Some Friends Come With Benefits
920456
This is the third book in the Kiss Trilogy and it was very unexpected. You had hints...Francis Ray always drops hints of who is next to succumb to the love bug. So you knew that Sinclair was next in line but I just didn't get the clue it was Summer. They always say that women and men can't be friends and in this case well they really can't just be friends.

After years of carrying a torch for Sinclair Summer decides to lay it all on the line. This man that has been by her side and has done more for her then anyone else is the only man she wants. He has been her support, her shoulder and the only thing that is stopping her from jumping his bones is losing that friendship. As the clock ticks she starts to see that she's always a bridesmaid and fears she will never be a bride. Sadness overwhelms her but she muscles through her friends' wedding duties with a plastic smile.

Sinclair knows all there is to know about Summer at least that's what he thought. However the little girl he always remembers to protect has grown up and with it so has her body. One day he is looking at her like the best friend that she always is. The one he has dinner with and asks favors from. She's the one that's always by his side and keeps him company. They worry and care about each other so why is he looking at her soft curves and wanting to do things he shouldn't want to? When did his vision change? He can't look at her like that he couldn't offer her a future...not when he was uncertain how that future would turn out. There was things she didn't understand and reasons he stayed single...he just couldn't break her heart like that...so why is he so tempted just to dip a toe in her nectar?

Great read...power ending and great to see everyone together! I loved it!
4691574
In this movie a group of women who are longtime friends get together for a "girls' night in".  They end up talking about various of their sexual experiences in real life and fantasy.  The fantasies seem like ones women really have and the experiences are like ones some women have and others could at least relate to. There was a great deal of humor, but also real feeling.  In the process of sharing all this, the women gain a closer bond with each other and with other women in general.
2666867
Nice present from a good friend. This was a sexy roller-coaster with a well developed plot.
3331879
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book; it was a pretty common story involving a friends with benefits agreement but it was told in a way that I really enjoyed the story and was very invested in the ending.
4063580
Roth and Holly are best friends and neighbors who have the same relationship hang up. They don't want commitment. They are both tired of friends and relatives setting them up on blind dates ,so they agree to be each other's "plus one" for different events and family get togethers. After an event together things heat up between them and they decide to be friends with benefits, until things get serious.

I really love the friends first concept a lot. I liked both of their personalities and you could feel the attraction between them. I thought the transitions in the story were handled a little awkwardly at times. I actually went back once or twice to make sure I wasn't missing something a couple of times. There was one really big moment in the story that I wish was handled a little differently. There was no lead in to the conversation at all and I would have liked to have "seen" their whole conversation. That was really my only gripe about this one. I loved everything else about it!
2162439
Zoe needs a roommate for companionship now that her best friend has moved out.  She decides to post up some quirky fliers to see what happens.  When she hits it off with someone by texting back and forth, they decide to meet in person.  When Caleb walks through the door, shes floored.  She never expected him to be the person she had been texting.  And, she certainly cant live with her best friends ex, right?

Caleb needs a place to stay.  He has medical bills piling up and promises to be a good roommate if Zoe will only give living with him a chance . . . and he cooks!  Hes not home much between work and school and his adorable kitten is a definite plus for Zoe.

Keeping things strictly platonic is not as easy as it looks, however.  Their friendship continues to grow and flirting through texts seems to be their main form of communication some days with their opposite schedules.  Are they ready to take things to the next step?

Can Zoe get over the fact that Caleb dated her best friend?  Can Caleb finally break free from his past homelife that seems to keep pulling him down?

I Wanna Text You Up was a really sweet story.  I didn't read Lets Get Textual and felt this book stood on its own quite well.  While Zoe and Caleb seem to be complete opposites in almost every way, they seem to fit together really well and balance one another out.  Their interactions as friends and then as a couple feel very real and genuine.

I really enjoyed that a large part of the dialogue took place through flirty texts . . . It helped them gain a comfort level with one another quickly, and I have to say that their battles over Mittens the kitten are adorable . . . especially every time Zoe sends Caleb a new picture of the cat wearing a sweater.  This is a really fun slow burn and build up to when they finally decide to take the plunge as a couple.

While their romance seems to be light hearted, there is more to both Zoe and Caleb than the reader first sees.  Caleb is really pulled down by his past and his family.  He has done so much to break free, but cant make that final cut.  Zoe is understanding, but definitely not a pushover.  Both characters show great depth.

If you are looking for a fun and out of the box rom com, snap this up!  4.5 stars.
4225045
They work together, joke together, harmlessly flirt and tease each other.  But they're just friends.  Until they aren't.  They knew they would be crossing a line, but they didn't want anything permanent, they could keep it casual....  right?

This is a wonderfully written romance with great characters and all the elements needed to make it the 5 star read it is.

I am voluntarily reviewing an ARC of this book.  This is my honest opinion.
2847943
Turning Up The Heat is the latest Harlequin blaze novel by author Tanya Michaels. It features a turning-up-the-heat-coverfew classic scenarios on the road to a happy ending  a friends to lovers romance and a fake relationship being the key drivers of the plot. Phoebe is a pastry chef who worked at a restaurant with her boyfriend Cam, one of the owners and chefs. When he persuaded her to look for another job, on the premise that it would be better if they didn't work together, it was really a step towards him breaking off their relationship. Phoebe naturally feels hurt over their breakup. When Cams partner Heath, her now ex-boss and longtime friend proposes a fake relationship to make Cam jealous and aware of what hes missing, it sounds like a great idea. Well, until Phoebe and Heath discover that they are just as compatible in the bedroom as they were in the workplace. Can they get past their initial reasons for faking a relationship and move on to the real thing together?

I had a small problem with the start of the story. I found the introduction of Gwen, Phoebes roommate to be a little confusing, mostly because her animosity towards Heath made it almost sound at the beginning like it was going to be an enemies to lovers story between Gwen and Heath as opposed to a friends to lovers story between Heath and Phoebe. So I was a bit trepidatious moving forward as I wasn't entirely clear where the story was headed. Its eventually explained that Gwens got strong feelings about Heath because she could see that Heath had a low level interest in Phoebe even when she was involved with someone else, and this clears up the confusion. Gwen is just looking out for her friend, and concerned about her getting involved with Heath, who is a notorious playboy.

Heath definitely has his flaws. Hes a player, a man who only gets involved with women for sex and hasn't had any long term relationships since his girlfriend dumped him for his step-brother (ouch! no wonder hes leery of commitment). The good thing about his character though, is that he knows his own faults. Hes a bit cocky, sometimes selfish, but at heart he is a good guy. It took me a bit to warm up to him, but he really does treat Phoebe well, and makes her feel beautiful. And he thinks Cam is a fool for having dumped her (though its obviously to his advantage). I liked him and Phoebe together, and I thought they made a good couple.

Phoebe is a little bit shy, definitely hurt over her breakup, but coming to realize that there were a lot of signs that Cam wasn't as invested in their relationship as she was. Her attraction to Heath surprises her, but also shows her that things with Cam were rather stagnant. Though her initial agreement to fake a relationship with Heath is to try to gain back Cams attention, its not long before she realizes shes quite happy without it. She and Heath share some very steamy scenes together, as part of her arrangement with him is to give her some freedom to be more sexually expressive. She comes from a restrictive background where sex is taboo, and that has shaped her as an adult. With Heath, she has found someone who doesnt judge her, and who is interested in all of her, body and mind.

I liked the setting, including a 4 day trip that Heath, Cam and Phoebe make to Miami to investigate some new business opportunities there. I did think it a bit strange that Cam was involved in as much of the story as he was, since he and Phoebe had broken up. But his working relationship with Heath meant that any business decisions had to involve him, so I suppose its not that surprising. But in Phoebes shoes, having been dumped by him, I don't think Id have wanted him hanging around as much. I did like the emphasis on cooking and desserts, there were some lovely scenes that made my mouth water with the food descriptions and decadent desserts. Overall, it was a good read, and Ill look for more from this author.
2399525
I love the mischief these gals get into and enjoy their escape. They love each other. More of that is needed.
378848
Cole, a writer of a hit comic, has writer's block and pretends to be an escort. His next-door neighbor, Sadie, has a lot of baggage from a cheating ex-husband and has been on a year-long sexual dry spell. That is, until she asks Cole to be her escort with benefits. After what was supposed to be a one-night stand, Sadie and Cole become friends and Sadie's BFF's coerce him into making her jealous and pushing her to take a risk on him. It works. After a  kerfluffle with her ex, Sadie and Cole find their HEA. This is a fun, light-hearted romp of a read.
926560
Cool Saturday hanging out with your friend. Your enjoying a few pops, talking about the beautiful ladies. What can be better.
2148845
After an unexpected pregnancy with a man who she only knew for a few months after a fling went bad, Olivia Lincoln finds herself back in the arms of her best friend Danny. The relationship has always been strictly platonic as Danny has a no  commitment rule, whereas Olivia has always been wanting more. When Olivia finds herself blurting out that they are engaged and having a baby, the limits between the two start to really blend.

The relationship between friends and lovers is often pushed in both real life and romance and Robin Bielman does a fantastic job in pushing those boundaries in her latest novel, The Best Friend bargain. The chemistry between Danny and Olivia cannot be over looked, as years of friendship have the two finishing each others sentences. However, after one too many pushing the envelopes, hormones increasing and a kiss that will change everything, the two may have bargained more then they signed up for.

If you are looking for a quick, fun, romantic read, then The Best Friend bargain is the book for you. You will find yourself laughing out loud and turning the pages as Robin Bielman did a great job in creating a storyline that was both fun and romantic. Make sure you add the Best Friend bargain to your To-Be-Read Shelf .
833613
OMG, this book set is friends with all kinds of benefits. Jullian, Brian, Rob, Laura, Victoria, Jim, Caroline, and  so many others. These friends keep it all in the same circle. I laughed out loud all through these books. There is also lots a nd I mean lots of hot Sex, Sexy, and big O scenes. Caution !!! HOT !!
477730
Not enough books, movies and television shows are about friendship, in my opinion, so I enjoyed this tale of three life-long pals who were truly there for one another, in both personal and professional ways. I even felt a bit jealous! What a gift to have friends like that. And what a nice thing to read about. I also enjoyed the scenes of what I think of as "old" NYC---all those iconic venues. Yes, perhaps the male characters were a bit *too* good-to-be-true, but this is a book by and about and for women so it's normal that the men take second place. Have fun with it. You may even feel inspired to start your own business!
4512077
This was a fun and easy read. You have the best friends, Brooke and Cain, that are attracted to each other but neither one wanted to disrupt their close friendship with each other by acting on their feelings. One problem that's stopping the two friends from being together is that Cain has a girlfriend, which is slowly breaking the Brookes heart. Brooke is the other reason that the two friends won't date each other, she's scared that if it doesn't work she will lose her valued friendship with Cain. Throughout the roller coaster of feelings from Brooke in the book, there's the side characters Carly, the third person to the best friend trio of Brooke, Carly & Cain, Zeke, Cain's brother, the two mothers of the Cain and Brooke and the grandfather of Brooke that has quite the wicked sense of humor. These characters brings life to the story and makes the humorous parts even more funnier. This was a good read!
4706288
I think Margaret's book, 'The Goddess Workshop', tackles a problem which some women tend to avoid talking about and she does it in a fun way, bringing together four women who probably wouldn't have met otherwise, in a story where they each re-evaluate who they are and how much they value themselves.

I liked it for it's honesty, its female solidarity and its friendship.

Janet, Reenie, Kate and Estelle are all very different women, at different stages in their lives who are missing one vital component...sexual satisfaction. Three of them decide to attend a class on the subject at a local church hall, not quite knowing what to expect. The fourth, Janet, goes with her very proper neighbour Gwen, and they think they are there to attend a gardening class but it's not the flowers which are blooming! Gwen, horrified, walks out immediately in disgust and tries to drag Janet with her but Janet makes a stand and stays. As the four of them sit waiting for their tutor they contemplate a rather large...picture on display and start to wonder why on Earth they thought it was a good idea to attend.

I felt for Janet the most. Hers is an old story of a long marriage to a controlling husband and her need to find some self esteem again.

Margaret tackles this subject well. The story flows along and I felt empathy for the characters. I think this is a story with a bit of a message to all women - girls, don't settle for almost :)
1378616
Malik and Sheila Batiste could never imagine the changes that would come with Malik's new promotion and their "moving-on-up" status.  Making over $100,000 a year, plus a performance bonus afforded them a new house in the ritzy part of town.  New friends and neighbors will show them how they live in the new neighborhood and how to spice up their marriage at the same time.

Malik and Sheila enjoyed their life together as husband and wife and as the parents to their 12 year old son.  However, Sheila could live without Malik's blatant disregard for her sexual needs.  Malik's attitude was one of self-contentment; his wife put up with it all this time, why should it matter now?  Ah, but it does!

Darnell and Stacy Muldrue, the Batiste's neighbors and soon good friends invite them for more than dinner.  Having been in the S.W.A.P. (Sex With Another Partner)game for some time, they recognized the need for sexual satisfaction in their new neighbors and introduced them to the game.  But what Malik and Sheila will soon learn is that everybody cannot play the game without truth and consequences.

Author Smith brings to life the swinging scene and what it entails. Not everyone can play this game without the risk of losing everything they hold dear, especially the covenant of marriage.  I would recommend this book to those who have been considering this lifestyle so that they will have an idea of how it changes their lives and hopefully give some insight into whether they can or will play the game.

Review by Sharel E. Gordon-Love

Apooo BookClub