Tuesday, March 31, 2015

This Heart of Mine (Whiskey Creek #) by Brenda Novak


Book Blurb:

First love. Second chance?

As the daughter of a hoarder, Phoenix Fuller had a tough childhood. So when the handsome, popular Riley Stinson became her boyfriend in high school, she finally felt as though she had something to be proud of. Phoenix was desperate not to lose him—especially once she found out she was pregnant. Yes, she might have acted a bit obsessive when he broke up with her. But she did not run down the girl he started dating next!

Unfortunately, there was no way to prove her innocence. Now, after serving her time in prison, Phoenix has been released. All she wants to do is return to Whiskey Creek and get to know her son. But Jacob's father isn't exactly welcoming.

Riley doesn't trust Phoenix, doesn't want her in Jacob's life. He is, however, ready to find someone to love. And he wants a good mother for his son. He has no idea that he's about to find both—if they can forgive the mistakes in their past…
 

My Review:

Brenda Novak took me on a though provoking, emotional journey in This Heart of Mine.  I absolutely love Pheonix and Riley's story...I didn't want to put it down!

Pheonix is probably the complete opposite of what you'd expect of someone who has been in prison for 17 years for a crime she claims she didn't commit.  She is so brave and strong.  Returning to small town Whiskey Creek would not be an easy thing to do after what she's been through, but she does it...for her mother and her son Jacob.  The son she's never seen since she gave birth.  No matter what people think of her, she wants the chance to know him, and hopefully have some kind of relationship with him.  She's not sure what to expect from him, since Jacob's father has made it clear he doesn't want her in his life...but she is going to do whatever she can.  And Pheonix does everything she can, from trying to fly under the radar and being as least noticeable as she can be to giving money to Riley for Jacob's care when she barely has enough to get by on her own.  She doesn't want to cause problems...she just wants to know her son.  I really, really liked Pheonix and the way Brenda told her story.  It was easy to feel for Pheonix.  She didn't try to gain sympathy from anyone, she didn't want it.  She just accepted how things were, and always was thinking of others.  It was not easy at all for Pheonix...many of the people in Whiskey Creek were not ready to put the past behind them.  She persevered though and her strong character is powerful.

Riley was Pheonix's high school boyfriend who has raised their son since birth.  He's very cautious about letting Pheonix into Jacob's life...he's not sure what to expect.  I liked his character too.  He's very cautious and uncertain, but he's not pushing Pheonix away, nor is he discouraging Jacob from having a relationship with her.

What neither of them expected was for the old feelings to still be there.  But Pheonix isn't ready to trust Riley again yet, and she doesn't want to interfere with the life he has.  As she bonds with Jacob and forms a relationship with him, it is impossible to stay away from Riley though.  She tries, because the past still haunts them both even if Riley wants another chance.  Can they and the people in Whiskey Creek ever move on from it?  Will Riley and Pheonix have a second chance together as adults?  Or is it too late and the only relationship they'll have is through their son?

This Heart Of Mine is not only about second chance at love, it's a second chance at life for Pheonix.  She really is a memorable character and makes you wonder what it could possibly have been like for her for the past 17 years.  I like how she sees her relationship with her mother also, this only makes me admire her more...for seeing beyond the surface of things.  I saw a lot of character growth for Riley and Pheonix, and it was so touching watching their relationship bump along and move forward.

There are quite a few secondary characters who have appeared in other Whiskey Creek books, but I honestly believe This Heart of Mine is so powerful it can easily stand on its own.  Brenda explores not only family and relationship dynamics, but small town dynamics that show the strengths and weaknesses of places like Whiskey Creek.

With a heroine who will capture your heart and grab your respect, I highly recommend This Heart of Mine to any romance reader!

5/5 stars

Purchase from Amazon.com

Awakening Fire Review



Awakening Fire

by Larissa Emerald

Series: The Divine Tree Guardians

Genre: Paranormal Romance
Cover Designer: Robin Ludwig
Publisher: Castle Oak Publishing LLC

Release Date: March 5, 2015







The return of sculptor Emma Grant to her Georgia home town sparks the return of the visions she tries to deny and rekindles a centuries-old feud between shape shifters Venn Hearst, guardian of the Divine Tree (The Tree Of Knowledge) and his nemesis. Emma is determined to place and dedicate the statue honoring her beloved grandmother despite Venn’s opposition; despite the fact she is in love with Venn, despite his sacred duty not to permit it. Will she overcome a test of evil or shatter Venn's world?



I really liked the unique concept of the Divine Trees in different places and each one having a 'Guardian'...am immortal who has been on guard for years.  In Awakening Fire by Larissa Emerald the Guardian is Venn.  Venn's enemy is set on destroying him and the Divine Tree, and it's all about to come to a head.

Emma is a sculptor who has reluctantly returned to her home town.  Emma has always had unique abilities, but she's always running from them.  When she is drawn into a centuries old feud only to find the love of her life, everything she knows will be tested and change.

Venn and Emma have a great connection almost immediately.  I liked this and it made complete sense with the plot.  It is so immediate and unexpected  that Emma is very reluctant to pursue it.  But Venn is persistent, so is his enemy and the clock is ticking.  The intensity of the connection between Emma and Venn is as powerful as the battle for the Divine Tree and life as they know it.

With an abundance of action, tension and the paranormal, Larissa takes us on a journey that will make you wonder what if?  Larissa weaves in essential secondary characters who round out the plot well and I liked how she brought in Emma's relationship with her father.

Awakening Fire is fast paced with good flow, and Larissa kept me very interested to see how all the events would unfold.  I'd recommend Awakening Fire to paranormal romance readers.

3.5/5 stars













Larissa Emerald writes paranormal, futuristic and contemporary romances. She is a Romance Writers of America 2013 Golden Heart Finalist for her romantic suspense, RAMPANT PERFECTION which will be available in the fall of 2015.

A combination of her love of reading and her vivid imagination―plus a strong desire to rewrite the endings of movies that just didn’t end right―lead Larissa into the world of writing.

Larissa has lived in Florida for her entire life. In her spare time, she enjoys teaching baton twirling and dance, traveling with her husband of 41 years, baking and cooking―usually altering the recipe―and playing dress up with the brightest lights in her life, her four grandchildren.

















Monday, March 30, 2015

Driftwood Cowboy by Lenora Worth



Book Blurb:

Can she heal from a tragedy too great to bear?

When Michelle Lancaster flees her hometown of Spirit, Louisiana to spend time at a beach retreat in Driftwood Bay, Florida, she only wants to run from the tremendous pain of a tragedy that caused her perfect life to shatter into pieces.

But on the day when the memories become too much, a man steps into her path on the beach and causes her beloved horse Coco to almost throw her. Not to mention this is the one man Michelle has tried to avoid. But laid-back boat captain and artist Brodie Stevens has his eye on Michelle and soon, he is pursuing her with a strong-willed determination. He too is haunted, but believes that together they can heal each other. Now the driftwood cowboy must convince Michelle it’s possible to hope… and to love again.
 

My Review:

In Driftwood Cowboy by Lenora Worth, Michelle is a powerful heroine whose pain I could feel.  Lenora really managed to make me feel connected to Michelle and wonder how anyone could get over what she's been through.  She can't forgive herself, she can't move on.  Michelle has lived through every a nightmare no one wants to.  She feels, but she doesn't know if she can ever be happy again.

In Driftwood Bay she meets Brody.  Brody is a strong hero who has his own hauntings.  As soon as he sees Michelle he wants to know her.  Michelle finds herself spending more and more time with Brody, but the times when she feels happy are immediately followed by guilt and sadness.  Brody doesn't push even though he can see Michelle's pain...he lets her set the pace and tell him what she can.  I really liked this quality in Brody.

I liked the pace of their relationship and the very real feelings they evoked.  Driftwood Cowboy is a very touching story, and how Michelle and Brody move forward was quite the journey.  I liked how Lenora didn't give me all the answers right away, and I had to work through it with the characters.

With vivid descriptions of the place and the people, I'd recommend Driftwood Cowboy to romance readers looking to spend some time lost in a heart felt story.
 
4/5 stars

Purchase from Amazon.com

Until You by Jeannie Moon



Book Blurb:

When newly divorced Kate Adams is approached on the sunny deck of a California hotel by hockey star David Burke, and he invites her to dinner, she almost says no. He’s obviously younger than her. And charming. And drop dead gorgeous. But there’s also something sweet about David, so Kate—who hasn’t done anything spontaneous in a very long time—accepts his invitation.

It is, after all, her fortieth birthday.

However, a real romance with thirty-year-old David, whose picture is in the gossip pages as often as it’s in the sports pages, is out of the question. No matter how much she wants him, it’s just too risky.

But meeting Kate has been David’s lightning strike. She’s the one for him, and he has no intention of giving up on her.

So while Kate guards her fragile heart, David sets out to win her over with the same determination that drives him on the ice.

And he’ll break every rule in the book if he has to.
 

My Review:

I loved the multi-dimensional, realistic plot of Until You by Jeannie Moon.  I wasn't too sure what to expect when I started this, and am so happy to say that Until You mesmerized me!

Katie is a strong heroine who has a lot going on in her life.  I really liked her, how she dealt with things, and who she was.   David might be 10 years younger than her, but once they hit it off that didn't deter him one bit.  He didn't see the numbers, he just saw Katie.  The woman he wanted to know better and be with.  He cares, he stands by her and supports her, and he is persistent enough that I kept hoping eventually Katie would realize he's worth risking her heart again!

The connection between Katie and David is one I could feel strongly through out Until You.  They also had great chemistry, but I liked how the chemistry was not the only thing they had going for them.  I think their feelings were realistic and the doubts and bumps in the road believable.  As they work through this and Katie deals with an ex husband and her teenage daughter, the plot really solidified and came together well.

I always love a good romance that has a more mature heroine!

Numerous facets of life and relationships are explored in Until You, woven in realistically and making things very intriguing!

I'd recommend Until You to any romance reader! 

4/5 stars

Purchase from Amazon.com

Saturday, March 28, 2015

One Night With Her Bachelor (Montana Born Bachelor Auction #6) by Kat Latham



Book Blurb:

Bid on a date with this wounded warrior for an unforgettable night of adventure. Aim high—and bid higher!—because no one comes close to local hero Gabriel Morales.

Molly Dekker hates being the town charity case, but when her son Josh is seriously injured she has no choice. She lets her best friend organize a bachelor auction to help pay her massive bills and make Josh’s life more comfortable. She can’t bid on any of the men, but a surprise bidder gives her a gift she never expected: a date with the man who saved her son’s life—the only one she’s in danger of losing her heart to.

Former Air Force pararescueman Gabriel Morales made a career of flying to the rescue, until a tragic helicopter crash stole more than his livelihood. Being auctioned off like a slab of beef isn’t in his recovery plan. But one look, one touch and one night unlocking Molly’s pent-up passion makes him realize how badly he needs to be rescued…and how badly he wants to rescue Molly right back.

Will Molly and Gabriel’s never-quit attitude have them rushing head-first into love? Or will Gabriel’s secret pain stall their relationship before it can get off the ground?
 

My Review:

Having read all of the Montana Born Bachelor Auction series, One Night With Her Bachelor is a wonderful finale to the series.  Having said that, it can be read as a stand alone.  All of the books in this series are happening simultaneously (which I love!), so the reader is getting different views of what is happening.  There is not a lot of overlap of characters, with the exception of Lily who appears in all of the books, so you will never be lost or wondering about other story lines.  I think this was a really fun way for this series to be.

In One Night With Her Bachelor, Molly just wants to feel like a woman.  It's been so long.  She has a lot of other hats she wears and for once is looking for something for herself.  When the unthinkable happens though, she can't think of herself any more.  Molly is independent and strong, and has a difficult time accepting help from anyone...but the community pulls together to help her.

Gabe is a loner, living a very reclusive life.  He is suffering too - the after effects of war and death.  But Molly makes him feel and he wants to help her, in his own silent way.

The attraction is definitely there, but have both had big crisis's in their lives that has taken them on unexpected paths.  I really like these two characters.  Kat writes a good flowing story in One Night With Her Bachelor, and I liked how the growth of their characters also allowed the relationship between them to grow.  I liked that they had a bit of a history between them via Molly's brother, so they were not strangers.  I think this helped move their relationship forward and made Molly and Gabe realistic.  Their issues and how they deal with them make them believable.  It is not an easy path for either of them, and I liked how they slowly became closer.

I also really liked the strong sense of community Kat gives in One Night With Her Bachelor - it felt like a good place to be.  With some family dynamics thrown in (just like real life!) and Molly's son Josh as a strong secondary character, I really enjoyed One Night With Her Bachelor.  Josh's situation is a strong part of the plot, and I liked how everything was woven together, giving the story a lot of dimension.

Emotional and at the right times entertaining, I'd recommend One Night With Her Bachelor to any romance reader.

4/5 stars

Purchase from Amazon.com

Friday, March 27, 2015

Need You For Keeps (St. Helena Vineyard #6) by Marina Adair



Book Blurb:

When it comes to caring for the furry residents of St. Helena, California, groomer and pet rescuer Shay Michaels can handle anything. Humans are another story, though especially Deputy Jonah Baudouin. He s the town s resident superhero: upright, uptight, and jaw-droppingly gorgeous, even when he s investigating complaints about Shay s beloved foster animals. And that spells danger for Shay, a free spirit who can t risk trusting the wrong person again.

Jonah and Shay have been circling each other ever since she came to town, and he s running out of reasons to "not" kiss her senseless. But this deputy is a straight shooter with his eye on the sheriff s badge. He can t afford to get involved with Shay, a chaos magnet with luscious curves who s liable to turn his career and his life upside down. He enforces laws. She breaks them repeatedly. Keeping her out of trouble is becoming a full-time job and it s one he hopes is never going to end."
 

My review:

Need You For Keeps is an easy to slide into, entertaining romance.  There is some drama, but not a lot or over the top, with a budding, unexpected relationship between two people who have not yet found their forever person.  I liked Shay and Jonah.  Their characters are sweet and ones you want to be together, but nothing about them really jumped out at me.  I found their relationship to be very predictable, not really grabbing me and pulling me in, but it was a nice journey to go on.

Shay puts the animals first always, with little regard for herself or the law.  Jonah is the law and just wants to do the right thing.  Both of them take their jobs very seriously.  Can two apparent opposites give into the attraction they have for each other and find a happy place together, despite the obstacles thrown at them?

I liked the journey Marina took us on in Need You For Keeps.  The plot is very smoothly written and the characters are all unique.  Marina really made the small town dynamics seem real, even if I kept wondering if there were actually people like that out there!  But she made it realistic with regards to the plot and it worked well to add conflict to the story line.  I do like the animals, they add so much to Shay and Jonah's lives!

Although part of a series, Need You For Keeps can definitely be read as a stand alone, which is how I read it. I'd recommend Need You For Keeps to romance readers looking for a light hearted, entertaining read.

3/5 stars

Purchase from Amazon.com

In Bed With The Bachelor (Montana Born Auction #5) by Megan Crane



Book Blurb:

Our latest bachelor has enough family in Marietta to qualify as an honorary native, but hails instead from Seattle, WA, which is where he’ll fly you for a glamorous weekend on the shores of the sparkling Puget Sound. Jesse Grey will treat you the way a local boy turned construction tycoon should: five star accommodations, gourmet dinners, and celebrated Washington wines. We just can’t promise he’ll smile much. Or at all.

Sold to the highest bidder!

Jesse Grey, notorious bachelor and one of Seattle’s foremost construction tycoons, has been roped into participating in the Marietta Bachelor Auction thanks to an expertly executed guilt trip laid out by his family.

Michaela Townsend already has a fiancĂ© and certainly doesn’t need another man in her life. So when her family buys her surly, sexy Jesse at the auction and wrangles him into driving her from Montana to Seattle, she’s appalled yet disturbingly attracted.

As far as Jesse is concerned, Michaela is forbidden fruit. Even though he knows her fiancĂ© isn’t all he seems, Jesse would never take what didn’t belong to him. But how long can he resist the one woman he shouldn’t touch?

My Review:

In Bed With The Bachelor is a unique novella in the Montana Born Bachelor Auction series.   Michaela has a fiance, and their relationship is slightly different than most.  I got the impression while I was reading that Michaela was saying one thing but feeling another in regards to their relationship, and she didn't seem over the  moon happy for an engaged woman.  She tries to come across as very matter of fact and open.  I had a difficult time connecting with Michaela...I just never felt like I understood her or had a clear picture of what brought her to where she is today.  

Michaela feels things she isn't used to feeling when she's around Jesse, even if he is 'surly'.  Jesse finds himself feeling things for Michaela that he does not want to feel for a woman, especially a woman who is engaged.  He's used to women seeing only his money, and most of all he doesn't want to be like his father.  He doesn't want to feel or try again after having one relationship turn out so badly.  So he tries to make himself very unapproachable.

The chemistry between them is lurking though and when they find themselves in a situation where they can't ignore it, what then?  I liked how they both said what was on their minds, they didn't hide much.  However, I never really felt the intense connection a couple has between them besides the chemistry.  On the outside they both have such different views on relationships that it was interesting to see where they'd go with this.  In the span of this novella, these characters did grow and develop a lot.  I also liked the family dynamics that Megan brings in to this story and how it is dealt with.

In Bed With The Bachelor is a very appropriate title you will see when you read this entertaining novella.  I like the theme of this series and how they can all be read in any order without giving away anything from the other novellas.  In Bed With The Bachelor presents a different view and I'd recommend it to romance readers who enjoy a quick, entertaining read.

3/5 stars

Purchase from Amazon

Awakening Fire by Larissa Emerald


Awakening Fire
by Larissa Emerald
Series: The Divine Tree Guardians
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Cover Designer: Robin Ludwig
Publisher: Castle Oak Publishing LLC
Release Date: March 5, 2015



The return of sculptor Emma Grant to her Georgia home town sparks the return of the visions she tries to deny and rekindles a centuries-old feud between shape shifters Venn Hearst, guardian of the Divine Tree (The Tree Of Knowledge) and his nemesis. Emma is determined to place and dedicate the statue honoring her beloved grandmother despite Venn’s opposition; despite the fact she is in love with Venn, despite his sacred duty not to permit it. Will she overcome a test of evil or shatter Venn's world?



As Venn pelted across Aunt Fay’s parking lot, loose pebbles crunched beneath his feet. The Tyler streets were fairly deserted, with most people in bed by nine on a workday like today.

He paused to watch Emma through the store window, noting that Mrs. Grant had chosen to wait in the car with her dog. His anticipation mounted.

When he entered the shop, her scent grabbed him—plumeria and cinnamon—an instant turn-on. Even the heady aroma of coffee couldn't rob him of her sweet, luscious fragrance,a perfume he’d profoundly missed. He drew a deep breath as he stepped behind her in line and enjoyed the sound of her voice while she spoke into a cell phone.

Instantly, she seemed to sense him as she stopped mid-sentence and turned.

He smiled and couldn't help but flirt with her. “Something with whipped cream?”

She narrowed her eyes and angled her cell away from her ear with an incredulous nod. “Excuse me?”

“To drink.”

“Oh.” Her cheeks flushed a pretty pink. “Yes. Umm, and your recommendation is?” She cleared her throat, her green eyes now glinting with pale fire, and then her brows pinched as if she were trying to recall something.

Was it possible she recalled him? That would make things so much easier. He was already finding it difficult to behave as though he didn't know her.

“Anything with chocolate,” he answered as his lupine senses went into overdrive. Her fragrance intensified, warmed, indicating to him that her body knew what her mind did not.

Her subconscious recognized him.

She gave her head a shake, confusion painted on her face. “Sorry. I . . .” She paused a beat, steeling her features, and then pointed to her phone.

Her voice drove him to the brink of desperation. He wanted to get her alone. He needed her to remember what they’d shared.

And his beasts concurred with a beat of wings and hammer of paws.

“Miss. What would you like?” the clerk behind the counter asked.

She faced forward again, leaving him to stare at her long, sleek, shimmering hair. He’d kill to slide his fingers through those rich strands.

“For some reason I’m craving something I haven’t had before.” Her voice was soft and sweet. “A mocha latte. And forget the calories. Add on some extra whipped cream.”

He swallowed. He had cravings, too, ones he hadn't given in to for a very long time. “Good choice,” he said to her back.

Now to convince her of a few other things . . .

Hell, she’d fallen for him before, she would again.





Larissa Emerald writes paranormal, futuristic and contemporary romances. She is a Romance Writers of America 2013 Golden Heart Finalist for her romantic suspense, RAMPANT PERFECTION which will be available in the fall of 2015.

A combination of her love of reading and her vivid imagination―plus a strong desire to rewrite the endings of movies that just didn’t end right―lead Larissa into the world of writing.

Larissa has lived in Florida for her entire life. In her spare time, she enjoys teaching baton twirling and dance, traveling with her husband of 41 years, baking and cooking―usually altering the recipe―and playing dress up with the brightest lights in her life, her four grandchildren.