Taylor Lynne by Jennifer Peel

Synopsis:

Determined not to repeat the same mistakes as her mother, Taylor Cole left her husband with their toddler in tow fourteen years ago and vowed never to return to Merryton. Now she is finally ready to face her demons and put the past and her ex-husband behind her, but to do that she and her daughter must return to the place that haunts her memories. A place where she lost not only the love of her life, but her childhood hopes and dreams.

When they move back, Taylor can’t seem to remain apathetic toward her ex-husband or his nine-year-old daughter. She discovers that maybe all wasn’t as it seemed so many years ago. And maybe—just maybe—she and her ex-husband need each other more now than they ever have before. But can the exes put the past behind them and find a way to forgive each other? Or will they let past mistakes and misunderstandings keep them from future happiness?

Return to Merryton and join Taylor and Easton on their journey, and catch up with old friends you grew to love in Jessie Belle.

My Review: 5+ Amazingly Beautiful Second Chance Stars!

May 2017:

*dreamy sigh* I am SO glad that I am rereading all of Jennifer's books! I am falling in love all over again with these characters! Still 5+ stars for me! Merryton is definitely one of my most favorite places to visit! <3

April 2016:

Taylor Lynne ran away from the small town of Merryton, CO 14 years ago and swore she would never return. When her ex-husband Easton wants to build a relationship with their daughter Ashley and have her get to know her sister, Emmy, Taylor decides this is just what she needs to finally get over Easton. Little did she know that fate had something else in store for her.

Easton knows he made a huge mistake by letting Taylor go all those years ago without a fight. Now that she is back in Merryton, he will do his best to right his wrongs. He definitely has a fight on his hands but it's totally worth it if the prize is having Taylor and Ashley back in his life.

Ashley was such a strong, amazing girl! Even though she had been hurt by her father's lack of contact, she was willing to move back to Merryton and give him a second chance, give themselves a chance to get to know the each other and build a strong father/daughter relationship.

And little Emmy won my heart from the very beginning. Even though she is only 9 years old, the adorable little girl is broken.. haunted by her mother. Taylor tried her best to stay away from Emmy, but she too fell in love with the little girl. She showered her with love and affection and the little girl blossomed! Oh how my heart melted with all their interactions!

This book was absolutely AMAZING! I LOVED it! The message of love, forgiveness, growth, family, friendship, fresh starts, new beginnings, second chances... it was all prominent throughout the book. I was sucked in from the very beginning. I stayed up way too late and woke up way too early just to finish it. I had to see how Taylor, Easton, Ashley and Emmy would become a family... I had to see them get their HEA! And I was definitely NOT disappointed! Have I told you that this book is absolutely AMAZING?!

If you guys have not read anything by Jennifer Peel yet then you are seriously missing out! She has a way of capturing you and not letting you go until the journey has been completed. I have devoured and loved every single one of her books! She is truly talented! I can't wait for her next book to be released!

And of course I could not forget my casting! These two are pretty perfect in my opinion.. ;) Hehe.

** I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. **

Heart of Ice by K.M. Shea

Synopsis:

Rakel, a princess by birth, has spent most of her life exiled on a barren mountain, despised because of her powerful snow magic. Though she longs to be accepted, she hides in her ice-castle and lives with the fear that her brother—the King—will one day order her execution.

Her empty life changes forever when an army of magic users—led by the enigmatic Colonel Farrin Graydim—invade her home country and plan to enslave its citizens. Swallowing her fear, Rakel joins forces with her jailers and uses her magic to save the people who scorned her.

If Rakel cannot defend her homeland, the country will be lost.

My Review: 4 Stars

When Rakel was just a toddler, her family discovered that she was a snow magic user. Scared and not sure what to do with the unknown, they lock her away in a tower. As she got older, they decided to exile her to a barren mountain. She's all alone expect for her attendant, Oskar, and rotating guards that change every 3-5 years. It's been over a decade and everyone is still afraid of her. It doesn't matter that she hasn't done anything to them, they still try to kill her. But all she wants is to be left in peace. 

When Oskar informs her that her kingdom is in trouble, she has a choice to make. Does she stay on her mountain and let the kingdom suffer for the way they have treated her? Or does she step up and protect them from the magic users who are trying to take over her kingdom? Her head is telling her to let them deal with it on their own. But her heart is telling her that she must help them no matter what they have done to her in the past. 

But the battle will not be easy. She will need to learn to trust others around her as well as trusting in herself and in her magic. It's definitely easier said than done. But with the help and love of her closest advisors and new friends, she starts to realize that she does have what it takes to protect what is hers. And protect it she will. 

While the majority of the books I read are clean romances with HEA, I was pleasantly surprised with Heart of Ice. The romance element really isn't there. But I found that I was okay with it. I was sucked in from the beginning and definitely enjoyed this break from reality. I was bummed that it ended in a cliffhanger though. I will definitely be picking up the next book in the series to see how everything ends. 

This is my first book by K.M. Shea and I really enjoyed it. I look forward to reading more books by her! 

Author's Corner #5

Welcome to Author's Corner hosted by Bookworm Nation, Katie's Clean Book Collection and KJ's Book Nook! Once a month we will feature either a favorite author or new to us author. We will share the author's bio, one of our favorite books of theirs and a review. Each of us will be featuring a different author each month so there will also be links to each of our posts.

For this month's Author's Corner I am going to choose...

Nicole Deese

Nicole Deese is a full time lover of humorous, heartfelt, and hope-filled fiction. When she's not writing a sweet romance, she can usually be found reading one near a window while drinking La Croix. She lives in small-town, Idaho with her handsome hubby and two sons.

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Whenever I pick up a Nicole Deese book I know that I am in for a treat! She has a way of sucking me in from the very beginning and not letting me go until the very end. This book was no exception!

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?

You can check out my review here.

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

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Do you have a blog and want to join us for Author's Corner? Then grab the picture and post with us! We will be posting the 2nd Saturday 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!

First Line Friday's #16

Ok party people! It's that time again! First Line Friday's hosted by my amazing friend Kathy over at Bookworm Nation! Are you ready?! 

This week's First Line Friday is:

Heart of Ice by K.M. Shea

Rakel, a princess by birth, has spent most of her life exiled on a barren mountain, despised because of her powerful snow magic. Though she longs to be accepted, she hides in her ice-castle and lives with the fear that her brother—the King—will one day order her execution.

Her empty life changes forever when an army of magic users—led by the enigmatic Colonel Farrin Graydim—invade her home country and plan to enslave its citizens. Swallowing her fear, Rakel joins forces with her jailers and uses her magic to save the people who scorned her.

If Rakel cannot defend her homeland, the country will be lost.

FIRST LINE

"It had been two weeks since Rakel last saw another human (and a full month since she had spoken with anyone), so she thought it was forgivable that when she encountered Oskar, her "attendant", in the great hall of her ice-castle, she was both surprised and irritated."

Heart of Ice was the book chosen for our group, Happily Ever After Book Club, monthly discussion. I have had my eye on this book for awhile and I'm really excited to read it. And I just have to ask... isn't that cover GORGEOUS?! I'm definitely looking forward to discussing this one! If you want to join us, head on over to the group and join! The more the merrier! :)

Do you want to participate in First Line? Yes?! Then tell us what your First Line is! Are you going to do a blog post? Then don't forget to link your post back to Bookworm Nation! Post your link in the comments. Don't have a blog? No worries! Just leave a comment with the title, author name and first line.

Ready?! And GO!

Jessie Belle by Jennifer Peel

Synopsis:

Nestled in the picturesque Rocky Mountains, lies the quaint town of Merryton, Colorado. You will never find finer people or better friends. But try keeping a secret in Merryton and you will soon find that the good townspeople are better than any private investigator or undercover journalist. The men and women of Merryton are like living barometers, and when a storm is brewing in the life of one of their own, they are sure to get to the bottom of it--and forecast it on the Merryton grapevine.

Jessica and Blake Summers know a thing or two about what it’s like to be the latest and greatest news on the vine. Their thirteen year marriage has had more than its fair share of heartache and loss. Then the past comes knocking, in the form of a teenage girl, a daughter Blake never knew existed. The news sets the Merryton grapevine on fire.

In the wake of this revelation and firestorm, Blake and Jessica are forced to reevaluate their own relationship and priorities, all while learning that raising a teenage girl is not for the faint of heart. But in the midst of the chaos and uncertainty, they discover that Madeline may just be what the doctor ordered to heal their broken hearts and mend their own tattered relationship.

Will they have the courage to look forward and find a greater love than they could ever imagine? Or will past hurts and the town grapevine tear them apart?

My Review: 5 Beautiful Stars!

May 2017:

*dreamy sigh* 3rd time around and I still totally LOVE Jessie Belle! The Women of Merryton series is definitely a MUST read! <3

January 2016:

I have read this book twice now and I love it just as much the second time around! It is seriously AMAZING! Even if you have read my review before... keep reading! I have decided to add a couple of fun things to it! ;)

Jessie and Blake have been put through the ringer over and over again. But instead of them growing closer together, they are growing further and further apart. It's gotten to the point that Jessie doesn't know whether or not she can continue going on the way they have been. Then Blake shows up at Jessie Belle's Cafe and drops the ultimate bomb... he's the father of the almost teenager, Maddie, from a one night stand over 13 years ago. 

Jessie has always dreamed of being a mother. She and Blake have been trying for years. But after several miscarriages and a still birth that resulted in emergency surgery to save Jessie's life, that dream would not come to pass. So when she learns that Blake shares a daughter with another woman, a woman that Jessie hates, she is devastated. She really does not know how to take the news or where they go from here. 

With the help of her parents, her best friends and even Blake himself, she decides that she is going to try to make things work with Blake and try to be the best stepmom that she can possibly be. This does not mean the road is going to smooth sailing. Oh no... quite the opposite in fact. Things will get rougher before they even think to get smoother. 

Jessie and Blake's journey was definitely tough but one worth watching. Before I even finished the first chapter I was hooked. I sat back and held on tight while enjoying the emotional roller coaster that is Jessie Belle. I found myself cheering them on when things were going right, growling and getting frustrated when Blake was being dense or things weren't going my way, rolling my eyes at certain characters that seriously needed to be Gibbs slapped, laughing at the antics of teenagers, getting teary eyed at the sad and even tender moments, and letting out dreamy sighs throughout the whole journey. I seriously felt like I was right there in Merryton experiencing the whole journey with Jessie, Blake and Maddie. It. Was. AMAZING!!  

I have decided that I'm giving Jessie her own theme song. Fight Song by Rachel Platten. She definitely needs one in my opinion. Not only does she have to work on strengthening and bettering her marriage with Blake and learn to be the best stepmom ever, she also has to learn to love herself again. Her poor body and self esteem have taken hit after hit after hit and she doesn't even recognize herself anymore. It was a constant uphill battle for poor Jessie. But dang it... she fought every step of the way!

And while driving to work rocking out to Rachel Platten, I discovered Blake's song for Jessie! It is absolutely PERFECT in my opinion! Are you ready?! Are you sure?! ;) Hehe. It's Stand By You by Rachel Platten. Blake did a lot of growing himself and one thing that he realized was that he could not go a day without Jessie. He knew that he hadn't been the best of husbands and he knew he had a lot to make up for! And make up for it he did! He was her faith, courage and strength when she didn't know if she could go on the way they were going. He set out to prove that he was always going to stand by her no matter what! *dreamy sigh* Have I told you how much I LOVE Blake?! <3

Jennifer Peel did another FANTABULOUS job of sucking me into yet another one of her books! I literally started it yesterday mid-morning, read until midnight when my eyes wouldn't stay open any longer and then woke up at 6am to continue reading to find out what happened next! It has been awhile since a book has done that to me and I loved every minute of it! I am definitely looking forward to the next book in the series! :) 

As for the casting... I literally saw Jessie from the very first chapter! She just totally fit! Blake took a little longer but I love him just as much as I love Jessie! What do you think?! ;) 

  

Trouble in Loveland by Jennifer Peel

Synopsis:

Charlee Jensen had what she considered the idyllic childhood growing up in a town named for that most prized emotion of all, Loveland, Colorado. At seventeen, her teenage crush, a man eight years older than her, marries and she naively thinks this is the worst thing that would ever happen to her. Then her parents divorce and her world crumbles. She finds herself being whisked away from her beloved home and estranged from her father.

Now eight years later, with two degrees that she never wanted in hand, and no job prospects, her father offers her a position with his CPA firm. With no other options available, Charlee accepts his offer and returns to the hometown she loved. While rebuilding her relationship with her father, she discovers that perhaps a romantic relationship is in the cards for her, with her old teenage crush, Ryan Carter, who just happens to still live next door and is now a partner in her father’s CPA firm.

Newly divorced and single dad, Ryan Carter, isn’t quite sure what to make of the girl next door, who’s all woman now. He finds himself having a hard time resisting this beautiful yet annoyingly charming woman, but their age difference and his complicated relationship with his ex-wife cause quite a bit of trouble for the couple. Ryan finds himself torn between keeping the peace with his ex-wife and mother of his child and his feelings for Charlee.

Can they successfully overcome their troubles in Loveland? Find out in this clean romance filled with sparks, humor, and of course, a little bit of trouble.

My Review: 5 Stars

May 2017

Holy Hannah! Second time reading this book and I have to say... the feels are still SO real! I found myself wanting to throw my kindle AGAIN! And yes... I still wanted to Gibbs slap Ryan! Haha. But oh how I LOVED this book! *dreamy sigh*

May 2015

I have mixed emotions about this book. I loved it and could not put it down! I read it in less than a day for crying out loud! But then I hated it and wanted to throw my kindle across the room! At one point I'm sure I would've thrown it so hard that my neighbor would've come home to a broken kindle in their house! Lol.

Charlee has had the biggest crush on Ryan ever since she was a teenager and was absolutely devastated when he married Ms. Hoity Toity. On the day of their wedding her life was flipped upside down not only because he was now married but because that was the day that her parents marriage ended as well. Her parents divorced and she is whisked off to Kansas where she spends the next 8 years of her life.

Charlee returns home to Loveland, CO where she will live with her estranged father and work for his CPA firm. She learns that her long time crush, Ryan, is now divorced with the most adorable 3 year old son, Josh, and lives right next door to her father. And not only does he live next door but he is a partner at her father's firm. And let's just say life gets very interesting once she returns home.

Charlee has a lot of spunk and is not afraid to tell it like it is... which I loved!! Any heroine with backbone is an instant favorite of mine! She is definitely strong, knows what she wants and is not afraid to go after it. But she is also vulnerable at times. I mean seriously... how many times can a girl get rejected before it really starts to take its toll?! But she stuck to her guns and did what was best for her... even when it broke her heart into a million pieces. And I just have to say that I loved seeing her rebuild her relationship with her father. It was seriously one of the sweetest things ever! He really is the best father a girl could ever ask for!

Ryan. *sigh* Ryan... Ryan... Ryan. What am I going to do with you?! You were the one that made me want to throw my kindle!! I could have Gibbs slapped you SO many times!! But I really do know where he was coming from. Dating a divorced parent with kids is definitely hard and it can pull you in so many different directions. While some people bashed him for the way he acted, I was actually feeling bad for him. Don't get me wrong... I still wanted to smack him... but he was doing the best that he could in an impossible situation. Dating anyone with kids can be extremely hard and finding the right balance is tough.. especially in the beginning. I was very proud of Ryan in the end when he told Ms. Hoity Toity just what was going to happen! I did a fist pump in the air and said... "It's about dang time!!" And I absolutely loved when he went and made things right with Charlee! I was one happy girl!

Oh!! And I absolutely LOVED Josh!! He is just so stinkin cute!! I think he was one of my most favorite parts of the book! I'm going to steal one of the lines from my dear friend Katie's review... he stole the show!! I loved every single part that he was in!! That little guy was just PERFECT!!

This is the second book I've read by Jennifer Peel and I have to say she is definitely a new favorite of mine!! I LOVE when I find new authors!! I can't wait to read more of her books!! :)

And of course... my review just wouldn't be complete without the casting!! I absolutely LOVE this one... and yes... I am TOTALLY bias!! They are just PERFECT in my opinion!! ;) Hehe.

Professional Boundaries by Jennifer Peel

Synopsis:

At thirty two, Kelli Bryant is ready to take on the world, and Chandler Media, as the new Marketing Director, but her plans are derailed when her promotion is given to none other than Ian Greyson, Kelli’s old college flame, her one true love and the one man she hoped to never see again.

Between Kelli’s determination to remain on top and Ian’s strict new office policies, there’s no shortage of fireworks in the office. Their explosive relationship spills over into their personal lives as Kelli tries to keep Ian at arm’s length and Ian desperately tries to win her back (during off hours only, of course).

Professional Boundaries is a clean romance filled with fun and humor. It is a story of two professionals who just can't keep it professional.

My Review: 5 Stars

May 2017: 

Second time reading Professional Boundaries. *dreamy sigh* Oh my gosh! I still absolutely LOVE this book! Why did I wait 2 years to read it again?! Seriously... why?! Haha. I do have to say that since it had been 2 years it was like reading it all over again for the first time! I found myself giggling, letting out little dreamy sighs and just falling in love all over again with Kelli and Ian! <3

May 2015: 

My first thoughts when I finished reading Professional Boundaries was why in the world did I take so long to read this?! It was really cute and I loved it!

Kelli had her heart broken 13 years ago by Ian. He was her first love and one day just walked out of her life... never to be heard from again. She thought that she was completely over him until one day he shows up back in her life... and takes her dream position at Chandler Media.

Emotions are crazy and Kelli does everything she can to guard her heart... she refuses to let Ian back in. Little does she know... she never stood a chance. And everyone knew that except Kelli herself. She was constantly telling everyone nothing was ever going to happen between them again... that he never loved her and he never will. *sigh* Stubborn, blind woman! Lol.

While other reviews I've read bash Ian and say how much they did not like him... I have to say I am the minority... I LOVED him!! He just cracked me up!! Oh my heck!! The man definitely has a sense of humor... ;) Hehe. And I have to say... I could understand why he did what he did. He wanted her to experience life... he didn't want her to have any regrets... he loved her enough to let her go.

Kelli on the other hand... *shaking my head* I seriously wanted to slap her for the first half of the book! Oh my heck! Can we say childish much?! Sheesh woman!! She took it a bit too far at times and could be a real brat! I understand that she was hurt and her heart was broken... I really do but she was a 32 year old acting like an immature teenager at times. *sigh* I was so glad when she finally started accepting that her feelings were just as strong as ever and that she had a 2nd chance with the one and only love of her life. Once this started happening I just could NOT put the book down! :) I think one of my favorite parts of the book were their park dates. So sweet! I loved it! <3

And can I tell you how happy I was when I got an epilogue?! Eeeek!! Nothing makes this girl happier than closer!! *dreamy sigh* And it was a great ending to an amazing book!! This was my very first book by Jennifer Peel and I am happy to announce that I have another favorite author!! I can't wait to read her other books in my collection!! :)

And yes... after browsing my hero and heroine boards on Pinterest I have found my perfect Ian and Kelli! I've said it before and I'll say it again... this is one of my favorite parts when it comes to reviewing!! ;) Hehe. So... without further adieu... here is my Ian and Kelli...

Accidentally in Love by Shannon Guymon

Synopsis:

Letting go of the past and facing the present and future is harder said than done for Kam Matafeo. Getting over his wife’s death isn’t something on Kam’s list of things to do. But when Grace Jackson, his new Sous Chef walks in, life is turned upside down. And not just for him either. Anne, his mother-in-law, is not open to the idea of anyone new in Kam’s life and will do anything to stop his romance from blooming. But when the ‘Love Witches’ step in to protect him, the battle lines are drawn. Fircrest is in for some fireworks when the fight for Kam’s heart not only affects his family, but his friends’ lives too.

Things get so crazy that Grace has to make the decision to stay and fight for herself and Kam or to give up and let Kam slip back into the darkness.

My Review: 4.5 Stars

When it comes to life, you should always follow your heart... that's the motto that Grace Jackson tries to live by and how she found herself in Fircrest, WA as a sous chef for The Iron Skillet. She doesn't know why her heart lead her here but she is excited to find out! 

While visiting the girls of Belinda's Bakery, she soon finds herself being tasked as the one to bring the heart of Fircrest back to life. And just who is the heart of Fircrest? Why Kam Matafeo of course! No pressure... right?! ;)

Kam has been dead inside ever since he lost his wife, Bailey, in childbirth. It's been 3 1/2 years and he doesn't see himself moving on anytime soon. That is until, out of nowhere, Grace Jackson appears in his life. She is spunky, happy, sassy, full of life and love. From the first moment he met her, he found himself breathing again, smiling again, and even living again. He never saw her coming, but he is determined to never let her go. 

One of the hardest lessons in life is realizing that life isn't always easy and relationships don't always work out how you want them to. They can get messy, ugly and extremely hurtful. But with determination, hard work and love, plus a little help from friends and family, anything is possible. While outside forces and insecurities do their best to tear a few of our beloved couples apart, fate steps in to make sure that, after everything everyone has been through in their lives, they all WILL get their HEA! <3

Holy Hannah! If I only had one word to describe Fircrest in Accidentally in Love it would be... CRAZINESS! This book reached an epic level of crazy! I have two names for you... Anne and Meredith. Need I say more?! Haha! These two went WAY beyond their normal crazy! Thank goodness the rest of the town was able to step in and put them back in their places! Gotta love those Love Witches! ;)  

I have to say that while I LOVED seeing all our Fircrest family and what they have been up to over the years, I was a bit sad that we didn't get more of just Grace and Kam. I would have LOVED spending more time with them and little Natano. My heart melted whenever little Nate was around. I am really selfish and wanted more! Haha. 

I am so sad to see the Fircrest series come to an end! I wish I could just crawl into these books and live there! They have been some of my favorites over the years and have gotten me through some pretty tough times. They will always be treasured by me. :)

I am SO glad that Ms. Guymon is getting back into the groove of writing again! Oh how I have missed her books! But I know this much needed break was just what the doctor ordered! After all, she had her own HEA to celebrate! ;) <3

As a side note... I do not recommend reading this book before you have read the other books in this series. You will definitely feel lost! Here are the Fircrest series in order: Love and Dessert trilogy, Love and Trust trilogy, Love and Flowers trilogy and Love and Weddings trilogy. Once you have read these, then you can read Accidentally in Love! <3

And of course I just cannot forget my casting! I am definitely in love with these two! Aren't they perfect?! *dreamy sigh*