Always You and Me: when a second chance at love explores what could have been

Always You and Me by Dani Atkins is a story of love, hope and second chances. On the eve of her wedding to Adam, Josh, Lily’s childhood best friend, walks back into her life with an unexpected declaration only to walk away once again. After six years of blissful happiness, Adam falls ill and his final wish is for Lily to find Josh and forgive them both. After a year of grief, Lily feels guilty that she has put off fulfilling Adam’s final wish and sets about tracking Josh down. However, finding him proves to be difficult and she forces herself to show up at his remote Scottish cabin unannounced and uninvited. When a fierce snowstorm forces them together, Lily and Josh must untangle their feelings, the past and why Adam sent her on this path in the first place. The reason behind Adam’s wish leaves Lily questioning where to turn next. Can Lily and Josh choose love and find the forgiveness needed for a happily ever after? 

Always You and Me is a love story which reminded me of Nicholas Sparks’ The Notebook as Lily is caught between loving two men and must choose a path. Unlike The Notebook, Lily has a second chance to explore the road not taken. The story was interesting with flashbacks into Lily and Josh’s history as well as her relationship with Adam. Each character is heavily flawed and yet feels very real and relatable. I enjoyed Lily and Josh’s characters even though at times they acted in ways that were frustrating and had me thinking “You idiot!” Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Always You and Me. I had a chuckle at the book’s warning: “Caution: this book may cause you to reach out to exes thinking your life can be like this.” While I do not have exes, I can see how the story can have that effect on someone wondering and exploring “what could have been.” If you enjoy second chance romances, I highly recommend Always You and Me. 

Always You and Me is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

The First Time I Died: a spooky crime mystery with a supernatural twist

The First Time I Died is the first book in the Garnet McGee series by Jo MacGregor. Garnet McGee comes home to her small Vermont hometown for the first time in ten years. On her first day back, she dies in an accident and is brought back to life by the paramedics. Strange things begin to happen, she hears words when no one is around, seeing images that she could not know and odd sensations. At first pushed aside as possible post-traumatic stress disorder, she tries to focus on her recovery. As the experiences increase, she realizes that when she died, she did not come back alone. And now, she is determined to solve a murder that tore her life apart. As she probes into the past, she discovers a number of suspects and someone who doesn’t want her to discover the truth. When everyone seems to have a secret to hide, can Garnet discover the murderer? 

From the opening chapter to the closing page, The First Time I Died is a fast paced story with an interesting and engaging plot. It is spooky and mysterious. I enjoyed Garnet’s character as a woman who is struggling moving forward after the events of one winter and the reason she left her hometown and hoped to never come back. She is skeptical at first when these strange events begin as she describes herself as logical and rational. However, once she embraced what these events are trying to tell her, the story became a roller coaster that I could not put down! I closed the book with a sense of awe and amazement as the story had twists and turns I was not expecting. I am looking forward to reading the rest of this series. If you enjoy a suspenseful and haunting story with a supernatural twist, I highly recommend The First Time I Died. 

The First Time I Died is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

An Age of Winters: a slow burn mystery with witchcraft rumors, accusations and hidden secrets

An Age of Winters by Gemma Liviero is a story of a time when witchfinders rules and paranoia spreads like wildfire when persecution and betrayal is hiding in the shadows. It is 1625 in the Franconian village of Eisbach, disease, famine and heinous crimes made a merciless winter even more chilling. Katarin Jaspers is the maid servant to the Reverend Zacharias Engel, newly appointed by Rome to discover the truth behind the strange events in the village. Soon a man is declared a witch and burned publicly and all prayed it would end the misfortunes. As peace and sense of normalcy returns to the village with the promise of spring and Katarin finds herself drawn to Zacharias, but when a new midwife comes to the village and becomes a rival for the reverend’s attention, a new fear builds as a new winter sets in and leaves the village on edge once again. As rumors fly, is no one safe from the threat of the pyres? 

An Age of Winters is a slow burn mystery in a day and age when the accusation of witchcraft was a death sentence. Ms. Liviero’s descriptions are so vivid that I could swear I felt the bitter winter wind. I liked Katarin’s character, a simple maid servant with her own secrets. Zacharias was a man of mystery with little eccentric traits that would raise an eyebrow and question his motives as well. Little hints along the way kept me guessing as to who or what was behind the evil that plagued the village. There were definitely questions about who to trust and who was lying and which accusations were real and which ones were fueled by ulterior motives. The ending was a shocker and left me gabbing in surprise. Overall, it was a bit slower than I normally like but it kept me engaged and turning the page. If you enjoy slow burn historical novels, I think you will enjoy An Age of Winters. 

An Age of Winters is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

His Vow to Love: a military hero, a foster care mom and a second chance for love

His Vow to Love is the first book in the Flying Cross Ranch series by Shanae Johnson. Charlie Matthews is hanging up his wings after years of service in the Air Force. He returns to the Flying Cross Ranch to help care for his ailing father. Also, he is ready to sweep his first and only love off her feet. Growing up in the foster care system, Savvy James has always wanted a forever home. Now as a foster mother herself, she is shocked when the government takes her land to protect wild horses. Now she must uproot everyone to the other side of the state. Determined to rekindle their relationship, Charlie offers Savy and the kids a place on his ranch. Mixing Savy’s free-spirited ways and Charlie’s military style discipline leads to a social worker questioning their living situation. Can their renewed relationship stand the test ahead of them? 

I love a good romance with military heroes. I liked Charlie as a military hero coming home for the last time. I liked that he always thought of and cared for Savy and vowed he would return for her. Savy, on the other hand, was a bit more difficult to care for but understanding her past makes it understandable. The children were cute, rebellious and questioned authority as all kids can do. The struggles and challenges of children in foster care added the twists and turns to the drama. His Vow to Love sets up future stories of Charlie’s brothers. Overall, it was a decent story and first book for a series. However, I am unsure if I will be continuing the series as I wasn’t that invested in the characters and their communities. If you love a clean romance with military heroes, I recommend His Vow to Love. 

His Vow to Love is available in paperback and audiobook

Hide Away with You: when her fiancé disappeared, she will stop at nothing to find out what happened

Hide Away with You is the first book in the Kings of Eden Falls series by Judy Corry. When her family was killed, Addie’s brother’s best friend, Evan, took care of her and made sure she was protected. They never expected to fall in love. As they prepared for a future together, Evan goes on a trip and never comes back. Just vanishes without a trace. Addie is left heartbroken and confused but she never gave up hope that Evan would come home safe and sound. One year later, she discovers a clue that leads her on the right path. When she finds Evan, he is not the same man she knew and fell in love with. He is cold, powerful, dangerous and acts as if they are strangers. Is he truly Evan or someone else? By tracking Evan, did Addie put herself in danger? 

I read the second book in the series first and loved it. I quickly added Hide Away with You to my TBR list. Described as a “heart-pounding” romance, I was ready for an emotional story. The story starts off good as Addie is dealing with Evan’s disappearance and struggling to hold on to hope. When she discovers his journal, she learns more about Evan than she knew before. The story takes a turn when she tracks Evan to Italy and the mafia. I am not a fan of mafia stories. I avoid books and movies which feature the mafia. I loved Addie’s character however, I didn’t care for Evan. Overall, it was a decent story but pales when compared to the second book of the series. If I had I read Hide Away with You first, I’m not sure I would have read the second book. 

Hide Away with You is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Brush Creek Cowboy: a second chance romance

Brush Creek Cowboy is the first book in the Brush Creek Cowboy series by Liz Isaacson. Walker Thompson is a former rodeo champion who now trains horses at the Brush Creek Horse Ranch with his ten year old son, Michael. Tess Wagner is a widow who came to Brush Creek with her son, Graham, for a fresh start after the tragic loss of her husband. It has been a quiet life until Walker, out of the blue, asks her to dinner. Neither wants to endure the pain of loss again, but is willing to take a chance. However, when Tess’s breast cancer comes back, Walker backs off. He begins to feel the hole their presence left in his life. He must decide if the risk of loss is worth the love they could share in the meantime? Can they lean on God in order to find a happy ending? 

Brush Creek Cowboy is a clean, Christian romance. I love a second chance at love and the doubts and questions of blending families. I enjoyed Walker and Tess’s introduction and back stories. However, everything about this story was abrupt and had no time for development in their relationship. I was bored. I needed more. The potential for an emotional story was there but I needed more. There was no real depth in their emotions and it was too short. Even if Walker and Tess had known each other for years, their relationship seemed rushed. I did like the faith discussions and the reliance on and leaning to God in times of trouble and joy. Overall, Brush Creek Cowboy was a decent story but I felt no investment. I most likely will not be continuing this series. If you like clean, Christian romance with cowboys, I recommend Brush Creek Cowboy. 

Brush Creek Cowboy is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Dating the Defensive Back: a fake relationship romance

Dating the Defensive Back is the first book in Nash Brothers series by Lisa Suzanne. Grayson Nash has been traded to the Vegas Aces. When he walks into a local Vegas bar, he doesn’t know that his childhood best friend’s little sister was there. Ava Maxwell saw him walk in and when he attempts to pick her up, she realizes that he does not recognize him. She gives him a fake name and they end up having a steamy night together. They exchange numbers and a promise to see each other again. As they begin a flirty text conversation, Ava finds it harder and harder to tell Grayson who she really is. When Grayson does find out, he is determined to keep his distance. That is until her ex comes to town and starts harassing her. Grayson swoops in and pretends to be her new boyfriend. Now they are in the middle of a fake dating relationship for his image. However, it starts to feel very, very real. Can a fake relationship turn into a real forever love? 

I love a good fake relationship romance with a football background. They are usually sweet, fun with football players. However, it wasn’t sweet. It wasn’t fun. It was spicy. The language used was cringey and like no one really uses these terms. Like I’ve only heard them in books and tv shows. For example, I can’t stand the term “V-card” and it is used a lot by Ava! There were other descriptions of certain body parts that were so cringey and just icky. I did not like Ava who was immature and very manipulative. Grayson is just an idiot. They decide to have a fake relationship for images sake and seek the help of a public relations person. These suggestions were eye rolling annoying. It was also way too long. Sixty-three chapters alternating between Ava and Grayson! Each chapter was short; almost too short, before ending and sometimes changing the point of view. Overall, I did not enjoy this story and I will not be continuing the series. I do not recommend Dating the Defensive Back. 

 Dating the Defensive Back is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

A Love Letter to Whiskey: a not so typical love story

A Love Letter to Whiskey by Kandi Steiner is not your typical love story. Jamie Shaw and Brecks “B” Kennedy have been caught in a long string of almosts and they wonder if they will ever have the chance to have their happily ever after. Their connection has been difficult to understand. Sometimes too deep for just friends and yet too complicated for love. From their first meeting in high school, to college and beyond, Jamie and B had a decade of moments, choices and missed opportunities, they kept finding a way back to each other. The road to be together always seems to be blocked by relationships, careers and jobs but something still brings them together. Drawn together like a moth to a flame or an alcoholic to his next drink. Will they ever find a way to be together the way they are seemingly drawn to be? Is love not just finding the right person but finding the right moment as well? 

I have seen this book all over social media and everything I heard was to be ready to cry. Not just cry but ugly cry. So I dove right in and the story started off great. However, by the end of the story, I didn’t cry once. Where was the emotion? I expected to be “emotionally wrecked,” and yet I was bored, annoyed and frustrated. B was immature, never really deals with or confronts the family secret she learns as a teen. Yes, it was a devastating and shocking secret and would require a lot of energy to deal with. She just never tries. Jamie was a decent character and I enjoyed his character. I did enjoy the moments of deep friendship between B and Jamie; but their love story was odd and dragged on a bit too long. Overall, I did not enjoy this story. It was not the emotional story I was expecting. I do not recommend A Love Letter to Whiskey. 

A Love Letter to Whiskey is available in hardcover, paperback, eBook and audiobook

also available in Prime Reading for free for Prime members