Hometown Cowboy by Sara Richardson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars Hometown Cowboy NEVER FALL IN LOVE WITH A COWBOY Jessa Mae Love is done with relationships. No matter how tempting he might be, she cannot--will not--fall for a man like Lance Cortez. The outrageously handsome cowboy is practically a living legend in Colorado, as famous for riding bulls as he is for breaking hearts. What would a big-time rodeo star like him see in a small-town veterinarian who wears glasses, rescues animals, and cries when watching rom-coms? Turns out, plenty. Raising bulls, riding the circuit, and looking after his ailing father--Lance never stands still for long. Yet Jessa catches his attention, and the more she tries to resist him, the more he wants her. When she agrees to move to the ranch to keep an eye on Lance's dad, Jessa tells him they have to keep it professional: no flirting, no sweet talk, and definitely no kissing. But with Jessa now living under his roof, that's easier said than done . . . I liked Sara Richardson's start to her new series and her side characters. I really think that this was more of a 4.5 star read but I round that bad boy up because the side characters were really good. I think that the books to come are going to be better. The first book is usually when you're fleshing out all the characters and figuring out their personalities and whatnot. The storyline was predictable but all romances are...the guy gets with the girl! Would you really read the book that has the guy meets girl, they date and then break up in the end? No? Didn't think so!! That would be so depressing, I'd need therapy myself and would have to schedule it in on my own calendar. So, for a start - she did really well. Another thing I really like is that she didn't draw out the DRAMA. I'm a drama hater. I admit it. I don't like my drama with a side of angst so this was really right down my alley. Pick this up for a light weekend read. Seriously, you won't be disappointed. I was given a copy of this ARC from the publisher on NetGalley for an honest review. All of the above comments are my express opinions and no one else's. View all my reviews
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Beautiful Mess by Kasey Lane
My rating: 3 of 5 stars When attorney Jami Dillon strides into the conference room to meet her new client, she's stopped in her tracks by an all-too familiar figure. Jackson Paige. He's her tall, tattooed, and sexy as hell hook up from law school-who also broke her heart. Hell's bells. Jackson Paige was, in fact, Jax Pain, the drummer of Manix Curse. That thing in Jami's chest tightened, making it hard to breathe. Jackson Paige, aka Jax Pain, has worked hard to put that unfor-frickin-gettable fling behind him and the nasty secret that made him leave her. Truth is, life as the playboy drummer of Portland's hottest metal band hasn't helped him to forget the fiery, sexy woman who stole his heart. Lucky for him, Jami was just hired as his band's new attorney. But when he sees the look on her face when she realizes who her new client is, Jax wonders if maybe being this close to her again isn't such a great idea. The explosive chemistry is there, but so are the dark secrets... Okay, so at first this book was 4 stars for me and then it became 3 stars because I just couldn't stand all the issues Jami had. I like a good book with the heroine overcoming something and it deals with it in a manner that doesn't last the entire length of the book....like the whole book almost. Plus, if you're an attorney - you'd think Jami would have no problem saying the word "NO" but for some reason, she can't tell her parents that. I'll help you out Jami...NO. If it were me and I was in her shoes, I would have booked, like a plane somewhere away from her parents! I read other books at the same time I was reading this one because it couldn't keep my attention. I was like a rabid dog hyped up on adrenaline to get at its victim. It was that through almost the whole book. The beginning was slow but then the rest of the book was basically Jami and her trust issues and problems surrounding that. I felt like this was more school-age and not adult genre. The side characters were all likable but at the same time, you had to wrap your mind around what was going on in the central story. I was given a copy of this ARC from the publisher on NetGalley for an honest review. All of the above comments are my express opinions and no one else's. View all my reviews
Wildfire by Anne Stuart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars Her power-hungry husband takes pleasure in her pain, but she’s done playing the victim. Three years ago, ex-operative Sophie Jordan made the mistake of falling in love—and marrying—her target. Now she’s paying for it tenfold. Her husband might be one of the sexiest men alive, but he’s also a psychopath. She’s been a virtual prisoner, and the time has come for retribution—and escape. Undercover agent Malcolm Gunnison has his orders: get intel from Sophie’s arms-dealer husband, then kill him. He plans to get rid of her, too, if she gets in his way, but he’s unprepared when she gets under his skin instead. Whose side is she on? And what is she hiding behind those mesmerizing eyes? Sophie vowed to never fall for another man again, but this sexy undercover agent is different. With danger mounting, can Malcolm and Sophie trust each other—and their growing passion—enough to get out of this operation alive? My biggest complaint about this book is all the internal dialogue. That being said...if you're stuck on a remote island by yourself, who are you going to talk too? I'd be having an insane amount of internal dialogue too and I'm doing it right now. What can you say about Malcolm? When I think about him, I see Michael from Nikita. I don't know if Anne Stuart was writing this guy with him in mind but seriously that's who enters my mind and doesn't step out. I imagine "The Commitee" is a lot like Section One and the players are so similar that it was mind-boggling. That's kind of why I rated this differently that I probably should have. Could I have knocked off a star for it being not as intense as the other series - Sure. However, I really saw the parallels I stated above and it took me back and was kind of nostalgic. That's why I really loved it. I loved that Malcolm was a total tool and that he wasn't the nicest person. There was some good heat in this book but nothing OTT and out of the ordinary. I couldn't wrap my mind around how Sophie could even fall for her "husband" because he was a psychotic weirdo to the ninth degree. He's definitely what mama always warned you about. Overall, I think if you love Anne Stuart's work, you're going to read this no matter what other people say and I enjoyed it. Of course, I'm in the minority I'm finding after talking with some blogging friends but they're also 10 years younger than me and not old enough to remember Le Femme Nikita and draw similarities. I was given a copy of this ARC from the publisher on NetGalley for an honest review. All of the above comments are my express opinions and no one else's. View all my reviews
Crossing Hearts by Kimberly Kincaid
My rating: 4 of 5 stars Hunter Cross has no regrets. Having left his football prospects behind the day he graduated high school, he’s happy to carry out his legacy on his family’s farm in the foothills of the Shenandoah. But when a shoulder injury puts him face-to-face with the high school sweetheart who abandoned town—and him—twelve years ago, Hunter’s simple life gets a lot more complicated. Emerson Montgomery has secrets. Refusing to divulge why she left her job as a hotshot physical therapist for a pro football team, she struggles to readjust to life in the hometown she left behind. The more time she spends with Hunter, the more Emerson finds herself wanting to trust him with the diagnosis of MS that has turned her world upside down. But revealing secrets comes with a price. Can Hunter and Emerson rekindle their past love? Or will the realities of the present—and the trust that goes with them—burn that bridge for good? I love the way Kimberly Kincaid writes a book!! She knows about MS and being in the medical field, I know this. It's hard for me to read a book about psychological issues, medical issues and an author doesn't know jack but when an author does her homework or has studied up - you can really tell because it lends meat to the story. Hunter and Emerson are fully dimensional people. They're not one-dimensional and I love that. Real life and real problems make for a good book sometimes. At no point did I feel like this was too heavy or that the issues were too much for the book. It could have toppled in the other direction at any time and for Kimberly to do the book justice is a hard thing. The last book I wrote a review on, the author didn't tackle the subject of illness so well and it tackled right over into unbelievable. I would definitely get this for my mother to read and I'd definitely want to read the second book. I didn't put it down to finish another book and I didn't walk away to gather strength to endure the rest of it. That's a good book! I won't give spoilers because I know people read reviews but the brothers...somethings up there!! Can't wait to see all the upcoming things that she has in store for them all. I was given a copy of this ARC from the publisher on NetGalley for an honest review. All of the above comments are my express opinions and no one else's. View all my reviews
One More Kiss by Samantha Chase
My rating: 5 of 5 stars Matt Reed was living the dream until a bad career move sends him back to his hometown for much-needed privacy. Instead, he finds someone he never expected: the woman whose steamy kiss he remembers like it was yesterday. Vivienne Forrester finally has her life in order... until Matt moves back to town. She doesn't want to think about the time she threw caution to the wind with him, but running into him everywhere, it's impossible not to... Some thoughts about Samantha Chase's books - I FREAKING LOVE THEM!!! I don't just think that because I've met her and she's FREAKING AWESOME!! It's because her writing it just so doggone good. Where other people have criticized her for being sweet and sappy - I really love that. I love that all her books are interconnected and weave somewhat with each other. About this book that I really loved was the brother's best friend/sister trope that everyone says has been done. Yes, it's been done but it's one of my favorites if done right and Samantha did a great job because they didn't have insta-love in this. Which I honestly hate nowadays in books!! It's so overused that I really want to throw my kindle at the wall sometimes. It took this couple a long while to see what was right in front of their noses. Matt was clueless at times and endearing because of it. He came home over something that happened that was life-altering and Viv remembers a kiss they shared but Matt doesn't. What happens when you have two people that are on paper not right for each other? If you want a book that has heart, heat, sweet, and a great hero and heroine - this is that book. Samantha is always a wonderful read and pick for me. I was given a copy of this ARC from the publisher on NetGalley for an honest review. All of the above comments are my express opinions and no one else's. View all my reviews
Meant to Be by Maggie McGinnis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars Hailed by Christie Craig as “a witty new voice in contemporary romance,” Maggie McGinnis takes readers back to Montana’s sexiest dude ranch, where anyone can start over, and falling in love is just a beautiful twist of fate. At twenty-eight, Shelby Quinn’s already a has-been. Scooped off a country stage at sixteen and remolded into glittery pop princess Tara Gibson, she toured the country for a decade, playing to sold-out stadiums while slowly losing her soul. Now her sales are waning, and when her beloved father dies in a fiery plane crash, she finally comes apart at the seams. Alone and brokenhearted, she hides away at Whisper Creek Ranch, never expecting to meet a man who understands her in a way no one else ever has. Cooper Davis was one of Boston’s top detectives—until a bogus investigation cost him his badge, his family, and almost his life. Now he’s wrangling horses and guests at Whisper Creek Ranch, while keeping one eye firmly on a super-secret VIP holed up in a private cabin—a beautiful, soulful singer who knows what it’s like to lose everything. Cooper and Shelby both have ample reason to guard their hearts. But if they can learn to trust each other, something magical awaits them under the big skies and bright stars. My favorite books are books about ranchers or just cowboys!! It's something about the visual you get. Yummy!! I sincerely liked this book. I thought that it had just the right amount of heat because I didn't want wham bam thank you, ma'am. Call me crazy but there's too much of that in today's books and not enough plot. I'm always preaching about a good plot and this had it. It had fully developed characters that both had their problems and were working them out. Of course, you're not going to jump into the sack to fix your problems in real life - at least I hope you're not!! This book, to me, had it all and a great epilogue to boot. So if you're looking for a great weekend read with a hot cowboy (who used to have and use handcuffs in his old life) this is the book for you! That's a great visual, don't ya think? Pick this book up as soon as it comes out because you won't be disappointed. Each book in the series can be read as a standalone but I'd read all of the ones before just for the pleasure of them. I was given a copy of this ARC from the publisher on NetGalley for an honest review. All of the above comments are my express opinions and no one else's. View all my reviews
Kissing Her Enemy by Coleen Kwan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars Amber Miller has worked hard to get her small business thriving. Now the Wright family wants to tear down her store to put up a mega center. What's even worse, the guy who broke her heart in high school is the new CEO of Wright Inc. He’s just as infuriating now—and just as tempting—as he was back then, but she isn't giving up without a fight. Logan Wright is back in Pine Falls for one reason: to turn his dad’s failing company around. His plans should put them on the upswing. But he didn’t count on Amber Miller standing in his way, as fiery and stubborn as she was years ago. And the more time he spends with her, the harder it is to resist falling for her again. The only problem is he's everything she doesn't want. I always love books where it's about high school sweethearts that never were. One was from the wrong side of the tracks and the other is from the country club. Amber was from the other side of the tracks and Logan was Mr. Country Club. Everything about the both of them revolves around a misunderstanding. If they only had taken the time to talk!!! Now, they are on opposite sides of a mega-store coming in. They can't let that happen. This was a good friends-to-lovers story. It had good pacing and it didn't drag at any spots in the story. I did get a little upset with the way that Amber was treated but that's just me...If you want a cute, quick read this is a good book for you. I was given a copy of this ARC from the publisher on NetGalley for an honest review. All of the above comments are my express opinions and no one else's. View all my reviews
Hard Play by Sheryl Nantus
My rating: 5 of 5 stars Ex-special forces ranger Dylan McCourt is a stone cold killer who cares only about his military brothers and doing what’s right. He’s used to giving orders and has zero patience for bulls***. Most people tremble when they look him in the eye, but not his infuriatingly sexy new rescue mission, Jessie Lyon. She just juts her chin and says she’s not leaving without clearing her father’s name, to hell with his rules. And was that a one finger salute he sees in her eyes or his imagination? Either way, he knows this is one job his training might not have prepared him for. For fans of Maya Banks’ KGI series, prepare to meet the men of the Delta Force Brotherhood, a sexy new contemporary series where kicking ass and living hard is just how they roll. Jesse's been working undercover trying to take down a mobster, seconds away from collecting everything she needed before she was captured. She set up a signal with her best friend that if she hasn't "checked in" for a few days, her friend is to try and find her. But she's going to need help and that's where the Brotherhood that bend rules to get things done come in. Dylan rescues Jesse and now he's not sure he want's to walk away from her. He's head of the Delta Force Brotherhood and when Jesse's captor's doctor a video showing her as a murderer, he has to work to clear her name. I'm a definite fan of Maya Banks' KGI series and this really reminded me of that. If you like romance with action and drama, then this book is for you! They had instant chemistry and I loved the interchange between Jesse and Dylan. There are a lot of Alpha Men introduced in this book so you know that it's an introduction to the books that are to follow. I think for the start of the series, it was an awesome start. I will definitely be reading the other ones. My only issue was all the sex in it...I think we could have had a lot more plot and less sex but that's my personal opinion. I'm just one of those that believe less is actually more. It didn't detract from the storyline, however. Overall, I thought this was a job well-done. I was given a copy of this ARC from the publisher on NetGalley for an honest review. All of the above comments are my express opinions and no one else's. View all my reviews
Off the Ice by Julie Cross
My rating: 4 of 5 stars All is fair in love and hockey… Claire O’Connor is back in Juniper Falls, but that doesn’t mean she wants to be. One semester off, that’s what she promised herself. Just long enough to take care of her father and keep the family business—a hockey bar beside the ice rink—afloat. After that, she’s getting the hell out. Again. Enter Tate Tanley. What happened between them the night before she left town resurfaces the second they lay eyes on each other. But the guy she remembers has been replaced by a total hottie. When Tate is unexpectedly called in to take over for the hockey team’s star goalie, suddenly he's in the spotlight and on his way to becoming just another egotistical varsity hockey player. And Claire’s sworn off Juniper Falls hockey players for good. It’s the absolute worst time to fall in love. For Tate and Claire, hockey isn’t just a game. And they both might not survive a body check to the heart. I have to hand it to Julie Cross, she knows her hockey. I love hockey and unlike some authors who write a "hockey" book and then forget it's about hockey, she actually wrote about it. I loved that. What really resonated with me was Claire. I know what it's like to have to do without and take care of your parents. Sometimes it's really hard and choices have to be made. Sacrifices have to be made and I liked the way it was handled in the book. There were a lot of side characters in this book that kind of made it murky at times. I almost thought there were too many at times and maybe it needed to be scaled down some. The overall storyline was really well-done. I thought each character was well thought out and had depth. I would recommend it for ages 18+ because of adult themes but otherwise is was an overall quick, good read. I will definitely be picking up the next book in the series and adding it to my collection. Great start to a new series. I was given a copy of this ARC from the publisher on NetGalley for an honest review. All of the above comments are my express opinions and no one else's. View all my reviews
Rescue Me by Susan May Warren
My rating: 4 of 5 stars When Deputy Sam Brooks commits to something, nothing can sway him--not just on the job as liaison between the Mercy Falls sheriff's department and PEAK Rescue, but in his private life. He's the one who stuck around to take care of his mother after his father's accidental death. And he's the one--perhaps the only one--who believes Sierra Rose is the perfect girl for him. Safe, practical, and organized, she's nothing like her hippie, impulsive, bleeding heart sister, Willow. Willow, however, has been in love with Sam Brooks for as long as she can remember. But she wants her sister to have a happy ending. Besides, Willow has other things to focus on--namely, nabbing the job as youth pastor for her small-town church. The best thing for her to do is to purge Sam from her heart. Neither can predict the events that will bring them together in a fight for their lives in the forbidding wilderness of Glacier National Park. Stranded, injured, and with the winter weather closing in, Sam and Willow will have to work together to save a crew of terrified teenagers. As they fight to survive, they might just discover a new hope for love. I love Susan May Warren's writing, so I wasn't surprised to like this one. I'm going to jump right into this review and say that I loved Willow and Sam, but I didn't know that this was a continuation of other books! So, I didn't know all of the people. I have read a few of her previous ones. If you've never read any of her books...a word of caution - you need to catch up or you'll get lost!! It will make it kinda hard for you to get into the book if you haven't read anything of hers before. I did like the storyline, bears and all...oh my. You'll find out what I mean. I didn't like the Pastor or his wife. Which is really sad that the leader of their church is such a wanker. I bet you don't hear that everyday. I did have a really hard problem with all the characters in this book which if you want to revisit them all that's great but if you're coming into it as a first-timer - gosh you're confused. I felt really sorry for Quinn and Bella. If you want to read a good book start with the first one of this series. Anyway, Sam is dating the older sister of the girl he really cares for. The younger sister, Willow is the one with the biggest heart ever and seems she's always messing up somehow or some way. Sam comes in and tries to save the day only he winds up getting hurt in ICU. This book had lots of action, lots of misunderstandings, lots of love between the brothers, sisters and thank God no cussing since I knew she was a Christian writer!! I always love a book that I know is going to be wholesome and that I can recommend to my mother! She loWhen Deputy Sam Brooks commits to something, nothing can sway him--not just on the job as liaison between the Mercy Falls sheriff's department and PEAK Rescue, but in his private life. He's the one who stuck around to take care of his mother after his father's accidental death. And he's the one--perhaps the only one--who believes Sierra Rose is the perfect girl for him. Safe, practical, and organized, she's nothing like her hippie, impulsive, bleeding heart sister, Willow. Willow, however, has been in love with Sam Brooks for as long as she can remember. But she wants her sister to have a happy ending. Besides, Willow has other things to focus on--namely, nabbing the job as youth pastor for her small-town church. Best thing for her to do is to purge Sam from her heart. Neither can predict the events that will bring them together in a fight for their lives in the forbidding wilderness of Glacier National Park. Stranded, injured, and with the winter weather closing in, Sam and Willow will have to work together to save a crew of terrified teenagers. As they fight to survive, they might just discover a new hope for love. I love Susan May Warren's writing, so I wasn't surprised to like this one. I'm going to jump right into this review and say that I loved Willow and Sam, but I didn't know that this was a continuation of other books! So, I didn't know all of the people. I have read a few of her previous ones. If you've never read any of her books...a word of caution - you need to catch up or you'll get lost!! It will make it kinda hard for you to get into the book if you haven't read anything of hers before. I did like the storyline, bears and all...oh my. You'll find out what I mean. I didn't like the Pastor or his wife. Which is really sad that the leader of their church is such a wanker. I bet you don't hear that every day. I did have a really hard problem with all the characters in this book which if you want to revisit them all that's great but if you're coming into it as a first-timer - gosh you're confused. I felt really sorry for Quinn and Bella. If you want to read a good book start with the first one of this series. Anyway, Sam is dating the older sister of the girl he really cares for. The younger sister, Willow is the one with the biggest heart ever and seems she's always messing up somehow or some way. Sam comes in and tries to save the day only he winds up getting hurt in ICU. This book had lots of action, lots of misunderstandings, lots of love between the brothers, sisters and thank God no cussing since I knew she was a Christian writer!! I always love a book that I know is going to be wholesome and that I can recommend to my mother! She loves books that have no cussing, no sex and have a good plot so she would give her stamp of approval. Great job on this Susan. Definitely, will read the next one. I was given a copy of this ARC from the publisher on NetGalley for an honest review. All of the above comments are my express opinions and no one else's.ves books that have no cussing, no sex and have a good plot so she would give her stamp of approval. Great job on this Susan. Definitely, will read the next one. I was given a copy of this ARC from the publisher on Netgalley for an honest review. All of the above comments are my express opinions and no one else's. View all my reviews
The Lilac Bouquet by Carolyn Brown
My rating: 5 of 5 stars Come hell or high water, Emmy Jo Massey will have a wedding. After three generations of Massey women with children out of wedlock, she wants the whole town of Hickory, Texas, to witness the legitimacy of her union with Logan Grady. But dream weddings aren’t cheap. So she accepts a highly lucrative stint as a home health assistant to retired realtor, and town recluse, Seth Thomas—a decision her great-grandmother Tandy is dead-set against. Seth isn’t happy about it, either. The eighty-two-year-old doesn’t want a “babysitter”—much less a Massey—something he makes clear when Emmy arrives at his house, an empty mansion built for the woman who broke his heart. But as Emmy stays and the two eventually open up to each other, she learns the reason behind a feud between Seth, Tandy, and Logan’s grandfather Jesse Grady that goes back six decades. She also uncovers a secret that forever changes how she sees her past and her future… I could read anything and everything by Carolyn Brown and be a happy person. I consume every book she comes out with so it’s no surprise that I have 4 books sitting on my ARC shelves right now and I’m putting off everyone else’s to get to hers. I absolutely want to be her best friend, I want to vacation with her and go shopping with her and ask her pointer tips for writing and before you think that’s stalkerish….I’m just writing and a little bit is me being over-the-top! The part about me reading everything she writes, however, is NOT!! Okay, to get down to business about this book – OH MY GOODNESS!! It was awesome and yes I’m partial because I think she’s an exceptional writer anyway so I wasn’t coming to her work with brand-new eyes. I’ll just say that I fell in love with Seth in this book from the first page he was in it. You wrote his name Carolyn and I loved him. He wasn’t hard to love. Emmy Jo is a little different. She’s a young woman who wants a BIG wedding. Not for the reason that you’d think, though. It’s to show the whole town that she’s really married and not just saying she’s married. You see, people say she’s from the wrong side of the track and her sweetheart Logan is the preacher’s son. The story is about how Emmy Jo is taking care of another man at his mansion after he has surgery…enter Seth. Seth’s a recluse, who’s grumpy and Emmy Jo compares him to Sam Elliott – the actor. Now, I don’t know about all of you but I love Sam Elliott and that just hit all my buttons for swoon-worthiness. I know you’re thinking…Ewww, young girl and old guy who’s like 82 years old. NO, NO, NO!! Emmy Jo’s great grandmother knew him and unbeknownst to Emmy, she hates him so much that she threatens to kick Emmy out of the trailer she lives in if she even goes near the man. However, it’s a lot of money for 2 months of work and she could pay for her dream wedding and she’ll be leaving the trailer anyway. So Emmy packs her bags and heads for Seth’s. Seth’s sister had arranged for his nurses and Seth not knowing it’s Tandy’s (Emmy GGM) granddaughter has a fit she’s in his house. He’s a little OCD, just as stubborn as mule and endearing. Logan, you’ll also fall in love with. His great granddad, Jesse, went to school with Tandy and Seth. He’s also a preacher like Logan and doesn’t like Tandy or Emmy Jo because he doesn’t approve of the marriage. He is so mad about the impending marriage that he takes it to the board of the church to have Logan kicked out of the upstairs apartment of the garage if he doesn’t break up with Emmy Jo. Logan leaves not only his home but the church that he’s always been in. He resigns his Sunday school class and says he’ll go to Tandy’s church. Only Tandy hates Logan as much as Jesse hates Emmy Jo. ANGST, ANGST, ANGST. Usually, I hate angst….everyone knows that but I am partial to the way that Carolyn writes it so I can’t be impartial in my review of the angst part. Oh, I so loved this book!! It wasn’t just all drama and angst in this book because anyone that’s ever read Carolyn Brown, knows that she’s a hoot and so are her characters. Emmy Jo is a hilarious and she just made me love her the way she treated Seth. You find out all the reasons behind everything because Emmy Jo goes searching for answers…and BOY DOES SHE FIND ANSWERS Y’ALL!! My heart broke over the way Seth’s mom was treated and how he spoke about her. I found myself crying and snotting all over the place. My family kept looking at me like I had 4 heads. I know my nose was the size of a kiwi by the time I got done rubbing it. I also found myself laughing out loud more times than I could count and wish I could smack Jesse in the same chapter…that is the test of a really good book! I’d love to meet a man like Seth…or Sam Elliott! I really think they should turn this book into a movie because it would be a hit. It kind of reminds me of the old-time movies that I used to watch when I was little. Seriously – Carolyn Brown if you ever read this review…Make this into a movie!! But really nothing is ever better than reading the book and taking the time to sit down and consume what the writer is trying to convey to her readers. Sit down, get a cup of hot tea, some Kleenex and escape away from your family for a little while. Escape to the world that Carolyn Brown has created especially for you and enjoy it. It’s an awesome place to be. I was given a copy of this ARC from the publisher on NetGalley for an honest review. All of the above comments are my express opinions and no one else's. View all my reviews In her first work of contemporary women’s fiction, bestselling author Kay Bratt draws on her own life experiences to create a raw, yet inescapably warm, novel about friendship and a wary heart’s unexpected capacity to love. A hungry, stray dog is the last thing Cara Butter needs. Stranded in Georgia with only her backpack and a few dwindling dollars, she already has too much baggage. Like her twin sister, Hana, who has broken Cara’s heart one too many times. After a lifetime of family troubles, and bouncing from one foster home to another, Cara decides to leave it all behind and strike out alone—on foot. Cara sets off to Florida to see the home of her literary hero, Ernest Hemingway, accompanied only by Hemi, the stray dog who proves to be the perfect travel companion. But the harrowing trip takes unexpected turns as strangers become friends who make her question everything, and Cara finds that as the journey unfolds, so does her life—in ways she could never imagine. This books was heart-wrenching in so many ways. It’s about twins Cara and Hana that have been in the foster system since they were 7 year’s old and their mother died. Even though this is a heart-breaking story, it’s so worth the time and effort to read it!! 😭 It’s mostly about Cara and a stray dog, that won’t stop following her around. The thing is, Cara is on the run for some reason and I won’t spoil it for you because you need to read it!! Cara loves reading books by Ernest Hemingway (don’t we all?) so she decides to go to Key West, Florida and have an adventure. She even names her dog Hemi – How cute is that? I might do that the next time around. I seriously love that name, y’all! Along the way she meets some of the sweetest people who help her on her journey, but then there are those few that we ALL meet that can just turn a trip to s*it, if you get my drift. I don’t cuss so I have to substitute, LOL. So, these drunk guys who are as cold-hearted as a freezer truck of ice cream and everyone knows how much I love my ice cream – attack her. I wanted to reach through the book beat the ever-living snot out of them, beat them some more and then do it all over again…That’s just how I felt about the whole thing. They needed to be snuffed out. Anyway, Cora and Hemi finally make it to Key West and there she meets Luke…Oh Luke. How we love you Luke and be still our beating heart!💓💓Cara thinks he’s the owner of the mission there and he’s only the caretaker of the mission place for DOGS y’all!! Not people but dogs! OMG! I’m such a sucker for men who love dogs it’s not even funny. So, he’s a caretaker for strays, mistreated dogs, unwanted dogs and until they can find them a “forever home” he takes care of them. Swooning over here ladies…swooning over here. Long story short, they hire Cara to help him out. My absolute fave in the story is Luke’s daughter, Ava Marie she may be 8 years-old but she acts like she’s 40! She is just adorable. I’ve said it before that some authors just can’t write children. They throw them in there and in this book, you can tell that the author knew how to write children into a book!! She writes her smart too. Like the part where she had to write a report for school and she chose the importance of spaying and neutering your dog! Now that’s some smart girl there!! I loved her. You just come to love these people that you meet in the town. Through it, Cara remembers past hurts and she remembers her sister Hana. I wanted to shake Hana so hard her head fell off. You really need to read the book to find out why because I’m not telling you.😜 I was so not expecting the end and it was a doozy. I didn’t see that coming…like at ALL and I want to tell you so bad but I don’t do spoilers… You’ll just have to buy the book and read it like I did. You won’t be disappointed and it’s well worth the money because it’s HEA and it’s filled with laughter, crying and some ruff patches, get it “RUFF” patches? LOL! Loved it!! Five stars easily! I was given a copy of this ARC from the publisher on Netgalley for a honest review. All of the above comments are my express opinions and no one else's. Indiscretion by Hannah Fielding My rating: 4 of 5 stars Indiscretion is the new novel from award-winning romance novelist, Hannah Fielding. Set in the wild landscape of Andalucia in Spain in the 1950s, it is a compelling story of love and identity, danger and desire, and the uncertainty of happiness when two worlds collide. 1950’s London. Alexandra, a young writer is bored of her suffocating but privileged life amongst the gilded balls and parties of Chelsea. Keen for an adventure, Alexandra travels to Spain to be reunited with her estranged Spanish family on a huge estancia in Andalucía. Arriving in sun-drenched southern Spain for the first time, Alexandra is soon caught up in the wild customs of the region. From bull fighting matadors and the mysterious Gypsy encampments in the grounds of the family’s estate, to the passionate dances of the region and the incredible horsemanship of the local caballeros, Alexandra is instantly seduced by the drama and passion of her new home. When Alexandra inevitably falls for Salvador, the mercurial heir to her family’s estate and the region’s most eligible man, she finds herself entangled in a web of secrets, lies and indiscretion. Alexandra soon falls prey to scheming members of her own family, the jealousy of a beautiful marquésa and the predatory charms of a toreador, all intent on keeping the two lovers apart. But nothing can prepare Alexandra for Salvador’s own dangerous liaisons with a dark-eyed Gypsy. Can Alexandra trust that love will triumph, or will Salvador’s indiscretion be their undoing? I read backwards at first in this...I read Masquerade for a couple chapters and then stopped and went to this book. Hannah's an awesome writer and I must say had I not read a couple of chapters of the second book first, I might not have read it at all and I'll tell you why. This book was intense and at times I felt like the hero was a little wishy-washy. I don't like that. If a book is so long that you're looking for a noose...there's a problem. So why 5 stars? It was a good book but it wasn't my type of book. I'm not into this era and I couldn't get interested or invested enough to like it, like I could the second book. I think there are some people out there who will love it but for me it just wasn't my cup of tea. I was given a copy of this ARC from the publisher on Netgalley for a honest review. All of the above comments are my express opinions and no one else's. View all my reviews
Delicious Satisfaction by Sabrina Sol
My rating: 2 of 5 stars As LA’s hottest up-and-coming chef, Alexa Montoya is known for her ruby red lipstick, award-winning arroz con pollo and a penchant for falling for the wrong kind of men. And when a confrontation with a loser ex-boyfriend lands her in some legal trouble, she’s forced to call her long-time friend, Dante Perez, to bail her out. Only this time, Dante seems different, somehow. More gorgeous, more sexy, more…mouthwateringly irresistible. Suddenly she’s tempted to give the lawyer much more than a simple thank you… Dante is tired of seeing Alexa with guys who only know how to steal her money and break her heart. He’s watched--and waited for--her long enough. Helping with her legal situation will finally give him a chance to win her over for good. His plan? He’ll seduce her into finally believing that there’s something deliciously right between them… Despite their chemistry, Alexa can’t trust that Dante won’t leave. But Dante knows how to win a case. And he’ll do whatever it takes to convince Alexa that she’ll always leave him hungry for more… I don't know where to start. This book was short for starters which doesn't bother me. It fit a lot of stuff in it for being such a short novel, however and this is where we get to the meat of the problem....there was so much DRAMA. OMG....the drama in this book made me feel like it was Days of Our Lives Cultural Edition. Maybe I'm being jaded and OTT but it just hit me the wrong way. The steamy scenes were steamy and well-written but the "drama queen and her king" needed a play so they could re-enact their dramaness (that's not a word) lol!! I know I'm being harsh but, Oh good gravy the things they argued about!! Let me stop before I totally have a mini cow in my office while I type. Anyhow, if you like drama, culture, more drama, angst, drama...this is your book! I was given a copy of this ARC from the publisher on Netgalley for a honest review. All of the above comments are my express opinions and no one else's. View all my reviews
Clean Breaks by Ruby Lang
My rating: 3 of 5 stars Sarah Soon may have recovered from cancer—in body—but her brush with mortality has left the usually confident OB/GYN shaken about her future and herself. When she unexpectedly runs into Jake Li, her brother’s annoying high school BFF who betrayed her trust, he’s the last person she wants to see. She doesn’t need the now-disturbingly hot social worker hanging around while she sorts herself out, yet suddenly he’s inescapable. Everyone’s telling the newly divorced Jake that he shouldn’t be looking for a serious relationship already, but he’s always been helplessly drawn to Sarah’s vivaciousness. Can he show her that he’s all grown up now and worthy of her trust and a second chance? Or will they make a clean break once and for all? Nope, nope, and nope some more. I just didn't like this book...like at all. I understand that things are in the past but dude and dudette - GET OVER IT! I guarantee that when you're married that if you bring up what's in the past....you're headed for divorce. The only thing that gave you 3 stars was your editor! Seriously....thank your editor on this. I was given a copy of this ARC from the publisher on Netgalley for a honest review. All of the above comments are my express opinions and no one else's. View all my reviews |
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