Review: Can't Hold Back by Serena Bell

Description:
In this tender military romance from the bestselling author of Hold on Tight—perfect for fans of of Jill Shalvis and Susan Mallery—a war-shattered veteran gets a second chance at love with the one that got away.

No girl can resist a man in uniform—especially if that man is Nate Riordan. But after an injury in the line of duty leaves Nate broken, body and soul, the soldier finds himself addicted to his pain meds, with no place to call home. Desperate for an escape, Nate reluctantly accepts a friend’s invitation to a new veterans’ retreat. Expecting a little R&R, Nate is shocked when the sight of his physical therapist opens up another old wound: heartbreak.

Years ago, Alia Drake fell hard for Nate, but never made her move. Instead, she set up her sister with the sexy, confident military man, a foolish decision that continues to haunt all three of them. Now, with Nate as her patient, she can make things right—even if it means getting too close for comfort. A healing touch and a little honesty work wonders, fueling a physical intimacy that crosses professional boundaries. This time, with desire in the air once more, Alia won’t hold anything back.


My Thoughts:
When Alia met Nate she thought he would never be interested in her so she set him up with her sister and ended up regretting it.  When he comes back from war he is full of pain and anger and guilt. Alia can help with the pain. It's what she does and she is good at it. She also enjoys being needed. He doesn't want her help but agrees to let her try.  They have some things to work through that make it difficult for them to be together no matter how much they might want to.  I love this series. Great characters, lots of emotion. They stand alone but it's fun getting to see familiar characters. 


My Rating: *****
Steam Factor: !!!!
*Notes: Language.

My Source: Netgalley



Where to get it:

Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Google Play | Kobo | BAM!


Where to find the author:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Review: Hold on Tight by Serena Bell

Description:
In Serena Bell’s heartwarming novel, a young mother and a battle-scarred veteran must decide if they can rekindle the sparks they once shared.

Fighting for his country gave Jake Taylor’s life shape and meaning. Now as an injured war hero he struggles to find purpose, until he runs into the gorgeous woman he dated briefly—and disastrously—before being deployed eight years ago. Turns out Jake doesn’t just need to figure out how to be a civilian . . . he also needs to learn how to be a dad.

Eighteen, pregnant, and totally lost, Mira Shipley couldn’t track down the soldier who fathered her child, so she put college on hold and focused on making a good life for her son. Now she’s determined to be something more than Sam’s mom, her parents’ daughter, or Jake’s girl—as hot as she finds her old flame’s take-charge attitude in and out of bed. Soon Mira and Jake realize that their passion didn’t disappear when Sam was conceived—and that instead of running away, sometimes it’s better to hold on tight.

My Thoughts:
I loved this. A second chance romance that is a whole lot more. Mira and Jake are real characters with real issues. Mira wants to feel like she can stand on her own and raise her son without a man to help her. Jake just hasn't been the same since coming home from the war. Then they cross paths again by accident and Jake finds out he's a father. This is real, messy, sweet, and inspiring. Plenty steamy as well. And yes, there were tears. I highly recommend.

My Rating: *****
Steam Factor: !!!!
*Notes: Some language.

My Source: Netgalley


Where to get it:

Amazon | B&N | iBooks


Where to find the author:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Review: Heating Up the Holidays 3 Story Bundle

Heating Up the Holidays by Lisa Renee Jones, Mary Ann Rivers, and Serena Bell

Description:
As leftover turkey and stuffing give way to stockings and little black dresses, this tantalizingly sexy eBook bundle offers up holiday-themed novellas from a trio of beloved romance authors. Lisa Renee Jones gives a dedicated reporter and a powerful businessman a chance to count their Thanksgiving blessings in Play with Me; Mary Ann Rivers presents Snowfall, the story of a woman who confronts a life-changing event—hopefully with a special man by her side—just in time for Christmas; and in Serena Bell’s After Midnight, an explosive New Year’s kiss leaves two strangers wondering whether they’ll ever see each other again.

PLAY WITH ME by Lisa Renee Jones
Kali Miller has spent three years reporting fluff stories, waiting for the article that will launch her career to new heights. When she suddenly finds herself forced to take a job as an executive secretary at a Vegas casino, Kali meets the subject of what will surely be a shocking exposé: her boss, Damion Ward, the arrogant and undeniably sexy CEO. But after Damion invites her to help him plan a Thanksgiving charity event, Kali begins to see another side of the man. And when she surrenders to the exhilarating tension simmering between them, Kali hopes her story will have a happy ending.

SNOWFALL by Mary Ann Rivers
Jenny Wright can’t get enough of her erotic conversations with someone she knows only as “C.” Flirting online helps Jenny temporarily escape confronting the changes to her life as she slowly loses her vision. Jenny’s occupational therapist, Evan Carlisle-Ford, is helping her prepare for the challenges ahead, but the forthright, trustworthy man can no longer ignore his growing attraction to his fiercely intelligent client. Now Jenny must choose between the safe, anonymous “C”—or the flesh-and-blood Evan, whose heated kisses can melt snow faster than it can fall.

AFTER MIDNIGHT by Serena Bell
The clock is ticking down to midnight on New Year’s Eve, and all Nora Hart and Miles Shephard can think about is kissing each other—even though they met just minutes before. Then, as fast as Miles enters Nora’s life, he’s gone . . . and she never even gets the name of the man she thinks might just be “the one.” One year later, Nora and Miles are reunited. The chemistry between them is just as strong as they remember. But Miles broke her heart once before—and this time around, Nora’s not sure whether she can give love a second chance.

My Thoughts:
I thought this was a wonderful mix of holiday-themed stories. They range from fun to sassy to sad yet hopeful. They are all very different, but of course they are all steamy and they all have very well developed characters for novellas. They feel more like full-length novels. Each is wonderful in its own way. My personal favorite is Snowfall by Mary Ann Rivers. Similar to her novella The Story Guy, it is a lovely, emotional story that tugs at the heart. I just loved it. I highly recommend this little collection.

My Rating: *****
Steam Factor: !!!!
*Notes: Language.

My Source: NetGalley

Where to get it:

Barnes & Noble

Where to find the authors:
Lisa Renee Jones:
Website
Twitter
Facebook
Goodreads

Mary Ann Rivers:
Website
Twitter
Facebook
Goodreads

Serena Bell:
Website
Twitter
Facebook
Goodreads