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The Handshake Agreement (Book 1) by A. Akinosho – Review by Brandy Rymer

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The Handshake AgreementThe Handshake Agreement by A. Akinosho
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a powerful read this book was, it had me feeling so many different emotions, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to laugh or cry or yell at Declan, our main character as I saw the way he interacted with Anne. These characters have so much dimension to them, you feel like you understand everything about them, and then the author throws you a curve ball and introduces new characters who jumble up everything. When Anne and Declan met for the first time, I figured she would be a small character in the book, but boy was I way wrong! She will surprise you through every experience she goes through, and then some. Do not underestimate the power of this woman, because she really does give Declan a run for his money, and then some more besides.
This book was amazing, it has everything you could ever want in a romance book, from intriguing characters to characters that care nothing about anyone but themselves. Do not let the cover fool you, this is no ordinary romance novel, it’s got mystery, thrilling action, and family feuds to boot. I could not put this book down once I got started, there were several late nights of reading because just one more chapter…which continued to yet another, I couldn’t put it down.
@Brandy Rymer
07/2024

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Trusting Love (Clumsy Little Hearts Trilogy Book 1) by Julie Navickas – Review by Brandy Rymer

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Trusting Love (Clumsy Little Hearts Trilogy Book 1)Trusting Love by Julie Navickas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a hilarious read this was, it’s like a city girl thrown into the wilderness all for a chance at love, so awesome! This book was a great world-building experience showing how far people will go to get to know someone they have a spark with. As Tess and Ryan get to know one another, Tess realizes that it is a small world, especially when it comes to love. That and past mistakes have a terrible way of rearing their ugly head when you least expect or want them to come out. Tess has realized that her past actions do not have to continue to define her present lifestyle or prevent her chance at a true romance. The only problem is that Ryan, the man she’s falling in love with, despises dishonesty, and cheaters…will Tess be able to admit her past mistakes and move forward with Ryan, or will this be a deal breaker for him as he works to overcome his broken heart from his ex-girlfriend Vicky who ripped his heart out at the worst time possible. This is the first book in the Clumsy Little Hearts Trilogy and the first book of Julie Navickas that I’d ever read. I must say that I adore her writing style and cannot wait to continue with this series as well as go back and read her prior trilogy where we get to know several of our side character’s stories. The characters are so well-developed and are all linked in such a manner that they are all connected in their storylines. This book was such a great read, I could not put it down, I had to continue reading because I didn’t want their story to end!
@Brandy Rymer
07/2024

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Finding Love (Clumsy Little Hearts Trilogy Book 2) by Julie Navickas – Review by Brandy Rymer

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Finding Love (Clumsy Little Hearts Trilogy Book 2)Finding Love by Julie Navickas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What an amazing second book to the Clumsy Little Hearts Trilogy! I loved following Rachel’s story, especially after watching all that she did for her family in the first book of this series. She deserved to find her happily ever after, and definitely not with Ian, her boyfriend from the first book. This was such an excellent read, it was intriguing, had very dynamic characters, and is a continuation of the story right where we left off in the previous book in the series. What a great job Julie Navickas does at working her magic in creating characters that pull at your heartstrings and then continue to draw your attention as they grow in character and humility. There are so many developments for all of our characters, the focus does not stay just with our two mains, but we get to continue to follow along with the love stories of our past characters. I am so excited to go back and read the other trilogy that the author had written, especially since we get to know the side character’s stories and some of these characters’ backstories that are hinted at throughout these books. What a great find this series was for me, it’s a great contemporary romance with just the right amount of romance to keep it fresh but not overly spicy.
@Brandy Rymer
07/2024

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The Book of Fears: A Collection of Short Stories by K. S. Gantt – Review by Brandy Rymer

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The Book of Fears: A Collection of Short StoriesThe Book of Fears: A Collection of Short Stories by K.S. Gantt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Book of Fears was an amazing collection of short stories about people’s fears. I love that it lists out the official name of the fear and then explains what it is at the beginning of each story. What a cool idea to get the reader excited about what the theme of the plot is going to be before the story starts. I really enjoyed the author’s excellent skill at building up each character’s personality in such a short story, they were all so dynamic, that it was easy to get invested in what was happening to them. Some of these fears are so realistic, that I had to work not to look around to see if something was going to jump out and jump scare me. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves short stories that are so full of storylines that keep you on the edge of your seat, and so enraptured in each of the stories. No two stories are alike, which is even more amazing. I hope K. S. Gantt writes more books like this one because I am intrigued by the writing style, and effectiveness to put fear in me.
@Brandy Rymer
06/2024

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The Silent Forest (The House on the Hill Book 2) by David Kummer – Review by Brandy Rymer

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The Silent Forest (The House on the Hill, #2)The Silent Forest by David Duane Kummer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What an amazing book, I loved the thrill of this second book in The House on the Hill series! It was full of surprises, and the haunting of the characters kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading. I couldn’t sleep, this book was so good! If you are looking for a good scary book, with a plot that will have you jumping at every little sound, this is the book for you. I highly recommend that you start with the first book in the series, it is a great book that you won’t want to skip, or you’ll miss out on a lot of the backstory of our main characters. The characters are so well created that you will feel like you know them personally and are invested in what happens to them. Enjoy your chilling reading experience, you won’t regret it.
@Brandy Rymer
06/2024

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Murder a la Christie (Golden Age of Mystery Book Club) by Marilyn Levinson – Review by Brandy Rymer

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Murder a la Christie (Golden Age of Mystery Bookclub Book 1)Murder a la Christie by Marilyn Levinson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Murder a la Christie was an amazing mystery book and such a great homage to the Agatha Christie stories. I loved the whole “who done it” mystery to this storyline and was so intrigued by it all starting with a death during a book club meeting. The character development was amazing, and the fact that the author utilized such a wide array of characters of varying ages and genders was a great way to add to the thrill of figuring out who the antagonist was. The fact that this is a new series is even more amazing, the way that the author leaves the book hanging on a cliffhanger of what’s next for our main character, Professor Lexie Driscoll, was a genius way to end the book. It left me with just the right amount of wanting to know more about her and her two love interests, as well as see how her future book clubs may come about. Will there be more tragedies, mysteries to solve perhaps, or more unexplained deaths that need to be investigated with her great sleuthing skills? I cannot wait for the next book to come out, so I can have these questions answered and delve back into another great mystery.
@Brandy Rymer
06/2024

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Toasted (Love Burns Series Book 1) by Isobel Reed – Review by Brandy Rymer

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Toasted (Love Burns #1)Toasted by Isobel Reed
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What a fun romance book this was, I like that the action starts right off. The humor in the story is so fun, and the characters are just awesome. I love that it’s a typical role reversal where the male is more confident in knowing he wants a relationship, and it is the female character who is very back and forth on what she wants. The character development was extremely well written, you get a feel for who your characters are right away, but there is still this deep mystery about our main female, Libby, that makes you wonder why she is so anti-relationships, especially with a cute firefighter that she is obviously attracted too! Zach is such a sweet guy, and his friends are just great to watch as they interact with one another. This is a great first book in a new series that will have you wanting to read more about the other characters and their lack of relationships. I’m looking forward to seeing what the author has next in store for this great group of firefighters.
@Brandy Rymer
06/2024

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Bad Enough (The Deadman’s Tribe Series Book 2) by Nicole Craig – Review by Brandy Rymer

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Bad Enough (The Deadman's Tribe #2)Bad Enough by Nicole Craig
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was awesome, if I could give it more than 5 stars I definitely would!!! It has action, suspense, romance, and intrigue that will keep you guessing who the bad guys are and who are trying to help out the Tribe team and their friends. I am a huge fan of Nicole Craig and loved reading the first Deadman’s Tribe book, I was so excited to see her newest book in the series was available. This book is all about TB and Sylvan Jones, an author who TB is asked to help understand the interworking of things set for a mature audience, which will help her with the next book she is writing. Who better than a member of a BDSM club to help share details on the facts that she needs to allow her book to share realistic details she knows nothing about? As the two chat online, they become more and more friendly toward one another, yet never meet in person, until Sylvan decides she is ready to see what the club looks like in person, for more research purposes of course. As the story unfolds, you find that Sylvan has things in her past that she is just not comfortable sharing, with anyone, preferring to let the past stay where it is buried. Unfortunately, her past has caught up with her, and they want revenge. TB must do everything in his power, with the help of Tribe to help the woman that he is falling for. Who is Sylvan Jones, and what is she hiding from TB, that is for you to read the story and find out…do these two find their happily ever after of will they find that the truth will tear them apart?
@Brandy Rymer
06/2024

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Troy: A Crown of Stones Origin Story by C. L. Schneider – Review by Brandy Rymer

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Troy (The Crown of Stones)Troy by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Troy is the prequel story to The Crown of Stones trilogy. This story was the perfect lead-in for the series and is a story that I highly recommend whether you have already started reading the series or this is your first time reading it, then definitely do not skip this book. It is full of thrilling battles, suspenseful missions, magic, and many opportunities for showing kindness where none is thought to exist between the different races. In this prequel, Queen Aylagar sends out a group to fulfill a secret mission, hand-choosing the men and women she deems fit for the special mission she direly needs to be completed before it’s too late. Little does the team know that there is a side mission to be completed by the Shinree, Troy, that only he can do, as the only magic user in the group. This chosen group is an odd mix of different races, none of which seems too keen to be traveling together, but they will all need to put their fears and hatred aside to do the bidding of their queen. I love how suspenseful this story is, there is always something unexpected happening, and it keeps you on your toes. It’s such a page-turner, that you won’t want to put the book down once you begin reading. After finishing this book, I’m now inspired to go back and re-read the entire trilogy once again, C. L. Schneider’s books are awesome! Happy reading everyone!
@Brandy Rymer
06/2024

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Catch a Cowboy (Match Made in Montana Series) by Rachelle Paige Campbell – Review by Brandy Rymer

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Catch A Cowboy (Match Made in Montana Book 2)Catch A Cowboy by Rachelle Paige Campbell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Match Made in Montana series by Rachelle Paige Campbell is such a great romance series that focuses on the main characters learning life lessons while finding romance in their lives. Catch a Cowboy is the story of Stephanie and Ted’s romance and teaches a great lesson about how age shouldn’t matter when it comes to love. Ted is a widower who is oblivious to Stephanie’s crush on him. He only sees her as a sweet, young teacher who has a great talent for teaching yoga, and she has a great way with people and is always stepping in to help anyone and everyone in need. Ted gets put into a situation that is way out of his norm and finds Stephanie to be a saving grace for him. As they work together to help Maddy, Ted’s niece, adjust to her new living situation, they grow closer together. This story has so many amazing life lessons, both for the children, as well as the adults, and shows that the best things in life take hard work and perseverance. I love reading this book series and cannot wait for the next book to come out in the coming months.
@Brandy Rymer
06/2024

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The Strategist (WaterFyre Rising Book 5) by Nadia Han – Review by Brandy Rymer

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The Strategist (WaterFyre Rising, #5)The Strategist by Nadia Han

The Strategist was an amazing story full of excitement, and tons of action, I couldn’t put the book down! I loved how detailed the author was when developing the characters, and how dynamic each one was, especially with their traumatic backstories that connected the main characters so well. This was the first book in the WaterFyre Rising series that I have read, and I must say I am excited to find the others and start from the beginning of the series. Nadia Han did an amazing job in bringing to life the suspense in this story, I was on the edge of my seat throughout the story hoping that the missing girl would be found. At the same time, the budding romance between Vivian and Arrow is just the right amount of push and pull that has you cheering for her to finally give the guy a chance to see how compatible they really could be. This story is so full of unexpected twists and turns and has the perfect mix of romance, drama, suspense, and mystery, it is plain out awesome!
@Brandy Rymer
06/2024

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The Ghostly Diva (Divine Vintage Series) by Sandra L. Young – Review by Brandy Rymer

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The Ghostly Diva (Divine Vintage)The Ghostly Diva by Sandra L. Young
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have really enjoyed all of Sandra L. Young’s “Divine Vintage” books in this series, they all just keep getting better and better as the series goes on. I am a huge fan of vintage clothing, and so having such beautiful pieces of clothing described with so much gusto, that I can picture every garment in my mind. What a fun romance that we get to watch unfold between Justine and Jackson, while she helps him “unload” his mom’s hoard of vintage clothing. This book has everything from ghostly apparitions to a mystery needing to be solved as to who Jackson’s father is, right down to what Jackson’s mom’s unfinished business is so that she may pass over to the other side. This story draws you in right from the start as you learn of Justine’s worries as to whether she will still have a job each day she goes to her place of business which she has loved most of her life, in a small town that she has grown up in. There is so much going on in this story, it was so inspirational for me to read as I followed along with all of the woes our main characters experience. It held my attention and pulled me into being invested in the outcome of the tale, hoping we got our happily ever after. If you have not read any of the other books in this series, I highly recommend you go back, although they can be great standalone reads as well, you won’t want to miss out on some fun adventures and stunning vintage clothing each with a tale of their own to tell.
@Brandy Rymer
05/2024

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Summer of Mud by Rebecca Bischoff – Review by Brandy Rymer

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Summer of MudSummer of Mud by Rebecca Bischoff
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Summer of Mud was such a heartwarming book about the true kindness of people and a lesson of perseverance. Rebecca Bischoff has written a real tear-jerker novel with such a strong lesson that life may not always bring what we expect, but good things are yet to come if we persevere. As we meet our main characters, Scoob and RC, we see they are doing everything they can to make ends meet for their survival. They had their mother leave them years ago, and after their father passed the year prior, they became homeless, all they had was their musical instruments and each other. Musical talent does not have an age limit, as we see through the brilliant trumpet playing of Scoob, a 12-year-old prodigy who is determined to find a gig playing in a band to help support her and her older brother. Unfortunately, RC has other plans for the two of them, taking them far from home in California, to take a road trip to where he claims to have a big job playing in a music festival. To Scoob’s surprise, they end up in Rexburg, Idaho where they meet up with a girl in a restaurant, Cherish, who RC seems to have a crush on and doesn’t seem to be in any hurry to leave. Scoob and RC meet so many different types of people, from snobbish locals, and suspicious shop owners, as well as police officers looking to question them. They finally come across some nice, good Samaritans who are all about helping those in need with no questions asked on whether they were being honest about who they were or the situation that brought them to town.

This book is a great read that had me in tears by the last few chapters as I followed our characters through their ups and downs. There were times when I wasn’t sure if they would be able to make it through all of the situations that they were caught up in. There were moments when I was in shock by the outcomes that didn’t seem like they could ever survive, it just broke my heart. If I could give this story more than 5 stars I would, because it was such a beautiful story showing how strong community is, especially when times are tough.
@Brandy Rymer
05/2024

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Master Oradea (Masters of the Consulate Book 10) by Sylvia Black – Review by Brandy Rymer

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Master Oradea (Masters of the Consulate #10)Master Oradea by Sylvia Black
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sylvia Black does it again with her newest book in the Masters of the Consulate series! Master Oradea is the 10th book in this series, and I must say that each book gets more and more exciting. In this newest book, we meet Master Oradea and the fiery Natalia, sister of the Syndicate Brothers, who does whatever she pleases no matter the consequences. Natalia would make a great addition to the group of vampire masters and their mates, but will Master Oradea be able to overcome his bias, or will he reject the pull he feels for Natalia the moment he sees her? The story continues in the chase for Lucas and his group of rebels, as they continue to stay one step ahead of the vampire masters. What a great series to read, the characters are all so dynamic, and the storyline just continues to get more and more intriguing as it continues to build toward the final battle between the people who want to make changes so all the different factions can live together in peace, and the rebels who prefer the way of the past, where the vampires dominate the world. I am so excited for book 11 to come out soon, especially as each book leaves you with a cliffhanger where you are on edge to see who the next master may be to find their mate and continue the hunt for the rebels.
@Brandy Rymer
05/2024

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Healing Hearts: Gene & Amanda’s Story (The Echo Series) by C.R. Alam – Review by Brandy Rymer

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Healing Hearts (Echo #0.5)Healing Hearts by C.R. Alam
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Healing Hearts is the pre-qual story in the Echo series and is a book that you will not want to skip reading. We get to experience the amazing love story of Dr. Gene Rowland, Dean Rowland’s big brother, and Amanda. What a wonderful love story where two people with loving hearts come together all because of a tragic accident. Not only is this story full of a budding romance between Gene and Amanda, but it also has a mystery that needs solving. This story takes place in a small-town community where any little excitement gets the gossips in town talking. I loved getting to see how this romance played out and to see the backstory of these two amazing characters, who we all knew must have had a story to tell of their own. If you have not read any of C. R. Alam’s books yet, start with this one first, you will get drawn in by her magnificent ability to develop characters that you fall in love with immediately, you get so invested in their lives and the huge hearts that they have. There is always a feel-good theme to every one of her stories, that just makes you so warm and fuzzy inside! I love reading all of this author’s books, she is one of the modern-day great romance authors. I can’t wait to see what she writes next!
@Brandy Rymer
05/2024

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War in Sorcery’s Shadow (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 3) by Elise Carlson – Review by Brandy Rymer

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War in Sorcery's Shadow (Ruarnon Trilogy #3)War in Sorcery’s Shadow by Elise Carlson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The final book in the Ruarnon Trilogy series was a great read, the last book that did not disappoint. It was full of action, magic, and all-out intrigue. This is a great series to read if you like a good fantasy series, that will have you guessing what is coming next throughout the whole series. The characters are well-rounded and have been developed with expert writing by the author. I love that we follow the character’s storylines throughout the series, as you create a close connection with them as you read the story. I recommend this series to anyone looking for a young adult, fantasy book, keeping in mind that it does have some content that may be for more mature audiences. I could not put this book down once I got started and was so excited to read this final book, as I’ve been anxiously awaiting its release date.
@Brandy Rymer
05/2024

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The Rake (Daughters of Dishonour Series) by Ava Bond – Review by Brandy Rymer

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The Rake (Daughters of Dishonour #1)The Rake by Ava Bond
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a great way to start a new historical romance series with such an intriguing first book! The Rake is such a magnificent read full of life, love, and mystery that it had my emotions on a roller coaster ride throughout the story. I love that this takes place in a time when the women wear such beautiful ball gowns, and the men dress up in such dapper outfits. This was such a fun period that the author chose to base her story on, and the details she uses are factual, making the story much more enjoyable. There were moments where I was so scared for our main character’s life, she is just so fearless, that she runs headfirst into some frightening situations with no concern for the consequences of her actions. The budding romance between the two most unlikely main characters is so awesome to watch as it unfolds, you just never know if the outlandish neighbor will be able to win over his Amazon of a woman, or if she will listen to the warnings of his terrible character, from all the household members, as well as the talk of the town. Add in the mystery of why someone was murdered at the beginning of the storyline, and what the mysterious map leads to, makes for such a great read that will have you not wanting to stop reading until the very last page, and even then, you’ll be left on a cliffhanger for the next book in the series.
@Brandy Rymer
05/2024

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The Winemakers Box Set (The Winemakers Series) by Giovanna Siniscalchi – Review by Brandy Rymer

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The Winemakers - Box set: A Series of Sun-Kissed Historical RomancesThe Winemakers – Box set: A Series of Sun-Kissed Historical Romances by Giovanna Siniscalchi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Winemakers Box Set is a wonderful historical romance book series. I loved each of the stories and the beautiful settings that are portrayed with the fiery Portugal women, who made excellent heroines. All of the characters are portrayed as strong-willed, which makes for a great clashing of personalities when it comes to connecting in their romances, it’s makes each of their stories that much more intriguing. Opposites most definitely do attract as seen in these stories, just as well as any obstacle can be overcome when it comes to love. Giovanna Siniscalchi is an amazing writer who gets your attention right from the start with the magical way that she weaves her words as she draws a virtual world for the reader. The descriptions are so detailed that I felt like I could taste the wine on my tongue as I was reading the stories, imagining the peacefulness and tranquility of the vineyards and all of the heart and soul that is put into the making of the wines. Not only did I enjoy reading about each of the romances, but learning about all the hard work that goes into the winemaking process was such an eye-opener for me, it makes me respect winemakers even more. Bravo for such an amazing book series, I cannot wait to read more books by this author.
@Brandy Rymer
05/2024

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Mood Swings and Hockey Flings (Hot Flash Hookups Series) by Sylvie Stewart and Marika Ray – Review by Brandy Rymer

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Mood Swings and Hockey Flings (Hot Flash Hookups #2)Mood Swings and Hockey Flings by Marika Ray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Hot Flash Hookups book series is one that I adore reading! The authors do an amazing job of creating a great storyline with characters that you would not normally think to pair together. One of the main characters is a hockey player, and the other is usually a strong woman who knows exactly what she wants but not what she needs in her life. Mood Swings and Hockey Flings is no exception to this amazing formula that truly works, and it works well. I had a good laugh as I read about our main female stressing over possibly being in perimenopause, especially when the doctor let her know she may still have a good 10 years of fertility left before menopause kicks in. To our main character, this means that her eggs are all drying up, and she needs to get pregnant ASAP, despite how busy she is working as an agent to hockey players. Our main male character falls hard for his new agent, with whom he has been having a love/hate relationship for the past 10 years. His agent has been hiding her feelings for her client through a love/hate relationship herself. Throughout the story you get to see the point of view of both main characters and follow along as they work through their client/agent relationship, all the while fighting against their attraction for one another. There’s a fine line that shouldn’t be crossed, but what is more important, a career or finding your soul mate? What a sweet romance this story was, filled with dilemmas that our main characters must work through, including not allowing their impressions of one another to shadow the real characters of our main people. I love that we got to continue along with Olivia and Roman’s love story from the first book while following along with Ben and Kaitlyn’s story in this new book. I cannot wait to see who gets featured in the third book in this series. I am so invested in reading more about the development between each of our couples we’ve met so far.
@Brandy Rymer
05/2024

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Touched: Elemental Passions Book One by Skye Turner, Sloane Nicole, April D. Berry, C.J. Pinard, Danielle Jamie, Darlene Tallman, Julie Morgan, Livell James, Machelle Hanleigh, and Melissa MacKinnon – Review by Brandy Rymer

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Touched (Elemental Passions #1)Touched by Skye Turner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is such an amazing work of art, it had me so intrigued by how it was going to progress from page to page, it was so full of surprises. I loved the development of the characters and the mystery that was built around who and what Detective Callum LeBlanc is and how he is connected to Aeris. What a great idea to have so many amazing authors come together to create such an amazing work of fiction, that includes mythical fairies and other imaginative creatures. The incredible imaginings of these authors have created such a wonderous world where anything is possible, including two mythical creatures finding their happily ever after despite the world trying to keep them apart. If you love to read a mythical adventure, you will not pass up reading this new series.
@Brandy Rymer
04/2024

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The Better Man (A Silver Buckle Romance Series) by Laurie Lewis – Review by Brandy Rymer

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The Better Man (Silver Buckle Brides, #2)The Better Man by Laurie L.C. Lewis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Better Man by Laurie L.C. Lewis was such a sweet country romance story. This story takes place on a ranch in Colorado, where our main character’s parents have decided it’s time to sell and retire. When their daughter, Laramee finds out about this, she rushes home to confront her estranged father and her mother, to question their decision and try to talk them out of selling. Unbeknownst to Laramee, Jaime has already been hired to assess the land and the property to help get the best-selling price for their ranch. The two start out on rocky ground seeing as they both have different thoughts in mind, but overall, they decide what’s best for the Stone family is to find out what the best price is that they can get for the ranch while making necessary upgrades to the property together. While they were looking around the property, Laramee showed Jaime a place that she holds near and dear to her heart that will change everything for the Stone family. On top of dealing with all of this business of assessing the ranch, both Jaime and Laramee have to work through the issues that they each have with their own families. As the two work through their issues, they also have to deal with Sutton, Laramee’s ex-fiancé who is jealous and overbearing.

I love that this story has such a soft approach to the building of the romance between the characters. The beauty of the setting in this story is so peaceful and serene, that it brings to mind what it would be like to live in a small country community away from the hustle and bustle of city life. The descriptions of the Colorado ranch are such that you can picture what it was like at its peak and then see where it stands now after the family tragedy happened, it is all sad and forlorn looking. The characters are so solidly built that they are like characters out of an old Western movie, with the strong leading ladies, the chivalrous males, and the contention between the families due to misunderstandings. What an amazing all-around storyline this book had, I cannot wait to go back and find the first book in the series and see who that tale was about. I hope to see that more books are being written in this series, it was such a great read, with just the right amount of turmoil and romance.
@Brandy Rymer
04/2024

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Will You (Pretend) Marry Me (Swan Cove Series) by Christi Barth – Review by Brandy Rymer

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Will You Pretend Marry MeWill You Pretend Marry Me by Christi Barth
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was such a fun read, I quite enjoyed the contemporary romance that ensued between pop star/student teacher Kaia/Abigail, a woman who leads a double life to keep her real identity separate from her stardom, and her teaching mentor Everett. It is too funny reading about the situations that occur to them upon their first meeting, and the fact that first impressions can most definitely be changed when you get to know someone. This book has a lot of great moral lessons being taught throughout the storyline, which adds to the appeal of the book. I loved the two personalities of our main character, Kaia/Abigail, and the way that both come together as she finds her inner strength to be herself and allows the power, she built in her pop star character to shine through in her real life. I realized at the end of the book that this is the third book in the Swan Cove series and am so excited to go back and read the first two books in the series about Everett’s friends blossoming romances as they were developing. Christi Barth is an amazing contemporary romance author, and I am looking forward to reading more of the books that she has written. She has a beautiful gift of bringing her characters to life, while leading the reader to make real-life connections and includes great character-building attributes in her stories to help the reader see how their life choices can affect their lives. This is a powerful skill that a lot of authors do not touch upon in their books, but that can impact the reader’s experience, love that she does this.
@Brandy Rymer
04/2024

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Charlotte’s Control (The Control Series) by Maggie Sims – Review by Brandy Rymer

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Charlotte's Control (The Control Series)Charlotte’s Control by Maggie Sims
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Maggie Sims wrote an amazing historical romance with Charlotte’s Control, the first book in The Control Series. Beware this book does contain adult content, and includes relations that touch base on dominance, and would not be appropriate for a younger audience. That being said, I love reading historical romance books and was very pleased with the atmosphere that the author created through her magnificent use of time-period clothing as well as the subject matter throughout the book. What a sad time it must have been when women were looked upon to be suited more for childbearing and raising children instead of for their intelligence and business sense. Our heroine Charlotte is an extremely intelligent widow, especially when it comes to making investment decisions, which has allowed her to build up her expansive amount of money, as well as help other women to make investments to build up their incomes. William, our lead character is a soon-to-be Earl of Harrington and is expected to take over the family name and title and is expected to marry a well-off woman who may be able to bear an heir. He falls in love with Charlotte from the moment he lays eyes on her, to his mother’s disappointment, because as far as Charlotte knows she is barren and older than William, both of which make her an unsuitable wife. Will William be able to convince his mother, as well as Charlotte that they are meant to be together, or will the rules of society and the wishes of his family prevent them from finding their happily ever after?
@Brandy Rymer
04/2024

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Stars in the City (Stars in the City Series) by Krysten Lindsay Hager – Review by Brandy Rymer

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Stars in the CityStars in the City by Krysten Lindsay Hager
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The author did an amazing job in this contemporary romance book, giving the reader a view into what the life of what it might be like to be a young actor dealing with the limelight of the acting world. Our main character, Valeria, personality changes as she takes on her role in a soap opera, as she tries to live up to the expectations she deems as so important to live up to on social media. She has a shaky relationship with one of her co-workers, the main star Lance, who seems to only be interested in Valeria when it’s beneficial to his reputation. Partway into the story, we get to meet up with Valeria’s past love, Davis, who remembers the small-town girl who broke his heart and left to take her place in the acting world. Davis is unsure if Valeria moved on since all he continues to see on social media is that she is dating all these different big-time stars, from actors to musicians, wondering if she moved on from him so quickly. As Valeria and Davis try to reconnect and rebuild their relationship, they suffer insecurities, and misunderstandings, that make this hard to work through. Will Valeria be able to find herself, or has her acting career changed the small-town girl that Davis fell in love with, to never be her natural self again? You won’t want to miss this first book in this new series, it was a great read, that keeps you drawn in and invested in the lives of the characters right from the first page.
@Brandy Rymer
04/2024

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England: Cultured, Classic, and Charming: A Guide to Hidden England (The Hidden Gems Series) by Christy Nicholas – Review by Brandy Rymer

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England: Cultured, Classic, and Charming (Hidden Gems)England: Cultured, Classic, and Charming by Christy Nicholas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was a great read in that it made it feel like you were on a tour of England without actually leaving the comfort of your own home. The photographs are stunning and showcase the beauty of England extremely well. The author does a wonderful job listing detailed descriptions of some of the best places to visit when on a vacation in England, including places that are not well known but that offer a wonderful visit filled with opportunities to build a memorable trip. I love that she breaks each chapter into sections like means of transportation, places to visit, etc. so that the reader can enjoy the entire book or jump ahead to the sections that are most inciteful for them.
@Brandy Rymer
04/2024

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The Changed Man (The Olympic Peninsula Series, Book 4) by Cat Treadgold – Review by Brandy Rymer

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The Changed Man (The Olympic Peninsula series Book 4)The Changed Man by Cat Treadgold
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Olympic Peninsula series is one of my all-time favorite book series, especially as its setting is in my hometown where I grew up! Cat Treadgold is one of the best authors of contemporary romance and has an amazing gift of words that she creates a world that makes you feel invested in the characters, it’s like they’re family. She does such an amazing job of portraying the small-town living that is so Port Townsend, right down to the fact that everyone knows everyone, and is so welcoming to all. The description of the Victorian homes is spot on, everywhere you look you are surrounded by a Victorian style, it’s not typical, but one that is its own style that pays homage to Queen Anne. I was so excited when I saw that we were finally getting Jake’s story, Joe’s twin brother, and getting to understand his true personality when he gets to be himself and do what he is passionate about. What a twist to find that right from the start his love interest is none other than David’s son’s caretaker, who happens to also be in an unhappy marriage. Will Jake finally be able to continue to pursue his dreams of happiness, will his mother finally accept his lifelong dream, and will he find his happily ever after like all his other siblings have so far? You do not want to miss the next book in this series! If you have not read the other books, I recommend you go back and read them in order so that you can understand in depth all of the backstories of the characters. If you love a good contemporary romance story, with dynamic characters, based in a realistic small-town setting, you will want to jump into this book series.
@Brandy Rymer
04/2024

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Finders Keepers, Cowboy (Match Made in Montana Series) by Rachelle Paige Campbell – Review by Brandy Rymer

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Finders Keepers, Cowboy (Match Made in Montana #1)Finders Keepers, Cowboy by Rachelle Paige Campbell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a wonderful story of frenemies who can overcome the obstacles in their lives to find the romance destined for them. I loved this feel-good romance story; it had such a great storyline about how one of our main character’s grandfather decides to play matchmaker for his grandson and their neighbor who’s been a thorn in his grandson’s side since childhood. What a fun experience to watch as Meg and Ryan work through the trials they have going on in their lives trying to find success with their businesses while working through these new sensations that are developing between them. It is great to watch as these two oblivious characters try to figure out what they are feeling towards the other as well as find their place in life that might make room for a little romance. They also struggle with understanding what the other person is feeling towards them, so many missed signals make for a great story that brings lots of laughs and joy at the discovered feelings, but will it be in time before either one decides to move on?

If you’re looking for a great feel-good tale of good old boy cowboys, and a little romance brewing on the side, you are going to want to give this new series a chance. It’s great how there are so many great characters with stories yet to come in the upcoming books in the series. The author does an amazing job in setting us up to look forward at a few other potential couples that Grandpa Kincaid will most likely have his hands in while playing matchmaker, as a seasoned cowboy is want to do as he’s getting older and seeing lots of missed opportunities of romance around town.
@Brandy Rymer
04/2024

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Managing Mischief (Shattered Embrace Series) by Alyndra Quinn – Review by Brandy Rymer

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Managing Mischief (Shattered Embrace #2)Managing Mischief by Alyndra Quinn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Alyndra Quinn has done it again with this second book in the Shattered Embrace series! This book was even steamier than the first book in this series, it is for a mature audience for sure! I love that we get to continue the storyline between Zachary and Ashton and watch their romance continue to blossom in ways that are unimaginable and unexpected for both of them. The storyline gets very exciting as new characters are introduced and a competition arises that may just steal Ashton away from Zachary’s embrace. This book had me drawn in right from the first page, I could not put it down, I was intrigued by the development of the character’s lives.
@Brandy Rymer
04/2024

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Sugar & Spice (Spicetopia Series) by Phoebe Alexander – Review by Brandy Rymer

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Sugar & Spice (Spicetopia Book 1)Sugar & Spice by Phoebe Alexander
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was drawn into this storyline right from the start and loved every minute of the book through to the end. Phoebe Alexander’s Sugar & Spice has so many unexpected events that you will not want to put the book down! I love how our main character, Jolie, role plays in a sweet factory as The Red Velvet Queen, what a great character that draws in such a huge audience to come and see her. Jolie is the perfect person to fulfill this role, but unfortunately, the pay and the benefits are just not enough for anyone to be able to support their family. This is especially true for Jolie, who is a single mom supporting her two sons, one of whom has a lot of medical problems, as well as her mom who lives with them to help out. Cy is one of the heirs to the Sweetopia business and is sent to go undercover to figure out who is heading up a group of disgruntled employees who are going to the press to disclose the unfair treatment that they feel they are receiving from the business. The second Cy sees Jolie, he falls head over heels in love with her and is torn between doing what his family expects of him or doing what he feels is right for the woman of his dreams. What a dilemma our characters find themselves in, will Cy and Jolie be able to work out their situation and make their relationship work, or will Cy’s true identity be too much for Jolie to accept? From the dynamic characters to the realistic descriptions that beautifully draw a picture of Sweetopia theme park, you will feel like you are right there along with the characters experiencing the fun, and magic of such a wonderous place, you can practically smell the divine scents of the baked goods. What a magnificent picture that the author paints for her readers as she draws you into her magical paradise of Sweetopia.
@Brandy Rymer
03/2024

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Mistaken Identity (London Detective Agency Series) by Stephanie R. Caffrey – Review by Brandy Rymer

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Mistaken Identity (London Detective Agency Book 1)Mistaken Identity by Stephanie R. Caffrey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Mistaken Identity by Stephanie R, Caffrey was such a thrilling read, I couldn’t put this book down! I love the characters and how feisty they are, especially our main female character, Evelyn, who finds herself in a messy situation when she is mistaken for someone else while traveling abroad. Patrick happens to be at the airport looking to prevent Megan from going on the run, when he accidentally grabs Evelyn instead, who happens to look similar to Megan. All this mess happens because Megan, who was in a hurry to get onto the airplane, bumped into Evelyn and accidentally grabbed the wrong travel bag. Due to this accident, Evelyn was left holding Megan’s bag, which puts her in a very dangerous situation. Throughout this book we see Evelyn forced to step out of her comfort zone, and continually have to fight for her life, and the lives of her new friends. This story is so realistic, it will have you on the edge of your seat wondering what may be waiting right around the corner! There is a budding romance throughout the story, that is beautifully intertwined with the thrills of mystery and danger. What a wonderful touch to have a slow to develop romance that stayed in the bounds of old-fashioned courtship, showing that there are good men still out there who respect women’s morals.
@Brandy Rymer
03/23/2024

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