C.J. Butcher's Blog, page 116
March 23, 2017
Review: Falling Hard by Pamela Clare
Falling Hard by Pamela ClareMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
A Gold Star wife alone…
Ellie Meeks promised her pilot husband that if he was killed in combat, she would live her life to the fullest. Three years later, she is still alone, raising the twins he never met. She has no interest in dating or meeting men—until one snowy night when a stranger helps her get her sick kids safely home. That stranger turns out to be a former Army Ranger and a member of the elite Rocky Mountain Search & Rescue Team. He’s also tall, rugged… and irresistibly sexy.
All it takes is one kiss…
Jesse Moretti came to Colorado to get Iraq out of his head, using the adrenaline of extreme sports and high-risk mountain rescues to keep his mind off the past. But getting involved with Ellie might be the riskiest thing he’s ever done. It’s not just their explosive chemistry. There’s something about Ellie that gets inside him, opening him to feelings he’s tried hard to ignore.
When passion ignites…
Ellie feels alive in Jesse’s arms and happier than she ever thought she’d feel again. But their relationship comes at a price for him, and soon Ellie sees that she must help Jesse fight the demons of his past to protect the love of a lifetime—and save the heart of a hero.
I never really look at book covers when picking a book because you can have the best book cover and have the worst book ever but....OMG this book just gave me all the feels. I am a sucker for veteran heroes. I love a great storyline that has a hero who was in Iraq. When he comes home and has to fight some inner turmoil (I secretly pick those novels for pure enjoyment purposes!), I looked at the cover of this book and probably flipped past it six or seven times because the dude on the cover is HOT!! I don't know who he is, but I could drool over him all day...with a bucket and some sponges! He's what I picture Jesse to be and did I mention - He's hot? Cause he is. Ellie and Jesse have some electric heat and not the kind in an electric blanket y'all! It's the kind that sets your skin to blazing and makes you realize that you want a Jesse. As a matter of fact, I'm writing this a couple of weeks after I read it and I'm thinking of reading it again...cause I want to and not because I have to.
A couple of thoughts about this book: It's why I love Pamela Clare so darn much in the first place. That girl can write!! She makes her characters loveable, and you can relate to them. Living in a military town, I can see so many of our men and women in uniform going through what these two went through in the book. They're a lot of widowed combat veterans out there that lost their spouses while they were pregnant or had children and haven't moved forward with their lives...they're still stuck where they were when the Military officials came and notified them that their spouse was killed in action. Every day I see veterans walk in and out of our office who suffer from PTSD, it's a real diagnosis, with real suffering. Sometimes, the men and women who suffer from it, do so in silence because they don't feel that they have anyone to talk to but that's why it's so great that authors are writing about it. It's a very debilitating disease and disorder and if not helped, can make the veteran who suffers from it feel even more isolated from society. The way that Pamela Clare portrays both the hero and heroine in the book just made me, as someone who works in the mental health field...proud of the way she portrayed both of them. She didn't make them weak characters, and she didn't make them so proud that they looked like they didn't have faults. She showed that they were "real" characters. If you can get so lost in a book that you "feel" the characters are real, then as an author you've done a great job. Excellent job. I'll not spoil the book because you have to pick this one up for yourself. If you or someone you know have PTSD, you owe it to them and to yourself to read this book!!
I was given a copy of this ARC from the publisher on NetGalley for an honest review. All of the above comments are my express opinions and no one else's.
View all my reviews
Review: Delayed Call by Toni Aleo
Delayed Call by Toni AleoMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Vaughn Johansson is the Nashville Assassins' star player. He's brash, cocky, and talented. And he isn't afraid to let anyone know it. He lives his life on his own terms, never forming romantic attachments, and only allowing his very closest to see his true, caring self.
Brie Soledad has the weight of the world on her shoulders. As the staff reporter for the Assassins, she balances her high-profile job and its heavy travel schedule with being the sole provider for her adult brother with Down syndrome. Sure, she'd like to find love. But who has time for that when there are bills to pay?
Brie has been the match to Vaughn's gasoline since the day she first held out her microphone to him. They strike sparks off each other, keeping their friends, the team, and the Assassins fans in stitches. Brie’s refusal to fawn over Vaughn sets his teeth on edge and his blood boiling. Especially in that body part...
Brie's been let down by love before, but she knows she deserves nothing less than real, forever love. Vaughn's past has left deep, hidden scars, and there are some secrets he cannot bear to reveal. As much as Brie wants him, Vaughn may be too big a risk for her wary heart to take. But he is at his best under pressure. When the delayed call is in effect and he has no choice but to score, Vaughn always delivers.
I absolutely love this series! I'm an avid hockey fan, and I've read all of the books in this series so when I say that they keep getting better and better - that's a compliment to the author. I love when a story doesn't just throw hockey in there as an afterthought. So many books nowadays do that as a trope, and I hate that because hockey is an excellent sport. It's not talked about as much as football and basketball, but it's just as hard to play and just as fun to watch. When you write about it - you need to know what you're talking about because real fans will pick up on something as inconsequential as what icing is or slicing. What I love about Toni Aleo is that she comes from a hockey background and knows how to write it. You can tell she's gone to games and she's studied the in's and out's of the sport. Reading about Vaughn and Brie, I could just imagine every scene in my head as it was happening and at no point did I feel like putting this book down to pick up another one. If a book can keep my attention for hours, then it's a fabulous book. The things that came out of Vaughn's mouth, I could see a hockey player saying because I've been around them and heard them talk. It's something that you're left going "Did he really just say that?"
Every book I read of Toni's, I'm left with this feeling of "how can she get better than this?" It's a difficult question because her books are that good and that spot on. I loved the way that she worked in how do you deal with having a sibling that has Down Syndrome? It's a touching and thought-provoking scenario that not many authors want to tackle. They would rather throw a lot of sex into a novel and call it a plot. Toni doesn't do that...she has a slow build up and a lot of plot which I found refreshing. Buy this book and settle in for a great read. Each book is a stand-alone but I would recommend the whole series just because they're all good books. I would say this is probably my favorite of hers so far in the series.
I was given a copy of this ARC from the publisher on NetGalley for an honest review. All of the above comments are my express opinions and no one else's.
View all my reviews
March 20, 2017
This is me in a Nutshell
Living with Social Anxiety Disorder
I usually don’t Blog about serious things. They’re usually funny things, things that are facing everyone. This one is very near and dear to my heart because I suffer from it. Most people who see me or know me don’t know that I suffer from it or don’t know that I have to take a pill every time I’m out in public. I have Social Anxiety Disorder and General Anxiety Disorder. I’m an extreme introvert. Some people think that it can’t be possible because of the way I project myself and the fact that I work in Mental Health. The fact is – I’m very much afraid of being around crowds of people. I always have been. It absolutely terrifies me to go out of my comfort zone, walk up to complete strangers and talk to them. I went to a book conference a couple of weeks ago and survived on Xanax and prayer. I don’t take medication all the time, only in extreme times of fight or flight as I call it. I usually can control my panic attacks by breathing exercises or by the avoidance of situations. That would be wonderful if I could just stay home all the time but I run a successful Psychology practice and it’s hard to be scared of people when you’re around them all day!! I’ve learned to really fake it til you make it. A doctor I used to work with gave me that piece of advice that I’ve never forgotten. He said to me: “Janeen, sometimes you just fake it till you make it and it works out.”
“Janeen, sometimes you just fake it till you make it and it works out.”
The hardest thing I’ve found is that the older I get, the harder it is for me to open up to people. I’m more an introvert now than when I was in my twenties. I don’t know why because my mom is the life of the party, my dad isn’t but he’s not exactly an introvert. I found myself popping a Xanax before the conference and then I could walk down there to be relaxed enough to be around everyone. It’s a real disorder. Social anxiety is the fear of interaction with other people that brings on self-consciousness, feelings of being negatively judged and evaluated, and, as a result, leads to avoidance. It leads to feelings of inadequacy, inferiority, embarrassment, humiliation, and depression. People usually become irrationally anxious in social situations, but seem better when they are alone. Social Anxiety Disorder is a much more common problem than past estimates have led everyone to believe. Millions suffer all over the world and sometimes they suffer in silence because they don’t understand what it is they have. It’s devastating and traumatic to have this and nine times out of ten that people don’t know they have it. In the United States alone, it’s the third largest psychological disorder.
“Social Anxiety Disorder is the Third largest Psychological Disorder in the United States”
I know it’s irrational. I know that people aren’t staring at me or talking about me and even if they are, I don’t care because that’s the type of person I am…but when I’m in this mindset – I can’t get out of it. People who really do suffer from it, have to learn to cope or they stop living. We have jobs, some of us have families, are married, have successful businesses, but we all have this in common…We have panic attacks when we’re faced with having to meet people or go into situations we’re not comfortable with. They don’t go away even if we know the people we’re meeting. I can go days and not have any type of anxiety at all but then I can be at the gym, at the store, or at church and I’ll have a full-blown panic attack. To be trapped inside your head, screaming “let me out of here” is torture. I don’t drink because I don’t like the taste but I can understand why some people with this disease become alcoholics. It’s easier to be drunk or to be inebriated in some way than to feel like you’re not comfortable in your own skin. For me, the hard work is my day job. Working with children and adolescents, they pick up on everything and if you aren’t comfortable around them – they know it. All day every day, I put on my smile for 12 hours and I "fake it till I make it" and some days it works better than others. Some days, it's everything for me to just get in the car and go to the gym at the end of the day.
My advice to someone living with Social Anxiety or General Anxiety is don’t give up living because life is worth living. Learn your boundaries and learn what you’re comfortable with. Sometimes pushing yourself past your boundaries is a good thing and finding out that people really are there for you can help put your nerves at ease. Join groups, form a group, and talk to people who you have things in common with. Don’t think that anyone or anything is better just because of an outward glance…we all have our demons that we fight every day. Unfortunately, we don’t wear a sign that says what those are, but we all have them and we all fight them. Just know that you have people out there willing to fight with you!!
If you or someone you love suffer from Social Anxiety Disorder, there is help out there. Don’t suffer in silence. Please contact:
https://www.adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/social-anxiety-disorderhttp://socialphobia.org/social-anxiety-disorder-definition-symptoms-treatment-therapy-medications-insight-prognosis
I usually don’t Blog about serious things. They’re usually funny things, things that are facing everyone. This one is very near and dear to my heart because I suffer from it. Most people who see me or know me don’t know that I suffer from it or don’t know that I have to take a pill every time I’m out in public. I have Social Anxiety Disorder and General Anxiety Disorder. I’m an extreme introvert. Some people think that it can’t be possible because of the way I project myself and the fact that I work in Mental Health. The fact is – I’m very much afraid of being around crowds of people. I always have been. It absolutely terrifies me to go out of my comfort zone, walk up to complete strangers and talk to them. I went to a book conference a couple of weeks ago and survived on Xanax and prayer. I don’t take medication all the time, only in extreme times of fight or flight as I call it. I usually can control my panic attacks by breathing exercises or by the avoidance of situations. That would be wonderful if I could just stay home all the time but I run a successful Psychology practice and it’s hard to be scared of people when you’re around them all day!! I’ve learned to really fake it til you make it. A doctor I used to work with gave me that piece of advice that I’ve never forgotten. He said to me: “Janeen, sometimes you just fake it till you make it and it works out.”
“Janeen, sometimes you just fake it till you make it and it works out.”
The hardest thing I’ve found is that the older I get, the harder it is for me to open up to people. I’m more an introvert now than when I was in my twenties. I don’t know why because my mom is the life of the party, my dad isn’t but he’s not exactly an introvert. I found myself popping a Xanax before the conference and then I could walk down there to be relaxed enough to be around everyone. It’s a real disorder. Social anxiety is the fear of interaction with other people that brings on self-consciousness, feelings of being negatively judged and evaluated, and, as a result, leads to avoidance. It leads to feelings of inadequacy, inferiority, embarrassment, humiliation, and depression. People usually become irrationally anxious in social situations, but seem better when they are alone. Social Anxiety Disorder is a much more common problem than past estimates have led everyone to believe. Millions suffer all over the world and sometimes they suffer in silence because they don’t understand what it is they have. It’s devastating and traumatic to have this and nine times out of ten that people don’t know they have it. In the United States alone, it’s the third largest psychological disorder.
“Social Anxiety Disorder is the Third largest Psychological Disorder in the United States”
I know it’s irrational. I know that people aren’t staring at me or talking about me and even if they are, I don’t care because that’s the type of person I am…but when I’m in this mindset – I can’t get out of it. People who really do suffer from it, have to learn to cope or they stop living. We have jobs, some of us have families, are married, have successful businesses, but we all have this in common…We have panic attacks when we’re faced with having to meet people or go into situations we’re not comfortable with. They don’t go away even if we know the people we’re meeting. I can go days and not have any type of anxiety at all but then I can be at the gym, at the store, or at church and I’ll have a full-blown panic attack. To be trapped inside your head, screaming “let me out of here” is torture. I don’t drink because I don’t like the taste but I can understand why some people with this disease become alcoholics. It’s easier to be drunk or to be inebriated in some way than to feel like you’re not comfortable in your own skin. For me, the hard work is my day job. Working with children and adolescents, they pick up on everything and if you aren’t comfortable around them – they know it. All day every day, I put on my smile for 12 hours and I "fake it till I make it" and some days it works better than others. Some days, it's everything for me to just get in the car and go to the gym at the end of the day.
My advice to someone living with Social Anxiety or General Anxiety is don’t give up living because life is worth living. Learn your boundaries and learn what you’re comfortable with. Sometimes pushing yourself past your boundaries is a good thing and finding out that people really are there for you can help put your nerves at ease. Join groups, form a group, and talk to people who you have things in common with. Don’t think that anyone or anything is better just because of an outward glance…we all have our demons that we fight every day. Unfortunately, we don’t wear a sign that says what those are, but we all have them and we all fight them. Just know that you have people out there willing to fight with you!!
If you or someone you love suffer from Social Anxiety Disorder, there is help out there. Don’t suffer in silence. Please contact:
https://www.adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/social-anxiety-disorderhttp://socialphobia.org/social-anxiety-disorder-definition-symptoms-treatment-therapy-medications-insight-prognosis
Review: The Heartbeat Hypothesis
The Heartbeat Hypothesis by Lindsey FrydmanMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Audra Madison simply wanted to walk in the shoes of Emily Cavanaugh, a free-spirited teenager who died too young. After all, Audra wasn’t supposed to be here.
Thanks to Emily, Audra has a second chance at life. She’s doing all the things that seemed impossible just two years ago: Go to college. Date. Stargaze in the Rocky Mountains. Maybe get a tattoo. You know, live.
Jake Cavanaugh, a photographer with mysterious, brooding gray eyes, agrees to help chronicle her newfound experiences. She makes him laugh, one of the only people who can these days. As they delve into each other’s pasts – and secrets – the closer they become.
But she’s guarded and feels like she can’t trust anyone, including herself.
And he’s struggling with the fact that his beloved sister’s heart beats inside her.
This book was so heart-wrenching for me that I found myself looking back on my life and seeing so many things that I wish I had done differently. It's one of those books that you read and you really think to yourself "How can I be a better person and live my life to the fullest?" I don't want to be an introvert anymore who sits on the sidelines and doesn't interact with people. People see me and they think I'm outgoing but the truth is...I have intense Social Anxiety Disorder and this book for me made me really approach my "illness" head-on because life is short. Time waits for no man. I loved the characters in this book and when a book makes you stop and look at your own life...it's a good book.
Jake is an awesome hero because he's damaged and broken because he lost his sister. Audra has Jake's sister's, heart. This book reminded me of the movie Return to Me with Minnie Driver and OMG, I loved that movie (PICK IT UP!!) Seriously, this book had me crying and while first-person books are really hard for me to read, I'm starting to love them. You will absolutely adore this book from Lindsey! She is on my List of Authors to look out for.
Audra received a heart transplant from a young girl and when she's given the option to know who the donor is, she sends a letter with a request. She would like to complete her "Done it list" on Instagram. She finds out that Jake is on campus with her and chooses to approach him to ask him to complete the list with her. Will he help her? You’ll definitely need some tissues with this book, if not the whole box! In my opinion, she knocked it out of the park with this book.
What you’ll take away from this book is to live every moment like it’s your last because it might be. Live it to the fullest. Love the ones you’re with and tell them that you love them. Don’t let fear be your guide. Make your own list and live it out. I couldn’t recommend this book more!!
I was given a copy of this ARC from the publisher on NetGalley for an honest review. All of the above comments are my express opinions and no one else's.
View all my reviews
March 17, 2017
Review: Changing Lanes by Leaona Luxx
Changing Lanes by Leaona LuxxMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Change. It's change and how well you handle it which defines a person.
Three times in my life, I have been faced with such changes. Once when I was fourteen. Again, at eighteen. And now again at twenty-eight.
Twice, she was there.
Ten years ago, I gave up everything, including her. At the time, it was the right thing to do, for both of our sakes. Walking away from her isn't what I wanted, it's what had to be done.
Now, she's here. People like me don't always get second chances, this happens to be mine. That's if she'll have me. If she'll accept why I left and the fact, she'll always be second.
You see, I have a secret. It could change everything when she learns the truth. She may be the one walking away this time.
We're about to find out.
******************************************
I actually wasn't asked to review this book from anyone...I just picked it up because I wanted to read something that was different from what I'd been reading. I was intrigued by the blurb and after reading the intro that they give you on kindle unlimited, I decided to buy it. I did not know that the same book I was getting ready to read was from the same author I would meet a couple of weeks from then. OMG!! I held myself together but really y'all...I was astounded that I didn't hop over her table and mob her. I wanted to buy ALL her books but I reserved myself to this one because it was the first one and only one I've read so far. It holds a very special place in my heart because it was not only my first book from this author (who by the way is awesome!!) but my first conference. I cried, I laughed, and I even wanted to throw my kindle at the wall a couple of times because of the absolute stupidity of Torrie sometimes...hindsight is always 20/20. I wanted to reach through and shake her and go "GIRL....please just ask Brannon about what happened!!! For the love of God, if you don't stop throwing it up in his face every 5 seconds - He needs to run yo tail over." I was seriously saying that and a bunch of people who know me so well are shaking their heads because....they know me.
Brannon - Dude had the patience and heart of a saint. I think I would have seriously buried her body on my ranch...probably halfway through and called it a day. But, then that would have been the end of the book! I hated Torrie's dad - I kind of kept hoping that he'd get hit by a semi, but that just NEVER happens or a bird would just crap on his head at the closing ceremony at the Hotel opening but nada...no poop!!
As a side note, working in mental health has taught me about women like Ava...Jesus help us for those types of women and y'all know if you're reading this and you've read the book if you're an Ava. I have this mental pic in my head of her and it's just crazzzy eyes lol. Leaona did this book an awesome justice and I'll definitely be reading her other books!! Pick it up and if you don't...then you're crazy!!
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Review: Hometown Cowboy
Hometown Cowboy by Sara RichardsonMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Hometown Cowboy
NEVER FALL IN LOVE WITH A COWBOY
Jessa Mae Love is done with relationships. No matter how tempting he might be, she cannot--will not--fall for a man like Lance Cortez. The outrageously handsome cowboy is practically a living legend in Colorado, as famous for riding bulls as he is for breaking hearts. What would a big-time rodeo star like him see in a small-town veterinarian who wears glasses, rescues animals, and cries when watching rom-coms? Turns out, plenty.
Raising bulls, riding the circuit, and looking after his ailing father--Lance never stands still for long. Yet Jessa catches his attention, and the more she tries to resist him, the more he wants her. When she agrees to move to the ranch to keep an eye on Lance's dad, Jessa tells him they have to keep it professional: no flirting, no sweet talk, and definitely no kissing. But with Jessa now living under his roof, that's easier said than done . . .
I liked Sara Richardson's start to her new series and her side characters. I really think that this was more of a 4.5 star read but I round that bad boy up because the side characters were really good. I think that the books to come are going to be better. The first book is usually when you're fleshing out all the characters and figuring out their personalities and whatnot. The storyline was predictable but all romances are...the guy gets with the girl! Would you really read the book that has the guy meets girl, they date and then break up in the end? No? Didn't think so!! That would be so depressing, I'd need therapy myself and would have to schedule it in on my own calendar. So, for a start - she did really well. Another thing I really like is that she didn't draw out the DRAMA. I'm a drama hater. I admit it. I don't like my drama with a side of angst so this was really right down my alley. Pick this up for a light weekend read. Seriously, you won't be disappointed.
I was given a copy of this ARC from the publisher on NetGalley for an honest review. All of the above comments are my express opinions and no one else's.
View all my reviews
March 13, 2017
Review: Beautiful Mess by Kasey Lane
Beautiful Mess by Kasey LaneMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
When attorney Jami Dillon strides into the conference room to meet her new client, she's stopped in her tracks by an all-too familiar figure. Jackson Paige. He's her tall, tattooed, and sexy as hell hook up from law school-who also broke her heart.
Hell's bells.
Jackson Paige was, in fact, Jax Pain, the drummer of Manix Curse.
That thing in Jami's chest tightened, making it hard to breathe.
Jackson Paige, aka Jax Pain, has worked hard to put that unfor-frickin-gettable fling behind him and the nasty secret that made him leave her. Truth is, life as the playboy drummer of Portland's hottest metal band hasn't helped him to forget the fiery, sexy woman who stole his heart. Lucky for him, Jami was just hired as his band's new attorney. But when he sees the look on her face when she realizes who her new client is, Jax wonders if maybe being this close to her again isn't such a great idea. The explosive chemistry is there, but so are the dark secrets...
Okay, so at first this book was 4 stars for me and then it became 3 stars because I just couldn't stand all the issues Jami had. I like a good book with the heroine overcoming something and it deals with it in a manner that doesn't last the entire length of the book....like the whole book almost. Plus, if you're an attorney - you'd think Jami would have no problem saying the word "NO" but for some reason, she can't tell her parents that. I'll help you out Jami...NO. If it were me and I was in her shoes, I would have booked, like a plane somewhere away from her parents! I read other books at the same time I was reading this one because it couldn't keep my attention. I was like a rabid dog hyped up on adrenaline to get at its victim. It was that through almost the whole book. The beginning was slow but then the rest of the book was basically Jami and her trust issues and problems surrounding that. I felt like this was more school-age and not adult genre. The side characters were all likable but at the same time, you had to wrap your mind around what was going on in the central story.
I was given a copy of this ARC from the publisher on NetGalley for an honest review. All of the above comments are my express opinions and no one else's.
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Review: Wildfire by Anne Stuart
Wildfire by Anne StuartMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Her power-hungry husband takes pleasure in her pain, but she’s done playing the victim.
Three years ago, ex-operative Sophie Jordan made the mistake of falling in love—and marrying—her target. Now she’s paying for it tenfold. Her husband might be one of the sexiest men alive, but he’s also a psychopath. She’s been a virtual prisoner, and the time has come for retribution—and escape.
Undercover agent Malcolm Gunnison has his orders: get intel from Sophie’s arms-dealer husband, then kill him. He plans to get rid of her, too, if she gets in his way, but he’s unprepared when she gets under his skin instead. Whose side is she on? And what is she hiding behind those mesmerizing eyes?
Sophie vowed to never fall for another man again, but this sexy undercover agent is different. With danger mounting, can Malcolm and Sophie trust each other—and their growing passion—enough to get out of this operation alive?
My biggest complaint about this book is all the internal dialogue. That being said...if you're stuck on a remote island by yourself, who are you going to talk too? I'd be having an insane amount of internal dialogue too and I'm doing it right now. What can you say about Malcolm? When I think about him, I see Michael from Nikita. I don't know if Anne Stuart was writing this guy with him in mind but seriously that's who enters my mind and doesn't step out. I imagine "The Commitee" is a lot like Section One and the players are so similar that it was mind-boggling. That's kind of why I rated this differently that I probably should have. Could I have knocked off a star for it being not as intense as the other series - Sure. However, I really saw the parallels I stated above and it took me back and was kind of nostalgic. That's why I really loved it. I loved that Malcolm was a total tool and that he wasn't the nicest person. There was some good heat in this book but nothing OTT and out of the ordinary. I couldn't wrap my mind around how Sophie could even fall for her "husband" because he was a psychotic weirdo to the ninth degree. He's definitely what mama always warned you about. Overall, I think if you love Anne Stuart's work, you're going to read this no matter what other people say and I enjoyed it. Of course, I'm in the minority I'm finding after talking with some blogging friends but they're also 10 years younger than me and not old enough to remember Le Femme Nikita and draw similarities.
I was given a copy of this ARC from the publisher on NetGalley for an honest review. All of the above comments are my express opinions and no one else's.
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Review: Crossing Hearts by Kimberly Kincaid
Crossing Hearts by Kimberly KincaidMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Hunter Cross has no regrets. Having left his football prospects behind the day he graduated high school, he’s happy to carry out his legacy on his family’s farm in the foothills of the Shenandoah. But when a shoulder injury puts him face-to-face with the high school sweetheart who abandoned town—and him—twelve years ago, Hunter’s simple life gets a lot more complicated.
Emerson Montgomery has secrets. Refusing to divulge why she left her job as a hotshot physical therapist for a pro football team, she struggles to readjust to life in the hometown she left behind. The more time she spends with Hunter, the more Emerson finds herself wanting to trust him with the diagnosis of MS that has turned her world upside down.
But revealing secrets comes with a price. Can Hunter and Emerson rekindle their past love? Or will the realities of the present—and the trust that goes with them—burn that bridge for good?
I love the way Kimberly Kincaid writes a book!! She knows about MS and being in the medical field, I know this. It's hard for me to read a book about psychological issues, medical issues and an author doesn't know jack but when an author does her homework or has studied up - you can really tell because it lends meat to the story. Hunter and Emerson are fully dimensional people. They're not one-dimensional and I love that. Real life and real problems make for a good book sometimes. At no point did I feel like this was too heavy or that the issues were too much for the book. It could have toppled in the other direction at any time and for Kimberly to do the book justice is a hard thing. The last book I wrote a review on, the author didn't tackle the subject of illness so well and it tackled right over into unbelievable. I would definitely get this for my mother to read and I'd definitely want to read the second book. I didn't put it down to finish another book and I didn't walk away to gather strength to endure the rest of it. That's a good book! I won't give spoilers because I know people read reviews but the brothers...somethings up there!! Can't wait to see all the upcoming things that she has in store for them all.
I was given a copy of this ARC from the publisher on NetGalley for an honest review. All of the above comments are my express opinions and no one else's.
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Review: One More Kiss by Samantha Chase
One More Kiss by Samantha ChaseMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Matt Reed was living the dream until a bad career move sends him back to his hometown for much-needed privacy. Instead, he finds someone he never expected: the woman whose steamy kiss he remembers like it was yesterday.
Vivienne Forrester finally has her life in order... until Matt moves back to town. She doesn't want to think about the time she threw caution to the wind with him, but running into him everywhere, it's impossible not to...
Some thoughts about Samantha Chase's books - I FREAKING LOVE THEM!!! I don't just think that because I've met her and she's FREAKING AWESOME!! It's because her writing it just so doggone good. Where other people have criticized her for being sweet and sappy - I really love that. I love that all her books are interconnected and weave somewhat with each other.
About this book that I really loved was the brother's best friend/sister trope that everyone says has been done. Yes, it's been done but it's one of my favorites if done right and Samantha did a great job because they didn't have insta-love in this. Which I honestly hate nowadays in books!! It's so overused that I really want to throw my kindle at the wall sometimes. It took this couple a long while to see what was right in front of their noses. Matt was clueless at times and endearing because of it. He came home over something that happened that was life-altering and Viv remembers a kiss they shared but Matt doesn't. What happens when you have two people that are on paper not right for each other? If you want a book that has heart, heat, sweet, and a great hero and heroine - this is that book. Samantha is always a wonderful read and pick for me.
I was given a copy of this ARC from the publisher on NetGalley for an honest review. All of the above comments are my express opinions and no one else's.
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