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In The Hunter, our story begins with our hero, Ewen, who is part of the Highland Guard, but also determined to save his people and clan who don't have the wealth and prestige to be vital in their living. He is faithful to his king and his brothers in arms. And when the king sends him on a mission to rescue a courier, the last person he would have suspected was a nun but who is also related to the king. And as such she is forbidden to Ewen. Ewen and Janet once had a moment and a kiss and it changed everything for them both. But now Ewen and Janet are back together and as such having to confront old wounds and the taste of the forbidden. But their lives are in danger from the English, but as they join forces, they find a love. But Ewen knows how impossible a relationship with Janet is, and while he feels the intensity of their connection, he can't encourage it but attempts to push Janet away but sometimes true love has a way of finding its circle and one wonders if Janet and Ewen will be able to find their balance and the HEA they both deserve.
The Hunter is a story that I had such an easy time reading and so easy to immerse myself into this fascinating world of medieval Scotland. I actually adore this era in Scotland, its one of my favorites to read. And Monica McCarty just makes this period of time come alive in so many respects. Its a story that brings together a strong alpha warrior with an unconventional heroine. I wasn't sure at first how I felt about this pairing and most particularly the heroine. She could be selfish, secretive at times, and the beginning scene, I didn't like how she used her hidden identity to create shame in the hero. But Janet eventually grew on me, I did feel that she could be consumed by her job as a secret courier with little remorse of the people she harmed in her wake. Janet in the end didn't impress me all that much, however, I did feel that we saw character growth from her and that is what truly one me over in the end with her character. Now our hero, Ewen, was a delight to read. I adored his character so much and I couldn't seem to get enough of it. He was an alpha, he is a natural protector, has a sense of honor and duty, but also is crafty and creative.
Overall I found The Hunter to be a romance that is rich in its history, deep in its chemistry and vivid in emotion. An adventure of a read you will love the journey in.
Truly Madly Whiskey is the second book in the "Whiskeys Dark Nights" series and I have been really wanting to read more of this series. Ever since I read "Taming My Whiskey" I have been delighted by this charming close knit family of the Whiskey's and eager to return to them. I read this one very easily in one sitting and had such fun with Bear and Crystal. They were simply so perfect for each other and I do have such a weakness for this style of unrequited love and seeing how wonderful these two fit together. I have really come to admire Melissa Foster and its been so fun to explore more of her books (although I know that I will never get to them all because her backlist is massive) but I do love a well written small town romance and mix that in with a coastal setting and some sexy bikers, you are going to pull me pretty quickly into the story.
Truly Madly Whiskey is a sexy biker romance that features some kitten love, big bear hugs and family laughs that features:
- Bear Whiskey-talented artist, a brother in the Dark Knights Motorcycle Club, protector, a alpha cinnamon roll
- Crystal Moon-Aloof, keeps men at arm's length, badass, sweet and sexy and struggling with facing her past
Truly Madly Whiskey is a story that starts off with our hero, Bear, who has been trying to charm Crystal Moon for eight long months. He has never given up on trying to find a way to reach to her heart and give him a chance. He knows that Crystal is closed off because she has a painful past and it isn't easy for her to trust others. But Bear was raised to never give up if you love someone hard enough and he will fight for Crystal, no matter how long it takes. Crystal came to Peaceful Harbor for a fresh start and a new life, she is still haunted by moments of her past, and struggles opening up to others and giving that trust to others when she has been hurt but even though she has tried to push Bear away because she doesn't feel worthy of him, he is one of her closest friends, and Crystal will need to make a choice ......open her heart to Bear and make a future with him or stay locked up away for the rest of her life....
I don’t want to joke around. Let me in, baby. Let me help with whatever’s stolen that spark from your beautiful eyes
Truly Madly Whiskey was such a fun read and I had such a fun time with Bear and Whiskey. In fact, I think Bear is my favorite of the Whiskeys (and I have a soft heart for them all) however, there is something so unique about Bear's character. He truly makes the epitome of the perfect alpha male. I would categorize him as a alpha cinnamon roll. And these are some of my favorite types of alpha's. Now I do think some readers will struggle with Crystal's character and how she treats Bear. Now I will admit the first few chapters I had the same issues, but I could also sense that there was more going on with her and a valid reason why she kept pushing Bear away. And once you see why then you will definitely be able to understand her reasoning and she doesn't take too long to open up to Bear, and I was so relieved over that. I don't like angst in the relationship to happen for too long, and I am grateful to Melissa Foster to not extending it longer. Now this book may have some triggers so I highly recommend you check them out before reading this. I was impressed with the character of our hero. He was simply PERFECT in every way that I like my contemporary heroes. I honestly couldn't get enough of him and I just wanted a big bear hug from this man. He has such a heart of gold. Now don't get me wrong, he is an alpha but in such a healthy masculine way. He is a protector and provider, he will fight for those he loves, and is highly possessive and LOVES to growl, but he is also understanding, patient, flirty, and is a ball of energy. I mean what is NOT to love about this man right? He definitely will be topping my top bookfriends of the year for sure.
They say orchids are symbols of love and affection,” he said softly. “And the harder they are to find, the more love and affection they hold. When you put all these magnificent beauties together, you get the most unique flower on earth.
And of course, we get some fun shenanigans from the Whiskey family and the wedding of our first couple in the series: Gemma and Tru. And of course plenty of the family drama. But what I am loving is seeing the build up towards "Taming My Whiskey" (which was my first book I read from this author and this series and yeah I know I read it out of order) and one of my favorite aspects is seeing Bear be so protective of his sister Dixie, and seeing him stand up for her. I just felt for him, because he sees her potential and her hard work and stands up to his father for her even goes against pretty much his whole family, to defend her and pave a path so she can embrace herself fully. And it was these moments where you really see the gold in Bear's character and what he is made of. There is such a closeness between all members of this family and I did appreciate being able to understand the motivations behind the dad and seeing his motivations but each family member brings something unique to the table and I loved seeing their willingness to stand by each other.
Sweet girl, you are strength and grace, beauty and intelligence. You’re the woman I want to carry our babies, the lover I want to hold every night, and the badass biker chick I want wrapped around me on long road trips.
Overall I found "Truly Madly Whiskey" to be a delightful edition to this lively cozy series and seeing the romance between Bear and Crystal blossom was a beautiful shining delight. I guarantee that this is a book that will delight and charm to your hearts content and you won't be able to get enough of a story to leave you smiling all the way through.
No, baby. We don’t own. We are one. We share, we love, we protect, but we don’t own
This story begins with our two main characters, our hero, Coll MacTaggert, who is the oldest of his siblings and the last one to marry. He knows that he must marry within the month or he and his brothers will have to forfeit their inheritance. But when he sees a woman that catches his eye, he wants her passionately and especially in knowing it would upset his parents in seeing his pair up with an actress for a wife. So he makes a bargain with her, and at first their relationship is one where its a business proposition but chemistry between them is hot and their is something deeper that builds between the two and what begins as business soon turns into both revealing secrets of the heart and soul and learning to fight for each other, no matter what the cost may be. But when strange occurrences start to happen to Persephone, Coll's protective instincts go into overdrive and he will do anything to protect the woman he loves, and also increase in his determination to keep her for a lifetime.
Hit Me With Your Best Scot was quite a fun historical romp and I had a blast in seeing what this author delivered. Now I will be honest this isn't my favorite work from this author, but I found it quite diverging in many respects. The pacing of the plot could be slow going at times but I did find that it increased as you delve deeper within the story. The humor of the dialogue definitely had the "Suzanne Enoch" stamp on it and she definitely portrayed her normal flair which I found quite entertaining and so many moments that I was highly amused. I really found this pairing to be quite unique. It's not common to see a highland noble and a famous actress find a HEA together, but somehow Enoch found a way to bring them their well-deserved ending, and the climax of bringing all the pieces together was blended in such a way that brings the reader to a culmination of satisfaction.
I was quite drawn to both of these characters and their relationship developed on a deeper level pretty quickly, but more quickly than I actually expected. We see them really unify in their feelings for each other earlier in the story and I found that spect more refreshing than having it all drawn out until the very end. The side characters of the family were quite the "cherry on the top" of the desert. We see how much flair of drama they bring to the table and I quite enjoyed seeing their contributions to the story and see our old favorites enter into the story. The siblings really gather together in this book and unify and I really loved seeing that aspect here. And also a small side story of the parents reconciling together which I wasn't expecting to see happen.
Overall I found Hit Me With Your Best Scot to be an adventurous, witty, and unique plot point to deliver a satisfying read of a romance and with some unexpected growths along the way. A story you definitely need to take advantage of and buckle up for the ride.
Shadow Falling is the second book in the Scorpius Syndrome series by this author. This series is set in a dystopian-post apocalyptic world and I am not sure why it has taken me so long to get to this series, I do think it’s one of the more brilliant series that she has done. Of course, I have adored just about everything that this author has written, and especially in regards to her world-building talents, she is at the top of the pyramid of authors for me. There is something that she crafts, a certain vibe that is felt so deeply within the reader that resonates in such a human way that I have simply appreciated from Rebecca Zanetti. I do think she is one of the more undervalued authors in the genre and while I didn’t love this enough to give it a 5 rating, I truly adored this book. I just wasn’t as immersed in the writing as I was in the first book and there were some other elements that I will get to later on in this review.
SHADOW FALLING IS AN INTENSE FILLED THAT WILL GET YOU TO THE EDGE OF YOUR SEAT THAT FEATURES:
Raze Shadow– An ex-military officer, technically an AWOL, protector and defender, and brother
Vivienne Wellington– recently rescued and deals with some unique psychic abilities, a survivor of the Scorpius Syndrome, and an FBI profiler before the infection decimated the world.
Vivienne was highly respected in the government and science circles before the bacteria hit their populations and is destroying their society, she was captured by the “claimed” President who was infected and now is a psychopath and a danger and seeking to destroy any who stands in his way. But he wanted Vivienne but then she was rescued and brought to a safe haven in California. Then Vivienne meets closed-off Raze Shadow, who has secrets of his own. She knows that he could be dangerous, but there is a powerful connection that builds very quickly between Raze and Vivienne. Raze isn’t as honest as he would like to be, and is here under false pretenses but his intentions are to do everything in his power to save his sister, but his loyalties are becoming divided between saving his baby sister or finding another way without having to betray the woman he is coming to love and the found family he has discovered in this haven. But there is more at work than meets the eye, and only when Raze learns to trust in others and build those strong bonds of family and friendship, will he be able to find what he has always been looking for including Vivienne, a woman he would fight to keep by his side….
We are who we are, and we’ve done what we’ve done. Heartbreak makes no difference
This was such a powerful story and from the moment that I found myself truly captured by this story, I was all the way into this one here. I didn’t want to let go of this pairing, and I just fell hard for Raze and Vivienne and wanted them to find smooth sailing towards their HEA. But of course, this is Rebecca Zanetti, so that doesn’t happen (HAHAHA) however you see such delights in the unique twists and turns in which this author is capable to building in such a satisfying way. You definitely will feel the moments of suspense and the “edge of a cliff” feels that I guarantee will capture your attention from beginning to end. You do realize from the beginning the intentions of the hero, so I am not really spoiling anything there. You really see how even in the beginning, he is torn by what he will have to do with Vivienne because he knows she is innocent and has already suffered at the hands of their sadistic President. But he will do anything for his sister. You see his deep bond of loyalty to those he calls “family”. You can see the evidence of how this infection has destroyed their world in so many ways. But what is most captivating about the story is the “found family” feel to this series. For those who are new to this series, this is set in a dystopian post-apocalyptic world where a dangerous bacterial infection permeated society, and if you didn’t get the right medication right away, you turned insane, or into a psychopath, or your mental functions changed. This small group of humans where some aren’t infected yet or those that have recovered are looking for a cure or treatment. But this has infection has devastated the world and you see the evidence of the good and the evils that human beings are capable of here. There is so much suspense and intensity packed within these books.
I’m doing this because I like you. By failing to prepare, you’re preparing to fail.
The romance that we see develop between Raze and Vivienne is what I would categorize as a bit forbidden. I mean the hero doesn’t want to fall for Vivienne because he knows he will have to betray her and their group. But he can’t deny their instant connection (now this is more instant lust and not instant love) but the love part does build quickly but not to the extent that you will struggle with. It was so fun to see these two battle out their lust and yet aware but not fully acknowledge the deeper relationship that was building between them. I also will guarantee that this “secret” of our hero isn’t extended all the way through the book. It is revealed much earlier than I expected (which I was more than happy about) and I truly respected the heroine in how she deals with the reveal. You definitely see how torn the hero is about it and his conflicting emotions surrounding her. The heroine is a pure delight though. She is very savvy and on her feet smart, but not a “kick-ass” type. She is more of a scientist and I really liked the balance of this pairing. With the hero being so military-focused and the heroine more empowered in the brain capacity. I found they really balanced each other out so well. But there is definitely an appeal in this world in women knowing how to defend and protect themselves. But seeing our pair here learning to trust in each other and really understand the other in the best of ways was a plus to the story. And we do get some teasers from other pairings in the series so I definitely got a kick out of that.
I want you, all of you, as completely as I can get you. That means marriage and same name. Mine.
Overall I found Shadow Falling to be a delicious read and I am quite eager to continue on with this series here and see how Zanetti develops the world-building and see how this group will overcome what is against them. It’s a story that will intrigue your romantic reader’s heart in a way that will build your imagination in such a pivoting way.
Dark Notes is the standalone novel by Pam Godwin and this is also the very FIRST book that I have had the pleasure of reading from this author and I was beyond impressed with this one here. I couldn’t get enough of this book. I will be honest I wasn’t sure if I was going to pick this author up or not, but when I started reading a sample of this one, I couldn’t put it down and eagerly purchased this one and this story definitely swept me away in the best of ways. If you are looking for a heart-stopping romance that will keep you on edge and flipping those pages as fast as you can turn them, then this book is definitely one that you will get a kick out of. I will say that if you don’t like dark romance or taboo elements…do NOT read this one, because you probably won’t enjoy it if those aspects aren’t your cup of tea.
DARK NOTES IS A HEARTBREAKINGLY FORBIDDEN LOVE THAT TAKES THE READER ON A RIDE THAT FEATURES:
Emeric Marceaux-alpha male, dominant, heir to an empire, musician and teacher in musical theory
Ivory Westbrook-destitute, a talented pianist, abused by her family, but resilient, and strong and determined to make her dreams come true.
Sometimes you love people you shouldn’t, and in the endless space of that love, nothing else matters.
Dark Notes is a tale that begins with our heroine, Ivory, who dreams of becoming more than what she is. She has had to make painful decisions as a matter of survival and to carry her family through despite in how they treat her. Ivory lost her father when she was just a teenager, but his loss only fortified her dreams, her strength and courage. She has had to suffer painful sexual situations just to keep food on the table and a roof over their heads and everyone despises her except for her only girlfriend. But she is determined to not let them destroy her, she is so close to achieving her dreams. She is in her final year and this will be the year that she hopes will be the final year in which she will have to suffer. Then she meets her new teacher Mr. Emeric Marceaux who has a animal magnetism, that makes her feel more alive than she has ever experienced. She knows that he is dangerous but she can’t help but be drawn to him, and as they explore the deep desire they have for each other….they will discover a fierce love worthy of sacrifice…..
The power is mine. I bask in it. His hands tremble, and I grab them, hold them, our fingers intertwined. I have him.
Dark Notes is a story that pierced my heart with such longing in the deepest of ways. I didn’t know what to expect only that everyone seems to just love Pam Godwin and I know everyone has just gravitated towards “Sea of Ruin” but I will be honest, I am not sure when I will pick that one up. But i just felt in a certain mood and wanted something angsty and compelling and Dark Notes definitely fit that bill for what I was looking for. I am telling you I breezed through this almost 500 page novel in just a couple of hours…that is how compelled I found myself in with this story here. It definitely had a feeling of being such a dark romance at times, and it could be in this category due to the aspects of taboo that is in this story. It is a teacher/student trope but also the heroine is seventeen when they meet, so definitely take that aspect in account when considering this one. I will point out that I desperately loved this one here though. I couldn’t get enough of this romance and what this pair gives to each other. It can be highly erotic at times, but I truly felt for our pair here and the situation they find themselves in. I found that Pam Godwin really wrote such a compelling book here and I just wanted more of it. I didn’t want to let go of Emeric or Ivory, they had such a riveting romance that just spoke to me in all the ways that satisfied by romantic heart in every way that is possible.
We need each other, not because our bodies fit so well together, but because our hearts beat the same tune, for the same reason.
Overall I found Dark Notes to be an incredible story that captivates the heart and mind, its a tale of forbidden love but a story that pushes the boundaries and the beauty of finding love and learning to defend it when it matters the most.
The Duke’s Captive is the fourth book in this series “Winter Garden” and this is an author I have been meaning to read her backlist but just haven’t gotten around to it yet. I have read loved this author over the years and I believe some of her books were part of the “Avon Romance Treasure” line if you are familiar with those. The Duke’s Captive was quite an interesting story, now this one is the last book in the series, but I was able to easily read this as a stand-alone. It did have some teasers to a previous book, but I do feel like it was distanced enough that you can read this book as it’s not an integral part of the series just loosely connected. I will say that I didn’t know what I would be getting with this but it did have a revenge plot, so be aware of that going in, and it won’t work for everyone. But I do think if you are in the right frame of mind or mood then this will be a fun plotline for you to enjoy.
THE DUKE’S CAPTIVE IS A SEXY CAPTIVATING TALE SET IN THE VICTORIAN ERA TO ENTICE YOU THAT FEATURES:
Ian-Inherited a Dukedom, the protective brother, emotionally damaged and scarred from PTSD
Viola-Widow, single mother of a five-year-old son, artist, keeper of secrets
In The Duke’s Captive, we set the stage with our hero, who is setting a trap for our heroine. Ian, five years previous, was kidnapped by the heroines, Viola, sisters and was chained, drugged, and treated like an animal and Viola was the only comfort he had. Ian was drugged and has blurred memories of believing he was sexually assaulted and even though Viola wasn’t fully complicit he still blames her because she was the only one that escaped punishment. And now its five years later and he has finally found her and is ready to place his revenge but his plan has holes in it including knowing actually what happened between him and Viola, and despite the secrets being kept, his plan of revenge turns into something deeper, and love enters his heart, and when the truth comes out, will Viola and Ian be able to find the love they have been craving all of these years?
A fierce heat lit his eyes when his gaze captured hers, and the intense hunger she witnessed in their dark depths made her heart skip a beat and her stomach twist in knots. He remembers something. . . .
In The Duke’s Captive, I was so enchanted by their chemistry, and from the very beginning, I just knew that this would be an entertaining read. You just never know what to expect in a revenge plot especially in a historical (because some of them can be total bananas) but I will say that in this one it definitely was written in such a way that really worked for me. Now I don’t read revenge plots very often, but this is a book I have been wanting to read so much over the years. I can’t tell you how long I have had this one on my wishlist and FINALLY, I read it and really enjoyed it. I wasn’t sure how I would feel about this story especially in the first chapters, but the evolvement was really beautiful in this one. I was charmed by their chemistry and so many swoony moments that will take your breath away. But there are also moments of pain and heartbreak from both our main protagonists. For most of the book, you aren’t sure where you stand with the heroine, you definitely sense so much more happening, but things don’t get revealed till in the second half of the story, so you really have to trust the author here to lead you right and it happens…TRUST ME, she will captive your heart but it gets slowly built throughout the story.
“When I can taste you and smell you and feel you like this, I fear I’ll never be able to rid myself of you, that you’ll go on haunting me night after night forever.”
There is one trope that needs to be mentioned in this one and explain because I know it’s a trope that many readers might struggle with: Secret Baby. Anyone that knows me knows how much I struggle with this trope and how it rarely works for me. Now you need to see this from the heroine’s point of view. This is more of a circumstance where the heroine fears the hero and what his reaction would be if she had told him the truth instead of marrying and finding protection. She loved Ian, but at the time, knew that they couldn’t be together and she did what needed to be done for her child. I really like how at the top of the chapter headings, we get excerpts from her journal and really showcase her side of the story in such an elemental way. We don’t get too much from her perspective that much, it happens, but we do see a flow of seeing both of their sides and seeing them work towards a relationship and how complex of a situation they are both in here. They have both sacrificed and been hurt, and it will take having faith in each other’s love that will help them learn to adapt and grow from the changes.
“But the one thing I want most, Viola,” he whispered, leaning in to nuzzle her ear, “is to see you happy, to hear you laugh, not from sarcasm or anxiousness, but from joy. I have dreams of it, maybe memories of it. I don’t know. But since I’ve come back into your life, I have never once heard you laugh from sheer happiness, and nothing, right now, haunts me more.”
Overall I found The Duke’s Captive to be a sensational read that captures the heart and soul to the depths, it’s a rough road of emotion, secrets, and the unraveling of the passions of the essence of humanity….BREATHTAKING~
At The Stroke of Midnight is the first book in the "Naughty Princess Club" and also my FIRST Tara Sivec romance. Now I have had this author on my list for the longest time, for quite a few years but have never gotten around to her stories until now. I have been wanting to explore more romantic comedies that don't have the illustrated covers (quite frankly illustrated covers its not always a rom com, but with this type of cover you know it is one) and I was so happy to see that I was correct in that this one is a rom com and what super sexy one at that. But I quite had a blast with this one for sure, loved the fairy tale spin on it, adored the element of exotic dancing being implemented and the unique friendship these three women build with each other. It was a delightful novel that only has me eager to read the rest of the trilogy and man these covers (their hair.....I want their hair haha)
At The Stroke of Midnight is a delightful mix of humor, angst and sexual tension that features:
- P.J. -Defender of single mothers, honorable, protective, sexy
- Cynthia -single mother, divorcee, prim and proper, was a typical trophy wife
We are not going to be strippers, have you lost your mind? I'm a housewife and the president of the PTA. You owned an antique store, and Isabelle is a librarian. We are not strippers.
At The Stroke of Midnight starts off with our heroine, Cynthia, who imagined that her life was close to perfect. She appreciated her husband and thought they had a decent marriage. But when she comes home and sees her divorce papers and all of their savings wiped clean and that her husband abandoned his family for their babysitter and left for Mexico, she has been determined to start a new but finding her new path isn't going to be as easy as she thought that it would be. Cynthia has been a bit stuck up but now that she has been humbled and she meets her two new best friends that show her the way to freedom and to shining into her new best self, she realizes how unsatisfied she was with life. But with her two new friends Belle and Ariel, they are all three determined to pave a new life for themselves and its going to start with learning how to be strippers and start a new business in this way. But she starts to clash heads with PJ who is highly protective of the women working under him and doesn't trust Cynthia with her motives. But as they slowly start to trust each other, they begin to embrace the powerful chemistry building between them. But Cynthia and PJ will be tested in their new affaire and will past issues interfere in their new found love or will Cynthia and PJ be able to embrace what they have found together....
I don’t want anything to hit PJ. I don’t even like him,” I lie, picturing his gorgeous face and how nicely he can wear a pair of jeans.
“You don’t have to like him to get yourself some good dicking. You need a good dicking, Cindy. Brian was mediocre at best. You need mind-blowing, toe-curling, forget-your-own-name dicking. And while you’re busy getting fucked into next week, you can also use him for his business knowledge, so it’s a win-win.
At The Stroke of Midnight was such a charming read, and I had so much fun with this one here. I will admit that I wasn't a big fan of the friendship trio here, I loved Belle though, but Ariel really came off super strong in this book and it did affect my enjoyment of the book a bit. Now the heroine, Cynthia, can be off putting especially in the beginning and she does portray a personality of being stuck up at times so you definitely have to be patient for a few chapters and she mellows out quickly into the story. so I do wish that I could have related better with the heroine, however, eventually I did begin to really like her. It is quite a journey in seeing her grow into her self and find her passion and what she wants to do in her life. I did find her relationship with her daughter to be interesting haha I wasn't sure what to think of their dynamic. Now the actual romance that builds between the hero and heroine was actually so much FUN. I had a blast with their dynamic. Now normally I am not always a fan of this type of angst, but the writing style in which Tara Sivec implements really made the book shine. And their chemistry is OFF THE CHARTS. This is not light in the heat and I was kinda surprised by that. In most rom com's I have read, they don't always have such heavy heat, but I found it really complimented the story in such a sexy way. There is such a great female friendship that grows in this book, and their dynamics are so unique. Each of them are quite unique and they each bring a certain flavor to the group.
I never expected this. I never expected you.
Overall I found "At The Stroke of Midnight" to be a fun, flirty, laugh your socks off rom com that will endeavor to lighten your load with humor and lively antics and where laughter will abound throughout your reading of it.
A Cowboy Christmas Legend is the second book in the "Lone Star Legends" series by this author and I am definitely having a blast getting back to reading this author again. I had taken a break from her (mostly due to issues with her street team) but I decided I need some more western romance in my life and I have really been wanting more from this setting in romance and especially as I am starting to get in the mood for some holiday romance, westerns definitely make the ticket in that category (I don't care what anyone else says, these authors rock it) and boy to have this one be my first Christmas romance of the year to start off the holiday season reading was sweet perfection. I especially have a soft spot for historical Christmas reads and this story was so beautifully penned and makes me eager for book three.
In A Cowboy Christmas Legend we have a story that takes leaps and bounds into the wild western that features:
- Sam Legend-widower, working undercover, bearded, blade maker, a Texas ranger, a protector for the innocent
- Cheyenne Ronan-teacher, suffering from some PTSD memories, healer, fighter for the Native American tribes
A Cowboy Christmas Legend takes us back to the wild west, in the vibrant state of Texas and two people looking for a fresh start from their pasts. Sam Legend, lost his wife when she was murdered years previous by an enemy of his that he was hunting. Sam never imagined that she would be put in harms way and he wasn't able to save her. And is still haunted by those memories and determined to get justice for her death and has come to the area to find those responsible. Cheyenne has worked with her parents on their ranch, volunteering with the local Apache tribes to be a teacher for their children, and aiding them in their traveling and learning from their healing arts. Cheyenne is tormented by her past that including a trek with them and still has nightmares for what she was forced to do. Both Sam and Cheyenne are strong characters that meet on a snowy night when a mutual friend died but as Cheyenne and Sam learned each other, they gained a friendship and something deeper. But there are enemies afoot, and a divided family in need, and at Christmas time, this is the season of miracles, healing and redemption.
Never doubt my love for you, when fear tries to take hold, think about the life we will make for ourselves...
A Cowboy Christmas Legend was simply a beautiful story that i fell so hard for very quickly. I will admit that the audiobook started out a bit slow for me, but it quickly picked up pace and I just couldn't put this one down once I was fully immersed within the story. I didn't know how heavy the Christmas like themes would be in the story but once I reached about 35% I knew that it would be a story that would delve into some deeper issues and yet bring about all the cozy holiday feels we love to experience this time of year. I am not going to lie in that I absolutely was charmed by Cheyenne and Sam. They have such a fun relationship with small hints of smexiness to delight its readers. But there are also other happenings building up in the plot other than just the romance (although that is still the primary focus of the story). We get introduced to this family whom Sam and Cheyenne rescue. A mother and her two children get sick and caught in the snow storm and Sam helps them get to safe harbor, but the father is being coerced to work for Sam's enemies. Seeing the torn feelings in this family at being separated at this time of year will really tear through your heart in the most poignant of ways. Seeing Sam and Cheyenne's romance really blossom during this change was worth the read. We also see aspects of redemption for both Sam and Cheyenne. They both have their reasons and it takes time for them to open up to each other. But seeing them do so definitely bring about some healing and a need to start anew
Lets go to paradise together and find heaven amongst the stars
I've already found heaven in your bewitching arms
I will admit that this story really had me laughing and crying all over the place. It became so emotional at times when I least expected it too. I really wanted all the characters involved to find their happy ending that they justly deserved. It was quite some unique dynamics that this author implemented within this story here. I was quite grateful to see that this one was much more enjoyable than the first book. I also loved all the "Christmas" themed moments. It had such a country charm to so many things and loved the uniqueness of it but also had that cozy cheerful theme to it which complimented the situations developed within this story so well. We also do get a bit of intrigue and suspense that is built up throughout the story and I really loved these aspects. I do love a well written plot and especially the last half of the story was packed with so much developments that will turn this one into a page turner for its readers. You won't want to put this down until you have seen the conclusion.
You are my world....my life....my living dream
Overall I found A Cowboy Christmas Legend to be so interesting in so many dynamics, it delivers in all its heartwarming glory that this author is capable of and more. A western portrayal of Christmas with all the trimming, cute youngling shenanigans, a hunt for some bad villains, and a sweet redeeming romance to curl your toes, you definitely can't go wrong with embracing this one fully.
Chase Wilde Comes Home is the first book in the NEWEST series that Jennifer Ryan is releasing and every time I see a new series from this author, I just want to dance a jig of joy because her books just work in every way for me. I will say that technically this isn't a new series, it is connected to the previous series. In the last book of the Wild Rose Ranch series, where our hero barely survived and is best friends with Drake. And I have been wanting Chase's book for quite a few years and I am so happy that Jennifer Ryan was able to write his story. So Jennifer Ryan fans especially will be thrilled with this latest release and seeing this tortured soul's story come to life.
Chase Wilde Comes Home is a heart wrenching second chance romance that features:
- Chase Wilde -Ex Military, Scarred and in Drug recovery dealing with PTSD, single father
- Shelby Payne-single mother, shy but strong, abused
Chase Wilde Comes home, starts off with seeing our hero, Chase Wilde, on his last day in rehab. He has been battling PTSD and struggling with drug addiction, and was almost recovered when he risked everything to try to save a young woman, his best friends woman's sister, but she overdosed on purpose and as a result, he almost lost his life in trying to save her life. And now he is in recovering and ready to take back his life, the woman he loves, and his precious daughter. Chase is a man that has sacrificed so much for his family, and his country and is still suffering from that sacrifice. He met Shelby, one night at a bar, and he was attracted to her sweet yet shy personality that drew him in like a bee to honey. They shared one beautiful night together and then he went to serve in the military and a child resulted in that one night. He had to spend years being away from his daughter, Eliza. He hasn't been the man that Shelby or Eliza deserves and he is more determined than ever to prove to them that he is back for good and willing to fight for them, no matter what it takes. Shelby has been in love with Chase for years, but will also protect their daughter. She has suffered much in her life but has a spine of steel because of it. And her dream has always been to have Chase Wilde in her life, but wonders if he could ever truly love her as she loves him?
I've wanted you every day since that night, I'm not going anywhere, Chase, because the only place I want to be is with you
Chase Wilde Comes Home is a story that I simply fell so hard for in this one here. I couldn't get enough of seeing this story unfold in the sweet deep ways that it was penned. I have always been a solid fan of Jennifer Ryan, and I am be a bit biased as I love everything she writes, but I do try to be as honest as I can in how I look at her books. This story is one that I have been waiting years on and it definitely was such a solid romance and it filled me with such love and sweetness and it was everything that I was expecting and more. We don't see as many shy heroines in romance as we used to and I really loved seeing this heroine. I truly adored her so much. She is a fighter though, she may be shy and reserved around Chase, but she will protect and defend those she loves. I love how dedicated she is to her family. She has been treated so horribly by her own family. She is the result of her mother being kidnapped, abused and raped. And now her birth father is released from prison and wants her in his life. And now Chase is coming home and back into her life, As Chase and Shelby reconnect their love and friendship, learning to adapt to the new change in circumstance and building some new but also dealing with the threat of Shelby's birth father. I really adored seeing all the characters come together in this book. We get some fun interactions with Chase's family, and seeing them reconcile was delightful (and I can't wait for his brothers to have stories)
That night, you made me feel beautiful and special and wanted and needed. For the first time in my entire life, I felt like I was enough. You didn't know anything about me, except what you saw and what we shared. I thought it would be quick and you'd be gone after the first time. But you stayed, and you wanted more, and I didn't want you to go, because you saw only me....and that was the best gift
Chase Wilde Comes Home features a romance that I recommend checking the trigger warnings on. There are some aspects that may be challenging for some to read. This is a romance that was so heartfelt and it will evoke feelings deep within the heart and soul. This is the talent of Jennifer Ryan's writing, I love how her books can be full of so much intensity but at the same time have a cozy feel to them that you just want to soak up as much as possible. You find such reliability with Chase and Shelby in the small moments that will leave you embracing this story to the depths. There is such sweetness delved into this story to balance out the more serious tones of the feels of the story. We do see a serious elements of PTSD and drug recovery, and the damage of emotional abuse. We also see the complexities of unrequited love. Both Chase and Shelby have been in love with each other for quite a long time, but a relationship hasn't been possible until now and they also have a daughter that is a vital art of the equation. I just loved seeing how this author brought this story together and it was told in such a way that will captivate the heart of her readers in such delicious ways.
Overall I found Chase Wilde Comes Home to be a superb story that fed my heart in all the delectable ways that this author is guaranteed to accomplish. You will feel at home with this endearing romance in its most precious intricate moments to guide you to an epic happily ever after that has been years in the making....
Maybe We Will is the first book in the "Silver Harbor" series but I also believe it's part of the "Love in Bloom" series. I am not familiar with that later series (as it's massive, almost reach 100 titles) but it seems like it could be as there are connecting cast of characters that I believe are a part of that series according to the author's note in the back of this book "Maybe We Will". I am such a newbie to this author's work, she is such a prolific author, I mean she could be a big competitor for authors like Christine Feehan or Nora Roberts. From what I have read so far from this author has been charming small-town coastal reads, which tends to be the theme/setting in what this author Melissa Foster tends to write within her stories. I will say that I absolutely adored this book here. While it felt like a long reading, I think there was a part of me that just wanted to immerse myself so completely by this story.
Maybe We Will is a sweet coastal romance with some foodie lovin' that features:
- Aiden Aldridge-Financial Whiz, Billionaire, Workaholic, Loves His Family
- Abby de Messiéres-Chef, Devoted to Her Sisters, Dreamer
Maybe We Will is a story that starts off with our hero and heroine meeting on the beach. Abby is going out for a run working out her frustrations and our hero Aiden, is chillin' on a bistro chair with a pastry and coffee when he and Abby run into each other and sparks fly pretty quickly between each other and they share a pastry while appreciating the beauty of the coast. Abby has just returned home when her mother passes away, she has quit a job that she hated, and dreams of rebuilding her father's restaurant. Aiden has come to relax on orders of his sister. He tends to be a workaholic and she is forcing him on a vacation and even gave him a list of items he must do and take pictures of. As Abby and Aiden learn each other, a friendship builds between them while the chemistry builds into something more. They explore the town together, while rebuilding her father's restaurant together, and their chemistry and friendship turn into something so much more solid and real, but there are secrets that Aiden has kept from Abby. And when the truth is revealed, their love will be tested? Will Abby and Aiden be able to fight for the love they have built so quickly and will that love be strong enough to stand the tide upahead?
But in her heart she didn’t believe it, and walking away would mean losing the truest love she’d ever known and the only love she wanted
Maybe We Will was such a beautifully told story and I was so entranced by this story. Now I have read this author before, but there was something almost "magical" in this romance. Even though it felt like a long read, there were so many times I was caught up in the "moment" that was so connecting and romantic and felt so relatable. What I have really admired about this author is how real her stories feel, and I love seeing how human and vibrant her characters are written. This story was truly beautiful in every way. What we see in this romance is just worth every single moment of the reading. I became so invested in this story. First off the setting was SO well done, I could almost feel the beach breeze on my face as I was reading and all the scents portrayed were so perfect. It made me wish for summer. The characters in this one were so entrenching, and they win their way into your heart. I really loved how invested they were in each other. The type of investment that goes so much deeper than just the sexual intimacy, but to the soul of who they are. The way they care for each other, see to each other's needs and fight for each other in both the small and big ways was truly gratifying.
You haven’t known me long enough to realize this, but I want you to know that I’m only overtly sexual with you, Abs. You bring out parts of me I wasn’t even sure I possessed anymore and sides of me I never knew existed
This is a story that is focused on family and community. We see how much family means to both Aiden and Abby. Abby, even though just losing her mother, has discovered a hidden sister neither she or her sister knew about, but unlike her sister, she is thrilled to have another family member to call her own. The dynamics between the three women are so unique but fun. You see the deep connection they have despite their differing personalities from each other. Then we have the relationship between Aiden and his sister. (I am pretty sure she has a book so I want to read that soon) I just love how protective she is over her brother but also has no shame in forcing him to take vacations and find some love along the way. You can see how much they are devoted to each other. Then we have the community that is shown in this story as the backdrop and I want to LIVE there. Its so quaint, charming, and cozy. The way that they watch out for each other was so special. I just couldn't seem to get enough of it.
You changed my world, Abigail de Messiéres, and when I come back, I’m going to change yours
Overall I found Maybe We Will to be a deep connecting romance that fed all of my romantic needs in a story, its a relatable charming read that is bound to stun you in the small moments and evoke emotion in the bigger moments---a truly stunning read that took my breath away!