Author Kelly Collins takes you back to Aspen Cove where life is sweet, the tea is sweeter, and love is the sweetest of all.
Marina Caswell didn’t expect to find herself broken and alone with a four-year-old daughter. She could offer a hundred excuses as to why her marriage failed, but the truth was she’d chosen poorly. After a painful marriage and an ugly divorce, she flees with her little girl to Aspen Cove looking for a place to heal their wounded spirits and mend their shattered hearts. What she doesn’t expect to find in the quirky little town is love in the form of Sheriff Cooper, a man who insists that everything including trust, love, and respect is grown like a garden. All it needs is a bit of attention and care, something Marina has never experienced.
As the local sheriff, Aiden Cooper can recognize trouble at a glance. It usually looks pretty, smells nice, and wears heels. After his last relationship failure, Aiden doesn’t expect love to bloom when single mom Marina Caswell plants roots next door, but when he sees the sadness in her eyes, he makes it his mission to sow seeds of hope and happiness in her heart.
The tiniest kernel of love can grow when the conditions are right, but a weed from Marina’s past threatens to choke out what they’ve cultivated together. Can Aiden and Marina’s love grow and thrive, or will the past seek its revenge, causing their love to wilt and die before it can ever take root?
One Hundred Excuses is a light read, even with the domestic abuse theme. I’ve found most books falling into that category have a bit more suspense and action. This one was very light on both. Or perhaps that’s because I had a hard time reading the book as the character and not an outside observer. It was almost as if someone was telling me the events, so I didn’t feel like I’d been immersed in the story. While there is sex, it isn’t overly hot. I did find the romance between Marina and Aiden to be sweet, and I adored Kellyn.
If you want a quick read to give you that feel-good boost, then you may very well enjoy One Hundred Excuses.
*Disclaimer: The above review is only my opinion. Neither the author nor publisher requested a review. I purchased this title from Amazon.
He’s the one man I’m not supposed to want… My dad’s best friend.
After he rejected me six years ago, I’ve steered clear of Jonas. Until now. I need his help, and I won’t take no for an answer. The plan is to show up at his house and plead my case, but a rainstorm derails everything, trapping us together for the weekend.
When he catches me in a compromising position, things quickly spiral out of control. We promise each other the weekend to purge the desire that’s been simmering for six long years. No fantasy is too dark, too filthy, too forbidden, to play out.
The only rule is that this thing between us ends when the storm does.
Surely it’s the one rule I can keep from breaking?
I’ve really enjoyed Katee’s books in the past, but this one completely missed the mark for me. If the book description had made it clear this was a “daddy” erotica and not the dad’s best friend romance I expected, I wouldn’t have bought it. Calling a lover “daddy” is just a hard no for me and it honestly made it difficult for me to even finish reading the book.
I’m giving it three stars for the quality of writing. The story itself would get a lot less. Mostly because there isn’t one.
If you’re looking for romance, this book doesn’t have any.
My Dad’s Best Friend is erotica with little to no plot, minimum character development, and zero romance. But if daddy kink is your thing and you want a book that’s 90% sex, you’ll probably love this one.
Katee is a fabulous writer. This just isn’t the sort of book I’ve come to expect from her. I’ll be giving the rest of this series a pass.
*Disclaimer: The review above is only my opinion. I purchased a copy of this book from Amazon. Neither the publisher nor author requested a review.
Wicked Blaze Correctional. The home to the most dangerous criminals of each realm. A private correctional institution that had to be placed on a separate realm because of the threat the inmates posed. Drake had sent me here, to ruin me. To destroy me and any memory of his egregious act that could incriminate him for being the homicidal maniac he was.
What he hadn’t counted on? Me. He hadn’t counted on my strength and my magic rising up to become the scariest damn thing in this place.
It helped that I had a human by my side that showed up to breakfast every morning covered in blood. I should probably ask Dimitri what that was about one of these days. Don’t forget Milo! An Ink Mage with the nifty ability to not only interpret dreams but to change them, as well as reality itself. Did I mention he was absolutely mental, maybe it was because of the insomnia? I don’t know what to tell them about one of the lead guards, Vaughn, who keeps claiming I am his ‘mate’ and promising to get me out. Or how to explain the odd feeling I have about the new inmate that just showed up, seeming a bit too sweet for this place.
There is something changing in the air though, something different than what has been going on the past six months, so what has been changing? Maybe it’s the magic eater that keeps floating by my cell every morning? I didn’t care what the change was as long as I got out. I had a witch to kill and I wasn’t going to be able to put Drake in the ground from here.
Welcome to Wicked Blaze Correctional – Book 1 of the Wronged Series. This trilogy will be a fast burn reverse harem filled with dark subject matters, a strong FMC, and insane men. This institution isn’t like any correctional facility you’ve read about before. It’s brutal, cutthroat, and there are no rules except that you can’t leave until your sentence is done… which is never. Follow Valentina and her men on a journey filled with revenge, steam, and strong characters that don’t fit the norm of society. A bit crazy? That is just normal.
This Fantasy medium/fast burn RH contains several dark themes that readers should be aware of: swearing (I know surprising, right?), gore, violence, assault, and sexual themes suitable for +18. Additionally, this book does have a mature light m/m themes that develop over time.
For fans of dark reverse harem romances, with a fantasy bent and a bit of humor, this book is a must-read!
A druid wrongly accused does what she must to survive. Valentina is a strong character with a lot of personality – and more than a bit of anger. She’s powerful, but isn’t until later in the book that she realizes just how much power she holds. I found myself not only rooting for her to have a happily-ever-after, but I also found myself eager to watch her punish those who stood against her. She’s the perfect blend of innocent and psycho.
Her “harem” of men are no less exceptional. Even the “human” is a serial killer who only takes out those who hurt his Valentina. With shifters, fae, and a magic eater who seems to be something more, you’ll find yourself falling for each of these heroes. They all bring a uniqueness to the story, and yet their personalities blend rather well together.
Action, intrigue, magical powers and so much more fill the pages of this book. And yes, there’s hot sex too. But be warned… there is a cliffhanger, and you’ll be so entrenched in this world, you’ll have no choice but to go download the next installment — because if you’re like me, you’ll have to know what happens next!
Two thumbs up. Five stars. And a 10 out of 10.
Amazing book! Couldn’t put it down.
*Disclaimer: The review above is only my opinion. Neither the publisher nor author requested a review. I downloaded a copy from Amazon.
My next door neighbor Parker Jax is not my type. He’s covered in tats, rides a motorcycle, and his parties keep me up all night. The fact he’s sexy as sin doesn’t change the fact we are oil and water.
I’m a quiet artist. He’s a rowdy marine. I’ve got a broken heart. I’m convinced he doesn’t have a heart at all.
Thankfully, my bad-boy neighbor is on leave from the Marines for only thirty days. But then the jerk has to go and show me that he has a soft side beneath all those hard muscles. He actually leaves his own party to help me, and he didn’t even have to.
Fantastic. Now I owe him.
I’m not worried, though. What are the chances he’ll need me to do anything before the month is up?
But when a woman shows up with a kid at her side, knocking on Parker’s door, it turns out those chances are pretty good…
He’s wanted her from the beginning, but Parker Jax can’t seem to go after the only woman who matters in this page-turning romance.
Love an alpha bad boy? Fake fiancé? Secret baby? This book has all that and more. Toss in a spurned woman bent on ruining Skylar, a hero who tends to fuck up, and a monster-in-law and that still doesn’t sum up this book. I was skeptical mixing so many tropes could work, but Ms. Burke pulled it off.
There were times I wanted to smack Parker for being an idiot, yell at Skylar for not sharing her past with him, and don’t get me started on Parker’s mom. I nearly disliked her character more than the one-night stand turned baby momma.
Want a drama filled ride full of heat, sweet moments, and even a little heartbreak? You can’t go wrong with Her Marine Next Door. You’ll be turning the pages, unable to stop reading until the very end.
*Disclaimer: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley. The review above is only my opinion.
The warmth of a holiday romance with the suspense and heat you’d expect from a Lani Lynn Vale book … Depends on Who’s Asking is a must read!
Saint isn’t who he seems, but he has his reasons for keeping his distance. When his past comes knocking, and Caro is put in harms way, he knows it’s time to stop hiding. And let me say I never saw this one coming! I hate spoilers, so I won’t divulge more, but be prepared for a bumpy ride. Saint is a bit like Clark Kent and Superman. Which side of him will you fall for?
Caro fell for Saint the moment she met him, so being stuck in quarantine with him isn’t so horrible—once she realizes he likes her too. It’s what happens after that will have you on the edge of your seat.
Romance. Intrigue. Action. And lots of heat… what more could you want in a holiday read?
*Disclaimer: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The review above is only my opinion.
For years, the monsters who killed my family have held me in a cage. Brutalized and half-starved. Only kept alive so they can steal my blood.
Until one evening when four eerily gorgeous men break me out of my prison.
They give me a soft bed and delicious food. They say they’ll protect me—but their generosity may come at a price.
My rescuers are monsters like my captors: fae who shift into wolves. A curse gripping the faerie realm turns them wild under the full moon. Only my blood can cure their rage.
These fearsome men need me, and not just to lift the curse. A tragedy left them outcasts, and offering me to their rulers could win them back the home and the power they lost.
No matter how kindly they treat me, no matter how their smoldering eyes and strong hands stir unfamiliar desires in both my body and my heart, their castle is just another prison. As long as I’m a prize more than a person, my life will never be my own.
I’ve survived this long without giving up. I won’t roll over now. But how can one damaged human girl hold her own against the savage fae?
*Captive of Wolves is the first in a new paranormal romance saga featuring possessive wolf shifters, fraught fae politics, and a wounded heroine coming into her own. Grab it now and get swept away in the fantasy!*
I generally dislike cliffhangers. I’ve always needed my happily-ever-after by the last page of a book, but the way Captive of Wolves ends only left me eager for the next book.
I loved the determination and spirit of Talia. No matter the odds, she refused to give up. Even frail and injured, she held on to a spark of hope. When she’s freed and taken in by another cadre of wolves, she’s scared to trust them, no matter how nice most of them seem to be.
Watching August and Sylas fight their attraction to Talia, had me eagerly waiting on them to completely fall for her. And while Whitt comes off as a drunkard who dislikes Talia, we soon learn there’s much more to him.
Wolf fights. A curse. Meddling fae. And a human who is more than ordinary. Captive of Wolves is a page-turning fantasy that will leave you wanting more.
**Disclaimer: I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The review above is only my opinion.
Igniting Love Sara Ohlin
(Rescue Me Series, #2)
Publication date: November 17th 2020
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
When an embittered artist crosses paths with a young widow, the heat is on…
When personal chef and single mom Katie Walsh jumps back into the dating game, Leo Treversini’s gaze in the doorway of a local bar lights up her whole body. Bumping into him a week later, Kate thinks fate is calling—until Leo’s bitter words hit her like a punch to the gut.
Recently returned to the up-and-coming Corvallis neighborhood, metal artist and loner Leo feels the beautiful power of Katie’s eyes like the flame from his torch, but discovering his muse is married and the young mother of three daughters cuts him to the quick.
Except…Katie is widowed, which means she’s free to love again—if she can trust a man with her heart and her most precious gifts, her daughters. As Leo is free to love her, if he can overcome a past betrayal and believe in Katie’s love. Add in the meddling community, Katie’s family and teenage internet crime and it’s going to be far from easy…or even likely.
Katie’s love might be just the balm Leo’s wounded heart needs, but will he have the courage to face his crushing past to accept it?
Can the artist with the wounded heart love his muse?
He was so fierce and striking, almost a mirage as the heat swirled around him, and something pulled her to him, almost as it pushed her away. Fire, flame and heat and it was all consuming and not enough at the same time. She dragged her arm up and pushed her hair back off her neck. Gosh I’m hot! Is the entire fricking sky the sun? It’s relentless. “Um.” She smiled because for some reason her body whispered ancient words, You know him.
She wanted to run her hands all over him. See if he felt as beautiful as he looked. Oh my God. She smacked her hand over her eyes. She was having a conversation with herself and she wasn’t sure how many selves were involved. Her brain was trying to talk her down from the cliff of ridiculousness, but her soul was electrified for the first time ever. Or was it woozy, icky and hot? I don’t feel so good.
“It’s hot out.” Wow, she was such a stellar linguist. But she didn’t dwell on how stupid she sounded, because his eyes blazed over her, like he wanted to devour her, but would hate every second of it. He is angry. The veil was back from the other night, and not a hint of a smile graced his beautiful face…more like scorn. His weird demeanor was one more thing she could add to the crazy list of things happening at the moment. She liked lists. Car in ruins, check. Feel like I might faint, check. Sweating like pig, check. Beautiful mystery man I can’t stop dreaming about from the bar Friday night glaring at me, check. She unstuck herself from her car and tried to communicate even while her thoughts tornadoed together.
“I need a mechanic,” she said, taking a step toward him. She wanted to be closer. “My uh…” She gestured to her van. “I think my starter’s having a tantrum again.” She wiped the sweat off her forehead. Not one single muscle moved in his body. He waited, his arms tight across his chest. She couldn’t even tell if he’d heard her. “Can you, uh, are you… Do you work for Matt?”
“Nope.” That one word, again. She wasn’t sure whether to feel lucky, relieved or insulted. Why did she feel such burning around him? And why did he glare at her like he hated her?
“Did I, um, do something?” she asked. Lordy her tongue was like sludge.
He pulled a water bottle out of his back pocket and guzzled some down. Oh, cold water. “We’re booked up. You’ll have to take your infidelity and your piece-of-shit car somewhere else.” And with his final punch thrown, he tossed the empty water bottle in the dumpster, turned and walked away.
“What?” she whispered. Standing there boiling under the sweltering day on asphalt so hot it even smelled like fresh tar, with sweat sticking her curls to her cheek and forehead, his words hit her like a lance. A hidden thorn from the most beautiful rosebush. Unexpected pain.
My Review: 4 stars
Grumpy artist meets quirky single mom in this cute yet steamy romance.
Our first few glimpses of Leo show us an angsty, brooding man who has the soul of an artist and the outward appearance of a bear. I loved him at once. Having lived with a moody artist, I wanted to smack Leo upside the head when he’d jump to conclusions without giving Katie a chance to explain, but overall he was a sweet, thoughtful, smart man and perfect for Katie.
Katie might be a tough single mom, but like most moms she’s put herself last for so long she’s not sure she’s allowed to grab hold of a new relationship with Leo. She’s smart and determined, and her love for her daughters is inspiring.
Seeing the heat between these two, as well as their family moments with the girls, made this a sweet story that kept me smiling. If you want a romance with insta-love, lots of heat, and a big bear of a man with a gentle touch, you can’t go wrong with Igniting Love… but be warned, Katie’s youngest, little CeCe will steal your heart. That girl is too adorable for words.
*I received an ARC of Igniting Love. The review above is my honest opinion.
Author Bio:
Puget Sound based writer, Sara Ohlin is a mom, wannabe photographer, obsessive reader, ridiculous foodie, and the author of the contemporary romance novels, Handling the Rancher, Salvaging Love, Seducing the Dragonfly and Igniting Love.
She has over fifteen years of creative non-fiction and memoir writing experience, and you can find her essays at Anderbo.com, Feminine Collective, Mothers Always Write, Her View from Home, and in anthologies such as Are We Feeling Better Yet? Women Speak about Healthcare in America, Take Care: Tales, Tips, & Love from Women Caregivers, and Chicken Soup for the Soul.
Although she’s the author of many essays about life, grief, motherhood and the connections we make through delicious food and shared meals, Sara loves creating imaginary worlds with tight-knit communities in her romance novels. She credits her mother, Mary, Nora Roberts and Rosamunde Pilcher for her love of romance.
If she’s not reading or writing, you will most likely find her in the kitchen creating scrumptious meals with her two kids and amazing husband, or perhaps cooking up her next love story.
She once met a person who both “didn’t read books” and wasn’t “that into food” and it nearly broke her heart.
I’ve been in love with Wes since I was in braces. Him—not so much. But this is the summer I’m finally going to get him to notice me. And fall madly in love with me so we can live happily ever after, obviously.
Unfortunately, my best friend and partner-in-crime decided to run off for the summer, so I’m stuck with her annoying older brother, Eric, as my wingman.
Did I mention he’s annoying? This would be much easier if I weren’t constantly rolling my eyes at his sarcastic remarks or wishing I could wipe that little smirk off his face.
Want to know the most aggravating part? Now that things are finally starting to go my way with Wes, I can’t stop thinking about Eric and his dumb mouth.
This is can be read and enjoyed as a standalone novel.
New Adult romances generally have a lot of steam, and this one was no exception. Kyla and Eric were heating up the pages!
I wouldn’t necessarily call this book a friends-to-lovers story. It’s clear in the beginning Kyla is annoyed by Eric, and it’s not until her best friend, Eric’s sister, leaves that decides to make Eric her “wingman” while she tries to win her long-time crush, Wes. The banter between Kyla and Eric is reason enough to like this book. They were cute together, and funny. I honestly couldn’t understand what she saw in Wes other than looks. He came across as not having much of a personality.
If you like goofy guys who are sweet, then Eric is your perfect hero. I generally prefer more of an alpha type of hero, but there’s a lot to be said for a sweet guy with a sense of humor. He’s different from your typical romance book boyfriend because he doesn’t pursue Kyla. He comes across as shy and a bit insecure at times. Instead of fighting for her, or tossing her over his shoulder caveman style, he decides to help her win Wes — even though it’s clear it pains him to think of the two of them together. You’ll find yourself rooting for him to get the girl.
Kyla was a force of nature. She has a loud, vibrant personality with a heavy dose of immaturity. There were plenty of times I wanted to yell at her, but about 1/3 of the way through the book, she came across a little less juvenile. In the end, I think it was her fear of not being good enough, not being wanted, that drove her to act the way she did. I particularly enjoyed the scenes of her with her grandfather. It gave her character more depth and made her less superficial.
This would have been a four to five-star read for me, but the first four or so chapters didn’t read as smoothly as the rest. It took me a bit to really get into the story and have that “I need to know what happens” feeling. There were a few scenes that were just too unbelievable. While there are lots of super hot scenes, once she admits she had feelings for Eric, their romance is such a mix of emotions it’s a bit of a rollercoaster right. Just when it seems everything is working out, the book comes to what felt like a rather abrupt ending. I kept trying to turn the page on my e-reader, thinking there would be at least a little more. The end scene seems more focused on Eric’s sister and on Wes’s budding romance with a waitress.
Overall, it was an enjoyable book and I was so glad Eric and Kyla got their happily-ever-after. — 3.5 stars!
*Disclaimer: I received an ARC from NetGalley. The review above is my honest opinion.
What he didn’t know was that he did matter to someone.
Someone that worried about him every single day that he was gone.
***
Malachi Gabriel Gnocchi was missing for two years. Thanks to a mission gone wrong, not only had he been captured, but his best friend along with his fellow teammates had been taken, too.
He spent two years in hell, hoping and praying that one day he’d get to go home.
And one day he does. Only, he isn’t the same person that left. Every single thing that made him Malachi is no more.
***
Sierra started writing to soldiers overseas through the soldier pen pal program when she was in high school. Years later, she had no idea that the one soldier that she’d been paired up with in the very beginning would be the one man that would change her world eight years down the road.
When the letters from her soldier stopped, she knew that something bad had happened.
When they started back up again two years after the last letter, she thought that someone was playing a joke on her.
Only, that joke wasn’t a joke at all.
The man on the other end of those letters is a man that’s dying slowly from the inside out.
He’s a living, breathing, mess and there’s only one thing she can do to help him.
Write him back and hope that she can bring him back from the edge.
Lani Lynn Vale is a Wall Street Journal & USA Today Bestselling Author of over thirty titles. She is married with three children, two dogs, two cats, a donkey, and a couple (a couple also meaning over twenty) chickens.
When she’s not writing, you can find her curled up in her favorite chair reading.
Lani is married with three children and lives in the Great State of Texas.
Every time I think Lani Lynn Vale can’t write a better book than the last, she proves me wrong. Nobody Knows has quickly moved into the #1 slot on my favorites list.
Malachi has been such a mystery. While Ms. Vale doesn’t go into detail of all that he suffered while he was a POW, she gives us just enough to understand his mindset and appreciate even more his connection with Sierra. He’s all alpha, but not without his own weaknesses that make him human. I adored his character and loved getting a better look at who he really is instead of the quick glances we’ve had in the past.
Sierra is the perfect contradiction of strong yet soft. When it comes to her family, she’s often done what she felt was best for them. Even if it means lying about her boyfriend. But seeing her take a stand, do what she feels is right for her, and sticking to it even when her family seems to turn their backs on her made me want to cheer her on!
Malachi and Sierra have off the charts chemistry, but their relationship is so much more. This was a perfect friends-to-lovers tale with all the gooey moments that make you smile. As is typical of any Lani Lynn Vale book, you don’t just get romance. Be prepared for lots of drama!
With enemies coming from both sides, Malachi and Sierra need each other more than ever. I flipped the pages, devouring every word, anxious to see what happened next — only to be deeply saddened when the book came to an end (because I wanted more!).
Well done, Ms. Vale! You’ve written another winner! I can’t wait to read the next book.
*Disclaimer: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The review above is only my opinion.
Axel King has always been hot headed, something that’s created a heap of trouble on the rodeo circuit. The rodeo is a tough life and this cowboy is ready to settle back home, buy the old family ranch, and live quietly without the wildness of his past. All he has to do is win the Pride River Christmas Rodeo, but to do that he’s got to stay out of trouble. Trouble he very nearly finds by getting into yet another bar fight, stopped just in time by Belle Manning, his childhood friend. She always kept him out of hot water when he was a kid, with her calm support and friendly smile, and though it’s been years since he’s seen her, Axel’s never forgotten the first girl he kissed. And never forgotten how her daddy warned him to stay away from her. Troublemakers like him just aren’t good enough for someone like her.
Belle never forgot the sexy cowboy who stole her heart when they were kids. So when he approaches her with a proposition, she’s ready to listen. Axel wants her by his side so she can keep him out of trouble until the Christmas rodeo. In exchange, he’ll give her a plot of land so she can build her occupational therapy clinic. It’s a stunning proposal and one Belle can’t refuse. Her dream of using horses to help people heal is finally coming true. And, bonus, running around town with Axel will keep her matchmaking mother off her back. She’ll think about a relationship after her practice is up and running. Once Axel wins the rodeo, they can go on their merry ways. But it doesn’t take long before their fake relationship takes an unexpected turn toward real, throwing Belle off kilter. Is it possible Axel could turn into the Christmas present she didn’t know she wanted all along?
Who doesn’t love a hot cowboy? Add in a friends-to-lovers holiday romance and you get an unforgettable happily-ever-after.
Axel might have left town long ago, but that doesn’t mean Pride River isn’t still home. And he’s certainly never forgotten the girl he left behind. His best friend, Belle. There were so many tropes in this book it kept things interesting. Cowboys, hometown celebrity, unrequited love, friends-to-lovers, and more. I admit it didn’t hook me immediately. The first chapter or two was a little slow but it didn’t take long before I was eager to find out what happened next.
Petty rivalry between Axel and another cowboy adds just enough drama, along with Belle’s matchmaking mother, who dislikes rodeo cowboys. It would seem things were set to keep Axel and Belle apart, but it only brought them closer together. It wasn’t long before they realized their pretend relationship wasn’t all that fake after all.
Belle is strong, sassy, and determined to achieve her dreams. I loved her character. She didn’t back down from a chalkboard refused to let anyone get in her way. But she had one weakness… Axel.
I think Axel was a bit harder for me to like. For a rodeo cowboy, he didn’t have much swagger. If anything, he seemed full of self-doubt and kept disparaging himself. When I think of cowboy romances, especially rodeo cowboys, I expect a certain amount of cockiness. While he claimed to be cocky, he didn’t come across that way at all. I don’t mind a more tender, sweet hero, but he wasn’t the least bit alpha to me which was kind of a turnoff. Yet he and Belle were perfectly matched.
Cowboys Christmas Rodeo was an enjoyable story with a happily-ever-after guaranteed to make you smile. If you want a lower heat, feel good Christmas book, look no further—you just found it.
*Disclaimer: I received an ARC via NetGalley for an honest review. The review above is only my opinion.
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