ARC Review: Unsung by Shannon Richard

Unsung is the fifth book in the Country Roads series from Shannon Richard. Each book is a standalone story with interconnected characters. Though I have read a few books in the series, I haven't read all of them and I had no problem understanding anything here. You will see familiar faces though if you are familiar with the series. Unsung was probably my favorite that I have read in this series so far, though I did have a few things that kept this one from being a five star read for me. 

After Harper Laurence is dumped months before her wedding, she heads to Nashville to visit her aunt and avoid her hometown for awhile. There she meets the sexy Liam in a bar and they spend the entire weekend together. Harper knew that it was more than just a sexy fling and that she was developing feelings for him, so she ran leaving him no way to contact her. But when Harper finds herself pregnant, she knows that she is going to have to confront her feelings for Liam and let him know that they are going to have a baby. Liam James fell for Harper during the weekend they spent together, and he hasn't been able to forget her since she left him. But when a chance meeting brings them back together again, Liam is determined to show her that they belong together. But Harper's new could change everything between them. Can Liam and Harper have a chance at love together, or will there be too much between them to overcome? 

I really loved Liam. He was sexy and sweet, and I could tell right away what a genuine guy he was. He was honest about this feelings right from the start, and it was obvious just how much he cared for Harper. She was it for him, and he had no problem telling her or anyone else that. Harper on the other hand grated on my nerves a bit here. While I liked her at times, she wasn't the same strong woman that we have seen previously in this series. She was insecure and couldn't communicate here. I understand that when Brad left her it really messed with her head, but I hated how much she ran here and even when she was supposedly done running she held so much back from Liam. They vowed to be open and honest with one another and Liam held up his end, but unfortunately Harper didn't. It was very frustrating and made me start to dislike her the longer it continued. Liam and Harper did have great chemistry though, and I did see a strong connection forming between them. If you are not a fan of insta-love though, beware that these two fall hard and fast with little knowledge of each other or time spent together. 

Overall, this was a cute story. I really thought that Liam was such an easy hero to fall for, and he was by far the highlight of this story. He was so sweet and I loved what a good guy he was. I wish that Harper had been as easy to like, as I think that these two really were great together. Between Harper and the super rushed feelings here, that was all that kept this book from being one that I loved rather than just liked. I still think that this book is worth the read though, especially if you love contemporary romance with a sexy singer hero. Liam is worth the read alone, and I think that fans of Shannon Richard and the Country Roads series will really enjoy this book. But if you are new to Shannon Richard or this series I think that this is a great place to start, even with the few criticisms that I had.

**ARC Provided by Publisher**

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Feature and Giveaway: Unstoppable by Shannon Richard

Some things you don't dare let go . . .

Melanie O'Bryan knows life is too short to be afraid of taking chances. And former Air Force sergeant Bennett Hart is certainly worth taking a chance on. He's agreed to help her students with a school project, but she's hoping the handsome handyman will offer her a whole lot more. Yet despite his heated glances and teasing touches, Mel senses there's something holding him back . . .

Bennett Hart is grateful to be alive and back home in Mirabelle, Florida. Peaceful and uncomplicated-that's all he's looking for. Until a spunky, sexy-as-hell teacher turns his life upside down. After one smoldering kiss, Bennett feels like he's falling without a parachute. But with memories of his past threatening to resurface, he'll have to decide whether to keep playing it safe, or take the biggest risk of all.

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Oh God, who was she kidding? She’d never felt this way about any man before. Bennett was…well, infuriating to start with, but he was brave, smart, kind, funny, intense. There was nothing like having his full attention focused on her. He gave her way more than butterflies. It was like eagles were flapping around in her stomach whenever he was around. There were no flutters. They were freaking tidal waves.

Yeah, getting over Bennett was going to be way easier said than done.

Mel headed toward the supply closet at the back of her classroom where she locked up her purse in a filling cabinet. She grabbed the key and unlocked the top drawer, pulled out her purse, and slammed the drawer shut. When she turned around Bennett was standing in the doorway. Filling it completely. Mel stopped short and stared at him. His eyes were focused on her, the determination in them making all of the thoughts vacate her brain.

“I can’t leave you alone.” He came into the room and shut the door behind him. “And I’m not playing games.” He crossed the small space. “Or at least I’m not trying to.” He shook his head. “I think about you all the time.” He stopped in front of her, took the purse out of her hands, and put it on top of the filing cabinet. Then he reached up and touched her cheek. His fingers fanned out as he pushed his hand to the back of her head and tilted her face up.

Holy hell, what is happening?

She looked into his eyes, and her knees went just a little bit weak. She reached back and planted her hands against the wall, trying to find some balance, something to keep her upright, because she really didn’t want to miss this.

“Because I am interested in you, Mel.” He cupped her face with his other hand and ran his thumb across her lower lip. “Very interested.” He leaned forward and pressed his mouth to hers.

The kiss was soft and gentle at first, just his lips against hers. He took another step into her, pushing her back. When she hit the wall she gasped, and Bennett took advantage of her open mouth. He sucked her bottom lip into his mouth, and she couldn’t stop the moan that escaped her throat.

She plastered herself up against him, against every inch of his hard body. Her arms wound around his shoulders; her hands skittered up the back of his head. She opened her mouth further and his tongue touched hers. Bennett groaned as their tongues began a thorough exploration of each other’s mouths.

His hands were at the back of her head, his fingers deftly pulling out the pins that held up her bun. And then he was unwinding her hair, his hands plunging deep into her unruly curls.

“I’ve wanted to do this for so long,” he said against her mouth. “These curls of yours drive me out of my mind.”

“What stopped you?” She nipped at his lower lip.

“Pure stupidity,” he said, as he claimed her mouth again.

Holy cow, can this man kiss. I feel it everywhere, and do I mean everywhere! He had her toes curling in her shoes, all manner of body parts tingling where they were pushed up against his, and his hands were magic in her hair. One of his hands drifted down to her side. He touched her hip for a second before his hand slid to the small of her back. He held her to him, but really, she wasn’t going anywhere.

“Mel,” a voice called out from her classroom. “Are you here?”

There were only a few things that could bring Mel back to reality with the snap of a finger. The sound of her little brother’s voice was definitely one of them.

“Oh crap, it’s Hamilton,” Mel gasped, pulling back. Bennett’s hand was behind her head, and it prevented her from hitting the wall. “I’ll be right out!” she answered Hamilton, unable to completely cover up the breathy edge to her voice.

Bennett nodded. He let go of her reluctantly, and took a step back. “You’re going to have to give me a minute before I can go out there,” he said, clearing his throat uncomfortably.

“Oh,” she said, nodding. “Um, okay.”

Actually, she was going to need a minute, too. She knew her hair was everywhere, and she had a feeling Bennett’s scruffy jaw had left its fair share of marks on her face. Not to mention her thoroughly swollen lips.

Soooo worth it.

Shannon Richard grew up in the Panhandle of Florida as the baby sister of two overly protective but loving brothers. She was raised by a more than somewhat eccentric mother, a self-proclaimed vocabularist who showed her how to get lost in a book, and a father who passed on his love for coffee and really loud music. She graduated from Florida State University with a bachelor’s in English literature and still lives in Tallahassee, where she battles everyday life with writing, reading, and a rant every once in a while. Okay, so the rants might happen on a regular basis. She’s still waiting for her Southern, scruffy Mr. Darcy, and in the meantime writes love stories to indulge her overactive imagination. Oh, and she’s a pretty big fan of the whimsy.

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Forever Young Blog Tour: Shannon Richard, Nyrae Dawn, Jessica Sorensen + J.A. Redmerski

Things Paige Morrison will never understand about Mirabelle, Florida:

Why wearing red shoes makes a girl a harlot
Why a shop would ever sell something called “buck urine”
Why everywhere she goes, she runs into sexy-and infuriating-Brendan King

After losing her job, her apartment, and her boyfriend, Paige has no choice but to leave Philadelphia and move in with her retired parents. For an artsy outsider like Paige, finding her place in the tightly knit town isn’t easy-until she meets Brendan, the hot mechanic who’s interested in much more than Paige’s car. In no time at all, Brendan helps Paige find a new job, new friends, and a happiness she wasn’t sure she’d ever feel again. With Brendan by her side, Paige finally feels like she can call Mirabelle home. But when a new bombshell drops, will the couple survive, or will their love come undone?

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ARC Review: Undeniable by Shannon Richard

I really wanted to love this one. Going into Undeniable I had such high hopes. Not only is this one of my favorite tropes (Guy falls for best friend's little sister!) but I had read Undone and fell in love with Jax and Grace in that book along with their friend Shep. I was really looking forward to seeing Jax and Grace get over themselves and watching them fall in love. Unfortunately for me, despite Jax and Grace being likable characters who do eventually get their HEA, this book just didn't work for me. Undeniable is the second book in the Country Roads series, but it can be read as a standalone.

Jax is a small town deputy who has grown up with some crappy parents. He grew up being told that he was worthless and wasn't good enough. He formed a friendship a group of guys young and their families did their best to take him in and give him as much as they could. From the time Grace was born, Jax made it his job to look out for and protect her. Not only because she was Brendan's little sister, but also because he always had a connection to her. Grace fell in love with him very young and wanted nothing more than to be his. Jax wanted Grace too, but felt he wasn't good enough for her and forced himself to stay away. Things come to a head though after the two share a passionate kiss. Jax still doesn't think he is good enough for her though and continues to try to push her away. As time goes on, they both realize that their feelings are only getting stronger for each other now that they know what it is like to be more than friends. But can they possibly be together when Jax continues to think that Grace deserves better?

I liked Grace from Undone, but I really loved her in Undeniable. She is spunky, fun and sweet. Despite growing up as the subject of a lot of town gossip, she never let it really get her down. She wasn't afraid to live her life and be who she was. I loved what a great friend she was and it was really cute how all the guys looked after her. She was just so sweet, and I thought it was great that she was always looking out for Jax and making sure he was fed and taken care of. I liked Jax. He was perfect for Grace, even if he couldn't see it. I loved how he wanted to protect her and make sure that she was always happy. He was sexy and they had a lot of chemistry together. One of the things I didn't care for about them though was the back and forth. I just felt like it was a little too much. It got to the point that it just felt like the author was almost forcing the drama and it just didn't seem as though what was happening was how things would naturally happen. I just kept waiting for them to wake up and it took way too long for that to happen.

I felt like the robbery subplot was extremely drawn out. I found myself wanting to skim several parts because I just didn't really care what was happening with it. This whole book felt like it could have been shortened and you wouldn't really miss anything. There were parts that just absolutely drug and I think that really just took me out of the story. I felt like I was forcing myself to continue reading at points as there was so much going on. For me, there were times when the book seemed to have absolutely nothing to do with our hero or heroine and I think that just really took away all my interest in this story. There were just too many things happening, and quite a few were about random characters. I also think that there were too many characters being mentioned, and that was really confusing at times. Not only that, but I felt as though I didn't really care about the extra characters with a few exceptions. I was really hoping to enjoy this story and that we would get the trope with an original spin on things. But for me, this was just the same thing with different characters in a different town. I found the story to be predictable and most of the characters to be the stereotype you would normally find in a small town.

Overall, this story was not what I was hoping for. I felt like there could have been so much more done with these characters and there was so much promise going into this one. But unfortunately it just fell flat for me. The next story in this series, Unstoppable is Bennett and Mel's story and I wish I was more excited to read about them. I just don't seem to be that interested in getting to know either of them better. I was hoping that we would get Shep's story next, as I really love his character. I think that there are plenty of small town romance fans that will probably like this story better than I did. For me though once I sort of lost the connection to Jax and Grace, it sort of just killed the whole story for me. I am not sure if I will read any more of this series except for Shep's story. But I really hope that the rest in this series focus more on the main characters, with less of the random small town people that really don't have anything to do with the story. I think it just detracts from the story and really sort of makes the reader lose interest.

**ARC provided by NetGalley**

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Feature and Giveaway: Undeniable by Shannon Richard

THEIR LOVE WAS UNDENIABLE

Grace King knows two things for certain: she loves working at her grandmother's café and she loves the hunky town sheriff. She always has. As she bakes him sweet treats, Grace fantasizes about helping him work up an appetite all night long. But whenever she thinks she's finally getting somewhere, he whips out some excuse to escape. Growing up, he never looked twice at her. Now Grace won't rest until she has Jax's undivided attention.

Jaxson Anderson can't deny that his best friend's kid sister is the sexiest woman in Mirabelle, Florida. Unwilling to burden Grace with his painful past, Jax keeps the sassy blonde at arm's length. Yet one heated kiss crumbles all of his carefully built defenses. But when a town secret surfaces, threatening to destroy everything they believe in, can the man who defended Grace from bullies as a child protect her now?

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Feature and Giveaway: Undone by Shannon Richard

Things Paige Morrison will never understand about Mirabelle, Florida:

Why wearing red shoes makes a girl a harlot
Why a shop would ever sell something called “buck urine”
Why everywhere she goes, she runs into sexy-and infuriating-Brendan King

After losing her job, her apartment, and her boyfriend, Paige has no choice but to leave Philadelphia and move in with her retired parents. For an artsy outsider like Paige, finding her place in the tightly knit town isn’t easy-until she meets Brendan, the hot mechanic who’s interested in much more than Paige’s car. In no time at all, Brendan helps Paige find a new job, new friends, and a happiness she wasn’t sure she’d ever feel again. With Brendan by her side, Paige finally feels like she can call Mirabelle home. But when a new bombshell drops, will the couple survive, or will their love come undone?

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository |

ARC Review: Undone by Shannon Richard

Undone by Shannon Richard is the first book in her Country Roads series. It was a quick and cute read, and a promising start to her series. I was originally drawn in by the cover, but once I started reading I found that I really enjoyed the characters. I love a good small town story where you get to meet a lot of characters and begin to see how they all are connected, so I knew once I started that this one was going to be right up my alley.

Paige has had a lot of bad luck recently. She lost her roommate and best friend to a better job in another state, she lost her own job after the company was bought out, and then she lost her boyfriend after they moved in together. She packs up and moves to live with her parents while she figures out what to do. Now that she is in the small town of Mirabelle Florida she is having trouble finding a job and to make matters worse her Jeep breaks down. But her luck changes when mechanic Brendan shows up and the sparks instantly fly! After getting off to a rough start the two begin to ease into getting to know each other and seeing if there is more than just chemistry.

I really liked the characters in this story. Brendan was sweet and sexy and everything you could want for a book boyfriend! He went out of his way to help Paige and he was always supporting and encouraging. I really loved that he not only was a good friend and good boyfriend, but that he also had a good relationship with Paige's parents. He was absolutely a gentleman and that was nice to see. Paige was fun and feisty and refused to let others get her down. I loved that she didn't care what other people thought and didn't change who she was. In a small town, being unique is usually not a good thing but she was her own person and remained true to herself. I loved her friend Abby and their conversations. One of the high-points of this book for me was the secondary characters. I really enjoyed Grace, Brendan's sister and his two best friends Jax and Shep.

I did have a few problems with this book. The pacing on this story was off for me. The first half of the book was pretty slow and then the second half of the book just seemed to take off. It was as if most of the story had been squeezed into the second half. I also felt like there wasn't a lot of conflict in this story, and the small amount there was was somewhat unresolved. There were a few villains that were intent on making Paige's life miserable and although one is slightly taken care of, the rest are completely forgotten. I felt like this book was just missing a little bit of the story and it seemed somewhat incomplete.

Overall, this book was enjoyable and I will still be reading more from this series despite the few problems i had with this one. I loved the characters and their interactions. I'm really looking forward to the next book and seeing Jax and Grace's relationship develop. I just can't resist a best friend's little sister to lover story! I think that this series shows promise and I am excited to see where the author goes from here.

**ARC provided by NetGalley**

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