Rescue a Stubborn Heart (Hudson Brothers Romance - Book 2) by Cindy Roland Anderson {Review}

Rescue a Stubborn Heart (Hudson Brothers Romance - Book 2) by Cindy Roland Anderson

285 pages, Kindle Edition
Publication May 27, 2021
Source: I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given 

She doesn’t believe true love is real.
He thinks he’s too broken for love.
Everything changes when two stubborn hearts meet.

On the run from her ex-husband’s twisted family, Finley seeks help from Jaxon Hudson, the Navy SEAL who rescued her three years ago. Even though she only knew him for a few hours, it was long enough for her to fall in love. But Jaxon’s imminent deployment squashed any hope of a relationship, and he walked away, taking a piece of her heart with him.

Now Finley is older and wiser and not looking for love. So when Jaxon proposes a marriage of convenience and offers the protection of his name, but not his heart, Finley accepts the terms.

There’s only one problem, the spark they had three years ago never died out...placing her in danger of falling for him all over again.

   

My Review: 5 Stars

So much is wrapped up in these pages. Anderson tackles a few tough topics, such as PTSD and domestic abuse, but does it in a way that brings issues to light without feeling heavy at all. These Hudson brothers are a force to be reckoned with and I love getting their stories. LOVED!

After Jaxon rescues Finley, takes her on one date, and then deploys, survivor's guilt and trauma take over his life. When Finley needs rescuing again, they reconnect and the sparks are more flammable than ever.

Jaxon is one amazing character! Although he's strong and compassionate, he's battling demons, which makes him relatable. Finley has struggled her whole life, especially with a sense of belonging and the marriage of inconvenience that ensues from their reunion finally gives her what she craves...but can she keep it?

Anderson has a way of writing that makes me smile, swoon, and devour every single word. I loved every interaction between Jaxon and Finley and couldn't get enough of their palpable chemistry. The zings were instantaneous, yet completely believable, and the little baby, Gracie, melted my heart.

I absolutely adore these brothers--every single one--and can't wait to read every one of their stories.

Content: mild+ romance (very mild innuendo, swoony kissing, unwanted advances); mild violence (vague talk of abuse, neglect, war violence, death)

Beehives and Broken Heroes (Harvest Ranch Romance #11) by Ellie Thornton {Review}

Beehives and Broken Heroes (Harvest Ranch Romance #11) by Ellie Thornton

Kindle Edition

Published April 5th 2021 

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

 

 

His upright nature will teach her to love again.

Her fiery spirit will bring him back to life.

Allie Ward is swearing off men for good. She’s had it with their lying, thieving, and cheating ways. What she needs to focus on is bettering herself and her business.

But the studly, new investor to her “Sticky and Sweet” honey company, Brandon Carroll, keeps getting in her head. He’s not like the guys she’s dated before. He’s reserved, tough, hard to rile, and surprisingly flirty when she least expects it. She’s torn between wanting to hide from him, and wanting to kiss the life out of him. But, she’ll do neither because she’s a professional . . . and done with men.

Ex-military police officer, Brandon Carroll falls fast for Allie Ward. With her open, crazy, and vivacious zest for life, she’s exactly what he needs to mend his broken heart. But when a ghost from his past rears its sinister head, Brandon will have more than a gorgeous, fighting redhead to deal with. By law, he must keep the mounting dangers stamped “top secret” from her.

But Allie isn’t going to tolerate secrets. In fighting to keep his past from her, he just might lose her for good.

  

My Review: 4 Stars

It always seems like you meet someone when you swear you're done looking, and that's just what happened to Allie. Brandon and Allie had an instantaneously clash of chemistry that was fun to watch this sweet romance unfold. 

Both Brandon and Allie are fun characters. The random friends that appeared were entertaining too, especially the sneak attacks. While there's also a reason for why people do what they do, Brandon and Allie each had a flaw that didn't sit well with me, so it's a good thing they're both so likable--that made it easier to overlook those minor annoyances.

Harvest Ranch is a great small town and I would have loved to see more of it and its residents in this story, but I loved the mix of romance and danger. The kernels of suspense hinted at more and I loved how everything came together, popping the characters into the middle of a perilous situation. But I must say, that ending was the butter drizzled on top--sweet perfection!

Content: mild romance; mild moments of peril

Flying in Love by Chalon Linton {Review}

Flying in Love by Chalon Linton

Paperback, 200 pages

Published June 1st 2020 by Covenant Communications 

Source: Library

    

Will Paige decide to share her heart or fly solo?

Paige Hall’s happy ending may just be in sight. She has been dating her boyfriend for months and feels confident their relationship is going in the right direction—until she catches him kissing another woman. Humiliated and hurt, Paige retreats from the dating scene and pledges to never fall hard again as she throws herself into her work as a speech therapist. Her vow is upended in a grocery store parking lot when she is nearly run over by a handsome and very apologetic air force pilot.

Captain Jake Summers is everything a girl could dream of: charming, considerate, and hardworking. Despite Paige’s determination to avoid falling into another relationship, her resolve is no match for the whirlwind romance that ensues. When Jake is not flying, he and Paige are inseparable, and Paige begins to believe in happily ever afters again. But when the couple faces a heartrending loss, they must find strength in each other and in their faith or risk losing a once-in-a-lifetime love.

My Review: 4 Stars

A meet cute that makes me laugh is the perfect way to set the tone for a wonderful story. Paige has been burned recently by a relationship and has no desire to jump into another one, but really...who could resist persistent and sweet Air Force pilot Jake?

This charming tale is driven by fantastic characters, who each have inner demons to battle, while forging ahead down the path to true love, and I just couldn't get enough. Everyone has weaknesses and challenges in life and I love reading about someone else's--going through them myself isn't as fun, hah!

One aspect to this book that I really enjoyed was the relationships with mothers. The dynamic between Paige and her mother was relatable and realistic and I loved how Paige grew and realized some pretty profound things. Jake's relationship with his mom was so tender and heart tugging, and isn't it true that to see how a man will treat you, watch how he treats his mother?

As a child of the '80s, I loved the Top Gun references and kept picturing different scenes from the movie (and characters, too) as I devoured this book. Air Force life sounds difficult, yet rewarding, and this book really brought out the realities of that life.

Why just 4 stars? With as much as I loved this story, it just ended. Ended! I wanted more from this delightfully charming love story.

Content: mild romance; mild Christian elements; mild triggers (death of a loved one)

Take a Chance on Me (A Misty River Novella) by Becky Wade {Review}

Take a Chance on Me (A Misty River Romance) by Becky Wade

Kindle Edition, 97 pages

Published February 25th 2020
Source: Free on Amazon

    

When baker Penelope Quinn steps in to help her brother’s family through a medical crisis, she’s forced into close proximity with charming Air Force fighter pilot Eli Price.

Penelope has one iron-clad dating rule—she does not date airmen. Months ago, she relaxed her rule with Eli and immediately lived to regret it. After a long deployment, he’s now back in Misty River and, to her dismay, she finds him just as tempting as always.

Eli’s spent months thinking about funny, feisty, creative Penelope. He once leveraged his focus and drive to become a pilot, his childhood dream. Now he's set on leveraging that same focus and drive in order to convince Penelope to give him one more chance.

This romantic prequel novella introduces readers to the quaint mountain town of Misty River and a brand-new series from Christy-winning author Becky Wade!  

My Review: 4 Stars

Rules are made to be broken--right? Penelope refuses to date any of the airmen who come through the base near town...until Eli. There's something about him that makes her want to toss her rule aside. 

I loved the way Wade develops this charming town into a place that makes the reader feels welcome and like an honorary citizen of, and this first installment allows the reader to get a grasp on the vibe. I'm excited to get a front row seat to this new series and look forward to meeting many more intriguing characters and their stories.

Content: mild romance; mild+ religion

Sanctuary by Traci Hunter Abramson {Blog Tour Review and Giveaway}

Sanctuary by Traci Hunter Abramson

Paperback, 312 pages

Published March 1st 2019 by Covenant Communications 

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

    

Kristi Hartinger has come to terms with her life as a single, thirty-something woman. She was in love . . . once. But following her boyfriend's tragic death, no one else could capture her heart. And nothing else could fill that void, though the serenity of the ocean came close. Two years ago, Kristi left the craziness of her Wall Street career behind and embraced a simpler life on her family's private island off the coast of Maine. As a resident of the small beach community, she anticipates a quiet future—until she comes face-to-face with her past.

Ace Samson is dead, or so the world believes. As a member of a secret organization known as the guardians, he was forced to fake his death years ago, leaving everything behind when he became an agent. So when he is selected to offer a potential new recruit a job with the organization, Ace braces himself: for the first time in more than a decade, he must face the woman he loved—and left.

Kristi's world is rocked by Ace's sudden reappearance, and she's soon drawn into his world of danger and cover-up. But when Kristi herself becomes a target, Ace will do whatever it takes to protect the only woman he has ever love.

My Review: 5 Stars

Abramson is an author that I will automatically read because her books are that good. In fact, I didn't even read what this one was about and had a blast not knowing what was coming.

This is a GUARDIAN novel, but they don't have to be read in order, although knowing the back story to different characters is fun. Kristi lives a simple life on an island in Maine. I have a hankering to visit Maine now, to experience the villages, the ocean, the clams, and the quiet life. When Ace suddenly reappears in her life after almost twenty years, her world turns upside down, and not necessarily in a good way. Someone wants her dead and it's a race against time to figure out who and why.

I love Kristi's self-reliant, matter-of-fact personality. She loves being connected with her past and is good at taking care of herself, discovering ways to make her life more efficient. Ace is somewhat of a mystery, but he's good at completing any mission to the best of his ability. I loved the tumultuous connection between Ace and Kristi, especially because it served an important purpose to the story. There is an underlying longing of what cannot be, yet there are sparkles of hope glimmering in the peripheral vision of the big picture.

The danger and suspense had me on edge, as the quiet mystery of the forest and ocean served for most of the setting. I was on edge and deeply immersed, hoping with all my might for the outcome I wanted, as these twists and turns tossed me around. Such a great book!

Content: mild romance; mild+ moments of danger, violence, and peril  

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The Fearless Warrior (Navy SEAL Romance 2.0) by Kimberly Krey {Review}

The Fearless Warrior (Navy SEAL Romance 2.0)
by Kimberly Krey

Kindle Edition, 233 pages

Published October 3rd 2018 

Source: I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

 

   

 

When Jace moves in with Amy to protect her from a predator, romance blooms, and Amy wonders who will protect her heart.

Denver’s Average Amy does TV reviews for the latest trends, but when her name ends up on a human trafficking website, life feels anything but average. Especially when old crush turned hot Navy SEAL Jace Burns shows up at her door offering protection. Protection from who? What? And did she already mention hot?
 

Jace Burns is known for his fearless nature. He’s risked his life overseas, endured time as a prisoner of war, and was even presumed dead. Too bad all that goes out the window when he comes face to face with Amy Nelson. He hadn’t paid close attention to her in high school but he’s paying attention now.

While romantic sparks fly and the danger begins to grow, one question fills Amy’s mind: Are Jace’s feelings real, or is he using her to help take down the threat?  

 

My Review: 5 Stars

 

This author always does such a great job of incorporating a sweet romance with a pretty creepy suspense. The big threat in this book is human trafficking and I really appreciated the author's efforts in bringing this serious threat in real life to light. It is brought to awareness in a tasteful way.

 

Amy works for a TV station and finds herself on a hit list. Enter Jace, a Navy SEAL, who is with a group intent on bringing this trafficking group down. I loved that these two had a slight connection in high school and the sparks from the past burst into flames in the present. What a swoony romance!

 

The tension is high in this story, from both the romance and the danger, leaving me on edge and eager to see how it would all resolve. I adored ALL of the characters, but especially Jace and Amy. The ultimate culmination of events was amazing, action-packed, and intense--I loved it.

 

Content: mild+ violence/intense situations; mild+ swoony, steamy-clean romance (some innuendo)

The Honorable Warrior (A Navy SEAL Romance) by Kimberly Krey {Review}

The Honorable Warrior (A Navy SEAL Romance)
by Kimberly Krey

Kindle Edition

Published March 31st 2018 

 

When Blayze falls in love with the woman he's protecting, his desperation to keep her safe just might blur his view.

Blayze Brockton's been working in the private protection industry since he retired his position as a Navy SEAL. So when he takes a job to protect Sophia Vasco, daughter of San Bernardino's district attorney, Blayze is confident he can keep her safe. Yet after spending a day with the beautiful, intriguing woman, he discovers the undeniable chemistry between them. Spending night and day by Sophia's side might prove more difficult than he thought.

Sophia Vasco is determined to speak at her father's campaign rallies despite the threats she's received. She has a vision of how the next two weeks will go, and with protection agent, Blayze Brockton, by her side things should run according to plan. But developing feelings for the handsome protector wasn't part of the deal. Just as the two give into a moment of passion, the threats start up anew, sending them into hiding for a time. When Sophia puts her foot down and insists on speaking at the campaign's largest event, will the hostile make good on his threats?

   

My Review: 4 Stars

A story of a bodyguard and a woman in need of protection is always an intriguing premise. Blayze is strong and fiercely committed to his protecting job, but he is very quick to fall for the beautiful and independent Sophia. There are some really sparks that ignite almost from the start, but there is always a bit of a tug-of-war going on.


Sophia has been receiving threats, but she's so determined to avoid being protected, which makes Blayze's job hard. I like a strong woman, but it's okay to rely on help when it's needed. That conflict of interest is magnified when Blayze falls hard and fast and the relationship seems to be constantly jerking from a complete stop to a super hot go. I kind of expected him to act on his feelings more gradually, since he is so committed to his job, but it was fun to see the sparks ignite.

I loved the suspense and would have loved more of that angle. This elements added some depth to the story and kept me guessing, and overall, this was a really fun book.

Content:  mild romance; mild violence/moments of peril

The Capture (Griffin Force #3) by Julie Coulter Bellon {Review}

The Capture (Griffin Force #3) by Julie Coulter Bellon

Kindle Edition

Published May 28th 2017 by Stone Hall Books

Julian Bennet, head of Griffin Force, finally finds love with Zaya Altes, but the day he buys her an engagement ring, international terrorist Nazer al-Raimi abducts her. Getting her back consumes him, yet it takes nearly six months to find her. The daring mission to extract her from a hidden prison in Afghanistan is successful, but Zaya has suffered during captivity. Though she’s grateful to Julian for breaking her out, she wants nothing to do with him. Before he can show her how much he still loves her, Nazer finds them and vows revenge. Can Julian keep Zaya safe and still stop Nazer once and for all?

Zaya Altes nearly gave up hope of ever being rescued, but when Griffin Force finally finds her, returning to life is harder than she imagined. While her feelings for Julian are as strong as ever, she feels too broken to recapture what they once had. Instead, Zaya jumps at a chance to trap Nazer, wanting vengeance for what she’s endured. As the final showdown draws near, however, Zaya will have to make an unimaginable choice to let Nazer close to her again. But when a shocking web of betrayal is uncovered in their own ranks, their one chance to capture him is compromised. Julian and Zaya will put everything on the line, but can they survive this ultimate test and finally reach for their chance at happiness?

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My Review: 5 Stars

I love reading suspenseful stories, such as this one, but there is NO WAY I could ever actually live through something like this. Zaya was taken prisoner and tortured and abused for six months for information that she just wouldn't give. I would probably break at the first attack. A sudden rescue proves how broken she is and shows just how much danger she's really in.

Although the story is gripping and full of suspense, the pacing isn't quite as intense as I expected. There are down moments when the characters are trying to piece things together, especially when a shocking discovery forces them to come up with a dangerous plan, and I was constantly looking over my shoulder, but it wasn't super intense the whole time. I really enjoyed this style because my heart wasn't beating out of my chest for the duration, but I was completely engaged and curious to see how in the world things would all play out. 

The characters are fantastic! Zaya's strength is inspiring and truly amazing. It gives hope that nothing is too broken to be fixed. I love Julian and his undying devotion and almost overprotectiveness--he won me over, heart and soul. The other characters play integral parts and I love seeing them all cross over into each others stories. This series is definitely one worth reading.

Content: moderate violence (war/terrorist torture--not too graphic); mild romance.

*I received a copy from the author, which did not affect my thoughts in any way. All opinions are my own.*

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Buy Link:

About the Author:  

Julie Coulter Bellon is the author of more than a dozen romantic suspense novels. Her book All Fall Down won the RONE award for Best Suspense and Pocket Full of Posies won a RONE Honorable Mention for Best Suspense.

Julie loves to travel and her favorite cities she's visited so far are probably Athens, Paris, Ottawa, and London. She loves to read, write, teach, watch Castle, Hawaii Five-O, and eat Canadian chocolate. Not necessarily in that order.

Julie offers writing and publishing tips as well as her take on life on her blog ldswritermom.blogspot.com. You can also find out about all her upcoming projects at her website juliebellon.com        

 

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