Books Read 2017

Kasey Chang · Post by **Kasey Chang** » Fri Mar 03, 2017 2:49 am

Finished Saving Sara by Nicola Marsh FREE on Prime Reading

Sara Hardy had a perfect life... She had a successful career, a husband, and a beautiful young girl... then it all went away... and when she inherited a cottage in Redemption Connecticut, she decided to start over, on her own. Elsewhere, Jake Mathieson was reeling from a tragedy for which he felt responsible, when he was suddenly thrust into caring for a six-year-old nephew when his sister went into rehab. Overwhelmed by parenting, he sought out the only other relative... Aunt Cilla in Redemption, whom he had not contacted in 12 years... Aunt Cilla is a widow who put up with abuse for years, an act that even drove her only daughter, Tam, away for not standing up for herself. She found herself suddenly overwhelmed with Jake and the kid, a new neighbor Sara, and also found herself being wooed by the doctor at the hospital where she volunteered... a man 18 years younger than she is, while Jake was intrigued by Sara and slowly drew her out of her shell... Sara desperately wanted to move on, but she's not sure how... Can she trust Jake enough to give love another try?

While the main romance was supposed to be between Jake and Sara, the intro was way too long, IMHO, and as a result the second romance, where Aunt Cilla (in her 60's) was being wooed by a doctor in his 40's was an interesting but ultimately somewhat "space filling" parallel plot. 6/8

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Finished Almost a Bride by Patricia McLinn FREE on Amazon

Matty Brennan is back in Wyoming and she's desperately trying to save her family ranch. She will do anything... including asking Dave Currick to marry her, even though he broke her heart six years ago... just so she can get an address change, and use that to apply for a water grant to save her ranch. And yes, it will be a loveless marriage of convenience, including the full pre-nup. But Dave had never said no to Matty... even though it was Matty that refused help. Dave accepts that this is a loveless marriage, but when "You may kiss the bride" was ordered... He made sure he put his heart into it... now if only Matty will reciprocate...

These "marriage of convenience" stories are a dime a dozen but this one is a cut above the rest, with good push-pull, and background threats of investigations and such. 6/8

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Finished Falling Over You by Heather C. Myers

Lara Darling moved to New York to follow her fiancee, and can't find a single job in the city, esp. not in the position of working as an editor for any publisher. What's worse, she saw a ghost. Not that she realized that was a ghost at first. His name is Mike, Mike Langdon. And he was apparently a previous owner of the house where Lara and her fiancee resides now. Out of millions of people in New York, only Lara can see... and touch Langdon... and vice versa. Mike knew that Lara is special, but how does a ghost romance a living girl?

The solution was somewhat unexpected. 6.5/8

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Finished Kissed by a Cowboy by Lacy Williams FREE on Amazon

Haley Carston is back in her hometown in rural Oklahoma when she found her aunt has terminal cancer. She left the town behind with a lot of bad memories, including a best friend Katie dead from a car accident. But the town was also where she gave her first kiss to Maddox Michaels, at the Prom. Haley did not count on seeing Maddox... Maddox was barely hanging on. He used to be somebody, in college with a football scholarship, being scouted by Division I school with a chance at NFL... It all went away when his sister (Haley's best friend) got pregnant, then died. Maddox's brother was seriously wounded at a rodeo and is sulking at home and recuperating, leaving Maddox to deal with Katie's daughter, his niece, doing homework. Maddox joined harvest crews working all over the South, barely getting by and the family farm running, while reminiscing how much did he have to give up... When Haley walked back into his life, wanting to help his niece get into the gourmet ice cream business, and thus, also helping herself to his heart... But can he swallow his pride and go after her, despite having nothing to offer her except his heart?

Nice short romance, but Maddox barely qualifies as a cowboy. 6/8

Kasey Chang · Post by **Kasey Chang** » Sat Mar 04, 2017 2:20 am

Finished Rockstar Cowboy by KC Klein FREE on Amazon

Country/Pop Star Brent Kane is in a creative block and had to take a breather from his Hollywood pampering... to find his muse. He went home to spend a week with his best friend at DD Ranch in Somewhere, TX, and ended up falling for his best friend's little sister DJ (aka Danielle). DJ Diaz is immune to Brent's charm, having experienced it first hand ten years ago, and was inoculated. But when even her own brother thought she needed some fun, like a real man to show her some good times... "for fun", even she wasn't immune to that... But when Brent decided DJ is his muse and his music finally showed that sparkle, and DJ decided that Brent is a really good kisser... will one week be enough?

Kinda fun push pull, but nothing too special here. 5/8

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Finished A fall from yesterday by Norah Wilson FREE on Amazon

Ocean Siliker finally gave up her her dream of writing the next big Broadway hit in New York, and went home to sulk in her home town of Harkness, New Brunswick (Canada). She decided to tackle the White Crow Cliff alone, in memorial of her best friend Lacey Douglas who lost her life on the same mountain six years ago. And she is... lost. Very lost. Titus Standish is stuck in Harkness, with his life tied to the family farm. He serves the community for years, including being on the local Search and Rescue, letting his younger siblings get out of the little town and make their way in the world. When Ocean's plight reached him, he set out to find her, for he was on the verge of rescuing Lacey six years when she perished, and he felt responsible... Ocean is determined of finishing the climb, even as she knew she had a crush on Titus since teenager years, while Titus was determined to get her to safety, yet felt guilty of letting her friend down six years ago. Titus reluctantly agrees to help Ocean finish the climb, even as he had to battle family over selling the family farm when his father decided to move to a retirement community... and on the way, Titus and Ocean share secrets that lead to great revelations... and love.

Nice family drama AND love story, if a bit on the long side. 6/8

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Finished Colorado Wrangler by Jill Haymaker

Melanie Gentry brought her daughter to town to find a father she never knew, and made a home for the family, and did not feel a need to add a man to her life, from past experience. Hank Dalton left his past behind and became the head wrangler of Peaktop Ranch. He worked hard and preferred to be alone, until his encounter with Melanie made him reconsider that decision. But as Melanie added a foster daughter and a rescue dog to her family, Hank got serious case of inadequacy and retreated. Can both of them realize being together is better than being alone and separate?

Pretty good push-pull for middle-age romance. 6/8

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Finished Finding Pride by Jill Sanders FREE on Amazon

Megan Kimble was abused for years by her ex. When her brother died unexpectedly, she moved to Texas to attend his funeral, and to take over his business, and met the Jordans, her brother's business partners. Iian and Todd. And Todd was charming, handsome, and wanted to know her better. Megan doesn't want a man in her life, as she was slow to trust, and Todd... was a bit too intense for her. But Todd is willing to go slow for Megan, to take as long as she needs... But time is running out, when Megan's psycho ex escaped from prison...

The suspense didn't work that well. The push-pull is okay. 5.5/8

Kasey Chang · Post by **Kasey Chang** » Sun Mar 05, 2017 3:33 pm

Finished The Irish Runaway (Mail Order Bride) by Catherine Harper FREE on Amazon (100 page novella)

Shannon and her brother left Ireland to get away from their abusive father and make a name for themselves. When her brother was killed in a mining accident, Shannon was quickly reminded by a bounty hunter, Sean, sent by her father to take her back. Sean was threatening violence, and when promised a small homestead AND Shannon, was intent to carry her off if need be. In desperation, Shannon ran to a mail order bride service and married herself off... all the way to San Francisco, by taking over the spot promised to a different girl. On the way, she found that her intended was a man she already knew... well to do, who knew she wasn't the girl promised, not that he would want to get married... Then upon arrival, she realized he's much richer than he said... then Sean arrived... intending to take her... v-card as payment...

Nice, for Shannon had something to say about having the clothes torn off her and has a weapon in her hand... sorta. You'll need to read the story. Better than most mail order bride books, IMHO. 6.5/8

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Finished Sorcha: Clover Springs Mail Order Bride by Rachel Wesson FREE on Amazon

Sorcha Matthews was eighteen and living with Boston orphanage, but she's about to come of age, and her only prospect seems to be with a creepy employer... except becoming a mail order bride. She had originally corresponded with a ranch hand but he was tragically killed in an accident. Desperate to flee on a timetable, she took the next available spot... Also to Clover Springs... to a Widower Brian Peterson and his two daughters. Brian believed God was punishing him for sins of his father by taking away his wife and child in the flood years ago. He wanted a housekeeper, but he'll take a wife, but in name only, for he had no love to give. Upon arrival, Sorcha's lack of homemaking skills was evident, and the older daughter was downright hostile to Sorcha. But Sorcha's patience was slowly paying off, and when a desperate Indian mother and her two kids came to take shelter, Sorcha took them in and made friends. Then the measles epidemic swept through town, and the Indian herbs helped saved the older daughter, just as Brian returned from a business trip, for him to confront his past, his father's past, and his relationship with Sorcha...

A little too angst-y for Brian, IMHO, but adventures of Sorcha was good. 6.5/8

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Finished There are no men by Carol Maloney Scott

Divorcee Claire tried so many times to get pregnant and miscarried she had to get a hysterectomy, and divorced her insensitive husband. However, she can't seem to find any one real to date, as her dates are one disaster after another. She just want a thirty-something man worthy of a second date! Justin was only 20-something, looks that can melt panties, and has a cougar fetish, there's Dr. Nathan who's charming, but has his cardiology practice that he barely stole time from... Then there's the writer who lived across from her place, who also has a hard rock night gig, and is handsome as sin. So who should Claire go after?

A romcom in a book, this is about awkward choices life throws at us and we have to decide how to catch them best we can, even if it bonks us in the head. 6/8

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Finished Payback by Eve Rabi FREE on Amazon

Tom found Arena in South Africa, and he was the perfect suitor... so much so she followed him to Australia... Then he turned into a controlling monster that was nice to her in public, punish her and force her into demeaning sex acts at home, with no money, no phone, and no freedom. Arena slowly plotted revenge by storing items to be resold later for money (since he has control of money, but not of her spending) but not before having two kids. She got away with her kids, but not before Tom swore revenge. Arena moved out and found jobs and neighbors, and may have found love with "Bear" Shaw, who was possibly undercover cop. Then Bear had to go on assignment, and Arena's vehicle was stolen while she dashed inside to buy two items... with her toddler daughter inside. Evil EX Tom was out of the country on business, but Arena was certain it was Tom. Police denied Bear Shaw's existence, and Tom was so sorry he was nice and changed and all that. 24 hours later Arena's world shattered when her car was recovered... and her daughter dead from heatstroke. The thief left her in the hot car to die. Arena went to jail for negligent homicide, which is when Bear resurfaced... Who will she trust now? If it was Tom, how can they put Tom down once and for all?

Hmmm... Somehow the plot just reads a bit... amateurish. But it does move at a good speed. 6/8

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Finished Playmaker by Katie McCoy

He is James "The Playmaker" Martin, international soccer sensation, and a total manwhore... at least by reputation, and now he's in America, and reading to try scoring on this side of the pond. She is Nicole Grant, a busy bartender with an autistic brother that she cannot walk away from, leaving her no time to date except occasional girls' night out with her BFF, and the occasional fling... For she has time for hot sex... and nothing else. Their chemistry is explosive, and he loved the way she was NOT throwing herself at his feet... and keeping her distance. She loved the guy's good manners and good heart (for he was willing to indulge her brother's fascination with Dr. Who). Is there a future between these two?

The structure including darkest hour and grand gesture was easily recognizable. 6/8 for good execution.

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Finished The Gift by Lisa Mondello Short story FREE on Amazon

Allison Jones had a hard life in the foster system, never really having a place she considered home. When she found an envelope with a wish card on the ground in Boston, she recognized it as a girl's cry for help... Then Derek Holden showed up, all but accused of her stealing the $1000 that was in the envelope, which ticked off Allison that she will somehow find the money to buy the girl that gift she wanted, as well as do her own Christmas shopping, despite her limited resources. Derek Holden didn't meant to be mean, but he had to toughen himself to turn around his family's fortune. It took Allison to remind him why he was doing all this, and how holiday cheer wasn't just about handing money to charities... Can he convince Allison to show him more?

Short but sweet story about holiday cheer and love. 6.5/8

Kasey Chang · Post by **Kasey Chang** » Sun Mar 05, 2017 6:45 pm

Finished Wyoming Wedding by Kirsten Osbourne FREE on Amazon

The Culpepper brothers want to inherit the ranch, but their grandpa's will ordered that all four brothers have to get married within six months and one of them had to have a baby on the way within the year, or the ranch will go to their cousin. Desperate to find mates, they turned to professional matchmaker Dr. Lachele Simpson, and Lachele delivered again: locating the Quinlan Quadruplets for them, the quads in a small town brought up on a very conservative family but desperate to make an impact on the world their own way. The oldest Culpepper is Karlan, and he matched up perfectly with Hope Quinlan, the oldest sister, and Karlan even got Hope to agree to marry him that very day, even as he promised to not consummate the marriage just yet. But can such a hurried marriage work for them?

The same author's "wed at the altar" series has similar premise, albeit this one has cowboys and 4 brothers for 4 sisters trope. Not bad, 5.5/8

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Finished Storm Damages by Magda Alexander FREE on Amazon

One of those young ingenue/secretary falls for damaged but hot billionaire type story. Eh, 4/8

Kasey Chang · Post by **Kasey Chang** » Mon Mar 06, 2017 1:25 pm

Finished Roberta: Bride of Wisconsin by Kirsten Osbourne

Roberta McDaniel felt responsible after the factory she managed was burned down by the owner to cover up embezzling. With dozens of women out of job, she recommended those with no family to go back to take a chance and become mail order brides, and so did she. She went west to Wisconsin to become new wife of a widower, Jakob with two kids, but both Jakob and Roberta (Bobbie) found neither is what the other expected. Jakob was not ready for a competent and independent woman that Bobbie is, nor for her temper, while Bobbie wasn't ready for the two kids, one of whom was openly hostile toward her, as well as Jakob's continue pining for his dead wife, or for Jakob's forune, as he's known locally as the lumber baron. Can such a pairing work?

Yep, another mail order bride story, and this one is actually not too bad, as Roberta was such a busy body, she made shirts, gloves, baked cookies, made home-cooked meals... all much more than the dead wife ever did. And Jakob... was illiterate, but pretty business savvy, but not in the details. 6/8

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Finished Rancher's Remorse by Merry Farmer FREE on Amazon, part of Culpepper Cowboys series (previously reviewed Wyoming Wedding)

Faith Quinlan, one of the Quinlan Quadruplets, agreed to marry Cooper Culpepper after her big sister Hope agreed to marry Karlan. Faith is the famed dollmaker of the family, creating baby dolls that are so life-like they go for hundreds of dollars, but she held a terrible secret... She was told by her mom and her doctor due to continued exposure to the kiln she is unable to conceive. And as a result, she was not open to tell any one about EITHER of her secrets... the not being able to make babies... and her venture of making baby dolls. When a reporter came to town trying to interview her when Faith's baby doll business started to take off, Cooper started to have all the wrong ideas about the secrets she's keeping... Can Faith tell Cooper the truth before Cooper commit her to a facility for the criminally insane?

This book had me ROFL and LOL several times. It is absolutely hilarious at times.

Spoiler:

7/8

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Finished Cowboy's Conundrum by Kirsten Osbourne Part of the Culpepper Cowboy Series

Joy Quinlan, one of the Quinlan Quads, tries to embody her name, but it was merely a facade. She was worried that none of the Culpepper cowboys would want her, but Kolby was immediately by her side. Kolby knew Joy was the girl for her, but he had once loved hard and deep... only to lose her to the "great underwear model caper" last winter. He thought he was no longer capable of love, but how do you distinguish between love and affection?

This one isn't quite all there. A change of heart was all that's needed to resolve the situation. 5/8

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Finished Sapphire Affair by Lauren Blakely FREE on Prime Reading

Jake Harlowe prefers "recovery specialist" for his title. He will recover things from anybody, anywhere, for a hefty fee, of course. When a bunch of suits asked him to tail their former CEO for suspicion in intentionally failing some investments in order to embezzle tens of millions of dollars, he followed the CEO to the Cayman Islands... and got waylaid by Steph Anderson. Steph wa supposed to be rock climbing and diving, but in reality the former CEO is her stepfather who stole money from her mom, and she's there to find where the money went, and Jake is a distraction she cannot afford. When both figured out the other, they join forces, but both are suspicious of the other's real motives. Is Jake after the diamonds themselves? Is Steph working for her stepdad? How hot will they be between the sheets? Who will be left with an empty bag in the morning?

Kinda cliffhanger ending as there's a 2nd volume to this: The Sapphire Heist. Fast but good read. 6.5/8

tgb · Post by **tgb** » Mon Mar 06, 2017 4:40 pm

JeffV, you may want to go back and change the title of the thread to Amazon Blurbs Cut & Pasted 2017

Jeff V · Post by **Jeff V** » Mon Mar 06, 2017 6:06 pm

Hah, no kidding. Makes me feel guilty for not having time to write the reviews of most of the books I read so far this year. I keep thinking I'll have time tomorrow, then the kids all of the time away.

Kasey Chang · Post by **Kasey Chang** » Mon Mar 06, 2017 11:16 pm

For the record, I don't cut and paste descriptions from Amazon.

These are written by me. I do consult them to make sure I get some names and details right.

Kasey Chang · Post by **Kasey Chang** » Tue Mar 07, 2017 2:33 am

Finished In Safe Hands by Leslie North FREE on Amazon

Damian Stone was rising fast in FBI until one mob ambush cost him his partner. Disillusioned, he resigned and joined a security team, that specialized in executive protection, and he exceled, until she became his client. She is Alexa Volkov, daughter of the Russian mob boss, and she was planning to testify against her father to keep him locked up, but alive. Which puts a bullseye on her from every criminal in town, out of town, and perhaps some dirty cops. And it just happens that Volkov's gang was the one that took out Stone's partner. Stone's instinct for revenge is warring against his duty to protect, and Alexa is one alluring individual. And as safehouse after safehouse was compromised, it was clear that someone near Stone was a mole... and as they flee from danger, they cannot flee the heat between them...

Okay, sounds corny, but this is basically another "bodyguard romance". The sexual tension was pretty darn high, and the twist was soap-opera worthy. 5/8

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Finished Branded for You by Cheyenne McCray FREE on Amazon

Megan Wilder had to move to a different state after her BF divorced her for being... curvy. She was helping her parents and her sister manage the cafe, where they made the most delicious food, but a hostile neighbor (who also owned a restaurant, and had designs on the location) threatened to ruin them. Bad reviews started appearing on review sites, and an unscheduled inspection from anonymous complaint turned up nothing, even though visit was played up in local paper. Megan met the handsome Ryan McBride at the local fair and they had a wonderful time, even as Megan found that her parents apparently are being foreclosed on, as the owner of their house needed a balloon payment, as per terms, and the restaurant was doing bad enough they can't afford such. After Megan finally gave in and went with Ryan on a 3-day camping holiday, and had a wonderful time, only to return to utter chaos, when her father had a heart attack, upon receiving foreclosure papers, and died soon after Megan's arrival. Megan was shocked that Ryan was the one who delivered the foreclosure papers. Ryan tried to make up for it by reorganizing the cafe's reopening, but... someone sabotaged the event...

Okay, the bad guy was just greedy and shady as heck, no flat evil here. Push pull is good. Lots of sex, followed by misunderstanding. Though it's kinda convenient that Ryan's cousin is the sheriff, eh? 6.5/8

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Finished Crazy for you by J. H. Croix

Sawyer Hamilton is going home to recuperate after getting injurred as a SEAL by an IED... back home to Diamond Creek Alaska, where most of his family already is. He wasn't sure if he can get back on the teams, and his brother, a former SEAL, is asking him to stay. While contemplating the question, he had to get exams and met phlebotomist Violet Carter at the local hospital. Violet had childhood leukemia but recovered nicely, and chose to be very independent, by moving across the country and be very alone... but she has a secret... She's infertile (the leukemia treatments) She is willing to have a fling with Sawyer, as Sawyer is the definition of dark and handsome, but Sawyer wanted more...

Decent push-pull 5.5/8

hitbyambulance · Post by **hitbyambulance** » Tue Mar 07, 2017 3:49 am

Bad Demographic wrote:
hitbyambulance wrote:...
Nation - Terry Pratchett (first novel of his i've ever read)
I've never read Nation but I've read most of his other stuff. If you find you don't like Nation all that much, let me know. I might be able to recommend a better "entry" book.

i would quite recommend it. note this is a standalone novel and has nothing to do with Discworld... well, there may be a few big parallels....

Kasey Chang · Post by **Kasey Chang** » Wed Mar 08, 2017 4:30 am

Finished The Midwife's Tale by Delia Parr

Martha Cade had pedigree as a midwife. Her mother and her gran were both midwives in the small town of Trinity, Pennsylvania. She's a widow with two children, one's a lawyer off in New York, and she's hoping to groom her daughter Victoria to take over. She was devastated when Victoria ran off to join a performing theater troupe while she was off attending to a birth. She spent months on the road, always just missing the troupe, until the troupe went off to Europe. She returned to Trinity, and was quickly summoned to another birth, and learned that several things have changed. A new doctor is in town, and this one wanted to practice full-time, which means taking business away from Martha's midwifery. And a new minister has started an "academy" for orphans and such nearby. As Martha continues her life in Trinity, hoping for letter from her daughter, she had to prepare for the changes to come... A town scandal, a string of thefts, people falsely accused of theft, whispers of a romance, saving a young boy, and more...

Historical fiction, that gave Martha a lot of stuff to do, and there's a big climax near the end. Fun story, with a personal touch. 6/8

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Finished One Perfect Night by Bella Andre Novelette, FREE on Amazon

Noah Bryant met Colbie Michaels on the slopes near Lake Tahoe, and it was love at first sight. Then Colbie panicked and ran, without exchanging phone number or even a last name. A week later, serendipity dictated that they meet again, in Seattle, as they actually have mutual friends, and both had somehow hired the same detective to find each other. And this time Noah won't let Colbie get away. Colbie was gun-shy from a relationship, believing Noah will leave her broken, but Noah went on to prove he's around to stay, intent on fulfilling all her secret desires, and make every night one perfect night...

Sweet and short romance 6/8

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Finished Set Aside by Kelly Collins part of Second Chance series (other books in series reviewed earlier)

Holly McGrath went to prison knowing exactly what she did... She bought pot hoping to ease her mother's cancer pains, got caught, and did her time. Before she went in, she had a career as a nurse supervisor, and a fiancee. Now, she had none. Her mother has passed on, her fiancee the doctor had shacked up with another nurse, who had apparently taken over her job as well. Holly was determined to get her life back, so she set out to recover her nursing license, and not even Keagan McKinley, one of the handsome brothers on the M-and-M Ranch ran by her friend Mickey and her partner Kerrick McKinley, will distract her from her goal, even though she craved the warmth of his strong arms. Keagan McKinley is the quiet middle brother in the family is helping to transform the M-and-M ranch into a champion rodeo horse breeding, training, and horse boarding operation. He needed no distraction either, but Holly's skittish demeanor brought out all his protective instincts, if she'll let him close enough...

As Holly struggles, she'll learn that some people are so shallow and jealousy so deep, they will ruin other people's lives for some shallow material gain... And yes, I saw the twist coming a while back. Nice slow onion peeling reveal. 7/8

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Finished Lost Fortune by Sandra E. Sinclair FREE on Amazon

Rilla was sent away to boarding school in France and returned after eight years abroad to Boston, and a chance encounter on the train with a man named Calvin Dalton left her breathless. She went home, only to discover that her life has been a lie. She is illegitimate child of a tryst, and while she was provided for, there was a half brother after her portion of the inheritance, believing he deserved it all, every last penny. She fled west to her holding, as she must find someone to marry to ensure she gets her inheritance as stipulated in the will, but her half-brother hired a Pinkerton agent to find his money... the Pinkerton man known as Calvin Dalton. Calvin found Rilla and her mansion, and realized the gravity of the situation. Her half-brother is heartless and intend to ruin her by revealing her illegitimacy, thus ruining her chance at marriage and inheritance, but he had a duty to fulfill his contract. Is there a way to do both, now that he's thinking of her day and night? There is only one way forward...

Kinda fun to read, but the chemistry isn't really there. 6/8

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Finished Romantic River by Terry Atkinson FREE on Amazon Short story (only 28 pages)

Jessica ponders her relationship using river as a metaphor. *snore*

2/8 There's no plot, just some rambling thoughts about love and metaphors.

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Finished Shane by S J McCoy / Remington Ranch series FREE on Amazon

Shane Remington has it all... family (lots of brothers), job (Remington Ranch is making money), looks, money, respect. He can have almost any woman he wanted... All except... Cassidy Lane, who's somehow immune to his charms. Cassidy Lane is an artist that has it all, respect, love, money, looks... No love, but she doesn't need it. She's an independent woman, and has no need for a womanizer like Shane. It's basically immovable object meets the irresistible force. Can such a couple have a chance?

Cute push-pull, but nothing too memorable. 5.5/8

A nonny mouse · Post by **A nonny mouse** » Wed Mar 08, 2017 9:58 am

Finished
the Andalucian friend: a thriller

If you like non linear and non standard mysteries, this one is for you. pacing was good and the characters all intertwined in a way that was not predictable or cliched

1/2

A Dance with Dragons - George R. R. Martin: I actually liked the book (after getting the time to get into it again) more than I liked the parts of the HBO series that were based on it. I didn't find it as plodding towards the end as "a feast for crows."

Some of the elements in the book made more sense, but I understand why they made some major changes in the show, like who married the Bolton bastard, etc.
eyeball reading kindle (from Library)

Old Man's War
John Scalzi
eyeball reading in codex

I don't know why I hadn't pick this series up earlier. I always saw it got great reviews, but am glad I did pick it up. Good characters, great pacing (no plodding with pedantic day to day stuff) and doesn't get too far into the minutia of science. Very Asimovian in that it is about the characters.

currently reading

"The Ghost Brigades" by John Scalzi
eyeball reading in codex

Many articles and book on beekeeping.
eyeball reading

Kasey Chang · Post by **Kasey Chang** » Thu Mar 09, 2017 3:51 am

Finished The Counterfeit Captain by Henry Vogel

Captain Nancy Martin of Terran Federation Navy expected a lonely death after her starfighter was crippled in a battle with Fringer and her air had ran out. She woke in in a giant hangar and escaped when attacked by Fringers. She found herself accosted by friendly natives, and realized she's on a Generation Ship... The legendary "Ark Two", the generation ship that had escaped Earth, only never to be seen again, thousand years ago, and these natives were descendents of the crew, who knew nothing except the ship. And Nancy was mistaken for the mythical captain, leader of all onboard! But soon Nancy found that the ship AI, that controls the robots and much of the ship equipment, had gone insane long time ago... the AI will spare no effort to destroy Nancy... the counterfeit captain.

Not too bad, though I don't think I like the ending much. 6.5/8

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Finished Love and Rumors by Jean Oram FREE on Amazon

Finian Alexander is a B-list celebrity who needed some paparazzi to generate some buzz. Hailey Summer is desperate for cash and has photography skills. The two strike up a bargain to cooperate on some "promotional" photos... and when that got way too much traction... how will they deal with the heat from without as well as between them?

It's okay, I guess. Nothing too big deal. 5/8

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Finished The perfect Kiss by Susan Hatler

Olivia is tired of her supermarket fishmonger job and wanted to be an event planner for the picturesque Blue Moon Bay... and she just snagged the ultimate gig... Execute a 2-week luxury retreat for Greta von Strand, best-selling author of "Men: Who Needs Them" and her followers, who need to embrace their independence and nurture each other. And Olivia definitely needed some of that independence. However, the retreat hit a snag when Brody and his friends, all hunky firefighters, took up residence next door. Now Olivia has to fight off Brody's advances, keep Brody and his friends away from the female guests, and keep Greta's male friend away... and somehow still keep her regular job... in case this gig did not work out. And it happens that Olivia likes Brody quite a bit...

Not too bad, push-pull is fun, and keeping secrets and assuming the worst comes back to bite both Greta and Olivia. 6/8

xenocide · Post by **xenocide** » Thu Mar 09, 2017 1:51 pm

Been a little lax in my updating. Audio going well. I have to admit I don't find myself very motivated to read The Rook by Daniel O'Malley, it has been a slow go. I've considered not finishing which I don't do very often, I'll see how it goes.

I'll try to make my posts less Amazon blurby

Finished Under Heaven by Guy Gavriel Kay

Set in a fantasized Tang China and loosely based on a fictionalized retelling of the An-Shi Rebellion. Almost no magic and no overt magic, just a couple myths are real. Lots of political machinations.

Very good book. Really gets into the characters and motivations. Kay does a great job of putting you in the world and culture. Just flirted with being a smidgen too well written in a couple places for my tastes (I hate noticing prose good or bad and I can't skim over the poetical stuff in audio) but that is probably a plus for most people. My second Guy Gavriel Kay book; While I really like this I would rate Tigana higher.

Finished Timebound (The Chronos Files Book 1) by Rysa Walker.

Won some Amazon awards in 2013. YA. Time travel and what that brings (changing history, differing timelines, etc.)

I've had this book in my audio library for a long time. When I started listening to it I had forgotten in was YA and had forgotten in was the first in a trilogy. Book was decent. I liked the first 1/3 better than the middle and end. All the stuff the villain does sounded cool but they don't investigate that as much as I would have liked (maybe in future books?). Too much focus on the teen romance stuff for my tastes (and I've read other YA with teen romance aspects like Harry Potter that I was not bothered by as much as I was in this book). I doubt I will continue with the series.

Finished Sundiver (Uplift Trilogy Book 1) by David Brin.

First uplift book. Has some cool mysteries, deals with first contact issues and humans moving into the galactic community, and has trips into the sun's chromosphere.

Another very good novel. Unlike my current feelings towards The Rook, I was constantly wanting to get back to reading this. Good characters, well done aliens, and an interesting galactic worldview. One little thing that threw me for a bit was that the main character had background details that were referred to almost like you would in a sequel. However after a little research it seems this is something that Brin does at times (my first Brin book). It does give the character a real feeling that his life didn't begin on the first page. Looking forward to more books in the series.

Bad Demographic · Post by **Bad Demographic** » Thu Mar 09, 2017 2:49 pm

Robots Versus Slime Monsters by A. Lee Martinez

Short stories by Martinez. Martinez's books are one shots - no sequels, etc. These short stories feature characters (usually the side characters) from some of his novels.

Dead Leprechauns and Devil Cats: Strange Tales of the White Street Society by Grady Hendrix

Short stories satirizing 19th and early 20th century attitudes toward "the little brown peoples" and other "lessers". I recognized these as satire but didn't enjoy them all that much anyway.

Watership Down by Richard Adams

When I saw that Adams had died I felt I should reread Watership Down as a kind of memorial.
I remember reading this when it first came out on the recommendation of one of the local librarians. The brief description on the flyleaf - about rabbits! - made me dubious, but I loved it. For the reread, I worried that I might not like it as well as back then, partly because I pay more attention now to writing style and partly because - well, the 'golden age' effect, you know. But I found that I loved this book and its tales about Elarairah as much now as I did then.
I'm sorry Adams died but I'm glad it prompted me to reread this book.

xenocide · Post by **xenocide** » Thu Mar 09, 2017 2:56 pm

I've never read Watership Down. It's high on my list of classics I need to get to. Your review bumped it up.

Bad Demographic · Post by **Bad Demographic** » Thu Mar 09, 2017 2:58 pm

The Last Adventure of Constance Verity by A. Lee Martinez

Constance Verity was fated from birth to lead a life of adventure and heroism. But adventuring and heroic actions can get tiresome, especially if acts requiring her heroic intervention crop up every day (and sometimes even more often than that). Constance has decided that she will end the cycle of adventure and that she can only end this by killing her fairy godmother. Accompanied by her best friend and sidekick, she sets out on her final adventure - or so she hopes. Of course, it doesn't quite work out that way.
Apparently Martinez has contracted to write a series and I'm guessing this is book 1 in that.

Bad Demographic · Post by **Bad Demographic** » Fri Mar 10, 2017 2:10 am

Star Island by Carl Hiaasen

Years ago a friend of mine suggested I give Carl Hiaasen a try (this is the guy who got me hooked on Terry Pratchett). Eventually I did by reading "Bad Monkey" which I really enjoyed. I've now read about a half dozen other Hiaasen books and I may just give him up. I still really like "Bad Monkey" but the rest of his books seem too similar to me: quirky characters and goofy goings-on in Florida and/or the Keys.
Star Island is about a spoiled no-talent pop star and her body double. The body double is mistakenly kidnapped by a deranged paparazzo (is that the singular form?). A former governor of Florida (governor for 15 minutes) who has been living in the swamps sets out to rescue her.

The Fifth Elephant by Terry Pratchett (reread)

Sam Vimes, head of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch and also the Duke of something (his wife is legitimately a Duchess) is sent as an ambassador to Uberwald - the land of werewolves, Deep Dwarves and vampires. In his usual hard-nosed way he solves a mystery that he saw begin in Ankh-Morpork and also resolves a political crisis in Uberwald.
A good Discworld book, especially if you are a Sam Vimes fan.

A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon

Some time ago I read The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and really enjoyed it. Off and on I've seen other Haddon books so I thought I ought to read another. I'm torn between giving this 4 Binkys and 5 (maybe we need a half Binky). An okay book about a family full of quirky people whose lives combust at the same time.

Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen by Lois McMaster Bujold

It has been three years since the death of Aral Vorkosigan and Cordelia Naismith Vorkosigan is moving on with her life.
Unlike the other books about the Vorkosigans, nothing much happens, but I still thought this was a good read.

The Dinosaur Hunter by Homer Hickam

If you ever saw the movie "October Sky" you may know who Homer Hickam is - he's the coal-miner's son who, inspired by Sputnik and wanting to not become a coal-miner, studied rocketry and went to work at NASA. Later he began writing books, including fiction. I thought I should give him a try.
The Dinosaur Hunter is told by a former cop, now a cowboy on a struggling ranch in Montana, who becomes involved with a paleontological dig for T.Rex and other dinosaurs on private and BLM lands. Of course you realize, since the narrator is an ex-homocide detective, there's going to be some interesting trouble. Beyond that I will tell you nothing about the plot. Nothing!
This was a pretty good book and I will probably try at least one more Hickam book.

Kasey Chang · Post by **Kasey Chang** » Fri Mar 10, 2017 3:35 am

Finished Exposed by Alexas Ross and Holly Rayner (Advanced Reader Copy)

Wife saw something she shouldn't and ran for her life. Husband was really in the mob and sent out killers. She ran to Aspen, temporarily lost her pursuers, and hiked a trail, almost got mauled by a bear, and was saved by "Blake" a recluse up on the mountains. She temporarily shacked up with him, chased away a goon (posing as a cop), camped in the wilderness, finally convinced her to come clean and talk to his FBI friends, she had to go back to her car, almost got killed by a car bomb set by her hubby, she helped Blake capture her hubby, her family came to visit and she started having second thoughts, and he's miffed and ran off. She went back to her life, then decided she's being stupid and went back for him, she's forgiven. HEA. The end.

2/8 The author obviously has NO IDEA how police actually works, or even how car bombs actually work. Apparently blowing up a car in an Aspen garage, and nobody will call the cops and fire truck. And this car bomb was so forgiving, she turned on the ignition, and the hero actually has time to pull the woman clear of the car THEN the bomb blows.

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Finished My Kinda Bull by Lilla Christine

Geophysics Engineer Heath McGreer is a reformed man, after his project in Alaska got him in jail, thanks to an exposed by environmental activist Christina Rodriguez. Heath is going renewable energy, and he admired how much Christina is willing to put on the line for her beliefs. So they meet at Red Rock Ranch, and seems opposites really do attract!

Personally I think this pretty fast romance is merely meh, but it seems to have won some awards? Meh. 5.5/8

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Finished Cowboy Paradise by Rhonda Lee Carver FREE on Amazon

Cara was damaged by years of hell by her paranoid abusive husband. So when he wrapped his truck around a tree, she was secretly relieved, but unable to find herself, and she took a chance to go for a weeklong retreat at Nirvana Ranch, and met Ben. Ben is a ranch hand at Nirvana ranch, and he's also finding himself after having wandered for years, and while he felt a connection to Cara, fraternization with guests is frowned upon, even though the cowboys on the ranch are definitely drool-worthy. And Cara was flattered by Ben's attention, but years of abuse have left her self-esteem in tatters. Can Ben break through by revealing his own history, and heal each other, and teach each other how to love again?

Sweet, but nothing really surprising here. 6/8

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Finished Seducing the Bachelor by Sinclaire Jayne FREE on Amazon

Single mom and veterinary student Talon Reese was helping out as a waitress at the Marietta, MT's 2nd Annual Bachelor auction for charity, when she was surprising by her friends pooling their money and won the bid for bachelor #3 for her. His looks did set her on fire, but she's too busy working, studying, and being mom. She wasn't looking for a relationship with the bachelor... Colt Ewing. Colt Ewing is a ranger sniper. He left years ago and was only back for leave for couple weeks. He wasn't looking for a relationship either, and his relationship with this town was... complicated, and finding Talon living in his uncle's old house (where he had some very bad memories), and driving his truck was almost more than he can take, but Talon's propositions gave him pause... As did his uncle's will... Will he have some reasons to stay in Marietta now... and perhaps, even learn to love... or will he re-enlist and never look back?

Not bad in the push pull, and the history from Colt that wasn't discussed. 6.5/8

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Finished The Heat Is On by Poppy J. Anderson

Hayden and Heath were happily engaged to marry. They even bought a house and minivan already. Then it all changed one day, when Heath's father, the fire chief and Heath had problems with a fire. Heath survived, but his father did not. Heath called off the engagement, tearing Hayden to pieces. She slowly picked up the pieces and tried to move on, but Heath's family, who's like her surrogate family, are not ready to let her go yet. Even Heath gets jealous when he learned Hayden may be having lunch with someone else. Can Heath admit that he made a mistake and ask Hayden back before he drove her away permanently?

The grand gesture was cute. 6.5/8

Kasey Chang · Post by **Kasey Chang** » Sun Mar 12, 2017 5:14 am

Finished Love Gone to the Dogs by Margaret Daley

Single mom Leah Taylor just moved to town with her grandpa (an inventor prone to mishap), two sons (one's a sports hero, other's a nerd genius) and one beagle who knows what he wants and has a talent of sneaking out of fences and doors. They were basically asked kindly to leave town after a couple mishaps with grandpa's experiments. However, not long after arrival, the beagle went after her neighbor's newspaper... and her neighbor, Dr. Shane O'Grady, was also the mayor. Before they can sort that out, the beagle went after his champion bichon instead... While Leah and Sean seem to like each other on a personal level, and so did their dogs, their situation forced them to different sides of the issues, regarding her sons (one of them had an accident with a homemade hang-glider), her grandpa (who's making a move on his mother!), and regarding the experiments (one of which blacked out the neighborhood!). When a different neighbor organized a signature drive to show the Taylors the way out of town, Sean, as mayor, was forced to make a choice... Ask Leah to stay... or cut bait and run?

The ending seems to be a bit abrupt and chopped off, but it's a funny rom com. 6/8

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Finished Some Lucky Woman by Carmen DeSousa FREE on Amazon

Jana Embers is a NYT best selling author with a book called "You Don't Need a Man" due to her experience of 15 years of marriage, only to see her man went into the arms of a different woman. So she divorced him emptied the bank account, AND took a tire iron to his truck. Three years later, Jana was waiting to meet a director as her book is being adapted to a movie when she suffered a shoulder injury, and fell for her physical therapist, Dr. Adrian Kijek, even as she told herself to stick with her motto about not needing a man. She took some time off to Hollywood to meet the production team of the movie adaptation, and was wooed by the director, a famous Hollywood rake himself. Now she had to choose between the rich and famous... or the man who may already have her heart...

Hmmm... falling for the PT? Kinda meh to me. 5/8

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Finished The Last Goodbye by Mona Ingram

Danielle Flynn is afraid of losing people, who never told her goodbye. Her parents are gone, her husband was divorced. She took solace in running a construction and contracting company, and staying aloof from people, not willing to hurt again, until her uncle Jake, owner of the ranch she lived on, allowed a friend to bring in a movie crew to use his ranch for the movie, and Danielle fell for the director, Grayson Crawford. But Danielle told herself she needs to stay away, because Grayson is leaving in a few weeks. That proved to be difficult when her uncle Jake fell for one of the older actresses, Carman Santangelo, and when the female lead got drunk and fell off the porch and broke her arm, Danielle was offered a temporary role as the horsewoman / stunt double.. and while she enjoyed the exeperience, it only made her certain that she and Grayson were of two different worlds... But was she making the biggest mistake of her life?

Frankly, I don't like the idea that all it takes is one change of heart. At least, there's a bit of a grand gesture at the end when Danielle finally realized she's going dense and bought a ticket to Hollywood and visit the Crawford ranch by herself. 5/8

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Finished Adam, by Jennifer Ashley FREE on Amazon

Stuntman Adam Campbell is going home to his family ranch in Riverbend, TX, but not by choice. He suffered a horrific injury and death of his friend when a stunt that gone horribly wrong. He did not expect to see his childhood companion, Bailey Farrell, working at the ranch next to his four brothers. Adam had once liked Bailey very much, but he had to get out of the small town. Now that he's back, Bailey was very different. The gawky teenager is now a beautiful woman, and those embers of affection threaten to combust back into flames. When forced into a bet with a rival, Adam asked Bailey to help him retrain. But Bailey had her own heartbreak and divorce that forced her back into town... Does she have room for Adam in her heart?

Not bad, with the push-pull, and the final grand gesture and conclusion was quite apt. 6.5/8

Kasey Chang · Post by **Kasey Chang** » Mon Mar 13, 2017 9:18 am

Finished Riding for Redemption by Bev Pettersen FREE on Amazon

Megan is a jewelry designer that's toughing it out in jockey school because her brother had gone missing three months ago in the same jockey school. The "official" story was on the way to the companion ranch in Mexico with a partner and four horses, he just disappeared at a gas station and was never seen again. He's heavily suspected of being a trafficker due to his previous rehab attempts, which Megan knew her brother never did. Someone was lying, and she's forced to go undercover herself at the same school. She was late to class one day after having gone out of school for a chocolate run (school cafeteria is seriously short on sweets and Megan with her roommate has sort of a "black market" on chocolate bars) when she stopped on the way to help a very handsome man pull his MB out of a ditch. That very handsome man turned out to be Scott Taylor, a very good friend of the jockey school owner. Scott was asked to run an "addiction" course at the school so the school can get keep its expedited mandate to "export" surplus horses across the border into Baja California when he was forced to take a convalescence leave from his own company after a recent incident where he took a bullet. He lost his girlfriend to drug addiction, so he hates drugs with a vengeance, and since Garrett was his best friend, he believed the story about Megan's brother being a trafficker using the school as cover. Megan was attracted to Scott, and vice versa, and Megan, with different last name and different build, was not immediately recognized as a relative. She tried to check into Eve, who was her brother's girlfriend on campus, only to learn Eve was pregnant (with her brother's child) and left for a different ranch. As Megan investigated and found signs that Garrett was involved in something seriously nasty... like association with narcos in Mexico, Scott knew that Megan was hiding something... When a bag of high-grade heroin was found in Megan's bag, and her relation with the disappeared brother revealed, Scott felt betrayed, just as Megan found her roommate Tami sobbing in her bed, her wrists with rope burns, after her "date" with Miguel, son of the owner of partner ranch in Mexico. On the way to confront Miguel, she was not aware that she had been setup, and Scott basically wrestled her and cuffed her, and left her with Garrett, who promised to send her on her way without involving police, but really had zero intention of doing so...

Wow, as a mystery / suspense romance, this book is top notch, as you know that FMC and MMC each knew something, and they are going to collide so hard it'll be a mess. It's about viewing the world through the wrong lens and betrayed by your best friend, and about family and loyalty. Scott eventually will save the day, and spent quite a bit of time making up for all his "mistakes". Even if you don't care much about romance, this book is worth reading for the mystery alone. There were a few moments of inconvenient timed rage (misinterpreted as something else) but it's a tense book. 7.5/8

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Finished Saffron by Cindy Caldwell FREE on Amazon

Saffron Archer, one of the sisters on Archer Ranch in Tombstone, has a good life baking and helping her family ranch. During a trip into town, she was splashed with mud by a buggy, whose driver was new in town. He was Adam Benson, the new farrier in town, having moved south with his family... a sister who can't walk, and two little brothers, after tragic death of his parents, leaving him to raise the family alone. And he vowed to protect his family... away from pitying eyes. Saffron was determined to help the sister Carol to be out and about with the new wheelchair invention brought by the new doctor in town, even though Saffron was attracted to Adam. Can Saffron get through to Adam that locking his sister away is NOT protecting his family? Or will that cost her love?

This one is kinda meh, as it's mostly angst-y relationship with the guy being unreasonable and you're not told why and then you realized it was unreasonable all along. 4.5/8

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Finished Silver and Bold by Amber Burns Advanced Reader Copy

Enya has her own candy shop, but slowly her neighbors are selling out to a development company, Silversson Development. She also celebrated her 31st birthday mostly alone, and had way too many cocktails. She stumbled into the infamous graffiti man "Dark L" on the street, and being a bit tipsy and lonely, she allowed him to seduce her on a rooftop. Next day, she was supposed to meet the head of Silversson Development to discuss the fate of her little shop, and a brash, cocky, and panty-melting handsome guy got into her elevator and both charmed and angered her. She was surprised to find out later that he was none other than Thomas L. Silversson, head of Silversson Development. Thomas proceed to charm Enya, and while Enya was happy that Thomas was interested in her, she won't be dissuaded from saving her candy shop, even as she falls for the rich playboy. What she didn't know that Thomas L. Silversson, the billionaire playboy, is the same person as "Dark L" the graffiti artist. Thomas didn't want to be rich and famous, but he has obligations to the company and its employees, and graffiti was the only way to let out the anger. Finding Enya... complicated that. Which person did Enya fall for... Thomas the charming and sweet jerk, or Dark L the dangerous but compassionate rogue?

WTF?! how can she not recognize the same voice in both person? At the end was the real hilarious stuff. How the heck did they post bail for a guy arrested for graffiti and kept the guy's identity from the police records, and nobody recognized him, either police nor anyone else? The situation was patently ABSURD! 3/8

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Finished Breath Again by Sydney Logan FREE on Amazon

Carrie Malone left her mom and her home after her dad died of a heart attack. Her mom started drinking and Carrie can't do it any more. She went to the city, found an apartment, and waitressed to make it through school. One night, 10 minutes before closing, a disheveled man walked in, looking almost like a transient, several days unshaven face, mud on his pants and shoes... but wearing a Rolex. At closing, Carrie looked at the spot... The mug of decaf was untouched, but next to the coffee was the Rolex watch. She ran out, and chased the guy down, who's about to jump off the bridge. Somehow, she talked him down and took him home. Next morning, at a moment of weakness, they made passionate love, then he noticed his wedding ring. She kicked him out, not giving him chance to explain. But he kept coming back... Slowly the truth emerged... He is Josh Bennett, billionaire. He was married, and he had just buried his daughter when his wife, driving the kid, was hit head-on by a woman doped up on pain meds. But he kept wearing the ring for the daughter. Now that she's gone, he thought he had nothing to olive for any more, until Carrie talked him down from the bridge. Carrie was moved, and Josh made her see that she was running from her problems, just like he was. Can the two damaged souls find solace with each other?

Not bad for a novella that explored quite a few issues, even though the initial passionate love-making was a bit jarring. 6/8

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Finished A Time To Give by Kathryn Shay FREE on Amazon

Ben Cassidy had been on top of his world, having taken his father's company to the peak of its field, only to lose it when his patent was delayed and a loan came due. For almost two years, he went to this soup kitchen he had founded once a week in honor of his father, just as a reminder he did some good in the world, as he lived on the interest and construction jobs, and at the soup kitchen he met Emily, a volunteer there. Emily wanted to draw Ben out of his shell, until one night, she gave him a ride home, and they ended up in bed making passionate love. Next morning, Ben was angry and devastated to find that Emily was the daughter of the vulture capitalist that stole his company away from him (but because she married once, she used her ex's name) and he believed she was out to sabotage him in some way, when she wasn't even sure about his surname. Emily was told her mother didn't want her any more and left, but that wasn't the truth. When Ben found out that unethical tactics were used to steal the company from under him, he basically blackmailed Emily's dad into selling him back his own company for the same price, THEN dropped the bombshell on them... Emily is pregnant with his child, and they are getting married ASAP. But is this marriage just for the baby's sake? What will Emily learn about her mother and why she went away? How will Ben honor his promise to Emily to not hurt her father?

While the book was originally published in 2005, the book is just as good today, if a bit long. Normally a revenge tale would have ended when the guy got his company back, but no, there's more, much more, as the father plotted revenge while Ben tried to make a go with Emily being a real loving family rather than just "for the baby", but he was also running away, believing she may go back to her father... Lots of family drama, secret baby, reunion, and wound. It is long though. 7.5/8

Kasey Chang · Post by **Kasey Chang** » Tue Mar 14, 2017 8:45 am

Finished Out Little Secrets by Mary Farmer Western Historical Romance FREE on Amazon

Charlotte Baldwin ran from her stepfather in Philadelphia, taking with her her late mother's jewelry and her late father's onyx box. She was almost robbed in St. Louis and got on a train to somewhere... and ended up in Montana, met the general store owner Michael West, and agreed to marry him... for she realized to throw off whoever's after her she had to change her name, and now, she is just Charlie West. What she didn't know is Michael West is hiding deep dark secrets as well, having also ran away from Philadelphia...

Spoiler:

And there are bad people after her, after him, after someone... or something?

Now this is a good twist in the plot and it tied them all back together. 7/8

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Finished In Love With Lucy by C. C. Wood FREE on Amazon

Lucy Daniels is quitting her job after 3 years as assistant with the young and ambitious CEO in Dallas: Christopher James Barden III. She is leaving the stuck-up boss behind and chasing her dream as a photographer, even though the boss is drool-worthy and salary is great. What Lucy didn't count on was Christ Barden had been denying himself because he doesn't date employees, and he wanted Lucy for a long time. Now that she's leaving, it's open season!

Kinda meh here, nothing too memorable. 5/8

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Finished The Secret to Seduction by Ember Casey FREE on Amazon

Felicia Liddle doesn't see herself as beautiful, and she'd gladly blend into the background to get the scoop for the gossip magazine she worked for. However, when the magazine changed ownership, Felicia found herself ready to be kicked out the door, unless she lands one major interview with one of the Fontaine Brothers who are notorious for refusing interviews. Felicia has but one weapon: her female charms, as the Fontaine Brothers are known to never resist a beautiful woman... But Felicia had always an infatuation on the Fontaine Brothers and her seduction skills are, by her own estimation, negligible. But her new boss, Roman Everet, who gave her the one week to get her seduction tuned up, is willing to teach her... hands on...

This is one of those "I'll teach you to seduce, while I fall in love with you" stories. In a way, it's the girl learning about her own self-esteem, confidence, and feminine wiles. And clearly the ROman guy has way too much time on his hands. Still, it's better than average for sure. 6/8

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Finished Mason (Remington Ranch Book 1) by S J McCoy FREE on Amazon

Mason Remington had loved Gina for a long time, since they were children. They even promised to marry each other. Then one day, she left for New York and never came back, refusing to talk to him, leaving him broken-hearted. He spent his time building his ranch business, and occasionally pick up girls, but his heart remained pining for Gina. Gina, on the other hand, settled in New York, became a photographer, and even found a fiancee... sort of. Now that Gina's father can no longer take care of the ranch due to failing health, Gina is back to help move her father to New York to be with her, even though he swore he won't leave. And this time, Mason was determined to learn what caused her to run away for TEN YEARS, and the answer will devastate them both...

Spoiler:

Frankly, this plot was a bit contrived. Based on ONE overheard convo, with no context, she ran and broke contact for TEN YEARS with someone she wanted to spend rest of her life with? WTF?! On the other hand, the reveal was done properly. 6.5/8

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YellowKing · Post by **YellowKing** » Wed Mar 15, 2017 3:07 pm

Just finished a little light reading.

In Search of Schrodinger's Cat: Quantum Physics and Reality by John Gribbin

This is an old book (originally published in 1984), but the material within is still solid since most of these theories were established in the 20s and 30s. It's a fairly easy to read book that gives a nice high-level overview of quantum physics, starting with the fundamental origins and progressing through the various personalities that shaped our views. Really made me interested in reading some more current books, even though the math is way over my head.

Kasey Chang · Post by **Kasey Chang** » Wed Mar 15, 2017 11:56 pm

Finished A Family Affair by Mary Campisi FREE on Amazon

Christine Blacksworth's father was supposed to make it back to the family dinner after his monthly trip to his getaway cabin. He didn't. Instead, a call came in informing the family that the father was found dead of a car crash 100 miles away from the cabin, near a town called Magdalena. Upon reading of the will, 1/3 of the estate went to Christine's mother... 1/3 went to Christine... and 1/3 went to someone else named Lily. Christine was determined to find out who Lily is... and was shocked to find a broken family just as devastated as her own yet somehow better than she had experienced at home... a woman who understood her better than her own mother, a step-brother fiercely protective of his family, and a half-sister that simply adored her like a princess. The more she spent time in Magdalena... the more she wondered which family did her "real" father belong to... and which one would she choose... if she had a choice.

Nice family drama, though I find the romance between Christine and kinda-step-brother (the other woman wasn't married) to be a bit forced and unexplained. 6/8

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Finished Northern Lights by KB Winters and Evie Monroe FREE on Amazon

Taylor Vanderfelt had a great upper crust life in LA until her father committed suicide, unable to handle being scammed and the company on the edge of bankruptcy. Taylor's brother already abandoned the family and moved to South America and married there. Now all Taylor's mother can think about is get Taylor married off to a rich bachelor to raise the family fortunes once again, and Taylor, who didn't know any other way, kowtowed under the pressure and started an online profile on a "date a billionaire" website, and found two prospects... Davis, who was son of an investment banker in town but to whom Taylor felt no spark, and Blake, who operates out of Alaska, a former navy SEAL, who gave no further background, but Taylor felt an instant connection to Blake. Mother wanted Taylor to immediately latch onto Davis and God forbid "should you screw this up, you ungrateful daughter...", as well as denounced Blake as ingrate uncouth fisherman. Taylor reluctantly agreed to go with Davis to a society fundraiser. But just a day before, Blake showed up in LA, took Taylor out to the fanciest restaurant in town, then introduced her to passionate lovemaking in the grandest suite of a local 6-star hotel. Taylor already promised Davis the society fundraiser, so Taylor feigned a "family obligation". When a photo of her and Davis at the fundraiser appeared in print, Blake stormed back to Alaska, but not after sending her a scathing Dear Jane letter. Taylor, distraught, sought advice of her best friends, who advised her that they'll drag her along to a wedding in Seattle, then they'll cover for her while she went North to Alaska and find Blake and beg him to take her back...

Okay, why they have to make him a navy SEAL, I have no idea. There's nothing about this guy that's a navy SEAL, other than KB Winters has a navy SEAL fetish (heck, she claimed her husband was one, though she couldn't get facts about SEALs right) But the story itself with its twists were fun to read, as there's a bear, a kind coffee shop owner, and a twist at the end. 6/8

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Finished An UnWilling Husband by Tera Shanley FREE on Amazon

Margaret Flemming used to live in a small town in Texas, until her mother, one day, dragged her off onto a train and headed back East. Now she's grown, trained in the society ways that she felt she never belonged. When her mother passed, and her aunt Margaret had nothing but cruel words to her for months. Maggie finally had enough and left for her hometown, to her father whom she hadn't seen for a decade, and Garret Shaw, the boy she thought she'd spend eternity with. But Garret was a changed man, years of abuse by his father had taken a toll, and the loan Garret had taken out from the Jennings family is coming due. The easygoing boy is now a hardened rough young man, who had no affection to give, esp. not a girl who's used to high society. Only one day after Maggie's arrival, Maggie's father passed away in a field accident. Her father forced Garret to make a deathbed promise: marry Maggie, even though Garret was supposed to be marrying Anna Jenning, and the dowry would cover the loan. Garret did as promised: married Maggie that same day, but refused to consummate the marriage. As Maggie learned ranch life from the foreman and the two Native Americans on the ranch, the Jennings started making overt threats... About how Anna's honor was besmirched, how Maggie should just go away or perhaps... "went away", and how eventually the farm will be theirs. Garret cannot allow himself to love Maggie, as he knew she'd head back East when she got tired of the rough life, but he will protect her with his life if need be...

Very angst-y love but the revelations and changes came slowly that made it believable. However, the ending was a bit too MUCH happiness all around, IMHO. 6.5/8

Kasey Chang · Post by **Kasey Chang** » Fri Mar 17, 2017 1:00 pm

Finished Back to you by Ines Saint (50 page short read)

Tony Mancini is back in Haven, CT as the pediatrician. He's gorgeous, he's good with kids, and he knows what he wants... but once upon a time, he was the town's terror, and Samantha Presley was hired to specifically babysit him to keep him from mischief. Sam's 4 years older, and 20 years later, Tony still has a thing for Sam... Except Sam won't take him seriously, since Sam's ex Brad is also back in town, hoping to win her back... May the best man win (her heart)!

Kinda meh. 5/8

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Finished Unlucky In Love by Jill Sanders FREE (including audiobook) on Prime Reading

Kristen Collins had been cursed for years, even since her boyfriend chose to spend his sister's birthday with her instead, causing his sister to curse her. She had a continuous stream of loser boyfriends, the latest of which just about emptied her apartment of furniture and half of her shoes and clothing and disappeared in an uhaul. She lost her winning lottery ticket (left it on the train), and her brand new car (paid for from apartment insurance) when she was carjacked within hours of taking delivery of the car (and as you can guess, the car was totalled). The only bright spot in her life were her friends, and the new employee at her company, Aiden Scott, who charmed her like no other. But due to the curse, she had to step carefully... But Aiden was smitten already, as Kristen's one mishap after another requires him to save the damsel in distress multiple times, from elevator malfunction to getting locked out on the balcony while snowing... and more. But Aiden was keeping a secret, and it will likely destroy Kristen's trust in him...

Fun rom-com like read. 7/8

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Finished Saving Sam by Simone Beaudelaire and J. M. Northup FREE on Amazon

Sam Wallace is back home on leave in prep of separation after tour in Afghanistan in the Air Force. And he was changed forever. His best friend, Amy, and one-time lover, no longer recognized him except the smile. Sam, who was once spoiled rich kid constantly seeking attention is now a haunted hard warrior who can't stand crowds or loud noises, but Amy stood by his side, and shared his bed, for it was the only comfort he can take, and she can give. But when Sam's PTSD resurfaced full-force into a psychotic break from reality, and Amy was injured... Sam wanted Amy to stay away from him because he doesn't want to hurt her again, but Amy has a secret she had to share as well...

Yep, she's pregnant. Reads a bit dry after the guy's committed to the psych wing of the VA hospital, but the emotional turmoil was pretty moving. 6/8

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Finished Cruising Toward Love by Christi Barth

Town librarian Zoe Balis was not enjoying her all expenses paid Caribbean cruise at all. Her sister was left at the altar, and the unused cruise ticket would be wasted if no one will go. What she did not count on was her archnemesis Nate, who humiliated her in front of the entire town 10 years ago at the prom was first assigned as best man (a last minute substitution), then not informing them of the runaway groom until he left town, and finally, who took the groom's cruise ticket and thus, will be sharing the honeymoon suite with her. Not to mention splashing her with icy puddle with his motorcycle, burning her pink skirt (long story), and other transgressions. Nate Hyatt, army medic on leave, never told Zoe why he left her without a goodbye, or dumped her on prom night, but he never forgot about her, and he'll do his dardest to win back her heart... if at all possible, and what better place to do it on a romantic cruise? As Zoe befriends an internet mogul w/ no tact but plenty of cash, Nate made friends with the ship photographer who's battling PTSD, and the four joined a cruise-sponsored "treasure hunt". Can Zoe forgive Nate, even though he may be leaving? Can Nate love Zoe and help her heal? Is there love by the end of the cruise?

Fun rom-com using "enemies into lovers" trope. 6.5/8

Kasey Chang · Post by **Kasey Chang** » Sat Mar 18, 2017 1:32 am

Finished Uniformed Love Triangle by Kathleen Hope

Colonel Devon is home on leave and hoping for the quiet solitude but his neighbor Ashley, a socialite who just want some hot NSA sex has other ideas. And it was through Ashley that Devon knew Jade, who was Ashley's best friend. Jade knew that while she was much closer connected to Devon she can never have him because BFF does not steal boyfriends. But when Ashley decided she can't handle Devon's moodiness from PTSD, can Jade step up and get the man of her dreams?

The push pull is fine, but some of the details are just horribly wrong. Why is a Colonel paired up with an enlisted man doing house clearing, and somehow survived an ambush that killed two snipers? How could a Colonel refer to his service as "enlisted" when he's a commissioned officer? Why would a Colonel call a sergeant his "superior officer"? Why would a sergeant refer to an enlisted man as a "trooper", a term reserved for cavalry? 3/8

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Finished Love So Hot by Marquita Valentine FREE on Amazon

Sydney McKnight, bank teller, has a strange relationship with Brody Lawson, fire captain, in the town of Jessamine. Brody wanted Sydney for years, but they forced themselves to be only best friends, if such a thing was possible between a man and a woman. Brody even has a bombshell girlfriend, Cherry, but when a rookie firefighter Davis wanted to put the moves on Sydney, Brody shut him down fast, because Sydney deserved better. But when Cherry sensed that Brody was really pining after Sydney, the girls conspire to force Sydney to win the Fireman's annual Auction for Brody's time... Brody thought he will get lucky... until Sydney asked for Brody's help to seduce... Davis the rookie. Now Brody had to pull out all his moves to show Sydney that he is all she needs...

Funny, poignant, and sappy, it's basically rom-com formula with a nice polish. 6/8

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Finished Maid for Love by Marie Force FREE on Amazon

Maddie Chester is barely getting by as she tried to save up enough money to get away from her hometown of Gansett Island. Her ample... cleavage has only brought her pain (and I don't' mean the back ache) as horrible rumors had plagued her since high school that she's easy, and having a 9 month old baby because she was knocked up by someone who swore he had a vasectomy (then did a runner) didn't help. On the way to her housekeeping job at McCarthy's Resort, she was ran over by someone on a motorcycle... and wounded enough that she can't work for several days... and she was in deep despair as she cannot afford to lose any work... it was only worse when she realized who ran her over... Mac McCarthy, the prodigal son of the McCarthy clan... but Mac wasn't anything like Maddie expected. Mac wasn't snotty, despite the rich upbringing. In fact, Mac wanted to stay and help nurse her back to health and take care of her baby, and this is in spite of all the warnings from the rest of town about her "reputation". But Maddie refused to be swept off of her feet, because Mac was only here on vacation, and soon he'll leave for Miami. But Mac had already fallen for the strong and vulnerable Maddie...

Fun story, though I didn't like the darkest hour that much, but the way it was resolved sort of redeemed it (as everybody who she talked to later told her it was STUPID!) 7/8

Kasey Chang · Post by **Kasey Chang** » Sat Mar 18, 2017 11:30 am

Finished Stop the Wedding! by Patricia Kay FREE on Amazon

Nick Petrillo is back in Green River to exact his revenge on the Blair family, ten years after he was arrested on trumped-up charges, then run out of town for loving Kristin Blair, and so brutally betrayed by her when he was confronted with a Dear John note. Having made a ton of money as one of the best mutual fund managers, he had bought up enough stock to control Blair Manufacturing, and the stockholder's meeting was one day before Kristin's wedding to her fiancee Doug. He did not count on his feelings for Kristin resurfacing, or that she was just as betrayed by her family... She believed he had taken money from her family to leave her, and she can never tell him about their daughter, who was raised as a 4th sister (late baby) rather than a daughter. But when push comes to shove, can Nick forgive the past and plan for the future? Or will Nick's thirst for revenge cost him the only woman he loved?

Tale of revenge is good, but the ending was way too hurried and push-y, and the family just acquiesced at the end? Phooey. 5/8

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Finished Double Blessing by Kellie McAllen

Maddy struggled for years trying to get out from under her drinking aunt and a series of bad boyfriends, only to find her world collapsing around her. Her savings had been stolen. Her cash stash robbed. She can't go home with a drunken man in her home wanting to get his hands on her... and her job had just been eliminated. With no savings, no job, and no home, Maddy has joined the new homeless, and came to the attention of Maddox, who was working at the supermarket the Maddy came in a bought a can of tuna and one banana... three days in a row. Maddox and his twin brother Cheydan are Celestia Divisa, half-angels on Earth. Maddox gives away most of his income to help people, and he's drawn to this girl who seems to need help. Elsewhere in town, Cheydan, Maddox's twin brother, just started work on at an adoption agency, and a girl Lissie, came in asking for help to find her birth parents, because she has a kidney disease and need a transplant soon, and need a blood relative if they can be found. Cheydan found himself drawn to this girl, who don't seem to be in the best of health, and bent some rules to get her the information, only to see it turn into a dead end. Twin brothers, both had found a girl desperately needing their help. Maddy's life can't sink any lower, and she can't allow herself to hope it can turn for the better, even with Maddox's help. Lissie's life is ending soon and she's giving up all hope, even with Cheydan's help. Both half angels need to use up their one miracle allowed in life to convince their respective girl that hope is not beyond their reach...

Spoiler:

Clean romance that is actually pretty darn dramatic and emotional... and a bit spiritual. While angels are mentioned, the book is not very religious, unlike some "Christian romance" writers that drops Bible quotes and prayers as if they ran out of material and needed some filler. 7/8

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Finished Sweet For You by Harper Ashe

Abby has a crush on the gourmet tycoon Stephen Blake of Blake Foods. When she chanced upon a food tester position at Blake Foods, for their new diet snack line, she found that Stephen Blake is NOT like the man he imagined... but not as shallow as she had feared. Stephen Blake is desperate to make his new snack line a success, and when Abby's opinions are precise and to the point, he hired her on the spot to a long-term position (for a year!) and almost admitted to himself that he also has the hots for this sassy BBW. But will misunderstandings drive them apart before they finish their recipe for love?

Novella at just over 100 pages, this is a fast and sweet read. 6.5/8

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Finished Loving from Afar by Mona Ingram FREE on Amazon

Allison and Cole had their future planned. Then Cole, one night, made a decision that was rational at the time, but invariably changed two lives and set a chain of events in motion that drove the couple apart. Cole was arrested for a jewelry store robbery he did not commit, but he refused to give up the name of the perp, so he was sentenced to 18 months in prison. He did not know that during this time, Allison would make friends, then was betrayed by those friends when she was raped at a party and became pregnant. They went their separate ways, each believing they were betrayed by the other, or were too ashamed of admitting to their feelings. Ten years later, Cole is back in town... his father is very ill, and Cole needed to figure things out with Allison...

Somehow the emotional turmoil didn't quite work, as if they were delivered in a detached way that didn't deliver shock to the heart. After ten years of angst, both sides can't hold any grudges. 5.5/8

Kasey Chang · Post by **Kasey Chang** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 3:31 am

Finished Healing Hands by Kellie McAllen

Doctor Rafel DiAngelo, aka Doc Rafe, is a Celestia Divisa... a half-angel with the gift of healing. One day, in a coffee shop, he came into contact with Cece, who had been blind since the age of 4 with no physical explanation. Cece no longer sees her blindness as a disability, and she hated doctors with a vengeance because they are so... meddlesome and wanted to run tests and such. and Doc Rafe never told her he's a MD... just that he teaches divinity and others things. The connection between them is undeniable, and both bonded with a girl suffering from hysteria blindness... caused by severe psychic trauma. When Doc Rafe's "secret" came out, Cece saw it as betrayal and cut off all ties. Rafe thought his gift was for Cece, but perhaps his gift was meant for someone else?

As this is about angels, there will be more than one miracle in this book. And they actually fit into the plot. The push-pull is fine, but the change-of-heart to resolve the situation was a bit on the lame side, IMHO. Still, a fun read. 6/8

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Finished Ruby: Come-By-Chance Mail Order Brides by Juliet James FREE on Amazon

Come-by-Chance is a little town in the middle of nowhere in Montana, and there are a lot of eligible bachelors here... and never enough women. Ruby, who lost her ma and was barely scraping by as a schoolmistress in Pittsburgh, was forced to make other plans by the lecherous Mister Murphy who wanted her as a mistress when Mrs. Murphy is going away for a month. Ruby chose to take a huge chance by accepting invitation from a Mr. James Drinkwater. However, upon arriving, turns out James is not who he seems to be... James is actually "Slim Jim", the local saloon owner, and he's already married to Lettie! What's worse, Slim Jim wanted Ruby to be one of his... prostitutes! But Lettie has other ideas... and she got Slim Jim to embark on a DIFFERENT venture... a mail order bride business! In the meanwhile, Ruby gets to meet the oldest Wilkinson brother, and it's love at first sight...

For a moment I thought the author was going to just go trope, but then she completely flipped it on us, as Lettie, who was also a mail order bride, was actually a blackwidow (i.e. she's the kind that leaves her hubbies dead, take their fortune, and start elsewhere with a new name!) As it is, Lettie and Slim Jim are perfect for each other! The romance between Ruby and the bachelor was a bit of meh, but the twists alone made this version rise above the rest. 6.5/8

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Finished The Wren by Kristy McCaffrey FREE on Amazon

Molly Hart had finally come home, after ten years... not by her choice. She was abducted from her home when she was a child, then captured by the Comanche, and spent a decade with them. Now she's back at her family farm, and found her parents' grave site... and her own, because she was believed to have perished when a small body and her gold cross was found badly burned. That is where former Texas Ranger Matt Ryan found her, and she never expected to see Matt again... Matt Ryan paid a heavy price for his pursuit of justice, first in the US Army, then as a Texas Ranger, hoping to find justice for the murdered girl, and now walked with a limp due to injuries suffered during recent captivity. Find Molly alive doesn't solve the mystery... Who attacked the Hart family farm? As Matt brought Molly home, and the family and neighbors adjust to the new of the girl who returned from the dead, old secrets are revealed, and someone was willing to kill to keep the secrets buried...

As a mystery this book would be good to excellent. The romance only added to the story, even though the ending is a bit trope-ish... Relied on a kidnapping, but FMC did resolve her own problem, so to speak. Very rare: 7/8

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Finished Moonstone Beach by Linda Seed FREE on Amazon

Kate Bennett is a bookstore owner in the coastal town of Cambria, California, and after two years of celibate life after divorce, may finally be ready to date again. Jackson Graham is a local chef that never stays quiet about food, and as a result came across as brash and irritating, but he had the longest crush on Kate. When Kate's friends set them up, Kate was expecting a fling, Jackson is going for home-run. Just as Kate was sorta convinced that Jackson was serious... Jackson got an offer of a lifetime... an executive chef position in San Francisco... choices, choices...

This contemporary romance is kinda meh to me. 5.5/8

Kasey Chang · Post by **Kasey Chang** » Tue Mar 21, 2017 1:43 am

Finished Saving Sarah by Kathleen Hope

Lt. Cade and his men was ordered to retrieve Sarah from the middle of Amazon rain forest where she runs a clinic. Sarah just angered a local mafioso who brought in a man way too far gone for any help. Sarah refused to leave, and the lieutenant was not given permission to use force not reveal why she's being summoned. Then mafioso attacked the hospital, and Cade was able to drag Sarah off a hid in a cave. She was wounded and her wound infected, but Cade was able to nurse her back. They went back to the hospital site hoping to reestablish comm, found Sarah's nurse Alice, who turned out to be a traitor. The mafioso dragged Sarah off, but Cade saved her and promised to marry her. The end.

There are so many holes in this story it's absolutely hilarious. What happened to the rest of the SEAL team? Why didn't they setup a "if lost contact go there" point? Where's the backup radio? Since when did SEAL teams carry sealed water bottles but not antibiotic ointments? How many MREs did they carry in as they were in the jungle for a week? Why can't the SEAL team detect the attackers early on and retreat? Did the lieutenant let his team die and didn't bat an eye?

1/8, utter garbage.

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Finished SEALed Bride by B. B. Hamel FREE on Amazon

Nash Bell has a best-selling war memoir based on his SEAL days, and women are practically throwing themselves at him daily, bad enough that his publicist is having conniptions trying to control his public image. Chafing at the control, Nash Bell decided to do one thing nobody expected... He's going to marry a girl named Selena in a marriage of convenience. Selena needed the money... Her father has cancer. And this "fake" marriage would only last a few months. And Nash needs to have a more... "wholesome" image. But Nash is having a hard time keep his hands off his "wife"...

Here, there are no "alternate reality" other than some "mentioned in passing" bits at the end, about now SEAL team not only got female members, it also got a female team leader (neither had happened). The part about how certain book was really a publicity stunt by DOD was actually not that far-fetched. Other than that there wasn't too much SEAL-ness for this book to achieve "SEAL abuse" as per the previous book. 5.5/8

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Finished Dreaming in Dairyland by Kristen Osbourne FREE on Amazon

Cissie Rivers celebrated her best friend Cindy's wedding not too long ago, and now she's... jealous. Cissie wanted a tall, dark, handsome man... preferably in uniform. And she went to the same matchmaker Cindy used... Dr. Lachele. And soon, she's scheduled for a wedding, where she will meet her match at the altar, and immediately marry him. What she didn't know is her match was Deputy Sheriff Bob Anderson in the next town, and he was very much aware of her. One look at her and he already knew she's the one, but he... can't approach her. So he set himself up with Dr. Lachele as well... and with more tests than others... Bob was confirmed to be a match for Cissie, and the first days of the wedding actually went well, But will Cissie forgive Bob when she found out that Bob actually engineered this match?

This was a part of "At the Altar" series with most of the dating part been skipped and you go directly into married life, and it's interesting! I've previously read book 1 and 3 (This is book 4) and being a short novel the characters are actually quite nicely rounded. 6/8

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Finished Jennifer and Rocket (Princesses of Silicon Valley #4) by Anita Claire FREE on Amazon

Jennifer Takahashi is a Hawaiian born Asian-American (with both Chinese and Japanese blood) and a middle-school teacher in Silicon Valley. She had dreamed of dating preppy metrosexual guys and marrying one... mostly because that's what the family expected of her. She never expected to enjoy some time with a tattooed, pierced, and rough-looking programmer Rocket on the dance floor, and she surprised herself when she agreed to go with Rocket to an art gallery, only to learn that they both are part-time artists (he's got a metal work studio, she's into necklace making) And as Jennifer and Rocket gets to know each other Jennifer had to decide whether Rocket was just a wild fling and she should find more metrosexual guys... or is Rocket the one to keep as he was the nicest to her by far?

Author was surprisingly accurate in describing Asian cultures, both in the previous book Hita about Indian family, and here about a Japanese/Chinese/American family, and how it affects dating. At its core it's an opposites attract story, and well told. 6.5/8

Kasey Chang · Post by **Kasey Chang** » Wed Mar 22, 2017 4:13 am

Finished Lieutenant's Musician by Kathleen Hope

Ash is a military medical personnel, the lieutenant, who made friend with Cas the musician. Ash is best friends with Amber, who's in love with Mickey, a bandmate of Cas. The romance developed, as originally they don't like each other much, but they made great friends... Until Ash and Amber were called up for deployment... and Cas preemptively broke things off because he can't deal with it. Ash and Amber survived their 2 year stint, came back, will Cas and Mickey still be there?

Frankly, the story was great right up to "you can't leave, I'll break up with you first". WTF?! That's called conflict? 4/8

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Finished For Love or Charity by Chantel Rhondeau

Sydney McCallister has a rich family who owned an island resort, but she had to work like everyone else, and she chose to run the McCallister Foundation, funding various worthy causes, from New York. When Matthew Coleson got screwed by the government's reduction in budget, and turned down by McCallister Foundation for their grant, which was the last one available, he went to the office to argue his case, only to make a spectacular ass of himself. When Sydney's office was trashed then tagged with threatening graffiti, Sydney was sure it was Matthew, but a confrontation later and a make-up lunch showed that Matthew was much kinder and deeper than Sydney suspected, and Sydney understood his mission to rehabilitate former drug users by providing house, counseling, education, and more. As they work to discover the identity of the person who threatened Sydney, they fell for each other. But the doubt was always there... was Matt there for Sydney's money... or was he there for Sydney?

Interesting push-pull with obligations, secrets, and the rest threatening to derail the romance. 6/8

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Finished Gabe's Secret by Amy Durham FREE on Amazon

Rachelle Taya came from nothing and pulled herself up from nothing, for her mom had taught her well. Having escaped from a bad man ten years ago, they made enough... Rach and friends hang out at the coffee shop "Ugly Mug" in the little town of Flagstaff AZ, and the barista/owner Gabe Jenkins was very sweet on Rachelle. Just as Gabe was getting to know Rach better, Rach's mother finally admitted of having financial problems... The bad man, legally Rach's father, was still running up credit card debt and somehow Rach's mom never divorced him, and thus, when creditors came calling, mom can't pay it all. Gabe sympathize, but he's keeping a big secret. He spent 18 years in a hellhole called home, in Kansas, and he's never going back, no matter how grandma and others wanted to lay guilt on him, and he's actually quite rich. How does he help Rach, the woman he loved, without being rejected by Rach, and/or keeping his secret? Or is that going to cost him all that he loved?

Not bad as a tale of secrets, and a dose of suspense near the end was quite good. 6/8

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Finished Almost a Family by Donna Alward FREE on Amazon

Molly Schaeffer headed to her sister's home to take care of her and her niece after her sister got into a serious car accident. She didn't count on her ex, jason, living next door. Six years ago they had their life planned, then she left him behind to chase her own dreams. She's now back, but it's a temporary arrangement, and Jason knew it wasn't over between them... So, is this the last hurrah, or a second chance at something lasting?

Not too bad, but didn't feel too much magic here. 5/8

Kasey Chang · Post by **Kasey Chang** » Wed Mar 22, 2017 11:33 am

Finished Rough Terrain by Cheryl Douglas FREE on Amazon

Wes Davis and Sage Breville planned a life together... Until Sage got pregnant, and her father ran Wes out of town... and forced Sage to give up the baby for adoption. Ten years later, Wes has built an outdoorsman store chain, and Sage's father had passed on. And Wes... is going home. He missed his hometown, and he wanted desperately to know his son. Sage was conflicted to see Wes, as he brought back memories and doubts about what could have been. Can Wes and Sage work through those doubts, greet their son, and perhaps... learn to love each other again?

Pretty good push-pull, esp. the bit about the son and how they ended up meeting, 5.5/8

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Finished Romancing Miss Right by Lizzie Shane FREE on Amazon

Marcy Henrickson is the star of the new reality dating show Romancing Miss Right... and a romance writer. She needs the exposure, and she knew finding her soul mate from a bunch of hungry attention seekers willing to be on TV for national humiliation is simply not going to happen. As the guys are all going to be gorgeous and flirty, why not just enjoy the attention? She did not count on Craig Corrow, a fellow attention seeker. Craig was San Diego's "shock jock" radio host who wanted a bigger stage, and saw the show the perfect opportunity to propel himself into national spotlight. He wanted to be charming enough... and just dastardly enough to be the guy everybody hated... but remembered. He did not count on Marcy being a real woman, not a primpy princess... or the executive producer, who won't stand for his... meddling. When it came down to choosing money or love, which way will this "bad boy" go?

Actually quite fun to read, but by now it's slightly trope-ish using reality TV show as background, but this one got it polished, as Craig manuevered his way through the show, and managed to get one guy tossed out on the first night (by getting the guy drunk and make inappropriate moves toward Marcy) all under the watchful eye of the XP, of course. I'm not into The Bachelor/Bachelorette shows, but I find this book quite amusing to read. 6.5/8

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Finished Reformed Bad Girl by Shelley Munro

Hayley Jones is a secretary with a secret double life... she does "tea leave readings" at fairs under the name "Helen Devereaux". Hayley accidentally got pregnant young, and even though she miscarried, she was forever known as "the wild one" and "why can't you be nice like your sister Abby" that she had severely curtailed her social activities except with close girlfriend, and has no close male friends. But one girls night out and one encounter with Sam Norville, well known rake/playboy and her "bad girl" persona surfaced full force, and she spent the night with him... and did a Cinderella runner before he woke up, accidentally leaving her charm bracelet behind. Next day she met Sam as her Helen persona for business, and Sam did not recognize her... and Sam proceed to woo her as well... But soon Sam figured her out... as Hayley (as Helen) keep running away when things get a bit serious, because she believed he can never want her long-term. As Hayley navigate her relationship with Sam, she ran into trouble at home with her entitled sister...

Fun fast read, though the sister angle seems to be a bit abrupt, and was solved about as abruptly. The push-pull between Sam and Hayley/ Helen was fun though. 6/8

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Finished SEALed with a Kiss by Makenna Jameison FREE on Amazon

Alison Garrett had been burned by a younger lover and vowed never to do it again, despite going to a party held by SEALs and encountered a hunky SEAL Evan Jenkins, call sign "Flip", a man only a few years younger. Despite being turned down, Evan was persistently nice, and eventually he wore down Alison's resistance. But a misunderstanding and a deployment left a lot of things unsaid. Then Evan was severely injurred on a mission...

This book managed to not abuse the SEALs, even though the combat part was a bit meh (the guy hit a mine while maneuvering the HUMVEE for the getaway). The rest are okay. 6/8

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Finished Out of the Storm by Kevin V. Symmons FREE on Prime Reading

Eric Montgomery was not expecting company. He was barely getting by, trying to hold together the family Marina in Cape Cod. His dreams were shattered when his wife and unborn child died in an auto accident a year ago. Then Ashley Fitzhugh, daughter of his brother's girlfriend, a younger girl, and a dog appeared on his doorstep in the middle of a stormy night, seeking shelter, having travelled hundreds of miles, walking in the rain for a good portion of it, but they are hiding from danger... but what kind of danger? Then the shocks keep coming. Ashley was pregnant and miscarried upon arrival. And the younger girl Kaylie... was Ashley's daughter. And Eric's brother Ralph was nowhere to be seen, except one voice message left at Eric's answering machine... He's scared... but of what? As Eric called upon his old contacts (he was Army Special Forces) to dig deeper, the less it made sense... His brother's file was gone, even the physical copies, and Ashley was a better computer person than any one suspected. Apparently Ashley and her hacker friend (the one who got her pregnant) hacked into some rogue op that is so black, leaks must die, rather than go into max security prisons. Eric vowed to protect Ashley, as he had fallen in love with the girl, but how do you protect someone from a threat that can come from any direction, any time, and any where?

The ending feels a bit rushed but otherwise it's a pretty good read. 6/8

Kasey Chang · Post by **Kasey Chang** » Thu Mar 23, 2017 3:03 pm

Finished Capturing Cowboy's Heart by Lindsey Brookes

Lacy Dalton needed the interview with ex-rodeo champ Cade Tyler to help her care for her Alzheimer-suffering grandma in a nursing home. The problem is, Cade never talked to reporters. Ever... except whoever on the phone did agree... So when she showed up at the Flying J ranch, she was surprised at the outright refusal, only to realize that it was Cade's partner, Burke who agreed. Cade lost his career when a bull threw him years back, and he dedicated himself to raise champion bulls. He lost his wife in a car accident two years ago, and media made it sound as if they had a fight (they didn't). He withdrew from the world, and the Flying J ranch was barely hanging on. When Lacy offered to help out in exchange for the story, Cade was not in a position to refuse, but also wondered how much help can a city girl be. And over the course of next several days, Lacy managed to get into all sorts of trouble, from jumping into the bull pen to rescue a kitten (that didn't need rescuing) to speeding down a country road without her license, then tried to bribe the sheriff, then sang enough songs that drove sheriff up the wall, but also managed to capture Cade's attention, even though he'll deny it. But Flying J is going down because someone was sabotaging the place, from downed fences to slashed tires... And when Lacy accidentally discovered who and why, will she survive to get her discovery back to Cade?

Not bad as a romantic suspense, even though it's a bit trope-y with "ranch guy vs. city girl" and the hijinx were quite funny. The twist was a bit meh, IMHO. 6/8

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Finished The Sheikh's Secret Bride by Leslie North FREE on Amazon

Sheikh Nassir Adjalane is not a playboy. He is a business shark, and he had no time for fake niceties. But a few too many political disasters, and his own family (esp. his father) and his board of directors of Adjalane Oil ordered him to take a bride (preferably American) in 30 days, or the business will go to his (evil) uncle Hazim, and all the charity and projects he worked so hard for will be gone. After also having been ordered to attending a rival family's wedding (a public gesture), and getting to know the wedding planner, Janna Davis, Nassir hired her on the spot to come to the Middle East to plan his wedding in 30 days... with UNLIMITED BUDGET. Janna cannot deny that Nassir's initial business-shark persona put her off, but once she got to know him he seems to be a nice guy and with enough money he'd make someone very happy, but she had a job to do. What Janna did not know is Janna herself is the intended bride, and someone is willing to stop the wedding by any means necessary...

A bit of fantasy tale, the fantasy parts don't quite feel right. It wasn't until near the end that all the pieces fell into place and story started moving along. And does ambushing a girl about "marry me" really works like that? 6/8

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Finished Trusting Jake by Lauren Giordano

Jenna Stone was fired from her construction design firm job in Baltimore MD when vicious male workmates decided to start rumors about her being loose because she wouldn't put out, even though her husband had died in a car crash (but not after he slept around for a year before that). Jenna chose to pretend her husband was still alive (and wear a wedding band) to ward off the harassment and insinuations, but that didn't help her find another job in Baltimore. She moved to Stafford Virginia and tried to start anew, and was on her way to an interview when her car died on the way... only to be rescued by Jackson "Jake" Traynor, managing partner of Specialty Construction, the largest firm in the area. Jenna found Jake to be very attractive, but she had to stay aloof because she cannot be coming onto a potential boss just like those nasty rumors suggested. It didn't help when Jake hired Jenna as an engineer-assistant to both manage his schedule as well as his project details. Jake found Jenna to be a strong, beautiful woman, and made him realize he had worked too hard, and he longed for a family, and Jenna's two kids are great kids, but he can't go after a married woman... Then Specialty was asked to bid on a job in Baltimore, and Jenna was sure that it's a "setup", and Jenna must choose in exposing the source of her knowledge... and her shame, or stay silent, and watch the man she love and his firm suffer...

Surprisingly poignant near the end, when the lie seems to get bigger and bigger. The resolution was nice, but the bad guy didn't quite get enough karmic retribution, IMHO. 7/8

Kasey Chang · Post by **Kasey Chang** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 4:30 am

Finished Carry Me Home by Rosalind James FREE on Prime Reading

Professor Zoe Santangelo is teaching in a small Idaho University as a stepping stone for the big times... Stanford, for example. That'd be like going home. She didn't count on spinning her car out on the icy roads, or for the hot, hunky cowboy named Cal Jackson who came to her rescue. But Cal was a lot more than he seems... He actually retired from NFL after injury and came home to work on the family farm. He's tired of city girls who only wanted his money, and Zoe was smart, sassy, and tough, and someone he could spend more time with. When Zoe's attempt to get justice and help for her student who was almost raped near campus, Zoe became the latest target of the same stalker/rapist, and the guy was definitely on campus. Sheriff's department, campus police, and even military OSI joined the investigation as the stalker and attempted rapist seems to be ex-military. Cal was willing to deal out some personal justice to protect Zoe... but if Zoe was leaving... should Cal even care?

The beginning of the novel is weird, as it told two parallel stories: Amy being stalked, and Zoe getting acquainted and romanced. It wasn't until past mid-point that the two storylines finally merged, and things started to get a bit tense. The resolution was pretty good, as the author keeps throwing red herrings at us until the final moment. 6.5/8

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Finished SEAL the deal by Makenna Jameison FREE on Amazon

Rebecca Mayes lost her husband to a horrific car crash and she dedicated her life to raising her girl and helping her clients win their fair share as a divorce attorney. It was at a park she met Patrick "Ice" Foster, SEAL squad leader, who has two jobs... be a SEAL, and raise his son. He vowed to not marry again as watching his ex-wife die slowly of cancer was devastating enough. Yet even he cannot deny the connection he felt for the strong and independent Rebecca. When a stalker threatened Rebecca due to one of her cases, Patrick pulled all his resources to keep her safe... but there is one thing he can't protect her from: broken heart.

This author managed to dance the delicate balance between SEAL abuse and bodyguard trope. I call the practice of shoehorning a SEAL into stuff they are never supposed to do, like law enforcement, bodyguard, witness protection, and so on, or basically doing something out of character, as "SEAL abuse". This author managed to dance right on the edge of that, as while Patrick did call on a few buddies, to protect Rebecca, he did so as a civilian, and he still has to report back to base for PT and exercises and such. What they do off-hours is their own business. The author was a bit cavalier in "hacking" and "getting bugs to keep tabs on someone" as if SEALs can just conjure that out of nothing, but other than that, SEALs didn't run around town with guns like gangbangers or such. 5/8

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Finished When Things Go Wrong by Lacey Silks

Julia had a thing for Scar Wagner back in high school, and five years later, running into him at a ski resort (with her mom and her mom's boy toy) had actually made the vacation somewhat enjoyable. Then fate intervened and they had to get even closer to each other... how will they resolve these feelings, and what will they do about it later?

It's a short story (58 pages) that acts as prequel to the main series. I personally find the part about sharing body heat slightly... unrealistic. But it's kinda romantic.

And this has a HFN (happy for now) ending. 5/8

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Reading I Am Automaton by Edward P Cardillo

In the near future, an experimental and highly classified US army program recruited Sgt Birdsall... the Insidious Drone program... What are these IDs? Let's just call them what they are: zombies. Yes, imagine a horde of them "herded" by herders wearing IR camo. They'll go after any cave, any compound, and they'll keep on going. And yes, they can be controlled (somewhat) through brain inhibitors. But when you involve zombies of any sort... Things can get ugly really quickly...

Certain an interesting variation on the standard zombie novel... 6/8

Kasey Chang · Post by **Kasey Chang** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 5:35 pm

Finished India: Bride of Indiana by Ashley Merrick

(This is a series where multiple authors play a shared universe and sent a bride to every state of the union, just about)

India lost her job when her textile factory burned down (by its owner to cover up his embezzling) and with no local jobs, she embarked on being a mail order bride to a man in South Bend Indiana. Blake is a widower with two young children, whose wife perished in a fire and he himself suffered burns when he tried to rescue her. He did not expect to ever love again, but his children need a mother, and he is rich, one of the few coachbuilders with national reputation. India arrived to find the town welcome, except for Blake's mother Kay, who had always hoped for her son to fall in love with her best friend's daughter, Olivia (whom Blake cannot stand). And Olivia is not beyond trying to seduce a married man, not that India would have given up on Blake in any case... As the two slowly discovered that both are drawn to doing charity work around town (he being a secret santa, she started a pantry for the poor in the church), Blake's defenses started melting away...

Complications are minimal here, it's basically a "change of heart" resolution, i.e. I really do love you, and I just now realized that. 5.5/8

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Finished Mr. SEAL by Ivy Jordan

Penelope can't handle too much happiness, but she had to hunker down to attend her cousin's wedding... Until Ethan caught her eye... Ethan is hunky, handsome, and has tattoos that not even a tux can hide them. Penelope is smitten, and so was Ethan. Ethan was a navy SEAL that is retiring from active roles, and transitioning into a trainer, but that means he will be in California... He's taking a month leave and finding Penelope was good luck. The two quickly wooed each other, and sex was scorching, but both held back, as both knew he's not long-term. But a heart wants what it wants... Who will be heartbroken at the end?

Basically both fell for each other and the guy decided to transfer to East Coast to be closer to her. Yippee. Surprisingly, no SEAL abuse. 5/8

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Finished Bargaining with the Bride by Allison Gatta FREE on Amazon

Rachael and planned her wedding for a long time, even taking back her no-good fiancee several times, after his groveling. Catching him bonking his in-home care nurse when he was supposedly too sick to get out of bed was the last straw, and she ordered him to vacate her home. Except... the wedding is only a month away, guest lists had been finalized, cake had been ordered, wedding gowns... bridesmaid dresses... all except a groom. Canceling the wedding is NOT an option, as she was known as the girl to run home with a load of problems for her parents to solve, and neither is taking back the cheating bastard (who, upon moving out, also took the bed, TV, even the microwave). Enter her boss, Garret Adams. Garrett runs a computer matchmaking service and he knew something was missing from the algorithms, and Rachael was indispensable. When Rachael wanted to quit due to her marriage situation, Garret offered himself as her groom in a marriage of convenience... If she'll agree to be a test subject with him. However, love cannot be quantified...

This one is a bit too convoluted reasoning, IMHO, and the push-pull wasn't that realistic. 4.5/8

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Finished Unexpected Hero by Willow Summers FREE on Amazon

Jenna was the architect of a new building in NYC... that was supposed to revitalize a bad neighborhood. She did not know that some desperate bad people saw it as an affront and will do anything to destroy the project. When the protest turned into a riot on her and other employees trying to enter the HQ, the architects were sent to a Colorado wilderness tour to be away from the action. And Jenna's guide is tall, well built, and handsome, and with a penetrating gaze and an intense but sad look that sent shivers (the nice kind) down Jenna's spine, and Jenna eventually learned that this guide , while going by Chuck, is really called Josh, and he's an ex-navy SEAL. Josh had to leave the SEALs after a very bad mission, is getting by doing wilderness tours putting his knowledge to use. What he didn't count on was his attraction to Jenna... or how danger had somehow found her in the Colorado forest... when a gunman shot up the camp, killing one and wounded another. Josh can keep Jenna safe from physical danger, but what about his heart?

This book unfinished as it's volume 1 in a 3 book series. While the guy did show his survival skills (which is pretty... SEAL-y), the attraction between the two was kinda "meh". 4/8

Kasey Chang · Post by **Kasey Chang** » Mon Mar 27, 2017 3:44 am

Finished Montana Cherries by Kim Law FREE on Prime Reading

Dani Wilde gave up her dreams of making it in New York and gave up her scholarship at Columbia when her mother died in a tragic car accident, to run the family cherry farm, and be the maternal figure to her brothers. Now that all the brothers are grown, and one even had married, Dani has made plans and even tentatively accepted a job offer in New York, and she's leaving in a few weeks. She had dreamed of this too long, no one is going to stop her... not even her first crush, Ben Denton, and his surprise daughter.

Ben Denton had a celebrity mother, but was mostly brought up by his grandparents, and was groomed to be a model until he found himself better as a photographer. He dated models, and recently, he suddenly found himself father to a four-year old girl whose mother basically dropped her off at his door and went sayonara. Overwhelmed by responsibilities, Ben decided to go back to his childhood hometown, and encounter with Dani was... surprising. For Ben and Dani had a one-night fling... He took her v-card, and she left before he could say goodbye. Now Ben is back, and the Wilde clan was happy to help him be a dad...

As the Wilde family prepares for the yearly cherry harvest, and Dani prepares for her departure, Ben settles into town life, and tries to connect with his daughter, but the Wilde family is keeping a secret, one that Dani was not privy to. And when that secret was exposed, it will call into question everything Dani thought she knew about her family and her relationships with everybody... and esp. the most important question: is Dani ready to love Ben for real this time? Or is she leaving no matter what?

This is one messed up family, as the mother initially sounds like a sympathetic figure, but we're watching it through Dani's eyes, and the more we learn, the more we started to doubt the "unreliable narrator".

Spoiler:

Any way, I don't like the ending, where Dani left for NYC any way, only to return 3 months later with a "change of heart". Else the score may be higher. 7/8

Kasey Chang · Post by **Kasey Chang** » Tue Mar 28, 2017 2:33 pm

Finished Cowboy Country: 5 Cowboy Romance Anthology by various authors FREE on Prime Reading

Trouble with a Cowboy by Sandy Sullivan -- Jacie Hawkins is a 18-wheeler trucker who also do barrel races and was just stopping for the night in nowhere OK on her way to Las Vegas. Tucker Marshall is stranded in Bumfuck OK (not real town name) when his driver wrecked his rig carrying him and his prize bucking bull not far from town and he needed to get to Las Vegas for the National Finals Rodeo ASAP. Match made in heaven, right? Except Jacie never wanted to depend on anyone (not even her secret will make her compromise on that), and she's liking the Tucker way too much while the pair make their to Las Vegas... Will he walk away? Can she walk away?

Fun push-pull, as it's sort of billionaire meets ingenue, albeit cowboy style. 6/8

The Bronco Boys: Sterling by Julienne -- Sterling and Regina planned their lives together... Then he broke up with her then left for Afghanistan as an Army Ranger because he can't bear to see her widowed... And she didn't tell her about their baby Silver. Now he's back, with PTSD and a bad migraine, and wanted to get back to the way he ran things, but she's all grown up and wanted to be equal partner in a marriage... Can they finally get back together for the sake of their daughter?

A bit too angst-y, and the two Sterling and Regina are as hard-headed as any one in a book. But the kid there and the family balanced it out. 6/8

Last Chance Cowboy by Lilly Christine: Jessie O'Rourke and Wyatt Callanbach had a history all the way back in high school, when Jessie was homecoming queen, and Wyatt... was the man she gave her V-card to, but their lives diverged. She went to the city and became an attorney who helps at-risk youth, while Wyatt... stayed at the ranch and became relatively rich... and she needed his help to keep the program running... but what about things between them?

Not feeling too much for this story. 5/8

Love's Everlasting Song by RaeAnne Hadley -- Rebecca Gordon never realized how far her marriage had gone until she walked in on her husband with another woman. She kicked him out and decided to concentrate on her ranch and her horse show. She wanted to use the best music, and a song by Luke Grayson caught her attention, but when she was given the runaround, she flew down to LA to meet him personally. In the meanwhile, Luke Grayson, tired of the barbie dolls of LA, found a DVD of a horsewoman using his music in a horse show, and intrigued, he agreed to the meeting. The sparks were instantaneous, but Rebecca had no attention to spare except to prepare for her horseshow. Then her ex turned stalker...

Decent romantic suspense, let's say 6.5/8

Ride a Falling Star by D'Ann Lindun -- Ava was a Vegas Showgirl, and when she saw something she shouldn't have, she had to run for her life. Jumping into the cowboy's truck was pure happenstance, but probably the luckiest moment of her life... For he was Levi Callahan, champion saddle-bronc rider, and he lost his girlfriend years ago to a crazed stalker, and he will not let anything happen to this girl. But they are up against son of a Vegas mobsters with reach almost anywhere...

Too many unresolved threads in this one but the suspense is nice. 6/8

Kasey Chang · Post by **Kasey Chang** » Wed Mar 29, 2017 1:34 am

Finished Taken, not Spurred by Ruth Cardello FREE on Prime Reading

Sarah Dery always wanted to write, and she felt her life wasn't going anywhere. When summer came around, and a friend offered to host her for a couple months with her horse while she worked on their ranch, Sarah jumped onto her vehicle, loaded her horse into the trailer, and drove west toward Texas. The only problem upon her arrival: she went to the wrong ranch... or perhaps we should say, right ranch... wrong city. She ended up in Tony Carlton's shower, in fact. Tony is handsome, tall, buffed, but reclusive horse trainer who felt dead after an incident he still refused to talk about. Yet the sight of this city girl was... interesting. And Sarah was very pleased because this brooding cowboy has really spurred her imagination. Can she break down his walls? Will she want to stay?

Rather fun to read, lots of sass, and plenty of sex. Ruth Cardello was known for her contemporary romances, and this proves she can spin conteporary westerns as well. 6.5/8

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Finished Set Up by Kelly Collins

Natalie Diamond was rich, and everybody was surprised that she ended up in prison... three years for grand larceny, even though she thought she did the right thing: taking something that was originally promised to her, but then given to someone else. In her mind, it was hers. Upon getting out, the only place for her to stay was at Second Chance Ranch ran by her former prison friends, and it's almost like hell... no spa, no housekeeper, no hired help. In fact, she's expected to work, either help in the ranch backoffice, or go help the ranch hands clean out the stalls and other things needed doing around the ranch. She tried to go home, and her own mother kicked her out for still being a petulant child... No access to her trust fund and stuff until she shaped up, and she has only 30 days to prove herself. The only bright spot was Roland Mallory, the staff vet at the ranch, and she wanted him... bad. But Roland Mallory is a nice guy, and he knew Natalie is trouble, as she's only interested in reclaiming her toys: Pradas, Jimmy Choos, and Cartier, and she'll leave as soon as she got her money. But as Natalie figured her life out, she started to realize life is what you make of it, and when it comes to friends and love, money isn't everything... But how can she prove it?

There's sort of a suspense, in that Natalie missed a major deposit that would have ruined the vet clinic that Roland ran (she swore she did it, but the bank can't find it) and that was the darkest hour. What she had to sacrifice was the grand gesture, and it was perfect. This author managed to larceny and pride something tangible for love and honor. 7/8

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Finished Bring on the Psychobitch by May Sage

Lucy is a perfectly normal person, until you push her too far, then she turned into "the Psychobitch", a nickname bestowed by one of her enemies as an insult, but she wore it like a badge of honor. She never had to unleash it at work, because she enjoyed her job as assistant to the CEO of Harris Toys, Carter Harris. However, she can't stand the CFO, "Trick" Johnson, because Trick was an ass, but she held her tongue. That is... until Carter needed a special project done and assigned Lucy to work with Trick...

Fun fast read in the "enemies into lovers" trope, sharp dialogue, as Lucy's the kind that cut people with contemptuous words instead of catfights. 6/8

YellowKing · Post by **YellowKing** » Wed Mar 29, 2017 8:58 am

Finished Finders Keepers by Stephen King

This is the second book in King's "Bill Hodges" trilogy, and even though it's a bit more slight than Mr. Mercedes, the first book, it's still very entertaining. Definitely a departure for King, as it's more of a crime thriller than a horror novel. Also unique in that it only tangentially relates to the first book while still incorporating familiar characters. Really enjoyed it, and the narration by Will Patton is terrific. I've heard the final volume, End of Watch, is even better, so I'm looking forward to that.

Kasey Chang · Post by **Kasey Chang** » Wed Mar 29, 2017 1:08 pm

Finished Blissfully Married by Victorine E. Lieske

Sidney is an expert matchmaker, but new clients saw her empty ring finger and bolts. When her BFF suggested that she put on a fake engagement ring and offered up her own brother Ted as the fake fiancee, Sidney can't refuse. Unfortunately, the very next day her one-time crush (and crusher of her heart 10 years ago) Blake came back in town, and Sidney used the engagement ring as a shield, refusing to offer up her heart again. Blake is here to take care of his mom, and was surprised to find Sidney all grown up, but that ring on her finger told him she's not available... Until he figured out the ring was fake... So why would Sidney lie to him? Blake vows to find out...

"Fake engagement" stories are plentiful. Fake engagement to AVOID seeing an old flame despite real feelings for him was... somewhat new? As lies necessitates even MORE lies to cover up, the problem just snowballs, until the darkest hour... 6/8

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Finished Stealing Jason Wilde by Dee Ernst FREE on Prime Reading

Librarian Annie Reynolds was not ready to fall in love again, despite being divorced and in her forties. Her only solace was in her safe job, and in her annual getaway with her BFFs to Dune Road in the Hamptons. However, this year, their decision to invite Tina to the gathering did not start well. Not only Tina brought way too much stuff, she also brought her dog, her closet case of anxieties (and her meds), and her obsession with Jason Wilde, B-list TV and movie star. And by God, they ran into Jason Wilde in a popular bar. Unfortunately, Jason was trying out a new pain med, and mixing alcohol with those meds is a bad idea. Now Jason's passed out, and they don't know where to send him, so they took him back to their house... and next thing the women knew, Jason Wilde is victim of a kidnapping (WTF?!) Annie found a possible date Andy, but she had to rush off taking care of their house guest. Apparently, Jason's agent needed a publicity stunt, and Jason was fine in going along with the cockamamie plan, to the exasperated horror of all the women. Then the FBI got involved, and Annie found to her horror that her date Andy is the local FBI agent in charge... How will the women get out of this sticky mess, when their house guest refuses to cooperate?

Definitely rom-com, and it's GOOD rom-com as the situation gets more and more bizarre, and it morphed into an actual kidnapping later! 7/8

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Finished Wife for Big John by Lauri Robinson Historical Western Romance, FREE on Prime Reading

Dani Jones is trying to get to California to meet up with her fiancee but she had no money. She does, however, have plenty of cooking skills, and she set out to prove herself by becoming the camp cook for Big John Thompson's logging operation (not that she explained that she's actually "Danielle") and it's love at first sight for Dani... Not for Big John, but the stove. Big John himself felt out of control of his life upon his return to the camp. A bunch of kids had taken over his house, and "Danny" he hired as camp cook turned out to be "Dani" the girl. What's worse, Dani Jones decided that Big John really needs a wife, and proceed to grade every single and available women in town... except herself, of course. She is, after all, leaving. But will Big John want Dani to leave after tasting her cooking? Or is there... some other reason?

Partly rom-com, partly adventure, the push-pull is fun and this is NOT one of those cookie-cutter mail order bride stories. We're almost at turn of century and there is actually telegram and railroad and such, and even "lumberjack sisters" (nuns that sells "chits" for hospital care to lumberjacks) among other interesting tidbits. 6.5/8

Kasey Chang · Post by **Kasey Chang** » Fri Mar 31, 2017 4:50 am

Finished When a warrior Comes Home by Pete Barber

Mike and Butch are army veterans deployed to Iraq with wives (Sarah and Rosa respectively) and Brian is a civilian contractor with a new robot and control tech called VCOM that can revolutionize combat. When an enemy rocket landed in the base, critically injuring one, and seriously injuring both Mike and Butch, Brian's robot managed to rescue them both, but the project was canceled by the army due to lack of funding. Brian needed seed money to turn it into a game controller, and Mike and Butch and families put up the money, hoping for the windfall. But both Mike and Butch had suffered TBI and PTSD and had fundamental personality changes. As both families (including children) suffer from the fallout and Butch was dishonorably discharged due to a DWI, and the army put a stopper to Brian's project, Butch hatched a dangerous plan...

Extremely disturbing at times, esp. the final conflict, there is nothing happy except the FINAL ending, but not all the characters will make it out of this book alive. And that... may be some of the most realistic TBI/PTSD novels around. Not really a romance per se, but family drama. 7/8

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Finished The Language of Love by Jean Saunders

Annette had loved once... she married her love young... and lost him when she's just 20. She believed she will never love again, and she threw herself into her flower business. Eight years later, she's among the who's who of florists in London, and she's started to feel loneliness... Until the Dutchmen Pieter Van Ness came to visit. He is the brother of Annette's friend, who's getting married, and wanted Annette to do all the flowers. And Pieter makes no secret that he wanted Annette for himself... preferably in his bed, and Pieter is VERY persistent, and Annette found herself unable (or unwilling) to resist his advances... but she must do so, for her heart's sake... Or is that just... cowardice?

I honestly don't feel too much here. 5.5/8

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Finished As He Bidsd by Olivia Rigal

Hannah Cohen was used to strange gazes because she is neither white, nor Jewish. She has chocolate skin and curves, and she had an obsession about working near Bruce Nelson, who was ahead of her in school by several years. Now that an internship had opened up at a renowned auction house, this is the chance to work in the same building. She was both elated and terrified to be told that she will be also taking over Bruce's personal assistant job while the original went on maternity leave. Then she learned that Bruce fancies her... and he's an alpha that wants to run her life... if she will let him and in return, she will be well provided for... and pleasured beyond her imagination...

Uh, another billionaire pushy guy vs. young ingenue book. At least this one tried to change the characters around a bit. 5/8