#ContemporaryRomance #Review ~ With Neighbors Like This by Tracy Goodwin ~ @SourcebooksCasa @tracy_goodwin

A hopeful single mom moves to the Houston suburbs to start anew, 

only to find a new adversary in the HOA.

 

Book Details:

ASIN: ‎ B09L3WK6JY
ISBN-10: ‎ 172822893X
ISBN-13: ‎ 978-1728228938
Publisher: ‎ Sourcebooks Casablanca
Publication Date: ‎ August 2, 2022
Print Length: ‎ 322 pages

Amazon: https://amzn.to/40PVwyO

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60030929-with-neighbors-like-this

About the Book:

Amelia Marsh relocates with her two young kids to a northern suburb of Houston after a brutal divorce. All she wants is a bit of normalcy for her children. The last thing she needs is to be the center of a disagreement with the HOA representative. Believe it or not, her children's garden gnome is accused of violating the association's rules. No way is Amelia backing down on this one. Gnomegate? Really? HOA President Kyle Sanders would be a good friend—or even something more—if Amelia wasn't gearing up for battle with the HOA in her determination to make her house a home and her neighborhood a community...

My Review:

Single mom Amelia Marsh moves to the suburbs of Houston with her children after the divorce from her cheating husband is finalized. A little normalcy, structure, and serenity is just what they need but it's not what Amelia gets when she locks horns with a busy body HOA rep. Amelia's disagreement with Carla escalates into other less-than-savory encounters, putting Amelia on the radar of the HOA president, Kyle Sanders. Kyle has the responsibility of upholding the current HOA rules. His attraction to Amelia can't interfere with that, but he also can't seem to stay away. 

As Amelia prepares for the showdown with the HOA, she draws closer to Kyle. A relationship she's not sure she prepared for causes her to keep Kyle at arm's length. Her children are the most important in her life and she's trying to keep them together, work, and do all the normal day-to-day things. She just doesn't have it in her to try again. Kyle also has some misgivings due to past relationships. I love how the author crafted this slow-burn romance. I understand how children are a priority, but so it creating stability for not only them but for yourself. Kyle had no intentions of being a fling, yet Amelia couldn't bring herself to move forward with him. 

I enjoyed With Neighbors Like This. It's a fun romance that also deals with real-life and serious issues. The story isn't all sweet and cute. Amelia's ex is a piece of work. Carla, also a piece of work. The author did a great job writing about Amelia, her kids, her feelings, and the conflict. 

My review copy courtesy of my local library's MelCat system. 

My Rating:

Visit the Author:

https://www.tracygoodwin.com/

Book #Review ~ Find Your Way Home (Small Town Dreams #1) by Jackie Ashenden #ContemporaryRomance @JackieAshenden @SourcebooksCasa

About the Book:

He's hell-bent on telling her what to do.

She's determined to make it on her own.
They're both going to learn a thing or two about first impressions.

Brightwater Valley, New Zealand, is beautiful, rugged, and home to those who love adventure. But it's also isolated and on the verge of becoming a ghost town.

When the town puts out a call to its sister city of Deep River, Alaska, hoping to entice people to build homes and businesses in Brightwater, ex paratrooper Chase Kelly is all for it. He sees the benefits of building the economy, but only if those who come to Brightwater are ready for its challenges. Former oil executive Isabella Montgomery and her plan to open an art gallery don't seem up to the test. Now Chase is determined to help her learn the ways of his formidable hometown.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Lwqzsj
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58571309-find-your-way-home

Book Details:

ASIN: ‎ B097FZV2CK
Publisher: ‎ Sourcebooks Casablanca
Publication Date: ‎ April 26, 2022
Print Length: ‎ 314 pages

My Review and Rating:

Isabella Montgomery is a last-minute addition to a trio of women heading to New Zealand to help a small town build more tourism. Her current life in Houston crumbled down around her feet and she really has no reason to stay in Texas. Getting away from everything for a short time just might be what the doctor ordered. Running into a grumpy, know-it-all has Isabella bristling.

Chase Kelly is supportive of the initiative to encourage people from Brightwater Valley, NZ’s sister city, Deep River, AK to come to NZ and settle down, start families, and open businesses. The latest group of women to heed the call doesn’t impress him much. He goes into their meeting already frowning and feeling like the three newcomers won’t be up to the challenge. The non-Alaskan particularly ruffles his feathers. 

Find Your Way Home is a book so good it’s unputdownable. I read the book in two days. When I couldn’t read the book (pesky work and stuff), I thought about Chase and Isabella. I dwelled on their past lives and how the treatment and hurt from people who are supposed to love you molded them into who they are today. I relished in the chemistry and the sparks the author expertly portrayed. I felt their interest, frustration, tension, protective nature, and most of all, their love. Love not just for each other but for everyone around them. For having such tragic pasts, they both embody a giving nature.

I was provided a copy of this book to read.

Contemporary Romance #Review ~ Warm Nights in Magnolia Bay by Babette de Jongh @Babette_deJongh ~ #Romance @SourcebooksCasa ~ Welcome to Magnolia Bay, Book 1

 

Warm Nights in Magnolia Bay

by Babette de Jongh

Publication Date: 3/30/2021 

About the Book:

An extraordinary new series from an extraordinary author... 

Abby Curtis lands on her Aunt Reva’s doorstep at Bayside Barn with nowhere to go but up. Learning animal communication from her aunt while taking care of the motley assortment of rescue animals on the farm is an important part of Abby’s healing process. She is eager to begin a new life on her own, but she isn’t prepared for the magnetism between her and her handsome, stubborn and distracting new neighbor. 

Quinn Lockhart snapped up the foreclosed estate next door determined to renovate and flip the beautiful bayou property. It’s all part of a plan to make a financial comeback and reconnect with his estranged son. Definitely not part of the plan is the noisy petting zoo next door dragging down his property value. But getting rid of it becomes more difficult when he falls for the lovely and passionate Abby and bonds with an abandoned wolf dog who’s mournfully waiting for his family to return. For humans and animals alike, it will take all the courage they can muster to learn to love again. But that’s a journey worth taking—with a little help from their furry friends. 

You’ll fall in love right along with Abby as animals and humans alike find unexpected ways to connect, nurture each other, and thrive.

Purchase from Amazon

Add to Goodreads

My Review:

Warm Nights in Magnolia Bay is a cute, small town enemies-to-lovers romance with animals and a bit of mysticism tossed in for good measure. Abby Curtis hits rock bottom and, without any help from her parents, ends up at her Aunt Reva's in Magnolia Bay. Helping Reva run her Bayside Barn, Abby is working through her issues, while trying to pick up the pieces of her life. When Reva is left to run Bayside Barn on her own, calamity rains down on her life, starting with the new distraction next door.

Quinn Lockhart's life has also hit rock bottom. When he snatches up a foreclosed estate in Magnolia Bay, his plans are to fix it up and sell it as fast as possible. The petting zoo with screaming children next door puts a kink in those plans. In the head of the moment Quinn makes an impulsive decision that could very well come back to bite him. This is especially so when he gets involved with Abby and she, along with all the animals, become very dear to him.

I fell in love with Warm Nights in Magnolia Bay from the start. The synopsis intrigued me, and the characters and story pulled me right in, hook, line, and sinker. Abby is an amazingly broken character whose love for her aunt and animals brings her to Magnolia Bay after her life hits rock bottom. Quinn pretends to be hard and uncaring, but Abby and those very same animals find a way to get beneath is skin in the most tender of ways.

The various methods the author uses to connect humans and animals was a fun twist. I enjoyed learning about Abby, Quinn, Sean, Aunt Reva, and the animals attempting to live their best lives in Magnolia Bay. The writing is terrific and descriptive with excellent world building. Highly recommend this read to lovers of contemporary romance.

I was provided a copy of this book to read.

My Rating:

#Contemporary #Romance #Review ~ Song for a Cowboy by Sasha Summers @sashawrites ~ @SourcebooksCasa ~ Kings of Country, 2 #Romance @SourcebooksCasa

 

Song for a Cowboy

by Sasha Summers

Publication Date: 1/26/2021

 Purchase Link:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3sxOi27

About the Book: 

Country star Emmy Lou King is singing the blues…

 Emmy Lou King’s whole family is legendary in country music. When she lands the opportunity to sing the American Football League anthem and serve on one of the AFL’s anti-drug charities, she’s sure she can handle working with Brock Watson even though she’s barely recovered from their breakup—and she’s never loved anyone else.

Brock Watson is feeling the pressure. From dealing with his father’s declining health, keeping their ranch running, staying in game-ready shape, and his dedication to the charity that changed his life, there’s no time for anything else. Emmy Lou included. After six years, he’d like to think she couldn’t mess with his head anymore. But one look, one smile—and he knows she’s as dangerous as ever. He can’t resist her—he never could.

The more time Emmy Lou spends with Brock, the harder it is for them to keep their distance.

My Review: 

Song for a Cowboy enthralled me, intrigued me, and kept me wanting more. Emmy Lou King is just one component of the King family dynasty. She has the chance to do a solo gig to support one of the AFL's anti-drug charity. Unfortunately, the gig involves working with her ex-boyfriend, Brock Watson, a football player for the Houston Roughnecks. His abrupt end to their relationship six years ago left her broken, still broken, but she's sure seeing him won't be an issue.

Emmy Lou King is the one who got away. Scratch that, she's the one who left him a broken man. He has too much to worry about between playing football, supporting his dad and aunt, and running the ranch, but then she appears. Emmy Lou King, the one person he would still do anything for, despite their past. Roadblock after roadblock continue to be tossed in front of them, preventing their happily-ever-after. He doubts this opportunity will be any different. 

The book is about two broken souls, each with their own stories over the past 6 years, each with the same question of why?, and each reunited for a good cause. Two people who still feel the same love toward each other, the same pull, the same everything. Emmy Lou and Brock's pasts collide in a drama-filled contemporary romance complete with laughter, tears, and longing. So much pain, so much heartache, and so many lies. Not between each other, but spouted by others. Controlling and manipulative people, who claim to be protecting, providing safety, helping, all in the name of love. 

The author wrote realistic characters in Emmy Lou and Brock. The connection between them was intense, fierce, and magnetic. The chemistry when they were together on the pages was electric and easily felt by the reader. My heart ached for Emmy Lou and Brock. They traversed the past six years without each other, but clearly missing one another. 

The banter of Emmy Lou's siblings brought another level of enjoyment to the story. Brock's immense respect and love for his father and aunt jumped off the pages. Sawyer intrigued me, Emmy Lou's father wasn't as strong as I thought he should be, and Emmy Lou's mother was a horrible, horrible woman. The wrap up of the past was done a little too neatly but overall the story is fantastic and I devoured the book. I'll have to go back and read book 1 and look forward to reading book 2.

I was provided a copy of this book to read.

Amazon:

#Romance Review ~ Fearless (Moto Grand Prix, Book #1) by Katie Golding ~ @KatieGolding_Tx @SourcebooksCasa

Print Length: 320 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Publication Date: July 28, 2020
ASIN: B085FTKRBX
Amazon

He's got one last chance
To make things right

Billy King may be smiling under his black Stetson, but the plain truth is this cowboy-turned-racer is hurting: for his horse back in Memphis, for his girl with one boot out the door, and for his faltering career thanks to an injury that's not getting any better. The moment he's free from the press circuit, Billy bolts home—resolved to heal, and ready to win Taryn's heart a second time.

Hopefully, before the love of his life is gone for good.

Taryn Ledell never wanted to fall for sweet blue eyes and a deep southern drawl. As a World Superbike racer, she had plans, and none of them involved playing second fiddle to any man. But now he's back, and she's forced to make some hard choices. With her sponsors eager for a decision, Taryn finds herself tangled in all the lines they've drawn in the sand. But broken bones and broken hearts don't heal overnight, and the cost of forgiveness can be sky high: unless Billy can prove that his heart never left the ranch...or her.

Fearless was everything I wanted it to be and more. Billy is a likable guy who doesn't always have his ducks in a row. His priorities aren't always aligned properly, causing heartache for himself and his girlfriend, Taryn. He means well and tries really hard but Billy makes some poor choices in Fearless. Taryn expects to be the #1 person in Billy's life. Most women do in relationships. However, Billy finds cleaning up after his brother to be one of those high priorities that gets him in trouble with Taryn. 

This book is told from multiple points-of-view, alternating between Billy and Taryn. While the story begins in the present day, the book also shifts into the past when Billy and Taryn first meet, building up their relationship, and dealing with both their lives, as racers, lovers, and during the hard times. The present day and past passages alternate with the past eventually meeting the present. 

I enjoyed the way the author presented the flashbacks. They are their own chapters instead of being tossed in the middle of the present, leaving the reader to try and figure out what is going on and when. The author did a wonderful job building up to the conflict that threatened to destroy the relationship between Billy and Taryn. The character development was astounding and the world-building has me feeling like I was there with them during the good times, the bad times, and everything in-between.

I was engaged from the start and the author's writing kept me engaged. Fearless is a sweet romance with wonderfully flawed characters, a slow trek to forgiveness, and love that will survive almost anything. This is my first experience with Katie Golding and look forward to reading more by her. 

I was provided a copy of this book to read.

Book Review: Bears Behaving Badly (BeWere My Heart, Book #1) by MaryJanice Davidson ~ @MaryJaniceD @SourcebooksCasa

Book Details:

Print Length: 377 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Publication Date: March 31, 2020
ASIN: B07YZSKCZC

Amazon

About the Book:

These social worker bear shifters give the term "mama bear" a whole new meaning! Bestselling author MaryJanice Davidson is back with this brand-new paranormal romance series featuring a foster care system for at-risk shifter babies and teens.

Werebear shifter Annette Garsea is a caseworker for the Interspecies Placement Agency. When a selectively mute and freakishly strong teen werewolf is put in her custody, Annette has to uncover the young girl's secrets if she's to have any hopes of helping her. And not even the growling of a scruffy private investigator can distract her from her mission...

Bear shifter David Auberon appreciates Annette's work with at-risk teen shifters, but he's not sure if her latest charge is so much a vulnerable teen as a predator who should be locked up. All that changes when he, Annette, and her motley band of juveniles find themselves dodging multiple murder attempts and uncovering a trafficking cartel that doesn't just threaten the kids, but risks discovery of the shifters by the wider world of homo sapiens.

My Review:

Annette Garsea is a werebear shifter employed as a caseworker in the shifter foster care system. After Annette finds herself caring for super strong teenage werewolf who has decided to remain mute. The only way to save the girl is to unravel her secrets, and Annette hopes to do that before those who harmed the teen figure out a way to pull her back to them. When a private investigator finds himself in Annette's corner she has to find a way to prevent him from interfering or distracting her.

David Auberon is a bear shifter employed as a private investigator who gets involved in the case surrounding the selectively mute werewolf. He thinks the teen is full of rage and should be locked up. When Annette, the teen, and another of Annette's charges become embroiled in trafficking and find themselves the targets of murder attempts, David realizes something huge is at play.

Annette and David are compelling characters, imperfect yet strong and very protective of the kids and each other. The sparks fly between them but neither character is confident enough to believe the other would be interested. That was really the only drawback to the story. I would have liked Annette and David to have had higher self-esteem. Both are caring, capable, and excel at what they do yet don't feel like they are good enough for the other. Annette, David, and the secondary characters are witty and humorous but serious as appropriate. The characters are quirky and likable. 

The story was engaging, exciting, and full of suspense. I was on the edge of my seat, as the tension grew and the danger intensified. The interactions between Annette, David, and the two teens brought a little bit of levity to the seriousness of story. The undercurrent of romance adds another element to the book and the chemistry between Annette and David was off the charts but didn't overshadow the foster care and trafficking elements of the book. I look forward to the next book in the series.

I was provided a review copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

My Rating: