Book review: The Reason is You by Sharla Lovelace

Reissue May 7, 2013 
In the small town of Bethany, Texas, Dani never fit in. Being different pushed her to the fringes of society, and even leaving town for two decades didn’t stop the talk. Now she’s back, trying to settle in with her daughter and have a normal life. But the men in her life might not make it that simple. First, there’s her old friend Alex. He’s mischievous, sexy, and still hot enough to melt her shoes. And he’s a ghost—a real one, who’s always been there for her when she most needed him. Of course, there are actual men in Bethany, too. Like Jason with his hard body. Dani seems to have a habit of running into him—literally. Now she must decide between a man who long ago touched her heart and a man she can actually touch


 I have never read this author before. She was giving away copies of this book for honest reviews and the blurb sounded interesting to me so i signed up to get one. It came in the mail a couple days ago and I immediately started reading. I only made it to page 86 the first night. Got a late start so that's pretty good for me in a couple hours of reading time. I was drawn in pretty quickly.  I don't even know where to start. This was a such a different book for me. Book starts out with Dani moving back home with her teenage daughter. Same old people same old thing. People never seemed to change. Growing up was difficult for her because starting as a young child she could see dead people. Talk to them and she didn't realize for a long while no one else could see them which made her a freak in the eyes of her peers. When Dani is 16 she meets Alex a man who died the day she was born and he came her best friend.  She doesn't realize that at the time but in present time she does and along with that a lot of other things start coming to light.  Dani also finds out her daughter can see Alex and other dead people too. No she fears for what will happen with her daughter if people find out. In the midst of all this she starts working in a bait shop and meets and falls for the owner Jason. Who has some issues of his own.  There is a very complicated love story or two going on and you can't help but feel grief for the characters and want things to work out for everyone. This book is funny,and quirky and will just draw you right through. The story and writing make you feel so many different things from laughter to tears. You start it and don't want to put it down which is my favorite kind of book. 5 out 5 stars for The Reason is you by Sharla Lovelace.

Find out more about this book and Sharla Lovelace. Check out her website here www.sharlalovelace.com

Book review: The Recruit (Book 6 Highland Guard series) by Monica McCarty

The Recruit

Scotland's King Robert the Bruce is retaking his kingdom from the invading English. To win, he'll need all the grit and courage of his elite band of warriors, the Highland Guard, men who fight without fear and love without limits.

Fiery, aggressive, and bold, Kenneth Sutherland is a true champion—skilled with any weapon and driven to win. Now Kenneth is ready for his greatest challenge: joining Robert the Bruce's secret army to fight among the elite. Kenneth's best chance to attain that honor is by winning the Highland Games. Focused and prepared for victory, he is caught off guard by a lovely wisp of a woman—and a stolen moment of wicked seduction. Her innocent arousal and her shameless hunger fire his blood. He will win his place in the guard—and in Mary of Mar's bed.

The ruggedly handsome hero-in-the-making stirs a heart that should know better. Mary vows her surrender will be sport only—no promises, no heartbreak, just one night of incredible passion. Nothing, she swears, will persuade her to give up her hard wrought independence and put her fate in the hands of another powerful man. But with every gentle touch and heart-pounding kiss, Kenneth makes her want more. Now Mary wants his heart. But is this determined champion willing to surrender everything for love?

This is my first Monica McCarty book. I do love my Scottish Highlanders though so i was pretty sure i would like this book. This is book 6 in the Highland Guard series and i have not read the others in the series. I don't think it hurt that i didn't but like all series it always adds something if you read them all and in order. It would've helped explain some of the back story of the secondary players in the book.. Mary of Mar has had a hard life since she married at 14. She had a son who was taken away from her when he was a infant after her husband at the time was executed for treason. She lost her twin sister and has been trying to lead a quiet unassuming life in England although she is a Scot. That all changes when she is sent on a mission to Scotland and meets Kenneth Sutherland.  Kenneth has been trying to get into Robert the Bruce's secret army. He's tired of coming in second best all his life and fighting for everything he wants. He's competing in the highlands games to hopefully get where he wants to be. He meets Mary in a odd place caught in a compromising position. They are to be potentially betrothed but Kenneth doesn't know that when he beds Mary later and then she disappears. Months later once he finally get into the secret army and is back in England on a mission he finds Mary again and discovers there is a still a big spark and a huge secret or two. I really enjoyed this book. Both Kenneth and Mary had to do a lot of growing and changing through out the book to get where they needed to be by the end.  There were a lot of trust issues to overcome. I enjoyed the secondary characters as well. I felt sympathy for both Mary and Kenneth for the disappointments and hurts they endured in their lives and rooted for the happy ending. A few places i felt it lagged some and a few times i felt like i was missing some information that probably was mentioned in previous books. Still enjoyed it immensely though and hope i can go back and read the previous books. I would also like to mention the authors notes at the end of the book where she talks about how the story is based loosely on historical events with a little tweaking by her. She gives some interesting facts on what really happened in a historical sense. I liked that a lot and if you read the book you should be sure to check that part out when your done. 4 out of 5 stars for The Recruit by Monica McCarty.

Find out more about Monica McCarty and her other books on her website here. www.monicamccarty.com