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Story Blurb It was supposed to be a fresh start. A small town where I could hide my little girl from the shadows that haunt us. A place where I could keep us safe. The last thing I expected was him. A surly, broody mountain of a man who helps me save an injured deer in a snowstorm. Now, Roan Hartley keeps showing up with his glowers and grimaces. But they only make his rare smiles and the gentle way he talks to my daughter mean that much more. When forces from my past find us, Roan is determined to keep us safe—even if that means sleeping on my ancient couch every night. As days turn to weeks, his touch has my walls crashing down. But someone out there doesn’t want me to find happiness. He doesn’t want me left breathing at all… My Thoughts/Opinion Every one of the books in this series is better than the last. I have been waiting for Roan's story since the first book. He's always been on the sidelines, quiet and brooding and I knew it would take someone special to break him out of himself and his backstory. Enter Aspen, who has also been a background character with a history she's trying to escape. Great slow burn romance, full of discovery and breaking down walls. I LOVED it. And once again, the suspense thread is so so good! On to book five! Favorite Quote: “You okay?” “I’ve got you in my arms.” “That’s not an answer.” Roan’s hold tightened around me. “If you’re in my arms, I’m always okay.”

Story Blurb He hadn’t always just been my brother’s best friend. There was a time when he was mine, too. Until he disappeared from our small town when I needed him the most. Now, Caden’s back. With his cocky smirk and infuriating nicknames. And I’m struggling to ignore his presence. When my ex refuses to leave me alone, Caden steps in, suggesting that it will get my ex and Caden’s calculating father off both our backs if we just pretend to be madly in love. There’s just one problem… Nothing I feel for Caden Shaw is fake—even when I thought I hated him. And there’s no denying how the touch of his lips sparks a flame I’ll never be able to extinguish. As those pretend moments start to turn oh so real, someone’s watching. They’re not happy about Caden’s new role in my life. And they’ll do anything to rip me away from him—even burn us all to the ground… My Thoughts/Opinion This book did the fake dating trope so well, and Grae and Caden had a ton of chemistry and such a compelling backstory. Grae is the baby sister of four older brothers so Caden has his work cut out for him and, despite all of his successes, he feels unworthy of her. This was one of my favorite books of the series, partially because of the characters but more so because the suspense plot was intricate and well-developed. On to book four - can't wait for Roan's story! Favorite Quote: “I’ve wanted you for longer than I ever should’ve. I tried to hide it, to shove it down. But only one person has ever owned me. You.”

Story Blurb Nash Hartley has always been my everything: Protector. Partner in crime. Best friend. The person who was there for me in my darkest hour. But my heart wanted so much more. So, when I knew for certain Nash didn’t feel the same about me, I tried to move on. What a mistake that turned out to be. Now, I’m back in our small town, desperate to escape my living nightmare, and the only person I want to see is him. As secrets are revealed, and Nash finds out what happened to me, he’ll do anything to keep me safe. But there are those who will do anything to stop him, and this time neither of us may make out alive… My Thoughts/Opinion When I read the first book in this series, Nash was a secondary character and to be honest, I wasn't really crazy about him. He seemed a little shallow and goofy. There was an allusion to his lost love but not much of a backstory for me to sink into, so I went into this one a little blind. Fortunately, Madison's backstory and character development drew me into this story quickly. I struggled a little bit with the believability in them being best friends since grade school, even so far as sometimes sleeping in the same bed as teens (platonically), and never having experimented sexually at all. But, that aside, I did love Nash's protective nature and the suspense plot was well done. Happy for their HEA and motivated by the continued development of the secondary characters in the family to continue the series. Favorite Quote: "I loved you when we graduated high school and through college and every day since. Even when you were gone, the echoes of you still lived inside me, and I would play them over and over in my mind just so I wouldn't lose the sound. I've loved you in every incarnation, and that will never end."

Story Blurb The war has begun. Both sides demand Diem’s allegiance—or her death. After her disastrous coronation, Diem finds herself at the center of the conflict between the Descended and the Guardians. With her newfound friends and the man she’s falling for on one side, and the mortals she has vowed to protect on the other, Diem must walk a careful line to save the people she loves… even from each other. The mystery of her unusual heritage begins to unravel, sending Diem and Luther on an unexpected journey across the realms. The answers may hold the key to winning the war, but finding them will require her to face painful truths about her mother, her bloodline, and her fate. Meanwhile, the Crowns have set Diem in their sights. Some could be her greatest allies—while others want her dead. To end their oppressive reign, Diem must sort friend from foe and risk it all to build an army of her own. But a powerful figure in the north has plans that could change everything... My Thoughts/Opinion Book three built on all the emotion, allegiances, and secrets from book two. The tension and plot both progressed really well and they story exposed a lot more of the world building. Also loved the growth of Diem and Luther as characters and as lovers. The cliffhanger at the end of the story has me waiting with bated breath for the fourth and final installment. Favorite Quote: “Show me your worst, my darling, and I’ll show you how far my love can go.”

Story Blurb An unexpected gift offers the power to change everything. Keeping it could cost Diem her life. The threat of war has arrived at Diem’s doorstep, along with a new discovery that could save her people. To use it, she must survive the next thirty days by forming a devil’s bargain with the people she hates most: the royal family of House Corbois. But as she dives into the world of the Descended elite, Diem quickly realizes good and evil aren’t as simple as they seem. Old prejudices are challenged, and new loyalties blur the line between friend and foe. Meanwhile, her mother is still missing, and the secrets she left behind can no longer be ignored—and neither can the Guardians and their demands. Caught between an old flame and a sizzling new spark, Diem must confront the truth about who she is and what she wants before time runs out. War is coming, and dangerous enemies wait on all sides.. but the most deadly battle Diem faces may be the one for her heart. My Thoughts/Opinion The second book in the Everflame series was fantastic. Our heroine, Diem, is forced to explore her own secrets as well as where her allegiances lie and the strength of her own convictions. Figuring out who she is, and what she's becoming, will change everything. This is book 2 of 4 and it is so good. I am excited and hooked. Ready to see what book three will bring! Favorite Quote: “His thumb raked across my lower lip. “I want every breath, every laugh, every tear. Every taste of your mouth, every inch of your skin. I want to kneel at your feet, soaked in the blood of your enemies, then worship your body until you scream my name.” His hands slid to my hips and tugged me closer. “Yes, Diem, I want to serve you—in every way a man can.”

Story Blurb When old secrets catch fire, everything will burn. In a mortal world colonized by the gods and ruled over by the Descended, their cruel offspring, Diem Bellator yearns to escape the insular life of her poor village. Her mother’s sudden disappearance—and the discovery of a dangerous secret about her past—offer Diem an unexpected opportunity to enter the dark world of Descended royalty and unlock the web of mysteries her mother left behind. With the dying King’s handsome, mysterious heir watching her every move, and a ruthless mortal alliance recruiting her to join the growing civil war, Diem will have to navigate the unwritten rules of love, power, and politics in order to save her family—and all of mortalkind. My Thoughts/Opinion I stumbled across this romantasy series once the word got out that it had been picked up by a trad publisher. This first book was a little sluggish to start but the main character, Diem Bellator, is very compelling. The primary hero, Luther Corbois, has a troubled backstory The world building and the conflicts that are building made the book worth reading and by the end of the first book, I was absolutely hooked. Can't wait to jump into the next book! Favorite Quote: “You think I fear my own death?” he whispered in my ear. “Every day I draw breath is as much a curse as a gift. I’ve been living on borrowed time for longer than you can imagine. If you’re the way my fate finally catches up to me, I can’t fathom a more beautiful end.”

Story Blurb A grumpy farmer and a no-nonsense social media influencer have another chance at love in this charming romantic comedy. Evelyn St. James isn’t the kind of woman you forget. Beckett Porter certainly hasn’t. One incredible weekend in Maine, and he’s officially a man distracted. He’s not unfamiliar with hot and heavy flings, but Evie wove some sort of magic over him during their tumble in the sheets. He can’t stop thinking about her laugh. Her hand pressed flat against his chest. Her smiling mouth at his neck.  So when she suddenly appears on his farm as part of a social media contest, he is…confused. He had no idea that the sweet and sexy woman he met at a bar is actually a global phenomenon. When Evie disappears again, Beckett resolves to finally move on. But Evie, who has been feeling disconnected from her work and increasingly dissatisfied with life online, is trying to find her way back to something real. She returns to the last place she was happy: Lovelight Farms and the tiny town of Inglewild. And it has absolutely nothing to do with the hot farmer she spent two incredible nights with. My Thoughts/Opinion I met this author over the Christmas Season with Lovelight Farms, the first book in this series. In that story, we met Beckett & Evie as secondary characters and knew there was history there. I'm so glad I had a chance to dive back into this world. I loved Beckett's grumpy nature and heart of gold. I also loved Evie's self-discovery. The writing is fantastic. I'm a big fan of this author, and will happily read everything she writes! Favorite Quote: “I swear I’ve turned into the tin man since she started sleeping in my house. A bunch of rattling cans, looking around for where the hell my heart got off to.”

Story Blurb What happens when you’re snowed in on a mountain ranch, with the one man you definitely should not be fantasizing about? I’ve always done what was expected of me. Layla Birch, the good girl. Forced to grow up too fast. To take care of everything myself. I had a plan. Only, I didn’t count on him. Colton Wilder. The cowboy nearly twice my age. He’s my dream man. One who takes care of me, gives me a job, and makes my pulse thud harder every time he comes near. My ex-boyfriend’s father. The nights are long and cold on top of this mountain. As the snow grows thicker and the tension builds between us, we’re both inching closer to a line we shouldn’t cross. Each day, it grows harder to resist the man who looks at me with longing in his eyes. It’s tempting to forget about being the good girl for once. No one would find out. Would they? My Thoughts/Opinion Whew!! Finished this one earlier today and I'm still bothered. In the best of ways. It takes a good author to put that much spice in a book and still have a really compelling story where the spice isn't just for...well...the spice. Not that I'm complaining. Elliott Rose is one of the best at it. But this story also had a really great heroine with strong convictions and goals, a hero worth melting over, and an epic love between them that came through on every page. I'm ready for book two in this series! Favorite Quote: My cowboy is here, and I'm a mess. Blurry vision. Silent sobs. The longer he holds me, the more that faint scent of leather mixed with cedar coats me, fills me, nourishes me back to life. It's like all the vividness of the world rushes back in, and for the first time in five agonizingly long months, I feel like oxygen has returned to expand my lungs.

Story Blurb A week on an island sounds like the stuff of beach dreams, but for Paisley Royce, it's a nightmare. Her little sister is marrying her ex-college sweetheart, and Paisley is serving as maid of honor. To add insult to injury, nobody will let Paisley forget she’s single. Bachelorette weekend changes everything when she runs into her old college frenemy, Klein Madigan. Klein is still intelligent and funny, and somehow time has only made him more attractive. Paisley is Klein’s ‘one that got away’, not that he’d ever admit it to her. A colossal misstep (and one terrible kiss) in college sealed their fate. Or so they thought. Klein’s an aspiring author allergic to social media. Paisley owns a digital marketing agency. A brilliant plan is hatched: A trip across the country for a week of faking out her family in exchange for her firm marketing his work. One hastily scrawled and signed contract on a bar napkin later, Paisley and Klein embark on a journey of tension, only one bed, and fake dating shenanigans. Paisley’s goal is to survive the week. Klein’s plan is to enjoy the sun, sand, and wedding cake. But then there’s a scorching kiss to make up for that bad one in college. And another kiss in a lighthouse during a thunderstorm. A gentle palm on Paisley’s lower back, and a reassuring hand squeeze under the table. Everyone is convinced Klein and Paisley are the real deal, but as the week wears on, they begin to wonder if the only people they’re kidding are themselves. My Thoughts/Opinion I don't remember how this book was recommended to me, and honestly, the cover made me a little reluctant to read it. However, when I finally dove in, I couldn't have been happier I made the choice. Paisley is a spunky heroine who has forged her own path to success. Klein is a dreamy book boyfriend who never fails to say and do just the right thing to help Paisley through this really tough situation. I love a well-written cinnamon roll hero and Klein is all that and more. I loved the story, the family dynamics, and of course, the HEA. I'll definitely be looking for more from this author. Favorite Quote: “We had something back then, Paisley, and we have something today, and that tells me we'll have something in twenty years. In forty. In fifty. We are evergreen."

Story Blurb A tale of gods, kings, immortal fame, and the human heart, The Song of Achilles is a dazzling literary feat that brilliantly reimagines Homer’s enduring masterwork, The Iliad. An action-packed adventure, an epic love story, a marvelously conceived and executed page-turner, Miller’s monumental debut novel has already earned resounding acclaim from some of contemporary fiction’s brightest lights—and fans of Mary Renault, Bernard Cornwell, Steven Pressfield, and Colleen McCullough’s Masters of Rome series will delight in this unforgettable journey back to ancient Greece in the Age of Heroes. My Thoughts/Opinion I haven't read a lot of Greek Mythology, but this book was so good, I immediately went and downloaded both The Iliad and The Odyssey. It was dangerous, rapturous, and edgy. The storytelling was exceptional and on multiple occasions I struggled to put the book down and get back to real life responsibilities. Whether or not you know much about Greek Mythology, this book is a fantastic story that I highly recommend. Favorite Quote: “And perhaps it is the greater grief, after all, to be left on earth when another is gone.”

Story Blurb Artist Sloan Monroe just can't seem to get her life on track. But one trouble-making pup who randomly jumps into her car with a "take me home" look in his eyes is about to change everything. With Tucker by her side, Sloan finally starts to feel more like herself. Then, after weeks of unanswered texts, Tucker's owner reaches out. He's a musician on tour in Australia. And bottom line: He wants Tucker back. Well, Sloan's not about to give up her dog without a fight. But what if this Jason guy really loves Tucker? As their flirty texts turn into long calls, Sloan can't deny a connection. Jason is hot and nice and funny. There's no telling what could happen when they meet in person. The question is: With his music career on the rise, how long will Jason really stick around? And is it possible for Sloan to survive another heartbreak? My Thoughts/Opinion We met Sloan as Kristen's best friend from The Friend Zone and when I confirmed this book was Sloan's story I IMMEDIATELY downloaded it. I was terribly heartbroken for her in the previous story and oh my gosh, did Abby write an incredible story for Sloan. What I love so much about Abby's books isn't just that the characters find their happily ever afters, it's that she goes deep into their character arcs and the layers she's able to put in her stories are phenomenal. Jason was Sloan's perfect hero, and not without faults and growth of his own. It's so hard to pick a favorite of Abby's stories, but this one has to be top three, at least. I super highly recommend any of them, but if you read this story, do yourself a favor and read The Friend Zone first. Favorite Quote: I was a ghost, wandering the rooms of a museum of the person I used to be, and Jason was like one of the living who could somehow see me and decided to wander the place with me.

Story Blurb When Vanessa Price quit her job to pursue her dream of traveling the globe, she wasn't expecting to gain millions of YouTube followers who shared her joy of seizing every moment. For her, living each day to its fullest isn't just a motto. Her mother and sister never saw the age of 30, and Vanessa doesn't want to take anything for granted. But after her half sister suddenly leaves Vanessa in custody of her baby daughter, life goes from "daily adventure" to "next-level bad" (now with bonus baby vomit in hair). The last person Vanessa expects to show up offering help is the hot lawyer next door, Adrian Copeland. After all, she barely knows him. No one warned her that he was the Secret Baby Tamer or that she'd be spending a whole lot of time with him and his geriatric Chihuahua. Now she's feeling things she's vowed not to feel. Because the only thing worse than falling for Adrian is finding a little hope for a future she may never see. My Thoughts/Opinion When I read Friend Zone and briefly met Adrian Copeland, I had high hopes that I'd get to see him again and as per usual, Abby didn't disappoint. What a complex heroine Vanessa is! And although I didn't think Adrian's backstory necessarily warranted his drama, he was a great hero for Vanessa. One of the things that I love about Abby's books is that she doesn't do cookie cutter, vanilla conflict or crisis. Her characters' issues are BIG and she does an incredible job of massaging the story to get real and valid HEAs. Needless to say, she did it again for Vanessa and Adrian. Abby has quickly become a one-click author for me. Favorite Quote: "You are the flood, Vanessa. Your pour into me, washing away everything that I used to think mattered and then filling me up to the top until I'm drowned in nothing but you."