Review of Happy Ever After in Christmas by Debbie Mason

Brief Summary: 

Jill Flaherty has had a crush on Sawyer Anderson since she was little girl and her brother was best friends with him. Through the years, Jill has watched Sawyer date and have flings with other girls, graduate high school and have a career as a pro hockey player but never got the courage to express her feelings for him. Fast forward to her 30th birthday, still single Jill decides that maybe this will be the year she will confess her feelings to Sawyer. Will she be able to get her true feelings out or will her nerves discourage her? Can she convince Sawyer that she is more than her brother's little sister?  

Sawyer Anderson has been the town player on and off the ice for years but now at this time in his life he decides that maybe he wants something more. Little does he know that Jill maybe the one girl who will make him settle down. Can he convince her that she is more than just a fling? Will he be able to show her that he is her happy ever after or will life through a roadblock in the way? 

My Review:

I received this copy from Netgalley and the Publisher, Forever in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. This is the third book that I have read of Debbie Masons and the 7th book in her Christmas, Colorado series. Debbie does a great job of creating well developed, multi-dimensional characters that grab your attention from the first couple chapters in her book and holds you until the end. She did not disappoint with this book. An example of this was that she took the readers through a waterfall of experiences and emotions that the characters experienced through the book from love, friendship and danger.

In addition to the developed characters that Debbie created she also was able to create a great back drop and scenery for this book. She was descriptive enough to allow you to picture the town and people in the community but not go overboard where you were waiting for the chapter to end.

Lastly, I really enjoyed the storyline in the book. Debbie incorporated humor, friendship, family, danger and sadness all in one book. Someone would worry that would be hard to do being that it wasn't a super 600 page novel but Debbie did it and it was well written. Can't wait to see who she chooses for the next book. I am secretly hoping it is Sawyer's manager as she deserves happily ever after but we will have to wait and see.

Review of The Inn at Eagle Point by Sherryl Woods

Brief Summary:

Abby O'Brien Winters hasn't set foot in Chesapeake Shores since leaving almost ten years ago. However, when her marriage dissolves and her sister calls for help, Abby decides that maybe a visit to her hometown might be the thing that her family needs right now. Little did she know that she would run into her old high school flame, Trace Riley. Will old feelings resurface or has time created too much space between them.

Trace Riley lost Abby ten years ago so when she shows up back in town to try and save the Inn her sister Jess bought he thinks this might be his second chance. However, first he has to get him to trust again after her last relationship didn't end so well. Will Trace be able to show her that there is still something there between them? Will Chesapeake Shores once again become home again?

My Review:

This is the first book that I have read of Sherryl Woods' even though I own quite a few. To be honest I read it because of the new movie/tv show that are coming out on Hallmark Channel. I think Sherryl did a great job of creating well developed characters. She gave you enough information about their past so that you could understand how they got to their current state but didn't go overboard. In addition to creating well developed characters she also did a great job setting the scene. She made the town of Chesapeake Shores a town that everyone would want to come visit and live in.

An interesting story line that I liked that Sherryl included in the book was the relationship between Abby and her sister Jess. Most romance authors concentrate on just the main two characters and sometimes include outside characters into it at times. But in Inn at Eagle Point Sherryl did a great job including how the relationship of Jess and Abby and how their mother leaving affected their life.

One of my favorite quotes in the book was one that Trace said about how Abby was a good mom. I know author readers were all thinking what I was at that moment. Aww... Here is the quote:

"Look, being a bad mom is taking off when some of your kids are too little to understand why you're leaving. Being a bad mom is leaving a seventeen year old daughter to take over and try to make things right. You lived that with Megan. You know firsthand what its like to have a mother you can't count on. You will never allow your girls to feel that kind of pain." He tucked a finger under her chin. "Don't ever let me hear you question your mothering skills again."

Can't wait to read the next book in the series.

Review of Like Never Before by Melissa a Tagg

                                               

Brief Summary: 

Amelia Bentley always felt like something was missing until she came to the small town of Maple Valley and became the editor of the local newspaper. However her new life is about to shaken up when she learns that the newspaper that she has made her life the past couple years is set to be sold if the new publisher has anything to say about it. In hopes of trying to save the paper she sets out to write one last intriguing story. But will she get distracted from the end goal when her new publisher, Logan Walker arrives in town? Will she start seeing him as more than just her boss? 

After nearly losing his daughter in a fire, Logan Walker starts thinking that maybe he needs to re-evaluate things in life. So when he receives notice that he has inherited the local Maple Valley newspaper, Logan thinks that maybe this is a sign that he needs to spend sometime at home with his family. So with his young daughter, Charlie in tow, Logan heads back to Maple Valley for a couple weeks to sell the newspaper and find some peace before he potentially starts working on a presidential campaign. However, what Logan didn't anticipate was a beautiful spunky editor to catch his eye. Will Logan be able to keep things strictly professional or will he end up falling for Amelia?

My Review: 

I received this ARC copy of Like Never Before from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. This is the second book of Melissa's book that I have read and the second in the Walker Family series. Just like the previous Walker Family book Melissa does a great job of creating well developed characters. She gives you just the right amount of history to understand the two main characters. In addition, I also enjoyed how she incorporates previous and future characters. For instance you get to read more about Kate and Colton who were in the previous book and then you get introduced more to Reagan and Bear who I believe will be a future story. 

In addition to creating well developed characters Melissa also does a great job setting the scene and really making you feel like you are part of the small town of Maple Valley.  I liked with each book that she has written in this series that she is giving you insight to a different part of town. Like last time it was fixing up the family business, this time it was the local newspaper. I am interested to see in the next book what area of town will be focused on next time. 

Lastly, one of my favorite quotes form the whole book was by his father, "I think sometimes believing is a matter of deciding. Deciding who you're going to trust and what you know about who you trust. And once that decision starts sinking into your bones, the wide-open spaces of your future get more invigorating invigorating that intimidating." This quote really hits the core of the book which was Amelia learn to trust another person and opening her heart after it was hurt from her previous husband. 

Can't wait to read the next book in the series. I think this book was well written, had the right amount of pace when reading it that it didn't leave you bored or having a hard time finishing. 

Review of Return of the Bad Boy by Jessica Lemmon

Brief Summary:

Asher Knight has everything a man could ask for a successful career, great friends and unending amount of women throwing themselves at him. However, after learning he has a three year old son everything he thought he wanted and had in life has changed. Now he is starting to see his agent Gloria Shields as more than just a business partner and friend... But how will he convince her that he is more than just a handsome rock star looking for his next conquest? 

Gloria Shields promised her self after the Christmas Party that she would not look at Asher as more than just a client. Her plan now is to settle into this new town and built her life and business there. But when she sees how great he is with his son Hawk will she be able to resist his charms? Can she keep their relationship purely professional or will she start seeing there is more to this rock star than his good lucks and beautiful voice? 

My Review:

I received this copy from the publisher on Netgalley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. This is the third story I have read from Jessica Lemons and is the 4th book in the Second Chance series. Having been briefly introduced in the previous book to Gloria and Asher's characters you find out fast that this is going to be a totally different story then Connor and Faiths.. I think Jessica did a great job of developing the characters from the moment that they were introduced in the previous book and carried that over into their book. In addition, she did a great job of giving you background history on the relationship between the characters so that you could better understand the why they were reaction the way they were.

What I find the most appealing in Jessica's books is the way that she sets the scenery of the story. She does a great job of focusing the right amount of time on the actual love story but also gives you a great visual of the small town that they are living in. Like many of my favorite romance authors she really makes you want to live in this small town and wish that it was an actual place to visit.

I think that if there was something that I would change or add about the book is maybe give a little more background history on Asher. I think she did a great job of giving recent history but didn't dig into his past younger years as much as she did with Gloria. I think that with Gloria's history being revealed you understood her reservations with opening her heart and worrying that it would get hurt,

All in all this is a great read from awesome author. I can't wait to see what her next story has in store for us.

Review of Riverbend Road by RaeAnne Thayne

Brief Summary: 

Wyn Bailey has always done everything that her family has expected of her. Following in her father's foot steps, she became a police officer for the local Haven Point police department after her twin passed away unexpectedly. However,  years later after pulling two boys out of a fire and getting put on a weeks suspension for ignoring orders, Wynn now questions what she really wants to do with her life. Not to mention she now is starting to see the chief, Cade Emmett as more than just a boss and family friend. Will Wyn decide to stay in Haven Point or will she decide to take a different path? Can she ignore the feelings burning inside of her for Cade or will she given in? 

Cade Emmet had never felt like he was part of a family until he met the Bailey's so when the girl he once saw as as the kid sister of his best friend and a subordinate at his police department as something more he tries to deny/ignore the feelings. However, after she is almost harmed in the line of duty and he almost loses her, he starts to feel something more and thinks about giving into his feelings. Will Cade be able to keep things professional or will he let his feelings get in the way? 

My Review:

I received this ARC from the author in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. This is # 4 in the Haven Point series by RaeAnne Thayne. I have been a fan of RaeAnne Thayne's books since I won a free book in the Hope Crossing series from Goodreads, so when I got the opportunity to read this book I jumped at the chance. RaeAnne like many of my other favorite authors does a great job of really developing the characters in her books. That was no different in this book with Wyn and Cade. I really felt like these two characters were well constructed and written. She gives you enough of their past to understand why they are the way they are but not too much where you feel like it is boring and lose interest. 

In addition, I really enjoyed how she set the scene. She really made you feel like you were part of town of Haven Point and living in the country with Cade and Wyn.

Finally the item that I find in all of RaeAnne's books that really makes them stand out would be how she incorporates friending and family in her books. For instance in this book she touches on loss, new friendship, and family play an important part in a persons life. She does a great job of also making the stories she tells realistic. 

I am very interested to read the next book in this series and to see who the next two characters are that will play the main characters. 

Review of When I Lost You by Kelly Rimmer

                                                 

Brief Summary:

Leo and Molly from day one were the most unlikely couple. Born and raised in different backgrounds their love story was a roller coaster from day one. Leo, the best friend of Molly's brother instantly feels a connection with Molly and their love builds. However, with every marriage their love hits bumps in the road and is on the verge of breaking. But things all change when Leo is injured on the job. Molly rushes to his side to find that the Leo that she had just seen shortly ago isn't the same one laying in the bed.  As Molly stands by her husbands side she starts falling in the love with him again. However, she worries that his memory will come back and he will remember their marriage was on the rocks. 

My Review:

I received this ARC of When I Lost you from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. This is the first book that I have read of Kelly Rimmers. I think that she did a great job of really developing the characters and the love story between them. As you read the book you really felt like you were an outsider watching two people falling for each other. In addition to developing the characters very well she also did a great job of really setting the scenes in the book. 

Areas that I found to be lacking in the book was the pace of the story. I felt that at times the chapters seemed to drag on and were to long in length. It caused me to take longer than normal to read the book as at times I lost interest. If it wasn't for the present day love story where they were falling back in love I am not sure I would have finished the book. 

All in all it was an okay book but is not something that I would read over again. I am interested in reading more books from Kelly as I do enjoy the well developed characters that she creates and may have not connected with this story but may with a future one.

Review of Discovering You by Brenda Novak

Brief Summary: 

India Sommers at one time had a perfect life, a loving husband and a beautiful daughter. But one tragic night that was all taken away when her ex boyfriend killed her husband and left her a single mother. In hopes of starting over and get a fresh start with her daughter she moves to Whiskey Creek to start her own business. However, what she didn't plan on was fighting another prince charming in the form of handsome bad boy neighbor, Rod Amos. Will she able to resist the handsome neighbor or will she fall for his bad boy charm?

My Review:

I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest unbiased review. This is the 10th book in the Whiskey Creek series by Brenda Novak. Right of the bat Brenda did a great job developing India and Rod's characters. She gave you enough of a backstory on India so that you could understand why India acted the way that she did but did not go too overboard where you got bored. She also gave you more backstory on Rod so that you could understand how he had turned out the way he did. In addition to the well developed characters Brenda did a great job of setting the scenes in the book. As the reader reads the story you are really able to picture yourself in the Amos household or on the porch where India is creating her master pieces.

Something that I have always enjoyed about Brenda's books is how she incorporates suspense in romance books. For instance in one of her previous books it was the crazy ex girlfriend. In this book it was the crazy ex boyfriend. I think this suspense helps keep the audience interested in the book all the way through as you want to find out what is going to happen in addition to seeing the romance build between the two main characters. It a great mix of suspense and romance.

I don't think that there was anything that I would have changed about the book. I am interested to see who the next character will be that will have a love interest. Can wait to read more books by Brenda Novak and I  interested to see where she is going to take the series in the future.