Both Carter and Ginger have some growing to do and time spent together helps them find their way again. The future Ginger expected hasn’t shown up yet and she’s getting a little desperate. Her thirtieth birthday is here and she’s always expected to be married with kids by now. But the more unsuccessful dates she goes on the harder she tries, which unfortunately doesn’t help. In an attempt to get a relationship to stick, she’s forgotten to be true to herself. Carter is coming out of a very bad end to his marriage and he’s angry at the entire world. Back on Turtle Island to check in on his sister has him running into his old friend, Ginger. It doesn’t take long for her sassy & bright personality to start bringing him out from behind his walls … but that doesn’t mean he’s ever going to want to expose his heart again.

The relationship that develops between these two is just about perfect. I love them together as they become friends again, which of course develops into an attraction, but with Carter’s faith in tatters he’s only willing to go for something casual. Being a romance, you know that that doesn’t stick, but it’s nice to see them try :) And while they do have some crazy hot chemistry (sizzling hot!), they also have a strong foundation of mutual respect and caring which lays the groundwork for something more to happen eventually … once Carter gets over his past hurts.

With characters that pop and story lines that keep me glued to the pages, I’m keeping my eye on what Law delivers next – it’s sure to be fantastic!

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. I found it for free on Amazon and even though I should have been reading other books in my TBR pile, I was drawn to it. I love the idea of the quirky hero and the woman who really understands him. It’s sweet and fun and totally made me happy.

The characters are addictive and easily made their way into my heart. I rooted for them from the first page and anxiously waited for them to get to their HEA. Mason is too smart for his own good, which makes him a bit weird to most people. But for someone who appreciates his big … brain, he’s just perfect.

And Adrianne is that person. She’s smart and caring and loves her new town. The people in it and the slower pace it can give her. The fact that she truly appreciates all those things that make Mason who he is just makes her extra appealing, to him and to us.

There are so many ways that the strife could have happened between the two of them, but I really love how Nichols made her characters smarter than that. Their difficulties (and how they handled them) weren’t cliched and that made their story all the more enjoyable.

Hoyt carries a lot of baggage from his captivity – scars that cut very, very deep and impact all facets of his life. Because of it, he’s turned away from Hayden and placed a strain on his relationships with his brother & teammates. As a member of an elite special forces team, it is extra hard to face what he feels is his weakness. But when an old enemy brings danger to his door, he has to decide if he’s man enough to face his demons and conquer them. He’s deeply troubled but also a good man, who just needs to find his way to get past his anger and pain.

I don’t know if it is because she is too close to him, but I would think that as a psychology grad student Hayden would have a little more understanding of what Hoyt is going through. She’s understandably hurt by his leaving but she has to know that there is more going on than what is on the surface. Once she does start looking at things a little more objectively though she gets it. But then the bad guys arrive and things get crazy.

I kinda wish there had been more time for Hoyt and Hayden to deal with his issues, however Cross does a great job of keeping the story flowing. First we’re caught up in Hoyt & Hayden’s relationship and then we roll straight into some non-stop action, which kept me glued to the pages right til the last page.

This is the first of the Men of Mercy series that I’ve read but I can definitely tell you it will not be my last. Although I feel like I should warn you that while this one can stand on its own, there are events from the past that come into play along with an underlying plot that will continue on into future stories. Cross does a fabulous job of giving you the details you need as they play into Hoyt’s story and she makes sure that you feel like you got the closure you needed to truly enjoy this one. But it is part of a greater overall story and that may frustrate some new readers. Or give them a whole new set of books to read (like me) :)

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)

While Life’s a Beach is an entertaining and quick (also HOT) read, there were portions that are a little farfetched. The trouble that comes up is that Samuel plans to sell the hotel but Amelia wants to do a makeover to turn it around. Unfortunately the man that Samuel is trying to sell to is playing hardball to get the price down. While they wait for a better price Samuel agrees to let her do some things to spruce the place up, but mysterious, bad things start happening … and how they handle it just doesn’t ring real for me.

Having said that, the rest of the book makes up for it – the sex is very steamy, the characters are interesting, and the rest of the plot is highly entertaining. There were times where I laughed out loud and times that I got a little hot under the collar :), which I consider a definite win!

Amelia is a ton of fun – she’s sassy, funny, strong and determined. Samuel is sexy and when he forgets about being overly “Dude-y” he’s fun to be around. He’s got some issues that he needs to work through - some time to try to find a way to be both Dude and Samuel in a way that works. I really loved his brother and the people at the resort, so I’m curious what future books in the series brings.

If you are looking for a great beach read in the middle of January, this is definitely worth a try!

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)

I still read the occasional paranormal romance but it’s definitely not my main genre right now so I’m not sure what all is out there. Which means I’m not the best to say how original this world is :), but I think that Hill does a great job of creating one that is interesting. It’s got just the right touch of real world to make you think that it could be happening around you but yet be full of witches, demons, monsters and supernatural soldiers.

Haley went through something horrible and I’m impressed by how well she’s recovered. She’s still not completely healed and hesitates to get intimate with any man, especially the nephew of the man who held her captive (and someone who saw her in that situation). But being able to see into Damian’s mind helps I think. She starts to understand him a little better and see past who he used to be.

Damian may be the son of Satan but he is now working for the other side, fighting demons and monsters. Working with her brothers introduces him to Haley and spending time with the sexy witch draws him in. But can he breach the walls that her time in Hell built … and what happens when he’s ordered to kill her uncle?

I love the relationship and trust that builds between these two. They each have reasons to be wary of the other but time (and the glimpses they get of each other’s thoughts) start to forge something sweet. Damian is amazingly patient and understanding of all of Haley’s hangups. And she’s definitely strong, she just has to remember that. There’s danger mixed in with the love story, as expected with most paranormal romances, and it adds that extra oomph to the book.

Because it is the first in the series, there is a lot of extra explanation that has to happen, but I don’t feel like it bogged things down. I do, though, think there were times where it might have been missing some of the history related to this story. I’m not sure if that was intentional or not, because they weren’t big things but just enough that I wanted a little more info. I’m curious to see where Hill goes from here and whether we get some of those answers when the rest of the Hawthornes gets their stories.

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)

I love Piper and Cole together. The sibling’s best friend trope is one of my favorites because there is usually such history already between the hero and heroine, adding an additional depth to their relationship. Here, Piper has loved Cole forever and he feels something similar but, besides her being his best friend’s sister, he wants to feel worthy of her. Unfortunately a horrible accident has left him scarred inside and out. I can understand where he is coming from and Gray does a good job of keeping it from being too “oh-woe-is-me”. He’s not pitiful, he’s troubled - still a good man underneath, just fighting a few demons.

Piper was starting to give up on Cole ever having feelings for her, but once she realizes that maybe there is more than brotherly affection on his side she decides to put everything out there to win the man she’s loved for so long. She doesn’t care about the scars on his body, she’s determined to win his heart. Piper is a ton of fun once she puts her mind to getting to Cole, making me smile more than once and leaving me feeling sorry for the poor man.

Sassy, funny and full of heart, Wrecked is a fabulously good time. BTW, I’ve not read anything else in this series and I don’t think that it made a difference. There are a couple of small references I don’t totally understand, but overall it is minor and I think this story can easily stand on its own. So if this is your first too, don’t hesitate to pick it up.

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)

I think the main things I like so much about this one is that there aren't TOO many misunderstandings or drama. There are a couple of places where their hangups got the better of them but they are handled realistically and well. I saw a lot of places where Glazki could have created even more trouble for Kane and Sabella but instead it is a sweet piece about people trying to get to know each other, fall in love and find a way to be together.

There's also a good opportunity for more great stories with Kane's bandmates (& Ella's friend) and I'm looking forward to them getting their own HEA. I really like seeing the friendship that had developed between the three guys and a glimpse at how they are together on the stage & on the road.

Sometimes you are in the mood for a lot of turmoil and sometimes you are in the mood for something a little more relaxed - this definitely falls into that second category. The characters are down to earth, with real life (well, as real life as you can get when one of you is a recording artist) issues and interactions. You can totally put yourself in their shoes.

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)

Tai was introduced in Under the Covers (George’s story) and I knew that I wanted to find out his story, but at the same time I was afraid that he’d be too militant about his tribe. I shouldn’t have doubted Boston. She does a great job of showing his dedication to his people and detailing their struggles. You feel for everything they’ve been thru and can understand why they might be a little hesitant to trust outsiders. And that commitment sets up the conflict, and resolution, well.

Piper is going thru a little personal life crisis – she had an idea of what she wanted to do with her life and unfortunately things aren’t going the way she expects. Throw in a new romance and she could easily have been overwhelmed but I really like how she faces it all head on. She’s a great match for strong, sensitive Tai.

I have really enjoyed Boston’s Texan Quartet (although I missed Book 2, not sure how :)) – every time she gives her readers fantastic, individual characters with realistic issues. (As with the other stories, this can easily stand on its own - returning readers will enjoy seeing their favorite characters again, but new readers won’t have trouble keeping up.)

Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review.

This is a cute little story set in the 60s, which made me a little nostalgic (not that I lived it but in a watching Grease on TV kind of way). It makes sense then why Rebecca would be struggling with other’s expectations – she lives at home with her parents and is still dating a guy even though the spark is gone. Meeting his brother again helps to emphasize it when the sparks between them fly. They both struggle with how their feelings might affect Garrett, but they aren’t willing to let something go on that is no longer right or pass on something that could be great.

I think this could have gone a very uncomfortable way but I love the Fraser handles it without too much drama between the characters. Instead it is sweet and homey and with a great HEA.

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)

Just as sweet as the chocolates that Chloe makes, I love this little story of love at first sight. You are there for the meet-cute and then the bumpy road as they move to a happy ending. I was rooting for Chloe and her fantasy man every step of the way. The misunderstanding between them could have been easily resolved with just a simple question or two but it would have meant that we didn’t get the fun of the story – one that had me smiling from start to finish.

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)