Once Upon a Romance

    In this blog post, I reviewed Alex Bailey’s Once Upon a Romance, the first installment in the Dream Come True contemporary romance series, this enchanted love story is magical like any Disney movie. Sophie O’Connor loves her job as an editor working in Los Angeles with her best friend Hyun. But when her brother-in-law Rick had to leave town for work before Christmas, she needed to do something for her eight-year-old niece Ariel. And that was to grant her Christmas wish: go to Disney World. Though she wasn’t much of a Disney fan since she lost her sister Natalie a year ago, she would do anything for Ariel and had arranged a trip to Florida.  On the way there, she met someone named Professor Disney, who was a blogger on everything Disney. From there, they befriend him and explore the parks. While Sophie was still taken with her boyfriend Darren, she noticed a change in her when she had fun with Ariel and Professional Disney aka Ray Bueno through the parks. She began to let go of the past grief behind her and looked to the future to heal and followed her heart to the love of her life with Ray.

This magical contemporary romance is lovely and endearing.  I cared for Sophie, who would do anything for her niece Ariel to make her happy. And she began to let down her guard a little while she had fun with Ray. I also cared for Ray, who found his happy place as a Disney blogger, and healed for his own personal loss. The trio locations of Denver, Los Angeles, and Walt Disney World were blissful and perfect with epic scenic settings. The dual themes of the story is to find your magical happy place and to  let go of the grief.

This sweet contemporary romance is wonderful and enchanted. . I rated this book, four out of five stars, because of minor punctuation errors. If you love romances with non-stop action, plenty of drama, and hints of sweet romance,  Once Upon A Romance will make you a believer. This book is recommended for fans who love Disney movies, Robyn Carr, and Kristen Hannah romance novels.

Tough Justice

    In this blog post, I reviewed Tee O’Fallon’s Tough Justice, the first installment in the K-9 Special Ops romantic suspense series. This debut is packed with suspense and keeps you hooked on every page. For Dr. Victoria Sampson, she promised to not get involved with the DEA, knowing what they’ve done and had destroyed her family years ago. She had witnessed too many young people die from a dangerous opioid cocktail called gray death in the ER. But when she meets DEA Agent Adam “Deck” Decker, things change after they work together on saving lives to chase down a dangerous drug dealer in Denver and its suburbs. For Deck, he lost his sister Marianne to drugs years ago when he couldn’t save her in time and blamed himself for it. But after Tori saved his life from being exposed to gray death, he wanted her to work with him by gathering information from her patients to help with their investigation. When things get intense for a warrant, it puts them into a precarious situation from being stalked and placing them in danger. And when she had saved his life with an opioid, he didn't want it, knowing what it did to her sister, and caused a rift between them. During their time apart, Tori became suspicious of her fellow coworkers and tried to put the pieces together. When she did, it was almost too late to stop it, putting her life into peril. Will Deck save her in time to rescue her and mend her broken heart by making a compromise. 

This thrilling romantic suspense is gripping and is timely with the opioid crisis you hear about in the news.  I cared for Tori, who worked hard to get where she wanted to be ‘till this day as an Er doctor, in spite of the financial crisis her family was in. I cared for Deck, who loves his job as an DEA agent, and working with Thor, his beloved dog, to get drugs off the streets. Thor was adorably sweet. They make an incredible team and an awesome couple. The location in Denver and its vicinity was picturesque with mesmerizing scenic settings to take you there.The theme of the story is to defeat the odds to make a relationship work, you have to compromise when it comes to love.

This gripping romantic suspense is awesome and a heart-stopping read. I rated this book, four out of five stars, because for no reason. If you love romances with non-stop romantic action, plenty of romantic drama, and heart-pounding tension Tough Justice should be added to your TBR list. This book is recommended for fans who love romantic suspense novels featuring K-9s like Margaret Mizushima and Sandra Brown.

Close to You

    In this blog post, I reviewed Kristen Proby’s Close to You, the second installment in the Fusion contemporary romance series. This love story will have your heart swoon and make you laugh in stitches. For Cami LaRue, she had the biggest crush on her best friend’s brother for a long time. When she was a teen, he went away to the Navy for a decade as a pilot. Now since he was home and back into her life, she wanted to mince words with him. Later on, their friendship had blossomed into something wonderful when they both revealed feelings for each other. They took their newfound relationship when they dated and went through some unexpected life-challenges along the way. For Landon, he loved flying planes for the Navy. Until he ended up injured on a mission, he recovered back home and faced Cami, the only woman he ever wanted and stole her heart. In the meantime, he became a central focus point into her life and being there for whenever she needed him. Now since he had found Cami, he never wanted to leave Portland for the longest time and found home with her. But when they dealt with an unexpected blow, they worked through the issues together and found out they were meant to be together forever.

This heartfelt  contemporary romance is truly wonderfully written and moves your heart. This  romance has all the right ingredients for a great love story. I I cared for Cami, who loves her work at the restaurant, and had issues with Scoot, a wilty cat. I loved how she cared for her nephew and having fun with her besties. I adored Landon Palazzo, and loved how he took care of her and all of her needs, even if he dealt with her cat Scoot. The location in Portland Oregon was loveswept with mesmerizing scenic settings to take you places.The theme of the story is absence makes the heart grow fonder and stronger with every heartbeat.

This endearing contemporary romance is top-notch and perfect for a steamy Love story. I rated this book, four out of five stars, because it was an emotional read.  If you love romances with non-stop romantic action, plenty of romantic drama, and heart-stopping intrigue, Close to You should be added to your TBR list. This book is recommended for fans who love Hallmark Channel movies, Kristan Higgins, Jennifer Probst, and other romance novels.

The Butterfly Garden

    In this blog post, I reviewed Mary Campisi’s The Butterfly Garden, the sixth installment in the That Second Chance contemporary romance series. This beautiful tale is about family, and  dealing with life’s unexpected surprises that might be thrown your way. For Jenny Romano, she was a successful photographer who took photos across the world, making a name for herself. But when she receives a phone call that her sister was in a car accident in Ohio, she dropped everything and rushed over to be with her nieces and help her sister  Grace come out of her coma and get her through the crisis. She later learned that her brother-in-law died at the scene. While she handled taking care of her two nieces, she discovered her brother-in-law was unfaithful and kept that knowledge to herself. But then she met Dr. Elliot Drake, a single father, and a psychologist, to help her nieces and her sister cope with various issues from the crash. She began to trust her heart to him since she needed his advice on how to deal with her mother, who always criticized her throughout her life. For Grace, she needed to be strong for herself and her children, since her perfect world had unraveled with lies and deceit of a broken marriage. As Jenny begins to see Elliot more, she begins to fall for her and wins the heart for his daughter, Sydney. As Grace gets stronger to face the light and start a new life, Jenny decides to find a new meaning of the world home, when she can be with the man she loves and still travel to take photographs closer to home and to her sister.

This tear-jerking romance is so emotionally packed with the matters of the heart. This love story is wonderfully written and beautifully told to pull your heart strings taut..  I cared for both Jenny and Grace, two different sisters, who wanted to seek approval from their mother. They both had to deal with life-changing circumstances and being accepted for who and what they are, faults alone. Elliot was a charming man who cared for his daughter alone since his wife left him to pursue her dreams. But he helped Jenny through a turbulent crisis and cared for her with his whole heart. The location in Ohio was charming and quaint in a suburban cul-de-sac neighborhood with picturesque scenic settings. The theme of the story is acceptance and being loved for who you are while finding a second chance in love and family ties.

This heartfelt contemporary romance will move your heart and have you weeping every now and then. I rated this book, four out of five stars, because it was an emotional read.  If you love romances with non-stop romantic action, plenty of drama, and heart-stopping intrigue, The Butterfly Garden deserves to be read.. This is recommended for fans who love Hallmark Channel movies, Susan Wiggs, Debbie Macomber, and Barbara Delinsky.

Sunrise Over Sapphire Bay

   In this blog post, I reviewed Holly Martin’s Sunrise Over Sapphire Bay, the first installment in the Jewel Island romantic comedy series. This mesmerizing romcom will fill your heart with light, love, and laughter. For Aria Phelps, she loved living at the Phelps Hotel and cherished her relationship with Noah Campbell. They once shared a passionate kiss with each other a year ago until he left her brokenhearted. A year after her father passed away, Noah Campbell returned back into her life. Though her twin sisters wound up with money in the will, her late father left her with the family hotel which is down on its luck. As the new hotel manager, she needed to work with Noah, who brought a percentage share, to renovate it and make a profit again with some changes. For Aria, she needed to keep her distance from Noah to protect her heart and have a pure professional relationship with him. But when they get together to work on a business plan, things do get heated up between them which makes things way harder than it sounded and looked. Noah was dealt with a broken heart from his first marriage and had feelings for Aria, but he hated leaving her the first time until he returned to the island. He had a great working crew for them to turn things around to make it a success, but he didn’t want to feel abandoned and unloved again. When there was a misunderstanding, it caught them off guard, until they risked everything to be together for their happily ever after. 

This heart-warming romcom pulls and tugs at your heartstrings real hard. This love story is endearing and moving beyond words.  I cared for Aria (love the name) and Noah, who were left unloved and abandoned in their childhood. But Aria is a true underdog who wanted to find her own sense of belonging and be loved. Noah is a champion of the heart, who was hurt badly due to a bad marriage, and wanted someone who completed him to make him whole. They were simply made for each other. The location of Jewel Island was enchanted with lovely majestic scenic settings.. The  dual themes of the story is family comes in different forms and loves someone naturally just the way they are.

This romcom will take you places and transplant you there from every page. I rated this book, five out of five stars, because I LOVED it.  If you love romcoms with non-stop romantic action, plenty of drama, and heart-stopping suspense, Sunrise Over Sapphire Bay will make you sigh and  weep for joy. This is recommended for fans who love Hallmark Channel movies and romcoms and various romcom novels.

Daughters of Magpie Cove

   In this blog post, I reviewed Kennedy Kerr’s Daughters of Magpie Cove, the third installment in the Magpie Cove contemporary romance/women's fiction series. This tale deals with family secrets, a second chance for love, and the ties that bind us together. For Connie Christie, her return to her beloved Magpie Cove in Wales had a rough welcoming return. She ran into Alex Gordon, someone she knew from her past schooling days, at the pub. They had a rough start. Besides a family reunion with her mother and uncle, she ran across some old classmates from school that gave her a hard time. Someone had been stalking her and leaving her nasty notes, while she worked as her family’s museum manager and tour boat guide across the waters. As she had gotten closer to Alex, the more she was in peril to stay at her hometown. She didn’t know who wanted to do something harmful to her, though she wanted it to stop before it would drive her away. Would she follow her heart to stay at home with Alex or take a chance on her dream career?

This compelling contemporary romance pulls at your heart and deals with bullying, mental health, and finding true love unexpectedly. This is beautifully written and heart-wrenching to see what Connie had gone through. I also cared for Alex as he became the hero for her and loved her with his heart. The location of Magpie Cove, Wales, took you places with lovely scenic settings. The theme of the story is love one another and bury the past since people can change over the years.

This moving romance tugs your heartstrings. I rated this book, four out of five stars, because I would’ve loved to see Alex’s POV.  If you love women's fiction novels and contemporary romances with non-stop dramatic action, plenty of romantic intrigue, and heart-stopping twists and turns, Daughters of Magpie Cove will make you weep. This is recommended for fans who love contemporary romances and women's fiction novels like Marion Keyes, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Susan Wiggs, and Taylor Jenkins Reid.

The Dead Yard

   In this blog post, I reviewed Adrian McKinty’s The Dead Yard, the second installment in the Michael Forsythe crime thriller series. This novel will leave you speechless and have you hooked right from the first page. It all started for Michael Forsythe who vacationed in Mexico and hid out from the authorities during the Clinton Administration in the 1990s. Though he had a bounty on his head, he had been recruited by both the MI6 and the FBI to go undercover in a top-secret danger assignment. If he didn’t do this, he would face persecution and spend eternity in a Spanish jail cell. It was an offer he couldn’t refuse. So he signed on and headed to Boston to infiltrate a dangerous Irish cult by saving the crime boss’s daughter from imminent danger. Mission: accomplished. But later, when things turned dicey as he discovered his handler had been killed, he needed to throw suspicion off himself and take revenge on them in a life-and-death master plan to escape for freedom.

This gripping crime thriller is twisted and will give you goosebumps. I cared for Michael, since he’s a diverse character with a prosthetic foot. You don’t see that everyday in any fiction, then and now. I could see he had feelings for Kit, and also for Samantha, his handler, and left him a bit torn. He had to deal with a complicated situation under the circumstances that were thrown at him. The trio locations from Boston to Plum Island and then near Belfast Maine were thrilling and had mesmerizing scenic settings to transplant you on every page. The theme of the story is to keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

This dark espionage thriller will keep you guessing for more. I rated this book, four out of five stars, because it was a tad gory. If you love fast-paced crime thrillers with non-stop dramatic action, plenty of intrigue, and heart-stopping suspense, The Dead Yard is the book for you. This is recommended for fans who love crime and espionage thrillers and dramas like Vince Flynn, the Jason Bourne series, and John Le Carre.

The Quick and the Thread

   In this blog post, I reviewed Amanda Lee’s The Quick and the Thread, the first installment in the Embroidery Mystery cozy mystery series. This debut is riveting and keeps you guessing.  It all started for Marcella “Marcy” Singer, who first arrived in Tallulah Falls, Oregon, from San Francisco from her best friend Sadie’s insistence. As the new resident in town, she opened her embroidery shop across from her Sadie’s coffee shop. And at her open house, things turn a bit dicey when she later discovered a dead body with a mysterious message in her storage basement. This started her to discover the mystery of the Four Square Development scheme and those key players into it. She needed to take a closer look into it and why someone had stolen her identity too. The closer she was unraveling the truth, the more precarious the situation would be for her in the end with a shocking twist.

This captivating cozy mystery would have your eyes glued on every page and take up an interest in cross-stitching embroidery. I cared for Marcy on how she’d gotten into the thick of things with a tangled up mess. I could see her easily paired with Todd or Detective Nash, so there’s a potential love triangle in the series. The location of Tallulah Falls Oregon was enchanting and had compelling scenic settings in Northern Oregon. The theme of the story is beware of the past, before it would catch up with you.

This gripping mystery will leave you hooked at the edge of your seat. I rated this book, three out of five stars, for no reason. If you love crafty cozies with non-stop dramatic action, plenty of suspense, and plenty of shocking twists, The Quick and the Thread would be the book for you. This is recommended for fans of Laura Childs, Monica Ferris, Sally Goldenbaum, and other crafty cozies alike.

The Girl Who Survived

   In this blog post, I reviewed Lisa Jackson’s The Girl Who Survived. This dark romantic  thriller is so warped and bone-numbing that keeps you in suspense.  At the tender age of eight, Kara McIntyre had witnessed an atrocity when she lost her whole family to a bloody massacre. Saved by her sister Marlie who later vanished, her step-brother Jonas was accused of the murders. Now after his release due to new evidence, the past had come back to haunt her, while she searched for the truth about what happened that night and why. But it wasn’t easy when someone kept an eye on her and sent her mysterious text messages. And new murders had turned up on the twentieth anniversary for her on that cold and viscous night. Then she ran into Wesley Tate, the son of the man who saved her life in the lake, while losing his own. He was also after the same answers for her. Together, they teamed up to work on this puzzle while they unearthed new clues and she needed a place to hide, going through her distorted and faded memories. The only way to face her fears was to the place where it all started for her at her former home. But in the end, it was a life-and-death battle to remember and to escape from another harrowing ordeal.

This chilling thriller would have you gasping at every turned page. I cared for Kara and became connected to her and her journey to discover the truth. She had lost everyone she cared about in a brutal act of violence, and had the scars to prove and live through it. Now, it happened all over for her. But she had found a formidable alley in Wesley, who wanted to care about her and protect her like his late father did. The dual locations of Whimstick and Bend Oregon painted bone-chilling scenic settings to transport you there. The theme of the story is that you can’t hide from your past, but having a revengeful greed is a lethal sin. 

This shocking romantic thriller will give you goosebumps and chill your skin. I rated this book, four out of five stars, for no reason. If you love heart-stopping romantic thrillers with non-stop action, plenty of dramatic suspense, and bone-numbing twists, The Girl Who Survived will deliver. This is recommended for fans of Karen Rose, Erica Spindler, Laura McHigh, and all romantic and dark thriller movies and novels.

The Guest Room

   In this blog post, I reviewed Rona Hallsall’s The Guest Room. This shockingly twisted psychological thriller has some domestic suspense elements to keep your head spinning. For Stephanie Baker, all she wanted was to stay in her home, and to be reconnected to her estranged son Max. Due to the divorce with her husband Andy, both he and her daughter Bea wanted her to sell the home. But when push came to shove, she was adamant and stood her ground. Until some incidents had taken place at her home to scare her senseless and made her feel a bit unsafe. Then she met Noah, a homeless man who lived in the shed of her home. At first, she was suspicious about him, but she questioned everyone who wanted to harm her—her ex, Noah, people at work. As she had gotten closer to knowing him better and helping him out, things took a turn for the worst when unsavory people showed up at her home, and then later a house fire.  That’s when Noah saved her life and her daughter Bea became needy. Little did Steph know the truth, when she started adding up the strange happenings at her home and  connected the hard hard truth before it was too late.

This twisted psychological thriller would have you at the edge of your seat.  I cared for  Steph, who wanted to reconnect with her son Max, and to live at her home. I loved how she had a caring nature to help Noah out with his family and residential issues. The dual locations of Harrogate and London had stellar scenic settings from her home to the homeless shelter. The theme is jealousy is a ugly skin when we should love one another equally.

This gripping psychological thriller will have your heart racing and your skin crawl. I rated this book, four out of five stars, for no reason. If you love twisted psychological thrillers with non-stop action, plenty of dramatic suspense, and spine-tingling twists, The Guest Room will keep you up all night. This is recommended for fans of Cara Reinard, Gillian Flynn, and domestic suspense and psychological thriller novels and movies. 

To Be Loved by You

  In this book blog post, I reviewed Debbie Burns’s To Be Loved by You, the sixth installment in the Rescue Me contemporary romance series. This lovely and endearing contemporary romance is compassionate and moving. Ava Graham is a hard-working real estate agent, who grew up in an affectionate farm family near St. Louis, and had her heart broken after one year of marriage. When her baby sister Olivia invited her to volunteer at the High Grove Pet Rescue center’s dog wash, she met Jeremy Washington, when they worked at the same station together. As a potential set-up by her sister and her boyfriend Gabe, they begin to like each other and learn that they both had failed marriages and grew up with tough childhoods. They begin to bond through Ava’s puppy yoga sessions and Jeremy’s plan to foster dogs, they both cared for his charismatic dog Rolo, who was irresistible and loving. If they plan to have a future together, Jeremy needed to face his inner demons along with his past. When Ava injured her arm, she begins to understand where he’s coming from. To get their much-deserved happy ending, they needed to follow their hearts and let the past go.

This heart-wrenching contemporary romance was beautifully written and moved me to tears. I love pet rescue romance stories and yoga. I cared for Ava, who had been dealt with hard times and needed some happiness for a change. I adored Jeremy, who had to make a big leap of faith, and loved how he’s a rescue hero who saved Rolo’s and that adorable kitten Louie’s  life. The dual locations of St. Louis and High Grove has mesmeric scenic settings to take you and transport there right on the page. The theme is in order to heal from emotional scars, it’s best to forgive and not let anything hold you back.

This sensational pet rescue contemporary romance will pull at your heart strings and make you sigh and swoon. I rated this book, five out of five stars, because it was so heartfelt and moving. If you love pet rescue contemporary romance with non-stop action, heart-wrenching  romantic drama, and plenty of sweet intimate moments,  you'll want to read To Be Loved By You. It's recommended for fans who love pet rescue romances like Kelly Moran, Debbie Mason, and Hallmark movies.

Blood Tide

  In this blog post, I reviewed Neil Lancaster’s Blood Tide, the 2nd installment in the DS Max Craigie crime thriller series. This gripping police procedural novel will leave you at the edge of your seat. For DS Max Craigie from Police Scotland, he received a call about a suicide jumper who mentioned his life would be ruined and hints of an ongoing police case. For Max, it started the thread with an officer who was in charge of the investigation. Before he had gotten the chance, someone arranged for his death. One by one, he talked to his probe and followed the evidence of drug smuggling and a line of police corruption. When someone decided to wipe the slate clean by killing some drug runners, it made them turn their heads with suspicion. They teamed up with the PIRC to look into a crooked cop and the other unraveling threads from their nefarious crimes.  Someone had tipped off Tam Hardie, an escaped madman who escaped prison and wanted revenge against Max Craigie for ruining his life. Max feared for his life and for his wife’s too. But due to his escape, he went after one of Max’s colleagues, Janie, who almost died.  Hardie escaped to live another day while Max tended to Janie’s medical needs. The plot thickened on who was Hardie’s contact, and how they planned to expose this line of corruption to the ultimate showdown in the end. 

This gripping police thriller is nitty-gritty and gets your heart pounding at every page. I cared for Max, who wanted to do his job right and protect his wife while he’s a man on a mission. He’s a caring police officer who wants to see justice prevail to keep everyone safe. The dual locations in Scotland and Wales were intriguing and profound.  The theme of the story is corruption may run rivers deep, but good deeds make you a better person.

This police thriller will give you chills and thrills. I rated this book, four out of five stars, for no reason. If you nail-biting police thrillers with non-stop action, heart-stopping drama, and plenty of suspense,  you'll love Blood Tide. It's recommended for fans who love police procedurals like PD James and Faye Kellerman.

The Den

  In this blog post, I reviewed Cara Reinard’s The Den. This gripping domestic suspense thriller is twisted, dark, and keeps you guessing straight toward the end. It all started for Lucinda Fox, who came home to Pittsburgh to attend a benefit to honor her mother. But when her father suffered a stroke, it caused a ripple effect for her sister Valerie, her two brothers Christian and Jeremy, and even for their former nanny, Marian Vega. While they waited to hear their father’s prognosis, they learned about the Den, a special trust fund set up by their father Stefan Fox, in case anything should happen to their father. Meanwhile it caused sparks and other concerns between them. Christian wants to contest it, while the others don’t. But when he winds up in the fatal car accident, things change. Someone began to target them, one by one, until they were wiped out to claim the money. It’s up to Lucinda and Valerie to get down to the bottom of it before it’s too late for them. In a life-and-death battle, the surprising twist will leave you speechless and spine-tingling at the climax. 

This compelling domestic suspense is dark and twisted with a gripping storyline premise. I cared for Lucinda, who was the unwanted child, and wanted so much to please the people who cared about her. I also cared for Valerie, who wanted to protect her daughter Isla, and give her a better future. The location of Pittsburgh painted the scenes well for the settings. The dual themes of the story is no one’s perfect, and greed is an evil sin when it comes to money and revenge.

This dark domestic suspense will keep you at the edge of your seat and make your head spin. I rated this book, four out of five stars for no reason.   If you love dark domestic thrillers with family issues, non-stop action, heart-stopping drama, and plenty of suspense,  you'll love The Den. It's recommended for fans who love Gone Girl and Hannah Mary McKinnon.

Still The One

  In this blog review, I read Jill Shalvis’  Still the One, the sixth installment in the Animal Magnetism contemporary romance series. This beautiful contemporary romance would sleep you off your feet and have you crying tears of joy at the end. Darcy Stone is a true survivor in every sense of the word. She survived a nasty car accident and had the scars to live to tell about it. She lost her job as a travel writer for National Geographic. But she never felt loved by her missionary parents.  She just wanted a place to call her own as her home and somewhere to belong. She worked at Belle Haven Wellness Center when she matched therapy dogs to their owners. But AJ Colten, a former Navy vet, had always ruffled her father and cared for her, even if he was her brother Wyatt’s best friend. When he needed somebody to help him land an important grant for his physical therapy, he asked Darcy to go to Boise with him. From there, they pretended to become a couple and learned to trust each other and their instincts. But during a snowstorm, all bets were off when they revealed how they felt for each other. Back home, things had changed. Would Darcy will be willing to let go of the past to love AJ? Or lose her newfound happiness altogether. 

This heartfelt contemporary romance is so moving and emotionally packed. This romance is well-written and beautiful from start to finish. I cared for Darcy who suffered so much, and needed to feel wanted and loved by the people who care about her the most. I also adored AJ who would bend over backwards to be with Darcy, his true love. The dual locations of Sunshine and Boise Idaho were picture perfect to transport you there. The theme of the story is beauty is in the eye of the beholder, when the inside counts, scars and all.

This contemporary romance is off the charts and leave you speechless.  I had no issues with this book.  I rated this book, five out of five stars, because it was a tear-jerker.  If you love contemporary romance thrillers that deals with pet rescues, you’ve love Still The One.  It’s recommended for fans who love Debbie Mason, Roxanne St. Claire, and Marina Adair. 

The Cleaner

 In  this blog post, I review Mark Dawson’s The Cleaner, the first installment in the John Milton thriller series. This thriller is riveting and would leave you jumping out of your seat. It all started for John Milton, a M15 agent who had been assigned to kill people that caused threats to his government. But with one incident in France, it had changed things and left him a marked man to leave his former job by quitting. Then he met Sharon Warriner, a single mother, who needed someone to help her son Elijah. That’s when Milton came into the picture to help him stay away from drugs and gangs and to take upon boxing with his ally, Dennis Rutherford. He also fixed up a run-down home and became Elijah’s closest friend. But with a target on his back from his former employer and a gangster leader named Bizness, he needed to stay alive and watch his step until someone wanted him as a marked man on the run.

This heart-pounding thriller is well-written and scintillating with every twisted turned. I cared for Milton who wanted a clean slate and needed a break away from his former job, though it might not be so easy. We’ve gotten to know his softer side about helping Sharon and Elijah Warriner out, though he might’ve done more than ruffled a bunch of feathers.The location of London and its surrounding cities would take you places from crime-filled streets to the suburbs. The theme of the story is you can’t run or escape from your past, no matter how hard you tried.

This gripping thriller is off to the great start for this debut. I had no issues with this book. I rated this book, four out of five stars for no reason. If you love thrillers with an espionage angle with non-stop drama, plenty of action, and lots of shocking twists, you’ve love The Cleaner. It’s recommended for fans who love Lee Child’s Reacher and espionage thrillers.

The Tanglewood Tea Shop

  In this blog post, I reviewed Lilac Mills’s The Tanglewood Tea Shop, the first installment in the Tanglewood Village contemporary romance series. This romcom is so good and will have you laughing in stitches. Patisserie chef Stevie is down on her luck. She lost her apartment, her job, and her boyfriend. Her mother and sister treated her like garbage. But when her Aunt Peggy passed away, she ended up with a huge windfall that changed her life—an inheritance in her will. By chance, she went to Tanglewood to open her own tea shop and ran into Nick Saunders, a champion show jumper. For Nick, he couldn’t believe his luck would change. He’s feeling a bit guilty for his sister Tia, who’s handicapped due to an horse-riding accident, because it was his fault. He wasn’t looking for love and felt sorry for himself. Due to some hilarious run-ins with each other in Tanglewood, the village came together due to a flood when everyone came together to join forces on that rainy night. Stevie’s business is picking up customers as everyone gets along better in Tanglewood than in London. She also made new friends and befriended a cat she named Peggy. But when her friend Leanne’s brother Saul is smitten with her, it complicated things between Nick and Stevie further. At the ball, they decided to follow their heart and made a go of it to be together.

This delightful romcom is well-written and so funny, you’ll still be laughing after you finished reading. It gave me the feels and hit all the right spots. I cared for Stevie who didn’t deserve to be treated poorly by her mother and sister. This has a Cinderella-like feel to it. I also cared for Nick, who wanted the best for his sister Tia, even if he had to let go of the past to move on. He cared for her tremendously.
  The location of Tanglewood Village was picturesque and homey to take you there from the tea shop and Nick’s horse ranch. The theme of the story is finding your happy place to follow your heart.

This wonderful romcom is a must-read on your book list.  I had no issues with this book.  I rated this book, five out of five stars since it was fantastic.  If you love romantic comedies that tickle your funny bone and warms your heart with non-stop romantic drama, plenty of romance, and lots of funny moments, you’ve love The Tanglewood Tea Shop. It’s recommended for fans who love Hallmark movies, classic romcom movies and novels, and Heidi Stephen’s Never Gonna Happen.

Broken Ties

  In this blog post, I reviewed Shannon Baker’s Broken Ties, the 5th installment in the Kate Fox mystery series. This mystery keeps you in suspense from the first page to the last. It all started for Kate Fox, a sheriff in Sandhills Nebraska, when she covered for her ex-husband, Ted Conner, who’s a sheriff at another county, when he takes off to go on a fishing retreat. While she dealt with family issues at the heart, Roxy Conner, her ex’s new wife, had dropped off her baby boy at her home, she had disappeared and taken off to parts unknown, and couldn’t deal with being a mother. It’s up to Kate to find her, and to locate her missing niece Carly, who she haven’t seen in over a year. Every clue leads her to her late sister’s cabin in Wyoming when she reunited with Glenn Baxter,  a family fiend and private detective. But when she discovered what’s been going on lately, it brought her closer to danger and the possible truth on why her niece ran away and into hiding. It landed right on her own doorstep with the shocking realization that left aftershocks in her family.
 
This stunning mystery would keep you at the edge of your seat. It would leave you hooked and keeps you guessing.  I cared for Kate who wanted to search for the truth and the answers for those lingering burning questions that were linked to the past. I loved how she remained devoted to Poupon, the family dog, and temporarily cared for Beau.  I also loved how Poupon looked after Beau—sweet tender moments.  The dual locations  of Wyoming and the Sandhills district were mesmerizing and transported you there on the pages. The themes of the story is okay to let go of the past and to move on from there.

This intriguing mystery will give you goosebumps and chills.  I had no issues with this book.  I rated this book, four out of five stars for no reason.  If you love gritty mysteries with non-stop action, plenty of dramatic suspense, and lots of twisted turns, Broken Ties is the book for you. This book is recommended for those who love mysteries set in midwestern states and suspense novels.

The Overnight Guest

  In  this blog post, I reviewed Heather Gudenkauf’s The Overnight Guest, this spine-tingling thriller will give you chills and goosebumps on every turned page. Twenty years ago, twelve-year-old Josie Doyle’s world was chattered when her parents and brother were brutally slaughtered on one summer night. Her best friend Becky Allen was presumed missing. She remained the sole survivor, emotionally scarred, and lived a new life. Now, under the name of Wylie Lark, a true crime writer, she returned to where it all happened to discover new clues to the mystery of that cold case on one winter night. Estranged from her teenage son and husband, she revisits the crime scene to help her remember. On that winter night, she receives a surprise overnight from a little girl and her mother, who told their own story about how they escaped being held prisoner for over two decades. Would this connect the dots to her past to solve this case and give it a happy ending?
 
This twisted psychological thriller is well-written and had the same appeal as ripped through the headlines news stories we’ve heard for the past two decades.  I cared for Wylie/Josie on how she suffered a brutal loss at such a young age and how persevered to come out strong as a young woman. I also rooted for Becky and her young daughter on how they endured a wrath of a mad man for over two decades and lived to tell about it.  The location of Burden Iowa was picture perfect for a small-town triple homicide during the summer. The winter storm scenes painted the scenic settings to tell the story in less than one day. The dual themes of the story are to have forgiveness by letting go of the past and shaping your own future by facing your fears.

This heart-thumping thriller will have you at the edge of your seat. I had no issues with this book.  I rated this book, four out of five stars, since it was a bit dark in nature.  If you love psychological thrillers with non-stop action, plenty of dramatic suspense, and lots of deep twisted turns, the Overnight Guest will do that to you. This book is recommended for those who love Sandra Brown’s Chill Factor, true crime novels, TV shows ad podcasts, and noir thrillers.

The Good Girl's Guide to Rakes

  In this blog post, I reviewed Eva Leigh’s The Good Girl’s Guide to Rakes, the first installment in the Last Chance Scoundrels historical romance series. This debut historical romance is daring, smoking red hot, and spectacular to keep you in suspense. When Kieran Ransome helped plan his best friend’s narrow escape from marrying his sister Willa with his brother Finn, it placed his family in jeopardy and a pricy ultimatum. As a scandalous rake, he had a year to find a respectable bride as his wife and to reform his reckless ways. If he, Finn, and his best friend Dom don’t make it by the deadline, they would be cut off from their families. So Kieran needed someone to help him respectable in society’s circles for young women. And he found the perfect partner, Dom’s sister, Celeste Kilburn. Due to this scandal, her father wanted her in high-esteem and to find the perfect man as her husband like in Lord Montford. When Kieran sought her out, they made a pact to help each other out: he would help her find her freedom by taking her to the darkest alleys, and she would reform him to Society. An offer they couldn’t dare to refuse, in spite of dire consequences. Together, they knew each other better, in good times and bad, without falling too hard in love with each other, since Montford provided a daring obstacle to them and stood in their way. It was up to Kieran to help Celeste out by setting her free, no matter if it costed his heart, and claim her for his own.
 
This intriguing historical romance keeps you in suspense. I cared for Celeste on how everyone treated her with little to no respect on her wants and dreams. I loved how Kieran challenged her to become a better person while he is what he is, reformed or not. The scenic settings in and around London made it perfect for the location to dangerous dark alleys to safe mansions. The theme of the story is you are who you are, and no one could change it other than you.

This passionate historical romance is heartfelt and moving and pulls at your heart strings. I have one nitpick on this book: astonishment was overused and could’ve been replaced by a better emotion, or shown better. I rated this book, four out of five stars, since it was damn good.  If you love daring  historical romances with steamy romantic drama, sizzling non-stop action, and lots of smoldering suspense, pick up a copy of The Good Girl’s Guide to Rake today. This book is recommended for those who love Bridgerton, historical romances, and classic period novels.

Beefcake and Snowflakes

  In this blog post, I reviewed Judi Fennell’s Beefcake and Snowflakes, the 4th installment in the Beefcake Inc. contemporary romance series. This hot and steamy romance sizzled with a scorching burn. Fifteen years ago, Gina Taormina have been humiliated in front of her class by her crush,  Darien “Froggy” Foster. She haven’t forgiven him about it. When she’s been forced to see a strip show, she couldn’t believe her eyes when Daren Foster danced before her. Gina works at a spa and needs a new message therapist to help out with her clients. That’s when Dare Foster arrived to work his magical hands on her clients and also on her. Things changed between them during a brisk winter season when they’ve done more than mended fences as they’ve gotten to know each other better in a most intimate way. For Dare, he wanted to make up for her and needed to figure out how. As an exotic dancer, he made ends meet and took classes on the side to make a better living. Things had changed between them during a brisk Christmas season when they’ve done more than mended fences as they’ve gotten to know each other better in a most intimate way. But when her spa was in danger of being closed for good, could she trust Darien and his intentions to make things right for them?
 
This steamy Christmas contemporary romance will burns the pages right off the book. I cared for Gina and how she dealt with facing Darien Foster for the first time in twenty years. Forgive and forget, right? But when she worked with him at her salon, it made things more complicated than she at least expected it at first. And Darien as an exotic-dancer-turned-massage-therapist had turned up the heat. He had a way to melt more than hearts in this romance. I loved the winter scenic settings during the Christmas season in Pennsylvania for the location. The  dual themes of the story are that we’ll all mistakes and to follow your heart.

This steamy contemporary romance melts more than ice and snow.  This contemporary romance is sexy, sizzling, and cranks up the heat a notch. I had nothing to nitpick on this novel since this was spot on and fantastic. I rated this book, five out of five stars for no specific reason.  If you love twisted  sexy holiday contemporary romances with a sparkle of humor, tons of romantic drama, and plenty of non-stop sizzling action, Beefcake and Snowflakes is right up your alley. This book is recommended for those who love Hallmark novels, holiday romances, and all types of romantic comedies alike.

Deep Water

  In this blog, I reviewed Emma Bamford’s Deep Water. This psychological thriller takes place on the water. It’s a cross of a a modern-day version of Lord of the Flies with a ghastly spine-tingling twist. It all started when Royal Malaysian Navy Captain Daniel Tengku rescued two people from the sea. One’s unconscious, and the other one that’s shocked to her core. That’s when he met Virginie Durand, a newlywed Englishwoman, who fought for her life against a demented mad man, and her husband Jake, who was in a coma. As they sought shelter onto his ship, she told the harrowing story on how they went to this remote desert island called Amarante, a so-called paradise to be away from civilization from the world. It had all the trappings for it, but it was enriched in a dark history and had to abide by certain communal rules with fellow boat mates in the ocean. At first, everyone was friendly and welcoming, except for one sinister snake in the grass, who would do whatever he wants at a high price to keep his own secrets. As the tale grew darker to when they sought for help weeks later, it was up to Captain Tengku to save them after they’re rescued on dry land before they sailed away back home.

 This dark thriller will give you goosebumps on every turned page to leaving you hanging in suspense from start to finish. I cared for Virginia and Jake on how they’ve found paradise at first and lost it entirely later on. They’re a strong powerful couple who escaped dangerous waters when true love conquers all. The central location of Amarante Island is perfect for this thriller on the water for its scenic settings. The theme of this story is survival of the fittest. 

This spine-tingling psychological thriller is gripping and have you at the edge of your seat. I had nothing to nitpick on this novel since this gave me goosebumps. I rated this book, four out of five stars, because it was a bit dark in nature.  If you love twisted  heart-pounding psychological thrillers that take place on the water, pick up a copy of Deep Water today. This book is recommended for those who love psychological thriller novels like Alex Marwood and Erica Spindler, and loves thrillers in the big and small screen.

Never Gonna Happen

 In this blog post, I reviewed Heidi Stephens’s Never Gonna Happen. This sweet romcom is emotional and tender-hearted with some bits of humor to keep you laughing in stitches. Emily Wilkinson had lost her home due to a fire, dumped her boyfriend and former boss, and was out of the job in Goodwood, England. She’s the only daughter in a loving family who adored her. But what’s she got to do to move forward from this difficult bind? She looked for a new job and found one with live-in arrangements in Chichester by working as a personal assistant to a millionaire named Mr. Charles Hunter. As she helped him with his business affairs, she ran into Jamie, the stable manager, on the first day of the job. Later she didn’t expect to fall for him, the son of her boss, while she tried to keep business away from pleasure. It became complicated when she dealt with the house staff and Jamie’s brother Adam, who had plans to deal with the family estate. As she worked with her boss to come up with a plan, things would be changing for Emily and Jamie unexpectedly for the future. Would they make a go at it?

 This romcom hit all the right spots with humor and romance to tickle my funny bone.  I cared for  Emily, who had dealt with unexpected challenges in her life, and worked her butt off in a new role and environment. She also had an issue with her self-image. Jamie was a charming bloke, who cared for Emily with a whole heart, and became the perfect mate for her. The  dual scenic locations of Goodwood and Chichester were picturesque and charming.  The theme of this story is love can sneak up to you unexpectedly when you least expect it.

This heart-warming romcom is an emotional tear-jerker. I had nothing to nitpick on this novel since I loved it 1000%. I rated this book, five out of five stars, because it was 100% perfect  If you love heart-warming romcoms, check out Never Gonna Happen this summer. This is recommended for those who love romcoms, classic and present-day, and loves Hallmark movies. 

Need You For Keeps

  In this blog post  I reviewed Marina Adair’s Need You for Keeps, the first installment in the Heroes of St. Helena contemporary romance series, this sweet pet-rescue contemporary romance pulls at your heart strings and brings tears to your eyes.  Shay Michaels is an animal lover and a foster parents to unwanted dogs and cat in St. Helena, California. She would do anything to find them a forever home. But not if her neighbors like Deputy Jonah Baudouin had anything to do about it. While he’s running for sheriff,  he ran into Shay, he knew she would be nothing but trouble with her fostering pets. He also dealt with her competition, who’s up to no good to win the election at all costs. Before she landed on the hot seat, she needed a solution to house all the pets in a shelter… and someone to keep an eye on Kitty Fantastic, a runaway kitten. Jonah had enough troubles to last a lifetime: his uncle’s wandering eye, cat-sitting a kitten, and dealing with Shay’s past, though he had developed hard-core feelings for Shay. He didn’t know what to do with them either. He wasn’t going to let anything stop Shay from obtaining his dreams by doing the right thing and sticking by her. But would they get past the hurt to make a go of it in the end?
 
This pet-rescue contemporary romance warmed my heart and gave me all the feels in this book.  I cared for  for Shay who wanted to do the right thing and a had big heart for rescuing pets. Jonah, as her neighbor, and the deputy, made a perfect match for her and became a cat-loving hero in his own right. .The scenic location of St. Helena, California was wistful and charming for its settings.  The theme of this story is to let love find its way to your heart.

This heart-warming contemporary romance is an emotional tear-jerker. I had nothing to nitpick on this novel since I loved it. I rated this book, five out of five stars, because it was lovely and perfect  If you love heart-warming contemporary romances that deal with animal rescues, put Need You for Keeps on the top of your list. This is recommended for those who loved great pet rescue contemporary romance novels from Debbie Burns and Casey Griffin among others.