Review: Tempt Me with Diamonds (The London Jewels Trilogy #1)

Tempt Me with Diamonds (The London Jewels Trilogy #1) 

by Jane Feather

Blurb:

Three friends who met at an elite English boarding school take on the town—and the ton—one by one, in this sparkling new series about love, loss, and lustrous gemstones, from New York Times bestselling author Jane Feather...

A FINE ROMANCE…

Diana Sommerville seems to have it all—beauty, brains, and vast wealth, thanks to her family's ownership of a diamond mine abroad. But when her beloved brother dies in battle and leaves a lion's share of his estate to his best friend, Diana finds herself in a situation that seems scripted for the stage: Sharing her family home with the man she used to love—and now loathes. Worse, her unfaithful former fiancé has already moved in.

OR AN EXCELLENT FAKE?

Rupert Lacey didn't expect Diana to take the news without a fight. Still, he didn't expect her to bring the battle directly to their newly shared doorstep—complete with a full set of trunks, and a full set of orders to the staff. Yet there she is, bold, regal...magnificent as ever. Now they would face a formidable challenge: to ignore each other—and the unanswered questions that stood between them. The only sure thing is their still blazing desire. But with a woman like Diana, it will take nothing less than a momentous misunderstanding, a missing prized mare, and a shocking revelation to restore a love that hasn't lost its shine.

Themes:  Historical

Rating: 3.5 stars

Heat Rating:  

Review:

 An all new series begins with a new twist on the words Independent Women, but I am looking forward to seeing how Jane Feather takes these characters into the world of men and gives them a chance to spread their wings.  The series kicks off with a story of former lover coming back together after the tragic loss of someone they both loved, someone that leaves them in a bit of an untenable situation.  Ms. Feather has always has an interesting way of putting her characters into binds and them finding creative ways of getting them out of them, but I wasn’t too sure if this one was going to work out to everyone’s satisfaction to be honest, thankfully I was proved wrong.  Diana Somerville has returned to her home in England after living for years in Africa, prompted by the deaths of her father and brother to return, and is dismayed to find her former fiancé has been given half of everything she thought she owned outright.  Her brother has left everything he owned to the man that broke her heart and now she has to not only deal with him on business decisions but live with him as well.  Rupert Lacey has never stopped loving Diana, despite her breaking his heart with her lack of faith in him, and when he is forced to live with her he knows that the challenge she poses is one is can’t resist.  Diana is determined to win the war against Rupert, but soon she remembers how much her body and heart crave the man and her resistance is just not strong enough.  Leaving London seems the only option, until he follows right behind her, forcing her to own up to her desires and feelings.  But when they are faced with the first challenge of their newly rekindled relationship it becomes obvious that Diana will truly never give her heart and trust to him, leaving Rupert withdrawing.  Diana must now chase after the man to prove that she loves him enough for the both of them, or their love will truly be gone forever, and she just can’t accept that truth. Diana was one of those woman that I don’t really like too much, raised in a bubble and living a life of luxury without every really understanding the world around her.  She didn’t really appreciate the love of the man when she had him, allowing fear and stupidity to lose her the best thing in her life, and then when she has a second chance at it, she does the same stupid thing again.  In the end she finally wizens up thankfully, but though I like some of her decisions and she was certainly a strong-willed enough woman for her time, overall I would have been slapping some sense into her had I been one of her close friends. Personally I thought that Rupert was too good of a man for Diana, his love remaining true despite her childishly throwing away their love.  He was smart, dedicated, brave, sweet and sexy all while being a true gentleman and trying to protect himself from the rumors and trauma of their broken engagement.  HE worked so hard to prove to the woman that he loved her and show her that they could have a happy life together while all she did was plot to tear him down and try to bring him to his knees.  I am happy that in the end he got what he wanted, which oddly was Diana, but I would have liked to see him with a stronger female lead to be honest, a woman truly of his stature and greatness.  I am hoping that the other two ladies that will be getting stories in this series are better characters and look forward to reading their stories soon, but overall I have to say that Diana’s childishness made this one a bit of a drag for me.

*ebook provided by publisher (via NetGalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

Review: One Christmas Eve (Cedar Street #2)

One Christmas Eve (Cedar Street #2)

by  Shannon Stacey 

Blurb:

 Zoe Randall is busy living her life as she damn well pleases. She’s back in her favorite town, herdivorce in her rearview mirror, and living out her childhood dream of running a bookstore with her cousin. She has no interest in the uptight nerd who opened his boring-ass business next to her shop…until he complains about one of her sexy window displays.

Then it’s game on.

Preston Wheeler knows he takes life a little too seriously. But when the saucy bookseller next door starts pushing his buttons, he can feel that changing. Beautiful, vivacious Zoe challenges him in all the best ways, and soon he’s pushing her buttons right back: teasing and flirting all the way through the holiday season.

As Preston loosens up and Zoe is treated to the man behind the suit (particularly his forearms), she realizes she’s more interested than she cares to admit. And Preston comes to see the beauty—the absolute delight—in adding Zoe’s bright splashes of color to his once very black-and-white existence.

Themes:  Holiday, Contemporary

Rating:  4.25 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

The cousins are back and Zoe is on a mission… one that just might change her life in ways she never imagined.  This series picks up shortly after Noah and Carly’s love story, returning us to the lives of the Randall girls and giving us a glimpse of the happy couple as Carly’s cousin Zoe finds herself faced with some challenges and decisions over the holidays.  I love a good holiday story and this one is filled with all my favorite motifs for the holidays but the most important one being love of course.  Zoe is the cousin with a chip on her shoulder for sure, so when her new business neighbor complains about her sexy Halloween window display is means war.  Preston has finally fled the big city in hopes of living a calm and sedate life in her new small town, but on the very day he opens his new business he inadvertently begins a war with his sexy new neighbor.  Soon they are butting heads not only in person, but digitally and with notes left around their businesses.  But when they are forced to accept that they may have gotten off on the wrong foot, they both begin to see that there is more to their war than anger, the teasing and flirting undertones have made the war even more interesting and as Preston and Zoe really get into the spirit of the holidays their friendship becomes more.  But they both have so much to lose if they let their feelings become more, so are they willing to let go of their fears and allow that love to grow or will they walk away from the best thing to ever happen to either of them?  Zoe is a woman that I can fully relate to, a woman on the defensive, one trained that ever word out of someone’s mouth should be assumed as negative, mostly because I’m the same way.  Her last relationship left some serious scars so when Preston pulls at them; he is instantly disliked before she ever gets a chance to really know him. But as she accepts more and more that she might have been wrong about him, she learns that she could not only come to like this man but lose her heart to him forever if she allows herself that freedom.  I loved seeing Zoe release the walls around her heart finally and find a way to trust again, even with the fears that she would be hurt.  She is the kind of woman I want to grow up to be when I find the courage to let go.  Preston is the kind of guy that has been kicked by snotty women a few too many times and like any abused animal he protects himself by withdrawing from the field.  I was so sad to see the way he was willing to let go of something he wanted so badly in order to keep himself from getting hurt by Zoe, even though she had never shown any inclination to do so, but being gun-shy after being dumped one too many times is understandable. I loved seeing these two pull one another out of their personal abysses and find a way to come to terms with their pasts together, showing that sometimes the whole truly is more than the combined parts.  The passion between Zoe and Preston was apparent even when they were only throwing shade at one another, but once the good stuff got going and their relationship shifted the heat was enough to melt all the snow in New England. I am wondering if there will be more in the series because I would certainly be interested in seeing more of these two cousins again and seeing how they are faring with their men and their happy new lives.  Another great story Ms. Stacey.

*ebook provided by publisher (via NetGalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

Review: Spun Out (Blacktop Cowboys #10)

Spun Out (Blacktop Cowboys #10)

by Lorelei James

Blurb:

Years in the Army equipped Bailey Masterson for many things: target shooting, rappelling off cliffs, dodging grenades. She's lived through horrors that still give her nightmares. But nothing in Bailey's life-or-death training prepared her for caring for the tiny terror that is five-year-old Olivia Hale. Or how to control her raging attraction to Olivia's father, Streeter, the rugged, green-eyed cattle rancher who undermines her every move even when he stars in her dreams.

Streeter Hale has room for only two things in his life: his daughter and his job. He doesn't date. He doesn't get attached. Not anymore. So not only is Streeter stunned by Olivia's improved behavior after just a few days with Bailey, he's downright floored by his immediate attraction to the woman. But with secrets in her eyes and a body that doesn't quit, Streeter begins to worry that Bailey Masterson might just be the one woman to heal his fractured family and broken heart.

One thing's for sure--these two wrecked souls are spinning out of control as they desperately try not to fall in love...

Themes:  Contemporary, Cowboys

Rating: 4.5 stars

Heat Rating:  

Review:

 What an interesting twist on the old story of a single father falling in love with the nanny/babysitter… but I guess we shouldn’t have expected that Lorelei James would write too closely to the old tropes.  The Blacktop Cowboys series began many years ago and I have been following it from the very beginning, enjoying the shifts and different characters in this small group of friends and family, but I never imagined these two would find their way to one another.  Streeter is the brother of one of the first guys in the series, Tobin, and we have seen little glimpses of him along the way, while Bailey’s sister was also a major character in another story.  Bringing the two together is a stroke of genius and done so organically that you never one question it.  While the story certainly does carry a dark motif that underlies the love story, one that most people would be uncomfortable reading about in a romance, it is certainly a huge fact a life in this day and age and should not be hidden away from as if we are all ostriches with our heads in the sand.  Streeter is doing his best to raise his little girl, but Olivia has become a five-year-old tyrant for certain and he is at his wits end.  Bailey is on a little break from life as she tries to decide what is next for her, staying with her sister and helping out around the ranch and store leads her to be in just the wrong place –or right one—at the wrong time.  Years in the army never prepared her for her newest task as the leader of a kids camp and certainly never taught her how to deal with a damaged little girl that is slowly capturing her heart or her father that has capture her interest in so many ways.  Streeter never felt this type of connection with any woman and when Bailey offers a chance to explore the heat between them while she is in town he jumps at the chance to have this woman in his life and his bed.  Passionate exploration and sensual fun become so much more as they both have to fight to keep from losing their hearts, but it just might be a losing battle, but will the truth of their pasts and the tragic fears for their future keep them from fighting for one another or can they prove to one another that they are willing to put in the time and work to have it all once and for all. Streeter’s past is filled with drama and tragedy, but he is doing his very best to make sure that Olivia is cared for and happy now, even though he knows she has issues.  He is obviously determined to give his daughter everything he has, even to the detriment of his own life and happiness, but when he sees that sometimes being happy himself is the best thing for her as well he begins to loosen up a little.  I loved seeing him find his confidence and he definitely became a sexy beast in so many ways, where before he was a bit unsure of his steps with Bailey.  I wanted to slap him more than once for being short-sighted and unwilling to see through his pain, but thankfully his family and friends did it for me and kept him from making the biggest mistake of his life.  Bailey is at a crossroads and the poor woman is becoming more and more lost.  She has a lot of issues and dealing with them is something she has always done on her own and thought she had to do so.  Seeing her come to terms with her loses and dealing with her problems was painful, having seen someone living through something very similar in real life makes it even harder to read about, but seeing her finally reaching out to those she loves for assistance gave me hope and made me happy that she was sharing.  I loved seeing her in action at the kids’ camp and finding a bit of happiness with her family and friends, but the best times were the quiet times she spent with Streeter and even Olivia as they became a unit and learned their way into their future. I am looking forward to seeing where this series goes next and what lovers we see fall next because James has a way of making her cowboys so sexy and sweet that you wonder why you can’t find one of your very own.

*ebook provided by publisher (via NetGalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

Review: Chosen Mate (Crescent Moon #9)

Chosen Mate (Crescent Moon #9)

by Katie Reus

Blurb:

Her past has taught her to be wary…

With an abusive relationship behind her, wolf shifter Leslie is quietly raising her young son in the Kendrick pack. If she’s occasionally lonely, it’s a small price to pay for her son’s safety. And if she’s secretly longing for pack alpha Malcolm Kendrick, well…she’s keeping that fantasy to herself. Experience has made her a realist, and they’re far too different to work.

This alpha is about to stake his claim…

She has no idea Malcolm wants her just as fiercely. That he’s been subtly courting her for a year. But subtlety has gotten him nowhere—even if he thought it was the best choice after what she’d been through. He wanted to make sure Leslie didn’t feel obligated to him, that she was truly ready to move on. Now that he knows she is, he’s determined to make sure it’s with him. And when a threat from her past surfaces, he’ll eliminate anyone who would dare to hurt his mate.

Themes:  Paranormal, Shifters

Rating:  3.75 stars

Heat Rating:  

Review:

 So to be honest, while I have enjoyed the last few books in this series, I wish I had started at the beginning so I would be even more invested in these characters.  That being said, if you are a fan of this series you will recognize Leslie as the shifter that was rescued in Jaguar’s Mate, a woman that was in series need of a haven.  Malcolm is the leader of the wolf pack where Leslie and her mother have taken refuge after she escaped the abusive and twisted pack that made her life hell.  Leslie has finally settled in with her mother and young son and their lives are almost perfect, all that is missing is the love of a true mate and a male that will fill her heart with love—a male like Malcolm.  Leslie knows she shouldn’t even be thinking about him, but he is so sexy and makes her so crazy she always wants to be in his presence, even if he doesn’t seem to see her as anything more than a packmate and obligation.  Malcolm has been reining in his needs and desire for Leslie since the beginning but he knows he can’t wait much longer, and once she makes the declaration that she is ready to start dating again there is no way in hell she is going out with anyone other than him.  Once they both admit that they have been holding back, the fire sparks quickly and their relationship explodes into passion more quickly than either could have imagined, despite a hidden danger that is suddenly lurking in the shadows.  Before they can mate though, Malcolm will have to accept that Leslie is no longer the broken female that she was and see her as his true mate and the alpha-female or there is no hope for their mating, and it has to happen before that danger turns deadly.  I enjoyed getting to see that Leslie wasn’t permanently damaged after the life she’d led to this point, but seeing that she was hiding from the man she wanted so badly made me a little bit sad.  She was definitely a badass alpha female and wasn’t going to shit from anyone, not even her future mate, and protected her son and packmates when a psycho came at them.  I loved seeing how she worked through her pain and trauma and found her inner strength and then proved to everyone else how strong she really was.  Malcolm was a true alpha in every sense of the word, but at the same time he was willing to listen to reason and allow his mate to have her say and lead beside him as it should be.  It was amazing to see him kicking ass and even more fun to see him giving in to losing his heart to the woman he loved and the sweet moments with Leslie’s cub were sweet too.  I am looking forward to continuing the series from this point and someday going back to the beginning and reading the entire series for sure.  I love everything Katie Reus writes, even when she uses a different name, and this series and story are no different.

*ebook provided by publisher (via NetGalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

Review: Highland Jewel (Royal Highlander #2)

Highland Jewel (Royal Highlander #2)

by May McGoldrick 

Blurb:

Maisie Murray is the picture of docility, quiet and compliant in the eyes of her family. To her activist friends, however, she's a fearless crusader for women's rights. In the wake of the Peterloo Massacre, Maisie and a friend found the Edinburgh Female Reform Society, and she carries the banner for universal suffrage.

Niall Campbell, a hero of the wars, a decorated officer of the Royal Highland Regiment, is battle weary and searching for stability in his life. A fierce warrior by training and a poet at heart, Niall walks away from the shining career that lies ahead of him, to the dismay of his superiors. In saving his sister when a protest turns violent, he meets Maisie. Their relationship begins as one of experience versus idealism, of scars versus hope. Soon, however, he finds in Maisie the heart he longs for.

When Niall's sister is arrested and disappears, he quickly realizes his life is not his own, for the British authorities have a mission for him to accomplish in exchange for his sister's freedom. Overnight, Maisie loses Niall, her friend, and her home. And the wake of the riots that sweep through the cities of Scotland, Maisie's own sister Isabella is branded a traitor to the crown, and the family must flee to the Highlands. Here in the heart of the Highlands, Maisie runs into Niall again. He has a new name and carries a message of hope―but Niall has a task to complete―and their future rests on their ability to overcome the forces that divide them, or―for the future of Scotland―she must stop the man who owns her heart.

Themes:  Historical

Rating: 4 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

 This story was a strange duck but one that I really enjoyed reading.  If you have read this first book in this series this some of the story will seem familiar as the timeline actually overlaps for the first half or more of the story as Maisie and Niall first meet and begin their friendship which develops slowly into more.   I was really surprised to see the events of this story as there was not even a hint of any of it in the first novel so it was fun to see the parallel lives of these characters and how the author interwove the story so beautifully.  Maisie is a secret rebel and a reformer that is working for the safety and freedoms of women in Scotland at a time when anyone stepping out of line is considered a crime against eh crown that is severely punishable.  She just barely escapes capture one day with the help of her friend’s brother and finds herself in the arms of Niall Campbell, a man that has spent years looking after his sister and her family only to find himself drawn to another trouble-making female.  While Maisie’s family has written her off as a bubble-head Niall slowly begins to see that not only is she intelligent and sweet, she fires his blood and makes him long for a future and family of his own.  But the crown will have its pound of flesh; when Niall’s sister is taken Maisie and Niall are forced apart until suddenly they are thrown together in the most unlikely of places and they must chose if they are willing to work together as rebels and find a way to save his sister and be together or they will lose not only their chance a future together but likely their lives and the lives of all of those they love.  Being a bit of a history buff, it was fun to learn so much about the women’s movement in Scotland through this story as Maisie finds her footing as a rebel leader and a woman to be reckoned with.  I enjoyed seeing her finally force those around her to see the real her and accept that she has a lot of contribute to the world. It was obvious from the beginning that her light would not be able to be hidden in the dark forever, but at the same time I feared for her safety once she came out of hiding.  Niall is a man that I would snap up for myself in a heartbeat—hard-working, loving, protective of those he loves, and willing to give his all, up to and including his life for the woman he loves.  Niall is terrified when he is reunited with Maisie at the most inopportune time, while at the same time his heart sings with the joy of having her back in his arms.  It is obvious that he loves her with all he has, but his mission, the oaths he has taken mean a lot to him too because he is a man of his word and that makes me like him even more.  The passion sparks between Maisie and Niall from the first argument they have and continues through the moment they declare their love and earn their HEA and we can see no end in sight for that.  I loved seeing them find a way to have it all and be happy together in the end.  I am looking forward to whatever comes next in this series for sure and think this author (authors?) has earned a place of my insta-read shelf for sure.

*ebook provided by publisher (via NetGalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

Review: One Summer Weekend (Cedar Street #1)

One Summer Weekend (Cedar Street #1)

by Shannon Stacey

Blurb:

Noah Stafford loves his life—his happy, single life. So what if he made up a fake girlfriend to stop his boss’s matchmaking? He kept things close to the truth—Carly really does have long, sexy legs and a killer sense of humor. She just happens to be his best friend. His wicked awesome and completely platonic best friend.

But now his boss is having a destination wedding, and Noah is expected to attend…with Carly, his girlfriend.

Carly Randall has no interest in living out a rom-com plot. But Noah is her best friend, so she agrees to help. Still, once they arrive on Cape Cod, she can’t explain the sudden butterflies she feels when he looks at her that way. Or why she doesn’t mind when Noah’s hands stray a little south of her back.

What happens on the Cape stays on the Cape.

Except not really, not at all, and once their sexy faux-cation is over, Noah and Carly return to a reality where everything’s changed. Going for it would mean risking their friendship…but forgetting how good they were together just isn’t an option.

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 4 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

 Stacey has always found a way to worm into my heart and libido with her writing and this new series kicks off with one of those typical romance tropes that you just think would be boring.  Thankfully she reminds us that sometimes the reason the friends-to-lovers idea is used so often in stories is because it works so beautifully!  I love most everything I have ever read by Shannon Stacey and Noah and Carly’s story is one that is both fun and sexy while showing that sometime love can sneak up from the most interesting places and bit us on the butts.  Noah has been best friends with Carly his whole life, but has never looked at her as more than a friend, so he’s not really sure why he told his boss she was his girlfriend except he lost his mind in the moment.  Now he’s in a serious jam and needs Carly to pretend along with him for a long weekend away while his boss gets married. Carly has never imagined Noah in a romantic way either, but once the idea is in her head it’s hard to get out and soon they are both dealing with the heat of a passion that takes them by storm, but even more scary are the emotions that run even deeper.  Could their friendship all these years have really been hiding a love for the ages? Carly and Noah were both interesting characters.  Noah is a not really a playboy so much as that fun guy that everyone enjoys being around, especially Carly, but seeing his past with women definitely puts her on alert when feelings develop.  Thankfully Noah seems up to the challenge of proving that he is just for the guy for the gun-shy and daring Carly.  He is sweet guy for sure even if he doesn’t quite know how to handle the changes in his life as he accepts that maybe he was hiding behind friendship all these years with Carly out of his own fears.  Carly has reasons to be cautious of love, but she begins to trust in Noah and I began to like her more as she spread her wings and explored their passion and love more.  She was a bit of an enigma, but I did enjoy her relationship with her cousin and her strength was apparent.  The heat between Carly and Noah began at a slow simmer as they both began to see one another differently, but the buildup and ultimate burn were amazing to watch.  I am looking forward to the next story where we get to see Carly’s cousin find love as well.  Keep up the amazing writing Ms. Stacey, you have a fan for life here.

*ebook provided by publisher (via NetGalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

Review: Home for the Holidays (Heart of the Wolf #28)

Home for the Holidays (Heart of the Wolf #28)

by Terry Spear

Blurb:

Silver Town is howling with Christmas cheer

Gray wolves Meghan MacTire and Sheriff Peter Jorgenson plan to spend the rest of their lives together, and what better time to start forever than Christmas? But they are both harboring dark secrets that are about to surface and threaten their future together. With holiday magic in the air and all Silver Town ready to celebrate, Meghan and Peter have to conquer the past if they're to have any hope of celebrating this Christmas together.

Themes:  Paranormal, Wolf-shifters

Rating: 4.5 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

The final crazy Mactire sister has finally found and taken her mate, leaving the males of silver town hunting elsewhere for their own mates, but it wasn’t without challenges.  Christmas is right around the corner and Sheriff Peter is determined to have Meghan as his mate before the big man makes his deliveries, if he can only confess his one secret to her, but it seems she might have a bigger secret of her own to share too.  I love Terry Spear and this long-running series remains one of my favorites, though a few of the recent novels in the series have lacked a little bit of her old magic, but this one is back on par with the beginning magic that first roped me in. Peter has been wooing Meghan for almost a year and has finally decided that that time is right, but first he has a secret he has to share, one that might keep her from agreeing to be his, and it terrifies him.  Meghan as her own secret she fears could push Peter away and could potentially have other pack members shunning her and her sisters as well, but she loves Peter and knows she can’t agree to mate until he knows everything.  Before either of them can share their secret, Meghan’s past comes back to haunt her and soon the danger is very real and very deadly, and the whole pack will have to work together in order to give Peter and Meghan a chance at a happy future.  With sudden competition for her attentions and a killer on the loose Meghan and Peter have to come to terms with their intertwined pasts and find a way to live with it or move on from a love that could build a future for eternity.  I really loved Peter and have from the beginning and it was good to see some flaws in him now as to this point, he really just did seem too good to be true.  He is one of the most interesting and layered heroes in the last several novels and I enjoyed seeing him find his balance and come to terms with his past with Meghan’s assistance.  Meghan has made so many decisions in the past that affected those around her for the better, even at the expense of her own safety and happiness, so it was nice to see her getting so much support from her new packmates.  She is a funny and smart female and has so many little quirks that you just know she would be an awesome friend, but the vulnerable moments with her sisters or mate (or mate-to-be) show how sweet she is under the brashness.  I loved watching these two together and seeing the amazing team they can make and probably will in the future and I was thrilled for the moments when Meghan tempted him beyond his limits and he gave into their desires because the heat between them was on a slow-burn but once it was fueled it was hot.  I am looking forward to the next story now that the series seems to be returning to the style and plots that I so loved, and I cannot wait to see who will be falling in love next.  Terry continues to enthrall us even though a person shares their soul with another creature, they are still, at their core, in need of the love of a mate and the security of safety to move forward into a future with them.  Give me more Ms. Spear!

*ebook provided by publisher (via netgalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

Mini-ARC Review: Dachshund Through the Snow (The Dogmothers #2.5)

Dachshund Through the Snow (The Dogmothers #2.5) 
by Roxanne St. Claire

Blurb:

 Agnes Santorini, known as "Yiayia" to her Greek clan, only

has one thing on her Christmas list -- a brown short-haired dachshund that matches the one she dreamed about, certain that pup can save her aging heart. When she learns that a local man has this very dog for adoption, she and her partner-in-crime, Gramma Finnie, leash up their current doxies and join forces with their great-granddaughter to get their paws on the pooch.

But things don't go quite as smoothly as expected. A quick walk through the town of Bitter Bark turns complicated when the dog's owner has a simple demand, which sets off a series of events that have two grannies and one girl dashing through the snow with two dogs in tow. As they meet every demand and overcome every obstacle, Yiayia shares the secret of her past...and reveals just why this is the canine angel she needs to save her.

But even if they manage to get the dog under their Christmas tree, that might not be where the little fellow belongs. And maybe, just maybe, Yiayia's heart can be healed by a completely different kind of love...the kind that only comes at Christmas.

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 3.5 stars

Heat Rating: 0

Review:

 What can you say about a holiday story that is about the most important things in life—the love of friends, family and the understanding that sometimes our life lessons come at the most unexpected of times and in the most unexpected of packages?  I am loving this continuing series, one that always manages to melt my heart and keeps me coming back for more not simply because the love story is sexy, but because the heart of this series is family, friendship, and the animals that can blur the lines of both as the steal our hearts.  Being a Dogmother myself I love any story that brings the importance of our dogs to the forefront reminding people that sometimes our children have four legs and Roxanne St. Claire has an amazing skill with this.  This holiday story takes us back in time to the story of Agnes Santorini when she was first becoming a woman and the choices and struggles that made her the woman she is today, which led to some sad but intriguing secrets coming to light and allowing us to forgive some of her attitude in the past. While this story couldn’t strictly be called a romance, there is a bit of romance in the way Agnes finds her path to peace and in the luck she found in her long-past story that led to her long and happy life and big and happy family.  I am really looking forward to the craziness these two grannies get up to next as they try to find another of their grandkids paired off and living their HEA.  They continue to amaze me with their sneakiness and underhanded skill at helping people they love to find love.  Rocki’s penchant for drama and sweetness shines beautifully in this series and I really enjoyed the little twists and turns along the way as Agnes, Finnie, and Pru go on their quest, which I feel is what really allowed Agnes to come to terms with her past and a calmer path to her peaceful future.  More, Rocki, give me more! (Soon, please!)

*eARC provided by author for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

ARC Review: A Cowboy Like You (Heart of Texas #4)

A Cowboy Like You (Heart of Texas #4)

by  Donna Grant 

Blurb:

In the Heart of Texas, a heartthrob cowboy may get his second chance at love…

Danny Oldman, the handsome Lone Star sheriff, is still single. He tells himself, and anyone who asks, that he is married to his job―and what matters most is keeping the people of his beloved Texas hometown safe. The truth? Danny still hasn’t gotten over his high school crush. She moved away after graduation and took Danny’s heart with her.

Skylar Long never thought she would have to flee Houston and return home―where it all began for her. But that’s what happened after the man of her dreams turned out to be an actual nightmare. Now, Skylar is desperate to escape her obsessive boyfriend. Nothing shocks her more than seeing Danny again and realizing that their long-ago attraction is more powerful than ever. But can she and Danny find a way to fight against Skylar’s wealthy, powerful ex who is dead set on tearing them apart?

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating:  4.25 stars

Heat Rating:  

Review:

 Grant comes back in a big way with her story of two people reconnecting and finding in one another exactly what is needed. Grant has led us through many years and some amazing stories as we learned about this small Texas town and the folks who call it home, not the least of which was the family at the heart of the community.  Danny has been a big part of each of the previous stories, somehow being a hero without taking away from the magic of the lovebird in those stories, but I was thrilled to learn he was finally getting his own love.  Danny is an interesting mix of brooding hero and sweet lover that reminds us that the men we fall in love with aren’t all built from the same mold.  I really enjoyed getting to see him flex his muscles as he used his influence as sheriff to protect the woman that he was falling for and to allow her to return to the woman she once was before a bastard tried to break her spirit.  If you are looking for a story with a rugged and sexy alpha hero that knows how to show his gentle side to the woman that steals his heart, you don’t need to look much further that Donna’s new story.  I am dying to see what comes next and find out who might be falling in love.

Danny is in a rut; he works all the time and has no desire to even cultivate much of a personal life, so when he stops for dinner at his favorite truck stop, he never imagined his life would change forever in an instant. Skylar has finally made an escape from the bastard that has turned her into a virtual prisoner, but he’s caught up with her and she’s sure she will soon be dead.  Luckily Danny comes to her rescue, a dark shadow coming into the light and taking her tormentor into custody as well as providing her with a refuge while he helps her to get her now-ex off her back.  Danny and his friends are determined to do whatever is necessary to make sure that Skylar has a chance to get back to her life, but Danny is slowly losing his heart to the sexy woman that he had a crush on through most of his young adulthood. Soon the dangers are coming from every corner and only Danny and his team can make sure that the two of them have a chance to explore their passions and have a future together, before Sky’s past ends all chances for them.

I really enjoyed getting a deeper understanding of Danny and seeing him in action as Sheriff even in the mundane moments.  He is obviously a very controlled and brave guy, sexy as all get out and sweet to the women in his life.  We have seen so much of him in the past that we assumed we knew him inside and out, but the loneliness we get to see Skylar overcoming as they spend more time together reminds us that even some people are hiding from us. My favorite moments with him was when he was just spending quiet time with Skylar and encouraging her to come out the shell, she has put herself into for protection or when he’s with the East family.  There are also moments where his passions are undeniably hot and I envied Skylar for being the focus and recipient of that heat, but it’s obvious that she is the missing piece of this life and his soul. Skylar is a strong woman that has found herself in a situation that she swore she’d never be in and one she needs serious help to get out of.  When Danny and his friends offer her the helping hand, she needs, she doesn’t hesitate to grab ahold of it and get out of the terrifying situation she has found herself in, and thankfully she is soon able find her old strength and bravery.  I loved watching her in action as she found her footing again and remind Danny why he loved her spirit so much as a young woman, but I also enjoyed watching her find her home again in both Danny and the small town where she belonged.  Us small town girls need to stick where we belong, even if we get confused sometimes.  The best part of the whole story was seeing her take a stand against her ex and demand her due, even to the point of putting herself in danger in order to protect the man she loved when he is put in danger.  That is true love and the ultimate sacrifice.

A Cowboy Like You is one of those stories that seems so much shorter than it truly is because it flies by as you are reading, and you fall in love with it quickly.  There is enough action and drama to keep you on the edge of your seat, but the real core of the story is two people finding each other even in the turmoil of their lives and finding a way to overcome their obstacles to love. Danny is a hero in every sense of the word and a sexy beast in boots on top of that.  I enjoyed every moment of truly getting to know him and found myself wishing I had my very own Danny to love.  Skylar was in a truly difficult situation, but she managed to get herself out and instinctively took herself home, leaving fate to do the rest and bring her right into the arms of the one man that could truly save her in every way.  She needed help, but she doesn’t cave under pressure or in the face of danger and leave others to fight her fights, standing up and making sure that her tormentor knows she is done and will bring him down once and for all.  The passion between these two was incendiary and I was dying to see them in one another’s sphere each time it happened, but the sweet heat that was left burning after the initial flashes always left a warm glow for extended time.  The love between Danny and Skylar is the kind we all hope to find someday and reminds readers that there truly is someone out there for us all if we just let fate lead us and keep our eyes and hearts open.  I can’t wait for whatever comes next in this series and would love to see police chief Ryan maybe get his own book (wink wink, nudge nudge Donna)! Thanks for the repeated magic, Ms. Grant.

*ebook provided by author for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

ARC Review: The Bear's Fated Mate (Borealis Bears #2)

The Bear's Fated Mate (Borealis Bears #2)

by Vivian Arend 

Blurb:

He’s going to pick someone perfectly wrong for him—because fate isn’t in charge of his world!

As head of security for the family company, polar bear shifter Alex Borealis has intel warning something big is about to happen. His prime suspect? Tantalizing, infuriating Lara Lazuli, youngest daughter of Borealis Gems’ main competitor. But when mating fever hits, he decides she’s the perfect one to turn to. They’ve got chemistry hot enough to melt the polar ice caps, but he doesn’t trust her enough for a permanent connection to form.

Being with Alex is one step shy of torture for Lara. As a wolf shifter, she scented the truth the instant she met him months ago—he’s her mate. But she’s not about to trap anyone into being with her, especially not a man who thinks she’s up to no good. Add in her own suspicions of wrong-doing in her pack and Lara’s caught between heaven and hell.

But tangled sheets lead to real communication, and a bond of friendship forms that neither expected. When Lara asks for help, Alex finds himself living in the pack house, scaring off random Alpha wolves and fighting at her side.

Because the mating fever knows a thing or two about fate and forever.

Themes:  Paranormal, Shifters

Rating:  4.25 stars

Heat Rating:
Review:

That wily Grampa Giles strikes again and poor Alex never knew what hit him.  I was thrilled when I learned that Vivian Arend had an all new spin-off series beginning, taking us back into the world of her sexy and primal shifters in the Canadian wilds, and this series is just crazy enough to remind readers why we fell in love with her writing.  I personal love the way Vivian manages to combine the wildness and civilization in her characters as she brings together the animal and man for both her hero and heroine, but the love and passion between them is definitely led by the chemistry that makes these shifters so sexy. Alex and Lara have been circling one another for a while, but his inability to trust in her motives for befriending the women in his life keeps him from truly seeing her for the woman that she is.  Frenemies is definitely the best way to describe Alex’s view of Lara, but she knows the truth and being so close to her fated mate but not being able to touch or love him is slowly driving her insane.  When the mating fever hits, Alex has the brilliant plan to ask Lara to help him get through the fever, knowing that there is no way in hell the bond will ever form.  She reluctantly agrees because, though she knows there will be pain on the other end of the week with him, denying the need in her mate is not something that Lara has the power to do.  But as they deal with the fever they also become closer and soon Alex begins to wonder why he ever believed this woman wasn’t truly the one for him, but will a hidden plot coming to light make their lives easier or more difficult and keep them from finding their HEA? If you love sexy sneaky shifters and the passion and chemistry that can arise as two of them clash again and again, then The Bear’s Fated Mate is the perfect story to enjoy and you will find just every moment of the adventure, just as I did.

I loved getting to see Alex and Lara as they circled around one another and learned to handle the attraction and pull they both felt toward one another.  Alex is a stubborn and grumbly guy, definitely the home of a polar bear, but he is also a badass and smart security expert with a suspicious nature, so when his radar continues to be triggered by a woman he has trained his brain to think of as an enemy it takes him a good long time to overcome that impression. Once he does, Alex’s passion overcomes his mistrust and he begins to enjoy his time with the sexy she-wolf, he learns that they have so much more in common than he imagined.  Lara has been hiding her feelings for the growly bear for six months and it is slowly making her wild, but she has to figure out what is going on in her pack and family company before she can turn her thoughts to finding a way to capturing her mate. Putting her efforts into ferreting out the secrets that are being kept from her, she is side-swept by Alex’s proposal for helping him through the fever but there is no denying him when he needs her.  Together the passion they share will keep any reader plenty warm on a cold winter’s night and I loved having it to keep me warm for sure. The story was sweet, sexy and had me laughing and sighing in equal measure.  I enjoy seeing the bears as they challenge one another and Grandpa Giles is definitely a tricky old bastard and I am dying to find out what scheme he comes up with next to get his last grandson mated.  Cooper’s story is bound to be a doozy and I know that his and Amber’s story will be beyond sensually amazing. I am looking forward to the chance to read the finale, but Alex and Lara are a couple that I know I will be coming back to for rereads when I need something for a light, fun and sexy read.  Thanks for another passionate adventure Vivian.

*eARC provided by author for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

ARC Review: The Princess Plan (A Royal Wedding #1)

The Princess Plan (A Royal Wedding #1)

by Julia London

Blurb:

Princes have pomp and glory—not crushes on commoners.

Nothing gets the tongues of London’s high society wagging like a good scandal. And when the personal secretary of the visiting Prince Sebastian of Alucia is found murdered, it’s all anyone can talk about, including Eliza Tricklebank. Her unapologetic gossip gazette has benefited from an anonymous tip about the crime, prompting Sebastian to take an interest in playing detective—and an even greater interest in Eliza.

With a trade deal on the line and mounting pressure to secure a noble bride, there’s nothing more salacious than a prince dallying with a commoner. Sebastian finds Eliza’s contrary manner as frustrating as it is seductive, but they’ll have to work together if they’re going to catch the culprit. And when things heat up behind closed doors, it’s the prince who’ll have to decide what comes first—his country or his heart.

Themes:  Historical

Rating: 4 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

A brand new series begins with a hilarious story of a free spirit rubbing against the constraints of society and a man forced to live within them for the good of his people despite the woman who has stolen his heart.  I have always enjoyed London’s historical romances and was looking forward to beginning the new series when I heard about it, hoping for something new and fun, and I can say I was pleasantly more surprised than I even imagined by this story. London has a skill with bringing the unexpected 20^th century mentality of women into her characters making them well before their time and then convincing the men that fall for them that this is just fine.  I loved this story and getting to know an all knew set of characters and an all new country and its customs and hope to get to see them even more in future stories. I’m not sure exactly where the series will be going, but I hope that Eliza’s friends will get their own stories in the series, as well as perhaps Prince Leopold too. The fun and silliness of the story, even with the underlying themes of murder and suspicion, made the love story between Sebastian and Eliza light, which is crucial to allow readers to ignore the impending doom for Eliza’s heart once she lost it to the Prince.

Eliza has forgone any willingness to adhere to society’s understanding of what a woman should and should not do or say, knowing she has earned her freedom through heartache and embarrassment.  When a chance comes to attend a ball in honor of a visiting prince since never thought she’d actually have  a chance at meeting the prince, but through a strange turn of events she not only meets him once she finds herself drawn to him again and again. Prince Sebastian isn’t interested in forming an attachment to any woman, though he knows he must marry as part of his promise to his father and his duty to his people, so when he meets Eliza he thinks nothing of it at first.  When tragedy strikes and Sebastian needs help tracking a killer, he finds an unlikely helper in Eliza and soon they are wrapped up in intrigue and one another.  But the danger surrounding them becomes greater as they get closer to finding the killer and though neither of them imagined it they have fallen in love and now have to deal with the truth that they live in two very different worlds.  Is there any way for a Prince to find his queen in a fallen woman that scorns society in every way but gives him the love he needs to make him the man he must be for his people?

Eliza was an amazing character, one that I enjoyed watching in action as she tried her hand at tracking down a killer and stole the heart of a Prince without even trying just by being her fabulous self.  It was obvious from the beginning that Eliza has decided to live life on her own terms, being the best daughter, sister, and friend she can, even if society continues to look down on her for past choices. Eliza is a woman living well before her time, one that has embraced her freedom and is willing to enjoy life even if others look down on her for it.  She is spunky and sassy to say the least, courageous and generous for sure but I most enjoyed seeing her as she embraced the chance to find love even though she knew that she could lose her heart and the pain it would cause her in the end to lose her Prince.  Prince Sebastian on the other hand was kind of an ass in the beginning, not a bad man, but one raised in protection and privilege, the most simple being that he is a man in a world where men of privilege could do just about any damn thing they wanted with little to no consequences. He is determined to do his very best by his people and knows that he will have no chance at finding love, but when he meets Eliza she has a strange pull for him and even though he doesn’t understand anything about her she is simply irresistible.  Again and Again he is pulled back into her sphere and the more he is with her, the more he questions his decisions and choices for his future.  I loved seeing the changes in him as he embraced his feelings for Eliza and the craziness she inspired, but the most interesting times were seeing his mind working through the drama and dangers that surrounded him as they looked for the killer in his midst.  It was obvious that Sebastian needed his world expanded a little bit and Eliza was just the woman to do it, so the love between them was inevitable if you ask me because really who could resist her.

The Princess Plan is a wonderful beginning to a series that is sure to be interesting and filled with laughter, tears and love.  I know that I will love this series as I have all previous historical series by Julia London, but I have a feeling this one will be even better than previous ones after getting to meet the characters she plans to feature.  Eliza is a wonder to watch as she experiences the chance at true love for the first time, after a disastrous first relationship that left her unweddable for the last decade, and her antics as an amateur investigator were hysterical.  It was obvious that Eliza is a soft-hearted woman but she has had to make hard choices in life, the hardest being giving up a chance at love, but now that she has met a man she is willing to risk the pain for, she will give it all for Sebastian knowing she will lose him in the end.  Sebastian has no intention of losing his heart of a headstrong and stubborn English commoner when he comes to London on a diplomatic mission, but there is no resisting the magnetism that is Eliza.  He knows there is no chance for them to have a future, that their affair can only end badly, with both their hearts broken, but he can’t give her up until he is forced to. He is sexy, smart and a little bit arrogant, but he is also protective and sweet in the most unexpected of ways and I loved learning about him and his small country.  The passion between Eliza and Sebastian fueled some interesting interactions with arguments and stubbornness, right up until they decided that passion could lead to different more intimate directions.  This story grabbed me from the beginning and I fell in love with the story and characters, even allowing for overlooking a few annoying moments where I wanted to beat the characters upside the head for their stubbornness and unwillingness to think outside the box (until the ending thankfully!). I loved how Julia managed to give us the HEA we always expected in a truly imaginative and unexpected way, but truly I hated all the tears she put me through. I know this one will be a great series and I’m dying to find out what is next in this series for sure and to read what’s going to happen.

*eARC provided by author (via netgalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.