Tag Archive: Crista McHugh


“Searching for Billy Shakespeare” is on f the most fun, trendy and spunky romances I’ve read. Penned by Crista McHugh, Gabe Harrison (appeared in her Kelly series) gets his own happy story with Kate Mireau, the introverted grad student and the Shakespeare addict working on her dissertation.

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Teaching literature as she finishes her dissertation, circumstances take Kate Mireau to the residence of Ari to share an apartment. With makeovers and care, friendship brews and late night calls with Gabe Harrison, spurs the sparks of romance.

Gabe Harrison is auditioning for a role that requires Kate’s expertise in Shakespeare, and with late night calls, conversations and a family incident brings Gabe face to face with the stunning and elusive Kate and he’s willing to go “Measure To Measure” to make Kate his forever. Insecurities and fears are shared, gossip and conversations are discussed, and feelings and emotions are addressed, all with the power of love remaining the ultimate.

Looks like Crista McHugh came back with a stunning story after a brief hiatus and what a comeback. I was so entertained with her Kelly Series, and now with “Searching For Billy Shakespeare” shows her penmanship and her mastery of narration. It’s beautiful reading Gabe get his love story, the appearance of the Kelly brothers, and the attention she pays to Kate’s feelings in regards to discovering Gabe being a prominent Hollywood actor – all add so much depth and personality to the characters.

What can I say about Crista McHugh – she’s been and will be one of my all time favorite writers. She writes such genuine love stories that are so relatable to our daily lives and makes reading them such a pleasure. Simple, classy and charming creations are her fictions.

Received an ARC from Seasons Publishing via NetGalley and the Author for an honest review.

Readers familiar with the Sloan Brothers of Melanie Shawn and the Sullivans of Bella Andre would enjoy the Kelly Brothers with equal fervor. Crista McHugh’s Kelly Brothers are an amazing bunch of talented and super loving hunks, raised by a super awesome mother and the family dog Jasper. I’ve read and re-read all of them a few times over and enjoy them more each time.

Kelly brother number 7, Gideon has all the charm and sexiness of a movie star and he is at the pinnacle of his career. Yet rooted to the ground by his family values and love for the humanity, he’s hard to resist and a temptation that every woman wants a bite of. But “The Kid” has only eyes for Sarah Holtz and his heart belongs to her now and forever.

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But convincing Sarah is a gigantic job that requires a screenplay skillfully written and choreographed with loyal characters and family support. Sarah has seen the pinnacle of stardom and the rock bottom depths of depression and drugs. For her Gideon is her savior and life support, but she wants to stand on her own strength before she can stand on equal footing with Gideon.

I love Crista and her penchant for weaving stories that leave her readers with laughs and love, tears and heartbreaks, meddling friends and staunch supporters. “Here All Along” had me in splits as Gideon along with his co-star Gabe try to rope in Sarah, the interaction between these two is plain hilarious. Gideon as the superstar yet the vulnerable man in love have us rooting for him all the way.

And Sarah as the girl who has lost everything, yet as the woman who may have a chance at everything is just a classic beauty of courage and determination. I just loved her and she was “Here All Along”, right next to her future and took her a while to accept the love and trust she was lucky to have found.

What can I say about Crista McHugh – she’s been and will be one of my all time favorite writers. She writes such genuine love stories that are so relatable to our daily lives and makes reading them such a pleasure. Simple, classy and charming creations are her fictions.

Received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

No matter how many times I say, it still would not do justice to this super sumptuous, utterly delicious and sizzling love stories that would leave us breathless and sheer pleasure. Talk about brilliant talent under the sky, coming together to make this an irresistible read – Violet Duke, the sister duo of Melanie Shawna, Bella Andre, Melissa Foster, Erin Nicholas, Carly Phillip, Lauren Blakely, Sawyer Bennett, Jessie Evans and Crista McHugh.

And if I start reviewing each book, it would run pages ;). So I’ll try to stick to a condensed version of some the ones I’ve read so far and with no order of preference –

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Can’t Help Falling In Love by Bella Andre: Book 3 of the infamous Sullivan family and Bella’s crowning glory, Gabe Sullivan rescues Megan Harris and her daughter from a fire and loses his heart and soul to these two beautiful ladies. A sweet, charming and sizzling romance that we can’t help falling in love with.

Out Of Bounds by Erin Nicholas: Part of the Boys Of Fall series that is a standalone, Jackson Brady returns to Quinn, TX to help his ailing high school coach and falls out of bounds with his one time nemesis Annabelle. Old hurt and past love, embers of passion still sparkling between them, Jackson and Annabelle set our hearts on fire.

Love, Tussles And Takedowns by Violet Duke: Book 3 of the Cactus Creek series, Violet Duke charms the pants off her readers with her delightful story of Hudson Reyes and Liana Lin. Ex-combat military veteran meets the arms and martial arts dynamo and what we get is a barrel of fun, laughter, love and the unconditional support and strength of family and community.

Dare To Desire by Carly Phillips: Book two of the Dare Series, Carly Phillips fires up her writing a notch as she throws quarterback Alex Dare into the path of Madison Evans. Retired early due to an injury, the chip-on-a-shoulder Alex is drawn to his past with Madison, as she struggles to keep him at arm’s length. They sizzle, they charm and they leave us wanting more of them.

Falling For The Wingman by Crista McHugh: This was the first book of Crista McHugh’s that I read and was utterly taken in by the savvy tomboy Alex Leadbetter, who gets turned on by cars, and the only other person who can twist her insides is Air Force pilot Caleb Kelly. And Caleb is hell bent on getting this sister to be his side forever. Book 3 of the Kelly Brother Series, the Kelly brothers are a force to reckon with and you’ll fall on love with Jasper!!!!

Actually Love by Melanie Shawn: What can I say about this sister duo. They write sinful love stories and their Crossroad Series is just as popular as them. Book 7 of the Crossroad Series, Actually Love brings PR Jessie Sloan and sculpted boxing champion Zach Courtland under one roof as they fake their relationship for mutual reasons. But living together, love actually lands a hard punch and knocks their hearts out. So can they put their insecurities and fears outside the ring and be together forever? Alluring and an endearing love story of romance and meddling Sloan family.

And I’m sure the other four books by Melissa Foster, Jessie Evans, Lauren Blakely and Sawyer Bennett are equally captivating, delightful and utterly delicious (yet to finish the rest). I’ve read their books before and they have been on my list of favorites for a while now.

Love, Laugher And Steamy Ever Afters is worth the weight in gold!

Another boxed set from some of the most romantic writers of contemporary times, stories of love, laughter and steamy walks into the sunset……can’t go wrong with these ultra delicious alphas and their sassy heroines!

And don’t forget to enter the rafflecopter at the bottom…….

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BOXED SET DESCRIPTION

Ten Novels by Ten New York Times Bestselling Authors

From the hot big city heroes that make us melt, to the sassy small town heroines that make us smile, this limited edition collection has something for everyone. Ten sexy and sweet full-length novels—a wide mix of fun, heart-tugging, addictively romantic love stories—each handpicked by an all-star gathering of ten of today’s most popular contemporary romance authors.

— Ten NYT Bestselling Authors

— Ten full-length, standalone novels (no cliffhangers) spanning 2,000+ pages

— Over 97% off retail for the individual books sold separately (a

— Only available until June (So snag your copy today)

THIS BOXED SET INCLUDES:

BELLA ANDRE — Can’t Help Falling in Love (The Sullivans): He can’t make the mistake of falling for another fire victim. She can’t love-and lose-another man with a dangerous job. Gabe Sullivan & Megan Harris have every reason to stay apart…but they can’t help falling in love.

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MELISSA FOSTER — Seaside Dreams (Seaside Summers): Bella Abbascia has quit her job, put her house on the market, and sworn off relationships while she builds a new life in her favorite place on earth, Wellfleet, Massachusetts. That is, until good-time Bella’s prank takes a bad turn and a sinfully sexy police officer Caden Grant appears on the scene. After fourteen years of focusing solely on his son, Caden cannot resist the intense attraction he feels toward beautiful Bella, but starting over proves more difficult than either of them imagined.  Can true love really conquer all?

LAUREN BLAKELY — Trophy Husband (Caught Up in Love): Sometimes you can’t help falling in love, even when you try to do the opposite… McKenna embarks on a playful, ironic quest for a trophy husband after her ex has ditched her, but along the way she meets someone who rocks her world. And she’ll have to choose between protecting her heart from hurt, or letting go of her fears of a new beginning.

VIOLET DUKE — Love, Tussles, and Takedowns (Cactus Creek): After his combat injuries retire him from the military career he wasn’t ready to give up, battle-scarred Hudson Reyes now spends his new life as a movie industry fight scene and weapons specialist simply doing what he knows best: surviving. Until he meets her. The sweet, angel-faced wrecking ball to his good intentions–antique arms authenticator and martial arts maven, Liana Lin. Even though she’s everything he’s told himself he can’t have, sure as sin, if one woman could sneak past the barbed wires he’s wrapped around his heart, it’d be her. Now if only they could stop sparring long enough to find out…

Naked muscular man covering with a box (copy space) isolated on white

Naked muscular man covering with a box (copy space) isolated on white

SAWYER BENNETT — On the Rocks (The Last Call): He left to travel the world for fame and glory, but only after spurning Gabby Ward and crushing her young heart. Now Hunter Markham has come back home to the salty breeze of the North Carolina Outer Banks and looking at the all-grown-up Gabby in a whole new way. Still bitter over his rebuff years before, Gabby is content to stay far away from him and his dangerously charming ways, but when Hunter presents an offer to her that she simply can’t refuse, she has to battle her ever growing attraction to the man that first taught her about heartbreak.

CARLY PHILLIPS — Dare to Desire (Dare to Love): Quarterback Alex Dare, had it all–an all-star football career and his choice of willing women–until injury forces him into early retirement. Social worker Madison Evans grew up in foster homes and knows what it means to have-not. She isn’t impressed by Alex Dare’s wealth or charm. Not since she fell hard for him once before, only to discover she was just one of his too-easy conquests. This time around Madison refuses to succumb. But Alex wants Madison. And if there is one thing Alex does well, it’s to get what he wants. Can he convince Madison to take a risk and dare to love?

ERIN NICHOLAS — Out of Bounds (Boys of Fall): Wild child Jackson Brady doesn’t think twice about returning home to help out when his beloved high school football coach gets sick. Jackson’s done a lot of growing up in the past twelve years and this is an opportunity to atone for his past sins. But to get back into everyone’s good graces, he needs to prove he’s changed. Sweet, well-respected Annabelle Hartington is the key. If she’ll give him a second chance, everyone will know he’s a new man. Surprisingly, he’s not the only one who’s changed and it turns out nothing stirs his inner bad boy like the *former* goody-two-shoes.

MELANIE SHAWN — Actually Love (Crossroads): Real or fake… As VP of public relations for SPC, the beautiful and talented Jessie Sloan knew the difference. The order and control she had in her life was real. Love was fake and she didn’t have time for fake. Win or lose… Sexy, sculpted boxing champ Zach Courtland has had his share of losses in life, but inside the ring, he knew nothing but wins. He was used to taking and landing punches, but little did he know that he was about to get the knockout of his life.

OnTheRocks-LoveLaughterSteamy

JESSIE EVANS — Diamonds and Dust (Lonesome Point Texas): Pike Sherman is a legend in Lonesome Point, a hometown boy who made it to the big leagues. Literally. Professional baseball acquired one hell of a pitching arm and its latest celebrity bad boy when the gifted Pike was drafted. His broken heart came along for the ride, too, but he kept that private. After a few days back in Lonesome Point, Pike can’t imagine life without Tulsi Hearst, the girl he left behind, but when Tulsi’s secret is revealed, his heart is broken all over again. The only thing worse than losing Tulsi, is losing six years with the daughter he didn’t know he had.

CRISTA MCHUGH — Falling for the Wingman (The Kelly Brothers): Air Force pilot Caleb Kelly has come back home with one mission in mind–to propose to the woman whose letters and lucky charm helped him survive his deployment in Afghanistan. But when he finds their apartment empty with a note saying she’s left him, he arrives at her mother’s house in rural Alabama to find Kourtney is about to marry another man. Her little sister, Alex, convinces him that the best way to get Kourtney back is to make her think he’s fallen for someone new–her. But when a fake romance becomes all too real, Alex’s deception may leave them both grounded.

RAFFLECOPTER URL:

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/5c838e5231/

Buy Links:

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Crista McHugh is another one of my favorite-to-go authors and her Kelly Brothers Series is just another beautiful read of siblings from a large family, a wonderful mother and let’s not forget Jasper!

Book 6 in the series, “In The Red Zone” takes us into the world of Frank Kelly and Kiana Dyer, romance and danger, love and racial differences. This is why I love Crista McHugh’s stories. They cover a wide range of social issues from drugs to addictions, from social structure to man-made boundaries, that hinder relationships and her add in her personal experiences and they make some captivating reading.

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All-star linebacker Frank Kelly may have a hard time controlling his anger and staying out of trouble, but meeting Kiana brings calmness to him that he wants to take to the next level. Kiana Dyer maybe the daughter of a former Hall Of Fame football player, but her father’s dream charity organization needs some serious help and she turns to Frank for help.

Frank agrees to help her with his fame and reach, and in return Kiana agrees to date him to help clean up his image. What starts as temporary, leads to instant attraction and Frank wants more permanent than temporary. But Kiana has an abusive and painful past that may end the relationship between them. As secrets come out and Kiana’s life is endangered, Frank is hell bent on protecting her and keeping her with him forever.

Courageous and a fighter for her right to life, Kiana warms our hearts as she works hard to make a difference in young children’s lives through her charity. Having everything under the sky, the passionate and protective Frank will even take a bullet to keep the love of his life safe. I love the way he handles Kiana with so much patience, love and support, you can’t help love this Kelly brother.

Another great story by Crista McHugh as she weaves another sweet romance around Frank and Kiana, as they struggle to overcome betrayal, insecurities and abuse to hope for a future.

Received an ARC from Crista McHugh via NetGalley for an honest review.

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