Men take from Jana. Her dad and brother: money. Stage-side gawkers: her dignity. Still, she finished nursing school, won a spot in Manhattan’s top ER—thanks to no man. But when her dad’s business and heart fails, ever-loyal Jana Park must return to the stripper’s pole. Now even her boss’s chauffeur ogles her in the rearview. Faux-kindness—and irrefutable heat—aside, she glares back.
Because screw ’em all.
Chauffeur Antonio Ruiz is done with his cheating wife, the city, the almighty buck. His seaside home in Mexico calls. One last gig for his biggest client, the city’s strip club king, then he’s out. Except that the sharp, exotic, petite powerhouse of a woman he’s been hired to drive—day in-day out, glaring at him with those deep, solemn eyes—takes him over. If he could pierce her shield of doubt, he’d bring her home, far from this hell.
But, no. Jana’s got to take the wheel and drive. Away from her family’s abuse, her boss’s clutches…and toward Antonio’s true brand of love.
The road’s rocky. Will they make it to paradise? Or will it all go south… in the city.
Another AMAZING book in this series!
First of all, NO ONE can write "love" like Rissa Brahm. These men she creates feel such a deeply intense love for their ladies, and that feeling is undoubtedly felt by the reader, thanks to Rissa's enormous talent.
I didn't understand how Jana and Antonio would ever meet up. Their lives seemed to be in completely different places, but once I got a hint of how they might meet, I could not wait to read it! As the book went on, I LOVED knowing that their meeting was imminent and the suspense Rissa built up was absolutely brilliant and VERY well done!
Much of the book dealt with some heavy issues, and again, Rissa relayed those emotions beautifully. But, I knew the despair I felt early on would make the elation from Jana and Antonio getting together THAT much better!
I liked their initial meeting because, unlike so many other romances, they weren't immediately enthralled with each other. Nope! No "love at first sight" here, but the way their relationship and feelings evolved was absolutely wonderful to read!
While I wanted to slap Jana quite a bit for her back-and-forth feelings for Antonio, her inner strength and drive for independence was admirable and fitting qualities for her.
And Antonio...goodness. He led a Rascal Flatts "Bless the Broken Road" kind of life resulting from people betraying him, but he kept his wonderful, albeit wounded, heart and attitude, and and they served him well in the end.
I am ON PINS AND NEEDLES waiting for the next book in this series. Rissa Brahm is ON FIRE, and I am an ENORMOUS FAN!!!
***I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***
First of all, NO ONE can write "love" like Rissa Brahm. These men she creates feel such a deeply intense love for their ladies, and that feeling is undoubtedly felt by the reader, thanks to Rissa's enormous talent.
I didn't understand how Jana and Antonio would ever meet up. Their lives seemed to be in completely different places, but once I got a hint of how they might meet, I could not wait to read it! As the book went on, I LOVED knowing that their meeting was imminent and the suspense Rissa built up was absolutely brilliant and VERY well done!
Much of the book dealt with some heavy issues, and again, Rissa relayed those emotions beautifully. But, I knew the despair I felt early on would make the elation from Jana and Antonio getting together THAT much better!
I liked their initial meeting because, unlike so many other romances, they weren't immediately enthralled with each other. Nope! No "love at first sight" here, but the way their relationship and feelings evolved was absolutely wonderful to read!
While I wanted to slap Jana quite a bit for her back-and-forth feelings for Antonio, her inner strength and drive for independence was admirable and fitting qualities for her.
And Antonio...goodness. He led a Rascal Flatts "Bless the Broken Road" kind of life resulting from people betraying him, but he kept his wonderful, albeit wounded, heart and attitude, and and they served him well in the end.
I am ON PINS AND NEEDLES waiting for the next book in this series. Rissa Brahm is ON FIRE, and I am an ENORMOUS FAN!!!
***I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***
He had pulled up to the front of the club, and the crown prince Demonte had a girl pulled in tight to him, a small Asian beauty dressed in a slightly professional skirt suit—rare for arm candy of Johnnie Demonte’s usual arm candy.
And after introductions, logistics, and a large wad of green bills was transferred to him, Antonio pulled out of the club’s parking lot with his new contracted client.
He couldn’t help but see her face in the rearview as he checked the truck behind him, a large semi following way too close. He pumped his brakes lightly and watched the truck back off a bit. God, she looked deep in thought, almost lost, and sapped, her heavily lashed lids half-fallen. Tired, high, or both maybe? But something else about her struck him, something more. Something he couldn’t quite place.
“Where to, then?” he asked through the intercom, consequently startling her half to death, as told by her gasp and the stunned expression he glimpsed through the rearview. “Sorry if I scared you.”
God, how stupid of me. He could’ve asked her through the open partition, which he’d left open because at first she seemed to want to talk or say something and he didn’t want to be rude. Anyway, use of the intercom was a habit.
In a quiet and almost defeated tone, she gave him an address in Fort Lee and nothing more; hardly even cracking a polite smile. She only resumed her dazed look out his windshield. Hey, he’d take quiet over chatty any day.
The resonating silence motivated him to insert his earbuds, find his American eighties playlist, then heed his mantra: “Keep your eyes on the road and drive.”
And after introductions, logistics, and a large wad of green bills was transferred to him, Antonio pulled out of the club’s parking lot with his new contracted client.
He couldn’t help but see her face in the rearview as he checked the truck behind him, a large semi following way too close. He pumped his brakes lightly and watched the truck back off a bit. God, she looked deep in thought, almost lost, and sapped, her heavily lashed lids half-fallen. Tired, high, or both maybe? But something else about her struck him, something more. Something he couldn’t quite place.
“Where to, then?” he asked through the intercom, consequently startling her half to death, as told by her gasp and the stunned expression he glimpsed through the rearview. “Sorry if I scared you.”
God, how stupid of me. He could’ve asked her through the open partition, which he’d left open because at first she seemed to want to talk or say something and he didn’t want to be rude. Anyway, use of the intercom was a habit.
In a quiet and almost defeated tone, she gave him an address in Fort Lee and nothing more; hardly even cracking a polite smile. She only resumed her dazed look out his windshield. Hey, he’d take quiet over chatty any day.
The resonating silence motivated him to insert his earbuds, find his American eighties playlist, then heed his mantra: “Keep your eyes on the road and drive.”
  | Luck. Lust. Love. Wedding planner Isabel Ruiz is cursed. Her hometown of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico agrees, considering her tragic track record. Alone and loveless, she creates fairy-tale weddings for others. Her only distraction? The occasional anonymous fling. So to avoid further tragedy, her rule, one–night–only, is never broken… Until Zack. Self-made millionaire Zack James is in town for his brother’s wedding, when a sudden spell of depression hits. Maybe burned out by his fast and luxurious lifestyle? Not even his two female companions hold any interest. That is, until he meets Isabel. She humbles and captivates him, reigniting his thirst for life. With her, Zack feels more alive than ever. To his delight—and her dismay—they share a deep bond, a sensual connection, and one mind-bending night. Zack must have her – to complete him. And Isabel must escape him – to save him. Their game of catch and chase leads to lust-turned-love. For Isabel, it's fate’s cruelest joke. But Zack won’t quit, positive he’s the cure to her curse. Can he convince her to risk everything with him? Or will it all go south…in paradise. **Mature Content Warning** 17+ for language, and adult situations. HEA. |
PERFECT! Absolutely PERFECT!
This book is the best thing I have ever read. EVER! This is so well-written, so gripping, so emotional, so HOT, so...PERFECT!
The writing is flawless. No cliche phrases here, nooooo way. Rissa says the same thing romance authors have time and again, but she expertly uses unprecedented words and phrases to do it.
The dialogue is realistic and, at times, made me chuckle. I could easily imagine the characters speaking and hear every inflection and exasperated sigh.
The writing was SO good that I felt each and every emotion Zack and Isabel experienced. I felt his soul-deep NEED for her, and it was beyond moving.
The mystery surrounding Isabel was very intriguing, and the resolution couldn't have been more fitting. Rissa's timing and pace of how she revealed pieces to that puzzle made this a book I stayed up late reading and had to be pried away from.
This isn't a story about some guy who wants to get laid and then happens to fall in love with the girl. This is a journey of two people fighting Fate, or, rather, finally understanding Fate's message.
I will read ANYTHING Rissa Brahm writes. Get on board now, because she is going to be THE biggest romance author we have seen in quite some time!
***I received this book in exchange for an honest review***
This book is the best thing I have ever read. EVER! This is so well-written, so gripping, so emotional, so HOT, so...PERFECT!
The writing is flawless. No cliche phrases here, nooooo way. Rissa says the same thing romance authors have time and again, but she expertly uses unprecedented words and phrases to do it.
The dialogue is realistic and, at times, made me chuckle. I could easily imagine the characters speaking and hear every inflection and exasperated sigh.
The writing was SO good that I felt each and every emotion Zack and Isabel experienced. I felt his soul-deep NEED for her, and it was beyond moving.
The mystery surrounding Isabel was very intriguing, and the resolution couldn't have been more fitting. Rissa's timing and pace of how she revealed pieces to that puzzle made this a book I stayed up late reading and had to be pried away from.
This isn't a story about some guy who wants to get laid and then happens to fall in love with the girl. This is a journey of two people fighting Fate, or, rather, finally understanding Fate's message.
I will read ANYTHING Rissa Brahm writes. Get on board now, because she is going to be THE biggest romance author we have seen in quite some time!
***I received this book in exchange for an honest review***
♥ To be released July 8 ♥
 | Fight… Flight attendant Preeya Patel wears her mother’s wanderlust-genes like a catwalk model. After quitting med school, she flies fast-and-free through her twenties—a staunch middle finger to her Dr. Dad. She wants the life of her dreams—a wild ride with a savage partner in crime to go with it. But dreams don’t often match what fate delivers… Flight… Young widower, Dr. Ben Trainer, is flying to Mexico, joining yet another vaccine mission, alleviating his grief and guilt one needy soul at a time. And…risking his life might just set him free. Or Fall… When an in-flight emergency throws Ben and Preeya together to save a child, logic and whimsy collide. Both lost souls’ find something hot and deep and true—an unforeseen connection. But dreams morph, old nightmares haunt, secrets surface. In order to navigate their futures, they must face their pasts. Hard. Will Preeya recognize the man of her wildest dreams? Or will Ben fly from this second-chance love before her eyes open? A fight—or flight—to the finish…for love. |
When not chained-by-choice to her MacBook, she is embarking on outdoor adventures with her husband and little girl, eating amazing Indian food with something chocolate for dessert; reading good, hot scorchers in bed; biking, long walks, and yoga; zoning out to killer music from across the decades and the globe; and getting lost only to discover a new exciting route home again.
Tempting Isabel, Book 1 of the Paradise South series, releases May 24, 2016, followed by Taking Jana, on June 14th and Catching Preeya on July 8th. To learn more about Rissa and her next romances of the series, visit her website or shout out to her on Facebook or Twitter!
(USA only)
Win an eCopy of Taking Jana (Open Internationally)
Awesome review, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the giveaway and excerpt
ReplyDeleteSounds like a wonderful romance story.
ReplyDeleteHope you all enjoy the story of Jana and Antonio (Taking Jana)! And good luck on the giveaways everyone <3 Rissa
ReplyDeleteThey look like good books. Nice covers too. Thanks for hosting.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful covers!
ReplyDeletegreat post and review.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance and liked the post
ReplyDeleteI like that this book doesn't have any cliches unlike that horrible series "Fifty Shades of Gray" Rosanne rosans4@comcast.net
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I enjoyed reading it! I can't wait to read these books
ReplyDeleteIt looks and sounds like something I would love!
ReplyDelete