Ruth: The Rescued Bride by Hebby Roman

(A West Texas Frontier Trilogy Book 1)

This is a sweet easy-to-read (not quite light-hearted, but also not a heavy read either, despite the trials Ruth and Jacob face) story that made for a great weekend read.

Even with losing everything and being so young, Ruth had a strength about her. It hurt me to see her struggle with finding her place and taking all the hits she faced and yet keep fighting to make it through.

Jacob had a toughness about him that made him survive in a prejudiced world and gave him the fortitude to become the man he was. He also had a sense of gentleness and understanding to what Ruth was facing. Despite his growing attraction and love for Ruth, Jacob knew that she needed the hard truths he shared with her, even if it meant he had to hurt himself to give her what she truly needed.

The two of them together found the comfort and love they needed to build a new life. Their history allowed for a unique acceptance and compassion for the other that I know will carry over after the last page.

Ruth was the first Hebby Roman story I read and I'm looking forward to the rest of the trilogy!

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.

The Comanchero's Bride by Kaye Spencer

Consuming intensity.

The Comanchero's Bride quickly kidnapped my attention and pulled me into a consuming intense story.

Elizabeth found her real self and thrived beautifully when she was banished to Texas as a punishment for not following the path laid out by her parents. Her tenacity and loyalty and all-encompassing beauty from inside out endeared her to me.

Mingo, while being a well-off Mexican rancher/landowner, kept his bad-boy, dangerous, fiercely powerful air about him. He was a man with many secrets and a past that created a very special, worthy, and captivating hero. His love and focus and devotion to Elizabeth melted my heart over and over again.

Their journey to their hea was intense. So many trials I didn't expect to see, so many heart-stuttering and shattering moments that tangled me up. Add in a bad-guy story line so rabid I had to pause and remind myself that I would get a happily-ever-after (because... well... read the story and you'll find out!). But intertwined within the pages is an enduring love story that makes you believe that love can conquer all.

The Innocents by C.A. Asbrey

(The Innocents Mystery Series Book 1)

If you're looking for a mystery to twist your mind, awesome dialogue that makes you legit laugh out loud, and characters to fall in love with… Look no further!!

The Innocents, the debut novel by C. A. Asbrey, fully delivers!

From the first page I was immediately captured and drawn deep into the story. My curiosity on who and what and how and when ensured that I remained tightly intrigued and invested. As it were, having to close the pages and be present in real life was difficult to accomplish. So... it didn't happen often. Ha! And even after the last page was complete I was diving back in to re-experience some of my favorite scenes.

Abi is quite the leading lady, with her wits, her strength, her passion, and her vulnerability. I'm not afraid to admit that I want to adopt some of the same tricks and traits that make her her. Especially that hair pin...

Nat. (happy sigh) Nat’s sense of honor, compassion, and humor endeared him to me. And whoever said being smart isn’t sexy? They haven’t encountered Nat. The way that man adored and pursued the challenge of being around Abi and taking on what he did had me melting… even through the few rough moments. He sure knows how to use his mind and turn up the charm and… never mind. If I say too much more I'll ruin it. Just trust me.

Jake. The muscle. Haha. Oh, Jake! His claim to loyalty, family, and his soft under the gruff scary exterior won my heart over. He had his own unique charm about him that made him the perfect partner to Nat, and one of the most adored characters in the story.

I loved how the words flowed off the page, weaving the world around me and bringing all the characters to life. I was laughing as much as I was sifting through all the clues to determine what was happening and who was going to do what next.

The Innocents is a delightfully unique story that will appeal to all readers. Whether you love a western or a mystery, with just a dash of heat thrown in, this will most definitely satisfy.

I was delighted to discover that it’s the first book in a series and that Abi, Nat, and Jake’s story is not over yet. I am most anxious to get the next book in my hands to see what journey C. A. Asbrey takes me (and you!) on next!

Sins and Scarlet Lace by Liliana Hart

(The MacKenzie Family #8)

OH!! I loved Declan and Sophia's story! Action/adventure, spicy heat, and family loyalty fill every page. Declan is all swoony protective and bossy and Sophia is a pleasant mix of tough and soft.

I'm slowly pickin' and choosing my way through the MacKenzie family books and keep finding myself swept away into their world with each book I pick up.

Until Sunrise by Sarah O'Rourke

What a fun story!!! And finally! One with a heroine named Michelle!! Haha!!

Luka was amazing! From chasing away the blind date, to his OTT alpha claiming of Michelle, he made me swoon.

I was empathetic to Michelle's struggle with accepting Luka's attention. Loved that once she finally chose to have faith and take a chance on them, she was all in.

I really enjoyed this story and experiencing Michelle and Luka's BOOM! Definitely a fun way to spend some reading hours.

Until More by S. Van Horne

Happily Ever Alpha Kindle World

This was a fun, sweet story that I really enjoyed.

I appreciated seeing the care and love poured into Maddison, Conti's sister, by everyone surrounding her -- what a treasure she was!

I loved seeing Conti's quick forgiveness and determination to fix the past with Crystal and claim the happy future they both desire and deserve.

I loved seeing Crystal be brave and take a chance at having a family of her own.

Until Susan by CP Smith

part of the Kindle World: Happily Ever Alpha

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EEK! I got the BOOM!

Yeah, so, up until a couple of weeks ago, I hadn't read any of ARR's Until books, so I really had no clue what the big deal was about the BOOM. Then when I heard that one of my top favorite authors would be writing in a Kindle World for ARR, I picked up a book and got introduced to the Maysons and to the BOOM. You don't have to have read any of ARR's books if you were in the same boat as me, though. The way this book was written, I learned all I needed to know, although at least knowing a bit of Until November's story line did enhance the scene a bit more.

Anyways! I freakin' LOVED James and Susan's story! CP Smith brought her characters to life in a way only she can and made me fall head over heals for both James and Susan. I wanted to be Susan so I could have all of James' attention directly focused on me. And James is the kind of man I ADORE as a book boyfriend - bossy, strong, confident, devoted (aka, alpha!) and the icing on the cake: got a badge and a gun! The connection between the two of them sparked off the page and made my heart stutter and melt over and over again. I felt everything they did, from the anticipation, the bracing, the joy (oh, was I laughing alot in this!), the fear. It all drew me into their world so that I was stuck there and really wanted to sweetly request (read: demand) for more because I didn't want to hurt from having to close the book on the last page. That's how you know you've discovered an amazing story.

When they're done well, I love prologues and epilogues -- and the way they were done here? PRICELESS! haha! Absolutely stinkin' loved it!

Texas Gold by Tracy Garrett

You know that feeling you get when you crack open a book and as the words float off the page and weave around your heart, you know you've just discovered something special?

Well, that was me with Rachel and Jake's story.

From the first moment Jake landed on Rachel's porch needing help, and Rachel discovered him and took him in, you could feel the "something" that sparked between them, even though both had demons from their past that kept them from fully acknowledging that "something." The drama and trials and adventures they faced together and separately helped both to grow and dig deep into their hearts about what really matters and what they really needed and wanted. The story moved quickly, but it didn't feel rushed either. Each layer to the story naturally grew and settled as you worked through everything - from the relationships to the surprising twists thrown in.

What especially clicked with me was the way Tracy Garrett used her words to build her world. I was sucked into the pages in such a way that I was living and breathing the story - experiencing everything as Jake and Rachel were. Remarkable story-telling like that isn't always easy to find, and I'm delighted to have discovered a new book to treasure and revisit often.