Ride with Me by Ruthie Knox

When Lexie Marshall places an ad for a cycling companion, she hopes to find someone friendly and fun to cross the TransAmerica Trail with. Instead, she gets Tom Geiger—a lean, sexy loner whose bad attitude threatens to spoil the adventure she’s spent years planning.

Roped into the cycling equivalent of a blind date by his sister, Tom doesn’t want to ride with a chatty, go-by-the-map kind of woman, and he certainly doesn’t want to want her. Too bad the sight of Lexie with a bike between her thighs really turns his crank.

Even Tom’s stubborn determination to keep Lexie at a distance can’t stop a kiss from leading to endless nights of hotter-than-hot sex. But when the wild ride ends, where will they go next?

******

Sometimes I'll read a new-to-me author and wonder what the heck is wrong with me? Why did I wait sooooo long, when I've seen nothing but raves about their writing? Well, I'm doing that now - questioning and kicking myself - and this time the author is Ruthie Knox.

Start to finish, this is a great story. A bike ride across the United States? How fun is that! I love that Ms. Knox made me feel like I was included in the adventure, taking me places and showing me things I'll never have the chance to see. From the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic, and everything in between - mountains, deserts, plains, clear skies or torrential rains...instead of just reading words on a page, I wast there, riding right alongside Tom and Lexie. And. Loving. Every. Minute!

And speaking of Tom and Lexie...

Tom and Lexie are so awesome! Total opposites, but this is one of those cases where opposites not only attract, they're helplessly drawn together. I say helpless because even when they didn't want to give into their attraction, they couldn't help it. It was out of their control, almost as if destiny demanded it. I enjoyed their push and pull, their struggle to deny the obvious, because when they finally give in, they did so with a vengeance!

It was also fun to spend time with the people they met along the way. Such interesting, quirky people!

The Bottom Line - I've seen review after review praising Ms. Knox's storytelling, and now I understand why. Ride with Me is one of those stories that, start to finish, grabs hold and doesn't let go. It's fun, sexy, romantic, poignant... the perfect feel-good read.

This spot is normally reserved for thanking authors or publishers for providing me with a copy of their book in exchange for an honest review, but since I bought this one for pleasure, I'll thank all the wonderful people on Goodreads whose reviews tempted me beyond reason, until I could no longer control myself and just had to buy this book! Loved it! Thank you!

Rock Chick Revolution by Kristen Ashley

Welcome to my blog and my installment of the 

Rock Chick Revolution Road Tour Scavenger Hunt!

Kristen Ashley and her invaluable Right Hand Woman, Chas, have put together some totally awesome prize packages for you! All you have to do is take a trip to each participating blog, gather the clues, answer the questions, and you're entered to win!  At the end of my review you'll find links to the schedule, all the blogs, and a link to where you go to answer the questions.

That's where you'll also find my clue and a link to the next blog on this Road Tour Scavenger Hunt!

Good Luck and ROCK ON!

Ally Nightingale has secrets. Secrets she doesn't even share with the Rock Chicks. But two men know what she's up to. One has her back. The other has her heart, but he doesn't know it.

As Ally rewinds the last year of her life, she knows two things. One, she’s never going to get what every Rock Chick should have—her own Hot Bunch guy. And two, she’s a Nightingale through and through. She just isn’t sure what to do about that.

But as her secrets are revealed, the men in her life react. Darius Tucker, a lifelong friend, as usual takes her back. Ren Zano, the man she loves, isn’t quite so sure. The Rock Chicks, Hot Bunch and the entire gang at Fortnum’s weigh in, and a Rock Chick Revolution starts brewing.

It’s up to Ally to control it and prove what she knows down to her bones.

She’s a Rock Chick, she deserves her hot guy and she’s going to keep the one she wants…

Because she’s a Nightingale.

*****

"Because, no matter how old we get, we always need to believe in fairytales."

I adore Kristen Ashley’s stories. They’re fun, sexy, heartfelt, thought provoking, and you can tell that they come from a place of truth. Each and every one has become a favorite, for different reasons. Some grab my heart because they’re poignant, others because they’re romantic. Some set my imagination free, while others ground me and make me feel solid. I love that regardless the tale she’s telling, she can pull me in, have me connect with the characters – who never feel like characters, by the way – and keep me turning the pages into the wee hours of the morning.

And such is the case with this story.

Rock Chick Revolution is the eighth and final book in Kristen Ashley’s totally awesome Rock Chick series, and the story most of us hard-core fans have been waiting for. From their first encounter in Rock Chick Revenge when Ally gets in Ren’s face to make him step back from the fight between he and Luke – over Ava, no less – you just know these two will end up together and that they’ll push at each other, pull at each other, drive each other insane and burn up the sheets together. And man, oh, man, do they ever!

“Revolution” in the title is very apt, for a couple of reasons. One being that the story of the Rock Chicks and the Hot Bunch has come full circle. But while reading this story I couldn’t help but connect that word to what was happening in the Rock Chick world – a revolution of sorts. I’ve always seen Ally as a wild card. The one you could never totally read. Like the rest of the Rock Chicks, she’s a girl who knows what she wants and will stop at nothing to get it. That said, what Ally wants is HUGE and is going to upset the Hot Bunch apple cart in a big way, and cause a revolution of epic proportions. And that’s all I’ll say about that.

There are some very cool twists. Some totally awesome turns. Things you may have never seen coming, but when they come, you can’t help but smile, and I mean smile in a way that comes from deep inside, from another place of truth. "Because, no matter how old we get, we always need to believe in fairytales."

Oh, and one last thing - you know that saying, when one door closes, another opens, so an ending is just a beginning? Yeah. That.

Just sayin'...

And now for the good stuff!!!

Grand Prize

Righteous Rock Chick Back Stage Pass
30 minute private – one-on-one Skype (video or text) chat with Kristen.
A signed copy of all 8 Rock Chick Books

2nd place

Rebel Rock Chick VIP
A signed copy of Rock Chick Revolution

3rd, 4th, and 5th places

Rock Chick Groupies
An e-copy of Rock Chick Revolution for you or a friend.

     

Blithely's Rock Chick Road Tour Scavenger Hunt Clue is: 

You'll find this place skirting an off-road on I-25

Now be sure and head over to All Romance Reviews for another of today's clues and a link to the next stop on this RIGHTEOUS Road Tour!!

Important! In case you get lost, these links will help you find your way...

Here's the Road Tour Schedule

Post Your Tour Answers Here

Crave by Monica Murphy

Billionaire Archer Bancroft always gets what he wants—and he’s wanted Ivy Emerson, his best friend’s sister, for far too long. Being forbidden and untouchable only makes her more tempting. When a million-dollar bet with his friends throws down a challenge—last bachelor standing takes all—Archer knows he can win. That is, until one enchanted evening with Ivy takes his heart for a ride.

Ivy knows Archer is nothing but bad news: Infuriating, arrogant…and completely intoxicating. But despite her best efforts, she can’t seem to keep away. When a stolen kiss leads to a night of heated passion, Ivy realizes she’s in trouble and in head over heels.

But in the light of day, everything seems clearer and Archer’s not so sure a one-night stand is all he wants. Concocting a plan to keep Ivy by his side, Archer might just be willing to lose this bet…and win the jackpot instead.

*****

Crave is the first book in the Billionaire Bachelors Club by Monica Murphy. To be honest, I had mixed feelings about reading this story, and here's why: There's not a low or middle income hero left in the country, and it's not likely a twenty something Billionaire Bachelor would be interested in a fifty something grandma of 4, like me. So where's the potential for a realistic, rock-my-socks fantasy in that, I ask you? There isn't one. Not. A. One. Of course, again to be honest, there's probably not a low or middle income twenty something hero who'd want to rock-my-socks, either. Where were these guys when I was twenty something??

But I digress.

In general there seems to be an overabundance of stories about millionaires, billionaires, and trillionaires. Sheikhs, princes, cowboys, doctors, businessmen, rakes, rogues, jocks, vampires, shifters... Everyone is wealthy. Everyone is retina burning gorgeous. Everyone is single. Everyone is... well... frankly, cookie cutter.

Everyone, that is, except Archer Bancroft. Yes, he's single. Yes, he's a bjillionaire. Yes, he's gorgeous. But he's also got this non-tortured vulnerability about him that I simply couldn't resist! And because he's not all world-weary and tormented, I didn't feel all stressed and angsty and didn't feel the need to fix him. To deal with his drama.

I. Hate. Drama.

So instead of my fantasies being stifled by the dreadful task of bringing him home and fixing him, I was able let loose and fantasize about bringing him home and loving him until neither of us could walk straight.

Just tellin’ it like it is.

Archer and Ivy are a great couple. This is a friends to lovers tale, except friends might be an exaggeration. How about, a tolerant to lovers tale? Yes, that's more like it. It was fun watching them fight against their attraction for one another, Archer falling back on "the-last-bachelor-standing" bet as his excuse for not giving in to his feelings. Ivy really is a great heroine, especially given what she has to deal with - an obnoxious brother and his obnoxious friends - girl deserves a medal.

Anyway, I'm rambling... I really did enjoy this story. I've read that it's a great cross between New Adult and Contemporary Romance, and I can see that. So if you're looking for something new but don't want to deal with the angst of New Adult, then you should give this a try.

I'm excited about the next book, and can't wait to read it! There's something about Gage that I find super intriguing, and I absolutely have to have his story!

My thanks to Avon Books for providing me with a copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.

Tempting Fate by Amber Lin

Amber Lin writes the most beautiful stories! Her characters aren’t characters at all, but people we connect with, people we care about, people whose stories we can’t help but get lost in.

Rose Murphy has had a rough go of life, but now she's ready to live it on her own terms, out from under her brother’s over protective, stifling care. Philip means well - most of the time - but Rose has dreams she wants to make real and can’t do it while living in his home, under his watchful eye. He’s not going to like her moving out on her own, but that’s nothing compared to how angry he’ll be when he learns that she has feelings for his attorney, Drew, and that Drew returns those feelings, and has for a long time.

Tempting Fate is the third novella in Ms. Lin’s The Lost Girls series. The first two stories, Giving it Up and Selling Out are passionate, edgy and heartbreaking, hopeful and inspiring. Tempting Fate is another brilliant installment, but with less angst. It’s sensual, erotic, tender and romantic, and once I started, I couldn’t put it down. Every word, every sentence, every page… I loved it all!

The next in this series is also the last, and it's Philip's story. I can not wait to meet the woman who brings him to his knees!

My sincerest thanks to Amber Lin for providing me with a copy of this story in exchange for an honest review. As always, it was a true pleasure.

I Dream of Danger by Lisa Marie Rice

They are the Ghost Ops: a covert squad of super-elite soldiers. After their team was betrayed and massacred, the three surviving members went underground and built Haven, a community of misfits and geniuses. Now they're at a crossroads, facing a new threat capable of destroying everything they hold dear.

In the second book of Lisa Marie Rice's thrilling Ghost Ops series, the Haven team is faced with a new addition to their secret society-and a threat capable of destroying everything they hold dear.

When Nick Ross disappears from Elle Thomason's life, she is certain she'll never see the man she loves again—except in her dreams.

Ten years later, as a respected researcher breaking new ground in psychic phenomena, she sends a desperate call for Nick's help. One by one, her colleagues have started disappearing . . . and Elle knows she's next. An elite soldier, Nick never meant to hurt Elle, duty kept him away—and then she vanished. Now troubled by unusually vivid, disturbing dreams of Elle in danger, Nick will rescue the only woman he's ever wanted and bring her back with him to Haven. Though powerful men are after Elle and her special abilities, Nick will die before leaving her side again.

**************

Lisa Marie Rice is one of my favorite erotic/romantic suspense authors, and I love this futuristic - but not overly SciFi-esque - world she's created. I've been so looking forward to this second installment of her Ghost Ops series, and like the first book, Heart of Danger, it's action packed, fast paced and sexy, but I have to be honest, it also dragged in places.

Approximately the first 30% of the story is devoted to to the backstory, and while that might seem like a bit much, there's a lot of important information here. Things we need to know and wouldn't be able to get any other way without going the flashback route, which I'm not a big fan of.

I truly enjoyed reading about Nick and Elle's history. They're both great people, each in their own right... but put them together and they're amazing. It was emotional, poignant, romantic, sexy...but there was more introspection and lamenting than I like. I found myself skipping paragraphs at a time to get to the actual dialog and 'the good stuff' - the rebuilding of their relationship, and the new information surrounding Dr. Lee and Arka Pharmaceuticals. It's such an intriguing plot that I just wanted to skip all the 'filler' and get back to Nick, Elle, the Ghost Ops team, and the rest of the residents of Haven.

I hope Ms. Rice writes fast because I'm anxious to find out what's going to happen next!

Note: Something I failed to mention but feel that I should is that there is a cliffhanger with this story, but NOT concerning the HEA of our hero and heroine. It's strictly plot related.

My thanks to Avon Books for providing me with a copy of this story in exchange of an honest review.

The Story Guy by Mary Ann Rivers

Carrie West is happy with her life . . . isn’t she? But when she sees this provocative online ad, the thirtysomething librarian can’t help but be tempted. After all, the photo of the anonymous poster is far too attractive to ignore. And when Wednesday finally arrives, it brings a first kiss that’s hotter than any she’s ever imagined. Brian Newburgh is an attorney, but there’s more to his life . . . that he won't share with Carrie. Determined to have more than just Wednesdays, Carrie embarks on a quest to learn Brian’s story, certain that he will be worth the cost. But is she ready to gamble her heart on a man who just might be The One . . . even though she has no idea how their love story will end?

*****

I will meet you on Wednesdays at noon in Celebration Park. Kissing only.

This isn't the kind of story I'd normally pick up, but there was something about the idea of two lonely souls meeting once a week to share stolen kisses in the park. I couldn't stop wondering what would compel Carrie and Brian to enter into such an arrangement. It sounded so tawdry, so shallow, and yet, so heartbreaking and hopeful.

Honestly, I simply couldn't resist finding out what brought them to this point in their lives.

My Thoughts -

It doesn't often happen that a book takes me completely by surprise, but The Story Guy is one that did. I had no idea where this relationship between Brian and Carrie was going - if it was going anywhere at all - but what starts out as a sexy, intriguing, quirky tale, soon becomes a poignant, impassioned love story that I couldn't put down. It's a fairly short read but what it lacks in page count it more than makes up for with complex characters, a deeply moving story, and the promise of a beautiful, destined, happily ever after.

I wish we had been given an epilogue of some sort, something to show us where Carrie and Brian will be 5, 10, 20 years down the road. And believe me, this not a criticism, but a testament to how much I came to care about them both.

I'm looking forward to reading more by Mary Ann Rivers, a very gifted writer.

My thanks to Loveswept and Netgalley for granting me a copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.   

Things Good Girls Don't Do by Codi Gary

Things Good Girls Don’t Do is a fun, sexy, romantic story about living life on your own terms, even if it means disappointing those around you.

The Story:

Katie Connors has spent her entire life living up to everyone else’s expectations of what being a “good girl” means: Good girls don’t steal. Good girls don’t visit sex shops. Good girls don’t have one-night stands. They practice good decorum, never make a scene in public, never talk back to their elders… in Katie’s world, the list of what she can do is far shorter than the list of what she can’t. Even now that her mother has passed away, Katie continues living by the standards that were instilled in her, practically from birth, but after being dumped by her longtime, cheating, lying boyfriend, she starts to wonder if all the effort she’s put into being good has been worth it.

Enter Chase Trepasso.

Chase has a reputation totally the opposite of Katie’s. He owns a tattoo shop, rides a motorcycle, dresses in jeans and t-shirts, and is considered by the small town and its small-minded people to be nothing but trouble. He knows Katie’s a good girl, not at all someone who would be interested in a guy like him, but there something about her that draws him in. When he runs into her at a local bar and finds her making a list of all the things a good girl like her would never, ever do, he can’t stop himself from offering to help check each item off of her list.

Katie knows she should run the other way, but Chase’s teasing and tempting offer set something off inside her. A need to prove that she can break rules, that she can be naughty. Sometimes. And as long as she can keep her heart out of it, everything will be just fine.

And we all know how that’ll work out, right?

My Thoughts:

This is such a fun, sassy, sexy, romantic story! I’m a fan of small-town romances, anyway, and this one has the elements I most enjoy – close friends, people you’ve grown up with, quaint traditions… but there’s also the less appealing side of small town life. Busy bodies, people who know everyone’s business – or want to – and think it’s their job to keep everyone in line and, honestly, I do wish there had been a bit less of the confrontations between Katie and Mrs. Andrews. That said, watching Chase and Katie 'do their own thing,’ despite the interference from well meaning friends, was at times beautiful, at times funny, and at other times, very hot.

The Bottom Line:

If you’re a fan of Contemporary Romances set in small towns, and if you want characters you can fall in love with and happily ever afters you can believe in, you’ll definitely want to give this story a read. It’s not too light, not too angsty, just a comfortable, feel good story.

Note: I’m not sure if this is book 1 or 1.5 in a series, but there was a short story in the Kiss Me anthology directly connected to this book. That said, both are wonderful stories and work well on their own.

Update from the author: "It's technically not a series, they are stand alones based in the same town, but you can call them Rock Canyon Romances. :)"


My thanks to Avon Books for providing me with a copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.