5/5 Review: One Hot Summer by Melissa Cutler

Welcome to Dulcet, Texas, home of the legendary Briscoe Ranch Resort, where one woman will discover that even love is bigger in the Lone Star State.
Celebrity wedding planner Remedy Lane is Hollywood royalty―until a scandal sends her packing to the wilds of Texas. She has a knack for leaving disaster in her wake, but she’s determined to reboot her career at Briscoe Ranch, a luxury resort known for extravagant weddings. Little does she know that weddings don’t happen at the resort without the approval of the town’s cowboy-swaggering, too-hot-for-his-own-good fire chief, Micah Garrity.
ONE HOT SUMMER
Micah knows trouble when he sees it, and all it takes is one glimpse of Remedy’s princess airs for him to know he’s met his match. Too bad he can’t stop thinking about her―even when she brings about one disaster after another at the resort. He and Remedy clash at every turn, but they can’t stop the sparks flying between them. They come from such different worlds―does love stand a chance or will this fire burn too hot for either of them to handle?

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Remedy Lane moves to a small town in Texas to try and rebuild her career as a wedding planner after an event in California that she planned goes terribly wrong. Remedy comes from a Hollywood family. Both of her parents are popular celebrities. She doesn't plan on sticking around in Texas for good, just long enough for the incident to blow over so she can go home. Little did she know that she would run into the fire chief on more than one occasion and things would change. 

Micah is the town’s fire chief and takes his job very serious. He has lost more in his lifetime from a huge fire that wiped out part of the town than most can imagine. Not only did he lose his home when he was young and everything in it, but he also lost his mother. She left and he never saw her again. Remedy makes him crazy. They seem to be at odds with everything she wants to do at the resort. There is something about her though that he can’t seem to stop thinking about. They are two different people from two different backgrounds. 

I got a good laugh out of the first time Remedy and Micah met each other. Remedy was relaxing by the river when a couple guys come into view. They were chasing a cooler down the river that had gotten loose during their little get together upstream. She ends up decided to go check it out with them. How could she say no to their southern charm? She ends up helping by carrying a watermelon to where the party is actually taking place. I loved the Dirty Dancing reference with her carrying the watermelon then sounding and feeling so dumb when she tells the handsome Texan that she carried a watermelon. They didn't really get along when they first met. 

When Micah shows up at the resort to inspect the set up for an event that Remedy is putting on they meet again. She can’t believe that this was the fire chief, the jerk she met at the party. 

Micah takes Remedy out for the best burger in Texas one evening and that’s when it all changes. They realize that they can’t resist each other any longer and decide to see where things go. 

Micah finds out that Remedy is rich beyond belief because of who her parent are. She tried to keep it a secret, but he finds out anyway. They get into a little fight about it, and he gets mad because she was keeping that from him. They seem to fix things until Remedy is offered her dream job in California and Micah assumes she's going to take it. He's afraid that she will leave just like his mother did all those years ago. So he storms off without even letting her explain what she wants to do. A fire breaks out at the chapel on the resorts property and Remedy risks her life to save a woman that is like a grandmother to Micah. They realize after that they can’t live without each other and won’t. She stays in Texas with Micah and plans to marry him after they rebuild the wedding chapel. I loved the relationship that these two built. They really do belong together. 

One Hot Summer is the first book in a new series called A One and Only Texas Novel by Melissa Cutler. I’m excited that I was able to start this series from the beginning. I look forward to reading more from this series and the characters around the Briscoe Ranch. This book was very good. I have a thing for Texas men and this book gave me just that! Micah is a hot manly cowboy of a man! 



5/5 Review: HEARTSTRONG COTTAGE by Emily March

I was excited to receive another book by Emily March. If you are fan of the series, you know Eternity Springs is full of interesting characters, beginning with the actual town. Relationships are built, people are nice to each other and the ladies of the town seem to have an uncanny instinct in choosing which two people should come together next. In this case our main characters are the exit detective now a PI Daniel Garrett who has suffered a major loss in his life and the small town Pub owner with a big secret Shannon O'Toole.

From the beginning, Heartsong touches your heart strings. This is the 10th book in the Eternity Springs series and introduces us to a small town where people face life changing events and miracles are waiting around every corner. This book has everything I love in a romance novel. A wonderful small town, women of various ages who are supportive and friends of one another, a romance which is hard to achieve because of the character's histories and real issues and finally solutions which lead to a happy ending.

This is a touching and emotional story of loss and redemption, made strong by March's vivid prose and her ability to plumb the depth of human emotion. Readers will hurt for Daniel, root for Shannon, and delight in the specialness of a small community that seems touched by angels. I loved the spirit of community, the solid friendships between Shannon and her friends and the symbolism of Eternity Springs. We all might need an Eternity Springs in our lives. Ms. March has penned a stunning addition to this series. Can't wait to begin book 11 in the series. Heartsong is definitely a must read.

4/5 Review: Heart Like Mine by Maggie Mcginnis

I can completely see why others adore these books. We get a cozy, quirky small town; an effort to infuse most scenes with humor and levity for those of us weary of self-serious romances; and heroes who are strong alphas without being creepily controlling and borderline sociopathic (a line that's tougher than expected for many romance authors to tread!) So I figured this series would be a candidate for 'favorite series ever', and I was right, I am going to love the Echo Lake Novel.

Simply Irresistible has humor, heat, and heart. There's instant attraction between Delaney and Joshua. Delaney is a woman you can relate to. Everyone sees Delaney as a wonderfully strong woman who is very successful. People she works with highly respect her. What they do not see is her past how it haunts her and the heartache it brings. She isn’t a people person and doesn’t do well interacting with them..Josh loves children they make his job worth doing and he makes it his life to help others the best that he can. They are working on a very small budget as it is now the men upstairs wants to cut it even more. He is put to the challenge meeting a budget he can’t met as he works on away to get what they need trying to make the men upstairs happy. They will have to figure out a way to make this happen without killing each other.

Maggie Mcginnis writes great emotion and has a real talent for injecting just the right amount of humor at just the right time. Delaney and Joshua are irresistible. Both are slightly damaged and more than a little vulnerable - imperfect enough to be perfect for each other. Secondary characters with their own stories are an added bonus to the story. I highly recommend this book to all contemporary romance lovers. If you've enjoyed Maggie's books in the past, you're going to love this one, and if you're new to Maggie's, there's no better place to start reading her work!

4/5 Review: Good Earl Gone Bad by Manda Collins

TEMPTING FATE
Marriage? To a gambler? You must be joking! Yet Lady Hermione Upperton has never backed down from a challenge. When her spendthrift father offers her at the gaming tables, she is given a difficult choice-wed the Earl of Mainwaring, an infamous gamester with no respect for her skills with the reins, or face charges for the murder of a member of the infamous Lords of Anarchy. Either way she'll have to clear her name. Can she count on her husband's help the way she has begun to count on his kisses?
RISKING ROMANCE
All Jasper Fawley, the Earl of Mainwaring, wanted was a night of cards. But by the end of the evening he's walked away with a fortune-and a bride who's suspected of murder. Jasper knows Hermione is passionate about her unorthodox membership in the Lords of Anarchy, but he's certain she would never kill to keep it. Can he protect his headstrong wife from prosecution and a ruthless killer without endangering both their hearts in the process?

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I have always been a fan of historical romance novels. Manda Collins did not disappoint me at all with this book. This story had so much going on that it thrilled me to keep reading. There is romance, adventure, and mystery. What more could someone ask for? The characters all had their own personality that jumped off the page. Your able to feel for the characters and wish you were one of the side characters mentioned in the book. It made you want to be there in the moment. The way Collins wrote her heroin it makes you wonder what it would have been like in her shoes, during that time period. 

4/5 Review: Make You Mine by Jackie Ashenden

He's raising the stakes.

International playboy Alex St. James always plays to win. Whether it's betting on a high-stakes card game—or bedding a high-class socialite—the gorgeous world-class gambler knows how to beat the odds using his brains, his body, and a whole lot of charm. But there's one woman who's immune to Alex's bag of tricks—which makes her the perfect challenge…and the ultimate prize.

She's going all in.Once a special operative in her native Russia, Katya Ivanov knows what kind of man Alex is. As his personal bodyguard, she's seen him seduce the richest women, place the riskiest bets, and break the hardest players. But to even a score from her past, she's willing to take a gamble on her reckless boss. Even if she has to pretend to be his lover. Even if he drives her mad with desire. And then she never wants this dangerous game to end…

**********

 

 

When I first started reading Make You Mine by Jackie Ashenden, I was not an Alex fan.  He was arrogant and too self absorbed.  It was as I read further that I realized that he was using that as a cover to hide who he really was.  He was obviously not over what happened to him in the past and used his charm and quick mind to become who he is.  He is great at reading people, making him one of the best card players.  When he sees an opportunity, he takes it.  Take Katya for example.  She is his bodyguard, the best of the best.  She shows no emotions, gets the job done and has the hots for her boss.  Once Alex sees the flicker of emotion in her, he pounces.  She is his target.  Knowing she has a last minute rescue mission in Russia and needs his resources, he uses it to his advantage.  Before he helps her she needs to help him. 
The way the story unfolded was incredible.  It starts you off slow and gives you a small taste of what to expect then it grabs you and will not let go until the last page.  I admire Katya.  Her sense of honor and duty are amazing but once she gets a taste of Alex she doesn't want to let go.  Jackie did an incredible job with this story and it is a definite recommendation of mine.
 



3/5 Review: For Love Or Magic by Lucy March

Eliot Parker's good-for-nothing deceased husband has left her a new lease on life: a house in sleepy Nodaway Falls, New York. But his offer comes with a cost: his ghost...


As if being married to him wasn't hard enough! Nodaway Falls turns out to be a town with more than a little magic in the air. Eliot swore off using her own powers sixteen years ago, thanks to one catastrophic day when she lost the only people who ever mattered to her, and ran away from her spellbinding father and his reckless enchantments. Now, when a chance encounter with quiet, handsome Desmond Lamb results in a magical explosion that rocks Eliot to the core, she can't help but wonder: Has her heart fallen under some sort of spell? Or is this what true love really feels like? The real question, of course, is whether her husband will stop haunting her...and let Desmond give her a chance at happily ever after?

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This is my first book by this author, and I was excited about reading this  book. Unfortunately, my excitement dissipated with every page. This book is for lack of a better word "boring". There is barely any action to speak of. I felt like I had to go on a hunting expedition to find a sentence that actually meant something (i.e. had some action or dialogue) rather than the endless sentences describing everything in detail. Though there were several scenes that took place in a bar or in someone's home, I felt more like I was stuck in a boring play. There was very little humor to speak of, hardly any snark. I couldn't connect with the characters at all.

I felt completely disconnected from the characters. When I read a romance, I like to be sucked into the emotions of the characters and their responses to one another. Isn't that the whole point of a romance? I can forgive a lot, in terms of poor character development and major plot holes, if I can buy that emotions between the main characters. Unfortunately that was not the case here. I felt more like a casual observer, rather than being emotionally invested in these characters. Logically, I can understand their connection: as  Eliot and Desmond  they were both essentially outcasts from their societies. But emotionally, I totally missed the build-up of the connection and trust between them.

I had to force myself to keep reading hoping the story would grab me in some way, unfortunately it didn't.I think because the author tried too hard to force humor rather than just letting it flow naturally from the characters. I don't think that I will be reading anymore of her books



4/5 Review: The Irresistible Rogue by Valerie Bowman

A PROPOSAL FROM A SCOUNDREL
Daphne Swift has not laid eyes on her devilishly charming husband, Captain Rafferty Cavendish, in quite some time. As a matter of fact, she wants the rogue to annul their brief marriage so that she can marry the reliable and estimable Lord Fitzwell. But the breathtakingly handsome Rafe is not interested in letting Daphne go-at least not without paying his scandalous price...


THE SEDUCTION OF HIS WIFE
Rafe prefers to face the dangers of spying alone, but this time he needs his innocent, fiery wife to uncover the information he seeks. He has even agreed to release her from their marriage if she submits completely to his plan. However, Daphne's alluring combination of courage and curves makes her a dangerous distraction, and it is not long before Rafe is trading subterfuge for seduction in order to prove that Daphne is meant to be his and his alone...

**********

This book is the fourth in the series by Valerie Bowman The Playful Brides.  It has a similarity to the Philadelphia Story that most people will recognize. This historical romance is a romantic thriller spy story with lots of twists and turns that keep you on your toes trying to figure out what will happen next.

Lady Daphne wanted to do more to help the Crown with war efforts so she teamed up with her brother Donald and Captain Rafe, a commoner, to spy. That evolved in marrying Rafe to keep them undercover, but when she discovered the marriage was to be a business deal only she was not happy and wanted out. But after her brother Donald was killed, she had to stay with Rafe in order to find out who killed Donald.

Part of this story is on Captain Rafes boat; could closer contact bring them close together, Rafe sure hopes so.  One of the fun characters is Daphnes 12 year old cousin Delilah, who is a little pest but oh so funny and such a stinker. The characters are well developed and very intriguing which makes this a great read.

5/5 Review: Heartsong Cottage by Emily March

Haunted by the loss of his wife and son, Daniel Garrett left the police force to devote his life to finding missing children. But he still hasn't found a way to mend the wounds of his past-until he attends a wedding in the small mountain town of Eternity Springs...and meets a beautiful, intriguing woman who offers a glimpse of something Daniel thought he'd never have again.

Sometimes life gives us
a second chance at love.


Shannon O'Toole isn't looking for romance. Ever since her fiancé's death, she created a quiet life for herself restoring Victorian cottages. Still, she can't deny her attraction to the handsome, broad-shouldered stranger. Daniel makes her feel things she's hasn't felt in years-including the desire to share her secrets. But can Shannon trust a detective when doing so could bring danger to her cottage door? In Eternity Springs, anything-and everything-is possible...

**********

Heartsong Cottage is the 10th in the series Eternity Springs by Emily March and can be read as a stand alone book too. I loved the characters and the great community of Eternity Springs and will be reading all the other books in this series.

Daniel suffered the tragedy of his son being abducted and killed and then his wife unable to cope committed suicide.  He wants to help other families find their children so he becomes a private eye and travels back to Eternity Springs on a case. There he meets Shannon who is lonely and has come here after her fiancé died. She is being stalked, afraid and has secrets that she has to deal with. They both attend a wedding and then have a one night stand. There are several storylines going on that are fascinating and bring these two into further contact. They both have a hard time trusting and are afraid of being hurt again, but they both want to love again.

This story is so sad and tragic but with some hope of love and peace for the future.

 

5/5 Review: The Highwayman by Kerrigan Byrne

STEALING BEAUTY

 Dorian Blackwell, the Blackheart of Ben More, is a ruthless villain. Scarred and hard-hearted, Dorian is one of Victorian London's wealthiest, most influential men who will stop at nothing to wreak vengeance on those who've wronged him...and will fight to the death to seize what he wants. The lovely, still innocent widow Farah Leigh Mackenzie is no exception-and soon Dorian whisks the beautiful lass away to his sanctuary in the wild Highlands...

COURTING DESIRE

 But Farah is no one's puppet. She possesses a powerful secret-one that threatens her very life. When being held captive by Dorian proves to be the only way to keep Farah safe from those who would see her dead, Dorian makes Farah a scandalous proposition: marry him for protection in exchange for using her secret to help him exact revenge on his enemies. But what the Blackheart of Ben More never could have imagined is that Farah has terms of her own, igniting a tempestuous desire that consumes them both. Could it be that the woman he captured is the only one who can touch the black heart he'd long thought dead?

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Wow!! I started to read this book and couldn’t stop.  I was glued to the story from the moment I began to read, and not many can do that to me.  Dougan and Farah meet as young orphan children.  They instantly felt a bond that they knew meant that they were meant to be together.  The problem is that forces beyond their control have separated them for most of their adult lives.  The way that Dougan becomes Dorian is heart breaking and explains so much about who he is, that you see him in a completely different light.  I hate to give away details from the book, but it is amazing the way that the author was able to keep me guessing until she decided to confirm it.  In a way though, Dougan really did become Declan.  He needed to become him, to survive so that he could keep his promise to Farah.  Farah worked at Scotland Yard trying to find out who killed her parents.  When she went to the interrogation room, she saw the man known as the Blackheart of Ben More, and knew that he was going to be trouble.  She didn’t realize that he was the one that was taken from her.  He figured it out pretty quickly though and immediately began to plans on how to fulfill his promise.  What follows is a journey of finally living and being able to love.  This book for me is a must read and something I will be telling others about quite often. 

5/5 Review: Hard As A Rock By Christine Warren

Wynn Powe comes from a long line of powerful women, and an equally long line of Wardens. Unfortunately, Wardens all over have gone missing―her brother included―just when the threat from the Order of Eternal Darkness has begun to rise. Now more than ever, humanity needs Guardians to stand between them and the ultimate evil, so Wynn has returned to Chicago to locate a Guardian of her own. But the Order of Eternal Darkness has beat her to the punch, and the statue she's come to investigate has been blown to smithereens. An elusive enemy is on her trail…and this time, she's on her own. It's up to her, a woman with no training as a Warden, to summon a new Guardian to the fight.

HARD AS A ROCK

Enter Knox. He may be a newly summoned Guardian, but he possesses all the skills and memories of his race…along with drop-dead, expertly-chiseled good looks. Bound to Wynn as his Warden, Knox vows to learn the truth about the destroyed Guardian―and protect Wynn at all costs. But he never could have imagined the fierce attraction that has taken hold of him, body and soul. Is his desire for Wynn worth the risk of being destroyed by the Order? The only thing he knows for sure is that he won't go down without a fight. Nor will he pass up a night of pure blind passion. . .

**********

This is the third book in the Gargoyle series. The plot seems to be thicken and only revealing little pieces as a time to the Guardians and their Wardens. We meet a new Guardian named Knox, and he is very similar to his brothers in his fierce protectiveness and stubbornness towards his mate. Poor Wynn has her own insecurities to deal with, the new Guardian, her missing brother, and even more trouble coming.

Knox's instincts tells him she's his she is special.However Wynn is a witch...he needs to convince her  that she's his mate and also needs to keep her safe from his enemies who attacking and killing the Guardians. I loved her character, because she wasn't easily swayed or accepting of the fact that she was his mate because he said so.....she was a challenge to him throughout the story and didn't give in so easily. I enjoyed Wynn character as when she first met Knox she was ready to dismiss him because she was pissed off that she could not be a Warden.There was confrontation, friction, and lots of denial going on from pretty much everyone..Full of mystery as Wynn and Knox seek out her missing brother and a nice touch to add in her uncle as they need all the help they can get.

Warren has created memorable, compelling characters and a rich, well-conceived world in Gargoyles Series . Unlike so many series popular at the moment, this book does not rely on placing the main characters in some life-threatening situation in the first chapter to gain the reader's attention. Instead, Warren takes time to introduce us to Knox and Wynn, showing us what these characters are like, discovering personality traits and weaknesses. It's such a refreshing change to simply watch the characters demonstrate their more interesting qualities instead of simply being told 'she's really independent and clever' or 'he's dark and brooding. Warren gives the reader the rare opportunity to find these details on his/her own, creating a bond between characters and reader that has been sorely lacking in recent literature.


So if you like sarcastic heroines who make you smile and enjoy seeing them teamed up with a super alpha then this delivers. Amusing and very well written. loved these characters and this world; the world building and potential was tremendous. Knox and Wynn were great complements for each other; they completed each other and made the other better without making the other irrelevant. In a nutshell, what’s not to love with Hard As A Rock ? There’s action aplenty, plot advancement, character development, and romance. I can not wait for Book 4 (This one’s a winner in my book! :)



4/5 Review: Born of Betrayal by Sherrilyn Kenyon

 

Years ago, family loyalty caused Fain Hauk to give up everything he loved: His military career. His planet. His fiancée. Even his name.
 
Now decades later, everything has changed. He's built a new life out of the ashes of his old, and he's vowed to never let anything threaten his loved ones again.
 
But when old enemies align themselves with new ones, he's caught in the middle of a brutal war. And when fate throws his former fiancée back into his world and she has her own agenda that includes taking his head for what he did to her years ago, more than just his life is at stake. The fate of the Ichidian universe and that of his brothers-in-arms hangs in the balance. Winner take all.
 
It's kill or be killed, and never has the battle been more fierce...

**********

Born of Betrayal is the 9th instalment in the League series by the talented Sherrilyn Kenyon. I have been a long time fan of Sherrilyn Kenyon's work and she was also one of the very first authors I read in this genre that has taken me to so many wild and imaginative places and I feel I owe her so much for that.

 

Ms Kenyon has wrote many series and although I have loved each of them the League series has always been by far my very favourite, there was just something about this series that I could never wait to devour each book that came out.  Born of Betrayal was such a busy book with so many story lines going on that I would have to say that this book is one you need to read the previous books before tackling.  

 

This book is supposed to centre on Fain and his lost love Gaylene and her son, Talyn.  The story follows on from previous books that explained Talyn's life.  If you were a long term fan it was easy to see who Talyn's father was going to be and I loved the storyline these three shared.   It was believable in every aspect of how they felt when they were reunited and each step from that moment on.

 

There were also many other story lines in this book that all interconnected and we were able to discover different sides to certain characters.  We had to chance to hear about many of our old favourites from previous books and catch up to what has been happening so in ways it was like a family reunion without the boring bits as they were very much part of the centre of the story.  Towards the end of the book we get a glimpse of our next story leads too; not a very big but just that small couple of sentences that show exactly who will be involved.

The ending wasnt as drawn out as I have grown to expect, but I guess that just gives us more to wait for on the next book.  Grab this book today, but in my opinion read the rest in the series first.  This book has all the action and sexiness of all the league books but is definetly not a stand alone book.

 



5/5 Review: Night Blaze by Donna Grant

 

That one simple kiss slayed him as nothing in his very, very long life had ever done. It physically hurt him to release her and turn his back on everything she offered, but it was for the best.

A KING WHO WALKS IN DARKNESS
 
The Rhys who has existed for centuries is gone. Stripped of his ability to shapeshift, Rhys can no longer embody the majestic, powerful dragon he was at birth. Cut off from his heritage by one of his own, this Dragon King must remain a man, haunted by demons who torment his every waking moment. The darkness would swallow him whole...except a woman so beautiful and haunted becomes the one beam of light in his world...

A DESIRE THAT WILL NOT BE DENIED

Lily Ross is taking the first step in building a new life for herself. Still reeling from a relationship that nearly broke her spirit, Lily is wary of her attraction to brawny, brooding Rhys. The passion burning so brightly between them is a potent temptation, but any entanglement is destined to end in disaster. Yet when a spectre from Lily's past threatens their growing bond, Rhys is forced to choose with his heart, or lose this woman who has become his one chance at salvation...in Donna Grant's newest Dark Kings novel, Night's Blaze.

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This book has action, adventure, paranormal aspects ( Dragons, Warriors, Druids, and Fae). The characters are what you would expect, hot, sexy, alpha males. I did not consider most of the women wimpy, to me they seemed to be well written. Not too over the top, but just right for what their professions are written as. This is the sixth book in the Dark Kings series, but the author puts enough of the back story into each book, that you don't have to read the others. I would recommend it, though.

The Dark Kings books tie in with the Dark Sword/Dark Warrior books. The Dragon Kings showed up in the last several of the Dark Sword books, while the Warriors showed up in this book. The continuation and cross over of the series is really good. This is a stand alone book, but you will get much more enjoyment out of it if you at least read the first three Dark Kings Novellas, Dark Craving, Night's Awakening, and Dawn's Desire.

This book took me only hours to read. The events leading up to Rhys' s story have held me captive and intrigued. Getting into his head kept me turning the pages. The way he helps Lily build herself back up is admirable and enchanting. Rhys' s story is definitely my favorite. I thought I had everything figured out, that the story would continue as the others have, but I was sadly and pleasantly mistaken. At the climax I felt as if my heart had been ripped out. There have been some close calls, but none as close as in this book. Whether you're reading through the series or just starting, this is one story you won't want to miss!!

 

 



5/5 Review: The Devil Wears Spurs by Soraya Lane

 

Introducing the King brothers--three red-hot Texas billionaire cowboys who are wildly devoted to their family ranch…and the women who can tame them.

SHE KNOWS WHEN TO HOLD'EM.
As a newcomer to the great Lone State, Chloe thinks she's immune to the charms of cowboys--until Ryder King comes along. A gorgeous rodeo star with a gambling problem should spell trouble for Chloe, who's as quick-witted as she is stunning. But there's something gentle in Ryder's otherwise wild nature that gives her pause. And she can only fight her attraction for so long…

IS HE READY TO SHOW HIS HAND?
Texas born, bred, and proud, Ryder has always had a way with the ladies--though not so much with poker. He's just bet, and lost, a third of his family's ranch in a game. Can Chloe, the daughter of a card sharp who knows how to play to win, team up with Ryder in Vegas to help him win it back? The closer Ryder comes to getting back the ranch, the greater he risks losing his heart to Chloe. Is he ready to lay it all on the line for her? And can she trust that Ryder is for real--or is one of Texas's most notorious playboys too good to be true?

**********

 

If you love cowboy romances and stories this is a great one for you. I thought the first of the three stories of the Texas cowboys was so fun, sweet and sexy that I can't wait to read the last two in this series.  Ryder and Chloe are great family people who just want to make it on their own, even if it means mistakes along the way.  Getting out of the mistakes make for lots of twists and turns. Can blackmail and friendship turn into something great? These gamblers will try their best to make a go of it.

I thought this story was compelling and lots of fun to read. It shows how people make some stupid mistakes because they think they can win. The mistakes have consequences that make this story great to read. I really liked how the secondary characters are well written up and make you want to keep reading each book to see how they will be involved. Texans and rodeos, family and troubles, sexy and fun, who could ask for more.

 

 

 



4/5 Review: Summer On Lovers Island by Donna Alward

 

What happens when a seasonal fling turns into the love of a lifetime?

Lizzie Howard's life has always been adrenaline-charged. Top of her class at Harvard Med and now a gifted trauma doctor, Lizzie's medical career has always come before rest, relaxation, and especially romance. But when one careless mistake brings her future to a screeching halt, Lizzie's only chance at reviving it is to temporarily take over a friend's practice in Jewell Cove. The sleepy Maine coast, a world away from the bustling emergency room Lizzie knows and loves, leaves her feeling more lost than ever-until she meets widowed doctor Joshua Collins, and her heart starts beating a little bit faster...
Coming home to Jewell Cove was Josh's salvation after his wife died. Looking for peace among the familiar faces of friends and family, he's grateful to work in the town's small medical clinic by day and spend his nights trying to forget everything he's lost. Lizzie's big-city sensibilities are a brash reminder of the world he's pushed away, but he can't deny that together they've sparked a flame that crackles higher and brighter every day. Maybe love is the best medicine after all ...

**********

 



This is a great easy reading romance about doctors and the Maine area. I thought it was a great stand-alone novel but want to go read the other books in the Jewel Cove series. The story is written about a small sleepy area and the descriptions want to make you go explore it yourself.  The love scenes and their romance were easy going and made this an easy to read romance.

I liked how the story evolved about two very different doctors who were totally different personality wise from each other, became a nice romance of how people can adapt change and see what they really need and want.  Both Doctors Lizzie and Josh had extreme problems that brought them to the same medical practice.  Lizzie was only supposed to be there for a short time to help out a friend and recover from family tragedy and work related tragedy.  Josh was always the small town sort of person and was returning to settle down after his wife died. She had not been a faithful wife so he had lots of heart hurts to get over.

 

 

 

4/5 Review: At His Service by Suzanne Rock

Leo Perconti's life is spinning out of control. As head of his family's hotel conglomerate, it's his job to save his family from bankruptcy. At the center of his turmoil is Karin Norell, a quiet, alluring housekeeping manager who compliments his dominating personality and lets him feel in control once more.
As Karin explores her passion her feelings for Leo deepen. Unfortunately, Karin and Leo come from different worlds, and when the two worlds collide, the cost can be devastating. As the service staff at The Palazzo rise up against the Perconti family, both Leo and Karin are faced with losing what each of them holds most dear. Together they must learn that true power comes from vulnerability and trust that can only happen when you let your insecurities go.

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No request will be denied,

To save his family's hotel empire, Leo Perconti arrives at Boston's Palazzo prepared to take no prisoners.  His hedonistic siblings have let the grand hotel's standards slide, and the company is teetering on the edge of bankruptcy. But before he takes on his family, he has a no-strings-attached arrangement to consider it... Is it time to put the Do Not Disturb sign up on the door? Or is it too dangerous to mix work with no-holds-barred pleasure?

Is their desire worth the risk?

Sleeping with the boss was never part of hotel intern Karin Norell's plan. But she can't resist Leo's powerful allure... sensual submission is downright addictive with Leo in control.  But that addiction comes with a hefty price, and soon she's caught in a compromising position.  Will Karin be strong enough to pay it? Because when it comes to passion at the Palazzo, Leo is a man who means business. And he won't take no for an answer....

I thought this was a great Italian steamy romance. If you like a story of how a family struggles in the business world and what they are prepared to do this is for you.  I like the power control portrayed by Leo and the struggles he goes thru to save his family's legacy a hotel empire. There are surprises along the way that keep it interesting and lots of sexy sensual scenes.

The parts where the family is not doing their part and then Leo come to take control was great.  When Karin, the intern, is mistaken for housekeeping help and lured to him was fantastic.  She is trying to help out with keeping the staff from strinking and he needs some playtime to offset the control he is having to exert on the family and staff to keep the family empire afloat.  The way he is depressed and stressed out is so very true in lots of people’s lives. He takes medicine to help him out, which is so true nowadays of a lot of people. 

5/5 Review: Dark Alpha's Claim by Donna Grant

 

There is no escaping a Reaper. I am an elite assassin, part of a brotherhood that only answers to Death. And when Death says your time is up, I am coming for you...

 

My whole existence is based on taking what Death wants. Born to eliminate Fae guilty of unforgivable crimes, my reckless, wild nature makes me the perfect assassin to carry out Death's bidding. I've seen more sinister and violent dealings than anyone could ever imagine. But it was the sight of her face that stopped me cold. I've never wanted a woman-never mind a human-so badly; never felt my heart, hardened by death, burn brighter and hotter until it burst into flames. She is everything I desire. The kind of woman that compels you to stake your claim on her, to let the world know that she's yours. A Reaper saving her life will only attract danger, but I vow to protect her at all costs from the Fae that hunt her, and keep safe the woman who has claimed me, body and soul.

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Baylon is a fae reaper in the human world trying to keep his identity a secret and complete the missions he's given, however his next mission is a bit hard for him to swallow. Especially when he falls head over heels for Jordyn Patterson. Jordan is a half fae who doesn't know what she is, but finds herself obsessed in knowing everything their is to know about the Fae, and she's about to get the surprise of her life! With her life now in danger,  she must decide if love is worth the ultimate risk. 

 

This is the first time I've read anything by Donna Grant and I really enjoyed her style of writing. The story flowed well and I loved the characters. The instant pull between Baylon and Jordyn is intriguing and you get pulled in learning about it along with them. 

 

The dangerous guessing game of who's the ultimate "bad guy" has you guessing along with the rest of the reapers and there are surprises at every turn. I'm definitely ready for the next book in this new series and think this was a great one to start! 

 

The only thing that confused me was the name of the book. Normally the term "Alpha" is used for werewolves and shifters, but that is not the case in this book. And I understand the term means an alpha male, but the title still threw me a bit. Other than that I loved the book and can't wait for the next one!



3/5 Review: On the Naughty List by Lori Foster, Carly Phillips, Beth Ciotta, Sugar Jamison

 

The most wonderful time of the year is back with On The Naughty List, bringing perennial favorite holiday stories from Lori Foster and Carly Phillips, along with two Christmas stories that delighted readers a year ago. This sexy anthology will make you want to give your heart to Christmas again and again…
Lori Foster has two co-workers plan a Christmas party side-by-side-and discover a love worth celebrating in Christmas Bonus
Carly Phillips explores a "mistletoe moment" when a no-nonsense lawyer intent on seducing her boss meets his twin instead--and gives him a scintillating kiss that leaves him begging for more in Naughty Under the Mistletoe.
In Sugar Jamison's Have Yourself a Curvy Little Christmas, former wild child Dina Gregory returns home to New York to find the father of her young son. Instead, she finds his stuffy older brother, Ben. Ben can't help but admire her tenacity—and her bold beauty. Could it be that Dina has reignited his Christmas spirit?
Beth Ciotta brings two friends who, after years apart, together at home for the holidays. They don't seem to have much in common anymore, but when the two get stranded together during a blizzard, they are forced to reexamine if they are better off as "just friends"? Or could it be that true love was there all along? in Some Kind of Wonderful.

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So this book has 4 novellas in it, and I feel as if I should rate them separately so I accurately review the entire book. So here goes!

 

Christmas Bonus by Lori Foster 5/5

Lori is just amazing,  what can I say, she takes two characters and can tell you a short story that makes you beg for more! The story was well written, believable and very enjoyable for me. And of course the sex scenes are just the right amount of steamy for a romance novel. Definitely a must read for any Lori Foster fan!

Naughty Under the Mistletoe by Carly Phillips 2/5

I was excited to read this novella cause I've heard Carly's name come up in a list of favorites from my friends. Sadly Im afraid this story fell flat for me. It had potential in the beginning as a cute fling type of story. But as the story progressed I felt like she was trying to cram weeks or months for dating/getting to know you feelings into one night. The sex scenes were also lacking and hard to imagine, they just seemed too fake to me. She also made a few mistakes and some things just didn't make sense. And worst of all... the word Love was thrown around less than 12 hours (you read that right) of meeting each other. 

Some Kind of Wonderful by Beth Coiotta 4/5

This story was written very well, and had me anticipating what was going to happen next. The main characters made me laugh and I enjoyed the sexual tension between them, the reason I only gave this one a 4 is because there was absolutely no sex scenes. Like none... one minute he's taking off her shirt, the next she's waking up.... what!? This is supposed to be a sexy romance novel! It needs those scenes! 

 

 

Have Yourself a Curvy Little Christmas by Sugar Jamison 5/5

This story had big potential for me being a single curvy mom myself, and I wasn't let down! Both characters were written well and while both had "flaws" neither were overly dramatic about them. The relationship flowed very well and I found myself hoping everything would work out exactly how I pictured it in my head! All aspects of this story were written well, yes, including the sex scenes!