Thursday, April 25, 2024

Review: Texas Reckless Cowboy (The Stars of Texas Book 2) by Rebecca Crowley


He’s the bad boy she needs to help her lay down the law…

Assistant District Attorney Georgia Star is on the ballot in Last Stand, Texas to finally take the top job—but popularity has never been this overachiever’s forte. When her big-city outsider opponent begins wooing her constituents with lies, Georgia knows she has to stop playing nice. She turns to the infamous Cy Powell for advice, but his provocative solution might be worse than a defeat.

Cyrus “Cy” Powell is a property mogul, rancher, and entrepreneur—and a scion of Last Stand’s most notorious criminal family. Despite his legit success he’s never outrun his last name, so when Georgia asks for his help, Cy decides a fake relationship is the perfect pretext to infiltrate her world.

Dating Cy will connect Georgia with her voter base, and squiring Georgia through her influential social circles will polish Cy’s reputation and facilitate his latest business deal. Their chemistry is undeniable, but as the election looms, they’ll need to decide if their fake alliance is real and where their loyalties lie.

 

My Review:

Falling for the bad boy.

I highly recommend this book.  It hits several romance tropes; fake relationship, friends to lovers and opposites attract. Of course, the bad boy trope is one of my favorites and Cy definitely checks all of those boxes.  But it’s mostly on the outside.  Cy is really a good guy hidden behind his tough exterior.

Georgia is running for district attorney and Cy offers to help her get more votes.  But he needs something in return.  He needs a woman on his arm to help seal the deal with some business partners. So, they team up to help each other.  Love was the last thing they thought would happen, but it did.

 

Thursday, April 18, 2024

Review: Unbreak My Heart (With Love, From Kurrajong Crossing #10) by Dakota Harrison


It takes more than time to mend a broken heart.

Simon Jameson had once considered himself a lucky man. A job he loved, working alongside his oldest brother. His wife was his heart, and they had a family in the making. Then he lost it all. When his niece is born on Valentine’s Day—his first wedding anniversary without his wife—it’s too much too soon and he has to leave town for the night. Just one night, while his close-knit family celebrates a gift of life that should be celebrated, one that breaks his heart that little bit more.

He never expected to meet her.

Evangeline Adams, the architect behind the new build of his brother’s pub, The Spotted Cow, was a red-headed bombshell of a woman he didn’t see coming.

It’s been months since Evangeline encountered the magnetic, desolate Simon at a bar, but she hasn’t forgotten him. When they meet again at her latest job site, she’s glad he seems happier but keeps her distance. Right up until her manipulative ex-husband unexpectedly returns and Simon steps in to protect her.

Eva can’t afford to fall for an emotionally unavailable man who doesn’t like kids—not when she has a two-year-old son waiting for her at home. And that describes Simon perfectly.

Doesn’t it?

 

My Review: 

From friendship to love.

This is an emotional story about Simon, a grieving widower and Eva, a single mother, who struggles with body issues and has a crazy ex-husband.  They meet on the anniversary of Simon’s late wife’s death and have an (almost) one night stand, ending with Eva leaving Simon’s hotel room with no explanation of why Simon changed his mind about spending the night together.  Months later, they are reunited when Eva is working on Simon’s brother’s pub.  I loved how they formed a tight friendship and shared secrets and dreams.  This eventually led to them falling in love.  I really enjoyed this book and didn’t want it to end.  I couldn’t get enough of Eva and Simon.  I hope to catch up with them again in the next With Love, From Kurrajong Crossing book. 

 

Tuesday, April 16, 2024

Review: Make You Mine (The Walker Family Book 1) By Nan Reinhardt


When his family’s company is on the line, business and pleasure definitely don’t mix, but maybe they should…

Madeline Ross left the city and a career glass ceiling behind, hoping to build a new life as the crew supervisor for Walker Construction in River’s Edge. She’s qualified and experienced, but new CEO Jackson Walker hires someone else. Even as she searches for a different job and builds a life in River’s Edge, the sexy memory of Jack teases.

After a rough year, Jackson Walker’s family business is still struggling. He needs a new construction crew supervisor, and Maddie Ross is perfect, except for the first time in his life, player Jack is suddenly smitten with the curvaceous redhead. He wants her in his bed more than on his payroll.

When his second-rate new hire is a disastrous mistake, Jack humbles himself on Maddie’s doorstep with an offer she can’t refuse. Maddie could be the key to saving his company as long as he hides his heart. But does he have to?

 

My Review:

A great start to a new series.

Right from the start, I knew this would become a favorite book.  I enjoyed getting to know Maddie and Jack.  Their story is a slow build romance, but it was well worth the wait.  Maddie and Jack brought out the best in each other even though they were total opposites of each other.  I also enjoyed catching up with some of the other River’s Edge characters.  I highly recommend this book.  It has the right amount of romance and even a bit of suspense.