Monday Book Review: The Wonder of You, by Claire Marti

 

About the Book:

One lifelong friendship. One snowy night. And one kiss that changes everything.

Renowned photographer Grant Michaels travels the world covering the international sports scene, but after a bitter divorce he returns home to Pacific Vista Ranch. Tired of life on the road, he wants stability and a fresh start.

Archivist librarian Olivia Hanlon spent the last decade stuck in her hometown. Now she has a chance at adventure: a dream job in Greece for one year.

Childhood best friends Grant and Olivia share a forever bond, always there for each other through thick and thin. When they get snowed in together at a snowboarding event, one steamy New Year’s Eve kiss quickly spirals into an explosive chemistry neither can deny. Except he’s ready to settle down just as she wants to spread her wings.

Will their friendship survive this newly discovered passion… or did they ruin the one relationship they each count on?

 

My Take: 

Claire Marti has done it again!  This fifth story in her Pacific Vista series is the whole package, a friends to lovers romance that will have you rooting for the main characters right from the very first page. I've read all of her romances so far, and they only keep getting better. Strong writing, engaging characters, beautifully detailed scenery and story lines to make you swoon. Marti is truly an author to watch.

Olivia and Grant have been best friends since elementary school. Along with their pal Toby, they've always been the three muskateers, there for each other through any crisis. Olivia was there for him when Grant's father died. He was there for her when her mother became a paraplegic, which altered Olivia's life plans drastically. They remained best friends through his marriage and subsequent divorce. But that's all back story, deftly told with a few well chosen words.

The story begins with our three muskateers reuniting for a snowboarding event and getting snowed in. One thing leads to another and sparks fly between Grant and Olivia. They agree to keep it a secret and go back to being just friends, but that can be harder in practice than in theory.Will they be able to figure out the best way to move forward? ....and that's why we read friends to lovers romances! To find out.

Marti has a wonderful way with words, giving the reader a true sense of place as well as insight into the individual characters, both their motivations and their fears. Her dialogue is spot on, and I loved the way the characters wove their backstory so naturally into normal, entertaining conversation. I loved everything about this book, actually. A fast, fun read, Marti keeps the pages turning and leaves you satisfied and yet somehow still wanting more.

Luckily, there are four other great books in this series, all standalone stories that you can read on their own or in any order and still enjoy. As a Marti fan, I did happen to read them all in order and loved every minute of them and highly recommend. If you're looking for a series for your summer beach chair reading, look no further. If I could give this book more than 5 stars, I totally would.

Grab your own copy today on AMAZON or at your favorite retail ebook outlet.

Monday Book Review: Wrapped Up in You by Claire Marti

 

About the Book:

When cocky financial genius Rafael Cruz is forced to partner with his snarky office rival Phoebe Hollingsworth to land a prestigious new client, nothing goes as planned.

At work, they ignore each other, but at the Jingle Ball, their unexpected chemistry changes the game.

Will their secret holiday hook-up ruin the deal or is it the start of a deeper connection?

 

My TAKE:

Claire Marti writes with humor and heart, with believable characters and fun twists to her plot lines. I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this full-length story, part of her Pacific Vista Ranch series that I've read and reviewed. With every story, I find myself drawn further into the California coastal worlds she creates, wishing I could live there.

The first three books of the series focus on the three sisters whose family owns the Pacific Vista Ranch. This story features the brother of one of the previous heroes, who we met in Marti's wonderful second chance romance The Very Thought of You. At the time, I'd hoped for hunky older brother Rafe Cruz to get a book of his own - and here it is. (insert happy dance!)

Rafe and Phoebe are coworkers at the same financial firm, both Harvard-educated and at the top of their game. Each thinks they’ll be the one to take over the firm when the CEO retires. And they hate each other. I have to admit, enemies to lovers has never been one of my favorite romance tropes because the antagonism often feels forced or ginned up, but I totally found myself believing these characters and situations and loved every minute of it.

When Rafe and Phoebe are sent to represent the company together to woo new clients at the annual Jingle Ball fundraiser, their boss makes a clear statement. Get along or else. The pair are both professionals and grit their teeth, agreeing to work together for one night. Over wine before and during the event, they actually get to know each other and misconceptions each held are torn down. Sparks fly as things between them heat.... and keep heating. I don't want to give any of the good parts away, but rest assured Marti adds plenty of steam and spice to heat up this holiday tale.

Thoroughly enjoyed this read, and totally recommend. It works as a standalone read, but my enjoyment was totally enhanced by the fact that I'd previously met the secondary characters in the first three stories. Love this whole series and totally recommend! 5 well-Deserved Stars!

 Grab a copy on AMAZON

 

Monday Book Review: Jingle Balls, an anthology by various authors for Testicular Cancer Awareness

 

About the Book:

Jingle those balls for a great cause and get a head start on the holiday spirit with this spicy collection of romantic comedy stories. Twenty of today’s most entertaining rom-com authors have teamed up to go #Nuts4Books to benefit the Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation.

Curve Ball by Aidy Award
I Told You So by Serena Bell
Sleigh My Name by Kilby Blades
A Blue Balled Holiday by Dylann Crush
Jingle Ball Bender by Sophia Henry
Ball Sacked by Christina Hovland
Coldcocked by Saint Nick by Melonie Johnson
Under the Mistletoe by Tawdra Kandle
Decidedly for Christmas by Stina Lindenblatt
Licking His Candy Cane by Elizabeth Lynx
Wrapped Up With You by Claire Marti
One Jingle or Two by MK Meredith
Rockin’ Around the Jingle Balls Ball by Susannah Nix
Lick My Snowballs by Tracey Pedersen
Deck the Halls With Balls by Marika Ray
Not So Silent Night by Piper Rayne
Out of the Eggnog by Arell Rivers
Mistletoe Hearts by Brenda St. John Brown
Scoring a Holiday Match by Delancey Stewart
Nuts About You by Sylvie Stewart

 

My Take:

Irreverent, Outrageous, Over-the-top Fun – all for a Good Cause

Jingle Balls is an anthology of Christmas stories with a common theme and for a common cause: raising money for the Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation. The theme the stories share is that there is a holiday fancy-dress ball that’s a fundraiser for testicular cancer – the Jingle Balls Ball. Except, it’s not just one party in one place that each author’s characters are attending. These parties are all over the U.S. and all have their authors little twist to them, running the gamut from a black tie fundraiser at a country club to a male auction at a swingers club, and everything in between. The titles of the stories are a suggestive hoot – Licking his Candy Cane? Jingle Ball Bender? Ball Sacked? Clever and funny and oh-so-hot, like much of the writing.

I read them all – some a bit longer, some a little too short leaving you wanting more. Most of the authors involved characters from a series in progress, giving you back story or secondary characters from another story getting the spotlight. Going into this, I only recognized two of the author names, but now I’ve added several more to my list that I need to check out.

My favorite story is from Claire Marti, the reason I bought the anthology in the first place. I love the Southern California settings of her Pacific Vista Ranch series and heard she was giving one of her minor characters a shot at love – I needed to read it!

Rafe and Phoebe are coworkers at the same financial firm, both Harvard-educated and at the top of their game. Each thinks they’ll be the one to take over the firm when the CEO retires. And they hate each other. Phoebe was a year behind Rafe at school, and worshipped the playboy from afar but he never noticed the mousy student she was. When she started at the same firm, Rafe thought she was one of the stuck up East Coast girls who wouldn’t give him the time of day outside the bedroom. When they are both sent to represent the company and woo new clients at the annual Jingle Ball fundraiser, they agree to work together for one night. Over wine, misconceptions each held are torn down and sparks fly as things between them heat. I’m hoping the author turns this into a longer novel because as satisfying as the happy-for-now ending was, I would love to read more of Rafe and Phoebe’s story!

Great stories, lots of laughs, not for the easily offended, as there are a lot of f-bombs and there’s an awful lot of sex in closets and other public spaces! But it’s all for a great cause and all in good holiday fun!

 

Grab your copy on AMAZON today!

New Release from Claire Marti! FOR THE LOVE OF YOU Available Today!

AVAILABLE TODAY!

About the Book:

For a French soccer icon, and a gifted artist, a fake engagement is the perfect solution for their current dilemmas. But when last summer’s fling slips from lust to love, their pretend relationship becomes too hot to handle.

Gabriel DuVernay is heir to one of the oldest wineries in France, but his passion is playing soccer, not tending vines. When he signs a multi-million dollar deal with the Los Angeles Galaxy, he’s able to postpone his unwelcome duties and help his younger sister convince their old-fashioned father she should be their family’s first female winemaker. Another bonus of moving to California is reuniting with the striking redhead who snuck out of his apartment after the hottest night of his life.

Last summer, artist Dylan McNeill’s life on her family’s Southern California horse-breeding ranch was thrown into chaos and she escaped to Paris. One electrifying night with a gorgeous playboy athlete helped her forget her problems. She’s never forgotten Gabriel, but aspiring artists trying to break into the elite art world don’t have time for romance. She’s determined to get discovered without trading on her family’s famous name.

When Gabriel suffers a career-shattering injury, he needs to buy some time to figure out how to remain in America and choose his own future. His influential mother can open important doors in the art world and help Dylan fulfill her dreams ––for a price. A fictitious engagement seems like the simple answer until living at Pacific Vista Ranch and pretending to be in love starts to feel real.

Can last year’s one night stand and this year’s fake engagement turn into true love forever?

About the Author:

Claire Marti started writing stories as soon as she was old enough to pick up pencil and paper. After graduating from the University of Virginia with a BA in English Literature, Claire was sidetracked by other careers, including practicing law, selling software for legal publishers, and managing a non-profit animal rescue for a Hollywood actress. 

Finally, Claire followed her heart and now focuses on two of her true passions: writing romance and teaching yoga.

Her award winning debut novel, Second Chance in Laguna, was a Finalist for Best Contemporary Romance in the prestigious Stiletto Contest, won best unpublished contemporary romance in the Heart of the Molly and third place in the Maggie. Book two in the Finding Forever in Laguna series, At Last in Laguna, and Book three, Sunset in Laguna, ​are available everywhere. Sunset in Laguna ​was a Golden Quill finalist.
 
Claire's exciting new Pacific Vista Ranch series set on a horse-breeding ranch in exclusive Rancho Santa Fe, California, launched in September 2019. 
​
When Claire's not writing, she's teaching yoga. You can find her teaching at studios in sunny San Diego or enjoy fifty online classes on the international website www.yogadownload.com. A breast cancer survivor, Claire is a sought-after speaker on the power of yoga and meditation. She's been published in numerous magazines with articles on wellness and is the author of a memoir, ​Come Ride with Me Along the Big C, on her experience beating breast cancer. 
 
Claire is a member of the Romance Writers of America, Contemporary Romance Writers, and the San Diego Romance Writers.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

Website:  www.clairemarti.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/ClaireMartiAuthor/

Twitter:  https://www.twitter.com/clairepmarti

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clairepmarti

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8203678.Claire_Marti

Bookbub:  https://www.bookbub.com/profile/claire-marti

Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/Claire-Marti/e/B01N9VOWLL

 Grab a copy of this book today!

Amazon:  https://amzn.to/3a95T7l

Kobo:  https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/for-the-love-of-you-7

iBooks:  https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1494966200

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/for-the-love-of-you-claire-marti/1136017914?