Audio Book Review: Redemption Bay by RaeAnne Thayne

This is an easy contemporary romance.

Redemption Bay
By RaeAnne Thayne
Narrated By: Celeste Ciulla

Series: Haven Point, Book 2
Duration: 10 h 16 min
Release date: 06-30-15
Publisher: Recorded Books
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 3.75.

Summary:
New York Times bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne brings you back to Haven Point-a place made for second chances. McKenzie Shaw would do anything for her hometown of Haven Point. It may be small, but it's never let her down.unlike gorgeous, infuriating Ben Kilpatrick. He was her childhood hero until he closed his family's factory, leaving the town's economy in shambles. Now his tech firm is considering opening a local facility. For Haven Point's sake, McKenzie has to grit her teeth and play nice. What could a town filled with painful memories ever offer Ben? Yet seeing the town through the eyes of McKenzie-its fiery young mayor-he suddenly has his answer. If only he can resolve the animosity crackling between them, Ben may have found the place where he can build ties and find healing.a place where love arrives when it's least expected.

Review:
McKenzie Shaw owns a flower and gift shop and is the 30(ish) year old Mayor of her beloved hometown Haven Point. Even though she had a childhood crush on handsome Ben Kilpatrick, she has no soft feelings for him since he closed his family’s factory five years ago. The closure took away many jobs and caused the town decline that they are still trying to find a way to revive.

McKenzie has to bite her tongue when Ben shows up in town to assess it as a branch location for the successful company he works for, Caide Tech. Haven Point is a beautiful setting, and the company owner now leaves just outside town. But the next community down the road appears to be a better fit with houses and infrastructure already in place.

Ben is renting the tourist cottage next to McKenzie’s property. McKenzie’s standard poodle, Rika, has made fast friends with Hondo, the German Shepard Ben is ‘sitting’. Between the proximity and dogs, McKenzie and Ben find themselves pushed together.

Both McKenzie and Ben had painful childhood memories and relationships in Haven Point. McKenzie needs to stuff her enmity in order to show Ben how friendly and worthwhile her community. Ben, who seems to have shut himself off, has to try to see beyond the pains from his childhood in this town.

I enjoyed the development of both characters as they learned more about each other and overcame inaccurate assumptions. The story isn’t particularly eventful, but it does show the danger of miscommunication in relationships and struggles in small town life. Ms. Thayne is a reliable author for nice, easy read romance. I can recommend this series to romance readers who enjoy clean, contemporary romance.

Audio Notes: Celeste Ciulla delivers a nice narration which is more a read than an enactment. Her narration matched the easy tone of the story. I am glad I had an audio version.

Source: 8/31/18 Audiobooks.com 2 for 1 credit deal. This qualifies for 2022TBR, 2022Audiobook, and 2022phabet goals.

Audio Book Review: Christmas In Evergreen by Nancy Naigle

This is another fun "Hallmark" story.

Christmas In Evergreen
by Nancy Naigle
Read by Kathleen McInerney

Run Time 6h 34min
Release Date: June 18, 2019
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Genre: Christmas, Contemporary Romance, Romance
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.25.

Publisher Description
Evergreen, Vermont is about to be in the rearview mirror of Allie Shaw’s vintage red pickup truck. It’s hard to say goodbye to her small town and her veterinarian practice, but she’s moving to Washington D.C., where her big-city-loving boyfriend lives. Ever since Ryan Bellamy’s wife died, he hardly knows how to celebrate Christmas. He’s decided to take his daughter Zoe to Florida, and Evergreen is just a quick stop on the way to the airport. While they’re there, Zoe partakes in a local tradition, making a Christmas wish on the snow globe at the town diner. But neither Allie’s nor Ryan’s Christmas goes as planned. They’ve checked their wish lists twice, and they didn’t say anything about meeting someone new…or about a fresh chance at love. This sweet holiday romance includes a free Hallmark original recipe for Vermont Christmas Card Cookies. Includes an exclusive preview of Christmas in Evergreen: Letters to Santa, book two in the Christmas in Evergreen series.

Review:
Allie is a veterinarian in the small town of Evergreen, Vermont, where she has headed the organization of the Christmas Festival for years. But not this year. This year Allie has made arrangements for her customers to call on another vet and her good friend is organizing the festival. Allie is on her way to Washington, D.C. to be with her on again and off again, long-distance beau, Spencer, who wants her to move to the city full time.

Ryan has been raising his daughter Zoe since his wife died. This year, to celebrate the Christmas holidays away from his wife’s memories, he has planned a trip to take Zoe to Florida and on a cruise. When the airport is shut down due to the weather, Ryan and Zoe head towards Evergreen. On the way, they run across Allie trying to get her red, vintage truck to start. Allie offers to show Ryan and Zoe around her beloved town.

Zoe is enchanted watching Allie as she helps a farmer’s cow give birth to a calf. And Zoe gets to make a wish on the local snow globe and then shares in the excitement of making cookies and decorating stockings. Ryan and Allie make wishes on the globe too, but as they spend more time together, somehow their plans and wishes are changing.

This is true Hallmark fare with the heroine meeting a new man and having to sort out her dreams as well as facing a boyfriend who doesn’t share the same interests. Zoe adds a nice element and of course there is Christmas cheer abounding and perhaps a little Santa magic. It is not a Christian story but it is a nice holiday romance. I enjoyed this easy-going story and would be glad to try the cookie recipe. I recommend this to fans of the Hallmark genre.

Audio Notes: Kathleen McInerney does a nice job with the narration. She provides suitable voices as she conveys the Christmas spirit. I am glad I got to listen to this as my last Christmas story for 2021.

Source: 12/4/2021 Purchase at Chirp for $.99. This qualifies for 2021Audiobook goal and a 2021color title.

Audio Book Review: Mistletoe Miracles by Jodi Thomas

This is a delightful listen sharing three romance stories.

Mistletoe Miracles
Written By: Jodi Thomas
Narrated By: Julia Gibson

Duration: 9 hours 52 minutes
Date: November 13, 2018
Publisher: Recorded Books
Genre: Christmas, Contemporary Romance, Western
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

Summary:
A small-town Texas Christmas story, where hearts are lost, love is found, and family always brings you back home. Griffin Holloway is desperate: the Maverick Ranch has been in his family for generations, but lately, it's a money pit. He'd sooner marry one of his horses than sell the ranch. Marriage, though, could be a solution. If he can woo a wealthy bride, he might save the ranch-just in time for Christmas. Jaxon O'Grady likes his solitude just fine, thank you very much. But when a car accident brings the unexpected to his door, he realizes just how much one person can need another. Crossroads is the perfect place for Jamie Johnson: avoiding nosy questions about why she's single, she's happy to keep to her lakeside home. So she's baffled when she gets the strangest Christmas present of all, in the form of a Mr. Johnson, asleep on her sofa. Who is he, and why does everyone think he's her husband? In this uplifting novel, three unlikely couples discover just what Crossroads, Texas, can offer: romance, belonging, and plenty of Christmas spirit.

Review:
Griffin Holloway decides the only way to save the family cattle ranch, Maverick Ranch, is to marry a woman with money. Griffin seeks the help of the Franklin sisters, two elderly spinsters who run a boarding house in town. They agree to match-make but then introduce him to a fancy lady who would seem to be a woman out of his class. Sunlan is the daughter of a rich rancher who finds herself pregnant and in need of a husband to avoid scandal for her father. She is willing to pay off the Holloway note in exchange for a marriage of convenience before Christmas, and the agreement that she maintain sole control of her own small horse ranch. Can they keep things cool, especially after Griffin rushes to help her save her horses from a barn fire?

Jaxon O’Grady is an injured fireman who has become a recluse, a hermit living by himself. He witnesses a woman crash her car and rescues a dog at the scene of the crash. He soon realizes the dog is hers and he decides to take her in while she is recuperating. The problem is Mallory is being hunted by a brutal ex-boyfriend. Jax and Mallory develop a friendship but they have to fend off the threat of her ex. Will their friendship and shared danger be enough to bring Jax out of his isolation?

Jamie Johnson is a single teacher who is tired of having to fend off unwanted advances and friendly set-ups for dates. She has moved to Crossroads pretending to be married to a soldier who is away. Even the hoax of marriage doesn’t keep all creeps away. When the local sheriff finds an exhausted soldier walking down a road to town it is only natural to think he is Jamie’s husband. Jamie, who was away for the weekend, is surprised to come home and find a man in her house. When she learns that the sheriff delivered Captain James Johnson to her house, she has to figure a way to keep her secret. Maybe they can work out something together until he has to return to his next assignment.

The couples are wonderful even if their situations are somewhat contrived. The Franklin sisters are fun and other side characters (the Holloway brothers and Jax’s brother) probably have stories of their own to come. This story alternates between the couples and moves along well. I was glad to have a nice Christmas HEA for all three couples. I recommend this to fans who enjoy HEA, sweet romance.

Audio Notes: I enjoyed the narration by Julia Gibson. She provided distinct voices and portrayed the characters to fit the story. I would be glad to listen to more books narrated by Ms. Gibson.

Source: December 2020 - Two for one credit at Audiobooks.com. This qualifies for 2020TBR and 2020Audiobook goals.

#NetGalley Book Review: Who Rescued Who by Victoria Schade

The cover is adorable and the story gets there eventually.

Who Rescued Who
by Victoria Schade

File Size: 2526 KB
Print Length: 351 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0593098838
Publisher: Berkley (March 24, 2020)
ASIN: B07TSWP85J
Genre: Animal, Contemporary Romance
My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0

Where can you turn when the world turns against you? When Elizabeth Barnes’ life fell apart she never imagined that she’d be rescued by a new friend on four paws.
The plan was simple: Elizabeth would ignore the fact that she was unjustly fired from her dream job, fly across the pond to settle an unexpected inheritance in her father’s home country and quickly return to reclaim her position among the Silicon Valley elite.
But when Elizabeth stumbles upon an abandoned puppy, she’s shocked to realize that her brief trip to England might turn into an extended stay. Her strict itinerary is upended completely by the pup’s dogged devotion, and soon the loveable puppy helps her to connect with a tight-knit community of new friends on two legs and four, from the aunt and uncle she didn't know existed, to a grumpy coffee shop owner to two very opinionated sheep. Along the way Elizabeth is confronted by long-kept family secrets, hard truths about her former life and a new romance that might lead her to question everything she knows about love. Because sometimes rescue magic happens on both ends of the leash.

Review:
Elizabeth Barnes is a workaholic who has no life beyond her job and her obsessive social media focus. She is experiencing a bit of shellshock and a lot of anger after being unfairly fired from her dream Silicon Valley job. While trying to figure out how to get her feet – and life—back on track, she gets a surprising email from a man claiming to be her uncle. The problem is she never knew she had an uncle in England.

Elizabeth finally decides to take a quick trip to England to settle the unexpected inheritance which will provide a financial cushion while she is trying to get back into the work market. Elizabeth is surprised to find a warm welcome and soon growing friendships in the small backwater village of Fargrove. Elizabeth discovers a man she is interested in and stumbles upon an abandoned puppy who adopts her. Everyone tells her that she is responsible for the puppy since she found her.

Elizabeth is surprised to learn her uncle is a well-known artist. She hadn’t planned to remain in Fargrove but finds herself staying to help nurse her aunt after a fall, help her uncle categorize his many unrevealed paintings, train a new puppy, and nurture a possible romance. Meanwhile, she continues to fret that she has limited cell phone service and she fusses over her minimized social responses.

In spite of a rocky start, Elizabeth is soon wrapped into the community with everyone hoping she will settle on the land she has inherited and strengthen her developing relationship with James. When Elizabeth is offered a job to get back in the scene of Silicon Valley, will she walk away from her uncle and aunt, her puppy Georgina, her new friends, and James?

I was drawn to the adorable puppy cover. Unfortunately for over 50% of the book, I had a hard time coping with Elizabeth’s very self-centered and self-absorbed attitude. She was given wonderful opportunities but was too focused on her Silicon Valley elitism to really see what was in front of her. Her romance interest tried to resist getting involved, but once he did, instead of pushing Elizabeth to talk about the future they ignored the topic or he sulked. I found it hard to understand why no one really pushed Elizabeth to consider her choices.

I really enjoyed the art aspects of this story and the wonderful natural setting with dogs and sheep included. Jame's beer business added interest too. Although I am glad I finished, I had to struggle to get to the end because of the primary character. Apparently many other reviewers did not have this problem so if you can handle a character who needs a swift boot a good talking to, you would likely enjoy this book.

Source: NetGalley Requested 2019 but Received 2020. This qualifies for 2020NetGalley and 2020Alphabet goals.

#NetGalley Book Review: A Vintage Summer by Cathy Bramley

I really enjoyed this 'bubbly' summer romance.
A Vintage Summer
by Cathy Bramley


File Size: 2500 KB
Print Length: 407 pages
Publisher: Transworld Digital (March 21, 2019)
ASIN: B07DXG729W
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Comedy
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0.

A sparkling summer story that's FULL of surprises!
London has not been kind to Lottie Allbright. Realising it’s time to cut and run, she packs up and moves back home – but finds her family in disarray. In need of a new place to stay, Lottie takes up the offer of a live-in job managing a local vineyard. There’s a lot to learn – she didn’t even know grapes could grow so far north!
Butterworth Wines in the rolling Derbyshire hills has always been run on love and passion but a tragic death has left everyone at a loss. Widowed Betsy is trying to keep the place afloat but is harbouring a debilitating secret. Meanwhile her handsome but interfering grandson, Jensen, is trying to convince her to sell up and move into a home.
Lottie’s determined to save Butterworth Wines, but with all this and an unpredictable English summer to deal with, it’ll be a challenge.
And that’s before she discovers something that will turn her summer – and her world – upside down . . .

Review:
Lottie was excited to move to London with her new boyfriend. Slowly she realizes that he is cutting her off from others, becoming over-controlling and edging towards abuse. Lottie makes a smart choice to go home before things get worse. She arrives to find her sister in distress over estrangement from her husband over their childless status and her father ready to head out on a trip he never got to take before her mother died. Lottie is desperate to find a place to live and to find a job. She is shocked to fall into a live-in position as a manager of a local vineyard.

Butterworth Wines is owned by Betsy, a recent widow whose husband was the leader and driving force behind the vineyard. Most of the workers are volunteers. Although Lottie knows nothing about viticulture (vine growing and harvesting), she is willing to work hard and learn fast. This works especially since everyone is thrilled to let her take control. The only person challenging her inexperience is Betsy’s grandson, Jensen. He thinks it is best to sell the vineyard and facilitate Betsy moving into an assisted living situation.

Lottie is quick to begin to turn things around at the winery and she would like to keep the property in the Butterworth family to honor the founder. She has only been engaged for six months and doesn’t know if she can convince Jensen to continue the business especially when he is on the brink of promotion in his business career. And that is how things stand when a new discovery rocks her world with a ripple effect that will impact everyone in the story.

I am not usually a big fan of relationship drama but this story leans to humor and is simply charming, interesting and engaging. Lottie is a wonderfully real character with strengths that outweigh her insecurities. I loved how her personal journey developed and I enjoyed the support she received from the quirky, passionate characters around the vineyard. Jensen is also a lovely character and their relationship conflict bounces between struggle and joy.

The setting and winery experience is a great element. I enjoyed learning about viticulture and its growth in Britain as well as some of the details and difficulties of the process of making wine. There is good movement in the story and light humor that helps with the enjoyment. I recommend this to readers who would enjoy a relationship story that will bring sighs and smiles. I will have to look for other romances by Ms. Bramley.

Source: 2019 NetGalley. This qualifies for 2019NetGalley goal.

Audio Book Review: Bring Me Home for Christmas by Robyn Carr

This is a nice Christmas Romance; reliable Robyn Carr.
Bring Me Home for Christmas
Written By: Robyn Carr
Narrated By: Therese Plummer

Publisher: Recorded Books
Date: October 2011
Duration: 7 hours 34 minutes
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Holiday Fiction, Small Town
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

This year, Becca Timm knows the number one item on her Christmas wish list: getting over Denny Cutler. Three years ago Denny broke her heart before heading off to war. It’s time she got over her silly college relationship and moved on.
So she takes matters into her own hands and heads up to Virgin River, the rugged little mountain town that Denny calls home, as an uninvited guest on her brother’s men-only hunting weekend. But when an accident turns her impromptu visit into an extended stay, Becca finds herself stranded in Virgin River. With Denny. In very close quarters.
As the power of Christmas envelops the little town, Becca discovers that the boy she once loved has become a strong and confident man. And the most delicious Christmas present she can imagine.

Review:
Becca and Denny were young lovers when she was in college and he set off to be a Marine. Denny’s mother died and he broke off his relationship with Becca and reenlisted, leaving her devastated. It has been three years and Becca is wondering if she can commit to her boyfriend of the past six months. She suspects that she has unresolved issues with her first love.

Becca knows her twin brother, Rich, is heading out to Virgin River to meet with his service buddies, including Denny. Becca shows up at the last minute to invite herself to the hunting and fishing trip.

The tension is immediate when Denny sees Becca walk in behind Rich. He had asked for a second chance after his confused mistake but she shot him down cold. Why in the world would she show up now at a men’s hunting weekend? The sniping between the two ends up with Becca suffering an accident which means she is stuck in town with Denny taking care of her. Can they stop their defensive bickering long enough to admit their true feelings? And how would they resolve the distance between Becca’s home and family in San Diego and Denny’s chosen life in rustic Virgin River?

It may have taken me a little time to warm up to Becca but her attitude is realistic in light of the hurt that she suffered when Denny dumped her. It was fairly evident that Denny never stopped caring for her but he didn’t want to be hurt again either.

It is charming to see how the town members support each other and are ready to fold Becca into their community family. Author Carr has this special ability to present real characters and a warm small town community. Becca’s care and concern for the local children adds an additional sweet element along with the town members caring for the less fortunate among them. I have read a few of the early books in this series and this easy, cheery read works fine as a nice holiday stand alone. I recommend this to fans of Robyn Carr and fans of small town romances.

Audio Notes: Therese Plummer is a consistently reliable narrator for this series. Her clear character voices and emotional portrayal add depth to an already strong story. The audio makes this a plus listen for me.

Source: December 2018 Audiobooks.com deal. This qualifies for 2019TBR and 2019Audiobook goals and #HoHoHoRat.

#NetGalley Book Review: Forever in a Moment by Charlotte O'Shay

This is an enjoyable, light romance.
Forever in a Moment
by Charlotte O'Shay

File Size: 3791 KB
Print Length: 114 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press, Inc (April 10, 2019)
ASIN: B07Q5Q4XWW
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Holiday Fiction, Holiday Romance,
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

A stormy encounter...
Samantha DeMartino's Christmas wedding is two weeks away when her fiancé calls the whole thing off. Word on the street: his cold feet are being heated by an old flame. With her well-ordered world in complete disarray, Sam's friends convince her to go on her honeymoon—alone. A week at a charming Vermont inn away from the city and her demanding corporate career could be just what she needs to figure out her next steps.
Between his twenty-four seven work schedule on his family's dairy farm and teaching tourists to ski, Jed Armstrong's too busy to think about how lonely he is...until Sam sings her way into his life during a Christmas blizzard. Now he has to figure out a way to convince her to stay.
Can a vivacious city girl find forever with a reclusive farmer?
Will her secret keep her from trying?

Review:
Samantha’s friends convince her that she needs to take her ‘wedding’ trip as a break away after her fiancé cancels their wedding. Her week in Vermont starts with her car breaking down in a snowstorm, leaving her to be rescued by a local dairy farmer. Samantha is skeptical of her quick attraction to this stranger and finds herself being pulled along as she discovers he is her ski instructor.

Jed has a full work schedule on his family’s dairy farm and taking turns as a ski instructor. He had set aside his own personal life after a set back from a prior romance and an unexpected death in his family. Now he has found a snow angel by the side of the road. How can he convince her to give him/them a chance?

The cover is an immediate draw and the story set-up sounds like a Hallmark romance scenario … and it is. The very likeable primary characters are well developed with natural relationship fears and a conflict that will require strengths to take a chance. I enjoyed the local Inn desk manager who nudges Sam towards a relationship with Jed and the local pub owner who gives Sam the evil challenge eye.

The descriptions and dialogue are clean, crisp and engaging. I found this to be a quick, easy, feel good read. This would be a perfect holiday read but it is a nice warm romance for anytime. I recommend this to readers who enjoy light, clean, easy romance.

Source: 2019 NetGalley. This qualifies for 2019NetGalley goal.

#NetGalley Book Review: Once Upon A Heartbreak by Cassie Rocca

This is a cute second chance romance although a little annoying at times.
Once Upon a Heartbreak
by Cassie Rocca

File Size: 2432 KB
Print Length: 243 pages
Publisher: Aria (May 1, 2018)
ASIN: B07BMHDDJ2
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Second Chance
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Is true love really out there? A hilarious, heartwarming romance: perfect for the fans of Jo Watson, Debbie Johnson and Holly Martin.
Liberty Allen used to be a hopeless romantic, that is, until Zack Sullivan unwittingly broke her teenage heart.
Fifteen years later, Liberty has her life together in New York City, running a successful business and engaged to be married in just a matter of months. But something just seems to be missing...
All of a sudden, Liberty runs into Zack out the blue, forcing her to question everything she thought she knew about her life, her happiness, and even her feelings on true love...

Review:
Liberty was an overweight 15-year-old when she met Zack, a 17-year-old who was more interested in baking than partying and girls. Both suffered through teen mocking and bullying so it isn’t surprising that they developed a friendship with Liberty being the tester for many of Zack’s baking projects. An event caused Liberty to feel humiliated and abandoned by Zack. Liberty moved away the next day, changing her life to discipline herself to not eat sweets and to exercise rigorously in order to achieve and maintain an attractive body image. Liberty also disciplined herself to close her heart to true emotions and settle instead for rational emotional responses.

Fifteen years later Liberty is engaged to be married to her unemotional, lawyer boyfriend whom she has dated for several years. His sister is getting married and he asked Liberty to marry him and have a double wedding. The wedding is still several months away when they agree to visit Cape May with Liberty’s employees. Liberty is thrown for a loop when she discovers their host is none other than Zack.

Zack, now a single dad of a five-year-old daughter, is thrilled! He is awed at how beautiful Liberty is but he is dismayed that she tries to avoid him and won’t eat the meals and desserts he has prepared. He realizes she has lost the sparkle he cared for so many years before. Liberty tries to hold onto her anger from the loss of her first teenage crush but part of her wonders if Zack could really care for her as she is. Can Zack convince Liberty that he truly does care for her before she walks down the aisle to a ‘comfortable’ but uninspired marriage?

It was frustrating and sad to read Liberty’s lack of confidence and the extremes she took to change her nature. Zack and his daughter are lovely characters and Liberty’s friends are nice additions with their own romances. I found the ending a bit strange as it veered to cover the romances of Liberty’s friends in addition to her own romance. I didn't realize that this is the third story and the other romances were wrapped up here.

I found the story an easy read, and mostly fun if you can get beyond Liberty’s insecurities. I recommend this to readers who enjoy second chance romances.

Source: NetGalley 2018. This qualifies for NetGalley Challenge.

Audible Book Review: The Lilac Bouquet by Carolyn Brown

This is a lovely, engaging story!

The Lilac Bouquet
By: Carolyn Brown
Narrated by: Brittany Pressley


Length: 8 hrs and 31 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 03-28-17
Language: English
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Small Town
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall, Story and Audio.

Publisher's Summary
Come hell or high water, Emmy Jo Massey will have a wedding. After three generations of Massey women with children out of wedlock, she wants the whole town of Hickory, Texas, to witness the legitimacy of her union with Logan Grady. But dream weddings aren't cheap. So she accepts a highly lucrative stint as a home health assistant to retired realtor, and town recluse, Seth Thomas - a decision her great-grandmother Tandy is dead-set against.
Seth isn't happy about it, either. The eighty-two-year-old doesn't want a "babysitter" - much less a Massey - something he makes clear when Emmy arrives at his house, an empty mansion built for the woman who broke his heart. But as Emmy stays and the two eventually open up to each other, she learns the reason behind a feud between Seth, Tandy, and Logan's grandfather Jesse Grady that goes back six decades. She also uncovers a secret that forever changes how she sees her past and her future...
©2017 Carolyn Brown (P)2017 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Review:
Emmy Jo Massey is a young woman who comes from a family of unwed mothers. Emmy is determined on getting married to her fiance, Logan Grady, so the whole town will know about it. The problem is that their great-grandparents are part of a long time feud, which includes the town recluse, Seth Thomas. These three won't be in the same room together, much less speak to each other. Emmy takes a job as a home health provider to Seth over the objection of Her great-grandmother, Tandy. Seth isn't thrilled with having a Massey in his home either. Emmy is intent on earning the money to help cover her wedding costs and now she is intent on unraveling the secret of the animosity of the people she wants to share her joy with.

Emmy is a lovely character and her determination and sunshine break down the walls of the frozen, bitter hearts around her. The secrets of the past are slowly revealed and evoke emotions of anger and sadness at the wasted years. There were choices that were made and some terrible treatment, even, or especially, by some so-claimed Christians. There are Biblical themes gently shared through the story. The story was an easy read/listen with engaging twists that kept it interesting. It addresses more family, people issues than just a romance. I hope to read more by Carolyn Brown.

Audio Notes: I was very comfortable with the narration by Brittany Pressley. I can't speak to the accuracy of the accents but I enjoyed the voices for the characters. THe narration added to my enjoyment of the story.

Source: Audible January 2018 Daily Deal $2.95. This qualifies for my Audiobook Challenge and a 2018 title for Alphabet Challenge.

Book Review: A Nanny For Christmas: A Harper's Corner Series Novella by Christina George

This a nice, light, easy read.

A Nanny For Christmas: A Harper's Corner Series Novella
by Christina George

File Size: 1134 KB
Print Length: 143 pages
Publication Date: August 20, 2018
ASIN: B07FB6WNDQ
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Holidays, Small Town
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Willa O’Rourke knows the true story, the story that doesn’t sell magazines.
In less than 8 hours Willa went from being a behind-the-scenes nanny for one of the hottest A-list celebrity couples, to having her picture splashed all over every magazine in the country.
Caught in the arms of her sexy employer, Johnny Blaze.
No one cares that Johnny hit on her, and she repeatedly told him no.
The world thinks Willa O’Rourke is more interesting as the slutty, home-wrecking, opportunistic nanny. She even has a hashtag trending on Twitter. #dirtynanny
Humiliated and desperate to get away from the harsh eyes of Hollywood, she decides to take a short break from her suddenly not so glamorous life and head home for the holidays.
But a quiet Christmas to recoup before heading back to LA wasn’t in the cards.
She immediately runs into Jack, her seriously hot, fireman ex-boyfriend.
Despite Willa’s attempts to keep a low profile, she and Jack are thrown together for a Christmas charity project -- making her wonder if she’s meant for a simpler life in Harper’s Corner after all.

Review:
Willa left behind her high school and college boyfriend to follow her dream of becoming an actress. She ended up working as a nanny for a celebrity couple, having to fend off advances by her sexy boss. After being caught in a picture that looks bad, she has returned home in disgrace with the scandal of the #dirtynanny.

Willa can barely hold her head up but fortunately her brother and friends are willing to welcome her home. She doesn’t expect any warm welcome from her ex-boyfriend, Jack, a handsome firefighter.

Jack was devastated when Willa left although he loved her enough to let her go pursue her dream. He’s never really gotten over her but he doesn’t plan to get hurt again. Still, the attraction between them picks up immediately and he’ll have to decide if its worth sharing passion on a short basis even if she might leave again.

The characters are likeable and the chemistry is strong. I liked the Christmas elements that had Willa and Jack helping to put together Christmas decorations and activities, including a presentation of The Christmas Carol, for an orphanage. The other town characters are fun and add to the story. The second chance isn’t a slam dunk but is fraught with tension which is engaging. 

I enjoyed another book (The Publicist) by Ms. George which was a bit more intense. This is an easy read that sets the stage for a nice series. I would recommend this to readers who enjoy second chance romance and Christmas settings.

Source: Author Marketing Experts for review. This adds to my 2018 Alphabet Challenge.

Book Review: Must Love Babies by Lynnette Austin

This is a fun, charming romance with a baby and vintage cars.
Must Love Babies
by Lynnette Austin

File Size: 1764 KB
Print Length: 416 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (June 5, 2018)
ASIN: B079JVCHTX
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Small Town
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

This baby's not the only one in need of a cuddle...
Brant Wylder is a bachelor and loving it! He's in Misty Bottoms, Georgia, property-hunting for his vintage car repair shop when he gets the call. His sister's been in an accident, and Brant has to drop everything and take care of his five-month-old nephew. That's the end of the bachelor lifestyle.
Bridal boutique owner Molly Stiles is all business all the time, until she sees that Brant's in trouble. In this Southern town, nobody ever has to go it alone. And besides, how can she resist that beautiful baby in the arms of a beautiful man...?

Review:
Brant has his bachelor eye on Molly Stiles although he knows he shouldn’t move on his interest since she doesn’t seem an easy, limited time date. Still, he can enjoy looking. When his sister is hospitalized after a car accident, Brant is called in to take care of his five-month-old nephew. This ends his loose bachelor days and he is glad to find Molly is willing to help him out. She might not have a lot of experience with infants, but she does love babies.

Molly has trauma from her young years and men who leave. She has a To-Do schedule that keeps her career in focus and finding a boyfriend out a few years. She might have been able to resist Brant when she thought he was single, trouble and leaving town to boot. Now he is not only planning to move his business to Misty Bottoms, but it is clear he can use help and support with the infant he is caring for. Surely she can help him and keep to her To-Do time line… if only he wasn’t pushing to change the schedule.

These are both charming characters. Brant is quick to step up to help his family and he is consistently a gentleman with Molly (despite his mental thoughts). Molly has made a successful start of her own business but has emotional baggage to work through. The interaction with the baby is natural and fun (think first time diaper changes, feeding and bathing). Brant’s brothers and their vintage car business, as well as a surprise celebrity wedding, add to the story.

I enjoyed the easy flow of the dialogue and the struggles both characters go through to overcome their internal resistance to commitment. Although the story is fairly predictable, it is nicely handled and there are a few surprises as Molly faces her background disappointment. I recommend this to readers who enjoy strong romance where the guy has to convince the girl to take a chance on love.

Source: Author Marketing Experts. This will qualify for a 2018 review for my 2018 Alphabet Challenge.

Audio Book Review: Christmas at the Inn by Andrea Twombly

This is a sweet, easy read.

Christmas at the Inn

Rose and Briar Inn Stories, Book 1

By: Andrea Twombly
Narrated by: Lisa Leslie

Length: 50 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 05-24-18
Publisher: Annie Acorn Publishing LLC
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Holiday
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
Annie Acorn Audio is pleased to present Christmas at the Inn written by Andrea Twombly and narrated by Lisa Leslie.
“The sign says NO VACANCY, not VACANCY.” The innkeeper's gruff reply belied his handsome face, and Angela Perkins took a step back.
Heading north for the holidays, things certainly hadn't gone as she had planned. A snowstorm, an apple pie, and an old friend all conspire to bring her to a crossroads. Will a Christmas Eve detour send her back to her snug village home, or will she forge ahead and let a turn in the road lead her to newfound happiness?
In this, the first entry in her new Rose and Briar Inn series, internationally beloved From Women's Pens author Andrea Twombly weaves a warm story of the Christmas season, rich in challenges overcome and courage discovered along a twisting road to love.
You won't want to miss this one!
©2015 Annie Acorn Publishing LLC (P)2018 Annie Acorn Publishing LLC

Review:
This is a sweet, quick novel with mature characters who have lost their life partners. A snow storm brings an unexpected encounter that could change the future lives of the retired teacher and the lonely innkeeper. Will they be held by their past loves or will they see a chance for a new future?

I enjoyed the easy flow of this story. The characters are nicely developed even though this is short. The reader anticipates this to be a second chance at love story and the author delivers in a sweet fashion. I recommend this to readers who enjoy mature characters and a second chance at love.

Audio Notes: Lisa Leslie provides a direct narration with distinct voices. I felt that the reading was a calmer emotional presentation than might have been. Still, it was a pleasant performance.

Source: author through AudioBook Boom. This qualifies for Audiobook and 2018Alphabet Challenges.

Book Review and Giveaway: One Perfect Spring by Irene Hannon

My Ladies Book Club enjoyed this sweet story full of forgiveness, growth and faith.
One Perfect Spring
by Irene Hannon

Amazon Link
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Revell (May 6, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-13: 978-0800722678
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Inspirational
My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0

Claire Summers is a determined, independent single mother who is doing her best to make lemonade out of the lemons life has handed her. Keith Watson is a results-oriented workaholic with no time for a social life. As the executive assistant to a local philanthropic businessman, he’s used to fielding requests for donations. But when a letter from Claire’s eleven-year-old daughter reaches his desk, everything changes. The girl isn’t asking for money, but for help finding the long-lost son of an elderly neighbor.
As Keith digs reluctantly into this complicated assignment, he has no idea how intertwined his life and Claire’s will become–nor how one little girl’s kindhearted request will touch so many lives and reap so many blessings.
Through compelling characters and surprising plot twists, Irene Hannon offers readers this tenderhearted story of family connections that demonstrates how life is like lilacs–the biggest blooms often come only after the harshest winters.

Review:
Claire is a single mother raising her 11-year-old daughter, Haley. Claire is busy as a teacher and working, one project at a time, on her fixer-upper home. Claire has been burned by the men in her past and doesn’t have time for romance. Claire takes time to help her mature neighbor, Dr. Maureen Chandler, who has had a recent bout with cancer surgery. Haley overhears a confidential conversation between Claire and Maureen. Unknown to anyone else, Haley writes a letter to a private foundation asking them to help Maureen find her long lost son.

Keith Watson is a workaholic serving as the executive assistant to a former workaholic, David. The business includes a philanthropic division which answers written requests submitted by strangers. David is struggling to rebuild a relationship with his estranged daughter. He recognizes the importance of balancing career and family. Keith plans to pass on Haley’s letter but David assigns it to Keith hoping it will get him out of the office. David doesn’t have any idea how the assignment may impact Keith who has his own childhood trauma baggage.

The simple, kind hearted act of a young person sets off a chain of events that blossoms into love for two couples. The romantic chemistry is portrayed without the need for sexual scenes. There are lessons of forgiveness and second chances. Some of the characters have a closer walk of faith but others realize they need to renew their faith. Ms. Hannon develops all of the characters and the story allows them to grow beautifully.

The writing moves smoothly with a story that has a lot of natural life scenes and some twists that keep it interesting. I read and enjoyed Ms. Hannon’s romantic suspense (Fatal Judgment) and have been planning to read more. I was curious when I saw the author also writes contemporary romance and I am glad I shared this with my ladies’ book club. The story is uplifting, and the ladies enjoyed the richness. I recommend this to readers who enjoy clean, small town romance with quiet faith elements.

Source: Discount Purchase through Christianbook.com for Ladies Book Club. It is a 2018 title for my 2018 Alphabet Challenge.

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Winners are asked to respond on the winners form linked in the announcement or by email.

eBook Review: Meet Your Match by Lindzee Armstrong

This is a fun, quick prequel drawing me to the first full book in the series.

Meet Your Match (No Match for Love Book 4)
by Lindzee Armstrong

File Size: 2525 KB
Print Length: 117 pages
Publisher: Snowflake Press (April 8, 2015)
ASIN: B00VVU72Y0
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Teen and Young Adult
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Nothing slows love down like the friend zone.
a No Match for Love prequel novella
Sixteen-year-old Brooke Pierce doesn’t need her mom to tell her all boys are trouble. After watching her dad break up the family for a woman half his age, dating is the last thing on her mind.
On the first day at a new high school Brooke meets Luke, the school flirt with a reputation for heartbreak. He’s interested. She’s not. That only makes him chase her more.
After a shocking revelation from her dad, Brooke and Luke form an unexpected bond, complete with crazy rules to keep them safely in the friend zone. Problem is, that’s the worst place to be when you’re falling in love.
Part of the No Match for Love series, Meet Your Match is a delightfully sweet prequel novella that can be read as a stand-alone. It's sure to delight readers who love Hallmark movies and sweet romance. This series combines complex characters with smart dialogue and a fast-paced plot.

Review:
Brooke is sixteen when her parents separate because her dad has an affair with an employee in his office. Brooke’s mom moves them away from the family home and difficult memories. Brooke isn’t thrilled about having to go to a new school and make new friends. On the first day of school Brooke overhears a conversation between cute Luke and his fun friend Chris. Now Brooke is certain she doesn’t want to get caught up with the cute classmates who are clearly players. Brooke is keeping her distance, even more so when she learns her father is still seeing the younger woman even while participating in required counseling.

Luke really wants to go out with Brooke but he agrees to settle for being her friend after he learns all that she is going through and the distrust she has developed. He hopes that at some point she will accept his sincere interest, but his friend Chris isn’t helping with his competitive antics.

Brooke hopes to make a career of match making after she graduates from high school. She has a knack for seeing whether couples are well suited or need to part ways. Unfortunately, this knack doesn’t apply to seeing her own feelings.

I enjoyed this light romance which reads very quickly. The characters a natural and I appreciated that the story is clean and suitable for YA. There is a sense of frustration as one part of me felt Brooke was being too cautious with Luke but the other said “good thing, they are so young”. The ending leaves the reader hanging. Although this is listed as “book 4” it is actually the prequel to the series. I do want to get the first full book to see what happens. I recommend this to readers who enjoy clean, young romance.

Source: 2017 Author Newsletter Sign up. This qualifies for 2018TBR and Alphabet Challenge.

Audio Book Review: About a Dog by Jenn McKinlay

This is well written, fun and easy romance but not quite ‘clean’ enough for my tastes.

About a Dog
By: Jenn McKinlay
Narrated by: Allyson Ryan
Series: Bluff Point Romances, Book 1

Length: 9 hrs and 33 mins
Unabridged
Release date: 05-30-17
Language: English
Publisher: Dreamscape Media, LLC
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Small Town
My Rating: 3.5 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
Mackenzie "Mac" Harris fled her hometown of Bluff Point, Maine after being left at the altar and seeking solace in the arms of her best friend's off-limits brother, Gavin. Seven years later, she's back to attend her best friend's wedding, and she figures she's safe now from the mistakes of her youth.
But Gavin, the town's veterinarian, has never forgotten the woman who has always held his heart. And when Mac rescues a stray puppy named Tulip, only Gavin can help. With a little assistance from Tulip, Gavin vows to make Mac realize that their feelings are more than just puppy love....
©2017 Jenn McKinlay (P)2017 Dreamscape Media, LLC

Review:
“Mac” is returning to her home town seven years after she was left at the altar. She is coming back as maid of honor for her best friend, Emma. Emma has asked her to spend time with her younger brother, Gavin, whose girl friend just took off with his bookkeeper. But Emma doesn’t know that Gavin and Mac had a one-night affair on the night Mac was jilted.

Mac figures she can manage around Gavin until she sees him all grown up and responsible. Still, she plans to keep her distance so as not to upset Emma on the week of her wedding. Gavin has other plans that don’t include letting Mac stay distant.

Mac finds a stray puppy and seeks Gavin’s veterinarian services. He is the only one who can help protect the pup when a cruel man claims the dog is his. Gavin takes every opportunity to encourage Mac to see him as something other than her best friend’s little brother.

I enjoyed the premise and for the most part enjoyed the cute characters and fun dialog. Mac is a little uptight and needs to work beyond that while Gavin is just a sweet heart. Tulip, part pit-bull, is a sweet character also, and the author provides some good background on the breed and rescue issues.

The story has a good plotline and is well written. Sadly, it started off on the wrong foot for me as the first ten minutes included a bit of trash talk and careless irreverent use of the Lord’s name. This was particularly too bad as my ten-year-old granddaughter was in the car when the audio came on. There is a scene in the middle where there is a competition between male and female friends tossing slang names for male privates. Nearer the end they begin a similar contest of names for female private parts. This is intended as fun banter but to me seemed trashy and unnecessary. Finally, there was a closing sex scene that was also crudely graphic.

I saw another release title by Ms. McKinlay and the cover and blurb sounded charming and drew me just as this one did. Too bad I am “word” shy and will probably not seek more by this author. I am probably more sensitive to the language than many readers. There are lots of favorable reviews so the sexual content and language obviously doesn’t bother everyone. If you are a romance reader who wouldn’t be bothered, then give this a try as you may well enjoy the fun … and of course the puppy.

Audio Notes: Allyson Ryan does a very fine job with the narration. She captures the voices and a light tone for the story. Except for a few girlish squeals I enjoyed the narration.

I received this CD audiobook from the publisher through Audiobook Jukebox. It qualified for my 2017 Audiobook Challenge.

Book Review: Mistletoe Kiss by Marie Landry

This is very, very nice and an easy read with Cinderella elements.
Mistletoe Kiss
by Marie Landry

File Size: 875 KB
Print Length: 74 pages
Publisher: Marie Landry (November 16, 2017)
ASIN: B07779ZVW7
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Holiday Romance
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Bridget Higgins hasn't allowed herself to think too much about fairytales or the magic of Christmas since her dad died. Her life has been dedicated to work, her mom, her best friend Ivy, and little else. But when her kind and gorgeous boss, who she's secretly harbored a crush on for the last three years, offers her a night of fun on top of an unexpected Christmas bonus from work, Bridget starts to remember what it feels like to believe in magic and fairytales once more.
Mistletoe Kiss is a 20,000-word contemporary romance

Review:
Bridget has struggled coping first with the death of her father and then helping her mother recover from a heart attack. She loves her work and isn’t concerned about spending long hours since she has little inclination to be with anyone other than her mother and best friend, Ivy.

Bridget has had a crush on her boss, David, but has tried to ignore her feelings since they work together and it would be improper. She is surprised when she is not given her Christmas bonus check but instead is summoned to David’s office. She gets a bigger surprise when he invites her to an elegant night out.

Bridget agrees to go and begins to discover Christmas magic as she experiences a Cinderella, enchanted evening of dinner and dancing with David. But how can things between them change as long as he is her boss?

Bridget is strong and sensitive and doesn’t realize how lovely she is. David is British, handsome, a gentleman and a good boss. There is not great conflict in the story – other than Bridget getting beyond her grief and insecurities. The work situation is the big obstacle and I liked how the author resolved that situation.

The writing and editing was cleaner than a lot of ARCs I have read lately. The Mistletoe Kiss has an extra meaning which is fun. This is a quick, easy read with pleasant characters. It was a good introduction to the author and I would be glad to read more stories by her.

I received this ARC from the author through #hohohorat and was pleased to read it as one of my Readathon titles.

Book Review: The Christmas Room by Catherine Anderson

This is a nice small town, family and romance story.

The Christmas Room
by Catherine Anderson

File Size: 1377 KB
Print Length: 428 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0399586318
Publisher: Berkley (September 26, 2017)
ASIN: B01NAU2NLU
Genre: Holiday, Romance, Second Chance Romance
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

The beloved author of the Mystic Creek series gifts readers with a novel of homespun holiday cheer, as two families discover the joy of hope and redemption....
Widow Maddie McLendon has uprooted her life to move to Rustlers Gulch with her son and grandson. But as a brutal Montana winter looms on the horizon, contractors have yet to break ground on their new house, leaving them to live in a makeshift camp of trailers, tents, and sheds....
Since his wife died six years ago, millionaire rancher Sam Conacher has been content to wallow in his grief alone while keeping a tight rein on his twenty-six-year-old daughter. But now the girl has gone and fallen in love with his foolish new neighbor’s no-good son....
Maddie and Sam will never see eye to eye on anything, until a near-tragedy gives them a true glimpse into each other’s souls. And as the first snowflakes begin to fall, they’ll discover that an open heart is the biggest gift of all....

Review:
Maddie, a famous mystery author, her thirty-five year old son, Cam, and sixteen year old grandson, Caleb, are living in a motor trailer and a ‘camp’ of sheds and tents while they wait for their homes to be built on their property. Their grouchy neighbor, Sam Conacher, has nothing but abusive comments to make about the ‘trashy’ neighbors. Then again, Sam hasn’t had much good to say about anything or anyone since his wife died several years past. He has ostracized friends and employees so that he no longer has enough help to properly manage his ranch. Sam’s twenty-six year old daughter, Kristin, helps to manage the farm, and she is stuck close to home as Sam frightens away any possible suitor by shredding the reputation of the man.

Kristin sees Cam at a local pub and invites him to sit with her. They start a nice rapport before Cam realizes who she is. Cam is trying to build a new real estate business in the area and his career and family are at risk. Cam tries to step away but the draw between Kristin and Cam keeps pulling them together.

When Sam learns that Kristin has been sneaky out to see the 'hillbilly', no good neighbor, Sam arrives at the trailer to confront Cam. Instead he ends up facing a fierce mother, Maddie, who isn't about to let a narrow minder, curmudgeon speak badly of her family. Their next encounters don’t go much better. It takes a rescue and accident to change the dynamics but that doesn’t mean things will run smooth.

There is plenty of conflict balance with nice, warm family connection. I was saddened by the long train of deception that was practiced in a misguided sense of care. On the other hand, I appreciated the turn around that moves those who suffered loss to a point where they could trust and love again. The Christmas Room itself was a lovely surprise and brought the story to a warm conclusion. There is a gentle measure of faith and a big dose of love that pulls the characters together. This was a nice flowing romance and the second romance is a bonus. I recommend this to readers who enjoy second chance at love romances.

I received this through NetGalley and it qualifies for my NetGalley Challenge.

Book Review: How to Charm a Beekeeper's Heart by Candice Patterson

This is a charming, inspirational romance.
How to Charm a Beekeeper's Heart
by Candice Patterson

File Size: 1428 KB
Print Length: 400 pages
Publisher: White Rose Publishing; 1 edition (October 28, 2016)
ASIN: B01BB7R9HC
Genre: Christian, Contemporary Romance
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Weddings are the last thing beekeeper Huck Anderson wants to be associated with, considering his past. So when he inherits a building occupied by a bridal boutique, he aims to evict the failing business and open a sporting goods store. That is until his tenant ends up being Arianne Winters, a woman he's indebted to from a mistake made years ago. When a life-threatening injury derails Huck entirely, Arianne offers a compromise to keep her boutique and her life out of bankruptcy—she'll aid in his lengthy recovery if he'll allow her to remain in his building. But nursing her adversary proves challenging when her adolescent crush resurfaces. Amidst a battle-of-wills, their lives intertwine in unexpected ways, providing opportunity to overcome their pasts and start anew. Will this confirmed bachelor consider holy-matrimony, or will Huck's choices sting them a second time?

Review:
This is a sweet, second chance romance. I loved the bee facts shared at the end of each chapter in tips and quotes.

Arianne was the brain in high school who helped Huck, the jock, get through his tests. She’d always had a bit of a crush on him but suffered a heart blow when he stood her up for prom. She moved on to a safer, saner romance in college, married and had a daughter. Sadly, her husband walked out before the child was three. Arianne has been struggling to make a living at her bridal boutique while raising Emma and taking care of her 25-year-old sister who can’t seem to find herself… or a job.

Huck inherits a building from his uncle and determines he will evict the bridal shop tenant and open a sporting goods store. That plan isn’t so easy when he learns that the tenant is the girl he wronged in high school. Huck has secrets and issues from his past that have made him a loner. He doesn’t do “relationship” although he is willing to spend a few weeks with a woman who isn’t looking for any long-term romance. Huck wants to get away from Arianne as quickly as he can. This plan doesn’t work either when he suffers a serious accident and Arianne steps forward to take care of him during his rehabilitation in exchange for allowing her time to move the bridal shop.

Huck finds himself enjoying the company of Arianne and adorable Emma. He is even willing to share his bee farming with them. Even though he is willing to encourage Arianne to pursue her dreams, he doesn’t think he is worthy of her love. Arianne continues to struggle with her business and her sister. She isn’t sure she can handle the pain of an unrequited love and she doesn’t want to risk hurting Emma with another man who would most likely abandon them. Still, she might not be able to keep her heart from falling for the man she has always fantasized about.

I really enjoyed these struggling characters and watching as they wrestled with their past pains and lost dreams. Ms. Patterson does a nice job showing their growth and allowing the romance to grow, even through their fears. Emma adds a precocious and sweet character.

The writing is nicely handled with nice descriptions, smooth delivery, and easy flow. I really enjoyed how Arianne’s strong faith, and Emma’s child’s faith, are shared, by little graces and even in flaws, so that Huck begins to long for an unconditional love he has never known. The story is engaging and the characters’ journeys are believable and heartwarming. I recommend this to readers who enjoy inspirational, small town style, second chance romance.

I received this from NetGalley and it qualifies for my NetGalley Challenge.

Book Review: Love Takes Two by Patrice Moore

I was drawn by this cover and enjoyed this sweet romance between injured parties.

Love Takes Two
by Patrice Moore

File Size: 639 KB
Print Length: 234 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press, Inc (April 8, 2016)
ASIN: B01CB1BV8K
Genre: Contemporary, Small Town
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Single mom Molly Jenkins relocates to a small mountain town in hopes of removing her young son from bad influences. But Ken is caught in an act of vandalism on their neighbor’s ranch, and the no-nonsense owner informs Molly her son needs a man’s strong hand to keep him in line. Having been raised by a tough-to-the-point-of-cruel father, she doesn’t want her son to be guided by men like that. She believes he needs nothing more than security and lots of mother-love.

Nathan Jones knows what it’s like to be raised without a father, and he disagrees with the coddling Molly gives her son. His own upbringing led him to make some poor choices, and he wants to keep Ken from making similar mistakes. It is a complicated tangle of emotions and past hurts that prevent Molly and Nathan from agreeing, but can they come together to keep Ken from going down the wrong path…and maybe find their own path to love on the way?

Review:
Molly Jenkins was abandoned by her boyfriend and her overly strict father when she became pregnant at a young age. She struggled as a single mom to get through college and try to provide a decent life for her son, Ken. Now Molly is stymied by her sulky, twelve-year-old son who is making bad choices and leaning toward negative influences. Molly takes a job with a small-town school in Colorado hoping to remove Ken from serious trouble.

Before they can settle into their new home, Ken is caught throwing rocks on the neighbor’s ranch. Nathan confronts Ken and marches him home to announce his punishment will be to work off the harm he has done. Molly is wary, but agrees that Ken has to make up for the damage.

Nathan grew up without a father and was in trouble as a teen until his mother abandoned him to a boy’s ranch. Nathan doesn’t believe in love due to his mother’s abandonment. Nor does he believe in mother’s coddling as he is insistent that every growing boy needs strong male discipline to learn proper respect. Molly takes affront to Nathan’s attitude thinking he is insulting all the single mom’s that have worked so hard to raise good children.

Molly and Nathan butt heads, not only over Ken, but over Molly’s proposed project to open a community center for teens in the small town. Although Molly can’t deny that Ken’s behavior begins to improve under Nathan’s strong guidance, this doesn’t resolve the other conflicts between Molly and Nathan. It takes time for a loving family to help them to begin to soften their stubborn stances.

Ken witnesses a scene that triggers his rebellion again and the slow growing friendship between Molly and Nathan is challenged. Can they manage to find mutual ground to help Ken before he ends up in jail?

This is an easy read as the writing moved along well, although I noted several grammatical errors which may have been fixed before publication. The thirtyish characters were extreme in their opposite views but this made for the conflict that they had to work through. There is a puppy element so the cover was accurate to draw in a reader. I enjoyed the story and I recommend this to readers who enjoy small town romances with more mature (not YA or college) characters.

I received this title through NetGalley. It qualifies for my NetGalley Challenge.

Book Review: Wild Horse Springs (Ransom Canyon) by Jodi Thomas

This is a fun contemporary romance with the plus of a mystery and touch of danger.

Wild Horse Springs (Ransom Canyon)
by Jodi Thomas

File Size: 2546 KB
Print Length: 368 pages
Publisher: HQN Books (February 1, 2017)
ASIN: B01GZVCUBO
Genre: Contemporary, Small Town Romance, Mystery
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

In the heart of Ransom Canyon, sometimes the right match for a lonely soul is the one you least expect
Dan Brigman may not lead the most exciting life, but he's proud of what he's achieved: he's a respected lawman, and he's raised a bright, talented daughter on his own. But finding a lone, sparkly blue boot in the middle of a deserted highway gets him thinking maybe the cowgirl who lost it is exactly the shake-up he needs.
After losing her baby girl, Brandi Malone felt like her soul died along with her daughter. Now singing in small-town bars to make ends meet, she's fine being a drifter—until a handsome sheriff makes her believe that parking her boots under his bed is a better option.
College grad Lauren Brigman has just struck out on her own in downtown Dallas when a troubling phone call leads her back home to Crossroads. Her hometown represents her family, friends and deepest hopes, but also her first love, Lucas Reyes. Will Lauren's homecoming be another heartbreak, or a second chance for her and Lucas?

Review:
This is a fun, easy read, small town romance. Dan is a great character who brought smiles to my face from the very first pages.

Dan is a respectable lawman whose wife walked out on him years ago. At least he had his wonderful daughter, Lauren, to watch over, raising her on his own and even allowing her to study and work at the sheriff’s office. Dan hasn’t had much to do with women since. When he finds a sparkly, fancy cowgirl boot in the road he wonders what it would be like to meet the kind of wild woman who would wear those boots. He tracks her down and finds Brandi Malone mesmerizing the locals with her singing in a local tavern. It is lust, if not love, at first side.

Thatcher, a young man who has been adopted by the town as an abandoned boy, has been accused of shop lifting and assault. He didn’t steal the groceries but was really returning them. But he did punch the grocer and he is not going to tell the sheriff the rest of the story. Lauren gets word that Thatcher is in jail and feels she must come home to watch over him and get matters straightened out. Because things look dicey, Lauren calls on the one lawyer she is sure she can count on, at least for law, if not for commitment. Lucas is a successful lawyer but was Lauren’s cowboy, high school sweetheart before college and life took them on separate paths. There is still a strong ember between them but they are both a little gun-shy feeling abandoned by the other.

Cody Winslow is haunted by his last gun fight as a Texas Ranger. He has not been able to out run his demons and nightmares. Riding hard along the canyon at night he ends up thrown from his horse into the canyon. Lucky for him, Tess, a park ranger, and her handful of 5 and 6 year old campers, find him and get him aid. Now Tess is taking charge of his house while he is healing in the hospital and Cody is thinking he might have something to live for if he can just keep hold of this bossy, strong minded woman.

All three character lines converge as the book progresses and drug thugs try to kidnap Thatcher from jail. Thatcher is actually protecting a little girl but didn’t want to tell Dan about it until it was clear the child is in more danger.

I have read historical romances by Ms. Thomas and enjoyed them a lot. She writes with reasonable, well flowing plots that include a little mystery, a good dose of humor, likeable characters and sweet to sassy romance. I was, of course, rooting for the HEA for Dan and Brandi, Cody and Tess, and Lauren and Lucas. The relationships that resolve are sweet and heartwarming. I recommend this as a fun romance for readers of contemporary romance and for mystery readers who like romance.

I received this from the publisher through NetGalley; it qualifies for my NetGalley Challenge.