How to Make the Holy Spirit Feel Welcome - James Brandt

BOOK REVIEW- Her Billionaire Rancher Boss (A Cowboy of Her Own, Book One) by Genevieve Turner *

 The handsome cowboy is completely off limits...

Benedict Merrill is the perfect cowboy: rugged, wealthy, and handsome as sin. He'd be perfect for Pilar... if he wasn't her boss. In her wildest fantasies she's in his bed every night, but there's no way she can seduce him. Not unless something changes.

She can be his... but not forever...

To escape the burning tension between them, Pilar only has one option: resignation. But once Benedict has her two weeks notice, all bets are off. He wants her between the sheets, on the floor, and anywhere else he can have her. A short steamy affair should be everything Pilar could hope for.

But what will she do when her heart wants more? Can she convince her rancher to stay with her for good?  AMAZON LINK
    3 STARS

I had a hard time getting into this story.  I found it kind of disappointing.  It had the emotions that you hope for in a story and potentially good main characters.  BUT, I found that the main parts of the story were kind of shallow and somewhat buried under what seemed like erotica. Sure, there was tenderness and well written sex scenes but I like more story with my books.  It was also somewhat predictable.   I didn't hate it but I also didn't love it either. 

BOOK REVIEW- Every Step (Music, Love and Other Miseries: #3) by C.J. Burright *

Description

An annoyingly irresistible cop and a dare that could ruin her life... Love is a complication Kat will avoid at any cost.
Sharp-shooting cop Katerina Hellman needs a fresh start. Leaving behind a failed marriage, she ditches the city and bunks with her sister in the tiny town of Graywood. When the local police chief offers her a position as the temporary firearms instructor, she jumps on it. So what if it's a mostly boys' club? She's done with men, doesn't need their unrealistic expectations and not even the tall, dark and annoying badge Roman can change that.
Roman Farkos lives for his job, to serve and protect...until Kat shows up with her snarls and superiority. He can't resist pushing her buttons. She wants to be considered one of the boys, which would be fine if she didn't stir a desire to do more than protect and serve her. Kat may be raw from her recent split, but Roman resolves to convince her that love—preferably with him—is worth the risk.
When Roman challenges Kat to a six-week contest of wits and skills, it's game on. As they work and play side by side, her resistance fades and unexpected passion flares. But when big-city danger hits and secrets are revealed, Roman faces the greatest challenge of all—convincing Kat that real love is worth the fight.  AMAZON LINK
3.5 STARS


I have to admit to mixed feelings on this one.  That makes it hard for me to decide how many stars to give it on reviews.  So I ended up liking it but with some reservations. On the plus side was that Katerina (Kat) and Roman who were both interesting people.   And they each had their own emotional challenges in their lives.  I did get a big kick out of how Roman loved how challenging Kat was.  Instead of being turned off by her unique personality, he embraced it.  It took her a while to realize he saw more of her than her beauty or kick-butt skills, he saw her. 
Kat doesn't know what to make of Roman.  Right off the bat he irritates her but as time goes on he confuses her more and more.  But she's a Hellman and they don't back up from any kind of competition.  Roman also can speak in a monotone voice with almost no expressions on his face.  That is something that she finds hard to deal with.   But she also has a plate full of problems that are trying to push her to her breaking point.
Another person who adds snark and interest is a young woman in foster care named Valerie. 
Some of her poor decisions also add to the danger factor.  
For me, there were times when the story seemed to drag a bit.  I think it's the times where certain issues were hashed over and over.  It also felt like there was an over use of the phrase about Roman's spicy, sweet (holiday) scent.  I do have admit though that the other parts of the story was good when it came to descriptions of locations and other parts of the story.  So can you see my dilemma?  
There is a good dramatic ending to the story.  Also add in a good Epilogue which shows some tenderness, and a H.E.A.


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

BOOK REVIEW- The Fearless Groom (Cami's Texas Titan Romances Book 1) by Cami Checketts *

A bachelor auction, a hot football player, and the right woman to bring him to his knees.
Izzy Knight walked away from her father’s billions and his Titans football team to become a nurse practitioner at a children’s hospital. She’s busy and accomplished and certainly has no room in her life for a larger-than-life football player who goes through women faster than she completes a shift at the hospital.
Xavier Newton loves football but hates the games that go along with it. When the owner of the Titans forces him and his buddies to be sold like cattle at a bachelor auction he barely endures the event, until a feisty brunette bids half a million dollars for him. He’s completely drawn to Izzy, but when he finds out her father is the owner of the Titans sparks fly and everybody’s loyalties are challenged.
Can these two find love when they don’t know who’s waiting to tackle them from the blindside?
AMAZON LINK
  3   STARS

This is a clean but also emotional story at times.  It has two good main characters who are successful when it comes to their careers but not so much in their personal lives.
Xavier also known as "X" begins to get confused when it came to the motives about the people around him and that soon includes Izzy.  He knows his mama is one person he can totally trust.  That also includes the rest of his close buddies on the Titans football team.  They are called The Triple Threat and are a hot commodity.
He doesn't trust the teams owner, he feels like he's being manipulated.  When it comes to Xavier's agent, he KNOWS he's being manipulated.  And that adds some drama right there.
I had a bit of a problem with the part of the story when it came to the trip to Mexico.  The scene at the waterfalls was hard for me to swallow for several different reasons. 
There is a H.E.A. shown through the Epilogue which was a nice touch. 

 

BOOK REVIEW- Dead Silence by Robin Caroll

Description

Political games can be deadly…

Elise Carmichael is a court sign language interpreter who reads lips all the time. As a widow with a young son who is deaf, lip reading is simply second nature, until the day she reads the lips of someone on the phone discussing an attempt to be made on a senator’s life—a senator who just happens to be her mother-in-law. Before she can decide what she needs to do, she receives the information that her son is rushed to the ER and she must leave. Then she later sees the news report that her mother-in-law has been shot and killed. But when she comes forward, her life, as well as her son’s life, may now be in the crosshairs of the assassin.  AMAZON LINK
         5 STARS

What a great story this turned out to be.  One surprise for me though was that there was no romance in it.  Although there is no romance, there is new friendships that develop.  I usually like for this kind of book to have a romance too.  Even without it though, the book is really well written and kept me on the edge of my seat. 
For those that want to know there is some scripture mentioned in the story along with prayer.   Elise had kind of lost her faith in God because of her husband's death and her son's deafness.  So, there will be a search for a re-connect with God during the story.  However, I don't think that it overpowers the story.  I'd hate to have people pass on a really great story because they were concerned about that.

Elise and here son Sawyer were really good main characters and I liked the different type of challenges that they were facing.  And that's even before everything hits the fan for them.  Even her deceased mother-in-law was not your usual run of the mill type of person and I enjoyed that too.  
It takes a bit of time to figure out if Nolan who was the husband is a good guy or part of the problem.  That kept the reader hanging for a little bit of time.  Not only is he an interesting character but so is Mary Ellen who is the daughter of the senator and also aunt to Sawyer.  She adds a lot to the story. So does an unexpected person named Wesson Kelly.  I'm not going to say too much about her and just let readers discover her on their own.
The F.B.I. agents who started working with Elise had me scratching my head more than once.  Agent Rodriguez  seemed fairly straight forward but his partner Agent Wright added hostile tension to any interviews.  Once again also making the drama ramp up. Speaking of drama as the action takes off towards the end of the story, there is plenty of drama.  There is a good outcome especially because Elise came up with a really brilliant idea at the end.



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

 

BOOK REVIEW- Broken (Deep Ops Book 3) by Rebecca Zanetti

Description

Dangerous: Former Navy SEAL Clarence Wolfe’s unit was taken out with a land mine. Injured and devastated, he hasn’t been quite right since. Worse, the tragedy was no accident. All Wolfe wants now is to take down the man responsible. In the meantime, he’s good with being the muscle for the Deep Ops team—and leading a steamy no-strings-attached personal life. Until one intriguing woman changes everything . . .

Determined:  Reporter Dana Mulberry is on a mission to avenge the death of a fellow journalist. She’s finally hot on a trail—right to a sex club—where she runs into . . . Wolfe? It seems both their leads have led to the same spot. To keep from blowing their covers, they’ll have to at least pretend to have a little fun. Trouble is, they genuinely like each other. And that’s way too risky for Wolfe, especially when, to his surprise, Dana agrees . . .

Complicated:  Drawn to each other in ways they can’t understand, Wolfe and Dana keep it professional—until they’re shot at one night. And when their adventures land them both at the heart of corruption in D.C.—and at odds in their missions—they’ll have to dig deeper than ever to succeed in their quests—and with each other . . .AMAZON LINK
5 STARS

GOODREADS LINK

I've read several of the books in this series and liked them.  However, I have been looking forward to this one.  I got a quick peek at this story in a different book.  It really got my attention and I could hardly wait to pick it up. So I was quick to grab a hold of it when the chance came.  I was NOT disappointed at all.  It so deserves 5 Stars on Amazon when it opens for reviews.
Wolfe and even Dana were one-of-a kind type of people.   It took me almost no time at all to get drawn into their story and care about them. 
The romance was definitely Wolfe style.  And yes, they do get to some hot sexual encounters together.  But you will have to wait for that for a bit.  Because there is a lot of intense action going on outside of a bedroom. It's coming from several different directions almost all at once.  It's intense and dangerous.  The team that they have surrounding them is both unusual, a bit crazy but also all in when it came to having each others backs.   
One of the craziest team member if you want to call him a team member is Roscoe.  Now I knew going in that he was kind of a "fantasy"dog because of some of his strange abilities.  He added a lot of humor to the tense drama.  The kitten in the story is a sweet addition who mainly sits in Wolfe's pocket  and purrs as much as possible. 
Things come to a kick-butt conclusion when it comes to the danger to this team.  But also with a H.E.A. for our main characters.  Not to worry though, at least one team member has a bad guy to pursue.  So more adventures ahead!

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

BOOK REVIEW- When You Wish Upon a Rogue (A Debutante Diaries Novel ) by Anna Bennett *

Description

Once upon a time in Anna Bennett's When You Wish Upon a Rogue--first in The Debutante Diaries series--three young ladies vowed to record their first London seasons and to fill in the gaps of their educations.
She knows what she wants.
Miss Sophie Kendall is happiest arranging the secret meetings of the Debutante Underground, a group of women who come together to discuss the weekly advice column The Debutante’s Revenge. What makes Sophie most unhappy is her impending march down the aisle to a man she does not love. But her family’s finances are in increasingly dire straits.
He makes an offer she can’t refuse.
Henry Reese, Earl of Warshire, hasn’t slept in weeks. Desperate to escape his manor house and its haunting memories, he heads for one of his abandoned London properties. There he meets a beautiful, intriguing woman—trespassing. Reese is far less interested in Sophie’s search for a secret meeting spot than he is in her surprising ability to soothe his demons. So he strikes a bargain with her: his shop in exchange for spending one night a week with him.
Is this love for real—or just a dream?
Sophie never expected this to happen. But she cannot deny the fire Reese sparks in her—and soon their shared desire burns bright. Sophie is irrevocably promised to another. But maybe these two ill-fated lovers can find a way to risk it all—all the way to happily ever after…AMAZON LINK
                                                                                      3 STARS


I had such high hopes for this book  mainly because of the unusual setting mentioned in the book information.  However, for me it just didn't pull me in as much as I had hoped it would. 
On the plus side -both of the main characters had depth and there were good descriptions of their surroundings. The gardens and property at Reese's home being one of them.  There are also some tender moments between Reese and Sophie as well.  Sophie is a rule maker but not much of a rule breaker.  She's never really felt the need until she met Reese.  She not only has a couple of rules for the secret society that she helped formed but also sets them up for her meetings with Reese. 
The risks they took with Sophie's reputation though after awhile was kind of hard to believe and often yanked me out of the story.  
Reese  is an honorable man but he doesn't think that he desires anything good because of all of the things that haunt him.  So there is plenty of angst and emotions in that area.   There is also the emotion of friendship that builds between the main characters, although Reese fights against it.  
Sophie does have some good lady friends who would gladly help her if she would let them.  Two of them who were also co-founders of the Debutante Underground have found love and want the same for Sophie.
One thing that I noticed was that Sophie's soon-to-be fiance didn't spend very much time with her.  But there was also the fact that she was ducking him as much as she could too. 
There wasn't all that many surprises in the story except maybe who the father was of Violet's baby.  There is one twist towards the end of the story that I kind of suspected.  Although I didn't really feel like the author left all that many breadcrumbs to point to another woman being involved in a "romance".  It didn't feel all that deep when it was exposed.  But I got the feeling that both of the two people exposed were kind of shallow people to begin with.   But at least there is a H.E.A for more than one couple, quickly pulling all the loose ends together.

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

BOOK REVIEW- Special Agent Rylee (Undercover FBI Book 7) by Mimi Barbour *

Rylee couldn’t believe her rotten luck…

Being chosen as one of the agents to play bodyguard to a spoiled billionaire while sailing on a Caribbean cruise depresses her... a lot. The dude – so important to the government that they’re willing to provide the best to protect him – won’t even know they’re in place. The big question – why her? She prefers work that matters, the dirty jobs, on the streets, in the trenches, and her boss knows it. Keeping Mr. Fancy Pants out of the clutches of a worshipping stalker, mercenaries and a man out to seek revenge for an old injustice just annoys her.

Not excited about his pending cruise, before boarding the ship, Jake Andrews sees an enticing woman on the pier and decides it might not be so bad after all. Becoming landlord to two stowaways – one being a tiny kitten – isn’t at all in his plans for this vacation either. His goal is to finish his phone app for the Pentagon, have a good long rest to heal from recent stress and take a break from being threatened, stalked and attacked.

But if he can spend some of the voyage romancing this chick, that might add enough spice to his days… and nights for the trip to prove eventful.

Surprise!

Eventful doesn’t even come close…AMAZON LINK
    5 STARS

I don't know what I was expecting exactly but this story was really different. And that's not a bad thing either because it was really good.  It starts out with great main characters too!
Rylee was just as tough as you expect from the book information but she was also so much more. Life has given her some tough times and that was way before she became an agent.  It also affected some of the choices she made, like taking on so many dangerous assignments.  Something that drove her loving sister Mari often to the point of fearful tizzies. Mari was successful in her own right but she was nowhere near anything that's even close to violent.  
Jake was nothing like I was expecting and once again that was a good thing.  He was a genius but he also was so softhearted and that was something different.  Things that he had experienced so much earlier had made him sensitive to other people.  It also caused him to want to help those who were in pain.  He was pretty perceptive when it came to that. 
Miguel was a surprise twist and one that I really enjoyed.  Carlos was another interesting surprise as well.
Dangers kept coming at Jake and caused a lot of action and surprises.  One of the last surprises was an enemy that surfaced that they hadn't realized was on board.  More action, more danger, more to overcome.  Which they do with the help of at least one other agent as well.
Great ending with a H.E.A. and a look into some of the changes that come into their lives. 

MORE NOTES (NOT INCLUDED IN RETAIL REVIEWS):
Rylee hates primping but it's a necessary part of her new mission.  She likes to be comfortable and she's a tough customer more interested in being fighter ready than being a beauty.  She never thought being a beauty was even possible.
Mari James who is Rylee's sister is very much a top fashion kind of woman who loves her sister.  She decks Rylee out in what she needs and it helps that she has an upscale business that is very successful.   She is also SUPER protective of Rylee although that drives Rylee batty at times.  It also leads to Mari meeting Rylee's boss, Agent Duke Harrison later in the story.  And that is a different part of the story.  

Jake  Andrews was a refreshing change as one of the M.C.'s.  What an interesting life he has lead.  He's a genius who is so worn down because of the app he's trying to finish.  His co-partner and jack-of-all trades, best friend, Leo
knows he needs to relax and helps set up this trip.  Jake feels kind of forced into it but goes along because he knows his health is being affected by all the stress. Jake is so kindhearted that it begins to bring down Rylee's walls when she see its for real.  Some of that generosity and kindness comes from when he lived on the street (by choice.)  I had to smile when it came to some of the conversations that he had with the stowaway kitten.  There is another stowaway of the human kind.  Miguel is found by Rylee this time though. That was a great addition to the story.  
One other interesting person is Carlos who is also a vital part of the story.  His part is slowly revealed. 

BOOK REVIEW- Anything for Love (Hunter Brothers #1) by Lola St. Vil *

 An emotionally scarred beauty who has closed the door on love...
...isn’t ready for a hardened cop who wants to be her hero.
Is she destined for a lonely life, or is there hope for her frozen heart?

Winter’s latest nightmare of a date gets worse with an ex-boyfriend sighting - the same jerk who betrayed her trust. Desperate to escape, she wiggles out a bathroom window to avert a crisis, only to crash into a bigger one.

Winter falls into a police stakeout and lands in the arms of handsome NYPD homicide detective Wyatt. He’s furious at the distraction, but can’t take his eyes off her. As the tension between them heightens, he needs to figure out how to romance a stubborn ice queen and make her melt. Will his efforts be in vain, or can he fight through her defenses so real love can salvage them both?
AMAZON LINK 
 3 STARS

Although this book had some good moments, it just didn't pull me in like I had hoped.  
I did like how the story was written where one chapter had Winter's view and then the next was Wyatt's.  I also liked that it didn't rehash everything action by action like some books do. I also could see that Wyatt really was a good guy. And he was full of some surprises.
Winter is still coming out of her victim mentality and makes some headway and then slips back too.  She's still kind of shell shocked by a man's betrayal.   But there is also some funny moments as well.  And Winter's friend Jana is someone who made me laugh more than once because of her no filter, outrageous remarks.

BOOK REVIEW- Maxie (Triple X Book 2) by Kimberly Dean

 It’s just pretend…but nobody wants to stop.

Maxie’s quiet, predictable routine is shattered when she steps outside her flower shop and almost runs into two women. It’s not the near collision that’s startling. It’s the strangers’ faces. It’s like looking in a mirror times two, and it sends her into a dead faint.

Sheriff Zac Ford sees three identical copies of the woman who’s caused him more sleepless nights than he can count, and it stops him in his tracks. Maxie’s buckling knees snap him out of his trance, and he catches her before she hits the cement.

Two sisters she never knew she had? Maxie can’t deal with this turmoil, not on her own. She needs a shield, a rock. For the first time in her life, she takes a wild leap of faith.

When Maxie calls him her boyfriend, Zac has no trouble playing along. It’ll give him time to figure out what these “sisters” want. Soon, though, for-show kisses get hotter and playacting touches grow bold. And Maxie must choose to stay in her safe little world, or grab life by the horns.
AMAZON LINK
  5 STARS

GOODREADS LINK

I really enjoyed this book a lot.  Great main characters and that includes Maxie's surprise sisters.  But to start with Maxie is so incredibly shy that although she has a mad crush on Zac she just doesn't know what to do about it.
Zac is suffering the same attraction but is also running out of ideas on how to woo this shy gal.  He's also been suffering by every day drinking a horrible cup of coffee.   Why?  Because the shop is right by Maxie's store and he can't get her out of his mind.  When she passes out at the sight of two identical sisters (identical to her) it opens up a door of opportunity for Zac.  
There's a fair amount of humor in the story which I enjoyed.  There are also some mysteries that has to do with the 3 women.  And there are some hot scenes between Zac and Maxie. 
Overall, I stay involved throughout the story and liked the ending, which also left room for more story about the girls birth family.  The next story has to do with Roxie and her search. It's also a book on want to read because Roxie was a character all on her own.
 

BOOK REVIEW- Sweet Dreamin' Baby by Mary Kay McComas

 From New York Times bestselling author Mary Kay McComas, SWEET DREAMIN' BABY is the sequel to LOVIN' A GOOD OL' BOY. Both were originally published as part of Bantam Dell's Loveswept line.

Ellis is a woman on a mission. Armed with a dream and a plan to get out of her small Appalachian town, she works as many jobs as she can fit into the day to save the much-needed money. She has no time for small-town ladies' man Bryce LaSalle—and her indifference is exactly what catches his eye.

Drawn to her single-minded determination to distrust everyone and a stubborn independence streak, Bryce is driven to distraction by Ellis. His devotion to her is steadfast, even as she pushes him away. Slowly, Ellis learns to trust Bryce, and lets the fun-loving rogue see beyond her defenses, even revealing to him her most painful secrets.   AMAZON LINK
    3 STARS



Ellis and Bryce made for interesting characters and there was plenty of emotions shown.  You can see clearly that Ellis has never been valued but she sure was used for her hard working self.   Ellis has a secret that I had kind of guessed but it really doesn't get out into the opening until almost at the end of the story.  That was well timed.
At first it looks like Bryce is a charming flirt without a whole lot of substance.  But you couldn't' be more wrong.  Not only is he a caring, loving person but he also carries his own kind of pain.  He has something that Ellis has never had, a loving family and community that has his back. 
In the end this was a charming, emotional and often times humorous story mainly because of Bryce.  It really went by quickly and while probably not a favorite of mine, it had its moments.  The one distracting thing was that the type "1" showed up so often that didn't really have anything to do with the sentence.
Oh, I almost forgot that there is a H.E.A. as a twist comes at the end of the book.

BOOK REVIEW-Sweet Retaliation (Her Sweet Revenge Series Book 1) by Mimi Barbour *

A virgin librarian with hot-chick potential, the conflicts in her story won’t let you put the book down. Be prepared for an all-nighter…

She watches the mob kill her twin and is too frozen with fear to stop them. How can she live with that cowardice eating away at her self-respect? Revenge claws at her sheltered existence until she can’t breathe. Though she’s naïve, she isn’t stupid. When she finds a stash of loot in her brother’s gym locker, she has the means.
Now all she needs is the guts to make every one of those low-life gang members pay.

People might think detectives are hard-assed cops with no home life, but Trace McGuire has a dying mom he loves fiercely. Already stressed over his personal problems, he takes a bullet for a virgin beauty hiding while mobsters shoot her brother.
This chick draws out every protective instinct he thought had disintegrated over years on the job and he becomes invested – in her hot body, her plans for retaliation and her fighting spirit.

Helpless, he watches her enter the seedy underworld that’ll eat her alive.

Then he sees her fight.

And wonders if they’ll survive her.   AMAZON LINK
    4 STARS

GOODREADS LINK



 Trace and Cass both made for good main characters.  It's fun to watch Cassidy go from what others considered nun-like to a whole different kind of woman.  She had skills that she had kept somewhat hidden and her father and brother Raoul had kept her super sheltered.  But she was determined to make the people who killed her twin pay.  So, there were a whole lot of changes that she was determined to make and she does. Cass was a pretty smart cookie for the most part. Then she did something so stupid after saving Dani's life I almost groaned! 
Trace is an honest, steady, reliable man. A handsome cop with no patience with games especially the ones women try to play with him.  He has women trying to get his attention with those games but he wasn't a player.  And once Cass got on his radar he was all in when it came to her.  
There is plenty of action, danger and unusual friendships.  There is also an unusual romance between Trace and Cass but it was also so often sweet too. 
So much gets concluded except for the main question of the book so I have to agree with other reviewers, "cliffhanger." I know the info says Book 1 but I just didn't realize that the story wasn't going to end in this one.

BOOK REVIEW- The Matron (Orlan Orphans Book 1) by Kirsten Oscourne*

 his 15,000 word novella is a PG read and was originally published as part of the Call Me Valentino anthology.

Cassie Morgan has to take fifteen young ladies all the way to Texas from New York, but she is unsure if it's a good idea to be driven there by a rugged cowboy. How will she keep her heart intact?
When Valentino Hayes is offered the job of driving a bus full of orphans to Texas, he jumps at the chance to find his long lost brother. Now to convince the beautiful Mrs. Morgan to permit it. Will the trip to Texas be more than they expected?    AMAZON LINK
              3 STARS

This was a short, sweet and clean story.  It also includes a H.E.A. and a peek into another story.  The other story is about one of the older orphans, Ruby.  It also looks like there is other books in the series that continue on about the rest of the orphan girls. 

BOOK REVIEW- Marrying the Wrong Twin (Baby Fever #4) by Nicole Casey *

 
Marrying the Wrong Twin is the fourth book in Baby Fever Series, a billionaire marriage mistake romance with no cliffhanger and a HEA. It can be read as a stand-alone.

Who the hell did I marry, really?

I’m totally screwed. I just said “I do” to the hottest man I’ve ever seen.
And he’s my future husband’s twin brother.
I mean, how could I know he’s the wrong one? They look exactly the same.
Now there’s no way out of this, so we’ll just have to keep playing the game.
We are married on paper only, for our family businesses to thrive.
It’s only business, a partnership kind of deal, and falling for him wasn't part of the arrangement.
But why do I keep recalling our first sinful night, when he took me right there in his suite?
Why can’t I stop imagining all the tender, passionate kisses, his huge hands all over my body and the rough, hard sex?
Oh, screw it! The marriage might be fake, but the baby I’m carrying is 100% real…AMAZON LINK
                        3 STARS

This was a story that went by quickly.  Rustin (supposedly the evil twin) and Adare (the golden one) have been pitted against each other by their father for years.  And that's not going to cause any problems right?   Rustin cheated when he fooled Asha into marrying him but it's not all fun and games to him.  He's considered the playboy of the family but could it be he just hasn't met the right woman yet?
Asha has one nasty family whose only real concerns are about "the business".  Everything must be sacrificed to "the business.   And her mother and father sure had Asha under their thumb and intended to keep it that way.  
There is plenty of emotion, secrets with a twist thrown in at the end.  
I will say that it also had several pretty descriptive sex scenes that  I wished had been dialed back a bit.

GOODREADS LINK

BOOK REVIEW- Spring's Fury (The Seasons Series Book 3) byDenise Domning

 A DEADLY WOMAN, A POWERFUL MAN, THE HUNGRY SEASON

Nicola of Ashby stages a daring escape to avoid marrying the man who killed her father. To no avail. Even trained to the sword, she cannot elude marriage to this knight who is as much her match as her mate.

Until Gilliam FitzHenry besieged Ashby and claimed it as his own, he had no hope of home and family. Now Nicola's home and hand are his, but if he is to ever own her heart it will take every bit of his natural talent for taming wild creatures.  AMAZON LINK    
    5 STARS

What a great story.  I enjoyed every minute of it.  This was the first book that I have read in this series but it wasn't hard to follow at all.
Gilliam was a strong character but he was also a surprise too. He is a handsome giant of a man.   Every inch a warrior who is so often misunderstood. Could be because he is also someone who so often has a smile on his face when he isn't warring.   He also someone whose humor is often a shield for himself.  He is so much deeper than most people suspect.  His hurts run deeper too.  It wasn't long before I was pulling for him to find love with Nicola.

Nicola is also a great main character who is written with so much emotion and depth.  Many people have also underestimated her as well.  Some to their own peril when they encounter her blade.  She's also pretty clever when it comes to her attempts at escape.  Never a dull moment with her.  She is quite fierce when it comes to keeping her freedom and quite fierce when it came to protecting those she cares about.  But her stubbornness has also caused her to make several mistakes that come at a high cost. 
I so enjoyed the skirmishes between Nicola and Gilliam.  The wooing that Gilliam starts is definitely not what you would usually expect but it's good.  Other enjoyable moments also came from when Gilliam is presented with his new squire Jocelyn.  Almost immediately Gilliam gives his squire the nickname"Jos".  Something that horrifies this humorless, pale young boy.  It was fun to watch the ways the boy tries to fight to stay helpless but it's also fun to see how things begin to change. As he begins to grow and mature.
This book was full of emotion, humor, battle scenes,  and several people with evil plots.  It ends with a well fought for H.E.A.
This is going into my keeper pile because I know after some time, I'm going to want to read it again!
 

BOOK REVIEW- The Stolen Daughter by ReShonda Tate Billingsley *

General Fiction (Adult) | Women's Fiction    ISBN 9781496724144

 

Description

Award-winning author ReShonda Tate Billingsley delivers a poignant, page-turning novel about the power—and fragility—of family, personal identity, and the choices we are called on to make . . .

Raised by a widowed mother, Jill Reed has come a long way from her difficult youth. But while she may not have had money, Jill never doubted she was rich in love. Her mother, Connie, made Jill the center of her world. Now, even though she has a young family of her own, it’s Jill’s turn to care for her ailing mother.

When early dementia begins to set in, Connie starts talking about Jill’s “other life.” Jill assumes it’s just rambling confusion. Still, Connie’s stories about Jill’s childhood, and her father’s early death, never quite added up. And when a strange man shows up to Jill’s job bearing news that turns Jill’s life upside down, there’s no denying Connie’s devastating secret.

As Jill sets out to learn more about her past, she’s stunned by what she learns and what it will mean for her future. Now, she must decide what price she’s willing to pay to claim the life that’s rightfully hers.   AMAZON LINK
    4 STARS

In the opening  chapters I found this story was kind of depressing and wasn't sure if I was going like it or be able to finish it.  BUT, I did finish it and have to say that it was a very well written story.  It had plenty of emotion and hurdles to overcome along with strong main characters and supporting ones too.
I really liked Jill.  And oh boy, what a load she was carrying. And that was even before this shocking secret came into view.  I have to say her husband Malcolm was not someone that I liked that much though.  It seemed like he talked a good game but often he wasn't much help when it came to lifting any of the load off Jill.  He seemed to be pretty self-absorbed.  He would complain about a situation but I wasn't really seeing him doing all that much to correct it.  Then he would go and do something slightly helpful or thoughtful and that helped.   But most of the time I was waiting and watching to see if he was going to turn on Jill for money.  You'll have to read it for yourself to see if that happens or if he turns out to be a stand up kind of guy.
Philip is Jill's newly found cousin and I would have liked to have seen a bit more done for him.
Things come to an interesting conclusion with Jill refusing to bend to pressure.  She refuses to let her daughter Destiny (and herself) be forced into something she doesn't want.  She doesn't just stand back and allow things to happen.  She becomes braver than she knew she could be.  Changes will be made and she helps make sure those changes happen.

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

BOOK REVIEW- Armed Response (Omega Sector: Under Siege Series, Book 5) by Janie Crouch

 
Is the woman he once loved...
The traitor they're searching for?
Former Special Forces soldier Jace Eakin must find the mole inside Omega who's leaking intel to a terrorist mastermind. Despite their complicated history and the fact that she is keeping a secret, he can't believe it's SWAT team leader Lillian Muir. As they give in to long-denied passion, Jace vows to protect Lillian with his life. But he's been wrong about her before...AMAZON LINK
                       5 STARS

Strong main characters who are dealing with plenty of past issues and misinformation.   The emotions were well displayed and easy to tap into.  
There is also a well developed secondary group of people.  They added to the story without being confusing. 
Twists and surprise after surprise adds to the tension that is already in the dangers that they all are dealing with.  
The mole will be found but it won't be easy.  That mole was someone that I had begun to suspect after a while.  After all the author did leave a few bread crumbs here and there.  They weren't super obvious but they did get my attention.    That's okay though because when exposed the mole just had more surprises.  That drama was so well done. 
 Good ending but that darn other bad guy, the psycho terrorist got away.  But you just know that won't be for long.  Sounds like things just might be coming to a head about that in the next book. 

Worship Is My Warfare and Praise Is My Weapon/ on Mark Virkler - CWG Ministries

 Mark Virkler - CWG Ministries Blog


Worship Is My Warfare and Praise Is My Weapon: Years ago, my favorite Bible teacher, Derek Prince, showed us this revelation from Scripture: Have you never read, 'Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants you have perfected praise'(Matt. 21:16)? Jesus was quoting Psalm 8:2, which says: 'Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, Because of Your enemies, That You may silence the enemy and the avenger.' So perfected praise is the ordained strength which silences the enemy! Do you need the enemy silenced in your life? If so, enjoy the following journaling from Kirsten Himmelberg.

 

BOOK REVIEW- The Dragon Librarian (Scrolls of Fire #1) by Marc Secchia

 
 Blind. Outcast. Accursed. From the meanest of beginnings, greatness will rise.

Abandoned at birth by her parents, Auli-Ambar is seen as a child blighted by a callous talon-stroke of fate. A worthless burden. She is blind, severely disfigured, and fit only for the most menial tasks. Then, a simple act of kindness changes her life. Flown to the Halls of the Dragons, the painfully shy girl becomes a cleaner of Dragon roosts, and a helpless wanderer of the Dragon Library.

Here, Auli is able to walk amidst the lore she is drawn to so profoundly. Touch it. Imagine worlds within scrolls. She thrills to the hallowed scents of knowledge, but aches for what blindness has forever denied her. In the cruellest of ironies, Auli discovers she possesses a magic that makes people and Dragons forget her very existence. This is disremembrance, the accursed power of loneliness. She can only despair.

One will not forget. Deep amidst the forbidden racks of draconic scroll lore, where Auli-Ambar has unwittingly breached the protective wards, the young Dragon scholar, Arkurion the Mercury Blue, will discover her true gift and ignite its flame. Now, in the environs of a magical library overseen by the mighty Dragon Librarian Sazutharr, the extraordinary courage and integrity of a blind girl will finally be given the chance to blossom.

Little did they suspect that the fate of all Dragonkind would rest in her hands. AMAZON LINK


                                                                                                            3 STARS

I tried so hard but I just couldn't get into this book.  Although the world building was excellent it was also somewhat confusing.   For me it was too wordy, the book too long with too many strange words and speech for me to continue. It just felt like working too hard instead of pulling into the story.  I had high hopes because of Auli-Ambar was a good character and the Dragons sounded too too.  However, I just finally gave up on the story and D.N.F.  Sorry author.  

BOOK REVIEW- Starfish: A Billionaire RomCom (Unexpected Lovers) by JB Heller

 He lives in the penthouse of the most luxurious complex in the city. She shares an apartment with a lobster...

Hannah spends her days swimming with sharks, chilling with her pet lobster Levi and avoiding commitment like the plague.
Sam’s days are spent expanding his family’s empire, bickering with his cousin Tom and dodging scheming gold diggers.

They both want the same thing- A few months of fun and companionship with an expiry date and hopefully no restraining orders.
Except, as their self-imposed deadline draws closer, Sam finds he’s had a change of heart.

Can the charismatic billionaire convince the eccentric commitment-phobe to take a chance on love, or will she sabotage them both with her trusty Starfish Method?
 *The Starfish Method is a standalone, laugh out loud romantic comedy. The lobster loving, shark enthusiast and the workaholic billionaire are about to find out just how strongly opposites attract.
AMAZON LINK
                                         3 STARS

It just wasn't enough. This story was quirky,  different even funny at times  Hannah definitely lived life her way and turned Sam's life upside down.  Most of which was a good thing.  But this story just wasn't deep enough for me.  Oh, the sex was deep enough as was the explanation of the Starfish Method.   Which I have to say was an unusual maneuver all on it's own.  I was just hoping for more story even though I knew from the blurb there would be sex of course.
There is a H.E.A. though with an Epilogue as well. 

BOOK REVIEW- Billionaire Bodyguard Attraction (Billionaire Bodyguards Book 1) by Joanne Wadsworth *

 He will sacrifice anything to protect her.

Twenty-one-year-old New Zealander Lydia Sands witnessed the hit-and-run of a powerful man’s son. Her bodyguard is shot when the killer returns to dispose of her and The Program puts her in hiding. A year later, the case remains unsolved and her handler needs to get her further from the killer’s reach. Lydia detests the thought of being close enough to endanger the man who nearly died protecting her, even if it’s aboard a super-yacht traveling the South Pacific.

Tyler Whitehall’s shooting stole weeks from his memory. Physically recovered, he oversees security for Whitehall Shipping. While on a family holiday, Tyler is suspicious of the woman accompanying them without notice or security clearance, as his nephew’s caregiver. Stronger than suspicion is his incomprehensible attraction to her, and his instinct to protect her.

Once sensitive information is leaked, Lydia undergoes re-identification to evade a killer and protect the man who’d die to save her. Her bodyguard has just begun his pursuit, and she may have underestimated his abilities.   AMAZON LINK
    3 STARS

This book had potential and the eBook cover was so attractive that it caused me to stop and read the book information.  Even the book information caused me to think that it would be pretty interesting.  However for me, it just left me feeling like it was "just okay."  Oh, it had the emotions, dangers, family and sexual heat and attraction.  It also had a couple of bouts of  recovering from amnesia.  I just wish I could have liked it more but  it just felt busy and not real deep.   But it looks like a lot of other people liked it.  I say that after looking at some of the reviews on this book.

BOOK REVIEW- Guarding The Billionaire: Part 1 by Jenny Devall *

 I’m not your typical woman, and I don’t have a typical job. I’m athletic, witty, intelligent, and I carry a gun; I’m a bodyguard.

I love receiving new assignments…usually. However, when I found out I’d be protecting the billionaire scientist, Charles Gaithers, I actually cringed. With his gorgeous gray eyes and sexy black hair, he may not remember me, but I remember him…and the time he called me “Fatty Costello” in high school.

The years have passed, and I’m no longer an overweight teen, yet one thing remains the same…what Charles Gaithers wants, Charles Gaithers gets. The crazy thing is that the thing he seems to want right now—is me! A night or two getting to know each other—in the physical sense—can’t hurt, can it?

My plan is simple. 1.) I’m going to protect Charles Gaithers from whoever is trying to kill him 2.) I’m going to protect my heart from breaking into a million pieces when this assignment is complete and our fun is over.

I only hope I can follow my plan.

NOTE:
This is Part 1 of a 3 part serial. Cliffhanger ending!
Books 2 and 3 are FREE with Kindle Unlimited. 
GOODREADS LINK 




  The unusual book information caught my eye.
Both of the main characters were so different from each other; total opposites. One thing I realized that they had in common was their work ethic. That and their attraction to each other. Heather manages to be professional and keep that desire under wraps for quite a while. But you know that isn't going to last forever right? But she still manages to call the shots when it comes to keeping things in line, most of the time.
Charles is a scientific genius with a large determination to come up with a drug cure for a specific disease. And his mother is a large part of that reason since she needs that cure. He is a genius but I thought he was stupid when it came to his decision with Heather after there is an attack at his business and she was just doing her job. No a genius move there.
I really wanted to like this story more and I was irritated at myself for not realizing that it was going to end on a cliffhanger. I don't think I will be following up the story because it just didn't pull me in quite enough.

BOOK REVIEW- The Billionaire's Bodyguard: Clean Billionaire Romance (Getaway Bay Billionaire Romance Book 5) by Elana Johnson

 Women can be rich too...and this female billionaire can usually take care of herself just fine, thank you very much. But she has no defense against her past...or the gorgeous man she hires to protect her from it.

Billionaire and mutual fund heiress Lexie Keller left her life in New York City after the housing market crashed and she lost the love of her life, made a few more bad decisions, and ended up on the front page of the tabloids once again. In Hawaii, she loves her anonymity and going to her Nine-0 Club meetings, but she's lonely and unfulfilled. She takes a job at The Straw, hoping the man of her dreams will walk through the line and order a smoothie.

He doesn't, but Jason Burnes, the reporter who came to the island to do a story on a fake engagement, stirs old feelings inside Lexie, as they once had a forbidden and secret relationship before Lexie's life fell apart in New York. When their worlds come back together, he's eager to see if they can make a new relationship from the ashes of their first one, seven years ago.

But when another man from Lexie's past threatens to unravel her life on the island, she hires Jason to keep her safe. He's her bodyguard, not her boyfriend. Maybe if she repeats the mantra long enough, it'll get deep into her heart. Will she be able to keep those two B-words separate while she and Jason figure out how to deal with the threat? Or will she take her second chance with Jason and get her tropical happily-ever-after?   AMAZON LINK
  3 STARS

The idea of the billionaire being a woman caught my eye and my interest right off the bat.    Sorry to say it just didn't pull me in as much as I had hoped for.  The emotions, angst and some danger was there as well as the pull of two people who loved each other.  Yes, the odds were stacked against them and does take a while for them to overcome them.  
I almost got lost more than once with all of the secondary people, friends that Lexie makes.  Sasha was pretty easy to distinguish because of her role as Lexie's boss on her part-time job at The Straw.  The others I had a hard time remembering who went with who when it came to couples and how they fit in. 
There is a hard earned H.E.A. with no cliffhangers so that is a plus.
 

BOOK REVIEW- Billionaire Bodyguard (Billionaire Bodyguard Series Book 1) by Kristi Avalon *

 He'll protect her at all costs...

Allison Dupree knows she shouldn't mix business with pleasure, especially when she's running from her past. Even after a one-night-stand with her sexy boss, she resists his attempts to further their personal and business relationship.

Billionaire CEO Logan Stone is used to getting what he wants - and he wants the future with Allison that she keeps denying him. When Allison reveals she's pregnant with his child, and a dangerous threat targets her and the baby, Logan discovers just how far he's willing to go to protect the future and family he can't live without.  AMAZON LINK
    4 STARS

This book had a good plot, and both Allison and Logan were interesting main characters.  Logan is one strong personality who knows what he wants.  He also finds he can't steam roll over Allison.  He not only desires her physically but he also admires her intelligence and many other things about her too. It takes a while for him to realize how traumatized that she has been by her ex.  That was very clearly shown. 
It was rolling along really well and I was enjoying it.  Then there  were so many sex scenes while well written felt like they were starting to overshadow the story.  That I didn't enjoy quite so much.  
You know the time when the heroine does something so stupid you can hardly believe it?  Yep,  Allison goes and does that and had me shaking my head.  
Although the story does come to a good conclusion with no cliffhanger. 

BOOK REVIEW- Inside Threat (Omega Sector: Under Siege #4) by Janie Crouch

 If he wanted her help catching a killer... he probably shouldn't have seduced her then thrown her in prison.

Hayley Green never wanted to see Omega special agent Cain Bennett again. Ever. He seduced her, then sent her to prison for hacking, and Hayley's only just started piecing her life back together. Except now Cain needs Hayley's help to catch a murderer. Their past is colliding with their still-smoldering attraction...and the only thing more dangerous than the killer is the secrets Hayley's been keeping.
 Hayley and Cain have a complicated history. Cain doesn't trust Haley but he can’t solve his case without her help. The closer they get to catching a killer, the harder it is for Haley to reveal the truth…AMAZON LINK
  5 STARS


GOODREADS LINK 

The books name change threw me when it came to finding it on Amazon but the book itself was excellent.  The title I had originally was "Inside Threat" but it was still subtitled Omega Sector: Under Siege #4 so that helped finding it.
I enjoyed every drop of this tense, edge of the seat story.  Excellent people, whether you liked them a lot or not.  I did like them and the secondary people in the story as well. There is plenty of emotion, mysteries, danger and close calls with death. 
I liked how everything came to a dramatic conclusion.  Everything is exposed and overcome except for the one main thing that still concerns Cain and the agency.  I'm sure that thread continues in this series.  Although I'm not sure how many books it's going to take to get to that answer.  

RATTLE! | Official Lyric Video | Elevation Worship

BOOK REVIEW- Christmas At Timberwoods by Fern Michaels *

 It’s the most wonderful time of the year . . . and for Heather Andrews, security manager at Timberwoods Mall, undoubtedly the busiest. But this Christmas, Heather has more to contend with than frazzled parents and disgruntled Santas. Angela Steinhart, a young woman who designed the mall’s spectacular holiday displays, has had a premonition that tragedy will strike on Christmas Eve. And Angela’s visions have a habit of coming true.

Heather would love to dismiss the warning as holiday stress. But the more she gets to know the quiet, lonely Angela, the more she trusts her. In Lex, her boss, Heather finds an ally—and the glimmer of something more profound. And as the days count down, it will take all of her wits, hope, and unflagging courage to stop someone from destroying the season in one split second . .
.AMAZON LINK
   3 STARS

This one was something that I had mixed feelings on.  Yes, it was intense with a different kind of story lines.  Interesting people in the story but also kind of depressing at times too.
Not your usual kind of Christmas story  and I almost gave up on it.  I found it hard to be pulled into it until later when things intensified and I ended up wanting to know how things ended. 
It does have a good ending with things coming to a conclusion on all points.

BOOK REVIEW- Marrying Winterborne by Lisa Kleypas

 Part 2 of the Ravenels series

A ruthless tycoon. Savage ambition has brought common-born Rhys Winterborne vast wealth and success. In business and beyond, Rhys gets exactly what he wants. And from the moment he meets the shy, aristocratic Lady Helen Ravenel, he is determined to possess her. If he must take her virtue to ensure she marries him, so much the better . . . A sheltered beauty. Helen has had little contact with the glittering, cynical world of London society. Yet Rhys's determined seduction awakens an intense mutual passion. Helen's gentle upbringing belies a stubborn conviction that only she can tame her unruly husband. As Rhys's enemies conspire against them, Helen must trust him with her darkest secret. The risks are unthinkable . . . the reward, a lifetime of incomparable bliss. And it all begins with… Marrying Mr. Winterborne.   AMAZON LINK
        4 STARS


 I liked this book, with some reservations. It definitely started out strong right at the very first chapter. I liked that, it got my attention, and it showed what a strong personality Rhys had. It was a pretty bold action on Helen's part too, considering the era she lived in and what was and wasn't allowed for a woman. Especially one in mourning, there were rules. And she was boldly bending and breaking them. She took a huge risk and it doesn't end up being the only one.
It was quite a bargain that came about when it came to their re-engagement. Helen had been so incredibly shy but she did her darnedest to break that because it had caused problems that led to a broken engagement in the first place. Helen was beautiful and fragile in appearance. Being tiny and having almost an ethereal appearance caused people to overprotect her. But if she wanted Rhys, she was going to have to break out of that shell. Besides she's a lot tougher than she seems; its just in different ways. I have to give her credit because although Rhys was intense and intimidating in some ways, she was also so drawn to him. I ended up liking both main characters. There were also some really good secondary people in the book. That includes Helen's two younger sisters.
It was good to see that Helen did not feel like she was marrying below her social standing and she valued so much of Rhys. She refused to think less of him just because he is a Welshman and someone in business (which was looked down upon in society). In fact she felt such a tenderness for him, and those things that made him who he was, even down to his accent. Helen had slipped under Rhys guard as well and he was surprised on how as a tough guy, he felt such a tenderness toward her. She seemed to bring a calmness to him.

I said I liked it with some reservations. Here is one of them: with all the sneaking around and having pre-marital sex (a fair amount of it too) there wasn't enough concern about Helen getting pregnant. Rhys was aware but couldn't seem to get Helen to realize the dangers. AND he didn't take any measures to even try to prevent pregnancy either. Helen was thinking if she got pregnant, they could hurry the wedding. At those times, she wasn't even considering how screwed she would be if he died before they could marry. But he began to get a wake up call about that possibility.

There was a fair amount of sex like I mentioned, detailed sex. After awhile, I felt like it bogged the story down quite a bit. Of course, there was also romance too. And when the secret that Helen has is revealed, its a doozy. She had her suspicions about it being true but is not one that she is even happy to have confirmed. I don't want to spoil the surprise so I'm not giving any spoilers about it.

There is a H.E.A. for Helen and Rhys, as they got to understand more about each other.

BOOK REVIEW- Killer Daddy by Eve Langlais

Part 5 of Bad Boys Inc. series

 This daddy is a stone cold killer.

You want to know how you give a guy a heart attack? Leave a baby on his doorstep with a note saying: Congrats, you're a daddy.

Not that Declan believes it for a minute. However, until that paternity test proves him right, he's in charge of changing diapers.

Screw that. He's hiring a nanny.

A hot nanny.

A woman who has no idea she's tempting a killer.

Just like those people trying to kidnap his baby have no idea he's not a daddy you should mess with.

But they're about to learn.   AMAZON
 LINK
      5  STARS

I love this story. It was intense, funny with great main characters.  And one of those main characters is baby Harper.  I also liked that it wasn't anything like I was expecting. But as it unfolded I found I liked it even better.  This story was so full of action, hilarious banter, and intrigue.
Declan had even more levels to him than even he realized.   He also had a really good team members who were his family that he can trust.
The nanny was not only hot but also full of her own surprises.  I don't want to say too much and spoil it for other readers. I will say that the nanny has skills!
Even though I figured out the villain pretty quickly in the story, there still was plenty of room for the surprise about him at the end.  There was also another dangerous twist that I did NOT see coming towards the end. I liked that. 
I enjoyed the whole story and look forward to reading more books in this particular series!
 

BOOK REVIEW- I Temporarily Do: A Romantic Comedy (Cordially Invited Series Book 1) by Ellie Cahill *

 A little white lie. A little white wedding. A pair of roommates in over their heads.

Days before she's set to move across the country and start a prestigious graduate program, a con artist leaves Emmy with no where to live and less than zero dollars in her bank account. But her day doesn't seem quite so bad compared to Beckett's--his fiancée called off their wedding just days before they tie the knot. Now he's single and ineligible for his place in married student housing.

So what are a girl without a home and a guy without a wife supposed to do? A quickie wedding in Vegas will solve both their problems. It's a business arrangement, and no one even needs to know. They'll just get an annulment in a few months. What could go wrong?

Only Beckett forgot to mention his new apartment is a one-bedroom. And neither of them counted on their new friends at Middlesex University thinking they're a great couple.
 The platonic newlywed game might be harder to play than Emmy thought. Especially when it starts to feel less than platonic.   AMAZON LINK
                     3 STARS

I had high hopes for this book but for me it just didn't get there.  While it started out with two people who could have pulled me into the story, they just didn't.  While it had potential and some humor I just couldn't finish it.  I rarely do that but at 50% on my kindle I just gave up. 
I'm not saying that others might not enjoy it but it was just written too "young" for  me.  It's hard to even say that though because I have read different categories of books that included YA and enjoyed them.
I hate to be negative about an author's hard work but the most honest thing to say is that it just wasn't my cup of tea. 
 

BOOK REVIEW- FULL-TIME FATHER by Susan Mallery

 Computer consultant Parker Hamilton's life is thrown into a tailspinwhen a woman named Erin Ridgway suddenly shows up on his doorstep,claiming that he is the father of her four-year-old niece, Christie.But how can Parker be a father? What will he say to his long-lostdaughter? And why is the beautiful Erin suddenly giving him a chanceto be part of Christie's life?

After Erin Ridgway's sister dies in childbirth, Erin promises herselfshe'll do everything she can for her sister's baby, and that includesfinding the baby's father. When she finally meets the reclusiveParker, she wants to give him the chance to know his daughter, butwhat could a lonely millionaire know about raising a little girl? Andis she just imagining the chemistry between her and Parker?  AMAZON LINK
      3 STARS

 This book had it's moments.  It was sweet even with some of the tragedies that the main characters had gone through.
Erin and Parker had both lost someone and were working their way through grief.   Erin was further along the healing process though because she had to move forward.  Christie might be her niece because of her twin sister Stacey but she was raising her as her daughter.  That came first and Erin had sacrificed a lot to be that single mother.  Stacey had been the wilder, more jump into things sister of the two.  Erin was always "waiting her turn".  That pattern had developed over the years because of the smaller amount of money they had at their disposal.  Stacey often told Erin she was always waiting for life because she was afraid to  reach out for what she wanted.  She didn't make any moves but waited; that theme comes up a few times in the story.  It was a good point though.
Parker was afraid but just in a different way.  He has a tremendous amount of guilt and is always afraid that he isn't enough. Something that it looks like he learned from his parents.  When the truth was, they (the parents) weren't enough.
Two colorful people in the story were of course, Christie and the housekeeper Kiki.  Christie was entertaining and made me smile a time or two.  Kiki was a whole different kettle of fish.  She was unique, colorful in the way she dressed and the way she lived her life.  She embraced life with her arms wide open, and unashamedly.  Her response to a tragedy in her life was totally different from the two main characters. 
The only thing that got old for me after a while was the continual angst over several issues.  It caused the story to drag on and on.
There is a H.E.A. and a good Epilogue.

BOOK REVIEW- Love and Shenanigans (Ballybeg, Book 1) by Zara Keane *

A romantic comedy featuring a crashed wedding, a puppy with attitude, and a second chance romance.

Falling for the groom…

Three days before leaving Ireland on the adventure of a lifetime, Fiona Byrne returns to her hometown to attend the family wedding from hell. When she discovers the drunken vows she exchanged with the groom during a wild Las Vegas trip eight years previously mean they're legally married, her future plans ricochet out of control.

Gavin Maguire's life is low on drama, high on stability, and free of pets. But Gavin hadn't reckoned on Fiona blasting back into his life and crashing his wedding. In the space of twenty-four hours, he loses a fiancée and a job, and gains a wife and a puppy. Can he salvage his bland-but-stable life? More importantly, can he resist losing his heart to Fiona all over again?  AMAZON LINK
                                                                3 STARS
 B00KE98RP2


I had a problem with this one.  Probably because I wanted to like it more.  It had good "bones" but just didn't deliver (for me).  I didn't hate it but I sure didn't love it either.  
The story did have some  humor and good friends but it was also pretty predictable.
It did end on a H.E.A.