Book Review: Lone Star Christmas by Delores Fossen

 

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

LONE STAR CHRISTMAS (A Coldwater Texas Novel #1) by Delores Fossen is a holiday contemporary romance that has the perfect blend of laughter, tears, family and romance. This is the start of a new series featuring the Laramie brothers and the small town of Coldwater, Texas.

Buck McCall has taken in difficult to place foster kids onto his ranch with the help of his housekeeper, Rosy for decades. They are going to finally marry and Buck wants nothing more than to have Callen return home for the wedding because he needs help because of secret he is keeping.

Callen Laramie left Coldwater at the age of eighteen and never looked back. Even though Buck gave him and his brothers a good home, he had too many bad memories he wanted to leave behind. He is now a rich cattleman in Dallas. He has no intention of going back to Coldwater, even for the wedding until Buck’s daughter, the one who was always off limits, shows up in his Dallas office personally asking him to come home because she is worried about Buck.

Shelby McCall has grown into a beautiful spitfire who trains and rehabs horses. She is excited for her father and Rosy’s wedding, but she also feels that her father is keeping a secret about his health. She wants Callen home, not only for her father, but for herself. She wants what she could not have when she was too young. Even if Callen will not stay, she plans on having, even if only for Christmas, the one who left her behind.

Callen and Shelby were wonderful main characters to start this series off. His dark and hurt to her light and love. Callen had so much to deal with, Buck’s secrets, reuniting with his brothers and dealing with the past. Shelby was always there and helping him even as it broke her own heart. The secondary characters in this book could have easily overshadowed the main romance, but Ms. Fossen did a great job of making them quirky and interesting without overshadowing Callen and Shelby’s story. This book has small town characters that made me laugh out loud and a swoon worthy HEA. There are well written sex scenes that have as much heart and laughter as heat. I am looking forward to the rest of the Laramie brothers’ stories.

This is a wonderful Christmas romance that I can highly recommend!

Book Review: In Peppermint Peril by Joy Avon

RATING:  4 out of 5 Stars

IN PEPPERMINT PERIL (Book Tea Shop Mystery #1) by Joy Avon is the start of a new cozy mystery series. A murder, a missing heirloom ring and greed over a new will to be announced by the dame of Haywood Hall all threaten the holiday spirit in Heart’s Harbor.

Callie Aspen has returned to Heart’s Harbor for the holidays to help her great aunt, Iphy run Book Tea, a vintage tea and pastry shop where every pastry is based on a mystery story or includes a mysterious clue to be solved. Callie travels the world as a tour guide, but has fond childhood memories of Haywood Hall and its occupants so she is excited to be helping her great aunt prepare for a special party at the hall. Instead of a surprise engagement and the announcement of the will’s new terms, a dead body is found in the conservatory.

Callie and Iphy use their love of mystery books to follow all the clues, but a certain deputy finds Callie’s interest intrusive. Callie persists because of her love for all involved and even Deputy Falk comes around to aid her in a mutual quest for the killer. Can Callie help the residents of Heart’s Harbor find a killer and help to reveal their secrets and true desires to celebrate a joyous Christmas?

This book was a fast and easy read that kept me guessing the identity of the killer. Callie, as the main character had to deal with her own emotional baggage on returning to the hall besides the murder mystery which gave her character depth. All of the secondary characters were interesting and entertaining including Callie’s foster Boston terrier. There are many twists and red herrings in the mystery plot. Overall, an enjoyable and entertaining cozy holiday mystery read.

Thanks very much to Crooked Lane Books and Net Galley for allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Book Blitz/Feature Post and Book Review: Love Under Siege: A Limited Edition Military Romantic Suspense Collection

Title: Love Under Siege (A Military Romantic Suspense Collection)

Genre: Military Romance

Release Date: September 18, 2018

Hosted by: Buoni Amici Press, LLC. 

Hi, everyone! I am so excited to be a part of the Release Blitz and bring you this Feature Post with my Book Reviews. LOVE UNDER SIEGE (A Military Romantic Suspense Collection) is 8 full length novels in 1 collection.

Below are the buy links, each book is briefly described, my book reviews and all author information. At the end of this post is the link for the Goodreads giveaway. This is a GREAT collection with hot and sexy military heroes! Some authors I have read before and some are new-to-me authors and series, but all of the books I can highly recommend. This is a collection you will not want to put down.  Overall – 5 Stars!

 

Buy links:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2txWotQ

iBooks: https://apple.co/2sVJkhx

Nook: http://bit.ly/2y00TCY

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2kZqNNP

Books2Read:  

https://books2read.com/LoveUnderSiege

 

Book Descriptions:

Eight Brand NEW Sizzling Full-Length Novels featuring Military Heroes by acclaimed authors who know how to bring the Heat, Action and Suspense!

Tuff Enough by Samantha A. Cole While security operative Jason “Tuff” Tanner lives for dangerous assignments, he likes his downtime in his quiet neighborhood too. But that peacefulness is suddenly interrupted when his new next-door neighbor becomes a target for someone hell bent on revenge. Canine rescuer Concetta “Chet” Suarez brings all his protective instincts to the surface, along with feelings he’s never experienced with any other woman. Will he lose her before he ever gets a chance to make her his?

Never Forget by KaLyn Cooper Dreams or nightmares. Truth or lies. He can’t tell them apart after he sees the woman in his dreams. She is the key to his past, present, and future… She just buried her husband next to her fiancé who was killed in an explosion while they were on a mission together ten years ago. She doesn’t need another man in her life, until someone tries to kill her.

Ravished River by Lindsay Cross Hardened ex-FBI agent Adam Wise shielded himself from any weakness – until Tara slipped under his defenses and taught him to love. Past demons refused to remain dormant and Tara is caught in the crossfire of revenge – now Adam must risk everything to reclaim the woman he loves.

Lincoln by PJ Fiala Lincoln Winter is hired to bring in a criminal who is selling arms on the black market and he never misses a mark. That is until the sultry Skye Sommers crosses his path and unwittingly gets herself caught up in much more than she can handle. Can they stay alive long enough to find a killer, an arms dealer and love?

Mace by Maryann Jordan Mace Hanna’s security business keeps him busy…too busy for a relationship. When providing security for a single mom and her young son who has witnessed a murder, he vows to keep them safe…and finds love along the way.

Black Jack by MJ Nightingale Undercover FBI agent, Jackson Black doesn’t expect to find love while working deep undercover on a RICO case. But he can’t resist Dawn, the sexy accountant, who keeps crossing his path during the investigation putting both of their lives on the line.

Her Guarded Hero by Caitlyn O’Leary It’s been five years since his tragic loss and Navy SEAL, Dalton Sullivan heads to Lake Tahoe to be alone. The last thing he expects is horse trainer, Aurora Chance to literally fall at his feet. As danger and raw emotion churn around them, can Dalton be brought back into the light?

Not Quite Broken by Abbie Zanders Former POW Brian McCain is so busy fighting his demons, there’s not enough left over for anyone else – not even the one woman who has a way of shining light into his darkness. But when a serial killer turns his sights on her, Brian realizes he’s not quite as broken as he thinks he is.

 

Book Reviews:

RATING: Overall –  5 out of 5 Stars

If you want to buy a collection of books in a box set, this is the one to get. This grouping of 8 full length stories will keep you turning the pages with hot alpha ex-military heroes, the women they fall for and the diverse suspense plots that brings them together. All of the stories have explicit sex scenes that are all well written and I felt they were never gratuitous. I now have so many more authors and series to add to my TBR!

Tuff Enough by Samantha A. Cole

Jason “Tuff” Tanner works for Blackhawk Security and Concetta “Chet” Suarez is an animal control officer. When Chet moves into the other half of Jason’s double, they know it would be stupid to get involved, but as the suspense ramps up, so does the sexual heat. Meat is Chet’s pitbull rescue and plays a part in the plot as well as having my pitbull loving heart from the moment he appears on the page. I loved this story and all of the characters and was very sorry when it ended. I will definitely be following up for more reads in this series.

Never Forget by Kalyn Cooper

This is the first book in the Never trilogy and I want the next book NOW! This book had me so emotionally invested in the H/h. Elizabeth Camp buries her second husband only to find out they meant to kill her. She and her two children are offered protection by Matthew St. Clare who is a Deputy Director in the CIA. This book has terrorists, moles in the CIA, and buried secrets from 10 years ago when Elizabeth lost her first husband on a mission in Syria. Or did she? This book is a page turner that twists your heart as much as it spikes your heart rate. Mature love and sexual intercourse is explicit and written beautifully. I am looking forward to this whole trilogy.

Ravished River by Lindsay Cross

Aaron Speirs is part of Task Force Scorpion. They were betrayed and ambushed by their CIA liaison in Afghanistan. Celine and Caroline were kidnapped. Since Aaron recommended Celine for the position she was in when kidnapped, he will do anything to get her back. The suspense is fast paced with a precision rescue. The romance grows as Aaron protects Celine and decides what is important to him. Celine was a strong and compassionate heroine who definitely deserved her HEA.

Lincoln by PJ Fiala

Lincoln Winter is one third of Big Three Bounty Hunters. He is drawn into a police and FBI investigation of  Limitless. Besides dealing in art and precious jewelry, they are gun running. Skye Sommers runs HR at Limitless and Lincoln does not realize the trouble he bring to her door as he investigates her involvement. Skye is such a strong character who is dealing with more than her fair share of problems and Lincoln comes in and is the support and protection she needs. The secondary characters, Skye’s parents and Abe, Lincoln’s military trained German shepard and his coworkers make this a true to life, heartfelt romance. Hot sex scenes included.

Mace by Maryann Jordan

Mason “Mace” Hanover owns Lighthouse Security Investigations and Sylvie Gardner is a working single mom of 8 year old David who are all brought together after Slyvie’s son witnesses a murder. This book keeps you turning the pages with murder, kidnapping, and a growing romance. Mace and Sylvie work as a unit to protect and care for David. This story focuses on the suspense plot with the H/h not needing internal angst to interfere with the romance. Mace and David are so wonderful together without detracting from Sylvie’s love as his mother. I also love the Lighthouse Security building which is so unique. This is a new-to-me author that has me hooked on her series.

Black Jack by MJ Nightingale

Dawn Sassacus is an accountant and the baby of her family who own the Mystic Nights Casino. When she subs as a dealer for a friend she is drawn to the new man at her table. Jackson “Jack” Black is a gambler on a mission. What Dawn does not know is it is an undercover mission. These two had instant chemistry even without full trust. The author brought it all together though in a believable way and the sex scenes are smoking hot. Even though this is the fourth book in the Mystic Nights Casino series it is easily read as a standalone.

Her Guarded Hero by Caitlyn O’Leary

Get the tissues ready for this one! Even though this is the fifth book in the Black Dawn series it is easily read as a standalone. Dalton Sullivan, if not on a mission, finds this time of year difficult and tries to find a place of peace. He is hiking around Lake Tahoe when he hears gun shots and a beautiful woman is thrown from her horse and lands at his feet. Aurora Chance is a horse whisperer to damaged horses on her grandfather’s ranch. Loving and caring, she may be the one to bring Dalton back from the dark if only he can save her from the threat to her life. Dalton’s teammates and Aurora’s extended family are all realistic and interesting secondary characters. Parts of this story will break your heart as much as it heals it in the end. Interesting suspense plot and lots of emotional angst make this a great romance read.

Not Quite Broken by Abbie Zanders

Brian McCain was a POW in Afghanistan for 3 years. He was rescued, but he is still coping with the guilt, pain and mental suffering. He believes he is permanently broken. He lives day to day, but does not let anyone in. Tori Donovan is a physical therapist who has lived through a life of abuse and now lives an isolated life as she tries to find a place to fit in. When the two meet they start as friends who understand each other, but when it becomes more, Brian backs off. Just as Brian realizes his mistake and changes his mind, Tori goes missing. With a serial killer in the area, Brian and his friends know they must find her and quickly. The romance in this book is slow to build and beautiful with only one limited sex scene. The suspense is fast paced and intense. The addition of Danny to the secondary characters was heartbreaking and well as heartwarming. Well deserved HEA.

Love Under Siege will only be available for a limited time, grab your copy now before it’s gone forever!

Goodreads book link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40375901-love-under-siege-a-limited-edition-military-romantic-suspense-collectio?ac=1&from_search=true

 

About the Authors:

Maryann Jordan has been a devoted romance reader since the late 1970’s!  After a career in adolescent counseling, she is thrilled to be a full-time romance author, writing military romantic suspense and small-town romance.  With one of her cats usually perched next to her laptop, she keeps her readers entertained with tales of sweet alphas and the independent heroines that catch their eyes.  Now a USA Today Bestselling Author, she always promises a Happily Ever After. www.maryannjordanauthor.com

Caitlyn O’Leary is an avid reader, and considers herself a fan first and an author second. She reads a wide variety of genres, but finds herself going back to happily-ever-afters. Getting a chance to write, after years in corporate America, is a dream come true. She hopes her stories provide the kind of entertainment and escape she has found from some of her favorite authors.  www.caitlynoleary.com

Abbie Zanders loves to read and write romance in all forms; she is quite obsessive, really. Her ultimate fantasy is to spend all of her free time doing both, preferably in a secluded mountain cabin overlooking a pristine lake, though a private beach on a lush tropical island works, too. Sharing her work with others of similar mind is a dream come true. She promises her readers two things: no cliffhangers, and there will always be a happy ending. Beyond that, you never know… https://abbiezandersromance.com

Samantha A. Cole is a retired policewoman and former paramedic, who is thrilled to add award-winning author to her list of exciting careers. After being gifted with a stack of romance novels from her grandmother, her love affair with the genre began in her teens. Many years later, she discovered her love for writing stories was just as strong. Taking her life experiences and training, she strives to find the perfect mix of suspense and romance for her readers to enjoy. www.samanthacoleauthor.com

PJ Fiala has toyed with many careers in her life, looking for that perfect fit. Finally, when her love for writing took root, a match was made. A lifelong reader of romance novels of all genres, she still reads her favorite authors and enjoys finding new authors to entertain her. An avid biker, she plots most of her stories while riding and enjoying new adventures with her husband, then bringing those adventures to her stories filled with steamy passion and love, and they always end with a happily ever after, ’cause who doesn’t love that? www.pjfiala.com

KaLyn Cooper writes military romantic suspense, often based in facts ripped from the headlines. Twenty-seven years as a military wife has shown her the world and the men and women who protect it every day. Thirty years in PR taught her fact can be stranger than fiction, but leaves it up to the reader to separate truth from imagination. All of her heroes, and many of her heroines, are active duty and veterans, all who find a happy ending. www.KaLynCooper.com

Lindsay Cross is the award-winning author of the Men of Mercy series. She is the fun loving mom of two beautiful daughters and one precocious Great Dane. Lindsay is happily married to the man of her dreams – a soldier and veteran. During one of her husband’s deployments from home, writing became her escape and motivation. An avid reader since childhood, reading and writing is in her blood. After years of reading, she discovered her true passion – writing. Her alpha military men are damaged, drop-dead gorgeous and determined to win the heart of the woman of their dreams.  www.lindsaycross.com

MJ Nightingale is the best-selling author of The Bounty Hunters: The Marino Bros. She is an avid reader of all things romantic and suspenseful. She is married to a wonderful loving husband and they have two fun and fabulous sons.  Going on road trips with her family provide the settings to many of her books. Her leading men are bounty hunters, detectives or ex-military–but all are alphas with heart and heat. And the women are strong–the perfect match to all that testosterone. Her books will have you page-turning late into the night.  She surely brings the heat with stories that sizzle! www.mjnightingaleblog.com

 

 

Giveaway:

Goodreads Giveaway: https://bit.ly/2NDpcx1

 

Release Blitz and Feature Post: Losing Time by Chris Karlsen

Title: Losing Time ( Knights in Time Book 5)

Author: Chris Karlsen

Genre: Historical Romance (With time travel elements)

Release Date: September 16, 2018

Hosted by:Buoni Amici Press, LLC.

Book Description:

Can love survive the wrong time and place?

Felicia Wycliff’s peaceful stroll through the woods turned to disaster when her dachshund bolted after a rabbit. One minute Felicia was running after the determined little dog, the next she was hurled to the ground. Gathering her wits after her tumble, she brushed herself off and continued her pursuit—-right into three mounted knights who blocked her path.

They were so authentic looking. They might’ve stepped from the keep of the nearby castle, Elysian Fields. But the old Norman fortress was a ruin and had been for three hundred years.

“Seize her,” the middle knight ordered, the knight who sat tallest in the saddle.

“Let me go.” She fought, striking out when the two knights grabbed her. “Who the deuce are you?”

“I’m the Captain of the Baron’s Guard, and you are trespassing.”

Kidnapped, her confusion and fear consumed her. But when they rode through the gates of Elysian Fields, the castle looking as formidable as the date it was built, her terror exploded.

When she fell she knew exactly where she was. But where the devil had she landed?

 

Goodreads book link:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4822048.Chris_Karlsen?from_search=true

Compass, rope and glasses on old paper

Buy links:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2NbhI0Q

iBooks: https://apple.co/2MRtVuC

Nook: http://bit.ly/2OYo4Be

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2LgHEXf

Universal link: https://books2read.com/Losing-Time

 


About Chris:

I was born and raised in Chicago. My father was a history professor and my mother was, and is, a voracious reader. I grew up with a love of history and books.

My parents also love traveling, a passion they passed onto me. I wanted to see the places I read about, see the land and monuments from the time periods that fascinated me. I’ve had the good fortune to travel extensively throughout Europe, the Near East, and North Africa.  

I am a retired police detective. I spent twenty-five years in law enforcement with two different agencies. My desire to write came in my early teens. After I retired, I decided to pursue that dream. I write three different series. My paranormal romance series is called, Knights in Time. My romantic thriller series is Dangerous Waters. The newest is The Bloodstone Series. Each series has a different setting and some cross time periods, which I find fun to write.

I currently live in the Pacific Northwest with my husband and five wild and crazy rescue dogs.  


Social Media:

Newsletter: https://www.subscribepage.com/Moonlight_Serenade

Website: http://chriskarlsen.com/

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ChrisKarlsenAuthor/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/chriskarlsen/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorCKarlsen

Instagram: http://instagram.com/chriskarlsenwriter  


Giveaway:

$10 Amazon Gift Card

5 ecopies of Heroes Live Forever

<a class=”rcptr” href=”http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/eef4ee4b1651/” rel=”nofollow” data-raflid=”eef4ee4b1651″ data-theme=”classic” data-template=”54761f08ee20562638ce5c19″ id=”rcwidget_fdh1c7ly”>a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>

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https://bit.ly/2wO0pNe

 

Book Review: A Tall, Dark Cowboy Christmas by Maisey Yates

RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars

A TALL, DARK COWBOY CHRISTMAS (A Gold Valley Novel #4) by Maisey Yates is a contemporary holiday romance. This is an addition to the Gold Valley series and does have many characters crossing over from previous books in the series. The H/h romance can be read as a standalone, but I feel some of the backstory and character interactions are better understood if you have read this series in order.

McKenna Tate was given away by her mother and put into foster care at the age of two. At age eighteen, she received paperwork that could lead her to her birth father, a famous rodeo cowboy and his family in Gold Valley. After eight years of having no one to care about her, with only a suitcase to her name, she ends up in Gold Valley broke and sleeping in an abandoned cabin. She has to figure out a way to approach her father because all she has ever dreamed of is belonging to a family and having someone care about her.

Grant Dodge has been existing, but not living for the last eight years since his wife died. He hates the pity in all of the townspeople’s eyes, but he cannot leave his responsibilities at his family’s dude ranch. He is shocked when he finds a woman sleeping in the abandoned cabin on the ranch’s property. His brother hires McKenna and there is something about her prickly and tough exterior that begins to break through Grant’s protective shell. They agree to a no-strings attached fling.

McKenna wants the Christmas miracle of a family that cares for her and just maybe a man who loves her, too because she stills believes in hope. Grant believes he has no more emotion left for a new relationship, but he also does not want to give up McKenna. Can these two find what they want and need in each other or will their pasts overshadow their future?

I loved McKenna and her never ending hope, but she also would not be taken advantage of or walked all over. Grant was a great foil to her with his loss of hope. All of the family and friends made the story feel realistic because of their own situations going on around the H/h. The sex scenes were explicit, hot and appropriate to the story. I did have a problem with how many times the author returned to McKenna’s and Grant’s backstories. There was a continual repeat of the same internal angst and it got to be a bit repetitive and I felt unnecessary. The unexpected love, hope and letting go of the past are what made this an enjoyable holiday read.

Written for and posted first on The Romance Reviews.

Book Review: Mistletoe Miracles by Jodi Thomas

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

MISTLETOE MIRACLES (A Ransom Canyon Romance #7) by Jodi Thomas is a heartwarming addition to this series and is perfect for putting you in the Christmas romance spirit.

In this book, there are three stories intertwined. All set in the small Texas town of Crossroads. Each has a hero and heroine that have given up on love, been broken by people who supposedly loved them, or never believed in the possibility of love for themselves in the first place.

Griffin’s Problem has Griffin Holloway desperate for cash to save his ranch that has been in his family for generations. He would rather cut off a limb than sell even a small portion of his land. The solution he and his brothers come up with; he must marry a wealthy bride before the end of the year. These bachelors have no idea how to go about their plan, so they seek the help of a pair of elderly sisters in town who run a boarding house. The sisters find a bride for Griffin, but the bride has conditions.

Midnight Crossing has Jaxon O’Grady, former firefighter, living like a hermit on his family’s isolated piece of land. When he witnesses a car crash off the nearby isolated road, emergency personnel rescue the woman, but Jaxon finds and saves her injured dog. After realizing the danger this mystery woman is in, Jaxon takes her in as well to his isolated cabin and he begins to realize he is needed.

The Johnsons has Jamie Johnson finally settled in her dream lakeside home and happily teaching. To avoid nosy neighbors and unwanted male attention, she has invented a husband away in the service. When she returns from a weekend school trip, she is shocked to find a man asleep on her sofa. The town believes Mr. Johnson has returned. Now what is Jamie going to do?

This is such a wonderful read! Ms. Thomas has taken interesting individual characters and put them in unusual situations and we get to enjoy watching how they come together. I wanted every hero and heroine to get their HEA and the Christmas setting makes it even more magical. Well written with believable, broken characters who are perfect for each other. All sex scenes are behind closed doors. This is a book that I just did not want to end and I highly recommend.

Written for and posted first on The Romance Reviews.