More Than She Expected - Karen Templeton (HSE #2324 - Apr 2014)

Series: Jersey Boys (Book 2)

Neighbor, handyman and…husband? One woman finds her heart's desire right in her own backyard

He's just a friend! is the mantra pregnant Laurel Kent lives by while pretending not to stare at sexy Tyler Noble, the gorgeous neighbor who's been all-too-kindly playing Mr. Fix-It in her house. After all, she needs the help more than she cares to admit -- her sharp-tongued grandmother is her only family. But it's getting nearly impossible to ignore the sparks and butterflies she feels in her tummy every time he smiles at her…and that's not the baby talking!

It's ironic to Tyler that he's repairing the fence separating his yard from Laurel's when all he wants is zero barriers between them! Sure, she's pregnant, and no, she insists she's not looking for Husband #2. But he knows if she'd give him a chance, he could prove that he's the missing piece needed to complete her new family….

Very good book.  Laurel and Tyler have been neighbors for a couple months when he finds out that his dog has been visiting her on a regular basis, thanks to a hole under the fence.  Replacing the old fence with a new stone wall puts them in each other's company quite a bit, and a friendship starts to develop.  Tyler starts looking for more reasons to stop over and visit whenever he can.  

Laurel has to admit to herself that her neighbor is certainly easy on the eyes, but she's not looking for a relationship.  She is pregnant and on her own, except for her grandmother, and has learned to count on no one except herself.  Besides, Tyler is younger than she is and not looking for anything permanent in his life.

Both Tyler and Laurel have secrets and old hurts that make them reluctant to pursue any kind of relationship. The man that Laurel had been in love with didn't want children. He had been married before and his kids were grown, so he ended their relationship.  She also had some abandonment issues from her own parents, who had married because they had to.  When her mother died, her father turned her care over to her grandmother and pretty much ignored her before he died when she was fifteen.  So she is determined to be the best single mother she can be.  She enjoys Tyler's company, but she has to keep reminding herself that she's not looking for a husband.  

Tyler doesn't realize that Laurel is pregnant when they first start getting to know each other.  He enjoys her company but she's nothing like the women he's dated so he's a little confused about why he's so drawn to her.  When he finds out she's pregnant it brings his own issues to the front of his mind.  His mother had lost custody of him when he was ten because of neglect and he was later adopted by the Noble family.  He still never felt like he fit in and tended to take out his feelings in bad behavior.  Because of the way he was as a kid, he feels that he would never be a good father and is determined that he will never marry. He can't resist doing anything he can to make Laurel's life easier and gets more and more involved in her life.

Laurel's independence issues cause her to push Tyler away once the baby is born and she insists she doesn't need any help.  I liked the fact that Tyler tried to give her the space she wanted, but stepped in when it became obvious she did need that help.  I loved seeing the changes that Tyler went through as Laurel and Jonny worked their way into his heart. I especially loved seeing his reaction to the baby's birth. It wasn't until Tyler was able to confront his memories that he was able to fully admit his feelings for Laurel and go for the family he hadn't wanted to admit he craved.

I really liked the theme of the importance of family.  Laurel was alone except for her grandmother, but was determined to be happy with what she had.  Tyler was part of a big family that, even though he didn't always feel part of it, was always there for each other.  I loved the way that his family made Laurel welcome from the beginning.  I also liked the way that Tyler had begun to repair his relationship with his mother and how much better it got because of Laurel.  

I also liked Laurel's grandmother.  She was a feisty lady and had a terrific way of cutting through some of the nonsense that Laurel would occasionally come up with.  I got a real kick out of her appreciation of Tyler's looks.  I also enjoyed seeing her with her friends at the place she lived and the fun they all had.

The Fall of a Saint - Christine Merrill (HH #1176 - Mar 2014)

Series: The Sinner and the Saint (Book 2)

THE ONLY WOMAN WHO CAN MAKE HIM REPENT!

Honorable -- and handsome to boot! -- Michael Poole, Duke of St. Aldric, has earned his nickname "The Saint." But the ton would shudder if they knew the truth. Because, thrust into a world of debauchery, this saint has turned sinner!

With the appearance of fallen governess Madeline Cranston -- carrying his heir -- St. Aldric looks for redemption through a marriage of convenience. But the intriguing Madeline is far from a dutiful duchess, and soon this saint is indulging in the most sinful of thoughts…while his new wife vows to make him pay for his past.

Very good book with an interesting beginning. This picks up a couple months after The Greatest of Sins, which was the story of Michael's illegitimate half brother.  Several months earlier, after recovering from a bout of adult mumps, Michael believes he will be unable to have children.  He copes by getting drunk and staying that way for several months.  During that time he had lost his way at an inn while attempting to find the room of the barmaid he'd made an assignation with.  Instead, he ended up in Maddie's room, where he had sex with her before she awoke fully and fought him off.  Because of it she lost her job as a governess and fled the inn in shame.  Now she has shown up at his home because she is pregnant and needs his help.  Rather than just giving her money and sending her away, Michael offers to marry her, giving the baby his name and making sure she is taken care of.

Michael was horrified by what he had done and it was enough to snap him out of the destructive path he'd been on.  He had prided himself on being the opposite of his father, earning the nickname of "The Saint".  Finding out that Maddie is pregnant is a great joy to him, even in the midst of his shame.  He is determined to convince Maddie to marry him.  He doesn't blame her at all for her dislike of him and offers her anything she wants if she will marry him.  

All Maddie had been looking for was support so that she could raise the baby.  She doesn't even want to be in the same room with him.  She's heard his nickname, but doesn't believe it, as that's not the experience she had with him.  She comes to realize that marriage will ensure the best for the baby, but she vows to make it as hard on Michael as she can.  I thought her extravagances and attempts to get to him were pretty childish, but they sort of backfired on her as he was so calm about everything.  Things started to change when they left London for the country.

When the arrived at his childhood home, Maddie began to see a different side of Michael.  There he couldn't hide the vulnerability caused by his memories of living there.  His parents had hated each other and ignored him and it affected everything he did and became.  As she sees him going about his daily life she begins to know and like what she sees, and her attitude softens.  She also sees her own actions in a poorer light.  

Michael's memories of his home make him realize that he really doesn't want to have the same kind of marriage his parents had.  His initial determination that Maddie have everything she wants as a method of redemption begins to change as he wants to do things for her because he wants her to be happy.  

Things are really starting to look up for them until her first love shows up and wants to pick up where they left off.  But Maddie sees him a lot differently now.  She waits for some indication from Michael that he cares enough to fight for her and is hurt when she doesn't see it.  Meanwhile, Michael is very jealous but he wants Maddie to have what will make her happy, even if that means giving her up.  I loved her final confrontation with Richard, and then seeing her have at Michael with her leftover frustration.  The conclusion was very satisfying.

I enjoyed the parts that his half brother and his wife played in this book.  Having met them in the first book, I loved seeing how they are doing now.  Both Evie and Sam take great delight in making sure that Michael doesn't get off too easy.

Suddenly Royal - Nichole Chase (Createspace - Apr 2013)

Series: Royal (Book 1)

Samantha Rousseau is used to getting her hands dirty. Working on a master's degree in wildlife biology while helping take care of her sick father, she has no time for celebrity gossip, designer clothes, or lazy vacations. So when a duchess from the small country of Lilaria invites her to dinner, Samantha assumes it's to discuss a donation for the program. The truth will change the course of her life in ways she never dreamed . . .

As crown prince of Lilaria, Alex D'Lynsal has had his share of scandalous headlines, but the latest pictures in the press have sent him packing to America and forced him to swear off women. That is, until he meets Samantha Rousseau. She's stubborn, feisty, and incredibly sexy. Not to mention heiress to an estate in his country, which makes her everyone's front-page news. While Sam tries to navigate her new world of politics and wealth, she will also have to dodge her growing feelings for Alex. Giving in to them means more than just falling in love; it would mean accepting the weight of an entire country on her shoulders.

This book was so much fun to read.  Easiest way to explain it is that it is sort of a Princess Diaries for grown ups.  Samantha is minding her own business as a grad student at the university.  She has classes to teach, birds to care for, and her sick father to care about.  One day she gets an invitation to dinner from a visiting duchess and assumes she's supposed to talk about their wildlife program, only it doesn't quite work out that way.  Samantha is stunned to find out that she's the heir to a title and some lands in the small country of Lilaria. 

Alex, crown prince of Lilaria, has come to America with his aunt.  It gives him a chance to get out of the spotlight for awhile, after a particularly obnoxious set of pictures ends up in the tabloids.  He's going to stick to business and stay away from women for awhile.  That only lasts until he meets Samantha.  She's not taking any of this too seriously, has no trouble standing up for herself, and has a wicked sense of humor.  He also thinks she's incredibly sexy.  He's so taken with her that he promises to stick with her as she gets used to her new reality.

I loved Samantha.  She's just a normal person, going about her business when she gets hit with the duchess thing.  She doesn't let it go to her head, she just wants to go on with her life as usual, but that just isn't going to happen.  She has some great moments from the time she goes to her meeting with the duchess right through the next day as she copes with the onslaught of media attention.  One thing she has going for her is the able assistance of Prince Alex, who has promised that he won't "throw her to the wolves."  She's attracted to him, but he's the prince and way out of her league.  He's there for her every step of the way, and he's the one that ultimately convinces her to go to Lilaria.  Samantha isn't sure that she's able to do everything a duchess is expected to do but with the help of Alex and others she really starts to settle in.  That attraction she feels for Alex is still there, but there's also a real friendship and more that's growing between them also.  Alex has made it clear that he's interested in more, but giving in scares her because of the responsibility that would go with it.

Alex is terrific.  He may have been a bit of a playboy prince AKA Prince Yummy, but his latest troubles have pretty well cured him of that.  He was drawn to Samantha from the minute he met her.  He loves the way that she isn't particularly awed by his title and treats him in a normal manner.  He's determined to help her get used to her new world.  I loved the way that he anticipates her needs and is right there to help and support her.  Alex also has a pretty great sense of humor and some of the conversations between the two of them are pretty funny.  The more time he spends with Samantha the more he realizes that she is exactly who he wants.  He makes his interest in her pretty clear, but he also doesn't try to rush her.  It's great to see how well he does at helping her get comfortable in her new role. I loved his patience with her fears and how he was willing to wait for as long as it took. Things really started to heat up once they got together.  

The ending was sad and sweet and perfect for the book.  I loved Alex's rescue of her and how everyone was there for her when she needed them.  I also loved his nervousness on the day of  her ceremony and what he did that was so special.

I also liked the supporting cast.  Each of them added extra dimension to the story. One of my favorites was Chadwick, her personal assistant.  I loved seeing everything he did to help her settle in and also the care he obviously felt for her.  I loved seeing the way he was the one to make Samantha see the truth of the feelings she and Alex had for each other.  

Defending the Eyewitness - Rachel Lee (HRS #1795 - Apr 2014)

Series: Conard County: The Next Generation (Book 20)

The note wasn't a threat, exactly. But for Corey Donahue, who'd witnessed her mother's murder as a child, it felt very menacing. Surprisingly, the one person she trusted to show the note to was a man merely renting a room from her--Austin Mendez. Traumatized since childhood, Corey had never trusted men...until Austin moved in.

Six years undercover had caused Austin to shut everyone out...until Corey. The vulnerability she hid from others made him yearn to break down the walls she'd erected around her heart. And with a killer closing in, two lost souls were discovering the trust they'd lost--and much more--in each other's arms.

Very good book, a little different from some previous CC books where there is more action.  Corey has lived in Conard County most of her life.  Her mother was murdered when Corey was seven and she witnessed it, though she has no memory of it.  It has left her with a fear of men, so she avoids them.  She rents out room in her home to other women, and most of her friends are women.  She doesn't date.  When the sheriff asks her to rent those rooms to Austin, she has to think hard about it, but she does.  She's wary around him, but she's getting tired of always being afraid.  Right before Austin arrived, Corey received a strange note in the mail.  It wasn't really threatening, but it was creepy.  When she received another one, she showed it to Austin.

Austin has come to Conard County to recover from six years of undercover work in Mexico.  He's spent so long weighing every word and action that it's going to take him some time to start to feel normal again.  His previous need to read people has enabled him to see Corey's vulnerability, and the way she hides so much of herself from other people.  She's the first person he's wanted to get close to since he got back.  

I loved the growth of the relationship between Corey and Austin.  Both are so wary that it's hard for them  to even talk to each other at first.  Corey's innate kindness makes the first overtures as she apologizes for her apparent rudeness at the beginning.  She struggles at bit, and Austin can see it, so he too makes an effort.  I really enjoyed the way that food and cooking were their initial commonalities.  It was fun to see Austin introduce Corey to Mexican food, and see her amazement at his comfort in talking about it.  Their comfort there made it easier for Corey to confide in him about the notes.  She realized that by getting to know him she had lost her fear of him as a man and begun to trust him. I loved seeing Austin's protectiveness come out when he realized that she might be in danger.  I also enjoyed the fact that he was a very straightforward kind of guy. He was pretty blunt with her about the way she had been hiding out emotionally.  For someone she had just met, it was kind of pushy,  but he had been trying to make a point that he needed her to trust him.

Once that box was opened and Corey began to share what she felt, things started to heat up between them.  Austin had been attracted to her from the beginning, but cautious because of her inexperience. I loved seeing Corey open herself up to the attraction she felt for Austin.  For someone who had been so afraid of men, it said a lot about Austin that she was so hot for him so quickly.  The passion developed into love pretty quickly, but neither wanted to admit it.  Corey knew Austin would have to return to work soon and didn't want to come across as clingy.  Austin was afraid to make any admissions when he still didn't feel like he had his life together.  Corey ended up having a crisis of confidence when Austin was called away, but the ending was really satisfying.

The threat against Corey was real, and it was interesting to see how they made the connection to her mother's murder.  The segments from the perp's point of view showed his motivation.  I loved seeing Corey and Austin talk out their theories and come to some pretty accurate conclusions.  It was interesting to see how Austin realized the danger she was in and helped boost her confidence in herself and her abilities to defend herself, even as he planned to be around to protect her. The showdown was good, but I would have liked to know more about who he was and what was behind his motivations.

Sweet Callahan Homecoming - Tina Leonard (HAR #1493 - Apr 2014)

Series: Callahan Cowboys (Book 15)

Four Babies -- and Her Whole Family -- to Protect

Ashlyn Callahan has always known that her fate can only bring danger to those she loves. That's why she flees Rancho Diablo -- and the ornery cowboy she loves -- to hide out in Texas Hill Country. But all hell breaks loose when Xavier Phillips finds her…and her four newborn babies.

Xav finally tracks down his warrior woman -- only to discover she's the mother of two perfect little boys and two perfect little girls. And he's the father! Now Ash has to marry him. With the future of Ash's entire clan at stake, Xav is ready to lay his life on the line to safeguard the family legacy. Not to mention create a homecoming -- and a wedding! -- worthy of his Chacon Callahan bride!

Excellent conclusion to the series.  I have been looking forward to Ash and Xav's story since they were first introduced.  Ash may be the youngest of this branch of Callahans, but she's strong, independent and very determined.  She has been attracted to Xav from the beginning and has had no problem letting him know her interest.  In earlier books it was great fun to see her chase him down and see him be just as determined to resist her.  She is also certain that she is the focus of her uncle's threats against her family. As the threats escalate, Ash starts trying to put distance between herself and Xav in order to protect him.  Soon he is the one pursuing her.

When she thinks she has killed her uncle she flees New Mexico for Texas to protect them all.  Xav is determined to find her and when he does he gets quite the surprise - Ash and four beautiful little babies. He is determined to get her to marry him so he can protect her and the children.  He has a fight on his hands because Ash is afraid that marrying him will put him in even more danger.

The push and pull between these two as each tries to convince the other of their position was great to see.  Neither denied that the love between them existed, but both felt that protection of the other was the most important.  I loved Xav's patience and persistence.  He didn't yell, he didn't fuss (much), he was just always there backing her up, even when she didn't want it.  And no matter how hard Ash tried to shut him out of her plans to stop her uncle, there was always a part of her that was glad he was there.

By the time the end came I was glad to see that they had stopped fighting each other and started to work together.  The two of them together made a fantastic team.  It was also interesting to see how Xav's pragmatism stood up against Ash's spirituality and the balance they brought to each other.

The culmination of the story of Wolf's attempts to drive the Callahans away from Rancho Diablo was very good.  In previous books we've seen him kidnap and attack, and aid the drug cartel that had driven the Callahan parents into Witness Protection.  In this book he has reached the pinnacle of his desperation to steal the land and everything that goes with it.  The final showdown was just nervewracking enough to make me wonder if he was going to get away again.

The final scene of Xav and Ash's wedding was great. Even though Ash had given up on the idea of the magic wedding dress for herself, I loved seeing how the magic came through for her.  There was also one final, wonderful twist during the wedding that made a perfect ending to the series.

Barely a Lady - Eileen Dreyer (Forever - July 2010)

Series: Drake's Rakes (Book 1)

HE CAN'T REMEMBER...

Olivia Grace has every reason to despise Jack Wyndham, Earl of Gracechurch, who scandalously married and then divorced her, ruining her completely. Yet when she finds an injured Jack on a battlefield wearing the enemy's uniform, she can't resist saving him. He might have broken her heart, but can he truly be a traitor?

WHAT SHE'LL NEVER FORGET...

When Jack awakes he is shocked to discover that he has lost Olivia's love -- and much of his memory. Did he really destroy their marriage? And what do his dreams of blood-soaked French uniforms and revenge mean? As the noose of danger tightens around them, Jack and Olivia must determine which is most frightening: the threat of the hangman, their own tempestuous history, or the passion that flares between them once again.

An excellent second chance story where love may not be enough to conquer all.  After being driven from her home and divorced when Jack accused her of infidelity, Olivia has been on the run.  Her disgrace makes it impossible to find work under her own name, so she has been using an alias.  She has also been running from Jack's cousin, the man behind all her troubles.  She finds herself in Brussels on the eve of Waterloo, befriended by two other women, with whom she works caring for the wounded.  After the battle she finds Jack lying unconscious on the battlefield, wearing a French uniform.  She may despise him for what he did to her, but she doesn't believe he's a traitor, so she takes him home to care for him.

When Jack wakes up he's thrilled to see Olivia, and has no memory of the past five years.  He believes they are still married and has no idea of what he's been doing.  He senses that there is something wrong between he and Olivia, but can't get her to tell him what happened.  He's also getting flashes of memory that confuse and worry him.  There's danger stalking him that he's desperate to remember before it brings harm to Olivia.  He also wants a chance to fix whatever it was that he did and win back her love.

Olivia has grown strong and independent in the five years since her disgrace.  She's done many things in order to survive and is currently working as a companion under an assumed name.  While helping the wounded she is accosted by the man who ruined her marriage, and rescued by Duchess Kate who quickly becomes a friend and ally.  Finding Jack on the battlefield in the enemy uniform is a shock to her, but she can't leave him there.  She's determined to keep him safe until he recovers and can explain. Being near him again starts breaking down her protective walls and she starts to hope that maybe their future can get back on track. But when his memories start to return, those growing feelings don't seem to be enough.

Jack has done a lot of growing up in the last five years also.  When he and Olivia were married he had still been young and pretty full of himself. He had wanted her and pursued her until he got her, but his family had been very much against their marriage.  He didn't have the maturity to stand up against their attitudes, and never saw the deception perpetrated by his cousin that caused the end of his marriage.  His actions at that time were beyond atrocious and way into cruel.  Not long after that he left England to do some work for his friend Drake and over the next few years used that work to try to escape the pain of Olivia's loss.  When he wakes up from his injuries he can tell there's something wrong between them, but he has no idea what.  As he spends time with her, all he knows is that he wants to fix whatever it was.  Until partial memories start to return and suddenly he's right back in the past and it's like he hasn't learned a thing.  I was so mad at him here and heartbroken for Olivia.  I really wasn't sure he was going to be able to dig himself out of that hole.  Of course, he did manage to redeem himself and in a pretty big way.

I loved the secondary characters in the book.  Duchess Kate was delightfully outrageous, but also sharp as a tack and a huge part of the story.  I loved Grace Fairchild and the way she had such a calm and clear view of events.  She gave a different perspective on the military parts of the story.  In this story, Diccan Hilliard plays an important part in helping Jack, but there are also parts of him that I wasn't sure if I liked or not.  I also enjoyed the various members of the staff, all of who were quite unique.

The mystery of Jack's memory loss and what he was doing on the battlefield was very well done.  I knew that Jack wouldn't be a traitor, of course, and that there would be a good explanation for why he was there.  I loved the description of Olivia and Grace's trip to the battlefield, and how it made me feel as if I was there.  Olivia, Grace and Kate worked very hard to keep Jack safe, but also to try to discover the truth.  Things started getting more intense as there were glimpses of those who were looking for Jack and the lengths they went to in order to find him.  I loved seeing some of those who got involved, as they are the stars of later books.  By the time they all got to England things were coming to a head and I couldn't wait to see what happened.  I loved how most of Jack's part got solved and explained, but there's still enough left hanging to lead into the next book.

Celebration's Baby - Nancy Robards Thompson (HSE #2327 - Apr 2014)

Series: Celebrations Inc. (Book 6)

First comes baby, then comes…marriage? Two best friends discover the secret to true love

How? Well, she knew how… But Bia Anderson couldn't believe her uncharacteristic fling with a celebrity resulted in a baby. Her newspaper job was hectic, she'd just discovered her birth mother…and now this! Just when she thought it couldn't get crazier, the paparazzi descended on little Celebration, Texas. She needed help….

Enter Aiden Woods. "I'll be your fake fiancé and your baby daddy." The pretend proposal wasn't just to throw off the media. Aiden had always been her BFF…and he wanted more. Still, the timing was never right. Well, it was now or never. But with Bia's hormones raging, could Aiden prove that everything she wanted was right in front of her?

Good friends to lovers story.  Bia has had a rough couple months.  First she had a brief fling with a movie star, which ended when he went home.  Then she discovered she was pregnant.  When she's harassed by paparazzi again, her best friend Aiden steps in to help take the heat off her.  He offers to play the part of her fiancé and father of the baby.  She's not too sure about that as she doesn't want to ruin their friendship, but she's happy for the support.

Bia is a strong, independent woman but she's been hit with a lot of surprises lately.  After her father's death she found out she was adopted, but has no information about her birth parents.  Then she had the surprise of her pregnancy.  While dealing with the fallout from that, her birth mother makes contact with her.  Finally, Aiden's surprise proposal that suddenly has Bia looking at him in a whole new way.  But she has some trust issues dealing with Aiden, thanks to his involvement in the end of her last relationship.  She has also seen him run through women and doesn't believe that he's capable of commitment. Even though she comes to accept her feelings she still has trouble with the idea of taking a chance.  

Aiden is an all around nice guy.  He has been friends with Bia for a long time.  He started seeing her differently while they were in college, but by that time she was in love with his roommate.  That's when he began his varied dating career, but he always maintained his friendship with Bia.  They had a rough patch when she blamed him for her ex-fiance's cheating, but they have moved past that.  Now his protective instincts kick in when she has problems with the paparazzi over her brief relationship with that movie star, so he claims to be her fiance.  This serves a double purpose for him, as it helps her out but also gives him the chance to get closer to her in a way he hasn't before.  I really loved his patience and persistence as he tried to show Bia that his feelings were real.  His big moment at the end was so sweet.

I also enjoyed the secondary story involving Maya, the chocolate maker who played such a big role in the previous books.  I loved the quick connection she developed with Bia and how she used her experiences to help her.  She had a very interesting history. I really liked seeing her get to know the gentleman who came shopping at her store. There was quite a twist to his story, though I did have my suspicions about him from the start.  It was a lovely conclusion to her story and the series.