Someone Worth Saving, Ruthie Luhnow

4.5 rounded up!

Reed was so young in so many ways. I loved learning about him through Brady's eyes, the vulnerable, naive, and broken Reed that just needed love. He broke my heart with how little he knew about taking care of himself and how little genuine, unconditional affection he understood. Reed wasn't just a spoiled brat, he was misguided and had no healthy outlet for his frustrations and needs. Seeking attention when he could and having no real guidance left him in an untenable situation where his mother's only recourse was to send him off to somewhere he wouldn't be seen or heard from for a specific amount of time. What seemed like a curse was a blessing in the end because he found family. He found love and acceptance and, the best part, change.

Change isn't easy for anyone, really, especially when that change comes from somewhere and someone you were determined to loathe. Reed isn't sure what to make of the people he's forced to live with so he acts like an adolescent instead of a contrite adult who needs to rethink his direction. With the patience of at least four saints his aunt and her ranch care for Reed in the most fundamental ways allowing him to see that life is more than money, cars, sex, and rebellion toward the parents who ignore his existence for as long as possible. I really love the community and how they all begin to accept Reed for what he is and support him in what he should become. But there's not just the new mother figure in Reed's life, there's someone else that will be the catalyst and safe-haven for all Reed's biggest changes.

Brady isn't exactly keen on Reed at their first, second, or even fifteenth run-in, but finds that Reed is the kind of person that grows on you the more you give him space, quiet, and education. Unfortunately for Reed, their attraction seems one-sided and with all the baggage each one carries, it's a good thing that it takes quite a long time for anything romantic to develop between these two men. Brady and Reed are no stranger to abandonment but how that fear manifests is different for each of them. Throughout the story both men deal with that in very different ways and neither way brings them closer to one another...at first. They're sweet, awkward, and frustrating in equal measure as their romance plays out. Tons of feels that draw you in and keep you firmly invested in their outcome.

This whole book was really enjoyable to read, start to finish I loved these men in all their flawed ridiculousness and tender realizations. Both men draw you in and make you feel for and about them. Family isn't perfect, we're all flawed, and love wins. Wonderful cast of characters and a ton of feels for this slow-burn romance with a well-deserved HEA.

Cutie and the Beast, E.J. Russell

I liked this book...mostly. I sometimes wanted to give it 4 stars, mostly in the beginning, and then I was tempted to round down from 2.5, mostly near the end, so I settled on 3 stars overall.

David was cute, spunky, and in total lust with Alun's voice. I really liked that he acknowledged the unfortunate visage of his new temporary boss and that the flinching was there. It would be incredibly naive to think that David wouldn't be shocked by his appearance and would be able to quickly and completely sweep them away as a non-issue. He addresses it and mentions it throughout the story but doesn't make Alun's looks a reason for rejection or derision. This I admire. He was quirky and more than willing to see what was underneath the grumpy, bumpy exterior and knew what really mattered. His enthusiasm wasn't just for his boss, it was for the patients he had no prior knowledge of, his adopted aunties, and a grayer than a Portland sky office. David did his best to bring truth and beauty and enjoyment into the lives and places he touched. He was a good match for someone as taciturn, stubborn, and surly as Alun.

Alun, however, remained prideful and vain from both sides of the spectrum all through the story. I wasn't as much of a fan of his and I wanted to be. His treatment of David and obliviousness to all things involving true feelings was disappointing to say the least. I hope that I get to see more of an evolution from him throughout the other stories of the series since they involve his brothers. He's definitely the weak link in the relationship in the story.

As for the story itself, I think there was a bit too much packed into the story making it seem way too long and not long enough at the same time. It wasn't long enough to properly address all the issues facing the couple and the community that were brought up throughout the story. And then it felt far too long because what it did address, it was beat half to death. So yes, there's a Beauty and the Beast element and Alun is ashamed of himself because of how he looks first and then second is his self-blame for his lover's demise. I'm not sure how many times we need to cover that vanity and guilt before we're saying, "Okay, I get it, you martyr, how about we move on, yeah?"

Overall, I liked the story and had a great time in the first half, the second half is where things fell short for me. Alun's brothers were involved enough to keep my interest for their stories primed and I look forward to the rest of the series.

Protecting Dakota, Susan Stoker

Usually I gravitate toward a younger set of MC's because it's closer to my own age and tastes. This book, however, made me see that a more mature coupling can be just as intense, tender, and relate-able. From start to finish both of these people made me want more. I could have used a bit more background on each of them and would also do well to read the related stories to know the men and women surrounding and supporting Cutter, but overall, I felt like I could know these people and want them in my life. Well, if my life involved kidnapping, terrorists, and other life-threatening situations.

Dakota was a solid, strong woman with a good head on her shoulders. She knew what she wanted but was able to adapt to her new life on the run. Knowing that she was in danger she used her brain to get away and to stay sane while doing so. With Cutter's appearance she found something she needed more than she ever knew she would. Having his protection and support was a boon indeed, but it was also his passion, devotion, and tenderness that had been completely missing in her life up to this point that won her love and trust. Confident that he would be around for her and come for her if she should need him she allowed herself to share and grow into the woman she knew was inside. Cutter was a great partner for her and together they were an awesome pairing.

The drama was plentiful and there wasn't a quick save to keep Dakota or anyone else from experiencing stress, trauma, and borderline despair. I though this was a realistic and mature way to handle all the stuff going down. Not everyone gets saved in the nick of time and there's always something that people have to heal from and the situations in this story shouldn't be any different. I really enjoyed how things were handled. There were some pretty cheesy moments, but they weren't so bad that I would wish them gone, they just felt a little weird and made the conclusion feel slightly mystic instead of grounded. Not bad, just a bit farther than I expected it to go even with all the destiny references between them throughout the book. Still a great read!

*Caroline played a big role in helping and supporting Dakota.  Read her story for free!

Quick Reads and Quick Reviews 7

  

• Hemlock and Honey, Elizabeth Preston
• Mae Day, Anne Conley
• Revived, Nina del Arce

This was incredibly disappointing.  I didn't hate it, but I certainly didn't like it either.  There was virtually no romantic build and a lot of voyeurism and self-shaming for having lusty thoughts.  I was sure that there would be more done in the way of trying to alleviate the suffering of the clan, falling in love, discovering what's behind one another, but, sadly, there was so little of that that I was left wondering what exactly I read.  I can see moments where Gus goes from lustful admiration to deeper affection for Sybilla but then there are moments where it's like she doesn't exist.  For instance, the stop at the "inn" on the way to the highlands.  Then from Sybilla's side it's more like fascination of a giant of a man who's so rugged that she can't help but be captivated and then she learns that he truly cares a great deal for his people.  So yes, there's some good foundational pieces here to make a lasting romance, but it was jumbled in with forest craziness, dungeon craziness, witnessing infidelity, and other things that just didn't make me like anyone.  Overall I struggled to finish this book and did only for the vague hope that things would improve.  Even the romantic conclusion was rushed and unsatisfying.  1.5 stars (rounded up to 2 on Amazon).

So I know this is a novella and that means it's short. This particular series is really awesome with well developed characters, solid world, good interaction between main and support characters, realistic reactions to drama, believable romance, and strong women.  With a novella a lot of that is usually only touched on instead of developed and it helps that it's set in a familiar universe, but with this particular book there was a bigger amount of drama than there were pages to do it justice.  I liked the pairing between Jason and Mae and had a desire to see that they came out on the other side successfully.  Jason was both hot and sweet with his devotion to Mae that was tender and had the potential to last even if things moved quickly between them.  When it's right, it's right, you know?  Similarly with Mae who built trust and affection with Jason even though things began with being interested from afar.  They were good together and the confessions were very sweet.  There were also a couple cringe-worthy moments that were a bit over the top.  The life purpose moments felt contrived, starry-eyed naive kind.  Yes, sudden realizations are good, but the way that part was written sounded like it shouldn't be coming from Jason's mouth.  The sentiments were genuine, but the delivery was cheesy...and not in a good way.  Overall this was an enjoyable story with a bit too much packed into such a short book.  Bombs, military, kidnapping, family connections, budding romance, broken promises...just a bit too much to be truly satisfying.  3 stars.

This book has a lot of potential if we keep on with these two men. Rhys is a pretty typical vampire who feels unworthy of the goodness Dirk offers. Add in a murder with hints of vampire? Rhys can't seem to stay away no matter how much he feels he should. Dirk needs him in more ways than just vampiric sleuthing, though. Tired of denying his own desires in order to follow his older sister's dictates, he finds a measure of relief when he walks in on his intended's infidelity and proceeds to walk out on his own party only to find himself in bigger trouble than a broken engagement.

Throughout this story there's a lot of background that's given in pieces but only to the reader. When things are unsaid between the men it leaves doubt and uncertainty. When things come to a head they admit that what they really is each other. They go against their past and those that would bind them to it in favor of a new and perilous future with one another. The series is off to a really good start. Overall, this was a short story, a quick read that had enough depth for each character that we feel for these men individually and root for them as a pairing. There's a lot of turmoil that bodes well for a continuing series and I hope that these men are featured from here on out, though I wouldn't be opposed to introducing new pairings in later books. 4 stars (3.5 rounded up).

Turned Up, Erin Nicholas

Fun, flirty, sexy, tender, competitive.  Kit and Dillon were a great match, constantly pushing one another to new heights and achievements that they wouldn't otherwise reach without one another.  There could definitely have been more conflict between the two of them with all the bickering, but this was done really well in that the biggest issue for Kit was slightly unexpected.  I was sure that there would be a big blow-up that made them realize that being softer in love would be the answer.  What happened was surprising and way, way better.

I loved Kit despite thinking that she was a little bit hard.  This is the first book in the series I've read so I had no idea what I would get other than what the synopsis intimated.  I didn't get a chance to know Kit from the periphery through the friendship in the other books but reading this one first didn't have me at a disadvantage.  Instead, what I got was pure, unadulterated Kit with her fire, desire, vulnerability, and passion.  She is completely passionate about her life, her job, her home, her friends, and even Dillon.  We find out that they have some seriously incendiary chemistry that draws them together time and time again.  How Kit deals with being pulled back into his orbit over and over is sweet but also riddled with anxiety.  Uncertain about his true motives for wanting her, she errs on the side of caution with a large side of sexy times.  That could work out to lasting happiness, right?

Luckily there's Dillon on the other side of their crazy union.  Dillon seems to be argumentative just for the thrill of it because he can't resist riling up Kit.  From the time they first clashed in the third grade until now he's always needling her, pushing her, fighting with her.  Loving her.  He just wasn't fully aware of it until a snowstorm blew in and trapped them at her grandma's house.  Here, under the covers of a blanket fort and warmed by a fire and s'mores he could truly see Kit for the first time, the Kit that often hid underneath all the cool, collected kick ass heroine that she usually portrays.  She's actually both things.  A kick ass woman with a softer side that only those closest to her are lucky enough to see.  Dillon is determined to love her and uses all the tools he has available to him to get her to give in, for the long-term.

The story was cute and fun and also relate-able.  I fell in love with these characters and their town.  I want to go back and read the other two books in the story to see the other kick ass women and their men struggle to find and keep their love despite all the natural disasters that seem to find them and their town.

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