Heat. Jamie K. Schmidt. 2014. 239 pages. Loveswept.  [Source: ARC provided courtesy of NetGalley.] When Mallory woke up from a drug-induced stupor that was forced upon her by an abusive fiancee, she went on the run. Two months later, she found herself in seeking refuge in her sister Colleen’s massive compound – part fashion school, part sex den. What Mallory thought would be a chance for her to hide out from a drug-addicted ex ends up turning into  a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for her to explore her own identity , motivations, and sexuality.  In the process, she’s introduced to Max who doubles as an instructor and her bodyguard, much to her chagrin.

Delectable. Adrianne Lee. 2014. 273 pages. Forever. [Source: ARC provided courtesy of NetGalley.] You ever read a book so descriptive that you can taste what the characters are eating? This is definitely a book that makes you wish you actually could taste what they’re eating. “Delectable” is a story loosely about the opening of a pie shop, Big Sky Pie, but really focuses on the seemingly failed marriage of Callee and Quint McCoy. It’s full of small-town charm that makes the book both endearing and entertaining at once. Quint and Callee were (not quite) happily married until his father Jimmy died of a massive heart attack. Quint’s way of dealing with his father’s death was to run away from the comfort of his mother and wife. When he returns from a month-long fishing trip, he has only an empty house, divorce papers, and a failed real-estate business to welcome him. His mother, Molly, however, has taken it upon herself to follow her dream of opening a pie shop … in the same space he once called his business office. When Callee shows up out of the blue for one last bit of closure before leaving for Seattle, they’re both present…

A January Bride. Deborah Raney. 2013. 99 pages. Zondervan. [Source: ARC provided courtesy of NetGalley.] As part of a “A Year of Weddings,” I read A January Bride. The second book in the series, this novella tells the story of author Madeline and widower Arthur as their friend, a spry octogenarian affectionately known as Ginny, plays matchmaker. Madeline’s house is being renovated, which doesn’t suit her need for peace and quiet while she’s writing. Arthur has a bed & breakfast that sits largely empty while he works as an English professor. When Ginny calls on Arthur to let Madeline use his house while she recuperates from a sprained ankle and tries to beat a publishing deadline. Competing schedules keep the two from meeting, but they exchange almost daily notes, getting to know one another from afar. The only catch is they’re both greatly misinformed about the other – they both think they’re talking to someone Ginny’s age, when the reality is that they’re both barely middle-aged. Even more complicated is that they’ve actually met one another and didn’t even realize it.

Bedding the Billionaire. Kendra Little. 2012. 173 pages. Amazon Digital Services. [Source: personal copy.] My feelings about Bedding the Billionaire are complicated at best. Overall, it is well-written, but that is only if you consider the structure apart from the story itself. The book was interesting enough to keep me reading, but I simply could not suspend my disbelief because of the plot. The main character, Abbey, quits her job and ends moonlighting as a prostitute for her PI friend. The result is that she sleeps with womanizing husbands … and accidentally sleeps with the wrong man on her first go.

Only With You. Lauren Layne. 2014. 369 pages. Forever. [Source: ARC provided courtesy of NetGalley.] Only With You sucked me in and stole my entire day and I loved every second. It explores the complicated relationship between law student-turned cocktail waitress Sophie Dalton and Gray Wyatt, a stoic businessman, that results from a brief encounter while trapped in a Las Vegas hotel’s elevator. When the Sophie and Gray formally meet a few weeks later, it’s obviously shocking for them, but sets in motion a chain of events that leave the two at each others’ throats and hearts. Although their reintroduction is a bit of a cliche, Layne weaves together a solid story.