Review: Marry Poppins (Impossible Dream #3) by Beth Ciotta

Book Blurb:

When fate bobbles your dream, sometimes you have to make your own magic…. 
Award-winning author Beth Ciotta presents 'Marry Poppins', the third book in the contemporary fairy tale series—Impossible Dream—celebrating hope, love, and the magic of the human spirit!

Reader Advisory: Feel-good romance with humor and heart! Mild sexual content and profanity. For fans of quirky love stories.

BOOK DESCRIPTION
She wants a family. He needs a wife. A marriage-of-convenience solves a myriad of problems for unlucky Georgie Poppins and down-on-his-luck Bryce Morgan. Falling in love wasn’t part of the bargain so no one is more surprised than Georgie and Bryce when sexual sparks ignite a full-blown romance. Unfortunately, as love swells, trouble mounts, including a glitch at Impossible Dream.com—an Internet company designed to match people with their most avid desire. Maybe Georgie and Bryce weren’t meant to be after all.

My Review:

Marry Poppins by Beth Ciotta is a well paced small town romance with a lot of emotion.  All Georgie has ever wanted is a husband and children...a family of her own.  This has eluded her though, so she turns to unconventional means to achieve her dreams - Impossible Dreams.com.  With no response from them after a few months, Georgie has all but given up.  Then the man she's secretly always loved has a need she can fulfill...what starts off as a convenient arrangement soon starts to feel like so much more.  But is it meant to be?  Time and trust will tell...

I enjoyed this saga in Beth Ciotta's Impossible Dream series.  Georgie is a strong heroine who I really felt like I got to know in Marry Poppins.  With a fairy tale feel to it, Georgie puts a lot of faith in Impossible Dreams.com and starts to doubt herself at times and her real life decisions.  This is an interesting part of the plot, because Georgie and her friends really believe in the magic of Impossible Dreams.com, and I liked how this was written in to reflect on their lives.  I really liked Georgie, and the more I got to know her the better I understood her.  She is fun, entertaining and smart, but she hides a lot of insecurity underneath it all.  I really felt for her at times.  I liked Bryce, even if I didn't get to know him as well as I felt like I knew Georgie as Marry Poppins progressed.  This worked well though, and his layers are slowly peeled away.  I liked the chemistry between them, the connection, and the underlying feeling of rightness...even if they couldn't always believe in it.

I liked how Beth brings Georgie and Bryce together as adults, and watching their relationship grow was heart warming.

I really like the group of girl friends that is part of every Impossible Dream book.  They demonstrate true friendship in the best ways.  All of the secondary characters are strong additions to Marry Poppins, and I particularly like Bryce's father.

With skeletons from the past to deal with and present day trouble, living in the present is a good lesson to take away from this...live your dreams!

I'd recommend Marry Poppins to any romance reader!

4/5 stars

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Review: Find Me (The Donovan Family #3) by Margaret Watson

Book Blurb: 

After witnessing the murder of an FBI agent in a parking garage late one night, Lizzy Monroe meets with the FBI and agrees to work with a sketch artist. But on her way out of the office, she comes face to face with the killer – another FBI agent. She knows from experience what happens when a criminal is a member of law enforcement – cops protect their own. So when the killer shows up at her door later that morning, she knows she has no choice but to run. 

From the moment he sees her, Mac Donovan is intrigued by – and in lust with – their beautiful witness. After Lizzy disappears, he spends his free time tracking her down. When he finally finds her on a remote island in the San Juans, their chemistry is explosive and the sex is even hotter. But he's hiding his identity from her. What will happen when she discovers who he really is? Will she be able to forgive his betrayal? Or will the killer find them first? 

My Review:

In Find Me, Margaret Watson took me right into heart pounding action and didn't let me go!  This was a great start to Find Me - I felt like I was thrown into the plot right along with Lizzy.

Lizzy is a likable, admirable heroine.  She tries to do the right thing despite her fears and trust issues.  Because Margaret did a great job of building her character, I could understand Lizzy and her reaction to the situation she suddenly found herself in.  I really wanted Lizzy to be safe, but I also wanted her to be able to live her life without fear.  I liked how Margaret worked up to this and how the plot played out.  Mac is a solid hero also.  An FBI agent who is mesmerized from the first time he sees Lizzy, he can't let it go when she disappears.  He believes in the good and doing the right thing.  He also believes in the people he works with.  I liked Mac, and I could understand his dilemma.  When he finally finds Lizzy, the spark is still there...but can he trust her?  Can she trust him?  And most of all, can he believe in her? 

There is nothing easy about this case, and I liked how Margaret kept the plot alive with a working blend of suspense and heat!  I liked that in Find Me we know the who...but we don't know the why or what, or how far he will go.  Find Me was an exciting, mesmerizing, fast paced read that I had trouble putting down.

It is a believable plot.  Corruption exists, but there is also always more good to outweigh it.  

I loved all of the secondary characters, especially Lizzy's dog and Mac's family.  I felt like this was a family that I could be a part of, and I liked the connection between them all.  The secondary characters add a lot of extra depth and feeling in their own special way to Find Me.

I'd recommend Find Me by Margaret Watson to any romantic suspense reader!

4/5 stars

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Stop at Nothing (Protect and Serve #1) by Kate SeRine

Book Blurb:

When a high-profile investigation goes wrong, FBI Agent Kyle Dawson is transferred back home where he is forced to confront his demons…and the only woman he ever loved. Three years ago, Kyle and Abby Morrow shared a wild, passionate summer—then Abby broke his heart.

NOW SHE NEEDS HIS HELP
Kyle never stopped loving Abby. So when Abby uncovers evidence of a human-trafficking ring, leading to her sister’s kidnapping, he swears he’ll stop at nothing to bring her sister home and keep Abby safe. Caught in a lethal game of cat and mouse and blindsided by their own explosive desires, they must set aside the past before it’s too late.

My Review:

In Stop at Nothing by Kate SeRine, Kyle and Abby have a distant past yet unhealed, and have not seen each other for years.  Suddenly, due to just the right mix of circumstance, they are unexpectedly brought back together - to each other and to danger.  Abby's forensic investigations and Kyle's work with the FBI on the surface look like a good mix...but maybe not so much professionally.  The personal hurt and heart break is still simmering between them, along with some unanswered questions about their abrupt break off.  One neither of them has ever really recovered from.  As they work together to fight evil and save the innocent, the personal and professional lines blur...and just as things start to become clearer they might not have a future after all...

Kyle and Abby are strong main characters.  There were parts about them I liked and parts I didn't particularly care for at different times in the story.  This made them very real for me.  Both of them grew on me, Kate's writing made me feel for them, for their past and present, gave me hope for them, and as their characters developed I liked them more and more.  The possible second chance they find themselves faced with was a tumultuous journey, made even more difficult due to the circumstances that brought them back together.  The suspenseful part of the plot is fast moving, creepy at times, and kept me guessing!  I liked how Kate did this and kept the story moving along at a good pace so I was never bored, just wondered what would happen next!

I also enjoyed the secondary plots in Stop at Nothing and the secondary characters that came with them.  The family dynamics that make up a lot of who Kyle is were an interesting mix to the plot, and worked well with it and his character.  I liked watching these relationships grow and change.

Moving on from a past that is almost as haunting as the present time but in completely different ways, Stop at Nothing is intense and suspenseful, filled with tension, conflict, heat and heart.  I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to any romantic suspense reader.

4/5 stars

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Ticket to Nowhere (Double Trouble Book 1) by Patricia Rosemoor

Book Blurb:

What is a classy woman who looks like she’s been mud-wrestling hiding from in a carnival? Chick Lovett offers a desperate-looking Eden Payne shelter and a job working in his game booth. Having witnessed a body hauled onto a boat and a prominent politician who was involved, Eden can’t go home. As they work together to find proof of a woman’s murder, as attraction brings them closer than he’s ever been with another woman, "Chickie-loves-it" wonders if Eden will ever realize he’s more than a seasoned carny.

My Review:

In Ticket to Nowhere, Patricia Rosemoor gives a well balanced blend of romance, secrets, mystery and suspense in a unique setting.  And nothing is as it seems at the carnival!  With no where to hide, Eden ends up at the carnival...and Chick is intrigued by her from the moment he sees her.  Knowing no one will believe what she's seen, Eden doesn't know what to do.  Soon Chick is drawn not only to Eden, but to helping her escape the danger that is chasing her.

I really liked Eden and Chick as a hero and heroine.  There characters are not as straight forward as each of them seems to think, and I liked getting to know them as their characters developed.  With the stress of trying to escape danger while at the same time finding proof of a killer, Eden makes an admirable heroine who is brave, even if what she resorts to isn't always smart!  I liked how Chick was with Eden, even if he was keeping secrets of his own.  He is protective and very obviously attracted to her.  The feeling is mutual and easy to see, but the rocky road they are on is filled with challenges.  I couldn't wait to see how these characters, a possible relationship, and the suspenseful plot played out.  I don't know if what they were doing together as they tried to find evidence on their own is realistic, but it is a strong part of the plot and works well in Ticket to Nowhere.

I loved the unique, carnival atmosphere!  I could easily picture it all.  The secondary characters, mainly the other carnival people add so much color and feeling, and show a true connectedness with Chick.  Their quirkiness really brings it all to life, and the setting works so well with the plot.

An exciting and well paced book, I'd recommend Ticket to Nowhere to any romantic suspense reader!

4/5 stars

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Review: The Girl in the Painting by Kirsty Ferry

Book Blurb:

What if you thought you knew a secret that could change history? 

Whilst standing engrossed in her favourite Pre-Raphaelite painting – Millais's Ophelia – Cori catches the eye of Tate gallery worker, Simon, who is immediately struck by her resemblance to the red-haired beauty in the famous artwork. 

The attraction is mutual, but Cori has other things on her mind. She has recently acquired the diary of Daisy, a Victorian woman with a shocking secret. As Cori reads, it soon becomes apparent that Daisy will stop at nothing to be heard, even outside of the pages of her diary … 

Will Simon stick around when life becomes increasingly spooky for Cori, as she moves ever closer to uncovering the truth about Daisy’s connection to the girl in her favourite painting?

My Review:

In The Girl In the Painting, Kirsty Ferry too me into a world of art and intrigue!  Kirsty writes an intricate tale that took me on a very unexpected journey in The Girl in the Painting.

I really liked the hero and heroine.  Simon is an artist working in the Tate gallery who is attracted to Cori from the moment he sees her.  Cori has moved to London, following her dreams after heart break with no intention of getting together with anyone else for the time being.  Circumstances draw Simon and Cori together though, and the attraction that I could feel between them slowly grows.  I liked how they were together and how their relationship evolved.  They have a common interest to start with, and from there everything intensifies.  

And intensify it does!  The world of art is also a world of mystery and secrets at times, and when Cori begins following a long ago trail that starts with a woman in a painting, the pace of The Girl in the Painting really picked up and sucked me in.  Trying to find out the truths of the past starts getting scary though, and soon Cori's experiences become exhilarating and thrilling.  Kirsty weaves in a big spook factor in a way that makes you think it just might happen...  I liked how this was done.   The twists in the plot were unexpected and exciting in all the right ways.  The mystery of the past draws Cori and Simon closer, as well as a group of friends, and I liked how these people interacted with each other and within the plot of the story.  I also really love the setting of this book, and parts of London come to life and are easy to visualize.

The different angles of the plot weave together well, and the pace is great.  I felt like nothing else could surprise me in this story, but Kirsty still manages to do just that and draw everything to a powerful, heart fulfilling conclusion.  I'd recommend The Girl in the Mirror to any romance reader who likes some supernatural and suspense blended in!

4/5 stars

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Review: Winter's Wonder (Pine Point #2) by Allie Boniface

Book Blurb:

Pine Point hasn’t changed much in the eight years Zane Andrews has been away. But Zane sure has. These days, this reformed bad boy has no problem resisting the bored housewives who flirt shamelessly with their gated community’s security guard.

The only thorn in his side is the stray dog that keeps overturning the neighborhood’s garbage cans, and the cute, crusading do-gooder who barks at him for trying to chase it off.

Becca Ericksen knows Zane is just doing his job, but his tactics are making her job—to rescue strays and bring them to Pine Point Paws—much harder. Clearly, they have nothing in common, yet when the legendary playboy asks her out, she finds herself saying yes.

With a sizzling kiss, something warm and unexpected begins to grow between them. Opposites can attract, but is attraction enough?

Warning: Contains a bad boy gone good, and a woman who’s one good deed away from disaster. Cold noses and warm kisses—and that’s just from the canines.

My Review:

Winter's Wonder by Allie Boniface is a sweet, fast paced romance with characters who feel like people I could know.  An unexpected attraction of opposites sets this story in motion.  

I liked Zane and Becca a lot as a hero and heroine.  I liked that there was the instant attraction, but neither of them actually acted on it right away.  Becca has a lot going on in her life, and a relationship is not in the near future as she sees it for herself.  Zane doesn't give up easily though!  I liked that it wasn't as easy as Zane would have liked to have anything with Becca.  There were times when I wondered if he'd give up!

Zane and Becca have a good connection, even if at times it seems sporadic.  This made them believable, and I found myself hoping they could find a way to fit into each others lives.

I loved the wintry feeling of Winter's Wonder and I especially like all the animals!

Well paced and a feel good read, I'd recommend Winter's Wonder to any romance reader.  

4/5 stars

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Review: Hold Me Close (Paradise, Idaho #2) by Rosalind James

Book Blurb:

Kayla Chambers knows what love is—and what it isn’t. When her boyfriend turns abusive, she and her son escape to a new life in a place where he’ll never find them. The idyllic town of Paradise, Idaho, has everything she needs to get back on her feet. Survival is her only goal, and the last thing she wants is another man in her life.

But Kayla’s new neighbor, high school principal Luke Jackson, is determined to change her mind. Luke usually takes the fast lane with women, but he can see that Kayla and her son need help, and he wants to earn her trust—even if that means taking things slow. He strikes up a friendship that soon simmers into something passionate and real. But when Kayla’s past catches up with her, Luke knows he has to find a way to keep her safe…or risk losing her forever.

My Review:

In Hold Me Close by Rosalind James I was pulled in from the first page and felt like I was inside the story with Kayla, her son Eli, and Luke.  When Kayla takes the biggest risk of her life to escape terror and physical abuse, she goes to Paradise, Idaho.  One of the few places she has happy memories of, even if for a short time.  There, she starts fresh.  Wary, but pushing on, Kayla is determined to make a good life for her and her son in Paradise.  Luke's home has always been Paradise, even if no woman there has claimed his heart.  Something about Kayla tugs at him though and makes him want to be closer to her.

I really liked both of these main characters.  I loved Kayla.  She is brave, strong and determined.  Despite the odds and what she's been through, she pushes on and doesn't give up or pity herself.  I got the strong impression that she would come out on top...if the man she's running from doesn't find her.  I really liked Luke too.  The depth of his feelings for Kayla and Eli surprises him, but he doesn't fight them.  He is patient, caring and protective.  Together their chemistry is palpable, even if Kayla is not ready for another man in her life.  She's not sure she ever will be, but Luke just might change that.  I liked that Luke didn't play the knight in shining armour.  He just was who he was, and when he realizes the depth of what Kayla is running from he wants to keep her and Eli safe but doesn't try to take over their safety.  He seems to instinctively know that Kayla needs to battle her own demons.  I liked the honesty and maturity that are integral parts of who Luke and Kayla are.  Luke and Kayla are believable, realistic characters who could be anyone in your life.

I really liked Paradise, Idaho also!  A small town that felt like home as I read, a place I'd like to be.  It definitely is not a smothering small town, and Rosalind's descriptions of it and the people there really brought it to life.  With a host of secondary characters from Luke's family to friends backing up the main characters, Hold Me Close was a powerful read.  I enjoyed reading Hold Me Close in the different points of view Rosalind James writes from...from a battered woman to inside an evil mind of who she's running from.  This really upped the suspense of the plot and made it all feel even more real.

Rosalind brings a spotlight on domestic abuse and how difficult it is to escape in Hold Me Close, and I'm glad I read this book.  With continuous good flow from scene to scene and page to page, Hold Me Close is suspenseful, hopeful, and emotional.  I'd recommend it to any romance reader.

5/5 stars

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