I have to admit that it took what felt like 5 minutes to get thru this story – I just couldn’t put it down and it was such an addictive read, so smooth.

We start off with Adel's dilemma and with the help of a friend she plots to get a different husband, one of her choice. Unfortunately her plotting doesn't go quite the way she wants. Enter the Mad Duke. He's in search of a wife, one that he won't love like he did his first wife. Which brings him to the same house party as Adel, to ask for the hand of her friend ... who doesn't want to marry him. Yeah, this is going to turn out just fine. As expected, Adel does get herself a different husband, just not the one she anticipated.

Even with the bad start, Adel and Edmond develop a fantastic relationship. Unfortunately he’s got some troubles left over from his first marriage and the death of his wife. It’s good that Adel is intelligent and kind hearted because she’s going to need every bit of it to handle him as he works through his fears.

Reid does a fantastic job of describing how he ended up in this spot and why he feels the way he does. She’s deft enough to do it and take us along for every enjoyable (and sometimes heartbreaking) moment.

If the first book in the series is this good, I can't wait for the rest!

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)

The sibling’s best friend trope is one of my favorites and Stewart handles it so very well. I appreciate that things aren’t drawn out overlong – yes, it’s been simmering for years, but once the cats out of the bag things get rolling quickly.

Sebastian has issues with relationships, thanks to his parents, so he’s already hesitant to get involved with Christina. Add in that she’s his best friend’s twin, that they all practically grew up together, and it makes a complicated situation even worse. But the death of his father has him experiencing all sorts of emotions and he lets down his walls, acting on his feelings … which could be the best or worst thing he’s ever done :)

Having been burned by a player in the past, Christina’s not too anxious to let down her guard with commitment-phobic Sebastian. And she’s gotten real good about hiding the depth of her feelings for him. But when he starts with the full force of his attentions on her, continuing to resist gets harder and harder.

I love these two together – they’ve got the history of decades of friendship, mixed in with repressed feelings now let out, it’s a chemical reaction just waiting to go off. But they never truly forget the love and respect they have for each other. Even in denial or full-fledged retreat, they still have that basis to work with.

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)

While this is a holiday story, other than the snow and the occasional reference to holiday decorations, the plot could be any time of year. It focuses on Madeline, who has a huge crush on movie star Jonny Blaze … and finds herself working closely with him to plan his sister’s wedding. I’m not sure any of us would handle ourselves with as much grace in that situation! But it doesn’t take her long to get over being tongue-tied and star struck, discovering that he’s actually a normal man under it all. A good guy who loves his sister, wants to be treated like a normal person, and is afraid of saying I love you.

Props to Mallery for shaking things up a little and not making Jonny run for it when he starts to fall, regardless of his hangups. He’s got some fears, thanks to losses in his life, but he handles it like a man. And anytime there is any kind of freak out with either of them it is resolved quickly and without a lot of drama, which is refreshing in contemporary romances.

With Mallery’s books I always think “just one more chapter” which turns into one more and one more and then an hour has gone by. Here it is so easy to get caught up in getting to know these two characters, learning their motivations, and falling in love with both of them as they fall in love with each other.

(If you’re like me and missed a few stories or if you are new to Fool’s Gold, don’t be afraid to pick up this story because like most of this series it can stand on its own. And you definitely won’t mind getting to know the sexy, grounded, good-hearted action star and the small town girl who steals his heart.)

Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review.

I was so surprised when I realized that I’d already gotten to the end of this book. The story held me captive and I just kept turning pages as quickly as I could!

For all of the secrets and problems that these two have, the story is pretty simple. They meet, have a connection and start dating. There isn’t a lot of emotional drama or setbacks for them. Megan handles it well when she finds out Cody’s secrets. He’s had a rough couple of years and is understandably wary (and weary), but he’s not a bad man and Megan knows that.

I love the simplicity of it … and then Scott throws us a few curves to keep things hopping. It’s not horribly drawn out, and I like that as well. It’s wrapped up smoothly and I am super excited to see what else is coming in this series. Between Cody’s bandmates and Megan’s family there are bound to be some great stories coming … hopefully soon :)

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)

**Minor spoilers, maybe, kinda, so just a warning**

FYI, I didn’t read the Wedding Pact series and while there are references to it – especially with Kevin’s sister – it didn’t impact this story much. I think it can easily stand on its own.

I’m going to start by saying that the ending seems a little rushed to me, not the relationship so much as just the timing. I think the whole story covers about 3 weeks, and while it reads like a movie rom-com (funny, wacky and sweet), what works for me on the screen needs a little more time on the page for some reason here :) I want to emphasize it is definitely a very minor complaint, because if you take the timing out of it, I am highly satisfied with how things go for these two.

As I say that, I have to admit that I do kinda wish I’d read at least Megan’s story so I have a better feel for Kevin because I think that he was probably a handful in the previous book. The stories about the crazies that he attracts, and thus the very funny misunderstanding with Holly, are a hoot. And he's got such a wonderful relationship with his sister, supportive but still snarky, that I would love to see that from her side.

Once their misunderstandings get straightened out, the interactions between Kevin & Holly are sweet, spicy and humorous. The main drama then comes from his mother and the fact that Holly works for her. It’s not the best of situations for either but they eventually make it work. (There's those rom-com moments again :) )

I’m looking forward to Kevin’s friends getting their own romances because I definitely believe those two need to be shaken up!

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)

Jill isn’t the most girly of girls but just because she can kick butt while in uniform doesn’t mean that she doesn’t want the same happy ending that everyone else does. Unfortunately her dream guy is also her brother’s best friend and someone who doesn’t see her as girlfriend material. Growing up together definitely makes it hard for him to see her as anything else and you can’t help but feel bad for everything that she goes through. She’s never felt quite good enough and to have someone she’s loved forever not want her back is definitely a heart breaker. There’s a lot of back and forth between these two, but once she sets her mind to turning his head things definitely get crazy fast and Mason makes sure that it is a heck of a ride.

I love the fact that while Sawyer gets a lot of things right – kind, caring and helpful – when he screws up he does it big time:) I can definitely get why somehow these two never quite make it onto the same page – they get close but somehow just keep missing it. It makes for heart-squeezing moments, but also fun times, as the two of them try to figure out where they stand with one another.

(When I read Kiss Me in Christmas, the book before this one in this series, I felt like you needed to have at least read the story before that one to truly be able to keep up and enjoy. But here, I don’t think it is a problem. Previous couples do make an appearance and you’d be more likely to pick up on all the nuances if you’d read their story too, but not to the degree as before. I think this time, Happy Ever After in Christmas can easily stand on its own. Although if you read, Christmas in July – which I did and loved, although I don’t know how I keep missing other books in the series – then you’d get a smidge better understanding of the interplay with Sawyer, Jill, Jack and Grace although I think that Mason does a great job of giving you the important parts. It’s been a long time since I read it and I kept up just fine:) )

Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review.

I feel for Preston. He didn’t have a great childhood and his dad isn’t not a good person, which has created a fear in Preston that he could be the same. He’s somehow convinced himself that he’s no good for Cat and he’s trying to keep things neutral with her … but he’s finding it very difficult to keep away. They have a lot of history and an attraction that is difficult to ignore, which causes him to go hot and cold and confuses Cat to no end.

Cat knows that her warrior is a stand-up guy. She sees it all the time. She’s just not sure why he keeps pushing her away and she’s finding it very difficult to move on. And when she finds out some of the secrets he’s been hiding, she realizes that there is more going on and she just might be able to win her hero after all.

I think that with a lesser author the push-pull from Preston might have gotten annoying, but Liasson makes sure that we understand him every step of the way. We may not agree with his way of thinking but we at least know why he believes those things. And you can’t help but root for Cat to bring the tough guy down. It does take a while but he finally figures things out, giving readers are really great HEA.

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)

Returning readers will already know that there is more to Grace than what she shows the world but I hurt with her when she gets her heart broken at the beginning of this story. There’s so much to why she is the way she is and it is no wonder that she’s a little off-kilter. It shakes her world and has her rethinking so much, especially the handsome stranger she meets at a bar. And while it doesn’t work out so well, Wainscott delivers one of the best journeys ever as they meet again, become friends and then even more.

Tanner has some history of his own that has him keeping things light and not getting too settled in anywhere but seeing Grace again has him happy to be in the area for a little while. And the more time they spend together the more he’s evaluating if he might want to stay around for good. While his hang-ups aren’t as complex as Graces, and he seems to handle them easier, they still have quite the impact on him.

They are so much fun together – cute, funny, and just down-right adorable. Both have their difficult histories, which causes them to distance themselves from deeper relationships. But being so similar helps make it easier to face their troubles and own them.

Wainscott just keeps producing winners with her Falling Fast series. I wasn’t sure that I was going to like Grace – she sometimes came across as a little harsh in the other stories - but I have to admit she’s one of my favorite heroine’s from any author. And Tanner is absolutely a definite for anyone’s book boyfriend list.

(While this is part of a series, it can stand on its own. Wainscott does a great job of developing characters and plot so that you can start right here & be good.)

Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review

We actually pick up the story after Daire is brought home, broken in mind, body and spirit. And there is a lot more going on than what the blurb suggests – full of mystery, suspense, danger and romance, it is quite a compelling package :)

I have to say that Fia is much more forgiving that I ever would be. There’s some evil afoot and she’s caught in the middle of it, fear and accusations from being turned her way. I don’t know that I would be as quick to be OK once everything is cleared up but maybe she’s just a better person than I am :) She is definitely a better person than a lot people she meets – smart, inquisitive, and caring. While she may be a little strange, she’s comfortable in her skin thanks to the love of her family, and at heart she only wants to help the wounded. And that includes Daire.

He survived absolutely horrible experiences that left a lot of scars both inside and out. For a man raised to be responsible for those in his care, the torture that he experienced isn’t nearly as crushing as surviving after not being able to save his men and cousin. While we don’t meet him until afterward, as he is slowly brought out of his shell by Fia (and she hears stories of the man he was before), we get an idea of the devilishly handsome and charming rake he was. While he wasn’t a bad person before, maybe a little too full of himself, he’s definitely changed into a more serious one by his experiences. Cornwall does a great job of making him into a man who looks deeper into the world around him. It helps him to be more open to the quirky Fia and be charmed by her uniqueness.

I’m not sure what I expected but I definitely got something more, a page turner that pulled me in from the prologue and made it difficult to put down. I usually avoid Scottish historicals that go this far back, but I am very glad that I picked this one to read. With unusual characters and a multi-layered plot, Cornwall’s writing shines. I’m definitely adding her to my author watch list to see what other goodies she brings!

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)

Do you need to have read Kiss Me That Way to enjoy this story? No. But it does help because this is one of those series that are intertwined and each is benefited by the others.

We caught glimpses of Nash and got to know Tally a little bit in the first book so we knew where this one was going to go. But their histories have so much depth - the way that they had an amazing connection and then lost so much at the same time, being separated and having to go through difficult adolescences alone. It's similar to Cade and Monroe, the way that they meant so much to each other as kids but life took them away, only to bring them back together at the right time. But Trentham makes sure that Tally & Nash have their own individual issues to work through.

Tally has felt stupid for years because she struggled in school. Unfortunately the death of her parents just compounded what was already turning into a problem for her. With her flighty uncle Del as her guardian and being raised by her teenage brother as best he could there wasn't enough attention to get her the help she really needed. It's led to a lot of years where she's felt like a lesser person, even after starting a very successful gym. Subsequently her choices on a personal level haven't been exactly the best. Seeing her childhood best friend again, looking hot and being all smart & charming, definitely doesn't help her insecurities.

Nash had his own image issues. Being Nerdy Nash and super smart, he was an outcast at school - picked on or ignored. Just because he got hot along the way doesn't mean he's all that more sure of himself than she is. He seems to have a better handle on it than Tally does, thanks to finding a home for himself in academia, but he's got some scars from his teen years that still impact things today ... isn't that always how it is?

I absolutely LOVE how easy it is for these two to reconnect. They complement each other so well and to have that still there even after all these years leads to the foundation that they need to build something more. As long as they can get over the fear of what it could mean for their hearts.

Then He Kissed Me is an absolutely freakin' fantastic story of second-chance love. Together Tally and Nash are cute and fun, bringing out the best in each other and challenging each other to do something more, to finally lay those last few issues to rest and move into a lasting, grown-up love.

Once again Trentham delivers good-ol' down-home Southern living with quirky but lovable characters and a love story that will having you sighing with pleasure. And she gives a little more about Sawyer and Regan - enough that I can't wait to get my hands on their book next month!

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review.)