Monday, July 24, 2017

Review: Making It Right by Catherine Bybee

Making It Right by Catherine Bybee
(Most Likely To #3)
May 9, 2017
350 pages

In the final book in bestselling author Catherine Bybee’s Most Likely To trilogy, River Bend’s rebel follows in her father’s footsteps to become sheriff. But it might be time to forge her own path…

Some kids inherit a family business; Jo Ward inherited a badge. Once voted Most Likely to End Up in Jail, the town wild child has become sheriff—hell-bent on uncovering the truth about her father’s mysterious death. Life is quiet in rustic River Bend, but Jo longs for something beyond her small hometown and the painful memories it holds. All that keeps her sane is the support of her best friends, Melanie and Zoe.

But when Jo signs up for an expert law enforcement training seminar, she meets Gill Clausen, whose haunting eyes and dangerously sexy vibe just may challenge her single-minded focus. Commitment-phobic Jo can’t deny her attraction to the arrogant federal agent, and when odd things start happening around River Bend and danger surrounds her, she realizes she’ll need his help to discover who’s out to remove her from River Bend…permanently.

As Jo and Gill work together, it’s clear they make a great team. But can Jo loosen her grip on the past enough to let love in and reach for the future?

I've really enjoyed this trilogy, following the friendships, hardships, and romantic lives of Mel, Zoe, and Jo. And this third story brought everything together, finally bringing us Jo's story. It was a beautiful thing to see Jo come into herself. Living in her father's shadow and unresolved death, we didn't quite know who Jo was as an adult. And this story brought Jo to the forefront. She became her true self. And she fought for the truth. And during all this she found her perfect match in Gill. I loved them together, and loved what Bybee did with their story and their future. I'm sad to see these ladies go, but this series was a delight and Jo's story was a touching ending.


Monday, July 17, 2017

Review: Defender by Leia Stone & ST Bende

Defender by Leia Stone & ST Bende
(Night War Saga #2)
July 16, 2017
Genre: Fantasy, mythology, new adult

Allie Rydell left her life behind to protect the world from the Goddess of Night. But after weeks of training, hunting, and learning to use the life-giving power that inexplicably chose her, saving Midgard seems more impossible than ever. Nott’s followers have eyes across the realms, and they’re determined to collect the bounty on Allie’s soul. And the closer Allie and her protectors get to the pieces of the immortal weapon that could save them all, the more destruction Nott manages to unleash—not only on the world Allie loves, but on the friends she’d give her life to save.

Darkness is coming. And this time, it won’t leave any survivors.

'Defender' was a fantastic, exciting, action-packed sequel to 'Protector'. We pick up right where book one left off. I loved following along as Allie and the gang try to recover more pieces of the Gud Morder in order to defeat wicked Nott and save Midgard. And let me tell you, I love this group of characters. I could easily hang out with them on a boring day, just playing cards at home drinking hot cocoa in my PJs. But there's not much sitting around for this crew. Instead of downtime, we get thrust into action, suspense, and death-defying moments. There was one moment in particular (which you will recognize when you get there), that I was like "Nooooo!" But I hung in there, loving the story and biting my fingernails at the same time, until the very end. And that ending. Just wow! I have so many theories! But let's also remember it's not just all action all the time. We get romance, friendship, drama (don't all families have drama?), dragons, twists, turns, and wonderful character development. I absolutely love this series and cannot wait for the next book, 'Redeemer.'


Don't Forget Book One: Protector


Thursday, July 6, 2017

Review: The Director and the Don Juan by Katy Regnery

The Director and the Don Juan
By: Katy Regnery
Series: The Story Sisters #2
Release Date: June 30, 2017

AMAZON US AMAZON UK ♥

From New York Times bestselling author Katy Regnery comes a brand new series set on Blueberry Lane!

The Director and Don Juan is the second of four books about the Philadelphia-based Story sisters who are all on the look-out for love.

Heiress Alice Story left her father's company three years ago in a blaze of glory, inviting all of his employees to jump ship and join her, but only one accepted her offer: mail room clerk, Carlos Vega.

While Alice spent the next three years getting her own company off the ground, Carlos became her indispensable right-hand man -- executive assistant and office manager, loyal counsel and trusted co-worker.

And all the while, they were quietly falling in love with each other.

When Alice is offered a lucrative business deal in Puerto Rico, island-born Carlos is the perfect person to accompany her on her trip as translator, but as they travel together from Philadelphia to Santo Domingo to Ponce, two unlikely co-workers will discover that during their three years working together, their feelings for each other have grown far deeper than they ever could have guessed.

And though business-minded, proper Alice will try her very best to ignore the longings of her heart, scorching hot, insanely sexy Boricua, Carlos, has no intention of letting her go.
'The Director and the Don Juan' was an enchanting read that I flew through in a day. I didn't want to put it down. Alice and Carlos have been working together for three years since she jumped ship from her father's business and started her own company - with Carlos faithfully by her side, sharing the ups and downs. Never have the two mixed business with pleasure, though their mutual respect has only gotten better. Unbeknownst to them, deeper feelings of love have also been growing and developing. And with an unexpected business trip, the two must finally face their feelings, and the risks involved with actually pursuing a relationship or not.

I loved Carlos and Alice's love story. Sure, there were some hiccups along the way. Three years seems like a long time to develop hidden feelings, but really, they both needed to grow on their own, and mature in their own ways. There is an age gap, but for me it was not a problem. Carlos had the opportunity to see the different options for his life, despite his younger age, and I loved his perspective and maturity in deciding what he really wanted. Alice had to take risks as well, holding the responsibilty of being Carlos's boss as well as older than him. But put these two together, with their mutual respect, all-encompassing trust, and deep love for the other, and you get a perfect match. Their love story was sweet and spicy and I loved them. I needed a second epilogue, because I like them so much as a couple and want to see their future.