Month: March 2019

Book Review: Notorious in a Kilt by Anna Durand

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

NOTORIOUS IN A KILT (Hot Scots #5) by Anna Durand is a smokin’ hot contemporary second chance romance. This entire series of sexy Scottish brothers and cousins is easy to read and entertaining. Each book can be read as a standalone although it was fun to read them in order and watch how each meets their perfect American mate.

Rae Everhart fell in love with her college professor. With only one month to go before graduation, they could not wait. They were both adults and only had one night of passion before the jealousy of others tore them apart. Her lover disappeared leaving Rae with so many unanswered questions and a daughter to raise alone.

Iain MacTaggart thought he was saving Rae by leaving her. He knows nothing about his daughter and has quite the reputation since returning to his home in Scotland. Since he can’t have the one woman he loves, he sleeps with many others. He never promises them anything except a good time.

Thirteen years later on Rae’s sheep ranch in Texas, Iain comes marching back into Rae’s life.  He is willing to do anything to win her trust back, but he still has secrets that could break them apart once again. Can Rae trust Iain with not only her heart, but her daughter’s heart also?

This is the book I have been waiting for! Iain was a secondary character in other books in this series and I always wanted to know why at fifty he was still not settled. You knew there were secrets and this book tells all. Both Rae and Iain suffered and yet rebuilt their lives as best they could. They had to be together though in the end for this HEA to satisfy. Iain is extremely hot and Rae is the perfect strong and resilient heroine. Beside the reignited romance, you also get blackmail, misunderstandings and a bumpy road to happiness. The sex in this book is explicit and hot as in this whole series.

I really enjoyed this story and was very happy to finally find out more about Iain. This is a great second chance romance and one of my favorite in this series to date.

Written for and posted first on The Romance Reviews.

Book Review: Springtime at Hope Cottage by Annie Rains

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

Oh my!

This second book in the Sweetwater Springs contemporary romance series is an absolute joy to read from beginning to HEA. I cried and laughed and just could not put it down. SPRINGTIME AT HOPE COTTAGE (Sweetwater Springs #2) by Annie Rains was a pleasure to read.

Josie Kellum is a writer on a major magazine in NYC. It was her dream job until the arrival of the new owner. She decides she needs a trip to visit her BFF, Kaitlyn in Sweetwater Springs for article ideas and time to consider her future at the magazine. As Josie is walking behind Kaitlyn’s B&B, she goes off the trail and ends up with a severely twisted knee. Kaitlyn knows the perfect physical therapist to help get her up and about as soon as possible. She is supposed to return to NYC soon.

Tucker “Tuck” Locklear grew up in Sweetwater Springs and returned after college to run his physical therapy practice using the outdoors and nature at Hope Cottage to heal instead of an exercise room in a facility. He has been a widower for two years now and is just starting to move on. His first impression of Josie is of a high maintenance city girl, but as the two get closer he finds she is so much more. Tuck knows Josie will be returning to NYC soon and it would be stupid to risk his heart on someone who will be leaving, but there is so much he likes about Josie.

Tuck and Josie get an extra month together when there is a fire in the apartment next to Josie’s in NYC. They each have reasons that should keep them apart, but the attraction is too strong. Can Josie slow down and quit running? Can Tuck take the chance at a second love?

This is story that will stay with me for a while. Josie’s reasons for hiding in her work and Tuck’s reasons for not getting involved were all handled realistically by this author. Ms. Rains writing had me completely engrossed in Sweetwater Springs and its inhabitants. So many little things can add up in our lives and change a person. These characters showed that sometimes you have to forgive yourself as much as others. All of the secondary characters are as realistic and entertaining as the H/h. This is a sweet romance and none of the sex scenes are explicit.

This is an emotional romance read with a very satisfying HEA. I can highly recommend this book and I am looking forward to reading more books in this series.

Thanks very much to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and Net Galley for allowing me to read this eARC.

Book Review: Salvaging Truth by Joanne Jaytanie

RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars

SALVAGING TRUTH (Hunters & Seekers Book 1) by Joanne Jaytanie is the exciting start of a new romantic suspense series. The books revolve around a salvage and investigation company called Hunters & Seekers run by three ex-SEAL friends.

Dagger Eastin, Kaleb LaSalle and Stone Garrison are partners and friends who run Hunters & Seekers. As ex-SEALs, they all have a love of the sea and have found the perfect way to carry on in the private sector while still getting that punch of adrenaline they all still seek by being private investigators.

Riley Rawlings is in shock as she listens to her mother’s message on her phone. The research vessel Claudia is on is sinking. Riley does not know exactly what her mother was working on when she died, but it was going to change the balance of power in the energy business world. Riley was left clues by her mother to follow in a scavenger hunt to retrieve her research and get it into the right hands.

Riley needs help solving her mother’s murder and someone watching her back as she follows the clues to her mother’s research. It seems everyone wants Claudia’s research and are willing to kill to get it. Riley and Daggar have to deal with universities, the military, energy corporations and Russian spies. Daggar has Riley’s back as they follow the clues, but can Riley trust him with more?

I really enjoyed the whole premise of this story and the execution. Ms. Jaytaine’s writing was easy-to- read and the scavenger hunt kept me turning the pages. Riley was an intelligent heroine with an interesting career. Daggar was the strong ex-SEAL hero. I had a little difficulty with the romance because for me it felt forced. The author gave reasons for the back and forth, but for me, it was not really believable if he cared for her so much, but the suspense plot in the book more than made up for the weakness in the romance. Kaleb and Stone are strong characters in this story and I am looking forward to reading about future adventures featuring each.

I can highly recommend this first book in this series and I am looking forward to reading more.

Written for and posted first on The Romance Reviews.