Ponderosa Resort Series by Tawna Fenske-Series Review

STUDMUFFIN SANTA
Ponderosa Resort Romantic Comedies .5
by Tawna Fenske
Genre: adult, contemporary, romance

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo / Google Play

ABOUT THE BOOK:Release Date November 22, 2017

Brandon Brown is the unlikeliest Santa ever to don a red velvet suit. His abs are more cheese grater than bowl full of jelly, and deploying to Syria is the closest he’s come to the North Pole. But family drama sends the jaded Marine home for the holidays, and lands him an unexpected gig as a part-time Santa. Jade King is hustling to get Jingle Bell Reindeer Ranch off the ground, and she’s not thrilled her sister hired a Santa with sex-appeal. The last thing Jade wants is a beefcake circus, and guys like Brandon bring sleigh-loads of trouble. But Studmuffin Santa proves more popular than anyone dreamed, drawing hordes of happy kids, lusty moms, and a mystery foe hell-bent on wrecking it all. The threat has Brandon playing protector for the reindeer and their sexy keeper, which is risky for a guy who’s sworn off happy endings and the whole Christmas mess. But as Jade and Brandon bond over Santa suit malfunctions and risque Christmas cookies, they find they have more in common than a craving for gingerbread. Can they find a way to mesh their wish lists, or will ghosts of Christmas past bring things crashing down like a fat man in a cast iron sleigh?

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REVIEW: STUDMUFFIN SANTA is the first instalment in Tawna Fenske’s contemporary, adult PONDEROSA RESORT ROMANTIC COMEDIES series. This is US Marine Brandon Brown, and reindeer ranch owner Jade King’s story line.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Brandon and Jade) STUDMUFFIN SANTA follows the building relationship and romance between US Marine Brandon Brown, and reindeer ranch owner Jade King. Brandon Brown is on leave from the Marines working part time as the seasonal Santa at the Jingle Bell Reindeer Ranch for sisters Jade and Amber King. Following a series of questionable events, Brandon finds himself protector and guardian for Jade King, a woman who remembers a different Brandon Brown from years before. What ensues is the building friendship and relationship between Brandon and Jade, and the potential fall-out as Jade struggles with what was, and what continues to be.

Jade King was bullied and teased throughout her high school years but Brandon doesn’t remember the woman with whom he will fall in love. Struggling with painful memories, Jade battles between head and heart, between then and now, when the past comes full circle. Thirteen years in the Marines, and Brandon is ready to retire. With his father’s health continuing to fail, Brandon’s memories of Christmas pasts continue to haunt his present.

STUDMUFFIN SANTA is a story of family, friendship, obsession and love. We are introduced to Brandon’s cousins Bree and Sean Bracelyn, as well as Jade’s sister Amber. The premise is sexy and fun but also intriguing and suspenseful; the characters are sassy and strong; the romance is passionate and hot.

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CHEF SUGARLIPS
Ponderosa Resort Romantic Comedies #2
by Tawna Fenske
Genre: adult, contemporary, romance

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo / Google Play

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 18, 2018

Sean Bracelyn can whip up a saffron-laced lobster risotto in his sleep, but relationships? That’s one recipe he hasn’t nailed. Not that he has time, between launching a new restaurant and building a luxury resort with his awkwardly-blended family. But when his dream girl nearly knocks him unconscious with a dead turkey, it’s all Sean can do to keep his eyes on the gazpacho and off Amber King’s perfect curves.

Amber’s done with guys propping her on a pedestal. Transforming her family’s reindeer ranch into a country chic wedding venue is consuming enough, and the last thing she needs is an extra serving of love drama. So what is it about the stupid-sexy chef that gets her desires bubbling like a pot of hot spaghetti?

Keeping their distance is tough enough before Sean and Amber get tossed together by wacky weddings, lingerie mishaps, and a surly three-legged cat. When Sean’s mom shows up to dish out huge helpings of family drama, a big secret threatens to spread faster than a kitchen fire.

Can Sean and Amber find the right blend of sugar and spice, or will love fall flat as a burnt soufflé?

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REVIEW: CHEF SUGARLIPS is the second instalment in Tawna Fenske’s contemporary, adult PONDEROSA RESORT ROMANTIC COMEDIES romance series focusing on the Bracelyn siblings. This is twenty-seven year old chef Sean Bracelyn, and twenty-five year old, marketing specialist and co-owner of Jingle Bell Reindeer Ranch Amber King’s story line. CHEF SUGARLIPS can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.

SOME BACKGROUND: Eighteen months earlier the Bracelyn patriarch died leaving his children a rather hefty inheritance including and a large tract of land they have developed into a high-end resort for the rich and famous. Half-siblings at best, the Bracelyn’s build friendships and relationships with neighbors and one another.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Amber and Sean) CHEF SUGARLIPS follows the building romance between twenty-seven year old chef Sean Bracelyn, and twenty-five year old, marketing specialist Amber King. Sean Bracelyn has lusted after Amber King for close to ten years but Amber had no idea about the who and how of Sean Bracelyn. Desperate for someone to cater a wedding at their family owned Jingle Bell Reindeer Ranch, Amber, along with a crossbow and stuffed turkey make Sean an offer he cannot refuse. What ensues is the building romance between Sean and Amber, and the potential fall-out as Sean struggles with family secrets, secrets that are about to be revealed.

The relationship between Sean and Amber is one of immediate attraction but Amber’s history is men is questionable, and Sean battles between head and heart knowing not everything is as it appears to be. Embarrassed by the possibility of the truth being revealed, Sean is willing to push Amber out of his life, leaving a devastated and heart broken woman in its wake. The $ex scenes are passionate and seductive without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

The secondary and supporting characters include Sean’s mother Melody, and his large assortment of half-siblings: sister Bree, brother and lawyer James, Mark and Jonathon, and cousin Brandon Brown (Studmuffin Santa #1), and Amber’s sister Jade; and an assortment of bridal clients, and friends. Bree Bracelyn’s story is next in Sergeant Sexy pants.

CHEF SUGARLIPS is another story of family, secrets, friendship and love. There are moments of heart break, fun, humor, and laughs-wait for the meatball massacre. The premise is engaging and captivating; the romance is flirty and sexy; the characters are energetic and colorful. The conflict is limited to our hero’s inability to look beyond the past.

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SERGEANT SEXYPANTS
Ponderosa Resort Romantic Comedies #3
by Tawna Fenske
Genre: adult,contemporary, romance

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo / Google Play

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 26, 2018

Bree Bracelyn doesn’t date cops. It’s a personal rule that quavers when Austin Dugan flashes his baby blues—and his badge—at Ponderosa Resort’s grand opening. Bree’s the family fixer, running the resort’s PR and her siblings’ lives with cheerful efficiency. But one thing in Bree’s past can’t ever be fixed, which is why she’s staying the hell away from Officer Hottie.

Austin’s heart tacks up a wanted poster with Bree’s name the instant he lays eyes on her. Okay, the no-cops rule is an obstacle, but not impossible for a guy ambitious enough to be a shoo-in as the next police chief. Besides, he knows Bree’s into him, whether they’re flirting over weird flatware or getting frisky in the front seat of his vintage Volvo.

As Bree and Austin bond over cupcakes and hot springs hookups, Bree knows it’s a matter of time before the skeletons in her closet topple into a messy heap on Austin’s squeaky-clean life. Is there hope for a happy ending, or will their love end up DOA?

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REVIEW: SERGEANT SEXYPANTS is the third instalment in Tawna Fenske’s contemporary, adult PONDEROSA RESORT ROMANTIC COMEDIES romance series focusing on the Bracelyn siblings. This is marketing and PR director Bree Bracelyn, and Sargeant Austin Dugan’s story line. SERGEANT SEXYPANTS can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Bree and Austin) SERGEANT SEXYPANTS follows the building relationship between marketing and PR director Bree Bracelyn, and Sargeant Austin Dugan. The grand opening for the Ponderosa Luxury Resorts welcomed the whose who of Central Oregon including Sheriff John Dugan, and his son Sergeant Austin Dugan but Bree wanted nothing to do with law enforcement including the man who pushed all of her buttons. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Bree and Austin, and the potential fall-out as Bree keeps secret a past that may push Austin out of her life.

The relationship between Bree and Austin is one of immediate attraction; a sweet, fun and sexy romance with moments of emotional break down with memories from the past. All of the previous story line couples play secondary and supporting characters .

SERGEANT SEXYPANTS is heart warming, flirty and engaging story line. The premise is imaginative; the characters are sassy and spirited; the romance is passionate and intimate.

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HOTTIE LUMBERJACK
Ponderosa Resort #4
by Tawna Fenske
Genre: adult, contemporary, romance

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo /

ABOUT THE BOOK; Release Date March 1,2019

When Mark Bracelyn lumbers into Chelsea Singer’s cupcake shop with an axe, she’s poised to hit the panic button. But he fixes her door, praises her buttercream, and sends her skittish heart pounding like a hammer on a hollow log, so he can’t be all that scary. Chelsea’s sure there’s a gooey marshmallow center under Mark’s tough outer shell, though admittedly she’s been wrong before.

Mark may look like a grungy lumberjack, but he’s also the wealthy part-owner of Ponderosa Luxury Ranch Resort. The lone Bracelyn heir to avoid a childhood of fancy boarding schools, he stays hidden behind the scruffy beard and battered truck. But something else separates Mark from his siblings, and keeping his guard up means keeping his secret—and his family.

When someone threatens Chelsea and her daughter, Mark becomes their personal protector. When he’s not watching her back, he’s watching the rest of Chelsea’s body and warning himself not to touch. With danger mounting, they bond over phallic cupcakes and bizarre bunny behavior, while Mark battles his surging attraction. Can a sweet-toothed mountain man and a cautious single mom escape their histories, or will their hearts land on the chopping block?

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REVIEW: HOTTIE LUMBERJACK is the fourth instalment in Tawna Fenske’s contemporary, adult PONDEROSA RESORT ROMANCE COMEDIES Series. This is thirty-year old, resort co-owner and handyman Mark Bracelyn, and single mother / pastry chef Chelsea Singer’s story line. HOTTIE LUMBERJACK can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Mark and Chelsea) HOTTIE LUMBERJACK follows the building relationship between thirty-year old, resort co-owner and handyman Mark Bracelyn, and single mother / pastry chef Chelsea Singer. Chelsea Singer, owner of Dew Drop Cupcakes, has no idea her life is about to change. Meeting Mark Bracelyn gave Chelsea thoughts for a future but threats from an unknown source finds Mark guardian and protector when the threats become personal and more alarming. What ensues is the building romance between Mark and Chelsea, and the potential fall-out as Mark refuses to open up about his past.

Mark Bracelyn is the awkward, odd man out; bearded and large like a lumberjack, Mark doesn’t look like the rest of his siblings, and struggles to find a place to belong. Chelsea Singer has always known her past may come back to haunt her but she never expected to face a threat from the other direction.

The relationship between Mark and Chelsea is one of immediate attraction but Mark bides his time as the threats against the woman with whom he will fall in love increase in intensity and danger. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful and energetic secondary and supporting characters including all of Mark’s siblings and their significant others. We are introduced to Chelsea’s seven-year old daughter Libby, and Mark’s mother Betty. Libby is a breath of fresh air.

HOTTIE LUMBERJACK has a little it of everything: family, fun, love, acceptance, danger and revenge. The premise is entertaining and inviting; the romance is spicy and flirty; the characters are spirited and playful.

Copies supplied for review

Reviews by Sandy