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BOOK REVIEW- STUCK IN MANISTIQUE by Dennis Cuesta

Near the midpoint of the Upper Peninsula, along a Lake Michigan bend of shore, is the town of Manistique, Michigan. Mark had never heard of Manistique before the death of his estranged aunt, but as sole beneficiary of Vivian’s estate, he travels there to settle her affairs. As Mark tours his aunt’s house for the first time, the doorbell rings.

Days after graduating medical school, Dr. Emily Davis drives north, struggling with her illicit rendezvous on Mackinac Island. She never makes it—on the highway near Manistique, her car collides with a deer, shattering the car’s windshield. Stranded for the night, Emily is directed to a nearby bed and breakfast.

Maybe it’s a heady reaction, the revelation that his aunt, an international aid doctor, ran a bed and breakfast in retirement. Or perhaps he plainly feels pity for the young, helpless doctor. Regardless, Mark decides to play host for one night, telling Emily that he’s merely stepping in temporarily while his aunt is away.

As a one-night stay turns into another and more guests arrive, the ersatz innkeeper steadily loses control of his story. And though Emily opens up to Mark, she has trouble explaining the middle-aged man who unexpectedly arrives at the doorstep looking for her. 

Will these two strangers, holding on to unraveling secrets, remain in town long enough to discover the connection between them?  AMAZON 3 Stars

I have mixed feelings about this book.  While it had parts I liked, others not as much.  It was descriptive when it came to different locales in the story.  At times it felt like a travel log and at others it had a lot of history in it.  It also was kind of slow in the beginning and it caused me to have a hard time getting into it.  
But it was also a quirky story when it came to the people in the book,  and that I did find interesting.  
Mark has a fear of crossing bridges.  And that phobia has a name which I never thought about before.  It's a gripping fear that makes his life difficult.  Especially when it comes to traveling to Manistique because crossing the bridge was a must to get there. It was also fun that Mark and Emily have such different feelings when it comes to bridges.  
I did like both of the main characters and they were complex people, not just flat, and predictable.  They had depth, which I enjoyed. And some of the humor between the two of them was just plain funny. 
The people in the book are not only the locals but also "guests" that show up at the B&B.  It was an unexpected surprise for Mark and he felt like he was way over his head.  He felt more like a ringleader for a circus than someone supposed to be running and bed and breakfast.  And I could see why he felt like a ringmaster, and some of it was funny and some sad.  It was at times an emotional story no matter how you look at it.  
I did like how the story ended and the way that they got there.  

I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley and these are my honest opinions of it.

BOOK REVIEW- The Morcai Battalion: The Recruit (Book 2 of 5) BY Diana Palmer

Diana Palmer's second installment in her thrilling space epic is a vast panorama of far-flung civilizations, interplanetary conflict and galaxy-spanning passion… 

THE MORCAI BATTALION: THE RECRUIT 

A prophecy foretold: 

Three years after the unprovoked attack on a peaceful colony, the war between the Rojok dynasty and the Tri-Galaxy Fleet rages on. Born of that war is the Morcai Battalion, a fleet comprised of Centaurians and humans—the first collaboration of its kind and a step toward an intergalactic alliance. But the fragile union is tested as their courageous commander in chief, Dtimun, is faced with the temptation of the forbidden—and human—Dr. Madeline Ruszel. 

A combat surgeon, Ruszel is aware of the danger of inciting a Centaurian's interest, even if he is the most intriguing of men. Besides putting their mission at risk, personal relations between their kinds are still outlawed. But a prophecy that touches on both their lives and the future of all alien nations hints that a greater unity may be theirs for the taking…if they, and their crew, survive in the battle for peace
AMAZON 5 STARS+

I saw the book cover and that made me stop and read the book information. And I thought, "Oh yeah, this could be good." I realized it wasn't the first book in this series (it's 2 of 5).  But I crossed my fingers, hoped for the best and jumped right in.  Man, I am so glad that I did.  It was terrific.  After I read the book, I realized there was a glossary at the back of the book.   It was pretty good and it was helpful.  But you know what?  As I got going in the book, it wasn't really that hard to figure out.  
This had great, multi-layered main characters, and good supporting ones too.  Keep your eye on Komak, he has secrets but helps a lot. So do a few other characters too.  The world building was excellent.  The different worlds and descriptive species and even the governments were detailed in a way that kept me interested without overwhelming me.  
Don't even get me started on Dtimun and Madeline Ruszel.  Their interactions were explosive!   And as time goes on it gets better and better! By just being herself Ruszel's actions have made her something of a legend; in more than one way and more than one place.  I loved how spunky she was. She makes for a good friend if you were one of the people she cares about.   But she was also a warrior..someone that was often called warwoman by a couple of other alien races.  She also was able to make friends of hostile people because of  that kind heart.  Not everyone loved her of course because she made her share of enemies too. 
Dtimun was quite the mix of alien, not just in genetics but in personality.  He was intriguing and it was fun to see the times of humor between Dtimun and Ruszel.  He was such a great leader that the people on his team both human, and non-human would follow him through fire, if need be.
The prophecy was interesting and will lead to new adventures for Madeline Ruszel and Dtimun.  There is very serious, dangerous decisions that must be made, so this part of the story ends with both of them considering them.  So some would say cliffhanger and I guess they would be right but I say adventures to be continued. And I want to follow into the next book called The Morcai Battalion: Invictus (which is already out).   To be honest I want to read ALL the books in the Series.  

BOOK REVIEW-The Billionairess: (The Broke Billionaires Club Book 3) by Ann Omasta

Selena Chase has reached the pinnacle of success. She is a powerful, fiery, incredibly wealthy woman.

It hasn't been an easy climb, but she is proud to be one of the world's only billionairesses.

It can be lonely at the top, though. Could it be that all of the goals she has been laser-focused on for her entire life weren't what she truly wanted?

Can an 'ordinary' guy help Selena find the happiness she craves? Find out NOW by getting swept into the heartwarming story of The Billionairess.

This sweet billionaire romance novella can be read as a standalone or as the third book in The Broke Billionaires Club Series. AMAZON    4 STARS

I liked this book and it's main characters.  And it was a quick read with the sweetness that was promised.  Oh, Selena has her fiery side too, don't doubt that but she is as the book info says she's also looking for love. I liked how when she met Hunter, he wasn't intimidated by her. But there also some funny moments throughout the book and not all provided by Hunter and Selena.  Selena's assistant, Todd was a hoot.  He knew how to help her and make her laugh when she didn't want to because she was stressed.
I also liked the plot idea of a woman billionaire, it was a different change and I enjoyed it.  
So if you are looking for a shorter book (Novella, remember?) that's light fun, and humorous at times this should do it.

BOOK REVIEW- THE HIGHLANDER WHO PROTECTED ME by Vanessa Kelly

Lady Ainsley Matthews, heiress and darling of the ton, was expected to make a magnificent match. Instead she’s hiding on a remote Scottish estate, terrified that her vicious former fiancé will use her pregnancy to force her into marriage. One man can help her—Royal Kendrick, son of a distinguished Highland clan. Though a mistake drove them apart long ago, Royal is the only person Ainsley trusts to protect her baby—even if that means agreeing to never see either of them again . . .

Scarred in body and soul by war, Royal suddenly has a purpose—caring for an innocent babe and thereby helping the woman he can’t stop loving. But when Ainsley ultimately returns to Scotland, determined to be a real mother to her child in spite of the risk, there’s only one solution: marriage. And only one likely outcome: surrendering to the desire that’s simmered between them for so long, no matter how dangerous it may be . . .AMAZON 4 STARS

This book had more depth than I expected.  It also had great main characters and the supporting cast of the Kendrick family. There was plenty of emotion and quite a few secrets; especially from Ainsley. 
I liked how about the time you thought that you  knew all her secrets, another surprise would be revealed.  
Ainsley's life was SO messed up and she was doing all she could just to survive.  And things don't get a lost easier until nearly the end of the book.  Because Ainsley's former finance is totally obsessed not just with her but with the humiliation that he feels she dealt him.    There were times when it was kind of hard to like Ainsley and at other times I begin to understand why she acted as she did.  The author did a good job of showing that.  The only other person who really understood her was Royal.  He might not know all of her secrets yet but he proves himself trustworthy time after time.
And speaking of Royal, what a great character for the main man lead.  The family nicknamed him Loyal Royal and it sure fit him to a "T".  He was always looking after others and always putting his own needs and pain last.  And he did have pain and not just from his war wound which was pretty serious.   He is hopelessly in love with and adores Ainsley.  He isn't sure that there will ever be any H.E.A. for him with her.
Keep an eye on Angus, Royal's grandfather.  He really does know how to keep things stirred up.  But he also is fiercely protective of his family, who he loves intensely.  That doesn't mean that he won't cause trouble in his own wacky way, though.  
There was one thing  thing that I will say that was a negative for me. 
There was a time or two when the story felt like it slowed down way too much for me. But thankfully things do rev up again because trouble just seems to follow Ainsley.  Well, at least for a while anyway, until things come to a head.
There is a dramatic twist towards the end.  Also a pretty emotional Epilogue.  

I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this book via Netgalley and this is my honest opinion of it. 

BOOK REVIEW- UNFATHOMABLE CHANCE by K.T. Munson

When Diana woke up on her 23rd birthday she thought it was going to be a normal day. She thought of donuts, coffee, and laughter. She did not think she was going to become the center in a galactic race to win her heart. None too pleased with the prospect of alien races descending on Earth to try and woo her, Diana does the only reasonable thing she can; she runs. Now she has to try and find a way to get rid of the blasted bracelet that is the cause of all the recent craziness in her life. The problem is this isn't an ordinary bracelet; it contains the Heart of the Cosmos. Furthermore the Cosmos chose her for a reason and it isn't keen on letting her go until she finishes what it started over ten years ago. Something tried to destroy it and now Diana isn't just worried about her heart, she is worried about her life. 
AMAZON  5 STARS

I loved it, it was outstanding.  A Keeper.  The world building was out of this world good. Pun Intended.  Diana was a spunky but kind woman who showed her smarts more than once.  She was the backbone of her family, she held them together.  So many of the things she went through prior to this adventure prepared her for a lot of challenges.  The different species were well drawn out as were some of their worlds.  
The "people" who were secondary to the story were a delight.  I use the word "people" with parenthesize because they were other species people.  The book shows quite a few and they are quite unique.  The author did a great job when it came to the imagination of other worlds.  
Of course we also have some good human secondary people.  Melanie  (Diana's best friend) and Stella are two of those.   There is also Diana's family that we do get a look into as well.  After all, they in some ways was the start of it all. 
I often thought that Diana didn't realize how much good she could do as The Empress.  But there is also the downside of how she would have to pick a husband to stand beside her as Emperor.  All these things pull at her as she goes through this adventure.  That and missing her family and Earth.  But she's kept pretty busy as dangers kept presenting themselves.  And romance does show up for her although you do wonder at first if it's really going to go anywhere...  I'm not going to tell anymore about that so that the next reader can just enjoy. 
There is an exciting twist or two towards the end that I totally enjoyed.

I also loved the cover for the book.  It was not only attractive but fitting too. 

BOOK REVIEW- ROYAL BRIDE (A Royal Bad Boy Romance) by Remy Aster

Cassie has spent her whole life saving for a trip to Europe. Little did she know she'd catch the eye of a prince. Dressed down and brutally handsome, Prince Ajax is as frightening as he is exciting, and Cassie finds it harder and harder to resist his royal charm... without knowing he's a blue blood.

Ajax needs to find a bride. His father demands it. Annoyed with the court's old-fashioned rules, Ajax takes one look at Cassie and decides she's his new Princess. And Ajax never takes no for an answer.

Cassie might need some convincing, but Ajax has already decided - she's his property.

WARNING: If you don't like dirty, over-the-top insta-love romance with a filthy-talking prince and a virgin royal bride... what are you doing here?

Standalone, no cliffhanger, no cheating.   AMAZON  2 STARS

Just NO.
If you are looking for a book with depth, pass this one on by. I guess I should have looked how many pages it had in it before I grabbed it. It could have been so much better but it just wasn't. I hate to be so rude about a book but this one just screamed "Stranger Danger..girl where is your head?" Yes, the author did warn us about Insta-Love but dang. Yes, there was some affection and some tenderness. But I ended up thinking..well where was the story?
Well, it did deliver at least the promise on the book info: Standalone, no cliffhanger, no cheating.
Oh, and it did have a pretty cover.