Book Reviews – Page 108

* Review * KISSING LESSONS by Stefanie London

November 12, 2020 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * KISSING LESSONS by Stefanie London

Kissing Lessons by Stefanie London
Series: Kissing Creek #1
Published by Entangled: Amara on November 9, 2020
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Welcome to Kissing Creek, where everything has a romance-themed pun for a name and love is lurking around every corner...

Audrey Miller doesn’t believe in happily-ever-after, so she is definitely living in the wrong town. But she’s never getting out of Kissing Creek, because playing pseudo-mom for her younger siblings doesn’t leave time for much else. She’ll do anything to make sure they don’t end up stuck like she is, working as a barista in a college town, serving Pink Passion mochas with Chocolate Smooch donuts.

Then Ronan Walsh, a new young professor and walking cliché, right down to the elbow patches on his blazer, steps in for a coffee and into her life. She knows his type—intelligent and charming, yet sweet as a cinnamon roll, the sort of man she’s inevitably attracted to but is always out of her league. So why does someone like him have any interest in a worker bee with no future?

Her bland-as-oatmeal existence has nothing to offer, but Ronan’s temporary teaching position is only a stepping stone on his way to somewhere else. He isn’t here to put down roots, Audrey’s roots are firmly planted—neither of them is looking for love. And maybe that’s just perfect.

But in a small town called Kissing Creek, sometimes love can be impossible to avoid...

An adorably funny yet deeply emotional romantic tale! With the first book in her quirky small town series Kissing Creek, Stefanie London takes her reader quickly into the heart of the story of a barista who is raising her younger siblings. The story line is fairly fast paced with a lot of heart throughout. I am looking forward to more in the series!

Audrey has the weight of the world on her shoulders, but she’s a delightful person full of hopes and dreams. I enjoyed her so much!

Ronan is dreamy. He’s a sweetheart who sees the wonderful person that Audrey is, but he’s got his heart set on not getting attached.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a quaint little town filled with quirky tidbits and a close-knit community along with a sweet happily ever after.

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* Release Blast/Review/Giveaway * AN ALASKAN FAMILY CHRISTMAS by Beth Carpenter

November 11, 2020 1 Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

An Alaskan Family Christmas by Beth Carpenter
Series: A Northern Lights Novel #7
Published by Harlequin Heartwarming on November 1, 2020
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A little mix-up…

Could make her Christmas wonderful!

Natalie Weiss is mortified. After mistaking handsome Tanner Rockford for his cousin, she’s followed him to rural Alaska. Now she’s stranded—until Tanner invites her to spend Christmas with his family in their rustic, cozy cabin. But in this idyllic winter wonderland, Natalie discovers the family she’s never had…and the love she never knew she needed. But what happens when they all discover why she’s really there?

Beth Carpenter’s voice is shining bright with the latest in her Northern Lights series. The characters are well developed and a joy to get to know, the holiday atmosphere is heartwarmingly real and the happily ever after is super satisfying. I loved every single minute of AN ALASKAN FAMILY CHRISTMAS!

Natalie is easy to like and understand once we know her background. Watching her get to enjoy a holiday like none she’s ever known is really sweet.

Tanner is a doll. He’s downhome and humble when it comes to life in general. I loved his family and the holiday they gave Natalie.

I highly recommend this book and the entire series to anyone who enjoys a heartwarming story revolving around the gorgeous scenery of Alaska.

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

An Alaskan Family Christmas
(Northern Lights #7)
By Beth Carpenter
Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 384 Pages (Large Print)
November 1, 2020 by Harlequin Heartwarming

A little mix-up…

Could make her Christmas wonderful!

Natalie Weiss is mortified. After mistaking handsome Tanner Rockford for his cousin, she’s followed him to rural Alaska. Now she’s stranded—until Tanner invites her to spend Christmas with his family in their rustic, cozy cabin. But in this idyllic winter wonderland, Natalie discovers the family she’s never had…and the love she never knew she needed. But what happens when they all discover why she’s really there?

Other Books in the Series

(Linked to an Amazon affiliate link.)

About the Author

Beth Carpenter is thankful for good books, a good dog, a good man and a dream job creating happily-ever-afters. She and her husband now split their time between Alaska and Arizona, where she occasionally encounters a moose in the yard or a scorpion in the basement. She prefers the moose.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Pinterest | Twitter

Tour Schedule

Tour Giveaway

One winner will receive a signed print copy of A Gift for Santa, a set of jingle bells, a sheet of winter stickers, a peppermint bead bracelet, and a $25 Amazon gift card (US only – if winner is outside the US winner will receive an ebook of A Gift for Santa and a $25 Amazon gift card)

Ends November 18, 2020

ENTER HERE

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* Release Blast/Review * NOBODY KNOWS by Lani Lynn Vale

November 10, 2020 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Release Blast/Review * NOBODY KNOWS by Lani Lynn Vale

Nobody Knows by Lani Lynn Vale
Series: SWAT Generation 2.0 #11
on November 10, 2020
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All he ever wanted was to matter to someone.

What he didn’t know was that he did matter to someone.

Someone that worried about him every single day that he was gone.

***

Malachi Gabriel Gnocchi was missing for two years. Thanks to a mission gone wrong, not only had he been captured, but his best friend along with his fellow teammates had been taken, too.

He spent two years in hell, hoping and praying that one day he’d get to go home.

And one day he does. Only, he isn’t the same person that left. Every single thing that made him Malachi is no more.

***

Sierra started writing to soldiers overseas through the soldier pen pal program when she was in high school. Years later, she had no idea that the one soldier that she’d been paired up with in the very beginning would be the one man that would change her world eight years down the road.

When the letters from her soldier stopped, she knew that something bad had happened.

When they started back up again two years after the last letter, she thought that someone was playing a joke on her.
Only, that joke wasn’t a joke at all.

The man on the other end of those letters is a man that’s dying slowly from the inside out.

He’s a living, breathing, mess and there’s only one thing she can do to help him.

Write him back and hope that she can bring him back from the edge.

The epitome of meant to be! With book eleven in her amazing KPD SWAT Generation 2.0 series, Lani Lynn Vale brings destiny to life and makes a reader’s heart swoon with NOBODY KNOWS. The characters were amazing and the back story and reunion brings on all the feels. I loved it!

Malachi is a special guy. Even after all of the ugliness he had to endured while being captured and held for years, he’s got so much goodness in his heart. I adored him and loved seeing him get a happy future.

Sierra is a sweetheart and watching them figure out their connection was a lot of fun. The twist of intrigue surrounding her brought a lot of life to the story line as well.

I highly recommend this book as well as the entire series to anyone who enjoys a close knit group of friends and family revolving around a cop camaraderie, and finding love connections to last a lifetime.

Nobody Knows
Lani Lynn Vale
Release Date: November 10, 2020

About the Book

All he ever wanted was to matter to someone.

What he didn’t know was that he did matter to someone.

Someone that worried about him every single day that he was gone.

***

Malachi Gabriel Gnocchi was missing for two years. Thanks to a mission gone wrong, not only had he been captured, but his best friend along with his fellow teammates had been taken, too.

He spent two years in hell, hoping and praying that one day he’d get to go home.

And one day he does. Only, he isn’t the same person that left. Every single thing that made him Malachi is no more.

***

Sierra started writing to soldiers overseas through the soldier pen pal program when she was in high school. Years later, she had no idea that the one soldier that she’d been paired up with in the very beginning would be the one man that would change her world eight years down the road.

When the letters from her soldier stopped, she knew that something bad had happened.

When they started back up again two years after the last letter, she thought that someone was playing a joke on her.

Only, that joke wasn’t a joke at all.

The man on the other end of those letters is a man that’s dying slowly from the inside out.

He’s a living, breathing, mess and there’s only one thing she can do to help him.

Write him back and hope that she can bring him back from the edge.

Purchase Links

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2IQ7pSB
Amazon Intl.: https://geni.us/unfq
Apple: https://apple.co/2IX03wV
Nook: https://bit.ly/31upX1m
Kobo: https://bit.ly/35pGB38

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2Tg1usc

About Lani Lynn Vale

Lani Lynn Vale is a Wall Street Journal & USA Today Bestselling Author of over thirty titles. She is married with three children, two dogs, two cats, a donkey, and a couple (a couple also meaning over twenty) chickens.

When she’s not writing, you can find her curled up in her favorite chair reading.

Lani is married with three children and lives in the Great State of Texas.

Website: http://www.lanilynnvale.com/
Facebook: https://bit.ly/LLV-fb
Instagram: https://bit.ly/LLV-IG
Twitter: https://bit.ly/LLV-twitter
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/LLVgoodreads
BookBub: http://bit.ly/LLVbb

Filed Under: Book Reviews, Release Day Blitz

* Review * VOWS IN NAME ONLY by Naima Simone

November 6, 2020 Leave a Comment

Vows in Name Only by Naima Simone
Series: Billionaires of Boston
Published by Harlequin Desire on November 1, 2020
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Manipulated into a marriage of inconvenience,

until one sizzling kiss changes everything…

Devon Cole must marry Cain Farrell or lose everything. But she can never let her billionaire husband-to-be know why she agreed to her father’s dangerous machinations. Just as she’ll never know her father is blackmailing Cain to tie the knot, too. What kind of marriage can Devon even expect from a man with such cold eyes…and such hot kisses? She’s about to find out.

Hatred and lust collide to bring us this delicious opposites attract romance from Naima Simone. In VOWS IN NAME ONLY each party is being blackmailed to marry, but neither knows that is the case for the other. Strong characters and an entrenching plot carry this fast paced story to a satisfying conclusion.

Devon was a bit wishy washy for me. She was kindhearted and accomplished in helping the youth, but I found it hard to stomach that she walked away from family so easily to please her father.

Cain was a delight. I’m especially looking forward to continuing the storyline with his family.

I recommend this book to anyone who loves a scandal wrapped in betrayal as a steaming hot connection is in the works. I’m looking forward to more from the Billionaires of Boston!

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* Review * HERS TO WIN by Avery Samson

November 6, 2020 Leave a Comment

Hers to Win by Avery Samson
Series: The Sideswiped Series #2
on November 1, 2020
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Lily Rhett has everything, a great family, her dream job, loving friends. She’s always been the take charge, jump in with both feet person everyone relies on to fight the good fight. It’s exhausting. Just once she craves to give someone else the responsibility of making the decisions. She would happily give up control for just a little while to get some peace. But she’s accepted that it won’t come from anyone she knows. It definitely won’t be the tall, quiet number cruncher from her friends office. He couldn’t be the one, right?

Matthew Gibson likes his sex rough and his woman compliant. Underneath his quiet, nerdy exterior is a man who likes to push the envelope. So what is it about the explosive blond has him intrigued from the moment he meets her? She is commanding, competitive and sexier than anyone he’s ever met. The more she challenges him, the more he wants her. Can he teach her that with submission comes power? Does she know he is the man to show her she can be both sides of the coin? Or does he throw away everything he thought he needed for the one thing he doesn’t want to live without?

A temporary fling turns into a sassy exploration of love and desire! With the second book in her Sideswiped series Avery Samson brings a tempting display of power exchange in HERS TO WIN. The characters are easy to like and get to know, and though this author’s craft needs a little polishing as she grows into her series, the concept of the story was great, and the follow through was satisfying. This was my first read from this author, but I wouldn’t hesitate to pick up another.

Matthew is a nice guy. He likes sex a certain way, but he’s an easygoing boyfriend outside of the bedroom. I especially loved getting to see them interact with his family.

Lily is a sweetheart, but her newness to living outside the vanilla lifestyle leads her to run her mouth a little too much and causes an issue or two that have potential to ruin their relationship.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a bit of dominance, bondage and BDSM in the midst of a cute relationship.

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* Review * ROOKIE INSTINCTS by Carol Ericson

November 6, 2020 Leave a Comment

Rookie Instincts by Carol Ericson
Series: Tactical Crime Division: Traverse City #1
Published by Harlequin Intrigue on November 1, 2020
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Two women dead…with the same ID?

Time to call the Tactical Crime Division.

New TCD team member Aria Calletti is determined to find out why women are turning up dead—especially since an infant was left at the most recent crime scene. Fortunately for the TCD’s newest operative, the baby’s uncle, Grayson Rhodes, has sacrificed everything to discover the truth following the disappearance of his half sister. But can a civilian-turned-undercover-dockworker and a brand-new agent take down a formidable drug kingpin?

A mysterious new case will keep you on the edge of your seat! With the first book in the new Tactical Crime Division: Traverse City series Carol Ericson takes us quickly into the heart of the crime in ROOKIE INSTINCTS. While I didn’t find the instant love between the two main characters believable with how little time they spent together, I thought the mystery and suspense throughout the building of the case was spot on. I’m looking forward to more in the series!

Aria is an easy to like character, and as the newest member of the team, she proves her abilities quickly.

Grayson is willing to put himself out there however he needs to in order to find info about what happened to his half-sis.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a dramatic and suspenseful story with bit of romance mixed in.

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* Review * MISTLETOE COWBOY by Leigh Riker

November 3, 2020 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * MISTLETOE COWBOY by Leigh Riker

Mistletoe Cowboy by Leigh Riker
Series: Kansas Cowboys #8
Published by Harlequin Heartwarming on November 1, 2020
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The best Christmas gift…

is a second chance with her!

Cody Jones is a good cowboy with a bad past. But he’s paid for his mistakes and is finally coming home to Barren, Kansas. Only this time, ranch princess Willow Bodine won’t be waiting. She’s gotten engaged to another man: Cody’s enemy. Now Cody must prove that a bad boy cowboy can change his spurs…and become the man Willow truly deserves by Christmas.

A heartwarming story of forgiveness, rediscovery and redemption. With book eight in her always addictive Kansas Cowboys series, Leigh Riker brings us a tainted hero and the one that got away in MISTLETOE COWBOY. The characters and plot drew me into the story quickly and their connection kept me enchanted throughout.

Cody comes into the story needing redemption for the bad he’s done, but I found it really easy to forgive him once we get to know the guy he is now and hear his back story.

Willow was also easy to like and sympathize with, but she was also irritating with the way she let herself be walked over instead of listening to her heart.

I highly recommend this book as well as the entire series to anyone who enjoys a sweet romance filled with a sexy cowboy, a gentle partner and a happily ever after to write home about.

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* Review * DIRTY SECRETS by Regina Kyle

November 3, 2020 Leave a Comment

Dirty Secrets by Regina Kyle
Published by Harlequin Dare on November 1, 2020
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Her brother’s best friend is hotter than sin and she’s about to show up at his luxury apartment. After a lifetime of good behavior, will Connor Dow be able to resist the ultimate temptation on his doorstep?

In New York, the city that never sleeps, Gabrielle “Brie” Lawson can’t get any shut-eye. Not as a struggling actress and definitely not with her longtime crush, Connor, now so close to her bedroom. The devastating, gorgeous club owner has always been off-limits to her. But given that he’s letting her stay with him, that means…well, he might be open to reworking certain sexual boundaries.

With a little private time, Brie is determined to seduce him, cooking him romantic meals and prancing around in lacy lingerie. He shouldn’t expect a creative beauty to be hemmed in by virtue—or clothing. So it doesn’t take long for Connor to trade some late hours at the office for sultry nights with Brie. He seems tailor-made for her in every way. From his well-ordered life to messing up the sheets, there’s no one else. But would he risk losing his best friend—and his business—for a chance at true love?

Bona fide sexy goodness! With a dashing jaunt into the forbidden Regina Kyle delights all our senses with DIRTY SECRETS. The characters are easy to connect with and delightful, the plot is pure temptation, and the laughter mixed in with pure affection is utterly delightful. There was a slightly too abrupt of an ending, but overall I couldn’t have loved them more!

Brie is pure joy. She’s sweet, she’s smart, she’s successful … and above all else, she loves with her whole heart.

I adored Connor. He is the ultimate version of a sexy nerd and he carried it well.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a heartfelt connection filled with lust, love and deep affection.

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* Review * THEIR ROYAL BABY GIFT by Kandy Shepherd

November 3, 2020 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * THEIR ROYAL BABY GIFT by Kandy Shepherd

Their Royal Baby Gift by Kandy Shepherd
Series: Christmas at the Harrington Park Hotel #2
Published by Harlequin Romance on November 1, 2020
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Can two strangers…

…become one family?

Designer Sally Harrington falls—literally!—into the arms of a handsome stranger. And, after one spontaneous night, Sally’s life changes forever… She’s pregnant! But there’s another shock to come. Her mystery man turns out to be Prince Edward of Tianlipin! As their two worlds collide and family duty threatens the magic this pair share…there may be one more Christmas surprise coming their way…

A classic case of a gloriously sexy love at first sight! With the second book in the Christmas at the Harrington Park Hotel trilogy, it’s Kandy Shepherd’s turn to bring a magical connection to life as Sally Harrington finds her very own Prince Charming in THEIR ROYAL BABY GIFT. The characters were delightful, their love story was decadently forbidden yet super sweet, and their happily ever after was divine! I can’t wait for Hugo’s story to finish off the series.

Sally is a sweet character. She never expects a trip to Singapore to research gardens for the Harrington to bring the sexiest man she’s ever seen to literally sweep her off her feet.

Edward is refined and dashing and quite the gentleman. Finding out the woman he hasn’t been able to get off of his mind since their one night encounter is now carrying his child is unexpected, but he can’t deny his joy in seeing her again.

I highly recommend this book as well as the entire series to anyone who enjoys a family picking up the pieces from past heartache to bring them together and stronger than ever. The romance is spot on, and the family connection is sweet.

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* Review * SLOW BURN by Janice Maynard

November 2, 2020 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

Slow Burn by Janice Maynard
Series: Dynasties: Seven Sins #7
Published by Harlequin Desire on November 1, 2020
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The prodigal playboy is back

and nothing is the same…

…except the attraction that still sizzles between Jake Lowell and the woman he left behind. But the globe-trotting bachelor is in for a surprise! Nikki Reardon is now a mother—to the daughter he never knew. He once blamed Nikki for the fall of his iconic family…now he can’t resist her. Will their slow burn spark a second chance or burn down all they hold dear?

With the dramatic conclusion of the Dynasties: Seven Sins series, Janice Maynard brings the prodigal Lowell son home to confront the past … and the daughter he didn’t know he had! With book seven in the highly emotional series we get some closure on the Black Crescent scandal as Vernon has to face his accusers once and for all. I loved the series as a whole, but would have liked a little epilogue to tie up lose ends of punishment, etc.

Jake Lowell is a complex character. He seems like a nice enough guy, but his indecision of how to address the daughter he didn’t know he had is a bit wishy washy for my liking.

I loved Nikki’s character. She’s strong and loyal to a tee, and even though she still loves Jake, she’s willing to sacrifice herself to make sure he can be happy with his decisions.

I highly recommend this book and the entire series to anyone who loves drama with your romance. You will get more out of each book if you read them in order so you aren’t missing bits and pieces of the scandal.

Filed Under: Book Reviews