REVIEW - A Single Kiss (Sweetest Kisses #1) by Grace Burrowes

The Book

Release Date: 6 January 2015

Goodreads Link

A single kiss can change everything...

In the first novel of the Sweetest Kisses series, Hannah Stark has set her sights on corporate law to assure her a career of paperwork, predictability, and conservative suits. Contracts, finance, and the art of the deal sing to her, while the mess and misery of the courtroom do not. But her daughter needs to eat, so when Hannah is offered a temporary position in a small town firm's domestic relations department, she reluctantly accepts.

Trent Knightley is mightily drawn to his newest associate, though Hannah is as protective of her privacy as she is competent. When their friendship and attraction heat up, Hannah's secrets put her heart and Trent's hopes in double jeopardy.

My Review   2.5 STARS

**My thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca, for providing me with a free copy for an honest review**

This is the first book that I have read by this author and I understand that this is her first contemporary romance from an author that has typically written historical romance.

This was an ok book, but the writing fell a little flat for me.  There is a lot of lawyer talk which seemed to be more of the story than the romance between Family Lawyer Trent Knightley and the new hire Hannah Stark.

Hannah is a single mum who grew up in the foster care system and has moved to a new area where her friend lives and is starting her first full time job as a Lawyer.

Trent works in a firm with his brothers, each working in their specialist area, he is also a single dad.  Trent works in Family Law and with a colleague off for early maternity leave.  Hannah is moved from the area she was going to work in to the family law side, which has bad memories for her.

The way Hannah speaks made me feel like she was cut off from relating from other people, almost as if she were Autistic.  Her responses seemed almost robotic and cold, but that could be by trying to cope and grow up in a system where she felt unwanted.

There are no great surprises in this book, you can practically see everything coming, but the general story is good, even with the baddie making waves for Hannah.

REVIEW - Vampires, Whiskey, and Southern Charm by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff

The Book

Release Date: 28 January 2024

Goodreads Link

From New York Times bestseller Mimi Jean Pamfiloff comes a standalone story filled with Southern vibes, way too many cuss words, and a woman determined to defeat the local vampire. 

HE’S NEVER GIVING UP, AND SHE’S NEVER GIVING IN.

My name is Masie Kicklighter, and I work at my family’s local bar in the heart of Tennessee, slinging whiskey and living a quiet life. 

I can’t say my life was perfect, but when a local vampire started stalking me and sayin’ all sorts of crazy things (I was not his. Nor would I ever be), my first instinct was to run. 

But Leiper’s Fork was my home. This was my town. And no one was gonna run me out. Even if he was hotter than a Sunday BBQ in July. 

So I came up with a plan to run him off. 

The only problem? He was one stubborn man. And crafty, too. 

Then something terrible happened. A whole lot of terrible somethings. And they would change everything for us both.

My Review   5 STARS

**My thanks to the author for providing me with a free copy for an honest review**

There are so many twists and turns in this book that you are never really sure of what is about to happen, and I love that with one of Mimi Jeans books.

We have two strong characters who both do not want to back down, however will there be a winner or a loser and what exactly is Maisie willing to do for those she loves.

Lots of humour, sass and family sticking up for one another along with some hot chemistry between our main characters.  Both have growth as people and Maisie finds out what is most important to her.

I really enjoyed this book and hope that there are more books with Maisie and Stark.

REVIEW - Jingle Bell Harbor (Bell Harbor #3.5) by Tracy Brogan

The Book

Release Date: 20 October 2015

Goodreads Link

As assistant buyer for the world’s second-largest Christmas store, Kelsey Parker feels like a holiday harlot. She’s contractually obligated to promote the yuletide season. All. Year. Long. And it’s taking a toll on her spirit. But when her clueless, self-absorbed boyfriend goes on their long-anticipated romantic vacation—without her!—Kelsey is beyond disappointed to find herself tromping through the Bell Harbor snow instead of lounging on a tropical beach.

Drew Hampton is considered quite a catch among the Bell Harbor bachelorettes, but when his high school dream girl, Kelsey Parker, shows up at his grandfather’s Christmas tree lot complaining about her love life, he decides it’s long past time to get her under the mistletoe himself.

As things heat up between the two, a surprise visitor arrives, making Kelsey an offer she can’t quite believe. Now she must decide what matters most, and she just may discover the key to her happiness.

My Review    3 STARS

This is a short and sweet novella set around Christmas and the only characters in it that we have seen before is Dody and Kelseys grandma Anita Parker, Dodys best friend.

Kelsey has come back to Bell Harbor to help look after her grandmother who is recovering from a hip operation.  She had to cancel her trip to Hawaii, the trip her boyfriend still went on.

However back in Bell Harbor, Kelsey is reacquainted with Drew Hampton and this leads to her reevaluating her life and the relationship that she currently has.

Drew has always wanted Kelsey, with her being back in town and saying her relationship is ending Drew makes his move.  

Kelsey has a supportive sister and a brother in law who gives her an idea that sparks her interest for the first time in ages.

This relationship moves fast and is both sweet and a little bit naughty.

REVIEW - Crazy Little Thing (Bell Harbor #1) by Tracy Brogan

The Book

Release Date: 27 August 2012

Goodreads Link

Sadie Turner can organize just about anything — except her own life. When her cheating spouse topples Sadie’s impeccably tidy world, she packs up her kids for a summer vacation at her aunt’s lake house, hoping to relax, reboot, and formulate a new plan — one that does not include men. 

Any men. 

But eccentric Aunt Dody has other plans; she’s determined to see Sadie have a little fun—with Desmond, the sexy new neighbor. Tall, tanned, muscular—and even great with her kids, Desmond is Sadie’s worst nightmare. He must have a flaw—he’s a man, after all—so Sadie vows to keep her distance. But as summer blazes on, their attraction ignites, and the life Sadie is trying so hard to simplify only gets more complicated. But maybe a little chaos is just what she needs to get her future, and her dreams of love, back in order.

My Review   3 STARS

Ok, so I am not reading these books in order, but you really don't need too in order to enjoy them.

This is another book that showcases the authors humour, however I did find Sadie whining about her divorce a little too much and I would have loved a little more spice.

Sadie is a divorced mother of two and she has moved down to Bell Harbour for the summer with the kids and is going to be living with her aunt Dodie.  She expects it to be just them, only to find that Dodie's sons Japser and Fontaine will be living there for a while too.

Sadie had forgotten what being in Bell Harbour is like and you really warm to Aunt Dodie and her strange ways.  Jasper is sweet and obviously sweet on his girlfriend and Fontaine is the best gay friend.

Desmond is only in Bell Harbour as a locus as the current doctor is on vacation.  When Dodie has an accident as home and sends Sadie almost right next door for the doctor, Sadie meets face to face a man that her and Fontaine has been boggling on the beach running for a while.

Des is constantly in their lives after that and has an obvious interest in the family and gets on well with her children.

I did enjoy this book and it was nice seeing so much of Dodie as I had read about her in the other books.  Certainly worth going back for.