Running Wild

Carlin Reed was on the run. She hid herself from her family, work and friends all to stay away from a stalker ex-boyfriend. She stayed off the grid and landed in Wyoming where she knew Brad would never look for her. She finds salvation in Kat and Zeke to give her a way to live. It would be easier to move on if she didn’t feel things for her boss.

Zeke Decker needed someone to cook and clean at the ranch after his longtime housekeeper left. He knew that hiring Carlin wasn’t the best thing to do as he felt nothing but lust for her but he knew she was in trouble. Zeke would do his best to protect this woman and get her life back on track.

Running Wild is written by Linda Howard and Linda Jones, and this is the first book to the series Men from Battle Ridge. After putting down the book I wanted more. Sadly as this is a new series so no more books are available to read at the moment. I hope with the next book that Kat will be the next one to be written about as I really want to know more of her story.

I have only read one book from each of these authors but they are both strong writers who make compelling plots to read. You are drawn into the plot wanting to know the complete story as it was missing pieces. The puzzle is solved as you go through the plot. What I liked from the book was how believable Carlin actually was. I think all of the characters had seemed real throughout the book especially with Carlin being cautious in everything. I liked Zeke’s character as he looked to be and acted like a man who knew how to intimidate but he was alone in the world wanting someone to be with. Now both Jones and Howard know how to write sex into the plot and it was done well in the book. I liked that it didn’t overshadow Carlin’s problem in the book and what she had to deal with.

Men from Battle Ridge is a series that I can’t wait to read more on.

Wedded in Sin

Penny Shoemaker has been given many obstacles to last a lifetime. The first starting with her parents murder, her home taken away and an unexpected brother. She will find help from a group of woman and a determined man who will help put her life back.

Samuel Morrison is a second son who drifts through his life finding his purpose now that he is on his own. He will find that with Penny who is in need of help. He will be involved with a mystery of villains who want what they think they can obtain without consequences.

Wedded in Sin is the second book to Jade Lee’s Bridal Favors series. Penny Shoemaker intrigued me as a character as she held more and was not one to be messed with as she was tough and not to give up. I liked how resilient Penny was made to be but I also liked there was a softer side that was shown. Samuel was a character as he was a dreamer walking through life. It was interesting that he was the second son. Usually the hero is an established rogue or of high class like a Duke or an Earl, not usually a second son. I liked that he found a his purpose through helping Penny and it was a perfect solution. Once again I felt that the story drifted more towards the heroine but as I loved Penny’s character I was okay with that. Bridal Favors is a series I will look out for in the future.

Wedded in Scandal

Lady Helaine left society due to her father and the scandalous reputation he acquired with becoming the thief of the ton. To survive she becomes a dressmaker for the ton. She keeps her head down hoping that no one will ever recognize her.

Robert Percy or known as Viscount Redhill is in over his head when it comes to dealing with his family. He much rather loose his head over the dressmaker and he will. But soon he will find that she is not all she seems and holds a secret that would ruin her.

I liked Wedded in Scandal by Jade Lee. This is the first book to the series Bridal Favors. The series reminded me right away of the series Dressmakers by Loretta Chase, but Jade Lee holds her own with her voice in the story.

The story held backbone as it was about survival after ruination fell upon the family. I liked that Helaine did not back down and stays true to the person she is and has become. Robert is a good big brother and I liked that he was not conventional. I felt that Helaine was more featured than Robert but for me I loved her character so I was content. Lee will also keep the plot light with a little humor especially from the roguish Robert along with some silliness with how they all behaved.

I got the second book, Wedded in Sin, to the Bridal Favors series as I wanted to know more on the next character Penny who was introduced in this book.

A Gentleman Undone

Lydia Slaughter plays a game of odds but with them on her side. Her goal is to win enough to win her freedom but a new obstacle will be in her way.

Will Blackshear is out of the war and comes out as a hero. He is coming back to London with an agenda at the gaming tables and will be consumed in a new wager.

After reading the first book of Cecilia Grant I wasn’t exactly jumping up from my seat to read the second book, A Gentleman Undone to the Blackshear Family series but as I had already picked it up from the library I went with it anyways. I will say that this book was better than the first. Still it didn’t grab me as I would like but it kept me reading nevertheless. In the book what did keep me reading was the intrigue and the matching of wits at the gambling tables. I found myself smiling at the thought of Lydia and her skills that were outside of the bedroom, counting cards. I also liked that Lydia and Will were equally paired when facing off.

So the series has been up and down but I will probably keep a look out for more of the series at a later point.

A Lady Awakened

Martha Russell is newly widowed and is in danger of loosing everything around her if she isn’t pregnant with an heir. Martha knows she is not pregnant but will turn to her neighbor to help fix that problem.

Theophilus Mirkwood is intrigued by the proposal but took it on regardless. For one month he would be used as a stud to help Martha.

Cecilia Grant’s first book to the Blackshear Family is A Lady Awakened. When I first started it didn’t really grab my attention and throughout the rest of the story I just couldn’t get into it. I became a little bored with the way the story was turning out. It really had to do with Martha’s character. I understand that she did not relish in the ways of the bedroom as with her late husband it was not all to be desired. She stayed passive and reserved in all ways. It got a little annoying as you hoped that she would be like the title and awaken to these feelings. She does finally at the end but I felt it needed to come at a much earlier part of the story.

I got the second book at the same time so I will read it. Hears hoping I will like it better.

Against the Odds

Sabrina “Rina” Eckhart was going to fulfill her Uncle Walter’s dream of discovering silver in the mines he had left for her in his Will. Though getting to the mines was troublesome especially when accidents on her life started to become more frequent. She didn’t want to admit needing help but with Alex by her side she felt safer, just maybe not her heart.

Alex Justice wasn’t into life long commitments which worked for him but with every minute he stayed around Rina he saw himself staying a little bit longer. The task at staying beside Rina was no hardship but it kept getting difficult as accidents kept happening around her. Alex would protect Rina with his life.

Going into Against the Odds I knew that this was the seventh book of the series Raines of Wind Canyon. I had read Kat Martin before and wanted to try more from her which lead me to the series. I was impressed with the book. There was suspense, romance, betrayal, love, passion, and good twist throughout the story.

I read the book quickly as it was a very fast pace book with non stop scenes between Rina and Alex. I loved their dynamic between them as she was a dreamer and Alex was a practical and hard man, they pushed each other further. There was also Rebecca and Joe who were another story that collided with Rina and Alex’s. Martin does a good job at drifting through the characters and different scenes with the various characters.

Since I already knew this was an on going series I knew I would be walking in on characters and plots that were already in the process. Against the Odds is easy to follow and you are drawn into the plot easily and stay with the danger at every step. Not to mention the mystery that revolves around the book on who is the one behind all the accidents. I was surprised by the outcome. You know only a portion but there are more villains on the side. You don’t know everything until the last couple of pages which gives us a new twist right at the end. After reading the book I found myself intrigued to find the others, of course after the giant stack of books I have to read, and compare if they are all suspenseful as the seventh book.

Better Than Chocolate

Samantha Sterling knew her company was in trouble. It had been ruined due to her mothers husband. She soon found out that the bank would be her enemy a long with Blake and he would be the one that finally sees them fail. Samantha would not stand for it, with determination she set out to find a way to keep Sweet Dreams from closing.

Blake Preston was back to his home town and taking the job as bank manager. He was good at his job but he hated to be the enemy to small business when he couldn’t offer them a loan especially Samantha. She had shaken him and he knew what they were doing was not fair. He did his best to help behind the scenes and to show her he wasn’t a bad guy.

Better Than Chocolate sounded intriguing. This is the first book to the Life in Icicle Falls series by Sheila Roberts. I was ready to like this book as what women wouldn’t like a story involving chocolate in the plot. Well it was cute and I did end up liking it in the end. Not as a favorite as I have to read more from this author, but it was okay. It had taken me a while to get into this book. Personally for me I was pulled in every possible direction in the book as I got distracted by all the characters the town has to offer.

Having many characters in a book is beneficial as it leaves the series room to grow and you certainly were able understand everyone’s personality but once again it was too chaotic for me. It does make sense that the book would be busy as the series is called Life in Icicle Falls.