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.

eARC Book review:That Cowboy of Mine by Donna Grant

 

Available now

eARC Provided by publisher through Netgalley

Is he an enemy?

Dillon Young is proud that she inherited her aunt’s ranch. The problem: someone is trying to run her off and is willing to do whatever it takes. Strange, dangerous things keep happening. Dillion suspects her no-good neighbor and fellow wealthy rancher Hank Stephens. Never a man to get his hands dirty, he sends others to get the job done. So, when the irresistible Cal Bennett is found passed out drunk on her property, Dillion is on high alert. Until someone takes a shot at her and Cal springs to her rescue. When the hard-bodied, no-nonsense-talking cowboy points out that she may need some help, Dillion is inclined to reluctantly agree.

Or a lover?

Waking up on a stranger’s property with a shotgun in his face is not Cal Bennett’s idea of a good time. Never mind that the woman on the other end of the barrel is one of the most fiercely beautiful women he has ever seen. Things get more interesting when he finds himself shielding her from flying bullets. It’s clear that this smart, savvy woman could use a hand and he is all too happy to lend any part of his body she requires. His proposal: pose as lovers until they find out who is after her ranch. As the danger rises and secrets are revealed, the passion explodes between them. There is no turning back. 

Dillon Young finds Cal Bennnett passed out on her ranch and her newly purchased prized horse missing. Cal looks guilty until he saves her life. Someone is out to kill Dillon. Cal feels a instant connection to her but until he can sort out how he ended up passed out on her land with no memory how he got there. We kind of know who the bad guys are in this book pretty quick but we don't know who all the bad guys are. For a bit there are started wondering if every man in the story was a bad guy. Lot's of suspense but not a lot of romance. For me the ending was kind of weird. I enjoyed the book but would not read it again.

Find out more about Donna Grant and this book here Donnagrant.com

eARC Book review: When the Lights Go Out...: A workplace romance set in a blackout by Jules Bennett

 

Available now

eARC Provided by author

What happens in the dark won’t stay in the dark—

when business partners cross the line…

Distillery executive Elise Hawthorne always puts business first. No way she’ll gamble a lucrative partnership for one night of pleasure. But when a storm outage strands her with VIP client Antonio Rodriguez, he awakens a passion Elise can’t ignore. Continuing their clandestine affair when the lights come back on puts everything she’s worked for at risk. And now a family secret could blow up her life and cost her the most priceless merger of all…

Three sisters running a successful distillery in Kentucky about to go to the next level. Antonio Rodriguez arrived to check out what sisters have to offer and comes face to face with his destiny. Neither Elise or Antonio thought they were in a place in their lives for commitment. Both Elise and Antonio are dealing with loss and big decisions in their lives. Somehow they click but they live on different continents. If it could work how would they do it. This was a quick read. Great beach read for sure. It's faced paced. The author gives you bit and pieces of the three sisters lives while giving you what seems like a impossible love story between Elise and Antonio. Looking forward to reading the other two sisters stories. 

Find out more about Jules Bennett and this series here julesbennett.com

Check out The Secret Life of Sunflowers by Marta Molnar/Dana Marton. Available July 19th

Available July 19th 

The Secret Life of Sunflowers Blurb:

When Hollywood auctioneer Emsley Wilson finds her famous grandmother's diary while cleaning out her New York brownstone, the pages are full of surprises. The first surprise is, the diary isn't her grandmother's. It belongs to Johanna Bonger, Vincent van Gogh's sister-in-law.

Johanna inherited Vincent van Gogh's paintings. They were all she had, and they weren't worth anything. She was a 28 year old widow with a baby in the 1800s, without any means of supporting herself, living in Paris where she barely spoke the language. Yet she managed to introduce Vincent's legacy to the world.

The inspiration couldn't come at a better time for Emsley. With her business failing, an unexpected love turning up in her life, and family secrets unraveling, can she find answers in the past?

Links:

Amazon US:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B5G1KKCZ?tag=sunflower3-20

Amazon CA:  https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0B5G1KKCZ?tag=sunflower3-20

Amazon UK:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0B5G1KKCZ?tag=sunflower3-20

Amazon AU:  https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0B5G1KKCZ?tag=sunflower3-20

Nook:  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-secret-life-of-sunflowers-marta-molnar/1141711923

Kobo:  https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-secret-life-of-sunflowers

iBooks:  https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-secret-life-of-sunflowers/id6443046729

About The Author:

Marta Molnar is the author of the dual-timeline women's fiction novel THE LIFE OF SUNFLOWERS about Vincent van Gogh's inspirational sister-in-law Johanna Bonger. Marta is an avid art history enthusiast and a self-taught artist. She studied writing at Seton Hill University and Harvard University, lived around the world, then settled down in the Northeast United States where she currently writes in her version of Monet's garden.

(The Secret Life of Marta Molnar: Marta is also the USA Today and New York Times bestselling author of over sixty novels of suspense, romance, and epic fantasy under the pen name Dana Marton. Writing as Dana Marton, she's the recipient of the Rita Award, the Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence, and was a quarter finalist for the BookLife Prize.)

She can be reached at: marta@martamolnar.com

Please follow on Facebook for extra tidbits about the story and how the book was born, photos, and just plain artsy fun.

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Author-Marta-Molnar-105528932211127

Website:  https://www.martamolnar.com/

eARC Book review: The Hitwoman vs The Security Guard (Confessions of a Slightly Neurotic Hitwoman #32) by J.B. Lynn

 

Available now

eARC Provided by author

THE HITWOMAN VS THE SECURITY GUARD

Even though they drive her crazy, Maggie Lee is all about family.

Now it seems her half-brother has gotten himself into trouble with someone known as The Security Guard.

Luckily (or not!) The Security Guard is now proving to be a problem for the mob boss she works for and he wants him taken out.

Maggie jumps at the chance to get rid of the danger to her brother and the thorn in her boss’s side.

But her assassination attempt doesn’t go as planned. (Do they ever?)

Now she's the target of The Security Guard’s wrath.

Can old friends, new allies and her loyal pets save her?

Maggie can't seem to stay out of trouble. Her life is a whirlwind of family, her animals and trouble. Nothing is ever simple. Her brother is is trouble. Delveccio wants her to kill someone and it's probably the most dangerous task she's ever had. Even Patrick her murder mentor can't handle this assignment. Add in Maggie's best friend is leaving town and her plate is more than full. Always more drama from her family to add to the confusion but Gino is there to support her. This fast paced story will keep you engaged to the end JB Lynn performs a miracle with every book in this series. I never see where the story is going and I am always completely entertained.

Find out more about JB Lynn and this series here www.jblynn.com