Barbara Freethy

I just love all of Barbara's books!!  Her newest series about the Callaway family is sure to entrance you!!

On A Night Like This by Barbara Freethy is the first book in Barbara Freethy’s Callaway clan and it was a fantastic introduction to this family!

Aiden, a smokejumper, has come home to San Francisco after a disastrous job that claimed the life of his best friend and colleague Kyle. Unfortunately Aiden can’t remember what happened because he was knocked out, and he is being blamed by too many people for Aiden’s death. He is home to try to find out the truth and decide on his own future.

Sara has come back to San Francisco hoping to celebrate her father’s birthday with him and rekindle a relationship with him. But Sara’s father has always been distant with her…she’s always been a bit nervous around him. Sara doesn’t know why he doesn’t love her, but she’s not going to stop trying. Read More

This is definitely a 5 star read!!

So This Is Love is book two and it just keeps getting better!

In So This Is Love (Callaways #2) by Barbara Freethy, Emma Calloway is a former fire fighter, now fire investigator. She loves what she does and she is good at it! When Max Harrison, a homicide detective, starts showing up at ‘her’ scenes, she is very annoyed even if she is secretly attracted to him.

“Their meetings were always tense, the mix of anger and attraction between them making most of their encounters awkward and uncomfortable.”

Emma is a few months out of a relationship, not looking for another one, and Max considers himself not a relationship guy. Both of them are afraid of love, and on the surface two very different people. Emma is an optimist, her glass is always half full. Her family is big, nosy, and loving. Max’s glass is always half empty and he has some problems with his family that he needs to work through. He also thinks he and Emma are too different to work…Read More

Act Like You Love Me and Playing the Part

High school was not a fun time for Brynn. She was a bit of a social misfit and just didn't fit in. Unfortunately her awkward moments were never private and she felt like she never lived them down. Brynn braved on though...she had a huge crush on Sawyer and finally got enough nerve up to ask him to the prom. He didn't even answer her, just looked at her and walked away. Brynn has changed a lot since high school, but she is still quirky and fun. Now she works in the family's bait and tackle shop with her brother, acting part time in local productions on the side.

Imagine her surprise when first Sawyer catches her in a compromising position outside the theatre, then she discovers he is going to be the director of her current play! He's temporary back in town to fix up his parents' beach house and put it on the market, has recently ended a relationship that left a sour taste in his mouth. The last thing he wants is to get back into a relationship, especially since he's only back briefly.

Sawyer, much to Brynn's dismay, has no idea who she was in high school. He does find himself incredibly drawn to who she is now though. The sparks are still there for Brynn, but she is still dwelling on what happened in high school. At first she is quite annoyed with Sawyer, which he can sense but has no idea why. Brynn decides to be who she thinks he wants her to be, hiding who she really is. Sawyer and Brynn hit it off really well and who they are now get along so well! But the more lies Brynn tells, the more lies she has to tell to cover the lies! Soon she's drawn into a web of deceit of her own making with no easy way out! When Sawyer finds out Brynn has been lying about who she is the whole time, how is he going to react? Even with his mother begging him to stay, he's going to be leaving soon anyway...so does Brynn need to tell him the truth at all?

Act Like You Love me is a story about two very different people. One has matured since high school and one doesn't seem to have moved beyond high school. Brynn is quite immature and in a lot of ways selfish, because it's always about her. After she finds out how sick Sawyer's Dad was when he was in high school, she still doesn't clue in that maybe he had a lot of other things going on in his life at the time. She's really going to need to grow up and become the woman she has the potential to be. Most of the time I found her frustrating, but at other times she was funny and sweet.

Sawyer has issues with relationships and people who lie to him thanks to his previous gone bad relationship. He's doing well for himself as a screenwriter, but he might just realize he needs something else in his life too! He will need to move past his past experiences. He has so many good things going for him, he is a great man with a lot to offer!

Both Sawyer and Brynn will have to be open and honest with one another, and flexible if they want to have any chance at a relationship.

Act Like You Love Me was a fairly quick read. Cindi has written very well. I think the characters are realistic because I'm sure there are people out there like Brynn and Sawyer! This is a romance that I'd say would be an ok read for a younger adult.  I would have liked it more if Brynn had been more mature!

I give this book 3/5 stars.

After a disastrous break up a year ago, resulting in a lot of negative publicity for Piper, she is trying to make amends with her publisher. Piper is an author whose book is being adapted for a movie, and she's agreed to consult with the actor playing the leading part. Mick has never been in love, and he doesn't have relationships, so he has no idea how to act like he's in one! It is Piper's job to help him get into character.

As soon as Piper and Mick meet there are not just sparks, but fireworks! The last relationship Piper was in was also with an actor and look how that turned out... Piper is media shy and trying to stay out of the spotlight, but there's no way she can ignore the heat between her and Mick. She knows she'll be leaving Hollywood soon, just as she knows he's not a relationship kind of guy. "...hunger for Mick Blackwell was a very dangerous proposition, because while the bad boy was a nice little fantasy, the reality sucked." Mick lusted for Piper as soon as he saw her, before he knew who she was "She'd turned him on the moment he'd noticed her on the set, and she'd responded to his flirtation, giving it as good as she got. As long as she wasn't the relationship type..."

Piper and Mick soon give into the heat between them (and there is a lot of that!), having some fun while neither is looking for a lasting relationship. Piper and Mick are good for each other...whether due to the intensity between them or that they're both feeling much more relaxed, Piper is able to write again and Mick starts hitting his scenes. They have their rules (no staying over for one), and Piper is sure she can keep her heart out of this thing with Mick. The last thing she wants or needs is another relationship with someone in the spotlight.

As determined as Piper is to stay out of the limelight and a relationship, she starts to feel really good with Mick - and not only when they're having sex! Mick has a sensitive, caring side that he keeps pretty well hidden from the public. "The problem wasn't even the epic sex that left her aching for more. The problem was the ordinary, in between times with Mick. The times where they talked, read quietly, or napped in the early afternoon, the long dinners...conversation..." And now Mick wants to change the rules, and have a relationship beyond a temporary fling. Piper makes him feel like no one ever has before.

But between the press, her past, and who Mick is, Piper is afraid of starting another relationship, of letting her heart become involved. It might be too late for that though...and with another media scandal looming, Piper leaves and heads back to New York. But can Piper let Mick go that easily? Can they both find a way to deal with the constant limelight and press coverage, real or not? Piper might need to let her heart lead her after all...

I liked both Mick and Piper. We don't get a lot of background on them, but enough to give us an idea of who they are and where they're coming from. They are both honest with each other, no game playing or secrets which I really like. Piper is a fun young lady, quite comfortable with her sexuality, out for what she thinks will be a temporary good time. It's harder for her to accept the evolution of the relationship than it is for Mick, because she's been burned before. She needs to decide who she's going to trust...the press or Mick? 

Even though Mick is a movie star and Piper is a famous author, the feelings that both of them go through are easy to relate to, especially Piper! Outside of the limelight they are a real couple, quickly falling for each other. I felt like their professions, so different yet so similar added a fun twist to the romantic story line.

Robyn gives us a good, steamy, romantic read with Playing the Part. There are a lot of explicit sex scenes through out Playing the Part, but they work well with the story line and she writes them very well!

I give this 3/5 stars :)

I've been busy reading!!!

For Love or Money...I received and ARC of this for review, check out my review here

It Had to Be You by Jill Shalvis...I don't know how it's possible, but her books just keep getting better and better!  Loved this one!  It Had To Be You

It's the same with Susan Mallory's books.  These are two of my must have authors!!  Thankfully I don't have long to wait for Susan's next book!  Just One Kiss

Now I'm reading Barbara Freethy's So This is Love...Emma's story :)

I just finished Lori Wilde's Love at First Sight!  It was a great read, whether or not you believe in Love at First Sight!!

Love at First Sight

Enjoy!!

The Officer and the Secret

Wow, am I mixed up!  My earlier post?  I though today was Tuesday, but it's actually Wednesday, lol!!!

I was very fortunate to receive The Officer and the Secret for review.  If you haven't read any of Jeanette's, what are you waiting for?  This is the third book in the series and she does not disappoint!

Check out my review Here

Enjoy!

Sun Shiny Days!

It's so nice to see the sun and feel the heat the last couple of days!  I'm hoping it's around for a while now...we've had enough of dull rainy West Coast weather!  I managed to get some weeding done and flowers planted...lots more to do though!

From our walk at Moorecraft Regional Park on the weekend...not an ocean view, but a small 'lake' (?pond!!) the beavers play in...

And here's another book review for you!  Fair Play

Have a great day!

Well, we are still waiting for warmer weather here!  Today we went for a walk around Moorecraft Regional Park in Nanoose...down on the water, it's a beautiful piece of land.  It used to be a United Church camp with cabins, a mess hall, church, etc.  (Tyler went there, so he can kind of remember how it was).  Now the cabins are gone and the hall is boarded up.  It's a nice walk that doesn't require a lot of exertion if you're looking for an easy walk!

I've read and reviewed Sweet Tea and Secrets (I LOVE this book!) and Fair Play here...

Fair Play

Sweet Tea and Secrets

Enjoy your weekend!  I am back to work tonight and tomorrow night... :(