Archives for July 2020

* Review * THE PRICE OF PASSION by Maureen Child

July 7, 2020 Leave a Comment

The Price of Passion by Maureen Child
Series: Texas Cattleman's Club: Rags to Riches #1
Published by Harlequin Desire on June 1, 2020
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Is their red-hot reunion
too good to be true?

Broken trust is hard to rebuild.

But temptation is even harder to deny…

Wealthy rancher Camden Guthrie is back in Royal to rebuild his life and join the prestigious Texas Cattleman’s Club. To become a member, the widower needs help from Beth Wingate, the woman who shattered his heart fifteen years ago. Their attraction flares as strong as ever—but will long-buried secrets threaten a future with Beth all over again?

A reunion of temptation! With the kick-off to the newest Texas Cattleman’s Club spin-off series Rags to Riches Maureen Child brings a reunion of first loves back to Royal, TX in THE PRICE OF PASSION! The characters are intriguing and their attraction is quick to reignite.

Camden Guthrie is easy to like. He took off for California years ago after his first love broke his heart, and now he’s returning to start his life anew. He’s done well for himself and wants nothing more than to join the prestigious Texas Cattleman’s Club in his hometown Royal, TX … but he’s going to need the help of the one person he never thought he’d need again.

Beth Wingate was a little harder to like. She is strong and self-assured, but she seems to like to hold a grudge for things she herself precipitated. She eventually lightens up, but her background story wasn’t as complete as I needed it to be to understand her actions back in the day and truly redeem her.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a romance filled with powerful players and ritzy settings as they work towards finding their happily ever afters. I’m looking forward to more in the series!

Filed Under: Book Reviews

* Review * DELTA FORCE DEFENDER by Megan Crane

July 7, 2020 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * DELTA FORCE DEFENDER by Megan Crane

Delta Force Defender by Megan Crane
Series: Alaska Force #4
Published by Berkley on July 7, 2020
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Dangerous secrets force Caradine Scott on the run from Grizzly Harbor—with Alaska Force leader Isaac Gentry in hot pursuit.

After an explosion that should have killed her, Caradine barely escaped her criminal family by leaving her old identity behind. These days she runs the Water’s Edge Cafe in a rugged little town on the edge of nowhere, vowing never to let anyone close to her again.

After his career in the military, Isaac is back home playing the part of an unassuming local in Grizzly Harbor, while also overseeing Alaska Force’s special ops work as the founder and commanding officer he once was in the Marines and beyond. He has better things to do than obsess over a woman who claims she hates him, but every glimpse he gets of the vulnerability beneath her prickly exterior is a distraction . . . and a challenge he can’t ignore.

When Caradine’s demons catch up with her, her cafe isn’t the only thing that blows up. Her past pushes them together, and closer to a future that’s been waiting for them all this time. They just have to survive long enough to enjoy it.

Secrets exposed! With book four in her Alaska Force series Megan Crane brought my favorite couple yet in DELTA FORCE DEFENDER. The tension is high from the very first page and setting off on adventure for answers really sets the stage for an action packed journey for Caradine and Isaac.

Caradine hates everybody … or so she wanted us to believe. She’s been living a gruff, in your face lifestyle in Grizzly Harbor, Alaska for five fun filled years now and it’s all of a sudden crumbling down around her.

Isaac plays the friendly boy next door persona to the town he grew up in, but behind the scenes is a takes no prisoner mercenary if the situation calls for it. He only has one weakness … and she’s hightailing it out of town letting him believe she’s dead!

I highly recommend this book and the entire series to anyone who loves a close knit group of military guys who band together when they leave the service to help those who need it as they slowly find their happily ever afters. The series is growing stronger and more fulfilling with each new book.

Filed Under: Book Reviews

* Review * ONE PERFECT SUMMER by Brenda Novak

July 7, 2020 Leave a Comment

One Perfect Summer by Brenda Novak
Published by MIRA on April 7, 2020
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Some families we’re born into

Some we find for ourselves

When Serenity Alston swabbed her cheek for 23andMe, she joked about uncovering some dark ancestral scandal. The last thing she expected was to discover two half sisters she didn’t know existed. Suddenly, everything about her loving family is drawn into question. And meeting these newfound sisters might be the only way to get answers.

The women decide to dig into the mystery together at Serenity’s family cabin in Lake Tahoe. With Reagan navigating romantic politics at work and Lorelei staring down the collapse of her marriage, all three women are converging at a crossroads in their lives. Before the summer is over, they’ll have to confront the past and determine how to move forward when everything they previously thought to be true was a lie. But any future is easier to face with family by your side.

Heart string pulling goodness! With her latest release ONE PERFECT SUMMER Brenda Novak takes us through an emotional journey of family, friendship and love. The mystery and tension are high and the love and support these ladies grow to give each other along their journey is breathtaking. Rich character building, emotional highs and lows and just enough suspense to hold our attention without being over bearing.

When a DNA test taken for three different reasons by three different women lead to them finding out they are half siblings there is sure to be a good story there … and it turns out there are three! Serenity is self-aware and accomplished and takes the test on a lark. Reagan is a self-assured go-getter and takes the test for health purposes. Lorelei has always wondered if she has a family out there and takes the test to see if she can find a place to belong.

I highly recommend this story to anyone who enjoys a family centered story line with a hint of mystery and lots of subtle romance and drama. When emotions hit each of these three sisters as they embark on the journey of a lifetime to find answers of how they are connected, they learn what being a sister is truly all about as they lean on each other and allow love to surround them. I loved their stories!

Filed Under: Book Reviews

* Review * THE DILEMMA by B.A. Paris

July 7, 2020 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

The Dilemma Published by St. Martin's Press on June 30, 2020
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Knowing the truth will destroy her. Keeping it secret will destroy him.

It’s Livia’s 40th birthday, and her husband Adam is throwing her the party of a lifetime to make up for the wedding they never had. Everyone she loves will be there, except her daughter Marnie, who’s studying abroad. But Livia is secretly glad Marnie won’t be there.

Livia has recently uncovered a secret about their daughter which, if revealed, will shake the foundation of their family to its core. She needs to tell Adam, but she’s waiting until the party is over so they can have this last happy time together.

Adam, meanwhile, has his own surprise for Livia: he’s arranged for Marnie to secretly fly back for the party. But before Marnie arrives, Adam hears some terrible news. Now he too is faced with a dilemma: Does he share what he's learned with his wife? Is hiding the truth the same as telling a lie? And how far are Adam and Livia willing to go to protect the ones they love—and give each other a last few hours of happiness?

I was hooked from page one! The Dilemma by B.A. Paris was a good read. It’s attention grabbing, it keeps us wondering until the end if some miracle is going to have happened to change the course of what’s coming, it goes deep into issues that are intriguing to the reader … but it is in no way a psychological thriller like it’s being touted. It’s not even a suspense or mystery because we basically known up front what has probably happened, we just have to ride out the book to see if it’s true or not. Had it been presented as what it is (Women’s Fiction) expectations wouldn’t have been in place of what it was supposed to be and I could have rated it higher.

Livia is a bit selfish. She’s dreamed of a day all about her for all of her life and when she was denied the wedding of her dreams, she began to plan for the future and that day has now arrived. She’s going to have the fortieth birthday bash of all bashes. She won’t let anything ruin it … not the fact that her daughter is away studying abroad and unable to make it … not the fact that she’s uncovered a secret that is going to rip her family and social circle apart at the roots.

Adam is painstakingly trying to give Livia everything her heart desires and a spur of the moment surprise with their daughter is going to really top off the day. It’s the day of the party, last minute details are being taken care of, guests are set to arrive shortly … and disaster strikes. He can’t ruin this day that she’s dreamed of for forever … but how can he keep her in the dark about something so major?

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys women’s fiction with a hint of mystery. It’s emotional and filled with friendship, family and scandal.

Filed Under: Book Reviews

* Review * JACE by Sasha Summers

July 7, 2020 Leave a Comment

Jace by Sasha Summers
Series: Kings of Country #2
Published by Sourcebooks Casablanca on March 31, 2020
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Let the music carry you away in this brand-new series featuring the King family and their country music dynasty

Music is all he has...but is it enough to heal them both?
Jace Black went from an oilfield roughneck to an overnight singing sensation. Now he's working on a duet with country music legend Krystal King, and he's determined to earn his way to the top. But the more time he spends with Krystal, the more he finds himself falling for her—and he's beginning to be more interested in her than he is in making a name for himself.

Krystal King grew up on stage and in the spotlight. No matter how golden her life appears, her past left deep wounds. But Jace Black makes her wish things were different. To do that, she'd have to risk letting him in... And that might be too big a risk for her battered heart to take.

An emotional journey of healing! With the first book in her Kings of Country series Sasha Summers brings us a story filled with hope as life unravels and rebuilds. I was drawn into the characters and the story quickly and didn’t want the book to end. I’m looking forward to the next one in the series!

Krystal King is an attention grabbing character right off the bat. She is supposed to be this big country star with the world at her feet, but it doesn’t take the reader long to see the undertones of what her life is really like, and as the story line progresses, we start to figure out that sometimes the bright lights and smoke are hiding a nightmare.

Jace Black is so yummy! He’s your typical hardworking cowboy type in the oil fields of Texas when all of a sudden a twist of fate brings him into a world unlike anything he’s ever known. He’s humble, kind and such a temptation to hardened Krystal.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves an emotional love story that has to overcome hurdles on it’s way to happily ever after. The characters were relatable and the plot carried itself well.

Filed Under: Book Reviews

* Review * THE COWBOY’S SECRET BABY by Leigh Riker

July 2, 2020 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * THE COWBOY’S SECRET BABY by Leigh Riker

The Cowboy's Secret Baby by Leigh Riker
Series: Kansas Cowboys #7
Published by Harlequin Heartwarming on July 1, 2020
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He’s a temporary neighbor…

But will her surprise make him stay?

Single mom of three Elizabeth Barnes has reason to avoid her rodeo star neighbor. She needs to protect her family after her ex’s public scandal, and charismatic Dallas Maguire is only passing through. Turning to him for comfort was a onetime lapse—with unexpected consequences! Though Elizabeth can’t keep hiding the truth—or her feelings—can a bachelor cowboy transform into a family man?

Sweet, contentious and satisfying! With book seven in her always delightful Kansas Cowboys series Leigh Riker brings us the story of Elizabeth Barnes and Dallas Maquire. The characters had my attention from start to finish and I enjoyed seeing them over come the obstacle of life to head towards their happily ever after!

Lizzie is uptight and concerned about appearance, but after the turmoil her ex-husband put her through we can understand her being guarded. The rare occasion she let’s her guard down and relaxes with Dallas is magical.

Dallas carries a whole lot of baggage from his childhood along with him everywhere he goes. His life on the rodeo circuit has allowed him to outrun it a bit, but settling down and adjusting to a new way of life is bringing it all swirling around him again.

I recommend this book and the entire series to anyone who loves a laid back cowboy finding a happily ever after that he didn’t even know he was looking for. There are many great characters and connections in this series and I’m really enjoying it.

Filed Under: Book Reviews

* Review * SECRETS OF A PLAYBOY by Janice Maynard

July 2, 2020 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * SECRETS OF A PLAYBOY by Janice Maynard

Secrets of a Playboy by Janice Maynard
Series: The Men of Stone River #3
Published by Harlequin Desire on July 1, 2020
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Has this bad-boy bachelor
met his match?

In business and pleasure,

he needs his nemesis!

To catch the spy in his family business, Zachary Stone needs a first-rate security specialist. But the new hire is none other than Frances Wickersham, the girl who challenged a younger Zach at every turn. She’s always pushed him. This time around, the long-legged beauty is challenging his playboy ways. Now that they are all grown-up, can they ignore their undeniable chemistry?

A reunion worth having! With the final book in The Men of Stone River trilogy Janice Maynard brings us the bad boy brother’s story in SECRETS OF A PLAYBOY and he is delicious! The story line was fast paced, the passionate with a touch of snark connection they had between each other was so much fun to watch play out and we got to also enjoy the other brother’s with their forever loves a bit as well. I loved this series!

Zachary has been the brother we couldn’t get too much of a read on in the earlier books in the series but reconnecting with someone who meant a lot to him years ago brings a very down to earth persona out in him for the reader.

Frances starts off feeling like a bit of an uptight character but watching her unfold and figuratively let her hair down as she reminisces with Zach brings a touchable side out in her.

I highly recommend this book as well as the entire trilogy to anyone who loves a close knit group of brothers who have to overcome obstacles in running a high end business as they each find their happily ever afters.

Filed Under: Book Reviews

* Blog Tour/Review * MAKING WHOOPIE by Erin Nicholas

July 1, 2020 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Blog Tour/Review * MAKING WHOOPIE by Erin Nicholas

Making Whoopie by Erin Nicholas
Series: Hot Cakes #3
Published by EN Fiction, Inc. on June 30, 2020
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This marriage of convenience is about to get sticky.

Getting hitched for the health insurance is not Jocelyn Asher’s idea of romance.

But the hospital quote has really frosted her cookies, and suddenly, “I’m rich. We should just get married,” sounds a whole lot more swoony.

Especially when the man proposing is this gorgeous. And takes her to parties featuring champagne and petit fours. She’s a sucker for anything with bubbles or icing. And just like that she finds herself married to a near stranger.

Grant Lorre is usually allergic to spontaneity.

So why did he ask the beautiful small-town baker he had a one-night stand with to marry him? Somehow watching her lick batter off a whisk--not a euphemism--made a wedding and a little fraud seem like a sweet idea.

They’ll just play house and make some whoopie--pies, of course--for a few months and then move on with their separate lives. Until then, bring on the cream filling. And that is a euphemism.

But as things heat up even outside of the kitchen, they quickly realize there’s no recipe to follow when it comes to love.

I’m ruined for other book boyfriends! With book three in her ever hilarious Hot Cakes series Erin Nicholas brings Grant Lorre to the forefront in MAKING WHOOPIE and he had me from hello! The story was fast paced, sweet and OH so steamy. I can’t wait for more in the series!

Josie is a doll of a character. She’s been front and center in this series since book one as Zoe’s sidekick at the bakery, but this time we get to know what makes her happy and go along for the ride as she falls for Grant.

Grant was supposed to be the gruff unfriendly one right? Wrong! He’s a big ol’ grumpy teddy bear and I adored him. He’s the levelheaded guy of the group, but he has a heart of gold.

I highly recommend this book as well as the entire series to anyone looking for a fast paced story line that always brings a boatload of laughs and love. A close knit group of friends are finding their forever loves one by one and it’s so much fun to watch!

If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen…

Making Whoopie, an all-new not-to-be-missed marriage of convenience romantic comedy from New York Times bestselling author Erin Nicholas, is available now!

This marriage of convenience is about to get sticky.
Getting hitched for the health insurance is not Jocelyn Asher’s idea of romance.

But the hospital quote has really frosted her cookies, and suddenly, “I’m rich. We should just get married,” sounds a whole lot more swoony.

Especially when the man proposing is this gorgeous. And takes her to parties featuring champagne and petit fours. She’s a sucker for anything with bubbles or icing. And just like that she finds herself married to a near stranger.

Grant Lorre is usually allergic to spontaneity.

So why did he ask the beautiful small-town baker he had a one-night stand with to marry him? Somehow watching her lick batter off a whisk–not a euphemism–made a wedding and a little fraud seem like a sweet idea.

They’ll just play house and make some whoopie–pies, of course–for a few months and then move on with their separate lives. Until then, bring on the cream filling. And that is a euphemism.

But as things heat up even outside of the kitchen, they quickly realize there’s no recipe to follow when it comes to love.

Download your copy today!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3cK6Ova
Apple Books: https://apple.co/3h9K7nt
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/makingwhoopie
Kobo: https://bit.ly/3cJ0iEZ

Add MAKING WHOOPIE to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2MEFxj8

Excerpt

No one fell in love over cheesy potatoes.

That was ridiculous. There was nothing sexy about cheesy potatoes. Or potatoes without cheese, for that matter.

But lust? Well, that was a possibility. Apparently.

Because watching Grant Lorre eat cheesy potatoes across her best friend’s mother’s dining room table was making Jocelyn Asher hot.

Of course, Maggie McCaffery’s cheesy potatoes were award-winning. Seriously. She’d taken home the purple ribbon four times from the Dubuque County Fair and twice from the Iowa State Fair. And Grant seemed to agree that they were delicious. He’d made a sexy groaning sound when he’d first taken a bite, and Josie had been mesmerized as his lips closed around the tines of his fork. Never mind how her heart rate had picked up when he’d turned the fork and licked it.

She was a mess. Purple ribbon or not, Josie was pretty sure that getting worked up over watching a man eat potatoes meant she was hard up.

She took a long drink of iced tea and tried to remember the last time she’d had sex. If she wasn’t forgetting anyone—and how sad would that be—the last time had been with Ben Davis. After Kara Davis’s, now Tibbin’s, wedding.

Last week Kara had been into Buttered Up, the bakery where Josie worked with her best friend Zoe, to order a miniature version of her wedding cake to celebrate their first anniversary.

Josie sighed. That had to explain the sexy potato thing going on across the table. It had to.

But then Grant laughed at something Aiden, his best friend and Zoe’s fiancé—yes, it was one big happy group at this table—said, and Josie felt her neglected lady parts clench. Yeah, it wasn’t the potatoes.

Thankfully.

Kind of.

As weird as getting turned on by potatoes might be, it might have been preferable to being turned on by the man who had been coming into the bakery nearly every morning for the past two weeks, but hadn’t so much as asked her to have a cup of coffee with him.

He’d asked her if the blueberries in the muffins were locally sourced. He’d asked her if they had any gluten-free cinnamon scones. He’d asked her for a lemon slice for his cup of hot water. But that was pretty much the extent of the things he’d asked her over the course of the time they’d known each other.

Oh, and he’d caught her when she’d fallen off a ladder. Twice. Very gallantly.

He’d swept her up before she’d hit the floor. Like a freaking knight in shining armor.

But both times he’d simply set her on her feet and gone on with his day.

She, on the other hand, was now getting hot and bothered by side dishes.

About Erin Nicholas

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Erin Nicholas has been writing romances almost as long as she’s been reading them. To date, she’s written over thirty sexy, contemporary novels that have been described as “toe-curling,” “enchanting,” “steamy,” and “fun.” She adores reluctant heroes, imperfect heroines, and happily ever afters.

Erin lives in the Midwest, where she enjoys spending time with her husband (who only wants to read the sex scenes in her books), her kids (who will never read the sex scenes in her books), and her family and friends (who claim to be “shocked” by the sex scenes in her books).

Connect with Erin

Facebook: http://bit.ly/2R88arL
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