Review: Child on His Doorstep by Lee Tobin McClain

Child on His Doorstep by Lee Tobin McClain
My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Published: August 2020
 

When Corbin finds a two-year old on his doorstep, he is unsure of who he is. The note with him, says he's his little brother. His parents are alcoholics and his childhood was not the best, to say the least. While having, Mikey, his brother in his care, is probably the better option, Corbin has no idea how to take care of a child. In comes Samantha. Corbin had a huge crush on her in high school, and it seems like those feelings haven't gone away. When she tells him that she has a background in child care, Corbin feels like the luckiest man. But, Samantha is a recovering alcoholic herself and has a few secrets she's keeping. Will these things keep Corbin for going for the love he deserves?

Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I loved the idea for this story, but for me, it just didn't hit the mark for me. It felt like everything was very surface level and not much depth to the characters. I don't want to give too much of the story away. This is a romance, but also Christian Fiction. I enjoy both of those genres, but I don't think I will read more books by this author.

View all my reviews

To learn more about this book or to order a copy, click the book cover below:

Review: Sister Dear by Hannah Mary McKinnon

Sister Dear by Hannah Mary McKinnon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Published: May 2020
 

Eleanor is heading to the hospice to see her father, when she overhears a conversation between him and her mother. She and her mother have never had a good relationship, but the conversation she hears stops her dead in her tracks. The man she has known as her father her entire life is not her father. So who is and will he want anything to do with Eleanor? When Eleanor finds out that she also has a sister, she decides to try to meet her father that way. The things she finds our in her quest to find her father will shock you.

Thank you to MIRA and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

You already know how much I enjoy a good psychological thriller. This one was very good. It was hard to put down and it had so many twists and turns. Take a look at the face I made when the big twist hit.

What would you do if you found out that your whole life you had been lied to about who your father is? When Eleanor finds her sister, she thinks she can befriend her in order to find out more about her father. When she finds out why she has had no contact with her father, she's not sure whether or not to be more upset with him or her mother. Eleanor is a character you will love and want to smack at the same time. Some of the decisions she makes are not very good, but the outcome will leave you wanting more.

If you have never read a book by Hannah Mary McKinnon, I suggest this is the one to start with. I will be going back to read the rest of her titles and I look forward to what she will bring us in the future.

View all my reviews

To learn more about this book, or to order a copy, click the book cover below:

Review: Hairpin Curves by Elia Winters

Hairpin Curves by Elia Winters
My rating: 3 of 5 star
Published: July 2020
 

Meghan and Scarlet have been friend for a long time. Right after high school, they had a falling out, but they haven't really spoken since. When one of their close friends is getting married in Quebec, they make a choice to drive there together. Meghan has never left Florida and Scarlet hasn't seen much of the country either, so this will be an adventure for them both. They will find out more about each other than ever before. But will they be able to rekindle their friendship?

Thank you to Carina Press/Harlequin for the opportunity to read and review this book.

When Scarlet didn't show up to be roommates with Meghan, Meghan was devastated. But Scarlet is hiding a few secrets about why she chose not to go with Meghan. To top that off, they both have more than friendly feelings for each other.

This isn't the typical type of romance that I normally read, but it kept me entertained. This is a LGQBT+ book.

When I was in college, I loved taking road trips with my friends. Going to school in Texas, it's not hard to drive all day and still be in the same state. Making tapes or CDs for the journey, and planning out snacks and stops. That part of this book I could relate too very much.

For those of you who are interested in a frenemies to lovers book that includes a Female/Female romance, I think you will enjoy this book.

Author Bio
RITA™ Award-winning author Elia Winters is a fat, tattooed, polyamorous bisexual who loves
petting cats and fighting the patriarchy. She holds a Master’s degree in English Literature and
teaches at a small rural high school, where she also runs the drama club. In her spare time, she
is equally likely to be found playing tabletop games, kneading bread, cross-stitching, or binge-
watching Marie Kondo. A sex educator and kink-positive feminist, Elia reviews sex toys, speaks
at kink conventions, and writes geeky, kinky, cozy erotic romance. She currently lives in western
Massachusetts with her loving husband and their weird pets.





EXCERPT
Megan hadn’t brought a lot of clothing on this trip, anticipating getting to do laundry at some
hotel along the way, but she had a couple of nice outfits in addition to the dress she planned to
wear for the wedding. She selected an emerald green sweater dress from her suitcase. She was
normally more of a jeans kind of girl, but this dress made her feel cute, and it felt very Nashville
when she paired it with some knee-high boots. She gathered up her clothes and undergarments
and headed for the bathroom.
When she left the bathroom, Scarlett was pinning up her curls into two buns up near the top of
her head. It was one of the cutest hairstyles she wore, and one that always made Megan wish for
something other than her own super-straight brown hair. Scarlett looked away from her hair
when Megan entered the room, her gaze skimming down Megan’s body in a way that made
Megan burn up inside.
Before Scarlett could say something, whether it was going to be a compliment or not, Megan
blurted out, “I don’t know what to do with my hair.”
Scarlett tapped her lips, studying her like she was an interesting painting. “You want me to
curl it?” Scarlett asked.
“My hair doesn’t curl.” Megan had never had any luck with that. “It’s too fine.”
Scarlett tucked the final bobby pin into her own style and walked over to Megan, running her
hand through Megan’s hair. The contact sent a chill all down Megan’s spine. Oh, she wanted
Scarlett to keep touching her like that.
“It’s pretty fine.” Scarlett gathered up a bunch of Megan’s hair in her hands. Megan shivered.
Hopefully Scarlett wouldn’t notice the shiver. “It would curl if you didn’t wash it so much. You
need it to get dirty.”
Megan laughed, and it sounded breathless coming out. “I don’t really do dirty.”
Scarlett still had the hold on her hair, and she tipped Megan’s head back to look at her. “You
sure about that?”
The unspoken after last night hung in the air between them. Megan sucked in a breath, her lips
parting, and their gazes locked. Then it was like Scarlett had suddenly realized what she said,
and she slid her hands out of Megan’s hair and backed away. “Your hair is cute just like it is.
You don’t need to do anything to it.” She turned toward the mirror again and fumbled with her
makeup bag. Was it Megan’s imagination, or were Scarlett’s hands shaking? “You, uh, ever
think about cutting it?” Scarlett asked.
Megan was still rattled and warm all over. It took her a moment to process Scarlett’s words.
“Oh. Yeah, actually. Sometimes I think about a pixie cut. Cutting all of it off. But I get nervous.”
“It’s a big step. But you’ve got the perfect heart-shaped face for it.” Scarlett glanced over, then
back at the mirror. “If you ever want to do it, there’s probably a million great salons along our
road trip. Could be a fun change. And it grows back.”
She was talking fast. Megan was having a hard time thinking. “Yeah. Maybe. I’ll…do my
makeup.”
She had the new makeup from Sephora to try, and while it wasn’t her area of expertise, she put
together what she hoped was a good look—not super fancy, but she didn’t end up looking like a
clown, either. When she returned from the bathroom, Scarlett was done.
“What about lipstick?” Scarlett asked.
“I’m wearing some.” Megan resisted the urge to touch her lips in reflex.
Scarlett frowned. “Nude?”
“It’s light pink.”
“You need a bold lip. Something really red. It would bring the whole look together.”
“I don’t have anything really red.” Megan stuck with all light pinks whenever she got makeup,
which wasn’t very often. Red was showy and ostentatious, and she wasn’t the type of person to
try to get noticed.
Scarlett rummaged in her bag and pulled out a lipstick. “Here. Let me.” She touched Megan’s
chin, gently tilting her head back, and then began to apply the lipstick with focused precision.
Megan tried not to shiver as Scarlett held her face perfectly still, her attention locked onto
Megan’s lips. When she finished, they held that pose, and desire flared up in Megan like a
flashover. She wanted to lean forward and ruin that perfect lipstick against Scarlett’s berry-red
mouth.

Copyright © 2020 by Elia Winters

View all my reviews

To learn more about this book or to order a copy, click the book cover below:

Review: The Summer Set by Aimee Agresti

The Summer Set by Aimee Agresti
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Published: May 2020
 

Charlie Savoy was once at the top of her career in acting. Now, she's hit rock bottom. After she ends up in an accident which is all her fault, she is sentenced to community service at the very last place she wants to do it, the place where her career started, The Chamberlin. The Chamberlin holds a summer acting program and it is at this very program where she met and fell in love with Nick Blunt. Now, he's in charge and Charlie for sure is not ready to spend the summer with him, but she has no choice. Once there will she change her mind, or just stay for probation and then be gone?

Thank you to Graydon House/Harper Collins and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I, myself have never been a thespian or really have had no desire to act. For Charlie Savoy, she grew up in that world and it has always been a part of who she was. Her mother was an actor and she easily took to the stage. When she met Nick Blunt, they had an instant connection with their art and their hearts. But Charlie wanted more and she went for it, when Nick kept trying to improve on his one great hit.

This summer is going to be hard on the both of them. Charlie because she doesn't want to be there and Nick because he still has feelings for Charlie.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, but there were times where it got slow. I felt a strong connection to the author as she went to the same high school as my husband and we live in the same area. I will read other books this author writes.


View all my reviews

To learn more about this book, or to order a copy, click the book cover below:

Review: More Than Maybe by Erin Hahn

More Than Maybe by Erin Hahn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Published: July 2020
 

Vada and Luke are both music fiends. They both come from musical families and their father's were both in bands. Luke's father had a band that got international attention, while Vada's was just local. They associate everything in life with music. As high school seniors they aren't sure where life will take them, but Vada's dream is to be a writer for Rolling Stone. They both have secret feelings for each other, Vada listening to Luke's podcast and Luke reading Vada's music blog. When they have to work together for a school assignment they spend a lot more one on one time together. Will they be able to change their love for music into love for each other?

Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

When I first started this book, I thought it was going to be another cute YA love story, but this story is a little deeper. Each one of these kids has issues with their father's that is as deep to them as the music. There is a lot of music in this book, it's how Vada and Luke commuicate. Most kids send each other emoji's over text, not Vada and Luke, they send each other YouTube music videos. With that in mind, I made a playlist of the songs in the book, you can find it HERE.

This was a great YA love story that I hope you will enjoy as much as I did.


View all my reviews

To learn more about this book or to order a copy, click the book cover below:

Review: Blitzed by Alexa Martin

Blitzed by Alexa  Martin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Published: December 2019
 

Brynn is the owner of a great bar called HERS. It's a bar for women ran by women. Not only that, a few of her close friends film a lot of their reality show in her bar. They are wives of the local football team, the Mustangs. Maxwell Lewis is one of those Mustangs, but he isn't married and he rarely comes into the bar. But when he does, he seems very reserved. Even though she is attracted to him, she can't bring herself to let him know. When she breaks down on the side of the road and he's the only one who can help her, they will have to see if they can develop something.

Even though this is the third book in the series, it's the first one that I ended up reading. I wasn't sure of the order. The books don't have to be read in order though for them to be understood. This is a sports romance book. Whether or not you are a fan of football, I think that you would enjoy this story. It's more than a romance. It's also about female friendships and bonds.

This is the first book I've read or listened to by Alexa Martin. I have had these books on my TBR since they were released, but this is the first opportunity I've had to read them. For me, you couldn't help but have soft spot for Maxwell. He isn't your typical football player who is showy. He sticks to himself and is very reserved. Brynn really doesn't have him or any of the other Mustang players on her radar even though they are pleasant to look at. When he comes to her rescue, things for the both of them turn around.

Will they be able to handle a relationship, or is it doomed from the start?



View all my reviews

To learn more about this book, or to order a copy, click the book cover below:

Review: Family for Beginners by Sarah Morgan

Family for Beginners by Sarah Morgan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Published: May 2020
 

Flora lost her mother when she was just 8 years old and she has felt lonely almost just as long. When she meets Jack, the connection is immediate. Jack is a widow and is raising his two daughters. Jack's oldest daughter, Izzy, has taken on a huge role since the death of her mother. Now, a year later, Flora comes into their lives. Will they be able to build a relationship or will Flora have to go back to loneliness.

Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This book was a cute emotional story about love and loss. I could empathize with Izzy. When my father got remarried, it was a difficult transition. Fortunately, I still had my mother, so I didn't have to take on that role, but I didn't want anyone to disrupt what had already been disrupted in our family.

Overall, I enjoyed this story. There were parts of it that dragged along which made me bring my rating down some. IF you like family stories, or stories about love after loss or divorce, you will enjoy this book.



View all my reviews

To learn more about this book or to order a copy, click the book cover below:

Review: This Is How I Lied by Heather Gudenkauf

This Is How I Lied by Heather Gudenkauf
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Published: May 2020
 

Twenty-five years ago, Eve Knox was murdered. Her killer was never found. Detective Kennedy investigated the crime at that time, now his daughter, Maggie is reopening the investigation. This will be an especially hard case for Maggie, since Eve was her best friend and she was the one who found her. Could the killer have been Eve's boyfriend, Nick, who was abusive or Eve's sister, Nola, who was the strangest person in town? Maggie will use the new clues to find the killer, or will she?

Thank you to NetGalley and Park Row books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I am a big fan of Heather Gudenkauf. Her books leave you on the edge of your seat in anticipation of what is going to happen next. This one gave me a surprise I didn't see coming. With a lot of books you are able to tell what is going to happen and who the culprit is, but Ms. Gudenkauf, leaves it all to the imagination. This book has a twist around every corner and I hope you are ready for them. If you like books that will have you scratching your head as to how it had the outcome.

Maggie really shouldn't be investigating this case. Eve was like a sister to her. But she has to know what happened back then and who was the one who hurt her friend so violently. Eve was kind to everyone and her death was devastating to the entire town. But there are skeletons in every closet and they may come out during this investigation.

EXCERPT

Maggie Kennedy-O'Keefe

Monday, June 15, 2020

As I slide out of my unmarked police car my swollen belly briefly gets wedged against the steering wheel. Sucking in my gut does little good but I manage to move the seat back and squeeze past the wheel. I swing my legs out the open door and glance furtively around the parking lot behind the Grotto Police Department to see if anyone is watching.

Almost eight months pregnant with a girl and not at my most graceful. I'm not crazy about the idea of one of my fellow officers seeing me try to pry myself out of this tin can. The coast appears to be clear so I begin the little ritual of rocking back and forth trying to build up enough momentum to launch myself out of the driver's seat.

Once upright, I pause to catch my breath. The morning dew is already sending up steam from the weeds growing out of the cracked concrete. Sweating, I slowly make my way to the rear entrance of the Old Gray Lady, the nickname for the building we're housed in. Built in the early 1900s, the first floor consists of the lobby, the finger printing and intake center, a community room, interview rooms and the jail. The second floor, which once held the old jail is home to the squad room and offices. The dank, dark basement holds a temperamental boiler and the department archives.

The Grotto Police Department has sixteen sworn officers that includes the chief, two lieutenants, a K-9 patrol officer, nine patrol officers, a school resource officer and two detectives. I'm detective number two.

I grew up in Grotto, a small river town of about ten thousand that sits among a circuitous cave system known as Grotto Caves State Park, the most extensive in Iowa. Besides being a favorite destination spot for families, hikers and spelunkers, Grotto is known for its high number of family owned farms – a dying breed. My husband Shaun and I are part of that breed – we own an apple orchard and tree farm.

 "Pretty soon we're going to have to roll you in," an irritatingly familiar voice calls out from behind me.

I don't bother turning around. "Francis, that wasn't funny the first fifty times you said it and it still isn't," I say as I scan my key card to let us in.

Behind me, Pete Francis, rookie officer and all-around caveman grabs the door handle and in a rare show of chivalry opens it so I can step through. "You know I'm just joking," Francis says giving me the grin that all the young ladies in Grotto seem to find irresistible but just gives me another reason to roll my eyes.

"With the wrong person, those kinds of jokes will land you in sensitivity training," I remind him.

"Yeah, but you're not the wrong person, right?" he says seriously, "You're cool with it?"

I wave to Peg behind the reception desk and stop at the elevator and punch the number two button. The police department only has two levels but I'm in no mood to climb up even one flight of stairs today. "Do I look like I'm okay with it?" I ask him.

Francis scans me up and down. He takes in my brown hair pulled back in a low bun, wayward curls springing out from all directions, my eyes red from lack of sleep, my untucked shirt, the fabric stretched tight against my round stomach, my sturdy shoes that I think are tied, but I can't know for sure because I can't see over my boulder-sized belly.

"Sorry," he says appropriately contrite and wisely decides to take the stairs rather than ride the elevator with me.

"You’re forgiven," I call after him.  As I step on the elevator to head up to my desk, I check my watch. My appointment with the chief is at eight and though he didn't tell me what the exact reason is for this meeting I think I can make a pretty good guess.

It can't be dictated as to when I have to go on light duty, seven months into my pregnancy, but it's probably time. I'm guessing that Chief Digby wants to talk with me about when I want to begin desk duty or take my maternity leave. I get it.

It's time I start to take it easy. I’ve either been the daughter of a cop or a cop my entire life but I’m more than ready to set it aside for a while and give my attention, twenty-four-seven to the little being inhabiting my uterus.

Shaun and I have been trying for a baby for a long, long time. And thousands of dollars and dozens of procedures later, when we finally found out we were pregnant, Shaun started calling her peanut because the only thing I could eat for the first nine weeks without throwing up was peanut butter sandwiches. The name stuck.

This baby is what we want more than anything in the world but I'd be lying if I didn't admit that I'm a little bit scared. I’m used to toting around a sidearm not an infant.

 The elevator door opens to a dark paneled hallway lined with ten by sixteen framed photos of all the men who served as police chief of Grotto over the years. I pass by eleven photos before I reach the portrait of my father. Henry William Kennedy, 1995 - 2019, the plaque reads.

While the other chiefs stare out from behind the glass with serious expressions, my dad smiles showing his straight, white teeth. He was so proud when he was named chief of police. We were all proud, except maybe my older brother, Colin. God knows what Colin thought of it. As a teenager he was pretty self-absorbed, but I guess I was too, especially after my best friend died. I went off the rails for a while but here I am now. A Grotto PD detective, following in my dad’s footsteps. I think he’s proud of me too. At least when he remembers.

Last time I brought my dad back here to visit, we walked down this long corridor and paused at his photo. For a minute I thought he might make a joke, say something like, Hey, who's that good looking guy? But he didn't say anything. Finding the right words is hard for him now. Occasionally, his frustration bubbles over and he yells and sometimes even throws things which is hard to watch. My father has always been a very gentle man.

The next portrait in line is our current police chief, Les Digby. No smile on his tough guy mug. He was hired a month ago, taking over for Dexter Stroope who acted as the interim chief after my dad retired. Les is about ten years older than I am, recently widowed with two teenage sons. He previously worked for the Ransom Sheriff’s Office and I'm trying to decide if I like him. Jury's still out.

Excerpted from This is How I Lied by Heather Gudenkauf, Copyright © 2020 by Heather Gudenkauf 

Published by Park Row Books

View all my reviews

To learn more about this book or to order a copy, click the book cover below:

Review: A Sweet Mess by Jayci Lee

A Sweet Mess by Jayci Lee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Published: July 2020
 

They met and had a one night stand. He wrote an unfavorable review of her bakery and things go downhill from there. After Landon realizes the bakery belongs to Aubrey he tries all he can to make amends. They both felt something more in that one night together than they had with anyone else in their life. With both of their jobs on the line because of this review, they have to decide which is more important, what people think of them or a future together.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This is a book you don't want to read on an empty stomach. Not because there is anything gross in it, but because there is so much food in it, you will instantly be hungry. Aubrey is the owner of a bakery in a small town in California. Landon is a food critic. They have an instant attraction to each other, but once they find out who the other is, their feelings really change. Aubrey and her entire town now hates him Landon, and Landon can't help but try to make things better for her.

Will they be able to find a common ground or will they be at odds forever?

I really enjoyed this book and I think all romance lovers will enjoy it as well.


View all my reviews

To learn more about this book or to order a copy, click the book cover below: