Beefcake & Cupcakes is my first book by Judi Fennell.  This book is both entertaining and fun.  Lara and Gage's story is full of drama, humor and sizzle.  The characters Ms Fennell has created are lovable and make this story awesome.  This book is well-written and a nice smooth read.  I enjoyed Beefcake & Cupcakes and look forward to reading more from Judi Fennell soon.  Beefcake & Cupcakes is book 1 in the Beefcake, Inc Series but can be read as a standalone.  This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.

 

I bought a copy of this book at a book signing.

Wishes, magic, immortality? Never wears a shirt? Sounds good to me!

 

These are wonderful  romances with Djinn heroes and heroines!

 

My lists are never in any particular order. 

 

1. Oracle's Moon by Thea Harrison

 

When Grace Andreas's sister, Petra, and her husband are both killed, Grace inherits the Power and responsibilities of the Oracle of Louisville, as well as her sister's two young children--neither of which she is prepared for. Then Khalil, Demonkind and Djinn Prince of House Marid, decides to make himself a part of the household both as guardian and counterpoint to Grace's impudence towards the Elder Races.

 

2.  Temptation in a Bottle by Shona Husk

 

His only wish is to be free…

For centuries Gage has existed only to fulfill the most intimate desires of the woman who holds his bottle. Now Gage has a wish of his own—to be a real man and a have a real life even though he knows it’s an impossible dream. This time he plans to take his bottle and break it just to see what will happen.

 

Paramedic Sasha Watts has seen the damage falling in love does to people and she has no intention of being another of Cupid’s victims. She accidentally frees Gage without knowing he is a genie. After one kiss he walks away and she never expects to see him again, but the goddess Inanna has other ideas.

 

As punishment for breaking his bottle she erases Gage’s memory of everything but Sasha. Only Sasha can give him the life he longs for and only Gage can be the man she’s always dreamed of, but first she’ll have to open her heart and he’ll have to finish the job Inanna gave him. If he fails, he’ll cease to exist as a man and a genie.

 

 

3. Jinni's Wish  by Marie Hall

 

A long, long time ago there lived a man. A Jinni, who had one wish. To know love. But the woman he thought he knew betrayed him and the love he thought they shared. Tortured for his crimes, he was cast out of Kingdom, stripped of all his powers, left to langour in pain and solitude, until eventually he becomes nothing but a ghost...

 

Paz Lopez is an artist with a dream. To buy a ridiculously large penthouse in the swankiest section of Chicago. But there's just one hitch, she has no man to share her dream with. A fateful visit to a carnival and Madam Pandora's tent sends Paz on a mission to find the love of her life before it's too late.

 

But the Madam forgot to tell Paz one very important detail... to meet him, Paz will have to die first.

 

4.  The Price of Freedom by Jenny Schwartz

 

As a guardian angel, Mischa must protect the one man who may be able to bring about lasting peace to the Middle East. As a djinni, Rafe must fulfill the wishes of a terrorist leader. Their duties colliding, Mischa and Rafe become foes, but the heat between them is undeniable.

 

When the terrorist learns that a guardian angel stands between him and his greatest wish, he orders his djinni to remove her. Taking creative license, Rafe spirits her away to his private oasis, where she will be unable to protect the peacemaker.

 

Beyond their mutual desire, they find common ground in honor and loneliness. Passion quickly grows into love. But it's soon clear to Rafe that love cannot be bound, and Mischa must be true to her life's purpose. Even if Rafe must sacrifice his own taste of freedom to grant hers...

 

5. I Dream of Genies by Judi Fennell 

 

He needs to change his luck, and fast!

Matt Ewing would gladly hunt down a fortune in lucky pennies if he thought it would help save his business. But for all his hoping, Matt's clueless when his long-awaited lucky charm falls in his lap in the form of a beguiling genie. He just can't believe that this beautiful woman could be the answer to his prayers...

 

She's been bottled up for far too long!

Spending 2,000 years in a bottle would make any woman a little stir-crazy. So when Matt releases Eden from her luxurious captivity, she's thrilled to repay him by giving him the magical boost he needs...

 

But for all her good intentions, Eden's magical prowess is a little rusty and her magical mistakes become more than embarrassing. And though Eden knows falling in love will end her magic and immortality, she can't help but be drawn to the one man who wants her just for herself...

 

6. Ghostland by Jory Strong

 

Welcome to a postapocalyptic world, where the afterlife holds beings that only the bravest can summon-or dare to desire.

 

Taken from her home and family, shamaness Aisling McConaughey must enter the "ghostlands" to save a wealthy man's mistress. But there's a price to pay for her power: She must summon the Djinn prince Zurael en Caym-and yield to his savage, sensual rage.

 

Zurael intends to kill Aisling after she's served as bait to find an enemy in possession of an ancient tablet. But the more he tastes her innocent spirit, the more he'll use his fiery touch to keep her hungry for his mercy-even as they weave an erotic spell that he cannot escape...

 

7. Chosen by Christine Pope

 

When a fatal fever nearly wipes out the entire world's population, the survivors of what became known as "the Dying" believe the worst is in the past. Little do they know…

 

In the aftermath of the Dying, survivor Jessica Monroe searches for sanctuary in a world unlike any she's ever known before. As fear and isolation envelop her, Jessica encounters the sensitive and helpful Jace, who she believes is another survivor.  But Jace has a past and secrets of his own that's he not ready to disclose. Soon Jessica realizes that the destruction of humanity might actually be the first step in a larger, more complicated plan -- a plan that may very well involve her. Struggling to discover her role in a terrifying new world where everything has changed, she must decide who she can trust. But is the price for that trust just too high?

 

8. The Djinn's Dilemma by Mina Khan

 

Rukh

O'Shay, half-djinn and assassin, is used to taking out the bad guys.

But his latest assignment, Sarah White, is nothing like he expected. A

glimpse of her bright aura reveals her gentle spirit, while her luscious

beauty clouds his mind and makes him long for only one thing--to taste

her. Sarah shares the feeling of raw desire at Rukh's touch. He can turn

her on with a glance, and satisfies desires she didn't even know she

had. But Rukh had been hired to kill her--and the only way to save her

is to find out who wants her dead before someone else finishes the

job....

 

9. Tales of the Djinn: The Guardian by Emma Holly

 

Elyse Solomon hasn’t had it easy. She lost her dad and her husband under suspicious circumstances, and her relatives know more than they’re admitting about both deaths. Then a mysterious stranger with a briefcase full of cash moves into the basement of her New York brownstone. Arcadius is gorgeous and sophisticated, but nothing about him adds up—that is, until Elyse discovers her sexy tenant is a genie desperate to save his people from a deadly curse. With so much heartache behind her, can Elyse find the courage to help the man who might be her true soul mate?

 

10. Jinn and Juice by Nicole Peeler

 

To escape an arranged marriage, a jinni granted Lyla her wish: to live a thousand years as a jinni herself.

 

Now, her servitude is ending, but there are a few obstacles in Lyla's path to freedom. A Magi intent on binding her again, a jinni bent on vengeance, and not to mention the nightmare from her past that threatens to make her curse permanent -- and claim her very soul.

 

Jinn and Juice is the first in a new series by fantasy writer, Nicole Peeler set in a world of immortal curses, vengeful jinni and belly dancing.

 

Want more? Check out my Goodreads list: All Bottled Up: Genies in Romance Novels

I have a vague idea  of what a Socialite is but it is pretty murky-- a woman who has enough funds so that she doesn't work a traditionial profession. Instead, a Socialite's time is spent on social events. High Society Events involving charity, fashion, and .... 

 

Let's see what Wiki says: 

 

A socialite is a person (usually from a privileged, wealthy or aristocratic background), who has a largely known reputation and a high social position in upper class society. A socialite spends a significant amount of time participating in popular social activities and continually attends various social gatherings such as charity events, private parties, fashion shows, fine arts fundraisers, luncheons, festivals and other exclusive events; as well as engaging in conversations with guests or entertaining members who are socially connected or share a similar upper-class social standing.^[1][2]

 

 

I did pretty good. 

 

We love us a Socialite in Romance Novels. 

 

Here are some lovely Contemporary Romance Novels with Socialites as Heroines. 

 

My lists are never in any particular order.

 

1. Jinxed by Beth Ciotta

 

Since the day beautiful socialite Afia St. John was born, her life has been plagued with bad luck. After losing her father and two older husbands in 'freak' accidents, Afia discovers her business manager has absconded with her fortune. Vowing not to rely on another man to guide her life, Afia refuses her godfathers' help, and jumps at an unexpected job with Leeds Investigations. With a pregnant, broke, sister and an investigation agency in the red, control-freak Jake Leeds can't turn down the hefty but secret retainer offered by Afia's godfather for hiring her. Quickly seeing beyond her poor business skills, wacky superstitions and and sensationalized personal history, he realizes Afia is as generous in the heart as she is misunderstood. But life is never easy for the woman born on Friday the 13th. Will the sexy PI be the good luck charm that puts her on a winning streak or, like everything else in her life, will their relationship wind up Jinxed?

 

2. An Unforgettable Lady by J.R. Ward

 

Grace Hall is a society beauty-but her fortune has made her the target of a madman killing off Manhattan's most influential women. Her new live-in bodyguard is uncompromising, hard-hearted John Smith. Moving into Grace's penthouse is the last thing he wants, but saying no isn't an option. As he lays down the rules for his new client, angry sparks ignite between them-as does an incendiary desire. As the warm nights grow hot, and the killer closes in, Grace and Smith face a crucial choice: follow the rules or follow their hearts.

 

3. Born Wild by Julie Ann Walker

 

TICK...TICK...
"Wild" Bill Reichert knows a thing or two about explosives. The ex-Navy SEAL can practically rig a bomb blindfolded. But there's no way to diffuse the inevitable fireworks the day Eve Edens walks back into his life, asking for help...

BOOM!
Eve doesn't know what to do when the Chicago police won't believe someone is out to hurt her. The only place to turn is Black Knights Inc-after all, no one is better at protection than the covert special-ops team. Yet there's also no one better at getting her all turned on than Billy Reichert. She has a feeling this is one blast from the past that could backfire big time...

 

4. The Tycoon's Socialite Bride by Tracey Livesay

 

o avenge his mother's mistreatment at the hands of her upper-crust employer, self-made real estate tycoon Marcus Pearson needs entree into their exclusive world.  When D.C. socialite Pamela Harrington comes to him for help, Marcus realizes the golden admission ticket he's been seeking has suddenly fallen into his lap.

 

Pamela will do anything to save her favorite cause, even agree to a marriage of convenience. The altruistic "it-girl" isn't worried about the pretend passion with Marcus turning real; she's sworn off powerful, driven men who use her for her family's connections.

 

So she'll deny the way her pulse races with one look from his crystalline blue eyes.  And he'll ignore the way his body throbs with each kiss from her full lips.  Because there's no way he'll lose his blue-collar heart to the blue-blooded beauty.

 

5. The Chocolate Heart by Laura Florand

 

No one hates Paris--except Summer Corey. The moody winters. The artists and their ennui. The inescapable shadow of the Tour Eiffel. But things go from bad to worse when Summer stumbles into brooding, gorgeous chef pâtissier Luc Leroi and indecently propositions the hero of French cuisine...

Luc has scrambled up from a childhood panhandling in the Paris Métro to become the king of his city, and he has no patience for this spoiled princess, even if she does now own his restaurant. Who cares if she smiles with all the warmth of July? She doesn't eat dessert! 

There is only one way to tempt her. A perfect, impossibly sweet seduction...

 

6. A Kiss to Build a Dream On by Kim Amos

 

TROUBLE IN HIGH HEELS . . . 

If pride goes before a fall, Willa Masterson's trip back to White Pine, Minnesota, should be one heck of a tumble The girl who left her hometown-and her first love, Burk Olmstead-in the rearview twelve years ago was spoiled and headstrong. But the woman who returns is determined to rebuild: first her family house; then her relationships with everyone in town . . . starting with a certain tall, dark, and sexy contractor.

MEETS HER MATCH

Burk has no reason to believe Willa has changed, and every reason to discourage her from converting the Masterson house into a B&B. He has plans of his own for that house, and they certainly don't include a no-vacancy sign. But Burk didn't count on how distracting Willa's bright green eyes or her all-too-familiar touch would feel-or how impossible she will be to resist . . .

 

7. There Goes the Bride by Lori Wilde

 

egend claims this antique Irish wedding veil can grant your heart's deepest desire. But be careful what you wish for...

The moment Texas socialite Delaney Cartwright touches the veil, she knows she can't go through with her wedding. And it's not just because she envisions a stranger's dark eyes and irresistible lips the second her fingers hit lace. But she can't simply call the whole thing off. The nuptials to her nice, predictable childhood friend are the social event of the season (not to mention that her mother would freak). To fan the flames of this dying ember, Delaney abducts her fiance for a night of passion...and grabs the wrong guy! It isn't her fault that Detective Nick Vinetti of the oddly familiar eyes and lips has crossed her path--and looks game for all kinds of sexy fun.

Now Delaney hatches an outrageous plan to get out of marrying: she'll hire her own kidnapper. With an altar to avoid and a cop to dream of, this runaway bride is hoping a little Irish magic will unveil the true destiny of her heart.

 

8. His Diamond of Convenience by Maisey Yates

 

Twelve years ago, Victoria Calder made a mistake that cost her father his business. Now she finally has a chance to atone. And if that means going toe-to-toe with the arresting Dmitri Markin she's prepared to step into the ring…and put his on her finger! 

 

Dmitri—former martial arts fighter, present-day pleasure seeker—is a man who likes to win. The beautiful Ms. Calder might have initially shocked him with her proposition, but there's more than one advantage to the deal she's proposing… If this dedicated bachelor is going to surrender to marriage it certainly won't be in name only!

 

9. Heiress for Hire by Erin McCarthy

 

Chicago ex-socialite Amanda Delmar's father has cut her off, and now she must do the unthinkable--work. Single father Danny Tucker hires her to babysit his daughter, not knowing that this debutante might just find a place in his heart.

 

10. What a Woman Gets by Judi Fennell

 

Business owner Liam Manley has no patience for women like Cassidy Davenport—women happy to spend a man’s money without giving a thought to any actual work. But to make good on his bet, Liam must not only tolerate the couture-clad socialite, he’ll have to clean up after her. Until Cassidy’s father suddenly cuts off her finances. With no money and no home for Liam to clean, Cassidy has no choice but to accept a job offer—as Liam’s new maid…
 
Liam is eager to teach her a lesson about the real world, but he winds up learning a few things himself. Free from her father’s influence, Cassidy can finally pursue her own life, and winds up showing Liam how resourceful and determined she can be. Not to mention how sexy she is with (or without) that designer wardrobe. But when sparks fly between them, will it be true love…or just another messy affair?
 

 

Vote for Socialites in Contemporary Romance on my Goodreads list. 

What a Woman (Manley Maids #4)by Judi Fennell

Now that Mary-Alice Catherine Manley—Mac—has her hunky brothers working for her, she can sit back and watch the business roll in. But her new assignment quickly tosses that plan out the window. Mildred, her grandmother’s best friend, needs her house cleaned and Gran has volunteered Mac for the job. The problem is Mildred’s cocky grandson. He thinks Mac’s at his beck and call, but she has a few things to tell him…aside from how hot he is.
Jared Nolan is currently lying low, nursing some broken bones—and a bruised ego. The former professional baseball player let himself be used by woman once, and now it could rob him of his beloved career. No woman is ever going to call the shots again, which is why, when the bossy Mac shows up, he’s going to show her who’s really in charge. He’s just not prepared for the undeniable attraction between them. And with the two of them in one house, there’s no telling who will come out swinging…


My Review:
I don't why I'm such a sucker for these reunion stories but almost every time I read one its instantaneously a hit with me. What a Woman wins a place in the favorites pile. Jared and Mac's are reunited by a little secret plan to bring them close to one another because of their childhood history. (That's what you get when you have families that are that close. They get involved.) Mac winds up at Jared's grandmothers place playing house/nursemaid where her feelings for Jared begin to surface and Jared begins to question his assumption that Mac is still an annoyance from his past. What a woman was fun, its was sometime silly but all in all it was heart warming and won me over.



My Rating: 5 Stars


Reviewed By:
Krissy's Bookshelf Reviews
http://kkmalott.booklikes.com/

Note: I received a print copy in exchange for an honest review from Berkley.

After reading how Mary-Alice Catherine Manley, aka Mac, and her grandmother managed to find perfect matches for the three Manley brothers in the previous books of this enjoyable series, this time around it’s Mac’s turn to discover romance and love. As owner of her own cleaning/maid service (Manley Maids), Mac schemed with her grandmother to get her three attractive (and well-known in one case) brothers to work for her company to help promote the Manley Maid name. Now Grandma tells Mac she must clean the house of a dear friend, who happens to be the grandmother of Mac’s childhood crush (and her brother Liam’s BFF), professional baseball player Jared Nolan. Mac will never forget how he teased her in their youth and how on the night of her 17th birthday, made it all too clear he wasn’t interested in her.

 

Jared is living at his grandmother’s home, recuperating from an accident caused by his ex-girlfriend’s current boyfriend. After he fell for Camille and let her move in to his condo, he found out she was still with her boyfriend and using Jared for fame and fortune. When Mac blusters like a tornado into his life again, Jared realizes the younger sister of his best friend has grown into a remarkable and sexy woman. But he can’t ask out his best friend’s sister… can he?

 

After witnessing Mac and Grandma push her brothers in the right direction to find love, I was excited to see how Mac would get her HEA, and I was mostly pleased with her story. As in the previous books, there is some overlap with scenes from and references made in the first three titles; however, What a Woman can be easily enjoyed as a standalone story. Mac and Jared share a history from childhood and watching the pair work through past perceptions and hang ups was rewarding.

 

Right from the start, Mac and Jared sizzle together. For Mac, time has only added to the teenage crush she felt for Jared, one that she would rather forget. But for Jared, he’s seeing Mac anew, and the more time he spends with her, the more he realizes what a woman she truly is. Reading the romance from the alternating POVs of Jared and Mac, I was able to fully understand how much each enjoyed being around the other regardless of their outward actions. 

 

The pair fall back on childhood teasing and ribbing as a comfortable means to hide their adult feelings, making this a slow-building romance. While the speed could have been off-putting, the author uses that time to allow real emotional growth, giving her characters time to come to terms with the past so they can move forward. Generally, I really enjoyed the character development and didn’t mind the slower pace; however, having both individuals constantly trying to mentally talk themselves out of his/her growing feelings and rationalize why they wouldn’t work as a couple did go on a bit too long.

 

There were a few things in the book that had both good and not-so-good sides to their storylines. For example, Mac discovers a family of motherless kittens that require constant care. I enjoyed the silliness that the kittens created, as well as how they allowed readers to see a compassionate side of Jared. Yet, I was really put off at how Jared used the kittens as a means to an end later in the book. Additionally, while I loved how Jared charmed Mac, I didn’t care for how he got her into his bed, and because of that, once the pair got together I found that their chemistry wasn’t as hot as it was during earlier parts of the book. There is also a side story about Jared’s parents that felt like forced drama for the sake of having drama.

 

Overall, I enjoyed What a Woman, but parts of the story fell a little flat for me. Whether I was overly excited to read the book, expecting too much, or it just wasn’t on par with its predecessors, I found the book didn’t leave me with the warm fuzzies like early books in the series did. I really enjoyed how the author created honest emotional growth in both characters and gave them time to work out their feelings, but I needed more action in between. The kittens were a cute addition, but how Jared used them later in the book was upsetting. I liked how Jared finally woo’d Mac but again, he does something that left me uncomfortable. And while What a Woman was a solid and entertaining wrap-up for the Manley siblings, I was disappointed the epilogue was about someone else (set-up for a future book?). Overall the Manley Maid series is a wonderful, light-hearted contemporary series, and even thought I didn’t find What a Woman to be my favorite of the bunch, I still whole-heartedly recommend it to fans of the genre.

 

My Rating:  B/B- Liked It, but I had a few small issues

Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About
Review copy provided by publisher.