Deal With the Texas Soldier

 Deal With the Texas Soldier

The Men of Service Texas #2

Julie Benson

Reviewed by Helen

Book two in this series and this time we meet former soldier Tanner Jordon who has been offered the opportunity to share the ownership of family owned and run bar and restaurant in Service, Texas from a close friend, Boone but will Reece Cartwright granddaughter of Boone be happy with her grandfather’s wishes?

Tanner packs up his things and moves to Service, Texas not only is Boone there but his friend Owen as well this could be what he needs to put the past behind him and cope with the flashbacks and PTSD if of course that is if Reece accepts him as a partner. He has some ideas to bring into the business.

Reece is not very happy with her grandfather and his ideas about retiring and selling half the business to someone she does not know, she is convinced that her will take over the business but this man is just so good looking and there seems to be a spark that is not wanted by Reece. When things go haywire they decide on a challenge and winner take all.

This is a very good romance, I did get very frustrated at times with Reece and Tanner the power play between them was really strong at times but in saying that they are both caring and wonderful people who deserve a beautiful HEA, and will they get it? One for lovers of romance.

My thanks to Tule Publishing for my digital copy to read and review.

4 stars

August 5, 2025 by Tule Publishing

Second Chance with His City Nurse

 Second Chance with His City Nurse

Susan Carlisle

Reviewed by Helen

I am a big fan of Susan Carlisle and love her stories they are beautifully told romances with wonderful characters and settings and this one is no exception, come along and meet Lily and Cade, will they get a second chance at the love they shared five years ago?

Lily is an ER nurse at a big Chicago hospital, she loves her job and has just applied for a supervisor position and decides that she would love to do emergency medical certificate to add to her profile, this is a last minute decision and she finds herself in Yosemite National Park. The last person she expects to see there is her ex-fiancé, Cade the man who practically left her at the alter and broke her heart.

Cade left Chicago five years to get way from family and the pressure he felt, the last thing he wanted to do was hurt the woman he loved, but he never though that Lily would move away from the city and the privileged life she led, but here at Yosemite he was stunned to see her arrive for the training in emergency medical situations.

It is soon apparent that the spark that had been there years ago is still there and when on a hiking trip things go wrong and Lily and Cade are put in a dangerous situation searching for a lost boy in the canyons, the closeness brings them together, will they both open up and set things straight between them, will they find the love that had never left them?

This is a beautiful romance, filled with emotion I loved Lily and Cade and I do highly recommend this one to any lover of a good romance with a little added adventure. I loved it.

My thanks to the author for my digital copy to read and review.

4 stars

July 29, 2025 by Harlequin Medical Romance

Jack & Eva

 Jack & Eva

Frances Dall'Alba

Reviewed by Helen

When Jack Waller goes back to the home he left when he was seventeen he knew it wouldn’t be easy and fulfilling his mother’s wish would be even harder, he has made a good life for himself in these past years and has taken one year off to sort out what to do with the Queenslander that his grandfather built in the Atherton Tablelands in North Queensland. He never thought about meeting someone who would open up his heart.

Eva Stamford moved back to the place she started her life, with the curse that hangs over her, Eva lives life to the fullest, she is a photographer, has her own magazine that she publishes and she volunteers and is always there to help people, her biggest love is of the Lumholtz Tree Kangaroo the little animal that means so much to her and she works tirelessly to make sure they do not become extinct, she has been spending a lot of time in the rainforest behind and old Queenslander knowing with her roos but how much longer will she be able to.

When Jack arrives and finds Eva on his property he is not happy at all, he is struggling with his past already, will this woman make it worse or will she be the person he can finally open up to? Eva knows she has to do all she can to ensure that Jack lets her and the roos stay, Jack soon learns what a whirlwind Eva is but he feels that she is holding something back as they get to know each other and the chemistry builds between them, Eva knows she must speak to Jack about a couple of things but she has lost her heart to him and wants to make sure that she has the best time before, the curse happens.

This is a moving and emotional romance set in a fabulous setting, two people who have been hurt in the past, will they find happiness together or will the past and secrets keep them apart? I do recommend this to any lover of a beautiful romance.

4 stars

February 1, 2023 by Poinsettia Publishing

The Heroes Bride

 The Heroes Bride

Unbreakable SEAL's #2

Charlee James

Reviewed by Helen

Another fabulous story in this series, I do love a good SEAL and Charlee James brings them to life on the pages Mason “Red” Williams is asked to help extract a former team mate’s fiancé’s best friend from a human trafficking ring he never realised that he would be rescuing someone who he met many years ago and has never forgotten, even though they were both young children back then.

Thalia Flores has not had a very god life for many years, she has worked for the Day family in Texas practically as a slave but she has made friends with Vivienne Day and when Thalia steps in to help Vivienne she is thrown in the boot of a car and driven back to Mexico things don’t look good but Thalia never gives up on doing her best to find a way to escape and when a rescuer arrives she cannot believe who it is.

Red and Sully whisk Thalia away to the border but to get her over she will need a sponsor and a fiancé and Red is more than happy to step up, Thalia craves freedom but she doesn’t want to be a burden on Red, but the longer they are together the chemistry and spark between them grows could this be their HEA, Red hasn’t had a good childhood either together can they move forward to find love and true happiness?

I did love this one it is moving and beautiful as two people find the love they deserve, I highly recommend this one and am looking forward to the next one in the series.

My thanks to Tule Publishing for my digital copy to read and review.

5 stars

July 31, 2025 by Tule Publishing

Settling the Score

 Settling the Score

The Karma Club #4

Clare Connelly

Reviewed by Helen

What an awesome finish to a fabulous series, I loved this one I have been looking forward to Sienna’s story since book one and Clare Connelly rocked it, I loved Sienna and Aiden. Come along and have some fun with the Karma Club.

Sienna comes from a small town and hasn’t had the best of times in her life but the worst was when the boy she loved left and didn’t want anything more to do with her, even when she needed him most and she has spent pretty much the last ten years thinking about getting him back and then is it fate or what but she finds herself snowed in at O’Hare Airport in Chicago where she meets three other woman who will become her best of buddies all of whom also have a story of heartbreak caused by the men in their lives, this is where the Karma Club is formed and just deserts are planned but Aiden’s just deserts don’t go to plan and now it is time for Sienna to step in, how will this work out?

On a gorgeous island in the Mediterranean Sienna will have her chance to get Aiden to want her all over again and then dump him but chemistry is still strong between them and things are heating up and they are talking but can Sienna every really forgive him for what he has done?

This story had me from page one and it was truly hard to put down, there are so many emotions running through the words, it is moving, sensual and so very witty as well, Sienna and Aiden are in my opinion so meant to be together, I loved both of them and was cheering them on throughout the story it really is a beautiful story. And you just can’t forget the other Ladies and their partners of the Karma Club being all together was so very good, a sigh worthy story one that I do highly recommend.

This series is brilliant all four books are magical stories of love and romance and the authors bought all of the characters to life on the pages and made them friends, thank you all, you left this reader very happy.

My thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for my copy to read and review.

5 stars

July 24, 2025 by Boldwood Books

The Greek's Wife Returns

 The Greek's Wife Returns

Dani Collins

Reviewed by Helen

This is such a great story, witty, sensual and filled with emotion, we have met heiress Carmel Davenport before and yes she was rather a spoilt young woman with problems, in this story we really get to know Carmel and I think she is one of the best heroines, come along and meet her and the man that has her heart Damien Kalymnios.

Carmel has made a lot of headway in her life and wants to put the past behind her and move onto the future but she has one more thing that needs to be done and that is finally get the divorce from her husband Damian, the husband that she married five years ago and the one that lasted such a short time, he has refused before so now she is arriving in his office to get him to sign the paperwork, hoping that he will sign.

Damian is not happy when his wife arrives in his office and he is still not going to give her what she wants but maybe if she agrees to spend some time with him and his ailing grandmother on his island he will sign, but the more time they spend together the more she gets into his heart should he sign the papers or is there a chance that they can really find love and happiness together?

I loved this one from start to finish, getting to know Carmel and Damian and understand their pasts and see how they meld together so well was so good, Carmel is a beautiful person inside and outside, caring loving and so very witty and Damian is learning to love with Carmel by his side, this is one that I highly recommend to any lover of a good romance.

My thanks to the author for my digital copy to read and review.

5 stars

July 16, 2025 by Mills & Boon Modern

Cupid Country Crush

 Cupid Country Crush

Cupid Country #3

Cathryn Hein

Reviewed by Helen

Book three in this fabulously fun series we have met Eden and Humphrey in the first two books and know that Eden has had a crush on him since she was sixteen will she finally get him to see what is in his heart after all of this time?

Grumpy Humphrey Taylor-Martin has known Eden for a long time and they are both horse mad and love their meets show jumping and yes she is bright, bubbly and beautiful but he is way too old for her in his opinion but as the horse show season comes around the more time they spend together and with Eden’s plan to find someone to love Humphrey’s heart is harder to control.

Eden has decided that she wants love and if Humphrey is too stubborn to see that age has no bearing on the love she has for him then it is time for her to join the Cupid Country dating app and see if she can find someone, a date every week over the few months during the show jumping season surely she will find someone.

Humphrey should be happy but he is not he worries about Eden and with pressure from friends and family, maybe he is starting to see that age should not be a problem when love is there, but is it too late to convince Eden?

I loved this fun, witty and fabulous romance, Cathryn Hein knows how to pull her characters together in such a fun and moving way, I cheered them on as they journey to a hard fought HEA and the ending is just beautiful, thank you MS Hein for another fabulous story.

5 stars

June 25, 2025

Cold Stock

 Cold Stock

The Stock Squad #2

Mel A Rowe

Reviewed by Helen

I do love my visits to The Northern Territory and nobody else takes me there on such awesome trips with awesome characters and adventures that open up a whole new world for me than Mel A Rowe, book two in this series and will we see the crocodile wrangler meet his match?

Video photographer Romy Radford jumps at the opportunity to film salt water crocodiles in the Northern Territory where she meets helicopter pilot and crocodile wrangler Stone, he is also very easy on the eyes, Romy and her director are filming a dangerous operation being performed by Stone when things change quickly and Romy decides that working for this director is not worth it and finds herself unemployed but Stone steps up and is encouraging her to do her own documentary not something that she feels she can do.

Stone lives the life he loves in the top end, he has he pets who are special to him, his home and now he is part of the stock squad investigating stolen stock, he also will sometimes take tourists out and show then around which is how he meets Romy she is so good at her job but he wonders why she works for other people instead of doing her own work and he is determined to work that out when he offers her a place to stay looking after “the boys” at his home.

When a call comes in from the stock squad Stone moves fast and Romy is by his side as they investigate the theft of crocodile eggs and hatchlings from one of the crocodile farms, who are good friends of Stone’s, Romy is soon filming vital action and evidence but as they investigate more it seems it might be linked to their past case could they finally get answers?

This one is action packed and sensual as Stone and Romy move closer together Stone never thought that this would be for him but Romy is easy to be with in more ways that one and as for Romy, Stone builds her confidence as they get to know each other, Stone’s “boys” are the best I love Finlay and I loved this story so much catching up with the other members of the stock squad was so good, danger and action abound in this story and it is one that I highly recommend, thank you so much Mel A Rowe for another not putdownable story bring on book three. Learning so much about crocodiles was fabulous.

My thanks to the author and Booksprout for my review copy.

5 stars

July 23, 2025 by R&R Ramblings House

Swept Away by the Cowboy

 Swept Away by the Cowboy

Grit and Grace #4

Leah Vale

Reviewed by Helen

I am loving this series five strong young woman take on a ranch and start a new rough stock company suppling bulls and broncs for rodeos, three of them have found their HEA and now it is Laura’s turn, Laura is the CFO she is an accountant and is ensuring that the ranch holds up before the rodeos start, but there has been a few incidents and now investors are pulling their support and Laura is determined to make sure all goes to plan for them all, she had in under control that is till nature stepped in the way.

Everyone is celebrating the engagement of Emma and Noah the flood watch warning comes through and Laura learns that the two bulls that she desperately needs as collateral to ensure the bank gives them the loan they require have been put out to pasture, she needs to get them no matter the danger but when Asher Halliday owner of the ranch they are leasing decides to accompany her, she is worried that he is trying to take over.

Asher, yes is a billionaire but he is also determined to keep Laura safe in her attempt to rescue the bulls before they are lost but he has a feeling that Laura is keeping something to herself and he really wants to help but can he break down her stubborn walls to get her to open up and let him in and just maybe he wants more from her, especially after a night spent alone in the cabin on the ranch.

Will Asher and Laura be able open up their hearts to each other and really open up to each other, if Asher has his way they will but Laura might take a bit of convincing. This is a fabulous story one that had me turning the pages and cheering them on, I loved Asher and Laura, this is one that I highly recommend, and I can’t wait for the last book in the series.

My thanks to Tule Publishing for my digital copy to read and review.

5 stars

July 15, 2025 by Tule Publishing

One Good Man

 One Good Man

Barrington Series #10

Susan Mackie

Reviewed by Helen

I have said it before and I will say it again, picking up a Barrington Series book is like walking back to a family reunion lots of hugs and smiles with caring loving people and this one is no exception, if you haven’t read this series then you are missing out, I love it.

When a young woman, Samantha and her and young daughter, Evie arrive by train into Barrington they have a couple of plastic bags and a piece of paper with an address on it Samantha is hoping that this will be her chance at starting a new life but first she must find this address and starts walking it is cold and dark but Samantha is determined to find her way there.

Jamie and his young son Warwick are driving home when he spots a woman and child walking on the side of the road he pulls over to help, she appears scared and timid but she shows him a piece of paper with Nicole’s address on it and he knows that she needs help he also realizes that it would be better to phone Nicole and get her here rather than offering her a lift. The look on her face will stay with him forever and Jamie is determined to make sure he can help them wherever he can.

Within weeks Sam and Evie are growing stronger and Sam is opening up to Nicole about her past she is also making friends and with Jamie as well her courage is growing and her hope that this is a new safe start gets stronger, is there a chance that Barrington could be the place they will call home and could she find happiness with Jamie, maybe with time, she has been through so much.

With the help of solicitor Douglas Sam is soon finding out things that make a big difference in her life and the future is looking good, and the lovely ladies from the book club are helping where they can and they are all putting everything into organizing the first book festival in Barrington, Barrington the place to heal never a truer word said.

This book has everything in it, so many emotions truly I cried so hard, I cheered and I smiled so much, it is a beautifully told story about a woman and the courage she shows to make a new life and what one good man can do to help make that happen. I loved this one so much and adored being back in Barrington, I do highly recommend this one and the series, a must read.

My thanks to the author for my ARC to read and review.

5 stars

July 28, 2025 by Small Town Publishing