Review: Once a Charmer by Sharla Lovelace

Once a Charmer (Charmed in Texas #3) by Sharla Lovelace

Publication Date: October 17th 2017 by Lyrical Shine

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

About the book:

Charmed, Texas, is a close-knit small town where people’s dreams of love can come true. That’s not to say that some people aren’t still waiting, and dreaming . . .
 
By day, Allie Greene stays busy with her family diner, and keeping tabs on her teenage daughter. What’s really exhausting Allie, however, are the nights. Not that she minds Bash Anderson unbuttoning her naughty desires—if only in her dreams. But what was he doing there at all? He’s her best friend, and a father figure to her girl. Talk about awkward. Talk about OMG-heat-and-fireworks that are flipping fifteen years of normal upside down. And now, when Allie needs him as a friend more than ever, logic doesn’t stand a chance against his lips and irresistible deep-blue eyes . . .

Sure, Bash has fantasized about Allie, but there’s no way he’d act on it. She and her daughter are the closest thing to family he’s ever known. With the exception of one drunken moment fifteen years ago, he and Allie have stayed on this side of the line—until that impulsive kiss of hers knocked him on his butt. That’s just one hurdle. Not only does Allie need Bash’s help to save her diner, but his apiary is in trouble, too. To stir the pot further, they’ve been roped into vying for the town’s Honey King and Queen contest—a sweet event that’s making them closer than ever. Something’s bound to come undone. Bash just hopes it’s not the friendship he’s worked so hard to hold on to.

My Thoughts:

Allie and Bash have been best friends since they were teenagers, always there for each other through thick and thin, a makeshift family without intimate benefits.  Never wanting to jeopardize their friendship they ignored the mutual attraction until recently.  A passionate kiss, three months ago, left them both discombobulated.  Avoiding the issue, they’ve grown apart just when they need each other most.  Allie finds out she could lose her diner, and her fifteen-year-old daughter, Angel is discovering the opposite sex! Bash is having his own business struggles, as well.

Once a Charmer ended up being a touching best-friends-to-lovers romance! I had my doubts because up until about the 37% mark I was getting a little frustrated that Bash and Allie weren’t communicating.  I guess this was somewhat necessary because before this book I didn’t really know their history, only that there was some underlying sexual tension between them. Their romance really took off for me after that, with lusty, can’t-keep-our-hands-off-each-other exchanges, but I loved the close, tender moments between them just as much. I melted over how protective Bash could be with Allie and her daughter Angel. He made such soul-baring declarations, in public no less, that completely stole my heart!  Bash and Allie truly completed each other, and with Angel they were a perfect, sweet, ready-made family!  

4 Suns

Connect with Sharla Lovelace:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

The Charmed Series:

(Click on cover for Goodreads link)

Review: Without Merit by Colleen Hoover

Without Merit by Colleen Hoover

Publication Date: October 3rd 2017 by Atria Books

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

About the book:

Not every mistake deserves a consequence. Sometimes the only thing it deserves is forgiveness.

The Voss family is anything but normal. They live in a repurposed church, newly baptized Dollar Voss. The once cancer-stricken mother lives in the basement, the father is married to the mother’s former nurse, the little half-brother isn’t allowed to do or eat anything fun, and the eldest siblings are irritatingly perfect. Then, there’s Merit.

Merit Voss collects trophies she hasn’t earned and secrets her family forces her to keep. While browsing the local antiques shop for her next trophy, she finds Sagan. His wit and unapologetic idealism disarm and spark renewed life into her—until she discovers that he’s completely unavailable. Merit retreats deeper into herself, watching her family from the sidelines when she learns a secret that no trophy in the world can fix.

Fed up with the lies, Merit decides to shatter the happy family illusion that she’s never been a part of before leaving them behind for good. When her escape plan fails, Merit is forced to deal with the staggering consequences of telling the truth and losing the one boy she loves.

My Thoughts:

I was really worried about picking up Without Merit because I hated the last book I read by Colleen Hoover.  I was pleasantly surprised and relieved to like Without Merit as much as I did. It made me feel a whole range of emotions, and I read the story in one afternoon, unable to put it down.

The romance isn’t angsty or the main focus really, but it was the sweetest part to me.  As the story starts you’re just kind of thrown into the middle of Merit’s world, but in a pretty fantastic moment.  That moment is sort of shattered, but no worries, all sorts itself out.

Merit’s family life is far from happy.  Her father divorced her mother and married his mistress when mistress was pregnant with his child, yet everyone, including Merit’s mother continue to live in the same house!! I was not happy with Merit’s father, and even with all the explanations at the end, I still wasn’t thrilled with the man, but no one is perfect and he did seem to be trying the best he could with the screwed-up situation.  Still, all kinds of f*cked up IMO.  I’d say the circumstances were way out there in terms of real life, but unfortunately, I’ve had to deal with a somewhat similar situation in my own life, so I could totally relate to Merit’s feelings and reactions.

Merit bounces back and forth between being a fun, quirky character to someone with a lot of anger.  As the story progresses it becomes apparent she’s depressed. I think the feelings of depression and reactions felt very real to life.  Those feelings can just sort of creep into your life and take over without even realizing it.  It’s a dangerous thing, but I’m happy that Merit, had people there for her, which included her screwed up family.  

4 Suns

Connect with Colleen Hoover:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Holiday Release Blitz-SMP Romance

I'm excited to be part of the SMP Holiday Romance Blitz, because it's getting close to the season where you want to pick up a romance to warm your heart while you read by a cozy fire! Any one of these titles will put you in the Holiday Romance mood!  I read With This Christmas Ring by Manda Collins (see my review below) and loved this second chance romance!  As part of this post the lovely people of St. Martin's Press have generously offered up a giveaway of one of the print titles.  See below for details and enter for a chance to win.

With This Christmas Ring by Manda Collins

Publication Date: October 3rd 2017 by Swerve

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About the book:

A wallflower determined to fulfill a dying promise, the rogue she jilted years ago, and an orphaned baby are all brought together amidst the magic of Christmas in this new novella from Manda Collins.

Miss Merry Parks makes a deathbed promise to a schoolfriend that her infant daughter will be taken to her absent father. There’s only one problem—to find the baby’s father, she’ll have to consult his cousin, Viscount Wrotham, the man she jilted five years ago. The man she couldn’t forget.

Alex Ponsonby, Viscount Wrotham, is stunned to find Merry Parks—looking more lovely than ever--on his doorstep with an infant in her arms. His shock soon turns to dismay when he learns his own cousin William is the man who abandoned his wife and child. As head of the family he’s duty bound to see right is done. But he can't let this opportunity pass. He’ll take Merry and the baby to his cousin, but he’ll woo her back in the process.

Merry agrees to travel with Alex and the baby to Wrotham Castle, where the entire Ponsonby family has gathered for Christmas, but her plans to see the baby settled then leave are ruined by a snowstorm. After five years apart, Alex and Merry will spend the week getting reacquainted. Perhaps it’s the spirit of the holiday, or the magic of the season, but there could be something else in the air this Yuletide…A Christmas Reunion.

My Thoughts:

Circumstances throw Merry and Alex together after Merry ended their engagement five years ago. Merry was bullied by Alex’s grandmother, the dowager Lady Wrotham, to break things off unbeknownst to Alex.  The moment they lay eyes on each other again the attraction and longing rush right back up, but Merry doesn’t expect Alex to give her a second chance.  However, it doesn’t seem Alex is holding a grudge, he’s had some time to think about the past and suspects his grandmother had a hand in ending things so when Merry shows up in his life again, he’s determined to take this opportunity to set things right and find happiness with Merry at long last. 

With This Christmas Ring was a sweet, second chance romance that warmed my heart.  There’s no drama between Alex and Merry once they meet up again. They are truthful and bond over the loss and longing they’ve felt since parting.  All conflict comes from outside sources and they meet those problems head on, as a united front. 

The Holiday setting will get you in the mood to take a snowy sleigh ride, snuggling up to your loved one, staying warm under blankets and the heat of attraction.

4 Suns

About the author:
Manda Collins is the author of the Studies in Scandal series, The Lords of Anarchy series, The Ugly Duckling series and the Wicked Widows series as well as several other Regency-set romances. She spent her teen years wishing she’d been born a couple of centuries earlier, preferably in the English countryside. Time travel being what it is, she resigned herself to life with electricity and indoor plumbing, and read lots of books. When she’s not writing, she’s helping other people use books, as an academic librarian.

Below is the SMP Holiday titles featured.
(click on title for Goodreads link)

Saint Martin's Press has generously offered up a copy of one of the Print titles above to one lucky reader.  The giveaway is open to US Residents only.  Winner can choose one Print Copy from the following titles:

A Season of You by Emma Douglas

Christmas at Two Love Lane by Kieran Kramer

Hope at Christmas by Nancy Nagle

The Christmas Cowboy Hero by Donna Grant

Review & Giveaway: Archangel's Viper by Nalini Singh

Archangel's Viper (Guild Hunter #10) by Nalini Singh

Publication Date: September 26th 2017 by Berkley

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Nobles | Kobo | TBD

About the book:

Enter New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh’s breathtakingly passionate Guild Hunter world with the story of a woman who isn’t a vampire or an angel…or human…

Once a broken girl known as Sorrow, Holly Chang now prowls the shadowy gray underground of the city for the angels. But it’s not her winged allies who make her a wanted woman—it’s the unknown power coursing through her veins. Brutalized by an insane archangel, she was left with the bloodlust of a vampire, the ability to mesmerize her prey, and a poisonous bite.

Now, someone has put a bounty on her head…

Venom is one of the Seven, Archangel Raphael’s private guard, and he’s as infuriating as he is seductive. A centuries-old vampire, his fangs dispense a poison deadlier than Holly’s. But even if Venom can protect Holly from those hunting her, he might not be able to save himself—because the strange, violent power inside Holly is awakening…

No one is safe.

My Thoughts:

Holly’s backstory is touched on, and I was horrified by what she went through in her past, captured and tortured by Uram, an archangel who went insane.  She witnessed the brutal murders of her friends and then was force fed his blood changing her into a vampire and more.  The experience could’ve easily broken her, but she had the archangel Raphael and all his clan (not sure if that’s the right word) at her back.  Not only that, she’s had the unconditional support of her family, not caring what she’s turned into, they still love her without reserve. Holly’s definitely a strong, admirable woman.

The more that she’s turning into is what worries Holly, because she’s plagued with crazy thoughts and powers she shouldn’t rightly have as just a vampire.  She fears Uram left a bit of himself in her that might eventually consume and overtake her.  Add to that, there’s a bounty put on her head. Someone has paid a high price to acquire Holly. 

Enter Viper. They’ve apparently had an antagonistic relationship since meeting and he’s back at the Tower in Manhattan where she lives.  Worse, the two of them are assigned to work together to find the person who wants to capture Holly. But as they work together they come to realize they have more in common than any of the other creatures at the Tower, and the attraction neither has wanted to acknowledge increases and electrifies!

Viper and Holly’s romance was a slow build, first a bit of sniping back and forth, and then mutual respect, trust forming a bond that made their attraction more than a fleeting feeling. Viper was a sought-after chef before he become a vampire, hundreds of years ago, so he cooks up the most delicious sounding meals for Holly to care for her, which seduces her even more.  I love it when a man (my husband, lol) cooks for me and does it well!

I’ve read and loved books from Nalini Singh’s Psy-Changeling series, but had never picked up anything in her Guild Hunter series, so I was pleasantly surprised to enjoy it as much as I did; coming in blind, unfamiliar with the world or creatures.  I was immersed in the mysteries and worried for Holly as the story progressed.  It was a thrilling nail-biter in places! I’m sure any fan of the series will love Viper’s Archangel just as much as I did or more!

4 Suns

Connect with Nalini Singh:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Berkley has generously provided a Paperback Copy of Viper's Archangel to give away to one reader.  The giveaway is open to US Residents only.  Please fill out the rafflecopter for a chance to win.  Good luck!

Stuck in a Good Book Giveaway Hop

I'm participating in Stuck in a Good Book Giveaway Hop hosted by Valerie at Stuck in Books, and will be giving away a $10 Giftcard to US Amazon or US Barnes & Noble or up to $10 at The Book Depository to one reader.  See below for a list of participating blogs or click HERE. 

I'm featuring books I couldn't put down and high on that list is the Will Trent series by Karin Slaughter! There are eight books out, but I even read the in-between novellas and loved them!  I went on a binge read of the series earlier this year and I totally recommend it!  

Click on cover for Goodreads link:

My giveaway is for a $10 Gift Card to US Amazon or US Barnes & Noble or up to $10 at The Book Depository to one reader.  The giveaway is International as long as The Book Depository ships to your country.  Just fill out the rafflecopter for a chance to win.  Good luck!

Blog Tour Review & Giveaway: Long, Tall Cowboy Christmas by Carolyn Brown

Carolyn Brown does write the swooniest cowboy romances!  I loved Nash and Kasey's story so much! So I'm thrilled to be part of the Blog Tour for Long, Tall Cowboy Christmas!  I have my review, an excerpt and giveaway below.  I dare you not to fall in love with this sexy cowboy! 

Long, Tall Cowboy Christmas (Happy, Texas #2) by Carolyn Brown

Publication Date: September 26th 2017 by Forever

Purchase Links: Amazon | B & N | Books-A-Million | Google Play | iBooks | IndieBound | Kobo

About the book:

A heartwarming holiday read from USA Today bestselling author Carolyn Brown – Nash Lamont is a man about as solitary as they come. That's exactly why ranch life in middle-of-nowhere Happy, Texas suits him. So what the heck is he doing letting a beautiful widow and her three rambunctious children temporarily move in? Before he knows it, they're stringing Christmas lights and decorating the tree... and he's having the time of his life. But after everything he's been through, Nash knows this kind of happiness doesn't last.

Kasey Dawson thought she'd never get over the death of her husband. Nash, with his strong hands and infinite patience, is stirring something she hasn't felt in a long time. Kasey knows the sexy cowboy isn't telling her everything about this past, though. And she refuses to risk heartbreak all over again. But her kids have a plan of their own: Nothing will keep them from having a real family again-even if it takes a little help from Santa himself.

My Thoughts:

Long, Tall Cowboy Christmas was everything I love about Carolyn Brown’s romances, and more!  A sexy cowboy, a sweet, but feisty heroine, playful banter, and three beyond cute kids! I guarantee this one will melt your heart!

Kasey Dawson McKay is a young mother left a widower when her Army husband, Adam, was killed on mission two years ago.  She’s back living at the family ranch, Hope Springs in Happy, Texas, but she’s had trouble dealing with the hole her husband’s death has left in her heart.

Nash Lamont has returned to his family’s ranch, Texas Star, to find peace after his time in the Army left him with PTSD which includes guilt and nightmares.  He never dreamed he’d be living next to Kasey McKay, and that he’d be running into her and her adorable kids all the time.  An accident throws them together until Christmas, and he’s hoping, wishing for a Christmas miracle; that the circumstances will become permanent, and he’ll get to keep Kasey and the kids forever.

Oh, my stars, I just loved this story! I don’t want to divulge too many details about how Kasey and Nash are thrown together, but it’s quickly a passionate match.  Add in Kasey’s seriously cute kids and how Nash bonds with them and this is a recipe for a 5-star story!  This is Carolyn Brown at her finest!

5 Suns

Excerpt:

Padding out of the room in her flannel pajama pants and an oversized faded shirt, Kasey found Nash washing dishes and no kids in sight.

“Shhh…” He put a finger over his lips. “They just now dropped off for naps. If they hear your voice, they’ll wake up.”

She frowned and pointed toward the dining room. “What is that?”

“Camping out,” he explained.

A white sheet had been draped over the dining room table, creating a tent. Underneath were pillows, books and two sleeping children.

“They’re camping and I’m watching out for bears and skunks,” he explained. “Hungry?”

“Starving. I’m always nauseated at the onset of one of the headaches and afterwards so hungry I could eat one of those bears if you catch it.” She caught a whiff of Italian food. “You cooked?”

“Of course,” he said. “Sit down right here and let me work on your neck. Lots of headaches are stress related and come out of the neck.”

She eased down into a chair and Nash went to work on her temples first, placing his hands on her cheeks so that his thumbs worked on the spots between her eyebrows and hair line. Making lazy circles and increasing the pressure every few seconds, he kept up the massage for a good five minutes before moving around to the back of the chair. He took her neck in his hands, heating her hormones to the boiling point. Rolling it around in his hands, she could feel the tension leaving her body by degrees. Then he began to massage her shoulders, digging his fingers into the knots and dissolving them. The pain in her head dissolved to half strength and her stomach grumbled.

“Now for food. Sit right there and I will bring it to the table.”

Kasey couldn’t remember the last time a man had waited on her.  “God, this is amazing,” she said after taking a bite of the spaghetti he put in front of her. “Did you make the sauce from scratch?”

He nodded. “Just like my cousin Amanda taught me. She married an Italian, and she’s an amazing cook. After eating her marinara, that stuff you buy in a jar at the grocery store is pretty bland.”

 “You cook and watch kids, run a ranch—what can you not do?” Kasey asked.

“I’m not real good at talkin’ to most people,” he said.

“That’s not what I see.” She almost groaned when she bit into a slab of garlic bread.

“Oh yeah? And what do you see?”

“I see a man who’s got some demons, but you talk to me just fine,” she told him between bites.

“Well, you’re special,” he replied softly.

Happy, Texas series:

(click HERE for Goodreads link)

Spotify Playlist

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Carolyn Brown is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling romance author and RITA® Finalist who has sold more than 3 million books. She presently writes both women's fiction and cowboy romance. She has also written historical single title, historical series, contemporary single title, and contemporary series. She lives in southern Oklahoma with her husband, a former English teacher, who is not allowed to read her books until they are published. They have three children and enough grandchildren to keep them young. For a complete listing of her books (series in order) check out her website at CarolynLBrown.com.

Connect with Carolyn Brown:

Website | Facebook | Goodreads

Click HERE for details at a chance to Win LONG, TALL COWBOY CHRISTMAS by Carolyn Brown!

Review & Excerpt: Ride It Out by Cara McKenna

Ride it Out (Desert Dogs #4) by Cara McKenna
Publication Date: September 19th by Intermix
Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About the book:

There’s a new deputy in town, and she’s a law unto herself.

Jeremiah Church is still aching for justice to be served after his father’s murder. Though the killer has been caught, the authorities are no closer to knowing why the Churches were targeted—and if the family’s still at risk. When Miah receives an anonymous letter hinting at a darker conspiracy, he decides it's high time he seeks justice on his own terms, with the help of his fellow Desert Dogs.

Patrol Deputy Nicki Ritchey is new to Fortuity, and hoping to make a clean start for her and her son. Involved in the Church’s case, she's kindled a friendship with Miah that's evolving into something more. But Miah is crossing lines with his personal vendetta, and Nicki’s attraction is making it tough to tell right from wrong… 

My Thoughts:

We finally get Miah’s story in Ride It Out and I couldn’t be more pleased.  I felt bad for him when Raina didn’t return his feelings, and moved on with Duncan. I’m happy that they’re a couple, but I wasn’t thrilled that Raina would pass up Miah, because I thought he was such a catch!  Well, her loss, and I can’t help but think Miah is better off without her.  Miah’s always been a favorite of mine because he’s been the one of the Desert Dogs that wanted to settle down with a wife and family, and I do love a guy that craves a traditional future instead of the usual player/no commitments kind of guy that’s more common in romance novels.

Miah’s all out of sorts since his father’s murder, and who can blame him? He’s had to take over the business end of things instead of tending to the ranch, and he hates paperwork.  More than that, Miah hates the fact that the police have no new leads, no clue who murdered his father and it’s been six long months.  The only silver lining in this dark cloud is Nicki, the new Fortuity Deputy. She gets his despair, and anger over his father’s death like no other since her father was murdered as well.  Nicki checks in regularly and so they’ve formed a friendship and a simmering attraction that just grows stronger the more time they spend together. I loved that they had a solid foundation of friendship before they ever took things to the next level. Made it so much hotter when they finally came together. 

Miah and Nicki are tentative and not without the usual new relationship insecurities, but they fall hard, irrevocably before they’ve even noticed.  There are obstacles, mostly on Nicki’s side as she has a son, Matty, who’s not settling in Fortuity all that well, at first.  Miah takes the boy under his wing, assigning him duties on the ranch inspiring a love of the land, animals, and the cowboy life that makes such a positive impact on Matty. Love seeing Miah in that fatherly role, because he was such a natural at it.

There is some drama with the murder investigation of Miah’s father, which ties into the ongoing mystery in the series.  Miah and his father were targets, but why?  Miah sidesteps the law to get answers because there’s been no advances in the investigation, and Nicki reluctantly helps because she knows exactly how Miah feels.

Ride It Out was a solid and satisfying end to the Desert Dogs series.  Cara McKenna writes beautifully sensual, and compelling stories, and Ride It Out was no exception! 

4 Suns

Excerpt:

Connect with Cara McKenna:

Website | Blog | Twitter | Goodreads