Review: Last Man Standing (His to Protect, Book 3) by Jill Sorenson

 

Vanessa Nava returns to her Texas hometown as a newly divorced single mom, determined to give her imaginative four-year-old daughter a magical summer. But the serene lakeside cabin she rented? Double-booked. The current occupant is the hottest, grumpiest handyman she’s ever met—claiming it’s under construction and strictly off-limits.

Paul McPherson, a Houston native recovering from a gunshot wound, has retreated to Lost Lake to hide and heal in peace. He won’t share his safe haven with anyone—especially not the sheriff’s daughter and her bubbly little girl. Vanessa is stunning, stubborn, and way too tempting for a man with secrets.

Vanessa paid upfront and refuses to leave. She sets up camp on his doorstep, transforming mishap into lake days filled with laughter, lemonade stands, and hot summer nights—sending Paul’s buried protective instincts into overdrive.

Texas heat ignites a scorching affair neither saw coming. But when danger closes in and Paul’s cover is blown, Vanessa must decide: walk away from the summer fling… or fight for a love that could last forever?

 

My Review:

From hiding out to happily ever after. 

A mix up at a rental cabin, one ready to rent and the other being renovated, makes for a fun introduction to Vanessa, a recently divorced woman, with a little girl, hiding out from her ex and Paul, a police officer in hiding after shooting a member of a prominent crime family.  This is an entertaining fast-paced romantic suspense. I enjoyed every minute of reading it.  Even though this books is part of a series, it can be read as a stand-alone. 

 

 

Review: The Cowboy’s Pretend Bride (Family Matters of Cowboy Point, Book 2) by Megan Crane

 It was supposed to be a favor. It was never supposed to feel real.

When the Colorado ranch Finn Patrick expected to inherit is sold, he follows his sister to Cowboy Point to meet the half-siblings they never knew existed. Time to figure out what comes next.

Kitty Bennett isn’t part of the plan. Sharp-tongued, wary-eyed, and fiercely protective of her family’s beloved Mountain Mama pizza shop, Kitty has no time for distractions. Especially volcanically hot ones.

But when her otherwise wonderful landlord makes it clear Kitty needs a husband if she wants to buy the restaurant at last, Finn is the obvious choice—because nothing about his stay in Montana is permanent. They can fake the whole thing. She’s confident she and Finn are on the same page, and the plan will go smoothly.

The only problem?

Finn has wanted Kitty in every possible way. He’s wanted her since he first laid eyes on her. And he knows exactly what he tastes when he kisses her—forever. Now he needs to convince her that there’s nothing fake about them, after all.

 

My Review: 

Great characters and plot. 

It started out as fake marriage, but what came next for Finn Patrick was a pleasant surprise.  He fell in love with Kitty Bennett.  But he just needed to convince her that her fake marriage scheme turned into true love.  I knew I was going to like this book.  I just didn’t have any idea how much I would like it.  I didn’t want it to end.  It’s a beautiful story about finding love when you least expect it and about the close bond between sisters who are there for each other no matter what.

 

 

Review: Forbidden to the Texas Soldier (The Men of Service Texas, Book 4) by Julie Benson

A soldier’s promise. A stubborn cowgirl unwilling to admit she needs help. An immediate and sizzling attraction they’re both determined to fight.

A bombing injury derails widower and former bull rider Dash Lange’s army career, forcing him home to rebuild his life again. When a friend asks him to check on his younger sister as well as his father and struggling ranch, Dash agrees, happy to have a purpose. But when he meets the sister, it all goes sideways, starting with the bro code.

Lainey Gallagher counts only on herself. Her family is fractured—by abandonment, addiction, and a brother deployed overseas. She’s holding her bookstore together through sheer will and hopes adding a coffee café will boost business. But her father’s horse ranch is a money suck, and when his newly trained rodeo stock horses are stolen, Lainey steps in to save the ranch, find the thief, and keep her dad sober.

A take-charge cowboy riding to the rescue is the last thing she wants. Or is it? 

 

My Review: 

Sometimes Promises are meant to be broken. 

Lainey was supposed to be off limits because she was the sister of one of Dash’s army buddies.  But once Dash met her, he couldn’t seem to get her off his mind.  Lainey just wants Dash and she doesn’t care what her brother might think.  But after they finally get together, a misunderstanding splits them up again.  Dash is willing to do anything to get Lainey back.  This book had me hooked from the first page and I sure wasn’t ready for it to be over.  I really liked these characters didn’t want to say goodbye to them. 

Reviw: The Texan's Bodyguard (The Protectors of Boone County, Texas Book 6) by Leslie Marshman

When bomb threats become reality

She’s the only thing standing between life and death

Bodyguard Charlotte “Charlie” Reynolds has worked for many high-profile clients, but Byron Cain may be her toughest charge yet. The famous country singer hates taking direction, even as threats against him escalate. Charlie won’t be deterred by an independent—sometimes rebellious—man when the stakes are this high. But when she outmaneuvers a shocking murder attempt, the unexpected duo will have to watch each other’s backs to survive…even as they cross the line between business and intimacy… 

 

My Review: 

Fast paced and hard to put down. 

Charlie Reynolds dreams of leaving Texas and moving to California to work as a body guard for celebrities.  When she finally gets a shot at protecting a celebrity, it turns out to be country music star, Byron Cain.  Charlie will do anything to keep him safe and prove to the world she is ready for her big career move.  But there is one thing Charlie forgot to protect; her heart.  She can’t be falling for a client, but she does.  This is my favorite book in The Protectors of Boone County, Texas series.  It has all the excitement of the other books, but this couple really stood out from the rest leaving a lasting impression with me.  I didn’t want the book to end.  It is a memorable story with great characters and an interesting plot with lots of twists and turns and surprises.