BOOK REVIEW- Aiming for Love (Brides of Hope Mountain Book #1) by Mary Connealy

Description

Josephine Nordegren is one of three sisters who grew up nearly wild in southwestern Colorado. She has the archery skills of Robin Hood and the curiosity of the Little Mermaid, fascinated by but locked away from the forbidden outside world--a world she's been raised to believe killed her parents. When David Warden, a rancher, brings in a herd much too close to the girls' secret home, her older sister especially is frightened, but Jo is too interested to stay away.

David's parents follow soon on his heels, escaping bandits at their ranch. David's father is wounded and needs shelter. Josephine and her sisters have the only cabin on the mountain. Do they risk stepping into the world to help those in need? Or do they remain separated but safe in the peaks of Hope Mountain?   AMAZON LINK
                               5 STARS

This was a powerful story that I really enjoyed. It also had great people in the story too.  Jo and her two sisters all on their own had lived quite the unusual life.  And they had lived on their own for at least a decade.  The outside world was just that, outside.   The three sisters depended on each other and their skills to survive in a harsh world that they loved. Ursula, the oldest sister mainly kept things in their home safe.  That doesn't mean that she didn't have any skills outside the home though.  It's just that they each had their specialties.  The youngest sister, Ilsa's specialty is being like a medicine woman.  She's no slouch in the woods either though.   Jo was the hunter who kept them stocked with meat. It was interesting to read how attuned these three women were to nature and how they had pretty much run wild on that mountain top.
When Dave and his family show up, they add a whole good but different dimension to the story.  So does the attraction that grows between Dave and Jo.  This is a clean story with no love scenes but a deep abiding respect for God in both families.  
I gave this book a 5 STAR rating even though not all of the problems are solved. There is a lot of action going on that keeps things interesting.  There is also a few threads left hanging but the story was so rich I just couldn't give it any other rating.  A couple of those things not resolved yet had to do with recovering the Warden ranch, Wax Mosby, and Ursula to mention a few.  I have to say that I'm really interested in finding out more about how Wax Mosby is going to figure in.  Why?  Because it seem that this famous gunslinger has some things changing inside him.   And I want to see how that plays out. 

  “I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

BOOK REVIEW- Red Carpet Christmas Club Undercover Book 5 by Patricia Rosemoor *

Mystery & Thrillers, Romance

Description

No cover charged... no ID required... safety guaranteed...
No one knows club owner Gideon Maddox’s real identity until the woman he’d once loved walks into the Red Carpet Christmas fundraiser at Club Undercover. He hasn't seen recent widow Simone Burke for nearly two decades—since he testified to put her father in prison for killing his own father. The star-crossed lovers never forgave each other, but suddenly Simone needs his help—and Team Undercover—to prove she is innocent of a yuletide murder. Clearing Simone could reignite the past and a forbidden passion that still burns between her and Gideon, but she can’t let him discover the secret she’d kept hidden all these years. AMAZON
                                                                 3 STARS


This is a story that I have been waiting for as I read some of the other stories in this series.  Gideon has been quite the man of mystery all along.  That he helped people wasn't a mystery though.
What about Simone?  I found it pretty hard at times to like her.  Oh, I got how some things had changed her even understood some of her reasons but she's so rude to Gideon. And she keeps it up for quite a while and after a while it felt a bit juvenile. Hey, he's a good guy and I didn't appreciate that.  At times I even felt she was kind of stupid.  It's like, you are a high level suspect in a murder and you are going to fight against his help?  It's not the only stupid thing that she does that has me shaking my head. 
Of course reading both of their P.O.V.'s helped make me side even more with him.  
The Undercover Team was there and they helped but they were more in the background this time around.  
 Although, this book wasn't my favorite, it does have a fair amount of action and comes to a startling conclusion.   It has more than one twist too!

I had high expectations for the reveal into Gideon's life and didn't feel like it met all of them.  Still, I have liked other books by this author and will still be looking for them.

 I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

BOOK REVIEW- A Complicated Bride by Stephanie Queen *

 
I didn't want to be that runaway bride, but I didn't want to marry him either, or marry anyone, did I?
Maybe it wasn't the best way to uncomplicate my life, but when I ran away from my home, my job and my failed engagement to my cousin's Inn to hide, I didn't expect to run smack dab into the arms and charms of another man. And this one could be big trouble. There was no way this jet-setting playboy could possibly be anything but another complication...AMAZON LINK
                                                                                                         4 STARS

I really liked this quick, charming story.  Both of the main characters were running away for different reasons.  Both Lily and Brad share their P.O.V.'s which I enjoyed.  They also recognized "a kindred spirit" in each other pretty quickly. 
Brad had become jaded and he was both somewhat terrified and drawn to Lily's honest, joyful approach to life.  There was an attraction to each other.   It wasn't an insta-lust or insta-love attraction.  It was more of I see you and I get you.  I understand you.  I also enjoyed that and the humor that they shared. 
Yes, there are some typos but for me I just naturally auto-corrected it in my head and moved on.  

BOOK REVIEW- Redeeming the Badge by Dorothy F. Shaw *

Description

SHE WAS ALWAYS THE GIRL OF HIS DREAMS

In high school, she was the girl most likely to live happily ever after—rich, popular, beautiful…and maybe just a little mean. But Heather Winters’ dreams of marriage and motherhood haven’t worked out as she hoped. Now she’s back in Arizona, trying to reinvent herself. She knows what she doesn’t want: a serious relationship. She doesn’t remember Robert Caldwell from high school, but the good-looking K-9 officer is everything she’s looking for in a short-term fling.

A routine traffic stop brings Rob face to face with the girl who fueled his teenage fantasies—and she’s even more ravishing than ever. The former homecoming queen didn’t know he was alive back then. Now she’s changed—and she’s hurting. Despite how great they are together in bed, Heather isn’t letting him anywhere near her heart. But he’s got a plan—and with a little help from his canine partner, Tricks, he’ll show Heather that together, they have all the happiness they’ll ever need…
AMAZON
3 STARS

Man, this book was NOT what I was expecting!  I also felt like although the book had potential that it didn't totally get there.  At least not for me.  
On the bright side,  Heather, and Rob were good main characters.  Even Tricks added to the story.  It had a few good moments but I like my story a certain way.  I don't mind a small amount sex scenes built around the story.  But I really don't like it when the sex scenes seem to be the main focus with a small amount of story added.  I began to feel like I was reading erotic material; not what I signed up for. I'm sure that the scenes could be considered well written but after awhile, I found myself flipping through those rather quickly.  And I feel like I got that  along with quite a bit of swearing.  I don't think I've read a book in quite a while that was so filled with the *F bombs.  And that wasn't the only language bomb.  
Towards the end it did get more personal dealings with emotional issues.  That part WAS good and I liked that Rob was always there for her.   

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

BOOK REVIEW- It's a Christmas Thing by Janet Dailey *

Description

 The best gifts last a lifetime . . .

Veterinarian J.T. “Rush” Rushford isn’t looking forward to Christmas. It’ll be his first without his beloved four-year-old daughter, Claire. A year ago, Rush’s wife divorced him for another man—then broke his heart further by revealing that Claire was her lover’s child. The final blow was Rush losing all parental rights. Now he’s in Branding Iron, Texas, with his mobile vet practice, just hoping to get through the season—until something like a Christmas miracle happens . . .

Turns out Claire’s parents are going on an extended cruise, leaving Rush to take her for the holidays. It’s bittersweet, knowing that he and Claire will have to part again, maybe forever. . . . Until a smart, not to mention beautiful, lady judge with a pregnant cat and an aging mutt takes a liking to the vet and his little girl and gets involved. With her on their side, and love in their hearts, this Christmas just might be the most joyous of all   AMAZON LINK
                                                      4 STARS

This was a charming feel good story that would be good at Christmas of course.  To be honest, it would be good at other times as well.
The people came across as real, the community and close friends did as well.  The emotions were solid and things in the town and the Christmas holiday there were well written.  

Both Rush and Tracy (the lady judge) and even Claire deserved a H.E.A.  Keep watching, it's coming.  The twist towards the end I could see coming but still enjoyed it. 
Epilogues are always welcome and this book had a good one.

 “I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

BOOK REVIEW- Cam's Hope (MacLarens of Boundary Mountain Historical Western Romance Book 10) by Shirleen Davies *

A fierce, protective rancher.
A woman on the run from her father’s shadowy past.
Cam’s Hope, Book Ten, MacLarens of Boundary Mountain Historical Western Romance Series
Camden MacLaren is a rancher to his core, working long hours to continue the success of the family’s ranch, Circle M. Although a cattleman, his expertise is in training horses, breeding and preparing them to fulfill Army contracts. Yet, he yearned for something more—the love of a woman strong enough for the hard life as a rancher’s wife.
Evangeline Rousseau made one adventurous decision in her life. After her parents’ deaths, she’d packed her belongings and moved across country to settle in the frontier town where her best friend lived. Buying her own house and settling in, she found herself wondering how a city girl such as herself could find a future in a town of ranchers, men who made a living with their hands.
The attraction between them was immediate, yet Cam hesitated to express his increasing desire for a woman with no knowledge of cattle, horses, or making a living from the land. No matter the intense pull between them, a beautiful, sheltered woman such as Vangie would find little happiness away from the advantages of a town.
Cam’s reasons to keep his distance fall away when threats are directed at Vangie. Men from her father’s past are hunting her down, following a trail from Grand Rapids to Conviction. The reason for their search is simple. Collect money Vangie’s father allegedly owed them, and they’ll use any means necessary to get it.
Cam’s Hope, book ten in the MacLarens of Boundary Mountain Historical Western Romance Series, is a stand-alone, full-length novel with an HEA and no cliffhanger.
 AMAZON LINK 
4 STARS

This is a good family who work together so well.  They have been through some hard times and probably will go through more but they are there for each other 100%.  Some of the "boys" are finding good women to marry and have done that and started families.  It has made Cam yearn even more for what they have.
As attracted as Cam is to Vangie he's got some really big fears about courting her as well.  I kind of think that he was a bit shy to because more than once Vangie had to be a tiny bit bold in order to move things forward.   Even when a time or two he was about to say something after getting up his nerve they got interrupted.  There was some things going on in this town and the MacLaren ranch.  .  That made for plenty of interesting mysteries, action and dangers.  
The romance part wasn't real deep but it was charming.  
Vangie's childhood friend, Eustice was an unusual but good addition to the story.  
Get ready for some surprise twists, and a good Epilogue at the end.  

 “I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.” 

BOOK REVIEW- Love thy Galactic Enemy (Repelling the Invasion Book 4) by Edward Hoornaert *

Abandoned to the enemy’s tender mercy

Minta, the reserved secretary for a spy team that spread a man-made plague, leaves the planet too late -- the team abandons her on the enemy’s space station. She’s forced to fend for herself until she can make contact with an elusive spy, Watcher, who has a starship. To avoid arrest, she nurses a plague victim -- a gentle, whimsical man who spouts Lewis Carroll. But to know this enemy is to love him . . .

When Finn Shanwing falls ill, he doesn’t intend to hide that he’s actually an high-ranking cyborg warrior. Neither does he intend to fall in love with the secretive nurse who saves his life . . . but by the time he reveals to Minta she saved an enemy commando, it’s too late for his heart. Or hers. Also too late to escape the wrath of Watcher -- half-human, half-machine, and both halves obsessed with her.  AMAZON LINK
       4 STARS

This is a quirky story with great world-building.  Minta is so way over her head, that it's kind of amazing that she's still alive.  You can almost feel the tension of her life. 
I can't leave out the fact that even along with the tensions there is also humor.  And some kind of bizarre poetry, added by being mainly spouted by Finn.  Well, after he got well enough to talk.  Finn is the one that Minta accidentally became his nurse. 
Both Minta and Finn were great main characters with plenty of secrets and depth.  Even poor misguided Watcher was an odd but interesting character. 
There is also a good cast of secondary people in the story.  That also includes some interesting tag-a-long animals that attach themselves to Minta.   Brainless and LouTwo are mizzets who one after another adopt Minta.  You'll have to read the book to figure out what mizzets are because they resided in the mind of the author until they hit the page.
I have to say that early on I thought this book was a bit odd and I wasn't sure that I was going to like it.  But I am glad that I went on because it really began to pull me in.   I think it was also the characters that pulled the most.
I liked the cover for the eBook, I thought it was attractive. 

 "I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”
 

BOOK REVIEW- Lethal Nights (A Brute Force Novel) by Lora Leigh *

Description

#1 bestselling author Lora Leigh turns up the heat in her latest novel of high-stakes passion and persuasion featuring the men of Brute Force.
Ilya Dragonovich is no stranger to the dark side. As a safe-house owner for security agency Brute Force, Dragon knows that the battle line between good and evil runs through the heart of every man—and, sometimes, a beautiful woman…
Emma Jane Preston needs help. After her marriage crumbled, she believed she could get back to a normal, happy life. But her ex-husband moved among some shady characters, and now she needs the kind of protection that comes at a cost—one that only someone like Dragon can provide. But can Emma Jane trust this handsome, undercover operator to keep her safe when she is in danger of falling into the arms of the deeply seductive, fiery Dragon. . .and never letting go?  AMAZON 
                                                                                                                        3 STARS

 This book had great main characters, great plot and dangers, a touch of fantasy and then for me it fell down the rabbit hole of TOO much sex..  And it was pretty explicit sex at that.  I wish the author hadn't done so much of that.  If I had known I probably wouldn't have picked this book up. 
Which is a shame because if you push the other aside, it did have a pretty good story. Yes, I know the story information did mention that Dragon was a deeply seductive man but still...

There are a good amount of interesting secondary people in the story which helped some.
There was a good ending of the book with justice being served from an unexpected source.
Now, I'm having a hard time trying to figure out how many starts to give it while doing ratings. 



 “I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

-BOOK REVIEW- Coming Home to Glendale Hall by Victoria Walters *

Romance, Women's Fiction on Netgalley

Description

No matter how far you go, home is where the heart is...
Beth Williams hasn’t been home for ten years. After falling pregnant at sixteen, she ran away from the imposing Scottish estate where she grew up rather than risk her family’s disapproval, working hard to build a life for herself and daughter Isabelle - but now she’s finally returning to Glendale Hall.
As Beth tries to mend her broken family ties, and fights to bring the community of Glendale back together, she realises that the story she has told herself for a decade might well be a very different one from the truth. Even though she ran from Glendale it has never left her heart. And, she soon realises, neither has Drew – Beth’s first love.
Will Beth be able to forgive her mother and grandmother (and herself) for what happened ten years ago? What will Drew say when he discovers the secret she’s been keeping from him for so long? Can a festive trail bring the village back together?
Will Christmas work its magic on Glendale - or will Beth be forced to run away from it all over again?   AMAZON LINK
              3.5 STARS

This one was a hard one for me to rate.  Although it was a good, clean story with interesting people.  And it was a good Christmas story, it also felt like one realllly long story.  It felt like it went a bit too long at least for me.  It could have cut quite a few pages and still could have been a good story.  Also the romance/non-romance between Beth and Drew got old for me after a while.  If they got interrupted one more time as they started to really begin to communicate, I was going to scream.  I actually felt like Drew was a nice guy but he also came across as kind of weak.  That was something that I didn't like.
There were several issues that got hammered on over and over again that just was repetitive and slowed the story.
On the up side of the story, Beth's daughter Izzy was a good cast choice.  She was well written, charming and also strong minded.  Another really good person in the story was Heather, who was an old school chum of Beth's.  It wasn't very hard for them to re-connect and have each other's back either.
This was an emotional story with secrets that had been held for years coming out.  There were secrets from her grandmother and even her mother and father.
 I did like how the village pulls together and some unique ideas come out on how to save it.  And Beth is leading the charge.  The story has a really good ending and that part I did enjoy.  There was a lot of hope for the future for the main characters as well as some others. 

 “I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

BOOK REVIEW- Deadly Secret (O'Halleran Security International #1) by TJ Logan

 He steps into the shadows to pursue a killer…

F.B.I. Special Agent Beckett O’Halleran values Family, Honor, and Loyalty. A botched undercover assignment results in the brutal murder of his partner. When the killer is set free by a Deputy Director on the take, Beck walks away from the Bureau. He vows to stop at nothing to avenge his partner’s death, including using an innocent woman.

She is dragged into the shadows by her mother’s past …

A deadly secret from the past threatens Gwendolyn Tamberley’s life. Thrust into the crosshairs of a merciless psychopath who will destroy anyone who threatens his empire, she becomes the center of a firestorm between the Russian mafia, the F.B.I. and a former agent hell-bent on retribution.

Will deadly secrets destroy them?

Gwen’s only hope is the man who’s been deceiving her. And Beck must choose between his obsession with vengeance and the woman who’s come to mean everything to him.
AMAZON LINK
5 STARS

I liked how the book started out.   It gave the book a different slant knowing right off the bat the Deputy Director Barlow is a scumbag.  What added to the difference was that many within the agency KNEW it but didn't have the proof yet to do anything about  it. 
I also liked the descriptive flow of the author's writing.  Pulls you in without being described in a way that adds too many excess details.  It gives you more of the feel of things. Another way that I can explain that is when Gwen meets Nikolai Radoslav.   Even before she shook hands with him I already wanted to wipe my hands off.  I think I might have beat Gwen's feelings when it came to that just before she actually did wipe her hand off.  The evil just rolled off him.  And the writer made me feel that!!!
 Gwen might be tiny, with a kind heart but I liked how Beck recognized that she was like a adorable little Tasmanian devil  when she got fired up. 
 Beck was such a good main character and I liked both of them.  I thought that they were well drawn.
There is humor in this story too. One of my favorite ones has to be Gwen making sandwiches when she is mad!  
Caleb came alongside his brother, Beck to help protect Gwen.  He made a really good addition to the story.  Beck has a really large family who are really tight and I can see some more stories coming up about them.  Sounds like a great idea. 
There is plenty of action in this book and the suspense level remains high as does the tender romance.  The tension of knowing that Radoslav ws going to move against Gwen but not knowing when or how?  You could almost feel it just hovering there.  
The twists when they come are really good and  the Epilogue was a nice touch.
There is a sneak peek into Deadly Discipline which features Caleb, and his new K-9 Jake.  It looks interesting.
 On a side note, you know I think book covers can make a difference.  This one caused me to stop and take deeper look at this book.  I read the book information and that was it.  I wanted to read it.
  “I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

BOOK REVIEW- FALLEN (Deep Ops #2) by Rebecca Zanetti

Description

Too quiet. A talented hacker who got caught, Brigid Banaghan is now forced to work with a secret Deep Ops unit. But she won’t reveal any more to these renegade Feds than she has to. Especially not to Raider Tanaka, her control freak of a bodyguard and handler. It’s enough that his body is tensed for action and his heated gaze is always on her . . .

Too sharp. Raider knows there’s more to his new assignment than he’s been told. Why send a deadly agent of his experience to guard a computer genius—even a gorgeous, unpredictable, undisciplined one? But when Brigid’s estranged father is named in an investigation into Boston’s organized crime, Raider’s mind switches onto high alert, just like his senses . . .

Too close. To clear her father’s name, Brigid needs Raider’s help. The Unit’s idea that she bring a straight-laced Fed in as her “fiancé” won’t fly, though—not unless Raider can release his inner bad boy and become the rebel Brigid can’t resist . . .AMAZON LINK
                                                                              5 STARS


I really like this group of quirky people and the rough position that they are in. They have the world's worst headquarters with what people who the world of crime fighters consider losers.  Or if not losers they are being "punished" for something.  The Feds are doing everything they can to NOT support their efforts.  And that is just wrong.  It does make the story even more interesting though. You just never knew what was going to happen next.

Angus, Wolfe, Nari are all good secondary but very important people in the story.  I enjoyed their input into the story even Brigid's father Sean managed to put some sparks into the story.  I also liked the inclusion of some of the animals too.  Not people "like animals" but real ones. Kat and Roscoe to be specific.  Kat is a sweet kitten but Roscoe is the one with the very interesting personality.  This is a dog who is a booze hound with a fetish for shoes.  All of those things have to be kept put up and away from him.  
There is plenty of action as well as romance to the story which I enjoyed.   Just to let you know there are several investigations going on at once but not in a confusing way.  The story kept my interest all the way through.  So I would say that the author hits another high note with this one.  And all I could say was, "give me more."

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”
 

BOOK REVIEW- The Marriage Season (Brides of Bliss County Book 3) by Linda Lael Miller

 Since Hadleigh, Melody and Bex—the best of best friends—entered into a marriage pact, two of them have found (and married) the men of their hearts. But Bex doesn't think she'll be as fortunate as the others. Her own first love died years ago in a faraway war, and Bex has lost hope for a happy marriage of her own. She concentrates on her business, a successful chain of fitness clubs, instead.

Then, when single father Tate Calder comes to Mustang Creek with his two sons in tow, who befriend Bex's eight-year-old nephew, she and the handsome, aloof newcomer are constantly thrown together. But is the marriage season over? Or can a man with doubts about love be the right husband for a woman who wants it all? AMAZON LINK
                                           4 STARS

I  liked this one.  Both main characters Bex (Becca) and Tate had their share of baggage.  But they were both "good guys".  No matter what hurts that they both had gone through,  they were there for people that they cared about.  Josh was Bex's nephew, who she loves dearly. She is probably closer to him than her sister Tara.   Tara leaves her husband again for cheating and the brunt of care for Josh falls on Bex.  She's over her head but she is willing to do what she can to protect and nurture him. 
She does care about Tara wants to help her too but she can't make the decisions about her marriage for her.  
Individually I found them both pretty interesting. It was also good to hear both sides of their P.O.V's.  Tate, had a lot of things about his personal life, his dead wife that no one else knows about.  They come out slowly but in a good way. 
I liked the friends that Bex had since early childhood and the bond that they shared.  Something that made me smile was how the three of them were described by Tripp when Tate asked for some advice about how to handle things with Greg (Tara's husband)   .  "Bex was born to fix the world.  Accept it.  Melody will stylishly decorate it. Hadleigh will the the queen-slash dictator and everything will be under control. Let them handle it.  Greg won't stand a chance."   Man, I loved that! 
 Tate's high-powered father was something else, always trying to micromanage things especially his son.  He wasn't bad necessarily, he just wasn't happy with some of Tate's decisions. Tate gave up some things/some opportunities though because time spent with his sons was more important than the high income he used to get.  Besides, he had a dream.  I also got a big kick about how smooth Tate became almost like a stuttering teenager around Bex.  By his own admission.   
A fun twist was when Tate's dad and Mrs. A (both successful, powerful people) butt heads.  The ending was a good one.  

***The Simplicity of Healing with Dr. Sandra Kennedy - Part 1***

 YouTube Link
The part that is of special interest starts about 20+ minutes in.  But there is also some good and funny parts earlier too.  This was a Baptist lady who had never heard of healing but just innocently obeyed a leading she didn't fully understand...


She was on Marilyn and Sara (Hickey) Ministries TV which is where I first saw her. 
Marilyn & Sara Ministry Link 

 

BOOK REVIEW- The Marriage Charm (The Brides of Bliss County #2) by Linda Lael Miller

 The women of Bliss County have a pact—to find husbands. The right husbands.

One already has: Hadleigh Stevens, who married rancher Tripp Galloway a few months ago. Now Melody Nolan thinks it's her turn. Melody has recently found success as a jewelry designer, and her work is the focus of her life. She's not exactly unhappy, but she wants more. She's always been attracted to Spence Hogan, the local chief of police, but she's convinced that Spence, a notorious charmer, isn't what you'd call husband material.

Spence is a good cop who isn't scared of anything—except love. And he's done everything he can to preserve his reputation as a womanizer—a reputation that keeps marriage-minded women, including Melody, at bay. And yet…there's something about Melody he can't forget. Something his heart can't ignore.  AMAZON LINK
            3 STARS

Pretty predictable but with at least one twist.
 Although I liked the main characters, and the community I can't say that this book really lite a fire under me.  
There were some unique secondary people in the story.  But front and center were the other two best friends of Melody's.  The women who were all together in the pact and had each others backs. 
One thing I will say about Spence is that although he was a good guy, he suffered from a typical problem.  Foot-in-mouth disease.  It mainly showed up when around Melody.  Without meaning to, if there was ever a way or time NOT to say something?  He found it.    
There was a good small town feel to the story.  One that reminded me a bit of some of Susan Mallery's stories but with maybe a bit more depth.  

You're going to want to watch the new guy in town named Tate.  There were some hints about a possible attraction to a particular woman in Bliss County.

BOOK REVIEW- Risk Everything (A Bree and Tanner Thriller #4) by Janie Crouch

The wedding is two weeks away
If they survive until then…

Following a fire at the New Journeys women’s shelter, Deputy Tanner Dempsey is on high alert, and his fiancée, Bree Daniels, fears that one of the shelter’s clients is being targeted.

Outmanned and outgunned, Tanner and Bree must make a last stand for justice and unravel the twisted plot of a dangerous sociopath. Will it be “’til death do us part” before they can say “I do”?
AMAZON LINK
5 STARS

Loved it!  Another great book in this series, with my best friend Bree.  Well, at least she's my best friend in my "head".  She may be too smart for me to be a BFF in real life but I enjoy her style.  She continues to grow in her emotional, and social skills and that is fun to watch.  She remains loyal and caring for people; she just usually has a hard time expressing it.   She's a "got your back" kind of gal and she just doesn't quit.  

Tanner is such a great match for Bree and it's heartwarming to see how much he "gets" Bree. What other men might see as too quirky or odd, he doesn't.  Of course, he's been with her from the beginning so he understands how her big brain works.  I liked how he not only understands but actually loves how she doesn't usually respond to things the way, so called "normal"people do.   He gives her the freedom to be herself and it often makes him smile.  Of course, it sometimes clashed against his protector mode when it came to her but he has adjusted.  He learned a while back not to hide things from her to protect her.  I liked how they worked together as they worked through some pretty dangerous stuff.  I like how they became a team. Again.
It was also really nice to see more of Noah (Tanner's brother) in this story. He is included in the action and danger.  There is also that hint of a possible romance for him too.   
This series is near and dear to my heart  so on Amazon it  gets high ratings.  But it also didn't disappoint.  It felt like I just flew through the story.  In fact, now I want to read more!   Hmm.  I wonder what kind of trouble Tanner and Bree can find on their honeymoon?  

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

BOOK REVIEW- To Wed a Wild Scot (Besotted Scots #2) by Anna Bradley *

Description

A single lady of birth, beauty, and large fortune should not have this much trouble making a match. Yet after two failed betrothals, Lady Juliana Bernard is in a bind. She must find a husband at once or lose guardianship of her beloved niece. Her childhood friend, the Duke of Blackmore, is her last, best hope. But once she tracks him down in Scotland, she receives startling news: the duke is already engaged.

There is one other option. The duke’s scandalous brother, Logan, Laird of Clan Kinross, is to blame for the mix-up. The least he can do is marry her to make amends. Wooing does not go well at first. But just as Juliana begins to welcome the boisterous but tenderhearted Scot into her life (and her bed), secrets come between them once more. And it will take a determined husband indeed to ensure that a marriage begun in haste leads not to heartache . . . but to love.
 AMAZON LINK
                                                                         3 STARS

When I saw the beautiful eBook cover and read the book information I had high hopes for the story.  Unfortunately it didn't quite get there for me.  Even though I liked the main characters, it was kind of slow for quite a few times.  It did have some good moments as well but just not enough for me to get really pulled in and stay that way.  
I did like that Juliana had a determined, strong part to her that the situations (and Logan) forced to the forefront.  She was a tiny, beautiful woman seen by many as decorative; a "diamond of the first water". She'd even begun to believe it herself until her intense love for her niece Grace is more important than anything else.  That fierceness leads her to quite the adventures. 
Logan has his own brand of fierceness.  He also had a stubbornness that often causes him "to cut off his nose to spite his face."  It's a good thing that he also has many good qualities as well. One of them is that like Juliana when he loves he does it fiercely. He fiercely loves the people of his clan.
There is several good secondary people in the story.  Some even added a bit of humor.
On the downside, it felt like a bit too much described marital sex.  And there was fair amount of the Scottish phrases thrown in.  After a while I stopped looking them up although the author had included a Gaelic Glossary in the back of the book. 
 “I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

BOOK REVIEW- A Royal Christmas Wish An enchanting holiday romance from Hallmark by Lizzie Shane *

Description

Nobody does royal romance or Christmas like Hallmark! Enjoy the enchanting original novel from Lizzie Shane. Jenny knows she isn’t the princess type. Sure, she’s friendly and caring, but with her clumsiness and lack of self-confidence, glass slippers would only make her trip. When Dom, the cute guy she runs into in the park, turns out to be the prince of San Noelle, she figures he must not be her happy ever after.
But a mysterious countess grants Jenny’s one wish, and she finds herself married to this handsome prince! Unfortunately, at the stroke of midnight on Christmas Eve, her life will go back to normal.
In funny and touching ways, Jenny navigates royal traditions the best she can. But even as she grows closer to Dom, the clock is ticking. With love and a little holiday magic, could she somehow make the enchantment last forever?  AMAZON LINK
                                                  4 STARS

This sweet holiday romance includes a free Hallmark original recipe for Chicken Shawarma.


It didn't take long to be pulling for Jenny. She was a lovely main character.  She didn't give herself much credit for the kind, giving, loving person that she was.  She would give people the shirt off her back if she could.  All she saw was how she was lacking in physical grace and direction.  Good thing her BFF Margo, saw all her goodness and was the first one to lovingly give her reality checks.  She was a great cheering squad all on her own.  Cheering Jenny on but also speaking truth that she needed to hear but in a way that she could receive it. 

The Countess.....what a character she is.  I liked the peppermint swirl that surrounded her.  She was unpredictable, which was fun at times.  She did get a bit grouchy with Jenny when she asked so many questions.  Especially when she questioned what was going on.  But come on, it's not like Jenny got a manual along with her wish.  
Cora might be only a tiny part of the story but boy, did I love that sweet part.  
Several good twists happen towards the end of the story.  Those made me smile.  The Epilogue was even sweeter.
There is also that Chicken Shawarma recipe that was promised.   I had never heard of it before but it sure did look delicious. 
On a final note, that beautiful eBook cover really got  my attention and it really does figure into the story. 

  “I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”




 

BOOK REVIEW- Protecting the Pregnant Princess (Royal Bodyguards Book 1) by Lisa Childs

 

A princess and her doppelganger are missing, and a grief-stricken king turns to Aaron Timmer for answers. As a bodyguard to the king, Aaron's mission is clear when one of the women is found: keep her out of danger and find the abductor. But how can he do that when the mystery woman doesn't remember the events leading up to her disappearance? Terror strikes a young woman when she wakes up in a private hospital with no idea who she is, how she came to be hospitalized--and whose baby she's carrying. But there is something about the man sent to protect her that makes her feel safe. As they seek the truth together--and the secrets of her past finally begin to resurface--they must prepare for the dangers that await them--and a desire that may be all too familiar.

AMAZON LINK
3 STARS

 I liked both of the main characters and all the mysteries that surrounded them.  It got to the point where I agreed with them that you just didn't know who you could trust.   And there were plenty of people to suspect.  There were several plots in play.  It was a fast moving story.
I don't want to say too much and give up any of the surprises.  But I will say that there is at least one H.E.A. in the book. 

BOOK REVIEW- The Prince's Cinderella Bride (The Bravo Royales Book 7) by Christine Rimmer*

From Texas nanny…to palace princess!
It should never have happened—the night of forbidden magic that turned Lani Vasquez and Prince Maximilian Bravo-Calabretti into lovers. After all, Lani knew all too well that an affair between a lowly nanny and the heir to the throne could only end in heartbreak—her own. Which was why she had to end it before she lost her herself completely…
His New Year's Eve with Lani had rocked Max's world—and now the Texas beauty wanted to be just friends? The single father had sworn he'd never marry again, but Lani had charmed his children and awakened his guarded heart. Will the prince catch his Cinderella before the clock strikes midnight?
AMAZON LINK
 3 STARS

This book had potential.  It had good main characters and a good idea. I generally like this author especially the Bravo Family series.   However for me this book was somewhat disappointing. It just seemed to churn over and over as to the why their relationship wasn't really going to work.   They seemed to take turns.  Sure, they both had their own "story" of pain and disappointment but the book also seemed to bog down at different times. 
The prince's kids did add charm to the story .  So did Lani's BFF who was trying so hard to talk sense to Lani.    Well maybe Lani's best friend was less subtle than charm but she needed to be.
Of course, they both get the needed H.E.A.  to bring the story to an end.

BOOK REVIEW- COUNTRY BRIDES An Anthology by Debbie Macomber

 Rorie Campbell has a pleasant, predictable life in San Francisco, where she's seeing a pleasant, predictable man. Then, one vacation, her car breaks down on an Oregon country road and horse rancher Clay Franklin comes to her rescue. Rorie soon discovers that a city girl can fall in love with a country man. But Clay has no right to return her feelings—because he's engaged to another woman.

Kate Logan is devastated when Clay Franklin, her former fiancé and the man she's always loved, marries Rorie Campbell instead. But at Clay's wedding—and after a glass of champagne too many— Kate proposes to her longtime friend, rancher Luke Rivers. Luke accepts her proposal—and refuses to renege on his promise. What's more, he insists that Kate doesn't love Clay—she loves him—.
AMAZON LINK
4 STARS

I picked this book to read with mixed feelings.  I know this author is well known and well liked. But for me, her books fall into one of two categorizes.  Either, " I  liked it or meh".  
Whew.  I'm relieved to say that I liked both of the stories.
I originally was interested in reading the second book about Kate Logan (Country Bride).   But when I realized I could get it and the beginning of the story with the book about Rorie and Clay ( A Little Bit Country)?  I eagerly grabbed it.  
Both of the books  were emotional with really good main characters.  They also had good supporting secondary people.  I wouldn't say it was really deep but it was a fun read. And in the second one with Luke & Kate it had some funny moments in it as well.  The whole community was way to involved in their business though. And instead of helping their romance were more often an interruption.  A lot of the times they just got in the way.  
Still both couples work their ways to a H.E.A.  

BOOK REVIEW- Just His Luck (Sterling's Montana Book 3) by B.J. Daniels *

 He thought the past was finally behind him

Shade Sterling has carried a torch for Lizzy Conners since senior year of high school. But the timing never felt right for them, especially since his ex-girlfriend, Ariel, disappeared without a trace years ago. Now, with their ten-year class reunion approaching, Shade is tired of waiting. Determined to move on with his life and take a chance with Lizzy, he’s all in…until a car is dredged up from a local pond and Ariel’s remains are found inside.

As the newly appointed sheriff, Lizzy must investigate every single lead—including the ones that point right to Shade. She knows she can’t let her heart get in the way of an investigation, but she can’t accept that Shade is guilty. Now if she can only prove it—both to the town out for justice and to herself.   AMAZON LINK
                3 STARS

I liked it but I can honestly say that it isn't a favorite of mine.  Oh the people in the story were well drawn and so was the mystery of who the murder was and the why.   Ends up a whole lot more mysteries were in play than originally thought.   And they do all come out. 

Shade and Lizzy were worth the whole reading of the book.  I liked them both and the fact that although they are crazy about each other they never had their first date.  And when they do? It's a doozy!  Before that it had just been a few magnificent kisses and a whole lot of years between them. I did see more of a friendship and trust developing more than a romance though.  I'm not sure that even the both of them were enough to make me enjoy this book more.
I do have to say though that the idea of a class reunion in the middle of nowhere, was a page out of TSTL book. Especially with questionable cell reception and a landline phone.  Anyone see how bad this is going to be ?  They are pretty sure that one of them is a murderer who is probably going to kill again and they do this?  Although I do get the idea that with them all together, the murderer would be revealed.  Still...dumb. Guess, they got overconfident. 
That ghost narrator in the background, I didn't enjoy that so much. 
Towards the end I just got tired of the High School attitudes that was part of the story.

 

BOOK REVIEW- Her Highness and the Bodyguard by Christine Rimmer *

 CALABRETTIS MARRY FOR DUTY-BUT BRAVO-CALABRETTIS MARRY FOR LOVE

Marcus is the best man Rhia's ever known, and she's never gotten over their breakup. Now, he's practically strapped to her side. It's like a dream come true...or a nightmare. Because Marcus is as stubborn as ever: she's a Bravo-Calabretti, he's a lowly security guard, and they can never be equals. Ever.

Then a breathless night that should have brought closure brings something else: a baby. Marcus insists that no child of his will grow up without its own mother and father. Well, Rhia has her own requirement: her child will be raised on love, not the dry bread of obligation. And Marcus has made it abundantly clear that his duty to Montedoro comes before everything-especially his own desires.
AMAZON LINK 
3 STARS

This was a fast, emotional story with good main characters.  
Marcus had quite the lonely childhood with no family to help support him. The nuns at the orphanage were there for him though.  He even said that the Catholic orphanage was better than some.  The nuns were good to him being kind and nurturing.  He met H.S.H (Rhia's mother)  as a child and she left a strong, positive impression upon him.  He worked hard and advanced because he earned it.
What Marcus lacked when it came to a loving family, Rhia had it in spades.   They really did have each other's backs.  Rhia has such a good, extra special relationship with her sister,  Allie (Alice).  I realized as this book went on that I have already read Allie's story (How to Marry a Princess (The Bravo Royales Book 5)
Like I said Marcus and Rhia had a lot of emotions to work through.  And one of Rhia's biggest complaints is that Marcus holds SO many secrets so close to himself.   But you know those are all going to tumble out in the end, right?  They do and there is a surprise twist coming. 
There is a H.E.A. for Marcus and Rhia which was good to see. 

BOOK REVIEW- Blood Pact (New Breed Book 4) by Melody Raven *

 Aidan is having a run of bad luck. After crossing a powerful witch, he has his powers bound rendering him basically mortal. His only chance to get his mojo back is to find the monster who has been praying on men at a ridiculous vampire rip off bar. Easy enough, right?

Except this monster has legs for days, brown eyes he could lose himself in and a mysterious past that is quickly catching up to both of them.

His orders are simple. Turn her over to get back to his normal life of debauchery and decadence.

But in this world of blood and magic, nothing is simple.  AMAZON LINK
                                                                                             4 STARS

This book had really good, unusual main characters that kept me involved all the way through.  Aiden was not your traditional good guy.  In fact that part of his selfish nature is what got him in trouble with his powerful grandmother Talia to begin with.  But he's NOT all bad which makes him even more interesting.

That girl that he is chasing?  She is just trying to stay undercover and stay alive.  It's kind of hard to be invisible when you look as good as she does.  Lina is tired of being powerless, afraid and captive though.  

There is plenty of action and intrigue with some magic thrown in too.  The friendship and romance between Aiden and Lina is hard fought for since they weren't looking for either.
I have to mention how much I liked the eBook cover for this book.  It does have that attractive, otherworldly look to it. 

  “I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.” 

BOOK REVIEW- His Billionaire Bride (The Morgan Sisters) by Madeline Ash

Description

She’s got it all… on paper
Business investor Carrie Morgan is guarded for a long list of good reasons. She’s battled her way to the top of her industry, dealt with enough bad sex to put her off men, and if her painful past has taught her anything, it’s that commitment always ends in heartbreak.
When Carrie’s sister asks her to sit for a portrait—as a bride—she uneasily agrees. Anything for Emmie. Even if it means intimate nightly sessions with her secret fantasy: artist Edwin Prince.
Rejected by his family and treated as temporary by past lovers, Edwin will settle for nothing less than commitment — and wants that and more from the beguiling Carrie Morgan. Startling them both, she allows him to unwind her emotional bindings one intense interaction at a time, until their chemistry builds so high, she’s blinded to the fall.
And the only way out is to break both their hearts.  AMAZON LINK  5 stars


The book information caught my eye right away as did the eBook cover.  I thought, "Oh, this one is really a different slant and could be really good."  And it was.  I also noticed and liked the descriptive flavor of this author.  She made things come alive.  And it made things feel that way too!
I loved the main characters.  They couldn't be more different if they tried.  They couldn't have been more incompatible if they tried and they shouldn't work.  On paper they don't but  together now that is a different story.  
Edwin was bright, likeable and joyous and with so much talent.  It cracked me up that people had a nickname of sorts for Carrie.  She was the wolf and intimidated the daylights out of just about everyone. But I liked even more the nickname Edwin gave her and how it came about.  Her talent was from a totally different realm than Edwin's.  She was brilliant in the business world but what most people didn't see was how precious her family was to her.  She carries a lot of pain caused by family losses and failures in the romance area.  That makes her incredibly self protective.  Edwin carries pain as well but that turned out to be quite a surprise to me where a lot of it was coming from.  Not the fact that people would be attracted to him and his energy.  Not that when they had got "all they wanted" and then they abandoned him.  All of that was bad enough but there was even more reasons for his pain and you will have to read the book to find out why.  One of his secrets made me a bit uncomfortable but the story was so dang good that I just kept reading. 
All of these things and more made it an emotionally good story. 
It all comes to a stunning, emotional, brilliant ending. 
 You might also like to take a look at the the  excerpt of "The Wedding Obsession."  Its the first book that features Emmie (who is Carrie's sister) and Bran.

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

BOOK REVIEW- CONSTANT RISK by Janie Crouch

The hunters
Become the hunted.

Deputy Tanner Dempsey and Bree Daniels are tasked with unraveling a deadly mystery in Dallas—one that involves transmitting live feeds of victims trapped in tanks as they fill with water. Bree’s computer genius is their only hope at solving the crime.
Knowing the darkness in Bree’s past, Tanner is determined to make sure she comes out of this emotionally unscathed. Especially once they both become a killer’s next target…
AMAZON LINK
                         5+ STARS                                                                                                             

 How does this author keep doing it?  This series just keeps getting better and better.  Or maybe I should say high quality all the time.  The intensity and plots are off the charts great!  Again! I'm not generally super-quick to rate a book 5 Stars or 5+ stars but I've been running across some excellent books and this one is definitely one of those!
I liked that the author started the book out with a cast of characters list.  A good review for me since I've read a few of the books in this series a while back.  Also it should really help new readers I think.
I find it difficult to do a review without spoiling it by saying too much. So, just let me say a few things.  Still love Tanner and Bree.   Tanner is so in love with her; protective without hedging in her in too tight.  I like how he loves her "big brain" and sees it as an important part of who she is.  Bree has a nickname for Tanner that brings a smile.  And she observes that although he might not understand all of the computer speak, he sure understands her.  Bree's people skill has improved a tiny, tiny bit but made her all the more endearing.
There is plenty of action, danger and surprises in the story.  As well as good secondary people in the story too.
 I have to say I don't know how this author comes up with all this stuff but I'm glad she does.
The ending was exquisite in it's justice.
  “I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

 

BOOK REVIEW- The Debt by Jackie Ashenden *

Description

Ruthless billionaire Ash Evans finds the sexiest way to collect on a debt in the first installment in The Billionaire’s Club quartet!

Notoriously ruthless property developer Ash Evans never forgives a debt. And I have two days to convince the former street fighter not to pull his investment in my father’s company. Taking a job as his chauffeur in Paris is the only way to get close enough to ask the bad-tempered billionaire for a favor.

With his sexy tattoo, scars and magnificently cut body, he’s as powerful, sleek and difficult to manage as the sports cars my family designs. And after meeting his electric-blue eyes in the rearview mirror all night, I’m more than happy to rev his engine and take the boss for a ride!

But now Ash thinks I’m just using him to get what I want. And he’ll give me what I need, but there is a price—posing as his girlfriend to help him exact vengeance on his half brother. Pretending to love Ash is the easiest job I’ve ever had…and soon my heart is racing into danger. Will a man so full of anger ever be capable of loving me back?    AMAZON  3 STARS

This was a really emotional story.  Intensely emotional when it came to both of the main characters. 
 It was also sensual, steamy and kind of erotic.  Especially in the semi- voyeur scene, which I wasn't expecting. 
 I forgot that the "Dare" inclusion on the eBook cover was the remember that it was going to be of a higher sexual content.   The information about this kind of series said that it had strong characters (it did) and highly explicit sexual encounters (it did).   For me, I didn't enjoy that as much since it was in the danger zone of taking OVER the story.  That is something that I don't like.  I can't say it wasn't well written but it's just not my style.  Quite a bit of language as well including one of my least favorite "F" bombs.  
Now to get to some of the things I did like.  Ash was an angry man and he had plenty of reasons to be that way.  He was a man who had to fight for any and everything he ever wanted.  I liked that he was complex.   Anything nice about him he tried to keep hidden and there were some people that he cared about.  But he could list those on one hand.  Anybody else got the street fighting steamroller part of this personality if they didn't get out of the way first. 
Ellie Little was more than a match for Ash.  Because even in front of a steamroller she's not going to roll over and play dead.  She is a fighter also and loves a challenge.  That's something that they both have in common.   And she intrigues the heck out of Ash and she finds that she returns the favor.  She's not put off by him or his scars.  It makes for some interesting interactions.  
The book comes to an expected conclusions of some challenges that have been plaguing Ash.  
Some of his anger issues get resolved, even though we know he will never be an easy to get along with man.  He's not tame but there is a H.E.A. for Ellie and Ash. 

 “I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.” 

BOOK REVIEW- Wind River Rancher (Wind River Series Book 2) by Lindsay McKenna *

 Something to hold on to . . .

Not so long ago, Reese Lockhart was commanding a company of Marines. Now his life is spiraling out of control. The Bar C ranch outside Jackson Hole, Wyoming may be his last chance to save himself . . .

Shaylene Crawford, an Afghanistan veteran herself, knows all too well the demons of PTSD—that’s why she’s determined to turn her family’s cattle ranch into a place where wounded warriors can work, find a home, and rebuild their souls. Her embittered father nearly drank and gambled the place away, but with help from a small crew of vets—including the newest arrival, the quietly compelling Reese Lockhart—she intends to hold on to her dream. And when someone tries to destroy that dream, Reese will do whatever it takes to defend her . . .AMAZON LINK
                                                                     3 STARS

 This book had potential that felt like it only hit some of the marks.  
I liked both Reese and Shay and felt like their emotions came through pretty well.  I also liked the other wranglers in the story who came together as a team on the ranch.  I also liked what Shay was doing on the ranch to help support fellow vets.
However.  It also felt like a lot of repetition on several subjects.  Especially the issue of P.T.S.D.   It was important to the story but it was the same thing over and over and it dragged the story down.  Don't get the wrong idea though. I do believe that we need to do more for our veterans.
We are also left hanging about Shay's nasty daddy.   That really wasn't okay with me.