I’m one of eleven authors in the contemporary romance boxed set, Heroes to Swoon For, so I can’t write an official review, but I can tell you about the other books I’ve read so far. I’m proud and humbled to be a part of such a talented group of romance writers. I only hope my first romance, Behind the Altar, can stand up to their caliber. And the best part? For a limited time, the entire box set is only $0.99 on Kindle, Kobo, iTunes, and Google.

Here’s a preview of the books, with my short commentary on the ones I’ve read so far. I hope you’ll get your copy and swoon through the holiday season with our heroes rather than stressing about the holiday egg nog. Cheers!

Aroused – Jade Kerrion

Recently divorced, Dr. Vera Rios is too busy being a single parent to look for Mr. Right. Along comes a man who cherishes her, adores her daughter, and helps her find her sexy groove. The only problem: Mr. Perfect is an escort, with far too many secrets of his own. Will love cost Vera her daughter’s safety?

Commentary: I loved Vera. She’s wounded and vulnerable but still manages to take care of her daughter. Her ex-husband has been created by Jade in the best tradition of jerky exes. The hero is certainly someone to swoon for as a male model, but the comedy of errors when Vera and Mr. Right meet is hilarious but with the ingredients to backfire in everyone’s face. Great romance with plenty of complications.

Blazing Love – Chantel Rhondeau

Laura’s attempting to rebuild her life after grieving for her murdered fiancé. Fireman Thayne is the most eligible bachelor in Sayle—strong, loyal, and sexy as hell. He’s determined to show Laura how to love again, but an arsonist loose in Sayle ups the stakes, risking more than their romance.

Commentary: Who doesn’t love a heroic fireman? Thayne is so handsome that the main character Laura finds it difficult to believe he could even look at her let alone love her. I love that Laura isn’t model-perfect, but a real woman who is attractive for other reasons than her body. Thayne and Laura each carry wounds from the past but together they come together in love to fight the awful things happening in their town. I love both of these characters and rooted for their success despite some pretty lousy friends supposedly guiding them along the way. Here’s to a fireman and a vet’s assistant always keeping it hot!

Roaring Hot! –Rachelle Ayala

Motorcycle racer Teo Alexiou cooks up a reality show to convince actress Amy Suzuki to play at being his girlfriend. When Teo and Amy find themselves caught in love’s grip, each suspects the other of acting. Their game playing explodes when Teo is injured on the track and left wondering if the reality show portrayed skillful acting or true love.

Commentary: How about a motorcycle racer with a billionaire father for a hero that makes you all swoony inside? That’s what Rachelle Ayala has created in Roaring Hot! I loved the story line with all its mix-ups and twists and turns. Amy is the actress who’s confused by her role of a lifetime and her introduction to the love of a lifetime. Either way both are hot, and the story takes the reader around the world. I loved the energy of this novel. It’s fast-paced, which goes with the racing part of the story, and fun to read.

 The Right Pitch – Lyssa Layne

Colie Adger is trying to make it in the big leagues as an athletic trainer with the help of best friend Grant Adamson, a veteran pitcher on her team. Colie’s elated when big time pitcher Jace Richards, her former crush, comes back into her life. This time, he wants it all, with Colie front and center. Can Colie figure out her own heart and hit a homerun off the right pitch?

Commentary: What’s not to like about finely-tuned baseball players? Colie’s job is one to envy because of her close physical relationship to the players. It’s the dream for a young woman to have two baseball pitchers fighting over her–at least for me!
The Art of Love– Michele Shriver

After watching her parents’ marriage crumble, jewelry artist Chelsea Matthews doesn’t believe in love or happy endings.Sexy painter Hayden Shaw sets out to show Chelsea the art of love and prove to her that good guys do exist, but a gallery curator with an agenda of her own threatens both their happiness and their future dreams.

Commentary: I loved this book, and you can read my review of The Art of Love here.

Behind the Altar – P.C. Zick

All seems perfect in Leah’s life until tattoo artist Dean rides his Harley into her heart. Dean, who’s been away from his home for ten years, finds himself irresistibly drawn to Leah’s natural beauty and genuine goodness, but Leah’s engagement to Dean’s brother stands in the way. The more they fight the attraction, the harder it is to stay apart.

Commentary: I’m not going to comment on my own book, but here’s a review from Amazon: Engaged to one brother but wanting the other. Such is Leah’s plight in this compelling story of forbidden love that is the first in an exciting new trilogy. The chemistry between Leah and Dean burns hot, and provides an interesting contrast to the backdrop of a church soup kitchen for homeless vets, which Is Leah’s other passion. With well-drawn characters, especially a villain that readers should be hating for a while, this book is a winner.

Lost Avalon – K.S. Thomas

Rockstar Blaise has it all with his brooding good looks, haunting voice and troubled lyrics of a soul gone lost. Only Blaise didn’t wind up brooding, haunted and lost by accident…
Avalon has been the girl next door since she was five. The band manager since she was sixteen, and the keeper of his secrets always. But Blaise has one secret even Ava doesn’t know.

Commentary: Lost Avalon is a fun romp through the rock and roller coaster of love. On the surface, it’s the story of a rock star about to fall apart unless his long-suffering friend can save him. But as the story unfolds, it’s more about facing the past in order to move forward. Ava and Blaise fight the past ravaged by alcoholism and mental illness. It’s not predictable, but it’s very romantic. It’s sexy yet tastefully presented in the artful hands of K.S. Thomas who is a talented story teller.

Second Shield – Stacy Eaton

When Agent Drew Bradley goes undercover to find an officer gone rogue, he finds Detective Sergeant Mackenzie McAllister, and she is nothing like he expected. Mack is the epitome of control, but when the rookie, twelve years younger than her, enters The Unit, the control she mastered slowly slips away. Can Drew solve the case before Mack loses her control completely?

Commentary: Coming Soon!

Amber Rules – Melinda Curtis

For years, Amber was the main attraction in her father’s self-help infomercials.  Now, she must improve the mental game of the biggest bad-ass in the N.B.A., Evan Oliver. Too bad Amber knows nothing about basketball or life coaching. Too bad Even Oliver is determined to do things his own way, especially when it comes to teaching Amber a new set of rules.

Commentary: Coming Soon!

Wild Irish Ride – Jennifer Saints

Given a second chance at forbidden love, Alexi plunges headlong into the passion Jesse ignites. To Jesse, love is an overrated word for getting ones needs met, and he’ll gladly take Alexi on the ride of her life. Maybe then, he can get her out of his head. But the forces that tore them apart before are at work again and may cost them their lives this time.

Commentary: Coming Soon!

Bonus Story: How You Remind Me – Julie Leto

Sexy guitarist Shaw Tyler knows lawyer Kate Schaffer’s personal fantasies and secrets. Trouble is, she doesn’t remember why. Kate used to live a wild and crazy life. After a scary black-out, she cleaned up her act. Problem is, who’s the man who acts like he knows exactly what she wants, and is she willing to find out if her past was a mistake?

Commentary: Coming Soon!