I have been looking for Kyle to finally get his happy ending. When we met him in When We Touch I didn’t like him much, although I guess we weren’t really supposed to. At that point, he’d slept with that heroine’s sister and gotten her pregnant, which ruined not only his relationship with the heroine but cemented a big rift between the sisters. So he wasn’t exactly the good guy in that story :) But as we got to know this group of friends over the next few books, we also got a better understanding of Kyle and how much that mistake impacted his life. Now it is finally his chance for a HEA.

I love how fluid this story is – nothing about it is big or dramatic or that surprising. He meets Lourdes and the two spend time together, realize they are attracted to one another but that their lives don’t exactly mesh. We get to know them as they get to know each other and we’re right there with them as they fall in love. It’s sweet and true to life (as much as it can be with a country music star :) ). We do get some trouble with Kyle’s ex, which spices things up but also helps to wrap up that relationship and leave him clear for a future with someone else.

Kyle and Lourdes just have to figure out if their’s is that future and if so how to make it work for both of them.

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)

This is the first in the Anderson Brothers series that I’ve read, but based on Chance of a Lifetime I’ve definitely been missing out. (And it can be read as a standalone.)

Together Chance and Gen are fun, flirty and have a deep understanding of one another. Unfortunately they also have a history that makes any kind of a future hard. Gen has let her family control her for far too long and, because of an accident years before, they aren’t going to approve of her being with Chance.

Chance knows that her family considers him bad news and a long time ago he made a promise to stay away. But now that they are spending time together, Gen is providing to be impossible to resist.

From their first kiss thru her bucket list and all the way to the last page, I absolutely LOVED this story. There are so many wonderful things here – how capable Genny is, the emotions tying these two together for more than a decade, the understanding and support that Chance provides, and the lessons learned by all involved. I was so satisfied and amazingly sad to see it end.

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)

I started this book on Tuesday and finished it on Thursday – and it only took me that long because the rest of my life got a little busy. It’s a quick, enjoyable read and I really liked both Jack and Chloe. He is a strong, dependable country boy, who has been waiting patiently on the sidelines for Chloe to see him as more than a friend. She has a few hangups about commitment because of her past and values him too much to chance losing him due to a breakup. But Jack’s tired of waiting and he’s got a plan to get Chloe on the same page. Of course, it wouldn’t be a romance if things went smoothly!

I really enjoyed the back and forth between the two but I will say that I was a little confused by the time frame for the story. We started it with Chloe’s 39th birthday and ended on her 40th but it didn’t seem like a year passed. Maybe a few months but it definitely didn’t feel like a whole year. It’s just a minor complaint and I wouldn’t even have mentioned it if it wasn’t so blatantly stated. So in fairness I thought I should point it out :)

Forty Candles is a short, earthy read - with tons of heat and heart, friendship and romance. It’s got a hero who has the patience of a saint, knows exactly what to say and do, but is about to reach his breaking point. He’s ready to take on a heroine who’s too busy running that she’s not seeing that there is a man in the world that knows all her warts but loves her anyway. Jack’s just going to have to trick her into seeing the truth that’s been in front of her all along.

(complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)

I don’t usually read New Adult stories (and I didn’t realize this was one until after I started reading it), but I would have made an exception anyway since it is one of Jessica Lemmon’s books :) I’ve only read her Second Chance series but I’ve enjoyed those so much that I’m going to have to go back and read the Love in the Balance books too. And I’ll be waiting for the next Lost Boys book because if Cade’s story is anything like Devlin’s it will be worth it - we’re given a preview of Falling for Caden here and I’m super curious about it. I think that his story could be complex.

OK, back to this one. You have to be OK with the whole bad boy thing. It’s a popular sub-genre with the whole MC club and such, and while it isn’t my favorite it works here. Devlin had an unusual upbringing and it has transitioned into his adulthood. He’s quite comfortable with it, until he meets Rena … and gets hit (literally) with some of the seedier side of his life.

The whole arrogant, street thing is not my bag but Dev is appealing enough I can see where it works for some. (While things he says and doesn't do it for me, I can understand why it would for others.) And I really appreciated his journey to trying to straighten out his life. He's not a bad guy, really, just one that dances on that other side of the line.

Rena, for all the bad things that has happened to her, seems a little young in comparison to the maturity that life has given to Dev. But she has grit and determination, as well as a good understanding of people, which makes her a good foil for him. I really like how she's not willing to just walk away when things get a little rough. He's awfully hard on her quite a few times and she sticks it out because she sees that there is something more going on with him. Again, his treatment of her isn't my thing, but it isn't horrible and fits in that bad boy thing.

Fighting for Devlin isn't going to appeal to everyone but Lemmon is a fantastic writer, creating interesting characters as well as a complex storyline. There's a lot going on here but it is so engrossing that you will find it hard to put the book down until you turn that last page. I'm rating high because, for those that like this kind of thing, this is a story that can't be missed.

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)

If you've made it this far then you know that this is a M/M romance. It's also got a little BDSM thrown in too so while it isn't going to be for everyone, it is well written so Xylan is a good choice for more adventurous readers. Amazon has it at just under 100 pages (and 4+ stars, btw), so it is definitely a fast read.

But Jacobs doesn't pull any punches with her plot and there were a lot of different things about it that worked for me. I really liked the committed relationship between Xylan and Hamilton - the trust and honesty and love between the two. There were moments of humor as well as some that were darker. And definitely some that were sexy and hot, but it's the ones that were from the heart that were the best.

If I have any complaint it is that I felt like I needed one more chapter to find out what happens next ... maybe there will be a follow up book. Not that I want more bad things for Xylan but I'm curious to see how everything turned out. If she doesn't have one planned, maybe we can talk Rider into writing one :)

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)

This is a wonderfully sweet story about love and healing. Flynn’s daughter Olivia has survived something devastating and she’s still dealing with it. He’s back in Cold Creek, after years in California, to take care of his grandmother’s affairs and he’s hoping that the place that meant so much to him as a child can help his daughter heal. But it is meeting the author of her favorite story that has Olivia showing real enthusiasm.

Flynn’s love for his daughter and how he’s devastated by what she’s been through is so touching. He’s trying so hard to help her. But when it is obvious that Celeste is the key, he takes advantage of it … regardless of the attraction to the quiet librarian that he’s trying so hard to ignore. Celeste had a traumatic event of her own when she was a child, which gives her a special understanding of what Olivia is going thru. It takes dealing with the haunted little girl, and her father, to really face some of the scars she’s still holding onto.

I’ve read other Thayne stories, but this is my first in the Cowboys of Cold Creek series. It looks like this one has been going on for a while (this is the 14th story) but I’m not sure how related they all are. Celeste’s sister Hope stars in Book 13, The Christmas Ranch, and while it isn’t necessary to have read it (I didn’t and it didn’t really bother me) I think there’s enough continuation that it probably would have made this one more enjoyable. So not required, but beneficial :) I got along just fine and Thayne did a good job of relating the necessities.

A Cold Creek Christmas Story is super sweet and just about perfect for a holiday read. The characters are interesting and complex, the story is heartwarming and joyful, and it has that innocence that will make just about anyone feel good. I’ll definitely be looking for more in this series and by this author.

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)

When I think of western romances, I almost always think of Diana Palmer. I definitely haven’t read them all but I’ve read a few over the years. To be that successful for that long, you know she’s good at what she does :)

It’s mentioned in the blurb that Niki is the daughter of Blair’s best friend, but it isn’t as clear that the age difference between the two of them is the big issue of the book. I got the idea that it was his heartbreak that was going to be the trouble spot but it turned out not to be the deal breaker.

A May/December conflict isn’t seen as much as it was a few decades ago, but Palmer does a good job of explaining Blair’s concerns. He’s a powerful, rich business man who has traveled the world and he’s got a strong sense of duty. Dating someone so much younger isn’t something he’s comfortable with, even if he has trouble avoiding that attraction.

I’ve seen some complaints in other reviews about Niki’s innocence. She is awfully young when the book starts, and falls for Blair, but she’s definitely old enough that by modern standards she should be more worldly than she is. And while it was a little bit much for me at the very beginning, she grew on me and I started seeing that as just a part of her personality. She did grow up with just her dad on their ranch, even living there while going to college, and she is a good church goer, so it does seem possible that she avoided some of that. Once the book gets going, it stops being an issue for me so I think that is just going to be a personal thing for each reader.

Overall, I enjoyed Wyoming Rugged. There were a couple of places that I shook my head – there were some conversations that would have definitely benefited both Niki and Blair … but then the book would have been a whole lot shorter. And I’m not sure that I would have been as quick to forgive as Niki after Blair does the hot/cold routine more than once, but she’s not a thing like me. I definitely thought things were going to go in a different direction and if I’d been Niki there would have been some words. Good thing for Blair he got her instead :)

It’s not going to be for everyone – between the age difference (which some found kinda icky because Blair tries to treat her like a kid when he first figures out that he’s attracted to her), Nikki’s innocence, and the old-fashioned feel that these things give the story. But I do think that there are a lot of people out there who will enjoy it. There are Palmer’s fans, but also those that like that kind of book. (If you are iffy I recommend checking out a couple of reviews on Goodreads, both good and poor – you’ll figure out quick enough if you are going to like it.)

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)

At around 100 pages, Melted and Whipped is a fast and very sexy read. It's a good mix of the history between Emily & Porter and them getting to know each other again, while defining of what being together now would mean.

Peitsche does a fantastic job of explaining the whys of a BDSM relationship with Porter and how he shows Emily exactly what that would look like if she decides to get involved with him. But it isn't all about the bedroom. When the going gets tough for Emily, Porter is there to support her and it shows what a caring man he is. Sexy with a heart - you can't beat that!

I found this to be a truly delightful second-chance-at-love story, packaged with a whole lotta heat. It's a quick read but Peitsche still does a fantastic job of giving a complete and satisfying story ... and one that will have you turning up the A/C in winter :)

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)

I really enjoyed this story and I think my favorite part is the relationship that grows between the two as they become friends & then more. It creates such a connection between them – one that even manages to survive how absolutely, terribly Nick screws up. It makes for an absolutely and adorably sweet end that just made me grin.

I can totally understand why some are upset by how Nick treats women (before getting romantically involved with Teagan) and then her when he’s trying to win her back. He has his reason for being a little loose with his female companionship and it isn’t like he promised them anything more. And he does realize that he’s not doing right by Teagan and works to fix it. When it comes down to it, Nick has some growing to do and he does it.

There are also complaints about Nick’s communication issues, which I just don’t get. It is such a HUGE part of this story and one of the main problems between the two. I think Sutton does a fantastic job of setting it up and explaining the whys behind it. They’ve got other troubles as well, including Nick’s relationship with his father which also play into his relationship with Teagan. I totally got him every step of the way and rooted for him right up to the HEA.

I should warn you that there’s just a smidge of Book 1 that bleeds over into this one that … well, it didn’t impact this story but it definitely made me go “I’m missing something”. Which of course, me being me, made me anxious to go out and get it to find out what that is :)

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)

This series is one of my absolute favorites. As soon as I see that there is a new book I pick it up without even looking at the blurb – don’t care, I know it will be good :) And Fox doesn’t let me down with her latest.

Matt has to be one of my favorite heroes. He’s smart, caring, sensitive, hard-working, a good friend … and has been silently in love with one of his best friends forever. Unfortunately he also has a little inferiority complex – thinks that he’s not good enough for her until he becomes a doctor – so he’s willing to help her catch the attention of their other best friend instead. Even if it breaks his heart.

I like Sky as well. Too often with this kind of book, she would have been so oblivious to Matt and his appeal that it would be painful – concentrating instead on the one she thinks she wants. Here though it’s a more fluid process as she starts to see her old friend as more, but of course miscommunication and assumptions make for complications. She has some help from her friends but it is very hard to take that step to something more with Matt and potentially ruin a friendship that means so much to both of them.

There is always a warning with the In the Line of Duty series because they are fabulously spicy. Matt has a little kink to him which adds a little steam to a beautifully romantic and touching story - nothing to be too concerned about as long, though, as you like your romances hot :)

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)