From Best Friend to Husband

Posted on by Cathy

About From Best Friend to Husband

If you love fall, you’ll love this romance wrapped in changing leaves, pumpkin decor, hot cocoa, and spicy kisses.

Welcome to Harvest Ranch!

The Fall Festival is upon us—complete with a giant pumpkin growing contests, craft booths, a corn maze with kissing alcoves and so much more.

This is Wynn Westbrook’s first year as a vendor. Her farmhouse style furniture could be the hot item this year—or it could totally flop.

Wynn married her high school sweetheart knowing that he wouldn’t be around to raise their children. She didn’t plan to fall apart after he died; and, she didn’t plan on his older brother picking her up–but he did.

Judd lives next door. He drives the kids to school, makes dinner, and tells the best bedtime stories.

He can also make Wynn’s heart thump with just one touch–which is a distraction she doesn’t need as she works to get her business off the ground.

Can she let go of the life she thought she’d have and embrace a new love?

Or, will she hold to the past and turn away the love of a good man?

You’ll adore this small-town romance full of heart!

**Bonus**

One of Wynn’s favorite fall treats is a Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cocoa from Choco-Latte on Main Street. The exclusive, to-die-for, recipe is included in this book!

My review

This was one of those rare books for me. The kind that you just want to keep reading. And beyond that, you want to crawl into the story and live there. I was so sad when I finished it. But…there are more coming, so that’s okay.

Wynn is such a great character. She’s the kind that you can picture yourself knowing and being friends with. Wynn seems to be everyone’s friend in the book. And she’s kind of clueless about Judd. I really loved the way she was with her kids. She’s such a great mom, and recognizes that she can’t do it all on her own.

Judd is such a great guy! He’s Wynn’s brother-in-law, her husband died a few years before the book starts. But Wynn and Judd have been best friends since way before that. I love that they had a history. And neither of them were planning to ever be anything more than brother-in-law and sister-in-law. Life has a way of changing the best laid plans.

I loved the plot of this one. And the fall theme! Sigh…it’s perfect!

I borrowed a copy of this book using my Kindle Unlimited subscription. All opinions are my own.

Purchase link

Amazon

What to read after From Best Friend to Husband

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Heart of Gold – Blog Tour

Posted on by Cathy

About A Heart of Gold

a heart of gold

They’ll have to conquer more than the Klondike Trail to reach her father in time—they’ll have to overcome their past too.

After months of silence from her father in the Klondike, Tava Rutherford finally receives word from him. Only the outdated letter reveals that her father is ill and may be dying. Desperate to discover his fate, Tava resolves to make the journey to the wilds of northwestern Canada. But Jess Lawmen, her ranch foreman and the man who broke her heart, insists she doesn’t go alone. Jess intends to keep his promise to look out for her—even if that means traveling thousands of miles with Tava, the woman he claims to feel just friendship for but has never stopped loving.

With their own ragtag group of travelers in tow, Tava and Jess confront one challenge after another as they join the hundreds of stampeders scrambling to reach the goldfields. But as the two of them come face to face with their past hurts and mistakes in their race to reach Tava’s father, they will have to decide whether to cling to safety or risk their hearts for something even greater.  

My review

I’m always up for a historical romance with great characters. This book by Stacy Henrie is one of those. I enjoyed everything about it. Especially the fact that it is set in the wilds of Alaska.

Tava is the main female lead. She’s headstrong, missing her father, and in love with Jess. Even though she will not admit it. I loved that she was willing to take the hard route and travel to Alaska, not knowing what she’d find. That would have been a hard trip. There were times of cold, not enough food and motion sickness. But there was also friendship and love. That’s what made the rough times worth it.

Jess is a good guy. He’s not about to let Tava travel to Alaska on her own. He loves her too much for that. Even though he also wouldn’t tell her that. Both of these characters are a bit stubborn. I think that was a good thing on their hard trip. But it makes the love story a bit difficult.

I loved the extra characters that these two find along their way. They really made the story come alive. The conditions that they dealt with on their trip really did need the extra people. I can’t even imagine trying to make this trip.

I loved this book! Hoping for more like this one soon.

I was sent a copy of A Heart of Gold as a gift from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Purchase link

Amazon

Giveaway

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Author Stacy Henrie’s links

Bookbub – Amazon – Goodreads

Check out the other stops on A Heart of Gold blog tour

9/21 – Heidi Reads / Mom With a Reading Problem

9/22 – Wishful Endings / LDS and Lovin It

9/23 – Literary Time Out / Julie Coulter Bellon / My Book a Day / Singing Librarian Books

9/24 – Katie’s Clean Book Collection / Bookworm Lisa / Empower Moms9/25 – The Bibliophile Files / Kellie Dickes / Books are Sanity

What to read after A Heart of Gold

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Forget Me Not – Blog Tour

Posted on by Cathy

About Forget Me Not

forget me not

Nottinghamshire, 1785

Julia Cummings has long been acquainted with loss-her mother, her brother, her sister, her friend, all gone too soon.  But the loss that pushed her grief to the limit as a young girl was that of her best friend, Lucas Jonquil, who abandoned her without looking back.  Now, eight years later, Lucas has returned to Lampton Park, and Julia has steeled herself-she will never forgive the man who broke her heart.

After losing too many of his friends and family to early deaths, Lucas vowed to live life to the fullest.  And after traversing the world, he has returned from his adventures to find his family and home as he left them-except for Julia.  The little girl he left behind has blossomed into a captivating lady, a lady who makes it clear she despises him.  With little hope of reconciliation, the former friends are blindsided when their parents make a shocking announcement.  Lucas and Julia have been betrothed without their knowledge and are to marry immediately.  Now Lucas must rely on the help of his closest friends to win the heart of a lady who loathes him-a lady he’s coming to love more deeply every day.

My review

This book by Sarah M Eden is everything I wanted it to be. And more! I loved everything about it. And, even better, it’s the start to a brand new series.

This one features Julia and Lucas. They are the parents mentioned in many, many of this author’s books. It’s so much fun to see their love story. And how they came to be the people they were. I loved seeing the beginnings of so many stories.

Julia is a spitfire. Her personality matches her beautiful red hair. But everyone Julia has ever known has left her in one way or another. She had a couple of siblings die, as well as her mom. And now her dad is forcing her to marry, right away. And to a man that she knows will leave her again.

Lucas….I liked him. But like his friends say in this book, he’s a dunderhead. Lucas lives so much for adventure that he forgets to look around him and be happy with his life as it is. I liked the way he learned a little about himself that way. And learned to make sacrifices for Julia when he needed to. These two work so well together. I loved that!

I have to mention The Gents. That’s the name of the group of friends that Lucas belongs to. I LOVE these guys! They come along just when Julia and Lucas need them the most. And they make things better. I can’t wait to read each of their stories.

This is a great book. A must read for all Sarah Eden fans.

I was sent a copy of Forget Me Not as a gift from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Purchase links

Amazon – Deseret Book

Giveaway

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What to read after Forget Me Not

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Her Unexpected Courtship

Posted on by Cathy

About Her Unexpected Courtship

her unexpected courtship

Isabel Reed has promised to marry for love. At present her heart belongs to the one companion she knows accepts all her eccentricities—her horse. So when her older brother threatens to trade the animal on a whim, Isabel must force aside her progressive beliefs and bargain to entertain her brother’s flirtatious, albeit handsome, friend Lucas Ashcroft in exchange for keeping her horse.


Lucas is on the brink of madness—after a year’s worth of visits, he loves Isabel and is ready to propose. When it seems like she has finally come to feel the same, he foolishly believes he’s won her heart.
After a botched proposal from Lucas, Isabel makes it her mission to prove his affections for her are misplaced. But Lucas is determined not to give up his pursuit, and as Isabel comes to know him and his heart, she must work to save herself from losing not only her horse, but the most equal love match she never thought possible.

My review

I’m loving these Forever After novellas! They each start with the same scene, from the different characters perspectives. And they go from there. One thing they have in common is the red bracelet that’s supposed to bring them luck in love. And you can read them in any order.

Isabel needs that luck when her brother unexpectedly tries to get rid of her horse. I had a hard time understanding what he was playing at through much of the book. But, it made a bit more sense near the end. I really liked Isabel. She goes out of her way to make sure that Lucas has what he needs. But she doesn’t understand that it’s her that he needs. Until he proposes, most unexpectedly.

I loved Lucas. He was willing to try over and over again to win Isabel. Even though it seemed that there was no chance for him. He helped her brother many times when he did something stupid. In fact, the only reason he was still friends with her brother was Isabel. I was impressed that he stayed, even after his proposal. It seemed as though, he’d want to leave. And he did. But Isabel convinced him to stay.

I loved the way this one was short and easily readable. It makes a great afternoon read.And I can’t wait to read more of these!

I was sent an e-copy of Her Unexpected Courtship as a gift from the author. All opinions are my own.

Purchase link

Amazon

What to read after Her Unexpected Courtship

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Miracle Creek Christmas

Posted on by Cathy

About Miracle Creek Christmas

Miracle creek christmas

When Riley Madigan moves to the sleepy mountain town of Miracle Creek, she hopes her new job as a high school art teacher will help her mend her recently broken heart. A little peace and quiet would be a gift this Christmas season. The last thing on her mind is love.

Former firefighter Mark Rivers has spent the last year recovering from burns sustained during a rescue operation. He’s been trying to piece his life back together but still struggles both emotionally and psychologically. When he meets Riley, he finally sees something that might bring some light back into his life.

When Mark asks Riley to work on a special nativity project, he finds himself falling for her. Riley doesn’t seem bothered by his scars, but is her affection for him real, or is this just another act of charity? One thing’s for certain, in a small town that views Mark as a fragile hero, it’s hard to pursue a relationship without everyone in his business. And although Riley has sincere feelings for Mark, is she ready to risk her heart?

Broken hearts and lives are mended as the town of Miracle Creek comes together to celebrate a Christmas to remember.

My review

Do you need a little Christmas right now? This book brought me that in September, right when I needed it.

Who doesn’t love a meet cute that includes being threatened with a baseball bat? This one just felt like a Hallmark movie. The reader knows that things are going to turn out just right. And that’s perfect. I love that kind of book.

I loved the main characters. Mark in particular. He’s lost a lot, including time. And even some social skills. I loved that he was just a little bit bumbling in the way he acted around others, especially Riley. Thus the baseball bat.

Riley lives on her own. She’s an art teacher. And she hates Christmas. In Miracle Creek, that’s not really a good thing. But Mark asks for a favor. And things start to shift for Riley.

There are so many fun characters in this one. I loved the townspeople, Riley’s co-workers, Mark’s friends and family. The whole cast of characters are great.

If you’re a fan of Hallmark movies, you’ll love this one! It’s such a great Christmas romance.

I was sent a copy of Miracle Creek Christmas as a gift from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Purchase links

Amazon – Deseret Book

Book trailer

About author Krista Jensen

Krista writes contemporary romance, historical romance, and fantasy. She has lived in lush Oregon and rugged Wyoming, but Washington is her beloved home state. She likes to choose familiar settings for her stories and is grateful to have such inspirational places to choose from. She is a mother of six, gramma of three, a gardener and cook, loves to travel, laugh, and hike, and lives ot make the best of what she’s been given. Find her on Instagram @kristajensenbooks.

What to read after Miracle Creek Christmas

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Her Blind Date Cowboy Second Chance

Posted on by Cathy

About Her Blind Date Cowboy Second Chance

her blind date cowboy second chance

All he wanted was the beach and some down time, until the woman he’d never quit thinking about shows up and sprays him with sand!

Rejection—it wasn’t something Liam Summerville liked. It wasn’t something he’d forgotten for three years. Three years, and the woman he’d fallen for still haunted his dreams. When his band gets asked to play a gig in Sydney, Australia, of course they say yes—after all, they’re the Summerville Solid Gold. But deep down he knows…facing his demons won’t be easy.

Evie Williams didn’t anticipate running into the guy she’d turned down three years ago. To say it was uncomfortable when he got in her face and started demanding answers, would be an understatement. It felt like she’d been running away from the moment she said no to him for three years. When he offers to pay her to be his tour guide, she instantly says no. When she loses her job, she says yes. But he doesn’t get to demand answers from her and talk about the past—that’s not part of the deal.

When the guy who ruined everything shows up and hits Liam, will true love find it’s way?

My review

I’ve been enjoying reading all of these romances featuring the Summerville family! Taylor Hart has done such a great job with the characters. And I always want to know what’s going to happen next. Before reading this one, you’ll want to read Her Blind Date Cowboy First Love. otherwise, this one will make no sense!

This one features Liam and Evie. They fell in love as teenagers. But things never quite work out the way you plan that they will. 3 years after proposing to Evie on Bondi Beach in Australia, Liam finds himself with time to spare in Australia. I loved the way he found Evie again. It wasn’t what either of them had planned.But they just work together.

I liked the way even the reader doesn’t know what happened to make Evie change her mind about marrying Liam. The author did such a good job of hiding it. Until Liam, himself, finds out. Evie is a strong woman character, not afraid to stand up for herself or be herself. That’s something needed in our world today.

I loved the cute love story in this one. It was a great virtual trip to Australia.

I was sent an e-copy of Her Blind Date Cowboy Second Chance as a gift from the author. All opinions are my own.

Purchase link

Amazon

What to read after Her Blind Date Cowboy Second Chance

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The Royal’s Fake Bride

Posted on by Cathy

About The Royal’s Fake Bride

the royal's fake bride

She’s perfect. But she’s his best mate’s little sister.

When Theo Clarke joins his best mates Will and Henry in creating a hotel venture in the charming South Carolina island town of Magnolia Bay, he sees a chance to rebrand himself as a man of vision and leave his tabloid playboy reputation behind. But when his mother revokes his inheritance money until Theo marries a suitable British aristocrat, the venture is endangered. They can’t pay their massive loans without Theo’s money.

As the hotel nears completion, the gents bring in the delightful Pippa Maxwell, Will’s younger sister and emerging interior designer. Pippa could be the answer to every problem, if she will only agree to a fake marriage with Theo. But Pippa has dreams of her own, and they do not involve marriage to the aristocracy’s most scandalous bad boy.

When the three youngest sons of British earls seek a way to make their own names in the world, a sleepy Southern beach town may hold the keys to love, laughter, and happily ever after…

My review

If you’ve followed me for any length of time, you know I love books by Brenna Jacobs. This has been such a fun series, The Royal’s Best Friend and The Royal’s Enemy were both fabulous! I’d say you don’t have to read those first, but it would probably be smart to read these in order.

This one features Theo. I’ve always been a bit curious about him. He’s seemed….sort of aloof through out the series. Reading his story made him come alive for me. And I understand him just a bit better. He was aloof, but he has some decent reasons. And Pippa really brought out the best in him as the story went along.

I loved Pippa from the very beginning. She’s a breath of fresh air. Pippa is Will’s younger sister. And I really had to laugh at the way the gents all married her off with out even asking her what she thought. Pippa was smart to be careful, no one wants to be hurt by a player. But I loved the way she lost her heart, little by little without even knowing it.

It was really fun to see the gents again. And what had happened to them. I really hope that the author finds a way to keep these going, even a little longer. Seeing a series end always makes me a little sad.

I borrowed The Royal’s Fake Bride using my Kindle Unlimited subscription. All opinions are my own.

Purchase link

Amazon

What to read after The Royal’s Fake Bride

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The Doctor and the Midwife

Posted on by Cathy

About The Doctor and the Midwife

the doctor and the midwife

As a midwife running her own home birth practice, Audrey Novak deals with pressure like a superhuman. Until, that is, she meets her handsome and arrogant neighbor, Dr. Ammon Parker. Ammon, who believes only in modern medicine, is just as unprepared for the infuriating—and inconveniently beautiful—midwife. When the two are repeatedly called to the same labor and delivery unit, their clashing ideals and fiercely independent personalities threaten to derail both their professional goals and their pride.

Outside of work, Audrey is a passionate rock climber, tantalized by a secret route she’s heard about in an online forum. Her hunt for the climb’s location leads her to the intriguing BelayingonofHands, a man who claims to have set the route. Soon their anonymous virtual flirtation and witty exchanges deepen into a true connection. But when Audrey discovers the man from online is actually Ammon, she’s blindsided. It seems they have more in common than she could have imagined, but will their differences keep them from making the climb to true love together?

My review

I have heard so many great things about this book. And they’re all true! I loved every bit of this story. And I really hope the author writes more like this!

This one’s main female lead is Audrey. She’s a midwife. She works hard. Audrey is a little bit haunted by the death of a friend. I loved the way the reader hid her reasons for this for most of the book. It made her a mystery to the readers, at least a little bit more.Audrey is trying to find a certain place to climb. That’s when she meets a man online, Belayingofhands. And they begin a correspondence. Think modern day You’ve Got Mail type story. I loved this!

But….there’s also Ammon. I loved the way Audrey and Ammon did not get along through a good chunk of the story. Ammon is a likable character, but he definitely had some prejudices towards midwives that he needed to get over. I loved watching these two grow closer and get over any hard feelings they had for the other.

This book was just what I needed after having all of the pandemic stuff and some of the heavier books I’ve been reading lately. It’s light, and just plain fun. I read it so fast, because I didn’t want to put it down!

I was sent a copy of The Doctor and the Midwife as a gift from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Purchase links

Amazon – Deseret Book

Giveaway

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What to read after The Doctor and the Midwife

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Collective Darkness – Spotlight

Posted on by Cathy
collective darkness

About Collective Darkness

collective darkness

You step through a door covered in darkness…

You see a figure in the mirror…

You push your hand into another world…

You do all this and more when you read Collective Darkness, a horror anthology. The theme of darkness, and from there, authors discovered a way to truly make your skin crawl. 

“Feast” will make it so you’ll never want to love again, and “The Fallout” will have you questioning dark fog. 

We have twelve Utah authors, four audiobook narrators, three editors, and a myriad of other helping hands that have gone into this project to really make your read the most enjoyable kind of horrifying. 

Read… if you dare. 

Plus, if you like or subscribe to our social media channels, you will receive a free copy of Little Darkness, a companion copy to Collective Darkness. 

Best of all, if you share this post to two (or more!) of your friends AND tag Collective Darkness, then you’ll be placed in a raffle for a chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/524521748478980/

Or Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/collectivedarkness/

Or Twitter: https://twitter.com/CollectiveDark1

Follow the tour! 

September 5 – https://www.ericarobynreads.com/review-archive/

September 7 – https://www.mybookaday.blogspot.com   

September 8  – https://feedreader.com/observe/bookreviewsandmorebykathy.com

September 9 – http://communitybookstop.blogspot.com/

September 10 –  https://www.wishfulendings.com/

September 11 – https://lindasbookbag.com/

September 14 – https://biblioleviosa.home.blog/

September 15 – https://www.editingmee.com/blog

September 16 – https://linktr.ee/crossroadreview

September 17 – http://taffyscandy.blogspot.com/

September 18 –  http://bonnieharris.blogspot.com/

September 19 –  https://utahgrafffamily.blogspot.com/

Mustang

Posted on by Cathy

About Mustang

mustang

Can first impressions ever be overcome?

Manda Partridge has spent her life proving she is more than the brainless damsel in distress who needs a man to protect her. While her partners in Top Flight give her the respect she desires, that isn’t always the case with her trainees.

When Anders Jorgensson accidently tackles a woman while trying to catch a pass, she is more than a little irritated with him. It wouldn’t be a big deal, but it turns out she is his new Top Flight instructor.

As they spend more time together, things go from bad to worse.

Just when their relationship reaches a boiling point, they get stranded in a foreign country with only each other to rely on. But as their debates become deeper, they discover the person behind the cutting words.

And soon, it’s not just their lives on the line, but their hearts.

My review

I love finding a great new series. Each of these books Ace, Bear, Flyboy and Mustang have been great reads. I’ve enjoyed them. And I’m sad to see this series end.

I liked getting to see Mustang, or Manda’s story. She was a side character in each of the other books. I always love seeing the side characters get their story.

I loved where Manda is stationed. She’s stationed on a small island near Sweden. It was also fun that Manda knew Swedish when no one around her expected her to. I know a little bit of Swedish and it was a fun connection for me.

Manda meets Anders when he plows into her as he’s playing football. She’s not the nicest about it. And neither of them have a very good opinion of the other. Which makes their next meetings not only awkward, but they just add to the bad feelings between the two.

I really had to laugh when they are barely on speaking terms, but end up stranded alone in the middle of no where. And have to work to get out of danger relying on only each other.

I loved the way they work together and come to see each other in a different light. This kind of trope might be my favorite. Enemies to lovers. I love it!

I was sent an e-copy of Mustang as a gift from the author. All opinions are my own.

Purchase link

Amazon

What to read after Mustang

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