Shadows of You: a small town refugee becomes threatened, the town gump steps in for protection

Shadows of You is the fourth book in the Lost and Found series by Catherine Cowles. Aspen Barlow wanted a fresh start and the small town of Cedar Ridge was the perfect place to hide and stay safe. She just wanted to raise her daughter, Cady, and live their quiet life in the mountain town. The last she wanted or expected was Roan Hartley. Roan is the quiet, surly mountain man who arrives to help her save an injured deer during a sudden snowstorm. He seems to have a permanent scowl on his face and rarely smiles. Until Cady’s childlike wonder easily brings a smile and suddenly the gentle way he speaks to her softens Aspen’s heart. When her past seems to have found them in Cedar Ridge, Roan is determined to keep them safe and there is someone out there who doesn’t want her to be happy. He doesn’t even want her to be alive. 

When I started the first book of this series, I knew Roan’s story would be my favorite. Behind the scowl and gruff exterior, Roan hides a caring heart and a man deeply wounded by a secret he has kept for years. And little Cady was the perfect sunshine to break through his grumpy exterior. Aspen is a woman who has survived horrors and still found the strength to give Cady that life of laughter and joy. I loved to see Roan and Aspen come together in love and heal from the past and give each other the encouragement to share the burden with those who love and support him. And the villain in this story completely surprised me until the reveal when I gasped, “No, it can’t be?!?!?” I loved this story and I can’t wait to start the fifth and final book in this series. I highly, highly recommend Shadows of You and the Lost and Found series. 

Shadows of You is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Things We Never Got Over: a bearded grump and the runaway bride in a spicy romance with drama and suspense

Things We Never Got Over is the first book in the Knockemout trilogy by Lucy Score. Knox Morgan is the bearded grump of Knockemout who prefers to live his life alone with his basset hound, Waylon, and certainly doesn’t tolerate drama. Naomi Witt left her groom at the altar and rushed to the small town in Virginia to rescue her estranged twin. However, little does she know that her twin sister, Tina, is not well liked in Knockemout and her ways haven’t changed. Naomi is left without her car, no money and suddenly in custody of her 11 year old niece she didn’t know she had. Knox doesn’t like complications or women, especially those with romantic notions; however, when he saw what Tina had done to Naomi, he felt compelled to help her out of the jam. When she was settled, he would leave her alone and go back to his solitary peaceful life. At least that’s the plan. 

From the opening chapter to the closing pages, Things We Never Got Over was filled with drama, suspense and the tension of two people who were fighting the obvious attraction with deep emotional scars and healing. There are also great moments of humor and heartfelt bonds of found family and a small town who protects their own, even the newest residents. I loved the gruff exterior of Knox that hides a deeply wounded heart of gold. Naomi is a woman who strives to be perfect in order to counter the heartless activities of her sister. There is a lot of personal growth for Knox and Naomi and I enjoyed seeing their deep emotional moments together. I also loved the supporting characters and the residents of Knockemout. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and I am looking forward to the other two books in the trilogy. I highly recommend Things We Never Got Over. 

Things We Never Got Over is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

The Charade: a fake relationship romance

The Charade is the first book in the Eden Falls Academy series by Judy Corry. Ava Cohen arrives at the Eden Falls Academy for her senior year. As a condition of her attendance, she agrees to math tutoring. Her new tutor is the handsome, standoffish Carter Hastings. Carter insists on a contract with one rule being she can’t fall in love with him. Carter doesn’t date the girls at the school especially after his last relationship ended. Then Ava suggests a fake relationship. He can get revenge on his cheating ex-girlfriend and she can hide the reason why they have to spend so much time together. As they begin to pretend, they soon realize that their first impressions of each other are far from the truth and neither of them can hold their end of the contract. But when a family secret threatens to come to light, they are shocked to consider that their relationship could be forbidden. 

The Charade is a wonderful fake relationship/forbidden romance story. From the very beginning, I was drawn in by Ava and Carter’s alternating points of view as their relationship unfolds. Behind Carter’s standoffish demeanor hides a wounded soul from very humble beginnings and a haunted history. Ava’s warm acceptance brings out a different side of Carter. Their relationship turns passionate quickly and will warm any romantic heart. While I knew the family secret threatening their relationship would be revealed and their relationship would be safe, I enjoyed how it played out in the story and their individual reactions. It is a clean romance with kissing and a couple make out sessions but no sex. I also enjoyed the supporting characters. I look forward to reading their individual romances. Overall, I enjoyed The Charade. There were moments that made me smile. Moments that broke my heart and tender moments that made me sigh. I recommend The Charade. 

The Charade is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook.