O’Fallon gives readers a well-paced suspense story and I really enjoyed seeing how the case played out. I had no idea where it was going but it was totally believable – nothing came out of left field and felt unconnected to the rest of the story, which is always a plus for this kind of book.

Both characters were really fun and their interactions entertaining. It’s a bit of a slow burn as they have to deal with how she fits into his case, giving them plenty of time to get to know each other (and cause a few sparks along the way). There was a little bit at the end where I went “uh, ok” with how they reacted to a situation that put their relationship into question but it was a small bump in an otherwise enjoyable read.

Armed ‘N’ Ready has the perfect blend of love story and action to keep the pages turning. And some great secondary characters and relationships just for dog lovers :)

(This is the second book in the series, but can easily stand on its own.)

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

If you love your romance without a lot of angst (which I do most of the time), Seymour delivers beautifully. Tanner and Carter have a fun first meet that kinda makes it hard to ignore their attraction to each other but they do try. Once their feelings overcome that whole contractor/client thing though, it is pretty much a done deal.

Tanner & Carter complement each other quiet well and work to create a nicely-developed relationship. There is a little trouble at work for Carter but he does his best to handle it, with support from Tanner & friends. It adds that little bit of drama to an otherwise smooth read of strangers becoming friends then becoming even more.

If you prefer warm fuzzies (and some heat) to commotion and hullabaloo in your romance, Let Me Show You is a perfect choice. With characters to pull for, a romance to give you feels, and enough steam to keep you turning pages, Seymour’s latest has it all.

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

Overall, while I really enjoyed the story, the first half was more appealing to me than the beginning of the second half.  I really felt Tara's love for Julie and how much it hurt her to think that she might lose custody.  And seeing Rhett fall in love with his little girl was just the absolute sweetest.  Their stress over the situation and Julie's future just jumped off the page.

Then they decided to get married, which quickly went from one of convenience to something more.  I think as a couple they definitely worked.  Both characters had their flaws but they also had positives and were able to blend together quite well - Rhett's happy-go-lucky attitude was a good complement to Tara's more serious side.  But I just wish we'd had a chance to see them grow into their feelings more.  I think it relied too much on their history together (which they hadn't had much in their adult years) and not enough on their current dealings with each other.  

Once I accepted it though I really enjoyed where Wilde took the story.  There was a lot of self-examination going on in the last bits of the book, by both Tara and Rhett, and it worked so well in giving them a HEA ending.  Taken as a whole, To Tame a Wild Cowboy delivered an emotional journey that will leave readers with all the warm fuzzies they could want.  

(Although it is part of a series, I feel like it can easily stand on its own.)

**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 is my first Anna Martin book so I had no expectations going in.  Maybe that has something to do with why I enjoyed it so much while a lot of the Goodreads reviews are less than stellar.  I actually appreciated the low angst that she brings and how it's a lot about finding your footing & finding love.  

Max is back in his small hometown because his mom recently had a stroke and he realized he wanted to be closer to her.  Opening his own tattoo parlor is a big bonus and connecting with Tyler again (and maybe more) is just the icing on the cake.  Max is the fun-loving character who enjoys life and is comfortable with his sexuality.  He's been out since school and has had a few romantic bumps along the way but overall he's confident and assured.  (Although maybe not quite ready for a life-time commitment just yet.)  

Tyler hasn't ever really felt that sexual, even though he's been married and had a kid, but with Max's return he's starting to figure out there may be a reason why.  Looking a bit deeper at himself and his desires, Tyler soon changes his mind about wanting just friendship between them. 

Since his older brother is comfortable in a long-term, same-sex relationship, I think that helped Tyler with his decision.  There are a few complaints in reviews about how easy and quickly his mind was changed, but it actually worked for me.  The conversation he had with his brother & brother-in-law was awesome and I love how they described sexuality & helped him come to terms with things.  

I think my only concern was how Tyler was worried about his standing in the community but that wasn't really ever addressed.  I mean, we know from the epilogue that everything works out fine for them but I think a little bit of the reaction of the townsfolk accepting him as he is would have been nice.  Otherwise, I enjoyed pretty much everything else about this story.  

The Color of Summer is a relaxed, easy read and the low drama factor makes it a fabulous summer read in my opinion.  Low key doesn't have to mean boring and Martin's latest is a perfect example.  With a cast of awesome characters and plenty of feels, there's a lot to keep you 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.**

I love a good supernatural romance – one where the author creates a world that you can immerse yourself in but is different than the one the reader knows.  Maybe someone with a more extensive understanding of religious/mythological history would feel differently but I really enjoyed how Alvarez introduces both her baddies and the good guys, while setting up an interesting foundation for where the series may go. 

Kyria thought she understood why her life was the way it was but when her dad gets sick her eyes are opened to things she could never imagine.  Unsteady and confused, she’s still got a lot of gumption and fight in her.  She takes everything in stride, even some hard-hitting truths about herself and her family. 

Ramiel has spent decades feeling alone in the world.  The last thing he wants is someone reminding him of his past and people who let him down but he’s compelled to help Kyria.  She gets past his broody, standoffish exterior and, as they work together to find her dad, truths will come out that might just set him free … but only if he can manage to trust in someone else again. 

Since it is the start of a new series, with its own special world, Alvarez does a fabulous job of setting things up for the future.  There’s a lot that is going on with the underworld and what they want with our world, a special group of kids that could mean everything to our future, and a varied cast of characters who are doing their best to make sure that right wins out in the end.  With a whole slew of people that I can’t wait to get to know better, a good mix of danger & the supernatural, and a plot that wonderfully sets up future stories, I am definitely looking forward to more from Alvarez.  

(When there are demons and angels involved you know that religion is going to play a part.  I'm assuming that those picking up the book will know what they are getting into but I’m throwing out a warning just in case for those that might find using God this way offensive.)

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

Grace has been (silently) in love with Billy for years but finally put herself first and cut him out of her life when he moved away with her best friend. This is such a hard but relatable situation. Grace had such little self-confidence and having him not see her as anything more than a friend did nothing for her state of mind. But getting away and making a life without him helped her discover more about who she is and her worth. Having him back again threatens that … but its difficult to turn him away.

Billy had no clue about Grace’s feelings and was hurt when she stopped talking to him. He’s back now, a little girl he didn’t know he had in tow, and seeing Grace again seems like a godsend. His own troubles are pretty overwhelming – making a connection with Poppy and trying to figure out how to raise a super-smart daughter while continuing to hide a lifelong secret – so having her around again brings him hope.

Johns does a great job of taking two people with their own insecurities and putting them in a situation where they have no choice but to face them. These are real, every day issues and they are handled with a good deal of care. Both Grace and Billy have a lot of discovery to do and have to really talk with those that mean something to them. There’s no way that they can successfully move forward without addressing their problems first.

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

While Ruggle’s latest is more suspense than romance, I had fun reading it.  There’s a lot going on for Molly – the sister, their mother, trying to catch the next jump, and keeping one step ahead of John. 

I’m not 100% sure why she struggles so much with letting John close, but it does lead to some fun moments … and a few head-shaking ones full of snark on Molly’s side.  Honestly, if I was John I’d probably have walked away a long time ago but the man has grit, heart, and dedication (all good attributes for a hero).  Her resistance does throw a bit of a damper on their relationship so if you were hoping for more of a love story it takes a bit to get there. 

There’s a ton of action, danger, and suspense to keep you busy while you wait, though.  Half the siblings are busy trying to track down their mom and figure out what’s going on with her.  The rest are trying to catch a pretty dangerous character in order to keep their house out of the hands of a sleazy bail bondsman. 

Ruggle has always had a way at delivering extremely satisfying suspense elements and she proves herself again here.  I can see why some may have been disappointed at the lack of romance (and Molly pushing John away again and again) but I found it fun enough that it didn’t matter so much to me :)

(Start of a series with a cliffhanger of an ending, so be warned!)

**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 think my favorite part (outside of Harrison’s love for Bubbles) is how these two managed to see the true person underneath the other’s skin.  Harrison is gruff and not a very good people person, but he’s got a big heart and a strong sense of dedication.  He was raised by a man who wasn’t much for softness but that didn’t mean he wasn’t loved.  Unfortunately, it means that, combined with his size, he tends to be a bit gruff and intimidating.

There’s something about Harrison that brings out the best (or worst) in Sophie from their first meeting.  Sick as a young child, she’s spent her life being taken care of and, even now, coddled.  Only Harrison doesn’t have a clue what her past was like, so he just sees a spitfire who is willing to give him a little grief over a puppy.  It’s so appealing to her to have someone treat her like she’s strong, and having seen something more under all that crustiness, that she can’t help but be drawn to Harrison.

These two going at each other (in a bit of verbal foreplay) is such a hoot.  Left alone, they rub sparks of all kinds and start to develop a certain amount of respect & understanding that just heightens their attraction.  Throw in an adorable ball of fluff and Gilmore definitely delivers a ton of entertainment for her readers.

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

Shalvis is one of the best at creating real people and real situations. In The Lemon Sisters, she perfectly blends together romance, women’s fiction, and family drama to deliver a beautiful tale of connecting to others & finding home again.

After a tragic accident, Brooke has cut herself off from those she loves. She’s coping, but not dealing, and a visit from her desperate sister brings it all back to the surface. And forces her to confront those she’s hurt.

Mindy has lost herself in being a wife, mother, and business owner. She’s feeling overwhelmed & unseen and she is afraid of what it means to her marriage. Desperate, she turns to the sister she barely knows anymore for help. And sets both of them on a path to facing ghosts and old hurts.

I really enjoyed how both of the sisters played a starring role in the book – their individual well-being and their relationship with each other, and with their SOs, is equally important. But even with so much going on, Shalvis handles it fairly and none of it feels shorted. I ended it feeling like I understood everyone’s situation, how they had gotten where they were at the beginning, and felt good about how they managed to get to their HEA.

(Part of a series but each one is pretty much a stand alone.)

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

Sala is my go-to for down home, small town, feel good stories.  She gives her readers characters that may not have a lot materially but they have a ton of heart and know what it means to be part of a community.  (I will say that this one just seemed to have a bit more going on than I remember from the first stories.  They seemed to focus more on a particular couple while introducing parts of the community.  The last couple seem to be getting a little heavier with subplots and secondary characters, but it’s delivered in a way that isn’t too complicated or hard to follow, just a little bit more crowded.) 

Being there with Dan and Alice as they feel out each other is all sorts of sweet.  There’s an attraction there, but both of them had a tragedy take their spouse from them so they have to decide if they are at a point where they can give their hearts again.  As if that wasn’t enough, throw in some trouble with drug dealers, mean girls, & a hurricane closing in on the town and there’s a decent amount of tension to keep things extra interesting. 

Driven by the characters and their connections throughout the town, Sala’s Blessings series shows the complications and reality of life, love, and community. 

(Can easily be read as a standalone but would probably be better enjoyed as part of the entire series just so you get an understanding of how everyone fits together.)

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