Fruit for Tomorrow

By Francena Arnold.  A very quaint and sweet little book. The cover says "A Hearth Romance", but there was practically no romance until the very end. Instead it's a story about family and keeping faith and persevering through hardships. 

The Escape (US Marshalls, Book One)

LISA HARRIS

Stats for my copy: Trade paperback, Revell, 2020.

How acquired: From the publisher for review, through the Revell Reads Blogger Program.

First line: There is a razor-thin edge between justice and revenge, where the two easily blur if left unchecked.

(For Goodreads synopsis, scroll down.)

My thoughts: This is officially my favorite of Ms. Harris’ books. It’s only the third book of hers I’ve read, but still. I love plane crash/survival stories, so I had high hopes, and the author delivered. When we meet Madison, a US. Marshall, she is still grieving the senseless murder of her husband five years before. She’s dated occasionally over the years, but her heart was never in it. Every year on the anniversary of his death, she would visit his grave, and every year she would find a black rose left there. This year she did not go to the grave site, but coming home after her morning run she found a black rose on her bed. She doesn’t have time to deal with that though, as her boss calls her in to help transport two prisoners from Seattle to Colorado. She is partnered with Jonas for the flight. When Madison was training to be a Marshall, Jonas was her instructor, but their acquaintance never went beyond that. Like Madison, Jonas is focused on work and has no interest in dating or relationships, especially with a co-worker. He’s been down that road before, and it did not end well.

The plane carrying them to Denver crashes in the Idaho wilderness, and this is where the book really took off. Both pilots and one of the prisoners are killed in the crash. The other prisoner, Barrick, facing a life sentence for murder, manages to escape, and Madison and Jonas are determined to hunt him down.

I sailed through this intense book in two days, despite my full time job. The descriptions of the land, the forests, the river, are vivid, as Madison and Jonas hunt the prisoner, who sometimes hunts them. There are lots of near misses, with Barrick somehow managing to stay two steps ahead. The action is non-stop, and I never knew what to expect from one chapter to the next. The wilderness aspect only lasts for about half the book, and then they are back in civilization, with other law enforcement officers involved in the man hunt, but I was just as riveted, and stayed that way until the very end.

This book is part of Revell’s romantic suspense line, but there’s much more suspense than romance. As Madison and Jonas work together, they learn more about each other, and come to admire each other, but neither is looking for romance, and they don’t have time for those kind of thoughts regardless. However, I did expect the two Marshalls to come to term with and admit their feelings at the end, and I was not prepared for the book to end on a bit of cliff hanger! The story line with Barrick is thankfully wrapped up, but the mystery of those black roses still needs to be solved, and there is no happily ever after, or even a happy for now, leaving me very eager for the next book in the series.

Goodreads synopsis: US Marshals Madison James and Jonas Quinn are thrust into a high-profile case when they are called on to transport two prisoners across the country on a private plane. But when the plane experiences engine trouble en route from the Pacific Northwest to Colorado, the pilots crash-land the aircraft deep in the heart of the sprawling Salmon-Challis National Forest.

When Madison and Jonas regain consciousness, they find both pilots and one prisoner dead--and one fugitive on the run. They'll have to negotiate the rugged and remote backcountry through Idaho, Wyoming, and Colorado while tracking a murderer who is desperate to disappear--and will do anything to stop them.

This high-octane game of cat-and-mouse from bestselling and award-winning author Lisa Harris will have your heart pumping as you try to catch a fugitive with nothing to lose.

Beyond the Higher Ground

THOMAS A. BRIGGER

Stats for my copy: Trade paperback, Page Publishing, Inc., 2019.

How acquired: Cozy Mystery Review Crew

First line: She’s gone, Tuck.

(For Goodreads synopsis, scroll down.)

My thoughts: When we meet Mason, he’s on his way to Bright’s Mountain, where he will be in charge of overseeing the construction of a new prison. He’s still mourning the death of his wife, and while other members of the construction crew are renting apartments or duplexes in a nearby town, Mason chooses to rent a house that, while closer to the building site, is in a remote area of Appalachia, with few neighbors.

The book is a bit meandering, with plenty of stuff happening but at the same time not a lot of action. It’s wordy. It’s not a light read, but rather requires some concentration. The writing is a little grandiose, and yet eloquent and captivating. The fact that I did not have to set the book down to look up a word, not once, made me a bit proud of myself. The narration occasionally switches to the past, giving us glimpses of Mason’s previous life when he and his wife were happy together. The narration is very descriptive, and certainly relays the desolation and hardship of life in the Appalachian mountains, with some colorful characters.

Mason makes friends among his co-workers and, almost in spite of himself, among the locals. But not everyone is friendly, and it quickly becomes evident that somebody wants him to leave. Eventually Mason finds himself embroiled in an investigation into the possibility of drugs being run through the construction site. As the danger escalates, he is determined to not be run out of town, and becomes a self-appointed protector of one of the locals, a single mother. I loved the relationship that developed between them, and between Mason and her young daughter.

Towards the end of the book, there is a real action scene, but it almost felt out of place. The author’s writing style just doesn’t seem to lend itself to pure action, and despite what was happening on the page there wasn’t a feeling of danger or suspense. But the rest of the book more than made up for that, and I was sorry to reach the last page and have to leave Mason behind.

Goodreads synopsis: Tasked with an assignment to manage the construction of a prison on a remote Appalachian mountaintop, Tucker Mason sees an opportunity to restart his life past the death of his wife and the recurring demons of his childhood. But strange occurrences at the house that he rented on Bright’s Mountain and the suspicion of drugs being smuggled through the prison construction site create distractions that lead to violence, intrigue, and his own imperilment. Struggling under the weight of loss and guilt, he encounters a world that he never knew existed in the shadow of the emerging prison. With a unique perspective on the human condition, Beyond the Higher Ground takes its reader through a historical glimpse of Southwestern Virginia to a powerful exposition of the drug crisis that has devastated the region and the abject brutality of those who deliver it.

Down in Texas

 

DELILAH DEVLIN

Stats for my copy: Trade paperback, Aphrodisia Books, 2008.

How acquired: Book Mooch

First line: Her daddy had always told her a man's worth wasn't measured by the size of his bank account or the square footage of his house.

(For Goodreads synopsis, scroll down.)

My thoughts: Three separate stories with Ms. Devlin's trademark heroes. The first story, “Wearing His Brand”, is the best by far. Lyssa has been in love with her brother's best friend for years. Brand has lusted after Lyssa, but being his best friend's sister makes her off limits, especially since Mac entrusted Brand to look after his sister when he was deployed. The story opens on a scene that seemed a bit ludicrous to me – Lyssa was repairing a barbed wire fence and a strand broke and snapped around her, leaving her helpless to move or do anything other than wait for someone to come along and find her. Maybe it's not ludicrous, I've never worked a ranch or dealt with barbed wire, so what do I know. Anyway, Lyssa decides it's time to push Brand until he loses control, and when he finally does, boy howdy. Hawt!

The second story, Slow Ride, is about Brand's brother, Danny. In high school he worked on a ranch and lusted after the owner's wife. Now she's a widow, and her foreman has put up a notice at the local bar, looking for someone to work with her horses. Danny gets the job and realizes he's still crazy about Maggie and sets out to convince her that age is just a number. I'm not a fan of older woman/younger man stories in general, but I liked Danny and Maggie and enjoyed their story. Just not as much as the first story.

The third story, Straight Up Soldier, is about Lyssa's brother, Mac. After being injured, he's back in the states and trying to adjust to the non-soldier life. His friend, Tara, asks him to provide protection to her friend, Suki, whose Mexican mafia connected ex is stalking her. When he leaves a note on the door of the safe house where officers have hidden Suki, she flees police protection to stay in her remote cabin. She's not happy when Mac shows up, and doesn't want his company or protection, but of course once he's met her Mac is determined to stay regardless.

This was my least favorite of the stories. The first two stories feature couples who already have some kind of history with each other. It gives them a foundation to build a relationship on. Mac is described as being desperately in need of a woman – he tried to get Tara to sleep with him but she declined. Of course Mac is still a gentleman and isn't going to push Suki into sex, so Suki pushes him instead. I guess this story of insta lust leading to love in a short period of time was a little jarring for me on the heels of the first two stories. I prefer some buildup, some getting to know each other first. And I just didn't connect with Mac or Suki as well as I did with the first two couples. Especially Lyssa and Brand. The book is worth reading for their story alone, and for that reason I'm giving the book four stars.

Goodreads synopsis: Down in Texas, there's a little town called Honkeytonk, where the women get exactly what they want... and the men know just how to give it to them.

Wearing His Brand Lyssa McDonough just got tangled up in a coil of barbed wire, and her clothes are ripped to shreds. Rancher Brandon Tynan to the rescue--but why is she so ornery? Could it be that the whole state of Texas isn't big enough for the two of them? Hell, they'll still have to share one horse to get home. Lyssa better hang on tight--she's in for the wildest ride of her life...

Slow Ride Maggie Dermott doesn't know the first thing about horses and Daniel Tynan is more than willing to show her the ropes. His gentle ways melt her heart and his sensual passion burns away her inhibitions. Daniel takes the time to love her right.

Straight Up Soldier Suki Reece needs protection and she can see that Mac McDonough has the muscle. Too bad he can't stand taking orders from a woman. The rugged ex-Marine won't listen to a word she says until Suki distracts him with a sexy striptease. That gets his attention. Suki may have gotten the upper hand but Mac is going to be on top...

A Sweet Mess

JAYCI LEE

Stats for my copy: Mass market paperback, St. Martin's Griffin, 2020.

How acquired: Fresh Fiction Box Not to Miss subscription box.

First line: “What do you mean you gave away the Frankencake?”

(For Goodreads synopsis, scroll down.)

My thoughts: This was a fun romp! Aubrey is a pastry chef with a successful bakery. She creates a special cake for a six year old, who requests gummy worms inside the cake. But Aubrey's part time employee accidentally sells the cake to another customer. Landon is a successful food critic who finds himself stuck overnight in Weldon when he blows a tire on the highway and the only garage is closed until morning. Exploring the little town on foot, he discovers the bakery, where he is the unwitting recipient of that gummy worm cake. When his editor insists he must come up with a review for the magazine, despite not making it to the restaurant he was supposed to be reviewing, he writes a scathing review of that gummy worm cake and the unknown baker who created it, and kills the bakery's business in the process. As if that's not bad enough, Aubrey and Landon met at her friend Tara's bar that evening, and indulged in a one night stand, not knowing who the other person was other than their first names. Until that review came out.

This is my first time reading Jayci Lee, and I'm happy to have discovered her and this rom-com of a book. There is lots of humor embedded in the story and the situations, but also a lot of feeling as Aubrey and Landon get to know each other while trying, unsuccessfully, to avoid each other. While Landon refuses to retract his review or revisit the baker to sample other more delectable creations and write a second review, he does knock himself out to find a way to help Aubrey save her business.

I loved both Aubrey and Landon, and Landon's best friend Aria, who agrees to have Aubrey guest star on her new cooking show, and quickly develops a wonderful friendship with Aubrey. And did I mention the humor? Landon takes Aubrey on a day of wine tasting as she needs to finds a wine for the new dessert she is creating, and despite swishing and spitting she becomes pretty tipsy, and I laughed out loud while reading.

Not to give away any more of the story, but I did get very angry with Landon and his stubbornness, but in the end he groveled and groveled hard, and I do love good hero grovel.

I love this book and I can't wait for the next book, about Landon's brother and Aubrey's best friend.

Goodreads synopsis: Aubrey Choi loves living in her small town nestled in the foothills of California, running her highly successful bakery away from the watch of her strict Korean parents. When a cake mix-up and a harsh review threaten all of her hard work and her livelihood, she never thought the jaded food critic would turn out to be her one-night stand. And she sure as hell never thought she’d see her gorgeous Korean unicorn again. But when Landon Kim waltzes into her bakery trying to clean up the mess he had a huge hand in making, Aubrey is torn between throwing and hearing him out.

When she hears his plan to help save her business, Aubrey knows that spending three weeks in California wine country working with Landon is a sure recipe for disaster. Her head is telling her to take the chance to save her bakery while her heart—and her hormones—are at war on whether to give him a second chance. And it just so happens that Landon’s meddling friends want them to spend those three weeks as close as possible...by sharing a villa.

When things start heating up, both in and out of the kitchen, Aubrey will have to make a choice—to stick it out or risk her heart.

Point of Danger

 

IRENE HANNON

Stats for my copy: Trade paperback, Revell, 2020.

How acquired: Revell Reads Blogger Program

First line: The package was ticking.

(For Goodreads synopsis, scroll down.)

My thoughts: That first sentence plunges us right into the plot, as Eve Reilly calls 911, and police officers and the bomb unit descend on her cul de sac. Eve is a radio host, a very controversial radio host, so detective Brent Lange begins looking into her listening audience for suspects. Which means he and Eve are thrown into each other's company, and sparks fly. I'm not a fan of insta love, I want to watch characters get to know each other, and I l loved how the attraction between Eve and Brent grew as their romance slowly played out. Revell is a Christian publisher, so it was tame, and sweet, and endearing and very satisfying. I'm also a fan of character driven stories, and the author did a wonderful job with both Eve's and Brent's characterization, as well as the supporting characters. I loved the interactions between Eve and her two sisters, and the suspects were all sufficiently creepy in their own ways. 

The mystery was well crafted, with some red herrings thrown in. I kept thinking I had an idea of who the culprit was, but in the end I was completely unprepared for the twist that led to the true culprit. Looking back, I realize that despite the fast pacing there was not necessarily a lot of action, and yet there was always something going on. I'd previously only read a couple of Ms. Hannon's books, both of which were Love Inspired romances, and both of which were enjoyable but (to me) fairly standard for the genre. With POINT OF DANGER, I'm much more interested now in reading more from her. This book is tag lined “A Triple Threat Novel”, so I hope another one will be coming soon.

Goodreads synopsis: Radio talk show host Eve Reilly is used to backlash from her pot-stirring on-air commentary and interviews, but now it seems a disgruntled listener is resorting to more than angry words to express their displeasure. When a suspicious package arrives on her doorstep, Eve turns to law enforcement for help.

Police detective Brent Lange can't find any evidence to link the string of unsettling incidents that follows, but he's convinced they're connected. As the harassment grows more menacing, it becomes clear someone wants Eve's voice silenced--permanently. 

But unless he can track down her foe, fast, the gutsy woman who is willing to take risks for what she believes--and who is swiftly winning his heart--may not survive. 

Bestselling author and three-time RITA Award winner Irene Hannon is back with a heart-stopping new series that will have you turning pages well into the night.

Love Beyond Reason

SANDRA BROWN

Stats for my copy: Mass market paperback, Warner Books, 1994.

How acquired: Unknown.

(For Goodreads synopsis, scroll down.)

My thoughts: A reissue of one of Sandra Brown's early romances, written under the name Rachel Ryan. It's a bit dated, which she mentions herself in the forward. Nobody has a cell phone; they use a car bed for the baby and in one scene while riding in a jeep Katherine holds the baby in her lap; when Jace gifts Katherine with a fancy new typewriter she's over the moon. But the story still holds up well and was very enjoyable. Of course there's a big misunderstanding over the other woman, and that was the only time I got irritated. I wanted to yell at Katherine to stand up for herself and demand an explanation from Jace, and I wanted to yell at Jace to just be straight up with Katherine and don't just get mad at her for being mad at him for what she saw. But again, I still very much enjoyed the book and especially at the end I was racing through the pages to finish before going to sleep.

Goodreads synopsis: Katherine Adams will never marry a Manning -- not if she can help it. Her sister Mary's fairy-tale marriage into the family's wealthy, powerful dynasty turned into a nightmare of abuse. And on the night her playboy husband was killed in a car accident, Mary died in childbirth. Now, the savvy, smart, and very angry Katherine has vowed to protect her sister's child, even if it means rejecting the dashing, charismatic oil man who shows up at her door. Katherine wants to believe that Jason Manning isn't like his ruthless family. But secrets and lies are part of his heritage. And Katherine could be destroyed by a truth she's afraid to face . . . and a man she can't resist.

Derailed

 JAMES SIEGEL

Stats for my copy: Trade paperback, Warner Books, 2002.

How acquired: Bought

First line: I spend five days a week teaching English at East Bennington High and two nights a week teaching English at Attica State Prison. 

(For Goodreads synopsis, scroll down.)

My thoughts: I bought this book way back in 2008 because I had watched the movie. I always want to read a book after I watch the movie adaptation because the book is (almost) always better. By the time I finally pulled this book off the shelf to read, I realized I had almost zero memory of the movie, other than the fact that Clive Owen's character has an affair with Jennifer Aniston's character. 

Normally I wouldn't have much sympathy for a man who cheated on his wife, but the author made me actually care about Charles and feel sorry for him when his life started imploding. On a Monday morning Charles boards the train, and then realizes when the conductor comes around that he's forgotten to buy a ticket. The lovely Lucinda steps forward and pays his fare for him. And so begins an acquaintance which turns into a few meals together, which turns into a hot tryst at a hotel, which turns into their worst nightmare. 

I loved the writing, the author's voice. I was sucked in fast and mesmerized, as Charles' life goes off the rails. I was rooting for him. I don't want to say much more. If you read this book, you need to experience it the way I did, not knowing what would happen next, thinking Charles might have a handle on it, things might be ok now, and then there's a twist and the unexpected happens. 

It's dark, I'll tell you that. The scene in the hotel room, when Charles and Lucinda are about to leave after their tryst and the first unexpected happening happens, is horrifying and a bit graphic. If I didn't have a job to go to, I think I could've read this book straight through in one or two days. 

I have got to find more of Mr. Siegel's books. 

Goodreads synopsis: Successful ad exec and loyal family man Charles Schine has never missed the 8:43...until today. He's late for his usual ride, but he's right on time for his worst nightmare. Sitting across from him on the 9:05 is the type of woman he's only dared to dream about. He takes a risk, breaks a vow, and soon his life is spiraling violently out of control. He betrays his family. A man is murdered. And a small fortune is lost. Now Charles must begin the most perilous journey of all--the fight to get his life back on track. 

Tropic Storm (Island Escape, Book 1)

STELLA QUINN

Stats for my copy: .pdf review copy, Jellyfish Press, 2020.

How acquired: Hidden Gems Books  

First line: Charlotte Jones paused amid the crowded departure lounge of Los Angeles International Airport. 

(For Goodreads synopsis, scroll down.)

My thoughts: One misunderstanding after another after another. Charlotte and Jack parted ways ten years ago when Jack's father called on him to return home from London. Charlotte, young and idealistic, accused Jack of being a sell out, and frustrated Jack couldn't understand why she would not give him a chance to explain. Ten years later, after a chance meeting on a plane to Hawaii, they are still angry and hurt and each blaming the other for the breakup. 

The story is set at a resort on Oahu, which unbeknownst to Charlotte is owned by Jack's family, and the author does a wonderful job with the descriptions of the resort and it's surroundings, especially the lava caves and a storm. There is a lot of internal monologuing from both characters, and as the reader, being privy to both sides of the story, there were times when I wanted to shake one or both of them and tell them to talk it out. Or shut up and let the other one talk. Even when it seems that everything has been resolved and the HEA is on it's way, there is one more misunderstanding to drive Charlotte and Jack apart, which made the final resolution that much sweeter. 

Along the way there is also a short subplot about Jack and a detective investigating an employee for possible identity theft, which was resolved almost immediately and which I would've liked to have had more of, and Jack agonizing over his nineteen-year-old sister and her inappropriately older boyfriend. Meanwhile Charlotte has her own issues, having come to Hawaii for some rest and relaxation and attempting to overcome panic attacks she has recently been plagued with. 

The characterization is nicely done, and I liked both Charlotte and Jack, though I think I connected with Jack a little more than with Charlotte. Although that could be because I do often tend to be more drawn to the hero than the heroine! I also really liked Jack's mother, and having raised two daughters I felt his sister was an accurate representation of an exasperating nineteen year old who is still a teen but thinks she's all grown up.

I read most of the book in one sitting, as the further I got into it the more I was drawn in, impatiently waiting for Jack and Charlotte to get past their issues and finally come together, and the wait was worth it in the end! 

Goodreads synopsis: Celebrity blogger Charlotte Jones is having a bad year. She's been trampled in a riot, her therapist has told her to take a break from work, and she's developed a crushing case of anxiety. If she can just make it to her holiday hotel in Oahu, everything will be okay … or not! When she boards her plane, she finds herself strapped into a seat next to the man who sold her out nine years ago.

Hotel executive Jack Diamond is having a bad year. He's used to pressure: running the global family business, supporting his widowed mother, and trying (and failing) to make his little sister understand why her grungy boyfriend is bad news, are problems he can cope with. But the police just called to tell him his general manager might be a crook, his mother's had a stroke, and his latest business deal is going bad. If he can just make it back to the family hotel in Oahu, everything will be okay … or not! He boards his plane and finds himself strapped into a seat next to the woman who ripped a hole in his heart nine years ago.

Jack and Charlotte are in for some turbulence as old hurts and rekindled passion gate-crash their plans. And just when it seems they may finally overcome their past, a tropic storm threatens to wipe out their chance of a future.

Accidentally Family (Pecan Valley, Book One)

SASHA SUMMERS

Stats for my copy: Mass market paperback, Entangled: Amara, 2020. 

How acquired: Fresh Fiction Box Not to Miss subscription box

First line: Today was always going to be a life changer, Felicity knew that. 

(For the Goodreads synopsis, scroll to the bottom of this post.)

My thoughts: The downside to reading a recently published first book of a series? Having to wait now for the next book in the series! I loved this book. I don't even know what to say in this review without just gushing about how wonderful this book is. 

Ok. So Felicity and her son have just watched her daughter graduate from high school. Her ex was a no show to the graduation ceremony, but for good reason – he's in the hospital after a car accident, which killed his girlfriend and injured his toddler son, Jack. And then he dies, but not before extracting a promise from Felicity to take and raise Jack as he has no other family. 

That's the start of a book that's just packed with characters and plot lines, all integral to the overall story and seamlessly woven together. Sometimes when there is a large cast of characters it can be a little confusing in the beginning, but I never had that issue here as they were all so well written. The POV switches around also between the characters, but at the core of the story are Felicity and Graham. Felicity and her ex and Graham and his wife were good friends before Felicity's divorce, and before Graham's wife died. Graham is a doctor, and he and Felicity reconnect at the hospital, and quickly renew their old friendship, except this time that friendship begins to blossom into romance. But they both have busy lives and family issues getting in the way – Felicity preparing to take Jack home when he's released from the hospital, to her own son's dismay, and Graham dealing with his teenage wild child daughter who's been acting out since losing her mother.

Not necessarily a romance book, but if you like small town contemporary character driven family relationship stories with a couple of romances thrown in, this fits the bill. I hope there will be another Pecan Valley novel soon!  

Goodreads synopsis: Welcome to Pecan Valley, where the town may be small but the townspeople will always lend a helping hand or a shoulder to lean on. Where good times, good humor, and good people will always lead to happily ever after.

Life for Felicity, and her teen children, is finally back on track. After her divorce, she wasn’t sure if her sweet family would ever be the same. But things are good––right up until her ex’s spirited toddler lands on Felicity’s doorstep. If the universe is going to throw lemons at her, thank God she has her best friend, Graham, to help her make lemonade out of them. How did she never notice how kind and sexy he is?

Graham is still recovering from his wife’s death years ago and trying to help his teen daughter get her life together. Who is he kidding? His daughter hates him. Forget lemons––he’s got the entire lemon tree. So when Felicity suggests they join forces and help each other, he’s all in. And suddenly he can’t stop thinking about her as more than just a friend. Too bad their timing couldn’t be worse…

Because life rarely goes as planned. Luckily there are many different kinds of family to hold you together and lift you up...plus maybe even a little love between friends.

The Christmas Swap

MELODY CARLSON

Stats for my copy: Hardback, Revell, 2020. 

How acquired: Revell Reads Blogger Program - received from the publisher and voluntarily reviewed.

First line: Emma Daley had always loved Christmas as a child, but...not so much as an adult. 

(For the Goodreads synopsis, scroll to the bottom of this post.)

My thoughts: Emma spends every Christmas with her best friend and her family, but this year she's looking forward to spending the holiday in her own home. Except Gillian's family have planned a house swap with someone in Colorado and, expecting Emma to be with them as she is every year, Gillian's parents have already bought her plane ticket. Emma reluctantly gives in and joins the trip to Colorado. Quite a change from Arizona! 

West isn't happy that his mother and stepfather planned a house swap with someone in Arizona, turning HIS house over to the visitors. On the way to the airport he realizes he left a briefcase with his music in it, laying out in plain sight on the dining room table. Not wanting the visitors getting into it, he goes back home to get it. When Gillian sees him, she mistakes him for the caretaker, and the shenanigans begin. West is actually a very well known song writer, and it's hard to know if a woman likes him for himself or for who he is. But to Emma and the others, he's just a caretaker, and he relishes that anonymity. 

I loved both Emma and West. Now that Emma is in Colorado she's completely enchanted by all the snow and the thought of learning to ski. When West offers to give her lessons, she agrees, though she also worries that he'll get in trouble with the homeowner for shirking his duties to go skiing with her. For his part, West is immediately enamored of Emma, and keeps putting off getting another flight to join his own family in Arizona. 

I personally do not care for snow or cold weather, but I do love reading about it, although I feel like I now know more about skiing than I ever thought I would want to know! The immediate friendship between West and Emma was delightful, and I loved their interactions. For best friends Emma and Gillian could not be any different. Gillian's family is rich, and she's spoiled and arrogant, looking down her nose at the “caretaker”. I often wondered how the two girls could be friends when Gillian was so awful to Emma. 

I like Ms. Carlson's writing, and she's good with dialogue. Despite the book not being very long (163 pages), we still get to know both Emma and West, and the supporting characters are also well written and unique enough to feel real. I don't want to say much more as I don't want to give away the plot, but I very much enjoyed this novella. 

Goodreads synopsis: All Emma Daley wants this holiday season is a white Christmas. But the young teacher and struggling musician sure can't find that in sunny Arizona. Luckily, there's someone living in a perfect mountain home in the Colorado Rockies looking to make a vacation trade this year.

Tyler Prescott is an in-demand songwriter and talented musician who put his own singing career on hold to write songs for celebrity acts to perform. When his mother convinces him to do a vacation trade for Christmas, he never imagined one of the houseguests would be so sweet--or so strikingly pretty. Naturally, he decides to stick around, and, to get better acquainted, he poses as the house's caretaker. But when Emma's friend Gillian discovers his true identity and sets her sights on him, things get...messy. 

In a Holidaze

CHRISTINA LAUREN

Stats for my copy: Kindle edition, Gallery Books; Unexpected publication 10/6/20. 

How acquired: NetGalley. 

(For the Goodreads synopsis, scroll to the bottom of this post.)

My thoughts: I was excited to read this after seeing the synopsis - “Love Actually meets Groundhog Day” - and because I've heard so many things about the authors but hadn't yet read any of their books. 

It took me a bit to get into the story, partly because there are so many people staying at the cabin that I had a little trouble keeping up with who was who. But once the object of Mae's affection is elevated from supporting character to central, I got swept up very fast. And then it didn't take long for all the other characters to get straightened out in my head. 

I have nothing bad to say about this book. I loved Mae, and after she wishes for the universe to show her what would make her happy and jumpstarts the time traveling, I was a little excited everytime she woke up to find herself back on the plane, flying to the cabin for the holidays. Her reaction after one of those times made me laugh out loud. This was just a fun read. Whether Mae was talking one on one with Theo or Andrew, the sons of her parents' best friends, or when everyone was together in a big group. I'm not a cold weather person and do not care for snow at all other than to just look at, but the contest to build the best snow creature seemed like a lot of fun, as did the scavenger hunt.

A couple of themes of the book, in my opinion, are family and tradition. Mae's parents have been friends with Theo and Andrew's parents since college, along with two of the other men at the cabin, one here with his own family, and the other, Benny, who quickly became my favorite. Theo and Andrew's parents own the cabin, and the group have been spending Christmas there together every year as long as Mae can remember. They're not all related by blood, but they are chosen family. But as Mae relives the days, some of the traditions – that snow building contest, for example - get shaken up, with happy results. Learning that this may be the last year they all get to spend at the cabin, however, devastates Mae. Another theme that fit the story was finding yourself. Mae had to do some soul searching to figure out what she was doing wrong each time she got sent back in time, and ultimately what needed chaning in her life.  

A wonderful, feel good book, that had me crying happy tears at the end. 

Goodreads synopsis: It’s the most wonderful time of the year…but not for Maelyn Jones. She’s living with her parents, hates her going-nowhere job, and has just made a romantic error of epic proportions.

But perhaps worst of all, this is the last Christmas Mae will be at her favorite place in the world—the snowy Utah cabin where she and her family have spent every holiday since she was born, along with two other beloved families. Mentally melting down as she drives away from the cabin for the final time, Mae throws out what she thinks is a simple plea to the universe: Please. Show me what will make me happy.

The next thing she knows, tires screech and metal collides, everything goes black. But when Mae gasps awake…she’s on an airplane bound for Utah, where she begins the same holiday all over again. With one hilarious disaster after another sending her back to the plane, Mae must figure out how to break free of the strange time loop—and finally get her true love under the mistletoe.

Balancing Act (Silhouette Special Edition No. 1552)

WARNING: THIS REVIEW CONTAINS INFORMATION THAT SOME MAY CONSIDER SPOILERS.

LILIAN DARCY

Stats for my copy: Mass market paperback, 2003.

How acquired: BookCrossing

First line: Brady Buchanan would be here with his little daughter in twenty minutes, maybe less.

(For the Goodreads synopsis, scroll to the bottom of this post.)

My thoughts: What would you do if you discovered that your adopted toddler daughter had a twin sister who had been adopted by someone else? Libby packs up her belongings and moves across the country. A bit grudgingly, but in order for the girls to have a relationship and grow up together they need to live near each other, and Libby is in a better position to move than Brady, who owns a construction company.

"They laughed, and looked at each other, and the kiss they were both thinking about seemed so real that Libby could almost see it in the air."

Of course Libby and Brady are immediately attracted to each other, but they've both been through bad marriages, and Libby and her daughter, Colleen, are only staying with Brady and his daughter, Scarlett, until Libby can find a job and a permanent place to live.

Like a good romance should, there is plenty of conflict between Libby and Scarlett. Neither completely trusts the other, and both agree that they just need to get along for the sake of the girls. But while Libby is the one who uprooted her life and moved, I still felt Brady got the short end of the stick more often. He seemed to try harder, make more of an effort, while Libby was secretive and standoffish. Even towards Scarlett a little bit. I get that she was afraid of getting too attached to Scarlett, in case things went south and she and Brady went their separate ways, but still.

After awhile I got a little tired of Libby keeping things from Brady and trying so hard to maintain her independence. Not that there's anything wrong with independence. But again, Brady was making an effort, and to his credit he would back off when he realized he was pushing her too much. 

By the time Libby needed to have fibroid surgery, she and Brady had slept together. Yet she did not tell him about her upcoming surgery and the more she kept putting off telling him the more irritated I felt towards her. She didn't like her new doctor, so she arranged a trip home to finish packing up her house and decide whether to sell it or rent it out, and scheduled the surgery with her previous doctor to coincide with the trip, asking her mother to also fly out to help with Colleen. I really thought that something was going to go wrong with the surgery and her life would be hanging in the balance and mom would call Brady and the thought of Libby possibly dying would make him realize how much he loved her and he would rush to be at her side. To my surprise that's not what happened, and I was pretty happy at how it was all finally resolved in the end. 

Goodreads synopsis: Four days ago, Libby McGraw had never even heard of Brady Buchanan. But if his claim was true, her carefully constructed life was about to be blown apart. One glance at the silky-haired baby cradled in Brady's arms told Libby more than any blood test could. Her adopted daughter had an identical twin sister!
Libby wanted to believe she was only marrying Brady to keep the girls together, but her heart wasn't buying that malarkey. Not when the feel of Brady's lips on hers told her they might be destined for a more powerful union....

A Life Once Dreamed

RACHEL FORDHAM

Stats for my copy: Trade paperback, Revell, 2020.

How acquired: Recieved from the publisher for review via the Revell Reads Blogger Program. 

(For the Goodreads synopsis, scroll to the bottom of this post.)

My thoughts: Six years ago Aggie's childhood sweetheart, James, proposed to her, and when she rushed home to tell her parents, they revealed a secret they had been keeping from her. Distraught, she broke the engagement and fled the big city for the small town of Penance, where she now teaches school. We, the reader, aren't told that secret until well into the book, though it wasn't too hard to eventually guess. And then James shows up in town, having been hired to be the new town doctor.

After a fire leaves a little boy orphaned, Aggie takes him in and falls in love with him, and is determined to keep him. But you know what high standards schoolteachers were kept to back in the day – if she has a child, she loses her teaching contract and her home.

I loved this book. The characters are all so well written, even the supporting characters. Aggie's love for her students and the town shines through, and the arrival of James leaves her a bit unsettled. And poor James, his frustration is almost palpable as he tries to find out why Aggie broke their engagement before it had hardly started. And then there's Sam, one of the miners who comes into town fairly frequently and is smitten with Aggie. I was rooting for him almost as much as for James. True to small town dynamics, everybody is all up in everybody else's business, and Aggie's friends and the mayor pushing her to pick a husband and settle down was amusing.

Ms. Fordham writes beautifully, with the narrative seamlessly switching between the points of view of Aggie and James, letting us get know each of them. James, especially, grows as a character, from feeling that he may be in over his head as a town doctor when he's fresh out of medical school, to learning to love the small town that he had expected to be a temporary part of his life. I loved watching his views and ideas change as he began to love the town and its inhabitants as much as he still loved Aggie.

If you're a fan of When Calls the Heart, I believe you'll enjoy this story. I know I did, very much.

Goodreads synopsis: Six years ago, a shocking secret sent Agnes Pratt running in search of a new start. She found it in Penance, a rugged town of miners and lumberjacks in the Dakota Territory, where she became Miss Aggie, respected schoolteacher and confirmed old maid. But the past has a way of catching up with people.

When childhood friend and former sweetheart James Harris accepts a position as the town doctor, Aggie's pleasantly predictable days suddenly become anything but. James wants to know why Agnes left behind the life they had dreamed of creating for themselves--but he is the one person who can never know.

In the shadows of the Black Hills, can a healing light be shed on the past? Or will the secret Agnes can't seem to outrun destroy her chance at happiness?

Fan-favorite Rachel Fordham brings to life the dusty streets of an 1880s frontier town in this story that affirms where you come from matters far less than where you're going.

Cowboy Commando (Special Ops: Texas, Book One; Harlequin Intrigue No. 1123)

JOANNA WAYNE

Stats for my copy: Mass market paperback, Harlequin, 2009.

How acquired: Bought.

First line: “Welcome home, cowboy!”

(For the Goodreads synopsis, scroll to the bottom of this post.)

My thoughts: I enjoyed this older Harlequin Intrigue. Cutter is a former Navy SEAL who misses his military days and feels a little lost now that he's back in Texas. He's half-heartedly job hunting and staying in his aunt's condo. She lives on the family ranch and would welcome Cutter back, but he isn't sure that ranching is for him. He comes home one evening to find Linney in his kitchen, with a small child who she admits that she “sort of kidnapped”.

This is an Intrigue, so there's a mystery – the child's mother, and Linney's best friend, recently drowned in her own pool, and Linney is convinced that her abusive husband killed her. Problem is, said husband is a cop, and Linney can't get anyone to take her seriously.

This is the first book I've read by Joanna Wayne, and I like her writing. Linney is a little foolish, determined to prove her friend was murdered but not going about it in a very sensible way, letting her emotions drive her. But she's goodhearted and worried about little Julie's safety. Cutter is reluctant to be pulled into Linney's investigation, but once it's clear that her life is now in danger, Cutter is all in, and not about to let anything happen to Linney, or young Julie.

There's a little history between them, a few days spent together several years ago, after which they didn't see each other again, and they both harbor bitterness toward the other for walking away. Those pesky misunderstandings, always driving a wedge between lovers.

The mystery was well plotted, with a surprise twist at the end. And of course, being a category romance, there's a happy ending. My only complaint is the cover photo. At no point in the book do I recall Cutter climbing over rocks shirtless. And why must cover models always have hairless chests?

Goodreads synopsis: On navy SEAL missions Cutter Martin had been a warrior. But when it came to Linney Kingston, he was just a red-blooded Texas cowboy with bad luck at love. Linney had walked out on him six years ago. Now she was back—with a motherless child and a crazy story.
Linney's theory of murder and scandal was as preposterous as her body's traitorous response to Cutter. Still, when she was shot at, the cowboy came to her rescue. Cutter—her hero. And the only man who could break her heart again. Trusting him a second time was more frightening than the killers stalking her every move….