Release Week Blitz - Fringe Benefits for Sandy James

Title: Fringe Benefits
Series: The Ladies Who Lunch #4

Author: Sandy James

Release Date: April 21, 2015

When life gets tough and love is hard to find, four friends take their troubles to lunch. High school teacher Danielle Bradshaw deserves a happily ever after, and the Ladies Who Lunch are determined to deliver Mr. Right.

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As the new head of the English department, Dani doesn’t have much time for anything but lesson planning and literature. Romance—or even sex? Forget about it. But then the principal introduces her to last-minute hire Nate Ryan. Finding time to mentor a new teacher won’t be easy, especially when his incredible body and equally disarming charisma are enough to make her heart skip a beat . . .

Nate may be fresh out of school, but he’s confident in his teaching skills—and in his feelings for Dani. But while she’s everything he’s ever wanted, he knows his place on her staff—and his age—may be problematic for his sexy boss. How can he convince her to ignore the gossip mill currently in full swing in the teacher’s lounge and surrender to what’s meant to be?

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Awww, I've really enjoyed this steamy, sensual series from Sandy James, and with Fringe Benefits, The Ladies Who Lunch appears to be all done. And I have to say, I'll be sorry to say goodbye. 

The last thing Danielle Bradshaw needs at the beginning of the school year is to have a new, fresh-from-college teacher thrust upon her. Especially one like Nate Ryan; young, handsome, charming and smart, his arrival is enough to make her heart beat fast. 

Nate can't help but be attracted to his new department head. Dani is beautiful, but also his boss and a few years older than him. He's not deterred however. No, Nate is instead determined to make Dani see that, regardless of hierarchy, age or trust issues, she's the one for him... Will he succeed?

Oh sweet baby Jesus in a basket! Nate! If only there were teachers like him when I was at school. He's all sorts of perfect -- a little intense, very mature and kinda dominant in all the best ways. He was hot...this book was hot. But it was also fun, angsty and charming, just like all the others in this wonderful series. 

Fringe Benefits was excellent. Simply put, I delighted in reading this book. From start to finish, I was enamored with the characters, the plot and the writing. Was it a little too perfect in places? Yes, maybe. Nate was clearly more mature than his age and the tension was such that I never really questioned the outcome, but nonetheless I was moved by this book. I'm certain a myriad of emotions crossed my face as I read -- happiness, frustration, irritation, lust (there'd have been a fair bit of that!), joy and anger, to name just a few. 

The highlight of these books has always been the lovely relationship between the titular Ladies; Mallory, Jules, Beth and Dani have a very real feeling friendship and it's one I've cherished. One I've enjoyed being a part of. Every other great thing about these books is just icing on the cake. I am truly sad that this must be the end (since there are four ladies and this is book four) but so very happy I got to read the The Ladies Who Lunch series. It couldn't have ended better...unless of course, it didn't end at all. I vote novellas for everyone, who's with me? 

Fringe Benefits is the fourth book in The Ladies Who Lunch series and can be read standalone, although I would recommend reading them all, in order. No cliffhanger.

~ Review by Beth

Sandy James lives in a quiet suburb of Indianapolis with her husband. She's a high school social studies teacher who especially loves psychology and United States history. Since she and her husband own a small stable of harness racehorses, they often spend time together at the two Indiana racetracks.

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Blog Tour - Sealing the Deal by Sandy James

Title: Sealing the Deal
Series: The Ladies Who Lunch #3

Author: Sandy James

Release Date: November 4, 2014

After losing her sister, Bethany Rogers needs a shoulder to lean on more than ever-though she never expects that shoulder to belong to her new boss . . . 

Bethany has been in love with Robert Ashford since they were teachers at the same high school. After Robert leaves to start his own construction company, Beth puts her feelings aside to focus on her goals. When she finally lands a gig as a part-time designer, she is shocked to find her new boss is none other than Robert . . . and he's hotter than ever. But Bethany's happiness is short-lived when she receives word that her sister has been killed in combat.

With the success of building homes for one happy family after another, Robert is finally ready to settle down. When Beth is left to care for her nine-month-old niece, Robert can't help but step in. And before long, the trio are inseparable. Yet convincing the cautious, bereaved Beth of letting him in proves difficult-but Robert will give everything he's got for the chance at his own happily ever after.

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I’m basically a sucker for a good friend-to-lovers story, and that’s what Sealing the Deal is, in spades. But it’s not just that; it’s also a book about finding and making a family of your own, believing in yourself and fighting for what (and who) you want. And it’s all packaged up in a sweet, sexy and smooth story. 

When Bethany Rogers loses her sister in combat, she gains a daughter. Taking in her lost sister’s nine-month old daughter may present a challenge for a single parent on a teacher’s wage, but Bethany is determined to make it work.

When her boss and friend, Robert Ashford, offers his help, Bethany can’t turn him down – even if she wants to. She’s admired Robert for years and now he finally seems to be noticing her the way she’s hoped for. But Bethany is no longer a free, single woman; she a package deal with her new daughter. Bethany wants be sure Robert wants her for her and not for the ready-made family she’s offering.

Robert desperately wants to be there for the woman he started to consider as more than a friend, but she’s trying to keep him at arms length. Can he convince Bethany that he loves her – and her daughter – and sees a future with both his girls? 

The Ladies Who Lunch have really grown on me since book one. I have enjoyed each installment, and Sealing the Deal is my favorite so far. It was the right mix of emotional – learning to live with loss, regret and change – and fun. Robert and Bethany were a wonderful, easily-relatable couple, and I was pulling for them from the start. I enjoyed their slow realization that their relationship was more than they’d always thought. And even when I wanted to tell Beth to open her damn eyes and Robert to just admit it already, I loved each of them for their insecurities and quirks.

I am officially excited and impatient for the fourth (and I assume, final) book in this charming series. The friendship between these women is feels genuine and real. I can imagine their playful conversations happening with my own friends, and can picture their moments of frustration and selfishness occurring in all such long-term friendships. The times when they were all together added heart to a book that was already overflowing with it, and made me smile (and grimace...Jules). Sandy James has crafted a series that is to be as admired for it’s depiction of friendship and support among women, as it’s hot (and sometimes heavy) romances.

Sealing the Deal is the third book in The Ladies Who Lunch series, and can be read standalone. No cliffhanger.

~ Review by Beth

As she entered the master bathroom, Beth stopped to stare at her reflection in the mirror.

Sweet heavens. I look like crap!

Robert hadn’t said a word about her shameful appearance, nor had he scolded her for being late. She was simply overwhelmed by the sudden changes in her life. Losing Tiffany hadn’t truly sunken in because Beth had been so busy trying to learn how to take care of Emma. Clearly she wasn’t doing a good job. Emma might be clean and well fed, but she wasn’t as happy as Beth thought she should be.

No wonder. She’d spent a short time with her mother, been uprooted when Carol had taken over her care, and now found herself plunked down in the middle of Beth’s life in a place she didn’t know.

Feeling sorry for Emma, Beth had bent over backward to meet every single whim the baby had. Although she guessed wrong about what Emma wanted most of the time, she was giving it her all.

And it was killing her.

How could she possibly keep this up?

She was supposed to go back to work Monday. The child care was going to cost more than half her teaching salary, and she refused to touch any of the money that was being put aside for Emma from her mother’s life insurance and military benefits. She’d have to pick Emma up by four every afternoon or would be charged an extra twenty bucks—even if she was a minute late. When would she have time to grade papers or make lesson plans? Those activities sometimes took hours in the evening. Emma needed someone to play with her and teach her to walk and to read and—

Beth burst into tears, feeling like the biggest failure in the world.

“Bethany?” Robert hurried into the master bathroom. “What happened?” He skidded to a stop, still holding Emma. “Did you hurt yourself?”

She couldn’t stop crying. There wasn’t even a towel to grab so she could hide her face.

“B?” His hand settled on her back. “Tell me what’s wrong.”

“I… I can’t… do this…” Everything she touched was going straight to Hades, and the idea that she faced years and years of trying to balance all the responsibilities of taking care of her niece seemed about as likely as her being able to hike up Mount Everest.

Robert wrapped his strong arm around her shoulders and pulled her against his other side. His scent, so masculine and fresh, overwhelmed her, reminding her that he was only her friend no matter how much she might want more. That scent would never be on a pillow resting next to hers. It would never be there whenever she came home and needed a hug after a rough day at work. It would never envelop her as he pulled her into his embrace for passion instead of friendly comfort.

Well, this time she’d allow herself to drown in that fantastic scent. She turned to bury her face against his broad chest as sobs racked her body.

Funny, but after several long moments of weeping, Beth felt much better. Reduced to hiccups and shuddering breaths, she tried to ease back.

Robert put his hand behind her head and pushed her cheek back against his chest as if he didn’t want to let her go. Her eyes were even with Emma’s where she clung to him. Beth hadn’t realized the baby had been crying as well until she saw the tears on Emma’s cheek and her quivering lower lip.

Beth stared at Emma, and Emma stared back as Robert held them both. Just one happy little non-family. Then Beth ran her fingers down Emma’s cheek, thinking they were quite a pair. Two weeping females joined in their grief, both clinging to a man who probably wanted to get them the heck out of the house.

Leaning back slightly, she looked up to find him watching her. The concern she saw reflected in his dark eyes made her heart clench. Here was the kind of man she’d searched for her whole life, one full of compassion and honor and gentleness. Not only that, but he was gorgeous, too. From his thick hair to his perfect body, she’d even loved the light brush of gray on his temples. He’d been right beside her all along.

She knit her brows as he slowly lowered his face to hers, and when it dawned on her that he was going to kiss her, she almost turned away, afraid of allowing her lips to connect with his.

Then she closed her eyes and let it happen.

The touch of his lips wasn’t at all what she’d thought it would be. She’d expected a gentle kiss, a friendly are-you-okay-now gesture.

She got… So. Much. More.

Sandy James lives in a quiet suburb of Indianapolis with her husband. She's a high school social studies teacher who especially loves psychology and United States history. Since she and her husband own a small stable of harness racehorses, they often spend time together at the two Indiana racetracks.

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The Lovestruck Blog Tour with Abigail Sharpe & Sandy James

 

 

 

Title: Signed, Sealed, Delivered
Series: The Ladies Who Lunch #2

Author: Sandy James

Release Date: July 1, 2014

Juliana has spent thirteen years in the same teaching job. She’s ready to dive into a new career with both feet . . . when a run-in with the hottest man she’s ever seen knocks her head over heels. But with her failed marriage to a fellow teacher fresh on her mind, Jules can’t afford to lose herself in a relationship—no matter how perfect it may seem.

Connor Wilson has hit rock bottom when he loses his career as a top-notch Realtor because of a large gambling debt. Now, in a small town he finds a fresh start—and a gorgeous redhead who sparks new life into him. Together they start a successful real estate company, but when pleasure sneaks into the business, they’ll have to decide what they can let go . . . and what they can’t live without.

 

 

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When I was asked if I was interested in reading Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I had two immediate reactions. One, oh hell yes, because I read The Bottom Line – the first book in the Ladies Who Lunch series – and really enjoyed it and two, I start singing that old song. I haven’t stopped singing it either, even though I only know the one line...Signed, sealed, delivered, I’m yours... I also haven’t stopped smiling, basking in the afterglow of reading a sweet, sexy book that has me salivating for book three. Yeah, I said salivating. What of it?

 

Juliana Kelley is burnt-out. After teaching Special Needs kids for thirteen years, she knows it’s time to make a major life change and she thinks she has the perfect plan. Telling The Ladies Who Lunch that she’s leaving the school they work at together to pursue a career in real estate isn’t easy – and it’s only the first hurdle she’s going to face. When she meets Connor Wilson at a seminar, she’s immediately drawn to him but she needs to concentrate on finding her feet first.

Connor Wilson is also looking to start afresh. After losing his career, moving to a small town and beginning again is his best chance of getting back in the game. Juliana is a distraction that he doesn’t need but can’t seem to ignore. When a chance encounter throws Connor and Juliana into a partnership, they have to decide whether they can or should keep their relationship strictly professional...or take a chance on love.

 

I was really taken by the Ladies in the first book, although I’ll admit I was particularly annoyed with Jules at certain points. I wasn’t sure if I’d like her in this book, despite being eager to read her story, and honestly, I didn’t. I loved her. Sandy James really excels at writing her female characters – both Jules and Mallory, from The Bottom Line, are women that I want to read more about (you heard me say I was salivating for book three, right?) Jules was strong, brave (I can’t even imagine starting a new career in my mid-thirties) and fiery.  And her chemistry with Connor was exceptional. They sizzled right from their first meeting and I was chomping at the bit for their scenes together – especially those scenes that *wiggles eyebrows* well, you know... I imagine it would be hard not to sizzle with Connor though – he was sexy and smart, and that’s just a little bit appealing. I was, at times, frustrated with his lack of communication but it worked for the story, so I can’t stay too mad at him. And he proved himself in the end, which is really all that matters.

Signed, Sealed, Delivered is one of those books that’s perfect for when you want to relax and have fun reading, and it’s also one that’ll stay with you for days afterward...kind of like that damn song.

 

Signed, Sealed, Delivered is the second book in the Ladies Who Lunch series and can be read as a standalone. No cliffhanger.

~ Review by Beth

 

 

Sandy James lives in a quiet suburb of Indianapolis with her husband. She's a high school social studies teacher who especially loves psychology and United States history. Since she and her husband own a small stable of harness racehorses, they often spend time together at the two Indiana racetracks.

 

 

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Title: Who Wants to Marry a Doctor?
Series: With This Ring #2
Author: Abigail Sharpe
Release Date: July 1, 2014

As a single mom and pediatrician, Sabrina Bankhead doesn't have time for romance. All that changes when she reluctantly agrees to take part in a dating show fundraiser for a children's hospital. But once she sets eyes on the journalist hired to cover the show, none of the four contestants stand a chance. If she doesn't choose one of the eligible bachelors, the hospital doesn't raise a cent. What's a lovestruck doc to do?

 

Investigative journalist Quinn Donnelly is on the mend after an assignment in Afghanistan left him both physically and emotionally scarred. Though he's itching to return overseas and finish his story, he'll have to be content with this fluff piece assignment to cover a local dating show. One-night stands are Quinn's forte-but after he meets Sabrina, he's ready to say yes for the long haul. After years of chasing the next big story, Quinn is starting to wonder if maybe home really can be where the heart is . . .

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Scars are sexy. There, I said it. And I know I am not the only one who thinks so. Journalist Quinn Donnelly is scarred and it’s one of the things that interested me about this book. It’s not something I’ve seen a lot while reading and more and more I find myself drawn to perfectly imperfect characters. Know what I mean? Smart, sexy but a little bit physically broken. Makes them more attainable. Except for the fact they’re fictional, but that’s a problem for a different day...

 

Pediatrician Sabrina Bankhead hasn’t had a lot of time for or luck with men. She’s a single mother and she’s working hard to give her patients the care they need, but the facilities in her town are lacking. It’s because of that lack that she is willing to make her personal life public and participate in a charity dating show to raise funds for a children’s hospital. She doesn’t relish the idea of dating four men on TV, especially not when the man she wants is on the other side of the microphone.

Quinn Donnelly is recovering from injuries sustained while reporting in Afghanistan when he comes to Harbin, Wyoming to host Who Wants To Marry A Doctor? He’s not expecting to be mesmerized by the petite doctor currently looking for love on television. He knows he’s headed back into a war zone when this gig is finished. She knows that men always leave before committing. And they both know that falling for each will jeopardize not just the hospital, but also their hearts....

 

I’ll admit, I would likely have overlooked this little gem if I was judging the book by its title alone, but I am truly glad that I didn’t. From the first page, I was taken by these small-town characters and their easy banter. In particular, the playful Melora dispensing advice at her bar. What an awesome visual that gave me. I’ve never really been one to go to a bar but for a place like Shy Ann’s, I might be tempted. I really enjoyed the overall story here and quickly found myself getting attached to Sabrina and Quinn. Sabrina was smart, kind and a great match for the wounded journalist. Quinn was smart, kind and hurting – both physically and emotionally. The change in him as the book progressed was well written and gradual enough to be realistic.

Abigail Sharpe did a wonderful job illustrating that scars can be emotional as well as physical when she gave us Quinn. His struggle to overcome the stress of his time in Afghanistan adds weight to an otherwise light story and reminded me that so many people sacrifice so much to keep us safe and informed. I was grateful for that. 

While I felt the book moved a little too slowly in places, I still found myself eager to read on to the end and find out what happened to Sabrina and Quinn. Like Quinn, this book was perfectly imperfect and I finished it with a smile on my face and a happy heart. Can’t ask for much more than that....except for my scarred hero to be real.

 

Who Wants To Marry A Doctor? is the second book in the With This Ring series and can be read as a standalone.

 

~ Review by Beth

Abigail is a Boston-bred Yankee now eating grits and saying "y'all" in North Central Florida. She dreamed more of being a stage actress or joining the CIA than being an author. While she still enjoys participating in community theater productions and singing karaoke, the secret-agent career was replaced by hours at her computer, writing stories of love and laughter and happily ever after.  Abigail lives with her husband, two kids, and one crazy princess puppy. You can keep up with her on Goodreads, Facebook or on her website.

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Blog Tour - The Bottom Line by Sandy James

 

 

Title: The Bottom Line
Series: The Ladies Who Lunch #1

Author: Sandy James

Release Date: May 6, 2014

When life gets tough and love is hard to find, four friends take their troubles to lunch. Surviving a failed marriage and an illness that almost takes her life, high school teacher Mallory Hamilton needs the Ladies Who Lunch more than ever . . .

After a year of upheaval, Mallory has had her fill of change—with one exception. Her house is a disaster, and she wants it fixed. Hiring a contractor to finish the projects her ex-husband started will help her banish the past so she can return to the life she had before everything went awry. But her contractor is sexy, sweet, and single, which threatens the peaceful, solitary life Mallory has planned for herself.

Ben Carpenter has had a hard time raising his daughter without his ex-wife’s help. His new client’s projects will give him the extra income he needs, not to mention afternoons alone with a gorgeous woman. Though their attraction is undeniable, Ben sees the fear and pain hiding in Mallory’s beautiful eyes. But how can he help her if she won’t let him in? Ben can fix just about anything—but can he fix Mallory’s broken heart?

 

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The Bottom Line is a great title. It's what attracted me to the book itself. Some book titles are overly long, some basically tell you the story and some make no sense even after you've read it. But this title is perfect for this book. It's about the cost of rebuilding a house as well as your heart and life. But it's also about how much of yourself you're willing to give and what you're willing to sacrifice for the one you love. It's actually a pretty simple story. A story about second chances and falling in love. But it has a great title.

Mallory Hamilton has had a terrible year. After being left by her husband just days after receiving some life changing news, she's finally ready and able to get her life back on track. Her first order of business is to get her falling-down-around-her house renovated. Its rundown looks are symbolic of her past struggles and now is the time to get it fixed. Ben Carpenter is a single dad with a deadbeat ex-wife and the job of making Mallory's home liveable. It's exactly what he needs. It will bring in the money he's sorely missing but it'll also introduce him to a woman unlike any other he's met. He can tell she's been hurt by life and he can't help but be drawn to her courage, her strength and her kindness. Ben wants to help Mallory and in doing that, he's going to fix more than just her house.

This was a really sweet story. There's not much more than meets the eye when it comes to Ben. He's a handsome and kind single father. He loves his daughter and the relationship between the two of them is nice. It's hard to really say more than that because their story doesn't really go much deeper. The most memorable thing about him is his name because he's a carpenter (technically contractor and that's the joke) whose name is Carpenter. It gave me a mild chuckle because there was a Math teacher at my school whose name was Miss Figures and funny names are...funny. Mallory, on the other hand, is a good character. Her battles aren't immediately revealed although it's easy to see where her story is headed if you're paying attention. Her friends - the Ladies That Lunch, the linchpins of the series - fell a little flat for me. I would have liked more interaction between the four women, a deeper explanation of their relationship. Maybe Jules' book will give me more of them together. But the central story of Ben and Mallory together is a good one and the story of her "issues" (I'm trying hard not to spoil anything) and how she dealt with, and overcame, them is fantastic. It's not a stressful story, just a simple story of a boy meeting a girl, falling in love and learning how to deal with what life throws at them. I'd like to read more stories like this. And that's the bottom line.

This is the first book in the Ladies That Lunch series and can be read as a standalone book, no cliffhanger.

~ Review by Beth

“How old are you, Mallory?”

“You really aren’t afraid to ask questions, are you?” Trying to lighten the somber mood that always accompanied a discussion of her disease, she grinned. “How old do I look?”

Was he growling? Good Lord, that’s all she needed: a guy with a bad temper and no sense of humor. “Do we really have to talk about this?” she asked.

The waiter interrupted, bringing them their entrees and grating more cheese on her fettuccine and Ben’s spaghetti Bolognese. She’d had no idea what “Bolognese” was when he’d ordered it, but from the looks of the food, it was a lot like regular meat sauce.

“Is there anything else I can get for you?” the waiter asked Ben.

“Mal?” Ben asked. “Need anything?”

“No, thanks.” She twirled her fork around, gathering the fettuccine into a small ball. “This looks wonderful. Nothing like fresh pasta. The box stuff always comes out kinda clumpy when I make it.”

“You need to add some olive oil to the water and wait to drop the pasta in until the water is already boiling. I always make my own pasta instead of using the crap they put in boxes.”

“You really do know how to cook! Most guys can only do one dish. Figured chili was yours.”

“You doubted me?”

She put her fork down against the side of her plate. “Look, Ben… I’m not sure exactly what I believe about you.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“We’ve known each other a couple of months, but we don’t really know each other.”

“That’s why we’re on another date. To talk. To see if we click. After those kisses—”

So that was the catalyst, the kisses they’d shared. The ones she’d let get entirely out of hand.

Why were all men so preoccupied with sex?

Her heart sank at the thought that he’d only asked her out to get in her in bed. “I’m not having sex with you.” The words came out much louder than she’d intended, and a few heads turned their way. “Sorry. I just… If the only reason you asked me out again is because of kissing—”

“Hotter-than-hell kissing,” Ben corrected. “But that’s not why we’re here. You’d recognize that if you’d drop your firewalls long enough to—”

“Firewalls? What firewalls?”

He leaned back in his chair and simply stared at her for a moment. “You’ve been through hell this year, haven’t you? Maybe I’m expecting too much too soon.”

That made absolutely no sense to Mallory. “What exactly were you expecting, Ben?”

“A chance.”

“A chance to do what?”

 

“Make you love me.”

 

 

 

 

Sandy James lives in a quiet suburb of Indianapolis with her husband. She's a high school social studies teacher who especially loves psychology and United States history. Since she and her husband own a small stable of harness racehorses, they often spend time together at the two Indiana racetracks.

 

 

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