REVIEW: "No Falling Allowed" by Melissa West (Contemporary Romance)

NO FALLING ALLOWED by Melissa West
	Publisher: Entangled Publishing - Embrace Genre: Contemporary Romance Publication Date: July 18th 2016 Series: No Kissing Allowed, #2 Standalone: Yes
Description from Publisher:
My life just went South… Twenty-four hours. That’s how long it took my life to flip upside down. Wake up in bed alone after the best night of my life? Check. Get fired instead of the promised promotion? Check. Wealthy parents cut me off when I refuse to follow their path for my life? Check. Now I’m in Cricket Creek, SC—a place where no New Yorker belongs—disowned and broke, with a new job that I can’t mess up. Oh yeah, and staring at my one-night stand, who happens to be the complete opposite of my type. Southern. Cocky. Bartender. Noah Hunter never should have made it back to my apartment in NYC, and I definitely shouldn’t be in his small town. But fate had another plan. Or a horrible sense of humor. Who knew Mr. Wrong could feel so right…
My Rating:	Heat Rating:
My Musings:
The Southern charm is ripe in this one and as fun and you would imagine! The "other side of the tracks" trope, along with bad boy/obedient socialite trope are enjoyable. Things with Grace's parents seem to wrap up almost a little too cleanly, but I can forgive that. The moment with her dad is sweet. The relationship between Grace and Noah is well-developed, with obstacles that are very real - her insecurity and his duty. The way they talk about things is something that really stood out to me, as it sounds very much like what real people would say. The way they hedge around topics that leave them vulnerable before giving in is certainly reminiscent of my own experiences! And the dialogue between friends was just as genuine. So many of the things said had me laughing or smiling! I adored Lindy and Cameron, in particular. This was certainly not without some sizzle either! The zing is felt from the beginning and just grows from there. The flashbacks of their "one night stand" were a refreshing addition to this, shedding even more light on the connection they share.
My Source: I received a digital ARC from the publisher to voluntarily review. This in no way influenced my review. My opinion is unbiased and my 100% own.

About the Author: Melissa West
Melissa West is the USA TODAY bestselling author of swoony Southern romance and YA sci-fi romance,all with lots of kissing. Because who doesn't like kissing?. She lives outside of Atlanta, GA with her husband and two daughters and spends most of her time writing, reading, or fueling her coffee addiction. She holds a B.A. in Communication Studies and a M.S. in Graphic Communication, both from Clemson University.

REVIEW: "Perfect Together" by Liliana Rhodes (Contemporary Romance)

PERFECT TOGETHER by Liliana Rhodes
	Publisher: Jaded Speck Publishing Genre: Contemporary Romance Publication Date: July 5th 2016 Series: Canyon Cove, #5 Standalone: Yes
Categories:
Alpha Male, Friends to Lovers, Friends with Benefits, Second Chances
Other Books in the CANYON COVE series
#1 #2 #3 #4
Description from Publisher:
“Have you ever thought about being more than friends?” Becca Draven’s life has changed in ways she never imagined. She has a job she loves and a wonderful group of friends, even if they keep telling her she needs a boyfriend. The last thing Becca wants is a man in her life. All they do is complicate things. Besides, she already has one – her best friend Gideon. Gideon Kohl is an architect on the rise and after several high-profile projects, everyone wants a piece of him. He’s always loved being the center of attention, but lately there’s only one person he cares to be around – his best friend Becca. And with his brother Gabriel telling him they’re perfect together, Gideon can’t help but see Becca in a different light. Can friends turn into lovers? While Perfect Together is a standalone romance, it takes place after the events of Canyon Cove #1, Playing Games (available for FREE).
My Rating:	Heat Rating:
My Musings:
I'll preface this by saying that I haven't read any of the Canyon Cove series or anything by Liliana Rhodes before. So I came into this completely fresh. I liked this, but something felt a bit off for me. I think it was the novella factor that basically squeezed a full story into a little over 100 pages, and potentially because it was the 5th and final book in this series. The fast-paced story hooked me from the beginning and I really, really liked Gideon right from the start. He was funny, playful, flirtatious, and had a definite sweet side. Becca took some time to grow on me, and I think that she just couldn't quite live up to the awesomeness of Gideon for me. I liked her and I was definitely rooting for them, but I feel like she made things unnecessarily complicated. Her denial over her best friend's feelings (which he made pretty clear) was a bit frustrating, as it seemed that she knew exactly what was going on and just coasted or ignored it. There was a lot about Becca's friend Sandra, which was really the bigger "drama" in this, which I found to be distracting and unnecessary. Considering how quickly things progressed and the fact that this was a novella, I really just wanted the focus to be on Gideon and Becca and how their romance progressed! Ultimately, I really enjoyed Becca and Gideon's story and I really just wanted more of them! The heat between them was so very well done, their banter so fun, and what was seen of their overall bond really got me excited over their blossoming "More Than Friends" (a trope that I absolutely love). I will definitely be reading more by Liliana Rhodes, and would recommend "Perfect Together" as a quick & sexy read, though I think it might be best if you've already read the prior books.
My Source: I received a digital ARC from the publisher to voluntarily review. This in no way influenced my review. My opinion is unbiased and my 100% own.

About the Author: Liliana Rhodes
Liliana Rhodes is a New York Times and USA Today Best Selling Author who writes romance with fun, engaging characters. Blessed with an overactive imagination, she is always writing and plotting her next stories. She enjoys movies, reading, photography, and listening to music. After growing up on the east coast, Liliana now lives in California with her husband, son, two dogs who are treated better than some people, and two parrots who plan to take over the world.

REVIEW: "Hot on His Heels" by Margo Bond Collins (Contemporary Romance)

HOT ON HIS HEELS by Margo Bond Collins
	Publisher: Entangled - Lovestruck Genre: Contemporary Romance Publication Date: July 18th 2016 Series: What Happens in Vegas, #16 Standalone: Yes
Other Books in the Series
Description from Publisher:
He’s exactly who she’s looking for…she just doesn’t know it yet. Sadie Quinn is at the romance readers’ convention for one reason only: to find editor Jocelyn Dellarivier. Which she could do if she didn’t keep running into the most frustrating, gorgeous man ever. To make matters worse, she just won a contest and a date with him is the prize. Jake Blaine could kill his boss for rigging the contest, but now he’s face to face with the one woman who could expose his alter ego. He’s not about to leave, but he can’t tell Sadie he’s the editor she’s looking for. But even though he’s playing with fire, Jake can’t seem to stay away. And after a night with the raven-haired beauty, he’s not sure he wants to…
My Rating:	Heat Rating:
My Musings:
This is so ridiculously adorable. As an introvert myself, I could absolutely relate to Sadie. And I admired her tenacity. And Jake was great as the sexy hero with a secret. The supporting characters, Kamille and Amelia were just as fun and I really and thoroughly enjoyed every second of this. The eccentricities of Sadie were great, especially her literary quotes. They added an amusing layer to the story that fit well with her character. This was a quick, short read that was fast-paced, forgivably predictable (it was just so darn cute, you can't hold that against it!), sexy as all get-out, and a wonderful vacation getaway. It made me laugh and even made me snicker to myself (Intertwined Publishing, eh? :P). I would have liked more character development, and a deeper look into Jake & Sadie's lives, but feel this delivered what it promised. It is meant to be taken about as seriously and deep as a trip to Las Vegas - Just enjoy the ride!
My Source: I received a digital ARC from the publisher to voluntarily review. This in no way influenced my review. My opinion is unbiased and my 100% own.