Bingeworthy Books

Tag: Marie Force

  • Review: Gansett Episode 1: Victoria and Shannon

    Okay, so let’s be honest here, this isn’t going to be a review so much as a recommendation.  I mean, it would be hard to go wrong with this book for me because I’m a huge McCarthy/Gansett Island fan. One of the reasons I enjoy this series so much is that in each book, with each new couple, the reader is updated on previous characters and couples. There are times where we’d like to learn more about a couple (but maybe they don’t have a full-length book sized story to tell) and Ms. Force has decided to tackle this by featuring some lesser known couples and a little more on previous couples and their (in this case) growing families.

    I truly love this idea! I didn’t really know/remember a whole lot about the featured couple Shannon and Victoria (ergo… this book) and Ms. Force deftly fills us in on the development of their relationship from when they first met to now when they are facing quite a large hurdle.

    The way Shannon handles this hurdle is frustrating at first but soon I appreciated the way he finally decided to face his own demons. Let’s just get this straight, though, Victoria is a badass. In this book, she assists with three births of Gansett Island babies. I loved that despite her own exhaustion and personal struggles, she was ready to rock and roll. Something else I loved was how Victoria and David’s close friendship was showcased. David has quite a history where the McCarthy’s and Gansett Island are concerned and I always enjoy a good redemption story and he continues to cement his own for me.

    Simply put, the Gansett Island Episodes are a welcome addition to the McCarthy/Gansett Island world and I’m looking forward to more from one of my favorite series of all time.

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  • Review and Author Spotlight: Light After Dark by Marie Force

    Oh, Gansett Island, how I love to visit you and your residents!  I was eagerly awaiting the release of this book because this series is a comfort read for me. Going back to Gansett and catching up with the McCarthy Clan and friends always makes me happy. Now, be aware, this review is spoiler free.

    For some reason, my brain had not clicked into the fact that the reader would not know who Mallory would be paired up with. Until a review copy was graciously bestowed upon me, I finally realized how EXCITED I was not to know who Mallory’s main man would be. I found this approach refreshing and I couldn’t wait to start the book. (And frankly, I don’t think I could trust just any author with that approach.)

    I can tell you, that for me, the wait and mystery shrouding Mallory’s love interest was totally worth it. I love who she was paired up with and I thoroughly enjoyed his backstory and journey as well. And he was soooo sexy and just…everything.

    This book is important in the McCarthy world because it’s how Mallory found her spot in the McCarthy clan. She had a number issues that she needed to deal with after finding out that her father was Big Mac McCarthy and how to deal with that huge family who loves each other fiercely. Mallory walks into a ready made family full of BROTHERS and a sister not to mention, cousins and aunts and uncles and well, it’s a lot for her to get used to. The development of her relationship with her father plays an important role in this book and I appreciated the time given to that.

    As always the McCarthy family love and humor was front and center and we were able to catch up with other McCarthy family members and get updates on their relationships and families.  Now, I’m a sucker for romance (obviously) and as important as that is, Mallory’s relationship development is deftly combined with her coming to terms with her place in her very big and very loving family.

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    Author Spotlight

    Can you start by introducing yourself to the readers that may not be familiar with you?

    Hi there! I’m the author of more than 50 contemporary romances, including the Gansett Island Series, the Fatal Series from Harlequin Books, the Green Mountain Series and the erotic romance Quantum Series, written under the slightly modified name of M.S. Force. Other than the Fatal Series, all my series are now indie-published.

     Can you tell us a little about your journey to becoming an author?

    I started writing fiction in 2003/2004 and wrote seven books before I finally sold one to a publisher in 2007. That book was my debut, Line of Scrimmage, in 2008. I also sold Fatal Affair, the first book in the Fatal Series, to Harlequin in 2010. My career really took off when I self-published the first three books in the Gansett Island Series three months in a row in 2011. That series has been, my far, my most popular series, and Light After Dark is book 16 in that series. If you haven’t started it yet, you can get book 1, Maid for Love, for free everywhere ebooks are sold.

     What is something people would be surprised to know about you?

    The joke among the friends/family that work with me is that I have one talent and one talent only, and I get myself into trouble when I try to branch out into other “talents.” They may be right about that!

    Do you have any rituals when you write?

    I like to write in bed—I joke that as a romance author, that’s where I do my best work. I dive into writing as soon as my son, who is my youngest, leaves for school at 7 am and don’t stop until my brain says ENOUGH. I worry about my whole program going to hell next year after he graduates and I no longer HAVE to get up early. Yikes!

    If you could have dinner with any of the characters from the McCarthy family, who would it be and why?

    Definitely Mac McCarthy, who was the star of book 1, Maid for Love, and has had a story with his wife, Maddie, in every subsequent book. I have spent a LOT of time with Mac over the last seven years, and I absolutely adore writing him and his wicked sense of humor. I love when his pranks go so very wrong and he gets himself in trouble with his big mouth. He’s so fun to write.

     Favorite snack?

    Do I have to pick just one?? I am cursed to have the sweet tooth AND the salty tooth! So I will say anything chocolate as well as salt & vinegar chips. Yummmmm!

     Favorite drink?

    Water. I drink gallons of it every day.

    Favorite song right now:

    Favorite song forever: Hallelujah –favorite versions are by KD Lang and Rufus Wainright. I have every version of that song every recorded on my iTunes. Last summer at the beach, when my phone was set to alphabetical order, my friend said, Um, Marie, I think we just heard that song, and I said, um, Nina, I have like 20 versions of it. LOL

     Last book you read:

    I have been re-reading the Gansett Island series, so Light After Dark is the last one I read. When I finished my re-read, I didn’t know what to do with myself. I’m moving on to a re-read of the Green Mountain Series now. Re-reading is a big part of my writing routine. I came out of the re-read of Gansett with a list of 20 ideas for things that need to happen in upcoming books. It helps me to tweak the timeline, the series bible and generally refreshes my memory.

     Favorite movie of all time: Pretty Woman! Never gets old, except for my family who can’t stand the way I say all the lines along with the characters. Close second would be the first Sex in the City movie.

     Last Netflix/series you binge watched: Breaking Bad. OMG, so, so, so good. My son, husband and I watched it together. It was great.

     Who are some of your favorite authors and books? Favorite authors include some of my friends—Lauren Blakely, Christina Lauren, Emma Chase, Penelope Ward, Vi Keeland, Kristen Proby, to name a few. Favorite books are anything by the ladies listed here as well as Lisa Kleypas’s old historicals.

     What is the best piece of advice you have received in your writing career so far?

    To run my business the way a man would. This advice wasn’t intended to be sexist, but a reminder to be tough and lead with practicality rather than emotion. That advice has served me very well.

     What’s coming up next for you?

    Up next is Every Little Thing, book 1 in my new Butler, Vermont Series, which will pick right up where the Green Mountain Series left off. I’m also working on the first Gansett Island Episode, which will be shorter stories featuring past characters on Gansett, set to debut in 2017, as well as Delirious, book 6 in my Quantum Series. I also promised my readers a new Treading Water book in 2017 after five years of them pleading for it. I’m really excited to revisit the Harrington family that started my career in 2004/2005 when I wrote Treading Water, which was my first book. I love that all these years later, readers are still asking for more of that family.

     Thanks so much for having me! Find out more about my books at marieforce.com and follow me on Facebook at facebook.com/MarieForceAuthor, on Twitter @marieforce and on Instagram @MarieForceAuthor. Email me at marie@marieforce.com

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  • Review: Ain’t She Sweet by Marie Force

    This book knocked me on my ass.  I was not prepared for the emotional wallop that it delivered!  See, Charley is one tough cookie and she has a hard shell.  Tyler sees through the smartass and pursues Charley even though she has made it clear that she is not interested.  Now, to be clear, Tyler isn’t an overbearing alpha stalker, he just somehow gets Charley and he is a very patient man.

    There is no doubt in my mind that I will read this book again. From beginning to end, I gobbled it up!  From the moment where Charley gets hurt and Tyler is there to get help, I held my breath.  Those scenes were so tightly written and I was absolutely swallowed up in the story and that was the beginning of the book.

    There were times where Charley’s “issue” from a past relationship bothered me a bit, I guess I felt like she needed to let it go and let Tyler into her heart.  But let me tell you, Tyler has to be one of the most determined heroes that Ms. Force has ever written.  He was so freaking sexy, affectionate, passionate, honest, and a dirty talker on top of all of that.  Holy Crap.

    In the midst of Tyler battling Charley’s issue, she has the benefit of having her big family around for counseling purposes.  The family is one of the BIG reasons why I love this series so much.  Nothing like having people who know you so well, hold up a mirror and help you see the big picture.  Plus, we get to catch up with all of the previous couples and characters, which I absolutely love.  Force also plants the seeds of new couples (Grayson and Emma) and then, there’s Max father to a sweet baby. I just… I need Max’s story and I know it’s coming, I don’t when and it drives me nuts.

    This review is basically me gushing about how much I adored Charley and Tyler and how I need more of this series PRONTO.  So, I guess you could’ve skipped all of that other gobbledygook and read this last sentence.  It was great and I LOVED it!

     

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  • Review: It’s Only Love

    Ok, so this is Ella and Gavin and I’ve been wanting to read their story for sooooo very long. Lo and behold this review copy showed up in my mailbox and I immediately moved my review schedule a bit so I could go ahead and read it.

    These two are so gone for each other from the very beginning and truthfully, their attraction has been simmering for months. The only thing stopping them was the spectre of Gavin’s brother’s death and it’s strangling hold it has on Gavin.

    Gavin FINALLY takes his foot off of the proverbial brake and lets sweet but strong Ella into his heart and oh what a ride is.  One thing I really appreciated with this book was that there wasn’t a whole lot of going back and forth between Ella and Gavin.  She has had feelings for him for what seems like forever and he was the only thing that was holding them back from each other.  Gavin has a moment where he realizes how much better he feels when he is with her as opposed to how he feels when he does not let her in.  Why keep fighting the feelings for someone when you know you feel better with them than you do without them!  Is it a perfect bump in the road free romance? Heck no.  But that’s one of the many things I love about Force’s writing.  Not to mention she always does an incredible job of baiting the hook for the next couple.  I think I say this after every one of her books where she is setting up a new couple.  I go into the book alllll about the current couple and then I’m completely giddy about the couple in the next book. 😉

    If you’re not a fan of sweet and sultry kisses, overflowing attraction, interfering but well-meaning family members and emotional sexy times, then this book is not for you. 😉

    Toss in a little Charley, Max, cousin Grayson, Fred the Moose, and you’ve got another heart-stoppingly romantic addition to the Green Mountain series.

     

    Mandy

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    The Green Mountain Series:

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     GIVEAWAY

    To celebrate the release of IT’S ONLY LOVE, book 5 in the Green Mountain Series, Marie Force is giving away five prize packs that include:

    •    A signed copy of It’s Only Love
    •    $50 gift card
    •    Swag from the Green Mountain Series including Fred the Moose

    Entries must be received by midnight, Saturday, Nov. 7.

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  • Review: And I Love Her by Marie Force

    One thing I can always count on when picking up a Marie Force book is complete and utter enjoyment.

    I’ll admit that Megan was difficult to like in the previous books because of her feelings for Will (Hunter’s brother) and her treatment of Cameron (Will’s GF).  I truly wondered how Ms. Force was going to endear the reader to Megan.  Did she?  Did I like Megan?  I did.  Once Megan understood her feelings about Will, she was able to get out of her own way and realize just how incredible Hunter truly is.

    Hunter…ohhhh Hunter.  Hunter is a bit of a workaholic who dearly loves his family.  He’s the older sibling, the herder and keeper of everyone else.  He isn’t intrusive or annoying, he’s just always there, quietly in some way, making sure everyone else is okay.  Ms. Force gives us more of Hunter and Hannah’s sibling/twin relationship and I truly loved that.

    Once Hunter decided he wanted Megan he stopped at nothing to make her his. Hunter was much more alpha in the bedroom than I anticipated…. I totally did not see that coming!  He even admits to Megan that he likes being the boss…

     

    “I’m the oldest of ten kids.  Bossy is my business.”

    “Are you always like that?”

    “Sometimes  more than others.”

    “Like when?”

    “You really want to know?” he asked.

    “I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t really want to know.”

    He leaned in close to her. pressing his lips against her ear.  “I’m really bossy in bed.”

    A tremble went trhough her that he felt becasue he was sitting so close to her.

    “Is that right?”

    “Uh-huh.”

    “Bossy how?”

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    “I know what I want, and I know how to get it, but only after you get what you want.”

     

    Uh yeah.  so-hot

     

    Hunter is all quiet, buttoned-up, fancy pants wearing and totally in control.  With the exception of his feelings for Megan, once he lets them loose, he does not back down where she is concerned. Megan needs someone to tell her she matters and give her encouragement to be who she really wants to be.  Can you imagine being told, “I really like you and I just want you to be you?  I’m not going to put up with the walls you’ve put up because I want you… no matter what.” (In a non-stalkery way, of course)

    I adore the family aspect that is prevalent in Ms. Force’s novel’s and the Abbott family is so completely fascinating.  Elmer and Lincoln play matchmaker once again, I just love those guys.

    Who’s next?  Ella and Gavin.  Ms. Force always manages to introduce a new couple and make you out of your mind and ready to read them immediately.  She dangles a new couple in front of you like bait on a hook.  Consider me HOOKED.

    As always there are so many hilarious moments, Ms. Force never fails to make me laugh and inevitably, swoon.

     

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  • ARC Review : I Saw Her Standing There by Marie Force

     

    I’m always excited beyond belief when I start a Marie Force book and depressed when I’m done.  Every single book, I am beyond excited to start it and to return to the world that Ms. Force has created!  Then as I’m reading, reality dawns upon me that sooner or later, I’ll come to the end of the book and finish it.  I guess I can call that a First World/Book reading problem.  There are much worse problems to have.

    Now, this book?  I ADORED Lucy and Colton!! Colton was just as delicious and charming as his older brother, Will.  I remember when I read Will and Cameron’s book, All You Need Is Love, and I completely freaked out over Will.  I kept wondering, are all of the Abbott men, this AWESOME?  So far, the answer is

    HELL YES.

    There is something about the Abbott men and their skills in and out of the bedroom.  Holy CRAP.

     

    He kissed her.  Hard.

    When she moaned and opened her mouth to his tongue, he took full advantage of the opportunity to demonstrate the other things she could do with her mouth beside obsess about other women in his life.  He wrapped his arms around her and settled into his kiss as his muscular body pressed against hers.

    Lucy curled her arms around his neck and her legs around his hips.  She’d never been kissed the way Colton Abbott kissed her, as if kissing her was the only thing keeping him alive.  He didn’t kiss so much as consume.  She felt consumed by him, and it was the sweetest feeling she’d ever known.

     

     

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    Colton and Lucy lead very different lives in completely different places and neither one has any plan to make a change.  So what happens with you fall madly in love (while in a bit of denial about it) with someone and all you can think of is that person, wanting to be with that person and you can’t see them on a daily, much less weekly basis?  This is the conundrum for Colton and Lucy.  To Ms. Force’s credit, there was no easy, quick fix.  She brought them along slowly and I kept wondering, how in the world would Lucy and Colton figure this out?  I love that there was no quick fix, it was all about Colton and Lucy figuring out what was important to them and how to manage their lives and compromise.

    And of course we cannot forget the elder members of the Abbott family and their adorable meddling ways.  I truly love how Ms. Force has woven the parents and grandparents into this series (just as she has done in the McCarthy/Gansett series).  Although, the elder Abbotts are on another level of meddling, but it’s meant in a “we know what’s good for you  and we are going to do it anyway- way”.  We also get to hang out with Cameron/Will (squee) which made for some hilarious conversations between brothers and BFFs.  Hannah/Nolan of course made several appearances and we got a little bit more of Hunter.  I really cannot wait to see how Hunter’s book plays out.  I loved getting a glimpse of the Abbott family members via conversations with Colton (aka giving advice) and family dinner.

    In conclusion.  I LOVED this book.  Love Love Love and I cannot wait for more from Ms. Force and this series.  Hell, I’ll read anything she writes, she’s THAT author for me.  If she writes it, I’ll buy it.

     

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    Book 3- I Saw Her Standing There:

    ❃ Amazon // B&N ❃

    Book 2- I Want to Hold Your Hand:

     ❃ Goodreads // Amazon // B&N ❃

    Book 1- All You Need Is Love:

     ❃ Goodreads // Amazon // B&N ❃

    Preorder Book 4- And I Love Her

     ❃ Goodreads // Amazon // B&N ❃

     

    I have the pleasure of offering one of my lucky blog readers the prize pack below.  This giveaway is AWESOME!!! I want to win it! 😉

    • Green Mountain series sticker
    • Stuffed Fred the Moose
    • Signed copy of I Saw Her Standing There
    • Sample of Vermont Maple Syrup
    • Vermont Country Store catalog (we are requesting this—will see if they’ll do it)
    • Marie Force pen
    • $25 Gift card to BN, Amazon or iBooks

     

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