C.J. Butcher's Blog, page 117

Review: Meant to Be by Maggie McGinnis

Meant to Be by Maggie McGinnis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Hailed by Christie Craig as “a witty new voice in contemporary romance,” Maggie McGinnis takes readers back to Montana’s sexiest dude ranch, where anyone can start over, and falling in love is just a beautiful twist of fate.

At twenty-eight, Shelby Quinn’s already a has-been. Scooped off a country stage at sixteen and remolded into glittery pop princess Tara Gibson, she toured the country for a decade, playing to sold-out stadiums while slowly losing her soul. Now her sales are waning, and when her beloved father dies in a fiery plane crash, she finally comes apart at the seams. Alone and brokenhearted, she hides away at Whisper Creek Ranch, never expecting to meet a man who understands her in a way no one else ever has.

Cooper Davis was one of Boston’s top detectives—until a bogus investigation cost him his badge, his family, and almost his life. Now he’s wrangling horses and guests at Whisper Creek Ranch, while keeping one eye firmly on a super-secret VIP holed up in a private cabin—a beautiful, soulful singer who knows what it’s like to lose everything. Cooper and Shelby both have ample reason to guard their hearts. But if they can learn to trust each other, something magical awaits them under the big skies and bright stars.

My favorite books are books about ranchers or just cowboys!! It's something about the visual you get. Yummy!! I sincerely liked this book. I thought that it had just the right amount of heat because I didn't want wham bam thank you, ma'am. Call me crazy but there's too much of that in today's books and not enough plot. I'm always preaching about a good plot and this had it. It had fully developed characters that both had their problems and were working them out. Of course, you're not going to jump into the sack to fix your problems in real life - at least I hope you're not!! This book, to me, had it all and a great epilogue to boot. So if you're looking for a great weekend read with a hot cowboy (who used to have and use handcuffs in his old life) this is the book for you! That's a great visual, don't ya think? Pick this book up as soon as it comes out because you won't be disappointed. Each book in the series can be read as a standalone but I'd read all of the ones before just for the pleasure of them.

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: Rescue Me

Rescue Me by Susan May Warren
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When Deputy Sam Brooks commits to something, nothing can sway him--not just on the job as liaison between the Mercy Falls sheriff's department and PEAK Rescue, but in his private life. He's the one who stuck around to take care of his mother after his father's accidental death. And he's the one--perhaps the only one--who believes Sierra Rose is the perfect girl for him. Safe, practical, and organized, she's nothing like her hippie, impulsive, bleeding heart sister, Willow.

Willow, however, has been in love with Sam Brooks for as long as she can remember. But she wants her sister to have a happy ending. Besides, Willow has other things to focus on--namely, nabbing the job as youth pastor for her small-town church. The best thing for her to do is to purge Sam from her heart.

Neither can predict the events that will bring them together in a fight for their lives in the forbidding wilderness of Glacier National Park. Stranded, injured, and with the winter weather closing in, Sam and Willow will have to work together to save a crew of terrified teenagers. As they fight to survive, they might just discover a new hope for love.

I love Susan May Warren's writing, so I wasn't surprised to like this one. I'm going to jump right into this review and say that I loved Willow and Sam, but I didn't know that this was a continuation of other books! So, I didn't know all of the people. I have read a few of her previous ones. If you've never read any of her books...a word of caution - you need to catch up or you'll get lost!! It will make it kinda hard for you to get into the book if you haven't read anything of hers before. I did like the storyline, bears and all...oh my. You'll find out what I mean. I didn't like the Pastor or his wife. Which is really sad that the leader of their church is such a wanker. I bet you don't hear that everyday. I did have a really hard problem with all the characters in this book which if you want to revisit them all that's great but if you're coming into it as a first-timer - gosh you're confused.

I felt really sorry for Quinn and Bella. If you want to read a good book start with the first one of this series.

Anyway, Sam is dating the older sister of the girl he really cares for. The younger sister, Willow is the one with the biggest heart ever and seems she's always messing up somehow or some way. Sam comes in and tries to save the day only he winds up getting hurt in ICU. This book had lots of action, lots of misunderstandings, lots of love between the brothers, sisters and thank God no cussing since I knew she was a Christian writer!! I always love a book that I know is going to be wholesome and that I can recommend to my mother! She loWhen Deputy Sam Brooks commits to something, nothing can sway him--not just on the job as liaison between the Mercy Falls sheriff's department and PEAK Rescue, but in his private life. He's the one who stuck around to take care of his mother after his father's accidental death. And he's the one--perhaps the only one--who believes Sierra Rose is the perfect girl for him. Safe, practical, and organized, she's nothing like her hippie, impulsive, bleeding heart sister, Willow.

Willow, however, has been in love with Sam Brooks for as long as she can remember. But she wants her sister to have a happy ending. Besides, Willow has other things to focus on--namely, nabbing the job as youth pastor for her small-town church. Best thing for her to do is to purge Sam from her heart.

Neither can predict the events that will bring them together in a fight for their lives in the forbidding wilderness of Glacier National Park. Stranded, injured, and with the winter weather closing in, Sam and Willow will have to work together to save a crew of terrified teenagers. As they fight to survive, they might just discover a new hope for love.

I love Susan May Warren's writing, so I wasn't surprised to like this one. I'm going to jump right into this review and say that I loved Willow and Sam, but I didn't know that this was a continuation of other books! So, I didn't know all of the people. I have read a few of her previous ones. If you've never read any of her books...a word of caution - you need to catch up or you'll get lost!! It will make it kinda hard for you to get into the book if you haven't read anything of hers before. I did like the storyline, bears and all...oh my. You'll find out what I mean. I didn't like the Pastor or his wife. Which is really sad that the leader of their church is such a wanker. I bet you don't hear that every day. I did have a really hard problem with all the characters in this book which if you want to revisit them all that's great but if you're coming into it as a first-timer - gosh you're confused.

I felt really sorry for Quinn and Bella. If you want to read a good book start with the first one of this series.

Anyway, Sam is dating the older sister of the girl he really cares for. The younger sister, Willow is the one with the biggest heart ever and seems she's always messing up somehow or some way. Sam comes in and tries to save the day only he winds up getting hurt in ICU. This book had lots of action, lots of misunderstandings, lots of love between the brothers, sisters and thank God no cussing since I knew she was a Christian writer!! I always love a book that I know is going to be wholesome and that I can recommend to my mother! She loves books that have no cussing, no sex and have a good plot so she would give her stamp of approval. Great job on this Susan. Definitely, will read the next one.

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.ves books that have no cussing, no sex and have a good plot so she would give her stamp of approval. Great job on this Susan. Definitely, will read the next one.

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: Off the Ice

Off the Ice by Julie Cross
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

All is fair in love and hockey…

Claire O’Connor is back in Juniper Falls, but that doesn’t mean she wants to be. One semester off, that’s what she promised herself. Just long enough to take care of her father and keep the family business—a hockey bar beside the ice rink—afloat. After that, she’s getting the hell out. Again.

Enter Tate Tanley. What happened between them the night before she left town resurfaces the second they lay eyes on each other. But the guy she remembers has been replaced by a total hottie. When Tate is unexpectedly called in to take over for the hockey team’s star goalie, suddenly he's in the spotlight and on his way to becoming just another egotistical varsity hockey player. And Claire’s sworn off Juniper Falls hockey players for good.

It’s the absolute worst time to fall in love.

For Tate and Claire, hockey isn’t just a game. And they both might not survive a body check to the heart.

I have to hand it to Julie Cross, she knows her hockey. I love hockey and unlike some authors who write a "hockey" book and then forget it's about hockey, she actually wrote about it. I loved that. What really resonated with me was Claire. I know what it's like to have to do without and take care of your parents. Sometimes it's really hard and choices have to be made. Sacrifices have to be made and I liked the way it was handled in the book. There were a lot of side characters in this book that kind of made it murky at times. I almost thought there were too many at times and maybe it needed to be scaled down some. The overall storyline was really well-done. I thought each character was well thought out and had depth. I would recommend it for ages 18+ because of adult themes but otherwise is was an overall quick, good read. I will definitely be picking up the next book in the series and adding it to my collection. Great start to a new 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.



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Review: Hard Play

Hard Play by Sheryl Nantus
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ex-special forces ranger Dylan McCourt is a stone cold killer who cares only about his military brothers and doing what’s right. He’s used to giving orders and has zero patience for bulls***. Most people tremble when they look him in the eye, but not his infuriatingly sexy new rescue mission, Jessie Lyon. She just juts her chin and says she’s not leaving without clearing her father’s name, to hell with his rules. And was that a one finger salute he sees in her eyes or his imagination? Either way, he knows this is one job his training might not have prepared him for.

For fans of Maya Banks’ KGI series, prepare to meet the men of the Delta Force Brotherhood, a sexy new contemporary series where kicking ass and living hard is just how they roll.

Jesse's been working undercover trying to take down a mobster, seconds away from collecting everything she needed before she was captured. She set up a signal with her best friend that if she hasn't "checked in" for a few days, her friend is to try and find her. But she's going to need help and that's where the Brotherhood that bend rules to get things done come in. Dylan rescues Jesse and now he's not sure he want's to walk away from her. He's head of the Delta Force Brotherhood and when Jesse's captor's doctor a video showing her as a murderer, he has to work to clear her name.

I'm a definite fan of Maya Banks' KGI series and this really reminded me of that. If you like romance with action and drama, then this book is for you! They had instant chemistry and I loved the interchange between Jesse and Dylan. There are a lot of Alpha Men introduced in this book so you know that it's an introduction to the books that are to follow. I think for the start of the series, it was an awesome start. I will definitely be reading the other ones. My only issue was all the sex in it...I think we could have had a lot more plot and less sex but that's my personal opinion. I'm just one of those that believe less is actually more. It didn't detract from the storyline, however. Overall, I thought this was a job well-done.

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: Kissing Her Enemy

Kissing Her Enemy by Coleen Kwan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Amber Miller has worked hard to get her small business thriving. Now the Wright family wants to tear down her store to put up a mega center. What's even worse, the guy who broke her heart in high school is the new CEO of Wright Inc. He’s just as infuriating now—and just as tempting—as he was back then, but she isn't giving up without a fight.

Logan Wright is back in Pine Falls for one reason: to turn his dad’s failing company around. His plans should put them on the upswing. But he didn’t count on Amber Miller standing in his way, as fiery and stubborn as she was years ago. And the more time he spends with her, the harder it is to resist falling for her again. The only problem is he's everything she doesn't want.

I always love books where it's about high school sweethearts that never were. One was from the wrong side of the tracks and the other is from the country club. Amber was from the other side of the tracks and Logan was Mr. Country Club. Everything about the both of them revolves around a misunderstanding. If they only had taken the time to talk!!! Now, they are on opposite sides of a mega-store coming in. They can't let that happen. This was a good friends-to-lovers story. It had good pacing and it didn't drag at any spots in the story. I did get a little upset with the way that Amber was treated but that's just me...If you want a cute, quick read this is a good book for you.

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: Trying It All by Christi Barth

Trying It All by Christi BarthMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Order. Attention to detail. Never leaving anything to chance. These are the qualities that make Riley Ness such a terrific federal agent . . . and a pain in the ass to everyone else. The only time Riley lets loose is when he’s hanging out with his closest pals. So when he’s thrown together with gorgeous, flighty Summer Sheridan, Riley’s brain tells him she’s a ticking time bomb—but his body doesn’t want to play by the rules.

Riley has to be the most irritating man Summer has ever met. The brooding hunk thinks he needs to teach her a few lessons about real life, while she’d rather show him how to enjoy it. But her BFF’s all but engaged to Riley’s best friend, and besides, their intense physical chemistry is all too real. Summer just needs Riley to try to meet her halfway and take a chance with the one thing that matters: his heart.

Review: The Lilac Bouquet by Carolyn Brown

Review: The LilacBouquet by Carolyn Brown


Come hell or high water, Emmy Jo Massey will have a wedding. After three generations of Massey women with children out of wedlock, she wants the whole town of Hickory, Texas, to witness the legitimacy of her union with Logan Grady. But dream weddings aren’t cheap. So she accepts a highly lucrative stint as a home health assistant to retired realtor, and town recluse, Seth Thomas—a decision her great-grandmother Tandy is dead-set against.
Seth isn’t happy about it, either. The eighty-two-year-old doesn’t want a “babysitter”—much less a Massey—something he makes clear when Emmy arrives at his house, an empty mansion built for the woman who broke his heart. But as Emmy stays and the two eventually open up to each other, she learns the reason behind a feud between Seth, Tandy, and Logan’s grandfather Jesse Grady that goes back six decades. She also uncovers a secret that forever changes how she sees her past and her future…
I could read anything and everything by Carolyn Brown and be a happy person.  I consume every book she comes out with so it’s no surprise that I have 4 books sitting on my ARC shelves right now and I’m putting off everyone else’s to get to hers.  I absolutely want to be her best friend, I want to vacation with her and go shopping with her and ask her pointer tips for writing and before you think that’s stalkerish….I’m just writing and a little bit is me being over-the-top! The part about me reading everything she writes, however, is NOT!!
Okay, to get down to business about this book – OH MY GOODNESS!!  It was awesome and yes I’m partial because I think she’s an exceptional writer anyway so I wasn’t coming to her work with brand-new eyes.  I’ll just say that I fell in love with Seth in this book from the first page he was in it.  You wrote his name Carolyn and I loved him.  He wasn’t hard to love.  Emmy Jo is a little different.  She’s a young woman who wants a BIG wedding.  Not for the reason that you’d think, though.  It’s to show the whole town that she’s really married and not just saying she’s married.  You see, people say she’s from the wrong side of the track and her sweetheart Logan is the preacher’s son.  The story is about how Emmy Jo is taking care of another man at his mansion after he has surgery…enter Seth.  Seth’s a recluse, who’s grumpy and Emmy Jo compares him to Sam Elliott – the actor.  Now, I don’t know about all of you but I love Sam Elliott and that just hit all my buttons for swoon-worthiness.  I know you’re thinking…Ewww, young girl and old guy who’s like 82 years old.  NO, NO, NO!!  Emmy Jo’s great grandmother knew him and unbeknownst to Emmy, she hates him so much that she threatens to kick Emmy out of the trailer she lives in if she even goes near the man. However, it’s a lot of money for 2 months of work and she could pay for her dream wedding and she’ll be leaving the trailer anyway.  So Emmy packs her bags and heads for Seth’s.
Seth’s sister had arranged for his nurses and Seth not knowing it’s Tandy’s (Emmy GGM) granddaughter has a fit she’s in his house.  He’s a little OCD, just as stubborn as mule and endearing.  Logan, you’ll also fall in love with.  His great granddad, Jesse, went to school with Tandy and Seth.  He’s also a preacher like Logan and doesn’t like Tandy or Emmy Jo because he doesn’t approve of the marriage.  He is so mad about the impending marriage that he takes it to the board of the church to have Logan kicked out of the upstairs apartment of the garage if he doesn’t break up with Emmy Jo.  Logan leaves not only his home but the church that he’s always been in.  He resigns his Sunday school class and says he’ll go to Tandy’s church.  Only Tandy hates Logan as much as Jesse hates Emmy Jo.  ANGST, ANGST, ANGST.  Usually, I hate angst….everyone knows that but I am partial to the way that Carolyn writes it so I can’t be impartial in my review of the angst part.  Oh, I so loved this book!!
It wasn’t just all drama and angst in this book because anyone that’s ever read Carolyn Brown, knows that she’s a hoot and so are her characters.  Emmy Jo is a hilarious and she just made me love her the way she treated Seth.  You find out all the reasons behind everything because Emmy Jo goes searching for answers…and BOY DOES SHE FIND ANSWERS Y’ALL!!  My heart broke over the way Seth’s mom was treated and how he spoke about her.  I found myself crying and snotting all over the place.  My family kept looking at me like I had 4 heads.  I know my nose was the size of a kiwi by the time I got done rubbing it.  I also found myself laughing out loud more times than I could count and wish I could smack Jesse in the same chapter…that is the test of a really good book!  I’d love to meet a man like Seth…or Sam Elliott!  I really think they should turn this book into a movie because it would be a hit.  It kind of reminds me of the old-time movies that I used to watch when I was little.    Seriously – Carolyn Brown if you ever read this review…Make this into a movie!!  But really nothing is ever better than reading the book and taking the time to sit down and consume what the writer is trying to convey to her readers. 
Sit down, get a cup of hot tea, some Kleenex and escape away from your family for a little while.  Escape to the world that Carolyn Brown has created especially for you and enjoy it.  It’s an awesome place to be. 
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.

Review: Wish Me Home by Kay Bratt

In her first work of contemporary women’s fiction, bestselling author Kay Bratt draws on her own life experiences to create a raw, yet inescapably warm, novel about friendship and a wary heart’s unexpected capacity to love.
A hungry, stray dog is the last thing Cara Butter needs. Stranded in Georgia with only her backpack and a few dwindling dollars, she already has too much baggage. Like her twin sister, Hana, who has broken Cara’s heart one too many times. After a lifetime of family troubles, and bouncing from one foster home to another, Cara decides to leave it all behind and strike out alone—on foot.
Cara sets off to Florida to see the home of her literary hero, Ernest Hemingway, accompanied only by Hemi, the stray dog who proves to be the perfect travel companion. But the harrowing trip takes unexpected turns as strangers become friends who make her question everything, and Cara finds that as the journey unfolds, so does her life—in ways she could never imagine.

This books was heart-wrenching in so many ways.  It’s about twins Cara and Hana that have been in the foster system since they were 7 year’s old and their mother died.  Even though this is a heart-breaking story, it’s so worth the time and effort to read it!!

Review: Sweet Victory

Sweet Victory by Gina L. Maxwell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Confident but distrustful Sophie Caldwell needs help if she’s going to save her family business. Her grandma left one rule for Sophie to maintain ownership from her uncle before she’s thirty: get married. But how does she get her uncle off her ass when she's only twenty-seven and hasn’t had a boyfriend in years?

Lean, cut, British-born MMA fighter Xander James has never lost a fight, and he’s not about to start now. On the brink of a comeback to be a UFC champion, his landlord wants to take away his last chance by shutting down his gym. No. Hell no. Fortunately, his landlord’s niece has a problem of her own. Time for a proposal she can’t refuse.

The last book I read by Gina I thought was a little spicy...Well so was this one but it worked!! I loved it. I really liked the characters and I loved the hero. I enjoyed the romance part and it had some funniness to it. I think that if you like MMA then you need to pick this book up because it's HOT!! I would definitely recommend it to my boss who is a die-hard MMA fan!! Well done Gina Maxwell on this one!!

I was given a copy of this ARC from the publisher on Netgalley for a honest review. All of the above comments are my express opinions and no one else's.

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Review: Captured Heart

Captured Heart by Heather McCollum
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fleeing with only her bow, horse, enormous pet wolf, and the cryptic clues hidden in her mother’s medicine journal, healer Meg Boswell gallops north toward freedom, running from the man who falsely accused her mother of witchcraft. Cursed with magical healing abilities, Meg knows that if she’s captured, she will die like her mother—atop a blazing pyre.

Winter winds rip across the Highlands, pressing Chief Caden Macbain forward in his desperate plan to save his clan. He’s not above using an innocent woman to bargain for peace if it keeps his clan from starving. But Meg isn’t who Caden thinks, and when she kills a man to save the clan, he must choose between duty and her life. For although he captured her to force peace, Meg’s strength and courage have captured Caden’s heart.

This was a fast-paced novel full of Scottish lore and a great hero who I want for myself!! As a matter of fact, he needs to get rid of the heroine and try me on for size! I loved the interplay between the two of them. They had great chemistry and the plot was both engaging of the reader and easy enough for an outsider to read if they just picked it up and started reading in the first couple chapters. I guarantee that if you do that, you won't be able to quit. This love story starts at the beginning and it's just so awesome to watch it grow and turn into passion and lust. But like every good thing are lies and deception in these books and you have to uncover what those are! I found I couldn't put it down for that reason. I was up half the night to see what would happen. So, go buy the book and find out what happens and lick the cover while you're at it:)

I was given a copy of this ARC from the publisher on Netgalley for a honest review. All of the above comments are my express opinions and no one else's.

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