So much of this book worked for me, but the ending did not. The ending made me realize I had problems before the ending. This review will start with the strengths. Jake was a well-developed character, and his PTSD seemed well-done. The flashbacks to Iraq seemed powerful and well-researched and vivid and compelling. All of his previous problems seemed realistic and my heart went out to him. I found all of the characters mostly likable … Continue reading A Love Like Ours by Becky Wade→
Francesca “Chessie” Rossi always has a plan. Though she works as an investigator at Guardian Angelinos, her family’s security and investigation business, she stays behind her computer in Boston. She doesn’t do field work. But children can’t be loaded onto laptops. So when she finds evidence that her brother Gabe’s lover bore him a child before dying on the run in Cuba, Chessie knows someone will have to investigate in person. Malcolm “Mal” Harris is … Continue reading Barefoot with a Stranger by Roxanne St. Claire→
Trigger warning for torture and attempted rape. Night Hush is a romantic suspense by Leslie Jones. It takes place in the fictional country of Azakistan. A terrorist group has taken an a female American service member hostage, and special forces group Delta Force runs across her in the course of their operations. Heather Langstrom has been tortured and badly injured, but has managed to escape captivity through her own intelligence and skills. Her rescuer, Jace … Continue reading Night Hush by Leslie Jones→
I don’t read category romances these days, but they hold a special place in my heart. Back in the day, Mom and I would head out to Crown Books to stock up on the newest Loveswepts, Silhouettes, and Harlequins. She’d be curled up in the corner of the loveseat with coffee and a cigarette, and I’d be on the sofa with a Diet Pepsi, while Dad and the bros did their man things. This was … Continue reading Carter Bravo’s Christmas Bride by Christine Rimmer→
Trigger warning for domestic violence The Strongest Steel is a new adult novel about Harper Connelly, a domestic violence survivor with extensive scarring on her back from where her ex-boyfriend carved a phrase into it, and Trent Andrews, the tattoo artist whom she wants to tattoo over her scars. This novel hits several of the new adult tropes. Terrible trauma? Check. Green eyed heroine? (Green eyes are the violet eyes of the new century.) Check. … Continue reading The Strongest Steel by Scarlett Cole→
This is the sixth in a loosely linked series of novels about the Carrigans of the Circle C Ranch. The story starts off well. Willa and her son, Scout, are driving through a snowstorm to a vacation at the Bramble House B&B. They’re being followed. This sounds ominous, but actually isn’t; the car behind them is driven by Finn, who’s booked a room at the same B&B. He’s driving behind them because Willa is obviously … Continue reading A Bramble House Christmas by CJ Carmichael→
Y’all, this is going to be a review with several part: I’m putting the basic plot summary and analysis up top, and then there shall be semi-spoilery THOUGHTS. Our main characters are Willa Fairchild and Finn Conrad. Willa is a single mom and private nurse who is travelling from Phoenix to Marietta this Christmas at the behest of a former patient of hers who died and left her a minor inheritance. Willa’s son Scout is six years … Continue reading A Bramble House Christmas by CJ Carmichael→
This one is going to be much harder to write than my previous review, because I didn’t like this book as much. I actually wonder if I would have kept going if I hadn’t signed up to write this review. I’m glad I did, because there were some aspects of the book I greatly enjoyed. There were other aspects that drove me bonkers. I’ll start with what I did like, since I have the social … Continue reading Fatal Frenzy by Marie Force→
Staff Sergeant First Class Carla Anderson is the first woman to receive orders of selection for “The Unit,” more commonly known as Delta Force. Being the only woman in a previously all-male bastion is only one of the challenges ahead. She is determined to excel and her biggest competition is Sergeant First Class Kyle Reeves. Mutual respect becomes mutual attraction as they make their way through the assessment phase. There’s no time for romance during assessment, … Continue reading Target Engaged by M.L. Buchman→
Funny story. Due to lots of unforeseen travel in the last month – Shepherding the Dread Pirate Robert’s cataract surgery (You scheduled it for when? What you mean I don’t need to be there? It’s so cute that you think that, Dad) and moving my goddaughter to Ohio (What do you mean what time am I getting there? We’re doing what this weekend? Didn’t we just get her potty trained last year?), I was not … Continue reading Midnight’s Kiss by Thea Harrison→
FINALLY! That is my reaction to this book. I have been sitting through three books to get to this story and it was totally worth it! The book follows Chelsea as she draws up the list for her perfect man and the characteristics that he will possess. None of them are physical traits – it’s more about lifestyle and personal beliefs that concern Chelsea. She doesn’t want someone with a crazy-ex, works nights or weekends, … Continue reading Love After All by Jaci Burton→
