Book Reviews – Page 8

* Review * A COWGIRL FINDS HOME by Carol Ross

August 12, 2024 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * A COWGIRL FINDS HOME by Carol Ross

A Cowgirl Finds Home by Carol Ross
Series: The Blackwell Belles #2
Published by Harlequin Heartwarming on August 20, 2024
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They're enemies for life…

Or for as long as it takes to fall in love

Executive assistant and ex-cowgirl Violet Blackwell knows her boss’s nephew, Garrett McCoy, is the life of the party—and the charming thorn in her side! But when they’re forced to share a ranch house together, she proves she’s not the “buzzkill” he thought she was. In fact, they’re starting to become more than friends. Only, McCoy’s hiding a secret agenda. Will it throw Violet off cowboys…for good?

Quick to hook and sure to please! Snarky wit and good-natured ribbing brings the story to life when Carol Ross brings us Violet Blackwell’s story as the second book in The Blackwell Belles series and I loved my visit as always! The characters were quick to hold my attention as the conspiring behind the scenes brought a smile to my face. Tension filled moments and attraction galore led to more love than hate pretty quickly between these two enemies. I am enjoying the set up from sibling to sibling, but I am a bit surprised that we aren’t seeing any interaction between even the sister we’ve already gotten to know into each book that follows. It feels a bit disjointed, but I enjoyed the current plot as it played out and I’m looking forward to seeing how it all moves forward as each sister arrives on the scene.

I highly recommend this book as well as the entire series to anyone who enjoys a buttinsky family who loves hard and holds a grudge even harder as they come back together to mend fences and each find their happily ever after. If you haven’t read the Blackwells in all of their prior series, I highly recommend you go back to the beginning and really get to know Big E!

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* Review * BURIED TOO DEEP by Karen Rose

August 6, 2024 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * BURIED TOO DEEP by Karen Rose

Buried Too Deep by Karen Rose
Series: New Orleans #3
Published by Berkley on August 13, 2024
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Three can keep a secret if two of them are dead.

Employed as the nighttime security guard of Broussard Investigations, Phineas Bishop has been working through overwhelming PTSD episodes from his army service while still utilizing his military skills. But when a violent break-in occurs at the office, the accusatory eyes of the NOPD are on Phin, and he resolves to track down the intruder and clear his name.

Phin’s only lead is Cora Winslow, a spirited librarian who also needs answers. The body of her father, murdered twenty-three years ago, has just been discovered under a recently demolished building. So who has been sending her handwritten letters—written and signed by her father—every year since she was five? Someone wants to keep Cora in the dark. And now, they’re coming for her.

As Cora’s self-appointed bodyguard, Phin is surprised by his growing fondness for the woman and her fierce determination and research prowess. But New Orleans’s Garden District holds secrets as old as the streets themselves. With help from the entire Broussard P.I. team, Phin and Cora enter a labyrinth of fraud and homicide that threatens to bury them all.

Filled with all of the diabolical tension of a typical Karen Rose novel plus a whole lot of heart! We are always guaranteed lots of twists and turns when picking up Rose’s anxiously awaited new release and Buried Too Deep delivers on all of that, plus adds a great storyline on PTSD, healing and redemption. I loved the human aspect of living with change and adjusting expectations and I also enjoyed the familiar faces of Broussard Investigations as a touching stone. Great plot, intricate character development and mystery and a genuinely well thought out transition from good to evil without second thought.

I highly recommend this book as well as the entire series to anyone who enjoys a familiar cast of characters solving a new case and having each others backs through thick and thin as danger lurks in the least expected places.

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* Review * THE HOMETOWN LEGEND by Maisey Yates

August 6, 2024 Leave a Comment

The Hometown Legend by Maisey Yates
Series: Four Corners Ranch
Published by Canary Street Press on July 23, 2024
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Can this battle-scarred cowboy find redemption in her arms?

Rory Sullivan has always grown up in her sisters’ shadows. But this summer, she's determined to make some changes. Rekindling her teenage friendship with Pyrite Falls’s prodigal son, Gideon Payne, feels like a good start. She can instantly see he’s in pain, but she’s sick of being afraid of life and she refuses to be intimidated by him. But is she brave enough to act on her attraction to Gideon's raw physicality?

Decorated army hero Gideon’s return has sent the local community into parade-planning overdrive. Except Gideon isn’t the all-around golden boy who left. His life imploded in the same explosion that caused his honorable discharge from the army—he lost his career, his marriage and he damn near lost himself. Gideon knows Rory is far too innocent for someone as damaged as him. But the scorching hunger between them is irresistible… All he can offer is something temporary, unless Rory can make Gideon see he's capable of giving her everything she needs…

Small-town angsty goodness! Yates can always be counted on for relatable characters and a small-town connection that will have her reader’s attention from start to finish. The Four Corners Ranch series is bringing us a touch of several families who comprise the community and this one brings us Rory Sullivan’s story. She’s the youngest and admittedly the most naive, but she loves hard and has a persistence about her that will take her far. I highly enjoyed her connection with Gideon. A tad slow, but well developed and enjoyable.

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* Review * LIGHT ‘EM UP by Kelly Jamieson

August 6, 2024 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * LIGHT ‘EM UP by Kelly Jamieson

Light 'em Up by Kelly Jamieson
Series: Bang Brothers Hockey #5, Bears Hockey
Published by Kelly Jamieson Inc on August 6, 2024
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Annie Bang

I’m thrilled to be working in professional hockey, since my five brothers are all hockey players. My new role as skating coach to the New York Bears is the perfect fit and I can’t wait to whip all these guys into shape so we can win more games. Except one of the guys is Logan Coates—the guy who sent my brother to the hospital in a memorable game three seasons ago. I want nothing to do with him.

Logan Coates

I don’t need some tiny figure skater telling me what to do. I know how to skate. I wouldn’t be in the NHL if I didn’t. Although, I am a fourth liner. I do want more ice time. I want to make a difference on the team. But learning how to figure skate isn’t it. Especially from Annie Bang, who hates my guts. Speaking of guts…she has ’em. She’s a pint-sized badass. And that’s sexy as hell. When I’m around her, my skate blade’s not the only thing made of steel.

An unexpected reconnection pours on the angst when the only female Bang sibling meets her match in an NHL player of her own! I am loving this series and family as a whole and Annie’s story did not disappoint in bringing the drama. The characters are easy to like and both come into the relationship with their own backstory to unravel. I liked the tension that them having a history added to the mix. I wanted a bit more development to the ending to let us enjoy them and their life together a tad more, but overall I enjoyed their story and look forward to more to come in the series.

I recommend this book as well as the entire series to anyone who enjoys a close knit family who loves from afar and only interferes in each others lives in the very best of ways.

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* Release Blitz/Review * CLAP BACK by Lani Lynn Vale

August 6, 2024 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Release Blitz/Review * CLAP BACK by Lani Lynn Vale

Clap Back by Lani Lynn Vale
Series: Carter Brothers #4
on August 6, 2024
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Being a twin is great.

What isn’t great is having the hots for the same woman your twin does.

Been there, done that, have the t-shirt.

Since Auden Carter made that mistake in his teens, he’d promised himself never to do that to his brother again.

Hence why he’s tried so hard to stay away from Maven, the sexy bakery owner that seems to have been put on this planet to tempt him.

After months of watching his brother never make a move, Auden’s had enough. He tells his twin to either shit or get off the pot. Only, come to find out, his twin was never on the pot. He’d never had the hots for Maven at all, but her cute little assistant.

Unfortunately, at this point, he’d done his level best to appear undesirable to Maven, and had gone out of his way to make it very clear that he wasn’t interested.

He has a lot of work to do to convince her that he’s not the guy he’d been acting like for the last few months.

Luck is on his side, though, and soon Maven needs his help, giving him the perfect opportunity to worm his way into her life…and her heart.

But that help she needs turns into a desperate plea for protection, and all he has to do is quit his beloved job to give it.
It’s not every day that you are in love with your boss’s daughter, who just so happens to be the chief of police of Dallas, Texas—your beloved police department that you’ve worked at for your entire career.

It’s also not every day when that boss pulls out every stop, and ruins your life to the point where you’re not sure you can find your way out of the downward spiral he’s forced upon you.

There is one thing Auden knows for certain, though. Maven is worth it. He’ll fight the chief of police, or the entire world, putting his life on the line to do it, as long as it keeps her safe.

Vale is always a sure thing for action packed drama! The fourth book in the Carter Brothers series is continuing the reign of unputdownable goodness as Auden takes center stage and sweeps bakery owner Maven off her feet. The romantic connection between the two of them is sweet and steamy and once the mystery starts unraveling and one crazy thing after another takes place, you’ll be hooked for sure! The characters are quick to catch a reader’s attention and the plot, while a little far fetched here and there, is riveting and very entertaining. I am loving this series and can’t wait for the next sibling to meet his match!

Title: Clap Back

Series: Carter Brothers #4

Author: Lani Lynn Vale

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Trope: Bad Girl/Good Guy

Release Date: August 6, 2024

BLURB

Being a twin is great.

What isn’t great is having the hots for the same woman your twin does.

Been there, done that, have the t-shirt.

Since Auden Carter made that mistake in his teens, he’d promised himself never to do that to his brother again.

Hence why he’s tried so hard to stay away from Maven, the sexy bakery owner that seems to have been put on this planet to tempt him.

After months of watching his brother never make a move, Auden’s had enough. He tells his twin to either shit or get off the pot. Only, come to find out, his twin was never on the pot. He’d never had the hots for Maven at all, but her cute little assistant.

Unfortunately, at this point, he’d done his level best to appear undesirable to Maven, and had gone out of his way to make it very clear that he wasn’t interested.

He has a lot of work to do to convince her that he’s not the guy he’d been acting like for the last few months.

Luck is on his side, though, and soon Maven needs his help, giving him the perfect opportunity to worm his way into her life…and her heart.

But that help she needs turns into a desperate plea for protection, and all he has to do is quit his beloved job to give it.

It’s not every day that you are in love with your boss’s daughter, who just so happens to be the chief of police of Dallas, Texas—your beloved police department that you’ve worked at for your entire career.

It’s also not every day when that boss pulls out every stop, and ruins your life to the point where you’re not sure you can find your way out of the downward spiral he’s forced upon you.

There is one thing Auden knows for certain, though. Maven is worth it. He’ll fight the chief of police, or the entire world, putting his life on the line to do it, as long as it keeps her safe.

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Releasing September 10

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AUTHOR BIO

Lani Lynn Vale is an American author of humorous romantic suspense novels. Born in the Great State of Texas, she has lived the majority of her adult life in East Texas where most of her novels are based. She’s married to her high school sweetheart whom her readers refer to as “LLV’s Bearded Half.” She published her first novel, Boomtown. in the summer of 2013 after the birth of her third child. She’s gone on to publish over 100 novels, with most of them going on to become USA Today Bestsellers.

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Filed Under: Book Reviews, Release Day Blitz

* Review * DEEPER THAN THE DEAD by Debra Webb

August 5, 2024 Leave a Comment

Deeper Than the Dead by Debra Webb
Series: Vera Boyett #1
Published by Thomas & Mercer on August 1, 2024
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Crime analyst and newly disgraced deputy police chief Vera Boyett doesn’t visit home often, and she certainly doesn’t venture back into the cave on her family land. But when the remains of her long-missing stepmother are discovered, Vera will have to face a past that threatens all she is.

She and her sister Eve had a fairy-tale childhood: good until it was tragic, with a stepmother they never found a bond with. At least they had each other, a baby half-sister, and a mutual devotion that would have them do the unthinkable.

It’s a summer in small-town Tennessee, so thick with humidity it could drown you and so rife with secrets it could smother you. And deep beneath the surface, there are more bodies than you’d think…

Lies and deceit steal the show in this nail biting suspense! Debra Webb always has a way of endearing a character to her reader’s heart at the same time that she weaves an intricate plot of secrets for us to uncover. Vera is a new character for Webb and gave the reader a lot unravel. Most of the characters were well developed, but there was a lot happening behind the scenes to keep straight with several moving parts so you really have to pay attention throughout. I enjoyed the book a lot and look forward to seeing Vera in the future. Attention grabbing storyline and relatable characters.

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* Review * THE FORBIDDEN by Sawyer Bennett

July 26, 2024 Leave a Comment

The Forbidden by Sawyer Bennett
Series: Bluegrass Empires #2
Published by Big Dog Books on July 23, 2024
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The prince of his family’s Kentucky bourbon empire, Gabriel Mardraggon is a ruthless and cunning businessman. Focused on the continued success of Mardraggon Enterprises, relationships and settling down aren’t even on his radar. After all, he’s the product of two people who always put money before love. Loyal to the family’s creed of winning at all costs, as well as their hatred of the Blackburns, Gabe will never accept peace between the dynasties.

Katherine Blackburn is Gabe’s polar opposite—carefree, lighthearted and completely mischievous. Kat works hard as a horse trainer but never hesitates to let her hair down and have a little fun. And lately that has included poking at Gabe and his buttoned-up ways, much to his irritation. Getting a rise out of the cold but gorgeous Mardraggon heir brings Kat unfettered joy, especially given their two families’ ugly history together.

Blackburns and Mardraggons are bitter enemies. Any type of relationship would be strictly forbidden. But when Gabe’s business dealings hurt Kat in a way he never imagined, his walls crumble and he’s forced to lay his feelings for Kat bare. Now Gabe has to decide if he’s ready to alter the course of history or walk away from the only genuine thing he’s ever known.

Dashingly sinful, fresh and alluring! A surprise reunion amidst family hatred is sure to please fans of Sawyer Bennett’s Bluegrass Empires series. Venturing into a storyline of wealth and family dynamics looks really good on Bennett and I’m loving getting to know the Blackburns and the Mardraggons as drama plays out around every corner as love wins out time and again with this Blackburn crowd. I can’t wait to see more play out with this series. The ending felt rushed, but overall I loved every minute of Gabe and Kat’s story and following up on all that we learned in Ethan and Marcie’s story. I adore Bennett’s hockey hunks, but getting to see her spread her wings into a relaxed yet privileged family drama is rewarding. Great characters, satisfying drama and just the right amount of passion to keep me entranced.

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* Review * A COWGIRL NEVER FORGETS by Melinda Curtis

July 26, 2024 Leave a Comment

A Cowgirl Never Forgets by Melinda Curtis
Series: The Blackwell Belles #1
Published by Harlequin Heartwarming on July 23, 2024
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Even the best cowgirl falls…

When it’s the right cowboy

Rodeo cowgirl Maggie Blackwell doesn’t need her estranged family. She’s got Clem Coogan—her best friend, rodeo buddy and absolute rock. But when a rodeo accident leaves Clem with a terrible concussion, he’s convinced they’re a romantic item…and proposes to her. Now until his memory comes back, Maggie’s playing along. But can she keep this headache from turning into heartache for both of them?

Fans of the Blackwells are in for a treat! Big E and his extended family are back! A brand new series kickoff is underway for Big E’s sister Denny’s granddaughters and Melinda Curtis is starting us off with Magnolia’s story. I was quickly hooked though there is a hint of a cliche amnesia storyline tidbit to withstand. I loved Clem and really enjoyed the side of Maggie that he helped release. I feel like the set up for the series was laid pretty well for the coming books, but I was surprised that we didn’t get any of the interaction between the whole group of sisters at all yet. I’m looking forward to watching them develop and for the drama yet to come. So excited to have the Blackwells back again!

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* Review * LOCK ‘EM DOWN by Gina Azzi

July 26, 2024 Leave a Comment

Lock 'em Down by Gina Azzi
Series: Bang Brothers #4, Tennessee Thunderbolts #7
Published by Three Cities Publishing LLC on July 23, 2024
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I’m a carpe diem, live-in-the-moment, kind of woman. But waking up in Vegas with a rock on my finger and a gorgeous man in my bed? Well, now I’m redefining what it means to roll the dice…

Especially because my new husband is Tennessee Thunderbolts center, Leif Bang.

Yes, he has electric blue eyes that pierce me to my core. For sure, I’ve never seen forearms quite like his. And — another point for him — he makes me fold over with laughter.

But he’s also the man my mother was scheming to set me up with once I settled in Knoxville for my new job.

Determined to start my new life on my own terms, the last thing I need — or want — is a wickedly charming husband who’s never had a serious girlfriend, much less an impulsive wife.

It’s fine because I’m all about those annulment papers. Except, our moms are old friends, I’m new in town, and Leif is nothing like I expected.

Especially when he asks me to fake this marriage a little while longer.

Now, I’m forced to embrace my life’s motto and leave things up to chance…

Even if I’m gambling with my heart.

Sexy, sweet and sentimental! I’m loving getting to know the Bang family so much as each sibling finds their forever love. This time it’s Gina Azzi’s turn to turn on the heat for Leif and his quickie Vegas wife Cami. They won me over quickly when they met and dove into life with each other without a second thought … until the next day. The characters both had an interesting back story and zest for their own ways, but together they were really sweet and adorable. I wanted a smidge more to the development of them together once they decided they were in it for the long haul, but overall I was addicted and there throughout for that happily ever after. Looking forward to more to come in the series!

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* Review * JUST ONE MORE DARE by Carly Phillips

July 26, 2024 Leave a Comment

Just One More Dare by Carly Phillips
Series: The Sterling Family #2
Published by CP Publishing on July 23, 2024
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A runaway bride.
Her older brother’s off-limits friend.
Taking one more shot at love should be easy, right?
Not on a dare.

Samantha Dare had one thought when she found out her fiancé was a lying cheat. Escape. So, she ran from her wedding… straight into the arms of the man who once gave her the hottest kiss of her life. But rebounding with her brother’s friend would be a huge mistake… wouldn’t it?

The last thing Dex Sterling needs is more chaos in his life. Retiring from football and starting over in broadcasting gave him plenty of that. But even though Samantha is chaos personified, for some reason, he’s still not able to keep his mind—or hands—off her…

Is a little bit of forced proximity and a lot of sexual chemistry enough to earn them a second chance at happily ever after?

Samantha and Dex are about to find out…

Scruptiously addictive! Carly Phillips is delighting long-time readers with the long-awaited story of Samantha Dare as book two in her Sterling Family series and the drama, passion and heart of her book did NOT disappoint! Great angst to kick off the drama and then so much warmth and feelings between these two to hold my attention throughout. I loved Dex and Samantha!

I highly recommend this book as well as the entire series to anyone that adores a close-knit family who always has each other’s back as one sibling at a time finds their happily ever after.

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