Texas Twist (Texas Montgomery Mavericks #4) by Cynthia D’Alba
4.25 stars
Although this is the 4th book in the series, the installment can be read as a stand-alone. This book will have you laughing, crying, and just all around feeling good! Cash Montgomery was at the top of his game – bull riding that is until the fateful day where man and beast became one. Unfortunately for Cash, the bull won and won big. Six months later, he has returned back home and is at rock bottom. He wants peace, quite, and more importantly the solitude of being away from his brother and his brother’s very pregnant wife.
Hoping to help Cash get out of his funk, his brother Travis, quickly agrees to let Cash move into his wife’s house that she inherited. Unbeknownst to Travis, another inhabitant has already set up house and is none other than the girl who has always haunted Cash’s dreams.
Paige’s parents were killed in a tragic accident, and Paige left the rodeo circuit to become a nurse. Returning home to be closer to her brother, she was given permission to move into the vacant home. Paige is determined that Cash will not hurt her again so they have had a past. The romance was slow due to both Paige and Cash not wanting to venture back into the unknown. However, once the romance sizzled, nothing was going to stop those two! This was one of my favorite books of this series, and I am looking forward to reading more from Ms. D’Alba.
Girls Weekend
Three ladies are friends due to their children or spouses and live in the same town. Each thinks that the others have the perfect husband and perfect life. However, this is far from the case. Each lady has issues or dreams that never materialized. These forty’ish women decide to go for a girls only weekend. There is a chapter devoted to each woman on her struggles. One begins to understand why the ladies want to start over and what their life would be like.
The ladies were open and honest with each other and became closer friends because of the week-end. What I really enjoyed about this book was the character building of each lady, and I could actually relate to some of their issues. A very close friend of mine and I take two week-ends a year and have quality girl time. Although we don’t sit around and discuss these types of issues, we do discuss what is going on in our lives. We both come back refreshed and energized. We also craft all week-end, which is something these ladies could do to de-stress!
When the ladies do return home on Sunday, I had a feeling that they would have a difficult time. However, this is further from the truth. The week-end helped them to focus and find peace. I’m a true believer of the girls week-end, and I am so glad that I found this book.
Thanks to Tantor Media for giving me this book in exchange for a honest review. I will definitely be on the lookout for more books from this author as well as the narrator.
A Hunger Like No other (Immortals After Dark #2) by Kresley Cole
3 stars
I love a really good PNR book, and this one did not disappoint. I did not like all of the violence at the beginning, which took me until the middle of the book to really begin enjoying the plot and characters.
The narrator did an excellent job in portraying emotions from both Lachlain and Emmaline. The world building in this series is slow, and I hope that the pace does pick up in the upcoming installments. Lachlain is predestined to have Emma as his mate. The only problem is that he loathes her family, and she hates him. Slowly, the two made their way to each other due to circumstances from Emma’s past.
Shadows of the Past (Logan Point #1) by Patricia Bradley
3.5 stars
Taylor Martin is a psychology professor and part-time criminal profiler. The only case that she can’t solve is of her missing father. For twenty years, she has wondered what happened to him without a trace or any clues. She is good at her job and knows it. She does have self-doubt in her personal life where men are concerned.
In walks, or more accurately stalks, Nick Sinclair whose brother is accused of murder. Nick is in desperate need of Taylor’s help in order to acquit Scott. Nick’s wife died in an accident years before, and he has absolutely no plans to fall for Taylor.
This was a very slow character build. Several other characters were introduced so this reader is sure that they will be front and center in future installments. While the story was very clean (Christian novel), the particular writing style was not for me. The narrator did an excellent job in switching back and forth between characters. Thanks to Tantor Media for supplying me this audio in exchange for a honest review.
Death Before Decaf by Caroline Fardig
4 stars
Juliet Langley is distraught after her music career crashes. Tucking her tail between her legs, she is forced to go back into food service. As if she hadn’t already been down on her luck, she is thrown yet another curve ball. Her two timing fiancé runs off with her best waitress and in the process steals from Juliet. Packing up and moving back to Nashville, Juliet is offered a job to manager a friend’s coffeehouse.
By all appearances, Java Jive has not changed since the last time Juliet was here. To her surprise, the staff is revolting, and an employee is found dead in the dumpster. Unfortunately for Julia, this occurs on her first day back on the job. Just Juliet’s luck, the corpse is the cook who had gotten into a heated battle with Julia over code enforcement. Now, the employees are too happy to spill the beans to the cops regarding Juliet’s bad temper. Questions that Juliet can’t answer are being thrown at her, and she is finding that not only the coffee is in hot water. If she doesn’t solve the case, her next job maybe making coffee in the slammer.
This was a cute cozy read. Juliet is fun, witty, and very likeable. The narrator brought Juliet to life and the listen/read was very easy and fast. This is definitely a listen if you don’t want to think and just enjoy the moment. Grab a cup of java and be prepared to be swept away into Juliet’s crazy world. Thanks to Tantor Media for supplying me with this audio in exchange for a honest review.
Dangerous Secrets (Callaghan Brothers Book 1) by Abbie Zanders
2.75 stars
I had never heard of this author, but the book sounded intriguing and something that I normally like to read. The writing was not an issue; nor were the main characters for the most part. The book started off with a bang, and I was off and running. Unfortunately, my fast pace run quickly became a show stopper. The plot suddenly became confusing with this reader wanting more of the fast paced.
Taryn Malone is stranded, broke, and is in desperate need of some help. She is not a woman that would typically need rescuing. Jake Callaghan has been running the family pub for years, but his SEAL training kicks into overload when he spots Taryn at the bar. These two had chemistry and worked well together. What didn’t work well was his brothers interference. At one point, this reader was actually rooting for the wrong brother!
Both Taryn and Jake are harboring dark secrets that may destroy their relationship or even their existence. This was a good start to a new series but fell short to the point of possibly not continuing with the series.
The narrator did help to make the storyline more enjoyable. Thanks to Tantor Media for supplying me with this read for a honest review.
Guardians Mate (Shifters Unbound #9) by Jennifer Ashley
Guardians Mate (Shifters Unbound #9) by Jennifer Ashley
3.75 Stars
In the last installment, the Guardian was destroyed and now the shiftertown is in need of another one. Surprisingly, Rae Lyall, an orphan was designated by the goddess. The shifters are not happy about this rare gesture. Not only is Ran an orphan but is female. Rae is the first female to be a guardian. Rae is resentful and does not want to be burdened as a guardian of the shifters.
Elon, Rae’s dad, takes her out of shiftetown to learn new skills from Zander, who is a polar bear healer. These two were great together. This reader enjoyed the banter between the two. Zander taught Rae well in how to hold a sword and how to locate a shifter heart. Before Rae was completed trained, she had to perform her duties to an Alaskan shifter.
Rae and Zander decided to celebrate her success and went to a non-shifter bar. A bar fight ensued, which led to a boat adventure. This reader did not see how this adventure contributed to the overall book. During this adventure, both were captured by a human shifter hunter. Eventually this hunter became a friend and Zander helped him and his ill wife. The mating frenzy hits shifters, and this is exactly what happened to these two.
This reader had a difficult time with this installment. There was too much going on that really didn’t add to the plot. Rae and Zander had somewhat of a likeable relationship but not enough to feel the love.
Thanks to Tantor for supplying me with this book for a honest review.
Roped In (Armed & Dangerous #2)by L.P. Dover
4.75 stars
I always love an enemy to lover book and this one did not disappoint. Hadley is a famous country singer and is hiding out from a deranged stalker. Blake is an undercover cop assigned to watch over Hadley until the stalker can be brought to justice. Of course, Blake is a drop dead gorgeous cowboy and the two hit it off after a week of bantering.
Blake definitely has an attitude but all eyes are now on Hadley. This book kept me riveted from the moment that I began listening. The narrator is outstanding and definitely will push me to read more from this author. Thanks to Tantor Media for giving me this audio in exchange for a honest review.
Morrison by MJ Fields and Chelsea Camaron
3.5 stars
Morrison Caldwell’s life has had challenges. He and his brothers were raised by their abusive alcoholic father until Morrison made a life out of playing professional poker. Known for his one night stands and fast cars, he had no intention of settling down until he met Hadley. This high roller decided that he needed to protect Hadley from her abusive and savage husband.
Hadley married at 17 to repay a debt. Her life has been reduced to a slave and does not trust easily due to her situation. Morrison was very patient with Hadley and wanted to help her and her daughter. At times, I wanted to shake her so that she could see how well that he was to her. Slowly, Hadley did begin to trust Morrison. This reader just had a difficult time seeing the romance between the two, and Morrison’s age was never disclosed. I also had a difficult time with the return of Hadley’s husband and his compassion after seven years of severe abuse.
Thanks to Tantor Media for giving me this audio in exchange for a honest review.
Hidden Summit (#15 Virgin River) by Robyn Carr
4 stars
Leslie Petruso has accepted a job in Virgin River with Haggerty Construction in order to get away from her ex-husband who just can’t stand that she is avoiding him. With the help of Brie, Connor Danson is staying in Virgin River until a high profile trial that he is affiliated with is over. He has changed his identity and is staying at one of the small cabins until his ordeal is over. Both Leslie and Connor have been burned by love and vow to never fall for anyone again.
The good folks of Virgin River, however, can easily see the chemistry between the two. Leslie and Connor begin to have deep feelings at the early onset of their relationship. This reader was rooting for both with the hopes of a smooth transition between being Danny and now Connor. Being in the wrong place totally uprooted Danny – aka Connor, and he is ready to put his life back together and be reunited with his sister and her twin boys.
This book was more emotional than the others. While Ms. Carr has been introducing newbies to Virgin River, this one was the most dramatic. The ended drew to a climax too quickly for this reader – thus the 4 stars. Connor’s sister’s love issue was left wide open; thus, moving the reader into the next installment.
