Category Archives: Jaci Burton

Review: All Wound Up by Jaci Burton

all woundTitle: All Wound Up by Jaci Burton
Play-By-Play Series Book Ten
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 336 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

In the latest Play-by-Play novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Quarterback Draw, a sexy baseball player is done striking out…

Tucker Cassidy is going through a slump—both with his curveball and in his dating life. After having a painful altercation involving his ex-girlfriend’s knee, the professional baseball player is convinced things couldn’t get worse…until a gorgeous doctor comes to the rescue at his most embarrassing moment.

As the daughter of the owner of the St. Louis Rivers major league baseball team, Dr. Aubry Ross has been around jocks all her life. She knows the ins and outs of all their games, and she isn’t interested in playing.

When Tucker repeatedly lands in the hospital where she’s working, Aubry starts to think he’s getting injured just to see her. Tucker is both funny and sexy, and Aubry is pleasantly surprised to discover he actually respects her job.

But when her father disapproves of their relationship, will Tucker let threats of a trade get in the way of a game-changing love?

Review:

All Wound Up by Jaci Burton is a sweet yet steamy addition to the Play-By-Play series. This installment pairs up baseball player Tucker Cassidy with Aubrey Ross, an ER resident and the team owner’s daughter. The sparks fly at their first (unorthodox but funny) meeting but neither has the time to date. Or so they keep telling themselves…

Tucker is a pitcher for the St. Louis Rivers and while he is having a stellar baseball season, his dating life is a different story. Since he spends so much time on the road, he is not particularly interested in anything but casual relationships and this decision is quickly reinforced when his latest fling comes to a very painful end. He is immediately drawn to Aubrey but he has his work cut out for him convincing her to go out with him. Tucker is quite charming and sexy and while he has plenty of confidence, he is not arrogant or overbearing.

Aubrey has been concentrating on her career for so long that she cannot remember the last time she went on a date. While she is instantly attracted to Tucker, she has no interest in dating a baseball player. Despite everyone’s encouragement to give him a chance, she steadfastly refuses to go out with him. But, after careful consideration, Aubrey decides it is time to make time for a little fun, so she finally agrees to go out with Tucker.

Tucker is very creative with his plans for their first official date and despite her initial hesitation, Aubrey is soon enjoying herself. Their attraction for one another is scorching hot and their sex scenes are incredibly sensual. While they do not define their relationship, Tucker and Aubrey spend most of their free time together. Despite a few bumps along the way, they settle fairly easily into their new relationship. Tucker and Aubrey quickly resolve most of their issues early on, but late in the story, lack of communication and outside interference threaten to derail their romance.

All Wound Up by Jaci Burton is a light-hearted and engaging romance. The plot is a little predictable but this does not lessen the overall enjoyment of the story. Tucker and Aubrey are mature and well-adjusted characters who know what they want out of life. They are a fun couple and it is absolutely delightful watching them fall in love.

Although this is tenth installment in the Play-By-Play series, All Wound Up can be read as a standalone.

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Filed under All Wound Up, Berkley, Contemporary, Jaci Burton, Play-By-Play Series, Rated B, Review, Romance

Holiday Kisses: A Holiday Romance Collection by Shannon Stacey, Jaci Burton, HelenKay Dimon and Alison Kent

Title: Holiday Kisses: A Holiday Romance Collection by Shannon Stacey, Jaci Burton, HelenKay Dimon and Alison Kent
Publisher: Carina Press
Genre: Anthology, Contemporary, Romance
Length: 103,000 words/313 pages
Book Rating:

Review Copy Obtained from Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like…Love!

A man gives the gift of trust and receives a second chance at love in return. A woman helps to heal the wounded heart of a soldier. A couple finds that true love knows no distance. And a young widow learns that there can be two great loves in a lifetime. Love, romance and passion come together in this collection of four seasonal shorts.

Anthology includes:

This Time Next Year by Alison Kent
A Rare Gift by Jaci Burton
It’s Not Christmas Without You by HelenKay Dimon
Mistletoe and Margaritas by Shannon Stacey

Stories also available for purchase separately.

103,000 words

The Review:

The Holiday Kisses anthology from Carina Press is a fabulous collection of holiday stories from four extraordinarily talented authors. These touching novellas will tug on your heartstrings as all of the couples find their way to happily ever after during the most magical season of the year.

Alison Kent’s This Time Next Year is a poignant yet heartwarming love story. Dillon Craig’s war memories continue to haunt him as he questions the decisions he made while trying to save the wounded soldiers in his care in Afghanistan. Brenna Keating questions the decision she has made to leave her beloved grandmother and work abroad for a year. Together, these two forge an emotional and physical bond while stranded at Dillon’s cabin. This Time Next Year has a strong plot, endearing characters, and a surprisingly realistic yet delightful ending.

Fans of Jaci Burton are going to love A Rare Gift, the second installment of her Kent Brothers series. Heartbroken, brooding and grumpy Wyatt Kent has met his match with his ex-wife’s sister Calliope Andrews. Calliope is outgoing, friendly and down-to-earth. In short, the complete and total opposite of her sister. She knows what she wants and she does not hesitate to go after it. She challenges Wyatt and calls him on his bad behavior. Wyatt and Calliope’s relationship develops naturally over time and they resolve their conflicts quickly and maturely. A Rare Gift is an absolutely charming and deliciously steamy romance.

HelenKay Dimon’s It’s Not Christmas Without You is a fun and sexy novella with a wonderful cast of characters. There is no doubt that Carrie Anders and Austin Thomas love one another. Complicated family dynamics and baggage from each other’s childhood play a huge role in keeping this star-crossed couple apart. It’s Not Christmas Without You is a refreshingly light-hearted romance that is laugh out loud funny and achingly sweet.

Shannon Stacey’s Mistletoe and Margaritas is an emotionally charged and captivating romance. A complex history between Claire Rutledge and Justin McComick complicates their transition from friends to lovers. Mistletoe and Margaritas is a sexy and bittersweet love story with a great deal of depth. Be prepared to laugh and cry as you join this charming couple on their moving journey to happiness.

If you are looking for a temporary escape from the madness of the holidays, then you should pick up a copy of Holiday Kisses. It is a great little pick me up that is full of warm and fuzzy romances that will melt your heart and put a smile on your face.

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Filed under A Rare Gift, Alison Kent, Carina Press, Contemporary, HelenKay Dimon, Holiday Kisses: A Holiday Romance Collection, It's Not Christmas Without You, Jaci Burton, Mistletoe and Margaritas, Rated B+, Romance, Shannon Stacey, This Time Next Year

All She Wants for Christmas by Jaci Burton

Title: All She Wants for Christmas by Jaci Burton
Book One in the Kent Brothers Series
Publisher: Carina Press
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 30,000 words
Book Rating: B

Summary:

Big Star, Small-Town Christmas

Country singer Riley Jensen would never have returned to her small Missouri hometown if her publicist hadn’t come up with the scheme to tape a Christmas special there. So she never would have known that the man who broke her heart at eighteen—causing her to flee to Nashville—was now a widower with a seven-year-old daughter. Riley has ten years of angst-filled hit songs and Grammy awards to prove she doesn’t need Ethan Kent. But suddenly, she can’t help thinking of all she gave up by running away…

Ethan Kent knew Riley had the talent and drive to make it as a singer. He also knew she wasn’t going anywhere if she stayed in their nowhere town for him. Then one night and one huge mistake sent her running on the road to fame. Which doesn’t mean he ever stopped loving her…

But with so much separating them, can Riley and Ethan find their way back together one magical country Christmas?

The Review:

All She Wants for Christmas is a sweet second chance at love story that will melt your heart. Jaci Burton easily captures the holiday spirit in this wonderful tale of forgiveness and love.

What makes All She Wants for Christmas such an outstanding read? Riley Jensen and Ethan Kent. Two wonderfully imperfect characters that not only admit to their mistakes, but they actually learn from them as well. And there is also the fact that they can easily forgive one another without endless recriminations and constant rehashing of their bitter past.

Then there is the close knit and loving Kent family. Ethan’s daughter Zoey is utterly adorable and has her daddy (and everyone around her) firmly wrapped around her little finger. Ethan’s brother Wyatt is heartbroken, brooding and entirely cynical about love. Brody, the third brother, is fun loving, light-hearted and loves to tease everyone. Stacy and Roger are loving and supportive parents and they are clearly the anchor for this wonderful family.

If you are looking for a romantic novella with engaging characters and a compelling storyline, then I highly recommend Jaci Burton’s All She Wants for Christmas. It is a heartwarming romance that will you put in the holiday mood and leave a smile on your as Ethan and Riley find that love is even sweeter the second time around.

Wyatt’s story, A Rare Gift, the next installment in the Kent Brothers series, will be in virtual bookstores December 5.

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Filed under All She Wants for Christmas, Carina Press, Contemporary, Jaci Burton, Rated B, Romance