eARC Book review: He Falls First by Jill Shalvis Colburn Brothers #1

 

Available now!

eARC Provided by the publisher 

No one is going to convince her to fall in love again...

Ryder Colburn has his hands full running the family business and caring for the ailing father who’s a virtual stranger from the cold, heavy-handed man he used to be. He’s got zero free time for hobbies or women. Or so he thinks until one walks into his life… and the path of an oncoming car.

Ryder doesn’t mind playing the hero for the skittish, scarred chef Penny. Maybe it’s the secrets in her eyes or the scar on her chin. Whatever the reason, he’s compelled to get closer.

Penny’s learned her lesson and now she’s paying the price. That’s why she’s sharing a dilapidated house in a tiny California town with her feisty grandmother and tween brother living off the leftovers from her catering job. It’s a far cry from her dream life. But who needs dreams… or love… or sex when there’s amateur plumbing projects to tackle and breakfast casseroles to bake?

One thing’s for sure, she’s never falling in love again. Not even with the sexy, snarky contractor who keeps testing the walls she’s built.

First in a new series about the Colburn brothers and their sister. Ryder is the oldest brother, so he feels responsible for the rest of his siblings. They had a mean military dad who expected perfection and when he didn't get it the siblings paid. Penny had a not so fun childhood too. After a scary break up with her ex she's living with her grandma and helping raise her younger brother. This was a great book watching the brothers interact and Ryder slowly win Penny's trust and love while also healing himself a bit. Trust isn't a easy thing to believe in once you lose it but Ryder had the patience of a saint and knew Penny was worth it. Loved the wrap up of this book and the two epilogs. Ready for which ever brother is up next.

Find out more about this book and this series here https://www.jillshalvis.com/

eARC Book review: Knife in the Back Karen Rose New Orleans #4

 

Available August 12, 2025

Officer Naomi Cranston was framed for stealing cocaine from the evidence locker and coerced—through threats to her young son—into not fighting the charges. After five years in prison, she has tried to put the ordeal behind her, but the crooks who framed her have returned, this time demanding she move drugs along with her flower shop’s deliveries. They threaten her son once again, but this time she’s not capitulating quietly. She hires Broussard Investigations to protect her and her son, to prove her innocence, and to put the real bad guys away.

As a former cop, Burke Broussard is well aware of the corruption in the New Orleans police department. He had always believed Naomi Cranston to be guilty and isn’t inclined to take her case. Until he sits down to listen to her side of things. Until he sees her tortured innocence written all over her beautiful face…

A relationship born amid an investigation is a fragile thing. Will it survive the danger and the threats? Will it survive the truth?

This is my first Karen Rose book. I like the blurb so I decided to give her a try. This is number 4 in the series and I have not then read the other books in this series since this is my first book by Ms. Rose. This is a pretty intense story line. Naomi Cranston was framed for stealing and after five years in prison is free on a technicality. Most everyone still thinks she's guilty since there's no evidence she's not. When a friend takes her to Burke Broussard a former cop turned PI he doesn't believe her either... at first. So parts of this story I like and some were kind of ridiculous. It didn't take any time at all to figure out who the bad guy was which was such a disappointment. Parts of the story dragged on to long with not enough action to move the story along. I did like the characters and wanted to know everyon's back story since this series is four books deep. I'm not ready to give up on this series or Karen Rose. 

Find out more about this series and Karen Rose here karenrosebooks

eARC Book review: Sunrise Cove #8 The Love Fix Jill Shalvis

 

Available June 24th 2025

eARC provided by the publisher 

Lexi Clark’s life is falling apart around her, so when she’s summoned home to Sunrise Cove, the last thing she wants to do is face all the complications she left behind. Her past, her stepsister Ashley, and especially her infuriatingly gorgeous childhood nemesis-turned-crush Heath Bowman.

Yep, Lexi’s pretty sure being home again just might kill her. She’s an overachieving art appraiser who doesn’t believe in trust, love, or Happily Ever Afters. Free spirit Ashley, on the other hand, is so full of life it hurts to look at her. But Lexi can’t refuse Ashley’s plea to honor their late mother’s final wish to make amends with the people she’d wronged.  So, on behalf of her estranged mother’s estate—and with Heath in tow as the executor—Lexi embarks on a road trip to repay all the people her gambling addicted mother owed money to. 

Complicating everything are the feelings that well up for for her mom, for Ashley, and most of all, for Heath. And for the record, she doesn’t like it, or the way he has of scaling the walls she’s built around her heart. The road trip shenanigans that ensue are both funny and heartbreaking, but Lexi finds something shocking along the way. Acceptance. Family. And unbelievably—if you ask Lexi anyway—love.

Life doesn't get any messier than this. Lexi loses her job and might be in some serious trouble. She heads home to Sunrise cove to hide out and help fulfill her mother's final wishes with her stepsister Ashley. Heath is her old high school crush who is currently living next door. In the midst of learning to trust each other and work on their personal hang ups the sisters have to deliver envelopes with personal messages from their mother. This is a sweet summer read with some angst thrown in. Slow in some spots it's a great sitting out of the beach read. Get your cold drink and relax.

Find out more about this book and Jill Shalvis here www.jillshalvis.com

eARC Book review: The Kings #1 Lessons in Heartbreak Karla Sorensen

 

Available now!

eARC Provided by the publisher 

A playboy football player. A shy librarian. When old friends reunite, opposites attract in a witty and lighthearted romance about taking chances and falling in love against the odds.

It’s an unwritten rule small-town librarians shall not commit spontaneous acts, for fear of mortal embarrassment. I’d certainly just proved it true, though hiring an escort was perfectly logical. How else should I overcome my fear of intimacy without risking heartbreak?

Unfortunately, what came next wasn’t so logical.

Instead of a dating coach, Griffin King showed up. Yes, that Griffin my childhood neighbor and now, to my dismay, an obscenely handsome pro football player. He’s not actually an escort, but how was I supposed to know that?

Avoiding him after the mix-up is impossible. The man is everywhere—put in time-out by his agent after a PR snafu. Griffin might be an outrageous flirt determined to torment me until I snap, but he’s also the perfect man to help me.

The lessons aren’t what I thought they’d be. Neither is Griffin. Every time we touch, every time he shows me a different side to myself—and to him—I can’t help but wonder if we’re about to break another the playboy and the good girl aren’t supposed to fall in love.

This was a new to me author which is always fun. Griffan King was the boy next door who relentlessly teased Ruby. That's ok because it was his twin brother she liked best anyway. When she moved away still as a child, she thought she'd never see the King twins again. Fate had other plans. Ruby wants to finally get serious about getting into the dating game but when a dating coach doesn't quite work out, she ends up with none other than Griffan King playboy of the two King brothers. Griffan for his part is never taken seriously and maybe there were reasons for that, but Griffan is not at all what he seems. Griffan decides he can be coach to Ruby. Thing is they actually end up teaching each other and maybe falling in love. These two had some personal obstacles to overcome. Didn't make it easy the least bit. Lots of interesting side characters to help move the story along. Definitely enjoyable and worth reading the next book in this series.

Find out more about Karla Sorenson here Karla Sorensen

eARC Book review Let Me Be the One Lori Foster

 

Let me be the one by Lori Foster

Available April 1st 2025

She’s more than the girl next door. She’s the one who got away.

When Callie McCallahan left for the big city, she had a plan. Since then, she’s had some bumps in the road, most recently her failed business and engagement. When she inherits her uncle’s Kentucky farm, it’s the perfect do-over. With her social media skills, she’ll attract a whole new following and refresh her career. The only thing is…she knows nothing about farming.

For Tanner Patrick, Callie was the one who got away. He crushed on her in high school, but she barely knew he existed. Ten years later, she’s moved back—and now she lives next door. Tanner keeps his head down and focuses on his family’s tree farm. But when he sees Callie is afraid of chickens and can’t run a tractor—and looking pretty down-to-earth and happy—Tanner finds her impossible to ignore.

Callie was the one that got a way for Tanner except Callie didn't know who he was so not really getting away when you watched from afar and never made a approach. Now Callie is back to claim the property her uncle left her and start over and find herself. Tanner tells her over and over he doesn't think she will stay. Callie is determined to do just that. Stay. I enjoyed the story well enough but many places lagged for me and were repetitive. Tanner telling showing he's interested but then disappearing and then blaming her. He's the one telling her he wants her to sell to him. His internal struggle was over played in my opinion and at times i kind of hoped she'd tell him to just leave her alone. When he was sweet he was great but then he'd run away. Callie had a lot to deal with and a wishy washy man was exhausting sometimes. It's ok but I'm not sure it's a reread in my future.

Find out more about Lori Foster and this book here Lori Foster | New York Times Bestselling Author

eARC Book review: The Guest Cottage Lori Foster

 

Available May 27th 2025

In this uplifting series debut, forgiveness and unlikely friendship blossom in the haven of a quiet lakeside town when two very different women bond over one man’s betrayals.

Marlow Heddings is starting over. She’s carried the outrage of her husband Dylan’s affair with a younger woman—and the expectations of his family’s powerful Chicago holdings company—long enough. Now, after another devastating twist of fate, she’s unapologetically moving on.

Arriving in tiny Bramble, Kentucky, Marlow revels in her freedom, swapping her executive suits for sundresses . . . and scouting places to open her dream boutique. Best of all is her new residence, an adorable cottage with gorgeous lake views—and a breathtaking landlord, former Marine Cort Easton. Soon they’re sharing dockside morning coffee and nighttime firefly gazing. Marlow’s new life feels like a dream.

Then Pixie Nolan arrives on her doorstep. With a shocking secret.

To Marlow’s astonishment, Dylan’s “other woman” is a desperate girl of nineteen, destitute, exhausted, and disowned by her family. Defying her manipulative in-laws’ demands, and surprising even herself, Marlow vows to lay down roots in Bramble and help Pixie get on her feet. Then they’ll part ways. But empathy has a way of forging bonds. As Marlow grows close to the hard-working, devoted young woman, she becomes something of a big sister to Pixie.

Now, with each sunrise, Marlow awakens to the life she was truly meant to live, one filled with deepening connections, supportive friendship . . . and even a second chance at love.

Marlow and Pixie were wronged by the same man. They become unlikely friends once Pixie shows up on Marlow's doorstep with a baby in tow from her now deceased cheating husband. The town on Bramble KY has some unusual rules for their small town. They don't allow new permanent citizens and no new buildings. Marlow hopes they'll make a exception for her but if not she'll roll with the punches. A good hearted story about people who care about each other and a town full of quirky different people who look out for each other. Parts of it were kind of boring and a bit too soft for me but overall i enjoyed the story. This might come across better in audiobook i think. Might have to check into that once it becomes available. 

Find out more about Lori Foster and this book on her website here Lori Foster | New York Times Bestselling Author

eARC Book review: Small Town Hero by Linda Lael Miller; Maisey Yates

 

Pub Date Jun 24 2025 | 

Kensington Publishing | Kensington

The towns may be small, but the hearts of the cowboy heroes in this duo of romantic novellas are as outsized as the rugged land that surrounds them . . .

ONE LONESOME COWBOY
by Linda Lael Miller
When a family crisis brings web designer and part-time house flipper Susannah Holiday to Arizona to care for her young niece, she’s soon juggling work, childcare—and her growing feelings for local paramedic and horse whisperer Ian McKenzie. They have more in common than meets the eye—including being cautious when it comes to love. But when a disturbing revelation from Susannah’s past surfaces, Ian is there to comfort her, and they both find their longing hearts opening to a better future—together . . .

COWBOY, TAKE ME AWAY
by Maisey Yates
After Birdie Lennox, daughter of a notorious cattle rustler, gets caught stealing a horse off Gunnar Parsons’ land, she ends up bunking in his barn to work off her debt—plus her daddy’s. But Birdie hardly has patience for Gunnar’s moralizing. The man inherited his ranch and has always hated her family. Still, it beats prison. Maybe. What neither anticipates is discovering they have more in common than they dreamed possible. Even more unexpected is the spark between them—and the love it might ignite . . .

If you enjoy shorter books with happy endings this duo of stories from two great authors is just for you. Linda Lael Miller brings us Ian and Susannah meeting over unusual circumstances and different backgrounds but connecting all the same. Loved the story but like a lot of these shorter stories it leaves you wanting more fleshed out characters and longer time to a HEA. Maisy Yates gives us Birdie and Gunnar's enemies to lovers stories. Birdie's family was always a enemy to Gunnar's family. When Gunnar catches Birdie trying to steal one of his horses they finally break that enemies barrier and realize they have a lot to talk about. Really get all these feels for these two. Both had different upbringings but they both had struggles with family. I enjoyed both of these stories. A long afternoon of reading time and you can relax with this book.