Book Reviews – Page 2

* Review * THE SOLDIER’S SECRET SON by Helen Lacey

November 22, 2019 Leave a Comment

The Soldier's Secret Son by Helen Lacey
Series: The Culhanes of Cedar River #2
Published by Harlequin Special Edition on December 1, 2019
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A Christmas surprise for a homecoming soldier…

When Jake Culhane comes home to Cedar River to visit his family, he doesn’t expect to reconnect with the woman he never forgot. Abby Perkins never believed Jake would return, which is why she never told him she’d given birth to his son. But Abby is still in love with the boy who broke her heart when he enlisted. This could be their first Christmas as a real family—if Abby can find the courage to tell Jake he’s a father…

With the second book in her The Culhanes of Cedar River series, Helen Lacey brings us Jake and Abby’s story in THE SOLDIER’S SECRET SON. It’s an emotional reunion story of two high school sweethearts who let their stubborn short-sightedness tear them apart.

Abby puts a reader through a tailspin of emotions. I liked the type of person she was as a whole, but that keeping a man’s son a secret from him bit really put her in a bad light.

Jake might have been rash when he was young, but the man he is as he comes back home to Cedar River is honorable and settled. The hurt and anger he feels when he learns he missed out on so much of his son’s life is emotional and deep and shapes his character into a loving father immediately.

I recommend this story to anyone wanting a highly emotional read with twists and turns galore that ultimately brings you a sweet happily ever after. The pace is steady and the emotions high. Really enjoyed it!

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* Review * ALL FIRE UP by Lori Foster

November 20, 2019 Leave a Comment

All Fired Up by Lori Foster
Series: Road to Love #3
Published by HQN Books on November 19, 2019
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He’s tantalizing trouble she can’t resist…

Charlotte Parrish has always wanted a certain kind of man: someone responsible, settled, boring. Bad boys need not apply. But when her car leaves her stranded and a mysterious stranger with brooding eyes and a protective streak comes to her rescue, she can’t deny how drawn she is to him. In town searching for family he’s never met, Mitch is everything she never thought she wanted—and suddenly everything she craves.

Finding his half brothers after all these years is more than Mitch Crews has allowed himself to wish for. Finding love never even crossed his mind…until he meets Charlotte. She’s sweet, warmhearted, sexier than she knows—and too damn good for an ex-con like him. But when his past comes back to haunt him, putting Charlotte—and the family he’s come to care for—in danger, Mitch isn’t playing by the rules. He’s already surrendered his heart, but now he’ll risk his life.

Be still my heart! The third time is indeed the charm when it comes to the hunky heroes Lori Foster has delighted us with in her Road to Love series. I’ve adored them all, but in her latest ALL FIRED UP, we meet Mitch, the half-brother that they didn’t know they had, and he is delightful!

Raised by the queen of dysfunctional mother’s, Mitch has lived a harder life than most and finds himself looking for a place to belong. He’s an ex-con with a heart of gold and looking up the brothers he always knew he had out there somewhere seems like the right thing to do. He never expected to find a woman he can’t resist, or for danger to follow him to town!

As we know from loving Charlotte in the previous two books in the series, she’s sweet, she’s tough and she gives as good as she takes with those feisty guys she thinks of as brothers. She’s never thought a bad boy was her type … but man she’s can’t resist Mitch from the very moment she meets him. How will that play out when he’s stepping into the family she’s already a part of?

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a great story of redemption. The characters draw you in from the very start and if you’ve read the rest of the series, you will love seeing so much of Brodie, Jack and the fam again. Really enjoyed Mitch and Charlotte!

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* Review * SECOND CHANCE WITH THE SURGEON by Robin Gianna

November 20, 2019 Leave a Comment

Second Chance with the Surgeon by Robin Gianna
Published by Harlequin Medical Romances on November 1, 2019
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Can healing his ex-wife…

…also mend their marriage?

When occupational therapist Jillian Keyser breaks her wrist, the last thing she wants is treatment from her ex-husband, Conor McCarthy. But as he is a leading orthopedic surgeon, she knows she needs his help! As she is forced to live again with the man who broke her heart, they discover a new understanding. With their connection as strong as ever, will the Christmas lights over New York shine on their relationship for a second time?

Happily ever after at it’s best! SECOND CHANCE WITH THE SURGEON by Robin Gianna is a heartwarming story filled with turmoil, misunderstandings and bittersweet reunions.

Jillian Keyser is trying to figure out where to go with her life when a broken wrist throws her for a loop and puts her smack dab where she didn’t want to be … face to face with her ex-husband!

Dr. Conor McCarthy is set in his ways and seemingly unfeeling, but nothing could be further from the truth when he realizes Jill needs help. It hurts him to have loved and lost the only woman he ever cared about, but he’ll sacrifice his space to come to her aid any day of the week.

I highly recommend this story to anyone who enjoys watching a couple overcome the turmoil, misunderstandings and hard feelings to come back around to the joy of how much they love each other. This book moved quickly with great attention given to details of their jobs, their connection and the past that led them both to jump to their own conclusions too fast.

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* Review * RULES IN DEFIANCE by Nichole Severn

November 20, 2019 Leave a Comment

Rules in Defiance by Nichole Severn
Series: Blackhawk Security #4
Published by Harlequin Intrigue on December 1, 2019
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A disturbed criminal wants to destroy her life.

After her colleague’s brutal murder, Dr. Waylynn Hargraves’s past makes her a suspect, but Blackhawk Security investigator Elliot Dunham is certain she’s innocent. When Waylynn’s research reveals she faces a danger worse than being framed, Elliot will defy all of the rules he’s set for himself in order to protect Waylynn from the killer who is stalking her.

Intense action from the start! With the fourth book in her Blackhawk Security series, Nichole Severn brings us RULES IN DEFIANCE which turns a friends to lovers trope into a daring race against time as danger lurks all around them. The characters are attention grabbing and the intrigue is top notch. Really enjoyed!

Elliot Dunham portrays his protective streak right from the first page when he jumps to attention when he hears Waylynn in distress. He’s lived a life of danger and deceit, but it doesn’t take a reader long to feel an affinity to the soul beneath the mask.

Waylynn has a secret past behind her that only makes her look guiltier when it comes to light … and that same past makes her believe she doesn’t deserve the goodness that Elliot could offer her. She’s determined to make a difference … and she’ll stop at nothing to make sure she can.

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a fast paced, highly intense book filled with great characters, bewitching intrigue and that sought after happily ever after!

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* Review * ECHO by Janie Crouch

November 17, 2019 Leave a Comment

Echo by Janie Crouch
Series: Linear Tactical #7
Published by Calamittie Jane Publishing on November 12, 2019
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Sometimes the deepest scars are the ones that can't be seen.

Single mom Peyton Ward works three jobs to make ends meet. At Linear Tactical she’s surrounded by heroes on a regular basis…but none of them are hers. She thought she'd found one in Linear’s silent partner, and country music superstar, Cade Conner.

She was wrong.

Unintended wounds still cut as deep.

Cade may not work day to day operations at Linear, but he takes the mission of the company he helped create—teaching survival intelligence and self-defense skills to the people who need them most—seriously. And finding out he’s wounded Peyton in the worst way possible weighs on him.

So when danger on two separate fronts closes in on her, he will damn well be by her side. Making sure they survive so he can right his personal wrongs.

He might not have been a Special Forces soldier, but Cade Conner knows how to fight. And Peyton is a woman worth fighting for.

Fast paced, action packed and explosive! With book seven in her Linear Tactical series, Janie Crouch brings us ECHO, which is Peyton’s story. Hardworking single mom reconnects with the a flash from the past when danger comes knocking on her door. Loved it and always looking forward to the next book in the series!

Peyton is familiar to us if you’ve been enjoying this series alongside me, and we get to learn what brought her to the life she’s living now, and what she went through years ago. She’s loyal, strong and protective and to see her drop her guard a bit and let Cade back in is very satisfying.

Cade never knew what he left behind when he rocked to stardom on the country music charts, and when he finds out the unfairness she was faced with, he wants to make everything right in Peyton’s world … too bad danger is lurking for them both just around the corner

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a story filled with intrigue, love, great characters and supporting cast. It’s fast paced and addictive. You can’t go wrong with any book in the series!

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* Review * TRYING TO SCORE by Kendall Ryan

November 16, 2019 Leave a Comment

Trying to Score by Kendall Ryan
Series: Hot Jocks #3
on November 12, 2019
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Teddy King excels at many things. Playing hockey. Check. Scoring on and off the ice. Check. Being stupidly attractive ... Double check.

I knew him way back when. Before he was the guy everyone wanted a piece of, he was just a rebellious college co-ed and one of my more energetic study partners.

But secrets have a way of getting out, and a steamy encounter from our college days (that we probably shouldn't have filmed) is about to cause a major scandal. Unless we can work together to stop it.

Teddy’s no stranger to hard work … but the thing he wants most?

Is me.

With book three in her ever-steamy Hot Jocks series, Kendall Ryan brings us TRYING TO SCORE centering around Teddy and Sara. A playboy pro hockey player takes on his college love turned legal shark when secrets from the past come back to haunt them in this fun reunion story!

Sara has got it going on with a strong handle on her career and no need for a man to complete her, but watching her crumble when she’s near Teddy and remembering their time together years ago is pretty sweet.

Teddy of course has the over inflated ego that comes with the territory of being a pro athlete, but when his concern and despair for Sara comes out over a screw up he made that has put her in jeopardy, he endears himself in a reader’s heart … even if he did a jerky thing!

Really enjoyed this story and the series as a whole. I recommend it to anyone loving a fast paced, highly entertaining story filled with sexy romance, laughs and goodhearted people.

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* Book Tour/Review/Giveaway * THE COWBOY’S CHRISTMAS BABY by Cathy McDavid

November 15, 2019 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

The Cowboy's Christmas Bab by Cathy McDavid
Series: The Sweetheart Ranch #3
Published by Harlequin Heartwarming on November 1, 2019
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She gifted him with a daughter

He stunned her with the truth

When Tanner Bridwell discovers he’s a father, he gains some much needed hope. A year ago, Tanner lost his livelihood as a champion bull rider, and—more important—Jewel Saunders, the love of his life. Now this cowboy wants to do right by his family. But first he must reveal a stunning secret that will send Jewel and his beloved daughter either packing…or into his arms forever!

This emotional journey of forgiveness will catch your attention quickly! With the third book in her The Sweetheart Ranch series, Cathy McDavid brings us THE COWBOY’S CHRISTMAS BABY … a reunion story between two former rodeo contenders.

We are instantly intrigued on the story behind single mother Jewel. She’s got a tiny baby by her side as she journeys into the unknown to try to find where she belongs. She’s quickly thrown into a tailspin when the man she thought was gone for good turns up in her new town.

Tanner and Jewel’s story is very complex. She thought she knew him, then was thrown for a loop by the turn of events that turned their lives upside down. Now confronted with the fact that they have a baby together and that there might be more to the story than she ever thought, they have to venture into a world of unknown and decide how to move forward. Both side had a powerful story and opinion on what was right … and I was definitely moved by both plights.

I recommend this book to anyone loving a sweet romance filled with emotional strife and secrets to uncover. Really enjoyed their story!

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

The Cowboy’s Christmas Baby
(The Sweetheart Ranch #3)
By Cathy McDavid
Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 384 Pages
November 1st 2019 by Harlequin Heartwarming

She gifted him with a daughter

He stunned her with the truth

When Tanner Bridwell discovers he’s a father, he gains some much needed hope. A year ago, Tanner lost his livelihood as a champion bull rider, and—more important—Jewel Saunders, the love of his life. Now this cowboy wants to do right by his family. But first he must reveal a stunning secret that will send Jewel and his beloved daughter either packing…or into his arms forever!

(Affiliate links included.)
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Harlequin | iBooks

Other Books in the Series

About the Author

As a sophomore in high school, NY Times, USA Today, and Amazon bestselling author Cathy McDavid won a local writing competition with her self-illustrated children’s book. Who knew that small triumph would eventually lead to a career writing contemporary romances with over 1.3 million books sold? With forty-seven titles to date, Cathy is also a member of the prestigious Romance Writers of America’s Honor Roll. This “almost” Arizona native and mother of grown twins recently married her own real-life sweetheart. After leaving the corporate world four years ago, she now spends her days penning stories about good looking men who ride the range or fight fires or hunt creatures all while sweeping the girl off her feet. It’s a tough job but she’s willing to make the sacrifice.

Tour Schedule

Tour Giveaway

– One winner will receive a $10 Amazon gift card and one of Cathy’s backlisted titles, winner’s choice of print (US only) or ebook
– Three winners will each receive one of Cathy’s backlisted titles, winner’s choice of print (US only) or ebook
– Open internationally
– Ends November 20, 2019

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Filed Under: Blog Tour, Book Reviews

* Review * HER TRIPLET’S MISTLETOE DAD by Patricia Johns

November 13, 2019 Leave a Comment

Her Triplets' Mistletoe Dad by Patricia Johns
Series: Home to Eagle's Rest #4
Published by Harlequin Heartwarming on November 1, 2019
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Can a marriage of convenience…

…really last a lifetime?

Single mom Gabby Rogers needs help raising her newborn triplets, so when her best friend, Seth, proposes a marriage of convenience, she cautiously agrees—on the condition it doesn’t ruin their friendship. As far as the town of Eagle’s Rest knows, Gabby and Seth are the perfect couple, but the imaginary romance soon feels surprisingly real. With the triplets’ first Christmas drawing closer, will Gabby risk showing Seth how she truly feels?

HER TRIPLET’S MISTLETOE DAD by Patricia Johns is book four in her Home to Eagle’s Rest series and brings us the story of best friends Gabby and Seth.

Gabby was a bit too stand-offish for my liking. She managed to land in quite a fix and I understood the emotional pain she was going through, but Seth had been her best friends for years yet she kept keeping him at arms length.

Seth had his own heartbreak to live past, but he was a kind, gentle soul and easy to like.

I recommend this story to anyone wanting a sweet holiday romance filled with turmoil, joy and happily ever afters.

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* Review * HIGHLAND DOC’S CHRISTMAS RESCUE by Susan Carlisle

November 13, 2019 Leave a Comment

Highland Doc's Christmas Rescue by Susan Carlisle
Series: Pups that Make Miracles #1
Published by Harlequin Medical Romances on ovember 1, 2019
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A chance to mend her body…

A doc to heal her heart?

In this Pups that Make Miracles story, search-and-rescue worker Cassandra Bellow arrives at Heatherglen Clinic injured and reeling from the loss of her faithful rescue dog. But a Christmas romance with the gorgeous clinic manager, Dr. Lyle Sinclair, along with Heatherglen’s adorable therapy dogs, restores Cass’s lust for life. Except soon she must return to America—unless guarded Lyle asks her to stay…

Filled with emotion! With the kick-off book in the brand new Pups That Make Miracles series in the Harlequin Medical Romance line, Susan Carlisle brings us HIGHLAND DOC’S CHRISTMAS RESCUE centering around a recovering search and rescue member and the doctor who runs the clinic she is sent to for rehabilitation.

Cassandra’s story quickly hooks the reader as we learn of the devastating loss of her canine partner during the rescue she herself was injured in. She’s not sure where to go from here … will she ever be able to do the job she once adored if her trusted partner is no longer at her side?

Lyle is easy to like and makes her recover a little more lighthearted than we might have expected once they start falling for each other.

I recommend this story to anyone looking for an emotion filled holiday read filled with a beautiful happily ever after. Really enjoyed the first book in this series and look forward to more to come!

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* Review * A VERY DARE CHRISTMAS by Carly Phillips

November 13, 2019 Leave a Comment

A Very Dare Christmas by Dare to Love
Series: Dare to Love #6.5
Published by CP Publishing on November 12, 2019
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Ian Dare misses the alone time and intense sex life he and his wife shared before their children were born. What’s an alpha man to do? He kidnaps Riley for an erotic weekend away before the Christmas rush overwhelms them both.

Riley Dare adores her husband and his dominant and protective ways, and she’s excited to spend time with him minus distractions on a sexy retreat where anything goes … and spontaneity leads to future surprises.

A complete stand-alone for people who haven’t yet read Dare to Love but a special treat for those who want to revisit their favorite couple.

NOTE: this short story was already shared in Carly’s newsletter so if you subscribe you may have read it before but many have asked if they could have this on their Kindle.

A VERY DARE CHRISTMAS by Carly Phillips takes us back to where the Dare to Love world all began with a cute and spicy dip into a sexy getaway between Ian and Riley Dare. We get caught up a bit on their family and get some of their signature sexual chemistry pouring off of the pages. Obviously a novella is too short to give us a lot of turmoil or problems to have to work through so it wasn’t a super in depth read, but it was a delightful reunion with one of our favorite couples of the series and fun to read!

Filed Under: Book Reviews