Book Review: Can't Stop Loving You by Miranda Liaison

Can’t Stop Loving You by Miranda Liasson

Publisher & Release: Montlake Romance, December 6, 2016

Time and setting:  Present Day, Mirror Lake

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Book Length: 286 pages

Heat Level: 2 Flames

Rating: 4 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

When it comes to her heart, Arabella D’Angelo has moved on—even though she still lives in Mirror Lake, Connecticut, a little tourist town with a long memory for mistakes. Ever the dutiful daughter of a cantankerous widower who holds grudges, Bella has spent the past twelve years raising her younger brother and making a name for herself as a successful psychologist. Now, when she isn’t counseling a lonely-hearts club for senior women, she’s humoring her matchmaking girlfriends. Bella resists the romancing of their blind dates, yet her friends hope she’ll fall for a local and scrap plans for a fresh start in Chicago.

Then, just before Bella’s thirtieth birthday, her first love, Roman Spikonos, returns to Mirror Lake. When he moves next door to her family’s garden-center business to run his grandparents’ orchard, it stirs up gossip—and a tempest of passions—just in time for pumpkin harvest. As Roman and Bella once again get caught up in a swirl of desire and heartache, not to mention her overprotective father’s fury, Mirror Lake will soon find out whether the Italian hometown beauty and her unforgettable Greek god can stand a second chance.

Buy Link:

https://smile.amazon.com/Cant-Stop-Loving-Miranda-Liasson-ebook/dp/B01H3RO2R4

Add to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31583773-can-t-stop-loving-you

Vikki’s Musings

I have read several books in Miranda Liasson’s Mirror Lake series, so when I received an invitation from the publisher via Net-Galley to read and review this book, I eagerly accepted an ARC. My review is honest and not biased in anyway. Can’t Stop Loving You is another great addition to this series.

Bella and Roman met and fell in love as teenagers. When she ends up pregnant, they make plans to marry, but those plans go astray when she loses the baby. They break up and Roman moves away.

Just before Bella’s thirtieth birthday, Roman returns and the attraction is as strong as it was their senior year, but neither want to experience the heartache again. They try to stay away, but their desire for each other will not be denied.

Can these two high school sweethearts move past the hurts of the past and rekindle the love they used to have for one another?

Can’t Stop Loving You has a nice steady pace. The romance between Bella and Roman is very believable, so the feelings they experience are realistic. I truly wanted them to find their happy ending.

Bella is an interesting, and at times, complex character. While she fights for independence, she has never fully shaken off her father’s domination. She wants to hide her new relationship with Roman from him rather than face her cantankerous parent. That was the only thing I did not care for in her character.

Roman is a fantastic hero. He an all-around-good guy. Oh, and wow, is he good looking. I think that the reason why I found him such an awesome character was because he is much more than his appearance. He’s even better on the inside. He is a loyal brother, and he truly loves Bella. My heart ached for him when he discovers the truth of why Bella broke up with him after she lost the baby.

If you’re looking for a great contemporary with good substance and flawed characters who overcome their insecurities, then you will love Can’t Stop Loving You as much as I did. Happy reading!

Book Review: This Loving Feeling by Miranda Liaison

This Loving Feeling by Miranda Liasson

Publisher & Release: Montlake Romance, July 19, 2016

Time and setting: Present Day, Mirror Lake

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Length:  290 Pages

Heat Level: 1.5 Flames

Rating: 4 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

Samantha Rushford’s future looks bright: the high school art teacher is getting ready to leave Mirror Lake and move to Boston with her ambitious boyfriend, and she hopes a diamond ring is just around the corner. But her past still has a hold on her—especially the bittersweet memory of her rebellious ex, who kissed her passionately before he left town without a word.

Since then, Lukas Spikonos has parlayed his rebel ways into life as an up-and-coming recording artist. When he shows up for a surprise gig at the high school prom, Sam is more dumbstruck than starstruck—he used the words of a poem she wrote about their breakup to create a number one hit. But Lukas hasn’t returned just to impress students; he’s facing some real-life responsibilities and needs Sam’s help. But she has her own unresolved issues about the life she wants to lead. Will the music—and the pull of true love and family—put their hearts back in harmony?

Buy Link:

https://smile.amazon.com/This-Loving-Feeling-Mirror-Novel-ebook/dp/B01B6E6OK8

Add to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29435600-this-loving-feeling

Vikki’s Musings

I received an email from Montlake with an offer to read This Loving Feeling via Net-Galley in exchange for an honest review. I had read This Thing Called Love, Book 1 of the Mirror Lake series and enjoyed it a great deal, so I eagerly accepted it. I always enjoy stories with children in them and this book has an adorable four-year-old whose life has been a hot mess until Stevie started living with his uncle, Lukas. I’m glad I requested this book and thoroughly enjoyed it.

While there are no earth-shattering moments in This Loving Feeling, I enjoyed the romance between Lukas and Samantha. The chemistry between them is strong, and I enjoyed the tastefully-written love scenes a great deal. I always enjoy second chance romances and this one is excellent. It also has a bit of a love triangle in it as well.

The pacing is excellent, and I became engaged in the story from the first page and remained that way until the end, rooting for them to find a solution that would bring them their happily ever after. Ms. Lisson’s writing style is smooth, blending the right amount of narrative with realistic dialogue.

Samantha is an interesting character. She wants desperately to do the right thing by marrying the man she thinks will be accepted by her family and the townspeople. Because she had a troubled senior year and made what she saw as bad choices, she’s afraid to take a chance on true love, preferring to settle for safe and steady, but a man that does not rock her world. I did become a bit frustrated with her because it was so obvious Harris was not the man for her.

Lukas is a great hero. I liked him from the start. His determination to take care of his nephew stole my heart. Lukas has a lot of baggage from his troubled childhood, so it’s no wonder he is hesitant to share the depth of his feelings with Sam, especially when she clings to her old vision of what her life should be. What he is willing to do for her at the end blew me away. I know I’m being vague here, but you will have to read this book and then you will understand!

If you enjoy a character driven romance with intriguing characters and a sweet little boy that is sure to steal your heart, then you will like This Loving Feeling as much as I did. I was really rooting for Lukas and Sam to find their happy ending. Happy reading!

This Thing Called Love by Miranda Liasson

Publisher & Release Date: Montlake Romance, May 1, 2015

Time and setting: Present day, Mirror Lake  

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Length: 210 pages

Heat Level: 1 Scorching Hot Flame

Rating: 4 Gold Crowns

New York City self-help editor Olivia Marks faces her toughest assignment yet: parenthood. When her sister dies in a car accident, the career-oriented Olivia suddenly becomes the guardian to her four-week-old niece, Annabelle. She also becomes a challenge for Annabelle’s uncle, Brad Rushford, an old flame whose gorgeous green eyes bring Olivia’s fevered memories rushing back.

As the two circle each other in their small hometown of Mirror Lake, Olivia finds that Brad is as sexy and charming as ever—and now he’s the darling of the town as he expands his successful lakefront restaurant. Is his flirting designed to get serious, or to lower Olivia’s defenses to give up guardianship? When she finds out about the turreted, brick Victorian house Brad tours with a realtor and an attractive, no-strings-attached reporter—the same place where he and Olivia shared an unforgettable night years ago—Olivia wonders if he’s looking for a future with her, or planning to start a new life with someone else.

In the first heartwarming Mirror Lake story, steamy trysts and surprising twists lead two people to a future neither one expected.

Buy Link:

http://smile.amazon.com/This-Thing-Called-Mirror-Novel-ebook/dp/B00QBOD59W/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1431706809&sr=1-1&keywords=this+thing+called+love

Add to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24871146-this-thing-called-love?from_search=true&search_version=service

Vikki’s Musings

I received an email from Montlake with an offer to review This Thing Called Love for an honest review. I have never read anything by Miranda Liasson, but the book description sounded intriguing. I always enjoy stories with children in them and this book has an adorable new-born whose life is turned upside down. I’m glad I requested this book and thoroughly enjoyed it.

When Olivia Marks beloved sister and her husband are killed in a car crash, she finds out that they appointed her as guardian to their four week old new born, Annabelle, in their will. Olivia’s life is turned upside down as well as the infant’s. She has a demanding job as an editor of self-help books and easily puts in an eighty hour work week. How will she find the time to be the kind of parent her sister’s precious child needs?

Brad Rushford is uncle to little Annabelle, and he has grave concerns over Olivia being the guardian to his niece. Olivia went off the NYU and never looked back; leaving him with all the hurt emotions an eighteen year old boy can have when his high school sweetheart seems to loses interest. How will this career-driven woman have time to take care of Annabelle?

Brad sets out to prove to Olivia she cannot do right by his niece, undermining her confidence at every turn, all while fighting an attraction to her that has never died. Can this couple find a meeting ground that will give Annabelle the life she deserves, and possibly re-kindle their first foray into love?

While there are no earth-shattering moments in This Thing Called Love, I enjoyed the romance between Olivia and Brad. The chemistry between them is strong, and I enjoyed the tastefully-written love scenes a great deal. I found their story touching and both characters’ reaction to the horrific situation with Olivia’s sister and Brad’s brother very believable. They both want what is best for their sweet, little niece, which shows them to be honorable and caring individuals.

The pacing, while not brisk is steady, and for me, I became engaged in the story from the first page and remained that way until the end, rooting for them to find a solution that would bring them their happily ever after. Ms. Lisson’s writing style is smooth, blending the right amount of narrative with realistic dialogue.

I always enjoy second chance romances and This Thing Called Love is a great one. As I mentioned, I do enjoy stories with children. Most times, these tales have children old enough to talk and interact, creating the opportunity to build empathy for the hero and the heroine, but Annabelle is an infant. Ms. Liasson manages to have several tender moments between the hero and heroine, giving me the chance to see how they love this little baby and will make good, loving parents.

If you like a story with a lovely romance that shows true love and caring between the hero and heroine, then I am confident you will enjoy this book as much as I did. I suggest you give it a chance. Happy reading! 

Author Bio:

I won the Romance Writers of America's Golden Heart Award in 2013 for a story that has become This Thing Called Love, which debuts from Montlake Romance this spring. It's about life and love and the hard choices we all sometimes have to make. It's heartwarming but lighthearted, too.

I also write lighthearted contemporary romance for Entangled Indulgence that will debut in 2015.

I write romance because I love stories about the experience of being human, and love is the universal experience we all share. I also love stories that have happy endings and make me laugh. I hope my stories make you laugh a little, too.

I live in Northeast Ohio with my husband, three children and my office mates, Maggie, a yellow lab and Posey, a rescue cat with more attitude than my kids!

Social Media:

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