Review: The Duke of Danby's Holiday Hijinx

The Duke of Danby's Holiday Hijinx by Ava Stone
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I hadn't read anything by any of these three authors before, so I was excited to give this collection a shot. At the very least, I hoped that reading it would put me in a festive mood just before the holidays. Unfortunately for me, even though this collection is advertised as the first in a series, the stories actually seemed to be follow ups to novellas that were published in previous collections, featuring secondary characters from the earlier stories. That left me feeling a bit lost because there was some background and context missing that probably would have contributed to my enjoyment of the novellas included in this collection. As it was, I can't say that I would recommend this collection for anyone who hasn't read the earlier, related novellas or who isn't already a fan of these authors. While each of the stories was, for the most part, pleasant, none of them were anything special. There are much better books out there to enjoy in anticipation of the holidays.

*ARC provided by the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: The Duke I Once Knew

The Duke I Once Knew by Olivia Drake
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I have read and enjoyed several of Olivia Drake's previous books, but this one was not one of my favorites. In general, I am not a fan of "big misunderstanding" plots because it is so frustrating for me to know that most of the problems keeping the hero and heroine apart could be solved if they just had an honest conversation. In this case, Abby and Max had part of that conversation somewhere around the middle of the story instead of waiting for the very end, which admittedly cut down on some of my frustration. However, Max's refusal to share the "big secret" of his childhood, or at least acknowledge to Abby that his parents' marriage had been strained, made it almost impossible for Max and Abby's relationship to progress. When Max finally decided that he loved Abby and wanted to tell her the truth about his parents, the speed of it took me by surprise and made his love for Abby seem somewhat unconvincing.

There were several other things about the book that bothered me, particularly that the overall plot was fairly predictable and that I didn't find the heroine to be especially likeable. At first, Abby seemed to be a relatively sympathetic character because of the way her family treated her, but as the story progressed, I found myself liking her less and less. At every opportunity, she rushed to a negative judgement of the hero and never really seemed to trust him. Even in the last scene of the book, when Max is proposing to her, she throws his past behavior with other women back in his face along with a snippy comment about how she's "not like" him because she wouldn't have "made love without being in love." It's hard to have faith in their future relationship if it is not based on mutual trust and respect, and even though Max had proven Abby's assumptions about his rakish behavior to be incorrect on several occasions, she still didn't seem to trust or respect him very much. It made me question why she would agree to marry him at all.

Overall, I would rate this 2.5 stars if half stars were a possibility, but I rounded up to 3 stars because it was generally a well-written book and a fairly light, pleasant read. I will probably give the next book in the series a try and hope that it more closely resembles the earlier books I read by Ms. Drake.

*ARC provided by the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: Even the Score

Even the Score by Beth Ehemann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved Ms. Ehemann's Cranberry Inn series and its spinoff, Viper's Heart, so I was very excited when she decided to write an additional spinoff story for Andy Shaw, Brody and Viper's agent. Andy seemed like a great guy and didn't deserve the way his awful wife treated him and his children in the earlier books. Danicka was a much better match for him, and seemed to genuinely care about his kids too.

I'm not generally a fan of sports-themed books, but Ms. Ehemann's stories are so compelling and character-driven that I don't mind the sports backgrounds at all. In this case, she has managed to introduce an element of suspense as well because of the arc related to Danicka's stalker, which I really enjoyed. It brought out a different side of Andy, which was very intriguing and unlike anything we had seen of him in the earlier books.

Hopefully this is not the last we will see of these characters!

*ARC provided by the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: The First Kiss of Spring

The First Kiss of Spring by Emily March
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love the Eternity Springs series, and "The First Kiss of Spring" is a delightful addition to the previous books. We've met the heroine, Caitlin Timberlake, before, as she is the daughter of previous characters Mac and Ali Timberlake and the sister of Chase Timberlake. I enjoyed getting to know Caitlin better in this installment of the series as well as receiving updates on her family and their friends in Eternity Springs.

The hero, Josh Tarkington, was very interesting due in large part to his mysterious past, which is slowly revealed over the course of the story. What is clear from the beginning is that Josh is a very caring individual, as evidenced by his love and care for his elderly neighbor and disabled dog, Penny. He was a good match for Caitlin and I enjoyed watching their relationship grow.

My favorite thing about books in the Eternity Springs series is that they stand very well on their own for readers who do not have previous experience with the series, while also allowing longtime fans the opportunity to check in with favorite characters from past stories. I hope that Ms. March will continue to introduce new, compelling characters and write books in this series for a long time to come.

*ARC provided by the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

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NOTE: I actually read this book back in June 2018, prior to "The Christmas Wishing Tree," which is the following book in the series.  However, I just realized today that I had forgotten to post my review.  My review of "The Christmas Wishing Tree" can be found here. 

Review: A Duke Changes Everything

A Duke Changes Everything by Christy Carlyle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"A Duke Changes Everything" was the first book I've read by Christy Carlyle, but it won't be the last. Both of the main characters were incredibly sympathetic and likeable, and as I read, I wanted nothing more than for them to find their HEA. Nick's journey, in particular, was amazing. He had so much to overcome after what he suffered in his childhood, but somehow he managed to grow up into an honorable gentleman (despite his claims to the contrary). Mina was a perfect match for him, and watching them fall in love was delightful. I very much look forward to reading the next books in this series.

*ARC provided by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: The Royal Treatment

The Royal Treatment by M.J. Summers
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sweet and funny

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but it turned out to be really funny and sweet. Most royalty themed romances are incredibly cheesy, but this one actually had some depth to it. I can't wait to read the next book in the series!

Update (12/17/18): Having now completed the series, I can't recommend it highly enough.  I laughed all the way to the end!

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Review: The Good, the Bad, and the Duke

The Good, the Bad, and the Duke by Janna MacGregor
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I loved the earlier books in Janna MacGregor's Cavensham Heiresses series, so I was pleased to be chosen by the publisher to read and review an advanced copy of the latest installment, "The Good, the Bad, and the Duke."

While this was not my favorite entry in the series, it was charming in its own way. I have been intrigued by the hero, Lord Paul Barstowe, ever since his first appearance as the villain in book 1, so I was glad to see him featured here. It's not an easy thing to redeem a villain and turn him into a worthy hero, but Ms. MacGregor manages to do so superbly with Paul. Learning his side of the story as well as more about his childhood certainly explains his actions in earlier books, though it does not excuse them. His heartfelt apologies to Claire and Emma made it clear that he had turned a corner and become the true gentleman he was always capable of being.

The heroine of this story, Lady Daphne Hallworth, also appeared in earlier books as Alex, Lord Pembrooke's, younger sister. I must admit to not remembering much about her from earlier stories, but perhaps that is the point since much of her character development hinges on her feelings of invisibility in the wake of her sister Alice's death and her brother's subsequent marriage to Lady Claire Cavensham. Her relationship with Paul helps her come out of her shell and learn to reach for the things she wants in life.

While the characters were mostly likeable, there were a few things that bothered me as I read. The story revolved around two main quests: first, to find Daphne's stolen journal, and second, to mend fences between Paul, Daphne's brother Alex, and their mutual friend Nick. Most of the first half of the book was focused on Daphne and Paul's search for the journal, which still hadn't been found when that quest was basically set aside in favor of exploring the book's second theme, the men's strained relationship. It bothered me that Daphne, especially, could seemingly stop worrying about the journal to focus on matters between Paul and her brother after the loss of the journal had caused her so much heartache in the beginning. When the search for the journal finally came back into play near the end of the book, it felt a bit like an afterthought solely designed to keep Paul invested in his relationship with Daphne after he had decided to break things off with her in the wake of the revelation of his family's painful secret.

Daphne's seeming recklessness also bothered me throughout the book. She was very worried about someone finding her journal and having it cause a scandal, as well as renewed pain for her brother and mother if her private thoughts about her sister's death became public. However, she didn't seem to be at all worried about the potential scandal of repeatedly visiting an infamous gambling den or spending time unchaperoned with a gentleman whom she had no intention of marrying - and one who was her brother's sworn enemy, to boot! I can't quite understand why she continued to compound her initial mistake of losing the journal in the first place by doing things that she knew were dangerous to her and her family's reputation.

At any rate, these annoyances were relatively minor, and overall I enjoyed this book. I very much look forward to the next installment in the Cavensham Heiresses series!

*ARC provided by the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: First Grave on the Right

First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'm not usually a fan of paranormals (other than time travel), but I've been hearing about this book for years and was in the mood for something different from what I usually read, so when I saw that the first book in Darynda Jones' Charley Davidson series was available through Net Galley, I decided to take a chance and try it out. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed "First Grave on the Right." Granted, it had its share of cheesy one liners (a few of which became repetitious and therefore kind of annoying by the end of the book), but overall, it was a fairly light and humorous read. The characters were mostly likeable, and surprisingly enough, the ghosts didn't creep me out as much as I thought they would.

I plan to read at least the next book in this series in the near future. Charley's story is certainly very unique and engaging, and I am interested in learning more about her abilities and how they affect those around her.

*Ebook provided by the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. 

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Review: Rising Star

Rising Star by Susannah Nix
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I adored all three of the books in Ms. Nix's previous "Chemistry Lessons" series, so I have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of her latest effort, "Rising Star," ever since the day it was announced. (To say that I was thrilled to be chosen to read and review an advance copy is something of an understatement.) Thankfully, "Rising Star" not only lived up to my expectations, it exceeded them.

I loved this book and its characters. Griffin, the hero, was super likeable and down to Earth, despite the fact that he was well on his way to becoming a major movie star. I liked that Ms. Nix gave us the "behind the scenes" view of what his life as an actor was really like, with the strict diet and workouts necessary to maintain his muscular physique as well as glimpses of the downsides of fame, such as the loss of privacy in his relationships and the struggles with difficult directors and co-stars. She was able to show that acting really is a job like any other, despite its glamorous reputation, and requires sacrifice from those who want to be successful. It was easy to understand Alice's misgivings about entering into a relationship with Griffin based on the challenges associated with his job.

Alice's story arc was also very well-written and timely given the emergence of the #metoo movement. I particularly liked that it wasn't all wrapped up neatly at the end of the story. Unfortunately, I think that's a sad reflection of our current reality, and I really related with Alice's struggle to decide how to handle the situation and its potential implications for others.

Overall, I highly recommend "Rising Star" and hope to see several of the secondary characters featured in future books (particularly Kimberleigh and Griffin's actor friend who visited from Vancouver). Griffin and Alice were an incredibly likeable couple and I loved rooting them on to an HEA!

*Ebook provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: Kiss Me at Christmas

Kiss Me at Christmas by Valerie Bowman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was pleased to be chosen to review an ARC of this book because (1) I'm a sucker for a good Christmas story and (2) I recently read and enjoyed the previous book in Ms. Bowman's "Playful Brides" series, "A Duke Like No Other." Happily, I enjoyed "Kiss Me at Christmas" just as much as its predecessor. The main characters, Lady Regina and Daffin Oakleaf, played important roles in the previous book and made for very likeable secondary characters. I found myself rooting for them to get a happy ending of their own during Mark and Nicole's story, so it was wonderful to be able to watch their story play out here. I also enjoyed the chance to check in on Mark and Nicole and meet some of the characters from earlier books in the series, which I haven't yet read.

The central mystery of the book, involving a mysterious assassin's plot to hurt Regina, was well-written and engaging, though things did seem to drag a bit towards the middle of the book. The pace picked up at around 60% on the Kindle edition, and I found myself anxious to discover the culprit. The author dropped a couple of clues as to the identity of the plot's ringleader along the way, but still managed to fool me right up until the big reveal. (That's unusual since I can usually guess the bad guy's identity pretty early on in a story, so good job, Ms. Bowman!)

Overall, this was a relatively light, sweet romance, despite the focus on the assassin's pursuit of Regina. I would definitely recommend this book to friends and look forward to reading more of Ms. Bowman's work myself. In fact, I plan to go back and catch up on the earlier books in the "Playful Brides" series in the near future; the Cavendish twins, in particular, are very intriguing! Also, is it too much to hope that the Duke of Huntley and Delilah will be featured in the next book in the series? (I have a feeling their love story would be quite something, with a number of laughs along the way!)

*ARC provided by the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: A Duke Like No Other

A Duke Like No Other by Valerie Bowman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was the first book I've read by Valerie Bowman, but it will not be the last. At first, I was a bit apprehensive about starting a series with book #9, but I was pleasantly surprised to discover that this book stands very well on its own. I did not feel lost at all because I hadn't read the previous books in the series first. I liked what I learned of the previous heroes and heroines in this story, however, and will probably go back and read at least some of the other books now.

Both Mark, the hero, and Nicole, the heroine, were likeable leads, and I enjoyed getting to know them over the course of the story. As a general rule, I am not a fan of "big misunderstanding" plots, and while this one did have its frustrating moments, the conflict between the two main characters was handled well. I still found myself wishing that they would just have one honest conversation to clear the air long before they finally did, but the author did a good job of explaining each character's feelings/motivations and why they found it difficult to communicate with each other.

I also enjoyed getting to know several of the secondary characters, particularly Lady Regina and Daffin Oakleaf. I am pleased to learn that they will be getting a story of their own in Ms. Bowman's next book.

*ARC provided by the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: Not Quite Christmas

Not Quite Christmas by Sharon Kleve
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This was a sweet story, but very short, both in terms of page length and the timeline. The whole thing took place over the span of only 2 or 3 days, which meant that the characters basically fell in "insta-love." As a general rule, I am not a fan of the "insta-love" plot, though some stories manage to make it work. Unfortunately, this one didn't work so well for me. There was no conflict or any obstacles for the main characters to overcome before they could be together, so I didn't really have anything to root for. Also, they didn't seem to have much in common besides the fact that their jobs both involved travel and their mutual desire to make it to Seattle before Christmas. That didn't give me a good feeling for the long-term viability of their relationship.

That being said, the story was well-written, and I would certainly read other books by this author in the future.

*Ebook provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: Dear Santa: A Novel

Dear Santa: A Novel by Nancy Naigle
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book was sweet and for the most part well-written, but I still struggled to stick with it at times. The author was very good at including descriptive details in the story, but she seemed to repeat some of them in subsequent chapters, which made the story drag a bit. It didn't help that there was basically no progress in the romance between Angela and Geoff for the entire first half of the book.

Things improved when Angela and Geoff finally started to get closer, but the speed of their courtship was kind of suspect given the level of Angela's animosity towards Christmas Galore. However, they really did seem happy by the time the epilogue rolled around, and I was happy that Angela was able to find a new job that suited her so well.

Overall, while I can't say that I would necessarily recommend this book to a friend or read it again myself, I would pick up another Nancy Naigle book in the future.

*ARC provided by the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: First Earl I See Tonight

First Earl I See Tonight by Anna Bennett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This could have turned into a very dark story given the blackmail plot and the hero's traumatic backstory, but despite these weighty topics, the author managed to produce a remarkably sweet, funny, and enjoyable novel. The only thing that bothered me was the incredible coincidence of the blackmailer's identity. What are the odds that Fiona, the h, would randomly choose to propose marriage to someone so closely connected to her blackmailer? I found that part hard to believe, though at least the author's explanation for how the blackmailer discovered Lily's secret was credible.

In any event, the book was well-written, and I found both the H and h to be very likeable characters. I look forward to reading future books in this series.

*ARC provided by the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: Alaskan Holiday

Alaskan Holiday by Debbie Macomber
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I have read and enjoyed many of Debbie Macomber's books, but "Alaskan Holiday" wasn't one of my favorites. I appreciated the book's message regarding the necessity of compromise in building a successful relationship, but that was one of the only aspects of the story that really resonated with me. For a couple of reasons, I had a hard time connecting with the main characters, Palmer and Josie. First, it felt as if I was starting in the middle of their story because by the time the book begins, Josie and Palmer have already known each other for six months and are supposed to be in love. However, it's hard to get a sense of their connection when we don't get to see their relationship develop from the start. They really didn't seem to have much in common, and it was hard for me to figure out what they saw in each other. Second, I just couldn't relate to their desire to live in the middle of nowhere, Alaska. That isn't the author's fault, and she did a good job in the second half of the book showing the positives of Ponder's way of life. It's not a place I could ever imagine myself living, though, which made the whole idea of Josie's potentially settling there hard for me to swallow.

I also found a lot of the secondary characters to be annoying and overly pushy. Jack, in particular, bothered me. All he seemed to do was demand that Josie cook for him, until he basically lost his mind and "fell in love" with Josie's mom at first sight. (Thank goodness that went nowhere.) He acted more like a spoiled 5-year-old boy than a 50-year-old man. If I were Josie, I would have told Jack to take a hike long before he ever came to visit her in Seattle. (What was up with Jack tagging along on that trip, anyway? Who wants a third wheel on a trip to visit their girlfriend, whom they haven't seen in weeks?)

Overall, this wasn't a terrible book, but it wasn't great, either. Given a choice between "Alaskan Holiday" and one of Macomber's Cedar Cove novels, I'd choose Cedar Cove without hesitation.

*ARC provided by the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: Kiss the Girl

Kiss the Girl by Tara Sivec
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

First, a PSA: Don't read this book on an airplane (like I did) unless you're OK with the people sitting around you thinking you're crazy because you keep randomly bursting into laughter. This book will absolutely make you laugh, and possibly cry, and probably have ALL the feels as you follow along with Ariel and Eric. Over the past couple of years, Tara Sivec has become one of my favorite authors because she is so good at infusing her stories with real emotion. It's so easy for me to connect with her characters because of that. (In this case, it probably doesn't hurt that Ariel so often says, out loud, the things I say in my head, but usually don't have the courage to say in real life. If she were real, I think Ariel and I would be best friends.)

I adored the first two books in this series, but I think this one may just be my favorite. (I guess I'll have to double check that by going back and re-reading the first two - what a hardship, right? LOL) I don't want to say much more than that because I wouldn't want to spoil things for other readers, but I will say this: goat yoga is awesome, and I would give anything to see something like that in real life. (Not necessarily participate, mind you, because I would definitely mind the poop, but watching would be hilarious. #poopdance)

Please, keep the books coming, Tara Sivec. A new release from you is always a special occasion in my house.

P.S. That epilogue? Perfection! :-)

*ARC provided by the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: The Christmas Wishing Tree

The Christmas Wishing Tree by Emily March
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After 15 books, Emily March's Eternity Springs series is still going strong. Despite its rather weighty setup, "The Christmas Wishing Tree" is super cute and a worthy addition to the series. I really enjoyed getting to know Jenna and her son, Reilly. She was a great match for Devin Murphy, who we've gotten to know a bit in previous books. It was nice to see him finally get his own HEA.

The great thing about these books is that they can stand very well on their own for readers who do not have previous experience with the series, while also allowing longtime fans the opportunity to check in with favorite characters from past books. That was certainly true of this book, in large part because of the "Maternity Springs" baby boom. I look forward to watching the new additions grow up in future books in the series!

*ARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. 

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Review: The Promposal

The Promposal by Sariah Wilson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was just as cute as the first one in the series. Reading that first book ("The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back") undoubtedly provided valuable context for the events of this one, but the author sprinkles in enough reminders along the way that readers new to the series probably won't feel too lost. The characters are, for the most part, very likeable, and it's nice to see how they've grown since their story began. It will be interesting to see where the author takes them in Book 3.

*ARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: Second Chance At Two Love Lane

Second Chance At Two Love Lane by Kieran Kramer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Overall, I really enjoyed this book, as I have so many of Kieran Kramer's previous titles. The challenges facing Ella and Hank were concrete and easy to understand, and I appreciated that the author really made them work for their HEA. That said, there were a few little things that bothered me as I read, mainly in regards to the story's timeline. For example, both characters repeatedly mention that their breakup was "10 years ago," but if I'm remembering correctly, Ella says that she is 29. This is a problem because Ella and Hank's first date supposedly wasn't until after Ella graduated from college in Charleston and moved back to NYC, when she would have been 21 or 22. I get that people often round off when talking about numbers and time, but it still would have made a lot more sense if they had said their breakup was "ALMOST" or "ABOUT" 10 years ago, rather than repeatedly referring to it with an exact number. It also made it seem as if their relationship was very short, which didn't make sense since it was obviously such an important time in both of their lives.

On the bright side, Ella and Hank were both very likeable, and the secondary characters (especially Ella's Italian grandmothers, aka "the Nonnas," and Hank's cousin Pammy) were a lot of fun. I wouldn't mind seeing a couple of them get their own books.

This was the third book in a trilogy about three friends who own a professional matchmaking agency in Charleston, South Carolina. I have read the first two books, but I believe this one stands well enough on its own to be enjoyed by readers who are new to the series. The Charleston setting is delightful, especially for those (like me) who have had the pleasure of visiting the city. In fact, Kramer's descriptions of the city have me ready to plan a return trip right now! :-)

*ARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: Rogues Rush In

Rogues Rush In by Tessa Dare
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Tessa Dare's story was delightful, as her writing always is IMO, and deserves a higher rating than the 3 stars I gave this book. Unfortunately, my rating was dragged down by the inclusion of Christi Caldwell's story, of which I was not a fan. I hate "big misunderstanding" plots and usually spend the entire time being annoyed with the characters for not having a simple conversation that would have cleared up many of their issues. My dislike of this trope was compounded in this case by the fact that I didn't care for Caldwell's writing style, which may have benefited from some better editing. In any event, I can't see myself picking up any of Caldwell's other works in the future.

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Review: The Luck of the Bride

The Luck of the Bride by Janna MacGregor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really liked the first two books in this series, so it was a nice surprise to be chosen to review this latest installment through Netgalley. I enjoyed meeting March Lawson, the novel's heroine, in a previous book, and have been looking forward to reading her story ever since. March is a really admirable character, despite the questionable legality of some of her choices, because her actions are motivated by such deep love for her family. There aren't very many 17-year-old girls who could (or would) step up and raise their younger siblings as she did! Granted, she was probably more mature than the average modern 17-year-old, but it was still a huge challenge, and March faced it head on despite the personal sacrifices looking after her siblings required.

McCalpin was also a very interesting character, mainly because of his learning disability. It's pretty amazing that he was able to keep it hidden for so long during his education, but as he himself noted, it helped to be a duke's heir because it allowed him to get away with a lot of things other boys couldn't. His brother Will's help was also required, and is another great example of the power of fraternal love in this story. (Sidenote: I really hope Will is going to get a story of his own!) I think McCalpin's strong family ties made it easier for him to understand (and forgive) March's actions.

At any rate, this was a great read, and it does stand well on its own (though if you haven't read the first two books in the series yet, you will probably want to do so after catching up with some of those characters in this installment!). I look forward to the next book in the series.

*ARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

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Review: Royal Treatment

Royal Treatment by Tracy Wolff
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved the first book in this series, so I was thrilled to be able to read and review this one through NetGalley. Thankfully, the book not only lived up to my expectations, it exceeded them. Garrett and Lola were incredibly likeable characters who came together to become a great couple. From the descriptions of Garrett in the first book, I expected him to be uptight and perhaps a somewhat unlikeable character, but he turned out to be funny and sweet in a lot of unexpected ways. He certainly suffered from his time in captivity, but his determination not to let it break him was clear. Lola was just the perfect heroine for him - strong and feisty without being overbearing. They really brought out the best in each other.

I wish Garrett and Kian had more siblings! I would happily keep reading books in this series.

*ARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

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Review: Vegas Dumb Luck

Vegas Dumb Luck by Sharon Kleve
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This story was cute and funny, kind of in the vein of the Stephanie Plum series but without some of the mystery elements. However, it was very short - more of a novella than a full-length novel, really. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but IMO it would have been nice to learn more about PJ's relationships with Bruno, her aunt, and some of the other side characters. It sounds like PJ and Bruno met in a really interesting way, and maybe there's a (prequel?) story there. I don't think this is currently part of a series, but I may have missed something. Whether it is part of a series or not, it certainly stands well enough on its own for readers not to feel lost, but I would definitely read more stories about PJ and her family and friends if the author decides to write them.

*Ebook provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

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