One Summer Day (Prosperity Ranch #1) by Heather B. Moore

She’s desperate to start over. He represents the past she wants to leave behind. But falling in love is never about logic.

Macie’s divorce has left her at rock-bottom, and she uproots everything and takes her young daughter to visit Prosperity Ranch for the summer. Every kid deserves to know her grandparents, right? Macie hopes for some healing time, even if she is staying at her ex in-laws ranch. What she isn’t expecting is her ex-husband’s brother, Holt Prosper, to fit every ideal she’s ever hoped for in a man.

 * Amazon * Goodreads * 

I am so excited to have a new series by one of my favorite authors to delve into!  This one is set on a ranch in Texas and I just love a good rancher/cowboy lead character.  Throw in that Texas charm and yup, hello Holt.

Is it weird that Macie falls in love with her ex-husband's brother?  I think it is.  I mean, I think Holt is awesome too, but seriously.  Awkward.  I just kept thinking the whole time how weird it would be to know your wife slept with your brother.  Who is still alive and coming to family dinner.  😳 I don't know.   Don't worry though, I can easily set aside my concern and mostly focus on Holt and Macie who are two great characters deserving of happiness and love.

How could Macie not fall for Holt as she watches him fulfill every hope and wish she had going into a marriage before?  Holt is all that and a bag of cookies.  Chocolate cookies.  I loved how easy it was for Holt to extend kindness, respect and love to both Macie and her daughter.  Both Holt and Macie are ready for love and the attraction is definitely there.  Hummm yumma I love lots of kissing and I sure got it with this book. 

This is a great start to this series and I'm really looking forward to the next book, releasing in March.  One Summer Day is on KU if you have that.

Content:  mention of affairs, kissing

- I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own.

 

The Will and the Wilds by Charlie N. Holmberg

Enna knows to fear the mystings that roam the wildwood near her home. When one tries to kill her to obtain an enchanted stone, Enna takes a huge risk: fighting back with a mysting of her own.

Maekallus’s help isn’t free. His price? A kiss. One with the power to steal her soul. But their deal leaves Maekallus bound to the mortal realm, which begins eating him alive. Only Enna’s kiss, given willingly, can save him from immediate destruction. It’s a temporary salvation for Maekallus and a lingering doom for Enna. Part of her soul now burns bright inside Maekallus, making him feel for the first time.

Enna shares Maekallus’s suffering, but her small sacrifice won’t last long. If she and Maekallus can’t break the spell binding him to the mortal realm, Maekallus will be consumed completely—and Enna’s soul with him.

 * Amazon * Goodreads *

I absolutely love when a cover perfectly represents what is inside.  This one is so pretty too- I love the colors.

Enna is an endearing character.  Her soul is a main source of focus in this story and for good reason.  It really does burn brightly and purely.  As Enna shares her soul with Maekallus, he begins to feel and realize things long forgotten.  I loved the contrast between dark and light in relation to Enna's soul.  The relationship develops slowly between Enna and Maekallus as they work through a common problem that binds them.   

The story also progressed slowly but picked up a bit about half way though.  I just finished reading a fast paced, high intensity book so maybe the contrast between that book and this one made it feel extra slow to me.  This book definitely wasn't intense and didn't involve my emotions much.  It was however, sweet and gentle with a unique plot and likable heroine.  This author does a good job of weaving in the magical to spark imagination.  While this wasn't my favorite book by this author, I did enjoy it and would easily recommend it to teenage (and older) fantasy lovers.  The ending really was magical. 💜

This book is on Kindle Unlimited.

Content:  kissing, mild peril, mild violence

- I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own.

 

$50 Release Day Giveaway! The Solicitor's Son by Rachael Anderson

 

Happy Release Day!! The Solicitor’s Son by Rachael Anderson
At the end of her third season, Miss Sophia Gifford is firmly on the shelf, and she’s determined to accept her current suitor—a man she likes but cannot love. When her sister decides to throw an impromptu summer house party, Sophia reluctantly agrees to help. What she doesn’t realize is that her sister has plans of her own—plans that would bring a certain childhood friend back into Sophia’s life. It’s been nearly a decade since Sophia has seen Hugh Quinton. He’s grown into a handsome, charming, and successful—yet completely unacceptable—tradesman. Her mother looks down on him, her father detests him, and society would snub him in an instant. Sophia shouldn’t even consider him. But her heart doesn’t listen to reason, and before long, she finds herself wondering how much she is willing to sacrifice for love.

      Release Day Giveaway 

 $50 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal Cash Ends 2/2/20 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. This giveaway was organized by Kathy from Clean Wholesome Romance and is sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. 

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rebound (Northbrook Hockey Elite #3) by Sophia Summers, Rebecca Connolly, Heather B. Moore

He's all in. She's all in. Nothing stands in their way--until their families get involved.

Summer Davis, small town librarian, PHD candidate, wants to fall in love.
Rocco De Luca, pro hockey player, didn’t know he was looking for love until he met Summer.

Now they try to navigate getting to know each other around his home game schedule with both their families vying for attention and meddling in ways only big families can. It’s a wonder they can go on a few dates at all once Summer’s brothers learn a pro hockey player is interested in their sister.

But the closer they become, the harder it will be when Summer is offered the chance of a lifetime…far away from their small town in Wyoming.

 * Amazon * Goodreads *

Do you love hockey?  Or, are you like me and know next to nothing about hockey?  Luckily, either way you probably love this book.  It's not the hockey that makes me love this book but the romance and the awesome relationships between  this group of friends that all started with hockey.  That is really the kind of stuff that I love to settle in with.  Love and friendship. It makes my heart happy all the way around.   

I think Rocco and Summer are both fun characters.  They are well matched and their first meet was something else!  I liked the natural progression of their relationship and the fun they had together.  

This series is one of my favorites.  I'm all in and anticipating the next book!

Content:  kissing

- I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Roman & Jules: A standalone Fake Marriage Clean Romance by Stephanie Fowers

When Jules meets Roman Verona at an exclusive Vegas party, she doesn’t suspect the bad blood that runs so deep between Roman and her boyfriend, Ty, until the two men have it out in front of her. Even worse, Jules finds out that Ty has never loved her. She storms away, only to have her ex’s sworn enemy offer her a ride into town... as well as a shocking proposal.

A nice girl wouldn’t even consider making her ex jealous with a sham marriage, so why does she chance it with Roman?

Acting the role of devoted husband, Roman soon becomes fascinated with more than Jules’s sweet smile and poetic soul. As her band’s fame grows in Vegas so do his feelings for her and what started out as revenge against his miserable cousin turns into something deeper.

But bad boys don’t settle down. So why does Roman risk everything to win Jules’ heart?

All bets are off in this modern and sleek tale of star-crossed love!

 * Amazon * Goodreads * 

I lovey loved this one!  😍  The story, the cover, everything!  It's my favorite from this author, I think. 

I just love a good fake marriage story and this one felt new and fresh.  There is an air of rebelliousness, revenge and recklessness as the story begins for both Roman and Jules.  It was the perfect way to lure me in!  I loved the chemistry between Roman and Jules and how it grew into friendship and respect and admiration.  When you combine chemistry with those other attributes, love is sure to follow.  Those are my favorite kind of love stories.

Roman does so many sweet things without Jules even knowing.  I love how hard he tries to please her and speak her language.  Jules is just sweet- from beginning to end.  And speaking of the end . . .  I loved it.  💙 

This book is on kindle unlimited. 

Content:  mild violence, kissing, mild innuendo

 

The Way of the Brave (Global Search and Rescue #1) by Susan May Warren

Former pararescue jumper Orion Starr is haunted by the memory of a rescue gone wrong. He may be living alone in Alaska now, but the pain of his failure--and his injuries--has followed him there from Afghanistan. He has no desire to join Hamilton Jones's elite rescue team, but he also can't shirk his duty when the call comes in to rescue three lost climbers on Denali.

Former CIA profiler and psychiatrist Jenny Calhoun's yearly extreme challenge with her best friends is her only escape from the guilt that has sunk its claws into her. As a consultant during a top-secret mission to root out the Taliban, she green-lighted an operation that ended in ambush and lives lost. When her cathartic climb on Denali turns deadly, she'll be forced to trust her life and the lives of her friends to the most dangerous of heroes--the man she nearly killed.

Her skills and his experience are exactly what's needed to prevent another tragedy--but in order to truly set Orion free from his painful past, Jenny will have to reveal hers. They'll have to put their wounds behind them to survive, but at what cost?

* Amazon * Goodreads *

It took me a bit to really get into this book. There are a lot of characters introduced quickly and it was hard enough to keep everyone straight at first let alone make emotional connections.  I can see that this story is laying the foundation for the series to come and there are many, many players in this game.  Each book will add a layer to an overarching story/mystery to be solved.  It's exciting to think about.

I have no idea how people willingly go into places like Denali where it's well below freezing, you can never get warm, you eat nasty things and seriously?  It's a death trap.   It absolutely boggles my mind.  But, welcome to a whole story of characters willing do this.  😳  A story of a whole group of characters who nearly freeze to death, starve, get altitude sickness, fall over cliffs, get injured, and almost die on more than one occasion.  Yup, it's one harrowing experience after another.  It's intense and my body was so locked up for half this book!  I had to remind myself to relax.

It was interesting to see how the different characters handled guilt and fear.  Not everyone responds the same in extreme situations which is what makes us human and individual.  I like how this author portrays that.

Meanwhile, Orion and Jenny come in contact after 3 years apart.  There are many things swirling around them from the past and it's all mixed in with some pretty yummy attraction.  I liked how things came together in the end and how I could feel the shift in not only the characters but the story line as well.  I'm looking forward to the next book!



Content: some violence, peril, death, kissing, Christian elements (a bit on the heavier side)
 
- I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Last Shot (Love in Chaos #3) by Amy Matayo

It’s the same routine every night, and country music superstar Teddy Hayes wouldn’t have it any other way.

7:00 pm: Arena doors open and fans fill the stands.
7:45 pm: Lights go out and spotlights come on.
7:46 pm: Energy from concert-goers reaches an ear-spitting crescendo.
7:47 pm: Teddy takes the stage and begins to sing.

But tonight, something is off.

It starts when a stage light malfunctions and sends sparks into the air.
It continues when his drummer stops playing and stares slack-jawed in Teddy’s direction.
It dawns on him when a fan doubles-over and a red stain spreads across her shirt.
Something isn’t just off tonight.

Someone in the crowd is shooting a gun.

And it’s up to a female bodyguard he’s never met before to save his life.

 * Amazon * Goodreads * 

Wow.  This book jumped right into the thick of things.  There was no easing into this climactic situation and honestly, it just doesn't let you go.  This book was very intense for me and very frightening.  Maybe because it is so real.  The previous books in this series are very real too, but they were more about the elements against people.  That is scary but not personal.  People shooting other people is personal and it's the stuff of nightmares.  There were a few times I had to close the book and walk away for a minute- just to calm my emotions. 

Lest you think all is lost- love begins in the darkest of places.  Literally.  I don't even think it was romantic love at first- just a common love for another human being struggling and needing comfort and support that turned to awareness.  I loved the connection forged between Teddy and Jane.  In the hardest, scariest moments of their lives, they are joined together, trying to make sense of what is happening and trying to stay alive.  Amy Matayo is so good at working through raw human emotions and turning it into something beautiful.  It really helped me feel like I knew intimately both Teddy and Jane.  

I think I read through this book in fast forward.  I actually thought when I finished that it was a shorter book- barely novel length.  Haha.  No.  It's a good size novel and I just blew through it so fast that it felt that way.  I couldn't help it, I guess.  That's what intense does to me. 

This book is the third in the series.  It can stand alone but characters from previous books make an appearance or two so you might be happier if you read the others first.  These books are all on Kindle Unlimited.

The Waves
The Aftermath

 Content:  violence, peril, mild swearing, kissing, mention of casual intimate relations

- I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own. 

It’s the same routine every night, and country music superstar Teddy Hayes wouldn’t have it any other way.

7:00 pm: Arena doors open and fans fill the stands.
7:45 pm: Lights go out and spotlights come on.
7:46 pm: Energy from concert-goers reaches an ear-spitting crescendo.
7:47 pm: Teddy takes the stage and begins to sing.

But tonight, something is off.

It starts when a stage light malfunctions and sends sparks into the air.
It continues when his drummer stops playing and stares slack-jawed in Teddy’s direction.
It dawns on him when a fan doubles-over and a red stain spreads across her shirt.
Something isn’t just off tonight.

Someone in the crowd is shooting a gun.

And it’s up to a female bodyguard he’s never met before to save his life.

It’s the same routine every night, and country music superstar Teddy Hayes wouldn’t have it any other way.

7:00 pm: Arena doors open and fans fill the stands.
7:45 pm: Lights go out and spotlights come on.
7:46 pm: Energy from concert-goers reaches an ear-spitting crescendo.
7:47 pm: Teddy takes the stage and begins to sing.

But tonight, something is off.

It starts when a stage light malfunctions and sends sparks into the air.
It continues when his drummer stops playing and stares slack-jawed in Teddy’s direction.
It dawns on him when a fan doubles-over and a red stain spreads across her shirt.
Something isn’t just off tonight.

Someone in the crowd is shooting a gun.

And it’s up to a female bodyguard he’s never met before to save his life.

It’s the same routine every night, and country music superstar Teddy Hayes wouldn’t have it any other way.

7:00 pm: Arena doors open and fans fill the stands.
7:45 pm: Lights go out and spotlights come on.
7:46 pm: Energy from concert-goers reaches an ear-spitting crescendo.
7:47 pm: Teddy takes the stage and begins to sing.

But tonight, something is off.

It starts when a stage light malfunctions and sends sparks into the air.
It continues when his drummer stops playing and stares slack-jawed in Teddy’s direction.
It dawns on him when a fan doubles-over and a red stain spreads across her shirt.
Something isn’t just off tonight.

Someone in the crowd is shooting a gun.

And it’s up to a female bodyguard he’s never met before to save his life.It’s the same routine every night, and country music superstar Teddy Hayes wouldn’t have it any other way.

7:00 pm: Arena doors open and fans fill the stands.
7:45 pm: Lights go out and spotlights come on.
7:46 pm: Energy from concert-goers reaches an ear-spitting crescendo.
7:47 pm: Teddy takes the stage and begins to sing.

But tonight, something is off.

It starts when a stage light malfunctions and sends sparks into the air.
It continues when his drummer stops playing and stares slack-jawed in Teddy’s direction.
It dawns on him when a fan doubles-over and a red stain spreads across her shirt.
Something isn’t just off tonight.

Someone in the crowd is shooting a gun.

And it’s up to a female bodyguard he’s never met before to save his life.It’s the same routine every night, and country music superstar Teddy Hayes wouldn’t have it any other way.

7:00 pm: Arena doors open and fans fill the stands.
7:45 pm: Lights go out and spotlights come on.
7:46 pm: Energy from concert-goers reaches an ear-spitting crescendo.
7:47 pm: Teddy takes the stage and begins to sing.

But tonight, something is off.

It starts when a stage light malfunctions and sends sparks into the air.
It continues when his drummer stops playing and stares slack-jawed in Teddy’s direction.
It dawns on him when a fan doubles-over and a red stain spreads across her shirt.
Something isn’t just off tonight.

Someone in the crowd is shooting a gun.

And it’s up to a female bodyguard he’s never met before to save his life.

On Wings of Devotion (Codebreakers #2) by Roseanna M. White

All of England thinks Phillip Camden a monster--a man who deliberately caused the deaths of his squadron. But as nurse Arabelle Denler watches the so-dubbed "Black Heart" every day, she sees something far different: a hurting man desperate for mercy. And when their paths twist together and he declares himself her new protector, she realizes she has her own role to play in his healing.

Phillip Camden would have preferred to die that day with his squadron rather than be recruited to the Admiralty's codebreaking division. The threats he receives daily are no great surprise and, in his opinion, well deserved. What comes as a shock is the reborn desire to truly live that Arabelle inspires in him.

But when an old acquaintance shows up and seems set on using him in a plot that has the codebreakers of Room 40 in a frenzy, new affections are put to the test.

 * Goodreads * Amazon *

I'm so excited to have discovered a new author whose books I love!  Roseanna M. White!  She writes historical fiction which is one of my favorite genres.  This particular series is set during WWII and it really is amazing.  The whole story just came alive in my head.  I could picture the characters, the places and all the things going on.  On Wings of Devotion is the second book in the series.  I was lucky enough to pick up book one (The Number of Love) on a deal from Amazon (It's still on sale for just $.79 so grab it NOW! If you don't follow me on Facebook, you should!  That's where I post about all the freebies and deals I find!) and I read it right before reading this book.  It was awesome to jump right from one book to another and never leave that world of characters.

We first meet Phillip Camden in book one.  He is aggressive and angry with the weight of the world on his shoulders.  I'm so glad this second book was all about him and the golden hearted Arabelle.  I loved how the story grew steadily and how my emotions were invested.  By the end I felt almost desperate, reading much faster than I should have been!  

This whole Codebreakers idea is fascinating to me.  What an important part of history that I had no idea about before now.  The author does a great job of outlining fact and fiction in her afterwords so I recommend reading those.

If you love historical fiction, I would really recommend this series.  I will be anxiously awaiting the next book!!

Content:  some violence, peril, kissing.  Christian fiction.

- I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Just a Boyfriend (End of the Line #2) by Sariah Wilson

 

Ian “Bash” Sebastian and Ember Carlson were high school sweethearts…until their single parents got married. With one thorny twist of fate, a secret young crush went from on fire to off-limits. What could a new stepbrother do but bail? Now, after almost four years, Bash has returned to Seattle, and he’s back in Ember’s orbit at End of the Line. EOL is the go-to college for second-chance scholarships. But what about love?

Sure, the old hurts are there. So is the attraction—and it’s more magnetic than ever. Still, they’re adults now, levelheaded and just fine with the friend thing. If only to make family dinners less awkward. But when they agree to start dating other people, moving on threatens to bring them closer together than ever.

Is it time to admit their past to their parents? Even trickier, their hope for the future? Because Ember and Bash deserve a love story of their own. With all their defenses down, can they make it a happy ever after?

  * Amazon * Goodreads *

It's always a happy day with a happy dance when I get to read a new Sariah Wilson book!  And that's what this book made me- happy, happy, happy.  It was flirty and fun but not without it's more serious issues.  The characters do struggle a bit with outside issues and they also struggle between themselves but it never became greater or more oppressive  than the love and attractions swirling around them from the very beginning.  Have I ever mentioned how much I love swirling love and attractions?  Yum.  Sariah Wilson does this sort of thing very well.

I first met Bash in the previous book in this series.  I knew he was going to be a fun character to delve into.  Ember and Bash have a very interesting relationship and history.  It makes for some equally awkward and heart warming situations.  I really enjoyed reading this one- it was just what I needed.  I smiled and I swooned.  See?  Happy.

This is the second book in this series but can stand alone.  You might be happier if you read the first book (The Friend Zone) though.  The characters from that book do appear in this book.  

Content:  kissing, making out.  Some light innuendo.

- I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own.

A Wrinkle in Forever (Love Under Wraps Book 3) by Charissa Stastny

What do you do when forever unravels?

Laurel Tremain never imagined when she ousted Everett Montgomery from student council that she would lose her heart to the arrogant, but oh-so-charming jock. That was the moment their love story began and flourished into a forever kind of love.

But a tragic accident the night before their wedding leaves Laurel broken, unable to give Everett what he most desires. When she realizes he will never be the one to walk away, she runs, placing a permanent wrinkle in the fabric of their lives.

Years later, a twist of fate brings Everett back into Laurel’s orbit. He’s struggled to move on since she disappeared from his life, and the forever he longed for has diverged far off course. But being with Laurel again proves that time hasn't erased his feelings. Laurel is still his perfect match.

There’s just one problem. Their second chance rests squarely in the forbidden zone.

 * Goodreads * Amazon *

I have been loving this Love Under Wraps series.  The first two books were SO good.  I struggled with this one though and I really hate to say that.  I'm going to go with the good and the not so good for me.  This book is written in alternating perspectives and jumps back and forth through time.  Just make sure to pay attention to the dates to keep everything straight!  Oh, and this book is Looooooong.  Over 350 pages.

The good:  I feel like I really knew the characters- their motivations, their struggles, their strengths and weaknesses.  I was definitely sucked into the drama of the story and it was hard to disengage myself- especially in the first half.  I could picture the scenes in this book and felt like I was there with the characters.

The bad:  There was so much drama in this book.  So many depressing, hard and dramatic things happening.  All the time.  All the way through.  Just when you think there might be a speck of hope, nope.  Nada.  I had a hard time being in the throes of depression and hard things for the majority of the book.  As a reader, I really need to feel that hope and that light.  This book swirls in darkness most of the time.  It was depressing and I didn't like it.

I think the author threw in every single horrible thing she could think of into this book.  I was listing them all to my daughter and it almost got ridiculous saying them all out loud.  I won't list them all here because if you want to read this book, I don't want to give anything away but please be advised that I will be listing many things in my content head's up so read it or don't as you will.  I don't mind hard issues for characters in the books I read.  I love depth and growth but I really need a balance so the darkness doesn't become overwhelming.

The next thing I was surprised with was the swearing and sexual references in this book.  I wouldn't label it clean and I thought this was a clean romance series.  Also, there are a lot of potential triggers for people in this book so be aware.

I'm sorry to say I didn't enjoy this book.  I really am.  Every book is different for every reader and this one just wasn't for me.

Content:  swearing, sexual references (groping), innuendo, crass thoughts and words, drinking to excess, teenage partying and drinking, references to casual sex, drug abuse and addiction, suicide, overdose, rape, molestation, depression, marital affairs, child neglect.

- I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own.