A Match for the Marine by Jess Mastorakos

 

Synopsis:

Matchmaker Rule #1: Never fall in love with the client.

Amy Thomas is in the running to become CEO of First Comes Love. All she has to do is outmatch her conniving co-worker. Maintaining her perfect matchmaking track record should be no problem, especially since her client is a hot Marine with bulging biceps and a killer smile.

Gunnery Sergeant Dexter Harrington is not looking for love, but his mother has been laying on the guilt about not wanting him to die alone. So when she buys him the VIP package at Southern California’s premier matchmaking company, he has no choice but to play ball.

Right from the start, Dex recognizes Amy is a better match for him than any of the disastrous dates she arranges. Amy isn’t going to let the gorgeous gunny get in the way of achieving her life’s goal. What happens when the matchmaker is the perfect match for the Marine?

My Review: 4 Stars

Y'all. Love seems to find people when they least expect it and when they aren't even looking for it.

Amy is a matchmaker on her way to becoming the next C.E.O. of First Comes Love. Dex is a single marine who's mother signed him up as a client at said company. Both of them are so focused on other things that neither of them saw the other one coming.

This was such a cute book. I loved watching Amy and Dex's relationship grow from friends into something more. Some might think that these two could never work, but they totally do. Their journey was a fun one and I loved seeing the walls they both had built up around their hearts come crumbling down. I will admit that it was a little slow going for me and I would have loved to see more interaction between Amy and Dex as a couple, but that didn't stop me from enjoying the book. 😊

I'm really looking forward to the other books in this series. I think Claire and Mateo's books is going to be lots of fun. But I have this feeling that Huck's book is going to be my favorite. There's just something about him that has me intrigued. I think Mr. Jaded needs someone who is feisty and full of sass. Someone who will keep him on his toes. It'll definitely be fun to watch. 😉 

It's always a great day when a book by Ms. Mastorakos hits my kindle. They're definitely a fun break from reality and I know that she'll have me swooning and letting out little dreamy sighs. I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next!

As for my casting... I saw these two pretty early on. I'm in love! What do you think?!

On Her Own by N.J. Ricks

Synopsis:

"I’m sorry. I don’t think I am cut out for marriage. I tried."

After the unexpected end of her five-year marriage, Emily Walsh is back in her hometown, dreading the ghosts of her past and ashamed of her failed marriage. Back in the house she grew up in, she is faced with the demons she has been able to ignore for years while trying to find out who she is all over again.

She is surprised to find an unexpected friendly face from her past who reminds her of who she used to be and helps her see what her life could be if she were only willing to take the chance.

As Emily tries to gain her footing in her new life, she encounters obstacles, the greatest of which may be her own insecurities. She will have to decide if she will allow the pain from her past to keep her from the future she never knew she always wanted.

My Review: 5 Stars

Confession. I am one of the biggest mood readers you'll ever meet. Between yesterday and today, I have downloaded about 35 samples of books looking for "something different". While talking to one of my bestest book friends, she suggested I check out N.J. Ricks. After reading the description for On Her Own, I knew this was going to be a winner.

From the moment I started reading, I was transported to the small town of Stevensville where I walked side by side with Emily through her journey of self-discovery and love. This was not an easy journey. She's just coming out of a bad marriage, she doesn't know who she is anymore and her fears and insecurities are stopping her from going after the future she deserves.

Enter Brandon, her childhood best friend she hasn't seen in over a decade. And like the best of the best best friends, they picked up right where they left off as if no time had passed at all. Their friendship is easy and just what Emily needs. If anyone can help her figure out her future, it's Brandon. She'll have to face some hard times and make some tough decisions, but he'll never leave her side.

I adored this book and had a really hard time putting it down. I absolutely loved the nostalgia in it. I was transported back to when I was a kid, swinging on swings, doing underdogs, climbing the "spiderweb" dome, running to the huge tractor tires at recess and snagging the inside before anyone else could. Life was so much simpler back then. I don't know about you, but I miss the good ol' days!

This is my first book by Ms. Ricks and I can tell you it won't be my last. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the books in this series and whatever else she writes in the future. Finding new authors is the BEST!

And of course I can't for get my casting. What do you think?

Ain't No Other Man by Chelsea Davidson

 

Synopsis:

There is a thin line between love and hate. For Allison Walsh, that line was a tightrope hanging a hundred feet in the air, with no safety net to catch her if--or when--she fell.

Ali was barely treading water after losing her big brother, who was her hero and best friend. His sudden death left her to raise her twin nephews when the man that was supposed to share the responsibility with her went MIA after the funeral.

Kade's MMA training made him a champion, but it never equipped him to fight off the one force beyond his control: his feelings for his best friend's little sister. He's sure his demons mean he's not good enough for her, but he's going to do everything in his power to conquer them.

When the hunky, tattooed fighter shows up on Ali's doorstep out of the blue with a bag hanging over his shoulder and a smile that would make a nun blush, he seems different. But after all he's put her through, Ali's not in a forgive-and-forget kinda mood.

Will Kade prove that he's the man worthy of Ali's heart and trust, or will his past sins determine their future?

My Review: 4.5 Stars

One of my favorite things about reading is finding new to me authors. The search for them can be a lengthy process for my reading preferences. There have been times that I've downloaded upwards of 50 samples of books, only to have none of them grab and keep my attention. So imagine my surprise when I download ONE sample and it ends up being a winner.

Y'all. Can I just tell you how excited I was to see a character named KJ?! Like SO excited... until I discovered KJ was actually a 13 year old boy. I may or may not have said... "Oh come on! Really?!" It had me going back in time when I met a guy named Kevin Johnson and he demanded that he was the one and only KJ. He did not like me pointing out the Kathy Jo was my FIRST name so therefore, I was the one and only KJ! 🤣

Buuuuuuuuuut.... I digress. 

I absolutely adored Ali, Kade, Ricky and KJ. They haven't had it easy the last 18 months since Patrick, Ali's brother, Kade's best friend and Ricky and KJ's dad, suddenly passed away. Their lives have been turned upside down and they're left trying to figure out how to go on without their rock. It wasn't easy and they all dealt with it in their own ways. I enjoyed watching them figure out their new normal, grow closer together and move on as a family unit. I loved the Hallmark feel to it. ❤️

This was such a fun break from reality. Just what the doctor ordered after a week of craziness. For a few hours I was able to escape my life and enjoy all things Ali, Kade, Ricky and KJ. My only complaint would be more kisses! Y'all know how much I love me some swoony kisses! Hehe. 😉

I am officially hooked on this series. There's just something about the small town, the feisty heroines and the swoony heroes that has this girl wanting to go back to visit over and over again. I cannot wait to get my hands on Jess and Ethan's book. I can already tell Jess is going to be a handful and I love it! Haha.

You know what else I love? I love when authors who write steamy books see that there's also a market for sweet books and choose to share their talent with both markets. Some authors are more successful than others when it comes to making their books clean and Ms. Davidson is one of them. I may or may not have let out a ssssswwwwweeeeeeeeeettttt! as I read her "no explicit content or graphic language" in the description while downloading her book via KU. We need more authors who are willing to do this! Don't you think?!

As for my casting... y'all. I. Am. In. Love! What do you think?