Kelly Kay

This is my first Kelly Kay book and definitely not my last. In fact, I'm going back to the beginning of this series because I want to learn all of their stories.

Brick Dunne personifies sultry, Southern male charm from his gorgeous 6'5" military-trained, tattooed body to his poetic heartfelt confessions. I fell head over heels for this sexy smart man who is an unwavering protector of what's his, Rebecca "Becca" Gelbert, that is. He first met her two years ago when he, unfortunately, realized show more he was working for a real scumbag and promptly quit. Becca was the prosecutor who took Brick's boss down and Brick never forgot the smart and beautiful attorney who caught his eye. Now he is back with a vengeance...literally. He's being framed for an incident that could put him away forever. Will Ms. Becca Gelbert take his case and will he be able to keep his hands off of her?

Becca Gelbert is the family pariah and is trying to come back from a fucked up year where her partner ran off with her asshole of a fiancé taking half of her business and her self-confidence. While pondering her situation one night, she opens her door to a man she could never forget. Destined to help this confident and alluring man with his dire situation because she believes him, she places herself in danger. A danger that is not only physical but emotional as well. His confidence and allure will be her undoing if she's not careful. Can she keep it professional?

If there is anyone who deserves their mojo, it’s Brick and Becca. Brick’s relentless pursuit is captivating, and I love how he entices Becca to come to the Brick side. His nickname for her is beautiful and meaningful which I will let you find out for yourself. What I adored most about Brick were his words. Sure he’s handsome and charming, but his lovely declarations to Becca are so exquisite that they made me tear up along with her. Becca has many layers. She has always been so strong and dependable for her family, that they call her the prickly one. Yes, she is a hellcat in the courtroom and I love how she verbally takes down some nasty adversaries, but she’s so much more. Brick opens those layers one by one to where she blossoms and finds her happiness with a man who loves her for who she is.

The suspense is very well done in this story and the help Brick and Becca get from family and friends is unforgettable and very rewarding. In fact, this book really soars with the compelling and irresistible supporting characters who add so much laughter, love, and encouragement to the main characters.

If you love Southern male charm and strong, sassy female lawyers, read this book. The chemistry is off the charts as Brick and Becca barely adhere to the attorney/client rule and become creative at satisfying their very mutual attraction (me: fanning myself). The laughs are many, the sex is HAWT!!, the suspense is inescapable, and the characters are delightful.

Thank you to Ms. Kay for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review. show less

AS soon as Liam and Jillien lay eyes on each other after so many years apart their attraction is off the charts and the banter between the two has you giggling, but is it all just a flash in the fire after not seeing each other in so long and always wanting more with each other. You are drawn in from the get go and I loved how Liam and Jillien aren't just young loves but people who have lived life so while treading carefully also know what they want. This is a great second chance read that show more has you going through a highs and lows with great characters and a story you get invested in.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. show less

A bang and a fizz
4 stars

Evie Alexander and Kelly Kay are back with another set of "madcap romantic comedy novellas” this time focussed around American Independence Day. The first book in the series, Cupid Calamity, set up the premise behind these interconnected stories but I do think you’ll do fine if you haven’t read that first book. In a nutshell, a group of people meet when they get stranded at an airport during a snowstorm. A night of drinking and sharing secrets makes them firm show more friends and a group chat is born.
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Up in Smoke by Kelly Kay
Huge but cute, new-wave farm boy, Jonathan, realises he’s marrying the wrong person. But breaking it off isn’t as easy as he thought - especially now his former bestie and secret love, Juliet, is back in town.

I didn’t really take to Kelly Kay’s writing style with my first introduction to her in Cupid Calamity, so I was more than delighted when the first couple of chapters of this story really held my attention and made me ridiculously excited. A great hulking teddy-bear of a man in a state of unrequited love for his former bestie? Gimme.

But then things went tits up when we meet Jonathan’s fiancé. I mean, there wasn’t even any pretence that these two loved each other - or even liked or knew each other. I didn’t believe it. And then Juliet comes back to town and Jonathan, having accepted that he loves her… tells her to leave. Wait, why? The rest of the tale is Jonathan trying to convince people that he’s not still getting married to his crazy ex-fiancé while trying to corral a horny runaway pig.

I’m not ashamed to say I totally tapped out. As before, the writing was frenetic and confusing, and it didn’t flow for me. I am all-in for ridiculous shenanigans and madcap comedy capers, but things still have to make sense. And this book made no sense.
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Off with a Bang by Evie Alexander
Brit, Tristan Fawcett-Underwood meets American, Sherilyn Boden when they meet during their company’s Zoom calls. A friendship follows but who will be disappointed when Tris decides to fly to the US for July 4th and neither is who the other expects?

I have loved everything I’ve read from Evie Alexander and this story is no exception. We’re first introduced to Tris and Sherilyn as the pair exchange texts and messages after meeting over a Zoom call. The messages are funny, cute and sweet - and really give you a feeling of the growing relationship and the feelings. I also loved the way Ms Alexander was able to show us the real feelings of the pair without giving it away to the other person.

When Tristan comes to Chicago the first time, Sherilyn’s parents are in town and, embarrassed, Sherilyn refuses to see Tris. The second time, there’s nowhere for Sherilyn to hide as he comes to her hometown during the July 4th celebrations. It’s then that the shenanigans begin.

Tris was wonderful and was absolutely smitten with Sherilyn from the first. I loved him. In revealing his secrets, I loved him even more. I liked Sherilyn although I couldn’t really wrap my head around her acute embarrassment of her family. Sure they were over-the-top but I didn’t like that aspect of her, or her attempts to cover them up - funny as it was.

As always, Evie pulls out a wonderful happily ever after yet still leaves me wanting more - like the stories of Sherilyn’s brothers, Axel and Fender (no, really!).
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So, as with Cupid Calamity, it’s a hit and a miss for this story duo. 3 stars for one and 5 for the other gives an average of 4 stars. I’ll still be looking out for the next in the series, Christmas Chaos, as it features a story about Rory and Zoe from Highland Games. Squee! show less

This is the first book in the series I have read and I will look to go back and read the others now. I really enjoyed the characters and story which had the perfect balance on information so you got an idea of previous books without feeling like you missed what was needed for this story. David and Natalie are perfect for each other and your heart breaks a little when Sadie arrives on the scene and while you can see David doing what he can Natalie needs to work through how her past is show more affecting her now in order for the three of them to become a family. This has a good mix of fun, heartbreak, family and love that reals you in and leaves you excited that there is another book coming.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. show less