LOVE IN THE DETAILS by Becky Wade

Holly Morgan loved Josh Bowen more than life itself but ended things with him so he could be free to pursue a successful future.  Now he's back in Martinsburg, Texas, to be best man at his friend’s wedding.  The wedding is to take place at the church where Holly is the wedding coordinator. Working together to create a beautiful wedding for their friends has caused long denied feelings to stir.  Josh is afraid to open his heart to Holly again after being hurt. Holly’s never shared with him the reason she broke it off.  Now she’s trying to decide whether to tell Josh why or let things be.  Over the years their thoughts have been only for each other.  Will Holly tell Josh the truth about why she broke up with him and will Josh risk his heart once again to see if they can forge a future together?

I thoroughly enjoyed this story and once you read it, you will see the title works perfectly.  I must say that though this is a novella it really didn't read like one.  I felt fully satisfied from beginning to end.  I loved getting to know Josh and Holly.  You could feel the pull between them, which I always enjoy.  I loved how they interacted with each other.  I actually enjoyed all the characters and felt they were well fleshed out for such a short story.  This author has an easy writing style that pulls you into the story and holds your attention all the way through.  As I was reading, I was thinking about the verse that says God works all things together for good.  It was a good reminder to this reader.  If you're looking for a quick romantic fix with two lovable characters, then I would definitely recommend Love in the Details.

*This complimentary copy was provided by Zondervan through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

For more information about his book or other books by Becky Wade, I encourage you to check out her website at www.beckywade.com

ALL IS CALM ALL IS BRIGHT by Colleen Coble

All Is Calm - All is Bright are two wonderful Christmas romantic suspense stories that are in connection with the Lonestar Series and Hope Beach Series though you can easily enjoy them as stand alone reads.

All Is Calm
Lauren Everman seeks refuge at the Bluebird Ranch after she witnesses a murder but also to save a horse. As a foster child who once experienced Bluebird Ranch first hand, she knows what a sweet haven it is. Lauren offers to help Rick and Allie with the horses and also with kids who want to learn to ride. Carly, a little five year who's shy and quiet, tugs at Lauren's heart. Brendan Waddell finds himself at Bluebird Ranch over holidays to rest and recover from a gunshot wound. When Brendan and Lauren meet the attraction is strong. As they work together to find the truth as well as give Carly a very special Christmas, the attraction turns to something a little deeper. The killer, however, just might not allow Lauren to celebrate Christmas.

All Is Calm is a Christmas story Colleen Coble style with mystery, suspense and of course romance! You are immediately drawn into the story and don't want to put it down until the very end. I loved getting to know Lauren, Brendan and little Carly, all of whom were fully fleshed out. You'll find lots of great chemistry between Brendan and Lauren which I thoroughly enjoyed. It was such fun to return to the ranch and catch up with Rick and Allie again. A message of faith and trust in God is woven throughout the story, which I appreciated. Though this is a novella, to me it didn't feel that way. Other than wanting the story to continue, I felt completely satisfied. So, if you're looking for a quick Christmas read with mystery, suspense and romance, I recommend you head on over to the Bluebird Ranch, where All Is Calm...or is it??

All Is Bright
Delilah Carter is manager of Tidewater Inn and loves it.  She is planning a Christmas wedding for her friends and goes out to gather some supplies.  On the way back to the Inn she's run off the road and her car plunges into the ocean.  She escapes with her life but then begins receiving strange phone calls.  Sheriff Tom Bourne has always liked Delilah and feels a strong need to protect her.  He also wants to grant her a special Christmas surprise.  But first he must figure out who's behind the attack and threats.

All Is Bright is a great Christmas romantic suspense.  Once you pick it up, you'll have a hard time putting it down.  You'll feel very at home visiting Tidewater Inn.  Romance and danger both scent the salt water air.  As always, with Colleen's books,  you'll find wonderful chemistry between Tom and Delilah.  You'll also get caught up with the other Hope Beach folks.  There is always an underlying faith message in this authors stories but it's not overpowering or preachy.  Though this is a novella, you'll feel completely satisfied.  So, you like romantic suspense and want something quick to read! I recommend a visit to Tidewater Inn, where All Is Bright...or is it??

*This complimentary copy was provided by Thomas Nelson through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

For more information about this book or other books by Colleen Coble, I recommend you visit her website at For information about this book or other books by Colleen Coble, I recommend you visit her website site at http://colleencoble.com/

CHRISTMAS UNDERCOVER by Hope White

FBI agent Sara Vaughn is sure that drug company owners will be selling drugs that are deadly. Her boss has forbidden her to investigate the case any further. However, Sara doesn't take no for an answer. She takes leave from work and heads for the Cascade Mountains where she signs up for the same hike as the suspects to try to gather evidence on her own. While she's following them she see them murder one of their partners and then she becomes a target. Will Rankin is hiking when he comes across an unconscious Sara and tries to help. She's sure he's been hired to finish her off. He seems like such a nice guy though and he has two cute daughters. Slowly she begins to see that he truly is trying to help her but now she's put him and his girls at risk too. Can they gather the evidence they need to take down the owners of the drug company or will it be too late?

I enjoyed this story. It was suspenseful and full of intrigue. Although you know whose responsible there were still some surprises along the way, which I liked. I thought the characters were well developed and realistic. Sara did drive me crazy with her obsession with the case, although you could understood why she was that way. Will was a great guy and had so many great qualities. His loving and understanding ways was why he had so many friends looking out for him. I just didn't understand what attracted him to Sara. I really appreciated the way Will had a positive impact on Sara. It caused me to think about whether I'm having a positive impact on people. Will had a strong faith and it showed in his life. Overall it was a great story and I would recommend it to those who maybe appreciate more intrigue than romantic tension.

*This complimentary copy was provided by Harlequin through NetGalley in exchange for honest review*

HER HOLIDAY PROTECTOR by Lenora Worth

Rikki Allen hasn't had much to do with her family because she didn't like the family business. Her father is well known as a big crime boss. When she returns home to visit her ailing mother and catch up with her best friend, she walks in to find her best friend dead. Blain Kent was out walking after Thanksgiving dinner and thinking about the strained relationship with his father when he hears a gun shot and a woman's scream. While investigating what happened, he realizes the victim looks a lot like the woman he's helping. Blain suggests he take her some place safe and when she gives him the address, he realizes that she's the daughter of Franco Alvanetti, the well-known crime boss. Blain has wanted to take down the Alvanetti family for a long time but now it’s become complicated. He not only has to protect Rikki but he finds himself developing feelings for her and she for him. Before they explore anything further they need to figure out why someone wants Rikki dead.

This was one of those stories that once you pick it up it's hard to put down. It starts off with a bang, literally, and from there you'll find yourself trying to solve the crime right along with Blain and Rikki. The characters were well developed and I enjoyed getting to know them. Blain was a very upright guy who lived by high code of ethics. Though he's a little head strong, he's someone I would definitely want on my side. I really liked Rikki. She was a down-to-earth kind of gal who desired to live a simple life. She's someone who liked investing in people and tried to believe the best about them. You'll find the faith element in the story to be very natural to the characters which I appreciated. The twist at the end caught me by surprise which always enhances the story for me. Although this is a holiday themed story it's one you could really be read any time during the year. If you enjoy a good fast-paced mystery complete with likable characters, romance, and an unexpected twist, then I would definitely recommend Her Holiday Protector.

*This complimentary copy was provided by Harlequin through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

A favorite quote:

"Rikki could feel the heat from his body. If she moved a few inches closer, she could reach out and kiss Blain. He must have felt the same way. She saw a flare of awareness in his eyes and then - And then the echo of a gun blast shattered the countryside and scared the horses into a frenzied dance. Blain did pull her close."

For more information about this book or other books by Lenora Worth I encourage you to visit her website at www.lenoraworth.com 

A REUNION FOR THE RANCHER by Brenda Minton

Ruby Donovan has always loved Carson Thorn and was planning a future with him, that is, until Carson's family drove her away. Carson couldn't understand why Ruby left and his heart still aches. It's been twelve years but now Ruby is back to lend a hand to her aging grandmother. The feelings between Carson and Ruby are still very strong, though they won't t talk about what happened. Carson is head of the Lone Star Cowboy League and they are looking into all the thefts the ranchers have recently had. When Ruby's brother becomes the prime suspect, she longs to convince Carson that her brother has changed. Will he believe her and will they finally put to rest the problems of the past to forge a second chance at love?

This was a great start to the Lone Star Cowboy League series. The author introduces you to all the folks you'll be getting to know. This book focused on Ruby and Carson, who definitely had chemistry! Ruby was a strong, kindhearted woman who loved deeply. Carson was a rugged cowboy with a heart of gold. Someone you'd want on your side. I thoroughly enjoyed Ruby's grandmother, Iva. She was a sweet and wise lady. Ruby's brother, Derek is a guy I hope we see more of in future books. There is a faith thread running through the story and you see it lived out in a believable way. This is a miniseries so although this story has a conclusion there are some loose ends that are left unresolved. A Reunion for the Rancher definitely left me with an anticipation of the stories to follow. If you enjoy a sweet romance with a splash of conflict and a dash of mystery then I would encourage you to head on down to Little Horn, Texas and see how just how the rancher's reunion turned out. Be sure to keep a watchful eye though, there have been a lot of thefts lately.

*This complimentary copy was provided by Harlequin through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

For more information about this book or other books by Brenda Minton, I recommend you visit her website at http://www.brendaminton.net/

BEYOND THE WAVES by Lynnette Bonner

 Taysia Green always wanted a future with Kylen Sumner but he's broken her heart one too many times.  She’s having a hard time forgetting him but knows it’s time to move on.  She's recently been dating Blaine Pittman who's not only the youth pastor but just a nice, safe and steady guy.  When Sophia Clinesmith twists her ankle at Taysia's gym and brings a lawsuit against her, imagine Taysia’s surprise when Officer Kylen Sumner shows up at her office.  Not only is he back in town, but Sophia has asked him to mediate between them.  Taysia can't afford a lawsuit so she'll cooperate with Kylen but there is no way she's letting him back into her life no matter what her traitorous heart might think.  She needs to stay strong but that’s hard to do when just the thought of seeing Ky does funny things to her insides.  Kylen loves Taysia but knows he's going to have to somehow prove to her that she can trust him with her heart.  Will she move on with Blaine or will she allow Kylen one more chance to win her heart, this time forever?

This was a sweet story about second chances.  Taysia and Kylen were interesting characters I liked getting to know.  Taysia was someone who always felt inferior and was teased.  Kylen had genuine feelings for Taysia but like most of us, when you're young you do foolish things, and in this case he went along with his friends in teasing her.  He's now a strong man of faith who knows what he wants and it’s Taysia.  I also enjoyed the secondary characters.  Blaine was a nice guy who happened to get caught in the middle.  Marie is very sweet but looking for love in all the wrong places.  The story itself was really about Kylen and Taysia working through their past mistakes to see if the Lord might have a future for them.   It’s one of those stories you can just sit back and enjoy.  For this review I listened to the audio version which I thoroughly enjoyed.  The narrator, Becky Doughty, did a great job of bringing the story to life.  The Audible version is very convenient because you can be working on your to-do list while engaging in a good story.  So if you’re someone who likes a sweet story and the ability to do two things at once, I would definitely recommend the Audible version of Beyond the Waves.  I’m looking forward to Marie’s story in ‘Caught in the Current’.

*This complimentary copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review*

SWEET MOUNTAIN RANCHER by Loree Lough

Nate Marshall isn't sure why he'd said yes to Eden Quinn.  She is house-mom to a group of troubled boys and wants to take them to the Double M Ranch for some new experiences.  Nate is surprised when he finds himself drawn to the boys but more importantly to their feisty guardian.  Eden is attracted to Nate for lots of reasons but how he interacts with the boys makes him especially appealing.  Nate observes the way she keeps the boys in line and how they respect her.  When a problem arises that will affect Latimer House Nate wants to help, but will Eden's independence get in the way?

This was an enjoyable story overall.  Nate was a great hero from the get-go and I loved the Marshall family.  Eden was someone I had mixed feelings about.  I appreciated the way she interacted with boys and the love and care she showed to them.  I must say though, I didn't like the way she was with Nate.  To me she was unkind and unfair in the way she treated him.  I really don't see what Nate saw in her.  I also felt like things ended too abruptly and there was a thread left undone concerning a particular person.  It would have been great to have an epilogue to finish things out.  There is some danger along the way and you also find out where the name 'Sweet Mountain' comes from.  This is Harlequin's Heartwarming Line of stories so they are sweet with traditional values but no 'spiritual' message as with their Love Inspired line.  Sweet Mountain Rancher is the second book in a series but you can easily read it as a stand- alone and not feel lost.

*This complimentary copy was provided by Harlequin through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

For more information about this book or other books by Loree Lough, I encourage you to visit her website at http://www.loreelough.com/ 

FALLING LIKE SNOWFLAKES by Denise Hunter

Eden Martelli finds herself on the run from some dangerous people.  She's headed for a cabin with her five-year-old son (who has stopped talking because of a trauma) where she knows they’ll be safe.  She's taken every precaution to keep them safe, but then her car breaks down in Summer Harbor.  It's a major repair so they must stay put through Christmas.  Needing money, she begins to look for work.  Enter Beau Callahan.  Beau gave up being a deputy sheriff to work the family Christmas tree farm.  He's going to need some help with his aunt who's returning home from the hospital and needs full-time assistance.  He comes across Eden and her son and offers her the job of caring for his outspoken aunt, along with cooking and cleaning duties.  The attraction is strong but both have reasons for not pursuing anything further.  Beau knows from experience Eden's hiding something.  He wants to keep her safe from whatever she's running from but it's hard when she won't trust him, even with her real name.  What will happen when the truth is finally revealed?

I loved this story and fell in love with the Callahan brothers!  You first meet Beau Callahan in Married 'til Monday (another excellent story) so I was anxious to get to know him better.  Summer Harbor is the kind of town where you immediately feel right at home.  The folks are warm and welcoming and make you want to pick-up and move there.  I thoroughly enjoyed the banter between the brothers. It’s rough and playful but you totally get that they love each other deeply.  The story had a great balance of humorous and serious moments.  Beau’s aunt is a riot and she definitely spiced things up with her feisty personality.  The author dealt with some difficult issues and I appreciated the way she handled them.  The romantic tension between Eden and Beau was fraught with anticipation as only Denise Hunter can do, especially in the beginning, because Beau is dating someone else. (Gasp!)  The reader finds out that though we plan our ways the Lord directs our steps.  It was an encouraging reminder to see how the Lord cared for Eden.  This was a great start to the Summer Harbor series and one I would definitely recommend!   The cover is beautifully done and the title goes very well with the story.  I am now anxiously waiting for Zac’s story in “The Goodbye Bride”.  Although there is a chill in the air in Summer Harbor, ‘Falling Like Snowflakes’ is sure to warm your heart.

*This complimentary copy was provided by Thomas Nelson through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

A couple favorite quotes:

Eden realized what Beau had been holding back from her yesterday morning.  His aunt was going to be a challenge.  Eden was beginning to wonder if she should have asked for hazard pay.

"Merciful heavens, what's this supposed to be?"  "Aunt Trudy," Beau said.  "There's enough sage in here to cure a decade's worth of hot flashes." Sage. So that's what it was.  Kate's cheeks flushed.  "I'm so sorry. I didn't have a recipe - I didn't want to use your computer without asking."  "Have at it," Riley said, giving one final hack.  "Please."

For more information about this book and other books by Denise Hunter, I encourage you to visit her website at http://www.denisehunterbooks.com/ 

RODEO RESCUER by Lynette Eason

 Tonya Waters loves being a rodeo clown bull-fighter and she's good at it.   It's also helped her evade a stalker she had several years back.  Somehow he's tracked her down once again and is trying to kill her.  No matter how she tries he always seems to find her.  Seth Starke is a bull-rider who’s riding again after recovering from a bad leg injury.  When he’s injured again during his ride, Tonya steps in a saves him from being killed by the bull.  Tender feelings develop between Tonya and Seth and Seth wants to protect her.  When the danger escalates, Seth takes Tonya home to Wrangler’s Corner and enlists the help of his brother, Sheriff Clay Starke.  She knows he'll find her, he always does, but she doesn't want Seth's family harmed.  Can they find him before he's able to follow through with his threat?

From start to finish this was a definite page turner.  The reader is kept totally engaged and on the edge of their seat.  There was an unexpected twist I didn't see coming which is always something I appreciate.  It was interesting learning something about a rodeo and especially the rodeo clowns who take on those massive bulls when a rider falls off.  Tonya was someone I liked.  She was a strong person.  She grew up with brothers so she had to be tough!  Yet she had a very sweet spirit.  Seth was a great hero, tough yet gentle and understanding.  He seems to really get who Tonya is.  Both have been hurt but for different reasons yet they also are very attracted to each other.  The struggles they have with their faith seemed very natural to me.  This is book 2 in the Wrangler Corners series but you could read it as a stand-alone.  The Lawman Returns (book 1) is Clay's story and he plays a big part here as well.  If you like action, suspense, and romance then Rodeo Rescuer is the book for you.  Here’s the opening sentence: “If he caught her, he’d kill her.  Tonya Waters hunched lower in the bullfighter barrel and held her breath.”  It’s hard to put down so allot yourself some time.

*This complimentary copy was provided by Harlequin through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

For more information concerning this book or other books by Lynette Eason, I encourage you to visit her website at http://www.lynetteeason.com/