WRITTEN FOR YOUby Robin Bielman Publication Date: August 23, 2021 Genres: Adult, Entangled: Amara, Contemporary, Romance, Friends to Lovers Amazon: https://amzn.to/3xQCABf iTunes: https://apple.co/2Usbra5 B&N: https://bit.ly/3soKu3E Kobo: https://bit.ly/3AQvw9E Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3iTBiAX Amazon AUS: https://amzn.to/3sqsLbW Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2UpFizM SYNOPSIS Cam Radcliffe is on a deadline to write his next blockbuster action film, but all he can think about lately is writing romance. The inspiration? His best friend, Reese. They’ve known each other for years, but suddenly working in the same office has given him a whole new appreciation of her. Reese is driving him wild in the best possible way, and Cam only hopes it isn’t obvious. If she knew, he’s certain their friendship would reach The End. So, of course, Reese figures it out. But the awkward, negative response he expected is nothing like the reality—like they’re living their own romcom. A romcom that’s giving him the worst case of writer’s block at the absolute worst time in his career. Especially when the secret Reese has been forced to keep comes out…and threatens to ruin everything. ABOUT ROBIN BIELMAN Robin Bielman is the USA Today bestselling author of over twenty novels. When not attached to her laptop, she loves to read, go to the beach, frequent coffee shops (and by frequent she means daily but she’s trying to break the habit), and spend time with her family. Her fondness for swoon-worthy heroes who flirt and stumble upon the girl they can’t live without jumpstarts most of her story ideas. She writes with a steady stream of caffeine nearby (see above) and the best dog on the planet, Harry, by her side. She also dreams of traveling to faraway places and loves to connect with readers. Keep in touch on social! Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Bookbub | Goodreads | Amazon Author Profile | Entangled Publishing | Newsletter
My thoughts:
Friends-to-lovers is one of my favourite tropes, so when I read the description for Robin Bielman's new book Written For You, I knew I'm in for a treat! If you're looking for a perfect summer read (it's not too late!), consider this sweet and sexy story. Reese Resnick and Cam Radcliff have known each other since they were kids. Their adopted moms are best friends. In fact, Cam's mom Pixie is Reese's godmother. Needless to say, they know each other very well. Reese knows how lovely and considerate Cam is and how hard he has been working tobuild his career of a scriptwriter. His latest action movie was a huge success. Now he is on a tight deadline to produce something equally engaing, but all this pressure is blocking his creativity. Perhaps,it will be easier to write at home surrounded by his loving parents and his brothers? Cam knows that Reeese has changed a lot of jobs over the years, unable to find the career that would be both enjoyable and stimulating at the same time. She's been working for a talent agency for the last three months, reading script submissions. While Cam may have her doubts whether she is going to stick with this job as well, Reese is convinced she has finally discovered her real vocation. When Cam's aggressive agent approaches and bullies her into spying on Cam's progress with the script, he does it by threatening to get her fired from her dream job. Reese is always welcome to stay at her godmother's house is going to make sure Cam writes the best script of his life and she is going to help him. There's so much at stake and I don't mean just their jobs, but also the life-long friendship and their easy-going family dynamics, so only very strong attraction and 'blazing' chemistry can force the two protagonists to risk everything and finally change the nature of their relationship. Reese is a sweet, fun-loving girl and deep down she knows what her heart wants. Cam is a writer who is a bit slow to recognise how perfect their own story is. Luckily, his adoptive brothers Nash and Gael are there to tease and nudge him in the right direction. Reese and Cam worry about their parents discovering their budding romance, but in reality it has always been obvious to anyone that they were made for each other. The story is set in a small town of Rustic Creek and I loved all the adventures and fun moments Reese and Cam get up to on their mission to help Cam produce his masterpiece. My favourite has got to be the library prank, but there were lots of others. If you are a fan of the small town setting, you'll love Rustic Creek. Lovely romcom recommended to anyone who enjoys the friends-to-lovers trope! Thank you to NetGalley, Entangled Publishing, the author and IndieSage PR for the ARC which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily. Aloha With Love
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My thoughts: Aloha with Love is a sweet and heartwarming story of Jenna Burke who left her hometown in Hawaii to pursue a career in architecture in California. When Jenna's project for an apartment complex she put so much hard work in designing doesn't get an approval from an arrogant potential investor, Jenna is understandably upset. Then, her self-obsessed long-term boyfriend Darren checks out of their relationship which was going nowhere anyway. But all of this pales in comparison with the sad news she gets from home- her beloved Aunt May had a heart attack and passed away. Jenna goes back home for the memorial and stays there to renovate her Aunt's home. Aunt May even stipulated the local contractor she wanted to help Jenna take care of her old house- Ben Fletcher. Ben isn't just handsome, he pays special attention to the beauty and the soul of the old buildings he restores and Jenna cannot help but appreciate it. Jenna is a sunny, optimistic person, willing to work hard and look at the bright side of things. She needs some time to reflect on her life and what makes her happy. I really liked her Aunt May's saying that sometimes taking a step back is two steps forward. The message is quite simple: open up to the love of people who love you the way you are, not for what they can get from you. The story is told from Jenna's point of view, because this is her journey of self-discovery, but there are also interesting supporting characters e.g. Sara, Jenna's sister and her teenage children. Jenna never realised that while she was a bit of jealous of how close Sara was to their mother, Sara would have loved to spend as much time getting to know their father, something that Jenna who was into DIY did a lot. There's also Jenna's wonderfully supportive boss/mentor Patti who encourages Jenna to stay true to herself. The setting is gorgeous and I loved all the local food descriptions, especially Sara's baking creations. Overall, this was a very quick read that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys Hallmark movies and sweet, clean romance. Thank you to Giselle from Xpresso Book Tours, the publisher and the authors for the gifted review copy. All opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way. If you play with fire... One of the most notorious cowboys in Cold River, Jensen Kittredge always has willing women with sweet smiles vying for a place in his bed. So when the prissy high school librarian sidles up to him in the most disreputable bar in town with a scowl on her face, he has no idea what to make of it. Much less the attraction he feels toward the bespectacled creature who wants something from him... but not that. Yet. Someone gets burned... Harriett Barnett doesn't care for dens of iniquity-- or the insolent cowboy she certainly shouldn't find attractive. But one of her students needs her help, and if she needs to corral the infamous Jensen to save him, she will. Trouble is, the town's favorite Kittredge brother is a lot more than she bargained for. Harriett's happy little life is orderly and neat, just how she likes it--until Jensen blows it all apart with his particular brand of addictive passion. Can a modern-day schoolmarm really tame the wildest cowboy in town? Or is Harriet headed for a terrible fall? (From the bookblurb) Publisher: St.Martin's Publication Date: August 24th Genre: Fiction / Romance / Western ISBN 9781250750006, 1250750008 My thoughts: First of all, I am a big fan of Caitlin Crews/Megan Crane's writing and her cowboy stories set in Cold River, Colorado. There's always a bit more to them than just an enjoyable story for die-hard romantics. This one made me think a lot about being pigeonholed not only by other people, but also yourself and then feeling you have tolive in a certain way to conform to the set expectations. Meet Jensen Kittredge- a charming jock in high school, a ladies' man who never parks his truck anywherefor longer than a few hours (not even one night stand), cheerful guy who knows how to diffuse any conflict or any serious talk by cracking a joke or two. People have very low expectations of him and it works for Jensen. Until Miss Harriet Bartlett, a newcomer in Cold River (why, she's only been living there for three years), announces she won a date with Jensen and would like to claim it. Not that she wants this date to be of a romantic kind-she needs a hero! or rather a role model, to be more precise, for an inspirational talk as a part of her summer school remedial program. Everyone laughs at her, including Jensen, who jumps from planes to fight fires in summer months and is taking care of the business side of the K-Bar (the Kittredge Ranch) and yet cannot believe anyone would see him as more than a barfly or the town clown. Who is this odd catlady-librarian wearing shapeless, frumpy outfits and why is Jensen suddenly thinking about her blue eyes nobody notices behind her huge glasses? Is there a better gift than helping another person discover a hidden part of themselves which is pure good? Jensen needs to process and address some issues from his past, while Harriet is about to discover that her singledom wasn't due to her 'oddness' or her refusal to lower her expectation of being treated with respect, but more to the simple fact that she hadn't met her match. It is difficult to say who goes through more growth in the story. There's also a secondary character-a teenager Harriet is heping to get back on track academically. Aiden comes from a family which has produced too many delinquents and he cannot shake off the weight of this reputation, while Jensen is a Kittredge and can rightly be proud of his hard-working, honest family. Both Jensen and Aiden want a second chance, but are afraid of trying and failing. Clearly, they can help each other, however incredible it may sound to the town. Harriet ismy favourite character in the story. How could I not love this strong-willed, independent, selfless librarian who believes in informing, educating, neverkeeping knowledge or skills to herself, but sharing them in a kind and considerate way? all that and practical skirts with pockets. A woman after my heart. Yes, there is also love and passion and quite a lot of steam, but there are also strong emotions that need to be recognised and managed. Once again, Caitlin Crews gives us an entertaining, swoonworthy story with fascinating characters! Can't wait for the next story in the series! Thank you to NetGalley and St.Martin's Press forthe review copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily. About the author:
Caitlin Crews discovered her first romance novel at the age of twelve, in a bargain bin at the local five and dime. It involved swashbuckling pirates, grand adventures, a heroine with rustling skirts and a mind of her own, and a seriously mouthwatering and masterful hero. The book (the title of which remains lost in the mists of time) made a serious impression. Caitlin was immediately smitten with romances and romance heroes, to the detriment of her middle school social life. And so began her life-long love affair with romance novels, many of which she insists on keeping near her at all times, thus creating a fire hazard of love wherever she lives. Caitlin has made her home in places as far-flung as York, England and Atlanta, Georgia. She was raised near New York City, and fell in love with London on her first visit when she was a teenager. She has backpacked in Zimbabwe, been on safari in Botswana, and visited tiny villages in Namibia. She has, while visiting the place in question, declared her intention to live in Prague, Dublin, Paris, Athens, Nice, the Greek Islands, Rome, Venice, and/or any of the Hawaiian islands. Writing about exotic places seems like the next best thing to actually moving there. She currently lives in Oregon with her animator/comic book artist husband and their menagerie of ridiculous animals. (From Goodreads) THE DO-OVER by Melissa MacKinnon is out now! Check it out and be sure to get your copy today!Title: The Do-OverAuthor: Melissa MacKinnonGenre: Contemporary RomanceAbout The Do-Over:After years in the grueling California dating scene, Maggie Kelley has finally agreed to marry her Mr. Right Now. But there’s just one teensy problem…the county clerk lets her know that she’s technically still married to her Vegas fling: the best three days she ever had...and can’t actually remember. The moment she sees her very hot husband after eight years, with his works-well-with-his-hands attitude, she’s sure their wedding night must have been explosive. The absolute last person Finnegan Garrity expected at his door is Maggie—his ultimate “one who got away.” Yet here she is in his small-town boat shop, looking just as adorable as ever…and wanting a divorce. Yeah, he has no intention of letting that happen. Now he’s got one week to convince Maggie that they’re still perfect for each other. But he’s going to need more than just a do-over: he’s going to need a miracle.Amazon | B&N | Kobo | AppleBooksAbout Melissa MacKinnon:Melissa spent her childhood exploring the coast of down east Maine without parental supervision and immersing herself in any book she could get her scrappy little hands on. Although she pursued a career in theater, the written word is her true calling. She leads a full life with her husband and six children traveling the country to wherever the Army sends them in her very large twelve passenger van, in what she lovingly deems “organized chaos”. She finds time to write in her “spare time”, somewhere in between soccer practices and nap time with coffee. Lots and lots of coffee. She loves creating unforgettable romance, and enjoys writing and reading everything from sexy, sword-toting heroes to spit-out-your-coffee funny romantic comedies… as long as she doesn’t get the book wet. She leaves that up to the characters.Connect with Melissa:Email | Melissa MacKinnon | Facebook | Facebook Fan Page | Twitter | GoodreadsSynopsis: A former gun for hire and a federal agent find themselves on the right side of love but the wrong end of a bullet in this Richter installment from New York Times bestselling author Catherine Bybee. On a fateful night in Las Vegas, FBI agent Leo Grant is working on a critical detail in a high-profile child prostitution trial when a beautiful woman jumps into the path of a bullet meant for him. Little does Leo know that the woman is Olivia, an ex-assassin who is seeking redemption one good deed at a time. One minute, Olivia is lunging in front of Leo on the Vegas Strip. The next, she’s waking up in the hospital in a haze of pain with no memory of her past, her enemies, or even her own name. With Olivia suffering from memory loss and completely unaware of the danger she is in, it’s up to Leo and Neil MacBain’s team of operatives to keep her safe. With Olivia and Leo both unaware of her past crimes, the two have little reason to avoid their growing attraction. Slowly her past seeps in through the cracks as she struggles to find the answers of who she is. When the veil is lifted and her dark past is staring her down, Olivia must turn her back on Leo and the love she can never allow herself to have, and race to find her would-be killer. Publisher: Montlake Publication Date: July 6th, 2021 348 pages Series: Richter (#2) 9781542009959, 1542009952 Previous Book in the series: Changing Rules (my review) My thoughts: A Thin Disguise is Book 2 Catherine Bybee's fast-paced, addictive Richter series. Fans ofCatherine Bybee are going to be delighted with this newest addition. The book has the same gripping, 'can't-put-it-down' quality,and it was nice to see the familiar faces again. This is the story of Olivia Nought, a graduate of the same military boarding school in Germany where Claire, the protagonist of the previous book, got her unusual set of skills. Olivia wasn't as lucky as Claire who was practically adopted by Neil McBain and given a chance to do good by working for McBain Security and Solutions. Can this book be read as a standalone? Yes, but if you have both books, it is better to start with Book 1, as the second book deals with the same human-trafficking case Claire and Cooper solved in Changing Rules. Olivia is helping Neil's team protect Marie, the key witness in the case, before and during the trial. If Marie survives, she is supposed to go into a federal protection program and start a new life with a new identity. I'm not going to say anything else, to keep this review as spoiler-free as possible. FBI agent Leo Grant is as invested in the case as Neil's team. When he gets a call from Claire to stop getting too close to one of the cousins of the powerful criminal on the trial, he isn't too happy. Apparently, he is interfering with Neil's 'maverick' security. Then while he is trying to work out who it is, Leo gets almost shot. A beautiful girl Leo has just been trying to chat up takes the bullet and has to be rushed to the hospital to save her life. Needless to say, Leo is feeling guilty and responsible for what happened to Jane Doe (the girl didn't have any documents on her). When she wakes up, she cannot remember anything. Something is connecting the girl to Neil's team, although nobody wants to confide in Leo. Neil persuades Leo that he and his people will take care of her until she gets back her memory and Leo takes sometime off his work to stay with them. Leo and Olivia come from the opposite sides. A relationship that can never exist, can never work in real life, but there is a strong romantic attraction they can't do anything about. Leo needs to make some tough choices, while Olivia...she has a lot of past to put behind before she can allow herself get attached to anyone. If you've read Say it Again from Catherine Bybee's First Wives series, you know why Olivia is so cagey and quick to flee in order to protect people she cares about. Similarly to the first book, Catherine Bybee strikes a fine balance between the romantic and mystery elements. The pace was a bit faster at the beginning when the narrative was action-movie -like and a bit slower in the middle to allow for Olivia's healing and the development of the relationships. The end was as thrilling and full of action as Catherine Bybee's faithful fans have come to expect from this author. Can't wait to read the next book in the series! Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion. About the Author:
New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bybee has written thirty-five books that have collectively sold more than eight million copies and have been translated into more than twenty languages. Raised in Washington State, Bybee moved to Southern California in the hope of becoming a movie star. After growing bored with waiting tables, she returned to school and became a registered nurse, spending most of her career in urban emergency rooms. She now writes full time and has penned the Not Quite series, the Weekday Brides series, the Most Likely To series, and the First Wives series. Undiagnosed Love
-- EXCERPT: The intercom buzzed. Sure enough, it was Seth: Mr. Dependable. Right on time. That was one trait he shared with his brother. Their mother had drilled punctuality into them. When Seth and I started hanging out, there had always been those first few moments when I saw him, before his height or the unruly hair registered, when my imagination could fool itself into thinking he was Philip. Funny how I’d stopped doing that in recent weeks. I no longer wanted it to be Philip; I was more than happy it was Seth. “Happy Birthday.” Freshly shaven, he enveloped me in a quick one-armed hug at the door while holding a bag of groceries in his other hand. I caught a whiff of his aftershave. “You smell nice,” I said as I pulled away. “Yeah, I’m trying out this new thing. It’s called showering.” “Sounds revolutionary.” “Oh, trust me, it is.” Seth strolled into the apartment and set the grocery bag on the counter. “So, I know we talked about doing those mini quiche things that Mum makes as a starter, but I thought some hearty pumpkin and bacon soup might be better given the weather.” “It’s your show. I’m merely the hired help,” I said. We chatted about work and life as we sliced and diced the pumpkin. Soon the soup was bubbling away, and Seth turned his attention to seasoning the lamb rack while I put the finishing touches to the cheesecake. As I returned it to the fridge, I realized there was one topic Seth hadn’t touched on. “Have you hung out with Imogen this week?” “Um…no, actually…Imogen and I broke up.” Seth scratched his nose, looking uncomfortable. “Oh, I’m sorry. I thought things were going well between you guys.” “Yeah…they were. But it was one of those situations where things looked good on the surface, but we didn’t really connect at a deeper level.” I felt a surge of anger at her. Seth was such a great guy; she must be some kind of fool to let him get away. Seth glanced at me. “I know what you’re thinking. You’re surprised to hear I have a deeper level, right?” “A bit. I had you pegged as someone with about as much depth as a puddle.” Seth grinned. “I like that. Bradley’s writing a song about the things people say to each other when they break up. I might give him that line.” “Make sure he doesn’t forget ‘It’s not you, it’s me.’” I could hear the bitterness in my voice. “That’s the one Philip used on me.” Seth picked up a spoon to stir the soup. “That’s probably the first time in Phil’s life that he got something in the emotional domain correct.” He held out the spoon. “Want a taste?” I opened the drawer and took out a clean spoon. “We’re doctors, remember? We should probably observe the basic rules of hygiene.” “I’m also a guy,” Seth pointed out. “I can cook an entire meal using one spoon and one pot.” “That’s something everyone should aspire to.” “It sure saves a lot of time washing up.” I helped myself to a spoonful of soup. The flavor exploded on my tongue: the perfect balance of sweet pumpkin and salty bacon. “It’s delicious. You’re a culinary genius.” Seth gave me a wink. “I need to pad out my resume somehow, make myself more attractive to the ladies. With a face like this, I need all the help I can get.” I snorted. “Whatever.” Both Johnson boys were far too handsome for their own good. I couldn’t imagine Seth having any trouble attracting women, and Philip had even managed to attract one while engaged to another. Not that Seth would ever do that. Funny how I knew that instinctively. I couldn’t imagine a scenario where Seth would cheat on the person he was with. Then again, before he’d done it, had I ever imagined Philip would? Why was I thinking about Philip so much tonight? Maybe it was due to the fact this was my first birthday in nine years without him. And, if everything had gone as planned, he would have been at my side, helping me instead of his younger brother. Seth grabbed the oven mitt and pulled out the lamb rack. As I watched him make a delicate slice, testing whether it was cooked through, I couldn’t help rewinding the evening, imagining if it had been Philip cooking alongside me. Philip always cooked in an “Aren’t I amazing? Make sure you admire me as I’m such a fantastic guy for helping you out” kind of way. He would have instructed me while we cooked, trying to make sure everything was perfect. And it would have been tense because for Philip, it was always about making an impression. He could even turn a casual birthday dinner with friends competitive. He’d have found some obscure wine and made a big deal of opening it. We’d have cooked complicated dishes well outside our comfort zone, as it was important to Philip that everyone gushed over the dinner. And I would have gone along with him because that’s what I did. I could almost see myself—that alternative Anna—face flushed, trying to think of ways to destress Philip before our guests arrived, inwardly cursing that I’d ever suggested doing the cooking when a restaurant would have been so much simpler. In contrast to this reality, where I’d spent the past few hours laughing and joking with Seth as we prepared a perfectly edible meal. Okay, it might not be haute cuisine, but my guests wouldn’t care. Nor would they care when I served them cheap bottles of wine. I was so much happier than alternative Anna would have been. That thought startled me out of my daze. Seth was talking. I blinked, trying to focus on what he was saying. He was telling me about the musical aspirations of his roommate Bradley. “Anyway, his band’s scored a gig at that new club on Victoria Street in a few weeks, so I said I’d go along to support them. Do you want to come too?” “Don’t you think I’m a bit old to go clubbing?” “I’m reasonably confident your arthritic limbs can handle it.” “Okay, sounds like fun.” “Based on the noises coming from his room when he’s practicing, fun isn’t quite the word I’d use. More like painful.” “You’re really not selling it to me now.” Seth flashed me a grin. “I’ll be there. What more of a sales pitch do you need?” “So true,” I deadpanned. I met Seth’s eyes, clocking their deep hazel color before regaining my senses. What was I doing? Making meaningful eye contact with Seth? That’s the kind of thing one did when having a flirty conversation, not our typical jokey exchanges. I looked away, acutely aware of the blush creeping up my neck, hoping he’d put it down to the heat in the kitchen. Fortunately, the buzzer rang. “I’ll get it.” I wiped my hands on a towel and headed over to buzz the first of my guests in.
GIVEAWAY! #Blog Tour #Adrift (Haven Island Series 2) by Isabel Jolie #Contemporary Romance @Xpresso Book Tours11/6/2021
Adrift
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My thoughts:
Adrift is the second book in the Haven Island Series, but it can definitely be read as a standalone. My thoughts: Adrift is the second book in Isabel Jolie's Haven Island series. The first book introduced us to Tate and Luna, this one is about Tate's childhood friend Gabe, and Luna's friend Poppy. You can definitely read and enjoy Adrift as a standalone. We meet Gabe in his New York office and see that there is a potential insider trading scandal brewing. Gabe may not be the most likeable protagonist at the beginning of the book. He is arrogant and possibly not the best judge of people. But when his mum asks him to go to Haven Island and talk to his childhood friend Tate whom he hasn't seen for ten years, Gabe is happy to oblige. He is sure that the rift between Tate and his brother must be the fault of Tate and he just needsto talk a bit of sense into him (if you've read the first book in the series, you know what it's all about). When Gabe meets Poppy, he is attracted to her voluptious curvy figure and the fact that she has an internet subscription business where clients get access to photos. Poppy has found herself doing this activity during the pandemic when money was tight, and although she has always set strict limits, naturally, a lot of people see her in a certain light She is dreaming of opening a restaurant or a bar, and, Gabe, despite all his drawbacks sees that she is special, although she is lacking experience and higher self-esteem. Both characters go through a huge amount of development and growth in the book, Poppy learning to really believe in her self. You can see how her past experiences shaped her view of herself, and how much hard work and conscious effort it took her to really accept herself. Gabe also had to realise a lot of things on his way to becoming kinder and more deserving of Poppy's love. Lovely romance with interesting characters- great addition to the series. Looking forward to the next book! Thank you to Xpresso Book Tours and the author for the review copy provided in exchange for an honest opinion. From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bybee comes the steamy first novel in her new adrenaline-fueled Richter series. As an employee of MacBain Security and Solutions, Claire Kelly can certainly hold her own. Armed with an impressive set of covert skills, she’s more than prepared to tackle any job that comes her way…except one involving Cooper Lockman. Cooper and Claire used to work together before his feelings for her sent him packing to Europe for six long years. But now he’s back and determined to ignore the still-smoldering heat that lingers between them. Their current mission: go undercover together at a California high school to root out the mastermind behind a prostitution ring targeting young girls. The closer they get to the truth and the closer they get to each other, however, the deadlier their task becomes. As Claire and Cooper risk their lives to bring down their target, will their hearts be the final casualties? My thoughts:
This is my first book by Catherine Bybee and I was really impressed by how immersive, even addictive her writing is. I kept reading until the small hours and couldn't put the book down until the mystery was solved and everyone was safe (the final part was absolutely nailbiting in the best action movie tradition!). In case you get the same strange feeling of being given the backstory on the go, while Changing Rules is the first book in Catherine Bybee's Richter series, Claire's mentor Sasha, Claire's boss Neil (the owner of MacBain Security and Solutions) and his family- they appeared in Catherine's previous books. It didn't spoil my enjoyment of Changing Rules. 24 year old Claire Kelly gets a new undercover assignment. The case deals with a human trafficking ring which recruits vulnerable girls from a high school. Neil's daughter Emma goes to a private school nearby and it appears that the traffickers have been targeting students from both schools. The police department has their own undercover agents involved in this case and it ispossible that the agent/s have gone rogue. Claire and Jax, her best friend from their school days at Richter school, are sent to the schools with a double (triple? ) task- identify potential victims, identify the traffickers and their accomplices and flush out the rogue agent. I think you can already see how exciting this mystery/ suspense is. They are not alone. Claire is paired with Cooper Lockman, who has recently come back from the London office of MacBain Security and Solutions. Claire and Cooper have known each other since she was eighteen and was rescued from the shady happenings at Richter. While there is undeniable chemistry between Claire and Cooper and their relationship develops gradually during the case, Catherine Bybee manages to strike a great balance between the focus on the investigation and the romance elements. The protagonists are both strong, decisive, independent and caring in equal parts-no wonder sparks fly when these two friends decide to take their relationship to the new level. I'm just going to say it again-nothing beats good old friends-to-lovers trope! I really enjoyed Changing Rules and would love to read the continuation of the series. Whether you are a fan of Catherine Bybee, like a strong female lead or are just curious about the romantic suspense genre, I can definitely recommend this one. Thankyou to NetGalley and Montlake for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion. Book & Author Details: Simply You by Maggie Wild Publication date: January 12th 2021 Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance Synopsis: She needs someone she can count on. He’s gun-shy after being hurt. Can a brush with fate in a rained-out English village turn into enduring love? Sarah Tildon thinks she’s found the perfect man. But after her overbearing future mother-in-law insists her quiet country wedding become a high-society shindig, she sets out on a two-week ride to rethink her plans. Stranded when her bicycle is stolen in a picturesque hamlet, she’s touched by the kindness of a handsome young farmer who comes to her rescue. The big city failed Michael Marsden’s ample ambitions. After his fiancée cheats on him, he turns his back on the hustle and bustle and takes on a farm to prove he can lead a self-sufficient life. And taken by surprise when a charming outsider helps sing his hens into laying, he realizes his newfound Eden is missing its Eve. Unexpectedly falling for the sweet homesteader, Sarah is torn between the security of a gilded cage and the precarious freedom of raising chickens. And when her fiancé arrives to bring her back to London, Michael fears she’ll leave him with yet another shattered heart. Will this unlikely couple throw caution to the wind and embrace a destined second chance? Simply You is the first book in the heartwarming Hope Valley Romance series. If you like fun heroines, pastoral backdrops, and endearing courtships, then you’ll adore Maggie Wild’s sweet tale. Read Simply You to start fresh today! AUTHOR BIO: Maggie Wild lives in California Wine Country with her own Mr. Right and a small collection of furry friends. A native of Yorkshire, England, she returns “home” every day through her fictional worlds. When not writing her fun, contemporary romance stories, she loves to watch the birds in her garden and hike through the local redwoods. Links instagram / website / facebook Book & Author Details: The Winter Heals by Marie McGrath (Honey Cove, #2) Publication date: January 12th 2021 Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult Synopsis: It was almost impossible to heal when everyone was out to get you. Shelby Rowe was stuck between two worlds—the one she wanted and the one everyone else wanted for her. As the daughter of a prominent family in Honey Cove, Shelby’s life was out of her control. Her friends, interests, and even her love life was controlled by others. When a new girl moves to town, Shelby’s life was turned upside down as she gets a glimpse of what life could be like—no obligations, no pressure. As the Christmas break begins, Shelby is left stuck between what is expected and what she feels is right. Split in half, Shelby has to make decisions to correct her life and heal her spirit. Will she allow others to control who she is? Or will she finally go out on her own? Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54779586-the-winter-heals Purchase: Amazon: https://amzn.to/3okuE7c AUTHOR BIO:
Marie McGrath lives in a small rural town in Maryland. She hopes to inspire others with her stories. Her favorite genres to read are YA Romance and Contemporary Fiction. She loves the color turquoise, tigers, and listening to music. Author links: https://twitter.com/Marie_McGrath_ https://www.facebook.com/MarieMcGrathAuthor/ https://www.instagram.com/marie_mcgrath_/ https://mariemcgrathauthor.wixsite.com/books https://mailchi.mp/a07cddcef872/marie-mcgrath-fans https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19535652.Marie_McGrath |
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