Tag Archives: Cathryn Fox

WARM UP (Scotia Storms 2:The Academy Years) by Cathryn Fox-review

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WARM UP (Scotia Storms 2: Rebels: The Academy Years) by Cathryn Fox-a review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo / Google Play /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 5, 2022

He’s a defenseman on the academy’s hockey team – a well-known player on and off the ice.

It’s a reputation he wears proudly…flaunts, even. The only one he has to look out for is himself. No one expects anything else.

Thanks to past mistakes, I have a whole lot of responsibilities outside of the academy, and have no choice but to put others in my life first. They count on me, but you know what? I’m lonely.

I guess that’s why I got all tangled up in the guy whose only focus is on hockey – and fun.

What I hadn’t meant to do, however, was fall head over heels for the player who only wanted one thing from me. Can you say been there done that?

But I think, underneath it all, there’s a lot more to him than even he knows and maybe his choices aren’t his own. Maybe someone else is pulling the strings.

Either way, when past mistakes catch up with me again, the team’s biggest player must decide whether to follow the path carved out for him and walk away from me, or shape his own future, and become the man he keeps well hidden.

••••••

REVIEW: WARM UP is the second instalment in Cathryn Fox’s contemporary, new adult SCOTIA STORMS: REBELS-THE ACADEMY YEARS hockey, romance series. This is college hockey player Matt Morgan, and single mother/music student Kennedy Walsh’s story line. WARM UP can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous storyline is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Kennedy and Matt) WARM UP follows the building romance and relationship between Matt and Kennedy. Kennedy is a single mother who works two jobs in an effort to support herself and her daughter but getting fired meant Kennedy was desperate for a job, and found herself cooking and cleaning for an on campus frat house that housed several members of the college hockey team. Enter Matt Morgan, the man with whom Kennedy will fall in love. Matt Morgan’s reputation both on and off the ice precedes his introduction to our story line heroine but neither Matt nor Kennedy is looking for a permanent relationship, and a friends with benefits affair is perfect until the heart wants something more. As Kennedy and Matt’s relationship begins to take on a life of its’ own, perceived betrayal threatens to destroy the couple’s tentative hold on a happily ever after, for now. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Kennedy and Matt, and the potential fall-out as Matt’s future plans do not involve a ready made family.

Kennedy Walsh is a single mother, struggling in the wake of betrayal and lies. Living with her mother, Kennedy works two jobs, attends college, and raises her daughter without the support of her ex or his money. Kennedy never expected to fall for a man whose reputation as a one-night stand kind of guy threatens all good sense but Kennedy’s heart wants something Matt may be incapable of giving. Matt Morgan’s plans for the future include making it big in the NHL but Matt found himself falling for a young woman and her infant child, falling hard in the face of warring emotions.

The relationship between Kennedy and Matt is one of immediate attraction that begins when Kennedy is fired without cause. The Frat house needs a new cook and house keeper, and Kennedy is the perfect candidate, desperate enough to ignore all the potential rumors about Matt and the players. Matt Morgan quickly pulls Kennedy under his wings, falling for a woman who is perfect for Matt but not necessarily perfect in the eyes of everyone else. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top sexually graphic language and text.

The secondary and supporting characters include Kennedy’s mother Barb; Kennedy’s friends Amy, and Piper; as well as Matt’s brother Liam, and their grandfather Gary. We are reintroduced to Sawyer and Chase (Away Game #1), as well Sawyer’s friend Daisy, and fellow hockey player Beckett. Piper and Beckett’s story is next in CRASH COURSE.

WARM UP is a story of family, friendships, betrayal and love; a story of relationships, misunderstanding, and acceptance. The character driven premise is captivating; the romance is seductive; the characters are charismatic and perfect for one another.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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Hooked on You by Cathryn Fox – a Review

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Hooked on You by Cathryn Fox – a Review

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Google Play / Apple

 

Description:
I’m a bookworm, a mathematician, not the kind of girl a hot lobster fisherman would notice. Until he did. I’m not in small town Nova Scotia to hook up. I’m here to settle my grandmother’s estate and sell the B&B, which I soon discover has been overrun with seasonal fisherman and operated on the honor system. The hard-core fishing folks become an instant family––the one I never had. Then there’s the blind pet cow, who has a crush on my hot fisherman, Nate. Okay, technically he’s not mine. I have no desire to get reeled in. Until I do. Soon, the little town grows on me, and the fisherman? It’s not long until I take the bait and we’re playing house at the B&B. Things are looking up.

Until they aren’t. Rumors about a new plant and jobs being in jeopardy start swirling around town like a nor’easter, and all the signs point to my guy being behind the scandal. Should I give him enough line to play it out and learn his true intentions, or cut and run before I’m hooked?

 

Review:

“ You know in an action movie, when the hero just saved the day and everything goes into slow-mo as he walks toward the heroine, to emphasise the guy’s sexiness? Cue the big finale kiss, right? When they ride off into the sunset, have you ever sighed happily and thought,  one day, that’s going to happen to me? Yeah, me neither.”

Have to admit not my usual read. But I really enjoyed Hooked on You by Cathryn Fox.  Had a few laughs, a blind pet cow had me chuckling. And Eddie the horse, I loved that creature and if there are more stories I hope he features. 

Kira is not cut out for small town living, so she needs to sell the B&B that she’s inherited and get back to her own home. She loves her job, and can’t wait to get back, but being rescued by a hot fisherman is the highlight of her quiet life. And is he flirting with her? 

Nate is the hot fisherman that saves Kira from being mowed down by a runaway horse. He catches lobsters and is happy to trade them for other items. He’s fascinated with the woman he’s just rescued, a little strange, but in a fun way. But he’s not interested in starting something, he wants to finish his deal and move on. It’s not common knowledge yet, and he’s not sure of the reception the new packing company will receive, so he has to tread carefully.

Nate and Kira both tell this story, and it’s good to get both sides. Kira feels guilty that she hasn’t been back for a while, but it won’t stop her from selling the B&B. Nate can’t understand why she would want to sell. But he’s hiding something from her. 

Hoping we get a few more books, there were many characters that needed a story. Really well written, the characters were really good, secondary characters were entertaining as well. And the little town was so well written I had no problem conjuring it up. Kira was great to read, a nerd who loves her job, not many social skills, but that doesn’t stop her from flirting with Nate. 

And Nate is a nice guy, so if he’s so nice, why not tell the town he’s opening up a new company? He’s also looking to move on, so does he need to slow down and enjoy the scenery. 

So will they get together? Or will Kira sell up and leave? Can Nate persuade her not to sell? He’d like her to stay, but will she? And what happens when she finds out his secret? Will she help or will she hinder? 

Reviewed by Julie B

Copy provided by Publisher

 

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Betting Bad (Reform #1) by Cathryn Fox-a review

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BETTING BAD (Reform #1) by Cathryn Fox

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo / Google Play

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 30, 2018

I just walked away from eight years in state prison, went up against some of the meanest bastards on the inside, but until I rode my bike down the rain soaked street of Middletown, Chicago, I had no idea what real fear was.

Home.

I have to face my family, find a way to make up for a son’s recklessness.

Secrets.

I was forced to keep them all those years. There’d been no choice but to walk away from a football scholarship and…Sara. The girl I’ve never stopped loving.

Reform.

Now I’m back, ready to re-enter a society leery of trusting convicted felons. Ready to face…Sara. I’d broken what was between us, turned her world upside down. I know I need to stay away from the girl who means everything to me. But when danger enters her life, I’m willing to lose it all again to protect her. Except I soon realize the biggest threat to Sara, is me.

••••••

REVIEW: BETTING BAD is the first instalment in Cathryn Fox’s contemporary, adult REFORM erotic, romance series. This is ex-con Tyler Barrett, and twenty-eight year old Sara Ramsey’s story line.

Told from dual first person points of view (Tyler and Sara) BETTING BAD follows the second chance romance between ex-con Tyler Barrett, and Sara Ramsey. Nine years earlier, with a football scholarship in hand, Tyler found himself on the wrong side of the law facing fifteen years in prison, and the loss of the only woman he would ever love. Fast forward to present day wherein a hardened Tyler finds himself back where it all began in Middletown, Chicago in the hopes of recapturing all that he lost. Enter Sara Ramsey, Tyler’s former girlfriend, and the woman he hasn’t stopped loving. What ensues is the rekindling and secret romance between Tyler and Sara, and the potential fall-out as Tyler is targeted by someone from his past.

High school sweethearts Tyler and Sara had their whole lives ahead of them including plans to open their own sporting goods store but for a moment of passion that landed our hero in prison for a crime meant to protect someone he loved. Sara has struggled in the years since Tyler broke her heart including having never moved on from what was or what could have been. With Tyler’s return Sara begins to hope for a future with the man she lost years before, a man who keeps secret the how and why.

The relationship between Tyler and Sara is one of second chances; a rekindling romance that Sara keeps hidden in light of her father’s inability to forgive and forget the heartbreak and destruction nine years earlier. Hoping to reclaim his status as the man in her life, Tyler begins to make amends beginning with Sara’s father, and his offer to help coach the local high school football team. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and passionate.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful secondary and supporting characters. We are introduced to Tyler’s siblings: sixteen year old, sight-impaired Gracie, college student Alex, mechanic Lucas, and their mother Viola: Sara’s father and high school football Coach Ramsey, as well as Tyler’s prison ‘brothers’-Deacon, Justin, Ryder, Jamie and Christian; and college professor Caleb Douglas. I am looking forward to many more stories featuring Tyler’s brothers from another mother.

BETTING BAD is a story of family and friendship; forgiveness and love; struggles and redemption. The premise is engaging; the characters are sassy and charismatic; the romance is hot and spicy.

I did have an issue with the quick conflict resolution, and the four-year jump in time where the reader is not privy to what happened –I am hoping the author will address some of the missing information in future story lines.

Own a copy

Reviewed by Sandy

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The Penthouse Pact by Cathryn Fox – a Review

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The Penthouse Pact by Cathryn Fox – a Review

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / BAM / Book Depository

Description:
Billionaire software developer Parker Braxton knows everyone wants something from him. That’s why he made a multi-million-dollar bachelor pact with his friends to never marry. But he never counted on running into, literally, the quiet but sensual Layla Fallon.

Layla isn’t afraid of hard work. Still, there is no light at the end of her student-loan tunnel. When Stuck-Up Suit—Parker Braxton—accidentally runs her over, it’s the last things she needs. She refuses his help, but he’s persistent. He’s also handsome, kinder than she ever expected, and she’s doing her best to ignore her attraction. Which is harder than it sounds when she’s recuperating at his penthouse.

Sparks fly. Hearts flutter. But falling for Layla could cost Parker more than just several million dollars.

 

Review:

Penthouse Pact is the first book in The Bachelor Pact series by Cathryn Fox.

Parker Braxton is a billionaire software developer and president of SKYWEB, America’s leading producer of computer software. While in the process of his daily rush, driving past his favorite coffee shop Uncommon Grounds, he accidentally runs his car into Layla
Fallon. As soon as the accident happens, Parker realizes that the knows the woman he just hit.  It is the same woman that serves him his Grande Americano every morning at the coffee shop.  

This is the last thing Layla needs. She is a struggling student, who is behind on her rent, has no medical insurance and now has one “Stuck-up-suit” guy hitting her with his car.
Parker realizes what he has done and when he sees that Layla is bleeding he insists on taking her to the hospital. To which she loudly and boldly protests. But Parker is persistent and insistent that Layla allow him to take care of her and have her seen at the hospital.

Layla has a concussion and once Parker realizes she has no friend coming to pick her up or to look after her for the next few days, he insists that she come and stay with him.
But he has never invited any woman to his penthouse.  Let alone offering to have them stay.  After several disagreements, stubborn Layla finally agrees to spend one night with Parker. 

That one night turns into weeks when Parker takes her home only to find a main water line has broken in front of her apartment causing it to flood.  With no option of anywhere else to go – she begrudgingly returns to Parker’s penthouse. 

But Layla can’t afford to miss class, work or another rent payment.   And Parker does everything in his power to step up and do the right thing. When she realizes that the guy she used to call Stuck-up-Suit genuinely wants to take care of her and make sure she is ok. She slowly begins to open up and trust in him. 

Parker has no idea why his body betrays him every time he gets close to Layla; or why she has such an influence over him. But what he does know is that he has a pact with five men from his Yale secret society.  You walk down the aisle, you pay each man one million dollars.

Paker Braxton is cocky, arrogant and extremely good looking. And while he comes off as quite stuffy and all business in the beginning – he begins to grow on you.  The more he wants to take care of Layla, the more you begin to fall for him.  He is sweet and genuine at heart.  I loved how he began to become less business as his body began to betray him anytime he was near Layla.

Layla Fallon is one tough cookie.  She has had a rough life and has been on her own for quite some time.  She struggles to pay her rent, to pay for school. She struggles, yet she continues to move forward.  When she realizes that she has not gone unnoticed by stuck up Parker and that just maybe he isn’t as rude and cocky as he comes off.  She slowly begins to warm to him.  And the fact that her body does one thing while her brain screams another, makes for a hot and steamy read.

I look forward to continuing this series. It was a fun and playful read and the author beautifully paints a world of words that makes you want to find out more.
I highly recommend this book if you are looking for a hot, steamy quick read.

Reviewed by Erin

Copy provided by Publisher

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