Synopsis

Doppelbanger; A person who bangs someone solely because they look similar to another person they want to bang.

At thirty-five, Gina Bourque is still playing the field. If he’s single, in his early twenties with dark hair and brooding eyes, there’s a damn good chance you’ll find him in her little black book.

Jeffrey Ryan never imagined that at nearly forty he’d find himself widowed and a single dad. But here he is—stumbling through this thing called life with two impressionable daughters watching his every move.

When Gina and Jeffrey meet while cruising the Caribbean, sparks fly and not in a good way. He’s too old. Too blond. Too stiff. Yet she’s still drawn to him like a moth to a flame. She’s too vulgar. Too sassy. Too wild. But she ignites something inside of him he can’t ignore.

We all know what happens when you play with fire. . . someone’s bound to get burned.

Review

I quite enjoyed DOPPELBANGER, which is the second book from Heather M. Orgeron that I’ve read.

“You burst into our lives like a bomb, when our world needed nothing more than to be shaken up.”

I liked Gina, who has a heart of gold but a mouth that gets her in a lot of trouble. I loved, loved, loved all the kids. Gina’s nephews⏤Landon, Lake and Kyle⏤were a handful and hilarious. Jeffrey’s daughters⏤Evangeline and Willow⏤were feisty and adorable. I loved the scene were Gina and Jeffrey meet, which was awkward and hilarious at the same time.

Unfortunately, Jeffrey wasn’t as likable. Some of the things he said to Gina were so hurtful and some were downright unforgivable. It was so disappointing to see a man—who loves his daughters and loved his wife—treat women so badly. That being said, he was a wonderful father to his two girls, and he did redeem himself in the end, but I still spent most of the book wishing I could kick him in the balls.

DOPPELBANGER is told in dual POVs and, while it has a connection to BOOMERANGERS, you don’t need to read that book to enjoy this one. DOPPELBANGER was very funny, but as with the previous book, some of the humor did feel forced. DOPPELBANGER comes with not one, but two epilogues, both of which were lovely and sweet and perfect ways to end the book. But the extended epilogue—set twelve years in the future—was my favorite one for sure.

Doppelbanger

My Rating:  

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Synopsis

Brotherhood. Club. Family.
They live and ride by their own rules.
These are the Raven Riders…

Wild with grief over the death of his wife, Sam “Slider” Evans merely lives for his two sons. Nothing holds his interest anymore—not even riding his bike or his membership in the Raven Riders Motorcycle Club. But that all changes when he hires a new babysitter.

Recently freed from a bad situation by the Ravens, Cora Campbell is determined to bury the past. When Slider offers her a nanny position, she accepts, needing the security and time to figure out what she wants from life. Cora adores his sweet boys, but never expected the red-hot attraction to their brooding, sexy father. If only he would notice her…

Slider does see the beautiful, fun-loving woman he invited into his home. She makes him feel too much, and he both hates it and yearns for it. But when Cora witnesses something she shouldn’t have, the new lives they’ve only just discovered are threatened. Now Slider must claim—and protect—what’s his before it’s too late.

Review

Ride Wild was a wonderfully romantic story around creating a new family.

My favourite characters were, in fact, the two youngest being Sam and Ben, they simply stole my heart.  The way they interacted with Cora was really intricate to Slider opening his own heart. The affection and devotion the two young brothers had for Cora was just beautiful and provided great humour too.

Slider was hard to connect to at the start but once he opened his heart well he became the man he should have been.  His path to forgiving himself for the past and be able to move forward provided a great story.

Whilst I have not read the first two of this series it does not matter, this is Cora and Slider’s romantic story and it was perfect.  There are some heat filled passionate moments that are enjoyable but it was their emotional connection I loved.

Ride Wild was paced well and kept me entertained and also included some mystery and suspense towards the end.  I enjoyed following the MC club welcome Slider back to the group.

The way the author ended the story was lovely and I was left with no questions as to their future.

Quote:  “I see you,” he said. “Always.”

Ride Wild (Raven Riders #3)

My Rating:  

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Synopsis

Katerina Dawson knows exactly what she wants from life. And as the new associate at the top law firm in the city, she’s ready to live out her dreams of becoming a criminal lawyer. But going on coffee runs and babysitting kids during the day was definitely not what she had in mind. She knows that anyone else would kill to be in her shoes, but she has to draw the line somewhere. That’s easier said than done, though, when Kat has to confront her handsome boss…

Tristan Channing and Jaxon Bentley run a successful law firm together and the two partners couldn’t be busier right now. When Jaxon suddenly takes a leave of absence, Tristan begrudgingly assumes responsibility of the new associate, the hot new associate, who has curves for days. Needing to keep his distance from her, Tristan sends Kat on needless errands and has her doing work even an intern wouldn’t touch, like picking up his kids. But his plan backfires when he sees his children grow attached to Kat and sees her getting comfortable in his home. It triggers something deep within him, and it feels right to have her there. Will Tristan be able to keep his work and personal lives separate, or will he find that his heart holds the final verdict?

Review

BREACHING THE CONTRACT was a quick and enjoyable read, and the first book I’ve read from Chantal Fernando.  That being said, it is a novella, so it moves really fast and there isn’t much depth to the story or its characters.  The story could have benefited from being fleshed out, especially in regards to the two big reveals made towards the end.  They had the potential to really bring out your emotions, but because they were skimmed over, it was hard to feel much of anything at all.  Also, while this story revolves around two lawyers who work at the same firm, you won’t see any legal action, so if you are hoping to see some legal battles, you will be disappointed.

BREACHING THE CONTRACT is told in Kat’s POV, with the epilogue being told in Tristan’s POV, and it comes with a happy ending for Tristan and Kat.  It is the first book in a new series, but it can be read as a stand-alone as each book in the series will be about another couple.  From the looks of it, the next book will be a full-length novel and because of that, I would be interested in reading it.

Breaching The Contract (Conflict Of Interest # 1)

My Rating:  

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Conflict Of Interest Series

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Synopsis

Sometimes happily doesn’t last ever after.

Beau Miller believes the worst of the battles are behind him and Phoebe. They’ve found their way together despite the odds and have settled into their new normal. Only, an unexpected discovery will change everything.

Will Beau find the beacon he needs to guide him through the biggest certainty of life?

Review

BEACON is the final story in the Phoebe Reede series and, after all the twists and turns and everything Phoebe and Beau have been through, it was definitely hard to say goodbye.

I can’t say much about this book because of spoilers, but I will say this: I was disappointed with how this series ended.  Though this story was very beautiful and put me through the wringer, this was definitely not the ending I wanted or was hoping for.

BEACON is a deeply emotional read that will rip your heart out.  I was crying on almost every page, so before you start reading it, make sure you have a big supply of tissues at the ready and be prepared to read well into the night.  You have been warned.

Beacon (Phoebe Reede: The Untold Story # 6)

My Rating:  

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Phoebe Reede: The Untold Story Series

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Synopsis

A tortured soul meets a damaged family…
A lonely man, a widowed woman, a carefree boy, and a broken girl… Can the four come together and help heal each other? Or will fear of the unknown and guilt about the past keep them apart?
 
Her whispered prayers break her…
At night, as she’s drifting off to sleep, I press my ear to the door and listen to her heart-wrenching pleas. Her words are agony to my healing heart, but I cherish the sound of them, for that’s the only time I ever hear my beautiful daughter speak. Since her father died two years ago, she’s grown quiet and withdrawn. Cat’s Valley was to be our new beginning, a place where my family and I can heal, but what we find there is so much more.
 
Scars mar his body. Pain has left him in pieces…
Four years ago, I lost the two things I cherished most in the world. They were ripped from my arms in the most painful and cruel way. Since then, I’ve kept to myself, preferring to stay away from the pitying looks and murmured rumors. Everything changed when she and her children barged into my life. It was an accident, and I don’t deserve them, but now that they’re here, I’m not sure I can let them go.

Review

WHISPERED PRAYERS OF A GIRL is a beautiful and emotional read that you will definitely need tissues for.  Alex, Gwen, Kelsey and Daniel have all experienced heartbreaking loss, but after being stranded in a snowstorm together for just a few days, friendships are born that help pave the way to healing and happiness.

Alex is a town local, but he became a recluse after a tragic accident robbed him of so much.  He blames himself for the accident and therefore doesn’t think he deserves a happy life, especially one with Gwen and her kids.  Because of his guilt, he spent a lot of the story trying to decide whether he should be with her or not.

Gwen is new to town, having arrived about two years after the death of her husband that left her a single parent to their two children: Kelsey and Daniel.  Gwen is a very patient and forgiving woman, and she needed to be when it came to Alex.  I loved Daniel and his playful personality, and my heart broke for Kelsey and the blame she carries on her little shoulders over her father’s death.

There were only a few small things that bothered me.  We never heard anything about the person who caused Alex’s accident at all.  Were they punished?  Did they survive?  We don’t know, and I thought it was odd that it was never mentioned.  We also never learn what happened to the horse, Bandit, that Alex was training?  Alex and Bandit had an interesting connection, and I wish we’d seen some closure in regards to that.  Finally, I found some of their thoughts and conversations to be a little repetitive.

WHISPERED PRAYERS OF A GIRL is told in dual POVs and it ended with a lovely HEA for Alex and Gwen.  At this time it appears to be a stand-alone, and I didn’t get the feeling anyone else in this story would get their own book.  But you never know.

Whispered Prayers Of A Girl

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Synopsis

You were my brother in the line of duty.
My partner.
My best friend.
You were the man who had it all.
Your thoroughness and precision made you a great cop.
It’s what got you killed.
And now I live with the darkening shadows of your memory.
You weren’t here when I needed you to save me.
You weren’t here when I needed help solving the most gruesome murder this town had ever seen.
But most of all, you weren’t here to keep me from falling in love with your wife.

Review

RECLUSE is the first book I’ve read from Jaycee Ford, and despite what I’m about to say below, I didn’t hate it.  Honestly, I didn’t.

The first thing I need to point out is that RECLUSE ends in a cliffhanger, which was frustrating because the blurb makes no mention that it will end that way or that the murder will remain unsolved and continue on.  Without any information at this time, I can only assume that the murder mystery will continue to be the focal point throughout this series until the final book, and at this stage I have no idea how many books that will be.

I don’t have much to say about Wyatt or Grace, because the story as a whole is fairly short and only half of it focuses on them and their changing relationship, so you don’t learn a lot about them.  What you do learn is that Wyatt has spent the past several years filled with guilt lusting over his best friend’s wife, but a year on from his death, he comes to the realisation that his feelings for Grace aren’t going to go away, so he stops hiding them from her.  Grace was a little skittish, but overall, she handled moving on to a new relationship very well.

The other half of the story focuses on the murder investigation, while at the same time introducing us to all the secondary characters.  I had a lot of trouble keeping track of who everyone was, because sometimes a character would be called by their first name, but then they’d be called by their last name, which meant there were too many names to remember.  I also struggled with the love-triangle situation everyone seemed to be in.  Boy A wants Girl A, but is sleeping with Girl B, who really wants Boy B, while Boy C wants to sleep with Girl B, but really wants Girl C, and so-on and so-forth.  It was all very confusing.

RECLUSE held my attention and was a fairly quick read, told only in Wyatt’s POV.  With the exception of the prologue, the story takes place over a six day period.  Judging by the ongoing murder mystery, the books in this series will need to be read in order.  At this stage, I’m assuming each book will be about a different couple, but I’m honestly not sure given how this book ended for Wyatt and Grace.  There was no epilogue and I felt their relationship was not completely settled.  That being said, one could consider what happened between them at the end as a form of closure to their story, but I guess we’ll have to wait for the next book’s blurb to come out to know for sure.  Will I continue with this series?  I think so, but if I do, I’ll be waiting until the entire series has been released.

Recluse (Spider Series # 1)

My Rating:  

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Synopsis

Clara Morgan is living the dream, if you can call rebranding hotels that are desperate for a new life and running any kind of marathon a dream. Which she does. But the career she loves and the endurance races that keep her adrenaline pumping have kept her too busy to put down any roots. Growing up in foster care, she’s never been able to establish traditions of her own, which may be why she’s fascinated by the rituals that generations-old family resorts are known for. She’s especially interested in the Bryant Mountain House, and not just for their secret recipe for the yummy, gooey, can’t-get-enough-of Hot Cross Buns….

Archie Bryant, the man with the Buns, is fifth generation and one-day-owner of the charming yet run-down Bryant Mountain House in Bailey Falls, New York. He’s determined to save his family’s legacy from the wrecking ball the old-fashioned way—by gritting his teeth and doing what needs to be done. There’s no way Archie will be influenced by the new hotel branding expert his father brought in to turn one hundred and fifty years of tradition on its head just to attract a faster, younger, slicker crowd. But when some of Clara’s ideas start bringing in new, paying customers, Archie can’t deny that she may have just given him a shot at keeping his resort open.

It’s sticky, it’s messy, it’s sweet, it’s Buns.

Review

BUNS is my first Alice Clayton book, and I’m happy to say it was one I found enjoyable.

Clara and Archie are both likeable characters, but they’re also very stubborn, which made for some fiery discussions.  I really enjoyed watching these two bicker over how to save Bryant Mountain House from going out of business.  Archie was a sweet and loyal guy, and he is devoted to keeping his family’s traditions alive.  Clara has an amazing work ethic, she’s not easily intimidated, and she is not afraid to speak her mind to get her point across.  That being said, she has serious abandonment issues; issues which are justified in my opinion.  However, her constant inner monologue about always being alone, her fear of letting someone in, and her inability to feel like part of the group, did become tiring after a while.  It also made the conflict and resolution fairly easy to predict.

BUNS is told in Clara’s POV, with the epilogue being told in Archie’s.  While it is part of a series, it can be read as a stand-alone, and although the couples from the previous two books appeared several times throughout this story, I never felt like I was missing something when it came to them.

Buns (Hudson Valley # 3)

My Rating:  

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Hudson Valley Series

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Synopsis

A goalie has to trust his instincts, even when taking a shot to the heart…

Mike Beacon is a champion at defending the net, but off the ice, he’s not so lucky. A widower and a single father, he’s never forgotten Lauren Williams, the ex who gave him the best year of his life. When Lauren reappears in the Bruisers office during the playoffs, Beacon sees his chance to make things right.

Lauren hates that she’s forced to travel with the team she used to work for and the man who broke her heart. There’s still undeniable sexual tension running between her and Mike, but she won’t go down that road again. She’s focused on her plans for the future—she doesn’t need a man to make her dreams of motherhood come true.

Lauren plays her best defensive game, but she’s no match for the dark-eyed goalie. When the field of play moves to Florida, things heat up on the beach.

One of Mike’s biggest fans doesn’t approve—his teenage daughter. But a true competitor knows not to waste the perfect shot at love.

Review

PIPE DREAMS is a second-chance romance between Lauren and Mike, who broke up two years before due to a personal issue Mike had to deal with.  I won’t lie, how Mike ended their relationship years ago was all kinds of wrong, but then I guess there wouldn’t be a story if he had ended things the right way.

“Who’s the only one who really harmed me?”
“I am.”
“Good guess! And two years later I’m still waiting for the only apology that ever mattered.”

Due to Lauren’s cold and unfriendly demeanor in the previous two books, I was worried I wouldn’t like her in her own story.  But after being in her head for a few pages, I wasn’t worried anymore.  We find out why she acts the way she does—and I could certainly understand it—but in this book her demeanor does a complete 180, which is normally great, but I felt it changed too quickly and easily.  I liked Mike; he’s a nice guy and a good dad, but he didn’t make me swoon.  I admired the reason behind his breakup with Lauren, but again, he could have handled it so much better.

Even two years later, one glance at him made her remember how quickly her love had been thrown away.  Like yesterday’s trash.

Just like the change in Lauren’s behaviour, I felt their relationship was rekindled too easily.  Yes, Lauren tells Mike exactly how badly he hurt her, and they don’t come together until the second half of the book (from memory), but they fall into bed and then fall back into a relationship without any real discussion, while making a huge life changing decision.

PIPE DREAMS is told in dual POVs and while it’s part of a series, it can be read as a stand-alone.  The story includes flashbacks to when they first dated, and I don’t know why but I had a hard time following the switch between the past and present.  I know it sounds like I didn’t enjoy PIPE DREAMS, but I really did.  It held my attention and Lauren and Mike are both likeable characters.  It’s just that after several days between reading it and reviewing it, these are the points that stand out the most.  We get a lovely HEA for Lauren and Mike, and it looks like we’ve seen some progress in the potential relationship between Nate and Becca.  Nate seems like such a geeky sweetheart and I know I’m not the only one who’d love to see their story.

Pipe Dreams (Brooklyn Bruisers # 3)

My Rating:  

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Brooklyn Bruisers Series

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Synopsis

A Gold Star wife alone…

Ellie Meeks promised her pilot husband that if he was killed in combat, she would live her life to the fullest. Three years later, she is still alone, raising the twins he never met. She has no interest in dating or meeting men—until one snowy night when a stranger helps her get her sick kids safely home. That stranger turns out to be a former Army Ranger and a member of the elite Rocky Mountain Search & Rescue Team. He’s also tall, rugged… and irresistibly sexy. 

All it takes is one kiss…

Jesse Moretti came to Colorado to get Iraq out of his head, using the adrenaline of extreme sports and high-risk mountain rescues to keep his mind off the past. But getting involved with Ellie might be the riskiest thing he’s ever done. It’s not just their explosive chemistry. There’s something about Ellie that gets inside him, opening him to feelings he’s tried hard to ignore. 

When passion ignites…

Ellie feels alive in Jesse’s arms and happier than she ever thought she’d feel again. But their relationship comes at a price for him, and soon Ellie sees that she must help Jesse fight the demons of his past to protect the love of a lifetime—and save the heart of a hero.

Review

Ellie is a single mother to soon-to-be three-year-old twins (Daniel & Daisy) after her husband died in Iraq while she was pregnant.  She has a wonderful support system not only in her family, but in the small town where she lives.  I liked her a lot and thought her hesitations about dating again were realistic, though I did feel that her reaction to Jesse’s “secret” was a little irrational.  In fact, her reaction was the only part of the entire story that I didn’t like.

Jesse is an incredibly nice guy and I really enjoyed getting to know him.  He’s been living next door to Ellie for over two years and although they have never met, he knew about her husband and helped her out anonymously whenever he could.  He has saved many lives throughout his careers, but he focuses on the ones he couldn’t save, which affects him badly.  While he willingly jumps into frozen lakes without any hesitation, he hates the spotlight and doesn’t think of himself as a hero, which of course only makes him more likeable.

I have read all three books released in this series so far, and I have to say that this is the first time I’ve really gotten a feel for the small town.  When tragedy strikes, everyone in the community comes together to do and give whatever they can to help.  I don’t remember having that feeling in the first two books, but in this book that feeling was front and centre.

FALLING HARD is told in dual POVs, and quite often the POV would switch several times within a chapter.  While I did find that slightly annoying, I was grateful that the switch was marked by a symbol which made the change easily identifiable.  While FALLING HARD is part of a series, it can most definitely be read as a stand-alone.  The HEA is beautiful and sweet, but also achingly sad.  The final chapter took me the longest to read because I had to keep stopping to wipe my eyes.  Even re-reading it while I composed this review had me tearing up again.

FALLING HARD is the third book in the Colorado High Country series and is my favourite.  Any book that can draw out my emotions like this one did deserves the highest rating.

Falling Hard (Colorado High Country # 3)

My Rating:  

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Colorado High Country Series

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Synopsis

In a league full of troublemakers, Cold Fury defenseman Roman Sýkora stands out—at least when it comes to negative publicity. When he’s not chilling in the penalty box, the sizzling Czech skate demon is racking up tabloid headlines for his scandalous behavior with the ladies. But now Roman’s feeling the burn from management to clean up his act, or else. Luckily he’s got an enticing distraction: a fun-loving barista who plays the ukulele and brings out a side of Roman he didn’t know he had.

Lexi Robertson came to Raleigh, North Carolina, to finally meet her father, Brian Brannon, and her half sister, Gray, both of whom work in the Cold Fury’s front office. That’s where she first meets sexy, intimidating Roman—who’s really a big softie at heart. As one relationship takes off, another begins: Brian seems to be clicking with Lexi’s boss at the coffee shop. But when the friction between Roman and her new family heats up, Lexi wonders whether she’s a pawn in their game. Feeling hurt and foolish, Lexi’s ready to quit while she’s ahead. Trouble is, Roman’s not ready to quit on her.

Review

I really liked Roman.  Yes, he has a bad reputation, but underneath his I-don’t-give-a-shit exterior is a generous man who gives more to the community than anyone realises.  He makes no apologies for who he is and he refuses to change his behaviour for anyone…until he meets Lexi.  He wants to impress her and although he’s never been in a relationship before, he knows there’s something special about her and is not afraid to see how far they could go.  I liked him from beginning to end, but I fell in love with him when he gave Lexi her birthday present, which was so thoughtful and unbelievably sweet.  I hardly ever use the word ‘swoon worthy’, but that birthday present scene was totally swoon worthy.

I really liked Lexi as well, who is down-to-earth, friendly and very open; a complete opposite to her newly-found father (Brian) and half-sister (Gray), who are a lot more reserved.  In one aspect, she was like Roman: she is who she is and you can take her or leave her.  But she has such a bright personality that people can’t help but be drawn to her.

While I really liked Roman and Lexi as a couple, their story didn’t grab me.  It took me a few days to finish, and I can honestly say that this is not normal when it comes to this series, as I usually devour them within a day.  On top of that, it pains me to say that my opinion of Gray⎯who I liked and respected in her own story⎯did a complete 180 here.  She came across as rude, spiteful and unprofessional towards Roman, and I felt that their burying of the hatchet, followed immediately by their playful sibling-like banter, was too neat and easy after having been at each other’s throats for the first 90% of the book.  Finally, I was deeply disappointed that Lexi was not included in the reading of her paternity results.  That could have been a huge and emotional family bonding experience and yet the main character was not involved.  Sometimes it’s the story that wins you over and sometimes it’s the characters.  In this case, it was definitely Roman and Lexi…and Brian and Georgia.

ROMAN is told not only in Roman and Lexi’s POV, but also in Brian’s POV.  We get to watch him fall in love with his new daughter while he also gets a special ladylove of his very own.  That’s right, in this book you get two love stories for the price of one.  It comes with two HEAs and makes way for the next book, LUCAS, which comes out in September and will feature a new-to-the-team player and Max’s brother.

Roman (Cold Fury Hockey # 7)

My Rating:  

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Cold Fury Hockey Series

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