Spotlight ~ Review & Excerpt ~ What To Do With A Bad Boy by Marie Harte

Book: What to Do With a Bad Boy

Series: The McCauley Brothers #4

Author: Marie Harte

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Format: e-ARC

Page Count: 384

Release Date: November 4, 2014

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Source: Publisher

WHAT IS WITH MIKE McCAULEY?

Every time Delilah Webster runs into Mike McCauley, he practically bites her head off. The rough-and-tumble contractor clearly has baggage. Del has her own emotional scars and knows she’s better off keeping her distance, but Mike’s temptation in jeans and a T-shirt and she’s always been good with her hands…

There’s something about the strong-willed mechanic that sets Mike’s motor running—and scares the hell out of him. Mike has loved and lost and will never hurt like that again, even if that means walking away from a woman who makes him feel alive for the first time in years.

When a simple kiss turns hot and heavy, Mike discovers he can’t stay away, no matter how certain he is they’re destined to crash and burn…

~~

Hmm, what to do with a bad boy indeed? Answer, lots. How about what to do to get your own bad boy? Charm his sweet kid so you’re all he talks about? Wear your brow piercing so it glints in every light and turns your bad boy on all the time? Be strong and kickass so your cousin’s favorite romance author makes you her next heroine? Know how to fix cars and swear like a sailor? None of the above. Be yourself. Unless you’re Del, then you can do all of the above and get your own Mike McCauley, aka Papa Bear- that’s me by the way, not the book. He was built like a tank and a good father, and if this was a shifter book he’d be a bear for sure. Don’t ask me where that came from because I have no idea.

I adore this series, so if this was the last book, I’m sad to see it end. But what a way to end it. Of course it was going to be the single dad to be the final one to get on the love boat. And of course it was going to be with someone who’s strong enough to carry him over.

Pubdate Review Blitz ~ & Excerpt ~ Ruining Mr. Perfect by Marie Harte

Book: Ruining Mr. Perfect

Series: The McCauley Brothers #3

Author: Marie Harte

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Format: e-ARC

Page Count: 352

Release Date: October 7, 2014

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Source: Publisher

It’s Not Easy Being Right…

Vanessa Campbell is a CPA by day and a perfectionist by night. She’s fit, successful…and decidedly lonely. She can’t stop thinking about the youngest McCauley brother, Cameron. He’s just like her: smart, attractive, and usually right—except when dealing with her.

…But Someone’s Got To Do It.

Cameron McCauley likes Vanessa a little too well. She’s a blond goddess with a razor-sharp tongue. She hates to be wrong, just like him. But she can hold a grudge and is stubborn to a fault—also like him.

A past misunderstanding has them rubbing each other the wrong way. Cam is dying to shake Vanessa up—get her to let loose. But if he succeeds, can his heart handle it?

~~

Oh god. It’s scary how enamored I am with these brothers, really. I even come to wish there were a few more of them to go for future books, just so I wouldn’t have to leave them and their family dynamics so soon. And yes, even though the next book is months away, I said ‘soon’.

If I have to be completely honest, I didn’t know how Cam and Vanessa was going to work. I had a feeling and enough confidence in Marie Harte’s writing that she’d make them work, but I just couldn’t see the how. I like my romances best on the ‘opposites attract’ side. The more they bicker, the better and sexier. And though Cam and Vanessa did their fair share of bickering, thanks to Vanessa’s constant need to be right and her extremely blatant ways and Cam’s equal insistence on being the right one and his desire to be respected and needed, they were still too alike. Was I wrong? Hey, I’m not too proud to say I was. And in my defense, I knew Marie Harte was going to make it work. Didn’t I just say it? And she actually opened my eyes up to new possibilities in romance, a world where too alike couples can make things work and be damn sexy doing it too.

Review ~ How To Handle A Heartbreaker by Marie Harte

Book: How to Handle a Heartbreaker

Series: The McCauley Brothers #2

Author: Marie Harte

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Format: e-book

Page Count: 384

Published: Sourcebooks Casablanca, August 5, 2014

Source: Publisher

It’s lust at first sight when Brody Singer first lays eyes on Abby Dunn. The dark-haired beauty looks a lot like a woman he once knew, who died years ago. At first Brody fears his attraction is a holdover from that secret crush, but Abby’s definitely different. She’s a lot shyer, a lot sexier and, despite her attempts to dissuade his interest, absolutely mesmerizing.

Abby isn’t having it. She’s still trying to put her last disastrous relationship behind her and overcome the flaws her ex wouldn’t let her forget. But somehow Brody isn’t getting the hint. It doesn’t help that when writing her steamy novels, she keeps casting Brody as the hero.

Brody is more than happy to serve as her muse and eager to help make sure her “research” is authentic. But when their research turns into something real…will she choose her own happily ever after?

~~

Oh what a great read this was. This series was definitely one of my best choices this year, I can’t thank the author enough for this fun. Chemistry? Check. Likable and relatable characters? Check. Hot, kinky sex? Check. Adorable couple and well meaning intervening people? Check. Real friendship, troubled families and a love to envy? Check, check and check. What more can a gal ask for?

We already met Abby and Brody when the girls moved in next door to one of the McCauley brothers, and we knew that both of them had a thing for each other from the start. I was prepared to read a lovely story, one that was funny too, depending on the previous book, but man, this was so much more than that. For one, I can’t believe how wonderful, and when I say that I also mean dreamy, Brody was. I wouldn’t be exaggerating when I say he was close to perfect as a hero. He was considerate, loving, thoughtful, caring, and very very sweet when it came to Abby. Really, it’s worrying how jealous I am of a fictional character. And Abby, well, she definitely fits the bill for my ideal heroine. She was a tiny bit clueless when it came to men and chemistry, but surprisingly that much forward when she wanted to be. And she does the work of my dreams and writes. Erotic romance. Yes, you can imagine how much Brody helped her in her research.

Review ~ The Troublemaker Next Door by Marie Harte

Book:The Troublemaker Next Door

Series: The McCauley Brothers #1

Author: Marie Harte

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Format: e-book

Page Count: 352

Published: Sourcebooks Casablanca, June 3, 2014

Source:Publisher

He can fix her sink, but can he wrench his way into her heart?

Flynn McCauley never thought he’d be so cliché as to fall for the girl next door. But when Maddie calls him over to help fix her faulty sink, he’s a goner. Too bad the fiercely independent interior designer wants nothing to do with him. Even worse, he’s forced to rely on the advice of his nosy brothers—and his five-year-old nephew!—to figure out how to make her give him a shot.

~~

And here I am, adding yet another series to my ‘follow the hell up’ pile. I’d say this has got to stop, but it shouldn’t, instead, I should be given another lifetime to read all these books.
Troublemaker Next Door is the first book of the McCauley brothers series, and a damn good start. We meet Flynn, your friendly neighborhood plumber, charming the pants off Maddie, a somewhat workaholic who’s hell bent on never needing anyone.

I was completely set on neutral when starting this book, but right on its first page, it got me laughing and tipped the scales and, well, I was hooked. The relationship Flynn had with his brothers and his nephew was genuinely funny. I enjoyed reading the easy banter between him and his family. He was the kind of easygoing character that I enjoy greatly in contemporary stories. He was funny, serious if need be, laid back, sexy and so, so thoughtful and caring. And he was kinky too. I mean, the guy could talk dirty and play out a nice little pretend game, bend you over the couch or the dresser, have hot phone sex, and let you tie him up. Anything more you need from your romance hero?