Mercy

In Mercy by HelenKay Dimon Becca is part of a special ops team that operates under the radar. Infiltrating an exclusive club in Washington, DC to take down business man Jarrett was pretty routine. Even if it meant becoming intimate with him. Even when Becca told herself it was just a job. Until it started to feel like much more than a job. By then it was too late and there was so much more going on than even Becca could guess at. When Jarrett was arrested and her deception revealed, the man who never has relationships or becomes close with anyone was devastated. Read More

5/5 stars!!

The Reluctant Bride

In The Reluctant Bride by Katherine Garbera, Risa and Monty had a whirlwind romance when she was living in Vegas and he was on leave from the Marines.  Within a week they were engaged, planning to marry after he returns from his last deployment in the Middle East. When tragedy strikes for Risa and she has no comfort from Monty, then can't get a hold of him, she panics and flees Vegas. 

When Monty returns from war with his own scars, his fiancee is no where to be found.  He finally manages to find her in small town Marietta, where Risa now owns her own flower shop.  Monty is angry, hurt and confused.  Months later, Risa is still unable to cope with any of her emotions.  She is unsettled and unsure, and scared to love in case she loses again - even though their engagement never truly ended.  Neither of them are sure of where to go from here, if they even have a future together.  Risa wants to be able to handle everything on her own, she doesn't want to lean on anyone.  She has trouble expressing her emotions unless it's to run from them...and Monty doesn't want her to run again.  They care for each other, but were they ever really in love?  Can they start over, getting to know each other as they are now?  Or will Risa run again and find Monty is tired of the chase?

Monty and Risa both have a lot of angst in their lives.  Both of them have tragedy's to overcome before they can move on.  To be honest I found Risa difficult to connect to with her reactions out of my realm of realism.  She has a lot of inner conflict, and is having a hard time recognizing that she really is not alone.  Nor is she the only person in The Reluctant Bride who has had upheaval and tragedy, but she is having a hard time seeing beyond her own state, not even acknowledging that her fiancee has been to war, and war takes it's toll.  Her character has slow growth in The Reluctant Bride and the title is very well suited!  Monty has no clue why his fiancee has run off, and when he finds her even he questions whether or not they can be together again.  But the feelings he has for Risa don't let him walk away, and you really have to give him credit for sticking around as long as he does.  

I didn't feel a lot of love between Monty and Risa, but I did feel caring.  What I take away from The Reluctant Bride is that it doesn't make you any less of a person or any less independent to lean on someone, and I really hoped Risa could recognize this before it was too late. 

Katherine gives us a fast paced, smoothly written story in The Reluctant Bride.  If you like romance with a lot of angst and a hero/heroine trying to find his/her way you'll enjoy The Reluctant Bride.

3/5 stars

Sinful Seduction

In Sinful Seduction by Katie Reus, Alendander “Blue”, a former pro-athlete and Marine who now works for Red Stone Security, is taking some down time in Key West after his latest assignment. Blue is having some trouble adjusting to civilian life after being a Marine for so long, but on a night he decides to go out on the town for a bit, he ends up saving a woman from would be kidnappers.Read More

5/5 stars

Pretty Reckless

In Pretty Reckless by Jodi Linton, Laney is a former teacher, now a Sheriff’s Deputy in Pistol Rock. She’s engaged to Nathan, a veterinarian, who is the kind of man she should be with. She does not want to be with Luke, the cowboy who gave her one night of comfort a few years ago. She should definitely be over her former boyfriend, Texas Ranger Gunner. Laney has managed to convince herself quite nicely of this…until Gunner shows up in Pistol Rock. Read More

3.5/5 stars

Circle of Redemption

Circle of Redemption is an anthology with three stories by three different authors set at the same point in time that magically weave together three couples, the challenges they face, and fresh starts.

In Lost and Found by Susan C. Muller, Dan is a war veteran, now a cop.  When a twist of fate puts Dan directly in the path of a bank robbery, he is thrust into the past and the present when he is suddenly facing not only a past love, but her daughter.  It is what he does now and the chances he must take that will decide his future.

In Saved By the Stone by Janet Nash, Cade is also a war vet.  He suffers from PTSD, something neither he nor his wife fully understand, and his marriage is rapidly crumbling.  Cade can't move on from the horrors of war and doesn't think he deserves to be happy.  When things start to finally come together for Cade, he decides love and his marriage are worth fighting for.  Will it be too late?

In Sight Unseen by Shauna Allen, Travis's wife's death left a hole in his heart and his life.  When he meets Paige, their connection is immediate and Travis starts to feel again.  An unexpected connection to Paige and unresolved feelings on Travis's part threaten to stop their relationship before it can take off though.  

These three stories together demonstrate very well the power of love and fighting for what you believe in, no matter what it is really.  I found each story to be enticing in it's own way, and all of the authors manage to pull you in, bringing feelings to life and making you care for all of these people.  The emotions and situations are realistic, inspiring you to make the most of every moment.

Well written with strong characters, Circle of Redemption is a great read for any romance reader.

5/5 stars

Hard Time

In Hard Time by Cara McKenna, even years after leaving an abusive ex, Annie has never wanted to love again. She is a librarian, a nice quiet, unassuming career. This career takes her inside Cousins Correctional Facility as the outreach librarian. In cousins, she meets Eric.Read More

4/5 stars

Midnight Pursuits

In Midnight Pursuits by Elle Kennedy, Juliet is a former thief turned assassin, now working for a very enigmatic group. When her brother Henry and his girlfriend are killed in Belarus and his girlfriend’s killing has the marks of an assassin, Juliet vows revenge. Henry might not be her brother by blood, but he is still her brother. Both of them grew up in the foster system from a very young age, and all they have had is each other. Now Juliet is truly alone, and promises her dying brother she will find the killer and get vengeance. Read More

5/5 stars