The Secret Life of a Duke (The Valiant Love Regency Romance) (A Historical Romance Book) by Deborah Wilson

I love this series, but it seems that our hero's are becoming powerful men who deal with life the only way they know how. They get what they want by taking without asking. No matter what one thinks, there is a soft side to every man. For Cassius, the thing that makes him soft is Millie. Even though Millie stole from him, he wanted her and he used his hardness to help straighten out her brother and force her to marry him. Love is found in the small things we do for one another. And sometimes, our greatest weakness is the best thing about us.

The Lady's Protector (Highland Bodyguards #1) by Emma Prince

This story highlights the time of the "Bruce". The descriptions took me back in time as I journeyed with Ansel and Isolda. I loved the characters and how the author represented the ruthlessness of the times. The story kept me riveted and couldn't put it down until I finished.

Going Home (Chandler Hill Inn #1) by Judith Keim

I was actually disappointed with this story. Violet, although growing up in the foster system, seemed rather naive. For someone who ran a winery after her husband dies. It seemed she didn't grow from all those encounters. It seemed she always lived for the winery and what Kenton and his father wanted. She even refused to marry the man she truly loved latter in life because of the winery and her promises. It felt like to me that she cared more of what dead people thought and that translated into not raising her daughter with love.

The Cowboys by Jennifer Uhlarik, Linda W. Yezak, Cindy Ervin Huff, Sandra Merville Hart

This is a collection of four different romance stories about cowboys. You get four different authors with very different writing styles.

Healing Hearts -  Both Ginny and Lonnie are attracted to each other, but Ginny is in hiding and Lonnie's is physically and emotionally charged. It's interesting how Ginny's past causes Lonnie to reevaluate his his heart.

Becoming Brave - Coy is on the cattle trail when they come upon an Indian massacre. One woman survives and draws her gun on Coy. The cattle drive take her belongings and her on the cattle drive, but they find that they have a group of outlaws falling them. This story is about how Coy finds himself protecting her and her overcoming the horrific events of the massacre.

Trail's End - This is a delightful tale of a cowboy out of money till his boss sells his cattle and a woman who runs a kitchen. Her brother is stealing money from her and Wade tries to help him out.

Loving a Harvey Girl - This is a delightful tale with a lot of spin. The Harvey Girls had a lot of rules and training that they had to abide by. The author seems to be very lax in these rules. If the community thought these girls were harlots, its because the owner of the Harvey Girls did not force her girls to abide by the Harvey Rules and Regulations.

The Cat Caper (Pet Whisperer PI #5) by Molly Fitz

Once again, Molly Fitz writes one hilarious mystery. It's not a dead body she has to investigate, but someone has kidnapped Octo-Cat. This is another cozy mystery that I really enjoyed.

The Reckless Doctor's Bride: Historical Western Mail Order Bride Romance (Montana Westward Brides Book 1) Kindle Edition by Amelia Rose

Lucy is an adventurous woman, not reckless. The story is an action-packed and it’s characters are lovable. The story and plot are not well thought out because the climax of the story fails to bring everything to light. Their relationship is fun to watc as Samtries to figure Lucy out. Overall it is an enjoyable read.

The Butterfly Recluse by Therese Heckenkamp

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I wasn’t sure when I started this book, but the story really developed as I read. There’s a real emotional development of our heroine when Harry starts to visit her. Her world is suddenly threatened and some scary stuff develops. It makes us think about what we say or do online. We can only truly know a person when we interact with them on a one to one basis and see them eye to eye. The story is well written and the plot is excellent.

His Captivating Runaway Bride: A Historical Western Romance Book by Lorelei Brogan

Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is a dilemma story should I do the right thing or should I just do my job. Personally, Kaila is a contradiction of what she believes. I would never trust someone who betrayed me that way. The story is well written and action packed. I’m surprised our villain didn’t have a hole plugged between his eyes before Kaila was brought back to town. No one that vile lives very long in the Wild West.

A Viscount's Reluctant Passion: Regency Historical Romance (The Derbyshire Set Book 8) by Arietta Richmond

This delightful novel takes us on a romp with two very sedentary people. Both of these warm caring characters deserve the happiness that they find with each other. Love is just not for the brave and adventurous. It's also for those who love their books and a quiet life.

Dark Dragon Daddy (Alpha Dragon Club) by Abigail Raines

This story deals with captivity and the psychological ramifications of it. It's a story of breaking free mentally after breaking free from your physical chains. Falling in love, has a freeing effect when someone else is relying on you. Their are some aspects that are over the top, but it is a good story.

Nanny for the Billionaire (Billionaires of Manhattan #2) by Jenna Brandt

Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I really wasn't sure I was going to like Roger after the last book. The author did a good job of redeeming Roger, but there is something about Roger I just don't like. Also, the cover model on the book is a little creepy looking. Roger deserves to be happy and he finds that once he starts taking responsibility for his past mistakes; he doesn't want to live his old life. It's strange how a four year old can change your perspective. Celeste is wonderful with Roger's son and Celeste finds she is falling for the man that Roger is becoming. Otherwise this is a wonderful story of redemption.

Discreetly Matched: An Opposites Attract Secret Engagement Historical Romance (Match Made in Heaven Series) by Jenna Brandt

Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
When a father demands his aimless son settles down to his title and a grieving woman is forced by her father to marry someone else, the family matchmaker is called upon. This woman seems to know what each of her couples need and matches them discreetly behind ton's doors. Both hero and heroine are lovable, and the antics that ensue are enchanting. The best thing about the book was how these two while courting actually came to love one another.

Billionaire in Disguise: A Clean Fake Marriage Romance by Jenna Brandt

Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is a surprising delightful story about a trust fund baby finally growing up. Although, it takes a horrible sandal and his father putting his foot down about him settling down. With his fake fiancee's help, he discovers love and a better way to live his life.

Love Lorn (Twisted Love #1) by Amy Manemann (Goodreads Author), Stacy Eaton

The only thing twisted in this story is the supposed hero of this story. Turns out he's not really a hero. Our heroine is on the chase for a serial killer. The ending is a surprise, but leads us to the next installment of Love Torn. The story is surprising good until the climax of the book. This is where the story gets twisted and goes off in a different direction. Not sure if I'm going to like this series, but I'll probably follow it until I decide.

Her Highlander's Touch (Time After Time Book 1) by Jordyn LeFay

This is a sexy novella has great potential. The story is compelling and is great up until the climax. The story falls short when she comes back through time. My biggest question is why did Tobias remember what happened, but couldn't remember her in the past, when she could remember everything? Still it is worth an afternoon read.

Beau Ty: Happily Ever After by Donna Mercer, Crystol Wiedeman

Does anyone know how hard it is to search for this title? Amazon's search comes up with everything Beauty, so I ended up seaching for the author Donna Mercer.

Beauty is the nickname for this model. His brothers call him Beauty, but his girlfriend prefers Beau Ty. I agree with Ji'nyah. Personally, her name is worse than his, if you sit and really pronounce it out. The only real thing I can say about the story and it's characters is crazy. The characters are crazy. The plot is crazy. The relationship and weird shifter stuff that goes on is crazy.  I'm glad this is a short story; because the only good thing about it is something I could laugh at.

Murder Feels Awful, Bad, and Crazy: An Empath Detective Mystery Books 1-3 by B.T. Alive

Murder Feels Awful
This book is hilarious. Pete is an immature riot, and is into all the "New Age" shams. Mark is an oversensitive em-path, and since most men don't know how to deal with their own feelings let alone other people, he's become a hermit. Pete and Mark meet when Mark experiences a woman in a hang glider having an epileptic attack and dies crashing the plane. These two are bumbling idiots when it comes to detective work and Pete's issues make this a great detective farce.

Murder Feels Bad
 Another farce of a detective story with Petey and Mark, this time it starts with a suicide of a young woman in the church bell tower during a wedding. The shenanigans Pete and Mark get up to are hilarious and nothing ever seems to go right. Although Pete does seem to learn some adult lessons, but I'm waiting for book three to see if he actually learned anything. The one final thing I have to say is the author has something against all religions. You'll see it in the writing of both books.

Murder Feels Crazy
 This is the third book in the series, and Pete has given up on spoilers. After I read this book, I was physically exhausted from being constantly in the head of a twenty-some guy with the mentality of a 16 year old. Pete's mind runs a mile a minute while we help find the heroin traffickers. My biggest problem with Pete is he overlooks the obvious. Although, Pete narrates, I felt the Mark our em-path was almost a side note in this story. Still, the story is funny and light-hearted. Although, this author has strange ideas of romance.

Funny Bunnies: A Sweet Opposites-Attract Romance Novelette The Pet Set, Book 3 By: Ann Omasta Narrated by: Ann Omasta

I loved it. Funny and stupid all in one, with two wacko's running for mayor with bunnies in their campaign. If all politicians fell in love, maybe we could come to some sort of agreement about issues.

Spirit of the Knight By: Debbie Peterson Narrated by: Dawson McBride

This story is haunting at times, but you grow to love the ghost Cailan. Each of the characters are well-written and bring meaning and depth to the story. I love listening to Dawson McBride as the reader. He always does an excellent job. I also how the author took the time to explain the painting process of such difficult pieces. The process is written across the story of the book, but it is all there. I don't like the aspect of witchcraft in this story, but it is important as why all 53 men were trapped at one time on earth. The evil that Evan purported was egged on by another ghost, his distant aunt Elspeth who is the one who cast the incomplete spell. The story falls together with the intense climax and frightening ending. I received this audiobook at no-cost from Audiobookworm Promotions. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.

Devil in Texas (Lady Law & the Gunslinger #1) by Adrienne deWolfe

Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This story is about a Lady Pinkerton. She is a master of disguise and willing to do anything to get her man. Unfortunately, the man that truly makes her heart beat is in the middle of her investigation. The chemistry between these two is really intense, but hurt feelings and one senator are between these two. This story takes a surprising twist, and the climax is intense and suspenseful. What happens after the dust settles is a surprising ending.

The Captain and Miss Winter (Forever After Retellings #2) by Sally Britton

Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This story is based on Snow White and Rose Red. I love this story because it's plot is based on Snow White, but the story and it's characters are different and have their own individual stories to tell. I fell in love with Rachael and the Captain, both being of kind and of good character. This story has background and depth and as they hunt through the forest of France, the characters take a life of their own. This story made me smile and left me in a very good mood.

Mail Order Misfit: A Clean Mail Order Bride Romance by Jenna Brandt

Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐
I really liked the plot of this story, but somewhere along the way the story starts to fall apart. It's only the ending and climax that eventually piece this story back together. Cara has no self confidence, but for two moments in the story has a backbone, but I found no purpose in the one of those moments. James Cassidy is a mixture of two entities fighting against each other, which made him rather wishy-washy. There are good moments in story when you think they might just meld their two hearts, but no the author rips it apart and I'm thinking how can you build a relationship on wishy-washyness. (my new word)

A Mail Order Bride He Would Never Forget: A Historical Western Romance Book by Etta Foster

I'm surprised by the reaction of our hero, it doesn't say much for his character. He hides rather than confronts an issue, and spends weeks without telling her he knew who she was when he met her. I like Emilia because she knew what she wanted even though she led a nearly sheltered life. I found her somewhat naive about things, but she was fighting for a new life. Roy overcame his past, but he hides it like a dirty secret. I'm surprised the moment that Emilia stepped off the train, he didn't buy her another to send her back. I'm not sure I've would have taken Roy back. The man didn't trust her and demonstrated it more than once. It's only after he had solid proof that he took any action. The end of the story is where this story falters, because I don't believe I could live with a man who doesn't believe or trust me.

Blythe Court: Romance With a Kiss of Suspense by Vicki Hopkins

Ann Seddon is a young woman who was raised up in her parents aristocratic ways. They manage to make her naive and submissive to their wants and desires for her. Ann decided since she didn't have a choice in the husband that they picked for her; she would try to love her husband. What she doesn't know is her husband has secrets, and tries to hide them from her. She's young, but she has a good moral backbone, and her husband's deception is hard on her heart. She tries to accept his infidelity, but plans to win him from her ladies maid. She feels she is succeeding until she discovers someone is slowly poisoning her, and John won't dismiss Melanie. The truth will find its way when Melanie knows that Ann knows about John and her. The story is well written, and written from Ann's point of view. The story is a little dry, but with the intrigue and mystery it held my attention.

The Lady to Match a Rogue: Faith (The Baggington Sisters #4) by Isabella Thorne

I found this story witty and in a small way a calamity. I understand Faith's desire to be her own person, as a twin it can be hard. The fact that Faith refuse to give her name to a known rogues is quite funny. Oscar is intrigued by Faith, but develops a deep friendship with one Arthur Emerson. The calamity is when Oscar and her brother find out that she is running around the countryside as a man. I laughed and frowned over Oscar and Faith's relationship, while he wiled the hours away with Arthur. I understood where the author was going when Oscar finally discovered who Arthur Emerson really is.

A Secret Deal with the Devilish Baron: A Historical Regency Romance Book by Lucy Langton

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is a wonderful tale of intrigue and romance. The only problem with this tale is that it steps completely outside the bound of a Regency. This is probably why the author sets the story in the countryside. Baron and Isabel are wonderful characters and provide the reasons why gambling and drinking are horrible habits for men of means to have. Her brother George is young, naive and too proud. Isabel is stubborn, temperamental and too wild for a young woman. The Baron is a drunk, tortured man, trying to bury the past by trying to make everyone else miserable. And the villain of the piece is a serial killer poisoner. The victim of all this is the Baron's sister who locks herself in her rooms. Each character is compelling and has their own story to tell. Hopefully, love conquers what mere mortals cannot.

Because Home Is ... by Chioma Nnani

First of all, the only story about being home is the first story "Because Home Is". It's how a woman who hated her parents, and religion found a home with her husband. The second story "25 to Life is about a man who has cancer who drops the love of his life, because he wants to die alone. When he clears himself of cancer, he tries to get his woman back. This person may have thought himself a hero for doing that, but it was selfish and mean, especially when he didn't tell her about the cancer and gave no reason. Man was a pig. He lucked out that she took him back and they had 25 good years together. The third story "Lockdown" is about a sociopath that abuses women and ends up in a sanatorium. I guess that's his home. The fourth story is about "The One". Jade had a reason for moving through life and it was a girl named "Ada". Every thing Jade did was for "Ada", even her husband knew this. I have to say that instead of getting a feel good about "Because Home Is". I was left feeling angry, and the author is at fault for this. Every story talked about hating their parents, and abusive religious systems. It was so much integrated into each story, that it overshadowed any theme or point the author is trying to make. Especially when these points are brought up about how these people were raised, the story became random ranting with no actual point.

The Lion's Loyalty (Beasts #3) by Emilia Hartley

Van's loyalty to his mate, even when she didn't recognize him as her mate because of the tragedies that Carol has been through is amazing. It's hard to like the pack they are in because everyone is so self absorbed with themselves; they do nothing to help Carol. In the end, it is Van's time, love and attention that helps Carol come to deal with her ordeal. This story at times will break your heart, but then make you smile when you realize Van is actually helping Carol through her pain.

Daring the Highlander by Lydia Kendall

This story is well written and the chemistry between the two characters is steamy. I'm not sure about Donnan, although the author tries to redeem him near the end of the story. Sarah is naive and stubborn and Donnan tries to tame her without success. Like the description of the book, Donnan is a bull in a china shop. He is temperamental and impetuous. The wonder is he didn't start a border war with the English. The writer is devious in how she gets her happily ever after. I enjoyed the story despite the immaturity of the our hero and heroine.

Bear's Capture (Bear Lake Protectors #3) by Maia Starr

This is an interesting take on bear shifters. Braden falls in love with Jeb's daughter after he kidnaps her to see her father. Sarah has been raised human and doesn't even know how to shift. Braden and Sarah fall in love in a cabin while they wait for Jeb to have her come to him. Mean while, forces are working to make sure that Sarah never becomes the next Alpha. I liked Braden and Sarah, but the whole clan setup is kind of flaky. And how do shifters get cancer, if they are constantly regenerating. Is there an age when they stop? I guess more needs to be explained.