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katemc7's reviews
1312 reviews
The Next Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I had a harder time with this one than I would have thought. I enjoyed book 1 but it took me a lot longer to get into this one. I think there was just a little too much going on from the jump. We are getting 3 different women's POVs and until almost halfway through the book do not really understand how they are connected. Somehow Audrey and Jackson were worse in this one than the last one- just straight up despicable people. I did like getting glimpses into Audrey's past but man it was so much worse than I could have thought. I also don't like it when it is so unclear what is happening that there is a full rundown at the end- I feel like you should be able to pick up on more throughout the book.
Daphne- Her oldest daughter is confused and angry as to why she can't be in her dad's life. Daphne is convinced to go back East for the summer so that Tallulah can get to hang out with her dad. Of course s*it hits the fan when they get there. I did enjoy reading the challenges that Daphne was facing with trying to protect her children without making them hate their dad.
Audrey- Has moved on with her life. She is focusing on the next con. She does not anticipate Jackson to get out of jail when he does. She does not anticipate him catching on to her con or being willing to help her with it. But of course he has aces up his sleeve- is she prepared for them though?
Daisy- Her dad was killed a few years ago by a younger woman. When Daisy runs into said woman at a trunk show for her jewelry line all bets are off. Daisy will stop at nothing to get this woman arrested for the crimes she committed.
This wasn't terrible but also not my fave. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Daphne- Her oldest daughter is confused and angry as to why she can't be in her dad's life. Daphne is convinced to go back East for the summer so that Tallulah can get to hang out with her dad. Of course s*it hits the fan when they get there. I did enjoy reading the challenges that Daphne was facing with trying to protect her children without making them hate their dad.
Audrey- Has moved on with her life. She is focusing on the next con. She does not anticipate Jackson to get out of jail when he does. She does not anticipate him catching on to her con or being willing to help her with it. But of course he has aces up his sleeve- is she prepared for them though?
Daisy- Her dad was killed a few years ago by a younger woman. When Daisy runs into said woman at a trunk show for her jewelry line all bets are off. Daisy will stop at nothing to get this woman arrested for the crimes she committed.
This wasn't terrible but also not my fave. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
The History Between Us by Ashley James
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I am REALLY enjoying this series. It's got this found family vibe with cowboys/bull riders and SPICE! I was lucky enough to get an ARC and was beyond excited. While I have only read book 1, I felt comfortable reading this one out of order and did not feel like I was missing on any of previous plots. This book was HOT! We have dad's best friend, steamy one night stand, a hot young bull rider, an older put together doctor, the temptress if you will and of course all of the side characters. I LOVED Colt. He had so much swagger. Not an ounce of self doubt. Just confident in his abilities and himself. He has been around. He doesn't think about settling down until he can't stop thinking about it. Then we have William. His exact opposite. The "older" man who has been married and divorced. The new town doctor who has settled with where he is in life. Colt's dad's best friend. GAHHH the tension between these two was palpable. The build up was done WELL Ashley! We kept getting these snippets of William about to give in and then he wouldn't. I think Ashley did a really good job describing the emotions both of these guys were feeling throughout all of this as well. Colt has been injured and is not able to do what he loves most. While William is feeling shameful for his behavior and not sure how to get around that.
Colt is going crazy. He had to have surgery after falling off of a bull and is having a hard time relearning how to do everything with his other hands. He can't drive. He can't get dressed. He feels helpless. All of his buddies are off for the rodeo while he is stuck at his parent's house. The one shiny thing is that William has moved back to town and is his new doctor. The same William who has none literally his whole life. The same William who he had a STEAMY drunken night with two years ago. The same William who he now wants to see unravel again. But William has drawn a line in the sand. He won't go there again with Colt. It was a mistake is what he says, but Colt can read people pretty well. And the way that William's body is responding is saying other things. Which is why Colt makes it his mission to explore more with William. But when William turns him down again the self doubt comes into play. Maybe he cared about him more than William did. Maybe he isn't worth it, but then William surprises him by making an effort. They are going to have a go at this and see what happens. But will that last if Colt's dad finds out before they tell him? Will William stick to his promises given the history between them?
William feels like a terrible person. He had a moment a few years ago with the one person he shouldn't have...his best friend's son. And MAN what a moment it was. And now, two years later, he finds himself back in Colt's orbit. William has moved home to take care of his dad. He absolutely will NOT go down the road that is Colt. Even if his body is telling him something different. He will be strong in this one thing. But Colt is trying REALLY hard to break down his walls. And William is only a man so he decides one night. One night to get this tension out. Then he will be able to move on but he can't...move on that is. He finds himself thinking a lot about Colt and what he feels for him. He wants more but can he get over himself in order to be who Colt deserves? Can he look Colt's dad in the eye and not feel ashamed over his feelings?
I really enjoyed watching both of these characters navigate uncharted territory. Their feelings. The taboo that is their relationship. Their friends. It was all sooo juicy. The spice in this one was off the charts. Just HOT yall. I loved watching William be there for Colt after he had been pushing him away for so long. I loved watching Colt embrace that. They were just so great together! I can't wait to read the other books in this series. But I REALLY can't wait for Whit and Conrad. I just KNOW their book is going to break my heart and then mend it right along with those two.
Thank you to Ashley for the ARC for this one in exchange for an honest review! It was truly a pleasure :)
Colt is going crazy. He had to have surgery after falling off of a bull and is having a hard time relearning how to do everything with his other hands. He can't drive. He can't get dressed. He feels helpless. All of his buddies are off for the rodeo while he is stuck at his parent's house. The one shiny thing is that William has moved back to town and is his new doctor. The same William who has none literally his whole life. The same William who he had a STEAMY drunken night with two years ago. The same William who he now wants to see unravel again. But William has drawn a line in the sand. He won't go there again with Colt. It was a mistake is what he says, but Colt can read people pretty well. And the way that William's body is responding is saying other things. Which is why Colt makes it his mission to explore more with William. But when William turns him down again the self doubt comes into play. Maybe he cared about him more than William did. Maybe he isn't worth it, but then William surprises him by making an effort. They are going to have a go at this and see what happens. But will that last if Colt's dad finds out before they tell him? Will William stick to his promises given the history between them?
William feels like a terrible person. He had a moment a few years ago with the one person he shouldn't have...his best friend's son. And MAN what a moment it was. And now, two years later, he finds himself back in Colt's orbit. William has moved home to take care of his dad. He absolutely will NOT go down the road that is Colt. Even if his body is telling him something different. He will be strong in this one thing. But Colt is trying REALLY hard to break down his walls. And William is only a man so he decides one night. One night to get this tension out. Then he will be able to move on but he can't...move on that is. He finds himself thinking a lot about Colt and what he feels for him. He wants more but can he get over himself in order to be who Colt deserves? Can he look Colt's dad in the eye and not feel ashamed over his feelings?
I really enjoyed watching both of these characters navigate uncharted territory. Their feelings. The taboo that is their relationship. Their friends. It was all sooo juicy. The spice in this one was off the charts. Just HOT yall. I loved watching William be there for Colt after he had been pushing him away for so long. I loved watching Colt embrace that. They were just so great together! I can't wait to read the other books in this series. But I REALLY can't wait for Whit and Conrad. I just KNOW their book is going to break my heart and then mend it right along with those two.
Thank you to Ashley for the ARC for this one in exchange for an honest review! It was truly a pleasure :)
Heartless by Elsie Silver
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I legit keep kicking myself for putting off reading this series for so long. I have convinced myself it's because I have heard they are so good so I am trying to savor them BUT that philosophy has changed. I am nor diving in head first and plan on reading them ALL ASAP. OMG Cade and Willa. These books straight up get me hot and bothered in the absolute best way. I have Cade's thought of being jealous of a bathing suit in my head on a loop. These two were DYNAMITE! I loved Willa's carefree outlook on everything. She was the legit definition of a wild red head that RADIATES sunshine. She was not intimidated. She stood up for the people she loved. Her and Luke at the pool scene- I want a friend like her in my life. Loyal to a fault. And then we have our grump- Cade. Or as I now know him as Daddy Cade. This man who has bottled up all he is feeling because of how much Talia messed with his head. This man who has put so much on his shoulders and is scared to open up. This man who is such a good dad. Their meet cute was HILARIOUS- and the panty bandit at the end...I just can't. Elsie you are a genius.
Willa is living life. Her brother has closed down her job temporarily while he does renovations. She doesn't know what she is going to be doing for the foreseeable future until her BF Summer calls and asks for a favor. Can she come to Chestnut Springs and babysit? What Summer fails to mention is that she has spun Willa as a kid whisperer when in fact Willa has never in her life babysat children. She has been a bartender for a minute which is nothing to laugh about. Cade doesn't seem to give her the time of day so she pours her focus into Luke and making sure she follows Cade's long list of do's and don'ts....OR NOT haha. The longer that Willa is living under his roof though the more tension keeps building between her and Cade. The more she starts to see underneath his grumpiness. She starts to think she is seeing things that aren't there when things get interesting in a truth or dare game in the hot tub. Now Willa starts thinking about what things could look like if she crossed that line with him? Will he make the move? He seems like too much of a rule follower. And then he does the worst- he follows the freaking rules. Willa finds herself disappointed until things take a turn for the better and she finds herself at the mercy of Daddy Cade. She quickly realizes she may be in over her head with this man who treats her like a queen but she doesn't know what she wants. Then another wrench is thrown their way- the last thing Willa wants is for Cade to not have a say in how they end up together. But what if she wants forever with him? Will he be able to look past what has happened and realize what they have is the real deal?
Cade has had his time. Now his life is about the ranch and Luke. That is all. The time for fun and doing things for himself has flown past him. He doesn't want to take the time to date or put himself out there when things went so wrong with Talia. But he can't seem to look away from Willa, his new nanny who is much younger than him. His new nanny who pushes him in ways he can't remember ever being pushed. Who bucks at his authority. Who makes him laugh and smile. But who most importantly makes Luke laugh and smile. He tries to fight this attraction between them but can't fight it any longer when they play truth or date in the hot tub together. She ends up daring him something he didn't expect- she wants him to do something for him. Go back in the rodeo. He finds himself liking having a supporter around. But he keeps telling himself that he is going to hold her back. So what does he do- he fights it some more. He pushes her away but instantly knows that was wrong. Now he has to make it up to her. Her treats her like the queen she is. He doesn't do casual and he hopes she knows it. Because this heartless man has now become a goner for her. He just hopes that him and Luke will be enough for her wild spirit.
The way that Elsie rights feelings is perfect. She hits things on the head. I could feel the tension between these two and felt like I was in the hot tub with them or in their head when overanalyzing something. It was the little moments in this one that got me- dancing in the kitchen, bedazzling the front porch, climbing a tree, riding a horse to prove a point, pushing Cade to do things for himself, showing up for each other. I just LOVE it when a grump starts to unravel- and Elsie did this one perfectly. I felt a range of emotions in this one- excitement, laughs, hope, joy, a little anger, irritation, angst, contentment, rightness, sadness and then of course overjoyed. If you haven't picked up this series, you need to.
I also want to point out that the audio was EXCELLENT! I can't wait to watch all of the other characters fall as hard as these two with each other. Also the epilogue with Cade's Halloween costume was CHEF'S KISS!!!
Willa is living life. Her brother has closed down her job temporarily while he does renovations. She doesn't know what she is going to be doing for the foreseeable future until her BF Summer calls and asks for a favor. Can she come to Chestnut Springs and babysit? What Summer fails to mention is that she has spun Willa as a kid whisperer when in fact Willa has never in her life babysat children. She has been a bartender for a minute which is nothing to laugh about. Cade doesn't seem to give her the time of day so she pours her focus into Luke and making sure she follows Cade's long list of do's and don'ts....OR NOT haha. The longer that Willa is living under his roof though the more tension keeps building between her and Cade. The more she starts to see underneath his grumpiness. She starts to think she is seeing things that aren't there when things get interesting in a truth or dare game in the hot tub. Now Willa starts thinking about what things could look like if she crossed that line with him? Will he make the move? He seems like too much of a rule follower. And then he does the worst- he follows the freaking rules. Willa finds herself disappointed until things take a turn for the better and she finds herself at the mercy of Daddy Cade. She quickly realizes she may be in over her head with this man who treats her like a queen but she doesn't know what she wants. Then another wrench is thrown their way- the last thing Willa wants is for Cade to not have a say in how they end up together. But what if she wants forever with him? Will he be able to look past what has happened and realize what they have is the real deal?
Cade has had his time. Now his life is about the ranch and Luke. That is all. The time for fun and doing things for himself has flown past him. He doesn't want to take the time to date or put himself out there when things went so wrong with Talia. But he can't seem to look away from Willa, his new nanny who is much younger than him. His new nanny who pushes him in ways he can't remember ever being pushed. Who bucks at his authority. Who makes him laugh and smile. But who most importantly makes Luke laugh and smile. He tries to fight this attraction between them but can't fight it any longer when they play truth or date in the hot tub together. She ends up daring him something he didn't expect- she wants him to do something for him. Go back in the rodeo. He finds himself liking having a supporter around. But he keeps telling himself that he is going to hold her back. So what does he do- he fights it some more. He pushes her away but instantly knows that was wrong. Now he has to make it up to her. Her treats her like the queen she is. He doesn't do casual and he hopes she knows it. Because this heartless man has now become a goner for her. He just hopes that him and Luke will be enough for her wild spirit.
The way that Elsie rights feelings is perfect. She hits things on the head. I could feel the tension between these two and felt like I was in the hot tub with them or in their head when overanalyzing something. It was the little moments in this one that got me- dancing in the kitchen, bedazzling the front porch, climbing a tree, riding a horse to prove a point, pushing Cade to do things for himself, showing up for each other. I just LOVE it when a grump starts to unravel- and Elsie did this one perfectly. I felt a range of emotions in this one- excitement, laughs, hope, joy, a little anger, irritation, angst, contentment, rightness, sadness and then of course overjoyed. If you haven't picked up this series, you need to.
I also want to point out that the audio was EXCELLENT! I can't wait to watch all of the other characters fall as hard as these two with each other. Also the epilogue with Cade's Halloween costume was CHEF'S KISS!!!
Boarded Hearts by Ruth Stilling
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I know they say not to judge a book by it's cover but I really can't resist these cartoon covers!! And wonderfully enough the cover was on par with the book. It was great. I enjoyed this intro to a new world and these characters. I liked the reverse age gap (I am on the hunt for more of these), the fact that Felicity had no idea who Jon was, the way that Jon helped her with her confidence without even knowing it was exactly what she needed in that time of her life. I also liked Felicity having older children. Most of the time when you read a single parent story it is with younger kids. The older kids gave it a little bit of a different dynamic. I also of course loved the he falls first and HARD coming from a reformed playboy was icing on the cake. UGH that just made me swoon.
Felicity has made some tough decisions. She decided after being married to the same person for forever to get a divorce and move across the world to support her son's dream of being a hockey player. Which is how she finds herself in Seattle where she has to learn how to be herself again. She has made some friends at the office but really hasn't dipped her toe into the dating pool again. All of that changes when she literally runs into Jon Morgan at the hockey arena when picking up tickets for her and her son. Of course she doesn't know who he is. She just knows he is hot and that she is flustered which is why she runs. But then she sees him at the game and he can't seem to keep his eyes off of her. And now she has found herself in this whirlwind where Jon is actively pursuing her to be in his life. Now he has a reputation she is learning. So she doesn't want to be just another girl. She holds him off. Decides they can be friends and that she will just have to ignore this growing attraction between them. But of course that only lasts for so long. He is treating her so differently from her ex husband. He is supportive of her and challenges her in a way that is invigorating. So she decides to go for it. What does she have to lose? She knows what her standards are. She just has to hold him to those. But then something tragic happens and their relationship is put to the test. She just has to show Jon that with the right people in your life, you can survive more than you think.
Jon is getting tired of the same old same old. He is sick of going out and having a different girl in his bed all the time. He finds himself wondering what it would be like to have someone who was always there cheering for you and challenging you. But he doesn't have the time to invest with his hockey schedule. He has also never found himself captivated by a woman until her. He doesn't catch her name but is entranced by her green eyes. He doesn't know if he will see her again but seeing as he saw her at the arena picking up tickets maybe he will see her at one of his games. And then he does. And he can't look away. He finds himself doing things he has never done before like taking time to get to know her. He finds himself wanting to prove he is better than the rumors about him. He finds himself wanting to be better because of her. She is playing hard to get. She tells him they can only be friends, but friends don't look at each other or kiss each other the way they have. He just has to wait her out. It will be worth it, and when things shift it is everything he thought and more. But then the worst case happens out on the ice in a game to one of his teammates that he takes HARD. He finds himself feeling the anxiety and depression he has worked so hard to stay ahead of take over. He is losing himself and knows he will lose Felicity too. No one wants to deal with someone in this state, but then she shocks him and shows him what true love is really all about.
I liked the mental health rep coming from the MMC not the FMC in this one. I would check the triggers here- there is gaslighting, emotional abuse and the death of parents (not depicted in the book). I thought Ruth did a great job dealing with all of these categories. Felicity's husband was awful and seeing how he was versus how Jon was so eye opening to Felicity. It was a growing moment in the best way. I loved how Felicity didn't turn tail during the kind of third act breakup. She stuck it out which was the harder decision to make in my opinion. I enjoyed meeting our future characters and can't WAIT to see what happens with Kate and Jensen (I know there is more than we think going on there). My heart broke for Zach, but I am pumped to meet Luna put him back together. This was a great intro to a series and debut novel!
Felicity has made some tough decisions. She decided after being married to the same person for forever to get a divorce and move across the world to support her son's dream of being a hockey player. Which is how she finds herself in Seattle where she has to learn how to be herself again. She has made some friends at the office but really hasn't dipped her toe into the dating pool again. All of that changes when she literally runs into Jon Morgan at the hockey arena when picking up tickets for her and her son. Of course she doesn't know who he is. She just knows he is hot and that she is flustered which is why she runs. But then she sees him at the game and he can't seem to keep his eyes off of her. And now she has found herself in this whirlwind where Jon is actively pursuing her to be in his life. Now he has a reputation she is learning. So she doesn't want to be just another girl. She holds him off. Decides they can be friends and that she will just have to ignore this growing attraction between them. But of course that only lasts for so long. He is treating her so differently from her ex husband. He is supportive of her and challenges her in a way that is invigorating. So she decides to go for it. What does she have to lose? She knows what her standards are. She just has to hold him to those. But then something tragic happens and their relationship is put to the test. She just has to show Jon that with the right people in your life, you can survive more than you think.
Jon is getting tired of the same old same old. He is sick of going out and having a different girl in his bed all the time. He finds himself wondering what it would be like to have someone who was always there cheering for you and challenging you. But he doesn't have the time to invest with his hockey schedule. He has also never found himself captivated by a woman until her. He doesn't catch her name but is entranced by her green eyes. He doesn't know if he will see her again but seeing as he saw her at the arena picking up tickets maybe he will see her at one of his games. And then he does. And he can't look away. He finds himself doing things he has never done before like taking time to get to know her. He finds himself wanting to prove he is better than the rumors about him. He finds himself wanting to be better because of her. She is playing hard to get. She tells him they can only be friends, but friends don't look at each other or kiss each other the way they have. He just has to wait her out. It will be worth it, and when things shift it is everything he thought and more. But then the worst case happens out on the ice in a game to one of his teammates that he takes HARD. He finds himself feeling the anxiety and depression he has worked so hard to stay ahead of take over. He is losing himself and knows he will lose Felicity too. No one wants to deal with someone in this state, but then she shocks him and shows him what true love is really all about.
I liked the mental health rep coming from the MMC not the FMC in this one. I would check the triggers here- there is gaslighting, emotional abuse and the death of parents (not depicted in the book). I thought Ruth did a great job dealing with all of these categories. Felicity's husband was awful and seeing how he was versus how Jon was so eye opening to Felicity. It was a growing moment in the best way. I loved how Felicity didn't turn tail during the kind of third act breakup. She stuck it out which was the harder decision to make in my opinion. I enjoyed meeting our future characters and can't WAIT to see what happens with Kate and Jensen (I know there is more than we think going on there). My heart broke for Zach, but I am pumped to meet Luna put him back together. This was a great intro to a series and debut novel!
Cash by Jessica Peterson
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
So I just recently read my first Jessica Peterson book (Southern Seducer) and LOVED it. To say I was ecstatic that I then received this ARC would be an understatement. And let me tell you I was NOT disappointed. I absolutely LOVE Jessica's characters. Her world building. The emotions that her characters are experiencing and how she makes them very relatable. The chemistry that is building and building until you feel like you just can't take it anymore. MAN does Jessica make it worth it. She did all of that once again in this book. I LOVED the intro to this series. I loved our MCs. They had a pretty hard enemies to lovers in the beginning but they gave each other a chance. They realized they were both not in an ideal situation and then things started to shift. I liked the way they walked around their feelings for a long time. I didn't like Mollie's decision for a distraction but I loved Cash's response. I also liked that there wasn't a true third act breakup but still some angst on what was going to happen.
Mollie is angry. She had planned to come down to bumble F Texas to get her dad's money so she could invest it in her business and what was she told but she has to LIVE on the ranch for a year to be able to get it. Being a cowboy does not sound appealing. She is a city girl at heart but maybe it won't be as bad as she thinks. But then she remembers she will have to deal with him- Cash Rivers. Her foreman. The man who gave her a straight up scowl and who is so hot it is unfair. Somehow she finds herself agreeing to these terms and makes her way to the ranch. And then Cash tries to scare her off but he has another thing coming if he thinks she is that soft. She was raised on this ranch. She is a business owner. She has grit. So she sets out to prove him wrong and then things start to shift between them. She realizes they are both grieving her father but in different ways. She is bitter that she was never able to right things with him and that Cash had a relationship with him. She realizes that there is more to Cash than meets the eye which explains him coming to the bar the first night she goes out even though he hasn't been out in forever. Or how he starts to do little things for her that make her think what if they could be more. But she can't with him. He is her foreman. Their relationship can't get muddied. So she will just distract herself with someone else. But wow does that backfire in the best possible way. And now her and Cash are going for it. She finds herself wondering if she could work at the ranch. She finds herself not missing being alone. But then her mom calls with some news and Mollie has to decide if she stays or if she goes.
Cash is in shock. His mentor died unexpectedly and though he verbally told him the ranch was his he gave it to his daughter, miss prissy pants herself. Now Cash doesn't know what to do. All of his plans for his family's ranch are out the window. Mollie is most definitely going to sell the ranch immediately. Unless he can scare her away from it. No way does she last out here when she is used to a life of luxury. But then he realizes he went to far. He is not a bad guy. He just is a caretaker. He has a lot on his shoulders. So when he sees that Mollie isn't quite what he expected he starts to wonder. He hasn't been able to do anything for himself in a long time. There's just too many people depending on him. But she helps him see that he deserves things for himself. He questions muddying things between them but can't fight what his heart is telling him. So when she brings some wanna be cowboy in the picture, Cash is done fighting his feelings. He is staking his claim and his claim is on Mollie. He wants to prove to her how amazing she is. He wants to prove to her that he can make her happy and that the ranch can make her happy. He thought he was doing that but then her mom called and told her she can come home. Will he be enough? Will they be able to make what they have work? Because he is a ranch man through and through but he is also a Mollie man.
GAH I just loved this. I can't emphasize it enough!! Just a very easy, enjoyable read. I laughed, I kind cried, I smiled, I got a little irritated- just a range of emotions that ended with a big old smile on my face. This book was great about letting you know that people are not always what meets the eye. And if you take the time, you might just be surprised what you find. There was the small town vibe. Touch her die vibe. Treat her like a queen vibe. So if you like those I would HIGHLY recommend this one. Oh also of course HOT cowboys!! I can't wait to see who all of the guys pair off with. And that ending with Wyatt had me shaking my head with a smile. I am also wondering who Wheeler will end up with anyone?? Oh and Jessica- I saw that secret shoutout to John Beauregard!!
Thank you to Valentine PR and Jessica for a copy of this book in exchnane for an honest review!
Mollie is angry. She had planned to come down to bumble F Texas to get her dad's money so she could invest it in her business and what was she told but she has to LIVE on the ranch for a year to be able to get it. Being a cowboy does not sound appealing. She is a city girl at heart but maybe it won't be as bad as she thinks. But then she remembers she will have to deal with him- Cash Rivers. Her foreman. The man who gave her a straight up scowl and who is so hot it is unfair. Somehow she finds herself agreeing to these terms and makes her way to the ranch. And then Cash tries to scare her off but he has another thing coming if he thinks she is that soft. She was raised on this ranch. She is a business owner. She has grit. So she sets out to prove him wrong and then things start to shift between them. She realizes they are both grieving her father but in different ways. She is bitter that she was never able to right things with him and that Cash had a relationship with him. She realizes that there is more to Cash than meets the eye which explains him coming to the bar the first night she goes out even though he hasn't been out in forever. Or how he starts to do little things for her that make her think what if they could be more. But she can't with him. He is her foreman. Their relationship can't get muddied. So she will just distract herself with someone else. But wow does that backfire in the best possible way. And now her and Cash are going for it. She finds herself wondering if she could work at the ranch. She finds herself not missing being alone. But then her mom calls with some news and Mollie has to decide if she stays or if she goes.
Cash is in shock. His mentor died unexpectedly and though he verbally told him the ranch was his he gave it to his daughter, miss prissy pants herself. Now Cash doesn't know what to do. All of his plans for his family's ranch are out the window. Mollie is most definitely going to sell the ranch immediately. Unless he can scare her away from it. No way does she last out here when she is used to a life of luxury. But then he realizes he went to far. He is not a bad guy. He just is a caretaker. He has a lot on his shoulders. So when he sees that Mollie isn't quite what he expected he starts to wonder. He hasn't been able to do anything for himself in a long time. There's just too many people depending on him. But she helps him see that he deserves things for himself. He questions muddying things between them but can't fight what his heart is telling him. So when she brings some wanna be cowboy in the picture, Cash is done fighting his feelings. He is staking his claim and his claim is on Mollie. He wants to prove to her how amazing she is. He wants to prove to her that he can make her happy and that the ranch can make her happy. He thought he was doing that but then her mom called and told her she can come home. Will he be enough? Will they be able to make what they have work? Because he is a ranch man through and through but he is also a Mollie man.
GAH I just loved this. I can't emphasize it enough!! Just a very easy, enjoyable read. I laughed, I kind cried, I smiled, I got a little irritated- just a range of emotions that ended with a big old smile on my face. This book was great about letting you know that people are not always what meets the eye. And if you take the time, you might just be surprised what you find. There was the small town vibe. Touch her die vibe. Treat her like a queen vibe. So if you like those I would HIGHLY recommend this one. Oh also of course HOT cowboys!! I can't wait to see who all of the guys pair off with. And that ending with Wyatt had me shaking my head with a smile. I am also wondering who Wheeler will end up with anyone?? Oh and Jessica- I saw that secret shoutout to John Beauregard!!
Thank you to Valentine PR and Jessica for a copy of this book in exchnane for an honest review!
Gator Queen by Tara Lush
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This was a solid 3.5 stars for me. I liked the quirkiness of the story. The characters were fun. I liked the added element of mystery. It was very entertaining- just not a wow for me. I can't say that I have ever read a book about a gator trapper. I liked learning more about that industry, and it added to the story.
Maggie has decided to throw caution to the wind and is moving back home to help open up a bookstore with her twin sister Vera. Maggie is going to pick up the mantle of gator trapping from her dad who has passed away. She hasn't been home in 6 years and has no idea what to expect. What she isn't surprised by is her competition's attitude. Gene is still the same misogynist that he was before but somehow he has gotten worse. Things take a turn for the weird and worse when Maggie finds his body after receiving a very vague call about a gator removal. Now the town is in shock- who killed Gene and why? Maggie decides to do some investigating of her own with their new tenant Jack who is a professor from Miami. They decie to join forces to dig deeper to see if they can uncover what happened. Once they start peeling back layers, they find things they didn't expect. A cover up. Election fraud. Nothing seems to be out of the realm of possibility. All Maggie has to do is clear her and her sister's name before their bookstore opens which shouldn't be a problem right?
This was a cozy, super fast and easy read. I would recommend it for a nice summer pickup. I am curious to see what happens with Maggie and Jack as well as Vera and Adam. Looking forward to book 2!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Maggie has decided to throw caution to the wind and is moving back home to help open up a bookstore with her twin sister Vera. Maggie is going to pick up the mantle of gator trapping from her dad who has passed away. She hasn't been home in 6 years and has no idea what to expect. What she isn't surprised by is her competition's attitude. Gene is still the same misogynist that he was before but somehow he has gotten worse. Things take a turn for the weird and worse when Maggie finds his body after receiving a very vague call about a gator removal. Now the town is in shock- who killed Gene and why? Maggie decides to do some investigating of her own with their new tenant Jack who is a professor from Miami. They decie to join forces to dig deeper to see if they can uncover what happened. Once they start peeling back layers, they find things they didn't expect. A cover up. Election fraud. Nothing seems to be out of the realm of possibility. All Maggie has to do is clear her and her sister's name before their bookstore opens which shouldn't be a problem right?
This was a cozy, super fast and easy read. I would recommend it for a nice summer pickup. I am curious to see what happens with Maggie and Jack as well as Vera and Adam. Looking forward to book 2!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Morbidly Yours by Ivy Fairbanks
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really really liked this one. It was such an original story to me! Maybe not the story itself but aspects of the story. The characters were great. I can't say I have read a book with a mortician or a cartoon artist as the main character before- LOVED. I am debating whether I should call Callum a grump or not. He was just more introverted I think. But man was Lark his true sunshine. The way that he opened up and started feeling more confident. Lark was on the struggle bus understandably. She had never dealt with the grief that came from her husband's passing. She did what most people would do and ran to somewhere new where no one knew her. She wanted to start over, but her heart was cutoff forever. Until she meets Callum and it starts beating again. This book made me over the moon happy. I found myself smiling and giddy almost the whole time. Their first spicy scene was SO HOT- read it and you''ll understand. I just love how GOOD they were for each other. How they found each other at the perfect time.
Lark has moved to Galway. She knows no one, but she is excited for this adventure. Until she realizes that she has moved next door to a funeral home. Albeit a funeral home with a hot mortician who she finds herself drawn to for some reason. She likes his quirkiness. He doesn't seem weirded out by how she is. She wants to get to know him. But she won't cross any lines- she can't open herself up the way she did with Reese. It was just too hard. So friends it is. But then Callum tells her about his problem- he needs to get married to keep his business. Instead of offering her services, she devotes herself to finding him a partner. Throughout all of her tutoring though, she finds herself enjoying life more than she has in a long time. She finds herself WANTING things she hasn't wanted in a long time. She wants Cal. Maybe if they get it out of their system they can move on. She has to set the expectation that she will not be his wife. Maybe they can be friends with benefits? I mean what could possibly go wrong besides acknowledging the growing feelings and thing that is growing on the daily between them. Absolutely nothing- right??
Callum is confused. He has been working at his family's funeral home for forever and now that his granda has passed there are hoops to jump through in order for him to take over. He has to get married. He has to ensure that the family legacy will continue. What does that look like for someone who hasn't been on a date in 6 years? For someone who is content in their existence. But then everything changes when Lark moves in next door. She is legit sunshine. She is rainbows. She is flowers and smiles and everything that Cal isn't. He is instantly interested but when she makes it clear that they can only be friends he decides that he will have to start looking for a wife. The problem? Every time he is out on a date, he finds himself wondering what Lark is doing. He wants more than she can give him. So when she offers herself up on a platter with no strings what can he say besides yes. But now the deadline is looming and so he decides to throw caution to the wind and take a chance with Lark. What could possibly go wrong?
I definitely recommend this one if you are looking for a slower kind of burn with some NICE heat. I enjoyed the found family in this one as well. Just overall a really fun read! I was excited to see that this is going to be a series and am thinking Lo and Aidan for book 2?
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Lark has moved to Galway. She knows no one, but she is excited for this adventure. Until she realizes that she has moved next door to a funeral home. Albeit a funeral home with a hot mortician who she finds herself drawn to for some reason. She likes his quirkiness. He doesn't seem weirded out by how she is. She wants to get to know him. But she won't cross any lines- she can't open herself up the way she did with Reese. It was just too hard. So friends it is. But then Callum tells her about his problem- he needs to get married to keep his business. Instead of offering her services, she devotes herself to finding him a partner. Throughout all of her tutoring though, she finds herself enjoying life more than she has in a long time. She finds herself WANTING things she hasn't wanted in a long time. She wants Cal. Maybe if they get it out of their system they can move on. She has to set the expectation that she will not be his wife. Maybe they can be friends with benefits? I mean what could possibly go wrong besides acknowledging the growing feelings and thing that is growing on the daily between them. Absolutely nothing- right??
Callum is confused. He has been working at his family's funeral home for forever and now that his granda has passed there are hoops to jump through in order for him to take over. He has to get married. He has to ensure that the family legacy will continue. What does that look like for someone who hasn't been on a date in 6 years? For someone who is content in their existence. But then everything changes when Lark moves in next door. She is legit sunshine. She is rainbows. She is flowers and smiles and everything that Cal isn't. He is instantly interested but when she makes it clear that they can only be friends he decides that he will have to start looking for a wife. The problem? Every time he is out on a date, he finds himself wondering what Lark is doing. He wants more than she can give him. So when she offers herself up on a platter with no strings what can he say besides yes. But now the deadline is looming and so he decides to throw caution to the wind and take a chance with Lark. What could possibly go wrong?
I definitely recommend this one if you are looking for a slower kind of burn with some NICE heat. I enjoyed the found family in this one as well. Just overall a really fun read! I was excited to see that this is going to be a series and am thinking Lo and Aidan for book 2?
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Wedding the Wide Receiver by Lisa Suzanne
challenging
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Solid 3.5 stars- maybe even 3.75. I enjoyed learning more about the shocking twist at the end of book 1 where Grayson got the call that his brother's wedding was off. I liked Spencer and Grace. I liked their background. Their slow burn for each other that would have never come to fruition if things hadn't happened in their favor. What I had a hard time with was the drawn-out plot involving Grace and her sister Amelia, who is also Spencer's ex fiancé. That was hard for me to connect to and that made the third act breakup even harder for me. I did like the way that the fake scenario for Gracie and Spencer turned real pretty fast. I also enjoyed the several extra spicy scenes- especially the tied up one. I had to fan myself a little bit there. I liked Spencer's family and how these characters had help recognizing who they were to each other since they were up in their heads for a minute.
Grace has kind of been pining over her sister's now ex fiance for forever. She was the one who was supposed to meet Spencer at the bar that fated night forever ago, but of course he ended up going home with Amelia, her sister. The louder of the two of them. The one who seems to always get what she wants now matter the consequences. Well it seems those consequences have caught up to her because Spencer is single and Grace doesn't know what to do with new information she has. She decides to be impulsive and flies out to Vegas to talk to Spencer in person. One thing leads to another and they walk up married. The agreed they would do this for one year so that Grace can become owner of her family's vineyard. What they did not agree to was making their fake relationship real but things start shifting pretty quickly. Grace starts realizing that she could get used to Spencer in her bed on a regular basis. She could get used to the way he worships her body. She could get used to the way he looks at her. But her life is in Minnesota, and he was just moved to San Diego. And now that Amelia knows that they are married, all bets are off. Will Grace and Spencer stand the test of time and distance? Adding in the elements of the paparazzi getting wind of their story- will they be able to hang on to the love that they feel for each other? Or will it truly only last one year like they originally agreed?
Spencer is at a weird point in his life. He broke off his engagement and is now finding out how big of a psycho his ex is. He has been let go from his team of 8 years and is now moving to San Diego where he knows no one. His careful plan is crumbling. It crumbles further when he wakes up married to Grace, his ex's sister. The one whose friendship he has always cherished. He never really thought of more with her but now that they are in this situation he finds himself unable to think of anything else. He wants to explore this thing that is growing between them. He knows that there will be trials coming up. I mean they don't even live in the same city but now that they have both declared their feelings for each other all will be well. Or will it? Add in a crazy ex, the press and his teammates and the pressure he is now feeling is tremendous. He also is not recognizing his wife because of how much she is caving under her circumstances. Maybe it would be best if they just end after the year they agreed. But then why does that thought alone crush him?
I liked the pacing in this book. I found myself REALLY rooting for Grace and Spencer to work while also screaming for something terrible to happen to Amelia (kind of kidding but not at the same time). I am enjoying this series so far and am looking forward to see who snagged Archer's attention??
Thank you to Valentine PR and Lisa for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Grace has kind of been pining over her sister's now ex fiance for forever. She was the one who was supposed to meet Spencer at the bar that fated night forever ago, but of course he ended up going home with Amelia, her sister. The louder of the two of them. The one who seems to always get what she wants now matter the consequences. Well it seems those consequences have caught up to her because Spencer is single and Grace doesn't know what to do with new information she has. She decides to be impulsive and flies out to Vegas to talk to Spencer in person. One thing leads to another and they walk up married. The agreed they would do this for one year so that Grace can become owner of her family's vineyard. What they did not agree to was making their fake relationship real but things start shifting pretty quickly. Grace starts realizing that she could get used to Spencer in her bed on a regular basis. She could get used to the way he worships her body. She could get used to the way he looks at her. But her life is in Minnesota, and he was just moved to San Diego. And now that Amelia knows that they are married, all bets are off. Will Grace and Spencer stand the test of time and distance? Adding in the elements of the paparazzi getting wind of their story- will they be able to hang on to the love that they feel for each other? Or will it truly only last one year like they originally agreed?
Spencer is at a weird point in his life. He broke off his engagement and is now finding out how big of a psycho his ex is. He has been let go from his team of 8 years and is now moving to San Diego where he knows no one. His careful plan is crumbling. It crumbles further when he wakes up married to Grace, his ex's sister. The one whose friendship he has always cherished. He never really thought of more with her but now that they are in this situation he finds himself unable to think of anything else. He wants to explore this thing that is growing between them. He knows that there will be trials coming up. I mean they don't even live in the same city but now that they have both declared their feelings for each other all will be well. Or will it? Add in a crazy ex, the press and his teammates and the pressure he is now feeling is tremendous. He also is not recognizing his wife because of how much she is caving under her circumstances. Maybe it would be best if they just end after the year they agreed. But then why does that thought alone crush him?
I liked the pacing in this book. I found myself REALLY rooting for Grace and Spencer to work while also screaming for something terrible to happen to Amelia (kind of kidding but not at the same time). I am enjoying this series so far and am looking forward to see who snagged Archer's attention??
Thank you to Valentine PR and Lisa for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
If You Hate Me by Helena Hunting
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was my first book by Helena and will definitely not be my last. Not only because I went ahead and bought book 2 as well as some of her other books. This book was a wonderful into to this world and these characters that I can't wait to see fall. I loved the banter in this one. I loved the chemistry between Rix and Tristan. I loved all of the side characters. I LOVED the spicy scenes and that they were somewhat original in my opinion. I did have a hard time with the immaturity of Tristan. Man was he a d*ck to her at the beginning. I have read enemies but this guy was shooting some LOW blows. However we did learn more into why later on. I just had a hard time with his wishy washiness because he also did a lot of really sweet things. I also did not like how Flip responded when he found out what was going on BUT appreciated Rix standing her ground. I found myself laughing out loud at the text banter and honestly just the conversations and situations in this book. I REALLY wanted them to make this work and though it was a struggle at first we finally got there.
Rix has hit rock bottom. She walked in on her roommates inviting her to join them for a threesome on almost the same day that she quit her job that she is realizing she wasn't loving. The only place she can think to move to is her brother's apartment. Her brother Flip and his roommate Tristan are town hockey stars. The major problem with this is they don't have a third bedroom so she will be sleeping in the loft without a door or barrier of any kind. Oh and the fact that she HATES Tristan. He is not only her brother's roommate but has been his BF for forever. They are known around town as a lover of the puck bunnies. So why is she suddenly finding it hard to look at Tristan and not think dirty thoughts? And why is she thinking that he is also thinking lewd things? He is giving her really mixed signals too- super cold with her then does something sweet. Whatever she doesn't have time for this- she needs a job. But then she finds time and man oh man does he rock her world. She has NEVER in her life experienced what they did together. And now they are going to keep doing this on the sly with no strings. But she finds herself wanting to know more about her not boyfriend. She wants to know what makes him tick and what makes him smile. She wants to see where this thing goes. But will his baggage get in the way? Or will he be able to recognize that what they have is something worth facing his demons for?
Tristan is feeling weird about life right now. He is tired of the going out and bringing a different girl home every night. That doesn't mean he is going to do anything about it. But then Rix moves in. His best friend/roommates little sister. The same one that he tormented for years. But she is all grown up now and he is thinking of tormenting her in a different way. But he can't. He can't do that to Flip (her brother). But he is only human so of course it happens and holy sh*t his world has turned upside down. He wants more. He says no feelings but that went out the window when he realized how amazing she really is. They are toeing a hard line that gets blurred real fast. And now Flips knows and Tristan doesn't know what to do. His loyalty is to him but priorities have shifted. Rix isn't just a hookup anymore. She is everything. But he can't get out of his head about things that have happened in his past. He can't stop thinking about what can go wrong. Will he able to prove to Rix that he is in it for the long haul? Will she believe him after all they have been through?
Your girl LOVES a best friend's sibling situation and this one was top notch in my opinion. I am looking forward to reading about Hammer & Hollis. I love it when author's give you just enough of a taste so that you are hooked on what is to come. Though this wasn't a quick read, I would definitely recommend!
Rix has hit rock bottom. She walked in on her roommates inviting her to join them for a threesome on almost the same day that she quit her job that she is realizing she wasn't loving. The only place she can think to move to is her brother's apartment. Her brother Flip and his roommate Tristan are town hockey stars. The major problem with this is they don't have a third bedroom so she will be sleeping in the loft without a door or barrier of any kind. Oh and the fact that she HATES Tristan. He is not only her brother's roommate but has been his BF for forever. They are known around town as a lover of the puck bunnies. So why is she suddenly finding it hard to look at Tristan and not think dirty thoughts? And why is she thinking that he is also thinking lewd things? He is giving her really mixed signals too- super cold with her then does something sweet. Whatever she doesn't have time for this- she needs a job. But then she finds time and man oh man does he rock her world. She has NEVER in her life experienced what they did together. And now they are going to keep doing this on the sly with no strings. But she finds herself wanting to know more about her not boyfriend. She wants to know what makes him tick and what makes him smile. She wants to see where this thing goes. But will his baggage get in the way? Or will he be able to recognize that what they have is something worth facing his demons for?
Tristan is feeling weird about life right now. He is tired of the going out and bringing a different girl home every night. That doesn't mean he is going to do anything about it. But then Rix moves in. His best friend/roommates little sister. The same one that he tormented for years. But she is all grown up now and he is thinking of tormenting her in a different way. But he can't. He can't do that to Flip (her brother). But he is only human so of course it happens and holy sh*t his world has turned upside down. He wants more. He says no feelings but that went out the window when he realized how amazing she really is. They are toeing a hard line that gets blurred real fast. And now Flips knows and Tristan doesn't know what to do. His loyalty is to him but priorities have shifted. Rix isn't just a hookup anymore. She is everything. But he can't get out of his head about things that have happened in his past. He can't stop thinking about what can go wrong. Will he able to prove to Rix that he is in it for the long haul? Will she believe him after all they have been through?
Your girl LOVES a best friend's sibling situation and this one was top notch in my opinion. I am looking forward to reading about Hammer & Hollis. I love it when author's give you just enough of a taste so that you are hooked on what is to come. Though this wasn't a quick read, I would definitely recommend!
Don't Forget Me Tomorrow by A.L. Jackson
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Dakota and Ryder. Enough said. I had put off reading this story because I knew I would want to savor the build up between these two. We know from book 1 where they stand. Dakota loved him from afar, and Ryder hooks up with a TON of women. But none of them are ever Dakota. He treats her special but never takes it too far. The hype for this one did NOT disappoint. Ryder sounds ridiculously hot. The epitome of darkness to Dakota's light. I was fearful going in to this one and honestly got a little frustrated with how long the back and forth went on until they acted on their feelings. Their chemistry was legit off the charts. Throw in Dakota's son and I was a goner. I was completely blown away by all of the plot twists AL threw our way- I mean DAMN. The bad guy in this one was determined to keep Ryder under his thumb for as long as possible. I absolutely loved reading the past POVs- it helped bring a clearer picture to their relationship and why Dakota's head was where it was.
Dakota doesn't know what to do anymore. Her feelings for Ryder have gotten a little out of control. She wants more with him and doesn't know how to tell him without risking their friendship. He treats her like a queen but never seems to want to cross that line with her. Well things have changed. Someone is trying to scare Dakota. They have broken into her house. Ryder insists her and her son move in with him. But Dakota is scared. She won't be able to pretend anymore. She is convinced he doesn't feel anything for her until she catches him in an awkward situation and OMG does it change the course of everything. At least she thinks it does. But nothing changes. Dakota finally has to go out with someone else for Ryder to realize it's now or never. He keeps telling her that he is too dark. That his soul is too far gone for her to save. But she is determined to help him see that he is a good man. But then she learns the truth. A truth that crushes everything she thought she knew. Now she is on a roller coaster of emotions. Ryder always told her to stay away and maybe he was right.
Ryder is living as a shell of a person. He goes out. He sleeps around. But he has no real connections with women besides the one he can never have- his best friend's little sister, Dakota. The Dakota who has been in his life for forever. The Dakota who makes him feel like he is sitting by the sun because of how much she radiates. The one woman he can't get out of his head. He keeps telling her that nothing good can come of them. But she is persistent. And now that her and her son are in his house all bets are off. But what will she think of him when she learns the truth of what he did all those years ago? Of how weak he was and what he sacrificed? Will she prove him wrong? There is only way one to find out. Because now that he has her in his life- there is no way he is going to let her go.
I think that this is my favorite one in this series thus far. I just started Cody's though so that may change. It's always fun to see the playboy get put in his place. Dakota and Ryder were just it for me. They had been circling around each other forever and their f*ck it moment was HOT. ALL of the spice scenes were HOT. This man oozed sexiness in my opinion. And he worshiped Dakota the way she deserved. If you are looking for small town romance with some serious suspense, I HIGHLY recommend this series!!
Dakota doesn't know what to do anymore. Her feelings for Ryder have gotten a little out of control. She wants more with him and doesn't know how to tell him without risking their friendship. He treats her like a queen but never seems to want to cross that line with her. Well things have changed. Someone is trying to scare Dakota. They have broken into her house. Ryder insists her and her son move in with him. But Dakota is scared. She won't be able to pretend anymore. She is convinced he doesn't feel anything for her until she catches him in an awkward situation and OMG does it change the course of everything. At least she thinks it does. But nothing changes. Dakota finally has to go out with someone else for Ryder to realize it's now or never. He keeps telling her that he is too dark. That his soul is too far gone for her to save. But she is determined to help him see that he is a good man. But then she learns the truth. A truth that crushes everything she thought she knew. Now she is on a roller coaster of emotions. Ryder always told her to stay away and maybe he was right.
Ryder is living as a shell of a person. He goes out. He sleeps around. But he has no real connections with women besides the one he can never have- his best friend's little sister, Dakota. The Dakota who has been in his life for forever. The Dakota who makes him feel like he is sitting by the sun because of how much she radiates. The one woman he can't get out of his head. He keeps telling her that nothing good can come of them. But she is persistent. And now that her and her son are in his house all bets are off. But what will she think of him when she learns the truth of what he did all those years ago? Of how weak he was and what he sacrificed? Will she prove him wrong? There is only way one to find out. Because now that he has her in his life- there is no way he is going to let her go.
I think that this is my favorite one in this series thus far. I just started Cody's though so that may change. It's always fun to see the playboy get put in his place. Dakota and Ryder were just it for me. They had been circling around each other forever and their f*ck it moment was HOT. ALL of the spice scenes were HOT. This man oozed sexiness in my opinion. And he worshiped Dakota the way she deserved. If you are looking for small town romance with some serious suspense, I HIGHLY recommend this series!!