Ex Libris Romance: October Love!

23 October, 2013 / / Bella Andre, Ex Libris Romance, Harlequin, Jennifer Echols / 72 comments Share:

October is turning out to be a GREAT month for romance!  Here are four books that will definitely make fall more fun.  Enjoy!

Find out more about my romance ratings here.

youwereIf You Were Mine (The Sullivans #5) –
Author: Bella Andre
Heat: Hot
Publisher: Harlequin
Available 10-29-13
The last thing Zach Sullivan wants is to take care of his brother’s new puppy for two weeks. Until he meets the dog trainer, that is. Heather is bright, beautiful, and he can’t stop thinking about her. Unfortunately, she just might be the only woman on earth who wants nothing to do with him. Heather Linsey can’t believe she’s stuck working with one of the city’s top dogs, auto-shop mogul Zach Sullivan. Especially when his focus is clear from the start—not only to learn how to deal with his temporary puppy…but also to make her his. The last thing she expects is for Zach to be the one to tempt her into believing again. But as Heather’s determination to push Zach away only fuels his determination to get closer—and the sensual and emotional connection between them grows more and more undeniable—can two people who’ve both sworn off love find forever in each other’s arms?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With a puppy bringing them together, the 5th book in the Sullivan Series centers on Zach, who owns a chain of repair shops, but still stays very hands on in the business.  It was kind of refreshing to read a romance where the the woman was so resistant to a relationship.  Bella Andre always does the intense love very well, including the bumps in the road that go with it.  I really love this series and if you haven’t read the first 4, you are missing out on sweet and sexy romances!

 

playing1Playing Dirty (Stargazer #2)
Author: Jennifer Echols
Heat: Hot
Publisher: Pocket Books
Available: 10-29-13
A public relations expert tries to prevent the breakup of a raucous country band and corral their wild—and very sexy—lead singer in book 2 of the Stargazer Series.
As an expert in public relations crisis management—that is, babysitter to the stars—Sarah Seville just spent nine months in Rio trying to keep rock singer Nine Lives out of jail long enough to record his new album…and barely succeeded. Now she needs a triumphant success so she can keep the Manhattan-based job she loves. Trouble is, her new assignment is to travel to Alabama to prevent the breakup of the raucous country band The Cheatin’ Hearts, headed by sexy Quentin Cox. As she edges closer to Quentin, she discovers layers of secrets. It seems Quentin is taking the spin doctor for a spin. The Cheatin’ Hearts have stayed on top of the charts two years following three rules. Rule One, no drugs. Rule Two, no sex with other band members. Rule Three, no sex with record company spies. Quentin can’t resist the record company’s beautiful PR agent, and inevitably he breaks Rule Three with hot Sarah Seville. As he falls for her, he finds out that she has plenty of secrets of her own, and one of them comes knocking on her door: what really happened to her in Rio.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jennifer Echols is quickly becoming one of my favorite contemporary romance writers! Playing Dirty focuses on another employee of the Stargazer Agency, Sarah, and the mess she has to clean up is a country act that is way more than it appears to be.  I think I loved this one because our leading man, Quentin, was strong, but also had some secrets that made him very vulnerable, both physically and emotionally.  The chemistry between Sarah and Quentin was well written and very hot.  The drama within the band made this book a page turner and with just a touch of intrigue and danger because of Sarah’s past, this became a book I could not put down. Put this on your must-read romance list!

 

novaBreaking Nova
Author: Jessica Sorensen
Heat: Medium
Publisher: Forever
Available Now
Nova Reed used to have dreams-of becoming a famous drummer, of marrying her true love. But all of that was taken away in an instant. Now she’s getting by as best she can, though sometimes that means doing things the old Nova would never do. Things that are slowly eating away at her spirit. Every day blends into the next . . . until she meets Quinton Carter. His intense, honey brown eyes instantly draw her in, and he looks just about as broken as she feels inside. Quinton once got a second chance at life-but he doesn’t want it. The tattoos on his chest are a constant reminder of what he’s done, what he’s lost. He’s sworn to never allow happiness into his life . . . but then beautiful, sweet Nova makes him smile. He knows he’s too damaged to get close to her, yet she’s the only one who can make him feel alive again. Quinton will have to decide: does he deserve to start over? Or should he pay for his past forever?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Breaking Nova was not the romance I was expecting.  While it seems that trauma is a big part of many NA books, I have to say that this was pretty dark, even for this category of romance. There is romance, but I think this story serves to establish Nova and Quinton as characters.  That isn’t to say that it didn’t have a certain amount of sensationalism, because it was a bit overdone at times, but it’s definitely a story that will grab your attention.  They are both struggling with some heavy issues and I am going to tune in for book 2 to see how this resolves.

 

needtoEverything You Need To Know
Author: Helenkay Dimon
Heat: Medium
Publisher: Harlequin
Available Now
By night, Jordan McAdam is the proprietor of a popular website that rates D.C.’s hottest bachelors—everything from how quick they are email you back to their skills in the sack. She’s been burned once too often to accept any man at face value. By day, her job as an office temp puts her in the perfect position to do a little fact checking on her rich and powerful subjects. When her latest assignment brings her face to face with the sexy but mysterious Forest Redder, Jordan decides to do a little “hands on” research of her own. To Jordan, he seems like the perfect man – but she knows there is no such thing. Moreover, there’s a big problem: Forest knows Jordan’s the woman behind the scandalous site—and Jordan knows he knows. Will he expose her secret—or find his own posted on Need to Know?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This novella (a part of Cosmo’s Red-Hot Reads) packed a terrifically fun punch!  The story is peppered with excerpts from the website that gives the details on guys to date or guys to stay away from in DC. The site was a fun way to establish the main character’s avoidance of romance and it provided some comic relief, as well.  For such a short book, the development of the romance was very well done and didn’t seem rushed.  It was sexy and funny and very sweet.  This is a definite yes for me.

 

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Kate

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72 responses to “Ex Libris Romance: October Love!”

  2. Lauren

    Ooh I think I’d like Everything You Need to Know, it sounds like fun! I need to catch up on Bella Andre’s series and Jennifer Echols books too. I keep hearing wonderful things about both. Love your romance rating system, btw. 🙂 Thanks for sharing these reviews!

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