Ramblings From This Chick

Monday, May 23, 2016

ARC Review: Touched by Love by Melissa Foster

Touched by Love is the sixth Remingtons book in the Love In Bloom series by Melissa Foster. Each book in this series is a standalone story, but all the characters are interconnected. I cannot recommend this series enough. Melissa Foster is one of my favorite authors, because she is so talented and she never lets me down. Her stories are the reason I read contemporary romance books. Each book is filled with love and sweetness, and enough steam to keep me captivated and turning the pages.

Janie Jansen has worked hard to gain her independence. Being blind, she has spent her life proving that she is capable and strong. But when an accident changes everything, Janie is forced to give up some of her independence and accept help. Boyd Hudson has moved forward from his tragic past and works hard to achieve his dreams. Working several jobs and being close to his dream of attending medical school, Boyd has steered clear of relationships. But when Boyd comes to Janie's rescue, the attraction between them turns into something more. Just when Janie starts to heal, Boyd's past comes back and threatens to ruin everything. Can each of them find a way to heal and move forward together, or will there be too many obstacles standing in their way?

I really loved these characters. Once again Melissa Foster has written such unique and different characters that have a ton of depth to them. Janie might be blind, but that wasn't all she was. I loved that her disability didn't define her. She was strong and independent and she worked hard to earn that. Boyd worked hard as well, and I loved his dedication to his dreams. He was determined and you could really tell just how much it meant to him to achieve his dreams. I really felt connected to these two, and I think part of that was because of the connection that they were building together. They had a ton of chemistry right from the start, but their relationship took time and healing on both of their parts. There was more to them than met the eye, and I think we really got to see these two get to know one another beyond what you first see and I think that is what made them so special. They each had a lot to overcome, and we really got to experience that with them as a couple as well as individually.

Overall, another great installment in this series. Each book is a standalone like I said, but I do recommend reading the entire series. Not only are they great books, but I love how we get to see each of these characters and how they are all connected. As I said before, Melissa Foster is a great writer and if you are a fan of contemporary romance books she is definitely one that you need to be reading! She doesn't disappoint, and I really love how her stories are filled with family and friends as well as love. She takes the time to really build a story with a ton of depth and each one is different than her previous books. There aren't many authors that have as many books out as Melissa Foster that each one feels completely new and fresh, but she does it every time! I really feel like her stories just continue to get better, and I can't wait to read whatever she writes next.

**ARC Provided by Tasty Book Tours**

Sunday, May 22, 2016

Review: Gambling on a Scoundrel by Sheridan Jeane

When I heard of “Gambling on a Scoundrel” I was instantly interested because I really enjoy Victorian era stories. I had never read Sheridan Jeane and wanted to see what the story would be like. I also love hero’s and heroine’s that are outcasts and go against the tide.

The heroine is Tempy Bliss. I really liked her and the way she conducted herself. Tempy is an outsider. She comes from money not breed, in the era of the ton that made her an outcast. Her father made quite a lot of money off railroads but he was never much of a father to her. Tempy always longed for a connection with her father and although an outsider, she accepted that she would never fit in. Tempy made herself even more of an outcast when she decided to earn a living as a reporter. Although an heiress she doesn’t need the money but researching and writing are her passions. When she finds out that her fiancé-Ernest, now ex-fiancé, is engaged to a French woman, Tempy decides she needs to win him back.

Enter our hero, Lucien Hamlin. Lucien also is not of British society, but he has a lot of money. Money he made when he opened his own gambling house. Lucien is more than comfortable with his position but is ready for a new venture. When, as a favor, he allows Tempy to come to his gambling house, things start to become more complicated. Lucien doesn’t need press, least of all bad press. Tempy has been asked by Charles Dickens himself to write an article. Tempy refuses to disappoint Mr. Dickens. Against his better judgement, Lucien allows Tempy to do her research, but more is involved. He also tries to help her win her ex-fiancé back-again-against his better judgement. As Lucien and Tempy start to spend more and more time together they begin to have feelings for each other but both try to fight those feelings. Tempy is determined to win her ex-fiancé back because she thinks that she will also lose his family, which was in part the only family she ever had.

This was a really cute story and I really liked it. I also love to learn about the progressive time of Victorian England. I also really liked the hero and heroine. I have to say that the only parts that irked me were when Tempy seemed to go against her own characteristics. She is constantly tripping over things and needing rescue- I think this is done for comedic affect and its cute- but I really wanted her to have a stronger back bone, especially when it comes to her obsession with her ex-fiancé. Tempy really reflected the struggle that woman faced when they were trying to be taken seriously. I really didn’t like that she was so determined to validate herself by winning him back. Aside from these little tidbits, I really enjoyed the romance and plan to read more by this author.

**Copy provided by Author**

Purchase: | Amazon | B&N |

ARC Review: Bound by Jennifer Foor

Bound is the fifth book in the Seven Year Itch series by Jennifer Foor. Each book in this series is a standalone story, so don't worry about reading this one if you haven't read the previous books. I love this series, and each one is unique and different. I will tell you that this series isn't for everyone, and it does deal with some subjects at times that people might struggle with including cheating and struggles with marriage. But I really do enjoy each of these books, and to me each of these books is worth the read.

After seven years of marriage, Macy Stone finds herself throwing in the towel and starting over. She no longer recognizes the person she has become and she knows that her relationship was never the right fit if she is honest with herself. The one thing that has got her through the tough times though were here fantasies of her boss, Bennington Winthrop. Now that her relationship is over, Ben has made it no secret that he wants Macy. But Ben's desires and lifestyle are something that Macy isn't sure she can handle. Can Ben help her unlock her desires to become the woman he knows lies beneath her surface and accept who she really is?

I will admit that I struggled at first with Ben. He was a jerk right away and I wasn't sure that I was going to be able to like him. I understood that he was pushing Macy, but it rubbed me the wrong way. Luckily as the story continued though, that began to change. It was clear that he cared about Macy and was struggling a bit with how much he felt. He found himself in unfamiliar territory and wasn't sure how to handle that. But he was good for Macy and I felt like his intentions were good towards her. Macy was finally beginning to see that she might have been comfortable, but she wasn't truly happy. Ben was good for her and I felt like she was really good for him. They fit well together and had strengths where the other was weak. The chemistry between them was there from the start, and these two were super hot together. I really enjoyed seeing them explore their desires together and see what the growing connection between them meant.

Overall, another great installment in this series. Being happily married, this series can sometimes be hard to get through because of the content. But I think that a lot of that is because anyone that is married knows that each relationship takes work and that there are always issues that a couple will face. I think that is also what makes this series so real though, because the way these men and women are feels so genuine and their problems are ones that many face. I really felt like Ben and Macy were the right match for each other, and I couldn't put this book down. Jennifer Foor is a great writer and I recommend her books if you haven't read them before. This series is one of my favorites of hers and I can't wait to see what she writes next.

**ARC Provided by Inkslinger PR**

Purchase: | Amazon | B&N | iTunes |

Interview with Author Katie Ruggle and Giveaway

Meet Katie Ruggle author of Fan the Flames.

When she’s not writing, Katie Ruggle rides horses, shoots guns, and travels to warm places where she can SCUBA dive. Graduating from the Police Academy, Katie received her ice-rescue certification and can attest that the reservoirs in the Colorado mountains really are that cold. While she still misses her off-grid, solar- and wind-powered house in the Rocky Mountains, she now lives in Rochester, Minnesota near her family.