Book Review: No Ordinary Love (Sweetbriar Cove #6) by Melody Grace

Title: No Ordinary Love

Series: Sweetbriar Cove #6

Author: Melody Grace

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: March 12, 2018

Blurb

For journalist Eliza Bennett, summers in Sweetbriar Cove were her happiest childhood memories. Now that she’s been unceremoniously fired, she hopes the small town will work its magic again and help get her life back on track. She definitely isn’t looking for a distraction like the handsome stranger she meets on her way into town… especially when she discovers he might be the man behind her recent misfortunes.

Cal Prescott is in Sweetbriar Cove adjusting to (or escaping from) his new role as head of the family company. He’s always prided himself on his cool logic, but reckoning with the outspoken spitfire, Eliza, is making him forget his responsibilities - and why falling in love would be such a bad idea.

The sparks between them are red-hot, and soon, their passion is heating up the summer nights. But can Eliza and Cal find a way through their differences - or will this opposites-attract romance burn out before it even begins?

Find out in the latest swoon-worthy Sweetbriar Cove romance from New York Times bestselling author, Melody Grace!

The Sweetbriar Cove Series of standalone romances:

#1 Meant to Be
#2 All for You
#3 The Only One
#4 I'm Yours
#5 Holiday Kisses
#6 No Ordinary Love

#7 Wildest Dreams (July 2018)

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My Rating:

Favorite Quote:

“Maybe he’s been hit by a bus,” she said, still watching her silent phone. “Maybe he ran out of the gala after me, got hit by a bus, and has been in traction all week, unable to call?” She exhaled with a rueful smile. “Wow, you know things are really bad when the best-case scenario involves a gruesome accident.”

My Review:

Cal and Eliza started off with bad blood between them, as in her mind; he was the cause of her recent unemployment.  Yet they seemed to have a spark, although it was often one of annoyance, but a spark nonetheless.  They had one of the most awkward first dates imaginable, which was only improved by hours of vomiting due to a mutual bout of food poisoning that occurred during the date.  I always enjoy returning to this series and becoming reacquainted with the previously featured couples and new friends.  I enjoy Ms. Grace’s humor, quirky yet endearingly flawed characters, and engaging storylines.  This entertaining series has been easy to follow with each installment being an interconnected yet stand-alone volume.  

Empress DJ

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Author Bio

NYT bestselling author, a SoCal transplant, and sexy romance junkie ;) I never say no to ice-cream...

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Book Review: I'm Yours - Sweetbriar Cove #4 by Melody Grace

Title: I'm Yours

Series: Sweetbriar Cove #4

Author: Melody Grace

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: November 2, 2017

Blurb

Artist Mackenzie Lane is almost thirty and still single, which, according to her neighbors, pretty much makes her the Spinster of Sweetbriar Cove. She’s sworn off terrible fix-ups, and is looking forward to her solo future of woolly mumus and cats. (Lots of cats). But a chance Halloween rendezvous awakens her reckless spirit, and makes her wonder if love might be in the cards, after all…

Jake Sullivan is back in town for the first time in years, recovering from a career-ending sports injury. He’s dazzled by the mysterious woman he meets by chance - and even more intrigued when he discovers it’s his high-school friend Mackenzie. 

Ten years ago, Jake was the first (and only) guy to put a dent in Mackenzie’s invincible heart. She’s determined not to make the same mistake again, but when the pair are forced to team up to plan the annual Starbright Festival, old sparks fly - and new passion runs riot. 

Soon, Mackenzie and Jake are risking it all. But will their connection last longer than the first snowfall? And can these old friends start a new chapter for love?  Find out in the sizzling, romantic new novel from Melody Grace! 

               
The Sweetbriar Cove Series:
#1 Meant to Be – Feb 2017
#2 All for You – May 2017
#3 The Only One – August 2017
#4 I'm Yours - November 2017
#5 Holiday Kisses - Dec 2017
#6 No Ordinary Love - Feb 2018

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My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

I go on first dates… And maybe if I didn’t dress like I’m upholstery, I would go on seconds dates, too.

Dad got me one of those step-counters for Christmas a couple of years ago. He thought we could do it together, you know. Bonding… My count was so low, he called me up after the first week to check I turned the thing on.

Try googling sometime. In fact, how are you not looking up your dates? It’s literally the first thing I do. To check they don’t have a criminal record, or post on Nickelback fan sites… You know, due dating diligence.

My email is nothing but weight loss spam and takeout coupons right now. Because I’m such a loyal customer. I’ve started inventing company when the delivery guys arrive. You know, yelling ‘food’s here’ into my empty apartment so they don’t think all three boxes of pad thai are mine.

“Everyone knows he dumped me,” she said, checking around to see if the gossips were still out in force. “I may as well have ‘spinster’ written on my forehead.”

My Review:

Anyone who has ever lived in a small town is painfully aware that the populous thrives on gossip and meddling, and Melody Grace has perfectly cast Sweetbriar Cove with these attributes. Although this thriving small town appears to be far more fun-loving than most. I always enjoy Ms. Grace’s clever humor, amusing banter, sweet camaraderie between friends, sexy and sweet romances, and endearingly flawed characters. Mackenzie had a decade-long secret crush on her friend Jake since first meeting him in high school. After Jake moved away she had endured hair-raising fix-ups but no one had yet made her heart soar, other than in horror. Jake had enjoyed a successful football career and the social life of a celebrity, but he was currently struggling and while suffering through a painful rehab of his knee he was also grappling with an identity crisis - if he didn’t fully recover and he wasn’t an all-star football player, who was he? His moods and rationalizations flipped like a teenaged girl and I wanted to embed my foot somewhere on or in his anatomy. Thankfully, he pulled his head from that same area of anatomy just in time to provide that all-important HEA, but he really had me worried…

Empress DJ

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NYT bestselling author, a SoCal transplant, and sexy romance junkie ;) I never say no to ice-cream...

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Book Review: All for You - Sweetbriar Cove #2 by Melody Grace

Title: All for You

Series: Sweetbriar Cove #2

Author: Melody Grace

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: May 21, 2017

Blurb

Millions of readers around the world have fallen in love with Melody Grace’s bestselling contemporary romances. Now discover the romance, laughter, and happily-ever-afters waiting for you in her new series, Sweetbriar Cove!

Summer Bloom lives for adventure—and buttercream bourbon frosting. As a high-end pastry chef, she spends her days (and nights, and weekends) whipping up sweet treats, but when an unexpected detour leads her to the dilapidated bakery on Blackberry Lane, she decides to take a chance on her dreams and leave it all behind for a new life in Sweetbriar Cove. She has everything she needs for baking bliss—she just isn’t expecting her new landlord to melt her heart, as well as her chocolate truffles...

Grayson Reid knows better than to fall for his impulsive new tenant. He keeps his life quiet and drama-free, but there’s something about Summer he just can’t resist. He’s learned the hard way that a woman can turn your whole world upside down, but her kisses—and those croissants—are too tempting to ignore. He’s determined to keep the lid on their romance, but soon, their chemistry is heating up the kitchen—and he doesn’t want to play it safe anymore.

Can this headstrong pair mix the right ingredients for love? Or will their passion burn out before they can find their happily-ever-after? Find out in the new novel from New York Times bestselling author, Melody Grace!

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

She’d learned the hard way it was easier just to agree with everything her mom said. And live halfway across the country from her, too. Her father had the same idea: he’d divorced Eve when Summer was six, and now lived up in Alaska with his third wife and five Husky dogs.

The only buns she needed in her life were the kind that came with pistachio crumble and caramel glaze. After all, once people had a taste of her sticky morning rolls, they all swore they were better than sex.

I’m the Spinster of Sweetbriar. It’s official, they made me a sash and everything.

‘A lady doesn’t kiss and tell,’ Summer said primly, and Poppy snorted. ‘Then it’s a good thing I don’t see any ladies around.’

He had gotten exactly what he wanted, a peaceful life of steady solitude, and he couldn’t have hated it more. Irony was a bitch.

My Review:

Reading a Melody Grace book is like respite, her work generally contains most of my desired elements for an entertaining and pleasurable read; a sweet and steamy love story, relatable and endearing yet slightly bent characters, an interesting plot, amusing humor and clever banter from shameless friend posses, and a well-earned Happy Ever After.  I haven’t read all her books but I have always enjoyed the ones I’ve had my hands on.  All For You came with all the previously mentioned elements as well as the added bonuses of a sexy Englishman and a heroic cat named Marmaduke who saves the day several times.  I adored it. 

Empress DJ

The Sweetbriar Cove Series:

#1 Meant to Be
#2 All for You
#3 The Only One – August 2017
#4 I'm Yours - November 2017
#5 Holiday Kisses - December 2017
#6 No Ordinary Love - February 2018

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Author Bio

NYT bestselling author, a SoCal transplant, and sexy romance junkie ;) I never say no to ice-cream...

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New Release, Giveaway: Unforgettable by Melody Grace

Title: Unforgettable

Series: Beachwood Bay #8

Author: Melody Grace

 Release Date: June 8, 2015

"Sizzling hot and super emotional - the perfect combo!"
- NYT and USA Today bestselling Lauren Blakely

"Sexy, sweet, and swoon-worthy."
- NYT Bestselling Emily Snow, author of the Devoured series.

 

An Unforgettable series ending ...

Blurb

"My dearest grand-daughter, Listen to your heart, believe in a brighter tomorrow, and always, always leave room for dessert."

Noelle Olsen has never been impulsive, but when she inherits the old family bed and breakfast, she surprises everyone by quitting her corporate job and starting over in Beachwood Bay: the sleepy coastal town that’s home to old memories, new friends — and the one man she never saw coming.

Ash Callahan isn’t looking for love. He’s built his real-estate empire out of discipline, control, and cool logic — so why does one kiss from a carefree stranger send his world tilting off its axis?

Their connection is undeniable; the chemistry, impossible to ignore. But just as Noelle considers opening her heart again, the pair find themselves facing off over the town’s future — and their own. With so much as stake, will they find a way to bridge the divide, and build a love that’s unforgettable?

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Excerpt

“Watch out!”

The packed crowd in Jimmy’s bar suddenly shifts, and I go slamming into someone.

“Sorry!” I put my hands out to keep from falling, and a pair of strong arms grip me tightly, keeping me on my feet. “I didn’t see you—”

I look up, and the words fade on my lips. The room disappears—all the noise and jostling crowd blurring into background static.

It’s him.

Ash. The man from the masquerade party. The one who led me on a wild night of adventure—and never called me the next morning. He should be five hundred miles away, but he’s here, in the middle of the crowded bar in Beachwood Bay, looking at me like I’m a ghost.

I know how he feels. It’s impossible, it has to be. But I can feel his hands, gripping me tightly; feel the warm, solid muscle of his body against mine.

I know those hands. I’ve explored that body. There would be no mistaking them, even if I wasn’t gazing into his piercing dark eyes, the ones branded on my memory.

Oh my God.

The moment stretches, electric. Then someone slams into me again, and Ash yanks me back. Suddenly, the world rushes in again.

“What are you…?” I whisper, still not able to believe it. “I mean…”

I fight to collect myself, but before I can form a coherent sentence, Ash grabs my hand and pulls me across the room. He’s moving so fast, I can barely keep up: I hurry after him, through the crowd and down a back hallway.

“Where are we going?” I gulp, my heart racing. “Slow down. Ash!”

He ignores me, pulling me after him, up a flight of stairs, and through another door. We emerge on the rooftop, a flat expanse decorated with string lights and a view of the whole bay. I barely have time to catch my breath before Ash brings his hands to my face, pushes me back against the wall and kisses me so hard I forget my own name.

Yes.

Just like before, the chemical reaction is instant: a flare of heat surging through me, so bright it blots the world, like staring straight into the sun. I part my lips, greedy for the taste of him, loving the sensual caress of his tongue as he slides it deep into my mouth.

Ash groans against me, and I arch up, wrapping my arms around his neck to pull him closer. He’s gripping me so tightly, my body is crushed against him; my back hard against the wall. He threads the fingers on one hand roughly through my hair, pinning me in place as his mouth continues its devastating exploration.

There’s no way to explain it, how my body responds to his touch. Touch-paper to a flame; igniting like never before. I run my hands through his dark hair, slide across the muscular contours of his back, gripping at his shirt and kissing him with everything I have. I can’t think, I can’t breathe, I just fall deeper into the kiss, our passion obliterating every last thought from my mind.

It’s a rush of glitter in my veins, of soaring fever and a low, aching need. Desire consumes me, hot and demanding, until suddenly, Ash wrenches free.

I gasp for air, sinking back against the wall. My legs go weak as his eyes rake over me, blazing darkly with lust. “What are you doing here?” he whispers harshly.

“I…” I can’t find the words, I’m still reeling with shock—and desire.

A shadow crosses his face. He shakes his head, looking dazed. “No,” he mutters, cutting me off. “This isn’t happening.” Before I can say another word, he turns and strides away from me, slamming the exit door with a crash. I’m left alone on the rooftop with nothing but the sound of my own beating heart.

Author Bio

Melody Grace is the New York Times bestselling author of the Beachwood Bay series. A small-town girl turned SoCal beach lover, after spending her life with her nose in a book, she decided it was time she wrote one herself. She loves steamy romance novels, happily-ever-afters, and lusting after fictional menfolk. She lives in LA with her two kittens, Bucky Barnes and Steve Rogers.

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