Book Review – Puppy Love

Tags

Book Review, Forever Home series, Lucy Gilmore, Puppy Love

Puppy Love

Forever Home #1

by Lucy Gilmore

No matter the job, no matter the need

These service dogs in training will always fall in love at first bark.

When Sophie Vasquez and her sisters dreamed up Puppy Promise—their service puppy training school—it was supposed to be her chance to bring some good into the world. But how can she expect to do anything when no one will take her seriously?

Enter Harrison Parks: a rough, gruff, take-no-bull wildlife firefighter in need of a diabetic service dog. He couldn’t be a more unlikely fit for Sophie or Bubbles—the sweet Pomeranian she knows will be his perfect partner—but when Sophie insists he give them both a shot, something unexpected happens: he listens. Even better, he keeps on listening, even as Sophie and Bubbles turn his lonely, uber-masculine world upside-down.

As it turns out, they all have something to prove…and more than enough room in their hearts for a little puppy love.

I think my favorite part (outside of Harrison’s love for Bubbles) is how these two managed to see the true person underneath the other’s skin.  Harrison is gruff and not a very good people person, but he’s got a big heart and a strong sense of dedication.  He was raised by a man who wasn’t much for softness but that didn’t mean he wasn’t loved.  Unfortunately, it means that, combined with his size, he tends to be a bit gruff and intimidating.

There’s something about Harrison that brings out the best (or worst) in Sophie from their first meeting.  Sick as a young child, she’s spent her life being taken care of and, even now, coddled.  Only Harrison doesn’t have a clue what her past was like, so he just sees a spitfire who is willing to give him a little grief over a puppy.  It’s so appealing to her to have someone treat her like she’s strong, and having seen something more under all that crustiness, that she can’t help but be drawn to Harrison.

These two going at each other (in a bit of verbal foreplay) is such a hoot.  Left alone, they rub sparks of all kinds and start to develop a certain amount of respect & understanding that just heightens their attraction.  Throw in an adorable ball of fluff and Gilmore definitely delivers a ton of entertainment for her readers.

Advertisements

Book Review – In Her Sights

Tags

Book Review, In Her Sights, Katie Ruggle, Rocky Mountain Bounty Hunters series

In Her Sights

Rocky Mountain Bounty Hunters series

by Katie Ruggle

Five bounty-hunting sisters

Deep in the heart of the Rockies

Fighting to save each other

…and the men who steal their hearts

Bounty hunter Molly Pax fought hard for everything she has, turning the bail recovery business she shares with her sisters into an unqualified success. So when their sticky-fingered mother jumps bail and puts the childhood home up as collateral, Molly’s horrified. To make matters worse, every two-bit criminal in the Rockies now sees her family’s misfortune as their next big break.

She needs help, stat.

Enter rival bounty hunter John Carmondy: six feet of pure trouble, with a cocky grin to match. John’s the most cheerfully, annoyingly gorgeous frenemy Molly’s ever had the pleasure of defeating…and he may be her only hope of making it out of this mess alive.

While Ruggle’s latest is more suspense than romance, I had fun reading it.  There’s a lot going on for Molly – the sister, their mother, trying to catch the next jump, and keeping one step ahead of John.

I’m not 100% sure why she struggles so much with letting John close, but it does lead to some fun moments … and a few head-shaking ones full of snark on Molly’s side.  Honestly, if I was John I’d probably have walked away a long time ago but the man has grit, heart, and dedication (all good attributes for a hero).  Her resistance does throw a bit of a damper on their relationship so if you were hoping for more of a love story it takes a bit to get there.

There’s a ton of action, danger, and suspense to keep you busy while you wait, though.  Half the siblings are busy trying to track down their mom and figure out what’s going on with her.  The rest are trying to catch a pretty dangerous character in order to keep their house out of the hands of a sleazy bail bondsman.

Ruggle has always had a way at delivering extremely satisfying suspense elements and she proves herself again here.  I can see why some may have been disappointed at the lack of romance (and Molly pushing John away again and again) but I found it fun enough that it didn’t matter so much to me 🙂

(Start of a series with a cliffhanger of an ending, so be warned!)

Book Review – To the Stars and Back

Tags

Book Review, Camilla Isley, First Comes Love series, To the Stars and Back

*sigh* Christian can be such an idiot but at least he proves himself to be pretty awesome too so I can forgive him … mostly.  Plus, I spent most of the book with a smile on my face so that’s gotta be worth something!

*****

To the Stars and Back

First Comes Love #4

by Camilla Isley

Blurb:

When Hollywood’s sexiest bachelor meets the girl next door their relationship doesn’t follow the script…

On-screen, Christian Slade is America’s favorite heartthrob. Off-screen, letting romance into his life isn’t as easy. The women he dates all seem to want a piece of his glamorous life rather than his heart, and trust doesn’t come easy for him.

Then along comes Lana. A beautiful rocket scientist who’s also sweet, smart, sexy, and has absolutely no idea who he is. But what will happen when she finds out?

Will their worlds prove too far apart or could love really be like in the movies?

Purchase Link – http://smarturl.it/clw67x

*****

Review:

I love the way that these two get together.  It is absolutely a wonderfully meet-cute and Lana is an absolute doll for how she handles some of the things that come afterward.  I’m not sure I could be as forgiving as she is once she finds out who he really is and that he keeps it a secret for a while.  I understand why but … and when he has that REALLY big idiot moment … yeah, she’s a doll.

Isley knows how to craft an entertaining story full of characters that readers can get behind.  Lana may be clueless about all things Hollywood but she’s pretty good at Christian.  It’s a bit of a struggle, coming from two different worlds, but eventually (of course) they figure things out.

Christian also (besides those idiot moments) has moments when he proves just how out of touch with the regular world he is.  But I appreciate that he likes Lana enough to try and he’s got a great support system that likes the real guy, not just what he can do for them.  Although I think they could have maybe tried a little harder to keep him from being SUPER idiotic 🙂

There’s drama – how can there not be in a world like his – but it’s not too far out there and Isley does a good job of bringing it back to center when it’s time.  Fun, funny, and with characters hard not to like, Isley once again delivers an addictive page turner.

(Part of a series but can stand on its own very, very easily.  A few short cameos, and maybe a bit of a feel of Christian, from previous books is about it.)

*****

Author Info:

Camilla is an engineer turned writer after she quit her job to follow her husband on an adventure abroad.

She’s a cat lover, coffee addict, and shoe hoarder. Besides writing, she loves reading—duh!—cooking, watching bad TV, and going to the movies—popcorn, please. She’s a bit of a foodie, nothing too serious. A keen traveler, Camilla knows mosquitoes play a role in the ecosystem, and she doesn’t want to starve all those frog princes out there, but she could really live without them.

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/camillaisley/

Twitter https://twitter.com/camillaisley

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14135080.Camilla_Isley

Bookbub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/camilla-isley

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/camillaisley/

Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/camillaisley/

*****

Giveaway:

Win a To The Stars and Back Tote Bag (Open to UK Only)

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/33c69494236/

*Terms and Conditions –UK entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

*****

Book Review – Falling for the Cowboy Dad

Tags

Book Review, Falling for the Cowboy Dad, Patricia Johns

Falling for the Cowboy Dad

A Clean Romance

by Patricia Johns

He’s always been the one…

She’s always been just a friend!

Grace Beverly spent years hopelessly in love with her best friend, Billy Austin. Now he’s back in Eagle’s Rest, Colorado, determined to provide the best life possible for his four-year-old daughter. He’s just not sure how. Helping Billy navigate the world of parenting is a one-way ticket back to heartache. Yet how can Grace say no to her oldest friend?

Grace has been (silently) in love with Billy for years but finally put herself first and cut him out of her life when he moved away with her best friend.  This is such a hard but relatable situation.  Grace had such little self-confidence and having him not see her as anything more than a friend did nothing for her state of mind.  But getting away and making a life without him helped her discover more about who she is and her worth.  Having him back again threatens that … but its difficult to turn him away.

Billy had no clue about Grace’s feelings and was hurt when she stopped talking to him.  He’s back now, a little girl he didn’t know he had in tow, and seeing Grace again seems like a godsend.  His own troubles are pretty overwhelming – making a connection with Poppy and trying to figure out how to raise a super-smart daughter while continuing to hide a lifelong secret – so having her around again brings him hope.

Johns does a great job of taking two people with their own insecurities and putting them in a situation where they have no choice but to face them.  These are real, every day issues and they are handled with a good deal of care.  Both Grace and Billy have a lot of discovery to do and have to really talk with those that mean something to them.  There’s no way that they can successfully move forward without addressing their problems first.

Book Review – Unchained Desire

Tags

Book Review, R.C. Alvarez, Rapture series, Unchained Desire

Unchained Desire

Rapture #1

by R.C. Alvarez

Chained to a demon queen for hundreds of years, fallen angel Ramiel has given up on his brothers and sisters—and humanity. He has seven days away from hell to replenish his power and that’s all he cares about—right up until his meeting with the much too innocent Kyria. He fell for that act before and it landed him in hell, he won’t be making that mistake again.

To save her sick father, Kyria knows she must find Ramiel. He’s dark, brooding and everything Kyria should be scared of, but the haunted look in his eyes makes her think there’s more to him. The tattoos and chains don’t frighten her either, but the connection she has with him does. When strange creatures attack her, Ramiel steps in to protect her.

Ramiel believes he’s reluctantly helping Kyria, but what neither of them knows is that she may be the one to save them all…

I love a good supernatural romance – one where the author creates a world that you can immerse yourself in but is different than the one the reader knows.  Maybe someone with a more extensive understanding of religious/mythological history would feel differently but I really enjoyed how Alvarez introduces both her baddies and the good guys, while setting up an interesting foundation for where the series may go.

Kyria thought she understood why her life was the way it was but when her dad gets sick her eyes are opened to things she could never imagine.  Unsteady and confused, she’s still got a lot of gumption and fight in her.  She takes everything in stride, even some hard-hitting truths about herself and her family.

Ramiel has spent decades feeling alone in the world.  The last thing he wants is someone reminding him of his past and people who let him down but he’s compelled to help Kyria.  She gets past his broody, standoffish exterior and, as they work together to find her dad, truths will come out that might just set him free … but only if he can manage to trust in someone else again.

Since it is the start of a new series, with its own special world, Alvarez does a fabulous job of setting things up for the future.  There’s a lot that is going on with the underworld and what they want with our world, a special group of kids that could mean everything to our future, and a varied cast of characters who are doing their best to make sure that right wins out in the end.  With a whole slew of people that I can’t wait to get to know better, a good mix of danger & the supernatural, and a plot that wonderfully sets up future stories, I am definitely looking forward to more from Alvarez.

(When there are demons and angels involved you know that religion is going to play a part.  I’m assuming that those picking up the book will know what they are getting into but I’m throwing out a warning just in case for those that might find using God this way offensive.)

Book Review – The Color of Summer

Tags

Anna Martin, Book Review, The Color of Summer

If you are looking for a slow build romance with very little drama for your next summer read, Anna Martin has you covered!

*****

The Color of Summer

by Anna Martin

Length: 71,000 words approx.

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Cover Design: Reese Dante

Blurb:

Tattoo artist Max Marshall rushes into his hometown of Sweetwater, West Virginia—and is promptly pulled over for speeding. Max’s luck isn’t all bad, though, because he recognizes the deputy, Tyler Reed, Max’s childhood best friend’s older brother.

Reconnecting with Tyler helps Max settle back in, and it also leads to attraction. But when he tries to explore that connection at the grand opening of his tattoo studio—by kissing Tyler—awkwardness ensues. Max wants more, but has he misread Tyler’s signals?

As a single father raising a six-year-old daughter, Tyler doesn’t have much time to date. He’s ignored his attraction to men for years, but he can’t stop thinking about the kiss he shared with Max. If he can handle the complications of dating in a small town and the possible consequences to his career, this romance could blossom with all the colors of summer.

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Dreamspinner | Universal Link

*****

Review:

This is my first Anna Martin book so I had no expectations going in.  Maybe that has something to do with why I enjoyed it so much while a lot of the Goodreads reviews are less than stellar.  I actually appreciated the low angst that she brings and how it’s a lot about finding your footing & finding love.

Max is back in his small hometown because his mom recently had a stroke and he realized he wanted to be closer to her.  Opening his own tattoo parlor is a big bonus and connecting with Tyler again (and maybe more) is just the icing on the cake.  Max is the fun-loving character who enjoys life and is comfortable with his sexuality.  He’s been out since school and has had a few romantic bumps along the way but overall he’s confident and assured.  (Although maybe not quite ready for a life-time commitment just yet.)

Tyler hasn’t ever really felt that sexual, even though he’s been married and had a kid, but with Max’s return he’s starting to figure out there may be a reason why.  Looking a bit deeper at himself and his desires, Tyler soon changes his mind about wanting just friendship between them.

Since his older brother is comfortable in a long-term, same-sex relationship, I think that helped Tyler with his decision.  There are a few complaints in reviews about how easy and quickly his mind was changed, but it actually worked for me.  The conversation he had with his brother & brother-in-law was awesome and I love how they described sexuality & helped him come to terms with things.

I think my only concern was how Tyler was worried about his standing in the community but that wasn’t really ever addressed.  I mean, we know from the epilogue that everything works out fine for them but I think a little bit of the reaction of the townsfolk accepting him as he is would have been nice.  Otherwise, I enjoyed pretty much everything else about this story.

The Color of Summer is a relaxed, easy read and the low drama factor makes it a fabulous summer read in my opinion.  Low key doesn’t have to mean boring and Martin’s latest is a perfect example.  With a cast of awesome characters and plenty of feels, there’s a lot to keep you reading.

*****

Author Info:

Anna Martin is from a picturesque seaside village in the southwest of England and now lives in the Bristol, a city that embraces her love for the arts. After spending most of her childhood making up stories, she studied English literature at university before attempting to turn her hand as a professional writer. 

Apart from being physically dependent on her laptop, Anna is enthusiastic about writing and producing local grassroots theater (especially at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where she can be found every summer), going to visit friends in other countries, and reading anything thatís put under her nose. 

Anna claims her entire career is due to the love, support, prereading, and creative ass kicking provided by her best friend Jennifer. Jennifer refuses to accept responsibility for anything Anna has written.

https://www.annamartin-fiction.com/

http://www.facebook.com/annamartinfiction

http://www.pinterest.com/annamartinficti/

http://instagram.com/missannamartin

http://www.twitter.com/missannamartin

*****

Giveaway:

Ebook of The Color of Summer

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/3e0e9a43613/

*****

Book Review – To Tame a Wild Cowboy

Tags

Book Review, Cupid Texas series, Lori Wilde, To Tame a Wild Cowboy

Let’s head into summer with a sexy bull rider who finds himself head over heals for the new woman in his life 😉

*****

To Tame a Wild Cowboy

Cupid, Texas series

by Lori Wilde

Genre Adult Contemporary Romance

Publisher Avon Books

Publication Date May 21, 2019

Blurb:

New York Times bestselling author Lori Wilde’s series set in Cupid, TX continues as one free-wheeling cowboy discovers he has a child—and a chance at real love with the last woman he expected.

What would it take to tame a wild cowboy?

One minute, Rhett Lockhart is a love ‘em and leave ‘em bull rider with a slow, sexy smile, a swagger, and not a care in the world. The next, he learns his free-wheeling days are over: a baby has been abandoned in the hospital, and there’s no question: he’s the father. But from the first moment he gazes into his daughter’s eyes, he knows the moment has come to say ‘no’ to no-strings. It’s time to grow up.

Standing in his way is the baby’s foster mother, Tara Alzate, who doesn’t quite believe Rhett is ready to change his ways. Still, she’s not not immune to his considerable charms. So when he proposes a marriage of convenience and shared custody, against her better judgement, she says “I do.” Can Tara tame this wild cowboy and make her own, long-buried dreams come true?

Amazon  https://amzn.to/2VztVA5

Avon Romance  http://bit.ly/2QhNqfv

Barnes & Noble  http://bit.ly/2JqVcml

Google Play  http://bit.ly/2Q8BMmQ

iBooks  https://apple.co/2Vyzkau

*****

Excerpt:

“Rhett, you may now kiss your bride.” Here it was. The moment Tara had been dreading since she’d cooked up this farcical idea. She’d made him promise to dole out nothing by a mere hint of a kiss, the barest brushing, the smallest increment of lip touching that they could get away with. He’d promised. She trusted him. He leaned in. She braced herself, locking her knees. Hang on. It’ll be over in an instant. His head dipped. She tipped her chin up. Rhett’s mouth came down on hers and for a second, he was playing by the rules and she sighed with relief, and thought, wow, this is nice . . .But the thought was premature. Her lips parted involuntarily, and she closed her eyes and sank against him. Well and completely lost.

*****

Review:

Overall, while I really enjoyed the story, the first half was more appealing to me than the beginning of the second half.  I really felt Tara’s love for Julie and how much it hurt her to think that she might lose custody.  And seeing Rhett fall in love with his little girl was just the absolute sweetest.  Their stress over the situation and Julie’s future just jumped off the page.

Then they decided to get married, which quickly went from one of convenience to something more.  I think as a couple they definitely worked.  Both characters had their flaws but they also had positives and were able to blend together quite well – Rhett’s happy-go-lucky attitude was a good complement to Tara’s more serious side.  But I just wish we’d had a chance to see them grow into their feelings more.  I think it relied too much on their history together (which they hadn’t had much in their adult years) and not enough on their current dealings with each other.

Once I accepted it though I really enjoyed where Wilde took the story.  There was a lot of self-examination going on in the last bits of the book, by both Tara and Rhett, and it worked so well in giving them a HEA ending.  Taken as a whole, To Tame a Wild Cowboy delivered an emotional journey that will leave readers with all the warm fuzzies they could want.

(Although it is part of a series, I feel like it can easily stand on its own.)

*****

Author Info:

A fifth generation Texan, LORI WILDE is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of 82 works of fiction. She’s a three-time nominee of the Romance Writers of America prestigious RITA award and has won numerous other awards. She holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Texas Christian University, and a certificate in forensics.

She is also a certified Hatha yoga instructor, and runs a yoga/creativity retreat for artists at Epiphany Orchards in Weatherford, Texas, the Cutting Horse Capital of the World.

Website http://www.loriwilde.com/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/LoriWildeBooks/

Twitter https://twitter.com/loriwilde

Goodreads https://goo.gl/4wAQUy

Amazon http://amzn.to/2EYEk3H

*****

Giveaway:

To celebrate the release of TO TAME A WILD COWBOY by Lori Wilde, we’re giving away a paperback set of Love With a Perfect Cowboy & Million Dollar Cowboy by Lori Wilde to one lucky winner!

http://bit.ly/2VrxlVf

GIVEAWAY TERMS & CONDITIONS:  Open to US shipping addresses only. One winner will receive a paperback set of Love With a Perfect Cowboy & Million Dollar Cowboy by Lori Wilde. This giveaway is administered by Pure Textuality PR on behalf of Avon Books.  Giveaway ends 6/4/2019 @ 11:59pm EST.

*****

Click on the banner below to check out the rest of the tour!

Book Review – Let Me Show You

Tags

Becca Seymour, Book Review, Let Me Show You

I’m so happy to have Becca Seymour on today to answer a few questions and share her latest book!

*****

1. When did you know you wanted to write?

I’ve been writing on and off for the past 15 years, though largely in M/F romance. It wasn’t until I fell in love with LGBT romance about 5 years ago that I finally decided that was where my heart lay, and my proverbial pen took me. While this year I’m focusing on contemporary romance, a genre I do adore, I plan to writing a mix of genres later in the year for 2020 and 2021 releases.

2. Do you use a pseudonym? If so, why?

I do, but it isn’t a big secret. I’m a publisher and editor, and I wanted a semblance of separation between my writing and my business.

3. Do you ever base your characters on real people? If so, what are the pitfalls you’ve run into doing so?

Sometimes. My characters are often completely fabricated; however, several scenarios they face are often taken from real life. My characters do, however, tend to have similar traits to people I know and sometimes me, especially in relation to humour and sometime gruffness.

4. How long on average does it take you to write a book?

Anywhere between 2 months and 15 months, depending on the schedule I’ve set myself and how many WiPs I have. This book took the longest, possibly because it was intended to be a novella for a publishing call, but once the characters came into their own, I knew there was no way that would happen.

5. Where do you like to write?

On my laptop usually in bed, and usually when I have a super quiet house. I struggle to write when my hubby is home or in the room with me, and honestly, I have zero idea why. He is 100 percent behind me and my writing, and is crazy supportive. I can, however, happily write with my 11-year-old son in the room. He’s constantly trying to give me ideas and recommendations. He’s also determined that I name a character after him. I always go wide-eyed at this, reminding him I write romance. He just shrugs and suggests “he” could be a character who doesn’t kiss. Lol. Maybe one day.

6. How long do you write each day?

Erm… when focused, I write for a couple of hours. When on a self-managed deadline that’s creeping in fast, I’ll put more time in over the weekends. I do, however, happily allow life to get in the way, which I don’t regret. Family time, work time, switching off and chilling are really important to me.

7. What were your goals and intentions in this book, and how well do you feel you achieved them?

I wanted light-hearted, low-angst escapism, and I think I achieved that. Tanner and Carter are both regular guys, with regular jobs, and regular lives. You see the common thread here, right? While I love PNR and at times subgenres that include rock stars and billionaires, etc., rooting for the common guy, getting up close and personal with them, really takes me to my happy place. My aim was to give that to readers too.

8. If you had the opportunity to live one year of your life over again, which year would you choose, and why?

21 maybe. My last year at university was pretty epic. I had such an amazing time filled with far too many parties and nights out. But every hangover was worth it. I think it was the last truly carefree year I had before the reality of adulthood came knocking and reminded me I needed to step up a little.

9. What was the first book that made you cry?

Little Women when I was probably 8. This is still hands down one of my favourite books of all time. It made me truly appreciate the written word. From that moment forth, I was an official book addict.

10. What are some day jobs that you have held?

My first job was a lifeguard. It was great fun. I did that for about 7 years while at school. I did a stint at McDonald’s at uni, which was an eyeopener, especially for a vegetarian! Lol. I also worked as a bartender for several years part-time too while at uni. My first full-time position was a high school English teacher when I still lived in England. It seems like so long ago. Every position has shaped me to the individual I am today, so zero regrets, and absolutely zero looking back.

*****

Let Me Show You

by Becca Seymour

Publisher: Rainbow Tree

Release Date: Saturday, May 18 2019

Format: Paperback, eBook

ISBN: 9781925853490, ASN: B07NZTG3M3, Price: 2.99

Cover Artist: Claire Smith

Genres: Contemporary, Comedy, M/M

Blurb:

When a veterinarian and a construction worker connect, it takes mishaps, mistakes, and a Rhodesian Ridgeback named Rex to show them they’re made for each other.

Dr. Carter Falon is content living a quiet life in a small town caring for his animal patients. That doesn’t mean he’s not looking for a distraction. After finding himself precariously wedged… naked and at the mercy of a drop-dead gorgeous construction worker, Carter hires his savior to renovate his home.

When Tanner Grady’s best friend and new niece needed him, he uprooted and relocated without a second thought. His life has since been centered on work and spending time with his family, but when he comes to the rescue of a cute vet, Tanner finds he’s a lot more interested in the homeowner than the house he’s renovating.

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2GXVEqs

Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2NkUV3I

Amazon CAN: https://amzn.to/2E2Gugw

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/2NjyZps

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2E6xaIg

iBooks: https://apple.co/2SgEIgF

Other: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Becca_Seymour_Let_Me_Show_You?id=rnOLDwAAQBAJ

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44082601-let-me-show-you

QueeRomance Ink Link: https://www.queeromanceink.com/book/let-me-show-you/

*****

Excerpt:

Looking at the caller ID, I greeted, “Hey, Mom.”

“Hey, baby boy.” I smiled. In my late twenties, I was far from a baby, but she’d once told me that even at fifty I’d still be her baby. “Good day?”

“Yep. Not too bad. Nothing too hectic or crazy. You?”

“A great one. Your dad’s booked a cruise for our anniversary.” Excitement lit her words. She’d been hinting at Dad for a while about a cruise. I was pleased he’d listened. It didn’t take a lot to make my mom happy; she found joy in the smallest of things, so that he’d organized it all was pretty impressive. Mom usually organized everything, so I knew him booking the vacation for them was a big deal.

“That’s terrific. Caribbean?”

She actually squealed down the line. I pulled the phone from my ear and laughed loudly. “Yes! Carter, I’m so excited.”

“Really? I’d never have guessed.”

“Oh, hush.” She spoke over me as I laughed again. “Don’t sass your mother.”

My laughter continued. “Never, Mom. You’d tan my hide. Wouldn’t dream of it.”

“I should think not. So anything new? Any dates?”

With a groan, I rubbed my face and then stepped further into the kitchen and pulled out a glass. “Mom…,” I sighed.

“What? I worry about you. You’re so far from home and are there all alone.”

I poured myself a glass of wine and took a sip. “I know you worry, but honestly, life’s good.” Admittedly it would have been nice to hook up, but one, I didn’t do casual and never had, and two, there was no way I’d tell my mom I was afraid my penis would drop off from lack of use. “There’s nothing new either, and that’s okay. I’m liking the quiet life.”

“Hmm….” That was her tell for not being convinced. “You know, I was talking to Julie last week, and her nephew’s gay.”

“Mom,” I said with laughter, “honestly, no hookups. I do not need my mom fixing me up.”

She ignored me. “Well, he lives quite far away, but maybe a week of casual—” She cleared her throat. “—sex would do you good.”

“Jesus, Mom.” I spluttered on my mouthful of wine. Grabbing a towel, I wiped my face, catching the dribble of red wine on my chin, and wiped the countertop I’d sprayed. “Stop. I don’t need you arranging anything, okay? Please tell me you’re listening.” She was quiet. “Mom,” I said louder.

“Yes, yes, I hear you.” She sighed. “Grandbabies would be nice.”

Holy crap on toast! With wide eyes, I looked at the ceiling and counted to five. I then took a big gulp of wine before saying, “Mom.”

“Yes, baby boy?”

“I have to go. I need to grab a shower. I’m expecting someone.”

“Ooh—”

“Someone to fix the house up.” I’d heard the interest in her tone, the hope in that one syllable.

“Oh.” This time her voice dropped. I hated to kill her enthusiasm, but geez, I really needed to get off the phone.

“Love you, tell Dad I love him too. And I’ll speak to you guys later. Bye, Mom.”

“Will do.” Her tone was a bit brighter. “Love you too. Bye, honey.”

I disconnected quickly and placed my phone down. My mom, yeah, she was wonderful and drove me to absolute distraction. I knew how lucky I was. Every decision I’d ever made, my parents had always had my back. They supported me unconditionally. It was just that my mom could be a little extreme at times. I laughed into the empty room. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Quickly finishing my wine, I looked at the time. I had just fifteen minutes until the contractor was due. I’d left it late to organize myself, still a little in a tizz after the conversation with my mom and the mention of babies. I glanced around the room at the disorderly mess. Every time I did so, I regretted it.

I detested chaos, and that was what the house felt like. The place was still strewn with my moving boxes, but I had yet to see the point in unpacking. Not necessarily because I planned to move, but rather, the whole house needed a lot of work, so I knew I’d have to pack my things up for any work on the house to start.

I really hoped this Tanner guy would be the person who could finally help me out. I’d had two other quotes, one local and one from out of town. Both were crazy high, and neither would be able to start for another five months or so. I was running out of options. This guy had come recommended to me by one of my clients, but I didn’t want to get my hopes up.

I sighed in defeat as I looked around. I’d have to continue ignoring it all until I finally had the place fixed up. I headed upstairs, careful to miss the couple of steps that had loose boards, and headed to the main bathroom. I had an en suite, but the shower didn’t work, so it was the pearlescent green suite I headed toward. The sickly porcelain made me shudder every time I laid eyes on it. It was clean though, so there was that.

I hopped into the shower, lathered myself up, and quickly rinsed off. That was when I heard the knock at the door. “Shoot.” I quickly turned off the taps, stepped out and grabbed a towel. In my haste to get myself together and then answer the door, the dodgy floorboard didn’t even register until my foot slammed through it, snagging my ankle and bringing me to my knees.

I yelled as I fell, and cursed. Wincing, I looked at my predicament, trying to yank my foot out as I did so. A loud groan slipped past my lips. This was no good. I was wedged, and it appeared I’d lost my towel in my fall. Just great.

*****

Review:

If you love your romance without a lot of angst (which I do most of the time), Seymour delivers beautifully.  Tanner and Carter have a fun first meet that kinda makes it hard to ignore their attraction to each other but they do try.  Once their feelings overcome that whole contractor/client thing though, it is pretty much a done deal.

Tanner & Carter complement each other quiet well and work to create a nicely-developed relationship.  There is a little trouble at work for Carter but he does his best to handle it, with support from Tanner & friends.  It adds that little bit of drama to an otherwise smooth read of strangers becoming friends then becoming even more.

If you prefer warm fuzzies (and some heat) to commotion and hullabaloo in your romance, Let Me Show You is a perfect choice.  With characters to pull for, a romance to give you feels, and enough steam to keep you turning pages, Seymour’s latest has it all.

*****

Author Info:

Becca Seymour lives and breathes all things book related. Usually with at least three books being read and two WiPs being written at the same time, life is merrily hectic. She tends to do nothing by halves so happily seeks the craziness and busyness life offers.

Living on her small property in Queensland with her human family as well as her animal family of cows, chooks, and dogs, Becca appreciates the beauty of the world around her and is a believer that love truly is love.

Author Website: https://beccaseymour.com

Author Facebook (Personal): https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100015881354862

Author Facebook (Author Page): https://www.facebook.com/beccaseymourauthor/

Author Twitter: https://twitter.com/beccaseymour_

Author Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorbeccaseymour/

Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18745264.Becca_Seymour

Author QueeRomance Ink: https://www.queeromanceink.com/mbm-book-author/21905/

*****

Giveaway:

Becca is giving away two $10 Amazon gift cards.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b60e8d4763/

*****

Book Review – Armed ‘N’ Ready

Tags

Armed 'N' Ready, Book Review, Federal K-9 Series, Tee O'Fallon

Armed ‘N’ Ready

Federal K-9 Series

by Tee O’Fallon

Massachusetts State Police Sgt. Nick Houston is as tough as they come, and he and his K-9, Saxon, are hot on the trail of a major illegal gun dealer. But his best lead—the beautiful owner of the Dog Park Café, Andi Hardt––is not cooperating. Doesn’t matter how sexy she is, or that his dog seems to be in love with her. She’s a suspect and he won’t cross that line. Ever.

Andi Hardt sank everything into her dream business—the Dog Park Café, a restaurant catering to dogs as much as people. Now everything is in jeopardy because of one extremely frustrating, incredibly hot state trooper. Like it or not, she’s in Nick’s crosshairs, and he’s calling the shots. Her only option: cooperate, or lose everything she’s worked so hard for.

Nick and Andi are catapulted straight into the danger zone, forcing them to make life-altering choices, and face their desires. Risking his life for Andi is the easy part. Risking his heart is the toughest assignment Nick will face.

O’Fallon gives readers a well-paced suspense story and I really enjoyed seeing how the case played out.  I had no idea where it was going but it was totally believable – nothing came out of left field and felt unconnected to the rest of the story, which is always a plus for this kind of book.

Both characters were really fun and their interactions entertaining.  It’s a bit of a slow burn as they have to deal with how she fits into his case, giving them plenty of time to get to know each other (and cause a few sparks along the way).   There was a little bit at the end where I went “uh, ok” with how they reacted to a situation that put their relationship into question but it was a small bump in an otherwise enjoyable read.

Armed ‘N’ Ready has the perfect blend of love story and action to keep the pages turning.  And some great secondary characters and relationships just for dog lovers 🙂

(This is the second book in the series, but can easily stand on its own.)

Book Review – The Cowboy’s Perfect Match

Tags

Book Review, Cathy McDavid, Sweetheart Ranch series, The Cowboy's Perfect Match

Hard-working cowboys with a big heart are just so dang sexy!!

*****

The Cowboy’s Perfect Match

The Sweetheart Ranch #2

by Cathy McDavid

Contemporary Romance

Blurb:

He may not be perfect…

But he’s perfect for her!

Ryan DeMere is definitely enjoying the perks of being Sweetheart Ranch’s new wrangler—the best is working with head chef Bridget O’Malley. He’s fallen head over spurs for the talented and determined beauty. There’s just one hiccup. Bridget is holding out for Mr. Right—and Ryan doesn’t quite meet her requirements. But he’s determined to win Bridget over, because Ryan may not be perfect…but maybe their love could be.

Goodreads│Amazon│B&N│Book Depository│Harlequin│iBooks│Kobo

Also available

A Cowboy’s Christmas Proposal, The Sweetheart Ranch #1

At a magical time of year…

Can a cowboy help falling in love?

For single dad Owen Caufield, living and working at Sweetheart Ranch for a month is the perfect change of pace. While the cowboy turned wedding officiant can now spend more time with his children, Molly O’Malley, his new boss, is less thrilled. A wedding ranch isn’t the best place for three rambunctious youngsters. But amid the chaos—and the coming holidays—it may be the best place to fall in love…

Goodreads│Amazon│B&N│Book Depository│Harlequin│iBooks│Kobo

*****

Review:

Ryan is definitely one of my favorite heroes that I’ve read in a while.  He’s got a good sense of fun and his humor is very laid-back & contagious.  He takes things seriously when he needs to but also knows how to just enjoys life.  He’s a good foil for Bridget who unfortunately tends to takes things a little too seriously.

I enjoyed that their biggest obstacle is just plain ol’ timing (and that seriousness) and that there wasn’t too much drama between them.  Sometimes it is nice to just have a story that you can relax into and enjoy as it unfolds in a real way.  You can understand completely how two people have a good connection but just aren’t in a place where they can get involved.

Of course, love finds a way (with a little meddling) and everything works out in the end.  But it is the journey from flirting to more to trouble to that HEA ending that makes for an enjoyable read.  If you are looking for excitement and angst, you aren’t going to find a lot of it here.  Instead you get a slow burn romance that is perfect for a lazy couple of days of reading.

*****

Author Info:

As a sophomore in high school, NY Times, USA Today, and Amazon bestselling author Cathy McDavid won a local writing competition with her self-illustrated children’s book. Who knew that small triumph would eventually lead to a career writing contemporary romances with over 1.3 million books sold? With forty-seven titles to date, Cathy is also a member of the prestigious Romance Writers of America’s Honor Roll. This “almost” Arizona native and mother of grown twins recently married her own real-life sweetheart. After leaving the corporate world four years ago, she now spends her days penning stories about good looking men who ride the range or fight fires or hunt creatures all while sweeping the girl off her feet. It’s a tough job but she’s willing to make the sacrifice.

Website│Goodreads│Facebook│Twitter│Instagram│BookBub│Amazon

*****

Giveaway:

One winner will receive:
$10 Amazon gift card
Author swag
A Cowboy’s Christmas Proposal and The Bull Rider’s Valentine
(print to US winner only, Kindle copies to US or international)
Ends May 22, 2019

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b9a55db3361/

*****

Click on the banner below to check out the rest of the tour