June 30, 2023

* Review * THE ROUGH RIDER by Maisey Yates

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

The Rough Rider by Maisey Yates
Series: Four Corners Ranch #4
Published by Canary Street Press on July 25, 2023
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When Alaina finds herself pregnant and alone, she knows she’s in a tight spot. Small towns like hers tend to raise eyebrows at unwed mothers, and she knows the vicious gossip mill will soon be churning. Thankfully, her ruggedly stoic childhood protector, Gus McCloud, knows a thing or two about guarding secrets. Offering Alaina a marriage on paper is the least he can do.

As a hardworking rancher, Gus is well equipped to provide for Alaina and her baby. And despite plans for a solitary life, he wants to. He knows what it’s like to be an outsider, especially after a traumatic childhood left him with scars inside and out. Alaina has long dreamed of a fairy-tale romance, but as the growing fire between her and Gus starts feeling real enough to burn, she questions what that means. Maybe her fake marriage to Gus is the real love she’s been missing all along.

Highly emotional and addictive! With the fourth book in her always entertaining Four Corners Ranch series Maisey Yates is pouring on the angst when surly Gus McCloud mixes it up with one of the Sullivan sisters! The premise of the book is attention grabbing and for those of you that are hooked on this series like me, you’ll have an appreciation for seeing some real emotion coming from Gus for a change. I’m looking forward to more in the series!

Alaina will be familiar to reader’s as Elsie’s best friend who had her sights set on Hunter McCloud … before Elsie snagged him that is. Trying to prove she didn’t need either of them set her on a self-destructive path that leads to more than she bargained for. I liked her, but she did have some growing up to do for sure.

Gus is really likable because he lays his hang-ups right out there front and center for you to see and deal with. I enjoyed watching him fall hard and fast and have to learn how to be loved.

I highly recommend this book as well as the entire series to anyone that loves a good cowboy romance with several tight-knit families who interact regularly but don’t always get along.

* Review * RESENTFUL ROCKSTAR by Gina Azzi

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

Resentful Rockstar by Gina Azzi
Series: The Burnt Clovers Trilogy #2
Published by Three Cities Publishing LLC on July 6, 2023
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Derek broke my heart when he left without a good-bye.

Shattered and spiraling, I’m finding my footing when my rebellious rockstar barrels back into my life, upending the progress I’ve made.

Derek’s apologetic and regretful. Worried and sincere.

He’s everywhere, all at once, trying to prove that there’s a happily-ever-after waiting for us.

He’s wrong.

I’m too resentful for forgiveness or second chances. But, gah, I still want him.

As I set the parameters of our new arrangement, Derek slowly scales the walls I’ve erected.

Hope begins to glimmer, and our future looks brighter, until a secret from his past rips him wide open, exposing truths neither of us is prepared to handle.

Turns out, it’s going to take more than understanding and forgiveness to save what we started.

***

Resentful Rockstar is a steamy, contemporary rockstar romance. It's book 2 in The Burnt Clovers trilogy — continuing Derek and Allegra's emotional story from Rebellious Rockstar.

Delicious, angsty goodness! With the second book in her Burnt Clovers trilogy Gina Azzi delivers more rockstar cockiness and lots of emotional depth as Allegra and Derek’s love story continues. I enjoyed watching Derek have to actually let some of his true feelings show in order to overcome some of the damage he did in the first book in the series. The characters definitely grab your attention and keep you reading to see what’s going to happen. I’m looking forward to the conclusion to their story in the third and final book!

Allegra is really easy to sympathize with because she’s young and wears her heart on her sleeve, but she becomes a bit self-destructive after Derek crushes her soul a bit.

Derek feels much more than he’s willing to admit to and that makes him easily redeemable in the reader’s eye even though he pulls some really destructive crap. I hope the past that haunts him will also set him free in the finale.

I highly recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a rocker romance with lots of angst, debauchery and cliffhangers.