Category: Contemporary Romance

Aura of Night by Heather Graham

Posted April 29, 2023 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance, Crime, Mystery, Owned, Paranormal Romantic Suspense, Romantic Suspense, Series, Sexual Content, Thriller / 0 Comments

True evil never dies. It only waits in the dark.

All book editor Megan Law wants is to bury the memory of her brutal kidnapping and move on with her life. So when her publisher asks her to spin her hellish experience into the next bestseller, Megan agrees only because it might help keep other women safe. Then a mysterious, gruesome package arrives in the mail—a reminder that the nightmare isn’t over just yet.

FBI investigator Ragnar Johnson is running out of time. He knows in his gut there’s more to the recent Embracer killings, and he needs Megan’s help. Even with their rocky past behind them, working together now isn’t going to be easy. But when things take a deadly turn, Megan and Ragnar discover a deep connection that they’ll have to use, because something is trying to tear them apart…forever.

Titles in this trilogy portion of the entire series include — Sound of Darkness —♦— Aura of Night —♦— Voice of Fear —♦—

The entire Krewe of Hunters series includes — Phantom Evil —◊— Heart of Evil —◊— Sacred Evil —◊— The Evil Inside —◊— The Unseen —◊— The Unholy —◊— The Unspoken —◊— The Uninvited —◊—  The Night Is Watching —◊— The Night Is Alive —◊— The Night Is Forever —◊— The Cursed —◊— The Hexed —◊— The Betrayed —◊— The Silenced —◊— The Forgotten —◊— The Hidden —◊— Haunted Destiny —◊— Deadly Fate —◊— Darkest Journey —◊— Dying Breath —◊— Dark Rites —◊— Wicked Deeds —◊— ♦Fade to Black —◊— Pale as Death —◊— Echoes of Evil —◊— The Summoning —◊— The Seekers —◊— The Stalking —◊— Seeing Darkness —◊—Deadly Touch —◊—Dreaming Death —◊—  ♦ The Unforgiven —◊— The Forbidden —◊— The Unknown —◊— ♦ Sound of Darkness —◊— Aura of Night —◊— Voice of Fear —◊—

While I’ve read the entire Krewe of Hunters series over the years, I have not reviewed each novel, and to go back now would be quite daunting and time-consuming.  So, I stick to reviewing the more current trilogy.  

This is an adult 18+ story that may contain language, possible violence, and/or sexual situations geared to an adult audience.

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Mail Order Cowboy by Victoria James

Posted April 27, 2023 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance, Entangled Publishing, Modern Western Romance, NetGalley, Series, Sexual Content, Small Town Romance / 0 Comments

Hope Roberts has a strict No Cowboys Allowed policy. Between raising her daughter, running her business, and trying to settle into her new ranch, Hope has no room for romance—especially when it comes to cowboys. What she needs is someone to help fix her ranch. But the only person to respond to her ad is the one man Hope still blames for her husband’s death…

In Wishing River, Dr. Dean Stanton is pretty much a legend. Cowboy, doctor, heir to his family’s ranching empire—everyone knows and loves him…with the exception of Hope. But Dean doesn’t trust a complete stranger to keep Hope and her daughter safe. And despite their troubled past, he’s still the best cowboy for her job.

Bit by cautious bit, Hope’s little family of two is making room for the man she once thought of as her enemy. Until one day, Dean looks like the perfect exception to her “no cowboys” rule. But he’s been keeping a secret from her that could destroy their newfound family…

Titles in the Wishing River series include — The Trouble with Cowboys —♥— Cowboy for Hire —♥— Wishing for a Cowboy —♥— Mail Order Cowboy —♥—

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A Movie Magic Christmas by Caitlin McKenna

Posted April 26, 2023 by Marsha in Author ARC, Christmas Romance, Contemporary Romance, Harlequin, Holiday Romance, NetGalley, Series, Sexual Content, Small Town Romance / 0 Comments

Actress Catalina Jones has no intention of spreading Christmas cheer. She’s in St. Nicholas, Colorado, to save her career, not uncover the truth behind the famous “Scrooge Legend.” Besides, there isn’t enough magic in the world to fix the trust issues years in show business have given her.  

When Hollywood director turned wildlife photographer Jay Townsend hears Catalina is the lead in the production, he has no intention of lending a hand. She’d been his leading lady once…before she broke his heart.

But some things are just meant to be.

Together again in a winter wonderland filled with someone’s little helpers determined to spread Christmas cheer, Catalina and Jay find themselves on a journey of rediscovery and learn that love is the most powerful magic of all.

Titles in the Christmas in St. Nicholas series include — Colorado Christmas Magic —♥— A Movie Magic Christmas —♥—

This is an adult 18+ story that may contain language, possible violence, and/or sexual situations geared to an adult audience.

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Dreaming of a Heart Lake Christmas by Sarah Robinson

Posted April 25, 2023 by Marsha in Author ARC, Christmas Romance, Contemporary Romance, Forever (Grand Central Publishing), Holiday Romance, NetGalley, Series, Small Town Romance / 0 Comments

When sparks start flying, these total opposites discover Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year.

To raise enough money to start her own business, Nola Bennett needs to sell “The Castle,” her beloved grandmother’s historic house, and get back home to the city. But Heart Lake’s most eligible bachelor is insisting she hangs on to the property. He may be one of the hottest, grumpiest men she’s ever seen, but Nola has no time to pine over her high school crush.

All woodworker Tanner Dean wants for Christmas is some peace and quiet, but that’s not going to happen with the infuriating, irresistible Nola Bennett back in town. How can he persuade her to keep The Castle out of the hands of greedy developers when sizzling attraction flares every time they’re together? And the more time he spends with Nola, the harder it becomes to picture a future without her—unless he can convince her, once and for all, that Heart Lake is exactly where she belongs.

Includes the bonus novella The Christmas Wish by Melinda Curtis!

Titles in the Heart Lake series include — Dreaming of a Heart Lake Christmas —♥— The Little Bookstore on Heart Lake Lane —♥—

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The Santa Suit by Mary Kay Andrews

Posted April 25, 2023 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance, Holiday Romance, NetGalley, Small Town Romance, St. Martin's Press / 0 Comments

When newly divorced Ivy Perkins buys an old farmhouse sight unseen, she is definitely looking for a change in her life. The Four Roses, as the farmhouse is called, is a labor of love—but Ivy didn’t bargain on just how much labor. The previous family left so much furniture and so much junk, that it’s a full-time job sorting through all of it.

At the top of a closet, Ivy finds an old Santa suit—beautifully made and decades old. In the pocket of a suit, she finds a note written in a childish hand: it’s from a little girl who has one Christmas wish, and that is for her father to return home from the war. This discovery sets Ivy off on a mission. Who wrote the note? Did the man ever come home? What mysteries did the Rose family hold?

Ivy’s quest brings her into the community, at a time when all she wanted to do was be left alone and nurse her wounds. But the magic of Christmas makes miracles happen, and Ivy just might find more than she ever thought possible: a welcoming town, a family reunited, a mystery solved, and a second chance at love.

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Strawberry Lane by Jodi Thomas

Posted April 6, 2023 by Marsha in Connection to another series, Contemporary Romance, Kensington Books, NetGalley, Series, Small Town Romance / 0 Comments

Starri Knight is a big believer in fate. How else to explain the compelling connection she feels to the stranger she pulls out of a wrecked car on the very same road where her parents died twenty years earlier? Alongside Auntie Ona-May, the only mother she’s ever known, Starri saves Rusty O’Sullivan’s life—just as Ona-May once did when Starri was an orphaned babe. But convincing Rusty he has something to live for is going to take all of Starri’s faith in miracles . . .
 
Like a wish he hadn’t even known to make, Starri landed in Rusty’s life, filling him with a longing for a family. . . . Then Jackson Landry, a new lawyer, turns up to present a surprise that will change the direction of his life: An inheritance from the father Rusty never knew—and the promise of the family he’d never had. It’s a lot for the hard-bitten loner to
accept as love rushes into his life . . .
 
A sense of duty has Rusty heading to Honey Creek to deal with his father’s estate—and find his lost siblings. But having a family is one thing; learning to love them is another. Good thing new friends are by his side to help him along the way.

Titles in the Someday Valley series include — Strawberry Lane —♦—

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Once Upon A Royal Christmas by Teri Wilson

Posted April 2, 2023 by Marsha in Christmas Romance, Contemporary Romance, Hallmark Publishing, NetGalley, Series / 0 Comments

She pretends to be a princess at children’s parties.

But can she melt a real prince’s frosty heart?

“I’m Prince Nikolas of San Glacera. Oh, you’ve never heard of us? Well, you’re not the only one. Our country relies on winter tourism, but we’re attracting fewer and fewer visitors. I admit it’s a problem. I just don’t think the solution is an American who likes to play dress-up.

You see, while I was away on a trip, my younger sister convinced the palace to hold a contest. The winner gets to star in our annual Ice Village festivities and accompany our royal family to holiday events.

And who did they choose? Gracie Clark, who runs a children’s party business and performs as—I kid you not—‘Princess Snowflake.’

Of course, I do respect the fact that she volunteers at children’s hospitals. I suppose to some, she might have a certain charm… But the whole cheap spectacle is beneath our dignity.

I’m not going to shirk my duty to my kingdom. I’ll go to every event with her. At least, once Christmas is over, she’ll be gone…”

Companion books — Once Upon a Royal Summer —♥— Once Upon a Royal Christmas —♥—

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Christmas at the Ranch by Anita Hughes

Posted April 1, 2023 by Marsha in Christmas Romance, Contemporary Romance, NetGalley, St. Martin's Press / 0 Comments

It’s days before Christmas, and Samantha Morgan is in her Brooklyn apartment when her editor, Charlie, shows up. Her publisher Arthur Wentworth is throwing a Christmas party and wants Samantha to be the guest of honor. Samantha tries to come up with an excuse to miss it. She writes a series of books featuring a female James Bond-type heroine named Sloane Parker, and Charlie is the only person who knows that Samantha is the opposite of Sloane, though the marketing team has built up an entire social media presence for her claiming that she is just as adventurous. In reality, Samantha rarely leaves her neighborhood and does her research online. She is afraid of almost everything and is only happy when she’s sitting in her apartment and writing.

Samantha reluctantly agrees to go. But instead of taking her to Arthur’s house in Connecticut, the driver goes to the airport. On the phone, Charlie admits that the party is at Arthur’s new ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. For a person who hates even walking around the block when it snows, this is her worst nightmare.

But when a handsome stranger sits next to her on the plane, things begin to look up. She feels comfortable enough to spill all her secrets to him, including all of her fears and the truth about her fake Instagram account. However, when she shows up at the house, it turns out that this man, Drew, is Arthur’s son. Now Samantha is worried that Drew will tell his father about her lies.

Over the course of Christmas week, Samantha grows closer to Drew. But when his fiancée, Beatrix (who recently gave him an ultimatum about settling down), shows up, things get more complicated. As Samantha’s fears of bison and giant icicles subside, and her feelings for Drew grow deeper, new fears develop…

Will she leave this Christmas adventure brokenhearted? Or will true love prevail?

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Extra Witchy by Ann Aguirre

Posted April 1, 2023 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance, NetGalley, Paranormal Romance, Series, Sourcebooks Casablanca / 0 Comments

After two failed marriages, Leanne Vanderpol is here for a good time, not for a long time. She only loves the witches in her coven, and she cares more about her career than happily ever after. A difficult past makes her skittish, and she doesn’t trust relationships to stick. But when she decides to run for city council instead of wasting her talents cleaning up messes for the mayor’s office, she fears her past could be used against her. 

Unless she can find the right husband to shore up her political career…

Trevor Montgomery might have peaked in high school. He was popular then, and in college as well, but he partied away his future, met the wrong person, and everything fell apart. Now he’s jobless, dateless, and hopeless, at least according to his toxic family. Then a chance meeting with the redhead of his dreams offers an unexpected ray of light just when he needs it most.

Can a woman who doesn’t believe in forever find true love with a man who’s stopped believing in anything at all?

Titles in the Fix-It Witches series include — Witch Please —♥— Boss Witch —♥— Extra Witchy —♥—

This is an adult 18+ story that may contain language, possible violence, and/or sexual situations geared to an adult audience.

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The Next Best Day by Sharon Sala

Posted March 17, 2023 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance, NetGalley, Sexual Content, Small Town Romance, Sourcebooks Casablanca / 0 Comments

A fresh start in a new place is always full of surprises…

After two back-to-back life-changing events, first-grade teacher Katie McGrath leaves Albuquerque for a fresh start in Borden’s Gap, Tennessee.

She is finally back in the classroom where she belongs, but it will take a little while for her to heal and truly feel like herself.

She’ll need to dig deep to find the courage to try again—in life and in love—but with some help from her neighbor Sam Youngblood and his adorable twin daughters, her future is looking brighter than she dared imagine.

This is an adult 18+ story that may contain language, possible violence, and/or sexual situations geared to an adult audience.

Possible Trigger Warning: mention of drug abuse and school violence, not the main story, but if these might be a trigger for you, just be aware

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