Swoon Worthy Spotlights #9

Welcome to Swoon Worthy Spotlights hosted by Bookworm Nation, Katie's Clean Book Collection and KJ's Book Nook! Once a month we will feature 1-3 of our favorite books that we have read during the month. We will share the cover(s), our review(s) and a link to each other's post so you can check out which books we have all chosen!

For this month's Swoon Worthy Spotlights I am going to choose...

A New Shade of Summer by Nicole Deese

The Trickster Makes a Match by Bria Quinlan

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And don't for get to check Kathy's post here and Katie's post here!

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Do you have a blog and want to join us for Swoon Worthy Spotlights? Then grab the picture and post with us! We will be posting on the last day of each month. Make sure you share your link with us so we can check out your favorite authors as well!

Happy reading my fellow bookworms!

A New Shade of Summer by Nicole Deese

Synopsis:

As an artist, Callie Quinn relies on inspiration to guide her wandering soul. This summer she accepts a short-term muralist job in her sister’s charming town to spend some much-needed time with her family. After meeting her nephew’s friend, Brandon, she’s eager to draw out his untapped artistic talents—however, it’s the boy’s straitlaced single father who could use a little color in his life.

Davis Carter may be the town’s favorite animal whisperer, but his experience is limited when it comes to understanding his preteen’s rebellious behavior. Desperate for a breakthrough, he follows the lead of a free spirit who claims to know the way into his son’s closed-off world. Soon, Davis isn’t the only one caught up in the hope of a new beginning.

Just as Callie considers trading her unattached existence for a life rich with promise and permanence, an unexpected visit from the past threatens to send her packing once again. Davis and Callie must learn to surrender their fears so they can find a love that will outlast the summer.

My Review: 5 Stars

Callie Quinn is a wanderer. She never stays in one place for very long. Putting down roots is always the furthest thing from her mind. 

Davis Carter is a widower who has been raising his son, Brandon, on his own for the last 7 years. He never planned on raising him alone but fate just hasn't been on his side when it comes to finding someone to spend the rest of their lives with. 

Enter Callie. She is the complete opposite of what he thinks he needs in his life. But then he sees her connect with Brandon in a way that he has never been able to do. Is this fate's way of telling him to take another chance on love? 

No one is more shocked than Callie when she arrives in Lenox and meets the town's favorite animal whisperer and starts feeling things she has never felt before. But this just can't happen. She's not built to be the forever kind of gal. But the more time she spends with Davis and Brandon, the more she starts to think maybe... just maybe this can work.  

But just when things start to move forward between Callie and Davis, the past rears it's ugly head and has Callie second guessing what her heart wants. Can Davis get her to open her heart and her mind? Can he help her to realize that the past does not control our future? That we are the ones in charge of our own destiny? How can he get her to see that if she wants something then she needs to reach out, grab it and hold on tight. Then, and only then, can they move forward and get their happily ever after. 

Oh my gosh! I absolutely LOVED this book! If anyone deserves a HEA, it's definitely Callie and Davis! These two have been through so much in their lives and continue to put others before themselves. They bring out the best in the other and couldn't be more perfect together! I enjoyed watching their journeys as individuals, a couple and a family. The feels are definitely real my friends! The Love in Lenox series is definitely one of my favorites that will be read over and over and over again! I love it that much! 

Ms. Deese has definitely earned her spot on my favorite authors list! I honestly don't even read synopsis's anymore... I just auto buy the books! And she never disappoints! She really is an amazing and talented writer! 

And of course I couldn't forget my casting! For those of you who have read it, I'm sorry! I just couldn't resist! This was just too perfect! ;) Hehe. What do you think?

Swoon Worthy Spotlights #2

Welcome to Swoon Worthy Spotlights hosted by Bookworm Nation, Katie's Clean Book Collection and KJ's Book Nook! Once a month we will feature 1-3 of our favorite books that we have read during the month. We will share the cover(s), our review(s) and a link to each other's post so you can check out which books we have all chosen!

For month's Swoon Worthy Spotlights I am going to choose...

When Fireflies Sing by Christene Houston

Bound by Secrets by Tracey Jane Jackson

A Season to Love by Nicole Deese

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And don't for get to check Kathy's post here and Katie's post here!

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Do you have a blog and want to join us for Swoon Worthy Spotlights? Then grab the picture and post with us! We will be posting on the last day of each month. Make sure you share your link with us so we can check out your favorite authors as well!

Happy reading my fellow bookworms!

A Season to Love by Nicole Deese

Synopsis:

At this point in her life, bravery is not a trait Willa Hart would readily claim. She believes her seven-year-old daughter, Savannah, who never knew her father and successfully tackled chemotherapy, is truly the courageous one. Yet after Willa has a fateful encounter with handsome young doctor Patrick McCade, her outlook—and her view of herself—begins to change.

Patrick, a thrill-seeking world traveler and temporary resident of Lenox, Oregon, sets out to show Willa the value of adventure, even within her tiny town. But just when their friendship shows signs of turning into something more, Patrick’s life as a traveling doctor calls him back. Will his last days in town signal the end of their journey, or will Patrick and Willa find the courage to transform a single season into a lifetime?


My Review: 5 Beautiful, Amazing Stars!

My second read of A Season to Love and I have to say I loved it just as much if not more the second time around! *dreamy sigh*

Willa's life hasn't been the easiest.. far from it in fact. Between losing her husband unexpectedly and her daughter, Savannah, being diagnosed with cancer, she has stopped living her life. She is just existing and doing everything she can to keep her family safe and close at all times. Although she has promised Savannah that things will change now that she is cancer free, she is scared to death to even try. Her brother, Weston, pushes her to do more, to get out and live her life. But she still just can't bring herself to do it. It's going to take a lot more than Weston's pushing to break down the walls she has built up and start truly living again.

Enter Patrick. *dreamy sigh*

Patrick is only in Lenox for a very short period of time helping in his father's medical practice while he is away. Mr. Adventurer, who lives life to the fullest, is just what the doctor ordered for Willa... literally. ;) Who better to help her break out of her shell and see that she has had the power within her the whole time to become who she was meant to be? She just needs a little, or at times, a big push in the right direction. I absolutely LOVED watching their relationship grow and evolve into more over time. I have said it before in other reviews and I will say it again because it is so, so true. These two were seriously perfect for each other! They brought out the best in each other and lifted each other up during the difficult times. These two are seriously AMAZING!

While the romance was sweet (and I loved every minute of it), this story really was about self discovery and pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone.. not only for Willa but for Patrick as well. It was amazing to watch Willa grasp onto her freedom and sore! The last scene at Cougar Mountain was by far the BEST one to show how truly amazing Willa is and how far she had come from the beginning of the book! I am not ashamed to admit that I cried cleansing, happy tears for her during that scene. :)

One paragraph in that scene sums up everything for both Willa and Patrick perfectly in my opinion. Even though it was Willa's thoughts, it definitely can be applied to Patrick's life as well. "How many paths had I avoided in life? How many times had I been content to stop at 'close enough' - too afraid to push ahead? To afraid to let go?"  It really makes you think about their relationship and what a huge part they played in each others lives. <3

And can I just tell you how much I loved Alex?! From the moment her appearance was mentioned (down to her hair color), I knew she would be an important part of the story and that she would be one of my favorite side characters. There's just something about those spunky, sassy characters that get me every single time... ;)

 A Season to Love is one of the best stories I have read! I was sucked in from the very beginning. I stayed up way too late reading and woke up way too early just to finish it! I was hoping after I read A Cliché Christmas that Willa would get her own HEA and I was seriously blown away at how amazing her story was! It is one that I will forever treasure. It was just what I needed to read at this time in my life. Seriously AMAZING! If you have not read this series yet then my suggestion is to go grab both books and read them right now! You will NOT be disappointed! :)

After only reading two books by Nicole Deese, I am hooked! I'm definitely looking forward to other books by her! She is officially on my favorite authors list! Gotta love it when you find new authors! <3

And of course one of my favorite parts of reviewing... my casting choice! I think I am in love! ;) Hehe.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

The Promise of Rayne by Nicole Deese

Synopsis:

Rayne Shelby has spent her entire life trying to earn the approval of her high-powered family, with the hope of one day managing her late grandfather’s prestigious Idaho lodge. But when she makes a mistake that puts her future in jeopardy, she faces an impossible choice: defy her family or deny her dream. The only way to fix the mess she’s created is to enlist the help of her neighbor, Levi, the apprentice of her family’s greatest enemy. And if Rayne gets caught crossing the divided property lines, the consequences will be irreparable.

Levi Harding has never forgotten the August night he shared with Rayne when they were teens—or the way she later rejected him. Despite his warring instincts, he can’t ignore her plea for help or the spark that’s ignited between them. But now, as wildfires bear down on their town and family secrets are revealed, their newfound alliance might just go up in smoke.

My Review: 5 Stars

Rayne has been groomed her entire life to be the perfect politicians daughter. She has done everything she has ever been told to do. But no matter what she does, she can never measure up to what her father and uncle want her to be. She always seems to disappoint them. 

But that never stops her. She continues to make sacrifice after sacrifice in hopes to prove to her father and uncle that she can carry on the legacy of the Shelby Lodge. She has big dreams of turning it into exactly what her grandfather wanted it to be. A place where the community can gather together to celebrate good times as well as come together in bad times and in times of need. 

One mistake. Just one. That's all it takes to put her future at the lodge in jeopardy. But with so much on the line, she can't afford to disappoint her uncle again. So, she does the unthinkable. She seeks help from Levi, who is the apprentice to her family's biggest enemy, Ford Winslow. 

Levi knows all about the feud between the Shelbys and Ford. He knows the lies that have been told and all the damage that has been done to his employer. But there is just something about Rayne Shelby that he just can't say no to. He agrees to help... for a price. 

But once the arrangement has been completed, he has a hard time staying away from Rayne. He feels drawn to her, protective of her. He's determined to get her to open her eyes and see all the lies and damage her family has done over the years. Only then will they be able to move forward to the future. 

But with no real answers from her uncle, Rayne is forced to set out on the path of discovery. Discovery of who she is, discovery of what her grandfather's legacy truly is, discovery of love, discovery of truth, discovery of forgiveness. 

In the end, Rayne will discover the truth. She will discover that she's enough. She will discover where she's meant to be and who she's meant to be with. She will discover The Promise of Rayne. 

Wow! Just wow! Those were my thoughts the moment I finished this book. Nicole Deese has a way of kidnapping you from real life, placing you in her books and taking you on an adventure with her characters. You feel like you are right there with them, experiencing everything they are, feeling everything they do. She has you rooting for the good guys, wanting to crush the bad guys and of course swooning over all the sweet, romantic moments. She has quickly become one of my favorite authors and I look forward to reading more by her! 

And of course no review would be complete without a casting. These two are definitely swoon worthy, am I right?! *dreamy sigh*

*I received a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are solely my own.*

A Summer Remade by Nicole Deese

Synopsis:

Joss Sanders needs an escape. Or maybe she just needs a reminder of a sweeter, simpler, and steadier time. But her family's vacation cabin isn't exactly how she remembered it as a child, and neither is the charming young man who lives next door.

Change is everywhere, and if Joss doesn't learn to embrace it, she just might lose the second chance she needs the most.

My Review: 4 Stars

Life is hard. Change is inevitable. Not everything is going to go our way. But instead of embracing the changes, we all try to hold on to normal, hold on to safe. 

And that is exactly what Joss does when her whole life is turned upside down. Running away to her family's cabin on Lopez Island is just what she needs when life becomes too much for her to bare. But instead of coming to terms with everything, Joss is desperate to find and use any little thing she can to make sure life goes back to the way it used to be. 

Little did she know that fate had something else in store. Enter Drew. He used to be the chubby kid that all the other kids made fun of during the summer on the island. But now he's all grown up and is in the perfect position to help Joss come to terms with all the curve balls life has been throwing at her. And if she can help him in return, life just might start looking up for the both of them. 

I really enjoyed this sweet, coming of age novella. I laughed, I got teary eyed, I let out little dreamy sighs and found myself smiling quite a bit. With all the craziness going on in my life at the moment, this was the perfect read for me. It can all be summed up in a paragraph from the book... "If this summer's taught me anything, it's to appreciate every moment. The small, the big, and the life-altering. I tuck each memory into a cherished pocket of my heart, pull down my sunglasses and slip into my car." That. That right there makes me want to tell everyone that life is too short... remember to cherish every moment and to embrace it! 

Nicole Deese is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. All of her books I have read so far, I have loved. I am definitely looking forward to reading more books by her! If you haven't read anything of hers yet then you are missing out. She really is an amazing author! <3 

And of course I can't forget my casting! This one is mostly my imagination and I really like it! :)

  

A Cliché Christmas by Nicole Deese

Synopsis:

Writing happy endings is easy. Living one is the hard part.

Georgia Cole—known in Hollywood as the “Holiday Goddess”—has made a name for herself writing heartwarming screenplays chock-full of Christmas clichés, but she has yet to experience the true magic of the season. So, when her eccentric grandmother volunteers her to direct a pageant at Georgia’s hometown community theater, she is less than thrilled. To make matters worse, she’ll be working alongside Weston James, her childhood crush and the one man she has tried desperately to forget.

Now, facing memories of a lonely childhood and the humiliation of her last onstage performance, seven years earlier, Georgia is on the verge of a complete mistletoe meltdown. As Weston attempts to thaw the frozen walls around her heart, Georgia endeavors to let go of her fears and give love a second chance. If she does, will she finally believe that Christmas can be more than a cliché?

My Review: 5 Stars

Georgia grew up in a small town that was just not very nice to her. She didn't have any friends (except Weston who was always picking on her and doing all the things little boys do to the girls they like), her mom was a total loser (my words and opinion), the only person she could really depend on was her Nan. When disaster strikes and she is humiliated in front of the whole town she does the only thing she could do... run.

It's been seven years since she has left Lenox and she has made quite the name for herself. With several dozen screenplays and a few Hallmark movies under her belt, she is known as the Hollywood Goddess. If only her life was like her screenplays...

Weston has been in love with Georgia for years! He thought that they really had something when she all the sudden ran away and didn't look back. Now that she is heading back to Lenox to help with a fundraiser for little Savannah, he has the chance to prove to her what they could have. But he has his work cut out for him... Georgia is one stubborn woman! Good thing that Weston is even more stubborn than she is! ;)

Once the horrible misunderstanding was cleared up, Georgia and Weston had seven years worth of catching up to do. I absolutely loved watching their relationship develop and become stronger. Seeing them admit their feelings for each other?! *dreamy sigh* And can we just mention all the nicknames that Weston has for Georgia?! LOVED them!!

All in all this was definitely a very cute Christmas romance! It's full of everything that helps bring the true meaning of Christmas into the lives of everyone. The only thing that I did not like about the book is... you guessed it... the ending! It just ended! Grrrr. Why do authors do this to me?! Lol. This book would definitely be complete if there was an epilogue... even if it was just a few months down the line. Unless the author has plans for a sequel?! Maybe Willa's story?! Now THAT would be awesome!!

This was my first book by Nicole Deese and I can tell you that it definitely will not be my last! I'm looking forward to reading more by her! :)

And of course I cannot forget my casting! I really, really like this one! Hehe.