Lilac Lane - Sherryl Woods (Mira - Oct 2017)

Series: Chesapeake Shores (Book 14)

At the heart of Lilac Lane is Keira Malone, who raised her three children alone after her first marriage broke apart, and who, after years of guarding her heart, finally finds love again. But that love is short-lived when her fiancé suffers a fatal heart attack. Grieving and unsure of what's next, Keira agrees to move from Dublin to Chesapeake Shores, Maryland, to spend time with her daughter, Moira, and her new granddaughter, Kate, as well as to help her son-in-law, Luke, with his Irish pub, O'Briens.

Not wanting to live underfoot, she rents a charming cottage on Lilac Lane, replete with views of the ocean and her neighbor's thriving garden -- not to mention views of the neighbor himself. The neighbor is none other than Bryan Laramie, the brusque and moody chef at the pub, with whom Keira is constantly butting heads. But things get real when Bryan's long-lost daughter, whom he hasn't seen since she was a baby, shows up out of the blue. As Bryan and Keira each delve into their pasts, reopening wounds, the rest of the town is gearing up for the Fall Festival Irish Stew cook-off, and making no bones about whose side they're on. It's Kitchen Wars meets This is Your Life -- a recipe for disaster…or a new take on love?

Terrific book. It has been a long time since my last visit to Chesapeake Shores, but it was effortless to slide right back into it. This is the story of Keira, Moira's mother (The Summer Garden) and Bryan, the chef at Luke O'Brien's pub. Relations between Keira and Moira had been strained for a long time before they mended their relationship in the earlier book. Keira raised her three children on her own when her husband deserted her, leaving Keira somewhat bitter and wary of love. Just when she opened herself up again to the possibility, her fiancé died, leaving Keira grieving and lost. Worried about her mother, Moira stretches the truth with the help of her new O'Brien relatives and convinces Keira to come to Maryland, using baby Kate and the pub as the reasons for the visit. Moira really hopes to convince her mother to stay in Chesapeake Shores.

Bryan is the chef at the pub. He worked in both New York and Baltimore before coming to Chesapeake Shores. While not quite a loner, he mostly keeps to himself. He rules his kitchen, accepting interference only from his boss, Luke, and Nell O'Brien, the family matriarch who taught him the traditional Irish recipes served at the pub. The arrival of feisty and blunt Keira doesn't sit well with him, but he doesn't have much choice in the matter.

I liked both Keira and Bryan and the development of their relationship. In the beginning, it is very adversarial, as Keira takes her job of ensuring authenticity very seriously, but Bryan doesn't take her suggestions well. Things begin to change a little bit when Keira moves into the cottage next door to Bryan's house, and they discover that when they leave their work difference behind they get along very well. There were some terrific scenes of late-night chats over wine, and early mornings spent weeding Bryan's garden. The sparks of antagonism that flew between them begin to change to a different kind of sparks. But both Keira and Bryan have baggage that makes them resistant to those sparks. Keira's risked her heart twice and had it broken, though in different ways. Risking it again seems to be the height of folly, so she works hard to keep that little bit of distance between them. Bryan was married many years before but neglected his wife in his zeal to cement his career. His wife took their baby girl and left him without a word when she reached the end of her patience. Bryan has spent almost twenty years trying to find them. Having failed at marriage once, trying again is the last thing on his mind.

But Keira and Bryan aren't given the chance to fight their feelings for long. The O'Brien family is well-known for their tendency to interfere in the lives of those they care for. Everyone from Nell to Mick, right on down the line can see what is happening, and they all have ideas on how to bring the reluctant duo together. Nell comes up with the bright idea of a cooking competition, with the title of best Irish stew between Keira and Bryan up for grabs. I enjoyed the behind-the-scenes machinations of various O'Briens as they fan the flames of competition. Keira recognizes her growing feelings for Bryan, but her fears hold her back from saying anything. I loved the scene where Bryan finds out the truth and the twist that Keira throws into his declaration. I loved how the competition played out and their big moment at the end was fantastic.

In the midst of all this drama, Bryan receives the shock of his life. His long-lost daughter appears in Chesapeake Shores looking for answers. I loved seeing this side of Bryan as he and Deanna got to know each other. The scene where Deanna finally gets up the courage to face her father had me in tears. I also loved that Keira was there to support him. There are some sweet scenes as Keira helps smooth over the rough spots of their reunion.

As always, I love the secondary appearances of other characters. The bits with Moira and her attempts to balance family and career were realistic and moving. I loved the get-togethers at Sally's as the O'Brien women share their days, and how they embraced Keira as one of their own. I laughed out loud at Mick's antics during the buildup to the competition. Nell was a riot as she involved herself and others in her matchmaking. As Bryan and Keira's boss, Luke had quite the challenge in keeping the peace at the pub. And in the end, the entire town had a part in the romance between Bryan and Keira. It will be interesting to see if there will be further Chesapeake Shores books and who will star in them. I'm leaning toward Deanna, plus the frequent mentions of Keira's estranged sons leaves the door open for them also.

 

Risk Everything - Janie Crouch (HI #1883 - Oct 2019)

Series: Bree and Tanner (Book 4)

The wedding is two weeks away

If they survive until then…

Following a fire at the New Journeys women's shelter, Deputy Tanner Dempsey is on high alert, and his fiancée, Bree Daniels, fears that one of the shelter's clients is being targeted. Outmanned and outgunned, Tanner and Bree must make a last stand for justice and unravel the twisted plot of a dangerous sociopath. Will it be “'til death do us part” before they can say “I do”?

Terrific book and conclusion to the Bree and Tanner series, and another one that kept me up well past bedtime to finish it. After a year together, Bree's wedding to Tanner is only two weeks away. The book opens as Bree is spazzing over wedding preparations. All she wants is to be married to Tanner, but the wedding has taken on a life of its own thanks to her friends. Looking back over the year, Bree sees the progress she has made toward becoming more "normal," but there are days she wants to hide away. Meanwhile, Tanner is beyond ready for the wedding and to show the world how much he loves her. I've loved seeing the development of their relationship, from wariness and distrust to incredible teamwork and belief in each other. That teamwork is called upon yet again as they face off against a dangerous opponent.

Bree is at the women's shelter late one night when a suspicious fire breaks out. She and Tanner are confident that one of the residents, Marilyn, is the target of the attack. The uncertainty is intense as they and others attempt to find the truth and stop the attacks. The frustration is evident as everything points to Marilyn's abusive husband, but nothing can be proved. Hoping to give Marilyn, her kids, and two other residents a pleasant break, Bree, Tanner, and his brother Noah, head for the woods for a camping trip. When the group is attacked and becomes separated, it's up to Bree and Tanner to protect the kids until help arrives. The suspense is intense as Bree and Tanner race to stay ahead of their pursuers. I was on the edge of my seat as the hours passed and the players shifted, leaving Bree and Tanner to play decoy. The tension continues to build even after arriving home, with a feeling of impending trouble. The final confrontation was a nail-biter that had me glued to the pages until it was all over. I loved the strength and courage that both Bree and Marilyn showed as they took control of their fates.

I loved the ending. It was so emotional to see the town pull together to make sure that the wedding happened just the way Bree and Tanner wanted it. I especially loved what the women did for Bree that made the wedding so much more special for her. And after all of Bree's angst over writing the perfect vows, she came up with the perfect lines. Tanner's were great, but Bree's were quintessential Bree. I also enjoyed the conversation that Tanner had with his brother Noah about Marilyn. I hope to see more of them in the future. There were also a few cross-series mentions of both Linear Tactical and Omega Sector books, which always makes me happy.

 

The Brave Princess and Me - Kathy Kacer (Second Story Press - Sept 2019)

In 1943, the Second World War is raging, and the Nazis have taken control of most of Europe.

Princess Alice of Greece has a reputation for kindness. Born deaf, she knows what it is like to be discriminated against.

With the invasion of the Nazis, all Jews in Greece are in danger, including young Tilde Cohen and her mother, Rachel. On the run, they are in search of a safe place to hide. When they arrive unannounced on Princess Alice's doorstep, begging her to shelter them, the princess's kindness is put to the test.

Includes a special section, with photographs, about Princess Alice. A real-life hero, Alice is the grandmother of the United Kingdom's Prince Charles, and the great-grandmother of Princes William and Harry.

I loved this book. There aren't very many books for young children that deal with World War 2 and the Holocaust and this one was very well done. The main characters  are Tilde, a young Jewish girl, and Princess Alice of Greece. In 1943 the Nazis have occupied Greece and proceed to capture and transport Jews to concentration camps. Princess Alice, who was completely deaf but proficient in lip-reading (in three languages!) used her disability to help as many people as she could. In this story, a mother and daughter appeared at her door one night, desperate for help. The princess took them in, giving them a place in the palace. She also warned them to be careful as the Gestapo headquarters was very close. The princess visited her guests every day, but the hiding was hard on young Tilde, who would occasionally break the rules by peeking out of the windows. One day two Gestapo agents came to the door, demanding to search the house. Tilde's fear was intense as she overheard the men's demands, but the princess knew just what to do. I loved her cleverness as she outwitted the men and kept Tilde and her mother safe.

I thought that this was an excellent introduction for younger children to the subject of the Holocaust and the fears of the Jewish people. The tension and facts are there without delving too deeply into the horrors that happened. The illustrations are beautiful, faithfully depicting events in the book. In each one I could clearly see the emotions of the subjects.

Also included in the book are biographical details of Princess Alice, one of the lesser known members of the royal family.  She was the great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria, and the mother of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and great-grandmother of Princes William and Harry. In her later years she became a nun, funding a convent and orphanage in Athens. After her death the title Righteous Among the Nations was bestowed on her for her work in saving Jews during the Holocaust. While accepting the honor for his mother, Prince Philip said, "I suspect that it never occurred to her that her action was in any way special. She was a person with a deep religious faith, and she would have considered it to be a perfectly natural human reaction to fellow beings in distress."

Target in Jeopardy - Carla Cassidy (HRS #2056 - Sept 2019)

Series: Colton 911 (Book 3)
             Coltons (Book 95)

A prodigal Colton comes home…

…to the shock of his life!

Grieving the loss of his late wife, Dallas Colton rarely lets his guard down. The one time he indulges in a wild night of passion, it yields unexpected results. Seven months later, Dallas finds himself expecting twins with prosecutor Avery Logan -- and working to protect Avery from criminals who want her dead. But when long-buried secrets rise from the grave, their growing family is soon under siege.

Very good book. Dallas and Avery had an unusual start to their relationship. They met in a bar, both of them trying to escape the pain of recent losses. There was an immediate connection between them, including an especially strong attraction. Uncharacteristically for both of them, they spent the night together. The next morning, though Avery would have liked to see where it would go,  Dallas was overcome with guilt and made it clear that it was a one time only event. Seven months later, Dallas was back home to stay. He was stunned to encounter Avery and discover that she was pregnant.

I loved Dallas and Avery. Avery makes it clear that she isn't out to trap Dallas and is quite able to handle things on her own. I loved that she was honest in her desire that he be a part of the babies' lives, but only if that's what he wants. I ached for Dallas and the grief that he still suffers. It has sucked the joy out of his life, but news of the babies brings a faint flicker of hope to his heart. I loved how he stepped up right away, intent on being involved. It was interesting that neither Avery nor Dallas is looking for a relationship between them because of the babies. Both prefer their single lives but agree that they need to get to know each other and hopefully become friends if they are going to be successful as parents.  

I loved seeing them get to know each other, sharing bits of their lives and beliefs about raising children. Just as they are at the beginning of this process, Avery begins to receive threats against her life. As a prosecutor she is accustomed to being disliked by those she puts in jail, but when the threats escalate into physical attacks, Dallas steps in. I loved his protectiveness and determination to keep Avery safe. Becoming her 24/7 bodyguard adds a complication to their determination to maintain their single lives. Avery's grief over the loss of her brother made her determined not to risk her heart on loving someone else. Dallas's grief over his wife's death made him believe that he had had his one and only love of his life. But the more time they spent together, the deeper their involvement became, and the harder it was to keep their distance. I loved the gradual way it happened, as their caring built day by day. But both of them had fears to overcome before they could accept that they belonged together. There was also someone determined to keep Avery from that happy outcome.

The suspense of the story was terrific. Avery is on a mission as a prosecutor to bring as many drug dealers as possible to justice. She has succeeded in angering more than a few people and once again receives threats against her life. The first physical attack on her was a nerve-wracking event, and I was on the edge of my seat, hoping that she would get out of it safely. I loved Dallas's reaction of moving in with Avery to protect her. Dallas is also involved helping the sheriff's department with the ongoing investigation of a serial killer, and Avery gets involved with that while she is on leave from her job. There is an interesting turn to that case that she is instrumental in discovering. At the same time the attacks on Avery intensify. The final confrontation is intense, with an unexpected twist in who was behind it all.  There were some terrifying moments, but it all ended well. The scene in the hospital was a beautiful ending to the story.

 

The Lord's Highland Temptation - Diane Gaston (HH #1455 - Sept 2019)

A soldier burdened by guilt…

…to the future Earl of Foxgrove?

Captain Lucas Johns-Ives is injured in the same battle that killed his brother. Haunted by loss, Lucas is saved by Mairi Wallace. In this Highland idyll, masquerading as her family's butler, Lucas can avoid the responsibilities of becoming the new earl. He's tempted by Mairi's sweetness -- but to win her hand, he must face his demons and claim his noble birthright…

Good story about two people with painful pasts who find love and healing with each other. Lucas was devastated by his brother's death at Waterloo and consumed by the guilty feeling that he should have been able to save Bradleigh. Unable to face taking his brother's place as heir to the earldom, Lucas wanders aimlessly through Scotland, drinking his way from inn to inn while trying to forget. Ill and passed out near some standing stones Lucas is found by the younger children of Baron Dunham, who fetch their older sister for help. They take Lucas to their home to nurse him back to health.

Mairi is at her wit's end, trying to keep her family from financial ruin. The last thing she wants is a strange Englishman to take care of, especially one who reminds her of a devastating incident that happened several years earlier. That incident has had a significant impact on Mairi's life and the way she looks at the world.

There is a connection between Lucas and Mairi from the start, though both of them try to resist it. As Lucas recovers from his illness, he has a front-row seat to Mairi's efforts to save her family. Impressed by what he sees and unexpectedly compelled to help, Lucas conceals who he really is as he does what he can. Though Mairi is suspicious and wary at first, she finds herself trusting Lucas. Lucas is drawn further into the lives of the family as he plays the part of a servant to help them out of an awkward situation. I ached for Mairi whose efforts are unappreciated by her family and felt her frustration at her parents' attitudes. I loved Lucas's support of her, and his attempts to show them the truth.

Matters become more complicated when the visitors include a man with a hidden agenda. Hargreaves is a wealthy man who has designs on their land and title and who will do anything to get it. When he also attends the same house party as the Dunhams, Lucas's protective instincts are aroused. I liked seeing Mairi and Lucas grow closer and loved how they opened up to each other about their pasts. Lucas knows he has to come clean with Mairi about who he is, especially when someone at the party recognizes him. When matters take a turn for the worse, Lucas must decide if he's ready to face his past and his responsibilities. I ached for Mairi as she faced a miserable future. I was on the edge of my seat as I wondered how long it would take Lucas to come to his senses. I must say, he came through in a stellar manner in a very exciting scene. The epilogue was good too.

I liked the secondary characters also. From Mairi's family to the servants, they all added complexity to the story. Mairi's brother and sister were realistic in their sibling disagreements and their often obliviousness to what went on around them. I wanted to shake her parents on multiple occasions because of their utter unwillingness to face the truth of their circumstances and their attitudes toward Mairi as she tried to help. I liked seeing some of the story from the servants' side of things and the look at what their lives were like. Their respect for Lucas said a lot about the kind of man he was.

 

Island Fling with the Tycoon - Therese Beharrie (HR #4682 - Sept 2019)

Could a fairy-tale wedding…

..lead to her own love story?

Sparks fly when Piper Evans meets tycoon Caleb Martin on the way to her brother's wedding. Gorgeous but uncompromising -- he's the kind of man heartbroken Piper has sworn to stay away from. Yet when the perfect wedding turns to disaster, Piper must search for the runaway groom -- with Caleb's help! Island hopping around Greece, Piper finds herself increasingly tempted by the man whose totally off-limits…

Good book. The story opens as Piper arrives in Greece for her older brother's wedding. Her arrival is a bit stressful as she waits for the promised driver to pick her up. The only other person there is a man holding a sign for a different hotel. After an irritated call to her brother, she discovers that the man is her future sister-in-law's brother and had grabbed the wrong sign. Both are grouchy over the misunderstanding and not in the frame of mind for a wedding celebration. Piper was conflicted about going to the wedding. She and Liam were not close thanks to a rough childhood with an emotionally abusive and controlling father. They reconnected after their father's death and so far she hasn't been impressed with what she has learned about Liam. She is concerned that he won't go through with the wedding.

There are sparks between Piper and Caleb from the beginning. Caleb is the oldest of the family and raised his brother and sisters after the death of their father. He is used to being in charge, and it makes an impression when Piper doesn't fall into line. He is intrigued and attracted, which doesn't make him happy at all. Piper is equally fascinated by him, but even more resistant. After years with a controlling father, followed by a boyfriend who turned out to be just as bad, Piper doesn't trust her judgment. She is determined to guard her independence. There are a couple of scenes that first day where that determination creates some awkwardness with Caleb. When the two of them witness an argument between the bride- and groom-to-be, and Liam runs away, Piper has to find him before the wedding. And Caleb is determined to be right there with her.

I enjoyed seeing Caleb and Piper's relationship develop. They are forced to work together to track down Liam which means they have to get along. I liked how Caleb quickly learned how to deal with Piper's prickliness. The more he learned of what she went through, the more he admired her strength and determination. Piper was a harder nut to crack. Between her father and her ex-boyfriend's actions she has a lot of work to do to believe in herself. The attraction between her and Caleb continues to simmer, adding to her fears. I ached for both of them when Piper's fears sent her running and cried for Caleb as he had to let her go. I rooted for Piper to finally see herself the way that Caleb saw her and believe that she could be happy. Her big moment at the end was excellent, as she opened her heart and allowed herself to trust Caleb with it. The epilogue was great. I loved seeing the changes in both Caleb and Piper. There was also a neat little bit with Liam and Emma.

 

Lone Star Nights - Justine Davis (Tule - Sept 2019)

Series: Texas Justice (Book 2)

She’s no one’s second choice ...

Slater Highwater had his own reasons for coming home to Last Stand, Texas. And if anyone wants to know why a guy with a philosophy degree from an Ivy League school was now running the historic Last Stand Saloon, he has a stack of ready answers, none of which are completely true.

But Joey Douglas never asked that question. Perhaps because she and Slater are always carrying on conversations no one else can follow. Or perhaps because she suspects she knows why he came home – her glamorous and calculating older sister broke his heart.

Joey has longed for Slater since she first laid eyes on him, but her sister will always be an insurmountable barrier between them. Sure she and Slater click intellectually and sparks ignite whenever they’re in the same room, but Joey will never, ever settle for being Slater’s consolation prize no matter how much she loves him.

Can Joey step out of her sister's shadow? Can Slater convince Joey she's his true soul mate?

I loved the first book in this series, Lone Star Lawman, and this one was just as good. In that first book, I was intrigued by Slater. Something told me that there was more to him than first appeared, and I was right. Slater is the second oldest brother. He runs the family bar instead of being in law enforcement like his brothers Shane and Sean. Slater returned to Last Stand after graduating from Harvard with a philosophy degree and ending his engagement with his fiancée Diandra. He never says why he came back, just lets people make whatever assumptions they want to make. The only person who hasn't asked why he came back was Joey.

Joey is the town's assistant librarian. She is sweet, king, big-hearted, and has a sassy side that not many people see. She has loved Slater since she was a teenager and he was dating, then engaged to her older sister. They had a good friendship going, as Joey was the only person in town who could keep up with Slater's conversational twists and turns.

I loved the development of the relationship between Slater and Joey. They were friends for a long time, even after the end of Slater's engagement to her sister. Slater didn't see her as anything but Diandra's little sister until one night that he saw her playing pool at the bar. Suddenly he saw her in a whole new way and it kind of freaked him out a bit at first. It was fun to see his mental gyrations as he found himself more and more distracted by her. The more time that he spent with her, the more he realized the depth of his mistake with her sister. It was sweet to see his growing interest in Joey and how well he understood her. I loved the hang-gliding scene and how he knew precisely how to encourage her.

Joey was surprised by Slater's growing attention. She was used to blending into the background, the plain, nerdy sister when compared to Diandra. As Slater continues to pay attention to her, she finds it harder and harder to keep her distance.

There was so much that Joey and Slater had going for them. Both of them are highly intelligent with an affinity for the written word. I loved seeing them trade quotations the way that other people trade quips. Both tend to lose themselves in thought, zoning out while the world goes on around them. They also have some significant issues that keep them apart. Slater is drowning in the guilt he feels over staying in college after their parents died, leaving Shane to carry the load of taking care of the family. That guilt shows up in the form of doing everything he can to antagonize Shane. He is so down on himself that he has trouble believing that anyone would want him, something that was reinforced by Diandra's treatment of him. Joey suffers from some serious lack of confidence in her appeal to men. She thinks that she would be a "consolation prize" to anyone who had been interested in her sister. Though neither could see their own appeal, each one could see what the other was suffering. I loved how Joey gave Slater the ability to see his issue from a different viewpoint. Slater won my heart when he realized what made Joey hold back and was so determined to show her that his feelings for her were real. His method was so romantic and showed how well he understood her.  There was an especially satisfying scene at the end that showed that the past no longer had a hold on either of them.

I loved getting more insight into the Hightower family. The relationship between Slater and Shane is still a difficult one for most of the book. There are hints of the lessening of hostilities as we see Slater's reactions to Lily being part of Shane's life now. I loved finding out the cause of the tension between them and how Joey's influence brought an end to it. There was also more about Kane, the missing Hightower brother. Joey's understanding of the pain they were all in, especially Sage's pain, brought back a memory that gave her and Slater a lead in the search for what happened to him. My heart ached for them all as Joey and Slater pursued that lead. I can't wait for the next book to see where the search goes next.