Frost and Flame

He’s handsome and broody—the kind of quiet that makes you wonder what’s going on under the surface.

I’m the new rookie at the station—and the only woman firefighter in the history of Waterford Fire. Translation: every move I make is being measured, and quietly evaluated. No pressure. Not to mention the pranks these guys pull.

The only thing on my mind besides proving myself at work is a daughter who thinks baseball is a personality trait. Oh! And, my mom just decided she’s moving in with us.

Romance is not on the schedule. Neither are complications.

Am I distracted by Greyson’s quiet competence or the way he shows up when it matters? Nope.

I’m definitely not intrigued by the hints of softness beneath that military-grade self-control. And I am absolutely not interested in a man who keeps his past locked up tighter than a firehouse locker.

I have enough mysteries in my life. I don’t need one with broad shoulders, a turnout coat, and perceptive eyes that seem to look straight into my soul.

We both have baggage. Mine comes with a lunchbox and a bedtime routine.

But I’ve got a plan: keep my head down, do my job, protect my heart.

Check, check and … well, two out of three’s not bad.

Review:

I have been waiting for Greyson’s story to be told. Is it because he is somber, says little, and there is a bit of a mystery to him? That would be a resounding yes, so it was great to see him get his HEA. The way that Hallie is part of his life was quite a surprise and was a great twist to their story

Things to love:

grumpy /sunshine workplace romance Germany hot cocoa small town secret identity extended families baseball mom/coach knock knock jokes stale vs. fresh bread bit by bit Waterford residents I love that Greyson is a loving, caring, and humble man who is there for those he cares about. This is one story that you can really get behind the characters and root for them. I love the people that are a part of Waterford, TN. and this band of firefighters who are there for one another as they serve their community. “Love is risk.” I received a complimentary copy of the book. All opinions are my own.

Claire Holloway is Winging It

Romance takes to the skies, but will turbulence make it tumble?

When Claire Holloway's dream of becoming a ballerina plummets into the realm of unachievable, she's left with her boyfriend as her only support . . . until she decides to become a flight attendant for the free travel. She moves of state and into a crash pad with a gaggle of other flight attendants, and her fear of losing Wyatt skyrockets.

First Officer Nathan Stuart has been a bit cynical since he and his fiancée broke up, but when he meets a somewhat frazzled Claire on her first day in the Seattle airport, they quickly hit it off. When they end up on the same crew, he takes Claire under his wing and they form a friendly bond.

Wyatt's once-supportive attitude sours into resentment and makes Claire wonder if her newfound joy is the right flight plan. Pulled between two men and balancing her new career, she must learn to listen for God's direction and follow it closelymdashjust like her crew obeys air traffic control. 

Review:

4.5 What did you want to be when you grew up? Being flight attendant was one of my top five choices. So, it was fun to join Claire as a new crew member of the airline industry and experience some of the passengers, drink cart mishaps, and the different personalities of her housemates at her base in Seattle. 

This story had so much more to it than just romance and comedy. There is a message that you are enough; you do not need another person to make you happy, and love is seeking the best for the other person. I loved the faith thread throughout and also Claire’s heart for the less fortunate. 

I recommend this friends to more story with its rich characters and the transformation that takes place in both Claire’s and Nathan’s lives. The behind the scenes of a flight attendant’s life was interesting and I am glad Ms. Strong shared it with us, after all, she has first-hand experience. 

I received a gifted copy of the book from Kregel and JustRead Publicity Tours. I was not obligated to write a positive review. 

Smoke and Ash

 If you saw Cody Buckner on a horse, you’d understand my obsession with him.

I’ve spent most of my life pretending I don’t have a thing for the rancher next door.
He’s my brother’s best friend.
My best friend’s brother.
And now—because fate clearly hates me—he’s the firefighter I have to work alongside as Waterford’s newest fire inspector.

Cody Buckner is steady where I’m stubborn, calm where I’m chaos, and way too good at showing up when I’m trying to keep my distance. Especially now, with my family ranch hanging by a thread.

Around here, everyone's got a front-row seat to everyone else’s business, and gossip travels faster than a brush fire. One look, one slip, and the whole town would know exactly how I feel about Cody.

But every time those brown eyes find mine, my whole list of reasons why we can’t be together just ... goes up in smoke.

Review: 

Carli and Cody have known each other all of their lives. When their feelings towards each other begin to change, their life relationship gets complicated, and so do their lives. Smoke and Ash has all the things I love about Hallmark Movies: small town, involved extended families, good friends, and of course, romance. Ms. Scott has written a story that you are sure to love with things such as:

childhood friends

rancher neighbors

nicknames

barn kiss

forbidden romance

horse rides

secret meetings

barn dance

day-long dates

ranch wedding

This is the third book in the Firemen of Waterford TN series, but it can be read as a standalone. There are other characters from previous books, but they do not interfere with the plot. This is a kisses-only romcom. 

I received a copy of the book, but I was not obligated to write a positive review.

Hearts in Circulation

Little Creek's bookmobile is more of a death trap on wheels than a vehicle of literary delights, and circulation librarian Haley Holt is afraid it's going to careen down a mountainside with her in it. Yet she sees it as a way to serve her community and be worthy of the liver transplant that saved her life as a child. However, her fears come true when the bookmobile breaks down and a rockslide traps her in the small hollow of Turkey Grove.

Reclusive mechanic Levi Redding lives in tiny Turkey Grove to get away from people. He can handle getting the bookmobile running again, but the endless chatter and unsettling touch from the vibrant librarian leaves him overstimulated. When forced proximity leads to a misunderstanding, a note of apology begins an epistolary friendship, proving that sometimes the happiest of endings aren't contained within the bindings of a book.

Review: 

Hayley Holt is a librarian who has been gifted a “van” to be used as a bookmobile. She and Cletus (the name she gave the van) are happily headed to a nearby town to spread book happiness when it breaks down, and she is stranded with the road to the town becoming blocked. Levi Redding is the only mechanic in town, and he is forced to come to her aid. He is like a horse with a burr under his saddle with his gruffness, grunts, and one word answers. He was so abrasive when first meeting Hayley that if I had been her I’d have ended up dissolving into a puddle of tears. But, she is made of stronger stuff than me and determines to make the best of her situation. I really loved how Hayley was able to see beyond his behavior and admire Levi’s uniqueness. He was able to see for the first time that the sensory issues he had were actually a blessing and not the thing the defined him.

Things to love:
funny ill wishes
grumpy/sunshine
dual POV
forced proximity
humor
letters
literary clues
he falls first
sisters!
overcoming fear
faith thread

I highly recommend this book. Ms. Monzon knows how to write such funny scenes, and the inner monologues that Hayley has even had me reading a couple of pages aloud to my husband. It is the second book in the Checking Out Love series, but it can be read as a standalone.

I received a copy of the book from Bethany House Fiction and NetGalley. All opinions are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review.

A Not So Fictional Fall

I live for happily ever afters.

And I’m finally meeting my favorite romance author in person!

Only, all this time, I thought author, Amelie De Pierre, was a woman.

It turns out, Pierre Toussaint is the man behind the books that make me weak in the knees.
He could be the consummate book boyfriend with his dreamy hazel eyes, strong jawline, and those black-rimmed glasses. Not to mention that accent. Oh, that French accent. When Pierre speaks, I feel like I’m curled in his arms on a riverbank being fed chocolate-dipped strawberries.

Not Pierre’s arms, of course. We barely just met. And I’m just me. And he’s Pierre, internationally renowned romance author.

Seeing Pierre in person has me stammering and blushing—two things I don’t usually do.

Imagine my surprise when I receive a call a few weeks after meeting Pierre—from his agent—proposing marriage. Not that I’d marry his agent.

Review:

A male romance writer with a female nom de plume? Yes, you read that right! I loved that twist! This book is truly a romantic comedy. I laughed throughout the book from the meet cute at an author signing, to zip lining, to the rules that Pierre and Tasha came up for their relationship. Things to love: author treehouse accommodations family and friends humor banter marriage of convenience idioms I highly recommend this clean romcom and look forward to reading more in the series.

Just a Plot Twist

They’re completely wrong for each other—and yet, with every unexpected rescue and reluctant favor, falling in love might be the biggest plot twist of all.

It was humiliating, okay?

When I suffer an accident high atop my favorite Longdale mountain, I don’t want Benson—my sister’s brother-in-law—to play hero. Unfortunately, he’s the one holding me upright. Literally.

Benson cannot fall in love. Between a painful divorce, two energetic kids, and his father’s finance business, he has more than enough going on. Besides, my grandparents despise the entire Tate clan.

They raised me, and I want to please them. Nothing wrong with merging their dreams for my life with my own, right? Sidenote: my grandparents’ dreams do not include the older, single dad, Benson.

But every time I trip (literally and metaphorically), he’s there to catch me—and sometimes feed me. Soon, I start to imagine what it would be like to choose my own vision for the future.

I’m chasing a promotion and my grandparents’ pride. He’s guarding a broken heart. Yet with every cringe-worthy collision, we discover our off-limits love isn’t what we expected.

But it might just be exactly what we need.

Review: 

Claire and Benson were so cute together. Claire was always in need of rescuing and Benson was there to help. Claire also helped Benson heal from his heartbreak and be able to move forward with his life, bringing joy and hope to him through her sunny disposition and positive outlook. you are sure to root for them as they navigate expectations and old family rivalries.


This is part of the Tate Brothers series, and I had only read one other book, but it was not a problem to follow this story. I loved the family members and the chemistry between them and will have to read the other books.

I received a gifted copy; all opinions are my own, and I was not expected to write a positive review.

A Winter of Sweet Secrets

 Description:

For generations, the Evergreen Candy Company has been a beloved small-town Alaskan tradition run by Jovi Wright’s family—until now. With her grandparents no longer at the helm, Jovi’s parents are considering selling it. When her sister calls with the news, Jovi hops on a plane back home to help rescue the family business. Her plan: launch Grammie’s salted caramel chews as a new product. But with Grammie’s memory fading and the recipe missing, Jovi has her work cut out for her.

Still reeling from being jilted by her fiancé, Jovi welcomes the distraction of trying to re-create the recipe from scratch. The distraction she’s not so sure about is single dad Burke Solomon. The disillusioned author and his adorable little girl have moved in to his late aunt's cabin just down the road from her grandparents' home, where she's staying. And the discovery that their families have been feuding since before either of them were born is too irresistible to ignore.

With a looming deadline and the stresses of single parenthood, the last thing Burke needs is a bright-eyed optimist like Jovi next door. But he finds himself asking for her help adjusting to life in Evergreen more than he'd like to admit. And untangling the history of what happened to the friendship between his late aunt and Jovi's Grammie provides an antidote to his writer’s block. But when Burke unearths several shocking family secrets, will revealing them settle the feud or bring everything he and Jovi have been working toward crashing down around them?

My Review:

As soon as I read that this book involved candy, I knew I wanted to read it. I’m so glad I did! Jovi must return home in order to help her sister save the family’s candy business. It seems like a nearly impossible task, but she is a wonderful optimist who is determined to see the business flourish. Jovi can’t help but see a need and do what she can to meet it. Unbeknownst to Burke Solomon, Jovi is exactly the key ingredient he needs in his life to help him heal from his deep sorrow and regret.

Things to love:

grumpy vs. sunshine

humor

forced proximity

single parent

best selling author

traveling nurse

scavenger hunt

secret candy recipe

faith thread

grand gesture

Favorite quote:

“What a gift to see God make something beautiful from the bitter ashes of our heartache.”

I enjoyed this story filled with faith, restoration and risking all for love. I highly recommend this book to readers of all ages with its heartwarming characters and small town atmosphere.

I received a gifted copy of the book. All opinions in this review are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.

Meant for Me

Description:

He was her best friend. Still is. But when her beloved beignet shop burns down, he’ll have to be more if she hopes to start over. But will friendship survive the dangers of a marriage of convenience?

Lincoln “Linc” Fontenot enjoys working out, running his crawfish business, and the company of approximately three people. Zoey Lakewood has been at the top of that short list for years, the only bit of sunshine he ever allows to part his comfortably cloudy sky. But when Linc’s steady, quiet world is rocked by the unexpected guardianship of a teen girl, his friendship with Zoey becomes even more crucial. He needs help, bad...but maybe not as bad as Zoey.

Zoey’s never had a problem manifesting joy. But having just lost her home and her beignet business to an uninsured fire, for once she struggles to find the silver lining. She and Linc arrange to help each other out—as just friends, of course. She’ll provide teen-parenting assistance while he provides a place for her to get back on her feet. But one thing her friendship with Linc has never had to navigate is close proximity.

Tension—and chemistry—mount as they attempt to manage this sudden insta-family. But Zoey just lost everything, and she can’t risk losing her best friend, too. Will her friendship with Linc go up in flames like her beignet shop? Or will Linc and Zoey finally realize they were meant for each other?

Book Review:

Linc is a serious, no nonsense guy who is trying to make a living with his boat business. He and Zoey have been friends for a very long time. They are oil and water, sunshine and storm clouds. But, somehow their friendship works, and they are the best of friends. 

Zoey is an upbeat young lady who is having a difficult time after her beignet shop and apartment are destroyed by fire. She is homeless and feels as though she is a burden. After having exhausted all her possibilities of places to stay, she must take Linc up on his offer to stay in one of his extra bedrooms at his house. Things get a bit crazy and take an unexpected turn when someone from Linc’s past shows up at his house. I love how he and Zoey come together to find a terrific solution to the situation. 

Things to love:

friends to more

humor

pirate costume & jokes

sawdust cookies

wonderful community 

hilarious meet cute

the truth post

faith thread

I highly recommend this story. It is uplifting and lighthearted while at the same time giving a message of healing from past hurts and realizing God has chosen you and loves you. It is the third book in the Magnolia Bay series, but it can be read as a standalone. There are friends from the past books in the series, but you don’t have to read the others to enjoy this book.

I received a copy of this book from Just Read Tours. All opinions in this review are my own. 

To Kiss a Knight

When everything is going right, something must go wrong

Vivienne Poppy's plans are working out quite well. She's run away from her family and the prospect of a horrid marriage of convenience and plans to spend her time writing under her pseudonym, Lady Larkby. Until she discovers the old Larkby title is not as dead as she thought.

Yeoman of the Guard and recently knighted Sir Sebastian Larkby is stunned to discover a Lady Larkby that he does not remember marrying. Suddenly Vivienne is left with a choice: relinquish her pen name, expose her true identity, and break Sebastian's dying grandmother’s heart—or feign marriage to Sebastian to keep the title and fulfill the old woman's wishes.

My Review: 

Vivienne Poppy and her maid are on the run from her arranged marriage to a creepy, yet determined suitor. She doesn’t know what the future will hold, but she surely didn’t expect to be abducted from her stagecoach. What transpires is quite funny and had me looking forward to seeing how things were going to work out.

Sebastian Larkby had a dangerous undercover job as Yeoman of the Guard for the Prince Regent. He had to use whatever means necessary to protect him both physically and politically. He proves himself several times why he was given that position and why he is a knight in the British realm.

At first, he proposed a marriage in name only with Vivienne. It was fun to see his friends support him in ways to woo her when he realized he loved her. I have to say that some of the ideas were terrific.

Things to love about the story:
Regency period
fake identities
highwayman
spies
humor
matchmaking grandmother
friends
danger
daring rescue

This is the second book in the Best Laid Plans series. I have enjoyed both books immensely and can’t wait to read the next one! If you are looking for a book that you can easily recommend to a teenager or your mother, this is the book/ series for you.

I received a complimentary copy of the book. All opinions are my own with no obligation to write a positive review.

A Lesson in Propriety

About the Book:

With her father dead, her fortune stolen, and her fiancé casting her aside, Miss Drusilla Merriweather’s privileged life has been upended. She is left with only one option: to provide for her family by opening a finishing school in the allegedly haunted castle she’s inherited from her eccentric aunt. However, her plan is immediately threatened by unscrupulous developers keen on claiming the coveted estate for themselves, by any means necessary.

Mr. Rhenick Wittenbecker, a dashing architect with a tendency to charm his way out of trouble, is convinced he can protect Drusilla but is challenged by her fierce independence. Yet when strange occurrences--walking suits of armor and unexpected ghostly visitors--arise within castle grounds, Drusilla must decide whether to risk her family’s safety and her school on the gallant architect who seems to have found his way into her heart.

My Review: 

When Drusilla is dumped by her fiancé and has to move to Chicago in order to take care of her family, she is probably at her lowest. But, she is a courageous and resourceful young woman who has a brilliant idea to convert the house that her aunt left her into a school for young ladies. Little does she realize the mishaps she will find herself encountering, but also being rescued and helped countless times by the handsome Rhenick Wittenbecker who helps her to see the remarkable young she truly is.

Author Jen Turano uses humorous situations to keep you turning the pages. A Lesson in Propriety is a prime example of hilarity with attack ferrets, eccentric friends, and a “haunted castle” that is filled with rampaging goats, a goose, and aggressive suits of armor that swings weaponry at Drusilla and her family.

This is the first book in the Merriweather Academy for Young Ladies, and you will want to read the next book since the school is getting ready to open. I look forward to reading what antics the students will be involved in throughout the series.

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. All opinions are my own with no obligation to write a positive review.

Some Like It Scot

 

An American travel writer who has never found a place to belong and a reclusive Scot with a surprising secret find a shocking connection when she enters a Highlands manor house that has been turned into a three-week long Edwardian experience.

Katie Campbell has traveled her entire life. As the daughter of an army chaplain, changing homes--or even countries--was commonplace, so when her wild childhood storytelling turned into a lucrative career as a travel writer, she thought she'd found her perfect match. But as she's nearly thirty with no real place to settle down, she's starting to wonder where "home" actually is. Her own family hadn't felt like home since her sister's death left them all limping through life.

When a lengthy project in Scotland promises to not only give her travel fodder for months but also a shot at a coveted editing position, she accepts and is sent to spend three weeks in the newly created Craighill House, a Scottish home redesigned to offer guests an Edwardian experience. But her entrance to Craighill introduces her to a quirky group of characters and a surly Scot who is helping refurbish the magnificent woodwork of the estate house.

As Katie attempts to live "Edwardian," she learns that all that glitters does not a comfortable lifestyle make . . . and surly Scots may turn out to be dashing and creative uncles raising their orphaned nephews. When a few escapades from the Downton era lead Katie on hunts for mermaids and dragons or to a fireside chat with a family who has grown stronger through tragedy, Katie begins to wonder if "home" looks a whole lot like rolling green hills, magnificent braighs, and a few extra "ayes" thrown in for good measure. But can her world-traveling lifestyle fit in with a Scot whose heart is double-knotted to home?

My Review:

You’re sure to enjoy this opposites attract story as writer/ social influencer Katie Campbell is on assignment in beautiful Scotland. Katie likes traveling around the world, but could her adventures be avoiding some painful things in her life? Graeme loves his homeland and is invested in restoring his family’s ancestral abode. Could he also be avoiding his past by holding onto things that are familiar?

I loved Graeme and his gruff exterior that protected his loving and sensitive heart. Katie was in need of rescuing several times and earned the name Miss Adventure quite easily. You are sure to laugh at the scrapes she finds herself in throughout the book. Graeme had a full time job just making sure she was safe!

Things to love:
meet cute
humor and puns
kilts
funny monikers
Graeme’s family
Book club grannies
Highland games

Favorite quotes:
“Love lingers long.”

“No matter where you run or how fast or far, you’ll never outrun your own heart.”

I highly recommend reading this book. I received a copy of the book from the publisher and NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own with no obligation to write a positive review.

Driving Maisie Crazy

 My Review: 

Have you ever taken a bus tour trip? It takes a special person to be the guide/host, and Finn O’Meara does a terrific job in telling jokes and making people feel welcome. When Maisie King captures his attention, it’s hard for Finn not to want to be her personal guide for the sites. Balancing his obligations and trying to find a way to get to know Maisie better provides its own set of challenges.

You can’t but love Finn with his Irish sayings and his deep caring nature for his family. He has a generous heart and puts aside his wants in order to meet the needs of others. He is quite the selfless person and when something happens on the tour, I couldn’t help but root for Finn and thinking that he should come out on top of things.

Maisie was cute with her dresses and her white tennis shoes. I especially loved when she found a solution to riding a bike while being clothed as she was. Finn’s response was great and had me laughing as he described her.

There are so many things to love about this book. Here are just a few of them:

Bob the bus
witty banter
karaoke singing
local band
food journal
goose bump rating
Irish landscape and sayings
Fifteens and heaven
friend group
family

This is the second book in the Men of the Isles series. It was fun to see Winnie and Matthew from Winning Winnie’s Hand, the first book in the series, be a part of the story. I highly recommend this romantic comedy. While this is a standalone, you’re sure to want to read the first book too. I am looking forward to book three and hope it comes out sooner than later!

I received a complimentary copy of the book. All opinions are my own. A positive review was not required.