A California Christmas by Brenda Novak

 

A CALIFORNIA CHRISTMAS – Brenda Novak

A Silver Springs Novel #7

Mira Books

ISBN: 978-0-778-6103-9

October 2020

Contemporary Romance

 

Silver Springs, California – Present Day

 

Up and coming news anchor Emery Bliss grew up in Silver Springs and thought she’d left the town behind when she got hired in Los Angeles. However, she is blindsided by revenge porn put on the internet by what she assumes is her ex and loses her job at the television station. Emery decides to temporarily return to Silver Springs, though her parents no longer live there, so Emery is staying with family friend Aiyana Turner. Unfortunately, because so many people have seen the sex tape, she is considered notorious and a pariah by those who think she willingly went along with it. She must prove she was set up and repair her image.

 

One morning, Emery comes down to fix breakfast and Aiyanna’s adopted son, Dallas, walks in unexpectedly. Emery and Dallas went to school together, and after he learns about her troubles, offers to help her. She suspects that her ex is the one that uploaded the video even though he denies it, but why should he be the one to keep his job at the station while she got fired?

 

Dallas feels as though he’s at the crossroads of life. He has been a mountain climber his adult life and wonders if it is time to settle down. Aiyana is one of those people who help others in need, especially children. She adopted him after his father murdered Dallas’s mother and sister. What Dallas does not yet realize is that his father has been released from prison—and is wanting to meet him. Aiyana knows, and she plans to do whatever it takes to keep the man away from Dallas.

 

Dallas and Emery knows one another from growing up, but it isn’t until they meet again in A CALIFORNIA CHRISTMAS that a romance is sparked. Their romance builds slowly as they spend together. First, Emery needs protection from a few people in Silver Springs who want to disparage her reputation, then there is the proposed lawsuit she plans to file against her ex and the station. If she can prove that he was the one who instigated the filming and uploading to the internet, she has a strong case. Dallas is right by her side to help her.

 

Christmas is just around the corner in A CALIFORNIA CHRISTMAS, as is Aiyanna’s planned marriage to her fiancé a week before the holiday. Readers will be pulled into a tale filled with family love and togetherness. Everyone is willing to help others, with no questions asked. A CALIFORNIA CHRISTMAS is a small town where everyone knows everybody, and a town Emery felt safe returning to. Though her parents no longer live there, she prefers the quiet solitude of Silver Springs as her parents are in the middle of a contentious divorce and each want Emery’s loyalty.

 

A CALIFORNIA CHRISTMAS is a perfect holiday read that will leave you warm and content knowing that a happily-ever-after will be the reward. Don’t miss this feelgood tale.

 

Patti Fischer

Claiming The Rancher's Heir by Maisey Yates

 

CLAIMING THE RANCHER’S HEIR – Maisey Yates

Gold Valley Vineyards, Book 2

Harlequin Desire #2767

ISBN: 978-1-335-20943-6

November 2020

Contemporary Series Romance

 

Gold Valley, Oregon – Present Day

 

Wren Maxfield and Creed Cooper seemingly are always at odds as their family’s wineries are competitors in Gold Valley. But hate leads to lust—and a sexual encounter that ignites flames between them. Once Creed has sex with Wren, he can’t get enough of her. But their first tryst was without a condom and Wren ends up pregnant. Creed is shocked at the news but recovers to inform her that they will get married. She refuses because she is not sure they can make a go of a marriage. She wants love and Creed doesn’t appear to in the mood for loving anyone.

 

What Wren doesn’t realize is that an unplanned pregnancy isn’t Creed’s first rodeo. However, things didn’t end well for him the first time and it’s marked him. He won’t let Wren walk away with his baby, though she tells him that she won’t keep him/her away from its father. After much discussion and thinking, she finally agrees to marriage—with some stipulations. Namely, once the baby is born, they will separate. Creed always thought once he got married that it’d be for a lifetime, even if love wasn’t involved. Will the months leading up to the birth of their baby end with Wren and Creed discovering they’re in love?

 

Wren and Creed have been rivals for years, but it isn’t until they square off in CLAIMING THE RANCHER’S HEIR that they discover an attraction that is nearly insatiable. Wren is running her family’s winery and gearing up for a fall festival that requires she work with Creed’s family’s winery. During the heat of an argument, one thing leads to another and she ends up pinned to the wall in a sizzling embrace with him. They try to dance around at first saying that the sex means nothing, but after she confronts him a couple of weeks later about it, both realize they have a mutual attraction. An affair works great for both, but an unplanned pregnancy changes everything.

 

Secretly, Wren hopes she and Creed can work things out after they are married and can have a happily-ever-after. But he is stubborn and feels he can’t give love to a woman—because he doesn’t trust love after giving it once to a woman who flipped his world upside down. Can Wren tame Creed’s wild heart? They are both strong-minded and persistent. Who will win in the tug of war—or love—in CLAIMING THE RANCHER’S HEIR?

 

A fun and sizzling tale that you won’t want to miss, pick up a copy of CLAIMING THE RANCHER’S HEIR.

 

Patti Fischer

The Sinner's Secrets by Kira Sinclair

 

THE SINNER’S SECRET – Kira Sinclair

Bad Billionaires, Book 3

Harlequin Desire #2771

ISBN: 978-1-335-20947-4

November 2020

Contemporary Series Romance

 

Charleston, South Carolina – Present Day

 

After being released from prison for a crime he didn’t commit, billionaire Gray Lockwood plans revenge on the woman whose testimony helped convict him. Blakely Whittaker is hired to work at a security company and is excited about it, but the whole employment process seemed weird. As she sits in her new office awaiting instructions, in walks Gray Lockwood—the man she testified against eight years ago. He informs her that he is one of the three owners of the company, and he has plans for her. Blakely should just get up and walk away, but Gray won’t let her. She has no job and no way to support herself. Gray’s request of her is simple: prove that he didn’t really embezzle millions of dollars from his father’s company.

 

It’s like digging through a haystack looking for a needle, but Blakely takes on the assignment in THE SINNER’S SECRET by Kira Sinclair, the final book in the Bad Billionaires series. Eight years ago, she was only doing the honorable thing in testifying against Gray when she discovered he’d transferred company funds illegally into his personal bank account. He was sent to prison and is now out—and he wants to use her. There is a simmering attraction between them, but how can she keep things businesslike when she hungers for his kisses? Meanwhile, the search is on to locate the culprit behind the crime. Gray didn’t do it, so who did? And why to his account?

 

As Blakely and Gray begin to work closely together, desire rises hot and heavy between them. Once they kiss, there is no going back. Both know where their attraction is headed, but if she can’t prove his innocence, will there always be a barrier preventing them from pursuing a future together? Gray grew up with parents who didn’t love him, so his views on love are always through a jaded lens. But he’s attracted to Blakely and won’t give up until she’s in his bed. He finally gets that opportunity on an exploratory trip to Las Vegas. If they find the evidence clearing him, can they put the past behind them?

 

 THE SINNER’S SECRET has a bit of intrigue—and a few twists and turns that change the premise of the story. For Gray, it soon becomes less about clearing his name and more about exploring the secrets he learns. Blakely is right by his side, but once it is all over, will their affair continue? An intriguing romance, you won’t want to miss THE SINNER’S SECRET.

 

Patti Fischer

Vows In Name Only by Naima Simone

 

VOWS IN NAME ONLY – Naima Simone

Billionaires of Boston, Book 1

Harlequin Desire #2770

ISBN: 978-1-335-20946-7

November 2020

Contemporary Series Romance

 

Boston – Present Day

 

As VOWS IN NAME ONLY opens, Cain Farrell learns after his hated father passes away that not only must he share the estate with two half-brothers that he didn’t know about, but that he must live in the mansion for one year. If he doesn’t comply, then he forfeits the estate. Cain goes along with the terms, and at a party a few days later, runs into a beautiful woman, one he is attracted to. A few days later, a man by the name of Gregory Cole comes into his office and informs him that he has information on Cain’s mother, which he will use as blackmail unless Cain agrees to marry his only daughter, Devon. Cain feels like he’s boxed into a corner because he will do anything to protect his mother. He finally agrees to a loveless marriage, vowing he will never accept the woman into his heart. Then, Devon walks in, and he discovers that she is the woman from the party.

 

Devon is under the control and thumb of her father. Gregory is obsessed with money and power and thinks nothing of using his daughter as a pawn. Devon has managed to find a job at a community center, but her father is threatening to get her fired and destroy the community center if she doesn’t agree to the loveless marriage to Cain Farrell. Forced to protect a cause she loves, she agrees. The realization that Cain is the man she accidentally ran into at the party is stunning. Yet, despite their instant attraction, she knows their future is doomed.

 

It’s a marital recipe for disaster in VOWS IN NAME ONLY by Naima Simone. Growing up, Cain was physically abused by his father and watched his mother put up with verbal abuse. Both finally escaped after Cain graduated from college and he vowed never to set foot in the family mansion again. But the death of his father has the man controlling things from the grave. Cain learns he has two half-brothers and that he must also live in the mansion for one—or lose the inheritance for all three. Cain figures he can take it for year, then move on running the family business. The entrance of Gregory Cole into his life is a shock—and the man is nearly as vile as Cain’s father. Is Devon helping Gregory to commit a con?

 

Unknown to Cain, Devon is a pawn, too, in her father’s schemes. Her love life is hopeless, especially after the last man she loved turned out to be a louse. After she gives in to her father’s blackmail demands—and realizes that it is Cain she must marry—she only hopes that she doesn’t lose her heart to the man she is now attracted to. In VOWS IN NAME ONLY, their relationship certainly starts off on the wrong foot, but can it only get better? And what about the sexual chemistry between them? Will they give in to their mutual attraction?

 

You won’t want to miss VOWS IN NAME ONLY.

 

Patti Fischer

In Bed With His Rival by Katherine Garbera

 

IN BED WITH HIS RIVAL – Katherine Garbera

Texas Cattleman’s Club: Rags to Riches, Book 6

Harlequin Desire #2768

ISBN: 978-1-335-20944-3

November 2020

Contemporary Series Romance

 

Royal & Dallas, Texas – Present Day

 

Brian Cooper and Piper Holloway have known each other for a while as her sister was friends with Brian’s uncle. Brian has to admit that he’s attracted to Piper, despite the fact that she is several years older. At a party, the two dance together, and sparks fly. What’s wrong with a little harmless flirtation? Their attraction sizzles, and it doesn’t take long before they’re having sex. But Piper sees it as only a temporary fling. She feels she can’t offer Brian anything for them to have a future together, even though he wants to see where things go. Add in that her sister and his uncle are no longer friendly with each other, a relationship between them might cause a strain in the families.

 

Piper’s sister and her nieces and nephews are going through a bad time right now. A scandal involving a suspicious fire and subsequential illegal drug bust has their company in jeopardy and the feds investigating. The scandal is even affecting Piper’s art gallery as people don’t want to do business with someone associated with her relatives. Brian and Piper tiptoe around their affair, never quite wanting to end things even as she tells him she can’t see him again. Then Brian learns something that might rip them apart permanently. Does he dare try to fix things, or are things over between them?

 

IN BED WITH HIS RIVAL is about a younger man dating an older woman. There are feelings between Brian and Piper, but she tries to keep him at an arm’s length due to the age difference. It’s up to him to make her feel comfortable about seeing him—first as a friend, then as a lover. Brian and Piper get along really well and make a perfect couple, so why can’t they wait to see where things will go? What about the company scandal? How does it affect them? Brian is one of the few people in Royal who think the Wingates (Piper’s relatives) are decent and the scandal shouldn’t change how they are viewed by others.

 

As stated earlier, IN BED WITH HIS RIVAL has Brian and Piper going back and forth being a couple. Despite being forty, Piper is young at heart, which is probably why Brian is attracted to her. But she sees no future for them. In this tale, we do find out who is behind the company scandal, bringing to a close one of the continuing storylines in this latest Texas Cattleman’s Club series. There are still two more books to go, and they revolve around two more members of the Holloway/Wingate families.

 

A sizzling and engrossing read, don’t miss IN BED WITH HIS RIVAL.

 

Patti Fischer

 

 

Slow Burn by Janice Maynard

 

SLOW BURN – Janice Maynard

Dynasties: Seven Sins, Book 7

Harlequin Desire #2769

ISBN: 978-1-335-20945-0

November 2020

Contemporary Series Romance

 

New York City – Present Day

 

Nikki Reardon and Jake Lowell knew each other growing up in Falling Brook, New Jersey, but both left town after a huge scandal involving their fathers left them in shock and embarrassed. Five years ago, Nikki and Jake happened to run into one another in a casino in Atlantic City and had a one-night stand. He has been out of the country, but now he is back after his runaway felon father was arrested. The old scandal has been front-page news again, with an added twist: an anonymous letter claims that there is a secret Lowell baby. Jake’s twin brother, Joshua, was implicated first, but since he wasn’t involved with anyone during the time frame, he confronts Jake. Did Jake have sex with another woman around five years ago?

 

Jake seeks out Nikki—and learns that indeed, she did give birth to his daughter, Emma, a rambunctious four-year-old. She never planned to let him know; instead, she would raise Emma alone with the help of her mother. Jake offers her financial assistance, which she resists, even though the money would help. Jake plans to stick around until his father is sentenced to prison, which allows him time to get to know Emma. But being around Nikki rekindles the old desire he felt for her, the one that led them to sleep together five years ago. Jake has no plans to settle down, so how can Nikki let him back into her life—because she has had feelings for him since they were teenagers.

 

In SLOW BURN, Jake has let his resentment and anger toward his father color his personality. He was raised alongside Joshua and their brother, Oliver, in an affluent lifestyle, but that all came crashing down after their father stole from the investment company he ran and disappeared. But now his father has been captured and will finally face the consequences of his bad deeds. Will it finally allow the brothers to close the book on what happened to them years ago? Or will the acrimony continue to color their futures? At least for Joshua and Oliver, they have each found a woman to share a life with. Jake, on the other hand, thinks he couldn’t ever fall in love. Yet, he still finds himself attracted to Nikki. She is like the girl he left behind…

 

Nikki grapples with her feelings for Jake in SLOW BURN. She wanted to leave with him when he first left fifteen years ago, but he turned her down. She thought she had a second chance with him five years ago. After getting her heart burned a second time, Nikki has no plans to try a third time. Emma is too important for Nikki to have both end up heartbroken when Jake leaves once again. Yet, that sizzling chemistry can’t be denied. Can Jake finally make peace with his past so that he can move on?

 

SLOW BURN is about a couple reunited, and an acceptance of the past. Don’t miss this intriguing tale.

Patti Fischer

 

 

All He Wants for Christmas by Karen Booth

 

ALL HE WANTS FOR CHRISTMAS – Karen Booth

The Sterling Wives, Book 3

Harlequin Desire #2772

ISBN: 978-1-335-20948-1

November 2020

Contemporary Series Romance

 

San Diego, California – Present Day

 

For months, real estate developer Andrew Sterling was secretly interfering in his brother’s acquisition of property for a new building. Then his brother unexpectedly died, leaving behind a widow, Miranda. Andrew never went to his brother’s funeral because they were estranged, but one day he does go to pay his respects to Miranda—meets her for the first time, discovering that she is pregnant with his niece. It is then that Andrew decides to drop his plan, but there is a hitch: his partner in the crime doesn’t want to stop, and the man continues to make trouble. Andrew doesn’t want to see Miranda suffering, so he tries to stop his former partner, but he has gone “underground.”

 

Miranda learns that Andrew is in San Diego and contacts him, even suggesting that he stay with her while he’s in town. He accepts her offer, even as he realizes that he’s beginning to find himself attracted to her. At first, Andrew is secretly working to head off his former partner and save the Sterling Company deal, but he eventually tells Miranda and her brother, Clay, and both agree to help him. Living with Miranda in her house makes the attraction between them even more intense, but will it lead to something more?

 

Andrew has a secret in ALL HE WANTS FOR CHRISTMAS by Karen Booth. He had a contentious relationship with his brother, Johnathon, and when he saw an opportunity to ruin the Seaport deal, he pushed his plan forward with the help of an ally. But things fell apart after his brother died and he later met Miranda. Can Andrew now right the wrong? Will she believe him that he means no harm? What about the sexual chemistry that sizzles between them?

 

Miranda was swept off her feet by Johnathon and married him quickly, even though she was his third wife. In The Sterling Wives series, we have met the three wives: Tara, Astrid, and now, Miranda. The three women are now joint partners in the company left to them by Johnathon. Miranda is pregnant, with her baby due in February. As ALL HE WANTS FOR CHRISTMAS opens, Thanksgiving is around the corner. Will they share the holiday together? Will Miranda and Andrew fall in love? Can the Seaport project be saved?

 

An unlikely duo discovers a mutual attraction that can’t be denied. There is a bit of intrigue in the background in ALL HE WANTS FOR CHRISTMAS. Will they find their way to a happily-ever-after? Find out by reading this tale.

 

Patti Fischer

Looking for a Cowboy by Donna Grant

 

LOOKING FOR A COWBOY – Donna Grant

Heart of Texas, Book 5

St. Martin’s Paperbacks

ISBN: 9781250250063

October 27, 2020

Contemporary Romance

 

Clearview, Texas – Present Day

 

Private Investigator Marlee Frampton has come to Clearview in search of a baby she suspects was stolen from its murdered mother. The Harpers look like any ordinary couple wanting to adopt, but is the baby they recently received from the adoption agency the baby Marlee is looking for? She must lay low to some extent, because if she reveals her hand too soon, the couple might bolt. Even as she gets to know the people in Clearview, she soon becomes the focus of them.

 

Cowboy Cooper Owens is curious about the stranger in town. Marlee is a beautiful and sassy redhead and he wouldn’t mind getting to know her better. But he senses she’s in town on a mission—and one that might put his friends, Brice and Naomi Harper, into her crosshairs. With the help of his law enforcement friend, Cooper learns that Marlee is a PI who specializes in baby abductions. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure how who she is zeroing in on. He confronts her, and offers to help her, if only to prove to her that she’s looking at the wrong baby. Will Marlee and Cooper work together to solve the baby abduction case?

 

Meanwhile, Marlee wonders if she is being misled by her sources, and if so, why? Also, why does Clearview seem to be in the middle of where all the recent baby abductions and murders occurred? Are the perpetrators in the area?

 

LOOKING FOR A COWBOY is billed as a contemporary romance, but it has a fairly heavy dose of romantic suspense. This tale is less about “cowboys” and more about “finding kidnappers and murderers.” Not to give anything away, but readers learn about halfway through who the “bad guys” are—and how Clearview is connected. The moment Marlee and Cooper meet, there is a pleasant zing of attraction between them. Yet, she feels she doesn’t have time to get involved with him, especially since he’s good friends with her targets. Can she convince him that she means no harm and only wants to get the DNA on the infant to make sure it isn’t the missing baby?

 

Marlee senses someone is watching her, and readers will wonder that too. After she and Cooper finally begin to trust one another, things move pretty fast between them. He also enlists the help of his friends, specifically his best friend, Jace, to assist. Tracking down cold-blooded murderers who kidnap a baby and leave the dead mother behind are people who need to be brought to justice. But as soon as they start to investigate, a couple of people in the Clearview area become nervous. Will our investigators end up walking into an ambush?

 

LOOKING FOR A COWBOY is an engrossing tale that will have you unable to put it down. Marlee has spent ten years investigating infant snatchings, solely because her sister was murdered, and her baby taken from her womb. The ultimate goal is finding her missing niece. Will Marlee find her in LOOKING FOR A COWBOY? Will the murderers be brought to justice? Once it’s all over, can there be a future for Marlee and Cooper? Find out in this riveting tale.

 

Patti Fischer

 

 

A PRINCESS FOR CHRISTMAS – Jenny Holiday

 A PRINCESS FOR CHRISTMAS – Jenny Holiday

Avon

ISBN: 978-0-06-295207-3

October 13, 2020

Contemporary Romance

 

New York City and the Eldovia – Present Day

 

Princess Marie, future queen of Eldovia, is in New York City to give a presentation at the United Nations. Her scheduled ride breaks down, so Marie, against the advice of her two escorts, flags down a taxi. It’s kind of full—not only is there the driver, but he also has a little girl beside him, along with a dog in a cage—but she convinces him to take her to her destination.

 

Leo Ricci has his hands full raising his sister, Gabby, while driving a taxi to support them. Picking up Princess Marie one night, he is at first annoyed by the fare because he was headed some  place else, then intrigued by how grounded she is.  The two hit it off on friendly terms, which ends with Marie hiring him as her personal driver for the next couple of days while she’s in town—throwing in a generous monetary compensation. As Leo drives her around, they begin to connect, and leads to her inviting him and Gabby to her country for Christmas, which is in a few days. Will their friendship turn into something more in Eldovia?

 

A PRINCESS FOR CHRISTMAS is a cute, holiday romance that will tug at the heartstrings of readers. Marie just wants to be treated as any normal person, despite the fact that she is the future queen of a country located in Europe. As the only child of the king, she is being pressed into marrying the man her father has chosen for her—but it won’t be for love. Leo shows her a side of New York that she had never seen before, which is why she decided to reciprocate by inviting Leo and Gabby to her country for Christmas. Of course, for Gabby, it is simply amazing to be around royalty and thinks of Marie as doing no wrong. Leo senses there is turmoil deep inside Marie. Will she confide to him?

 

Once in Eldovia, Leo finds it a whole different experience. He meets Marie’s father and a few of her friends, and quickly settles into enjoying the visit. He also spends time with Marie, and the two soon develop feelings for each other. At first, she only suggests that they have sex, a fling that will last until Leo and Gabby return to the United States. But soon, they are both craving more than a short fling. But can there be any future between a princess and an American commoner?

 

A romance that is both sweet and sensual, A PRINCESS FOR CHRISTMAS by Jenny Holiday will keep you enthralled as you fall in love with Leo and Princess Marie, with the added affection for little Gabby. Don’t miss this engaging tale.

 

Patti Fischer

 

 

The Last Christmas Cowboy -- Maisey Yates

 

THE LAST CHRISTMAS COWBOY – Maisey Yates

A Gold Valley Novel

HQN Books

ISBN: 978-1-335-01404-7

October 13, 2020

Contemporary Romance

 

Gold Valley, Oregon – Present Day

 

Rose Daniels and Logan Heath have worked side-by-side for years on the ranch they all co-own with the rest of Rose’s family.  Rose worries that her older sister, Iris, is going to turn into an old maid, so she decides to take matters into her own hand by finding Iris a potential mate. Logan scoffs at Rose’s plans and says it won’t work. In fact, they have a little bet going. To Rose’s dismay, she loses the bet after her target male ends up being attracted to her, and not Iris. Turns out the prize Logan gets for winning the bet is…Rose.

 

Since Logan has known Rose, he has always been protective of her—and attracted to her once she became an adult. But she is like his little sister, with the added disadvantage that there’s a ten-year age difference between them. Logan thinks her plan to marry off Iris is crazy and that it will fail, which it does. But in the meantime, Logan and Rose go toe-to-toe arguing about who is right and who is wrong. They’ve always been good friends, but suddenly, the sexual chemistry heats up between them. Rose can’t stop thinking about Logan kissing her. Logan wants her, but he’s mindful of how her older brother, Ryder, would likely kill him if he dared to hurt “little sister” Rose. Never mind what her other sister, Pansy, who is the chief of police, will do. As they go back and forth wanting and trying to resist each other, which side will win?

 

Christmas is just around the corner and Logan isn’t looking forward to it in THE LAST CHRISTMAS COWBOY by Maisey Yates. Logan’s mother and Rose’s parents were friends, with the link being their children, but the adults died in a plane crash together while on a trip to Alaska. Rose was only seven and her older brother Ryder (who was eighteen at the time) took over the raising of Rose and her two sisters. Along the way, Logan moved in, as did Sammy, who is now married to Ryder. Logan hates Christmas and tries to avoid celebrating it, but will this year be different if he has Rose in his bed? It certainly looks like they’re about to have a fling, yet Logan feels he is betraying Ryder if he did. However, any reservations he has about making love to Rose flies out the window when they finally give in to the passion. But how long will it last before one of them regrets what happened? Can they even work together anymore?

 

If you haven’t read the prior Gold Valley novels, then you might be wondering about who many of the other characters are in THE LAST CHRISTMAS COWBOY. While this tale could be read as a standalone, I suggest reading at least the last two: THE BAD BOY OF REDEMPTION RANCH (Pansy and West’s story) and THE HERO OF HOPE SPRINGS (Ryder and Sammy’s story) because these three books are closely connected.

 

THE LAST CHRISTMAS COWBOY is a friends-to-lovers tale about a seemingly forbidden love that soon can’t be denied. Logan and Rose’s journey to a happily-ever-after is both emotional and sensual. Add in the holiday season and THE LAST CHRISTMAS COWBOY is one that you won’t want to miss reading.

 

Patti Fischer

In A Holidaze by Christina Lauren

 IN A HOLIDAZE – Christina Lauren

Gallery Books

ISBN: 978-1-9821-2394-9

October 6, 2020

Contemporary Romance

 

Utah – Present Day

 

Christmas is over and everyone is cleaning up in preparation to leave the cabin where Maelyn Jones, her parents and brother, as well as their longtime friends, have been staying for the past week. For as long as Mae can remember, she has been secretly attracted to Andrew Hollis, the son of one of their cabin friends. But Mae did a stupid thing last night. She was feeling tipsy and ended up kissing Andrew’s brother (and Mae’s good friend), Theo. As she shuffles into the kitchen for breakfast feeling hungover, Theo is there—but he won’t look up from the bowl of cereal he’s eating. She feels guilty for betraying Andrew, though nothing has ever been romantic between her and Andrew. Then, just as they’re about to leave, Mae discovers that Andrew had seen the kiss. Mae had hopes she could’ve started something with Andrew, but now all is lost. As Mae and her family drive away, she wonders how she could change what happened during the Christmas holiday. Then, a car comes hurtling toward them on the highway. As the sounds of metal hitting metal reverberate in her head, Mae loses consciousness…and wakes up back on the plane, several days earlier, and her life is about to take on a Groundhog Day (the movie) existence.

 

IN A HOLIDAZE is certainly different in that our heroine, Mae, is given several chances to “get it right” before she reaches the end of this book. Where did she veer off that caused her to be forced back into the past to live her days at the cabin all over again? At first, Mae can’t figure out what is going on. Is she experiencing hallucinations about reliving it again…and again? Heck, she can “predict” when something will happen within the group because she had already experienced it. She finally confides in one of her parents’ friends, Benny, who is skeptical of her claims at first, but then he begins to realize she might be telling the truth. Mae doesn’t know when she will end up “going back,” but when she is “allowed” to finally go forward and not go back, she wonders if it is a sign she is on the right track. Of course, will this mean changing the course of where she kissed Theo and losing any chance with Andrew? Will she get that second chance?

 

This tale has numerous minor characters, too many to list, but IN A HOLIDAZE is centered around Mae’s dilemma in having to “re-do” the week before Christmas. It has an intriguing and yes, unusual, plot. There is humor blended in. After all, Mae and the other characters aren’t perfect, especially when the group has known one another for years. When Mae appears to be on the right track and things start to go the way it should, then things start to tilt wrongly for her once again. Will she have to “return to the past” again and do it all over? Will she end up happy?

 

If you love a contemporary romance that is different and intriguing, then don’t miss IN A HOLIDAZE.

 

Patti Fischer

TOOLS OF ENGAGEMENT – Tessa Bailey

 TOOLS OF ENGAGEMENT – Tessa Bailey

Hot & Hammered, Book 3

Avon

ISBN:  978-0062872937

September 22, 2020

Romantic Comedy

 

Port Jefferson, New York – Present Day

 

Home designer Bethany Castle is known in town for her beautiful and elaborate home designs, which has worked well with her working alongside her brother, Stephen, who flips houses. However, she has decided to branch out on her own flipping houses, which has turned into a competition that has caught the attention of a HGTV-style TV producer. Bethany has never swung a hammer into plaster, but she is hoping her newly hired foreman, Wes Daniels, can guide her. However, he’s not too happy to learn that she agreed to have their construction work filmed for the show. There are also the sparks that are flying hot and heavy between them. Bethany has no plans to get involved with Wes because he is six years younger than her. But sexual chemistry doesn’t care about the age difference if there’s smoking hot chemistry.

 

Wes is originally from Texas but came to Port Jefferson after his estranged half-sister contacted him for help. She then took off, leaving him with her four-year-old daughter, Laura. Family comes first for Wes, so while he wishes he was back in Texas, he has to make a temporary life for his niece until her mother comes back. He appreciates Bethany hiring him, though she is a bit of a pain in the ass. She prefers things around her to be perfect, which means she is set in her ways. As they argue about how to proceed with the house rehab, things get seriously hot between them. He wouldn’t mind a fling with his boss, but she wants to keep things business only. How can Bethany not see that their age difference doesn’t matter?

 

With his life in upheaval, Wes isn’t in a position to provide Bethany anything except being a good employee—and a potential roll between the bedsheets a couple of times. He has to be protective of his niece because his half-sister is not only a drug addict but unstable. The television show is being filmed as they work and is fast-paced because both houses (Bethany’s and Stephen’s) must be completed in one and a half weeks, after which a winner is chosen. With the help of two older men that Wes hired, they get to work. Along the way, there is plenty of interaction between Bethany and Wes, and the chemistry that’s been there for a while really begins to heat up, leading to some heavy petting. Will they end up making love? How can they be discreet about an affair without having others around them find out? Will the house get finished in time?

 

TOOLS OF ENGAGEMENT is the third book in the Hot & Hammered series by Tessa Bailey. The others in the series are FIX HER UP and LOVE HER OR LOSE HER. While all the characters from those books appear a few times, you can read TOOLS OF ENGAGEMENT without having read the others.

 

Sexy banter and a few chuckles along the way will have readers not wanting to put down TOOLS OF ENGAGEMENT. Bethany and Wes prove that opposites do attract and fall in love. For a cute and engaging read, don’t miss this tale.

 

Patti Fischer

A HIGHLANDER IS COMING TO TOWN – Laura Trentham

 A HIGHLANDER IS COMING TO TOWN – Laura Trentham

A Highland, Georgia Novel, Book 3

St. Martin’s

ISBN: 978-1250315052

October 2020

Contemporary Romance

 

Highland, Georgia – Present Day

 

Claire Smythe (not her real last name) is hiding out in Georgia, far away from her home country of Scotland. Her family wants her to work for the family busines, but this is something she has no interest in doing, and her father won’t say no. Claire came to Highland as a singer for a band but left that to start a job as a caregiver to gruffy old Mrs. Meadows. Since she fears being recognized because of her family’s social standing due to having tons of money, Claire has kept a low profile in the past few months. One day while grocery shopping, she is riding home on her bicycle when it develops a flat tire and lo and behold, neighbor Holt Pierson comes along in his truck and stops. After first refusing his offer of a ride, Claire changes her mind. The crackle of sexual chemistry causes sparks to fly between them. But Holt is too dangerous for Claire to get involved with because she might get her true identity exposed. Add in that her employer doesn’t trust the Pierson family because they want to buy her land, then it’s another reason to avoid Holt. However, fate—and an attraction that won’t go away—has a funny way of finding excuses for Holt and Claire to end up around each other.

 

A HIGHLANDER IS COMING TO TOWN is set around Christmas, but the holiday pretty much stays in the background in this cute and funny tale from Laura Trentham. Claire is biding her time until she’s twenty-five—December 26^th—when she can return to Scotland and claim the inheritance that’s waiting for her. But she also knows that the family will once again push her, the only child, into working for their company, a worldwide famous whiskey company. Meeting Holt has her trying to avoid him at first, but he is way too irresistible. And their sexual attraction is off the charts. Knowing she might be leaving, can she have that last fling before she has to leave Highland, Georgia? A sort of a memory of a time when she wasn’t living in a fishbowl.

 

After his parents retired to Florida in their recreational vehicle, Holt has been running the family ranch. Yes, they would have liked to buy Mrs. Meadows’ land, but that ship has mostly sailed since she has repeatedly turned them down. However, her caregiver, Claire intrigues him. She is beautiful and mysterious—and stubborn. She has no driver’s license and uses a bike to get around, but that isn’t a sensible mode of transportation when it comes to the distance from town, and of course, the finicky weather. After several interactions, the attraction between Holt and Claire heat up, and soon they’re sharing hot kisses. Holt would love to know who the real Claire is, but she keeps things close to the vest. Will making love help her to open up to him about her past—and future?

 

In A HIGHLANDER IS COMING TO TOWN, readers return to the small, quaint town of Highland, which is like a Scottish town in America. This tale is filled with interesting and quirky characters, all of whom help make this an interesting read. Will Claire make the right decision on her future? Will Holt find his one true love in her? Don’t miss this fun and entertaining read.

 

Patti Fischer

MISTLETOE AND MR. RIGHT – Sarah Morgenthaler

 MISTLETOE AND MR. RIGHT – Sarah Morgenthaler

Moose Springs, Alaska, Book 2

Sourcebooks Casablanca

ISBN: 978-1-49269316-1

October 6, 2020

Contemporary Romance

 

Moose Springs, Alaska – Present Day

 

The citizens of Moose Springs do not like socialite Lana Montgomery because she is rich, and they are suspicious of her ideas to make their lives better. How can someone who didn’t grow up in a small Alaskan town tell them what to do differently? But one person in town does like Lana: bar owner Rick Harding. He has watched Lana try to blend in as she flits around town suggesting and bringing about changes. Right now, she is determined to find—and tranquilize—a marauding moose that is destroying Christmas decorations. Lana is intrigued by Rick. He is stoic and quiet, plus he will always step in to help others, including her. After some time spent together talking to each other, feelings develop. But Lana is on a short leash with her family as they want her to leave Moose Springs by the end of December to get back to “family” business matters. Can she bear to leave Rick and their fledging romance behind? Do they have anything to offer one another—besides love?

 

Christmas is approaching and Lana is gunning for a moose playing hide and seek in MISTLETOE AND MR. RIGHT by Sarah Morgenthaler. Yes, this book will definitely tickle your funny bone and make you smile. Lana is all business when it comes to Moose Springs. She works for her family’s corporation and has been overseeing the building of condos while living there. Her family is making noises about wanting Lana to return to Chicago and concentrate on other projects. But she loves living in Alaska and promises she won’t leave until she catches the moose, while secretly she wants to stick around to see the town transformed into one that is more vibrant and making money. Right now, very few tourists visit. Lana wants to change that.  Or is it because Rick has caught her eye? They have spent many nights chatting in the bar, and he’s easy to talk to, as well as being easy on the eye.

 

Rick has been somewhat bitter over his divorce. He did just about everything to keep his wife, but in the end, she wasn’t satisfied and moved on. Rick must admit that living in Alaska isn’t for everyone. It’s cold and isolated, plus you must deal with wild animals, such as the moose that’s been terrorizing Christmas decorations in Moose Springs. Lana claims she likes staying in Moose Springs, but how soon will the novelty wear off and she hightails it back to Chicago? As their feelings for each other heighten, maybe a Christmas fling is in order to “scratch the itch.” Yet, the attraction they have for each other appears to be deeper than just a temporary fling.

 

There is plenty of fun and hijinks galore in MISTLETOE AND MR. RIGHT, the second book in the Moose Springs, Alaska series. The townspeople are a quirky bunch who love their town and view Lana with suspicion. Will she commercialize their town and destroy it? Lana insists that won’t happen, but can they trust her? If you love a cute, funny, and entertaining holiday romance, then be sure to put MISTLETOE AND MR. RIGHT at the top of your to-buy list.

 

Patti Fischer

THE WRONG MR. DARCY – Evelyn Lozada, with Holly Lorincz

THE WRONG MR. DARCY – Evelyn Lozada, with Holly Lorincz

St. Martin’s Griffin

ISBN: 9781250622143

August 25, 2020

Romantic Comedy 

Boston – Present Day 

Hara Isari is a reporter for a small newspaper in Oregon, but her goal is to be a sportswriter at a bigtime newspaper. She enters a contest to for a chance to interview pro-basketball superstar Charles Butler, a player who is normally media shy. She hopes to use the published interview to be noticed by major publications. Hara flies to Boston to attend a game, and then afterward, she will have an opportunity to be alone with Charles to interview him. One of the first players she encounters is Derek Darcy, who is not only teammates with Charles but also his best friend. Derek isn’t friendly at all with Hara, which annoys her. Why should she care?

 Derek recently learned something about Charles that would be a huge scandal if it comes out. He is afraid that Hara is looking for something juicier than a simple interview with his best friend, so he tries to warn her off. However, one thing after another has Hara digging her heels in. Derek and Hara continue to do battle, which takes their love-hate relationship to another level. Will she find out what is going on, or will the truth continue to be hidden? Or, is there something else going on that neither is aware of? 

THE WRONG MR. DARCY is more of a dramedy than straight comedy because there are underlying elements of danger that lurks in the background. Hara didn’t go to Boston to be an investigative reporter; her plan was to complete the interview with Charles and hope it goes viral enough to capture the attention of editors. But after accidentally overhearing a conversation that really isn’t what she thinks it is, she is soon on a mission to find out what is going on. Derek only wants to protect his friend, yet he may not have much of an option because the owner of the team is putting additional pressure on him in other ways. What is going on? 

Readers get an inside look at the sport of basketball and sports journalism in THE WRONG MR. DARCY. Hara has a complicated relationship with her parents: her father is in prison and her mother wants her to forget journalism and marry a rich man. Her mother thinks hanging out with the rich in Boston is just the way to do it. Hara has her own goals—and marriage is not one of them. As she delves into trying to find out what is going on, danger lurks on the horizon. Hara becomes friends with a woman who is in love with Charles, and after a historic Nor’easter hits Boston and delays her flight out, it is her new friend that offers her a place to stay. Things then really begin to spiral out of her control and this tale takes off.

 If you love a good sports romance that is part comedy and part drama, then don’t miss THE WRONG MR. DARCY. 

Patti Fischer