There is so much emotion in True Horizon I’m not sure where to start  Now is Grace’s time to decide what she wants as an adult. She’s spent years thinking she wanted one thing and now that she’s at the point of getting it she had to decide if that’s what she really wants. Is the life she’s leading, the man she’s marrying, really the future that will make her happy?

Heath has been running from life but an unexpected stop at Grace’s family ranch has him evaluating his choices as well. He’s got a lot of baggage he’s carrying around with him thanks to his past but time spent with the Murray’s means that he’s taking a look at where he’s going. It’s not going to be easy but with faith, love, and effort he just might be able to come to terms with it.

This is definitely not a quick read – there’s a lot of meat to it so you need to take the time to really get into it. Really feel those good and bad moments, to take it all in and enjoy it all.

*** I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s. ***

There’s no denying that this is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast but that doesn’t make it any less enjoyable. While there are no big surprises, there’s a certain awwww feeling when the author uses something out of the original and tweaks it a bit.

Derek is gruff and not very friendly but he’s hiding his more princely qualities behind a lot of hurt feelings from his childhood. Izzy has her own issues thanks to her mother and tends to run away when pushed (which grumpy Derek does more than once) but she really needs the money that she’ll get working for him. Time spent alone over the holidays has them growing closer but until they can figure out a way to resolve their pasts they’ll never have their HEA.

For those who love old Disney fairytales, I think this one will be a winner.

*** I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s. ***

I just had a terrible time putting this book down - I felt so much for both Nathan and Mack. While Nathan had a good childhood, with a loving mother and father and later a supportive stepfather, his stepbrother wasn’t so lucky. But he turned out pretty good anyway because he’s willing to step up for a half-sister that he doesn’t know when she needs a liver and he’s a match. That doesn’t mean he’s forgiven his dad for his past … which makes things just all sorts of awkward. Especially with Nathan and Mack’s recent past.

Nathan is a fixer by nature and he’s pretty much given up his life to help run the family business. A night out to blow off some steam leads him to his only one-night-stand. And his inability to fix his sister puts him face-to-face with the same guy. In addition to be a fixer, Nathan is also pretty much a relationship only guy so having Mack around gives him a chance to get to know him better. And as his feelings grown and he finds out more about Mack’s past all he wants to do is make things right. Which means that Mack has to come to terms with what happened with his dad all those years ago.

Everything is from Nathan’s POV so we only get glimpses into what Mack is feeling but it’s enough to know how conflicted he is to be back. There’s so much family drama mixed in with the couple’s deepening relationship that they are going to have to work at it if they want to have a future. But that’s the ultimate question – does Mack have feelings for Nathan? Is he willing to give up his nomad ways and settle down? Can he find it in himself to talk to his dad and put the past behind him? It’s a lot but if they are willing to try it could lead to something amazing for them both.

*** I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s. ***

While technically this is a suspense romance, it definitely falls more on the suspense side. It’s just stuffed full of danger, intrigue, betrayal – the action pretty much doesn’t stop once it gets started. But there is also the long-held feelings between Lanie and Jesse that need to be addressed, as well as Jesse’s relationship with his son. Thrown in this group of people who have between a family of sorts over the years and the feels just come at you. Well, feels when done by Alpha males which is their own kind of weird thing that works for them :)

I’ll be honest, while this one can technically stand on its own it will definitely be easier to keep up if you’ve read at least Broken Honor. There is just a lot of people and a lot of interactions between them that make more sense if you have some kind of history there.

And you better be ready to hang on to your hats because Burrows gives us one heck of a ride! She got me from the very first page and didn’t let me go until I got to the end. And even then she just teases about what is coming next … I’m so gonna be stalking her until she releases book 5 because I can’t wait to see where she goes from here.

*** I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s. ***

Usually with romances you can find a bit of yourself (or a bit that you wished was you) but this one was a little different. It’s all about dealing with the side effects of fame. Ethan experienced it thanks to his parents and decided it definitely wasn’t something he wanted. Chelsea sees it as just a by-product of her singing career. She’s worked hard to get where she is and understands that it is her fans that got her there … she just has to accept that it comes with paparazzi and people who think they have a right to comment on her private life. Obviously with two such differing opinions there is going to be trouble when Ethan and Chelsea fall in love.

While I have no experience to draw on to relate to either of them, James does a fantastic job of giving you well-developed characters so you understand where both of them are coming from. It is totally understandable why Ethan would do everything he can to stay out of the spotlight and ignore any press, but after seeing how the world is now, especially with the access of social media, people like Taylor Swift are the perfect example of why Chelsea feels the need to support the machine. When the trouble hits, I have to admit that I felt more for one of them than the other … both of them are stubborn and it doesn’t lead to an easy compromise but it seemed one of them tried even less than the other :)

With a totally awesome HEA moment and characters that I loved, Can’t Let Her Go is not to be missed.

*** I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s. ***

Be still my heart – I just want to give every Abbott brother a hug! Abandoned by their mother as small boys, they were loved by their father and their aunts, but they definitely missed out on something without that motherly love. And now with the sudden death of their dad, things are even more complicated.

For Jackson it all comes to a head when he realizes that he might lose his right-hand woman. Willa has been running from her past and trying her best to lie low. And while she’s had a crush on Jackson for years, having him finally notice her as more than a great employee doesn’t fit her plan for hiding.

Trentham is one of the best at delivering character driven small-town romances. There is such a feeling of community (here it shines with the closeness of the brothers) and when trouble happens they rally around each other. And while Willa doesn’t think that’s what she wants, it is definitely what she needs. It is time that she faces up to what happened so she can finally start living again. Unfortunately she’s been on her own for so long, scared and hesitant to trust thanks to some bad experiences, so it is going to take a lot of patience and understanding on Jackson’s part to get her to that point. Good thing the more self-contained Abbott brother has both in spades!

*** I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s. ***

I know that there are quite a few people that didn’t feel this book because of the triangle between Jase, Becca, and Hannah. But it really felt pretty true to life to me. It’s so easy to understand why Jase and Hannah kept moving along in a kind of limbo, especially when everyone seems to expect them to be a couple at some point. Plus those old habits and feelings are pretty hard to turn off. It does seem like Hannah takes advantage of him but part of that are her issues just as much his. With his abusive background it’s easy to imagine why he would be drawn to someone that he can take care of and protect.

Poor Becca never had a chance while the two of them are dancing around the what-could-be’s of their relationship. Especially once we find out some of the tricks Hannah used to keep him as hers. There’s a lot of hurts and history and hang-ups at play but it is satisfying when they finally get things figured out. Unfortunately the timing is pretty darn bad. Or good depending on how you look at it :) I’m curious to see Hannah’s story because she definitely didn’t play well here, but we also get glimpses of some issues that explain things some. Not that it excuses her actions but it at least shows a reason for the things she does.

There’s a decent amount of drama with all of the misunderstandings and miscommunication, but it helps to deliver an enjoyable secret crush/friends (kinda) to lovers romance. I was so pleased when Jase and Becca finally figure things out and some decades old feelings finally get their chance to shine.

*** I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s. ***

Savannah’s life is horrible in the aftermath of her husband’s arrest.  She doesn’t feel like she can even leave her house because of the way she’s viewed by her neighbors – even though she didn’t even know that her husband was doing horrible things she’s been painted by his actions anyway.  So she decides to move … but she can’t leave her life completely behind.  She has to deal with contact from both her husband and his mother trying to get her to help him.  And the cops are convinced that she can help them.  It’s stressful and intense and gets even more so when new information comes to light.  Throw in an undeniable attraction to her neighbor and there’s a lot on her plate. 

Gavin has complications of his own (which I won’t get into because it’s kind of a spoiler) but it is made even more difficult by the growing attraction to his neighbor.  He does what he can to help support her as she deals with her own troubles, not just with her family but with the falling down farmhouse she’s inherited.  Time spent together might not make things easier but it definitely shows both of them that their feelings aren’t going to go away. 

I saw in another review where someone mentioned that it seemed like the main romance suffered a bit with the complications of other relationships for the two main characters and I kinda have to agree.  While the story is very well written (I wouldn’t expect less from Novak) and the suspense element with Savanna’s husband is definitely gripping, there wasn’t as much time spent with the two main characters together as I expected.   There is a HEA (as you’d expect), detailed characters, and a page-turner of a story … I just have a little trouble categorizing it as a true romance (it's more of a woman's fiction piece) so keep that in mind when you make your reading choices :)

*** I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s. ***

I've loved everything that Scarlett Cole has given us since the first tattoo hottie in the Second Circle series.  She does such a fantastic job of creating sexy, take-charge men with big hearts and a ton of understanding.  It doesn't matter what situation they find themselves in, they will do their best to do what they think is right.  And, of course, Mac is no different.  

He's been carrying around a big regret for years and he finally might get his change to set things right.  Of course, it's not going to be easy and there is a lot of turmoil before he can set things right with Delaney.  But they have a connection that has managed to last through time and heart-break so if they can manage to put the past to rest it will be worth it.  

Delaney has come a long way from the girl she used to be, but she's never gotten over Mac or his role in her brother's death.  When a dangerous situation brings him back into her life she finds it difficult to keep her distance.  She may not want to let those feelings go but it won't be easy when danger follows her back to California & Mac is the only thing standing between her and harm.  

I've been reading a lot of military/suspense romance series and I don't know if I'm getting them confused, but I remember a bit more action in Under Fire.  While we do get it (and Cole does an AWESOME job of making it tense and thrilling), it mostly happens towards the end of the book.  The main part involves the back and forth between Mac & Delaney as they come to terms with their past & whether they can have a future.  Don't get me wrong, the emotional portion of the book is well done and quite compelling.  It's just that I was expecting something a little different so it took me of guard :)  

*** I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s. ***

This is the first of O’Leary’s books that I’ve read so I wasn’t sure what to expect … and I definitely got so much more than I would have guessed.  There’s the fun romance between Dex and Kenna but there also is a whole lot of suspense over who the killer is and why he might be going after Kenna.  It’s a well-done mystery and I wasn’t sure who it was until pretty close to the end. 

The love story is great too.  Dex does so much to help support Kenna and transition her into believing there could be a relationship between the two of them.  She’s not had a lot of luck with men and it’s meant she’s lost a lot of her confidence.  Plus she’s been on her own for a long time, raising her son with some help from her mom, so it’s a bit hard for her to let someone else in to their lives.  She may put up a bit of a fight, but she’s definitely not scaring away a SEAL. 

Fantastic action, a sweet love story, and entertaining characters … O’Leary is going on my list of authors to watch!

*** I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s. ***