There are times that Amazon is really on the ball with their book recommends.  They know I write YA fiction, but they also know I have a deep love for contemp romance. Probably because of my buying history. (Okay yes, it’s my buying history okay.)  So when the amazing Winter Renshaw put up her newest book, Vegas Baby, I was all in! Pun intended.   If you don’t know, the Romance Times convention will be in Las Vegas this year, and despite growing up in California, I’ve never been. I’ve done Reno more times that I can remember but no Vegas.    I’m looking forward to going not just because Vegas, or the convention but because my oldest Army buddy Jan lives there and I can’t wait to see her.

Back to the point, I’ve never been to Vegas so when I saw this pop up, and knowing how much I love Winter’s books anyway, it was a one click.  This is the story of Crew, a sexy as hell professional gambler who is about to be verbally assaulted by his neighbor, Calypso, because he has a penchant for making the ladies scream. Every night.  It made me laugh immediately because it reminded me of Alice Clayton’s Wallbanger (If you haven’t read it, read it.)  But our Dear Calypso is not Wallbanger’s Caroline.  Calypso is a true hippie, a commune born and bred pacifist who immediately feels guilty for most mean things she thinks.  When one of Crew’s flings drops off a baby she claims is his and walks away, the only woman screaming through the walls is Baby Emme.  Calypso, amazing as she is, steps up and teaches Crew how to care for his new daughter so he doesn’t resort to Three Men and a Baby type shenanigans.  Along the way they find love, deal with their respectively jacked up families, and discover that blood isn’t thicker than water. These characters are well developed, sexy as hell together, and my favorite: Believable.  There’s a reason this one is in the top twenty of all kindle books right now.

As soon as I was done with this one, Amazon recommended Jillian Dodd’s Vegas Love, and with it’s beautiful cover, I knew I had to give it a shot. it’s on the KU program so I didn’t think twice about it. Side note: I love KU.  I’m frugal with my money since my husband gave me a book budget (grumble grumble) and the KU program lets me get my fix without getting side eye. It’s also introduced me to authors I might not have ever tried before but now am addicted to.  Back to the subject matter!

Vegas Love is about a disgraced Starlett who is having a shitty week. Not did her ex, a country star whose career is plummeting, release a sex tape he filmed without her knowledge, but now her Jonas Brother-esque boy band boyfriend dumped her in the middle of a friends wedding, VIA PRESS RELEASE (which made me giggle since in a story I’m working on the heroines soon to be ex delivered his divorce papers via assistant), because Image. Poor Ashlyn! Lucky for her, as she’s ditching the wedding to drown her sorrows in some bubbly, a super hot stranger she calls Sexy, dubs her Hot Ass and the pair embark on an epic night worthy of Vegas. But when they go back to the real world, will Hot Ass and her Sexy be able to cope with the fact that they are Ashlyn and her new Junior Agent Cash? And can they keep their hands off each other so Cash doesn’t get fired for screwing the talent?   This was a fantastic book and I’m about to make my way through Jillian’s backlist now. This wound up in my permanent collection.

I admit I might be partial to Vegas Wedding themed stories since Christina Lauren released Sweet Filthy Boy, but it’s an addiction I’m not willing to rehab from.  So please readers, give me your best Vegas themed recommends, read Vegas Baby and Vegas Love, and if possible, come see me and join in the fun at the RT Convention!