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If You Stay by Barbara Meyers – Dual Review

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If You Stay by Barbara Meyers – Dual Review

 

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Description:
A runaway daughter. An unforgiving father. A reluctant artist.

At 18, Joy Laurence took off with the local bad boy who left her widowed, broke and pregnant. Back then her formidable minister father hung up on her when she called home. Now that she’s back, he slams the door in her face. But for her adult daughter’s sake, she is determined to make peace with her family.

Although romance isn’t even on her radar, Joy can’t resist troubled and talented Granger Sullivan’s rough edges and skilled hands. And in his rebellious teenage daughter she sees her own reflection.

Joy’s excitement dies when reconnecting with her past results not only in broken hearts, but broken lives. Including hers.
She could admit defeat and walk away a second time.

But if she stays, can she find a way to reconcile with her loved ones and build the life she wants?

 

Julie’s Review:
If You Stay by Barbara Meyers is the 3rd book in her Red Bud, Iowa series. This is not an author I’d read before, but it’s good to swap things up once in a while (and I’d been read a lot of dark romance,) so with that in mind I grabed the book…..

 

Joy took off with her boyfriend against the wishes of her father. Never thinking or looking back…..But happiness isn’t always promised, and when Joy is left a young mum and widow, she reaches out to her father. 

After telling her what he thinks of her, he hangs up, poor Joy is on her own…..

 

Future Joy and her daughter have grown up and Joy has returned back to her by home town. She hopes that enough time has passed and that her father will finally forgive her and make room in his heart for his daughter and granddaughter. 


But it’s not going to be that easy, her father still wants nothing to do with her!! 

But with her mother on her side, Joy hopes to melt her fathers hard heart, but that comes with it’s own set of issues. Maybe Joy shouldn’t have come back! It’s only causing friction between her parents. 

 

Granger is a struggling single father with a stroppy teenager. He has his own issues, one of abandonment (his wife left without looking back) and of inadequacy! (He blames himself for his wife leaving) so trust is a big issue with him. 

 

Granger knows of Joy from his youth, he had a crush on her as a kid. But can he let his guard down and let another woman in? Or will his insecurities and lack of trust ruin what could be a second chance at happiness for Granger and Joy? 

 

I had tears as I read this book, both with happiness and sadness. There is families at war, sullen teenager angst, trust issues, condemnation and misunderstandings. 

We also get tender moments, funny moments and moments where bridges are trying to be mended. We get points of views from a lot of people, at first it was a little too much information being thrown at you. 


But the further into the book we get, then more sense all the voices make. They all need to have a say. it’s not just about a second chance romance, it’s about forgiveness, about families mending themselves and each other. But when doors are shut in your face time after time, doesn’t that tell you something? Isn’t it time to admit defeat and move on…..

Joy could, but I get that she’s a fighter. She’s had to be. Granger is a little antisocial, but I get why. 


There are so many characters that you’ll identify and sympathize with.  I read it in one sitting, and I’d highly recommended the book. 

 

Kim’s Review:
Joy Laurence has just returned to her hometown after 25 years away. She’s come home to reconnect and reconcile with her parents. Joy wants to forgive and be forgiven but it’ll be harder than she expects. Granger Sullivan is a divorced father of two. He’s dealing with a moody difficult fifteen year old daughter. Granger to get away from his problems makes art out of junk in his garage. When Joy and Granger reconnect, and sparks fly.  Will attraction be enough to become love If You Stay?

If You Stay the third book in the Red Bud, Iowa series by Barbara Meyers  and takes a detour from small town Iowa to relocate and concentrate on a hometown in. As time progresses and she settles into her life in her hometown attraction and reconnecting with an old friend occupy her time. An unexpected romance with her landlord just may turn to love and figuring out what they both want. 

If You Stay  takes a man who is unhappy and not looking for romance and finds that he still has a crush on since he was nine years old comes back into his life. He’ll face his feelings about his divorce and how things have gone with his teenage daughter. The reconciliation doesn’t go as planned and secrets are revealed.

Barbara Meyers’ If You Stay takes a side trip in her Red Bud, Iowa series by taking the mother of a new citizen of Red Bud and taking her home to try and reconcile with her family after leaving when she was eighteen and returns in her early forties to find that the town hasn’t changed much but reconciliation will be more complicated than expected. 

If You Stay for this reader wasn’t what was expected. Being from Iowa myself I was intrigued by the idea of a book set in my home state unfortunately that wasn’t the case. There was a couple of surprises but overall, the story kept me engaged and entertained.

 

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Tempting the Vicar by Liana LeFey – a Review

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Tempting the Vicar by Liana LeFey – a Review

 

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Description:
After his twin brother pulls a foolish prank, Reverend Daniel Wayward’s life is now decidedly complicated. With his family, his parish, and even his reputation at risk, there’s only one way to avoid utter ruin—by swapping places with his rakish, wicked twin. And the second Daniel steps foot into his brother’s worldly and sinful life in London, he’s completely caught by temptation of the most enticing, green-eyed kind.

Miss Olivia St. Peters knows the son of the duke is a dangerous fellow, but something in those hooded, hungry blue eyes makes her blood sing with pleasure. She’s determined to have this Wayward noble, no matter what Society—or even her father—says about the match. And if that means playing with fire, she’ll gladly burn…

The more Daniel resists the oh-so-inviting charms of Olivia, the more determined she is to have him. Now he’s caught between his vows of faith and the lure of sweet temptation. And the only thing standing between his heart and his immortal soul is one unforgivable deception…

 

Review:

Reverend Daniel Wayward and his twin has switched places because of a prank to save their and the family’s reputation. Daniel isn’t happy with the situation but for goes along like always when his brother does something like this. He’s tasked with discouraging the affections of the business partner’s daughter. Only on their first meeting Daniel’s smitten by the lovely unique young woman. Olivia St. Peters is determined to marry her father’s business partner Devlin Wayward. Her plan is to reform the rake, only her plans don’t progress as she thought. Olivia’s determination to marry the man she thinks she loves just may lead to Tempting the Vicar.

Tempting the Vicar by Liana LeFey is the second book in her Wicked Waywards book. It’s the other side of the story of the switch between twin brothers who decide to that’s the best way to handle a prank gone wrong. It leads this twin facing temptation and heartache and the complicated relationship between the two brothers. He also must face a test of faith and an old enemy from his past. Anger, passion, and guilt play a role in working through the complicated situation that he finds himself in especially with the daughter of his business partner. We also meet a young woman who thinks she knows how to counter act her father. Headstrong and determined to get her way she just may take things a little too far.

Tempting the Vicar has passion, temptation, a little danger as these two main characters work their way through life changing effects. A man just may learn that life as a Reverend alone isn’t enough. A woman may realize that her plans were never the ones she thought might be. Heartache, passion so strong its hard to resist weave its way through this story of finding true love. Lives will be forever changed as they journey through a situation that is a lot more complicated than they realize. Liana LeFey’s Tempting the Vicar pulls at the reader heartstrings hoping these two people who are meant for each other just may have a chance at true love once the games and deceit are stopped and the truth revealed. This  reader was hoping that the other side of the switched twins story would be told. I’m looking forward to the next book in the Wicked Waywards series and who will it be, the  Duke himself, or the opinionated younger sister. Liana LeFey didn’t disappoint with this second book in the series.

Reviewed by Kim

Copy provided by Publisher

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How to Survive a Modern Day Fairy Tale by Elle Cruz -a Review

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How to Survive a Modern Day Fairy Tale by Elle Cruz -a Review

 

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Description:
Claire Ventura is nothing like the poised and perfect heroines she reads about in her favorite romance novels. She’s a quirky, people-pleasing bookworm with a loving yet obliviously intrusive family and a passion for cookie decorating—all rolled into a five-foot-two Filipina American fueled by chamomile tea.

Then she meets Nate, billionaire CEO of a global tech company, the modern-day Prince Charming who sweeps her off her feet. Though he does his best to convince Claire that he’s genuinely head over heels for her, she knows he’ll soon realize she’s more underwhelming Plain Jane than jet-setting socialite. And once he meets her family, if their initial questioning doesn’t scare him off, then their tendency to decide “what’s best for her” certainly will.

Between her whirlwind romance with Nate and her meddlesome family, Claire wishes she had a fairy godmother to guide her. But this is the real world in the twenty-first century, and the only way to get her happily ever after is by grabbing firm hold of what she really wants—and letting her heart be her guide.

 

Review:

Claire Ventura has wanted to own a business. She’s got a big heart and will do about anything for her family especially her grandmother. When Claire almost runs over a man parking her car and she has no idea who he is. Nate Noruta is a tech CEO and a billionaire. When he’s almost run over by a beautiful woman who has no idea of his identity. Nate knows Claire is The One for him at first sight. He just needs to convince her she belongs with him. Claire and Nate will have figure out How to Survive a Modern Day Fairy Tale to hopefully find true love.

Elle Cruz’s How to Survive a Modern Day Fairy Tale brings together a billionaire and a woman trying to survive her family and wants to expand her cookie decorating business. Their instant attraction just gets stronger as they get to know each other. He’s a man who knows what he wants but can he convince her of that fact. Her insecurities and responsibilities just may get in the way. How to Survive a Modern Day Fairy Tale is a well written story about the Filipina American whose world revolves around her grandmother and large family. Her insecurities just may stop them from finding the true love they weren’t looking for. Both have past issues that affect their relationship with each other. She’s trying to keep the relationship quiet until they know each other better. A woman and man who are opposites in their social standing must find their way between two worlds.

Elle Cruz writes a story full of steamy, sexy love scenes and emotions that the reader feel right along with the characters. How to Survive a Modern Day Fairy Tale is a roller coaster of will they stay together and when especially her family gets involved it may just more complicated than they think. Throw in a few spontaneous moments that make things even more complicated and you get a story very worth your time. Elle Cruz’s How to Survive a Modern Day Fairy Tale just maybe the designer cookie you’ve been looking forward to reading.

Reviewed by Kim

Copy provided by Publisher

 

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The Wedding Crasher and the Cowboy by Robin Bielman-a Review

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The Wedding Crasher and the Cowboy by Robin Bielman – a Review

 

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Description:
Kennedy Martin is shocked when her ex calls days before his wedding, expressing serious second thoughts. Doesn’t he see his fiancée’s actually the glaze to his doughnut? Now she’s got no choice but to crash his wedding and convince the man he’s with the right woman.

Instead, she crashes into the absolute last man she ever wanted to see: Maverick Owens, her old college nemesis. Maverick is still as awful, infuriating, and just The Worst as ever—even if he looks way too sexy in his cowboy hat. And of course he’s convinced she’s actually at the seaside ranch to ruin the wedding.

Now the only way to get some face time with the groom and save this marriage is to participate in all sorts of pre-wedding events…with Maverick. Stuck on a canoe, making small-talk at cocktail hour, and even a hoedown with her worst enemy? This just might be the longest week of her life…

 

Review:

Kennedy Martin is a doctor in an emergency room and interviewing for her dream job. When a drunken call from her ex-boyfriend/good friend in the middle of the night declaring second thoughts about getting married has Kennedy worried. She just might have to crash his wedding celebration to figure out how to help. While crashing the wedding Kennedy gets reacquainted her old college competitor and just may find more than she bargains for. Maverick Owens is still grieving the loss of the love of his life and keeping to the promises they made to travel the world. He’s about to embark the last trip then move on with his life. Then Mav just may go back and finish his veterinarian school and hopefully start a new business. When his former college nemesis shows up to crash the wedding of a guest Maverick is determined to keep her from destroying his family’s business. As these two get reacquainted they just may find that the competition from the past just may turn into something special if each of them can get over their individual pasts. A wedding crasher just maybe what the cowboy needs. The Wedding Crasher and the Cowboy just may find true love with each other, and their dreams could change.

Robin Beilman writes a wonderful story of trust and competition between former college nemeses. . The Wedding Crasher and the Cowboy has a doctor who wants to help her friend after a call from him when he talks about not wanting to get married. The only idea is to crash his wedding celebration in a small town. It brings her back into the world of the man she competed with all through college. With several years passing these two people just may have a changed enough to find love with each other. Both have severed heart ache. The Wedding Crasher and the Cowboy  takes a unique look at what can happen when you’re ready to start over but afraid to do so. They’ll learn that their perceptions of each other aren’t the same and the competition from college just may’ve been there way of dealing with unknown feelings. Lives and dreams will change as their time together comes to a close. Robin Beilman’s The Wedding Crasher and the Cowboy will pull at the heartstrings of the reader while they hope that these two can find their ways through their pasts to find the true love they’ve been looking for. You’ll want a happily ever after for these two wonderfully written character and feeling the emotions come through. You’ll cry, cheer and just wonder what will happen to these characters by the time the book ends.

Reviewed by Kim

Copy provided by Publisher

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The Devil’s Own by Liana LeFey – a Review

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The Devil’s Own by Liana LeFey – a Review

 

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Description:
Lord Devlin Wayward, gambler and dedicated rake, returns home for the first time in years, and lands himself and his identical twin, Daniel, the good reverend, in deep trouble. Devlin ends up with a broken leg and unable to travel to London, yet he must return. He’s got an important deal that will make or break his fortune. He persuades the reluctant reverend to take his place in London while he temporarily minds his brother’s flock.

Miss Mary Tomblin is taken with the devastatingly handsome reverend. He represents everything she desires in a husband, after narrowly evading a ruthless rake last Season. Mary knows she’ll make him an excellent wife, but the vicar rebuffs every advance – until he suddenly accepts her help with pastoral duties while his broken leg heals. Mary seizes the chance to show the good reverend what an excellent helpmeet she will be.

The devil takes on the role of village vicar and discovers it’s nowhere near as easy as he imagined—especially when he falls in love with an angel who mistakes him for a saint.

 

Review:

Lord Devil Wayward has been accepted back into his family after years as the black sheep. He’s been looking for something that’s been missing in his life. When Devlin, helps his twin brother out a situation with a parishioner it will calls all kinds of trouble. Mary Tomblin has wanted to marry the minister of Harper’s Grove. When an accident brings together the vicar and Mary to do charitable work she’ll get her chance. Their attraction will become stronger as they become closer, but secrets and the past just may get in the way. She just may become The Devil’s Own.

 Liana LeFey’s new series the Wicked Waywards with The Devil’s Own. A historical story of keeping secrets and passion that may lead to love. A rakehell and black sheep of the family is brought back into the fold. A man who only wanted to help his twin brother out of a predicament with an amorous parishioner. A switching of places will be bringing together of two people who just may find true love. A man whose ready for a change. A woman who is tired of the constant moving with her family falls for the local vicar and the village of Harper’s Grove.  When a switch is made, and twins want to keep scandal from their family. The Devil’s Own takes a unique situation that just may change lives forever. These two people with deal with the fall out of being helpful and a prank that goes wrong. A situation takes twin brothers on an adventure to know what each other’s lives are like. A woman will face her past and find out that the man she thought she wanted isn’t the man she thought he is. The Devil’s Own the first book in the Wicked Waywards series by Liana LeFey will have you wondering if the truth will keep this couple together or tear them apart. A passionate tale of love and passion and secrets that will have falling in love with these Wicked Wayward siblings and their lives and loves. I look forward to reading the next story of the Wayward siblings and what comes next in the lives of this family.

Reviewed by Kim

Copy provided by Publisher

 

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A Surrealist Affair by Jacqueline Corcoran – a Review

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The Surrealist Affair by Jacqueline Corcoran – a Review

 

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Description:
Elle Dakin is shocked when she’s given the opportunity to fly to Paris to attribute a newly discovered painting to her favorite artist. After all, why would they choose a broke, struggling Art History doctoral student for such an honored task? When she arrives in Paris, she realizes the deal was too good to be true—suddenly she’s neck deep in a murder, an international art theft, and threats to her safety. Thank goodness Ryan, an art exporter, comes to her aid, protecting her from the dangerous side of Paris and those who would try to harm her. And it doesn’t hurt that he’s sinfully handsome…until she discovers he has just as many secrets as everyone she’s met on this trip of a lifetime gone wrong…

The last assignment undercover FBI agent Ryan DeLong wants is to investigate art theft. But here he is, stuck in Paris, chasing down the thieves of a million-dollar masterpiece. The only bright spot is Elle, the shy but enchanting doctoral student who teaches him about more than just the beauty of Surrealism. He can’t tell her the truth of his identity, plus he refuses to get romantically involved with anyone while he’s on a case. But when he learns Elle also has things to hide, he begins to doubt everything he thought he knew about her.

 

Review:

Elle Dakin is trying to figure out what to do her doctoral thesis about. A call from a friend of her advisor sends Elle to Paris for authenticating a painting by a famous French artist. Ryan DeLong is wanting to get back to working for the FBI Counterterrorism unit from the art theft department. The recent theft of that same French artist’s painting sends him to Paris looking for the painting. Elle’s second trip to Paris is anything but wonderful.Ryan isn’t enthusiastic with Paris and doesn’t see the charm. Elle and Ryan’s continued consequential meetings will bring danger, passion and The Surrealist Affair.

Jacqueline Corcoran’s The Surrealist Affair is a suspenseful story of the theft of a famous painting that takes her main characters on a dangerous trip to Paris following leads and looking for a new painting of the famous artist. The intrigue will keep you guessing what just may come next. A PhD student will find danger and possibly love on a trip to Paris for authenticating a new painting by a famous French artist. Elle Dakin’s trip to Paris doesn’t go as planned and a handsome stranger catches her attention. A FBI agent wanting to get back to a very dangerous unit will follow clues and his intuition to find a painting, passion and a killer.

The Surrealist Affair keeps the reader on the edge with where is the painting, whose behind all the danger. Who murdered the grandson of a famous artist? Will he be able to save the damsel in distress? With danger around every corner, a chance to get back to a dream job, a passion between two people just end in The Surrealist Affair.

Jacqueline Corcoran writes a story full of suspense, intrigue, and keep the reader guessing on who is behind it all. The reader will be surprised by the bad guys and the twist and turns in this story of art theft, fraud, and things not being as they seem. The truth just may be what this PhD student needs to finally write to finish graduate school. The Surrealist Affair is a dangerous trip to Paris, France that will surprise the reader and wanting them to come back for more Jacqueline Corcoran.

Reviewed by Kim

Copy provided by Publisher

 

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Over Her Wed Body by Alexia Adams – a Review

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Over Her Wed Body by Alexia Adams – a Review

 

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Description:
Beckett Samuelson has had enough stepmothers to spot a gold digger when he sees one. So when his ailing father announces his engagement to the private nurse he’s only known for two months—who’s also forty years his junior—Beckett has to step in. But as he gets to know the woman, he realizes she’s the perfect next Mrs. Samuelson.

If only he was the intended groom.

Corazon Dela Cruz sends every spare penny she earns to her family in the Philippines. Then her latest nursing client offers her $25,000 to fake an engagement to convince his overprotective son to return to work abroad—he doesn’t need Beckett’s help. But as Corazon and Beckett spend more time together—from picnics on the beach to galas in fancy dresses—she starts to develop very real feelings.

Too bad she’s engaged to the wrong Samuelson.

 

 

Review:

Beckett Samuelson has returned home to check on his father who suffered a stroke. He’s determined to make sure the nurse is capable. Corazon “Cora” Dela Cruz is the nurse taking care of his father. She has a unique way of dealing with her patients. When these two set eyes on each other it’s instant attraction. They fight their attraction because she’s an employee and he’s returning to the all-consuming architecture career he has in Dubai. An interfering father trying to be a matchmaker just may pull Cora and Beckett apart. They’ll fight their attraction and learn to trust each other. Can these two people meant for each other come together Over Her Wed Body?

Alexia Adams’s newest book Over Her Wed Body takes the reader from high society of Vancouver, Canada the poverty rice patty area of the Philippines and the royal world of Dubai, Saudi Arabia. The story is a steamy look at the lives of architect and the nurse taking care of his father. A man who’s trust in woman was devastated at a young age with the death of his mother and the two stepmothers that came after. A nurse taking care of the father who the past ten years been helping take care of her family back in the Philippines. Their mistrust just may turn to love as they realize the strong attraction between them. When his father tries to play matchmaker, it’ll confuse the whole situation and put distant between. An incentive maybe the answer to a prayer and the happiness of father just may keep these two people who are meant to be together.

Alexia Adams writes a story of love and attraction and putting your trust into someone who you could fall in love with. She’ll have you cheering for these two characters to find their happily ever after. I’m looking forward to hopefully reading Ms. Adams next story and hopefully a sequel to Over Her Wed Body and the story of the male best friend would be a welcome addition. You’ll love traveling across the world to see if these two characters who weren’t looking for love just may find their way to each other.

Reviewed by Kim

Copy provided by Publisher

 

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