Veronica Reviews: THE BILLIONAIRE BACHELOR by Jessica Lemmon

The Billionaire Bachelor

by

Jessica Lemmon

4 Stars

 

Reese Crane, CEO of Crane Hotels, appears just as cold as the interior of his hotels.  With the retirement of his father, Reese finally sees his future ahead of him…all he ever wanted and worked his entire life towards.  But when the Board of Directors for Crane Hotels threatens to strip him of his CEO title because of his womanizing and lack of family stability, Reese is determined not to be thwarted from his dream…even at the cost of giving up his bachelor lifestyle.

Merina Van Heusen has grown up living and working in her parents’ quirky and bohemian style hotel.  The Van Heusen is known for its ambiance, and no one is more shocked than Merina to find out that her parents have sold her beloved hotel to Reese Crane.  In a fit of rage, Merina marches over to his lofty office and demands he give her back the Van Heusen…no matter his price.

Reese and Merina make a marriage bargain to both gain what they believe is most important to them.  But somewhere along the way, they find material things mean nothing…and love is found in the most unlikely of circumstances.

The Billionaire Bachelor is the first book I’ve read by Jessica Lemmon, and it won’t be the last!  While not my favorite troupe, I found she made the usually arrogant billionaire/CEO likeable from the beginning.  The chemistry between Reese and Merina was smokin’ hawt, and I especially enjoyed how Merina wasn’t afraid to fight for what she wanted.  Highly recommend this story to both fans of this genre as well as second chance romances!

Sharing what I love, 

Veronica

Veronica Reviews: WHEN A DUCHESS SAYS I DO by Grace Burrowes

When A Duchess Says I Do

by 

Grace Burrowes

3 Stars

Duncan Wentworth has been given a task of turning a neglected estate into a profitable one within a year. While venturing out on his grounds, he comes across a poacher who is determined to keep his game and eliminate the witness.

Matilda Wakefield has been on the run and with the cold of winter setting in, has been hiding in the gatehouse of Wentworth’s estate. Seeing that there is trouble brewing, she steps out of hiding and with the help of her pistol, saves Duncan.

Seeing the waif-like appearance of Matilda, Duncan is determined to offer assistance. Taking her back to his home, he offers her a hot meal as well as employment to be his secretary. What starts as a means to help a damsel in distress, turns into an adventure of intrigue and love.

While I did sometimes lose focus on the actual plot of the story, I did find the building trust, friendship and romance between Duncan and Matilda charming. This story is like curling up with a warm blanket and enjoying the moment. When a Duchess Says I Do is an enjoyable read by Grace Burrowes that I would recommend to fans of this genre.

 

Amazon

Sharing What I Love, 

Veronica

New Release: When Sydney Loves

I am so in love with this story. It's about second chances, redemption, and forging a path when all others are closed off. This book is the 4th of the Loved by Reese series and is a must read!

When Sydney Loves

Sydney Reese’s sole mission is to help women shed their painful pasts, but when it comes to her own, she struggles. When Cash is released from prison, he makes an unwelcome appearance. She vows not to allow him to harm her. But when she sees him again, he is both familiar and different. He seems genuine in his apology, but can she trust him?



After being released from prison, Cash quickly discovers his life will never be the same. Not only does he receive cold shoulders and closed doors, he must crawl his way into a meager existence. When he faces Sydney, he realizes just how far he fell and how much pain he caused. He will do anything to make amends with her, even if it means becoming a punching bag for her brothers.



When Cash comes to Sydney’s aid, she slowly begins to forgive him. He thinks he might have a chance at redemption and happiness until everything he has worked for gets yanked from his grasp, including Sydney. He was hoping for a second chance, but maybe not everyone deserves a happy ending.

Find your copy at: Amazon

Want to start the series at the beginning with Rio? Click here!

What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon

This is a lovely historical romance set in Ireland cerca 1920.
Starting out in the 21st century, Anne Gallagher loved to write her bestseller mystery novels and never took time for romance.  The only person she adored was her grandfather, Eoin.  His passing changed her life more than believable, or maybe not.
Anne's interest in her family history from Ireland, led her to bring Eoin's ashes to be spread in a lough.  Traveling through time was never on her schedule.
The mist of the lough shrouded her rowboat causing her to loose her sense of direction.
A big bang took her into the arms of Thomas Smith. 
Impossible.  Thomas was in his thirties in 1920. He was the best friend of Anne's great-grandfather.  Now, Thomas is a young man about her own age. The Anne Gallagher that Thomas knew in the 1900's was the great-grandmother of the 21st century Anne. They looked a lot alike.  Could be mistaken for one another.
Many of the green pastures and old buildings look the same in Ireland, but the roads are rough and the people certainly wear outdated clothing.
Thomas always had a thing for the great-grandmother Anne who had disappeared during the Irish
 Revolution, and here she was, returned to his arms five years after she disappeared.
Such a great and touching story of the Revolution along with how Anne handles her transport.
Afraid to fall in love, Thomas and Anne learn about each other and wonder when too much truth can keep them together or send them apart.
I was mystified throughout the story, wondering how this love can survive the challenges of time.

Keep reading,
Dawn

Veronica Reviews: NO OTHER DUKE BUT YOU by Valerie Bowman

No Other Duke But You

Valerie Bowman

4.5 Stars

   

You love her

But she loves him

And he loves somebody else

You just can't win

      -Love Stinks, The J. Geils Band

             Lady Delilah Montebank has lived under the tyranny of her abusive mother since her father passed away.  Now she has been given an ultimatum—she must secure a betrothal by her birthday or be forced into one of her mother’s choosing.  Desperate to please her mother, she announces that she will make a match with the most eligible bachelor in London, the Duke of Branville.  Now she must get her matchmaking friend, Lucy, to help her plot how to achieve the task set forth before her.

             Lord Thomas Hobbs, Duke of Huntley, has secretly been in love with his best friend Lady Delilah since they were teens.  Delilah has always been by his side, and they have shared many an adventure.  Since the day she offered comfort during the loss of his father, they have formed a loving friendship that has grown stronger over time.  But it is the thought of losing their friendship that has kept Thomas from declaring his feelings.  When Delilah announces she intends to get the Duke of Branville to offer a proposal of marriage, Thomas sets out on his own matchmaking mission to get Delilah to see him as a lover rather than just a friend.

             No Other Duke But You is a comedic friends to lovers romance that had me laughing and cheering for these two to finally get together!  After all, what could possibly go wrong at a country estate with everyone running around attempting to douse love potion on their intended? 

             While this is the 11^th installment in the Playful Brides series, it may be read as a standalone.  Thoroughly enjoyed and would recommend!

Sharing what I love, 

Veronica

Veronica Reviews: LOVE AT SUNSET by Pixie Chica

Love at Sunset 

Forever Safe Romance Series

by Pixie Chica

4.5 Stars

  

“I’m not leaving until I discover every spot that makes you wet, what touches make you come undone, and you’re hoarse from calling out my name.”

Veronica is a powerful CEO in a fast-paced designer industry.  Suffering from “burn out”, she takes a vacation to the Keys.  Never did she dream that two weeks in paradise would take on an entirely different meaning when she sets her eyes on Lacey…

Smexxy bartender, Lacey, has a rule about not hooking up with tourists, but when blonde bombshell Veronica walks into her bar, Lacey realizes rules were made to be broken…

WOWZA!  Pixie Chica is a new to me author, and when I read the blurb for Love at Sunset, I just had to snag!  Loved and highly recommend this verra hawt F/F insta-love romance, and look forward to reading more from this author!

Sharing what I love, 

Veronica

A Son's Visit

Hello, gentle readers!

I’m so happy! My son is here visiting for the weekend. It’s always a pleasure to see him. He’s living in Dallas so visits aren’t that often (it’s not like he lives down the road or over in the next town). We do talk a lot by phone, but it’s not the same as seeing his face or that sheepish grin he sports.

He’s a good son. Hard-working. Kind (though, I will admit, he has an intolerance for stupidity, which he probably got from me). And, like his father, he makes me laugh…which started in the car on the way home from the airport.

That’s not to say it was always this way. His teenage years were rough, but we persevered. I tried to keep the lines of communication open, though sometimes it was hard (you remember those teenage years, don’t you? Ask a question and get a grunt in response? Yeah, there was a lot of grunting going on back then).

But as with everything, things changed. He grew up (almost without me seeing it) and became an adult and the lines of communication opened up once more, though the conversations were different. He wasn’t the little boy anymore who liked to be read to and cuddled (yeah, I’m a hugger). He wasn’t the teenager who looked at me like I had “Stupid” tattooed across my forehead (fortunately for me, that tattoo faded the day he admitted I was right about so many things!)

Sometimes, I miss that little boy sitting on my lap while I read to him (his favorite story was “Are You My Mother?” He loved the noises I made), but I love the man he’s become and every once in a while, when he looks at me, I get to see that little boy grin.

By the time you read this, he’ll be gone, back to his own home, but until we visit again, I will treasure this time I was able to spend with him.

 

Until next time, remember to spread kindness wherever you go.

Marie

Veronica Reviews: HIGHLAND CROWN by May McGoldrick

Highland Crown 

(Royal Highlander #1)

by

May McGoldrick

4 Stars

“They’d known each other for only a short time, but life was short with no guarantees of tomorrow.”

Isabella Drummond is a trained physician in a man’s world.  Fighting hard to garner the respect so rightly deserved, she treats those that come to her in need of her care.  But unbeknown to her, some of her patients are part of the Scottish rebellion and her husband is one of them.  After a skirmish between the British soldiers and the rebels, Isabella finds herself a widow on the run from both the British and Scotts for information.  Hidden away in a small village along the shore, she meets Cinaed MacKintosh, a wounded sea captain with secrets of his own.  Together Isabella and Cinaed fight for their lives while falling in love in the wilds of the Highlands.

While reading Highland Crown, I found the story more of a work of historical fiction rather than romance.  The characters are well developed as well as the conflict that surrounds them, but I found the romance a little lacking until I changed my reading point-of-view and thought of this not as my typical historical romance and more of a telling of two characters fighting for what they believe in and finding solace in each other’s company.  Highland Crown is the first installment in May McGoldrick’s Royal Highlander series.  While there is an ending, there are questions still left unanswered.  Overall, Highland Crown is an enjoyable well written historical that I would recommend. 

Amazon

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Veronica

Primal Obsession by Susan Vaughan

With autumn speeding towards us, many men are stoked about hunting.  That includes The Hunter in  Primal Obsession.
Granted The Hunter is not your average man, he's a monster and hunts people.
Annie Wylde gave the killer his name when she journaled his actions in her reporting for a newspaper.  Too bad The Hunter noticed her.
Emma, Annie's best friend was one of his victims with a brutal chase through the woods and despicable torture, death, and rape in that order.   Emma and Annie had planned a canoe trip in the woods of Maine, and Annie was determined to fulfill her part and maybe learn what energized The Hunter.
Sam Kincaid nursed his own problem and forced himself to turn from pro baseball to a Maine guide.
Sam appreciated Annie's features, convinced he had nothing to offer any woman.  Self confidence was one of his problems with the change in his life.
Annie had no use for an egotistical jock.  Aren't they all full of themselves?
A week traveling by canoe and land along with less than gourmet food, should give both of them an idea on what can create trust and a friendship, which is also the start of, dare I say it, a relationship.
There are six people and four tents on the trip.  I hope the wrong one doesn't sleep alone.  I'm concerned with safety in this comment!
Where else would The Hunter be, but in the woods and tracking his prey?
The story keeps the mystery alive with doubt and suspicion alternating between characters.  Also, with so much danger and unknown traps, how can there be time to get to know someone, let alone find love in a spooky, dark woods?  Grab this novel and keep the lights bright as you find out!

Happy reading,
Dawn  

BLIND SYMPATHY by Roberta Bombonato now Released!

Blind Sympathy

by

Roberta Bombonato

So let's say you were on Tinder and this image came up, would you swipe right? Come on, he has a good heart!

What if he had an eHarmony profile? He loves cooking, carving, and shape shifting.

It is NOT easy to love a Beast, NOT even when the beauty is blind.

Get scared like the Exorcist because Israfel's last school assignment is to possess an innocent soul! 

Vafara, on the other hand, is a blind composer blessed with music and kindness. She prayed for someone who would challenge her without taking consideration that she could not see. Not even the goodness of her soul could have prepared her for this destiny. She will not go easy into the night, for her innocence is guarded by Angels.  

When Heaven and Hell have been at war for souls over the centuries and contracts are fraught with loop holes, could an unexpected love tip the scale of balance between good and evil or even change the course of fate the afterlife? 

Blind Sympathy, by Roberta Bombonato on sale now. Buy your copy today on Amazon. 

 

Follow her on Facebook, Bookbub, and Goodreads.

https://www.facebook.com/RobertaBombonatoAuthor/

https://www.amazon.com/author/robertabombonato

www.robertabombonato.com

 

Where stories are weaved by a basket case with twisted pain and unconditional love