Southern Seducer by Jessica Peterson (Review)

I loved this author’s Charleston Heat series. Nobody can do swoony southern men and strong women like she can. It’s been nearly a year since the last one in the series was released, because the author had her own life events going on (shocking, right?) The break was much needed and inspirational, I think, because this book was personal to the core.

One thing that always stands out about her books is the honesty. Her characters are raw and real. While the endings are sometimes fairy tale-ish, the romances are something to dream about and aspire to. They also provide an escape to old married women like me. It’s fun to live vicariously.

For this first book in her new North Carolina Highlands series, we get the story of Annabel and Beau, best friends for nearly 20 years. I’m not going to go into too many details about the plot of this book (those can be found elsewhere) but I’m going to tell you what struck me personally about this friends-to-lovers story.

I think that Bel came from a very personal place for the author. The descriptions of the feelings and emotions that Bel felt as a new mom could only be put on paper by someone who had lived them herself. I imagine that other moms to newborns will identify, which makes the book so much more relatable.  

I, personally, wouldn’t know. But what the author managed to do was make me realize what I will never feel. Sometimes you don’t know what you miss until it hits you in the face that you won’t have it.

What I did feel deep down, however, was the emotion that Beau’s fear brought out in me.

[SPOILER ALERT] SCROLL DOWN TO BELOW THE BOOK COVER NOW if you don’t want to see a major plot point.

My father had a condition very similar to Beau’s dad, and the descriptions of his behavior (as well as that of Beau’s) brought the last few years of his life screaming back at me. Where other readers will relate to the PPD and find strength, I related to the memories of the dementia and bursts of outrage that Beau remembers of his father.

I’m not going to lie. I had to put the book down a few times after his descriptions of temper, or forgetfulness, or just failing…those were real and raw emotions, and they were hard to deal with. Since the author’s perspective of PPD was so accurate, it led me to wonder if she also had experience with the kind of brain trauma she wrote about. The passages were difficult, but I was able to relate to Beau more in those moments. He became more real to me than just the best friend studmuffin character.

It was a heavy dose of reality in a beautiful romance.

OKAY I’M BACK

Anyway, this author also has the slow-burn romance thing down to perfection. She’s fantastic at creating scenes that give the reader that little swoop in the belly and the “oh my” seduction. Who doesn’t love a character who can seduce both the female lead and the reader at the same time!

I loved the entire Beauregard family, and their resort is one I wish existed in real life because I would love to vacation there. I know that it is based on real-life places, but I want the whole Beauregard experience. I’m excited that it’s a big family and that we’ll (hopefully) get stories for each of them.

This is probably one of the most personal reviews I have ever written. I hope you love the book as much as I did.

The Perfect Hideaway by Alys Murray- Books on Tour (Review)

I have become a huge fan of this series. Don’t believe me? Check out my reviews for The Magnolia Sisters and Sweet Pea Summer!

I love the setting (small town), I love the characters (family-oriented and real), and I love flowers. Those are really the three requirements. This time out, we skip the third Anderson sister and get Annie’s (Luke’s sister) instead).

Annie has been a force to be reckoned with through the first two books. Her demeanor and zeal for making people happy is apparent and flows from the pages. In this book (the third of the series), we get to know her better, and it turns out there’s a lot more than she wants people to see.

Annie is a people-pleaser. She wants to make sure that everything is perfect for the people she loves. Her professional “career” as a social influencer is indicative of that need to be picture perfect. She lives by that because she knows that her followers will pick apart every single detail.

However, as she sees her brother get married (no spoiler, it literally starts the book) she realizes that her life is all surface and very little depth.

Amazon: https://bit.ly/3idiQjD Apple: https://apple.co/3fzd6Pm
Kobo: https://bit.ly/30uo9VY Google: https://bit.ly/2XQcDmE

That’s exactly what George sees. He’s a reporter for the local Hillsboro paper, and a total throwback to the news journalists of the 30s (I could practically see him working in a smoky newsroom, suspenders and fedora, hollering “Stop the presses!”). Pretty sure that’s how he sees himself as well.

He’s convinced that Annie is nothing but shine and gloss with no depth of character. As they wind up working together on a project (not telling you how that happens!) he can’t figure her out. He’s set in his ways and perspectives. But as he sees more of Annie’s interactions with people, he starts to realize there might be more there than he originally thought.

The author always does an excellent job of creating the environment of Hillsboro, so that it feels natural to be moving throughout it with the characters. It’s a tad on the idyllic side, but (then again) many small towns do still have that feel.

Underneath the bucolic nature, though, the author also addresses a current theme. Through Annie, we get a cutting commentary (wrapped in the sweet romance of opposites attracting) regarding the obsession with social media and the need for the approval of strangers that is so prevalent in today’s society.

Annie’s constant need to be liked by everyone (evidenced several times, but particularly starkly with George’s assistant Mynette), covers for the unhappiness she feels deep down. The author addresses this subtly, and it gives great insight into the depth of her characters. I love this series, and I can’t wait for Rose’s story. That has to be next, right?

Author Bio
Alys Murray is an author who writes for the romantic in all of us. Though she graduated with a degree in Drama from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and a Master’s in Film Studies from King’s College London, her irrepressible love of romance led her to a career as an author, and she couldn’t be happier to write these stories! Currently splitting time between her home state of Louisiana and London, she enjoys kissing books, Star Wars, and creating original pie recipes for all of her books. Tobey Maguire is her Spider-Man. 
https://alysmurray.com/
https://www.facebook.com/alysmurrayauthor

https://www.instagram.com/writeralys/
https://twitter.com/writeralys

Books On Tour (Review): Summer at Orchard House by Ellyn Oaksmith

Technically a romance, this story of three sisters trying to save their dad’s vineyard is also a testament to the importance of keeping the American Dream alive. It’s the perfect story for the times.

Right off the bat, I could tell that the author had a vast knowledge of the inner-working of vineyards, a thought that was confirmed the further I read. Whether it was from experience or copious amounts of research, it showed in the details. It also made the vineyard almost a character itself, instead of just a pretty setting for a story.

I think this was important because the vineyard is central to the plot, and it being more than an inanimate object was added depth to the importance of the plot of land. It became symbolic of everything the family had in life.

That was my favorite part of the whole plotline. From the first phone call that Carmen receives from her sister through the stories that unfold, the reason why the vineyard must be saved is clear. It’s their lifeblood, their representation of their family, and their part of the American Dream. Everything that America is to millions of people.

Amazon: https://bit.ly/2VGNo4H Apple: https://apple.co/2yH9JX8
Kobo: https://bit.ly/34fmiVl Google: https://bit.ly/2YTrT2v

I loved how Mr. Alvarez imbued that in his daughters, even if they didn’t exactly realize that at the time. I could relate to the feelings that Carmen had when she realized that she should have paid more attention to her father when she was younger. She regrets not learning from him more, and with his condition, it’s harder to do in the present time. That hit home for me.

I also liked how the author was fair to Evan, giving him depth as well. His character could have been the rich, annoying neighbor stereotype, and there were times that that kind of attitude appeared. However, I thought the author did him a great service in making him human and vulnerable. His first introduction where he felt lonely after meeting with Mr. Alvarez stuck with me through the whole book.

I really enjoyed the journey of all of the characters throughout the story. I would highly recommend this book for many reasons, but mainly for the attention to the heart of the story: the importance of maintaining and keeping sight of dreams.

Author Bio
Ellyn Oaksmith is a USA Today and Kindle bestselling author. After graduating from The American Film Institute, Ellyn was a screenwriter in Hollywood, pitching movies, rewriting scripts and navigating the Los Angeles freeways before Google Maps. Meeting movie stars was a fun and surreal perk.

Ellyn’s first book was published by Avon/Harper Collins. Other contemporary romances with smart, ambitious heroines followed.
Ellyn lives in Seattle, Washington with her husband and their polydactyl cat, Forest. Ellyn is an avid competitive rower. 

Website: http://ellynoaksmith.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EllynOaksmith 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellynoaksmith/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ellynoaksmith  

Cover Reveal: Revved to the Maxx by Melanie Moreland

Are you ready for this one?

It’s getting hotter on the street of Littleburn Canada…coming soon from Melanie Moreland

Cover Model: Nelson Lopes https://www.instagram.com/nelsonlopespt/
Cover Photographer: Eric D. Battershell https://www.facebook.com/ericbattershellphotography2018/
Cover Design –  Melissa Ringuette of Monark Design Services
https://www.facebook.com/monarkdesignservices/

Do you really need more convincing? Okay, fine. Here is a bit about the book

Maxx Reynolds needs help.
His shop, house, and life are all in a state of disarray.
In desperation, he turns to the internet to hire a new employee, thinking it will make his life easier.
What he expects is a fellow named Charly.
What he gets is a quirky, sassy, red-head name Charlynn who runs circles around him.
And she’s all woman.
He can’t stand her.
He can’t keep his hands off her either.
****
Brand new romantic comedy from NYT Bestselling author Melanie Moreland. This small-town is about to see fireworks when feisty Charly starts to organize more than Maxx’s life.

Preorder for 9.3.2020 ➤ http://mybook.to/RevvedToTheMaxx

Book Review: Sandy by Melanie Moreland

I have many more thoughts on this book, but for whatever reason, I’m a little emotional about this series ending, and I’m having a hard time pulling them together. Until I do, here’s a brief review.

But trust me when I say that you should do yourself a favor and read this series. You will not be disappointed. I hope you fall in love with it as much as I did.

Sandy (Vested Interest #7)Sandy by Melanie Moreland
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

You know that feeling you get when your favorite television series ends? Like you want to know how it all turns out in the end, but you’re dreading it because you know that it will be “the end?” That’s the feeling I had as I approached reading Sandy. I have become so engrossed in the Vested Interest universe and have loved every minute of their stories. I was happy to see Sandy get center stage, and I really appreciated a mature romance. In some ways, it just seemed more sensible than other romances. The message of it’s never too late for a second chance at happiness is heartfelt and pure. I’m going to miss this series (but thank goodness for re-reads). Now the author can work on BAM: The Next Generation 😊

View all my reviews

Blog Tour (Review): Burn Zone by Annabeth Albert

Not a genre that I usually read, but I’m always looking for new reading experiences. I’m glad I took a chance on this one.

(My apologies, but for some reason, the cover picture would not load. Here are the Buy Links instead).

One thing that struck me right away is that the author did a fantastic job of describing the extreme conditions that smokejumpers and hot shots work under every day. I thought the descriptions of the training and atmosphere were realistic and certainly added to the story.

I also liked the characters. It felt like some of them may have been introduced in previous books (I forgot to check), so there maybe wasn’t as much description as I would have liked, but that’s on me. I also wasn’t sure why the author chose to roll out Wyatt’s fate the way she did. It was apparent that something had happened, but by trickling out the details, I felt that the impact of it was somewhat lessened.  

Being relatively new to the genre, I wasn’t sure what to expect from the romance aspect, but I really liked how the author created the tension between the two characters. I have read a few books of this type where it was all about the sex (just like some books with hetero couples). I appreciated that there was an emotional story behind the attraction. There was depth, and the characters’ journeys were easily relatable.

It was an exciting book, and I would undoubtedly find this author again.

About Annabeth Albert

Annabeth Albert grew up sneaking romance novels under the bed covers. Now, she devours all subgenres of romance out in the open—no flashlights required! When she’s not adding to her keeper shelf, she’s a multi-published Pacific Northwest romance writer.

Emotionally complex, sexy, and funny stories are her favorites both to read and to write. Annabeth loves finding happy endings for a variety of pairings and is a passionate gay rights supporter.  In between searching out dark heroes to redeem, she works a rewarding day job and wrangles two children.

Book Review: The School Mistress of Emerson Pass by Tess Thompson

I am a huge fan of this author’s Cliffside Bay series, so I was very excited to see that she was branching out into a new series with a historical setting. I am happy to say that all of the trademarks of her writing are still present.

The premise (young, pretty, schoolmistress shows up in a wild west town) is one that is familiar and dear to me. I grew up in Northern California, whose modern history is built on the Gold Rush of 1848-49. I quite literally grew up on stories about people who came from the East to make money to send back home, intending to return but winding up staying.

Field trips were to Sutter’s Mill and ghost towns, and vacations were spent in the Sierra Nevadas, where some mining towns have modernized, but retained their history. The author’s descriptions of Emerson Pass, therefore, felt familiar and allowed me to be comfortable in the setting. She did a great job of bringing the town (warts and all) to life.

I also liked how she had a cross-section of characters filling the town. None of them were caricatures, and they seemed like they could have been built on real people (pretty sure this author does a LOT of research to get things just right). Everything about the characters and situations rang true.

I have to give a special shout out to the Barnes children. I liked how each one had their own personality and weren’t just lumpy children. There is sometimes the tendency of authors to focus on adult characters at the expense of children, but that’s not the case here. This is good, especially considering that Quinn is a schoolmistress – the individuality of all of the children is essential.

I very much enjoyed this book, and I look forward to more visits to Emerson Pass.

Books On Tour (Review): Daughters of Wild Rose Bay by Susanne O’Leary

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book, but I can safely say that it wasn’t a purple-haired Irish mother on a raw food diet who is into yoga and meditating. And that’s just one reason I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

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Apple Books: https://apple.co/2E0WUWP
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2YxxZDQ
Googleplay: http://bit.ly/38hq9Tg

It is filled with quirky characters, some of whom may be familiar to readers of this series (it’s the fourth out of five books). As I am new to the series, I found joy in each new introduction from Sally to Mad Brendan and all of the other inhabitants of Sandy Cove. And yes, Aiden is an absolutely swoon-worthy Irish suitor. 🙂

I thought that the author painted a lovely picture of an Irish seaside town. Her writing is almost lyrical at times, effortless to read, and it drew me in, nearly lulling me the way lapping waves on a beach would. I know that might sound a little corny, but I had that same feeling of contentment as I read.

I also like Jasmine as the “heroine.” I thought her background was unique, and I enjoyed her journey. I also appreciated how the author didn’t hit the reader with a great big sob story from the start. That sometimes seems manipulative, like we’re being forced to feel pity for the character.

But Ms. O’Leary allows us to get to know Jasmine gradually so that when her reasons for leaving France are revealed, we have a greater understanding of her and, therefore, my reactions and feelings towards Jasmine were more real and heartfelt.

As I mentioned, this is the fourth book in the Sandy Cove series. If Daughters of Wild Rose Bay is any indication, I will absolutely be going back and grabbing the first four to catch up while I wait for the fifth one. This is a place I will be happy to revisit.

Author Bio

Susanne O’Leary is the bestselling author of more than twenty novels, mainly in the romantic fiction genre. She has also written three crime novels and two in the historical fiction genre. She has been the wife of a diplomat (still is), a fitness teacher and a translator. She now writes full-time from either of two locations, a ramshackle house in County Tipperary, Ireland or a little cottage overlooking the Atlantic in Dingle, County Kerry. When she is not scaling the mountains of said counties, or keeping fit in the local gym, she keeps writing, producing a book every six months.

Visit Susanne at her website, http://www.susanne-oleary.co.uk  or her blog, http://bit.ly/11F4e4S 
Find her on Facebook, http://on.fb.me/1A2NAbr and on Twitter, http://bit.ly/1rH67dK

Blog Tour (Review): Summer Storms by Brittainy Cherry

I first introduced to this author’s work with Eleanor & Grey, which to me, is still her best work. Summer Storms comes close, though.

Download your copy today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3bJYlYJ
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/SouthernStorms
Add Southern Storms to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2Rj7I94

I love how Ms. Cherry’s characters have a way of seeming familiar as if they’re people that you already know. It’s not because all of her characters are the same (far from it). I think that it is more because they are so relatable and down to earth. They are never caricatures.

What they are, however, is flawed, and that is what makes them human. None of her characters are ever perfect. I mean, even the therapist and his wife have a “moment” that makes them more than “just” a therapist. And that’s not to say that their moment is flawed…I’m getting tangled up. Anyway, the characters always just seem to have an extra something that makes them easier to get to know.

I enjoyed the flashbacks to when Jax and Kennedy were children. I thought those scenes were very well done and gave great insight into the events that further shaped their lives.

I did feel like the editing got lax about two-thirds of the way through. There seemed to be an increase in the number of repeated phrases and paragraphs that seemed to ramble. But that could be because it was an ARC and not fully edited yet.

The one thing I was a little disappointed in was how lackluster the “big reveal” for Jax was. It was something that he had built his whole life upon, and then all of a sudden, it was different, and he raged, but then he was sort of like, “what can I do?” I felt like that should have been a much bigger deal for them to deal with, maybe as a couple.

But I did love the way they found each other again, and how they “knew” what was right. That’s the kind of hope and love that will keep me coming back to her books.

About Brittainy

Author Brittainy C. Cherry is an Amazon #1 bestselling author.

She has been in love with words since the day she took her first breath. She graduated from Carroll University with a Bachelor Degree in Theatre Arts and a minor in Creative Writing.

Her novels have been published in 18+ countries around the world. Brittainy lives in Brookfield, Wisconsin with her fur babies.

Connect with Brittainy
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