What a week! I read one ARC, where Marie James made me fall for the Irish Finn while he fell hard for a single mom. I read a book by K.C. Crowne, which met two different book challenge goals for January (Blue Collar Hero & Mountain Man). Kellen was a sweet single-dad-by-surprise. After that I had time to read SIX new to me authors that are attending the Music City with the Belles book signing in Nashville next month. All I can say is WOW! I definitely have some new favorites. I am certain that Ripple Effect will be one of my top reads for this year already. All of them were very good, and I cannot recommend them enough. Now I just have to find time to read more books by those authors sometime because I definitely want to. There are a couple reviews with trigger warnings for those with sensitivities. I hope my take on these help you decide if they are books you need to add to your TBR.
Happy reading!
#RomanticSuspense #SingleMom #ForcedProximity
5 STARS
This is book eight in the Blackbridge security series, and
it can be read as a standalone. The book
features a burly, ginger Irishman with a heart of gold, a single mom at the end
of her rope, and three adorable kids who have a lot of energy. It is written in
first person from an alternating dual POV and ends with a HEA for Finn and
Kendall.
I adore Finn. He is cocky and tough, smart and sexy. Kendall is a little bit of a mess, but she is seriously trying to take care of herself and her kids. She has made some errors in her past and the only good things to come from them were her kids. The book has some heart melting moments, some funny moments, some very hot moments, and some suspense. There is danger to Kendall because of her ex and when things come to a head, Finn and the guys at Blackbridge get involved. I appreciate that Kendall has baggage and some distrust to get over before she can let herself be with Finn. I love his perseverance and his steadiness for her and the kids. I also really lie the relationships he forms with the kids. I appreciated the cameos from the rest of the security team and the end of the books which sets up the next book in a way that I really cannot wait to read it. I am thoroughly enjoying this entire series.
Ripple Effect (AnyDayNow #2) by J. Bengtsson
#Celebrity #EnemiesToLovers #HealingLove
5 STARS
| This is book two in the AnyDayNow series and can be read as a standalone. It is written in first person from an alternating dual POV and ends with a HEA. I read the short story version of this in the Night With A Rockstar Anthology. I wanted more, and I was so excited when I learned it would become a full length book. This is my first full length book by this author and I am dying to read more. RJ and Dani have an adversarial relationship as next-door neighbors until an earthquake traps them together. The event changes both of them. Ultimately they must depend on each other for survival and recovery to move past the tragedy they live through. This is a story of how events change us. It is about how we can grow and move forward after witnessing horror. It is a tale of survival. It is all about finding the right person at what seems like the worst time. It is about bonding together and helping each other be better people and making a difference in the world around us. This book blew me away. There is so much emotion! The author does a fantastic job conveying everything the characters are going through. I have a bit of a book hangover today. I am still at a loss for words, but here is what is going through my mind: "Wow." "I think I may need to read this again, it was so good." "I am stunned by the beauty of this story and the message of living your life well." The characters are likable and felt real. RJ is initially struggling and the experience helps him grow dramatically. Dani is tough, brave, determined, and a wonderful heroine. The writing is exquisite and descriptive in a way I cannot express. The setting is dark and terrifying. I can tell already this will be one of my top reads this year. Don't miss this one. |
| #SportsRomance #SingleDad #BestFriendsBrother 5 STARS This is my first book by this author. I fell in love with the cover and the premise, and it did not disappoint. It is written in first person from an alternating dual POV. There were a few proofreading errors, but they did not detract from the story or the flow of the read. Holland has loved Reed since she was a nerdy kid. His sister, Emery, is her best friend and they are close enough to be sisters. When Reed comes to her with help, she cannot say no. Reed has lived a very playboy lifestyle as one of the top hockey players in the league. He has never had a real relationship and doesn't realize anything is missing until his world is turned upside down. He ends up becoming guardian to a nephew he didn't know existed. I loved reading as Reed embraces parenthood and falls head over heels for little Evan. Evan is 100% adorable. When he sees Holland in an all new light, he cannot stop thinking of her. There are plenty of steamy moments, deep feelings, and some funny moments too. I adore the history between Reed and Holland and the way their friendship deepens at the same time their relationship changes. This was a very enjoyable read with likable characters, heat, excellent pacing, and secondary characters I want to know better. I will definitely be reading more books by this author. |
This was my first book by this author in preparation of meeting her in Nashville next month at book signing. This book is part of the k Bromberg Everyday Heroes world and is a standalone with a HEA. It is written in first person from an alternating dual POV.
The book begins in the past with both Natalia and Carter in relationships that do not end well. They are both committed to their jobs as more than a job: each viewing their job as a calling and a responsibility. Carter is a firefighter and Natalia is an ER nurse. They both see terrible things in the course of their duties and have to learn to deal with the emotions that come with that.
Without giving away the story, I will say that Carter has some baggage that he has to overcome by the time he meets Natalia. Natalia is a curvy lady of Puerto Rican descent and I absolutely adored her. I completely understood her feelings on so many things in the book. Carter is shocked that he actually feels things again around Natalia. Reading as he opened up to the possibility of a future he gave up on is really something. I started this book after dinner thinking I would read it in two days. Ultimately, I sacrificed sleep and stayed up to finish it in one sitting. There is plenty of heat, a few laughs, and some remarkable secondary characters. This is not a long book, but is is so well -developed I never felt cheated. There is so much emotion packed into the pages. I worked today, and thought about this several times before coming home to write my review. I honestly cannot wait to read more books by this author and I am super excited to meet her.
(There is one note I would like to make. Natalia is an ER nurse and there is a scene where a shock is administered to a flatlined patient during CPR. As a medical professional, I feel obligated to let readers know that this would never happen. Asystole is not a shockable rhythm. The only treatment is chest compressions, chest compressions, chest compressions, and ACLS drugs like Epinephrine. That scene made me shake my head despite how often it is used on TV, movies, and books, it is not correct.)
The story follows Livia, who at 29, realizes something is missing from where she wants her life to be by the time she turns thirty. Livia is organized, intelligent and beautiful while working as a librarian in Kansas City. Chase Kelly is a police officer who is gobsmacked when he meets Livia. Known as Officer Good Times, he convinces himself it is only physical and pursues Livia for a good time. They make an agreement and begin a relationship that quickly becomes more than either one of them expected. Filled with a lot of heat, some humor, and emotion as they fall in love and struggle to overcome their baggage, this was just the read I needed. A hot cop, a s3xy librarian, and good times that lead to forever. The story and characters are deeper than I anticipated and I loved it. I am glad I picked this up. I cannot wait to read more from both of these authors.
TW/CW: This book contains a miscarriage scare that does not result in loss of pregnancy.
This was my first book by this author, and it is the first in the Washington Wolves series. It can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA. It is written in first person from an alternating dual POV.
Luke is the star quarterback to a pro football team that Allie is surprised to inherit after her father's sudden death. In addition, they end up being next-door neighbors. I love the sparks and banter between them as they figure out how to handle each other. Luke is a good dad and at times he is more than a little bit of a jerk. Once he gets over his attitude, I fell for him. I admired his focus on his career and his daughter. Allie is tough, kind, brave, and I fell hard for her. I adore the relationship she has with her best friend, Paige. I love the truce Luke and Allie come to and then the agreement that leads to benefits to both of them. I do love it when the tough guy melts to goo after falling for the girl.
There is a lot of heat, some humor, quick banter, and heart woven into this book. The characters were well-developed and the story was well-paced. You now it is good when you want more (in a good way) when the book ends. Fortunately there are more books in the series, so I expect I will see them again. I am looking forward to reading more by this author, who has been on my TBR for quite a while due to other reader recommendations and now I can add her to my own as well.
Baby For The Mountain Man (Mountain Men of Liberty #1)
by K. C. Crowne
#RomanticSuspense #SingleDad #SmallTown
3.5 STARS
This is the first book in the Mountain Men of Liberty series. It can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA. It is written in first person from an alternating dual POV.
Leah is a feisty spitfire of a woman who runs a small hotel in the little town of Liberty. Her initial meeting with Kellan was all sass and fight. Kellen has isolated himself in the mountain town. Aside from one friend he keeps mostly to himself. He left his former job as a firefighter and does carpentry work now. When he suddenly inherits guardianship of a newborn baby girl, he is terrified but determined to do his best for her. I adored Kellen. He has a wonderful protective nature. reading as baby Matilda taught him how to love despite fear was incredibly precious. I loved everything about his as a new "dad". His relationship with Leah develops fast and quickly there are hot and steamy scenes on the page. There are dangers lurking that they have to overcome on the way to their HEA. In the end, they build a cute little family and friends circle in this small Utah town.
Overall, this was a quick steamy read that met the requirements for two book challenges this month. Though I wanted a little more from the suspense part of the story and the development of the relationship between Kellen and Leah, this was an enjoyable read
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