Highland Hero by Cynthia Breeding – a Review

Highland Hero by Cynthia Breeding – a Review

 

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Description:
If Juliana Caldwell said the sky was blue, Rory MacGregor would tell her it was gray with a storm due any minute. No man gets under her skin more than the arrogantly handsome Scot. When she is abducted by a rival clan, Rory is the last person she expects or wants to call her hero.

Rory is the best tracker the MacGregors have, so when his brother’s sister-by-marriage goes missing, he’s ordered to find her. But binding himself to the fiery English redhead with an opinion about everything is not how he saw this rescue going. To save her from the clutches of the villainous Cameron laird’s son, though, he must declare them handfasted.

When their escape goes horribly awry, Juliana and Rory are forced to take the long way home. Surviving blizzard conditions, meddling clanspeople, and a near-fatal ambush on the trail, nothing compares to the unexpected and unlikely passion that ignites between the rugged Highlander and his English warrior princess.

Each book in the Children of the Mist series is STANDALONE:
* Highland Renegade
* Highland HeroReview by Georgianna Simpson

 

 

Review:

Highland Hero is the latest in the Children of the Mist Series by Cynthia Breeding. This is the story of Rory MacGregor and Juliana Caldwell. If you read the previous novel, you will recognize many of the characters in or spoken of in this novel. Rory is the brother of Ian who has just married Juliana’s sister Emily. They are celebrating the wedding and the lifting of the proscription for the MacGregors. Rory and Juliana spar over every conversation. Both are strong willed and opinionated, and while neither will admit it, they love sparing with each other.

Rory is much more civilized and honorable than Juliana is willing to admit. He’s not the kind to treat a lady with less than some respect. Juliana has a dark secret that she hasn’t told anyone. As a young girl and living with Emily and her then husband, a count (although he was an opium and gambling addict, given to violence). She and her younger sister were home alone, when a nobleman who the count owed a gambling debt came to their castle to collect on the debt. She told him her brother-in-law wasn’t home just then and would he like to tell her what the problem was. They went to the library to talk. He locked the door and immediately began to tear her clothes off and rape her. He told her if she kept fighting, he would also take her little sister. To save her sister, she stopped resisting. She was hit, raped and humiliated, but never told anyone. To this day, she cannot stand too close to any man and plans never to marry.

When she goes outside to get some fresh air that night, she was abducted by Neal Cameron, a nasty little bugger from another clan. He intended to take her as a bride and bed her. She fought as much as she could, but they used a rag soaked in something to make her sleep while they took her away. When she was found missing Ian sent Rory out to track her and bring her back.

When Rory finds her, he tells the Cameron’s, they can’t have her for a bride, because she’s already handfasted to him. Juliana goes along with what Rory said just to get free. She has no idea that handfasted means legally married in all ways, at least for a year. Rory understands she doesn’t have a clue what she’s agreed to, but he intends to honor his part. However, he never intends to claim her against her will. Just as they take off, the Cameron’s find out that she lied. Neal and some of his men get saddled up and begin to pursue them. Rory is quite good about hiding and knows which way will get them to freedom.

Basically, that’s the gist. Now let me tell you what I found so entertaining. The conversations between the two main characters are witty and sometimes very funny. They irritate each other to the extreme, but slowly begin to find things that they actually admire about each other.  As they argue and face extreme weather and many other issues to get to safety, they slowly begin to fall in love…but neither will admit it, of course.

The misunderstandings are plentiful, the hidden desire is strong. This premise makes for a wonderfully exciting tale. There is danger, romance, and much more. My recommendation is to grab a glass of your favorite beverage (a cold glass of wine was my choice) and curl up for a unique story and a lot of fun.

Reviewed by Georgianna

Copy provided by Publisher

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The Earl of Morrey by Lauren Smith – a Review

The Earl of Morrey by Lauren Smith – a Review

 

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Description:
Letty Fordyce knows three things about her future husband:

Lord Morrey is a dangerous man.

He frightens her.

She desires him.

Adam Beaumont, the Earl of Morrey, is full of dark secrets. His brooding and mysterious allure draw women to him like moths to a flame. But he fears he can never marry, not when his secret life is full of constant danger.

Letty doesn’t want to be like other women, she wants a life for herself and a happy marriage to a respectable man, not someone with secrets like Lord Morrey.  Yet from the moment she meets the charming rogue and he steals a kiss, she can’t think of anyone else. 

When a night of terror sends her into Adam’s arms, she’ll be forced to choose between the life she thought she wanted and the man she’s falling in love with.

 

Review:

Author Lauren Smith has penned another wickedly exciting historical romance. This one is not only romantic but is also an intriguing tale of espionage and danger.

Adam Beaumont is the Earl of Morrey and a member of the Court of Shadows, the King’s elite spy organization. He is a man whose job was to end any threat to the Crown. An agent of His Majesty who worked to keep the monarchy safe, as well as to protect the kingdom from foreign threats. He did this to atone for not being able to save his friend John Wilhelm, who was also a spy and killed in the service. Adam wanted revenge for his friend’s life.

The story begins with Adam attending a ball, where he was to protect an agent of the King. He watched as Lady Edwards left the ballroom and he began to follow, believing her to be in grave danger. However, the woman he thought was a French agent, was the younger sister of his friend James Fordyce, the Earl of Pembroke. She was merely helping Lady Edwards repair some damage to her hair do. Adam had noticed her for a long time and truly desired her. While they were trying to sort out what was happening, Adam noticed a pistol barrel aimed at them from the doorway. He grabbed both ladies and pulled them to the floor as the pistol fired.

In the aftermath of the firing the assailant got away. Adam told Lady Edwards a crowd would be coming to see what the noise was, and they couldn’t be seen together. Lady Edwards left by the window and into the gardens, leaving Adam alone in a retiring room with Lady Leticia Fordyce. He apologized to Lady Leticia for what he was about to do. He pulled her to him and kissed her, just as many men opened the door and walked in, one of them her brother.

Adam told James what happened, after the other men left. However, he also told James that he thought he would have to marry Leticia to protect her from not only scandal, but that the other spy had seen her and would think she was connected to the spy organization. He was the only one that could protect her…

And the game is afoot! This marvelous page turner begins with a bang and doesn’t stop until the end. I try not to do spoilers, so this is just the general gist of the beginning and now I can tell you what I found so enthralling.

The action, both dangerous and the romantic kind is well done. The conversations are natural and well-written. There’s a bit of humor in the poor girl marrying a man she hardly knows. Yet she’s actually quite brave, under the circumstances. They do fall truly in love during all the ensuing antics. I’d love to be more specific, but oh how I love to let people read the story themselves and discover all the marvelous adventures. And the adventures are plentiful!

Grab a glass of your favorite beverage and settle in for a wonderful read. My kudos to author Lauren Smith on another wonderful book.

Reviewed by Georgianna

Copy supplied for Review

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Her Wicked Marquess by Stacy Reid – a Review

Her Wicked Marquess by Stacy Reid – a Review

 

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Description:
Miss Maryann Fitzwilliam is too witty and bookish for her own good. No gentleman of the ton will marry her, so her parents arrange for her to wed a man old enough to be her father. But Maryann is ready to use those wits to turn herself into a sinful wallflower.

When the scandal sheet reports a sighting of Nicolas St. Ives, the Marquess of Rothbury, climbing out the chamber windows of a house party, Maryann does the unthinkable. She anonymously claims that the bedchamber belonged to none other than Miss Fitzwilliam, tarnishing her own reputation—and chances of the dastardly union her family secured for her. Now she just needs to convince the marquess to keep his silence.

Turns out Nicolas allows for the scandal to perpetuate for his own reasons… But when Maryann’s parents hold fast to their arranged marriage plan, it’ll take a scandal of epic proportions for these two to get out of this together.

Each book in the Sinful Wallflowers series is STANDALONE:
* My Darling Duke
* Her Wicked Marquess

 

Review:

Her Wicked Marquess is a historical romance and what a wonderful romance it is. Stacy Reid is a new author for me, but I will be reading much more of her work. I don’t do spoilers, but I can tell you the basic setup and what I found so wonderful about this novel.

Lady Maryann Elanor Fitzwilliam is a brilliant young woman of society, but a wickedly mean daughter of a duke, Sophie, has given her the distinction of wallflower because she wouldn’t follow her wicked instructions and be mean to others. She has watched as this young woman has tormented many others and is now out for a little revenge. At a ball at her mother’s home, Vanguard Hall, she intends to embarrass the wicked Sophie. For this, she has enlisted the help of her brother Crispin, who would be wearing a golden mask as she wore a mask as well. Several people had shown up wearing masks but took them off when her mother insisted. They hoped the masks would help them not be recognized if anyone saw them. When he showed up at the place she was hiding, he acted a little different, but she thought that it was because he didn’t approve of what she was doing. She was grateful for his help. She asked for the bucket of critters and he disappeared for a moment and returned with a bucket of snakes, frogs… She had Crispin dump the critters into the ballroom through an open window just as Sophie came walking by.

There is much more entertaining detail, but this is just the basic. The delight of any book is in the details and this novel is totally delightful. Author Stacy Reid spins a marvelous tale.

Nicholas Charles St. Ives, Marquess of Rothbury came to the ball to make his way into the private rooms and further his investigations of Viscount Crispin Fitzwilliam. He wanted to search for evidence that he was the black Dahlia, a person who would figure in his own acts of revenge. However, he found the sister of Crispin to be a most fascinating and unusual woman.

That’s just how the beginning chapter opens and there are so many more interesting details for you to discover. Now let me tell you what I found so very inspiring about this marvelous novel.

The pace is quick, it goes from the fun of the little critter attack to much more serious things. The dialog is natural feeling and incredibly witty. The characters are fabulous and completely compelling. The romance that blooms is not just steamy but “smokin”. There are dangers and plot twists that I did not see coming. As I said earlier, I will be reading much more of author Stacy Reid’s work. Please, do yourself a favor and grab a copy of this compelling and thoroughly entertaining story and have yourself one wonderful read!

Reviewed by Georgianna

Copy provided by Publisher

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The Duke’s Dove by Lauren Smith – a Review

The Duke’s Dove by Lauren Smith – a Review

 

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Description:
A duke with a broken heart discovers he has one last chance to win back the woman he loves on Christmas Eve…

Nathan Powell, the Duke of Hastings broke the heart of the only woman he ever loved when he ended their engagement in order to save her family. He demanded one promise of her…that she marry another man and live a happy life. Now he’s desperate to avoid marriage to someone else at all costs. When his younger brother tricks him into attending a Christmas Ball, he discovers his beloved Thea will be there.

Thea Swann has plenty of problems, with six unmarried younger sisters to keep in line, she doesn’t worry that she’ll run into the reclusive duke that stole her heart eight years ago. But when she comes face to face with Nathan, and he begs her for just one dance…she wonders, will he steal one last dance, one last kiss before walking away forever and taking her broken heart with him?

 

 

Review:

The Duke’s Dove by Lauren Smith is a lovely novella for Christmas! What a perfect love story for the Christmas season.

Nathan Powell, Duke of Hastings was in love eight years ago. However, he wasn’t quite the Duke then. His father said no when he told him he wanted to marry Theodosia Swann. His father threatened to ruin Mr. Swann and his family if he wasn’t obeyed. So, Nathan had to break his own heart as well as that of the only love he’d known.

Eight years later, he planned to attend a ball at the home of an old friend. He didn’t do social things much, but it was almost Christmas and he couldn’t turn down the invitation. He’d make Thea promise him years ago that she’d forget him and find love again, living a happy life he couldn’t give her. He assumed she’d kept her promise, and she was too lovely not to, or so he thought.

When the inevitable happened and they met again, it was as if time had stood still. He loved her so much and couldn’t help himself.

Pick up a copy of this lovely read and enjoy yourself immensely. What a wonderful story to cuddle up with for an evening. Author Lauren Smith has done it again, just in time for the holidays.

Reviewed by Georgianna

Copy supplied for review

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Prove It: Murder in the Mix by Hannah R Kurz-Review & Guest Post

Prove It: Murder in the Mix (A Likable Daisy Mystery 1) by Hannah R Kurz-Review & Guest Post

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 3O, 2020

When a tragic mixer mishap results in the closing of a beloved bakery, new mom and upstairs neighbor Stephanie Wu is sure of two things: One, she misses their cappuccinos. And two, it was no accident. But time is running out for the sleep-deprived sleuth. Can she solve the murder and figure out pumping before her maternity leave is up? With a baby at her breast and a killer at her back, life and living above The LikEable Daisy will never be the same again.

•••••••

REVIEW: Prove It: Murder in the Mix is what it’s designed to be. A cozy mystery with just a small bit of danger.

Stephanie and Henry Wu are brand new parents living in an apartment above the Likable Daisy. Great pastries are made daily and the smell is wonderful to wake up to, even with a new baby doing the waking.

They love their apartment and love their neighbors and those working in the Likable Daisy. They like the area so much they waited for a two-bedroom apartment to open so they could live and raise their child here.

Sameed Ishaaq Haddad, owns the bakery and his head baker Charlotte are wonderful people, giving and kind. They are all excited to see the new baby, Madeline. Things are going great, when one morning Charlotte came into the bakery to start the day and found Sameed dead. Everyone is devastated and it’s ruled an accident. But Steph just can’t believe it was an accident. Sameed was always careful and prepared. There are lots of details as to why she feels he was murdered, but you need to read them yourself, it’s part of the fun of this story.

Author Hanna R. Kurz has written a lovely story of new motherhood, with all the funny and frustrating things anyone who has had a child can relate to. Not only are the couple adjusting to their new baby, but they also have the in-law issues so many have. In all this, she still finds time to find clues and get involved trying to get justice for Sameed.

Grab a snack and a favorite beverage and cuddle up for a lovely read with a little excitement on the side!

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Georgianna

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What Makes A Cozy

I’m embarrassed to admit that my perception of cozies was, until recently, rather narrow, but my expectations were rooted in deeper values that I believe a cozy must satisfy. Let’s investigate.

Expectation #1: Single, amateur female sleuth and outsider

Why readers love it: A single lead builds the potential for romance, a dynamic sleuthing duo, and an HEA/HFN ending. Plus, an outsider MC’s trust issues automatically create tension.

Ways to break the mold: Pursue romantic storylines with side characters. Develop pre existing couples. Explore other kinds of relationships. Create resolution in the emotional story arc.

If the lead isn’t an outsider, let new facts, or new people, emerge instead to create tension.

Expectation #2: Small town setting

Why readers love it: People love the community feel, falling for a whole cast of characters in a series. Also, a violent death upsets the idyllic quality that small towns claim and later reclaim.

Ways to break the mold: Create a tight knit group with distinct personalities in any setting. Give characters a common cause or struggle and readers the satisfaction of putting things to right.

Expectation #3: Contemporary history

Why readers love it: Readers understand the rules, technology, and forensic science of their own world and, based on that knowledge, feel suitability up to the task of solving a mystery.

Ways to break the mold: Want to explore a different world or time period? Build it well, immerse readers, and don’t let them get lost. Sci-fi and fantasy aspects blend fabulously into the genre.

Expectation #4: Two words, clean read.

Why readers love it: Whether they please personal preferences and/or support mental health by avoiding graphic descriptions, cozy standards bring comfort and, I believe, deserve respect.

Ways to break the mold: Tread carefully. Warn your audience. Surprising readers with hardboiled scenes in a book marketed as “cozy” is a surefire way to get lambasted in reviews.

To sum, while the cozy genre comes with expectations, they can be satisfied without falling into stereotypes. Explore space cozies, magic cozies, period cozies, brozies, and more. That said, there’s nothing wrong with a well-written, classic cozy. Enjoy.

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Highland Renegade by Cynthia Breeding – a Review

Highland Renegade by Cynthia Breeding – a Review

 

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Description:
Emily, the Dowager Countess of Woodhaven, has received title to lands in the Highlands—MacGregor lands—and after surviving an abusive marriage, she’s determined to make a new start…without a man. She just has to win over the handsome Scottish laird whose family has lived there for centuries. How hard could it be?

When Ian MacGregor heard that the Sassenach countess was actually laying claim to his lands, he figured to scare the aging widow away by showing her the hardships of living in the Highlands. She’d leave before the first snowflake fell. But he never imagined that the widow was young and beautiful and more territorial than a she-wolf. No matter, he’ll prove that a fragile, London woman like her would never survive life without her servants…and if he happens to give her the coldest and most remote rooms, all the better.

Despite his best efforts to freeze her out, things between them heat up. But Highlanders hate the Sassenach, so Ian faces a dire choice—his clan or the irresistible English aristocrat who seems to have taken not only his lands, but also his heart.

 

Review:

Highland Renegade is a historical romance (and a novel in the series Children of the Mist) by author Cynthia Breeding. It’s set in Scotland in the year 1774.

I found this novel to be both professionally written and entertaining. Its characters are distinct in their personalities and very well done. While I don’t do spoilers, I can give you the setup of the beginning and tell you what I found so entertaining.

Emily Caldwell’s father and mother died, leaving her nothing but debts and two sisters. The elderly Lord Woodhaven (Albert) offered for her hand in marriage and would allow her to bring her sisters. He was aged and not a particularly a good man. In fact, he was a drug addict and womanizer as well as a man who hit his wife often. Her husband died and left her only debts, which she had to sell her only house to pay. His cousin who inherited his title and entailed property will not let the ladies live with him and his wife (all three are young and lovely). However, King George had been a friend of her father’s and gave her ownership and title to a property in Scotland that her husband had leased.

In July 1774, Emily (Dowager Lady Woodhaven) is taking her sisters to Scotland to live. It was formerly the property of the MacGregor clan, but due to political issues they were not allowed to own property anymore. Although those who did not take up arms in last issue were allowed to live there. She had been running her husband’s estate and businesses, because he wouldn’t be bothered, and had become quite good at managing and improving property. She’d studied the reports of the Scotland property and had many questions and plans to improve it so they could earn a living there. However, she fully intended to cooperate with those already there.

Ian MacGregor and his brothers and uncles currently lived in Strae Castle, taking care of the clan and managing the property and distillery. Because the late Lord Woodhaven was in his mid-sixties, they assume the lady coming to see the property is aged. They intend to show her they are managing the property well, make her a bit uncomfortable in hopes she’ll quickly return to London and leave them to their business. Ian had filed reports with the late Lord Woodhaven that undervalued the property a bit, while the true profits were used to improve the property and take care of the clan. They were quite surprised to see three beautiful and young women arrive with five wagons of their things.

That is the considerably basic setup. There is much more detail that I will leave you to discover for yourself. Let me give you the reasons I found this story so very entertaining and why I am looking forward to more from this talented author.

I loved the characters. They are very well described, and each has a unique personality. The conversations are realistic, and the various personalities often clash with interesting results. The romance is at first slow to build, but the interest is immediate. I loved that. The plot is well done with lots of twists and intrigue. I found the pace to be perfect, allowing for the characters to grow to know each other and fast enough to make it a page turner. If you haven’t read this series, I urge you to give it a try. My regards to author Cynthia Breeding, thank you for a thrilling and heartfelt novel. I look forward to much more from your talented imagination.

Reviewed by Georgianna

Copy provided by Publisher

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Everything a Lady is Not by Sawyer North – a Review

Everything a Lady is Not by Sawyer North – a Review

 

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Description:
Lucy Locket, the long lost granddaughter of a duchess, has never been a part of Society. One day, she was living a secluded life as the prisoner of a criminal, and the next day she was an heiress in a world she did not even remotely understand. She does not embody the typical qualities of a well-born lady…at all. She can’t curtsy, she doesn’t hide her emotions, she’s too clever by far. But in three months, she must marry a suitor with a royally-bestowed title, or she forfeits a fortune—leaving her and the duchess in dire straits.

All Henry Beaumont wants is to prove himself to Society and step outside of his half-brother’s shadow. So when the duchess asks him for a personal favor involving her newly found granddaughter—with a hefty thank you reward at the end—he leaps at the opportunity.

It seems as if Lucy is trading one prison for another. Henry has now become a permanent fixture as her charming yet iron-fisted taskmaster and tutor in the ways of High Society. Like oil and water, Lucy and Henry spar in an epic battle of wills—and even rapiers. But Lucy’s past and her surprising, undeniable feelings for Henry may doom their undertaking if he declares his love for her…because without a title, he can never be hers.

 

 

 

Review:

 Everything a Lady is Not is a historical romance and part of the Bow Street Beaus series. The prologue begins in 1805 Oxfordshire, England. Then begins again a decade later.

This is the story of Henry Beaumont and Lady Margaret (Lucy) Huntington. It is both intricate and entertaining.

I never do spoilers. I respect the story and readers enough to not give away things you should read for yourself. What I can do is tell you what I like about the novel and how it made me feel.

This is an amazingly well-written story with characters that are well developed, if somewhat conflicted, the circumstances are entertaining and enlightening. It shows the attitudes of the times in all their realistic yet complicated social layers.

The plot reminds me of My Fair Lady, with some very interesting dialog and characters. I found the story fascinating and thoroughly entertaining. It’s fast paced, romantic but not sexual. I highly recommend grabbing a copy for yourself!

Reviewed by Georgianna

Copy provided by Publisher

 

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The Goodbye Guy by Natasha Moore – a Review

The Goodbye Guy by Natasha Moore – a Review

 

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Description:
Rachel Bradford is finally living her dream as the star of her own interior design show. But ratings are slipping, and if she wants to save the show, she has to set an episode in the hometown she fled. Worst of all, she’s going to have to work with the cocky bad boy who humiliated her.

Single dad, Beckett Colburn plans to turn an old fire station into a neighborhood bar. He’s blindsided when he discovers his family made a deal to turn his dream into a reality TV project. He’d rather run into a burning building than work with his childhood nemesis–on camera.

But it’s not easy with a TV crew in town stirring up trouble, spreading rumors, creating buzz. Not to mention the inconvenient sudden attraction that sparks every time Rachel and Beckett fight.

 

Review:

This the second novel in Natasha Moore’s Men of Lakeside series. As a second novel, it’s usually not as wonderful as the first. Great surprise! This one’s fantastic! Kudo to Natasha Moore on returning to Lakeside and giving us a fabulous story.

This is the story of Rachel Bradford and Beckett Colburn. Rachael and Beckett went to high school together and they were certainly not friends. Rachael’s most embarrassing moment came from Beckett and a few exaggerations he made. His worst moment came from Rachael yelling at him that he would never leave this town and would work for his family his whole life. So, no. They weren’t old friends or lovers…  However, neither will admit that there was an attraction, but their families were not friends and were always at opposite ends of politics in Lakeside, so they followed suit.

Rachel left Lakeside and ditched her families plans for her college to study art and design, where her heart and imagination led her. They’ve never let her forget what a disappointment that was for them. Even though she now has her own TV show The Rachel Touch. She works hard to get and keep her show fresh and exciting, maybe too hard.  So far, there are no limits to what she’ll do to keep her career on top. Now the producers want more. More excitement and skill. They’ve decided on a project in her hometown (that she’s never returned to), restyling an old firehouse station into a neighborhood bar for none other than her nemesis Beckett Colburn. She so doesn’t want to do this, but saving her show and career is a must.

Beckett is the youngest of the Colburn and Sons crew. He still feels he must prove himself trustworthy to his family. Noah, his older brother is mayor of Lakeside and along with their father, has arranged with The Rachel Touch producers to have them do the design and refurbishment of the family’s new project, without consulting Beckett. Beckett is not happy. He’s concerned about trying to work with Rachael, will she try to sabotage his bar? Can he keep control of “his” project and still do his work and raise his daughter?

Beckett is a single father. His daughter, Holly, is a fan of the Rachael Touch and Rachel herself. Rachel’s producer wants some family drama and forbidden romance, anything to push the show’s ratings.

Between all the animosity, will they be able to work together. Twenty years can change a lot of things, will they be able to reconcile their differences enough to work together? And what about that old attraction, could that still be alive?

Natasha Moore has been able to build her wonderful characters and hometown settings into a spectacular story with full on family drama, town politics, career issues, and sizzling romance. Grab a copy for yourself and get set for a wonderful read!

Reviewed by Georgianna

Copy provided by Publisher

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