Swoony Award Monthly Round-up!

We're two months into the Swoony Awards, although it officially kicked off in January we're accepting nominations for books published in December. I thought it'd be fun at the end of each month to do a little "round up" and see how many books have been nominated and how many voters we've had. January was a great month, lots of fun participation and interactions. 

Here's the stats for January:

Books Nominated: 53

Number of Voters: 122

There are a TON of great books on the list so far, I was able to read and nominate seven books! I look forward to reading many more. 2018 is going to be a great year for secular romance!

So, what about you? Have you voted? If not, vote here! 

12 Days of Clean Romance - Cami Checketts

    How to Kiss a Billionaire by Cami Checketts Sassy meets swoon-worthy in this fast-paced contemporary romance. Miriam Salisbury escapes to Oregon to avoid a boyfriend who won't take no for an answer, killing her beloved cat to prove it. When her father sends Clay Browning to protect her, she's certain he's lost his mind. As far as she's concerned Clay's experience is limited to posing for the camera, charming women, and making fun of her. He's been teasing her since they were children and she's never gotten over the way he threw crawdads at her at church picnics. Clay retired from the military and entered the world of private security. When he gets the call to protect Miriam he's excited to be around his lifelong crush. As expected, he teases her nonstop and the only thing he takes seriously is her security. He knows she'd never give him a chance and he can't help but give her a hard time. After Miriam is dumped in the freezing ocean on a crabbing expedition and Clay saves her from drowning and freezing to death, she takes a second look at her hired gun. But opening up to him is more terrifying than facing her stalker. As events escalate to a frenzied climax, Miriam and Clay must put aside past grudges in the hope of finding a lasting love for their future.

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Praise for series: "Cami Checketts is an expert at sending a flurry of butterflies straight to the heart! If you love the beach, a dash of suspense, and some toe-curling, swoony romance, then the Billionaire Beach Romance series is definitely for you.” Katie Watkins, Book Reviewer, Katie’s Clean Book Collection "I LOVE these sweet romances! I love that each of them is a mini escape. You almost feel as though you've traveled to a warm destination even though it's cold and snowy where you live. I love that I can pass them to either my daughter or my grandma and never have any concern about the content. And the characters in these are amazing! I love them all!” Cathy Jeppsen, Book Reviewer, My Book a Day

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Miriam closed her eyes as Clay’s arms came around her and held her tight. “Whoa, darling, if I would’ve known I’d get this reception, I would’ve broken into your house years ago.” Miriam pushed away from him, stumbling from the realization that he hadn’t changed. Clay was a vicious flirt and never took anything seriously. She shoved at his chest, but he didn’t budge. He was real and he was here, and unfortunately for her unsteady nerves, it didn’t look like he was going away. “What are you doing here?” she demanded. “Your daddy hired me.” “My daddy … hired you?” She glared at him. “For what? A pinup model?” He smiled and tilted his head to the side. “I know I look good, but I actually have a few skills in protection too.” “You do not. All you’ve ever been good at is spending your billions of dollars and getting women to simper at your feet.” She knew he’d been in the military for four years after high school, but after that, he appeared to be the ultimate player. At least, it looked that way in the online photos she’d seen, when she’d googled him. Okay, it was pathetic that she’d googled him, but he was Clay Browning, a.k.a. Miriam’s dream man. He spread his arms, and she couldn’t help but notice the definition from his forearms and biceps up through his shoulders and chest. Maybe he should find a shirt that wasn’t so … form-fitting. “Hey, I’ve got lots of talents. What can I say?” Miriam pushed out a huffy breath. “You are not here. This is all some kind of crazy fantasy.” “I know I’m the stuff fantasies are made of, but I really am here.” He sauntered a step closer, and that spicy cologne made her stomach heat up. “You want to enact some of those fantasies you’ve been having about me?” She put a hand on his chest to keep him from coming any closer. Those muscles were real. Yikes. She dropped her hand and stepped back. “For one second, just for one, be serious. Why are you here, and how did you get in my house?” Clay rolled his eyes and folded his arms across his chest. Sheesh. What did he do with biceps that defined? Wrestle bulls? Focus, Miriam! “Your daddy called me, said Greg was threatening and stalking you and I had to find you. So I found you, and now I’m here to watch over you.” Watch over you? She would not survive with this man in the same town, let alone the same house. Her throat was dry and all those daydreams she used to have about him rotated through her mind. “How did you get in?” she demanded. “I told you: I have skills.” He smiled and finally admitted, “I was special ops in the Army and I’ve worked in private security since then.” “You’re being serious now? This isn’t some bull crap line that Clay Browning is giving me?” He smirked. “You can believe whatever you want, sweetheart.” He took a step closer, and her legs betrayed her by not backing up. “But do believe that I’m here and you I and are going to get real cozy.” Miriam looked over his gorgeous face. She clenched her trembling hands together and swallowed hard. “I’m not one of your flavors of the week, Clay.” He leaned in and sniffed her. “Ah. Yeah, I think you are. Vanilla with a hint of chocolate. My favorite flavor this week.”  

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Author Cami Checketts Cami Checketts is married and the proud mother of four future WWF champions. Sometimes between being a human horse, cleaning up magic potions, and reading Bernstein Bears, she gets the chance to write fiction. Cami graduated from Utah State University with a degree in Exercise Science. She and her family live in the beautiful Cache Valley of Northern Utah. During the two months of the year it isn't snowing, she enjoys swimming, biking, running, and water-skiing.  

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Also by Cami Checketts

Don't miss the rest of the Billionaire Beach Romances: Shadows in the Curtain Caribbean Rescue Cozumel Escape Cancun Getaway Trusting the Billionaire Onboard for Love  

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Giveaway Details

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Giveaway

Ends 12/31/17

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Oh, Come On: Be Faithful by Cami Checketts

Oh, Come On: Be Faithful by Cami Checketts
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3.5

Cute! This was a fun story, likable characters. I love books that take place in my home state of Utah. It’s almost like a visit home when I get to read a story that takes place there. This one happens to take place in Midway, a very beautiful part of the state. Made for a great setting, especially picturing all the snow and holiday cheer.

Mikayla has a stalker, for the past four years someone has been sending threatening notes and photos, but the recently the contact has gotten more violent. When the head of her security retires, she hires Matt Degan to head up her security and play her faux boyfriend. Matt and his cute son move into her mansion and pretty quickly the line between work and romance blurs. There’s an instant attraction for both of them and the more time they spend together the more they come to care for each other.

While I did enjoy this one, I thought the stalker stuff could have been amped up a little more. The suspense was kind of lacking, always seemed to be more in the background and the bad guy reveal felt a little off. And the storyline with the sister could have been developed a little more.

Overall though, I thought it was a fun read and kept me turning the pages. I liked the characters, the kids were cute, and the setting was fun. The Christmas elements were a little low-key, so this story could really be read any time during the year.

Content: Clean romance, just kisses. No language and very mild violence.


View all my reviews

How to Kiss a Billionaire by Cami Checketts

How to Kiss a Billionaire by Cami Checketts
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fun!

This was a fun contemporary romance with a touch of suspense. Miriam goes into hiding when her ex boyfriend Greg starts stalking her. Her father is worried about her and asks her old high school friend, Clay Browning, to watch over her until they can catch her ex. Miriam always had a crush on Clay, but he's a ladies man and she wants to be with someone she can trust. Clay always had a crush on Miriam, but she chose Greg over him and he never got over that. Now they're thrown together and the chemistry is off the charts! They try and fight their feelings, but when they're forced to spend so much time with each other and realize how much they enjoy each others company they can't help me explore their feelings.

I enjoyed this one, kept me engaged, I liked the characters and their swoony chemistry. Just a touch of suspense, more focus on H/h relationship. Very little Christmas elements, but it does take place during December and Christmas is mentioned in passing a couple times. Overall, a good read, well written and fun story.

Content
Romance: Clean, kissing. Talk of waiting for marriage and past relationships
Language: None
Violence: Mild, nothing graphic
Religious: None
Series: Standalone, part of Billionaire Beach Romance series

Source: Kindle Unlimited

View all my reviews

Swoony Spotlights - March

Welcome to Swoony Worthy Spotlights, hosted by Bookworm Nation, Katie's Clean Book Collection and KJ's Book Nook! Swoon Worthy Spotlights features 1-3 of our favorite books that we have read during the month. We will share the cover(s), our review(s) and a link to each other's post so you can check out which books we have all chosen!

March was a great reading month for me, there were so many fun books I was able to find. Here are two of my favorite contemporaries and two of my favorite historicals for the month (in random order).

How to Love a Dog's Best Friend

by Cami Checketts

Contemporary Romance

This was such a pleasant surprise for me. I really, really enjoyed it. Cute "fake relationship" plot, with fun characters and swoony romance. Not sure I love the cover/title, but the book is definitely reading.

 Statistically Improbable

by Jennifer Peel

Contemporary Romance

Another great addition to the Peel library. This has the whole "friend first" storyline that really has you rooting for these two to figure things out. Great storytelling and a fun, swoony romance.

 Beauty and the Clockwork Beast

by Nancy Campbell Allen

Steampunk Paranormal Historical Romance

Lets see, a steampunk paranormal retelling of Beauty and the Beast.... yes, please! This was a lot of fun. Great leading characters with a great romance and fun mystery. This one sucked me in at page one and I had a hard time putting it down.

Gallant Waif

by Anne Gracie

Traditional Regency Romance

This one was a surprise, it is filled with memorable scenes, some funny, some swoony. The leads are both strong characters and it's fun to watch the battle of wits play out. I really loved the romance in this one, slow building and believable. (Content- this is more on the steamy clean side, no sex scenes)

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And don't for get to check Kathy Jo's post here and Katie's post here!

Do you have a blog and want to join us for Swoon Worthy Spotlights? Then grab the picture and post with us! We will be posting on the last day of each month. Make sure you share your link with us so we can check out your favorite authors as well! If you don't have a blog, just leave a comment below. I'd love to hear which books we're your favorite for the month!

Can't Wait Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings, which spotlights books we're looking forward to reading. Typically its books that have yet to be released, but can be any book you've been wanting to read.

 

I love movies almost as much as I love book, so when I heard this fun anthology had five stories based on some of my favorite movies I just knew I had to have it.

 

Silver Screen Kisses Anthology

by Janette Rallison, Heather Tullis, Rachelle Christensen, Cami Checketts and Lucy McConnell

Contemporary Romance

Release Date: March 7, 2017

 

My Fair Lacey by Janette Rallison

Lacey Johnson has dreamed of opening a restaurant for years. All she needs is one little loan to make it happen. But with the way Lacey talks and dresses, she looks more like someone who would hold up a bank than someone who’d ever get a loan from one. When Garrett Halifax, her roommate’s Harvard-educated brother, volunteers to change her image and teach her to speak correctly, she jumps at the chance. But she quickly finds she’s in over her head. Pretending to fit in with the town’s elite is harder than she thought, and despite her best efforts, she’s falling for Garrett. Could someone who is handsome, rich, and educated ever consider her as more than just a project?

 

You’ve Got Email by Heather Tullis

Maria never expected to fall in love with a man she’d never met, but she can’t wait to get to her laptop every night to chat with Bobwhite67. She would be happy to focus on getting to know him better, but her two jobs and two sons keep her ridiculously busy. Then there’s her ex-husband’s bookie, who’s impatiently waiting for the last couple payments on his debt.

Bret can’t help but notice how hard the beautiful Maria works and the similarities she has with the Zoomama he’s been talking with online. Though he really wants to make things easier for her, Bret accidentally gets her in hot water with both of her bosses. Can he get Maria to give him a chance in the real world and not just online?

 

 The Princess Bride of Riodan by Rachelle J. Christensen

 When a mysterious man offers to help Elise redecorate the old Bed & Breakfast, she gladly hands him a wallpaper steamer. After she discovers his true identity, she doesn’t know whether to curtsy or run and hide. Unfortunately, hiding isn’t an option because her heart is already tangled up with the handsome prince. At the same time, Elise’s old crush from high school wants a relationship and she’s forced to decide whether to chase after a fairy tale ending or stay grounded in reality.

 

My Best Man’s Wedding by Cami Checketts

Jessica Mason made a vow to marry her best guy friend, Josh, when they turned thirty. When Josh calls with the news that he's coming home to Echo Ridge for his wedding, Jessica is determined to break up the happy couple and take her rightful place as his bride. Gentry Trine, a coworker, agrees to pretend to be her fiancé to stir up feelings of jealousy. However, Jessica didn't realize fake fiancés could kiss like champions, and make a girl smile nonstop. Can she figure out which is the right man for her before she loses them both?

 

While You Were Skiing by Lucy McConnell

Mia Davis’s new job in guest relations at Ruby Mountain Ski Resort gets complicated when the gorgeous Ryder Montgomery falls off the ski lift, tells everyone they are engaged, and then loses consciousness. Worried about a head injury, Mia plays along, making him lunch, kissing in the front entryway and planning a future together; a future Mia wants with all of her heart. Things become all the more complicated when Ryder’s estranged family gets involved. Caught up in the fantasy and romance, Mia has to tell the truth or risk losing a part of herself and the man she loves forever.