Wildflower Season by Michelle Major

 WILDFLOWER SEASON -- Michelle Major

The Carolina Girls, Book 1

HQN

ISBN: 978-1-335-54779-8

May 25, 2021

Contemporary Fiction

 

Magnolia, North Carolina – Present Day

 

After the failure of her marriage, Emma Cantrell came to Magnolia and bought an old, rundown mansion belonging to an eccentric artist who had died. She plans to refurbish the mansion into an inn, but a strong windstorm upends the remodeling. With the other contractors busy due to the storm’s damage, she doesn’t know what to do and ends up drinking in a bar. There, she meets Holly, a woman who is looking for a wedding venue after her planned one ended up kaput after the windstorm. After talking about their woes, Holly suggests using the inn for the wedding—if Emma can get it repaired in time. Holly suggests her brother-in-law, who used to be a contractor, be hired to repair the damage and to help get the inn ready for the wedding ceremony and reception. The two pay him a visit.

 

Cameron Mitchell once built beautiful furniture, but ever since his wife died in an automobile accident, he has basically withdrawn from society and now works as a fishing boat guide. Emma and Holly arrive at his house to ask Cam, who isn’t exactly welcoming though he has a soft spot for his sister-in-law. Soon, Holly convinces Cam to work for Emma. While he is surly and mostly uncommunicative with Emma, they soon prove to be a good working team. He wants to do this for Holly, but it means drawing himself out of his shell and being confronted by the people from his past, including Holly’s mother, who blames him for her daughter’s death.

 

Meanwhile, Holly is wondering if her wedding ceremony will happen. She is engaged to a U.S. senator and his mother doesn’t think Holly is good enough for her son. Between Cam and her new friendship with Emma, they try to calm her nerves. Emma also hires a couple of women in Magnolia for the wedding. The four women form a bond that makes WILDFLOWER SEASON a tale of friendship.

 

Getting Emma married is the goal of everyone in WILDFLOWER SEASON.  Emma comes from a wealthy family and once sat on the board of their powerful charity foundation—until she felt forced to walk away. Emma’s ex-husband blackmailed her with a sex tape to get her money. Too embarrassed to even tell her family, she moved to Magnolia after visiting her brother, who lives there. But getting the inn ready is proving to be a lot harder than she expected. Then there are the people in town, who haven’t exactly opened their arms to welcome her. Is it because they think Emma is too haughty and will soon be leaving town?

 

Cam is surly for the better part of WILDFLOWER SEASON. His heart is still broken after losing his wife. Slowly, after going toe-to-toe with Emma, the two build an attraction, one that leads to the bedroom. Cam can’t promise Emma a rose garden, but in the meantime, he will enjoy their time together. But it never fails that whenever he turns around, there is a memory of his wife and her death. Can Cam get past the pain? Will Emma be the one who soothes his soul—and heart?

 

WILDFLOWER SEASON is a heartwarming tale that is a perfect beach read. You will cheer on Emma, Cam, Holly, and the others that have banded together to give Holly a beautiful wedding to the man she loves. Will it come off without too many bumps in the road? If you love reading about female friendships and a couple falling in love, then don’t miss WILDFLOWER SEASON.

 

Patti Fischer

Romance Reviews Today

The Summer Seekers by Sarah Morgan

 THE SUMMER SEEKERS – Sarah Morgan

HQN

ISBN: 978-1-335-18092-6

May 18,2021

Contemporary Fiction

 

England & the United States – Present Day

 

After eighty-year-old widow Kathleen has a run-in with a burglar in her kitchen, she decides life is now worth living big. She decides to embark on her dream trip by driving the famed Route 66 across the United States. Her daughter, Liza, is appalled that her mother would even think about doing this trip but agrees to the plan as long as she has a companion. Martha is interviewed and hired. What the other ladies don’t know is that Martha isn’t sure she is up for the driving part of the trip. But the two ladies are soon headed to the United States.

 

Liza worries about her mother’s trip, but she has other problems to contend with. Her family has taken her for granted for years—then her husband, Sean, forgets their anniversary. Feeling sad and overwhelmed, Liza escapes to her mother’s beachside cottage, where she encounters the next-door neighbor, Finn, who is a famous musician. Can Liza save her marriage…and her sanity?

 

For years, Kathleen had a successful travelogue TV show where she traveled the world. She was able to do this because Liza’s father was supportive and didn’t mind raising their daughter while she traipsed the world. Kathleen hasn’t shared with Liza about the man she loved first, well before she met Liza’s father. The man betrayed Kathleen with her best friend, Rachel. Kathleen has ignored the letters sent periodically from Rachel, who lives in California. As Martha and Kathleen hit the road in Chicago, they start to talk about each other’s past. Kathleen begins to wonder if it’s time to face the past.

 

Martha is still trying to recover from a bad marriage, but her ex keeps hounding her. She is used to being the quiet, unassuming one in her family, so accepting this job as Kathleen’s “chauffeur” is a big departure. Kathleen and Martha soon get to know each other. They pick up a hitchhiker named Josh, who is on a journey of discovery himself. Kathleen pulls some strings to make sure Martha and Josh get a chance to be alone and get acquainted with each other despite Martha’s resistance. Will Martha fall in love with Josh?

 

Imagine the freedom of taking off in a car and traveling across the country. That is the dream Kathleen and Martha are living in THE SUMMER SEEKERS by Sarah Morgan. While Liza didn’t have to travel far in her own quest to find herself, she is soon reconnecting with the things she lost after she married, such as painting.  She worries about Kathleen, wondering if she should’ve been stronger in stopping her mother from taking this trip. But for Kathleen, it is like she is on her final trip of life, with memories of her lost friendship with Rachel haunting her as they grow closer to the state where her friend lives. Readers will grow to love the three women and hope they find whatever it is they are looking for.

 

Martha tries to avoid Kathleen’s matchmaking, but Josh is too charming to resist. Is he the balm that she needs after her failed marriage? Will she discover after years of being told by her family that she is a failure that she is instead a person who can accomplish anything? Can Kathleen and Martha make it to California with no issues? Will Liza and Sean realize that their marriage needs saving…and accomplish it? A wonderful tale that will warm a reader’s heart, don’t miss THE SUMMER SEEKERS to find out the answers to the questions.

 

Patti Fischer

Romance Reviews Today

 

 

Deep River Promise by Jackie Ashenden

 

DEEP RIVER PROMISE – Jackie Ashenden

Alaska Homecoming, Book 2

Sourcebooks Casablanca

ISBN: 978-1-7282-1689-8

March 30, 2021

Contemporary Romance

 

Deep River, Alaska – Present Day

 

Damon Fitzgerald, along with his two best friends, have the responsibility of ensuring the legacy of their late friend, Caleb, who was killed in an accident. That legacy includes owning the town of Deep River. But Damon has the added responsibility of making sure that Caleb’s son—the child no one knew about—is taken care of. It helps that the child, Connor, and his mother, Astrid James, also live in Deep River. Now, how to approach her to let her know that he will be there for them? Using the ruse that he’s interested in tourism, he contacts Astrid, who happens to be the mayor. There’s a hitch, though, in Damon’s plans. Connor is protective of his mother and isn’t happy to have Damon around his mother.

 

Astrid has been raising Connor, now fifteen, on her own all these years and doesn’t need anyone’s help, especially Damon’s. After getting in a bind five years ago, she did allow Caleb to move her to Deep River, where she settled in and no one was aware of who Connor’s father is. The knowledge that Damon is in on the secret and was designated by Caleb to take care of her and Connor has her putting up a shield. Astrid has learned that the only people she can trust are herself and Connor.  But Damon is persistent, though he can only be in town a couple of days. His mother has early onset of Alzheimer’s, and he needs to return to California to care for her. But in the few days that Damon is there, an attraction develops between him and Astrid. How will Connor react? Both Astrid and Damon feel there can’t be a relationship between them, yet there is this burning passion.

 

Damon is in Deep River reluctantly in DEEP RIVER PROMISE by Jackie Ashenden, the second book in her Alaska Homecoming series. Years ago, Caleb told Damon about the child he fathered and swore him to secrecy. Why? Because he felt embarrassed at literally abandoning Astrid and Connor. Yet, when she turned to him for help, he was there. But again, she couldn’t reveal Connor’s paternity, even though he looks a lot like Caleb. Damon just wants to make sure Astrid knows that he is there for her and Connor. Of course, being the independent person that she is, Astrid immediately brushes off the help. Torn between his responsibilities in Deep River and Los Angeles, Damon will have to work quickly. But the attraction that sparks between him and Astrid has him wondering if he could stay an extra day or two.

 

Keeping a secret is hard to do in Deep River, but it’s what Astrid and Damon will have to do. Caleb’s sister also lives there, yet she hasn’t figured out Connor’s paternity. The main focus Astrid has right now is bringing income to the town. That is why Damon is researching for potential sources. Of course, the time spent together only brings them closer…and more attracted to each other. How long will it be until Astrid and Damon are locking lips…and making love? Not that secret trysts can be kept under wraps in this small town. Will Damon leave town for good, or will he make plans to return? Can he make any kind of future in Deep River?

 

A sweet and sensual romance that is both funny and heartwarming, don’t miss DEEP RIVER PROMISE.

 

Patti Fischer

Anywhere for You by Abbie Greaves

 

ANYWHERE FOR YOU – Abbie Greaves

William Morrow

ISBN: 978-0-06-293387-4

April 6, 2021

Contemporary Fiction

 

London, England

 

For the past seven years, Mary O’Connor has haunted the Ealing Broadway station each night as she stands on the platform holding a sign. The sign says simply, “Come Home Jim.” Jim is Mary’s former partner and he disappeared suddenly seven years ago. Mary hopes that he or someone will see the sign and he will indeed come back to her. Most everyone shuffles past Mary, not wanting to meet her eye or acknowledge her. One night, Alice, a reporter at the Ealing Bugle, spots Mary. Alice wants to know Mary’s story about Jim. But she must be careful how she approaches Mary. Alice decides to volunteer at the same crisis center where Mary volunteers when she’s not working or standing on the platform holding the sign.

 

ANYWHERE FOR YOU shifts between the present day of 2018 and back to thirteen years ago when Mary and Jim first met. They felt connected to each other and were soon living together in London. While their life appeared good, deep down, Jim had issues with depression and drinking. Mary tries to be his savior, but does he want to be saved? The years move along as we learn more about the relationship between Mary and Jim. Seven years ago he walked out. Why did he leave? What happened to him? Meanwhile, Alice decides that she wants to find Jim. With the help of Kit, a man she also met at the crisis center, they take off in search of the missing man—but without Mary knowing what they’re doing.

 

ANYWHERE FOR YOU is a haunting tale that will pull readers in. Mary is a sympathetic character that readers will grow to care for. She doesn’t know Alice is a reporter. If she had, she probably wouldn’t have talked so freely to Alice. We learn that Jim loves Mary, but he is slowly drifting away from her, and Mary doesn’t see it because she is bent on saving him from his demons. Will Alice find Jim, and if so, will she bring him back to Mary? As for Alice, the road trip in the enclosed confines of the car has her and Kit growing closer. Will there be a romance blooming between them by the end?

 

If you love a well-written and emotional tale that has you wanting to find out the answers to the questions surrounding Mary and Jim, plus Alice’s pursuit, then you will enjoy ANYWHERE FOR YOU. Be sure to grab this when it goes on sale in April 2021.

 

Patti Fischer

Romance Reviews Today

Love of a Cowboy by Jennifer Ryan

 LOVE OF A COWBOY – Jennifer Ryan

A McGrath Novel, Book 2

Avon Books

ISBN: 978-0-06-285198-7

April 2021

Romantic Suspense

 

Montana – Present Day

 

Skye Kennedy was raised in a self-supporting commune, but things have changed since their leader passed away two years ago. His son, Gabriel, has secretly expanded the commune’s businesses to include things that are not legal. Skye has been keeping their farming and garden parts alive with her skillful management and abhors what Gabriel is doing. One night, she witnesses him killing another woman of the commune and decides now is the time to run. She tries to help the other young women in the commune, but Skye knows too much and realizes that Gabriel will order her killed if she’s caught. She escapes and winds up in Montana, where she ends up with her car broken down and needing a job.

 

Declan McGrath is busy running the family ranch, so he needs to hire some ranch hands. One day, a woman who can barely stand shows up on his doorstep desperate for work. The job is hard even for a man, but Skye convinces him that she can do the work. He hires her, and even agrees to let her stay in his spare bedroom since it appears that she has no place to live. Soon, Skye impressively shows him how much of a hard worker she is, and the two settle in nicely even as he grows attracted to her. Yet, Declan suspects she is hiding—or running—from something. Turns out that he is right because she is wanted for a murder she didn’t commit, and she has evidence that Gabriel was assisting some dangerous anti-government terrorists about to commit a violent act. Can Declan help Skye prove her innocence and protect her?

 

Things soon turn dangerous for Skye and Declan in Jennifer Ryan’s LOVE OF A COWBOY. Bad people are after her and they will do whatever it takes to silence her. Skye isn’t sure who to trust, but Declan is a decent man who soon wins her trust. How will he react when she tells him her story? Will he believe her—or turn her in? Skye has proven to be resilient, and it helps her on the ranch because no job is too small for her. She can work in the fields and in the house. Declan’s family—his brothers and sister—soon see what he can’t: that he’s falling for Skye. But they will need to “free her” of the trouble that is hanging over her head. She can’t go to the police because Gabriel is shrewd, and he also has the local police in his pocket.

 

In LOVE OF A COWBOY, the plot has as many curves as a winding road. Just when Skye thinks she is headed to clearing her name and getting everyone arrested for their crimes, things change, and she and Declan are back in danger. Meanwhile, their friendship turns sexual, and daily they grow fonder of each other. But once everything is over, Skye will probably return to the commune because her family and friends are there. They need her. But does she need Declan more? Do they have any chance for a future together?

 

LOVE OF A COWBOY is an entertaining and suspenseful tale right from the first chapter and all the way to the end. Readers will love Skye’s spunk and determination, while Declan’s dedication to the woman he’s fallen for will be endearing. Don’t miss the adventure, drama, and romance in LOVE OF A COWBOY.

 

Patti Fischer

Strong, Silent Cowboy by Lora Leigh & Veronica Chadwick

 STRONG, SILENT COWBOY – Lora Leigh & Veronica Chadwick

A Moving Violations Novel #2

St. Martin’s Paperbacks

ISBN: 978-1250220097

March 9, 2021

Erotic Romance

 

Deer Haven, Texas – Present Day

 

Introduced to Jacob Donovan in a bar one night, Sallie Hamblen can’t let on that she has already met him—three years ago when both had different names and a different life. Back then, they instantly hit it off and spent three sizzling nights together before he mysteriously disappeared. Jacob doesn’t recognize Sallie, which saddens her, but she wonders if it’s for the best considering so much has changed in the three years since they parted. From what she has heard, shortly after they separated, Jacob was injured in an explosion that took part of his memory—the days that include their time spent together. Now they are like any other couple meeting for the first time. And like the last time, they hit it off. It doesn’t take long before Jacob and Sallie are spending a pleasure-filled night together.

 

So much has changed for Sallie and Jacob in the past three years. Back then, she was the adored stepdaughter of the ambassador. She met Jacob, then an undercover CIA operative, which she didn’t know about, and fell hard for him. The sex was fast, beautiful, and explosive between them. Then he walked out of her life. Eventually, she married another man, Jacob’s partner, but that marriage ended, and an annulment was obtained. Then the threats against her life started and her adoptive father arranged a new identity for her and plucked her down in this small Texas town. She soon realized that Jacob was also here, but he was now under a different last name and is a cowboy. And he doesn’t recognize her. Sallie stayed in the background watching Jacob, but it was inevitable that they’d meet again—and that they would find their attraction insatiable. Then, the danger that she thought she’d escaped returns to haunt her. Will Sallie have to run again?

 

For Sallie in STRONG, SILENT COWBOY, she believes the bad guys are after her ex-husband. She doesn’t realize at first that Jacob was also a CIA undercover agent. To her, he was just that handsome hunk who swept her off her feet and made love to her. Having him walk out of her life—and now not remember her—pains her so much. But Sallie can’t reveal her identity to Jacob because it would put both their lives in danger. However, unknown to her, once Jacob meets Sallie and has sex with her again, he begins to have flashes of her in his memory. Will it all come back? Jacob has also been laying low in Deer Haven because of his past CIA work. The bad guys are ruthless terrorists who torture their victims before brutally killing them. He can’t afford to let someone he cares for be lost to these barbaric murderers.

 

Meanwhile, Jacob can’t get enough of Sallie in his bed. He proclaims to her that it’s simply great sex, but deep down, does he care more for her than he’s willing to admit? Sallie lost her heart to Jacob once…will she lose it again? Their relationship starts off hot and heavy in STRONG, SILENT COWBOY, then shifts to a riveting suspense when it becomes clear that the terrorists have targeted Sallie once more. Jacob believes they are after him, but to convince Sallie of this, he will have to reveal more about his past to her. But that might put her life in even more danger…

 

A suspenseful and erotic romance about a couple that can’t get enough of each other, you won’t want to miss STRONG, SILENT COWBOY.

 

Patti Fischer

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Somebody to Love by Sharon Sala

 SOMEBODY TO LOVE – Sharon Sala

A Blessings, Georgia Novel

Sourcebooks Casablanca

ISBN: 978-1-4926-9748-0

February 23, 2021

Contemporary Romance

 

Blessings, Georgia – Present Day

 

Fifteen years ago, Hunt Knox left Blessings after he learned that someone in his family had stolen all the money that he’d worked for to save to attend college. No one would admit to the crime and his father told him to just deal with it. Hunt ran as far as he could by joining the military and had a storied career there until injuries forced him out. Now working in Houston, he receives a letter from his mother, Marjorie, to come home as she is dying. He arrives just as she dies. She apparently waited for him. In the letter she had sent him, she asked him to be the executor of her will and to fix up the house before selling it and sharing the proceeds with his four siblings. Hunt plans to follow his mother’s wishes. This means he will remain in Blessings for a few weeks.

 

Nurse Ava Ridley had been friends with the Knox family as a child, and she returned to Blessings after several years away. At the hospital, she is on duty caring for Marjorie Knox and four of the children are at her bedside. Then, Hunt arrives and walks up to his mother’s bedside to let her know that he is there. She peacefully dies and the family grieves. Hunt’s siblings, Junior, Ray, Emma, and Birdie, are shocked to see him because they didn’t know what happened to him after he left. There is friction between them, but Ava steps in and welcomes Hunt.

 

Over the next few days as the funeral is planned and the reading of the will is held, Ava makes herself available to Hunt by bringing food and offering a friendly face. The two soon grow close—and a sexual attraction develops. Hunt will only be around a few weeks while he’s fixing the house and settling the estate, but can anything romantic happen between them? Slowly, the friction between the five siblings lessens, especially when they realize that Hunt is a good person who is only following their mother’s request. Will Hunt ever learn which of them stole his money? Once Hunt leaves Blessings, will Ava go with him?

 

In Sharon Sala’s latest Blessings, Georgia tale, SOMEBODY TO LOVE, we are introduced to the Knox family. Their father was a strict man who tormented his children. It was the mother, Marjorie, who raised them with a gentle hand. After the blowup over Hunt’s missing money, the family splintered apart. Of the five children, it ended up being Hunt who not only left town but made a good life for himself. After he proves to be a good man, his siblings begin to respect him. As the youngest, Birdie didn’t know about the missing money and it is Hunt that she sides with after she learns about it. The others—Junior, Ray, and Emma—are tightlipped about what happened—and who really took it.

 

SOMEBODY TO LOVE is told from numerous characters’ points of view. If you have read the prior books in the series (there are many) then you catch up with some of them, too many to list. This tale also veers off into other plots that in a few of them, circle back to the Knox family. But even if you haven’t read the prior books, you won’t have too much trouble following along. Mainly, SOMEBODY TO LOVE is about the Knox family, with much of the tale revolving around Hunt and Ava. After all, it is their romance that we are here for. You won’t be disappointed.

 

If you love a feelgood tale that will capture your attention and leave you all warm and fuzzy by the end, then don’t miss SOMEBODY TO LOVE.

 

Patti Fischer

 

 

The Keepsake Sisters by Lori Wilde

 THE KEEPSAKE SISTERS – Lori Wilde

A Perfect 10

Harper Collins

ISBN: 978-0-06-295318-6

February 23, 2021

Women’s Fiction

 

Moonglow Cove, Texas – Present Day

 

After learning through a DNA test site that the twin sister she thought had died at birth is really alive, Chicagoan Amelia Brandt heads to Texas to locate and meet her identical twin, Anna. While the reasons why the two were separated at birth are unknown to them, it’s important that Amelia contact Anna because Amelia needs a kidney. Arriving at Anna Drury’s home, it’s no wonder that Amelia shocks her twin because they look alike. Can she forge a friendship with her twin—and get what she needs?

 

Anna Drury can hardly believe who is at her door. Her identical twin! She believes Amelia is telling the truth, though the other woman offers the DNA test results as proof. Anna had forgotten she ran those a few years ago, having not logged into the site to check in a long time. Anna’s husband, Kevin, is immediately suspicious of Amelia. At first, he thinks she is lying, then wonders why she suddenly showed up out of the blue. What is Amelia Brandt after? For Anna, it doesn’t matter. She feels an immediate connection to her twin, though Amelia is more reticent.

 

The astonishing story of the twins affects not only them, but Anna’s mother—or the woman she thought was her mother. As THE KEEPSAKE SISTERS opens, we learn that during the birth of the twins, several women were in labor at the Moonglow hospital in the middle of a hurricane. One was Robin Straus, who had her husband, Heathcliff, by her side. An out-of-town couple from Chicago arrives during the storm, the woman in labor with twins and not happy about being pregnant. The lights soon go out. After Robin gives birth to a girl and goes in and out of consciousness, Heathcliff discovers their baby girl is dead. The woman pregnant with twins gives birth to daughters and the midwife, Winnie, is left holding one of the baby girls as they take the other twin to another room. She exchanges a glance with Heathcliff. The rest is history…and fate.

 

Once I started reading THE KEEPSAKE SISTERS by Lori Wilde, I could hardly set it down. The first meeting of the twins is intense. Just imagine if someone showed up on your doorstep looking exactly like you. Anna is both scared and excited. She wonders how it all happened, but at the same time, she relishes having the sister she only wished she had. After talking about what likely happened, they zero in on Winnie, who now has Alzheimer’s and is currently in a local care facility. Heathcliff Straus died last year and took the secret of what happened to his grave. Robin feels threatened by the appearance of Amelia because if it’s true, then Anna is not really her child. Anna begins fighting with Kevin because he doesn’t trust Amelia. Will she choose her twin over her husband? They have two children. How will the appearance of an unknown relative affect them?

 

THE KEEPSAKE SISTERS is a wonderfully told tale and for me, one of the best reads so far in 2021. For this reason, I am giving it A Perfect 10. This is not a romance, but instead it is the emotional journey of two women who discover they are twins. That esoteric connection between the twins is very much there. When they are together, Amelia and Anna only need to exchange looks, or touch one another, to feel what the other is feeling. Their upbringings were different, with Amelia raised in wealth, while Anna was raised in a middle-class home. But despite all this, Amelia will be asking Anna to give her something precious. Will it happen?

 

Don’t miss this inspiring and emotional tale. Pick up a copy of THE KEEPSAKE SISTERS today.

 

Patti Fischer

 

 

 

Hit Me With Your Best Scot by Suzanne Enoch

 HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SCOT - Suzanne Enoch

The Wild WIcked Highlanders, Book Three

St. Martin's Paperbacks

ISBN: 978-1250296429

February 2021

Historical Romance

 

London - 19th Century

 

Coll MacTaggert, Viscount Glendarril, isn't going to let anyone, even his mother, force him into a marriage without a fight. The marriage agreement made between his parents stipulated that the money his mother, Lady Aldriss, brought to the marriage would only fund Lord Aldriss' Scottish estate, Aldriss Park, if all three of her sons married English women before their only sister weds. Lady Aldriss left Scotland with her baby daughter seventeen years before, and none of her sons had seen or heard from her since. But now, all three men are in London to find brides before Eloise, their sister, weds in just a few weeks. Coll is the last man standing as brother Niall is already married, and Aden will be married in a week. 

 

Angry that his mother has set him up, once again, with not one but two simpering Sassenach lassies in her box at the Saint Genesius Theatre, Coll storms out of the box and is instantly mesmerized by the lead actress playing Rosalind in As You Like It. She, it seems, has a huge following of adoring male fans. Mrs. Persephone Jones isn't impressed by the giant Scotsman until he dispatches an overbearing lord who makes some threatening comments to her. 

 

Coll is sure that if he's going to marry any Sassenach, it should be someone like Persephone who clearly isn't interested in marrying him. She admits that the Mrs. part of her name is used because a widow is allowed to live on her own. And be an actress. It's difficult for Coll to wrap his head around an independent woman like Persephone, but his heart keeps telling him that even though she's a mere actress, and he will be an earl some day, that this is the woman for him. 

 

Persephone tries to deny her attraction to Coll, but gives up when she hires him as her protector after a series of "accidents" befall her. The secret she is hiding could be the reason that she is being targeted by whoever is responsible for the potentially deadly incidents. But who could be trying to kill Persephone? And why? She's had eight years of peace while working at Saint Genesius with no indication that anyone recognizes her. 

 

HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SCOT is a delightfully entertaining read. It's a bit of a mystery, but it's all romance as Coll and Persephone angle their ways through a mutual attraction that they can no longer deny. Coll's family is exasperated with him as he threatens to marry an actress, even though that very actress has flatly said no. There is plenty of humor as Coll's physical presence clearly intimidates most of the men who are in love with Persephone, as well as some of the potential brides his mother produces for him. 

 

The final book in The Wild Wicked Highlanders series, HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SCOT is a fun, and very romantic, tale.

 

Jani Brooks

 

First Comes Like by Alisha Rai

 FIRST COMES LIKE – Alisha Rai

Modern Love, Book 3

Harper Collins

ISBN: 978-0-06-287815-1

February 16, 2021

Contemporary Romance

 

Los Angeles, California – Present Day

 

Beauty expert and internet influencer Jia Ahmed is normally too busy promoting her brand to worry about a man, but here she is at a party checking out Bollywood actor Dev Dixit. Several months ago, he’d slid into her DM’s on social media, tantalizing her with his interest in her. Now she’s crashing a party to meet him—and to confront him. Jia finally comes face to face with Dev and after she mentions how they know one another, he informs her that he doesn’t know her. How can this be true when they’d been texting back and forth all this time?

 

Dev is perplexed by Jia’s claims. He really hasn’t heard of her and yet she is in front of him claiming they’ve been texting for months. He tries to play it cool, not wanting to let her know he’s alarmed by her claims while he tries to figure out what happened. After questioning a couple of family members, he learns that his late brother logged into Dev’s social media account and started chatting with Jia. This brother is now dead, and another brother kept it up, a form of establishing a relationship called “catfishing.” It’s an embarrassment all around, and Dev feels like he needs to make it up to Jia for what his brothers did. Besides, he’s now more than a little interested in her…

 

Dev is new to Hollywood after years spent building a successful career in India. He comes from a legendary family of Bollywood actors and wants to make his own mark in America. He has custody of his late brother’s daughter, Luna, and they all live together along with his maternal uncle. Meanwhile, he meets up with Jia to explain what he found out about who was texting her. He needs to make it up to her for what happened. They end up going out a few times—as friends only—and discover a nice friendship. Could it end up being more than friendship?

 

Jia belongs to a traditional Muslim family and she is trying to make a name for herself in the beauty industry. Having Dev in her corner could prove beneficial, and she thought she was onto something when he started texting with her. But now that she is getting to know the real Dev Dixit, she likes what she sees. Their relationship builds slowly, but it soon is about to fast track in ways neither expects in FIRST COMES LIKE by Alisha Rai.

 

A tale that is cute and funny, with modern love thrown in, FIRST COMES LIKES is set around the Hollywood Hot Set. Despite Dev’s fame being mostly in India, his family’s reputation, power, and money have the paparazzi chasing after any scandal they can dig up about him. This is why the “catfishing” done by his brothers with Jia needs to be kept hidden. She is a nice girl, anyway, and Dev will do whatever it takes to make it up to her. Will they soon be in love?

 

For an engaging romantic tale about love in the twenty-first century, be sure to grab a copy of FIRST COMES LIKE.

 

Patti Fischer

 

 

The Vineyard at Painted Moon by Susan Mallery

 THE VINEYARD AT PAINTED MOON – Susan Mallery

HQN

ISBN:  978-1-335-91279-4

February 9, 2021

Women’s Fiction

 

Walla Walla, Washington – Present Day

 

The Barcellona family’s lives are falling apart in Susan Mallery’s latest, THE VINEYARD AT PAINTED MOON. Mackenzie married the only son, Rhys, but that marriage is on its last legs. After having sex for the first time in a long time—and having no satisfaction in the act—they both agree that it’s time to divorce. This decision sets several wheels in motion—wheels that are about to go off the track.

 

Widowed Barbara Barcellona rules the family and the winery they own with an iron fist. She has taught Mackenzie the fine art of winemaking and trusts her more than she does her own children. However, upon learning that Rhys and Mackenzie are divorcing, Barbara goes ballistic. How dare they split, especially since Mackenzie has indicated she won’t stay at the winery unless she gets a share of the business. Barbara refuses, citing the terms of her late husband’s will. With that news, Mackenzie says she will leave. Barbara demands that Mackenzie not only be kicked out of her job at the winery but the house she lives in (each child in the family live in a house on the property). Rhys and Mackenzie had already agreed they would still live under the same roof until she can find a place to stay.

 

In steps an old friend, Bruno Provencio. After learning that Mackenzie is leaving the winery, Bel Apres, he makes her an interesting offer. She will receive a generous divorce settlement, so how about buying a winery with him as her partner? It’s a dream for her to have control over her own winery, so they explore the possibility of buying one in the area. Meanwhile, the friendly divorce with Rhys continues, but it soon becomes complicated in the most unexpected way: she discovers she’s pregnant. They had never discussed children, but now at the age of thirty-eight, she is about to become a mom. Will this change their plans?

 

In THE VINEYARD AT PAINTED MOON, there are other characters, namely Barbara’s other children, Stephanie, Catherine (nicknamed Four), and Lori. Mackenzie is close to Stephanie and Four, but will the divorce change things, especially now that Barbara is on the warpath wanting to ruin her life? Rhys isn’t happy at the prospect of becoming a father. In fact, he lets Mackenzie know that he doesn’t really want to be a part of their child’s life. Stunned, she wonders if she ever really knew the man she married. Meanwhile, Stephanie, who is divorced from Kyle, feels restless. She went from her parents’ home to her husband’s, then back to her parents. Kyle is now pushing for a reconciliation. A mother of two teenagers, she wonders if it’s time to spread her wings. How can she accomplish this?

 

THE VINEYARD AT PAINTED MOON has the earmarks of a family soap opera. A rich, influential family that believes that if you’re part of the family, then your loyalty remains with the family. The decision by Rhys and Mackenzie to divorce throws everything into an upheaval. Barbara recently got engaged and should be happy, but she is angry and bent on revenge. What will she do to Mackenzie? Will Stephanie ever be able to please her mother? Mackenzie’s leaving shifts the dynamics in the family, but is it for the good?

 

Once I started reading THE VINEYARD AT PAINTED MOON, I became totally engrossed in the lives of everyone and couldn’t put the book down. There is intrigue and conflict, but will someone find love in the end? Find out the answers by picking up this enthralling read.

 

Patti Fischer

Twice the Temptation by Silver James

 TWICE THE TEMPTATION – Silver James

Red Dirt Royalty, Book 8

ISBN: 978-1-335-23275-5

February 2021

Contemporary Series Romance

 

Oklahoma City – Present Day

 

Weather reporter Brittany Owens lives for chasing after storms. The more dangerous they are, the bigger the thrill. Britt usually works with a cameraman, but one day, with him injured, she is out alone as a Category Four hurricane barrels toward the area. Rising floodwaters forces her to seek shelter at a local business, where she runs into the owner, Cooper Tate, who is also seeking shelter after coming there to check things out. An instant attraction develops, and they end up riding the storm out by making love. Both think that they won’t ever see the other again—but fate has other ideas. Two more times, in fact.

 

Fast forward three months and Cooper is at a charity auction gala with his family. To his surprise, one of the people there is Britt. He still hasn’t forgotten her and wants to get to know her better, but she seems to want to avoid him. She is insistent that she doesn’t want to talk to him, but they can’t avoid one another. They spend the night together (of course!) and he thinks they are on track to a nice little affair. But a few days later, their relationship changes after Cooper comes to the stunning realization that Britt is pregnant. He must be the father.

 

An instant attraction that can’t be denied develops between Britt and Cooper in TWICE THE TEMPTATION by Silver James, the latest installment in her long running Red Dirt Royalty series. While readers get good glimpses of prior characters from the series, this tale is solely about the romance brewing between Britt and Cooper. She loves her job chasing storms. Once Cooper learns she’s pregnant, he fears that she will get hurt in one of her storm chaser adventures. Around Oklahoma City, there are a lot of tornados, and they can pop up anywhere and anytime when it’s least expected. But Britt is determined to remain independent, and Cooper can’t tell her what to do.

 

It seems like every time Cooper and Britt are around each other, they are kissing and/or having sex. Their attraction is off the charts. After discovering she is pregnant, he not only wants to be a part of the pregnancy adventure, but he also wants to marry her. Cooper will not let his son/daughter come into the world with unmarried parents. It’s a battle of wills between Cooper and Britt. Readers will wonder how it ends. I will give you a hint. They have a rather exciting ride to the finish of this book.

 

TWICE THE TEMPTATION is a fun and exciting romantic tale that features good back and forth bantering between our couple, Cooper and Britt. They are an intriguing couple that will entertain readers. You can’t go wrong in picking up TWICE THE TEMPTATION.

 

Patti Fischer

 

 

One Night with Cinderella by Niobia Bryant

 ONE NIGHT WITH CINDERELLA – Niobia Bryant

Harlequin Desire #2788

ISBN: 978-1-335-23273-1

February 2021

Contemporary Series Romance

 

New York City – Present Day

 

For five years Monica Darby has been the housekeeper for the Cress family at their massive home in the historic section of Lennox Hill in Manhattan’s Upper East Side. The whole family lives there, including the five sons. None have made a pass at Monica, but she has noticed the middle son, Gabriel, a lot because he is nice to her. One night after a family celebration, Monica and Gabriel are alone on the top deck when suddenly an intense attraction bursts into them making love. Both are a little mortified the next day because of their “business relationship.” Have things changed between them?

 

Monica is contacted by an attorney about a matter of utmost importance. She learns upon arriving that she has inherited fifty-five million dollars from the father she never knew. Monica had been raised in foster care and never knew her parents’ names. She now knows who her father was. She must sign an NDA (Non-Disclosure Affidavit) as part of receiving the inheritance. But the news of her father and inheritance soon gets out. By this time, Monica has quit her job and taken up residence in a hotel. It is at a party at the Cress home—one that she would normally be the server at in the past—that she comes face to face with Gabriel again. And they connect in the bedroom again—and again. Yet, there is still that stigma that she isn’t good enough for a Cress.

 

ONE NIGHT WITH CINDERELLA is an intriguing rags-to-riches tale that takes place over several months. There are weeks that Gabriel and Monica don’t encounter each other, yet they are constantly thinking of the other. As the middle child of the Cress family, he is known as the “good” son, but he knows that his family wouldn’t be happy if he was bedding the help. His mother, especially, rules with an iron fist. Even after Monica becomes a millionaire, his mother still looks down upon her. Gabriel’s life and future are tied to his family. Dare he walk away from them for a possible future with Monica? This is part of the dilemma he must deal with in ONE NIGHT WITH CINDERELLA.

 

Monica always kept herself in the background while working for the Cress family. She probably knows secrets about them, but she has and will always remain discreet…unless she is pushed. After inheriting all that money, Monica is not sure what to do with herself at first. There are only so many spa days a woman can do. She finally settles on founding a charity dear to her heart, which means she will need to also cultivate favors from the rich and famous—like the Cress family. Meanwhile, Monica and Gabriel settle into an on and off again affair. Is there any chance they could find a future together –even if it is without his family’s approval?

 

An intriguing and unusual tale, I found ONE NIGHT WITH CINDERELLA hard to put down. Monica now has the life which others can only dream of. Will she marry her Prince Charming?

 

Patti Fischer

Scandalizing the CEO by Yvonne Lindsay

 SCANDALIZING THE CEO – Yvonne Lindsay

Clashing Birthrights, Book 2

Harlequin Desire #2787

ISBN: 978-1-335-23272-4

February 2021

Contemporary Series Romance

 

Seattle, Washington & Sedona, Arizona – Present Day

 

Tami Wilson was falsely accused of embezzling a lot of money from the charity she worked for and will do anything to clear her name—except reveal how foolish she was to trust her then boyfriend, who is the actual culprit. She turns to her wealthy father for help in replacing the missing funds, and he agrees to help on one condition: she must go undercover at a rival company and report back about any deals they have going on. Tami hates lying, but feels she has no choice other than agree. Hired to work at Richmond Developments, her immediate boss is CEO Keaton Richmond. One of the first assignments they will work on together is a team-building trip that includes hiking in Sedona, Arizona.

 

Keaton is intrigued by their new hire, Tami. She seems out of place in the corporate world, but she is determined to do whatever it takes to show she can do the job. Will this include ziplining while on the trip? Since Keaton and Tami will be working together, they spend a lot of time getting to know each other on this trip. She appears reticent about her life before she got hired, but it doesn’t stop Keaton from being attracted to her, and he wants her in his bed. How will he react when he learns that she is spying on his company?

 

Keaton is on the lookout for the mole in his company in SCANDALIZING THE CEO but doesn’t realize the culprit is right in front of him. After a recent scandal involving his deceased father that threatened to splinter the company, the last thing he needs is more work problems. Keaton isn’t looking for a wife after he lost his fiancée to his twin brother recently (Logan and Honor’s story was told in SEDUCING THE LOST HEIR). Tami’s awkwardness around him has Keaton immediately noticing her, which makes him do whatever it takes to make her feel comfortable. Long days hiking and other outdoor activities inevitably lead to leisurely evenings together. The more they’re around each other, the greater the sexual chemistry heats up.

 

All through SCANDALIZING THE CEO, Tami feels guilty. She’s an honorable person who got duped and feels it was her fault for giving her boyfriend the passwords to the charity’s bank account. Now the money is gone. Her relationship with her parents is not good and she only went to her father as a last resort. She wants to keep the matter out of the hands of the police in hopes she can replace the money. Is Tami successful? Will she soon find herself falling for Keaton?

 

Brought together under dubious conditions in SCANDALIZING THE CEO, readers will soon learn that Tami’s hopes to help her father in exchange for help from him has a price. Don’t miss this intriguing tale.

 

Patti Fischer

Seducing His Secret Wife by Robin Covington

 SEDUCING HIS SECRET WIFE – Robin Covington

Redhawk Reunion, Book 2

Harlequin Desire #2789

ISBN: 978-1-335-23274-8

February 2021

Contemporary Series Romance

 

Silicon Valley, California – Present Day

 

Billionaire businessman Justin Ling had a steamy weekend tryst in Vegas with Sarina Redhawk, a woman he’d just met. She’d given him a fake name and they proceeded to drink so heavily together that the next morning when Justin woke up, he discovered that he’d married her. She’s disappeared and now Justin needs to figure out how to get a divorce. But at a party one night, he’s stunned to run into Sarina. Turns out she is the little sister of his best friend. How to explain why they got married to his friend? What about the attraction that still sizzles between Justin and Sarina?

 

Sarina was separated from her brother when they were children. She bounced around in foster homes and eventually entered the military. Now out, she went in search of her two brothers, Adam and Roan, and finally connect with them. Coming face to face with her weekend tryst—and husband—she doesn’t know what to do, except run the other way. But Justin convinces her to temporarily stay with his grandmother while they work on the divorce. Will they end up getting divorced, or try to work on their marriage? Will the desire that bubbles between them lead to more hot nights together?

 

A wild weekend comes back to haunt Justin and Sarina in SEDUCING HIS SECRET WIFE. Why did they get married? Well, besides being drunk, Justin thought the only way he could get Sarina into his bed was to marry her. Neither thought about the consequences of how being married meant more than just one night together. She wants a quick divorce now that they are in the same city. Normally, Sarina is a woman on the move with her motorcycle and a small dog, living a solitary life. Meeting Justin’s grandmother, Nana Orla, she grows fond of the elderly Irish born woman. As for Justin’s parents…she’d prefer to not be around them. Justin, though, is really good at seducing her into his bed…

 

Justin is not sure why he is attracted to Sarina like he is. Has to be lust, right? He’s known as a playboy who flits from woman to woman, but suddenly he has no desire to date anyone…other than his wife. Sarina is like a caged animal who is ready to run at the first sign of trouble. Can he convince her that they should try to make their marriage work? Does Justin want to, and if so, is it because he’s falling in love? Or is it just because they work so well together in bed?

 

A weekend tryst in Las Vegas ends with our couple married and not yet ready to end their marriage. Can they find happiness? Find out in the intriguing and sensual SEDUCING HIS SECRET WIFE.

 

Patti Fischer

The Heir by Joanne Rock

 THE HEIR – Joanne Rock        

Dynasties: Mesa Falls, Book 6

Harlequin Desire #2786

ISBN: 978-1-335-23271-7

February 2021

Contemporary Series Romance

 

Mesa Falls, Montana – Present Day

 

For months, Desmond Pierce and his best friends have been trying to track down Nicole Cruz. She is the guardian of a thirteen-year-old boy who may or may not be the biological son of their late friend, Zack. For years they have tried to protect the circumstances surrounding Zack’s death but is the boy tied to the reason Zack jumped to his death? Nicole finally agrees to meet with Desmond in Mesa Falls to discuss the paternity, but upon her arrival, he discovers that she came alone. The boy, Matthew, is autistic and she didn’t want to disrupt his life by bringing him to Montana. The moment Desmond meets Nicole in person, he feels an attraction toward her that he can’t explain.

 

Nicole got custody of Matthew after her half-sister died unexpectedly a year ago. It’s been a tough ride, but she’s determined to find out who the mysterious father is since it’s been hidden all these years. She narrowed it down to one of the “teenage boys” who attended a private school where her half-sister taught, but she’d need DNA tests to prove it. After Nicole arrives, Desmond explains that the only possible father is Zack. While they discuss and wait for more evidence, Nicole and Desmond get to know one another. Indeed, their mutual attraction soon proves to be irresistible.

 

Nicole has custody of the potential heir to a large fortune in Joanne Rock’s THE HEIR, the final book in her Mesa Falls series. Throughout the series, Nicole has been the subject of much speculation after she first arrived—briefly—in Mesa Falls to snoop around to see if she could figure out if one of the teenage boys—now grown men—were the father to her nephew. Since then, she has laid low with Matthew as she considers her next moves. But Desmond and his buddies sent a private investigator after her until she finally “gave up” and agreed to meet them. Desmond and his friends want to get to the bottom of the paternity and see if there is a link to Zack’s death.

 

Meanwhile, the attraction between Desmond and Nicole turns to passion. Their lives are both at odds and disparate. Her first responsibility is Matthew, so there are issues getting involved with the “enemy.” He may want to deny Matthew’s right to know who his father is. But soon, Nicole and Desmond are working together to solve the mystery—and spending their nights locked in each other’s arms. As THE HEIR winds down, the final clues to both Matthew’s paternity and why it was kept a secret all these years are resolved.  

 

A passionate and captivating tale about the antics of teenage boys that come back to haunt them years later. Don’t miss the riveting final book in the series, THE HEIR.

 

Patti Fischer

Back in the Texan's Bed by Naima Simone

 BACK IN THE TEXAN’S BED – Naima Simone

Texas Cattleman’s Club: Heir Apparent, Book 1

Harlequin Desire #2785

ISBN: 978-1-335-23270-0

February 2021

Contemporary Series Romance

 

Royal, Texas – Present Day

 

Three years ago, chef Charlotte Jarrett had a blistering—and secret—affair with oil heir Ross Edmond, the son of her then employer, Rusty Edmond. She had abruptly ended their affair and moved away, and Ross had moved on. But one day, he runs into her at one of Royal’s newest restaurants. She is the head chef. Their “reunion” is stilted at first, but his ears prick up when he learns that she has a child. Curious, Ross shows up at her house and discovers she has a two-year-old son, and Ross is the father.

 

Ross is angry at what he sees as Charlotte’s refusal to inform him about the existence of his son, but it’s more complicated. Turns out, she did try to contact him, but his father interceded and tried to pay her off. Seeing that Ross had moved on, Charlotte did too. Ross confronts his father about what he did, but Rusty’s response is to demand that Ross have “nothing to do with that woman and child.” Ross, of course, defies his father. He wants to build a future with his son, and maybe Charlotte.

 

Maybe getting involved with her boss’s son wasn’t the wisest move, but there was no denying the intense attraction between them—one that clearly is still there three years later. Rusty Edmond is a horrible man, and she would rather not have her son around his grandfather. After Ross gets over his anger with Charlotte, he works on trying to win her over, wanting to convince her that he’d be a great father and wants to be there for his son. Slowly, she begins to relent, but will she cave into the sizzling attraction that simmers between them? Getting involved with Ross—again—can only lead to heartbreak.

 

Ross is soon juggling between getting to know his son and trying to “fix” things with his father. He has some of his own funds but his job at the company is his main source of income. After Ross refuses to abandon Charlotte and his son, Rusty literally locks him out of their home and his access to the company. Rusty makes it clear that he won’t change his mind until Ross chooses him over Charlotte. Part of the problem is that Ross isn’t sure who to trust the most. He was abandoned by his mother when he was a child. Charlotte already did it once—will she do it again? His father has been the one constant in his life.

 

Trust issues and a secret baby are the main themes in BACK IN THE TEXAN’S BED, the first tale in the newest Texas Cattleman Club series. Ross and Charlotte will need to learn to trust each other—forever—before they can make a life together. Don’t miss this intriguing tale.

 

Patti Fischer