Reclaiming His Past by Karen Kirst (Smoky Mountain Matches)

 

The wounded stranger found on Jessica O'Malley's property has no idea who he is. And Jessica would be foolish to trust him after being proven so wrong about a former suitor who turned out to be a criminal. But Jessica's wariness toward the newcomer is soon turning to interest…and hope. 

Until he knows his true identity, "Grant" can't make a life in this quaint Tennessee town. He certainly shouldn't be thinking so much about the feisty redhead with beautiful, guarded eyes. But even as he fights to keep a distance from Jessica, his feelings for her grow. And he can't help but wonder if he'll want to return to his old life when his past is revealed. 

Smoky Mountain Matches: Dreams of home and family come true in the Smoky Mountains

• Series: Smoky Mountain Matches
• Mass Market Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Love Inspired (February 9, 2016)

My review Reclaiming His Past by Karen Kirst (Smoky Mountain Matches)

4 stars

Good clean romance.  Lots of drama, mystery in this Love Inspired Historical.  This is the last book about the O'Malleys.

The plot is a wounded stranger is found on Jessica O'Malley.  Jessica is not too trusting of his not remembering anything.  Her mother makes him welcome.  Grant does not even know his name and the name is one he chose.

Grant has to figure out what he believes.  If he is married, good or a bad guy.  He hates being dependent on the O'Malleys.

Jessica is the last single O'Malley.   She helps her mother run the farm and is a wonderful baker.  She feels guilty about her last boyfriend.  

There are a lot of characters from other books that show up in Reclaiming his Past.  I have only read a couple of books in the series but it is always nice to see what their lives are like now.  I would like to read the whole series in order.

I never knew that chestnuts were that much work to harvest and roast.

I was given this ebook to read for free by Harlequin and NetGalley.  In return I agreed to give a honest review of Reclaiming His Past.

Merry Christmas, Baby by Jill Shalvis (Lucky Harbor #12.5)

Description

SEASON'S KISSES . . .
Wild child Chloe Thompson can't believe how much things have changed. She still can't get enough of her sexy husband Sawyer, but he seems to prefer working to impending fatherhood. So tonight, a very pregnant Chloe is escaping her troubles at the town Christmas party.

Sheriff Sawyer Thompson hopes surprising Chloe at the party will give him a chance to set things right. But as the snow begins to fall and the wind rages, he wonders whether he can make it back in time. While mother nature conspires to keep Sawyer and Chloe apart, an unexpected arrival will require them to kiss and make up . . . and ring in the happiest holiday Lucky Harbor has ever seen.

File Size: 580 KB

Print Length: 68 pages

Publisher: Forever Yours (December 2, 2014)

Publication Date: December 2, 2014

Sold by: Hachette Book Group

My review: Merry Christmas, Baby 

3 Stars

This is a nice visit with old characters of Lucky Harbor.  It is a short story only 68 pages. 

Chloe Thompson is pregnant and she is afraid her husband does not want the baby.  She also does not want him to keep leaving on undercover work. She is tired of staying home and wants to go to Lucky Harbor's Chrsitmas party.

Sheriff Sawyer Thompson tries to get back home to take his wife to the party but does not promise.  He makes sure that Chloe has support while he is gone out of town.

The setting is Lucky Harbor in December.

I was given this ebook by NetGalley and Forever to read for free and in return I agreed to give a honest review of Merry Christmas, Baby.

 

 

A Soldier's Valentine by Jenna Mindel

Description

The Captain's Homecoming 

Retired army captain Zach Zelinsky is determined to put his harrowing past behind him and start a quiet life selling his artwork. But the storefront building he buys comes with a tenant—a too-pretty tea shop owner who doesn't give him a moment's rest. Ginger Carleton is rallying the merchants of Maple Springs, Michigan, for a Valentine's Day window-decorating contest. And she's on a mission to convince Zach to lose the gruff exterior and open up to her. As February 14 approaches, the wounded warrior may just find that Ginger is offering exactly what he's been missing: love.

• Series: Maple Springs (Book 2)
• Mass Market Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Love Inspired (January 19, 2016)

My review: A Soldier's Valentine by Jenna Mindel

4 stars

A nice small town romance. Some drama, romance, likable characters and art. It is also a clean read.  

Retired army captain Zach Zelinsky has come back to his home town after he was fired from the Army.

He has some problems with nightmares.  Zach bought a building.  He plans to have a glass blowing studio and shop.  There is two apartments above that he plans to live above.

Ginger Carleton has a tea shop in half the building and lives in the other apartment above the shop.  She is busy volunteering in town.

Neither Zach or Ginger plan to get involved romantically with each other. It would lead to some problems when it ended. They watch each other shops when they have to leave it. Ginger's best friend is marrying Zach's brother.

the setting is Maple Springs, Michigan

I was given this ebook to read from NetGalley and Harlequin.  In return I agreed to give a honest review of A Soldier's Valentine.

Rock-a-Bye Rescue by Beth Cornelison, Karen Whiddon

Description

Two babies in jeopardy…two powerful stories in one! 

When an unhinged cult leader escapes custody, he'll stop at nothing to get to two innocent babies…and the foster mothers who stand in his way. 


GUARDING EVE by Beth Cornelison 

Lila Green goes from foster mom to bodyguard when a storm traps her and six-month-old Eve in a remote mountain cabin with a killer on their heels. Can her neighbor, wounded veteran Dean Hamilton, help them survive? 


CLAIMING CALEB by Karen Whiddon 

Michelle Morgan must protect her newborn nephew, Caleb—and even work with her ex-fiancé. FBI agent Garrett Ware never wanted children, but now he'll sacrifice everything for this baby…and this woman. 

• Series: Harlequin Romantic Suspense (Book 1885)
• Mass Market Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Harlequin (February 9, 2016)

My review:Rock-a-Bye Rescue by Beth Cornelison, Karen Whiddon

This has two stories that go together by two different authors.  They are both full of action suspense, romance and have little babies.

A cult leader gets caught by the law and he kills two of his young wives.  He wants to kill his children to get them away from foster care.

GUARDING EVE by Beth Cornelison 

Lila Green is a emergency foster care for babies.  On a winter stormy night she gets a call that they are going to bring a baby to her. She lives on a mountain with no close neighbors.

Then the father and uncle broke out and is coming for the baby.

CLAIMING CALEB by Karen Whiddon 

Michelle Morgan has to protect her nephew after her little sister was murdered.  A FBI Agent is sent to protect the child after the father gets away. Garrett Ware used to be engaged to  Michelle years ago.  Now they are stranded in cabin in snow storm.

I enjoyed reading these stories.  There are a few love scenes that I skipped over. I would read more books like this, but I would want longer stories.

I was given this ebook to read by Netgalley and Harlequin.  In return I agreed to give a honest review of Rock-a-bye Rescue.

Meow for the Money by Patricia Fry (A Klepto Cat Mystery Book 14)

In this story, Rags, the klepto cat, saves a beautiful Himalayan when he finds her near death one chilly night. Did this pampered kitty escape or was she abducted? Her wealthy owner, June Balcomb, can only guess. June is so grateful to Rags that she embraces the entire Ivey family, and Savannah and Rags become frequent visitors at the Balcomb estate. It doesn’t take Savannah long to realize someone close to June is out to harm her. The plot thickens when those June relies on most come under attack, her grandnephew is kidnapped, her attorney stabbed, and a trusted employee dies. When someone attempts to poison one of her cats, June agrees to bring in a whole new staff—all friends of the Iveys. Against the advice of others, she also hires a young woman who was only recently released from jail. Will things calm down for June once she has sent her staff and relatives away? Not until Detective Craig and Savannah, with a lot of help from Rags, start stirring things up

File Size: 2430 KB

Print Length: 181 pages

Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited

Publisher: Matilija Press (December 27, 2015)

Publication Date: December 27, 2015

My review: Meow for the Money by Patricia Fry (A Klepto Cat Mystery Book 14)

4 stars

This book fits in the series really well. Lot of the characters are animals. Tons of cats.  I am more of a dog person but do enjoy A Klepto Cat Mysteries.

Meow for the Money starts out with a news story about a cat that was taken and a big reward for his return.  Rags of course his the hero and finds the cat and saves her life.

June Balcomb is a 90 year old wealthy woman who loves her cats.  She does not know who to trust.  She becomes fast friends with Savannah and friends.

June wants to leave everything to her cats. People around her are not happy.  People are getting hurt and murdered.

This is a fast read, plenty of laughter, cats and mystery to be found in Meow for the Money.

The regular cast of characters like the Ivy's and their pets, plus lots of new cbaracters to meet.

You can read alone but better if you read the books in order.  Because it does follow the Ivy's family.

I was given this ebook to read for free by the author in return I agreed to give a honest review of Meow for the Money.

Instant Frontier Family by Regina Scott (Frontier Bachelors #4)

Description

LITTLE MATCHMAKERS 

Maddie O'Rourke's orphaned half brother and half sister have arrived safely in Seattle—with a man they hope she'll wed! Though Michael Haggerty's not the escort she planned for, Maddie allows him to work off his passage by assisting in her bakery…and helping care for her siblings. But she'll never risk her newfound independence by marrying the strapping Irishman—or anyone else.

In New York, Michael ran afoul of a notorious gang. Traveling west was a necessity, not a choice. The longshoreman grew fond of his young charges, and now he's quickly becoming partial to their beautiful sister, too. So when danger follows him, threatening Maddie and the children, he'll do anything to protect them—and the future he hopes to build.

• Series: Frontier Bachelors (Book 4)
• Mass Market Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Love Inspired (January 5, 2016)

My review: Instant Frontier Family by Regina Scott  (Frontier Bachelors #4)

4 stars

Maddie O'Rourke is a determined, hard working lady. She takes in laundry and is starting a bakery. Now she is having her little brother and sister come live with her from New York. But the lady who was supposed to have been their escort was actually a man.

Michael made himself some enemies in New York.  So he took the job as a escort to two children in his Aunt's orphanage from New York to Seattle.  He is determined to make sure the kids are alright and to pay back his ticket price.

Maddie and Michael are Irish.  It deals with some of the trials the Irish faced in America.  How they got gangs to protect themselves and they got out of control.  Also deals with life in the Frontier.  Now violence has spread to the west coast.

Lots of drama, cute characters, mystery and unwanted romance. Makes the Instant Frontier Family a entertaining story to read.  Also a clean story.

I was given this ebook to read from Netgalley and Harlequin. In return I agreed to give a honest review of Instant Frontier Family.

Plain Dead by Emma Millern

Description

When a newspaperman is murdered in the Amish community of Stone Mill, Pennsylvania, Rachel Mast digs up the dirt to find out who wanted to bury the lead…

Although she left her Old Order Amish ways in her youth, Rachel discovered corporate life in the English world to be complicated and unfulfilling. Having returned to Stone Mill, she's happy to be running her own B&B. But she's also learning—in more ways than one—that the past is not always so easily left behind.

After local newspaperman Bill Billingsly is found gagged and tied to his front porch, left to freeze overnight in a snowstorm, Detective Evan Parks—Rachel's beau—uncovers a file of scandalous information Billingsly intended to publish, including a record of Rachel pleading no contest to charges of corporate misconduct. Though Evan is certain of her innocence, it's up to Rachel to find the real killer. A closer examination of the victim's unpublished report leads Rachel to believe the Amish community is far from sinless. But if she's not careful her obituary might be the next to appear in print…

My review: Plain Dead by Emma Miller

4 STARS

This is the third book in this series but first of it that  I have read.  It has lots of drama, mystery, that has interesting characters, good suspects that kept me guessing. It is a clean read too.
.

The main character is Rachel Mast who chose not to join the Amish faith and left to become  living English in big city.  Now Rachel has returned home to Stone Mill to run a bed & breakfast.  She lives a mix of English  and Amish. Rachel is now engaged to Detective Evan Parks, but has not told her family.

The newspaper reporter Billingsly is printing gossip and causing trouble with English and Amish people too.  Lots of people are angry with him.  The day of the murder Rachel had a loud fight with him at the Winter Frolic.

Evan gets the murder case.  One of the suspects his Rachel which causes problems with the couple.  Rachel thinks someone in the Amish is guilty or knows something.  She decides to help clear her.  One suspect is one of Rachel's guest.  One is a local artist and husband of a friend who is keeping secrets.

The setting is Stone Mill, Pennsylvania Amish community. It is the Winter Folic. A week long craft sales to bring visitors to town in winter.

I would love to read the first two books in the series.

I was given this ebook to read by Netgalley,  & Kensington.  In return I agreed to give a honest review.