Book Review: Stuck in a Rut (CJ Bower)

If you liked Little House on the Prairie and City Slickers and dive into billionaire romance novels with happily ever afters and regional flavor every chance you get, Stuck In A Rut, a Cityscapes: Wyoming adventure romance by CJ Bower is your new bff. There’s a billionaire and a ghost, too. I devoured it in just about eight hours, life permitting. If books were pies, this would be my country grandmother’s blackberry cobbler – one pan, all mine. Portion control can take a holiday.

City girl Susan and her bff Liz finally take a much-needed vacation – a pioneer pilgrimage on the Oregon Trail, of all things. Dressing, working, walking and riding with a wagon train camping tour, to re-enact and get the full experience, with a few conveniences. Spotty signals and no climate control or hard tack, but plenty of strong coffee and bacon – and a few seriously hot cowboys, especially Caleb!

And therein lies the problem. Susan and her bestie have to somehow last the whole week without the young single female campers getting kicked off the tour for cat fighting over the hired hands, who are off limits to guests. No vacation romance allowed. So, of course…

Poor Caleb is still sore from the last man-eater who took him for a ride, and would very much like to keep his job with his bff’s family business and not be the focal point of all the trouble on this trip. He still rides his first horse, an adorable Appaloosa filly with personality plus, who turns out to be the only person Susan can trust.

But can Susan trust Caleb or her own bff amidst all the conflicting signals and evidence?

CJ Bower is one of my favorite authors writing in the competitive field of billionaire romances and contemporary romance novels, because she does her homework, and it shows in the artisanal attention to detail in her storytelling. The landmarks and historical figures, lifestyle and events are factually real. The fictional characters are completely believable and easy to identify with. You will find yourself right there with them on that trail ride: feeling the breeze on your face, seeing the sunrises and sunsets, interacting with the horses and oxen, embracing the adventure. The love scenes are enthralling, too.

Available at Amazon only, as this book will be part of the KU program.

Link: https://www.amazon.com/Stuck-Rut-CityScapes-CJ-Bower-ebook/dp/B0849LLZ5V

DISCLOSURE: I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest book review. The above is my personal opinion.

Book Review: She’s Got Dibs (AJ Nuest)

 

If you savored every moment of Sex and the City and the Wedding Planner, be sure you one-click She’s Got Dibs. Can men and women be just friends? Does love always end in heartache? Or — dare we even think it? — can two broken hearts mend one another and find their happily ever after in each other’s arms? These are the questions author AJ Nuest seeks to answer in this contemporary billionaire romance novel.

 

Tessa is an event planning entrepreneur in the Windy City, protecting herself from the heartbreak of the farce called love via one-night stands filtered through five categories she invented out of necessity. After the biggest presentation of her career, a fateful blizzard traps her in New York City. With no luggage beyond her briefcase and purse, she joins forces with the guy in the next chair at the airport to snag everything from hotel rooms to seats for dinner at the hotel bar. From the moment he catches her eye, her well-laid plans are doomed.

 

Dibs is a Chicago-based, hands-on international philanthropist – and the hottest, most eligible bachelor in America. He can’t move a muscle in major U.S. cities and the usual getaway spots without being recognized by the public – and harassed by his family, who prefer to mix high-end corporate mergers with matrimony. Dibs is like Diogenes, looking for an honest, real woman to share true love with, money and mergers be damned – and look, there she is in the next chair! Now, if he can just convince the apple of his eye to let him into her world.

EXCERPT:

“Dibs.” He extended his hand.

Frowning, she accepted his greeting. “Dibs on what?

“No.” He chuckled. “That’s my name. Or well, actually, my nickname. Either way, it’s what everyone calls me.”

“O-o-okay…” The guy definitely had the smolder covered…and those incredible ice-blue eyes. Yikes!

“And you are?”

“Oh, Tessa Adams.” She laughed.

“And everyone calls you…?”

Her frown returned. “Tessa.”

“Oh.” He scanned her face. “No nickname, huh?”

“Not that I recall at the moment.”

He pressed his full lips together as if restraining a smile, eyes twinkling with merriment, and handed her the notepad. “Here’s your confirmation number. The room’s at the Waldorf Towers over on Park.”

Two suites at the Waldorf? In this mess? What was he, a wizard? “Wow, great. Thanks so much for the help.”

“Glad to be of service.” He retrieved his briefcase and started down the corridor, abruptly stopped, and peered at her over the perfect slant of his shoulder. “And don’t worry, Tessa, I’ll think of a good nickname for you.”

She offered him a blank stare. “Hey, knock yourself out.”

Mischief danced along his lips before a grin broke free and he continued down the hallway.

“What a whack job,” she muttered.

 

I have probably read She’s Got Dibs at least five times now. It’s a comforting old friend when you just want to snuggle in – or have to – for a few days. The sensory details are absolutely scrumptious! There are hot showers, steaming tubs of bubbles, blankets and fireplaces to counter the cold outside. AJ Nuest treats her characters to rustic home cooking, gourmet banquets and junk food on movie nights – just don’t fall asleep during the chick flick or you WILL suffer the consequences. And oh, the flowers! AJ Nuest also knows her way around the bedroom and boardroom arenas of romantic drama and comedy, as well as good, solid storytelling that carries you away. Whether you’ve had a good day or a bad day, She’s Got Dibs will work out the kinks and leave you satisfied. I’ve heard a next in series may be in the works, and it can’t get in my Kindle soon enough!

Buy SHE’S GOT DIBS on Amazon

 

DISCLAIMER: I am a member of AJ Nuest’s street team. I bought this book with my own money. Opinions are my own.

Reviewer Bio

Belinda Y. Hughes is the author of Blues 2: The Colonel, Blues in the Night, Confessions of a Red Hot Veggie Lover 1 and 2 and Living Proof. She enjoys cozy mysteries, hot romances, aromatherapy bubble baths and hiking in the woods. Upcoming books include Blues 3: The Twins, a Louisiana lesbian military romance, in which Sam and Ace will take advantage of newly expanded MOS opportunities to further their military careers while trying to maintain their love lives. A new spa mystery series will begin soon.

Buy SHE’S GOT DIBS on Amazon.