Maybe It's You by Christy Hayes {Review}

Maybe It's You by Christy Hayes
Kindle Edition, 294 pages

Published February 4th 2019 by CAH LLC 

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

 

    

 

Reagan Bellamy’s neighbor is everything she never wanted. Despite her best efforts to ignore him and fly under his radar, Dash Carter refuses to wither under her stare and leave her alone. So what if he’s totally hot? Who cares if her roommates think he’s adorable? Reagan’s too busy to waste time on a loser with musical pipe dreams. Between classes, studies, and her need to stay ahead of the game, she’s got too much on her plate to give him the time of day.

Dash Carter is a man on a mission. He’s done a total 180 and for the first time in a long time feels optimistic about the future. He’s clean, he’s on a good path, and he’s surrounded himself with people who make life better, not worse. Unfortunately, his neighbor—the one girl who’s always piqued his interest—still thinks he’s a slacker, bothering Dash more than it should.

Acting on an opportunity to show Reagan he’s a changed man, Dash inadvertently puts her in a difficult position with her new boss and sends her down a path she hasn’t the time or inclination to pursue. Desperate to make things right, Dash becomes more invested in her life despite warnings from his mentor to not get involved with someone whose beliefs don’t match his own.

Reagan’s not sure what it says about her that she’d rather deal with Dash the deadbeat than Dash the Bible thumper. The more she digs her heels in against the religious freaks she’s forced to interact with, the more she begins to question everything she’s built her life upon. When the tide begins to turn in Reagan’s heart and her worldview flips upside down, trusting God means putting everything on the line, including her heart.

My Review: 3 Stars

 

It's refreshing to read a new adult story that's centered around one's faith and finding God, but this one was almost too centered on that. The book begins with Reagan stumbling home after a night of heavy drinking and sleeping around and I wasn't too sure where it was going to head. A long, meticulous process of change results from that night and Reagan finds herself on the path of change after her neighbor, Dash, shows her some kindness and she realizes he's not the type of person he once was. While I did enjoy her path, it was a little too heavy for me at times. I love to read to escape and to enjoy a fluffy read and I do enjoy some meatier topics in my books, but this one almost focused on the religious aspects too much for me.

I love character growth and this one powerfully delivered. Dash is a man with deep convictions and restraints, especially given his talents and career path. Reagan is driven and stubborn and her background drives her to become even more rigid in her passions, yet God can change all, as is very apparent with these characters. No past is too sinful to overcome.

Content: mild+ romance (implied sleeping around, kissing, light innuendo); very heavy religion

Don't Bet on Love by Victorine E. Lieski {Review}

Don't Bet on Love by Victorine E. Lieske

Kindle Edition, 169 pages

Published March 7th 2019 

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

    

All's fair in love and high school.

It was just a simple bet.

Get the school’s ice queen to go to Homecoming with him. Lane didn’t think it would be a big deal. He was on the football team. Girls liked him. He takes the challenge. What he didn’t know was that the ice queen overheard the whole thing.

Trudy was having the worst day of her life. And then she overhears Lane and Gabe talking smack about her. If Lane thought he could sweet talk her into going to Homecoming with him, he was going to be disappointed.

But when the principal forces her to tutor Lane in calculus, she’s stuck.

Trudy devises a plan to get back at him. What she didn’t plan on was losing her heart to him.  

My Review: 5 Stars

I love a cute YA romance and this one has a few layers to unravel. The biggest message that I loved was you can't make rash judgements. People always have things going on that you might know nothing about until you really get to know them. 

Trudy has some really hard things going on in her life. Like really hard. And football bully, Gabe, doesn't make her life any easier. When she overhears Gabe making a bet with his friend, Lane, about her, she comes up with a plan to get them both back. 

I really liked these characters. Trudy is a tough one to crack, but is sweet on the inside. I loved watching her shell crumble and really loved her new friendship with band geek, Jessica. Lane isn't who he seems at all. As his masks are peeled away, his true teddy bear self is revealed. 

There are moments to laugh, moments to feel anger, moments to swoon, and even moments to cry all wrapped up in this tender romance. I thought the author did a great job in portraying the hardships of teenage life, while allowing for great characters growth through mistakes, life lessons, and emotional challenges. This is definitely a new series to lose your heart to and I've got my eye watching out for more.

Content: mild romance; mild moments of grief; mild moments of bullying

To Love a Lord by Michelle Pennington {Review}

To Love a Lord by Michelle Pennington

Kindle Edition, 236 pages

Published March 9th 2019 

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

    

A proper lord, an ardent young miss, and a love note gone astray.

She didn't mean to lose it...

But once the love note was discovered, scandal seemed certain.

A forbidden letter from a handsome rake had seemed so romantic at the time, but now it will undoubtedly mean her downfall. Even with the threat of ruin hanging over her, Patience realizes her heart is turning in a new direction. But no matter how Lord Stanton's eyes linger on her, he would never tie himself to a lady with no dowry—especially if she were to lose her reputation.
 
Schemes and plots tangle amidst romance and rebellion in this Regency romance written in the tradition of Georgette Heyer. Grab your copy!

My Review: 5 Stars

I loved this Regency romance! This charming story all seems to revolve around a mysterious love letter, which really captured my attention and gave a delightful element to this story, especially once all of the characters arrived at a house party and the tangled web of connections and slight mystery truly begin.

Speaking of characters, they were so amusing and I loved them all! I enjoyed watching all of the dynamics, good and bad, as they gave such an entertaining flavor to the story. Lord Stanton was such a dashing man and Patience the perfect counterpart. Countess Du’Breven has got to be one of my all-time favorite characters, as she's old enough and empowered enough to through society's expectations to the wind.

The entanglements and sweet, budding romances left me with a smile on my face. Book 1? Yes! I can't wait for more!

Content: mild romance

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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Crushing on the Billionaire by Jennifer Griffith {Review}

Crushing on the Billionaire by Jennifer Griffith

Kindle Edition, 237 pages

Published March 12th 2019 

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

 

    

 

A divorced billionaire and his devoted secretary must work together to save his company. An arranged marriage is his only hope—and the matchmaker's worst nightmare.

Tatum Carlyle is hopelessly devoted to her boss. As executive assistant to the brilliant CEO, she’s in Dawson Rafferty’s life every day. He depends on her for everything professional. If only he could depend on her for everything personal.

A crush on the boss is cliché, but how can she help it? He’s all she wants, but he doesn't—and can’t—notice her. Curse those company bylaws regarding intra-office relationships! But now he's asked her the impossible—to find him a wife.

He'd do anything to save his company—even get married again.

Dawson Rafferty is in danger of losing his company as an unknown enemy threatens a hostile takeover. If that happens, he'll lose the medical advancement he’s nearly perfected. Millions of lives hang in the balance.

To keep control of his company and save lives, he needs a loyal wife to buy up the reserved shares—before the shareholders’ meeting. After his last heartbreak, he doesn't dare trust himself to choose another wife.

Dawson needs a matchmaker. Someone reliable. Someone connected. Someone with good judgment. His loyal assistant, Tatum, is his obvious only choice. She's never failed him, but can she find his perfect match within three weeks?

The word crush has never been so apropos.

Crushing on the Billionaire is Book 2 in the Billionaire’s Reluctant Wife series by Swoony Award-winning author Jennifer Griffith and USA Today best-selling author Cynthia Savage.  

 

My Review: 5 Stars

 

"Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match!" Yes--I loved the matchmaker aspect in this swoony contemporary romance. Dawson needs a wife...and fast. Who better to help him find one than his ultra efficient assistant, Tatum? 

 

Dawson is every girl's dream. He's rich, handsome, smart (think, Geekface), and sweet, but he's also totally clueless when it comes to love. Or maybe it's more that he's gun shy, after his divorce. I love how focused he is on his work, the way he's able to turn the other cheek in the face of the villain, and how his impending marriage is not for him, but to save his company. He's very selfless in that way. Tatum completely blossoms once she's removed from the office setting. She's efficient, yes, but she's also a Jane-of-all-trades, has connections everywhere, can do almost anything, and is very self-sacrificing. 

 

The combination of these two characters nearly took my breath away and the combustible energy definitely made me swoon. I love the slow burn and the layers that were peeled away as Dawson and Tatum came to know each other better. This story isn't without conflict and that served to add a flavor of tension to an already delicious romance. 

 

The way this story is told and how it unfolds is such a delightful treat. Ms. Griffith has a way of writing that sings to my soul and slaps a silly smile on my face every time and let me just say...I'm crushing on the billionaire for sure!

 

Content: mild, swoony romance

Origami Girl by Danyelle Ferguson {Review}

Origami Girl by Danyelle Ferguson

ebook

Published March 5th 2019

    

Josephine loves teaching crafts at the Crystal Creek children's hospital, until she's assigned to help Dr. Weston Blake learn how to relate with his patients. As she helps the young doctor soften his sharp edges, relax his rigid folds, and open up to the people around him, she finds she can't help but love the man he's becoming.

As Josephine prepares to graduate from art school, she is offered her dream job. The complication: it's located in another state and Weston must stay behind to complete his medical residency. Josephine is torn between pursuing a career she always wanted or the possibly of true love.

Previously featured in the With a Kiss anthology.
 

My Review: 5 Stars

ORIGAMI GIRL is a true case of opposites attract. First impressions aren't always accurate and sometimes walls need to be knocked down to get to the heart of a person and sometimes a person isn't as flighty as she seems. I loved the setting and the character growth, especially with Dr. Blake. Jojo was such a fun an light-hearted character. The romance was a sweet complement to the slightly sad hospital situation.

Content: mild romance

Waiting for Fitz by Spencer Hyde {Book Spotlight}

Waiting for Fitz by Spencer Hyde

Hardcover, 256 pages

Published March 5th 2019 by Shadow Mountain 

 

   

Addie loves nothing more than curling up on the couch with her dog, Duck, and watching The Great British Baking Show with her mom. It’s one of the few things that can help her relax when her OCD kicks into overdrive. She counts everything. All the time. She can’t stop. Rituals and rhythms. It’s exhausting.

When Fitz was diagnosed with schizophrenia, he named the voices in his head after famous country singers. The adolescent psychiatric ward at Seattle Regional Hospital isn’t exactly the ideal place to meet your soul mate, but when Addie meets Fitz, they immediately connect over their shared love of words, appreciate each other’s quick wit, and wish they could both make more sense of their lives.

Fitz is haunted by the voices in his head and often doesn't know what is real. But he feels if he can convince Addie to help him escape the psych ward and everything will be okay. If not, he risks falling into a downward spiral that may keep him in the hospital indefinitely.

Waiting for Fitz is a story about life and love, forgiveness and courage, and what’s necessary to let go and learning what is truly worth waiting for.