Category Archives: Marie Harte

January 3, 2018 · 11:58 pm

Review: Collision Course by Marie Harte

Title: Collision Course by Marie Harte
Body Shop Bad Boys Series Book Four
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 352 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

He’s always had a way with the ladies
She won’t give him the time of day
Sparks fly when two hearts in motion collide.

Florist Joey Reeves is working overtime to stay away from Lou Cortez, the ace mechanic with a reputation for irresistible charm. She’s a single mom with enough on her plate—the last thing she needs is entanglement with the hottest guy in town…

“Well, hello there.”

Joey glanced up and froze. The man who’d been haunting her sleep looked even better in the hard light of day.
“H-hello.” She coughed. The guys who worked at Webster’s Garage all looked larger than life, covered in tattoos, muscles, and that indefinable sense of danger they wore like a second skin. But this guy, the tall, Latin lover with dark-brown eyes and lips made for kissing, who had snared her.

Review:

Collision Course is the fourth scorching hot installment in Marie Harte’s sinfully sexy Body Shop Bad Boys series. This latest  addition can be read as a standalone but I highly recommend the entire series.

Lou Cortez is an all around wonderful man who is well-liked by his friends, co-workers and bosses. Although he is quite charming and rather irresistible to women, he is not interested in a long-term relationship. Lou is dedicated to his family and he has a wonderful relationship with his mom, sisters and extended family. He is relatively grounded but his childhood definitely has an impact on his view of relationships and this affects his dating life since he steers clear of single mothers. Despite his ease with women, Lou has not had much success snagging the attention of his crush Josephine “Joey” Reeves.

Joey is in her early twenties, but due to her life experiences, she is an old soul. A single mom to an almost nine year old son, Brandon, she has finally been given a well deserved promotion at work. Joey and Brandon live with her parents who have never quite gotten over their disapproval or disappointment of their only child’s teen pregnancy. Joey has not dated much over the years and she is not looking for a relationship when she tentatively agrees to go out with Lou.

The relationship between Lou and Joey is sweet but there is plenty of heat between them. Joey’s past dates have been quite disappointing so her expectations are rather low when she starts going out with Lou. The attraction between them is explosive and Joey is more than happy to let Lou take charge of their sex life.  His dirty talking and dominance hits all of her hot spots and their encounters are sizzling hot.

Although Joey and Lou are very compatible in the bedroom, trouble is waiting around the corner for the couple. Joey is stunned to discover the Brandon’s father is back in town and she is very afraid of what threat this will pose. She is also struggling with her parents’ continued negative attitude towards her and the situation between them is quickly building to a confrontation. Lou is shocked by the realization his feelings for Joey are much deeper than just attraction. He is hoping for a more permanent relationship with Joey, but his vision for their future is in jeopardy once Lou uncovers the secret she has been keeping from him.

Collision Course is a blazing hot romance that stars two extremely likable protagonists. Lou is a swoonworthy hero with a heart of gold and a commanding presence in the bedroom. Joey is an endearing single mom who finally finds the gumption to stand up to her parents in a dramatic but applause worthy showdown.  The conflict that eventually arises between Lou and Joey is realistic and quickly resolved. A sweetly entertaining and delectably steamy installment that old and new fans of Marie Harte’s Body  Shop Bad Boys series are going to love.

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Filed under Body Shop Bad Boys Series, Collision Course, Contemporary, Marie Harte, Rated B+, Review, Romance, Sourcebooks Casablanca

February 1, 2017 · 11:58 pm

Review: Zero to Sixty by Marie Harte

Title: Zero to Sixty by Marie Harte
Body Shop Bad Boys Series Book Three
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 384 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

BAD BOY SAM + GOOD GIRL IVY =
LEARNING TO LOVE AGAIN

After her last disaster of a relationship, Ivy Stephens is content being single. She has her job, her apartment-and the cute little puppy she’s seen hanging around. When he escapes, she finds her search efforts aided by a big, burly, devastatingly handsome man. One who claims a prior claim on her dog.

Sam Hamilton is at loose ends since his best friend fell in love. He finds a sense of purpose in rescuing strays. The puppy who’s stolen his heart just happens to run into blond, beautiful Ivy. And Sam can’t help hoping she’ll take in one more stray-him-for good.

Review:

Zero to Sixty is a super cute, sweet and delectably steamy addition to Marie Harte’s fabulous Body Shop Bad Boys series.  Although this is the third installment in the series, it can be read as a standalone, but I HIGHLY recommend the previous two books as well.

Hottie auto mechanic Sam Hamilton is feeling a little lonely and left out now his bestie Foley Sanders has fallen in love. Rough, tumble and prone to fighting when stressed, he has a very soft heart beneath his gruff exterior.  In recent months, Sam has been rescuing stray animals on the down low and he is very concerned over his latest find, an adorable puppy he calls Scruffy who has been taken in by a very attractive shop owner. Worried his appearance will frighten the lovely lady who has caught his eye, Sam takes great pains to make himself appear non-threatening when he stops by to check on the pup.  Although he is certain massage therapist Ivy Stephens won’t be interested in dating him, he proposes they share custody of the puppy she has dubbed Cookie.  A surprising friendship quickly springs up between them and both are quick to acknowledge their simmering attraction to each other, but will Sam and  Ivy be willing to take a chance on love?

Sam is extremely loyal to family and friends and he is completely devoted to Foley and his mom Eileen.  He is deeply scarred by his abusive and dysfunctional childhood and he is incredibly grateful to Eileen for the love she showed to him while he was growing up.  Sam cannot quite bring him to cut ties with his addicted mother, Linda, although he is always wrecked after giving in to her pleas for him to help.  His new relationship with Ivy is, hands down, the best thing that has ever happened to him, but will Sam let the baggage from his past ruin his chance at happiness?

While Ivy is mostly happy with how her life has turned out, she carries a few emotional wounds from her childhood. Although she has mostly made peace with the situation with her family, she is saddened by the distance between them.  After a failed engagement and a string of bad dates, Ivy has decided to focus on her career.  Initially a little wary of Sam, she quickly realizes there is a lot of tenderness beneath his tattoos and muscles.  She is a little taken aback by his somewhat rough life but Ivy cannot resist agreeing to share custody of Cookie.   

Despite a bit of a misunderstanding following a heated kiss and unexpected make-out session, Ivy is surprisingly eager to spend time with Sam.  While a little impatient to take their relationship to the next level, she is enjoying getting to know him and his friends.  When Sam shuts her out, will Ivy be content to let him work through things on his own?  Or will she risk her heart by admitting how much he means to her?

Zero to Sixty is an absolutely heartwarming romance that old and new fans of the Body Shop Bad Boys series are going to love.  Sam and Ivy are endearing characters with interesting backstories and easy to relate to issues and flaws.  Their easygoing friendship is a wonderful foundation for their transition to lovers and the chemistry between them is palpable. The banter between Sam and his friends is delightful and their support for him is unwavering. This latest release from Marie Harte is a joyful and entertaining read that I greatly enjoyed and highly recommend.

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Filed under Body Shop Bad Boys Series, Contemporary, Marie Harte, Rated B+, Review, Romance, Sourcebooks Casablanca, Zero to Sixty

November 6, 2016 · 11:58 pm

Review: A Sure Thing by Marie Harte

Title: A Sure Thing by Marie Harte
The Donnigans Series Book One
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 352 pages
Book Rating: C+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Meet the Donnigans
With the eldest Donnigan brothers adjusting to civilian life, their younger sister constantly in trouble, and their little brother clueless about life in general, falling in love is the last thing on anyone’s mind…

Can this Bossy Badass Marine…
The Marine Corps was everything Landon Donnigan ever wanted in life…until a bullet sent him home with a medical discharge. Teaching a self-defense class at the gym is old-hat for a marine, but when he meets sexy Ava Rosenthal, his combat skills are useless for protecting his heart.

Be her Mr. Right?
Ava can take care of herself and likes quiet, bookish men-not muscular warriors who think women need to be coddled. But Landon is more than he seems, and when they come together, the results are explosive.

Review:

A Sure Thing is the sexy, humor-filled first installment in Marie Harte’s new series, The Donnigans.  Longtime fans will recognize a few familiar faces from the Body Shop Bad Boys and The McCauley Brothers series but new readers might find the guest appearances and mentions of these characters a little confusing. However, this should not lessen the enjoyment of the novel.

Now clinical psychologist Ava Rosenthal is established in her career, she is ready to move on to the next phase of her life.  Armed with a list of what she is looking for in a man, she is giving internet dating a whirl in hopes of finding her Mr. Right.  Focusing on physical characteristics such as a slender build and small stature and desiring someone who is her intellectual equal, Ava has been on a series of dismal dates that leaves her fearing she’ll never find the “right” man.  When she meets brawny, muscular Landon Donnigan at her local gym, she is stunned by her intense attraction to a man who is nowhere near the type of man she is looking for.   Even more surprising is how easily Ava capitulates to Landon’s efforts to convince her to go out with him.  Will this seemingly mismatched couple live happily ever after?

Ava is quite analytical so she tends to over think most everything.  She comes across as a little standoffish, closed off and emotionally distant due to her need keep her personal and professional lives separate. This carries over into her personal life which makes Ava a difficult character  to get to know.  She is close to her cousins and their interactions are pretty funny but it always feels like she is analyzing them instead of just enjoying their company.   She also feels somewhat superficial since it is difficult to really know what makes her tick and her checklist for finding a man seems a little cold. Ready to settle down,  Ava has absolutely no plan to deviate from her five year plan or her list of qualifications in a man, so Landon has his work cut out for him convincing her to go out with him.

Landon is a former Marine who is close to his family and loves to be in charge.  His dedication to his siblings is endearing and he does not sugarcoat the truth when he thinks his brothers and sister need a (figurative) kick in the pants.  Landon has had trouble adjusting to civilian life but for the most part, he is satisfied with his career change.  While he has no interest in a serious relationship, he has been casually involved with a few women since returning to Seattle.  Landon falls in lust at first sight when he spots Ava working out at the gym, but she refuses his invitation to go out with him.  Running into her while she is on a date with another man, Landon manages to charm her into changing her mind.  But can he convince her to continue dating him despite her reservations?

The relationship between Ava and Landon begins as insta-lust and their inner thoughts about each other pretty much revolve around sexing it up.  There is plenty of sexual tension between them  and once they give in to their passion, their sex scenes are raunchy with plenty of filthy talking and a dominant submissive vibe since Landon is a take charge kinda guy and this extends to the bedroom as well.  Since most of the focus is on their intense attraction to each other, there does not seem to be much of an emotional connection between them.  Their dates are filled with flirting and sexual innuendo so their relationship feels superficial since they never really have any type of in depth conversations.  Ava and Landon do spend time with each other’s families so they do see one another interact in a personal setting, but these interactions do not yield any new information.  These family get togethers are funny with plenty of banter but they tend to detract from the romance between Ava and Landon.

A Sure Thing is a light-hearted, sizzling hot first installment in The Donnigans series.  Landon and Ava are a combustible couple and the glimpses of Landon’s siblings will definitely pique readers’ interest.   It will be interesting to see what Marie Harte has planned for them and fans will be eager to read their stories.

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Filed under A Sure Thing, Contemporary, Marie Harte, Rated C+, Review, Romance, Sourcebooks Casablanca, The Donnigans Series

September 4, 2016 · 11:55 pm

Review: Roadside Assistance by Marie Harte

Title: Roadside Assistance by Marie Harte
Body Shop Bad Boys Series Book Two
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 384 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Underneath the axle grease and tats
He’s a gentleman

Foley Sanders figured he’ll always be content with a life of cars and casual hookups. Until a run-in with Cyn, a statuesque firecracker with a hate-on for men, leaves him bewitched and intrigued-much to her annoyance.

Maybe Cynthia Nichols was a little hard on Foley, that muscular, tattooed, super-hot mechanic next door. But she’s tired of feeling defensive about her size and has sworn off men. She’s got a new job, new life, perfect plan. Foley has trouble written all over him-no way is she going to fall for his charms.

Foley might look like a bad idea, but underneath, he’s all gentleman. Too bad Cyn’s not buying it. What’s a bad boy to do when the goddess of his dreams won’t give him the time of day?

Review:

Roadside Assistance is a scorching hot addition to  Marie Harte’s marvelous Body Shop Bad Boys series.  In this outing, tattooed bad boy mechanic Foley Sanders meets the woman of his dreams, Cynthia “Cyn” Nichols, when she storms into Webster’s Garage and lets him know in no uncertain terms that she is VERY unhappy about a parking issue.

Although he has a bit of a checkered past, Foley has not been in any type of trouble for years. He loves working at Webster’s Garage and he considers his boss and co-workers family. He is devoted to his mom, Eileen, and while he is a little over-protective of her, he wants her to be happy. Foley lives with his oldest and dearest friend, Sam Hamilton, whose troubling past is not as far behind him as the two men would like.  Foley is straight-shooter with few social graces but he is refreshingly honest and refuses to play games. After the fiery first encounter with Cyn, Foley is smitten but she is not exactly in the market for a new relationship.

With a string of failed romances behind her, Cyn has sworn off men but she cannot help notice that Foley is incredibly hot. Despite her unexpected attraction, she has no intention of spending time with a man who could have any woman who crosses his path. She is a very astute and successful businesswoman and she is very independent. After years of degrading comments from her mother, Cyn is struggling with a slew of self-images issues due to her above average height and shapely curves.  Despite her reservations about becoming involved with Foley, she does finally agree to dating him as long as they keep things between them casual.

Cyn and Foley’s relationship starts off with a bang as they quickly give in to their blazing hot desire. While there are always self-doubts at the back of her mind, Cyn’s does not allow them to dissuade her from fully participating in their sizzling encounters. Cyn’s self-confidence is fragile and because of her low self-esteem, she is always waiting for Foley to dump her when the “perfect” woman crosses his path. Foley sometimes has difficulty expressing himself and she misconstrues some of his comments due to her sensitivity about her size. Interference from outside sources and Cyn’s unresolved issues threaten to derail their burgeoning romance and Foley finally runs out of patience with her inability to trust him.  Will Cyn allow her emotional baggage and insecurities to ruin their chance at happiness?

Roadside Assistance is another fun, flirty and incendiary installment in the Body Shop Bad Boys series. The novel is entertaining with a realistic storyline that provides a positive message about body image. Although insta-lust quickly turns to insta-love, the romance between Cyn and Foley is believable. Old and new fans of Marie Harte are going to love this delightfully sexy and witty love story between a rough and tumble mechanic and the curvaceous businesswoman who steals his heart.

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Filed under Bold Strokes Books, Contemporary, Marie Harte, Rated B, Review, Roadside Assistance, Romance, Sourcebooks Casablanca

June 8, 2016 · 11:57 pm

Review: Test Drive by Marie Harte

Title: Test Drive by Marie Harte
Body Shop Bad Boys Series Book One
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 386 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

A smokin’ hot new series from Marie Harte featuring tough-guy mechanics and the women who jump-start their hearts.

GET TO KNOW THE BODY SHOP BAD BOYS

Johnny, Foley, Sam, and Lou are the rough and tumble mechanics of Webster’s Garage. These reformed bad boys are used to living fast, but it’s the women in their lives who take them from zero to sixty in a heartbeat.

JOHNNY

Johnny Devlin’s a charmer with a checkered past. He’s had his eye on scorching-hot bartender Lara Valley for ages, but she’s rejected him more than once. That doesn’t mean he won’t come to her aid when some dirtbag mauls her. When she asks him on a date as a no-strings-attached thank you, he can’t say no.  And then he’s saying nothing but hell, yes.

Review:

Test Drive by Marie Harte is a sizzling hot yet very touching romance between bad boy auto mechanic Johnny Devlin and good girl Lara Valley.  With plenty of humorous banner, tons of sexual tension and loveable characters with realistic insecurities, this first installment in the Body Shop Bad Boys series is an irresistible love story that fans of contemporary romances are sure to love.

Despite a few missteps when he was younger, Johnny has mostly cleaned up his act although he does love the occasional  brawl and swears like a sailor.  He is hardworking, loyal and very protective of the people he cares about. Charming and sinfully sexy, Johnny’s reputation as a player is legendary but he is always honest about his intentions with the women he becomes involved with.  Johnny has been lusting after the fresh faced bartender from the moment he laid eyes on her four years ago, but Lara turns him down every time he asks her out.  Although he is still strongly attracted to her, Johnny is surprised to realize that he wants to actually date Lara but will he convince her to take a chance on him?

Having grown up without much money, Lara is ambitious and quite dedicated to getting a college degree.  She has no social life since she spends most of her time either helping out with her nieces, working or going to classes.  She is very close to her family and she is quick to volunteer to help out when her parents or sister are in a bind.  Lara loves her bartending job but she does not date the customers.  She is attracted to Johnny, but she is completely committed to finishing her degree and she does not want any distractions to interfere with her plans. However, after Johnny saves her from an unsettling altercation with  her sister’s smarmy soon to be ex-husband, Lara decides to give dating Johnny a chance.

The romance between Johnny and Lara is surprisingly sweet and grows slowly over the course of the novel.  Johnny wants more from Lara than the usual one night stand so he puts a lot of thought into the dates that he takes her on. He also tries to put a moratorium on sex, but it is virtually impossible for them to resist their scorching hot attraction.  However, in between raucous bouts of insanely intense sex,  Johnny and Lara do a lot of the things most couples do; they go to movies and dinner, they enjoy quiet evenings at home and occasionally, they babysit Lara’s nieces together.  The longer they go out, the more uneasy Johnny becomes with budding relationship.  Plagued by doubts and insecurities, Johnny misunderstands a conversation with Lara and he instinctively runs away.  The future of their relationship then hangs in the balance as he tries to come to terms with the emotional baggage from his childhood.

Test Drive is a delightful romance with an appealing couple that are impossible not to root for.  The storyline is well-developed with witty and engaging dialogue.  The longstanding acquaintance between Johnny and Lara makes their transition from friends to lovers believable and it is an absolute joy watching them get to know one another and eventually fall in love. The last chapter in the novel neatly sets the stage for the next book in the Body Shop Bad Boys series and readers will be chomping at the bit to see what Marie Harte has planned for Foley Sanders in Roadside Assistance.

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Filed under Body Shop Bad Boys Series, Contemporary, Marie Harte, Rated B+, Review, Romance, Sourcebooks Casablanca, Test Drive

November 2, 2014 · 11:57 pm

Review: What to Do with a Bad Boy by Marie Harte

bad boyTitle: What to Do with a Bad Boy by Marie Harte
The McCauley Brothers Series Book Four
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 384 pages
Book Rating: A

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

WHAT IS WITH MIKE McCAULEY?
Every time Delilah Webster runs into Mike McCauley, he practically bites her head off. The rough-and-tumble contractor clearly has baggage. Del has her own emotional scars and knows she’s better off keeping her distance, but Mike’s temptation in jeans and a T-shirt and she’s always been good with her hands…

There’s something about the strong-willed mechanic that sets Mike’s motor running-and scares the hell out of him. Mike has loved and lost and will never hurt like that again, even if that means walking away from a woman who makes him feel alive for the first time in years.

When a simple kiss turns hot and heavy, Mike discovers he can’t stay away, no matter how certain he is they’re destined to crash and burn…

The Review:

While it is a little sad to see The McCauley Brothers series come to a close, Marie Harte brings the series to a strong and absolutely perfect conclusion with What to Do with a Bad Boy. This wonderfully entertaining romance is full of witty dialogue, charming characters and plenty of smoking hot love scenes. But it is the heartfelt and emotion filled scenes that make this novel such an outstanding read.

The oldest of the McCauley brothers, Mike is a widowed single dad who has yet to move on from his wife’s tragic death. He is an all around great guy, devoted to his young son, Colin and works hard in the family owned construction business. His family is extremely close-knit and they eagerly step in to help Mike care for Colin when needed. Mike is extremely dismayed by Colin’s infatuation with tattooed mechanic Delilah “Del” Webster but he is even more disconcerted by his unexpected attraction to her.

Del is a delightful breath of fresh air and I absolutely adored her. Comfortable in her own skin, she is a straight shooter who tells it like it is and does not play games. Confident, strong and sexy, she does feel a little out of place in Mike’s suburban life, but Del does not let her discomfort keep her from enjoying the new friendship she has found with Mike’s soon to be sisters-in-law. She is also quite charmed by Mike’s rapscallion son and her scenes with Colin are definitely some of the best in the novel.  Del is a little uneasy with her budding relationship with Mike, but she is more than ready to explore their simmering desire for one another.

Mike and Del’s romance is so much fun to watch unfold. Neither of them is interested in a long term relationship, so they agree to a “friends with benefits” type arrangement. Their sex scenes are graphically detailed, exquisitely raunchy and incredibly hot, but it is their interactions out of the bedroom that are the most captivating. The conversations between Mike and Del are often humorous, but they are also heartbreakingly poignant on occasion.

The McCauley and Webster families are fully engaged in one another’s lives and this sometimes leads to some pretty hilarious matchmaking efforts. However not all of the interference is appreciated or welcome despite the fact it is well-intentioned. This meddling becomes the catalyst for a long overdue discussion about the past but it is just the first step in the healing process. It is going to take another absolutely gut-wrenching, tear inducing conversation to fully overcome the tragedy that keeps Mike from fully committing to Del.

While Mike and Del have some serious issues to overcome, What to Do with a Bad Boy is mostly a light-hearted, fun and super steamy read. Colin is incorrigible but he is so adorable that it is impossible not to love the little scene stealer. The supporting cast of characters is equally lovable and while all of the McCauley brothers have found their happily ever afters, I am hoping that Marie Harte has plans for a future novel starring Del’s brother J.T.

An absolutely outstanding addition to The McCauley Brothers series, I highly recommend What to Do with a Bad Boy to fans of contemporary romances. It can be read as a standalone story, but you really do not want to miss any of the novels in this wonderful series.

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Filed under Contemporary, Marie Harte, Rated A, Review, Romance, Sourcebooks Casablanca, The McCauley Brothers Series, What to Do with a Bad Boy