#sweetromance

Spotlight, Review & Giveaway: THE DOC’S HOLIDAY HOMECOMING by Virginia McCullough

~ CassidySalem ~ 1 Comment

Time for a chance of pace. I took a break, albeit a short one, from my usual mystery fare. Today’s post features a contemporary (and clean) romance, The Doc’s Holiday Homecoming is the second book in the Back to Adelaide Creek series by Virginia McCullough.

About the Book

Could her closed heart…

Still have room for him?

Olivia Donoghue’s life has turned a corner. The radiologist’s eleven-year-old daughter is finally healthy, and she just moved to her best friend’s dreamy hometown of Adelaide Creek, Wyoming. If only her friend’s prodigal brother, Jeff Stanhope, wasn’t complicating matters.

It’s clear Jeff’s kindness knows no bounds, having taken in his late roommate’s teenage son and also offering her a cabin to stay in, but Olivia’s heart is already full…and safe. Is the former rancher worth the risk?

Giveaway

Enter a rafflecopter for your chance to win a $50 ETSY gift card from the author.

My Review

In this wholesome romance, Jeff returns to his hometown after a long absence and self-imposed alienation from his sister. He soon meets her best friend, Olivia, and is drawn into the push-pull dynamic typical of a romance. What sets this story apart is a strong underlying theme – giving. The make up of Jeff’s and his sister’s families is atypical – they have willingly taken on the love and care of children not biologically their own. All of the main characters are generous and loving.

Overall, the book was well written and well-paced though, in the first chapter, the introduction of so many characters at the same time was a bit confusing. Hang in there; everything soon sorts itself out. You will soon become immersed in Jeff’s and Olivia’s tale as it winds its way to a happy ending.

FTC disclosure: I received an advance review copy from the publisher. This has not affected the content of my review.

About the Author

Virginia McCullough is thrilled to share her eighth Harlequin Heartwarming release with readers. The Doc’s Holiday Homecoming, available November 29th, is the second book in her Back to Adelaide Creek series. Like all of Virginia’s romances, this holiday story comes straight from the heart and features characters who could be your neighbors and friends struggling with everyday life issues.

Born and raised in Chicago, Virginia spent years as a ghostwriter, producing more than one hundred books for physicians, business owners, professional speakers and many others with information to share or a story to tell. She’s moved around a lot, and a few years ago she landed in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where she enjoys hanging out with other romance writers, walking on trails, and downing mugs of dark roast at local coffeehouses. Her other award-winning romance and women’s fiction titles include The Jacks of Her Heart, Amber Light, and The Chapels on the Hill. Virginia is always working on another story about hope, healing, and second chances.

Connect with Virginia online:

Book links:

Guest Post & Giveaway: RODEO INSPIRATION by Shanna Hatfield

~ CassidySalem ~ 1 Comment

I love when an author comes to visit. Today I am happy to host Shanna Hatfield, an accomplished author of sweet romance. She is here to tell us about her inspiration for The Christmas Cowboy, her first rodeo-themed romance, and to raise awareness for a worthy cause she supports – the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund.

Rodeo Inspiration
Shanna Hatfield, USA Today Bestselling Author

Inspiration can strike writers in all shapes and forms, but as a visual person, sometimes seeing one simple thing can trigger an idea.

Several years ago, my husband, Captain Cavedweller, and I settled at our gate to wait for our flight home at the Las Vegas airport. As I looked around, I realized I sat amid a sea of cowboy hats.  Like us, hundreds of cowboys prepared to depart after attending the Wrangler National Finals.

Each December, the city of Las Vegas takes on a country vibe as the rodeo comes to town, bringing hundreds of vendors, thousands of spectators, and a whole lot of fun.

As we sat at the airport that morning, an idea for a story and accompanying series started to take shape.

Since the cowboys who compete professionally spend a good deal of time traveling, I pondered how many of them flew from one rodeo to the next. If they were flying, it made sense that they might meet a girl at an airport who turned their head.

I began jotting down notes and by the time we reached home, The Christmas Cowboy (Rodeo Romance, Book 1) was born.

The sweet western holiday romance tells the story of Tate Morgan, a successful saddle bronc rider, who falls in love with Kenzie Beckett, a corporate trainer he frequently runs into at the airport. Despite their mutual attraction, the relationship is going nowhere fast. Kenzie has sworn off men in general and good-looking, charming cowboys in particular.

As a big fan of rodeos and a dabbling photographer, I turned to images I’d snapped of the rodeo and crowds to flesh out the details of my story. Pinterest is one of my favorite things in the world. I’ll never make most of the recipes I’ve pinned or attempt even a sampling of the craft projects, but Pinterest gives me the ability to create story boards for each book I write in a visual way that inspires me.

While researching details for The Christmas Cowboy, I became aware of a great organization — the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund (JCCF). From my initial research, I knew I wanted to do something to help promote such a great cause. That’s when I decided to donate a portion of my book sales.  

Read A Book, Help A Cowboy – Special Event and Giveaway

This is the ninth year for my Read A Book, Help A Cowboy campaign that runs from October 1 through December 24. During that time, 10 percent of the net proceeds from all my book sales are donated to the JCCF. The JCCF is a non-profit organization that assists rodeo athletes who’ve sustained catastrophic injuries and are unable to work for an extended period. Because of the JCCF, wounded athletes are given the assistance they need to recover instead of worrying about finances.

To help raise funds and awareness for the JCCF, a kickoff party is held each November. Join us for a day of guest authors, games, and giveaways on November 10 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/wholesomeheartsevents

Also, enter to win a $100 Amazon Gift Card: https://tinyurl.com/22cowboyschristmasentry

Learn more about the Read A Book, Help A Cowboy Campaign and the JCCF at: https://shannahatfield.com/give-back/

And check out the two new releases in the Rodeo Romance series coming this holiday season. Watch for Taming Christmas in the Christmas Wishes & Cowboy Kisses boxed set, and Savoring Christmas releasing November 10.

About the Author

USA Today bestselling author Shanna Hatfield grew up on a farm where her childhood brimmed with sunshine, hay fever, and an ongoing supply of learning experiences.

Today, Shanna draws on her rural roots to create sweet romances filled with hope, humor, quirky small-town characters, realistic heroes, and women of strength.

When this award-winning author isn’t writing or testing out new recipes (she loves to bake!), Shanna hangs out at home in the Pacific Northwest with her beloved husband, better known as Captain Cavedweller.

Shanna loves to hear from readers.

Follow her online at:
ShannaHatfield | Facebook | Newsletter | Pinterest

Find Shanna’s books at:
Amazon | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords | Apple | Audible

Review: HER UNEXPECTED ROOMMATE by Laura Ann

~ CassidySalem ~ 1 Comment

Seeking a break from my usual reading diet of mystery and suspeense, I decided to check out the romance offerings on Amazon. And so, I downloaded the first book in a sweet romance series by Laura Ann.

Description*

Two halves, One house…
When dreams clash can these two find love in an old fixer-upper?

Genevieve Winters is finally seeing light at the end of a long, dark tunnel, when her sole living relative passes away. The situation leaves her alone in the world, but offers something she’s always dreamed of. The opportunity to open a bed and breakfast, turning her broken down inheritance into a place of light and laughter. Her dreams crash, however, when a handsome stranger shows up claiming he owns half of the seaside mansion and he’s not willing to sell.

Cooper James couldn’t believe his luck when his estranged grandfather left him a half ownership in home in Oregon. It was the perfect opportunity for Cooper to start fresh in a place where no one knew the mistakes of his past. His patience is tested when the other owner, a beautiful but angry woman, demands to open a bed and breakfast, a situation that would be in direct contrast to his hopes for a refuge in which to build a new life.

Can these two set aside their differences long enough to test the attraction simmering between them? Or will their fighting cost them everything?

*Description and cover as appear on Amazon.

My Review

In the mood for a light, fun read for a long plane ride, I spotted this sweet romance on Amazon and decided to give it a try. It provided a pleasant diversion for sure. Although the trope where two strangers inherit half-interest in the same property and ultimately fall in love is not an entirely new one, both Genevieve and Cooper were well-developed characters with interesting backstories. The back and forth between the two was amusing even if some aspects of the story lacked credibility. But that’s the beauty of fiction, anything goes.

And an added bonus – it was free on Amazon the last time I looked 🙂

Review: LOVE, LAUGHTER & HAPPILY EVER AFTER

~ CassidySalem ~ Leave a comment

If you enjoy sweet romance and are looking for fun reads, then this recently romantic comedy collection is just for you.  Wide range of novellas from diverse group of authors.

Description

Escape with 20 Sweet Romantic Comedies with all the feels!

✔ Flirty & swoony heartthrobs

✔ Funny & sassy heroines

✔ Off-the-charts chemistry & charm

✔ Sweet kisses & happily ever afters

This sweet romcom collection contains 20 original humorous novellas from best-selling authors that are heartwarming, feel-good, and laugh out loud funny.

Between the pages, you’ll find tropes such as enemies to lovers, second chance romance, high school sweethearts, opposites attract, friends to lovers, fake dating, and more.

Don’t miss this limited edition box set, featuring some of your favorite authors, that will leave you reeling with laughter:

  • Ellie Hall – An Unwanted Love Story
  • Summer Dowell – Her Plus One
  • Liwen Y. Ho – Head Over Stilettos
  • Meg Easton – Looking for Love (sort of)
  • Rachael Eliker – Lassoed into Love
  • Sophie-Leigh Robbins – Take a Hike
  • Rachel John – Worst Neighbor Ever
  • Jennifer Griffith – Elevator Pitch
  • Cami Checketts – The Sassy One
  • Sarah Gay – Once Upon a Midnight Swim
  • Jennifer Youngblood – Cold Feet
  • Kimberly Krey – Five Days With My (Super Hot) Ex
  • Ellen Jacobson – Smitten with Candy Canes
  • Cindy Roland Anderson – Breaking All the Rules
  • Taylor Hart – Secret Wedding Date
  • Carina Taylor – Jude and the Matchmaking Llama
  • Gigi Blume – Baby You Can Drive My Car
  • Amy Sparling – Julie and the Fixer-Upper
  • Johanna Evelyn – I Think Maybe I Lied
  • Melanie Jacobson – The Backup Plan

* Description from Amazon.

My Review

This collection provided a pleasant diversion – sweet  romance novellas, each with different style and storyline. Something for everyone. Each story short enough to read in one or two settings.  Although I enjoyed this anthology as a whole, with 20 authors, inevitably I like some more than others.  And I can’t exactly provide detailed revies of each and every one. However, there were a few that stood out in particular -“Elevator Pitch” for its Tolkien references, fan fiction of a sort; and Her Plus One, which had me laughing out loud on more than once occasion.   “Smitten with Candy Canes” was also a fun holiday-themed read.  Enjoy.

Review & Giveaway: THE QUEEN OF SECOND CHANCES by D.M. Barr

~ CassidySalem ~ 2 Comments

Time for a change of pace. Instead of my usual fare (mysteries), as part of a blog tour organized by Providence Book Promotions, I recently dove into recently released sweet romance – The Queen of Second Chances.

About the Book

Carra’s memoir-writing class teaches seniors to resolve the regrets of their past. But to win over elder attorney Jay, will she follow her own advice? Carraway (Carra) Quinn is a free-spirited English major confronting an unreceptive job market. Desperate for cash, she reluctantly agrees to her realtor stepmother’s marketing scheme: infiltrate a local senior center as a recreational aide, ingratiate herself with the members, and convince them to sell their homes. Jay Prentiss is a straitlaced, overprotective elder attorney whose beloved but mentally fragile Nana attends that center. More creative than mercenary, Carra convinces Jay to finance innovations to the Center’s antiquated programming. Her ingenuity injects new enthusiasm among the seniors, inspiring them to confront and reverse the regrets of their past. An unlikely romance develops. But when Carra’s memoir-writing class prompts Jay’s Nana to skip town in search of a lost love, the two take off on a cross-country, soul-searching chase that will either deepen their relationship or tear them apart forever.

My Review

A fun read. I really liked Carra and could relate to her efforts to find her own way, despite the real pressures she faces to do what she knows would be wrong. Jay would seem to be an odd match for her – older and much more sophisticated – except once you get to know him, you can see how there might be potential. For one thing, they seem to both love puns, which add a light tone to their banter. As befitting any good romance, the attraction is mutual; then there a few misunderstandings and obstacles that threaten to derail their relationship… until the happy ending. Overall, an entertaining, very punny light escape.

FTC disclosure: I received an advance reader copy as a part of this blog tour. This has not affected the content of this review.

Giveaway

Enter a rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win $10 gift card from the author.

About the Author

By day, a mild-mannered salesperson, wife, mother, rescuer of senior shelter dogs, competitive trivia player and author groupie, happily living just north of New York City. By night, an author of sex, suspense and satire.

My background includes stints in travel marketing, travel journalism, meeting planning, public relations and real estate. I was, for a long and happy time, an award-winning magazine writer and editor. Then kids happened. And I needed to actually make money. Now they’re off doing whatever it is they do (of which I have no idea since they won’t friend me on Facebook) and I can spend my spare time weaving tales of debauchery and whatever else tickles my fancy.

The main thing to remember about my work is that I am NOT one of my characters. For example, as a real estate broker, I’ve never played Bondage Bingo in one of my empty listings or offed anyone at my local diet clinic. And I haven’t run away from home in fear that my husband was planning to off me.

But that’s not to say that I haven’t wanted to…

Find the Author Online:

DMBarr.com
Goodreads
BookBub – @DMBarr
Twitter – @AuthorDMBarr
Facebook – @AuthorDMBarr
Instagram – @AuthorDMBarr

Purchase Links: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads

Visit the tour page for an excerpt, author interviews, and more reviews.

Review: PREJUDICE MEETS PRIDE by Rachael Anderson

~ CassidySalem ~ 1 Comment

Even this hard-core mystery lover has to read something else every now and then. I recently downloaded and read Prejudice Meets Pride, the first book in Rachael Anderson’s Meet Your Match series. No, it’s not a new release, but it was definitely a fun read. I just might have to check out more of this author’s books.

About the Book*

After years of pinching pennies and struggling to get through art school, Emma Makie’s hard work finally pays off with the offer of a dream job. But when tragedy strikes, she has no choice but to make a cross-country move to Colorado Springs to take temporary custody of her two nieces. She has no money, no job prospects, and no idea how to be a mother to two little girls, but she isn’t about to let that stop her. Nor is she about to accept the help of Kevin Grantham, her handsome neighbor, who seems to think she’s incapable of doing anything on her own.

Prejudice Meets Pride is the story of a guy who thinks he has it all figured out and a girl who isn’t afraid to show him that he doesn’t. It’s about learning what it means to trust, figuring out how to give and to take, and realizing that not everyone gets to pick the person they fall in love with. Sometimes, love picks them.

* As appears on Amazon.

My Review

An entertaining light read with relatable characters and a healthy dose of humor.  In this sweet romance, the characters start off by making assumptions about one another and letting those assumptions get in each other’s way.  Grant is quick to misjudge Emma, while she is too full of pride to accept his help. It was fun to see how Emma and Grant spar (verbally, of course) as they get to know each other, and gradually let their guard done. In many ways, they are polar opposites, but both of them are kind-hearted. And they both have a playful streak, which leads to a range of amusing antics on their parts. A pleasant diversion that had me smiling as I read.

Review & Giveaway: MEMORIES IN DECEMBER by Gina Ardito

~ CassidySalem ~ 1 Comment

memories in december banner

As part of a virtual blog tour organized by Silver Dagger Book Tours, I recently had the pleasure of reading Memories in December (Calendar Girls Book 4) a recently released romance by Gina Ardito.  It provided a delightful break from my usual diet of mystery fare.

About the Book

MemoriesinDecember 500x750 (1)_400x600Siobhan Bendlow is struggling with her recovery from an eating disorder and the financial downturn of her photography business. The last thing she needs is to become the sole caretaker of her wacky grandmother. Especially since the man of her teenaged dreams, Jimmy Vais, has moved back to town, newly single and available. So has his pesky younger brother, Justin. One Vais is fun, but juggling two is a problem.

Althea Bendlow may be in her seventies now, but she still craves all the things she wanted in youth: joy, comfort, laughter, and happiness for her loved ones. If gaining the latter means performing some matchmaking magic for her only granddaughter, she’s up to the task. As long as her own past doesn’t keep distracting her, in the form of Captain Lou Rugerman, a man who meant the world to her for one night only.

Welcome back to Snug Harbor, where the memories of a lifetime can become the dreams of tomorrow…

You’ll find the book on:  Amazon * Apple * B&N * Kobo * Goodreads

My Review

This  two-in-one romance follows Siobhan and her grandmother as they face real-life issues and ponder their pasts and their futures.  Siobhan may be young however she is not without baggage, and her story provides an informative glimpse into the long-term impact of eating disorders – emotional and physical – even years after recovery.  She struggles to see herself in a positive light, as someone that a hot guy would want to be with.  I enjoyed reading about her and Jimmy and the dynamic between them as they became reacquainted.

In her 70s, Althea, is an upbeat and vital woman, and a lot of fun. Her actions made me laugh more than once.  Upon returning to Snug Harbor, she faces the prospect of falling in love again after her husband’s death.  And her suitor is quite a character himself.

This was a well-written and humorous book and a pleasure to read.
Although part of a series, it can definitely be read as a standalone novel.  This was my first time reading anything by this author.)

FTC Disclosure: I received an advance review copy from the publisher. This has not affected the content of this review. 

Giveaway

Follow the tour HERE for more reviews, excerpts, guest posts, and more – and enter a rafflecopter for your chance to win one of two $15 Amazon gift cards.

About the Author

Gina“I kill houseplants. There. Now you know one of my greatest shames. I’m not boasting. I just figure that if you’re reading this, you’re looking for more than how wonderful life is as a writer. You get enough of that elsewhere. Ditto for political rants, how to lose thirty pounds in a week, and creating gorgeous crafts with nothing more than twine and soup cans. My goal is to connect with you, dear reader, even if you’re not a writer, not a New Yorker, not a mother, not a female. We’re human (unless one of us is a spambot), and what we have in common is flaws. So here are a few more of mine:

I sing all the time. I sing songs most people don’t know–jingles from television, crazy stuff I used to listen to on Dr. Demento, Broadway and movie soundtracks, and I can even bum-bum-bum through instrumental music. I sing in the car. In the shower. While I’m grocery shopping. And I headbop while I sing. When I’m not singing, I talk to myself. Just ignore me and move on. You get used to it after a while.

I don’t eat my vegetables. Seriously. I only started eating salad about ten years ago, but I’d still rather have a cookie.

Given the option, I would live in a mall where I would never have to worry about freezing temperatures or too much sun. I’m extremely fair-skinned and could burn under a 60-watt light bulb.

I can’t sleep without background noise so the television’s on all night. If it’s too dark and too quiet, all I have are my thoughts. And even *I* don’t want to be alone with my thoughts.

Don’t ask me to Zumba, line dance, or march in the parade. I have absolutely no rhythm.

I color outside the lines. Not because I’m a rebel, but because I suck as an artist. My artistic ability is limited to being able to draw Snoopy sleeping on his doghouse. And I don’t even draw that well.

Regrets. I have more than a few.

My favorite activity is sleep, and I’m pretty good at it. I don’t clock a lot of hours, but I can powernap like a Persian cat and rejuvenate within ten minutes.

I consider shopping and dining out excellent therapy for anything wrong in my life.
My feet are always cold. Always. My husband of more than a quarter century claims it’s because I’m an alien sent to Earth to destroy him. (He might be right about that.)

Coming to my house for a visit? Unless you’ve given me plenty of advance notice, be prepared. My floor will not be vacuumed, there will be dishes in my sink, and I only make my bed when I change the sheets once a week (I’m climbing back into it ASAP. Why make it?) Housecleaning is not high on my priority list. Okay, to be totally honest, it’s not on the list at all.

I can resist anything…except ice cream.

Since this is our first date, I figure I’ve revealed enough secrets for now. But if you’ve read this bio and think I might be the author for you, pick up one of my books or stalk my website: www.ginaardito.com.”

Author Links

Review: LOVE FROM A TO Z by Lia London

~ CassidySalem ~ Leave a comment

This past weekend I decided to take a break from mysteries and read a book that didn’t include a single dead body.   Lia’s London’s latest release – Love from A to Z – was the perfect choice. And just in time for Valentine’s Day.

Description

Falling in love is a family affair…

atozFor seven years, Antonio Seneca has had to be a father to his two younger brothers. He might struggle in the kitchen, but he makes sure the boys get their homework done and stay out of trouble. Only now that they’ve discovered girls, he has to decide if a love life would be a welcome distraction or a complete disaster.

Smart and sassy Zaira Vasquez got herself through a nursing degree and landed her first job at a hospital, but being a single, working mom is exhausting, no matter how cute her toddler daughter is. With only two relatives nearby to lend a hand, she needs adult companionship. Could it be that the handsome young man across the street is a remedy for her loneliness?

Growing from neighbors to co-workers to friends, Antonio and Zaira try dating while parenting, and parenting while dating, and find that the two occupations aren’t always compatible. How can they navigate the chaos of the present and the heartaches of the past to form something beautiful for their future?

My Review

This light and easy boy-meets-girl story features two strong main characters, both deeply affected by events from their pasts.  Antonio is not at all what Zaira expects. He’s nothing like the gorgeous player he portrayed on a reality show.  Yeah, he’s still gorgeous, but he’s a nice guy.  A responsible guy who is doing his best to raise his younger brothers on his own. The attraction is immediate – they click; but they both resist.  They both want to find love, however fear repeating past mistakes. You can’t help rooting for them to find their “happily ever after.”

This is a sweet “clean” romance that focuses on family and family values. The story is sprinkled with humorous antics and entertaining dialog and made for a delightful escape. I just may have to go back and read the rest of the series.

Spotlight: THE SONGS THAT BROUGHT ME BACK by Mylissa Demeyere

~ CassidySalem ~ Leave a comment

Today’s post turns the spotlight on The Songs That Brought Me Back,  a new  romance from Mylissa Demeyere. Sounds like a good one.

Description

Cover LargeHave you ever made a mistake? One so monumental you lost everything? I did, and I hate myself for it! All I want to do is close my eyes, and let the darkness consume me. Make it all go away. The end.

Ainsley is drowning in the depth of her despair. One wrong decision left her alone, with only regret as her constant companion. To escape it all, she makes another choice. One she hopes will end everything. Instead, she’s thrown into a whole new world filled with opportunities she doesn’t believe she deserves.

Ethan gives the appearance of breezing through life. But underneath his bright facade, he’s scarred by loss. When fate leads him into Ainsley’s world at the exact moment she needs someone the most, he can’t ignore the chance to right the wrongs of his past.

Ainsley and Ethan will struggle to help each other heal and start anew.

They’ll learn that the secret to conquering their pain lies within their power, if only they can do it together.

Always together.
Sometimes the ending is really the beginning.

TIP: The book is on sale for a limited time at just $ 0.99 on Amazon.

Check out the book trailer:

Read an Excerpt

AINSLEY

Beep… Beep…
Floating…I was floating. My body…weightless. For the first time in almost three years, the constant pain that had been pushing on me, threatening to suffocate me…lifted and was gone.

I felt…free.

Beep… Beep…
Finally, I was done and untied, drifting in this place that no longer held me in its terrible grip.

Beep… Beep…
I hovered near the edge, staring down at that empty shell as the doctor and nurses fought to save me. The scene should have sent more anguish through me. The ripped clothes, the chaos, but all I felt was peace.

The body left behind looked like me, but it wasn’t, not really. It hadn’t been me for so long. I had lost myself in that person ages ago.

Something tugged at me, pulling me down, away from the peacefulness I felt and back toward that cold, empty body. My prison. I grasped out around me but only caught handfuls of air. Nothing to hold on to. The pull got stronger. Dread washed over me as I realized what was happening.

I had to go back.

“Push a dose of ketamine, now!”

The weightlessness was out of reach, leaving me confused and exhausted. A new, heavy sensation pushed down on me.

No! I screamed, but no noise left my mouth. Even as the weight of my body and my illness pressed down on me, I longed for the weightlessness I’d felt, the brief glimpse of freedom. I wanted it back.

“Give me a laryngoscope.”
A sharp pain coursed through me, down my mouth, into my throat.
I tried to raise my hand, trying to yank whatever was there away. But it wouldn’t move. The weight was pushing on my hand as well.

No! I screamed again, but no one heard me. It was pointless.

“I’m in. Tube her.”

Finally, I surrendered to the darkness as it closed in, and everything went completely black.

Excerpt from The Songs That Brought Me Back. Copyright © 2018. All rights reserved.

 

Add to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41837654-the-songs-that-brought-me-back

About the Author

MyllissaAuthor Pic 4Mylissa Demeyere was born in Belgium, and resides in the beautiful city of Ghent. She lives in a somewhat organized home with her four beautiful children and the love of her life. If she isn’t working, she’s writing, running, reading, or enjoying time with her kids, who are growing up way too fast.

The Songs That Brought Me Back is her second novel in The Songs Series, with a third book releasing in the middle of 2019.

Connect with Mylissa online:

Review: WHISKEY AND GUMDROPS by Jean Oram

~ CassidySalem ~ Leave a comment

Light romance tends to provide my go-to break from all the mysteries and thrillers I read. Whiskey and Gumdrops by Jean Oram is a fun read that provided an enjoyable diversion from my usual fare. It is the first book in the author’s five-book Blueberry Springs Series.

Description

Whiskey and Gumdrops: A Blueberry Springs Sweet Romance by [Oram, Jean]One woman. One case of self-denial. One hunky best friend who wants a lot more.

Watching the man she thought she’d marry tie the knot to someone else spurs small-town waitress, Mandy Mattson, to finally pursue her dreams of opening her own restaurant.

But she can’t do it alone. . .

Mandy’s going to need the help of her sexy, long-time best friend, Frankie Smith. He has everything she needs–and more. She fell for him years ago, but has never allowed their friendship to evolve into something more. After all, he’s “Frankie fall-off-the-tower Smith,” and she has no intention of giving her heart to a dare devil like him. But what happens when Frankie asks Mandy to take the biggest dare of all?

My Review

This romance centers around a well-known dilemma – whether you should risk losing your best friend by trying to become more than just friends. Mandy is likeable and can’t imagine what she would do without her best friend and so she closes herself off to the possibility of their ever becoming something more. Frankie is wonderful, always at her side, providing support in every possible way, while Mandy does her utmost to push him away. Sometimes you just want to shake some sense into her. Their antics are entertaining as they circle the elephant in the room – their strong, mutual attraction – until (as in every good romance) they find their happily ever-after. An enjoyable sweet romance.

You can get your copy on Amazon.