Category: Contemporary Romance

The Cowgirl’s Christmas Wish by Barbara Ankrum

Posted October 24, 2016 by Marsha in Christmas Romance, Contemporary Romance, Series / 0 Comments

Title: The Cowgirl’s Christmas Wish
Series: The Canadays of Montana ##3
Author: Barbara Ankrum
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Christmas Romance
Published: October 24, 2016
Publisher: Tule Publishing
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Event planner Eve Canaday and her secret crush, Dr. Ben Tyler, are unexpectedly drafted to help a little girl fulfill her late mother’s wish—a magical Christmas to create some happy memories. Eve sees this opportunity as a sign; Ben, as a glitch in his plan to leave Marietta behind for good.

As the trio checks off the to-do list of Christmas fun, Ben’s ‘bah-humbug’ opinion of the holiday fades, along with ideas about keeping his distance from Eve. Getting involved is the last thing he wants to do but, alas, there’s no accounting for cosmic interference.

With the season of miracles upon this jewel of a town, will Eve find it’s possible that Christmas wishes aren’t only for little girls?

Titles in this series include: A Cowboy To Remember, Choose Me Cowboy, The Cowgirl’s Christmas Wish

Read on for my thoughts on The Cowgirl’s Christmas Wish. No true spoilers, promise.

Once Upon a Royal Christmas by Robin Bielman

Posted October 20, 2016 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: Once Upon A Royal Christmas
Series:
Author: Robin Bielman
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Christmas Romance
Published: October 20, 2016
Publisher: Tule Publishing
My Rating: 4.5 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Colliding with a prince while dog walking isn’t how Rowan Palotay pictured meeting royalty, but then lately her life hasn’t gone according to plan. With one teensy tiny mistake, her job as a news reporter took a turn for the worse and now she’s lucky to have a small pet column in the local newspaper. Christmas is supposed to be a time of joy and magic, but she feels like she’s forever stuck on the naughty list.

Prince Theodore Chenery is in Marietta shortly after the death of his mother to meet his grandparents for the first time. When an accidental run-in—literally—with Rowan leads to an unexpected friendship, he finds himself enchanted with the outspoken, feisty country girl. She’s unlike anyone he’s ever met and her special brand of kindness and honesty make it harder and harder to remember his obligations back home.

Rowan can’t afford one more mistake, and Theo’s future is already mapped out, but when they find it impossible to fight the passion and deep-rooted emotions between them, they discover what matters most. Until their relationship makes worldwide news…and Theo must decide whether or not to follow his heart or his royal duty.

Read on for my thoughts on Once Upon A Royal Christmas. No true spoilers, promise.

Christmas Joy by Nancy Naigle

Posted October 18, 2016 by Marsha in Christmas Romance, Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: Christmas Joy
Series:
Author: Nancy Naigle
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Christmas Romance
Published: October 18, 2016
Publisher: St Martin’s Press
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Joy Holbrook might be all work and no play, but that changes when her Aunt Ruby takes a fall that lands her in a rehabilitation center before the holidays. Joy takes a leave of absence from her job as a market researcher to run the family farm, even though the timing may hinder her chance at garnering the promotion of her dreams.

Ben Andrews isn’t your average accountant. He also happens to be the handiest man in Crystal Falls. He’s helped his elderly neighbor, Ruby Johnson, decorate for the annual Christmas Home Tour—and win—the last several years. He’s not about to let some drop-in niece break their winning streak.

Ruby seems overly concerned about Joy being able to handle Molly. Under the impression she’s referring Molly the bunny that is one of the menagerie of animals, Joy’s not worried at all until the next morning when a little girl named Molly shows up. For the sake of her aunt, Joy is forced to partner with Ben while Ruby is on the mend to help with preparation for the Christmas tour and, in the process finds her career-focused heart dreaming of a family.

Will the magic of Christmas help her to open her heart and find her everlasting joy?

Read on for my thoughts on Christmas Joy. No true spoilers, promise.

Tell Me Again by Michelle Major

Posted October 18, 2016 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: Tell Me Again
Series:
Author: Michelle Major
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: October 18, 2016
Publisher: Montlake Romance
My Rating: 3 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

As a teenager, Samantha Carlton used a career in modeling to break free from her painful childhood—walking away from her reckless twin sister, an alcoholic mother, and the boy she loved. Yet she never outran the guilt of abandoning her family. When the past shows up on her doorstep in the form of her late sister’s daughter, Sam opens her home and her heart to the girl she never knew existed. But it’s not so easy to face the man she left behind…

Sam had shattered Trevor Kincaid’s heart, and he’d sought comfort in her sister’s arms. But he’d pledged to shield his daughter, Grace, from the drama that followed the Carlton women. Now Grace has tracked down Sam, and Trevor is forced to deal with the one woman he wanted to forget.

History has a way of repeating itself, and the sparks between Sam and Trevor reignite an old flame. But as much as Sam wants a new future, is walking away again easier than risking her heart for a second chance at love?

Read on for my thoughts on Tell Me Again. No true spoilers, promise.

Christmas at the Castle by Melissa McClone

Posted October 18, 2016 by Marsha in Christmas Romance, Contemporary Romance, Series / 0 Comments

Title: Christmas At The Castle
Series: Ever After #3
Author: Melissa McClone
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Christmas Romance
Published: October 18, 2016
Publisher: Tule Publishing
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

A royal wedding. A meddlesome mother. An unexpected union.

A European getaway during the Christmas holiday is exactly what veterinarian Katrina “Kat” Parsons needs. She can’t wait to be a bridesmaid in her childhood friend’s royal wedding, but she hopes to steer clear of the bride’s arrogant older brother.

Crown Prince Guillaume wants his younger sister’s wedding day to be perfect, but he’s suspicious of Kat. He and his mother on are on high alert, afraid Kat is not just there for the wedding, but also to find a prince of her own.

But when Kat’s kindness and generosity prove them wrong, the prince realizes there’s more to her than he ever imagined. Can he trust his heart or will he lose the one woman he can’t live without?

Titles in this series include: The Honeymoon Prize, The Cinderella Princess, Christmas at the Castle

Read on for my thoughts on Christmas At The Castle. No true spoilers, promise.

Christmas Ivy by Joanne Jaytanie

Posted October 17, 2016 by Marsha in Christmas Romance, Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: Christmas Ivy
Series: Christmas Forever, The Second Season #1
Author: Joanne Jaytanie
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Christmas Romance
Published: November 5, 2015
Publisher: Books To Go Now
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Ivy’s always been a part of Christmas; can this Ivy put down roots in Forever Christmas, where the spirit of the holidays never fades?

Ivy Harper is a survivor. Deprived of college by a selfish mother and stuck in a dead-end job that can’t pay the bills, it’s the last straw when she finds herself a crime victim, too. Hoping for a new start, she flees to the big city, only to end up homeless. Her one chance is an intern program that offers a new life on a farm outside a small town. But can a farm job provide Ivy’s artistic soul the security and fulfillment she needs?

Mason Weatherly is exhausted. A leading surgeon, ER doc, and specialist in internal medicine, Dr. Weatherly is in constant demand. Unfortunately his seventeen-hour days and long weeks mean he has no relationship or personal life. Frazzled and desperate for a break, Mason decides to visit his brother, Colton, before Colton settles down. Mason needs to discover for himself how a small town and a tree farm managed to tame his career-driven brother.

Read on for my thoughts on Christmas Ivy. no true spoilers, promise.

A Cotswold Christmas by Kate Hewitt

Posted October 17, 2016 by Marsha in Christmas Romance, Contemporary Romance, Series / 0 Comments

Title: A Cotswold Christmas
Series: Willoughby Close prequel
Author: Kate Hewitt
Genre: Contemporary Christmas Romance
Published: October 17, 2016
Publisher: Tule Publishing
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Welcome to Wychwood-on-Lea… a not-too-quaint village where frosty evenings, welcoming fires, and second chances will make this a Christmas you’ll never forget.

Anna Vere has escaped to the Cotswolds for Christmas to try to heal from her broken engagement and, far worse, her broken dreams. When her reserved room at a bed & breakfast is flooded, she takes up the offer of camping out in Willoughby Close, the converted stables of the nearby manor house… and is taken under the wing of sexy local carpenter Colin Heath.

What starts out as merely helping a neighbor in need turns into far more as Colin and Anna share a surprisingly intense and emotional connection, weaving their own Christmas magic as they spend the holiday together. But Anna has a secret she’s scared to reveal, something that could destroy the fragile bond they’ve just created, and Colin knows she’s only in England for a short time. Can these two sudden soul mates risk their hearts for a love that has yet to be tried and tested?

Read on for my thoughts on A Cotswold Christmas. No true spoilers, promise.

The Perfect Kiss by Susan Hatler

Posted October 15, 2016 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance, Series / 0 Comments

Title: The Perfect Kiss
Series: Kissed By The Bay #2
Author: Susan Hatler
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: November 27, 2015
Publisher: Hatco Publishing
My Rating: 4.5 stars
Source: NetGalley & Owned
Cover Description:

Olivia Lane wants to become the premiere event planner for Blue Moon Bay’s rich and famous. But first she has to impress Greta von Strand—millionaire and bestselling author of Men: Who Needs Them?—by pulling off a two-week luxury getaway for women. The retreat’s all about getting women to embrace their independence by nurturing themselves and each other, and Olivia, who’s never been lucky-in-love herself, is looking forward to it.

The retreat and Olivia’s goals hit a roadblock, however, when sweet-talking firefighter, Brody Mitchell, and his smoking hot friends take up residence at the mansion next door. Now, she must successfully keep Greta and the other women away from their male neighbors, fight her attraction to Brody, and pull off the retreat of a lifetime in one fell swoop.

It’s a battle of the sexes she’s determined to win, otherwise she could lose everything—including her heart.

Titles in this series include: Every Little Kiss, The Perfect Kiss, Just One Kiss, The Sweetest Kiss

Read on for my thoughts on The Perfect Kiss. No true spoilers, promise.

Sleigh Bells Ring by Sandra D. Bricker; Barbara J. Scott; Lynette Sowell; Lenora Worth

Posted October 14, 2016 by Marsha in Christmas Romance, Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: Sleigh Bells Ring
Series: A Novella Collection
Author: Sandra D. Bricker; Barbara J. Scott; Lynette Sowell; Lenora Worth
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Christmas Romance
Published: October 14, 2016
Publisher: Gilead Publishing
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Never mind a pony. The Tucker girls have inherited their father’s horse farm for Christmas. Make that . . . a run-down horse farm. It needs some serious TLC in order to make it sell-ready. Joanna knows that by recruiting her sisters and one handsome ranch hand they can fix up the place and even celebrate one last Christmas while they’re at it. However, to Isabella, returning to their home in Kentucky bluegrass country for Christmas seems like an impossible hurdle. Can her Chicago boyfriend make life merry and bright again?

One thing’s for sure—nothing is peace on earth for Sophia as a new beau brings up old wounds. And when the fate of the horse farm is put in jeopardy because Amy accidentally fraternizes with the enemy, tensions rise. But it’s not like the land developer stole Christmas . . . just her heart.

Can the Tucker sisters have themselves a merry little Christmas?

Stories in this collection include: All I Want For Christmas by Sandra Bricker, Her Old Kentucky Home by Lynette Sowell, Please Come Home for Christmas by Lenora Worth, I’ll Be Home for Christmas by Barbara J. Scott

Read on for my thoughts on Sleigh Bells Ring. No true spoilers, promise.

By Firelight by Janice Maynard

Posted October 11, 2016 by Marsha in Christmas Romance, Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: By Firelight
Series:
Author: Janice Maynard
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Christmas Romance
Published: (combined) October 11, 2016
Publisher: Kensington Books – Lyrical Shine
My Rating: 3 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

By Firelight
There’s nothing like nearly freezing to death on the Appalachian Trail to make a woman want to live a little. And when Madison Tierney stumbles upon Grant Monroe’s mountain cabin during a blizzard, she’s gripped by something more than gratitude. Soon, the glow of firelight sparks hot, sweet kisses…and the start of a Christmas adventure she’ll never forget.

Hot Arctic Nights
In North Pole, Alaska, Christmas spirit is everywhere—except in Hallie Prentiss’s heart. At least her two-week stint managing the Dancing Elves B&B will pay the bills. Then she gets a look at long-term guest Daniel Reynolds. Whether dressed as Santa or (even better) wearing next to nothing, the man is gorgeous, charming, and sexy as hell. Workaholic Hallie is tempted to take a walk on the naughty side for once. But when she does, will she ever want to leave?

Previously published as By Firelight in A Very Merry Christmas and Hot Arctic Nights in Wicked Wonderland.

Read on for my thoughts on By Firelight. No true spoilers, promise.

The Bookshop on Autumn Lane by Cynthia Tennent

Posted October 11, 2016 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance, Series / 0 Comments

Title: The Bookshop on Autumn Lane
Series: Truheart #3
Author: Cynthia Tennent
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: October 11, 2016
Publisher: Kensington Books – Lyrical Shine
My Rating: 3 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

While some young women would jump through hoops to claim ownership of a bookshop,
free-spirited Gertrude “Trudy” Brown wants nothing to do with the rundown store her late Aunt Gertrude left her. Having suffered from dyslexia all her life, books aren’t exactly her friends. With not much more than a collie dog who’s scared of his own shadow, and a rusty but trusty ’74 Beetle, Trudy arrives in the tiny town of Truhart, determined to sell off her cumbersome inheritance as quickly as possible…

But Trudy is not the only stranger in town. Christopher “Kit” Darlington, a professor of American Studies at Cambridge, is searching for an elusive manuscript—and he secretly thinks Trudy’s ramshackle bookshop might hold the key to its discovery. As these two opposites spend the autumn days together, cleaning out Trudy’s bookshop, they soon find that uncovering both literature and love can be equally mysterious…

Trudy’s never been the type to stay in one spot too long, but something about Kit makes her consider starting a new chapter—and maybe even finding there’s a happily-ever-after…

Read on for my thoughts on The Bookshop on Autumn lane. No true spoilers, promise.

Twelve Days of Christmas by Debbie Macomber

Posted October 4, 2016 by Marsha in Christmas Romance, Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: Twelve Days of Christmas
Series:
Author: Debbie Macomber
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Christmas Romance
Published: October 4, 2016
Publisher: Random House – Ballantine
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Friendly and bubbly, Julia Padden likes nearly everyone, but her standoffish neighbor, Cain Maddox, presents a particular challenge. No matter how hard she’s tried to be nice, Cain rudely rebuffs her at every turn, preferring to keep to himself. But when Julia catches Cain stealing her newspaper from the lobby of their apartment building, that’s the last straw. She’s going to break through Cain’s Scrooge-like exterior the only way she knows how: by killing him with kindness.

To track her progress, Julia starts a blog called The Twelve Days of Christmas. Her first attempts to humanize Cain are far from successful. Julia brings him homemade Christmas treats and the disagreeable grinch won’t even accept them. Meanwhile, Julie’s blog becomes an online sensation, as an astonishing number of people start following her adventures. Julia continues to find ways to express kindness and, little by little, chips away at Cain’s gruff façade to reveal the caring man underneath. Unbelievably, Julia feels herself falling for Cain—and she suspects that he may be falling for her as well. But as the popularity of her blog continues to grow, Julia must decide if telling Cain the truth about having chronicled their relationship to the rest of the world is worth risking their chance at love.

Read on for my thoughts on Twelve Days of Christmas. No true spoilers, promise.

Take Me Deeper by Jackie Ashenden

Posted October 4, 2016 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance, Series / 0 Comments

Title: Take Me Deeper
Series: Texas Bounty #1
Author: Jackie Ashenden
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: October 4, 2016
Publisher: Random House – Loveswept
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Even as a Green Beret, Zane Redmond hasn’t faced a tougher mission than going home again. Loyalty to his brothers is the only reason he’s back in Texas, not that he intends to stay for long. Zane sure as hell isn’t going into the family business. One last bounty and he’s done—or so he thinks. Nobody warned him that his fugitive happens to be a red-hot brunette with a smart mouth, a body made for sin, and a brutal cartel on her trail.

Bad circumstances and worse choices have left Iris Callahan in a desperate situation. After getting arrested for a drug drop gone wrong, she skipped bail and hit the road to avoid testifying. Now the cartel wants Iris silenced forever, and she’s just lucky that Zane catches her before they do. Handcuffed to a bed, she surrenders to the cool-as-ice bounty hunter in order to survive. But as the chase heats up, Zane sneaks past her emotional defenses—and Iris is in too deep to let him go.

Titles in this series include: Take Me Deeper

Read on for my thoughts on Take Me Deeper. No true spoilers, promise.

Christmas At The Dog & Duck by Jill Steeples

Posted October 2, 2016 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: Christmas at the Dog & Duck
Series:
Author: Jill Steeples
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: October 1, 2016
Publisher: Aria
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Ellie Browne has left behind her high-flying job in London to return to the charming Buckinghamshire village of Little Leyton. Working shifts at The Dog and Duck and running her own doggy-day-care business, Ellie’s looking for a much simpler way of life and a good old fashioned Christmas.

But Little Leyton’s landscape is changing; Johnny Tay, Ellie’s ex, wants to pick up where they left off; sultry property developer Max Golding, has moved into the village and is ruffling feathers; and rumour has it that the pub, which holds a special place in Ellie’s heart, might be sold. Suddenly, life’s looking a whole lot more complicated.

Read on for my thoughts on Christmas at the Dog & Duck. No true spoilers, promise.

A New York Love Story by Cassie Rocca

Posted October 2, 2016 by Marsha in Christmas Romance, Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: A New York Love Story
Series:
Author: Cassie Rocca
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Christmas Romance
Published: October 1, 2016
Publisher: Aria
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Giving a present is not always easy. Clover O’Brian knows that only too well: her job consists of helping people in the arduous task of choosing unusual gifts. Christmas is coming, New York is buzzing, and Clover, who has always loved the festive period, savors the atmosphere.

Cade Harrison already has everything in life. A Hollywood actor, he is handsome, rich, famous and popular. Success, however, has its downsides; having just emerged from a disastrous relationship with an actress, he feels a need to hide away in an area unfrequented by stars, in an apartment lent him by a friend, far from prying eyes – especially those of tabloid reporters. But as chance will have it, the apartment in question is right opposite the one occupied by Clover, who until now has seen Hollywood actors only on the big screen. Two quite different lives meet by chance, at the most exhilarating time of year.

Read on for my thoughts on A New York Love Story. No true spoilers, promise.