Cody (American Extreme Bull Riders Tour Book 4) by Megan Crane - Review

Skylar Grey lost everything when her fiancé died. But her move back to her hometown, Billings, Montana is not the fresh start she seeks, as too many people know her tragic tale. But then she meets a bull riding cowboy who treats her like she's made of fire and everything changes.

Cody Galen joined the American Extreme Bull Riders Tour to make money, not friends. He enjoys whiskey, winning, and women and he doesn’t care who he pisses off while he pursues the hell out of all three. He figures he only has a few years left before his body gives out and he might as well go down hard in a blaze of glory. He knows the pretty thing he meets his first night in Billings is no buckle bunny, but if she wants to play that role, who is he to argue?

Neither one of them is looking for anything lasting. But there’s only one thing more dangerous than riding bulls—and that’s love.


My Review:

An emotional cowboy romance that was hard to put down.

When extreme bull rider Cody Galen met Skylar Grey in Billings, Montana, he knew she wasn’t like the rest of the women he met while traveling with the rodeo.  She wasn’t a buckle bunny like she pretended to be, but he went along with her game because he was intrigued by her.

Skylar is back home in Billings after her fiancé died.  She just wanted to start her life over again.  When she meets Cody, she didn’t expect much.  It was just supposed to be a fling.   But then her heart rebelled on her. 

Cody is used to living his life in the fast lane.  He doesn’t want to settle down, but he knows eventually he will have too.  He knows he can’t ride bulls much longer and will have to decide what to do afterwards.  Falling for a women wasn’t exactly the first thing that came to mind, but it happened, and it happened fast. 

This book had it all, intense romance, emotional situations and a great story.  Anyone who loves a good cowboy romance needs to add this book to their reading list. 

Catch Me if You Cannes by Lisa Dickenson

Jess has decided it's time to get out of her comfort zone and live a little. So when her best friend Bryony, a journalist on a gossip magazine, is sent to cover the Cannes Film Festival, Jess decides to seize the day and go along for the ride. Two weeks of sun, glamour and exclusive entry into celeb-filled parties is just the kind of adventure Jess needs.

Reality soon bites though when Jess and Bryony find they're staying in a dingy hotel far away from all the action and Bryony's expenses budget barely covers a glass of local wine. Undeterred, the two women are determined to live like the elite and enjoy one fancy night out to begin their holiday. So what if they have to tell a few white lies along the way? It's just this once. No harm done . . . right?




My Review:

Welcome to Cannes where not everyone is who they appear to be.

It was just a couple little white lies to fit in with the rich and famous.  What could possibly go wrong? After all, Jess and Byrony were only in Cannes for a couple weeks during the Cannes Film Festival.  Jess is just tagging along with Byrony while she is working on getting some delicious gossip for Sleb, the gossip magazine she works for. 

When Jess meets Leo, a man who lives on a super yacht, she falls for him right away.  But she worries that her lies could be the downfall of what could be a perfect relationship.  In the end Jess finds out Leo has some secrets that he is keeping as well.  Meanwhile, Byrony gets a chance at the interview of a lifetime, but she fears working for Sleb will close the doors before they even open.  So, she decides to say she works for The Times.  That is enough to impress everyone.  When she learns the secret Veronica wants to come clean about, Byrony wonders if she should even write it for Sleb.  What will she do when Veronica expects to see it written in The Times?

Glitz and glamour and love and lies, all rolled into one unforgettable story.  I couldn’t help but cheer on Jess and Byrony though their adventure even if they weren’t honest with everyone they met.  Hasn’t everyone told a little story to make their life sound more interesting?  The secondary characters were just as interesting as Jess and Byrony.  I had a hard time closing this book when it was over.  I needed more. 

Her Sinful Secret: A scandalous story of passion and romance (The Disgraced Copelands) by Jane Porter - Review

The secret she never told… 

Heart racing, Logan Copeland cannot look away from tycoon Rowan Argyros as he declares her life is in danger. All she can think is that Rowan took her virginity, heartlessly rejected her after a night of reckless abandon…and is the father of her child. She must reveal the truth before she's whisked away to Rowan's castle for safety…

Isolated together, Logan finds herself at the mercy of Rowan's unrelenting need to claim her—and their daughter! Logan has known no touch but his, and yearns to feel it again…but to do so, she must agree to meet him at the altar!

My Review:

The Copeland family has been riddled with scandal ever since Daniel Copeland swindled people out of millions of dollars.  Now Daniel is dead and his family is believed to be in danger. 

Three years ago, Logan Copeland won a charity bachelor auction and ended up spending a passion filled night with tycoon Rowan Argyros.  It was a night Logan would never forget.  Rowan took her virginity and left her pregnant.  Logan’s daughter is a secret that she has kept hidden from all but those who are very close to her.  Now that Logan’s life is in danger, Rowan has been sent to protect her.  When Rowan finds out he has a daughter, he will do what it takes to give her a perfect family, even if it means forcing Logan to marry him. 

This story is exactly what you want when you pick up a Harlequin romance.  It is passionate and steamy with a great alpha male.  I found it hard to put this book down.    

 

Cards From Khloe's Flower Shop by Isabella Louise Anderson - Review

As the owner of a successful florist shop, Khloe Harper trusts her instincts. She has a strong bond with her family and friends, but after being betrayed by her last love, she's kept herself at arms’ length from romance. When dashing entertainment attorney Derek Thomas walks into her store, Khloe’s interest is piqued. What at first seems like a business relationship quickly turns into romance, and Derek slowly plucks away the petals she’s been hiding behind. Just as Khloe lets down her guard, she discovers that Derek may not be worthy of her love after all.

Frumpy Connie Albright has a faux fascination with an imaginary man named Walt, thinking that by sending herself flowers from him she’ll feel less out-of-place with the “mean girls” she works with. When she comes face to face with her possible prince charming and thinking she might have a happy ending, when a truth is revealed, she wonders if she’ll ever have a Cinderella story.

A recently widowed senior, Gabby Lewis, isn't ready to give up on love—which means releasing herself from survivor's guilt and taking a chance on finding happiness and companionship again. After signing up for an online dating site for senior citizens, much to her surprise, she’s matched with Harry, an energetic and loving man, who quickly eases himself into her heart. Will Gabby take the leap of falling in love again, knowing it’s possible to have two loves of her life?

As each woman’s story develops through flowers and cards sent from Khloe's shop during the Fall months, they begin to learn that love can only truly blossom when you trust your heart.

My Review: 

A fantastic read that you won’t want to end.   

Follow Khloe and her customers, Connie and Gabby, as they search for love.  The story is centered around Khloe's Flower Shop where Khloe and her best friend Sharon get to know their customers through the messages that go out with their orders.

Khloe’s last relationship ending badly and she has a hard time trusting men.  Her mother is anxious for Khloe to settle down and have children, which drives Khloe a little crazy.  When Mr. Perfect comes into the shop one day, Khloe decided maybe it is time to start dating again.  But Derek has a secret that threatens to tear them apart soon after they start dating.  Gabby is a widow who has only loved and been with one man in her life, her late husband Charlie.  She ends up going on an internet dating site to find her new love.  And, Connie desperately wants to be loved.  To make her co-workers think she has a boyfriend, she sends herself flowers to work.  But when one girl calls her bluff, she goes on a dating site looking for a man with the same name as the one she made up.  This could be pure bliss or it could be a total disaster.

I really liked this book.  When one of my friends recommended it to me, I knew it had to be good.  Each of the women had different obstacles they needed to pass to find true love.  I could relate to certain parts of the story too which made it even more interesting to me.  This is one of those books that you won't forget when you're done reading it.  It will stick with you and make you want more of each of the characters.

 

Loving the Texas Lawman (Forever Texan Book 2) by Charlene Sands - Review

The last thing honorable Sheriff Jack Walker needs is a blast from the past, but that’s exactly what he gets when his high school love, now sexy lingerie designer, Jillian Lane arrives on his doorstep needing his help and protection.

Jillian is desperate to save her company, Barely There and turning to Jack Walker, the town hero, is her only option. The trouble she left behind in California has followed her home, leaving Jack no choice but to protect her. Unwittingly, Jillian's put everything Jack has ever wanted in life at risk.

The years have not made it easier for Jack to say no to his first love, but saying yes may threaten all he holds dear. Jack may have a solution: marriage–the temporary kind. And how can a girl from the wrong side of the tracks refuse a marriage proposal from her one-time love?

My Review: 

A fake marriage between two former lovers leads to more than they expected.

Lingerie designer, Jillian Lane is back in Hope Wells, Texas where she grew up and said she would never return too.  She made a good living in California and had quite a few stores to show for it.  But, when her boyfriend gets busted for selling drugs and her stores are rumored as being a front for his dealings, Jillian did the only thing she could to save her reputation.  She went back home to the only person who could help her, her old boyfriend Sheriff Jack Walker.

Jack has his mind set on two things, being a great sheriff and trying to adopt Beau, a little boy he rescued after his parents died in a tragic accident.  He couldn’t believe his eyes the day he found Jillian back in town.  Why was she back?  With no place to stay, Jack offers Jillian his guest house.  He had no idea what kind of trouble followed Jillian, but when he finds out, being the good guy that he is, he offers his help.  In exchange he asks Jillian to be his fake wife so he would have a better chance at adopting Beau.    They soon find themselves unable to resist each other.  But what happens when Beau is adopted?  Will it all come to an end then?

This book was such a joy to read.  It is the second in the “A Forever Texan Romance” series, but can be read as a stand-alone.  I loved the characters and the story which just flowed off the pages.  Beau really made a lasting impression in the scenes that he was in.     

A Country Love Song (Smoky Mountain Knights, #1) by Sinclair Jayne - Review

After ten years playing coffee shops, singer and songwriter Sutter Knight has finally cracked the top ten on the country music charts and is winding down her first tour. To celebrate and reconnect with her Smoky Mountain roots, she heads home to Sweet Tea, Tennessee only to discover the historic theater where her love of music was born is about to be torn down. Worse, her high school sweetheart who used to perform with her is spearheading the project. More disturbing–his deep blue eyes and smile still have the power to kick up her heart rate and make her forget her own name.

After college, architect and contractor Dawson Yates returned home for family and to build his business and reputation. What better way to achieve his goals than to transform a damaged and dangerous community eyesore into a hotel that will bring jobs to Sweet Tea? Dawson doesn’t expect to meet strong and charming resistance from the woman he loved and hasn’t forgotten. Sutter might be vowing to stop the demolition and put his project at risk, but soon, Dawson’s more worried about losing his heart again.


My Review:

A second chance at love comes to former high school sweethearts, Sutter Knight and Dawson Yates when they reunite in their hometown of Sweet Tea, Tennessee.

Sutter and Dawson haven’t spoken to each other in ten years when they both left town to pursue their dreams.  Sutter is now a big country music star and Dawson is an architect.  When Sutter returns home and discovers the Sweet Tea Gallery Theatre (that holds so many memories) is scheduled to be demolished, she is devastated.  Then she discovers the contractor is none other than Dawson.  Dawson plans to build a hotel in the theater’s spot.  Sutter and Dawson both have strong feeling about what they want in town, but they also discover what they want out of life when they are brought together again. 

I always enjoy a good second chance romance and this one was just as good as I thought it would be.  It was sweet and entertaining and the nice start of a new series. 

The Chocolate Touch (Love at the Chocolate Shop Book 8) by Melissa McClone - Review

Chocolate expert Chantelle Cummings arrives in Marietta, Montana with two goals—sign copies of her new book and research a quaint local chocolate shop. When she meets a gorgeous guy passing out chocolate samples, her visit turns sweeter than she ever imagined. The man melts her heart, but her dream of working in France with her family makes her hesitant to pursue a romance.

Former Air Force captain York Parker has one month before embarking upon a consulting career. He never expected to be selling chocolates, but he’s happy to help his sister and her boss. He also likes spending time with sassy, pretty Chantelle. His new coworker may have the chocolate touch, but he’d rather taste her decadent kisses… until he learns the real reason she’s in town.

Will the truth harden his heart, or will love pave the way to a sweet future?

My Review: 

A sweet, heartfelt romance.

Chantelle Cummings is in Marietta, Montana promoting her new book, The Chocolate Touch, but she also has a hidden agenda.  She is looking for new recipes for her family's chain of chocolate shops in France.  Once she gets what she wants, she will be moving on.

Former Air Force captain York Parker, is in Marietta for a month before he starts his new career.  Until then, he will be helping out at the Copper Mountain Chocolates with his sister.  York and Chantelle meet at the book store where Chantelle is singing her new book.  There was something about Chantelle that York couldn’t seem to forget.  

York had no idea Chantelle would end up temporarily working at the shop too when Portia, a pregnant worker, ends up in the hospital.  They soon find themselves sharing more than just a passion for chocolate.

I wasn't ready for this book to come to an end.  I would have loved a longer story with these two characters.  They had great chemistry together and the story kept me interested the entire time.  Hopefully they will be revisited in a future book.