Cowboys and Starlight: a sweet city girl meets country boy romance

Cowboys and Starlight by Jacqueline Winters is the first book in the Starlight Cowboys series. Colten Livingston swore he would never fall in love with another city girl. Not after his ex-wife broke his heart. Now that his mother is selling the family home, nothing is keeping him from his dream job at the Glacier National Park. Enter Veronica “Ronnie” Ross. An interior decorator down on her luck, she arrives in town for a much needed vacation to visit her brother in Starlight, Wyoming, when she lands the job renovating the Livingston home. Colten finds her intriguing, beautiful and off limits as she is his best friend’s little sister. He knows he needs to walk away as Ronnie doesn’t plan on staying; however, they are drawn together and discover a reason to stay. 

The Starlight Cowboys series is described as a sweet contemporary small town western romance with happily ever afters. From the opening chapter, the story and the characters drew me in and I could not put it down. I immediately loved the sassiness of Ronnie and the cool demeanor of Colten and I knew the sparks were going to fly. The story was sweet, sassy and heartwarming as both Colten and Ronnie deal with their own heartbreak and issues and discover new dreams. The supporting characters were great and I also enjoyed a hint at future relationships for the rest of the series. Overall, I enjoyed Cowboys and Starlight and look forward to the rest of the series. If you enjoy cowboy romances with happily ever afters, I highly recommend Cowboy and Starlight. 

Cowboys and Starlight is available in paperback and eBook

Flawless: financial troubles, a company take over and romance

Flawless is the first book in the Love, California series by Jan Moran. Verena Valent has been running the family company since her parents died tragically in a car accident. Their skincare company caters to the glamorous clientele in Beverly Hills. Along with taking care of her aging grandmother and younger twin sisters, Verena is in the midst of an international expansion into the Asia market. When the news of the sudden and suspicious death of the company’s banker and long time friend, Verena is faced with a financial situation that could break the company. To top it off, her ex-fiancé is acting as if nothing had changed in their relationship. As she tries to navigate this unsettling territory, Verena meets Lance Martel, the executive chef at the Beverly Hills Hotel, who opens her eyes to new perspectives on love, romance and relationships. Can she keep her family’s company afloat? Will she take another chance on love? 

I enjoy Jan Moran’s stories and I was excited to read Flawless. The story hooks readers in the first chapter as they are introduced to Verena’s glamorous world. However, as the story progressed, the story became bogged down with business and legalese. The romance between Verena and Lance was lackluster as well. Overall, I finished the book confused and underwhelmed. I didn’t care for the business plotline. I didn’t care for Verena’s constant ignoring the warnings from others as well as the ones in her own head, to be shocked when things start to fall apart. While I loved Lance’s character, I didn’t care for Verena’s constant pushing him aside or brushing off his concerns and Lance just steps aside. The story seemed longer than it was and I was grateful when it was over. I still love Jan Moran’s books’ however, I am unsure if I will continue the Love, California series in the future. 

Flawless is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Icebreaker: a sweet, spicy romance with laughs and a few tears

Icebreaker is the first book in the Maple Hills series by Hannah Grace. As a competitive figure skater since she was five years old, Anastasia Allen has worked for a shot at the USA Olympic Team. She is hyperfocused on her goals. No exceptions. Nathan Hawkins is a problem solver. As the captain of the Maple Hills Titans hockey team, he takes the responsibility of keeping the team on the ice seriously. A series of events leads to the hockey team sharing a rink with the skaters and Anastasia’s partner gets injured, Nathan finds himself leaving the hockey gear on the sidelines for figure skates and tights. As the two spend more and more time together, they struggle to keep their relationship professional. Anastasia keeps telling herself that she doesn’t even like hockey players but Nathan is making it harder to believe that. 

I first learned of Icebreaker through social media and a romance story of a figure skater and a hockey player reminded of The Cutting Edge, the 1992 romcom. Told through alternating points of view between Anastasia and Nathan, this enemies to lovers romance gets spicy. However, this story is more than just the sex scenes. It is two people who have every right to hate each other, discover common ground and find themselves falling for each other. Again, there are spicy scenes, some scenes were a little much for me. However, there are very sweet and poignant scenes as well. By the end of the story, I was smiling ear to ear as Anastasia and Nathan have their happily ever after. I look forward to reading more in this series. If you enjoy spicy, sweet enemies to lovers romances, I highly recommend Icebreaker. 

Icebreaker is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Ropes, Riddles and Robberies: one case brings the past front and center

Ropes, Riddles and Robberies is the fifteenth book in the Campers and Criminals Cozy Mysteries series by Tonya Kappes. Solving crimes has become a major activity for Mae and Laundry Club ladies. Their next case will be more challenging. Mae has been thinking about the fire that took her family’s lives and more and more she has been having vivid memories about that night. She is more and more determined to discover what happened that night. With the help of her friends, Mae heads to her hometown to prove the fire wasn’t an accident. As their investigation heats up on this cold case, someone wants to make sure Mae and her friends never find out the truth. 

Ropes, Riddles and Robberies is more than just solving a cold case. It is going home, confronting one’s past and finding peace leaving it behind. The mystery had many twists and turns with the reveal who the killer was came as a complete surprise! I loved how Mae’s friends gathered together and helped her solve this case. It wasn’t just another case to them. Ropes, Riddles and Robberies is a great addition to the Campers and Criminals Cozy Mysteries series. If you have enjoyed this series, you will enjoy Ropes, Riddles and Robberies. If you haven’t started this series, I highly recommend it! The Campers and Criminals Cozy Mystery series is filled with great afternoon reads! 

Ropes, Riddles and Robberies is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Displaced: an urban fantasy with shocking truths, intrigue and betrayal

Displaced is the first book in The Birthright series by Bridget E Baker. It is the start of a saga of shocking truths, deadly intrigue and sisterly betrayal. Being a twin complicates the Evian line of succession, however, Chancery Alamecha is perfectly fine letting her sister, Judica, inherit the throne. Judica is stronger, a merciless fighter, a ruthless politician and has been groomed for the throne since birth. Until one day when she tries on her mother’s staridium ring, something unexpected happens and forces Chancery into a role she never wanted and didn’t prepare for: she may be the prophesied queen to unite the daughters of Eve and now the heir to the Evian throne. Judica is enraged by the turn of events and vows to reclaim her rightful place to the throne. A challenge is issued and Chancery goes off to train. Training to fight her sister to the death for the throne. She knows she must face her sister. If not, it could cause the end of the world. 

Displaced is a young adult urban fantasy which is outside of my usual genres. However, I enjoyed Ms. Baker’s writing and I often enjoy testing the waters of other genres. The world of Displaced is beautifully written and immediately hooks you into this world. However, I found myself struggling to keep reading. I struggled with the complex character relationships and keeping track of who was who. There was a lot of world explanation, though needed, that seemed to bog down the story a bit. I’m not sure if because the genre is not one of my usual picks, I had mixed feelings as I read but I closed the books grateful it had ended. I have books two and three in this series but I haven’t decided if I want to continue and I may pick up the series in the future. For now, the series is not for me. However, if you enjoy young adult urban fantasy, I think Displaced is right up your alley. I recommend checking out Displaced. 

Displaced is available in hardcover, paperback, eBook and audiobook

Winter's Kiss: a second chance romance

Winter’s Kiss is the first book in the Starling Bay series by Sienna Carr. Merry Nichols hates Christmas as the festive season holds devastating memories for her. Especially the fast approaching season as it marks the fifth anniversary of her husband’s tragic death. When she falls in from stress, and at her mother’s insistence, Merry leaves her home in Boston with her surly 12 year old daughter, Chloe, and heads to Starling Bay, a small coastal town, for some R&R. After she arrives in town, an unfortunate accident brings her face to face with Dylan Fraser, a local artist who runs a gift shop. Neither Dylan or Merry are looking for love but something draws them together. Maybe the magic of Christmas can heal both their hearts and allow them a second chance at love. 

Winter's Kiss is advertised as a sweet romance with a happily ever after. Understandable that Merry would avoid Christmas as it is forever connected to her husband’s death. Also understandable that in her own grief, she is unable to deal with her daughter’s grief as well. However, Merry was unlikable as she refuses to look deeper into her daughter’s attitude as more than just being a teenager. Dylan was likable as a former actor who wished for a simpler life as an artist. Their romance was a slow burn as they fought their attraction but I kept reading expecting the happily ever after. However, it didn't materialize. It is hinted that Merry and Dylan were heading to a HEA. Very disappointing. Overall, I did not enjoy Winter’s Kiss and I will not be continuing the series. 

Winter’s Kiss is available in paperback and eBook

The Book of Fire: human resilience and healing in the face of tragedy

The Book of Fire by Christy Lefteri is a story of tragedy and the resilience of the human spirit. In present day Greece, deep in an ancient forest, Irini lives with her husband, Tasso and their daughter, Chara. One fateful day, a fire rages out of control, changing their lives forever. In the aftermath, as the village tries to rebuild and injuries begin to slowly heal, Irini stumbles across the man who started the fire. He is dying but whether it was by his own hand or someone else’s is unclear. In her anger, Irini makes a decision that will haunt her. As the local police investigate the man’s death, Tasso mourns for his father who has been missing since the fire and Irini struggles with her decision and the meaning for their future. Can they rebuild their lives? Can they find forgiveness within themselves to move forward? 

Ms. Lefteri’s books are always gorgeously written with haunting images and deeply intimate with emotions and struggles. After falling in love with her writing since The Beekeeper of Aleppo (2019), I eagerly looked forward to The Book of Fire. Inspired by the fires that devastated Greece a few years ago, The Book of Fire is about the search for meaning in the wake of tragedy. It is a look at the human toll in all events, either natural or man made, people must learn to pick up the pieces and rebuild. Irini is deeply relatable as she makes a decision that most of us would probably have made in the heat of anger and the need for retribution and her coming to terms with her decision. Overall, I enjoyed The Book of Fire. If you enjoy deeply moving stories about the human spirit, I recommend The Book of Fire. 

The Book of Fire is available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook