BOOK REVIEW- A Cowboy for Keeps (Chestnut Creek #3) by Laura Drake *

Description

From a "fabulous new voice in romantic fiction" (NYT bestselling author Lael Miller): an arrogant cowboy meets a headstrong woman determined to take custody of his niece, only to realize that she may be the family he was always searching for.
There's not much that could rattle a cowboy like Reese St. James. But when his twin brother dies in a car accident, Reese is stunned to discover he has a six-month old niece, Sawyer. Wanting to make up for lost time, Reese heads down to Unforgiven, New Mexico, to bring her home. He doesn't plan on Sawyer's guardian giving him any trouble, but the intriguing, independent woman is turning out to be more than he bargained for.
Lorelei West had given up hope of having a family of her own until her sister's tragic death brought little Sawyer into her life. And now there's no way she's going to let Reese take her away. Lorelei knows hotshot, good-looking cowboys like him -- she's dated enough of them -- and she intends to stand her ground. Yet the more time Reese and Lorelei spend together, the harder it is to deny the attraction building between them. But opening their hearts to a baby is one thing -- can they also open their hearts to the possibility of a happily-ever-after?  AMAZON LINK
                                 4 STARS
           
What a good emotional story.  Both Reese and Lorelei were strong main characters, written with depth.  I enjoyed them both. Even when no matter how hard he tried Reese manages to open his mouth and inserts his foot.  He even admits he's not good with words.  How likable is that?  It didn't take long to begin to cheer for him, especially when you see how wounded and alone he has been.  
Lorelei has wounds of her own.   And being around Reese just seems to bring out the worst in her.  She spends a lot of time saying, "I'm sorry."  She knows she's been snippy and unfair.  And that really grinds her.  She has such a heavy load of responsibilities but to her Sawyer is a joyful one. One of those responsibilities is her mother who she dearly loves.  A mother who is often confused by the stroke she suffered. 
There is also humor in the story especially in the way both Reese and Lorelei talk with Sawyer. 
 The community where Lorelei lives is like a loving family.  It might be a gossipy one but it holds some interesting people.  They add a lot to the story. 
You know there is going to be plenty of misunderstandings between the M.C.'s.   But towards the end there is also at least one person who stirs things up too.   
It ends with a H.E.A. and a solid enjoyable Epilogue.


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

BOOK REVIEW- Blow Me Away: A laugh out loud, friends to lovers rom com! (Mile High Matched Book 2) by Christina Hovland *

It's all fun and games until somebody falls in love...

Jase Dvornakov has always loved women, 80's hair band music, and things that go boom. He used to disarm bombs in the Navy, but he's back in Denver after a mission overseas went sideways and destroyed his future, including his marriage. Now he arranges flowers in his family's floral business because flowers don't explode.

Cookie-baker extraordinaire, Heather Reese, has had one too many rounds of heartache, so she's sworn off men and prefers to spend her evenings binge-watching game shows. Plus her no-men rule gives her time to focus on her dream come true--Heather's Cookie Co.--her very own bake shop with an underground following for naughty shaped treats. She refuses to be interested in the hot-shot florist across the street. He is trouble with a capital T. Sexy trouble, but still, a hook-up with Jase is a hard nope.

Desperate to avoid his family's incessant matchmaking, a fake breakup with the beautiful Heather is just what the florist ordered. If his family believes Heather decimated his heart, they'll leave him alone. Heather isn't so keen on the idea, but Jase is determined to make it worth her while. When a pretend breakup becomes the real romance neither was expecting, together they'll have to decide if it's finally time to light the fuse on love...AMAZON LINK
    3.5 STARS

Both of the main characters were interesting people; quirks and all.  And speaking of quirky people ALL of Jase's family fits that bill.  Especially his grandmother who is one hilarious force of nature.  She does things her way, no matter any opposition.  
I found this hard to rate because I really enjoyed the humor that played a big part in this story.  It's emotional as well.  
However after a while I kept waiting for Jase to find his backbone when it came to dealing with his family.  It makes it all that much harder for him though because he genuinely loves them. 
I found his taking the easy route a bit old after a while. 
There IS a H.E.A. though which I always like to see.
 

BOOK REVIEW- Cornered at Christmas (Rushing Creek Crime Spree Book 1) by Barb Han

 He’ll do whatever it takes

To keep his family safe.

Mitch Kent is shocked when he sees his wife, Kimberly, just before the anniversary of her supposed death. He learns she faked her own death to protect her family from an ominous threat and came back to see her husband and her young twins one last time. But she was followed, and now she’s desperate for her husband’s help. Mitch will need a miracle to reunite his broken family…if Kimberly’s dark past doesn’t kill him first.   AMAZON LINK
   3 STARS

This was a good EMOTIONAL story.  All of the emotion also often dragged the story down a bit for me. 
True the main characters were good ones with a depth to who they are.  And Kimberly's past gets opened up bit by bit.  The main facts are there but there are also things that she has kept close to herself.  
Mitch has always had a great support system when it comes to family.  And they show up in this story and do have his back once again.  He even has a few really close friends that he would trust with his life.  All the things that Kimberly has lacked for years.   
Things come to a dramatic confrontation towards the end.  With a few twists and an extra surprise at the end.  

BOOK REVIEW- The Princess & Her Bodyguard (The Cinderella Escape Book 2) by Mindy Neff *

 Contemporary Romance Small Town Romance Romantic Comedy

Book Details

A house full of babies and a very brawny man…

After narrowly escaping marriage to the wrong man, Raquel Santiago flees to a beautiful little village in France to regain her independence—away from the strict protocols of a princess in training. She should have known she couldn’t hide forever.

When unrest befalls their country, Cole Martinez, head of Valldoria’s Royal Guard, vows to protect Raquel and her virtue, to never leave her side—despite the heiress’s protests. But he didn’t bargain for baby-sitting duties to boot!

Raquel’s small country home isn’t big enough for her, her baby photography studio and her bodyguard—especially one as sexy and infuriating as Cole! He is always underfoot, watching her, touching her…How can she ignore him when the tough man held a baby so tenderly?
AMAZON LINK
   3  STARS

This was a sweet, charming, not real deep but clean romance story.  
It was nice to see Raquel come into her real self once she has escaped from the rigid protocol of her Princess life.  She has some serious skills when it came to her photography.  And the babies add a touch of whimsy especially when  Cole gets unwillingly dumped into the mix.
Cole is used to being in charge.  He gives an order and it gets followed.  He mistakenly believes he can do the same with Raquel.  He learns differently pretty quickly.  She's fought too hard for her freedom to just give in and go home.   
 There is some humor, attraction and a bit of danger that happens towards the end.  It also has Raquel trying to practice seduction skills on Cole.  Which has Cole running for the hills as much as he can.  He's a man of honor and sees no future with Raquel. 
There is a sweet H.E.A. with a quick peek into Book #3 which features Prince Anthony.  He appeared in this book and was quite an ally to and for Raquel.   He was the laughing, almost like a brother that Raquel never had.


I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

BOOK REVIEW- The Handfasting (The Knights of de Ware Book 0.5) by Glynnis Campbell *

 A French knight betrothed to a Highland heiress falls in love with his spirited bride, then realizes he's been tricked into wedding the wrong sister.

When Sir Noël de Ware comes from France to claim his betrothed—the most beautiful heiress in the Highlands—he's sure he's been given the best holiday gift ever…until he discovers the spirited lass he's wedded and bedded is not the right sister. Ysenda of Rivenloch never intended to be a counterfeit bride, and when she begins to fall in love with her handsome husband, she becomes trapped in her own deception. Only true love and a Yuletide wish can set things straight and grant them a happily ever after.  AMAZON LINK
        4 STARS

What a charming, emotional story.  Oh, it had it's sad moments in it too.  Like how Ysenda's father, the laird treated his physically deformed son.  He treated him like an he's an idiot.  The laird mocks him and encourages others to do the same.  

Ysenda must handfast with Sir Noel pretending to be Cathalan, or her beloved brother, Cambeul, will lose his life.  Ysenda knows that it is no idle threat that her father is making. 
It was really easy to like Noel and see that he is a man of honor.  I also liked how he interacted with Ysenda. Yes, there is an quick attraction between the two.  
I felt like this was a pretty full story story for something with a shorter amount of pages.  There is humor in the story which I always enjoy.  And it comes to a smile worthy ending!

BOOK REVIEW- Soccer Mom (Killer Moms #1) by Eve Langlais *

 A Bad Boy Inc. Spin-off series.

 Can a woman with her past and secrets ever take a chance on love?

Being a single mom is tough, but Carla doesn’t mind the minivan and the PTA meetings. What does concern her are the random acts of violence striking too close to home.

Has someone discovered her secret alter ego? An assassin for hire, Carla’s done her best to cover her tracks.

Is it enough?


The coach who keeps flirting with her doesn’t appear to suspect that she’s more than she seems; however, when danger threatens, Carla won’t be able to hide the fact that she’s a killer mom.

And she’ll do anything to keep her son safe.  AMAZON LINK    
    3 STARS

This was a good story idea with interesting main characters.  Carla is one hair trigger momma when it comes to protecting her son Nico.    You touch her son, you die, for real.  And no one will find the body now or maybe ever. 
Philip was a tough guy to figure out at first.  I have to admit he kind of came off as kind of  a buttoned up "suit".   But keep digging there's more to him that just that image. Philip's boss was even harder to figure out at least at first.  But it wasn't long before I suspected his real motives.  Towards the end of the book, that suspicion was confirmed.  
I really wanted to like this book more than I did.  There is humor which did help.   Maybe pulling back on all the sexual scenes that could have been a little less detailed.  While it could be viewed as well written, I found myself skimming over them after awhile.  Probably not everyone agrees with me on that though.
Looking for a H.E.A. ?  They get one doing it their way! 


 

BOOK REVIEW- HOT SEAL (HOT SEAL Team - Book 1) by Lynn Raye Harris *

 Fake a relationship with his ex-wife? Not on your life!

When a terrorist steals a drug submarine, Navy SEAL Dane "Viking" Erikson finds himself thrust into his first HOT mission with an unexpected partner: his ex-wife, DEA agent Ivy McGill. Dane doesn't want to work with the one woman who still twists him up inside, but he can't refuse a direct order from his commanding officer.

Ivy's on a mission of her own--to put the ruthless drug dealer she blames for her mother's death out of business for good. If she has to work with Dane to get it done, she will. And she absolutely will not fall for his hard muscles and killer smile ever again. Once burned, twice shy.

But Dane and Ivy have never been able to keep their hands off each other. While they may believe that sex and love don't intertwine, they'll find out what's real and what isn't when a dangerous player takes matters into his own hands. They'll need to be more than a team to survive what's coming their way--and it's not going to be easy!   AMAZON LINK
                   3 STARS

While I liked the story it also didn't really pull me as much as I would have liked.  Maybe I'm getting a bit jaded from reading a lot of similar stories. 
When I first saw the book, I thought the title meant it was about a Hot Seal.  While that was true, I did like that it also meant more.  That being an elite, special division of many different parts of the military working together.  It was so secret that many just thought it was a rumor. That it didn't even exist.
Both Dane and Ivy were pretty good main characters.   With a whole lot of yet to be unloaded baggage.   So, you know there is a lot of emotions to deal with right along with the dangers of their jobs. 
There is a good cast of fellow comrades like Ace Martin who partners in the DEA with Ivy.  We also get introduced to the team members of HOT.  
All teams find themselves with two main enemies, the Freedom Force and the crime family of the Ruizes.  
There is a twist towards the end that I didn't expect.  

Zach Williams - Song of Deliverance (Lyric Video)

So Good to Me - Zach Williams

BOOK REVIEW- Adeline, Getting Even (Iron Ladies Book 1) by DanielleNorman *

 Here, take this, you need it.”
Those words used to mean something different to Adeline Morgan.
Once upon a time, they preceded her next high.

Now they had a deeper meaning, they were the sacred code of a whisper network of women.
Women who'd been helped by The Iron Ladies.
The wives of controlling husbands.
The partners of cheating men.
The lovers of playboys leading secret lives.

As an Iron Lady, Adeline helped them all. And she loved every minute of it.
And with each case Adeline grew jaded.

Every man had the potential to break hearts and destroy lives.
Until she met the one determined to prove her wrong.
He didn’t want to break her heart…he wanted to steal it.  AMAZON LINK

  4 STARS

The unusual story-line caught my attention and so did the stunning eBook cover.

I liked this book...but.  I know it's an adult story but does it really need so many F bombs?  It seems like the only one not using them is 4 year old Noelle.  Kidding but not kidding.  

The story-line it's self I enjoyed.   It reminded me slightly of another series by Fern Michaels (The Sisterhood) yet it remained quite different too.   The way they got new clients was one way and how they worked with them was another.  There wasn't violence but there was justice, and a safe new future for their clients.  A future that the Iron Ladies made sure they had help with.

  Adeline and Riley were both good main characters and their "romance " was unique. There will be some sexual scenes as well.  It was also good to see Adeline's hidden vulnerabilities.  What a mouth she had on her.  Pretty much whatever  she thought came out of her mouth, without apology. 

The rest of the Iron Ladies worked so well together but they also weren't shy about verbally messing with each other.  That added a fair amount of humor too. Can't wait to read their stories. 

Someone else I'd like to read his story is Barrett Huxley.  He works with the Iron Ladies as an attorney.  A good guy and I wonder what woman he will end up with. 

Good ending to the story and also an enjoyable Epilogue.

BOOK REVIEW- Dead Heat (Outlaw Ridge, Texas Book 2) by Joan Reeves *

She ran to the only man who had the skills to save her.

Sabrina Snow knew she was going to get herself killed if she didn’t get help. Someone was after her, and he wasn't going to stop. She ran to the only man she trusted...the only man who had the skills to save her. Too bad he probably hated her.

But she owed him the truth even though she'd wanted to keep the knowledge from him. What if she were killed? John needed to know where to look. If he'd hated her before, what would he feel once he learned the depth of her deception?

Navy SEAL John Galloway doesn't trust Sabrina. She lies for a living so how can he? So what's he supposed to do when she shows up in the last place he ever expected to see her?  AMAZON LINK
                        4 STARS

A good story filled with plenty of emotion and past histories of the M.C.'s  
Even as I said that this story is filled with the M.C.'s histories that is mainly  their history together.  Much of Sabrina's past is hidden especially from John.  Secrets and lies is how he often described it.  And Wilson has played a HUGE part in their story as well. He's someone who took Sabrina in at age 13 and trained her from that time on.  To her, she sees him as a cold person but still almost a surrogate father figure.  As the story unfolds you'll see that he has interfered in her life.  Doing what HE thinks is in her best interest. 
There is a short period of time where the story felt like it was starting to drag down. But things do pick up. 
There is one particular secret that Sabrina has held that I was suspecting.  But there was even more to that secret that I had even guessed at. 
 John still loves Sabrina even as he hates himself at times because of it.
He is surrounded by family and friends and they will definitely need them.
 Things get really intense and interesting as a dangerous challenge is met.  Leading to a H.E.A. that includes an Epilogue. 
By the way, the eBook cover really caught my eye, nice choice.   

BOOK REVIEW- The Prince & His Cinderella Small Town Royal Romance (The Cinderella Escape Book 1) by Mindy Neff *

Book Details

Magical hot springs. A memory glitch. And a positive pregnancy test.

Briana Duvaulle couldn’t be pregnant! She hadn’t done the deed…had she? And to make matters worse—now that it’s too late—the most exciting man Brianna has ever met has launched a no-holds-barred romantic pursuit of her!

Although Joseph Castillo showers her with gifts and affections, it’s the lure of his passion and devotion that Brianna can’t resist. But just when she starts believing in fairy tales and happily ever after, she learns he’s a Prince!

She’s a small town girl from Ohio and he’s next in line to rule an entire country. She can’t expect him to compromise his impeccable lineage for her and her mystery baby—especially when his family has arranged for him to marry someone else.

Is it time for this Cinderella to escape?  AMAZON LINK
           4 STARS

I liked this story but with some reservations.  I was charmed by how smitten Joseph was and how he pulled out all the stops to win Briana. 
He was so tender so often that it was hard not to be charmed with his interactions with her.
Briana was so head over heels with her attraction towards Joseph (coup de foudre the French phrase for, love at first sight).  To be honest they both were hit by that feeling!  For Briana it couldn't have happened at a worst time.   That memory blank will definitely cause agony for her AND Joseph.  The emotional roller coaster is definitely in play for both of the main characters. 
The world building when it came to the prince and the different locations where they visited was well described.
 The slowdown of the story seemed to come into play for me with the constant rehashing of Briana's maddening memory loss and pregnancy.  And her sense of agony of not being "princess material."  All important parts and even though I felt it stayed there a bit too long it also kept me reading.  I wanted to see what the author would come up with as a solution. 
We also get to see the fear that her cousin, Crystal has about marrying the man who loves her.  She worries about being unable to have children although the man she loves still wants to marry her. 
There is a H.E.A. and it was a interesting twist or two that brings it about.  All in all a charming although not super deep story.


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

BOOK REVIEW- Rafe (Texas Boudreau Brotherhood Book 1) by Kathy Ivan *

 When Sheriff Rafe Boudreau catches Tessa Maxwell climbing through the window of a house where she doesn’t belong, the crime rate isn’t the only thing that spikes. Turns out, trouble has followed the small-town schoolteacher to Shiloh Springs, and Rafe and the rest of the Boudreau clan must step in to keep her safe. Can they decipher the clues and end the danger Tessa faces before time runs out?
AMAZON LINK
   4 STARS

This was an easy, fast book to read.  I liked the Boudreau family with Ms. Patti and her husband Douglas being at it's center.  And it's a huge family at that.  There's a story that goes with each one of the "boys" which they have gathered to their hearts .  I was concerned that I would be overwhelmed by all of the the young men in the Boudreau family but it didn't happen. 
The way that Tessa and Rafe met did bring a smile to my face.  And their courtship was sweet.  Tessa had her doubts about dating again even though Rafe seems to be a good guy.  But her ex-boyfriend Trevor burned her big time with his creepy possessiveness. 
Family and community play a large part of the story until things take a dangerous turn towards the end.  Quite the twist it was too.  But it all ends with a H.E.A. which was what I wanted to see.  It was also so sweet that Ms. Patti and family had already embraced Tessa as family way BEFORE the H.E.A.  Nice.

BOOK REVIEW- A Cowboy to Remember (Cowboys of California Book 1) by Rebekah Weatherspoon

 In this brand-new series from award-winning author Rebekah Weatherspoon, a charming cowboy and his sleeping beauty find their modern-day happily ever after . . .

With a headline spot on a hit morning show and truly mouth-watering culinary skills, chef Evie Buchanan is perched on the edge of stardom. But at an industry party, a fall lands Evie in the hospital—with no memory of who she is. Scrambling to help, Evie’s assistant contacts the only “family” Evie has left, close friends who run the luxury dude ranch in California where Evie grew up. Evie has no recollection of them—until former rodeo champion Zach Pleasant walks into her hospital room, and she realizes his handsome face has been haunting her dreams . . .

Zach hasn’t seen Evie in years—not since their families conducted a campaign to make sure their childhood friendship never turned into anything more. When the young cowboy refused to admit the feelings between them were real, Evie left California, making it clear she never wanted to see Zach again. Now he refuses to make the same mistake twice. Starting fresh is a risk when they have a history she can’t recall, but Zach can’t bear to let go of her now. Can he awaken the sleeping beauty inside her who might still love him?  AMAZON LINK
                  3 STARS

I had high hopes for this book, especially since I had read a preview of it a while back.  However, I found myself somewhat disappointed when I finally got a chance to read the whole book.  Don't get me wrong, it did have some good points too.
The whole thing started out really well and I wanted to know what happened with Evie.  She was a good main character and it was easy to get involved with her outcome.  
I liked Zac as well but you can see that he had to grow up a bit and has in a lot of ways.  He's charming and fun and does add humor as well as angst to the story.
The pace of the book was slow and at times seemed to drag(at least for me).   Several issues were mentally rehashed so often that this also slowed the story too.
Oh, the other characters  in the story were good but there were so many.  I will say though that the Pleasant family were an interesting group.  I found that Zac's older brother interested me even more than Zac.  He had so many hidden depths and needed his own love story. 
Even though I knew that Evie was a professional chef,  there was a fair amount of cooking information, as she tries to recover her memory.
 If you are looking for an emotional story with good characters, good families and a H.E.A. then it does have that. 

BOOK REVIEW- Zone of Action by Cathy Skendrovich

 Description

Former terror cell expert Audrey Jenkins has seen enough death and destruction to last a lifetime. When she uncovers her ex, Brett, a higher-ranking officer in her unit, selling military secrets, she turns him in and returns to the simpler life she has embraced since leaving the army.

CID Special Agent Cam Harris is a career military man with a strong sense of duty. When a military prisoner who once saved his life in Afghanistan escapes while in his custody, he requests the assignment to track him down.

Cam's manhunt leads him to Audrey's door. His prisoner—her ex—will resurface here, he’s sure of it. The feisty woman wants nothing to do with hunting down her ex, but when a terror cell she’s all-too-familiar with launches a deadly attack on army intelligence soldiers and officers, she knows it’s Brett.

Helping Cam is the right thing to do. But the attraction burning between them may be the mistake that gets her and Cam killed...   AMAZON LINK
                       4 STARS

This was a tense drama with plenty of twists, turns and surprises.  It also has a romance that develops at what could be considered the worst possible time.  Of course if these things hadn't  happened, the main characters might not have ever met.  
I liked that Audrey was portrayed as a strong woman.  I liked it even better that Cam not only wasn't intimidated but was attracted to strong women.  Not that he'd had a lot of time for dating because he had such a heavy case load.
Audrey was good at what she did in the military but she walked away after a disaster that she felt responsible for.   The memories assaulted her as did her doubts about her ability to read people.   How good was she really if she couldn't prevent the disaster in the field and her disaster of a relationship with Brett? 
The story was good when it came to describing the situations and locations around them.  
There felt like there were several times that certain things were rehashed a bit too much.  Like how hot Cam's body was for one example.  But maybe that is to be expect, because eventually there was some heated moments.
Having said that though, it kept my interest all the way through.  

Brett turned out to be a pretty well drawn turncoat.   The betrayal that Cam and others felt when it came to what Brett had done was real.  They could hardly believe this was from a man they had known but they had all seen the  proof.
There is also some humor in the story which I enjoyed.   The M.C.'s also get caught with their pants down at least once.  
There is a good ending with a H.E.A. of sorts, filled with promise.  But also with the opening for further stories because part of the threat  from the terror cell is still out there.


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

BOOK REVIEW- He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not (: A Steamy Romantic Comedy) by Iris Morland

 I’m a good girl—until I got drunk in Vegas and married a panties-flaming-hot Irishman.

Oops.

I’ve always lived my life by the rules. Unlike my two sisters, I’m the good one. The responsible one. Going outside my comfort zone is when I wear red lipstick before five PM.

That comfort zone of mine? It’s smashed to smithereens on a wild night in Las Vegas when I met—and married—Liam Gallagher.

After one shot of tequila, then two, then too many to count, a good girl’s rules tend to disappear. And so do her panties, and her bra, and various other articles of clothing when she’s with an Irishman who knows his way around a woman’s body.

Now my husband wants us to stay married. For six months. He says it’ll be worth my while. Considering our chemistry underneath the sheets, I can’t say that he’s wrong.

Liam isn’t safe, though. Liam definitely isn’t comfortable. He’s like the male equivalent of wearing red lipstick in the daytime all wrapped up in an irresistible, dangerous package.

Yet this stubborn Irishman isn’t about to let me go, drunken Princess Bride-themed Vegas wedding or no.

Now I have to decide if I’m brave enough to break the rules for love.  AMAZON LINK
                                         3 STARS

I had high hopes for this book but it didn't really do it for me.  Just wasn't my cup of tea.  I did give it 3 Stars on Amazon because there was interesting main characters, fairly interesting secondary people and humor. 
I know the blurb said that it was steamy and yes it was.  But on the downside for me was it often came off as smutty to me.   The language for sure and some of Liam and Mari's physical interactions as well.  
But there was also some charming times with the 2 M.C.'s.  Some temper tantrums and  not JUST from them.  So you can see my dilemma on how to rate it right?   So I settled with this rating because even if it wasn't my cup of tea it did have a few good things about it.  And it did have a H.E.A. 

BOOK REVIEW- Second Chance Bride (All Brides Are Beautiful Book 2) by Joan Reeves

 He was the only man she wanted—and the one man she could never have.

She gave up everything and reinvented herself as wealthy, successful Constance Quinn, a woman who carefully guards her emotions. Yet, she longs for all that she's denied herself. The only problem is there's no room for love or even for relationships in her rigidly controlled existence until she decides to find the part of herself that was lost in her transformation.

"A blonde with curves in all the right places." That's what Alex Martinez thinks when he meets Constance. When they touch, something hot and urgent passes between them. Their attraction is mutual. Their desire is palpable.

Although Constance cannot resist a kiss from Alex, she realizes she's playing with fire and resolves to keep her distance from him. Alex won't be kept at arm's length. She yearns for him. As their desire grows, so does her fear that Alex might discover the secret she is desperate to keep from him.

She wants to yield to him and to her passion for him, but can she have him and keep her secret?

Second Chance Bride is Book 2 of All Brides Are Beautiful. Learn what happened to make Constance the cold and unloving stepmother to Maddie Quinn in Book 1, April Fool Bride. Can Constance be redeemed? Maddie, now happily married to Jake Becker, thinks so. Read this sexy, heartwarming romance novel and decide for yourself.   AMAZON LINK
              4 STARS
Although I liked this book, I can't say that is a favorite of mine.  It just didn't pull me in as much as I had hoped. Maybe for me, it was over detailed when it came to all the things purchased in multiple shopping trips.  It was also detailed when it came to the houses and locations.  Still I have to give the author credit for doing a good job of being descriptive, just that it didn't work as well for me.
 Yes, it did have good main characters and that includes Ian who is Constance's natural son. 
Also enter in Dr. Sydney Union, someone that you can just see is going to be a BIG problem.  And she sure does because she wants what she wants no matter what.  
Things do ramp up as we comes closer to the end and there are several surprises in store.  That was something that I did like.  There is a H.E.A. coming up and includes a sweet Epilogue.

 

BOOK REVIEW- Wild for You (Tropical Heat #2) by Sophia Knightly *

 To Love, Honor and Protect

Detective Clay Blackthorne has his hands full when he promises to safeguard an old college pal's sister without letting her know what he's up to. He never imagines that lively Marisol Calderon will knock his socks off and put a ring on his finger--and all at his suggestion! Their marriage of convenience is meant to protect her and Clay doesn't plan on being hitched for long to the tempting beauty. But the honeymoon sure feels real to him...

Sassy Marisol is used to doing whatever she wants--and right now her plan is to shake up the hot detective's hard-edged demeanor. But the fun turns to danger when a mystery stalker bent on marrying her marks her as his prey. Temporarily becoming Clay's wife seems like a practical way to thwart the stalker. But as passion ignites and Marisol falls for the tender heart buried beneath the tough detective's chest, Clay's true identity is revealed and she begins to wonder who--if anyone--she can trust...  AMAZON LINK                         4 STARS


   GOODREADS LINK

This was a good story that moved pretty quickly.  There was the danger that comes from the stalker, and the secret that Clay is keeping from Marisol .  A romance does develop but so does that challenge that comes from Clay when it comes to love.
 It had a good plot with interesting and somewhat complex main characters.  Well, Marisol was pretty much an open book kind of person who lived life with zest.  No wonder Clay called her Sunshine after he spent some time with her. Clay is the one with some complexity to him.  He's going some trust issues going on when it comes to women.  Thanks to his ex-wife.  I liked his relationship with his younger brother, Jimmy who has some mental issues.  Now, there was someone he WASN'T afraid to love.  
The story comes to a good ending with a satisfying epilogue.  

BOOK REVIEW- April Fool Bride (All Brides Are Beautiful Book 1) by Joan Reeves

 s it a marriage of convenience or something more?

Oil heiress Madeline Quinn needs a husband by the time she turns twenty-five in order to claim her full inheritance. Mad Maddie, as the tabloids christened her, has learned the hard way that men only see dollar signs when they look at her.

Maddie decides a marriage of convenience is the only answer. She turns to the one man in the world she can trust, her housekeeper’s son who always treated her like a little sister when they were growing up—until one disastrous night when she acted impetuously.

Jake Becker hasn’t seen Maddie since the night she tried to seduce him. Why should he help the woman who changed the course of his life? Simple. Revenge.

Or is it something else? Something that sizzles like steam heat between Maddie and Jake that neither can resist!?   AMAZON LINK
                             4 STARS

This an emotional, bitter and sweet story with really good main characters.  
Jake's mother and Maddie's "evil" stepmother,  Constance Quinn add a lot to the story as well.  I liked the twist that develops about Maddie's stepmother and it made me wonder if she was on the up and up or not.  That becomes clear later on in the story.  There is also the hook of Constance getting her own story in Book 2 "Second Chance Bride''.  
I enjoy this quick story and enjoyed the H.E.A. and Epilogue even more. 
I enjoy this quick story and enjoyed the H.E.A. and Epilogue even more.
I just want to add that the eBook cover was one I liked and it got my attention right away.  It also fits well because it has meaning in the story.
 

BOOK REVIEW- Assassin Next Door (Bad Boy Inc. Book 1) by Eve Langlais

 A killer with a white picket fence.

Suburbia, a great place for a man with secrets to hide—while investing in some solid real estate. The biggest drawback?

Neighbors.

In this case, a neighbor with sexy curves and a bright smile. Good thing she’s not his type. Single moms with annoying exes are on the do-not-date list.

Stay away.

Calvin wants to; it’s just not happening. He can’t help but find himself drawn to the chaos next door. And when danger threatens his suburban lifestyle, this assassin doesn’t hesitate to act.

Killing people is easy. Domestication, on the other hand...AMAZON LINK
    4 STARS

Yep, I did it again.  Found a series that I really liked but read all the books almost backwards.  This is Book 1 and I read it last.  Oh well, a good story is a good story.  And that should say a lot about the writing chops of this author. I enjoyed the story, the depth of the people, the secondary people and all of the action.  Oh and yes there will be some scenes of sexual heat. 

I know Calvin is kind of a anti-hero but he does have standards.  He won't kill children or women.    He is also reviewing what he wants in his life.  He's always been satisfied with his life until he began to see that he wanted and needed more.  And his new neighbor,  Lily really brings that fact front and center for him.  While he doesn't hurt or kill kids, he hasn't been that enamored of them either.  Well that is until four year o, Zoe wraps him around her little finger.  
The danger that Lily has been dealing with has been stretched on for  years.  She just can't seem to catch a break from her abusive, clever, manipulative ex.  As the story goes on you get a clear picture of how he manages to make people think that "she" is the crazy/psycho one.  Any time she might get some proof of his harassing her, no one wants to hear it. And it often mysteriously diapers.  Lily is drawn to Calvin.  But she's afraid that he would be in danger and in over his head if she lets him get any closer.   He tries to clue her in but she doesn't really get it.  Just how dangerous he is going to be to anyone who tries to hurt her or her little girl. 
Interesting unexpected twist towards the end of the book.  Everything gets taken care of except for the one baddie did get away.  Well, that person won't get away forever.

 

BOOK REVIEW- Lady Isabella: Ladies of Disgrace by Vicki Hopkins

 Seduced at the tender age of sixteen, Isabella Stuart did not understand what one poor decision could do to a person’s life. The consequences of her flirtation with the stable boy infuriate her parents, who make arrangements to hide her scandalous behavior. As a result, they send her into hiding to give birth and insist she give up her child for adoption. Upon her return to England, she discovers that her freedom remains severely hindered as her parents insist on orchestrating her marriage. Isabella, however, has fallen in love with another man, who unbeknown to her possesses far more than her heart.
 
First in a series of "Ladies of Disgrace" - Every Era Has Its Fallen Women  AMAZON LINK
                                                  4 STARS

I was a bit concerned when I picked this book that it would be too young for me to enjoy.  But no it wasn't.  It was easy to be drawn into the emotions of Isabella and the lack of emotions, love and concern of her mother and father.  They were stone cold rigid, especially Isabella's mother.  They were totally concerned about their position in society.  No hint of scandal must touch the Stuart name.  
The amount of manipulation at work around Isabella was astounding!  And it continued throughout the book.  The odds against this young woman was so strong.  But it was so good to see her grow from a helpless child to a determined young woman. 
I liked Reginald too but in his own way he's as caught in a net not of his making.  
 The ending has a surprising twist that I really enjoyed. 

BOOK REVIEW- Lady Justice and the Bounty Hunter by Robert Thornhill *

 Walt teams up with bounty hunter, Georgia Peach, to bring down drug dealers, wife beaters, kidnappers, grave robbers, jewel thieves, and an ex-con looking for revenge. In the process, Walt discovers that Georgia and her family are ‘unusual’ in more ways than one. Walt thought he had seen it all as a cop for five years and a P.I for five more, but he had no idea how bizarre things could be until he met Georgia Peach.  AMAZON LINK
   3.5 STARS

This was my first introduction to Walt and his friends so I wasn't exactly sure what to expect.  At first it kind of had me scratching my head. 
It seemed like it just rolled from one dangerous adventure right into the next one.  Not a bad thing but it did take me a while to get used to that. 
 I also have to say that the story didn't go super deep into the lives of the main characters.  But enough to like them and want to see how they were going to overcome. 
 It was also interesting to see how Georgia and Walt ended up intersecting job after job.  
I do have to give the author credit for coming up with some interesting situations time and again.  And also using some creative ways to turn things to the teams advantage.  Usually just in the nick of time.  

BOOK REVIEW- Deadly Match (Bad Boy Inc. Book 3) by Eve Langlais

When a retired assassin decides to go looking for love, he decides to trust the pros at a dating service and ends up finding a Deadly Match.

Almost dying puts some things in perspective for Reaper.

One, he is getting too old to be dodging bullets.

Two, who will mourn him when he is gone?

And three, he needs a legacy to inherit his collection of hockey cards.

Maybe it's time to think of settling down, problem is, exactly where does a retired assassin meet a lady?

Charming Reaper Montgomery--the first--turns to a dating service to solve his problem, and finds himself intrigued by the owner, especially when his first date with her ends with bullets flying.
AMAZON LINK
  4 STARS

It all starts with a surprising, dramatic opening chapter right off the bat.

Prepare for some adult language and adult thoughts.   One in particular is one that made me cringe.  But thank you, that one wasn't used too much.   You have to know going in though that this story wasn't going to be all warm and fuzzy, right?
The rest of the story was good, with multiple twists and turns.  And main characters that it was easy to hope that they got a H.E.A.  
Yeah, I know Reaper was a hired killer but hey, he had his standards too.   The owner of the matchmaking company, Annique Darlington was quite an interesting mix too.  She went toe to toe with Reaper more than once.  The sparks flew no matter how hard she fought to stay neutral.  But she hadn't counted on Reaper who NEVER gives up. 

BOOK REVIEW- Poisoned Shadow (The Shadow Series #2) by Candice Bundy

Book Details

Just when I was getting a handle on my magic, my fae family drama, and an unwanted fiance, someone wants me dead. Again.

Returning home is never easy, especially when you’ve lived apart from your family for eight long years and your face reminds them of your well-loved twin whose murder still haunts these halls. How can I, Becka Rowan, live up to her memory?

I’d only been back home a few weeks when tragedy struck again in the form of a poisoner. I almost died. My father lies in a coma, his fate uncertain.

It’s bad enough that I’m always being measured up to my beloved twin; how can I ever hope to feel safe and welcome at House Rowan with Shadow Dwellers and poisoners out to get me?

The assassination attempt brings Enforcer Quinn back to House Rowan. I’m excited to be working side by side with Quinn again, solving the case together. His return gives me the opportunity to find out if the connection between us is real. I hope he feels the same draw to me as I do to him.

But Quinn’s holding back; keeping things professional between us. Can I blame him? I’m still engaged to my dead twin's fiance! I need to control my magic, end my engagement, and then find a path forward with Quinn. Is that too much to ask?

Assuming Quinn and I can solve the poisoning before they strike again.

Don’t miss the emotional and fast-paced sequel to Twinned Shadow! Buy now to experience the complex world building and unique twists of Candice Bundy’s gripping writing!
  AMAZON LINK
    5 STARS

The intensity continues. Why would I say that?  Because I read the first book in the series.  Both books are filled,with plenty of action, plots, surprises, emotions and hopes of love and acceptance.  Becka is still trying to find her way and has gained some ground but also lost some too.

I have to say that I almost wanted to shout out, "look at  ______, that is the person you should be watching out for."    I suspected them because of some of the small bread crumbs the author threw out there.  When it came out and the person was revealed, I almost cheered.  Because, hey, I got it right!  But there was an additional motive that I had not suspected.  I liked that the author surprised me with that! 
I so want Becka and Quinn to find a way to be together. It's so strong that I can almost taste it.   Will they?  Not in this book although some good things are forming. 
 Has the ancient threat of the Shadow Dwellers been eliminated?  Not yet but I'm hoping in a next book that Becka and Quinn will kick butt and take them out.  But at the end of this book a formidable Shadow Dweller has appeared and laid out a challenge.  So game on.



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

BOOK REVIEW- The Mercenary's Bride :A Medieval Scottish Christmas Novella (The Brides of Inverfyre Book 1) by Claire Delacroix *

 The Mercenary's Bride is a Christmas Scottish medieval romance novella which was originally published in the Christmas 2017 anthology The Nutcracker Reimagined.

Robbed of his possessions, wounded and left for dead, Quentin de Montgomerie has lost everything except his love for Mhairi, the daughter of the Hawk of Inverfyre—and he knows who is to blame for his fate. He vows to return to Inverfyre and take his vengeance from the Hawk, but arrives to discover that the fierce maiden in possession of his heart has blossomed into a beauty, and that her kiss has the power to give him hope for the future again. Can Quentin prove himself to the Hawk and win Mhairi—or will she spurn him for being less than once he was?  AMAZON
                             4 STARS

 This book is advertised as a novella but I have to admit it was a pretty full story. One that I enjoyed.  
I liked the unusual parts of the story along with the good main characters.  I really liked both of the M.C.'s.  The couple's struggles were real and the emotions came through really well.  There was also some good secondary people who stood in the way of their romance.  
 I wondered as the story went on, how in the world they would get the H.E.A. that I wanted them to get.   They do as things take an interesting route.