Always For You

Book Review of Always For You (Always Love Series)

Title: Always For You

Series: Always Love Series

Author: Tawdra Kandle

Date Published: November 24th 2015 

Date Read:    March 12, 2016

The Blurb:Maureen Evans has had a crush on Smith Harrington since they were in college together. She always knew he didn’t see her as anything more than his best friend—just one of the guys—but that didn’t stop her from weaving sexy fantasies about him. 

Now, after years of maintaining a long-distance friendship, Smith’s moving to Burton, Georgia, Maureen’s hometown, to become her partner at the veterinary clinic. After all this time, she should be able to handle working with him without getting hot and bothered. 

Or maybe not. 

The more determined Maureen is to maintain their just-friends bond, the more Smith seems intent on testing those boundaries. And when flirting crosses the line into something more, it ends in a night neither of them can forget. 

When friendship is no longer enough, there’s always love.

My Review

2.5 Snail's pace Stars

*There will be Spoilers*

Okay so this is the second book by Tawdra Kandle that I have read. There where things about it I liked and some that I didn't. I had a really hard time rating this book. While I really liked Mrs. Kandle's writing style, almost all of the characters, the town the book is set in, the plot concept, I didn't like the heroine Maureen. I didn't hate her or anything. I just found her weak, cowardly, insecure, and super immature. I felt bad for her really, but I didn't connect to her at all. The things she did in the book drove me crazy. The fact that in college after being in love with Smith for years, she goes to tell him her feelings at a party where she knew he went with a date, and when she sees some girl kiss him she runs off and gives away her virginity to a man she didn't even know the name of is just one of the things she did that had me cringing. I mean come on. Then years later as a 30 year old woman she dates a man she feels nothing for, just uses poor Tim because she thinks Smith just wants to be friends. I loved the hero Smith. Although I didn't really understand him waiting to tell her how he felt. I get everyone was telling him to let her date poor stupid Tim and woo her but really it was stupid advice if you ask me. I felt he should have just been honest. All the relationship angst was uncalled for. If they would have just pulled their heads out of their butts and been truthful. Smith's wooing was weak at best and if I was Maureen I would have been confused too. He wasn't clear at all so it wasn't all her fault. That being said honestly I didn't really feel like I was reading a romance. They didn't really have anything going at all until almost the end. My kindle read 82% when Smith finally told Maureen that he loved her and kissed her. After all that snail's pace slow build up they make love and then she is back to doubting and I am staring at my kindle going are you kidding me? Then they have a heart to heart where he tells her he real does love her didn't feel sorry for her and all is well the end at 94%. That's it all that super long waiting and barely a glimpse of a HEA. I felt cheated. I was left shaking my head. I didn't feel any of their relationship if that is what you call what they had. So there is my problem. I liked all the others, Smith, and everything that happened in the book but their relationship parts which wasn't really much anyways. I couldn't decide if I should give it a 2 or 3 star. I went with 2.5 stars and I rounded up, because I really did like the writing style and the way everyone talked and felt down to earth and real. I really kinda want to know more about the others. I think maybe just Maureen wasn't my kind of girl. I plan on giving this author another chance and reading one of the other couples story. Meghan and Sam maybe? 

Cop On Her Doorstep

Book Review of Cop on her Doorstep (True love in uniform Series)

Title: Cop on her Doorstep

Series: True Love In Uniform Series

Author: Karen Docter

Date Published: August 25th 2015 

Date Read:    March 11, 2016

The Blurb: In the six years since her husband was killed by S.W.A.T., Carrie Padilla has spent long hours at work, rebuilding a life for herself and her son. The little time she has at home is spent keeping her eight-year-old son out of trouble, but he is all too eager to try to be the man in the house. When a handsome cop shows up on her doorstep, her errant son in tow, Carrie's heart stutters. The sexy Italian cop sets off all kinds of bells in her system, and she knows there's only one thing she can do to save what is left of her family, her husband’s memory, and her heart...avoid her new neighbor at all costs.

S.W.A.T. officer Jake Stafani already lost one little boy to gang violence, the dead boy’s older brother is missing, and Jake's not about to let the same thing happen to a neighbor's son. He drags the youngster home only to discover much more than a passing interest in the boy's beautiful, but wary, mother. Forced to take a leave of absence after a bust goes awry, Jake can think of nothing better to occupy his time than to keep Carrie and her son safe, and locate the missing teen who holds the key to taking the gang off the streets, once and for all.

But Jake doesn’t count on his stubborn, intriguing neighbor distracting him from his job, or the passion that flares between them. He doesn’t expect her amazing son to steal a piece of his heart. Jake is ready to risk everything for Carrie, body and soul. But it’s not all up to him. If their new love is to survive, Carrie will need to be strong enough to see the man's beating heart behind the badge, to look beyond the pain of her past, and decide that loving again is worth the risk.

My Review

4 House Arrest Stars

"I could always put you under house arrest and make love to you night and day until neither of us can remember our names."-Jake

***Spoilers***

"Honey, I'm more than my job," he said. "I'm like everyone else. I feel pain and joy. I want love and security and happiness."-Jake

Okay so anyone who knows me knows I have an obsession with uniforms. God but I love me some sexy men in uniforms. So when I seen Cop on her Doorstep on Netgalley I went for it without even reading the Blurb, because hello Cop!!! I am so glad I did. I really liked this book. I really enjoyed almost everything about it. Jake was a sexy Italian cop that was good with kids and respected his mom. He was protective and romantic, oh and he cooked. Hello perfect! Carrie and me had a more complex relationship. Carrie was a widow with abandonment issues. She doesn't let anyone get close because she knows they will just leave her, everyone she ever loved did. One minute I liked her and could understand her and the next I wanted to shake her. One of my pet peeves in books is over the top cowards and she came real close at times to tap dancing on that line. I did understand her fear though and that helped a lot. But I wish she would have woke up sooner. I loved little Eric and Jake's relationship. What is it about men and children that is so sexy? Jake and Carrie for the most part had a great and sweet relationship. This book was relatively low angst. The only real angst was Carrie's fear and most of that was fought in her head. This was a slow burn easy kind of read. I really enjoyed it. Lighthearted, sexy, and hello yummy Cops!!!! Just sayin' I will be reading more books from this author for sure. I would recommend It to anyone who is looking for a sweet low angst read! 

Gideon

Book Review of Gideon (The Surprise Brides Series)

Title: Gideon

Series: The Surprise Brides Series

Author: Cynthia Woolf

Date Published: August 31st 2015

Date Read:    March 03, 2016

The Blurb: 

As the local preacher, Gideon Fraser often talks about the many virtues of a good marriage, but that doesn't mean he has the slightest inclination of claiming a bride of his own. No, he's been burned before, by greedy women who only want the prestige and money the Fraser family name can provide. When his mother's devious matchmaking results in his unexpected wedding, Gideon looks at the beautiful face of the woman who has sworn to be his and wants nothing to do with her. But Gideon is in danger of losing his heart until he discovers the truth. His new wife lied to him...about everything. 

Ruby Haller needed a husband and fast. A treacherous man promised her the world, took her virginity, and left her without a father for her unborn child. When her father, the town minister, found out she was expecting a child, he offered her hand in marriage to the meanest man in town. Becoming a mail-order-bride appeared to be a safer choice. But instead of a rancher, she ends up the wife of a stubborn, bull-headed preacher and he's none to pleased when he discovers her duplicity. Worse? The local town beauty, who had been courting him for years, is determined to make her life a living hell.

But Angel Springs, Colorado is a small town that can inspire big dreams. It's nearly Christmas, and as these two hearts heal, a holiday miracle just might be within reach. 

My Review

4 Trust Stars

May have very Mild Spoilers

I really enjoyed reading Gideon. Gideon was the 3rd book in The Surprise Brides series. The series was about the 4 Fraser brothers, and their mama, who wrote and got them mail order brides. Mama Fraser did this without any of her sons or the brides knowledge. Each book is one of the brother's story and each book is written by a different author. Gideon was the only book in this series that I have read and it was written by Cynthia Woolf. Cynthia Woolf is a author who's books I have enjoyed many times in the past and this love story was everything I have come to expect from Mrs. Woolf.

"I'm sorry, Gideon. You didn't want any of this. First your mama forces you to wed and now you find out you are going to be a father to a child who is not yours."-Ruby

Gideon was sexy, caring, and honorable. Gideon was a preacher, a man of God and he tried to live a Godly life. He of course wasn't perfect. He had some trust issues from being hurt in a past relationship. So that at times he didn't trust his wife when he should have, it didn't help that she lied to him in the start of their marriage, but Gideon was always gentle and kind. Ruby was a very sweet and loving woman who was treated ill by her family and the man she thought loved, and planned to marry her. Instead she was abandoned. She became a mail order bride because her father, who was also a preacher planned on marrying her off to the meanest man in town. Scared to tell the truth and be cast off again she told her new husband some lies to protect herself. Ruby had a big heart and was like a mother hen always trying to help others.

"I'm weak where you are concerned, Gideon and I do not like it, not one bit, but I cannot help how I feel. I do love you, as much as I don't want to admit the feeling to you, I can no longer deny the emotion is there."-Ruby

*******************************************************************************************

"Did you know," he stroked her arm with his hand, "that I thank God every day for each moment I have with you? I can't believe you're here, and you're mine. I must have done something good for Him to reward me thus."-Gideon

I found Gideon and Ruby's relationship very sweet and touching. This book had a little drama with a woman in town that wanted Gideon for her own, but for the most part it was a nice feel good book. I really liked Mama Fraser, and all the brothers, expect Caleb. I kinda wanna go back and read them all now. Although I wish they were all written by Cynthia Woolf, I know her writing, I like her writing, and I am unfamiliar with all the other authors in this series, but I may go back anyway! I really liked the fact that the prologue was the same for all four books and gave you the basics of the series plot. It helped keep me from feeling lost even though I was only reading the 3rd book, but it let you know to skip to the 1st chapter so you aren't rereading it over and over if you do read the whole series. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a nice heartwarming, easy going read! 

"God blessed us both when He gave us each other. I guess He knows what He's doing after all. Don't ever tell Mama I said anything to the effect that this was the perfect solution."-Gideon