Archives for October 19, 2025

* Review * COWBOY, IT’S COLD OUTSIDE by Maisey Yates

October 19, 2025 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * COWBOY, IT’S COLD OUTSIDE by Maisey Yates

Cowboy, It's Cold Outside by Maisey Yates
Series: Four Corners Ranch #12
Published by Canary Street Press Buy on Amazon
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A favor owed. An Off-limits romance. Four Corners is in for the hottest Christmas it's ever seen.

Sheena Patrick has done well, all things considered. After her father’s death, she raised her sisters and did all she could to give them the best life possible. But they’re grown and gone now and Sheena is ready to do something for herself. But to accomplish her goals she needs Denver King.

Denver owes Sheena. He spent years watching from afar and making sure she was all right after his father’s illegal activities caused her father's death. So when Sheena rolls up to the ranch looking to call in the favor he promised, Denver can’t say no. He’ll help her get her axe-throwing bar up and running by Christmas, and consider his debt square. But as the snow falls, sparks fly between the two black sheep of Pyrite Falls. They might be all wrong for everyone else, but are they just right for each other?

The highly emotional finale to the Four Corners Ranch series! Yates has laid a lot of groundwork all along the way for this series, so it’s going to be much more enjoyable if read in order. Each family has a group of siblings that have found their loves along the way and settled into ranching and more as they each come up with new innovative ideas for the area. This final book is Denver King’s turn to find love with local Sheena Patrick. We learn from the start how he’s tied to her and what she thinks about the whole thing. She’s been raising her little sisters and finally has an empty nest and plans of how she’s going to advance herself, but Denver has to play a part if she can get him to agree. If you’ve been reading the series, you’ll recognize the ranch and the key players around town and already have a developed feel for the area and what has already been going on. If you haven’t been following the series, you will probably feel that this book is lacking. I really enjoyed watching Denver and Sheena fall in love and seeing her sisters and his sibs take part in their journey. I was all in and happy with the ending. The touch of getting to know a little about how they all are in the end is a sweet touch as well. Loved this series!

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* Review * IF YOU WERE MINE by Carrie Ann Ryan

October 19, 2025 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * IF YOU WERE MINE by Carrie Ann Ryan

If You Were Mine by Carrie Ann Ryan
Series: The Cage Family #3
Published by Carrie Ann Ryan on October 27, 2025
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The last words I said to my best friend were “I trust you”. Then the world went dark, and I nearly lost everything.

While my best friend’s little sister lost even more.

I promised him that I’d take care of her—but if he knew my current thoughts when it came to Harper, he’d have never trusted me.

She’s too young for me. Too bright to my shadows. And too tempting.

Now I’m stuck in our small town, and I can’t escape her. I’d rather hide in my cabin, restoring what was once lost. Only Harper won’t let me.

I’ve already held onto more secrets than my family knows. I don’t know if I can keep what I feel about her secret too.

She sees beyond my scars and anger, and I know she hides her own just as tightly.

When one kiss changes everything, there’s no going back—even if it shatters everything in our wake.

Highly addictive with such a sweet side! Carrie Ann Ryan is really turning it up for her Cage Family series. These two groups of siblings were brought together when their father died and a second family was thrust into the forefront and discovered by the first family. Now a slew of brothers and sisters are connecting and getting to know one another despite the drama their father left saddling them and they are really starting to enjoy each other. I love the friendships they are developing amongst themselves.

Dorian is the hero in this book and he starts the book off with a bang that throws him into a turmoil he never expected. His situation is well developed and eventually he pulls himself together and heads Harper’s way to reconnect with her and try to heal. Harper is a sweetheart and I loved every single minute of her. She’s been dealt more blows than one should have to be, yet she continues to shine and love with her whole heart. I adore her!

I highly recommend this book as well as the entire series to anyone who enjoys a bit of drama mixed into a family centric plot as one sibling after another finds their true love. Dorian and Harper were great!

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* Review * STOLEN PREGNANT BRIDE by Annie West

October 19, 2025 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * STOLEN PREGNANT BRIDE by Annie West

Stolen Pregnant Bride by Annie West
Published by Harlequin Presents on October 28, 2025
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“You can’t marry her. She’s mine.”

And she’s having his heir!

On Stella White’s wedding day, she’d rather be anywhere else. However, the on-paper union gives the secret she’s carrying much-needed security. Or it would, if Gio Valenti—her father’s enemy and the billionaire whose sizzling touch haunts her—wasn’t stealing her from the altar!

Gio refuses to relinquish the woman he craves. Especially when she’s pregnant with his baby! Still, Stella’s family is responsible for destroying his, so he’s torn between distrusting her and desiring her. Now Gio has nine months to decide once and for all…

High intensity emotion from start to finish! Annie West always delights with her top notch characters and she doesn’t disappoint with this surprise baby reunion! Stella is a sweetheart and finds herself torn between multiple notions of what’s going to be her journey in life. Gio is a tad ruthless, but only in the kindhearted kind of way unless justly deserved. They have an instant connection, but life leads them astray until he comes for her as she’s about to marry another. The characters are well developed and their connection takes them far in learning if they can be together in order to shelter the life they jointly created. I loved them both in different ways and the only thing I wanted more of was seeing them settled, in love and together for longer at the end once all of their differences were ironed out. Really enjoyed them!

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* Review * SOMEONE TO HOLD by Michelle Major

October 19, 2025 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * SOMEONE TO HOLD by Michelle Major

Someone To Hold by Michelle Major
Series: The Skylark Series #4
Published by Romilda House on October 23, 2025
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She’s the one woman I can’t let myself want.

Molly McAllister is my best friend’s widow, a single mom trying to keep her flower farm alive, and the last person in this small town who should look twice at me.

I ride bulls for a living. My body’s a battered mess with my heart in even worse shape. I’m carrying enough scars—inside and out—to know I don’t deserve someone like her.

But when she ends up laid up with a broken ankle, I’m the one who shows up to help. I’m supposed to be the guy she hates. Hell, I’ve given her plenty of reasons. Instead, I’m the one carrying her up the damn stairs and flipping pancakes for her twins like I belong in her kitchen. In her life. Her bed.

She thinks I’ve come to take her land. The truth? Every time I look at her, I’m in danger of handing her my heart.

She’s sunshine and second chances. I’m storm clouds and bad decisions.

We’re supposed to be enemies. But the longer I’m in her world, the harder I fall. Fast, deep, and way past the point of no return. If I’m not careful, I could lose more than my heart…I might lose her, too.

Heartwarming and emotionally driven! The fourth book in Major’s Skylark Series is pulling all the punches and delivering on warmth, adorableness and angst all in one delicious story! The characters each have a back story that is interesting and has you liking them individually and then when you see them together and especially with her twin kiddos, you feel the connection between them. A well developed set up leads us on a journey of a lifetime as he’s there to help whether she wants it or not and it doesn’t take her long to realize he’s not the guy she thought. I really enjoyed their pull on each other and the way the kids warmed their hearts and made them realize what there was right in front of them. Emotional and satisfying! I highly recommend this book as well as the entire series to anyone wanting a small town romance with lots of heart and endearing characters!

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* Review * HUNTSMAN by Naima Simone

October 19, 2025 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

Huntsman by Naima Simone
Series: The Hunted Kingdom #1
Published by Bramble on October 21, 2025
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The Huntsman is after me.
But he will be mine first.

Nine years ago, my aunt took everything from me.

My world. My throne. My mother.

I’ve bided my time since then, serving under her in the Mwuaji crime family, but she’s crossed another line. She put a price on my head, sending the legendary assassin the Huntsman, Malachi Bowden, after me.

The Huntsman’s never failed a contract before, but I know everything there is to know about him. It’s finally time for me to take my revenge and finish the war my aunt started.

The Huntsman might be my death. But Malachi Bowden?

He’s my weakness.

Welcome to The Hunted Kingdom.

Attention grabbing characters! I’ve been reading Naima Simone for years and years and she knows how to create a world that intrigues and delights. She builds a back story that nabs the readers attention very quickly and settles us quickly into the heart of the story. I typically love when her sass and spice spills into the dialogue and characterization, but this story felt a bit over the top in several ways. The over abundance of slang and and overstimulation of scenes became distracting from the core of the story. I felt a connection with the characters and wanted to see it through to the end and see them get their happily ever after, but it was hard to hang in there at times. I feel if the story had been more succinct and with less over-zealous distraction intermixed, it would have delivered a more satisfying product. The setting felt more dark royal kingdom than mafia den like. Overall, I was connected to the core characters and did enjoy aspects of their relationship and seeing them get redemption in various ways in the end. That said, I doubt I will pick up the next book in the series based on the exasperation of the writing style and setting of this one.

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* Review * REBEL BRIDE by Kate Meader

October 19, 2025 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

Rebel Bride by Kate Meader
Series: Chicago Players #2
Published by Kate Meader LLC on October 21, 2025
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She just jilted my teammate at the altar and I helped her escape. We don’t get along, but I’ll keep her safe … and pray she never learns how I really feel about her.

Summer

I can’t marry him.

I have no good reason to jilt my hockey player fiancé, except that the closer we get to the big day, the more I feel myself shrinking to a hollow shell. Two minutes after I slip into the church bathroom to calm my pre-wedding jitters, I jump out the window to make my escape …

… and land on Hatch Kershaw, my fiancé’s teammate on the Chicago Rebels.

This guy has always hated me for reasons I can’t fathom. Half the time he looks right through me, like I’m no better than the ice shavings on his skate blades. The other half? That brooding green gaze strips me bare and sees right into my soul.

Neither option is good for me, so I really shouldn’t want his help … should I?

Hatch

The bride hit me like a ton of bricks.

The last thing I expected was for my teammate’s bride to ask for my help in fleeing her wedding. Make that the second last—even more unexpected is that I said “yes.” Before I know it, I’ve driven her to my family’s vacation home because I’m a nice guy and she needs to catch her breath.

Only now, I can’t breathe around her.

Summer Landry and I have never hit it off, so why the hell am I going along with this madness? Every stolen glance and accidental touch tell me she’s off-limits, while each torturous second with her in our lakeside hideaway has me questioning everything I thought I knew about who she is and what she’s hiding.

No one can know what I did—not my teammate, not my family, not the media—or all hell will break loose. Most of all, Summer can never know why I dislike her so much.

Because if she did, I might not recover.

Summer and Hatch were quick to steal my heart! The next book in Meader’s Chicago Players series once again brings us one of legendary Rebel’s player Theo Kershaw’s kids all grown up and living life one heartbreak at a time. Hatch is super easy to connect with and a real sweetheart even when he’s being broody. Summer is sweet and sincere and even though she buried her head in the sand for way too long when it came to Dash, she really does have a realistic grip on life once she starts letting her guard down and realizing her foundation really isn’t all that bad. I enjoyed them both very much and felt like they were well developed, the angst was high and the happily ever after was ideal. Highly recommend and thoroughly enjoyed!

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* Review * RESILIENT RHYTHMS by Gina Azzi

October 19, 2025 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * RESILIENT RHYTHMS by Gina Azzi

Resilient Rhythms by Gina Azzi
Series: Dating the Drummer Trilogy #3
Published by Three Cities Publishing LLC on October 20, 2025
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We’ve survived the scandals.
We’ve weathered the heartbreak.
Now it’s time to choose each other.

Life with Maverick Tate has never been simple. When he storms back into my life, he brings truths that change everything.
Now, the future I thought was lost is right in front of me—if I’m brave enough to claim it.

The threats against us haven’t disappeared. The battles we’ve endured aren’t over. But this time, Maverick and I aren’t fighting against each other. We’re fighting side by side.

Together, we’ll face every obstacle and build something stronger, something unshakeable.

This time, our love isn’t the battle. It’s the victory.

Heartwarmingly addictive! With the final book in Maverick and Mckenna’s Dating the Drummer trilogy, Azzi delivers a powerful reconnection of family, love and lifelong friendships. I felt like since there was a longer gap between book 2 and 3, there should have been a bit more detail put into catching the reader up on everything that had happened with this couple as well as their friends and family previously. Once I reacquainted with them, I was quickly back to pulling for them to get their drama worked out and realize what they had right in front of them. I was satisfied with the outcome and really enjoyed going along for the ride with this whole band and their found family! Great characters, in depth emotional connections and lots of drama along the way to their happily ever afters. I highly recommend this whole trilogy as well as The Burnt Clover series before this one to anyone who enjoys a dramatic rock star series with lots of angst, love and endless friendships.

Filed Under: Book Reviews