Category: Two Star

fiction · Two Star

The Cowboy’s Downfall Paula Altenburg

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Description:

His first mistake…saying yes. 

Retired bull rider Nix McCray savors his freedom riding the range. Let a woman run his life? Never again. Those days are behind him. When the Endeavour Ranch asks him to run a bull riding clinic for teens, he agrees. How much trouble can a group of kids be? No idea, but the uptight, hyper responsible older sister of a reckless seventeen-year girl sure becomes a burr in his side, disturbing his calm.

Self-assured lawyer Shauna Walsh has always followed the rules. When her flighty mother begs her to take her sister following the latest school expulsion, Shauna’s confident she can prevail. Wrong. She’s out of her depth. Worse, the amused, sexy cowboy running the rodeo clinic is everything she shouldn’t want, yet he has a super power over her once sleepy libido.

Soon, the unruly teenager determined to shock everyone is the least of Shauna and Nix’s problems. How can they explore the fire burning between them, yet keep the casual affair a secret in a rural community when they’re supposed to be setting a good example?

My Review:

When I think of a cowboy, I envision someone who has their life relatively in order, demonstrates a strong work ethic, and serves as a role model for the next generation. Unfortunately, Nix did not embody any of these qualities. I found him to be overly passive, unable to assert himself, and far too accommodating—particularly when it came to his ex-wife. As a result, I struggled to connect with his character from the very beginning. Shauna was a somewhat more balanced character, though I must admit that my initial impression of her aligned with Nix’s—she came across as rather pretentious. 

Overall, this book just wasn’t my thing. I felt like some of the sexual content and some of the sexual innuendos didn’t really need to be there and kind of took away from the story. It just didn’t click with me.

Where to Buy the book:

Amazon

Barnes and noble

Where you can connect with the author:

www.paulaaltenburg.com

Thanks for stopping by and feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments. 

fiction · Two Star

You Had Me at Taco by Candice Y. Johnson

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Description:

Starting over is more than a song lyric…

The last thing rising fashion designer Dayton Royal anticipated when she moved to Necessity, Texas was managing one of her cousin’s taco trucks. But after being skewered on social media for ruining her first famous client’s wedding gown and then her estranged mother reaches out to reconcile, Day retreats, drowning in tortillas, salsa and humiliation. Romance isn’t on her plate, until the handsome business owner she’s been casually flirting with makes a move.

Single dad Grant Thomas has been smitten since the stunner, Day, walked into his store. Though burned by love, Grant still seizes the opportunity to ask Day out –right before his ex-wife arrives demanding he take their angry teen for the summer, perhaps longer. Unsure if he can balance work, fatherhood and romance, Grant’s determined to try.

Inspired by her new relationship, Day becomes a mentor to Grant’s daughter and dives back into her dream career as well as indulges her creativity and love of tacos. But can she embrace her new life and family, as well as forgive her mother and past mistakes?

My Review:

This was a new-to-me author. Unfortunately, I didn’t find this book to be a good fit for me. I found Day to be very self-centered and stuck in a “woe is me” mindset throughout most of the book. She came across as more of a child than a grown woman.

I also felt the author included way too many political talking points that had little to do with the actual story. This made the book feel disingenuous, and I quickly lost interest.

That said, I did like Blake—man, that girl was a pistol! She was super direct, just like Coy. You always knew where you stood with both of them; there was no holding back. Their personalities were honestly the only reason I kept reading—I wanted to know what happened with them.

I liked Grant as well. He seemed like he had a good heart and genuinely wanted the best for those close to him. He understood loss and, because of that, seemed to value life even more.

Overall, though, this book just wasn’t for me.

Where to Buy the book:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Where you can connect with the author:

www.facebook.com

Thanks for stopping by and feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments.   

fiction · Two Star

Making A Texas Cowboy Justine Davis

SarahLeave a comment

Description:

Texas is a chance to start over….

Jackson Thorpe looks like he has it all—the star of the hottest modern day western—he’s wealthy and adored by millions. But after the loss of his wife in a horrific accident, he walks away from Hollywood to be close to his widowed sister in Last Stand, Texas, hoping the change will help his young son emotionally heal.

Sought after horse trainer, Nicole Baylor, is cowgirl to her core. She loathes the popular western series and its absurdly handsome star because the show is so fake—it’s even shot in California. Putting on a Stetson does not make a man a cowboy, and she’s had enough of men pretending. But when a worried Jackson asks for help with his son, Nic, though wary, agrees.

Jackson’s uncomfortable taking help from a beautiful cowgirl who clearly doesn’t like him or what he does, but after seeing his son’s progress, he now worries Nic may have lassoed his heart.

My Review:

I really struggled with getting into this book. While I liked the concept of the story loosing someone you loved and sacrificing you job for you child and family to make things better I found that Nicole was quite full of her self and was the very thing she accused Jackson of, she came off immature and whiny. I really Liked the Highwater family they had huge hearts and were willing to help a newcomer into the town they loved so much. Jackson was a good chapter but he had to grow on me. I get he was meant to be this lost person after the loss of his wife but he seemed like he was completely lost from all reality and I just felt like he wasn’t helping his son he was putting him off on his sister more. Overall this book was just no for me. There is adult content in the book so may not be suitable for all. 

Where to Buy the book:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Where you can connect with the author:

justinedavis.com

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

fiction · Two Star

Love, Just In Natalie Murray

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 Description:

Sydney TV news reporter Josie Larsen is approaching thirty and coming dangerously close to failing at life. Lost in a vortex of other people’s career milestones, engagement parties and baby showers, Josie is perennially single, abandoned by her globetrotting family, and invisible to her boss – except for the one time he tuned in while she was mid-panic-attack on live TV. As punishment, Josie is shipped off to cover another reporter’s six-month leave at a regional bureau in Newcastle. But Josie has more waiting for her in Newcastle than yawn-inducing stories about bicycle lane protests. The city is also the domain of Zac Jameson – her best friend since high school. This should be a happy turn of events, but Zac has barely spoken to Josie for the past two years. Not since a tragic event caused him to leave Sydney to try and cope with his grief. Now thrown back into each other’s lives, Josie and Zac have to navigate their neglected friendship and secret attraction to each other while struggling with their careers and mental health. 

My Review:

This book was not for me. I will start off saying I have never read anything by this author so I was excited to check this book out. However the way the story was told was just to much, There are 44 chapters and and Epilogue in the book every other chapter is in the past it jumps around I found this to be distracting not always easy to keep up with, and yes the chapters are labeled but still found this too be annoying. I wish the author would have either picked the past or the present but not try and squeeze both into the story this way. For grown adult I found Josie acting like a young girl in high school or early college years. I found Zac standoffish and just overall annoyed at Josie no matter what she did for most of the story. The story is told from Josie’s point of view. Overall like I stated this book was not for me and I really struggled with even finishing it. 

Where to Buy the book:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Where you can connect with the author:

www.nataliemurrayauthor.com

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

fiction · Two Star

Always Her Cowboy Addison Fox

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Description:

Back in Rustlers Creek, one cowboy discovers that a lifelong feud could become his forever romance…

Charlotte Wayne has detested Chance Beaumont since the fourth grade. Her bickering with the big, rugged cowboy has become legendary around their small Montana town. But little does anyone know, Charlotte’s animosity masks unspoken feelings… because underneath it all, Chance is the only man who ever truly claimed her heart. 

Chance has spent his whole life in Rustlers Creek, but he’s always been on the outside looking in. He needs to focus on keeping his ranch afloat amid the massive debt left by his late father, and the feelings he harbors for Charlotte don’t make it any easier. She’s ranching royalty and he’s perpetually scrubbing mud off his boots. It’s safer to push her away than hope for something he can never have.

When a business opportunity forces Charlotte and Chance to work together, they share a heated moment in each other’s arms. The simmering attraction they’ve fought for years can no longer be ignored, but will Chance’s doubts stand in the way of their happiness? Or will he finally declare his love and prove to Charlotte that he’s always been her cowboy?

My Review:

This book was not for me. I was not a huge fan of this story and I struggled to finish it. I liked Charlotte she was a fighter but she spoke what was on her mind and did not give a hoot about what anyone thinks. When I think of a cowboy I think ruff and rugged and some who takes the world by the horns, however that was not the case with Chase. I found him a weak person who was annoying and whiney. I did not like him at all. I also felt the say reason they struggled with there relationship was just like beating a dead horse after reading the same excuse over and over it just got old. Overall this book was just not for me. This book does have adult content and may not be suitable for all readers. 

Where to Buy the book:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Where you can connect with the author:

www.addisonfox.com

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

fiction · Two Star

Dandelion Wishes Melinda Curtis

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Description:

What if dandelion wishes do come true?

Ever since the accident that nearly killed her best friend, Emma has been trying to make amends. But to do so, she’ll have to return to her small hometown, the charming Harmony Valley.

When she moves back into the cozy Victorian home she grew up in, she’s hoping to rebuild her friendship with Tracy, the woman who was practically a sister growing up.

But Tracy’s brother Will—Emma’s childhood crush—doesn’t want Emma back in his family’s life and does everything in his power to discourage a reconciliation.

When it looks like everything is falling apart, Emma realizes it’s going to take more than a dandelion wish to heal the wounds of friendship and maybe in the process, find true love.

My Review:

I was not a fan of this book at all. Why Emma spend so much time and energy on two people who cold not see her value and worth is beyond me. I was not a fan of Will he was a bully and a jerk and the author played it off as he acted the way he did because he “cared”. No he was just plan mean! Tracy had her own issues but she was just as mean as her brother Will, it felt like Tracy and Will took great pleasure in torching Emma as payback for an accident that was not her fault. Emma, Rose and Rose’s Friends were hands down my favorite in this book. Emma was a fighter she loved deeply and cared deeply, so when those she loved hurt she hurt as well. Granny Rose and her friends are what friendship is made of they were the best cracking jokes, and having fun but also there when one of them needed someone. This is a Clean read but this book was not for me in the least. 

Where to Buy the book:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Where you can connect with the author:

www.melindacurtis.net

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

fiction · Two Star

Texas Christmas Baby Bargain Eve Gaddy

SarahLeave a comment

Description:

This Christmas, a baby is on her wish list…

Art gallery owner Micki Kennedy loves her new home in Whiskey River, but she yearns for a baby. Seeing the Christmas lights and happy families only makes her more determined to have a child of her own, but her divorce has made her wary of relationships. She wants a baby, not a baby daddy. Footloose Cole Walker seems like the perfect person to ask for help.

Cole Walker thought he had plenty of time to settle down, but a near-death experience has him questioning his single status. He heads back to Whiskey River for Christmas determined to find a woman he can spend his life with. But the first person he sees when he arrives in town is the woman who dumped him years ago to marry her ex-boyfriend.

Cole can’t believe Micki would ask him to father her child and walk away. But can he risk heartbreak again to court her and try to father her child the old-fashioned way—and build a family of their own?

My Review:

I typically really like this author and her stories, so I was really excited to read this one. However this book was a bit of a let down for me, it just did not feel like her normal writing style and in some places felt rushed and others seems to drag and have way too much detail. For the first part of the book I really liked both characters I felt like the book started strong, I felt in the end that Cole was a bit of a jerk and just pushed until he got what he wanted. Micki seemed like a strong independent person ready to take on the world but once she was with Cole she game this timid shy person. I really liked Alexas she was a good friend and a really strong character through out. I also really Liked Micki’s Mom she was so fun and had me laughing out loud that women held nothing back that came to her mind. This book does contain sex scenes so may not be suitable for all readers. Overall this book just was not for me. 

Where to Buy the book:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Where you can connect with the author:

www.evegaddy.net

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

fiction · Two Star

My Christmas with You by Fortune Whelan

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Description:

Christmas is a time for family and forgiveness…

Mabel Gray is no stranger to rebuilding her life. She ran away from her childhood sweetheart, ghosting him to create a life away from her controlling family in Conception Bay. Fifteen years later, she’s done it again. After walking away from her marriage and the hotel empire she built with her ex, she’s broke and a single mom to a teen. But with a loan from her mother, she plans to rise again, this time back in her hometown. Her only concern? Running into Danny, the man she’s never forgotten.

Danny Dorsey knows all about second chances. After recklessly crashing his car days after signing a professional hockey contract, he lost everything—including the girl he loved. Years later, he’s the wealthy creator of an illustrious social media and lifestyle brand. Finally feeling settled, Danny makes an unexpected detour to visit his family for Christmas…only to find himself sitting with Mabel at dinner.

Falling in love has always been easy. But will the secrets of the past once again tear them apart?

My Review:

This is a new to me author so that being said I have not read any of the other book in the series. However this book was not for me. There was a LOT of back and forth with “I like you today, but not tomorrow” it just kind of got old. I found Dany harsh and almost mean for most of the book except when it came to his niece otherwise I am not really a fan at all. I did like Season, Charmaine, Clark, Athena, Leena they just added a lot of fun and laughter to the book. I found I did like Mabel she was a fighter and she wanted to give the best life she could for her daughter. Overall I would say this was not a book I would find myself rereading, There is adult language and content in this book so it my not be suitable for all. 

Where to Buy the book:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Where you can connect with the author:

fortunewhelan.com

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

Two Star

The Cowboy’s Texas Heart E. Elizabeth Watson

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Description:

It was only meant to be one night of pleasure…

After a failed engagement, paleontologist Heather “Heart” Carvalho has vowed to always protect herself in love. When she’s hired to conduct a geophysical survey for a mineral rights dispute on ancient land, she never expects to be swept up in the arms of a rugged cowboy. After a night of passion, she learns the handsome cowboy is her new client. Even more complicated, he has kids, and soon Heart longs for something she knows she can never have…a family.

Tyler Dixon doesn’t have time for emotional attachments. He has two sons to raise solo, a multimillion-dollar ranch to operate, and a pending lawsuit to protect his land from an unscrupulous oil company. Carrying on with the gorgeous, free-spirited paleontologist will only jeopardize Tyler’s case. So why does he feel the impulse to keep crossing the line with her? 

They’re both everything they told themselves they didn’t want. As their chemistry burns, Heart claims she can remain impartial, but soon Ty wants the one thing she’s sworn to never again give away—her heart.

My Review:

This book was not for me. I will say that I did like Heart she was a fighter and she was probably my favorite. However I felt like the whole book was very childish, vey high school/college age, instead of two grown adults. I just felt like the storyline there really wasn’t much of one. This book does have adult content and may not be suitable for all readers. Overall this book was not for me and I can’t really recommend it. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Where to Buy the book:

www.amazon.com

www.barnesandnoble.com

Where you can connect with the author:

eelizabethwatson.com

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

Two Star

Mall American Girl Sarah Robinson

SarahLeave a comment

Description:

Oh, say can you see these sparks flying in this 4th of July-themed standalone short romance when singer/songwriter Kamar Jaziri meets the beautiful and undefeated Independence Games champion in a red, white, and blue meet-cute over a plate of hot dogs.

Summer Darby, owner of Summer’s Sun Spray Tan Salon, is a winner. The end. Every goal she’s had, she’s crushed and her streak isn’t about to come to an end now even though the games have changed. She doesn’t care how much the new singer in the pavilion lights her firecracker—she won’t be distracted by his star-spangled salute.

When Kamar Jaziri isn’t studying in graduate school, he’s working as a singer/songwriter at small gigs around the local college town—including a recent hire at Yule Heights Shopping Mall. All he wants is a taste of freedom as he chases his American dreams, and that means he doesn’t have time for romance or dating. And he definitely doesn’t have time for the way Summer Darby looks at him.

Cue the sparklers as these blue collar titans of business clash in a comedic battle for independence—and love.

My Review:

This book is a Novella, which makes it short and to the point, not a lot of build up. I felt like with Kamar he was really laid back and just go with the flow kind of guy. With Summer I feel like if I had to describer her she was like Eeyore “woah is me” kind of attitude. Also I felt like the author tried to throw a twist into the book but the never let it play out so I felt like well what was the point of that. Honestly this book was not for me. If you are looking for a quick read this book might be for you, if you are looking for a more drawn out story this one might not be for you. 

I received an advance copy from the publisher. I was under no obligation to post a review and have given my honest opinion

Where to Buy the book:

www.amazon.com

www.barnesandnoble.com

Where you can connect with the author:

booksbysarahrobinson.com

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