Tag Archives: Contempoary

Stay Here With Me by Carrie Ann Ryan-review tour

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Stay Here With Me (Wilder Brothers 5) by Carrie Ann Ryan-review tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 14, 2023

The world thinks I only write songs about my ex-boyfriends.

They study each lyric to point a finger at which man broke my heart—even if I’ve never met him.

Only the man I refuse to write about is the one who is so tangled in my mind that I know I can never be with him.

I had one night with East Wilder, and I know that’s all there will ever be.

He broke my heart without even trying.

Yet now I can’t seem to write a single verse and I need a place to hide while I figure out who I am. The Wilder Retreat will have to be my refuge as the Wilders prepare for my best friend’s wedding.

And when I’m there, I refuse to fall for East again.

Even if the dark shadows in his eyes draw me in. And the dangers of his past might be the one thing that forces us to finally give in.

•••••

REVIEW:We are back with the Wilders! Stay Here With Me is the fifth installment in the Wilder Brothers series by Carrie Ann Ryan and this book is the story of the Grumpy East and Lark the song bird. For new readers, I do recommend reading the Wilder series in order, you can read SWM as a standalone, but the characters are much more rounded when you do.

East is the grumpy handyman of Wilder Events, it’s what he is known for. He is struggling and quiet, but always there when people need him. Lark on the other hand is free spirited, she loves her music, but she is for her new album, the inspiration just isn’t there. Lark is famous for her music, her songs on her relationships to be more specific, she has always used the same person as a muse for her music, but now things have changed. Now there is East.

When East and Lark spend one heck of a night together, filled with passion, the music she has struggled to find sparks to light. Too bad she promised East that he wouldn’t end up a song for the masses. The song is everything, and one of the best she has ever made, but when it gets released…well lets just say that East is not pleased.

There were parts of this book that I liked more than others, but the plot is good and the characters are always enjoyable to read. East is so broken, his trust is hard to win, Lark is good for him, but with his PTSD everyday is a struggle. This book is intense, the journey of these two us a turbulent adventure, but one readers will surely love.

 

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
One Way Back to Me
Always the One For Me
The Path To You
Coming Home For Us

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sarah

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Carrie Ann Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary, paranormal, and young adult romance. Her works include the Montgomery Ink, Redwood Pack, Fractured Connections, and Elements of Five series, which have sold over 3.0 million books worldwide. She started writing while in graduate school for her advanced degree in chemistry and hasn’t stopped since. Carrie Ann has written over seventy-five novels and novellas with more in the works. When she’s not losing herself in her emotional and action-packed worlds, she’s reading as much as she can while wrangling her clowder of cats who have more followers than she does.

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Well Matched by Jen DeLuca – Review & Giveaway

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Well Matched by Jen DeLuca – Review & Giveaway

 

 

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Description:
Single mother April Parker has lived in Willow Creek for twelve years with a wall around her heart. On the verge of being an empty nester, she’s decided to move on from her quaint little town, and asks her friend Mitch for his help with some home improvement projects to get her house ready to sell.

Mitch Malone is known for being the life of every party, but mostly for the attire he wears to the local Renaissance Faire–a kilt (and not much else) that shows off his muscled form to perfection. While he agrees to help April, he needs a favor too: she’ll pretend to be his girlfriend at an upcoming family dinner, so that he can avoid the lectures about settling down and having a more “serious” career than high school coach and gym teacher. April reluctantly agrees, but when dinner turns into a weekend trip, it becomes hard to tell what’s real and what’s been just for show. But when the weekend ends, so must their fake relationship.

As summer begins, Faire returns to Willow Creek, and April volunteers for the first time. When Mitch’s family shows up unexpectedly, April pretends to be Mitch’s girlfriend again…something that doesn’t feel so fake anymore. Despite their obvious connection, April insists they’ve just been putting on an act. But when there’s the chance for something real, she has to decide whether to change her plans–and open her heart–for the kilt-wearing hunk who might just be the love of her life.

 

 

 

Review:

Well Matched by Jen DeLuca is the 3rd book in her Well Met series. This story continues to revolve around the town of Willow Creek, and the Renaissance Faire that comes every year.  We have anxiously awaited Mitch and April’s story, and am happy to say I loved it.

April, our heroine, who just recovered from a bad accident, knows that her daughter Caitlyn will be leaving at the end of the summer for college.  Even though she is close to her sister, Emily (previous book heroine), and her best friend Stacey (another previous book heroine), April is determined to fix up her house to sell it.  April has over the years, kept herself guarded and closed, only allowing her sister, Simon and Stacey to spend time with. 

Mitch, our hero, is a hot sexy hunk, who is also the towns gym teacher, as well as his participation in the annual Renaissance Faire, wearing only a kilt.  He does have a reputation of being a ladies man, with many flings, as all the girls love him.  April asks Mitch, who she considers simply a friend to help her with the renovations, and he in turn will ask April to pretend to be his fake girlfriend at the family dinner, since they always pick on him.  I loved Mitch, as he was so great with April, and secretly has had a crush on her.  April doesn’t think much about pretending to be his fake girlfriend, since she knows nothing real could happen between them, since he is 10 years younger than her.  Best laid plans. ?

It was fun to watch them both falling for each other, and they made a great couple, and I really liked them together, as they had great chemistry.  What follows is a fun, sweet romance between Mitch and April, and we rooted hard for them to find a way to stay together; especially since April is still planning to sell her home, and move closer to her job, after Caitlyn leaves for college.  Will April leave Mitch, Emily and Stacey?

I loved seeing the main characters from the earlier books, who played major parts in this one, as well as the fun of the faire, and residents of Willow Creek.  Well Matched was a fun, enjoyable, sweet and sexy story, and an amazing couple in Mitch and April.  Jen DeLuca did a wonderful job writing this wonderful romantic story that that had a lot of humor and charm. I suggest you read Well Matched, as it was a fun enjoyable read.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

Jen Deluca’s publisher, Berkley, is offering a paper copy of WELL MATCHED to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe

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7. Giveaway is open to USA only

8. Giveaway runs from October 19th – October 23rd, 2021

 

 

 

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The Love Scam by MaryJanice Davidson – a Review

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The Love Scam by MaryJanice Davidson – a Review

 

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Description:
Rake Tarbell is in trouble. When the fabulously wealthy and carefree bachelor wakes up horribly hungover in Venice, it’s not something that would normally be a problem…except he has no idea how he got there from California. Or who stole his wallet. Or who emptied his bank account of millions. Or who in the world is Lillith, the charming little girl claiming to be his long lost daughter. For the first time in his life, Rake is on his own and throwing Benjamins around aren’t going to solve his problem. Now if only the gorgeous, fun, and free-spirited woman who brought Lillith into his life was willing to help the situation…

Claire Delaney finds Rake’s problems hilarious and is not in the least bit sorry of adding to them by bringing Lillith into the mix. A pretty Midwestern girl with a streak for mischief, Rake is not the kind of man Claire hangs around with. Even if he is drop-dead handsome and charming as all get-out. Even if he needs help and she has all the answers. But if this helps Lillith, she will go out of her way. And with a guy like Rake, she’s willing to bend her rules a bit for some fun. But when adventure-filled days turn to romantic nights as they search for answers, and someone starts following them through the streets of Venice, Claire realizes she’s playing more than just a game. And maybe, just maybe, she isn’t willing to let go of Rake or Lillith just yet.

 

 

Review:

The Love Scam by MaryJanice Davidson is the 2nd book in her Danger series.  I did not know there was a first book in this series, and after having completed this book, it could have made a difference, though I doubt it.  I have read a couple of other series by Davidson and enjoyed her humor, even in serious situations.  However, in The Love Scam, I did have mixed feelings, which I will explain a bit later in this review.

Rake Tarbell, our playboy hero, wakes up with a hangover, in a strange room; not knowing where he was, he walks out and ends up falling into the water.  He is in Venice, Italy, and has no idea how he got there from California; to make matters worse, Rake has no money, and in his hangover state, throws his wallet into the water (never to be seen again), and when he tries to check his account, all the money is gone.

Claire Delaney, our heroine, comes across a dripping wet Rake and offers to help him.   She introduces him to a young girl, who she claims is his daughter.  She tries to explain that her deceased friend told her to bring the girl to her father (Rake?).  She knows more than she is letting on, and manages to take Rake to get his clothes and go to a hotel, where they can try to resolve everything.  What follows is an adventure that took them on a wild goose chase through Venice, with Delaney slowly beginning to fall for someone she never imagined she could, as Rake has a terrible reputation with the ladies.  I did like the young girl, Lilith, who was not only cute, but very smart.  This was a wild crazy story that was funny at times, but also very confusing.  I thought the first half of the book a bit too crazy, not really liking either Rake or Delaney; as I had to put the book down a number of times after losing interest. However, the last ½ of the book, the story line did get better.  

We learn that Delaney has unique skills, and Lilith is hiding some secrets, which does change the game.  Rake, Delaney, Lilith find themselves in danger, as people are looking for them.  We ask ourselves why??

The Love Scam was a plot filled with shenanigans, as well as a bit zany and at times funny.  I did struggle with the scattered story line, but as I said the story does calm down and get better towards the end.   The romance between Rake and Delaney got hotter towards the end, but again I was not vested into this couple.  There were a number of surprises, twists and a little excitement; and the fun begins when the truths are revealed.  I have enjoyed Davidson’s snarky and fun dialogue in the previous books, but I did find this book to be a bit confusing.   If you enjoy a zany comedic story line, you should try The Love Scam.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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