WRI Reviews: Love Handles by Gretchen Galway

@GretchenGalway #bookreview #romance

Love Handles by Gretchen Galway
Pages: 365
Publisher: Eton Field 
Source: Purchased from Amazon
Format: mobi
Rating: ☆ ☆ ☆

The world of fitness apparel isn't ready for Beverly Lewis. She hates the gym, is nice to everybody, and shops at Ross Dress for Less. When she's not teaching preschool, she's wearing yoga pants . . . to nap in. So when she inherits her estranged grandfather's fitnesswear company in San Francisco, nobody expects her to keep it. Fite Fitness needs a heartless suit to save it from bankruptcy, not a thirty-year-old woman who cries when her students leave for kindergarten.

Someone like Liam Johnson. A former Olympic swimmer, Liam is Fite's executive vice president. Unlike Bev, he's devoted his life to Fite's success. Managing one little preschool teacher—and his attraction to her—shouldn't be an issue. Right?

But Bev's tired of being underpaid and underrated, and refuses to step aside as an obedient figurehead. To everyone's shock and horror, she moves up to San Francisco, sets up an office, and dives into the business. Nothing—not mockery, not exercise, not sabotage, not a disastrously hot night with her aggravating VP—is going to scare her away.

As Liam realizes she's tougher than she looks, he discovers that losing Fite might not be nearly as bad as losing her . . .

A story about the pursuit of love, happiness, and the perfect yoga pants, Love Handles will speak to anyone who's ever had to face the thing that scares her most.

Love Handles is a full-length novel, the equivalent of about 375 print pages.
Warning: contains at least two loves scenes and a happy ending.

Goodreads

Purchase

Amazon  -  Barnes and Noble  -  Kobo  -  iBooks

My Review
Bev is a preschool teacher. She has a big heart which makes her a popular and love teacher by most. The grandfather she doesn't know leaves her his failing fitness wear company. No one is happy about the change in ownership. The book is basically about her trying to prove to everyone including herself that she is able to be the businesswoman the company needs all while falling for Liam. There is a side story of someone harassing her at home and at the office.

I liked Bev determination to stick with the company. I like that how she went about winning people over. However, she is a bit of a pushover. I'm not too keen on Liam. He was underhanded and entitled so the romance element of this story didn't win me over. I also didn't like how her family treated her. Yes she was a pushover but they really did put her down. I did like the side story of finding out who was causing her all that trouble and even finding out a little info about the bitter family drama.

About the Author
Gretchen writes romantic comedies because love is too painful to survive without laughing. Raised in the American Midwest, she now lives in California with her husband and two kids.

If you enjoy any of her books, please consider lending it to a friend—all of her books are DRM-free if possible—or leave a review online. Feedback from readers like you is priceless.

Author Links

Facebook  -  Twitter  -  Website  -  Goodreads

READING CHALLENGES
BookaShelf Reading Challenge 2016
2016 New To You Challenge
2016 Color Coded Reading Challenge

FUN AND GAMES
Goodreads' Challenge Corner: Valentine's Day Scavenger Hunt


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Movie Monday: The Best Man

I like reading posts on other book bloggers sites that aren't always related to books. So I started thinking about what non book related thinks I would like to post. Movie Monday should be interesting since I like random things. You see mostly older movies but maybe you'll find something new to watch.

The Best Man
Release date: October 22, 1999 (USA)
Director: Malcolm D. Lee
Starring: Taye Diggs, Morris Chestnut, and Nia Long
Rated: R

After writing a soon-to-be bestselling novel, writer and committed bachelor Harper Stewart (Taye Diggs) attempts to hide the fact that his saucy new book is loosely based on the lives and loves of his tight-knit group of friends. Harper is set to be best man at his friend Lance's (Morris Chestnut) wedding, and all his friends will be in attendance. When an advance copy of the book makes its way into the hands of his ex-flame, Jordan Armstrong (Nia Long), Harper attempts to keep it under wraps.

Purchase Links

Amazon  Walmart 
                                                        Digital Copy
                                                         Amazon iTunes

This is one of my favs. All the characters bring something to the movie. So basically the crew all went to college together. Harper and Lance are the main focus of the movie. Harper did some shady crap back when the group were in college. You know how they say write what you know, well that's what Harper did. He changed the names and some of the activities/hobbies. But everyone involved knew who they were. So why in the world would you write your secret into a book. Needless to say, Lance is the last to read the book, figures everything out  and promptly beats the crap out of Harper. That's my favorite scene in the movie. Mostly because I don't care for Taye Diggs. Anyway... The bride is clueless to everything that is going on throughout the entire movie. It's drama filled in an entertaining way. If you haven't seen it, you should.

Note: As with any black wedding event (cliche) movie ends with the electric slide. I say cliche but honestly I have yet to go to a bbq or family reunion/large family gathering where the electric slide hasn't gone down.

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My TBR List - Book Review: Diary of a Single Wedding Planner by Violet Howe

@Limabean74 #mytbrl

The Winner

My Review:

This month's winner was a winner. I could relate in some ways with Tyler and then there were other times when I just wanted to smack her. In a lot of ways this is a coming of age story. Most of us think about the phrase 'coming of age' and think about the transition from teen to adult. But coming of age does just happen once. It can happen multiple times throughout a person life. I am going through a transition myself. It's called the dreaded midlife crisis. I'll tell you guys about it in another post.

This not your typical romance in that she isn't dating any one person. So here' s the deal. Tyler fled town after her high school sweetheart breaks up with her only to marry someone else a month later. I know right. I might not have left town but he sure would've gotten more than a half of my mind. She was understandably upset. Years later, she still has dealt with that pain. So much so that she hasn't realize how much she has missed out on by closing herself off.

Tyler finds herself dating the weird guys. She wishing for Prince Charming but dates a bunch of frogs. The message in the book comes across loud and clear. There isn't such a thing as a Prince Charming. The is only the work and choice of love. Even when told out right she didn't get it. She frustrated the yet out of me by some of the things that she did. But in the end, she made the right choice so I guess all well that ends well (I think that's how that saying goes o_O).

*I am in the middle of reading The Man Test. And Ellyphant is on my list to read next.
Rating 3stars

Book Description:

Wedding planner Tyler Warren left heartbreak behind when she ran away from her small Southern hometown and started a new life in a big city. Years later, she wants to believe in the fairy-tale endings her job promotes, but the clients she meets day after day seem to be more “Crazily Ever After” than “Happily Ever After.” 

Meanwhile, her own attempts at romance play out as bizarre comedies rather than love stories, and she’s starting to think Prince Charming either fell off his horse or got eaten by a dragon. When unresolved issues from Tyler’s past complicate things even further, she discovers she may yet have some things to figure out before she can find her own happy ending. 

This delightful first book in the Tales Behind the Veils series chronicles Tyler’s wacky misadventures, both personal and professional. Whether she’s getting insane requests from brides or outlandish requests on dates, you’re sure to be charmed and entertained by the Diary of a Single Wedding Planner.

Purchase Link

Amazon

Violet Howe enjoys writing romance with humor. She lives in Florida with her husband (her knight in shining armor!) and their two handsome sons. They also share their home with three adorable but spoiled dogs. When she’s not writing, Violet is usually watching movies, reading, or planning her next travel adventure.

Author Links

Website  -  Twitter  -  Facebook  -  Instagram

The Runners Up

In this romantic comedy, Marin Johns is San Francisco’s Pollyanna couples therapist. She’s months away from wedded bliss when she discovers her fiancé is having an affair. After nursing her broken heart with Kleenex and break-up songs, she adopts a new brand of thinking when she uncovers a tell-all book that proves all men are liars and cheaters who will do and say anything so they’re not found out. No exceptions. 

In an attempt to convince her friends of her newfound truth, she begins a fictitious relationship with James, a do-gooder from Montana. Marin seeks any means necessary to catch him cheating from hiring a PI to enlisting the help of a fidelity tester. Will her new "boyfriend" beat the statistic or will Marin regret the satisfaction of being right?

Purchase Link

Amazon

The year is 1999 and Elly Palmer and Kent Lytle are embarking on their senior year of high school. Their lives change forever when a stranger comes into town riding in her candy apple red Audi Cabriolet.

Jen Derby wants one thing: Kent. And no one is going to stand in her way, not even his best friend "Elly-phant." When winning Kent's complete attention isn't as easy as she thought it would be, Jen fights back with a vengeance.

The poison-laced smiles Jen threw her way made one thing clear to Elly: Jen isn't the one for Kent. How long would it be before Kent saw Jen for who she really was? And when he did would he turn his attentions in Elly's hopeful direction?

Purchase Link

Amazon

Like to join the fun? Here's how it works.

Each month you will make a post with three books from your TBR List (these books can be already on your kindle or shelf or books you might want to purchase) and add your link on the linky that will be provided on Because Reading post. Click here to go to this month sign up

Your followers and the people on the linky will help you choose which book you will read next.

The following Saturday you will announce the book that won. Then read the book.

On the last Saturday of the month post a review (with an optional giveaway, Michelle at Because Reading does this sometimes just for fun but you don’t have to).

The Rules

Ex. Lets say its September…
The first Saturday is the 6th – your post will go up with the 3 books you choose (as stated above these books can be already on your kindle or shelf or books you might want to purchase) and then link it to the linky on Because Reading blog.
     Her post will go up at 5am est. Make sure your link your post back to it in order to have your followers        visit other people’s blogs to help vote if they want.

     You can do the Polling however you would like. Survey Monkey, it has a good one and it’s free (here is        an EXAMPLE of Michelle's post). You can set it up and say whatever you would like – it’s totally up to        you. All this is asked is that you link back to Because Reading.

The second Saturday is the 13th – this is the day you announce which book won and whatever else you would like.
     (here is an EXAMPLE of Michelle's post). Her post will have a linky, so we can all easily see what                everyone will be reading.

The third Saturday is the 20th– you don’t have to post anything

The fourth (and/or last) Saturday is the 27th– this is when your review will go up regardless of how you liked the book.
     Please note even if you didn’t finished it just write a small post about how you felt about the book.                Michelle don’t write DNF reviews, but she does for this feature so followers can see what she thought          about the book they picked.

Some months have 4 weeks and some have five so a post always has to go up the First and Second Saturday and the last Saturday of the month

The final review post will also have a linky on it so you can link up your reviews and we can see what you thought of the book that was picked. This will draw some views to your blog and maybe find some new friends along the way.

Reading challenges

0/6 books

0/12 books

Fun and Games

 

0/10 books

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Book Blitz: Never Say Love by Carly Phillips and Lauren Hawkeye

Never Say Love by Carly Phillips and Lauren Hawkeye

Date of Publication: February 21, 2016

Blurb

Bound by a vow with his friends, hotel tycoon Nathan Archer refuses to settle down and tie the knot. His only commitment is to bachelorhood. Granted, that contract was made when he was 15 years old… and in a treehouse. Still, a promise is a promise. And Nate takes his promises seriously.

But when cute little Eleanor Marshall walks back into his life, this blast from the past is no longer the timid little girl he used to know. When Ellie propositions him for a night of sizzling, unattached sex, Nate can't refuse. Besides, it's only one night. And Nate is never going to settle down.

Never say never…

Available From

Amazon (Kindle) iBooks Kobo B&N Nook Amazon Print Amazon outside the US

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About Carly Phillips and Lauren Hawkeye

Carly Phillips
After a successful fifteen year career with various New York publishing houses, and over 40 sexy contemporary romance novels published, N.Y. Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Carly Phillips is now an Indie author who writes to her own expectations and that of her readers. She continues the tradition of hot men and strong women and plans to publish many more sizzling stories. Carly lives in Purchase, NY with her family, two nearly adult daughters and two crazy dogs who star on her Facebook Fan Page and website. She's a writer, a knitter of sorts, a wife, and a mom. In addition, she's a Twitter and Internet junkie and is always around to interact with her readers.
Lauren Hawkeye
New York Time and USA Today bestselling author Lauren Hawkeye never imagined that she'd wind up telling stories for a living… though when she looks back, it's easy to see that she's the only one who is surprised. Always "the kid who read all the time", Lauren made up stories about her favorite characters once she'd finished a book… and once spent an entire year narrating her own life internally. No, really. But where she was just plain odd before publication, now she can at least claim to have an artistic temperament.
Lauren lives in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta, Canada with her husband, two young sons, pit bull and two idiot cats, though they do not live in an igloo, nor do they drive a dogsled. In her nonexistent spare time Lauren can be found knitting, reading anything she can get her hands on, or sweating her way through spin class. She loves to hear from her readers!

Find Carly Phillips and Lauren Hawkeye Online

Website Goodreads Amazon Facebook Twitter

Website Mailing List Goodreads Amazon

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WRI Reviews: One Condition by Nova Raines

#bookreview #reading

One Condition by Nova Raines
Pages: 206
Publisher: NoMi Press
Source: Purchased from Kobo
Format: ePub
Rating: ☆

They're the world's sexiest bachelors. The men of ScandalLust mag's infamous Lust List are young, wealthy, and, oh, did we mention? HOT.

When scandal follows them everywhere, there's no hiding from the cameras. They're irresistible, insatiable--and talented in all the right ways. Every woman wants them. But these playboys won't be easy to catch...

Hayley Wade's rock star dad just partied himself into an early grave and left Hayley with a pile of dangerous debt. She plans to pay it off, but her drug-addled father wrote an impossible task into his will: to inherit his wealth, Hayley must steal back a family heirloom he lost to a gold digger.

Kaidan Stone grew up surrounded by the world's biggest stars, but never wanted to be in the limelight. When he makes The Lust List, he becomes America's newest celebrity obsession overnight.
After Kaidan saves Hayley from a run-in with the aggressive paparazzi, sparks fly, and she discovers the heirloom is in his California mansion. It's the answer to all her problems...but she'll have to betray Kaidan to get it. 

Goodreads

Purchase

Amazon  -  Barnes and Noble  -  Kobo  -  iBooks

My Review
Didn't do it for me. Hayley is whiney. Both her parents worried more about partying and doing drugs than they did about their kids. I will give her that but her attitude sucks. She turn her nose up at the industry & celebrity but wonders if Kaiden is "somebody". Her actions and thoughts contradicts who she think he is. Kaiden is supposed to be hot but I found him off putting. He can't stand up to daddy so he orders the woman in is life around. That is so not sexy or manly to me.

All the characters are not likable including the supporting ones. And on top if that nothing actually happens in this story besides Hayley realizing Kaiden is a jerk etch was obvious in the beginning.

About the Author
Nova Raines chased fame in her teen years as a member of a girl group in Los Angeles (which shall never be named.) She decided “pop tartlet” wasn’t her ideal career choice, so she became an author instead. But a naughty fascination with fame and showbiz remains, and The Lust List book series is the perfect way for her to explore it.

Author Links

Facebook  -  Website  -  Goodreads


BookaShelf Reading Challenge
Mount TBR Reading Challenge 2016
2016 The Color Coded Reading Challenge

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Blog Tour: How Willa Got Her Groove Back by Emily McKay

@GCReading #blogtour

How Willa Got Her Groove Back by Emily McKay
Pages: 240
Publisher: Entangled: Crush
Source: Good Choice Promotions
Format: ePub
Rating: ☆ ☆ ☆

When your life feels like a bad movie, rewrite the script.

When Willa Schofer’s father comes home from a business trip with an über-famous new fiancée, Willa’s senior year blows up in paparazzi-fueled flames. Overnight, she has a new house, a new car, and a new soon-to-be stepbrother—the unbelievably hot, unbelievably arrogant, Finn McCain. Thank god he’s constantly pushing her buttons, or she might do something irresponsible. Like fall for the jerk.

Just when Willa’s decided to avoid him for, oh, ever, Finn lands in the center of her senior project team. Seriously—how hard is it to shake a guy? At least her work on the project snagged the attention of the (second) hottest guy in school. He might only be into her because of her famous stepmom, and he’s not quite as exciting as a certain annoying housemate, but at least she’s allowed to crush on the guy.

Because crushing on your annoying stepbrother? So not cool.

Goodreads

Purchase

Amazon  -  Barnes and Noble  -  Kobo  -  iBooks

My Review
This was ok. Willa is blindsided when she learns that her dad isn't only dating someone but engaged. The book is about her coming to terms with her dad's new relationship while letting go of the fear she has about how he handled the end of his last. She irrationally dislike Finn, the stepbrother to be but it's understandable.

What I don't like about her is that when someone gives you advice about a world you don't know much about you should take it or at least learn to put your guard up. Finn is my favorite. Even though he'd made a deal to get Willa to be cool about the wedding. He really tried to help her with her new fame by association.

Book doesn't end in a cliffhanger but it does seem like there's going to be a book two.

0/6 books

0/10 books

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----This is an ARC review----

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