Review: A Cowboy Christmas Legend (Lone Star Legends #2)

A Cowboy Christmas Legend (Lone Star Legends #2)

by Linda Broday

Blurb:

Devastated by the loss of his young wife—and the life he'd always thought would be his—Sam Legend II has done everything he can to make a fresh start. As a bladesmith, all he needs is a bed, a hot fire, and enough distance from his famous family to finally indulge in a little peace and quiet. So what if it's almost Christmas? This year, he's happy just keeping to himself.

But then fiery Cheyenne Ronan comes blasting into his home, and any notion of peace goes flying out the door.

Cheyenne's like no one Sam has ever met—and from the moment he first catches her eye, his quiet life is anything but. Now he's hunting wanted men with the Texas Rangers, decking every hall, and sharing passionate embraces with the woman who's set his world alight. For the first time in what feels like forever, Sam's facing Christmas feeling like his life is full of meaning again—and that with Cheyenne by his side, love can be the stuff of Legend.

Themes:  Historical, Holiday

Rating: 4 stars

Heat Rating:  

Review:

The second generation of the Legends continues with a heartwarming story of two people that have given up on any chance of a happy ending for themselves finding one another and the love that will heal them. I sadly came to the Legend family a little bit late when they had already had their individual love stories (but I’m going back to read them now that I am hooked), but this second generation is really amazing to get into regardless, so I can promise if you are coming into this series never having read the  previous series you’ll love them anyway.   Sam Legend II has become a bit of a recluse, far from his family, living the life of a bladesmith and has very little need for human interaction.   When he finds his home invaded by the sweet and sexy Cheyenne Ronan, a woman that he is sure is a little bit insane, he knows that his life has just changed irrevocably despite his every effort to get her out of his mind.  Cheyenne has returned to her family home after a terrifying experience teaching apache children on a reservation and then working to help them reunite with their families.  She never meant to put Sam’s life in danger, but the sexy bladesmith lights her fire and when her life is in danger steps right up to protect her.  Sam and Cheyenne find themselves drawn to one another as danger mounts and there is no denying the attraction or the fact that if they can’t defeat the men after them, their second chance for a happy ending will never happen. I loved the fiery Cheyenne and seeing her standing up and fighting for not only herself but others made her a perfect heroine and the best match for Sam, as a damsel in distress was definitely not the type of woman for him anymore. She was intelligent, witty, caring, compassionate, and unknowingly sensual, making Sam nuts as she drove him to craziness and deep love.  I also enjoyed watching her fight hard to heal Sam once she learned about his past and working to give him a new reason to live. Sam has obviously had his heart broken severely, but he is still a strong, caring, and passionate man and when he gets to know Cheyenne it becomes obvious that despite his past he isn’t really as dead inside as he always thought. His strength lies in his character and his heart, though certainly is also an ideal specimen of masculine beauty, and I loved seeing him come back to life and find forgiveness for himself and his past.  The heat between these two was apparent from the very beginning as they argued and battled, but once they embraced one another as friends and lovers that fire turned to another direction and burned even hotter.  I am loving this series and cannot wait for book three to find out which Legend comes next and finds their heart stolen. Broday has a way of bringing her characters to life and giving readers a glimpse of the Wild West that most never imagined existed—the heart and love of family that truly built the west.

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

Review: A Lot Like Christmas (Blue Moon Bay #2)

A Lot Like Christmas (Blue Moon Bay #2)

by Jennifer Snow 

Blurb:

This Christmas season, love comes where you least expect it.

For Jessica Connolly, there is no better place than her coastal hometown of Blue Moon Bay. She has a wonderful family, supportive best friends, and a successful bakery on Main Street. Unfortunately, every time she designs one of her ex-boyfriends' wedding cakes, she's reminded just how unlucky she is with love...and that she's a good luck charm for men to find their happily ever after. With someone else. The minute they break up. So she's decided to be done with love.

Dr. Mitch Jameson is more comfortable traveling the world with Doctors Without Borders than staying in one place. He just needs to survive the holidays in his small hometown before he can leave again. The beautiful, intriguing bakery owner with an aversion to dating might be just who he needs to occupy his restless heart.

From sipping hot chocolates at the local festival of lights to early morning dessert deliveries, Jessica and Mitch rediscover the spirit of the holidays. But when the 25 days of Christmas are over, will their romance be over, too?

Themes:  Contemporary, Holiday

Rating: 4 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

Jennifer Snow’s new series set in Blue Moon Bay continues with the second of three best friends as she finds love in the most unexpected of men at the most beautiful time of the year. Snow has become one of my favorite contemporary romance authors in recent years as I read more of her series and I was surprised when this new series slipped under my radar and grabbed my heart without me knowing it was coming well in advance.  That said I am thrilled I have had the chance to get to know these three crazy ladies and the small town they call home.  Jessica Connolly is the perpetual girl left behind and though she loves her small bakery in her hometown she is starting to question if she needs to move on to find her own little slice of true happiness.  Dr. Mitch Jameson is forced home to the town he ran from years ago, despite his wishes, at the most wonderful time of the year, and he is miserable.  Then he walks into the bakery to meet the most intriguing and beautiful woman  to cross his path in ages.  Neither of these two are looking for a deep connection and they both realize their time together comes with an end date, but the connection is undeniable and the more time they spend together the harder it is to deny the draw between them.  In the end sometimes it comes down to simply choosing to give yourself to love …or not. I found myself totally enthralled by this story, despite the simple and obvious holiday trope, mainly because Jessica and Mitch were both hilarious characters and they brought levity and sweetness to a story that was filled with tears at many moments.  Yes I cried a lot, and the tears were rarely happy, but in the end they brought each other a happiness that overcame the hardships they both had to deal with.  Jessica was witty, sweet, and loving to those who deserved her care, but she had a depth that so many had overlooked which Mitch dug into and fell in love with.  Her fears and hang-ups about being left out and alone were easy to relate to and made you root for her to find her HEA in a big way.  Dr. Mitch was dealing with some very serious trauma from his travels and it was obvious he had a form of PTSD that left him unable to connect with those he loved until Jessica showed him a way out of the darkness.  I loved seeing him find the fun and lightness in the holiday events they shared and the moments they shared just the two of them as well.  The depth of passion they share only seemed to grow the more time they spent together and I could see they were made for one another from the beginning.  I am dying to find out what comes next in this series for sure and to see more of the crazy characters in this small town.  As always Jennifer Snow’s small town atmosphere and lightness come through despite several heavy subjects and the challenge of two people falling in love against their better judgments. Worth every page-turning moment.

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

ARC Review: Between Bloode and Stone (Between the Shadows #1)

Between Bloode and Stone (Between the Shadows #1)

by Marie Harte 

Blurb:

Cursed long ago to check their growing power, vampires can only coexist in small groups. Yet despite their many conflicts, those Of the Bloode possess similar traits. All vampires, no matter where they came from, are male. They can go unnoticed by humans unless they wish otherwise, and they can’t survive sunlight.

Mormo, servant of the goddess Hecate, has created a small, new bloode clan at her behest. The six vampires he commands are rough, ill-disciplined, and mean, and they fail to follow orders on a daily basis. But they’re needed. Something big and bad is coming. Hecate, goddess of death, magic, and gateways, has a duty to guard the borders of the mortal world. She knows that without a strong force to contain the threat, chaos will come, destroying everything in its wake.

Hecate’s secret weapons are those Of the Bloode—vampires. Though they refuse to worship anything but themselves, she loves their wild ways. In order to battle gods and monsters and survive, they’ll need ferocity, inner strength, and something to fight for. Because there is nothing so dangerous as a predator who loves, and those Of the Bloode protect what’s theirs at all costs, in undeath and beyond.

And Varujan of the Night Bloode has just found the one female he can’t do without…

Themes:  Paranormal, Vampires, Fae

Rating: 3.75 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

 A new series begins with a new world of Vampires, Fae and battles of the gods. I’m always a little skeptical to begin a new paranormal series where the mythos is all new and I will have to stretch my mind to allow another origin story in. I have been a fan of Marie Harte for a long time now so I decided to give her the benefit of the doubt and picked up this series to give it a go. The mythos of this world was one that took me a bit to get the hang of, but once I did I could say that I really enjoyed the story and look forward to more, however this first story was not as focused on the romance as I would love. The story begins with a band of unlikely brothers coming together under the rule of Hecate, Goddess of death and witchcraft, and her servant who will lead the group, Mormo. The strongest of the vampires in this group is Varujan aka “Varu” and he is a grumpy SOB and when he is faced with a mystery he can’t solve it only gets worse.  Out on a mission Varu encounters a sexy but deadly female who carries a weapon that could change the entire course of his life and turn the tide in a battle that he wasn’t even aware was on the horizon. Fara has been on the run for what seems like centuries, but now she is on the ultimate mission to save her life, as well as her brother’s, and she believes the only way to accomplish her goal is to get a dangerous weapon into Varu’s hands.  As these two enemies turned allies have to find a way to work together to wield the weapon against the most psychotic and sadistic vampire around, the emotional draw and sensual connection becomes more and more undeniable. But will giving into it lead them to a lifetime of love or will it open the door for their enemy to defeat them both and bring about disaster? This story was one that took me a bit to really get into to be honest, mostly because the world-building was a little bit confusing and difficult to wrap my brain around at first—though I will say had I read the glossary first it might have been better.  That being said I am really looking forward to the next story in the series and finding out more about the other warriors in the Night Bloode clan and seeing them kick ass as they each find their own mates.

The lovers in this story are not the typical sunshine and roses lovers that some romances get to portray; Both Fara and Varu have traveled very dark paths to get where they are today and their personalities reflect the dangers and traumas they have experienced.  Varu lived through the torture and sadistic fun of living under his father’s rule for millennia and that darkness has left a stain on him for sure.  But under all of that he truly is a good male and one that finds love even when he doesn’t believe he is capable of it.  He has moments of laughter, solidarity, sweetness, and caring along with the animalistic passion you’d expect from such a primal male.   Fara has been on her own for a long time, left to care for her brother and protect him, but he is so unstable that sometimes the job is just too much for her.  The darkness she has gone through has left her cynical about life, doubtful about men, but she knows that Varu is her only hope and that putting her faith in him is her only option. Watching these two fall in love was like watching two angry lions circling one another, trying to decide if they were going to tear one another limb from limb, or become mates that would last for their entire lifetimes.  I loved seeing Varu open his heart as Fara showed him that not everyone will let him down or betray his trust and Fara had her own lessons to learn before she truly understood that the only hope they had was to open her heart to Varu.  While the world-building and overall battle was certainly the focus of the plot for this first book, I am happy to say that this series is off to a great beginning and I am hoping the next one exceeds my expectations and is even more enlightening.  Marie Harte is on her way to another stroke of genius with her Between the Shadows series and I am happy to be along for the ride.

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

ARC Review: Just One Chance (The Kingston Family #3)

Just One Chance (The Kingston Family #3)

by Carly Phillips 

Blurb:

He thought she was the one…until she walked away. Now she’s back and he wants her more than ever.

As a former Marine, Xander Kingston’s writing keeps him sane. Bonus? His thrillers made him one of Hollywood’s most desired screenwriters—and also introduced him to a fledgling starlet who broke his heart. With his close-knit family in New York, Xander returned home and found peace. Until Sasha Keaton shows up at his Hamptons retreat. Now an A-Lister, she’s as beautiful as he remembers. And just as dangerous to his heart.

Sasha learned from watching her mother to never sacrifice her dreams for anyone—only to discover how empty life could be without the man she loved. Now cast in Xander’s latest movie, she needs his insight to play the part, but secretly hopes for a second chance.

Xander has built emotional walls to keep Sasha at a distance, but their physical attraction can’t be denied. When a stalker’s threats intensify, Xander moves Sasha into his house to keep her safe. Before long she's back in his bed and making inroads in his life.

But when the danger passes and the movie wraps, Sasha and Xander face a familiar choice—put career first or give love a fighting chance.

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

Second chances are the most important loves but only if the two people involved take the time and give the effort to make that chance worth every moment.  I loved seeing Carly Phillips take on this second chance at love and giving Xander and Sasha the ability to find one another again. This series has led us into some seriously intense emotional issues, from best friends having one night stands, to jilted brides falling into love with unexpected foes, to now a former flame coming back with the potential to reshatter a barely healed heart.  Carly gives her all in each and every one of her stories, making her readers feel the pain and turmoil right alongside her characters and this story was certainly no exception. Every second had me in tears and anticipating what would happen next and knowing that Xander and Sasha has such a limited time period to find their way to peace and a long-lasting HEA made the story all the more intense.  Xander never thought he’d have to face such close quarters with the woman that broke his heart years ago, but when Sasha is cast as the heroine in the movie adaptation of his latest novel his worst fears come true.  Faced with having to see him every day, Sasha on the other hand is both terrified and thrilled to be in Xander’s orbit again and is determined to make the best of each moment, even when he’s being an ass.  When a dangerous stalker puts Sasha in his sights, Xander knows that he is the best man to keep her safe, even if the chemistry between them is too much to resist.  But even though the danger is escalating, the passion between them and the connection is quickly becoming more than either of them ever imagined they could have again.  Now if they can just stay safe long enough to have a chance at a future.

Xander has grown up a lot since the first time he attempted a relationship with Sasha and though he still feels the pain of her loss, it’s obvious that he knows himself much better now.  The problem is that men, even enlightened ones, can still be boneheads when it comes to relationships, which Xander proves quickly with his behavior toward Sasha.  His caveman mentality of taking over her life, albeit for her safety, could be considered sexy but he also has to give Sasha the chance to be the smart and independent woman she has become in the years they were apart.  Sasha has matured even more than Xander, because without the man she loved by her side she had no reason not to devote 100% of her time to her professional goals.  She has spent all her time expanding on her career and she is exhausted, but having another chance with the man she loves is the best opportunity of her life and she will not give it up, even knowing heartbreak is at the end. I loved getting to know her more and see how sweet and loving she was with Xander and how smart and dedicated she was.  She seems to be the perfect match for him in every way, even standing up to his alpha overprotectiveness several times so he knows she won’t let him walk all over her.  The fiery passion between these two burned from the very first moment they crossed paths again and I loved seeing them embrace it and find a way back into one another's arms, as it’s obvious they never stopped loving one another.  I am dying to find out what happens in the next story between Xander’s brother Dash and Sasha’s best friend Cassidy as we got some serious hints and sneak peaks in this story, but just enough to whet my appetite and make the waiting game painful.  As usual Carly has hit another homerun and left me with the lasting love story of two people that were meant to be together finally getting Just One Chance (again) at their HEA.

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

JUST ONE CHANCE Release Day!

JUST ONE CHANCE

Carly Phillips
Release Date: October 12

 He thought she was the one . . . until she walked away.  Now she's back and he wants her more than ever.

 As a former Marine, Xander Kingston’s writing keeps him sane.  Bonus? His thrillers made him one of Hollywood’s most desired screenwriters – and also introduced him to a fledgling starlet who broke his heart.

 With his close-knit family in New York, Xander returned home and found peace. Until Sasha Keaton shows up at his Hamptons retreat. Now an A-Lister, she’s as beautiful as he remembers. And just as dangerous to his heart.

 Sasha learned from watching her mother to never sacrifice her dreams for anyone—only to discover how empty life could be without the man she loved. Now cast in Xander’s latest movie, she needs his insight to play the part, but secretly hopes for a second chance.

 Xander has built emotional walls to keep Sasha at a distance, but their physical attraction can’t be denied. When a stalker’s threats intensify, Xander moves Sasha into his house to keep her safe. Before long she's back in his bed and making inroads in his life. 

 But when the danger passes and the movie wraps, Sasha and Xander face a familiar choice—put career first or give love a fighting chance.

 

Buy Links:

Kindle: https://smarturl.it/OneChanceKindle

Nook: https://smarturl.it/OneChanceNook

Apple: https://smarturl.it/OneChanceApple

Kobo: https://smarturl.it/OneChanceKobo

Google Play: https://smarturl.it/OneChanceGoogle

Amazon Print: https://smarturl.it/OneChanceAmzPrint

Audible: https://smarturl.it/OneChanceAudible

Amazon Audio: https://smarturl.it/OneChanceAmzAudio

Meet Carly Phillips:

NY Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestseller, Carly Phillips gives her readers Alphalicious heroes to swoon for and romance to set your heart on fire. She married her college sweetheart and lives in Purchase, NY along with her three crazy dogs: two wheaten terriers and a mutant Havanese, who are featured on her Facebook and Instagram. The author of 50 romance novels, she has raised two incredible daughters who put up with having a mom as a full time writer. Carly’s book, The Bachelor, was chosen by Kelly Ripa as a romance club pick and was the first romance on a nationally televised bookclub. Carly loves social media and interacting with her readers. Want to keep up with Carly? Sign up for her newsletter (below) and receive TWO FREE books at www.carlyphillips.com.

Connect with Carly Phillips:

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/carly-phillips

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/10000.Carly_Phillips

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carlyphillips/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/carlyphillips

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carlyphillipsfanpage

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Carly-Phillips/e/B001I9W0MS

 

ARC review: Dark Alpha's Need (Reaper #12)

Dark Alpha's Need (Reaper #12)

by Donna Grant

Blurb:

There is no escaping a Reaper. I am an elite assassin, part of a brotherhood that only answers to Death. And when Death says your time is up, I’m coming for you…

The latest threat uncovered, it is my honor and duty to oust those responsible for the slaughter of so many and make the Fae Others pay for their crimes. However, nothing could have prepared me for the stunning and curious female that crosses my path. She’s an enigma: equal parts strength and vulnerability. She quiets the rage I’ve carried within me for so long and makes me question Death’s directives for the first time ever. Her tragic, emotional story touches something deep within me, and her bravery is awe-inspiring—which makes it doubly hard to let her return to the enemy and the dangers that await. I never expected her, but I need her. She is everything to me, and I will do whatever it takes to make sure she’s safe and by my side. Forever.

Themes:  Paranormal, Fae

Rating: 4 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

The battle between the Others and the Reapers is slowly coming to a head, but until Erith and her people get an edge they have no hope of defeating the enemy out to destroy them and take over the world.  Grant returns us to the world of her Reapers still in the midst of their fight for humanity and to protect the world from the evil Fae that are trying to take over and form a new faction of the Others.  This world continues to evolve and we have gotten to know so many great characters through this series and in conjunction with the Dark Kings/Dragon King series, but I don’t think any of us ever imagined just how in depth and intriguing this series would become.  In this newest story Torin and Aisling are hunting for information when they stumble across a most unusual source, a Fae name Breda who shines with an interesting inner light that Torin can’t seem to forget.  Torin instantly knows that he has to keep Breda safe and as the danger around her escalates, she becomes much more than just a way to gain information or entre into the enemy stronghold.  Breda has been on the run essentially her entire life,  never having a place to call home or a group to be her true family, but when she meets Torin she wants so badly to believe in him and offers her trust even though she knows it might end up getting her killed.  Together they will have to come to terms with their place in this war and find a way to accept that sometimes the sacrifices they make are what earn them the right to be together.  I really enjoyed Torin and Breda’s story and getting to know them was both heartbreaking and intriguing.  Breda has lived a life that is horrific no matter how you look at it, but she keeps her head high and a smile on her face, even when she believes she is about to die.  Her strength and inner sweetness obviously drew Torin to her, but more than that, it shows the other Reapers that she is the perfect ally and a woman they can truly trust to join their ranks. Torin has had his fair share of traumas in life leaving him jaded and distrustful of everyone outside of his inner circle, but when he meets Breda he knows on a deep level instantly that she is different, though it takes him awhile to trust that instinct.  Even when he doubts her he still gives his all to protect her and offers her a chance to experience life in ways she never has and that allows them both the chance to blossom. That level of sweetness and dedication made Torin so much better to me and made me like him all the more.  There were moments that could have certainly made him doubt Breda but he always found a way to dig deeper and believe in her and together they found a way to make a dent in their enemies.  The instant draw between Torin and Breda was emotionally charged from the beginning, with passion and a connection that will definitely last a lifetime.  Not to be forgotten, the continuing drama of Xaneth gets more “screen time” in this story and while I have my suspicious where it is headed, I can only say for sure that wherever it ends up, that story will be one for the record books and I’m dying to read it.  I cannot wait for where Donna takes this series next, but I can tell you for sure that whatever the big conclusion to this battle with the Others turn out to be, it will be a doozy.  Grant once again strikes gold with the story of two people with broken hearts that find the trust to heal one another and find love.

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

ARC Review: Harvest Web (Moonshadow Bay #4)

Harvest Web (Moonshadow Bay #4)

by Yasmine Galenorn

Blurb:

Summer has been kind to January--work has involved a lot of quiet research, she's helped Ari revamp her wedding plans, and settled into a comfortable routine with Killian. That all comes to a screeching halt when autumn crashes in like a bull in a china shop.January finds herself plagued with an obnoxious house-ghost when she literally discovers a skeleton in her closet. She must discover who the dead man was, and why his skeleton is in her house before she can exorcise the spirit--not an easy task in itself. But then, at work, a much more serious issue arises when Conjure Ink's new client is killed by the Whatcom County Devil--an urban legend come to life. Now, they must find the creature and destroy it before it strikes again.

Themes:  Paranormal, Witches, Shifters

Rating: 3.75 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

I have to admit I was a late arrival to this series, mainly because I resisted adding another of Ms. Galenorn’s great works to my TBR pile when I was so far behind on other series (including some of her work).  That said, once I was given the chance to play catchup, I found myself really enjoying this series for its playfulness interwoven with the mystery, magic and drama of January’s everyday life.  For those that have not been following along with the series, Harvest Web is a great place to jump in as Yasmine returns to her common angle of giving backstory a lot more than in book 2 and 3 of the series did.  January has finally found a way to settle into her new life in Moonshadow Bay, with her family, friends, and sexy wolf-shifter boyfriend by her side.  Her job is fulfilling, her magic is blossoming, and her summer has been relatively calm.  But the fall is kicking off with a dramatic start when she finds a dead man in her house after having some remodeling done and an all new range of family secrets and past drama is unveiled.  I enjoyed this book a lot, though I can’t say it was my favorite of the series to date, but there was definitely a lot of January getting to know her parents as people instead of just “parents” through her family and community.  Watching her find her footing personally, professionally, and magically has been a wild ride and I’ve enjoyed coming along on January’s journey, though I would love to see her and Killian getting to spend more time on them. I am looking forward to seeing where the story goes next and what adventures she and her team find themselves wrapped up in. I also cannot wait to see more of her budding relationship with her grandmother and watch her delve even deeper into her magic.  I can only imagine the anniversary of her arrival and the long dark winter months are going to be very interesting for her.  Another intriguing tale of female empowerment, sisterhood, and magic from Yasmine.

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