Down and Dirty

by Lori King, Maia Dylan, Elena Kincaid

Get in, get down…and get filthy with these sexy, hardworking, blue-collar heroes who don’t mind when things get a little dirty at work or at play.

This collection of 22 brand new stories from USA Today and International Best-Selling authors is full of scorching hot romance tales that will be sure to leave you breathless for more. These men work hard and play even harder.

From cops to mechanics, miners to brewmasters, they aren’t afraid to go all in. At the end of the day, when they find the woman who completes them, they learn love and life can be as messy as their day jobs…and they wouldn’t have it any other way.

Featuring stories from: Lori King, Maia Dylan, Sarah Marsh, Elena Kincaid, Cecile Tellier, London Saint James, Bella Settarra, Rose Nickol, RL Merrill, Ashley Malkin, Lucy Felthouse, Scarlett J Rose, Sydney Lea, CR Moss, Samantha A. Cole, Danielle James, Ava Campbell, Eva Moore, Kimberlie L. Faye, Sabrina Sol, Nikki Prince, and Mia Hopkins

Genres: Anthologies, Romance, Contemporary

1756 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 22, 2018

About the author

Best-selling author, Lori King, is also a full-time wife and mother of three boys. Although she rarely has time to just enjoy feminine pursuits; at heart she is a hopeless romantic. She spends her days dreaming up Alpha men, and her nights telling their stories. An admitted TV and book junkie, she can be found relaxing with a steamy story, or binging in an entire season of some show online. She gives her parents all the credit for her unique sense of humor and acceptance of all forms of love. There are no two loves alike, but you can love more than one with your whole heart.
With the motto: Live, Laugh, and Love like today is your only chance, she will continue to write as long as you continue to read. Thank you for taking the time to indulge in a good Happily Ever After with her. Find out more about her current projects at http://lorikingbooks.com, or look her up on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LoriKingBooks or Twitter: https://twitter.com/LoriKingBooks.

Reviews

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Down and Dirty featured twenty-two new to me authors with a wide range of stories.

Overall average rating — 3 Stars

Scout’s Honor by Maia Dylan — 4 Stars

After an accident on his oil rig, Cooper wants a safety inspection as soon as possible as his men’s safety is the most important thing to him. When the inspector arrives, Cooper is blindsided by the fierce attraction that develops between them. Honor came to do her job but the attraction she feels for the rig manager throws a wrench in her plans. After Honor witnesses a murder onboard, Cooper is determined to keep her safe. I really enjoyed this story and thought it was a solid opening to the anthology. The chemistry between Cooper and Honor was fantastic and their physical scenes were amazing. The suspense storyline was great and kept things moving at a nice pace. Overall I thought this was an excellent story and I definitely want to check out more from the author.


Keep You Safe by CR Moss — 2 Stars

After escaping an abusive relationship, Arianna Perez doubts she’ll ever be able to trust another man enough to love again. That is until Kian Bishop reappears in her life and she finds herself falling hard for the sexy cowboy. But Kian is hiding a secret about how they found each other again and that secret poses a terrible danger to Ari’s life. Unfortunately, I struggled with this story as it was incredibly obvious from the start that Kian was hiding something from Ari and I hated the constant lying. Ultimately I was never able to get past the lying and couldn’t enjoy their romance as a result. As the lying is a personal preference thing, I would recommend the story if you’re a fan of romances where the heroine is older than the hero.


Mud and Honey by RL Merrill — 3 Stars

Storm cleanup isn’t one of the most exciting aspects of his job, but it did present the opportunity for deputy sheriff Calvin to meet tree trimmer Flor, a woman so beautiful he lost the ability to speak. But when their personal issues get in the way of their potential relationship, the pair will have to decide if they can work through them and have a chance at love. I really enjoyed Calvin and Flor’s first meeting and thought it was a delightful meet cute. Both Calvin and Flor are dealing with some heavy issues that cause a few snags in their relationship, but they eventually work things out. My main complaint about their relationship was that I wish they would have talked sooner as I felt they dragged it out. Overall this was a good story and I would read more from the author.


Sweet Addiction by Sarah Marsh — 4 Stars

Starting over is exactly what Sasha needs and opening a pastry shop with her best friend seems like the perfect choice. After moving to the small town of Digby and opening the shop, Sasha thought she finally had everything she wanted. But after meeting sexy rancher Declan, she realizes she may want something more. I really enjoyed this story and I loved Sasha and Declan’s relationship. Declan is incredibly sweet and he’s very understanding when it comes to Sasha’s hesitations over a relationship. The pair’s chemistry is fantastic and I loved the banter they shared. Their physical scenes are well done and had the perfect amount of steaminess. I highly recommend this story and I’m looking forward to reading more from this author.


Destiny Happened by London Saint James — 4.5 Stars

Desi has had a rough couple of days so when she spots her ex she decides to make him jealous by kissing an incredibly sexy stranger. The only problem is, her ex didn't see her and Desi flees in embarrassment. Kash immediately noticed the gorgeous woman and hoped to flirt and get her number. But after that mind-blowing kiss, he wants more and when he runs into Desi again he has no intention of letting his shot slip by. I absolutely adored this story and it was my favorite in the collection. Kash is an amazing character and I loved how he was with Desi. Desi and Kash have fantastic chemistry and the physical scenes between them are phenomenal. I definitely recommend this story and will be checking out more from this author.


Where Fire Meets Flame by Elena Kincaid — 3.5 Stars

Working as a private detective means Riley Scott has experienced enough of the bad side of love to have a negative view on relationships. But a chance meeting with firefighter Tristan Cain has Riley questioning that view. When Riley’s life is put in danger, Tristan vows to keep her safe. This was a very enjoyable story that wonderfully blends suspense with romance. There is a bit of a time jump in the story, but it works well in context and I liked the direction the author chose to go. My one complaint was that I had a few issues with the characterization of the bad guy but that didn’t detract too much from the story. Overall this was a great read and I would be willing to read more from the author.


Diamond in the Rough by Danielle James — 2 Stars

Ethan Withers has always known he would be running the family mining business. When his work brings a chance meeting with Christina McAlister, Ethan falls hard and fast. But Christina leaves the next day to continue pursuing a law degree putting a damper on their romance. But Ethan knows Christina is the one for him and he just needs to convince her to take a chance on him. I unfortunately didn’t really enjoy this story as I simply couldn’t buy into Ethan’s deep feelings after he only spent one night with Christina. Also, I thought he took his efforts to find her too far and it strayed into stalkery territory more than once. If you’re a fan of love at first sight this story would likely work better for you, but it wasn’t for me.


Rescuing Trent by Rose Nickol — 1 Star

Trent Simmons spent his life helping others which ultimately led him to Pricilla Wilder, a woman he could see himself spending his life with. Pricilla was happy alone but meeting Trent changed all of that. But when life gets in the way of their plans, the two will have to decide what they’ll do for love. This story unfortunately did not work for me at all. I wasn’t a fan of the dynamics in Trent and Pricilla’s relationship and I thought she gave up too much to be with him while he gave up nothing. Also, Trent likes to dominate in the bedroom which isn’t something I’m into. If you like dominating heroes than I’d say this story would be more for you.


Fighting the Inferno by Ashley Malkin — 2 Stars

Fireman Blayne Simmons loves his job despite the scars he bears from a fire that got the better of him. When Blayne meets Felicity Kendall, his world goes up in flames. Felicity wants nothing to do with a fireman and it isn’t until Blayne rescues her from a fire that she sees him in a different way. But someone is after Felicity using fire as their weapon and Blayne will do anything to protect her. The suspense plot in this one was interesting, someone has been stalking Felicity setting fires to try to kill her. Unfortunately the romance aspect of the story didn’t work for me as I had a hard time seeing the connection between Blayne and Felicity. So while I liked the suspense plot and its’ resolution, this story wasn’t for me.


Good with His Hands by Lucy Felthouse — 3 Stars

While out enjoying a walk in the English countryside, Layla is unprepared for a sudden storm to roll in. Seeking refuge in a remote hut, Layla comes across Stuart who is more prepared than she is. With boredom and cold setting in, the pair quickly find a way to warm up and pass the time. This was an enjoyable story that is one of the shortest in the collection. I liked the easy banter between Layla and Stuart and their playful attitude toward the situation. There isn’t a lot to the story other than their decision to sleep together. Overall it was enjoyable and I would be willing to read more from the author.


Dirty Demo by Eva Moore — 3.5 Stars

Trina McCallister just needs to get through this last reality show before she moves on to filming movies. Winston Hartwell enjoys his job, but after his construction crew ends up part of a reality TV show, things get complicated particularly where the sexy camera woman is concerned. I enjoyed this story despite a few issues I had with the romance. Winston and Trina’s chemistry is fantastic, but the two do have a communication problem particularly on Trina’s side. I was happy with the way the two fix things though and ultimately liked the story.


John's Jillaroo by Scarlett J Rose — 2 Stars

Needing a change in life, city girl Amy decides to take a job as a Jillaroo on a remote cattle station. The work turns out to be harder than she expected but it’s rewarding. Plus there’s the attractive head Jackaroo to look at. This story was ok but I struggled with the Australian slang which made it difficult to follow at times. Also I had a hard time buying the connection between Amy and John as it came out of nowhere. Overall not the story for me but I imagine people who understand the lingo would have less of an issue with it than I did.


Sex Mechanic by Bella Settarra — 3 Stars

Ben Steadman, known as the Sex Mechanic, isn’t looking for anything long term but he finds himself drawn to Iona Walker. Iona is filling in at her uncle’s firm while she tries to get her life back on track and after a chance meeting with Ben, she finds herself smitten. This was a good story and I did enjoy it. Ben and Iona come from different worlds only to discover they have more in common than they think. There was a bit of unnecessary drama that the story would have been better without, but the story was overall a good one and I would read more from this author.


Heat Sink by Cecile Tellier — 3 Stars

Roxy McVee wanted a fresh start and moving to La Salle, Illinois to run the local bar seemed like the perfect choice. When Christian Harrington walks in one night, Roxy is instantly drawn to him. After Roxy’s home and business are threatened, Christian is determined to keep Roxy safe. I really like Roxy and Christian together, they have an easy banter and are comfortable with each other. My main complaint about this story was that the suspense plot alluded to in the blurb is a bit anticlimactic and I was hoping for more there. Overall though this was a good story and I would read more from the author.


Blurred Lines by Nikki Prince — 2 Stars

Phaedra Sims enjoys her work and hopes to help those under her care. But her peace at work is shattered by Rocco de Angelis who is determined to make her face the passion building between them. I had some issues with this book, mainly with connecting with the characters. I will admit the two have great chemistry when it comes to the physical side of their relationship, but there wasn’t much beyond that. Overall, an ok story that didn’t work for me.


Stoke the Flames by Samantha A. Cole — 4 Stars

After being featured in the fire department’s annual calendar, Cade Fallon is tired of women throwing themselves at him. So when he meets Jenna Anderson, his nephew Chris’s teacher, she’s a breath of fresh air and he instantly wants more. I really liked this story and I thought the chemistry between Cade and Jenna was fantastic. The romance is a bit of a slow burn as the pair are waiting the six weeks until Chris is no longer Jenna’s student, but I thought that time helped build the anticipation in their relationship. I highly recommend this story and will definitely be reading more from the author.


One Night More by Sabrina Sol — 3.5 Stars

With only hours until her thirtieth birthday, Vanessa has three things left on her bucket list and after her boyfriend dumps her it looks like becoming engaged won’t be getting crossed off. But after she meets Mateo at a bar, she can cross off have a one-night stand. I really enjoyed this story and thought the physical relationship between the pair was wonderfully done. I had a bit of an issue with the way the potential work conflict was resolved, but I also can’t see how else it could have been done. Overall a good story and I would read more from the author.


Accidentally Again by Sydney Lea — 3 Stars

As a police officer, Gabe Hannigan has always strived to do the right thing. His one slip up was giving in to the passion he felt for Billie Shannon. Knowing Billie was destined for bigger things, Gabe let her go only for her to come crashing back into his life four years later. This was an enjoyable story and I loved the clear connection between Billie and Gabe. Their physical chemistry is amazing with some great scenes between the pair. Unfortunately I wasn’t a fan of the secret Billie kept from Gabe. Overall though the book ended well and I would read more from the author.


Crashing Hard by Kimberlie L. Faye — 3 Stars

Helena Carter has enough to deal with as an emergency room nurse, so she tries to ignore arrogant EMT Ryan Murphy. But after a drunken night of passion, Helena begins to admit there may be something between them only for a few misunderstandings to get in the way. This was a great story and the characters had fantastic chemistry. Unfortunately the romance falls into the trap of lack of communication which was a bit annoying. Overall though, a good story and I would read more from the author.


Beer Goggles by Ava Campbell — 3 Stars

Allison Drake loves her work as a reporter, but after being assigned a puff piece about a brewery in Montana, she’s questioning that love. However, sexy bar owner Connor Callahan certainly makes up for the assignment. I enjoyed this story and loved the immediate connection between Allison and Connor. Their romance has hints of an opposites attract, which is one of my favorite tropes. I wasn’t a fan of the storyline with Allison’s ex-boyfriend, but overall it was a good story.


Lockdown by Mia Hopkins — 4 Stars

Alice’s life hasn’t been going the way she expected and this past year has been the hardest one yet. After she accidentally locks a desk she shouldn’t have been looking in, she calls for a locksmith. When Ivan arrives, Alice sees in him the potential for more. I really liked this story and I loved Alice and Ivan together. The pair connect easily and have a lot in common. Their physical chemistry is fantastic and I loved how the ending of the story left open the possibility of a great romance. Overall a great read and I would definitely read more from the author.


Pieced Together by Lori King — 3 Stars

When Marine Garrett is sidelined with a knee injury, he‘s dreading the next eight weeks of recovery. But after meeting nurse Karly, the next eight weeks just got a lot more interesting. This was a good story with characters with wonderful chemistry. I mostly enjoyed Karly and Garrett’s relationship but I did find Karly’s insecurities and accusations to be a bit annoying. Overall though, this was a good read and I’d read more from the author.

[Annie Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG, gonna try to do all of them, LOL. Bear with me
1. Scouts Honor By Maia Dylan-- Cooper has enough to deal with, safety issues, storms on the open sea and suits trying to tell him what to do, enter Honor, a strong feisty woman who has a kinda ex onboard and gets into a bit of danger. Can Cooper keep her and everyone safe and still win her heart? (one of the authors I stalk, LOL)
2. Keep You Safe by C.R. Moss--A new to me author but loved this story. Arianna had her reasons for not trusting men, can Kian change her mind and keep her safe from the danger she finds herself in?
3.Mud and Honey by R.L. Merill-- Another one I stalk! Calvin and Flor, what can I say? Who wouldn't fall for a sexy deputy who cracks his ummmm tushie saving you from danger? Can these two overcome the heartache and fear of the past and make beautiful music together?
4. Sweet Addiction by Sarah Marsh-- Yep, hardore stalk her too!! Sasha and Declan, she had him from day one, her sweets just sealed the deal but can they stay together when his past, nasty past she is too, comes calling? Will Sasha trust him or is Declan stuck with a life without his Sweet Sasha?
5. Destiny Happened by London St James-- HaHaHa, this one was amazing. I wish I had a Lindy and Desi to hang out with! Too bad Desi ended up with a jerkwad boyfriend who totally ruined her life. Enter Kash, sexy, hard working and did I say HOT? Can he convince her to give him a chance? What's gonna happen when his secret comes out? Will it be bye bye Desi?
6. Where Fire Meets Flame by Elena Kincaid--And yes, I stalk her also, LOL. Riley, P.I. with almost zero trust in people meets Tristan, hot firefighter who saves her not once, but twice. Will these two make it or will they burn up in the flames of the past?
7. Diamond In The Rough by Danielle James-- Ethan just wanted to be the best, hit the mother lode. Christina was just trying to make something of herself, relationships were not for her, she was always let down. When these two have a night of passion will they find out it's not enough? Do they have what it takes to build more or are they just too different to make it work?
8. Rescuing Trent by Rose Nichol-- New to me but highly recommended and they were right! Trent and Priscilla, both so broken and damaged. Can they have a future or is her insecurity and fear too much to overcome? Plus the nutso kinda ex, LOL
9. Fighting The Inferno by Ashley Malkin-- This one had it all, I felt for Blayne but Felicity had such a horrible past. She has no one and nobody to rely on, just fire and fear. Can she learn to trust him before her past catches up to her one last time?
10. Good With His Hands by Lucy Felthouse-- I would never have this kind of luck, who expects to meet an amazing man when nature turns against you? Definitely not Layla, but can Stuart be more than a chance meeting?
11. Dirty Demo by Eva Moore-- Trina finally has her chance to make a name for herself. Who knew the man who could do this is also the one that can break her heart when he finds out she's been holding back secrets from him. Poor Winston, but OMG does he sound just right to me.
12. John's Jillaroo by Scarlett J Rose-- Amy and John, quite the combo. This was a whole new world for me. When these two explode together will the other underhanded, sneaky people be able to keep them apart or is John gonna fight for his Amy?
13. Sex Mechanic by Bella Settarra-- Ben has a reputation, Sex Mechanic, but he just wants a woman of his own. When he thinks he's found her, will he give up when he finds out who she really is? Is Iona strong enough and confident enought to handle Ben's past?
14. Heat Sink by Cecile Tellier-- Christian is just a hard working man who likes to unwind with a drink at the bar now and then. He never expected to find Roxy there, feisty as heck and not one to be pushed around. When her past comes back into her life in a big way, will she find out that he's the one man she can always rely on?
15. Blurred Lines by Nikki Prince-- Phaedra has let her grief keep her from moving on. Will Rocco be the man to help her or will his job keep them apart? What will he choose when it comes time to choose? He was awesome btw, just saying.
16. Stoke The Flame by Samantha A Cole-- Another stalked author, LOL! Jenna is a normal everyday teacher, she can't imagine what hot sexy firefighter Cole sees in her, he's been a calendar pin up for gods sake!! Can he show her what she means to him or will she let her fear and insecurity keep them apart? These two were one of my favorite couples.
17. One Night More by Sabrina Sol-- Vanessa is your every day workaholic, she goes outside of her comfort zone for a hot sexy one night with Mateo. Too bad for her he shows up in her life later, in a complicated way. Will they let it all slip away or is there a way they can have more then the one night they had? Was very touching, loved both their families!
18. Accidentally Again by Sydney Lea-- Billie was too young for Gabe and he knew it but one night he was a weak man, all he wanted after was Billie but he pushed her away too well. When she comes back years later will they have a second chance together or will her secrets tear them apart forever?
19. Crashing Hard by Kimberlie L. Faye-- Man I stalk too many authors, LOL. Ryan is an EMT who cannot help himself, he has to get a rise out of Nurse Helena. He doesn't know why, jsut that he does. Will she be able to see the real man behind the mask he shows the world? She's been hurt before and isn't about to go down that road again. Gotta say, I loved Ryan, he pushed her buttons but had to love him anyway!!
20. Beer Goggles by Ava Campbell-- Connor comes across as all laughs and no depth, that's what reporter Allison sees when she comes to write about him and his bar. When unexpected things happen and she sees the real man, with all the grief and loneliness he hides, is she ready to change her life for a chance at happiness?
21.Lockdown by Mia Hopkins-- Can two strangers who meet for just one night have more then that? Granted they learned a lot about each other in a short time but will real life be anough to keep them apart? I just know I'd take an Ivan in a hearbeat.
22. Pieced Together by Lori King-- LOL, Most stalked one sorry, here we go......Garrett comes across as a flirt and a womanizer to Karly but he feels drawn to her from the first meeting. Can a nurse with a past full of untrustworthy men be able to trust a hot sexy Marine? Will she be able to let him into her heart, and maybe make it whole?
I loved every story in this set and would have paid for each and every story so this is a steal of a set, I say grab it and dive in!!!

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this anthology and here's a short review for each story! Warning, it's gonna be long! LOL

1. Pieced Together by Lori King: When Garrett has to have surgery on his knee, stopping him from leaving with his troop, he's a little ticked off. That is until nurse Karly enters the room and his life. She's not keen on anything with him but what starts out as "friends" going out together quickly turns into something she's not expecting. Still confused, it takes a set back in Garrett's recovery to wake her up. Is it too late?

2. Stoke The Flames by Samantha A. Cole: When Cade loses a bet and ends up as Mr. October on the fireman's fundraising calendar, he's not happy. Jenna is concerned about one of her students and when she meets his Uncle to discuss this, she knows who he is! She doesn't want to become just another woman who drools over him so she fights her attraction. Cade knows this is who he wants in his life. Can he stoke the flames and make her realize that his heart burns only for her?

3. Sweet Addiction by Sarah Marsh: Sasha loves her bakery and Declan loves what she makes; and he's beginning to realize he might love her also. But will something from his past shut her mind and heart to him before they get there?

4. When Fire Meets Flame by Elena Kincaid: riley meets Tristan when he rescues her from a fire but when her life is in danger again, can he keep her safe?

5. Heat Sink by Cecile Tellier: Christian meets Roxy but will something from the past keep them apart?

6. Sex Mechanic by Bella Settarra: Chemistry and misunderstandings make this a great little story. Hang on for the ride!

7. Rescuing Trent by Rose Nickol: I've been wanting and waiting for Trent's story for awhile now. (Thank you Rose) After losing someone he cared about in the first book of the series, I felt so bad for him. I wanted him to have his own HEA and Rose delivered. Will he be able to finally get his HEA with Pricilla?

8. Mud and Honey by R.L.Merrill: A deputy sheriff and a tree trimer. Can they make it work or will things get in the way?

9. Diamond In The Rough by Danielle James: Ethan and Christina have one night together. He's a diamond miner and she's a law student. Will they go their separate ways or can Ethan convince her that she needs him in her busy life! Loved this story!

10. Fighting The Inferno by Ashley Malkin: Felicity was saved from a fire as a child but still wishes she would have died. Blayne is a fireman and wants Felicity but he is going to have to change her mind about his line of work. When she finds herself in danger, can she see herself with Blayne or will she finally get her wish she wanted when she was a child? Heart wrenching story!

11. Good With His Hands by Lucy Felthouse: When Layla finds herself in trouble hiking, she gets a cabin for shelter and discovers that park ranger, Stuart is already there taking cover also. What will they do to pass the time as the storm rages on outside. Could another storm be raging in the cabin?

12. Dirty Demo by Eva Moore: Trina just wants to move up to filming movies but she is stuck filming a reality show. Winston hates being part of the crew that is being filmed but he's drawn to
Trina. When Trina discovers his voice and secretly records him, he's hurt, but when she tries to make amends, will she be able to convince him. Especially when things come out?

13. John's Jillaroo by Scarlett J. Rose: What happens when a city girl meets a Jackaroo? Seems like there are things that aren't always what they seem. Good little story!

14. Blurred Lines by Nikki Prince: Can Rocco help Phaedra with her emotions. The chemistry is there but are they willing to trust it?

15. One Night More by Sabrina Sol: Vanessa and Mateo had one night together. She left before he could get her last name. What happens when they meet again? And will it work out between them?

16. Accidentally Again by Sydney Lea: Gabe wanted Billie bad but she was too young. Throwing caution to the wind, they spend one night together. Billie leaves town for college and when she comes back 4 years later, she brings a secret with her. Gabe never got over Billie but this surprise throws him for a loop. Can he handle it and what is he willing to do to get her back in his life?

17. Crashing Hard by Kimberlie L. Faye: Ryan is an EMT and is a charmer. All the women love him. Helena is an emergency room nurse who has no interest in being another notch on his bedpost. They spend one passion filled night together but can the make it work when misunderstandings get in the way?

18.Scout's Honor by Maia Dylan: Cooper runs an off-shore oil rig. When inspectors come out, Honor is with them and it doesn't take long for sparks to fly between them. But what happens when she witnesses a murder? It's up to Cooper to keep her safe and to try and find out who the killer is! Awesome story!

19. Destiny Happened by London Saint James: When Desi tries to make her ex jealous by grabbing Kash and giving him a smoking hot kiss, she's upset because the ex never sees the kiss, but Kash wants to know more about this beautiful lady who knocked his socks off.

20. Keep You Safe by CR Moss: A sexy little story, have some ice water ready, that's all I'm gonna say!

21. Lockdown by Mia Hopkins: Alice is housesitting for the summer and stumbles upon a locked desk. Wanting to know why it's locked and there is no key, she calls a locksmith. Ivan knows he can get the desk unlocked but can he unlock Alice's heart?

22.Beer Goggles by Ava Campbell: Connor has loved and lost before; and doesn't want to love again. It hurt too much. Allison is a reporter sent to do a piece of his bar, which is know for making their own beer. Instantly attracted to each other, they get involved but there are things holding each of them back. Can they muddle their way through insecurities they each have to reach a Merry Christmas movie ending? (If you read the story, you'll understand about the movie)

[Kathi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Look at this list of authors – So Many great Stories!!!

…. skipped a few ……

***** Good With His Hands – Lucy Felthouse – 5 stars
Delightful story of walk in the English countryside turned dangerous as weather rolls in. Layla finds shelter in a remote hut and also a scolding park ranger who almost drives Layla back into the weather as the lesser of two evils. As he prevents her hyperthermia and begins to display some humor and charm things really do heat up!!

***** Dirty Demo – Eva Moore – 5 stars
Construction crew on a reality show pits camera wielder Trina and singing worker Winston against each other. Both have a job to do, and both have a history which makes things just a little harder. Great depth for this short story.

***** John’s Jillaroo – Scarlett Rose – 3.5 stars
City ladies get an opportunity to work on a remote Australian cattle station. Good premise, had to suspend belief on the pure novice opportunity. Like that Amy stood up for herself.

*****Sex Mechanic – Bella Settarra – 5 stars
Sexy with honor; local mechanic works to turn around business, and attracts the attention of a visiting business major visiting family.

*****Heat Sink – Cecile Tellier– 5 stars
Hard working Christian comes into town and catches eye of the new owner of the local bar. Someone doesn’t want her in town, and Christian and other assist in resolution. Super sweet dates and interactions. I signed up for this author’s newsletter..

*****Blurred Lines – Nikki Prince– 3 stars
Phaedra works at a prison to block her memories and help others. Somewhat disjointed story of loss moving on.

*****Stoke the Flame – Samantha Cole– 5 stars
Sweet story of hunky firefighter who is guardian for his nephew after his brother and wife dies in car crash. Teacher goes above and beyond to assist Chris who is failing. Signed up for this author’s newsletter!

*****One Night More – Sabrina Sol– 5 stars
Hard working Vanessa is completing her bucket list, when instead of the expected proposal she gets dumped; there goes “get engaged”. Feeling sorry for herself and approached by a handsome Mateo she does get “have a one-night stand” checked off. Except there seems to be more there than one night’s worth.

*****Accidentally Again – Sydney Lea– 4 stars
A second chance at love when Billie returns home to care for her father. Gabe did not want to hold her back from her dream of Yale – but finds out there is more to the story.

*****Crashing Hard – Kimberlie L. Faye– 5 stars
Confident EMT Ryan and uptight, jaded and bruised nurse Helena, have a similar goal of helping and healing others, but may be like oil and water – until that night.

*****Beer Goggles – Ava Campbell– 4 stars
Reporter Allison heads to Montana to interview brew master Connor. An accident puts Allison out of commission. Will caring for her mend a piece of Connor’s heart?

*****Lockdown – Mia Hopkins– 5 stars
One of my favorites stories here; Alice is housesitting and treads where she should not resulting in the need for an antique specializing locksmith. Enter super-sexy Ivan with a special touch. When the power goes out and Alice finds an inventive way to cool down things really heat up. Scintillating read!!

*****Pieced Together – Lori King – 5 stars!!
Garrett is a marine and mechanic who is given the bad news that his injury requires surgery – he will be on the sidelines for 8-12 weeks. His team is going to be unhappy!! The good news is there is a beautiful nurse Karly at the doctor’s office; with a big BUT… she was cheated on by her ex, and she does not like arrogant which is how Garrett comes across.

She refuses to “date” a patient, but agrees to get ice cream as friends. He is charming and Karly begins to soften toward him. When a team mate’s girlfriend needs help, is he just being a “good guy” or is Karly being cheated on again?

Sweet and sexy, you cheer for this couple quickly in this great story from Lori King.

*** I am voluntarily leaving my honest review of this book ***

[Staci Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a habit I don't read anthologies often.

Down & Dirty Anthology

As a habit I don't read anthologies often. Despite there being many worth the investment. Yet this one was filled with many favorite authors. I struggled with how to properly credit each for their submissions. After some thought this is the only way to honor each.


Scouts Honor by Maia Dylan

Love educated hard working women leading ladies. Sexy strong honorable men too! Added mystery and danger perfect recipe.


Keep You Safe by C.R. Moss

We rare really get the whole picture of an individual until we fall in deep. This can be hazardous in so many ways. Luckily this time the picture is beautiful despite danger on path.


Mud & Honey by R.L. Merrill

Love this story. Life happens sometimes in the most unexpected ways. Rolling with it is what truly matters. Always been a getting dirty kind of girl myself.


Sweet Addiction by Sarah Marsh

What better way to find sweet love than in the new bakery. Lovely story with just enough reality to remind us how lucky we are.


Destiny Happened by London Saint James

Who can guess what comes next after major life shifting events. For Destiny something special does. Steamy yet classy sweet story.


Where Fire Meets Flame by Elena Kincaid

Wow! When crazy meets hot. Strong independent characters. Lots of action and mystery in this love story.


Diamond in the Rough by Danielle James

I can empathize with this story. Life can definitely put walls in our mind. Even when there seems possibilities beyond them. Beautiful if we can only trust to break them down.


Rescuing Trent by Rose Nickol

So many chances to have outside influence interfere. Thankfully trust and communication make a great difference. If only one can slow down to listen.


Fighting the Inferno by Ashley Malcon

I can't imagine living that long with fear stalking you. Too many horrors stacked on just trying to simply breath. Yet finally a safe house from the flames.


Good With His Hands By Lucy Felthouse

Mmmm, well it's that way better than trying to weather the storm on your own. Definitely hot and steamy.


Dirty Demo by Eva Moore

Hollywood doesn't play clean. From every angle someone it taking it to get by. Fortunately on a rare occasion there comes a chance to give it back.


John’s Jillaroo by Scarlett J Rose

Not all woman could or would put the effort it takes to work a cattle station in the outback. This time though she may have for just what she's been needing.


Sex Mechanic by Bella Settarra

Sometimes despite a well earned reputation it only takes one person to change everything. Getting the past to let go can throw a wrench in the details. Yet it's worth it to clear the path forward.


Heat Sink by Cecile Tellier

It's never easy starting over. Especially when unforeseen circumstances get in the way. Great when your new community is there to help.


Blurred Lines by Nikki Prince

Such a delicate balance involved in some situations. Yet when chemistry is so right how can one avoid it indefinitely. Steamy hot and easily relatable.


Stoke the Flames by Samantha A. Cole

Sweet build up to a hot and romantic finale. Nice to see anticipation building as the story unfolded.


One Night More By Sabrina Sol

Lists always get me in trouble. This sexy couple definitely made their way through the fine details. Maybe even could start a never list.


Accidentally Again by Sydney Lea

When communication fails it definitely can cause upheaval. Having to explain it all at once gets complicated.


Crashing Hard By Kimberlie L. Faye

Love the determination in this man. Very realistic view of those of us with troubled past. Perfect climactic twist as a finishing touch.


Beer Goggles by Ava Campbell

Amazing how life just hands us life changing events. The beauty of what we find in it can be right in our grasp. We just needed to seeing it in a different light.


Lockdown by Mia Hopkins

Some thing's need closure. In this case a hot locksmith provides both opening and opportunity. Will it lead to more..


Pieced Together by Lori King

Each of us face picking up our broken pieces at some point. Often it takes help from others to finish the process. If lucky they help fit them back were they belong. Sweet beginning to what looks like happy ending.

[Miranda Beazley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scouts Honor - an oil rig as a love story setting is something different. But it works. The characters and suspense are amazing.

Keep You Safe - an art teacher and a wrangler..... I saw the twist coming early on in the story but it was short and sweet and a lovely, light read.

Mud and Honey - a second chance at love story, this is another cute, sweet read. Misunderstanding and assumptions overcome by honesty and willingness to put aside assumptions and try.

Sweet Addiction - an apt name for this sweet love story. It was a lovely story that I thoroughly enjoyed. Absolutely sigh worthy.

Destiny Happened - this one is all sorts of hot and swoon worthy. Going from a doosh of an ex to hotter than the sun Destiny turns out to be one lucky lady.

Where Fire Meets Flame - a crazy stalker, a hot fire fighter and a private detective. This story is hot in many ways. Fires, flames and desire.

Diamond in the Rough - short and sweet and oh so cute. Trust issues and his determination made for a sweet story. I felt like this one has potential to grow if the author wants it to. It felt like a pause not an ending.

Rescuing Trent - fast moving, seemed a little clinical at the start with all the background. I got frustrated with the heroine running away, I could see how she’d feel but it was also frustrating because she just kept repeating her behaviours then complete turn around.

Fighting the Inferno -

[Colleen Baumgartner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!
From Lori King to Ava Campbell.
Such wonderful stories. Loved the new authors as well.
Looking forward to reading more from these authors..

[lovestoread · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many great stories. I freaking loved it!

Scout's Honour - Maia Dylan
Cooper has shut down operations on the oil rig because one of the crew was hurt.

The suits coming to figure out what the next move is, is not something Cooper is looking forward to, however, when they arrive there is a welcome surprise...one of them is a woman, who definitely catches Cooper’s eye.

When a storm hits and grounds everyone the rig, it gets dicey as another crew member is hurt, fatally and not due to working.

Keep You Safe - CR Moss
Such a sweet read, with a touch of suspense.

Arianna is called to take over an art class and is surprised to see Kian, whom she babysat many years ago.

And boy has he grown! Kian is the model for the art class and is the best specimen they’ve seen in a long while.

Kian convinces Ari to go for coffee with him and manages to steer them both in the direction their minds are taking them. Unfortunately Ari’s ex-boyfriend is still hassling her and won’t believe they are no longer together. Things get interesting when Chad tries to hurt her. Kian takes her to the ranch to keep her safe.

During an art showcase of Arianna’s paintings many things occur to make the evening both difficult and dangerous for Ari.

Mud and Honey – RL Merrill
Talk about dangerous work! I never really thought about women tree fallers. Flor and Calvin meet when he saves Flor on the job. She’s trying to deal with a dangerous tree along the roadway and he’s trying to keep the vehicles on the road and to slow down. Playing traffic cop for people with no interest in taking it easy during a storm. A storm is the cause of their meeting and a storm is the reason they get together again to talk out the problem and for Calvin to apologize.

Sweet Addiction, Sarah Marsh
OMG! Sexy cowboy and a decadent dessert shop! How can you possibly not find a sweet happy ever after here?

Declan is our sexy cowboy who isn't interested in finding love after the number his ex did on him, but when he spots Sasha he can’t help himself. Sasha has just reopened the dessert shop with her best friend and she is in heaven baking all the goodies. She is more than a bit gun shy when it comes to men after her douche of an ex cheated on her.

These two are sexy and cute together, but what's the story if there is no antagonist? Sarah pulls a right bitch out of her pocket and racks up another stellar read for us.

Destiny Happened, London Saint James

Some things really do happen for a reason. Destiny and Kash meet at Oktoberfest. Desi needs an escape and throws herself at Kash to do it. The panty melting kiss was intense...and that was it.

They are all in for a surprise when later Desi shows up at the truck shop to fill in for the secretary on mat leave. Does he tell her now or later that he doesn't have a secretary- even though he could really use one.

Where Fire meets Flame, Elena Kinkaid
Tristan and James are in a small coffee shop and they meet Riley. When she busy them a coffee each to thank them. Tristan doesn't know what to do. He’s attracted to Riley but his ex is stalking him.

Shannon is the x who just doesn’t give up. She starts to meddle and it really starts to heat up.

Diamond in the rough, Danielle James
Hard, fast and dirty...mining and falling in love. Ethan can’t believe he’s found a woman who means more than he expected and she’s run off. He’s devastated when he can’t find her at the diner, where he’d first found her. Chris is back to law school and determined not to let any man in again. Once she’s back at school she finds it very hard to forget Ethan.

When he shows up one day out of the blue she does her best to brush him off, but Ethan won’t take no for an answer.

Rescuing Trent, Rose Nickol
Even when you both have past lovers, it’s hard to believe that you can be what the other really wants, especially when you keep seeing his past!

Priss is a nurse working in the city. When she meets Trent, they hit it off, but she keeps deciding for them both that he really needs someone else. Trent does his very best to convince Priss, but his past keeps butting heads with him.

Fighting the Inferno, Ashley Malkin

Omg! Felicity is such a scared woman. She has been through so much. She is so courageous and frightened. Blayne is the firefighter who saves her and is so taken with her that he can’t believe it.

Someone is out to get Felicity and Blayne is going to find out why, and who.

Good with his Hands, Lucy Felthouse
You never know what you’ll encounter during a walk on the moors. Layla was a wee bit unprepared for the ugly turn in the weather but luckily there was an old hut she could find shelter in. Surprised to find it already occupied, she meets Stuart and what a meeting it is!

Dirty demo, Eva Moore
Trina keeps a low profile at work as a camera woman. She keeps to herself and gets the job done. She doesn’t do social and she doesn’t do workmates. Winston works well and keeps to himself. He dislikes that his crew is working in the tv reality show constructing whatever is needed.

Trina is put into an awkward position at work and it makes things uncomfortable with Winston. How she fixes the problem is great, but it could make matters worse.

John's Jillaroo, Scarlett Rose
Welcome to the Australian outback, where work makes an honest man or woman out of you...and boy is the work hard.

Amy has come to the ranch to see what life would be like, but she didn’t realize it was a cattle farm.

John is none too thrilled to find out there are women coming to the ranch to work. Until he meets Amy. Seems there’s a spark between them...and the other two women make life difficult.

Sex Mechanic, Bella Settera
Ben and Iona both striking and both a bit naughty! Iona is lucky when Ben happens along while she is trying to change her car tire.

The fun starts when Iona gets the chance to legitimately look Ben up at the car shop. It gets even more interesting when an ex of Ben's gets involved.

Heat Sink, Cecile Tellier
What the heck did Roxy do to deserve having her life ripped up. Luckily, Christian is on hand to help make the trouble easier. An amazing display of community and family in this one.

Blurred Lines, Nikki Prince
Phaedra is a counsellor at a prison. Rocco is a sergeant at the prison. Rocco is having a tough time dealing with his close friend's turning.

The sexual tension is incredible and just reading these two is hot.


Stoke the Flames, Samantha Cole
Holy hotness with a Big packet of sweetness. Jenna is a teacher who loves her job and her kids. Cade is a firefighter who got suckered into posing for a calendar and now can’t get away from the "BARBIES"

When Jenna and Cade meet the sparks fly but because she’s still got a couple of months of school left they both cool it.

One More, Sabrina Sol
So good! To love your job or to love your girl? Things get interesting when Mateo and Vanessa meet at the hotel. Spontaneous combustion when they meet and have a night to remember. It becomes problematic when one job could affect their relationship.

Accidentally Again, Sydney Lea
Yes! Hot cop story. Billie and Gabe - now there are some fireworks. Billie takes off and doesn't return to her hometown for 4 years. Can she look Gabe in the eyes and explain?

Crashing Hard, Kimberlie Faye
A nurse and an EMT...he just irritates her so hard. When they end up at the same pizza joint one night, their world spins on its axis. The next morning things become tense because she overheard something that wrecks their time together.

Beer Goggles, Ava Campbell
Let’s hit the bar and see what a journalist will have to say about this little hometown brew. Alison hales from the big city and is tasked by her ex to write up this pub that is brewing its own. Connor is living his life running a pub that had been the dream of his and his wife. They make a cute couple.

Lockdown, Mia Hopkins
Alice seems a little lost, she’s lost her mom, her childhood friend and home. She’s searching for something in an antique desk, but can’t open it. Enter Ivan, locksmith, older man and ready for anything.

Power outage delays Ivan’s work, and Alice decides to take the bull by the horns and enjoy the evening...

Pieced Together, Lori King
Garrett is on his way out of hospital when he meets Karly. He’s smitten and can't get his mind off her. Karly works at the hospital and is not interested in dating, never mind dating a patient.

Garrett works his marine charm and Karly saves his life.

[Chandera · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Down & Dirty” is a book made up of many amazing books. Truthfully I wanted to read this book for it has one of my favorite authors in it, Lori King. Honestly I started with her book “ Pieced Together.” From the beginning in “Pieces Together” Lance Corporal Garrett Lole was attracted to nurse Karly Stephens even though he was not happy hearing about needing knee surgery. Especially since he was going to be deployed and now can’t. With being injured Garrett was relentless is trying to get a date with Karly for he found her extremely attractive and she was different from other women. Even though Garrett was relentless she agreed to go on a date to get ice cream. What an amazing sweet book. To learn whether Karly gives Garrett a chance after her broken heart I believe you as a reader need to read this book. After reading Lori Kong’s amazing book I had to get started on the others. Let’s say I found some other authors books to my to be read pile. I highly recommend this book.!

I was given an advanced reader copy of this book for my honest review.

[Debbie Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing box set! I really enjoy anthologies because I get to discover new to me authors.
Pieced Together by Lori King was terrific! Karly is very wary, will Garrett be able to break through and convince her to take a chance? Grab your copy to find out!

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lori King's Pieced Together. OMG, I loved it. I loved when Garrett was explaining how he got his nickname to Karly. The chemistry between them was off the charts. Garrett is not able to deploy with his unit. Can the cute little nurse help ease his pain? Karly does not date patients. Can Garrett convince her to give him a chance? I started reading the anthology from the beginning. Will update review as I read them.

[SiKReviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an anthology so chock full of wonderful novella by totally amazing authors, I find it simply impossible to review just one of them. So, I will just say that this summer sit at the beach (or any other season) and read this collection of steamy stories.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read one story in this anthology-Pieced Together by Lori King, but based on that story, I can't wait to read the rest. After leaving a bad relationship Karly Stephens isn't even remotely interested in another relationship, but she hasn't run up against Garrett Lole's determination before. The amount of heat and suspense is surprising for a short story. Great read!

[Wendy Hodges · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have only read one of these books at the moment because I couldn't wait but here is what I thought.
Stoke The Flames by Samantha A Cole read 28th March 5 stars



Really what's not to love. When a hot firefighter sets his sights on his nephews teacher you expect and get sparks. There is some sweetness in the romance but there is also suspense of the build up to them finally getting together. A well written story with a great flow to the plot, I was pulled into it fast and it held my attention to the end. This is a bit different from this authors usual books but just as great as all the others. Loved it.

[Kristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I make no secret of how much I enjoy collections of stories such as this. This collection is filled with great stories, some by familiar authors, others by new to me authors - one reason I like sets like this. I thought I would mention a couple of the stories I liked best.

Mud and Honey by R.L. Merrill - This is a fast-paced story with great characters.

Stoke the Flames by Samantha Cole - I have an appreciation for firemen so I couldn’t wait to read this. There is a sweetness to this story that I enjoyed. I adore the characters.

Pieced Together by Lori King - I connected with Garrett right away, my heart went out to him. I was rooting for this couple through the story.

A great collection of stories!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, my review has been voluntarily submitted.

[Christina Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scouts Honor: Rather good story for being so short. Intrigue. Romance. Surprise "who-done-it".
Keep You Safe: Interesting enough. Older woman, younger man, not enough years in between to be creepy lol. Ex fiance' is a douche.
Mud and Honey: This one started out interesting but then lost my interest.
Sweet Addiction: Loved this one. Sweet. Funny. Sexy. I could definitely read this again.The small town embracing a city girl. The great town guy with a sweet tooth for her "sweets". This was absolutely adorable. I read this one extremely fast!
Destiny Happened: Another sweet and funny story.
Where Fire Meets Flame: This was interesting story. A good one.Short and well written.
Diamond In the Rough: This story was a "meh" for me. Kind of boring a little unrealistic.
Rescuing Trent: This story was completely boring.
Good With His Hands: Horrible!!!
Dirty Demo: It was okay I guess. There was too much back and forth untrust. It wasn't very enjoyable
John's Jillaroo: I was so confused at first because there are some Australian terms that I didn't know what they meant. However I figured out things fast enough. The story was interesting and moved smoothly most of the time. There were a few corny things but not enough to take away from the story.
Sex Mechanic: I was scratching my head with this one. The whole how to spell or say Beemer opposed to Beezer. There was to much time spent on that aspect of the story. The love story part was pretty good. So all and all it was alright story.
Heat Sink: Cute story. Very sweet small town, everyone pitching in small town style. The ending however, had me confused as heck. I had no idea what had just happened. Can't say much more than that or it would be a spoiler.
Blurred Lines: Another "meh" one.
I'm just going to go straight to Pieced together by Lori King, this is the one I bought the book for. Garret Lole was a cocky son of a gun. I felt like Karly gave in to easy to him. As the story went on though, I loved it. Garret is just a confident man that's comfortable with hisself. He and Karly had plenty of sparks between them. There were a few laughs. I loved his mom lol. I look forward to seeing Garret and Karly in future stories.

[Stacy J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a hot book. This book has all kind of hot and dirty sexiness. If you are looking for sexy firemen, men who work on oil rigs, tree trimmers, diamond miner and all other kinds of goodness this box set is for you.

I could have written a review on each and every story but I will just do a few that I really enjoyed.

Sweet Addiction by Sarah Marsh - I really liked the book. I could really relate to Sasha who was a little on the shyer side. She is this amazing baker who would rather stay in a read a book then go out and mingle with people. She is also terrible shy around men. I really liked Declan in this book, to me he was the perfect book boyfriend. While he could tell instantly that Sasha was a little shy around him, he wasn't going to let that stop him. He woo'd her and slowly introduced a relationship with him and it was beautiful to read these two get their happily ever after.

Stoke the Flames by Samantha A. Cole - Here is another one that I could relate too. Jenna is a school teacher who's dedication leaps off the page and I admire that. She finds out the guardian of the student she is most concerned about is "Mr. October". Cade is a fireman who lost a bet and had to be in a sexy fireman calendar. He was not happy with all the female attention it has given him. I really liked that even though the author described him as being this really hot guy he wasn't arrogant in any way shape and form and was a really good father figure to his nephew.

Pieced Together by Lori King - Garrett is a military man who has just been given some bad news. He has a tear in his meniscus and won't be able to return to his unit. Loyal to his men this was not the news he wanted to hear. However, the cute nurse that he meets helps ease his pain. Garrett was also a charmer and holy buckets, I wouldn't know what to do if a man said this stuff to me. I really liked Karly in this book. I liked that even though Garrett came off in the beginning pretty hardcore and sounded like a playboy, she was able to see past that to the man he really was. I loved watching these two grow together.

[Fedora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scout's Honor by Maia Dylan -- three and a half stars
Solid story featuring a rig owner and an inspector. Scout Cameron and Honor Jennings meet when she arrives to investigate safety concerns. A murder puts everyone on edge as they wait for the Coast Guard. An exciting story with good characterizations.

Keep You Safe by C.R. Moss -- three stars
Art professor and the boy she used to babysit, all grown up now. Throw in a jerk of an ex with stalkerish tendencies and let the excitement begin.

Mud and Honey by R.L. Merrill -- four stars
Cop and arborist. He's got a past that still complicates his present. She's got a present that's not much simpler. Well written story about grownups adulting :) Love the unusual profession and the Bay Area setting.

Sweet Addiction by Sarah Marsh -- two and a half stars
Baker and rancher. She's been burned by a cheating ex and her self-esteem's taken some huge hits. He's got a crazy ex determined to have him back. The parts where it's the two of them sizzle, but the stereotypical characterization of the exes knocks this down for me.

Destiny Happened by London Saint James -- four stars
Office professional and garage owner. Her life implodes spectacularly at the start, but meeting him really helps turn things around. Fun, sexy read.

Where Fire Meets Flame by Elena Kincaid -- three stars
Firefighter and private investigator. His persistent almost ex complicates matters to a shocking degree. Tristan and Riley's interactions are enjoyable. The ex factor is pretty... crazy.

Diamond in the Rough by Danielle James -- two stars
Gem miner and law student. Instant attraction leads to one scorching night. But she's been burned before and can't envision the possibility of anything lasting. Good thing he's persistent. Characterization felt thin to me; hard to relate to the characters.

Rescuing Trent by Rose Nickol -- two stars
Rancher/bodyguard and ER nurse. They spend the entire story navigating his rocky relationship with numerous jealous exes.

Fighting the Inferno by Ashley Malkin -- three stars
Firefighter and web designer being stalked by an arsonist.

Good With His Hands by Lucy Felthouse -- three and a half stars
Park ranger and a hiker who gets caught in inclement weather. Hot, spur of the moment encounter

Dirty Demo by Eva Moore -- four and a half stars
Contractor and camera woman. Book 1.5 in Eva Moore's Exposed Dreams series. Great story with characters showing real vulnerabilities.

John's Jillaroo by Scarlett J Rose -- two stars
Jackaroo and a want-to-be jillaroo, learning the ropes at an Australian cattle ranch. Plus points for a charming heroine and her fearless attitude. Minus points for stereotypical characterizations of the other female characters and hero's careless attitude towards sex and drinking.

Sex Mechanic by Bella Settarra -- two stars
Mechanic and marketing specialist. Plus points for main characters and their interactions with their families. Minus for stereotypical witchy, sleazy ex, hero's cavalierly rakish ways, and overblown purple prose.

Heat Sink by Cecile Tellier -- three stars
Nuclear plant maintenance specialist and bar owner. They have good chemistry. Slight minus points for OTT attack on her bar and apartment.

Blurred Lines by Nikki Prince -- three stars
Prison officer and counselor. They share a smoking chemistry and one hot night. She refuses to pursue anything further for fear of discovery and being fired.

Stoke the Flames by Samantha A. Cole -- three and a half stars
Firefighter and teacher. They meet when the nephew he has custody of needs extra math help. Sparks ignite but they need to wait until the school year is over before they pursue a relationship. Cute premise and development; she's got some of the common hang ups about her extra weight but fortunately it doesn't become a major plot point.

One Night More by Sabrina Sol -- four stars
Landscaper and hotel executive. One night ends up not being enough, but any appearance of impropriety would have serious professional repercussions... Solid characterizations and great supporting cast. Looking forward to reading more by Ms Sol.

Accidentally Again by Sydney Lea -- three stars
Police officer and daughter of the chief. One night isn't enough but he doesn't want to hold her back, not realizing they now share something more permanent. Sweet if a bit sketched in.

Crashing Hard by Kimberlie L Faye -- three and a half stars
Paramedic and ER nurse. He sees her and is smitten, but she believes his player persona is who he is. They both come to realize that the other is someone they can trust with themselves and their secrets.

Beer Goggles by Ava Campbell -- three stars
Bar owner/brew master and reporter. She's in town to write a story about him and his business. Typos and some of the writing style were slightly distracting.

Lockdown by Mia Hopkins -- five stars
Locksmith and business student. One incredible night to open their eyes to possibilities... Well written, spare but full of emotion, heart, and heat. Ms Hopkins is a writer to watch.

Pieced Together by Lori King -- three stars
Marine and nurse. He is injured just before he's about to ship out again, and determines to make use of the time he needs to recover to get to know her better. A terrible ex has made her cautious.
Some distracting typos, otherwise a fun read.

Mia Hopkins's Lockdown and Eva Moore's Dirty Demo are the real standouts.

[Tami · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is for Stoke the Flames by Samantha A. Cole only.

Third-grade teacher Jenna thinks she is not good looking and will never attract the man of her dreams, and when 'Mr. October', Cade Fallon, enters her classroom she is convinced that someone as good looking as him will never be interested in her. Jenna could not be more wrong. Unfortunately, the fact that Jenna is the teacher of his nephew does prevent Cade from making a move. But when the school year comes to an end nothing will be held back.

Stoke the Flames is a very well written, sweet romance, with a few sad moments, that was a pleasure to read. Jenna and Cade are two characters that are so loveable that I fell for them right from the beginning. Whenever they met, there was such an attraction and it was described so vividly that I felt as if I were there with the couple. I just wished that the story would be longer, but I will not give up hope that we might meet Jenna and Cade in one of the author's other books.

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, this is a collection of stories by some of today's best romance authors and a good way to introduce yourself to your next favorite author. While I have only read once of the books (so far) I had to post a review of that one just so I could get the word out about this FABULOUS COLLECTION. Don't hesitate to get this collection and sit down at your leisure and work your way through these wonderful stories.

I will try to remember to post updates as I work my way through this great collection.

Stoke The Flame by Samantha A. Cole - Who doesn't love a main character who is a hero Firefighter, especially one who has stepped up and is raising his young nephew? I know I do! Jenna cannot understand how the sexy calendar pin up man who happens to also be the Guardian of one of the students she is teaching this year. There are definitely sparks between these two but it is one fire that Cole has no intention of dousing.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll admit, I only bought this anthology for one of the stories and have only read that one story. Dirty Demo by Eva Moore. It's book 1.5 in her Exposed Dreams series (Opened Up and Stripped Down are EXCELLENT). It's a total standalone from the other two books aside from being about two people who work on the family construction business reality TV show, they aren't members of the family. I inhaled the whole novella in nearly one day! I love stories about gently giant heroes and tall heroines (I'm 5'11" myself, and it's so rare to read about a heroine over 5'5"). I could have read a full length novel about these two! Their one sex scene was hot, hot, HOT! Though they did it on an outdoor park bench, and I did have kind of a hard time picturing how that would really work, but once I decided not to worry about the logistics, it was fine! I may eventually read some of the other stories in here, hopefully they're as good as Eva Moore's story!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have only reviewed Samantha A Cole authors contribution to this anthology and loved Stoke the Flames. The byplay between fireman Cade, also known as Mr October, and his nephews 3rd grade teacher Jenna is full of sexual tension and simmering flames that have to take a back seat to the needs of Chris, the nephew and Miss Anderson's student who is failing math. To find out what happens when they finally have the opportunity to turn those smoldering looks into something more you will have to grab a copy and read the story yourself. If this si the calibre of the rest of the stories in this anthology then you wont be able to put it down.

[Nicki - The Overflowing Bookcase · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stoke the Flames...Samantha A. Cole
When school teacher Jenna offers to give her student extra help in math, she has no idea that his guardian/uncle is the hot firefighter and Mr. October, Cade. Although an instant connection is felt between them, the need to keep everything professional is a priority. But once grades close and summer begins, so does their romance. Sparks fly in this beautifully written heartwarming romance. This is definitely one of the 22 short stories that should not be missed.

[Leanne ~ Tales From The Heart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great box set by some awesome authors, some faves and some new to me. This set is full of hardworking heroes.

Pieced Together - Lori King
An injured military man and his nurse. Can they fall in love in the time it takes to complete his post surgery rehab? She’s been cheated on and trust is an issue. Love is not meant to be easy.

John’s Jillaroo - Scarlett J Rose
Had to read my fellow Aussie’s tales next. This story takes us to the outback and life on a cattle station. The dust and beautiful wide open spaces. Can a city girl make it here and keep her man?

[TeeAnn Kemmitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stoke the Flames

Samantha A. Cole is one of my favorite authors, so I read Stoke the Flames first. Jenna and Cade first meet during a false fire alarm at the school where she teaches. Also his nephew Chris, who he is raising with help from his mom since his brother and sister-in-law were killed in a car wreck, happens to be one of her students. Brought together to help Chris, they fought their attraction until Jenna was no longer Chris’s teacher. One of my favorite stories of hers! Love it!

[Amy Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing collection of stories with fantastic authors. My favorite was Pieced Together by Lori King. I liked Garrett from the start. He is a good guy who has a great heart. Karly is a sweet girl who is a nurse. Garrett meets Karly while at the doctor for his knee. The two have an instant connection. Although Karly is a little hesitant to go out with Garrett. However, he soon wins her over and the two have an amazing time together. I loved how their story played out and that they took time to build their relationship before they were intimate.
A great set of stories for one low price.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love anthologies for meeting new authors and also for continuing series by some if my favorite authors. So far I've only read Pieced Together by Lori King but I will get to the others soon.
I loved Garret. He's a bit of a ladies man but not in a sleazy/bad way. Karly is still recovering from a bad relationship so she's very wary about dating/trusting Garret. Will she be able to overcome her trust issues to give Garret a real chance? Or will she let what could be the best person in her life slip away? An interesting addition to Ms. King's Storm Corps series.

[Pinky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked every story in this set and that doesn’t always happen in an anthology, but this is a well written group of stories with the blue-collar theme. That being said, there are stories that stood out to me. I didn’t just like, I loved them. Keep You Safe by C.R. Moss, Where Fire Meets Flame by Elena Kincaid, Blurred Lines by Nikki Prince, and this one was sexy, hot, and funny Destiny Happened by London Saint James.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great box set by some fantastic authors!

Pieced Together - Lori King - Garrett is not happy to hear that he needs surgery and can't deploy. The Nurse Karly walks into his life. This was really awesome. She is very guarded due to her past, but she can't seem to stop thinking about him. He is super sweet and willing to wait her out. Love his long term plans when as she is turning him down. LOL

Where Fire Meets Flame - Elena Kincaid
Riley is a PI working on a case for a new client. Little does she know that someone from her past if going to be walking back into her life really soon. Tristan never expected to that a fire could change his life forever. Short but super sweet!!

[Linda Rimer-Como · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great story by the talented Lori King and a terrific addition to this anthology. The story line of Pieced Together moves quickly and the characters are strong, determined and have wonderful chemistry. Can't wait to read more!