Caught Looking by Lucy McConnell

Caught Looking by Lucy McConnell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fun, this was a great addition to the series. I liked the unique characters and fun setting.

Clover was raised by her single gypsy mother, she was homeless for her whole upbringing. It's hard to imagine someone having to grow up that way, but Clover met some nice people along the way who really helped her out and now that she has her life together she wants to do her part to help other homeless people. She helps work at a local soup kitchen and really goes out of her way to be there for the people that come there for help. She was a really likeable and interesting character. I also liked our leading man, Dustin. A star baseball play who helps his brother run his construction business on the side. Dustin and Clover had a fun meet-cute when she mistakes him for a homeless man! They have fun banter and great chemistry. It was fun watching their relationship unfold.

My only complaint is I wish there had been an epilog! I love those. Overall, a fun read and great addition to this fun series.

Content
Romance: Clean
Language: None
Violence: None
Religious: Very mild
Series: Mr Baseball, Book Three

Source: KU

Nominated for a 2018 Swoony Award, vote here http://bit.ly/2CWYB9U

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12 Days of Clean Romance - Lucy McConnell

  Marrying Miss Kringle: Lux by Lucy McConnell Christmas Magic is changing and the Kringle Family scrambles to keep up in this fun and entertaining, sweet Christmas romance from Author Lucy McConnell. A normal electrical substation takes two years to build; but, Lux has 365 days to install one at the North Pole or Christmas Magic will overload the factory and send them back to the Dark Ages. The one man on the planet with the know-how, the education, and the time to help Lux finish the substation before her Noel deadline, is also the one man who sends sparks through her heart and surges through the power system. If Lux kisses Matthew Quik—again!—she could blow up Santa’s workshop before she has a chance to save it. If she doesn't kiss him, she may lose him forever.      

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  Praise for the book: "For getting me in the mood for Christmas, and the romantic aspect of this holiday even before Thanksgiving, I’m happy to give Ms. McConnell the 5 STARS I’ve given her book." "Marrying Miss Kringle: Lux is a funny, tender, magical adventure into the sparkles of Christmas Magic and the sparks of human love."  

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  Lux’s cheeks dusted pink. With her red hair and fair skin, she should have flushed bright red, but only this sprinkling of pink appeared, like she’d been dusted with pink powdered sugar. Why did this woman bring to mind sweet things like powdered sugar and chocolate and kisses at sunset? He gave his head a mighty shake. “You fell in the water.” “I know.” At least, he thought he knew. Everything had happened so fast. He’d fallen asleep and woken up when the ice cracked. He plopped his feet to the floor only to have them land in several inches of water. His stove had tipped over and the hot metal had melted clear through the ice. There must have been a crack in the ice nearby. “We pulled you out.” “We?” Quik adjusted the blankets over his arms. He could only imagine Lux and Ginger and Frost tearing his clothes off. Lux made to adjust her glasses, but they weren’t there. She looked around like they’d fallen off and she didn’t know how. So he wasn’t the only one thrown off by all this. Quik’s eyes traveled lower to find her bare shoulders and her skintight tank top. He jerked his eyes back up to her face, hoping she hadn’t caught his wandering eye. “Me and Dunder.” She chewed her lip. “My reindeer.” “Of course.” The situation was going up in weirdness. Having used up all his ability to care about propriety, Quik leaned back against the seat. He was in the bottom of a fancy velvet-lined sled. Yep. Weird. His eyes dropped shut. “You cut my pants?” he asked. “I’ll get you new ones,” offered Lux. “Did you cut my shirt too?” “No!” She was offended. That was kind of cute. “Too bad. I needed a new shirt.” He half smiled.  

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Author Lucy McConnell Award-winning author, Lucy McConnell, loves Christmas, romance, chocolate and Elvis. She started out as an editor at an advertising agency before moving on to teach in the marketing department of the local community college. She loved teaching and often misses the academic environment. Lucy retired from teaching and began to write articles and sweet romance novels. She has been published in national magazines, newspapers, short story compilations, and she writes cookbooks under the name Christina Dymock. If she's not at the computer, you can find her trying to keep up with her husband and four kids on the ski slopes, in a boat, in the kitchen, or on a horse.
 

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Also by Lucy McConnell

 

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Giveaway Details

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Giveaway

Ends 12/30/17

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

Swoon Worthy Spotlights - May

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!

Wow, May was a busy month! I never realized how the end of the school year can be so full of things that need to be done, a lot of which I just didn't get too. I didn't have a lot of free time to read this month, and ended up squeezing in a lot of novellas along the way, here were my favorites for May!

Be sure to stop by 

KJ's Book Nook

and

Katie's Clean Book Collection!

Grab the graphic and join in the fun!

Don't have a blog? Post in the comments

which books made you swoon.

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.

 

 

 

 

The Protective Groom by Lucy McConnell

The Protective Groom: Billionaire Marriage Brokers by Lucy McConnell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is such a fun series! I like how they all have a similar theme, and yet are unique and can stand on their own. I actually missed book four, so I need to go back and read that one now.

Harley has a stalker that's getting more aggressive, to help protect her they decide she should get married. Hoping this will have the stalker give up, they go through the Billionaire Marriage Brokers where she's matched with ex-cop Noah Baker. Noah and Harley were a cute couple, great chemistry and had a fun story. I would have liked to been around for more of their "get to know you" conversations, but the interactions they do have are fun. I think the stalker aspect could have been played up a little more, I never felt a lot of suspense or felt a real threat. Overall, a fun read and one I'd recommend.

Content
Romance: Clean, mild kissing
Language: None
Violence: Mild
Religious: Mild, not preachy
Series: Book four, but can stand on its own

Source: Kindle Unlimited


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The Professional Bride by Lucy McConnell

The Professional Bride by Lucy McConnell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I decided to bump all these up to four stars, because I do enjoy them and look forward to reading them. I like the original premise and the characters are always likable.

I liked that this one was a little different than the first two. Our heroine Amber, has been working for the BMB for a few years now, has actually had three husbands so far. Amber really does consider this her job, and while she builds friendships with her husbands, it's never been anything more. Until she meets her new husband Rym, then all her rules go out the window. Or down the slopes. Rym just inherited his fathers very successful and exclusive ski resort in Park City, Utah. I LOVED the setting in this one. I've spent a lot of time in Park City and had an easy time getting into this one. Amber was a likable character, as well as Rym. They were good for each other.

Like the other books, I would have liked to see more of Rym and Amber together, especially out side of work. I think if this were a full length novel the time spent at work wouldn't bother me as much. Then we could see them on their "down time" and see them really fall for each other. I have a hard time buying the falling in love part.

Overall, a fun addition to the series. I look forward to reading the next one.

Content: Clean
While this is the third book in the series, it could stand on its own.

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The Organized Bride by Lucy McConnell

The Organized Bride by Lucy McConnell
Contemporary Romance
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a cute series, I love the idea for the Billionaire Marriage Brokers and the modern day arranged marriage storylines. I look forward to reading the rest of the books.

While I thought this one was cute, I thought there was too much emphasis on their time at work or talking about work. It's all they ever really talked about and I thought it distracted from the romance. There wasn't a whole lot of romantic interactions and I was a bit unbelieving in their sudden declarations of love. I would have liked to see more of the day to day things and more conversations that didn't revolve around work/charities. I did think it was a fun read and kept me entertained, I just think the romance could have been a little better. I liked the characters and again look forward to reading more from this series.

Content
Romance: Clean
Language: None
Violence: None
Other: Mild (view spoiler)[talk about a brother who had been abused, no details at all (hide spoiler)]
Religious: None
Series: Billionaire Marriage Brokers, Book Two. Can stand on its own.</["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]>

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The Academic Bride by Lucy McConnell

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5

I thought this was a pretty cute and original novella. Janel is an Archeology student and trying to find funding for a Mayan dig she wants to do when she overhears a conversation in a restaurant that changes her life.

This is a bit like a modern mail-order-bride story, I like arranged marriage plots and was curious to see how things would play out. It starts out as more of a business arrangement, but they soon start having feeling for each other.

The reason I didn't give this a higher rating was I just did not believe they were in love. I don't want to rant, but here are a few of my thoughts. First, they barey spoke before they got married. I was expecting at least a little conversation, see if they actually mesh or not. I wouldn't base even a business marriage on just him being good looking. Second, he wanted to get married to have someone go to functions with and to get him off the market. They only did ONE function the whole time. I guess I was expecting more. Lastly, by the end when they are declaring their love for each other I just didn't buy it. Not after spending zero time together over the course of their three month marriage. Maybe if we could have seen more of their texts? Or heard their phone conversations? I'm not kidding when I say they are never together. He's a workaholic and she is working on her PhD and teaching classes. How does she know he is such a great guy if they are never together. Sure he does some "sweet" things, but really they weren't over the top, just normal stuff a normal person would do. By the end, I could see maybe a friendship forming, but not love. At least not yet. Sorry.

Overall, I did enjoy it and thought it was a fun premise and fun idea. I look forward to reading more from the series.

Content: Clean romance, no language, no violence

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