Book review: PRETEND WE ARE US, by Claudia Burgoa

Timberbridge Brothers #1

Ledger & Galeana

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I loved this story! Small town with some intrigue and suspense!  And a second chance love story! Galeana and Ledger meet at a resort in the Amalfi coast. She was on her honeymoon but alone because the groom jilted her last-minute at the church.  Ledger was there to be groomsman at a teammate’s wedding.  There’s a confusion about reservations, they both end up in the same honeymoon suite, have a titillating evening with champagne and playing truth or dare, then Galeana escapes during the night.

Fast forward two years, Ledger is back in his small town to help his brothers manage his mother’s estate, and Galeana arrives at the same town, as the long lost heiress of the maple syrup company.

Ledger’s older brother Malerick is the town’s sheriff, and he tasks Ledger with protecting Galeana, as her inheritance is in danger.  Likewise, they need to protect their own inheritance, Timberbridge Timber.  Something’s going on in this town, and we all want to know!

Ledger is all too happy to take care of Galeana, they end up in a marriage of convenience so she can inherit, and things start to go boom.  Ledger turns into the protective hero, Galeana is the scared heroine with an iron backbone, Malerick has mysterious connections with the FBI and it’s all a “they want our town but they won’t get it” type of series.  The town issue is not resolved in this installment, but the love story is and very deliciously so.

Tune in for all the excitement and yummy love scenes!

Purchase links

https://geni.us/PretendWeRUs

About the author

Claudia is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling author. 

She writes alluring, thrilling stories about complicated women and the men who take their breaths away. Her books are the perfect blend of steamy and heartfelt, filled with emotional characters and explosive chemistry. Her writing takes readers to new heights, providing a variety of tears, laughs, and shocking moments that leave fans on the edge of their seats.

She lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband, her youngest two children, and three fluffy dogs.

When Claudia is not writing, you can find her reading, knitting, or just hanging out with her family. At nights, she likes to binge watches shows or movies with her equally geeky husband.

Connect with Claudia Burgoa:

https://claudiayburgoa.com/wp/links/ 

Book review: WORTH THE CHASE, by J. Sterling

Sugar Mountain #3

Mathew & Bella

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Matthew O’Grady was a retired NHL professional player, he was also an O’Grady from Sugar Mountain, he didn’t have to chase women, they flocked to him.  Except for Isabella Sanchez, childhood friend and little sister of his best friend Joe.  She had a crush on him when she was fourteen, but she was just a kid, and Joe invoked bro code on her.  So he kissed her before he left for the NHL and didn’t contact her in the seven years he was away. Cue heartbreak!

Now Matthew is back in Sugar Mountain, retired early from hockey due to a knee injury, he wants Bella but she won’t give him a break.  He visits her at the bar where she’s a bartender, she won’t give him the time of day, he begs and begs until he finally convinces her to help him buy a house.

Since she has a realtor license she doesn’t use, she decides to help him out, they choose a house they both love, and he starts waxing poetic, trying to convince him to give him a chance.

Reading their story was fun, Matthew was so cute pouting and whining and finagling one date after another from Bella.  The interactions and text messages between brothers were cute, full of banter and good-natured insults.  I loved Bella, she held out and made Matthew suffer for his inattention until she needed him urgently and the guy really got present.  I love this series because it involves love and steam, but also the love of a small town, friends and family.  It’s lovely, sweet, cute and very heartwarming.

What to expect: 

💚 Small Town Romance

💚 Retired Hockey Player

💚 Best Friend’s Sister 

💚 Friends to Lovers 

💚 You’re my Hero 

Purchase links

𝗢𝗡𝗘-𝗖𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗞 𝗧𝗢𝗗𝗔𝗬!

https://geni.us/WorththeChase

𝗕𝗨𝗬 𝗗𝗜𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗙𝗥𝗢𝗠 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗔𝗨𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗥!

https://jsterlingbooks.com/products/worth-the-chase

Add to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/219738935

About the author

J. Sterling is a New York Times and USA Today best selling author whose goal is to write stories that you can get lost in. She wants you to end her books with a smile on your face and a happy heart. If you can forget about the real world while you're reading, then she’s done her job.

 

Jenn is a Southern California native who recently moved to Colorado. It's really cold out here you guys (at least for a day, and then it gets warm again, and then cold and then warm and on & on) If you can't find her sitting behind a computer screen writing her heart out, then there's a good chance she’s sitting in the bleachers of a stadium watching her son, Blake, play baseball. She loves traveling to new places, meeting her readers and living life with the Real Jack Carter. 

Connect with J. Sterling

Email: jsterling@jennster.com

Private Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ThePerfectGameChangerGroup/

Newsletter: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/61955745839edddd7aa02e58

Book review: MY SILVER LINING, by Laura Pavlov

Rosewood River #2

Rafe Chadwick & Lulu Sonnet

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

As I started the book, I thought this would be a standard fake relationship story but it went much farther than that.  It was also a story of growth and overcoming personal issues.  Both Rafe and Lulu had personal problems in their lives and being together as fake boyfriend and girlfriend gave them the friendship and support they needed to break out from the bonds that kept them stuck.

I loved both Lulu and Rafe! She was an emotional, free spirit who needed to fly on her own rules.  For this reason she didn’t fit into her famous family, where decorum was always expected.  The only one who loved and accepted her completely was her grandfather.  Rafe had plans to open his own financial consulting firm but insecurity kept him from pursuing his desires. I saw Rafe as man content in his life, who loved his town and his family, very friendly and happy.  He was like a ray of sunshine for Lulu in a life where she was seen as the black sheep of the family.

Initially Lulu was snarky and nasty, but as she grew close to Rafe, she changed to sassy and sexy.  I loved the slow burn as they grew close, develop the friendly ties, then the sexy ties, and how the mutual support helped them soar.  It was much more than fake relationship, it was discovery, freedom, happiness, a family and friends circle that buoyed them up.  Very uplifting and heartwarming, I loved this story and these two exceptional characters.

Purchase links

FREE with Kindle Unlimited

https://geni.us/mysilverlining

Paperback releasing March 25th!

Audible: https://bit.ly/3DjEwLr

Narrated by: Sean Masters & Vanessa Edwin

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3Cg1RwP

About the author

Laura Pavlov writes sweet and sexy contemporary romance that will make you both laugh and cry. She is happily married to her college sweetheart, mom to two awesome almost-grown kids, and dog-whisperer to one temperamental yorkie and one wild bernedoodle. Laura resides in Las Vegas where she is living her own happily ever after. Be sure to sign up for updates on new releases. Laura loves to hear from readers!

 

Connect with Laura

Website: https://www.laurapavlov.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6569734.Laura_Pavlov

Amazon: http://amzn.to/3c1xKZX

Facebook: http://bit.ly/3eSvEdp

Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/2OKU6T5

Instagram: https://bit.ly/2TKf5Zs

X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/laurapavlov2

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@laurapavlovauthor

Bookbub: http://bit.ly/3ii8Vdp

Book review: MERIT, by Devney Perry

Treasure State Wildcats #4

Maverick & Stevie

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Now I understand why the author says this is the perfect ending to this series.  Everyone is present in this story, Coach Ellis and Millie, Toren and Jennsyn, Rush and Faye, Maverick and Stevie.  Some of the action between Maverick and Stevie happen while the other love stories are happening, so we get a teeny tiny peek into their stories again, from a different perspective.  I love that!

What I didn’t love is the constant bickering between Maverick and Stevie that happens during the first chapters.  She’s obstinate, he’s a jerk. It’s like they have a switch and they turn into their worst persona when they are together, otherwise they are great people.  And since their parents are best friends who spend a lot of time together, this happens A LOT.

Maverick’s mother has cancer and she guilt-trips Maverick and Stevie into dating.  What starts as a disaster, continues on as a discovery of why they were such good friends, and continues on to love.  I loved this process, once the tedious bickering stopped.  I loved the emotional process they went through, cried through the angsty despair as they watch Mav’s mom deteriorate at a fast clip. I loved both Maverick and Stevie but liked Maverick more.  He seemed to be more real with himself, accepted his faults, even if he continued being a jerk.  Stevie was so naturally obstinate that she had a hard time curbing her snark.  The last half of the book was totally Devney Perry perfection, with the angsty, steamy, and tender love I’ve grown to expect from her books. Totally recommend!

Purchase links

Free on Kindle Unlimited

Amazon: https://amzn.to/43Kk6FW

Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/4kResba

About the author

Devney Perry is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of over forty romance novels. After working in the technology industry for a decade, she abandoned conference calls and project schedules to pursue her passion for writing. She was born and raised in Montana and now lives in Washington with her husband and two sons. 

 

Connect with Devney

Website: www.devneyperry.com

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2kncXnb

Amazon: https://geni.us/nAXkP

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/devneyperrybooks

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/324585607979213/

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/devneyperry

Bookbub: http://bit.ly/2v1Hr7t

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/devneyperry