Review- Collision Course by Marie Harte

Summary-

Ace mechanic Lou Cortez has always had a way with the ladies, so he can't understand why lovely florist Josephine -Joey- Reeves won't give him the time of day.

Joey knows all about mistakes. After getting pregnant at fifteen, she's spent the past nine years building a life for her and her son. This sexy mechanic is one misstep she's not going to make. But the more time she spends with Lou, the hotter things get. Soon Joey's left with a choice: keep things casual, or reveal all to Lou and hope he accepts her-and her son-for who they are.

Release date: January 2nd, 2018

Published by: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Page numbers: 352

Review-

Collision Course by Marie Harte is the fourth book in her Body Shop Bad Boys series. This series basically follows a group of friends who are mechanics. I have been following this series from the start so I was looking forward to reading Collision Course. This is what I'm assuming the last book in the series and Lou's book was quite an anticipated one for me. While the book did not completely meet my expectations, it was still a good one.

Let's start with Lou. Lou is a mechanic but he is also an artist. He does paint jobs and artwork on various vehicles along with being a mechanic. Lou has always had a way with the ladies and after being one of the few males in his family taking care of his multiple sisters and female cousins he doesn't want to be tied down by relationships. When Lou meets Joey though things change.

Joey was a sweet girl. She was a florist who had worked hard to get where she was while taking care of her son. She got pregnant at a very young age and that made her parents very judgemental of her decisions and choices. Joey was definitely hesitant when it came to Lou. She liked him but she would always put her son before any relationships.

Lou and Joey had chemistry. Lou did not want to be tied down by relationships and Joey had her son to take care of. But they could not stay away from each other. I liked Joey and Lou in the beginning but later on in the book Lou's attitude towards Joey's son and relationships go annoying. The whole commitment phobic plot can only go so far without any genuine reasons.

We also get to meet all the previous couples and that was fun to see. This series follows a bunch of 
guys whose friendship and bromance is great to see. I think there were also hints thrown in for some future couples and books so I wouldn't be surprised if we got another spin off series. If you enjoy contemporary romances you should definitely give this series a try.

*Note: A copy of this book was provided by the author/publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. We thank them.

Review- Zero to Sixty by Marie Harte

Summary-

Bad boy Sam + Good girl Ivy + Stray puppy = Damaged hearts learning to love again

After her last relationship bombed, Ivy Stephens is doing her best to put her life back together. She's enjoying her job, her apartment-and the cute little puppy she's seen hanging around. When she goes looking for him, she finds the stray in the arms of a big, burly, devastatingly handsome man.

Sam Hamilton is lonelier than he's ever been after his best friend's engagement. To give himself a sense of purpose, he takes in a puppy that keeps showing up around the garage where he works. The puppy has another suitor though-one who happens to be blond and beautiful.

Release date: February 7th, 2017

Published by: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Page numbers: 384

Review-

I have been following Marie Harte's Body Shop Bad Boys series quite sincerely. That is why I was looking forward to reading Zero to Sixty which is Sam Hamilton's book. I like the tone of this series. It focuses on hard working men and their bonds of friendship and family. Overall, Zero to Sixty was a good read but it definitely did not blow me away or anything. It was enjoyable enough for me.

Okay, so let's start with Sam. Sam Hamilton is best friends with Foley Sanders who was the hero of the previous book, Roadside Assistance. Now that Foley is completely head over heels in love with his girlfriend Cynthia, Sam has been feeling left out. It doesn't help that he has a horribly abusive mother who always brings forth all of Sam's insecurities about people who love him leaving him. I liked Sam as a person. He had issues to deal with but he was a good guy.

Then we have Ivy. Ivy is a massage therapist. She is a good girl through and through. Ivy likes working and is quite happy with her life. Except for the part where she gets lonely at times. I really liked Ivy. She was open with Sam about her feelings. The way Sam and Ivy meet was really cute.

Zero to Sixty is a classic example of opposites attract. Sam is very much rough around the edges who doesn't think very highly of himself. Whereas Ivy is the more sorted one. But Ivy does have her own issues and insecurities to deal with. Ivy and Sam start off unsure about each other but they do get comfortable soon. I liked the way the romance progressed.

Marie Harte's writing is easy and engaging so it was easy to follow along Sam and Ivy's journey. I can't say that there was anything new or unique about either of them though. We also get to meet the remaining gang and it is always fun to catch up with everybody. We get hints of Lou in this book so I am very much excited for his book next. This was a good read.

*Note: A copy of this book was provided by the author/publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. We thank them.

Review- Roadside Assistance by Marie Harte

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?

Release date: September 6th, 2016

Published by: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Page numbers: 384

Review-

This is not my first read by Marie Harte. I have, in fact read and enjoyed her McCauley Brothers series and that was the reason I decided to start with this series. Roadside Assistance is the second book in the Body Shop Bad Boys series but each book can be read as a standalone as each book is of a different couple. But the characters do overlap and you can read Test Drive before this for a richer experience. But getting back to Roadside Assistance, I quite enjoyed the book.

Let's start with our hero, Foley. Foley is one part of the 'Badass Bros' as everyone else in the garage likes to call them. He's a tattooed, muscular mechanic who is happy doing what he is. Foley looked out for his friends, especially Sam and his mother. I really liked Foley. He was an all around great guy who was pretty straight forward with his feelings. I thought it was super cute the way he was smitten with Cyn, our heroine. 

Cynthia or Cyn as everyone likes to call her is our heroine. She is a businesswoman and she'd just moved back into the small town to stay closer to her family. Cyn is plus sized and tall and amazonian, therefore she doesn't believe Foley when he says he's attracted to her. Cyn had a lot of insecurities and a part of the reason for this was her mother. Cyn was a sassy heroine, not afraid of Foley but her doubts made her real. She felt pressurized by her mother to marry and Cyn was an independent woman. 

I found it easy to relate to Cyn because I'm sure we all have had doubts about our body shape or size at a time or two. But Foley did help her overcome that. I loved the chemistry these two shared. Cyn did try hard to resist Foley but he was one determined man. Their relationship grows at a steady pace and so do their feelings.

What I liked even more about Roadside Assistance was that Foley also had to deal with a lot of other changes in his life. I think it was realistic in a way how Sam, Foley's best bud did not fully accept Cyn into the fold. That man has some horrible past and I can't wait for his book. I also adored the rest of Cyn's family barring her mother. They provided great comedic relief. We also get to meet the rest of the gang with glimpses of McCauleys. Roadside Assistance was a fun romance read.

*Note: A copy of this book was provided by the publishers via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. We thank them.