Sunday, March 11, 2018

CROSSING PROMISES (CROSS CREEK #3)

For Owen Cross, the only thing that matters more than family is farming. As the oldest Cross brother, the land is his legacy, and he’ll do whatever it takes to make Cross Creek a success—including hiring local widow Cate McAllister to manage the bookkeeping tasks that are growing in his office like weeds. Cate’s as pragmatic as she is pretty, and she rattles his hard-fought composure at every turn.

Cate had known a lot of things about her husband before he died three years ago in a car accident, but how much debt he’d gotten them into wasn’t one of them. She needs her job at Cross Creek, even if her boss is both gruff and gorgeous. But Owen’s a family man, through and through, and the last thing Cate is interested in is anything—or anyone—with strings attached.

As Owen and Cate join forces to right the farm, they discover there’s more to the other than the surfaces shows, and that passion can be found in unexpected places. Can Cate heal from the loss of one family to gain the love of her life? Or will the past prove too much for the promise of the future?

Release Date: March 5, 2018
Kimberly Kincaid Romance
Cross Creek #3
Contemporary Romance
Review copy provided by publisher

Liza's Review:

I've wanted Owen's story since we me the Cross brothers. I absolutely loved how much he loved Cross Creek and family and how he always put both first. Yes he is pretty gruff and not as easy-going as either of his brother, but his personality fit him perfectly. 

Cate McAllister is a widow who lost her husband and daughter in a car wreck three years ago. She is still digging out of the debt her husband left her in following his death and finding a job as the bookkeeper for Cross Creek turns out to be the best thing to happen to her. Not only does she get paid to get all the books done at Cross Creek, she has the opportunity to bake and add even more much needed income. She also finds herself attracted to a man for the first time since her husband died. I loved the chemistry between Cate and Owen, though I felt like they needed to talk a bit sooner about exactly what they wanted in the future.

I really liked Cate and Owen as a couple. Owen saw Cate as stronger than she ever saw herself in the past and also supported her dreams of being a baker. I honestly was a little glad her husband was dead already as she shared how he talked to her and treated her through her memories and conversations with Owen. 

I also enjoyed getting to know Marley, who is the half sister to the Cross brothers. I loved that she seemed to connect with Cate first, as Cate just listened and let Marley be, but also could see Marley really wanted to be a part of her family, even if Marley wasn't ready to be around her dad yet. I loved that Marley was the one to help Owen see the light when there were issues with Cate and their plans for the future.

Crossing Promises was another winner in the Cross Creek series. As each of the brothers has now gotten their story, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Marley gets her story next. I actually know who I would love her to end up with and hope I'm guessing right as to who her hero will be. Kimberly Kincaid once again delivered a sweet, sexy, and emotional story for her readers and I highly recommend it.

Rating: 4 Stars (B+)


Friday, March 09, 2018

SPICED (MISFIT BRIDES #6)

Dueling neighbors, baby fever, fake boyfriends, and pizza... Life in Bliss has never been better!

Pepper Blue wants a baby. Forget the husband. She’s better at training men to be good husbands for other women than she is at getting one herself, so she’s doing this on her own.

But she hasn’t exactly shared the news with her family, and they’re determined to find her a date to the next family wedding. A date that won’t leave with one of her sisters or cousins. This time.

Which means Pepper Blue needs a fake boyfriend. A fake boyfriend that she has no chance of actually falling in love with. A fake boyfriend like her obnoxious neighbor.

Tony Cross is a pizza god with a sausage problem. He’s putting on a good show—a different woman at his house every night, flirting with all the right customers, flexing his muscles when called upon—but since his divorce, his meat has been more on the undercooked side. If you know what he means.

Except, unfortunately, when it comes to his annoyingly perfect, always put together, too good for him neighbor. Pepper Blue. Who is not a viable candidate for fixing his “little problem.”

So he’s not sure why he’s coming to her rescue, pretending to be her boyfriend to save her from a bad date at his pizza joint. He just knows it’s fun. And it irritates her. And it turns out, she might be able to help his flagging pizza sales as much as she’s helping his flagging… you know.

So long as this is just business, he’s happy to keep pushing her buttons.

All night long, if he has to.

Release Date: March 3, 2018
Misfit Brides #6
Contemporary romance
Review copy provided by publisher

Liza's review:

Spiced is the newest release in the Misfit Brides series from Jamie Farrell. Any book my Jamie Farrell is going to be filled with emotions, love, and laughter, and Spiced fit the bill perfectly.

First I must thank Jamie for giving us a list with all the Blue siblings and their order of birth at the front of Spiced. It gets seriously hard to keep up with that many siblings at times, so I loved having a place to check on birth order. Spiced is Pepper Blue's book and I have to say that while there were times I was almost moved to tears, most of the time I was laughing out loud as I read the story.

Pepper wants a baby but not a husband. I love she is such a strong and take-charge woman that she is willing to do what it takes to make her dreams come true. To keep her family from setting her up with every single guy in the area, she makes a deal with her next-door neighbor Tony Cross, who happens to own Pepperoni Tony's Pizza in town. Let me just say that Pepper and Tony were so freaking funny together. Neither one of them really wants to be in a relationship, yet they each need help from the other right now and the more time they spend together, the more time they want to spend together. They both come from crazy families, and I have to say I fell for them as a couple long before they really thought they were a couple. I thought they had great chemistry and loved seeing them move from adversaries to friends to lovers. 

I loved we also got to spend time with so much of the Blue clan in Spiced, especially Gran. That woman makes me laugh so hard, with only Kimmie making me laugh more in any book. We also got to spend time with many of my favorite characters we have met over the course of the series and that makes me so happy as I love revisiting with favorite characters. The Misfit Brides series really is my favorite series of books from Jamie Farrell and I usually end up rereading at least a few of the books after each new release. I highly recommend Spiced as well as the entire Misfit Brides series of books to readers who adore emotional romances filled with laughter.


Rating: 4 Stars (B+)


Wednesday, March 07, 2018

BURN BRIGHT (ALPHA & OMEGA #5)

Mated werewolves Charles Cornick and Anna Latham face a threat like no other--one that lurks too close to home...



They are the wild and the broken. The werewolves too damaged to live safely among their own kind. For their own good, they have been exiled to the outskirts of Aspen Creek, Montana. Close enough to the Marrok's pack to have its support; far enough away to not cause any harm.



With their Alpha out of the country, Charles and Anna are on call when an SOS comes in from the fae mate of one such wildling. Heading into the mountainous wilderness, they interrupt the abduction of the wolf--but can't stop blood from being shed. Now Charles and Anna must use their skills--his as enforcer, hers as peacemaker--to track down the attackers, reopening a painful chapter in the past that springs from the darkest magic of the witchborn... 

Release Date: March 6, 2018
Ace
Alpha & Omega #5
Urban Fantasy
Review copy provided by publisher

Liza's review:

I love the entire Mercy Thompson world, but have to say I have an extra special place in my heart for Charles and Anna, so I read the newest Alpha & Omega book as fast as I can once it hits my kindle. 

Burn Bright did not disappoint, although the usual connection I feel between Charles and Anna was a bit more distanced because of all that was going on. Charles must step up and be more in the public eye when his dad travels, and Anna is way more private than your average werewolf, so while I know they were as close as ever, it didn’t have the exact feel I normally get.

I adore the Marrok, but he really pissed me off leaving as he did and leaving Charles completely in the dark about a possible traitor in their pack. I was so off the mark with my initial guess of the mole, and have to say I was pretty upset with said traitor. I think it hit me harder because of how hard it hit Anna. I didn’t feel as bad about being so far off the mark with my guess once I realized Charles was on the same thought path.

I did enjoy meeting the wildling members of the Marrok’s pack. I actually hope to see several of them in future books as I believe with everything that happened, some might not be wildlings any longer.

Patricia Briggs once again pulled me into her world and I loved the ride. I’ll be honest and say Leah has always been my least favorite character in this series, but after reading Burn Bright I not only understand her now, I have respect for her as well. 

Burn Bright is a winner in the Alpha & Omega series and I can’t wait for my next journey with these characters.

Rating: 4 Stars (B+)


Tuesday, March 06, 2018

LONE STAR LOVERS

This sexy Texan was only a one-night stand. Until he became her client--then her fake fiance! Penelope Brand's hookup with billionaire Zach Ferguson was casual. Until he announces her as his fake fiancee to avoid scandal--and she discovers she's pregnant. Now Zach demands they say, "I do," for their child. But Pen won't settle for a sham marriage. If Zach wants to keep his Lone Star lover, it's his whole heart or nothing... 


Release Date: March 1, 2018
Harlequin Desire
Contemporary Romance
Dallas Billionaires Club book #1
Review copy provided by the publisher 

Nikki’s Review:

Wowza! This book did not feel like a Harlequin Desire imprint! I expect more of a "closed door" when it comes to the sexy times in these novels. That wasn't the case with Jessica Lemmon's book, Lone Star Lovers. It was simply delicious.

Zach Ferguson comes from old Texas oil money. Like, billions of it! He's the fun guy of the family; always looking for a good time. But under that gorgeous smile, and yummy dimple, is a guy who is still licking the wounds of his broken heart from years ago.

Penelope Brand has a plan. She left behind her tattered reputation and drama for a fresh start in Dallas. She's a savvy businesswoman who doesn't have time for anything more than a sizzling one-night stand. Too bad her heart has other plans.

This book is full of some of my favourite tropes in romance; a fake engagement, a surprise pregnancy, and Billionaires. It's like Christmas all wrapped up in a book!

I loved these two characters together. They were so much fun. Zach brought out Pen's fun side, which she desperately needed. While there is some crazy chemistry between them, there is also an amazing friendship. I love when the hero and heroine form a solid relationship that isn't just about the physical stuff. There was plenty of banter that I have come to expect from a Jessica Lemmon book. This author writes some of my favourite dialogue.

The journey to their happily ever after didn't come easy. Both of these characters had to learn to let go and grab hold of what they wanted. It was amazing watching Zach and Pen grow, in both personality and emotionally. I really cared about these two. I was completely invested in their story. 

I absolutely can not wait for the next book! Zach's brother, Chase has me intrigued. He was so in control in this book. There was a second where he looked liked he wanted to unravel, but he didn't. That's the moment that I knew his book was going to be fantastic! 


Rating: 4.5 Stars (A)