Posts

Softest Touch by Adina D. Grey – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

/0 Comments/in /by

Softest TouchSoftest Touch by Adina D. Grey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Softest Touch is a contemporary romance that centers around the characters of Derek and Melinda. Derek is the owner of Wilson Creations which has made him a billionaire. When Miranda is hired on to be Derek’s new Assistant the two do not necessarily see eye to eye and things get off to a shaky start. At first glance Derek feels that she appears to be too young and fragile to be up to the task of being his assistant. Derek does not want to hire her and tells her so, but Melinda does not back down. She gives him an earful about judging her without even knowing her and refuses to go away quietly. Determined to get in her say Melinda is persistent until Derek sees something in her that tells him to give her a chance. He loves her fiery attitude and the power she exudes when she is taking charge, which excites him. As the two work closely together, Derek finds himself attracted to Melinda and her sass, determination, and fiery attitude.

Melinda instantly despises Derek and feels that he is a douchebag for treating her the way that he did. She did not want the job in the first place and only applied for the position because it meant working in the world of fashion. Melinda dreamed of being a stylist but due to all her commitments and responsibilities her dream was put on the back burner. Working at Wilson Creations meant that she could at least be involved in the fashion industry. Plus, her Grandma had a crush on Derek and thought that he was sexy. Melinda does not deny that he is sexy and charming, but she also thinks that he is arrogant, cocky, and downright annoying. Despite how irritating and bossy he is Melinda cannot deny how attracted she is to Derek. As she and Derek work together the attraction between them grows and they learn to lean on one another. Can the attraction between them ever be more than that? Do they have a future together?

This was a well written story with wonderful characters and an interesting storyline. I loved Melinda’s fiery attitude and how she did not back down from Derek when she first met him. Most people would have been intimidated by him and his wealth and power. Melinda was not scared off easily and challenged him. Derek came across as rude, bossy, and arrogant but there ended up being a softer, gentler side to him underneath that gruff exterior. I found myself rooting for Derek and Melinda to be together. I highly recommend this book!

View all my reviews@tarab

Love Shots (Bluestone Series Book 4) by Isobel Reed – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

/0 Comments/in /by

Love Shots (Bluestone Series Book 4)Love Shots by Isobel Reed
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Love Shots is Book Four of the Bluestone Series. Although it is part of a series it can easily be read as a standalone. With that being said, I do recommend reading the series because it is amazing! This is a friends to lover’s romance set in the small town of Bluestone County that centers around the characters of Teddy and Autumn. The book starts out with a bang and grabs your attention from the first few pages as Autumn practically breaks down Teddy’s door in the middle of the night and throws an eight-hundred-dollar bottle of whiskey at his head. She is furious that he has purchased her grandfather’s bar that she has always wanted. He has never seen Autumn so furious but even through the anger he still has a soft spot in his heart for her. When he notices bruises on Autumn’s arms, he knows that somebody has hurt her. She refuses to tell him, but his heart goes out to her and all he wants to do is protect her. Autumn has always been the girl for Teddy, but he has never let her know. This time around he intends to make the girl of his dreams his own. Will Autumn realize her true feelings for Teddy? Will Teddy and Autumn ever be a true couple?

This book had a wonderful storyline and engaging characters. Teddy might seem rough on the surface because of his time with the Navy Seals but deep down he is a sweetheart. He has had a crush on his friend for as long as he can remember but has never acted on his feelings. When Summer returns to town and Teddy realizes that she is in danger he vows to protect her. Summer has only returned home because she is penniless, jobless, and homeless. When she returns home, she is angry that her grandfather’s bar has been purchased by her friend Teddy because it was her dream to own it. When she confronts Teddy there is clearly more to the situation that she is letting on. Teddy realizes that Autumn is being abused but that she is too proud and stubborn to admit it. Teddy wants to protect her and keep her safe from her ex at all costs. My heart broke for Autumn when I thought of the abuse she suffered at the hands of her ex. I found myself rooting for Autumn to realize that Teddy was the man of her dreams, and I so wanted them to experience their happily ever after. This was an emotional read for me, but it was worth the read. I highly recommend this book!

View all my reviews@tarab

Lilly Tames Her Worries by Carole Heaney – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

/0 Comments/in /by

Lilly Tames Her WorriesLilly Tames Her Worries by Carole Heaney
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lilly Tames Her Worries is a kid’s book designed for children between the ages of six to ten years of age. The story centers around the character of young Lilly who suffers from the heebie-jeebies. Since she was born, she has always had her stuffed rabbit Hun Bun to keep her calm and soothe her worries. While in a hurry one morning Lilly forgets to put Hun Bun in her backpack before she goes to school. Once she is at school the pesky heebie-jeebies return and Lilly becomes stressed. Her palms begin to sweat, her heart starts to beat loudly, and her tummy starts to do flip flops. Not feeling well, Lilly asks her teacher if she can go to see the school nurse. She tells the nurse how she is feeling, and the nurse asks Lilly to try Square Breathing when she starts feeling the heebie-jeebies. When Lilly tries the breathing exercises, she feels better and practices using them throughout the day whenever a situation makes her worried. She also stops to ask herself what about the situation is causing her to feel the heebie-jeebies.

This was a wonderfully written book that helps children learn to manage stress and anxiety in situations that make them feel worried or nervous. The illustrations are bright, colorful, and really help bring the story to life. Although geared towards school-aged children I feel that it has some helpful pointers that adults, such as myself, could use as well. The techniques Lilly used through Square Breathing helped her to not only tame her worries but also helped her to be brave enough to do things that would otherwise be hard for her to do. She learned to ask herself what about the situation made her feel worried. Why was she feeling that way? What was she worried that would happen? Once Lilly tried the breathing exercises and realized why she felt the way she did it helped her to manage her worries and be brave enough to overcome them. This is a great resource for any home or school library to help children who suffer from worry, stress, or anxiety. I highly recommend this book!

View all my reviews@tarab