The Dancer and the Rockstar Drummer in the Belly Dance world

Dance with Me by DeAnna Cameron
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This shorter length contemporary romance is the second in the California Belly Dance series. I liked it a lot. The characters were quite believable, the history of their craft as well as the performance were equally important to both of them.
The heroine Melanie wants to join a belly-dancing troupe but is afraid to fail. The hero Taz is a drummer with the belly-dancing troupe, and one of the judges in the auditions. He offers to help Melanie in return for her help with his interfering sister. I also loved that when Melanie is caught unaware, and is convinced to dance for Taz in a non-audition setting - she absolutely nails it. His music is just as important as her dancing, just love it.
His historical Hollywood moderne house is amazing. I loved that the vintage belly dancing movies of Samial Gamal were a huge part of the story, in fact featuring strongly in their dates.
I received a complimentary copy from Reading Alley in return for an honest review. I want to read the first novella in the California Belly Dance series, and look forward to reading more in this series.

I liked Puppy Love

Puppy Love by Melissa Shaw
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This short story is a stand-alone, contemporary romance. I liked it. The main characters fall in love quite quickly, bonding over the purchase of a dog, even though Melanie is engaged to someone else. I felt that the puppy running away and finding his way home, twice, was perhaps handled too lightly. I know in our house if the dog gets out, it's a major deal until puppy is home. But this story was really sweet, in that the puppy managed to get his new owner Melanie to fall in love with his old owner, Liam.
I received a complimentary copy from the author, and look forward to reading more of her work.

Then He Kissed Me gets four stars

Then He Kissed Me by Maria Geraci
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Then He Kissed me is the second book in the Whispering Bay series. I liked this longer format contemporary romance a lot. The lead couple, Nate and Lauren, had gone to high school together, and meet again after two really awful failed dates at the same restaurant. Lauren is divorced and has an amazingly nice relationship with her ex. I loved that Lauren ran a vintage clothing shop, and designed retro inspired maternity clothes. Fun!
And Nate is the local doctor, whose brusk bedside manner is softened by Lauren's advice, to just give someone five minutes of silence, and they will tell you what is really bugging them. Words to live by, honey.
I received a complimentary copy in return for an honest review. I liked this series well enough that I am going to look up the others in this series.

Four and a Half Stars for The Player Next Door

The Player Next Door by Kathy Lyons
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

I loved this short format romance between a basketball star and the ditzy girl next door. Tori is actually a religion and philosophy professor rehabbing her house. Mike is the basketball star next door, housesitting while he rehabs his shoulder. Mike talks her into a summer fling.
I loved these two characters. Tori is ditzy, ON PURPOSE! Mike is superstitious in a sports star kind of way. Fun fun fun.
I wish it were a series because I want to know more about the wonderful secondary characters. Cole, the teammate who never smiles, I want to know more. I bought this book after reading a sample and getting hooked.

Four stars out of the Amazon TBR freebie pile

Tattoo Thief by Heidi Joy Tretheway
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is book one of the Tattoo Thief series. I liked this book a lot. This is a romance between a small town journalist moved to New York, and a rock star. Our heroine, Beryl, has taken a new job which quickly evolves to house sitting for the rock star Gavin.
It is written in the first person, which only becomes awkward when we get the hero's point of view, told from the heroine's voice. Since Beryl is a journalist, it made perfect sense to me that she googled her client, not stalker-ish at all.
But the fascinating hook, if you will, was that the couple didn't meet in person until the book was almost over. They meet, and fell in love, via email and text.
I discovered this book out of my pile of Amazon freebies, after a mention in a book blog I follow, thanks Aestas Book Blog! I look forward to reading more of this series.

Both editions of Mistress of Pleasure are Keepers.

Mistress of Pleasure by Delilah Marvelle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This historical romance is the first book in the School of Gallantry series. It is the second edition. SO of course I had to go get the first edition and compare. I liked the first edition a lot. Would I like the second?
Both are historical romance. The hero is a duke. Our heroine is the daughter of a courtesan. I love that the heroine is kind of straight laced and is slightly embarrased by her grandmother. Very much like having a hippy grandmother now I suppose.
Second edition - I like it as well. It has spicier sex scenes, And a new subplot involving her grandfather, yes the one with the courtesan grandmother. Therefore more backstory. And I am always a fan of that.
But I liked the first one. Not better, just different.
The first edition was as explicit and probably as long as was typical then. The second edition is published by the author, so clearly she wanted these additions. And I love that the author got to finish her story.

Both editions win! I am going to keep both, labeled original and revised.

I got a complimentary copy from NetGalley, in return for an honest review.

My Imaginary Ex is a fun, quick read.

My Imaginary Ex by Mina V. Esguerra
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is one of the three novellas in Perfect Boyfriends: A Chic Manila collection. This is an interesting take on the Friends-to-Lovers theme. It is set in the Philippines. I liked that.
I liked the plot twist. The hero, Zac, had asked Jasmine to pretend to be his ex-girlfriend. And they both had used this bit of pretend history to their advantage throughout several years. Then Zac decides to get married. His real ex-girlfriends recruit his imaginary ex-girlfriend to persuade Zac not to marry. That puts Jasmine in a perfect quandary. What is real?
This is a really cute, fun, short read. I liked it a lot. I received a copy in an online giveaway.