Book Reviews – Page 194

* Review * BEGUILED BY THE FORBIDDEN KNIGHT by Elisabeth Hobbes

May 25, 2018 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * BEGUILED BY THE FORBIDDEN KNIGHT by Elisabeth Hobbes

Beguiled by the Forbidden Knight by Elisabeth Hobbes
Published by Harlequin Historical on June 1, 2018
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He’s her enemy…

…and she must not fall for him!

When her mistress is claimed as an enemy knight’s betrothed, handmaiden Aelfhild knows it would be too dangerous for her lady; she must go in her place. But there’s more to the scarred knight than she first thought—she isn’t expecting to fall for him! As the line between friend and enemy blurs, Aelfhild realizes she might be protecting her mistress, but not her heart…

Falling for the wrong knight! The beginning of the story is a tad confusing, as is trying to follow who is being talked about on the trip because of the swtich-a-roo but once you get the characters and setting down pat, it’s a very enjoyable book! The characters are drawn to each other even though they think they’re each someone else, so watching them try to fight the temptation of their attraction is entertaining. I enjoyed seeing what came of all four of them in the end!

Feisty handmaiden Aelfhild isn’t willing to let her friend Lady Sigrun be at the mercy of an enemy Knight even though he tells a story of her mother promoting their marriage. She steps forward and takes her place on the long journey home, but never expects to start falling for the scarred man herself!

When Guilherm FitzLannion is sent to claim the betrothed bride of his lord Gilbert du Rospez, he never expects to encounter such an outspoken lady. He doesn’t understand why her companion is so meek while she is the one to step forth and lead the charge when they face danger along the way, but he finds himself falling for her even though she’s promised to his best friend!

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* Review * TEXAS GRIT by Barb Han

May 25, 2018 Leave a Comment

Texas Grit by Barb Han
Series: Crisis: Cattle Barge
Published by Harlequin Intrigue on June 1, 2018
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He must face his own demons

To rescue his childhood friend

Dade Butler’s father ruled with an iron fist. Carrie Palmer was bounced around the foster system. But they found solace as childhood friends. Neither imagined their grown-up reunion would involve the six-foot-four handsome rancher rescuing Carrie from a would-be assault. But when a stalker nearly kills Carrie, Dade will stop at nothing to save her—and turn this friendship into a permanent relationship.

Childhood best friends reunite in a captivating mystery! With the latest in her Crisis: Cattle Barge series, author Barb Han brings us the next Butler sibling’s story. Dade was the best of friends with Carrie when they were young, but then life changes and teenage strife separated them. Circumstances bring them together again, and he won’t make the mistake of not being there to support a friend this time … and based on their reaction to each other, she might not just be a friend for much longer! The development of their relationship could have been a little stronger, but the whodunnit aspect of the plot carried the book well. Overall a great read!

Recently discharged from the military, Dade Butler is feeling a bit at odds with life at the moment. He’s returned home to Cattle Barge, Texas after his father’s murder and is trying to settle into life on the ranch again amidst all of the family drama. When he meets up with Carrie Palmer after all of these years at just the right time to rescue her from a hairy situation, he sets out to make sure she remains safe.

Carrie Palmer has been bounced around a lot during her life, and the one place she always thought of as a safe haven was Cattle Barge. She’s been doing well since returning and setting up shop, but all of a sudden a stalker, a would-be suitor and the town in general is closing in around her and making it a dangerous place to be. Will Dade be able to keep her safe from the danger … and win her heart in the process?

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* Review * MAREK by Sawyer Bennett

May 25, 2018 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

Marek by Sawyer Bennett
Series: Carolina Cold Fury Hockey
Published by Loveswept on May 22, 2018
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Marek Fabritis is used to delivering blows, not receiving them. But when he gets tipped off by an anonymous email about his ex-girlfriend, the news leaves him ice cold—and it’s not because Gracen Moore is getting married to a total jerk. It’s the fact that Marek has a three-year-old daughter he never knew about. Now he’s going back home, not to play knight in shining armor but to make damn sure that no man takes what’s his. For the first time, there might be something more important than hockey.

Gracen Moore has always loved Marek. That’s why she let him go, so he could pursue a career in the NHL. And that’s why she never told him about Lilly. Only now does Gracen realize that she made an unforgivable mistake. But is that any reason for Marek to crash her wedding and make an epic scene? If the spark that still smolders between them is to be trusted, maybe. Still, Gracen’s not getting her hopes up. Because she knows better than anyone that appearances aren’t always what they seem. . . .

Anger, turmoil and the pull of a once in a lifetime love is what keeps Marek going in the next book in the Cold Fury Hockey series! The beginning felt a little stunted because we didn’t get to experience the drama that had happened first hand and were trying to play catch up in snippets of memories. The story line was quick to grab out attention though, and watching Marek try to connect with this his little look-alike daughter was adorably sweet. The author did a great job of portraying emotions on both sides of their betrayals. I really enjoyed the overall story!

When professional hockey player Marek Fabritis finds out that his childhood sweetheart was pregnant with his baby when he left and never told him, he’s beyond angry! He’s missed more than three years of his daughter Lilly’s life. He can never get that time back, so how can he ever forgive Gracie?

Gracen Moore can’t believe Marek made such a huge scene at what was supposed to be her wedding and used scare tactics to drag her and Lilly home with him to North Carolina! Yes, she realizes she made a huge mistake, but he dumped her just so he could live a wild and free lifestyle in the NHL, so what was she supposed to think? Seeing how angry and hurt he is over missing out on so much has her crumbling under the guilt. She never stopped loving him, no matter how much he let her down … and even though the attraction and desire is still right there between then, can Marek ever forgive her enough to want any type of relationship with her?

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* Review * STRANDED WITH THE DETECTIVE by Lena Diaz

May 24, 2018 Leave a Comment

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* Review * STRANDED WITH THE DETECTIVE by Lena Diaz

Stranded with the Detective by Lena Diaz
Series: Tennessee SWAT
Published by Harlequin Intrigue on June 1, 2018
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A routine investigation turns deadly

Now they’re running for survival

SWAT officer Colby Vale and horse rancher Piper Caraway are left to die in the remote wilderness of the Blue Ridge Mountains. But for Colby, death is not an option. He vows to protect Piper as they navigate the treacherous way home. Surviving against nature is difficult. Fighting their attraction is harder. But when their tormentor makes his move…living to tell their tale may be impossible.

Fast paced, full of action and sexual tension! With the next book in her Tennessee SWAT series, Lena Diaz brings us Colby’s story. He’s dedicated to his job and isn’t really looking for more until he meets Piper and with a quickly escalating situation, finds himself smack dab in the middle of falling her when they’re in the worst danger of their lives. The story line is quick to draw us in, and easily keeps our attention throughout. Very entertaining!

Horse rancher Piper Caraway has gotten herself into a situation she can no longer control! All she wanted was to have her horse safely home, but this trip to Destiny, TN has turned into one disaster after another. Who is to blame for all of the secrets and lies that she’s stumbling across?

SWAT officer Colby Vale doesn’t know Piper from the next person, but he certainly won’t sit by and let her walk into danger alone! Abandoned in the mountains with no hope in sight of getting out before they freeze to death, Colby is determined to see this through and get Piper back to civilization … the attraction they start to feel for each other on intensifies that desire!

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* Review * COMING HOME TO CRIMSON by Michelle Major

May 22, 2018 Leave a Comment

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* Review * COMING HOME TO CRIMSON by Michelle Major

Coming Home to Crimson by Michelle Major
Series: Crimson, Colorado
Published by Harlequin Special Edition on June 1, 2018
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“We’re not friends. We’re not going to be friends.”

No, they’ll be so much more…

Escaping from a cheating fiancé in a “borrowed” car, Sienna Pierce can’t think of anywhere to go but Crimson, the hometown she swore she’d never go back to. And Crimson sheriff Cole Bennett has a lot at stake in keeping the town on an even keel. On the surface, they have nothing in common. Unfortunately, there is nothing superficial about their feelings for each other!

A drama filled meeting leads to love in our latest Crimson, Colorado visit! It’s always a pleasure to return to this small town paradise and see what the future holds for another couple. This time, we’re getting Sienna’s story when she returns home to confront her abandonment issues with her brother Jase and dad Declan. We already know the family in general, but getting to know Sienna and her version of the story brings it all full circle. The characters are well developed and the setting rich in drama, love and happily ever afters!

Sheriff Cole Bennett is shocked to discover the woman that he just pulled over is none other than his friend Jase’s elusive long-lost sister. The town is protective of Jase and all that he’s been through with Declan and his past family drama, so he wants to make sure he’s not blindsided by her arrival. As he gets to know her, he realizes there was more to this story than anyone ever realized.

Sienna Pierce left Crimson 20 years ago with her mother and never returned. Now as she finds herself fleeing a cheating ex, her heart takes her back to that town she never thought she’d return to. She’d love to face her past and get some answers once and for all … but she can’t decide if she has the guts to face the conclusions she came to long ago!

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* Review * CEASE FIRE by Janie Crouch

May 22, 2018 Leave a Comment

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Cease Fire by Janie Crouch
Series: Omega Sector: Under Siege
Published by Harlequin Intrigue on June 1, 2018
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One perfect weekend changed his life

And now he’d die to protect his unborn child…

Two months ago, Roman Weber and Keira Spencer spent a breathless weekend together. But her sordid past and his privileged upbringing conspired against any happily-ever-after. When Keira is targeted by a killer, Omega Sector assigns Roman to safeguard her—and possibly win her back. Then Keira reveals she’s pregnant, and Roman knows the killer must be stopped…if they ever hope to become a family.

Electrifying intrigue! With the next book in her Omega Sector: Under Siege series, Janie Crouch continues to keep us enthralled with catching the bad guy! Damien Freihof has been playing cat and mouse with the Omega team for months now, and they keep getting closer and closer to his lair, but he keeps managing to slip away just before they can nab him. The characters are mostly familiar from previous books, so it’s always fun to get caught up on what’s happening with previous couples as we dive into a new relationship forming. Always a great read!

Hairdresser Keira Spencer thought she might have found a good guy for a change when she spent a passionate weekend with Roman Weber a couple of months ago, but his high society family and her sordid past didn’t exactly mesh well together, so they parted ways. Now he’s suddenly showing up in her life again telling her that she’s the target of a murderous mad man … just when she finds out she’s pregnant!

Omega Sector team member Roman Weber suffered his own torture from this psychopath that now has Keira in his cross hairs, so he will stop at nothing to keep her safe … especially when he learns they have a baby on the way!

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* Review * THE FIREFIGHTER’S TWINS by Heidi McCahan

May 22, 2018 1 Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * THE FIREFIGHTER’S TWINS by Heidi McCahan

The Firefighter's Twins by Heidi McCahan
Published by Love Inspired on June 1, 2018
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One single dad plus twin toddlers

A formula for her new family?

Since his wife left, fireman Shay Campbell has focused on work and his twin toddlers. But the lovely Natalie McDowell is making him rethink that decision. She’s great with his boys, and they adore her. But he can’t go through losing someone again. Will a dream job offer win Natalie’s heart, or does it belong to Shay and the twins?

Adorable toddler alert! These two kiddos steal your heart quickly as we dive into Heidi McCahan’s debut Love Inspired novel. The plot is fairly fast paced and keeps you interested and the characters are easy to like. An enjoyable read!

Event planner Natalie McDowell has been pulled in too many directions for awhile now as she tries to juggle her business along with overseeing her family’s busy farm. When a dream job opportunity comes knocking at her door, she thinks this could be her answer … but not everyone is going to agree with that. Especially when she meets a hunky guy and his adorable kids that try to steal her heart!

Firefighter Shay Campbell has been trying to keep his head above water since his wife walked out on him and their twin toddler sons. He’d do anything for those kids, but single parenthood is harder than he ever imagined. He lucks into meeting someone that seems to adore his boys as much as he does … but she has other things on her plate as well. Can this turn into more than just an infatuation?

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* Review * SKYSTONE CANYON by Diane J. Reed

May 21, 2018 1 Comment

Skystone Canyon by Diane J. Reed
Series: Iron Feather Brothers #2
Published by Bandits Ranch Books, LLC on April 14, 2018
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Barrett Iron Feather hardly has time for romance between busting drug rings as a veteran police officer and maintaining his roping winning streak at rodeos. Then his world turns upside down when the police chief goes behind his back and makes Barrett head of security for a Hollywood movie set. Skystone Canyon is a historical western being filmed in the picturesque mountain town of Bandits Hollow, and Barrett's furious he's been relegated to supervising "pampered city slickers". Yet he never dreamed duty would force him to run smack-dab into his first boyhood crush, former child star Lainey Neil. All grown up now, Lainey's no longer the chubby teen driven by her abusive father to attend "fat camp" at a Colorado horse ranch. She's a beautiful film star, and she's shocked to come face to face with Barrett, that unforgettable cowboy who taught her the grit she needed to survive her hellish childhood. Can a second chance at first love possibly blossom into forever love? Only destiny knows if Hollywood-style happy endings can become real...

Skystone Canyon is Book 2 in the Iron Feather Brothers contemporary western romance series.

A feisty cop, an actress and and a reunion of their childhood first love! With the second book in the Iron Feather Brothers series, we get Barrett’s story. It wasn’t quite as compelling as Dillon’s story in the first book of the series, but still really good. The characters were well developed and the plot was action packed!

Police officer Barrett Iron Feather is fit to be tied when he finds out the police chief has volunteered him to keep peace and order on the set of a movie being filmed in town. He has much better things to be doing than babysitting a bunch of self-righteous city slickers!

Former child star Lainey Nieil has a special affinity to Bandits Holllow and is thrilled to be there filming the movie she hopes will carry her into a whole new realm of acting jobs. Skystone Canyon is a historical western with a heroine full of sass and grit who proves how strong a woman can be no matter what adversity she’s faced with. Exactly the type of jobs she’s wanting to play!

It turns out Lainey went to camp in Bandits Hollow years ago and Barrett befriended her, so when they see each other again, it’s something special! Neither ever forgot the other, and the things they experienced with each other in their youth led each of them to be the person they are today. Will spending time together again lead to something more?

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* Review * COME HOME TO ME by Liz Talley

May 21, 2018 Leave a Comment

Come Home to Me by Liz Talley
Published by Montlake Romance on April 17, 2018
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Summer Valentine has returned to Moonlight, South Carolina, a very different woman from the naive wallflower who left years before. These days she’s straightforward and savvy, determined to do right by her son, David—even if that means cashing in her struggling music career in Nashville and returning to the town that drove her away. Sure, she took a fall. But at least she now knows where she stands…

Despite her anger over the past, Summer believes David deserves a relationship with his father, Hunter “Hunt” McCroy. Though Hunt’s illustrious career has faded, privilege still protects him from his worst mistakes.

Someone else is back in Moonlight too: Rhett Bryan, the golden boy of Hollywood, who’s taking stock of his own life after a tragic accident. As his rekindled friendship with Summer quickly deepens, she must reconcile the painful history that ties her to both men—one she’s finally forgiven, one she’s afraid to love—to claim healing and happiness.

A riveting story of love, self-awareness and the power of forgiveness! Liz Talley brings us a story of going home again … even when it holds memories of a time you might not want to remember. It’s sweet, it’s sad, it’s eye-openingly raw … yet through it all, the characters portray themselves in such a true and open way that they endear themselves to our heart and stay there. I’m not generally a fan of a story that goes back and forth between the present and the past in great length, but the author did a wonderful job of keeping us in the moment regardless of the perspective we were receiving at that time. This novel was very well written with a cast of characters who each had a unique story to tell, and carries a very powerful message at the heart of it all. Highly recommend!

Summer Valentine has decided to give up on her struggling music career in Nashville for the good of her son, and is moving back home to Moonlight, South Carolina. She’s no longer the naive girl that left, but seeing the people from that time in her life bring it all flooding back. She’ll do anything for her son … even encourage his relationship with the man who broke her years ago.

Big wig Hollywood star Rhett Bryan is also taking a walk down memory lane when he returns to visit his grandpa in Moonlight. He and summer were friends back in high school, and sharing a few laughs and memories with her is helping him overcome the tragedy he’s been dealing with of late. He’s heading back to LA soon, but spending time with Summer has been like a breath of fresh air.

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* Review * THE GOOD LUCK SISTER by Jill Shalvis

May 21, 2018 Leave a Comment

The Good Luck Sister by Jill Shalvis
Series: A Wildstone Novella
Published by William Morrow Impulse on May 1, 2018
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After a difficult few years, Tilly Adams is ready for life to start going right. Though she has a case of first-day nerves teaching art at the local community college, she knows it isn’t anything a few snuggles from her rescue puppy won’t cure. Until she sees Dylan Scott again, her one-time BFF and first love sitting in the front row.

Dylan knows he should’ve left well enough alone, but when he sees Tilly living her dream, he can’t help but make contact. Ten years ago, he left Wildstone and everything in it behind, including Tilly. He had his reasons, but now he wants her back in his life, anyway he can get her.

When Tilly agrees to design the logo for Dylan’s new helicopter touring company, it’s business only . . . until she finds herself falling into his arms once again. Can she possibly open her heart back up to the only man who’s ever broken it? But soon they’re both realizing the truth—love always deserves a second chance.

I adore that Jill Shalvis gave us all the story we have been clamoring for! If you read Lost and Found sisters, you’ll recognize Tilly and Dylan right off the bat, and will be entrenched in their story instantly. As teens they were the best of friends and the support that the other needed, no matter what happened in life. We all wondered what would be come of them … and now we know! The story picks up years later, but it’s quick to catch us up on all that has happened in each of their lives and even what’s been happening with Quinn & Mick. Loved, loved, loved it!

Tilly Adams knows the first day of teaching art at the community college is going to be a big day for her, but she had no clue the day was going to change her life! She can’t believe he’s there … after all these years … just sitting in her classroom. She’s angry at him, she should hate him … but he looks so good!

Dylan Scott had reasons that he thought were good ones when he broke his best friend and first love’s heart 10 years ago by leaving her. He’s back in town to start a helicopter touring company with some buddies and he heard she was doing well, living her dream … and as much as he should stay away, he can’t resist re-connecting!

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