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A Toast for Laurent (Vine Valley Book 1) by Theresa Paolo – Review by Christie Mitchum

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A Toast for Laurent (Vine Valley, #1): A Small Town Fake Relationship RomanceA Toast for Laurent (Vine Valley, #1): A Small Town Fake Relationship Romance by Theresa Paolo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A Toast for Laurent by Theresa Paolo is my favorite kind of second-chance romance. It pulled at my emotions but was a lot of fun with just the right amount of spice. Plus, it takes place around a winery, what wasn’t there to love????

This book had me hooked within just the first few pages. The author gave me a good, quick background on Laurent, and then boom, Phoebe entered the scene! She definitely made an impression. Even though she has been gone from his life for many years, she is still the one that got away, breaking his heart in the process.

Laurent and Phoebe were best friends at one time with the possibility of being so much more. One night the lines blurred, and she walked out the next morning taking his heart with her. Now, she needs him desperately, and she re-enters his life wanting him to keep his promise…marry her. They made a pact almost twenty years ago that if they weren’t married, they would marry each other. Laurent could never turn his back on her, and he doesn’t plan on doing that now. However, he also has to protect his heart. When he agrees to help her out, he makes one condition, she can’t fall in love with him. She thinks she can do that….right…she has had feelings for him to begin with, she just ran from them. Now, she might not be able to outrun them.

I was not prepared for the twists and turns in this book, not just the main characters, but the secondary characters. I love reading a book that has a few sub-plot points occurring simultaneously. Sometimes that doesn’t work, but it really did in this one. I adored all of Laurent’s siblings, and I even came to like Phoebe’s half-sister, Parker. I enjoyed the way in which Paolo brought both their past and their future together.

Theresa Paolo is a new author for me, but this book will definitely not be my last. I’m looking forward to other books in this particular series and discovering her others as well.

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Brutal Days (Hidden Valley Elite Book 3) by Isla Vaughn – Review by Christie Mitchum

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Brutal Days (Hidden Valley Elite #3)Brutal Days by Isla Vaughn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Brutal Days is the third installment of the Hidden Valley Elite Series, and it is just as good as the first two books. In fact, Damon and Skylar may have a little bit more of my heart than Cole and Riley….if I’m being honest.

From the very beginning, Vaughn had my attention and kept it throughout the book. What started out as a good intention to help a friend soon turns into a complex situation fraught with lust, emotion, and secrets. Two people who hate each other also can’t stop thinking about each other. What is a dark romance has some really bright places in Isla Vaughn’s talented hands. The push and pull between Damon and Skylar made the book even better. These two characters have had to deal with some really painful events in their past, and so both are intent on having some control in their lives. Yet, they find that they can let go and show parts of themselves to each other that they can’t show anyone else. Skylar is a wonderful, multi-faceted, and strong female lead. Damon has hard edges and can sometimes be a real jerk, but he can also be tender with Skylar. How could I not fall in love with them and their story!!!!

I wasn’t sure if I would like the premise of the book because of the blackmail angle, and I didn’t want Skylar to be forced to do something she didn’t really want to. However, that wasn’t the case. Vaughn did a fabulous job of giving us a dark romance but with a lot of emotion involved. I can’t wait to see the next leg of Damon and Skylar’s journey to happiness.

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