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Liz’s Road Trip by Bernadette Marie – Review by Christine Baranek

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Liz's Road TripLiz’s Road Trip by Bernadette Marie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Liz’s Road Trip
By: Bernadette Marie

First off, let me say that I have never read a Bernadette Marie book and not love it. However, this one exceeded each and every one of my expectations. Liz Evans is quite possibly the best character she has written so far and I just loved the plot of this one. I love that Liz is challenged to live a life with no regrets. I love the whole premise of this book. I love that her grandmother had a whole secret life that she didn’t know about. This is just such a wonderful story. I cannot recommend reading this book enough. Heck, I cannot recommend reading any of Bernadette Marie’s Books enough! But this is the one that I would not miss! It is so well written with such endearing characters!

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Leaving No Traces (A Commissario Scala Mystery in Rome) by P.J. Mann – Review by Christine Baranek

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Leaving No Traces (Commissario Scala #5)Leaving No Traces by P. J. Mann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Leaving No Traces
By: P J Mann

This is another wonderful Detective Scala tale. It is part of a series, but honestly each book functions as its own. This is a complex case from the start, it features what appears to be one case of a murder, or maybe an abduction because there is no body, just a car and a lot of blood in the driver’s seat. However, there ends up being more than one body and definitely lots more to this case including the mafia. Plus there’s the added drama of a witness who has to stay alive in order to testify about anything.
This is definitely filled with twists and turns and I loved every minute of it. As a character, I love Detective Scala. But the truth is, it is the cases he solves that keeps me coming back for more. This one had a little bit of everything and literally kept me up way past my bedtime. Everytime I thought I had it figured out, another twist would make me change my mind! I definitely recommend this one and the rest of the series!!!

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Granting Katelyn (Sweet Valley Series) by S.E. Reichert – Review by Christine Baranek

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Granting KatelynGranting Katelyn by S.E. Reichert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Granting Katelyn

By: S.E. Reichart

This is the second book in the Sweet Valley Series. It reads as a standalone, however, the first book Raising Elle, is by far and away one of the best books I’ve read this year and therefore I would definitely recommend reading that one first. It gives you a feel for the characters that are in this book as they are introduced in the first one. This book is Grant’s turn to explore his past and open himself to others. Katelyn is new to the area and comes to help treat Grant’s horse. I loved Grant in the first story and I was so glad I got to know him better in this one. Katelyn was a great addition to Sweet Valley. I definitely enjoyed this story and Katelyn and Grant getting to know each other. I definitely recommend this story and this series and I cannot wait to see what will happen next in the series!

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Firewall by Jessica Mehring – Review by Christine Baranek

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FirewallFirewall by Jessica Mehring
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Firewall
By: Jessica Mehring

This is a very good new Romantic Suspense by Jessica Mehring. This is the first book I have read of hers and it will not be my last. Veronica and Angus were written very well and their banter while being put in suspenseful situations was entertaining. I loved the twists and turns that this book kept delivering because it definitely kept me turning the pages. I did not want to put this one down until it was over. I also really enjoyed the chemistry between the two main characters. I definitely recommend this one as it is very very well written and will keep you on your toes!

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Back to the 80s by S.E. Reichert and Kerrie Flanagan – Review by Christine Baranek

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Back to the 80'sBack to the 80’s by S.E. Reichert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Back to the 80s
By: S.E. Reichart and Kerrie Flanagan

This is the sweetest story I have read in a while. Blaine is a sweet protagonist. I love how involved and invested she was in the store. She definitely wants to keep her mother alive. Eric was an interesting character to me. He came in the way I fully expected him to, ready to take over the store for his own interests. However, their bet was so fun and cute. I loved their banter and how they slowly started to gain more of an interest for each other. This plot was legitimately super sweet and really this was the perfect book to read after I had just finished reading several suspense stories. I loved the way that the story made me feel and I was literally just happy as I was reading this. I definitely recommend reading this story, if for no other reason than to see who will win their bet.

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Reticent Hawke (The Hawke Family Second Generation Book 2) by Gwyn McNamee – Review by Christine Baranek

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Reticent Hawke: A Billionaire Reverse Age Gap Best Friend's Older Sister Forbidden Romance (The Hawke Family Second Generation Book 2)Reticent Hawke: A Billionaire Reverse Age Gap Best Friend’s Older Sister Forbidden Romance by Gwyn McNamee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Reticent Hawke
By: Gwyn McNamee

This is not my first book in the Hawke family series, nor will it be my last. I absolutely love her stories. Each book in this series definitely functions as a standalone. However, I definitely recommend reading each and every book. Each of the stories are interconnected in small ways and the ways the family interact carry through from story to story. Also, the family is the thread that connects the stories.
Jude and Angelina were wonderfully written characters and I loved the amount of thought that it was clear that Gwyn McNamee put into each of them. Each of them was flawed, with many problems / difficulties. Also, there is the normal emotional story line that is expected from a Hawke family story. I definitely recommend picking up this book and the rest of the books in the Hawke family series. I have never been disappointed by one of Gwyn McNamee’s books! This will definitely deliver you a great read.

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Planting Hope by Jennifer Raines – Review by Christine Baranek

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Planting HopePlanting Hope by Jennifer Raines
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Planting Hope
By: Jennifer Raines

I LOVED this story. I do not think there is enough of a word to describe how much I loved Mona and her journey. Mona believes in the healing power of gardens. She has gone so far as to dedicate a portion of her land as a therapeutic place for young people who have suffered through traumatic events to go and seek healing. This has been a passion project of hers and she has gained the traction to see her vision to come to life. This piece of Mona alone made her, quite possibly one of my favorite characters I have ever read.
Kit is Mona’s business partner and he is also very charming. I loved that he shares her vision and passion of the garden. However, when a third person, Holly, enters the mix things become very different.
This is my first book by Jennifer Raines and I cannot say enough about her ability to develop characters and write stories that people want to read. This story was filled with complex, well developed characters and a plot that kept the story moving at a good pace. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a fun read!

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Heavy Shot (Nashville Assassins: Next Generation) by Toni Aleo – Review by Christine Baranek

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Heavy Shot (Nashville Assassins: Next Generation #7)Heavy Shot by Toni Aleo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Heavy Shot
By: Toni Aleo

This is the seventh book in the Nashville Assassins Series, however, it can definitely be read as a standalone. I have read some, but not all of the series and am definitely going to go back and read the ones I have missed after reading this one. I forgot how much I enjoy this series.
This book features Dimitri who is a very talented hockey player. He just wants to play hockey for his dad’s team, the Nashville Assassins. He is in Nashville and ready to accomplish that goal. He lived his life in Russia but definitely kept his eye on the prize.
Austen is ready to lead the Assassins minor league farm team. However she ends up crossing paths with Dimitri.
Dimitri and Austen are very well written characters. They both have a good banter about them and this also was a well written, almost forbidden potential tryst. I loved their banter and the fact that Dimitri believed that their crossing and meeting was fate. I do love this series and the hockey team aspect is something I have truly enjoyed in this series. I definitely recommend this for a good sports romance that is fun to read!

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Broken. (Green St. Girls Series) by N.D. Jackson – Review by Christine Baranek

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Broken. (Green St. Girls #2)Broken. by N.D. Jackson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Broken
By: ND Jackson

I loved the first book in the Green Street Girls Series. In that one we heard all about Athena’s story. That’s when it became clear to me that these books were going to be about a group of girls who have overcome so much but have found each other along the way. These stories definitely have an underlying theme of perseverance and getting through tough times.
This is Indigo’s story. Indigo has scars from her stepfather, the kind of scars that are going to take a long time to heal, possibly forever. These scars are the kind that make her fearful of men and relationships in general. Gideon has a connection to Athena and has definitely been exposed to women who have been through a lot. Once again, ND Jackson has written an amazing character in Indy. She managed to balance her hurt with her success and with her future.
This series is one that I have been devouring, these books are the kind that suck you in and definitely don’t let you go until the very end. I have read them quickly and enjoyed every moment. I definitely recommend reading this series and am waiting anxiously for the rest of the girls to have their moment for their story to be told!

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Bared. (A Green St. Girls Romance) by N.D. Jackson – Review by Christine Baranek

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Bared. (Green St. Girls #1)Bared. by N.D. Jackson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Bared
By: ND Jackson

This is the first book of the Green Street Girls. Athena, Gwyn, Indigo and Charlie have all grown up with absolutely difficult lives but they have managed to overcome them and are now successful young women.
Bared is Athena’s story. She is definitely a very complex character and the author does a fantastic job of writing her with the amount of depth that she deserves. She was abandoned at age 13 and had to fend for herself. This gave her a toughness about her that is always on the periphery of her character. Additionally, she has a pain that is deep inside her that also colors her interactions with others. She has managed to make something of herself and is now a club owner. A career choice, that I feel fits the character of Athena that the author developed, it needs a type of deep seated toughness to deal with owning a club. She meets Tru and realizes that she may need to let her guard down to have the man of her dreams. She is hesitant to open up, but just maybe her pain in her past isn’t so bad that she can’t let someone in.
I definitely enjoyed this story, so much so that I read it in one day. I cannot wait to read the stories about the rest of the girls!

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Regaining Integrity (Code of Honor Book 4) by Brooke May – Review by Christine Baranek

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Regaining IntegrityRegaining Integrity by Brooke May
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Regaining Integrity
By: Brooke May

This is the third book in the Code of Honor Series. Like the others, it functions as a standalone. However, I definitely recommend reading all of them as Brooke May has a fantastic writing style and does a fantastic job with her characters. Also, the main characters in each book are minor characters in the other books which gives you some insight into how they will behave in their book. This book is Chase’s Story. I was anxiously awaiting Chase’s story ever since he was the uncomfortable driver of Patience after her and Duke had their night together. Chase has literally never had a relationship with anyone. Sure he has been with many girls but he’s never met one that made him want to get to know her better. That is until he meets Angelica. Angelica is a teacher who definitely wasn’t expecting anything from Chase, well she honestly wasn’t expecting Chase at all. Brooke May does a fantastic job writing both Chase and Angelica, as characters, you can see that they have been through a lot and yet they both had a lot of growing up to do. I definitely think that the most growth in this story was seen with Chase who thought the military had him ready for anything. I definitely recommend this story as well as the rest of the Code of Honor Series. Brooke May does a fantastic job with all of her characters and the plots of the series itself are amazing. I definitely feel like they are quick easy romances that you can read on a rainy day. I love her writing style and cannot wait for more!

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Taking Flight (Code of Honor Book 2) by Brooke May – Review by Christine Baranek

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Taking Flight (Code of Honor Book 2)Taking Flight by Brooke May
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Taking Flight
By: Brooke May

This is the second book in the Code of Honor series. This definitely functions as a standalone but I recommend reading the first book (Courage of Us) first, as the characters in this book are mentioned in the first book and it really just gives you a feel for the town of Centennial, Montana where they were all born and raised.
This book features Jody and Holt. Holt is one of the main group that was introduced in the first group. He was a member of the Air Force and has no plans to settle down. Jody lives in the shadow of her sister who is a famous musician. Jody and Holt happen to meet at a bar and at the first touch they know that one night isn’t going to be enough.
Once again, Brooke may writes amazing characters with amazing chemistry. Their dialogue is absolutely enchanting. I am absolutely loving this series and I cannot wait to see how she continues to develop the city of Centennial and this group of characters! I definitely recommend this series and this book specifically!

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Courage of Us (Code of Honor Book 1) by Brooke May – Review by Christine Baranek

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Courage of Us (Code of Honor Book 1)Courage of Us by Brooke May
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Courage of Us
By: Brooke May

This is the first book in the Code of Honor Series and it definitely won’t be my last. The two main Characters are Patience and Duke who have been life long friends who happen to have spent one night together as teenagers. This story focuses on how they choose to pick up the pieces following their night. I truly loved how the author wrote these two characters as she showed the shift in their friendship very well as well as how they both chose to go forward in their friendship. The book takes place several years later and contains many twists and turns that I did not see coming. Truthfully, I could barely put this book down when I was reading it and managed to read it within two days. Patience was such an amazing character to me and I feel that she embodies that saying that I find myself uttering quite often. About how a frog doesn’t know its being cooked because they slowly bring the water to a boil around it, I feel like that describes how she feels when she looks at her life around her. I love how she feels that she needs to take a stand to regain herself as she remembers herself. Duke was also a very well written character. I loved how they both suffered from a broken heart. I loved this story and I loved these characters. I cannot wait to read more of the Code of Honor series and learn more about the people of Centennial, Montana. I definitely recommend this story as it was simply perfect in my opinion.

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Love, Only Better (Bold Journeys Book 1) by Paulette Stout – Review by Christine Baranek

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Love, Only BetterLove, Only Better by Paulette Stout
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Love, Only Better
By: Paulette Stout

This is definitely a different take on a love story and I absolutely love it! This story tackles the topic of female sexual fulfillment and does so in such a way that it makes the heroine seem relatable. Rebecca is such an amazing character, well written and really just seems like a normal one of the girls. She was recently called frigid in regards to her performance in bed and then was dumped. Lets be honest, that would give anyone a bit of a complex. And of course, this is when someone appears who seems to show interest in Rebecca. But will she even remotely act on the interest and risk seeming frigid again? I have to say that Rebecca was one of the best characters I have read in a while. She just really was someone I felt that I wanted to get to know. I also love how the author tackles such a “taboo” topic with such relatability. I loved this story and I cannot wait to read more by the author!

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Notebook Mysteries ~ Parisian Intrigue (Notebook Mysteries Book 6) by Kimberly Mullins – Review by Christine Baranek

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Parisian Intrigue (Notebook Mysteries #6)Parisian Intrigue by Kimberly Mullins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Notebook Mysteries – Parisian Intrigue
By: Kimberly Mullins

This is the sixth book in the Notebook Mysteries Series. I have read several of them, but not all of the books. They are all able to be read as a standalone. I definitely enjoyed each and everyone I have read.
Emma is definitely one of my favorite mystery heroines of all time. Emma and her friends have been invited to Paris on an all expenses paid trip. While they are suspicious about the invitation, they aren’t about to turn down a free trip. Therefore, they aren’t shocked when weird things start happening, starting with clingers on on the ship to Paris.
I have absolutely loved how this series has developed. I feel that this is an amazing series and Emma is just a enjoyable character. I love how the author writes and the amount of details she puts in each story. She puts enough detail into the setting that you feel that you are there, I feel like I successfully traveled to Paris back during 1889. I would have loved to go see the world’s exposition back then.
If you are looking for a good mystery series with an outstanding heroine look no further!

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Complicated Choices by Risa Nyman – Review by Christine Baranek

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Complicated ChoicesComplicated Choices by Risa Nyman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Complicated Choices
By: Risa Nyman

This is such an emotional read. I loved every second of it even as I was reading with tears streaming down my face. This isn’t the traditional hard choice pregnancy tale. This is about what happens when a mother, with older children, has a child they are not prepared to take care of and that burden now falls on their older children. Risa does a fantastic job of writing the characters. Each one has a tremendous amount of depth in them and I feel that Claire was perhaps the most well written character. I found myself really pulling for Claire in this story and wondering what I would do in this situation. Her mother really placed her in a hard situation and her uncle means well but doesn’t see that the answer really isn’t clear cut. This really was a fantastic read that I highly suggest picking up, but make sure to have some tissues handy because it will pull on your heart strings throughout.

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Hole in the Rock by Rebecca Bischoff – Review by Christine Baranek

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Hole in the RockHole in the Rock by Rebecca Bischoff
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Hole in the Rock
By: Rebecca Bischoff

I truly enjoyed this story. Especially once I found out that the cave that Lizza and her family lives in is based on an actual cave house in Utah. I loved the amount of eccentricity in the family, especially in Lizza. This is definitely what I think of when I think of a middle grade novel. It is a family that is going through a lot of changes, a teen that is having a hard time dealing with the changes, and all the chaos of being a teenager. Add to that the family seems to be asking a lot of said teenager and you have a book that will suck in a middle grade child whether they are a boy or a girl. Overall, I found Lizza completely endearing, especially her love of animals. I definitely recommend reading this! This is truly a great book!

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Goldilocks and the Six Simple Machines (Science Folktales) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Christine Baranek

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Goldilocks and the Six Simple MachinesGoldilocks and the Six Simple Machines by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Goldilocks and the Six Simple Machines
By: Lois Wickstrom

Once Again, Lois Wickstrom has taken a traditional fairy tale and put a science spin on it. She did not disappoint in this retelling of Goldilocks and the Bear Family. This time she is helping the bear family fix things in their house. She does this using simple machines. Children will definitely be learning about simple machines and will enjoy learning about this new tale. I definitely recommend this story for all home and classroom libraries.

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The Secrets they Hide (A Commissario Scala Mystery in Rome) by P.J. Mann – Review by Christine Baranek

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The Secrets they Hide: A Commissario Scala Mystery (Book 2) (A Commissario Scala Mystery in Rome)The Secrets they Hide: A Commissario Scala Mystery (Book 2) by P J Mann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Secrets They Hide
By: P.J. Mann

This is an Inspector Scala Book. It is my first, but it most definitely won’t be my last. Inspector Scala is definitely an enjoyable main character who keeps the book exciting. In this book a cryptic message leads Inspector Scala to a series of murders and it is him that must find the killer. This is filled with twists and turns and it definitely kept me on my toes. I have to say that the highlight of this author is the dialogue. Every character has amazing banter back and forth. You are sucked into the dialogue and it is not hard to read at all. I definitely recommend reading this!

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Cruel Start (Hidden Valley Elite) by Isla Vaughn – Review by Christine Baranek

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Cruel Start (Hidden Valley Elite #4.5)Cruel Start by Isla Vaughn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Cruel Start
By: Isla Vaughn

Once again, Isla Vaughn does not disappoint. I have read every last one of the Hidden Valley Elite books and every last one is a page turner that is filled with drama, suspense and spice. All are dark, but to be honest, I like that in this series and I feel like it works perfectly well. Isla Vaughn is the queen of character development and I feel has absolutely thought about each and every aspect of her characters before she even begins writing. Her characters are flawed but in a very relatable way and they all show growth and evolution. Cruel Start is once again a fantastic addition to the series. This is the beginning of Aspen and Phoenix’s story and I am left waiting with bated breath for the second part of their story. This book is absolutely fantastic and I cannot recommend reading it and the rest of the series enough!

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Sleeping with the Enemy (Astoria Royals Book 3) by Deborah Garland – Review by Christine Baranek

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Sleeping with the Enemy (Astoria Royals, #3)Sleeping with the Enemy by Deborah Garland
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sleeping With The Enemy
By: Deborah Garland

This book is absolutely phenomenal. It sucked me in from the very beginning and I did not want it to end. The author weaves an intricate story with fantastic details that I truly enjoyed. She did an excellent job developing the characters as well. Riordan and Priscilla were very well rounded characters and it was clear that there was a lot of history between them. Watching them interact with this in mind was so much fun. This book really brought it all – spice, suspense, tension, and amazing banter. This was an amazing forced marriage story that I truly enjoyed. I definitely recommend it.

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Flowers of Evil (Hani’s Daughter Mysteries Book 1) by N.L. Holmes – Review by Christine Baranek

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Flowers of Evil (Hani's Daughter Mysteries Book 1)Flowers of Evil by N.L. Holmes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Flowers of Evil
By: N.L. Holmes

This seems to be the start to a new series and I am so glad. It is a cozy mystery set in Egypt. I love that the author is an archaeologist because it lets me know that the information about Egypt is going to be well researched and accurate. The two main characters are female healers. They were healing the king before he died. He left them with one word before his passing. They are determined to find who killed the king and they know that the word he said was a clue. In addition, the ladies are facing that their competition is doing much to take them down. But this isn’t enough to dissuade them from solving the murder and keep their careers going. I have to say that the author’s greatest talent is in her descriptions of ancient Egypt. She leaves nothing to the imagination and makes sure that there is a glossary for any unfamiliar terms. She paints such a vivid picture with her words that it is easy to forget that you are reading about a time long ago. I definitely recommend reading this. I cannot wait to see more of this series!

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Twisted Eros (Modern Mythica Book 1) by Aria Skylar – Review by Christine Baranek

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Twisted Eros (Modern Mythica Book 1)Twisted Eros by Aria Skylar
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Twisted Eros
By: Aria Skylar

I will say, this is not the normal book that I would pick up. As a general rule, I don’t pick up paranormal romance books. But something in this one called to me. This is a retelling of the story of Eros and Psyche. Which is something I did not pick up on when I got this book. It was slow to pick up but once it got going I really enjoyed it. I definitely haven’t read any Greek Mythology that features BDSM, but this retelling sure does. The author proved some major character development in both of the main characters – Eros and Psyche. Which I think is the best quality of the book, the character evolution. I definitely enjoyed this story.

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Shadowed Obsession (Shadow Defense Security Series Book 1) by Mavery Ellscott – Review by Christine Baranek

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Shadowed Obsession: An Action-Packed Romantic Suspense Thriller (Shadow Defense Security Series Book 1)Shadowed Obsession: An Action-Packed Romantic Suspense Thriller by Mavery Ellscott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Shadowed Obsession
By: Mavery Ellscott

This is the start of a brand new romantic suspense series that I truly loved and cannot wait for the rest of the books to come out. The plot is excellent and filled with twists and turns that make you keep wanting to read more. The characters are so very well developed. Kiera is working for a PR firm and has a stalker. However, the police department has been unsuccessful in finding the stalker. She isn’t your typical damsel in distress though and she enlists the help of her neighbor. Cade is ex special forces and more than willing to help. But what the author does even better than the suspense is writing in the attraction between Cade and Kiera. It is undeniable from the start. It kept me hoping that not only they would find the stalker, but also that they would get their happily ever after. I felt that Cade and Kiera were very well written and that the plot was well paced. I definitely recommend picking this one up for fans of romantic suspense.

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Murder in a Gated Community by Laura Koerber – Review by Christine Baranek

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Murder in a Gated CommunityMurder in a Gated Community by Laura Koerber
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Murder in a Gated Community
By: Laura Koerber

This book reminds me a little of a real housewives series if the housewives were older. The story is about older people in a gated community dealing with each of their own very complicated issues. The friendships within this community definitely seem real and the fact that many of these characters seem to have no filter also makes it seem very realistic. This is filled with funny anecdotes and little stories of each of the neighbors. This is just a fun read of a neighborhood. I truly loved this story and the characters within it.

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The Silent Woodsman (The Olympic Peninsula series Book 1) by Cat Treadgold – Review by Christine Baranek

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The Silent Woodsman (The Olympic Peninsula series Book 1)The Silent Woodsman by Cat Treadgold
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Silent Woodsman
By: Cat Treadgold

I was absolutely fascinated by this story. In the beginning I felt it seemed a little far fetched. However, as the story progressed, I truly fell in love with the characters and how Ali was really hoping for everything to work out. I felt like in the beginning Ali seemed very naive but as I kept reading, I realized she had a tough life and really wasn’t very trusting, her time in the cabin in the woods was just an accident. However, there were definite subplots that I loved more and wanted to really find out even more about. Ali’s recurring dream. I love that despite being raised in a foster home Ali had a positive outlook in her life and had definitely worked hard for the things she had. She also had a friend who cared about her whose family cared for her as her own. I couldn’t help but think about how lucky she really was.
JJ was the man in the woods and I really loved his character. He was someone who really wanted a simpler life. I loved that part of what he loved about Ali was that she had no clue who he was. I also related to how there were areas of his life he didn’t feel he had any control over. I loved their overlapping story lines and how they both tried to move on from their time in the woods but they really couldn’t .
I’m glad that this is the start of a new series. I cannot wait to see where the series grows and develops from here! I definitely recommend it!

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A Toast for Laurent (Vine Valley Book 1) by Theresa Paolo – Review by Christine Baranek

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A Toast for Laurent (Vine Valley, #1)A Toast for Laurent by Theresa Paolo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A Toast for Laurent
By: Theresa Paolo

This is a very cute second chance romance filled with really sweet characters and a plot that just sucks you in from the start. Phoebe and Laurent made a pact in high school that if they weren’t married by the time they were 40 they would marry each other. But really they didn’t think that it was serious. Plus, doesn’t everyone make those promises with someone? This book explores what happens when one person wants to hold the other to that promise. However, the part that no one realizes when they make the promise is that by the time they are 40 they will be so different and changed by heartache and rejection. Watching Phoebe and Laurent navigate their fear of rejection and their changes from their previous relationships is part of the charm of the book. They have an undeniable chemistry and have to figure out whether acting on chemistry will be worth the risk. I definitely recommend reading this sweet book!

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Tequila Midnight (Southwest Suspense Novels Book 1) by Kathryn Dodson – Review by Christine Baranek

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Tequila MidnightTequila Midnight by Kathryn Dodson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Tequila Midnight
By: Kathryn Dodson

Oh my goodness, this is such an amazing story. I definitely did not want to put it down at all, I tried my best to read it in one sitting. Kathryn Dodson has created the perfect main character in Jessica Watts. Jessica Watts is quite honestly the perfect gritty heroine in my opinion. She keeps everyone at arms length and has a bit of a drinking problem. She was so relatable in so many ways to me. The setting of the borderlands is the perfect setting for this book, for Jessica Watts. It is gritty and filled with people who are escaping / hiding from something, including Jessica. She’s trying to hide from the pain of her past. She also has a dangerous job, working as a private investigator. She goes looking for a missing girl and definitely gets more than she anticipated. Jessica is the type of character that you find yourself rooting for, hoping for a happy ending, but knowing full well that you might not get it. I am glad to find out that there will be more books in this series as I truly loved this one. It had the perfect amount of suspense and grit and realism.

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Guarding the Crease (The Playmakers Series Hockey Romances Book 9) by G.K. Brady – Review by Christine Baranek

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Guarding the Crease: An Opposites Attract Romance (The Playmakers Series Hockey Romances Book 9)Guarding the Crease: An Opposites Attract Romance by G.K. Brady
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Guarding the Crease
By: G.K. Brady

This is another book in the Playmakers Series. I have read several, but not all of the series. I can say that each book functions as a standalone, however, I definitely have enjoyed each and every book I have read and will be going back to read the ones I have missed so far.
G.K. Brady has created main characters who are hockey players, but who have more depth to them than that. Wyatt is definitely one of those characters. In the beginning, it was hard to find anything good about Wyatt, he was one of the bad boys of hockey. But as Brady always does, Wyatt was written with so much depth and so many redeemable qualities found underneath his tough exterior. Additionally, she has created such a lovable character in Serena. Serena is the PR girl who can’t ever see herself falling for Wyatt – she is so responsible, where he is so … Not. Their interactions together and their banter is absolutely so enjoyable. I absolutely loved this story and recommend it to everyone!

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Taz (Devil’s Handmaidens MC: Timber-Ghost, Montana Chapter Book 3) by D.M. Earl – Review by Christine Baranek

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Taz: (Devil's Handmaidens MC: Timber-Ghost, Montana Chapter)Taz: by D.M. Earl
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Taz
By: DM Earl

I have truly enjoyed each and every book of the Devils Handmaiden’s MC series and TAZ does not disappoint at all. Each book can definitely stand on its own, but I definitely recommend reading each and every one so that you can appreciate each and every member of this all female MC. These women are each flawed but also some of the strongest, most admirable women that I have ever read. Life has thrown each of them many hurdles and each one of them over comes them and finds an inner strength they didn’t know they have. I will say that the series can be very dark and this book is no exception, but I would not let that deter you from missing out on this wonderful series, especially this story of Taz. The biggest take away from each of these books to me is not to judge a book by its cover. Despite her bright purple hair and the fact that she is the quiet treasurer of the club, she is not to be messed with. Her ex comes back and threatens the life she has made with her son. He also threatens the family she has found with the MC. I don’t want to spoil anything but what happens keeps you reading until the very end. This is the kind of book that I wish I had the time to read in one sitting, that is how much I loved it. I definitely recommend reading this one, and the rest of the series!

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