Now and Forever by Mary Connealy

Shannon Wilde is the middle sister--and the one who loves animals. She's established her own homestead and is raising sheep for their wool. Things are going fine...until Shannon gets swept over a cliff by Matthew Tucker!

Tucker seizes every opportunity to get away from civilization, but one particular walk in the woods ends with him sprinting away from an angry grizzly and plunging into a raging river, accidentally taking Shannon Wilde with him. Their adventure in the wilderness results in the solitary mountain man finding himself hitched to a young woman with a passel of relatives, a homestead, and a flock of sheep to care for.

As Tucker and Shannon learn to live with each other, strange things begin to happen on Shannon's land. Someone clearly wants to drive her off, but whoever it is apparently didn't count on Tucker. Trying to scare Matthew Tucker just makes him mad--and trying to hurt the woman he's falling in love with sets off something even he never expected.

This is the second book in the Wild At Heart series.  It begins where Tried and True left off.  This is basically a story of how Shannon and Tucker survive the river and rapids after they plunge into the roaring river and falls.  As previously stated, they end up married when they parson finds out they spent nights together unchaperoned while fighting for their lives.  When they do get back to Shannon’s homestead someone is trying to force them off the land.

 In typical Mary Connealy fashion there is humor laced throughout the entire book.  I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a humorous, romance, light mystery western.  It isn’t necessary to read the first book in the series.  But it would be helpful as some of the storyline continues into the second book.

I was given this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any way.

Every Bride Needs a Groom (Brides with Style Book #1) by Janice Thompson

Somewhere in a sea of tulle and taffeta, satin and crepe, Katie Fisher needs to find a key ingredient of the perfect wedding--the groom.

Small-town girl Katie Fisher is busy planning her fairy-tale wedding. Sure, her boyfriend hasn't managed to pop the question just yet, but that doesn't mean she shouldn't enter a contest in Texas Bride magazine to win the dress of her dreams, right? Anyway, she's sure he'll be getting down on one knee any time now. And a one-of-a-kind designer dress doesn't just fall out of the sky right when you need it.

But when Katie's boyfriend takes a job in another town and breaks up with her--on the very same day she wins her dream dress--her world is turned upside down. Dare she go to Dallas to claim her prize? And will the hunky pro basketball player who runs the beyond-swanky bridal shop--yeah, you read that right--discover her humiliating secret if she does?

Katie goes to Dallas and tells the shop manager that her boyfriend jilted her and she has no groom.  Madge, the manager, insists she still go ahead with the dream dress.  What follows is an entertaining story.  Although sometimes the narrative thoughts of Katie is a little drawn out.

Then there is Brady.  He is a professional basketball player who blew out his knee and had surgery.  He is also the store owner’s son and is taking over in his mothers place while she is in Paris.  As you can guess, he soon becomes the love interest for Katie. 

I would recommend this book to anyone.  It is a good clean foul language free romance book. I have enjoyed all of Janice Thompson’s books and this one is no exception.

I was given this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any way.

Chance of Loving You by Terri Blackstock, Candace Calvert, & Susan May Warren

For Love of Money by Terri Blackstock Trying to launch her own design firm while waitressing on the side, Julie Sheffield was drawn to the kind man she waited on at the restaurant last night . . . until he stiffed her on the tip by leaving her half of a sweepstakes ticket.

The Recipe by Candace Calvert Hospital dietary assistant Aimee Curran is determined to win the Vegan Valentine Bake-Off to prove she’s finally found her calling. But while caring for one of her patients—the elderly grandmother of a handsome CSI photographer—Aimee begins to question where she belongs.

Hook, Line & Sinker by Susan May Warren Grad student Abigail Cushman has agreed to enter the annual Deep Haven fishing contest. She’s a quick learner, even if she doesn’t know the difference between a bass and a trout. But nothing could prepare her for competing against the handsome charmer she’s tried to forget since grief tore them apart.

One chance for each woman to change her life . . . but will love be the real prize

My review:  I found these novella’s to be fluffy reads.  I can’t truthfully say I will ever read them again.  It was not a book I couldn’t wait to get back to.  My genre is normally suspense so please take that into consideration when you read my review.  I have read many books by these authors and enjoyed them immensely.  I just couldn’t get into these.  Maybe because everything seemed to happen so fast.  They all seemed to fall in love within a matter of days except for Hook, Line & Sinker.  If you enjoy quick fluffy reads this collection is for you.

I was given this book by the publisher for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any way.

Taken by Dee Henderson

An investigator who knows tragic loss firsthand,
and his new client, missing far too long...

Abducted at the age of sixteen and coerced into assisting the Jacoby crime family, Shannon Bliss has finally found a way out. She desperately wants to resume some semblance of normal life, but she also knows she has some unfinished business to attend to. She might have enough evidence to put her captors behind bars for a very long time.

When Shannon contacts private investigator Matthew Dane, a former cop, to help her navigate her reentry into society, he quickly discovers that gaining her freedom doesn't mean her troubles are over. If the Jacoby family learns she is still alive, they'll stop at nothing to silence her.

If justice is to be done, and if Shannon's life is ever to get on track again, Matthew will need to discover exactly what happened to her--even if it means stirring up a hornet's nest of secrets.

My review:  I really enjoyed reading another Dee Henderson book.  She didn’t let me down.  The story line kept unfolding with new secret that Shannon revealed.  It kept my interest throughout the entire book.  The story had several twists that I did not expect.

There were a few things I would have liked to see.  Taken is told pretty much from Matthew’s view point.  We see very little of Shannon’s view point which I would have liked.  There were a few places that I skimmed over that seemed to be too much detail. 

Overall I would recommend this book.  Anxious for another book by Dee Henderson

I was given this book by the publisher for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any way.

Whenever You Come Around by Robin Lee Hatcher

Charity Anderson turned her back on Kings Meadow years ago, with good reason, and has avoided visits to her hometown whenever possible. But with her house in Boise damaged by floodwaters and a book deadline bearing down, staying in her parents' empty home seems her only option. However, being in Kings Meadow dredges up a painful secret, and old fears threaten to overwhelm her.

Charity's former high school classmate Buck Malone never left town, instead sacrificing his dreams to take care of his family. Now he enjoys an uncomplicated life as a wilderness guide and confirmed bachelor. The last thing on his mind is settling down.

When Charity's dog causes an accident that leaves Buck with a broken ankle and wrist at the start of prime tourist season, Charity has little choice but to render aid while he recuperates.  Soon Buck becomes the inspiration for Charity's hero, both on the page and off. Can he also help her face and overcome her fears so they might find their own happily ever after?

I had a little bit of trouble connecting with Charity.  You were told that something bad had happened to her before she left town.  About three-fourths of the way through it was explained.  But I still didn’t feel connected to Charity for some reason.  I also didn’t understand why she didn’t try to find another publisher since they wanted her to change her style of writing to adult romance.  I understand that was part of the story.  I connected better with Buck.  He made a perfect hero for the story.  He is very independent and hates to rely on anyone.  He has to concede that with a broken arm and leg he has to accept help.  Of course Charity and Buck get together at the end of the book.  As expected.

I would give this book 3 stars because it is a good book.  Just not a great book.

I was given this book by the publisher for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any way.

The Inn at Ocean's Edge by Colleen Coble

A vacation to Sunset Cove was her way of celebrating and thanking her parents. After all, Claire Dellamore's childhood was like a fairytale. But with the help of Luke Elwell, Claire discovers that fairytale was really an elaborate lie . . .
The minute she steps inside the grand Inn at Ocean's Edge, Claire Dellamare knows something terrible happened there. She feels it in her bones. Her ensuing panic attack causes a scene, upsetting her parents. Claire attempts to quiet her nerves with a walk on the beach, to no avail. She's at too great a distance to make out details, but she believes she witnesses a murder on a nearby cliff. When local police find no evidence of foul play, they quickly write off the "nervous" woman's testimony as less than credible.
But Luke Elwell, home on leave from the Coast Guard, has reason to believe Claire. Years ago when his mother went missing, Luke's father suspected she'd been murdered. So when an employee of the grand hotel doesn't show up for work, Luke steps in to help Claire track down the missing woman.
As Claire and Luke put together the pieces of a decades-old mystery, they discover that some family secrets refuse to stay buried. And some passions are worth killing for.
What a great book.  Claire finds out that she was kidnapped and was gone for a year and it all happened at Sunset Cove.  She keeps having flashbacks and remembers bits and pieces of what happened to her.  Luke and Claire discover that her past and his mothers are connected.  There are so many twists and turns with this story that it kept me guessing and surprised at every turn.  I don’t want to spoil anything but I never expected one turn of events.
I would recommend this book to everyone.  I am excited about reading the next book in the series.
I was given this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review