Category: four star

fiction · four star

Take Me Away, Cowboy by Kristine Lynn

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Description:

Saving lives is a heady experience, but what happens next after someone saves yours?

Paige Connors is certain of two facts: she loves her job as a traveling pediatrician and she will never, never end up in her small hometown of Banberry, Idaho. Why would she, when a whole world exists for her to explore? Then a strikingly handsome former Marine moves in next to Paige’s family, and suddenly, she’s rethinking her life’s choices.

Owen Johnson isn’t sure why he decided to settle down in the quaint, rural town of Banberry after a kinetic career in the military almost cost him his life. But as he spends more and more time flirting with his sexy neighbor, it becomes clear that the why and how aren’t as important as his need to be with her.

That is, until a freak accident irrevocably changes their lives. Will these lovers be able to put aside their fears and find healing in each other, or is it too late to set down roots?

My Review:

This is a new to me author. I will say I really liked the story over all it flowed really well and keeps you drawn in the whole time. I loved Owen he had this fun spirit about him. He face some tough situations in his life but he took life by the balls and ran with it head on. He was over all a fun character. Paige kind of drove me crazy. I think that back in forth of I like you, I don’t like you, felt very high schoolish, instead of someone who was a grown woman. I loved the relationship between Paige and her brother they were so fun and the sibling rivalry. There is adult situations and strong language in the book so may not be suitable for all readers. Overall this was a fun read with some fun characters and worth the read. 

Where to Buy the book:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Where you can connect with the author:

www.kristinelynnauthor.com

While at your favorite bookstore/website check out Kristine’s other books. Thanks for stopping by and feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments. 

fiction · four star

Playing for Keeps in Starr’s Fall Kate Hewitt

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Description:

As the frozen earth gives way to the first spring crocuses, pushing their way into the warmer air, Maggie arrives in Starr’s Fall. She’s looking for a new start, with her lovable but painfully shy teenaged son in tow.

It feels like the odds are against her, but she’s determined to come out winning this time, and to fulfil her dream of opening up a board game café. But not everything’s a game, and when she finds herself attracted to a man who’s known as a different sort of player, she worries she’s setting herself up to lose.

Zach is funny, surprisingly geeky, and, most importantly, bonds with her son. But Zach is also drop-dead gorgeous, has a reputation around town, and is also ten years younger than her.

When he asks her out on a date, Maggie is totally thrown. She can’t deny she’s attracted to him. But is she ready to risk her heart with another roll of the dice?

A totally gorgeous, unmissable, small town romance, perfect for fans of the Gilmore Girls andVirgin River, from million-copy bestselling author, Kate Hewitt.

My Review:

This is a new author to me, and I enjoyed the story overall—it was a fun read. However, I did find that Maggie came across as more immature than her 40 years, acting in ways that didn’t always match her age throughout much of the story. I really liked Zac, though. He didn’t put up with a lot from others, yet he had the biggest heart when it came to helping those in need—not just people he knew, but anyone who needed a helping hand, including a teenage boy looking for a friend. I loved the small-town feel of the story and the sense of community that Maggie and Ben joined. I also really liked Annie and hope her story gets told next; she has such a friendly, kind spirit about her. She had a gift for calling out things that didn’t seem right or didn’t feel right, seeing situations clearly and speaking up. The author kept this book a clean read, making it suitable for all readers.

Where to Buy the book:

Barnes and Noble

Amazon

Where you can connect with the author:

katehewittbooks.com

While at your favorite bookstore/website check out Kate’s other books. Thanks for stopping by and feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments. 

fiction · four star

Flirting With Alaska Belle Calhoune

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Description:

A single mom takes a chance on a reformed bad boy in this small town romance, perfect for fans of Brenda Novak and Raeanne Thayne.
 
Caleb Stone isn’t ready to give up his Hollywood dreams. But after a disastrous run on a reality dating show paints him as an unapologetic player, Caleb needs a little time and space to regroup. Luckily, his hometown of Moose Falls, Alaska has both, plus a job helping his brothers run Yukon Cider. Even dialed down, Caleb’s flirtatious vibes are a hit at work, except for one woman who seems completely, totally, frustratingly immune to his charms–—the gorgeous new photographer for Yukon Cider’s upcoming ad campaign.

Single mom Sophia Brand isn’t made of ice—resisting Caleb’s devilishly sexy grin is hard, especially when it’s so often directed her way. It’s just that she’s been burned by handsome smiles before. Now, she’s focused on setting a good example for her daughter, and that means not getting sidetracked by Caleb’s dazzling charisma.

But as they work together on the campaign, Caleb and Sophia begin to let their guard down. Can he prove that beneath his playboy persona, Caleb is a leading man worthy of a starring role in Sophia’s heart?

My Review:

I really enjoyed this book along with this series. The brothers are all given this opportunity to take over the “family” business, but I feel like its so much more than that in this series. I feel like Hattie has set out to teach the boys about finding their true selfs. I feel like that was very much the case with this book with Caleb, he was in Hollywood and lost himself but was so set to go back. Sophia was a fun read the relationship she has with her dad and sister is so close and so fun, they truly are the definition of family. I think the one thing I can say is I felt like Caleb was so hung up on himself he forget on occasions those around him early in the book however you can see as he makes choices with Sophia he lets the walls down and starts really working on who he is. Overall this was fun read and I can wait for more from this family. Also the author has kept this book a clean read so suitable for all. 

Where to Buy the book:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Where you can connect with the author:

bellecalhoune.com

While at your favorite bookstore/website check out Belle’s other books, You will not be disappointed. Thanks for stopping by and feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments. 

fiction · four star

Cowboy Don’t Go Barbara Ankrum

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Description:

Single mom, Shay Hardesty, thinks her life finally checks all the boxes: teenage son and semi-dysfunctional, but loving family, check. New ranch enterprise, check. Heartbreak free? Check. Then her brother hires her old secret crush, the sexy cowboy Cooper Lane to work on their Marietta Ranch. Uncheck! She fears the cattle rustling scandal that tore his family apart could hurt her fledgling business by association. Worse, his hard work and kindness toward her son are breaking down her carefully built walls, risking her cautious heart.

After years of exile training horses in Texas, Cooper returns to Montana to rebuild his life with his dad who’s finally freed from prison. Working on the Hardesty ranch is a blessing and crossing swords daily with the beautiful Shay is a challenge. Changing her mind about him won’t be easy, but he’s loved her since they were kids, and he’ll work hard for this second chance.

But when the ranch experiences break-ins and vandalism, Cooper wonders if the answers will bring him and Shay closer or snap the fragile trust he’s worked so hard to build?

My Review:I really like this book. I liked how the author put a mystery twist to the book. It kept you wondering what was going to happen. I liked Shay, while at first she came off very full of herself she was truly a strong women trying to protect her heart and her family. I liked Cooper as well since he was faced with a lot but still wanted answers for what went wrong with his dad and wanted to make things right all the while trying to protect his own heart from being hurt. There is adult content in this book it may not be suitable for all. Overall this was a fun read and I can’t wait for more from this family. 

Where to Buy the book:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Where you can connect with the author:

barbaraankrum.com

While at your favorite bookstore/website check out Barbara’s other books, You will not be disappointed. Thanks for stopping by and feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments. 

fiction · four star

A Baby at Bramble House CJ Carmichael

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Description:

You never know who will be checking into Bramble House in the charming Montana town of Marietta…

B & B owners Amy and Chet Hardwick have their hands full. They’re fully booked, Chet’s new rodeo school is taking off, and they’re both trying to deal with their own complicated emotions about becoming first time parents. Meanwhile their guests are proving to be anything but relaxed.

Edgar Keyes, widowed geologist for the US Park Service in Yellowstone, has returned to Marietta to right an old wrong, but an unexpected attraction to Tami, one of two sisters at the B & B trying to repair their relationship, has him reevaluating his entire life..

Librarian Mackenzie Sifton is on a doctor-recommended vacation to recover from work-related trauma. She’s looking for relaxation, not romance. But when her car breaks down, passing motorist Craig Denton arrives to the rescue with a toolbox and a dinner invitation.

Romance is the air at Bramble House, but a medical emergency has Amy and Chet thinking they need to close. Their guests have other ideas.

Come join the guests at Bramble House in this heartwarming small-town romance that will take you on a journey of friendship, healing, love, and new beginnings.

My Review:

I really liked this book I love reading stories from the Bramble house. I feels like the Bramble house is a haven for those seeking refuge from their everyday life. I loved how the author follows a few characters more then the average two most books do but makes it flow so you don’t feel like you are going to get loss and not keep up. I loved Mackenzie she was faced with a hard situation while she was stubborn and didn’t want to do what was best she found a way that worked for her. I liked Craig he knew what he wanted and spoke his mind all the whiling dealing with hurt like so many of us. I loved how each one of these characters all felt relatable and all felt like your average day friends. Overall I really liked this book I could not put it down it felt like it sucked you in and you were right there with them watching this all play out. 

Where to Buy the book:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Where you can connect with the author:

cjcarmichael.com

While at your favorite bookstore/website check out CJ’s other books, You will not be disappointed. Thanks for stopping by and feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments. 

fiction · four star

The Prodigal Brother Returns Susan Lute

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Description:

It’s time to go home…

Sixteen years after being kicked off the family ranch, widower Blake Lohmen is called home. There’s been an accident and his family needs his help. The timing’s not ideal. A children’s book author, he’s on a tight book deadline and responsible for the care of his wife’s much younger brother. But maybe this is his chance for Blake to make the amends he’d promised.

Following a divorce, traveling nurse and single mom Malorie Harper is not in the market for a man. She and her twins desperately need a change of scenery so she eagerly accepts a summer job offer at a Colorado ranch. The cute small town and gorgeous pastoral scenery framed by mountains feel like a balm to her soul. But on her first day, she walks into a family brawl where her patient nearly falls out of bed while aiming a right hook at her twins’ favorite author.

The uncertain beginning suggests a new chapter for all of them, but can Blake overcome the past, and will this 

My Review:

I really enjoyed this story. I liked that there really wasn’t a lot of push and pull in the sense of a ton of drama. I liked that it was a simple love story that really got to the heart. If you have ever lost a loved one or a relationship you can feel the emotions throughout this book for sure. I really liked Blake you faced a lot alone but also had a huge heart to do what was right. I like Malorie as well she was no nonsense woman what was not about to let crazy bad behavior affect your children or her. I think what I like most about this story were the kids in the story the author did a good job and sharing there story with out getting to far away from the main story line. Overall I liked that the author kept this a clean read and I can’t wait for more from these brothers. 

Where to Buy the book:

Amazon

Barnes and noble

Where you can connect with the author:

www.susanlute.com

While at your favorite bookstore/website check out Susan’s other books, You will not be disappointed. Thanks for stopping by and feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments. 

fiction · four star

The Cowboy’s Forbidden Bride Megan Crane

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Description:

Wilder Carey has always enjoyed living up to his name. When he spots pretty Cat Lisle in the seediest bar around, he ignores the bad blood between their families to step in. But his uncharacteristic good intentions scatter when she kisses him—and this unrepentant heartbreaker faces three uncomfortable truths:

  1. He’s been nursing an attraction to an innocent.
  2. He’s not a man built to resist temptation.
  3. And Cat is not only not the little girl he’s been pretending she is, she might be the one woman worth the trouble.

Cat’s over being well-behaved, but thanks to her grumpy and overprotective older brothers, she’s had no choice. Now that she’s ready to ruin her reputation, she lucks into an encounter with the cowboy of her hottest fantasies. Cat knows she’s supposed to avoid the Carey family, but Wilder is everything deliciously naughty and if she doesn’t take her shot, she’ll regret it forever…

Soon Wilder is secretly teaching her every sexy trick he knows, and Cat is falling in love… but what happens when sworn enemies want to go public?

My Review:

I really liked Cat man she is a pistol and she was not going to take anything from her brothers or anyone else for that matter anymore. She was such a fun read I thought for sure that at some point she might come off as winey but I was so wrong, once she set her sight on something there was not detouring her from that. Wilder was a mystery to me for most of the book. He seemed to be holding himself at arms length from everyone but his twin Ryder, which by the way was so fun to read the banter between these two, such typical siblings. I don’t think there was really one hero in this book I felt like Wilder and Cat complimented each other and when one was weak the other lifted them on. There is sexual content in this story so it may not be suitable for all readers. Overall thought this was a fun read and I can’t wait to see what is up with the rest of the bothers and Where tricks are up the sleeves by Belinda and Zeke. 

Where to Buy the book:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Where you can connect with the author:

megancrane.com

While at your favorite bookstore/website check out Megan’s other books, You will not be disappointed. Thanks for stopping by and feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments. 

fiction · four star

The Cowboy’s Baby Surprise Kaz Delaney

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Description:

What if he really is ‘The One’?

When up-and-coming lawyer Evie Davis travels halfway across the country to deliver her old friend’s baby girl to the oblivious father, the last thing she expects is an encounter with a rugged Montana cowboy. One who convincingly insists he’s not the father. The second last thing she expects is to have her heart flutter in gratitude at that proclamation. A loner by nature and nurture, Evie isn’t looking for a relationship or even a fling, but as she waits for word on the potential father’s whereabouts, she’s tempted.

As oldest of the Halligan brood, JD Halligan has his hands full running the sprawling family ranch. So, when a beautiful Californian lawyer turns up on his doorstep with a baby she claims is his, it flips his world. He’s definitely not this baby’s father, but can’t ignore the cuteness overload, especially baby Mia’s carer, Evie Davis. Trouble is, he fell for a career-minded city girl once before and that ended in disaster, so he’s not prepared to go there again. But as he opens his home to the new arrivals, sweet baby Mia isn’t the only one winning her way into his heart.

My Review:

This is a new to me author and I was not disappointed. I really liked Evie, she put her life on hold to do something for a friend! Evie had a big heart and a bigger goal of getting and making sure Mia had the best life ever. JD man he was fun to read. He seem to read Evie like and open book and want to push her buttons but at he peeled back the layers he discovered he liked to push the boundaries even more. I love that Cody and Jack gave JD a hard time and made sure to keep him on his toes. Overall while there were parts of this book that were heartbreaking there were other parts that showed that there is good in the world, even in a fiction world. There is strong sexual undertones but overall this was a fun book to read and I can’t wait for more. 

Where to Buy the book:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Where you can connect with the author:

kazdelaney.com.au

While at your favorite bookstore/website check out Kat’s other books, You will not be disappointed. Thanks for stopping by and feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments. 

Christian fiction · four star · suspence

Fireline by Kate Angelo

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Description:

SECRETS. BETRAYAL. SACRIFICE.
THIS TIME, THEY’RE NOT JUST FIGHTING FIRE.

An original series created by bestselling authors Susan May Warren and Lisa Phillips.

She was born to be a smokejumper…

As the niece of a legendary smokejumper, Nova Burns is tough as nails. When their crew chief Tucker Newman breaks his leg, Nova longs for the opportunity to helm the team, ready to take risks and prove herself. But there’s one risk she refuses to take—falling in love.

He’s living a lie…

Undercover Homeland agent Booth Wilder is seeking redemption. Scarred by a past explosion that took the life of his partner, Booth is hunting a rogue CIA faction known as the Brotherhood. Now, he’s determined to uncover their secrets and find a hidden nuclear weapon that could turn the world to ash.

Only problem…summer sparks have ignited between Booth and Nova. Nova is torn between her future as the smokejumping chief, her growing attraction to Booth, and the belief that he’s hiding something from her. Of course he is…Booth is hiding his true goal—unrooting the Brotherhood and returning to his life as a Homeland Security agent, a life that he’s not sure he really wants.

Then the wildfire threatens the home of the Jude County Firefighting team, and Nova doesn’t care what secrets he might be hiding—she needs everyone to save the town. But when the Brotherhood discovers Booth and his goals, the fight becomes personal. Now, Booth must choose between accomplishing his mission and saving the woman he’s come to love.

It’s a dangerous game of loyalty, betrayal, and pulse-pounding action in the fifth installment of the Chasing Fire: Montana series.

Chasing Fire: Montana
Book 1: Flashpoint
Book 2: Flashover
Book 3: Flashback
Book 4: Firestorm
Book 5: Fireline
Book 6: Fireproof

My Review:

Kate is a new author to me and I love finding new authors so I was excited to read this book. Booth was someone who was a man of mystery and he did not disappoint when he lets his secret out, I wasn’t sure what I expected but it wasn’t that. Nova was a hard head stubborn and sometimes I wanted to yell at her to let her guard down a little to let people in. I loved how Aria was fiercely protective of Nova and would do anything to protect her including calling out Booth. we all need and Aria in our lives. overall I enjoyed this read it keeps you guessing till the end the author keeps you wondering what is going to happen next. I will say that in the end I have so many questions and can’t wait to find out what happens next to this fire crew. 

Where to Buy the book:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Where you can connect with the author:

kateangelo.com

While at your favorite bookstore/website check out Kate’s other books, You will not be disappointed. Thanks for stopping by and feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments. 

fiction · four star

Make it Real Nan Reinhardt

Sarah1 Comment

Description:

They were only faking it….

A landscape designer for his family’s construction firm, Joe Walker, is nearing completion on one of the most important projects of his career—gardens for spec homes that if they wow, Walker Construction will survive. When a freak accident sidelines him with a broken leg, the firm hires a competitor. Her ideas are radically different, but his stalker ex arrives to play nurse, and Joe needs more than gardening help.

After six-years working in English manor gardens, horticulturist Kara Sudbury returns to River’s Edge to help in her grandparents’ struggling garden center. She’s thrilled when Jackson Walker hires her to execute his injured cousin’s designs. Ignoring Joe is difficult because he’s as sexy now as he was in high school and even more stubborn. But when Joe asks Kara to play the role of girlfriend, they strike a deal that will help Joe handle his tenacious ex and put Sudbury’s Nursery back in the black. Kara’s up for the subterfuge…for a price, but then the pretense feels real, and Kara is reminded that every rose has its thorns.

My Review:

I thought this story was really cute. I liked how there really wasn’t a lot of push and pull but straight up story that felt could be relatable. Kara was no non-sense kind of girl you were not going to get anything by her and she was going to tell you like it was. The author through a twist into the story with Kara that I wasn’t sure where she was going with it but it played out perfectly. I liked Joe too he was like the other Walkers we have read about in this series he would not take life sitting down he it bound and determine to see through the project even injured. I Liked how his siblings gave him a hard time but he gave back just equally totally reminds me of my siblings. This story gives you that small town feel for sure. Overall I really like this read I will say this is sexual undertones but all behind close doors so may not be suitable for all readers. 

Where to Buy the book:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Where you can connect with the author:

nanreinhardt.com

While at your favorite bookstore/website check out Nan’s other books, You will not be disappointed. Thanks for stopping by and feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments.