Book Review with Featured Author: Summer Nights with a Cowboy by Caitlin Crews

Summer Nights with a Cowboy 

by Catlin Crews

 

 

Publisher & Release: St. Martin’s Publishing, March 29, 2022

Setting: Texas 

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Length: 317 Pages

Heat Level: 1 Flame

Rating:  Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

USA Today bestselling author Caitlin Crews returns with Summer Nights with a Cowboy, another emotional romance in her stunning cowboy series Kittredge Ranch….

He doesn’t believe in love…

Traveling nurse Janie Atwood has come to Cold River to uncover old family secrets and maybe, if she’s lucky, find a new home. That the gorgeous, glowering sheriff next door thinks her caring for his elderly neighbor is a nefarious scheme is a bonus. Having never been anything but a good girl, Janie finds Zack Kittredge’s simmering suspicion an excellent reason to try being a little dangerous instead…

She doesn’t believe in squandering it…

Sheriff Zack Kittredge is okay with being… intense. He takes his loner status as seriously as he takes his responsibilities to protect Cold River. And he thinks cheerful Janie might be a threat to the town. But the more he gets to know her, the more he faces the truth—she’s brighter than sunshine and he’s like a moth to her flame. When Janie suggests he could use a few charm school lessons, he surprises them both by accepting. He doesn’t need help. But it’s clear he might need her…

 

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Summer-Nights-Cowboy-Kittredge-Ranch-ebook/dp/B09FHHBJBQ

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/summer-nights-with-a-cowboy-caitlin-crews/1139656998

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/summer-nights-with-a-cowboy

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Caitlin_Crews_Summer_Nights_with_a_Cowboy?id=6itBEAAAQBAJ

 

 

Add to Goodreads & BookBub:

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59964651-summer-nights-with-a-cowboy

BookBub:  https://www.bookbub.com/books/summer-nights-with-a-cowboy-by-caitlin-crews

 

Vikki’s Musings

 

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary digital copy of Summer Nights with a Cowboy by Caitlin Crews. I voluntarily agreed to read and review this book. My opinions are my own, and nothing has influenced my rating.

 

Summer Nights with s Cowboy is another great addition to the Kittredge Ranch series. The pacing pulled me in from the start and kept me entertained until the end. There are several wonderful secondary characters that added to my enjoyment.

 

Janie Atwood is the heroine, and I found much to admire about her. She’s in Cold River to solve a mystery involving her family, and I loved her determination to not give up. Her care of Damaris touched my heart. 

 

Zack Kittredge is the hero and he’s the last single Kittredge in the family. His relationship with his family is fraught with tension. It’s made him rigid when dealing with others as he does his job as sheriff of Cold River. I enjoyed his character a great deal and could feel his pain when he’s with his parents, especially his father.

 

The romance between Zack and Janie is sweet and grows from mutual respect they have in each other. This is a couple that are meant to be with each other, but their path is not easy. I was so pleased they managed to find their way to one another.

 

Ig you enjoy cowboy romances with a great cast of characters beyond the hero and heroine, then you will love Summer Nights with a Cowboy as much as I did. Out of the three books in this series, this is my favorite. Happy reading!

 

Author Bio:

 

USA Today-bestselling, RITA-nominated, and critically-acclaimed author Caitlin Crews has written more than 100 books, including Frenemies, Princess from the Past, A Royal Without Rules, and Undone by the Sultan's Touch. She's won fans with romances, Harlequin Presents, women's fiction, chick lit, and work-for-hire young adult novels, many of which she writes as Megan Crane (including the dystopian Viking romance Edge series). These days her focus is on contemporary romance in all its forms, from small town heat to international glamour, cowboys to bikers to military men and beyond. She's taught creative writing classes in places like UCLA Extension's prestigious Writers' Program, gives assorted workshops on occasion, and attempts to make use of the MA and PhD in English Literature she received from the University of York in York, England. She currently lives in the Pacific Northwest with a husband who draws comics and animation storyboards, and their menagerie of ridiculous animals.

 

Social Media:

Website: https://megancrane.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MeganCraneAndCaitlinCrews

Twitter: https://twitter.com/megancrane

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meganmcrane/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/meganandcaitlin/_saved/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/caitlin-crews

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3013309.Caitlin_Crews

 

 

Book Review with Featured Author: The Desert Flowers - Lily by Judith Keim

The Desert Flowers-Lily by Judith Keim

 

 

 

Publisher & Release: Wild Quail Publishing, October 14, 2021

Setting:  California

Genre: Women’s Fiction

Length: 291 Pages

Heat Level: 1 Flame

Rating: 4 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

Three talented women are brought together by a man they all love, becoming his Desert Flowers, who work together to save his hotel from being ruined by the company buying it…

When Lily Weaver is asked to help Alec Thurston, the one man she’s ever truly loved, and to come to Palm Desert, California, she doesn’t hesitate. He’s dying of cancer and needs her help in overseeing the sale of his hotel, The Desert Sage Inn, to another hotel group. For five wonderful years, she was his assistant at the hotel until he kindly told her their relationship was getting too serious, and he helped her find other work. With her organizational skills and attention to detail, she’s his perfect choice to oversee the details of the sale to help make a smooth transition while maintaining the reputation of the upscale property. Unappreciated in her job with a law firm in New York State, she’s eager to leave it and the cold weather to head for the desert. Her only regret is leaving her sister and three-year-old niece behind. Lily arrives at Alec’s house to find two other women summoned to help him. Rose Macklin was once the social director at Alec’s hotel, and Willow Sanchez is like a daughter to him. They join forces to help him, lovingly accepting his nickname for them—the Desert Flowers, similar to the well-known Charlie’s Angels. As Lily forms her friendship with the other women, she becomes intrigued with the man the hotel company has put in control of the transition. Brian Walden is a war veteran who has never married and is someone who Lily finds, to her delight, she can talk to about most anything when they meet up for early morning walks. Disaster strikes them both as they’re falling in love. Lily ends up having to raise her niece, and Brian is left with a son he never knew he had. It seems only natural that they turn to one another for help, and Lily wonders if this is as Alec might have planned all along. A series for those who love stories about strong women facing challenges and finding love and happiness along the way. Be sure to read the other upcoming books in the series: Lily, Willow, and Mistletoe and Holly Other series written by Judith Keim are receiving a lot of love: The Hartwell Women Series, The Beach House Hotel Series, The Fat Fridays series, the Salty Key Inn Series, the Chandler Hill Inn series, and the books in the Seashell Cottage Collection.

 

Buy Links:

 

Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Desert-Flowers-Lily-Sage-Book-ebook/dp/B08YB884SD

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-desert-flowers-lily-judith-keim/1138982456

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-desert-flowers-lily

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Judith_Keim_The_Desert_Flowers_Lily?id=BAEiEAAAQBAJ

 

 

Add to Goodreads & BookBub:

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57377659-the-desert-flowers---lily

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-desert-flowers-lily-the-desert-sage-inn-series-book-2-by-judith-keim

 

Vikki’s Musings

 

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary digital copy of Desert Flowers – Lily by Judith Keim. I voluntarily agreed to read and review this novel. My opinions are my own, and nothing has influenced my rating.

 

Desert Flowers – Lily is another well written women’s fiction book by Ms. Keim. The pacing pulled me in from the first page to the last. The author’s descriptions of the setting also helped to keep me engaged.

 

Lily Weaver is the female protagonist, and she is a strong character, which she shows throughout the story. Her love for her misguided sister is unconditional, and her protectiveness for her adorable niece is touching. When she meets the hero, I enjoyed her willingness to let it play out.

 

Brian Walton is the hero, and he has many of the qualities I want in a male lead. When he learns he has a son, he accepts the responsibility, although he’d never wanted to become a father. He’s a man I could admire.

 

The romance between Lily and Brian goes smoothly, both accept the other as they are, not trying to change them. While there are very few conflicts for them to overcome, I enjoyed their love story.

 

The central theme of this novel is the strong bound between Lily and her sister. No matter that her sister keeps making bad decisions, she never truly deserts her, even though she does attempt to use tough love. I could feel her heartbreak when Monica makes the final decision to meet her abusive ex which ultimately leaves her three-year-old motherless. Lily shows her strength when she readily accepts custody for her niece.

 

The willingness of Lily and Brian to work together as a team as they form a family for his son and her niece is heartwarming. Other readers may find the lack of true conflict less than what they enjoy, I liked the low angst between them and felt it showed the chance of an abiding love that would stand the test of time no matter what fate or life had for them.

 

If you enjoy women’s fiction with a strong romantic element with engaging characters, then you will love Desert Flowers – Lily as much as I did. Ms. Keim always delivers a novel that is sure to grab me from the start. Happy reading!

 

Author Bio:

I’ve loved stories and reading from the time I played “Librarian” with my sister as a young girl. Living in a relatively small town in upstate New York, reading became a way to experience the world in a way I couldn’t otherwise do.

Many a hot, summer afternoon was spent reading, sprawled on the front-porch “glider”, escaping to a time and place far from there. My mother was an avid reader, some might suspect to keep her sanity while raising three active children – especially when my brother was doing experiments with his chemistry set! 

Books were always present – being read, ready to go back to the library or about to be discovered. Information from the books was shared in general conversation, giving all of us a wealth of knowledge. Perhaps that is why I was drawn to the idea of writing stories early on.

I particularly love and write novels about women who meet unexpected challenges with strength and find love along the way. A child or dog in the story is a plus. 

As J.S. Keim, I’ve written middle-grade fantasy stories for kids. I especially like to write about kids landing in unexpected places, meeting characters real and fantastic, and learning to see the world in a different way. 

A hybrid author who both has a publisher and self-publishes, Ms. Keim writes heart-warming stories. Her books are based, in part, on many of the places she’s lived or visited and on the interesting people she’s met, creating believable characters and realistic settings her many, loyal readers love. 

Presently, I lived in Boise, Idaho with my husband and our two dachshunds, Winston and Wally.

 

Social Media:

Website: https://judithkeim.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Judith-Keim-184013771644484/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/judithkeim

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/judith-keim

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/judithkeim/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/judykeim/

 

 

Book Review with Featured Author: A Reckless Match by Kate Bateman

A Reckless Match by Kate Bateman

 

Publisher & Release: St. Martin’s Press, September 28, 2021

Setting:  Regency England

Genre: Historical Romance

Length: 336 Pages

Heat Level: 1 Flame

Rating: 4 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

The first in a new regency romance series about two feuding families and reunited childhood enemies whose hatred turns to love.

Maddie Montgomery's family is in debt, and her hope rests on the rival Davies clan missing their yearly “pledge of goodwill,” ceding the land that separates their estates. With Maddie's teenage nemesis, Gryffud “Gryff” Davies, Earl of Powys, away, hope is in reach.

But then, Gryff shows up and is stunned that the tomboy he once teased is now a woman. When Gryff and Maddie discover contraband on their land, they realize it can benefit both families. But they've also uncovered a dangerous plot, and they need to work together to get out alive. Soon, their hatred for each other starts to feel more like attraction.

Kate Bateman brings crackling banter, steamy romance, and a dash of adventure into the first book in the Ruthless Rivals series.

 

Buy Links:

 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Reckless-Match-Ruthless-Rivals-Book-ebook/dp/B08R2JJ2P4

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-reckless-match-kate-bateman/1138462046

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-reckless-match

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Kate_Bateman_A_Reckless_Match?id=sSYQEAAAQBAJ

Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/A-Reckless-Match-Audiobook/1705039758?qid=1632667294&sr=1-1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=DHCT5PC948B32FYWHHHT

 

Add to Goodreads & BookBub:

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56269023-a-reckless-match

BoobBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/a-reckless-match-by-kate-bateman

 

Vikki’s Musings

 

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary digital copy of A Reckless Match by Kate Bateman. I have voluntarily agreed to read and review this book prior to publication. My opinions are my own, and nothing has influenced my rating.

 

A Reckless Match is a well written Regency novel with endearing characters. The setting put me in the era of the Regency period. The pacing of this tale didn’t keep my attention though, until I was well into the story, which is unfortunate.

 

Maddie Montgomery is the heroine, and her determination to save her family appealed to me. While the last thing she wants to do is wed the disgusting old lecher, she will do it if she can’t find a way to get the funds to meet her father’s debts. I could feel her emotions going from hope that a Davies would not appear, and her despair when the Earl of Powyes shows up.

 

Gryff Davies is the hero, and he’s a bit dashing and debonaire. The evidence he doesn’t detest Maddie is obvious when she sees the scarf she’d lost as a young girl. The feud between the families is not strong enough to keep their attraction from surfacing whenever the pair are together.

 

The romance between Maddie and Gryff is delightful with sexual tension abounding between the pair. I enjoyed watching them fight the forbidden attraction. I wanted the couple to find a way to be together.

 

This is what didn’t work for me. As I mentioned previously, the pacing took me until I reached the middle of the story. If I hadn’t agreed to read the complimentary copy, I would have given up and not finished the book. However, I’m glad I did because the second half picked up dramatically and pulled into the characters and the plot.

 

If you enjoy historical romances set in the Regency period with engaging characters, I encourage you to hang in there, because as the story progresses, you’ll fall in love with the hero and heroine. I look forward to reading the next book in this series. Happy reading!

 

Author Bio:

 

Kate Bateman, (also writing as K. C. Bateman), is the #1 bestselling author of Regency, Victorian, and Renaissance historical romances. All her books feature her favorite feisty, intelligent heroines, (badasses in bodices!) wickedly inappropriate banter, and sexy, snarky heroes you want to both strangle and kiss...

Her Renaissance romp, The Devil To Pay, was a 2019 RITA® Finalist for Historical Romance. 

Kate wrote her first historical romance in response to a $1 bet with her husband who rashly claimed she'd 'never finish the thing.' She gleefully proved him wrong. When not traveling to exotic locations 'for research', she leads a not-so-secret double life as a fine art appraiser and on-screen antiques expert for several TV shows in the UK, each of which has up to 2.5 million viewers. She splits her time between Illinois and her native England, and writes despite three inexhaustible children /monsters and a number-loving husband who still owes her that dollar.

 

Social Media:

Website: https://www.kcbateman.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kcbatemanauthor/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/katebateman

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kc_bateman/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/kcbateman1/_saved/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kate-bateman-d2c2c72e-b329-4ed9-afa8-dbe5b9a2291c

Goodreads: https://smile.amazon.com/Kate-Bateman/e/B07XBTRNBT?ref_=dbs_p_ebk_r00_abau_000000

 

 

Book Review with Featured Author: The Dishonored Viscount by Sophie Barnes

The dishonored Viscount 

by Sophie Barnes

 

Publisher & Release: Independently Published, September 21, 2021

Setting:  Regency England

Genre: Historical Romance

Length: 246 Pages

Heat Level: 1 Flame

Rating: 5 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

He knows he doesn’t deserve her, yet he can’t get her out of his mind…

Stripped of his title because of a crime his father committed, Marcus Berkly has struggled to find a new place for himself in the world. Now, as London’s most skilled eye-surgeon, he dedicates his time to his patients while steering clear of Society. Until a chance encounter with a determined young woman upends his life.

When Lady Louise discovers that Mr. Berkly’s surgical method could save her from permanent blindness, she decides to enlist his help. Against her father’s direct orders, she takes charge of her fate, and falls desperately in love in the process. But can a proper lady and an ill-reputed scoundrel have a future together? Or are the odds against them simply too great?

 

Buy Links:

 

Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Dishonored-Viscount-Diamonds-Rough-ebook/dp/B08SGLVWRH

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-dishonored-viscount-sophie-barnes/1138584099

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-dishonored-viscount

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Sophie_Barnes_The_Dishonored_Viscount?id=ZegrEAAAQBAJ

 

Add to Goodreads & BookBub:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56612193-the-dishonored-viscount

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-dishonored-viscount-diamonds-in-the-rough-8-by-sophie-barnes

 

Vikki’s Musings

 

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary digital copy of The Dishonored Viscount by Sophie Barnes. I voluntarily agreed to read and review this novel prior to publication. My opinions are my own, and nothing has influenced my rating.

 

The Dishonored Viscount is a well written novel with compelling characters and an absorbing plot. The pacing pulled me in from the first page to the last. The unique aspects of this story kept me reading to find out how it would resolve.

 

Lady Louise is the heroine, and she captured my heart right away. She had such a heavy burden to bear that could have crippled her, but her bravery makes her strong as she faces the possibility of losing her sight forever. 

 

Her difficult relationship with her parents adds to her fears, but her courage and determination to circumvent her father’s control is amazing. As the attraction for the hero grows while she recovers from her surgery, they get to know each other, and  her growing affection for Marcus frightens her, but she is unable to fight it.

 

Marcus Berkly is the hero, and he’s such as amazing character. He has fought to find a place of respect, after living under his father’s scandal. At last, his skill as an eye surgeon has brought him acclaim, and he devotes his time to caring for his patients. I admired his determination, his humility, and his integrity. After the shadow he’s lived under, he’s amazingly resilient.

 

As he gets to know Lady Louise, he realizes his affections are growing into love, and believing he’s too far below her, he fights his attraction by trying to stay away from her. Ms. Barnes shows his frustration and heartache at never being enough, and his unwarranted believe he’s unworthy of Lady Louise is so sad, it brought tears to my eyes. 

 

The romance between Lady Louise and Marcus develops slowly as both characters fight their growing attraction. I could feel their despair, each believing their love unrequited. They are so perfect for each other, and I wanted them to find a way for their love to flourish against the odds stacked against them.

 

If you enjoy historical romance with more substance and depth than others in this genre, then you will love The Dishonored Viscount as much as I did. Ms. Barnes’ novel are always compelling love stories with characters that will touch one’s heart. I’m so glad I had an opportunity to read this intriguing novel. Happy reading!

 

Author Bio:

 

Born in Denmark, Sophie has spent her youth traveling with her parents to wonderful places all around the world. She’s lived in five different countries, on three different continents, and speaks Danish, English, French, Spanish and Romanian.

She has studied design in Paris and New York and has a bachelor’s degree from Parson’s School of design, but most impressive of all – she’s been married to the same man three times, in three different countries and in three different dresses.

While living in Africa, Sophie turned to her lifelong passion – writing.

When she’s not busy, dreaming up her next romance novel, Sophie enjoys spending time with her family, swimming, cooking, gardening, watching romantic comedies and, of course, reading. She currently lives on the East Coast.

 

Social Media:

Website: https://www.sophiebarnes.com/sb/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSophieBarnes

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarnesSophie

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sophiebarnesromancewriter/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/sophiebarnes/_saved/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/sophie-barnes

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5400052.Sophie_Barnes

 

Book Review with Featured Author: All Night Long with a Cowboy by Caitlin Crews

All Night Long with a Cowboy 

by Caitlin Crews

 

 

Publisher & Release: St. Martin’s Press, August 24, 2021

Setting:  Cold River, Colorado

Genre: Contemporary Western Romance

Length: 363 Pages

Heat Level: 1 Flame

Rating: 4 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

USA Today bestseller Caitlin Crews returns with All Night Long with a Cowboy," another emotional romance in her stunning cowboy series Kittredge Ranch.

If you play with fire…

One of the most notorious cowboys in Cold River, Jensen Kittredge always has willing women with sweet smiles vying for a place in his bed. So when the prissy high school librarian sidles up to him in the most disreputable bar in town with a scowl on her face, he has no idea what to make of it. Much less the attraction he feels toward the bespectacled creature who wants something from him… but not that. Yet.

Someone gets burned…

Harriett Barnett doesn’t care for dens of iniquity— or the insolent cowboy she certainly shouldn’t find attractive. But one of her students needs her help, and if she needs to corral the infamous Jensen to save him, she will. Trouble is, the town’s favorite Kittredge brother is a lot more than she bargained for. Harriett's happy little life is orderly and neat, just how she likes it—until Jensen blows it all apart with his particular brand of addictive passion. Can a modern-day schoolmarm really tame the wildest cowboy in town? Or is Harriet headed for a terrible fall?

 

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Night-Long-Cowboy-Kittredge-Ranch-ebook/dp/B08R2K6XV8

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/all-night-long-with-a-cowboy-caitlin-crews/1138461933

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/all-night-long-with-a-cowboy

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Caitlin_Crews_All_Night_Long_with_a_Cowboy?id=ESIQEAAAQBAJ

Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/All-Night-Long-with-a-Cowboy-Audiobook/162461759X?qid=1629804098&sr=1-1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=A66ZTFZ5NAFHY4D2ZEEZ

 

Add to Goodreads & BookBub:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56269080-all-night-long-with-a-cowboy?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=XXZHiJYQSw&rank=1

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/all-night-long-with-a-cowboy-by-caitlin-crews

 

Vikki’s Musings

 

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary digital copy of All Night Long with a Cowboy by Caitlin Crews. I voluntarily agree to read and review this unique novel prior to publication. My opinions are my own, and nothing has influenced my rating.

 

All Night Long with a Cowboy is an emotionally charged western romance set in small-town USA. The novel is well-written with endearing characters and a unique plot. The pacing pulled me in from the start and kept me engaged until the end.

 

Harriett Barnett is the heroine, and I thoroughly enjoyed her character. It’s what makes this book unique since she’s an introvert who is the local librarian in Cold River. She’s not the typical heroine as many romances have in this sub-genre. She’s not a hard riding cowgirl, so that’s what makes this tale unique.

 

She isn’t sure about becoming involved with the hero, but the attraction is too irresistible to ignore. I felt her confusion and anxiety on whether to believe this handsome cowboy could possibly be interested in her for anything other than a fling. She has never entered into a intimate relationship, let allow one that could only be temporary.

 

Jenson Kittridge is the hero, and he doesn’t do permanent. The guilt from his past has him convinced he doesn’t deserve the love of a good women. This is why he only has unemotional hook ups with women who know the score. 

 

When he meets the pint-sized heroine, he’s amazed by the strong emotions she stirs in him. I loved seeing the way he copes with the revelation his feelings are so much more than he’s ever enjoyed. Harriett has him agreeing to things he never has in the past. Against his better judgement, he finds himself mentoring a troubled teen. 

 

The romance between Harriett and Jenson surprises both characters. Harriett, because she’s never become friends with anyone like Jenson, and Jenson, because he doesn’t have female friends, especially one who has his emotions churning in ways that has him wanting to run to his cabin, fearing what is possible if he stays. All though this pair are so different, they are perfect for each other, and I wanted them to find their happy ending.

 

If you enjoy contemporary western romance with characters, you’ll want to hug them and tell them “It’s okay,” then you will love All Night Long with a Cowboy as much as I did. This is the second book in Ms. Crews’ Kettridge Ranch series, a spin-off of her Cold River Ranch series. I read the previous novel as well and both are engaging reads, and I can’t wait to read the next one. Happy reading!

 

Author Bio:

 

USA Today-bestselling, RITA-nominated, and critically-acclaimed author Caitlin Crews has written more than 100 books, including Frenemies, Princess from the Past, A Royal Without Rules, and Undone by the Sultan's Touch. She's won fans with romances, Harlequin Presents, women's fiction, chick lit, and work-for-hire young adult novels, many of which she writes as Megan Crane (including the dystopian Viking romance Edge series). These days her focus is on contemporary romance in all its forms, from small town heat to international glamour, cowboys to bikers to military men and beyond. She's taught creative writing classes in places like UCLA Extension's prestigious Writers' Program, gives assorted workshops on occasion, and attempts to make use of the MA and PhD in English Literature she received from the University of York in York, England. She currently lives in the Pacific Northwest with a husband who draws comics and animation storyboards, and their menagerie of ridiculous animals.

 

Social Media:

Website: https://megancrane.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MeganCraneAndCaitlinCrews

Twitter: https://twitter.com/megancrane

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meganmcrane/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/meganandcaitlin/_saved/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/caitlin-crews

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Book Review with Featured Author: Along Came a Lady by Christi Caldwell

Along Came a Lady by Christi Caldwell

 

Publisher & Release: Berkley, August 24, 2021

Setting:  Regency England

Genre: Historical Romance

Length: 316 Pages

Heat Level: 1 Flame

Rating: 4.5 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

The brooding, illegitimate son of a duke meets his match in the determined woman hired to transform him into a gentleman from USA Today bestselling author Christi Caldwell—perfect for fans of Bridgerton.

Rafe Audley lives to thwart his father, the Duke of Bentley. The ne’er do well who abandoned his children claims he wants to make up for his failures, but Rafe only cares about protecting the people of his mining community and providing for his three siblings, who've been his sole responsibility since childhood. So far, Rafe has turned away the duke's man of affairs, solicitor, and other interlopers, until the clever duke sends the unlikeliest of people to convince Rafe to join English High Society—a bold and intriguing woman.

Edwina Dalrymple has never failed a charge. She's quite adept at successfully transforming young women of the gentry and daughters of newly minted lords to take their place in society. Taming a bastard son of a duke will be child's play, plus this job promises to enhance her reputation within the ton. All she has to do is fetch the wayward Rafe and groom him to be presentable to Polite Society. 

As the tenacious teacher and her domineering, stubborn, refuses-to-be-taught pupil engage in a fiery battle of wills, their chemistry ignites and the true lesson becomes clear: opposites attract and hearts must be heard.

 

Buy Links:

 

Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Along-Came-Lady-Dukes-Sins-ebook/dp/B08TTWF6VB

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/along-came-a-lady-christi-caldwell/1138668537

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Add to Goodreads & BookBub:

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56982982-along-came-a-lady

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/along-came-a-lady-by-christi-caldwell

 

Vikki’s Musings

 

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary digital copy of Along Came a Lady by Christi Caldwell. I voluntarily agreed to read and review this emotional novel prior to publication. My opinions are my own, and nothing has influenced my rating.

 

Along Came a Lady is another well-written Regency romance with delightful characters and a heartfelt plot. The pacing pulled me in from the first page and held my attention to the last, and there’s no slow-down in the middle!

 

Edwina Dalrymple is the lovely heroine. She’d had to find a path professionally that will give her access to the ton as a woman who can train young debutantes to face the rigors of high society. Because of her illegitimacy, she carries a lot of shame and doesn’t believe she can fit in anywhere. I could feel her emotions and sympathized with her. I loved her grit and her never take no for an answer!

 

Rafe Audley is the hero, and his loyalty to his family won me over right away. He’s had to carve out a place of importance as a foreman in the coal mine. When his powerful father finds a way to circumvent his determination to never give in to the man who sired him and abandoned him and his sibling, my heart went out to him.

 

The romance between Edwina and Rafe is sweet and grows into what I believe is an abiding love. Another aspect of this romantic tale is the sexual tension between the pair. I love this in Regency romance. I truly wanted them to find their way to each other. This is difficult since both suffer from feelings of abandonment and find it nearly impossible to trust anyone. At least Rafe has his siblings who support and love him. Edwina has no one.

 

If you enjoy Regency romance with endearing characters and an emotionally charged plot, then you will love Along Came a Lady. Ms. Caldwell is an amazing author. I have yet to read one of her books that didn’t pull on my heartstrings. Happy reading!

 

Author Bio:

 

USA TODAY Bestselling, RITA-nominated author CHRISTI CALDWELL blames Julie Garwood and Judith McNaught for luring her into the world of historical romance. While sitting in her graduate school apartment at the University of Connecticut, Christi decided to set aside her notes and pick up her laptop to try her hand at romance. She believes the most perfect heroes and heroines have imperfections, and she rather enjoys torturing them before crafting them a well-deserved happily ever after! 

Christi makes her home in southern Connecticut where she spends her time writing her own enchanting historical romances and caring for her three spirited children! 

If you'd like the latest information about Christi's releases, future books, and free bonus material, be sure and subscribe to her newsletter! 

 

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