Romance

Destiny’s Surrender (Destiny #2)

Destinys Surrender

Destiny’s Surrender (Destiny #2)

By: Beverly Jenkins

Blurb:

The child he didn’t know he had . . .

Andrew Yates has come to a decision: it’s time to stop sowing those oats and start a family. But searching for a bride isn’t as simple as he’d hoped, and many of the respectable women of his acquaintance feel . . . lacking. Then beautiful, feisty Wilhelmina “Billie” Wells arrives at the family ranch with a toddler in her arms, claiming Drew is the father!

The woman he didn’t know he loved . . .

Billie had no choice but to show up at Destiny in search of Drew. For the sake of their child, she’s willing to leave him with his father so the boy can have a better life, but then, before she can blink, she’s saying “I do” in front of a preacher in a marriage of convenience. All Billie and Drew have in common is the heat that brought them together, but can their sizzling passion lead to an everlasting love?

Review:

Billie and Drew were a different couple. Billie was a whore, and Drew was her customer. At the end of Destiny’s Embrace, we saw her have a baby, which turns out to be Drew’s. Before that though, they were both a bit in love with each other, but because of her job, neither acknowledged it. Things, of course, change.

Billie was an interesting character to read. She was a prostitute. In westerns, there’s the trope of a hooker with a heart of gold. They may be good, but they never have a happy ending. It was nice to see that trope changed.

Drew was a lawyer that was starting to have issues practicing law due to racism. Then when he finds out he’s a father, things get worse for him. He’s not really my favorite hero, he came off as a pretty rich boy, but he could have been worse.

Like the Destiny’s Embrace, their romance was pretty quick. They did have years of buildup prior to the book, but once they were forced together, things went super-fast.

One of my favorite parts of the series is seeing their mother’s romance blossom. The conversation she had with Billie about sex was amusing. I’m looking forward to reading the next book.

3/5

Destiny’s Embrace (Destiny #1)

Destinys Embrace

Destiny’s Embrace (Destiny #1)

By: Beverly Jenkins

Blurb:

Gentleman Seeks Housekeeper. Must be willing to travel.

Desperate for another life away from Philadelphia, headstrong and beautiful Mariah Cooper answers an advertisement for a housekeeper at the other end of the continent. Waiting in California is the most breathtaking—and arrogant—man she has ever met…and he’d like nothing better than for Mariah to go back home!

Logan Yates has run Destiny, the family ranch, since he was a boy. He doesn’t need this Eastern miss his stepmother hired, though his home’s chaotic state suggests otherwise. Still, he’s secretly pleased that Mariah gives as good as she gets—and he must fight the urge to take her in his arms and kiss her whenever she proudly stands her ground. But when he’s in danger of losing her, Logan will have to choose between pride…and his heart’s true desire.

Review:

Finally, the justice I wanted! Lol

Mariah is abused by her mother, emotionally and physically. It’s heartbreaking. At the age of thirty, after basically doing everything for her mother, she finally realized the woman would never love her. So she left.

Logan lives in California and desperately needs a housekeeper. For whatever reason, he is pretty lazy when it comes to doing anything domestic. He lets his house become a pigsty and doesn’t build a bunkhouse after a year of not having one. Honestly, I don’t know why that was such a big hurdle for him. It was odd.

Their love story was fast, lasting just about a week. Not too surprising since it happened in the old West and women were very scarce. There were multiple fights, feisty banter, a loving mother, and good friends. All things I love.

I did find Mariah’s almost complete change in temperament a bit hard to believe, but honestly, I enjoyed it. The image of a woman trapped in such a horrible situation; being able to stand up and conquer everything in her way is beautiful.

As soon as I finished this, I immediately downloaded the next in the series. I’m excited to plow through Beverly Jenkins catalog.

4/5

Her Every Wish (The Worth Saga #1.5)

Her Every Wish

Her Every Wish (The Worth Saga #1.5)

By: Courtney Milan

Blurb:

Crash has never let the circumstances of his birth, or his lack of a last name, bother him. His associations may be unsavory, but money, friends, and infamy open far more interesting doors than respect ever could. His sole regret? Once lovely, sweet Daisy Whitlaw learned the truth about how he made his fortune, she cut him off.

Daisy’s father is dead, her mother is in ill health, and her available funds have dwindled to a memory. When the local parish announces a charity bequest to help young people start a trade, it’s her last chance. So what if the grants are intended for men? If she’s good enough, she might bluff her way into a future.

When Crash offers to show her how to swagger with confidence, she knows he is up to no good. But with her life in the balance, she’s desperate enough to risk the one thing she hasn’t yet lost: her heart.

Her Every Wish is a companion novella in the Worth Saga. It stands on its own, but those who wish to read in order might want to read the first book in the series, Once Upon a Marquess, before this one.

Review:

I didn’t realize that I had not read the first in this series or that this wasn’t a boxset when I started it. Basically, I saw Courtney Milan’s name and started reading. Since I’ve already read book 2.75 in the series as well, no harm done. Oh well.

The dress on the cover is a bit misleading because she is working class. She struggles to take care of her mother, who is ill, as well as herself. That doesn’t stop her from having big dreams. She’s smart and driven to succeed because if she doesn’t, her only option is to hope she can find a man able to take care of them both.

Crash is mixed race and has been raised by a loving family. He’s learned coping mechanisms to handle all the bad that society piles on him, and hide the hurt behind a larger than life personality. He has learned how to make society work for him and has ambitious plans for his future.

Things were said in the heat of the moment that they have to work through and forgive. It’s a cute story. If I didn’t already want to read the rest of the series I would after reading Her Every Wish.

4/5

Girl Gone Viral (Modern Love #2)

Girl Gone Viral

Girl Gone Viral (Modern Love #2)

By: Alisha Rai

Blurb:

OMG! Wouldn’t it be adorable if he’s her soulmate???

I don’t see any wedding rings [eyes emoji]

Breaking: #CafeBae and #CuteCafeGirl went to the bathroom AT THE SAME TIME!!!

One minute, Katrina King’s enjoying an innocent conversation with a hot guy at a coffee shop; the next, a stranger has live-tweeted the entire episode with a romantic meet-cute spin and #CafeBae is the new hashtag-du-jour. The problem? Katrina craves a low-profile life, and going viral threatens the peaceful world she’s painstakingly built. Besides, #CafeBae isn’t the man she’s hungry for…

He’s got a [peach emoji] to die for.

With the internet on the hunt for the identity of #CuteCafeGirl, Jas Singh, bodyguard, friend, and possessor of the most beautiful eyebrows Katrina’s ever seen, comes to the rescue and whisks her away to his family’s home. Alone in a remote setting with the object of her affections? It’s a recipe for romance. But after a long dating dry spell, Katrina isn’t sure she can trust her instincts when it comes to love—even if Jas’ every look says he wants to be more than just her bodyguard…

Review:

I enjoyed most of this book, but the ending left me a bit disappointed. The plot was something new and made me think about the people behind viral moments and how it affects them. I found that part of the book very fascinating.

I also enjoyed the characters. Katrina had panic attacks and was scared a lot. While Jas had PTSD that he didn’t want to treat. They had both been in love with each other for a while but hadn’t talked about it. Lack of communication is a big romance trope. It usually mildly annoys me, but because of their issues, it made sense and was probably the healthier route for them.

There was a ton of buildup in the book. It wasn’t romantic suspense, but it had some aspects to it. Which is possibly why the ending disappointed me? All that buildup and the payoff was lacking. The couple never really had a big sit down and discussed their future; it was sort of rushed at the end and spread out a bit. Also, you didn’t get to see the “villains” get their due. I realize Katrina was a very positive forgiving person, but she actually paid her father’s blackmail. Yes, she got him on tape admitting to doing stuff, but come on! That was it?? She made a statement about the people who took advantage of her with the viral moment, but you didn’t see anything about them afterward either.

I was disappointed. Unlike with Get a Life, Chloe Brown I don’t feel like I’m missing out on revenge, though, maybe I am. I want the bad people to get told off. Something! Maybe it’s a me problem…

3.5/5

Get a Life, Chloe Brown

Get a Life Chloe Brown

Get a Life, Chloe Brown (The Brown Sisters #1)

By: Talia Hibbert

Blurb:

Chloe Brown is a chronically ill computer geek with a goal, a plan, and a list. After almost—but not quite—dying, she’s come up with seven directives to help her “Get a Life”, and she’s already completed the first: finally moving out of her glamorous family’s mansion. The next items?

• Enjoy a drunken night out.
• Ride a motorcycle.
• Go camping.
• Have meaningless but thoroughly enjoyable sex.
• Travel the world with nothing but hand luggage.
• And… do something bad.

But it’s not easy being bad, even when you’ve written step-by-step guidelines on how to do it correctly. What Chloe needs is a teacher, and she knows just the man for the job.

Redford ‘Red’ Morgan is a handyman with tattoos, a motorcycle, and more sex appeal than ten-thousand Hollywood heartthrobs. He’s also an artist who paints at night and hides his work in the light of day, which Chloe knows because she spies on him occasionally. Just the teeniest, tiniest bit.

But when she enlists Red in her mission to rebel, she learns things about him that no spy session could teach her. Like why he clearly resents Chloe’s wealthy background. And why he never shows his art to anyone. And what really lies beneath his rough exterior…

Review:

Chloe has chronic pain and has been abandoned by all but her family. Redford was in an abusive relationship that has left him mentally and physically scarred. She has a dry, sarcastic wit that you need to know her to understand fully, while he is usually nice to everyone and has a smile on his face. It’s not an opposites-attract romance, it’s closer to an instant attraction. Only, they both react poorly to it.

Chloe’s humor reminded me of my own, but it didn’t always come off like I assume the author wanted. A couple of times, the only indication I had that she’d said something hilarious was Red laughing at it. Maybe it was a British thing? Apart from that, I enjoyed her as a character. I don’t know anything about fibromyalgia, so I can’t judge the accuracy there, but it did read like someone who was familiar with the subject.

I liked Red. He was a big hulking redhead with long hair that wore fake leather clothes. He loved his mom and, as previously mentioned, was super nice—basically, the appearance of an alpha male with the personality of a cinnamon roll consumed with lust.

I enjoyed the story, though, I do wish there had been some vengeance in it. There was no confrontation with exes, which was a bit of a letdown for my bloodthirst. However, I didn’t expect there to be. Everyone was very mature, and seeing shrinks and using all the words you use when you’re doing that. Promoting good mental health is good and very underrepresented in romance, while vengeance not so much. I understand the choices made, even if I would have liked something more than brief moments of seething from each of the characters.

3.5/5