Review: Last Christmas Crush (The Fortemani Family Book 3) by Mia Heintzelman

A beautiful hopeless romantic and her ex's guarded best friend return home for the holidays and back into each other's lives in this festive, bighearted, forbidden romance about letting go and letting fate.

Chiara Fortemani is home for the holidays—technically, her family's tiny villa—where she'll explore post-breakup digs and grow their vineyard's brand during Napa's annual Christmas food and wine festival. But as she interviews local wood craftsmen to curate custom gifts, she's shocked to run into Jameson West... her ex's best friend.

Jameson has loved Chiara since he carved her a birdhouse in woodshop. She's everything he ever wanted: beautiful, funny, loyal... but thanks to the bro code, off-limits. Now a rising investment banking star, Jameson's in town temporarily to help the family business tackle seasonal contracts. West Woodworks has been making Fortemani casks for ages, so the job will be easy. It's the unexpected reunion with newly single Chiara that has him on shaky ground.
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As they design together, days in the lumberyard and nights on steamy calls create magic. When Jameson confesses his feelings, Chiara is amazed by this sweet, attentive man who always should've been her first choice. But Jameson is still her ex's best friend. Is uprooting her life for a man again a huge mistake...or a Christmas miracle?

 

My Review:

A beautiful love story with all the feels.

Former best friends, Chiara and Jameson, have had a secret crush on each other for nearly all of their lives.  But the timing just wasn’t right until they both find their way back to their home town and pick up where their friendship left off.  They soon decide to take their friendship to the next level.  The story wraps up, with an emotional Christmas Eve family get together with lots of wonderful surprises.

I have been waiting for Chiara’s story since I first started reading this series and it was everything I could hope for.

 

 

Review: Christmas with the Texas Cowboy (The Texas Wolf Brothers Book 4) by Sinclair Jayne

He never anticipated a surprise Christmas gift from an old flame…

When Special Forces Soldier Wolf Conte heads home to Texas on leave, he’s not looking for any reunions or connections. He’ll stealth check on his secret biological half-brothers and resist the temptation to dwell on the one he let get away. His plan instantly derails when he steps in to protect his ex, Taya Youngblood, from an amorous drunk. Now he risks arrest, exposing his true identity and losing his mind when he sees Taya, beautiful and furious, holding a toddler with his eyes.

Taya grew up barrel racing and training horses. Nothing throws her off her stride until Wolf unexpectedly and dramatically arrives two years after she laid down a rash ultimatum. Now she must confess to the man who said no to marriage, children and settling down and ranching with her, that he’s a daddy. She’s prepared for anger, but not his steely response—he’ll move home to raise their child…together.

Parenting with Wolf is a dream and nightmare. Will obligation and duty ever make way for love?

 

My Review:

A great second chance romance.

This emotional story reunites Special Forces Soldier, Wolf Conte, with horse trainer/ former barrel racer, Taya Youngblood, when Wolf returns to Texas looking for his biological brothers. Little did Wolf know; Taya, the girl he used to date, had his baby.  Wolf’s entire world is changed with this news. He will do whatever it takes to prove he can be a good father, even if it means changing his career and lifestyle.

This beautifully written story had everything I look for in a romance book.  I was hooked from the very first page. 

 

Review: Texas Cowboy Flame (The Stars of Texas Book 4) By Rebecca Crowley

She wanted him to stay gone…

Amy Star never met a pool table she couldn’t run or a job she didn’t hate—until she joined Last Stand’s fire department and found purpose and belonging amid the lights and sirens. After years of hard work and dedication she’s on the brink of being promoted to paramedic, when the man she’d thought she’d banished forever her ex, Logan Bullock.

Logan Bullock saw a lot of action in his decade of military service, but nothing as dangerous as Amy Star. He thought he was over her when he came back to his hometown to help his family and serve the community as a paramedic. But after their fiery reunion, he wants answers—and her heart.

Temperatures rise when Amy and Logan are forced to work together and compete for the same job, and not only from the blazes they battle. Amy may not keep a cool head, but she’s determined to keep the secret of why she pushed Logan away. Except Logan’s not the same man who left—and this time he’s not going anywhere.

 

My Review:

A heartfelt second chance romance.

Amy Star and Logan Bullock were finally reunited after ten years apart.  Their reunion is bittersweet because of the way their relationship ended and neither one wants to pick up where they left off; especially when they learn they are competing for the same paramedic position.  But never say never. 

I enjoyed everything about this emotionally charged romance.  It’s a wonderful addition to the series.

Review: Dark Knight’s Kiss (Witch and Demon Hunter Book 3) by Leigh Ann Edwards

 

LAMB operative Fiona Maguire isn’t happy about the company Halloween party. A gathering of magical beings in a remote location when the veil between realms is thinnest? With alcohol, a full moon, and an antique suit of armor possessed by a treacherous spirit? It’s a recipe for disaster.

Half-demon Lorcan Wright senses the spirit targeting Fiona and desperately wants to protect her. The powerful witch hardly needs his help, but unfamiliar emotions are driving Lorcan, and it’s making him crazy. Together, they banish the creature but Fiona’s left injured. Wracked with guilt, Lorcan shuts her out. When the grisly remains of women killed by dark magic begin appearing, the agency is tasked with locating and assessing this magical being––without their best team.

The power of this creature, however, is unprecedented, and Lorcan and Fiona have no choice but to travel through time to recruit help. As they fight the malicious magic together, they’re forced to face the worst of their history…and the truth of their relationship. Will they survive their toughest challenge yet? Or will the dark knight’s kiss destroy the bond between them forever?

 

My Review:

A unique and highly enjoyable story.

I enjoyed visiting Fiona and Lorcan’s world again to see what they were up to in this book.  I loved this book’s Halloween theme.  But when Fiona is confronted by an evil spirit possessing a suit of armor, the race is on to find and destroy both the suit and the evil entity.  This book also takes an emotional turn when Lorcan decides him and Fiona should put a stop to their friendship and partnership. 

I read through this book in record time because I couldn't wait to see how my favorite LAMB team members would destroy the evil entity and find their way back to each other.  I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.