When Graham Barnett named his diner The Tourist
Trap, he meant it as a joke. Now he's stuck slinging reindeer dogs to an
endless string of resort visitors who couldn't interest him less. Not
even the sweet, enthusiastic tourist in the corner who blushes every
time he looks her way…
Two weeks in Alaska isn't just the top
item on Zoey Caldwell's bucket list. It's the whole bucket. One look at
the mountain town of Moose Springs and she's smitten. But when an act of
kindness brings Zoey into Graham's world, she may just find there's
more to the man than meets the eye…and more to love in Moose Springs
than just the Alaskan wilderness.
My Review: 3 Stars
Some people just don't adapt to change well and Graham is one of those people. Tourism is up in his small town in Alaska and he cannot stand the tourists and the influx of the richy-rich, yet he runs the most popular diner in town. When this grump meets sweet, naive Zoey, his world is flipped, especially as he helps her check off her bucket list.
Zoey and Graham are the classic case of opposites attract. The attraction zings mingled with the push-and-pull barbs were entertaining. The best way to really get to know a town is by having a local show you around, as Zoey discovers, and I loved visiting Alaska through their eyes. I especially enjoyed the wildlife.
I had no idea what to expect with this new-to-me author and she has a fun writing style. The characters personalities came to life, even the annoying, entitled ones. The drama ran high, as did the mishaps, and it was an entertaining book.
Content: moderate romance (kissing, some innuendo, a barely fade-to-black scene; moderate language
Source: I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given
He gave his name to protect her. All she wanted was his heart.
Dani
Kramer used to think growing up in foster homes was the most difficult
thing she would ever have to do until all her dreams come true. Married
to the love of her life, Dr. Brock Holland, and running a foundation
that specializes in finding jobs for kids out of foster care, Dani seems
to have it all. What no one knows is that it could all go away tomorrow
if anyone finds out about the precious secret she carries.
For
Brock Holland, military doctor, life has always been about duty to his
career and country. But when he's captured during a joint allied
training mission, thoughts of Dani, his best friend, the woman he's
tried for years not to fall in love with, help him not only survive but
reevaluate his priorities. However, when he returns home, he finds Dani
is pregnant. In a cruel twist, duty calls again. He must marry Dani to
save her from becoming a political pawn in a dangerous game she didn't
know she had signed up to play.
But who will protect Dani's and
Brock's hearts from each other? Or will they discover their marriage is
more than only sharing a last name?
Content warning: This book
contains sensitive material related to PTSD, brief military violence,
and pregnancy. For more detailed descriptions that include spoiler
alerts see the authors blog on her website.
My Review: 5 Stars
I always wonder what I would do in given situations and it's hard to know until I'm actually in them. I could see both sides to these heartbreaking circumstances and I still don't know what I could do, even though I was treated to a front row seat in this emotionally charged novel that took me through all the feels.
Peel is a master at drawing the reader right into the book, and this one was no exception. As always, she does a fantastic job of creating characters to care about. They become realistic and friend-like, and I was beyond emotionally invested in this story, even though I had my feelings jerked all over the place. I personally know someone who went through a snippet of what Brock and Dani did and while shattered trust is tragic, I loved that Peel sprinkled glimmers of hope throughout.
In this modern twist of a marriage of convenience, Brock and Dani shine in their individual and joint journeys towards healing and wholeness. I loved these characters and enjoyed watching them grow and become strong in their convictions and relationships.
Content: moderate romance; moderate language; moderate triggers (see above)
Source: I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.
*As an Amazon Affiliate, I received a small kickback with qualifying purchases.
A country fighting to stay free. A woman with an impossible decision. In November of 1939, Sini Toivola is sure of two things: she loves
Marko Linna, and she has a comfortable life in Helsinki. But when the
massive Soviet army invades her beloved homeland and Marko spurns her
affections, her life is turned upside down. Needing a fresh start, Sini
decides to join the female volunteer corps—the Lotta Svärd—and is sent
to serve near the front lines. Service at a field hospital proves a good
distraction—until Sini discovers a Russian soldier lost behind their
camp. Duty requires her to turn him in, but her heart begs to keep him
safe and help him escape. Torn between love for her country and love for
her enemy, Sini must choose—but no matter what choice she makes,
heart-wrenching consequences await them all.
My Review: 5 Stars
War isn't pretty and this author does a fantastic job of creating a real, raw, and gritty tale of the effects of the fighting between Russia and Finland during WWII.
Sini wants to do whatever she can to support her country and its efforts in the war and finds herself serving as a Lotta, working in the kitchen and as a medical assistant. I love how Sini learns to look beyond a face to find a person's true self through her experiences and how she discovers core values and priorities.
I also loved the play on the title. Sini dresses blandly and in gray wool with her assignment, but she also learns that life and war isn't always clear cut between black and white, or good and evil. She finds there are a lot of gray areas and ends up smack in the middle of one.
I love a good history lesson, mingled with fiction and romance, and I haven't read much about WWII that takes place in this area. I enjoyed learning more and connecting with the emotions of these characters, as they not only battled the enemy, but battled their feelings and themselves. This story is gripping and definitely tugs at the heart.
Content: moderate romance (kissing, one scene that nudges the envelope and then fades-to-black); moderate violence (war stuff that is semi-graphic at times, but not over the top); mild language
Source: I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.
Three Heiresses….
Three men who will do anything to win their hearts….
Homerun:
Cynthiana, beautiful, intelligent, and by all appearances, a spoiled socialite, finds herself as chair of the Inner City Youth League Charity Gala. Her Co-Chair, Roberto Luque, is Major League Baseball’s newest playboy from the Dominican Republic. Which is just fine with her since she has sworn off playboys. But, as they work together she discovers his devotion to the inner city children and wonders if there is more to him than his playboy reputation. Will she break her no playboy rule long enough to find out?
Roberto fought his way into the Majors. Now, a successful pitcher for the Texas Rangers, he is living the life he always dreamed of. Until he faces off with a bad-tempered, blue-eyed, red head that is not his type. So, why is he drawn to her? The Charity Gala gives him a chance to find out. What he finds beneath that socialite veneer captivates him, heart and soul.
When her powerful father threatens to tear them apart, destroying not only their love, but also Roberto’s hard won career, will he be willing to give it all up for love?
Tender Triumph:
After a very public divorce from her billionaire Italian husband, Natalia Montalvo returns home to New York City to lick her wounds and try to put the pieces of her shattered heart back together. So why had she agreed to attend a charity ball, especially when she knew her ex would be there?
Jared, owner of the largest, most prestigious architectural firm in the country, rubs elbows daily with the rich and powerful. He can’t stand them. After one too many altercations with a client, his head of public relations forces him to attend the annual charity ball, to schmooze and make nice with the people whom his business depends on. Thirty minutes after arriving, he was already clenching his jaw and looking for a quick exit. On the balcony, he encounters Natalia Montalvo. He can’t ignore a woman in need. Therefore, he devises a plan to save her pride, and in the process save his evening. But, can he convince her to give him more than one night?
Diamond Heiress:
One person stands between Brielle and her inheritance, Nicholas Trenton. If she fails to serve as CEO of Santorini Jewels, her grandfather's company, for one full year then everything goes to Nick, the company, her trust fund and her home, the only home she’s ever known.
Nick doesn’t care about the money but he wants the company his father helped build. Brielle isn’t qualified for the position of CEO, one way or another he will make sure she doesn’t run Santorini into the ground.
Through a clash of wills they try to learn to work together for the benefit of the company. But when they can no longer ignore the attraction building between them will they give in to it or will it ultimately be the downfall of Santorini?
Please note: Homerun, Tender Triumph, and Diamond Heiress are novella length books (Approximately 84, 32, and 134 paperback pages, respectively.)
My Review: 3 Stars
Each of these stories revolves around a beautiful, rich heiress and I liked the way they all tied together, however, none of them felt completely developed. Yes, I know they are novellas, but as I read the first book, I kept wondering if I had missed something. Was there a full, complete Book 1 floating out there somewhere and this was 1.5? The characters were likable enough, but again, not as developed as I would have liked them to be. Overall, they're each a light, fluffy diversion to enjoy in an afternoon.
Content: moderate romance (a lot of innuendo and the door barely closes in time, but nothing graphic; kissing). A good one for lovers of a spicy clean romance.
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?
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
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
Chelsee Taylor has been in love with her boyfriend, Max, since they started kindergarten together. She has no idea that high school graduation will be the last perfect day of her life. After a tragic car accident, she refuses to accept Max's death because she can still feel his presence. No one believes her and she is completely alone. But all of that changes the moment she meets Blake Andersen. It's not just that he believes her . . . or even just that he's so understanding . . . but why is Max's presence so strong when she's with Blake?
Eternal Mercury is two intertwined books in one. Book one follows Chelsee’s bittersweet journey and book two uncovers Blake’s story of redemption. In the end, it is Max who will inspire them both to trust fate, live life, and finish well.
Praise for Eternal Mercury
“Overall, this novel made me really think about how life can change so completely in the blink of an eye. It was an amazing, life altering story.”
“I loved this book. It made me laugh and cry but most of all it made me feel like there is always hope in this world.”
“I could not put this down. What an amazing story of love, tragedy, strength, triumph, and family.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
My Review: 5 Stars
I
loved the cover because it was very fitting. I was completely blown
away by this story because it took me off guard. I wasn't expecting to
connect to the characters as much as I did. I also wasn't expecting to
feel so much emotion. I hate to cry!!!! Oh well, some things are worth
shedding tears for.
Chelsee is such a strong and resourceful
girl. When everything in her world turned upside down, she found a way
to battle through and come out on top. I don't know that I would be that
strong. She knew what she felt and was very creative in her ways to
deal with it, even though it broke my heart.
I said I was blown
away by the story, when really, there were two stories in this book.
Isn't that always the case--two sides to every story? Ha. I loved seeing
things through Blake's eyes. It was such a different perspective, yet
just as moving. Blake changed so much through his unexpected journey and
it really did seem like Fate was dealing him a hand. A lot of Blake's
story was a repeat of Chelsee's, but his thoughts were different. I
didn't mind it, because I loved the story so much.
There was one
more thing that really took me by surprise. I don't want to give things
away, but this donor condition is really real!! Real life people have
experience with it. I thought it was just some fictional thing, but no.
It's real. I was shocked by that when I googled it and read stories of
others experiences.
I loved the way things all came together. Perfect.
Content: Technically clean, aside from a car wreck scene and some language, especially in Blake's story. Hey, he is a rock star.
*I received a copy in exchange for an honest review*
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Guest Post: Eternal Mercury, Organ Donation, and Cellular Memory
When I first realized that I wanted to write a book, I knew that I
wanted it to be different. Shortly after I began brainstorming for that
unique idea, a car-crash scene on a mountain highway started playing in
my head. Not only was I looking for a unique story idea, but I was also
looking for a positive message. I began to wonder if, instead of
something scary like a ghost, could something good be left after someone
died? The answer became clear to me: organ donation. What could be more
beautiful than that? And what could be more romantic than true love
that could survive the boundaries of death? To my surprise, the idea
turned out to be more realistic than I expected. Through research I
discovered the phenomenon of cellular memory. Cellular memory is when
people who receive transplants take on traits of people whose organs
they receive. It’s rare, but when it does happen, it can come in the
form of food cravings, changes in musical taste or hobbies, and
sometimes even glimpses at other things about the donor.
Although
the level of cellular memory I portrayed in Eternal Mercury is
fictional, the need for organs definitely isn’t. It’s hard to think
about death, and the common misconceptions about organ donation don’t
help. But by understanding the facts and then making your decision
known, you just might be able to bring something good out of the bad.
That part of Eternal Mercury isn’t based on fiction.
Here are the facts:
Over 100,000 people, including kids, are in need of transplants. Over 20 of them die waiting each day.
One
person can save up to seven lives by donating their heart, liver,
kidneys, lungs, pancreas, and small intestine. That same person can
improve the lives of many others through the donation of tissues such
corneas, skin, veins, tendons, ligaments, and bones.
You
won’t receive less medical care if you decide to become a donor.
Doctors and nurses make every possible effort to save their patients’
lives and will not even consider organ donation unless a person dies.
Income,
social status, and race are not factors in deciding who receives organ
transplants. You’ll be helping people who need it the most and your
family will not be charged for the procedure.
Most
major religions support organ donation. I’m not sure that there could
be a more loving or selfless gift, but don’t be afraid to check with
your spiritual advisor.
Almost anyone can be an organ donor. Age and/or medical history don’t necessarily disqualify you.
The
most important thing you can do is let your family know whether or not
you want to be an organ donor. No matter what you decide, telling your
family will save them from the pain of trying to guess your wishes at a
time when that’s the last thing they need. And if the choice is right
for you, to let someone else continue on when you’ve reached the end
down here, don’t think about what it means for you; instead think of the
incredible gratitude you’d feel if someone did it for you or someone
you love.
Author Elaine Pinter
Elaine Pinter lives in Boise, Idaho with her husband and son. When she’s not hanging out with them, she’s jotting down ideas for her next novel in the tattered notebook she carries everywhere.
Her writing journey began in June of 2012 when a reading spree set off an unexpected chain of events. After poring over the pages, her own ideas began to appear and she found herself glued to her laptop after her family went to bed every evening. The late nights continued until her first two YA romance novels, Eternal Mercury and Between the Starlight, were published.
She’s one of those hopeless romantics who believes love always wins and that the best stories are the ones that drag you through the tears and reward you with a smile when all the pieces fit together perfectly in the end.
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 7/26/16
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
Ambrose Young was
beautiful. He was tall and muscular, with hair that touched his
shoulders and eyes that burned right through you. The kind of beautiful
that graced the covers of romance novels, and Fern Taylor would know.
She'd been reading them since she was thirteen. But maybe because he was
so beautiful he was never someone Fern thought she could have...until
he wasn't beautiful anymore.
Making Faces is the story of a small
town where five young men go off to war, and only one comes back. It is
the story of loss. Collective loss, individual loss, loss of beauty,
loss of life, loss of identity. It is the tale of one girl's love for a
broken boy, and a wounded warrior's love for an unremarkable girl. This
is a story of friendship that overcomes heartache, heroism that defies
the common definitions, and a modern tale of Beauty and the Beast, where
we discover that there is a little beauty and a little beast in all of
us.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
My Review: 5 Stars
I bought this book awhile ago and it was recommended to me by a good book friend for a book challenge for 2016. I was immediately sucked in, blown away by this story, and I think my life has been forever changed.It's not my usual type of book, but I'm so glad that I read it--I just couldn't put it down! I love a Beauty and the Beast type of story and this one is fantastic.
Fern isn't your typical romance heroine. She's the only child of an older pastor and his wife, isn't pretty, and gets lost in the flow of high school life. Ambrose is a paragon. He's tall, gorgeous, nice, and the best upcoming wrestler Hannah Lake has ever seen. Bailey is Fern's cousin and has been facing death, due to disease, for years. His outlook on life, his attitude, and his daily encounters with those around him dug deep into my heart. These characters are real, raw, and inspiring. I can't stop thinking about this story, the life lessons that came from these pages, and these genuine characters.
9/11 is a moment in
history that won't ever be forgotten and to read about a story that
takes place during that time and the things that happen to these
individuals because of those events are heart rending, tender, and
captivating.
The writing style is so engaging and amazing. The words flow in such a way that pierce the soul. There are so many great thoughts and the events that occur within these pages stimulate the whole spectrum of emotions. I just don't have the words to express how much this book touched me. This is my first Amy Harmon book and I guarantee--it won't be my last.
Content: There is more content than I prefer, but for me, the story is so worth being told, that these issues can be overlooked for the most part. If you're a squeaky clean reader, this one probably won't be for you.
Moderate language (teenage boys, soldiers)--no F*bombs, but a lot of other words; mild-moderate violence (physical abuse, death, war-type violence but not overly graphic); mild-moderate romance elements (kissing, some brief touching, a few crass jokes, innuendo, unwed pregnancies with no details).
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Buy Links:
About the Author:
Amy Harmon is a Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and New York Times
Bestselling author. Amy knew at an early age that writing was something
she wanted to do, and she divided her time between writing songs and
stories as she grew. Having grown up in the middle of wheat fields
without a television, with only her books and her siblings to entertain
her, she developed a strong sense of what made a good story. Her books
are now being published in twelve countries, truly a dream come true for
a little country girl from Levan, Utah.
Amy Harmon has written
ten novels - the USA Today Bestsellers, Making Faces and Running
Barefoot, as well as The Law of Moses, The Song of David, Infinity +
One, Slow Dance in Purgatory, Prom Night in Purgatory, and the New York
Times Bestseller, A Different Blue. Her newest release, The Bird and the
Sword, will be released in the spring of 2016. She will release From
Sand and Ash in October of 2016, via Lake Union Publishing. For updates
on upcoming book releases, author posts and more, join Amy at
www.authoramyharmon.com.
Four Weddings and a Fiasco: The Wedding Chaos by Isabel Micheals
Kindle Edition
Published
May 2nd 2016
by Kindle Worlds
When a momzilla crosses a frustrated bride-to-be, chaos ensues…
Nancy
Blake has dreamed of her daughter having a fairy tale wedding fit for a
Princess since Lilly was born. However, Lilly and Trevor want to be
married soon and with as little fanfare as possible. How will Nancy be
able to carry out her plans for the wedding to end all weddings, you
ask? She enlists the services of Rose Knight, owner of The Rose Chalet,
San Francisco's premier wedding venue.
But as the big day
approaches, tension between mother and daughter escalates, nearing the
point of no return. Will they be able work out their differences before
Lilly and Trevor walk down the aisle? Or, will the bride and groom make a
run for Vegas to be married by an Elvis impersonator?
Warning:
This fairy tale contains an overwhelmed bride one-step away from wearing
prison orange; a prince charming who sticks his foot in his mouth; and a
momzilla who continually forgets…she’s not the bride.
The Wedding Chaos is based on the wonderful characters found in Lucy Kevin’s Four Weddings and a Fiasco series.
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My Review: 4 Stars
As I read this book, I realized that my wedding was quite simple and I can't decide if I'm sad that I didn't have all of these wonderful details to worry about or glad that I didn't have so many big, stressful decisions to make.
Lilly's mother is living vicariously through her as these wedding decisions are being made and trying to turn it into her own dream wedding that she never had, which is frustrating to Lilly. I loved all of the descriptions of fancy foods, flower choices, colors, and vivid descriptions of cakes, music, reception, shower, parties, rehearsal dinner, and more. I felt like I was right there, a fly on the wall, observing this wedding unfold.
Lilly is marrying her dream man, Trevor, and they definitely have chemistry. Everything more than some steamy clean kissing is done behind doors, although the reader knows what's happening. They have a good friendship, as well as relationship. Trevor is a good sounding board and support to Lilly. She knows what she wants, as is evident in her decisions, but she has a hard time expressing things with her suddenly overbearing mother. At times, she seems to have everything under control and then she flips out. Chalk it up to the stress of planning a wedding. There's a lot of mama drama in this one and I was pleased with the way things ended up.
This story takes place over several months and the pacing is good. The details and emotions are accurately portrayed, but there are a few times when the emotions are a little disjointed. This is a fun series with enjoyable characters and realistic situations. I'm looking forward to more!
Content: steamy clean kissing with some innuendo and fade to black scenes; mild language. Clean for a more mature reader.
*I received a copy in exchange for an honest review*
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Buy Link:
About the Author:
After years of reading romance novels and getting lost in
characters' worlds, Isabel Micheals finally decided to try her hand at
writing. Now she's been bitten by the writing bug, hopes to make a
career of it, and encourages you to join her on this amazing and
exciting journey as the characters in her head come to life. In
addition to her creative side, she's a geek who loves to code, travel
and be whisked away into alternate realities, whether it be
contemporary, new adult, young adult, historical, paranormal, or real
life. Everyone has a story, so be sure to drop by Isabel's site often to
see which stories are keeping her up at night, as she pounds away on
the keys writing her next book.
What do you do when you’re one of the wealthiest bachelors in New York and can’t seem to find your soul-mate?
Tired of being alone but fed up with being set up by his friends, Gabe decides to take a break from dating when Rose enters his life. Could she be the one he’s been waiting for? But after a heavy blow to Gabe’s ego, he meets Veronica in the park and something about her resonates with him. And then there is Sally, Gabe’s loyal assistant. Gabe never saw her as a romantic partner until… Rose is beautiful, smart and climbing the career ladder. Having a permanent relationship may not be in the cards for her. Veronica has a secret she’s been carrying for a while and when she decides to let Gabe in on it, it may hurt their chances of a relationship. Sally’s life is complicated and Gabe could complicate it even more. Will any of these women be the soul-mate Gabe has been waiting for or will they just be another disappointing attempt in his search for finding Mrs. Right?
Debbie currently resides in beautiful Sonoma County, California, where the jagged Pacific coastline meets the rolling hills cascading with vineyards. She writes romance novellas that feature strong, independent women, who when faced with adversity, or tragedy, fine strength and overcome the perils that stand in their way. She’s an avid supporter of animal rescue, and happily donates a portion of sales from her books to rescue organizations. She has two adult children, and two granddaughters. In her spare time, she loves to garden, travel; enjoy family, and her beloved rescue dogs, Dash and Briar. Her real passion of course is writing, and she uses her 20+ years as a military wife as inspiration for her stories. The Salty Dog takes places in Bodega, a small fishing community she has the pleasure of visiting often. The project she is currently working on involves travel to exotic and foreign places, another area she has experience.
This is not a typical boy-meets-girl romance. Gabe is a wealthy playboy, one whom everyone thinks should settle down. When he decides to find his soul mate, things get a little crazy with blind dates and false alarms. Some of those blind dates were absurdly hilarious.
Gabe is a little older for a leading, single hero, but I enjoyed the process of his dating life and I especially liked his relationship with Cooper, his assistant. They have a funny way of communicating and expressing their thoughts, which is entertaining. The premise is a lot of fun, but the execution fell a little flat for me. The characters all seemed to have the same prim and proper voice and the conversations lack emotion.
Once Gabe makes the decision to find someone, he's all in and has suddenly reformed from his playboy "love 'em and leave 'em" ways. It's nice that he can do an about-face and really settle into life, but at the same time, it's ironic that one girl he dates is in it for the physical aspects and he gets so offended, yet he was just that way himself. I like consistency with a character and realistic reactions to situations and I didn't always feel that with this book.
I thought I knew from the beginning who he would end up with and was pleasantly surprised with the twists. This is a good story for those who love "fluff" reads with some steam.
Content: some language; spicy romance (the act is technically behind closed doors, but there is a little more content than I'm comfortable with leading up to it and there are implications of what's going on).
*I received a copy in exchange for an honest review*
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Whiskey and Gumdrops (A Blueberry Springs Novel) by Jean Oram
Paperback, 1.0, 277 pages
Published
December 6th 2013
by Oram Productions
Mandy Mattson has always believed that what you want isn't what you need. But never in her life has she been more wrong.
As
a small town waitress, Mandy has never felt as though she deserves the
love of her best friend Frankie. But when she sees an ex-lover marry her
rival she realizes her life is adding up to a big fat nothing and she
needs to make a change. With every path in her new life leading back to
Frankie, will she finally be able to reconcile that the one thing she's
always wanted is the very thing she needs?
This best friend romance is a companion novel to Champagne and Lemon Drops: A Blueberry Springs Chick lit Contemporary Romance.
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My Review: 3.5 Stars
Mandy is a waitress in a small town and has dreams of something bigger. Her best friend, Frankie, who also happens to be in love with her, can help her make her dreams come true, but business life isn't as easy as it seems. In a journey to discover who she is and to get over the fact that her ex-boyfriend is now married, Mandy puts herself in some uncomfortable situations that will either make her or break her.
The story starts off with an uncomfortably embarrassing situation, which led me to believe this story would be a bundle of laughs. After the first few chapters, it settles into mostly following Mandy in her prospect of becoming a business owner with only a smattering of interactions with Frankie. In a live example of always wanting what you can't or don't have, the adventures of Mandy and Frankie are entertaining, but not as plentiful as I'd hoped. Some moments seemed to drag on a bit, but in other moments, the pacing was perfect. I did enjoy the camaraderie of the citizens of this small town, but often found myself frustrated with the games and the beatings around the bush. There were moments when I was rooting for the characters, as well as moments of tender emotion, and I was happy with the way things wrapped up.
Content: moderate language; moderate romantic elements (kissing and one scene where things got a little handsy; lots of innuendo). Spicy clean.
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Buy Links:
About the Author:
Jean Oram grew up in a small town in Alberta, Canada and her
experiences have inspired her Blueberry Springs & Summer Sisters
Tame the Billionaires series. But while Jean grew up in an old
schoolhouse tending to the family's honeybee operation, her characters
haven't! Well, not yet, anyway.
Her latest series, the Summer
Sisters, was inspired by her summers spent in the Canadian Muskokas
where she would visit her grandmother in her century-old cottage. But
while Jean's characters fall in love with movie stars and millionaires,
Jean found her husband in the Canadian far north. And he's not a
millionaire. Yet. (There's still time.)
Jean loves to ski
(downhill and cross-country), hike, camp, read, write, watch romantic
comedies, and say random things like "Buckle your seatbelts, kids,
Mama's driving!" in order to make her kids crack up.
She lives in
Canada with her husband, two kids, and very large dog who sheds like
she's trying to clone herself. You can read, dream, laugh, and love
along with Jean's characters in her novels at www.jeanoram.com/books.
You can also find her not quite over-sharing the crazy life of being an
author in her new fan girl group at
www.facebook.com/groups/JeanOramFans. Come join the fun and vote for the
sexiest heroes in fiction.
You can find out more about Jean at her website: www.jeanoram.com
Hang out and find great romance reads on her Facebook page: www.facebook.com/JeanOramAuthor
Tweet to Jean--she replies personally: www.twitter.com/JeanOram
Man of Her Dreams (Welcome to Ravenwood, Book 1)
by Sue Barr
Kindle Edition, 137 pages
Published
November 3rd 2015
by Sue Barr
Making it in a man’s
world as a home renovation expert is tough, but Lindsay Swanson’s up for
the job – leaving no time for any kind of social life, until…
Jared
Kane moved to Ravenwood for some much needed peace and quiet to finish
his next book, which is hard to do when his sexy neighbor is the one
renovating his kitchen…
Then Lindsay overhears Jared talking
about her notebook. A notebook wherein she and her BFF – after one too
many bad dates and one too many glasses wine – concocted a checklist of
the perfect guy. Is Jared the real deal, or has he been molding himself
into the man of her dreams to get past her defenses?
The evidence
points to his guilt, and the rift between them seems insurmountable,
but Jared’s not about to let the woman of HIS dreams get away.
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My Review: 3.5 Stars
I'm always intrigued when characters seem to swap roles. Lindsay is an expert home remodeler and doesn't have time for much of a social life. She's tough, creative, and smart, yet she does have a little girly-girl hidden underneath her coveralls. Jared is new to town and the two of them had a cute meet in the grocery store, along with a few more cute meets later. He's very hunky, handsome, and is a writer...and also lives right next door to Lindsay--how lucky!
I adored the moments when Lindsay sums up her current situation, usually caused by something embarrassing, with a news headline. I looked forward to those and how she could spin them. The romantic tension and banter followed a typical romance formula, which I liked.
I enjoyed the friendship Lindsay has with her sister-in-law, but almost felt uncomfortable at how
lustful she was towards other men. There are a few characters brought into the story that didn't really have a strong anchor connecting them to what is going on. I wonder if they'll play bigger roles in the future of this series, but for now, I felt like I was hanging just a bit as far as they are concerned. Little inconsistencies bothered me just a bit, such as, if a baby is born that early, you don't take it out to a baseball game a few weeks later.
Overall, I did enjoy the story line and thought it was a fun, cute book.
Content: innuendo, steamy clean kissing (nothing too graphic); some language (pretty good for the most part and then all of the sudden 2-3 words would pop up).
*I received a copy through ebooksforreview.com in exchange for an honest review*
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Buy Links:
About the Author:
When not writing, I love to
spend time with hubby, sing in my car and hope no one sees me, laugh
until it hurts with family and friends, sneak a few Hawkins Cheezies
into my diet, and thank God daily for this wonderful life.
I am fluent in Starbucks Spanish and love to astound (irritate) family with my recall of totally nonsensical, trivial things.
Visit my website and sign up for my newsletter. NO SPAM - Pinkie Swear.
Amy Harmon is a Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and New York Times
Bestselling author. Amy knew at an early age that writing was something
she wanted to do, and she divided her time between writing songs and
stories as she grew. Having grown up in the middle of wheat fields
without a television, with only her books and her siblings to entertain
her, she developed a strong sense of what made a good story. Her books
are now being published in twelve countries, truly a dream come true for
a little country girl from Levan, Utah.
