Married by Mistake - Shannon Stacey (HSE #3024 - Dec 2023)

Series: Sutton's Place (Book 6)
 
A husband for the holidays!
 
When sworn enemies Chelsea Grey and John Fletcher travel to Las Vegas for a friend's wedding, the last thing they anticipate is waking up married themselves. Unfortunately, disentangling their wedding knot proves more complicated than they'd hoped. With Christmas fast approaching, the feisty barista and her coffee-hating "hubby" are still living under one roof -- and wondering why their temporary marriage is suddenly feeling suspiciously like the real thing…
 
Fun enemies-to-lovers story. Chelsea owns a coffee shop, and John is the coffee-hating digital artist who has the shop next door. They rubbed each other the wrong way from the moment they met. But their best friends, Molly and Callan, are getting married in Las Vegas and want them there. They put their feud on hold for their friends' sake. However, their temporary truce, combined with too much tequila equals waking up married to each other!
 
I was caught up in this story from the opening pages. Chelsea wakes up hungover and naked and horrified to discover that not only is John in the bed next to her, but they are both wearing wedding rings. There is no chance of what happened in Vegas staying in Vegas because Chelsea also posted the information on her social media pages. Neither understands how it happened because they detest each other. The only thing to do is file for annulment right away.
 
Matters become complicated when they return home. John's house was damaged by a fire, leaving him with few options for a place to stay during repairs. Chelsea steps up and offers her guest room despite her reservations. Though they initially plan to avoid each other as much as possible, Fate has other plans. Instead, they find themselves drawn to each other. I loved watching them get to know each other. There are sweet scenes, from watching their favorite show together to shopping for a Christmas tree. The sparks of attraction that got them into their marriage become more challenging to resist. It's easy to see them falling in love, but there are obstacles. The biggest one is that John plans to move away after a year, while Chelsea has put down roots and has no plans ever to leave.
 
When their annulment plans run into a snag, they must decide whether to stick to the original plan or make their marriage real. I wanted to shake both when they avoided confessing their feelings and continued with what they thought the other wanted. I loved their big moment at the end,  as John finally took a chance. The scene at the Sutton's Christmas party was sweet, emotional, and romantic. The epilogue was a terrific wrap-up for the book. 

 
 

Unexpected Family for the Rebel Tycoon - Rachael Stewart (HR #4911 - Aug 2024)

From just neighbors…to a forever family?
 
Everyone's heard of Matteo De Luca: tycoon, soccer player and international thrill seeker. Until an injury sees him permanently benched -- and bored! So bored that when his neighbor's kid drives off another nanny, Matteo volunteers to step in, adding "manny" to his CV. After unexpectedly becoming her nephew's guardian, it's clear Porsha's defenses are high. But as Matteo gets to know the woman beneath, a startlingly intense connection emerges… Could this be his biggest adventure yet?
 
Emotional story of an unwillingly retired football (soccer) player, a frazzled executive, and the seven-year-old boy who brings them together.
 
The story opens with Matteo attempting to relax in his backyard. The loss of his soccer career has left him looking for something to fill the hole in his life. He is bored until a frilly item of lingerie sails over the fence and lands on his head. When he heads next door to return said item, he is nearly bowled over by a woman in a hurry to leave, followed by one begging her to stay.
 
Porsha became guardian to her nephew, Fin, two years ago when her sister was killed in a tragic accident. She does her best to give him a good life while keeping her job, but Fin is hard on his nannies. This was the fifteenth nanny in as many months.
 
I loved this first meeting between Matteo and Porsha. The flying bra, the water balloon, and Fin's starstruck recognition of Matteo made me laugh out loud. Fin and Matteo's immediate connection gave him a chance to relieve his boredom. I loved his shock when he heard himself offer to watch Fin while Porsha works, becoming, in essence, a "manny." The scenes with Fin and Matteo were terrific as they bonded over their love of football.
 
Matteo had a difficult childhood and refused to open up to the potential hurt of loving someone. He is attracted to Porsha but tries to resist. Porsha's childhood was spent with a family that flew by the seat of their pants, taking risks and living day by day. As a result, she thinks everything through, often focusing on the negatives, resulting in very little fun in her life. Matteo is determined to help her learn to let go. He invites her and Fin to his island home near Capri. I loved watching Porsha learn to have fun, with Matteo and Fin encouraging her. There were some intensely emotional scenes as Porsha worked through the fears that have kept her prisoner, and I loved seeing the changes in her.
 
Spending that much time together gave the sparks between them a chance to grow. I ached for Porsha, who knew she was falling for Matteo but also that he didn't believe in lasting love. It is also evident that Matteo is falling for her, but he refuses to accept it. Everyone around them can see how they belong together. But both have fears and insecurities to overcome, and the path to their HEA hits a few bumps. The ending was terrific, and I loved the epilogue. 

 

Murderous Intent - Rachel Lee (HI #2211 - May 2024)

Series:  ConardCounty (Book 74)
 
As a storm rages,
can he unmask the murderer in their midst?
 
When a killer strikes twice in the same day, former soldier turned stockade owner Josh Healey steps in to protect the locals who've taken refuge across the creek. But it's writer Krystal Metcalfe who penetrates his hardened exterior. Then, just as the investigation is truly getting underway, a savage rainstorm cuts them off from the outside world. Now Josh and Krystal must trust each other with their secrets to stop a chilling vendetta...and survive.
 
Good book that kept me interested from start to finish. It is fast-paced, as the story takes place over a few days. Krystal and her mother own a writer's retreat in the Cash Creek area of Conard County. Krystal loves the peace and quiet of the forest retreat and is disturbed when the long-absent property owner across the creek moves in and starts building a fort. Her initial encounters with him don't go well.
 
Josh is a veteran turned psychologist who builds a retreat for fellow veterans who have PTSD. He is very protective of his soldiers and worries about the attitudes of outsiders toward them. They pretty much keep to themselves.
 
As the story starts, a group of writers is at the retreat. Some are introverted and keep to themselves as they do their writing. Others are friendlier and like to socialize. Then there is one who is highly extroverted and constantly makes himself the center of attention. Krystal doesn't like him, but he brings business to the retreat. Mason is bloviating one day when Josh bursts into the lodge, fuming mad. Someone cruelly injured a dog and left it outside the stockade. He all but accuses one of them of being the culprit.
 
Tension increased as people on both sides of the creek worried about what might happen next. There is a worrisome visit with the dog's owner and an interview with the sheriff, who came to investigate the shooting. The injured dog, Reject, adopted Krystal and went home with her. The day went on with a storm building, and Reject showed up at the stockade. When Josh returns him to Krystal, he senses trouble. Things get freaky when Reject intermittently howls and stares out the window. Josh trusts that the dog senses something and decides to stick around.
 
Things go from bad to worse when Mason and another writer are found dead. Is the killer out there somewhere, waiting to kill again? Or is it one of them, huddled in the lodge, wondering what is happening? Josh's protective instincts are aroused, and he recruits some of his soldiers to help protect the writers. The suspense is intense as Josh and Krystal attempt to keep everyone safe and figure out who is behind the murders. In an unusual step, the author reveals the killer to the reader early. I wasn't surprised by the identity, but the accomplice was a surprise. The final confrontation was a nail-biter, with a resolution that wasn't what I expected.
 
The relationship between Josh and Krystal happened quickly. It was a rough start, with Krystal being suspicious and Josh being uncommunicative. But under the antagonism were sparks of attraction that neither could ignore. When the trouble started, Josh couldn't fight his protectiveness. Krystal was smart enough to accept his help. Spending that much time together allowed them to get to know each other a little. It takes Krystal a while to understand Josh's prickliness about his vets, but I liked that she tried. I loved that they acknowledged their feelings but knew they needed to get to know each other better.
 
I liked seeing some Conard County regulars like Gage Dalton and Connie Parrish. 

 

Her Fake Boyfriend - Heatherly Bell (HSE #3055 - Aug 2024)

Series:  Charming, Texas (Book 7)
 
Her Prince Charming…
In a make-believe fairy tale?
 
Talented divorce attorney and town newcomer Michelle LaCroix needs roots in Charming to make partner, according to her old-fashioned boss. And that means a boyfriend! Problem is, she's got to produce her beau in the flesh. Enter the town's most eligible bachelor, former professional athlete Finn Sheridan, who's only too happy to play pretend with his best friend's ex -- for a price. To his surprise, the more he's thrown together with Michelle, the more he's intrigued by a woman who's far more than her ice-queen exterior. But with Finn's trust still shattered by a brutal divorce, the make-believe match is just a fun diversion…until it becomes all too real!
 
Good book. Michelle came to Charming to reconcile with an old boyfriend. When that didn't work out, and she lost her job in Austin, she decided to stay in Charming and join a local law firm. Michelle is ambitious and wants to make partner, but her old-fashioned boss thinks she needs to be in a committed relationship first. So she has been talking up the boyfriend that exists only in her mind but avoiding the necessity to produce a real one. That ends one evening when she encounters her boss, and he insists on meeting him. Desperate, she latches onto Finn and begs him to play the part.
 
Finn is happy to go along with the ruse. He's been attracted to Michelle since he met her, but she's his best friend's ex and, therefore, off limits. In addition, thanks to a recent contentious divorce, Michelle being a divorce lawyer gives him pause.
 
I enjoyed watching their relationship develop. They had to spend time together to sell the illusion of their relationship, and as they did, they discovered that there was something real growing between them. I enjoyed their scenes together, especially when Finn attempted to break Michelle of her workaholic habits. I liked their teasing and seeing the changes in Michelle as her relationship with Finn grew. Things look good for them until the truth emerges, and Michelle's job is at stake. I liked the ending and the twist that helped everything work out. 

 
 
 

The Reunion - Jana DeLeon (HI #1452 - Oct 2013)

Series:  MystereParish: Family Inheritance (Book 3)
 
Bodyguard to an heiress is Tyler Duhan's idea of hell. The steely, sexy ex-marine has heard -- and dismissed -- the gossip about the haunted old LeBeau mansion and its "cursed" heiresses. Now the middle sibling -- headstrong Joelle -- has arrived to comply with her mother's will and reunite with her long-lost sisters.
 
But no sooner does she move into the house, than Joelle falls prey to terrifying threats and mysterious visions. Tyler, though he's sworn off femme fatales, can't deny his feelings for the Creole beauty. Nor can he let passion distract him. Because falling for Joelle could be a fatal mistake -- for them both.
 
Well-done conclusion to the series. Though it can be read as a stand-alone, reading the previous books gives a more detailed history of the events leading up to this one.
 
Joelle is the middle sister and the final one to return to Calais to claim her inheritance. She is a social worker who helps women escape their abusive husbands. When she learns of her inheritance and its conditions, Joelle takes it as an opportunity to escape the threats of a husband desperate to find his wife. She's excited to reunite with her sisters but nervous about staying in the house. Scenes from her childhood haunt her, and she doesn't know if they are real or the imaginings of a frightened child.
 
Tyler is the son of estate lawyer William Duhan. He recently left the Marine Corps and is in the process of starting his own security company. While waiting for the paperwork to process, Tyler's father talks him into providing bodyguard services to Joelle. He's not happy about it, but he'll do it for his dad.
 
Trouble starts as soon as Joelle moves in. Threats, mysterious intruders, and terrifying visions arouse Tyler's protective instincts. His determination to protect himself can't withstand Joelle's effect on his heart. Joelle wasn't looking for a relationship, but she couldn't deny the feelings Tyler roused in her.
 
The suspense of the story was excellent. The depths of their stepfather's evil actions were slowly revealed, leaving the three women wondering about their mother's death. A shocking discovery at the beginning of this book leads to more questions than answers. There are also attacks on Joelle and intruders who are clearly searching for something. As the incidents intensified, I was glued to the pages, anxious to get to the truth. The twists and turns of the final chapters kept me guessing, but I never expected the surprise at the end. 

 
 

The Betrayed - Jana DeLeon (HI #1447 - Sept 2013)

Series: Mystere Parish: Family Inheritance (Book 2)
 
One day on the job and contractor Zach Sargent is ready to believe the dilapidated old LeBeau mansion is haunted. Some intruder -- earthly or not -- is threatening the youngest LeBeau sister, back to claim her inheritance. And though Danae keeps her distance from the sexy hired hand, he falls for her in a heartbeat.
 
Like Danae, Zach has come back to Calais in need of answers to troubling questions about the LeBeau family past. But Danae must never know who he really is and he can't let his attraction to her stop his search…or else a decades-old evil will claim a new victim.
 
Good continuation of the series. In this book, it is the youngest daughter's turn to claim her inheritance by staying on the mansion's property for two weeks. Everyone hopes that the problems in book one (The Accused) have been resolved and that it will be uneventful. Alas, that is not the case. This book is full of secrets - some will be exposed, and others will not.
 
Danae got the short end of the stick when her stepfather gave her to a relative to raise. The woman was a drunk and an addict, and Danae's childhood was miserable. When her foster mother died, Danae was only fifteen and spent the next several years on the streets. That experience made it difficult for her to trust anyone. She came to Calais to learn more about her family but did so under an assumed name. After she received an anonymous note saying someone knew who she was, Danae revealed her identity to Alaina and the lawyer and began her claim. But strange happenings make it clear that someone doesn't want their secrets exposed.
 
Zach was hired to do some renovations on the mansion. No one knows that he has personal reasons for being there. A deathbed semi-confession by Zach's father has him searching for the connection between the two families.
 
I enjoyed seeing the relationship develop between Danae and Zach. Danae is wary and slow to trust most people, but something about Zach says she can trust him. While she cherishes her independence, she also appreciates his help. Zach is attracted to Danae but tries to resist because of his secret. But he can't deny his need to protect her when she is in danger. I liked watching them grow closer as they worked together to find answers. Ultimately, the secrets were less important than their feelings for each other.
 
The suspense was excellent. I was almost as invested in Danae's search as she was, curious to discover the truth about the mysterious payments. The deeper into the search she got, the more it became apparent that someone was determined to stop her. I was on the edge of my seat during the final confrontation, which had a twist that shocked everyone. The epilogue was a good wrap-up to this book and lead-in to the next with a surprise request. 

Saved by the Lyon - Laura Landon (Dragonblade - July 2024)

Series: Lyon's Den (Book 60)
 
Only time will tell if spending her massive wealth to purchase Phillip Eversley, the Duke of Markham is the best or worst purchase Violet has ever made.
 
A wounded Major Phillip Eversley returns from the war to discover his father and brother are both dead and he is now the Earl of Markham. He also discovers that before their deaths, they went so deeply into debt that even if Phillip sells every unentailed property he now owns, he can never save the one property he loves most - his grandmother's home, Parkland Estate.
 
Because of the massive wealth her father left her, Lady Violet Slushman becomes one of the wealthiest women in London. The former wallflower is now besieged with suitors desperate to marry her – but only for her money. She is left with no choice but to go to Mrs. Bessie Dove-Lyon, the black widow of Whitehall, renowned owner of the Lyon's Club. Mrs. Dove-Lyon is known throughout London as the one and only person who can find a way to erase any scandal and make a match for anyone seeking one. And Violet is desperate to find a husband to protect her from the money-hungry letches. She only has two requirements, that the man Bessie Dove-Lyon chooses for her puts her wealth to good use, and he is not so handsome that he makes her plainness more obvious.
 
Instead, Violet is forced to use her wealth to buy the most handsome man in all of England.
 
Enjoyable story. Violet has spent years listening to her mother compare her to her sister and find her wanting. A family scandal caused her parents and sister to depart England for America, leaving Violet behind. When their ship went down, it left Violet a very wealthy woman and the target of every fortune hunter in London. Violet took matters into her own hands and asked Mrs. Dove-Lyon to help her find a suitable husband.
 
Phillip returned to London from the war after the deaths of his father and brother. He is now the Earl of Markham and finds that they left the estate in so much debt there is no way for him to recover. His only option is to marry a wealthy woman. That is something he is reluctant to do until Mrs. Dove-Lyon summons him.
 
I liked Violet and Phillip. Both are kind and honorable and were outcasts in their own families. Violet is intelligent and was trained in financial management by her father, leaving her in an excellent position to manage her inherited wealth. Phillip feels guilty about his need to marry money until he talks to Violet and learns about her issues. Though neither is in love when they marry, they form a quick friendship and make excellent partners in managing his estates.
 
I loved watching their relationship develop as they got to know each other. It was a slow but sweet buildup filled with kindness, humor, and understanding. There was a scene with someone from Phillip's past that had a surprise ending and a twist at the end that surprised me. The epilogue was terrific.