Kern delivers a small town romance that is the perfect kick-off to a new series. There’s the perfect balance between the romance between the main characters and the introduction of other people who are sure to find their way into their own story. Nowhere did I feel that she short changed either one, giving readers a sweet & fun love story while creating an anticipation for what comes next.

I loved the interactions between Blake & Annabelle. He’s gruff but loves the boys on his team. Tries to be a bit of a hard nose but doesn’t always succeed, especially when he comes into contact with Annabelle and her spunkiness! She’s not taking any of his attitude lying down and gives back just as much as he dishes out. They might try to fight their attraction but it’s a heck of a lot of fun watching them lose :)

There are a few loose ends that I’m hoping Kern will tie up in other installments. And there are also some great secondary characters who will hopefully continue to provide lively entertainment in the books to come. It’s one of the great things about new romance series – all the possibilities that could be, the people you hope to get to know even better and the opportunity to see favorites again & again. And Kern gives us that beautifully.

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)

I'm impressed that Rachel has been able to keep up appearances as long as she has. She loves her family and is very supportive of every one of them but when it comes to men, she seems to be the easy party girl ... except she's hiding something.

We know that there is more to Rachel than she's letting on, but that gal is holding on to a whole lot of stuff. I'm thrilled that Scott has her getting professional help for it because it is definitely not something she's able to work through on her own. However, I'm not sure that she's quite ready to start a serious relationship. But if anyone can handle her issues it is Danny.

He may have made a few mistakes but he's trying to get his life in order and he's got an awfully cute reason to do it. Hope may only be a few months old but she's adorable enough, and Danny loves her so completely, that she makes a big impact. Regardless of what he was like before, now he's patient, kind and intuitive. All characteristics that he needs as a new single dad ... but also what he needs to be able to handle Rachel.

But he needs her support too. He needs someone to believe in him and see him for the good guy he is. His ex is an absolute terror and she helped do a bit of a number on his life. He may not know where he's going next, and just needs time to think and regroup, but he may have found a new place. And a new extended family to be there for him. He's been under a lot of stress and he needs someplace that he can recover.

I love this story for finding Danny a home for him and Hope. For giving him a group of people who are there for him and who will help him figure out what he wants to do going forward. But there is so much more depth there with Rachel overcoming her history and addressing some long held, but not really addressed, issues. Her's is not an easy story but it is one that she needs to confront in order to move on. And Danny is definitely a guy worth doing it for.

Scott is a new author for me, but based on these two stories she's going to be one that I'm keeping my eye on. Complex characters, fun interactions interspersed with heart touching moments, and an interesting storyline had me turning the pages ... and just like with the first book I was done before I knew it, looking for more :)

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)

I really enjoyed this story. Actually I'm surprised a little at how much I enjoyed it :) I liked the idea of a normal sized heroine, which was why this story ended up in my TBR pile, but the interactions between Dex and Harper kept me glued to the pages. They are just so darned cute together and I was hooked on how well they fit together as friends and lovers.

Harper does have a little bit of a hangup when it comes to her size, but it doesn't take long for Dex's obvious attraction to her to get her over that. And it really isn't a huge part of the conflict in the story. It does come back up at a critical moment, as you'd expect, but it isn't over used in the story. Instead she's a funny, caring, a little geeky and a lot of fun. She thinks she's going into her relationship with Dex with her eyes open and her heart closed, but you can guess how well that goes. They have a lot in common and they quickly form a friendship that just works for both of them - it's hard to stay detached when they click so well.

Plus, Dex is awfully hard to resist. He's sexy, strong, fun and good for her ego. He's not shy about how attractive he finds her. Not just her body but her mind and spirit as well and you love him just for how much he likes her. But of course he's got a few troubles of his own. He grew up in the poorest part of town and has pretty much dedicated all his energy in never going back there again. For him, rugby is the answer. I'm not sure why he thinks that he's not successful enough already to never go back or that he's got nothing going for him after his career is over. But those scars from his childhood are pretty deep and cause him a few moments of trouble with Harper.

You can see from a mile away that Dex's single mindedness when it comes to his sport is going to cause him some trouble. Luckily, though, it isn't over-played and thanks to some help from his friends he quickly figures things out. He's adorable in his cluelessness and his eventual aha moment ... and, just like with the rest of his life, once he's on a course of action he goes full tilt. Nothing is stopping him from winning his woman back and is fantastic to see.

(I didn't read the first book in this series, but it didn't really seem to matter much. I might have gone into it with a better feel for the guys. Meeting them new here worked though and I had no problem keeping up. But I'm going to definitely keep my eye out to see what comes next because I have a feeling a certain bad boy may have just met his match with Harper's friend and his downfall could be quite entertaining.)

Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review.

It's always amazing to me how you can pick up one book and just fly through it. But another requires more time, like you are having to savor it. This is definitely the second type. It wasn't dull or lengthy or over written - it was like taking a very pleasant stroll with Robert and Miranda as they get to know each other again and find themselves falling in love. (I keep reading that and it sounds kinda bad but it TOTALLY isn't. This was a great book that I absorbed instead of let flash by.)

I really like Robert and feel for him, with his decision to start over in a new town and moving into a new stage in his life. He struggles a little, which makes him relatable, especially once he starts having feelings for his best friend's sister :) Miranda is working through a lot with the end of her marriage and all the problems that brought her back home. It takes her a while to wallow and work through her emotions. Falling for Robert definitely wasn't something she expected and she doesn't handle it very well. I get where she's coming from and why she feels the way she does, and Robert has a lot of patience and understanding to not give up on her, leading to a great ending.
With realistic characters, real-world issues, moments of sweetness and shots of humor, Bennett delivers a beautiful story of second chances and finding yourself again.

(This is the second in a series but definitely reads as a stand alone.)

Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review.

I usually don't like these stories that start with a lie, but Lindenblatt handles it really well. I totally understand where both parities are coming from and feel for them being such a horrible situation.

Callie is doing the best she can in a difficult situation and she's doing it like a trooper.. She obviously loves Logan and works hard to give both of them a good life. For having lost almost everything, she's got great spirit and that shines through. Very appealing for both us ... and Jared.

Jared has a pretty good head on his shoulders for an up and coming rock star, with groupies and fans. He's got a supportive group of friends and a loving family, which helps explain a lot. Running into his old friend and her son has him looking for a chance to reconnect. Only he has no idea what that sets into motion.

The first part of the story involves Callie and Jared meeting again after losing touch for a few years and Callie trying to keep her secret. But of course it doesn't stay hidden long and that's where everything really takes off. There's a lot of conflicting emotion early on but nothing like the quagmire they find themselves in afterward. They are all over the place and for some seriously good reasons.

Emotion packed, with a mix of humor and sizzle, My Song For You will grab you by the heart and not let go until you hit the very last page.

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)

When you see that a book is part of a series that you've not been reading, you're always taking a chance that the book isn't a true stand alone. I almost always take the chance unless there is a clear indication otherwise - sometimes it works out really well, sometimes not out all, and sometimes I'm mostly OK. This is definitely that last one. Technically I think you could say that this one is a stand lone, but it seems like you would have a better understanding of Paige, Riley and their relationship if you'd read the other stories.

They've been friends for a long time and I get the feeling that this story was one in the making for a while. Paige loves Riley but doesn't see him in a romantic light. Riley on the other hand has had deeper feelings for years and being around Paige while she's dating his brother is more than he can handle. So he enlists in the Marines, only to come home injured in body and spirit.

He has a lot of issues trying to acclimate to his new situation, dealing with his feelings over what happened to him overseas, and spending a large amount of time with Paige. It's hard to see him struggle so - you know that he needs to get professional help but he's not in a mind to do it.

Paige is trying her best to be understanding but it's hard as the time spent with her friend has her looking at him with new eyes. You get a good feel for her conflict - not just with the new romantic feelings but also with trying to help someone that doesn't want it.

I really think that Hunter does a fantastic job with the resolution of Paige and Riley's feelings, his issues and their futures. It's not an easy road for them but they have friends, family and their faith to see them through it.

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)

Looking at the reviews for the other two books in this series, everyone thinks this author is amazingly talented. I only have this book to go by but I've got to say I wholeheartedly agree!

A Sister's Wish is just packed with emotions of all sorts. There is a sweetness for how much Simon cares for Amelia and how much she believes in him. The heartbreak when it looks like they can't be together and the pain when he finds out what his friend thinks of him. And the tentative hope when things start looking up for Simon, both romantically and with his estranged family & friends.

He's had such a horrible time of it, but he's a strong, good man and he's working to turn that around. Unfortunately little communities have big memories, so it isn't always that easy. It hurts so to see him have to deal with small minds, but there's more to his story than just his love for Amelia. Just when things look bleak for him, fate hands him a chance encounter with the sister he hasn't seen in years and the opportunity to try to forge a new relationship together. It's a lot of ups and downs as he deals with the disappointment from his friend's judgement and the pain of giving up his pursuit of Amelia, but if he can figure out who to make everything work it will definitely be worth it in the end. He just has to trust in himself. And let Amelia in so she can love & support him the way he needs.

I love Amelia. She might have let herself give a lot of herself to her family, but she's got a lot of spirit and when she gets herself worked up she's amazing. She's got spunk and she turns that on her siblings & Simon when they need it :) While a lot of the story focuses on Simon and him coming to terms with his past, there's a good bit about Amelia figuring out that it is time for her to start living her life on her terms.

While there is a little bit mentioned about how everyone knew about the abuse Simon and his siblings experienced but no action was taken, I kinda wish that more had been said about it. There is some set up for the next book(s) so I'm hoping that this will be addressed at a future point. And for that to be my only complaint, I think that's pretty darn impressive!

Shelley Shepard Gray delivers an emotion-packed story, at times both heartwarming and heartbreaking. There's a lot going on here, but she handles it with amazing skill and style, leaving readers with a lot to think about.

(This is part of a series but can definitely stand on its own.)

So, this is my first Caribou Crossing book and I really enjoyed it. It’s got that perfect amount of drama, romance, humor and growth.

Not having read any of the other stories I didn’t have an opinion of Mo or Maribeth coming into this and I think that helped a bit. From the beginning Mo is honest about what a bad person he was in his youth. But he’s matured a lot and is now a stand-up guy, back in town to try to make amends to his ex and his son. Considering the both of them have had stories, returning readers might find it a little harder time letting him in, but I was drawn to him right away. His honesty about the man he used to be and the way he doesn’t expect anything positive drew me to him. I was rooting for him to finally find a place to call home, someone to love and accept him so that he could finish becoming that better man.

I’m not sure what role Maribeth has played before, other than that of a friend. She seems to be pretty comfortable with herself (maybe too comfortable sometimes :) ) but her life hasn’t turned out quite like she expected. Alone and approaching her 40th birthday she’s at the point of taking matters into her own hands when pure luck puts her into Mo’s orbit. While she does a little growing of her own, more importantly she provides the acceptance that Mo needs and helps push him into stepping even further outside of his comfort zone and connecting to the people around him. Helps him dream of something more and find the family that he didn’t know he wanted. She doesn’t try to change him too much, accepting the person he is, but she pushes him to look into himself and want more than he ever thought he deserved.

Based on this I may have to go back and check out Fox’s backlist. She’s got a great talent for delivering delightful reads full of friends & family, a little steam and a whole lotta heart, great characters and straightforward, emotion driven stories.

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)

I'm going to take a moment to remind everyone, just in case you can't figure it out, that this IS a paranormal romance. There are some unnatural themes, insta-love, death-defying moments, magic, yadda yadda. And you have to be OK with that to enjoy it ... I see a lot of people getting annoyed or making fun of these kinds of stories, but that just means they aren't for you. Know what kind of book it is going in and enjoy the ride, darn it!

~Mini-rant over~

Like with Wicked Dark Dragon, you really need to have read the rest of the series to truly understand what is going on (but they run about $2 each if you are interested). Unlike WDD, though, this one scrimped a bit on the action. I think, like its hero, it is a more mental story - with Eris and Nico getting to know each other (very quickly, back to that insta-love thing, which only works because of the mystical connection they share) and then setting up some future plot lines. There is some fighting and danger at the end but it is a very quick read so it doesn't cover a lot of pages. It's more about the woo woo of their world, bringing Eris in, giving Nico a mate (finally) and working toward the future.

One of the things I appreciate is the free rein that fantasy authors have to create a world that works for them and their characters. Lopez does a good job of coming up with the fantastical but keeping it in check. It doesn't get too outrageous or seem to come out of nowhere. She does a good job of explaining new things as they come up and how it all fits together.

To be truly enjoyed by a distinct audience, Renegade Dragon isn't very long but does well at continuing what the previous books started and nicely sets up what comes next.

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)

While there is a disclaimer on this book, I’ll be honest that I didn’t find it to be any more … well, just more, than any of the other more hard-hitting romances I’d read lately. Miles does come back with PTSD and has some issues coming to terms with it. And Zoe’s first marriage was horrible, but she seems to have come out of it a much stronger person. They are hot together, though, so you have to be OK with some steamy love scenes. Nothing unusual or especially kinky, just detailed … and delicious :)

I think that Robinson does a great job of showing Miles’s conflict at coming home and feeling like he doesn’t deserve the title of hero that everyone keeps throwing at him. His emotions are all over the place and you get that feeling of conflict. She also has him realize he needs help and that’s a nice moment of believability for me.

I did have a little issue with how easily Zoe forgives him for his hot and cold routine. It makes sense as we get to know him and she seems to have a special understanding of his troubles, but he does make things hard on her. She’s a strong, centered person and I would have expected her to be a little more hesitant … but maybe that strength and insight has her seeing things better than me.

My favorite part was the relationships that deepen between Miles, Zone and Miles’s dad. There’s so much love and acceptance and true liking amongst them that it just warms you from the inside.

Emotional, humorous, scorching and sweet, Not A Hero is great for those who love their heroes flawed and their women ready to take them on.

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)