Just over a year ago, Mandi decided she didn’t want to run Smexy anymore and Angela and I jumped at the chance to do so. I have learned so much about running a blog. The biggest thing is that my relationship with books has changed. I am no longer “just reviewing” books. Now not only am I looking at them for potential review but also is it something we might want to spotlight in some other way to Smexy readers. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love it. But it has just changed things for me. Continue Reading
Guest Post: It ain’t heavy, it’s my romance by Ainslie Paton
Some romances are designed to read like sunshine and lollipops, some to please with sass and snark, or comic situations and big laughs. Some show the storm clouds. Like a lot of authors, I write romance in part to explore issues that interest me. Sometimes that means showing the darker underbelly of storm clouds. I’ve written a mentally ill hero who was homeless, a male nanny, a female executive in a male dominated industry, a tech titan who got sacked from his own company for being a Continue Reading
Smexy’s August TBR
Angela- I have tons of great ARCs for this month and I want to dig in to all of them right now. The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai 8/6- Alisha Rai is one of my go-to, must-have, auto-buy authors and I love her. This story about two rival dating app creators sounds amazing and I can't wait to read it this week. The Wallflower Wager by Tessa Dare 8/13- If this book is half as cute as the previous book in this series, The Governess Game, I know I'll be in heaven. The First Girl Child by Amy Continue Reading
Kini’s Favorite Reads of 2018
2018 was a hard reading year for me. I started out the year with huge goals and it fell apart quickly. I can’t be mad about it though. I read some fantastic books by amazing authors, made new friends in romancelandia and had lots of romance discussions on Twitter and beyond. Here is a round up of my favorite books this year. Spoiler alert, several these authors were on my lists from 2017 and 2016. 2018 was all about fantastic series for me. So many of my favorite books where part of a series. Continue Reading
Kini’s Friday Kisses
I managed to read to Holiday novellas this week and both were pretty cute. Merrily Ever After by Jenny Holiday. This is part of her Bridesmaids Behaving Badly series and probably better enjoyed if you have read at least one of the previous books. This one feature Elise and Jay who got married and the first book although the first book was not their love story. This was a cute and emotional holiday novella about a couple who is already married working through some things. This isn't a Continue Reading
Kini’s Friday Kisses
Fool Me Forever by Ainslie PatonContemporary RomanceSeptember 24, 2018 Paton has pubbed two books earlier this year that I really enjoyed, including the first book in this series One Night Wife. I really enjoyed ONW but Fool Me Forever didn’t work well for me. It felt slow and I never fully connected with the characters. The hero, Halsey, is the younger brother of the hero in the previous book. Halsey is everything I like in a hero including awkward and a someone straddling the line of right Continue Reading
One Night Wife by Ainslie Paton
One Night Wife by Ainslie Paton Contemporary Romance May 17, 2018 Entangled Reviewed by Kini Favorite Quote: “Are you scared I’m going to bolt?” “I’m scared you’re going to eclipse the sun.” Cal Sherwood, you keep saying things like that, you are so getting kissed. I loved pretty much everything about this book. The premise is a fake relationship between a con-man hero and a heroine that wants to raise money for the non-profit she just started. They meet in a bar and Fin tries to Continue Reading
Review: The Love Coupon by Ainslie Paton
The Love Coupon by Ainslie Paton Stubborn Hearts #2 Publication Date: April 9, 2018 Contemporary Romance Carina Press Reviewed by Kini Favorite Quote: “I need a hug.” “From me?” “It’s not a trick question, you big lump of granite. I declared I loved you this morning and after your exit pursued by a bear I didn’t stop loving you. You’re the best friend I have sex with, it’s been a crappy day, and I need you.” This book and author are so difficult to describe. I have been reading Continue Reading
Hoodwinked Hearts by Ainslie Paton
Hoodwinked Hearts Publication Date: June 19, 2017 Contemporary Romance Carina Press Reviewed by Kini A master jewel thief meets his match in a daring romance of love and larceny… Confidence man, master thief and professional crook Cleve Jones knows a thing or two about risk. Ten years ago, he risked his freedom to fall in love with a dangerously sexy, foulmouthed, punk-ass professor's daughter and she disappeared, stealing his future happiness. Vegas hustler Aria Harp is back, Continue Reading
Review: Damaged Goods by Ainslie Paton
Damaged Goods by Ainslie Paton (Sidelined #2) Released: August 1, 2016 Contemporary Romance Self Published Reviewed by Mandi I had highs and lows with this story. Overall I liked it - however there are some "buts" coming. Owen broke his back in a car accident, and his recovery and pain are not going well. Reliant on pain medication, he pretends he has it all under control. Owen, the CEO of a company with his good friends, thinks he is ready to resume his job, but his back has other Continue Reading