Found in the Lost by Tarina Deaton

I inhaled this story! Then had to go back and start all over and get all the goodness again. Loved Shane and Kinley's meeting and how things just connected and fit together between them. The sparks burned off the pages, and their adventure and the way they supported and cared for the other quickly became a adventure I didn't want to have end! This has the feel of one of those awesome summertime adventure escapes we crave every year. So much was jammed packed in a few pages and I didn't feel anything was left lacking.

Her Adoring SEAL by Caitlyn O'Leary

This book wrapped itself around my heart with all the feels!

I adored how Jack immediately took to Beth, how he recognized what she needed and gave that unselfishly. How he showed her exactly what she meant to him and how he was going to stay in her life, and how she deserved to grasp hold of her dreams.

I loved Beth's heart, her vulnerability, her compassion, her frailness, and how out of all that, within the safe spot Jack gave her, she found her strength and built herself back up into the woman she was meant to be.

There's the more emotional but calm (read less action) moments, even though heartbreaking, but then the action builds back up with surprises and awesome moves. I'm loving my time in the Midnight Delta world and can't wait to get to the next story!

The SEAL's Promise by Grace Alexander

Winter's Heat is one of my most favorite books ever, so when I found out there was a "sweeter" version available, I was excited to discover the nuances between the stories. Drake and Tessa's story delivered all the action and anticipation expected and the unique additions/changes made this particular version just that much better.

I loved how Drake and Tessa connected and felt that something-special-spark between them, but yet, had something else holding them back that they had to fight through to claim their happy ever after. And boy, did they have a journey to fight through to get to their goodness. Honor, protectiveness, defending, and healing, they all have their place in this story.

The whole world around the Safehouse Security team and going from rural to urban America, to South America and back again bloomed to life around me as I found myself lost in the story. I loved how Drake and Tessa interacted and fell for each other. I adored the protective instincts that flared to life in Drake and the way Tessa came to life around him. Tessa definitely could hold her own though, and was a fighter from the beginning.


The scruff on his face was a scant thicker than usual, though he liked to keep a menacing shadow. Men backed off, and danger-junkie women gravitated toward him. Win-win.

You just think of me as all brawn, saving that cute butt of yours from thugs.

Their bodies were the right mix of spark and C4. Together, there was the potential for explosions.

Violence had never had this effect on him before. But protecting her, isolating her from dangerous men, made him feel savagely possessive.

"I'm safe. You… Took care of them, just like you said."

And can I just say - that cover is all sorts of yummy hotness! :)

Her Ruthless Protector by Caitlyn O'Leary

Written filled with adventure, drama, and cute flirty fun, Her Ruthless Protector is sure to satisfy!

I loved the way Kane and AJ connected and interacted, and seeing AJ through Kane's eyes - that was a powerful thing to experience and let sink into me. I loved seeing how they could each hold their own, but yet, were amazing partners, both in the bedroom and out. AJ complimented Kane well with her backbone, her smarts, and her heart.

Seeing this is a military story as much as a romance story, bullets fly and bad guys abound everywhere, giving just the right amount of suspense and anxiety. Dealing with the enemy and the powers-that-be, and choosing what is right over what is ordered, and showing what having your brother's back truly mean, the military story line packs a punch.

Mix together the twist and turns, tear-filled moments, steamy moments, and laughter-ringing times and you've got another awesome Caitlyn O'Leary story to escape into.

Fast Vengeance by Kaylea Cross

I've discovered another delightful and favorite Kaylea Cross story!

Love how Victoria and Brock achingly needed each other and provided the safe place and the healing touches each one were desperate for.

I adored getting the additional romance of Oceane and Gabe - they made my heart melt in so many ways!

And the theme of brotherhood, the connection the guys all had with each other - that helped to make this adventure of a story complete.

Mix some heart aching moments with edge of your seat anxiety and Fast Vengeance delivers!

The Bride by Julie Garwood

Just EXACTLY what I needed at the time.
Adorable.
Made me giggle out loud several times.
Hilarious dialogue.
Rereading bits and pieces before it was over.
Swoony alpha hero.
Charming heroine.

Loved my time with Alec and Jamie.

This quickly became one of my favorite JG stories. So glad I finally dove in!

Hyde and Seek by Layla Frost

I absolutely adored watching Jake and Piper fall in love and figure things out between them. Jake is swoony yummy and Piper is sweet and cute and I just wanna be her best friend. Or wait... Be her so I can have Jake's focus. (happy sigh).

This is a book I've enjoyed visiting over and over again. 

Her Vigilant SEAL by Caitlyn O'Leary

Loved it! Another awesome SEAL story.

Plus, I got a charming, sweet, shy, girl-next-door for a heroine who still had a strength all her own, which I've been waiting to find more of!

Mason.... He was perfect for her! Uber protective, swoony sweet, just bossy enough, he tripped my trigger.

The Cowboy's Honor by Amy Sandas

OMGoodness!!! I honestly couldn't stop smiling. The. Entire. Book!!! And once I started, I couldn't stop and finished it all in one day! The Cowboy's Honor is such a cute and adorable and fun read!!

I absolutely adored how Courtney was sassy (in the best of ways) and had such a great attitude facing every trial and challenge that she faced. She had some growing up to do, just in the culture shock of going from a pampered daughter of society to a rancher's wife, but she met that challenge head on and bloomed. I loved seeing her discover herself and in turn, discover what she truly wanted out of life. Seeing her fall in love with the man who "messed up" her independence seeking? Priceless!

Dean had some pretty heavy burdens to carry, along with a heavy-handed demon clinging to him. But those challenges made him into the man of honor he was - respected, responsible, protective. His one moment of loco gave him the best gift of all in Courtney when he married and claimed responsibility for her. Watching him figure out his feelings for her and fall in love was so satisfying! He had his moments of crazy still, but his pursuit of her heart? Swoon-worthy!

I loved getting to meet up again with Malcolm and Alexandria (from book 1) briefly and see how they were doing. Also, the Lawton family just melted me with how accepting and welcoming of Courtney they were, and how they truly made the family feels flow off the page - oh, and their match-making nudges! haha!

This book really just made me happy and delivered a charming story I look forward to revisiting in the future!

If you want book that'll melt your heart and give you the feel goods, grab Dean and Courtney's story!

Legend of Spiralling Cedars by Natasza Waters

 

With just the right amount of creepy-scary, Legend of Spiralling Cedars had me literally jumping at noises in the dark while I was immersed into the story! And I may be kinda cautious after dark the next few nights.... lol

Rachel was awe-inspiring in facing the mystical danger head on and going on faith and gut-beliefs even when others around her weren't quite as bought into the legend.... yet. Her respect for nature and the native people and their beliefs stood out beautifully - along with her heart for everyone around her.

Garrett and his JTF2 team were just looking for a weekend get-away, and instead found themselves teaming up with Rachel to fight a special kind of threat. I loved seeing the instant connection Garrett had with Rachel and how he went all out to protect her and have her back any way he could (she wasn't a wiltin' flower by any means).

With a little bit of thrill, little bit of ghostbumps, little bit of steam, and a lot of bit of phenomenal story-telling, Natasza Waters delivers a story that shouldn't be missed!

Twila's Tempest by Natasza Waters

You do not wanna miss it!!

This isn't your Gilligan's Island boat ride! Drake and Twila will take you on a much more intense and speedy ride to their HEA.

Twila is so relatable - you feel her pain over the loss of her parents, the care she has for others to try to heal from that loss, the connection she has to a particular family, and the fear to live because of the uncertainty. But yet, at the same time, she can't deny the draw she has to Drake, even as she fights against it.

Drake is a hero we all want. He's imperfect which makes him even more awesome. He's a man's man, he loves his parents, and he knows what he wants and goes after it. But he's also not an over-the-top jerk either - there's just the right amount of bossy mixed with confidence mixed with respect and heat. And boy, can Drake heat things up - and not always in the good way!

Then there's she-who-shall-not-be-named. Oye. I loved to *hate* her even as much as I did feel a bit bad for her. But hate and discust quickly took over after that brief moment. Ugh. Kudos for making me feel such emotion with a "villain" -- even some worse villains in stories didn't draw such a reaction from me! But if she was any different, the story just wouldn't be right.

Loved watching Twila and Drake fall for each other and breathing the intense connection they felt for each other. This is definitely a book I'm going to love re-reading often and will be on my favs shelf!

Here's the trailer for it.... Goosebumps!!

Montana Freedom by Natasza Waters

What's better than a ex Delta Force turned cowboy with a protective streak a mile wide with a dash of instant love? Not much! But that's exactly what you get by experiencing Sam and Cory's love story. This is a sweet easy read that provides all the intrigue, the suspense, the thrill, and the swoons in one pretty package. While I wish the final conflict/drama didn't have to play out exactly how it did, I loved how everything wrapped up and Sam and Cory got the hea they both so desperately needed and earned.

Texas Outlaw by Adrienne deWolfe

I knew pretty quick after starting this book I was gonna fall in deep -- and I did! I deeply enjoyed getting lost in Fancy and Cord's story.

I knew there was something deeper to Fancy than her sassy charms and smarts. And as you learn more about her, you can't help but intensely feel for her -- from the hidden heart-shattering secrets to the relieved and cheer-worthy discovering of her strength. Her growth caught me off-guard with how intensely I experienced it with her.

Cord -- I love that man! His grit and determination to track down Fancy rolled right over into his pursuit of her - both as an outlaw and then as his woman. If there was ever the right man for Fancy to teach her true love and what that means, he perfectly filled those shoes. And quite honestly, Fancy was the perfect woman to help fight off the demons he struggled with.

Besides being entertaining, real-life messages of looking deeper into a person, not giving up, digging for the truth, and fighting for what you need and want are weaved into the pages. Definitely not a book to pass by!

Holt's Gamble by Barbara Ankrum

LOVED this story!!

From beginning to end, the wonder and drama and surprises kept me glued to the pages! Almost everything I love about a HWR was included in this story in such a wonderful way!

I'm quickly becoming a Barbara Ankrum fan!

The Lady Takes A Gunslinger by Barbara Ankrum

 (Wild Western Rogues #1)

...and with the flip of the last page, my heart gives out a happy sigh!!

I wasn't planning on reading a full book this weekend, but once I got started, I was hooked and had to keep going! Reese and Grace's story is a perfect fit for what I crave right now - a heroine who's tough but yet vulnerable and a hero who's pretty rough around the edges and the digging to get to the soft spot inside is so worth it! 

I found myself laughing out loud several times, rereading pages just to experience it all again, and falling in love with both Reese and Grace!

I have a new book to add to my favorites list, and one that will be a joy to revisit again!

Time Plains Drifter by Cheryl Pierson

Oh my goodness.  What did I just read?!?!  I wasn't prepared for what an amazingly twisted and intriguingly charming story Time Plains Drifter turned out to be!  The combination of historical western and time travel, good vs evil,  and adventure and romance had me captivated from the first page - which drops you right into the action and doesn't let up for a moment.

I don't recall reading a book that had this unique kind of world building in it - combining the supernatural with the natural and feeding you nuggets of truth for your soul along with emotional tidbits for your heart. 

Rafe and Jenni blew me away with how powerful their connection to each other was, gifting the other with strength, acceptance, and love that they both so desperately craved.  As much as this was Rafe and Jenni's story, it was also all about Cris and Rafe.  Their brotherly love and devotion to each other, no matter the cost, hits you deep inside.   

Throw in some surprising secondary characters in Beck, Cris, the kids - even Josiah - and the tangled webs continue to be weaved.

This book makes you think about how just one decision can ripple out and have untold consequences.  How when it's all on the line, how much are you truly willing to risk to dream and protect and claim.

I'm hoping that someday we'll be able to see a sequel come out to tie up the couple of loose threads, but even without, the story of the d'Angelicos feels complete with enough foreshadowing to satisfy.

If you're looking for something to make you laugh, cry, cringe, cheer, swoon, and charm, you don't
want to miss out on this deep and entertaining story.  It's a perfect read whether you're young (older teen) or old, man or woman. 

Blackburn by Brynne Asher

OMgoodness!!! Stinkin' freakin' LOVED LOVED LOVED Gabe and Lillian's story! It had the perfect amount of danger/action, rescue, settlin' in, fallin' in love that I adore!! And that's sayin' something because it's not often I really fall for someone who's more "suit" than "black-ops camo" - but Gabe totally pulled off the OTT alpha possessive/protective/bad@$$ that I am crazy about. Lillian herself rocked -- being real and sweet and smart and feminine and just awesome in her own right. 

Brynne Asher is quickly becoming an author who's stories I adore! I can't wait to discover more!

A River’s Bend Duo by Tracy Garrett

Wanted: The Sheriff
Martha and Matthew's story quickly grabbed my attention and kept me hooked in their story, even though I wasn't fully intending on starting it right at that second! But once I got started, I didn't want to stop! Matthew's the town sheriff and was quite an attractive mix of manly-lawman and considerate-gentleman. Martha was a charming mix of innocent and brazen - just enough to keep Matthew on his toes around her. Watching their dance to fall in love left me smiling sweet.

No Less than Forever
We first meet Franz and Rebekah in the previous story and you can tell right away that there is something special between them. Rebekah's past breaks your heart, but she proves there's strength behind her vulnerability as she heals both physically and emotionally. Franz is the ideal man for her, with his compassion, his gentleness, his understanding, and his attention. Their journey to their hea is filled with heartache, but then turns a corner and gifts you with a quiet beauty all its own.


This is a charming duo of stories based out of River's Bend, both quick, easy reads. Tracy Garrett excelled at capturing my curiosity with the secondary characters as well, leaving me delighted that there's more stories from River's Bend to discover.

Love At Last by Claudia Connor

Oh!! Claudia Connor has a knack for gifting us with a story that starts at the beach and ends just as beautiful in real life (think, Worth the Fall). I fell in love quickly with this sweet, adorable story and it just kept getting stronger through to the end. I loved how Deacon was as a father and how he refused to give up on Clare. I loved Clare's heart and how she was willing to take a chance on Deacon no matter how much she was scared to.

If you love the easy kind of read but still has some good depth to it, if you love single-daddy story lines, if you need that sweet kinda book to get over a book hangover with (like I did!) this is one you want to grab and enjoy!

Beneath a Horse-Thief Moon by Elizabeth Clements

(Prairie Moon Trilogy book 1)

Anything worth having is worth fighting for -- and oh my goodness, did Chase have a fight on his hands to win his Sara and claim their hea!! But it was one that had amazing rewards and was so desperately needed for both of them.

I was immediately hooked once I started this book and I didn't want to have to put it down! This story delivered on all the emotions - laughter and swooning, sorrow and triumph. And getting to watch that connection between Sara and Chase as it sizzled and sparked....sometimes hot, sometimes cold, but always undeniable, so totally worth it!

I loved Chase's heart and stubbornness. He was the perfect compliment to Sara. He made me laugh and happy sigh over and over again.

I loved Sara's heart and strength. She held things together and refused to be beaten down. Her heart was so filled with love that despite the way she struggled with expressing it, it was a thing of beauty.

I needed a moment to catch my breath after experiencing Chase and Sara's journey to their happily ever after. This is definitely one story that will stick with me and has a place on my favorites shelf.