Drawn into Love by Aurora Rose Reynolds

Yes!! This is probably tied for 1st place for favorites in this series, maybe with two other books, haha! idk! It's so hard to decide sometimes! There's so much I loved about this story: the easy flow, the quick talk outs about drama/issues, how they're on the same page together more than not, the sweet, the heat, the sparks, the dog, the kid, the entire vibe! Courtney was the perfect match for Lucas (and Maddie) and filled a gaping hole in their hearts, and Lucas and Maddie patched up Courtney's wounds and filled her up.

This is a great kinda 'reset' book when you're needing something easy to fall into, but still have depth and all the feels.

Patrice’s Shame by Agnes Alexander

One I started Patrice and Gavin's story, I had a hard time putting it down! I enjoyed every moment at the Hopewell Ranch, getting to know the Barlow brothers and dig deeper into Patrice's story.

Patrice struggles with her identity and culture shock as secrets that can destroy a reputation start circulating and send her running across the country. Digging deeper past her nasty attitude, you can see the young woman trying to figure out who she is and where she belongs and how to keep herself (and her secrets) safe. Unfortunately, bad choices lead to more until drastic events finally help set her on the right course.

Gavin definitely has his hands full when Patrice shows up, and confusion and conflict abound. He is drawn to her, but yet, her attitude puts him off. He questions what's real and what isn't. But Gavin is also a stand-up, honorable man, and realizes that there's something in Patrice he needs to dig deeper to help her discover.

After the initial rough and tumble get-to-really-know-ya time, the drama starts coming from outside forces, giving Gavin and Patrice a chance to fight the new battles side-by-side and build a good foundation.

I loved the family atmosphere and life on the ranch. It definitely became a safe haven for Gavin and Patrice, and provided a terrific afternoon escape for myself.

I've Got You, Babe by Lynnette Austin

I enjoyed this damsel-in-distress and hero-who-needs-fixin' sweet story. I loved everything in how they met, how Tucker's world got tangled up-side-down with the two girls arrival and how quickly the pieces of their puzzle started falling into place. Tucker had some fun quirks and some heavy burdens weighing him down. My heart melted watching him work through his struggles. Elisa carried her own secrets and heavy burdens and found a refuge both with Tucker and in Misty Bottoms while she worked through her own things. I adored Elisa and Daisy's mix of strong and sweet vulnerability.

Despite the times where the story seemed to bog down (with misunderstandings and push/pull reactions), I loved seeing Tucker and Elisa figure things out and how family and friends surrounded them.

This is a great story to fall into if you're looking for good doses of sweet giggles along with angsty moments, and an hea that'll make you happy-sigh..

Review: One Midsummer's Knight anthology

Unicorn Summer

Such a different and cute story! Ffion finds herself transported to a faery world and has lessons to learn...and to teach. Sir Randal is already there and has to prove he's learned his lessons and is ready to change.

Written with almost a lyrical rhythm, Unicorn Summer delivers an unique twist and a charming voice to share both valuable truths and a sweet hea.

MIDSUMMER’S PROMISE
Kathryn and Richard's story charmed me with their connection, with the touch of special/otherworldly, and with the depth of the world built. This story packs a hard punch and I loved it!





*the rest of the stories are on my tbr pile.

Until Joe by C.P. Smith

I could go on and on (and on and on) about my total adoration for this story, but really, this is all you need to know:

Joe. (that's it; 'nuf said. simply Joe says EVERYTHING).
Sweet and sassy and adorable and wise Bernice (she melts me).
Devin (oh boy, I think I fell more in love with the man).
The Wallflowers (they make my heart smile huge).

Grab this story NOW and settle in for a hea that'll pull at your heart-strings, that'll fill you up with goodness, that'll make you bite your nails and growl, that'll make your breath catch, and that'll make you want to immediately start a reread once "The End" is reached.

CP Smith does an amazing job tying her Wallflowers series into ARR's Until series and breathing life into her characters and their world. You won't want to miss out on this story!

Stumbling into Love by Aurora Rose Reynolds

I loved everything about this story - from the way they met, to working out the new-relationship quirks to settling into their hea. Loved how Wesley chased down his Mac and then how Mac could both stand up for herself, but also know when to give in too. This was an easy book to fall into and keep coming back to (audio while driving!). Definitely a winner and I'm ready for more!

A SEAL Never Quits by Holly Castillo

I loved how I was pulled into this story - the connection between the main characters, the brotherhood shown with the team, and the way the small Texas town and ranch and the missions came to life around me. I appreciated and adored getting to really feel and understand both Anya and Stryker, getting lots of time in both of their heads and riding out the push and pull of their relationship. Add in a crazy bad-guy story line that delivers just the right amount of anxiety, suspense, and surprises and you have a attention-grabbing action-adventure suspense romance story!

I loved how Anya was a mix of sweet, strong and vulnerable - the perfect compliment to Stryker's protective nature and tough-guy emotional needs. These two truly needed the other one, fitting together like they should.

I look forward to the next book, seeing what's next for this SEAL team to uncover and see another SEAL heart be conquered.

At Peace by Kristen Ashley

2019 audio reread - I had to go slow... because I had fallen in love so hard with Joe and his girls that I didn't want it to end. It's been long enough since my last visit, it was a refreshing visit, and boy, did I not want it to end! Think I'm skipping over to The Promise next just so I can get more of them along with Frankie and Benny.

~~~~~~~~
This was one of the first KA books I discovered and boy, did it hook me and make me an addict!!

I mean, this is Joe! And Vi and the girls with Joe?! (swoon!) I've absolutely have fallen in love with Joe and his girls and how they gave Joe what he needed and then he in turn gave them exactly what they needed. I adored "buddy" and when I learned the story behind how that came to be, I loved it all the more.

This book has some of the most intense scenes that keep hitting me hard every time I read it, even though I know it's coming now. Doesn't matter, I still get gutted. That just makes this all the more epic of a story!

(and I love how in The Promise we get even more of Joe and Vi's story!)

*review updated 2019

Cooper's Promise by Caitlyn O'Leary

Cooper and Brenna's story rocks!! I love how this shorter novella delivered all the feels and heavy punch just like a full length novel would. I was fully invested in the story as well as the characters and had the happy-feel-good-sighs when I reached the last page.

Cooper had some pretty heavy hang-ups and didn't want to screw up things with Brenna, but he sure could put his foot in his mouth. lol But he also figured out how to make up for it magnificently! Brenna was awesome in how she played the damsel only halfway in distress (rocked both being strong and being vulnerable) and didn't let Cooper slide and called him out on his crap. Loved the family feels/dynamic to things too, with her brother and Cooper's bosses.

Definitely a great summer read while chillin' (or sweatin') out on the deck!

Declan by Caitlyn O'Leary

This book. omgoodness, THIS BOOK.

From the heart-wrenching beginning to the beauty-filled ending, Declan filled my reader's heart and made me smile and swoon and simply feel . It took me a second to get into the swing of a full male first person narrative, but once I did, omgoodness did I love experiencing the story through Declan's head. I think that made the story all that more easy to invest in and be hooked tight from beginning to end.

Declan is the kind of alpha hero I love -- protective, determined, strong, bossy, but with a deeper soft-spot that keeps him real. Also, I just couldn't stop swoonin' over his love and care for children. I really identified with the empathy Declan displayed throughout the entire book.

Allie is the kind of heroine I also adore, soft, sweet, and strong all wrapped up together in a vulnerable and tough package. She has a beauty and light from deep down that couldn't be smothered. There was something about her that really connected to me too - and then getting to see Allie through Declan's eyes....

I couldn't get enough of seeing the brotherhood and deep bond of Declan's teammates and other friends, and seeing how their relationship with each other was rock solid (or growing to that). Some of the boy convos made me giggle, thinking they're just as bad as girls sometimes with their gabbing.

Throw in some deeper drama and some unexpected twists, and this was one un-put-down-able story. I can't wait to get more in this series!

Until Cobi by Aurora Rose Reynolds

I simply adored every bit of Cobi and Hadley's story - so much of it felt like it was perfectly written for me with all the favorite things I look for in a story: insta (but not) relationship/like/love, alpha male, sweet heroine, family, friends, outside drama, some special "quirks"/details. I'm almost thinking that Cobi and Hadley's story may have wiggled it's way to top three ARR stories!

Beneath a Fugitive Moon by Elizabeth Clements

When you dive into this story, be prepared for twists to flip what you expect around.

Jolene lives up to her mother's example and reputation by being a very strong and determined woman. She knows she's ready to find a husband and build a family on a foundation of love (just as she's seen in her parents' lives) and she sets out to accomplish that. Despite the lengths she needs to go to and no matter how determined she is, she still is young and has a vulnerability to her that shines through. I loved getting to meet Molly and see Jolene's friendship with her grow.

Mike is unique in how widely his personality varied from confidence with dealing with threats and outlaws to his mix of insecurity in handling Jolene and his yearning for her. He's at a loss to know how to balance the quickly growing feelings he has for his girl, win her love, and yet respect the close friendship he has with her father. He's also young and despite being a US Marshall, still has a soft innocence to him that grew from a heart-breaking past.

This story was heavier on their relationship with hints of outside drama till closer to the end when the excitement built up a little more and carried the story through to a sweet finish. I really liked watching Mike and Jolene dance around each other and then celebrated with them when they finally worked through their uncertainties to earn their hea. Some parts of their story made me pause and wonder - but knowing that they fit each other well and would make it through their doubts and struggles kept me going.

I'm looking forward to the last of the trilogy to see how all the loose ends are tied up and the next couple gets their hea. The hints for Molly and Josh have me intrigued and wanting more!

Pretty Bride by Kati Wilde

I loved this story!! This Dead Lands series has quickly become a favorite world to visit and characters to fall in love with. It's different, fun, hot, ott, and just a perfect fantasy escape.

I adored how we got to see who Jalisa truly was rather quickly and how smitten Aruk was with her. Aruk sure was skillful in many areas...including the bed chamber or beach. Haha. They are a delightful pair.

I can't wait for more to come from this world!