Matchgin Hearts by Ellie Hartwood

From Goodreads:

Can a self-centered prima donna survive the trial by fire and find her own everlasting love?

Delia Campbell is abrasive, self-centered, beautiful . . . and on parole. With freedom finally in sight, she's ready to meet the man of her dreams. In Delia's world that means rich . . . very rich.

But when she finds herself back in the courtroom at the mercy of an alarmingly creative judge, Delia is tasked with helping the rich and famous in search of real happiness.

No problem. Right?
Wrong.

Delia is not a rule follower and her parole officer is nipping at her heels.

Enter Trevor Dawson, a handsome electrician with little patience for entitled, narcissistic Delia. Especially when she's recruiting him as an accomplice in one of her questionable schemes.

What could possibly go wrong?

My Take:

I have mixed feelings about this book, but in the end, it wasn't too bad. Let me try to explain. Delia is an extremely unlikable character in the beginning of the story. She's selfish and manipulative, and there really wasn't anything about her that I could relate to. This made it hard to root for her to find love. In fact, I almost quit reading.

However, I've enjoyed this author before and wanted to see if she could redeem Delia. I believe she did a pretty good job of it. By the end, I liked her much better even though she went about everything all wrong. Trevor was great, June and Patrick were great. If not for Delia's friends sticking by her and patiently letting her figure things out and grow, this would have been harder to finish.

There were many moments when I wanted to scream, "Just tell everyone the truth!" I don't know if real people would be so dumb as to do what Delia does at the end to bring everything crashing down...after everything fell apart...no spoilers here, though.

In the end, things came together despite Delia's inability to make good choices (and I understood why she struggled). It was nice to read about older characters, and all scenes of a physical nature were behind closed doors for a clean read. There weren't even swear words, either.

In the end, I give this story a 3.75 rounded to a 4 for keeping it clean.

1-5 scale and what it means:

1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad

2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing

3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive

3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love

4: Solid mind candy / worth reading

4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read

5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure

Glitter in the Stars (Space Janitor #3) by Julia Huni

From Goodreads:

Cleaning the galaxy, one cruise ship at a time.

When maintenance technician Triana Moore gets temporarily transferred to a passenger liner, she doesn't expect luxury and relaxation. Bot-minding is the same on a station or a ship. But with twelve-hour workdays and five roommates in her cabin, Triana thinks she should have read the employment contract more carefully.

Days into the cruise, her boss, Les, goes missing. Triana dusts off her sleuthing skills to start snooping. Together with a retired Marine Corps dance instructor, a socially inept hospitality intern, and her favorite security agent, she must navigate more than just the solar system. They dodge dance competition divas, reality show cameras, and the occasional wealthy sociopath to search for the missing supervisor.

Will they find Les before she goes dancing through the stars? And will they find time to hit the buffet before all the chocolate strawberries are gone?

My Take:

Ah, it's so good to return to the world of our snarky, chocolate loving Triana Moore, space janitor and incognito hi-lev. I enjoyed book three much more than book two. Triana is in full form as she stumbles into yet another mystery while working on a space cruise as a cover for her trip to Sally Ride for a big meeting where she will represent her family. (I'm guessing that's what the next book will be about.) There's still no sign of Bobby Putin, but there is plenty of dangerous fun.

I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrator did a fantastic job. It was easy to get lost in the story and simply enjoy. Highly recommended. I give book three in the Space Janitor series a 4.5 and a Clean/PG rating. (I actually want to see Triana and Ty kiss!) 1-5 scale and what it means: 1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad 2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing 3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive 3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love 4: Solid mind candy / worth reading 4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read 5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure Movie Ratings in relation to my review: Clean--Hallmark movies, some kissing, no nudity, no intimacy on or off "screen" PG--Some innuendo but nothing kids don't hear every day, intimacy is all closed door PG-13--some language (swear words not related to intimacy), more talk about intimacy, heavy petting, removal of clothing on screen, but intimacy is closed door. PG-14—somewhere between PG-13 and R. Not erotica, but at least a paragraph of on-screen intimacy R--swearing (F-bomb, on “screen” intimacy, sometimes feels like the whole story is about the intimacy and not the relationship or some other plot, but not always

Becoming Hook by Mary Mecham

From Goodreads:

A pirate, a pixie, and a plot to foil Peter Pan…

James Hook never meant to become a pirate, and never dreamed that he would turn against best friend, Peter Pan. Every adventure and eternal youth awaited them… until a pixie exposes a shocking revelation. Tinkerbell’s information forces James into acknowledging that, far from being the benevolent hero he painted himself to be, Peter Pan was kidnapping innocent children.

After accepting the traumatic loss of his hand and of the family he can barely remember, James deserts Pan. In the fight to rescue the Lost Boys, Hook will risk everything, even if that means becoming the most notorious villain in Neverland… or losing the fiery pixie who is stealing his heart.

Can the original Lost Boy vanquish Neverland’s greatest threat?

My Take: 

This was a lovely surprise. I enjoyed seeing the story from James Hook's point of view and appreciated all the nuances of a different perspective. Tinker Bell and James made a great team as they tried to rescue the lost boys from Peter Pan's devious clutches. By part three, I ached for poor James. It seemed Peter would always be a step or two ahead. 

Thoroughly enjoyable! I give Becoming Hook a solid 4 because I enjoyed it (and related to it) better than Peter Pan. 

1-5 scale and what it means: 

1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad 

2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing 

3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive 

3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love 

4: Solid mind candy / worth reading 

4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read 

5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure

Paint the Grass by H.R. Boyd

From Amazon (I couldn't find it on Goodreads yet):

“You have to lose something first, before you can find it . . .” 

Bethany Taylor has been missing for twenty years. She just doesn’t know it. 

She does know how to be the perfect hostess for her husband’s corporate events. She knows how to fill out scholarship paperwork and set up dorm rooms for her boys. She knows how to create the perfect life for her entire family. And for twenty years that’s exactly what she’s been doing. 

Until the day her husband says “I love you” to his perky-boobed running buddy. 

A single sucker punch to the heart shoves Bethany’s missing life to center stage. 

Two choices come to mind. One requires a pair of pliers, a really sharp knife, and relocating to Morocco. The other, slightly less costly option, calls for a journal, a purple pen, and several cans of spray paint. 

Because a fresh coat of paint can fix all kinds of problems—and maybe even mark the path to a new life. 

Paint the Grass is a hilarious and heartwarming novel that celebrates the process of losing something before you find it and the joy that comes from living life true to yourself.

My Take:

First, this is women's fiction rather than romance, which is slightly outside my normal reading. Having said that, I enjoyed this immensely. There were moments in this story that tugged painfully at my heart because I totally related to the emotions Bethany was going through. My husband has never done what her does, but there are still times when I've felt so lonely right beside him that I could barely stand it.  

However, this book isn't really about sadness. It's about a woman taking back her life and figuring out what she wants and where she will make a difference. It's about empowerment and the lifting gift of sisterhood. I found myself setting my own "paint the grass" types of goals as I read. 

Remember what I love, do something scary, show kindness, and be happy being alone are just a few of her daily goals. Every one of them is an exercise in self-evaluation and a potential for growth and deeper happiness. 

I give Paint the Grass by H.R. Boyd 5 stars and a CLEAN rating.

1-5 scale and what it means:

1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad

2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing

3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive

3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love

4: Solid mind candy / worth reading

4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read

5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure

Movie Ratings in relation to my review:

Clean--Hallmark movies, some kissing, no nudity, no intimacy on or off "screen"

PG--Some innuendo but nothing kids don't hear every day, intimacy is all closed door

PG-13--some language (swear words not related to intimacy), more talk about intimacy, heavy petting, removal of clothing on screen, but intimacy is closed door.

PG-14—somewhere between PG-13 and R. Not erotica, but at least a paragraph of on-screen intimacy

R--swearing (F-bomb, on “screen” intimacy, sometimes feels like the whole story is about the intimacy and not the relationship or some other plot, but not always

The Delta Family Romances by Cami Checketts

From Amazon:

A family sworn to protect a secret so dangerous it may destroy them all. Don't miss this fast-paced and flirtatious clean romantic suspense series by USA Today Bestselling Author Cami Checketts.

Delta Family Romances
Deceived
Abandoned
Committed
Betrayed
Devoted
Compromised
Endangered
Accepted
Returned
Devastated

My Take:

Cami Checketts is one of my favorite romantic suspense authors because I know there will be a good balance of suspense and danger mixed in with the romance. This review is for the 10-book Delta Family Romances. This is a Christian romantic suspense series. So, romance with Christian values of no sex before marriage (These characters share an intense attraction to each other, but manage to stay in control of their desires), prayers for strength and guidance during the suspense parts, and some good guys fighting bad guys stuff.;

The suspense and mystery of what the Delta weapon was and how that would all play out was really good. I loved getting to know and care for this family over the course of the book, making the last book more emotional than I expected. One of the best things about the characters was that they were not perfect. Each one had real-life issues that they needed to work through with the help of their soulmates. 

The romances were sweet, and yes, I'd call them soulmate romances. Why? Because all of them were insta-love with intense connections zinging between the couples. We have strong men and women which is a lovely change from the normal romantic suspense. The girls weren't useless and could often best their men in a fight. The feelings of love hit them fast and developed just as fast. 

The books were all quick reads for me. However, I did find myself skimming a lot to get to the action. There was a lot of internal thought that felt repetitive at times. I'd glance through paragraphs at a time to get to the dialogue. These books felt like 30% dialogue and 70% rumination by the characters. 

We are constantly reminded of what the emotional issue was holding the person back from accepting the love being offered. A few times I did get frustrated with that and wish they would hurry up and move on. There were a couple of instances where if the couple had sat down and talked for ten minutes everything would have been fine. However, I did read all ten books, so they must not have been too annoying. :)

All in all, I give the entire series 4 Stars and a Clean rating.

1-5 scale and what it means:

1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad

2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing

3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive

3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love

4: Solid mind candy / worth reading

4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read

5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure

Movie Ratings in relation to my review:

Clean--Hallmark movies, some kissing, no nudity, no intimacy on or off "screen"

PG--Some innuendo but nothing kids don't hear every day, intimacy is all closed door

PG-13--some language (swear words not related to intimacy), more talk about intimacy, heavy petting, removal of clothing on screen, but intimacy is closed door.

PG-14—somewhere between PG-13 and R. Not erotica, but at least a paragraph of on-screen intimacy

R--swearing (F-bomb, on “screen” intimacy, sometimes feels like the whole story is about the intimacy and not the relationship or some other plot, but not always

Frozen Hearts by Ellie Hartwood

From Goodreads:

Jo’s an uptight New York transplant.

Jared’s a mountain man with a clingy husky named Petunia.

He’s fire; she’s ice.

When life forces them back together, old rivalries flare. Will Jo and Jared ignite a spontaneous combustion . . . or will love finally thaw their Frozen Hearts?

My Take:

This is a fun little romance set in Alaska. I love destination stories, and having been to Sitka a couple of years back, I could really settle into this one. 

The characters were interesting and the story well written. I enjoyed it, but I thought the "thing" that Jared did when they were teens was going to be way worse than it was. It was hinted at for so long and built up to the point that when it came out it was a bit of a let down. Not bad, but not as satisfying as I expected. In fact, it made Jo seem really petty and immature about the whole thing after so many years. I did appreciate that after the truth came out, Jo immediately felt better/forgave Jared.

At the end, our couple is separated for a time while Jo tries to work things out. She completely ghosts Jared, her aunt, and her best friends in Sitka for several months only to reappear at the end and all it mended. It worked, but I wanted a little more. 

Anyway, the book was nice, well-written, and cute. I give Frozen Hearts 3.75 stars and a Clean rating

1-5 scale and what it means:

1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad

2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing

3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive

3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love

4: Solid mind candy / worth reading

4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read

5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure

Movie Ratings in relation to my review:

Clean--Hallmark movies, some kissing, no nudity, no intimacy on or off "screen"

PG--Some innuendo but nothing kids don't hear every day, intimacy is all closed door

PG-13--some language (swear words not related to intimacy), more talk about intimacy, heavy petting, removal of clothing on screen, but intimacy is closed door.

PG-14—somewhere between PG-13 and R. Not erotica, but at least a paragraph of on-screen intimacy

R--swearing (F-bomb, on “screen” intimacy, sometimes feels like the whole story is about the intimacy and not the relationship or some other plot, but not always

Stranded For The Holidays

From Goodreads:

Stranded for the Holidays is a collection of clean romance novellas where the Hero and Heroine are stuck together!

The Yuletide Thief by Daisy Landish

A Clean Historical Holiday Romance

As a vicar’s daughter, Emily Hawthorne has few marriage prospects in the country. She loves children and has resigned herself to becoming a governess. Before leaving for London to seek employment, she decides to arrange a proper Christmas for the orphans of their church. But she’ll have to compete with Robin of Sussex, a highwayman who fancies himself the next Robin Hood.

Stranded with a Shifter by Marie-Hélène Lebeault

Stranded Together: A YA Holiday Romance

When Kayla stops in Jessie’s Café after a day of Christmas shopping, a cute guy offers to buy her coffee. But when they’re about to sit down, he makes up some excuse and bolts in a panic. Next thing she knows, Kayla is stuck in the department store elevator with him and everything changes.

Clueless at Christmas by Peyton Lawson

A Sweet Contemporary Holiday Romance

When a beautiful woman knocks on his cabin door in the middle of a blizzard on Christmas eve, Jacob can’t believe his luck. From the looks of it, Santa sent him an angel in the snowstorm.
But things are never as they seem...

Grounded for Christmas by Daisy Landish

A Classic Grumpy/Sunshine Sapphic Holiday Romance!

Jamie hates Christmas, and is less than looking forward to spending it with her mum, whose drinking problem always seems to worsen come the holidays.
But the arrival of Emma brings an unexpected twist to the season. Will she manage to raise a little holiday cheer out of her new friend?

My Take:

This was a super quick read. I liked that there were different romance genres in this set of short stories. They are cute, wholesome stories that will make you smile. They did feel a bit rushed to me though, and I wished the stories were longer. There just wasn't time to flesh out the characters with depth other than the romance thread. The one about the reindeer shifter had me laughing at the thought of a reindeer shifter. All the stories were in good fun.

All in all I'll give this 3.5 stars and a clean rating.

1-5 scale and what it means:
1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad
2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing
3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive
3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love
4: Solid mind candy / worth reading
4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read
5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure

Movie Ratings in relation to my review:
Clean--Hallmark movies, some kissing, no nudity, no intimacy on or off "screen"
PG--Some innuendo but nothing kids don't hear every day, intimacy is all closed door
PG-13--some language (swear words not related to intimacy), more talk about intimacy, heavy petting, removal of clothing on screen, but intimacy is closed door.
PG-14—somewhere between PG-13 and R. Not erotica, but at least a paragraph of on-screen intimacy
R--swearing (F-bomb, on “screen” intimacy, sometimes feels like the whole story is about the intimacy and not the relationship or some other plot, but not always

The Casserole Dish by Amey Zeigler

From Goodreads:

One broken woman. One broken house. One broken neighborhood. And one casserole dish to fix them all. 

After a painful divorce that left her house rehabbing business in shreds, Lisa Bennigan seeks to rebuild her life with her three children. When she inherits a house with lots of sweat equity, she throws herself into the renovation to avoid her pain and loss. 

While she attempts to rehab the house, she discovers the neighborhood also needs a little TLC. Backbiting and gossip have torn their cul-de-sac apart. Lisa hopes she can establish harmony by baking love into slightly magic casserole dishes shared with her neighbors and maybe even save her own heart as well.

My Take: 

This book falls firmly into the women's fiction category, which is not my normal read either. I guess I'm branching out this summer! There is a romance thread, but the main focus of the story is Lisa's journey of healing after her divorce as well as that of the neighborhood. 

This cut-de-sac is more of a mess than the house that needs to be decluttered and fixed up. Everyone is dealing with their own issues and their coping mechanism is to judge and complain about everyone else. Of course, this only makes everything worse. Jackson encourages Lisa to over an olive branch to try and make things better. She decides to take one neighbor a meal and wait to see what happens. 

This was an enjoyable read. I felt extremely lucky that I'd never experienced this kind of neighborhood. It made me appreciate all the great relationships I've enjoyed over my lifetime.

I give The Casserole Dish a solid 4 Stars and a Clean Rating.

1-5 scale and what it means:

1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad

2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing

3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive

3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love

4: Solid mind candy / worth reading

4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read

5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure

Movie Ratings in relation to my review:

Clean--Hallmark movies, some kissing, no nudity, no intimacy on or off "screen"

PG--Some innuendo but nothing kids don't hear every day, intimacy is all closed door

PG-13--some language (swear words not related to intimacy), more talk about intimacy, heavy petting, removal of clothing on screen, but intimacy is closed door.

PG-14—somewhere between PG-13 and R. Not erotica, but at least a paragraph of on-screen intimacy

R--swearing (F-bomb, on “screen” intimacy, sometimes feels like the whole story is about the intimacy and not the relationship or some other plot, but not always

 

I Hated You First by Rachel John

From Goodreads: 

Clay… My best friend has held a grudge against his half-sister, Lauren, forever. It’s unjustified and ridiculous, but I have to take his side. Also ridiculous? How bad I have it for her. My Lauren radar goes off the second she steps in the building. Did I mention we work together and her dad’s the boss? Yeah, she’s so off-limits I might as well start running now and never come back. Except, her family is like family to me. So, I’ll do whatever it takes to stick around, even if she hates my guts. 

Lauren… I date guys nothing like Clay on purpose. I will not let my old crush on him get the best of me. It’s going on the list of things I’ve outgrown and will deny ever having, like the Justin Bieber poster I used to keep on the back of my door. It doesn’t matter that I’ve caught Clay looking at me like he’s a jewel thief and I’m a precious gem encased in glass. He’d never choose me over my brother, or his job, or his enjoyment in teasing me. Avoiding Clay is easy, until the day I realize my dad’s asked for Clay’s help in checking up on my dates. No stinking way. 

My Take:
This was a fun and quirky read. The narrator did a great job bringing the characters to life and carrying the story forward. There were lots of cute moments between our characters as they moved from their uneasy “not my brother brother/sister” relationship to friendship and then romance. It was cute all around. 

 
I give I Hated You First a solid 4 stars and a Clean rating. 

 
1-5 scale and what it means: 

1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad 

2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing 

3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive 

3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love 

4: Solid mind candy / worth reading 

4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read 

5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure 

Movie Ratings in relation to my review:
Clean--Hallmark movies, some kissing, no nudity, no intimacy on or off "screen"
PG--Some innuendo but nothing kids don't hear every day, intimacy is all closed door
PG-13--some language (swear words not related to intimacy), more talk about intimacy, heavy petting, removal of clothing on screen, but intimacy is closed door.
PG-14—somewhere between PG-13 and R. Not erotica, but at least a paragraph of on-screen intimacy
R--swearing (F-bomb, on “screen” intimacy, sometimes feels like the whole story is about the intimacy and not the relationship or some other plot, but not always

A is for Author by Brenna Jacobs

I know it's been forever, but I simply haven't had much time for reading. Yesterday I had a meltdown and decided I was done being an adult. So, I grabbed my kindle and hid on the back porch for hours to read. So, here we go!

From Goodreads:
Emma Lindsor writes beautiful books adored by literary critics, even if readers don’t exactly line up for them. Aidan Maxwell writes heart-pounding thrillers with explosions and car chases. And thanks to his handsome face, readers line up for blocks to buy his novels.

Aidan Maxwell stands for everything Emma loathes, and when professional circumstances throw them together, sparks fly—angry ones. But as their paths keep crossing, will they see past their own hardwired ideas to star in a love story all their own?


My Take:

This is my first book by this author. I read a snippet at the end of a different book and decided to buy it. I'm glad I did. There were great characters I could relate to, believable challenges, and of course a great payoff at the end.

This was a clean romance with great chemistry but nothing that should remain behind closed doors.

I'm giving this one a full 5 stars (which is rare for romance from me) because it was well edited, nothing jerked me out of the story, it was believable while still being sweet. Plus, I read it in a day.

1-5 scale and what it means:
1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad
2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing
3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive
3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love
4: Solid mind candy / worth reading
4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read
5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure

Movie Ratings in relation to my review:
Clean--Hallmark movies, some kissing, no nudity, no sex on or off "screen"
PG--Some innuendo but nothing kids don't hear every day, sex is all closed door
PG-13--some language (swear words not related to sex), more talk about sex, heavy petting, removal of clothing on screen, but sex is closed door.
PG-14—somewhere between PG-13 and R. Not erotica, but at least a paragraph of on-screen sex
R--swearing (F-bomb, on “screen” sex, sometimes feels like the whole story is about the sex and not the relationship or some other plot, but not always

Spring for Best Friends by Eliza Boyd

From Goodreads:

They’ve been best friends since third grade. Can they overcome their fears and truly find love together?

Olivia Sutton, the owner of Blushing Bridal in the small town of True Love, made a bet with her friend. Her friend paid up, so it’s now Olivia’s turn. It’s time for her to confess to Ryan how much she’s loved him since high school. And she has to ask him to the annual Spring Fling party at the inn—as more than just friends. But when a new woman in town beats her to it, she closes her mouth, not wanting to interfere with Ryan’s potential happiness.

Ryan Hedgewick is getting tired of everyone in town asking about his relationship with Olivia. They’ve always been best friends—that’s it. He’s convinced she’ll never see past his dorky high school phase and love him for the man he is today. That ship has sailed. So when the opportunity to date someone else arises, he takes it, hoping it’ll silence the chatter about him and Olivia. However, when he doesn’t immediately fall in love in a town obsessed with it, he begins to wonder if he already did—with his best friend.

With Ryan’s new relationship making her heartache, will Olivia choose to move away from True Love to find it somewhere else? Or will Ryan and Olivia figure out that true love does exist for them in their small mountain town?

My Take:
I just read the book before this one and enjoyed it so I picked this one up from Book Sprout as an early reader copy as well. This means I got to read it before it's release on March 28th!

Eliza Boyd has an easy to read style and she does a good job introducing her characters and making them real and likable. It did take me a moment to ground myself though because I haven't read the first book in the series and Penelope has a couple of nicknames that I had to get used to real quick. But, moving on...

Olivia and Ryan are the perfect couple who just keep getting in their own way. They've both had feelings for each other at various times over the years and pushed them away out of fear of ruining their friendship. Olivia has finally taken a dare to speak up when a new girl in town asks Ryan out. A lot of people will complain about how spineless and too nice Olivia seems. They will say she should have said something right away. They'll say there are multiple times she could have told him how she felt and she was stupid for not speaking up. Even if it's true, the truth is, there are more women in this world who would make the same choice Olivia does. They would want the man they love be happy, even if it's not with them.

Having said that, I did want to throw the book across the room at one point. Mini spoiler maybe? Ryan decides to make a move. He's done all the things right, but Olivia doesn't know it. He goes in to kiss her, she stops it and kicks him out because she thinks he has a girlfriend. Olivia doesn't even let him explain. That was stupid. And didn't make any sense to me.

In the end, it's the new girl in town that finally get them together. This is one of the things I really enjoy about Boyd's stories. The 'other' woman in both of the ones I've read have not been vicious witches. I appreciate that a lot.

I give Spring for Best Friends a 4 with a Clean rating.

1-5 scale and what it means:

1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad

2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing

3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive

3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love

4: Solid mind candy / worth reading

4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read

5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure

Movie Ratings in relation to my review:

Clean--Hallmark movies, some kissing, no nudity, no sex on or off "screen"

PG--Some innuendo but nothing kids don't hear every day, sex is all closed door

PG-13--some language (swear words not related to sex), more talk about sex, heavy petting, removal of clothing on screen, but sex is closed door.

PG-14—somewhere between PG-13 and R. Not erotica, but at least a paragraph of on-screen sex

R--swearing (F-bomb, on “screen” sex, sometimes feels like the whole story is about the sex and not the relationship or some other plot, but not always

Winter of Second Chances by Eliza Boyd

From Goodreads:

Chastity and Chase were high school sweethearts.
Then their marriage crumbled under pressure and Chase left town.
Now that he's engaged again, he returns to True Love with one mission: To finally get a divorce.
But True Love will make sure they get a second chance.

My Take:
This was a cute story about a town with mystical powers that just wouldn't give up on two people when they'd given up on themselves. I enjoyed it and actually read it all in one day. There were a few typos, but that could be because I had an advanced reader copy. Hopefully, they will be fixed once the book is released on February 28th (just 2 days!) on Amazon.

Okay, let's dig in. What I liked about this book:
Ten years have gone by, but Chastity has moved on with her life. Mostly. She's bought her own business and is doing her best to make it succeed. It's a struggle, and she hasn't written that book yet, and she isn't dating, but she doesn't seem to be wallowing in missing Chase. It's obvious she was heartbroken and still thinks of him, but she didn't quit her life. She continued to grow and move on the best she could. When Chase shows back up she's sucker-punched with the surprises that come one after another. I won't tell you so as to avoid the spoilers.

The second thing that I like was that when the time came for Chase to cut the ties with Jessica (his fiance before returning to True Love) it went well. Although she sounds and looks likes she's going to be one of those women, she's not. I appreciated that Boyd didn't completely follow that trope.

I loved that it didn't just fall into place as soon as Chase said goodbye to Jessica. Marjorie is one smart woman! A little bit of time to calm down and think was needed, even if it felt like the end of the world all around. Okay, that is close to being a spoiler.

Here's the nitpicks:
I got tired of all the "I'm feeling something/thinking something that I don't want to right now, so I just won't feel/think it." Several times I just wanted to say, sit down and figure it out already! You know what you want, you know what's going on, just face up to it and own it.

And Chastity was WAY too nice. It all makes sense because that's her personality. However, she only blew up and yelled at him once. I felt she deserved a little more than that, but what we got was satisfying.

I give Winter of Second Chances by Eliza Boyd a solid 4 with a Clean rating.

1-5 scale and what it means:

1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad

2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing

3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive

3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love

4: Solid mind candy / worth reading

4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read

5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure

Movie Ratings in relation to my review:

Clean--Hallmark movies, some kissing, no nudity, no sex on or off "screen"

PG--Some innuendo but nothing kids don't hear every day, sex is all closed door

PG-13--some language (swear words not related to sex), more talk about sex, heavy petting, removal of clothing on screen, but sex is closed door.

PG-14—somewhere between PG-13 and R. Not erotica, but at least a paragraph of on-screen sex

R--swearing (F-bomb, on “screen” sex, sometimes feels like the whole story is about the sex and not the relationship or some other plot, but not always

The Paramedics Second Chance by Elana Johnson

Looks like it might have been renamed Love in Lavender (which makes more sense actually). It is still searchable by The Paramedics Second Chance as well.

From Goodreads:
A widowed florist, her ten-year-old daughter, and the paramedic who delivered the girl a decade earlier... Love's second chance on the beach!

Paramedic Andrew Herrin delivered Gretchen Samuels's daughter on the side of the road when she and her husband couldn't make it to the hospital in time. When their paths cross again in small-town Hawthorn Harbor, she's a widow and the baby is ten-year-old Dixie.

Dixie gets along great with Drew, and Gretchen finds herself falling in love with the man who's rescued her twice now. But when Drew's ex-girlfriend comes back to town, Gretchen's trust issues rear their ugly head. Can she and Drew find their way toward finding love in the lavender?

This is a full-length sweet/clean contemporary beach romance in the vein of your favorite Hallmark movie by USA Today bestselling author Elana Johnson.

My Take:
This is a sweet read filled with lots of emotion as Gretchen tries to figure out what she wants, what she can handle, and how it will affect her daughter. Drew has his own issues to work out which makes this feel like real life.

I did get frustrated with Gretchen. She took not asking for help to the beyond ridiculous level making the grand gesture at the end necessary. In a way, it kind of ruined the real-life feel of the story for me. I wish she had given in more gradually and accepted Drew's love naturally. After all, he let her help him. Thank goodness for Dixie and her wish making!

I give this story something between a 3.5 and a 4. I enjoyed it while reading, finished, moved on and sort of forgot about it.

1-5 scale and what it means:

1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad

2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing

3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive

3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love

4: Solid mind candy / worth reading

4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read

5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure

Movie Ratings in relation to my review:

Clean--Hallmark movies, some kissing, no nudity, no sex on or off "screen"

PG--Some innuendo but nothing kids don't hear every day, sex is all closed door

PG-13--some language (swear words not related to sex), more talk about sex, heavy petting, removal of clothing on screen, but sex is closed door.

PG-14—somewhere between PG-13 and R. Not erotica, but at least a paragraph of on-screen sex

R--swearing (F-bomb, on “screen” sex, sometimes feels like the whole story is about the sex and not the relationship or some other plot, but not always

Teapots & Treachery by Donna K Weaver

From Goodreads:
An Anthology
A SAVAGE GHOST
Lia Savage reluctantly puts her dream of opening a dessert boutique on hold to help her dad remodel a castle he’s inherited in Washington State. Soon, a specter targets her younger sister.

Lia enlists the help of strapping Coop Montgomery, the head gardener and her former crush. As they search together for a way to rid the castle of its ghost, the romance she used to dream about with Coop kindles. But Lia’s gentle giant means to stay in Washington while she’s determined to return to California. She must find the courage to face both the ghost and her future. With Coop. Or without him.

WAVES OF DECEIT
Twenty-six-year-old Shelby Nash wants to break free of her controlling, billionaire father. With the completion of one more project for his company, she can branch out on her own. However, her ex-boyfriend’s been appointed as the new lead architect. She has to find a way to protect her heart from him while avoiding whoever’s making anonymous threats.

Wade Masters did a poor job handling the news about the identity of his girlfriend’s father. Shelby walked out of his life without another word. Finally, four years later, Wade has a chance to win her back. As long as whoever’s targeted her doesn’t get her first.

My Take:
Both of these stories were short and quick reads. They were almost too fast. I liked the characters but didn't have time to connect with them.

The ghost story was cute. I loved all the layers and multiple ghosts--one that needed help, and one that stayed to help. The best part was Lia finding what was the most important to her.

The suspense story was even better. Shelby and Wade fall right back into their attraction but try to fight it. The suspense element is good as are the surprises around Shelby's father.

All in all, good stories I wished were longer.

These get a Clean rating and probably a 3.5-4 range only because they were too short for me. The writing was great though.

1-5 scale and what it means:

1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad

2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing

3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive

3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love

4: Solid mind candy / worth reading

4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read

5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure

Movie Ratings in relation to my review:

Clean--Hallmark movies, some kissing, no nudity, no sex on or off "screen"

PG--Some innuendo but nothing kids don't hear every day, sex is all closed door

PG-13--some language (swear words not related to sex), more talk about sex, heavy petting, removal of clothing on screen, but sex is closed door.

PG-14—somewhere between PG-13 and R. Not erotica, but at least a paragraph of on screen sex

R--swearing (F bomb, on “screen” sex, sometimes feels like the whole story is about the sex and not the relationship or some other plot, but not always

Christmas with the Recluse by Victorine E Lieske

From Goodreads:

When Charley gets sent by her father to appraise a mansion full of antiques, she gets a surprise when she arrives and the owner is cold and mean, and doesn’t want anything to do with Christmas. And even worse? It’s not really an appraisal job at all. He just wants her to clean out his mountain of junk from his garage. But Charley makes it her goal to show him that Christmas is a special time of year. And as time goes on, she sees his frozen heart start to thaw.

Alexander has been dealing with the guilt from his wife’s death for two long years. It’s time to move past, so he hires someone to help rid his garage of his wife’s memories. But when she arrives, she’s not at all what he was expecting. And even though she’s a bit crazy, she helps him find his Christmas spirit once again.

My Take:
*sigh* I really enjoyed this one. It had a faint Beauty and the Beast feel to it without being Beauty and the Beast if that makes any sense. Alexander is mean and grumpy because he's been alone too long, but Charley knows how to light up a room with her positive outlook on life.

Lieske did a great job rounding out her characters personalities so they felt real. The supporting characters were also wonderful. One of the things I really appreciated is that Alexander didn't change overnight. During the ten days they spent together he made progress, but he did slip up. This is realistic. People don't completely change years of habit simply because they want to. And he did want to.

I loved Charley's spunk and forgiving nature.  She was sweet and caring, hiding the hidden depth of her understanding behind her age.

I give Christmas with the Recluse a 4.5 and Clean rating.

1-5 scale and what it means:

1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad

2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing

3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive

3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love

4: Solid mind candy / worth reading

4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read

5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure

Movie Ratings in relation to my review:

Clean--Hallmark movies, some kissing, no nudity, no sex on or off "screen"

PG--Some innuendo but nothing kids don't hear every day, sex is all closed door

PG-13--some language (swear words not related to sex), more talk about sex, heavy petting, removal of clothing on screen, but sex is closed door.

PG-14—somewhere between PG-13 and R. Not erotica, but at least a paragraph of on-screen sex

R--swearing (F-bomb, on “screen” sex, sometimes feels like the whole story is about the sex and not the relationship or some other plot, but not always

Love, Snow, and Mistletoe: Four Sweet Christmas Novellas

Since this is a collection, I'll post the blurb from Goodreads in black, and my comments in red for Christmas!

From Goodreads:

Her Fake Christmas Date BY VICTORINE LIESKE

Jennifer uses an old friend as an excuse for why she can’t go on a blind date. She doesn’t know he’s been secretly in love with her since grade school.

This was fun and cute. Jennifer doesn't know how much she hurt Shane years earlier, all she remembers is the good times they had and how nicely he's grown up.

A Holiday Rescue BY TAMIE DEAREN

Despite her fame as an author, Amy is all alone at Christmas. Stranded in a snowstorm, she's rescued by a handsome stranger. Can shared cocoa lead to love?

There was a lot going on in this short. It all works, but it could have benefited by several thousand more words to wrap up/round out some of the side plots. Enjoyable, but I wanted to know if the photo Amy stared at on her laptop that she paid $35 for was really Max or just someone who looked like him, and why was Damon so nasty crazy then perfectly fine? It's like a lot of drama was built up around him for no reason. And why was the Matt guy from NetShows so set on getting the contracts signed so fast? If he was SPOILER ALERT related to Max, it seemed like he would have been a nicer guy, so was it all Damon? 

Anyway, the romance part was sweet, with both of them fumbling around thinking the other one had a significant other, or no interest, or whatever, but some of the other stuff pulled my attention away from the romance. Cady was awesome though. 

A Second Chance for Christmas BY MICHELLE PENNINGTON

Grace planned to spend December moving into her new apartment and getting ready for Christmas with her daughter, not falling for her neighbor, Sam--whose heart she broke years ago.

I loved that Grace was so stubborn about trying to do things on her own, but also smart enough to realize she couldn't. Sam was a dream come true. Even though he could have turned his back on Grace he didn't. This story probably had the most heart-twisting moments for me. Grace had been through the wringer, making it hard to think there might be a happily ever after available for her. I liked that we could see her struggling with it. 

The Billionaire’s Perfect Match BY ANNIE HOUSTON

Heading up large corporations is tough on your love life. A trip home throws high school friends Aurelia and Lander together and sparks fly. They each have everything, except love.

This was a cute twist on the billionaire trend. We get not one, but two billionaires! I love that Aurelia is successful and rich in her own right and has the same concerns about people dating her money that Lander does. But most of all, I love how after years apart, they fall right back into being best friends with the extra bonus of chemistry. 

This was a fun, fast Christmas read. I enjoyed all the stories and felt the characters were all well-developed. I'd definitely recommend it this season.

I give this collection a solid 4 and Clean rating.

Rating Guide

1-5 scale and what it means:

1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad

2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing

3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive

3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love

4: Solid mind candy / worth reading

4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read

5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure

Movie Ratings in relation to my review:

Clean--Hallmark movies, some kissing, no nudity, no sex on or off "screen"

PG--Some innuendo but nothing kids don't hear every day, sex is all closed door

PG-13--some language (swear words not related to sex), more talk about sex, heavy petting, removal of clothing on screen, but sex is closed door.

PG-14—somewhere between PG-13 and R. Not erotica, but at least a paragraph of on-screen sex

R--swearing (F-bomb, on “screen” sex, sometimes feels like the whole story is about the sex and not the relationship or some other plot, but not always

Stone Cold Sparks by Cami Checketts

From Goodreads:
A stone cold firefighter, lifelong secrets, and the vivacious woman who won’t give up. Abi Newell is feisty, fun, beautiful, and has date offers every night of the week. She gave her heart away to Stone Ryland when they were teenagers and that was the stupidest decision of her life. Though Stone is the perfect fit for her—kind, patient, and steady—he’s also shut himself off to everyone, including her. She’s accomplished best-friend status with her dream man, but winning his heart may be a hopeless quest.

Stone has been deemed Stone Cold by his firefighting buddies for good reason—he has the remarkable ability to put his feelings on the shelf while dispassionately dealing with the situation at hand. Too bad Stone’s buddies don’t know the truth. A truth Stone will fight tooth and nail to keep hidden. Abi is his one weakness, but Stone can’t let anyone into his heart or his well-protected secrets will be discovered and destroy not only Abi, but his deceased wife’s memory as well. Can Abi break through the ice surrounding Stone Cold’s heart, or will she be forced to give up on her lifelong love?

My Take:

This was a quick easy read that only took a couple hours one day. Checketts takes us back to Park City for another one of the firefighter's stories. Stone has a reputation for being cold as ice, but Abi knows better. She can see through to his pain even if she doesn't know the true source. Abi thinks Stone still hasn't gotten over the death of his wife seven years earlier. He'd only been married for six short months, but he lost his wife and their child in a car accident.

What Abi doesn't know could also ruin Stone's chance of finally being with the one woman he's always loved. No spoilers, because the reader knows fairly early that Stone married their mutual friend Virginia to save her from her father's wrath because the fourth friend in their group, Jace, abandoned her when he learned she was pregnant with his baby. All his misguided attempts at doing the right thing, at keeping promises for the dead for the sake of integrity almost drives away Abi for good.

I loved Abi's persistence, but I also felt her heartache. Every time she tried to save herself by walking away but returned because she couldn't live without Stone in her life. Stone's pain is real too, even if you want to smack him up side the head.

Checketts does a wonderful job tugging at emotions until you finally get to exhale with the happily ever after. A wonderful journey through the pain of love.

I give Stone Cold Sparks a 4 and a Clean rating.

1-5 scale and what it means:

1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad

2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing

3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive

3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love

4: Solid mind candy / worth reading

4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read

5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure

Movie Ratings in relation to my review:

Clean--Hallmark movies, some kissing, no nudity, no sex on or off "screen"

PG--Some innuendo but nothing kids don't hear every day, sex is all closed door

PG-13--some language (swear words not related to sex), more talk about sex, heavy petting, removal of clothing on screen, but sex is closed door.

PG-14—somewhere between PG-13 and R. Not erotica, but at least a paragraph of on screen sex

R--swearing (F bomb, on “screen” sex, sometimes feels like the whole story is about the sex and not the relationship or some other plot, but not always

The Christmas Girlfriend: A Return to Snow Valley by Taylor Hart

From Goodreads:
He needs a date for Christmas. She needs money for a dream. Maybe they'll both get a Christmas miracle!

The handsome and kind, Mike Hamilton, doesn't want to go back to his hometown, Snow Valley, to attend his sister's wedding and spend Christmas, especially since he didn't tell anyone he got dumped two weeks ago. So when he discovers a girl standing on a roof praying, running to the top to join her doesn't feel that desperate. Too bad they both fall and she accuses him of trying to kill her.

Aspiring singer and songwriter, Zoey Harper, doesn't know who this guy is -- but she doesn't need his help. When he offers to pay her to be his FAKE girlfriend to get him out of a little situation, she immediately says no. But when she finds herself without a job, without a car, and with no money to go try out for The Voice and fulfill a life-long dream, she agrees! But ONLY kissing. And only pecks on the cheek!

She doesn't know how she finds herself making out with him to keep his ex-girlfriend at bay, then cannonballing into the hot springs on his property and spilling all of her secrets. And who would have guessed that her favorite person would be his grumpy grandpa? Her lonely heart doesn't know when things started to change between she and Mike--when he ran up on the roof to save her or when she finds herself singing a song for him in front of his whole family.

When their lies fall apart, they are left with a choice--forget the past five days or get the Christmas miracle that could change their lives forever.

My Take:
I've missed several Snow Valley stories, so it was wonderful to return. Years have passed since Janet Snow got her second chance by marrying Michael Hamilton. This story is about their son Mike who is attending Harvard law because he feels he needs to prove himself. He's miserable and lonely, but he's about to meet the best thing to ever happen to him. Zoey's more than down on her luck. She's clinging to the past and a supposed broken heart from losing her husband a year earlier.

Here's what I liked:
~Even though this is a story where one person was married before, they didn't come out of a bad marriage. I also liked that Zoey loved her husband and all the potential of their future, but in the end, they only knew each other and were married a short time--most of which they weren't even together. In a way, this makes it easier for me to believe in her falling in love again quickly and so deeply.
~I loved Zoey's spunk. Even when she felt so broken and defeated inside that spark kept her moving forward.
~I loved that Mike really did have a hero complex. He wanted to help Zoey from the moment he ran up that snow mound to the roof to the very end.
~It was a joy revisiting Snow Valley and some of my favorite places--Big C's, the hot springs, remembering the tree lighting at the hospital, it was all a fun trip down memory lane like returning home after being away too long.

I thoroughly enjoyed this quick read. I give The Christmas Girlfriend a Clean rating and solid 4 stars.

1-5 scale and what it means:
1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad
2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing
3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive
3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love
4: Solid mind candy / worth reading
4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read
5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure

Movie Ratings in relation to my review:
Clean--Hallmark movies, some kissing, no nudity, no sex on or off "screen"
PG--Some innuendo but nothing kids don't hear every day, sex is all closed door
PG-13--some language (swear words not related to sex), more talk about sex, heavy petting, removal of clothing on screen, but sex is closed door.
PG-14—somewhere between PG-13 and R. Not erotica, but at least a paragraph of on-screen sex
R--swearing (F-bomb, on “screen” sex, sometimes feels like the whole story is about the sex and not the relationship or some other plot, but not always

The World Around the Corner by Rick Ellrod

A new novella coming August 22nd from Wild Rose Press.

From Rick's Website:
Flirting with the lively rogue Rosmara is the best part of Jeff Stanton’s favorite online role-playing game, even though he doesn’t know her in the flesh. She’s much better company than Dana Roland, the sharp-tongued mechanic who keeps his balky car running—just as Dana would rather banter with Badon the warrior online than with a man she sees as a stuffy professor.

When a young teammate from the game goes missing in real life, Jeff and Dana end up on a road trip together. In a real-life quest, they discover more about each other than either one expected—and new kinds of sparks begin to fly!

My Take:
This was a lot more fun than I anticipated. It's not my normal kind of thing, which might sound strange since I used to love video games. However, I agreed to read this because I have two friends who love online role play games and I was curious to see if this would give me a glimpse into what they liked about it.

I thought Rick Ellrod did a great job helping me see the camaraderie of this team of players and how they worked together. He also did a great job with the back and forth of the characters in their real-life interactions. It was fun to see them before and after they realized their double connection. I always love when pre-conceived notions are stripped away and people have to see each other for who they really are. The romance was sweet and realistic. The search for Evanesce was also interesting in its own right. And Pendragon? Let's just say it's good to have a sneaky match-making leader like that on your side.

This is a short and easy read. I never felt lost or confused with the game world, and the real world scenes were just that--real and believable.

I give The World Around the Corner a solid 4.5 and Clean rating. Check out Rick's website for links when the book is available.

1-5 scale and what it means:

1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad

2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing

3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive

3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love

4: Solid mind candy / worth reading

4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read

5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure

Movie Ratings in relation to my review:

Clean--Hallmark movies, some kissing, no nudity, no sex on or off "screen"

PG--Some innuendo but nothing kids don't hear every day, sex is all closed door

PG-13--some language (swear words not related to sex), more talk about sex, heavy petting, removal of clothing on screen, but sex is closed door.

PG-14—somewhere between PG-13 and R. Not erotica, but at least a paragraph of on-screen sex

R--swearing (F-bomb, on “screen” sex, sometimes feels like the whole story is about the sex and not the relationship or some other plot, but not always