Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Review: Montana Secret Santa (Love at the Chocolate Shop #3) by Debra Salone


Book Blurb:

Ad exec Krista Martin, while feeling more Grinch than elf, still jumps at the chance to co-chair Marietta’s Secret Santa Society. Why not? Especially since brilliant, attractive, and innovative tech wunderkind Jonah Andrews has agreed to help. He’s well connected and Krista’s hoping for some advice on rebooting her career.

Jonah knows Krista has a not-so-hidden agenda, but sparring with her over cocoa at their Secret Santa meetings is the most fun he’s had since returning to his old hometown. Krista may come across as all business, but Jonah’s positive he’s glimpsed a little girl inside her who wants to believe in Santa… and in love.

My Review:

Montana Secret Santa by Debra Salone was a very enjoyable read that really brought small town Marietta, Montana to life!

Krista has found a home in Marietta, starting her own business with her friend and being away from the drama of her family.  Jonah is brilliant and rich.  A Montana born boy who has moved on, he is only back for a brief time.  Neither of them has the time or energy for a relationship, and neither of them actually wants one.   From their first meeting an attraction is palpable, and soon they find themselves immersed in working for Marietta's Secret Santa Society.  As they spend more time together, the season of giving, happiness, and hope starts to become so much more...but it can't possibly be a forever thing, or can it?

Montana Secret Santa is the story of Krista and Jonah.  It is about them, with strong secondary characters and plots that enhance the main plot instead of distracting from it.  Krista and Jonah may come from different worlds from each other and the reader, but I found them to be relatable, realistic and believable.  For me they were like the people I might meet in a cafe or just down the street.  I liked them, and I liked that real life feeling of the unexpected and the challenges they faced.  I felt like I got to know them.  As the story progresses, they both experience a lot of growth.  I liked that they were mature characters, and there is a distinct lack of angst which resonates with their maturity.

Debra Salone writes an emotional, touching story in Montana Secret Santa, and I liked that all parts of their present day life pull together and bring these characters to life.  Montana Secret Santa was a story that gave me not only a holiday feeling, but a variety of other emotions from hope, sadness, courage, caring and love.

I'd recommend Montana Secret Santa to any romance reader!

4/5 stars

Purchase from Amazon.com

Monday, October 24, 2016

Review: Barefoot at Midnight (Barefoot Bay Timeless #3) by Roxanne St. Claire


Book Blurb:
 
Lawson Monroe is a chef without a restaurant...until his friend and mentor makes a deathbed promise to leave Law the only dive bar on Mimosa Key. Law has big plans for the Toasted Pelican until he walks directly into the luscious body and gorgeous face of Libby Chesterfield and her outrageous claim that the bar and restaurant should come to her.

When Libby learned that the man who once owned the crappiest watering hole on the island was actually her biological father, she decided the least he owed her was his unclaimed business. The old man wasn't there for her when she and her brother were growing up in Barefoot Bay, but his legacy can help her build a new future when she transforms the property into Balance, a yoga studio. The only obstacle? Her father apparently named former bad boy and current sexy silver fox Law Monroe his heir.

Law never thought he'd want anything more than the chance to make a living cooking his food for the people of Barefoot Bay...but Libby arouses an irresistible hunger in him. Battling an attraction that sizzles hotter than one of Law's cast-iron skillets and uncovering long-buried secrets with more twists than one of Libby's yoga poses, they'll have to find a way to both get what they want...especially if what they really want is each other.

 
My Review:

Barefoot at Midnight was an intense, emotional read.  I felt drawn to Lawson from the start...who he was, where he'd come from, and what he'd overcome.  He is open and honest, and I just really liked him.  Roxanne St. Claire really brought him to life for me, and I truly hoped things would work out for him.  Libby was a difficult character to like!  With her mixed up past, her dramatic mother, and her never ending assumptions I didn't feel as connected to her as I did to Lawson.  Despite all that, there are definite sparks between Lawson and Libby.  A connection neither expected or were looking for is palpable, no matter how much either of them try to deny it.  There are a lot of unresolved issues, and as they each work through these, there are a lot of bumps in the road and surprises in store.  The growth of their relationship is slow, steady and rocky, and a future between them is uncertain.

I liked that there is so much going on in Barefoot at Midnight.  With mature characters and life experience, the plot is rich with emotion, relationships, unknowns, and hope.  The plot is multi focal, but well blended into a well paced, easy to follow story.  There are some very unique and interesting secondary characters in a setting that is always a treat to return to!

The third book in Roxanne St. Claire's Timeless series, Barefoot at Midnight is a stand alone book that contemporary romance readers will enjoy.


4/5 stars


Purchase from Amazon.com


Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Review: Irresistibly Yours by Lark Brennan



Book Blurb:
In Lark Brennan s follow-up to the dazzling debut "Dangerously Yours," she delves more deeply into the Durand family its powers, its enemies, and the battles that wage both within and without.

Adrien Durand, one of the most powerful telepaths in the world, was born for a life of action and intrigue. But when his father dies suddenly, he s forced to return to Paris to take over his family s business empire, standing guard over the ancient source of their abilities at a time of great peril. When a beautiful American empath crosses his path, he first suspects she's a spy. But a dazzling energy flows between them, forming a psychic link he s powerless to break.

Tate Fulbright was born with a telepathic gift that she both treasures and loathes. She has coped so far by losing herself in work, but on a business trip to Paris she meets the impossibly sexy Adrien Durand, and her carefully constructed facade begins to crumble. Tate hoped only to see the city sights and never expected to be drawn into Adrien s glamorous and high-risk world. But when Adrien s enemies target her, she must set aside her pride and accept his protection.

Adrien Durand prides himself on his self-control, but as his enemies draw near and his psychic connection to Tate grows, he soon finds himself in danger of losing his grip on the links that keep his mind and his family together. Do Adrien and Tate have a chance for a future together, or will a dangerous fate destroy them both?



My Review:

In Irresistibly Yours by Lark Brennan, there is much more to Tate than initially meets the eye.  Working hard at a job she doesn't love, a business trip to Paris ends up being much more than ever anticipated.  In Paris is Adrien, whom Tate meets when she goes into his shop.  As soon as Adrien meets Tate he knows there is so much more to her than she shows anyone...but he doesn't know if she can be trusted.  As a Sentier and Protector, Adrien is careful who he trusts -especially when an empath and healer like Tate suddenly crosses his path.  His family is so much more than a business empire.  It is also an empire of enormous psychic talent and strength.  Using their powers for good, evil is chasing them.  Adrien is drawn to Tate almost against his will, and almost as quickly as they meet, Adrien's enemies soon become Tate's, because they will stop at nothing to get what they want from Adrien's family. 

I really enjoyed Irresistibly Yours by Lark Brennan!  From start to finish Lark kept me mesmerized between the pages as I got to know Tate, Adrien and his family.  This is the kind of paranormal romantic suspense I love to read because the characters are so real and Lark wrote their situations in a believable way.  I liked the different psychic elements we see in Irresistibly Yours, and how the characters work with their abilities individually and together.

Tate and Adrien meet in the most unusual way, but the connection between them is evident from the start.  Neither of them feel they are at a place in their lives where they want or need a relationship, but neither of them can stop themselves.  Watching them get to know each other and navigate that path was wonderful!  It is not a simple thing for either of them and there is a lot standing in their way.  I was interested to see if they could get past the obstacles or if in the end it would prove too much.  Although the plot is over a short period of time, nothing felt rushed, it just felt real like it was meant to be. Tate and Adrien both have sorrow in their past and I really hoped for happiness in the future for them.

The suspenseful part of the plot was very intriguing and kept me guessing.  There is a lot of unexpectedness, and the twists and turns kept everything interesting.  I felt like I was right there with Tate and Adrien much of the time.

There are a lot of secondary characters in Irresistibly Yours, and each of them has a significant contribution to the plot.  I enjoyed getting to know them as much as I enjoyed getting to know Tate and Adrien.

The setting of Paris is so romantic and at the same time adds to the thrill of the suspense.  I loved the descriptions Lark wrote...even the little things like describing the people at the coffee shop they were passing made it so easy to picture the place.

Irresistibly Yours is a well paced book that I would recommend to any paranormal romantic suspense reader.

4/5 stars

Purchase from Amazon.com







Release Event! A Fool For You by Katee Robert


A FOOL FOR YOU

 by Katee Robert

Sparks will fly on this roadtrip from hell...Fool Me Once is the second novel in the Foolproof Love series from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Katee Robert and Entangled Publishing.  


 

Title: A Fool For You
Author: Katee Robert
Series: Foolproof Love #3
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: October 3, 2016
Publisher: Entangled Brazen

Synopsis:

It’s been thirteen years since Hope Moore left Devil’s Falls, land of sexy cowboys and bad memories. Back for the weekend, she has no intention of seeing the man she never got over…or the two of them getting down and dirty. It’s just a belated goodbye, right? No harm, no foul.
Until six weeks later, when her pregnancy test comes back positive…
Daniel Rodriguez hasn’t forgiven himself for how things went down with Hope all those years ago. He knows she’s better off without him, but when she shows up on his doorstep, panicking because she’s pregnant with his baby, he can’t help seeing it as a chance to make up for the past.
Too bad Hope has no intention of going along with his plans.
Excerpt:
He turned to find Hope standing behind him. Again. “You sure move quiet when you want to.” Especially for a woman with a bum leg. Not that he could say as much without sounding like a jackass.
“You mean since I had my knee replaced.” Of course she knew what he meant anyway. Apparently damn near reading his mind was one annoying habit she hadn’t outgrown.
“I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t have to.” She leveraged herself down next to him, the move not quiet as smooth as it’d been when she was eighteen.
Daniel almost cursed. He had to stop doing that. Comparing her now to how she was then wasn’t fair to either of them. It was another lifetime completely, and thinking about it was just fucking depressing. “Hope—”
“Are you seeing anyone?”
No.”
“Why not?”
He was so surprised by the question that he answered honestly, “Why the fuck would I bother?”
“Oh, I don’t know, because you don’t want to be a creepy old man who lives in the middle of nowhere and has to run off silly high school kids with his shotgun because they tell ghost stories about him?”
He looked at her, half sure that she was the one who’d lost her damn mind. “That’s not a thing.”
“It is most definitely a thing.” She leaned back on her hands and stared at the sky. The most move arched her back and pressed her breasts against the fancy tank top she wore. It was made of some kind of drapey fabric that looked soft and shiny, and it highlighted the fact that he seriously doubted she was wearing a bra. “You’re too young to just give up.”
“It’s not about giving up.” Though he didn’t expect Hope to understand that. He’d checked up on her a few times since the accident, and every single time he was amazed at the things she’d accomplished. Life had kicked her in the teeth and she’d come back swinging. She’d taken two years off and then attended the University of Texas and graduated with honors. She ran her own successful consulting business to work with companies that wanted to set up scholarships and nonprofits.
She shifted to look at him. “It looks like giving up from where I’m sitting.”

 
 
Get More information at: Goodreads  | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes






About Katee Robert
 


New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Katee Robert learned to tell her stories at her grandpa’s knee. She found romance novels at age twelve and it changed her life. When not writing sexy contemporary and speculative fiction romance novels, she spends her time playing imaginary games with her wee ones, driving her husband batty with what-if questions, and planning for the inevitable zombie apocalypse.  Connect with Katee at: Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads | Instagram | Tumblr | Youtube

 

Thursday, September 29, 2016

BLOG TOUR: Christmas in Eternity Springs by Emily March


Welcome Back to Eternity Springs in Emily March's Christmas in Eternity Springs!

Book Blurb:

Can Miss Christmas find her spirit again?

After a devastating betrayal, Claire Branham packs up the pieces of her life, along with a twenty-million-dollar secret, and moves to Eternity Springs. She opens a specialty shop—Forever Christmas—and, with the help of a surprise romance with the town’s sexy new handyman, Claire’s heart begins to heal. Until her past comes knocking…

Jax Lancaster never questioned the need to abandon his career as a Navy submariner in order to care for his young son in the wake of his ex-wife’s death. Desperate to help with this loss, Jax straps on a tool belt to give Nicholas the one thing he wants: A life in Eternity Springs. What Jax never expected to find a second chance at love with a fascinating woman for whom Christmas has become a business. But when the truth about Claire threatens their newfound happiness, can Jax prove to her that in Eternity Springs, the spirit of Christmas is real. . .and will last a lifetime?




Prologue:

December
Dallas, Texas
The fragrance of Christmas swept into the house along with the tree that the garden center’s deliverymen carried inside. As they placed the twelve- foot- tall blue spruce into the stand she’d positioned in front of the living room picture window, Claire Branham allowed herself to reflect on the once- upon- a- time memories triggered by the scent.
Days of Christmas Past. Such happy times— laughter and excitement and family traditions. A home filled with love. All lost, wiped away by the reality of illness and death and broken hearts.
As she watched the workers secure the tree to the stand, she reflected upon what a momentous occasion this was for her. She hadn’t put up a Christmas tree in a very long time. For Claire, Black Friday didn’t represent the beginning of the holiday shopping season. It signified the day the doctor’s office called and changed the lives of everyone she loved.
Fifteen Christmases had passed since that first life-altering year. Some years, she’d gone through the motions of participation, even though her heart wasn’t in it. Other years, she did her best to ignore it entirely. Mostly, she’d muddled through, grumpy and unhappy and counting the days until the season was over for another year.
“That should do it,” said the deliveryman, stepping back from the tree. He handed Claire a little green bottle of preservative. “Mix this with water according to the directions. Add water as needed. Doesn’t hurt to check it every day, but it needs to be watered at least every other day.”
“Thank you.”
“You picked a pretty one, Ms. Branham. You have a perfect spot for a tree in this home. Now . . .” He flipped a page on his clipboard. “Are we decorating the tree, too, or just doing the outdoor lighting and decorations?”
“You’re hanging the outdoor lights and helping with the high things inside the house. I’m saving the tree to decorate until my fiancé gets home from a business trip tomorrow.”
Claire showed him the outdoor decorations in her garage, then went back inside to begin draping garland on the staircase. Anticipation made her feel like a child on Christmas morning. It had been years since she’d decorated a tree, and she couldn’t wait to do it again. This year, Claire wasn’t spending her holiday season with her Grinch on. She was going all Elf. Because for the first time in forever, the thought of the holiday season made Claire happy.
It started on Black Friday. Rather than launching her usual month- long depression, Black Friday this year got Claire off to a joyful holiday start. After she and Landon ran the Turkey Trot 10K on Thanksgiving morning, she’d sent him off to the airport with a kiss and a turkey sandwich so he could make his early afternoon flight to the West Coast where he had meetings scheduled with movie executives. Friday morning, rather than lie in bed with her covers over her head as in years past, Claire had bounded out of bed early, joined the shopping hoards, and had a ball doing it.
It set the tone for her days as she anticipated Landon’s return. Claire was happy and excited and joyful. With Landon’s help, she had climbed her way out of the valley of loss and loneliness and found her happiness. Now, she was finding her Christmas spirit again.


Copyright © 2016 by Emily March and reprinted by permission of St. Martin’s Paperbacks.

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Buy Links:

My Review:

In Christmas in Eternity Springs by Emily March, for years the Christmas season has been painful for Claire.  Just as things were starting to turn around for her and the season was looking better, life threw her another curve ball and threatened to take away her Christmas spirit again.   Determined to move on and start over, Claire moves to Eternity Springs to open up a Christmas shop of all things and quickly becomes a part of the community.  She is not looking for love or a relationship, but the new man in town and his son are pulling on her heart strings.  

Jax has always been career Navy.  But life can change fast, and he's now out of the Navy, raising his son after the death of his ex-wife.  Traumatized by her death, Jax's son Nicholas has only ever felt happy again during time spent in Eternity Springs.  Expecting it to be temporary, Jax and Nicholas move to Eternity Springs.  Meeting the owner of Forever Christmas might change everything though.  Soon Jax and Claire are finding so much more than either of them expected as they get to know each other and become closer.  Jax, Nicholas and Claire are finding a happiness that they never thought they would again...but can it last or will the ghosts of the past threaten the hope of the future?

I really enjoyed this visit to Eternity Springs.  Emily March brings her characters to life with their real problems, thoughts, issues and struggles.  Jax and Claire both have pain in their pasts and are both struggling to move on.  Claire has a lot of inner strength, and she is a very determined heroine!  I really liked her, who she was, and that even with her insecurities she was moving forward.  Jax brings his own struggles to Christmas in Eternity Springs, and it has not been an easy path to get there for him.  I liked seeing where he was before Eternity Springs.  Emily shaped his character very well, and his experiences and character growth he showed almost from the beginning really make him a true hero!!  I liked how Jax and Claire were brought together, along with Nicholas and the way their relationship moved forward.  Watching as the trust grew and hearts opened up was very fulfilling!  There is no angst, but there is tension and some realistic drama as Jax and Claire move forward only to have the past pause everything.

With vivid descriptions and strong secondary characters Emily March made Eternity Springs a believable place for me, a place I would love to go to!  Nicholas, Jax's son, is a strong secondary character and I loved watching him grow and start to thrive.  I particularly love Celeste who is also a strong secondary character seen in all of the Eternity Springs books.  I really hope that one day we will find out her story!

With some unexpected surprises and strong characters, Christmas in Eternity Springs captivated me and made me feel that hint of magic, happiness, hope and healing.  Part of Emily March's Eternity Springs series, Christmas in Eternity Springs can be read as a stand alone, but I highly recommend the other books in this series also!  Any romance reader will enjoy reading Christmas in Eternity Springs.



Monday, September 19, 2016

Review: Family Illusions (A Hidden Dangers Novel, #1) by Bess George



Book Blurb:

Charlie Gomez’s life has never been easy. To shield her from her family’s dark past, her mother raised her as an illegal immigrant. She’s spent her life scraping by, never believing anything better was possible. Her mother’s death brings an unexpected windfall - she finally has the opportunity to search for the truth. Now she has a job, a place, and a purpose. The only negative in her new life is her antagonistic sexy new boss.

Jaxon Roberts is no stranger to hardship, but luck and the kindness of his adoptive father turned his life around and gave him something worth fighting for. Beautiful, headstrong Charlie Gomez could be his star employee, or the ruin of a business he’s dedicated to protecting. Reluctantly forced into working alongside her, the last thing he wants is to fall in love.

Once the lid to the past has been pried open danger comes tumbling out. When Charlie disappears, Jaxon is faced with a choice...walk away and preserve the world he knows, or fight for a future with the one woman who can truly teach him what family is all about?

My Review:

Family Illusions by Bess George was an intriguing read that took me right into the pages of an unexpected plot.  Charlie has no idea what she's set in motion with what she does with some papers she finds that her mother has hidden.  Then the death of her mother sends Charlie to places she never dreamed she'd end up, living a life she didn't think she'd ever have, finding people she never knew existed and a part of her that was always missing.  When Jaxon appears in Charlie's orbit, there is a lot of tension between them, but circumstances keep them together. Unanticipated feelings simmer beneath the surface, and just as they bubble up and the future looks hopeful, the secrets and danger surrounding Charlie come bursting out...There is still a battle to fight and difficult decisions to make, for both of them.

The plot of Family Illusions and the evil lurking beneath the pages pulled me in and at the same time horrified me.  Horrified because it could happen, and Bess George writes this plot in a realistic way.  I could feel the evil in some characters and the hopelessness in others.  I liked how she drew the mystery, tension, and what could happen next out, as we watched Charlie live her life at the same time.  

Charlie grew on me as her character developed in Family Illusions.  She came across as a bit naive at times and didn't always think about possible consequences to actions.  I did like how determined she was and could feel what she felt at times.  She is certainly not perfect, and she is a heroine that brings out all kinds of emotions!  I liked watching the evolution of her and Jaxon's relationship and learning more about him.

Family Illusions is not a cliffhanger, but the plot is not quite done and I'm interested to see where Bess takes us next!

Romantic suspense readers will enjoy Family Illusions.

4/5 stars

Purchase from Amazon.com




Sunday, September 18, 2016

Review: Tango & Lace by Misty Dietz


Book Blurb:

World renowned geoarcheologist Jackson Whiteside has come home to Colorado to care for his grandmother and teach at CSU…not to rekindle the passionate, but doomed love affair with gramma’s high-spirited neighbor whose memory has haunted him half-way across the globe. But the moment he sees his feisty, melodramatic ex, his cortisol levels spike. And he damn well knows he’s about to unearth more layers of their relationship…whether his neurotransmitters like it or not.

If there’s one thing dancer and dispatch operator Mya Castillo can do well, it’s Tango. But dancing with her feet is one thing...dancing with her heart is another. Especially when she has no choice but to accept her ex— the world’s most unintentionally sexy professor—as her stand-in partner for the biggest performance of her life.

Jack’s two-year scientific immersion has kept a tight lid on his dangerous right-brained proclivities, but his irritatingly illogical gut is telling him the attack on Mya’s dance partner jeopardizes more than just her dance studio. It bodes evil toward the woman he still loves beyond reason, so this is one dance he won’t sit out.
 

My Review:

Tango and Lace by Misty Dietz was a riveting, fast paced novella that I really got into and enjoyed!  Jackson has 'finally' come home to help care for his grandmother Rosie and help fix up her house.  But home also means seeing his former lover Mya...a hot blooded woman with whom things ended poorly.  Mya is part of his grandmother's life, so there is no way they can avoid each other.  When they meet again, all kinds of sparks fly, but Mya is determined not to fall for him again.  Circumstances push them together with a little help from Rosie, but can either of them risk their heart for the other again for someone they're never truly gotten over?  Suddenly there is more than their hearts at risk though, and as danger stalks Mya, they find the walls they've build to protect themselves for each other crumbling.  Will they be able to take the chance?  Or is it too late for second chances?

I loved this novella!  In particular I loved Mya!!!  She is feisty, passionate, and holds nothing back!  She literally holds nothing back!  I loved the Spanish phrases that fly out of her mouth, her hot temper. her passion for family, her caring for others, even her life plan is one of passion for her...and eventually her passion for Jackson.  She is a powerful, strong main character who will stick with me.  She is a heroine I can clearly see in my mind.  Make no mistake, Jackson is just as lovable and a very strong hero.  He's also passionate, but for him it doesn't flow out of him as easily!  The care these two so obviously have and fight against for each other is palpable throughout Tango and Lace.  The suspense of danger directed towards Mya adds a lot of edge to Tango and Lace, and Misty had me totally fooled about who it was and what would happen!

The secondary characters are just as powerful and relevant to the plot.  As usual, Rosie shows up, and she is a constant in this series.  I love her.  She is definitely not your typical grandmother and if mine was still alive I'd love it if she was like Rosie!  All of the secondary characters stand strong and show up from other books in this series, but for me it is Rosie who shines.

Despite some conflict and tension, and an unexpected danger thrown into their lives, they all handle it so well and felt like a family I'd love to be a part of ((both families!).

Tango & Lace is part of the Hard Men of the Rockies novella series, but this one is a definite stand alone. I would highly recommend it to any romance reader who liked strong family connections and second chances!

5/5 stars

Purchase from Amazon.com


Thursday, September 15, 2016

Review: Blackmail and Lace (A Hard Men of the Rockies Novella, #5) by Tracy A. Ward


Book Blurb:

Grayson Montgomery is on a mission and bad boy Adam Holder is on the top of her bucket list. When the successful defense attorney mistakes her for an old flame, Grayson doesn’t hesitate to use a misleading video to bring him to his knees and blackmails him into a trip he would never make. Duty-bound to a deathbed oath, Grayson doesn’t count on the intense attraction between them or how much she’s falling for the sexy bachelor.

Adam Holder loves women, but he loves success even more. He would never jeopardize his career, until a case of mistaken identity makes him look guilty of a crime he’d never commit. Not willing to take a chance with his future, Adam submits to the blackmail of a beautiful woman while plotting his revenge…but when their sparks of passion ignite, Adam forgets his thoughts of retaliation and risks it all to win Grayson’s heart.

My Review:

Blackmail and Lace by Tracy A. Ward was an entertaining, touching, and sexy read that took me on an emotion filled journey.  From heart ache to hope and new beginnings, I went along with Grayson as she embarks on promises to her sister that eventually become promises to herself.  Adam Holder is on her list and suddenly right on her path...doing what she can to use him to fulfill a promise, it soon becomes apparent to them that there is much more to life than just doing what is expected of you.  As the attraction between them quickly flares to life, can the past make way for the future?

I loved this fast paced read.  The attraction is quick, the action is hot, and the emotions are intense.  Everything is written so well and in such a way that it makes all that immediateness believable.  Adam and Grayson felt right together, but their pasts collide in unexpected ways and it was uncertain if that could be overcome.  There is some conflict and tension in their struggle, but the feelings remain strong which gave me hope.

The majority of the plot is over a short period of time, but I never felt that it was rushed and I felt like the story that needed to be told was told.  I saw a lot of growth in Grayson in Blackmail and Lace.  I felt that she deserved to live her life how she wanted to live it and hoped she would take that leap.

I enjoyed Blackmail and Lace and felt really good with how Tracy concluded it.  I'd recommend Blackmail and Lace to any romance reader.

4/5 stars

Purchase from Amazon.com

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Review: Red Lace (The Hard Men of the Rockies) by Kym Roberts


Book Blurb:

He knocked on death’s door, but she refused to let him walk in…

Ty Beckinsale was a dead man…until an angel in red lace saved him and disappeared into the night. Tortured with memories but unable to pursue leads to determine her identity until after he recovers, Ty seeks the assistance of the experts at Achilles HeAl, a private physical rehab facility for the rich and famous. Or in his case, the infamous—an ex-Secret Service Agent hell-bent on avoiding the media. His road to recovery, however, leads him straight to the woman he can’t forget—a woman he vows to protect from a past he can’t leave behind.
Fear consumes her, drives her to build walls no one can penetrate…

Secrets and lies have driven Faith Artino to turn her business into a compound. She’s secure, safe and satisfied with life. Until Ty Beckinsale walks in and knocks down all her barriers with a chemistry she can’t deny. But her fear of betrayal stops her from seizing the moment and from taking what she wants more than anything else—a passion so strong, it can’t be destroyed.

A life-time sentence of loneliness awaits, unless Faith opens her door to the one man who’s stolen her heart.
 

My Review:

Kym Roberts throws us right into the action from the start of Red Lace when Ty is injured, fighting not only for his life, but for the people he was supposed to protect.  In the cold darkness of a snowy night, and unexpected angel in red lace saves him...then disappears.  Is it coincidence or fate when they find themselves meeting up under much different circumstances?  Heat simmers below the surface as their mutual attraction grows.  There are unknowns, doubts, and trust issues in their path though, and they might just be too much to overcome, even if they both know what and who they really want.

This was the first book I read in The Hard Men of the Rockies series, and as much as Ty was, I was in a bit of a daze at the beginning about what was going on.  However with a good pace and great writing, Kym had me drawn into Red Lace quickly and I enjoyed the journey I went on with Ty and Faith!  They both have some issues that have brought them to where they are today, and I liked feeling like I was getting into their heads through dual POV's.  The heat between them simmers.  They are very attracted to one another, but the relationship is slow to build which worked well with the plot.  This really highlighted the growth these characters did in the span of this novella.

Rosie, Ty's grandmother is a strong secondary character and I absolutely adore her and she works her way into everything!

The length of Red Lace was just right for the story being told.  I liked that it started fast and just kept going!  Hopeful, sweet and sexy, any romance reader will enjoy Red Lace.

4/5 stars

Purchase from Amazon.com

Monday, September 12, 2016

Review: Her Darkest Nightmare (The Evelyn Talbot Chronicles #1) by Brenda Novak


Book Blurb:

THE HUNT FOR A SERIAL KILLER
Evelyn Talbot knows that a psychopath can look perfectly normal. She was only sixteen when her own boyfriend Jasper imprisoned and tortured her—and left her for dead. Now an eminent psychiatrist who specializes in the criminal mind, Evelyn is the force behind Hanover House, a maximum-security facility located in a small Alaskan town. Her job puts her at odds with Sergeant Amarok, who is convinced that Hanover is a threat to his community…even as his attraction to beautiful Evelyn threatens to tear his world apart. 
BEGINS WITH AN ESCAPE FROM HER PAST
Then, just as the bitter Alaskan winter cuts both town and prison off from the outside world, the mutilated body of a local woman turns up. For Amarok, this is the final proof he needs: Hanover has to go. Evelyn, though, has reason to fear that the crime is a personal message to her—the first sign that the killer who haunts her dreams has found her again. . .and that the life she has so carefully rebuilt will never be the same…

My Review:

In Her Darkest Nightmare by Brenda Novak, the remote Alaska setting is perfect for this intense and frightening read!  Evelyn Talbot has a very interesting career.  With a past that drives her, she studies psychopaths.  The most dangerous offenders in a maximum security prison called Hanover House in Alaska.  Her career is her life, and a brief relationship with Sergeant Amarok earlier was over before it really started.  Their career's collided, their beliefs separate them.  But as winter storms approach, so does danger...and murder.  Amarok is convinced the recent murders are tied to Hanover House, but Evelyn thinks they are a lot more personal and directed at her.  Soon the two of them are spending a lot of time together, and through conflict, tension, fear, insecurity and hope, they become closer...but can a killer be stopped before Evelyn's world falls apart again?

Her Darkest Nightmare is a riveting, scary, suspenseful read with a touch of romance and relationship angst.  I liked the mix of the two in Her Darkest Nightmare, how the relationship and the suspense tie together, how they are both so uncertain.  In many ways Evelyn has overcome her past, but in other ways it still holds her back from her future, especially any personal relationships.  Despite her attraction to Amarok, she resists.  Amarok is so obviously interested in Evelyn, even if he wishes she'd never come to his town.  That way he'd never know what he couldn't have.  The push and pull between Evelyn and Amarok is believable in their situation, although some parts of Evelyn's resistance are a bit too angsty in my opinion for a character of her maturity and experience.  

There are a lot of twists and turns in this well researched plot, and Brenda Novak kept me guessing.  The pace was great and I was easily absorbed in this world.  I'd recommend Her Darkest Nightmare to readers who like thrilling romantic suspense.

4/5 stars

Purchase from Amazon.com


Sunday, September 11, 2016

Review: Deadly Affair (Southern California Violent Crimes Taskforce #4.5) by Misty Evans and Amy Manemann


Book Blurb:

Deadly Affair, an SCVC Taskforce novella

Cooper Harris, head of the SCVC Taskforce and nicknamed The Beast, isn’t afraid of anything…except that the woman who rocks his world may be about to dump him. Celina is acting distant and secretive while an engagement ring burns a hole in Cooper’s pocket. Whisking her away for a romantic weekend at a Northern California vineyard, he hopes to reignite the spark between them and get up the nerve to finally ask her to marry him.

Feisty crime scene photographer Celina Davenport hates keeping secrets. The baby growing inside her is cause for celebration, but Cooper has a son from a previous marriage and claims he doesn’t want more children because of his dangerous job. Celina understands what makes The Beast tick, and she also knows he’ll be a great dad to their child. She only needs the perfect moment to break the news.

Before either can come clean, Cooper and Celina stumble upon human bones and realize the beautiful vineyard hides a dark and haunting past filled with love, betrayal and murder. Can they unravel the mystery buried in the Northern California hills and bring a killer to justice? Or will the secrets they’re keeping from each other put them in deeper danger than they could ever imagine?
 

My Review:

In Deadly Affair by Misty Evans and Amy Manemann, DEA Special Agent Cooper's life's work is to bring down cartel members.  Celine met Cooper when she worked on a task force with him.  Now an FBI forensic photographer, Celine and Cooper are very involved with each other.  Ready to move to the next step, Cooper takes Celina away for a romantic weekend at a B & B on a vineyard.  They are both in for surprises this weekend, but the weekend takes a dramatic turn from romance to work related with the discovery of human remains.  Cooper and Celina might not be local, but they are still determined to find answers for a long dead person.  As they try to do this, will they find the answers they are looking for personally also?

I enjoyed this fast paced romantic suspense by Misty Evans and Any Manemann.  It fascinates me how authors can co-write a book so seamlessly that you never know where one finishes and the other starts.  I liked how they worked the mystery of the bones and long ago murder, but managed to easily bring the plot back to Celina and Cooper and their relationship.  Because as we see, real life doesn't wait.

I liked Cooper and Celina, and I could feel the connection between them as much as I could feel that hint of insecurity people in relationships sometimes have.  I liked that we saw the personal and professional sides of them in Deadly Affair, and the plot blended this well and relevantly.  They felt like real people who cared not only about each other but about doing their jobs.  I was very interested to see if they'd get to what they'd each planned for the weekend, their reactions, and how it would work out.  The mystery/suspense part of the plot is actually quite sad, bringing forward a hidden history and a story few would have known if Celina and Cooper hadn't spotted the bones.  I had a vague inkling about the mystery, but it played out in a way I didn't really expect at all, and Misty and Amy really made me feel for this person and those who knew this person.

The secondary characters and setting are perfect.  They are an important part of the plot, so I won't delve deeply into them, but I liked the characters used in Deadly Affair!

Misty Evans and Amy Manemann held my interest in this fast paced, intriguing, and emotional novella.  I would recommend Deadly Affair to any romantic suspense reader.  Part of the Southern California Violent Crimes Taskforce series, it can be read alone, but the whole series is worth reading!

4/5 stars

Purchase from Amazon.com