Review: Holiday Spice

Synopsis:

Darcy Shaughnessy has gotten used to her overbearing brothers chasing away any man she wants to date. But a chance meeting with a brooding — and deliciously handsome — artist is about to make this holiday season one to remember.

There’s only one thing Benjamin Tanner loves more than his woodcarving: solitude. Then he gets snowed in with Darcy in his cozy cabin in the woods, and their heated feelings begin to melt the icy barrier between them.

With Ben’s need for privacy and Darcy’s love of family and social life, will opposites still attract once the snow clears and the holiday festivities come to an end?

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Holiday Spice by Samantha Chase is another brilliant masterpiece. The ending made me cry with happiness. I was affected during the entire book. Intense, emotional, and intriguing. The plot was well-done as always. Addictive…the pages went by fast. The scenes dragging me up into the characters’ lives. Every page left me wondering what will happen. I’ve never been disappointed yet with any of Samantha Chase’s novels. Her books are out of this world. Holiday Spice is exactly that. Spicy and sweet. A holiday novel that was hard to stop reading. 

The main characters were total opposites. The male character, Ben, was similar to Darcy’s brother, Owen. Socially awkward, smart, and extremely talented. Ben hates interacting with others. In fact, he doesn’t interact with his orders at all. Ben and his two brothers lost their parents. The loss and grief hit Ben the hardest. He never celebrates Christmas anymore because that’s when they lost them…

Then, comes along beautiful yet sassy, Darcy Shaunghnessy. She knocks Ben’s world out of tilt. He can’t stand hearing the truth from her so he runs and hides. But he knows she’s right. He loves her laughter, her baking, and making love to her. She makes him feel alive again. Without her, his world is grey.

Darcy Shaunghnessy is a young woman who lost her mother ata young age. Ever since then, she’s been dealing with family issues. Wanting a mom…but Santa never brought her one. Instead it was just her, her brothers, and her dad. Now, as an adult, her brother blessed her with sister-in-laws and nieces to spoil. But Darcy’s world still isn’t whole. 

Until she meets Ben. Ben makes her knees weak. He makes her feel whole. Complete. But his world and hers don’t match…it will take something toget these two their happily ever after…

Overall, I fell in love with this book. Samantha Chase knows just what us, readers, want. Heartfelt and unforgettable stories. Stories that left me laughing, crying, and falling in love. I highly recommend this new novel to readers worldwide. 

Review: Bringing Maggie Home

Synopsis:

Decades of Loss, an Unsolved Mystery, and a Rift Spanning Three Generations…
Hazel DeFord is a woman haunted by her past. While berry picking in a blackberry thicket in 1943, ten-year old Hazel momentarily turns her back on her three-year old sister Maggie and the young girl disappears.
Almost seventy years later, the mystery remains unsolved and the secret guilt Hazel carries has alienated her from her daughter Diane, who can’t understand her mother’s overprotectiveness and near paranoia. While Diane resents her mother’s inexplicable eccentricities, her daughter Meghan—a cold case agent—cherishes her grandmother’s lavish attention and affection.

 

When a traffic accident forces Meghan to take a six-week leave-of-absence to recover, all three generations of DeFord women find themselves unexpectedly under the same roof. Meghan knows she will have to act as a mediator between the two headstrong and contentious women. But when they uncover Hazel’s painful secret, will Meghan also be able to use her investigative prowess to solve the family mystery and help both women recover all that’s been lost?

Rating: 5-stars

Review: 

Bringing Maggie Home by Kim Vogel Sawyer is beautiful contemporary tale. It also demonstrates a good Christian lifestyle that still is entertaining to read. Inspiring, realistic, and heartfelt. I’m still a huge fan of Kim Vogel Sawyer’s work. Her writing is three-dimensional. Sucks me into her new worlds each time I open up her new novel. A past that haunts one particular family is about to unravel. Bringing back the loss, the mystery, reopening the cold case, and bringing forth an unforgettable emotional journey. Healing, home, and family are major themes incorporated throughout this stunning story. I was hooked. Definitely a page-turner. A disappearance from the past has strong impacts on a family of women. Intense, suspenseful, and addictive. The plot is well-written. Their messy lives are bout to unfold…overall, I recommend this read. I couldn’t stop reading it once I started. Once more, Kim Vogel Sawyer has sown a perfect book. 

Review: Reagan Through the Looking Glass

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

She’s stepped into a world where everything and everyone has a price, and her time is running out to discover who holds the bounty on her head.

 

 

When Reagan’s student adviser is found dead, the police say he’s the victim of a burglary gone bad, but it’s not that simple. Jabberwock-the kingpin of the deep web, and the man who killed her brother-knows she’s close to discovering his identity.

 

 

Two men insist they can keep her safe and help her find answers. Hare is sweet, soft-spoken, and introduces her to a wicked walk on the wild side, spiced with temptation and thrill.

 

 

Hatter has kept secrets from her since they met. But he speaks her language, and a single touch from him ignites her desire.

 

 

As she follows the tracks down the rabbit hole, Reagan is dropped headfirst into a world of the dangerous and surreal, where everything and everyone has a price. And her time is running out to discover if it’s the Hatter or the Hare who owns Jabberwocky’s bounty on her.

 

 

 

Author’s Note: This book is part one of a duet. It does not stand alone.

 

 

 

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Reagan Through the Looking Glass by Allyson Lindt is a fascinating new world. One that caught my attention right away. Some many references to the Alice in Wonderland that it’s intriguing. All the codes names and secrets. Reagan’s brother is killed by a notorious man. One that is well connnected and knows everyone’s secrets. Yet Reagan aka Alice soon discovers his. That’s when the game becomes deadly. She’s super smart when it comes to computer technology. And soon, the Jabberwocky won’t know what hit him until it’s over…

Allyson Lindt is a talented writer. Her books are addictive. This one, is part of a duet. Making it a must read and leaving readers like myself hanging for the next release. Exciting, dangerous, and intriguing. Reagan Through the Looking Glass is creative yet thrilling read. I enjoyed the mystery, suspense, and the risks the characters took. Hot, sexy, and entertaining to follow. I loved reading it. Reagan is a strong yet determined heroine that kept me guessing. Overall, I highly recommend this soon to be released title.

Review: Forgotten Reflections (A War Story)

Synopsis:

In the current international climate where North Korea takes center stage, “Forgotten Reflections” weaves an inspirational tale of family, lost memories, folklore and an unforgotten history, spanning three generations as South Korea rises from the ashes. 
DARE TO DREAM IN THE MIDST OF WAR. 1945.

Rice fields seem endless in a quaint farming village of South Korea, yet Iseul and the villagers have been on the verge of starvation for as long as they can remember. Their Japanese colonizers have taken every last grain with them as they are finally ousted from the Peninsula. In the newly independent Korea, Iseul and Jung-Soo dream of what their future might bring. Yet, war is on the horizon and Iseul has fallen for an alleged North Korean communist spy. 
Men are conscripted and rice is taken to feed the growing army as the Korean Peninsula is thrust into an international war that would determine if the strategic region will fall into the communist or democratic realm. With nothing but the news of death and hunger awaiting the village of women, children, and the aged, Iseul musters up whatever hope she has left to bring the village together to make paper. Soon, the village once known for its rice, becomes famous for its paper, becoming a beacon of hope for the battle-worn soldiers awaiting letters from their loved ones. Spies continue to roam South Korea, turning neighbors and families against one another. 
For years, Jung-Soo has been suspicious of his father’s allegiances. With a series of mysterious revelations about his father, Jung-Soo is forced to choose between his tainted communist past, and the future he hopes to have with Iseul after the war.

“Breathtaking, sad and beautiful. Truly gorgeous and a must–read for lovers of literature and historical fiction.” – Rebecca Charlton

“A touching story, not only about love or the Korean War, but also about our own identities and (re)unification in different forms.” – Utopia State of Mind

“A story about a grandmother’s secret life and what she sacrificed to make a better life for her children.” –- Niyati Mavinkurve

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

Forgotten Reflections: A War Story by Young-Im Lee is an interesting novel. One that swept me deep into the war story. A foreign country, South Korea is at war. Both the communists and democrats want to take it over….but their war brings the one village to starvation. Hunger, loss, and desperation can be seen and felt with every page. 

A young woman is determined despite the war and its effects on her people. Soon, she brings them hope. Hope soon blossoms into her village. Letters to the soldiers helps them carry forth int the war. Families torn between choices. Love and hope still prevail…

I enjoyed reading this tale. Forgotten Reflections is an engaging story. The plot rushes me through the pages. The characters and their dilemmas entice me further into their world. A culture readers can’t miss. Young-Im Lee has presented a heartfelt novel. One that won’t be forgotten by its readers…including myself. Overall, I recommend it to readers worldwide. 

Review: The Scot Beds His Wife

Synopsis:

The Scot Beds His Wife is the next lush, captivating Victorian romance in the Victorian Rebels series by Kerrigan Byrne.

They’re rebels, scoundrels, and blackguards—dark, dashing men on the wrong side of the law. But for the women who love them, a hint of danger only makes the heart beat faster.

Gavin St. James, Earl of Thorne, is a notorious Highlander and an unrelenting Lothario who uses his slightly menacing charm to get what he wants—including too many women married to other men. But now, Gavin wants to put his shady past behind him…more or less. When a fiery lass who is the heiress to the land he wishes to possess drops into his lap, he sees a perfectly delicious opportunity…

A marriage most convenient…

Samantha Masters has come back to Scotland, in a pair of trousers, and with a whole world of dangerous secrets from her time spent in the Wild West trailing behind her. Her only hope of protection is to marry—and to do so quickly. Gavin is only too willing to provide that service for someone he finds so disturbingly irresistible. But even as danger approaches, what begins as a scandalous proposition slowly turns into an all-consuming passion. And Gavin discovers that he will do whatever is necessary to keep the woman he has claimed as his own…

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

The Scot Beds His Wife by Kerrigan Byrne is the most fascinating yet most complex plot line I’ve ever read. This historical tale was engaging from the start. Never a dull moment. Dark, sad, and unforgettable. Both bad and good. The characters had to deal with a lot. From family that was no good, to even worse situations. These past memories have left deep wounds festering for so long, that it takes almost to the end to find any lightness within them and their future. 

Gavin St. James, Earl of Thorne, had a past that literally gave scars. Wounds that were both physical and emotional. His father was cruel to him, his siblings, and to the women his dad brought home. The jerk of a father who put his young boys through absolute hell. He forced them to participate in cruel punishments to women. Treated their mother like a prisoner…and took their innocence of childhood away. Gavin had to grow up fast. His hatred for his father fueled his energy to get revenge. But his older brother Liam beat him to it. Then, there’s this lass who comes tumbling into his path. Sam…she makes him want things he never thought he wanted or could have.

Samantha Masters is a woman who grew up the hard way. Her family were going to give her to some pervert. So, she escaped by marrying a man who was rotten to the core. The Master brother were cruel, reckless, and dangerous. Samantha is a pro with guns. Her husband has threatened to kill a young innocent woman…only in split seconds, Sam does the unthinkable. By doing so, she has sealed her fate. But then, the victim became her hero. Giving her a new life and a new chance at redemption…a path that leads her straight into the sexy lord, Gavin…

What started off as two enemies fighting turns into much more passionate, fun, and unforgettable for two broken souls. At first, they fight their feelings and attraction. But as times goes by and trouble comes to them, they end up wanting what they thought they can’t have. The Scot Beds His Wife is a beautifully written story. Full of action, intrigue, suspense, and romance.  There’s also a lot of humor. I loved it. Kerrigan Byrne is a master of historical romances…I can’t wait to read more by her. Overall, I highly recommend this book to all. 

Review: The Promise of a Letter

Synopsis:

A letter brings him back to his Amish family. It will take someone truly extraordinary to make him stay. 

Roman is on the verge of leaving the Amish ways. Feeling confined by the strict rules, he longs to do something more with his life. But when things don’t go as planned, Roman’s prospects outside of the community dwindle. Upon learning that his beloved grandmother has died and left a letter urging him to reconcile with his brother in Birch Creek, Roman decides to return home. But he doesn’t plan to stay for long.

Leanna Chupp has always made her own way in her small community of Birch Creek. Though some may call her unconventional–strange, even–Leanna is happy. Her unique outlook on life has meant she’s never had many suitors pursuing courtship, which Leanna doesn’t mind. She is content being single.

But when Roman and Leanna find themselves working together again, everything changes. Though neither fit squarely within the strictures of the Amish faith, their differences could be the very thing to help them form a deeper connection to their community and to each other. The question remains: will this strengthening bond be enough to make Roman stay for good? 

Rating: 5-stars

Review: 

The Promise of a Letter by Kathleen Fuller is an exciting adventure. A book with meaning and purpose. Two protagonists feel trapped, lost, and hurt. But with some time, hope, and faith they will be able to heal and move forward with happiness. The title is exactly what the story is about and shows that even the things we want are not what we may need. 

Kathleen Fuller is a writer with a magical wand. I love traveling deep into her books.  The characters are hard to ignore. Their life issues sucked me into their dilemmas and had me rooting for them. The book also contained a great emotional journey. I felt each characters loss, hope, faith, worry, anger, and fear. It was exciting to watch them grow. 

Leanna is a young Amish woman who is nothing like the others in her community. She hated school except for a few subjects like math. Her ability to fix things is amazing. Mechanical knowledge is for men. And here, I got to watch her fulfill that role. Leanna struggled with what others said about her working as a mechanic. But still, she never gave up…and it was thanks to one man who gave her that break. Only…soon, a gossip breaks out, bringing forth doubt and fear. This causes Leanna to lose her job. I felt sorry for her. It was funny to watch her fulfill more duties suited for her gender….like canning tomatoes. Leanna is terrible at the traditional women duties. But as a mechanic, friend, daughter, and as a sister, Leanna does well. 

Roman is a young Amish man. Not wanting to marry just like Leanna. He too, is interested in mechanics and engineering. In fact, he was pursuing a degree in it. But then, tragedy strikes. Causing Roman to travel home once more. He’s not happy about it. The way he left the last time, will cause for hardship between him and his older brother, Daniel. Daniel is all he has left. But Daniel doesn’t want him home nor helping him. However, Daniel is foolish and gets injured. This causes him to feel worse. With his injuries, Roman automatically takes up the challenge to help his brother. A mechanic shop should be easy…only Roman knows he needs help. Leanna…

Daniel is the older brother of Roman. He owns his own memchanic shop. Before it was just him and Roman. Until he got married…then, things changed. Roman left never saying goodbye. This hardened Daniel’s heart and made him angry. Struggling with things, Daniel is to stubborn to ask for help. His wife is pregnant and he’s afraid she loose the baby…then, there’s the nasty rumor that has him and his wife upset. He lets go of his only employee. His best employee, Leanna. 

The Promise of a Letter is an outstanding read. Kathleen Fuller knows how to nab her readers’ attention immediately. Every page was full of action, suspense, tension, and drama. I loved it. A good clean Christian novel with a bit of romance. Overall, I highly recommend this to all. 

Review: Macaroons and Mayhem

Synopsis:

Excitement blossoms through Peridale when a prestigious gardening magazine picks the village as the spotlight for their next issue, but that joy quickly turns to dread when members of the local gardening society, The Peridale Green Fingers, start dying one by one after their obituaries are sent to The Peridale Post the day before their murders.

Julia is asked to bake macarons for the magazine’s unveiling of ‘The Best Garden in Peridale’ party, but with death striking the village, she has more important things to worry about. Is somebody killing The Green Fingers’ to better their chances of winning the title as well as the cash prize, or is there something more sinister happening? With her old friend and newspaper reporter, Johnny, by her side, Julia must uncover the truth before every member of the club is crushed like an unwanted weed.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Macaroons and Mayhem by Agatha Frost is the nest best book in this thrilling mystery series! I love her books. Agatha Frost has once again, proven that she is queen of the cozy mystery genre. There’s so much to love about her writing. Fast-paced, exciting, romantic, hilarious, deadly, and plenty of drama to keep me busy as always. 

The main character, Julia South, is my all time favorite sleuth. A baker at heart who has the ability to become the best world known detective. She always solves every case. Wherever Julia goes, there’s always a murder mystery to solve. In this case, more than one person dies and a fourth victim as or may not survive the attack. Someone is targeting a garden club. The top members are being killed one by one. Unless the police can figure it out, more people will die. That’s when Julia is called to the case. An investigative journalist friend comes to her after the police mocks him. He thinks he’s stumbled upon a murder investigation. But even Julia is skeptical….but as the events unfold her skeptics may changes and she’s on the hunt. Macaroons and Mayhem has proven to be Julia South’s toughest case yet. Overall, I loved reading this new mystery. I can’t wait to read the eighth book. Agatha Frost is beyond talented. 

Review: Expresso and Evil

Synopsis:

The 6th book in the BESTSELLING Peridale Cafe Cozy Mystery series!

When a coffee shop opens in the village, Julia is surprised when her customers flock to the new business, leaving her café almost empty. A failed protest against the corporate chain store leaves Julia wondering if her café can survive, but she suddenly has bigger fish to fry when the owner of the coffee shop is poisoned, and she is framed for his murder.

As Julia attempts to clear her name, she is stopped in her tracks when an unwanted familiar face arrives in Peridale. Her past and present crash together, threatening to jeopardise her blossoming relationship with Barker. Julia’s history is back to haunt her, and she is forced to deal with the consequences of her actions before it is too late. Somebody is trying to frame Julia for her rival’s murder, but can she juggle her most challenging case yet with her complicated love life before she loses more than just her café?

Book 6 in the Peridale Cafe Cozy Mystery series! Can be read as a standalone but will be enjoyed more as part of the series. A light, cozy mystery read with a cat loving and cafe-owning amateur female sleuth, in a small village setting with quirky characters. Written in British English and 48,000 words long. No cliffhanger, swearing, gore or graphic scenes! 

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Expresso and Evil: A Peridale Cafe Mystery by Agatha Frost is another brilliant mystery! I was hooked instantly. This, is the sixth book in the A Peridale Cafe Mystery series. I don’t know how Agatha Frost manages it, but she delivers a clean, hilarious, and intriguing tale every time. I haven’t found a bad book by her yet…

Inside Expresso and Evil, I followed the main character and her close knit group as another mystery tumbles literally into their own territory. In fact, it happens inside of Julia South’s bakery. Her well-know enemy is found dead in her cafe. As the facts pour forth, it looks like someone has been going to a lot of trouble to frame Julia. Her bakery is also suffering a major loss due to her customers going to her enemy’s cafe. Then, to add to the drama, mystery, and trouble, her ex husband has a surprise for her…then, there’s the technical issue with their divorce that puts Julia and Barker at a distance. So much action, mayhem, and sparks flying everywhere. Julia is my favorite sleuth. She’s kind, caring, and smart. Plus, her baking is out of this world….

Agatha Frost combines a lot of genres into one marvelous read. Her series of cozy mysteries are addictive. Once, I start a new book of hers, I can’t stop reading. Then, I wait in anticipation for the next novel to be released. Fun, charming, and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. This book was also heartfelt in many ways. Expresso and Evil suits this novel well. Coffee and murder…overall, I recommend this book to readers everywhere. 

Review: Protecting the Enemy

Synopsis: 

Protecting the Enemy was originally published as Honor Bound. It has since been expanded, revised, and re-edited.
Twelve years ago, I gave up the love of my life because my family made the relationship impossible. Now that Ali has come back to me, I’m not going to give her up again.
It’s been years since I’ve seen her, and I know she’s hated me all this time. I never expected to see her working as an event planner for one of my father’s business partners. But here she is, always snooping around and getting into trouble. I’m supposed to be providing security, but I can’t stop thinking about her.
She’s up to something, and it might put her in danger. She sees me as the enemy now. Maybe I am, but I’m not going to lose her again. I might be hired to protect the man she’s working against, but my heart only wants to protect her. 

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

Protecting the Enemy by both Samantha Chase and Noelle Adams is the second installment to their new romance series. This book is another tale about second chances. A romance that existed but never got the chance to bloom until now. But there’s plenty of obstacles to get through first. Love is messy, complex, and complicated. It can leave damage…

Hatred, anger, danger, and sparks ignite in this exciting book. I felt closer to these characters than the previous book. However, I still miss the full fledge magic that Samantha Chase always brings to her books. Seeing as this is co-written, it’s hard to  feel that magic that I’m so used to feeling. But it’s still worth reading every damn page. I was engaged. Hooked. Intrigued by ehatwould transpire between the two protagonists. Writers Samantha Chase and Noelle Adams create a chemistry that lingers far after one finishes reading. Overall, I recommend this second title to readers everywhere. Protecting the Enemy is a contemporary full of heat and action. 

Review: Pancakes and Corpses

Synopsis:

Soon to be divorced Julia South never expected to be caught up in solving a murder, until she discovered the body of her cafe’s most awkward customer. With a new smug Detective Inspector in town who underestimates her every move, Julia makes it her mission to discover the real murderer, before her village friends are dragged into the frame, and more bodies are discovered.
A light, cozy mystery read with a cat loving and cafe owning female amateur sleuth, in a small village setting with quirky characters. No cliffhanger, swearing, gore or graphic scenes. 

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

Pancakes and Corpses: A Peridale Cafe Mystery by Agatha Frost is an exciting new series. I love the main character, Julia. She’s a divorced women returning back to her hometown. Here, in Peridale, Julia is baking. Baking is her passion. But then, her cakes go missing…and a dead customer turns up…which then, catches the unwanted attention of the new detective. Something about him, puts Julia off in more than one way. 

I’ve read a few other book witinnthis series before this one, and I was easily able to follow along. The mystery in each book is different and thrilling to follow. Julia is the best baker. Her hometown, Peridale, is small but sets forth a variety of interesting characters. Intriguing, fun, hilarious, sweet, and sometimes deadly. Pancakes and Corpses is a must read for all. Action, adventure, and a murder case to solve. I couldn’t stop reading it. Agatha Frost is a talented writer. Her pages flew by fast.  

Review: Second Chance Cowboy

Synopsis:

Dancer Larissa Martine is ready to start over and Las Vegas seems like the perfect city for a shiny new beginning. But first, to honor her pact with her girlfriends, she wants to make a quick stop in Cheyenne, WY to make amends with her first love, the guy she left to chase her dreams of Broadway fame. Except rancher Matt Briggs isn’t nearly as interested in her regrets as he is in keeping her in town for his sister’s wedding. It’s a request she can’t deny when his family takes up the cause to make her stay for just one more week, but it’s difficult to maintain her friends-only boundaries with a man who attracts her as much as ever. 
After losing his father and inheriting the family ranch in addition to the one he’d bought on his own, Matt’s life is all about obligations. But Larissa’s unexpected arrival during the wedding mayhem is a bright spot he won’t ignore, even if that means tempting her into far more than just a dance. He figures one night with her will bring them both some peace with their past, which is all she said she wanted. But one night leaves Matt wanting a whole lot more and this time, he’s willing to gamble everything to make her stay. 

Rating: 5-stars

Review: 

Second Chance Cowboy is the second book that I’ve read by Joanne Rock. I was amazed by her talent with her other book that I read before this one. Her characters literally pop off the pages. Bringing the story to readers in live motion. I felt like I was there experiencing it all in both the main characters’ shoes. I got the best perspectives from the leading female and male protagonists. Their thoughts, actions, and words could easily be felt and understood. 

Joanne Rock made me cry happy tears while reading this contemporary romance novel. I also laughed a lot. Cowboy rancher, Matt, just has affect on women. Especially, Larissa, aka Rissa. Sexy as hell, Mattcan make any woman swoon on spot. But the one woman he wanted left him eight years ago. Now, he finds her back in their ranching world. This time, he’s not ready to let her go…

Larissa is having a crappy life. Her dancing career did hit it off until her injury. Her hips still give her pain. But she still wants to audition in Las Vegas. However, on her way there, she stops home to seek forgiveness and a fresh start. Little does Larissa know that fate has more in stored for her than she planned. Like resurfering sparks between her and Matt. Matt…looked even better than she remembered. She wants him again. Feeling a bit jealous of the girl hitting on him, Larissa skates her feelings. Then, Matt’s sister ends up forcing them together for her wedding. Close proximity with each other will set off memories they never forgot…

Second Chance Cowboy is the latest novel by Joanne Rock. I love how she created so many raw emotions within me. The journey was epic. Addictive, hot, and charming. Every page was well-written. The entire story went by faster than I thought. The actions of the protagonists sped up my reading. I was so eager to find out what happened between them that I soon found the last page. And it was so good. Better than good. Superb. I have fallen in love for the second time with Joanne Rock’s writing. She delivers only the best for her readers every time. Overall, I recommend this sexy cowboy romance to all.  

Review: Chihuahua Confidential

Synopsis:

“If I say so myself, I am muy foxy!”

When novice P.I. Geri Sullivan first heard her adopted Chihuahua talk, she thought she’d gone barking mad. But it turns out Pepe is a savvy sleuth—and if he has his way, he’ll soon be a bone-a-fido celebrity, too, as Pepe and Geri are Hollywood-bound to star in the reality show Dancing With Dogs. So far, so bueno. 

Then Nigel St. Nigel, the judge everyone loves to hate, becomes the judge someone wanted dead. Pepe and Geri are hot on a killer’s heels but between perfecting the paso doble and protecting Pepe’s Pomeranian lady love, both have their paws full. If Pepe’s new status as a Beverly Hills Chihuahua goes to his head, it may be the last waltz for Geri’s crime-biting compadre…

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Chihuahua Confidential by Waverly Curtis is another exciting adventure. In this new mystery, Pepe and his owner, Geri, are headed for stardom. Pepe and Geri will be featured on Dan omg with the Dogs. It is there that they find a new case. A judge most disliked is found dead. Many suspects are found making finding the killer harder to catch. Danger, risks, and mayhem are everywhere. The pages are filled with humor. Pepe the talking Chihuahua is my favorite character. Then, there’s Geri an average female who is needing a job to pay bills and feed both her and Pepe. Geri is learning to be a detective and Pepe is helping her learn. And it’s not long before another case finds the pair. Hilarious, well-developed, and a perfect read for animal lovers worldwide. I enjoyed reading the first novel in this series. This second book, was just as good. Overall, I recommend it to all. 

Review: Onyx Webb The Series (book 10)

Synopsis:

Welcome Back to the World of Onyx Webb! This is Book Ten. (Episodes 29, 30, 31, & 32) Haven’t Gotten Entangled Yet? Please Start with Book One.

Book Ten is the end of the Onyx Webb saga with the final pieces of the web sewn together.
Onyx Webb is a complex multi-genre mash-up that combines elements of supernatural suspense, crime, horror, romance, and more. The Onyx Webb series follows the unusual life of Onyx Webb along with a central group of characters in various locations and times.
In Book Ten: The Mulvaneys deal with aftermath of the Solstice Eclipse Ball. Stan Lee and Spider Boy finally meet. Readers finally learn the fate of Onyx Webb. Scroll Up and Grab Book Ten Today! 

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Onyx Webb: The Series by both Richard Penton and Andrea Waltz is the last installment to this superb series. A paranormal soap opera tale filled with tons of action, adventure, and ghosts. Onyx Webb is by far still my favorite character. Her story was beautifully done. Noah is another character from this series that I loved too. He’s Onyx’s other half. Their relationship is unusual and emotionally engaging. All the other characters were awesome. They added to each featured episode. Fueling the drama, trouble, and mystery.  Richard Penton and Andrea Waltz are two talented writers. Each one spun this entire book and it’s Series into one that readers like myself will never forget. Nothing is easy in this book nor among the characters. Complex, complicated, and exciting. Never a dull moment. The pages flew by fast. I was once more hooked. I can’t wait to see the next book these writers come up with next. Their words brought forth a new world in which readers like myself easily got lost within….addictive. Overall, I highly recommend book ten to all. 

Review: Protecting His Best Friend’s Sister

Synopsis:

Protecting His Best Friend’s Sister was originally published as Duty Bound. It has since been expanded, revised, and re-edited.

The only woman I want is the one I can never have.

Harper. My best friend’s sister. I’ve wanted her since I was eighteen, but she’s always been off-limits. Now I’m home after years in the Marines, and nothing has changed–except everything has. Her brother is dead, and she’s on a hopeless quest for answers about his death.
And I want her just as much as ever.

Someone is trying to kill her now, and she won’t let me keep her safe. I have to protect her anyway, even if she doesn’t trust me, even if she hates me for it. A man protects what’s precious to him, whether or not he can ever claim her for his own.

And Harper has always been precious to me.

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

Protecting His Best Friend’s Sister by both Samantha Chase and Noelle Adams is a sexy yet emotional short read. This novella is packed with loss, anger, and lust. Levi is best friends with Harper’s older brother. He has wanted and liked Harper since the beginning but it really hit Levi the hardest when Harper grew up…

As a teenager, Harper turned heads. Levi was no different. She had him wrapped around her finger and had no idea. Levi has struggled with his attraction to Harper. She’s off limits. Not going to mess up a friendship just because he likes his best friend’s sister. Little sister.

Now, Harper is a grown woman. No little about her. Curves, flawless skin and still as fierce as before…Levi wished it was under better circumstances. His best friend, Harper’s brother, Gavin, died. Burying him. Sadness and pain hits them both. Harper hates Levi. 

Only she doesn’t know why he left her that one day. Nor does she know just how much he really cares about her…

Harper is in danger and Levi will protect her. But where that leaves them afterwards is something readers will have to discover on their own. 

Hot, well-developed, and entertaining. Both Samantha Chase and Noelle Adams have started a series that caught my heart and attention. I missed the deeper connection I get from Samantha’s novels but this one was still good. Protecting His Best Friend’s Sister is a must read.  

Review: The Final Score

Synopsis:
In the new Play-by-Play novel by the New York Times bestselling author of Rules of Contact, a star quarterback is torn between his love of the game—and the woman who may be the love of his life.

Nathan Riley is ready to follow in the footsteps of his famous football player father. He’s been drafted as quarterback for his dad’s former team, and his future is bright. When his friend Mia Cassidy moves to the same city, their years-long friendship suddenly sparks hot, reminding him of the one night they had together in college that he can never forget.

Like Nathan, Mia is from a sports dynasty family and embarking on an incredible new career—as founder of her own sports management company. Her friendship with Nathan means everything to her, and tossing sex into the mix again could jeopardize it. But the chemistry between them has always sizzled, and it isn’t long before Mia realizes she wants more with Nathan than just late-night talks and pizza. 

 
Passion has a funny way of changing the rules, and soon Nathan and Mia discover that to win it all, they’ll have to make an unexpected play for love.

Rating: 5-stars

Review: 

The Final Score by Jaci Burton is a swoon worthy romance. This book will definitely take to fans of sports, sex, and romance. The once best friend relationship ends up turning into something way more than either thought. Neither MIA nor Nathan can ignore the sparks, heat, and their hearts. Their hearts want each other. However, Mia is determined to try to keep it a best friend only relationship…but as time goes by…she realizes she wants more. Nathan loves football. With Mia nearer to him, he can’t concentrate on just sports stuff. Their relationship has gone and left. Leaving behind something much more intense. Something worth fighting for…

The Final Score is a hot read. I couldn’t stop reading it. Jaci Burton knows how to creation the right amount of lust, heat, and unforgettable characters. The scenes fly by fast. One moment, I’m starting the next, I’ve finished reading. Truly, a novel worth picking up to read. Overall, I recommend to readers worldwide. 

Review: The Art of Hiding

Synopsis:

Nina McCarrick has it all: a loving husband, two beautiful boys, a well-appointed home and more time than she knows what to do with. Life is perfect. Until her husband, Finn, is killed in a car accident and everything Nina thought she could rely on unravels.

Alone, bereft and faced with a mountain of debt, Nina quickly loses her life of luxury and she begins to question whether she ever really knew the man she married. Forced to move out of her family home, Nina returns to the rundown Southampton council estate—and the sister—she thought she had left far behind.

But Nina can’t let herself be overwhelmed—her boys need her. To save them, and herself, she will have to do what her husband discouraged for so long: pursue a career of her own. Torn between the life she thought she knew and the reality she now faces, Nina finally must learn what it means to take control of her life.

Bestselling author Amanda Prowse once again plumbs the depths of human experience in this stirring and empowering tale of one woman’s loss and love.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

The Art of Hiding by Amanda Prowse is one of the most believable tale I’ve read. A story of loss, love, and hope. The loss of a father and husband, losing their home, and moving to a new place.  Plus, a single widowed mother dealing with a teenager who seems like he’s connecting with her anymore. A you’re son who loves her still but is also wanting to be like his big brother. Sweet, heartfelt, and realistic. 

The title, The Art of Hiding, fits well. I was amazed at how well the mother holds onto the little she has. Her sons. Going after a career, a new home, and a new area can place a lot of stress and emotions on a family that has already lost so much. But with time, there’s hope and maybe even some healing. I was throughly entertained with this book. Every page was exciting. Something always caught my attention and held it there until the ending. Amanda Prowse is a talented writer. This, was the second novel of hers that I’ve read. Enjoyable, easy to follow along, and great characters to love. Overall, I recommend this novel to all. 

Review: The Return

Synopsis:

Beautiful and winsome, Betsy Zook never questioned her family’s rigid expectations, nor those of devoted Hans, but then she never had to. Not until the night when she’s taken captive in a surprise Indian raid. During her captivity, Betsy faces brutality and hardship, but also unexpected kindness. She draws strength from native Caleb, who encourages her to find God in all circumstances. She finds herself torn between her pious upbringing and the intense new feelings this compelling man awakens within her. 

Handsome and complex, Hans is greatly anguished by Betsy’s captivity and turns to Tessa Bauer for comfort. Eagerly, Tessa responds, overlooking troubling signs of Hans’s hunger for revenge. When Betsy is finally restored to the Amish, have things gone too far between Hans and Tessa? 

Inspired by true events, this deeply layered novel gives a glimpse into the tumultuous days of prerevolutionary Pennsylvania through the eyes of two young, determined, and faith-filled women.

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

The Return by Suzanne Woods Fisher is an inspiring tale. It’s also full of hardships, woe, and hope. The book is based off some realistic events from the past. I enjoyed following this historical Christian piece. A group of Christians find themselves in the wilderness. A new land that is just as dangerous as it is good. Indians are nearby. In fact, one Indian will become something more to one of the protagonists. Her faith is questioned. Danger escalates and loss is felt. A massacre happens. Half Indians are slaughtered out of fear by others. Anger and fear make for trouble. One Amish man finds himself in such a predicament. Caleb is half Indian and half Mennonite. Betsy feels protective of her new friend. But Caleb is struggling with what’s happening to his kind. Betsy is hopeful thinking one day, Caleb will be ready to enter her world.  But right now he’s hurt, confused, and not ready. Understanding and relating to each character inside this book was easy. I felt their emotions. Fear, anger, sadness, love, and hope. Kindness played a role throughout the troubled and terrible times. Overall, I would recommend The Return to readers everywhere. Themes of friendship, bullying, and respect are found here. It was a well-written yet engaging read. 

Review: Conversations with Friends

Synopsis:

A sharply intelligent novel about two college students and the strange, unexpected connection they forge with a married couple.
Frances is twenty-one years old, cool-headed, and darkly observant. A college student and aspiring writer, she devotes herself to a life of the mind–and to the beautiful and endlessly self-possessed Bobbi, her best friend and comrade-in-arms. Lovers at school, the two young women now perform spoken-word poetry together in Dublin, where a journalist named Melissa spots their potential. Drawn into Melissa’s orbit, Frances is reluctantly impressed by the older woman’s sophisticated home and tall, handsome husband. Private property, Frances believes, is a cultural evil–and Nick, a bored actor who never quite lived up to his potential, looks like patriarchy made flesh. But however amusing their flirtation seems at first, it gives way to a strange intimacy neither of them expect.As Frances tries to keep her life in check, her relationships increasingly resist her control: with Nick, with her difficult and unhappy father, and finally even with Bobbi. Desperate to reconcile herself to the desires and vulnerabilities of her body, Frances’s intellectual certainties begin to yield to something new: a painful and disorienting way of living from moment to moment.
Written with gem-like precision and probing intelligence, Conversations With Friends is wonderfully alive to the pleasures and dangers of youth.” 

Rating: 3-stars

Review:

Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney is a different kind of novel than I’m used to reading. A young woman ends up living a very complicated lifestyle. Her relationships entangle  in ways she didn’t imagine. Going for the moment instead of thinking of all the things that may come of her decisions. Friendship, lust, and love. These are just some of the major themes expressed on the pages. Out of the three characters, Frances is the one I mostly enjoyed following. I didn’t like her going after another woman’s husband…Frances wasn’t easy to relate due to her sexuality preferences. She could go either…man or woman. This wasn’t my favorite read. But it appeared realistic and for that it earned points. I can see three people living lives similar to these characters. I liked how I knew exactly what the characters were thinking. That made this interesting to follow. Overall, it was okay for me. Not one I would highly recommend to others but still worth reading. 

Review: The Summer that Made Us

Synopsis:

Mothers and daughters, sisters and cousins, they lived for summers at the lake house until a tragic accident changed everything. The Summer That Made Us is an unforgettable story about a family learning to accept the past, to forgive and to love each other again. 

That was then… 

For the Hempsteads, summers were idyllic. Two sisters who married two brothers and had three daughters each, the women would escape the city the moment school was out to gather at the family house on Lake Waseka. The lake was a magical place, a haven where they were happy and carefree. All of their problems drifted away as the days passed in sun-dappled contentment. 

Until the summer that changed everything. 

This is now… 

After an accidental drowning turned the lake house into a site of tragedy and grief, it was closed up. For good. Torn apart, none of the Hempstead women speak of what happened that summer, and relationships between them are uneasy at best, hurtful at worst. But in the face of new challenges, one woman is determined to draw her family together again, and the only way that can happen is to return to the lake and face the truth. 

Robyn Carr has crafted a beautifully woven story about the complexities of family dynamics and the value of strong female relationships.

Rating: 3.5-stars

Review:

The Summer that Made Us by Robyn Carr is a great read. At its center, lies a family struggling with their lives. Each one feels stressed. A past event has kept them torn apart. Now, in the present they go back to the place where all went wrong. Some want to forget it, while others want to remember the good that was there. Hope, fear, anger, and a sadness lingers on every page. I was taken into each character’s feelings. They felt hesitant about the future. Loss, death, and managing relationships both personal and in the family is a hard thing to juggle. I understood the characters’ actions. However, I didn’t feel as close to them as I have with other characters. Robyn Carr is phenomenal writer. Her stories have always inspired me. This book, is inspiring in many ways but the emotional entertaining connection wasn’t really there for me. I didn’t really want to dig deep in this tale. But I continued. The themes and points were on target. Just didn’t feel as engaging as Robyn Carr’s previous novels. The Summer that Made Us fits perfectly with the pages’ content. I do recommend this book. It drags some but it’s still worth reading. 

Review: To Wager Her Heart

Synopsis:

With fates bound by a shared tragedy, a reformed gambler from the Colorado Territory and a Southern Belle bent on breaking free from society’s expectations must work together to achieve their dreams—provided that the truth doesn’t tear them apart first. 
Sylas Rutledge, the new owner of the Northeast Line Railroad, invests everything he has into this venture, partly for the sake of the challenge. But mostly to clear his father’s name. One man holds the key to Sy’s success—General William Giles Harding of Nashville’s Belle Meade Plantation. But Harding is champagne and thoroughbreds, and Sy Rutledge is beer and bullocks. Sy needs someone to help him maneuver his way through Nashville’s society, and when he meets Alexandra Jamison, he quickly decides he’s found his tutor. Only, he soon discovers that the very train accident his father is blamed for causing is what killed Alexandra Jamison’s fiancee—and what has broken her heart. 
Spurning an arranged marriage by her father, Alexandra instead pursues her passion for teaching at Fisk University, the first freedmen’s university in the United States. But family—and Nashville society—do not approve, and she soon finds herself cast out from both. Through connections with the Harding family, Alexandra and Sy become unlikely allies. And despite her first impressions, Alexandra gradually finds herself coming to respect, and even care for this man. But how can she, when her heart is still spoken for? And when Sy’s roguish qualities and adventuresome spirit smack more of recklessness than responsibility and honor? 
Sylas Rutledge will risk everything to win over the woman he loves. What he doesn’t count on is having to wager her heart to do it. 
Set against the real history of Nashville’s Belle Meade Plantation and the original Fisk University Jubilee Singers ensemble, To Wager Her Heart is a stirring love story about seeking justice and restoring honor at a time in history when both were tenuous and hard-won. 

Rating: 4.5-stars 

Review:

To Wager Her Heart by Tamera Alexander is a brilliant historical romance. Full of emotions. Both protagonists find themselves in  a world of hurt that binds them together. Each one seeking something with the help of the other. Tamera Alexander brought me back into the era of railroads and their danger. High clout families, politics, and the risks of falling in love. The stakes are high and the scenes are engaging. Themes of loss, honor, and hope are found here. I was intrigued with both the southern belle determined to make her own way and the troubled man taking on a huge task. Heartfelt, entertaining, and well-developed. Alexandra Jamison is a strong female character. She worked hard and it paid off…the feeling of accomplishment back then in her time period was the best part of the book. To Wager Her Heart has won my heart over many times. I highly recommend it to readers worldwide. 

Review: Take to the Limit

Synopsis:

They are part of an elite unit. On task. Off grid. These are the men of the Shadow Ops task force. Be seduced and thrilled by Take to the Limit, the next Unbroken Heroes novel by Dawn Ryder. 

Holding out for a hero…
A hardened military machine, Bram Magnus is a tough, combat-ready, all-American hero who never surrenders. But the one thing he can’t fight? His smoldering, intense attraction to his girlfriend’s younger sister. He’s always kept his feelings locked deeply down. But when his girlfriend betrays him the night before he ships off to Afghanistan, Bram has one chance to show the woman he’s resisted for years that he wants her as fiercely as the first day he saw her.
Ever since her older sister first brought home the soldier with steely hard muscles and piercing eyes, Jaelyn has wanted Bram, and when her sister casts him aside the night before he leaves, Jaelyn can’t resist one steamy hot kiss with him. But danger is not far behind, and even as a deadly enemy hunts them, their relationship only grows more explosive. It’s all Bram can do to keep Jaelyn safe, but with a threat this powerful, will they pay the ultimate price for their passion?

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

Take to the Limit by Dawn Ryder is a sexy tale featuring alpha males. Males who think only about their work and nothing else. Or so they thought…Enter a beautiful woman and a Bram can’t let go. He’s leaving on a mission. Told to leave her alone. But his heart can’t. So, he does what he can. Writes letters to her. Not one, not two, but dozens of letters. Letting her know she’s all he’s thinking about while away. Hot sex. Instant chemistry. And fear. Jaelyn loves Bram. He is a sexy tall man who has her toes curling in the hot sand. Her dreams are filled with nothin glut him. She kissed him hard before he left. Her heart aches for him. Thinking she won’t ever see him again, she hardens her heart against him. When he arrives back to her, all hell breaks loose. His letters he wrote were never given to her….someone stole them. Jealousy. Jaelyn pushes Bram away. But he’s not giving up without a hell of a fight. Hell, she’s worth everything to him. Then, danger comes and knocks their world into a crazy space. No one knows where it will lead. But Bram is going to fight until he has Jaelyn safe again in his arms…and in his bed. 

Dawn Ryder knows how to heat up the pages. I blushed every time. The heat was scorching. The sex soon turned to love making. The characters each had their own fears and struggles. But somehow they keep moving forward and work through them. Friends who tease but also have their backs. Family that will always support them no matter what. I loved the granddaughter and grandfather relationships in this book. It was sweet, charming, and hilarious. Overall, I enjoyed reading Take to the Limit. It’s a perfect title for the scenes inside…a super solider and his strong yet bold woman. 

Review: Whole Again

Synopsis:

John Lawrence loved Vicki Masterson his entire life. They grew up together. But it wasn’t meant to be.

After John is disabled in Iraq, that couldn’t be more obvious. He struggles to start a new career while dealing with a prosthetic leg. Vicki recovers from divorce along with her own paralyzing self-doubt.

Enter “Growing Strong” Vicki’s grandmothers landscaping business and a new start for both of them. Can they can get over themselves and their own insecurities to build a life together? 

Rating: 4-stars 

Review: 

Whole Again by Colleen S. Myers is an entertaining contemporary romance. Two old friends have had the biggest crush on each other. Now, one is recently divorced and the other has just returned from war with a prosthetic leg. Each character has struggles to overcome before they can move forward. Insecurities, drama, and danger. Life is complex. Inside Whole Again, there’s a brewing romance, risks, fears, and life threatening situations. Colleen S. Myers has created an exciting read from the first page. Never a dull moment. Intriguing, realistic, and heartfelt. Overall, I recommend this novella to all. 

Review: The Transmigrant

Synopsis:

The year is AD 8. In the backwaters of Galilee, the twelve-year-old carpenter Yeshua nourishes an impossible dream—to become a rabbi.

When a Buddhist pilgrim tells him about a country called Sindh, where anyone can be a monk, Yeshua’s hope rekindles. He joins a camel caravan and sets off on a thousand mile journey across the Silk Road into the unknown. Guided by the words of the Buddha and Krishna, but crippled by a stubborn reluctance to obey rules, Yeshua stumbles from temple to temple in search for a place where he may finally teach.

THE TRANSMIGRANT is a remarkable tale of self-discovery that explores the lost years of Jesus. It is a reflection on the lengths a man will go to be admired, accepted and, ultimately, loved. 

THE TRANSMIGRANT is an alternative take on the life of Jesus of Nazareth. Inspired both by ancient scriptures and relatively new findings, such as Russian traveler Nicolas Notovitch’s 1894 book “The Unknown Life of Jesus Christ”, THE TRANSMIGRANT explores Jesus’ life during the years not mentioned in the Bible.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

The Transmigrant by Kristi Saare Duarte is a unique historical tale. It takes readers back in time. A lot of research has gone into making this one of the best reads yet. I haven’t read anything quite this good. The Transmigrant is a journey of man. Searching constantly for what he needs. Easy to follow, relate to, and understand. The pages are full of deep meaning. Engaging, well-developed, and stunning. Kristi Saare Duarte showed me the depths of what humans are and will go to….it was amazing. Physically and emotionally. I highly recommend readers to open this book and explore the most famous of all men, Jesus. His life unravels here. 

Review: The Summer House

Synopsis:

When Flossy Merrill summons her children to the beloved family beach house to celebrate their father’s eightieth birthday, both cherished memories and long-kept secrets come to light in this charming and lyrical novel from the author of The Lake Season and Mystic Summer.
Flossy Merrill has managed to—somewhat begrudgingly—gather her three ungrateful grown children from their dysfunctional lives for a summer reunion at the family’s Rhode Island beach house. Clementine, her youngest child and a young mother of two small children, has caused Flossy the most worry after enduring a tragically life-altering year. But Samuel and his partner Evan are not far behind in their ability to alarm: their prospective adoption search has just taken a heart-wrenching turn. Only Paige, the eldest of the headstrong Merrill clan, is her usual self: arriving precisely on time with her well-adapted teens. Little does her family know that she, too, is facing personal struggles of her own.
No matter. With her family finally congregated under one seaside roof, Flossy is determined to steer her family back on course even as she prepares to reveal the fate of the summer house that everyone has thus far taken for granted: she’s selling it. The Merrill children are both shocked and outraged and each returns to memories of their childhoods at their once beloved summer house—the house where they have not only grown up, but from which they have grown away. With each lost in their respective heartaches, Clementine, Samuel, and Paige will be forced to reconsider what really matters before they all say goodbye to a house that not only defined their summers, but, ultimately, the ways in which they define themselves. 
Featuring McKinnon’s “sharp and evocative” (Kirkus Reviews) voice, this warm-hearted novel is perfect for fans of Elin Hilderbrand and Mary Alice Monroe.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

The Summer House by Hannah McKinnon is a superb summer read. A story about a family dealing with a lot of issues. The mother forces her kids back to the summer house. There she hopes to help them deal with their issues and maybe, find some peace. A worried mother over grown children. The mother herself has something to share with her children. She plans to sell their summer house. A place full of childhood memories for the children who are now, grown adults. The journey is rocky at first but smooths over as the pages are turned. Emotional, stunning, and heartfelt. 

Hannah McKinnon writes well. Her characters are believable. Each one adds to the plot. A different issue like the lost of a husband. Readers will easily relate to the them. I was able to understand and love the characters. The mother was the centerfold of this family. Strong, dependent, and clever. She loves her family. Caring, loving, and sweet. I couldn’t put this book down…The Summer House lured me from my seat and deep onto its pages. A deep entertaining read. One that pulled at my heart strings all the way. Overall, I recommend this novel to readers worldwide. Loss, love, and healing. 

Review: Any Dream Will Do

Synopsis:

Shay Benson adored her younger brother, Caden, and that got her into trouble. When he owed money, Shay realized she would do anything to help him avoid the men who were threatening him, and she crossed lines she never should have crossed. Now, determined to start fresh, she finds herself in search of a place to stay and wanders into a church to escape from the cold.
Pastor Drew Douglas adored his wife. But when he lost her, it was all he could do to focus on his two beautiful kids, and his flock came in a distant third. Now, as he too is thinking about a fresh start, he walks through his sanctuary and finds Shay sitting in a pew.

The pair strike up a friendship—Drew helps Shay get back on her feet, and she reignites his sense of purpose—that, over time, turns into something deeper, something soulful, spiritual, and possibly romantic. Even Drew’s two children are taken with this woman who has brought light back into their lives. Perhaps most important, Shay learns to trust again as she, in turn, proves herself trustworthy to her adopted community.

But Caden’s return to town and a disastrous secret threaten to undo the life Shay has tried so hard to rebuild. It will take the utmost courage and faith if she and Drew hope to find healing and open their hearts to a brighter future.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Any Dream Will Do by Debbie Macomber is as close to a realistic story as possible. Everything felt real. It was like reading a person’s journey from the rough life to a good one. A young woman has had trust issues due to the men in her life. With no One But a brother as family and as a friend, Shay had to learn a lot of lessons. Including, not trusting her baby brother. He relied on her and she made a bad choice because she thought it was a life or death situation. Her brother used her. Broke his promise and left Shay to deal with the consequences. Shay went to prison, lost her bank job, and is dealing with a lot of emotions. Anger, fear, and survival mode. After being released she finds no where to go. Stepping into a church, Shay’s life turns around….she meets Paster Drew. 

Pastor Drew is another interesting character. He and his very young kids lost a loved one. A wife and mother. Drew was hopeless and lost until he meets Shay. He sees hope for her. Even though she can’t. She has a tough attitude but inside she’s good. Drew calls a friend and help Shay into a program for women like her. Because he helped her, Shay forms an attachment of trust, liking, and hope towards him. Drew can’t help but feel good knowing he helped her. Something about Shay also gives him hope for the future. Then there’s his kids. Both meet Shay. Shay loves them as much as they love her. 

Debbie Macomber has written an inspiring tale here. I couldn’t stop reading it. The whole story made me cry, smile, and fall in love. Lost souls finding their ways after a tragedy. A little faith, hope, and love go a long way in this novel. Those who have been through a tough time can easily relate to both Shay and Drew’s issues. Struggles can make or break us at times. But it’s about continuing even when we have nothing else to lose. Overall, I recommend this contemporary to all. Any Dream Will Do is a must read. 

Review: Maybe I Do

Synopsis: 

She doesn’t believe in fairy tales. He is married to his job. Maybe whiskey is the secret ingredient that will bring them together—and give true love a shot in Nicole McLaughlin’s Maybe I Do?

Wedding photographer Charlotte Linley loves her work—even though she hates weddings. Sure, she still holds a grudge after being left at the altar by her high-school sweetheart. But today Charlotte is just happy to have complete control over her career, which is flourishing. Especially since she joined forces with one of the three gorgeous owners of The Stag, a boutique distillery that has become Kansas City’s hottest wedding venue.

Dean Troyer, bitter after the end of his own marriage, knows that Charlotte is the real deal—beautiful, talented, and successful. He may flirt with her every time she comes to The Stag but Dean is determined to keep his professional distance. . .particularly now that she’s helping him with his own sister’s wedding. The only problem? The more time Dean spends with Charlotte, the deeper their connection grows. Is this a rom-com cliché or could it be that these two jaded souls in the wedding business have finally found their real-life happily ever after?

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Maybe I Do by Nicole McLaughlin is a sexy sweet contemporary read. I was addicted from the first page. Here, the writer has brought together two kind people. Each one has their own fears that they struggle with, as well as their attraction to each other. Dean is forty-one- years-old. He feels old. Yet he stays fit. Packing a six pack and not a single grey hair, he’s every woman’s fantasy. Including, Charlotte’s. Dean was married once, and it didn’t work. Plus, he’s hiding a secret. Then, there’s Charlotte who was almost married. Her fiancée didn’t meet her at the aisle. Now, she works as a photographer photographing weddings mostly. Charlotte also holds a secret of her own. 

Maybe I Do fits in perfectly. Each protagonist finally figures out that maybe they do want a happily forever…but will their fears stop them? Nicole McLaughlin created a beautiful yet emotional journey. I cried, laughed, and fell in love. Two older people falling deeper for one another. Their lust, attraction, and fears have a long way to go. It was easy to relate to the characters. Hopeful, funny, and well-developed. This book felt so real. Truly, a heartfelt romance. Overall, I recommend this to readers everywhere.

Review: Need You Now

Synopsis:

Welcome to the small island town of Cloud Bay, where it’s never the wrong time to find a love that’s oh-so-right. . .

Caleb White knows what he wants out of life—and being a star tennis player is not it. After speaking to the press about his plans to retire, Caleb decides that a trip to quaint, beautiful Cloud Bay for its legendary music festival is exactly what he needs. There will be time to figure out what to do with his life without a racket in his hand soon enough. Until then, Caleb is content to be stuck on an island with CloudFest’s gorgeous director Faith Harper. . .

The daughter of a famous rock star, Faith knows all about fame, fortune, and hot flings that aren’t meant to last longer than a few good songs. Gorgeous, built Caleb is a temptation she can’t resist, but she’s not prepared for the way he makes her feel. . .and the dreams that they both share. What begins as a carefree distraction deepens into something real. But is Caleb ready to put his celebrity behind him and give life in the slow lane with Faith a chance?

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

Need You Now by Emma Douglas is a hot summer read. The instant chemistry between characters lured me further into the book. The daughter of a musician is needing a new fling. She soon spots a sexy man with the bluest eyes. Attraction hard and fast. Later on, Faith finds out who he is. The famous Caleb White, star tennis player, who has recently retired. Both start out wanting a good distraction. A no strong relationship. But the more they’re together the harder that becomes for them both. Sparks fly everywhere. Hot, sexy, and fun. Emma Douglas has created an exciting contemporary novel. I was entertained. In the beginning the pages dragged a bit in speed, but soon took off fast. Need You Now suits this book well. Both Faith and Caleb need each other in their lives. But the question lingers if they will figure it out…overall, this was an engaging story. 

Review: Leave the Night On

Synopsis:

Love, betrayal, and sweet revenge—life in Cottonbloom is about to get a whole lot hotter . . .

Sutton Mize is known for lavishing attention on the customers who flock to her boutique on the wealthy side of her Mississippi town. So when she finds a lace thong in her fiancé’s classic cherry-red Camaro, she knows just who she sold it to: her own best friend. In an instant, Sutton’s whole world goes up in flames. . .

Wyatt Abbott has harbored a crush on Sutton since he was a young kid from the other side of the tracks. He witnessed Sutton’s shocking discovery in the Camaro at his family-owned garage—and it made him angry. What kind of man could take lovely, gorgeous Sutton for granted? But then Sutton comes up with an idea: Why not give her betrothed a taste of his own medicine and pretend that she’s got a lover of her own? Wyatt is more than happy to play the hot-and-heavy boyfriend. But what begins as a fictional affair soon develops into something more real, and more passionate, than either Sutton or Wyatt could have imagined. Could it be that true love has been waiting under the hood all along?

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Leave the Night On by Laura Trentham is full of excitement. From betrayal by a best friend and from a fiancée, a false relationship, and a path to new love…I was hooked. The main character, Sutton is a strong woman. She’s more than just daddy’s little rich girl and more than a beauty. Wyatt is now, a mechanic. The best around his side of town. He can’t deny his attraction to Stutton. Something about her always had his interest. Stutton’s life was going well, until she and Wyatt find her ex cheating on her. From there, revenge, sweet lies, and a whole lot of action happen. I was intrigued with every page. I couldn’t stop reading it. Leave the Night On fits this story well. The plot was fast-paced. Entertaining, engaging, and hilariously sweet. I loved it. Laura Trentham has done it again. Creating another magical world where I got lost within the pages. Overall, I recommend this contemporary romance to all. 

Review: A Wedding Tail

Synopsis:

’TIL DEATH DO US BARK…

Wedding planner Zoe Plum has brides from all walks of life vying for her services. The only problem is: happily-single Zoe doesn’t actually enjoy weddings—but that might change when she meets the singer of a local band playing at one of her weddings. His name is Levi Dolson and he’s too gorgeous for his own good. And now he’s gone ahead and charmed her new dachshund. . .

It’s no secret that Zoe doesn’t believe in fairy tales, but that doesn’t stop her from wanting to make sweet music with Levi. While she’s convinced she doesn’t need a man, when someone starts setting one trap after the next to make sure she never plans a wedding ever again, she might need Levi in more ways than she could have imagined. But just how far is Zoe’s hidden enemy willing to go? The only thing Levi knows for sure is that he will do everything in his power to protect the woman who brings music to his soul. Maybe that will prove to Zoe, once and for all, that he is a man worthy of her heart. . .

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

A Wedding Tail by Casey Griffin is spectacular. It combines murder, mystery, and romance into one amazing read. This is also a great book for animal lovers. Especially, those that love dogs. An adopted wiener ends up rescuing his adoptive mother from a murderer. She ends up saving the man who has become so much more to her than just hot kisses. Her heart is totally in love with him. Now, it’s up for her to call the shots. The murderer was a character that I didn’t expect to be the killer. Surprises are everywhere in this book. Humor, intrigue, heat, and an unforgettable emotional journey. Casey Griffin has once again, hooked me. Her books are worth reading. I was so happy that her latest novel, A Wedding Tail, turned out perfect. Crazy brides, a weddding gone wrong, a flirtatious man, someone sabotaging Zoe’s business and much more…this, was one adventure I’ll never forget. Hilarious, sweet, and engaging. Overall, I highly recommended this title to all. 

Review: The Kentucky Cure

Synopsis:

Elise Newton is your classic non-committer. Although this time…this guy, Darren Masterson is giving her a run on her oath to staying single forever. After all, that’s how her mother raised her–never let your guard down and get sucked into forever. Before she has to decide what to do, she gets called home to take care of her mom, fresh out of foot surgery. While in Kentucky, she runs into Ben, her first love–the one who almost lassoed her with a ring and an ‘I do’ twelve years ago. 
Follow Elise’s journey to understanding why she can’t commit, and you’ll discover the one she can’t live without.
*title was previously released as A Reason to Stay*
Rating: 4-stars

Review:

Kentucky Cure by Julieanne Dove is a great journey. A young woman who has commitment issues may find her cure after all. The main character, Elise, was believable. I felt like she kept running away from life over and over again. It was hard to feel what she was really feeling. I couldn’t really get a good grasp on it in the beginning. Then, towards the middle I discovered why she has the issue. But again, I couldn’t really connect with her. Instead, I felt more connection to the guys who loved her. Heartbreaking, heartfelt, and emotional. The whole story felt sad. Until the ending…it was great. It was worth reading the ending. The title fits the plot well. Overall, Kentucky Cure is a contemporary romance novel that is entertaining. 

Review: Unraveling

Synopsis:

What happens when happily ever after starts to unravel?

Eliyana Ember doesn’t believe in true love. Not anymore. After defeating her grandfather and saving the Second Reflection, El only trusts what’s right in front of her. The tangible. The real. Not some unexplained Kiss of Infinity she once shared with the ghost of a boy she’s trying to forget. She has more important things to worry about–like becoming queen of the Second Reflection, a role she is so not prepared to fill.

Now that the Verity is intertwined with her soul and Joshua’s finally by her side, El is ready to learn more about her mysterious birth land, the land she now rules. So why does she feel like something–or someone–is missing?

When the thresholds begin to drain and the Callings, those powerful magical gifts, begin to fail, El wonders if her link to Ky Rhyen may have something to do with it. For light and darkness cannot coexist. She needs answers before the Callings disappear altogether. Can El find a way to sever her connection to Ky and save the Reflections–and keep herself from falling for him in the process?

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Unraveling by Sara Ella is an unforgettable fantasy. The second book in the trilogy set. I was hooked. A magical place full of action, suspense, and intrigue. It was an epic emotional journey. One that swept me off my seat and pulled me directly into its world. The main character El is quite interesting. Determined, brave, and hopeful. Her connection to Ky, a ghost is lost in a way. But still lingers. Only if El can remember…him. The story was heartfelt, engaging, and romantic. Fast-paced. The danger, mystery, and characters have pulled me in closer to the world. I can’t wait to read the next book. Sara Ella writes well. I got lost within her pages. Felt the rush of excitement, fear, and loss. This is one book that I recommend not only to teens, but also to adults. It was addictive. Superb. Unraveling is a masterpiece readers must read. 

Review: When Lightening Strikes

Synopsis:

Simon O’Neal’s causing trouble again. And it’s up to Gail DeMarco to stop him.

Gail DeMarco left Whiskey Creek, California, to make a name for herself in Los Angeles. Her PR firm has accumulated a roster of A-list clients, including the biggest box office hit of all—sexy and unpredictable Simon O’Neal. But Simon, who’s just been through a turbulent divorce, is so busy self-destructing he won’t listen to anything she says. She drops him from her list—and he retaliates by taking the rest of her clients with him.

Desperate to save her company, Gail has to humble herself by making a deal with Simon. The one thing he wants is custody of his son, but that’s going to require a whole new image. He needs to marry some squeaky-clean girl who’ll drag him off to some small, obscure place like Whiskey Creek….

Gail’s the only one he can trust. She agrees to become his wife—reluctantly. But she isn’t reluctant because he’s too hard to like. It’s because he’s too hard not to love!

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

When Lightening Strikes by Brenda Novak is another brilliant contemporary tale. I was excited to see what Brenda Novak has written. After reading it, I was in love. The characters were realistic. Even when a PR marketing lady with a famous movie star is stuck together, I was intrigued. Both when about their actions the way real people would have done. That surprised me. Usually, characters do some realistic things and some Dream worthy things. Being around a sexy male actor would be any woman’s dream. Everyone’s except for Gail. She wants nothing to do with the stubborn no good actor, Simon. Sure he has money and looks. But his attitude is sour. Plus, his actions make his life spin further out of control. He drinks, he tried breaking into his ex wife’s house to see his son…and all he gets is trouble. The media love that. His wife wants his money and uses their kid as a leverage. Simon can’t win custody due to his bad boy image. So, that’s where Gail comes in…she’s the best at PR. He wants her to help him. However, she can’t stand the man and declines. Gail doesn’t want to work with someone who won’t listen to her. So, she says some awful things to him and cuts him loose. Then, he gets back at her. That’s where all hell breaks loose. Soon, they find themselves crawling back to each other for help. Gail needs him to undo the damage done to her business, and she will help him win his kid back. Sounds easy….add in a fake marriage of two years and a force of no drinking, no sex, and no bad stuff. Simon can only handle so much. But he does what Gail says…

Falling in love is what neither one wanted nor expected. The more time they’re together the harder it is to resist…

Overall, When Lightening Strikes is a charming heartfelt story. I loved it. So many emotions and an epic journey ahead. Brenda Novak has done it again in creating the best romance. I was hooked. Engaging, sweet, and funny. This is a book I recommend to all. 

Review: Virgin River

Synopsis:

“Wanted: Midwife/nurse practitioner in Virgin River, population six hundred. Make a difference against the backdrop of towering California redwoods and crystal-clear rivers. Rent-free cabin included.” 

When the recently widowed Melinda Monroe sees this ad she quickly decides that the remote mountain town of Virgin River might be the perfect place to escape her heartache, and to reenergize the nursing career she loves. But her high hopes are dashed within an hour of arriving: the cabin is a dump, the roads are treacherous and the local doctor wants nothing to do with her. Realizing she’s made a huge mistake, Mel decides to leave town the following morning.
But a tiny baby, abandoned on a front porch, changes her plans…and a former marine cements them into place.
Melinda Monroe may have come to Virgin River looking for escape, but instead she finds her home.

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

Virgin River by Robyn Carr is an exciting adventure. One that took me to a small-town, Virgin River. There isn’t a school, no Starbucks, and her promised quarters is falling apart. Not like what the woman said on the phone to get Melinda to come to Virgin River. Apparently, nothing was what it seemed. First, Melinda gets stuck in mud with her fancy BMW. Her living quarters is dirty and falling apart. And the doctor doesn’t want her there to help him. 

But then things changed. A baby is found outside her place. Someone abandoned it. Then, Melinda decided to stay for a little bit. Using that little bit of time, a former marine works his butt off to make her own place new and clean. Plus, he’s attracted to her. Doing his damn best to keep apretty young medical woman in town proved to be a challenge. One worth doing. 

Melinda wanted out of L.A. Danger was everywhere. She couldn’t handle the pressure of fear that amounted with the amount of criminals everywhere. Then, she finds out about Virign River. A small-town looking for someone like her. A safe and quiet place to move. Melinda found a lot of surprises in Virgin River. Tested her will power and determination. 

Virgin River is a novel about community, small-towns, and new beginnings. I loved it. Robyn Carr swept me from my chair into her sweet, charming, and romantic tale. This book was engaging from start to end. Overall, I recommend it to all. 

Review: Woman Enters Left

Synopsis:

A woman sets out on a cross-country road trip, unknowingly tracing in reverse the path her mother traveled thirty years before.
In the 1950s, movie star Louise Wilde is caught between an unfulfilling acting career and a shaky marriage when she receives an out-of-the-blue phone call: She has inherited the estate of Florence “Florrie” Daniels, a Hollywood screenwriter she barely recalls meeting. Among Florrie’s possessions are several unproduced screenplays, personal journals, and—inexplicably—old photographs of Louise’s mother, Ethel. On an impulse, Louise leaves a film shoot in Las Vegas and sets off for her father’s house on the East Coast, hoping for answers about the curious inheritance and, perhaps, about her own troubled marriage.

Nearly thirty years earlier, Florrie takes off on an adventure of her own, driving her Model T westward from New Jersey in pursuit of broader horizons. She has the promise of a Hollywood job and, in the passenger seat, Ethel, her best friend since childhood. Florrie will do anything for Ethel, who is desperate to reach Nevada in time to reconcile with her husband and reunite with her daughter. Ethel fears the loss of her marriage; Florrie, with long-held secrets confided only in her journal, fears its survival.

In parallel tales, the three women—Louise, Florrie, Ethel—discover that not all journeys follow a map. As they rediscover their carefree selves on the road, they learn that sometimes the paths we follow are shaped more by our traveling companions than by our destinations. 

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

Woman Enters Left by Jessica Brockmole is an interesting adventure. A young woman suddenly learns that she inherits quite a lot from a woman she barely knows. This only intrigues her curiosity. As the plot unfolds, she finds more clues. Turning to her father she learns about her past. Then, there’s the situation with her husband. Not exactly on best terms, but then she learns things about her husband. Understanding sets in and maybe forgiveness too. It was a heartfelt story that holds a lot of details in the beginning…making the plot feel a bit like it’s dragging but then, it picks up speed. I enjoyed following the main protagonist, Louise. Her marriage and history is fascinating to follow. Overall, I recommend this tale to readers everywhere. 

Review: Planez

Synopsis:

Essence Brown is a beautiful fashion magazine editor-in-chief living in New York City. When she meets Malcolm Hill, a handsome real estate agent from Chicago on a business trip, things began to heat up. They say you shouldn’t mix business with pleasure, but what happens when you do? 
Planez will take you on a ride of your life, full of sex, thrill and betrayal. This isn’t your ordinary flight…fasten your seat belt and prepare for take off. 

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

Planez by Mariah James is an alluring read. Hot, spicy, and full of action. The heat spread like a wild fire. Consuming the reader whole. The plot was interesting. Mariah James created an adult fictional piece that had me riding a rollercoaster. The emotions were everywhere. Intense and exciting. New. Both Essence and Malcom kept me guessing. The pages were entertaining to keep on following the pair. Mariah James also included each protagonist’s viewpoint. I think that made this book a good read. Overall, it was enjoyable to watch as the characters struggled and fell in love. 

Review: Stargazey Point

Synopsis:

Shelley Noble’s Stargazey Point is a beautiful story of love, heartbreak, friendship, and new beginnings.

Devastated by tragedy during her last project, documentarian Abbie Sinclair seeks refuge with three octogenarian siblings, who live in a looming plantation house at the edge of the world.

South Carolina’s Stargazey Point used to be a popular family beach resort, but the beaches have eroded, most of the businesses have closed, and the crowds have gone. It’s the perfect place to hide from the rest of world.

But hiding is harder than she thought it would be. There’s a wise Gullah woman who seems to see into Abbie’s soul, and an intriguing man on a quest to bring Stargazey Point back to life.

Stargazey Point by Shelley Nobel is the perfect beach read any time of year.

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

Stargazey Point by Shelley Noble is a fascinating tale. Full of action, intrigue, and heartfelt moments. It instantly grabbed my heart from the beginning. I laughed, cried, and fell in love. The characters were amazing. Felt so real. It was almost like magic. The plot itself was interesting. Believable. Like stepping into a Hallmark movie. Shelley Noble’s words created a deeper meaning. Family, community, and new beginnings. Every page made me feel as if I were really there with the characters. 

Stargazey Point is a small southern spot that readers will love. History, culture, and the people who live there come to life on every page. Until now, I haven’t read any other books by Shelley Noble. I’m very happy to have read this one. A woman who feels depressed from her past is soon sent by a friend to Stargazey Point. There, she stays with her friend’s family. Two older women and an older man. Southern charm is turned up full notch here. Big southern plantation that somehow survived a storm that ruined the once thriving town. Money is almost out for one family. The brother has a kept secret that may come to save them and their home. Abbie comes looking for peace and ends up bringing life into the town and the people she met. It was hard not to like Abbie. She struggled with her own demons. Yet she gave everything she had to help others. Then, there’s Cab. He at first mistrusts her…but after knowing her a bit she soon engages his full attention. Sparks fly. But first fears have to be solved if they they even stand a chance at happiness. Themes like friendship and love are strong. Shelley Noble has done a superb job in creating this masterpiece. Entertaining, emotional, and charming. Overall, I recommend it to others. 

Review: Take Me Home for Christmas

Synopsis:

Christmas is a time for remembering….
Too bad all memories aren’t pleasant. Everyone in Whiskey Creek remembers Sophia DeBussi as the town’s Mean Girl. Especially Ted Dixon, whose love she once scorned. 
But Sophia has paid the price for her youthful transgressions. The man she did marry was rich and powerful but abusive. So when he goes missing, she secretly hopes he’ll never come back—until she learns that he died running from an FBI probe of his investment firm. Not only has he left Sophia penniless, he’s left her to face all the townspeople he cheated…. 
Sophia is reduced to looking for any kind of work to pay the bills and support her daughter. With no other options, she becomes housekeeper for none other than Ted, now a successful suspense writer. He can’t bring himself to turn his back on her, not at Christmas, but he refuses to get emotionally involved. He learned his lesson the last time. 
Or will the season of love and forgiveness give them both another chance at happiness? 

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Take Me Home for Christmas by Brenda Novak was another brilliant read. I don’t know how she does it. Every book is good. Engaging, whole hearted, and stunning. This latest novel, was centered on family. There were other themes like dealing with bullying, harassment, alcoholism and other stuff. Plus, old flames rekindling. 

First, I was introduced to a young woman. One that was super gorgeous and still is. She used her popularity around Whiskey Creek to her advantage. However, that left her with enemies, a broken heart, and no friends. Sophia left a good guy for one that turned out to be way worse than she ever feared. Her one night with a rich guy ended up with her being pregnant. So, her only option was to marry him. Leaving behind the one guy who truly cared about her as she did for him. 

Now, after having lost her husband on the day of her anniversary, Sophia returns back home. Whiskey Creek is her home. But then, she finds her husband stole money from all the people. Their home, cars, furniture, and jewels were taken. The people in town hate her. All but for one man. The one she left behind…Ted Dixon. 

Ted Dixon doesn’t want to be around Sophia. He wants to be over her. But he’s not. He’s hurt but seeing her current situation, he hires her to be his housekeeper. From there, he finds out what has happened to her before her marriage and afterwards. Ted can’t stop himself from saving Sophie and her little girl. But things are getting more complicated…

Take Me Home for Christmas left me feeling sad, angry, and happy. The emotional journey was epic. Brenda Novak has once again, swept me off my feet. Her book was intriguing. I was hooked from the beginning. Life is messy. The characters were three dimensional. Believable and realistic. I can see Sophie and Ted’s situations happening worldwide to real people. Hurt, betrayal,  hope, and love. So many emotions. I loved it. I wasn’t sure how the book would end. Overall, I recommend this contemporar romance to all. 

Review: Even When It Hurts (Seventy Times Seven)

Synopsis:

Maxine Hunter and Reverend Claude Jacobs have been engaged for a year and unable to decide on a final wedding date. The delay for their marital bliss comes in the form of Claude’s longtime friend, Geneva Shade. Geneva is in love with Claude and has decided she’s going to do whatever it takes to be with him, even if it means damaging his life. Claude is unaware of Geneva’s mental illness, which makes him oblivious to her sinister tricks to break up him and Maxine. Maxine’s eyes are wide open to Geneva’s games, but after one incident too many, Maxine is finally pushed to her breaking point. Claude finally sees Geneva for who she really is, but it’s seemingly too late. Will Claude and Maxine be able to forgive Geneva and each other, Even When It Hurts? 

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

Even When It Hurts: Seventy Times Seven by D.A. Kelley is an African American novel that shows how hard life can be. The characters struggle just like the rest of us. Choices are made. Sometimes more often than not, they make the wrong decisions. This, then leads them to instant regret. A torn relationship and insecurities. Taking the steps to accept, forgive, and move on will be hard. If they can forgive where will that leave them? Anger, lust, and evil planning are just a few things keeping the characters apart. But what God pushed together, might be fixed…or not. D.A. Kelley wrote a book that all women can relate to…even most men. We all have had something similar happen in our lives. I enjoyed how she combined real life and issues like mental illness into an entertaining read. Overall, I recommend to to readers everywhere.

Review: Dead Silence

Synopsis:

There’s a body buried behind a Mississippi farmhouse
Grace Montgomery knows who it is, and she knows why it happened. She was only thirteen the night it all went wrong. And now, like then, she has no choice but to keep her mouth shut.
Grace left the town of Stillwater thirteen years ago, trying to forget, trying to make good. As an assistant D.A. in Jackson, she’s finally achieved the success that was supposed to change her life. But it hasn’t so she’s come back to confront her own history. Which means returning to the farmhouse now owned by her brother and facing the people of Stillwater, a number of whom suspect the truth.
Widower Kennedy Archer is one of those people. He’s running for mayor and needs to stay as far away from Grace as possible. And yetshe’s an enigma he can’t resist. Even though her enemies are close to finding out what really happened and that could ruin them both.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Brenda Novak is the best writer! Her novels range from suspense to romance. She even writes historical novels. I am awed by Brenda’s talent. She never disappoints me. Her writing is always phenomenal. Exciting, intriguing, and epic. Dead Silence is the first book in this series. A mystery that has gone under radar long enough is now, popping back to surface. For Grace it was a nightmare that she couldn’t forget. Her mother, step-sister, and brother all knew what had happened. They kept it between themselves. Grace comes back home, and something about her being back stirs up trouble. Unwanted trouble. Her other half-sister is wanting to know what happened to her father. And the son, wants to find Gracie and her family guilty for his father’s death. But vegance only goes so far…

Dead Silence is intense. It occurs in a small-town intent on hating one family. Grace’s family. Her mother married a preacher because she had nothing for her kids and didn’t want to lose them. Then, the respected and ever loved preacher turns out to be anything than what he seemed…dark, haunting, and engaging. Brenda Novak has brought her characters to life. The words create visual images that make it feel like I was experiencing the whole thing first hand. Believable and realistic. Themes of loss, family, secrets, and love are found inside this stung tale. I couldn’t put it down once, I started. Overall, Brenda has hooked me again. I highly recommend it to all. 

Review: Inside

Synopsis:

Virgil Skinner served fourteen years for a murder he didn’t commit. He’s finally been exonerated, but he can’t escape the gang he joined in order to survive. They’ll do anything to keep him from telling what he knows. And if they can’t get to Virgil they’ll go after his sister and her kids.
The California Department of Corrections needs someone to infiltrate another gang, one that’s taking control of the state’s most notorious supermax. Virgil agrees to do it under an alias—in exchange for his sister’s protection.
Chief Deputy Warden Peyton Adams is opposed to having Virgil in her prison. How will she protect him if things go bad? Besides, she’s far too attracted to him; she might even be falling in love with him. That makes her all the more desperate to keep him safe—and it gives him someone else to lose. 

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Brenda Novak is the master of suspense! Her latest novel, Inside, is thrilling. Dark, dangerous, and sexy. The journey inside is epic. A man who framed by his mother and her boyfriend for murder. He was sentenced to prison. Then, a gang inside that prison had him as one of their own. Only when Virgil gets out, they want him dead. Somehow, they find out he’s flipped sides with the police. Being on probation, Virgil is used by authorities to go under and filtrate another deadly gang. One just as bad the previous one that he left. From there he meets the Chief Deputy Warren, Peyton. Peyton is beyond gorgeous. Her life was hard but she enjoys her job. Dangerous, definitely. 

Peyton is soon in charge of an investigation that could turn deadly. And it’s taking place right inside of her prison. The man that is chosen to filtrate a serious yet deadly gang is Virgil. Some thing about him, has Peyton curious. So, curious that she breaks into his motel room to find more info. What she finds only makes her more determined to save this man. 

Both Peyton and Virgil find themselves falling for each other. However, one gang is after Virgil. They can’t find him, so they go after his sister and her kids. One member of that gang ends up making a big decision that sons leads him on another path. Virgil is worried about his sister and the kids. Being inside another gang, feeling attracted to Peyton, and worrying about his sister is leaves him in knots. I was both intrigued and hooked. Inside by Brenda Novak is exciting, fast-paced, and hot. I felt the chemistry, the fear, and the risks as if I were experiencing them instead of the characters. Believable and stunning. Well-told. I highly recommend this novel to all. 

Review: The Cottontail

Synopsis:

Victorio is one of few children blessed to live in the palace under the rule of the King and Queen of the small but prosperous Kingdom of Lucca. The palace is a prison in the young boy’s eyes, as he desires to see the world and be of greater service. What Victorio doesn’t realize is he’s become the interest of the mysterious Feletti, who’s looking to expand his collection of dolls. The clock is ticking, and Victorio must escape the clutches of the mysterious doll maker as his influence spreads and another unforeseen danger approaches.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

The Cottontail by Jennifer Renson is a another exciting tale. I was enchanted with her novel. The characters have a way of dragging readers deeper into the story. The plot was fascinating. Held a sense of mystery, intrigue, and a bit of darkness. Danger, risks, adventure are found on every page. The Cottontail is a paranormal book, that readers will never forget. I can’t stop thinking of the world that Jennifer Reson has so beautifully created for my entertainment. Overall, I recommend this to readers worldwide. 

Review: When Summer Comes

Synopsis:

Welcome to Whiskey Creek— Heart of the Gold Country!
One day, Callie Vanetta receives devastating news…

She needs a liver transplant. But her doctors warn that, in her case, the chances of finding a compatible donor aren’t good.
Determined to spend whatever time she has left on her own terms, she keeps the diagnosis to herself and moves out to her late grandparents’ farm. She’s always wanted to live there. But the farm hasn’t been worked in years and she begins to fear she can’t manage it, that she’ll have to return to town.

One night, a stranger comes knocking at her door…

He’s an attractive and mysterious drifter by the name of Levi McCloud, and he offers to trade work for a few nights’ shelter. Callie figures she doesn’t have anything to lose. He needs a place to stay until he can fix his motorcycle; she needs an extra pair of hands. The arrangement seems ideal until what was supposed to be temporary starts to look more and more permanent. Then she realizes she does have something to lose—her heart. And, although he doesn’t yet know it, Levi stands to lose even more. 

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

When Summer Comes by Brenda Novak is a charming tale. I recommend this book to be added to readers’ to be read pile. Brenda Novak has never once let me down with her books. Not once.  This story, has elements that wind their way around my heart and soul. Choices, second chances, and new beginnings. Life is scary. Here, in Brenda’s latest book, I got a taste of it. Callie is a woman going through a rough patch. Her liver is failing her. She hides her pain from almost everyone. Especially, the new stranger who found his way into her heart. Callie felt the instant attraction to Levi. Hit her like a ton of bricks. His broad shoulders and height make him impossible to forget. He’s also got a heart made of gold. 

Levi has had a bad life. His parents’ marriage failed. His mom ran away with his sister. Leaving him behind with the abusive control freak of a dad. Actually, he father was never a parent. Levi left for the army as soon as he could. Escaping from his father. But then, he has also experienced loss too. His lost a child and his woman. Levi still blames himself for her death. Now, on the run from hitting a copy who hit him first, Levi needs a place to hide. But it only leads him to bleeding on Callie’s porch. From there the two bond. Even Callie’s dog likes Levi.  Untrouble never goes away…a past and present danger seem to tangle into the characters lives. Maybe there is hope after all…

Brenda Novak has stunned me with this book. I couldn’t stop reading it. Love, risks, and life threatening situations make this an exciting read. I was hooked. Intrigued. When Summer Comes is sweet, spicy, and everything in between. Falling in love with the story just happened…overall, this is a must read for all. 

Review: Take Me, Cowboy

Synopsis:

This sexy rancher is her best friend…but can he be more? Only from USA TODAY bestselling author Maisey Yates! 
She’s just one of the boys, but with a new business in Copper Ridge, Anna Brown needs to change that. Her brothers bet she can’t land a date for a fancy charity event. So Anna turns to her best friend—the hottest bachelor in town—for advice.  
Rancher Chase McCormack wants in on that gala. If Anna takes him, he promises to turn her into a lady. But the makeover reveals what he’s long suspected—Anna’s irresistible! Is his best friend prepared to be taken—heart, body and soul—by her very own cowboy?
Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

Maisey Yates has done it again. Creating another sexy read. One that entices, engages, and leaves me falling in love. Chemistry plus, friendship is an interesting combination. A heady combination when it comes to mechanic woman who can turn on Chase faster than all the women he’s had sex with…Chase doesn’t allow himself to let him think of Anna as a sexy woman. He tries hard to put a stop to those thoughts. One his younger brother and Anna’s brother will kill him, if he hurts her. Can friends with Benefits come out unscratched? Interesting, exciting, and hot. The pages flew by fast. The action was intense. The emotions felt real. Take Me, Cowboy was stunning. The characters were believable and the scenes made feel like a spectator…instead of a reader. Overall, I recommend this Cowboy romance to all. 

Review: One Good Cowboy

Synopsis:

The most honorable cowboy in Wrangler’s Creek is about to get an offer he can’t refuse…
Carson Rowley expects Granger Ranch office manager Evie Martin to do any number of things when he breaks the news that her “on again, off again” boyfriend has eloped with a stripper. Cry, maybe. Curse, probably. Kiss him senseless? Nope…didn’t predict that. Now that Evie’s offering what he secretly craves, there’s only one question: Just how bad should a good cowboy be?
Evie’s nowhere near as heartbroken over her unreliable ex as everyone in Wrangler’s Creek expects. Especially once it’s clear that her long-simmering crush on Carson is mutual. Carson’s not the casual type, and inviting him into her bed means inviting him into her heart. But once he’s there, she may never want him to leave… 

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

One Good Cowboy by Delores Fossen is another hot read. This writer has a way of heating up the pages. Sexy cowboys with stubborn women and two match making moms. Things get wild and crazy. Hearts are on the line. Evie was engaged to Carson’s brother who left to marry a stranger. Carson is left dealing with their mom and trying to help out Evie. Evie has always liked Carson a lot. But with their moms meddling and pressure, it’s hard to get anyway. Now, after all hell has broken loose, Evie admits her attraction to Carson. Actually, she did a lot more than tell…Carson is the good cowboy. One kiss and Evie’s words have him tighter than he’d like. He’s attracted oh, right. But their situations are complicated. Can love enter the equation? One Good Cowboy is a short but well-developed tale. A hot chase with an emotional journey attached. I was intrigued. Exciting, fast-paced, and engaging. Overall, I recommend this book as a must have on readers’ to do lists. 

Review: No Getting Over a Cowboy

Synopsis:

The golden cowboy of Wrangler’s Creek returns home to Texas to discover some old flames never fizzle…

There are plenty of things Garrett Granger hadn’t counted on losing—his child to miscarriage, his wife to another man and the family business thanks to a crooked CFO. He also hadn’t counted on moving back to the family ranch, where he’s met by another surprise—former flame Nicky Marlow, who is renting his grandmother’s old house.

Nicky’s been rebuilding her shattered life since her husband’s death two years ago. But Garrett’s timely arrival in Wrangler’s Creek doesn’t automatically make him the missing piece of the puzzle. Even if he does seem to adore her two-year-old daughter… Even if seeing him again stirs up old feelings Nicky would gladly keep buried, forcing her to wonder if moving forward has to mean leaving everything behind… 

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

No Getting Over a Cowboy by Delores Fossen is a hot read. I definitely recommend this book to be added to readers summer list. They’re sexy cowboys, determined women, matchmaking moms, and danger. I was hooked. Intrigued. Old lovers meet again under different circumstances. Women leased an old house on the Wrangler Creek Ranch to use for widows. Garrett Wrangler hasn’t been the same since he lost his daughter as a stillborn and the fact that his wife ran away. She cheated on him with a ranch hand. Then, there was her act blown up as a scandal everywhere. Business trouble for the Wrangler family. If that isn’t enough then, there’s the dead body found in the old house on the ranch. Plus, Garrett’s old love interest is being targeted for money…

Lust, love, death, and risks are on every page. No Getting Over a Cowboy is correct. Nicky Marlow can’t get over Garrett. In fact, he’s still attracted to her as well. Excitement, adventure, and heat. I loved it. The Wrangler family members were funny. They brought humor to the story. Sweet, sexy, and well-done. This tale was a page turner. Delores Fossen surely know how to keep a reader addicted to her books. Overall, I highly recommend it to readers everywhere.

Review: Slow Burn Cowboy

Synopsis:

In Copper Ridge, Oregon, a cowboy’s best friend might turn out to be the woman of his dreams… 

If Finn Donnelly makes a plan, he sticks to it. After his brothers left Copper Ridge, Finn stayed behind, determined to keep their ranch going by himself. And when he realized his feelings for Lane Jensen were more than platonic, he shoved that inconvenient desire away. It was easy…until it wasn’t. Suddenly his brothers are coming home to claim their share of the property. And Lane is no longer just in his fantasies. She’s in his arms, and their friendship is on the line… 

He’s been her buddy, her handyman, her rock. But until that one breathtaking kiss, Lane somehow overlooked the most important thing about Finn Donnelly—he’s all man. They’re right together, no matter how much his volatile past has bruised him. Finn wants to hold Lane’s body, but he doesn’t want to hold her heart. But Lane is falling fast and now she’s got a plan of her own…to show Finn there’s nothing hotter than friendship turned to slow-burning love. 

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

Maisey Yates latest novel, Slow Burn Cowboy, is a sexy addictive read. Talk about a hot summer novel. Wow. Pent up frustration between two best friends. Each one of them carries a past full of secrets. 

Finn pushes everyone in his life away for a reason. So that he doesn’t get hurt again like he was…

Lane feels guilty about something that haunts her present. She’s also afraid of losing her best friend…

Two peas in a pod. One is a fabulous cook and the other is the grouch. 

Family soon sweeps into the ranch room. Causing for one brother to being even more grouchy, if possible. Each of his three adult brothers are dealing with life issues. One is no longer in the military, another is dealing with a teenage daughter, and the other wants to be a part of his legacy again. 

Maisey Yates brings family, love, and new beginnings to life. Inside Slow Burn Cowboy, I got to follow a variety of characters as they struggled with their own issues. Accepting their pasts and moving forward is difficult for them all. I enjoyed the themes explored on every page. Fun, believable, and entertaining. Overall, I recommend this Cowboy contemporary novel to readers everywhere. 

Review: Maybe This Summer

Synopsis:

Always a wingman . . .

Owen McConnell is used to being ignored. After all, it’s only when he appears as the Colorado Avalanche’s team mascot that he gets all the attention. When the costume is off, women tend to gravitate toward his famous hockey player friends. But after he meets lovely, damaged Paige Adams, he knows he can be the star player for her. She’s raising funds for the hospital burn unit, and Owen’s determined to help her out—and sweep her off her feet.

The burn unit has been near and dear to Paige’s heart ever since the doctors helped her after a vicious attack. Yet the scars—both emotional and physical—haven’t faded as much as she’d hoped. She’s closed herself off from relationships, and the thought of opening up is terrifying. But Owen’s sexy charm might be just the push Paige needs to start loving again.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Maybe This Summer by Jennifer Snow is a heartfelt novel. This was the perfect summer read. I instantly connected with the main characters. Their stories were they’re own secrets. Both felt some shame from what they do and what they are. Scars both physical and emotional have them wound up tight. The first time, Owen laid eyes on Paige, he knew she was it. She was the woman for him. Owen has had women pass him up for his hockey buddies. It was hard to imagine that since, Paige described him as hot and sexy. He too has physical scars like her. Yet all she saw was a sexy as sin man standing before her. Owen doesn’t see Paige as a women with scary scars. Instead he sees a beautiful, caring, smart woman. Paige works hard to help the burn center that helped her. Owen struggles with his own demons just like Paige. In a way, they both help each other move forward. Helping each other feel more confident in their skin. I loved that part of the story. Jennifer Snow took a realistic opportunity and brought it to life in an entertaining way. A way that opens up readers’ hearts. Understanding what it was like for both Paige and Owen holing onto and letting go of their insecurities was an eye opener. Overall, I highly recommend Maybe This Summer to readers worldwide. 

Review: Miracle on 5th Avenue

Synopsis:

It will take a Christmas miracle for two very different souls to find each other in this perfectly festive fairy tale of New York! 

Hopeless romantic Eva Jordan loves everything about Christmas. She might be spending the holidays alone this year, but when she’s given an opportunity to house-sit a spectacular penthouse on Fifth Avenue, she leaps at the chance. What better place to celebrate than in snow-kissed Manhattan? What she didn’t expect was to find the penthouse still occupied by its gorgeous—and mysterious—owner. 

Bestselling crime writer Lucas Blade is having the nightmare before Christmas. With a deadline and the anniversary of his wife’s death looming, he’s isolated himself in his penthouse with only his grief for company. He wants no interruptions, no decorations and he certainly doesn’t appreciate being distracted by his beautiful, bubbly new housekeeper. But when the blizzard of the century leaves Eva snowbound in his apartment, Lucas starts to open up to the magic she brings…This Christmas, is Lucas finally ready to trust that happily-ever-afters do exist? 

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Miracle on 5th Avenue by Sarah Morgan hold so many meanings. Deep, raw, and emotional. The journey for each character was sad, funny, sexy, and heartfelt. Delicious meals, hot sex, and  frustrated individuals during Christmas makes for a great read. Both lost someone special to them. Lucas lost his wife the night she told him she didn’t love him anymore. Eva lost her grandmother and Lucas’s grandmother is her friend. Almost like a second grandmother to her. Mistzy hires Eva to bring Christmas to her grandson, aka Lucas’s apartment. To Eva, he was supposedly in Vermont. However, both she and Lucas get the surprise of a lifetime. Between being strangled, calling 911, and being sexually attracted to one another, their time is interesting. I couldn’t help to laugh, cry, and love them. Lucas’s grandmother was also another character I admired and loved. She added humor, wit, and understanding to the tale. Christmas is approaching…Eva is a romantic and Lucas has a writer’s deadline. Can they both get what they wanted plus, more? Miracle on 5th Avenue is exactly that. Miracles do happen. Sarah Morgan’s writing was beautifully done. I highly recommend it to all. 
P.s. This should be a Hallmark movie. 

Review: Then He Kissed Me

Synopsis:

Can two hearts come together in one divided town?

As a boy, Nash Hawthorne spent countless afternoons on the Louisiana side of Cottonbloom with Tally Fournette, wading in the river, peeling oranges and catching frogs. When illness stole his mother, Nash yearned to take Tally and run away—for good. Instead, he crossed the state line to live with his aunt. It was a short distance as the crow flies, but it swept him into a whole new world…

After Nash left, Tally managed to struggle through her own losses without him. But now that she’s crossed paths with him again—at Cottonbloom College, where the grown-up, gorgeous Nash teaches history—she is reminded of their cherished youthful connection…and an attraction that has only gotten stronger with age. Between Tally’s possessive ex and Nash’s snobbish aunt, no one thinks they belong together. In a town torn apart by old resentments and rivalries, can they find their way back to the life they once shared—and turn their long-lost dreams into a real and lasting love? 

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

Then He Kissed Me by Laura Trentham is both funny and heartfelt. Two best of friends separated due to circumstances. One lost his mom…and another lost both her parents. Almost twenty years later, they are finally reunited. Sparks fly. Hot, intense, and unavoidable. Tally barely made it out of high school, where as her friend Nash has a Ph. D and is teaching college. The only difference in him since the last time she saw him was his physical appearance. Nash was once the kid everyone picked on…and now, he was super hot and brilliantly smart. As they hang out together, their attraction grows and becomes more obvious to each other. I laughed a lot throughout this book. Laura Trentham created a fun, sexy, and entertaining romance. A summer read that I recommend to all. Friendship, drama, and new beginnings. Then He Kissed Me is exciting. 

Review: Man of Action

Synopsis:

He was a man of action—especially when it came to protecting his new undercover partner… 
At nineteen, Andrea Gordon’s life was forever changed. After proving herself instrumental in a bank hostage crisis, she became one of Omega Sector’s top agents. Four years later, her skill at reading people is unrivaled—until she meets fellow profiler Brandon Han. Paired together to track a serial killer who has been targeting at-risk women, the two become entangled beyond the case. Their mutual attraction deepens as they get closer to the truth. But when Andrea’s own sordid past surfaces, they will both be forced to question everything about the assignment…and each other. 

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Man of Action by Janie Crouch is a one stunning tale. A romantic suspense that went deep under my skin and into my heart. Suspenseful and charming. A young woman had it really rough growing up…actually, she had no one there for her. Her aunt and uncle didn’t even want her. But she had nowhere to go. Her uncle beat her. Her aunt let him. She finally ran away to survive. Andrea ended up not graduating from high school and working in a place she feels shameful for…now, four years later, she’s made a career for herself. Her one time insight to a crime led her to a career as a behavioral analyst. From there she’s partnered with sexy and super smart Brandon Han. He recently lost his partner. A new serious case pops up, and both are sent as new partners. Brandon isn’t game for having a new partner. He knows Andrea is hiding secrets…as their case is in her hometown, those secrets become exposed. Brandon will struggle with how he should feel around Andrea. Andre really likes Brandon but feels he’ll turn away from her if he knew her past. A serial killer is loose and another escaped from prison. With evil lurking around, it will take them both to capture the criminals. 

Man of Action is exactly as it states. Brandon Hall provides more action than most. Both in and out of the bedroom. A sinful combo of hot looks and high intelligence makes him a man most wanted. I loved how Janie Crouch explored differences in race, intellect, and careers. She tamales something like a learning disability or a job for survival and make it into an emotional yet unforgettable journey. I was hooked. Overall, I highly recommend this novel to readers everywhere.