Blog Tour: In The Cowboy's Arms

IN THE COWBOW’S ARMS

By Vicki Lewis Thompson

May 23, 2017

$5.75 US; 224 pages

ISBN: 978-0-373-62352-5

Blurb:

Matt Forrest was born to be an actor, but grew up at Thunder Mountain Ranch as a cowboy. So when things go haywire after shooting his first Hollywood movie, he retreats to his childhood home where he knows his parents and foster brothers can help him figure out what he really wants out of life.

But PR agent, Geena Lysander, isn’t about to lose one of her best new clients—so she follows him. And things get complicated because she’s attracted to Matt, and not just for his handsome, movie-star good looks. As she gets to know the man behind the cowboy, their professional relationship becomes passionately personal. Could Matt’s next big role be as Geena’s leading man?

Review: I have read Vicki Lewis Thompson for ages. We're talking, I've read her books since she wrote for the Temptation line. (That's a very long time) This is her first special edition, because the Blaze line is going away. (sniffle sniffle). Her books are always hot and sexy. As I haven't been a fan of that heat level lately, I was kind of glad to find that toned down for this imprint. 

I liked that Matt was an actor. It made things different, as I'm used to harlequin novels being billionaire mogels or sheikh's. Geena is is PR, whose job is keeping him out of trouble, which he has managed to do, because of the leading lady on his first film, who has it in for him since he turned down her advances.

The romance between Geena and Matt takes off pretty quickly once she joins him on his family ranch. (Maybe a little too quickly if you like a little reality in your romance, but this is harlequin and love happens that fast in these books)

What I liked about Matt was his character. He was an actor, which isn't a usual occupation, but he was also a cowboy with a very strong moral compass. I loved the Thunder Mountain Brotherhood and the closeness between the "brothers." It really is what family is about.

The only thing that kept this from being an over the top fabulous read are a lot of the issues that got wrapped up too neatly at the end. (The original issue and another issue with his birth mother) I really felt that a book that had its plot rooted in a scandal should have had some confrontation of something with the troublemaker actress that started it all.

This was still a fast fun and sexy read. Vicki doesn't disappoint.

Rating: 4 flowers

TLC Book Tours Book Review: Finding Our Forever

Author: Brenda Novak
Title: Finding Our Forever
Publisher: Harlequin Special Edition
Publish Date: March 21, 2017
Buy: Amazon
Book Blurb: The search for her birth mother brought Cora Kelly to the New Horizons Boys Ranch. Getting a job there was easy enough, but confiding in Aiyana, the ranch's owner, that she's really her daughter? Cora's not sure she can do that, not unless she's confident the news will be welcomed. And once she gets to know Elijah Turner—Aiyana's adopted son and ranch manager—that decision becomes even more difficult.

Although Elijah can't deny his deep attraction to Cora, he's always struggled with trust. Anyone with his past would, and there's something about the ranch's newest employee that isn't exactly as it seems. But if the feelings she awakes in his guarded heart are any indication, she might be just what he's long been waiting for.

Review: Cora is a woman in search of her birth mother. I swear the adopted child storyline is being used an awful lot this year.

Aiyana is Cora's birth mother, but Cora isn't going to tell her that yet. Elijah is Aiyana's adopted son and his past is really unpleasant. It is really amazing that he's turned out to be a good man. He has instant chemistry with Cora.

If you aren't confused now...you are doing well. As much as I know that the only blood relation there is in this story is Cora and Aiyana, it still seems so not quite right to be attracted to the child your mother adopted.

I think that part keeps them from getting too close at first, but once they get together, you know that they are good for each other, though I didn't feel the relationship was well developed. They liked each other for superficial reasons. Elijah was good looking. He was a good man, despite haven't a rough childhood. He was good with kids. When Elijah and Cora were together, you didn't get much of them talking, just physical stuff, which is how they planned it, but they fall in love. (of course)

I have a hard time understanding why children that were adopted choose to hurt the family that gave them love. I almost felt like Brenda was trying to paint Cora's family in a slightly less than flattering light. Why wouldn't you tell them you were looking for your birth mother? I really found that Cora was trying to compare bother mothers. If I were Lily I would have been more than a little hurt by her actions. I think her family handled things more than well.

Then there was the situation with her ex, which left me wondering too.

The ending came with the proper closure, but it was wrapped up too nicely and with a happy little bow. I don't think real life would have been that perfect.

Overall, this was an OK read by Ms. Novak. I think its a little out of her comfort zone of writing. Special Editions are a shorter format than she's been writing lately. This story needed a bit more development to be on par with her other books.

Rating: 3 flowers

Blog Tour Book Review: His Sweetest Fortune

HER SWEETEST FORTUNE

by Stella Bagwell

Harlequin Special Edition; January 17, 2017
$5.75 U.S.; 224 Pages
ISBN-978-0-373-623266

Sophie Fortune Robinson is on a mission. The word around the office watercooler is that the boss's youngest daughter is intent on landing Mr. Right by Valentine's Day—and that she has her eyes, and heart, set on a certain hunk in Marketing.

But when she enlists her longtime pal and coworker Mason Montgomery to teach her how to get a man to notice her, little does she know she's already captured his attention!

Now Mason's in a real bind! He has just a few short weeks to fight his way out of the "friend zone." On his agenda: convincing sweet Sophie that he is the real man of her dreams! Will Fortune smile on true love's venture?

Review: Her Sweetest Fortune is a sweet romance. I'm not sure that this book was suited for the Special Edition Line. I know it was part of a bigger series, but Sophie, oh Sophie she was so not a grown up.

The plot of this story is more suited to a teen novel or a new adult novel. I love the friends to lovers theme, especially as Mason wasn't a typical hero. There was sensitivity that is usually lacking. But again, its our girl, Sophie who is the huge problem here. How could any grown woman act like she did? Her whole crush on Thom and dating him, was just ludicrous. Why would you want to keep going with someone you have nothing in common with, except that you have some delusion that he's Mr. Right.

This isn't the reasoning of an intelligent woman. Especially when she thinks about Mason, when she's on dates with Thom. (And who wouldn't, Thom is a flipping jerk)

The book is enjoyable if you read it putting  the focus that Sophie is very young or at least not very mature.


Rating: 3 flowers

STELLA BAGWELL is a USA Today bestselling author who has written close to 90 books for Harlequin. She lives on the Texas Gulf coast with her husband, where the winters are mild and the summers sweltering. Along with her writing, she stays busy helping her husband care for their 10 horses, 11 cats, and a flock of gulls that always seem to know when it's feeding time!

Blog Tour Book Review: His Ballerina Bride

HIS BALLERINA BRIDE by Teri Wilson

Debonair Artem Drake has had tongues wagging all over New York since he became surprise CEO of Drake Diamonds.

This playboy hopes to bring new life to the storied old business before those rumored bad investments sink the family ship.

He's even plucked an ambitious salesgirl out of the shadows to become the store's new star designer. But Ophelia Rose isn't the ingénue she seems.

The swanlike beauty's hiding a past that glimmers as bright as a Drake diamond—she once graced the stage as a professional ballerina, until she was forced to take her final curtsy and hide from the limelight. Now can Artem bring her back to center stage? Or will their glittering future together wither under the secrets of the past?

Review:  I am totally in love with this book. His Ballerina Bride is a book for your keeper shelf. I don't know which character that I loved more Ophelia or Artem. I adore Artem's name. It is so unusual.

Ophelia is a former ballerina working at Drake Diamonds because her career was cut short because of illness. It was really impressive to see how Teri Wilson worked Ophelia's MS into the story. The reader could understand her reasoning whether it was not to adopt the white kitten from the shelter she volunteered at to her feelings for Artem.

Artem is the CEO of Drake Diamonds. They had a chance meeting in the break room, while she's eating a petite four that they offer their engagement clients. In the course of things she shows him some designs she has done and the rest is romance history.

There's a wonderful twist that involves Ophelia's family and the Drake diamond that makes the possible sale of the jewel rather sad.

These two had awesome chemistry. I adored the way he cared for her, especially when her past came to light. He really did his best to protect her.

This was a beautiful romance and the way the ballet played a part in the story, from Ophelia's dancing to her designs just made it so visual. The dancing also played a part in Ophelia and Artem's first real romantic encounter.

The discovery at the end was a little predictable as is the fate of the Drake Diamond, but that didn't detract from a wonderful story.

Rating: 5 flowers

Blog Tour Book Review: A Bravo For Christmas

A BRAVO FOR CHRISTMAS

By New York Times and USA Today bestselling author

Christine Rimmer

‘Tis the season for a sexy holiday!

When Darius Bravo wants something—he usually gets it. And the powerhouse CEO has wanted Ava Malloy since he was a Justice Creek High senior. Darius is already adored by one Malloy: Ava's spirited daughter. Helping Sylvie and her local Blueberry troop build dollhouses for needy kids is a worthy cause that's bringing him closer to the widowed single mom. Imagine his surprise when the usually unapproachable Ava starts flirting and making her romantic intentions crystal clear!

With one condition. A holiday fling with the man Ava has always found irresistibly attractive is a thrilling way to ring in the New Year. She can't promise Darius the future—one devastating heartbreak in a lifetime is enough. But Ava underestimates his staying power. And what about her own secret heart's desire? A Bravo under the mistletoe and in her arms forever!

Review:  Christine Rimmer is one of my favorite authors for the Special Edition line. I like her writing because she brings a touch of reality to her stories and writes heroes that you absolutely fall for.

Darius is truly a guy that anyone would want to love. He's good looking and good with kids and really just downright perfect. He may have had a bit of a womanizing past, but there's nothing bad about this guy. He's 100 % lovable. In fact, I'd take him if he were a real, flesh and blood male.

Ava is a woman who doesn't really want a relationship. Her husband died in Afghanistan and she's had a past that made her weary of giving love another chance.

Ava and Darius have a shared past. Darius had feelings for her back in their school days, but Ava shut him down. He still has feelings for her.

If this story focused more on Darius and Ava and even better Sylvie (because Ava's daughter is an awesome character. The backstory is a bit of a detriment to the overall story.

I'm not sure what I had the hardest time dealing with. Ava's problem with her parents, who have lived on love for a long time. When Ava was young her mother was ill and family life fell apart and her and her siblings were sent to foster care.

I didn't like this..for one, not once in the discussion of her mother's illness did they mention what it was, but it was obviously something so bad that her father was so worried about her that he couldn't hold down a job.

Oh and since when does being broke put kids in foster care. If that were the case there would be a lot of kids in foster care.

These are the things that put me off. If you are going to make something a huge part of a person's history it needed to be more developed.

The other thing that bugged me was when Sylvie got hurt. She would not have had those stitches if her mother wasn't there to authorize treatment. Heck they can't give a kid Tylenol at school without authorization.

Its little things like this that get on my nerves in books. They are things that either need more developing or tweaked.

I liked the premise of the Christmas fling and I liked how it was turning into more. It was really the back story of Ava's that kept this from being a fabulous read.

Rating: 3 flowers

Harlequin Blog Tour Book Review: A Child Under His Tree

A CHILD UNDER HIS TREE

By New York Times and USA Today bestselling author

Allison Leigh

'Tis the season for second chances…and secrets!

Forget the mistletoe maneuvers. Kelly Rasmussen isn't planning on having that reunion kiss with Dr. Caleb Buchanan any time soon. Things had long ago gone south for these former high school sweethearts. Except for that one night six years ago—which resulted in an explosive secret Kelly's kept till this very day.

Now career and family have brought them both back to Weaver, Wyoming. Their unavoidable clashes—and instant chemistry—make them realize this town isn't big enough for the two of them. Or three of them—counting Kelly's son. Because there's something about that little boy… For one thing, he has Caleb's eyes…

Review:  I'm getting a little tired of books where the heroine hides the birth of a child from the father. I'm not sure why this is such a huge plot point lately. That said, in the case of A Child Under His Tree this tired plot point works really well. I think it has to do with the fact that Dr. Caleb Buchanan isn't an arrogant jerk, he's a good guy.

It is Kelly that really has issues, mostly because her mother, who has recently passed away, was really a lousy parent. I felt sorry for her for most of the book, because of this. Her mom was really a piece of work and it really shaped the woman that she became. In some ways good and others it made her much like her mother.

The character that really surprised me was her son Tyler. I'm glad he was a real character in this book and not just a plot device. He was an adorable kid that you have to love. He was very much the typical 6 year old. I loved how he tried to name Caleb's puppy.

This wasn't a romance as much as it was a relationship story. There wasn't a period of falling in love, because it seems both had never lost their past feelings for each other. 

This was a beautiful sweet romance that you can read easily in one afternoon

Rating: 5 flowers

Book Review: Puppy Love For The Veterinarian w/recipe

Author: Amy Woods
Title: Puppy Love for the Veterinarian
Publisher: Harlequin Special Edition
Publish Date: June 21, 2016
Buy: Amazon
Book Blurb: 
A New Leash On Love

When June Leavy finds two puppies abandoned outside during a storm, she immediately feels a bond with the adorable animals. Swindled out of her life savings by her no-good ex, she, too, was left with nothing but heartache and struggles of her own. But when she arrives at the local veterinary clinic, June is met by dangerously handsome Dr. Ethan Singh, whose sexy smile threatens to disarm her hard-won emotional strength.

Back in Peach Leaf, Texas, to recover from an ugly breakup, Ethan gently tends to the puppies and their charming caretaker. But as the storm rages, so does the electric attraction between Ethan and June. Is this real, or a cruel phantom of lost love? Stranded alone at the clinic, only one thing is certain: they've got all night to figure it out…

Review: I love a sweet romance and Puppy Love For The Veterinarian was definitely a sweet one. June and Ethan were both on the rebound from bad love affairs. I felt really sorry for June, since her ex took all her savings with him when he walked out. Ethan's ex was just a lying cheatin' fool.

Neither of them were looking for love again, but two puppies found behind the pizza shop June works for brought them together. Dr. Singh is filling in for his father while he vacations with his mother. When June shows up in the midst of a snowstorm they are stuck together.

The pacing of the story is a bit slow considering the time span of the book. They fall in love pretty quickly, without sharing that information with one another, but it wouldn't be a romance if they shared the necessary things with each other, right!

I really loved Ethan and I loved that he wasn't your typical Harlequin hero. He wasn't alpha and he wasn't a big buff guy. In fact he was of Indian descent. Props to Amy Woods for creating a non sheikh, non Caucasian hero that was still sexy. That was one thing that really made this book stand out for me. The other was that both were both suffering from heart break.

My only gripe is that Ethan didn't bother to consult June about what she wanted to do with the puppies she found. This is the one thing that really bugged me, because anyone that would have gone to the trouble June did to get those puppies help would want a say so in their upbringing.

I truly enjoyed the story and all the twists and turns. I especially loved Ethan's family and June's mom.  June's mom in particular is sweet and she wants what is best for her daughter.

This is a great book to cozy up to when you have an afternoon to spend with a book.

Rating: 4 flowers

For many barbecue lovers, it’s all about the meat. Not so for this Texas girl—give me sides over the main course any day! I love all the classic southern barbecue pairings—mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, pinto beans, potato salad…and the list goes on. But my favorite of all, hands-down, no contest, is fried okra. I could seriously eat bucket-loads of this breaded, crispy, deliciousness, and it’s one of those rare treats that I love so much I don’t even think about the calories. And anyway, it can’t be that bad, right? After all, okra is a vegetable! ;-)

Fried Okra (from Allrecipes.com)

Prep: 15 m

Cook: 15 m

Ready In: 30 m

Recipe By: Linda Martin

Ingredients

-10 pods okra, sliced in 1/4 inch pieces

-1 egg, beaten

-1 cup cornmeal

-1/4 teaspoon salt

-1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

-1/2 cup vegetable oil

Directions

1. In a small bowl, soak okra in egg for 5 to 10 minutes. In a medium bowl, combine cornmeal, salt, and pepper.

2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Dredge okra in the cornmeal mixture, coating evenly. Carefully place okra in hot oil; stir continuously. Reduce heat to medium when okra first starts to brown, and cook until golden. Drain on paper towels.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2016 Allrecipes.com  

Tasty Book Tours Book Review: His Texas Forever Family

His Texas Forever Family

By: Amy Woods

Released August 19^th, 2014

Harlequin

Blurb

“MR. CAMPBELL, PLEASE REPORT TO THE PRINCIPAL’S OFFICE…

Paige Graham only has room for one man in her life—her son, Owen. The little boy hasn’t spoken since his father died, but things change when he meets his new art teacher, Liam Campbell. Paige can’t help marveling at the progress Owen makes while working with his instructor—and Mr. Campbell isn’t exactly hard on the eyes, either!

New to Peach Leaf, Texas, Liam is captivated by his beautiful boss—who is none other than Paige! He can’t risk his job or his future by falling for his supervisor, but there is just something about her he can’t resist. Thanks to Liam’s lessons, Owen is on the road to recovery. Now if only Liam can show Paige that the best way to heal her heart is to open herself to love again….”

 Link to Follow Tour: http://www.tastybooktours.com/2014/07/his-texas-forever-family-by-amy-woods.html

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21471411-his-texas-forever-family?from_search=true

Buy Links

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Texas-Forever-Family-Harlequin-Special-ebook/dp/B00JIH8ZAS/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1404250167&sr=1-1&keywords=amy+woods

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/his-texas-forever-family-amy-woods/1118925347?ean=9781460338773

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/his-texas-forever-family

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/his-texas-forever-family/id857569196?mt=11

Publisher: http://www.harlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=53590

Review:

This was a very sweet romance. What I really loved about it was that the tables were turned on the hero, when the story starts. 

Usually, if some misfortune befalls one of the characters, it is the heroine, but here, Liam gets it. Not in a  bad way, but things don't work out perfectly for him in the beginning with Paige. He definitely doesn't make a good first impression on her.

I liked that Liam wasn't all alpha male and I loved that he truly seemed to care for Owen.

There are definitely some very sweet scenes between the boy and Liam that will melt your heart.

Owen really brings out Liam's great qualities.

The only thing that I wasn't thrilled about was how Paige went all 1950s at the end. She really was a great heroine and more than that, a great mother. But the ending took a little of the "Super Mom" away from her for me.

Other than that, this is a quick, fun read, with characters that are so easy to fall for.

Rating: 4 flowers

Author Info

Although she’s wanted to be a writer since learning to read, Amy Woods took the scenic route to her job as an author. She’s been a bookkeeper, a high school English teacher, a claims specialist, and a call-center worker, but now that she’s tried making up stories for a living, she’s never giving it up. She grew up in Austin, Texas and still lives there with her wonderfully goofy, supportive husband and a very spoiled rescue dog.

Author Links

Website: http://www.amywoodsbooks.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amywoodsbooks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/amywoodsbooks

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8059195.Amy_Woods

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