Kissing Kin - Karen Hulene Bartell

Maeve Jackson is starting over after a broken engagement—and mustering out of the Army. No job and no prospects, she spins out on black ice and totals her car.

When struggling vintner Luke Kaylor stops to help, they discover they’re distantly related. On a shoestring budget to convert his vineyard into a winery, he makes her a deal: prune grapevines in exchange for room and board.

But forgotten diaries and a haunted cabin kickstart a five-generational mystery with ancestors that have bones to pick. As carnal urges propel them into each other’s arms, they wonder: Is their attraction physical…or metaphysical? 

My Review

Kissing Kin is not exactly what I expected. This is a romance story, but there are a few more things going on here than just that. It tells the story of Luke and Maeve who are very distantly related, hence the title kissing kin as this is a term for distant family I believe. Their ancestors have some unfinished business and after the two meet it's almost as though someone or something is trying to influence their behaviour.

I did get a little bit confused about the actual family relationship here. I think that it would have almost helped to have some kind of family tree in the beginning or end of the book to refer to, just to get it straight in my head. Not that it really matters in terms of the story, I would just like to know for my own interest.

I enjoyed the romance between these two. They did seem quite slow off the mark, there was lots of interest and tension with little done about it in the early stages. There's a lot of other things going on. Luke and Maeve make a great couple and they both handle the little disturbances and mysteries from their forebears really well. I'm not entirely sure when this is set or how old the characters are supposed to be as it did seem quite old-fashioned in some respects, especially in how they conduct their relationship.

This was a gripping read with lots going on. I really didn't expect or predict half of the things that happened, but I really enjoyed following the story.

Bio

Dr. Karen Hulene Bartell, author of Wild Rose Pass, The Keys: Voice of the Turtle, Christmas in Cahokia, Holy Water: Rule of Capture, Lone Star Christmas, Angels from Ashes, Christmas in Catalonia, Sacred Gift, Belize Navidad, Sacred Choices, and others, is a best-selling author, motivational keynote speaker, wife, and all-around pilgrim of life. She writes multicultural, offbeat love stories steeped in the supernatural that lift the spirit. Dr. Bartell lives in the Texas Hill Country with her husband Peter and her "mews"—three rescued cats and a rescued CATahoula Leopard dog.

Fighter - Anna Ray

 True love sounds great until it shows up on your doorstep wrapped in a warning label.

When Tristan walks back into my life, he’s not the childhood friend I remember. He’s harder, dangerous, angry. But he’s gentle with me. And he wants to know why I gave up my dreams of being an artist. 

An underground fighter with a track record of leaving is the worst person I could fall for. But he keeps showing up at my door, telling me that my paintings are amazing and I’m even better. My head says, “No,” but my heart says, “Yes.”

He thrives on violence. I’m desperate for security. 
He’s angry and lost. I know exactly what I want, if only I dared reach for it. He’s on a dark, self-destructive spiral. I’ve already lost one person. I refuse to do it again.

Wonderfully written and delivered with remarkable love! I adored it. - Elsie, booksprout

Will the passion they’ve found together burn out in the light of day? Or can they change enough to find real happiness? 

My Review

I'm not always a huge fan of romance novels where the lead characters are so young, but in the Fighter, it works. Tristan and Kaia are both students in their very late teens (18-19). They knew each other as youngsters, but have lost trust. In the time, they've both gone through some difficult times. Tristan found out that he was adopted and Kaia's mother died from an overdose. Now they are both studying, but neither really wants to do the courses that they are doing. Kaia loves art and Tristan spends his time taking part in illegal fights.

I liked this love story between this pair of old friends. Something that often puts me off them is that the characters are sometimes treated as though they are still children. Fortunately for the most part that didn't happen here. Tristan and Kaia both need to find the courage to follow their dreams and for Tristan, he also needs to face up to who he is.

They worked well as a couple and I enjoyed their story. All in all a good read. 

Limitless - Kaylene Winter

Limitless
Kaylene Winter
(A Less Than Zero Rockstar Romance, #2)
Publication date: October 9th 2020
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

“She snuck up on me and stole my heart…”

Sexy Viking drummer Jace Deveraux used his genius marketing skills to help propel Less than Zero (LTZ) to the top.

Friends-with-benefits was the only thing he was capable of.

Until free-spirited social media influencer Alexandria LeRoux made him an offer he couldn’t refuse.

Their secret, spontaneous global hookups were decadent, erotic, extraordinary.

For the first time in his life, Jace wants it all

Including a future with Alex.

Will one fateful night destroy his chance with her forever?

“I’ll travel the world for him…”

Ethereal animal-lover Alex had one goal in mind:

Conquer playboy Jace before they both left Seattle.

Her plans for him certainly didn’t include forever.

But their first time was so sublime, it ruined her for anyone else

What’s a girl to do?

Enjoy him in as many countries as possible, that’s what.

Except Alex has her own dreams and they’re already in motion.

Will Jace ever follow her for a change?

Their lives orbit on different courses, but gravity always seems to pull them back together…

Unless a blast from the past blows their chance to smithereens.

LIMITLESS is book 2 in the Less Than Zero Rockstar Romance Series.

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Author Bio:

When she was only 15, Kaylene Winter wrote her first rocker romance novel starring a fictionalized version of herself, her friends and their gorgeous rocker boyfriends. After living her own rockstar life as a band manager, music promoter and mover and shaker in Seattle during the early 1990’s, Kaylene became a digital media legal strategist helping bring movies, television and music online. Throughout her busy career, Kaylene lost herself in romance novels across all genres inspiring her to realize her life-long dream to be a published author. She lives in Seattle with her amazing husband and dog. She loves to travel, throw lavish dinner parties and support charitable causes supporting arts and animals.

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My Review

Limitless is the second book in the Less Than Zero series, a contemporary romance series that follows the members of a rock band. There is clearly a crossover between each of the books, but this one works fine as a standalone novel, which is how I read it. That said, I really enjoyed it and was intrigued enough about the glimpses of the characters that appeared in the first book, that I'd like to go back and read that one. I'd also like to read the next books in the series.

The romance between our main characters Jace and Alex takes place over a long period of time. We first meet them when Jace is 23 and Alex 18. He's reluctant to get involved with her because of the age difference, (although it's not really much of a difference really, so I think he's just being a bit silly) and also because their band is about to go off on tour. Their romance progresses, at intervals over the next 7 years or so. Never really able to be together, due to her dreams and career and his commitments to the band.

Jace is a very sweet character, although he still manages to live the rock star. There aren't attempts to hide the fact of them have different partners over the years that they are apart. It takes a while for them to finally find their way to one another, but I was gripped with the unfolding story, keen to discover how they were finally going to reach their happily ever after. This was a good read and one I thoroughly enjoyed. 

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Wrong bed, Right Brother - Rebecca Brooks

Wrong Bed, Right Brother by Rebecca Brooks
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love the way that this series centres around the hero and heroine somehow ending up in or on a bed together and that sets them off towards their romance and life together. In this case, Amanda thinks that she's getting into her friend and co-worker Luke's bed. But he's swapped with twin Noah. Noah and Amanda can't stand one another, but it's clear that once they let that fire between them burn into something other than annoyance and anger, they might actually be very right together.
This was quite a quick read and I enjoyed the romance and chemistry that built between Noah and Amanda. This is a relationship that gets hot very quickly, even if our main characters aren't entirely sure where they stand with each other to begin with. It's clear to us, if not to them, that they work well together as a couple and although they may not have got on well in the past, they didn't really see each other properly. I have to admit that I didn't think that I was going to warm to Amanda at the beginning, but she soon came into her own, particularly once she properly noticed Noah.
This was a good romance read. The characters worked well together and the romance was believable.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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All I Wanna Do Is You - Dylann Crush

All I Wanna Do Is You by Dylann Crush
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

All I wanna do is you is a second chance romance. Reagan and Zach were together in high school, but Regan's father didn't approve of him and after an incident at a party, they split up and haven't seen each other since. Now, running into one another once again they can't resist the chemistry.
This isn't a bad little romance, so why only three stars? Perhaps it's a little harsh of me, but part of the problem was that I just didn't really take to Reagan. Uptight characters are one thing, but she was beyond that, no wonder her father had such an influence over her. I'm really not sure what Zack saw in her. The other issue what that Reagan's father is awful. It's one thing having an overbearing parent, but there was nothing nice about him at all.
Overall, it's a good read and nice romance if that's what you're in the mood for. Other people might well enjoy it more if they're not so annoyed by the characters as I was.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Flying Gold by Vanessa North

Flying Gold by Vanessa North
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I remember my Dad taking me along to watch drag racing when I was little, it was the dullest thing I have ever watched in my life and I come from a country that follows a sport that goes on so long they stop for tea. That said, I really enjoyed this romance that features drag racing and American muscle cars (I'm not entirely sure what they are).
This is a second chance romance, which I love. I usually don't enjoy ones where they have split up due to cheating, but this time I'm prepared to forgive that. Matt and Tiffany were teenagers when they were together and although they still clearly have feelings for one another, what Matt did was back when they were very young and happened ten years ago. I think that both characters needed to be alone and become who they are before they can fully be together when they are older.
I haven't read the first book in this series, but that didn't matter. I'd be more than happy to go back and read it now and I'd certainly be keen on the next in the series. This was a good romance and I enjoyed reading it. Just what I needed to lift the spirits at the moment. Something I think we could all do with right now.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Accidental Secrets - Dana Mason

Accidental Secrets: A totally gripping, steamy, sexy contemporary romance by Dana Mason
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was exactly what I was in the mood for. A great second chance romance, lots of chemistry between the hero and heroine and a real reason for them being kept apart for so long.
I'm always a little wary of books where there's a child involved, but in this case, it was handled really well. Although I struggle with the idea of keeping a father away from their child and not telling them that there was even a baby on the scene. In this case, Rachel and Mike's daughter is 13 by the time that he finds out about her. There are lots of reason why he was kept in the dark and of course, there are lots of questions to answer once they do finally meet.
I really enjoyed this read, there was a lot for the characters to deal with and I have to admit that I was gripped from the start. I read this in more or less one sitting, but it wasn't a quick read, I just couldn't put it down.
This being a romance, there is, of course, a happily ever after. It took them a while to get there, but the journey (for the reader) was totally worth it. This is book three in the series but worked fine as a stand-alone (I'm not even sure if the books are linked as such). I'd been keen to go back and read the others.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Love in the Stacks - Delilah Peters

Love in the Stacks by Delilah Peters
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I've read a few of these short stories from Carina Press. While they don't offer a long, in-depth story, they are a fun, quick read with lots of dirty bits as the title of the series would suggest. This is a very quick read, but for something fast and instantly satisfying, then you can't go far wrong here.
The story is about Poppy and Ben, who both work in the library in New Bedford. Ben has not been there long and works in the archives downstairs. He's a little different, being shy and reserved one minute, but once Poppy gets to know him, he's anything but and the sparks fly between them.
As this is quite short, there isn't a great deal of character development or plot here, but that doesn't really matter. It was still very enjoyable and I liked the growing relationship between the two.
The story is set at Christmas and even features a snowstorm that traps Poppy and Ben in the library together overnight. If you had a cold winters evening in front of the fire, then this book would be a great read to enjoy.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Forever Lies - Jill Ramsower

Forever Lies by Jill Ramsower
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I've read Jill Ramsower's The Fae Games: Complete Series: Books 1-5 and loved them. Forever Lies is a little different, being set in the 'real world' rather than having a paranormal element. I have to admit that it wasn't completely obvious what this world was from the beginning and I only found out when the heroine did. I'm not sure if that was the plan, it seems to be as there is no mention in the book description, for that reason, I'm not going to allude to it myself here.
Luca is very much the powerful bad boy that has a caring side hidden beneath his powerful exterior. He is controlling and likes to get his own way and there is always a danger with this kind of character that he dominates the female lead too much. There was a good balance here between Luca's need to be in charge and the way that his feelings for Alessia floor him. Alessia herself is a strong woman with a firm idea of what she wants out of life and how to get it. She doesn't have all of the answers and has a level of weakness that allows some, such as her direct boss, to take advantage of her. This just adds to her believability, she's not some innocent who follows others blindly, but neither does she have all fo the answers.
I have to admit that I wasn't sure how this one was going to end. It did seem for a while at least that there wasn't a way for Alessia to reconcile who she was with who Luca was. I think the fact that their happily ever after comes at the expense of things that she might have felt was important before, actually adds something to the book. This isn't some light and fluffy fairy tale where the prince makes everything ok. There's a darkness here, in more than one area.
I think that this might be the start of a series, (actually I see that it's listed as book one of the Five Families series, so clearly it is). I'd be more than keen to read another book set in this world.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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The Proposition - J.C. Harroway

The Proposition by J.C. Harroway
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Proposition is part of a loose series by a number of authors. The stories involve people who belong to the M club. An exclusive club for the incredibly rich with sites around the world where they can relax and play. This story is about Orla who has little time for anything other than work and Cam who has inherited a huge amount of money after the death of his father that he doesn't want. When they meet one night at the club and have an amazing night together, Orla Propositions Cam, asking him to accompany him across the world helping her to relax in-between her work. He agrees as long as she agrees to leave what they do down to him.
Orla and Cam make a great couple, they both have their own issues with their fathers, but are able to begin to help each other work past them together. There are eight years between the two of them, but although Orla is the older, in many ways Cam seems to be the more mature. He certainly had his life together before his inheritance. Orla does little beyond work and her whole focus is proving herself to her father, who to be honest is fairly disinterested in her.
I enjoyed the way this story unfolded. Although the attraction between them was instant, it took much longer for love to develop and sometimes that just works far better in this kind of story. It was a great read and I'd certainly recommend it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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The Fixer Upper - Maggie Mae Gallagher

The Fixer Upper
Maggie Mae Gallagher
(Echo Springs, #1)
Published by: Blushing Books Publications
Publication date: September 6th 2019
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Abby Callier is more in love with Shakespearean heroes than any real man, and she’s beginning to wonder if there is life for her outside the pages of a book. It doesn’t help that her esteemed parents tend to view her as they would one of their science experiments gone wrong. On the eve of finishing her dissertation, she escapes her staid existence to live in the house she inherited from her Great Aunt Evie in the small town of Echo Springs, Colorado. Because, let’s face it, when a woman starts comparing her life to horror films, it might be time for a break.
Sheriff Nate Barnes believes in law and order and carefully building the life you want. In his spare time, he has been remodeling his house in the hope that one day it will be filled with the family he makes. But Nate doesn’t like drama or complications and tends to avoid them at all costs. And yet, when Miss Abigail Callier, his newest neighbor, beans him with a nine iron, he can’t help but wonder if she might just be the complication he’s been searching for all along. It doesn’t hurt that he discovers a journal hidden away by the previous tenant and decides to use Old Man Turner’s advice to romance Abby into his life.
Abby never expected her next-door neighbor, the newly dubbed Sheriff Stud Muffin, to be just the distraction her world needed.
The problem is she doesn’t know whether she should make Echo Springs her home, or if this town is just a stopover point in her life’s trajectory. And she doesn’t want to tell Nate that she might not be sticking around—even though she should because it’s the right thing to do, the honest thing—because then all the scintillatingly hot kisses with the Sheriff will come to an abrupt halt. Did she mention that he’s a really great kisser?

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Author Bio:
Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Maggie grew up listening to Cardinals baseball and reading anything she could get her hands on. She remembers her mother saying if only she would read the right type of books instead binging her way through the romance aisles at the bookstore, she’d have been a doctor. While Maggie never did get that doctorate, she graduated cum laude from the University of Missouri-St. Louis with an M.A. in History.
Maggie is a bestselling and award-winning author published in multiple fiction genres. She also writes erotic romance under the name Anya Summers. A total geek at her core, when she is not writing, she adores attending the latest comic con or spending time with her family. She currently lives in the Midwest with her two furry felines.

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My Review

I didn't expect to read this book as quickly as I did. While there are some romance books that I fly through because they are quick and fluffy reads, this book doesn't really fall into that category. I got through it in a day because it was so well written and I didn't really want to put it down. It also had something to do with the fact that it's a rainy wet winters day here in New Zealand and I could read while also keeping an eye on the kids playing with lego.

This is the first book in the series and it's already fairly easy to guess which characters might be featuring in future books. As well as the main characters in this book, we've also been introduced to the friends of both the hero and heroine and I think it's a good guess that they will all get their own stories later. 

Set in the small town of Echo Falls, this time we focus on Nate and Abby. Nate is the local sheriff and Abby has just moved to the town while she tries to finish her dissertation and decide what she is going to do with her life. The chemistry between the two is strong and I enjoyed reading about their growing relationship. I don't want to give away any spoilers, but I will mention that there are two other aspects to the storyline. Firstly is the problem of the break-ins that Nate is dealing with. I will admit that I had a good idea who was behind them from the beginning and I was right, even if Nate hadn't a clue. Then there was the diary left in Nate's house by the previous owner. Again I don't want to give anything away, but there is a story here that also unfolds as the book progresses.

For me, this was a quick read, but as I said previously, not because it was light and fluffy and lacking substance. It was easy to get swept up in the life of the people who live in Echo Falls and I hope that I will be making a second visit there for future books. I'm certainly looking forward to reading the other books in the series.

Buy Links

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Kobo ➞ http://bit.ly/2NHFlCX

Blushing Books ➞ https://bit.ly/2kxDzGO

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Nobody Else But You - Claire Marti

Nobody Else But You by Claire Marti
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Set in California, Nobody Else But You tells the story of Holt and Samantha. Sam grew up with a mother and father who were both involved in the movie business in Hollywood. After the accidental death of her mum, the whole family moved to a ranch and away from the public eye. When Holt arrives, he seems to be everything that Sam has come to loathe. She hates the handsome stunt man on sight, but sparks soon begin to fly between them and they cannot deny their attraction.
I enjoyed this romance. Both of the main characters had things from their past that stopped them from getting involved, to begin with. There were no artificial or contrived misunderstandings, which was good. Holt was a likeable character with quite a bit of depth and it was clear that once Sam saw beyond her first impression, she was going to like him. Sam was a little harder to pin down. She is quite prickly, to begin with, although I warmed to her as the book progressed.
The main reason that I was reluctant to give a higher score to this one was simply that the end felt a little rushed to me. We went from a climax of the action to the happily ever after in the space of paragraphs. For me it didn't seem to fit with the pace of the rest of the book and to be honest it reduced my enjoyment of the book as a whole. It's a shame because the rest of the story worked well and built the storyline in a consistent way. There were a few things that were alluded to, the future for his mother and sister for example, that were left unanswered. I don't know if the intention was to address them in later books. It felt as though they were just forgotten about if I'm honest.
Overall this was a good read and it's just a shame that the ending was a little rushed. I'd certainly be keen to read the next in the series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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If It's Only Love - Lexi Ryan

If It's Only Love by Lexi Ryan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It can be a bit annoying coming to a series at book six. Not because they don't work as a standalone novel, but because it's clear that had you read the other books in the series you'd be enjoying the other characters popping up and making an appearance. It's hard not to feel that you're missing out somewhere. Having said that, I don't think that it really hurt to read this one first, even if it is book six. It just made me want to go back and read the other stories.
This was a great story. Not only is it a second chance (or possibly that should be forth chance) love story, but it is told with the present-day mixed with flashbacks to when they were younger. This made for a much more interesting and enjoyable read than if we were just told a bit about their history.
Eastern is a very sweet character. He's missed out on love and broken the only woman he's ever really wanted's heart because he's tried to be the bigger man and put other people before what he wants. Unfortunately for Shae, who has loved him since they were children, that seems to mean that she always gets the raw end of the deal.
I loved reading both about their past and their present relationship as they found their way finally together. They certainly deserved to finally be happy together.
This was a great read and as I say, the only downside would be that I wish that I had read the other books too. I suppose that I'll just have to go back and read them now.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Knowing Nichelle - Tinsley Sellers

Knowing Nichelle
Tinsley Sellers
Publication date: August 16th 2019
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

She’s just met the man of her dreams…but he’s not who he said he was. Neither is she. Until they get a second chance to make a first impression.
Is he a sophisticated big-city lawyer, or an easygoing small-town woodworker? And if she’s not a career-driven high-powered attorney, then who is she? Hiding behind their masks is second nature until circumstances force them to see beneath the surface and realize just how alike—and in love—they really are.
He’s only got one rule: no lawyers. She’s a lawyer.
Burned by experience, Buck’s got a rule for a reason. After walking away from a lucrative legal position, he found his peace in Beckley. Life on the farm is simple, and his woodworking business is thriving. He’s not interested in trading his work boots for wingtips and rejoining the rat race. So what if she’s the most compelling woman he’s ever met?
She’s only got one requirement: no a**holes. He’s an a**hole.
After a disastrous encounter in a trendy bar, Nichelle’s convinced that he’s an over-muscled a**hole. She’s got a sleek car, luxurious condo, and elegant designer clothes. Family comes first, and her legal career is on the fastest track. She’s never met a problem she couldn’t solve on her own. So what if he can see beneath her carefully constructed façade?
They’re perfect together. They just don’t know it yet.
Welcome back to Beckley, Michigan! Autumn is in the air and as the days get shorter, the air gets cooler and the calm lakes reflect the blue skies and red-gold trees for a double-dose of fall color. The people are just as warm, friendly, smart, funny, and real as you remember. When you need a place to call home, Beckley welcomes you—and sometimes the family you choose is as strong as the bonds you’re born with.
If you like small-town romance, you’ll like Beckley. If you like smart heroines who balance demanding professional careers with a commitment to family, friends, and finding love, then you’ll definitely like it here. If you like strong, sexy, hard-working heroes who have not-so-secret soft spots for kids, dogs, and classic cars, you may find that you never want to leave!
Knowing Nichelle is the third in the Beckley’s Daughters Romance series. It can be read as a stand-alone story, but continuing readers will recognize many of the characters and locations. This series is recommended for adult readers and contains explicit language and intimate situations.

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Author Bio:
Tinsley Sellers grew up in Chicago, spending her summers with her grandparents in a tiny town a lot like Beckley, Michigan. Life took her to Arizona, Washington, and Idaho before she finally found her home in Arkansas. She is married to an amazing, supportive (and handsome!) man, with whom she has rescued three dogs and two cats. When she’s not writing, she teaches physics and engineering at the local university. When she’s not writing or teaching, she’s probably trying new recipes. She enjoys fast cars, loud music, fine whisky, and big books. In no particular order.

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My Review

Knowing Nichelle is the third book from the Beckley's daughters series. I haven't read either of the previous two books, but it soon became apparent that while this is the third story, the timeline loops and crosses with the timeline of the other two books. You might be forgiven for thinking that this means that you really need to read the other two books. As I haven't and I really enjoyed this one, then I think that it's safe to say that that isn't the case. 

Our two main characters, Buck and Nichelle are both definitely not looking for a relationship with the kind of person that the other is. It soon becomes clear though that they are perfect for one another. In order to be together, they need to find a way to fit into each other's life. Not an easy task when they live so far away from one another.

Although this is a traditional romance in many ways, there is so much more to this story than that. There is passion and connection between them, but it almost plays a secondary role to the development of the characters and their battles to work through their problems on an emotional level.

I couldn't help but love Buck. There's something really strong and together, but at the same time very vulnerable about him. Nichelle is very much the strong and successful woman, but her reasons for being like this have far more to do with her past and her family than they do her own plans and desires. 

This was a great read and I'll certainly be back to check out more of the Beckley's Daughters titles. If you're looking for something with a little bit more depth than many romances seem able to offer, then you're looking in the right place. 

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The Debt - Jackie Ashenden

The Debt by Jackie Ashenden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The thing about a good romance is that even though you ultimately know where it's going to end up, it's the getting there that is so enjoyable. The Debt certainly was a good romance and I enjoyed every second of it.
I have to admit that I like a damaged hero and Ash is certainly damaged. Not only has he got a face marred by knife scars from his youth, streetfighting, but rejection from his father and a fallout with his half brother has left him emotionally damaged. Ellie has her own issues with the loss of her mother at a young age and a father who is at best emotionally stunted (actually, he's an arsehole, if the truth be told). But when they come together, the passion between them helps them move beyond their past.
I really loved the chemistry between these two. It was easy to see how drawn to one another they were. Ash tried hard to be ruthless and uncaring, but underneath his bravado, he was clearly nothing of the sort. I also really liked how they were both able to bring out the best in each other.
This was quite a quick read, but one that I really enjoyed.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Wylde Fire - Sarah Robinson

Wylde Fire by Sarah Robinson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a three and a half stars rounded up to five stars read. This is the story of Sam Wylde, Tennessee whiskey producer who is out to prove that he is more than his family. Holly Glen has had a crush on him since high school, ten years previously, but Sam never even knew she existed. When they get thrown into one another's paths again they soon find a way that they can help each other and it quickly turns into something far more than a fake relationship.
I really liked both Sam and Holly in this story. Sam is a caring, genuine type of guy and although he's had previous heartache it's not something that completely defines him. Holly is feisty and despite the fact that she has been in love with Sam from afar for years, she isn't a pushover, which is something I always like in this kind of book.
Overall I really enjoyed the romance and I'd be keen to find out more about the other characters in the book. I assume that Sam's business partners will also get their own stories. There were a couple of small things that stopped me from giving this a higher rating. Firstly there were a couple of times that information was repeated unnecessarily. Not just that the author keeps telling us something, but a whole paragraph reproduced almost word for word. There were two examples that I spotted, one being the fact that the distillery was surrounded by a lot of land. When it happened it threw me out of the flow of the story for a second, which was annoying. The other thing that I wasn't completely on board with was that somethings either were glossed over or happened too fast. For example, there was a pretty major event for Holly that wasn't really even mentioned until it was touched on in passing in the epilogue. For me, it would just have added a bit more to the story with things like this actually being part of the book.
I did really enjoy this read and I'd been keen to read the next two when they come out.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Temptation - Inara Scott

Temptation by Inara Scott
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When I started this book I was in need of something that would lift my spirits and remind me why I enjoy escaping into a book so much. Fortunately, Temptation was just what I was looking for. The book tells the story of Connor, who has been in love with Zoe since he first met her. The only problem is that he's rubbish with relationships and she is a lawyer with the company that deals with his company, which means that she's off-limits. After an accident on an e-scooter Connor and Zoe find themselves spending more and more time together and the attraction is not just one way.
Both Zoe and Connor are great characters. They both have issues with relationships from their past and their upbringing, but in many ways, it is this that makes them perfect for one another. Connor is very sweet and caring, despite thinking that he's not. I have to admit that I do love a caring hero in these kinds of books, so he was onto a winner already. Of course, their issues mean that it's not smooth sailing, but that's what we come to expect and want from these books after all. There was nothing insurmountable and I was left completely satisfied by the end.
The secondary characters are great, particularly Connor's mother and her friends. Who wouldn't love a group of geriatric female physicists who play bridge? This is the second in a series and while I think that the couple from the first book appear, I don't' think it mattered that I hadn't read their story. I also assume that a future couple already has a few sparks flying between them in this one.
This was an enjoyable read and exactly the kind of book that I was looking for. Great stuff.

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Nothing Else But You - Elle Wright

Nothing Else But You by Elle Wright (Boston, MA)
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I loved the idea behind this book. Rather than meeting in person or over the internet as so many people seem to do these days, the main characters join an anonymous letter-writing group. They can't give away any information that identifies them, but of course, this gives them more opportunity to be open and honest than they might otherwise be. Through the course of the letters, they fall for one another and pick up enough clues to track one another down.
I really liked the way that this story played out. Once they meet, things change and it quickly becomes more like a traditional romance. I would say that it perhaps happened a little too quickly and I think more could have been made of the letter writing, although I understand why it wasn't. Even so, I liked this 'old fashioned' approach to it all and it made the instant love/lust when they finally do meet a little bit more believable than it can be in some romance books.
There is a lot more going on in this book, with both of our characters having quite a dramatic back story and life. They work well together and there's certainly plenty of chemistry between them. I'm not sure if this is the start of a series, with more characters meeting this way? Obviously, if that is the case, then it's not likely to be a series in the usual sense as obviously, it's likely to be strangers that meet via letters. Having said that, I did wonder if the single cop that they are friendly with didn't seem quite interested in the idea. I guess that I'll have to wait and see. Overall, this was a good read and I really enjoyed it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Colliding Hearts - L.M. Connolly

Colliding hearts by L.M. Connolly
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the second in the Hearts on Fire series that I have read. Like the previous one, although this is part of a series, you don't need to have read the others. This time we have the story of Daniel and Rita. Daniel is an extremely rich Texan who owns a construction company, while Rita is the English friend of his sister who is in Texas to show her art. When the two meet and spend time together it soon becomes clear that there is a great deal of chemistry there and they cannot keep apart.
Daniel is commitment-phobic, having been burned in the past in a previous relationship and the two decide that this will just be a fling during Rita's stay in America. Of course, this is a romance novel and it's not long before it becomes clear that there is much more going on beneath the surface.
I enjoyed seeing the development of the relationship between this couple. Daniel was very sweet and caring, which I always enjoy seeing in the male lead in this kind of book. I also like it when the female lead isn't a pushover, which Rita wasn't. She wasn't unnecessarily combative either, which is always enjoyable. This was another good addition to the Hearts on Fire series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Million Dollar Marriage - Katy Evans

Million Dollar Marriage by Katy Evans
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What a fun and entertaining story this was. Not only was it a cute love story with plenty of heat and steam, but there was also great subtle humour that ran through the book.
The couple who feature in the story, Penelope and Luke are complete opposites. Forced together, in more ways than one, in the name of a reality tv show, they have to overcome their prejudices and work together in order to will a million dollars. This was a fun and interesting take on the opposites attract and enemies to lovers themes. I enjoyed the chemistry between the two lead characters. It did take a little while for Penelope to relax and trust Luke, but I liked the way that they began to see the best in each other as the story progressed.
I thought the idea of having the story set as part of a reality tv show was great. It does seem like the kind of crazy thing that they have people doing all in the name of entertainment. I'm not entirely convinced that either Penelope or Luke would be convinced to take part in one. I'm not sure either that they would be a couple in real life, but in books like this, that really doesn't matter. For me, the chemistry worked and I enjoyed seeing them discover just how right they were for one another and the way that they each saw things in the other that they themselves hadn't realised.
I really enjoyed this book. I haven't read the first in the series, but I'd be keen to go back and check it out. This book works fine as a standalone and while I think the previous characters were mentioned, it wasn't something that impacted my enjoyment.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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