Posted in Book Release, Historical, Review, romance on February 7, 2023

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

Before Rosalind weds, she wants to experience ten things. Meeting Charlie wasn’t on her list.

England, 1820

Rosalind Newbury is counting down the days until her wedding to the Duke of Marlow, a man she has only met twice, and she knows exactly how she wants to spend her time. As a child, Ros created a list of ten things to do before her wedding day. So far, she has done none of them.

She is determined to tackle each item, though she’ll have to accomplish them all in secret. After all, a soon-to-be-duchess is not usually allowed to bury treasure in the pasture, eat sweets all day, or learn how to swim. She enlists the help of her best friend, Liza, who brings along her cousin, Charlie, a prodigal son-turned-boxer who has come to the countryside to mend his reputation and learn how to be his father’s heir.

Together, the three of them work to complete the list, and as each item is crossed off, an unlikely friendship blossoms between Ros and Charlie. The more time they spend together, the more Ros falls in love with this imperfect man and his good heart.

With the wedding looming, Ros must decide to either admit her romantic feelings for Charlie and risk her family’s future, or keep her promise to marry the duke and start a new life as a noblewoman.

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Deseret Books

 

 

Review

 

Regency novels take us back to a time when things were very different. Women didn’t have much of a say in what happened to them, men could be brutes, but sometimes, true love was discovered.

Rosalind is engaged to a Duke whom she met by chance when he came to purchase land from her father. Seeing a step up for their family, she agrees to marry the Duke. What she doesn’t expect is to meet Liza’s cousin, Charlie, and fall head over heels in love. Granted, it takes some time for that to actually happen, but I think many others could see it before she does.

I always found it interesting that women had to have chaperones if they were unmarried. All for propriety and to not sully her reputation. Not that the women back then weren’t a little crafty. Take Rosalind, for example. She spent a lot of time with Charlie but usually had Liza or her brother Ben with her. Ben might have been her little brother, but he took his role seriously as the heir in the family and made sure she wasn’t compromised. He may have been 18, but I don’t think he was fully mature yet. But I loved his devotion to her.

The purpose of this story was for Rosalind to complete a bucket list that she wrote when she was around 12. She got this great idea from her Aunt Alice and saw it as a way to celebrate the last of her singleness. I loved the idea, but why didn’t she think to update the list? Most of the items were innocuous and would have been the same whether she was 12 or 20. However, some were a little dangerous. Doesn’t matter; she worked her way through that list with the help of Liza and Charlie.

This was a fun story to read, and I appreciate the world today compared to then. However, sometimes times were simpler, and I know that I admire the strides women made over the last 200 years to bring us to where we are today.

I also enjoyed all of the antics and even some of the heart-pounding moments. We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

MEGAN WALKER was raised on a berry farm in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, where her imagination took her to times past and worlds away. While earning her degree in Early Childhood Education, she married her one true love and started a family. But her imaginings of Regency England wouldn’t leave her alone, so she picked up a pen. And the rest is history. She lives in St. Louis, Missouri, with her husband and three children.

 

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Posted in 5 paws, fiction, Review, romance, women on January 20, 2023

 

 

Synopsis

 

Austen Keller was living her dream. She landed a career-defining job which moved her and her husband to Paris. <Swoon!> Shortly thereafter, she was divorced. This wasn’t the plan. Yet there she was—pushing 40 and starting over.

A decade after she’d last been single, Austen enters the dating scene playing by a new set of rules in a different language, culture, and lingerie standards. She experiences every type of miserable first date imaginable and lives to tell the tales of Pierre the Mansplainer, Simon the Snoozer, Emile the Over-Sharer, Guillaume of the Gym Shorts, and many more. On most dates, she struggles to get past one glass of Bordeaux without wanting to bolt. Even worse, no one chases after her when she runs. It doesn’t take long for her to realize that whoever said French men were romantic deserves a swift kick in the pants.

A rewarding and high-powered career.

Fabulous female friendships.

True love. <Umm?>

Austen continues to ask herself: Is “having it all” too much to ask?

A genuine and tragically hilarious novel about an ex-pat woman’s journey of self-discovery through a string of disastrous dates, relationships forged in a deep cultural divide, world travels, and wine. A lot of wine.

 

 

Amazon

 

Read for Free via Kindle Unlimited

 

Review

 

I have to start off by saying I LOVE the title of this book! That is a question I ask often…it could make or break going to an event!

Austen is my kind of gal, and I think we would be good friends. She is strong, confident, and knows what she wants from life. Well, most of the time. She seems to be chasing love or an idea of what love should be like. This is a detriment in a way because she looks at things unrealistically, but it makes for good fodder when telling dating stories, which we are privy to via her blog stories. Men are the same no matter what country you are in; you will have some winners and some losers.

There is a lot of flirting, witty repartee, interesting travels, and soul searching. I enjoyed the various locations and the interesting characters. I liked how there was a close-knit group that spans the globe. I was jealous that they could drop and take a trip at almost the drop of a hat. But that is the difference between European and American outlooks when it comes to vacation.

This was a fairly quick read for me, and I look forward to future adventures from this author.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Whitney Cubbison is an American living in Paris since 2009. She grew up in Texas and California and graduated from UCLA with a degree in French. She started her career in Communications working for high-tech PR agencies in San Francisco and eventually joined Microsoft, where she worked for sixteen years, thirteen of which from the Paris office. During that time, she held various international roles that encompassed public relations, employee communications, executive speechwriting, and social media.

She left Microsoft in July 2022 to focus on completing her first novel, Will There Be Wine? The story, while fiction, is deeply inspired by Whitney’s own experiences as an ex-pat divorcée living in Paris and trying to navigate the cultural minefield of dating in a foreign country.

DatingDisasters.Paris is the URL of a “dates-gone-wrong” blog written by the book’s main character, Austen Keller, and also happens to be Whitney’s author website.

When she’s not writing, Whitney can be found sitting in Parisian cafés and restaurants with her friends, drinking wine.

 

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Posted in 4 1/2 paws, Review, romance on January 13, 2023

 

 

Synopsis

 

Designed by Destiny is the first book in the brand-new series Fairy Godmothers, Incorporated.

 

After a painful break-up in university, Bethany Clarke has sworn off love to focus on her career. From her humble South Side beginnings to her position as an architect intern at a prestigious Chicago firm, she’s proven to be a hard worker and is proud of her accomplishments. In three years, she’ll be a fully licensed architect which is more important to her than anything else.

Confirmed bachelor Nicholas Grey is more than the playboy perpetrated by the tabloids. Now his position as CEO of the architecture firm Grey & Company is on the line, and his mother’s interference is making things more difficult. Nick’s serious about his work, but, in order to be taken seriously, he needs to land a huge project. A stable personal life will help guarantee the contract.

Fairy Godmother Faye Delmore hears Nick’s plea and steps in to help. Posing as a publicist, she suggests a strategy to polish his public image, which includes convincing Beth to play his wife. Faye knows Nick needs the huge project to save his job, but she also knows he needs Beth in his life.

What happens when you add a fairy godmother who loves playing matchmaker into the equation? A future designed by destiny.

 

 

Amazon * Tirgearr Publishing * B&N * Kobo

 

 

Review

 

I loved the storyline, a trope we have all seen, but with a fairy godmother twist that was unique because we saw some flashbacks to Faye’s life.

I enjoyed the story between Beth and Nick and watching them discover their feelings for each other. However, Beth became annoying when she was confronted with things that scared her, and she ran away vs. talking to Nick about the situation. I get that she had some baggage from the past, but running away never solved anything.

Still a very enjoyable story, and I look forward to learning more about the other fairy godmothers that were mentioned in the book.

We give this book 4 1/2 paws

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Maya Tyler is a multi-published author of paranormal romance novels and blogger at Maya’s Musings. An avid reader, Maya writes the books she loves to read—romances! Her paranormal romances come with complex plot twists and happily-ever-afters.

When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading, listening to music (alternative rock, especially from the 1990s), practicing yoga, and watching movies and TV.

 

 

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Posted in Cozy, excerpt, Monday, mystery, romance, Spotlight on January 9, 2023

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

The little white house on Main Street in Buffalo Springs, Arkansas, is the only home Jackson Nelson has ever known. With college behind him and both his sisters back in town to look after their aging parents, Jackson knows now is the time to make his big move. All he’s ever wanted is to move to New York and lead the high-stakes life of a real estate investor. He’s determined to leave town right after Christmas and never look back.

Cindy Kline has never had a real home or a real Christmas. Abandoned by her father and raised by an unfit mother, Cindy thought she had finally found the family she always wanted when the man of her dreams asked her to marry him; but when his Navy SEAL helicopter went down in a fiery crash before their wedding, Cindy had nothing left to keep her in sunny California. Packing her meager belongings into her old, beat-up car, Cindy drives straight to Buffalo Springs and to the only real friend she’s ever had – Andi Nelson. With Christmas around the corner, Andi, Jackson, and the whole Nelson family convince Cindy to stay through the holidays even finding her a job that may turn out to be a real career.

Just when Cindy is beginning to get into the Christmas spirit, her life is once again up-ended – this time by a series of break-ins and the news that her dangerous father may be lurking nearby. Cindy has no idea that her father’s mysterious past will put her life in jeopardy, and Jackson has no idea that the bright lights of New York are but a flickering flame when it comes to the sparks of the heart.

 

 

 

 

Amazon * Target * Walmart * B&N * Books2Read

 

 

Excerpt

 

“And unto you a child is born!” The child actor belted out the play’s most robust line with all the enthusiasm he could muster.

It was all Cindy could do not to jump to her feet and applaud. She laughed and clapped along with the rest of the audience. When the play was over, she went with the Nelson family to the town drug store that boasted an old-fashioned ice cream parlor and soda fountain in the back of the store. The proprietor had kept the doors open late to welcome the theatergoers.

“What would you like?” Jackson asked as Cindy eyed the many choices written on the blackboard.

“There are too many to choose just one.”

Jackson laughed. “Andi is partial to anything with peanut butter, and Helena always goes for something super sweet and fruity like cherry or raspberry. Mama likes plain old chocolate.”

She looked at Jackson. “And what do you like, Jackson?”

She saw his expression falter for just a moment, and a curtain of pink danced across his features, reminiscent of the curtains that closed at the end of the show. He blinked and just as quickly as the odd look appeared, it disappeared, and he broke into a wide grin.

“I always go for a good, old-fashioned root beer float with vanilla ice cream.”

“Would you believe, I’ve never had a root beer float?”

The look he gave her was one of exaggerated shock. “What? That might be the most un-American thing I’ve ever heard.” He clutched at his chest. “A shot to the heart.”

Cindy laughed, and Andi inserted herself between them to grab some extra napkins from the top of the ice cream display case.

“Is this guy bothering you?” she asked with a mock scowl.

Cindy shook her head. “Not at all. This has been one of the best nights of my life, and I’m going to top it off with my very first root beer float.”

Andi smiled. “I think that’s a great idea.”

On their turn, Jackson ordered for them both then reached for his wallet to pay, but Cindy put her hand on his arm.

“Jackson, no, I can’t let you do that.”

“Why not?”

“Because I can pay for my own ice cream. You all have been so generous already.”

“Sorry, Cindy, but my daddy would skin me alive if he heard that I allowed a female to pay for her own ice cream.”

She frowned and said in a firm voice, “Jackson, this isn’t a date. I can pay for my own ice cream.”

Again, she saw his face redden. “I never said it was a date, and you should accept an act of kindness when presented with one.”

The cashier cleared her throat, and Cindy realized they were holding up the line. Embarrassed for drawing attention, she said, “You’re right. Go ahead and pay, but I owe you.”

“That’s fair. On the next family outing, you can buy me ice cream.”

Cindy accepted her root beer float from the young girl behind the counter and took a sip. She didn’t know how to respond to Jackson. She wasn’t part of the ‘family’ and didn’t know if she’d be there for the next outing. Rather than agree, she concentrated on her float and sat quietly while listening to the rest of them banter about Christmas and New Year’s and the June wedding. She couldn’t help but wonder what she would be doing by then and where she would be.

As she ate, Cindy felt a peculiar tingling on the back of her neck. She looked around, peering up and down the streets. Other families hovered nearby, eating ice cream, and several couples walked along the sidewalk. It looked like everyone in town had come out to see the play. None of the other theater goers paid any attention to Cindy or the Nelsons, and Cindy had no reason to be paranoid, but she could not shake the eerie feeling that she was being watched.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Amy Schisler is a novelist, poet, children’s book author, spiritual writer, blogger, reader, and avid traveler with years of professional experience in all manner of writing-related endeavors. Whether she’s writing novels filled with faith and inspiration, books that children will love, or her weekly blog devoted to family life and faith, she loves connecting and resonating with her readers. Amy’s first novel, A Place to Call Home, a romantic suspense, debuted in 2014, and her much-loved Chincoteague Island Trilogy has won numerous literary awards.

Amy lives on the Eastern Shore of Maryland with her husband, Ken, their daughters, Katie and Morgan (and sometimes their daughter and son-in-law, Rebecca and Anthony), and their dogs, Rosie and Luna. When she’s not writing, Amy can usually be found on a boat in the Chesapeake Bay or hiking in the Rocky Mountains, most often with a good book in her hand.

 

 

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Posted in 4 paws, Review, romance on January 8, 2023

 

 

Synopsis

 

Now a Hello Sunshine/Prime feature film from international bestselling author Melissa Hill comes an adorable holiday romance about taking chances, falling in love, and trusting destiny.

New York City at Christmas and a visit to Tiffany’s is a recipe to sweep a girl off her feet. Unless fate has other plans . . .

When Ethan Greene lost his wife, he never thought he would be able to replace her until one woman stepped in and showed him how to be happy again. Now, on a romantic Christmas trip to New York City, he has a plan to show Vanessa just how important she is to him and maybe even to give his daughter, Daisy, a complete family again. He’s going to propose with a perfect ring from Tiffany’s.

Gary Knowles and his girlfriend, Rachel, are on the trip of a lifetime in New York at the most magical time of year. The only thing missing is Gary’s gift for Rachel since, as usual, he’s left his shopping far too late. On a last-minute Christmas Eve visit to Tiffany’s, he quickly picks out a charm bracelet for her and heads back to their hotel. But, in a moment, one small mistake changes everything…

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Kobo * Bookshop

 

 

Review

 

I happened to watch the movie first, so I thought I knew what would happen in this book. I was wrong because while the basic premise is the same, the details are different.

Once I got past that part, I enjoyed the story. Ethan is too nice, not wanting to hurt Rachel’s feelings, Rachel is in a relationship with a self-absorbed jerk (aka Gary), Teri is a well-meaning friend, and Daisy is the bright spot in the stories.

The book was a quick read, filled with deceit on multiple fronts and the desire to find true love. There is a HEA for some of the characters, but not all.

We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

Movie Trailer

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Melissa Hill is a USA Today bestselling author living in Ireland’s beautiful County Wicklow. Her page-turning contemporary novels of family, friendship, and romance are published worldwide and have been translated into twenty-six languages.

A Hollywood adaptation of her international bestseller Something from Tiffany’s, by Reese Witherspoon’s production company Hello Sunshine and Amazon Studios, will be released worldwide in Dec 2022.

Other novels, including A Gift to Remember and The Charm Bracelet, have been adapted for the screen by Hallmark Channel USA, with multiple other titles currently also in development for film and TV.

 

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Posted in 4 1/2 paws, Review, romance on December 28, 2022

 

 

Synopsis

 

Raise your hand if you’ve ever been stupid enough to fall in love with your best friend.

It’s not my fault. I was perfectly happy to keep my budding feelings to myself until the ‘kiss’.

Now, all I can think about is how good River smells and tastes. How it would feel to have his hands on my body.

Too bad convincing a player who doesn’t believe in love to take a chance on me is more difficult than succumbing to his charm and ending up in his bed. Oops.

Lucky for me, I have the entire town of Winter Falls on my side. The residents of this kooky small town think they’re the world’s answer to matchmaking. Match away, Winter Falls. Match away!

With their help, maybe I can convince River there’s more to us than friendship because this chemistry between us doesn’t lie.

This friends to lovers small town romantic comedy features an awkward woman who sprouts sexual innuendos on accident when she’s nervous, a player who thinks love exists for everyone in the world except him, a pair of sisters who don’t understand the word ‘privacy’, and a whole town of hippies convinced they’re the best matchmakers this side of the Mississippi.

Meet Not is a standalone novel in the Winter Falls ~ Dempsey Sisters series.

 

 

Amazon

 

Read for Free via Kindle Unlimited

 

 

Review

 

Another trip to Winter Falls that does not disappoint. In this book, we get a front-row seat to Elizabeth and River’s love dance. There is a strong attraction between the two, but River doesn’t believe in love. That is until he meets Elizabeth, and she sets him straight (eventually).

As with all of the other books, it is chock full of nosey neighbors, sexual innuendos (and even some not so innuendo!), quirky characters, witty dialogue, and a HEA. The gossip girls, aka matchmakers, don’t mess around and will do whatever it takes to pair up the young people of the town. They thought they were done until the Dempsey sisters came to town. Now they have some new people to wreak havoc on their lives.

While the story focuses on Elizabeth and River, we do see some continuing storylines with all of the other characters. So while you could read this on its own, it will be better read in order so that you have a sense of the townspeople and their background, and of course, how the town works since it is carbon neutral.

I enjoyed how the story delves into Elizabeth and River’s past and what holds them back, especially River. It takes time to unwind his fears, but it does happen. You’ll have to read the book to discover more.

The only issue I had was at the very beginning because the first chapter or two is a repeat of the previous book. It is setting the stage for Elizabeth and River’s story, but I thought I had picked up a book I had already read. Once I realized what was going on, I was able to continue and put it all into perspective.

There are two more Dempsey sisters and I can’t wait to read their stories. Cassandra is next!

We give this book 4 1/2 paws.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

D.E. Haggerty is actually just plain old Dena, but she thinks using initials makes her sound like one of the cool kids. She was born and raised in the U.S. but has spent the majority of her adult life abroad, living in cool-sounding places like Istanbul, Heidelberg, and The Hague. She has job hopped from military policewoman to lawyer to B&B owner. She finally jumped off the job-hopping bandwagon a few years ago when she decided to turn her addiction to romance novels into a career. If anyone has ideas on how to turn a love of wine into a job, she’s all ears.

 

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Posted in 5 paws, Christian, Giveaway, Holiday, Review, romance, Texas on December 21, 2022

 

 

FINDING MY DESTYNEE

 

Rafter O Ranch, Book 3

 

by

 

NATALIE BRIGHT

 

& DENISE F. McALLISTER

 

 

Holiday Romance / Country Music Romance / Clean & Wholesome
Publisher: CKN Christian Publishing
Publication Date: October 18, 2022
Page Count: 245 pages

 

 

Scroll down for the Giveaway!

 

 

 

 

True heart’s desire cannot be ignored.

Destynee Olsen has always done what her mother asked, but the road to stardom could mean leaving behind a piece of her heart.

Travis Olsen tries desperately to honor his vow to support his wife. Watching their son grow up without a mother is asking too much and his resentment builds. A marriage alone and single parenting is not what he signed up for.

The line has been drawn between a woman who has been told that her destiny to be a star is more important than she is and a cowboy who refuses to destroy his wife’s dream. Destynee and Travis have to decide what’s important. Can they discover the life they were meant to have at the risk of denying their own hearts?

 

 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indigo

 

Read for Free via Kindle Unlimited

 

Praise from Amazon Reviewers

 

“The dialog brings the story to life, and the stage scenes are intriguing and vivid as Destynee decides just how much fame is worth, and the cost to her heart and family.”

“…an emotional read about a young couple, each trying to survive their marriage. The storyline brings heartache, forgiveness, and reconciliation as God works to bring peace and contentment back to their marriage.”

“Another great read with excellent characters.”

 

 

 

 

This clean, sweet romance reminds us that what is important in life isn’t fame and fortune but family.

Travis and Destynee were married young and have a son, Wyatt. Destynee’s mother missed out on having a life in the spotlight, so she pushes Destynee in that direction. Now don’t get me wrong, Destynee has a beautiful voice, but her mother is a piece of work. She tells her what to wear, what to sing, and micromanages her entire life. She even keeps Travis away from Destynee by treating her like a young child and taking her phone away, deleting messages and calls. As you can imagine, this causes miscommunication between the couple.

On the road, Destynee begins to question if this is where she wants to be. She misses Travis and Wyatt, and the few times she is able to see them just reinforce what she is missing by traveling and performing. I think many people might question if that is the life for them, especially Destynee, who has a strong belief in family and doing what is right. I began to question how much her mother was profiting off of her daughter, especially when she won’t tell Destynee how much she was making singing or how much she was paying a publicity expert. There are many more red flags, but I can see how Destynee wouldn’t necessarily question her mother based on their relationship and her age.

Travis isn’t perfect either. He isn’t really taking care of Wyatt, but thankfully his mother is making sure that everything is ok. There are issues there that need to be dealt with to ensure a more peaceful family. Relationships are tenuous at times, but communication is what helps bring the family together during the rough patches. But they all support one another, and that is evident when Travis decides to step up his relationship. I won’t say too much because that might spoil it for you!

I enjoyed watching the characters grow. They aren’t perfect, but they learn what it takes to make a relationship and family work. They are even strengthened by their faith.

This was such a good book, and I didn’t realize it was the third in a series. I will definitely go back and check out the first two books.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Texas author Natalie Bright writes novels for kids and adults that combine her passion of the American West with a small-town vibe. She calls the wide-open land and endless sky of the Texas Panhandle home, which inspires her work. Her co-author is a Georgia writer and editor. Denise F. McAllister credits a love of horseback riding and 15 years in equestrian showmanship for her heartfelt connection to all things western.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natalie’s Social Media & Author Pages

 

 Website | Amazon | Facebook | Pinterest

 

Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | BookBub | LinkedIn

 

 

Denise’s Social Media & Author Pages

 

Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon

 

 

GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!

 

ONE WINNER!

 

Receives the full Rafter O Ranch eBook Series.

 

(US only; ends midnight, CST, 12/29/22.)

 

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

 

 

Visit the Lone Star Literary Life Tour Page

 

For direct links to each post on this tour, updated daily,

 

Or visit the participating blogs directly:

 

12/19/22 All the Ups and Downs Excerpt
12/19/22 Carpe Diem Chronicles Review
12/19/22 Hall Ways Blog BONUS Promo
12/20/22 Chapter Break Book Blog Guest Post
12/20/22 The Clueless Gent Review
12/20/22 LSBBT Blog BONUS Promo
12/21/22 Shelf Life Blog Author Interview
12/21/22 StoreyBook Reviews Review
12/22/22 Book Fidelity Guest Post
12/22/22 Rainy Days with Amanda Review
12/22/22 Guatemala Paula Loves to Read BONUS Promo
12/23/22 Boys’ Mom Reads! Guest Post
12/23/22 Librariel Book Adventures Review
12/23/22 Rox Burkey Blog BONUS Review

 

 

 

 

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Posted in 4 paws, Review, romance on December 18, 2022

 

 

Synopsis

 

Her heart is wide open, but he’s nailed his shut.

Preschool teacher Harley Cole has always viewed life through rose-colored glasses. With a career she loves, friends she enjoys, and a home that is her haven, there’s only one thing missing—finding her soul mate. As the holidays approach, Harley is inspired to help her former high school crush rediscover his holiday joy. It’s just a good deed…until the feelings she thought were gone come rushing back.

Fire Chief Becker Lange returns home to River’s Edge with a heavy heart. His divorce has emotionally ravaged him, leaving him more confused than ever about what women want. So to protect himself from another failure, he closes his heart. And then Harley Cole makes him a flirty dare that she can help him overcome the holiday blues. Beck’s not sure he wants to, but Harley’s a hard woman to tell no.

Can the magic of Christmas and a sweet stray kitten bring these two lonely souls together?

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Tule * Kobo

 

 

Review

 

This is the end of the Lange brothers trilogy. If you haven’t read the other books, The Valentine Wager or Falling for the Doctor, you’ll want to read these too. While not necessary to read in order, it will help since the characters move forward in each book.

We get to know Beck and Hayley in this new book. Beck’s life growing up wasn’t the easiest with an absentee father, but he helped his mom make the best of it for their family. He is back in town after a failed marriage which has set him back emotionally. Hayley has always had a crush on Beck and even dated his younger brother for a hot minute. I think Hayley looks at Beck as her project to try and cheer him up and see life in a new light.

This book was delightful and also a bit emotional. Hayley is dealing with her mother’s dementia, and Beck’s father comes back into the picture with a fatal illness. I could relate to Hayley and her struggles with her mother’s disease. Dementia is not a kind killer. But I loved that she made the best of the situation.

The relationship between Hayley and Beck isn’t always smooth as they both work out what they want from a relationship. Beck is more closed off than Hayley, but I enjoyed watching him blossom and realize that maybe life can be better when you are with the right person.

This was a great conclusion to the series, and we give it 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Nan Reinhardt is a USA Today bestselling author of sweet romantic fiction for Tule Publishing. Her day job is working as a freelance copyeditor and proofreader. However, writing is Nan’s first and most enduring passion. She can’t remember a time in her life when she wasn’t writing—she wrote her first romance novel at the age of ten and is still writing, but now from the viewpoint of a wiser, slightly rumpled woman in her prime. Nan lives in the Midwest with her husband of 49 years, where they split their time between a house in the city and a cottage on a lake.

 

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Posted in excerpt, romance on December 17, 2022

 

 

Synopsis

 

Designed by Destiny is the first book in the brand-new series Fairy Godmothers, Incorporated.

 

After a painful break-up in university, Bethany Clarke has sworn off love to focus on her career. From her humble South Side beginnings to her position as an architect intern at a prestigious Chicago firm, she’s proven to be a hard worker and is proud of her accomplishments. In three years, she’ll be a fully licensed architect which is more important to her than anything else.

Confirmed bachelor Nicholas Grey is more than the playboy perpetrated by the tabloids. Now his position as CEO of the architecture firm Grey & Company is on the line, and his mother’s interference is making things more difficult. Nick’s serious about his work, but, in order to be taken seriously, he needs to land a huge project. A stable personal life will help guarantee the contract.

Fairy Godmother Faye Delmore hears Nick’s plea and steps in to help. Posing as a publicist, she suggests a strategy to polish his public image, which includes convincing Beth to play his wife. Faye knows Nick needs the huge project to save his job, but she also knows he needs Beth in his life.

What happens when you add a fairy godmother who loves playing matchmaker into the equation? A future designed by destiny.

 

 

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Excerpt

 

“You’re staring. Do I look okay?” She turned around in a slow circle, tilting on her heels in a dramatic end of the runway-type pose.

“Yes, beautiful.” He caught her hand, drawing her closer, smiling smugly when he heard the quiet catch of her breath. She wasn’t immune to him. He leaned in, inhaling her light perfume, ghosting his lips along the column of her slender neck. Her pulse thrummed erratically under his touch.

“Nick.” She took a step back. “There’s no one watching now.”

Her words had the effect of a cold bucket of water. Caught up in the moment, he’d temporarily forgotten their more-business-than-pleasure arrangement. “Practice.” He offered her a rehearsed lopsided smile. “So you don’t jump like a rabbit every time I’m near.”

Smiling back, she seemed to accept his quipped response. He looped her arm with his, coaxing her closer as they waited for his private elevator. Waves of anxiety radiated from her tense body. That wouldn’t do. Anyone with half a brain paying even the slightest bit of attention to them would spot the ruse.

Nick moved his hand to the small of her back, tugging her closer. When she looked up to question his action, he pressed his lips against hers. He felt her muscles tense under his touch. Instead of retreating, he redoubled his efforts, deepening the kiss until Beth surrendered to his amorous assault. The fight in her floated away as she sunk into his embrace. She returned his kiss as ardently as he ever could’ve imagined. He knew a passionate woman lived beyond the surface, the professional armor she showed the rest of the world. Suddenly, kissing her was more important than anything else. He wanted to unzip her dress, the task he’d been cheated of, and bare her luscious body to his intense perusal. He didn’t care about the world outside this room—his company or his obligations.

Beth’s hands pressed against his chest, curling into his dress shirt. He was glad she felt comfortable enough to explore his body. Thoughts of hers had plagued him since Vegas. The honeymoon had been too short, but there was no need to rush things now. If she felt the same as he did—

 

 

About the Author

 

Maya Tyler is a multi-published author of paranormal romance novels and blogger at Maya’s Musings. An avid reader, Maya writes the books she loves to read—romances! Her paranormal romances come with complex plot twists and happily-ever-afters.

When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading, listening to music (alternative rock, especially from the 1990s), practicing yoga, and watching movies and TV.

 

 

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Posted in 4 paws, fiction, Holiday, romance on December 12, 2022

 

 

Synopsis

 

The annual Sweet Water, Georgia, Christmas parade is nearing but relationships are fractured on Wild Rose Lane. Antique dealer Cheryl Calloway’s holiday spirit has tanked. It’s been a horrible year with her divorce, her ex marrying younger and perkier Miriam across the street, and Mama moving into Cheryl’s Victorian cottage with her Amazon parrot right before Thanksgiving. A party girl in her eighties, Mama smokes up a storm, likes her nightly vodka, has a hankering for men, and now a wingman named Nigel. If that isn’t enough, the Historical Society wants Cheryl to clean up all the projects on her porch waiting to go to Spivey’s Antique Mall for their Christmas Open House. Her desire to work her booth is as dead as her marriage. Miriam, President of the Historical Society, chastises her, “If it ain’t pretty don’t put it on the porch.” Then there’s Alice, her strange neighbor with the six-foot fluorescent light bulb cross nailed to the huge Magnolia tree in the middle of her rose garden. Alice watches all the neighbors too closely. Just when Cheryl thinks things can’t get worse, an incident shakes her to the core, and a mystery follows revealing family secrets long forgotten. Cheryl wants to believe in miracles and love again, and Dr. James may just be the man of her dreams as he helps her and Mama sort things out.

 

Filled with quirky characters, mystery, family secrets, and sweet love, all set in a hot Georgia small town.

 

 

Amazon

 

Review

 

This book will have you laughing and cringing all at the same time.

Cheryl has had a tough year or two, and now her mother has come to live with her and has brought along her pet parrot, Nigel. Mama is definitely one of those people that says and does what she wants no matter what anyone else requests. I love that she even has a romance going with Jackson, a semi-blind resident at the local retirement home. But I love that they don’t care about what others think and do what they want to do.

Cheryl is trying to get her life back together after divorcing her husband, who now lives across the street with his new wife, Miriam. Miriam is a handful and inserts herself into everyone else’s life and doesn’t care what that person thinks or wants. There is also the next-door neighbor, Annie, that is hiding a secret from Cheryl and Mama. We also have Dr. James, aka Jim, whom Cheryl meets, and they have some instant chemistry. He is just what Cheryl needs to move forward with her life.

This book is more than romance and mystery. It is about relationships, family, and the pursuit of happiness. It is sticking up for your family despite how crazy they might make you. I felt drawn to Cheryl and what she was experiencing when it came to her mother and her siblings. She was sort of “stuck” taking their mother in to live with her because she was single. But I think that despite the ups and down, they forged a strong bond with each other, and maybe this won’t be such a bad situation to be in…even with Nigel.

I really enjoyed the relationship dynamics between everyone, and it gave each of the characters depth which only added to the story.

I hope that this becomes a series. I would love to visit Sweet Water again!

We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Barbara Barth turned to writing and adopting dogs to heal after her husband died fourteen years ago. Known as ‘Writer With Dogs,’ Barth currently lives with four Chihuahuas in a charming town forty miles outside of Atlanta. She is Literary Arts Chair at a small art center where she promotes writing activities, author events, book launches, and hosts an online group Walton Writers. Inspired by the wonderful artists around her, Barth started painting and has won several awards for her whimsical art.

 

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