Category: Contemporary Romance

Captive Hearts by L.M. Connolly

Posted July 1, 2019 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance, Series / 0 Comments

He checked in but left his heart

Scarlett Woodward is struggling to keep the family hotel in London afloat. When the weekend brings only one guest, handsome and enigmatic Evan White, she sends the staff home to save funds. Scarlett sets the kitchen ablaze leaving them both in the dark and cold. The lack of electricity doesn’t mean there aren’t any sparks or heat.

A night of unexpected passion leads to a baby, but when Scarlett learns who Evan really is and what he was really doing at her hotel, she’s can’t say no to his marriage proposal fast enough, baby or no baby. Ethan Black was undercover on a research trip to buy Scarlett’s hotel without using his famous name or family business—the international Noir Group. He’s determined to build his own boutique hotel empire far from his manipulative and parasitic family.

He broke all his rules and jeopardized his plans when he slept with Scarlett, but no way will he abandon her or their child. He knows he needs to woo the independent beauty and let her see the real him, but it’s difficult when his family is determined to undermine his position on the board of directors and ruin all he has built with the Noir Group.

Ethan has spent his life making deals. Persuading Scarlett to fall in love with him may be the biggest challenge he has faced.

Titles in the Hearts on Fire series include — Racing Hearts – Captive Hearts – Colliding Hearts –

Justified by Jay Crownover

Posted July 1, 2019 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance, Modern Western Romance, Romantic Suspense, Series / 0 Comments

Case Lawton comes from a family of criminals. So as the sheriff of Loveless, Texas, he’s determined to do everything by the book–until he’s called to Aspen Barlow’s office after a so-called break-in. The last thing he wants to do is help the woman who cost him custody of his son. But Aspen isn’t the heartless lawyer Case remembers, and he starts to question his long-held grudge…

Aspen is scared for her life, and Case is her last hope for protection. But to get him on her side, she’ll have to reveal the painful truth from all those years ago. Now, as they work together to track down a dangerous criminal, Case and Aspen learn to trust each other. And as the threats escalate, it becomes clear there’s a thin line between love and hate… because there’s nothing Case wouldn’t do to keep her safe.

Titles in the Loveless, Texas series include – Unbroken (a prequel novella) – Justified – Unforgiven (Feb. 2020) –

Includes It’s All About That Cowboy, a bonus novella by Carly Bloom!

The Trouble With Cowboy Weddings by Nicole Helm

Posted June 28, 2019 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance, Modern Western Romance, Series / 0 Comments

In Colorado’s glorious big-sky country, everything is done with cowboy flair—even boot-stomping, hat-tipping cowboy weddings . . .

As the middle Tyler brother, Gavin doesn’t always have much say in ranch decisions, but when it comes to his heart, he’s the only authority. He’s loved Louisa “Lou” Fairchild for longer than he can remember, even though they’ve never been more than friends. But with Lou stuck between the proverbial rock and hard place, Gavin is going to help the way any true friend would—with a proposal of a strictly business-like, in-name-only marriage . . . at least to start.

Lou can’t believe her beloved grandmother has backed her up against the wall. The choice between finding a man to marry and letting her no-good father back into the family to run the ranch isn’t a choice at all! But when her sister counters with an even less savory idea, Lou knows what she must do—say yes to the only man she’s ever trusted. But somehow pretending to be in love with good-natured Gavin suddenly begins to feel alarmingly real—and she downright likes it.

Can a sham marriage become the truest kind of love?

Titles in the A Mile High Romance series include – Need You Now – Mess With Me – Want You More – A Nice Day For A Cowboy Wedding – The Trouble With Cowboy Weddings –

Boyfriend by Mistake by Elana Johnson

Posted June 27, 2019 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance, Series / 0 Comments

She owns The Heartwood Inn. He needs the land the inn sits on to impress his boss. Neither one of them will give an inch. But will they give each other their hearts?

Alissa Heartwood captains a fishing boat and is the pastry chef for her family owned and operated empire on the island of Carter’s Cove. With the arrival of summer and all the festivities on the island, she feels lonely and left out. If only she had a boyfriend to waste her afternoons with…

Shawn Newman used to be exactly that boyfriend. Sure, they were together in high school eighteen years ago, and he’s only going to be on his hometown island for a few weeks anyway. He just needs to get the Heartwoods to sell their land…and maybe he needs to kiss Lissa under the bright South Carolina moon.

But the Heartwoods aren’t interested in selling, and Alissa is resistant to his reappearance in her life. As Shawn rediscovers the beauty of the island where he grew up, Lissa confesses that she isn’t looking for long-term, and he agrees to a few weeks of “fun.” Nothing serious.

As they spend more time together, Alissa thinks she might have made a mistake. Can Shawn and Alissa take their relationship out of the fun zone and into something more serious?

Titles in the Carter’s Cove Beach series include – Boyfriend By Mistake – Accidental Sweetheart – Bodyguard, Not Boyfriend – Not Her Real Fiancé – Pretend Protector –

Once Upon a Bad Boy by Melonie Johnson

Posted June 26, 2019 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance, Series / 0 Comments

A Hollywood actress and a stuntman from different worlds get a second chance at love after they were torn apart as teenagers

Former soap opera star Sadie Gold is determined to overcome her reputation as a spoiled rich girl with more connections than talent. She’s thrilled to score a coveted role in a blockbuster movie—until she learns that the stunt man training her is Bo Ibarra, the guy Sadie lost her heart to years ago.

Sadie and Bo haven’t seen each other in a decade, and their reunion is bringing up desires they haven’t felt since they were teenagers. But Sadie has been holding onto a secret from their past she is desperate to keep hidden.

When a tabloid splashes the secret across the headlines, both of them are shaken from the fallout. Can Sadie convince Bo to take a chance on them again? One thing’s for sure, happy endings don’t come as easily in real life as they do in the movies.

Titles in the Sometimes in Love series include — Getting Hot with the Scot – Smitten by the Brit – Once Upon A Bad Boy

Jackson by Emily March

Posted June 26, 2019 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance, Series / 0 Comments

Sometimes it takes a new beginning
Caroline Carruthers thinks she buried her dreams along with the love of her life…until a stranger named Celeste dares her to chase a dream all on her own. Moving to Redemption, Texas, is chapter one in Caroline’s new life story. Opening a bookstore is the next. Finding love is the last thing on her mind as she settles into this new place called home. But when she meets a handsome, soulful man who’s also starting over, all bets are off.

to reach a happily-ever-after
Jackson McBride came to Redemption looking only to find himself, not someone to love. Ever since his marriage ended, he’s been bitter. Sure, he used to believe in love–he even has the old song lyrics to prove it–but the Jackson of today is all business. That is until a beautiful young widow who’s moved to town inspires a change of heart. Could it be that the myth of Redemption’s healing magic is true…and Jackson and Caroline can find a second chance at a happy ending after all?

Titles in the Eternity Springs: The McBrides of Texas series include – Jackson – Tucker –

This trilogy is connected to the Eternity Springs series. Those titles include (from the author’s website) – Angel’s Rest – Hummingbird Lake – Heartache Falls – Mistletoe Mine – Lover’s Leap – Nightingale Way – Redemption Point – Miracle Road – Dreamweaver Trail – Teardrop Lane – Heartsong Cottage – Reunion Pass – Christmas in Eternity Springs – A Stardance Summer – The First Kiss of Spring – The Christmas Wishing Tree – Jackson – Tucker –

A Rainbow Above Us by Sharon Sala

Posted June 25, 2019 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance, Series / 0 Comments

Hurricane Fanny left no one in Blessings, Georgia unscathed–including Rowan Harper, the only surviving member of her family. Rebuilding her life now seems almost impossible.

Bowie James comes back to help repair his grandmother’s house, but he doesn’t intend to stay long. He and his mother were forced out of Blessings a decade ago, and he’s neither forgiven nor forgotten those responsible.

But Rowan is kindhearted, beautiful, and lost, and Bowie discovers that he can entrust her with his deepest secrets. If only their love could bring hope and healing to everyone around them, maybe they’d be willing to give it a chance.

Titles in the Blessings, Georgia series include: You and Only You – I’ll Stand by You – Saving Jake – A Piece of My Heart –The Color of Love – Come Back To Me – Forever My Hero – A Rainbow Above Us – The Way Back to You –

The Greek’s Bedroom Bargain by Joanne Walsh

Posted June 24, 2019 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance, Series / 0 Comments

Infuriating, arrogant, demanding. And disturbingly sexy. Those were the first thoughts Frankie had about Greek millionaire and volunteer firefighter Nik Kontarinis, but she was not going to fall prey to his seduction plans. She was on the island of Kathos to lick her wounds and figure out her next steps, not to become another notch on Nik’s bedpost.

A villa restoration project presents the perfect opportunity for Frankie to reboot her business and her life. There is only one problem–she needs a business partner. When Nik offers her an opportunity too good to pass up, Frankie is tempted to accept. Except that Nik has set his terms and there are definitely strings attached.

Will Frankie give in to temptation and play?

Titles in the Greek Island Millionaires series include – The Greek’s Bedroom Bargain – The Russian’s Pleasure Proposition –

Her Lawman Protector by Patricia Johns

Posted June 22, 2019 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance, Harlequin, Romantic Suspense, Series / 0 Comments

Their relationship isn’t real…But his feelings for her are!

Detective Jack Talbott has devoted his life to ending police corruption. His latest target is Liv Hylton, the ex-wife of a dirty cop.

She’s also the woman he’s secretly loved for years. To get close to her, Jack’s going undercover as her boyfriend. But when the evidence points to Liv’s innocence and a threat to her safety, he’ll do anything to protect her. Even risk his career.

Titles in the Home to Eagle’s Rest series include – Her Lawman Protector – Falling for the Cowboy Dad – The Lawman’s Baby – Her Triplets’ Mistletoe Dad –

A Story Like Ours by Robin Huber

Posted June 22, 2019 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance, Series / 0 Comments

In the riveting, powerful conclusion to the Love Story duet, Sam and Lucy discover that sometimes it’s not about finding love, it’s about saving it.

Even when we were kids, the connection between us was overwhelming. I knew Sam and I were soulmates, destined to be together. Breaking that love would mean breaking us. And for a little while, that happened. I lost the man who had always been my other half.

After too much heartache and too many years apart, we’ve finally found our way back to each other. But Sam’s professional boxing career is getting in the way of our happy ending. I don’t know how much longer I can watch him take another crushing punch, knowing each one knocks him closer to danger. He’s killing himself. For me. For us. And for one tiny other…

Then the blow comes. It’s not the one I thought it would be–fist in glove–but the result is the same. We’re on the verge of losing everything we fought for. Everything we sacrificed for.

We thought we paid the price. We thought we had it all.

But what if my love isn’t enough to bring Sam back to me?

Titles in the Love Story Duet include – A Love Like Yours – A Story Like Ours

The Matchmaker’s Match by Nicole Flockton

Posted June 22, 2019 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance, Series / 0 Comments

Could the best man be her best option?

The last person Meredith Turner expects to see at her best friend’s wedding rehearsal dinner is the guy she had a one night stand with. What’s worse, Lincoln Forrest is the best man and as maid of honor, her partner. To add insult to injury, she has to leave the rehearsal dinner early, and Lincoln is the one to help her with a deeply personal problem. The aftermath of that night brings big changes for them both.

Lincoln Forrest has helped his best friend meet the woman of his dreams, but recently he’s made a series of bad decisions, the biggest being leaving his career with the Army. Now the former K-9 handler is looking for a new career and trying to get his life back on track. Helping Meredith in her time of need connects her to him more than he expected. On a mission to right the wrong he created, Linc will do whatever is needed. But when the attraction that first drew them together flares to life again, will the obstacles between them be too much to overcome? Or has the matchmaker met his match?

Titles in the Man’s Best Friend series include — Blind Date Bet – Next Door Knight – The Matchmaker’s Match –

Addie’s Adventurer by Amelia C. Adams

Posted June 22, 2019 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance, Multi-Author Series / 0 Comments

Addie Collins runs Quinn Valley Collectibles, the souvenir shop in town, and loves coming up with unique merchandise to highlight the different goods and services in the area. She has always been interested in advertising, and this has given her a way to bring all her talents together into one spot, and she’s living her best life.

Jason Miller has his dream job too – he travels the country with a truck and trailer, writing magazine articles about the points of interest he sees along the way. He’s grown a little cynical, though, and his articles lack some of the human touches that would really make him shine.

When Addie, his ex-girlfriend, writes a letter to the editor about his latest feature, he’s assigned to visit Quinn Valley and write a new feature about what makes that area special. As it turns out, the most special thing there is Addie, but it just might be too late for them to mend the broken fences and find the pieces of themselves they lost so long ago.

Addie’s Adventurer is the 9th title in the multi-author series Quinn Valley Ranch. A list of titles in this series and links to reviews done here at Keeper Bookshelf can be found by visiting our Quinn Valley Ranch page.

Marrying My Cowboy (an anthology) by Diana Palmer & Lindsay McKenna & Kate Pearce

Posted June 21, 2019 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance, Modern Western Romance / 0 Comments

Take a walk down the aisle—western style—with these tales of unbridled love, from a trio of New York Times bestselling authors who know the way to a cowboy’s heart …

The Rancher’s Wedding* Diana Palmer
When a rugged Colorado rancher who’s in the red meets up with a screenwriter-turned-waitress dogged by scandal, they put their talents—and their hearts—together. But will front page news put a damper on the sparks flying between them?

Wind River Wedding * Lindsay McKenna
A sprawling family ranch in Wyoming, or a swanky Hamptons hideaway? A young couple’s future in-laws try to stake their claim on where the newlyweds will live. But these lovebirds won’t be corralled.

The Cowboy Lassoes a Bride * Kate Pearce
Between a hen night that goes terribly wrong and a missing wedding dress, a bride-to-be wonders if her plan to marry her longtime bad boy cowboy beau is doomed—and he wonders if his fiancée is avoiding the altar. Will love prevail?

Update A Christmas Temptation by Karen Booth

Posted June 17, 2019 by Marsha in Christmas Romance, Contemporary Romance, Series / 0 Comments

Somewhere behind the expensive gifts and grand gestures… was the man who had once been her whole world.

Sophie Eden refuses to sell her family’s legacy, especially not to Jake Wheeler. He and Sophie have a history—a night of passion that first left her elated, then heartbroken. Now the New York heiress wants him to stay away.

But when they’re snowed in for Christmas, they surrender to temptation. Meanwhile, a secret waits to tear them apart…

Titles in the Eden Empire series from Harlequin™ include: A Christmas Temptation – A Cinderella Seduction – A Bet with Benefits

Don’t forget A Cinderella Seduction is available July 1, 2019

*Update*: If you loved Sophie and Jake’s story in A Christmas Temptation, and the “dropped shoe” at the ending had you desperately wanting to know more then I have an update for you.

There was a large gap between stories, actual real-life timewise, so you might be happy to know that A Cinderella Seduction is out the first week of July 2019. I’m also reposting my review of the first story in the Eden Empire series as well to remind you of where we left off.

I’m really looking forward to the next story… how about you?

Title: A Christmas Temptation
Series: The Eden Empire #1
Author: Karen Booth
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: November 1, 2018
Publisher: Harlequin Desire
My Rating: 4.5 stars

A Christmas Temptation begins what looks to be a fascinating series, The Eden Empire by Karen Booth. Although, I have to admit that I was totally on Sophie’s side in this romance. Jake struck me as a very frustrating man, one who is quick to make assumptions and slow to accept facts. I wanted to reach into this story more than a few times and give him a stern talking to, plus a few deadly glares. We love who we love, there is no logic involved and for Sophie Jake was her one, no matter my opinion of him. If it’s true that we most often hurt the ones we really love – then Jake is completely smitten by Sophie since he’s hurt her time and time again. To be frank, I never warmed up to Jake, even knowing his past and his reasons for his issues. Sophie, I adored, often the underdog in the situation of trying to honor and continue her grandmother’s legacy, Sophie captured my emotions with her strength and determination.

I won’t give away spoilers, that’s not my way, but I will gladly recommend A Christmas Temptation to any reader who loves a good, solid romance, intriguing situations and a few puzzles to be worked out for the happy ending to take place. Sophie and Jake’s story introduces us to some other interesting secondary characters, some who will have their story told later in this series. With a few simple twists and turns, A Christmas Temptation has captured my curiosity and now I need to know how the entire story ends.

If you’re in the mood for a Christmas filled romance, with interesting characters, a unique situation and a few surprises in store… then you’ll want to pick up the beginning of The Eden Empire series and get lost in a unique world. I’ve already made note of the release dates for the rest of this series because I don’t want to miss a thing.

I own a Kindle edition of this story.

Available in paperback and for the Kindle

The Ultimate Surrender by Elsa Winckler

Posted June 15, 2019 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense, Series / 0 Comments

On a sunny beach in Seychelles, she stole his heart.

Darryn Cavallo is a seasoned photographer and quite used to being surrounded by gorgeous, half-naked women without breaking a sweat but he isn’t ready for the powerful feelings fashion model Hannah Sutherland elicits the minute he sets eyes on her. He’d once made the rookie mistake of falling for a model and it had ended badly, so when another photographer implies he’s also been with Hannah, Darryn uses it as the perfect excuse to walk away.

But when they meet again, Darryn can’t ignore his instincts—Hannah is in danger. Lies and threats make targets of them both and faced with a situation of pure terror, Darryn is forced to realize he’ll do anything to protect her. And to keep her with him, always.

Titles in The Cavallo Brothers series include — An Impossible Attraction – An Irresistible Temptation – The Ultimate Surrender –