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.

Review of Nobody But You by Jill Shalvis

Summary: 

Jacob Kincaid never thought he would go home again after he left when he was eighteen. However, things change for him when a tragedy strikes his life well serving over sees for the Army Special Forces. Now back home again he finds that it may take more time than he thought to make things right with his family who he left behind. One thing he did not expect to find when he got home was a gorgeous red bombshell docked at his rental cabin. Will he be able to resist her or will he end up finding that coming home again maybe what he need to open his heart again? 

Sophie Marren has sworn off men since her divorce so when she meets hot army special forces Jacob Kincaid standing on her dock she plans to give him a piece of her mind. However, she slowly finds out that she finds her self attracted to his quiet dark intensity. Can Sophie keep things strictly platonic or will she find herself start to falling for Jacob?

My Review: 

I received this copy from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest unbiased review. I am a huge fan of Jill Shalvis's work so when I saw that the next book in the Cedar Ridge series was available I jumped at the chance to read it. Jill does a great job of incorporating romance, humor and profound story lines in her book. She catches your attention from the moment that you read the first chapter in the book and holds it until the very last line.

One of the best things about her books are the humor that she incorporates, for instance one of my favorite quotes in the book is when Sophie try to resist Jacob and says, "You wielded around your power like... like you're some male alpha dog whipping it out to pee all over everything and make your territory!"Jill just has that humor that makes you laugh out loud when sitting in a quiet space at in a coffee shop while reading your book.  

In addition to the humor and romance Jill did a great job of touching on tough subjects too, like the loss of a friend, divorce and struggles families face. These type of subjects create depth to the book and make you want to keep reading the book to find out how it is solved.

Once again Shalvis has created a well rounded story that appeals to readers of all ages. Can't wait to read her next book that comes out. 

Review of Something Like Love by Sara Richardson

Summary:

Ben Noble has never met anyone like Paige Harper. She is strong, charismatic, and full of life. So when his campaign chooses the ranch where she works at to restore his reputation with voters he jumps at the chance to try and impress her. However, he finds that it is going to take more than charm to get Paige to take a second look at him. Will he be able to show her that he isn't the playboy that she thinks he is?

Paige Harper has no interest in falling for Ben Nobles charm again, not when her job depends on making sure his event goes smoothly. But things don't go as planned and she finds herself starting to see what she found so desirable a couple months ago. Can Paige keep things strictly professional or will she end up falling in love with Ben all over again.

My Review:

I received this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. This is the third book from Sara's that I have read and the second in the Heart of the Rockies series. Since we met these two characters in the first book I was interested to see where there love story would go. I really enjoy Sara's writing style as she does a great job of developing the characters and making them quite realistic. She did this by giving you details of their past so that you could better understand what led them to where they are today. In addition, she also gave them bumps in the road through out the story that they had to over come.

In addition to developing the characters really well she also did a great job of setting the scene. Rather than having the book focus just on the ranch she also took you to other locations that had significance. As for the ranch she did a great job of creating a scene that was believable and really made you feel that you were there.

In regards to the love story that she wrote I found that it was well developed and was believable and  could happen in real life. Sometimes you find as a reader that authors can sometimes make a love story that is unrealistic but that is not the case here.

I am interested to see which love story is next and to see how she develops these characters more in future books. I would recommend this series and author to other romance readers who find they want a love story and a little adventure as it has both.