From the back of the book:
HIS HEART IS AS WILD AS THE HORSES HE TRAINED…
Nate Shawcross is perfectly content to spend his days training wild horses. So when a beautiful greenhorn unexpectedly shos up for a seminar from the famous “Horse Whisperer” of Wyoming, all Nate wants to do is send her packing…
THE LAST THING SHE EXPECTS IS A LESSON IN ROMANCE…
Graduate student Charlie Banks came to the ranch to learn about horse communications, but when she meets the ruggedly handsome cowboy, she starts to fantastize about another connection entirely…
Nate needs to stay focused if he’s going to save his ranch from foreclosure, but he can’t help being distracted by the brainy and breathtakingly sexy Charlie. Could it be that after all this time Nate has finally found the one woman who can tame his wild heart?
I’m developing quite a soft-spot for the cowboy books. This was a very emotional book to me. A lot of the characters have issues that surround bad/neglectful parents. I loved how each character was handling their stuff differently, but able to help others at the same time. Nate was an interesting character. A true cowboy he didn’t say much and I liked that the story wasn’t so dialogue based. A lot of the story is moved along by internal dialogue and descriptions. The romance was great, although I liked Charlie’s characters growth more than the actual love affair between her and Nate. I can’t wait for more by this author!!
the book girl gives ONE FINE COWBOY a 4/5
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From the back of the book:
Not all marriages last forever…
Suzanne Jefferson is broke, which is why she’s given up charity work for wedding planning. Fortunately, she has a high-profile client - and best of all, he’s paid in advance. There are just two teensy problems: The bride is a bona fide bridezilla, and Suzanne’s ex-husband is the best man. At least she though he was her ex-husband.
…but this one might.
Two years after their marriage fell apart, stock car race driver Ryder Jefferson still can’t stop thinking about Suzanne. Which is why he isn’t too upset that, due to a glitch, the two are still technically married. Now he’s imagining easing Suzanne’s woes by satisfying her needs in the bedroom. After all, that’s the one room they never argued in. Besides,with wedding bells ringing all around them, Ryder is wondering if - even though they’d quit the race a few laps too early - they can still come strong with a big, romantic finish…
I was really looking forward to this book. In the previous Fast Track novels there had been glimpses of Ryder and Suzanne’s relationship, so I excited that they were finally getting their own book. I don’t know if my expectations were to high, but I just didn’t like this book. I felt like none of their problems were resolved at the end of the book. They were happy sleeping together, but anyone who has been in a long term relationship knows that isn’t the key to happiness. I just expected more emotional depth than was in the story. I’m hoping that the next Fast Track novel gets back to where the first two were.
the book girl gives HOT FINISH a 3/5
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From the back of the book:
Dear Holly, isn’t it shocking…?
Things are finally going Holly Denham’s way: she’s in love, she’s getting the recognition she deserves at work, and her friends and family have graciously opted to avoid disaster for the moment.
Just when Holly is starting to settle into her new life, scandal erupts and Holly finds herself - and her inbox - at the center of a gossip whirlwind that threatens everything she’s worked so hard for.
Written entirely in emails, this follow-up to the UK smash hit HOLLY’S INBOX will keep you glued to its pages as the scandal running rampant in the city threatens to ruin Holly’s hard-earned and long-awaited happiness.
I loved this book. There were a few times I wanted to email Holly myself and tell her to grow up, but that’s what makes the book so great. She DOES grow up through the course of the book. A lot of things happen to Holly and she learns to stand on her own (and with others) for what she believes in. The book moves incredibly fast. It only took me a couple of hours to read the 535 page book. The only thing that bothered me was that there are emails to Holly detailing her financial crisis, but she never addresses them. There are only a few, but I wonder why even have them if they aren’t really a part of the story. These emails stuck out like a sore thumb, but luckily there weren’t many. HOLLY’S INBOX: SCANDAL IN THE CITY is a fun chick-lit book that readers who like BRIDGET JONES will love.
the book girl gives HOLLY’S INBOX a 4/5!
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About the book:
SHE’S SO GOOD AT BEING BAD
Macy O’James stepped foot in Sugarland, Washington, everyone remembers what she supposedly did. The tiny town is still buzzing about her crime and lack of punishment.
Now back to lend her family a hand, Macy vows to hold her head high-especially at her high school reunion. But forget about the hottest man in Sugarland escorting her. Though she and fire chief Gabriel Donovan generate enough sparks to burn down the town, he’s a law-abiding, line-towing straight arrow. So not her type.
But maybe-just maybe-he can change her mind about that.
I am a huge Susan Andersen fan and have been waiting for a new book for what feels like forever. BURNING UP is a fun contemporary. Macy is sassy and I love her costume changes, but underneath she is extremely vulnerable. The two halves of her personality were very interesting. Gabe is completely blindsided by sexy Macy and she throws his orderly world for a loop. These two are fun together. The dialog between them is fantastic and I like how Macy changes as she becomes more comfortable in their relationship. I did have a couple of issues with the story. There is a secondary romance between Gabe’s ex and Macy’s friend that seemed inserted into the book only to make Gabe’s reaction to Macy okay (even though he has a girlfriend in the beginning of the book). There are also a lot of characters introduced that have no bearing on the story and just seemed to be filler. BURNING UP isn’t my favorite Susan Andersen book, but was a fun read for a hot summer day.
the book girl gives BURNING UP a 3/5
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From the back of the book:
She’s never met a man so mouth-watering
When Lilah Jane Tunkle fled her dull life in Virginia for the bright lights of New York City, she didn’t expect to wind up a nanny to a gorgeous celebrity chef’s ten-year-old son. Working for the delectable Devon Sparks is a sure-fire recipe for disaster, especially after Lilah gets a tantalizing taste of his perfectly seasoned kisses…
And he can’t resist her down-home spice
Devon’s not sure he can handle one more surprise ingredient in his life- he left his popular TV show, his culinary reputation is on the line, and now the son he barely knows is back for seconds. Lilah’s Southern sass is supposed to keep the boy in line, but soon enough she’s teaching Devon a thing or two about homespun food…and turning up the heat.
This was a fun read, but not quite the escape I was hoping it would be. As the wife of a restaurateur I get enough of that at home. The one thing that I really loved about the story was how Lilah calmed Devon down. I do know a lot about the chef mentality and it was very realistically written. Lilah was the bright spot in the story for me. I couldn’t help but like Devon as I saw him through her eyes. By himself Devon wouldn’t be likable at all. His son, Tucker, is another bright spot. I loved how much the relationship between Devon and Tucker changes throughout the story. As in the first book in the series the secondary characters are fantastic. I love Frankie and Jess - and wasn’t pleased with the way their portion of the story ended. I will be reading the next book in the series because I have to find out what happens next to secondary characters Frankie and Jess.
the book girl gives ON THE STEAMY SIDE a 4/5
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From the back of the book:
HE LIVES THE GOOD LIFE…
Gorgeous and rick, Travis Henry travels the country unearthing oil wells and then moving on. Then the beautiful blue-eyed new owner of the Honky Tonk beer joint becomes his best friend and so much more. When his job is done in Texas, how is he ever going to hit the road without her?
SHE’S FINALLY FOUND A PLACE THAT FEELS LIKE HOME…
When Cathy O’Dell buys the Honky Tonk, the nights of cowboys and country tunes come together to create the home she’s always wanted. Then in walks a ruggedly handsome oil man who temps her to trade in the happiness she’s found at the Honky Tonk for a like on the road with him…
Will a sexy showdown persuade two stubborn lovers to reveal their true hearts’ desires, or will they both be left singing the blues?
I have enjoyed all of Carolyn Brown’s previous books, but this is my favorite. I loved both Travis and Cathy and couldn’t wait for them to realize they were meant for each other. Cathy isn’t looking for a man until Travis kisses her on New Year’s Eve. She couldn’t get the good looking cowboy off her mind, and Travis can’t forget that the prickly bar owner kisses like nothing he’s ever felt before. These two circle around each other until they finally give in to the temptation.
Like the previous book in this series (I LOVE THIS BAR) there are a lot of secondary characters that are fun and interesting. Some of the characters made appearances in the first book, but many are new. HELL, YEAH is a fast, fun read that will make you want to listen to country music, drink beer from a mason jar, and find a good-lookin’ cowboy to dance with on a hot summer night.
the book girl gives HELL, YEAH a 5/5
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From the back of the book:
CAN MAN’S BEST FRIEND
Josie Sheehan collects failed relationships the way some women collect designer handbags. Now, at thirty-five, she has exactly one male in her life: her Labradoodle, Genghis. In fact Josie, along with the three very single women in her dog-walking group, has recently sworn off men, resigning herself to long walks in the park with her devoted, four-legged friend.
HELP HER FIND MR. RIGHT?
All bets are off, however, when she meets Rick Rousseau, a pet-company CEO who is smart, sexy, and best of all, head-over-heels for Josie. Even Genghis, an excellent judge of character, seems to know that Rick is the real deal. But just when Josie starts to think that she has found something more enduring that puppy love, she discovers that Rick has a complicated past - and a secret that could put the woman he loves in series danger…
AIN’T TOO PROUD TO BEG is a fun contemporary romance. I liked both Rick and Josie. I did feel that they both jumped into the relationship too fast for people who had such issues, but enjoyed the story enough that it didn’t bother me too much. Rick was an interesting character - celibate because of an accident in his past, he is completely focused on his business until he meets Josie. He almost immediately tumbles head over heels and it was fantastic to read. Josie’s friends and fellow dog lovers are so much fun! They work to find out everything about Rick to protect Josie from another doomed relationship. AIN’T TOO PROUD TO BEG is a fun, summer read with excellent characters and fantastic dialogue.
the book girl gives AIN’T TOO PROUD TO BEG a 4/5
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From the back of the book:
Welcome to Destiny, Ohio - Where two families have been at odds as long as anyone in town can remember.
Rachel Farris returned to her childhood home with one mission in mind: get Mike Romo out of her family’s apple orchard business and out of their lives. But hard-nosed and totally hot Mike, who happens to be the law in Destiny, is convinced the Farris clan stole the land from his family fifty years ago and he’s not backing down. Even when shapely trouble shows up in a pair of designer blue jeans. However, neither the hunky cop nor the sexy prodigal hometown girl can anticipate the electricity that heats things up whenever they’re together - adding new sizzle to an ongoing feud that’s raged for generations, and soon putting both their hearts at risk.
On Monday I posted about my love for ONE RECKLESS SUMMER by Toni Blake and now it is SUGAR CREEK’s turn. I loved this book as much as ONE RECKLESS SUMMER. I want to live in Destiny. In the beginning I wasn’t sure about Mike and Rachel. I was afraid that their bickering would get on my nerves, but it didn’t. Their arguing quickly turns from real dislike to intense sexual tension. Rachel, much like Jenny in ONE RECKLESS SUMMER, changes throughout the book. She starts out a city girl ready to help her grandmother then move on, and ends up learning what’s really important in life.
One of my favorite things in SUGAR CREEK is the retelling of Rachel’s grandmother’s romance with Mike’s grandfather. It tied the family history and romance together fantastically.
the book girl gives SUGAR CREEK a 5/5!
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From the back of the book:
It’s tough to play it cool on a sultry summer night…
The perfect daughter. The perfect prom queen. The perfect wife. Jenny Tolliver’s been the good girl all her life, and it’s gotten her nowhere. now that her marriage has been busted up by her cheating ex, she’s decided it’s time to regroup and rediscover herself. This summer she’s headed back to her hometown of Destiny, Ohio, to the very lakeshore cottage where she grew up, to figure out what life holds in store for her next.
She never dreamed the answer would be Mick Brody, Destiny’s #1 hellraiser. He comes from the wrong side of the tracks (or in his case, the lake), and he’s landed in hot water more times than he can count. He’s exactly the kind of guy Jenny’s always kept her distance from…but soon the good girl and the bad boy are caught in a raw heat that’s out of control. Too bad Mick’s got a secret that threatens to tear them apart and ruin Jenny’s perfectly, passionately reckless summer…
ONE RECKLESS SUMMER is the perfect book to read this summer (along with the next book in the series SUGAR CREEK). This was my first Toni Blake book and I can’t wait to read everything she has ever written. ONE RECKLESS SUMMER features Jenny, a recent divorcée, and Mick, the town bad boy who is trying to stay hidden. My absolute favorite thing about this book is the crossing back and forth on the lake between their houses. I don’t know what it was about their rowing back and forth was so romantic, but it was so very romantic. Add that to the fact that they had to keep their romance a secret and this book is perfect!! Jenny undergoes a lot of changes throughout the book and her character’s growth is very realistic. The way she goes from the perfect daughter/wife/neighbor/friend to someone who puts herself and her new relationship first is fabulous. I was cheering her (and Mick) on through the whole book. I’m really looking forward to reading more Destiny, Ohio books!
the book girl gives ONE RECKLESS SUMMER a 5/5!
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From netGalley:
When Keri Daniels’ editor finds out she has previous carnal knowledge of reclusive bestselling author Joe Kowalski, she gives Keri a choice: get an interview or get a new job.
Joe’s never forgotten the first girl to break his heart, so he’s intrigued to hear Keri’s back in town-and looking for him. Despite his intense need for privacy, he’ll grant Keri an interview if it means a chance to finish what they started in high school.
He proposes an outrageous plan-for every day she survives with his family on their annual camping and four-wheeling trip, Keri can ask one question. Keri agrees; she’s worked too hard to walk away from her career.
But the chemistry between them is still as potent as the bug spray, Joe’s sister is out to avenge his broken heart and Keri hasn’t ridden an ATV since she was ten. Who knew a little blackmail, a whole lot of family and some sizzling romantic interludes could make Keri reconsider the old dream of Keri & Joe 2gether 4ever.
This was my first read from the new Carina Press and sparked an entire day of reading their books. I absolutely loved EXCLUSIVELY YOURS! It is a fantastic contemporary romance that has the reader cheering for the high school sweethearts to reunite. I’m not an outdoors person at all, but I really dug the parts of the story that take place on the ATVs - they are hilarious. Ms. Stacey writes with such humor that had me laughing out loud at the antics of Joe, Keri, and Joe’s very large family. There are also some heart-wrenching moments between the main characters and other couples on the camping trip. EXCLUSIVELY YOURS is such a well written book with heart and laughter. If you are looking for a Carina Press book to try I recommend starting with Exclusively Yours!
the book girl gives EXCLUSIVELY YOURS a 5/5!
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Carina Press
