So we all pretty much know where this one is going – a marriage of convenience that ends up being not so convenient after all. Doesn’t mean that it has to be blah :)

Reese is your typical modern rake. He had some things happen that has him deciding that commitment and relationships aren’t for him. But there is something he wants and marriage to Merina is the only way that he can think to get it. Blackmail, power struggle, blah blah blah, together for show only.

But he’s no match for her vibrancy. I enjoyed watching him slowly fall under her spell and show himself to not be as cold as he comes across. While we know that he’s going to screw it all up out of fear, he definitely knows how to give a woman his heart once he’s ready.

Merina has a lot of spunk and she’s not willing to let Reese get away with too much. She’s sweet and caring and fun and mouthy and the perfect person to have Reese letting down his walls just a little. Unfortunately it isn’t enough and I have to give her credit for pushing for more. She’s strong and not willing to settle for second best.

Lemmon takes a pretty well established trope and with skill & flair makes it enticing. While we’ve seen heroes like Reese many times he’s got just that little extra oomph to him to make him not feel recycled. And Merina’s spunkiness has me pulling for her every step of the way. I’ve loved Lemmon’s Bad Boys before and I’m starting to think her Billionaires will give them a run for their money.

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)

I feel so bad for Aiden, trying to take on all the extra responsibilities for his family can’t have been easy. And he was so young when he did it. He’s a dedicated family man, doing everything he can to keep things afloat but all the juggling he’s had to do has let him have very little time to slow down and look at life around him. While he’s a good guy at heart it has led to him having very little time to really see himself and those around him. But given the opportunity he does us proud and steps up to really take on the challenge of changing things to make them better for his family.

Rebecca may be a psychologist, with a great outlook on life and a sunny personality, but that doesn’t stop her from having a few blinders about things. It’s great that Rock gives her this opportunity to grow along with Aiden and her kids, who add some extra liveliness to a fun story. She didn’t have the best childhood and that’s left some scars but taking this time out with others, helping them see deeper into themselves, also gives her a change to look at herself and realize that maybe there is more going on than what she thinks.

It was enjoyable to see both Aiden & Rebecca grow throughout the course of the book, as they got to know each other they also had a chance to look deeper into themselves. They didn’t change drastically, which is realistic, but they did have an opportunity to see themselves from someone else’s viewpoint and outside situations.

Under an Adirondack Sky is a heartwarming story about two people finding themselves and each other, learning and growing together while falling in love.

(Part of a series, this book can easily stand on its own. But I am curious about Aiden’s siblings and will be checking out the series for other great reads.)

Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review.

(Surprising no one, I have to admit that this is the first in this series that I’ve read but it can easily stand on its own. It looks like previous heroes & heroines make an appearance and there are some allusions to their stories, but it doesn’t detract from this one. I’ve just got more books to put in my extremely high TBR pile :) )

I don’t know if having read the other stories if I’d have a better understanding of Rafe but I found him to be surprisingly well adjusted for a man whose dad went to jail and therefore he found himself in foster care at just 9 years old. Since Trace & Lucien knew him then and there is talk about the wonderfulness of Sister Anne at the home they lived in I’m thinking the answer is probably. The friendship between the guys, and by association their women, is deep and helps ground them all. I would have liked to have seen that in the other stories because I think that it would only help fill in the nuances of them all. As he is here, Rafe’s assured, hard-working, dedicated to his loved ones, and while he not commitment-phobic, he’s also not exactly looking for true love. Then he meets Avery.

She has got to be one of my favorite female characters. She’s spunky, warm, friendly and has a habit of doing stupid things in front of Rafe. But her sunny personality is one of those things that just draws you to her and the fact that she screws up occasionally makes her that much more adorable. I could easily see myself trying to be friends with her :)

The trouble that they find themselves in doesn’t overshadow the rest of the book but does help to bring in an additional layer to display the kind of people this group is. They pull together in time of need and it highlights the high points of their characters & the bond among them.

While the romance happens quickly, I don’t feel like it is rushed. The interactions between the two and the chemistry that Fiore creates for them work really well to establish a believable relationship. The danger portion also adds that little extra something to their story that helps keep things exciting … not that you need it with a hottie like Rafe and a personality as big as Avery’s.

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)

I love that Eadon didn’t weigh her story down with a lot of extra drama. It’s a simple-ish story of two people who have been dancing around their attraction for a little bit and get to a point where they decide to act on it. They spend time together, getting their feet under them in regards to a new relationship, have a few bumps along the way, but figure it all out in the end.

I just wish we’d gotten a little more of the after. I don’t want to give too much away but they have their big moment, the thing that could break them up, and then we jump to the epilogue. It is an important thing for Griffin and had been weighing heavily on him so I think it needed just a little more time. I did like how Beth and Griffin handled the resolution though. It shows their maturity and lack of drama, which is always refreshing. Beth looks at things logically and thinks through them before making a potentially life-altering decision.

I also like how they find a way to make their worlds work together. How they find things that they are passionate about and weave them into a life that works for both of them, making them happy alone and together.

While I have to admit to loving The Wedding Date a little more than The Family Man, I’m excited by what Eadon has delivered so far and I’m definitely looking forward to reading the next book. She’s got some great characters to work with, plus I’m sure she’ll introduce even more, so the potential is off the charts :)

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)

I’ve read quite a few of Boston’s books and I’ve loved every one of them. The funny thing is I forget how much until I crack one open and find myself sucked in. So I think I just need to quit even reading the blurbs and pick up anything with her name on the cover :)

We got to know Carly just a little bit in Break the Rules and I was very curious to find out more about this Flanagan. She seemed like a bit of a contradiction - I couldn't decide if she was reserved or uppity or just busy. Turned out she was a bit shy and a lot busy.

She’s super gifted with coding and she’s big about giving back to the community. A refugee as a child she’s intimately familiar with their plight and works with her family to help others like her. She’s also working with other developers in the community that need a leg up. She had someone who showed her the ropes and it made all the difference so she wants to be that person to others. And because she feels like she’s been given so much, she finds it hard to say no when people ask her for things. Add in all that she's responsible for as head of her company and she has very little time for herself.

Then she meets Evan at an art event (one of those things she had a hard time saying no to) and she’s drawn to him … but heartbreak in her past has made her gun-shy when it comes to men.

Evan is doing whatever he can to make a living as an artist. An exhibit of up-and-coming artists introduces him to Carly and he’s drawn to the sexy, strong woman. While it seems like it might be a little hard to break thru her walls, a little perseverance pays off and soon they are spending time together, when they can with all of her obligations. Talented but not flighty like you'd expect an artist to be, Evan proves that he sees Carly as no one else has, easily fitting in. Which has her evaluating her life and what she wants from it. And him.

I love these two together. How they have a rhythm that works and how they complement each other so well - the fresh perspective that he brings to her life and the support that she brings to his, making two independent lives work without either of them losing who they are. I can’t wait to see what Boston has for the next Flanagan!

I have to admit that Sarah is a hoot and a half. She’s funny, sassy, cute and fun. She runs her mouth but never in a mean spirited way and she just cracks me up. But I also love how much Chris understands her and sees why she says & does these things … although that doesn’t stop him from having his own issues that cloud their interactions occasionally. He was burned horribly by his last relationship and he’s a little hesitant to get involved again, especially with someone who is up front about the fact that she’s trying to win another guy.

There’s confusion and a little heartache though I like that Dade doesn’t focus on it. The story is about these two spending time together and falling for each other, but their hang-ups cause for a few misunderstandings and hesitation along the way. And while the romance between the two happens a little fast, Ready to Fall is vastly fun and entertaining. I had a ton of fun reading Mayday and this one, so I’m definitely putting Dade on my go-to author list.

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)

I read Snow Angel Cove, the first book in this series, and then somehow I missed the next couple. No surprise, right? Well, the good news is that it didn’t matter for this story. You can pretty much drive right in and enjoy.

While this is technically a romance, I’d like to say it has more of a woman’s fiction vibe because it is about so much more than the hero and heroine getting together. There is a lot of soul searching going on by both Cade and Wyn. And don't expect a suspense feel, because even though they are cops there is very little in it for cases they are working. Although she does a great job of throwing in a little danger at the end just to keep things exciting :)

After she has a near death experience, Wyn does a lot of looking at her life and making big decisions about where she is & where she’s going. She’s content but not happy and vows to fix that. I enjoyed getting to know her and being part of that journey. She’s a fine officer and a good friend, but she’s just not in the right place for her any more. And it only has a little to do with the crush she has on her brother’s best friend.

Cade had to overcome a lot from his childhood. His family doesn’t have the best track record for staying out of trouble but thanks to the Baileys he was able to turn things around. Except he still sees himself as a no-good Emmett. Unfortunately almost losing Wyn has him thinking things that he shouldn’t and he’s fighting his feelings tooth & nail … of course, he is :) I like that Thayne has his growth be about more than just his relationship with Wyn. He’s got some re-evaluating about his feelings for himself as well.

I do kinda feel like I would have liked a little more to the ending but I think that being a part of a series means that you get some of that closure in future stories as characters reappear in other books. We get a complete story here but I’m definitely looking forward to seeing what’s next in store for these two. And what happens for a few of the secondary characters as well. Which I guess means that makes this a winner, huh?

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)

(BTW, I received an advanced copy of this book, which is one of the reasons I love what I do :) In my copy the male lead is Henry but in the blurb it is shown as Harrison. I'm not sure which is right in the the release so I'm going to go with what was in my book.)

This story is so much more than just a romance. Like any good Southern story, there are a lot of family secrets, past hurts, and long held beliefs that need to be re-evaluated.

Vivian is back in town for her mother’s funeral and to put her things to rights before heading back to her life in Hollywood. Unfortunately that also puts her in the sphere of the Whitley-Shulers again, the last place she wants to be. Growing up in their carriage house led to a lot of mixed up feelings and resentment for the wealthy family in the big house. Only things seem much different seen through grown up eyes.

Henry towed the family line for more than 30 years but a heart attack sent him back home to a quiet life. While it isn’t what his mother expects of him, working with his hands makes him happy and he’s managed to make a life that works for him. Until Vivian comes home in all her bigger-than-life glory, throwing things into a tailspin and threatening a lot of long-buried secrets.

Thrown together Henry and Vivian start getting close, pushing each other’s buttons and creating sparks. But while they fight their developing feelings, there’s also the chance to get to know each other as adults - with adult issues but also with adult understanding.

Vivian also gets to know Henry’s mother a little better, seeing her as more than the scary force she was in her young life. Unfortunately it also shows her a new view of her own beloved mother. One that shines a light on some things that she might not want to look at any closer.

I don’t think you can have a South Carolina story without skeletons in the closet and Gibson gives us some doozies. With mint julep charm and a lot of Bless Your Hearts, Just Kiss Me is definitely the perfect summer read and the start of a great new series. I can’t wait to see what she does next.

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)

Based on the blurb, I think I expected something a little different than what I got. For some reason I read that as Trina fighting for Hunter but in reality it is something so much more complicated.

We start with Hunter coming home and not recognizing Trina, but at that time he doesn’t realize that he’s lost a year of his memory. With all the hub-bub of getting him healthy and home no one recognized that there were gaps … until he comes back and finds Trina waiting for him, obvious signs that she’s more than just a friend.

I feel so bad for both Hunter and Trina. He’s freaked out by the memory loss and because of his first marriage very hesitant about giving his heart to anyone again. Finding that he’d apparently started a relationship with Trina sometime during his missing year only adds to his stress. Without any basis for it, and only remembering what happened with his wife, he’s not ready to try to rekindle anything.

Trina doesn’t have a good history with men. She got pregnant in high school, only to have the boy chase his dreams and leave her & the baby behind. She wasn’t necessarily looking to fall in love but Hunter convinced her to trust him with her heart … only to break it when he doesn’t remember her. With an opportunity to go to California so her daughter can be near her dad, and without Hunter as a reason to stay, Trina starts packing.

But first Hunter talks her into staying just until he can get comfortable in his home and with his daughter again. Lots has changed in a year, especially with a preteen girl, and he needs a little help to get settled. The only problem is having Trina in his home, and knowing that they had something together, makes the situation even more complicated.

There’s such a jumbled mess of emotions in this house – the girls don’t want to be separated (from each other or Trina & Hunter), Trina started to love again only to have it turn on its head, and Hunter is scared and confused. Bell does a fantastic job of showing their confusion, heartache and hope. And of delivering a fantastic HEA ending.

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)

I remember Lukas & Sam from This Love of Mine and that I couldn’t wait to find out how they come back together again. And Liasson delivers a winner.

It’s quite a few years later and Sam’s ready to start a life with someone else … then Lukas comes back into town. Even though she’s tried very hard to move on, having Lukas nearby is throwing everything into turmoil.

Lukas has worked very hard to be successful. A foster kid who never really knew love or family, he doesn’t believe that he’s got what it takes to be in a relationship. He’s convinced that leaving was the best thing he could do for Sam. Until he sees her again.

I adored these two together. Sam tries so hard to be the good girl but she’s hiding her spirit and trying to fit into what she thinks she should want, not necessarily what she does want. Having her sexy and oh-so-tempting ex around, showing her what a great man he’s grown up to be, definitely isn’t helping things.

And while Lukas may not think he has what it takes to be a family man, especially with the crazy life of an up-and-coming rock star, his actions definitely speak loudly. He may not have had the best childhood but he’s turned into a kind and caring man. He just has to learn to believe in himself.

It is so great seeing these two come together again. While they have a few bumps getting there, they manage to figure out what works for them and throw everything they have into making it work. Knowing that things will work out makes it easier to sit back and see them work through their issues. Those growing moments just grabbed my heart and didn’t let go.

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)