Review of Almost Just Friends

Brief Summary Courtesy of William Morrow Paperbacks 

Piper Manning’s about as tough as they come, she’s had to be. She raised her siblings and they’ve thankfully flown the coop. All she has to do is finish fixing up the lake house her grandparents left her, sell it, and then she’s free.

When a massive storm hits, she runs into a tall, dark and brooding stranger, Camden Reid. There’s a spark there, one that shocks her. Surprising her further, her sister and brother return, each of them holding their own secrets. The smart move would be for Piper to ignore them all but Cam unleashes emotions deep inside of her that she can’t deny, making her yearn for something she doesn’t understand. And her siblings…well, they need each other.

Only when the secrets come out, it changes everything Piper thinks she knows about her family, herself…and Cam. Can she find a way to       outrun the demons? The answer is closer than she thinks—just as the new life she craves may have already begun.

My Review 

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. This is the 4th book in the Wildstone series and by far my favorite so far. Every book that Shalvis rights she honestly gets better and better. Her stories that she writes allow me to escape from the reality that I live and escape to an amazing town that I only wish that I could live in. 

The two main characters in this book Piper and Camden like many of her other characters each had their own characteristics that stood out to me and wanted me to read more. The character development as always was outstanding for both main and supporting characters. 

In addition to the characters I also enjoyed the storyline. She did a great job of keep you hooked with the the romance but she also include the story of family. I really enjoyed that. To me it gives depth. 

This book is a must read for any Jill Shalvis fan or any person who loves contemporary romance. 

Wrapped Up in Christmas Review

Brief Summary Courtesy of Hallmark Publishing 

Sarah Smith in Pine Hill, Kentucky has had her heart broken in the past. She pours herself into her work at church and into special projects—like making a quilt for a wounded warrior.

Bodie Lewis is lost. All he’s ever wanted was his career as an Army Ranger, but he was injured in an explosion that killed his brothers in arms. In the hospital, he receives a handmade quilt. Later, he sets out on his final mission: to find and thank its maker.

Bodie expected Sarah to be an elderly lady, not a lovely young woman. When she mistakes him for a handyman, he doesn’t immediately set her straight. Instead, he sets about repairing the home she’s turning into a bed and breakfast. Sarah’s presence and the spirit of the small town bring Bodie something he thought he’d left far behind on the battlefield: hope.

This heartwarming military romance includes a free quilt pattern from the Quilts of Valor Foundation and a new Hallmark original recipe for Cinnamon Swirl Bread.

My Review:

I received an ARC of Wrapped in Christmas from the Publisher and Author in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. This is my second novel from the publisher and first from this author. I really enjoyed this holiday romance that Hallmark published this season. Not only did it have romance & Christmas but it also talked about the importance about giving back to the community.

Right from the start the author did a great job of building the storyline and creating well developed characters. Both characters were pretty well developed. I feel like I know a little bit more about Bodie than Sara just the author spent a little bit more time in my option giving background on the quilt.

In addition to the storyline and character development I think that the author did a great job of setting the scene very well. In each spot that she chose through the book it fit in just right. From the inn she was fixing up to the Christmas tree lot that they were at. It really made the book because it really fit the scenes that she was writing about.

Lastly I think that the story flowed really well from start to finish. It was a quick read that you can pick up and read during holiday break or just on a cold winter night on a weekend. I am very interested to read more from the author and publisher to see what they have in store.

I recommend this read to contemporary romance readers, romance readers and fiction readers.

Review of Christmas in Silver Springs

Brief Summary Courtesy of MIRA 
So much for forever. When Harper Devlin’s rock star husband ditches her on his way to the top, she takes her two daughters to her sister’s place in Silver Springs for the holidays, hoping family can heal her broken heart. But comfort comes in unexpected places when she crosses paths with Tobias Richardson.

The moment Tobias spots Harper, he recognizes a sadness he knows all too well. After spending thirteen years in prison paying for his regretful past, Tobias is ready to make amends, and maybe helping Harper is the way to do it. But offering her a shoulder to cry on ignites a powerful attraction and a desire neither saw coming.

Fearing her reaction, Tobias doesn’t divulge his ex-con status, let alone the shameful details. So when Harper’s ex shows up in Silver Springs and reveals the truth in a bid to win her back, Tobias is sure he’s lost her for good. But maybe this Christmas he’ll receive the forgiveness—and the love—he deserves.

My review: 

This is the sixth book in the Silver Springs series by Brenda Novak and one of many that I have read of Brenda's. Brenda did a great of continuing on the Richardson men story on with Tobias' story. In this story you were able to learn more about to Tobias but also learn to see his a more emotional side of him that you didn't see in the first book with his brother. In addition to Tobias' character, Brenda also introduced Harper Devlin a recently divorced mother of two who's emotions are running high because her future is unknown. 

With both of these characters I really enjoyed the character development in this story. Brenda really showed how Harper developed from a divorced stay at home not sure what the next day was going to hold to a self confident mom who knows her what she wants. 

Finally, I enjoyed the setting of the book. I enjoyed that you got to move around more to more places in Silver Springs this time around and meet more people. By doing this she also developed more story lines in the book. It to me was smart as it will allow more storylines and characters to be developed in the future for future books. 

I think that book is filled with contemporary romance, heartbreak, friendship and loss. 

I would recommend it to readers that like those 4 categories above.