Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Finding Home Again by Brenda Jackson

Finding Home Again by Brenda JacksonThe relationship between Bryce and Kaegen has been a thread through the other books in this series. Formerly high school sweethearts, Bryce and Kaegan had a falling out when he misinterpreted something he saw without talking to her about it. But after about fifty page, he's discovered his mistake and is ready to make it work.
That man did NOT do enough groveling in this book. Ten years of attitude and he is just like, "Oh no, I was wrong. Oh well, we should get back together."Frankly, their could have been a lot more of the two finding their way back to each other (like the last book in this series) and a lot less drama of the romance triangle.

Three and a half stars
Follows Forget Me Not
Followed by Follow Your Heart
This book came out October 29th
ARC kindly provided by Harlequin and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Monday, November 4, 2019

Rancher's Wild Secret by Maisey Yates

Rancher's Wild Secret by Maisey YatesHolden McCall wants one thing from Emerson Maxfield; the means by which to revenge his sister's honor. Emerson is going to inherit a chunk of her family's winery upon her marriage and Holden wants to use those shares to get revenge on Emerson's father. So he seduces her and then blackmails her into marrying him. There's... not a lot else to the story. But it was still an entertaining read, setting up stories for sure for Emerson's sisters, Wren and Cricket.

Three and a half stars
This book comes out November 5th
ARC kindly provided by Harlequin Desire and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Sunday, November 3, 2019

How to Embroider Almost Everything by Wendi Gratz

How to Embroider Almost Everything by Wendi GratzI've been on a crafting book kick lately including embroidery books. I'm just super curious if there's anything new out there in the world of needles and thread. The answer is, not really. But this is a fresh take with pictures that are good and instructions that, while not thorough, are better than most. This book also gives ideas for patterns - not full out patterns, just ideas.

Four stars
This book came out October 22nd
ARC kindly provided by Quarry Books and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

A Very Mummy Holiday by Lynn Cahoon

A Very Mummy Holiday by Lynn CahoonJill Gardner leaves the murder trap that is her hometown and heads up the Oregon coast with her boyfriend and another couple. She doesn't know Kathi very well but the other woman is nice even if she does keep trying to get Jill to wear more makeup and lower cut shirts. But it's not like Kathi deserves to end up next to a skeleton when her and Blake's ATV turns over. Nor does she deserve the attention of the men in the area just because she resembles that dead woman.
Greg and Jill will have to help solve the mystery before Kathi becomes next in a string of victims.
This is the best of the Tourist trap novellas in awhile. Good mystery, not as much woo.

Four stars
This novella came out October 29th
ARC kindly by Kensington Books and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Single All the Way by Karen King

Single All the Way by Karen KingMeg wasn't expecting to be single at 34 but that's what has just happened. She and her husband have just uncovered a fundamental difference and they have split. When she calls her mother to let her know, Meg discovers that Sally has left Meg's father. After years of floating, Sally has decided that she may only have a little time left but she doesn't want to spend it with someone who doesn't want to travel and who grumbles when she does. He doesn't even realize that Sally is serious about leaving.
The two ladies go to the Cornish Coast  where Sally and Ted had their honeymoon. There, they join in the Christmas festivities that are going on and learn a little more about themselves.
This book could have used another 100 pages to develop the characters and their situations a little bit more. This book was fast, fun, and fluffy and very surface level which works for some books but I wanted more from this one. We learned just enough about the characters to make me want more. I liked the ending and thought that King plotted the beats to make you understand what was going to happen and why.

Three and a half stars
This book came out October 28th
ARC kindly provided by Bookouture and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

A Snowy Little Christmas by Fern Michaels; Tara Sheets; Kate Clayborn

Starry Night by Fern Michaels
Jessie Richmond has a marketing job by day with a lovelorn talk show host job by night. She lives in CPhiladelphia and generally enjoys her life but when her uncle moves to Florida and tells her that she can have his book store in rural New York, Jessie suddenly has a life change that she's dealing with. Also a change? Working with contractor Ethan is getting her a bit flustered. And when the speed dating event she's putting on is snowed in, it's time for some romance.

A nice romance starter- it hints that romance might happen. 3.5 stars.

Mistletoe and Mimosas by Tara Sheets
A Snowy Little Christmas by Fern MichaelsLayla used to be the poor girl in town. Sebastian is not and he throws her off by being very nice one day and rude the next. Now Layla is a fancy pants real estate agent and Sebastian has moved back to town and is in need of a house so their paths cross again.
This story was okay but I never really warmed to Layla who was sort of more of the focus. The actual story was nice but I wish that there had bee more character development.

Missing Christmas by Kate Clayborn
Kristen and Jasper have worked together for five years. It is understood that there will be no romance between them in order to keep their company going. But Jasper has always loved Kristen. And this Christmas, while trying to save their company, they are snowed in together and... welll. This is a romance so...
My favorite of the three stories, I liked that Jasper and Kristen knew each other well enough to respect and love each other even before the relationship began.

Four stars

This book came out October 29th
ARC kindly provided by Kensington Books and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Friday, November 1, 2019

A Mackenzie Clan Christmas by Jennifer Ashley

A Mackenzie Yuletide
A Mackenzie Clan Christmas by Jennifer AshleyThe Mackenzies are once again gathering for Christmas. The younger generation is growing up (and starting to be prepped for their own stories) but the original generation of Ashley's books are still there. Mac, in particular, is featured as he is the first to see the Mackenzie ghost. This mystery overlaps with the one of Ian's gift for his Beth. He is set on a particular necklace that used to be in a museum but it was stolen and he is trying to get ahold of it. His children are offering to help as well, especially his oldest son who is now 17 and wanting to prove himself to his father.

Four stars

A Mackenzie Clan Gathering
Ian Mackenzie wakes up one night when an errant sound causes him to realize there's an intruder in his brother's house. By the time he gets downstairs, his brother's art collection has been looted. From there, we get to revisit almost all of the Mackenzies and see them deal with an old enemy.
I had read this a couple of years ago and still feel the same. A nice story but doesn't really explore more characters or add anything except a brief update to the Mackenzie family.

Three stars

This book comes out October 29th
ARC kindly provided by Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley
Opinions are my own