ARC REVIEW Then He Kissed Me & Till I Kissed You by Laura Trentham

Once again one of the Fournette siblings has a friendship that goes sour and know it's time to kiss and makeup. This wasn't a secret friendship Tally and Nash were practically inseparable until Nash's mother finally succumbed to the cancer that was slowly killing her. Tally's own peaceful life was upturned with the sudden death of her parents. Nash moved to the other side of the river to live with his aunt and was kept from Tally. As a genius Nash skipped grades and soon found himself in highschool the same time as Monroe and Regan who were his only friends. Then he was off to college once again at a young age. Tally on the other hand always struggled in school barely making a passing grade, it wasn't until later she learned she was dyslexic. Tally always believed she was stupid and instead of academic or, like her brothers, engineering she choose a more athletic route. Tally opened her gym and still hides the fact that she has difficulty reading. Now that Nash is finally back in Cottonbloom teaching at the local college he plans to reconnect with Tally.

First off I think the blurb for this book was spot on. I love the last line because it sums up everything perfectly.

 Between Tally’s possessive ex and Nash’s snobbish aunt, no one thinks they belong together. In a town torn apart by old resentments and rivalries, can they find their way back to the life they once shared—and turn their long-lost dreams into a real and lasting love?  

See, isn't that great! kudos to the person who wrote the blurb. Back on topic. I love Nash, but that's no surprise I love smart men especially when they are a little clueless about women. Tally is a tough one, she is tough on herself especially she still likes Nash but she doesn't feel worthy of being with someone as smart as he is. Nash has always loved Tally even when they were just kids and now he's back and she's single he's out to prove he never wanted to lose her and he plans never to again. Also going on the rival town festivals are still being sabotaged.

Overall, this was a good one Tally was a hard sell but in the end it really was a great story.

    Finally Regan and Sawyer!! These two are a hoot. You finally find out what happened to tear them apart and what finally happens to bring them back together again.

But will a common enemy be enough to unite them—and finally fulfill the promises they made one passionate night under the stars?

Once again spot on blurb. Regan and Sawyer broke each others hearts not one thing alone tore them apart but a series of things. Someone is out to keep both towns from throwing their festivals. Regan has been getting threatening letters and someone more recently someone tried to poor herbicide on her Mother's prize winning tomatoes. Regan has a crazy idea of who it might be but the only person she can trust not to think she's gone crazy is the only other person deeply invested in the festival, Sawyer. 

Sawyer has finally gotten the chance to explain to Regan what happened all those years ago. Sawyer's plan is two sided he wants to stop the saboteur and win over Regan again. But it's not just the saboteur he's dealing with but the snobbish and hateful mother.

Overall, this was a great way to end. I loved the book. I loved the characters. I loved the series. It one of those that makes you go awwwww at the end.  

Fearless by Kimberly Kincaid

I was automatically inclined to like this book for several reasons; one: a female firefighter, two: a Backdraft-esk storyline, three: smokin' hot firemen. After reading it I was happy the author pulled through and made this a memorable story for me. There were things that caught my attention but I realize not every Fire Department has things set up the same way. Savannah at times was off putting her brash manner just made things more difficult for her, but I do realize that when you are in a male dominated career you see first hand the sexism and you come to expect that but as a fireman's daughter and sister she should already know some of the stuff to expect like KP duty, everybody does it. Other than that I loved the book.

Cole is finally going to get the coveted spot in the Fairview Rescue Squad but first he has to train his replacement until the other rookie is out of probation. Cole wants nothing more than the spot of FRS it's the one goal he has set his life to. Cole is controlled and straightlaced and I love to witness these  alpha types lose control over a woman. Savannah is a legacy firefighter, her father and all her brothers she could have easily went through the academy in Texas and worked her way up but she knew that as her father's daughter there was a chance they would go easy on her. She wanted to earn her spot and be equal to the everyone else. Fairview was convenient she would be able to start on her own but not be completely alone as one of her brothers was there. Savannah still has a lot to learn and Cole is willing to help if he can manage to keep his hands off of her. She challenges him at everything and everytime it makes him want to kiss her even more. They start a relationship and successfully manage to keep work and sex separate. But...cue the Backdraft-esk story; Cole is going over old procedurally stuff and notices a common factor in the last few fires, even though they were listed as accidents the physical evidence that wasn't noted indicates that it was arson. Savannah wants to charge in and reveal everything, but this certain person soon blackmails Cole and threatens his career. Savannah is willing to risk it all, but Cole would be ruined. Now Cole must face the decision of what is truly right and wrong.

I have a soft spot for female firefighters. I remember when my home town got its first female firefighter, she was stationed at my Dad's station. I always admired her. Overall, this was a great read. Aside from Savannah being confrontational for everything, I really enjoyed this book.      

ARC REVIEW Heating Up by Stacy Finz

This is book seven in the Nugget series by Stacy Finz. As usual I really enjoyed this one, I loved the main characters and the story. (Love Firemen!!!) The end of this one was predictable something similar happened in my hometown when I was little and remember my Dad telling me about it. But that doesn't take away from the story or the romance between Dana and Aidan. Aidan is the brother to Slone from the last book. Aidan's girlfriend of many years breaks up with him because he's doesn't want to marry her, so to get away he moves to Nugget joins Cal Fire as one of their arson investigators. Dana Calloway was introduced to us in one of the prior books she's a real estate agent who briefly dated Griffin but it ended when he finally got together with Lina. Dana swore off men especially since she tends to fall for the ones emotionally invested in other women, her fiance dumped her when the woman he really loved divorced her husband and then there was Griffin.

I love that Dana is shy, she a great real estate agent but when it comes to socializing with other people she gets very unsure about herself and doesn't know how to act. I love that Aidan is the opposite he's quick to make friends and has no problems in social situations. I especially like how Aidan was able to draw Dana out of her shell and make her feel like part of the gang make her feel welcome and show her that people are interested in talking to her about real estate and such. There was an unexpected side of Sloane to overprotective little sister who turned out to be kind of a bitch, but that's okay I forgive her.

Dana's house catches on fire and has nowhere to go. Aidan just moved into Tawny's old house and has an extra room, he feels bad for Dana and offers her the spare room. Dana turns the house into a home. Aidan realizes the reason he never married his ex, the only thing he has to do is convince Dana he really loves her and that he's not just settling for her. All the while trying to find out who the firebug is that is setting fires around Nugget.

Overall, I really did love this one it was nicely paced and the characters are fantastic. I adore this series.

 

ARC REVIEW Once Upon a Moonlit Night by Elizabeth Hoyt

This novella takes place right after, almost parallel with Duke of Sin. Hippolyta Royle we meet as the woman Duke of Montgomery was blackmailing into marriage but help to escape by the woman he later married. We last saw Hippolyta running for her life away from the Duke and his men she ran until she came across a carriage and begged for a ride. Matthew Mortimer doesn't believe her, but he's been out of the country and isn't up on the latest gossip or the who's who of the ton. Matthew was just going to leave her at the next inn but after an incident he decides to take her all the way to London. The attraction is there even when Hippolyta is covered in mud and grime and just when they let the attraction get the best of them they run into Hippolyta's father and Matthew is forced to announce their engagement. But Hippolyta is facing a new threat of blackmail that's keeping her from Matthew and her HEA.

Overall, it really is a nice novella it felt that it was a good length, nicely paced none of the parts felt overly slow or rushed. The characters are all likeable and the story a nice concussion for Hippolyta for those of us were left wondering what heck happened to her.  

ARC REVIEW Devil and the Deep by Julie Ann Walker

Finally book two of Julie Ann Walker's Deep Six series, it came out last month and man it is a fast paced Adventure Romance. Bran of course drool worthy and the story makes you think, "Damn can't that girl catch a break" because once again someone is after Maddy; heiress to billionaire oil tycoon the same Maddy they tried to kidnap in the first book. Bran I liked, Maddy not so much I liked her more when she wasn't the main focus of the story. I found her annoying at times, it's that Texas stereotype and those old sayings, Maddy just gets annoying with those stupid colloquialisms; in stressful times they do not have a place not even to relieve tension.

Since the events of the previous book Bran and Maddy have been emailing back and forth. Maddy eventually sets up a field trip for some scholarship hopefuls to one of the many islands, and one that just happens to be near Bran so of course she invites him to speak about the treasure hunting. But someone else has other plans. They were suppose to kidnap Maddy and demand ransom get the money and that's it easy right? Well Bran, Mason, and the linguist they brought on at the end of book one Alex get to the island just as they hear gun fire. Bran and Mason as former SEALs flip the switch and immediately go into rescue mode. Alex stays on the boat and waits for the signal. Bran heads them straight on while Mason flanks them. They manage to separate Maddy and the park ranger from the hostage takers but not the three girls that Maddy brought along. I loved the action and Bran is so cheesy when he starts to quote movies in probably the most inopportune times, but I would probably do the same, I love that he is a movie buff. I really loved Mason and Alex! I really hope the next book is theirs. The romance between Bran and Maddy was just okay. Bran is fighting it but he keeps getting jealous and it's messing with Maddy until finally boom they have sex and Bran still is hesitant to call it a relationship.

Overall, I loved the action part of the story and the predictable twist at the end, Alex and Mason I loved too but i kind of wanted more of the treasure hunt which just touched a little on that in the beginning.        

ARC REVIEW The Wolf Road by Beth Lewis

OMG! Okay so this is my non-romance read. This is a post apocalyptic Yukon survival novel. I don't know what to think when I picked this novel except that the synopsis intrigued me. It was like subliminal message telling me I must read. The first chapter pulls you in, it continues at a much slower pace but once you get into it... it was addictive. I was up all night reading it. What happened to make the bombs drop and what changed the world is vague, when Elka first mentions it she states she never really cared about how it happened, it happened it's in the past and she lives in the now not the past. It does eventually give more details but it's an interesting take on what happens after. The Yukon Gold Rush basically gets a reset button, the bombs open up some veins of gold and that sparks a new rush of fools looking to become rich. Mother nature also got mean, everything became much worse winter, tornadoes everything. This thriller has a great story and a nice twist.

Elka doesn't remember her real name, when she was seven a massive storm tore her house up and spirited her away. She landed miles away she picked a direction and started walking the first person she came across she called Trapper. He raised her to be just like him a tracker and hunter to know how to live off the land for ten years she has cared for him like a father but one day in town she sees a poster with a charcoal picture of her Trapper wanted for murder. Elka doesn't want to believe it but things from her past start to connect and she realizes just what kind of a person he really is. The magistrate is after Kreager Hallet for the abduction and murder of several woman and one child. Once Magistrate Lyon suspects Elka of being part of it she's searching for her too. Elka runs and starts a roller coaster ride of a journey through the wilderness and making the least likely friends. Elka deals with things that she never had to deal with before murderous zealots, white slavers and trusting people who ask for nothing in return and escaping Magistrate Lyons alive.

Overall, my only problem with this book is the narrative. Elka is not educated and as it is told in first person so getting over my biggest pet peeve of double negatives and my brain autocorrecting stuff as soon as I trained my brain not to implode over the narrative I became immersed in the story and I stopped noticing it. I loved the story and the characters were great, Kreager I can believe was an evil sonofabitch.      

ARC REVIEW Stormswept by Deborah Martin aka Sabrina Jeffries

I enjoy Sabina Jeffries. I don't understand why an author uses a pseudonym when the real name is in the largest font on the book. This was a good, amusing, and emotional story. It's about true love that was torn apart by a selfish man who lied and connived to getting what he wanted and what he thought was right, even if it meant sacrificing the happiness of his sister. I liked this one it was a heart wrencher, you have two people who love each other so much but spent the last seven years apart, one kept the hope that the other was still alive and would come back while the other was forced into the Navy and tortured on a daily basis and grew to believe the lies that were told.  Juliana was told by her liar of a brother that the investigators discovered her husband was dead only then was she convinced that she should remarry.

Juliana snuck off with her lady's maid to a Welsh rally, where they were determined to take Wales back from the English; the main speaker captivated Juliana. Rhys Vaughn was equally captivated by the beautiful Juliana, but when he found out just who she was he immediately thought the worst. His misconception was soon proven wrong and he worked to make Juliana believe that he was wrong and deserved a second chance. They quickly fell in love and decided the only way was to run off and get married. Juliana's brothers found out they were to late to stop her but what they did do was worse. They kidnapped Rhys and his friend and sold them to the British Navy and that's one of the worst places for welshmen to be. When Rhys comes back he finds his wife he believes betrayed him about to become engaged to another man. It takes a lot for Rhys to fully comprehend what happened and even more for him to believe Juliana. But Juliana is determined not to give up until he believes her.

Overall, this was really good. I loved Juliana and Rhys and the side story with her former lady's maid and her brother and as bad as he was I think he deserves a bit of redemption he truly was remorseful in the end. This is a reissue previously printed in the mid nineties.