When I first started this one, and Blaine started to show his more dominant side, I wasn’t sure I was going to be ok with him. Not because I’m opposed to that take charge, demanding type but there was just something about his attitude that didn’t sit right. He seemed a little too inflexible and uncaring about his partner. He talked about how he made sure they were ok with things but … I don’t know. His attitude was just off.

Then Reese showed that she wasn’t going to let him get away with it. He made demands of her but she made her demands as well and she wasn’t going to let him get away with not giving her what she needed. There’s definitely a submissive thing going on with her but it’s also a give & take relationship on both sides. Which, to me, seems much more healthy than what I was afraid we were going to have going it.

I also appreciated that it wasn’t an overly bumpy ride emotionally. They had their issues but they worked thru them and moved on. I enjoyed the relationship that Blaine built with both Reese and her sister, providing them both with the support and care that they needed. And that Reese was there to help him come to terms with his own issues and look a little more closely about why he does the things he does.

As is to be expected with a Whiskey man, when they meet the one they fall and fall fast. And usually take a little convincing to realize it :) But once they do, *whew*, especially since it takes a strong woman, one willing to stand up to him when he needs it, to win that Whiskey heart. His Whiskey Ways is Foster’s trademark (and delicious) blend of sweet and oh-so-steamy, heart and sass, humor and love.

Like always, the Whiskeys show that they are all heart under gruff, tattooed exteriors. They live big and love big, protecting those that need it and supporting everyone in their ever expanding circle. Showing us that family is more than just the ones you share blood with.

If you are new to Foster’s world, this is a good place to start. There’s a little bleed over from The Wicked Truth (and a lot of history & characters as always) but this one does a pretty decent job of standing on its own.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**

4.5*

This is the first by this author for me but I see her name everywhere and I know that she’s well loved by readers so I decided to take a chance on Drew’s book. Joining a series 5 books in wasn’t an issue. There are a lot of characters (and after this I’m looking forward to adding all of their books to my TBR pile) but the author made sure that new readers are able to keep up with them easily. So, if this is your first too I think you’ll be OK.

This book got a few middle of the road reviews because the story didn’t quite live up to the blurb and that was something I noticed as well. It’s not like Drew actively dislikes London, he just doesn’t think that she takes her ownership duties seriously, but as he gets to know her his opinion quickly changes. And their fake dating story line lasts all of about 10 pages so people who are looking for either an enemies-to-lovers or fake dating trope are going to be a little disappointed.

Instead we get a feel-good, slow burn, realistic romance. We’re there as London and Drew get to know each other better, act on their attraction, and let their feelings grow. It’s all sorts of heart-warming, and Drew’s relationship with London’s son is just the sweetest. I loved how serious London takes being a mom and the amazing way that she handles being a pillar of the community. She’s smart and dedicated, enjoys the benefits of her position but also is down-to-earth and real. And Drew isn’t afraid to let her shine. But he’s also there to support her when she needs it, which is awesome. If all her books have such charming characters I’m definitely looking forward to working my way thru Proby’s back list and seeing what she has coming up next.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**

4.5*

Y’all, Piper Rayne is one of those one click authors for me. It doesn’t matter what their book is about, and there have been some where the blurb made me go ehhh, they have never let me down. Their characters are always interesting and detailed, the plot is engrossing, and the love story leaves me with a happy smile.

Claus and Effect is no different, full of hijinks and feels in equal measure. I enjoyed the insta-hate that these two have going. The dual POV makes it a little bit easier to be OK with their initial level of snark (I think it’s easy to get heavy-handed with it and move into rude & unattractive instead of tension hiding something more type thing). As they are forced into one unexpected, and often madcap, situation after another, forcing them to get to know each other better, their feelings start to morph into something a bit more positive. And before they can make it to Portland, they realize that maybe they were wrong about a whole lot of things.

I’ll admit I didn’t see the third act trouble coming. And I’m not sure I 100% followed Tre’s issues, at least not to the extent that they come into play here. But it made for an extra quirky ending :) There’s not a lot of steam here, in case that’s your thing, but I didn’t mind at all. It was all about the journey, and what a wacky & fun journey it was. Keep it coming Piper Rayne!

**I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**

4.5*s

I loved this story. It’s low angst, so sweet, and I didn’t even mind that 90% of it is just the two of them together (although seeing JC interact with others is a hoot and a half). It is a joy getting to know all of JC’s secrets as Riley gets him to open up bit by bit. He had a few forks in the road that helped make him into the grumpy, caring, funny man he is today.

Riley is impatient to get back on the ice, but JC proves to be a good distraction. Maybe too good as Riley starts to realize that his feelings are turning a direction he didn’t anticipate. I didn’t mind that Hayes lets them explore this new side to Riley without a lot of drama. He just goes with the flow, evaluating his comfort level every step of the way, and JC’s calm support definitely helps as things get steadily more steamy.

When I read You, Again I felt that any issues with the book were squarely on me and I was right. With this follow up book Hayes reminds me what I like so much about her stories. Her MCs are great together – I love JC’s playfully gruff personality and Riley is a superstitious mess as he faces his future & his feelings for JC. Together, they are loving, so supportive, and they made me very happy. I’m excited that there’s a holiday story coming soon because I’m ready to get back to Elmwood.

(I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

I liked the characters – Noah is a big, ol’ teddy bear and Tripp is as in-your-face as you can get – but there’s definitely something more lurking beneath the surface of both. We get an understanding of Noah’s pretty early on, and Tripp is definitely all in for helping him explore his sexuality, which means he also brings his own baggage into their situation. There’s a reason he’s not willing to get involved with people and it takes a while to share it with us. I don’t know that everyone is willing to put in the time needed to go from casual sex to Tripp opening up & spilling all his secrets but I found it a satisfying resolution to their relationship.

While it isn’t necessary to have read the first book, Bad Pucking Timing, I do think it will help with how quickly Noah and Tripp fall into a sexual relationship together. It also gives a better look at the fun side of Tripp and how he & Noah have gotten to this point. And while the beginning is oh-so-steamy, I think that foundation may be needed so that Tripp’s bratty side is better understood and to help readers get through the slower transition for their relationship.

(I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

This series has not been stand alone stories and the latest is no different. Someone else mentioned it felt like an extended epilogue and I think I can agree with that. We find out why Salvation Anew has been causing trouble for Redemption Ridge and get to see Cash & Nick finally decide to stop dancing around each other. It’s satisfying from an overall story perspective but may leave some readers wanting for something more robust.

I love Cash – how level headed, caring, and strong he is. He obviously cares about his guys and his community, willing to do just about anything to help them and to right any wrongs he can. We’ve known since the beginning that there was something going on between him and Nick but we didn’t know exactly what. And we finally find out. I can’t decide how I feel about Cash with Nick though. For someone who has come across as so put together for so long, it’s a bit of a disconnect to see him so unsure and vulnerable. On one hand it’s reassuring to know that he has a weakness for someone so important to him but it’s also a little discomforting. Kinda like life.

We also find out a lot more about Nick & his feelings about Cash and we get small glimpses of their time together. The connection they have is strong enough to survive 12 years of separation and the hardships that life gave them. But those long years of only being friends also means that when they finally decide to chance their friendship for what their hearts have been craving they slide right into being a couple. There’s very little drama but a whole lot of sweetness as they show each other how much they care with special gestures, small and large.

I don’t know if this is another of those times when the fact that I’m a straight female means that I ask “is that sexy” or “do people really say that” more than once. I don’t think I did that in the first two stories (and I didn’t mention it in either review) but I did notice it in an unrelated book I read by this author. It may be the way Walker writes or it may just be me :)

Steamy and emotional, Walker brings her readers the resolution to this couple that they have been waiting for. And sets up future stories wonderfully – I can’t wait to see what trouble Rue can cause or what makes Owen & Tyler finally get their act together. Looking forward to more of the men from Redemption Ridge.

(I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

I think that if you haven’t read Something Like Hate you’re probably going to be a little confused about Damon. Everyone is referencing how he is this playboy who sleeps around but since this book starts when he finds out about Adeline’s pregnancy we don’t see it. Instead he shows himself to be an amazingly caring, responsible, and giving guy. Going by just what you see here, he’s so very easy to fall in love with. Which of course Adeline does, complicating their co-parenting situation.

I’m not a fan of hiding and teasing a main character’s reason for doing things. We know there is something in Damon’s past that causes him to be afraid to commit but it isn’t until basically the end that we find out what it was. And for me it wasn’t developed quite enough to be a satisfying issue/resolution. But since the rest of their relationship was so dang adorable and I really like them together, I’m not letting it affect my satisfaction with the rest of their story.

Maybe not my favorite of Rayne’s stories, but definitely a good read and maybe one of my favorite male leads on their’s. I love Damon as the reforming rake fighting his feelings and he’s beyond adorable as the doting dad. Adeline is a good match for him. She’s down-to-earth but feisty and won’t let anyone walk all over her when it comes to her child and what she feels is best. But she also understands Damon’s position and is willing to work with him. It creates minimal drama but a whole lot of sweetness and fun.

(I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

I loved this story and read it in less than a day. It’s perfect as a holiday read, full of winter cheer & fun with minimal drama.

Ivan is a delight, with his mix of brashness, charm, and awkwardness. He’s a proud romantic and embraces everything about the holidays. Court on the other hand doesn’t really want anything to do with the season, especially now that he’s at loose ends. But a few run-ins with Ivan soon has him embracing what Elmwood has to offer. Especially the sexy barista.

Court already accepts his bisexuality, which helps keep the angst to a minimum. I don’t mind a bi-awakening, they can be interesting and full of emotion (like Next Season). But here our main characters get to move straight into getting to know each other again … and getting to KNOW each other. It’s steamy but also playful and sweet. The first book, You Again, might not have been quite my thing, but everything else by Hayes has been a delight and Holiday Crush is no different. I’m so ready for what she delivers next.

(Although this is book three in the series, I feel like it can be read as a stand alone. There are returning characters, and Ivan & JC’s amusingly unusual friendship was a highlight in book two, there’s not anything that would have directly impacted this story.)

**I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**