Archives for April 17, 2025

* Review * THE COWBOY’S WEDDING PROPOSAL by Melinda Curtis

April 17, 2025 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * THE COWBOY’S WEDDING PROPOSAL by Melinda Curtis

The Cowboy's Wedding Proposal by Melinda Curtis
Series: The Cowboy Academy #7
Published by Harlequin Heartwarming on April 29, 2025
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads

What's sweeter than chocolate?

A second chance at love!

Single mom Tillie Powell has spent enough time getting over Keith Morgan and his misguided marriage proposal six years earlier. All she wants now is to be the perfect maid of honor to her cousin, proving to her uncle that she’s ready for the ranch manager job, which will support her daughter, Shay, in the process. But best man Keith suddenly seems to be everywhere she is, helping with wedding tasks and annoyingly winning over Shay. As the big event draws closer, Tillie must decide if she’s finally ready to hear Keith’s side of the story—and let his love in.

Tumultuous and attention grabbing! Curtis is delighting her readers with an adventure filled wedding and a handful of second chances with the next book in her Cowboy Academy series. The plot was quick to catch my attention and I was rooting for Keith and Tillie to find their way back to each other very quickly. Her daughter and Gran made for lots of adorableness along the way. Lots of emotion, laughs and upset throughout. Highly recommend!

Filed Under: Book Reviews

* Review * K-9 CONFIDENTIAL by Nichole Severn

April 17, 2025 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * K-9 CONFIDENTIAL by Nichole Severn

K-9 Confidential by Nichole Severn
Series: New Mexico Guard Dogs #5
Published by Harlequin Intrigue on April 29, 2025
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads

This fierce K-9

Is facing killer odds

Security agent Granger Morais is stunned when he and his K-9, Zeus, confront the one person he thought was dead—and can’t afford to trust again. Helping ex-informant Charlie Acker discover who killed her young sister may be key to taking down her powerful extremist family. But when Granger must protect her from a ruthless cartel that wants her special skills, will his and Charlie’s troubled history—and reignited heat—keep them alive…or be the one trap they never saw coming?

High intensity and danger lurking everywhere! Severn is delivering angst galore as her New Mexico Guard Dogs series with Harlequin Intrigue is drawing near it’s end. The next to last book is giving Granger his match as he encounters a part of his past that he thought was long gone. I liked the characters and the suspense a lot. The twists were attention grabbing. I wanted a smidge more in the end to give Granger and Charlie a more satisfying step forward to where they are going to end up, but overall I enjoyed their story very much and am looking forward to the final book in the series on it’s way soon.

I recommend this book as well as the entire series to anyone who likes a fast paced suspense with lots of danger and action along the way.

Filed Under: Book Reviews

* Review * PERSONAL SECURITY by Lisa Childs

April 17, 2025 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * PERSONAL SECURITY by Lisa Childs

Personal Security by Lisa Childs
Series: Bachelor Bodyguards #15
Published by Harlequin Romantic Suspense on April 29, 2025
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads

He’ll risk anything to protect her…

Even his heart.

Watching over Blair Etheridge as she reopens her family’s art gallery is Ivan Chekov’s first chance to prove himself as a bodyguard. He hopes it’s also a chance to start over. But this job brings up bad memories, and Blair doesn’t want him anywhere near her. Ivan overcomes her stubborn streak after an attack on her life proves she’s in danger. The undeniable attraction sizzling between them makes posing as her boyfriend easy, while the thought of losing her frightens him more than he’s willing to admit.

Mystery and danger around every corner! With the next book in her Bachelor Bodyguards series, Lisa Childs takes us on a ride of suspense as Blair and Ivan are challenged and thrust into the past to seek answers and run from the sinister visitors lurking. The characters were easy to like, the storyline was intense and the danger was satisfying. There were a lot of characters and past cases to keep up with for a stand alone, but if you’re kept up with the series along the way you will feel less overwhelmed. I wanted more development in their relationship and a bit more fill in on the past happenings with this group of investigators, but overall it was a solid, entertaining read.

Filed Under: Book Reviews

* Review * LILAC TIME by Fern Michaels, Lori Foster, Carolyn Brown

April 17, 2025 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * LILAC TIME by Fern Michaels, Lori Foster, Carolyn Brown

Lilac Time by Fern Michaels, Lori Foster, Carolyn Brown
Published by Kensington Books on April 29, 2025
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads

The air is sweet, the days grow warm, and the budding branches bring the promise of bright new beginnings in this heartwarming springtime collection headlined by one of the most beloved storytellers of our time, Fern Michaels, joined by bestselling authors Carolyn Brown and Lori Foster.

SWEET AS HONEY * Fern Michaels
Natalie is through with pining over her ex. If only her efforts to be social again didn’t lead to repeated run-ins with an infuriating beekeeper at the local farmer’s market. Yet Garrett keeps buzzing around. And as Natalie watches his patience and dedication in tending his hives, she begins to wonder if life has a sweet surprise in store.

EVERYTHING SHE’D EVER WANTED * Lori Foster
Annabeth can see that her neighbor’s handsome nephew, Devlin, has his hands full, raising his little girl single-handed. Yet though his life is frazzled, it’s full of the kind of joy and togetherness she longs for. And when Devlin’s daughter and Annabeth’s tiny dog fall hard for each other, it might be the start of more than one beautiful friendship.

THE MEMORY CABIN * Carolyn Brown
Jenna Stewart loves gathering at her Texas lakeside cabin with her girlfriends. It’s an annual tradition to reconnect with the women who helped her deal with her mother’s passing along with the end of her marriage. But this year, lives are changing, dreams are evolving. And perhaps Jenna’s heart has healed enough to welcome a new love that arrives with the first flowers of spring . . .

* Reviewing EVERYTHING SHE’D EVER WANTED by Lori Foster *

Short, sweet and endearing! Foster always has a way of wrapping a family around my heart and taking me along on their journey of healing and rediscovery. I loved every minute of AnnaBeth and Devlin’s story and particularly loved the addition of his daughter and elderly uncle to bring the adorable humor into the storyline that softened the loss and angst.

I highly recommend this story to anyone wanting a fast paced read with an enjoyable second chance on love trope with lots of cuteness and sass.

Filed Under: Book Reviews

* Review * THE SHELL COLLECTOR by Nancy Naigle

April 17, 2025 Leave a Comment

The Shell Collector by Nancy Naigle
Series: Shell Collector #1
Published by WaterBrook on May 11, 2021
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads

Two years after her husband’s death, Amanda Whittier has two children to raise alone, an abandoned dream of starting a business, and a fixer-upper cottage by the sea. She has no room in her life for anything else and little interest in moving on after losing the man she loved.

Paul Grant is a relative newcomer to the area, and his work with former military dogs needing rehabilitation has been good for the town. Though he loved once before, he’s convinced he’s not suited for romance and is determined to find meaning—alone—through his work and role in the community.

Widowed Maeve Lindsay was born and raised on Whelk’s Island. Spirited, kind, and a little mischievous, she pours her life into the town. But she carries a secret that shapes her every move.

Together, these three souls find encouragement in the most mysterious places and discover a love that’s bigger than their pain, healing their wounded hearts in ways none of them could have hoped for or expected.

An inspirational journey of love, loss and reconnection! Naigle gripped my heart from the very first page of this book and didn’t let go throughout. The characters are really easy to connect with and make you feel like you are right there beside them as the story unfolds. I picked this book up simply from the gorgeous cover and knowing Naigle’s style of writing, but the story I received was so much more than I was expecting. There’s so much heart in the words as one loss connects with another and healing takes on visions no one ever expected. I adored this family and group of friends and couldn’t put the book down until I completed it. I guarantee it will touch you whole heartedly. I’m really happy to see that there is a second book coming in the series.

I highly recommend this story to anyone that likes a women’s fiction story with hints of romance, lots of faith and beautiful friendships.

Filed Under: Book Reviews

* Review * OPENING STRAINS by Arell Rivers

April 17, 2025 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * OPENING STRAINS by Arell Rivers

Opening Strains by Arell Rivers
Series: Passionate Beats Trilogy #1
on April 24, 2025
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads

Rehab and Restraints: A Bad Boy’s Reckoning

One stupid jump onstage at Untamed Coaster’s rockumentary premiere, and I'm out of commission. Pulled groin? More like a damn disaster. And the only person who can fix me is Jenna Westfield. Jenna. The ex of our late keyboardist, who added her to the Do Not F*^% list that survives even though he’s no longer here. And the only woman who made me question my no-strings rule from the moment I met her.

Two weeks in the Hamptons at her clinic, and I'm a goner. Falling not only for her, but also her warm, welcoming mom, a whole damn life I never knew I wanted. But she's holding back, those haunted eyes telling a story I can't quite read. Professional ethics, ghosts of the past, and my own mother's constant nagging keep us apart. Then, one stolen kiss changes everything.

Suddenly, I believe we could have an actual relationship. Almost buy into her ideal that UC is my “found family.” However, the paparazzi are vultures, branding her a “Black Widow”—and she splits.

Now, I'm alone on tour, wondering if I blew my only chance at something real.

OPENING STRAINS is the first book in the Passionate Beats trilogy. This story ends on a cliffhanger, but the trilogy has an HEA. It is told exclusively from Untamed Coaster’s lead singer Bennett Hardy’s point of view. If you crave a slow burn, found family rockstar romance filled with the delightful angst of a playboy’s heart being reformed, then buckle up for UC!

Endearing characters and heartfelt emotions! Arell Rivers shines when it comes to creating a rockstar hero we can really sink our teeth into! Bennett Hardy is the front man for The Untamed Coasters who we’ve met in previous books from Rivers and this book kicks off a trilogy between Bennett and Jenna. There is an abrupt ending and a cliffhanger, but we’re set up for much more drama and angst to come on that way towards happily ever after! The set up of the book quickly held my attention and had me turning page after page to figure out how this was all going to play out. The angst from the past is a heavy burden for the characters to carry, but the connection they have together goes a long way in giving the reader something else to grasp onto and rally around. I really loved their story and I’m on pins and needles waiting for book two.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a rocker romance with lots of heart. Must be okay with a cliffhanger, but it should all play out well in the end.

Filed Under: Book Reviews