Behind the Bar Behind the Love, Book 2 By: P.C. Zick Narrated by: Cynthia Hemminger

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This story is about a couple that has been together for five years, no ring, no promise. Suzie watches her best friend, Leah, get married to Reggie's best friend, Dean. She wants that with Reggie, but Reggie refuses to ponder the point. Suzie feels she has wasted five years of her life and kicks Reggie to the curb. Suzie gets mugged by Reggie's gambling buddies, and starts unraveling the mystery that Reggie has been so hard trying to hide. Sally Jean tries to take advantage of the disagreement between Reggie and Suzie. All of this sets off a past that Suzie has forgotten and needs to confront. Personally, I think everyone in this town could benefit from a psychologist. There are points in this story where I think some of the people got off light. The climax is intense and allows us think of all the pain that Reggie and Suzie have to deal with from their past that can they try for a beautiful future.
 

Behind the Altar Behind the Love, Book 1 By: P.C. Zick Narrated by: Cynthia Hemminger

 

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is a great story about the hardships of being homeless. Trying to to acclimate yourself back to having a regular home, and the dysfunction that is prevalent in our society. It seems the town of Victory has every dysfunction that could affect a person. It's wonderful and not so wonderful characters reflect everything that is good and bad in our society. The healing of Leah is marked by her standing up against the woman who took her off the streets. Leah was chosen because she is nice and despite living on the streets wants to help any one. Service to is Leah's calling. She is set to marry Jacob, the vicar of Victory Church. It is all in Geraldine's plan to control her family until Dean, Jacob's brother rides into town. All the secrets that this family held tight while they lived in Victory come rolling out in their awful truth. Geraldine is the nightmare of bride to be, and her secrets can destroy all of them. Dean is the eldest brother who comes to town for the reading of his father's will, which sets off a storm in Victory. Meet the residents of Victory, Dysfunctional is the new name for real people.

Fire Maidens: Ireland Billionaires & Bodyguards, Book 5 By: Anna Lowe Narrated by: Kelsey Osborne

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This story started out quite differently than the other stories. First of all, Finn had met his mate when he was ten years old. After he finished his business in Ireland, he was going to America to find her. Surprise! His mate inherited a cottage from her uncle in Ireland & now Finn is her neighbor. This story is really intense, and the danger actually comes from one of their own. The action scenes are really intense and excitement building. Grace finds a magic of her own hidden in the caves of Ireland, changing her view of her entire world. The narrator in this series does not fail in her delivery, making the story that much more enjoyable.
 

Love Costs (Shards of Sevia, Book 3) by E.B. Roshan

 

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

The storyline and plot are very well written. What this story lacks is a real connection between the characters. Throughout the whole story, I felt that Dunya was using him, and that is more than evident when she accepts his marriage proposal to keep herself and the orphan baby from being killed. The climax doesn't wash because of the lack of connection between the two characters. What he sacrifices and almost sacrifices for her reminds me of the old Bible story of Hosea who marries Gomer, a prostitute and she is unfaithful to him and leaves him. Her new lover sells her into slavery and the husband buys her back out of slavery. The problem is that although this man believes in God; he shows no real pain in his emotions when Dunya just leaves without a word. Hosea became a broken man, and searched for his wife, because He loved her. The problem is there is no real emotion expressed even during the fight scene and even when Dunya declares she wants the same light in her heart that Radoslav has. I believe a lot of that is because the conversation between all the characters is stilted causing a lack of emotion in any of the dialogue. I believe with a re-write to the dialogue this could be a deeply emotional story.

Mistaken for a Rake (Landon House #1) by Rose Pearson

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This story is whimsical and delightful. Our hero is a mistaken rake and Rebecca is the daughter of a Duke. Lady Hayward keeps steering Rebecca away from Lord Jeffery, but Rebecca really likes Lord Jeffery. What Lord Jeffery does to prove he is innocent of the charges he is suspected of is a little underhanded, but all is fair in love and war.
 

The Four Suitors by Sophie Jupillat Posey

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

As I read this story, I learned to hate our heroine. There is nothing I liked about her. She is overbearing, spoiled, obnoxious and rude. Unfortunately. her parents the king and queen gather four suitors to learn from and for her to choose one of them. This is where the story actually starts to get good, because there is intrigue and political corruption that Sir Braxton and Laeticia uncover. I don;'t know if Laeticia actually falls in love with any of her suitors, but who she chooses is actually taken out of her hands. It is well written and one wonders if she actually deserves to regain her kingdom.
 

Resolute (Eternal Brethren Military Romantic Suspense Book 9) by Shirleen Davies

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This series takes a different way for the Seals to be protecting the Home front; at home. This group has a bad boy image and it serves them well in getting rid of the gangs and drug dealers on our soil. Lucas Gunner is ready to settle down, but the one woman he wants has set his kind (MC Outlaw) off the table. This story is full of intrigue and is action-packed. There is an underlying story to Katrina Snowden as her history comes to light. I love the interaction between these two and how Lucas breaks through her defenses.
 

Reign Of Fire: Deep State Mysteries, Book 1 By: Casi McLean Narrated by: Kristin James Series: Deep State Mysteries, Book 1

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This story asks a lot of questions about our political system. The murder of a politician's aid. Only they don't know she has a twin. A harden cop looking for justice for the young woman. It's about a foreign power deepening it hold on our political system so they can control our policies and implode our democracy. This story is not hard to believe looking at the corruption and policies that are being attempted in our political system. There is a love story between Ashton and Emily as they delve into solving her sister's murder. This story has lots of twists and intrigue keeping you riveted.
 

Her Threads of Fate to Tie the Marquess by Hazel Linwood

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is a good story and the main characters are perfectly lovable. The villain is horrible and the author blends the evil machinations and blurs the lines later on in the story. These two are fighters, but Courtney is not cut out for London Society. Logan is just as harsh with her as her stepmother, but Courtney tries, afraid of embarrassing her father. The stepmother doesn't want Courtney and Logan together, so she spirits her off to London. Logan goes to London for the season and so they are together again. The plot is simple for a step-family with issues and it is fun read.
 

How to Claim a Governess’s Heart: A Historical Regency Romance Book by Bridget Barton

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 This is a delightful tale of a ready made family. The woman goes out of her way to protect the child. John caught between his own desires and his family’s turmoil. He tries to make the best of the situation and continue to try his career as a writer. I love how he best his brother and enjoyed the story. It a light read but very enjoyable.

Tea Time with the Earl: Historical Regency Romance by Lisa Campell

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

This is a little outrageous and a woman could never pass themselves off as a man unless she took the role seriously. Which she didn’t; because to truly do it she would have had to cut her hair into a style that men wore. Worn men’s clothes but she only borrowed boys clothes. And like our earl, after a couple days staring at her face, he would like recognize the feminine features. The plot was well thought out, but not the storyline. It’s romantic that the Earl wants her even after the deception and they go on to try and figure out what to do about the men who who were not paid for their dirty deeds. It’s okay as a whimsical story, but deception doesn’t fly

 

How to Woo a Highlander: Scottish Medieval Highlander Romance by Shona Thompson

 

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

What do you do when’s you fall in love with your Laird’s betrothed? You pray that you are more than your weakness. The Laird needs to marry and makes a deal with an English Lord to marry his daughter. He doesn’t love Jane and doesn’t have the time to woo her. It puts her in the care of his second in command, Alastair. Jane and Alastair fall in love and there is war threatening the land. This story will keep you on the edge while wondering how are they going to be together? Jane surprised me with her attitude change, and how she stands up to her father. The characters are well developed and sometimes I could actually feel their pain while reading.

Mending His Past by Kristen Iten

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is an excellent story and our hero captured my attention right away. No one is permanently broken. We all know that love heals all wounds. Unfortunately, His biggest mistake is now back in his life, and working with him on the ranch. It's obviously from the beginning that these two have a lot of baggage, but they still love each other. While Trent tries to help Sport heal from the loss of his owner, Olivia is helping the ranch get back on it's feet. One dog falls in love with Trent and Olivia's daughter. These two try to be friends, but find that the magic is still there and the walls are falling down. This is a sweet romance and I love our soldier heroes.
 

Wager for a Lady's Hand (Lockhart #1) by L.G. Rollins

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

As far as the love story between Marianne and Sheldon, it is a very sweet romance. The story is well written as far as the characters are concerned. It's the lack of barrister skills that Sheldon has. I know he is new to the roll as lawyer, but his P.I. should have come back on the Earl's dirty secret before Marianne heard the rumor from a cousin. The climax was exciting, but senseless. How did the earl ever think he was going to recover from attempting to kill Marianne. Most villains like Cockell are more intelligent than to attempt something like that since he had spies in Marianne's home watching her. I really did love the characters and the story is a sweet romance. I just wish the author thought more about her options, than she actually gave her characters.
 

His White Marchioness in the Gilded Cage: A Historical Regency Romance Novel by Patricia Haverton, Cobalt Fairy

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This story is about a girl thrown into the London Season who has never really had any training as a lady. Her father is dying and forces her to go to London to stay with her friend. The twists and turns that this plot takes to keep Analise from Carlisle are sometimes ridiculous, but as the climax finally comes to an ending we see the true villain in this subversive plot. An enjoyable tale, but I knew who was behind keeping Carlisle from Analise. I just didn't know why, which makes me wonder why Carlisle didn't figure it out earlier.
 

The Marchioness for Whom the Bell Tolled: A Historical Regency Romance Novel by Hanna Hamilton

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A childish and arrogant woman who did everything to weed out the wrong man, that she weeded every man in London out and laid devastation to one man's fortune. Her parents ship her off to an old friends home for an arranged marriage. It's there that Belinda starts to change and finds that Oliver is wonderful. This story uses the plot that we reap what we sow with a little madness thrown in. Oliver is sensitive soul, and finds that Belinda brings him out of his timidity. Oliver brings out her kindness and makes her happy. But all of that is about to be thrown into the fire when mysterious letters start coming addressed to Belinda and Oliver. The story writes itself and the climax is exciting. Let's just say it's a good thing that Oliver can forgive after he gets over his anger.
 

Highlander’s Wicked Destiny: Scottish Medieval Highlander Romance (Wicked Highlanders #4) by Fiona Faris

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This story is intense and action-packed. This story at first seemed a little out of time and place, but I actually did a little history background checking and found the battle took place in the early 1700's, along with the Jacobite uprisings. We also have a little Pocahontas in this story with Neil being the son of an Iroquois woman. No place is without its prejudice, but this story makes out that the clan accepts half-breeds. They may have tolerated him, but marrying into the nobility of the clan would never have been accepted. The intense plot and story line makes for an exciting adventure with two romances going on at the same time. The author realizes her predicament and writes a surprise into the story, so Neil & Lizzie can have their happily ever after.
 

Wish on a Star (Pop Stars Romantic Comedy Book 7) by Rachael Eliker

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This story is just as funny as the others in this series. There seems to be a depth of emotion that is more prevalent in this story, than the others. We know Mandy from all the other books in this series, but we never really knew Mandy until now. This is a story of a woman who let her parents rob her of her happiness. She projects her parents relationship onto her own with Tyson, and leaving him high and dry for things she could control; her job at Harper Music. This Mandy is not the one we know; a take charge, get it done. This woman is unbalanced, prone to accidents and completely undone by Tyson just looking at her. A second chance romance that just might mean that "wishing on a star" just might mean your dreams can come true.
 

The Shocking Bride And The Solitary Rancher: A Clean Western Historical Romance Novel by Evelyn Boyett

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

The story in of itself is good, and the plot is dastardly evil. The story, although well-written; runs itself out after the climax. The epilogue is extremely unnecessary and tries to revive the story well past the climax. It was irritating, and I was thinking maybe a second book would have been better, if we wanted to know more. Especially since the author wrote an extended epilogue on top of the extremely long epilogue in the book.The characters are well written, but I think the character of Buford was written wrong for a manipulative man. Especially since the first time Buford opened his mouth, I wanted to shoot him. I know why he dropped the charges on Buford, because land grabs are hanging offenses out West. In the end, it would have been more merciful because of all the problems he had removing him from the land afterwards. Like I said, too much epilogue.