Anything for You

 In this blog post, I reviewed Kristin Higgins’s Anything for You, the fifth installment in the Blue Heron contemporary romance series. This romance is about star-crossed lovers with the opposites attract trope nestled inside. For the past decade, Connor O’Rourke have been in love with Jessica Dunn since 6th grade, even if she lived on the opposite side of the tracks. He would do anything to win her love, but it wasn’t easy as it seemed, since she needed to take care of her special needs younger brother, who hated Connor ever since the dog mauling incident years ago. She worked two jobs, and dealt with her absentee father who was always on a bender. But every time he proposed to her, she said no.  While she fell hard for him, Connor made sure they kept their relationship a secret, until he found a way to befriend him to earn his trust, to win her heart. But when she thought she couldn’t trust him, she learned the hard way that he always took care of her, and would do anything for her, until she professed her love for him.

This amazing heartfelt romance makes your heart weep and sigh for relief. I instantly cared for Jessica and Connor, who had been through a lot together. They both wanted to reach for the stars to work at their dream jobs in New York City. I adored the location in New York for the restaurant and the vineyard. Perfect settings.  The dual themes of this story are opposites attract, and forgiveness goes a long way.

If you like emotional heartfelt contemporary romance novels  with plenty of heated romance and drama, and lots of sparks of loveswept moments, Anything for You hits all the right notes.. This is recommended for fans who love Jill Shalvis, Kristen Hannah, Hallmark romcoms, and classic romance stories.

Dairy Dairy Quite Contrary

 In this blog post, I reviewed Amy Lillard’s Dairy Dairy Quite Contrary, the first installment in the Sunflower Cafe Amish cozy mystery series. (I finished this book last month.) You’ll be enchanted and intrigued in this debut novel. For Sissy Yoder, she left her hometown of Tulsa to live with her aunt and her cousin Lizzie. In Yoder, Kansas. It was supposed to be a temporary visit, while she helped her cousin at the cafe, until she had gotten caught up in a mystery. Who killed Kevin, the local milkman? And when she was the first one to find him, she became the prime suspect, though she’s new to town? To clear her name, she gathered up clues on Kevin, and learned about his family life, while running into some unwelcomed guests who didn’t want to pry into their business. With help from Gavin, who’s a reporter from the local newspaper, they team up to discover the clues to lead them to the true culprit right under their noses, before it would be too late.

This Amish cozy mystery is quaint and pretty charming. I cared for Sissy who’s learning a bit more of the Amish life, and her cousin Lizzie. I could see Gavin is sweet on Sissy. Though Yoder could’ve been better named (other than from her last name and from other characters), it’s a nice small town with the perfect location and settings for this storyline.  The theme of this story is family comes from different places. 

If you like cozy mysteries with an Amish twist, non-stop drama, plenty of intrigue and lots of red herrings, and sparks of intrigue to leave you in suspense, Dairy Dairy Quite Contrary is the cozy mystery for you. This is recommended for fans who love Amish mysteries, Laura Childs, MC Beaton, and Amanda Flower.

The Skull Beneath the Skin

 In this blog post, I reviewed PD James’s the Skull Beneath the Skin, the second installment in the Cordelia Gray mystery series. (I finished reading this book in mid-September last year.) This mystery has all the fixings of a locked-room mystery set in an island.  For Cordelia Grey, this was her first installment as a female private eye, when Clarissa Lile’s husband asks her to protect her from vile death threats and other mishappenings on the sunlit island of Courcy, Scotland. But it was anything but a simple assignment for Cordelia. She met the people who were closest to her, and discovered shocking secrets about her, up until when she discovered Clarissa was dead in her room. That’s when the local police were brought in, when more shocking twists and turns to the end would leave you guessing whodunit literally.

This compelling mystery will leave you in suspense from the first page to the last. I instantly cared about Cordelia, and how she would handle this most complex case, when danger all but surrounded her. I didn’t like Clarissa at all, but I  felt bad for her stepson Simon. I liked the far-off island of Courcy  set in the United Kingdom, which suited it as the best for the location and the settings. The theme of the story is that secrets always have a way of coming out of the dark.

I rated this intriguing mystery four stars, because it was a bit dark in nature.  If you love locked-room dark mysteries with non-stopping suspense, red herrings, surprising twists and turns, and a good book to hook you, The Skull Beneath the Skin should be read this year.  This book is recommended for fans of Knives Out, Britbox Mysteries, and Agatha Christie.

A Dance of Silver and Shadow

 In Melanie Cellier’s A Dance of Silver and Shadow, the first installment in the Beyond the Four Kingdoms YA Fairytale Retelling series, this enchanted story is based on the Twelve Dancing Princesses story. For Lilianna and Sophia, twin princesses from the Arcadia Kingdom, they were both invited to a Princess Tourney on the island of Marin. For Lily, she was always protecting her twin sister Sophie, while both had shared a special gift of projecting thoughts to each other. While they meet other princesses for this tournament of dances and danger, she falls in love with Prince Jonathan from Marin, and helps save his kingdom from treasonous betrayals and coups. But it;s winner takes all to become betrothed to Prince Dominic of Palinar, a Beastly Prince, who's the most dangerous person to meet. And in the end, Lily’s twin sacrifices herself to give her sister true love and to become her own person.

This beautiful YA fairy tale retelling will move your heart and make it pound.  This love story has danger, romance, and plenty of drama, all wrapped up in one. I cared for both Lily and Sophie, since this novel deals with sisterhood and family themes. The enchanted island of Marin makes the location ideal and idyllic. The dual themes are love conquers all, while family always bonds us together.

I rated this heartfelt YA retelling five stars.  If you love enchanted fairy tale retellings with a twist, A Dance of Silver and Shadow is the one to read to cool you this summer. This book is recommended for fans who love fairy tales for all ages

Stranded With a Cowboy

 In  this blog review post, I read Stacey Kennedy’s Stranded with a Cowboy, the second installment in the Devil’s Bluffs Contemporary Romance series. This tender-hearted love story is all about second chances and redemption to make things right. For Levi Kingsley, his liquor business and ranch business is in a public turmoil ever since his father had passed away. He had made a mess between him, his brother, and two half-brothers, who were all heirs. But during this publicity crisis, he needed someone fast, even if it made his heart hurt. For Kendra Davies, she didn’t expect to see the man who broke her heart and ruined her father’s life from three years ago. But when he asked for her help, she knew this would help elevate her PR career to new heights. After she arranged a goodwill publicity tour across the country, she agreed to be his plus one, though it brought her closer than ever. But then with her mother’s reappearance in his life and her father’s drinking problems, it had hit a nasty monkeywrench to her plans. When she had gotten closer to Levi, he had put the brakes into their relationship since he didn’t know what he felt to her. To make it right, he had to make amends to her and to sweep her off her feet. 

This moving contemporary romance will have your heart sigh and weep with joy. This pulls at your heart strings and cry happy tears.  I cared for Levi, who had to deal with a lot in his personal and private life. I also cared for Kendra, who had the same type of issues to contend with as well. I loved the location of Silent Spring, Montana, for an idyllic small town in Montana. The dual themes is redemption and second chances for this enemies-to-lovers contemporary romance novel. 

I rated this enthralling contemporary romance novel five stars.  If you love heartfelt love stories with plenty of heat and goosebumps to keep you in suspense, Stranded with a Cowboy is the one to read this spring. This book is recommended for fans who love romance, Hallmark movies, Jill Shalvis, Robyn Carr, and Sheila Jackson, to name a few.

Master of the Art of French Murder

 In this blog post, I reviewed Colleen Cambridge’s Master of the Art of French Murder. The first installment in the American in Paris historical mystery cozy series, you’ll be transported back in time to post-war 1950s in Paris, France. For Tabitha Knight, she’s learning how to cook from Julia Child and tutors French to young students. When she discovered a note with her name on it in Therese Lognon’s dead body, it was up to her to find out more about her. She had run into some people that had thrown her some curveballs, while she worked behind the scenes as a coat check girl in a French theater. She had gotten to know the potential suspects without getting into the crosshairs of the potential killer. When someone else had turned up dead unexpectedly, and was almost hit by a car, it made her more curious as ever to connect the dots without butting heads with Inspector Merveille. As soon as she figured it out, she learned the truth without being discovered to call the police before it was too late.

This compelling historical mystery will leave you hooked on every page.  It’s gripping and puts us front and center of a ghastly crime. I cared for Tabitha, who was simply an American woman, who had gotten into the thick of it all, but had a  good eye for detail. I loved the 1950s settings to transport us to Paris after World War II. The theme is secrets and lies will get you into a heap of trouble.

I rated this enthralling historical cozy mystery novel, four stars.  If you love gripping historical mysteries with plenty of twisted turns and red herrings to throw you in a loop, Master of the Art of French Murder will give you goosebumps. This book is recommended for fans who love historical mysteries like Jacqueline Winspear and Margaret Truman.

To Dwell in Darkness

 In this blog post, I reviewed Deborah’s Crombieie’s To Dwell in Darkness, the 16th installment in the Duncain Kincaid and Gemma James mystery series. This latest story is dark and twisted as they come. It all started for Duncan Kincaid, when he was transferred to a new unit of officers to work with, on a very disturbing case. When they received the call about an explosion at St. Pancras International, it caused a ruckus and few people were exposed with white phosphorus, while one person ended up burnt to a crisp. It was up to Kincaid to find out who the unlucky victim was, and how the ecoterrorist protests had started there in the first place. For Gemma, it was up to her to find out more about Mercy Johnson’s tragic murder, and how to build a case against her prime suspect, Dillon Underwood. With many twists and turns leading to the conclusion, it would leave you speechless and shocked straight to the end.

This  compelling and gripping mystery is so enriched with drama-filled action and suspense. I cared for Gemma and Duncan’s blended family, and how they cared for each other, and their jobs with most compelling dark-natured cases. I loved the vast locations in the London area with the amazing scenic settings. The theme of the novel is don’t let jealousy leave you down a dark and violent path,

I rated this  amazing mystery four stars, for no reason. If you love heart-stopping mysteries with lots of drama, suspense, red herrings, and action, check out To Dwell in Darkness this summer. This book is recommended for fans of PD James, Jeffrey Deaver, and Michael Connelly’s mysteries.

Curds of Prey

 In this blog post, I reviewed Korina Moss’s Curds of Prey, the 3rd installment in the Cheese Shop Mystery Romantic Cozy series, this enticing mystery is full of suspense, and a hint of romance.  For Willa Bauer, she owns a cheese shop in Yarrow Glen in Southern California. Her small business is successful selling cheese products. She’s confused on her feelings for her potential boyfriend, Roman Massey. She’s been uncertain and receiving mixed feelings about him. And when she learns about his past connection to the Harringtons, it gets complicated. When she’s invited to attend the wedding shower of Summer Harrington, things aren’t what they seem, when the potential groom winds up stabbed by a pitchfork in the stable. And Roman is the potential person of interest. To get him off the hook, she does a little sleuthing on her own to learn more about the Trumbull-Harrington families, and also on Summer’s sibling rivalry with her sister Chloe. One by one, more clues turn away from Roman and into another direction, when she winds up injured in a horseback riding accident. That’s when handsome Detective Heath comes to her aid and tiny sparks emit between them. Meanwhile, things turn up the heat for Willa when she becomes wary of a potential suspect or two of her own, before she gets caught off guard on whodunit and why. 

This  compelling romantic cozy mystery has a good balance of romance and mystery all wrapped up in one story. I cared for Willa. She’s a strong character to root for. She’s successful and has a keen eye on solving mysteries, though she ends up caught into a complex mystery. The scenic settings for Yarrow Glen were enchanted and mystique for the location in Southern California. The theme of the story is deception mixed with revenge can lead to danger. 

I rated this intriguing romantic cozy mystery, four of five stars, for no reason. If you love culinary cozies with a twist, non-stop action, and plenty of dramatic suspense, Curds of Prey is a must-read to read next year. This book is recommended for fans of Laura Childs, Janet Evanovich, Diane Mott Davidson, and Joanne Fluke.

The Giver

    In  this blog post, I reviewed Lois Lowry’s The Giver, the first installment in the Giver YA dystopian series, this timeless classic is compelling and a fascinating read. For Jonas, he’s just a 12-year-old boy who lived in a community where you have to obey orders in school, in society, and also at home. Some words you can’t speak of or feel. It wasn’t allowed. At the Ceremony, he waited for his turn to be given a societal role and duty like a chosen career. At the end, he was shocked he was passed over for some reason. Later, he learned that he was given the most coveted role of being the Receiver in training in the Giver. And there, he began his training with the Giver, an old man who shared with him memories of the past to feel love, experience colors, and learn pain. During this apprenticeship, he learned more about the role and the Giver himself. But when it became enough when the newchild Gabe was to be Released along with a weak twin, he asked the Giver about Release and how to change society’s rules. They planned how he could break away to escape to Elsewhere. Throughout it all, he would risk it all to make change and to find freedom in a whole new world.

This  gripping YA dystopian is tailor-made for all ages for this coming-to-ages story. I cared for Jonas and the dangerous role that had befallen upon him. He had to endure it all and keep it as a secret between him and the Giver, who was weak and old. The futuristic location is mesmerizing and enchanted like anything you read in an ordinary and strict world. The theme of the story is that it takes one person to change the world, one step at a time, to learn about feelings that we all experience as memories from the past. 

This amazing YA dystopian novel is intriguing and compelling.  I rated this book, four out of five stars for no reason. If you love YA dystopian novels that focus on a new version for the future, and is filled with non-stop dramatic action, plenty of suspense, and exciting page-turning tension, the Giver is a must-read for you. This book is recommended for those who love dystopian novels like the Handmaid’s Tale and other futuristic novels that scintillate the mind.

Mint Chocolate Murder

    In  this blog post, I reviewed Meri Allen’s Mint Chocolate Murder, the 2nd installment in the Ice Cream Shop cozy mystery series, this delicious new tale will keep you suspense with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing right to the end. For Riley Rhodes, a former CIA librarian, and proprietor of Udderly Delightful Ice Cream Shop, she’s been invited to a festival by Maud Monaco at the legendary Scottish Moy Mull Castle in Penniman, Rhode Island to serve her delicious ice cream. At first everything went okay, until she witnessed an argument between famed photographer Adam Blasco and one of her team members. When he was supposed to attend his art show at the gala, he didn’t show up, and his protegee Vye had to step in for him. Later, his body was discovered in a hidden dudgeon in the castle. Now it was up to Riley to sleuth around Adam’s past and the secrets of the castle’s historical background.Before she knew it, her life wound up endangered when she’s literally toe to toe with the real culprit in a real cliffhanger ending.

This captivating cozy novel is as compelling and delightful as the ice cream recipes. I cared for Riley, since she looked out for her best friend Caroline, and her co-workers at the ice cream shop. She had a nose for sleuthing and for digging into the nitty gritty truth. I really liked the picturesque small town of Penniman, Rhode Island for the location and its majestic scenic settings. The theme of the story is be careful and watch your step, since your past might sneak up on you.

This intriguing cozy mystery is enchanted and fascinating to read.  I rated this book, three out of five stars for no reason. If you love culinary cozy mysteries with dramatic action, plenty of, heart-stopping suspense, and lots of twisted turns, Mint Chocolate Murder is a delicious story for you to enjoy. This book is recommended for those who love culinary cozy mystery authors like Joanne Fluke, JoAnne Carl, Jessica Beck, and Hallmark movies.

Heart on a Leash

    In  this blog post, I reviewed Alana Martin’s Heart on A Leash, the first installment in the Hearts of Alaska contemporary romance series. This delightful debut is perfect for dog and cat lovers alike, who would love this captivating and amazing storyline. When Taylor Lipin lost her marketing job in Los Angeles, her sister Lydia called her to ask for help with the family inn. The timing could’ve been more perfect to escape to her hometown of Helen, Alaska, and get closer to her sister. But when she ran into Dr. Josh Krane and his three lovable huskies on the streets, they didn’t know that their families have been feuding for years, like a contemporary version of the Hatfields and the McCoys. And though they started to fall for each other and tried to keep their relationship a secret, pranks, bad reviews, and vandalism had happened at both properties. Word had gotten out and complicated things for them. When Taylor went to LA for a job interview, she had thought it would smooth things over, things escalated and gotten worse. Instead of rebelling, she decides to fight for Josh, for love, and to stay in her hometown for good in peace. 

This sweet contemporary romance is endearing and heart-warming. I cared for Taylor and Josh. Both wanted to find each other in spite of their feuding families. They wanted to be their own person in a small town.  I adored Jay, Bella, and Pepper–those huskies were adorably cute.  The location of Helen, Alaska, was magnificent and picturesque during the winter season. The theme of the story is fight for what you love and believe in to go against the odds.

This lovely contemporary romance is fascinating and lovely to read.. I rated this book, five out of five stars for no reason.  If you love compelling  contemporary romances that feature cats and dogs with heart-stopping action, plenty of romantic drama, and lots of suspense, you’ll love Heart on a Leash. . This book is recommended for contemporary romance novels like Jill Shalvis, Casey Griffin, and Hallmark movies.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.
 

The Gossip

  In this blog post, I reviewed Nancy Bush’s The Gossip, the 2nd installment in the River Glen romantic suspense series. This romantic suspense will have you at the edge of your seat. For former cop Mackenzie Laughlin, it all started for her when she was assigned to look for Rayne Sealy, who had been reportedly missing by her best friend Bibi. While she looked into her disappearance, she looked for clues in her life from her family and friends. Back at the Ridge Point Assisted Living facility, she’s been the latest gossip among the ladies including Emma Whelon, who might have a piece of the puzzle. But when her body was founds in the river weeds, she knew something sinister happened to her. And that’s when she hooked up with Jesse James Taft, a PI who’s working on a different angle on the same case with the same suspect in mind. While they worked together, someone lurked int he distance, keeping an eye on the investigation and the players involved with a watchful eye. He hated the pretty mean girls who made fun of him in high school. And now it was his time to pay them back with karma. During the investigation, they begin to connect the dots and piece the puzzle together while they’ve gotten underneath each other’s skin. When they’ve thought they had the right suspect to help out the RGPD, they guessed wrong when it hit come to home for Mackenzie as she fought for her life to bring him down in the end.

 This twisted romantic suspense will send you goosebumps and take you on a wild ride. I cared for Mackenzie who wanted her job back at the police force and climb the ladder her own way. A woman on a mission, she cared for her mother and step-sister while she needed to find a place of her own. As for Taft, I’ve found him charming and amusing as a PI, and how he cared for her and Carnoff’s two pugs. They do make a helluva team and have great chemistry with each other. The dual locations of River Glen and Laurelton Oregon painted a vivid picture to the scene. The theme of the story is if you don’t have nothing nice to say, they don’t say it at all since what goes around comes around.

This spine-tingling romantic suspense has all the right ingredients splashed together for a recipe of a great read this summer. I did find one thing to nitpick on since most spots were repetitive in nature in some scenes. I rated this book, four out of five stars because of some dragged spots. If you love romantic suspense with spine-tingling suspense, a splash of romantic drama, and tons of non-stop breath-taking action, The Gossip is the one for you. This book is recommended for readers who love Lisa Jackson, Karen Rose, and other romantic suspense novels that make you want to read more.

No Words

  In this blog post, I reviewed Meg Cabot’s No Words, the third installment in the Little Bridge Island romcom series, this adult romcom is so fabulously funny from start to finish. Best-selling children’s author Jo Wright had received a stipend to go to a literary fest in Little Bridge Island in the Florida Keys. She’d just came out of the break-up and had hit writers block. And she needed to find a place for her father. She couldn’t forget that this day couldn’t get worse when British adult romance writer Will Price was on the board and will be on the panel with her. She haven’t forgotten what he said to her about her books after a plagiarism scandal book and hated him ever since. During this literary festival, she couldn’t stand him until sparks fly between them when she’d gotten to know him better. She wanted to know why he said those things about her, until they had a heated debate for a panel discussion. From there, her hatred turned into liking every single thing about him, when she  wouldn’t dare cross that line. While she hit the literary spark of genius for writing her next book, she became entangled with him even on social media. This magical trip on the island had worked its charm on her when she needed to decide to head back to NYC or stay on the island with him.

This laugh-out-loud romcom is delightful and amazing with a fascinating storyline that every novelist or reader can relate to in every sense of the way. The dual locations of NYC and the Florida Keys was picturesque and  romantic for Jo’s love story. The theme of the story is never judge a book by its cover when you see them in a new light.

This charming romcom is amusingly hilarious with a dash of inspiration and charming. I couldn’t find anything to nitpick on since this was picture perfect. I rated this book, five out of five stars. If you love romcoms that keep you laughing in stitches after its over with non-stop action,  plenty of romantic drama, and tons of witty humor, No Words is the book for you. This book is recommended for all writers and readers alike and those you love funny romcoms and Hallmark movies.