Friday, March 25, 2016

First Line Friday

Welcome to First Line Friday! This fun meme is easy to do, simply pick up the book you're currently reading and share the very first line! There are some really good first lines out there, they grab you and suck you right into the story. Make you want to keep reading. So, my selection for this week is:

Marry Your Billionaire by CJ Anaya
Six years ago, Midge Knightly walked away from her trust fund, her Hollywood producer father, and the expectation that she would join the family business. Avoiding handsome playboys with hidden agendas was just an added bonus. Now one semester shy of graduation, she is shocked to discover her scholarship has lost its funding. Her estranged father is having problems of his own. A contestant on his latest reality TV series has cancelled two months before shooting. His solution? Midge gets her trust fund back if she stands in as a potential marriage candidate for the dating series Marry Your Billionaire. Twenty women competing for one arrogant guy. Not Midge's cup of tea. Agreeing to this proposition sucks her back into the world she happily broke ties from, but no trust fund equals no college degree.
 
First Line:
 
"Unbelievable! Madelyn Knightly -Midge to her friends-took one look at the handsome stranger who'd had the audacity, the outrageous nerve, to steal her usual seat at Café Canape and felt an irrational pang of anger surge to the surface."

So, what's your pick for this week? If you want to participate grab the logo and post your own First Line Friday entry on your blog and then leave your link in the comments. If you don't have a blog, just leave the title, author and first line in the comment section below. Happy Reading!

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Blog Tour: Her Summer Crush by Linda Hope Lee



On Tour with Prism Book Tours.



Her Summer Crush (Return to Willow Beach)
Her Summer Crush
by Linda Hope Lee
Adult Contemporary Romance
Mass Market Paperback & ebook, 368 Pages
March 1st 2016 by Harlequin Heartwarming

She's over her crush…isn't she?

Luci Monroe is on top of the world. She's just graduated from journalism school and she's already landed her dream job in PR. Then Cody Jarvis saunters into her office. Nothing like finding out that your teenage crush, now a gorgeous, globe-trotting, freelance photographer, is going to be your staffer for the summer. Never mind. They're both professionals. And she's over him. Kind of. Anyway, he's not interested. Cody is always waiting to disappear on his next assignment, and Luci needs someone stable. Someone who wants to build a life right here in Willow Beach…


Linda Hope Lee

Linda Hope Lee writes contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and mysteries. She enjoys traveling especially to small towns in search of story ideas. She's also an artist, specializing in watercolor, pen and ink, and colored pencil. Photography provides inspiration for both her writing and her art. She lives in the Pacific Northwest, where many of her stories are set.

Other Books by the Author

Eva's DeadlineTreasures of the Heart
Finding Sara (The Red Rock, Colorado, #1)Loving Rose (The Red Rock, Colorado, # 2)

Tour Schedule


March 20th: Launch
March 22nd: Bookworm Nation & I Am A Reader
March 23rd: Wishful Endings
March 25th: Thoughts of a Blonde
March 27th: Grand Finale

Tour Giveaway

$50 Amazon eGift Card
3 copies of Her Summer Crush (print if US, ebook if international)
Open internationally
Ends April 1st

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Grab Our Button!

MY THOUGHTS:
This was a sweet romance! I always enjoy these kinds of stories, the girl who had a crush on her brothers friend. Luci had a crush on Cody in high school, nothing ever came of it since he was older and especially once he left town to become a free-lance photographer. Luci has now finished college and is starting her own career when Cody shows up back in her life. She thinks her crush is over, but having to spend so much time working together those old feelings are hard to keep away. I liked that we get both POV in this story, it’s fun to see things from Cody’s point of view. He always knew Luci liked him before and at first is confused when she is giving him the cold shoulder. I liked seeing his feelings for Luci evolve and become something real. They have their own obstacles to overcome, but those things just make their romance stronger. I thought this was a fun read, a nice escape in a charming small town setting. If you enjoy contemporary romance this is a good one!

Monday, March 21, 2016

First Line Friday

Welcome to First Line Friday! This fun meme is easy to do, simply pick up the book you're currently reading and share the very first line! There are some really good first lines out there, they grab you and suck you right into the story. Make you want to keep reading. So, my selection for this week is:

A Noble Masquerade by Kristi Ann Hunter
Lady Miranda Hawthorne acts every inch the lady, but inside she longs to be bold and carefree. Entering her fourth Season and approaching spinsterhood in the eyes of society, she pours her innermost feelings out not in a diary but in letters to her brother's old school friend, a duke--with no intention of ever sending these private thoughts to a man she's heard stories about but never met. Meanwhile, she also finds herself intrigued by Marcus, her brother's new valet, and although she may wish to break free of the strictures that bind her, falling in love with a servant is more of a rebellion than she planned.

When Marcus accidentally discovers and mails one of the letters to her unwitting confidant, Miranda is beyond mortified. And even more shocked when the duke returns her note with one of his own that initiates a courtship-by-mail. Insecurity about her lack of suitors shifts into confusion at her growing feelings for two men--one she's never met but whose words deeply resonate with her heart, and one she has come to depend on but whose behavior is more and more suspicious. When it becomes apparent state secrets are at risk and Marcus is right in the thick of the conflict, one thing is certain: Miranda's heart is far from all that's at risk for the Hawthornes and those they love.
 
First Line:
 
"Lady Miranda Hawthorne would support her sister tonight, even if it killed her."

So, what's your pick for this week? If you want to participate grab the logo and post your own First Line Friday entry on your blog and then leave your link in the comments. If you don't have a blog, just leave the title, author and first line in the comment section below. Happy Reading!

Friday, March 11, 2016

The Protective Groom by Lucy McConnell

The Protective Groom: Billionaire Marriage BrokersThe Protective Groom: Billionaire Marriage Brokers by Lucy McConnell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is such a fun series! I like how they all have a similar theme, and yet are unique and can stand on their own. I actually missed book four, so I need to go back and read that one now.

Harley has a stalker that's getting more aggressive, to help protect her they decide she should get married. Hoping this will have the stalker give up, they go through the Billionaire Marriage Brokers where she's matched with ex-cop Noah Baker. Noah and Harley were a cute couple, great chemistry and had a fun story. I would have liked to been around for more of their "get to know you" conversations, but the interactions they do have are fun. I think the stalker aspect could have been played up a little more, I never felt a lot of suspense or felt a real threat. Overall, a fun read and one I'd recommend.

Content
Romance: Clean, mild kissing
Language: None
Violence: Mild
Religious: Mild, not preachy
Series: Book four, but can stand on its own

Source: Kindle Unlimited


View all my reviews

First Line Friday

Welcome to First Line Friday! This fun meme is easy to do, simply pick up the book you're currently reading and share the very first line! There are some really good first lines out there, they grab you and suck you right into the story. Make you want to keep reading. So, my selection for this week is:

Escape to Eden by Rachel McClellan

When seventeen-year-old Sage wakes up in a hospital with no memories, her only clue are the words written on her hand. With a deadly disease threatening to wipe out mankind, Sage must find out who she is and why most people would kill to get their hands on her—before it’s too late.

First Line:
"I may be the dumbest person in the world."

This is one of those books that has been calling to me. I just have a good feeling about it, and that first line definitely makes me want to keep reading and figure out what is going on. So, what's your pick for this week? If you want to participate grab the logo and post your own First Line Friday entry on your blog and then leave your link in the comments. If you don't have a blog, just leave the title, author and first line in the comment section below. Happy Reading!

Thursday, March 10, 2016

Highway Revenge by Nadine Millard

Highway RevengeHighway Revenge by Nadine Millard
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



This has been nominated for a 2016 Swoony Award. Share the love and vote for it here.

4.5

When I saw my friends review of this one awhile back I made a mental note to bump it up my TBR list. It kept popping up and I finally decided to give it a try last night, and I ended up not being able to put it down! I've read a couple of Ms. Millard's other books, but this was by far my favorite of the bunch.

This was a fun read, Evelyn is a likeable heroine. She's had her personality stifled for the past ten years, living with her controlling and unloving Aunt & Uncle. Luckily, she had the love and support of her cousins Abby & Jonathan, even if they didn't quite understand her. It's not until Viscount Andrew Ashdon shows up that she begins to realize she doesn't want to be a quite little country mouse any longer. Evelyn and Andrew had fun chemistry, some of their scenes had me laughing out loud. And others had me swooning.

This was a well written story that moved along nicely, a bit of mystery and intrigue, misunderstandings and a sweet romance. I usually not care for "rakes" very much, they're all to common in regencies, but this is one of those rare cases where I believe that Andrew does love and respect Evelyn enough to change his ways. I would have preferred less innuendo, but appreciate that the author did keep things clean overall.

This definitely rates up there with one of the better regencies I've read and would look forward to reading again. A fun start to a new series! Actually, I have no idea if this is going to be a series or not, but I'm hoping if I send enough positive thoughts out there, then maybe we'll be lucky to get a book for Abby and Jonathan!

Content
Romance: Pretty clean. Some kissing and one scene that gets a little steamy but stays clean. Some lusty thoughts and mild innuendo.
Language: Mild, handful of mild cuss words
Violence: Mild

Source: Amazon

View all my reviews

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

A Shade of Vampire by Bella Forrest

A Shade of Vampire (A Shade of Vampire, #1)A Shade of Vampire by Bella Forrest
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

*I read the 2015 version, I believe the original had around 150 pages and this has almost 300.

I picked this one up out of pure curiosity. I saw a friends review, I don't believe I'd ever heard of this book/series before, and like always when a friend leaves a positive review on a book I usually look it up and see what its all about. I was surprised to see this was the start of a TWENTY-FOUR book series. Seriously, twenty-four books is an insanely long series, especially when I usually never read series that are more than four books. So yeah, I was curious to see what this was about and decided to read the sample. I admit, I got sucked (haha, no pun intended) in. Now, I know some of my friends were less than impressed with this one, and maybe my experience was different since I read the updated extended version? I don't know, all I know is I thought it was an entertaining read. Sure, there were some cheesy parts, a couple plot holes, but come on...its a book about vampires! Of course there is going to be times when you have to suspend belief. Like when Sofia acclimates to her kidnapping so quickly and almost has a Stockholm Syndrome romance with Derek, or when she so easily accepts that he still feeds on other humans without the bat of an eye. I figure, its an Urban Fantasy, I don't really want to spend the entire book with her acting realistically (terrified, depressed, scared, etc) I'd rather just suspend belief and enjoy the story for what it is.

I liked Sofia's character okay (again, suspend belief on some behaviors), she's a lot like any other heroine in these type books. Derek is supposedly the most powerful vampire around, but hates being a vampire. He hates his existence so much that four hundred years ago he convinced a witch to put a spell on him making him sleep for eternity. He is awaken when his family needs him and his forced to take up the role of Prince once again. Meeting Sofia makes him think it might be time to stay awake and embrace his fate. Sure, he tries to treat Sofia well, but still shows a complete disregard to other humans. RED FLAG! A guy that treats you well, but no one else, is not someone you should be falling for, Sofia.

Anyway, its one of those books were you could overanalyze and complain about certain things, but I just thought it was a fun read. I liked the story, setting and although I don't know if I'd want to really tackle a 24 book series, I may pick up the next one when I'm in the mood for vampire trope. Oh, I do wish it wasn't ended on quite a cliffhanger, but owell.

Content PG13 Mild
Romance: Clean
Language: Mild, maybe one cuss word
Violence: Mild-moderate. Nothing overly detailed, but it does obviously deal with vampires. A couple attacks/wondering hands, brief nudity. Nothing overly detailed or graphic
Series: Book one of 24. My understanding, they build on each other and need to be read in order.

Source: Kindle Unlimited


View all my reviews

Tuesday, March 8, 2016

Book Tour: Tara Taylor Quinn


 
On Tour with Prism Book Tours.

Book Tour Grand Finale for
Love by Association
By Tara Taylor Quinn
and
Wild Horses
By Claire McEwen

We hope you enjoyed learning more about two new Harlequin Superromance releases (available from multiple retailers in print and ebook) that have some serious romance as well as some risk! If you missed any of the stops, feel free to go back now and also enter the giveaways, if you missed those...

Launch - Welcome

I can promise you that if you join me in this journey, you’ll be welcomed with a sense of friendship and belonging. My posts are authentic and my books are heartfelt. And if you want more, you can join me and more than thousands of other pinners on my open Friendship board on Pinterest. There’s no marketing there. No sales. And absolutely no negativity. It’s just a group of 7000 people who’ve joined with me to build a space of positive affirmation about the power of friendship.


Brooke Blogs - Character Description for Chantel from Love by Association

Now a member of the Santa Raquel High Risk Team, she goes undercover to ensure the safety of a boy and his mother, and ends up finding something horrible going on in the wealthy society she infiltrates. I didn’t know, when I started this book, what was going to happen. I didn’t know until the end how it was going to end. I didn’t even know if the bad guy was bad. Chantel took care of it all. She took care of me. And she’ll take care of you, too, if you give her a chance!

Lady Amber's Reviews - The Where Secrets are Safe Series

The place where secrets are safe – a unique women’s shelter, The Lemonade Stand, in a fictional California coastal town, Santa Raquel. The people come and then they go. This isn’t a place where you stay forever. It’s a place where you bring your secrets, where you are safe, while you work out whatever is troubling you.

Beck Valley Books - TTQ Books

If you’ve never read a ttq book before, this might be a good one to start with. It has a little bit of everything – in my humble opinion – that makes my work unique. Love. Laughter. Suspense. And the grit that lines streets in real life. 

Cu's eBook Giveaways - Excerpt from Love by Association

Two nights ago his life had changed. He’d changed.

And it didn’t seem like there was a lot he could do about that.

Except to see where it was all going to lead...

Harlie's Books - Reviews: Love by Association & Wild Horses

"I love Tara’s Superromances. She never disappoints. And of course she didn’t with Colin and Chantel’s story. There is so much depth to their story that goes beyond the romance and theme of domestic abuse."

"I found a new author to read/stalk. She writes with emotional depth and creates characters that you fall in love with from the start."

deal sharing aunt - Excerpt from Love by Association

“How did you do it, Meri? How did you keep up the facade of being one person when your real heart was so ripped up?” Through the years of running from her abusive ex-husband, Meri had taken on a number of different identities, but those had just been name changes. This last time, the time Chantel had been involved, she’d actually pretended to be someone she was not, leaving Max and Caleb and starting a different life in order to protect them from the danger following her.


Wishful Endings - Excerpt from Wild Horses

“I had a lot of time to lie in bed and wish I’d never taken that job. That I’d stayed in the States. With you.”

The words she’d wanted to hear for so long, right there between them on the table. Now that they’d been said, Nora realized that no matter how many times she’d imagined him saying them, she’d never imagined her answer. She stared at Todd, but he was still looking out over the bar, lost in memory. Maybe he didn’t even realize what he’d said.

underneath the covers - What Makes a Great Western Romance?

I love reading western romance. Put a hero in faded jeans a flannel shirt and a cowboy hat on a book cover and I will very likely buy that book! But sometimes I end up feeling like the cowboy on the cover is the only part of the book that is western. And since I write western romance as well, that got me thinking about what makes a story a western.

EskieMama Reads - Old Love Revisited

It’s a trope I’ve always been drawn to. The story where people meet at a high school reunion and confess that they’ve never forgotten each other. The woman who walks into her new job and realizes her co-worker is the man she’s always loved. Until recently, my fondness for this trope was a bit of a guilty pleasure. But now my secret is out. Not only does my new book, Wild Horses, explore this trope, but my July release is also about a couple that had a relationship in the past. I guess I have a lot to say about reuniting couples right now!

Becky on Books - Family Drama — Why I Love it!

It comes down to the whole reason I love reading and writing romance. It’s not just the chemistry between two characters that draws me into a story. It’s the personal and unique transformation that the hero and heroine both go through after they meet each other and fall in love. It’s the way that love forces us to wrestle with that old emotional baggage and grow into someone better. Someone more like the person we were meant to be.

Thoughts of a Blonde - Reviews of Love by Association and Wild Horses

"An intriguing story that keeps you guessing and trying to figure out who is guilty of what throughout. Lots of protective shields are in place that have to be torn down to let life in again."

"A sweet read about finding your way home again, even if you have to overcome a lot of heartache and stubbornness to be able to do it."

Love by Association
Love by Association
(Where Secrets are Safe #7)
by Tara Taylor Quinn
Adult Contemporary Romance
Mass Market Paperback & ebook, 384 pages
March 1st 2016 by Harlequin

Love isn't part of the job… 

A tough-as-nails cop, Chantel Harris faces whatever life throws at her, and then some. As part of Santa Raquel's High Risk team—created by the town's women's shelter, The Lemonade Stand—she goes undercover to expose one of the community's elite as an abuser. 

Looking the part is easy, but gaining acceptance into upper society circles is a different matter. That's where gorgeous and successful lawyer Colin Fairbanks comes in. But Colin is so much more than Chantel could have dreamed. Wanting him is dangerous. Falling for him could ruin everything…

GoodreadsAmazonBarnes & NobleHarlequin

Wild HorsesWild Horses
by Claire McEwen
Adult Contemporary Romance
Mass Market Paperback & ebook, 384 pages
March 1st 2016 by Harlequin

This wild stallion can't be tamed 

Todd Williams is still the naive idealist he was in college. Only now he's endangering lives—Nora Hoffman's to be exact. Nora hasn't seen Todd since he decided that saving the rain forest was more important than their relationship. Until the night she's nearly crushed by the stampede he causes. Now Todd is determined to make amends, for everything. 

She may not agree with his methods, but even Nora can't deny the importance of his fight to save the wild horses. With the attraction between them still sizzling and the fate of the horses in the balance, Nora must decide just how much she's willing to risk.


The author of more than 70 original novels, in twenty languages, Tara Taylor Quinn is a USA Today bestseller with over six million copies sold. A 2015 RITA finalist Tara appears frequently on bestseller lists, including #1 placement on Amazon lists, and multiple showings on the Publisher’s Weekly Bestseller list. She has appeared on national and local TV across the country, including CBS Sunday Morning.

Tara is a supporter of the National Domestic Violence Hotline. If you or someone you know might be a victim of domestic violence in the United States, please contact 1-800-799-7233.



Claire McEwen lives by the ocean in Northern California with her family and a scruffy, mischievous terrier. When not dreaming up new stories, she can be found digging in her garden with a lot of enthusiasm but, unfortunately, no green thumb. 

Claire enjoys discovering flea-market treasures, walking on the beach, dancing, traveling, and reading, of course! She loves to write complex heroes and heroines, who grow and find themselves through their search for love.

Are you a blogger and would like to join a future
Six Months of Heart Stopping Tara Taylor Quinn tour event?
Find out more and sign up HERE!


Heart Stopping Tara Taylor Quinn Giveaways

LOVE BY ASSOCIATION & WILD HORSES TOUR GIVEAWAY

$20 VISA Gift Card (US only)
ebooks of Wife By DesignOnce A Family, and Husband by Choice by Tara Taylor Quinn (open internationally)
ebooks of A Ranch to Keep, More Than a Rancher and Convincing the Rancher by Claire McEwen (open internationally)
Ends March 12th

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TTQ PRE-ORDER/PURCHASE KINDLE FIRE GIVEAWAY



Kindle Fire with Six Pre-loaded TTQ Books (books 1-6 from Where Secrets are Safe series)
US only
Ends August 31st

To Enter: Submit your receipt online for your pre-order or purchase of any of Tara Taylor Quinn’s five releases being promoted on her Heart Stopping Tour (Love By AssociationHis First ChoiceThe Promise He Made HerStrangers in Paradise: Sheltered In His Arms, and For Love Or Money). Enter as many times as you purchase. One book purchase equals one entry (one receipt per entry and must be uploaded at time of entry).

TTQ HARLEQUIN MY REWARDS POINTS GIVEAWAY

1st Place: 25,000 Harlequin My Rewards Points – equivalent of 5 free books, reader’s choice of any book published by Harlequin/MIRA/Carina Press.
2nd Place: 15,000 Harlequin My Rewards Points – equivalent of 3 free books, reader’s choice
3rd Place: 10,000 Harlequin My Rewards Points – equivalent of 2 free books, readers choice
Open internationally
Ends August 31st

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Burning Glass by Kathryn Purdie

Burning Glass (Burning Glass, #1)Burning Glass by Kathryn Purdie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3.5

So, I liked this one. I'm always drawn to these high fantasy stories and this one jumped out at me while I was at the bookstore the other day. I'd seen it around on Goodreads and thought I'd give it a try, even breaking my own rule of not starting a series unless *all* the books were out.

Sonya was an interesting character, I actually felt bad for her for a lot of the book. Her gift would be torture I think, especially since it takes her quite a while to learn how to deal with it. I was kind of hoping she would learn to control it earlier on. Anyway, it would totally suck to constantly be feeling everyone else's emotions all the time and it would be hard probably to separate your own feelings from the people you're currently around. Especially if you're around someone like Valko who seemed to know how to use that to his advantage.

I liked the overall story, but wasn't completely happy with the ending. I'm sure things will be addressed in the next book, but as it stands I think how things were handled would simply cause a lot of chaos. I thought the romance was just okay, I liked Anton. I thought Valko was an interesting character. There isn't really a love-triangle, but Sonya is definitely in the middle of an intense sibling rivalry.

Overall, it was a fun story and kept me reading.

Content
Romance: Clean, mild innuendo and kissing
Language: None
Violence: Mild, non-descriptive fighting
Religious: None

Source: Barnes & Noble

View all my reviews

Sunday, March 6, 2016

Cover Characteristic


This is a really fun meme hosted by Sugar and Snark. "Each week we will post a characteristic and choose 5 of our favorite covers with that characteristic. If you want to join in and share your 5 favorite covers with the weeks particular characteristic, then just make a post, grab the meme picture (or make your own) and leave your URL in Linky. You don’t even need to participate, just stopping by and saying hi would be great! Don’t forget to stop by the other participants!"

Today's Characteristic: Hands

Friday, March 4, 2016

First Line Friday

Welcome to First Line Friday! This fun meme is easy to do, simply pick up the book you're currently reading and share the very first line! There are some really good first lines out there, they grab you and suck you right into the story. Make you want to keep reading. So, my selection for this week is:
 
First Light by Michele Paige Holmes
Seventeen-year-old Adrielle doesn’t believe in magic; she merely possesses it, though no one has ever mentioned that her unusual gifts—exceptional speed, a flair for fire, and an intimate knowledge of flora—aren’t things she was born with. When Adrielle starts a fire that burns down the family home, she must deal with both her grief and her siblings’ hurtful rejection. While journeying to far away Tallinyne, in search of her older, estranged sister—the only relative who might take her in—Adrielle is separated from her escort when the carriage is beset by thieves. Alone, she is thrust into a dangerous and unfamiliar world where she encounters fairies and gypsies, a wild boar, a drunk cook, and an evil queen whose curse is sweeping death across the land. Adrielle also finds love, falling hard for a kind, funny, handsome—and completely unavailable prince. From the glowing pearls tucked beneath her mattress and keeping her awake at night, to Queen Nadamaris’s curse that seems to thwart Adrielle’s every effort, Adrielle struggles to navigate a world of magic she never imagined, where people she knows and loves are not always what they appear to be. With the glowing pearls—and her fondest desire—within her grasp, she is forced to make a choice no girl should ever have to—satisfying her own heart or saving the kingdom.
 
First Line:
"The day my life changed forever began as any other."

I already want to continue reading and see what happens on that day! I've heard good things about this book already and isnt that cover gorgeous?!?! So, what's your pick for this week? If you want to participate grab the logo and post your own First Line Friday entry on your blog and then leave your link in the comments. If you don't have a blog, just leave the title, author and first line in the comment section below.

Happy Reading! 

Thursday, March 3, 2016

Sway by Melanie Stanford

SwaySway by Melanie Stanford


3.5

I'm always drawn to retellings of Austen's Persuasion, I guess I can't get enough at the whole second-chance-at-love storyline. I especially love a contemporary reboot like we find here in Sway.

Ava and Eric were high school sweethearts and what felt like soul mates. Like the original version, Ava's family interferes and the two part ways. The book picks up eight years later, Ava just returned from Julliard and Eric is the lead singer in a successful band. The book loosely follows the original, which is fun in a way since I love the original, but it also leaves little room for surprises. Despite the similarities, the author actually does a good job of making this her own and keeping the story fresh.

While I did enjoy the book, it kept me wanting to read, there were a few things I would have liked better. I wanted to feel more between Ava and Eric, one of my favorite things about these kind of plots is seeing the characters fall in love again. Ava and Eric spend a lot of time apart (most of the time Eric is pretty rude to her) and they're both dating others. I would have liked to see them together more, and not just in flashbacks. I'd have liked to see them in the present time relearning things about each other. Both obviously would have been through a lot in the past eight years and changed quite a bit from when they last knew each other as teenagers. So yeah, I liked them and liked their story, but would have liked to have seen them fall in love as adults.

Overall, I thought this was a fun debut and I'll keep a look out for more from Ms. Stanford.

Content
Romance: Clean
Language: None
Violence: None
Religious: None

Source: Amazon



This has been nominated for a 2016 Swoony Award. Share the love and vote for it here.

View all my reviews

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

His Kind of Cowgirl by Karen Rock

His Kind of CowgirlHis Kind of Cowgirl by Karen Rock
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this one!

I love a good contemporary western, I also love a good second chance at love story, and this had both! Tanner and Claire didn't part on the best of terms, in fact Clarie would be happy if she never saw him again. Life has other plans and she is not to happy when they are thrown back together again.

Clarie was a pretty tough character, she'd been through a lot. Sheesh, that opening prologue had me crying! Maybe it hit a little too close to home. Anyway, she was devastated at the loss of her sweet husband and when the book picks up two years later she is desperately trying to save her fathers bull ranch. She's been homeschooling her son since he's getting bullied at school and doesn't need any other distractions. That's when Tanner crashes back into her life. I wasn't sure what to think of Tanner (until we meet him then I started rooting for him pretty quickly), I am so glad we got things from his POV, its obvious he still has deep feelings for Claire, and I loved to see that side of him. I ended up really liking his character, who could resist a swoony bull rider?

I thought the overall story was good, the pacing was great and kept me turning the pages. I was sucked in from the start. I loved the setting and characters. Overall, an entertaining read. I'll definitely be reading more of Ms. Rock's books, fan for life now. :)

Content
Romance: Clean, mild innuendo-passionate kisses that stayed clean
Language: Mild
Violence: None
Religious: None

Source: Review copy


This has been nominated for a 2016 Swoony Award. Share the love and vote for it here.

View all my reviews

Write Me Home by Crystan Walton

Write Me HomeWrite Me Home by Crystal Walton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this one.

When Cassidy inherits her grandfathers summer camp she is determined to return it to its former glory and sale it. She is not expecting to fall in love with the place that held so many happy childhood memories. Restoring the camp also restores a piece of herself that has been missing for a long time. With the help of her best friend Ti and a handsome handyman, Ethan, she begins to believe in a brighter future. I liked Cassidy, she is loyal and fierce. She is also kind and has a happiness about her despite everything she's been through. I thought Ethan was great, very charming and patient. I thought they were great together. I really enjoyed their relationship.

I thought the overall story was fun and kept me turning the pages. I thought the mystery could have been developed a little better, but I did like that the "bad guy" was not who I thought it was. I do enjoy a good twist. Overall, a fun contemporary romance with a great setting and lovable characters. I hope Ti gets a book! It's exciting to find a new author to follow!

Content
Romance: Clean
Language: None
Violence: Mild, talk of drug abuse and child abuse - nothing detailed or graphic

Source: Review copy

This has been nominated for a 2016 Swoony Award. Share the love and vote for it here.


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