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