Desire and Protect:

Desire and Protect: a small town romantic suspense novel (Heroes of Evers, TX Book 5)

by Lori Ryan

It starts out a little slow but doesn’t take long before you are pulled in as Shane finds out the type of women he thought he wanted isn’t his type at all once Phoebe walks into his office. He needs one now and Phoebe is the one in front of him when he needs one the most. Phoebe grabs his attention from the start with her entertaining interview from her resume that kept me laughing to those old boyfriends who doesn’t know what NO means. It is touch and goes if Shane will hire her but once he did he was so very glad. Phoebe takes not only his office but Shane by storm as she puts her outstanding brain to use turning his office into a well oiled machine. These two are total opposites of each other, but they seem to be able to balance each other out, where she needs a little more serious he adds to that, where he needs to learn to let his hair down she is able to pull the fun man underneath, all the starch out. Oh things get pretty serious with their relationship and the murders in the town. I liked the mystery was it murder or was it suicide? It seems Phoebe is getting a little to close to something and that something would love to have her dead. The author gives you a well mixture of suspense, humor, mystery, murder, drama, romance, surprises all mixed around a death along with sorrow, pain, lost of one person death.

Ryan gives you wonderful characters you can relate to. Phoebe father is something else I just loved him as he pulls a few words tricks on Shane. She finds out a few things about her past and why her father did what he did. I loved the humor, uneasiness, as well as the baiting between Phoebe and Shane. Their relationship is fun, but they do mean business when it comes to murder. Phoebe is smart and very intelligent even though she doesn’t seem very smart at first. She is a shaker and really shakes things up for this small town and its people. I really enjoyed all the twists and turns. Phoebe wants stability she has grown up with an over powering father who is bigger than life and always there for her but with him being in the military they moved around a lot and her name hasn’t help her find her place in life. Ryan wants a family and seems kind of a player at first. He has gone through every woman in town looking in all the wrong place and finding the most boring women. With Phoebe, he finds what he is missing and works to making up for lost time. When her father comes in the picture he finds he might need to put up a bigger fight lord that man is scary.

This is a great addition to the series filled with all the things that makes an outstanding read from the humor, mystery, suspense along with the thrills, a few breath stopping moments along with the adventure and the delightful fun romance. It was a book I couldn’t put down, a fun read with a very serious side that holds you spellbound with wonderful twists and turns and a few surprises.

Buy Links

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Desire-Protect-romantic-suspense-Heroes-ebook/dp/B079BRWMD7/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

B&N

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/desire-and-protect-lori-ryan/1128029590;jsessionid=BD6CCF04F910F63909D3CBCFEC073D82.prodny_store02-atgap12?ean=9781941149775

Summary

Evers, Texas is Phoebe’s shot at leaving behind the fun-loving woman no one takes seriously, and she’s determined to make it work. Unfortunately, he’s determined to give up his steady, staid ways and he wants her help. Can they meet in the middle and make love work?

It might have taken Phoebe Joy a little while to realize there’s more to life than having fun, but she’s got the message now. She knows, if she doesn’t make changes, she’s going to lose out on her chance at love and a family of her own. It isn’t easy to erase the mistakes of her past and remake herself, and the oh-so-sexy Shane Bishop is tempting her like no man has before. To top it all off, when she stumbles on a mysterious death in her new town, the dream she’s trying to hold onto is in more danger than she realizes.

Shane Bishop knows how everyone sees him. He’s the boring brother. The one you can count on to solve your problems, to consistently be exactly the way he’s always been. Day after day, after dreary day. When Phoebe shows up in his office, he’d be an idiot to try to deny the way her beauty and excitement tempt him. And if there’s one thing Shane has never been, it’s stupid. But when she uncovers a murder the town never even realized had happened, her life is in danger and he’ll have to race to save the woman who’s stolen his heart.

Desire and Protect is a standalone book that can be read in any order within the series.

Marrying the Wedding Crasher

Marrying the Wedding Crasher (Harmony Valley #11)

by Melinda Curtis

When you give everything you have and made to feel like you are nothing it can affect you no matter what age you are. This is what happens to both the main characters but in different ways. It is a story about hopes, dreams, sorrow, misunderstandings, pain, mending, filled with love, forgiveness, sometimes dreams do come true. This story touched me in so many ways the author knows how to reach in touching your heart with so many emotions come home to Harmony Valley where you will laugh, cry, cheer and say a few not so nice words as characters twist their way into your heart as they work on heartbreaking issues that have been out of their control with families that love them but might not always do it in the way they think they should.

Vince comes off as somewhat of a jerk but truly he just doesn’t know how to say things right. Harley has a secret she can’t share as to why she isn’t doing the job she was trained to do. Vince said some things that really upset her making her feel like she is a failure. One date was one to many for her and poor Vince doesn’t even know what he did wrong. Vince makes a habit of putting his foot in his mouth one big one was telling his family he was seriously dating Harley not his family expects him to bring her home to a wedding he doesn’t want to go home to. Heck he hasn’t been home in a lot of years only for holidays and only when he is made to.

A lot of things happens between these pages, a lot of issues will be worked out with a lot of pain hitting hard as misunderstanding are worked out things get very completed filled with strong feeling, passion and one baby on the way. The author gives a story of so much pain wrapped around humor, smiles and laughs taking you down a road that will twist you apart and finally bring you home to a loving family, a new life and some major issues worked out for two people to find their happy ever after. A very heartwarming clean read that really touched me in so many ways.

Buy Links

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074SJ9971/ref=x_gr_w_glide?caller=Goodreads&callerLink=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38343728-marrying-the-wedding-crasher?ac=1&from_search=true&tag=x_gr_w_glide-20

B&N

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/marrying-the-wedding-crasher-melinda-curtis/1126975312;jsessionid=DDD1339B4A01AE2B2C9EB8EF8E5F127B.prodny_store02-atgap03?ean=9781488084966

Goggle Play

https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Melinda_Curtis_Marrying_the_Wedding_Crasher?id=t-UwDwAAQBAJ

Kobo

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/marrying-the-wedding-crasher

Summary

his bachelor’s pretend girlfriend just made a shocking discovery—

She’s pregnant!

Although they dated for only a month, Harley O’Hannigan just agreed to be Vince Messina’s plus-one at a Harmony Valley wedding. Big mistake, given her deepening feelings for the tall, dark, unavailable bachelor. And what about Vince’s long-buried family history? Then there’s the growing secret that could transform this pretend relationship into the real thing…

Package Deal

Package Deal (Ruled Out Romances 2)

by Charissa Stastny

I really enjoyed this fun funny read. Man meet girl, thinks she might be the one only to find she has a little girl of her own. Raising someone else child is a big turn off not in his plans, and he exits left only to find everywhere he turns the lady of his dreams and her little nightmare of a daughter is right before his eyes, now isn’t that just his luck. There are many misunderstandings as well as lots of fun twists and turns that kept me very well entertained. A little drama as well as pain and sorrow. The show stopper and stealer is one little girl who is just adorable with her charming ways of getting into trouble and her hero which is the white horse she rides on. All that is needed is one princess and one knight to get on the same page. If one sweet angel has her way they will be married before you can say sweet!

It isn’t your normal boy meets girl, and they live happy ever after. From Spring’s name to her darling little girl and the man everyone hates to her delightful friend who Spring promises to help keep the big bad brother away from stirring trouble at the wedding it was a delightful charming clean read that holds your attention and keeps you invest. I loved the plot, as well as how the author twists it from misunderstandings to deeds as well as sticking one big foot in your mouth time after time. There are some big surprises for our characters that kept me smiling and laughing my way through. I loved the chemistry between Spring and Hudson you could feel the sparks, they did their best to put distance between them but it just wasn’t in the cards. There really were wonderful characters that really got off on the wrong foot and kind of stay on that foot for a while. The supporting characters are wonderful Brandee just steals my heart and then breaks it, but she comes right back and really makes me love her. She and Hudson has one heart melting scene that just about had me in tears as well as some very touching scenes between Emma and Hudson that just totally melts my heart.

The author knows how to pull her reader in she had me laughing, smiling, yelling, saying a few bad words as well as just about in tears at one time. Romance that makes you swoon, mouth dropping moments, a few shockers, sexy men and sassy women that know how to stand their ground, the author gives you a little of everything. I really didn’t want the story to end. I thought it was worth my time and a book I will read again and again.

Buy Links

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078HH693X/ref=x_gr_w_glide_ku_bb?ie=UTF8&tag=x_gr_w_glide_ku_bb-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B078HH693X&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2

B&N

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/package-deal-charissa-stastny/1127879844;jsessionid=38F93D03F85D85423BE0B42C269EDB54.prodny_store01-atgap07?ean=9781983571763

Summary

Angels come in different packages.

Single mom Spring is doing her best to raise her two-year-old daughter alone. She has no desire to date again, so is pleasantly surprised at her best friend’s wedding when a handsome man’s flirtations charm, instead of annoy her. But when her toddler runs up and calls her Mommy, she can tell by his reaction that her daughter is a deal-breaker. He can’t escape fast enough.

Hudson Sandel is proud of his bachelor status even as he attends his little brother’s wedding as best man. Too bad the only woman who tempts him has a daughter that rules her out. Instant fatherhood isn’t on his agenda. But when the kid throws a tantrum, he swoops in to help keep her from ruining his brother’s wedding. When the night ends, he can’t stop thinking about the gorgeous blonde’s expression when he played hero to her child. It made him feel uncomfortably good, and it doesn’t help that he keeps running into the angelic duo around town. Hudson knows Spring and her daughter are a package deal. The question is: Does he want to take on that responsibility, or will he stick to the road leading to professional success and glory?

***

In this new series of stand-alone romances, star-crossed lovers meet, but rule each other out for various reasons. But life, with its quirky twists and tangled turns, keep bringing each of the unlikely duos together until they discover their unique happily-ever-afters.

Ruled Out Romances (Do not have to read in order)
1 - Game Changer
2 - Package Deal
3 - Collateral Hearts (Coming later this year)
4 - Corporate Crush (Coming later this year)

***

Praise for Package Deal:

“The littlest member of the package deal steals the show in this charming romance about finding out that three is not always a crowd—and that our hearts can always make room for one more person to love.” –Taylor Dean, author of the Sound of Silence series

“Stastny has become one of my new favorites with her Ruled Out Romances series...Once again I went without sleep and got lost in the pages of a fantastic read. The romance was divine, the characters perfect. I can’t wait for the next book in this AMAZING series!! – Mylissa Demeyere, blogger/reviewer

The Bends

The Bends

A Kane Montgomery Novel, Book 1

By: Bart Hopkins

Narrated by: Luke Daniels

Length: 7 hrs and 43 mins

Unabridged

Release date: 01-04-18

I really didn’t know what to expect when I started listening to this audio. I had never heard of this author or narrator. When listening to the sample I was intrigue once I started listening to the audio in no time at all the author and narrator pulled me in giving me an amazing outstanding ride that I totally loved. The author gives you a touch of romance but you don’t really see it, its like a tree in the far distances when looking at the land you know that little tree is there but the rest of the view is so breath taking you do not narrow in on the tree. It has a nice touch to it and adds so much to the story and plot. The plot is based around a small town and its people, along with the children, families that come up missing, there is mystery, danger, suspense and a little paranormal. There is evil, but not everything is white or black it is mixed with a little red when death is near.

Mr. Daniels’s narration just blew me out of the water with his wonderful character voices, tones and the way he laid the plot out that as the author wrote it. He pauses just long enough for the facts to sink in pulling you in deeper to the story. His male and female voices are powerful with so many different voices that are truly very different from each other. He has no problem pulling off the high sex females or the cute young women along with deep older man. His redneck pain in the butt voice is a delight as well as his young excited teen, his sexy ex soldier is a dream. There is nothing I didn’t like about his performance. I would have to say my favorite is Birdie on the sexy women who has taken the town over. The emotions Mr. Daniels brings to this audio is outstanding from the sound effect that makes you think he is talking through a blow horn to the excitement, fear, even the romance between the two main characters. I had no trouble feeling every emotion that the characters do. There are no background noises, no volume changes, if any breaks were taken I could not tell. The narrator deliveries a wonderful clear, crisp audio I totally got lost in. I even forgot I was listening. For me he made this story a five star listen. He pulled me in took me away and I didn’t want to put it end.

The plot is great, the author really put a lot of thought this along putting some major twists and turns along with the buildup of the mystery that really holds you spellbound. You know there is evil near but you can’t put your finger on it until you get closer to the end of the story. You know what it is built around as well as a few of the people who have their hands in the pot and why they do. Things are not as they seem at times I had chills and I can’t tell you what it was from because it would give too much away. This isn’t a story you can really go into or you lose the surprise and it would take away from the reader. What I can tell you is there are some wonderful characters, some scary ones, and some very cute ones. The town is wonderful just a sweet old country town that I fall in love with. The author gives a wonderful mix of humor, seriousness, passion, fun and sorrow. He makes you chuckle and at times leaves you with your heart in your throat. There was even a time or two when I held my hands to my mouth thinking OH NO please No, and then he would have me smiling again at the baiting, the witty humor, and we would go full circle again. The ending is good the mystery is solved but it is a little of a cliffhanger oh the story is complete but the author sets it up for the next story leaving you wondering what is in store for the main characters. Is it worth your time? OH YES, you will find so much enjoyment between these pages from the mystery to the danger to the unknown as well as the paranormal. I hope you will pick up this audio and give it a try you are in for a delightful treat.

Buy Links

Audible

https://www.audible.com/pd/Fiction/The-Bends-Audiobook/B078PQTCKB?ref=a_a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=e81b7c27-6880-467a-b5a7-13cef5d729fe&pf_rd_r=STGEA3F26BMG285N5BY7&

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Bends-Kane-Montgomery-1-ebook/dp/B06X9MRQYB/ref=cm_cr_if_orig_subj?_encoding=UTF8&linkCode=xm2&tag=audiblecom0f-20

Summary

Marathon is a quiet little Texas town, and it's getting quieter. Kids are vanishing, disappearing like tumbleweeds in the desert wind. Somebody - or something - is taking them.
Action. Adventure. Romance. Suspense. The Bends is a supernatural thriller roller coaster ride!
"If it's true, well.... She can't be human."
Recommended for fans of Blake Crouch, Stephen King, J. A. Konrath, and Dean Koontz.
Other books by Bart Hopkins:
Like
Fluke
Texas Jack
World Wide Gone
Dead Ends
Shortlisted and second place in the 2017 Holl and Lane Heart & Soul Book Awards.