Showing posts with label Contemporary Fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Contemporary Fiction. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 10, 2018

Healing the Quarterback

Healing the Quarterback
Wildhorse Ranch Brothers, Book 2
By: Leslie North
Narrated by: Rebecca Roberts
Series: Wildhorse Ranch Brothers, Book 2
Length: 3 hrs and 18 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 12-12-17



This is a story about misunderstanding, surprises, chemistry and passion laced with humor, love and a delightful plot. Very short and sweet to the point with no fillers. It is a story that held my attention from the start with a wonderful plot, characters and narrator. They meet he is a player in more ways than one, she is a fan, but she isn’t telling it all. The attraction and chemistry between these two are all the charts. She isn’t impressed with his playing ways, he so impressed by her he can’t see straight. She walks away to meet other team players, he is caught up with fans and his job. She gets away but not for long….my oh my he sure is surprised to find out what her profession is.

Rebecca Roberts's narration is wonderful I really like this narrator from her wonderful many voices to the emotion she puts into her narration. Her male voices are just as great as her female ones. She has a smooth sexy voice you could listen to all day. Her male characters are rough, tough and strong. I didn’t care too much for the voice she gave to Charlie I didn’t think it fit him but I did like what she did with it and how she made him so playful and sound like a real player but and in dearing one. With Ms. Roberts different tones you have no doubt what each person is feeling. You can hear the fear, the passion, the playfulness, humor in her voice. I heard no background noises or any place where the audio is louder than other places. There was one place she did repeat a word but it didn’t take away from the audio. You get a clear clean audio that sounds wonderful that will leave you hanging on every word. If you haven’t listened to anything by this narrator I recommend you do she is very talented. I am sure you will love her as much as I do.

This was such a fun listen I fell in love with the plot, the characters and the humor. Charlie is wild, exciting and a player, but he knows when he sees the girl he wants but his playing lines get in the way, and she calls fowl before he gets out of the end zone. He isn’t giving up, and she isn’t giving in, hum I wonder which one will win. Yes this is a fun listen but it is emotional too when they careers get in the way they may have to call a time-out. The scenes are hot and steamy once these two come together it is off the charts, what a touchdown. I loved the humor, the baiting, the plot and the characters there wasn’t anything I didn’t like about it. The author knows how to pull you in, taking you away, keeping you invested until the end. In fact, I picked it as one of my favorite listens to this year.


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Summary
Charlie Wild knows how to score. On and off the field, he’s been a force to be reckoned with since his father taught him how to throw a spiral in the back pasture of Wildhorse Ranch. But a recent injury calls into question his ability to play football and points a finger at his wild child reputation. He’s been given an ultimatum: overhaul his image by renovating his hometown hospital or get off the field.
The last thing Dr. Dylan Rose needs is yet another man telling her what to do, and certainly not what to do with her hospital. She’d left Houston and the sports stars she’d fixed there, tired of watching big, bulky men beat each other up for fun. So when Charlie Wild limps into her hospital, she wants nothing more than to fix his hot body up and see that great ass walk out the door.
Charlie is taken by the sexy doctor. Her sweet smile hides a sharp tongue that he enjoys baiting just about as much as he loves kissing it. He’s on board for following her prescriptions and more than willing to teach her new ways to score in the sheets. But when it comes to the final seconds of this play, he’s going to have to decide what is more important: The doctor he’s learned to love, or the game he just can’t quit....

Monday, April 30, 2018

Out of Goodbyes

Out of Goodbyes (Hopelessly Devoted #2)
by Gen Ryan


This picks up where the other one left off with another very emotional read that is a big roller-coaster ride as much as the first one was. This is a very talented author that really knows how to pull on your heart strings. We start off with Parker going to Rainey’s home and begging for another chance, he will do anything to get back the woman he loves. Will Rainey’s give that chance and will Parker be willing to give her what she needs or could there be someone else putting a tailspin on the outcome?

Rainey gave their marriage her all where Parker didn’t give her what she needed, he never put her first. She gave him respect he didn’t always give it to her. Everything she did, she did out of love having no trouble showing how much she loved him. He has a hard time with showing love after all he went through he just has a hard time with most things. It is easy for me to understand both sides of the story and my heart breaks for both. The last straw for her was how Parker acted and how the break up came about. Rainey has always made her marriage the center of her world and tries hard to keep it that way. But something has to give and it doesn’t look like it will be Parker. I really loved how the author shows how strong Rainey is even when she doesn’t see it herself. She works so hard to keep her marriage together looking for ways to make it work. What I really like about this story is how the author shows both sides making it easy to step back and understand both worlds and see all that is going on with them both.

In walks Levi who know just what she is going through he has been down that road his self. It is a struggle for him to give her room to work out her feelings for Parker as he tries to build a trust with her. You can’t blame her for having trust issues. Both have issues they have to work out as the work on building a relationship together. To be truly happy first you must find peace inside yourself, love yourself and make yourself happy. This is something Rainey has yet to find. Depression has so many side effects, it isn’t an easy thing to deal with and it makes it harder for one to find that enter peace and be happy as Rainey is finding out.

As I turned the last page I have very mixed emotion between who I want Rainey with. Levi is such a great character, he is so strong, caring and loving. BUT Parker is going through so much and I see where he is coming from. I don’t know if I could forget or forgive the cheating, but I am not important here it is what Rainey wants. I think her feelings are just as mixed up as mine are. There are so many emotions you will feel and when you close the book you still are an emotional mess. The author knows how to draw her readers in giving a compelling read that has you so invested you start talking to the characters. I have to say I am hanging on until I get my hands on the next book in this series to see just where the author is going to take it. I sure hope Parker finds his HEA after all he is dealing with and has been through. WELL worth your time but you must read the first book in the series.

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Summary
Just when Rainey finally gets her life together, her high school sweetheart, Parker, decides he’s ready to fight for her. His promises threaten to tear apart all that Rainey has fought for. Her happiness and heart included.

Levi Hayes has fought hard for Rainey’s trust. When he finally wins her heart, he fears it all might be taken away. But he’ll fight for Rainey, even if doing so threatens to bring up memories he’d rather forget.

For Rainey to make her choice, she must let go of a past that took everything from her and hope she can finally live for herself, and find her forever happiness.

When We Were Young

When We Were Young (Hopelessly Devoted #1)
by Gen Ryan


I totally loved this story it is such a touching read filled with such emotions that really touches your heart. The author gives an amazing emotional roller-coaster ride first up and then down and back around we go. The base of this story I hold dear to my heart as a big military supporter I have seen firsthand what military life and war does to our soldiers and their spouses. It is truly heart breaking. I thought the author did a great job with detail, explaining it to a T as well as showing how emotional this life is. This was a big win for me.

Rainey and Parker are high school sweetheart, they marry, and he goes into the military. Rainey is ok with this until he re-enlists saying this will be the last time but it never is. Rainey just wants to be put first before country and you can’t blame her. Military life is hard for a wife waiting at home month after month, year after year, all alone worrying and wondering until you go nuts. The author does a great job showing the wife’s side it is very emotional and at times very trying. Being a couple but being the one left behind, you can’t date, you can’t go out to bars, not much else is left, you are a couple but you are couple less you can't hang out with the other couples. Rainey hangs on until she isn’t sure what she is hanging on for. Something happens that makes her make her mind up and tears her world apart.

Here it becomes very emotional as the author shows just what PTSD is and how it affects so many. It isn’t easy telling your love ones what you have been through. It isn’t easy to talk about at all so Parker turns to those that have been his support through it all his brothers of arms. Been there with soldiers I have supported it is tough wanting to be strong and protect those you love from the scars you have. You don’t want them to see that side of you it isn’t a pretty side to see. Lord how my heart went out to both of them. It is so easy to understand both sides as you read you just want to hold them and take the pain away.

I really doubt you can read this and not feel emotional, it is a story that will stay with you for many days to come. The author really brings the story to life giving details you have no trouble picturing. This is a very believable read with real characters that become your friends. I have to say I am not a fan of cliffhangers and I can’t wait to see what happen next. It is very much worth your time giving you a story from a very talented author that pulls you in and keeps you invested with tears in your eyes.

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Summary
When she fell in love with her high school sweetheart, Rainey Matthews thought it’d be forever. But life has a habit of sneaking up and throwing a sucker punch when you least expect it.

Parker’s military career has become his top priority, leaving Rainey behind while he pursues his dreams. A combination of Parker’s PTSD and his actions threaten to tear Rainey’s heart right open, and she can no longer keep it together.

Then an unexpected lifeline appears and shows Rainey what it’s like to be cared for and loved. She finds herself happy for the first time in a while, but those sneaky sucker punches aren’t done, and keeping happiness will be an uphill battle.

Tuesday, September 19, 2017

Days Made of Glass



Days Made of Glass
by Laura Drake


I really didn’t know what to expect when I picked this up to read I thought it would be more of a cowboy romance but it really isn’t but does have a touch in it. I have never read anything by this author and was very pleasantly pleased with the plot, the characters and the writing. Here is a family that is trying to get by and stay together going through many trying times. A mother who is barely holding it together ,to a teen who takes care of the family. When the mother dies they have a care taker who is the mother’s boyfriend but when he dies with a little mystery about his death and Angel falling apart leaving Harlie taking charge on the run with Angel with social services one step behind them. This is a story of the strength of one teenager trying her best to raise her sister by putting food on the table and a roof over their heads.  When Angel has a meltdown Harlie can no longer close her eyes thinking Angel is just having a bad day. Angel rushed to the hospital with cuts from the glass she has to face the fact that Angel needs more help then she can give. What is a girl to do when faced with medical bills she cannot pay along with her sister being institutionalized which will cost more money? She remembers the man who told her about bullfighting and wanted her to go to a school fully paid. She decides to go where the money is. The story is built around Harlie’s trials and errors of her life and learning to fight the bull along, dealing with a job in a man’s world where women have never stepped along with her dealing with her sister’s issues and the people around her. Harlie doesn’t trust or make friends which makes her come off as a cold person, maybe even a little of a snob. Which is far from the truth, she just never had the time to grow up in a normal home. Then she was on the run and couldn’t let anyone get close for fear they would split the sisters up.

There is a lot of sorrow, pain, and a few heart stopping moments in this story but there is humor that will make you chuckle. It isn’t all doom and gloom but some very bright sun shining days that really grabs your heart making you smile. I really liked Harlie she is strong but codependent on her sister who she has built her life around. Now she must leave her in other peoples care, start over, learn how to put your trust on the person beside you and work as a team to make sure not only she but the men around her come out alive. There is no way you can read this and not be touched by bother Angel and Harlie along with some of the cowboys and how things work out.  There were times I just wanted to pull Harlie out of the pages let her rest her head on my shoulders for a few minutes to give her a little piece of mind.

The cowboys really touched me, the one who did the most was Deuce he is amazing in so many ways as he works on bring Harlie around pushing her and being her support system in so many ways.  I enjoyed the men some had an attitude and were put back in line. It really is a wonderful story showing how each of them learns to work together, trust the other and find out they don’t know as much as they thought. I loved the tattoos and the meaning behind them. The owner of the school is a hoot as he brings strong men to their knees.  I loved his roughness as well as his wife how she deals with things. The story has so many messages in it along with meaning that will really stay with you. This isn’t one of those books you will forget when you put it down. It is one you will most likely want to reread again due to so many emotions you feel as each new twist unfolds and comes to life before your eyes.

It’s truly a heartwarming, soul searching lovely read that grabs you from the first page until the last. I really didn’t want it to end. It was a pleasure to watch Harlie and Angel grow in mind and spirit both fighting their own demons and winning the battle. Watching them overcome so many issues fighting their way back to each other. My heart broke for so many of these characters but the author did an amazing job putting it back together. Out of all the books I have read this year I pick a few that are my favorite, this book will be added to that group as one of my favorite reads of the year. My hats off to the author for being able to really reach in and touching my heart, making me want to cry, smile, laugh and just hug so many wonderful characters. 



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Summary
Harlie Cooper raised her sister, Angel, even before their mother died. When their guardian is killed in a fire, rather than be separated by Social Services, they run. Life in off the grid in L.A. isn’t easy, but worse, there’s something wrong with Angel.

Harlie walks in to find their apartment scattered with shattered and glass and Angel, a bloody rag doll in a corner. The doctor orders institutionalization in a state facility. Harlie’s not leaving her sister in that human warehouse. But something better takes money. Lots of it.

When a rep from the Pro Bull Riding Circuit suggests she train as a bullfighter, rescuing downed cowboys from their rampaging charges, she can’t let the fact that she’d be the first woman to attempt this stop her. Angel is depending on her.

It’s not just the danger and taking on a man’s career that challenges Harlie. She must learn to trust—her partner and herself, and learn to let go of what’s not hers to save.