For some reason I can't pinpoint I wasn't all that intrigued by the blurb but I got a copy because I enjoyed Lorelei's Lyric so much and I was curious where Sieders would go from there. I'm glad I did because I really liked this story!

Ilsa has been the typical party girl spare to the heir but now she has to decide if she's ready to take over for her sister. She's got quite a few insecurities to deal with and she's concerned that others see her as inadequate as she fears she is. She's kinda at a loss until she runs into Paul.

I love the idea of a sexy, nerdy scientist :) The way that Paul wants to know about everything and doesn't get freaked out by the weirdness that he sees makes him a refreshing and interesting hero. Unfortunately his country upbringing, mixed with his cerebral tendencies, means that he's got some hang-ups of his own.

Paul's unique outlook on life and dedication to keeping the earth's waters healthy make him a good mate for Ilsa. He's so intrigued by everything she shows him ... and her obvious appreciation & attraction towards him. While his belief that she can be the leader that her people needs has her believing it as well. It's super sweet to see both of them grow in confidence thanks to the other.

Sieders had a lot of fun with the hot cheerleader and the nerd storyline, while the paranormal portion of the story makes it different. I liked how it felt familiar but was funky at the same time. There's a little bit of danger and some fun secondary characters to help round out the story - it keeps things exciting and gives hints to possible future stories. Add it all together & it means I'm super excited to see what comes next!

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)

Lucy hasn't had the best experiences when it came to love ... starting when Jordan stood her up in school. Running into him again now as the guardian of one of her students affects her more than she thought it would. Sure of himself and charming, once Jordan sets himself on turning her head, Lucy has very little hope of resisting regardless of the things that she's survived.

I really felt for Jordan as tragedy has him reevaluating his choices. His career has separated him from his family and he's now seeing exactly how much he missed out on. Facing the consequences, with both Lucy and his siblings, he does a lot of growing, evaluating what he needs to do to make things better.

Terry does a fantastic job of bringing together a lot of elements into an enjoyable romantic read - second chance romance between Jordan & Lucy, reforming a rake, and family drama among the Kincaids, plus a little mystery. I will warn you that not all of the secondary loose ends are tied up for some of these elements, but it is the start of a new series and these will bleed over to future stories to be resolved later. Also, as the first book, there is some extra explanation that has to happen, so there is a little more going on than might have been needed if it was a single story.

But the main plot is resolved beautifully and I really liked being there while Lucy & Jordan fell in love. Terry is a skilled at what she does and I can't wait to see what happens with the rest of the Kincaids. She's got a lot of drama just waiting to play out :)

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)

I do wonder if I would have a little more of an attachment to Franny if I’d read other stories in the series. I get that she didn’t have the usual upbringing and she dealt with a lot of tragedy at an early age, but I think there are some things that I didn’t quite pick up on. She didn’t have anyone help her with how to be a normal teenage girl – clothes, grooming, boys. And she’s spent a few years keeping to herself, but she does have friends and she seems very well grounded. I think that is some of the appeal for Heath. She’s got a maturity and understanding of people but she’s good on her own as well.

My heart just breaks for Heath. Besides everything that he went through at war, he’s also had some trouble in his personal life. He’s trying to find someplace where he’s comfortable and can just be and luckily he runs into Franny. The wisdom her trouble has caused her, along with her sweet heart, does something to help him. Unfortunately he’s not going to completely heal but she does allow him to find space to evaluate.

Which brings me to my only complaint - there was a lot of talk about Heath needing professional help but even in the epilogue they don’t talk about him actually getting any. The man definitely has issues, even he recognizes it, and with everything he goes through I would expect him to realize that he needs to see someone. Overall it is my only issue and the rest of the story is very satisfying, so I’ll be keeping an eye on what comes next.

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)

I got just a tiny bit tired of Zach complaining about the “darkness” inside him (since I’m not sure what he thinks is so bad about himself) but I can definitely understand why he’s got such troubles based on his background. He didn’t get a good start and that left him feeling unlovable & unworthy. Even though he was starting to find a good place for himself, he never quite shed the chip on his shoulder. And just when he did start to, a terrible accident (that he feels more guilt for than he should) knocks him for a loop and sends him to jail for a year. Since then he’s drawn even further in to himself and pushes away anyone who might get too close. It’s unfortunate that he can’t see how much he has to offer – he’s dedicated to his adopted family, is hardworking, tries hard not to hurt anyone, and gives to others when they need someone.

Sophie may have left Zach to wallow but she’s never quite given up a little bit of hope she has buried deep that if given the opportunity she could reach his heart. And unfortunately that opportunity might come at the cost of losing her best friend, his adopted sister. It sets into motion a few things that allows Sophie back into Zach’s world … but it definitely won’t be easy if she wants to break through to him.

Full of wounds, both inside and out, that go back decades and that left a lot of scars, Bennett starts a series that may break my heart while making me happy at the same time. These guys have been through a lot, most of it we don’t even know about yet, and they are in desperate need of a HEA - the chance to find some peace with themselves & their pasts, plus a hope for the future. And I can’t wait to be with them every step of the way.

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)

I didn’t realize this was a New Adult book when I picked up this book and that’s not usually my kind of read - there’s nothing wrong with them per se but it isn’t my first choice. But I was intrigued enough to read it anyway and was pleasantly surprised.

There were a few things I didn’t like – I found the two main characters to be a little … free with who (and how many) they had sex with. Again, nothing wrong with it necessarily as long as everyone is on the same page, but it isn’t my cup of tea. But once they meet up again I liked the connection between the two and how they struggled to figure out where they needed to go from there. It was a tough choice for them and I think that it was handled very well. I also thought that the mystery over Hailey’s attack was done right and made a lot of sense in context.

I’ve got another Lindenblatt book on my TBR shelf and I’m definitely looking forward to seeing if she brings as good a read the second time around :)

(complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)

Some may think that the turnaround from bad boy to commitment minded might be a little fast but I think that Mason was primed and ready for it, he just needed the right catalyst. I found him to be suave and charming, but wonderfully conflicted. He’s had a rough go of it and the people he’s surrounded himself with haven’t done much to restore his faith.

Chelle might be a little too perfect but the wonderful thing is that she is perfect for Mason. She sees more than that charming façade he shows everyone else and finds it to be something worth investing in. She’s so refreshing in his shallow world and her big heart & level head does so much to help him find something good in himself.

The struggle to be that better man is not easy for him and it’s been a long time since he’s actually had to work for anything in his personal life. But he’s definitely a man up to the challenge … and when he does figure himself out (after quite a few hiccups along the way) whew! :) He’s sexy and deliciously bad, but he’s once he commits himself to something he does it with everything he’s got. His journey isn’t easy but it is worthwhile.

Steamy, funny, HOT, and heartfelt, Taken Home is one of the most fun books I’ve read in a while and I think I’m going to have to see what else Cardello has up her sleeve.

(Oh, and if you are like me and this is your first Lone Star Burn story, you’ll be fine. There are some references to other couple’s stories that I didn’t understand but their impact on Mason & Chelle’s story is very minimal and didn’t impact my enjoyment at all.)

Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review.

I like that Doyle has Dorie as the one that is running – usually it’s the guy, so it is kinda refreshing. Although I have to be honest, most of the time I don’t like the way the girl is portrayed when she’s hesitant to get involved, but Dorie actually makes a lot of sense. I wish she’d been a little more open to communicating her concerns but I can totally see how I wouldn’t if I was in her shoes :) When you meet your famous high school crush and find him to be even more attractive in person, how are you to resist … but then again how are you to truly believe that he could want you long term when you are just an average Jane? Celebrities live in a world that most people can’t even begin to understand and trying to figure out how to live there too would be hard for almost anyone. So I totally get why Dorie would believe that it can’t work ... and why she’s willing to take whatever time she can get with Nate.

Nate is made even more attractive by the fact that, even though he seemed to have forgotten it for a while, at heart he’s just a small town guy. He’s lost his way a little and as part of that he lost contact with those that are important to him. But a personal crisis sends him home and it doesn’t take him long to remember who he really is … and to fall for the feisty new librarian. Convincing her though might be the hardest things he’s even done but he's willing to man up :)

Even though we spend most of our time focusing on Nate & Dorie, there are a lot of supporting characters that Doyle gives us just enough of to be intriguing. There’s a lot of backstory that I’m still curious about but considering that Nate is the first of 5 in his group I’m sure I just need to be patient and wait for the rest of the books :) Plus, if she’s up to it, there are Dorie’s brothers and Nate’s teammates … all of whom are just begging for a HEA of their own!

Doyle handles the average girl/hottie celebrity thing amazingly well and to me their struggles are real. I was rooting for them to figure it out every step of the way - from that first absolutely adorable meet-cute to the fantabulous ending (one of the places it seems a little farfetched to me, but fantabulous nonetheless). And I just found out that this is here first book. With interactions that pop, characters that intrigue and writing that just flows, I definitely can't wait to see what she brings next!

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)

I knew I’d love this one because Crowne did such fabulous things with the first two books and I was so anxious to see what she would do for the oh-so-sexy Max :) Even though he’s done extremely well for himself, Max still feels unworthy of Jessi for so many reasons – the way he grew up, the things he did surviving on the streets, their age difference, his relationship with her family. Jessi though sees the man he is now and is convinced that nothing he’s done can change how she feels about him. And now she’s got the perfect chance to make him see it too.

The Tuckers are a force unto themselves! Smart, funny, caring and stubborn, once they start something they don’t give up easily. And Jessi is going to need all of that to help her get through to Max. As the two spend time together he starts letting slip some of the reasons why he’s been fighting their attraction so hard and it’s heartbreaking, for her and for us.

Unfortunately Max can be just as set in his thinking as she is so he’s not going to go down without a fight. Convinced that he’s not good enough to be loved (completely missing how much his friends already love him and how they would do just about anything for him) Max has done everything he can to resist Jessi but close contact for too long pushes even him to the limit … and what a fabulous time that turns out to be :)

Interestingly enough the stalker part of it doesn’t play that big of a role, except to throw the two of them together and as a means to give them some alone time. I actually liked the way it is handled because it makes sense in the story but if you are looking for something more suspense-y I think you might be disappointed. Crowne definitely focuses on the romance part of it, delivering an emotional read full of ups & downs as the two fight for what they believe is right.

(Even though this is part of a series, you can start here ... although, there's a good chance you'll be drawn in too and anxiously await whatever Crowne brings next!)

Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review.

This is another one of those times when I wished the couple would just talk to each other more, but I’m pleased to say Eadon handles it in a way that never made me want to smack either of them :) Usually these things just frustrate me but she makes it work. There are little points of drama here and there throughout the story but nothing was ever too big.

Kate and James get together under false circumstances and jump straight into a pretend relationship so they skip a lot of the get-to-know-you steps. The crash course method of dating seems to work for them though (outside of that pesky sharing thoughts and feelings thing) … for the most part. But that’s where those small bits of drama comes in.

Because they skipped over the more traditional parts, there are things about both of them that would have come up but instead bites them on the behinds. With more time together and a trust built up between them, that’s where the good communications skills would have fixed it but without it there’s a bit of trouble. Plus everyone has baggage, it’s just that with the speed that things happen it seems heavier here :) and Eadon does a great job of resolving everything smoothly.

A fun story of a backwards romance, The Wedding Date is entertaining and best of all not too frustrating. The couple has their issues but they come across as real and the resolution is smooth.

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)

Casey fights her attraction to Zane but I really liked that she didn’t cling too hard to what’s in the media, instead believing what she sees for herself. He’s caring and funny, respects her and takes care of her kids. He shows what a good man he is and that means so much more.

I love this book – it totally wasn’t what I was expecting. Baumann gives readers two characters to root for – both battling personal issues but finding it hard to ignore their hearts as they get to know each other more. The complete normalness of the two falling in love is hard to resist and while their problems might be bigger than the average persons it is related in a believable way. And I love the way everything is resolved in the end – it works so well for the story. I’m definitely looking into what else Baumann has out there.

(This is my first book in this series, but it can totally stand on its own.)

Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review.