Review: Accidentally Married by Victorine E. Lieske

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

 

Synopsis

Madison Nichols, aspiring actress, is floundering. Her rent is due and she needs a job. Desperately. After getting a tip about an open position, she rushes to Jameson Technologies and meets CEO Jared Jameson. Unfortunately, due to a misunderstanding, she is put in the awkward position of pretending to be his girlfriend. Not the job she was applying for. And when she finds out Jared lied to her to get what he wanted, she decides to get back at him. In front of his family.

Jared is stunned when Madison announces they are getting married. She pushed her revenge too far. How can he tell them it's all a lie? And when his sick aunt asks them to be married before she dies, Madison comes up with a hair-brained plan to hire an actor and stage a fake wedding.

What they both don't know is Jared's father has found out about the fake wedding. And he's got his own hair-brained plan.

My Review

Pretty funny and entertaining. I loved Madison's personality and how she kept doing unexpected things. There wasn't much chemistry in the beginning but as I got to know the characters better I began to feel more of a connection between them besides the physical attraction the author noted at the start. The family dynamics are great and I liked that everyone could tell Jared and Madison were such a good match. The clever twists prevented the resolution from being cliche and overly predictable.

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

Review: Reclaiming His Past by Karen Kirst

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

No Possessions, No Memories, Not Even a Name!  

The wounded stranger found on Jessica O'Malley's property has no idea who he is. And Jessica would be foolish to trust him after being proven so wrong about a former suitor who turned out to be a criminal. But Jessica's wariness toward the newcomer is soon turning to interest…and hope.

Until he knows his true identity, "Grant" can't make a life in this quaint Tennessee town. He certainly shouldn't be thinking so much about the feisty redhead with beautiful, guarded eyes. But even as he fights to keep a distance from Jessica, his feelings for her grow. And he can't help but wonder if he'll want to return to his old life when his past is revealed.

My Review

Amnesia is a fun and interesting trope as the mystery of a character's unknown past conflicts with their present, holding them back while they are trying to move forward. Grant's appearance is suspicious because of his gunshot, and even though Jessica nurses him back to health, he still has a long way to go to win her trust. His personality is one of a protector, so he naturally falls into the role despite Jessica's resistance. There is great romantic tension throughout the book as they grow closer, and the unfolding mystery brought an element of suspense.

(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 books in the Smoky Mountain Matches series . . .

Review & Giveaway: The Masked Baron by Anneka R. Walker

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Andalin is accustomed to her father’s frequent travels—and to being left behind. So when he returns home and instructs her to pack her belongings, she is bewildered—but there is no time for questions as she is whisked away on a mysterious journey under the cover of night. When their tense flight leads them into the forbidding Black Forest, the pair quickly finds themselves in great peril. With little hope of escape, father and daughter are spared when rescue appears in the form of the mysterious Dark Rider, a notorious deadly highwayman feared by all he meets. But his assistance does not come without a price: he is taking Andalin with him. Now her fate rests in the hands of the enigmatic masked man whose secrets are inescapably tied to the beautiful young woman now in his charge.

My Review

Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite fairy tales, especially for retellings! This book definitely brought the moodiness and uncertainty to life as Andalin's small world is upended and she comes to live at the neglected estate of a reclusive masked baron. I enjoyed the details that made the story its own, including the Regency setting that grounded the fantasy-like feeling and the mystery behind the Black Forest and Ellis' family. It didn't feel predictable or cliché. I especially enjoyed watching Andalin and Ellis warm up to each other and begin to understand the nuances of their personalities. There were a few things that didn't quite add up for me, and some scenes where I thought more development would have been beneficial, but overall it was an intriguing story with a cast of characters that were vibrant and memorable. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author!

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

Giveaway

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Review: The Solid Grounds Coffee Company by Carla Laureano

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Analyn Sanchez can handle the long hours and arrogant clients that come with her job as a crisis management associate at Denver's largest publicity firm. The high-powered job, expensive condo, and designer wardrobe are all part of her plan to prove to her family that her life choices haven't been in vain. But when she's asked to cover up a client's misdeeds with serious moral and legal ramifications, she can no longer sacrifice her conscience for her career . . . and the cost is no less than her job.

Ever since a devastating climbing accident in South America eight months ago, and a bad decision that dried up his sponsorships, professional rock climber Bryan Shaw has found himself at similar loose ends. When the opportunity to buy a coffee farm in Colombia arises, he jumps on it--only to discover his wandering ways have left him utterly unprepared to run a business.

When Bryan returns home and offers Ana a role in his company as a solution to both their problems, she's desperate enough to consider working with the far-too-flippant and far-too-handsome climber, even though he's the polar opposite of her type A nature. As they delve deeper into the business, however, she begins to suspect there's much more to Bryan than she's given him credit for . . . and that sometimes the best plans are the ones you never see coming.

My Review

I loved getting to know Ana and Bryan since they were both enigmatic in the previous books. I was impressed/intimidated by Ana's intense work ethic- with her list making, exercising, and productivity. I can in no way relate, but it was fascinating to see what made her tick. I was surprised by some of the secrets that were revealed about her throughout the book. It was wonderful to experience more of her friendship with Rachel and Melody, especially as they prepared for Rachel's wedding.

The book actually starts our from Bryan's perspective and experience climbing in Colombia, and I have to say I didn't much care for him, but that only allowed him to grow on me as I saw how he changed after he returns to Denver. It was interesting that the author chose not to show the time where he had his "come to Jesus" moments, and instead it was like the reader was seeing him and judging him the way his friends and family were in Denver- based on what they knew of him in the past, while getting an idea that his new choices are reflecting something different about him. I appreciated that as the book went on more layers were revealed about his true character and what led him to make the decisions he did in the past, as well as the influences that prompted such a drastic change in him.

I'm not a coffee drinker so the intricacies of the roasting of the beans was lost on me, but I liked  the camaraderie that built between Ana and Bryan as they worked together to build the company. The emotion in the book was focused more on the changes in Ana and Bryan's lives rather than on the romance, and I felt the chemistry was a little flat, but I really enjoyed getting to know the characters for themselves and seeing how letting go of the past gave them the freedom and peace they needed.

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

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Don't miss the previous books in the Supper Club series . . .

Review: The Way of the Brave by Susan May Warren

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Former pararescue jumper Orion Starr is haunted by the memory of a rescue gone wrong. He may be living alone in Alaska now, but the pain of his failure--and his injuries--has followed him there from Afghanistan. He has no desire to join Hamilton Jones's elite rescue team, but he also can't shirk his duty when the call comes in to rescue three lost climbers on Denali.

Former CIA profiler and psychiatrist Jenny Calhoun's yearly extreme challenge with her best friends is her only escape from the guilt that has sunk its claws into her. As a consultant during a top-secret mission to root out the Taliban, she green-lighted an operation that ended in ambush and lives lost. When her cathartic climb on Denali turns deadly, she'll be forced to trust her life and the lives of her friends to the most dangerous of heroes--the man she nearly killed.

Her skills and his experience are exactly what's needed to prevent another tragedy--but in order to truly set Orion free from his painful past, Jenny will have to reveal hers. They'll have to put their wounds behind them to survive, but at what cost?

Leap into action with this high-octane, breakneck new series from bestselling author Susan May Warren.

My Review

This book reminded me of that movie Vertical Limit with Chris O'Donnell and Robin Tunney- hikers stranded on a snowy mountain and when a rescue team went to save them, everything that could go wrong did go wrong. Although in the movie only a few made it back alive, have no fear, there is a less gut-wrenching ending to the book!

There is a strong cast of characters that all have heavy burdens from their pasts, and while some are running from their feelings, some are facing them with anger, and some are relying on God's grace to get them through. The main characters are Jenny and Orion who have a second chance at love, but we also have scenes from the perspective of Jake and Aria, new acquaintances with instant attraction, leading into the next book where they will feature as the leads. And at the end of the book in the "coming next" section we hear from Ham, the leader of the SAR team and also their spiritual mentor. I appreciated his counsel to his team and to Jenny, starting them on a path to understanding how God works in their lives. The big universal question of why do bad things happen to good people is explored in thoughtful and profound ways. Orion and Jenny have such a struggle with this and the experiences they have on the mountain make them face the answers they are both avoiding and yearning for. While I felt a little stir-crazy that the majority of the book takes place on the mountain (interspersed with flashbacks to Jenny and Orion's early relationship), this is a strong beginning to the series and I'm so excited to see what comes next for these amazing and memorable characters!

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

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Don't miss the upcoming book in the Global Search and Rescue series . . .

Review: The Matchmaker's Rogue by Regina Scott

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Grace-by-the-Sea: Where romance and adventure come home.

Polished Jesslyn Chance has one of the most enviable positions in the little Regency coastal village of Grace-by-the-Sea. She is the hostess of the spa, arranging introductions and entertainments and playing matchmaker to the ladies and gentlemen who come to take the waters, promenade through the shops, and dance at the assembly. But when a rogue returns from her past, Jess finds herself suddenly at sea.

Always an adventurer, Larkin Denby left Grace-by-the-Sea to right the wrongful death of his father. Now he’s back on a mission: to identify the mysterious Lord of the Smugglers who allegedly sails from Grace Cove and takes England’s secrets to France. But Grace-by-the-Sea is the perfect little spa town, run by the still oh-so-perfect Jesslyn Chance. When the village’s future is threatened, Jess must work with Lark to solve the mystery and protect the town’s own. In doing so, the matchmaker of Grace-by-the-Sea may just find that the best match for her is the rogue who stole her heart years ago.

My Review

I'm so excited to have a new Regency series from Regina Scott! I love the unique setting of a seaside spa village, and the elements of suspense and intrigue that were incorporated which brought momentum to the pace of the book. This is a second chance love story, but Jesslyn and Lark had been apart for several years and become strangers. I liked how their renewed acquaintance turned quickly to friendship again, and working together to investigate the smuggling brought a sense of camaraderie. I didn't feel much in the way of romance between them- they each had their reasons for repressing any feelings, and with their friendship working so well combined with the focus on the plot, I felt there wasn't much romantic tension. There is a great supporting cast of family and townspeople to liven things up and all the quirks and mannerisms were entertaining. I'm looking forward to the next in the series!

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