BOOK REVIEW- Carrying the King's Pride (Kingdoms & Crowns Book 3412) by Jennifer Hayward

A marriage for the monarch 
One last New York night with Sofia Ramirez is all Prince Nikandros Constantinides allowed himself before returning to Akathinia, after a dreadful accident took his brother's life. But before the royal rebel is crowned, Nik discovers that he didn't leave Sofia behind alone!
In a baby's heartbeat, Nik turns Sofia's world upside down and whisks her away to his Mediterranean kingdom. Dissolving a politically perfect engagement is not what Nik—or his country—had in mind, but this proud prince will do whatever it takes to legitimize his new rule…with a wife and child!
AMAZON   3 STARS

This book had good main characters who were complex and had emotional baggage.  Those things were well demonstrated.   I guess truer words would be that they carried some pretty big wounds. Some of those came from family members some of whom were still in the middle of grief.  The struggle between the two of them was well done.  But there was also the countries threat coming from a different country.  That puts a huge weight on Nik who is now king.  Also for Sofia who is now in a different kind of culture trying to find here footing.  All the while being pregnant which really was addressed all that much as far as the physical part of being pregnant.
There is a good H.E.A. making this book fast, somewhat predictable but also enjoyable enough.
 

BOOK REVIEW- The Marshall's Justice (Appaloosa Pass Ranch Book 4) by Dolores Fossen

 A Texas lawman will move heaven and earth to keep his former lover and their infant daughter safe 

A shoot-out on the banks of Appaloosa Creek is the last place marshal Chase Crockett expects to find his ex-lover. Former criminal informant April Landis is supposed to be in WITSEC awaiting the birth of their child. But the desperate woman caught in the cross fire isn't pregnant.

Telling Chase he was a father—two months early—wasn't an option with murderous thugs targeting April and their infant daughter. Despite the violence that divides them, her only prayer is to trust the Texas lawman sworn to protect his family. Until desire ambushes them again, leaving April and Chase at the mercy of a past with no promise of a future.  AMAZON 4 stars

Good story-line, good main characters, lots of mystery, dangers and action.  
Chase and April have a lot of emotional baggage to get over.  But for the most part they are also trying to stay alive and keep their daughter Bailey safe too.  Even if Chase decides to stay in his daughter's life it will mean he will have to leave everything he loves behind.   His job, his family just to name a few things.  And his family was extremely close, it makes for some possible heartrending decisions in his future.  
But he does fall head-over heels for his daughter Bailey.  
There are good supporting good guys in this story as well as several people with VERY questionable motives as well.  One of the questionable people is April's younger brother, Quentin.  Some other people to add that list is, Malcolm, Renee, Shane and Crossman.
The story comes to a dramatic ending followed by a good H.E.A.   
 There is also a quick look into another book, "Allegiances" by Cynthia den.  It looked pretty good.

BOOK REVIEW- Any Duchess Will Do (spindle cove Book 4) by Tessa Dare

What's a duke to do, when the girl who's perfectly wrong becomes the woman he can't live without?

Griffin
York, the Duke of Halford, has no desire to wed this season--or any season--but his diabolical mother abducts him to "Spinster Cove" and insists he select a bride from the ladies in residence. Griff decides to teach her a lesson that will end the marriage debate forever. He chooses the serving girl.

Overworked and struggling, Pauline Simms doesn't dream about dukes. All she wants is to hang up her barmaid apron and open a bookshop. That dream becomes a possibility when an arrogant, sinfully attractive duke offers her a small fortune for a week's employment. Her duties are simple: submit to his mother's "duchess training"... and fail miserably.

But in London, Pauline isn't a miserable failure. She's a brave, quick-witted, beguiling failure--a woman who ignites Griff's desire and soothes the darkness in his soul. Keeping Pauline by his side won't be easy. Even if Society could accept a serving girl duchess--can a roguish duke convince a serving girl to trust him with her heart?   AMAZON 5 STARS


Even as unlikely as the situation of a barmaid being whisked off to be a duchess was, I still enjoyed the heck out of it.  I think a lot of that had to do with Pauline herself.  She was a hoot and she had pure grit because she has had to.  I had seen her in a previous book and was hoping for her story.  And I was glad that it didn't disappoint.
It had so many funny moments.   And it added some fun when the Duke, Griff and his mother both had different  motives for the outcome.  To be honest, at first I didn't like his mom.  She was just too fussy and society ruled for me.  But as the story went on, I began to see she was so much more than that.  
Like I said before Pauline was a hoot.  She was way more clever than most people realized.  After all, she's just a dumb barmaid right?  So wrong and so many people underestimated her.  I enjoyed every time that she surprised people.  And she really did have some funny things to say.  And her love for her mentally challenged sister, Daniela was so strong.  She'd taken on more than one bully over the years to protect Daniela.  It was also one of the driving motives for her agreeing to the charade.  Not only for her dream but for freedom for the sisters.  
Griff was a pretty good guy, then he would be a jerk.  Sounds pretty realistic.  But he was also carrying a secret and a lot of pain.  He used to be a pretty mischievous, charming rake but suddenly he became more like a recluse.  There was a lot of emotion going on in that part of the story but there was plenty of emotion going on throughout the story.  
I thought it was kind of funny that Pauline was basically being paid to be a disaster, a catastrophe.     She kind of had a bent for embarrassing mishaps so Griff figured this was perfect.   But of course, he is fooling himself, there is a whole lot more going on about why he picked her..
If you want to know is there love scenes in the book, that would be yes. 
If I had to pick one word to describe this book it would be "unorthodox".  I loved that about this book.  Even the ending of the book was unorthodox and for me, it was a perfect way to end it.   I'm still smiling over the book.  

BOOK REVIEW- The Sheikh's Pregnant Lover (The Karawi Sheikhs #3) Leslie North

Danielle Greenski’s life is going to change in a big way. Single and newly pregnant, her days of traveling the globe for work and living a life of adventure are about to end. But not just yet—when she meets a gorgeous man who’s the perfect “last fling” before she settles down to mommyhood. After an amazing weekend with Sheikh Riyad Karawi, she’s totally fine with saying good-bye—until she’s kidnapped by rebels who think she’s carrying the Sheikh’s baby. Apparently, in addition to being a Sheikh, her weekend lover has some other big secrets he hasn’t shared. Like how he’s part of the country’s elite military squad. And wanted by rebels. And maybe the most intriguing man she’s ever met…

The last thing this womanizing charmer needs is to fall for a pregnant woman—it would completely blow the playboy persona he’s been using to get close to the rebel forces. But that’s what Sheikh Riyad is faced with after he meets American firebrand, Danielle. He can’t figure out why he feels the need to protect a woman he’s just met, why he can’t seem to get her out of his system—no matter how hard he tries—and why the thought of her going home is punching him in the gut. For now, he’ll just keep her around until he knows she’s safe. Or maybe, until he can convince her to stay.

If only he can make Danielle believe that he’s not just the playboy she met, but a man she could love forever.    3 STARS


This story had some good points. The idea that a woman was already pregnant when too strangers meet is different and caught my eye right away.  I had also read stories about the other brothers and wondered about the youngest one, Riyad.   The last story left off with questions about Riyad and what was he really doing?  Was he really this wondering playboy wasting his life or was there more to it?  At the end of the other book, he ended up showing a strength that they weren't expecting.

Sheihk Riyad and Danielle do end up having a lust filled couple of days/nights together.  And then things got dangerous, more dangerous for Danielle that is.  They have a hard time forgetting each other even though they live in a lot of denial for a while.  During all the dangers and misunderstandings Riyad does try to keep Danielle safe.  She doesn't always make that easy. 
There are several false trails when it comes to finding out who the leader of the rebellion is but it makes for some great twists and turns. Not to worry though, the leader of the rebellion is exposed. 

There is a H.E.A. for Riyad and Danielle but of course with these two spunky people it isn't a smooth path. 
 I voluntarily read  an ARC of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

BOOK REVIEW- The Cowboy's Daughter Three Sisters Ranch by Jamie K. Schmidt

 Tule Publishing, Romance

Description

She’s moved home, but can she move on? One night with professional bull rider Trent Campbell had been everything that Kelly Sullivan had fantasized about. Unfortunately, it cost her everything. When she became pregnant, her father threw her out because she wouldn’t tell him the baby’s father was his rodeo hero—the hero who ghosted her when she tried so many times to tell him about their daughter. Trent Campbell never forgot the best night of his life. It was what kept him going when a 2,000-lbs bull ended his career and almost his life. Throughout his long recovery, thinking of Kelly and wishing he still had his stolen phone so he could contact her, were what got him through the tough days—that, and his bull-headed stubbornness that he’d not only walk again, he’d ride. When Kelly returns to Last Stand, Texas, in a last-ditch effort to keep her family from selling the Three Sisters Ranch, she has a plan to make her father proud of her again by turning part of the land into a portrait studio location. Her father, however, has already temporary leased Trent some land for a rodeo school. Kelly and Trent still have the same explosive chemistry, but now the stakes are higher. If she lets Trent into her life, it won’t only be her heart he breaks this time if he leaves, it will be their daughter’s.
 AMAZON  4 STARS

Good main characters and good conflicts as well.  There was plenty of emotions going on in this story.
I would have liked to see a bit more of a come to Jesus moment for Trent's manager Billy.  He had been way over controlling than he needed to be or should have been.  He did care about Trent so there was that it wasn't because of meanness or greed but still....
I loved the picture for this eBook and it conveyed so much emotion when it came to Trent realizing he had a 5 year old daughter.  I would have liked to see more of the relationship development between Alissa and Trent.  It felt a little bit light in that area. 
I absolutely HATED Kelly's dad.  He was manipulative, and he put people down.  Then he had the gall to wonder why people didn't want to be around him!  I know the author showed some time when he and Kelly had some good memories but it wasn't enough to make up for the pain he caused.  In other words he was a bully and that's what I really hate. 
The re-connecting of Kelly and Trent and their romance was good.  The story does have a H.E.A.  But not before a couple of more surprises show up.  

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

BOOK REVIEW- Blood Bond (New Breed Book 2) by Melody Raven

She belongs to him. His mind calls for her. His body craves her. And if she thinks she can get away from him, she's got a lot to learn.


Alissa Sullivan didn't ask to be sucked into this supernatural battle between vampires and their parallel world counterparts, Vopura. But when a seemingly simple government contract turns her world upside down, she finds herself right smack dab in the middle of this war and her only hope of surviving is trusting Dante, the former general of the evil Vopura army that invaded Seattle.


And when she finds herself accidentally bonded to him, Alissa has to learn how to balance a supernatural matrimony she never wanted with her obligation help to destroy all of his species.
AMAZON  4 STARS

What a great story with really interesting main characters.  And I am including Cora the little girl that Alissa rescues.  That little girl pulls her into more than she could have ever imagined. 
Alissa was my kind of heroine. Sassy, unique, smart and not conventional at all.  She would much rather work with her computers than deal one-on-one with people.  Usually the people were the things that gave her the most headaches and this time will be no different.  Well, there is a difference in that she ends up interacting with beings that she had no idea existed.
Dante had done some pretty heinous things during his term as a General in Seattle.   But there was also so much more to him.  It also made for some interesting interactions between him and Alissa.
There is plenty of danger, action, rescues, and emotions. All of that kept my attention all the way through. There were also some good secondary people in the story.  One of them being Talon.  At first I wasn't even sure what category he really fit into.
 There will of course be sex because didn't we hear something about Alissa and  Dante getting bonded?  
I liked how the story ended and the quick look into the next book.  It's called, " Blood Cure" and follows more of Talon's  unexpected life threatening danger.   Sounds pretty good too and I can't wait to get my hands on it.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a ARC of this book.  All of the thoughts and opinions are my own.
 

BOOK REVIEW- More Than Words Can Say by Karen Witemeyer

Description

After fulfilling a pledge to a dying friend, Zacharias Hamilton is finally free. No family entanglements. No disappointing those around him. Just the quiet bachelor existence he's always craved. Until fate snatches his freedom away when the baker of his favorite breakfast bun is railroaded by the city council. Despite not wanting to get involved, he can't turn a blind eye to her predicament . . . or her adorable dimples.

Abigail Kemp needs a man's name on her bakery's deed. A marriage of convenience seems the best solution . . . if it involves a man she can control. That person definitely isn't the stoic lumberman who oozes silent confidence whenever he enters her shop. Control Zacharias Hamilton? She can't even control her pulse when she's around him.
When vows are spoken, Abigail's troubles should be over. Yet threats to the bakery worsen, and darker dangers hound her sister. Can she put ever more trust in Zach without losing her dreams of independence?  AMAZON  4 STARS

There were really good main characters in this story.  Not only Abby and Zac but also her sister, Rosalind..  There is possible danger headed toward them because of Rosalind's innocent mistake which is a surprise. 
Zac had experienced so little generosity while he was growing up.  But he readily picked up responsibility when he was just a young teenager himself.    Abigail was a loving daughter to a father that wished that he had sons instead of daughters. He was often critical of everything that Abigail did, giving her little or not credit for her accomplishments.  She also saw herself as too plain and too unattractive because she wasn't a "slim jim" kind of woman.  None of which Zac agreed about.  Even though at first he never had done anything about the attraction he felt towards her.  He ignored how he adored her dimples and appreciated her curvy shape.  He was in denial and being a man of few words it's hard for him to express himself when it comes time to.  He has always shown his caring ways in actions instead of words.  And he continues to do that with Abby.
Sophia, the mayor's wife was one nasty piece of work and most of her venom was directed straight at Abby.  I was hoping she either had a change of heart or that her schemes would cause the people of the town to take a closer look at both the Mayor and his wife.  It's time for either that or a new Mayor in town.  
This was a good, clean Christian romance with several unexpected twists as the story nears it's end.  I was only semi-satisfied with how things finished with Sophia because of that part feeling rushed.  I was hoping for more consequences for her actions.



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