Redemption Bay begins with a tired but happy and cheerful woman strolling home after work. I was slightly puzzled as to who was narrating the book, though that was mostly resolved with the vague reference to “unavoidable mayoral business” over the course of her busy day at the flower and gift shop she owns. McKenzie Shaw is the Heroine of the story and Mayor of Haven Point, Idaho. McKenzie’s vitriolic reactions to meeting The Hero, … Continue reading Redemption Bay by RaeAnne Thayne →
My review takes a quasi-newspaper article type format, with each section being worth a point. Who/Why Genevieve, the Heroine: didn’t love her. I found Gen to be a largely ineffectual heroine in her dealings with her prick-weasel ex-fiancé (and with life just generally) ’til about halfway into the book. As often as the reader’s reminded of how educated and tough she is, and of how many people love and support her (her huge family, her … Continue reading Searching for Beautiful by Jennifer Probst →
Ransom Canyon is the first in the new series set in Crossroads, Texas. Even though it’s not my usual thing, I liked this book. It focuses on five people individually, two couples and one ex-convict. The conversations and inner thoughts came across as authentic, and if I ever have a cattle-rustling problem, I know what to do. This book is sweet, and non-explicit. The characters have some major back story, but the romances themselves were … Continue reading Ransom Canyon by Jodi Thomas →
This book is the third in the Bell Harbor series, but one does not need to read the first two (Crazy Little Thing and The Best Medicine) to enjoy this lovely, light-hearted, laugh-out-loud, novel. For a California girl like Delaney Masterson, Bell Harbor, Michigan—in January—was a ridiculous place to hide, which—naturally—made it the perfect place to hide from the paparazzi after her ex-boyfriend, Boyd, sells their sex tape to the tabloids. With an eighties pop … Continue reading Love Me Sweet by Tracy Brogan →
Lily Danville grew up in Cedar Ridge, Colorado, and loved hiking the mountain trails or climbing the rock faces in the summer, or skiing the challenging slopes in the winter. She was happy there, until tragedy struck and she lost half her family over the course of a few weeks. She’s never forgiven herself and wasn’t ever planning on returning. Having lost her job in a fashionable salon in San Diego and pretty much been … Continue reading Second Chance Summer by Jill Shalvis →
I had trouble writing this review. I first read Second Chance Summer when it first came out (summer of 2015) and had vague memories of enjoying it, but I blow through so many books when I’m at the beach that the details don’t really stick with me. I signed up to review it because I already owned the book and had a sense that I’d enjoyed it, and would therefore enjoy reading it again. Alas, … Continue reading Second Chance Summer by Jill Shalvis →
This was part of a double Harlequin edition and part of their Nocturne sequence. At first I thought perhaps I was in a story slump since I had some initial issues getting into the story, but on the second re-read, I found it thrilling, fun and exciting. Lexi Haven is a world renowned photographer and seems to have it all together. She is in Marcari to help her best friend who is planning the wedding of … Continue reading Possessed by a Wolf by Sharon Ashwood →
T/W: past rape/sexual assault; slut-shaming The experience of reading this book was like dating a really hot guy. In the beginning all I saw was the potential. And the sex? Yes, please! I overlooked his flaws and knew it likely wouldn’t be long-term, but who cared because I was up late at night with his scorching hot kisses and nothing else mattered. A+! Some time went by – I had to sleep at some point … Continue reading Once Pure by Cecy Robson →
The stock blurb for this book is misleading in several ways, so here’s a more accurate version: Thirty-five year-old Siobhan “Sugar” Malloy, co-owner of Sugar and Spice Café and a part-time burlesque performer, is “treading emotional water,” reluctant to get involved with anyone due to some emotionally damaging events in her past—especially a handsome younger man who seems to have his life together. Responsible, hardworking, and dedicated to his career, Charlie is immediately attracted to … Continue reading Sugar by Seressia Glass →
Sugar is a novel about Siobhan Malloy, a 35 year old woman who co-owns a cafe/bakery with her best friend in a small town. And that’s where the cliches end. Siobhan is unique – she’s a recovering addict who has fought hard for the normalcy she has now. She also dances in a burlesque show as a hobby and likes to stand out with her retro sense of style. Charlie is a younger man, a … Continue reading Sugar by Seressia Glass →
Trigger warning: mentions of violence. Maxwell Derring, Earl of Dane hates the poor. They’re lazy, stupid, immoral, and “barely human.” He blames them for his father’s death—not because a poor person shot or stabbed his father, but because somebody robbed one of his father’s houses, and two weeks later he died of pneumonia. Now, you might be thinking, as I did, that that seems a very weak and specious chain of logic for deciding to … Continue reading Earls Just Want to Have Fun by Shana Galen →
