Forever With Me by Kristen Proby

Dominic Salvatore seemingly has everything a man could want. He’s found a new relationship with his father and the entire Montgomery family. His vineyard, Cuppa di Vita, is a success. There’s only one thing that eludes him: a certain driven, intelligent, and sexy as hell blonde named Alecia.

Alecia works tirelessly building her event planning business. It’s the most important part of her life. Despite the beautiful, lavish weddings she organizes, Alecia is convinced that the idea of true love is a myth. While Dominic is a sexy, intriguing man, welcoming the handsome Italian into her bed, and her life, is a risk she’s not so sure she’s willing to take.

However Dominic isn’t used to taking no for an answer, and it’s not long before these two are burning up the sheets and discovering a connection that neither can deny. But will it be strong enough to last forever?


It's so sad to finally see the end of this series but at the same time, I'm so glad to have had the chance to live with these characters somewhere in my TBR or read piles; and then looking forward to the next book from the series that was coming out. The wait was sometimes difficult but KB is always her usual self, making all those waiting definitely worth it. She is awesome like that!

Who would have thought that when I started this series, I was going to end up with these characters in the last book. I can still remember first reading about Dominic somewhere along the pages of the first few books and I was already looking forward to his story. (He's Italian, isn't he?) He was the Montgomery that wasn't and then eventually became a true member of the family. Alecia was a character that I honestly did not see getting a story of her own. So imagine my surprise when hints were popping out of nowhere in the previous book about these two.

The reason I am not giving this book a perfect score was because I really did not like it when Dom thought Alecia wasn't being faithful to him. I understand where his character was coming from and what his history was all about. Nevertheless, it still didn't win him any points from me. Good thing Alecia made up for everything by making him sweat and grovel and giving him a hard time. Atta girl, Alecia!

As I have mentioned, this is the last book in the series and it was awesome to read about the shenanigans of the entire gang again. It was so damn hard to say goodbye to these beautiful characters! I am already hoping to bump into some novellas in the future. (Please, please, please.) And that epilogue? Simply fantastic. Just...wow!


Final verdict: 9/10. Great read.


With Me In Seattle series reviews:
Come Away With Me
Under The Mistletoe With Me
Fight With Me
Play With Me
Rock With Me
Safe With Me
Tied With Me
Breathe With Me

Breathe With Me by Kristen Proby

Sometimes you meet the right person at the wrong time...

Mark Williams has loved Meredith since he was seventeen. A successful man with a strong family, he’s worked hard to move on from Meredith breaking his heart all those years ago. When his path crosses with the only woman he’s ever loved again years later, Mark knows there is nothing he won’t do to keep her in his life. But when the going gets tough, will Meredith stick around or will he lose her again?

...But true love has a way of finding its way back.

Meredith Summers is a dancer. One of the first things she learned in following her dreams is that timing is everything. She has spent the past ten years following her dream touring with mega-stars while trying to forget the high school sweetheart she left behind. Now she’s back in Seattle, running a successful dance studio with her best friend Jax and determined to move on from her gypsy past. Until the day she sees Mark Williams and time stands still. It’s as if no time has passed at all when Meredith finds herself in Mark’s arms again. The chemistry, the bonds and the love are as strong as ever and hearing Mark whisper breathe with me in her ear is a balm to her wounded soul. But will she grab onto this second chance at love, or is the timing all wrong for them again?


If you have a thing for second-chance stories, please raise a hand. Nah. Can you see me raising my two hands right now? That's how much of a sucker of this premise I am. And to bring it to this series? It's just too much feels, I tell you!

I was a goner when the first hint of what Mark's story was all about from the previous book in the series. He is the baby in the Williams brood so I really wanted something special for him. And I'm so glad that KP delivered. (When has she never?)

I love how this story focused more on the reunion between Mark and Meredith. I love how they didn't force to continue what they had in high school and instead work to have a relationship in the now. I love how there was no drama in their relationship or between the two of them. I guess it is fairly easy to say that this is my most favorite book in the series...so far.

Each and every story in this series is special in its own and it's amazing how it has reached a seventh installment, and soon an eighth, and yet I still feel giddy everytime I start one. The characters have become friends and family to me. I am almost afraid to know what I will do once I read the last book. My heart breaks just thinking about the reality that this series is ending. Ugh, don't gooo!!!


Final verdict: 9/10.


With Me In Seattle series reviews:
Come Away With Me
Under The Mistletoe With Me
Fight With Me
Play With Me
Rock With Me
Safe With Me
Tied With Me

Tied With Me by Kristen Proby

A man whose lifestyle is so different from her own...

Nic Dalton’s cupcake bakery is thriving. She serves both rock stars and locals alike, content with her growing business. But one adventurous night out with her best friend, Bailey, turns her life upside down. She meets a handsome stranger who makes her skin sizzle and her heart race. Their one night together is explosive and unexpected, but when he has to suddenly leave without taking her phone number, Nic resigns herself to never seeing him again.

...What will it take to trust and submit to his every desire?

Matt Montgomery is one of Seattle’s finest. He works hard, loves and protects his family fiercely, and is loyal almost to a fault.

And he has a penchant for bondage.

Matt enjoys the way a woman looks wrapped up in his ropes, and makes no apologies for his preferences. When he meets Nic at a fetish festival, the small, beautiful woman catches his eye, drawing him to her. His one night with her was everything he’s ever looked for in a partner, but is cut short because of a family emergency. Even before he sees her again weeks later, he knows he’ll never get her out of his system.

And he’ll do whatever it takes to make her his.


I would never pass up on the chance to visit the Montgomery and the Williams families because they are absolutely cray in the bestest sense of the word. 

And trust KP to make a BDSM book into something unBDSM! I mean, there were times when I totally forgot that was the theme for Matt and Nic's relationship. I have been waiting, quite impatiently I might add, to get my hands on this read because I have always been intrigued how Matt's story would go about considering what his kink was. I was not prepared for this. At all.

This book still had the witty and funny dialogue with very well-written characters that only the Proby can do. I loved how Matt can be a Master but that it stops in the bedroom. And how he is amazingly normal outside of that setting. And Nic's character really surprised me--in a good way. I barely had any idea about her and I have a Jules complex--I am uber protective of my guys so I was kinda hesitant to form an opinion about Nic. But she was the perfect lady for our Matt. I couldn't ask for anyone better.

There's just one thing I hate about this book: This read brings us two books closer to the end of this series. The thought just makes me cringe and sad at the same time. All awesomely great things come to an end, too. I thought it only happens to the good ones. Sigh.


Final verdict: 9/10. Great must-read.


With Me In Seattle series reviews:
Come Away With Me
Under The Mistletoe With Me
Fight With Me
Play With Me
Rock With Me
Safe With Me

Series Recommendation #6: With Me In Seattle by Kristen Proby

As much as possible, I would like to post a series recommendation for one that is already done and good. But sometimes some reads are just too good to have to wait for the series to be over before I spread the good word. Although I'm pretty sure a lot more readers have already gushed about these books before me. Because why not? These have only ever been great reads. I think Kristen Proby knows only know how to write the awesome kind.

So here are the first 5 1/2 books of the With Me In Seattle series. There are still more installments coming for this series but it can't hurt to start with these. If you haven't read them yet, well, I hope you enjoy when them like I did. (Duh!)

Come Away With Me

Under The Mistletoe With Me

Fight With Me

Play With Me

Rock With Me

Safe With Me

You're welcome. 

Safe With Me by Kristen Proby

Keeping others safe is what Caleb Montgomery does. He's never had a problem taking on an assignment, whether it was during his dangerous SEAL days or his most recent job of training war mercenaries. But being assigned to keep Brynna Vincent and her adorable daughters, Maddie and Josie, safe from an unknown threat has thrown Caleb off his axis. Hot for the tall brunette since she came back to town more than a year ago, being close to her day in and day out is cracking Caleb's resolve to keep his hands off her gorgeous body and his head in the mission. 

Brynna is sick and tired of being afraid. All she wants is a normal, quiet life for her and her precious girls. Just as she's settling into her new home in Seattle and feeling safe again, Caleb shows up on her doorstep insisting the danger is as high as ever. But whether she needs to be sheltered from the threat in her past, or from the intense emotions she feels for the sexy, protective man sleeping in her home, remains to be seen. What will happen if Brynna and her girls fall in love with a man so broken he may not be able to protect them from the danger that threatens, much less himself?" 


So I have finally reached this point in the series...when reading the next part of the series involves involuntary waiting. I hate this part but I just couldn't wait any longer to read Caleb and Brynna's story. Blame it on too much teasing from the previous books.

Finally, a man in uniform in the superfamily of the Montgomerys! Ever since reading about Caleb from the earlier books, I couldn't help but think about him as the brooding guy in this crazily beautiful family. It was finally great having to read his love story...which I really thought, well...wasn't. Because at the first mention of Brynna as a new character in the series, the first guy that came to mind that would be with her was Caleb's brother, Matt.

Ahhh, Matt. I cannot wait to read about you. But that's going to be a totally different story.

Well, I conclude that if there was someone in the brood that would mix well with kids, it was going to be Caleb. It was so sweet reading about his interaction with Brynna's twin daughters. For someone who can't see herself ever having kids, I was melting at their scenes. Gggggg. And oh, we had an explosive secret come out in this book that I did NOT see coming, that I did not expect from this series as whole. This was already the fifth book but I think things have just began to get interesting.

Once again, another satisfying read from KP in the true tradition of this series--funny, witty, sexy, and all-around feel good read but at the same time thrilling and heartbreaking where it mattered.


Final verdict: 8/10. Great read.


Series reviews:
Come Away With Me
Under The Mistletoe With Me
Fight With Me
Play With Me
Rock With Me

Rock With Me by Kristen Proby

Front Man Leo Nash from the world-famous rock band, Nash, is the last person on earth Samantha Williams would trust. She's already learned about loving a celebrity the hard way and isn't signing up for another lesson.

Every time Sam gives Leo attitude, he wants to knock that chip off her fragile little shoulder. What the hell did he ever do to her, anyway? He's not used to women treating him like he's poisonous, and he isn't about to let her run away every time he gets close. He's had enough of people running away to last him a lifetime...when this one runs, he gives chase. But, catching Sam isn't as hard as he thought.

The sexual attraction between them is so thick, Sam can practically hold it in her hand. There's no way she can deny herself the promise of pleasure being with Leo would provide.

But, pleasure always comes with pain and when secrets are revealed and trust is challenged, who will run and who will chase?


Athlete leads are an easy sell for me. The same goes for rockstars. So I guess it would have to go without saying that I had huge expectations of this book. Adding the fact that the other protagonist was a rather interesting character from the first book in this series had my expectations overflowing.

I don't know why but the the story of Leo and Sam kind of fell short of those expectations. Yes, it was still a great read and I still enjoyed reading it for what it was. But since the previous books in this series were such big hits for me, this didn't quite measure up to it. I really can't find that many faults in the story so I would have to blame this on my very first impression of Sam in Book 1. I hope I'll outgrow this bias soon.

Because I would really love Leo to have an awesome, awesome lady. Maybe I don't see it yet...although I'm getting there. I guess being with him also helped me in warming up to Sam. I couldn't not like Leo's woman. I would really have to understand harder where she was coming from and the whys of all her apprehensions.

I'm afraid to fall.

I'll catch you, baby.

--

You terrify the hell out me. But being without you scares me more.

Ahhh, Mr Nash. *melts inside*

I still love KP's writing--entertaining, great dialogue, and funny. I love the characters in this series so much that it is always wonderful to revisit with them. I just can't get enough of scenes when the whole bunch of them are together. They have become my favorite scenes in this series and look forward to more of such in succeeding books.


Final verdict: 8/10. Great read.


With Me In Seattle reviews:
Come Away With Me
Under The Mistletoe With Me
Fight With Me
Play With Me

Play With Me by Kristen Proby

Will Montgomery is a successful professional football player and seemingly has it all. He’s not used to being told no, and certainly doesn’t take no for an answer. So when he turns his charms on his sister’s sexy rocker-chick friend Meg, he’s not only turned down, but met with open hostility, piquing his curiosity and libido. He’s determined to show her that he’s not the arrogant jock she thinks he is, and to get her into his bed.

Megan McBride is not impressed with Will Montgomery, his fat contract, fancy car, or his arrogant public persona. She doesn’t have time for a relationship, and if she’s learned anything in life, it’s that loving means losing, so she guards her heart ferociously. But she can’t deny the overwhelming attraction to the sexy, tattooed athlete, and when Will starts breaking down her defenses and grabs hold of her heart, will she be able to admit her feelings for him, or will her troubled past cause her to lose the first man she’s ever truly loved?


I have loved this book since before I have read it. They say never judge a book by its cover but when you have a cover like what this book has, what am I to do but love it to death? My disappointment was sky high though when I realized the same cover art was used in a different book. It was blasphemous really.

It's a good thing the story pretty much made up for that. I'm a sucker for a good romance (duh!) but when I have an athlete for a hero, I'm pretty much a shoo-in to love it. Never mind that Will Montgomery was a football player and the only thing I know about the sport is next to zero. My favorite sport is football of the European kind. (You cannot blame me because they show thighs there and a good number of players strip their shirts off when scoring despite the threat of being carded. And I have been a Beckhamist since 1996.)

So we have established that I cannot possibly find fault in this book so I might as well as list my favorite moments, in no particular order:
1) The crazy bachelorette party that the girls had for Jules was just that--crazy! I meant, when the ladies got drunk they definitely knew how to have a crazy conversation. I couldn't stop laughing.
2) I just melted at the picture of Will painting Meg's toes. I have a fixation for this scenario. Blame it on a advertisement spread I saw in a magazine a bijillion years ago.
3) Meg's three-date rule. Atta girl!
4) Will's Shelby Mustang. I agree Meg on this. Yes. *nods head*
5) The cover. I must reapeat that.
6) That last scene with Will surprising Meg with breakfast with her brother, Leo.

...and more. Just read it so that you can't accuse me for spilling some spoilers.


Finver verdict: 9/10. Great must read, must have.


With Me In Seattle series reviews:
Come Away With Me
Under The Mistletoe With Me
Fight With Me

Fight With Me by Kristen Proby

Jules Montgomery is too busy and content with her life to worry about a man, especially one Nate McKenna. If growing up with four brothers has taught her anything, she knows to stay away from sexy men with tattoos and motorcycles. That goes double if he's your boss. During the one incredible night they shared, he violated the no fraternization policy...among other things, and it won't happen again. Jules won't risk her career for mind-blowing sex, no matter how much her body and her damn heart keep arguing with her. 

Nate McKenna could give a shit about the no fraternizing policy. He wants Jules and he'll have her. The rules could bend around them, or be damned. He's not a man to be taken lightly, and Jules Montgomery is about to find out just how he responds to being pushed aside after the best night of sex he's ever had. She can fight all she wants, but he'll have her in his bed in the end.


Sometimes I like my books all drama-filled and leaving me a crying mess. Sometimes I like them feel-good. This book is the latter.

KP dished another winner in this book. When I first made the acquaintance of Jules Montgomery in her bestfriend Natalie's book, Come Away With Me, I found her funny and I was intrigued as to the kind of man that she would make worthy of her. Although I had glimpses of Nate in that book, he still didn't quite made an impression. Until this book.

Let me just get something out of the way--I did not get the eight-month wait that Nate did after their first encounter (in the prologue). They see each other everyday since they work together so I think having to wait eight long months was just crazy stubbornness.

Nevertheless, the story made up for it along the way. I loved Nate and Jules' chemistry. Duh, KP is expert on this. Their situation was a ticking timebomb and when it did finally explode, the outcome was kind of expected. That's the sad reality we have these days.

But I can't really find major faults in this book. There was good steam. There was a lot of family. I love a good romance with lots of family scenes in it. I may have a long way to go with this book series and this is just book two but I already feel as if I'm part of the Montgomery extended family. They are just a crazy bunch of warm-hearted, loving, funny, protective, and sexy human beings I couldn't help but love. There was really no other choice.

I just so wished Nate agreed to shoot some sexy couple pics with Jules though. Hahaha! 


Final verdict: 8/10. Great read.


With Me In Seattle series reviews:
Come Away With Me
Under The Mistletoe With Me

Under The Mistletoe With Me by Kristen Proby

Isaac and Stacy Montgomery have been married for ten years. They have a beautiful new baby girl, Isaac’s construction business is thriving, and Stacy enjoys being a stay at home mom, reviewing sexy romance novels for her blog. With a very large extended family, and the many privileges they enjoy, Stacy will be the first to admit that they are blessed beyond measure.

When suspicious phone calls and text messages begin, Stacy questions Isaac’s faithfulness for the first time in their marriage. She knows that a new baby brings changes into a relationship, but has the stress of parenthood sent Isaac into another woman’s arms, threatening to destroy their marriage?

This With Me In Seattle novella shows us a glimpse into Jules’ brother, Isaac, and his wife Stacy’s lives, introduces us to some new characters, and reminds us of what it means to reconnect with the person you love the most, even if they never left in the first place.


I loved reading this novella. There is always that feeling that you just want an in to what happens after the end of a really good book. We didn't have Isaac and Stacy's book in the first place so all the more that I enjoyed this short read a good many times over.

Reading about Isaac and Stacy in Come Away With Me makes you wonder what their story was really like. This novella gives us a background on that and even without a main book for them, this is a perfect example that when happy ever after happens, everything is not going to be perfect from that point. Our heroes and their ladies might have a hard time getting pregnant or they could drift apart after a good number of years of marriage. We really don't know that after "The End" part of most of our favorite book. But we never know, we just like to think so.

This is another heart-warming story of love and family stamped with just the right amount of steamy Proby goodness. It may have been a novella but it didn't leave me hanging right at the end.


Finale verdict: 8/10. Great must read.

Come Away With Me by Kristen Proby

Being confronted on the beach by a sexy stranger wasn't part of Natalie Conner's plans for a peaceful morning taking photos. And why on earth would he think she's taking pictures of him, anyway? Who is he? One thing’s for sure, he’s hot, and incredibly romantic, feeding Natalie’s wounded soul.

Luke Williams just wants the world to give him a break, so seeing yet another camera aimed at his face has him ready to pounce on the beauty behind the lens. When he finds out she has no idea who he is, he's intrigued and more than a little tempted by her. Natalie has a body made for sex, a sassy mouth and Luke can’t get enough of her, but he’s not ready to tell her who he really his.

Natalie is a no nonsense girl who doesn’t do well with lies and secrets. What will happen to this new relationship when she discovers what Luke’s hiding?


I have skimmed this series and I have been itching to get on with seriously reading them book by book so that I can start reviewing them. I was a bit apprehensive to start with this first book since I just finished another book with a Hollywood heartthrob for a hero. But I'm now glad that I did because there's no need to compare both.

Luke Williams was a former Hollywood heartthrob but remained in the movie industry as a producer. He met Natalie Conner, a photographer, the first time when he thought she was taking photos of him. Although I have to say that met is too mild a word to describe what happened when they first crossed paths.

I loved the romance in this book. I get giddy just thinking about it. Okay, I have to admit that I'm big on terms of endearments. I don't know why that is because I think they are sooo cheesy in real life but on paper, baby? Wow! Luke and Nat's whirlwind romance is the stuff of modern fairy tales. The climax was probably a bit predictable in this type of premise but that wasn't too much of a big deal for me because the entire book is just too nom.

Some other details I liked best about this book: there was lot of family in it--both Luke's and Nat's. The fact that this is the first book in the series, and if I haven't skimmed through the next few books, I would be kicking to read the rest of the books. Having been introduced to the rest of the characters that this series would have, I know it is  going to be crazy fun. Oooh, and the fog-up-the-glasses steamy sex. Hmmm, no complaints from this camp. And that cover...love, love, love!

This was the best way to kick off a series. I'm hooked...but will have to go through each book slowly since patience is not one of my virtues and I hate having to wait for the next books.


Final verdict: 9/10. Great must read, must have.