I love these Amish romances from Harlequin. There is just something heartwarming and reaffirming about the goodness in the world - the simple life and dedication to family, community and God.

Rebekah’s first marriage proves though that even in an Amish life there are still problems. She’s hesitant to trust a man again but realizes that marriage to Joshua is the best thing for her kids. And spending time with a man that has such a good heart goes a long way to reminding her that there are worthy men in the world.

Joshua doesn’t understand why Rebekah is so skittish but he realizes that having a strong, caring woman in the house full time is doing wonderful things for his family. But he finds it very hard to reconcile moving on from his first wife who he loved very much.

Their private battles could be true for anyone – Amish or not. And the glimpse into their community and beliefs just adds extra heart to an already touching story of two people deciding if they can let go of the past and move forward together.

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)

I really enjoyed this book. It's one of those super sweet, innocent romances where it's all about getting to know the characters and watching them fall in love. There is no sex and the characters belief in God plays a huge part in everything that they do.

Gracie faith is an influence in almost every minute of her life. She openly prays and listens as God talks to her. Brandt's relationship with God has taken a beating, with a lot of tragedies happening to those he loves. But meeting Gracie has him rethinking things.

The fact that Gracie has had a thing for Brandt for years, and that he leaves her tongue tied, just tickles me something fierce. She's so lovable and he's such a good-hearted man that you just know that they will make a good match. She's just go to get over her nervousness. Just about anytime they were together I found myself going "ahhh" and smiling.

I also love the motley crew of residents at Gracie's nursing home. They are a hoot and add a little extra heart to an already touching story. I'm hoping that as we get more books in the series we'll get to see more of them because they can't help but be a boost of fun.

For a heartwarming, sweetheart of a story, Cupid's Quest is a surefire winner. And I'm sure that Soard is going to deliver again with whatever comes next.

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)

Rains delivers a wonderfully realistic look at two people whose history makes getting involved quite complicated. Micah is an amazing dad and works really hard to give his son the best life he can (and I have to say Ben is such a bright spot in an already enjoyable book – so sweet, spunky and positive, I think he was my favorite character). Kat has already suffered heartbreak once and isn’t looking to be involved with a marine ever again, but meeting such a devoted dad and stand-up guy as Micah makes it hard to resist.

I loved seeing these two become friends and then more. There’s the required troubles between them but they are all handled in a believable manner and never seem to overpower the story. I can’t wait to see what Rains brings us next :)

Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review.

This is only the second one of this series I’ve read (the other was A Love Like Ours) and I’ll definitely be looking up the rest :) It’s a contemporary Christian novel so it is very low on the heat scale and the characters’ religion does play an important role. However it isn’t overly preachy so if that isn’t your thing then I think you’ll still enjoy it.

Dru is a little harsh at first – one of those girls who feels like she has to prove that she is as good (or better) than any guy, but once you get to know her she proves to be much more complicated. Gray has some scars from his childhood, which led to a distance between him & God and a difficulty to commit to a woman. Thrown together by the threat of a stalker, the two quickly find themselves growing closer and challenging each other’s beliefs.

Speaking of the stalker, I thought that Wade handled the suspense portion really well. The way it went didn’t come out of left field but it wasn’t overly obvious either. It fit well into the story and left me satisfied with the ending.

Returning readers will be pleased by updates on Dru’s siblings but new readers will be fine meeting them for the first time. And likely looking forward to going back and reading their stories – I know I am:) Her brother Bo and sister-in-law Meg play a pretty important role but it’s just a footnote to their story, not a continuation so starting here is fine.

Even though this is the last of this series, I hope that Wade plans on starting a new one with Gray’s teammates. I think that a team full of manly football players could give her a lot of material to work with.

(This story is part of the Porter Family novels but can be read as a stand alone.)

Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review.

This is one of those times when not reading the first book in a series might have been a detriment. Walker does a good job of filling readers in on the pertinent details of what happened but I think that there are some nuances that are missed. Actually, I have no idea how much of an overflow there is between the two, I’m just guessing based on how much of book 2 I think will impact book 3 and how much I felt like I was missing having only read this book. And I’m warning you now that not everything is wrapped up nicely – it is going to be a requirement to read the next book in order to continue some of the plot lines. There’s an unsolved mystery as well as the next romance, which has already been introduced.

The relationship between Hannah and Brannon is addressed completely, though, and very enjoyably. We start the book with Brannon finding out about Hannah’s accident and his realization of how much she means to him. But her amnesia, and the possibility that someone wants her dead, leaves him with a whole mess of complications. And as someone who doesn’t do relationships he’s not really set-up to handle it well :) The threat to Hannah takes up a good portion of the story (and, again, it isn’t resolved so be prepared to read more than this book) but Walker doesn’t ignore their romantic troubles. All of it is blended together very well and none of it feels short-changed.

The mystery is vague, with Walker giving you just enough to have you guessing. And since it is unsolved you do feel a little lost at the end as you wait for the next story. But because we get Gideon & Moira’s voices here with a look into their history, that’s going to bring you back for The Right Kind of Trouble as much as finding out who the bad guy is. Wow, those two have a lot of hurts to handle :)

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)

I was so excited to see Julie & Lawson's story. It's not an easy series to read - things are light and it doesn't go by fast. It's something you have to digest because it is full of emotion and requires a slower pace to really appreciate it. (And even though this is the second story, it can stand on its own.)

Neither Lawson nor Julie are really ready for a relationship because both of them have issues they need to work through. But what the mind knows is right isn't necessarily what the heart wants. They do take their time, spending time together and getting to know one another better. It's a slow build and a sweet one. And you'll find yourself hoping that they find a way to work things out.

I did feel like maybe Lawson didn't address his survivor's guilt as much as he should have. Of course, we got the resolution of his issues with flying but I think there was more there that could have been explored. I did like that Julie did resolve things with her ex. That was an important step for her to make.

Even though this series take a little more effort than I'm used to because of its depth, I'm definitely enjoying it and I'm looking forward to seeing what Rains brings us next. She has options (and I'm really hoping one of them is the guy who lost his leg in the crash that grounded Lawson).

Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve only read one book in this series, One Sexy Ride, but I remember really enjoying it and loving the Thompson family. After reading Troy’s story I’m going to have to go read the entire series so that I can see him with the understanding of his character that we get here :)

Troy's problem is that there is so much more to him than anyone recognizes and I find that kinda sad. He’s so in tuned to everyone around him but those same people miss so much about who he is and what he does for them. And unfortunately that includes Nicole. But that’s going to change with Troy’s full on attack once he decides they are perfect together.

I really enjoyed the fact that once again I get to enjoy a mostly drama free read. The troubles they experience are believable and realistic, and even better they handle them in a logical way. None of it is over the top or drags on too long. The conflict is pretty straight to the point – Nicole has to decide if she is willing to take a chance on Troy, regardless of what kind of reputation he has. It’s full of touching moments and wow-baby heat, with a sexy, cheeky hero and the heroine he’s set his mind on winning. We should all be so lucky!

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)

You really have to like Alphas to get into David. He’s sexy in an in-charge kind of way. He’s military through and through, willing to take on the bad guys and kick some butt. It also tends to make him think he always knows best and to be the strong-silent-type.

Lyn grew up with a career military man for a stepfather and it’s left her with some issues. He’s not a caring man, hard and tough – his way or the highway kind of thing. She’s spent her whole life trying to prove something to him. Unfortunately that bleeds over into her first interactions with David. Luckily they quickly find a middle ground that works for them … and that over time develops into something more.

This one reminded me a lot of Lynn Rae Harris’s HOT series, where you get romance mixed with suspense but not a lot of lightheartedness. Which is fine – there are those kinds of books and then these kinds of books (and other kinds of books :)) but if you were expecting something with cutesy interactions you aren’t going to get it. Instead you get a strong hero, a heroine that can keep up with him, and a bit of intrigue to keep them guessing.

I will warn you now that while we get some answers, we don’t get them all so there is sure to be a continuation of the mystery in future stories. And I have to say that I’m glad this is the start of a series because I didn’t get all of the answers I needed about the guys running the Hope’s Crossing kennel. I can’t wait to get to know David’s friends better :) And to find out more about the group who caused them a bunch of trouble here.

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)

Bybee's The Weekday Brides series is one of my favorites and I was so excited when I found out she was starting a new one ... and I'm ever more thrilled to find out she still has the magic touch!

Like The Weekday Brides, readers will get a fun & charming romance between the hero & heroine - tender moments, funny dialogue, and characters (both main & secondary) that you'll fall for. And while there's just the right amount of trouble, none of it is overly dramatic, couply issues. There was one moment where I was a little scared but I should have realized that Bybee wouldn't do that to her readers. Instead she lets the romance develop naturally between Wyatt and Melanie, leaving any problems to be brought by outside forces.

We're also given a little bit about Melanie's friends, kinda like a preview for the next books, but not enough for it to overwhelm the main story. Outside of the main three friends the series is based on, we're also given some entertaining side characters - Melanie's spunky daughter, outrageous Ms Gina, Zoe's sexy ex Luke, and Wyatt's oh-so-awesome dad. Every time I turned the page I was so anxious to see what Bybee would bring next and I am SOOO looking forward to the rest of the series.

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)

It's going to sound like I didn't like this book, but that is SO far from the truth :) Dade delivers a sweet, small-town romance with great characters, entertaining interactions, and an easy-to-read voice.

A couple of things did bother me, though. I think that Helen's expectations of her initial hookup with Wes are a little unrealistic. Luckily Dade has her recognize this and it helps to make her a little more normal. She seems to think that it is the start of something grand but she has a 5 minute conversation in a bar (with a man that doesn't even know her name) and then they are off to bed. It is hurtful when things go sour so quickly but it isn't all that unexpected. Wes does recognize that he messes up and tries to make up for it, but only after he's got himself straightened out, which I think is admirable.

At that point, they are thrown together to work on a project and Wes wants to have another chance. Unfortunately for him, Helen is hurt and not willing to risk her heart again. Luckily for him, though, he's able to charm her into trying to be friends. Here's my other complaint - I really wish we'd been given a glimpse of their interactions during those 2 months. There are a few references but I feel like I missed out on something by not seeing that part. They develop a deepening relationship that we don't get to experience and their interactions we do get are so much fun that I want even more. I want to be there for the funny stories and the charming moments, getting a chance to see them fall for each other.

Having said that, the rest of Mayday really made me happy. I like that Wes took his time to woo her, even if Helen didn't realize that was what he was doing. I also like how real the characters felt - with insecurities and difficulties that made them even more human. We get their disastrous first encounter, followed by a not much better re-introduction, and then the struggle to figure out if they can make their lives somehow fit together. It's totally a real life thing - two people who have feelings for each other but with their own hopes, dreams, & baggage. Is it possible to make them work or are they fated to part ways?

(Even though this is the third book in the series, this one can stand on its own ... although, with a few hints here, I'm definitely curious what trouble the other librarians got into while falling in love.)

Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review.