Christine Bell (3)

I love Christine Bell's writing! It's quirky and fun and hot and romantic all at the same time. I don't know how she does it--one minute I'm laughing, and the next I have to fan myself. Guardian for Hire showcases her talents well.

Sarabeth and Gavin both come into their relationship on totally the wrong foot. He thinks she's a prissy rich chick with a stick up her butt and a sense of entitlement. She thinks he's a bossy, overbearing meathead whose services and opinions are definitely not show more needed. Watching them re-evaluate their first impressions--and fall for each other in the process--is sooooo much fun.

As they get to know each other better, both make all kinds of miscalculations and mistakes, second-guessing themselves constantly. I loved this scene because it shows Gavin trying to be the good guy--after embarrassing her horribly just minutes before--and making one blunder after another. Giggle worthy. Yet the next minute? Steam. Check it out:

Scooping up the box of generic tissues off the chipped beige sink, he swung the door open again. “Hey, uh, you want some Kleenex?”

She’d buried her face in her hands and her shiny, newly darkened hair gleamed as she nodded. He tossed the box toward the empty side of her bed, but she picked that exact moment to turn to her side, looking up just in time for the box to smack her squarely on the bridge of her nose.

“Ah!”

The box toppled to the floor, and he winced as her hands darted to the offended spot.

Yeah, he was like The Notebook when it came to cheering women up. All warm fuzzies here. What a comfort.

“Shit, sorry about that.” He crossed back to kneel by her feet and scooped the box from the floor. He pulled a few tissues out and shoved them toward her. “Are you bleeding?”

“A little.” She reached for the wad and he could see the blood trickling from the split in her otherwise perfect skin.

Lovely. She’d been under his protection for less than a day and already she was hurt. And he’d done the hurting, to boot. Renowned security specialist at your service, lass. If Owen found out, he was going to break his balls mercilessly over this. “I guess it’s lucky that was today’s only injury.” He half smiled.

“Huh?” Her brows knit together as she peered at him through

watery eyes over her makeshift bandage.

“Well, with your car, your whole body could’ve been blown to pieces. So. In all, it was a good day.” As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he realized just how much better they’d sounded in his head. Because in his head, it had sounded nothing like, Hey, remember when you almost died a horrific, fiery death? Good times, right?

She stared at him like he’d lost his marbles, but mercifully, she’d stopped crying. Instead, she seemed focused on patting at her nose gingerly like she was blotting out a stain.

“That’s cartilage, there. You’ll need to apply more pressure than that,” he offered.

“It stings.”

“It’s the only way to stop the bleeding. Give it here.” She didn’t hand over the tissues, and rather than forcing them from her, he laid his hand over hers, pressing firmly. “There. Like this.” She sucked in a breath, but didn’t fight him. Her hand was even softer than he’d expected. Warmer, too. With her being so damn chilly toward him, he’d half expected some kind of arctic blast from her touch. Instead, the skin he found was silky and inviting. The bones felt so small and delicate in his giant mitt and for an instant, he was almost afraid of breaking her.

You’ve already done that, you big oaf, he reminded himself.

Exactly why he shouldn’t be around women like her. A long moment passed before she murmured, “That, um, feels better actually. Thank you.”

Her gaze locked with his and a bolt of heat sizzled through him. No f-ing way. Not that. Not now.

Not with her.

Yep. Lots of mental kicking going on there. There's more where that came from, and I adored every minute.

And just in case you weren't already convinced that Gavin was awesome with a side of awesome sauce, despite his inner awkwardness? He buys her a bag full of used books to keep her occupied while she's under house arrest. Bodice-rippers are included.

He buys her books. Romance novels. Talk about fictional characters you can fall in love with...

If someone were to blow up my car, would this guy show up at my door? Please?

Guardian for Hire is the second book in the For Hire series, the follow-up to Wife for Hire. Its events build off of what happened in book one, but enough is revealed about that plot that if you haven't read it already you aren't lost here.

But, yes, you'll want to back up and read Wife. Trust me on this.

Rating: 4 1/2 stars, A rating.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. show less

Lacey is an uptight yet kindhearted woman who married a man because her family wanted to tie their two companies together through a corporate merger. She then catches her husband of two hours (Marty) having sex with her bridesmaid (Becca).
Galen is a famous boxer who’s home to rest before he has to return to training. He goes to the wedding as his sister’s escort, who’s the maid of honor, and happens upon Lacey when she catches her husband and his lover. Galen and Cat (the bro and sis) show more stand with Lacey and help her escape the wedding reception without a scene. Galen takes her to his family’s lake house and, on a dare, they go on Lacey’s planned honeymoon together. They crushed on each other throughout high school but neither knew the other liked them. Plus there was a 3-year age difference that kept them doing nothing more than bickering at one another as kids. Anyway, they’re adults and sparks fly in Puerto Rico!
The author obviously did her homework (or maybe she's gone there), but her descriptions of Puerto Rico were beautiful. I could easily picture everything she described from the koi pond, to sandy beaches to the little bistro where Lacey and Galen met a swinger couple. That whole scene was laugh-out funny!
Galen is swoon-worthy but I wish Lacey had more of a backbone, especially when it came to her horrible, controlling mother. I found myself wanting to smack Lacey more than once but she eventually stepped up to the plate and stood for what she wanted and believed in.
The book flowed smoothly, no typos, and I really enjoyed the author’s writing style. I hope to read more books by Christine Bell in the future.
4 Stars.

Disclaimer – I downloaded this ebook from Amazon during a free period. This is an honest review. I am a reader. I am not paid or compensated in any way, shape or form for this review. I will not change or alter this review for any reason. show less

A fun con man vs con woman story--with a twist!

I really enjoyed The Family Jewels. Sadie and Jake were a lot of fun to read about--both devoted to their families, both so good at manipulation to get what they want (her: money to help her sick sister...him: taking down the guy who ruined his father's name and led to his death), and both so, so hot together. A win-win!

I loved all of Sadie's disguises and the way that Jake was able to see through them from the start and recognize the real her. show more (Every time he called her "Sadie Leighton, Waitress Countess of Bavaria" in his head, I snort-laughed a little bit.) Her sense of humor really made me smile ("Prison was bad. Getting murdered by a psychopath was way worse") and I loved her relationship with her sister Clarissa.

And Jake. Irish accent. Dimples. Smells of Irish Spring soap rather than cloying cologne. Mmmmm.

Not to mention he's dedicated his life to doing right by the people he cares about: his parents, his brother, and soon, Sadie. Is there a downside here?

Well, there might be, if he can't let go of his need for revenge on time to save himself and his relationship with Sadie. Or if his nemesis holds true to his promise to see Jake pay for the less-than-legal methods he used to try and put him away...

Will he or won't he? Jake and Sadie will find their HEA by the end of the book, thank goodness. But will it be enough? We'll have to wait for his brother Mike's book to come out to be sure...

Rating: 4 stars / B+

I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review. show less

This. Was. Awesome!

Lacey (I kind of really like the name, btw) catches her brand new, and I mean BRAND new husband fucking her bridesmaid (and best friend) at their wedding reception, she bails. With the assistance of her other and true best friend, Cat and brother, Galen.
Lacey has had a crush on Galen since they were kids, but being treated like the annoying little sister, it never led anywhere.

Galen, a professional boxer, suggests Lacey do something drastic and carefree with herself, find show more herself and learn to stand up for herself and not conform to her mother's stone cold nature. Lacey decides to go on her honeymoon to Puerto Rico and Galen joins her. As a friend. As support. Chyeah!

Lacey sure learns how to live life for herself and not her mother or the family business. She learns what true love is and what's important in a relationship.

Christine Bell nails this story spot on in the head. It starts with a bang (pun PUN!!!) and ends with the expected HEA, but the journey in between is fantastic.

It will make you all want a Galen of your own.

Go read! show less