Tea, Blanket, and My Book

New Year, New TBR Pile 😄

2024-01-02T17:58:00.000-06:00

Foodie Adventures

2023-05-18T09:11:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone!

I am not sure of how many of you love brunch like me but I had to share this. Yesterday was my birthday and I treated myself to my favorite meal.!

A True Cowboy Christmas

2023-05-17T16:10:00.000-05:00

Author: Caitlyn Crews

Date Released: October 30, 2018

I went backwards with this series because I actually read book 2 titled "Cold Heart, Warm Cowboy" back in 2019 and when I chose this book I had no idea that it was a part of the same series. Weird.. The book that we are gathered here to review is "A True Cowboy Christmas" and it tells the story of Abby and Gray Everett. Gray Everett does not believe in love based on a failed marriage and think Abby will be the perfect and practical wife to share his life and ranch with. You lovers do know how that always ends right? It was a little cliché, but I am always down or up for love. Let's jump into it.

As I stated before, Gray has ranching in his blood and has just buried his very abusive father. Gray has a teenage daughter and who also happens to be a widow. Gray has realized that he needs a family for his daughter and an eternal partner. A marriage without love makes sense right? He looks to nearest and ever so "practical" neighbor, Abby. Abby is his closest neighbor and she has always had a crush on the broody, hardworking cowboy. When approached with a "mail order bride" type of marriage proposal, Abby jumps at the chance to be the wife of the cowboy who has held her heart for as long as she can remember. It was nice to see their relationship grow to a certain extent.

The chemistry here was minimal and the story arc was not executed well. Abby is a 30 year old virgin and has had a huge crush on Gray for almost her whole naïve life. The author tells me what happened during the beginning of their relationship rather than show me. It pulled me out of the story and the pacing in this story was sloooow!. I was snapping my fingers saying "Get to the Point" and the monologue was excruciating because a whole chapter would be dedicated to the characters inner thoughts. This is actually minor, but Christmas is not until the end of the story. You would think by the title that the setting is during Christmas, but you would be wrong.

This book had some good and intense moments and it carries the lesson that parents can be jerks, but it is up to you to tie your boot straps and live your life. I would have to give this book a 3 star. Although this book had its flaws, it was a nice read on a Saturday afternoon and Abby's grandmother was awesome. Just grab your book and read, no blanket or tea needed.

⭐⭐⭐

It's all about that Cowboy by Carly Bloom

2020-11-29T23:53:00.004-06:00

Author Carly Bloom

Release Date January 14, 2020

Wow!. This was a really quick read for me and I was really surprised. I was not expecting for the story to end so abruptly and I am unsure if that was the author's intention. The story was surprisingly witty and it gave me a couple of chuckles. This story follows Jessica and Casey in the small town of Big Verde and they were small tow, high school sweethearts. Jessica is back in town for a funeral and she was hoping to go in and out of this small town without bumping into Casey, the town sheriff. Will they find the flame where their loved burned again?

Jessica was forced to leave her beloved town with a major secret that will surely rock Big Verde to its core. After graduation, Jessica and Casey promised each other the future and all the love that came with it, but after an unexpected pregnancy in the family forces Jessica's family to skip town overnight. Fast forward twelve years later, Jessica is a successful restaurant manager and Casey is the town's sheriff. Sparks truly fly when the meet up at a hilarious traffic stop. The chemistry between the two was great and I loved these two together. Their heart break and angst is due to a major misunderstanding and their love story is wrapped in a pretty bow. The old sparks flew immediately and the picked up where they left off 12 years ago.

As I mentioned before, the story abruptly ended and I wanted more. I like Casey and Jessica's character development and I just loved them together. I was really stuck between a 3 star and a 4 star because of the ending to this story. I have thought really hard about it and I have decided to give this story a very good 3 star read. An author cannot just end the story abruptly without an epilogue something. This story had 4 or 5 star potential. Grab you book or kindle and enjoy this short, sweet read about a cowboy sheriff.

⭐⭐⭐

The Last Real Cowboy by Caitlin Crews

2020-11-29T02:36:00.001-06:00

Author Caitlin Crews

Release Date: January 28, 2020

This is book 3 in the Cold River Ranch series by Caitlin Crews and I want to say that I am glad that I am finished with this book. This has to be my least favorite installment because their characters were not written very well. Now let's not get ahead of ourselves, let me tell you about the story first before I give you the lowdown about this story. Brady Everett is the youngest of the bunch and after their father passes away, Brady is back to pick up the pieces. Brady has agreed to work on the ranch for a year before deciding what to do with his share of the Everett land. One of the major disadvantages of living in a small town is not being seen as a twelve year old when you are 22! Amanda just wants to be seen as adult and to be independent away from her overbearing brothers and their protective grasp. Amanda has been watching Brady since forever and she just wants him to see her as a woman. Will Brady ever see her as a woman and not his best friend's pesky little sister?

Amanda is a virgin and she only wants one man to have it and that is Brady. Brady knows that this is a bad idea, but he can't resist this feisty, beautiful girl who has grown into a full fledge woman. While Brady and Amanda heat up the sheets, Brady's brothers are building their families and treats Brady like an outsider. Riley, Amanda older brother, asked Brady to look out for Amanda after she decides to move out on her own to have independence and she also gets a job at a risky bar in town. Feelings start to form and Brady is genuinely afraid that he will end up like his father, not able to hold on to a relationship and a violent drunk. The entirety of the book is them messing around while Amanda develops genuine feelings and while Brady fights his inner demons.

The overall story was okay and it really did not make me feel anything. There was so much monologue and I honestly had no idea what the characters looked like. I felt like I barely knew the characters and I was not rooting for them at all, which is horrible for the main couple in the story. This installment, like the others, are solely dedicated to the father, even though we never met him. I did not feel the chemistry between the characters and I was more intrigued by Riley and his ex wife more than anything else. I feel that Amanda had more character development than Brady and she was strong and I loved how she stood up to her brothers and Brady's as well. Brady as the hero did not carry this story, which is unfortunate. The ending felt a little rushed and I was glad when I was finished with the story.

As I said before, this story was okay and I wouldn't rush to read it. I will give this story 3 stars at best. I was more interested in Riley's love story than Brady and Amanda's. I believe that their story will be soon released and I will take a chance and read their story because it intrigued me. Just grab your book/NO tea or blankets, just my book.

⭐⭐⭐

Happy Thanksgiving Lovers!

2020-11-26T15:25:00.000-06:00

The Way Back To You by Sharon Sala

2020-08-09T01:49:00.000-05:00

Author: Sharon Sala

Release Date: December 31, 2019

Another great story from the Blessing, Georgia series and I cannot wait for more. I have read almost every installment and "The Way Back to You" held true to the sweet, cozy small town vibe. This book almost feel like two in one because the story has it happily ever after but the author takes it a step further and tied everything with a nice pretty bow. Loved it.!!! After finding out that he is adopted, Sully is on a search for his birth mother and as a result of this search, he finds himself in Blessing, Georgia. While in Blessings, he comes across his first love, Melissa, in the most dramatic, and heart pumping way possible. I really cannot give more away without spoiling, but I will give you hints. Car chase, Greek Gods, escaping a trunk, and a sweet hero with a huge heart.

I wanted to give you my thoughts on this book and I have to say that it stretched for a while. It also had an unexpected guest and it got very cheesy. Sully and Melissa's relationship was very sweet and their road to each other was even sweeter, but I have to say that Sully finding his mother was a tear jerker for sure. Melissa and Sully had great chemistry and I rooting for them the whole time. The story starts off slow, but kicks into high gear when appropriate.

This was a solid read and I will give it 4 stars all the way. This is a great series and I, for one, would love to move here.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

My One and Only Cowboy by A.J. Pine

2020-05-25T17:24:00.000-05:00

Author: A.J. Pine
Release Date: December 17, 2019

It has been so long since I left a review or even read a book. I was such a funk since at the beginning of 2020. I'm sure you all can agree with me when I say that 2020 has been insane. It has taken me a little while to finish this book and not because I did not like, but because 2020 has been very eventful. Any who…let me tell you about a book that I read titled "My one and Only Cowboy by A.J Pine. I am a huge fan of A.J Pine because of the/……series. One of my favorite sub genre of romance is enemies to lovers. Sam and Delaney were cute together and they found love fairly quickly in this story. Sam and Delaney only have one week of no-strings attached sex, who will fall first?

Sam and his brother, along with his best friend, has just purchased some great land and his currently trying to get his ranch business of the ground in a new town. Everything is going smoothly until a sassy Delaney pulls into town demanding her land back. Sam has worked his finger to the bone in order to get this ranch started and he is not about to let anyone take it from him. Sam is also facing an uncertain future concerning his genetics and having to care for his ailing father at a special facility. In contrast, Delaney has come to this small town to claim her land that was taken from beneath without her permission. After these two meet, sparks begins to fly and they can't deny the big, pink elephant in the room in the form of the land in question.

I enjoyed this story and the chemistry was there to carry the story. The author did a great job with introducing their backstory without weighing it down with unnecessary details. Sam was a great leading man because he had a big heart and he was afraid to love fearing that he would lose it one day like his father did. Additionally, Delaney was a strong female lead and had a good left hook. Both of these characters had to learn to love again and that, my friends, is fantastic. Grab your tea and blanket because this is a cozy read.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Eternity Springs: The McBride of Texas Blog Tour

2020-03-01T02:27:00.002-06:00

SYNOPSIS

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Emily March comes the second book in the Eternity Springs: The McBrides of Texas trilogy, TUCKER (St. Martin’s Paperbacks, February 25, 2020, $7.99). Two business owners come head-to-head in a feud with tulle and grit in this passionate story. This tale shows that even when life changes from the stress of a military career to working next to a wedding planner, love always finds a way to begin, even if it was never thought possible.

Meet Gillian Thacker. Her business: Bliss Bridal Salon. Her passion: Weddings. Her own wedding: It’s complicated. Life isn’t turning out like she’d planned. The last thing she wants is for a real-life hero to ride to her rescue, but an unexpected event puts her entire future in Redemption, Texas, at risk. So what’s a broken-hearted bridal expert to do? Maybe a new set of survival skills is exactly what she needs…

Tucker McBride has been proud to call himself a U.S. Army Ranger. But now that his days of service are over, he’s decided to put his expertise to use by founding a wilderness skills training school. He sets up shop in Redemption, next to Bliss Bridal, and so begins life: Part Two. Marriage has been pretty low on his agenda, but as soon as he meets Gillian, Tucker can’t help but contemplate the ultimate challenge: Convincing the reluctant bride to take his hand and leap into the adventure of a lifetime . . . until death do them part.

AUTHOR BIO

Emily March is the New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and USA Today bestselling author of over thirty novels, including the critically acclaimed Eternity Springs series. Publishers Weekly calls March a "master of delightful banter," and her heartwarming, emotionally charged stories have been named to Best of the Year lists by Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and Romance Writers of America.

A graduate of Texas A&M University, Emily is an avid fan of Aggie sports and her recipe for jalapeño relish has made her a tailgating legend.

BUY LINKS

Macmillan: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250314932

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1250314933?tag=macmillan-20

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/eternity-springs-emily-march/1132730238;jsessionid=9CB8E792D66DAE517D48FA46AF244A7C.prodny_store01-atgap02?ean=9781250314932#/

Books-A-Million: https://www.booksamillion.com/product/9781250314932?AID=42121&PID=7992675&cjevent=0a0b322d393511ea828c00f10a24060e

Indie Bound: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781250314932?aff=macmillan

Powell’s: https://www.powells.com/book/eternity-springs-the-mcbrides-of-texas-tucker-9781250314932?partnerid=33241

SOCIAL MEDIA

Twitter: @emilymarchbooks (https://twitter.com/emilymarchbooks?lang=en)

Facebook: @emilymarchbooks (https://www.facebook.com/emilymarchbooks/)

Instagram: @emilymarchbooks (https://www.instagram.com/emilymarchbooks/?hl=en)

Author Website: https://emilymarch.com/

Macmillan Author Page: https://us.macmillan.com/author/emilymarch

Born to Be A Cowboy by R.C. Ryan

2020-02-09T01:26:00.000-06:00

Author: R.C Ryan
Release Date: November 26, 2019

Every time I read a book from this series, I always get hungry. I don't know if this author was a cookbook author before, but she sure knows how to describe food. Yumm!! Anyways, we are here to talk about the youngest of the Boys and his name is Finn Monroe. He was the quiet one of the bunch and his quiet, peaceful world is about to be turned upside down when Jessie enters his office asking for help. Jessie is afraid that her aunt is in serious trouble and she has traveled from another town to enlist Finn's legal counsel.

The story starts off with Jessie busting into Finn's office seeking help for her aunt. I instantly felt chemistry and I like the touch of mystery and thrill throughout this story. Jessie's aunt has been swooned by a sweet talking cowboy and Jessie thinks that she is in trouble. She has traveled hundreds of miles to enlist Finn's help and Finn is willing the help her. After a couple of brushes with death, Finn invites her to stay at his family's ranch to be safe and until she finds her aunt. As many of you may know, I love this mixed family and the love practically jump off the page. This is the 3rd installment in the series and this family is still going strong.

I liked the chemistry between Finn and Jessie because it wasn't overly sexy or cliché. It was natural and I liked how their romance bloomed into something explosive and their night in the cabin was hot. Though I liked them as a couple, Jessie was little annoying to me. She made very stupid decisions and when things go down, she doesn't think properly. Finn is hot, of course, and he is smart and strong. He wasn't an alpha and he was toned down from the rest of his brothers. He is the true hero of this story and he alone kept me going. This story also digs a little deep with Finn being the youngest of the boys and being separated from his brother at a young age before they found Mack's ranch. It really gave him depth and allowed me to relate to him on a personal level.

I genuinely enjoyed the book because it had twist and turns along with the race for time. The romance was good, but it didn't blow my mind and that's okay because the plot was solid. I would have to give this book a solid 4 because it was good and the family dynamic is unbelievable and it saves the day. Grab your book and tea!! Go pick it up!! Great Series.!!

Rating: 🤠🤠🤠🤠

2020-01-31T09:50:00.002-06:00

Cowboy Like You by Donna Grant

2020-01-04T15:07:00.000-06:00

Author: Donna Grant
Release Date: November 26, 2019

Another cowboy Sheriff? Count me in!! This is my first story by Donna Grant and I'm glad that I took a chance on this artist. A Sheriff cowboy is slowly, but surely, is becoming my favorite hero. I also learned that this is part of a series and I have to admit that I have not read the other installments in the series. Luckily for me, this can be read alone and the side characters added to the story.

In this story we have Danny Oldham, the cowboy sheriff that I mention earlier, and he is at the right place at the right time when he crosses paths with his high school crush, Skylar. Skylar is on the run from an abusive, psychotic ex who will stop at nothing to make Skylar his again. Right before this crazy ex gets Skylar in his grip, Danny comes to the rescue and ensures that Skylar is safe from harm. This is a story of having a second chance at love even in the midst of chaos.

I genuinely enjoyed this story and Danny and Skylar had great chemistry. I was kept on the edge of my toes with the action and also kept in my feelings with the sweetness of their relationship. Danny was one of the sweetest heroes that I have ever read. He was the sheriff of the town and he did so much to ensure that Skylar was safe. Not to mention that Danny had such good friends who would bend their backs for him. Skylar has returned home after trying to escape the clutches of an abusive ex from Houston, Texas. While Danny was kind and resourceful, Skylar was a damsel in distress who made such stupid decisions to me. The author really doesn't really go into their back stories. In spite of this, I enjoyed the story and I really enjoyed the development of their relationship.

I really don't have much negative things to say about this story besides the actions of Skylar at some points during the story. Although I enjoyed their romance, their wasn't anything unique or awesome about it and it didn't give me that ooey gooey feeling that I yearn for in romance story and that is why I have to give it a 4 Star rating. This story is highly recommended though with tea and a blanket.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Once Upon A Cowboy Christmas by Soraya Lane

2019-12-16T23:41:00.001-06:00

Author: Soraya Lane
Release Date: October 29, 2019

This story took my Forever!! Not because it was awful, but because November was a busy month for me. Geez.! Why can't I just read books day in and day out? Why do I have to be an adult?!! Okay, enough about my problems, let's jump into this review. I got back to my favorite type of hero with this story and you probably guessed it, right? Cowboys!! Not only is he a cowboy, but he is one with deep pockets and he gets a second chance at love, which is also my fav.!!

At the first chance of leaving his small town in Texas, Cody could not leave fast enough. Trying to escape the slow wither of his dying mother, Cody leaves for college and doesn't look back. In the crossfire is Lexi and she is hell bent on holding a grudge against the boy who skipped town and crushed her heart. Ten years later, Cody is home for the holidays and Lexi is his dad's nurse. Cody's dad has cancer and he is basically bed ridden and Lexi is his home nurse. Their past tests their present and Cody has to decide whether to face his past head on or to run away from it like the first time. I liked Cody and Lexi together and I adored Lexi's son. The family dynamic was sweet and Cody wasn't the rugged cowboy, but he was business savvy and knew how to get his hands dirty. The death of Cody's mother was a hart hit for him and he has been running away ever since. Lexi is a single mother and is given a helping hand by the Ford family and she is a strong character with a huge heart being that her mother is sick as well. I loved them together and I was so happy about how things unfolded.

The family dynamic narrative carried this story and I really adored Walter, Cody's father. The tender love that Lexi had for her son really touched me and I really felt for her. I was so excited when Cody finally faced his past and came to his senses. Thank the Heavens for that because he already screwed up once, Big time.

I really don’t have much negative things to says besides the ending feeling unfinished, which is a minor thing and not much to lose hair over. Another thing is the switching of the POVs. It switches from Lexi and Cody's simultaneously and it kinda bothered me, but it didn't pull me from the story too much. This is a sweet Christmas story about a second chance at love and a cowboy coming home. Grab some tea or hot cocoa because I definitely recommend it.!!

Rating: 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Hidden Hearts by Marci Bolden

2019-11-19T23:29:00.000-06:00

Author: Marci Bolden

Release Date: October 15, 2019

This has to be the most badass heroine that I have ever read. She was kicking butt from left to right and didn't apologize for it neither. Anyways, welcome to my review of Hidden Hearts which is a thriller, romance about a PI and a hot detective on the hunt for two missing women. The PI is a hot headed blonde by the name of Holly and she is on the hunt for a woman who has been missing for weeks. The hot detective that I mentioned earlier is Jack and he is also on the hunt for a woman who has come up missing, but his situation is a little bit personal. After finding himself on his back due to being flipped by Holly because of his ninja moves, Jack teams up with her after finding out that their two victims may have been taken by the same man. Holly and Jack find themselves falling in love in the midst of searching for these missing women and we are left with two people learning to love and trust again.

First off, I was genuinely invested in the story and I really wanted Jack and Holly to find the maniac that took these women. What a task that the author took on by writing a thriller and inputting some romance to keep me satisfied. Honestly, thriller romances are not my Mo, but I took a chance on this book because I had recently read a book by this author and it was awesome.!! I thought to myself, "Why not take a chance?"', so I did and I am proud of my decision. Holly, as a character, was interesting and I loved how the author mentioned her past and connecting it to the present. She was dealt a bad hand during her childhood and those experiences have shaped her into the fierce goddess that she is now. I really felt for Holly because her past was tragic and she had the insane super hero complex and took loss really hard. I really liked the flip when he came the Holly and Jack's relationship. Holly is a female character who was broody and those are usually the characteristics of the hero in military books. I enjoyed that switch when it came to the hero and the heroine. Jack was the cool and collected character in the story and he balanced Holly out big time. He had such a huge heart and he was willing to put everything on the line for Holly and the case. There were some side characters and they contributed to the story in an important way and I always appreciate it when an author does not spend too much time on the side characters.

I really do not have any negative besides how infuriating Holly could be at times. She was very tough and stubborn on top of that. Holly spent half of the story fighting her feelings for Jack and fighting her demons as well. I'm really just nitpicking here because the book was great. In contrast, there was little bit of a pacing issue, but it added to the thrill of the story.

There was a race of finding these women and the story had so many layers . When the truth is revealed, it is dramatic, surprising, and a page turner for sure. I loved the characters and I loved how the story unfolded. I recommend this story with some tea and blanket. Go pick it up.!!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

A Cowboy for Christmas by Sara Richardson

2019-11-10T15:20:00.000-06:00

Author: Sara Richardson
Release Date: October 29, 2019

Christmas is a wonderful time of the year and Christmas romance novels are even better. I have read every book in the Rocky Mountain series and for the most part, it has kept me entertained with its hot cowboys and great heart felt stories. This story is a little different because it takes place during Christmas and it jumps right in the middle of Darla and Tye's relationship. Darla and Tye have a friends with benefits type of relationship, but what happens when someone catches feelings and thing get messy? Well, let's find out without spoilers, of course.

Tye is a bull rider and Darla owns a chocolate and wine shop in Topaz Falls. Topaz Falls is such a quant small town where everyone knows and helps everybody. After tragedy hits their friends hard, Tye and Darla jumps at the chance to help their friends by having a Christmas auction and exciting events. Tired of living in his brother's shadow, Tye tells his parents that he is engaged to be married and guess who the lucky fake bride is? You guessed it, Darla. In exchange for Tye's celebrity brother for participating in the auction and bringing big bucks, Darla has agreed to play Tye's fake fiance.

These characters are not that interesting and I think it's time to end this series because the characters have shriveled up and dried up. I know that's a harsh thing to say but I have to be honest. There was no character arc and they were flat from beginning to end. I was very underwhelmed with this story and it didn't have that Christmas charm that I was yearning for. I have followed this series from the start and I think that it is time to wrap it up. Darla was a side character that was initially not that interesting and that did not change. I honestly miss the Cortez brothers because they had a great story line and such an amazing arc.

Overall, the story was okay and I really wanted to see how their relationship would progress. When everything came to fruition, my ears perked up because they were dancing around each other for so long. They had chemistry and they had such great greats for their friends. I also liked the fact that Darla was dealing with a great loss and she learned to accept that.

The author should have done a prologue of their first meeting because their relationship seems spacey and things are missing. It was touched on in the previous installments, but not enough to warrant a stand alone book. This was the weakest installment and I will not be reading anymore books in this series. It was a great ride while it lasted though.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Country Nights by Winter Renshaw

2019-10-14T23:14:00.002-05:00

Author: Winter Renshaw
Release Date: June 25, 2017

What a charming little story.! My attention was caught instantly from the first page and how the heroine broke up wither her ex-boyfriend. Bad chick style.!! It showed how strong she was and I was glad to see her find love again. This book automatically gets points for being about a cowboy and the cover is absolutely hot. Also, for all of my Fifty Shades of Grey fans, there is a line from the book in this story, but make no mistake, River is no Christian. ;)

River and Leighton was an adventure for sure and I was there for it. Leighton is a victim of an internet scam and she shows up at River's house under the assumption that she will rent her former childhood home for 60 days to reflect on her life. Instead of arriving with a warm welcome, she is faced with the hot and broody River, who is happy to inform her that she was scammed out of $5000. With nowhere else to go, she decides to sleep in her car. River sees her asleep in her car and decides to offer her a job at his ranch in exchange for free room and board. As time goes on, their relationship blooms into a hot adventure.

I honestly was not expecting such as emotional journey with this book. I found the blurb interesting enough and the cover was awesome, so I took a chance on it and I am glad that I did. River was a loner for sure, but as I read on I understood why. His character was a winner for me in this book and his character had depth and a great character arc. I liked Leighton as well, but her character was pretty much a straight line. I loved their chemistry and it was hilarious how they came together.

The only flaw that I have with this book is the appearance of Leighton's ex because it added absolutely nothing to the story. Another element that I loved about the is book was the relationship between River and his brother. Let me add that his brother is a real creep and you will feel it in your bones when he comes in the scene.

Would I recommend this jewel? Of course.!!! I loved River and he was hot and this book had some interesting side characters. What sweet, mysterious ride.!!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

That Second Chance by Meghan Quinn

2019-09-08T02:23:00.000-05:00

Author: Meghan Quinn
Release Date: May 7, 2019

My emotions are in complete disarray right now because I have just read one of the most wonderful, intense small town love story ever. This book was amazing and it gave me zings up my spine. I am a true romance reader fanatic and when I read a book that toys with my emotions and pulls under that means that it is GOOOOOD! I have no complaints about this book and come on, they have hot sex on a beach!! It doesn't getter hotter than that.! I loved the characters and I loved the setting of the story and the small town seemed so real. I also loved Griffin and Ren together and their chemistry was off the charts. For Pete's sake, the prologue pulled me in and it involved a palm reader from New Orleans. The one thing that carried this story was the family dynamic and I absolutely loved the relationship that Griffin had with his brothers. This is going to be a short review because this book was Perfect.!!! :)

Griffin and his three brother were drunk and had a crazy run in with a palm reader in New Orleans and was supposedly "cursed". Griffin, a volunteer firefighter and an all-around great guy, truly believed this curse because 5 days after coming from the trip, his tragically passes away. Honestly while reading this book, I was beginning to believe in the curse because this event was a huge coincidence. Griffin has given up on love until Ren comes rolling into town and he ends up rescuing her from a tree. Griffin and his brothers are off limits in town because of the "curse", but Ren is here to debunk this myth. The development of relationship from the ground up is what made the love story so enticing and effective. So when the shoe fell in their relationship, I was there for it and the writing was so good that I felt like I was in the room when their relationship took a major hit.

The writing was great and the pace was on point. This is the way to write a romance book and I am pretty sure that the author is weaving poetry throughout this book. It was pure romance bliss and I am so glad that I gave this book a chance. Man oh man, this book was awesome and I am moving on to the next book tonight and I don’t care that it is 1 am.!! I have to summon my reader's superpowers and dive in with no regrets. Go pick this book up!!

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Cowboy to The Rescue by A.J. Pine

2019-09-08T02:11:00.001-05:00

Author: A.J. Pine
Release Date: September 3, 2019

The book has committed the ultimate sin in the book lover's world. This book has teased me and left me yearning for more and it does not feel good either. I want more of this couple and most importantly, I want me a firefighter cowboy to boot. One my favorite authors, A.J Pine, has done it again and I cannot wait until the next book in the Meadow Valley series is released. I'm so excited, can you tell??? Okay, okay..calm down girlie, you have to tell the good people what you think of the book. Okay inside voice, here I go.!!!

Ivy has suffered a major loss and has come back to her hometown to open her own fashion business. Carter is newbie to town looking to place roots and he is also the firefighter lieutenant . Both Ivy and Carter are facing hardships in this small town and they are two lost souls looking for love and connection. Ivy and Carter have great chemistry, but there is a problem. Ivy's brother was a firefighter and he sadly died while saving civilians and being that Carter is a firefighter, Ivy is really scared to invest in a relationship with anyone that serves in job that is dangerous such as a police office or firefighter. I know that it sounds shallow, but once you read the book, you will have a better understanding of her choice.

This book really left me wanting more because I loved Ivy and Carter together. Ivy was feisty and went for what she wanted while Carter had the biggest heart and I could not stop imagining him in his full firefighter uniform. Pure Hotness.!!! This story was about letting go of the past and letting love flow. The only negative thing that I have to say about this book is that it did not have the powerful emotional connection that I was expecting from a book about loss and learning to love and let go. I genuinely enjoyed this book and the writing in this book was phenomenal.! I am so looking forward to the Meadow Valley Series.

Rating: 🤠🤠🤠🤠

The Rancher's Second Chance by Mary Sue Jackson

2019-09-02T23:49:00.000-05:00

Author: Mary Sue Jackson
Release Date: August 13, 2019

Another cowboy and it was about time that I got back to my roots. If you have been following my blog or reviews then you know that cowboys are my favorite and I was excited to read this book. The title of this book basically tells you what this story is about. A rancher gets a second chance with his high school sweetheart who is in town to take over her family's ranch after the terrible death of her father and brother in a car accident. In addition to cowboy romance, second chance romance are close to my heart. This book has both of these elements, so what could go wrong and will I love it?

Cole and Sammie were high school sweethearts who come back together purely by chance. Sammie has been summoned to her small hometown to lay claim to her family's ranch and her deceased mother's fine china. Cole is a single father who has recently come home from the military and in need of a job. Sammie is in need of a ranch manager to bring the ranch up to code and Cole needs a job and a place to live for his son. Everything seems nice and tidy with a bow, so what is the problem in this story? Sammie is due to go back to her big city life in New York in a year's time and their relationship has started to heat up again.

I like the story and I absolutely enjoy second chance romance. Cole and Sammie's relationship was sweet and I loved the family dynamic with Cole's son. The chemistry between Cole and Sammie was great and the author is talented, but the story is lacking and the book struggled to keep my interest. The author never really go into detail why they broke up in the first place and their relationship was lukewarm. The main problem in the story is Sammie's cousin trying to take over the ranch in order to make way for a major land development. Sammie's cousin does not make a good antagonist and the townspeople did not leave an impression on me.

I give this book 3 stars because I did not experience any emotions while reading this story. I just read it because it was next on the list and that is very unfortunate because I like to have an experience with every book that I read. This book needed more emotions and more depth to the characters and most importantly, the cowboy did not give me cowboy vibes. How tragic!!!. NO tea or blanket needed.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

A Life Without Water by Marci Bolden

2019-08-18T02:26:00.000-05:00

Author: Marci Bolden
Release Date: August 13, 2019

Wow.!! This has to be the most touching and sad story that I have ever read. I am speechless and I had to take a day to process my emotions after reading this great story. Let's go ahead and get the rating out of the way and say that this is a 5 star read.! I mean, just wow. This story of grief and forgiving yourself and others made me shed a tear because I felt the emotions that the author wrote on these pages. I guess I should tell you all about this heart touching story to begin this review.

This story revolves around Caroline and over twenty years ago her daughter, Katie, died and she blames her ex-husband, John. John has finally found Caroline and he has come on a mission to right his wrongs before his terminal illness takes him out. Throughout this story you get flashbacks into the past and it leaves you wondering what happened on that horrible day to Katie and why is John to blame. Caroline is such a strong character because she has lost so much and she has yet to mourn her daughter after 20 years. One of the things that John and Caroline wanted to do was take Katie to amazing places, so John and Caroline takes her urn on a road trip to visit these places that Katie had on her list.

For me this road trip represents letting go of the past and setting Katie free. This story is confined to the RV and the mending of John and Caroline's relationship was exceptional. The writing was spectacular, the pacing was steady and the dialogue was realistic. This is a great example of how monologue can contribute to the story and keep it moving. Caroline had great monologue and though it went on for a couple of pages, it contributed to the story and every word meant something. I was actually expecting a whirlwind romance, but it didn't happen and I have no issues with that.

I absolutely loved this story and if I could give this story 10 stars, I would. This book is for everyone because everyone, at some point in their lives, have lost a loved one and this book shows grief at its core. Go pick this book up and discuss it with your family and friends. It's that good. !!

P.S. The cover is even more heartbreaking when you read the book!!

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Summer on Moonlight Bay by Hope Ramsay

2019-08-11T01:50:00.000-05:00

Author: Hope Ramsay
Release Date: August 6, 2019

I am really touched by the hard work and the emotional journey that the author has gone through to complete this book. And for that I am proud to have read this story because I am a fan of Hope Ramsay. With that being said, it is going to be a pain to write a honest review because I really wanted this to be a 5 Star, but unfortunately, this story did not quite meet that rating and I will tell you why.

Summer on Moonlight Bay is a love story between a vet and a veterinarian. Lia is a veteran from the Navy and she is a rolling stone looking for a place to call home. She goes to the lovely town of Magnolia Harbor in hopes of experiencing the small town in all its glory, that's according to the charming tales that her former Navy Chaplain, Micah St. Pierre, has told her about. On the other hand, there is Noah who can't get away from his small town fast enough. They bond over a sweet puppy in need of help and the guilt of their past. Will love prevail in this small, charming town after it is almost torn apart?

Now let's get into the good and the bad of this story. The good is the writing and the dialogue. Hope Ramsay has a great way of bringing characters to life and building this awesome world that makes you want to move to a small town. The characters were grounded and I absolutely loved how they connected. The family dynamic was great as well with a dash of normal family drama. Both Lia and Noah were realistic and they were just normal people who crossed paths in the best way possible.

Now let's get to the bad. Sigh!!. The romance was not very well developed and I was disappointed. The book takes place in a week's time and it shows. Though the characters had a nice character arc, their relationship had no time to develop and by the time the "I Love You"s came flying, it had no strong effect on the story. The couple in this story shares a strong connection with animals in their past and I thought that it just fell flat. I know the author was going for tug at the heart strings when Lia spoke to her brother and when Noah spoke with his father, but the moment did not have that emotion that the author was going for. The reasoning behind it was not powerful enough to carry the story or the character arc. They carried this conflict throughout their lives and if I am not mistaken, they are in their 30s now. Move on already!!

Honestly, I love Hope Ramsay as an author, but this story fell flat for me and the romance aspect of the story was placed on the back burner for a little "town gossip" so to say. Three stars is all I have to give and it breaks my heart, but I have to be genuine in my reviews. Do I recommend this book? I do recommend it for a quick beach read and that's about it.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Cold Heart, Warm Cowboy by Caitlin Crews

2019-07-30T23:10:00.000-05:00

Author: Caitlin Crews
Release Date: July 30, 2019

I have never read a book that has made such a turnaround like this book has before in my life. I am going to be completely honest with you and say that I was ready to quit this book and move on to the next one. My momma didn't raise no quitter but I was ready to defy my teachings and be done with this cowboy. This story had a great premise and it instantly made me interested. A cowboy with no memory of the last two years and falling in love all over again? Count me in and I dove head first in this story with the expectation of being entertained. Honey, was I wrong.!!!

First let me start off by telling you about this flip flop story because the blurb grabs you for sure and most importantly, there is a hot cowboy to boot. Tye is a bull rider who was in a terrible accident with a 2,000 pound bull and has lost his memory for the last two years. Imagine his surprise when a beautiful blonde comes to his family's ranch declaring that she is his wife.!!! Hannah is a former rodeo Queen with a "little" secret and she has come to get a divorce from the former bull rider. Hannah and Tye was secretly married due to Hannah being the Rodeo Queen and had to keep her reputation sparkling clean like the crown that sat on her head. After discovering that he has a wife and with no memory of their relationship, will he learn to love her again and can he convince Hannah to stay?

As I stated before, this story made a big turnaround. I say this because this story started off as a snooze fest with little to no chemistry among the characters, but that quickly changed at about 63%, which sucks by the way. I was ready to quit and give this book a 2 star rating but luckily it turned around and gave me something to look forward to. The premise of this story is what caught me because I wanted to witness the couple falling in love again. Both Hannah and Tye have a cliché character arc and near the end of the story, they learn to face their issues head on.

Both characters have parental issues and the author is going to be sure that you don't forget it. Hannah's mother runs her life and Tye's dead father runs his as well. I really did not mind Hannah's situation because I could relate to it, but Tye spent too much time on his dad. It became very repetitive and I wanted to smack him upside the head and tell him to get over it. The best scene, hands down, is when Hannah gets a backbone with her mom and I really connected with her during this scene and the intensity really jumped off the page.

I really wished that the author would have started this story off strong because it would have gotten a higher rating. I cannot in good faith give this story higher than a 3 because it took entirely too long for the story to get moving and the characters were boring at the beginning and middle. Not many people would stick around until the 63% mark to get a story and the monologue was excruciating. The story needed more dialogue and less monologue because it dragged the story to a snail's pace. The character would have at least 4 pages full of irrelevant monologue and it really irked me.

I am not sure if I would recommend this story because of the amount of time that it took for me to enjoy this book, but the premise is great. Just grab your e-reader, be brave and patient because you need these virtues to finish this book. Good Day!!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Home at Chestnut Creek by Laura Drake

2019-07-21T21:11:00.001-05:00

Author: Laura Drake
Release Date: July 2. 2019

This is gradually becoming my favorite author. This book was such a new take on romance and it was exhilarating and refreshing. This is book two of the Chestnut Creek Series and just like the first one, I loved it. There is something great to be said for an author who takes a risk of writing a romance with the hero being a Native American and do it very tastefully.

This story is about Nevada Sweet, who from book one, is a raunchy, tough woman with a heart of gold. If you read book 1 then you know that Nevada was the cook from the food truck that Carly worked at temporarily. Nevada Sweet is on the run from the drug cartel and she arrives in the small town of Unforgiven to hide out for a while. But she wasn't counting on meeting Fish, the Navajo cook with a huge heart and even bigger muscles. Fiercely independent, Nevada does not stand for charity or free rent, so Fish offers her his grandmother's former RV and the relationship starts from there. With Nevada on the run, will she stay in the small, sweet town of Unforgiven with Fish or will she forever live her life looking over her shoulder?

I wanted to start this review with a hand clap. 👏👏👏 I absolutely enjoyed myself while reading this story. I loved seeing Nevada and Fish's relationship blossom to such a beautiful love story. Nevada is like a caged wild animal and she has that natural instinct of survival. I mean who could blame her after the constant punches that life have thrown at her? Her character develop was done so well and I could tell that the author took such great care with this character. Joseph or Fish, is of the Navajo tribe and his back story and character development was great as well. The author really did her research with this character and both of their past intertwined and contributed to the story arc as a whole. Most importantly, the story had that small town feel that I love so much and she included characters from the first book, but they did not distract me from the main characters from this story. The slow and progressiveness of their relationship is what caught me. They were polar opposites, but love happened and it was so exciting to see it come together.

The only one thing that rubbed the wrong way was the use of the "Indian" word to describe the Navajo tribe. The word was used from the character's point of view, but I just did not like it. Luckily, the word is not mentioned a lot throughout the story. Other than that small thing, this book was almost perfect.

This book packed so much heart in such a small package and I was so grateful that I got the chance to read a romance with a different type of hero who was hot in all the right places. This is a Five Star read for me and I had have my tea and blanket while reading this book because it was that good. Go pick this up ASAP. !!!

Rating: 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Last True Cowboy by Laura Drake

2019-07-21T18:39:00.000-05:00

Author: Laura Drake

Release Date: December 4, 2018

I actually did not expect to like this book as much as I did. It was refreshing and unexpectantly grounded. This book started off with childhood sweethearts, Carly and Austin. Carly has had it up to here with Austin and his rodeo adventures and she is ready for a wedding. Austin is quite ready to hang up his saddle from the rodeo just yet. Carly finally gets a backbone and breaks up with Austin, but in the process she makes a hug mistake? Is it too late for Austin to save his relationship with Carly? Well, let's find out.

You see, Carly and Austin are childhood lovers and Carly is waiting for the life changing question. While Carly runs her grandparents diner, Austin is a bull rider in his prime. Carly and Austin are the town sweethearts and everyone in town just know that they will be together forever. Lately, Carly has been reassessing her life and their relationship and has come to the conclusion that her life is siting still and she is not being taken seriously by the townspeople or Austin. After a big, yearly argument, Carly and Austin break up for good or so Carly believes. Ready to come from Austin's shadow, Carly buys her a motorcycle and takes a much need trip out of town where she makes a huge mistake. When Austin realizes too late that he has lost Carly, his inner battle is raw and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing him mature. The rise and fall of their relationship was inspiring and realistic. The long, hard road that they had to travel for their relationship added appeal and grit to the story.

On the other hand, Carly as a character annoyed me a little throughout the story, but as I read on, her character arc won me over. Austin started off immature, but his character gradually grew up . The pacing was kinda weird because when the story concluded, it seemed unfinished.

I loved this story and it has been a long time since I have read a book that was so down to earth and unconventional. This story is about growing up and finding your self-worth and this book oozed with girl power. I give this story 4 stars and I will advise you to go pick up this amazing read.

p.s The title does not make much sense to me. 🤔🤔🤔

Rating: 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

2019-07-04T19:14:00.002-05:00