Tag: romance

Review: Return to Silver Bay by Lara Van Hulzen

Goodreads Blurb

Maggie wants to bury her past and move on.
Josh has other plans, and moving on without her isn’t one of them.

Maggie Mitchell returns to her hometown of Silver Bay expecting to bury her father, her past, and move on. But when Josh Harden, her high school sweetheart, shows up, her world gets turned around.

Drawn to Josh, but afraid of their history, Maggie’s head tells her she can handle things alone, but her heart says otherwise.

Recognizing a second chance when he sees one, Josh is determined to win Maggie’s heart once more and show her that she can trust love and begin again.

My Review: Rated 3 out of 5 stars

This novel is about a second-chance romance that will tug at your heartstrings. It’s a story of high school sweethearts who part ways due to Maggie’s relationship with her father. Can Maggie move past her issues with her father? Maggie’s father passes away, and she returns to her hometown to sell her parents’ home. As Maggie goes through her parents’ things, she finds letters that will change her life forever. She investigates what these letters mean and how they affected her father’s actions. Maggie unravels the hidden secret her parents kept from her and finds new friendships, family, and a future with Josh. It’s a strong story filled with many emotions and a character who is afraid to be happy to keep the relationship she had with her father.

The story was short and easy to follow. The only thing I would have changed is to provide a timeline throughout the story. The part about Josh’s accident, the proposal, and the marriage felt rushed. I don’t know if months or a year passed between these events. The characters are well-developed, and the story tugs on readers’ emotions.

Author Biography

I write books. I read almost all genres. I love sports, tea, books, and cookies. My faves are my Great Dane, my husband, & my 3 kids. (Not always in that order. 🙂

I’m an author with Tule Publishing. I am all about people and I love character driven stories. I love history and am a curious person who consistently wants to learn. I can’t remember a time in my life where I wasn’t writing or reading. I had journals as soon as I could write words. And I would get lost in books for hours as a kid. Stories and writing are how I process the world around me, what I see and experience as well as what I learn. I could talk books for hours and am happy to do so with anyone. I also love to sip tea and watch baseball.

Cover Reveal: Janie’s Hope by S.R. Fabrico

In book one, Call Her Janie, we meet Lizzie Levine, the unstoppable female executive at a top New York City marketing firm. Driven by the tragic loss of her parents, Lizzie refuses to let anything stand in her way – until a handsome, enigmatic billionaire named Gray Stone enters the picture. But when Lizzie discovers she’s pregnant with Gray’s child, she learns there’s more to him than meets the eye.

In book two, Keeping Janie, Lizzie reunites with her daughter, Janie, which should be the start of Lizzie’s picture-perfect life. Behind the scenes, however, is a different matter. The happiness of having her daughter back is overshadowed by the fear and distrust of her ex-boyfriend, billionaire Gray Stone.

Book three, Janie’s Hope, will bring a new twist to the charming town of Southport, NC, with new characters for readers to fall in love with. Don’t worry. Many of your favorite old characters will still be there, too, and the happily ever after everyone is patiently waiting for.

With an eloquent and engaging writing style, S.R. Fabrico takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions as you journey with Lizzie through the twists and turns of her life. Whether you’re a fan of suspenseful thrillers or heartwarming love stories, this series is a must-read. Don’t miss the opportunity to immerse yourself in a world of passion, intrigue, and danger.

Author bio

S.R. Fabrico is an award-winning author whose literary talents have captivated readers worldwide. With her debut novel, The Secrets We Conceal, and her second novel, Call Her Janie, she has emerged as a rising star in the literary realm. With a remarkable 25-plus-year career in business, marketing, and sports, S.R. Fabrico brings a unique perspective to her writing. As a World Champion Dance Coach and esteemed speaker, she infuses her stories with passion and insight. Residing in Tennessee with her husband and children, S.R. Fabrico continues to create captivating narratives that will transport you to new and extraordinary worlds. Prepare to be enchanted by her exceptional storytelling prowess. In addition to her passion for writing novels, she has published a series of sports journals and a journal for women. She believes that journaling is good for the soul.

Out Now: Healing Magic & Playboys by Lauren Connolly

Can be read as a stand alone.

Ava Bellerose may use men to charge up her healing magic, but that doesn’t mean she wants to date one. She’s fine living life as a single witch working a day job as a college librarian and spending nights as the masked performer Pearl at The Jewelry Box. Every routine on the stage means more magic power in the bank, courtesy of the customers craving her body. One man in particular can’t seem to get enough. Ava finds perverse pleasure in ignoring his money and denying him anything more than a distant dance with zero eye contact. His admiration is intoxicating and the magical boost is all she needs from him. But the guy becomes impossible to ignore when he shows up outside of her apartment.

Their meeting must be fate…

Sammy Reyes can’t believe his luck. While visiting a new build site for work, he spots a heart-shaped behind and a pouty set of lips he’d recognize anywhere. Unfortunately, Pearl–or Ava–seems less than enthused to have her secret identity revealed, even if he promises to take her secret to a watery grave. From her hostile greeting, the gorgeous witch might be the one to bury him at the bottom of the Mariana Trench. But Sammy has spent his whole life charming people, and he’s determined to prove himself as more than a faceless fuel tank of lust. Especially when Ava makes it abundantly clear his money has no sway on her affections.

To woo the librarian, the water elemental will have to dive deeper than his normal surface-level charisma. But just as Sammy starts to show the vulnerable heart behind his confident mask, Ava’s two lives collide in the worst way. Can she risk stepping out from behind her own protective walls, or will she leave him wanting?

Author Website: https://www.laurenconnollyromance.com/

Publisher website: https://www.cityowlpress.com

Buy Links

Review: The Lady Travelers Guide to Larceny with a Dashing Stranger

Goodreads Blurb

She must secure her future

A lady should never be obliged to think of matters financial! But when Lady Wilhelmina Bascombe’s carefree, extravagant lifestyle vanishes with the demise of her husband, her only hope lies in retrieving a family treasure—a Renaissance masterpiece currently in the hands of a cunning art collector in Venice. Thankfully, the Lady Travelers Society has orchestrated a clever plan to get Willie to Europe, leading a tour of mothers and daughters…and one curiously attentive man.

He must reclaim his heritage

Dante Augustus Montague’s one passion has long been his family’s art collection. He’s finally tracked a long-lost painting to the enchanting Lady Bascombe. Convinced that the canvas had been stolen, he will use any means to reclaim his birthright—including deception. But how long before pretend infatuation gives way to genuine desire?

Now they’re rivals for a prize that will change everything

Willie and Dante know they’re playing with fire in the magical moonlit city. Their common quest could compromise them both…or lead them to happily-ever-after.

My Review: Rated 4 out of 5 stars

What a great story to continue with the series. I loved all the drama and girl power throughout the book. The sparks between Dante and Willie were so humorous and romantic. One painting brought two strangers together with love, adventure, and happiness. I loved the wonderful adventures they all had throughout the book. The descriptions of their travels were great, which made me feel like I was part of the travelers.

Author Biography

New York Times bestselling author Victoria Alexander was an award winning television reporter until she discovered fiction was much more fun than real life. She turned to writing full time and is still shocked it worked out.

Cover Reveal: The Echo on the Water by JA Huss

BOOK DETAILS:

The Echo on the Water
by JA Huss
(Sacred Trinity, #2)
Publication date: July 25, 2024
Genres: Adult, Romance, Suspense

Synopsis:

Rosie Harlow is desperately seeking… well, she’s not sure. A romance would be nice but so would a dinner conversation with her pre-teen son. Too bad her boy is way too busy growing up to pay his mama any attention. Rosie never meant to swear off men and she’s not frigid—you don’t become a single mom at fifteen by being frigid—but this dry spell of hers has gotten out of hand and something must be done.

Enter Amon Parrish. Back in high school Amon was voted most likely to get caught with his pants down. He was a trouble maker. The quintessential bad boy. But twelve years away from home, traveling the world and working with Collin Creed doing super-secret (and somewhat illegal) things, changed all that. These days Amon Parrish is a brand-new, stand-up man.

And, to Rosie’s surprise, a romantic man as well. Because he has decided to court her. And this is not just any ordinary courting, either. It’s… well, a page ripped right out of a bodice ripper. 

But everyone in Disciple, West Virginia has a secret in their past.

Even the cheerful, perpetually optimistic, and seemingly innocent, Rosie Harlow.

The Echo on the Water is a swooning plate of small-town fiction served up with a side of spice. It honors the themes of friends to lovers, found family, and is filled with bigger-than-life, morally-grey characters against a backdrop of the weird and wonderful. 

INSIDE THE PAGES YOU WILL FIND:

Small Town Secrets

Charming Alpha Male

Friends to Lovers

Touch Her and Die

Morally Grey

Found Family

THIS BOOK WILL ONLY BE AVAILABLE AT NOOK, KOBO, AND APPLE ON PRE-ORDER and will release two days early at those distributors. It will go into Kindle Unlimited on the stated release day of July 25, 2024.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/214518414-the-echo-on-the-water

Pre-order:

AMAZON: https://geni.us/EchoAmazon
NOOK: https://geni.us/EchoNook
APPLE: https://geni.us/EchoApple
KOBO: https://geni.us/EchoKobo

AUTHOR BIO:

JA Huss is a scientist, New York Times Bestseller, USA Today Bestseller, and a cowgirl who rides English. Five of her books were optioned for TV/film, several of her audiobooks have been nominated for the Audie and SOVA Awards, and she was a RITA Finalist in 2019. She has been an indie author in both fiction and non-fiction for seventeen years and lives on a ranch in Colorado with her family, horses, dogs, goats, donkeys, and chickens.

Author links:

Bookbub: http://bit.ly/1SW2AB0
Website: https://www.jahuss.com
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2uO4NgR
Audible: https://smarturl.it/p994eo
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/PPpkr3
FB Fan Group: http://bit.ly/3697FlW
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JAHuss
Instagram: http://bit.ly/350gUF5

Cover Reveal: Hotheaded Heart by Anna Alkire

BOOK DETAILS:

Hotheaded Heart
by Anna Alkire
(Waterfall Canyon, #1)
Publication date: June 25, 2024
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Synopsis:

A fun sexy story, with a dash of suspense, about not hiding from yourself and letting love in. This steamy, laugh-out-loud, enemies to lovers romance pits an annoying prankster, turned small town cop, against the woman forced to live with him.

I’m finally back in Waterfall Canyon, after leaving for a decade, when one-night changes everything. I sort of snapped and beat up my stalker with yard debris. That creep didn’t know who he was messing with. Except, I was the one put in the patrol car.

Sometimes the worst mistake of your life calls for desperate measures—like accepting help from one of the cops that arrested you.

Beau Martin is a police officer, a slob, and also a man that’s promised to never settle down. He’s my best friend’s older brother. We had a history—of him tormenting me ten years ago. Now he leaves me flirty notes, wants me to believe he’s always liked me, and thinks we should blow off some steam.

Torn between Beau and an unrequited work crush, pursued by my increasingly creepy stalker, and fighting to save my career from the fallout of my mistake, I stumble into organizing a bachelor auction for charity. Everything depends on the support of our small town—and how much I can sacrifice for my own heart.

From award winning author Anna Alkire, comes an unforgettable new series that mixes the spice of Meghan Quinn’s A Not So Meet Cute, and the unexpected fun of Lucy Score’s Things We Never Got Over. Anyone looking for banter, cuteness, and a bit of suspense will find it in this steamy contemporary romance with a romantic comedy spin. Grab your copy of Hotheaded Heart today!

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/214316048-hotheaded-heart

Pre-order:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4eaSvR4

AUTHOR BIO:

Anna Alkire has been a long-term college student, a business owner, and a world traveler. Now “settled”—with a sigh and a cup of decaf—Anna lives in Washington state, where she splits her time between a husband who thinks the North Pole would be a great place to live, chasing her hurricane of a son, learning new handicrafts, and creating worlds full of the kind of romance and fun she most wants to read. Find more about her (and grab a freebie or two) at her website, annaalkire.com.

Author links:

https://www.annaalkire.com/

https://www.instagram.com/anna.alkire

@anna.alkire

https://www.facebook.com/anna.alkire77/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22469671.Anna_Alkire

Review: Bluestone & Vine by Donna Kauffman

Goodreads Blurb

Pippa MacMillan is a legend on the Irish folk music scene. But when her voice requires a time-out, she’s left wondering how–and where–to find happiness in the silence . . .

Seeking answers, Pippa leaves Ireland in favor of a small town in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Turns out lovely Blue Hollow Falls is the perfect place to heal–and solitary Seth Brogan is the surprisingly perfect host. After all, Seth is beginning again too: turning his renovated stone barn and beautiful hillside into a vineyard is the start of a whole new life for the former Special Forces soldier. Only Mother Nature keeps thwarting both their plans, leaving Pippa snowbound with unsettling thoughts about how life can take unexpected turns . . .

To Pippa’s surprise, she might actually fall for small-town living. She might even fall for Seth, whose quiet strength is a balm for her world-weary soul. But when the music starts once more, will she follow her fortune back to Ireland, or surrender to the call of her heart?

My Review: Rated 4 out of 5 stars

This was a wonderful story filled with small town love. Pippa is an Irish folk singer who had vocal surgery and was afraid of her vocals erupting again. Seth reminded all the readers of a Viking. Long hair, beard, and muscular. I was hoping for romance at the beginning, but it took some time for Seth and Pippa to go with the sparks. I loved how everyone in Bluestone took in Pippa in open arms. Always looking for what is best for her and giving her advice. This book had a lot of hurt, sadness, and fears, but most of all, love. Only love made everyone overcome those fears due to fear and hurt.

Author Biography

USA Today bestseller and award winning author of the Cupcake Club series and the Blueberry Cove series, DONNA KAUFFMAN has been gratified to see her books get rave reviews in venues ranging from Kirkus Reviews and Library Journal to Entertainment Weekly and Cosmopolitan. She lives in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains in southwestern Virginia, where she is happily working on the next book in her brand new Blue Hollow Falls series, set right in her mountain home area. When she’s not writing, she can be found recapping the popular tv show NCIS for USA Today, or escaping into her garden to play in the dirt. Donna also works as a volunteer wildlife transporter for two local sanctuaries, giving orphaned and injured wildlife a second chance at survival. You can catch up on all of her adventures via her author page on Facebook, or on Twitter, or Instagram @writerchick. Donna loves to hear from readers! You can contact her through her website at www.donnakauffman.com.

Donna Kauffman passed away on April 9, 2020, of pancreatic cancer.

Review: The Lady Travelers Guide to Scoundrels & Other Gentlemen by Victoria Alexander

Goodreads Blurb

Really, it’s too much to expect any normal man to behave like a staid accountant in order to inherit the fortune he deserves to support the lifestyle of an earl. So when Derek Saunders’s favourite elderly aunt and her ill-conceived—and possibly fraudulent—Lady Travelers Society loses one of their members, what’s a man to do but step up to the challenge? Now he’s escorting the world’s most maddening woman to the world’s most romantic city to find her missing relative.

While India Prendergast only suspects his organisation defrauds gullible travelers, she’s certain a man with as scandalous a reputation as Derek Saunders cannot be trusted any farther than the distance around his very broad shoulders. As she struggles not to be distracted by his wicked smile and the allure of Paris, instead of finding a lost lady traveler, India just may lose her head, her luggage and her heart.

My Review: Rated 4 out of 5 Stars

It’s such a fun book filled with surprises. I love Paris and was truly excited that this story took place there. I love that India was a strong character and was extremely smart. Who wouldn’t love a book filled with romance in Paris, the city of light. India and Derek despised each other, but after spending some alone time together, they were able to get to know each other and see that they both judged a book by its cover. I laughed so much with Percival being so outlandish toward India. The ladies of the Travelers guide were hilarious. I am happy with the whole outcome of the book. I loved the idea of women having assistance to travel by themselves, which I know at that time it wasn’t possible. It truly portrayed women as dependable, smart, and spontaneous.

Author Biography

New York Times bestselling author Victoria Alexander was an award winning television reporter until she discovered fiction was much more fun than real life. She turned to writing full time and is still shocked it worked out

Cover Reveal: Dangerous Allure: A Dark Romance Anthology by Cole Denton, Dani Rene, Eden Bradley, Sara Fields

BOOK DETAILS:

Dangerous Allure: A Dark Romance Anthology
Authors: Cole Denton, Dani René, Eden Bradley, Sara Fields
Published by: GTB Publishing LLC
Publication date: September 10, 2024
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Synopsis:

Two’s company. Three’s a dangerously good time.

This deliciously dark collection of stories is flying all the red flags – these men will hunt, stalk, and conquer their prey

And leave them begging for more.

Whether working together to claim their prize, or fighting to be the last man standing, it’s only when you find yourself trapped between them that you realize: there’s no way out.

And maybe…that’s exactly the way you like it.

Pre-order link: https://books2read.com/DangerousAllureAntho

Cover Reveal: Exposure! By Julia Boggio

Blurb

THE FINAL BOOK IN THE PHOTOGRAPHERS TRILOGY!

Six months into a trial separation, photographers Stella Knight and her estranged husband, Connor, rendezvous at the world’s largest photography convention in Las Vegas. At first it looks like reconciliation is on the cards, but then Stella is offered the opportunity of a lifetime by Connor’s greatest rival.

If she says yes, it could wreck her marriage, but if she says no, she’ll regret it for the rest of her life. Torn between her ambition and her heart, Stella faces an impossible choice.

EXPOSURE! is a funny and fast-paced second chances romance that explores marriage, family, and love, and why the biggest risks can be the most rewarding.

Out on August 5 and available to pre-order now

Buy Links