Adult Review: CHRISTMAS WITH THE ALEXANDERS by M. Malone

CHRISTMAS WITH THE ALEXANDERS
Author: M. Malone
Series: The Alexanders
Publicaion date: November 6th, 2013
Publisher: CrushStar Romance
Number of pages: 75
Date read: November 20th, 2013
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Source: free off Amazon
Format: Ebook
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(Description source: Goodreads)

Elliott Alexander's security business is booming and he's finally in the position to come home for good. But home brings bittersweet memories and puts him in the path of a woman who makes him feel things he isn't ready for.

Kaylee Wilhelm knows what she wants for Christmas, for Elliott Alexander to notice she's alive. Unfortunately he doesn't seem to like her much so she's spending the holidays with her disapproving parents, both of whom think she's screwing up her life. 

When Kay's car skids out of control on Christmas Eve, she's forced to reach out to the only man she trusts to save her.

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This novella, Christmas With the Alexanders, is exactly the fix that fans of the series need to last them until book four is released!

Kaylee has wanted Elliott for quite a long while, despite his seeming dislike of her. 

So she decides that visiting with her parents will be the plan for Christmas.

Elliott can't stop thinking about Kay whilst spending Christmas with his family and when he gets a call from her asking for help because her car skidded off the road, he doesn't hesitate to drive to her rescue.

Told mostly in Kay's and Elliott's view points,  we get to learn more about these two characters. Kay is very self-conscious about herself, especially in regard to her weight and curvier figure, and is used to receiving criticism for many perceived mistakes.

Elliott is very protective of those in his care, but he's always been careful to keep his distance from Kay because of the feelings she evokes in him, this Christmas they are much harder to ignore, but there still seems to be something holding him back.

This novella serves as a great introduction into what Kay and Elliott's novel will be about, but this novella is about the rest of the Alexander family too, readers getting to see how the other couples are going and there is a really sweet development that takes place within this story.

I do wish Christmas With the Alexanders could have been longer, but it was still just awesome to get to see what the characters were doing and gt a taste of what is coming next in the series.

I rate Christmas With the Alexanders Four out of Five!!!

HE'S THE MAN by M. Malone

Book Three in The Alexanders series
Publication date: August 18th, 2013
Publisher: CrushStar Romance
Number of Pages: 310
Date read: August 21st, 2013
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Source: Bought
Format: Ebook





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(Description source: Goodreads)

Because in the Alexander family, if we love you then you're one of us.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Matt Simmons is over Army doctors poking him. But when his sister won't stop nagging him to see their old babysitter, now a sought after physical therapist, he gives in just to get some peace. 

Penny is finally putting down roots after a lifetime of moving around. She’s got everything she wants, except the settled suburban life she longs for. All she needs is the perfect guy, which means NO military men.

When Matt realizes that his old babysitter is h-o-t, he’s suddenly seeing the benefits of therapy. But Penny still sees him as the bratty kid she used to babysit.

Suddenly he has a new mission in life…

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Matt Simmons feels hopeless. After injuring his shoulder almost a year earlier while serving in the Army, he still can't properly move it, it just has not properly healed. Penelope Lewis is a workaholic. She doesn't tend to really have time for friends and is unsure about her relationship with her boyfriend - shouldn't there be some spark between them? 

When Matt's twin sister Mara books him a physical therapy appointment, he's reluctant to go - it'll just end up being more of the same poking and prodding, right? But, as it turns out, his new physical therapist is none other than his childhood babysitter, Penelope.

Both have done a lot of growing up since they last saw each other, and the connection is undeniable - but will they be willing to chance, especially when Penny promised herself that she'd never date a military man (after having to move around so much when she was a child due to her father being in the military)?

Matt's character is awesome, not only is he a man in uniform, but he's sexy, strong, bluntly honest and cocky as hell! He is completely generous, protective of those he cares about, and has an absolute heart of gold. Penny smart and sweet, she's no pushover and not at all afraid to stand up for herself, though all she really wants is what's best for people and for everyone to have the chance to be happy.

The plot was mainly based around Matt and Penelope's personal lives' and whether Penny will take a chance on Matt, and whether Matt's shoulder will heal, while giving intermittent looks into the situation between the characters starring in book four. The thing I love about this series, all the main characters of previous stories are part of each new book, so we get to find out if Nick and Raina have a boy or a girl :)

There are heart-warming moments, sexy moments, and moments that are hilarious - hilarious moments include plenty of innuendos from Matt...

I really do love this series and can't believe I have to wait till November for the next installment! I am dying here, want MORE Alexanders NOW!!!

Right. Staring at her chest was probably not the best way to start their professional relationship.

I rate He's the Man Five out of Five!

THE THINGS I DO FOR YOU by M. Malone

Book Two in The Alexanders series
Publication date: March 12th, 2013
Publisher: CrushStar Romance
Number of Pages: 300
Date read: August 18th, 2013
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Source: Bought
Format: Ebook





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(Description source: Goodreads)

A bargain. A baby. A billion things can go wrong. 

Nicholas Alexander doesn’t mind being called a playboy. His charm serves him well in business and a beautiful woman is always on his arm. Except the one he’s in love with.

Raina Winters doesn’t believe in love, so when she’s dumped right before her wedding, she’s more upset about losing what she really wants from marriage. A baby.

When Nick learns about Raina’s dilemma, his first reaction is to leave her hanging like she left him after their steamy one-night stand. But he finally has something Raina needs, so he offers her a deal. He’ll give her a baby if she gives him something he desires just as much. 

Just two little words.

I. Do.

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I delved into this IMMEDIATELY after finishing One More Day, I mean seriously, this novel tells the story of Raina and Nick trying to have a baby! How could I not dive into it?!

After their one night of pure sex months ago, Raina walked away from Nick as a means of keeping her heart intact and went after her ultimate goal: becoming a mother. But when her fiance leaves her, it seems like her dreams of ever having her own family are dashed, at least, until her twin sister Ridley interferes and lets Nick in on the situation. Nick, who has been dreaming about Raina for months and is determined to have her for himself, decided this is his chance to reel her in.

A proposition for the family she's always wanted is too good for Raina to pass up, even if she's unsure of putting her heart on the line, but Nick is determined to have all of her, will he win her heart?

Raina is a complex characters, she's a high profile model with some surprising vulnerabilities and it's just gorgeous to see Nick uncover these vulnerabilities and accept them. Raina rides an emotional roller-coaster all throughout the novel but it's really interesting to read her thought processes and see how she reacts and why.

Nick is quite the legendary playboy and his about to go completely against every rule of a playboy, he's about to try and settle down with the one woman who got away, the one woman he loves. Nick is sweet and absolutely sexy as hell! Ladies, who doesn't love a man who can cook? Besides, the instances when Raina attempts to cook are quitehilarious and the epitome of sweet!

The plot of The Things I Do For You is really quite different from that of One More Day, M. Malone has adapted her style to perfectly suit this different set of characters. The pacing is different and there is such an element of suspense as there was in book one, this novel focusing much more of the emotions and the relationship and the innermost feelings and insecurities of these characters.

I got through this novel in less then a day, completely loved it and am dying for the rest of this series, and this is one sexy and smouldering series that is absolutely not to be missed. I am hooked on these characters and their intertwining stories. One of my favourite aspects of this series? How each story contains glimpses that preview future novels :)

I rate The Things I Do for You Four and a Half out of Five!

ONE MORE DAY by M. Malone

Book One in The Alexanders series
Publication date: October 23rd, 2012
Publisher: CrushStar Romance
Number of Pages: 350
Date read: August 17, 2013
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Suspense
Source: Bought
Format: Ebook





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(Description source: Goodreads)

"You're with the right person when no matter how bad things get, you'd still rather be with them than anywhere else..."

RIDLEY WELLS HAS NO idea what to do with her life now that she's graduated from college. But when a friend is murdered and her apartment is trashed, she runs to the only person she trusts, her twin sister. No one will think to look for her in the rinky dink Virginia town of New Haven. 

Of course, her luck lands her passed out in the grass in front of resident bad boy, music producer Jackson Alexander. 

Strike 1! 

Then she realizes Raina's out of the country and she has nowhere else to go. 

Strike 2! 

So when the handsome producer with the platinum smile mistakes her for her sister, she gets an idea. 

Where better to hide than in plain sight? 

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I got the prequel novella to The Alexanders series free on Amazon, and it came with the first 15 chapters of One More Day. I quite enjoyed Teasing Trent, so I dived right in and ended up buying One More Day as soon as I got the chance. Why? Because I couldn't keep waiting just one more day to find out what happened next!

The story starts by giving us a little insight into Jackson's personal life. He's a young widower with two sons who hasn't been able to bring himself to love again. You get a glimpse into his family life too, which is cute. 

Ridley Wells has had the toughest week. She lost her friend in a car accident and then found her apartment trashed! So, doing what she thought was the wisest move, she decided to get the hell out of Florida and go stay with her twin sister, high-profile model Raina Winters. The plan was simple enough, but leave it to get complicated when she least expects it. She's locked out of her sister's house.

Ridley and Jackson are thrown together after Ridley passes out in her sister's backyard and Jackson comes to help his neighbour, mistaking Ridley for her twin. Ridley goes along with he mistaken identity but things get complicated quickly, how long will it be before the secrets and lies rise to the surface?

Ridley is a sweet and funny character, even when ling she does her best to keep things as honest as possible. She's had a difficult life but it allows her to relate to almost every other character in a kind and empathetic manner which is a refreshing trait to see in a main character.

Jackson has lead a tragic and difficult life but he never lets anything get in the way of his family, who are his number one priority, but meeting Ridley throws him for a loop. He is sexy as anything and has a good, albeit slow to trust, heart. Now, if a sexy man, with a heart of gold and a slight bad-boy status who can play guitar and write songs appeals to you, then this novel will totally hook you!

The connection between Jackson and Ridley is palpable from the first moment and it's really sweet to see how things progress and to be let in on their innermost thoughts by way of multiple view points. Romance isn't the only aspect to the story, the plot is fast-paced and full of suspense, I really love how M. Malone ties everything that happens together, in this novel, nothing happens without some reason or other behind it. 

This novel works with themes of love, deceit, trust, loyalty, betrayal and family, and spins a tale that all mature readers are sure to enjoy. I say 'mature readers' because some  of the content within the novel is smoulderingly HOT! There are many twists and turns that keep you entertained and almost break your heart as all you want is a happy ending for such amazing characters.

The final chapters of the novel were surprising, suspenseful and heart-warming! I am moving straight to reading book two, The Things I Do for You, which happens to be Raina's story, I cannot wait to see what happens here!

I rate One More Day Five out of Five!

TEASING TRENT by M. Malone

Prequel (Book #0.5) to The Alexanders series
Publication date: January 1st, 2011
Number of Pages: 51
Date read: August 14th, 2013
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Short Story
Source: Bought
Format: Ebook





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(Description source: Goodreads)

One girl. One guy. One unforgettable night.

 

Trent's supposed to keep his best friend's sister company on her birthday. He just has to remember the promise he made to himself in college to keep his hands off her. He's not worried until he finds out she wants to stay in. Just the two of them.

Ever since Mara walked into her brother's dorm room freshman year and came face to face with a shirtless Trent, she's known he was The One. She finally has a plan to get him exactly where she wants him. In her bed.

If Mara has her way, she'll get a lot more for her birthday than a Hallmark card…

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So, my co-blogger was going through ebooks while logged into my Amazon account and found Teasing Trent for free, so she decided that she should totally add it to my kindle for me... I have to say, I am glad that she did.

Mara's twin brother is serving overseas, and guess who he asked to look after his sister? 

His best friend and the guy who his sister happens to have been in love with for several years....

 

Trent has promised himself to keep his hands off of Mara and thought that hanging out with her on her birthday wouldn't test his resolve too much, at least until she informs him that they're stayin in. Now, throw some yoga into the equation and you're starting to get the right idea. 

 

Mara is tired of waiting around, she's going after what she wants...

 

Told from both points of view (Mara's and Trent's), you get insight into exactly how each of them feel. Trent is trying to be a good guy and not get it on with his best friend's sister, even though it takes all his strength to resist the temptation. While Mara has loved Trent for so long, but has never had the courage to do anything to let him know how she feels... but she's decided that enough is enough, she's going to get him.

 

Mara is self-sonscious and has self-esteem issues just like the rest of us, making her incredibly easy to relate to, who hasn't wanted something that they've been afraid to go after?
 

This story was funny, with interesting, real characters and some sweet, serious and sexy moments, there are a few unexpected ones thrown in too.

 

A nice (but hot) short read, it won't take much time to get through, but is definitely enjoyable.

 

"You okay Trent?" 

He cleared his throat a few times. 

"Wow. You're, uh... really flexible."

 

I rate Teasing Trent Five out of Five!