Review- Can't Get Enough by Gena Showalter

Summary-

New York Times best selling author Gena Showalter returns with a sizzling Original Heartbreakers tale, featuring a rough, tough bad boy brought to his knees by... a kindergarten teacher? 

The king of one-night stands...
To inherit--and destroy--his father’s business at long last, Brock Hudson needs a temporary wife. The ruthless ex-military heartthrob has always avoided romantic entanglements. Women are sweet, but vengeance will be sweeter. Or so he thinks. Only one woman will do, but the vulnerable beauty is more than he bargained for—sexier, wittier, and utterly irresistible.

The queen of the deep freeze…
After an abusive first marriage, Lyndie Scott has sworn off relationships. But still she longs for a child of her own. Turns out, the brawler who used to frighten her with only a glance is the answer to her problems. She agrees to his proposal, with a caveat: spend every night in bed with her, then walk away for good when it’s time to divorce. Even if she’s pregnant. 

A marriage of breathtaking inconvenience... 
As the days pass too quickly and the nights heat up, Brock battles a sense of possession and obsession. Will the former commitment-phobe convince his wife they’re better off together, or will she pack her bags and go?

Release date: December 5th, 2017

Published by: Strawberry Valley Press

Page numbers: 234

Review-

Can't Get Enough by Gena Showalter is the sixth book in her Original Heart breaker series which takes place in a small town called Strawberry Valley. Though this is the sixth book each book can be read as a stand alone and it follows the story of a different couple. I don't think it is necessary to read the previous books but the signs of Brock and Lyndie's story starts of a couple of books back.

Let's start with Lyndie. Lyndie has spent her entire life under an abusive father then an abusive husband. Now after finally getting over it she's coming to terms with herself. She is a strong independent woman and doesn't want to be tied down by anything or anyone. I liked Lyndie. Yes she was hesitant at first but she did trust Brock. Lyndie wanted to be a mother very bad and she could fulfil that dream of hers with Brock's proposal.

Brock was a nice hero to. Due to an emotionally abusive mother he didn't believe that anyone could genuinely love him. Things change when his father passes away and he is left to take care of the company. The only clause is that he has to marry to take ownership. So Brock asks Lyndie the only girl friend he trusts and desires above anyone else.

Can't Get Enough follows the marriage of convenience tropes and I've realised that I do enjoy it at times. Lyndie and Brock were good together and they both helped the other over come their fears and insecurities. I also enjoyed seeing Ryanne and Jude and Dorothea and Daniel. They were great friends who always supported Brock and Lyndie and were always there to pull their heads out of their asses. 

Can't Get Enough was comparatively shorter than the rest of Gena Showalter's books. But this was a good thing because there was no unnecessary angst and the conflict was resolved pretty swiftly. If you enjoy small town romances I'd suggest picking up one of the Original Heart breaker books.

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

Blog Tour: Review + Excerpt- Can't Get Enough by Gena Showalter

From New York Times Bestselling author Gena Showalter, comes the next standalone romance in the Original Heartbreakers Series—CAN’T GET ENOUGH!

Grab your copy today!

CAN’T GET ENOUGH Synopsis:

New York Times best selling author Gena Showalter returns with a sizzling Original Heartbreakers tale, featuring a rough, tough bad boy brought to his knees by... a kindergarten teacher?

 The king of one-night stands... To inherit--and destroy--his father’s business at long last, Brock Hudson needs a temporary wife. The ruthless ex-military heartthrob has always avoided romantic entanglements. Women are sweet, but vengeance will be sweeter. Or so he thinks. Only one woman will do, but the vulnerable beauty is more than he bargained for—sexier, wittier, and utterly irresistible.

The queen of the deep freeze… After an abusive first marriage, Lyndie Scott has sworn off relationships. But still she longs for a child of her own. Turns out, the brawler who used to frighten her with only a glance is the answer to her problems. She agrees to his proposal, with a caveat: spend every night in bed with her, then walk away for good when it’s time to divorce. Even if she’s pregnant.

A marriage of breathtaking inconvenience... As the days pass too quickly and the nights heat up, Brock battles a sense of possession and obsession. Will the former commitment-phobe convince his wife they’re better off together, or will she pack her bags and go?

Review-

Can't Get Enough by Gena Showalter is the sixth book in her Original Heart breaker series which takes place in a small town called Strawberry Valley. Though this is the sixth book each book can be read as a stand alone and it follows the story of a different couple. I don't think it is necessary to read the previous books but the signs of Brock and Lyndie's story starts of a couple of books back.

Let's start with Lyndie. Lyndie has spent her entire life under an abusive father then an abusive husband. Now after finally getting over it she's coming to terms with herself. She is a strong independent woman and doesn't want to be tied down by anything or anyone. I liked Lyndie. Yes she was hesitant at first but she did trust Brock. Lyndie wanted to be a mother very bad and she could fulfil that dream of hers with Brock's proposal.

Brock was a nice hero to. Due to an emotionally abusive mother he didn't believe that anyone could genuinely love him. Things change when his father passes away and he is left to take care of the company. The only clause is that he has to marry to take ownership. So Brock asks Lyndie the only girl friend he trusts and desires above anyone else.

Can't Get Enough follows the marriage of convenience tropes and I've realised that I do enjoy it at times. Lyndie and Brock were good together and they both helped the other over come their fears and insecurities. I also enjoyed seeing Ryanne and Jude and Dorothea and Daniel. They were great friends who always supported Brock and Lyndie and were always there to pull their heads out of their asses. 

Can't Get Enough was comparatively shorter than the rest of Gena Showalter's books. But this was a good thing because there was no unnecessary angst and the conflict was resolved pretty swiftly. If you enjoy small town romances I'd suggest picking up one of the Original Heart breaker books.

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

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EXCERPT-

The next morning, Lyndie tried to convince herself that she’d agreed to marry Brock only because of the wine.

Cabernet said I’d have no regrets, but cabernet could be a no-good liar, so…

A dozen times she picked up her phone, intending to call or text him, only to stop.

On one hand, marriage.On the other, baby.If she had a third hand, sex.

More wine could balance things out. Breakfast wine—good idea.She walked to her wine closet—AKA her pantry.Only four bottles remained.Time to restock.For now she’d go with merlot, a more honest wine.Honesty mattered!

Despite the early-morning hours, a single glass helped mellow her mood.Merlot + marriage = possible win.Merlot + marriage + possible pregnancy = total landslide.

I can do this.

Even better, shewoulddo this.

A little bit later, a text from Brock came in.

How’s my soon to be wifey-poo doing this morning?

Her heart started to race, and not just with nervousness. She replied,She’s almost calm.Are we really going to do this???

A few seconds, and his response came in.In my fantasies, we already have.But we’ll get to that later.How do you feel about a Sunday wedding… one week from today??? I warned you we’d do this quick.

Okay, from wanting more to wanting to vomit.A cold sweat beaded her forehead.She had next Monday off, so technically, timing worked.She typed,I feel like time is gonna pass quicker than a hot knife through butter. If we get hitched on a Sunday, it’ll have to be after church services.So why not go to the courthouse and get this whole thing over with?

One minute passed.Then another.She waited with bated breath until her phone buzzed.

Brock:I’ll talk to the pastor at Strawberry Community Church.I’m certain he’ll let us do the deed between services.And we’re doing it this way because we’re Hudsons, and Hudsons do things right.Sometimes.Fine—because I want to see you in a gown, walking down the aisle.Yes, that’s right.You’ve given me a gown fetish.I hope you’re happy.

Lyndie smiled.

Brock: You’re still a go?Because if I need to give you a sample of my bedroom prowess to convince you, I will man up and do my duty.

       

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About Gena Showalter: 

 

     

Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of the spellbinding Lords of the Underworld and Angels of the Dark series, two young adult series--Everlife and the White Rabbit Chronicles--and the highly addictive Original Heartbreakers series. In addition to being a National Reader's Choice and two time RITA nominee, her romance novels have appeared in Cosmopolitan (Red Hot Read) and Seventeen magazine, she's appeared on Nightline and been mentioned in Orange is the New Black--if you ask her about it, she'll talk for hours…hours! Her books have been translated in multiple languages. She’s hard at work on her next novel, a tale featuring an alpha male with a dark side and the strong woman who brings him to his knees. You can learn more about Gena, her menagerie of rescue dogs, and all her upcoming books at genashowalter.com or Facebook.com/genashowalterfans    

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Review- Can't Let Go by Gena Showalter

Summary-

New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter is back with a sizzling Original Heartbreakers tale about an icy war vet and the only woman capable of melting him…

With trust issues a mile long, Ryanne Wade has sworn off men.  Then Jude Laurent walks into her bar and all bets are off.  The former Army Ranger has suffered unimaginably, first being maimed in battle then losing his wife and daughters to a drunk driver. Making the brooding widower smile is priority one. Resisting him? Impossible.

To Jude, Ryanne is off limits. And yet the beautiful bartender who serves alcohol to potential motorists tempts him like no other. When a rival bar threatens her livelihood, and her life, he can’t turn away.  She triggers something in him he thought long buried, and he’s determined to protect her, whatever the cost.

As their already scorching attraction continues to heat, the damaged soldier knows he must let go of his past to hold on to his future...or risk losing the second chance he desperately needs. 

Release date: October 31st, 2017

Published by: Harlequin Books

Page numbers: 384

Review-

Let me start off by saying that I have a love hate relationship with this series. I genuinely disliked the first two books in the Original Heartbreakers series and I decided not to continue with the series. Fast forward to a few years later and I decided to give it another shot by reading Can't Hardly Breathe. I actually found the new set of friends to be much better than the previous ones so I decided to read Can't Let Go.

So the first disclaimer is that though this is a part of a series Can't Let Go can be read as a complete stand alone. Some characters and friends to reappear and things are set for the next book but it is easy to follow. This is the story of Jude and Ryanne. Jude has been trying his hardest to ignore Ryanne for the longest time. He has already lost way too much in his short lifetime and except for his two best friends he is not willing to invest emotions in anyone.

Ryanne on the other hand has had a mother who went from men to men at the speed of lightning. She doesn't trust men and just wants to run her bar successfully. Ryanne wants to travel the world and see places. What she doesn't expect is to be pulled in by Jude's damaged soul. I liked Ryanne she had a nice personality but I did find her to be childish at times.

Ryanna and Jude had chemistry. There is no doubt about that. The only issue I had- and I've found this happening more and more with Gena Showalter's books -is that I found both the hero and heroine to be quite immature at times. They each changed their mind about the other at the drop of a hat and were never quite sure of what they wanted from the other.The constant yes or no got irritating for me.

Gena Showalter writes really well and it shows. I really liked visiting Strawberry Valley again and meeting all its residents. I also genuinely can't wait for Brock and Lyndie's story which is next. I think they both truly deserve a happily ever after. So all in all while I liked Can't Let Go it wasn't my favourite 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- The Hotter You Burn by Gena Showalter

BOOK SUMMARY:

New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter is back with a sizzling Original Heartbreakers story featuring a troubled playboy and the woman he can’t resist… 

Beck O'ckley is ruthless in the boardroom...and the bedroom. He's never been with the same woman twice, and vows he never will. With a past as twisted as his, meaningless sex keeps the demons at bay. His motto: One and done. No harm, no foul.

Harlow Glass is the most hated girl in town. The beautiful artist is penniless, jobless and homeless. When she sneaks into Beck's home—her ancestral estate—for food, she's shocked by his early return...and her immediate, sizzling and intense attraction to him.

For the first time in Beck's life, he can't get a woman out of his mind. All too soon, friendship blooms into obsession and he'll have to break her heart...or surrender his own

Release date: July 28th 2015

Published by: HQN Books

Page numbers: 416

REVIEW: 

The Hotter You Burn is the second book in Gena Showalter's new contemporary romance series called the Original Heartbreakers. While the #0.5 novella and the first book were big flops for me I powered through with this one because of all the really good reviews I read. I have to admit that this is an improvement from the first two books but it still didn't blow my mind away.

Beck is the beautiful one of the group. He hides what he really feels by pouring out the charm on everyone. He is a complete man whore and never sleeps with the same woman twice. All that changes when he meets Harlow and he is completely intrigued. I liked Beck. I felt bad for him because he always felt that he was never good enough and couldn't commit to anyone. He did act a bit childish at times but all in all Beck was a good hero.

Then we have Harlow. Harlow had a horrible childhood and she removed all her angst by bullying the other kids. That is why she is the most hated girl in town. I could see that Harlow had grown up and actually regretted all her past actions. But what I didn't like was how some of the townsfolk treated her. It was very horrible and I always dislike such tropes. 

Beck and Harlow's chemistry was much more believable than the last two couples. Harlow really needed Beck's help and Beck was more than happy to provide it. I also liked how Beck was protective of Harlow and willing to stand up for her when no one else was. The only tiny complaint I have was that these two changes their minds way too many times.

We also get to see the remaining residents of Strawberry Valley. West gets the next book and I'm curious too see how he'll get over his issues because they are MAJOR. I'm still not entirely convinced of his pairing with Jessie Kay though. The Hotter You Burn was a good enough read.

Buy the book: AMAZON

Review- The Closer You Come by Gena Showalter

Summary-

New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter introduces the Original Heartbreakers, where three not-quite-reformed bad boys are about to meet the women who will bring them to their knees.

Just released from prison, Jase Hollister has a dark and twisted past. And now, he has only one goal: stay out of trouble. Strawberry Valley, Oklahoma, sounds like the perfect place for him and his two brothers-by-circumstance to settle down and live a nice, simple life. But model citizen isn’t exactly this rugged bachelor’s default setting—especially when it comes to a certain hot-blooded Southern beauty…

Brook Lynn Dillon has always been responsible. Not that it’s done her much good. The down-on-her-luck waitress is broke, single and fun-deprived. Until Jase comes along. He is dangerous, stunningly protective, breathtakingly sexy and as tempting as sin, and the passion sizzling between them is undeniable. But can it melt her resistance? After all, the right kind of trouble might be just what they both need.

Review-

The Closer You Come is the first full length novel in Gena Showalter's The Original Heartbreakers series. I did not enjoy the novella which preceded this book but I still wanted to give this one a try. Unfortunately this book was even worse than the last one. I had a lot of issues with the characters and their behaviour and I did not care about them.

Let's start with Jase. Jase has been released from prison after a nine year stint. He has a dark and twisted past that he doesn't want to share with anyone. He wants to live quietly in Strawberry Valley. Okay, the first thing I HATED about Jase was that he sleeps with Brook Lynn, the heroine's sister. That was horrible and the worse part was that Brook Lynn walks in on them. Secondly, I like heroes who think they are unworthy of the girl but Jase changed his mind more than a teenage girl.

Brook Lynn is supposed to be the good girl and she was. She works hard to make ends meet for her sister and her and has always been responsible. Then she meets Jase and is very attracted to him. I don't know how she was attracted to him after seeing him with her sister but she was. Brook Lynn was nice on paper but again, I didn't feel like she was unique.

Gena Showalter writes really amazing chemistry and we do get to see a bit of it with Jase and Brook Lynn. But it always got interrupted with one of them backing off and then changing their mind. It was very juvenile and frankly, I expected more. The supposed twist and the end was also unnecessary.

The ones I was really curious to know more about were West and Beck. Beck's book is next and I am eager to see the man whore fall hard. We are introduced to quite a few characters who make up Strawberry Valley. The Closer You Come could not pull me in like Gena Showalter's other read and I didn't like it very much.

Review- The One You Want by Gena Showalter

Summary-

New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter introduces the Original Heartbreakers—about sexy bad boys each meeting their match—with a special prequel novella!

In small-town Oklahoma, reputation is everything, and Kenna Starr will do anything to overcome hers. The supposed bad girl is determined to walk the straight and narrow, a seemingly impossible task when Tall, Dark and Sexy shows up…

Rich and powerful, Dane Michaelson is every woman's dream. When he returns to Strawberry Valley after a sixteen-year absence, he is unprepared for the redheaded girl he's never been able to forget. She's all woman now—and he's never wanted anyone more. But to have her, he'll have to break through her defenses… and surrender his own.

Review-

I have not been a Gena Showlater fan in the recent past. I used to love her books before but since the last year or two I wasn't enjoying her books like I did before. So when I saw that she had a new contemporary romance series coming out I thought I'd give it a try. The One You Want is the novella which starts off the series. Sadly, I did not like this one very much.

Kenna lives in Strawberry Valley where reputation means everything. Sadly for Kenna her reputation sucks mainly because of a mistake in the past. It also doesn't help that her mother had an affair with a married man and now everyone thinks Kenna does the same. I liked Kenna and how she was in the present. She regretted her actions from the past but she was trying hard to make it work for her and her daughter.

Then we have Dane who is our hero. I did not like him. At all. Dane was an asshole plain and simple and though I think he was trying to be all cold and mysterious he just came off as an ass. I did not feel any warmth towards him even by the end of the novella and I especially didn't like his behaviour towards Kenna's daughter.

Gena Showalter can definitely write a romance but I found nothing special with Kenna and Dane's. I don't know if it was because it was a novella and we didn't get enough time with them or what but I did not care much about the characters. We are introduced to the cast who will get the next full length books in the series. The One You Want was a very average read for me.