Hate Notes by Vi Keeland & Penelope Ward

It all started with a mysterious blue note sewn into a wedding dress.
Something blue.
I’d gone to sell my own unworn bridal gown at a vintage clothing store. That’s when I found another bride’s “something old.”
Stitched into the lining of a fabulously feathered design was the loveliest message I’d ever read: Thank you for making all of my dreams come true.
The name embossed on the blue stationery: Reed Eastwood, obviously the most romantic man who ever lived. I also discovered he’s the most gorgeous. If only my true-love fantasies had stopped there. Because I’ve since found out something else about Mr. Starry-Eyed.
He’s arrogant, cynical, and demanding. I should know. Thanks to a twist of fate, he’s my new boss. But that’s not going to stop me from discovering the story behind his last love letter. A love letter that did not result in a happily ever after.
But that story is nothing compared to the one unfolding between us. It’s getting hotter, sweeter, and more surprising than anything I could have imagined.
Something new.
But I have no idea how this one is going to end . . .

 
 I loved Hate Notes. Vi and Penelope work so well together. The story flowed seamlessly and you couldn't tell there were two authors writing it. 

I love Charlotte. I love that she was a dreamer and that she made the leap to find the man from the note in the dress. I love that no matter what this jerk of a man threw at her, she held her own and was still a sweet, thoughtful person. She saw things for the bright side and work her tail off. She is a great heroine. 

I wanted to smack Reed a few times for his harsh words. He reacted first and spewed some rude comments that would often end up with his foot in his mouth. Of course he felt bad afterwards, but there was only so many sorry's that he could give. As time goes on, we realize why he became the cynical man he was. I loved watching Charlotte break down his walls and push him to realize that he needed to let people in again. 

I really enjoyed this book and read it in one day. Charlotte and Reed's story will make your heart happy. 

Sex, Not Love ~ Vi Keeland

My relationship with Hunter Delucia started backwards. 

We met at a wedding—him sitting on the groom’s side, me sitting on the bride’s. Stealing glances at each other throughout the night, there was no denying an intense, mutual attraction. 

I caught the bouquet; he caught the garter. Hunter held me tightly while we danced and suggested we explore the chemistry sparking between us. His blunt, dirty mouth should’ve turned me off. But for some crazy reason, it had the opposite effect on me.

We ended up back in my hotel room. The next morning, I headed home to New York leaving him behind in California with the wrong number.

I thought about him often, but after my last relationship, I’d sworn off of charming, cocky, gorgeous-as-sin men. A year later, Hunter and I met again at the birth of our friends’ baby. Our attraction hadn't dulled one bit. After a whirlwind trip, he demanded a real phone number this time. So I left him with my mother’s—she could scare away any man with her talks of babies and marriage—and flew back home.

I’d thought it was funny, until the following week when he rang the bell at Mom’s house for Sunday night dinner. The crazy, gorgeous man had won over my mother and taken an eight-week assignment in my city. He proposed we spend that time screwing each other out of our systems. 

Eight weeks of mind-blowing sex with no strings attached? What did I have to lose?

Nothing, I thought.

It’s just sex, not love.

But you know what they say about the best laid plans…

"Life wasn't about the news - it was about the first person you wanted to tell that news to."

Hunter Delucia....Yummy! I absolutely loved Hunter. He's a sexy, smart architect with a dirty mouth. Total swoon. He is sex. While I may not have agreed with his original proposal, I did respect his honesty. But, since he was thinking of and chasing after Natalia for almost a year, I think he knew there was more there. Unfortunately, Hunter couldn't get past his baggage. 

I adored Natalia too. Especially after I read about her history and all that she had been through. A lesser woman would have left certain things behind, but she stayed and made a difference. Her backstory also helped be understand why she was so skeptical of men and dating. I mean, she had an itch that needed to be scratched, but the men, but commitment wasn't on her list.

These two sizzle and burn up the pages. Super hot and a bit emotional. There were some hard decisions to make and at times I wanted to slap Hunter for his. Those choices made my heart ache and I felt for all that were being effected by them. 

I really enjoyed this book, but I was bummed I didn't get more towards the end. I felt that there was a lot of back history (which is needed to see why the characters are the way they are), but not enough for me at the end. I wanted more. There was an abruptness to it that I wished would have been drawn out a bit more. I mean, who would not want more Hunter and Natalia?! 

Dear Bridget, I Want You ~ Penelope Ward and Vi Keeland

Dear Bridget,

I’m writing this letter because it’s highly doubtful I’ll ever garner the courage to say this to your face. 

So, here goes.

We’re totally wrong for each other. You’re the proper single mum with a good head on your shoulders. I’m just the carefree British doctor passing through town and temporarily living in your converted garage until I head back to England.

But here’s the thing… for some bloody reason, I can’t stop thinking about you in very inappropriate ways. 

I want you.

The only reason I’m even admitting all of this to you right now is because I don’t believe it’s one-sided. I notice your eyes when you look at me, too. And as crass as I appear when we’re joking around about sex, my attraction to you is not a joke. 

So, what’s the purpose of this note? I guess it’s a reminder that we’re adults, that sex is healthy and natural, and that you can find me just through the door past the kitchen. More specifically, it’s to let you know that I’m leaving said door cracked open from now on in case you’d like to visit me in the middle of the night sometime. 

No questions asked. 

Think about it. 

Or don’t. 

Whatever you choose.

It’s doubtful I’ll even end up sliding this letter under your door anyway. 

--Simon

OMG! I loved this book. Another great collaboration with Penelope and Vi. I mean, read the blurb! Hello! So freaking HOT! I loved these characters and the premise of the story. The whole, "I want you, but shouldn't. You're going to leave. I can't get attached." scenario completely amplified the sexual tension between these two. 

Bridget's backstory broke my heart. The tragedy her family faced is something many don't get over. But she works hard and continues to move forward. Jumping back on the saddle, so to speak, is not something she has considered for quite a long time, but the feelings Simon stirs are undeniable. 

Simon isn't looking for attachment. He's just passing though on his residency until he returns to England. Yet, Simon cannot get enough of Bridget. She's not like the young, immature women he has dated. She's something he never expected and we can feel his desire through the pages of the book. 

There were many laughs, some tears and lots of page turning as I flew threw this book. Emotional and fun all at the same time. And super, super HOT!! Definite "one-click" worthy!

Mister Moneybags ~ Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward

I met Bianca in an elevator.

She was on her way to interview me when we got stuck.

The beautiful, raven-haired reporter assumed I was a delivery guy because of the way I was dressed.

She had no clue I was really Dex Truitt, the wealthy, successful businessman she’d dubbed “Mister Moneybags”—her afternoon appointment.

Bianca told me how much she hated Dex’s type—snobby, over educated, silver- spooned men who didn't appreciate the simple things in life.

So, after the elevator finally started moving again, I cancelled the interview and let her believe I was someone I wasn’t—a bike messenger named Jay. I loved the way she looked at the fake me and didn't want it to end.

I began dating her as “Jay”—all the while letting her interview the real me over email.

I didn’t expect that our chemistry online would be just as hot.

I didn’t expect the mess I’d gotten myself into.

I didn’t expect that Jay and Dex would fall in love with her.

And she was falling for two men.

Only, both men were me.

And when she found out, we were both going to lose her.

Nothing could have prepared me for that day. And I certainly wasn't prepared for what came after.

All good things must come to an end, right?

Except our ending was one I didn't see coming.

 I really liked Mister Moneybags. It was super cute, funny and sexy. It’s amazing the preconceived notions we have about people. Whether that is from past experiences or things we are told by others. There are many times people are thought of as mean or snobby, but they really are shy. The same can be said about the rich and famous.

Mister Moneybags is on the elevator with Bianca and she has no clue. Not until an unexpected situation causes her to get in an awkward conversation with the sexy voiced man behind her. This awkward conversation divulges Bianca’s preconceived notions about the man she is about to interview. I loved this exchange and it made me giggle when I read Dex’s point of view. His panic that he wanted more time with Bianca, but knew it would be over the minute the interview started, was super cute. While the idea to pretend to be someone else was not ideal, it did make for some fun and interesting exchanges.

Bianca and Dex’s relationship has a rocky start, but Dex was completely taken with her. He was willing to do whatever he could to get close to her. Even go so far as finding her hobbies and trying to make some of them his own. As their relationship grows, so does the drama. There’s ex issues, family problems and skeletons that come out of some old closets. The twists are some that I definitely did not expect. Totally threw me for a loop.

Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward are “go to” authors. If you see something new from them, one-click immediately! I always enjoy these collaborations and have a great time reading them. 

Egomaniac ~ Vi Keeland

Amazon US/Amazon UK

The night I met Drew Jagger, he’d just broken into my new Park Avenue office. 
I dialed 9-1-1 before proceeding to attack him with my fancy new Krav Maga skills.
He quickly restrained me, then chuckled, finding my attempted assault amusing. 

Of course, my intruder had to be arrogant.
Only, turned out, he wasn’t an intruder at all. 

Drew was the rightful occupant of my new office.  He’d been on vacation while his posh space was renovated.
Which was how a scammer got away with leasing me office space that wasn’t really available for rent. 
I was swindled out of ten grand.

The next day, after hours at the police station, Drew took pity on me and made me an offer I couldn’t refuse.  In exchange for answering his phones while his secretary was out, he’d let me stay until I found a new place.
I probably should have acted grateful and kept my mouth shut when I overheard the advice he was spewing to his clients.  But I couldn’t help giving him a piece of my mind.
I never expected my body to react every time we argued.  Especially when that was all we seemed to be able to do.

The two of us were complete opposites. Drew was a bitter, angry, gorgeous-as-all-hell, destroyer of relationships.  And my job was to help people save their marriages.
The only thing the two of us had in common was the space we were sharing. 
And an attraction that was getting harder to deny by the day. 

Egomaniac was super fun, sexy, sarcastic and emotional. Drew and Emerie are fun and flirtatious characters you can’t help but love. Their dynamic is hilarious from the start. I love how rude and arrogant Drew is, but still lovable. Emerie is quirky and finds herself in awkward situations. She cracks me up and the spot she has herself in with Drew is an interesting one.

The side of Drew that we don’t see initially breaks my heart. The reason he is so bitter and single-minded to end marriages makes me super angry for him. His belief that relations ships can’t work is just sad. Considering Emerie’s job is to keep marriages together.  Can we say “Irony”?

When Drew lets Emerie stay, she realizes there’s more behind the sexy body and the arrogant attitude. He has a huge heart, that and the fact that they get all feisty when they argue. Talk about super-hot!  These two sizzle, so I was hoping all they could get though all the drama because they fit each other so well.

I always enjoy Vi’s writing. She makes you love the main characters and want to punch their adversaries in the face. The story is easy flowing and I flew through the book quickly. 

Playboy Pilot ~ Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward

 Money or love? Which would you choose?

You probably just answered the question in your head thinking it's an easy decision.

For me, it's not. Did I mention it's a lot of money? A hell of a lot.

I needed to go far away to think it through.

As I embarked on an impulsive trip, I hit a detour when I met sexy Carter in the airport lounge. We struck up a heated conversation.

Then, he left.

I thought I'd never see him again.

But fate had other plans.

Surprise! He was the pilot of my flight.

The bigger surprise was the adventure that followed after the plane landed.

Carter was dangerous and always on the move.

Even though our connection was magnetic, I knew it was only temporary.

He would give me tickets, and I would follow him around the world to exotic places.

A bevy of flight attendant exes and rumors about Carter's reputation were never far behind.

I didn't know what to believe.

But I was addicted. Nothing else mattered anymore. And I was going to get hurt. Because a part of me wanted to be the one to finally ground the playboy pilot.

At the very least, he was taking me on a thrilling ride.

All good things must come to an end, right?

Except our ending was one I didn't see coming.

I really liked this collaboration by Penelope and Vi. When these two write a book together, it’s definitely an instant one-click.

While Carter is your typical playboy, we can see early on he is searching for something. What that something is, he’s not too sure yet, but he’s having his fun while he can. That normally doesn’t bother him, except now he’s spilled his drink on an interesting beauty that he doesn’t know how to handle. A few suggestions in the airport and boom, she’s on his flight!

Kendall is in an odd predicament. She’s trying to decide if money is more important than her happiness. But there are other factors involved that I don’t want to spoil for anyone, so I’ll just say it sucks. While she’s flying around the world with Carter, there are some interesting….uh….situations that happen that both crack me up and make me panic. While stuck with this predicament, Kendall acted somewhat immature at times, which was explained by her silver spoon, sheltered childhood. At times I was frustrated with her actions, but in the end, she grew up. They both grew up.

Overall, I really liked this book. It was funny, sexy, hot, and emotional. I loved Carter as the sweet, in love pilot, but felt bad for his old playboy ways. I loved Kendall’s spirit, but at the same time was frustrated by some of her decisions. Kendall was the only one to see a certain side of Carter, because most only saw him as the gorgeous pilot, but her was so much more. I loved that about their love story. It was special. 

Bossman ~ Vi Keeland

The first time I met Chase Parker, I didn't exactly make a good impression.

I was hiding in the bathroom hallway of a restaurant, leaving a message for my best friend to save me from my awful date.

He overheard and told me I was a bitch, then proceeded to offer me some dating advice.

So I told him to mind his own damn business―his own tall, gorgeous, full-of-himself damn business―and went back to my miserable date.

When he walked by my table, he smirked, and I watched his arrogant, sexy ass walk back to his date.

I couldn't help but sneak hidden glances at the condescending jerk on the other side of the room. Of course, he caught me on more than one occasion, and winked.

When the gorgeous stranger and his equally hot date suddenly appeared at our table, I thought he was going to rat me out.

But instead, he pretended we knew each other and joined us―telling elaborate, embarrassing stories about our fake childhood.

My date suddenly went from boring to bizarrely exciting.

When it was over and we parted ways, I thought about him more than I would ever admit, even though I knew I'd never see him again.

I mean, what were the chances I'd run into him again in a city with eight million people?Then again...

What were the chances a month later he'd wind up being my new sexy boss?

Bossman was super sexy and fun. I loved all the stories that Chase came up with, from their first meeting at the restaurant. These characters are funny, witty and smart. And of course HOT!

Reese is the smart, sexy and witty heroine that doesn’t have the best track record with men. After meeting Chase at the restaurant and their impromptu double date, she tries to move on and find someone to really settle with. Unfortunately, she can’t get Chase out of her mind. There may have been some certain stalker tendencies in here that made me giggle as well.

Chase is super hot and a GENIUS! Owning and running his own company, he ends up helping Reese connect with a recruiter, which helps her find a new job. What Chase doesn’t realize is the woman he’s been thinking of for month’s turns up for an interview….at his company! He’s trying to resist and he has a tragedy in his past, that he’s trying to get over, but he just can’t stay away from Reese.

I love Vi’s writing. I was sucked in to this book right away and couldn’t put it down. Their chemistry was sizzling and I had to fan myself a couple times with my kindle to cool down. Loved it.