Review: Stirred with Love by Marcie Steele

Book Blurb:

Sometimes the best friends can be found where you least expect them … 

Still grieving after the loss of her beloved husband, Lily Mortimer is determined to do something with the time she has left. 

After the end of her fairytale marriage, thirty-something Kate is trying hard to mend her broken heart. 

Chloe, a young woman with the world at her feet, is struggling to know what to do with her life. 

When Lily embarks on a new venture in the picturesque town of Somerley, the three women come together to open The Coffee Stop, the most charming café for miles around. 

But opening a coffee shop is never as simple as it seems, especially when you add neighbouring competition, local heart throbs and heartbreak to the mix. 

When tragedy strikes, can the three women pull together to make the new business fly, or will Lily’s last chance disappear down the drain along with yesterday’s coffee grinds? 

As comforting as a cappuccino and a better pick-me-up than a grande Americano, Stirred with Love will captivate readers of Milly Johnson, Carole Matthews and Jenny Colgan.

My Review:

It starts with a coffee shop, and Stirred With Love evolves into a great story about three different women who are all at different points in their lives, all at a turning point in their lives.

I liked how Marcie brought Kate, Lily and Chloe together in a realistic way.   I enjoyed getting to know them and watching them move forward.  They each have struggles to overcome, and they find unexpected friendship and support in Stirred With Love.

These characters all had a little something I could relate to, and they were all believable.  I loved the different age groups of these women and how it didn't really seem to matter most of the time.  Sometimes the age differences between these new friends was very noticeable, but most of the time these three women were just women being friends.  

Marcie moves the plot forward at a smooth pace and I was drawn into the lives of Kate, Lily, and Chloe.  I liked the central theme of the plot about Lily reopening The Coffee Shop, and how this pulls the characters together.  Each of the women have a strong presence in Stirred With Love, and I felt like I got to know each of them well.  With sub plots involving them and secondary characters, Stirred With Love is a multi dimensional, character driven read.

With heart, humor, hope, love and tears, Marcie weaves a tale that really made me feel and I'd recommend it to any women's fiction reader.

4/5 stars

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Between Now and Forever (Callaways #4) by Barbara Freethy

Book Blurb:

Nicole met Ryan when he was a handsome, cocky teenager with a desire to fly high above the clouds. Ryan encouraged Nicole to dream big and promised her a lifetime of happiness, but several years into their lives together, they were faced with obstacles bigger than either had ever imagined. Their love faltered. They lost their way and considered what had once been unthinkable—the end of their forever.

But now fate throws them a curve, an event that forces them back together, that strips their emotions bare and is both terrifying and strangely unifying. For the first time in a long while they have to face each other, and not only talk but also listen, because their lives depend on it—not only their lives, but also the life of their six-year-old son.

Secrets and lies frame a perilous journey to the truth that takes Nicole and Ryan to Angel's Bay, a place where miracles sometimes happen. But in order to get that miracle, Nicole and Ryan must work together and learn how to trust and love each other again. Only then will they be able to save their family and find their way to happily ever after.


My Review:

Between Now and Forever by Barbara Freethy was an intense and emotional read.

I was happy to find out more about Nicole and Ryan, who we have seen glimpses of in previous books in this series. I liked that they are a mature couple, dealing with some very realistic issues, confusion, and feelings. A horrible event pulls them back together, and as they fight for their son, they begin to realize what they had might not be lost after all. But is it too late? Will they get a second chance at not only love with each other but as a family?

I saw a lot of character development in Between Now and Forever. Both Nicole and Ryan developed more insight into one another, and it is obvious from the start that they still love one another very much. I was very interested to see how they would work through their issues, or even if they could. As they are dealing with this, they are also going through every parents worst nightmare. It is a lot to cope with, and Nicole and Ryan seemed to come together very well. I liked how this was done, how they handled situations and there was a real lack of blame for either of them. There was more of a feeling of sorrow mixed with uncertainty, but at the same time hope.

I loved the setting of this book, because I've read Barbara's Angel's Bay books (completely different stories, but same setting!). I loved the bit of history that made the place unique.

It was great to see more of the Calloway's in Between Now and Forever...there are little hints of what's to come, but Barbara left me satisfied with this story and ready for more! There are some strong secondary characters who blend in well and are very relevant as the plot unfolds.

Very well written and easy to fall into, with believable and likable characters, I'd recommend Between Now and Forever to any romance reader.

4/5 stars

Review! The Color of Water in July by Nora Carroll

Book Blurb:

It’s been a long seventeen years since Jess last saw her grandmother or visited the family cottage set on an idyllic lake in Northern Michigan. For all that time, she’s been haunted by loss—of her innocence and her ability to trust and, most of all, of a profound summer romance that might have been something more. So when her grandmother leaves the house to her, Jess summons her courage and returns to a place full of memories—and secrets.

There, she stumbles upon old letters and photographs of a time not so much forgotten as buried. As she begins to unravel the hidden histories of her mother and her grandmother, she makes a startling discovery about a tragic death that prompted her family’s slow undoing. With every uneven and painful step into the past, Jess comes closer to a truth that could alter her own path—and open a door to a different future.

My Review:

I liked the way Nora Carroll wrote The Color of Water in July.  Alternating POV's between teenage Jess, present day Jess and her Grandmother really presented an intriguing story, and I felt like I got to know both of these characters well.

There is not a great deal of dialogue between characters in the book, but this works very well in The Color of Water in July.  With Nora's descriptive writing I could feel Jess's melancholy, her sadness, her everything.  How Jess was dealing with her present is bringing back so much from the past, and I really felt part of what Jess was going through.  I could relate to her just wanting to shove everything in a box and move on.  The secrets Jess uncovers from the past surprised me, and I liked how Nora wove this into the story in a very realistic way, especially for that era.

I was a little worried about Jess, the relationship she is in, and where she was headed.  I liked what Jess (and I) found out, I liked watching her slowly come alive again, and I liked the hope for the future I felt blossoming.

The secondary characters, including Jess's boyfriend are more in the periphery of the plot, each with their own role in Jess's story.  This also worked well, they weren't distracting, but interesting.

I love the setting and Nora's descriptions of the lake, the lake house and the history of this place in The Color of Water in July.  I could very easily picture sitting out on the porch on a hot summer night, or heading to the beach and the blue water.

The Color of Water in July was a really enjoyable read for me, I liked that Nora was able to evoke a lot of feelings for the characters, and I felt good and hopeful at the end of it.  I'd recommend The Color of Water in July to any women's fiction reader.

4/5 stars

Purchase from Amazon.com

Review! Under the Covers (The Texan Quartet #3) by Claire Boston

Book Blurb:

What if the one time you didn't want love was when you truly needed it?

Forced to flee her abusive ex, alone with no support, Elle is determined to rebuild her life and protect her five-year-old son. Not one to take the easy road, she opens a bookshop café, but opening day almost ends in disaster. In the midst of this chaos, the last thing she needs is a man as charming as George Jones getting in her way. 

George has always been a sucker for a damsel in distress, and Elle ticks all the boxes. But Elle's not interested in being rescued by anyone, especially not him. She knows her taste in men can't be trusted, but fighting George's charisma is harder than she expected. And George, who is not one to ignore an itch, has found there's something about Elle that's got under his skin.

When Elle's ex turns up to cause trouble, George must overcome his boyish flirtatiousness if he's to convince Elle to trust herself and let him into her life. But can Elle put her past behind her before it overwhelms her present?

My Review:

Under the Covers by Claire Boston was a book that was easy to lose myself in with great characters I really enjoyed getting to know.

I really liked Elle.  She doesn't dwell on the past...instead she uses it as a motivator to push herself into the future.  She is young, but mature beyond her years.  She is a hard worker, a devoted mother, independent, brave, and strong.  Elle is not going to depend on anyone anymore or let anyone make decisions for her.  She came out of a really bad experience, and instead of letting it hold her back or poison her against all men, she is determined to make a good life for herself and her young son.  I really, really like these characteristics in a heroine.  Even though Elle has no desire for any kind of relationship, she's above painting all men with the same brush as her ex.  I like what Elle is doing, and I love her business!!

George was attracted to Elle from the moment he laid eyes on her.  Of course Elle can see his hotness, but she's not looking to get involved with anyone.  George can't stop thinking about Elle though, and soon they are spending some time together.  As much as Elle fights it, a relationship of sorts does form.  Not only between Elle and George, but between Elle's son and George.  George needs to take it slow though...he wants to rush in, help Elle, and do whatever he can for her.  He's doing it for the right reasons, but Elle can't help but feel overwhelmed and scared.  I liked that George wanted to take care of Elle, but he tends to rush into things without thinking of the consequences or Elle's feelings.  Understanding Elle's past is the key to putting things in perspective for George.  

When Elle's past comes back to threaten her future and her livelihood, will Elle realize it's ok to lean on others?  That maybe George is just who she can envision a future with?

I really enjoyed the secondary characters in Under the Covers...from the group of friends, to George's family, even to Elle's ex's family.  They all added depth and livened up the plot in a special way, often making me wish they were my friends!

Claire writes smoothly with great flow to the plot.  She kept me very interested and at times on edge!

I'd recommend Under the Covers to any romance reader, especially if you like a touch of suspense to the plot!

4/5 stars

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Review: Rainy Day Sisters: A Hartley-by-the-Sea Novel by Kate Hewitt

Book Blurb:

Welcome to Hartley-by-the-Sea in England’s beautiful Lake District, where two sisters who meet as strangers find small miracles tucked into the corners of every day....

When Lucy Bagshaw’s life in Boston falls apart, thanks to a scathing editorial written by her famous artist mother, she accepts her half sister Juliet’s invitation to stay with her in a charming seaside village in northern England. Lucy is expecting quaint cottages and cream teas, but instead finds that her sister is an aloof host, the weather is wet, windy, and cold, and her new boss, Alex Kincaid, is a disapproving widower who only hired her as a favor to Juliet.

Despite the invitation she offered, Juliet is startled by the way Lucy catapults into her orderly life. As Juliet faces her own struggles with both her distant mother and her desire for a child, her sister’s irrepressible optimism begins to take hold. With the help of quirky villagers, these hesitant rainy day sisters begin to forge a new understanding…and find in each other the love of family that makes all the difference.

My Review:

Rainy Day Sisters by Kate Hewitt is a novel any women's fiction reader will enjoy!

Told in dual POV's (Juliet and Lucy's), it was easy to feel part of their world in small town England.  Juliet and Lucy have nothing in common except that they are half sisters.  They are so different, yet they are both struggling in their lives right now.  I liked how their relationship started out in Rainy Day Sisters, and I really enjoyed watching it grow, as Juliet and Lucy navigated all sorts of emotions and happenings.  I like how different these two women are, and how it is reflected not only in their every day lives, but in the bond that is very slowly, sometimes painfully, forged between them as they get to know one another.  There is huge character growth in Rainy Day Sisters, and this affects not only their relationships but their outlook on life.  I felt strongly that these two women were good for each other, despite the difficulties they encountered, and I really enjoyed this journey with them.  I really felt that I was there with them in their small English Village, and I couldn't wait to see what would happen with them and the others in their lives.

I enjoyed the unique secondary characters in this English village, they really helped bring the place to life and made me want to head straight there!  The setting of this small village in England seems the perfect place for Lucy and Juliet's story to take place.

There are some strong sub plots that flow nicely in with the main plot of Rainy Day Sisters, all of them relevant to Lucy and Juliet.  I felt that these strengthened the characters and made the story more dimensional, adding believability to their lives.

Rainy Day Sisters was a book that was easy for me to fall into and keep reading.  The pace is good, and the writing flows off the pages.  I'd recommend Rainy Day Sisters to any women's fiction reader!

4/5 stars

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Review: One Night with the Bad Boy by Eve Gaddy

Book Blurb:

The Blues might be new to Whiskey River, Texas, but these illegitimate sons of the legendary Boots Kelly are no strangers to charisma.

Xander Blue, IT genius, has always been a love ’em and leave ’em kind of guy. But when he meets the CFO of Kelly Boots, beautiful single mom, Bailey Richmond, he knows he’s down for the count.

Bailey Richmond has been there and done that and won’t do it again. In Bailey’s eyes, once a player always a player and she and her son have too much at stake to risk it all on a fling. But dark-haired, blue-eyed, sexy Xander Blue makes her question all her rules.

Xander is determined to prove to Bailey that there’s more between than chemistry. Can a charming millionaire convince a once bitten, forever shy single mom that she wants more than one night with the bad boy?

My Review:

I am really enjoying following the journey of these brothers in this series!

I loved Xander, the challenges he's going through, the changes that have happened overnight to his life, and the easy acceptance he has with it all.  Don't get me wrong, it's not a smooth road to the future, but the way Xander is navigating this new path is a great journey to take with him and his brothers!  Getting to know all of the brothers is what I am loving the most about this series!

When Xander sees Bailey across the room, he's immediately smitten with her and wants to know her much better.  He's not sure what his future holds, but he wants the present to include Bailey.  Bailey is a woman who is not interested in relationships.  She's been burned once and that has tainted all men for her.  She also is very protective of her son, and doesn't want him to be hurt.  So Bailey is all about no relationships, no meeting of families, and what comes across as no trust.  Xander is definitely not relationship material for her...but what's some fun between the sheets?

Xander and Bailey have great chemistry, and Xander finds himself wanting more than he's ever wanted before.  But convincing Bailey that he's not a short term man might be impossible.

As I said, I loved Xander.  I didn't like Bailey as much, because I got really tired of her attitude towards men...especially the one she's currently spending a lot of time with.  She has great qualities...she's independent, she's a fantastic mother, and she is a hard worker, but for me the way she treated Xander turned me off.  Although I didn't really care for her, it is a sign of great writing that Eve has made Bailey so real and easy to have some kind of feelings about!  You'll have to read One Night With the Bad Boy to see how it all unfolds and turns out!

I love the underlying theme of the brothers in this series .  I am watching them get to know one another and form relationships not only with each other, but with other people and the town of Whiskey River.  

One Night With the Bad Boy is well paced, and kept me interested.  The secondary characters all work well with this plot, and I enjoyed that Seth, Bailey's son was a significant secondary character.

I look forward to reading the next book in this series and would recommend it to any romance reader!

4/5 stars

Purchase from Amazon.com

Review: Montana Hero (Big Sky Mavericks #5) by Debra Salonen

Book Blurb:

During Flynn Bensen‘s last wildfire rescue, a woman died despite Flynn’s best efforts to save her. He can’t escape his sense of failure or recurring nightmares, but he can escape to Marietta, Montana, to a new job as the head of Crawford County Search and Rescue. When he meets his scorching hot co-worker on his first day, Flynn feels like he might have just jumped from one wild fire to another that threatens to burn out of control despite his determination to keep a safe distance.

Outspoken, direct, and ambitious Kat Robinson isn’t thrilled to have a new boss—after all, if the timing had been different, she’d have been a shoe-in for Flynn’s job. But a single mom of a ten-year-old son knows where her priorities lay—with Brady, the light of her life. No way is she looking for a relationship and co-workers are always off limits. Too bad Flynn’s so darn hot, gorgeous, kind and authentic.

Will Flynn be the hero Kat needs to help her find the courage to fall in love again? 

My Review:

I really liked the believability of the plot and characters that Debra Salonen writes about in Montana Hero.

For different reasons, Flynn and Kat both come to Marietta, Montana for a fresh start.  Despite being co-workers, and Flynn the boss, they are both intrigued and attracted.  Flynn is fighting demons from his past and Kat is looking to quiet the past to move to the future.  Neither is looking for a relationship, but sometimes love happens when you least expect it.  With unexpected happenings and all the issues they are facing, a future together might not be in the cards for them, no matter how hot the chemistry or strong the connection they have. 

Both of these characters are cautious regarding relationships, and they are both facing issues that can happen in real life too.  Kat has a lot going with her own history and her sons needs.  I really liked her and how she dealt with things.  Debra brings a great perspective on what Kat and her son are going through, and I really liked the glimpses of him and his thoughts she gave in Montana Hero.   I really liked Flynn too.  Reading from both of their perspectives really strengthens my understanding of them.  I liked the back story that is presented through Montana Hero, I felt like it really helped define the characters.

There is a lot going on in Montana Hero, just like in real life, and I felt this gave the plot extra depth.  I liked how everything was woven together.  Debra manages to evoke a variety of emotions that really brought all of the characters to life and they went through a lot of growth in this story.  I liked the unknowns that are part of the plot and the work up to the conclusion...which I really enjoyed!

Montana Hero has a good pace to it that kept me interested and wanting to know more.  All about all kinds of relationship, trust, and how the burden of the past impacts the future, I'd recommend Montana Hero to any romance reader!

4/5 stars

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