Mallery’s newest is definitely more women’s fiction than romance, so you need to be prepared for time spent with the sisters but hardly any with their respective men.

Well, two of the sisters – one of them definitely has a bit more of a love story going on, without shortchanging any of her personal growth and development. There is a new(ish) man in Ali’s life and he helps her see herself differently. She listens and learns and finds her true self buried behind years of doubt. I really like the woman she becomes and where her life is heading.

Finola has to do a lot of self-evaluation. With the betrayal by her husband it is easy to lay the blame totally on him but every relationship has two people in it. No one wants to hear that some of the fault is their’s when a spouse cheats and Finola is no different. But time and a few tough conversations has her looking at herself and exactly how much she’s invested in the people around her.

Zennie is probably the hardest for me to connect to. I get where she’s coming from and really you can’t understand what pregnancy does to you until you actually experience it (man, those hormones!), but it’s such a unique situation. I did enjoy how Mallery explores, at least for a while, the idea that not everyone wants or needs to be coupled up. That is the most interesting part of Zennie’s story – her comfort with her life as it is, with friends, family, work, and hobbies.

My only real complaint is that, with three sisters all having a big part of the story, there is a lot of back and forth between them. It is kinda hard to really get into one part of it knowing you are going to be pulled out and into another. After a while I got used to it but I don’t think that I was ever fully able to commit.

Charm, though, is always a mainstay of Mallery’s stories and this one is no different. There is plenty to smile about but she also delivers on the harder emotions as the sisters evaluate themselves and their lives. It’s not easy when you have to face your shortcomings but these women manage to come out of it stronger.

**Review given honestly and freely after receipt of a reader copy. This opinion is completely my own and was not influenced in any way.**

This was such a delicious story for so many reasons.  There's the hot, single dad who is pretty hard to resist.  Even though a baby is totally unexpected, Legend throws himself into being a parent with all sorts of love and energy.  Once he gets his hands on that little girl he does just about anything to keep her safe and happy.  He just needs a little help from his formerly annoying neighbor

.And that's another reason this was a fun read - the enemies to lovers trope.  While Pepper and Legend weren't really enemies, she did love to get under his skin and annoy the dickens out of him.  She (and I) just thought he did need a little shaking up but he didn't see it that way.  Which made it all the better.  And you totally knew that things were gonna lead to the bedroom eventually ... and whew!  They know how to keep things steamy.

I really loved Pepper and Legend together.  She's not really as zany as she's made out to be, which I think helps.  She's just a little bit original and artsy, which are not the first things that you would think of to describe Legend.  But he is strong and steady and learns to enjoy the color she brings to his life.

Unfortunately things don't work out 100% easy for Legend when he finds out that he's a dad, so there is a bit of mama drama going on.  All of which leads up to quite a suspenseful ending, but while that part was fun it was the human piece of Legend learning to be a dad and seeing Pepper in a new light that really made this read a hit for me.

**Review given honestly and freely after receipt of a reader copy. This opinion is completely my own and was not influenced in any way.**

My biggest complaint about this book was that it’s a novella instead of a full-on read. I didn’t realize that going in and there is so much goodness that could have been explored but unfortunately there weren’t the pages.

Gideon has lots and lots of scars, both inside and out, and I would have LOVED to get the chance to explore those more. How Daisy manages to break down his fences and get him to think about living again. How he manages to adjust to life after war. How he goes from giving up to trying for more. It’s such a compelling story and while we get parts of it there is so much more there that I would have loved to get to experience it.

We do get to know Daisy a little bit more. The girl has grit, which she needs not just to make her way into Gideon’s home (and his heart) but also to expose the horrible conditions that veterans are experiencing at her local VA. Her husband came back from war suffering and she fought to get him the care he needed. It’s heartbreaking but she didn’t back down and you have to admire her for it. She takes that heart and courage with her when dealing with Gideon.

While the ending is an obvious heart grab, it also worked and I really enjoyed how it wrapped up the story … if only I’d gotten about 200 more pages before I got there :) As long as you are OK with a fast (and somewhat cursory) story I think you’ll enjoy Adams’s story. I’m pretty sure if I’d gone into it with a different understanding of what I was getting it would have been so much more satisfactory since I liked what I got, I was just expecting something different.

**Review given honestly and freely after receipt of a reader copy. This opinion is completely my own and was not influenced in any way.**

A Dog Called Valentine isn't a very deep story but it sure was fun, with a dog that is just about the best thing ever.  He stole my heart before I was even a fifth of the way in!  Shane also had a few heart-tugging moments and I definitely understand his hesitancy in getting too involved with anyone (whether they have 4 legs or 2) but Lily's enthusiasm and need to make sure that Valentine gets a happy home is pretty compelling.  

I think there was a lot more opportunity to delve into some of the family dynamics and the romance between Lily and Shane.  Readers will get a satisfying and enjoyable read but I think there is so much material there between Shane's issues and Lily's family drama.  Occasionally the timeline got a little wonky too but I can easily forgive that.  

With an adorable matchmaking dog (and grandma) and a sweet ending (predictable but cute), Snopek delivers a lovely little story that is perfect for a pretty day sitting in the shade ... or a cool day under a cozy blanket :)  

(Overall a solid 3.5 Stars)

**Review given honestly and freely after receipt of a reader copy. This opinion is completely my own and was not influenced in any way.**

The blurb is such that I wasn't sure what I was going to get so when it landed on my e-reader I opened it up just to see.  And didn't put it down until I was done!  I loved goofy, sweet, fun Raleigh.  From the very first page (and the subsequent awkward encounter with Ezra) I wanted to be bestest, life-long friends with her.  Klutzy, funny, and awkward, Raleigh will win your heart and you'll be cheering when she finally gets her guy.  

I will saw there were a few times that I wanted to smack Ezra on the head.  He's either totally clueless or a bit of an *ss because he let another women get a little too handsy with him.  More than once after starting a relationship with Raleigh.  I get that maybe he didn't realize the signals that Raleigh might be picking up but after the first time it made her huffy I would have thought that he'd get a clue.  Outside of that, though, I found him to be a pretty good guy.  He takes care of the guys on his team and his family.  And wants he sees Raleigh he's ready to take on anything she needs him to.  

While this is a more light-hearted book overall, it isn't afraid to tackle some harsher topics when it needs to.  This is only the second book by Vale that I've read, but it's not going to be my last.  (Lord Have Mercy, the next book in this series, is out soon and I'm already trying to figure out how to get my hands on it!)

**Review given honestly and freely after receipt of a reader copy. This opinion is completely my own and was not influenced in any way.**

~Those who are fans of SSG's writing need to be aware this is a different style than her previous Amish romances.  Like with the first story in this series, I think that a lot of people think they know what to expect and then are surprised by a clean but more contemporary romance.  Just a warning :) ~

Like Take a Chance, All In is more than just a romance.  There is the relationship between Ace and Meredith, but we also have Meredith learning to open herself up to others, Ace & Finn developing a better relationship, Finn settling in to a new school, and Finn's interactions with the awkward girl next door.  (I do wish we'd gotten a bit more there.  I think that there was so much opportunity to develop not only their interactions together but also the way they are viewed by other kids.)  It all works together to create a beautiful tapestry capturing small town life.  

I will say that Gray pleasantly surprised me with the ending.  I thought for sure I knew where things were going and the conflict Ace & Meredith would have to face before they could have their HEA ... but I was wrong!  I love a book that doesn't take the obvious angle.  

All In is a lovely, sweet, and believable story of finding love and belonging.  Shelley Shepard Gray is a skilled writer, drawing her readers into the character's lives and making them feel real.  I really hope she continues bringing us stories from Bridgeport.  

**Review given honestly and freely after receipt of a reader copy. This opinion is completely my own and was not influenced in any way.**

I'm not a huge fan of the modern rake as a character (I don't know why it works better for me in a historical) and Luca irritated me at first meeting, but while he was busy trying to win over Ella, he charmed me too.  I grew to admire his determination and hard work, especially with the lack of real support from his family.  As shiny as he looks from the outside, he has troubles that has followed him from his childhood and it takes a strong person to be willing to pursue a dream and try to improve not only themselves but the world while they are at it.  

I honestly didn't expect to like Ella.  Usually when authors write about foster care kids they make them too independent and too afraid of commitment.  While Ella is hesitant to get involved with Luca, her history of keeping herself walled off from others is more nuanced and less heavy handed.  If anything brought the story down for me it was Ella's devotion to Stacy.  I get that there was a bond there that is hard for her to ignore.  It's also easy to understand why Stacy does the things she does, both for the reader and Ella ... but she's not a very good friend.  She blows in and out of Ella's life, doesn't really support her, and does illegal things.  At some point, your history together stops being that important.  I really wanted better for Ella. 

London wonderfully blends together multifaceted characters, personal growth, family dysfunction, and life in the vast Texas plains to give readers a emotional and complex story.  A very promising start to a new series!

**Review given honestly and freely after receipt of a reader copy. This opinion is completely my own and was not influenced in any way.**

Second chance romances are hit and miss for me, but here Ross definitely has a winner. I loved how Aiden and Jolene get to know each other again and manage to find their way into a HEA. This is one of those feel good versions that work for me.

Ross’s main characters are complex and the supporting cast of family & friends are a delight. She delivers quirky world, full of love & support. But for those who are a little more of a … purist, I feel I should give a heads up about Aiden’s otherworldly friend. I found him to be a fantastic addition to the story, and something Aiden definitely needed, but a ghostly friend won’t be for everyone.

Small town romances are definitely high on my list of favorites and setting them during Christmas just makes them all the better. (Oh, and I personally don’t think it is ever the wrong time for a great Christmas story!) If you are an addict of those Hallmark-y holiday movies, you definitely have to get your hands on this one.

**Review given honestly and freely after receipt of a reader copy. This opinion is completely my own and was not influenced in any way.**

As always with the Whiskeys, the latest book packs an emotional punch. There isn’t a lot of drama between Moon and Josie, which I appreciate in a romance, but their lives have not been easy and they have to face a lot from their pasts.

Josie was able to escape her abusive parents and find a happy life but seeing her siblings again means that she needs to decide if she’s willing to address old wounds. Even here it is handled with depth but not melodrama – the past comes calling but it doesn’t run their lives. I appreciate that a lot as Josie comes to terms with what she thought she knew about her past.

Jed has managed to come to terms with his own past and the things that he’s done, thanks to his friends, family, and the Dark Knights. And now that he’s got a chance to reconnect with Josie and make a better life for himself, he stumbles over a couple of kids that are pretty much him as a teen. Being able to help others is such a huge part of who Moon is and Foster works that in so perfectly here, finding a way for him to have a purpose he can embrace.

Foster knows how to deliver depth and dimension to her characters, their lives, and how they connect with, love, & support those around them – you truly feel the family that they’ve created, regardless of blood, and it makes you want to be a part of their community. Packed with humor, heat, and complex relationships, Mad About Moon once again allows readers to fall into a story just brimming with emotion.

**Review given honestly and freely after receipt of a reader copy. This opinion is completely my own and was not influenced in any way.**

Ryan is definitely one of my favorite heroes that I’ve read in a while. He’s got a good sense of fun and his humor is very laid-back & contagious. He takes things seriously when he needs to but also knows how to just enjoys life. He’s a good foil for Bridget who unfortunately tends to takes things a little too seriously.

I enjoyed that their biggest obstacle is just plain ol’ timing (and that seriousness) and that there wasn’t too much drama between them. Sometimes it is nice to just have a story that you can relax into and enjoy as it unfolds in a real way. You can understand completely how two people have a good connection but just aren’t in a place where they can get involved.

Of course, love finds a way (with a little meddling) and everything works out in the end. But it is the journey from flirting to more to trouble to that HEA ending that makes for an enjoyable read. If you are looking for excitement and angst, you aren’t going to find a lot of it here. Instead you get a slow burn romance that is perfect for a lazy couple of days of reading.

**Review given honestly and freely after receipt of a reader copy. This opinion is completely my own and was not influenced in any way.**