Book Review- Becca Princess of Sona by Luna Fox & F. Lowberry

    

Eighteen-year-old Becca is a regular kid. At least on the outside. Everything is fine until she dials 9-1-1 after waking up from a terrifying vision of the future. The cops come banging at her door at midnight, but she can't open or leave the house. There's a man in her room with a strange blade, staring at her with his red eyes.

 

 This story was a quick one but also filled with plenty of action and science fiction elements.  Malik was someone who kept me off balance at least at first.  Was he a good guy or a bad guy?  That was a question right off the bat.
The description of both Malik and others was pretty well done.   Even though it's a short story it was pretty well done and comes to a good end. I really would have liked for it to be a bit longer though. 

I received a copy of this book through BookFunnel and was not required to leave a review.  All thoughts and words are my own.

Book Review- Her Mysterious Date (The Blind Love #1) by Taylor Young

   

Charlotte eagerly glances around the restaurant. The pitying stares of bystanders fuelling old insecurities as the crowd relishes her humiliation. Her confidence is at an all time-low as she realizes she’s been stood up. Cheeks flaming red and tears prickling her eyelids, she gets up to leave. Suddenly a dark shadow passes over her table. She looks up to finds herself staring into a beautiful pair of green eyes and the most gorgeous smile she’s ever seen. She gasps as she instantly recognizes the stranger standing before her.

Building a successful empire is exhausting and right now Oliver doesn’t have time for any optional extras. He breezes out from the kitchen as everything seems fine, just another mundane night at the restaurant. That is until he notices the gorgeous woman seated alone near the skylight. She looks so sad and vulnerable. His protective instincts are immediately aroused and he just has to find out who she is and why she’s alone.

AMAZON LINK 

To me this story was short, sweet and just okay.  It didn't really reel me in like I had hoped.  It started out good but just kind of flattened out. Charlotte sure spent a lot of time embarrassed. This story also didn't finish in this book and turned out to be a cliffhanger.  That's not okay for me.

 

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

Book Review- In the Arms of a Highlander The McTiernays, #9)by Michele Sinclair

 

   

Romance

The McTiernay brothers will always be able to depend upon Brodie Dunstan’s loyalty, his sword, and his strength. But there is another kind of bond—one that can fell even a fearless warrior…
 
Brodie Dunstan was an honored McTiernay commander when he agreed to leave and help an allied clan. Eight years later, he’s back among the McTiernays at Lochlen Castle, yet despite the welcome, Brodie feels he’s still searching for his rightful place. The moment he rescues a storm-soaked young woman on the road to Lochlen, he wonders if he’s found it . . .
 
From nun to killer to royal spy, Shinae Mayboill has had little choice in her life’s path so far. Now, caught in a compromising position with Brodie after her rescue, she’s ushered into a hasty marriage. To her surprise, Brodie is unlike any man she has ever met, with a tenderness that belies his powerful persona. Their passion deepens every day. But when Brodie learns the truth about her past—and the real reason she has come to Lochlen Castle—will there still be room for her in the Highlander’s heart?

AMAZON LINK 

3.5 STARS

I had mixed feelings on this story.  I liked both Shinae and Brody.  They were both bold strong people.  The story starts out really strong too with some pretty dramatic actions on Shinae's part.  And things stayed strong until it just seemed to really slow down quite a bit.  Some of that might to have been with all of the other people in the story.  I found myself getting lost a time or two with all of them.

The married sex was well written but to me there was way too much of it.

I did find Shinae's fellow runaway nun Isilmë was quite the interesting, unusual person.  Wherever she showed up things got stirred up.  She had grown up in the Abby and was so restricted that once she got out, she really let loose.  Not in a bad way but definitely showing how truly unique she was.  I got a smile or two from her shenanigans, when she wasn't being annoying. 

Everything does get taken care of and solved.  Even though it was a twist on who the murderous spy was when it was revealed it felt a little anti-climatic. But there was a H.E.A. which I was looking forward to.

 

 I received  an advanced reader copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

** Book Review- The Desert Flowers - Willow (The Desert Sage Inn Series Book 3) by Judith Keim

     

A series for those who love stories about strong women facing challenges and finding love and happiness along the way.

Three talented women are brought together by a man they all love, becoming his Desert Flowers, who work together to save his hotel from being ruined by the company buying it…

When Willow Sanchez is asked to help Alec Thurston, the man for whom her parents work and who’s always treated her as the daughter he once lost, she doesn’t hesitate to leave Boston and come back home to Palm Desert, California. Alec is dying of cancer and needs her help in overseeing the sale of his hotel, The Desert Sage Inn, to another hotel group. With her hotel accounting background and financial ability, she’s his perfect choice to help make the sale a smooth transition while maintaining the reputation of the upscale property. She arrives to find two other women summoned to help Alec. Lily Weaver was once Alec’s assistant, and Rose Macklin was heavily involved in the hotel in earlier years. They join forces to help him, lovingly accepting his nickname for them—the Desert Flowers, similar to the well-known Charlie’s Angels.

Willow is assigned to work with two young men, sons of the majority owners of the hotel company purchasing the Desert Sage Inn. One of the men, Brent Armstrong, attended the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University with her and used to bully her with unkind names. His cousin, Trace Armstrong, seems to be very different. Struggling to compete against them for the eventual job of executive assistant manager at the Desert Sage Inn, Willow wonders if she’ll ever find the right man to settle down with as she decides to stay in Palm Desert. A talented golfer, she is forced to take Alec’s place in a foursome with Craig Kincaid, the man both Rose and Lily think is perfect for her. But neither Willow nor Craig is interested in anything serious until Willow wonders if Craig might be the good guy Alec had always thought he was.

AMAZON LINK

4 STARS 

I have been looking forward to this last book in the series about the three women called Desert Flowers.  Willow was a smart, strong, caring woman with strong connections to not only the other women but also Alec. Willow had the loving support of her own mother and father but Alec had also been like a second father to her.  He had done so much for everyone that it made for a lot of sadness knowing that he wasn't going to live on. It made times that were bittersweet.

It was good to have the alternating points of views from Rose, Lily and Willow.  

This story had great world building in it. As well as a whole lot of trouble stirred up from Duncan and his son Brent.  It took a while to figure out whether or not Trace was a totally good guy or not.  That kept things interesting.  Several of the early interactions that Willow had with Craig made her think that he was a player.  Was he?  Because she wasn't going to make any time for that.  So friends it'll have to be if anything at all, right?  Makes you wonder how long that will last?  Is she going to have a future with either of the two men?  All is answered in the story.

And so is the power play by Duncan and the final decisions about Willow's hosteling career.   It all comes to a good ending.

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

** Book Review- Love is Blind by Lynsay Sands

   

He'd been warned that Lady Clarissa Crambray was dangerous. Stomping on toes and burning piffles, the chestnut-haired beauty was clearly a force with which to be reckoned. But for Adrian Montfort, Earl of Mowbray, veteran of the Napoleonic Wars, this was just the challenge he needed. He could handle one woman and her "unfortunate past." Could any woman handle him?
Lady Clarissa Crambray wanted a husband, but maybe not as much as her stepmother wanted one for her. Really! Doffing her spectacles might make a girl prettier, but how would she see? She'd already caused enough mayhem to earn a rather horrible nickname. Yet, as all other suitors seemed to shy away in terror, there came a man to lead her to the dance floor. A dark, handsome, blur of a man.

AMAZON LINK 

4 STARS

 

 I enjoyed this story and it turned out to have even more to the story than what was obvious at first.  Beginning with the main characters Clarissa and Adrian, I found that I liked them both. 

Clarissa has been bullied by her step-mother for so long.  It was like just about all joy was being stamped out of her life.  Until she met Adrian who was so kind, understanding and way more perceptive than just about anyone she has met before in her life.  He went out of his way to help her in small ways but it was so tender and thoughtful.

Adrian's cousin Reginald added color, humor and help to the story.  He went out of his way more than once to help Adrian meet up with Clarissa.  Her step-mother had been blocking the two from seeing each other but Reginald did some colorful things to help.  He added humor with at least one scheme in the story.  Of course, that wasn't the only humor in the story.  

By the way, there is sexual heat in the story in case anyone wanted to know.  Maybe too much.

There is a twist or two in the story with one of the twists being a danger to Clarissa that wasn't seen at first.  I liked how the story ended with a H.E.A.

 

I read this book through the HOOPLA Library app.

**Book Review- Montana Sanctuary (Resting Warrior Ranch Book 1)by Josie Jade (and Janie Crouch)

 

 

Sometimes the worst wounds can’t be seen.

Lucas Everett knows that firsthand. It's why he and his former Navy SEAL brothers created the Resting Warrior Ranch.

They aren’t doctors, but they can offer the healing freedom of their Montana range. And they specialize in training service and emotional support animals to help sooth even the worst emotional scars.

Usually, soldiers show up at their door. But this time it's Evelyn Taylor—a soldier in a very different kind of war.

She's as skittish as one of the horses Lucas gentles. But he’s learned how to be patient with animals, and he’s more than happy to be patient with this quiet beauty too.

When Evelyn’s past nightmares show up in Montana, she thinks she has to run again, but Lucas isn’t going to let that happen. He’s protected his country against the worst types of threats, and he’ll protect her too.

She’s met the rancher, but now she’s about to meet the SEAL.

AMAZON LINK 

5 STARS

 Intense and so well written both with the main characters, the community, and the people of Resting Warrior Ranch.  And don't even get me started when it comes to the psycho who has been ruthlessly chasing Evelyn.  What he's done in the past was horrific and no one seems to be able to stop him.  Some of it might be a bit tough to read for some people to read.

Lucas was over the top in a good way when it came to helping Evelyn.  He approached her so carefully and tenderly recognizing that she was traumatized. 

I really enjoyed that both Evelyn and Lucas each shared their points of view in the story.

Lena is such a great additional quirky, with a big heart person  in the story who befriends Evelyn.  Something that scared the heck out of Evelyn.  Because she has enough fear for herself and even more for anyone getting hurt just because they are close to her. 

The intensity increases as the creepy guy gets closer and closer and as he taunts everyone. You know darn well things are going to get worse before they get better right?

I was very happy with how the story ended.  But I do what to come back to this ranch and read more stories about Lena and Grace and their stories that were hinted at with more guys from the ranch.

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

** Book Review- A Tangled Affair by Anne C. Scardino

 

 Mystery & Thrillers, Romance, Women's Fiction

Description

Clair Bondi makes the painful decision to divorce the only man she ever loved—Vince Bondi, her husband of twenty-five years. But Clair never gets the chance to tell Vince she is leaving him, because he is found fatally shot in his Porsche one night when driving home from his weekly tennis game. Haunted by his death, Clair is determined to help the Philadelphia police find the killer. Vince’s secret life, including an account in Turks and Caicos, forces Clair to realize that he wasn’t the man she thought he was. No longer the “good wife,” Clair’s strength and resilience take her from her darkest moment to a life unimagined—one with true love and purpose.  AMAZON LINK

4 STARS

This book had interesting people in it but wow was Clair naive.   I do realize she was quite the creative person and that was were her energies were focused.  And she was awesome in the work sh loved. The business side she left to her loving husband.   Vince who seemed to become more busy and distant by the day.  That's not all on Clair though because she did love Vince and also loved her twin daughters.  

Vince is so totally idolized by everyone as he lived bigger than life.  As the story unfolds it became clear that he didn't deserve it.  It's just one blow after another for Clair.  Plenty of twists and turns in the story.

The world building was excellent with many settings almost feeling like scenes from the rich and famous.  Well done as was the emotions in the story.   

A good ending with a new life for many brings the story to it's end.

 

 " I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy of this book through Netgalley. And these are my honest opinions about it.”