Book review: LEAD ME KNOT, by S.L. Scott

Peachtree Pass #2

Baylor & Lauralee

Slow, meandering, tender, passionate, nostalgic, are the adjectives that I kept thinking about as I was reading this book.  Lauralee is an enchanting character who loves as hard as she works. She’s Christine’s best friend and it feels like they’re sisters.  When Christine’s brother Baylor comes to visit, in this one instance, it hits home, how much she’s crushed on him, how handsome he is, but he’s a player and he won’t stay. And Lauralee won’t move away!

Again, this is a story of a guy who hasn’t come home in years, who swore he wouldn’t come back, and now is feeling the pull of the town where he grew up, his magical childhood, and the love for a woman. He wonders if all that will supersede the pain and sad memories of losing his beloved mother. Dissatisfaction with work and a lifestyle that lost its lustre also works in Baylor’s mind.

Lauralee has abandonment issues which make it hard to trust and commit fully to love. It’s an interesting story, a lovely depiction of small town life, ranch life, the gossip train and the sexy times. She has financial issues and Baylor’s attempts to help are clumsy and even I wanted to slap him silly. Entertaining and tenderly romantic!

Purchase links

Free in KU

https://geni.us/LMKAm

About the author

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, S.L. Scott, writes character driven, heart-racing suspense, and swoony romances that will leave you glued to the page. With stories ranging from witty beach reads to heart wrenching and heart healing, her stories are highly regarded as emotional, relatable, and captivating.

Her books are more than escapes for the voracious readers of today. They are journeys of the heart that always come with a happily ever after reward at the end.

 

Connect with S.L.

Website | www.slscottauthor.com  

Goodreads | https://geni.us/SLGR  

Amazon | https://geni.us/SLSAm 

Facebook | https://geni.us/SLSPage    

Facebook Group |  https://geni.us/SLScottBooks     

Instagram |  https://geni.us/IGSLS 

Bookbub |  https://geni.us/SLScottBB     

Pinterest |  https://geni.us/SLPin       

Newsletter |  https://geni.us/SLScottNL  

Book review: CRAZY LOVE, by Willow Aster

The Single Dad Playbook #5

Penn & Addy

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This story was so lovely, like the previous ones from this series.  A group of guys call themselves the Single Dad Players and keep a notebook where they record all their thoughts, feelings, and counsel for the other dads.  However, in this last book, all the dads are married or living with their loved ones, except for Penn Hudson, playboy extraordinaire, and the running back of the Colorado Mustangs.  

Penn fits into the Single Dads group because he’s mentoring a young boy in the foster system, called Sam and aged eleven.  He has been mentoring Sam for a couple of years, and is now trying to adopt him because Sam is going through a rough time in his foster home.  As I read the story, I was enchanted by their closeness.  Especially cute is their dance routine when they go to the Luminary coffee shop and do the required “dance and you get coffee” routine.

In order to help Penn adopt Sam, Addy offers a marriage of convenience to improve his chances, because since he’s single and travels a lot, it’s not very likely.  And then our story takes off, with lots of love, laughter, some angst, funny friends who constantly chat through messages and love to roast whoever is in the hot seat.  Also Sam, who is lovable, adorable, funny and more mature than a child should be.  He’s gone through some hard times but has a lot of hope and resilience.  

I loved Penn and Addy together, they were perfect.  Initially rejected by Addy’s father because of his playboy fame, he soon wins the heart of the in-laws as they see his devotion to Sam and to Addy. We read them as they go through legal battles, emotional moments, plenty of tears on both sides.  

Apart from the emotional moments, the tenderness between Addy, Penn, and Sam, there’s a delight in their funny times, like when they start a dance party, or prank each other.  The addition of a pet is hysterical, as Penn cringes and jumps at the new family member.  Later on in the book is another surprise addition to the family, a very welcome one.  I loved how Addy and Penn’s parents add to the joy, offering support, embracing their grandparents role.

The story is full of heart, steam, and fun, a lovely read, very uplifting.

Purchase links

FREE with #kindleunlimited 

Amazon: https://geni.us/Crazylove

Goodreads: https://geni.us/CrazyLoveGR

About the author 

Willow Aster is a USA Today bestselling author and lover of everything book-related.

Although an introvert, this lifelong writer and artist is convinced that the best part of this career is meeting and connecting with readers, authors, and all of those in this community of book lovers. 

For signed books and Willow's website, go to: www.willowaster.com

You can also follow Willow on Instagram (willowaster) and her Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/willowasterauthor

Book review: CATCH THE KISS, by L.B. Dunbar

Chicago Anchors #2

Bolan & Ruthie

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’m loving this author’s books a lot!  She appeals to the older characters, they are usually in their thirties or forties, and supposed to have figured out their lives.  But no such thing, they still have issues to resolve and an HEA, or second HEA to achieve.  It’s fun to read these characters, because the men are kind and the women sassy, which makes for a very entertaining read.

Ruthie and Bolan met in a kiss experiment in college, which resulted in sparks and fireworks between them, but they weren’t allowed to have contact during the next year.  So, they moved on and forgot.  Eighteen years later, they meet again, Ruthie is a widow, Bolan just back from Japan.  Years ago, he was sent to Japan in disgrace for making a mess of his life with his bad boy ways.  Now he has a baby daughter, the mother is not in the picture, and he’s determined to be a good father to his baby girl.

He needs a wife in order to be contracted to the Chicago Anchors due to a recent scandal in the team.  Ruthie and Bolan met again in a charity ball in honor of his mother, and later on, at the sports agency where he is a client.  He requests to have Ruthie as his fake wife, and Ruthie sees this as a way to break out of the chains of her previous life.  So they get a marriage in convenience, with a beautiful baby girl that enthralls both, and more of the same chemistry they had all those years ago.

I loved their story and their attraction and how they couldn’t help getting involved again.  Ruthie had many regrets from her marriage, one of them not having kids.  Now she has a ready-made baby, and a husband who is supportive of her dreams and pushes her to go get them.  Bolan is honest about his past bad boy actions and how he wants a different life for his baby girl. 

It was sweet and steamy, I loved how thoughtful Bolan was, and loved that Ruthie at last has a chance at happiness after a crappy last husband.  It was lovely to see Ruthie get kindness from a man at long last!

Purchase links

https://a.co/d/dE2syhG 

 

Available in KU 

About the author

L.B. Dunbar loves sexy silver foxes, second chances, and small towns. If you enjoy older characters in your romance reads, including a hero with a little silver in his scruff and a heroine rediscovering her worth, then welcome to romance for those over 40. L.B. Dunbar’s signature works include women and men in their prime taking another turn at love and happily ever after. She’s a USA TODAY Bestseller as well as #1 Bestseller on Amazon in Later in Life Romance with her Lakeside Cottage and Road Trips & Romance series. L.B. lives in Chicago with her own sexy silver fox.

To get all the scoop about the self-proclaimed queen of silver fox romance, join her on Facebook at Loving L.B. or receive her monthly newsletter, Love Notes.

Connect with L.B. Dunbar:

https://linktr.ee/lbdunbarwrites 

Book review: THE WAY WE COLLIDE, by Tia Louise

Bradford Boys #4

Hendrix & Raven

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I started reading this series with Garret’s book, The Way We Score.  I loved the Bradford boys, so asked for this title too.  And this one was even better!  I loved Hendrix, he’s thoughtful and honest.  He loves football, it’s his priority, and he makes it clear to all his dates, no exceptions.  

Hendrix meets Raven at his sister’s wedding, Hendrix is a groomsman, Raven is a bridesmaid, and the usual clink happens.  Fifteen months later, Hendrix’ older brother Jack summons him home, and he gets to meet his baby daughter.  No doubts she’s his because she has his face and blue eyes.

I also loved Raven, she was driven and stubborn.  She wanted to be a meteorologist, and she walked away from her family who didn’t agree with her dreams.  Her mother, now dead, was controlling and abusive, and this marked Raven.  It also made her all the more determined to be a good mother to Hadley.

Raven moves to LA to live with Hendrix for a while so he can get to know his daughter.  They also marry so she can get access to her trust fund.  And of course, when two people have such a strong connection, the rest is history.  In this part of the story, I loved Hendrix’s evolution as a dad, and how his view of life changed as he embraced his role of a dad.

I loved how the story developed because their chemistry was so strong and electric, they had trouble keeping is strictly platonic. Hendrix was very considerate of Raven’s dreams and strived to help her achieve them.  They had so much in common, being together was so easy for them, but they had different dreams that pushed them apart.  I rooted to hard for them to make it!

The story was delightful, the pace great, and the characters around them, the Bradford siblings and the partners interesting.  I found Jack and Zane the most intriguing, so looking forward to their stories. 

Purchase links

FREE with Kindle Unlimited

Amazon: https://mybook.to/Collideamz   

Audible: https://geni.us/CollideAud

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/4hB4s3X 

About the author

Tia Louise is the USA TODAY best-selling, award-winning author of super-hot and sexy romances. All her heroes are alphas with hearts of gold, and all her heroines are the smart, sassy ladies who love them.
 
NEVER miss a New Release or Sale--get her newsletter now: http://smarturl.it/TLMnews
OR Get New Release Text Alerts: Text "TiaLouise" to 64600 (U.S. only)
 
Keep up with her at TiaLouise.com or Instagram (@AuthorTLouise) or Facebook (@AuthorTiaLouise).

 

Connect with Tia

Website | www.TiaLouise.com   

Goodreads | https://www.goodreads.com/Tia_Louise   

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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/