The Keeper (Playing to Win #1) by Bella Matthews

 

 

Blurb:

Easton Hayes has been my knight in shining hockey skates since he saved my life.

This devastatingly handsome grump may be everyone's favorite goalie, but to me, he's my strength when demons haunt my dreams. And okay-so maybe he's also the only man I've ever loved. But he doesn't need to know that.

We're friends.

It works for us.

At least, it did. Until I wake up with his ring on my finger and the hangover from hell. But what happens in Vegas doesn't stay in Vegas when he refuses to give me an annulment and follows me across the country instead.

Now our families are furious.

Our friends are playing matchmaker.

I'm getting goosebumps each time I hear the words "my wife."

And I think my husband might be in love with me.

The Keeper is a spicy sports romance, between a hot hockey player and an ice princess figure skater, with an angry teammate twist, plenty of banter and a happily ever after. This is the first book in the second generation of Kroydon Hills and can be enjoyed as a standalone.

 

My review:

The author took all the tropes threw them at the wall and they all stuck. Best friends brother, opposites attract, friends to lovers, grumpy/sunshine, sports romance and drunken Vegas wedding. There may be more. And damned if she didn’t make it work in this delightfully fun hockey/figure skater romance.

 

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Jaxon (Daddies of Pine Hollow #1) by Kate Oliver

 

 

Blurb:

Leah
Who knew buying a run-down house would be so much work? It was hers, though, and while it might not be much, to Leah Day, it was perfect because it meant she was free from her cheating ex-husband. What she wasn’t prepared for was the roof to leak into her bedroom… She also wasn’t expecting her hot neighbor to come marching over to scold her for climbing onto the roof.

Jaxon
In the small town of Pine Hollow, life was good for Jaxon Sawyer. He had his best friends of over twenty years, his home, a job that paid all his bills, and his family. The only thing missing was someone to come home to, and unless he moved away to a bigger city, he likely wouldn’t find that anytime soon. Until she moved in next door, causing his Daddy radar to go wild.

Can she learn to trust him enough to call him Daddy, or will her insecurities ruin it all?

 

My review:

I love Leah. She is starting over determined to be comfortable in her own skin. She loves regressing to her “little” side to escape the cares of the world.

Jaxon has been burned by love before and doesn’t do relationships anymore. But danged if the adorable lg next door doesn’t do it for him.

Watching these two learn to love again and be their authentic selves was heartwarming and smile inducing.

 

Buy link:

Amazon

Trial by Betrayal (YR4 - The Nightshade Guild: The Trials of the Guild Book 3) by Jennifer Wedmore

Trial by Betrayal (YR4 - The Nightshade Guild: The Trials of the Guild Book 3) by Jennifer Wedmore

 

Blurb:

Morwen and Fauxon made it home from 1968, but there's no time to relax! The Creator of Magic said they are abusing their powers and doing more harm than good.

Morwen has to prove she is worthy of magic, the Guild, and herself. She's facing seven trials with family and friends as her accusers. Can she survive the emotional toll of each person's accusations?

She has to convince the judges, and most importantly herself that her actions in the Guild were with the best of intentions, but can the words hurled at her shake her confidence or will she be found innocent and keep her place in the Guild?

Seven trials to determine her fate. Seven trials to determine if she keeps her life with Fauxon and her Magic.

 

My review:

This book was so hard on my heart. Morwen no sooner gets back from Losing Time back in 1968 then she is separated from Fauxon and put on trial to justify her actions. She has to defend her choices under stressful conditions. I kept wondering if I could be that gracious. I kept wanting to scream at the judges that she did her best and I dare you to have made better decisions under fire?

This is a solemn story that will make you think.

 

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Eye on the Ball: Tiger's Eye Mysteries by Alyssa Day

 

 

Blurb:

All Tess wanted to do was play softball. Why do dead bodies have to keep showing up?

And what's up with that vampire in the outfield?

When the annual Dead End, Florida, softball game ends up with three strikes, shapeshifting tiger Jack and not-quite-vanilla-human Tess, with the help of family and friends, have to be sure they're not the ones who are out.

And when a very pregnant witch comes to town ... the poisoned popcorn is the least of the town's problems!

But never fear -- Jack and Tess are on the case. Because sometimes it takes a tiger's eye to see the truth.

 

My review:

I giggle-snorted my way through the entire story. Tess has her hands full and boy is it hilarious.

 

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Cherished by the Dragon: Dahlstrom Brothers by K.R. Hall

 

 

Blurb:

Mustang shifter Jayden Garcia and dragon shifter Todd Dahlstrom were toddlers when they met in the same hospital room. Todd’s mother couldn’t soothe her frightened son and stop the boy’s uncontrollable crying. Jayden crawled into his bed and wrapped his arms around him. Todd quieted as he leaned into Jayden.

Too young to understand what was happening, their inner animals instinctively knew they were destined for each other, and their mothers vowed to keep them together.

When they reach puberty, they learn that Todd is unable to shift. His dragon soul has been stripped away, leaving him vulnerable to human diseases.

As adults, Jayden joins the Shifter Army while Todd takes his place in the family business. Todd turns to two surrogate mothers to help him and Jayden have the family they always dreamed of.

What will happen when Jayden and Todd are faced with the ultimate test of their bond? Todd needs a transplant, or he will die.

Recommended reading age is 18+ for sex scenes, mature themes, violence, and language. Expect spice, fated-mate bonds, and powerful dragon shifters. Cherished by the Dragon is a stand-alone novel, the first book of the Dahlstrom Brothers series. It includes intense sexual scenes. If such material offends you, please don’t buy this book.

 

My review:

This story is sweet and sassy. Sadly it is a bit herky jerky as well.  I was friends with Balgir Todd on Facebook which is where the author got the basis for this story (which the author freely admits) and so I knew parts of this story and I love how the author brought it all together.

 

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Hudson by Rebecca Barber

 

 

Blurb:

ELIZA
My divorce was final and my future was shining bright.
Leaving my ex-husband and his new girlfriend on the West Coast I moved away for a fresh start.
But he wouldn’t let me go.
He drove me into the arms of Hudson Hart. We joined forces with this goal to win, and at any cost.
Without warning, the lines blurred, I was in love with my boss.

HUDSON
I’d found the love of my life once, but cancer stole her from me.
I wasn’t looking for Mrs. Hart number two. I had everything I needed in my beautiful daughter Hallie and the company I’d spent years building.
Until her.
Eliza Bennett stumbled into my office with a business proposition. One I couldn’t turn down.
When her scumbag ex-husband came knocking, he wasn’t expecting a fight but Eliza had gotten under my skin and thawed my frozen heart.
Now I wasn’t just fighting for business but for the employee I couldn’t get out of my head.

 

My review:

Billionaire, single father and widower Hudson is convinced his one shot at love died and took his heart with her.

Divorced from the jerk she found banging his assistant Eliza has created a company with grit, sweat and a whole lot of talent. She is too busy for a man.

Eliza and Hudson team up to save her company from her sleazy ex but end up saving so much more.

This was a fun story. I loved Eliza and her GBF. Watching Eliza and Hudson learn to trust again was sigh-worthy.

 

Buy links:

Amazon

Stabby Chic (A Bewitching Midlife Crisis Mystery, #4) by Dakota Cassidy

 

 

Blurb:

Unalived recently? Lose your head? Need someone to help you get to the other side—with your head?

Then I’m your girl—Evanora Dark at your service!

During a design competition for charity Tambi Schubert, local Buttermilk Bay's star stager and designer has a little accident.

Okay, it’s a not so little (read big—my word, so big).

I find her, relieved of her head via a power tool, in the house I’m designing for the competition, bringing a screeching halt to the contest and an investigation that leaves me as a suspect.

Yet, as I take a deep dive into Tambi’s past, I find almost everyone’s a suspect. Her past doesn’t only reveal her dismissive treatment of others, and some dark secrets, but a lonely woman who’s afraid of what waits for her on the other side.

But the only way to find out, and to clear my name, is to find Tambi’s killer before I end up losing my head—no pun intended!

 

My review:

Who knew staging a house could be murder? Evanora finds a dead rival during a design competition. The contest was tough but nothing to lose your head over or was it? This story had me laughing my head off. Snarky dialog and fast paced drama had me loving this story.

 

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