Book reviews for books read April 1st-11th

 

Happy weekend. I have been traveling since March 31st so I have only read two ARCs in that time. I will be home in a couple more days and I am looking forward to my own bed, my reading corner, and my hubby, 

I will say that both of the books I read were amazing. Though both are set in small towns, they were different. Claire Kingsley's new book is a romantic suspense, second chance that kept me engaged despite multiple interruptions to my reading. Harlow James' new book delivers a cinnamon roll hero I fell absolutely in love with. You really can't go wrong with either one.  

I am off to spend more time with family today. Until next time, happy reading.

Whispers and Wildfire (Haven Brothers #4) 

by Claire Kingsley

ARC: Release Date- 04/10/2025

#EnemiesToLovers #SecondChance #FamilySeries #RomanticSuspense #SmallTown #ARC

Written in first person from an alternating dual POV, this can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA.

I fell for Luke while reading the Bailey Brothers series and I knew he needed a special woman as his heroine. What I didn’t know was that the one wo got away would be absolutely perfect for him when she returns to town for a fresh start. Luke is steady, gruff, and hiding a heart that is tender as well as loyal. Melanie is a spitfire. She is a survivor: proven time and again. I adored the banter between them. I appreciated that they hid real feelings for each other under a mask of hostility and dislike.

The danger, the spice, the romance, and the pickles: each new book in this series takes the romantic suspense elements and weaves them artistically with humor, close family relationships, and the quirks of small-town life. This is another masterpiece of storytelling by this author. 

Someday You Learn (Carrington Cove #4) 

by Harlow James

ARC: Release Date-04/11/2025

#OneNightStand #SmallTown #ForcedProximity #HealingLove #FamilySeries #FakeRelationship #ARC

Written in first person from an alternating dual POV, this can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA. Because the series is interconnected, readers should understand that reading this book first may lead to slight spoilers of previous books.

Parker: uptight, damaged, perfectionist with a heart of gold.

Cashlynn: people pleaser hiding a free spirit and a strong, independent woman under the surface.

When Cashlynn surprises Parker by announcing that he is her fiancé a year after a hot one-night stand, he decides to roll with it. Their fake relationship quickly becomes real. I love how Parker supports Cashlynn in pursuing her dream. I adore how Cashlynn helps Parker get out of the rut he has buried himself in. One of my favorite things about this couple is that they communicate with each other. There is a learning curve as they learn to be together, but they figure it out quickly. I love that they have each other’s backs and fight for each other’s dreams. I really adored that they each grew through the process of coming together. Parker, in particular, heals from his past pain as he prioritizes his relationship with Cashlynn. Steamy in places, with the witty familial relationships I have come to expect from this author, this book delivers a deeper message too. The unconditional love and deep relationship we form with our pets and the important role they play in our lives is a tribute to the author’s lost pet, Daisy Mae. The book also delves into how loss, grief, and guilt shape our responses to new relationships. Without a doubt, Parker has earned his place as my favorite Sheppard brother. I fell in love right along with Cashlynn.