CHRISTMAS ARC REVIEW Snowfall on Cedar Trail by Annie Rains

Sweetwater Springs #3, Holona and Alex have been dancing around their attraction for years, since they were both young, but because Alex was best friends with her brother he never wanted to cross that line. Holona ended up getting married and having a son, her husband was a big football star who died in a skiing accident shortly after divorcing her. Holona loved her husband but their was a side of him she never wanted anyone to know about unfortunately Alex was witness to that once but Alex still only knows half the story.

Alex thinks that Holona doesn't want anything to do with him because that one time he arrested her husband, but fate keeps putting them together and finally when Alex gets picked to be her son's mentor

they finally give in to the attraction. Holona's son, Theo, stopped talking after his father died. Holona always doing what she thinks is best for her son she enters him the new mentor program hoping he can find a good male role model.

Alex is tormented by the unsolved murder of his father. Ever year he reopens the case and questions the witness again and tries to find who killed his father. This year is different this year he was given a clue, and now he's worried that going after this person might put Holona and Theo in jeopardy.

Overall, this was a really great read. It's just over 300 pages and it goes by so quickly. The cuteness factor is really high with both Theo and Officer Chew the foster puppy Alex takes in. The romantic build up between Alex and Holona doesn't take long and their chemistry is great. Even as book three this works as a stand alone but all three books and the novella are wonderful reads.

ARC REVIEW Kiss Me in Sweetwater Springs by Annie Rains

Sweetwater Springs #2.5, Paris moved to Sweetwater Springs looking for a home, he once lived there as a child and was being bounced from different foster homes every couple of months. His foster parents were stern but welcoming and loving it was the only place that felt like home and Paris was looking for that again after his nasty divorce and maybe reconnect with his former foster parents. Lacy was born and raised in Sweetwater Springs and had the worst high school experience. Despite this she still loved her hometown and moved back after college and became the towns librarian. Lacy is determined not to go to her reunion she doesn't want to relive her past but between her family and friends she halfway to changing her mind and if she could claim she was dating someone like Paris then maybe her old classmates might see her differently now. Lacy makes Paris a deal be her date for her reunion and she'll help him connect to the cantankerous old man his foster father became.

Overall, a short and sweet story I very much enjoyed. Both Lacy and Paris deal with past hurts and learn to love each other. They really are good for each other; the tattooed bad boy image Paris puts off riding his motorcycle and the shy bookish Lacy bring out the best in each other. I am glad Paris got his HEA I fell in love with his character from the first book. This can be read as a stand alone told from a third person POV. Annie Rains packs a punch with this novella, humor and romance with plenty of heartfelt emotion. 

ARC REVIEW Springtime at Hope Cottage by Annie Rains

Sweetwater Springs#2, I don't think it's necessary to read the first book to enjoy this book, both characters were introduced in that book but they didn't meet until this one. This was a nice and easy read, the characters have a fun introduction mainly bad first impressions and misconceptions but still instant chemistry even though both of them fight the connection. It's an emotional journey for both of our main characters, Josie Kellum is at a crossroads and unsure where she wants to go. Tucker Locklear discovers something from his past that turns his world upside down.

It was only supposed to be a week long vacation, Josie came to visit her best friend and maybe write a follow-up on the last article she wrote about Sweetwater Springs. But first she sprains her knee and needs to take PT with Tuck and then her landlord calls and tells her there's been a fire and she needs to find someplace else to stay for the next month. Josie's best friend talks her into staying in Sweetwater but she can't stay at the B&B because it's all booked. Luckily Tuck has an apartment above his garage she can rent.

Tuck's wife has been dead for quite a while now, he claims he's ready to move on but no one has managed to catch his interest until Josie. Josie proved to be very different from his initial opinion and the more time he spends with her the more he likes her. Josie decides that her current job isn't going the direction she wants to go but what she thinks she wants and what she needs are two different things.

Overall, it was a feel good romance and I really enjoyed it. Like the first it's not explicit she leaves everything like that up to your imagination. I loved this slow burn romance, it was perfect for Tuck and Josie. This small town romance is definitely one I need to keep reading. 

ARC REVIEW Christmas on Mistletoe Lane by Annie Rains

Sweetwater Springs #1, I've said it before I'll say it again, I love it when a new series starts with a Christmas book. This was an easy romance not a lot of external conflict just the characters coming to terms with their situations, Jacob has something from his past he needs to let go of and Kaitlyn has to deal with her seemingly unsupportive parents. Written in duel third person POV between Kaitlyn and Jacob you get a good insight into each of their characters and where they are coming from mentally.

It was happenstance Kaitlyn was fired from her dream job for something that wasn't her fault and Jacob's job was put on hold until after the New Year and them both inheriting the Sweetwater Bed and Breakfast. Kaitlyn's grandparents ran the B&B for as long as she could remember the summers she spent there were some of her favorites. The Russo's were always nice to Jacob and his mother giving him odd jobs to do during the school year and always making him feel welcome. But Mabel Russo was always a bit of a meddler and she stipulated in her will that both Kaitlyn and Jacob had to run the B&B for two months before they could sell it or else it would go to charity.  Kaitlyn saw this as her second chance and Jacob just wanted out of Sweetwater Springs and never look back but for two months he could do it. The attraction between Kaitlyn and Jacob was pretty much instantaneous but Jacob has no plans on staying and Kaitlyn wasn't leaving so a fling between the two was just the thing they need to burn through the attraction and then go their separate ways. Easier said than done.

Overall, this was a really good romance. It is not explicit, all the stuff that happens in the bedroom is left to your imagination. The main focus is the building of the their relationship with each other, their parents and with the community, and with Jacob reconciling with his past. It's a great intro to this series and it's quirky cast of characters.