Just a Little Secret

 Just a Little Secret (Dare Crossover Series #2)- Carly Phillips & Erika Wilde)

Blackstone Pub

Release Date: July 25, 2023

Rating: 📚📚📚📚📚

Synopsis: Georgia Brooks had no intention of bidding on a bachelor at the charity auction, but her sister has other ideas and gifts her with a man for her birthday weekend. But not just any man . . . Drew Daniels. A hot, gorgeous lawyer who makes her want to shed her good-girl image and learn all sorts of new and risqué things.

Attorney Drew Daniels is more than willing to introduce the beautiful Georgia to her naughtier side. Their weekend together is steamy and romantic . . . and it doesn’t hurt that a rival of Drew’s has his eye on Georgia, too. Stirring the other man’s jealousy is a fun side benefit.

Their tryst should have been just about pleasure, but Drew finds he’s attracted to more than Georgia’s outer beauty and he wants to keep her as his own. When Drew suggests they continue their affair, Georgia is too smitten to say no. Even if her parents expect her to marry her lawyer father’s right-hand man.

Georgia finds herself falling for Drew harder and faster than she could have imagined. Until she discovers he's keeping a secret that has the potential to break her heart.

_________________________________________________________

A bachelor auction could be incredibly awkward- unless just the right woman bids on you! Drew Daniels and Georgia Brooks meet before the auction and have instant chemistry, but he walks away because he sees nothing but complications. When Georgia's little sister buys Drew as Georgia's birthday present, he gets a second chance to make things right. And the two are definitively right together! 

As you should expect when Carly Phillips and Erika Wilde get together, the chemistry between Georgia and Drew is magnetic from the first eye contact, and only gets hotter from there. Drew brings Georgia out of her shell and she becomes confident enough to stand up to her mother, who is putting heavy emotional blackmail on her to marry the man Georgia's mother thinks is best. Georgia is sweet, kind, down-to-earth, and fits into Drew's life and family perfectly. So why is he panicking? Drew may be smart, sexy, and fun, but he isn't looking for a relationship. Having recently made partner in his law firm, he knows he has crazy hours and lots of work ahead of him to keep his career on track- things his last serious girlfriend didn't put up with, so why would Georgia? 

This was such a fast read, I didn't want it to end. I loved watching Georgia grow in confidence and Drew learn a few lessons about women and love (and groveling). Sparkling dialogue, wit, and fun, this one has it all! Don't miss it!

I received an ARC from BookSprout in exchange for an honest review  

Just a Little Hookup

 Just a Little Hookup- Carly Phillips & Erica Wilde

CP Publishing

Release Date: March 21, 2023

Rating: 📚📚📚📚📚

Synopsis: Being a bachelor has its perks. It also has its downside. Just ask Derek Bettencourt.

Standing on stage and being auctioned off in the name of charity is awkward AF… until his business partner’s younger sister wins him for the weekend. He’s all hers to do with as she pleases and he can’t say he’s unhappy with the prospect. Especially since she saved him from an ex-fiancée determined to get her claws into him again.

Jessica Cavanaugh never intended to bid on the man she’s had a lifetime crush on. But her spur-of-the-moment decision gives her a chance to exact a bit of playful payback, for old time’s sake. And Derek is all too happy to indulge Jessica's whims.

What starts as a fun, flirty, game, with Derek acting as her personal handyman, quickly turns into a steamy and forbidden weekend. Lines are crossed that they never intended and emotions unravel their playful facades. Afterward, he can’t get the gorgeous, full-figured woman out of his head and he’s determined to make her his.

But how can they concentrate on a future when someone is threatened by their relationship and will do anything to come between them?

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What a great book! Two strong and solid leads, down-to-earth personalities who have learned not to let parental or social pressure change who they are or what they want out of life, Derek and Jessica are just perfect for each other! 

Derek is a great leading guy, looking for substance over eye-candy, as perfectly shown between the clash between mean girl Claire and Jessica. Jessica still has a few insecurities once and awhile (not bad after a lifetime of bullying from her mom and classmates) but has built a successful business about to launch a new line of Curvy Girl Lingerie. She's had a crush on her older brother's best friend Derek since she was a teenager. Now they are discovering some sizzling chemistry together and everything seems to be perfect-until someone sets out to sabotage her designer launch, her business, and her life.

 I really loved the body positivity and self-worth messages in this book. It's nice seeing more plus size heroines in romance these days, but the positive message we see in this book took it to a new and wonderful level. LOVED the ending! Maybe one of my favorites in this series yet!

I received an ARC of this book from Booksprout in exchange for an honest review

Dare to Play

Dare to Play (Dare Nation 3)- Carly Phillips

CP Publishing

Release Date: October 6, 2020

Rating:  📚📚📚📚📚

Synopsis: Pitcher, Jaxon Prescott has a lot on his plate. Major League Baseball. Reputation as a player. And now? He’s on the verge of losing it all. He didn’t mean to sleep with his general manager’s daughter or get into a brawl that was captured on camera. But his notoriety is a problem and everything he's worked for is at risk. 

What’s a bad boy to do? Marry his sister's best friend to save his career, even if it’s the opposite of everything he wants and believes in.

Macy Walker is the sole guardian of her half-sister until the girl’s mother returns and wants her daughter back. In order to win custody, Macy needs to provide stability and marrying someone would do the trick. Luckily for her, her best friend’s brother needs a wife.

They're this close to getting exactly what they want - as long as they don't fall in love.

_________________________________________________________________________

Macy Walker has been her teenage half-sister's guardian for nearly a year. Now the girl's mother is back and claiming to want custody- and prepared to bribe and cheat to get it.  Jaxon Prescott is a Major League Baseball player with a reputation off the field for being wilder than his team's head office would like.  Both need the image of a stable family to help them move forward. A marriage of convenience seems like the perfect solution. Only one rule: no emotions involved.

Macy Walker has been taking care of her half-sister since Hannah's mother walked out on her, and been the sole guardian since their father died.  Between playing the parent and her work on web design, Macy doesn't get out much or have anyone to help back her up when Hannah's mother, Lilah, shows up again claiming she wants custody and bribing Hannah with expensive buying sprees.  She's a strong character who can handle a lot of stress, but is not too proud to lean on others when she needs help. Jaxon is a star baseball player with a reputation with women, and a few too many off-field antics for management.  But when you get to know him, he's more a wounded, unsure guy still trying to protect himself from an abusive father and the others who have let him down along the way.  Each of the Prescott siblings is dealing with their father's shadow in different ways, and this is Jaxon's. He thinks no one will choose him when the going gets tough. So why put yourself out there? He and Macy click beautifully together and I love how Macy shows through her actions that she will be there for Jaxon when he needs her. Their chemistry is perfect and the story is fast-paced and lovely, flowing with the wit and emotions readers expect from Carly Phillips at her best. 

As far as marriages of convenience go, how can you go wrong with two people who like each other, have excellent chemistry, and instantly have each other's back through incidents that might send others fleeing? Answer: you can't. Dare to Play may be Carly Phillips' first marriage of convenience trope book, but she hits all the right buttons and then some.  A stand alone in the Dare Nation series, characters from other books have cameos that will make series readers happy and won't confuse new readers. The ease and chemistry between Macy and Jaxon flows beautifully from each page, both in and out of the bedroom, and shows what a true partnership can be between the right people.  Even before they realize they are right for each other. A must read romance!

 

I received an ARC of this book from Booksprout in exchange for an honest review

Sexy Dare

Sexy Dare (Sexy Series Book 1)- Carly Phillips
Amazon Digital Services
Release Date: October 15, 2019

Rating:
📚📚📚📚

Synopsis: Billionaire nightclub owner Jason Dare doesn’t stand a chance. From the moment he lays eyes on the luscious blonde stuck on the side of the road and realizes she’s in danger, he goes from playboy to bodyguard. 

Faith Lancaster’s sweet body won’t come to any harm on his watch. And watch Faith he does. He can’t take his eyes off her. Jason will stop at nothing to keep Faith safe. Even if it means moving her into his apartment and letting her into his once private life.

Hiding from her past, Faith has spent the last year building her candy business into a profitable company while keeping to herself and staying under the radar … until she meets the delicious Mr. Dare. Alpha and irresistible, he awakens desires she has long denied. It doesn’t take her long to succumb to his charms and fall hard for the man.

They both have their reasons for keeping things casual but when Faith’s past catches up with her, can Jason finally claim the woman meant to be his?

_________________________________________________________________

Jason Dare might try to hold himself apart from people and keep his emotions walled up, but he doesn't stand a chance when he meets Faith Lancaster.  A woman trying to start a candy business and avoid a drug-addicted, stalking, violent brother, Faith keeps herself apart to protect others from the mess that is her life.  But the chemistry between Jason and Faith- even standing on the side of the road changing a flat tire- is instant and not something that should be ignored.  Jason may tell himself he wants to be alone, but right from the beginning he does everything he can to keep Faith safe- and a part of his life.

Jason's response to the emotional travails of his life is to keep himself to himself.  Better to not let anyone in and risk losing them.  It doesn't occur to him that this is a losing goal as his extended family marries and has kids, thus adding to the people he loves.  He makes the traditional alpha male mistake of thinking he can control his emotions and therefore his life.  Until Faith comes into his life, he doesn't even seem to realize what he's missing.  Faith is a delightful girl-next-store type.  Not super-model sexy, not exotic, but real and relatable.  She's starting a new life in a new city, building a new business, and trying to stay under her drug-adict brother's radar.  She's faced emotional and physical challenges, but she never cuts herself off from the world.  She looks towards the future and hopes for the day when she'll be safe to have friendships, romance, even family of her own.  I loved Faith from the beginning- her independence and strength mixed with her common sense and humor.  The instant attraction between Faith and Jason felt real, it never felt like there was anything overly contrived about their relationship or even how Jason pretty much swoops in and takes over security for Faith.  He's a whirlwind who doesn't look too closely at the reasons why he's running to Faith's rescue.  

Sexy Dare can be read as a standalone book, the start of a new series, and a part of Carly Phillips' Dare Series. You don't need to have read any of the Dare books to follow and enjoy Sexy Dare, although as a series regular I thought it was fun to see a few Dare siblings have cameo appearances- along with another great moment when a Dare sibling faces off with their serial-cheating father. This was a fun, light book with tons of chemistry and will leave you happily looking for some candy to go with it.

I received an ARC of this book from BookSprout in exchange for an honest review

Take Me Down

Take Me Down (Knight Brothers #3)- Carly Phillips
Amazon Digital Services
Release Date: June 11, 2019

Rating:
📚📚📚📚📚

Synopsis: Parker Knight is merely existing.

Emily Stevens is trying to start over.

He didn’t plan to meet her.

She wasn’t looking for someone like him.

With Parker stranded in the small mountain town, his path collides with Emily's reigniting desires they'd both long forgotten. 

Opposites don’t merely attract … they combust.

Can two damaged people living in different worlds find a reason to stay together before their time runs out?

____________________________________________________

Parker Knight has merely been existing since the accidents that took his skiing career and his fiancée- working behind a desk at the family firm because he feels like he owes his brother and has no other plan.  When he gets stranded in a tiny mountain town in Colorado he finds more than just a bed and breakfast: he finds Emily Stevens.  Emily is going through the motions, putting her own plans on hold to try and help her father with a rundown B&B.  She's learned the hard way not to trust city slickers and instantly dislikes Parker on sight.  But spending time together might be just what each of them need.

Take Me Down is possibly one of the best Carly Phillips books I've read in awhile.  Both Parker and Emily really spoke to me as people who have either put their own lives on hold to help loved ones or who have stopped looking for what makes them happy because they worry they don't deserve happiness.  It doesn't take long for them to recognize in each other emotionally damaged kindred souls.  What was great (for me as a reader) was that they recognized that in themselves, not just each other.  Parker in particular was refreshingly emotionally honest with himself once on an enforced vacation. 

The chemistry between Parker and Emily was instant and exciting and fortunately they didn't fight it for too long.  Both go in thinking this is a brief vacation fling, but are surprised to discover deeper feelings and emotional connections. It was ironic that as open and honest as they were, communicating fears and pain that they never shared with anyone else, neither was willing to talk about the elephant in the room: if a city slicker and small town baker love each other, how do they make it work long-term?

A light, fun, emotional deep and satisfying, fast-paced read, Take Me Down will thrill long time Carly Phillips fans and be a great introduction for newcomers to a consistently delightful author!

I received and ARC of this book from BookSprout in exchange for an honest review

Boyfriend Experience

The Boyfriend Experience- Carly Phillips & Erika Wilde
CP Publishing
Release Date: March 19, 2019

Rating:
📚📚📚📚📚

Synopsis: He’s the total package.  

Except … 

Eric Miller isn’t looking for a long term relationship. And he definitely isn’t thrilled when a friend signs him up for The Boyfriend Experience app behind his back. It’s not like he has a problem getting women on his own. But when he gets a notification that someone is in need of his . . . services, he’s intrigued enough to check out her profile and can’t resist the sexy, sassy little brunette who only wants him as a decoy for a family event.  

Evie Bennett needs a boyfriend, stat. Someone who can accompany her to her family reunion so she doesn't have to explain that she's been recently dumped. Again. She’s perfectly happy being an independent woman, but what’s a girl to do when her new fake boyfriend starts to feel like the real deal?

__________________________________________________________________

When Eric's friend signs him up for the Boyfriend Experience app without telling him, Eric's first response is to blow it off.  When he gets a notification that someone wants to hire him, he figures he'll tell the lady it was all a mistake and that will be that.  When he meets Evie Bennet for the first time, sparks fly.  Eric has been hurt enough by life to believe avoiding long-term relationships are the best way forward.  Evie has lost her confidence in herself and her judgement  after two bad boyfriends.  But she wants a fake boyfriend for a family weekend so she can avoid the pity and the Boyfriend Experience seems like the perfect deal.  Both people go in with eyes wide open, no expectations, and a set end to the 'relationship'. But when feelings refuse to be suppressed, can they turn this into something real?

The hype (and title) leave you with no doubt about what to expect from hero Eric Miller and Carly Phillips and Erika Wilde deliver: this guy is your new perfect book boyfriend.  Smart, kind, confident, with a wicked sense of humor and ability to roll with the flow, Eric has it all.  He's also well versed in keeping walls around his heart and up front about not doing long term relationships- although he doesn't generally share his reasons.  The instant attraction between them means Eric doesn't even consider telling Evie the truth about not signing up for the app, but dives right in with her idea- into what readers can predict will be quite a ride! 

 I loved how instantly protective and sweet Eric was with Evie and that he wanted her to have a weekend that would build up her self confidence.  Whether it was Evie, his mom, or a complete stranger, Eric wanted to make them feel better about themselves after talking to them. It wasn't a gimmick, or something her felt he had to do as a 'fake' boyfriend, but just a part of his personality.  The differences between Eric's family and Evie's were both intentionally humorous and deeply touching.  And I loved the emotional, poignant, and sweet way Eric remembered his sister Trisha and various times throughout the book.         

The Boyfriend Experience is a short and sweet book with intensely hot chemistry between Eric and Evie that will keep you glued to the page from start to finish.  A book I can definitely see re-visiting whenever I need the book equivalent of a good cuddle, and a must read romance!  

I received an ARC of this book from Booksprout in exchange for an honest review

Going in Deep

Going in Deep - Carly Phillips
CP Publishing
Release Date: May 9, 2017

Rating (out of 5):
📚📚📚📚📚

Warning: Potential Spoilers!

Synopsis: Julian Dane thought he'd hit rock bottom — until he met a woman (isn't that what they all say?). He used her and broke her heart. Now he wants to turn things around but the damage he dealt stands in his way.

Kendall Parker's unique issues have made it hard to live a normal life. Very few people understand her and she trusts even less … but she believed in Julian once, and he only betrayed her.

Now Julian is back — a new man — and determined to win Kendall's heart. But this reformed bad boy just might find that Going in Deep is harder than it looks.

_______________________________

In college Julian, Kade, Derek, and Lucas were close friends designing a social media app.  Then Julian dropped into alcohol and drugs, abandoned his friends, and they went on to create a multi-million dollar company without him.  He came back, raked up things his friends didn't want to remember, sued them to get some of the company's money, and used Kade's girlfriend's twin sister to hurt them even more.  He used Kendall, then broke her heart, then walked away.  To say that he has a rocky road to redemption would be an understatement.  Kendall is finally on track with her life: she has a job, an apartment, and working with a therapist and medication to keep her bipolar disorder under control.  She's not interested in ever seeing Julian Dane again.  But persistence pays off and these two people who were once so wrong for each other may prove to be a perfect match- if they can convince Kendall's family to give him another chance!

I was skeptical when I first read the blurb for this book.  How in the world could Julian Dane be redeemed into hero material?  Or at least a likable, sympathetic main character.  We met him in Going Down Easy as someone who did what he wanted, used who he could, and had no feelings for anyone else.  In Going in Deep we see things through Julian's eyes.  I was encouraged to give him a chance with the opening lines of the book, which became something of Julian's motto: "A man didn't make mistakes.  He made choices.  Bad ones stayed with him for a long time but, with a little luck and a lot of hard work, hopefully not forever."  Julian never makes excuses for his past actions.  He owns them as bad choices.  But we also see why he made the choices he did.  And while you certainly don't agree with those choices, you have to be encouraged by the fact that the new Julian doesn't agree with them either. He's working hard to make amends, make changes, and make things better where he can.  I liked how Kendall eventually sees that in him and gives him the chance.  

Both Kendal and Julian come into their own here, becoming strong characters who learn to deal with their problems.  But while they may be impacted by their pasts, they don't spend the entire book going over old ground.  While it might help readers to read the earlier books in the series (or at least Going Down Easy) first to get the background, I think it would also be possible for new readers to read Going in Deep as a standalone without too much confusion.

This is a book about second chances: the people who take them and the ones who don't.  Julian is getting a second chance at a life free of alcohol and drugs, getting a second chance with Kendall, and even a second chance with the men who used to be his best friends. Kendall is getting a second chance as a responsible and independent adult, not one who relies on her twin to take care of her.  She's not only giving Julian a second chance, she's giving herself a second chance- learning to trust her judgment in herself and in others to be happy.  Dogs also play a big role in this book and second chances.  Kendall works at an animal shelter, helping people adopt pets that need a second chance at life.  She bonds with Julian over the dog he adopts- you can tell a lot about a person by how he treats his pet after all.  But Kendall is also good at seeing people and dogs who could work together, like as emotional therapy dogs. Without being preachy Going in Deep goes into some deep issues of addiction and mental health, and how individuals choose to deal with them (or not).  I thought that Phillips handled these sensitive issues with not only gentle understanding but also a desire to bring awareness to the topics and help erase the social stigma still prevalent in society today.  If you read Going in Deep and find yourself thinking there's an abnormally high number of people in it with some kind of 'mental health' issue, you'd be wrong- these characters are just more willing to talk about it.  Hopefully someday that will mirror our society's willingness to talk about things.

A fun book with characters who feel real and three dimensional, dealing with real life issues with a perfect blend of seriousness and humor.  A must read for Carly Phillips fans and a great introduction for new Carly Phillips readers and fans of contemporary romance. 

I received a free copy of this book on Instafreebie in exchange for an honest review.