island fling.  Deep down they both know it's more, they were just incredible stubborn and refused to admit it.  There were a handful of very memorable scenes in the first half.  Their snorkeling expedition and "hanging out" in the boat afterwards were very fun and exciting to read.

They both have business partners with them that seem intent to ruin their personal lives - not intentionally, just by being stupid people.  Once the convention they are attending actually gets started things begin to get really interesting.  There is a scheme running the the background that I caught onto right away - I think you're supposed to - and it really made we feel bad for Elizabeth.  I wanted to tell her to wake up and smell the coffee, but I totally got why she refused to.

The romance itself doesn't seem like it's going to end well.  Now, don't worry there is a HEA, but not until after several misses and brush offs.  It was just a tad too much for me.

*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*

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Review: Hollywood Scandal (Seacliffe Medical #3) by Julie Rowe

Title: Hollywood Scandal (Seacliffe Medical #3)
Author: Julie Rowe
Source: Entangled Publishing
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: Novel
Release Date: May 26, 2014
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Rating - 4
Sexual - 3

Dr. Calla Roberts has seen too much death, destruction and betrayal to ever believe in fairy
tales or men who are as beautiful on the inside as they are on the outside. Which is why LA Lawyer Alex Hardy irritates the crap out of her. He’s a lawyer who practices radical honesty in a city famous for make believe.

When an actor who thinks he can buy or cheat his way out of anything attempts to discredit Calla, Alex (with a crooked nose for trouble) champions her desperate cause. She slowly begins to think that good guys do exist, until she discovers Alex has lied about who he is, and who he loves.

Hollywood Blackmail (Seacliffe Medical #1): Review
Hollywood Temptation (Seacliffe Medical #2): Review

This series started off a little slow - but each book has gotten better (just check out the reviews going from 2 - 4 rating).  The characters in Hollywood Scandal are really what made this one work so well for me.  She had an amazing attitude and was incredibly intelligent.  She seems to have the ablility to put anyone in their place when they decided to verbally spar with her.  Those very traits are what attracts Alex to her - Alex, the brutally honest lawyer who just doesn't know what to do with the amazing and beautiful woman.  The way these two characters played off of each other was absolutely brilliant.

Now toss in a couple really great side characters and an actor that thinks he owns the world and you have a great well-rounded cast.  I just wish the actor would have gotten a little worse than he did in the long run.  There is also the persisting problem of leaks out of Seacliffe Medical - causing all sorts of problems throughout all three books so far.  I think I know who it is and want to shake them all so bad because they can't figure it out.

This series really seems to be growing on me and going someplace interesting.  I wish more of the characters from previous books had a small part in the current ones.  I love when that happens.

*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*

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Review: Curse of the Phoenix Series by Rachel Firasek

Title: The Last Rising (Curse of the Phoenix #1)
Author: Rachel Firasek
Source: Entangled Publishing
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: Novella
Release Date: September 6, 2011
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Rating - 3
Sexual - 3

After paying two millennia's penance to Osiris, world-weary Phoenix Ice has had enough.
Saving souls without any hope for her own redemption isn't how she imagined spending eternity. Fed up, she decides her next death will be her last.

But when she sacrifices her own life for a sexy Texan in a catastrophic plane crash, she has no idea the consequences will be so great...or that she'll end up back in his life for her next assignment.

Now that Turner Alcott has survived the worst, finding a wife and mother for his son matters more than ever before. When the mysterious Ice comes into his life, Turner knows she's the one-but love is the last thing Ice wants. If he wants to win her heart, Turner must teach Ice how to forgive herself, and prove that love is the ultimate sacrifice.

This book was a great quick read. Ice has been doing penance for Osiris for two millennia for a crime that she doesn't understand, and she's getting really sick and tired of it. Her last trip ended in a fiery plane crash after saving a man named Turner, and to her amazement her next assignment puts her right back into Turner's life. Ice is determined not to let Turner into her heart, but finds it becomes harder and harder to deny their attraction is just physical. Turner is determined to prove to Ice that he is the right guy for her.

The characters had a surprising amount of growth and development for such a short book, and it was great to watch has Ice and Turner each taught the other important lessons on life and love. The book ends with quite a twist that I had no idea was coming and set me up to read the next book, The Last Awakening.

*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: The Last Awakening (Curse of the Phoenix #2)

Author: Rachel Firasek

Source: Entangled Publishing

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Length: Novella

Release Date: December 11, 2014

Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Rating - 3

Sexual - 3

For three hundred years, Arabella’s life has been one meaningless death after another. In a
cruel twist of fate, Osiris–god of the Underworld–gifts the phoenix her mortality and returns her voodoo magic. If she fails to harness her wayward magic and save a man worthy of a second chance, she’ll forfeit her power and her soul–forever.

Ex-soldier Greyson Meadows desperately wants to be freed from the nightmares and guilt that haunt him after the tragedy that brought him and Ari together. Confronted by the waif of a woman who forces him to face his worst fears, he resists, fighting the need to keep his personal demons hidden instead of setting them free.

When Ari becomes the target of her own magical blunder, it’s not just her life in danger, but now the one of the man she loves.

The thing I like most about this series is that even though the stories are short, they jump right into the action and carry you along right until the very end. Arabella is a fiesty voodoo priestess, or at least she was. Something went wrong with a spell one day and she ended up serving as one of Osiris's phoenixes until she learns her lesson. While serving as a phoenix may sound glamorous, it's actually quite the opposite. Having to die over and over again in the place of others wears thin quickly. Then one day Ari saves Greyson and everything changes. Ari is willing to risk her soul to try and help him fight his inner demons (which are pretty nasty), but she is only given a week to do it.

Now, Greyson is ex-military, and has carried around guilt from his time in the service for years. When Ari shows up and tries to show him that he has nothing to be guilty about, he runs the opposite way at first, not realizing just how much he needs her. As Ari tries to help Greyson, she realizes that she needs his help as well, and fast. Osiris has given her a time frame to save Greyson and it's quickly approaching when she finds out that everything she knew about her past was wrong. Facing this will push both of them to their emotional limits.

I really liked Ari in the first book of the series, The Last Rising, and was excited to see her starring in her own. I've become attached to the characters and couldn’t wait to read the third book.

*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: The Last Beginning (Curse of the Phoenix #3)

Author: Rachel Firasek

Source: Entangled Publishing

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Length: Novella

Release Date: February 2012

Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Rating - 4

Sexual - 3

Though she’s always hated being a phoenix, Sadie has to admit immortality has its
advantages. She’s seen and done more in the last 150 years than she’d ever dreamed of, but she can’t get past the fact that Osiris has done nothing but manipulate her and her fellow phoenixes. Or that, when her last incarnation as a phoenix comes to a fiery end, the fire slowly begins to consume her body.

Sun god Osiris is ashamed of his role as ruler of the Underworld, but unless he can figure out how to save Sadie, that’s exactly where she’s going to end up.

Permanently. Terrified he’s going to lose her, he takes her on a hunt for The Book of the Dead, which is the only way he knows he can save her—even if it means she’ll hate him forever.

The last book in the Curse of the Phoenix series really brough it all together with a fantastic ending.  Osiris has finally admitted (at least to himself) that Sadie is something special and different - but when she heats up, literally, with fire coursing through her body he has no clue what is going on.  Their relationship goes through several stages as they try to find a cure to whatever has happened, but Osiris may still be too arrogant and make a mistake that could lose her forever.

Each of the phoenixes has had a very unique and special touch to their character and their happily ever afters.  In my opinion, each one got a little better throughout the whole series.  Sadie's ending is epic in many ways.  Osiris was still too much of a jerk for me to really like him a whole lot though.  He's an arrogant man, that thinks that because he is a god, he has the right to do whatever he wants.

This was a very good series - lots of fun with some great characters.

*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*

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The series is also available as a boxed set - I wish it was in print because I love these covers.

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Review: Her Royal Protector (Johari Crown #1) by Alexandra Sellers

Title: Her Royal Protector (Johari Crown #1)
Author: Alexandra Sellers
Source: Xpresso Book Tours
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: Novella
Release Date: May 26, 2014
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Rating - 5
Sexual - 3

Aly Percy is her family's ugly duckling, and she's never been allowed to forget it. So she knows better than to imagine that Cup Companion Arif al Najimi's blue gaze holds anything but contempt for her as a woman, or ever will. But if he's offering to show her just how wild one night with him can be, wouldn't she be a fool to turn down his charity? She may never get another offer like this one.

Arif al Najimi isn't sure why he's dreaming about the little scientist who's so determined to take crazy risks for the sake of her research into the endangered turtles of his country. But as luck would have it, he's going to get the chance to do a little research of his own…into the question of why Aly believes her own negative publicity about how desirable she is—and how hard it will be to convince her of the truth.

Wow!  I'm so excited that this is the first book in a series because it was amazing.  We just got these nifty new "Hot Pick" buttons, and I'm definitely giving it to this one.  Arif al Najimi was absolutely everything a hero should be.  He was also exotic, an animal lover and ecologist, and saved Aly's life a couple times.  While his views of women sometimes seems a little off, it really helped make him just a little too overprotective, but in the best possible way.

Aly was the traditional pretty and intelligent girl that didn't trust in her own beauty.  But this time there was a very good reason why.  And her reason why tied into so many other things in the story so beautifully that the whole back story was about as seamless as you could get.  I loved how she kept running off and driving Arif al Najimi crazy trying to keep an eye on her.

 Watching Aly and Arif al Najimi hunt for turtle nests and try to find out why they were dying off was a great story.  There was a lot more action than what seems possible in a turtle nest hunt.  There were even several times I found myself getting excited right along with them at a new next found.  The side characters served to boost the story and enhance the personalities of the characters in just the right way.  I don't think I could really find something I didn't like about this one.

*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*

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Review: Undercover in the CEO's Bed by Colleen Kwan

Title: Undercover in the CEO's Bed
Author:  Colleen Kwan
Source: Entangled Publishing
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: Novella
Release Date: May 26, 2014
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Rating - 3
Sexual - 3

Billionaire Lex Rochester has a problem. Someone is trying to sabotage the family
company, but the investigation needs to be highly discreet because Lex suspects it’s one of his own relatives. His solution—hire IT security specialist Jacinta Greene, who also happens to be his ex-girlfriend. With Jacinta posing as his newly reconciled girlfriend, the other Rochesters won’t suspect they’re being monitored.

The last thing Jacinta wants is to see Lex again. Their breakup still tortures her, but she’ll do just about anything to help her kid brother, even pretend to reunite with Lex. But the more time she spends with Lex, the more she realizes she’s never gotten over him. Which is bad news, because she and Lex are fatally incompatible.

The fire that still burns between them is as hot and irresistible as ever. Can Jacinta remember what’s real and what’s fake, or will she be hurt by Lex all over again?

Unfortunately, the storyline for this one fell a little short for me.  I get that some people can't trust their family members for a variety of reasons.  But the steps Lex feels he needs to take because of it seemed a little extreme.  At least they served to bring Jacinta back into his life, even if that wasn't his actual intent.  For a good chunk of the story, he's kind of a jerk.

How does it still get three stars then?  Well, Jacinta really saved the day.  She was beyond amazing as a character.  I loved her attitude, her flaws, and her snarky come-backs - even the ones she doesn't get a chance to do more than think about.  The way she related to Lex's family, especially his grandmother, was perfect.  She showed him so much about how to live - he really didn't deserve to have such a great girl.

The ending of the story also made up for some of its downfalls.  I loved that Lex finally got his head out of his ass - a little too late for me to like him a lot, but at least he did it.  His way of showing that he had done it was perfect, too.  I just wish I had liked him a lot earlier in the book - I felt like I shouldn't bee rooting for him.

*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*

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Review: Played by the Billionaire by Alexia Adams

Title: Played by the Billionaire
Author: Alexia Adams
Source: Entangled - Indulgence
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: Novel
Release Date: May 19, 2014
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Rating - 3
Sexual - 3

Internet security billionaire, Liam Manning, made a death bed promise to his beloved
brother, Marcus, to complete his mystery-romance manuscript. Problem is that Liam’s experience with women is limited to the cold-hearted supermodels he usually dates—nothing like the warm, caring woman depicted in the novel his brother began. So falling back on his hacking skills, he infiltrates an online dating site to find a suitable woman to teach him about romance-regular guy style.

Lorelei Torres was raised by her hard-working mother because her loser father is behind bars. All she wants is an honest man to love and with whom she can raise a large, happy family. After the last contender for her heart turns out to be a lying snake, she decides it’s time she started over. San Francisco is as far from Buffalo as she can get, unfortunately it’s not beyond the reach of her mother’s constant reminders about Lorelei’s ticking biological clock. When her dear parent signs her up with an online dating agency, Lorelei reluctantly agrees to meet her cyber-match. Maybe it’s time an impartial computer chose a man for her.

Can Liam finish the novel before Lorelei discovers his deceptions and, more critically, before she breaches the firewall around his heart?

This review took me a little while to figure out what to say.  I really loved both characters, just not together at first.  Liam is looking for a relationship for the very wrong reasons - basically just to see what it was like.  Liam has trust and family issues and I can understand his reluctance to enter into a serious relationship, but I wish we had seen a little more of how deep his issues went a little earlier - it would have helped me like him better early on in the story.

Lorelei just comes off as a little desperate.  Following her mother's dictates and dating even when she doesn't really want to.  While she is somewhat open to the idea of dating (eventually) and she does want a family, I just didn't see what she saw in Liam at the first.

About half way through they start to get a little more honest with each other, but not honest enough - there is still a lot that they are hiding.  There are a few side characters that helped to push things along and I really enjoyed them.  They ended up being pivotal in some unexpected ways.  Overall, I think the story was alright, I just wanted a little more from it.

*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*

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Review: His Billion Dollar Baby by Lea Nolan

Title: His Billion Dollar Baby
Author: Lea Nolan
Source: Entangled - Indulgence
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: Novella
Release Date: May 19, 2014
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Rating - 5
Sexual - 3

Burned by love and grieving over his brother’s death, sexy billionaire CEO Carter
Anderson wants nothing more than to protect his family. So when beautiful and unassuming physical therapist Gwen Radley shows up at the funeral, pregnant with his brother’s baby, Carter’s certain she wants an interest in the Anderson empire—and both his suspicion and attraction grow when circumstances force Gwen to move into his family’s mansion.

An orphan, Gwen’s never wanted anything more than a family, and she finds in the Andersons a place she and her baby might belong. When Gwen’s therapy expertise leads to long hours of intense, late-night collaboration on a lucrative project, the attraction between her and Carter leads to a night of white-hot passion. But Carter’s distrust remains, leading them both to wonder if he will ever embrace his brother’s baby—or the love that’s blooming between them.

When a novella manages to make you cry in the first chapter you know there's a good chance you'll have a winner on your hands.  This entire story had me on an emotional roller coaster - very hard to do in under 200 pages.  All the characters involved in the story were amazingly well written.  I cheered for them to find a way through everything with every word.  This was more than a book about two people falling in love - it was about the power one person has to change the course of an entire family - and to do it without even realizing it.

Gwen's touch in the Anderson family it felt immediately and strongly.  Some embrace it while others (notably Carter) think she's a gold digger willing to anything to get a piece of their fortune.  She battles these opinions throughout the whole book.  I loved how people's minds weren't instantly swayed.  Her process of winning them over was gradual and it had many bumps along the way.

The ending was perfect for me.  It had just the right touch of a fairy tale while still somehow remaining firmly grounded in reality.  I can't remember being so excited for two fictional characters in a long time.

*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*

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