Without a Doubt (Love Starts Here #1) by E.M. Lindsey

 

Amazon Link   - Available in KU 

Goodreads Link

How did the worst date of his life turn in to the man of his dreams?

Carter Winter’s not sure there’s anything worse than watching the man he’s on a date with slip his number to the bartender… except maybe finding out six months later that his bad date is his new boss who doesn't seem to remember Carter or that night. He wants to run, but he also knows he can’t pass up this opportunity. After all, it's been his dream to work at London Enterprise, and he can't turn it down now, even if it means working as a PA for Rhys London.

Fortunately, Rhys seems like an entirely different man. And while Carter doesn’t want to trust him, that isn’t easy when Rhys makes him want to believe in second chances. Carter’s been burned before, but being graced with one of the man’s rare smiles, Carter finds himself absolutely helpless against the racing beat of his heart.

Rhys London has never been a man of feeling. Spending most of his life running his company and cleaning up after his destructive brother, he hasn’t had time for things like love.

Until his business partner hired Carter Winter—a bright, beautiful man who makes Rhys want to feel.

And while Rhys is used to losing out and shutting off his heart, something about Carter makes him want to reach for the unreachable. After all, Carter is the first person he’s ever met that makes him believe in love, without a single doubt.

Without A Doubt is the first book in a romantic, light-hearted, small town trilogy. It contains no cheating, and a happily ever after. 

My Rating - 5 Stars!

Without a Doubt is the first book in EM Lindsey's Love Starts Here series. Omg. I love this book. 

It starts with a horrible date, followed by the more awkward of job interviews. And then it gets good. 

Carter's in a messy situation. His friend wants him to get laid, which ends up with him on a date from hell. And when he finally gets  a new job, that bad date is his boss, who doesn't remember him. Of course, there's a reason for that. 

Rhys, oh poor Rhys has so much on his plate. His brother's an out of control ass. But it's his grief that had me wanting to hug him. Since losing his husband, he can't get past his pain. 

Everything about this story had me mesmerized. I couldn't put it down. At all. 

The mistaken identity. The boss/employee situation. The confusion. The doubts. The misunderstandings.

But what keeps it all awesome are the feelings. I love the connection between Carter and Rhys. 

As for Carter's hearing loss, I love how it's written. Best of all is the way that's it's a huge aspect of Carter's life. Yet, with Rhys, it isn't at all. I love it!

Overall, Without a Doubt is a wonderful read. This EM Lindsey romance had me invested throughout. 

Down By Contact (Wilmington Breakers #1) by Quinn Ward

 

Amazon Link   - Available in KU  

Goodreads Link

Nothing could derail his season like being forced to spend time with the only man he’d allowed close enough to hurt him...

Zach couldn't step out of the closet if he wanted to play professional football. Griffin refused to stay locked in the dark. As much as it hurt, Zach knew Griffin had done the best thing for both of them when he walked away.

Now Zach will do anything to prove his rookie season wasn't a fluke. The last thing he wants is to be part of a reality TV show. He doesn't need the distraction of cameras tailing him through training camp but he's determined to be a team player.

Distraction becomes an understatement when the camera man assigned to him is none other than his ex. For the next six weeks, the two of them will spend nearly every waking minute together.

Working on Outside the Pocket wasn't where Griffin imagined his career heading but he knows he needs to put in the time before landing the jobs he's dreamed of. Little does he realize his new boss is counting on a heavy dose of sexual tension and unresolved pain to keep the series alive.

Will Griffin be able to convince Zach the chemistry between them is real and not a ratings ploy?


Down by Contact is the first book in the Wilmington Breakers series, previously available under the pen name Sloan Johnson. 

My Rating - 4.5 Stars!

Down By Contact is a wonderful sports romance by Quinn Ward. No surprise that  I love this book! As a sports romance whore, I loved this book when it was first released. I'm thrilled it's now being re-released by Quinn Ward. 

If you like football romances, look no further. This has everything I could ask for. Sports. Closeted players. And all the angst of if, when, and how to ever come out. 

The first book in the Wilmington Breakers series, this is a spin off of Quinn's Homerun series, with Nate as the connecting character. 

Zach, Nate's twin, is a closeted football player. In this read he gets a second chance with Griffin. They're reunited via a reality show that follows Zach's team. And yes, Griffin is one of the men working on the show.

I enjoy the way everything develops between these two. The feelings are real, yet so is the angst. These two definitely are great together, but they first have to overcome some major obstacles in their way. 

Down By Contact is a fantastic sports romance. Quinn Ward delivers all the feels in this closeted world of sports. A subject I can't get enough of, I love it all. 

RELEASE BLITZ & REVIEW - MF -Overtime (Moo U #5) by Kat Mizera

 

OVERTIME BY KAT MIZERA

Release Date: April 26, 2021

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2Mot7if

Purchase here: https://geni.us/AmazonOvertime

Audiobook: https://geni.us/AudibleOvertime

Moo U Hockey: https://hearteyespress.com/wotn#/moo-u-hockey/

Cover Design: Christine Coffey

Hotshot hockey star Patrick Graham has been groomed for the pros since before he could walk. Fast forward to his junior year of college, and he’s having the time of his life. What could be better than pucks, partying, and having his pick of campus women? But if Patrick doesn’t buckle down and get his grades up, he could find himself benched for the championships. Could a beautiful brainiac be the solution to his problems?

Nineteen-year-old Master’s student Ellie McGinn could do so many things with her biology degree, but her mother is pushing her toward a future she doesn't want. Tutoring a hockey hottie seems like the perfect opportunity to start making her own choices and living life on her own terms.

When learning turns to yearning, will they be ready to face the heat and heartache that love can bring?

My Rating - 5 Stars!

Overtime is a wonderful sports romance by Kat Mizera. The fifth book in the multi-author Moo U series, it's a great addition to this world of hockey romance. 

I love this book. I enjoy seeing this side of Patrick, as he wasn't quite so loveable in Paxon's book, Gametime. I am thrilled to have his character redeemed.

The way everything develops between Patrick and Ellie is sweet. Their meet cute is unique and definitely left me feeling a bond between the two. 

I appreciate the uniqueness of Ellie, with her being a genius. And of course her mother's behavior, although horrible, is understandable. I enjoy seeing a character like this, who's world is so pressured, come into their own.

Their story is full of intense attraction, very little actual tutoring, and lots of hot sex. Their journey is full of ups and downs, some major life decisions, and I love it all. And the sex is definitely sizzling. 

Gametime is everything I enjoy about college romances. I love seeing people fall in love during this phase of their lives. I love the new freedom their independence brings and contemplation of future goals. This book grabbed my attention at the start and I couldn't put it down. I am absolutely obsessed with the Moo U world.

I hoped he wouldn’t run screaming from the restaurant at the serious turn our conversation had taken, but he was so easy to talk to. We had a lot in common, which I never would have imagined. His overbearing father, my overbearing mother, and a lot of concern about this whole idea of adulting. He was twenty-one, and hadn’t been nearly as sheltered as I had, but I heard a lot of the same insecurities in his voice that I often felt in myself.

         We talked and drank soda until we were the last people in the restaurant and we finally paid the bill and walked out to my car. I didn’t want this night to end but he had another game tomorrow and I needed to spend the whole day working on my research paper if I was going to go out again tomorrow night.

         “Where do you live?” I asked him when we got into the car. It was a frigid January night and I shivered as I waited for the heat to kick in.

         “In the apartments on Bellamy,” he said.

         I knew just where those apartments were located since a lot of Moo U students lived there and it wasn’t far. I’d considered living there too but I got my room and board for free between being a resident assistant in the dorm and my teaching, and I liked the fact that I didn’t have to count on my parents for housing. They already paid for my car, insurance, and phone, so I’d been willing to suck it up for the tiniest bit of freedom.

         He told me where to drop him off and I pulled up to the curb.

         “Tonight was great,” he said, turning to me. “I’m really looking forward to doing it again tomorrow night.”

         “You are?” The words slipped out before I could stop them, and I mentally grimaced, wishing I knew how to be a little coy, a little flirty, instead of insecure and out of my league.

         “Well, yeah.” He frowned. “Aren’t you?”

         “I haven’t dated anyone since I came to college,” I blurted out. “I was only fifteen then, so I was too young for college guys, and now that I’m legal, most guys think I’m dorky. So I don’t know how this works. If you’re just trying to be nice so I’ll tutor you, you don’t have to because I’d do it anyway. As a favor to Paxton.”

         “You think this is about tutoring?” He looked both a little mad and a little sad, which confused me even more.

         “I don’t know why the captain of the hockey team—who can and does sleep with everything that moves—is interested in me when not a single guy on campus ever has been before.”

         There. I’d said it. It was out in the open now and if nothing else, he’d know I wasn’t naïve enough to think he really wanted to date me.

         “You haven’t gone out on a single date the whole time you’ve been here?” he asked, ignoring everything else I’d said.

         I shook my head. “Not a real date, like we had tonight. I’ve met guys at the library or for coffee, but never like this.”

         “Their loss is my gain.” He reached out and pushed one side of my hair behind my ear. “I thought we had a connection,” he said softly. “That night at the party. I think you’re pretty and smart and sweet. It has nothing to do with tutoring or anything like that. I don’t know what other guys see when they look at you, but I’ll be honest and say that someone as smart as you is probably a little intimidating.”

         “And you’re not, um, intimidated?” Why did I say “um” all the time? I sounded like a nervous twelve-year-old.

         “No.” He leaned forward, his eyes locked with mine. “Not even a little. And I think maybe the best way to prove that to you is like this.”

         Oh-shit-oh-shit-oh-shit—he was kissing me. His lips were lightly pressed to mine, caressing them as if they were made of glass. Gentle whispers of skin against my mouth, nothing like I’d imagined kissing a hottie like Patrick would be. I’d only been kissed a handful of times before and it had always been sloppy and wet; this was ridiculously sweet. And definitely not sloppy.

         Not even when he slid his tongue along the seam of my lips, gently prying them apart. My mouth opened of its own volition, anxious for more, because nothing had prepared me for this. When our tongues finally met one another, it was like a magnetic force had drawn them together and I couldn’t do anything but go along for the ride. It felt like my whole body was involved, instead of just my mouth, and I let myself get swept away.

         I might have whimpered in protest when he finally pulled away, and the look in his eyes was one I’d only ever read about in books. I didn’t know men actually looked at women that way. It didn’t have to be love or anything that deep, but sheer, unadulterated desire? I’d never seen it outside of movies and this was way, way better because it was directed at me. The fact that I turned him on enough to put that look there, well, that was something new to me and it did all kinds of things to my nether regions.

         “I should go,” he said softly, still watching my face with that look that made me shiver all over.

         “It’s late,” I said out loud, though I really wanted to sit here long enough for him to kiss me again.

         “I had fun tonight. And I’d like to go out with you again after the game tomorrow…if you want to.”

         “I…yes.” I almost said “um” again but caught myself. “Yes, I’d like to.”

         “Good night, Ellie.” He pressed his lips to mine, chastely this time, and then got out of the car and bounded up the steps of his building.

         I was in so much trouble.

RELEASE BLITZ & REVIEW - MF - Gametime (Moo U #4) by Jami Davenport

 

GAMETIME BY JAMI DAVENPORT

Release Date: April 26, 2021

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2KPbDLO

Purchase here: https://geni.us/AmazonGametime

AudioBook: https://geni.us/AudibleGametime

Moo U Hockey: https://hearteyespress.com/wotn#/moo-u-hockey/

Cover Design: Christine Coffey

One drunken night and one case of mistaken identity turn a friendship inside out...

You’ve seen the hockey twins around campus--they look identical, but you can tell them apart by their actions. Patrick is the one who’s busy charming women. Paxton is the one in the library.

Until one night when Paxton parties a little harder than usual. Next thing he knows, he’s waking up naked next to Naomi, the girl of his dreams. He bares his heart before an awful realization sets in. He’s not the twin she thought he was...

Naomi is the only child of a hockey legend. Partying hard is the best way she knows how to rebel against her controlling father. After a particularly crazy night, she realizes her big mistake. Her hookup isn’t the guy she’s been crushing on. It’s Paxton, her friend, the guy who gets her, who she can always count on. The guy she’d never want to hurt. And yet, the sex was good. Better than good.

Now she’s wondering if the wrong twin might be the right one after all . . .

My Rating - 5 Stars!

Gametime is a delicious new adult romance by Jami Davenport. Part of the Moo U multi-author series, this is a fantastic addition to the series. 

First let me admit that I am a college sports romance junkie. I cannot get enough of this type of story. And this book is as fun as it gets.

I absolutely love and adore everything about Paxton and Naomi's story. It all starts off a little iffy for the two though, as Paxton finally gets his dream girl, but she thought he was someone else. Naomi crushed on Patrick for two years, but accidently slept with his twin, her best friend Paxton. Ouch!

Bad, right? Yes, it's definitely bad and a little awkward.

I'm not going to go into the details, but the fact that she thought she slept with Patrick, and that it's Patrick she's been crushing on, leads the story along. 

I enjoy the way things develop for these two and everything they go through to get their happily ever after. They definitely work well together and are easy to root for. 

Their story includes some awkward family dinners, unnecessary criticism, and plenty of verbal abuse. 

Paxon's relationship with his twin is going through a rough patch for sure. It's tough reading all of this aspect. They struggle both on and off the ice. It definitely increases the angst. I admit, I struggle with Patrick myself. I want to sympathize with him a little, but it takes a long time to actually get to that point. 

Not helping the situation is Paxon's father who pits the two against one another. He's a total ass who favors Patrick in every way and never hesitates to let Paxon know. It's sad, yet well illustrated. 

And damn, they two are super hot together. I definitely enjoy the risky sex, and them actually getting caught. Hot!

Gametime is fun and riveting. I love this Jami Davenport read. I enjoy every moment of this created world and this couple. Now onto the next Moo U book!

The hockey house was lit tonight. And I don’t mean by lights.

By drunken hockey players—myself included.

My twin brother, Patrick, had exited long ago with two hotties on his arm. We might be identical twins in appearance, but my brother always got the girls, and I got his leftovers. He was way more gregarious and outgoing. I was the quiet, serious one.

I sat down on one of the worn, beer-stained couches and tried not to think about what else it might be stained with. It’d probably be a petri dish of… Okay, I wasn’t going there.

Being alone on a Saturday night after the first hockey game of the year was bad enough. I was a junior at Burlington University in Vermont, fondly known as Moo U by the locals and pretty much everyone else in the state.

Watching my brother revel in his hockey-team star status after a typically fantastic game brought out the ugly in me. I was jealous of him, and I hated being jealous of my brother. He was the best guy I knew and deserved all the good things in his life. Yet being the one always in his immense shadow proved more and more difficult. I played my supporting role as I always had, bolstering him in any way possible, sending the puck his way, and deflecting defensemen intent on mowing him down. That used to be enough, but this year was different. This was my year to break out. My year to establish myself.

Beer made me sleepy, and apparently, shots of whiskey made me grouchy.

I’d sworn things would be different this season. I’d have more fun, get more involved, shed my role as the smart, nerdy brother, while Patrick was the fun, partying brother.

Did I mention Patrick even had a cool nickname? The team called him Trick because he’d had a hat trick his freshman year, when a hockey player scored three goals in one game. I, on the other hand, was merely known as Pax, short for Paxton. No good story there.

A blonde staggered by and spilled some of her beer on my jeans. I did a double take.

Oh, my God.

Naomi?

I blinked a few times, forcing my eyes to focus and focus they did.

That blonde was Naomi Smith, the unrequited love of my life. Naomi was petite with gray eyes that had a warmth and humor that drew me in. She’d dyed her hair blonde in the past week, rather than the caramel color I’d so loved. I wondered if the change of color had anything to do with my brother, who was currently working his way through the blondes on campus.

She wore a skintight dress showing ample cleavage. The skirt’s hem teased the bottom of her rounded ass. She teetered on these really high heels. The overall look was smoking, but so not her usual style, more the style of the females my brother preferred.

“Oops, sorry,” she said with words as slurred as mine were.

“That’s okay.” I met her gaze, and her eyes widened when she realized it was me. My heart rate sped up as a result. It was no secret that Naomi had a crush on Patrick, but he was oblivious. She and I’d been good friends since our freshman year, and I’d heard all about her pining for my twin.

She dropped down on the couch next to me, sitting way too close for comfort. “What’re you doing sitting here alone?”

“Waiting for you. I’ve been waiting for you for a lifetime.” The mass doses of alcohol I’d consumed made me bold and stupid, but I didn’t have the wherewithal to shut up before I blew my cover, and I’d blown it good this time.

She laughed, and it sounded like a siren’s song reeling me into my fate. I smiled back.

“Your dad’s a piece of work,” she noted. Not that she hadn’t experienced my dad before, but he’d taken it to a whole new level tonight.

“I know.”

“Don’t feel bad. So is my dad. He wishes I’d been born a boy, or at least a female with skating talent. He hates that I have zero athletic ability.”

We exchanged glances. We’d had this talk before, and our mutual problems with our fathers were one of the things that’d bound us together.

She snuggled close to me and leaned her head on my shoulder. While she watched the crowd buzz around us, I contemplated my next move or if there should be one. Taking a chance, I dropped my hand to her bare thigh. She sighed and snuggled closer. I slid my hand higher, and her legs parted while she made a happy little purring sound from deep in her throat.

I turned my head and Naomi lifted hers, regarding me with interest, sexual interest, and my hopes bumped up slightly. I cocked a brow at her. She put her hand over mine and guided it farther upward.

RELEASE BLITZ & REVIEW - MF- Floored (Ward Family #3) by Karla Sorensen

Title: Floored

Author: Karla Sorensen

Genre: Sports Romance

Release Date: December 9, 2020

Cover Design: Najla Qamber Designs

Goodreads

Buy Links (Kindle Unlimited):

Amazon US  *  Amazon CA

Amazon UK * Amazon AU

Universal

If you've ever had a steamy one-night stand with a British football player and then find yourself pregnant with his baby, you know how Lia Ward feels.

To be fair, Lia didn't know who Jude McAllister was when they met.

Studying abroad for her master's program, all she knows is that she's a little lonely and he's very charming, even as they have an epically sexy argument about which type of football is superior.

In Jude's mind, shagging the feisty American girl is exactly what he needs. He’s been fighting the clock of his long-standing football career and the younger players primed to take his position. Proving that he can feel like his old self again—something he's been trying to do with everyone in his life—should be easier after blowing off steam with Lia.

But oh baby, when a plus sign pops up on Lia's pregnancy test, that 'one night' becomes a whole lot more.

Now Lia and Jude have to navigate their impossible-to-ignore chemistry, and prepare for the parenting game, something neither of them know how to play.

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My Rating - 4.5 Stars!

Floored is a study abroad romance by Karla Sorensen. The third book in the Ward Brothers series, it's easily read as a standalone. However, reading the series in order definitely adds to the fun. 

As far as I'm concerned, Lia's living the dream. Studying in England for a semester and meeting a hot athlete. Swoon. Course the dream doesn't involve a surprise pregnancy. 

It's a great story, but it took me a little bit to appreciate the characters fully. And, damn, let's just say that Jude's parents are awful. Add in Lia's family history and cue the tears. 

I like that the two work together and never have that big initial fall out due to those two pink lines. It's a nice twist on the typical surprise pregnancy storyline. Of course, there's conflict later on, and I love the way it's done. It's actually a development I appreciate and it never gets cheesy. 

It's a tale of pregnancy and the upcoming life changes that one needs to deal with. It's a tale of figuring out their family issues, as well as distance issues. It's also a tale that explores opening up to others and letting people in.

The writing is wonderful, with everything flowing well and the storyline keeping me intrigued throughout. My only complaint is that I wanted more. I wanted to see some of their daily lives, both surrounding school and his work. But of course, that would have been a whole different story. lol 

Overall, Floored is a good read. It's a nice NA read that explores finding one's place in life, as Lia struggles to figure out where she belongs, as she deals with the changes in her life. If you've been reading the series all along, you'll love this addition to the series. 

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"All the English countryside stars for this awesomeness. It’s getting one of my rare 6 stars...  I’ve read over 400 books this year and have only given 8 x 6 stars so that tells you just how much I loved this book!!" - Claypot Reads

"Karla Sorensen nailed the angsty and steamy feels once again in Floored. This unique sports romance was full of intense emotions and all consuming romance goodness. She never fails to bring out the best and the worst in me with her brilliant writing." (PP’s Bookshelf)

“Karla Sorensen delivers on all the things I love the best: the chemistry, the banter, the sweet steady burn that holds my heart in thrall and keeps my greedy little reader heart hungry for more. Floored delivered on all those things and more!” (Jennifer, Goodreads Review)

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Well, let’s see ... I’m a wife and a mother. If the things that I write bring a smile to someone's face, then I've done my job. I am obsessed with Outlander (both the books and the show). I’m almost exclusively a romance reader, which means some people will never consider me a literary snob. If I could meet one historical figure, it would be Jane Austen. I received my Bachelors in Public Relations and worked in health care marketing before I had my babies. I hate Twitter. I do it, but I hate it. Also, if you want to get on my good side, bring me wine and I'll love you forever.

Social Media Links: 

Facebook page- www.facebook.com/karlasorensenbooks 

Reader Group- www.facebook.com/groups/thesorensensorority 

Website- www.karlasorensen.com 

Twitter- www.twitter.com/ksorensenbooks 

Amazon -https://www.amazon.com/Karla-Sorensen/e/B00UQZ9ENI

Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13563232.Karla_Sorensen

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karla_sorensen/

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