Half Hitch (Lost Creek Rodeo #5) by Sophia Summers, Heather B. Moore, and Rebecca Connolly {Review}

Half Hitch (Lost Creek Rodeo #5) by Sophia Summers, Heather B. Moore, and Rebecca Connolly

Kindle Edition, 250 pages
Published May 11, 2021

Source: I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given 

A Wyoming cowboy surprised by love meets a young widowed Rodeo star who isn’t ready to open her heart.

Broken Hearts ranch is working its magic again with young Hazel Winters, still paralyzed by grief at the loss of her husband. She finds hope and healing with Kellie Prosper and the other women at the ranch, but more than that, she finds an opportunity for new love. But is she well enough or brave enough to accept it?

Eric Davis is happy to return to Lost Creek with his best friends in The Original Six to support the Christmas in July Rodeo the town hosts every year. He expects to rope some calves, help out with chores at the ranch, and celebrate Christmas in the Texas heat. What he doesn’t expect is to fall in love with one of the guests at The Broken Hearts Ranch.

Read book five in the Lost Creek Rodeo series to find out if Eric and Hazel can find the love they’re both craving.

   

My Review: 5 Stars

The Broken Ranch and Original Six rodeo studs have my whole heart! Just like his buddies, Eric is a charming, sweet, down-to-earth cowboy who captured my heart with his gentlemanly ways. I was delighted by his first meeting with Hazel, who caught me off guard probably as much as she did Eric. Completely unexpected, Hazel is a force to be reckoned with and I adored her spitfire personality. 

It's amazing to me that each story has a woman who is staying at this therapy ranch and a man who is a rodeo cowboy, yet they're all so different. Similar ingredients but a different recipe yields delightfully charming results and I was a sucker for this one. 

I especially loved the descriptions of the wide open skies and ranch work. Times feel simpler and are rejuvenating to the soul. Even the virtual escape was refreshing. I loved it and my heart craved the sweet romance that was offered.

Content: mild romance

Steal My Heart (Prosperity Ranch #2) by Heather B. Moore {Review}

Steal My Heart (Prosperity Ranch #2) by Heather B. Moore

Kindle Edition, 260 pages

Published March 24th 2020 by Mirror Press
Source: I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.

    

She’s ready to leave Prosper behind, forever. So why did she have to meet him, of all times, and at all places? That was never the plan.

USA Today bestselling author Heather B. Moore welcomes you to Prosperity Ranch!

Disaster seems to follow Evie Prosper’s dating life everywhere. A fresh start can only mean leaving Prosper forever, which is what she’s determined to do, until she meets Carson Hunt. He unknowingly saves her from another dating disaster, yet their paths keep crossing. Carson is relocating to Prosper of all places, and if Evie could change that one thing about him, she might rethink their connection.

My Review: 4 Stars

Prosperity Ranch is the kind of place a person could settle in and be content for the rest of their long life...unless you're Evie Prosper. This book starts out by showing just how vulnerable and naive Evie is and while she's desperate to shed her insecure and brother-dominated world, she struggles to voice her opinions and be her own person, except when it comes to Carson and her small hometown, and that's exactly where the conflict lies.

I enjoyed my second visit to the ranch and love this family, as they once again welcomed me with open arms. To delve deeper into these characters personalities and come to know them more warmed my heart. My favorite thing about this story is the way this author is able to bring the Prosper family to life in ways that make them feel like beloved friends and neighbors. Although they have issues just like anyone else, they're good people. See? I feel like they're real, especially as I read this during the Covid-19 pandemic and actually had a few struggles with them not adhering to social distancing, hah!


Carson is every girl's dream guy and he's solid, mature, and completely devoted to Evie. Fate definitely plays its hand in this charming and likable story and I can't wait to come back for more!

Content: mild romance (kissing, party scene)

One Summer Day by Heather B. Moore {Blog Tour Review}

One Summer Day (A Prosperity Ranch Novel) by Heather B. Moore

Kindle Edition, 166 pages

Published January 28th 2020 by Mirror Press 

Source: I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.

    

She’s desperate to start over. He represents the past she wants to leave behind. But falling in love is never about logic.

USA Today bestselling author Heather B. Moore welcomes you to Prosperity Ranch!

Macie’s divorce has left her at rock-bottom, and she uproots everything and takes her young daughter to visit Prosperity Ranch for the summer. Every kid deserves to know her grandparents, right? Macie hopes for some healing time, even if she is staying at her ex in-laws ranch. What she isn’t expecting is her ex-husband’s brother, Holt Prosper, to fit every ideal she’s ever hoped for in a man. 

My Review: 5 Stars

Some relationships are very tricky to navigate, but nothing seems as sticky as an attraction to your ex-husband's handsome brother. To clarify, Macie met Holt first, but suave and outgoing Knox stole her right from under his brother's nose. 

This author does a fantastic job of portraying the broken parts of Macie and her heart, as she struggles to give her young daughter, Ruby, a family support system, and in spite of the loyalties her child's grandmother shows towards her ex. There's a hazy mist of hope whirling throughout Macie's trials, but man, that woman is as tough as nails and willing to swallow her pride to do right by Ruby. 

I was kind of mad at Holt and Macie for trying to hide their true feelings at first, but given the complicated nature of the family dynamics, I could understand. And wowza! Those true feelings were quite explosive, so naturally, trying to hide dynamite doesn't last for long.  

I've decided that this author could write the phone book and I would love it. I'm looking forward to guzzling this new small-town Texas series.

Content: mild+ romance (kissing, swoony, implied cheating); mild language 

Hothouse Flower (Sound of Silence #3) by Taylor Dean {Review}

Hothouse Flower (Sound of Silence #3) by Taylor Dean

Paperback, 240 pages

Published January 1st 2018 by Taylor Dean Books

I loved Jace Faraday with all my heart. I loved everything about him, from his huge smile to his fabulous laugh. Another man never caught my eye. It was always Jace and Shay, together forever.

Until it wasn’t.

He devastated me, he ruined me. I’ve never gotten over it.

But, I’m a survivor. I’m not a precious flower that can only thrive if kept safe from the perils of the outside world.

Except now Jace has returned home. He’s just across the street from me, so close I swear I can actually feel his presence.

I can’t avoid him forever. At some point I have to face him. And when I do, I know sparks will fly.

To redeem himself for his past actions, I need major remorse. I need a profuse apology and maybe even a little begging for forgiveness. I won’t settle for anything less.

However, when the truth behind our break-up is revealed, I’m stunned. It leaves me reeling—and yearning for the six years that have been lost to us.

The thing is, once the truth is known, there’s nothing to keep us apart.

Absolutely nothing.

(Dear Reader: This book deals with a sensitive issue.)

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

My Review: 5 Stars

Read this series in order!

Jace and Shay. They were made for each other but a mistake in the past drove the apart. I've been wondering about this relationship from the time it was first mentioned in Book 1, because that right there literally broke my heart in two. Lucky for me, Taylor Dean believes in second chances and I knew this was going to be a great story from the very first page. And boy, oh, boy--I wasn't wrong!


I'm just going to say it right here--there is a very sensitive issue that presents itself in this book, but it's handled in a very real and tasteful way. I loved that Jace and Shay handled it together, especially once they worked out their major misunderstanding. 

The emotions are overflowing in this story, in many different ways, and I was completely invested from start to finish. One thing that really amazes me about this author is her ability to write about realistic and difficult situations, character reactions and ways they deal with things, and content with the potential to be depressing, but the feel isn't a downer at all--everything about the story brings hope and inspiration and doesn't drag me down to the dumps. That right there is sincere talent. Taylor Dean--you have a die-hard fan!

Content: mild+ romance (swoony, hard, modern issue content with no graphic details), which ties into mild+ violence (same--no graphic details).

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Buy Link:

About the Author:

Taylor Dean lives in Texas and is the mother of four grown children. Upon finding herself with an empty nest, she began to write the stories that were always wandering around in her head, quickly finding she had a passion for writing, specifically romance. Whether it's paranormal, contemporary, or suspense-you'll find all sub-genres of CLEAN Romance in her line-up.

  

Jailbird (Sound of Silence Book 2) by Taylor Dean {Review}

Jailbird (Sound of Silence Book 2) by Taylor Dean

Paperback, 216 pages

Published December 1st 2017 by Taylor Dean Books 

My hometown decided to rename me Jailbird.

Every day I silently scream out, “My name is Mia Faraday!” My time in jail does not define me. I am so much more than one heated mistake.

And yet, my slip-up weighs on me. There’s so much more to the story than anyone realizes. I must face Stony, my ex, and confess everything.

I don’t want to. I’d rather have five teeth pulled. While I’m awake. Without anesthesia.

But this is something I have to do, something I need to do. Not just for Stony. I need to do it for me. Especially for me. I can’t move forward with my life until I gain closure from the past.

When I meet Grayson Elliott, I am easily pulled into his orbit and it’s exactly where I’d love to stay. He makes me laugh and not take life so seriously. He makes me want to live again.

But I don’t love me right now, and that healing needs to come first. I’m not relationship-ready or marriage material. My mind is focused on redemption. I want it. I need it.

Besides, when Grayson hears about my colorful past, I’m sure he’ll be gone before I have time to utter the word goodbye.

After all, who could ever love a jailbird?

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

My Review: 5 Stars

**Be sure to read Stone Silence before reading this one**

Love can be complicated, that's for sure. Mia made a colossal mistake, paid dearly for it, and her life-long boyfriend, Stony, moved on and now it's time for her to do the same. Isn't that easier said than done? Taylor Dean writes in first person, which really drew me in and caused me to deeply feel and understand the reasoning behind Mia's mistake. 

Mia has a new outlook on life, but it's really hard to move forward--I honestly can't imagine how hard it would be. I greatly admire and love her character. Grayson has a tricky connection to Mia, but his adorable sense of humor and positive attitude towards life is a huge bonus. I adore Grayson--he kept me smiling and laughing! He's the gift that every struggling woman needs to have appear in her life.

What really captured me is the heart and soul that Taylor Dean manages to portray with her words. The characters are life-like and their struggles are real, but it's not heavy and depressing at all. A hope rises out of the pages and really grasps the heart. I love the journey, the progress, and the chemistry that abounds throughout the story. This is one series that I just can't stop thinking about.

Content: mild violence/peril; mild, swoony romance. 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
 

Buy Link:

About the Author:

 

Taylor Dean lives in Texas and is the mother of four grown children. Upon finding herself with an empty nest, she began to write the stories that were always wandering around in her head, quickly finding she had a passion for writing, specifically romance. Whether it's paranormal, contemporary, or suspense-you'll find all sub-genres of CLEAN Romance in her line-up.

Illegally Wedded by Jennifer Griffith {Review}

Illegally Wedded (A Legally in Love Romance)
by Jennifer Griffith

Kindle Edition, 619 pages

Publication: January 23rd 2018

 
He needs a promotion. She needs to stay in the country.
Piper Quinn has a great thing going. She’s young, talented, and the sole chef at Du Jour, San Antonio’s hottest lunch bistro. She and her business partner just have to stay open one year to be eligible for the coveted Texas Star.

Days before eligibility though, Piper gets terrible news: she’s getting deported. To New Zealand. Where her parents have joined a hobbit cult.

Attorney Zach Travis can’t seem to break into the partnership bracket at his big, respected firm—despite his stellar record. Then, Zach hears a rumor his bachelor status may be holding him back, and he needs a wife to advance his career. The girl at the bistro is an intriguing candidate.

As Piper shares her desperate plea for legal help, Zach realizes he can fix both their dilemmas—with a marriage certificate. However, their plan puts them in the cross-hairs of more than one vindictive enemy. Worse, neatly ending their marriage may be tricky due to a sparking chemistry neither Zach nor Piper can ignore.

Illegally Wedded is book 7 in the Legally in Love Collection by clean romantic comedy author Jennifer Griffith. Great fun for fans of Cami Checketts and Jennifer Peel.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

My Review: 5 Stars

I always think of marriages of convenience being back in history, when things were arranged because of hard times or situations, but this modern-day arrangement totally made sense and worked! Oh, my...this one definitely worked. And I think this author is really making a name for herself with these modern-day twists.


I think this one is my favorite Jennifer Griffith novel to date. Piper and Zach are great characters and they each need each other in different ways. Zach...wow...he could sure swoon the socks off of any woman. And Piper's loyalty is as strong as her presence in the kitchen. I don't know if I drooled more over the yummy food descriptions or over the swoon. How can two such perfectly matched people who complement each other in indescribable ways end up together on a chance whim?

There is comedy and romance in spades and between the igniting sparks and my desire to know how this was all going to go down, I couldn't stop reading. I woke up twice in the middle of the night and had to read for just "one more chapter." All this drama and deceit felt like a hopelessly fast runaway train, but let me just tell you--it worked and I don't know if my heart is going to recover any time soon.

  

Content: mild+ romance (spicy chemistry, kisses)

*I received a copy, which had no influence on my thoughts and opinions*

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Buy Link:

 

Stone Silence by Taylor Dean {Review}

Stone Silence (Sound of Silence #1) by Taylor Dean

Paperback, 264 pages

Published November 1st 2017 by Taylor Dean Books 

Great big beautiful love.

Does it really exist?

Everyone tells me it does. They say, “Spencer Elliott, don’t worry, you’ll find it one day. You just have to find the right man and when you do, it will surprise the heck out of you.”

I’m still waiting for that heck of a surprise to hit. It has proven to be elusive thus far. I’m pretty sure the entire world is lying about love and the joke is on me.

I know I want a man in my heart and in my life. Unfortunately, most men immediately push my OFF button and I lose interest quickly.

Feeling pressure to prove I’m trying to find my soulmate, I finally give in and agree to a date. Huge mistake. Afterward I find myself abandoned in the middle of nowhere, in desperate need of help.

That’s when I meet Stony by chance.

He’s a silent and unsmiling man who intrigues me with his ability to keep going after life has knocked him down. Suddenly the abstract notion of love becomes tangible and within my reach. Once I experience it, I wonder how I ever lived without it.

That’s when I stay with Stony by choice.

But when Stony’s hidden past and present-day reality collide, his silence is broken. And the truth about his life nearly brings me to my knees. I can’t compete with ghosts from the past.

I refuse to fight for a man’s love. He either loves me or he doesn’t. It’s as simple and as complicated as that.

My only hope is . . . he does.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

My Review: 5 Stars

I can't stop obsessing about this story and it's fantastically flawed and real characters. Love sometimes comes when it's least expected and that's just what Spencer discovers. A very scary and bad experience ends up being the best thing that ever happened to her.   

Although Spencer is in her late twenties, she's naive in the ways of relationships and love and I adored watching her discover her passion and emotional and romantic connections, especially with someone like Stony. He is like a stone--so hard to read. He has big secrets, a tragic past, and doesn't show emotion, yet there's something there that captivated Spencer...and me, especially with the way he would really talk to her. 

Taylor Dean is a fantastic story teller! The way the story unravels through her words is seriously fantastic. I loved every single minute--the good times, the hard times, and especially the swoony romantic times. I felt that I really got to know these characters--what made them tick, what drove them, what they were passionate about. Who knew that the middle-of-nowhere Texas would steal my heart?! Must read the rest of the series, ASAP, because I've got a serious book hangover.

Content: mild-moderate swoony romance (kissing, some mild innuendo); very mild violence

*I received a copy through eBooks for Review, which had no influence on my thoughts and opinions.* 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Buy Links:

Love in the Details: A November Wedding by Becky Wade {Review}

Love in the Details: A November Wedding
(A Year of Weddings Novella) by Becky Wade

Kindle Edition, 132 pages

Published October 27th 2015 by Zondervan 

 

 

She left him to save his future, but they’ve never gotten over each other.

When Josh returns to his hometown of Martinsburg, Texas, to help his best friend get married, he didn’t intend to run into church wedding coordinator—and ex-girlfriend—Holly. He can’t help but pine after the girl he never got over.

Holly broke up with Josh years ago in an attempt to ensure his future success. But she loved him then and still loves him now. As she helps him plan his best friend’s wedding, she can’t help but feel horrible for the pain she caused him. And even though she longs to be with Josh, she doesn’t feel worthy of his big-time lifestyle when she is more comfortable in her small town world. Will Josh and Holly be able to keep things as they are when their true feelings threaten to surface at every turn?

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

My Review: 5 Stars

There's something about a wedding that I just adore. Although it's not Holly's wedding, she's the church's volunteer wedding coordinator and a big Thanksgiving wedding brings her high school sweetheart back to town.

Josh and Holly have had years to come to terms with their breakup and neither of them have any intention of trying to get back together. The reason why Holly broke up with Josh in the first place was crazy to me, but she was a young and impressionable young lady, sacrificing herself for her love for Josh. It's so tragic when you can't really ever get completely over your first love and I was so happy that they could meet again to find peace and resolution. But instead of resolution, they find an undeniable chemistry. The emotion is tangible with this one--so much longing, a tinge of sadness, an undercurrent of hope, and those sparks of attraction, yearning to burst into a relationship once again.

I really enjoyed this sweet story--it's one of the good ones of this series!

Content: mild religious elements; mild romance

*I received a copy through Netgalley, which had no influence on my thoughts and opinions.*

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Buy Links:

 

 

The Fearless Groom (Texas Titan Romances) by Cami Checketts {Review}

The Fearless Groom (Texas Titan Romances)
by Cami Checketts

Kindle Edition

Published October 6th 2017 by Birch River Publishing 

 

 

A bachelor auction, a hot football player, and the right woman to bring him to his knees.
Izzy Knight walked away from her father’s billions and his Titans football team to become a nurse practitioner at a children’s hospital. She’s busy and accomplished and certainly has no room in her life for a larger-than-life football player who goes through women faster than she completes a shift at the hospital.
Xavier Newton loves football but hates the games that go along with it. When the owner of the Titans forces him and his buddies to be sold like cattle at a bachelor auction he barely endures the event, until a feisty brunette bids half a million dollars for him. He’s completely drawn to Izzy, but when he finds out her father is the owner of the Titans sparks fly and everybody’s loyalties are challenged.
Can these two find love when they don’t know who’s waiting to tackle them from the blindside?

 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

 

My Review: 4 Stars

 

I love reading a book about two people who have every right to be full of themselves, but aren't. Izzy's super rich father owns a football team and he's using some of that money to have her bid on a player in an auction. Sports romances are always a win in my book.

 

I love that Izzy was able to pay for her education on her own, because I think it's more appreciated through blood, sweat, and tears, than it is handed to a person on a silver platter. But it broke my heart that she almost shunned her father to do so. Assuming things isn't always the way to go--in fact, it never is. That aside, Izzy is a very feisty and independent character with some trust issues. But boy, oh boy--the sparks seriously leap off of the pages from almost the moment she meets this player, Xavier (aka X). I dare you not to combust with the sparks!

 

X should be a jerk, but he's anything but. I love a man who is willing to give back, loves his mama, and treats a woman like gold. That man oozes charisma and is so confident. Of course, he has his own demons to face, but does so with much consideration for others. It's pretty fair to say that I adore him.

 

Cami Checketts is a wonder with her stories. Yes, there are a lot of swoony moments that almost had me in a puddle on the floor, but there are also some intense and suspenseful times. She's so good at crafting a fine balance with her stories that tap into a multitude of emotions. 

 

Content: mild+ romance; mild violence

 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

 

Buy Link:

 

  

The Thirteenth Chance by Amy Matayo {Review}

The Thirteenth Chance by Amy Matayo

Paperback, 287 pages

Expected publication: September 27th 2016 by Waterfall Press

Baseball star Will Vandergriff knows any number of women who would happily pretend to be his girlfriend. In a last-ditch effort to restore his good standing with his team’s higher-ups, he enlists the help of his neurotic, goody-goody neighbor. Schoolteacher Olivia Pratt might be a bit quirky and a bit of a loner, but she’s a lot more inviting than she knows. Will hopes that bringing her to his next game might revamp his reckless reputation and help get his career back on track. The only problem? The plan works a little too well. Not only do the higher-ups love Olivia, but Will plays his best game yet. Suddenly his losing streak is a thing of the past, and Olivia is his new good-luck charm. Will feels anything but lucky.

After years of keeping the world at bay, Olivia Pratt is pulling off the ultimate performance—not only reluctantly posing as Will’s girlfriend but also insisting that she’s oblivious to his major-league appeal. But she can only lie to herself for so long. Being by Will’s side feels good. Really good. Maybe it’s finally time to make a pitch for everything she really wants—and to find out just how exhilarating love can be.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

My Review: 5 Stars
  

This is exactly the type of book that I love--a clean, romantic comedy! I love it when the romance isn't easy and the characters have flaws and depth, making them easy to relate to and to like...or dislike. Olivia is an OCD school teacher who isn't afraid of being herself. And that right there is a big reason why sparks fly--she doesn't know how attractive, endearing, and quirky she really is. I laughed out loud at the antics involving her cat, Perry! Will is Olivia's annoying neighbor and is a big shot baseball pitcher--a person completely opposite from herself. I love this author's style of writing!

I don't have an athletic bone in my body, but I love stories involving a sports figure. Will is hot, but he's kind of a cocky jerk. I mean, "I'm Will Vandergriff. The whole world is in love with me, even if I'm currently losing. Why do I keep forgetting that?" Yeah, he's very cocky. There were times when I wanted to slap Will on Olivia's behalf, but then these little hints of a good guy would shine through and all would be forgiven...or would they? Will comes up with a plan to turn things around in his downward spiraling career and the results are some fantastic and swoony (clean) chemistry, hilarious moments, tender times, and deep self-examinations on both parts. 

I love it when characters go through the gamut of emotions and experiences. Opposites can be a good balance for each other and it seems that the attraction is stronger when there is conflict. "It's funny how a body can go from cold to overheated in two sputtering heartbeats." I love a book that takes me on a roller coaster ride, leaving me completely content and satisfied by the end. Although I don't deal with similar issues myself, I was still able to connect with the characters and enjoy every single page.

Content: mild language; mild-moderate romance (kissing, innuendo, implied intimate past relationships); Clean!

*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Buy Links

 

About the Author:

Author Amy Matayo is an excellent speaker, mathematician, seamstress, chef...and liar. She's decent at writing books but not much else. Then again, the book thing makes her marginally cool and a whole lot intimidating.

Not really. Not even her kids are afraid of her.

She graduated with barely passing grades from John Brown University with a degree in Journalism. But she's proud of that degree and all the ways she hasn't put it to good use.

She laughs often, cries easily, feels deeply, and loves hard. She lives in Arkansas with her husband and four kids and is working on her next novel.


visit her website at http://www.amymatayo.com

You can also find Amy on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/amymatayo

Twitter: @amymatayo

Instagram: amymatayo.author

Snapchat: amymatayowrites