Review: No Ordinary Duchess by Elizabeth Hoyt

 

No Ordinary Duchess (Greycourt #3) by Elizabeth Hoyt

Publication Date: December 10th 2024 by Forever

Pages: 352

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Lady Elspeth de Moray is on the hunt for an ancient book, rumored to be in one of the Greycourt libraries, to help once again unify the Wise Women, a group of unconventional, educated and skilled in many lethal ways.

 

Julian Greycourt is heir to the dukedom, but his tyrannical uncle is gunning for him and has kept him and his sisters under his cruel dominion since his father and mother died. However, Julian receives word that there may be proof to string his uncle up and set their family free. Uncle Augustus was a horrid man with diabolical plans, so Julian needed to find that evidence quickly!

 

Lady Elspeth’s and Julian’s searches intersect throwing them together constantly as a steady undercurrent of attraction simmers between them. There was quite the buildup and very, very spicy! Julian had some edgy desires. Lady Elspeth, with the way she was raised, wasn’t a wilting flower shocked by any of this. They were well matched!

 

No Ordinary Duchess was a great combo of suspense and romance, with heavier topics and some lighthearted humor. Elspeth was very much a positive ray of sunshine to Julian’s broody and serious demeanor. As Julian’s past is revealed this is completely understandable!  

 

I’m a big fan of Elizabeth Hoyt, her writing is beautiful, clever and very sensual! It’s been a while since she released her last book, so I was thrilled to hear about this newest installment of the Greycourt series!

4 Stars

Book Description:

From a New York Times bestselling author, the much-anticipated third novel in the Greycourt series.

Cold and brooding, Julian Greycourt, the heir to the Windemere dukedom, has always known that his uncle the duke was responsible for his mother’s death. Now he’s determined to exact revenge against his uncle—if he can find the proof. But Julian hides a secret so explosive it will destroy him if it’s ever revealed, and the duke is watching. The last thing he needs is a distractingly sensual woman whose very presence threatens to destroy his plans.

Sunny and cheerful, Lady Elspeth de Moray doesn’t know why her brother and Julian fell out all those years ago, but she can’t let the autocratic man get in the way of her mission: to retrieve an ancient family text that she believes is in one of the Windemere libraries. Locating the tome, however, proves trickier than she anticipated, and at each turn, she’s thrown together with the maddingly mysterious Julian. And the temptation to give in to her family’s greatest enemy grows stronger with each intriguing encounter…

Review & Giveaway: A Love Catastrophe by Helena Hunting

 

A Love Catastrophe by Helena Hunting

Publication Date: June 13th 2023 by Forever Books

Pages: 384

Source: Publisher 

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble |  Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Kitty is known as a cat whisperer with a popular social media account. Miles is left to care for his mother’s cat, Prince Francis, when his mother ends up in the hospital. Prince Francis is not happy with Miles in the least. This naughty kitty cracked me up!  Not being a cat person, Miles calls on Kitty for help. They get off to a bit of a rough start but sparks of attraction fly!

This was a light-hearted, low-drama romance, but it also featured some weightier issues. Kitty struggled with grief and guilt over her father’s death, and Miles deals with losing pieces of his mother as dementia takes hold. There was also a bit of cancel culture when a video of Kitty is posted and goes viral. It had been edited and taken out of context, misrepresenting Kitty’s actions and the backlash was something else. It really underscored the importance of getting all the facts before crucifying a person!

I enjoyed the love and support between Miles and Kitty as they weathered some storms. A Love Catastrophe was a sweet romance with fun animal hijinks and cat puns aplenty! Being a cat lover, this brought a big smile to my face!

4 Stars

Book Description:

The fur is about to fly between a cheerful cat sitter and a grumpy hockey nerd in this hilarious and charming rom-com  by the New York Times bestselling author of Meet Cute..

Kitty Hart has become internet famous as the Kitty Whisperer for her expertise on all things feline, and as a result, her cat-sitting business is booming. But lately, she has a terrible feeling that maybe her life isn’t  quite  going where it’s supposed to—especially after falling face-first into her newest client.  Not exactly the best first impression .

Fortunately, Miles Thorn is just as bad at first impressions. Strike he doesn’t like cats, especially Prince Francis, the haughty and mischievous Sphynx his mom left in his care. Strike tackling Kitty to the floor in a misguided attempt to save the pet he continually calls “the gremlin.”

As awkwardness slides into attraction and things start to turn purr-sonal, will these two complete opposites ever be able to find their furry-tail ending?

I'm giving away my ARC copy of A Love Catastrophe to one reader. The giveaway is open to US Residents only. Fill out the rafflecopter for a chance to win. Goodluck! 

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Review: A Wedding on Sunshine Corner by Phoebe Mills

 

A Wedding on Sunshine Corner (The Sunshine Corner #2) by Phoebe Mills

Publication Date: March 29th 2022 by Forever

Pages: 349

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Savannah and Noah have grown up together with Noah being close to her brothers, but they have never been friends.  Noah’s been nothing but uptight and judgmental towards Savannah and Noah regards her as spoiled, flighty, and impulsive. However, when Caleb, Savannah’s older brother, asks them to team up to help plan their wedding in Heart’s Hope Bay they must set aside their differences to work together.

Both Noah and Savannah have a lot on their plate. Savannah has just started as a teacher and coordinator at her friend Abby’s (the previous installments heroine) preschool, and Noah is juggling work while raising his four-year-old daughter alone. Savannah has a lot of self-doubt since most of her attempts at finding her career path have fizzled out.  It was obvious to me that she was a hard worker, she just hadn’t found her niche yet, and I appreciated Abby’s unwavering support. Savannah had a great bunch of female friends in her corner as well as a big loving family.

I felt for Noah since he was the primary caretaker of his daughter. It’s hard for me to believe that a woman would move states away from her young daughter for a career opportunity and give up primary custody. I found it hard to understand why he was so stubborn to accept help from others. I also had a really hard reconciling his judgmental attitude towards Savannah one minute with his attraction to her the next which made it hard to buy into their romance for me.  He had no right to go off on her the way he did with the final conflict (you know the one that comes about 75-80% in ?), especially when Savannah took care of the majority of the wedding planning even though it was supposed to be a shared burden. Noah was such a complete jerk dressing her down, feeding into her worst insecurities. I would’ve had a hard time forgiving him.  I was happy Savannah didn’t just take him back quickly when he realized how badly he screwed up, but I would’ve liked a bit more from him. More groveling for sure.

3 Stars

Book Description:

A delightful small-town romance between a daycare teacher and single dad who must overcome their differences to help plan the ultimate wedding.

They’ve driven each other crazy for years, but were they fighting each other—or the chemistry between them?

As the youngest in her loving, overprotective family, Savannah Lowe has always gone with the flow instead of going out on a limb…until now. Her new job running a preschool requires her to be all in. If only the father of one of her students wasn’t her brother’s incredibly infuriating, impossibly attractive best friend. Savannah has no clue what she ever did to make him dislike her, and now they’re stuck spending even more time together planning her brother’s wedding.

Single father Noah Adams has his hands full between his job as a paramedic and caring for his young daughter. The last thing he needs is a complication like Savannah in his life—a girl he remembers being constantly pampered by her family. But the more he gets to know her, the more he sees how kind and compassionate she really is. Now their long-ignored, off-the-charts chemistry has them on a collision course…with each other.

Review: Texas Homecoming by Carolyn Brown

 

Texas Homecoming (The Ryan Family #2) by Carolyn Brown

Publication Date: January 25th 2022 by Forever

Pages: 313

Source: Publisher 

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Stephanie, “Stevie” the local vet, is back in her hometown after her mother fell ill and passed.  She’s not thrilled to discover that her first love Cody Ryan is back in town as well, since he crushed her heart years ago.

Cody Ryan came home after a long stint away, working for Doctors Without Borders. He’s back since his father’s health is in decline wanting to spend all the time he can with him and help around the family ranch.  Stevie’s been prickly every time they run into each other, but they’re going to have to get along when a massive winter storm strands them together in an old barn with only a baby alpaca and kittens to keep them company.

Forced proximity and second chance are such fun romantic tropes! Add in cute animals and Texas Homecoming was an all-around win for me. I love Carolyn Brown’s cowboy romances! Small town charm, quirky characters, and low drama make her stories familiar and welcome.

4 Stars

Book Description:

The bestselling Queen of Cowboy Romance delivers a heartwarming novel where a doctor and veterinarian get a second chance at true love when a storm traps them together.

Cody Ryan had been the smartest kid that ever came out of Honey Grove, Texas, and one of the few who went on to become a doctor. He's so grateful to his fantastic foster parents for giving him so many opportunities, so to help give back he joined Doctors Without Borders. But after 10 years of traveling the world Cody is ready to go back home. Stephanie O'Dell, better known as Dr. Stevie, the local vet, has been treating the cattle on Sunflower Ranch for years. So she's not thrilled when Cody starts offering medical advice the minute she steps on the ranch. But when the two get caught in a storm with a baby alpaca to take care of, the fireplace isn't the only thing throwing sparks. When they finally find their way back home, they've found out that they've fallen in love, but will either of them admit it?

Review: Between the Devil and the Duke by Kelly Bowen

 

Between the Devil and the Duke (A Season for Scandal #3) by Kelly Bowen

Publication Date: January 31st 2017 by Forever

Pages: 353

Audio Book Length: 11 hrs 4 min

Narrator: Ashford McNab

Source: Publisher & library audio lend

Rating: ★★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Audible | Goodreads 

My Thoughts:

Lady Angelique Archer is trying to keep her family together after the death of her parents. Her brother the heir of the Marquess title is no help spending money they don’t have womanizing, drinking, and gambling, and she needs money to keep her younger brothers in school and food in the cupboards. Being a woman limits the ways Angelique can make money, but there’s one thing she’s good at and that’s numbers. She’s been playing cards at Alexander Lavoie’s club, trying to fly under the radar while winning the money to keep them afloat, but she hasn’t escaped Alex’s notice.

Alex is intrigued by the mystery lady playing and winning at his vingt-et-un table. Her skills and beauty capture his attention even though it’s plain she’s trying to blend in. He approaches Lady Angelique with an offer she doesn’t want to take, but her circumstances make it hard to say no. Especially when her brother lands himself in a heap of trouble.

Alexander and Angelique’s romance was filled with chemistry and deliciously seductive. I loved that even though Angelique is having a hard time, she’s not a complete damsel in distress. She’s a smart and capable woman with courage and ingenuity. However, Angelique desperately needed Alex’s help and he’s there for her in every way. Such a gallant man and a force to be reckoned with!

Between the Devil and the Duke was such a lovely surprise by new-to-me-author, Kelly Bowen! I was delighted by her clever, vibrant writing! If you’re a fan of Lisa Kleypas or Tessa Dare, you’ll love Ms. Bowen writing! I plan on catching up with the rest of the series.

I alternated between traditional reading and listening to the audio version. Ashford McNab’s performance was brilliant! I listened at 1.75x normal speed.

5 Stars

Book Description:

Their love was always in the cards.
He should have thrown her out. But when club owner Alexander Lavoie catches a mysterious blonde counting cards at his vingt-et-un table, he's more intrigued than angry. He has to see more of this beauty—in his club, in his office, in his bed. But first he'll have to devise a proposition she can't turn down.

Gossip said he was an assassin.
Common sense told her to stay away. But Angelique Archer was desperate, and Lavoie's club offered a surefire way to make quick money—until she got caught. Instead of throwing her out though, the devil offers her a deal: come work for him. Refusing him means facing starvation, but with a man so sinfully handsome and fiercely protective, keeping things professional might prove impossible.

Review: Last Dance with a Cowboy by Sara Richardson

 

Last Dance with a Cowboy (Silverado Lake #3) by Sara Richardson

Publication Date: December 28th 2021 by Forever

Pages: 347

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

August and Leila were the “it couple”, soulmates in high school, but that all changed with August’s dad died and his grief left him spiraling. August was already in college, promised to come back to Leila, but after the funereal he left without a word and shattered her heart. 

August is back working for the company that wants to take over her family’s winery. Leila proposes a fake engagement as the reason for August’s return to keep the winery’s dire financial circumstances from her grandparents.

I have to say I was pretty ticked at August. I know losing a parent is so very hard, but come on, if you’re basically soulmates, you leave and never say anything? Seeing Leila again, August finally realizes all the heartache he heaped on her and his family. He’d never properly faced his grief or the hurt his actions caused, but being forced to come back gave him the opportunity to make amends. Realizing exactly what he lost made August determined to do anything to keep her from losing the vineyard, anything to make her happy.

Even after fifteen years apart, the emotions between August and Leila are high and their connection is palpable. I felt Leila’s pain and thought she was completely justified keeping him at arm’s length at first. Working closely together while faking their engagement made it impossible to resist each other, though, and I loved seeing them overcome all the hurt and embrace their second chance for love! 

4 Stars

Book Description:

Can this wandering cowboy convince his first love that he deserves a second chance in a charming contemporary romance for fans of New York Times bestselling authors Jennifer Ryan and Maisey Yates—with a bonus novella by Carolyn Brown!

Leila Valentino will do anything to keep her grandparents’ Colorado winery afloat. Even partner with August Harding, the first—and last—man to break her heart. Fifteen years ago, August left Silverado Lake, and Leila, far behind. Now the cowboy’s back with an offer that could save her family’s business. But to keep her grandparents from worrying over the vineyard’s finances, Leila insists August give a different reason for his return: her.

August Harding is one step away from a huge promotion. All he has to do is ensure that his company acquires Valentino Bellas Vineyards. And if pretending he and Leila are back together is the cost . . . well, he can’t say no. Leila has never forgiven him for the way he ended things, but the longer they pretend to be a couple, the more he begins to wonder if a second chance isn’t impossible after all. But can he convince Leila that this time he’s not walking away?

Includes the bonus novella Sunrise Ranch by Carolyn Brown!

Review: Dream Keeper by Kristen Ashley

 

Dream Keeper (Dream Team #4) by Kristen Ashley

Publication Date: November 30th 2021 by Forever

Pages: 544

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Pepper was screwed over by her daughter's father. She thought he was it for her until she found out he’d had another woman the entire time they’d been together. Since then, Pepper’s main focus has been her daughter, Juno, providing her love and a stable environment. She doesn’t feel bringing a man into their lives is worth the possible hurt it could bring. But there is an undeniable pull between her and Augustus, “Auggie”.

Auggie sees everything he wants in a woman when he looks at Pepper, but he gets mixed signals from her. He can’t blame her for being cautious and hesitant seeing as she needs to think about her daughter as well. However, they share a lusty night together that ends badly. He’s been yanked around by women in the past with drama and game playing and he’s done with that, but a request from Juno forces them to work together.

Pepper and Auggie have been dancing around each other for a while and they’re the next couple on Lottie’s matchup agenda, but these two do not have a drama free journey into love everlasting. I’m not a fan of angsty, ridiculous couple drama, back and forth, so I’m happy to report that most of the conflict, other than at the beginning, comes from outside sources. I loved Auggie and Pepper together! Seeing them bond over their unfortunate pasts (crazy families!) and unite against whatever came at them was a joy. Juno was a sweetheart, too, wanting love and happiness for her mom and determined to make it happen for her.

Pepper and Auggie were fun, signature Kristen Ashley type of characters. Pepper was big-hearted, sweet with a side of sassy, and Auggie was the protective, bossy, Alpha male without being a jerk. I enjoyed seeing past characters, happy and there for their friends. Although Pepper and Auggie’s story wraps up, that ending made it clear there’s more to come and I can’t wait!

4 Stars

Book Description:

Spinning off from the bestselling Dream Man and Rock Chick series, this is the emotional and steamy contemporary romance fans of the Dream Team series have been waiting for!

Pepper Hannigan is determined to keep any romance off the table—and out of her bedroom—while her daughter Juno is still young. Sure, a certain handsome commando is thoughtful, funny, and undeniably hot, but Pepper’s had her heart broken before, and she won’t let it happen again. Not to her or her little girl, even if this hero could melt any woman’s resolve.

Augustus “Auggie” Hero can’t deny his attraction to beautiful, warm-hearted Pepper or how much he wants to make a home with her and her little girl, but Pepper’s mixed signals have kept him away. That is, until Juno decides to play matchmaker. Her efforts finally bring Pepper into his arms, but they expose the danger Pepper is in. To protect Pepper and Juno, Auggie will have to live up to his last name and prove happy endings aren’t just for fairy tales.

Review: The Christmas Village by Annie Rains

 

The Christmas Village (Somerset Lake #2) by Annie Rains

Publication Date: October 12th 2021 by Forever

Pages: 339

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Lucy Hannigan’s got hands full between handling patients as a nurse practitioner/midwife, and the upkeep on her childhood home, a mansion size Victorian house located in the historical part of town called The Village. In order to help makes ends meet Lucy decided to rent out the garage apartment but doesn’t count on her ex-fiancé applying for tenancy. Miles, her first and only love broke her heart ten years ago and she’s never really gotten over it. Lucy’s not sure having him so close would be a good idea.

Deputy Miles Bruno has never gotten over Lucy either, but he ended things and now he’s pretty sure their awkward friendship is the most he can hope for. However, when Miles finds himself in need of a place to rent and Lucy in need of a renter the two find it impossible to avoid each other.

With unexpected house bills pilling up on Lucy, Miles offers to help win the “Merriest Lawn Contest” for the cash prize and soon they’re spending time over Thanksgiving leftovers, hot cocoa, and Christmas decorating. It’s hard to ignore the attraction that never really went away between them. Neither of them felt that special spark with anyone else, and I was eager for these two to work it out, especially after finding out the reason Miles ended it. Both Lucy and Miles were good people who deserved their HEA!

The Christmas Village was full of things to love: a sweet second chance romance, supportive female friends, a cat rescue, and a French bulldog. All set in a charming small town. What more could you want from a holiday read?!

4 Stars

Book Description:

Lucy Hannigan has inherited her mother's bulldog, Bella, and her childhood home, the only pink house on Gingerbread Lane. With the holidays coming up, the pressure is on to decorate the house for the annual lights competition and maintain her parent's winning streak. But Lucy already has her hands full as a midwife and a new landlord-to her ex-fiance.

When Miles Bruno is suddenly asked to move out of his rental home, he's grateful to Lucy for taking him on as a tenant. But their broken-off engagement doesn't make it easy to live next door. Sparks still fly between them, and he'd give anything to get back in Lucy's good graces. But to do that will take much more than just tree trimming and house decorating and contest winning. Will one wildly grand romantic gesture on Christmas Eve finally soften her heart?

Review: Second Chance at Sunflower Ranch by Carolyn Brown

 

Second Chance at Sunflower Ranch (Ryan Family #1) by Carolyn Brown

Publication Date: July 27th 2021 by Forever

Pages: 375

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads | Audible

My Thoughts:

I won’t summarize the plot; the book description below does a better job than I will. I adore Carolyn Brown’s down-to-earth cowboy romances; I’m usually laughing at the antics and enjoying a sweet and sexy romance, but Second Chance at Sunflower Ranch wasn’t my favorite from her. It was entertaining, but didn’t have her usual charm, IMO.

There wasn’t a lot of drama or angst and I appreciate that most of the time with my romances, but finding out you have a nineteen-year-old daughter you didn’t know about would have to be a shock, right? Jesse was understanding and forgiving, but I think in real life it’d be hard to not be angered you didn’t get to share in all the milestones of your child growing up. I did know this information going into the story, and I do think Addie, in her own mind, had a decent reason for withholding the information initially, still I was hoping for more.

The romance was easy going, a little too easy being this was a second chance romance. I was happy with how it all turned out, but I felt it was lacking in passion. The whole story felt a bit superficial, but would be good if you’d like a light read to breeze through. With that said, I am looking forward to Cody and Stevie's romance next. From their interactions it feels like it'll be a good one! 

3 Stars

Book Description:

From the bestselling author of Queen of Cowboy: regrets and old heartbreaks are unearthed in this sweeping love story as hometown sweethearts get a second chance at love—and being a family.

Retired combat medic Jesse Ryan hasn’t been home much since he enlisted twenty years ago. Now he’s headed back to Texas to help take care of his aging foster parents and run Sunflower ranch. But when he gets there, he finds his parents’ live-in nurse is Addison Hall, his high school best friend and the woman he always regretted leaving behind after their one steamy night together before he shipped out. He’s not at all surprised that their chemistry is still sparking, but Jesse is shocked to learn Addy gave birth to a little girl about nine months after he left—his little girl.

​Addy has her hands full as a single mom of a nineteen-year-old daughter who suddenly wants to rebel at everything. The last thing she needs is Jesse Ryan complicating her life even further, especially since she’s always had a crush on the handsome cowboy. But the more time she spends with Jesse, the more she wonders what might happen if they finally let their friendship blossom into something more and became the family she’d always hoped for. 
 
Includes the bonus novella Small Town Charm for the first time in print! 

Review & Giveaway: The House on Sunshine Corner by Phoebe Mills

 

The House on Sunshine Corner (The Sunshine Corner #1) by Phoebe Mills

Publication Date: August 24th 2021 by Forever

Pages: 316

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Abby and Carter were high school sweethearts, very in love for two years until Carter went off to college, while Abby attended close to home.  Carter was content to make a clean break and they didn’t stay in touch, since Heart’s Hope Bay was a place he wanted to escape after years of contention his cruel father.

Now ten years later, Carter is back in town helping his sister with his three-year-old niece, Sophia. While he visited briefly in the past he never ran into Abby, but as his niece attends Abby’s preschool/daycare, running into her will be inevitable.  Seeing Abby again brings up all the old feelings and attraction, but even more intense. He’s never had the same connection with any other woman. Even so, he can’t let his attraction get in the way of his career goals which seem to finally being coming together.

Abby’s always loved Heart’s Hope Bay where her grandmother took her in, as it provided the stability her mother never gave her. She’s always wanted to settle down with a family of her own right there surrounded by the people she’s grown to love.  I could totally understand Abby, since Heart’s Hope Bay, a small coastal town in Oregon, sounded lovely and picturesque! Abby loved Carter; his leaving took a long time to get over.  Abby knows that getting involved with him again will only lead to heartbreak but being around him only underscores what they had together: a once in a lifetime love.

I’m a sucker for second chance romances and I was rooting for Carter and Abby since the love they had in the past was there again and even more intense.  Carter was a sweetheart with Abby, helping with the house renovations, and with his three-year-old niece, but boy did I want to smack him! He kept on with the “I must stay on track with my career goals, so I don’t turn into my deadbeat dad” mantra! I need proper groveling to forgive a character for being frustrating and dense, so I was pleased Carter snapped out of it and got a clue!

The House on Sunshine Corner was a sweet, second chance romance with one of my favorite settings: small, charming coastal town with lovable and quirky secondary characters. After some of the exchanges between Savannah and Noah, I’m really looking forward to the next installment which seems like it’ll be a fun enemies-to-lovers romance!

4 Stars

Book Description:

Abby Engel has a great life. She's the owner of Sunshine Corner, the daycare she runs with her girlfriends; she has the most adoring grandmother (aka the Baby Whisperer); and she lives in a perfect hidden gem of a town. All that's missing is the thing she wants the most: a family. But after a stint of online dating and a string of bad blind dates, she's ready to give up. And then her ex-boyfriend (aka the love of her life) walks back into town...

Carter Hayes has no intention of staying in Heart's Hope Bay. He's there to help his sister out for a few weeks, and then he's back on a plane to Las Vegas. But small-town living has its appeal, and it’s not long before Carter's reminded of just how much he loves his hometown...and the one woman he’s never been able to forget. But after breaking her heart all those years ago, can Carter convince Abby that he’s her happy-ever-after?

The lovely people of Forever have generously offered up a Paperback Copy of The House on Sunshine Corner to one readers. The giveaway is open to US and Canadian Residents only. Fill out the rafflecopter below for a chance to win. Good luck!

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Review & Giveaway: Only For You by Barb Curtis

 

Only For You (Sapphire Springs #2) by Barb Curtis

Publication Date: July 27th 2021 by Forever

Pages: 319

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Emily Holland has been in love with Tim Fraser since high school, but he never got the hint. It seems she’ll never move out of the friend zone with him. Emily’s unrequited yearning breaks her heart and makes it impossible to move on keeping things status quo.  Emily’s made it her New Year’s resolution to limit ties with Tim so she can finally move forward and find love.  However, Tim’s messy, very public breakup has him proposing a crazy idea.

Tim isn’t one for a HEA after seeing how his parent’s relationship play out. He took a chance with Melissa, but that ended in disaster when she decided to go on a reality TV show and then break it off with him on camera to pursue a relationship with another guy. What a creep, right?! Well, the publicity created hype and shenanigans for Tim, and he’s hit with an onslaught of media and crazy women who 

want to step in and “cure” his heartache. He wants the whole thing to go away and decides that a fake relationship would help keep the propositions at bay, and his bestie Emily seems perfect for the role.

Unrequited love is a special kind of heartache! I’ve felt it personally so when I read about it, I want the characters to wake up, realize what they’ve been missing and grab on! Emily initially refuses the ruse, as she doesn’t want to risk her heart anymore, but a situation makes her reconsider. Plus, as her friend points out maybe Tim will finally wake up and see how perfect they’d be together.

My heart ached for Emily, and I was so happy when Tim finally started t see her as a desirable woman! The shake up couldn’t have happened at a better time when both Emily and Tim, as Sapphire Springs council members, are thrown into festival planning for the town’s maple syrup harvest. It’s summer and hot where I live, but all the activities made me wish I was in blustery small town enjoying the wintery festivities!

Tim and Emily spent time planning for the festival, magical dates that had them falling harder with every moment spent together! They were perfect for each other, but Tim needed to get out his own way before they could find their HEA. There was a time or two I wanted to shake Tim! Thankfully, he wasn’t stupid for too long!

Only For You was a lovely romance featuring unrequited love in a way I could easily relate to, bringing back all those feelings of longing in the past. Of course, Tim and Emily found their way to each other, this is a romance after all, and I was thrilled to take the journey with them!

4 Stars

Book Description:

Barb Curtis returns to Sapphire Springs with this heartwarming romance where a small-town bakery owner finds herself in a fake relationship with the man she's always pined after.

Will a fake relationship between two friends lead to true love?

After having his heart broken on national television, Tim Fraser knows only one way to stop the gossip about his love life-a new girlfriend. The problem is, he's done with romance forever. A fake relationship with his friend and Sapphire Spring's sweetest baker, Emily Holland, seems the perfect solution to getting rid of his newfound fame, but their fleeting fauxmance is stirring up the kinds of feelings Tim has sworn off for good.

Emily has secretly lusted after Tim for years, but pretending her feelings are all for show never factored into her fantasy. Still, her decades-long crush makes it impossible to say no to Tim's proposal. But with each date, the lines between pretend and reality blur, giving Tim and Emily a tantalizing taste of life outside the friend zone . . . if they can find the courage to give real love a chance.

The lovely people of Forever have provided a copy of Only for You to one lucky reader.  The giveaway is open to US residents only. Good luck!

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Giveaway & Review: The Summer Cottage by Annie Rains

 

The Summer Cottage (Somerset Lake #1) by Annie Rains

Publication Date: May 25th 2021 by Berkley Books

Pages: 449

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Trisha Langley was looking for a fresh start for her and her young son, Petey, after her ex-husband was imprisoned for embezzling funds from clients. Doesn’t matter that she didn’t know, Trisha still got the side-eye from some and her son was being bullied in school because of it. The ad for a live-in property manager on Somerset Lake couldn’t have come at a better time. No one knows her at Somerset Lake and she immediately bonds with Vi Fletcher, the owner.  The cottages may be rundown, but they’re right on the gorgeous lake and Trisha looks forward to the work of sprucing up the cottages.

Somerset Lake holds a lot of bittersweet memories for Jake Fletcher. The family’s rental cottages have fallen into disrepair and his grandmother’s health makes it hard to handle on her own. Jake is sent by his family to convince Vi to sell the cottages and come live with them in Florida. However, when he arrives, he finds a new property manager. She’s beautiful, but he can tell there’s more to her story than she’s letting on.

Somerset Lake sounded magical, a perfect Summer getaway to me! I even loved the sound of the rundown cottages as they got a bit of fixing up. I love a place with character and charm, and the Somerset Cottages were brimming with both!

I was so happy that Trisha’s past wasn’t a long-held secret between Jake and her throughout the story. Instead, Trisha shares as Jake and her bond and become close, as two friends would. The attraction between them was immediate, but both Trisha and Jake were cautious and took it slow. I loved how sweet Jake was with Petey, taking him under his wing.

The Summer Cottage was a low drama, sweet romance set in a picturesque small lake town. We’re introduced to an interesting cast of secondary characters, setting up the series for future installments. I can’t wait for Lucy’s second chance romance, The Christmas Village!

4 Stars

Forever has generously offered up a Paperback Copy of The Summer Cottage to one reader. The giveaway is open to US and CA residents only. Fill in the rafflecopter for a chance to win. Good luck!

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Mini Review & Giveaway: Once Upon a Puppy by Lizzie Shane

 

Once Upon a Puppy (Pine Hollow #2) by Lizzie Shane

Publication Date: May 25th 2021 by Forever

Pages: 335

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★½

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads 

My Thoughts:

Deenie and Connor couldn't be more mismatched, but bonding over dog training and fake dating to impress her parents shows that opposites really do attract! Deenie is the free-spirited, never wants-to-be-tied-down kind of girl, and Connor is the uptight straight-laced, plan-everything-kind-of-guy.  Heads butt and sparks fly in this fun, cute romance! 

3.5 Stars

Book Description:

Opposites attract when a straitlaced lawyer and whimsical party planner must fake-date as co-parents of a rambunctious Irish wolfhound in the second book of this im-paw-ssibly charming small-town romance series.

Connor Wyeth has a plan for everything. But when he adopts Maximus, an unruly Irish wolfhound mix, he gets more than he bargained for. If he doesn't act fast, the big dopey mutt is going to destroy his house. The only person Max ever listens to is the volunteer who used to walk him at the shelter—a perennially upbeat woman whose day job is planning princess parties for little kids. Connor couldn't ever imagine that she'd be able to tame such a beast as Max, but he's desperate enough to try anything.

Deenie Mitchell isn't looking forward to spending more time with uptight, rules-oriented Connor—no matter how attractive he is. But when her sister announces her engagement, Deenie realizes he's the perfect person to impress her type-A family. When she learns he needs a plus-one for his law firm's work events, an unlikely alliance is formed. But as they play the perfect couple, the friendship—and the feelings—that are forming start to feel all too real. Opposites may attract, but can the man with a plan for everything and the misfit who makes her own rules ever find common ground?

Forever has generously offered to giveaway one Paperback Copy of Once Upon a Puppy to one reader! Giveaway is restricted to US and CA residents only. Fill out the rafflecopter below for a chance to win. Good luck!

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Review: Dream Spinner by Kristen Ashley

 

Dream Spinner (Dream Team #3) by Kristen Ashley

Publication Date: May 25th 2021 by Forever

Pages: 393

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads 

My Thoughts:

Striving to be a good enough dancer and never quite reaching her father’s expectations over the years has made Hattie struggle with self-confidence and opening herself to others.

She’s been crushing on Axl and he’s definitely been into her, but Hattie runs every time Axl tries to get close and finally he’s wondering if he’s wasting his time trying. Surprisingly enough, it’s the semi-bad guy Brett who lights a fire under Hattie’s butt and convinces her to take a shot before she loses Axl for good. What pushes them together even more is the anonymous creepy calls and notes Hattie starts receiving. Stalker behavior for sure! Hattie needs protection and Axl wants her safe.

As usual, Axl was a bit of a jerk to Hattie before they came together but seeing things from his side I didn’t really blame him. They both just needed to get on the same page and then it was all heart eyes for me.

I can’t write up Dream Spinner without mentioning Cleo, Axl’s very prissy cat! I just loved Cleo! Kristen Ashley nails cat behavior so well, (we live to serve them, obviously!), making me giggle every time Ms. Cleo stepped onto the page!

I’ve been enjoying the Dream Team series. Dream Spinner had all the hallmarks of an old-school Kristen Ashley read: solid female friendships, bossy Alpha men, and a sweet likeable heroine with a bit of sass! Pepper’s story next and it seems like it’s going to be a bit of drama, in the best way, of course! I can’t wait!

4 Stars

Book Description:

Hattie Yates has finally met the man of her dreams. Yet years of abuse from her demanding father have left her petrified of disappointment. She’s already failed to reach her goal of becoming a professional ballerina—she can’t handle the terrible consequences of another dream becoming a nightmare. But when a stalker sets their sights on Hattie, there’s only one man she dares to hope can help . . .

Axl Pantera knows Hattie is the only woman for him. Yet despite the attraction burning between them, Hattie refuses to let him in. The former soldier is determined to woo her into letting down her walls. And when danger comes calling, he’s up against more than her wary and bruised heart. Axl will do anything to prove to Hattie that they’re meant to be, but first, he’ll need to keep her safe.