Review: Guardian's Grace (Dark Protectors #12)

 Guardian's Grace (Dark Protectors #12)

by Rebecca Zanetti

Blurb:

Duty—or desire?

Vampire soldier Adare O’Cearbhaill’s default setting is cranky. Or irritated. Or down-right hostile. Still, as a Highlander of honor and duty he stepped up to save an enhanced and special human female by mating her—with merely a bite and a brand. The last person he wants in his life is a fragile human, yet he can’t get her out of his mind as she regains her strength before taking off for parts unknown. And when he discovers she is in danger, nothing can stop him from hunting her down—whether she likes it or not.

There’s only one way to find out . . .

Photographer Grace Cooper has had it with vampires, demons, and the rest of an immortal world she was happier not knowing about. She also doesn’t believe she’s destined for some great battle because of an old birthmark. Forget the fact that her mate is the sexiest thing on two stubborn feet, or that her brand is fading along with her health. She’ll handle things on her own—until an old enemy reappears and she learns the only way to stay alive is to actually mate, wild sex and all, with that ripped and dangerous Adare—a powerful, captivating Highlander who demands nothing less than everything . . .

Themes:  Paranormal, Vampires, Demons

Rating: 4.5 stars

Heat Rating: 
Review:

This story has been a long time coming, ever since the introduction of this new story arc with the all-powerful warrior group called The Seven and I have been dying to read it.  Zanetti has a way of weaving her stories together so tightly that you are always so wrapped up in the lives of the characters that you sometimes forget they aren’t real people that you can meet if you just go around the right corners.  Adare’s story began when he was called on to attempt a mating with Grace, one of the mysterious Keys, when she was in a coma, and when the mating was successful enough to save her life and wake her, things went downhill pretty quickly.  Grace has refused to acknowledge her new mate since waking, even though she is intensely attracted to the sexy vampire, and even more she refuses to get pulled into the danger and drama that surround these paranormal beings that she never realized lived alongside her all this time.  Now that she is in real danger though, Adare is done letting her run free and nothing will stop him from locking her down, not even the risk to his own life.  But with their ultimate enemy right on the horizon, Grace is just as determined to keep the sexy and distracting male safe to save the world.  They have to find a way to compromise or they could both end up dead, or worse, before they can come to understand that denial that strong doesn’t stop the emotional connection between them. I was intrigued from the beginning of Adare and Grace’s story several books ago because you could see they were both intensely attracted to one another but they could never seem to come to terms with the attraction. We get to see their individual motivations in their story and I enjoyed getting to know each of them and see them come fully to life.  Adare has lost a lot in his VERY long life but he is determined that he will stick around long enough to bring down the enemy once and for all, and having a mate grab him by the heart, especially one as fragile as the still-human Grace is making him a little bit insane.  I loved seeing him being alpha badass, but at the same time the hints of vulnerability as he came to terms with his need for Grace and love for her.  He is obviously not used to having any weaknesses, but she is one for him and one that he will protect with his very last breath.  He is such a surprisingly deep and emotional character that the surprises just didn’t stop for the reader as he fell in love with his spunky and sassy mate.  Grace was a surprise again and again as well, beginning with her ability to even resist Adare to begin with because honestly I have to wonder HOW? –but I digress.  When he comes back into her life unexpectedly, forcing her compliance and ultimately protecting her when the enemy also finds her, we see her learn to fight right alongside her male as she comes to terms with the fact that running or hiding from her feelings is useless, she loves the big brute.  She might have her misgivings about their forced mating, especially when she feels that he doesn’t even want her around, but once she learns how deeply he feels, she allows herself to openly care for Adare and accept that she needs to be there for him and offer him her strength so he no longer sees her as a weakness. The passion between these two has been building for several years so when they finally let loose, the fireworks are amazing, but as the love deepens that passion simmers even hotter.  I loved the whole story and the arc just continues to get more convoluted and intriguing, as it always does with a Rebecca story, though I hated to see the politics in action causing issues with the families and friendships that were established decades ago in previous books.  I am dying to see where the series goes next and I have a feeling I know which of the gang will fall madly in love and with whom, but I can see that being QUITE the adventure in frustration and danger.  Yikes, it doesn’t get much better than this one!

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

mini- Review: Enchant the Night

Enchant the Night

by Amanda Ashley

Blurb:

Hungarian vampires are born, not made--and can breed with mortal females. Being one of the oldest of

his kind, Quill Falconer has honed his skills at hunting just the right kind of prey, which is why his latest victim confounds him. She shouldn't remember his drinking her blood. And he shouldn't still be craving more . . .

Callie Hathaway's life is as normal as it can be after the death of the beloved grandmother who raised her. Until one night, feeling foggy and fatigued, she realizes that a strangely sensual encounter with a dark, handsome man didn't occur only in her imagination.

As Callie and Quill's unique connection draws them together, an ancient order of knights seeks Quill's destruction. Being together puts Callie in mortal danger--until she uncovers a magical family legacy. Side by side they'll fight for survival, and for each other, as the brotherhood of vampire hunters gather for one final showdown.

Themes:  Paranormal, Vampires, Witches

Rating: 2.75 stars

Heat Rating: 
Review:

Normally I have a hard time finding the words for a book because I enjoy it so much that I want to spoil all the surprises and it’s hard not to do that in a review, but I am sad to say that is just not the case with this story.  To be honest, it would have ended up in the DNF pile if I didn’t have an obligation to finish the story in order to review it.  I have read a lot of different authors, with different takes on the vampire myth and usually love when they pull in witchcraft too, but this one did not strike my fancy at all.  The meeting between Callie and Quill was simple enough, but then story just went off the rails.  The romance between them was not believable to me as there was no instant mate feeling, there was no slow buildup of passion or feeling and there was very little depth to their connection I could feel.  There was also just entirely too much going on in this story.  First there were these knights, and then there was Callie learning about a secret legacy of witchcraft in her family, and a family member coming back from the grave.  Then it just got even more and more complicated and it just became too much for the story to carry it. Quill is not a very likeable vampire, one minute being a showoff flaunting his money and power and the next he being a badass killing machine defeating his enemies, but the character just wasn’t balanced or believable to me. Callie also struck me as weak character, very superficial, especially in that she never asked the right questions, just going along with everything that Quill says even when she is uncomfortable with the situation.  I have read other stories by this author in the past and liked them more, but not enough to keep trying, maybe this author and I just don’t see eye-to-eye, but I can’t see myself enjoying another story by her.  

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

ARC Review: The Guardian (Sons of Texas #5)

 The Guardian (Sons of Texas #5)

by Donna Grant

Blurb:

Knowledge is power.

As a double agent, Maks Petrov has been so many people, he doesn't know who he is anymore. While he prefers to work alone, taking down an organization like the Saints requires some help--even if he loathes asking for it. Just one day in the company of a sexy, fearless, and brilliant information broker makes him realize what he's been missing in life...and fantasizing about what he could have.

Eden Fontaine thought she knew the evils of the world until she was confronted with knowledge of the Saints and what they've done--and still could do. Lucky for her, she has Maks by her side, a trained operative who not only makes her feel safe and cared for but also makes her blood run hot. Eden's never thought much about settling down, but Maks makes her crave a world without the Saints and the handsome guardian by her side for all eternity.

With the Saints upping their game, Maks and Eden have one shot at assembling the intelligence necessary to take down the evil organization for good. If they can, they may have a chance at the happily ever after they both deserve.

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

The long anticipated conclusion to Donna Grant’s action packed and intrigue filled series Sons of Texas has finally arrived with a boom and there is no doubt that it was a bittersweet ending for most of us loyal readers. I have been anticipating Maks’s story for a long time as there was a bit of a gap since the last story and I wasn’t sure when it would happen, but I knew it would also mean the end of another great series so I was willing to be patient.  Grant has been leading us to the epic ending of this series, making us anticipate the ending of the evil and terrible consortium of bastards that have plagued the Loughman’s and their friends for many years, but seeing the way she pulls in the real world was a little bit scary even for me.  I enjoyed every moment of Maks and Eden’s story and refused to put it down for a single minute, even making sure that I had enough water and snacks to not have to leave my little reading nest the entire length of the story.   If you are a fan of international intrigue, betrayal, redemption, and love all rolled into one story of two people coming together to defeat the most unlikely of odds, you will enjoy this last story in the Sons of Texas series for sure.

Maks Petrov has been leading a triple life for a long time now and he is determined to continue until he finds a way to finally bring down the Saints once and for all, until he receives a mysterious warning and is suddenly on the run from everyone.  Unable to trust anyone, except his friends the Loughman’s halfway across the world, Maks is determined to find out everything he can about how his cover was blown and evidence leads him right into the path of the sweet and sexy Eden Fontaine.  Eden has just become increasingly suspicious of her new assignment tracking Maks for her bosses when he blows into her life and takes her on a wild ride into espionage, near-death experiences, and the deepest emotional connection she has every felt.  On the run from their enemies in the frozen eastern European winter, Maks and Eden are determined to do whatever it takes to find the evidence needed to bring the Saints into the public eye and force them out of power. Then the Saints unleash a terrible storm that could decimate the world, neither of them are sure they will survive long enough to meet their goals.  Willing to give their very lives, they refuse to give up, but at the same time the love they are finding irresistible gives them every reason to survive this ultimate battle, with the help of some good friends and a little luck.

Maks has been one of my favorite heroes for a few stories now.  Shady and just that little bit dangerous, Maks is willing to give his very life and soul for his goal to bring the Saints down, but at the same time he refuses to back down when he sees an innocent in danger.  He still understands and believes in right and wrong and knows that the feelings he has for Eden are special and unique, even if he doesn’t believe he deserves her esteem or admiration. I loved seeing him come to terms with a new way of seeing himself through Eden’s eyes instead of through the dirty lenses he’d been seeing himself through for years.  He is a good man, one that has had to live with a lot of difficult choices in life, but despite all of that he truly is a protector deep down and deserves every moment of happiness that he can find with his woman. Eden was a sweet counterbalance to Maks in every way.  While he has experienced every dark side of human life, Eden has stayed relatively innocent and naïve in her views of the world, but once Maks opens he eyes, her intelligence and unwillingness to deny the truth right in front of her made her his perfect match.  She sees the world in a unique way, one that was obviously the missing piece to their team of heroes in order to bring this evil group to justice.  I loved seeing her stand up for herself and find her own inner strength and stamina in order to work alongside and keep up with Maks who is obviously his own version of superman, refusing to be a hindrance in any way to the man she quickly came to care deeply for. Together the two of them were the perfect complement to one another, a team made in heaven to bring the final pieces of the puzzle together and allow Maks the peace and chance at a future he deserved more than most of the world.

I loved every single second of this story and cannot say enough that I am glad I was not denied the chance to read this story of a true protector as Maks proved once and for all he deserved the title of The Guardian. The story weaves such a dramatic story and even pulls in a bit of truth that some might find a little bit disturbing in our current climate, but I loved how Donna was able to incorporate that and find a way to give a unique view on the world events.  Eden was an intelligent, resourceful, sweet and amazing heroine with a heart of gold who took a broken man and taught him how to live again and how to love.  Her strength was inspiring, her wit and silliness giving Maks his first glimpse into a life of simplicity and making readers love her even more. Maks was the backbone and heart of the story, the man who was determined to save the world, even at the expense of his life and a future with the woman he loved, but at the same time he refused to go down without a serious fight.  He kicked serious ass and in the end found a way to finally end the bastards that had become entirely too powerful and had destroyed his entire life to that point, giving him a chance for peace with his woman.  The passion between Maks and Eden was apparent from the beginning, but they both fought it so hard in the beginning that the tension was thick enough to cut with a knife until the threat of almost losing one another finally showed them that giving in was the only course of action, then the heat was enough to keep them warm through a mountain blizzard.  The only issue I had was that I wanted the story to be even longer and I would have loved to have more of the Loughman’s in the story, but that being said I love a happy ending where the evil is defeated and the good guys finally get a much deserved break.  I am looking forward to whatever comes next from Donna Grant and can’t wait to see where her stimulating and sometimes terrifying mind takes readers next. Ended but not forgotten, the Sons of Texas went out with a bang and Maks proved that being a guardian means that you never give up and never surrender when faced with injustice.

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

Review: The Blacksmith Queen (The Scarred Earth Saga #1)

The Blacksmith Queen(The Scarred Earth Saga #1)

by G.A. Aiken

Blurb:

When a prophesy brings war to the Land of the Black Hills, Keeley Smythe must join forces with a clan of mountain warriors who are really centaurs in a thrilling new fantasy romance series from New York Times bestselling author G.A. Aiken. 

The Old King Is Dead

With the demise of the Old King, there’s a prophesy that a queen will ascend to the throne of the Black Hills. Bad news for the king’s sons, who are prepared to defend their birthright against all comers. But for blacksmith Keeley Smythe, war is great for business. Until it looks like the chosen queen will be Beatrix, her younger sister. Now it’s all Keeley can do to protect her family from the enraged royals.

Luckily, Keeley doesn’t have to fight alone. Because thundering to her aid comes a clan of kilt-wearing mountain warriors called the Amichai. Not the most socially adept group, but soldiers have never bothered Keeley, and rough, gruff Caid, actually seems to respect her. A good thing because the fierce warrior will be by her side for a much longer ride than any prophesy ever envisioned …

Themes:  Paranormal

Rating: 4 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

 Ok, so as I have established in the past, G.A. Aiken’s writing is not for everyone as it can sometimes be a little bit out there and just plain weird, but I am a huge fan and for her faithful readers, this new series is going to be an adventure in amazing and terrifying ways. That being said here were my thoughts on this beginning to a brand new series.

An all new series begins from one of my favorite authors of all time, set in a tangential world to her Dragon Kin series which has been keeping me laughing and hooked on reading for years.  G.A. Aiken’s new Scarred Earth Saga begins when the old King of the land dies, leaving no acknowledged heir. But a prophecy has been told that a young farm girl will become the new queen, leading to a civil war and leaving her and her family in danger.  Luckily her family is not just any family of blacksmiths and farmers, especially her oldest sister Keeley Smith, a blacksmith of great renown and a seriously badass fighter.  When danger comes for her sister and family, Keeley takes control of the situation, kicking ass, taking names, and generally killing anyone she comes into contact with.  Determined to get her family safely to the other side of this prophecy, she is forced to accept the assistance of a group of legendary warriors including the sexy but gruff Caid.  Travelling together and fighting together leads to an odd bond, but when they are betrayed by one of their own Keeley has to fight for her life.  Once Keeley is out of the woods, there is now way she is going to give up her fight and now she has an all new unexpected enemy to fight in this battle for the crown and the freedom of their lands. Caid is kind of weird guy but it was fun watching him and Keeley circling one another and when they came together their passion was certainly undeniable.  I loved seeing Keeley using her anger to overcome challengers and kill anything in her way, but her true strength was in her love for her family, willingness to sacrifice for her friends and unwillingness to deal with the injustice of the royalty fighting to lead.  I am dying for the next story in this series and can’t wait to see who gets to rule the lands and what crazy lovers we get to enjoy next. Aiken does it again and I suspect I will be just as enamored of this series as I was of the Dragon Kin stories in the past. Another hit for sure!  

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

ARC Review: Man’s Best Friend (The Dogmothers #5)

 Man’s Best Friend (The Dogmothers #5)

by Roxanne St. Claire

Blurb:

Declan Mahoney and Evie Hewitt are childhood best friends who become young lovers on one summer night in the Carolina mountains. But the next morning, they learn Declan’s firefighter father has been killed while saving Evie’s family and home. Consumed by grief, and determined to take up his responsibility as the oldest Mahoney sibling, Declan turns from Evie. That heartbreak sends her running halfway across the state, rarely seeing Declan over the next twenty years. But when Evie comes back to Bitter Bark, a couple of meddling grannies who call themselves the Dogmothers hatch their plan to rekindle this romance. They arrange a "chance" meeting and plant some surprises along the way.

When she sees Declan, Evie is knocked over by emotions for the firefighter who might just be the reason she’s forty, childless, and dedicated to her career. She’s also nearly knocked over by the Husky-Malamute mix at his side. With an unexpected assist from a dog who’d been surrendered at the fire station, Declan decides he can’t miss this chance to reconnect with the woman he’s never forgotten. It doesn’t take long for old feelings to burn hot…and it doesn’t take long for Evie, a veterinary neurologist, to notice something's not quite right with the gorgeous dog Declan’s about to put up for adoption.

As they work together to help Judah, more than one creature is healed. Evie starts to demolish the walls grief had raised around Declan’s heart, and he reawakens her dreams of marriage and motherhood. But as they fall back into each other’s arms, Declan discovers the truth about his father’s death, and that revelation threatens more than their love…it could threaten their lives. Will Evie and Declan’s dreams be destroyed by tragedy? Or can they finally let go of the past so they can take hold of the future…together?

Themes:  Contemporary, second-chance love

Rating: 4.75 stars

Heat Rating: 
Review:

Who doesn’t love a second chance at the most important thing in life—the love that you lost to tragic circumstances? Man’s Best Friend takes us on a journey of two people that were once best friends and –briefly—lovers that were so obviously meant to be together forever, but their lives were torn apart by a tragedy that forever changed the dynamic of their love.  Roxanne St. Claire has such a flare with the dramatic and sometimes awful backstories that she gives her characters, but the skill she shows in bringing them to their HEA is undeniable.  This newest addition to the Dogmothers series is more heart-wrenching, heartwarming, and suspenseful that many of the previous stories, but with everything going on in the plot there is no way you can put it down even for long enough to process everything until its all over with.  I am dying to know what happens next with this amazing family and who the ladies set their sights on next, but at the same time I know there aren’t many matches left and the series will have to end soon.  So with a bit of melancholy I keep reading as the series moves forward and the Dogmothers create more and more magic for their grandchildren.

Declan is pushing middle-age and his single status is something he has accepted for the rest of his life.  He knows he has closed himself off to love for almost 20 years but now that he is seeing the woman he gave up more and more, he is seeing the true error he made.  Evie is back in Bitter Bark to care for her grandfather and try to decide what she wants to do with the rest of her life, but every time she sees the man she lost all those years ago, her heart breaks all over again.  When Evie gets pulled into the care of the new dog that Declan has taken ownership of, finding a rare and debilitating neurological disorder in him, Evie can’t turn her back on an animal in need, despite the pain being in Declan’s near constant company causes her.  The more time they spend together, the more Evie and Declan’s connection is rebuilt and Declan begins to wonder if there is a chance for them to find a way back to happiness and have a future.  But he will have to prove to Evie that he truly has let go of the past that once tore them apart and he better do it quickly, before the enemy stalking their shadows comes for them and they lose any chance.

Oh man I have been dying for this story, to truly get to know all about the Declan/Evie romance that has been on ice for 20 years and to see them find a way back into one another’s arms.  Evie is an amazing woman, one that has a drive to succeed like no other and a desire to care for any animals she sees in pain.  I loved seeing her caring not just for the four-legged animals she encountered, but offering Declan the love and forgiveness he needed to heal and find love again.  It was obvious she missed out on so much when she lost Declan the first time, but she refuses to settle for half-shots and will not ever give up on the man she loves.  Declan was a real tragic hero, a man that was flying high and then threw his entire future away on fear and the denial of a need he was afraid of.  He had so much of a hole in his life when he lost his father, but instead of leaning on the woman he loved, he pushed her away and took on a burden that was way too much for his young shoulders. Despite being a sexy and brave fireman, loving family guy, and the most dependable man in his family, there is so much missing from his life and he knows it.  Once he finally begins to understand that he can step back and devote some time to his own happiness and future he becomes the man that Evie needs and deserves.  I loved the mature and evolved Declan we see at the end of the story and I cannot wait to see him in future stories as he shows how much he has changed to his family, friends, and community.

This story is truly one that will have you in tears so often that I recommend you forgo the tissues and go right for a hankie.  The love between Declan and Evie is so strong and true that you can feel it palpably in every moment even as they are fighting the pull they feel to one another.  Declan has so much trauma to deal with and so many questions he needs answered, but once he lets go of the past, the light and greatness inside him just shines bright enough to signal a five-alarm fire. (sorry couldn't help as least one firefighter pun) Evie has lived through a lot of heartache at the hand of the man she loved, but she has never stopped loving him.  She aches any time she sees him, but when she finally gets a chance to spend time with him and help him to heal she jumps at the chance.  Once these two lovers finally accept that they have a chance at a future, the passion and want is no longer resistible, making them both burn too hot to be kept apart. I loved every second of this story and would have loved it to be even longer as I just didn’t want it to end.  There was just enough fun suspense to remind me why I first started reading Rocki’s work, a lot of time with my new favorite Irish/Greek family and a cute and endearing dog in need of the tender care of his new parents.  Another hit from St. Claire, not that there was ever a bit of doubt it would be!

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

Review: Broken (Deep Ops #3)

Broken (Deep Ops #3)

by Rebecca Zanetti 

Blurb:

Dangerous: Former Navy SEAL Clarence Wolfe's unit was taken out with a land mine. Injured and

devastated, he hasn't been quite right since. Worse, the tragedy was no accident. All Wolfe wants now is to take down the man responsible. In the meantime, he's good with being the muscle for the Deep Ops team--and leading a steamy no-strings-attached personal life. Until one intriguing woman changes everything . . .

Determined: Reporter Dana Mulberry is on a mission to avenge the death of a fellow journalist. She's finally hot on a trail--right to a sex club--where she runs into . . . Wolfe? It seems both their leads have led to the same spot. To keep from blowing their covers, they'll have to at least pretend to have a little fun. Trouble is, they genuinely like each other. And that's way too risky for Wolfe, especially when, to his surprise, Dana agrees . . .

Complicated: Drawn to each other in ways they can't understand, Wolfe and Dana keep it professional--until they're shot at one night. And when their adventures land them both at the heart of corruption in D.C.--and at odds in their missions--they'll have to dig deeper than ever to succeed in their quests--and with each other . . .

Themes:  Cotemporary

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

 I have been looking forward to Wolfe and Dana’s story for a while now and I knew that it would be great, but I had no idea it would be this awesome.  This series has been so interesting, hilarious and intriguing that whenever I pick up a new story I know that I will be going in with the inability to put it down until the very end. Wolfe and Dana’s story was coming from the first time he met her, despite his unwillingness to bring her into his life because he thinks he is too screwed up to have a woman of his own.  Dana has been interested in Wolfe too, but he is so blocked and hard to reach that she has no idea how deep he truly goes, but when they are thrown into danger together, searching for two seemingly disparate bad guys, she refuses to let him leave her behind. Wolfe is the kind of guy that will never let a woman place herself into the line of fire and when he finds Dana in it, he is determined to pull her out, but when working together becomes the only way to bring down a dangerous criminal there is no denying that they are a great team.  He obviously has quite a few issues to work through from his past, but at the same time his attraction and yearning for Dana is undeniable and when he does finally give in he gives her his whole heart.  Dana is brilliant, beautiful, sweet and witty; I enjoyed seeing them come together and Dana joining the team rounded everything out perfectly to make them into the best ever team of crime fighters. She knows that Wolfe is the kind of man that will give her everything if she can only break through the walls around his heart and help him heal, but at the same time she knows that being with him will bring its own set of challenges.  This book was very enjoyable with the laughter, passion, intrigue, and sweetness between Dana and Wolfe, but the best part of the story was seeing how they worked together and balanced one another as they found out all of the strengths and weaknesses they each had.  I am dying for the next story in the series and to see where Rebecca takes us with this group of crazy, dangerous, and slightly insane people. The series only continues to get better and better, but Wolfe and Dana were enough to remind me why I love Rebecca’s romantic suspense so much.

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

ARC Review: Three Weddings and a Baby (Heart Falls #9)

 Three Weddings and a Baby (Heart Falls #9)

by Vivian Arend

Blurb:

After the stories are done, their stories go on.

THIS COLLECTION CONTAINS:

1. Reading Order for the HEART FALLS series

The following wedding vignettes:

2. Surprised at Bootstomp Point (Caleb & Tamara) 3K words

3. Heartfelt at Heart Falls (Walker & Ivy) 4K words

4. A Wild Horse Wedding (Luke & Kelli) 3.5K words

And the short story:

5. Oh Baby! (Josiah & Lisa) 17K words

A cute puppy, a wedding, and a baby. That’s it. That’s the blurb. Lol.

Longer cheater version:

Lisa and Josiah are thoroughly enjoying each other’s company. He’s got his veterinarian work; she’s been busy stepping in to help her sisters and friends whenever and wherever they need. And they have Ollie, the sweet little terrier that can’t get enough of either of her favourite humans.

But as one year ends, and a new one begins, Lisa can’t help but wonder if there’s something she’s missing. What exactly is she supposed to focus on now that her extended family is settled and all her sisters are happy?

Ollie knows…

6. Chapter One of ROCKY MOUNTAIN FOREVER

I hope you enjoy these visits to Heart Falls!

Themes:  Contemporary, Anthology

Rating: 4 stars

Heat Rating: 
Review:

 Arend has provided a special treat to us, her devoted readers, one that some of us may have seen parts of, but there is never a better way to return to our beloved characters than with short stories that celebrate their love and futures. This set of short vignettes begins with each of the weddings of the first Heart Falls couples, beginning with Tamara Coleman, and spanning through all of the next couples. Each of the stories celebrates the love and magic of Hearts Falls and the magic of family as well, sharing the unique and amazing weddings of the each couple that fits perfectly with each.  While some of the stories might have been seen in the past by Arend fans, I enjoyed seeing them each all come together in one place to enjoy all at once. The last and most special story was an all-new one that readers have never seen and revolves around Lisa Coleman and her sexy and sweet veterinarian boyfriend Josiah Ryder.  They fell in love a few stories ago, and we have gotten to know them as Lisa’s siblings fell in love, but now we get to see them embrace the next step in their lives and they become parents together.  While the baby was an unexpected addition to the family, they are not by any means unwanted and we get lots of laughs and tears as Lisa and Josiah grow together and prepare for their new addition along with their terror—err I mean Terrier Ollie, who has some issues to work through over her pregnant mommy.  I really enjoyed reading all of these stories and seeing each of the couples enjoying their new lies together.  While each of the stories was very short, I think of them as more a collection of epilogues that allow the reader to get more glimpses into the love and romance between each couple and the strength of their bonds as each of them continues to grow long after the HEA in their individual novels.  I am sad to see the last of the Whiskey Creek Coleman’s settled, but the last little surprise we got in this release, is a sneak peek at the next in the overall Rocky Mountain House Series, with the LONG-awaited Rocky Mountain Forever which we will be getting later in the year.  I cannot wait to get to see all of my favorite Coleman’s in one place again and even get to meet a new guy along the way.  Once again, Vivian Arend proves that she knows her readers well and is able to give us the pieces of happiness that allows us to hold on to our patience until the next release.  Thanks for more magic Vivi and I cannot wait for what’s next from your amazing imagination.

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