Sunday, September 25, 2016

Rosemary's Double Delight by Heather Rainier

Rosemary Piper has known Wes and Evan Garner since they were in kindergarten.  They were planning on getting married after they graduated from college, but Evan couldn't keep it zipped.  After a painful divorce, can Evan rebuild his relationship with Rosemary to give the three of them their HEA?

I loved Rosemary's devotion to Wes and Evan. This was another wonderful book in this series.

Highland Temptation by Jennifer Haymore

Lady Emilia Buchanan discovered papers in her father's study linking him to a traitorous scheme against the crown.  After her father beat her, she turned to the Highland Knights for protection.  In their safe house, she discovers an attraction to Sir Colin Stirling.

Sir Colin Stirling has been chased by the demons of war since Waterloo.  His nightmares are violent and he doesn't trust himself with any relationships.  Lady Emilia brings out the protective instinct that he has buried.

Soon, all Colin wants is a chance to find some sort of happiness with Emilia.

This book was amazing.  I was hooked from the beginning and didn't put it down until "The End".  I loved the characters and their adventure.

This is the third in the Highland Knights series.  It read quite well as a standalone.  The characters from previous novels flowed around the plot but did not smother it and let Colin and Emilia have their own story.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  Thank You!

My Fair Princess by Vanessa Kelly

Raised in Italy, Gillian Dryden lives in a world in between.  As the illegitimate daughter of a prince, she fits in no world.  When her beloved stepfather was killed by bandits, Gillian sought revenge.  Her mother and grandmother return to England to find a suitable husband for Gillian.  Gillian is a fish out of water and needs help negotiating the Ton.

Her grandmother asks Charles Penley, the Duke of Leverton to help transform Gillian.  Charles is know in the Ton as Peerless Penley.  He may be the one person that can transform Gillian.

I loved how Charles fell in love with someone that was his exact opposite.  It brought out another side in his character.  He was the one person that could transform Gillian and still keep her spirit.  I absolutely loved this novel!

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  Thank you!



Monday, September 12, 2016

Heavenly Angel by Heather Rainier

Angel Martinez has healed from being shot by his psycho ex-girlfriend.  He has wooed Teresa Palacios for months so they can have the future he craves.  Teresa has a painful past and comes with a two-year-old son.  Things are coming together when Angel's bull-riding brother Joaquin arrives at Angel's house on Christmas Eve.  Can Angel and Joaquin have their HEA with Teresa?

Angel and Joaquin have to be my favorite two cowboys in this series.  I loved this story and how Teresa gains confidence to love Angel and Joaquin.


Her Gentle Giant, Part 2 by Heather Rainier

This novel picks up where Part 1 left off.  As Rachel has to face a traumatic event from her past new characters are introduced along with duct tape underwear.  My only complaint is the over liberal use of italics.  After a while, it became a distraction.

Her Gentle Giant Part 1: No Regrets by Heather Rainier

Rachel Lopez was the statuesque beauty that helped Grace with Patricia the Psycho in "Her Divine Grace."  Eli Wolf is part of the security team for The Dancing Pony Night Club in Divine, Texas.  When he met Rachel Lopez, he fell hard.  Rachel is attracted to Eli but when he asks her out, She turns him down.  Rachel knows she has a jealous streak and won't be able to handle the women flocking to Eli.  She thinks she can't compete with the skinny women that won't leave Eli alone.

Eli is one of my favorite heroes in this series.  While this is Eli and Rachel's story, there is a lot of Grace and her men in this story.  This novel and Divine Grace are the foundations for this series.

Inarticulate by Eden Summers

Savannah is sent to Seattle when the sale of one of her company's under producing hotels is going bad quickly.  The team for the group buying the hotel is playing dirty and the team leader is Savannah's cousin Penny.  Naturally, her boss feels it is an excellent idea to send Savannah.  Too bad Savannah hasn't seen her cousin since they were in High School and Savannah kissed the guy her cousin liked.

At a family dinner, Savannah meets the enigmatic Keenan.  Even though Keenan won't talk to her, they communicate and the sparks fly between them.  Despite being warned off of Keenan by her cousin Dominic for one reason and his sister Penny for a much more personal reason, Savannah won't end their relationship.


When I read "The End", I was wiped out.  This book is an emotional roller coaster.  There were pages I wanted to yell at Savannah for not seeing what was right in front of her.  OMG!  You know who Penny works for.  Put two and two together!  And you walk out because he can sing?!  Then other pages I wanted to yell at Penny because she lost her chance and is messing with other people's lives over some petty BS with Savannah that is one sided!  Then, I wanted to slap Dominic because he knew everything but didn't tell Savannah.  Just give vague hints to Savannah.  Talk about being set up!

I received this ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.




Sunday, September 11, 2016

Winner Takes All by Erin Kern

Blake Carpenter is coaching his hometown high school football team after his professional career spiraled out of control.  Blake knows he is the the person that can lead the team to a winning season they haven't had in eighteen years.

Annabelle Turner has been hired as the team's physical therapist.  When Blake meets Annabelle, he has to keep their contact professional.

This is one of those books that I read the description and hoped for much more than I got.  When I read a book, I have to be hooked.  You put the book down and want to pick it back up to see what happens next.  Nope.  I didn't care.  For me there was no spark between the characters.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.



Taming the Highlander by May McGoldrick

Innes Munro has the gift of being able to see a person's past and what torments them by toughing them.  The gift comes at a heavy price.  She seeks to lead a quiet life.  Her intent is to see her beloved sister married to the man she loves then return to Folais Castle.

Conall Sinclair has suffered in battle.  He is scarred in body and spirit.  His clan sees him as a wild savage.  Conall seeks isolation from war.

Conall is reluctant to let Innes close to him, but she slowly wears him down and he finds that he can look for a future.  There is an evil force after Innes and her relic.  Will evil win?

While this is the second in a two part series, it stands alone and is a wonderful read from the first chapter to the end.  I normally don't read books set in this time period, but I really enjoyed this one.

The characters were amazing.  While Innes and Connal are the main characters, Bryce and Ailein played an important part.  I loved the loyalty Connal and Bryce showed to each other.  Connal was captured and held as a prisoner by the English for a year.  He didn't tell them who he was so they didn't send a ransom to his clan and force Bryce to pay it.  Bryce never gave up hope that his brother was alive and when he was found alive, he payed the ransom.

There is small sub plot revolving around Bryce's first wife that added a bit of mystery to the novel.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.  Thank You!


Monday, September 5, 2016

Divine Grace by Heather Rainier

Grace Stuart has been living her life to please others.  She let her boyfriend, Owen, move in to the house her mother left her.  Now, he is nothing but a sponge.  Grace has been lusting after the son of one of her customers at the department store she works at part time.  When Rose Marie passes away, Grace supports Jack and meets his two friends, Adam and Ethan.  Before long, Jack, Adam, and Ethan convince Grace that she can be free of her abusive boyfriend and they will take care of her.  They teach Grace that she deserves to be desired and loved by three men.

It is pure escapism and you have to suspend reality to enjoy this book.   Way too much gift giving for reality.  The jewelry, lingerie and furniture!  Wow!  These guys kept the economy of Divine going during their courtship of Grace.  How do three guys with full time jobs have the time to also run a working ranch/stud farm?  It was over the top campy, but it was fun.

That said, I can suspend reality and was hooked on this book by the end of the first chapter.  Jack, Adam, and Ethan are amazing.  I love how each man has a different but equal connection with Grace.

On a side note - I wish Book Strand would stop with the badly photo-shopped covers.  They are embarrassing.  I bought this book as the boxed set and the cover is more milder.  Some of the covers in this series are way over the top.  I want "milder" covers.  I buy for content/synopsis not photo.  I do read in public places had have had to shield my e-reader from other people seeing the covers.



Mad For the Plaid by Karen Hawkins

Lady Ailsa Mackenzie has been left to care for the estate while her father is gallivanting in London.  Her grandmother, Lady Edana MacGregor Mackenzie, has invited her old friend, Natasha, the Grand Duchess Nikolaevna for a visit.  All is well until Natasha and Edana's companion Lord Hamilton dissappear.  Alisa has no choice but to let Natasha's grandson, Prince Nikolai Romanovin know.  Nik wants move freely about while searching for his grandmother so he assumes the identity of one of his guard.

Karen Hawkins is one of my favorite authors.  This novel did not disappoint.  From the strong heroine to the handsome hero with plot twists in between.  It was marvelous.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  Thank you.