Marie Harte

While it is a little sad to see The McCauley Brothers series come to a close, Marie Harte brings the series to a strong and absolutely perfect conclusion with What to Do with a Bad Boy. This wonderfully entertaining romance is full of witty dialogue, charming characters and plenty of smoking hot love scenes. But it is the heartfelt and emotion filled scenes that make this novel such an outstanding read.

The oldest of the McCauley brothers, Mike is a widowed single dad who has yet to move on show more from his wife's tragic death. He is an all around great guy, devoted to his young son, Colin and works hard in the family owned construction business. His family is extremely close-knit and they eagerly step in to help Mike care for Colin when needed. Mike is extremely dismayed by Colin's infatuation with tattooed mechanic Delilah "Del" Webster but he is even more disconcerted by his unexpected attraction to her.

Del is a delightful breath of fresh air and I absolutely adored her. Comfortable in her own skin, she is a straight shooter who tells it like it is and does not play games. Confident, strong and sexy, she does feel a little out of place in Mike's suburban life, but Del does not let her discomfort keep her from enjoying the new friendship she has found with Mike's soon to be sisters-in-law. She is also quite charmed by Mike's rapscallion son and her scenes with Colin are definitely some of the best in the novel. Del is a little uneasy with her budding relationship with Mike, but she is more than ready to explore their simmering desire for one another.

Mike and Del's romance is so much fun to watch unfold. Neither of them is interested in a long term relationship, so they agree to a "friends with benefits" type arrangement. Their sex scenes are graphically detailed, exquisitely raunchy and incredibly hot, but it is their interactions out of the bedroom that are the most captivating. The conversations between Mike and Del are often humorous, but they are also heartbreakingly poignant on occasion.

The McCauley and Webster families are fully engaged in one another's lives and this sometimes leads to some pretty hilarious matchmaking efforts. However not all of the interference is appreciated or welcome despite the fact it is well-intentioned. This meddling becomes the catalyst for a long overdue discussion about the past but it is just the first step in the healing process. It is going to take another absolutely gut-wrenching, tear inducing conversation to fully overcome the tragedy that keeps Mike from fully committing to Del.

While Mike and Del have some serious issues to overcome, What to Do with a Bad Boy is mostly a light-hearted, fun and super steamy read. Colin is incorrigible but he is so adorable that it is impossible not to love the little scene stealer. The supporting cast of characters is equally lovable and while all of the McCauley brothers have found their happily ever afters, I am hoping that Marie Harte has plans for a future novel starring Del's brother J.T.

An absolutely outstanding addition to The McCauley Brothers series, I highly recommend What to Do with a Bad Boy to fans of contemporary romances. It can be read as a standalone story, but you really do not want to miss any of the novels in this wonderful series. show less

In the third book in the Cougar Falls series, fox shifter Julia Easton is determined to convince her youngest sister, Meghan, that marrying a human, an outsider from a Hunter family, is a bad idea. Meghan, however, loves Jason, but his brothers and father are dead set on making trouble for the Easton women.
Sheriff Ty Roderick has longed for Julia for years, and he drops everything to rescue her when he learns she’s in trouble. To deter Jason’s cruel, obstinate brother who wants Julia for show more his own, Ty plays the part of Julia’s boyfriend and soon makes a ton of enemies.
Julia is a very stubborn, overly protective woman. She loves her sisters dearly, but she’s so tired of never feeling good enough and having to hide a family secret. Ty is protective over Julia and more than understanding to her needs. They fit really well together.
The best parts, for me, were the action scenes with the Hunters and Shifters going at each other. I really enjoyed the emotional conflict between Julia and Ty. Though there were some secrets and misconceptions at first, the H/h didn’t hold much back and got to the point quickly, even when they argued. The open communication was a breath of fresh air, something that’s not very common in romance books, unfortunately.
I definitely enjoyed this story.
4 Stars show less

Cyn, an Amazon of a redhead with the temper and intelligence to match the hair. Foley, mountain of a tattooed badass mechanic. She's got self-image issues and he's got more than enough self-confidence for the both of them.

I truly enjoyed this book. I know some will say Cyn's constant doubting of herself and Foley's feeling for her dragged the book down but if you are one of us who have been told...you're to this or that, you should lose ___ pounds so you could get a man, you need to be show more married so then I won't have to worry about you being alone....you get the gist...then you can't understand why Cyn may be an intelligent and successful business woman but scared to death of relationships and failing in another one. It doesn't help when the person doing all the negative nitpicking is your very own mother. Okay, all of us have had talks with our mom's and her brand of advice.....but to have it all your life and it's not constructive, it's not from a loving place either.

Foley is intrigued by Cyn the first time they meet. She goes to the garage he works at to rip someone a new one for parking cars in their lot. He turns on the charm because he definitely likes what he sees but she's not buying it. Or at least not right away, so he hopes. He's done time, he's got his own issues, his best friend Sam is more of a mountain of a man than he is (and since he's described as being "six and a half feet of man") that's saying a lot, oh and he has a mom he adores and is very protective of.

I like that to seal their feelings for one another and get them to where they get their HEA is takes a car accident and not a death like so many other books. They've been on a "break" when the accident happens. I believe it's Sam who texts Cyn and let's her know that Eileen, Foley's mom whom Cyn has been having lunch and heart-to-heart conversations with, is in the hospital because of the accident. (Sam.....oh Sam.....he's another big bundle of mess, so manly but so insecure....I need his story told so that I know this big boy is going to be okay.) They talk, not fight...no drama ....just an honest talk. She tells him she loves him, that's seeing a therapist is working and that if he's willing to give them a chance she only wants him. He puts his cards on the table letting her know that he will be right by her side, that he loves who she is and not just how she looks (though throughout the book he tells her time and time again to him she's the most beautiful woman on Earth), and that he can see a future with her that he never even thought to imagine with any other woman.

Thinking now I have to go back and read book one of the series since I just realized this is a series (I am infamous for doing that...middle of the series starting). I look forward to stories about the others....and what others they are....sounds like a garage I'd want to wreck my car just to have one of these hotties fix it. show less

Rebecca Bragg is a smart, tough lady, and she’s not interested in the gorgeous, rich celebrity who has recently moved to town, even though he’s one of her son’s coaches on the high school football team. From the rumors she’s heard, the man is an arrogant hound dog, so she does her best to keep away from him.
Mitch Flashman is an ex-NFL star and a two-time Super Bowl champ, so he has no shortage of women flocking to him, but he’s lonely and doesn’t know what to do with his life show more since he’s retired from playing football. He’s sick of being used for his fame and money, so he avoids the grubby women always making plays for him. The only woman he’s interested in is Becca, but she won’t give him a chance. Luckily for Becca and Mitch, they have some awesome family members who are determined to see them together and happy.
I adored Becca’s snarky fourteen-year-old son, Simon. He was so sweet and protective of his mom, but also impressionable and definitely in need of some male attention. Nora and Deacon (Becca’s cousin and Mitch’s brother respectively) were fun loving and down-to-earth, and I hope Ms. Harte will write a second book featuring them as the main couple.
Becca and Mitch had sizzling chemistry, but her insecurities and his fear of trusting a woman kept driving a wedge between them. Still, given their pasts, that was completely understandable.
I’ve read a few of Ms. Harte’s books before and I’ve always enjoyed them. This story is no different. There are few minor typos, but nothing major. Her writing is tight and flowing. I look forward to reading more of her work.
4 Stars show less