A Wedding in Truhart may be a little light on the romance for some - Nick and Annie really aren’t together that much and when they are things usually don’t end all that well :) - but I really enjoyed their relationship. And there is so much more going on to keep you glued to the pages.

You only get Annie’s POV, which is both good and bad. The good is that you feel like you understand her and what she’s going thru, allowing you to see why she says and does different things. Everything is revealed to you at the same time they are revealed to her so we feel a better connection to her. The bad is that you don’t get that same connection to everyone else and there is some confusion on things because she doesn’t have all of the information. I usually like to have the male and female voices in my romances because I’m intrigued by where both are coming from, but here it works. Annie goes thru moments of clarity in dealing with her family and friends so having only her voice makes that better.

And while there are a bunch of clichés at play (rich snobs, small town bumpkins, that kind of thing) it brings levity and fun to Annie’s growth. With family issues, romantic entanglements, and a touch of humor, A Wedding in Truhart is a wonderful start to a new series and I can’t wait to see where Tennent takes us from here.

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)

Jack and Maya are fantastic together, so sharp and cute and fun, and Drewry writes them so well you can totally understand how Jack has loved Maya for years and yet she has no clue :) There are so many roadblocks standing in the way of anything happening between the two – Jack is Maya’s cheating ex-husband’s best friend and his family IS Jack’s family. A relationship between the two is going to be hard, but it could be worth it if they are willing to take a chance.

Maya was put thru the ringer when she found out her husband was sleeping with someone else. He was supposed to be her HEA so it left her unsure of herself and of men. Everyone except Jack that is and now that he’s back in her life, she couldn’t be happier. Until she starts thinking of her old friend as more than just a friend.

I think some people might feel like Jack needs to find his backbone, but I actually understand why he lets things get to the point that they do. He’s all alone in the world except for the Carson’s and when they fostered him they pulled him out of a situation that was REALLY bad. His dedication to that family is deep and it just breaks my heart at how he’s torn between Maya and the family. It’s easy for others to say that he should have chosen Maya from the beginning, and maybe he should have, but that’s a lot to ask of him. He’s had to live with that for years – I think he’s paid a lot for his choice.

I’ve not read any of the other Friends First novels but I think that Drewry does a great job of giving you’re the basics on how they came together. I’m curious enough that the other books are going in my TBR pile, but it in no way interfered with how much I loved this one. (And I’m really hoping she’s going to give Griffin a story because I want him to find his own person who won’t put up with his crap.)

How Forever Feels is both heartbreaking and heartwarming and I highly recommend that you check it out.

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)

A Wedding in Truhart may be a little light on the romance for some - Nick and Annie really aren’t together that much and when they are things usually don’t end all that well :) - but I really enjoyed their relationship. And there is so much more going on to keep you glued to the pages.

You only get Annie’s POV, which is both good and bad. The good is that you feel like you understand her and what she’s going thru, allowing you to see why she says and does different things. Everything is revealed to you at the same time they are revealed to her so we feel a better connection to her. The bad is that you don’t get that same connection to everyone else and there is some confusion on things because she doesn’t have all of the information. I usually like to have the male and female voices in my romances because I’m intrigued by where both are coming from, but here it works. Annie goes thru moments of clarity in dealing with her family and friends so having only her voice makes that better.

And while there are a bunch of clichés at play (rich snobs, small town bumpkins, that kind of thing) it brings levity and fun to Annie’s growth. With family issues, romantic entanglements, and a touch of humor, A Wedding in Truhart is a wonderful start to a new series and I can’t wait to see where Tennent takes us from here.

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)

I have to say that this group of characters has got to be one of my favorites of all time. Butch is your typical sexy country boy – tall, good-looking, and full of good ol’ boy charm. Kate is a fish out of water. She’s a strong woman in a man’s world, plus she grew up in a guy’s household with a dad who wanted a son. She’s not all that comfortable with her attractiveness but that’s where Butch shines. He sees the beauty inside and helps Kate see it too. Then there is Butch’s brother, Jeb, who is dealing with something from his time as a marine (although we don’t get the what here). But my favorite is Tom, Kate’s cousin, who is quite the ladies’ man and her cohort in crime. Throw them all together and all sorts of delicious things happen.

But, considering Butch is working on ex-wife number three, I’m not sure I trust his judgement on his feelings J Wife 1 is totally understandable so I don’t count her. Unfortunately we aren’t given enough detail on wife 2 to understand what brought them together but wife 3 definitely seems a bad choice. I think I would have liked a little more time spent between him and Kate (or less of a history) to be completely on board with his love. But then we wouldn’t have a story, and it is a great one, so I’ll take it!

The mystery is very solid. It’s parceled out in bits and pieces, and even though the whodunit part isn’t all that surprising it doesn’t stop it from being compelling. I really enjoyed how DeVito released things to readers in between developing a relationship between Kate & Butch.

For me thought the best part is that it isn’t just their relationship that is so fantastic. We get wonderful interactions between all the characters – Butch, Kate, Tom and Jeb. The friendships that develop among them all is just as important as the romance between the two leads. It helps all of them grow and heal, providing support and humor when it is needed. There were times I laughed out loud at their antics and I’m looking forward to future installments so I can see those relationships deepen.

The next book has got to be about Butch’s brother and I absolutely cannot wait! I’m dying to find out what he’s hiding.

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)

I have to say that at first I was a little turned off by Hendrix and his brothers. I have nothing against a bad boy but sometimes I feel like that can skirt a line with thug. Some of the things that he said and thought just wasn’t all that attractive to me (but I know that this … roughness (?) is a popular thing now, especially seen with the uptick in MC stories). Luckily these guys have so many more good qualities that anything else was quickly forgotten. And there was so much here that I liked – the way the leads got together and gave in to their feelings, how the brothers were there for each other and how Olivia became part of that once she got involved with Hendrix, the sweet but not too sweet ending, and there’s even more.

Neither Hendrix nor Olivia had it easy and they were definitely letting those past incidents impact their present, keeping them out of relationships. I love that Olivia didn’t let her’s keep her sassy side down though. She’s a hoot, with a lot of sass. Hendrix could get a little too dour, internalizing his pain, but not when faced with her pluck. Once they gave up fighting their attraction they were a riot together. But they were also good about giving the support that each other needed. They managed to take their screwed up situations, and less than stellar first meeting, and turned it into something healthy that worked for them.

There were some great hints at what’s to come with the other brothers’ stories and I’m hoping that we can explore their complex family dynamic more. These guys had a tough time of it, which manifested itself in some troubling ways, but I’m sure that they’ll get the kick in the pants they need to get everything straightened out. I’m really looking forward to Morrison’s book at the end of the year (although I think that Jagger’s might be the biggie of the batch).

Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first of this series that I’ve read, but I don’t think it will be my last. The Twisted Road to You is a fantastic blend of danger and emotion – we have to deal with Carlie’s ex and the trouble he causes, but more importantly we get Wesley & Carlie’s struggles to open their hearts again. Both have been badly hurt in the past and neither of them thinks that they are a good bet. Although none of their concerns are all that new, it doesn’t stop them from making an impact on the reader.

Wesley is struggling with PTSD and he had his ex break things off with basically a Dear John letter. Neither of these things add up to relationship material in his mind. But he doesn’t factor in that he’s caring, giving, hard-working, and brave. He’s willing to do just about anything for his friends and they feel the same about him. With his attraction to Carlie and the danger she faces from her ex, she quickly becomes part of that group.

Carlie is a good mother but with her past she’s kept herself a little separated from the other people in Perfect. Thanks to Wes and his friends though that doesn’t last long. I can understand why she thinks her past is too much for a partner to overcome, but I love how Wes proves her wrong. Just a little understanding and acceptance goes a long way to changing how she views herself.

Even though I wasn’t familiar with any of the people, Longley does a great job of giving all relevant info when you need it – not too much and only when it makes sense. The book focuses on Wes and Carlie but they don’t live in a bubble so the other people are important. And I’m sure that, for returning readers, it is a treat to catch up.

With just that right amount of action to keep things hopping and the perfect amount of emotional drama, The Twisted Road to You is a wonderful story of letting go of the past and opening up to something new.

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)

If You Believe in Me is a very short read, but packed full of holiday hope. It’s all about Amber refusing to give up on Kale coming home, even when everyone says she should.

I love how Amber doesn't let people push her into feeling something she doesn't. They are doing it with good intentions but that just makes it that much harder to stand up to them.

But because it is so short I feel just a little cheated at the ending and want another chapter or two to expand on Kale’s homecoming. It’s a small thing and I definitely feel good about the story I got - it's just that we spent all those pages getting to that point it would be nice to bask in it just a bit more :)

Overall, If You Believe in Me is definitely a great read to get you in the Christmas spirit.

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)

Oh, how I love this series. Each time I read one I think that it can’t get any better and then it does :)

Poor Alec is so burned by his past that he’s shut himself off from everyone. He’s decided that it is easier not to engage than to take the chance on being used again. But that doesn’t stop him from feeling an attraction to Lilliana, who seems to hate him for some unknown reason.

Lilliana is burdened by an interesting mix of fear, expectation and guilt. She’s back in Falcon and turning her family home into a B&B, although she’s an artist at heart. Add to that, being home puts her in close proximity to the guy who doesn’t remember their one night together in college … and he’s still just as sexy as ever, even if he does seem a whole lot colder.

There’s a fantastic sub-plot with one of Alec’s players. It’s a good vehicle to not only help Lilliana and Alec get together, but it also helps bring Alec out of his shell and create relationships with others. He slowly starts opening up and it is a great thing to watch him learn to trust again.

There were quite a few times in the beginning of this book that I just wanted these two to talk to one another. A lot of their troubles would have been avoided that way but once they start moving their way to a relationship those times became less and less. And I cheered so hard for them once they finally got things straightened out.

I definitely hope Trentham isn’t done with this series - I just love her way with characters and plot. Her books are fun, fast reads with characters that just draw me in. Plus I really want to know what happens to some of the secondary characters we’ve gotten to know. Especially Whitey – that guy deserves a second chance and there is a moment in this story that I hope is Trentham hinting that she’s going to give him one.

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)

I made the mistake of opening this book just to take a look and I didn’t put it down for 2 days. That’s how long it took me to read the whole thing because I had my nose buried in it every chance I had – the characters are interesting and the plot is well-paced. All around a nicely written story.

I get the feeling that Cowboy was well loved in the first book and readers pushed for him to have his own, but not having read Rules of Protection this was my first introduction to him. And wow what an intro it was. He’s sexy and charming, smart and caring. He’s also cocky and a whole lot too sure of his appeal. I don’t think I ever got a good feeling on why he was against relationships before Anna – usually they have some reason, but his may just have been that he hadn’t needed to settle down before :)

Anna has her own issues (quite doozies too) and not the least of which is her insane attraction to overly confident Cowboy. She’s got reasons for avoiding any kind of entanglement but there’s just something about him that she can’t resist. I really enjoyed seeing these two dance around each other but end up at the mercy of their feelings.

There’s a little bit of mystery involved that is a nice complement to the romance. I didn’t expect the ending, which is always nice, and I think that Bliss does a great job of tying everything up with a nice pretty bow. I’m definitely looking forward to more in this series and I’m gonna have to get my hands on Book 1!

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)

The beauty and the beast plot is one of my favorites – it is pretty much a given that I will pick up the story if it even hints at it :) And I’m very happy to say that here it works very well.

Phlox is a wonderful heroine. She’s smart and fun, but she’s also got a solid head on her shoulders. She may be gorgeous but she hasn’t always been and she had to go thru a horrible experience where she was burned badly. These things have given her a different take on beauty and other people’s reaction to it, which is a good thing because anyone who dares to fall for Jared needs a lot of understanding and patience.

Jared has carried around a lot of baggage. Not only because of his scars but because of what his father did to his family. It’s colored absolutely everything about his life and he’s still letting it impact his interactions with others. When he first sees Phlox he allows her beauty to impact how he treats her but she doesn’t let him blow her off and he quickly learns there is so much more to her than her face. It’s going to take a lot though to get him to let down his walls. Luckily Phlox may just be the person for the job.

**Warning: there is some spoilerish info below**

I really enjoyed this story but there were a couple of things I didn’t understand. There was a fight between the brothers that seemed to come out of left field because they had what I thought was a good relationship up to that point. Some suggestion was made that there was some undercurrent with how Jared saved Jake from the fire, but either I didn’t get it or it wasn’t detailed enough to make the impact needed for that fight to make sense to me. And then the deal with their dad wasn’t ever really resolved. An argument could be made that Jared just needed to accept and let it go but I felt like closure really was needed for him to truly heal.

Overall though the rest of the book worked really well for me and I loved the romance that developed between Jared and Phlox. It’s a tough go for both of them but Gabriel handled their troubles very well and gave them a great HEA.

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)