Archives for February 19, 2018

* Review * SAVANNAH’S SECRETS by Reese Ryan

February 19, 2018 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * SAVANNAH’S SECRETS by Reese Ryan

Savannah's Secrets by Reese Ryan
Series: The Bourbon Brothers
Published by Harlequin Desire on March 1, 2018
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Falling for the boss, or taking him down?

Savannah Carlisle had the perfect plan. By infiltrating the Abbott family’s Tennessee bourbon empire as their events manager, she’d be one step closer to claiming half of the business they stole from her grandfather. Now she’s not so sure. Because sexy Blake Abbott, heir to it all, is simply intoxicating. He’s supposed to be the enemy. But after one long, stormy weekend, she’s pregnant with his child…

Red hot revenge or a happily ever after? With the first book in her Bourbon Brothers series, Reese Ryan thrills us with her Harlequin Desire debut! Her characters are attention grabbing from the start, the flirty connection between them is not only steamy but also draws the occasional chuckle as they banter back and forth. I loved them both, in addition to the rest of the family, so I look forward to more of the series!

Savannah Carlisle has the ultimate plan of revenge scoped out against the Abbott family! She plans to get hired as their latest and greatest events manager for their Tennessee bourbon empire and then once she’s worked her way into the fold, she’s going to find the proof that she needs to support her grandfather’s claim that they stole his bourbon recipe to make their fortune! All these years he’s been struggling while they live a life of luxury, so it’s time for a little evening of the score!

Blake Abbott can’t believe their luck in hiring such an ambitious and hard working events manager. This anniversary celebration is going to be something else! He has to admit though, that being around the gorgeous and luscious Savannah is driving him insane! As luck would have it, being stranded together one stormy weekend is just the permission they needed to embark on a steamy love affair. The event planning is going great, Blake is so enchanted with Savannah that he’s ready to admit to their relationship to his family so they can go public … but then the house of cards comes crumbling down around them!

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* Review * HER LAS VEGAS WEDDING by Andrea Bolter

February 19, 2018 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * HER LAS VEGAS WEDDING by Andrea Bolter

Her Las Vegas Wedding by Andrea Bolter
Published by Harlequin Romance on March 1, 2018
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From a convenient fiancé…

To an inconvenient attraction!

When hotel heiress Audrey Girard’s safe, convenient wedding to a business partner is called off, she’s left to contend with her ex-fiancé’s brother—wild, brooding chef Shane Murphy. And there’s certainly nothing safe about Audrey’s attraction to Shane—every day they work together is even more dangerously tempting! Could there be a Las Vegas wedding in the cards after all?

Falling for the wrong brother? An arranged marriage falls apart but another spicy match might be right around the corner! The characters have a fun connection with each other even though they fight it at every turn. I didn’t fall in love with them from the beginning like I sometimes do, but I did enjoy watching them find their way towards each other. A few strange aspects of the plot, but overall, a fun read!

When hotel heiress Audrey Girard agreed to marry a family friend in order to further their joint business holdings and bond the families, it wasn’t really a big deal. No, she didn’t love him, but she was fond of him and isn’t looking for more in her life anyway … but suddenly he finds real love and calls it off! Now she’s stuck doing the company publicity with his brother, temperamental chef, Shane Murphy! If she can get through this in one piece, she’s going to be lucky. This man is infuriating … but she has to admit, he’s really fun too!

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* Review * ALWAYS THE HERO by Anna J. Stewart

February 19, 2018 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * ALWAYS THE HERO by Anna J. Stewart

Always the Hero by Anna J. Stewart
Series: Butterfly Harbor Stories
Published by Harlequin Heartwarming on March 1, 2018
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He never relied on anyone but himself...

But he needs her now!

Butterfly Harbor deputy Matt Knight wants two things: to date Lori Bradley and the chance to adopt Kyle, a troubled teen. Wounded in Afghanistan, Matt knows he can't move forward anchored to the past. But once he regains the guarded hotel manager's trust, will his need to protect those he loves cost him a future with this extraordinary woman?

It’s always a joy to visit Butterfly Harbor! A close-knit community where neighbors help each other and life is idyllic is everyone’s dream … but even ones as kind and good-hearted as Butterfly Harbor have their drama. Lots of familiar faces fill the pages of the next installment in this series. We get to join in the fun of planning the big Monarch Festival to benefit the town while we follow along in Matt & Lori’s fledgling relationship to see if it’s cut out to last or flounder. Great story!

Deputy Matt Knight is interested in two things … a relationship with Lori Bradley and adopting troubled teen Kyle Winters. In order to be in the right mind-set to offer Lori the person that she deserves by her side, he backed away and internalized some problems he needed to figure out. She assumed he no longer wanted to date her when he stopped calling and returning texts. Now Matt has to scramble to make it up to her and hope she’ll give him another chance!

Lori Bradley knows she has her own issues in life, but she didn’t just imagine that Matt was pulling away from her. When he explains the details, she has to decide if she’s willing to start fresh with him again, and makes it clear she can’t tolerate secrets. Things are going well … until another secret arises that makes her doubt Matt … and herself … even more!

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* Review * BULLETPROOF SEAL by Carol Ericson

February 19, 2018 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * BULLETPROOF SEAL by Carol Ericson

Bulletproof SEAL by Carol Ericson
Series: Red, White and Built
Published by Harlequin Intrigue on March 1, 2018
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He had to take the shot…

And kill his lover.

Branded a traitor, Rikki Taylor is in the sights of sniper Quinn McBride’s rifle. Yet the navy SEAL knows this woman intimately, and there’s no way she’d betray her country…or him. Saving her is his number one priority. Discovering her real secrets, including the baby she’s keeping from him, can wait—first, they have to make it out alive.

A riveting read! We’re familiar with several of the players in this book from previous stories in the series, and this one brings us the story of CIA agent Rikki Taylor and Navy SEAL Quinn McBride. It’s an action packed story that takes us for a ride filled with danger and intrigue. I’m assuming from the outcome that this is the last in the series … and under this assumption, the ending seemed very rushed and left a lot of vague answers open. The characters were well developed, the plot was well-played, but the ending was a bit flat. Overall an entertaining read!

When Navy SEAL Quinn McBride was given the order to take out a traitor in the CIA, he has no idea until he’s in the middle of the mission that it’s his former lover, Rikki Taylor who is going to be on the other end of his sniper rifle. He knows her well … there’s no way she’s guilty of betraying her country!

Assumed dead former CIA agent Rikki Taylor wants her life back. She was betrayed and set up to take a fall by someone, and her former lover might have been in on it for all she knows since he was the one sent to kill her. She has to find the answers she needs once and for all in order to be able to have a life again in the US … but finding Quinn to get some answers has to be her first step … and if he turns out to be as innocent as she is, she’ll tell him about the daughter they share!

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* Review * TAKEDOWN by Julie Miller

February 19, 2018 Leave a Comment

Takedown by Julie Miller
Series: The Precinct Series
Published by Harlequin Intrigue on April 1, 2010
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SWAT Captain Michael Cutler's pulse was racing. He should have been thinking about the intense hostage crisis he'd just diffused. But he couldn't keep his mind off of her--Jillian Masterson, the leggy brunette who had come to him for protection from an obsessive stalker. He certainly hadn't been looking for love, especially with someone fifteen years his junior. But their chemistry was undeniable. As the stalker's threats intensified, Michael knew he'd go to any lengths to bring him down. Even if that entailed giving Jillian some very personal security....

Exciting read! When I heard that Julie Miller’s upcoming release KANSAS CITY COP was Mike Cutler Jr.’s story, I had to go revisit a blast from the past and re-read his dad’s story where we first met Mike! It was great the first time around, and now all these years later still just as attention grabbing and heart warming. The characters are easy to like and you find yourself routing for them to get together from the start. The added affection of the teenage boys makes for a well-rounded story. I really enjoyed it!

When Kansas City SWAT Captain Michael Cutler learns that his son’s physical therapist has a stalker, he steps in to help protect her. He’s already been attracted to her, but since he’s 15 years older than her and has done a whole world of living before her time, he hasn’t acted on it … but close proximity and her making it clear she feels it too makes it hard to resist!

Jillian Masterson adores the teens she works with as a physical therapist. Two of them in particular have snuck their way into her heart, so she inserts herself a little more than normal into their every day lives. She has a past she’s glad to have out-grown, but the letters and gifts she’s been receiving recently make her wonder if one part of it is coming back to haunt her. Can Michael help her get to the bottom of what’s going on? And can she convince him that the chemistry they feel needs to be acted on?

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* Review * SURROGATE ESCAPE by Jenna Kernan

February 19, 2018 Leave a Comment

Surrogate Escape by Jenna Kernan
Series: Apache Protectors: Wolf Den
Published by Harlequin Intrigue on March 1, 2018
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Enter the world of Apache Protectors: Wolf Den
A riveting new series begins!

A newborn abandoned in his truck? Tribal policeman Jake Redhorse immediately summons nurse Lori Mott—his former fiancée—for help. But Jake jilted Lori and now must regain her trust while fighting awakening desires neither can deny. The infant they adore offers them a second chance…if they can discover why she’s the target of kidnappers.

Attention grabbing! We are pulled into Jenna Kernan’s new series quickly with the discovery of an abandoned baby. We are familiar with some of the outlying players in this series from others under the Apache Protectors umbrella, so we can quickly pick up on some of the items that are mentioned. The plot is fairly fast moving and keeps the intrigue peaked as we try to figure out what’s going on and who’s leading it all. The characters are young and still fairly childish in their mindsets, but easy to like and sympathize with. I enjoyed their story!

Jake Redhorse thinks he has his life on track, but a surprise discovery that sends him back into the path of his ex-fiancee changes that up quickly! Being called out on some of the stuff he did years ago gives him no choice but to grow up and take responsibility for what he did and didn’t do. Will this abandoned baby help pave the way for a new beginning?

Lori Mott feels like she was treated unfairly by the world back then, but she overcame it to earn respect in her life since. The last thing she wants is to be around Jake again after all of these years … but the abandoned baby that he found pulls at her heart strings and demands she put her needs aside.

Filed Under: Book Reviews