Archives for March 31, 2018

* Review * WHEN THE STARS COME OUT by Laura Trentham

March 31, 2018 Leave a Comment

When the Stars Come Out by Laura Trentham
Series: A Cottonbloom Novel
Published by St. Martin's Paperbacks on January 30, 2018
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Cottonbloom. A beautiful, faraway place where a woman can escape her past—and find reason to stay forever in Laura Trentham's When the Stars Come Out. . .

Willa Brown never planned to stay in Cottonbloom. She was on the way to somewhere else when she landed there and found work at the Abbot brothers’ garage. . .and a sense of comfort and safety that she had never known. The same holds true for Jackson Abbott himself. With one glance in her direction, he can make Willa’s heart melt. But what begins as an unrequited crush turns into something far more powerful than Willa could have ever imagined. . .

Jackson’s most meaningful relationship has always been with his car—and he’s not afraid to admit it. Still, he can’t help but become emotionally entangled with his new star mechanic Willa, who is definitely hiding some dark secrets of her own beneath the hood. Jackson desperately wants Willa to trust him, and to seek protection in his arms. But even as the two slowly surrender to their shared attraction, the danger lurking in Willa’s past remains a stubborn obstacle. Can she open up enough to give them both a chance at having real and lasting love?

Small-town life at it’s best! If you haven’t visited Cottonbloom yet, what are you waiting for? With each visit, the Abbott brothers draw me in deeper and deeper to their family life. I love these guys. They have a lot of history holding them back from realizing their true potential, but with each woman that comes into their lives, they find a little more happiness until bit by bit they are healing and becoming even better men than they already were. Such a great series! I’m really enjoying the characters, the storylines and the hope of happily ever after for them all!

Willa Brown never meant to call Cottonbloom home when she stopped in two years ago, but she found work as a mechanic with the Abbott brothers, and found a place she fit in better than she ever has in her life. With Jackson Abbott by her side under a hood every day, she learns to take comfort in the day to day work and friendship that a close-knit atmosphere can bring. She doesn’t want to leave the good thing she’s found, but her past could spring up and bite her any day if she continues to hang around!

Jackson Abbott didn’t even realize Willa was interested in him until one day he woke up and realized she was acting restless like she was getting ready to bail on them. He can’t stand to lose her in the garage … and in his life. He didn’t realize how deep she’d gotten under his skin until he came to the realization that she might not always be there. Once he opens his eyes, the attraction flares out of control and they decide to act on it … but in the midst of his family drama, her past rears it’s ugly head and they find themselves having to deal with multiple factors that could keep them apart.

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* Review * DARKEST NIGHT by Tara Thomas

March 31, 2018 Leave a Comment

Darkest Night by Tara Thomas
Series: Sons of Broad
Published by St. Martin's Paperbacks on February 27, 2018
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SHE THOUGHT SHE’D LOST HIM FOREVER
Tilly Brock has learned—the hard way—how to take care of herself. Once a pillar of Charleston society, her family lost everything in the wake of a shocking scandal. And then Tilly lost the only boy she ever loved.

BUT NOW THAT HE’S BACK IN HER LIFE
Keaton Benedict is Charleston’s most notorious bachelor. But in spite of all his advantages—the money, the women, the family name—he longs for more: the heart of the young woman he still can’t forget.

THE DANGER HAS JUST BEGUN…
When Keaton re-enters Tilly’s life, after all these years, she is torn between feelings of doubt and desire. Can they put the past behind them and learn to love again? Tilly is willing to try. But Keaton is afraid that a vengeful enemy is watching—and waiting to destroy them. Can the rekindled flame of their love defeat the deadliest rival and light their way forward in the darkest night?

A danger filled, captivating read! With the kick off to a new series, we are quickly drawn into a story of lost friendships, scandal and danger knocking at their door. The characters are easy to like, the story is intriguing and though not perfectly developed, the plot keeps our attention throughout. A solid read!

Childhood best friends and fledgling first loves Tilly Brock and Keaton Benedict were unjustly split apart before they could ever even start to live the lives they were destined to carve out together. She lived through a scandal with her family and went on to struggle to make her way in the world. He lived the good life, but finds himself still yearning for more.

When a chance meeting brings them together again and has them reminiscing about the past and rediscovering what happened to the other after they were torn apart, the attraction they once felt is alive and well and undeniably strong. A jaunt into what could have been leads them into danger and has them watching their backs and racing against time to figure out who’s set their sights on them … and why!

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* Review * SISTERS LIKE US by Susan Mallery

March 31, 2018 Leave a Comment

Sisters Like Us by Susan Mallery
Series: Mischief Bay
Published by MIRA on January 23, 2018
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The grass is always greener on your sister’s side of the fence…

Divorce left Harper Szymanski with a name no one can spell, a house she can't afford and a teenage daughter who's pulling away. With her fledgling virtual-assistant business, she's scrambling to maintain her overbearing mother’s ridiculous Susie Homemaker standards and still pay the bills, thanks to clients like Lucas, the annoying playboy cop who claims he hangs around for Harper's fresh-baked cookies.

Spending half her life in school hasn't prepared Dr. Stacey Bloom for her most daunting challenge—motherhood. She didn't inherit the nurturing gene like Harper and is in deep denial that a baby is coming. Worse, her mother will be horrified to learn that Stacey's husband plans to be a stay-at-home dad…assuming Stacey can first find the courage to tell Mom she's already six months pregnant.

Separately they may be a mess, but together Harper and Stacey can survive anything—their indomitable mother, overwhelming maternity stores and ex’s weddings. Sisters Like Us is a delightful look at sisters, mothers and daughters in today’s fast-paced world, told with Susan Mallery’s trademark warmth and humor.

Witty with a side of sass, delightfully real and a downright fun read! Raised by an overbearing, perfection seeking mother, two sisters show their different methods of dealing with her as their lives swirl into unfamiliar territory that they’re not so sure they can make it through without breaking! One tries to be the perfect daughter, while the other avoids with the best of them. Neither one is pleasing to their dear mother, so what’s a gal to do? I enjoyed the drama, humor and search for happy ever afters!

Harper Szymanski tried her best to be the perfect wife and mother that life (and her mother) expected her to be, but all it left her with is a jerk of an ex-husband, a teenage daughter who can’t stand to be in the same room with her anymore, and a mountain of bills that she can’t afford to pay! She’s thankful for the clients that keep her busy in her virtual assistant business she started to make ends meet after the divorce … especially playboy cop Lucas who seems to always be at her house!

Dr. Stacey Bloom is as smart as they come, but it doesn’t help her deal with her neurotic mother one bit. She has a husband she loves dearly, and a baby on the way very quickly, but she can’t seem to find comfort in her pending motherhood. The fact of the matter is, it terrifies her … and so does telling her mother that she’s pregnant! She knows she’s going to disapprove of her way of doing each and every thing … not to mention the fact that she’s going to continue to work while her husband stays home with the baby … so she’s shoving her head under the sand and pretending it’s not happening!

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* Review * BACHELOR REMEDY by Carol Ross

March 31, 2018 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * BACHELOR REMEDY by Carol Ross

Bachelor Remedy by Carol Ross
Series: Seasons of Alaska
Published by Harlequin Heartwarming on April 1, 2018
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She’s the most unconventional woman he’ll ever meet…

and the cure for a perennial bachelor?

Raised by her healer grandfather, former army medic Ally Mowak knows her alternative approach to traditional medicine puts her at odds with most of her Alaskan town. That includes Tag James, the rugged transport pilot with the sprawling family and political ambitions. Ally couldn’t be more wrong for the aspiring senator. Then why does everything feel so right when they’re together?

Amazingly descriptive scenery, down-to-earth characters and a plot that will hook you in no time! It’s always a joy to visit the Rankins, Alaska setting that Carol Ross introduced us to several books ago, and this one continues the town saga we’ve grown to love. We’re intrigued by Tag and Ally from the moment we start getting to know their back stories, and once they come together and sparks fly, it’s easy to fall into their undeniable attraction. Fast paced and action packed, we get follow them on their journey of realization and happily ever afters. Really good story!

Former Army medic Ally Mowak knows that her alternative medicine beliefs that she learned working at her healer grandfather’s side for years aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, but she’s hoping that her knew job at the hospital in Rankins, Alaska will allow her to blend her medical knowledge with some natural healing as well to build a solid foundation for the town. Her first meeting with the medical transport pilot she’ll be working with doesn’t go as planned though, so she’s not sure what to think of him and his stickler ways!

Tag James is an easy going guy, but when he picks up Ally during an emergency flight recovery, he’s not sure what to make of her healer ways. With his political career looming closer than he ever thought, he has to make sure he’s living a strictly kosher lifestyle in the eyes of the town, but Ally seems like kind of a dare devil … and he has to admit, he kind of likes it!

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* Review * TAMING THE BILLIONAIRE by Dani Wade

March 31, 2018 Leave a Comment

Taming the Billionaire by Dani Wade
Series: Savannah Sisters
Published by Harlequin Desire on March 1, 2018
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The beast of Sabatini House is real.

And only one beauty can tame him.

When Willow Harden arrives at Tate Kingston’s island castle for her housekeeper job, she finds her temperamental boss isn’t just an enigmatic author living in self-imposed exile—he’s an attractive flesh-and-blood man. Soon she’s thinking less about her mission to uncover his family’s secrets than about being under his covers. Until an unplanned pregnancy sets them on a collision course with destiny…

Fast-paced, intriguing and deliciously sexy! A story of forgiving yourself for your past sins in order to move forward with a brighter future. Tate was a bitter, tortured man until Willow came into his life and showed him that the things he blamed himself for weren’t truly his fault. She shows him what love looks like and how it can heal the very beast that tortures your soul. Nice read!

Tate Kingston is not happy about having his inner sanctuary intruded upon by a stranger, but he finds himself in need of a temporary housekeeper. He’s lived alone for years in his self-imposed exile after suffering great loss and heartbreak. He doesn’t plan to let anyone into his world, but he finds he can’t resist this gorgeous woman who is suddenly poking at every wall he has up around his heart!

Willow Harden has been fascinated by Tate’s house and the mysteries it holds, so when an opportunity to arises to get her foot in the door, she jumps at the chance! She plans to hunt for answers to some secrets that may change her family’s history … but she doesn’t plan to be instantly attracted to the stubborn, short-tempered grouch of a man that she’s going to be working for. When a night of passion leads to an unplanned pregnancy, they are going to have to set aside their pride’s and figure out where they go from here!

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* Review * SUMMER BY THE SEA by Cathryn Parry

March 31, 2018 1 Comment

Summer by the Sea by Cathryn Parry
Published by Harlequin Superromance on March 1, 2018
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Sometimes even lifeguards need saving…

Lifeguard Sam Logan is always cool under pressure. But his laid-back nature is put to the test when his daughter begrudgingly comes to live with him for the summer. Luckily, his new neighbor, Silicon Valley tech guru Sarah Buckley, agrees to mentor her. In return, Sam teaches Sarah some much-needed meditation.

Brash and self-centered, Sarah is not the best influence for eleven-year-old Lucy. Yet Sam can’t deny he’s attracted to Sarah’s drive—and the vulnerability she starts to show him. It’s no secret that at the end of her sabbatical, Sarah is heading back to California. So why does this feel like more than just a summer fling?

Inspiring, captivating and breathtakingly down-to-earth! A heartwarming tale of finding love and happiness when you least expect it. It’s a brutally honest look into overcoming the disappointments and surprises that life throws at you, and learning to live your dreams regardless . I loved all of the characters and admired their tenacity. There’s a real feel to them as they have to overcome hardships and surprises to eventually find the love they didn’t even realize was out there. It’s raw, it’s sweet, it’s healing, and overall, it’s a truly touching story on many levels. Loved it!

Lifeguard Sam Logan can tell this is going to be the summer of a lifetime. Out of the blue his wise beyond her years pre-teen daughter reluctantly comes to live with him for the summer and he has no clue what to do with her. She’s not the little girl that spent weekends being happy with anything they did together anymore, and he’s not equipped with the skills to know what she needs from him. Luckily someone she idolizes is staying in the cottage next door for the summer and agrees to mentor her!

Silicon valley tech guru Sarah Buckley isn’t happy about being sent off on a retreat to learn how to meditate and ground herself, but if this is what it takes to get her business flourishing and move her forward to the next dream on life’s agenda, she’ll suck it up and get it done like always. She’s not sure what to make of the guy next door, but if he’s willing to show her how to relax, she’ll teach his brilliant daughter a few tricks of the world. Only trouble is, there’s a major attraction between her and Sam, and she’s heading back to California in a few weeks, so how can they act on it?

Filed Under: Book Reviews