SONG/ Graves Into Gardens ft. Brandon Lake | Live | Elevation Worship

   

This worship with lyrics is also found at Graves into Gardens.

BOOK REVIEW- Chasing the Duke ( BOOK 7 Twelve Days of Christmas] by Tracy Sumner *

   

She’s not chasing a duke ever again.

*Second chance
*Best friend's little sister
*Girl who has loved him forever
*Duke who is just figuring it out...

With her final season in the ton a surprising success, Lady Camille Bellington retires to her family’s Yorkshire estate for Christmas with a marriage proposal in hand. Beautiful and charming, but too independent for society, Camille has given up on the hope to marry for love. So she will marry for duty. The man of her childhood dreams hasn’t been home in three years, even to secure his dukedom, and her heart went with him.

His best friend's little sister is lost to him…

War hero Tristan Tierney, Duke of Mercer, returns to his ancestral home for the holidays to find himself burdened with a title and the woman he left behind betrothed to another. As he’s only seen death and destruction for years, he’s come to believe true love is a myth. His aloof demeanor veils his deepest unspoken desire, to possess Camille Bellington.

Childhood friendship gives way to something altogether more dangerous as two people give love a second chance.  AMAZON LINK

3 STARS

This was a quick story with a multi-talented, Camille and Tristan, a man who can't see what   is right in front of him. It takes him a while to realize just how much joy being around Camille brings him. But he also sees himself as a broken man so it takes him a while to pull his act together.

The story isn't real deep but makes for a good Holiday story and comes with a sweet Epilogue.

BOOK REVIEW- CAKE (Cake #1) by Lauren Dane *

    

She won't be satisfied with just one bite....

Art student-slash-bike messenger Wren Davis pursues what she wants. And what she wants now is Gregori Ivanov, rock star of the Seattle art scene. With his tattoos, piercings and sensual sneer, Gregori is the ultimate bad boy. Wren's gotten to know the man beneath the body art, too--and it only makes her crave him more.

But Gregori loves women like he loves cake and champagne--intensely, but only for the moment. And after Wren experiences just how scorching sex with Gregori is, she's determined to show him that just one taste won't be enough....AMAZON LINK

3.5 STARS  

This was a fast story to read with exceptional main characters. Both of them were strong personalities that was shown well. Both artistic in their own ways.  The conversations between Gregori and Wren were fun and flirty. There was plenty of humor.  However, it did feel like it was missing something but I'm not sure what exactly.  While I liked it, it's probably on a slightly lower range of "liking".

It wasn't missing any sexual interactions when they finally get to it.  And it does have a H.E.A. Wren and Gregori style. 

 

 

BOOK REVIEW- Deception :Justus Investigations by Patricia Rosemoor **

 

 Mystery & Thrillers,  Romance

Description

Deception clashes with desire when an undercover bodyguard gets too close to the woman he’s sworn to protect.

The illegitimate daughter of a notorious tycoon, Katelyn Wade has built a successful business on her own terms. She doesn’t believe that she’s being targeted by someone with a vendetta against her father—not until one of her employees at her restaurant turns up dead. Suddenly, she can’t trust anyone, not even her new bartender, a man with an instinct for trouble.

Katelyn has no idea that her father is paying Thorne Hudson to protect her. Crossing professional lines never ends well, especially when both their lives could be at risk. But even Thorne’s military resolve, honed by years of training, is no match for his growing feelings for Katelyn. And after he’s pushed into temptation, Thorne aches to tell her the truth—just as soon as she’s safe from harm.  AMAZON LINK

4 STARS

Another good story by Patricia Rosemoor.  I have to admit that when I spot a new book by this author, it makes me stop to check out the information.

Danger, romance, and some good main characters?  Yes, this book had it.  Both Katelyn and Thorne had good development as people and the emotions that they were dealing with.  Their personal histories weren't easy and sweet but did have depth.  Even Katelyn's father was something else.  He cares for her, carries a lot of guilt about not being in her life more or sooner.  But he also had a bit of a problem when it comes to being overprotective and controlling.  Hiring Thorne was a good decision even though it went against Katelyn's desire to be bodyguard free. 

You can imagine how hard that is for Thorne to keep the secret about his guarding her.  I thought at one point, there was a touch too much angst about his guilt about keeping that lie. But it does move on and kept me guessing all over the place about whose trying to kill Katelyn.  When the truth comes out, one person I suspected was the doer. But don't think that the author made it too easy.  There were plenty of surprises.

 Another best part is the H.E.A. and the Epilogue that is included. 

 

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

 

 

 

BOOK REVIEW- The Other Princess: The Next Generation (Cowboy Fairytales #11) by Lacy Williams

   

Princess Margaret hasn’t been to her homeland Glorvaird or the palace where she grew up in over a decade. And for good reason—a secret reason no one knows. But when her twin sister travels across the ocean to the family’s Texas ranch to beg Maggie to trade places with her, she can’t refuse. If Maggie is found out, it’ll be a royal scandal of epic proportions.

Luc Moreno has spent years rebuilding the family legacy his father tore apart. He needs the help of a princess or he’ll risk losing everything he’s worked for.

As Maggie slips back into the world of palace intrigue, power and deception—pretending to be her sister—she finds herself falling for the handsome politician. But will Luc still want her when he discovers her true identity?  AMAZON LINK

4 STARS

This was a fun, quick story with good main characters who were easy to get attached to.  Even though the story was short, both Maggie and Luc were shown to be good, caring people.  Also Maggie had to overcome a lot. 

It's a good summer read with a H.E.A. and a surprise in the Epilogue.   That wasn't exactly what I was expecting. 

BOOK REVIEW- Lone Wolf by Diana Palmer, Rebecca Zanetti, Kate Pearce

   

Description

Headlined by western romance legend Diana Palmer, three celebrated New York Times bestselling authors combine their talents to celebrate the wildest version of man's best friend--the noble wolf. Each novella revolves around a rugged man and his trusty wolf protector as an opportunity for happily ever afters arise. Filled with sizzling tension and well-drawn characters--animal and human alike--this anthology is sure to resonate with readers looking to answer the call of the wild.

Loyal as a wolf--and just as strong and untamed--three solitary heroes are about to meet their perfect partners, in this thrilling collection from a trio of New York Times bestselling authors...

COLORADO COWBOY by DIANA PALMER
Fleeing her mother's killer, Esther Marist ends up at a rugged stranger's cabin. A wildlife rehabilitator with a menagerie that includes an elderly wolf, Matthews isn't the type to turn any creature away. As Esther heals, she realizes how much danger she's brought to his door--and how far he'll go to protect her.

THE WOLF ON HER DOORSTEP by KATE PEARCE
Beth Baker senses her grumpy summer tenant must be in trouble when his pet wolf shows up at her door, demanding she follow. Conner O'Neil, solitary and stubborn, doesn't want Beth's help--but only he can show her how to trust again.

RESCUE: COWBOY STYLE by REBECCA ZANETTI
Trent Logan has his ranch, his friends, and his wolf, and that's more than enough--until a shivering city girl runs into the Cattle Club to escape a Wyoming storm. Her eyes hold a world of secrets, and he'll have to face the demons of his own past in order to save them both. AMAZON LINK

 

4 STARS

 

I found this book to be kind of a mixed bag.  The first two stories were more on the order of shorter stories.  They had a good plot and were charming but for me, I found them to be just okay.  For me at  least, they didn't pull me in real deep.  

 

The last story "Rescue: Cowboy style" I really liked.  To be fair, it was also a longer story.  But the main characters had depth, humor and heat. I could actually feel the connection and the attraction between them.  And the "brothers" who Trent was so close too had become such a tight family because of being survivors together.  I thought that part of how that had happened was good.  So was the languages that they had taught each other during captivity.  Intriguing.  

There was plenty of danger and action towards the end of the story.  Landing on a high note with the actual ending of a H.E.A.  It also made me want to read more about the other brothers". 

There is an excerpt by Diana Palmer title, "The Snow Man" which looked pretty good too.   A heroine with a clumsy sense of balance?  Oh, yeah that's got to be good.

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

BOOK REVIEW- JAGGED (Book 2 of Whiskey Sharp Series) by Lauren Dane **

   

Part 2 of the Whiskey Sharp series

 The sweetest reward comes after the longest wait.

Vicktor Orlov took one look at the wary gaze and slow-to-trust personality of the deliciously sexy and fascinating Rachel Dolan and knew he wanted more than just a casual friendship. But as a natural protector, he also knew bossiness and overprotective maneuvering would push her away. He'll use every tool in his easygoing arsenal to convince her to take a chance on them.

Rachel's flourishing new career as a tattoo artist has brought color back into a life previously damaged by violence. She knows she can trust Vic-it's herself she's not sure of. She doesn't want to be caged or controlled, protected so much she has no ability to make her own choices. And damn if the man doesn't know it.

When Vic finally drops all pretenses of "just friends" and focuses all his careful affection and irresistible seduction on her, Rachel knows she's falling hard for the laid-back pretty-boy Russian she's discovered has a relentlessly steel spine when it comes to her.  AMAZON LINK

5 STARS

 I thoroughly enjoyed this book.   Both Vicktor (Vic) and Rachel were great main characters who had great depth to them. 

Vic was so tender with Rachel and that was sweet to watch.  He challenged her at times but in non-threatening ways.  It helps that they were friends first as he then begins to woo her.  They finally become lovers but she doesn't know at first that he's in love with her and in for the long haul.  

Rachel was so multi-talented even though she doesn't see that at first.  She also is suffering from some survivor's guilt when it came to the women she couldn't save.  It also doesn't help in that area when she found out about what Maybe has gone through. She puts other people first and feels guilt about not being able to protect her younger sister. I ended up wanting to read Maybe's story in Book 1.  

I also liked that the trauma that Rachel went through is slowly introduced.  Also the aftermath is shown clearly as she heads to  healing.  Rachel's mother and father sure weren't helping her when it comes to how they dealt with her and her sister, Maybe.  In fact her father is really easy to love to hate.  Oh, the trouble he stirs up !  I could hardly wait to see how smart Rachel was going to put a stop to that. 

 The Orlov family were people who were easy to enjoy.  They had their problems but they were tight when it came to family.  Rachel and Maybe were lovingly drawn in as a part of the family, no matter what.  That was great.  You could feel the sense of community and caring from them. 

The story has a good ending, plenty of feels and it makes this story a keeper for me.