The Football Pants Chronicles by Tessa Bailey

Quirky, cute, steamy hot and even a touch inspiring. Tessa rocked the whole dirty-talking football fanfic challenge. Loved Lizzy and AJ's insta-love story.

Listened on the Read Me Romance podcast, and looking forward to the ebook -- I got some highlights and bookmarks to make! ha!

Closer by Kylie Scott

While I liked the story and characters enough to finish it, and I loved the blurb/plot line for the story, I just wasn't able to fully connect with the characters - and not because of the length. I loved the strong and silent type for Ziggy, and I appreciated Mae's overall attitude. But I kinda felt disconnected to Mae and couldn't quite get into her headspace to truly appreciate the quirks that were supposed to make up her.

I know others will love this, it just wasn't one meant for me right now.

Logan's Lady by Rosanne Bittner

Logan and Elizabeth's story is a giggle-filled, heart-melting, and nail-biting journey to get to their well deserved and much needed happily-ever-after.

Elizabeth had some growing up to do and life lessons to learn - and then add in the culture shock changes going from London to the wild west of America and she was definitely in over her head. She had an underlying strength to her that pulled her through all the situations she faced. My heart went out to her through the beginning struggles and then fell in love with Logan right along side her.

Logan had a larger-than-life feel to him, flowing off the pages with his physical presence, his control, his honor code, his protectiveness, his power, his charm, and his sense of humor. The demons chasing him worked to give him the inner determination to heal and built the foundation for him to become stronger than his crippling past. There's a reason women were drawn to him, and I was not immune to his power. Just Logan being perfectly Logan kept me coming back for more of the story and made me fall for him hard.

The only thing I wasn't a fan of was that it took till about 40% before Logan and Elizabeth even met each other. I understood the importance in us living out the back-story and following their journeys to each other, because that gave us the exact mindset they were in when they each were ready to finally find the other and were in desperate need of the other. And in fact, it was rather fun to realize what all decisions and actions had to take place in order to get a woman like Elizabeth across an ocean and into a situation where she fell under Logan's protection. Add in getting an intimate view of Logan's sense of honor and respect and understand why he'd respond the way he did to Elizabeth makes that lack of time together at the beginning worth it. Although, I still would have loved to have experienced more of Elizabeth learning new survival skills from Logan. What helped to make up for it for me besides how quickly they bonded together once they were together, was the epilogue at the end which jumped forward about a year and gave us a glimpse of their settled future.

Logan's Lady is an awesome story to spend a weekend being lost in. Definitely not one to miss if you're a fan of Rosanne Bittner and/or historical western stories.

*review updated today

SEAL at Sunrise by Caitlyn O'Leary

Holy swoony alpha yummy!! Liam makes my heart pitter-patter and melts me with his protectiveness!

Working with members of the Shadow Alliance team, Liam needs just a little more help to figure out the puzzle pieces to a nightmarish evil plan they accidentally encountered. And in walks Addison - the woman who's haunted his past for years. Liam doesn't waste a moment in claiming Addison for his own, knowing that he can't risk losing her again, and finds himself facing the challenge of winning her heart once more.

I adore Addison. She's a darling mix of strong and soft, of vulnerable and determined. She knew herself, survived some hard hits, accepted what she was given, and wasn't afraid to push through the tough to make the good she was after become solid and secure.

Liam is the kind of alpha hero I am drawn to over and over again -- older, confident, strong, protective. He's got the right kind of take-charge attitude to make others heed, but is gentle enough to balance out the tough. He chose what was right over what was easy, and wasn't afraid to fight for what he wanted. I really wanted to become Addison just so I could have Liam's attention focused all on me.

I love the family dynamic that was brought into this story from both Liam and Addison's sides. Although I have to admit, since Deacon is a favorite CO'L character, I was partial to seeing more of him around and giggling at his and Liam's banter.

And can I just say, that last rescue scene? That was a breath-stealing moment of beauty (and anxiety).

Mixing an engrossing bad-guy story line with an irresistible love story, SEAL at Sunrise captivates from beginning to end. I didn't want to walk away and once I finished, I immediately dove back in to reread favorite moments. This is the kind of military romantic suspense love story I treasure and look forward to revisiting often.

Claiming Sarah by Susan Stoker

Adorable and sweet!

Something about this book just works for me... The sweet gentleness of Sarah, the rough and protectiveness of Cole, the kinda easy normal of their relationship and the way they compliment each other, the unique bad guy story line. It all blended into a story that made me smile and gave me the feel goods.

This is a great story if you're wanting a little suspense with a easy going but heart-warming book to fall into.

Trading Horse by Darrel Sparkman

Trading Horse is a fun story that made me feel like I had my grandpa sitting here regaling the story of how he met and fell in love with my grandma.

You kinda get a feeling there's more to Jim than what needs the eye, but as the story goes on, you become more convinced that appearances are truly deceiving and there's definitely more to the man - even a fancy suit can't hide. Connie is a great match for Jim. Her attitude, charm, and fight keeps him on his toes and keeps her from being boring to him.

It's cute watching them figure the other out and how the meddling of folks around them help to push them along. When you realize just what trading horse means and how it comes into play, you'll find yourself chuckling and shaking your head.

This is a easy-to-read winsome little story to be lost in for an hour or so.

A Bride for Brynmor by Jacqui Nelson

Cute and sweet, A Bride for Brynmor offers a lighthearted suspense and a charming happily-ever-after.

Lark and Brynmor have a history, one that refuses to let stubbornness and a sense of independence stand in the way. And this time, Bryn doesn't want to let go.

Brynmor knows Lark is the girl for him, and he steps up to show his sincerity in both wanting her and standing by her side with whatever trouble she (and her sisters) face, however he can.

Lark has her hands full dealing with her uncle and her sisters. Her independent streak and sense of responsibility and protection for those she loves is beautiful to witness, even as much as you find yourself willing her to accept Bryn's assistance and not feel so alone.

It was quite the adventure watching these two work through their last hurdles to claim each other's hearts. Throw in a couple of cute lambs and a family secret revealed and you get everything from giggles to surprises.

And gotta mention, good ol' Grandpa Gus! He stole the show in a couple of scenes and provided a much welcomed sense of humor and wisdom.

While A Bride for Brynmor can be read as a stand alone, readers are introduced to many of the characters in Robyn, A Christmas Bride, and may find greater enjoyment by reading it first.

The Outlaw's Heart by Amy Sandas

Powerful and intense, The Outlaw's Heart delivers a heart-wrenchingly beautiful tale of healing, strength, and love.

Eve and Gabriel are perfect matches for each other - their histories and personalities created adults who desperately needed what the other had to give, as well as needed to give what the other needed. I loved how connected they were from the moment they were in the other's presence - their silent communication showing the depth of that bond, providing a quiet, a peace, and a safe place. They truly were the other's soulmate - and getting to experience both Eve and Gabriel recognize and then believe in, and then chase down to fully embrace their connection, melted me. My heart felt all their struggles and triumphs, fears and desires, right along side them. The pacing and rhythm of the story and their relationship flowed flawlessly for me.

This is the kind of story I didn't know I needed until I experienced it.

While I am sad that the series is over, I love knowing that I can revisit them at any time. The Runaway Brides series as a whole quickly found a treasured favorite place on my bookshelves, and is definitely not one to pass over if you're a fan of historical western romance and love being captured by a talented storyteller's world.

Rescuing Raven by Jacqui Nelson

Loved getting to catch up with an adult Charlie Jennings (who we first met in one of my favorite Oregon Trail stories: Between Heaven and Hell) and seeing how he grew up. With a handful of excitement and a dash of suspense and a heaping dollop of sweetness, I was whisked away into an endearing story, falling in love with Charlie and Raven as they found, rescued, and claimed the other.

This is a delightful addition to Jacqui Nelson's Lonesome Hearts series.