Favourite Types of Contemporary Romance Heroes

The Contemporary Romance Reading Challenge is hosted by Gone with the Words and Love at First Page. As part of the challenge they are setting a different topic every month that participants can choose to join in with which I think is a brilliant idea so you can expect a post like this to appear at random most months throughout the year.

The September Prompt is:

Favourite Types of Contemporary Romance Heroes

Medical Professionals:

1. Forever and a Day - Jill Shalvis (Doctor)
2. Hearts in Darkness - Laura Kaye (Paramedic)
3. Animal Attraction - Jill Shalvis (Vet)
4. Emergency Engagement - Samanthe Beck (Paramedic)

Builders / Mechanics:

(Guys who are good with their hands *wink wink*)

1. Simply Irresistible - Jill Shalvis (Building Contractor)
2. How to Misbehave - Ruthie Knox (Building Contractor)
3. A Wild Ride - Vivian Arend (Mechanic)
4. No Flowers Required - Cari Quinn (Handyman)
5. BONUS BOOK: In Rides Trouble - Julie Ann Walker (This one is kind of a cheat since it's Romantic Suspense but it's really good & it's a whole series of hot ex-marines who are now undercover mechanics!)

Tattoo Artists:

1. Wrecked - Shiloh Walker
2. Hard as it Gets - Laura Kaye
3. Echoes of Scotland Street - Samantha Young
4. Sins & Needles - Karina Halle
5. BONUS BOOK: Beyond Jealousy - Kit Rocha (Another cheat, this time for an extremely hot futuristic dystopian story with tattoo artist Ace who happens to be one of my top book boyfriends ever!)

Famous Heroes:

1. Rock Hard - Nalini Singh (Rugby Player)
2. Rock Addiction - Nalini Singh (Rock Star)
3. Lick - Kylie Scott (Rock Star)
4. Hollywood Dirt - Alessandra Torre (Actor)

Do you have any recommendations for books that fit the above categories for me? Let me know if I've missed any of your favourites, I'm always happy to add more books to my ever growing to be read mountain LOL.

There were a million other tropes I could have included in this list - I love a geeky hero, I'm still partial to the odd billionaire & I definitely enjoy a Dominant alpha male - but I figured this list is already long enough! What are your favourite types of contemporary romance heroes?

Review: Dirty Distractions - Cari Quinn

She wants a fling, and he wants forever . . .

Zoologist Sara Carmichael’s active social life is the envy of all her friends, but she has a secret. She’s bored senseless. If she has to go to one more bird sanctuary fundraiser with some guy who thinks his little sports car makes him “hip,” she'll scream.

Enter Brad O’Halloran, her best friend Kim’s much younger brother. A guy who’s picking up the pieces after a quickie marriage and even quicker divorce. A guy so hot he makes her body scream with frustration.

Until Sara’s apartment is renovated, they’re all living at Kim’s place. Despite her determination to not to salivate at glimpses of Brad’s finer-than-fine body in nothing but a low-slung towel, flirtation escalates to the brink of something more.

Now one of them has to back down . . . or ante up for some good, dirty fun with the unspoken understanding that when the time comes, they’ll make a clean break. Neither anticipated they’d make the most complicated connection of all—love.

Warning: This book contains a hero who knows how to make engines— and women—purr, seduction while on cold meds, and a heroine who might be a little older but still enjoys learning a few naughty new tricks.

Afternoon Delight Series:
Dirty Distractions
Drawn Deep

Visit Cari Quinn's website for more information

Review:
Sara is staying with her best friend Kim and Kim's younger brother Brad while her apartment is having work done. She loves spending time with her best friend and she has more in common with Brad than she could have imagined but she is shocked when he starts to flirt with her. After all, not only is she much older than him but he's also just come through a messy divorce. She doesn't want to ruin her friendship with Kim by making a move on her brother but Brad is a temptation she's finding very hard to resist. Surely a quick fling couldn't hurt though? Especially if they can keep it a secret from Kim. What Sara doesn't realise is that Brad has no intention of letting Sara go after a fling, he is determined to win her heart and make their relationship permanent.

Dirty Distractions is a hot and spicy read from Cari Quinn and I enjoyed every minute of it. It makes a nice change to read about an older woman and a younger man, especially since the naive young girl / older billionaire trope is so common at the moment. I loved that Sara is so experienced, she knows what she likes and isn't ashamed to ask for it which makes the chemistry between her and Brad even hotter. Brad is just a great, normal guy, the kind of that we all know and love. He has wanted Sara for a long time and now he's made his move he's determined to show her just how good they could be together. I loved that he didn't care about the age difference and wasn't embarrassed about their relationship - he wanted to shout about it from the rooftops. Sara was actually the one who wanted to keep things under wraps and I have to admit that although I could see where she was coming from I did want to shake some sense into her at times.

This is a fairly short read but it's hot as hell, has a cute and believable romance and will definitely leave you in need of a cold shower. I love Cari Quinn's writing and she definitley has another hit on her hands with Dirty Distractions. I'm looking forward to reading Kim's story in Drawn Deep.

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here

Kindle:

Review: Lovers Unmasked - Katee Robert, Cari Quinn, Samanthe Beck & Tessa Bailey

Mystery and intrigue surround Halloween night as friends surrender to long-hidden desires, lovers relinquish control, and the heat of passion threatens to consume them all...

Seducing Mr. Right by Katee Robert
Danielle has a plan—use the company Halloween party to seduce the sexy mail guy who works a few floors up who she’s been meeting for coffee for the past few months. The only problem? He’s not who she thinks he is, and he has seduction plans of his own.

Tempted by His Best Friend by Cari Quinn
Kindergarten teachers aren’t known for breaking the rules, but Steph is ready to go undercover—and get under the covers—to work her magic on her best friend, Landon. Sexy costume necessary, multiple orgasms crucial, real identity optional.

Wicked Games by Samanthe Beck
When Stacy discovers her sex-on-a-stick ex at her Hollywood Halloween blow-out, she decides to show the cocky homicide detective exactly what he's been missing. But she’s not the only one plotting revenge, and Ian’s the only one who can save her.

Protecting What’s Theirs by Tessa Bailey
Lieutenant Derek Tyler and Ginger Peet have overcome every seemingly impossible hurdle on the path to happiness, but when they each receive life-changing news on the same day, will their hard-won trust stand up to the test? Or will their attempts to shield one another drive them apart?

Enjoy your tricks and treats in this sexy anthology featuring bestselling authors Katee Robert, Cari Quinn, Samanthe Beck, and Tessa Bailey.

For more information about any of these authors you can visit their websites by clicking the links below:
Katee Robert
Cari Quinn
Samanthe Beck
Tessa Bailey

Review:
I have read and enjoyed stories by all four of the authors in this anthology before so as soon as I heard about Lovers Unmasked it went straight to the top of my wish list! If you're looking for some fabulous sexy novellas with a Halloween feel to them that make perfect holiday reading then this is definitely the book for you. All of these stories are high on the heat level and will leave you desperately in need of a cold shower!

Seducing Mr. Right by Katee Robert

Come Undone Series:
Wrong Bed, Right Guy
Chasing Mrs. Right
Two Wrongs, One Right
Seducing Mr. Right (Novella in the Lovers Unmasked anthology)

Danielle has been spending time with the mail man from the building she works in for months now, they've become close friends but she thinks its about time for them to take things to the next level so she decides to seduce him at the office Halloween party. Grayson has been wanting to make Danielle his for a long time but he has a big secret and is worried that she'll never forgive him when she finds out the truth. Can they find a way to work things out?

I loved the first 2 books in the Come Undone series so I was really looking forward to reading this story, I believe that Danielle was introduced in the 3rd book but I haven't actually read that one yet (something I need to rectify ASAP!) and you can easily read this as a stand alone story. Seducing Mr. Right was a fabulous story and I absolutely loved Grayson, he is definitely a dominant guy in the bedroom and he loves it when Danielle submits to his desires but at the same time he appreciates her independence and encourages her to fulfil her dreams. Another must read from Katee Robert that just cements her place on my must read authors list.

Tempted by His Best Friend by Cari Quinn

Steff and Landon have been best friends since college, they have always spent a lot of time together and Steff finally realised that her feelings towards Lan were a lot stronger than friendship. She tried to move their relationship forward by flirting with him but Lan just pulled further away from her and has spent months avoiding spending time alone with her. Steff is determined to show him how good they could be though so she finds the perfect costume and plans to seduce him at a Halloween party.

I love a good friends to lovers story and Tempted by His Best Friend was a great one. Steff and Lan have fabulous chemistry but they also have a very strong bond of friendship. Steff isn't the only one who has developed feelings over the years but Lan is terrified of taking things further and potentially ruining their friendship if they don't work as a couple. Thankfully Steff takes matters into her own hands and persuades him to give them a chance. I don't believe that this story is part of a series but I really hope that Cari Quinn writes a book for Steff and Lan's other best friend Craig. I definitely got the vibe that he has a tale to tell and would love to see his HEA (it would also be a great way to get to revisit Steff and Lan and see how they're getting on further down the line!).

Wicked Games by Samanthe Beck

McCade Brothers Series:
Lover Undercover
Wicked Games (Novella in the Lovers Unmasked anthology also available as a stand alone ebook)
Falling for the Marine
Best Man with Benefits

Ian and Stacy had been together for a year before Stacy panicked and ended the relationship when it started to get too serious. She loves him but she's worried that her past as a stripper will have a negative effect on his career as a detective. Ian knows all her deepest secrets though and they don't bother him in the slightest. He is determined to win her back so when a stalker starts sending her threatening letters it gives him the perfect excuse to insert himself back into her life.

Although Wicked Games does work as a stand alone I think you'll get much more enjoyment out of it if you've read Lover Undercover first. I loved Stacy and Ian's side romance in LU and that is where you see them meet for the first time and fall in love. This was my favourite story in the anthology, I absolutely loved catching up with these two and also seeing how Kylie and Trevor are doing a year down the line. Ian gets quite a treat in the private room of the strip club where the Halloween party is being held - this is definitely a steamy series! - but can he protect Stacy from her stalker and convince her to take a chance on love?

Protecting What's Theirs by Tessa Bailey

Line of Duty Series:
Protecting What's His
Protecting What's Theirs (Novella in the Lovers Unmasked anthology)
His Risk to Take
Officer Off Limits
Asking for Trouble
Staking His Claim

Related Stories:
Unfixable (Standalone NA story featuring Ginger's sister Willa who originally appears in Protecting What's His and Protecting What's Theirs)
Riskier Business (Prequel to the new Crossing the Lines series which stars Ruby and Troy from His Risk to Take)

Derek had a hard time persuading Ginger to take a chance on a relationship but he promised they would always be honest with each other. Now he is hiding something to protect her but his guilt is making Ginger feel that he is slipping away from her. Ginger has some major news of her own but she is too scared to tell Derek when he is being so distant. Is their relationship strong enough to survive this latest test?

I would definitely recommend reading Protecting What's His before picking up Protecting What's Theirs. This story is like a very long epilogue to the first book and revisits the main characters Ginger and Derek about a year after they got together. Their relationship is really put to the test in this one, they both make mistakes but nobody is perfect and they have to try and learn from so they can come out stronger on the other side. I always love revisiting couples further down the line so it was great to catch up with them both and I really enjoyed seeing them work through their issues.

Source: Received from Entangled Publishing in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Kindle:

Halloween Blog Tour: Guest Post from Cari Quinn + Giveaway for a Kindle Fire HD!!

To celebrate the release of the Lovers Unmasked anthology featuring Halloween themed stories from Katee Robert, Cari Quinn, Samanthe Beck and Tessa Bailey I'm taking part in the Brazen Halloween Blog Tour today. I loved all four stories in the anthology (watch out for my review that I'll be posting later today) and I'm thrilled to welcome Cari Quinn to my blog today to tell you all about her contribution to the anthology Tempting His Best Friend.

Before I hand over to Cari here is a little more information about the anthology:

Mystery and intrigue surround Halloween night as friends surrender to long-hidden desires, lovers relinquish control, and the heat of passion threatens to consume them all...

Seducing Mr. Right by Katee Robert
Danielle has a plan—use the company Halloween party to seduce the sexy mail guy who works a few floors up who she’s been meeting for coffee for the past few months. The only problem? He’s not who she thinks he is, and he has seduction plans of his own.

Tempted by His Best Friend by Cari Quinn
Kindergarten teachers aren’t known for breaking the rules, but Steph is ready to go undercover—and get under the covers—to work her magic on her best friend, Landon. Sexy costume necessary, multiple orgasms crucial, real identity optional.

Wicked Games by Samanthe Beck
When Stacy discovers her sex-on-a-stick ex at her Hollywood Halloween blow-out, she decides to show the cocky homicide detective exactly what he's been missing. But she’s not the only one plotting revenge, and Ian’s the only one who can save her.

Protecting What’s Theirs by Tessa Bailey
Lieutenant Derek Tyler and Ginger Peet have overcome every seemingly impossible hurdle on the path to happiness, but when they each receive life-changing news on the same day, will their hard-won trust stand up to the test? Or will their attempts to shield one another drive them apart?

Enjoy your tricks and treats in this sexy anthology featuring bestselling authors Katee Robert, Cari Quinn, Samanthe Beck, and Tessa Bailey.

For more information about any of these authors you can visit their websites by clicking the links below:
Katee Robert
Cari Quinn
Samanthe Beck
Tessa Bailey

Now please give a very warm welcome to Cari Quinn!

********************

Thanks so much for having me here today at Feeling Fictional! I’m so excited to talk about TEMPTING HIS BEST FRIEND, my story in the LOVERS UNMASKED Brazen anthology from Entangled Publishing, which just released a few weeks ago. And best of all? It’s set at my favorite holiday, Halloween!

TEMPTING HIS BEST FRIEND is a story of best friends since college, Stephanie and Landon, who end up crossing that line when Halloween provides the perfect opportunity for Steff to show her true feelings for her unusually distant BFF. Halloween is the perfect time to play dress up and become someone else for a little while, and Steff definitely goes all out on her quest to get her man. ;) She doesn’t always make the wisest choices in her pursuit, but holy bouncing bats, their chemistry is spicier than the spiced rum punch!

Halloween is a magical time for a lot of reasons. Falling leaves (if you’re lucky enough to be in a place where you experience crisp autumn nights), apple cider, pumpkin carving, all the store decorations…and the movies! Oh man, nothing beats curling up on the couch with a bowl of popcorn while something creepy plays onscreen. Maybe this year, pop open your e-reader and read a bit of LOVERS UNMASKED while you’re at it! We have lots of treats to go with the tricks!

Now it’s YOUR turn! Do you celebrate Halloween? If so, what’s your favorite thing about the holiday? If not, what is your favorite holiday and why? And thanks again for having me here today!

Connect with Cari Quinn:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

********************

Thanks for visiting today Cari, I loved Steff and Lan's story - they have such fantastic chemistry and I've always been a sucker for a friends to lovers story! I have a question for you - will you be writing Craig's story at some point? I'd love to see him get his own HEA and it would be great to revisit Steff and Lan to see how they're getting on.

Giveaway Details:

Now how would you like to win a Kindle Fire HD? As part of the blog tour Brazen are giving one away to a very lucky winner! You can enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter form below. Winners will be announced and contacted directly by Brazen, I have no involvement in selecting the winner or sending prizes.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Vote for your #MrSeptember for the chance to win fabulous prizes!

The six heroes from this month’s BRAZENS are battling it out to be your Mr. September. Who gets your vote?

Each day this week the six heroes are stopping by some awesome blogs to answer both sexy and sweet personal questions, so you can really get a taste of what they’re like ;) Each day you get to cast your vote, and at the end of the week one sexy hero will be crowned the winner of the #MrSeptember Throwdown!

Remember, each vote also counts as an entry for one of SIX prizes so be sure to follow along and vote every day to increase your chances of winning! Visit Entangled in Romance for a recap on the awesome prizes!

Now, to meet the men competing in the #MrSeptember Throwdown!

Whew! Hot, hot, hot - these men have definitely turned up the heat!

Ian: Wicked Games by Samanthe Beck (part of the anthology)
Grayson: Seducing Mr. Right by Katee Robert (part of the anthology)
Landon: Tempted by His Best Friend by Cari Quinn (part of the anthology)
Derek: Protecting What's Theirs by Tessa Bailey (part of the anthology)
Jett: Wicked Heat by Nicola Marsh
Trick: Dirty Trick by Christine Bell

Here are today’s questions for the men

Question #7: What’s the sexiest fantasy you’ve had about your leading lady?

Ian: Well, there was the shower thing, but we’ve done that. And then there was the Halloween, incognito thing, but we’ve done that too. Then, of course, there was the bondage thing, and, yep…you guessed it…

Grayson: It involved bending her over my desk...

Trick: How much time do you have? Not a lot? I’ll just tell you the dream I had last night, then. We were at a little Italian restaurant tucked into a dark corner. Right when the waiter came over, I ducked my hand under the table and slipped it between Gracie’s legs. She was wearing a skirt but no underwear, and as soon as I touched her, her face went all pink and her eyes got glassy. She was so hot and…*clears throat* anyway, when it was her turn to order, her voice did that sexy little hitch it does? She didn’t move away though. She just sucked in a shuddery breath and asked for a glass of wine. When the waiter left, she looked me dead in the eyes and said “You better be prepared to finish this, buddy. And remember, payback is a bitch.” That was a lie. Because payback? Was fucking mind-blowing.

Derek: I'm working late and she comes into the police station. Dripping wet from the rain. I can tell she's feeling a little desperate for me. Which is perfect, since I'm always desperate for her. As usual, I've been growing restless…I always do when I've been deprived of her too long. Without a word, I walk her to my office and tell her to strip while I look my fill. Then I put her on my desk, where she's been inhabiting my head for hours. Then I make her ask nicely for every thrust of my hips.

Jett: The moment I saw that Kink Kit in Allegra’s hotel suite, I imagined exploring what was in that box with her. Tying her up, teasing her mercilessly…oh yeah, frigging hot.

Landon: Refer to the law firm encounter mentioned above. Steff bent over the counter, her firm, supple body bared to my touch, her moans echoing off the walls... *clears throat* Next question, please.

Question #8: Favorite comfort food?

Ian: Bourbon or whiskey

Grayson: Breakfast food--eggs, French toast, bacon, hash browns.

Trick: Rib-eye steak, medium rare, baked potato with sour cream and butter, creamed spinach on the side, followed by Apple pie with caramel sauce.

Derek: Ginger's chicken pot pie. The way she keeps trying to improve the recipe…she doesn't realize I love it just because she made it.

Jett: Pav. Nothing beats the perfect Aussie pavlova. Meringue base, lashings of whipped cream, topped with strawberries and passionfruit. Best comfort food ever. Plus there’s always whipped cream left over and I can think of many sensual uses for that…

Landon: Pizza at Mama Leone's, with optional garlic enhancements. Ah, the memories.

Giveaway Details:

You can vote once a day for your Mr September using the rafflecopter form below. Each vote will give you a chance to win one of the following fantastic prizes:

Prize #1: Victoria Secrets Gift Card
Prize #2: a tote of Halloween-themed goodies and swag, plus a $10 iTunes gift card.
Prize #3: Aussie gift pack including handmade soaps, candy, stuffed koala, calendar, and more.
Prize #4: $25 GC at Amazon or B&N
Prize #5: Cliffside Chardonnay Halloween Assortment Basket
Prize #6: Halloween basket of treat including a $25 Visa card

a Rafflecopter giveaway


So who is going to get your vote?

Review: Full Disclosure - Cari Quinn

Thirty-eight-year-old divorcee Holly Burrows has had enough of battery-operated love. Prompted by an ad left at her law office, she investigates Hunk Du Jour, a website designed to foster ‘adult connections’. After weeks of sexy emails and phone calls with surf hunk Kent, she's ready to test their chemistry in person. But first she has to get through lunch with her colleague Alex, a man with a brain as agile as his body. When their consultation ends with a bang, she barely remembers the man she'd lined up for dessert. Now she thinks she's juggling two hot young guys. How can she choose between her two gorgeous cubs – and why do they remind her of each other?

Hunk De Jour Series:
Full Disclosure
Ex Appeal

Visit Cari Quinn's website for more information

Review:
Holly has been single since her divorce but has decided it's about time she got out there and started dating again. After signing up for a dating agency she has spent weeks talking to Kent over the phone and by email and it's finally time for them to meet for the first time. Before she can spend the afternoon hopefully getting horizontal with Kent Holly needs to get through a business lunch with her much younger colleague Alex. The longer she spends chatting to Alex the more the sparks fly between them but will she ditch her date with a stranger and take things further with Alex instead?

Holly a sexy and confident older woman who is looking for a bit of no strings fun with a younger guy with stamina. Just out of a messy divorce Holly isn't looking for anything serious but is in need of some genuine passion in her life. Alex has been crushing on Holly since he started working at the same law firm as her. He also secretly owns an online dating agency and when he sees that Holly has registered he can't resist temptation and contacts her pretending to be a guy called Kent. The more time he has spent chatting with her the more he knows that he wants something serious but he doesn't know how to tell her that he has been using a false identity. What will happen when Holly realises the truth?

Full Disclosure is a fun and sexy story and makes for a great read. I really enjoyed getting to know both Holly and Alex and their relationship is definitely a steamy one. Alex is one hot guy and I loved the way he was so determined to break down Holly's reservations about dating a younger man. The age difference is never an issue for him and he respects Holly for her brains as well as her beauty. If you're looking for a fast and spicy read then I'd definitely recommend picking this one up.

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here

Kindle:

Review: No Flowers Required - Cari Quinn

He’ll give her everything she desires...except his identity.

Flower shop owner Alexa Conroy had it all before the recession hit and her customers fled to cheaper shopping grounds. Desperate to make ends meet, she sells her dream home and moves into the rundown apartments above her shop. When she spots six feet of sexy distraction—complete with muscles, piercings, and tattoos—ripping up flooring, Alexa knows the karmic windfall she’s due just landed on her doorstep. And the attraction’s definitely not one-sided.

Dillon James, reluctant heir to the corporation about to foreclose on Alexa’s shop, is not about to jeopardise their scorching chemistry by admitting he’s not the building’s handyman. But with only weeks until her business goes under and his identity is revealed, Dillon must find a way to convince Alexa cooperation isn’t a dirty word, help her save the shop from his brother’s greed, and persuade her that he’s not the enemy...or risk losing the only woman who’s seen the real him.

Love Required Series:
No Dress Required (Novella)
No Flowers Required

Visit Cari Quinn's website for more information

Review:
When Alexa inherited the flower shop previously run by her mentor she was determined to do whatever it took to make a success of things. That isn't going to be easy with the local hardware store doing it's best to steal her business though and now she is really struggling to make ends meet. Selling her dream house to move into a rented apartment above her shop may not be what she's always wanted but if that's what it takes to get Divine Flowers back in the black then that's what she's going to do. She hasn't even been living in her new apartment for a day when things start to go wrong but when the handyman who comes to fix things looks as hot as Dillon Alexa isn't going to complain too much. It's about time something went right and some no strings fun with a hunky, tattooed handyman sounds perfect. What she doesn't realise is that Dillon is part owner of Value Hardware and that makes him her enemy. Dillon is immediately drawn to Alexa and wants to help her business succeed but he worries that if he lets her know his true identity then she won't trust him to have her best interests at heart. As the pair grow closer Alexa steals his heart but if she finds our his secret then she'll never forgive him.

I'm a massive fan of Cari Quinn's writing but most of the stories I've read by her have been fairly short novellas so I was excited to see what she could do with a longer story. Let me tell you right now that she nailed it with No Flowers Required. This is a fantastic sexy contemporary romance with a heroine you'll want to be best friends with and a hero you'll want to jump the bones of! I have a thing for guys with tattoos so I was pretty sure I'd like Dillon but add in a sweet and caring personality, a super hot body and an eyebrow piercing and I was completely sold! Yes, I have found yet another book boyfriend - now where are the guys like Dillon in real life? I did get a little frustrated with him for not coming clean with Alexa about his identity sooner but because we get to see part of the story from his point of view it was easy to see how conflicted he felt. He was falling hard and terrified of losing her but he was also guilt ridden over keeping his secret and that made it very easy to forgive him. All Dillon wants is to help Alexa succeed and achieve her dreams and find a way to keep her in his life.

We met Alexa previously in No Dress Required and it was great to get to know her better. She is best friends with previous heroine Nellie and sister to Jake so we get a chance to catch up with the couple and see how they're getting along about 2 years after their story started. Before inheriting Divine Flowers Alexa was a party girl who worked hard but mainly wanted to have fun. Since taking control of the business her dreams have changed and she just wants to prove to everyone that she can make a success of things. She wants to be independent and stand on her own two feet but with everything that has been going wrong in her life recently she has started to lose her confidence. All she needs is someone to believe in her and give her a little push in the right direction though and that is where Dillon comes in. He can see that she has the skills to create a successful business but she just needs a little advice on the day to day stuff.

The couple definitely have a case of instant lust, from the moment they meet they can't take their eyes (and very soon their hands!) off each other but I was pleased that Cari Quinn takes time to develop the emotional connection between them. As they get to know each other their connection just gets stronger and stronger and I loved seeing how they both dealt with that. No Flowers Required was a fabulous instalment to the Love Required series and it's an erotic contemporary romance that I would highly recommend. You don't have to have read No Dress Required to follow the story but I really enjoyed Nellie and Jake's story too so I suggest you do! I can't find any information about future books in this series but I have a feeling that we might get to see more of Dillon's brother Cory and a certain staff member he seems to have a love / hate relationship going on with. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we will anyway because that would also give us a chance to catch up with Dillon and Alexa!

Source: Received from Entangled Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here

Kindle:

Review: No Dress Required - Cari Quinn

After years of ho-hum dating, Noelle Gregory is tired of fooling around. There’s only ever been one guy for her—Jake Conroy, her best friend’s older brother. Now that Jake’s back in town, she’s headed to his sister’s New Year’s Eve party to make her move. Purse full of condoms? Check. Sparkly dress guaranteed to show Jake the sexy woman she’s become? Check.

Carjacker that makes off with both two hours before the party? Check.

When Jake finds Noelle stranded on the side of the road—looking sexier than ever in her striped socks and silly holiday shirt, damn it—he’s glad for the snowstorm that cancels his sister’s party. His and Noelle’s friendship has tormented him for years, and now, Jake wonders if he should dare to sample what he’s always wanted…and if he’ll be able to walk away when it’s over.

Love Required Series:
No Dress Required (Novella)
No Flowers Required

Visit Cari Quinn's website for more information

Review:
Nellie has been crushing on her best friend's older brother Jake for as long as she can remember but the timing has never been right for her to make a move on him. Now Jake is single and his sister's New Years party is the perfect opportunity for Nellie to show him that she's no longer the young girl who used to follow him around and that's she's grown into the sexy woman of his dreams. But when a thief steals her perfect seduction outfit (along with her car and her handbag full of condoms!) it looks like her plans are about to unravel. How can she seduce Jake wearing nothing but a daft holiday t-shirt and stripy socks? It looks like Nellie isn't the only one with a crush though and Jake may just be about to turn the tables and try to seduce her.

I have loved every story that I've read by Cari Quinn and No Dress Required was no exception to that. Although her stories are novellas Cari has a way of drawing the reader in and making them instantly connect with he main characters. I think most women would be able to see something of themselves in Nellie and I'm sure we would be falling just as hard for Jake as she has. Jake is not only gorgeous and sexy as hell he is also head over heels for Nellie and isn't afraid to admit it. I love the fact that there are none of your usual misunderstandings between them - Jake is surprisingly perceptive about how Nellie is feeling and he knows just what to say to make her feel good.

No Dress Required is a fun, sexy read that's perfect for when you want something you can devour in one sitting. My only disappointment was that it isn't longer - not because the story has an unsatisfactory ending but because I just wanted to spend more time with Nellie and Jake! If you love contemporary romance and are a fan of the friends to lovers trope then you should definitely be adding this to your to read pile.

Source: Received from Entangled Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: Reveal Me - Cari Quinn

Alana MacGregor craves excitement, but when her sometimes lover dumps her at a popular sex club, she wonders if she’s outgrown her live-fast-and-recover-later lifestyle. The last thing she expects is to run into the nerdy guy she rebuffed in high school—or for him to rock her world in ways no other man ever has.

Hot on the trail of a story, Carter Nicholas can’t believe his luck at encountering the one woman he’s never forgotten. He’s come a long way from being a wall-hugging geek. Now he gets all A’s between the sheets. But can he convince Alana he’s her sure ticket to an unforgettable night—and maybe much more?

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Review:
Alana is a party girl who loves to take risks but getting dumped by her boyfriend in the middle of a sex club was not in her plans for a fun evening out.  When she bumps into the nerdy guy who had a crush on her at high school she can't believe how much he has changed since she last saw him.  Gone is the nerd and Carter Nicholas (Nicky) has changed into a hunk who could turn any girl's head.  Nicky has never forgotten Alana but can he convince her to give him a chance?

From reading Cari Quinn's novella Ex Appeal I was expecting Reveal Me to be a sexy quick read and I wasn't disappointed.  I really don't know how Cari manages to pack a full story line, character development and of course plenty of spice into a short novella - I've honestly read full length novels and cared less about the characters.

Alana isn't the easiest person to like when you first meet her, she is incredibly selfish and one of those girls I would have avoided like the plague at school.  However as you get to know her better you get to see through the bitchy exterior to the insecure and vulnerable person she is inside.  She has a deep need to be liked and is terrified of getting hurt which makes it hard for her to open up to anyone.  When you get to see the real Alana you can't help but wish for a happy ending for her.  Nicky is a hero any woman could fall for - he is sweet and sexy, a man who knows how to take control without being overbearing and he obviously cares deeply for Alana despite her flaws.  He sees through the front she puts on and loves the person inside, what girl could resist that? 

The heat levels are scorching and will leave you wanting more but as much as I would happily have devoured a longer story about this couple I would still highly recommend Reveal Me as a fab quick read, perfect for when you want to read a full story but don't have much time to spare.  Cari Quinn has definitely earned a place on my must buy list of authors and I'm looking forward to reading more by her in the future.

Source: Thanks to Cari Quinn for sending me this for review

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Review: Ex Appeal - Cari Quinn

As the webmistress for one of the Northeast’s hottest dating sites, Hunk Du Jour, Jenny Talbot is no stranger to reading the applications of potential clients. But when the latest application that crosses her inbox belongs to Ty Randall, the guy she broke up with a mere twenty-seven days ago, she does a double take. Reading what Ty wants in bed not only gets Jenny hot, it also makes her rethink ending their relationship. All she longed for was a little more spice in the bedroom—okay, a lot more—but he let her go without an argument. Faced with the possibility that Ty may really be moving on, getting her ex back becomes more appealing than ever. But will revealing exactly what she needs allow Jenny to finally experience ultimate pleasure or will she drive away the man she loves for good?

Hunk De Jour Series:
Full Disclosure
Ex Appeal

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Review:
Like a lot of couples who have been together for a long time Jenny and Ty have both been neglecting each other recently.  Jenny has tried everything to get Ty to pay more attention to her but finally decided enough was enough and ended the relationship.  They may have been separated for a month but Jenny can't stop thinking about Ty and when she sees his application form to sign up for the online dating agency she helps run it makes her even more determined to get her man back.

Ex Appeal is the second story in the Hunk De Jour series but although I've not read the first novella I didn't find anything confusing.  I thoroughly enjoyed Ex Appeal though and will definitely be reading Full Disclosure as soon as possible.  I would highly recommended this book for fans of erotic romance.

Most romance novels I read concentrate on a couple meeting for the first time so it made a refreshing change to read about a couple who have been together a long time but let their relationship go stale.  I found it really easy to relate to both Jenny & Ty and found them both very likable characters.  I was surprised at how well I got to know them both considering this is a novella rather than a full length book, I found myself really wanting to see them get their happy ending.

Cari Quinn did a fantastic job of turning up the heat between them and the love scenes were incredibly HOT.  I was definitely left needing a cold shower after reading this one - I loved it & can't wait to read future stories in this series.  Cari has definitely earned her place on my must buy list for any future books she releases.

Source: Thanks to Cari Quinn for sending me this for review

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