Discovering Grace: Inglewood, Book 2 Audible Audiobook – Unabridged Sally Britton

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is a great story about the invisible twin. Grace decides she doesn't want to traipse all over the world and trades places with her twin. Nobody notices, except her best friend and secret love. Jacob thinks he is in love with Hope, but realizes that with Hope gone the only woman he thinks about is Grace. This is a story of redemption of a woman long ignored and without her sister is now in the front lines and proving that she can be an independent woman. This story is wonderful and heartwarming. My only thought on this story is what will Hope think when she gets home?
 

The Earl’s Mute Beauty: A Historical Regency Romance Novel Bridget Barton

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This story hits all the highs and lows of society. A woman mute from birth and a man deaf from cannon fire comes together and overcomes their communication problems. The cruelty of society is highlighted and the manipulations of desperate women are accounted for. The main characters are well written, but the supporting characters and villains seem to be shallow caricatures of people and are not well defined. Otherwise, the story is well written with a very twisted plot. 
 

Cocky Viscount (Regency Cocky Gents Book 5) by Annabelle Anders

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is a bright and excellent story. The characters are vibrant and well written. Mantis on the outside appears to be a rake of the first order, but Felicity finds him to be a good and honorable man. The plot is excellent and delectably twisted. Even though I was pretty sure who the culprit was I never expected the terrible twist in the climax of this story. This love story is very romantic in parts, yet Mantis is always true to his word and his protection of Felicity. Felicity learns that what she begins to feel for Mantis is much stronger and more passionate than she ever felt for her betrothed Westerley. Through all the difficulties this couple faces, and their rush to the altar somehow they find a deeper love and a passion that transcends their circumstances.

Falling for the Grumpy Contractor: A Sweet, Off-limits, Single Dad Romance (Moonridge Book 2 by Ashleigh Quinn

Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is a sweet romance comedy. Sydney is a little graceless but she is kind and has a very loving heart. Blake is grumpy and hasn’t opened his heart since his wife left him six years ago. Leah and Sydney immediately connect and develop a friendship that Blake can’t resist. His thoughts of “She loves my daughter” open his heart to love. Blake is also a little wish-washy with opening his heart. This is the crux of the plot and story-line. This story left me feeling happy and made me smile with all the little things that go wrong in life, and to remember that there are good things that go along right beside those bad things.  It also reminded me in a good way of my grumpy husband and how much love he poured into his own family.

The Last Man: A Novel of the 1927 Santa Claus Bank Robbery by Thomas Goodman

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is an excellent historical fiction account of the Santa Claus Bank Robbery in 1927. It accounts for the lives of all four men who robbed the bank in Cisco, Texas. Even though the story is packed with information, it takes on a story that humanizes the characters into more than just criminals. These men had families and made bad choices. If Bobby gave his life to Christ, it may be why the Texas government allowed him to get out of jail after 15 years. Living his life righteously after he got out was why he was pardoned. I don’t see that happening today with our liberal justice system today. It’s a great read and the story is action-packed and went smoothly from and to each man as their story is told in chronological order. I enjoyed the story and the author notes on how he mixed the truth with fiction to make a believable story and a hopeful ending.

Lady by Chance (Historical Regency Romance) (House of Haverstock Book 1) by Cheryl Boleyn

 

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This story is very in depth and our hero is a cruel man. Forced to marry to get the money his friend lost, Charles’s mood varies from hot passion to cold anger. Anna never knows where she is with her husband. The girl is naive and is played by a dangerous French agent. The one thing about Anna is her loyal heart. When she realizes she is in love with her husband, she endeavors  to find out the truth whether her husband is a traitor to the crown. The characters are well written and only one is stereotyped which is the mother in law. This story carries a suspenseful climax and a man who realizes the true character of his wife. This story put me on an emotional rollercoaster as I read through Anna and Charles relationship.

A Wild Marquess for the Wallflower: A Historical Regency Romance Novel by Patricia Haverton

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This story is about friendship blossoming into love. Despite the evil tongues of the ton, Therese and her sister try to survive the gossiping tongues of the ton. She meets the Marquess and develops a friendship with him. As they help each other navigate the ton, they don't realize that an evil is following them. Therese is sweet and very naive, but does understand the underbelly of the ton. The Marquess is trying to change his image, and become the man his father wants him to portray. The story has a huge twist and will shock everyone, including the ton. I like surprising twists, and this one is rather dark.
 

Once Upon a Charming Bookshop by Heatherly Bell

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is a sweet romance when friends turn lovers. It's obvious from the beginning that these two put their lives on hold to keep their friendship and drive every other relationship away. Unfortunately, it takes Noah to actually put his foot forward to get Twyla to see things his way. The whole story is just charming.