Review: Charming the Shortstop by Heather B. Moore, Rebecca Connolly, Sophia Summers

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

He’s not looking. She’s been burned. But sparks fly, and they decide to go on a date. Just this once.

When professional baseball player Axel Diaz travels back to Belltown University for a friend’s wedding, he’s not planning on bringing a date. Until he meets Brighton West, the flight attendant who he can’t get off his mind. Although dubbed “Cold Axe” by some of his female fans, Axel asks Brighton to be his date to the wedding, all the while wondering why of all times and places he is breaking his no-dating streak. But the more he gets to know Brighton, the more he realizes she may be the one woman who can melt his cold heart.

My Review

Axel may be my favorite of the Belltown Six so far! He's devoted to his mother, teenage sister, and career, leaving no time for dating... but that's just an excuse. He doesn't feel like he's relationship material because of his issues with his father. It was great to see how his strong feelings for Brighton make him see that the risk is worth taking. I loved how he was a little vulnerable around her, and made his interest known instead of playing games. Brighton is overwhelmed by him but as she focuses on Axel as a person instead of his baseball fame, she sees what makes him so amazing. Their developing relationship was a pleasure to read, and even though there isn't a huge conflict or climax, the character-driven story made me so glad for their happy ending. Loving this series! The books are written so they can be read in any order, so don't hesitate to pick one up!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

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Welcome to Belltown! Six baseball players meet in the college town of Belltown, Massachusettes, becoming best friends, their lives intertwining as they each get called up to the Major Leagues.

Follow Sawyer, Cole, Axel, David, Ryker, and Levi in these six swoony sports romances.

Belltown Six Pack Series:
 
Hitching the Pitcher
Falling for Centerfield
Charming the Shortstop
Snatching the Catcher
Flirting with First
Kissing on Third

Review: Falling for Centerfield by Sophia Summers, Heather B. Moore, Rebecca Connolly

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

Cole has secrets.
Harlow has a past.
Will the part of his life Cole hides tear them apart, or become the very thing she loves most about him?

Major League Baseball Player, Cole Hunter, has strong ties to his college days and the university he shared with five of his best friends, now known as the #BellTownSixPack. When an old acquaintance, Harlow Ember, walks in, wearing his jersey and his signature sunglasses, he knows this woman might have what it takes to capture his heart. But none of Cole’s typical efforts to gain a girl’s attention seem to work on Harlow.

Harlow Ember is asked to report on a charity event for children back in Belltown sponsored by Cole Hunter and the Six Pack. Even though Cole attracts her in all the right ways, she has goals of her own that don’t involve losing her heart to one more guy who will end up leaving her cold. While her trust is at an all-time low, her interest and attraction are a raging pull in the other direction.

Will her hurts from the past and the secrets he hides work in their favor or end things before they can even begin?

My Review

Amazing characterization! The author does a great job of getting the reader in the head of Cole, who is both a showman and athlete. He's the type of guy that it's easy to swoon over, but I would never want to actually deal with the ego in a relationship. I loved that we got to see the deeper parts of Cole- what drives him, where he's vulnerable, and how he deals with his struggles. Harlow is strong, and her college friendship with the men of the Belltown Six Pack puts her in a unique position to challenge Cole in ways no other woman has. Their relationship has such a shifting dynamic, and my favorite parts are when they are both loose and relaxed, having fun together and being real. There are a lot of things standing in their way, and they have quite a journey to navigate. I most admired that Cole wouldn't give up on Harlow, and even when they felt betrayed by each other, they could see past the facade to the real person deep inside. Great contemporary romance, and I can't wait to read the next book in the series!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

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Welcome to Belltown! Six baseball players meet in the college town of Belltown, Massachusettes, becoming best friends, their lives intertwining as they each get called up to the Major Leagues.

Follow Sawyer, Cole, Axel, David, Ryker, and Levi in these six swoony sports romances.

Belltown Six Pack Series:
 
Hitching the Pitcher
Falling for Centerfield
Charming the Shortstop
Snatching the Catcher
Flirting with First
Kissing on Third

Review: Let's Begin Again by Heather B. Moore

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

Maurie's dreams are finally coming true, but when Grant Shelton shows up at her doorstep, she discovers that she's left love out of the equation.
 
USA Today bestselling author Heather B. Moore welcomes you to Pine Valley!

When Maurie Ledbetter moves back to her hometown to open her dream shop, she calls a local construction crew for help. Former teenage crush Grant Shelton shows up on her front porch, answering the call for the construction job. Seeing Grant again brings back Maurie’s memories of her troubled childhood, and she doesn’t know if spending time around Grant is the best way to move on. But when she discovers Grant has gone through difficulties of his own, Maurie realizes that he might be the key to her own healing.

My Review

Another winner of a story from the Pine Valley series I so quickly fell in love with! The beginning of this story was familiar to me since the author had published it in a novella collection, but added so much more content to this book and really made the characters that I enjoyed in the short story come to life. It was gratifying to see where their story led and how they dealt with the challenges in their lives and relationship. I admired Maurie's resilience after a dysfunctional childhood and time in foster care, the way she stayed strong and learned from those who showed genuine love for her. Grant struggled more as an adult with his failed marriage and desire to keep his son in his life, and Maurie supports and encourages him as he puts his life back together. Their curiosity about each other as youth picks right back up as adults, and they had *fantastic* chemistry! I also loved Maurie's best friend/business partner with her quirky personality, and I have my fingers crossed that she gets a Pine Valley story of her own!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

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Don't miss the other amazing books in the Pine Valley series! 
(They can easily be read in any order)

Review: Hitching the Pitcher by Rebecca Connolly, Sophia Summers, Heather B. Moore

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Sawyer Bennett has a secret. A risky thing, being one of the popular Belltown Six Pack, a group of six guys from the same college baseball team, all of whom got drafted and now play in the Major Leagues. Between the media frenzy over them and his bond with the guys, his secret has to stay carefully hidden if he wants it to stay that way. He needs to focus on his pitching and let everything else fall away.

Running into his former college girlfriend wasn’t supposed to happen. Falling for her again wasn’t supposed to happen. Confessing his secret to her was definitely not supposed to happen. But the harder he falls for Erica Moore, the more important his secret—and she—becomes.

My Review

This was a fun introduction to a new series! Even though the main character is Sawyer, we get to know all the members of the Six Pack, some more than others. I'm looking forward to reading each of their stories! I really liked Erica, but Sawyer was such a head case! He definitely provided the drama and angst with some self-defeating behaviors as he struggles and works through some issues. Erica had the patience of a saint! I was proud of her for giving Sawyer the space he needed and knowing when to leave the ball in his court (or field). :) My husband coaches high school baseball and after reading this book we had an insightful conversation about the mental game that is also played and can prevent a perfectly talented and skilled player from succeeding. Overall, I enjoyed the dynamics of the ball player characters and the chemistry between Erica and Sawyer. Can't wait for the next book!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

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Welcome to Belltown! Six baseball players meet in the college town of Belltown, Massachusettes, becoming best friends, their lives intertwining as they each get called up to the Major Leagues.

Follow Sawyer, Cole, Axel, David, Ryker, and Levi in these six swoony sports romances.

Belltown Six Pack Series:
Hitching the Pitcher
Falling for Centerfield
Charming the Shortstop
Snatching the Catcher
Flirting with First
Kissing on Third

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Review: Falling for Lucy by Heather B. Moore

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

The perfect relationship sometimes means letting things get a little messy.

Lucy Morley’s older sister is perfect, and her younger brother is nearly there, too. Yet Lucy can’t even hold down a job, let alone stick with something like college. She drops out and floats from job to job. After yet another disastrous firing, she lands an interview at a bookstore—her dream job—and it doesn’t hurt that her new boss, Adam Parks, is pretty much her dream man. But if Lucy is good at one thing, it’s guarding her personal life and more importantly her heart. Adam has other plans in mind, though, and they include finding a way into Lucy’s heart.

My Review

This author is one of my favorites for clean contemporary romance. I can always count on her to strike a balance with humor, emotion, and romantic chemistry- without getting too dark or too fluffy. I liked Lucy and her enthusiasm, even though she feels inferior to her siblings. She has a healthy self-acceptance and seems to be searching for her role and purpose. She finally finds a good fit working at cozy bookshop, and I enjoyed the sense of family there (even when it was at times dysfunctional, courtesy of Adam's sister). Adam is a decent guy, and I appreciated that his attraction to Lucy never crossed the creepy boss line, but remained appropriate while friendly. A super cute story that ended too quickly for me!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

FALLING SERIES:

Falling for Sydney
Falling for Maria
Falling for June
Falling for Lucy

Review: Until We Kissed by Heather B. Moore

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

Livvy knows Dr. Slade McKinney is the perfect man for her, but when she keeps running into Mason, Livvy discovers fate has a different plan.

USA Today bestselling author Heather B. Moore welcomes you to Pine Valley!

Pine Valley librarian Livvy Harmon has big dreams, which include marrying Dr. Slade McKinney. Trouble is, he’s only kissed her once in their four months of dating, and it wasn’t all that great. But Livvy isn’t ready to give up yet on hooking such an amazing man, even though Slade seems to have time for everyone but her.

When Livvy keeps running into writer Mason Rowe, who seems to be camping out in her library to finish his book under strict orders from his agent, Livvy at first keeps him at arm’s length. But the more their friendship grows, the more she finds that her dream relationship with her doctor boyfriend isn’t so dreamy after all.

My Review

Another fabulous book in the Pine Valley series! Each time a book comes out it's my new favorite ;) This one has a librarian and author... with the best first kiss scene I've read in a while! I loved the character-driven plot, the dynamics of the relationship between Livvy and Mason, the humor and emotion. I do have one argument- I don't think Dr. Slade was ever Livvy's "boyfriend". They were casually dating. He was in no way behaving the way a real boyfriend does. (They would go two weeks without talking or seeing each other!) So I don't think she was cheating on him when she began a relationship with Mason. Which is why I didn't have those icky "eww, she's cheating" feelings. ANYWAY.... Mason is such a contrast to the preoccupied doctor that Livvy can't help but fall in love with him, even though he doesn't fit the future she has planned out for herself. This is a fun story with emotion, humor, and great romantic chemistry!

(The books in the Pine Valley series are only loosely connected and can be read in any order)

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

Review: A Timeless Romance Anthology: A Yuletide Regency by Regina Scott, Sarah M. Eden, Jen Geigle Johnson, Annette Lyon, Krista Lynne Jensen, Heather B. Moore

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

From the publisher of the USA TODAY bestselling & #1 Amazon bestselling Timeless Romance Anthology series in Clean & Wholesome Romance, comes A YULETIDE REGENCY.

Six brand new Regency romance novellas by Regina Scott, Sarah M. Eden, Jen Geigle Johnson, Annette Lyon, Krista Lynne Jensen, and Heather B. Moore

ALWAYS KISS AT CHRISTMAS by Regina Scott
Mary Rose has one goal for her mother’s annual Christmas Eve party: convince her childhood friend Julian Mayes to marry her. She has always admired Julian. Surely one moment under the kissing bough will convince him they were meant to be together. Newly hired by a prestigious London law firm, Julian is ready to shake the dust of the countryside off his polished boots. But he’s always had a soft spot for Mary. As the danger to her future becomes clear, will one kiss be enough to prove to him how far he will go to protect her?

A YULETIDE MATCH by Sarah M. Eden
Famed matchmaker to the ton, Adelaide Northrup cannot imagine a more perfect way to spend Christmas than answering the desperate call of Mr. Porter Bartrum: widower, young father, dunderhead. The young gentleman’s first marriage was an arranged one and he hasn’t the first idea how to find a wife on his own. His dear friend, Chloe Munson, has watched his attempts with amusement and finds this latest approach, the clandestine hiring of a matchmaker, his most entertaining yet. If Adelaide plays her cards right, and she always does, she might very well manage to secure two happy endings.

THE FORBIDDEN DUKE by Jen Geigle Johnson
They weren’t supposed to meet, but now that they have, nothing will ever be the same. The Duke of Salsbury blames her family. Lady Catherine blames his. Will an age-old dispute between the Salsburys and Asters rip apart any hope they have to be together? In this game of secrets and lies, can their love for each other conquer even the most tightly held family prejudices?

MISTLETOE AT WILLOWSMEADE by Annette Lyon
On Christmas Eve, Eleanor Hadfield, who works as governess at her childhood home of Willowsmeade, is stunned to learn that the love of her youth, Julian Phillips, is coming back after a decade’s absence. Once the gardener’s son, he has elevated his station to navy captain. Making a match with a mere governess would lower his position, if he were to still love her as he did as a young man, which is unlikely. Unable to bear the idea of noble Julian keeping an old promise out of obligation or pity, Eleanor decides to leave the only place that has ever been a home.

FOLLOW THE RIVER HOME by Krista Lynne Jensen
With her beloved home entailed away to a wealthy cousin, spirited Arabelle Hyatt has resigned herself to marry the arrogant man, if only to save her family from destitution. But before an understanding is reached, a childhood friend returns from war, wounded in more ways than one. With Christmas coming—what may be their last at Hybrigge—holiday traditions are celebrated, memories are revisited, and Arabelle learns what lies in a man’s words is not always what lies in his heart.

THE NEW EARL by Heather B. Moore
Celia Thompson knows she can’t live with the new earl who’s come to take her brother’s place. Before she can pack her belongings and reconcile herself to a fate of living as a spinster in her aunt’s home, the new earl arrives. Yet, Aaron, now Lord Banfield, is not the pompous, arrogant man she’d imagined. In fact, he’s quite . . . interesting and handsome. Celia decides to help the man acclimate to his new role. But the longer she stays on at Banfield, the more she realizes the new earl might be the answer she’s been looking for.

My Review

What a great collection of stories!!! I enjoyed them all and had several favorites. As much as I love Regency romances, I love *Christmas* Regency romances even more! There's something sweet about the traditions that are specific to the era, like the yule log, and the ones that have stood the test of time that we still celebrate today, like mistletoe and Christmas trees. While some of the plots had more drama than the others, for the most part the novellas were pleasant and compelling, and I loved the feeling of connecting to the characters quickly and experiencing the season with them as they overcame personal and societal struggles to achieve a lovely happily-ever-after. A wonderful anthology that is perfect for reading during the busy holiday season!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

#TFBRC Black & White

Wow, there really aren't many covers in black and white out there! Luckily I found one on my Goodreads 5 star ratings list, a sweet novella that is only 99 cents! Reading my review below made me want to read the story again, and I hope you will want to also ;)

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

1907, England
Lucien Baxter’s best and most incorrigible friend, Will, dies unexpectedly, leaving behind his new bride and unborn child the week before Christmas. Will’s last request is that Lucien watch over Cora, not just as a benefactor, but as a husband. When Lucien does his duty and proposes to Cora, he’s turned down flat. Over the course of the next twelve months, Lucien discovers that marrying Cora wouldn’t be any sort of duty after all, but a matter of following his heart.

*Note for readers: A YEAR OF LOVE was previously published in A Timeless Romance Anthology: Silver Bells Collection, as TWELVE MONTHS.

My Review

This is a perfect example of a novella that quickly draws the reader in, makes it easy to connect emotionally with the characters, builds the anticipation of what will happen next, and offers toe-curling romance with a satisfying resolution. I loved how Lucien supports Cora during her first days of mourning, and that she lets him and draws strength from him. Even though Lucien was good friends with Will, he is different from Will in all the right ways, and a true friendship naturally blossoms as he and Cora are genuine with each other. This is a story that put a smile of my face as I read and finished it :)

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

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#TFBRH Fall Colors

This book not only features fall colors on its cover, it is also has an autumn setting and the author does such a great job bringing the season to life through subtle descriptions.

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

Felicity Miner is not normally an anxious person, and she’s been on her own since high school. But after a shoplifter steals from her bookshop, she calls the cops. When Officer Leo Russo shows up, Felicity has to tell herself that just because the romance novel she’s been reading has a hero police officer doesn’t mean she needs to project her imagination onto the real man. Yes, Officer Russo is unexpectedly generous, and he helps make Felicity’s home more secure when her worries won’t settle down. But the more Felicity is around Officer Russo, the more she imagines a future between them. Is he merely doing his duty, protecting and serving the citizens of Pine Valley, or is there potential for something more?

My Review

The cover of this book may seem unassuming, but it is chock full of memorable characters with quirky and likeable mannerisms and personalities! As much as I enjoyed the other books in the Pine Valley series, I do believe this one is my favorite. Bookstores, bikes, hot chocolate, and autumn! What I loved most about Leo and Felicity is how genuine they are. As themselves, and with each other. They accepted one another for who they are- quirks, flaws, and everything. The flirting and banter was cute without being cheesy or cliche, and so fun to read. Leo and Felicity both have things they are struggling with, and come from very different families. I think that helped them give each other a new perspective when supporting and encouraging through the other's issues. I really connected to their emotions and it brought depth to the story and made the romance one full of anticipation and delight. This is one that I plan to read again for sure! Highly recommend!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

Join the challenge here!