REVIEW: A Model Hero by Sara Daniel

A Model Hero
September Calendar Men
Sara Daniel

Genre: Contemporary, erotic romance, rubenesque, military romance
Heat level: 4 Word count – 21k
Cover art by Mina Carter

Gretchen Meyers is a full-figured woman living in a model thin world. Desperate to end her mother's constant, nagging stream of dieting and fashion “advice,” Gretchen tackles the challenge of reviving her mother’s faltering modeling agency. All she needs is to woo back Kyle Ramsey, once the hottest model in the country.

Making the preemptive choice to turn his back on his career seemed Kyle’s only option until Gretchen comes calling. He doesn’t care what she wants to offer him, the answer is no. Still, he’s intrigued by her refreshing personality and all her lovely, lush curves.

When tragedy strikes, Kyle finds comfort and healing in Gretchen’s arms. But he can’t trust her with his career-ending secret and she doesn’t believe their relationship will survive the long term. He’s perfect and she’s not even close. Can the fragile ties holding them together survive Kyle’s opportunity to become a true model hero?

~Excerpt~


The restaurant scene, then, had done its job. She’d have to send Jamie flowers. No, she’d send a box of fattening chocolates instead. “Did you enjoy your evening after I left?”


His gaze narrowed, he pushed himself out of the chair. “Did you arrange with Jamie to drop by our table?”


“How could I, when I had no idea where we were going for dinner until we were there?” Not to mention, she’d have preferred to sever essential body parts than ask Jamie Feldman for anything. But her irrational possessiveness was her own problem. “The important thing is you had a good time, and you’re ready to make up for everything you’ve been missing over the past year.”


“Those things aren’t important at all.” He advanced on her slowly.


She took a step back and came up against the door she’d closed a moment before.


Kyle flashed a predatory smile. He took her purse and briefcase from her shoulder, setting them aside. Then he rested his forearms on either side of her head and stared into her eyes, his lips a scant inch from hers as he spoke. “I’m here for you. Our date deserves another shot.”


Her heart thundered. The thick eyelashes framing his gray-green eyes mesmerized her. He stood too near for her to formulate a coherent response. This much physical perfection and sex appeal should be outlawed. Her mind was not equipped to handle it.


“What do you say?” he asked.


Yes, take me. “I say, why me?” Her voice rose with an embarrassing squeak as she struggled to compose a rational argument and remind herself she was in her office, just feet away from her employees who’d never seen her anything less than one hundred percent professional. “I get why you went out with me on Saturday. You’d shut yourself away from the world, and I was the first woman to find you. But you’ve been reminded you can have Jamie or anyone else you crook your finger for. Why do you still want me?”


His gaze softened with a tenderness that pierced her heart. He brushed his thumb along her cheek. “How could I not want you? You’re smart and funny and beautiful and not afraid to let a guy who has no idea what you like order for you on a first date.”

Author Bio:
Sara Daniel writes irresistible romance, from sweet to erotic and everything in between. On the personal side, she’s a frazzled maid, chef, chauffeur, tutor, and personal assistant. She battles a serious NASCAR addiction and was once a landlord of two uninvited squirrels. Last but definitely not least, she has her own happily-ever-after romance with her hero husband.

Sarah's Review:
Thanks to Decadent Publishing and Sara Daniel for continuing to provide amazing books to keep our blog running!   This should have been reviewed in September but real life got in the way with a new job and my reading time diminished.  Things are heading back on the right track so I can read again! 

I love that Kyle saw Gretchen for who she was and was able to show Gretchen that she was beautiful the way she was.  It was also nice to read something that had the guy feel self-conscious about how he looks as well.  This story was touching in many ways for me since I related to Gretchen on so many levels.  

I enjoy reading stories where both characters have self-esteem issues and then they find a way to overcome their own images and find a way to be happy together.                  

REVIEW: Captivating the CEO by Sara Daniel

Blurb:

When live-for-the-moment massage therapist Willow Jeffries bursts into Colin Vanderhayden's office, she makes it her mission to loosen up the future-focused CEO, knowing each moment of the present is too precious to waste. Despite her immediate attraction, the only future she can offer is one full of heartache. 

The last thing Colin needs is a flighty woman messing up his carefully-constructed plans, but her heavenly massages and addictive personality prove hard to resist. But he has no idea how sick she is. 

No longer able to ignore her life-threatening medical condition, Willow slips away to spare Colin a miserable future with her. Is Colin willing to sacrifice his well-laid future plans to get Willow back? 

~Excerpt~

Cupping her face with his hands and angling his mouth, he poured the intensity she'd previously only seen him devote to his work into turning her body into a tingling, craving mass of need. She loved the way he cradled her-so gentle, yet firm.

Stars danced in front of her eyes, but she willed them away to press her tongue between his lips. No matter how light-headed she became, she refused to miss a moment of the kiss. Colin's mouth made the opportunity to enjoy worth the risk of passing out.

But, too soon, he broke off, panting, his eyes dilated with desire. “I have to get that.”

“Get what?” His words made no sense, then her ears started ringing. No, not her ears. His damned phone.

“Of course you do.”

But he'd already turned his attention to a conversation he gave far more importance to than anything she offered.

Sinking onto the couch, she pressed her fingers to her still tingling lips. Dear God, she hoped she didn't affect him as strongly as he affected her. If he became emotionally invested, she'd bring pain and misery into his life.

REVIEW:

Willows zest for life is so wonderful, her need to live life to its fullest. Having spent her whole life living with a heart disease and not knowing what is going to happen next with her health, she’s learned to appreciate the little things. Something she is hoping to teach a certain CEO.

Colin is so focused in ensuring that his future is secure he forgets to live for the present. Not wanting to have a future that his grandparents ended up having, he works hard. He works so hard, that he doesn’t have any time to get a massage, hence the need for one to come to him. This is the events that will change his life.

This is an emotional story that has you pulling for not only Willow’s life but her happiness with Colin.

Happy reading.

PROMO & REVIEW: One Night with the Bride by Sara Daniel

One Night with the Bride

Sara Daniel

When her society matron mother presents Caroline with a one-night stand date a week before her wedding, she’s appalled. Even worse, the encounter will take place at the fantasy ranch resort operated by her high school lover, Javier Alvarado. Although determined to remain faithful to her fiancé, she’s tempted and intrigued to see her first love again. It’s not like she has to sleep with him.

But one look and kiss later, she yearns for the man she walked away from so long ago. Unfortunately, when Javier discovers Caroline is engaged, all he can see is deception and heartbreak all over again.

Can a 1Night Stand from Madame Eve reunite them, or will one night with the bride sever their ties forever?

Buy Link: http://www.decadentpublishing.com/product_info.php?products_id=771&osCsid=cakg40dqtlmbqji2dcqk2umcc2

About The Author:

I write what I love—irresistible romance, from sweet to erotic and everything in between. On the personal side, I'm a frazzled maid, chauffeur, and slave to my children. I was once a landlord of two uninvited squirrels. (The children's book The Bravest Squirrel Ever by my alter-ego Sara Shafer is the squirrel's fictionalized version of that experience!) I'm crazy about country music and the drama of NASCAR. And I have my very own happily-ever-after romance with my hero husband.

Website: www.saradaniel.com

Email:  sarashafer@rocketmail.com

Blog: http://saradanielromance.blogspot.com

Twitter: @SSaraDaniel

Excerpt:

He led her to the seclusion of the stable then spun to face her. “Are you buttering up my employees to gather secrets about my resort so you can undermine my success and create your own for Sunburst Hotels?”

She blinked, her blue eyes owlish and innocent. “You think I arrived in a helicopter and announced my presence to the entire county to engage in corporate espionage? Granted, I don’t have any prior experience, but I think I’d take the under-the-radar approach. Arrive in a rental car and check in anonymously. Maybe apply for a job as a janitor.”

Okay, so he’d accused before thinking the idea through. Her closeness rendered him temporarily insane. He gripped her upper arms. “What are you doing then?”

“For Sunburst Hotels? Absolutely nothing. I quit my job a month ago.”

“You want to apply as my private janitor? I’m only in my office at night, and if you came in I guarantee you wouldn’t be emptying garbage cans.”

Her eyes grew even more luminous. “What would I be doing?”

“Stripping, so I could take you on my desk.”

Her lips parted, as if the image turned her on.

The hell with the desk. He pulled her flush to his body, wanting her immediately—in the stable, on his real turf.

“Wait.” She pushed against his chest. “We can’t just pick up where we left off fifteen years ago.”

“Why not? We’re two consenting, unattached adults.”

Of course, they had issues from the past to work through. But when they’d been together, she understood him the way no one else ever had.

“Um.” Her gaze dropped away from his. “Actually, I’m not unattached. I’m engaged.”

Sarah's Review:  

Thanks to Decadent Publishing for the opportunity to promote and review this story! Thanks to Sara Daniel for creating a story that made me want to live in Montana!!  

I love that the heroine's mother is actually the one that gifted the 1NS and wanted her daughter to find love, not just a "business" deal.  That's my perspective anyway.   I love that Madame Eve was able to work her magic, yet again and bring two people together that may not have in normal circumstances.  I also loved that this was a second chance romance too!