Buns (Hudson Valley #3) by Alice Clayton

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Reviewed by Tabatha

 

Buns is the third book in the Hudson Valley series by Alice Clayton, and I just simply adore the entire cast of characters in this series so I'm always excited when I get to visit again!  Clayton is fast becoming one of my favorite authors for quirky and emotional romances, and Buns is a perfect example of why I enjoy her writing so much. I seriously couldn't put this one down, guys, and read the entire book in one sitting.  So if you haven't read her before, you are totally missing out and I highly suggest you fix that immediately!

Now Clara Morgan is a character we've seen mentioned in the previous two books in this series, but we finally get to have her story in Buns. (Don't worry though, because you'll still get to catch all of your favorite characters from the previous books in this one too!)  Clara is the epitome of efficiency and bossiness all wrapped up in one tough and snarky package... so in other words she's pretty darn awesome! She works as a re-branding expert and is sent to Bryant Mountain House to give it a new feel without breaking too much tradition. She just didn't expect the wall of delectable muscle that is Archie Bryant to get in her way.

Have you ever imagined what it would be like to stay in a resort like the one in Dirty Dancing? That's the way I picture Bryant Mountain House, but on a much larger scale. The hotel resort is a character all of its own in Buns, and I would love to spending an amazing weekend there, you know...if it weren't fictional and all. Now Dirty Dancing may have had the super hot Johnny, but I'm thinking that Bryant Mountain House's Archie is vastly more appealing. Archie is the son and future owner of Bryant Mountain House who has been groomed since birth to run this grand hotel. He isn't all that pleased with Clara's presence and sparks definitely fly when these two are in the same room for a multitude of reasons. It was pretty entertaining, if I do say so myself, and these two are so perfectly matched!

Buns is one of those books I could read again and again. The chemistry is off the charts, the plot is engaging, and it's just overall so well-written that you just can't help but enjoy every moment. So take a leap off of a balcony (read the book and you'll know what I mean) and give Buns a try. I promise you'll love it!

*I received a review copy from the publisher/author via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.*

If you'd like to check out more about this or other books by Alice, please head over to her website.

 

http://www.aliceclayton.com/

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Love on Tap by Meg Benjamin

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Reviewed by Tabatha

 

This was my first read from Meg Benjamin and it certainly won't be the last. Now I've always been a sucker for books that combine anything brewing with romance being a bit of a beer nerd myself, so I was especially happy when I came across this book and found out the heroine was the actual brew master of the story! Female brewers are few and far between, so that aspect made the story even more exciting and interesting for me.

Love on Tap is a sweet story about a gastro pub owner, Wyatt, in desperate need of something to put his mark on the ever-growing brew pub scene in Colorado before he is run out of business. After a conversation about a lone barrel of the legendary Zoria being for sale, Wyatt sets off on a mission to obtain it before his competition can even catch wind of it.

When he meets the mysterious Bec Dempsey, things go far from smoothly. At first she denies him the sale, but then she changes her mind and decides on a few hoops he'll need to jump through if he stands a chance at obtaining her most prized possession...well, her only one. Unfortunately, her circumstances are such that she is in dire need to sell her Zoria so she can get her brewery back on its feet after her partner disappeared and her brother...well her brother is a whole different set of issues altogether.

With each new task Wyatt is sent on, it becomes clear that Bec has dug a hole for herself with her suppliers that she might not be able to recover from. With his help though, she at least stands a slim chance, but what she wasn't expecting was to fall for him. Love on Tap had the perfect amount of story to steam and the chemistry between Wyatt and Bec was there from the start. I do think they rushed into the "I love you" part a bit too fast given their circumstances, but there were still plenty of cute moments to be had between them. I will admit that some aspects of the story were a tad on the predictable side, but I did overall enjoy the story enough to recommend it.

*I received a review copy from the publisher/author via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.*

If you'd like to check out more about this or other books by Meg, please head over to her website.

 

http://www.MegBenjamin.com

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The Farther He Runs (Kick #3) by Lynda Aicher

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Reviewed by Tabatha

 

I've been eagerly anticipating Finn's story after reading the first book in this Kick series by Lynda Aicher when Finn is still in a coma from the accident. So let me first start by telling you all that Lynda has a way with emotions, and The Farther He Runs displays that talent in spades...she's truly is a master. Like with all of her other books I've read, the connection between the two characters is the primary focus and every single page of the book further solidifies that connection.

I simply adored this story about love, and friendship, and truly finding a new path in life after a devastating loss of self. I think that both Tanner and Finn needed one another to truly live, and I was so enthralled with their story that I couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting...it truly was that good. You won't need to read the previous two books in this series to understand what is going on, so I say dive right in and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

*I received a review copy from the publisher/author via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.*

If you'd like to check out more about this or other books by Lynda, please head over to her website.

 

http://lyndaaicher.com

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Under Pressure (Body Armor #1) by Lori Foster

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Reviewed by Tabatha

 

Under Pressure is the first in yet another spin-off series from Lori Foster. I've become rather invested in all of the characters from the previous series, so naturally I was eager to dive into Leese's story despite him being rather unlikable when we first met him. Of course, expect some cameos from the previous series to pop in, but the Body Armor series definitely has set itself apart with Under Pressure.

Now I'm just going to come right out and say it, but this story definitely had an instant-love feel to it, and I feel like the chemistry always felt just a bit off as a result. Sure these two do have a connection given the situation they are thrown in, but I just never felt the romance was one that would last beyond the drama they found themselves in. I will say, however, that I was thoroughly entertained with the banter between Leese and Catalina. They had me laughing out loud a few times, and she was an even match for him in may ways so I did enjoy that aspect. I don't think that MMA was ever where Leese truly belonged and more like something he stumbled upon, so I was also happy that Leese finally found his niche with becoming a bodyguard.

Overall, there were some high and low points for me reading, but I did enjoy reading Under Pressure and thought it a good start for a new series. I can't wait to find out what happens with the remaining cast of characters from the previous series, but I do also hope that we get a few books with the new secondary characters as well.

*I received a review copy from the publisher/author via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.*

If you'd like to check out more about this or other books by Lori, please head over to her website.

 

http://www.lorifoster.com/

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Lost Rider (Coming Home #1) by Harper Sloan

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Reviewed by Tabatha

 

Lost Rider is the first book in a new series from Harper Sloan, whom I've come to love reading for her over-the-top Alpha males. She has given us something new and different though with the Coming Home series though, and Lost Rider is a great introduction into her cowboy world. I'm looking forward to where it goes with the next book, but first let's dive into Lost Rider...

Maverick Davis is back in Pine Oak, Texas after ten long years of being a successful bull rider out on the circuit. His injuries may have prevented him from continuing his rodeo fame, but his return home has only come after one of his demons no longer remains...it's also the real reason he left all those years ago. Unfortunately for him, picking up the pieces of his life might not be so easy after all with his friends and family, but especially where a certain blonde is concerned. And honestly who could blame her with the way this boy rolls back into town, right?

Little Leighton James is all grown up. And despite her still harboring unrequited feelings for Maverick, she has tried to make the best life possible for herself in their small hometown. His arrival home has stirred those feelings back up in a big way, but picking up the pieces of her heart after Mav smashed them to bits while leaving wasn't easy feat she's likely to forget so she's naturally leery about allowing that to happen again.

Overall, this book was well-paced and an enjoyable read. I liked the dynamics between all of the characters, especially Leighton and Mav's sister. The strong bond between the siblings was admirable given what they had been through growing up, and I loved that Leigh shared in that bond being the girl next door as well. You'll find plenty of emotion and conflict in Lost Rider, but not so much that it is overwhelming. And let's not forget about the heat between Leigh and Mav also being sizzling hot! I've always been a sucker for second chance romances, so if you are as well I promise you'll have fun with this one.  

*I received a review copy from the publisher/author via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.*

If you'd like to check out more about this or other books by Harper, please head over to her website.

 

http://www.authorharpersloan.com

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Twist (Dive Bar #2) by Kylie Scott

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Reviewed by Tabatha

 

With each new release I read from Kylie Scott, I am amazed at how much I love her writing more and more each time. Twist was no exception to this as she takes a case of mistaken identity to a new level with two introverted characters looking for love and companionship via the online dating world. Unfortunately our heroine, Alex, is in for quite a shock when she decides to do something completely out of character by spontaneously showing up in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, of course at the behest of her best friend, to surprise the man she's been emailing with for his birthday. Now I won't get into too much detail and give things away, but let's just say that our hero, Joe, has a lot of explaining to do...

So right from the start, I was hooked...line and sinker...and I couldn't stop reading. I enjoyed the witty dialogue between these two adorably well-matched characters, and boy did they pack some heat in the chemistry department as well despite them both believing that they were neither ones ideal. Joe was such a sweetheart helping Alex, but I think Alex stole the show for me in the end with how she stood up for Joe. They were both great characters and their story was thoroughly enjoyable, so I highly recommend it.  

*I received a review copy from the publisher/author via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.*

If you'd like to check out more about this or other books by Kylie, please head over to her website.

 

http://www.kyliescott.com

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Deacon (Gideon’s Riders #2) by Kit Rocha

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Reviewed by Tabatha

 

Wow, what a ride that was!!! Deacon was action packed and exciting from start to finish, and I loved every single moment of it! Now from what we get to know of Ana in Ashwin, I think we all had certain expectations of her, that seems to be what defines her life...expectations. But boy was she everything I expected and yet so much more! She is just a total bad ass, but she also has a lot riding on her shoulders being the only female to ever become a Rider. She is also living in the shadow of her father's expectations of her as well, so all of that pressure is pretty intense for her. Much to everyone's amazement though, she proves time and time again that she is up to the task. As for the man himself, Deacon had so much hidden depths to him that he actually came as a total surprise. I guess it's true what they say about your past catching up with you and all of that, but in this book that phrase takes on a whole new meaning when Deacon is confronted with his. Despite them both having some pretty major personal issues to work though, they are both drawn to one another despite the fact that their lives are the ultimate sacrifice of their service to Gideon and Sector One. But love is one thing worth living for though, and it can change everything.

Overall, I knew going into this series that things were going to be different from that of Sector Four, but I'm really happy to report that they are different in the best of ways. I mean I'll always love Sector Four, but there is just something about Sector One that draws you in. Maybe it is Gideon or maybe it is just the overall differences that separate them, but either way it's just great to read and I can't wait to see what is in store for us with Ivan's book!

*I received a review copy from the author in exchange for my honest review.*

If you'd like to check out more about this or other books by Kit, please head over to their website.

 

http://www.kitrocha.com

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble