Evlon (Zenkian Warriors #1) by Maia Starr

The author does her best in describing this race and beginning a story. This story is not a love story. It is sex plain and simple and the woman who is made a slave takes revenge on her own race and the rebels that live on this planet. This race is obnoxious and would be better put down as dogs for they are nothing but animals in human form.

From New York, With Love: A Feel-Good Holiday Romance (Magnolia Harbor) by Sophie Mays

This quaint romance will feel your heart with love, family and the Christmas spirit. If you are feeling a little blue, this book will lift your spirits and bring a smile to your heart.

Keecha (Rathier Warriors #1) by Stella Sky

This book dealt more with the relationship of the couple, than being a first book for this series. We know almost nothing of these aliens by the end of the book. The story was good in itself, but lacked a description of this race. What is a claim and what does it mean? These men are oppressive and I can't imagine being in love with someone like that. I would have killed the alien for the deception that he played on me, or I would have made his life so miserable that he would have taken me back to earth. Great sex isn't worth being treated as a lesser being.

Christmas of Love (Long Valley #3.2) by Erin Wright

This story touched me, as I was bullied in school. Like Ivy, I left for the military as soon as I graduated. I understand why Ivy hid who she was, but to hide herself from her family was completely wrong. I loved Austin and understand his hurt when all is revealed. Fortunately for me, my husband was my best friend first before we fell in love. Those of you who understand what someone goes through that is bullied knows the heartache and pain that is inflicted on one's self esteem and soul. Erin Wright wrote this story knowing the pain that is inflicted upon our souls. Ivy learns to rise above her past and reach for the one thing that heals our soul, love.

Dragon Of The Prairie (Exiled Dragons #13) by Sarah J. Stone

This is a wonderful story, although parts of it are a little stilted. Angus and Margaret are great together, but there are things that seem a little too easy. It is probably because this is the first book I have read in this series. The one thing I wish this author would not do is say things that allude to the future. Somehow it takes away from the surprise of the story and lets you know that something is coming. Life is not like that, it happens in the moment with no warnings of the future, unless you are a seer or go to one. This series has great promise and I look forward to reading others in the series.

Kind Ella and the Charming Duke: A Historical Regency Romance Book by Bridget Barton

Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is a charming Cinderella tale set in Regency, England. Instead of a wicked stepmother we have a wick stepfather and his two bratty daughters. His only concern is to get his daughters married off, and he goes by any means to do so. Ella hates this new life her mother has made for her and decides to become a watcher, but her heart can't bear the evil that is being done to the Duke. This is a full novel with a little extra if you finish the novel. The extended epilogue is worth the reading. You'll be charmed, angry, and thankful that there are good people in the world to overcome the evil that we see around us.  Thank you, Bridget Barton for such a lovely tale!

Lazan (Rathier Warriors) (A Sci Fi Alien Abduction Romance) by Stella Sky

I read the first book in this series and I wasn't too impressed with this race of aliens. The author hasn't clearly define the laws of this civilization.  This book introduces the mating laws of Yala, and Lazan breaks this law with the human they found on Hexa, because his brother who is a narcissistic jerk overrules Lazan and just claims the woman against her wishes. I am hoping for more out of these men and we got some out of Lazan, but these women are supposed to be super smart and allow these men to take charge. Although, there were some sequences in the story that Mila tricked Kerglan into doing something by acting over submissive. Me, I would have snuck one of their weapons away from them and killed them while they were sleeping. I hate oppressive men.

Simon (The Clan Legacy Series) by J. S. Striker

Talk about a good woman to mess up all your life plans, Robin is a witch who has been friends with Simon and partnered with him on missions. She is back after 5 years, and she is now a grown woman, but Simon has grown too. I liked the love story between these two, because just like my husband and I, these two were best friends that turned into love. I think the cover could have been done differently, because it doesn't really reflect who Simon is, but somehow gives off a false impression. Don't let the cover stop you, because the story is action packed and you will love the characters Simon and Robin.

Runaway Christmas Bride by Isabella Hargreaves

This was an amusing little novella that brought a smile to my face. Running away from her desperate parents, insulting someone to their face unknowingly, then running away unknowingly with the prospective groom made for a delightful tale. You'll smile and delight in Amelia's escapade.

Hinterland Book 1: The Wolf's Bounty Paperback by K.T. Harding

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is an interesting start to a series. We are introduced to an underground world below earth called Hinterland where all kinds of beasties and monsters live. The best slayer Knox Bishop is looking for an apprentice. He invites Raleigh thinking that she is a man. Raleigh knows how to fight and Bishop is impressed. He is also emotionally all over the place and even a woman has a hard time keeping up with him. He must be Bi-polar. I think I'll keep reading to see where this story is going to go. I like Raleigh because she is strong, independent woman who knows what she wants. She want to be a slayer and she wants Bishop.

Once Upon a Duke's Dream by Ellie St. Clair

Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is a good read and the Duke of Carrington held my attention. A serious man who works for the foreign office and grieves this best friend who was shot once they reached English shores after escaping France. Isabella is woman is trying to get away from her stepbrother. She fears he is scheming something with him pressuring her to get married, and she is right. The attraction between these two is immediate and Bradley finds a capable and intelligent woman. The only thing I don't like about this book is how Isabella doesn't think she is enough for a duke. She is a member of the peerage, she is wealthy and she knows how to run an estate. She does feel the scandal her father had gotten into when his business failed in England before moving to France will be enough to put him off. Especially, when she finds out her stepbrother is a traitor to the Crown, she really gets down on herself.  The problem is I hate self-pity and it makes the heroine somehow seem weak when she is clearly not!

Love Letters from Cowboy by Lacy Williams

This story moved me in that what was tragic for one women, gave her the greatest gift of all. Someone whom has loved her all his life, but never had the chance to show her. This man wrote letters to her that he never mailed to express his love and life to her. The loss of her arm has her coming home, and a man sees this as an opportunity to make her fall in love with him. This story is full of heartbreak, love and hope. It shines a light in a dark situation and brings a couple into the light of love.

Bold Surrender by Judith E. French (The Triumphant Hearts Series)

Ashley Morgan was a woman who was more suited to the west for that time period. But her grandfather raised to run the plantation and so she decided she would never give up control. Along comes Kelt Saxon to become overseer, because Ashley can't get sea captains to deal with a woman. As Kelt and Ashley get to know each other through working together and their misadventures, love develops. This story takes you on some heartrending  and truth revealing adventures. The story is compelling and I stayed to the end.

Under Heaven's Shining Stars by Jean Grainger

This story is amazing. These three boys are as different as night and day, but they bind at the secondary school that they are attending. They grow up three different ways, but it is love for each other that keeps them together. The heartbreak and disappointments that life gave them would have and could have broken any one of them, but it was their friendship that saw them through. Although this book has some heavy theological issues in it, I feel that the author captures the heart of what keeps each of us whole in this life that we live, love.

Nykon (Zenkian Warriors) (A Sci Fi Alien Abduction Romance) by Maia Starr

The drawing on the cover is misleading, because these aliens are blue. The story is well developed until the ending. Although, love between these two is contrived in the author's mind. All I found between these two is lust and a pregnancy. This is the first book, I have read in the series.

Resurrection Island (The Resurrection Series Book 1) by A.K. Koonce

This has an interesting background in the other side. The darkness of the character, Remy becomes clearer as we learn about the Island. Remy knows he has done a great wrong to Alexandra but he can't stop, because her soul calls to him bringing him towards the light. It took me about halfway into the book to actually to begin to like it, because it took me about that long to realize what Resurrection Island actually is. Will I read the rest of the series? It depends on where the author wants to take this. To be honest, I am quite content where the story ends.

Season of Faith by Alexa Verde

I identified with Heidi, being a geek/tomboy. Men were just my friends. Heidi held on to the mantra way too long. It's that friendship that is deep and abiding. Love develops and creates a union between a man and woman that no one can break. Heidi broke that faith and never gave Jason a chance. I believe that they were getting married too young, right before college. Maybe, they should have gone to college together before making that commitment, because Heidi's immaturity was showing by not confronting Jason 9 years ago. What God has put together let no man put asunder! Heidi's growth in this book was well developed, but I can't believe it took nine years before that began to happen. You'll enjoy the book, but shake your head at Heidi's stupidity.

Let the Lady Decide (Redeeming the Rakes #3) by Gemma Blackwood

Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I really enjoyed the play of this book. It goes to show that maybe you shouldn't try to point a woman in the right direction. You may just end up getting to really know her and fall in love. I liked how the author worked out the family finally accepting James as Emily's choice. The book is fun and an enjoyable read.

Healing Lord Barton: Sweet and Clean Regency Romance (His Majesty's Hounds Book 9) by Arietta Richmond

I loved how two people who lived outside the ton came together. Their love grew from mutual respect and compassion for one another. Neither judged the other and helped the other to overcome and grow. When trust for each other grew both ways, their relationship took off to new heights. I loved the little mystery interwoven between the houses and the village. It's still a mystery why the village protected the secret. I understand the vicar, because he was protecting his parishioner but the rest of the village not so much.  All in all, you are going to enjoy!

Commander Bear (Bear Patrol #1) by Scarlett Grove

To be honest, he looks like Angus, without the scrunched up shoulders and goofy smile. I almost sure this is the same model.

Commander Bear, I have no respect for. After reading the other books in this series, I have to agree that he is squirrely, maybe his shifter mixed with squirrel somewhere in this genetic history. I get that he wants to help his mate, but to blatantly ignore police procedures makes me dislike him, even more. Zoe is a jewel thief, although she is forced to by a man she was dating. The mix sounded good when it started but the story failed.

Geek Bear (Rescue Bears #6) by Scarlett Grove

Corey is every geek girl's dream: billionaire, sexy, and a genius. Unfortunately, Corey only takes time away from his computer to help Rescue Bears with data analysis program to help find people on the mountain. The Bear Clan decides now that they are all mated that Corey needs a mate too. So, they set up a profile on mate.com for him and get him drunk so he can answer all the question the program asks. Corey designed mate.com and knows the questions work for the algorithm needed to find a shifter his 100% mate. He doesn't want a mate, but Corey has no idea what is coming. Willow Rhine is a ghostwriter, but she has a stalker. She goes to Fate Mountain ready for her own romance, but doesn't realize that the person she is talking through the app to is not Corey, but his friends.  I love how Corey comes to realize that having a mate does not have to keep him from being productive, but actually fulfills apart of him that he didn't realize was there.

Ski Bear (Rescue Bears #5) by Scarlett Grove

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Maize is from Fate Mountain and has returned to be near her mom and run her own bakery. Her mom persuades her to sign up for a shifter dating site and voila! She is matched to Ski Bear. Pastry chef and X-Game athlete, I don't think so, but opposites do attract. This is a great story, because Maize does the one thing we women will do to impress a man. Maize goes skiing by herself, so she can get good enough to impress Zach.  Now, Rescue Bear has to be called out to find Maize before dark sets down on the mountain. That's the problem with trying to impress someone. Good reading!

Brew Bear (Rescue Bears #4) by Scarlett Grove

This is what I imagined Angus in the last book to look like, but they are introducing him as Drew Bock, our master of the famous Fate Mountain Lager. Too much lager, hormone, pheromones and a whole lot of stupidity is the start of this relationship and also the end of it. For nine months, Drew has waited for his mate to come back to him after their one night stand. Quinn Jacobs has ruined her life because of that one night stand. Why? Her own stupidity, of course! Quinn decides she needs to tell Drew about the baby and arrives only to go into labor. All through this book, all I could do was shake my head at the stupidity of a woman who had a brilliant career.

Big Bear (Rescue Bears #3) by Scarlett Grove

I didn't see the cover until after I read the story. The description is much better then the cover. This guy's head is too small for his body. Angus would be built by his woodworking. His muscles would be hard and much more natural looking. I see him standing almost 7 feet tall, larger than the rest of the men in the Rescue Bears. Angus is my dream man, large and gentle, hard working with a creative imagination and hands that know how to carve exactly what he wants. The heroine is a bookkeeper who is tired of her boring life and wants something new, so she signs up for mate.com Unfortunately, Poppy doesn't know it, but she works for the Russian mob. Poppy calls in sick to work and takes off to Fate Mountain to meet Angus. This story is sweet and sexy and Angus is the best!

Wild Bear (Rescue Bears #2) by Scarlett Grove

This cover does nothing for me. The look in the guy's eyes and his whole demeanor is a turn off. I wouldn't come near this man with a ten foot pole. I would be right, because Shane Keenan is an arrogant, selfish, and stupid man who is afraid of his own bear and has lost control of it over his own stupidity. He knows who his mate is and yet has one night fling with her then goes off to war and never contacts her again. Liz is dealing with the aftermath of that night and is trying to raise a shifter son with no clue of what to expect or do to help him. She goes on mate.com to find a shifter father for her son. Shane is shamed into signing up for mate.com by his rescue bears. The rest of the story writes itself. Personally, I am happy for Liz, but as for Shane. Liz could have done better!

Chief Bear (Rescue Bears #1) by Scarlett Grove

This is the first in the series, and is based on web site dedicated to shifters to find their fated mate. Shifters are known to the world and have recently been drafted to fight our wars. After the war, they were given equal rights and most shifters have moved into communities away from the large cities. Fate Mountain is the scene for this series, and the shifters that live there. Chief Bear is the Alpha of his clan Rescue Bears. Juliet is a graphic designer with a horrible ex-boyfriend. I enjoyed this story and Levi was easy to love. I got into the series when I realized that the couples don't really have a choice and how they work together to their relationship work out.

A Viscount's Second Chance (Hearts and Ever Afters) Kindle Edition by Joyce Alec

Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I had more hope for this novel, but then I realized it was a novella after I finished it in an hour. This story needed more to make the characters come alive and the story to hold. The things Lord Thornley did, could not have happened the way the author wrote them, but time and word constraints made his actions unbelievable. I fell in love with Henry from the author's description of him. How many men do we know are too shy to pursue the woman that they love? Helen, our heroine, is a good woman, but unsure how to re-enter society. In the end, Lord Thornley gets his just desserts. I'm so glad the author decided to work the problem out instead of just having the two run off to Scotland to get married. It's worth the quick read.

Loving a Noble Gentleman: A Historical Regency Romance Book by Abigail Agar, Bridget Barton

Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The main characters started out as empty hollow people, but as the story progressed, I watched Mary grow from a shy innocent girl to a woman who knows truly what she wants. Edmund was happy with his life, until his mother points out what he might be missing. She is the foundation that makes Edmund think about what he wants and needs. We see Edmund grow from a selfish and boorish man to the hero that Mary needs. The choices that Edmund makes will surprise you and you will fall in love with two characters by the end of the book.

Montana Trails (Cutter's Creek 0.5) by Kari Trumbo

I think Florence had a lot of courage to hitch a wagon on the Oregon Trail. She irritated Alton, because she talked him into taking her with him. But let's face it, how can a man not fall in love with a woman with that much courage. I love the Cutter Creek books and look forward to many more.

Caught by Lolita London

Steamy isn't the name for this novel. What we have is a woman who is a thief and a so called doctor who relieves female hysteria. We all know this is how perverted men with doctorate degrees in the eighteen hundreds used women to ease their own perverted desires. This book is what I consider erotica, because although there is an HEA, these two use each other so thoroughly, I don't know how they made it to love. Perverse is Perverse no matter how you wrap it up.

Wild Game (Wilding Pack Wolves #1) by Alisa Woods

This book held a lot of questions, but worked it's way to its HEA. The book is action packed and the romance is hot. It even comes with its own villain, to be continued in the rest of the series.  The author pulls off the chemistry between these two and makes for an exciting thriller. This relationship moves Owen to really grow in confidence in himself. We see this in the climax of the book. I love when the author grows her characters in her writing.

One More Night by Ali Parker

This book is a promotional book and I received it from the author through her newsletter. This is about two friends moving into the same apartment so they can share the expenses, while they attend college. What they find is that friendship can blossom into love with them living in the same space. This is a well written story and well worth the read.

The Farmer’s Widow: A Western Historical Mail Order Bride Romance (The Family Affair Series Book 4) by Emma Harper

This story is about an unrealistic girl who should have never come west. How can you live as a farmer without a gun. There are snakes, horses with broken legs, coyotes, hunting for food and humans who do like to do harm to others. Vern should of sent Francesca back to her brother, because in the 1800's in the wild west, you couldn't live without a gun. Emma Harper should re-advise her ideas about guns, if she is going to continue to write about the 1800 west.

A Wolf's Desire (Wolf Mountain Peak #2) by Sarah J. Stone

This is Dean's and Kate's story. Kate falls in love with Monica's brother-in-law, and does the stupid thing that Monica did, only we find out that Kate is a witch. To be honest these books have some really stupid mistakes in them, but like any good train wreck you can't help but watch. I'll keep reading to see where this author leads.

I received and advanced copy and this is my honest review.

Water's Mark: Cancer (Lords of Krete #1) by Rachael Slate

These books represent alpha males and strong women. Water's Mark is no different, but I was thrilled with a different kind of shifter and the thought and detail that the author puts into the descriptions. I love Cyane and Theron. Theron is as tough as his shell and Cyane is fluid as the water nymph that she is. We all know that crab shells soften with water, so does Theron's heart. This book is well worth reading!

I received this book as an Advanced Reader copy and this is my honest opinion.

Matchmaker (Cutter's Creek #19) by Kari Trumbo

Eight years is a long time for fourteen year old, and to receive letters from a man who she loved only fanned the flames higher. Unfortunately, there is a betrayal, but the love of teenagers is still there. This is a wonderful read for subscribers to Kari's newsletter, and thoroughly enjoyable.