Thursday, July 28, 2022

The Protective Warrior

I don't know why I waited so long to read this. I love Ms. Checketts work. 

I'm not a necessarily a sucker for military men as leads but this book might convince me otherwise. I love the banter and chemistry between Ally and River. Goodnes that girl gets him in a lot of trouble. 

The characters aren't cliche or stereotypes. They have dark and painful places that need light and healing. I kept hoping it was time for bed so I could get back to the story. 

And now, I want to go to Hawaii and hike. Get a taco. And swim in a waterfall. 


A daughter escaping, a Navy SEAL sent to protect her, and the beautiful island that might prove more dangerous than her father.
Ally, daughter of the Duke of Gunthry, has spent her life terrified of her father and dreams of the day when she can escape his tyrannical rule.
When her mum helps her escape to the beautiful island of Kauai, Ally thinks she's found paradise and maybe more with the handsome River who keeps crossing her path.
But there are unexpected enemies lurking in the shadows. And no matter how tough River seems, no one can withstand the army her father will send when he discovers her location.
River Duncan is part of an elite security task force of ex-Navy SEALS. Little does he know his first assignment might prove irresistible to resist and protect. When he finds himself falling for the fun-loving Ally he plans to resign his position so they can join forces in their common goal of fighting human trafficking. River has never underestimated the enemy before, but is he fully prepared to protect and love Alexandria Gunthry?
Will River's protection and Ally's love be enough to conquer a lifetime of fear and responsibilities? Or will they be forced to give up on their dreams in the face of her sadistic and powerful father?

Thursday, July 21, 2022

Black Cake

This is Ms. Wilkerson's debut novel. I doubt it will be her last. 

And it's a stunner. Well-crafted. Emotional. Full of twists and turns. 

The story is told in multiple points of view, spanning decades, and flipping between past and present in a masterful way, that a lesser author would've stumbled to execute. 

This was a local book club pick and I'm happy it was. I might not have run across it otherwise. 

Ultimately it's a story of love, but hits the more challenging parts of global racial history and cultural food. 

Worth the read. 


AMAZON

We can’t choose what we inherit. But can we choose who we become?
In present-day California, Eleanor Bennett’s death leaves behind a puzzling inheritance for her two children, Byron and Benny: a black cake, made from a family recipe with a long history, and a voice recording. In her message, Eleanor shares a tumultuous story about a headstrong young swimmer who escapes her island home under suspicion of murder. The heartbreaking tale Eleanor unfolds, the secrets she still holds back, and the mystery of a long-lost child challenge everything the siblings thought they knew about their lineage and themselves.

Can Byron and Benny reclaim their once-close relationship, piece together Eleanor’s true history, and fulfill her final request to “share the black cake when the time is right”? Will their mother’s revelations bring them back together or leave them feeling more lost than ever?

Thursday, July 14, 2022

A Suite Deal

I think this is my first read by Ms. Gibson. 

The story follows the correct romantic arc, but I struggled to get emotionally invested in the characters. All of the proper elements are there, but somehow I wasn't connected. I like the tropes, but it just didn't hit. 

I'm uncertain if this was a formatting issue of scene breaks being lost, but I was bothered by the head hopping. One moment I was in the woman's point of view and the next I was in the man's. I enjoy dual point of view in my romances so that wasn't the issue for me. The abrupt changes jolted me out of the story. 


AMAZON

Opposite-attract, but nobody ever said it'd be easy!

Dumped by her fiancĂ©, Lily Greensly retreats to Buttermilk Falls to help out at her family's rustic fishing lodge…

But when she finds a new-age hotel spoiling the view from her cherished Osprey Island, Lily decides that the Nirvana Hotel's handsome owner warrants closer scrutiny.

Ambitious hotelier, Ethan Weatherall, is determined to buy Lily's island and convert it to a concrete helipad. But when Lily’s sweet soul and independent spirit start to make his heart beat faster, he struggles not to fall for a woman who hates the city life.

Now, Lily must figure out a way to stop Ethan from destroying the tranquility of the lake while trying to resist his charms. If she can't, there's more than just Osprey Island at stake.

You will adore this sweet romance because who doesn’t love watching two enemies fall in love?

Thursday, July 7, 2022

Autumn Collection: A Timeless Romance Anthology

This is an excellent fall read or any time of year really. 

Six marvelous stories, well crafted by talented writers. Lots of emotional depth in bite size chunks that will keep you page turning. 

Delightful. 


AMAZON

2014 RONE Award Winner for Best Romance Anthology of the Year

*Crown Heart for Excellence* Awarded Book —IND’TALE MAGAZINE

"Just in time for fall, six loved authors have produced a collection of romantic suspense novellas which will tingle the spine and thrill the heart." —DESERET NEWS, Melissa Demoux

A HOUND DOG NAMED ELVIS by Heather Horrocks
Interior designer, Kaitlin Hartley returns to her hometown of Aspen Grove, California, to the job of her dreams after a year of specialized training in New York. During the town’s Autumn Festival, she enters her dachshund, Elvis, into the Running of the Hallowieners race. Joshua Moore, the man who hadn’t wanted her to leave Aspen Grove, but hadn’t waited for her either, enters Elvis’s sister, Priscilla. When Kaitlin gets home afterward, she realizes Elvis has left the building—with Joshua. She has the wrong dog! Can she get her dog—and the man she’s never stopped loving—back?

EYE FOR AN EYE by Stephanie Black
Mallory is just getting her life back together, living with her sister and brother-in-law and starting college. After a difficult few years following a family tragedy, she’s finally ready to move forward, which includes getting to know the charming Darien better. But when illegal drugs turn up in her sister’s drawer, the first person accused is Mallory, and suddenly she doesn’t know who to trust. She turns to Darien, but with all evidence pointing at her, she doesn’t know if Darien is the man to save her.

FIRST HEIST by Heather B. Moore
Mia, an undercover agent is about to make a handoff to co-agent, Omar Zagouri. But before she can complete her assignment, her cover is blown, and she finds herself escaping with Omar. The only problem is, her boss warned her about Omar and his sketchy history of landing himself in the middle of danger. After losing her mother in an attack planned for Mia, pulling off any heist with a man like Omar is the last thing she needs for her career . . . or her life.

LETTER FOR TWO by Sarah M. Eden
Sophia looks forward to the 5:30 p.m. mail sorting she does with her next door neighbor, Ethan. They live in a renovated house, now split into two apartments. Ethan is one of those dreamy, smart guys, but he shows no interest other than being friendly toward Sophia. When they find a mysterious letter addressed to Eleanor, dated to 1953, Sophia and Ethan determine to solve the puzzle together. Sophia knows that spending evenings with Ethan in ‘research’ might be her only chance to convince him that she should be more than just a neighbor.

SILVER CASCADE SECRETS by Rachelle J. Christensen
Jillian is the master landscaper at a beautiful park. Meeting Travis there soon after breaking up with her boyfriend, Jillian is wary at first. Travis seems like a great guy, but Jillian had fallen for great guys before. When she learns that his brother, Craig, was murdered six months before, her heart goes out to Travis. True to her curious nature, she starts asking questions and learns about Craig’s close connection with the park. But finding the answers puts Jillian’s life in danger, and she must decide who she really trusts.

CHOCOLATE OBSESSED by Annette Lyon
Whitney, an executive pastry chef, is working her resort’s booth at the New York Chocolate Show. The only problem is that she shares the shift with her arch rival, Stephen. But then an unexpected visitor shows up: Jeremy, a man who lost a dessert competition she judged. When Jeremy confronts her and becomes threatening, Stephen gets Jeremy dragged off by security. But that doesn’t throw Jeremy off for long; soon Stephen and Whitney are running for their lives.

Autumn Collection is a Timeless Romance Anthology® book

More TIMELESS ROMANCE ANTHOLOGIES:
#1: Winter Collection
#2: Spring Vacation Collection
#3: Summer Wedding Collection
#4: Autumn Collection