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Showing posts with label Karen Erickson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Karen Erickson. Show all posts

Thursday, June 23, 2016

ARC Review: Smolder by Karen Erickson


I will admit that I went into Smolder by Karen Erickson a bit skeptical. While I enjoyed Ignite, I didn't love it and I wasn't quite sure what to think of Lane and Delilah getting their own story. On the one hand I was intrigued by the forbidden aspect of their relationship. With her having dated Lane's brother, I wasn't sure that I would be able to get on board fully here. The last book felt a bit icky to me with Delilah's ex (Lane's brother) ending up with her best friend and her wanting far too many details about their relationship, but I was interested to see the chemistry between Lane and Delilah explored.

Lane and Delilah had wanted each other for years but because of her being his brother's ex, she was off-limits. But the attraction between them was impossible for them to fight, and they found themselves unable to stay away from each other. But can Lane get over her past and take a chance on a future together?

I had really loved the chemistry between these two that was brewing in the first book. Like I said I was a bit nervous about how things would go here, but I could definitely see the attraction and connection between them. Unfortunately Lane drove me absolutely nuts most of this book. This guy was so frustrating, and I seriously wanted to shake him pretty much the entire way through this story. I felt like his reasons for pushing Delilah away were lame and a bit immature, and could have easily been cleared up with better communication. I had a bit of a tough time with Delilah because of how many chances she gave Lane and how she allowed the constant push and pull. I didn't understand why she would continue to put herself in the situation of being rejected by him despite her feelings for him. 

I also felt like while there was promise here, I just wasn't really connecting with the story itself. There were a lot of other things going on besides just their relationship issues, and I just felt like I didn't feel invested in most of them. This book seemed to almost be on repeat at times, with things being very similar to the first book and much of the dialogue being repeated all the way through. Smolder had potential, but ultimately for me fell a bit flat. We did get to see several familiar faces from the first book, and there were some characters here that I would be interested in getting to know better. But while I have enjoyed parts of the first two books, so far this series is just okay for me. I know that I will read more from Karen Erickson in the future. While I have liked parts of this series I haven't loved either book, but I think that others might. This could just be a case of me personally not connecting or having issues that might not bother others, so I encourage you to give it a chance if you liked the first in the series or if it sounds like something you might like.

**ARC Provided by Publisher**

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N | iTunes





Feature and Giveaway: Smolder by Karen Erickson



Lane Gallagher wants Delilah Moore—bad.

He’s imagined the sexy brunette in his bed more times than he can count.

She’s everything he’s ever wanted, but the only problem is . . .

She’s his brother’s ex.

For years, the stoic sheriff’s deputy has fantasized about the sweet, bubbly dance teacher who stirs his deepest desires. But Lane’s too loyal to ever move in on forbidden territory and he knows that while he can look, he definitely can’t touch. Fighting his attraction to Delilah is nearly impossible, but the infuriating—and incredibly sexy—woman seems determined to drive him crazy.

And she’s bringing him to his knees. One smoldering kiss at a time.

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N | iTunes | Google |

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Feature and Giveaway: Ignite by Karen Erickson



Weston Gallagher is falling hard—for the wrong woman.

One night of passion has haunted him for years.

Now he’s got a second chance to get the girl of his dreams…but there’s just one problem:

She hates him.

Eight years after he stormed out of Wildwood, California, West has returned to his hometown as a firefighter. His friends and family are thrilled he’s back—with the exception of Harper Hill. His sister’s best friend is all grown up and in all the right ways. He knows she’s going to do everything she can to protect her heart and keep him at arm’s length, but West has other ideas.

He will win the girl that got away. No matter what it takes…

Purchase: | Amazon | KindleB&N | iTunes | Google Play | Kobo |

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

ARC Review: Ignite by Karen Erickson


Ignite is the first book in Karen Erickson's new Wildwood series and I couldn't wait to read about this sexy firefighter! There is just something about a sexy man in a uniform, and I enjoyed Weston's story quite a bit. There were a few things that kept me from loving this book even though I did like a lot here. 

Weston Gallagher couldn't get out of Wildwood fast enough, but now eight years later he is back in his hometown after accepting a promotion. While most of his family and friends are excited, not everyone is thrilled he is back. Right before he left, Weston shared a steamy night of kissing with Harper Hill, his sister's best friend. Though they had always liked one another, there were many things that kept them apart. But now that West is back and Harper is all grown up, he is ready to finally see what is between them. West has his work cut out for him though, as Harper is determined to keep him at arm's length after the way he was in the past. 

These characters while likable felt very immature at times. They were constantly doing or saying things that felt a lot younger to me than should be acceptable in an adult romance. I know that Karen Erickson/Monica Murphy writes a lot of NA books as well, and I think part of that bled into this book. I wanted them to get their acts together, and unfortunately I didn't see a lot of that here. West was looking for his return home to be temporary before he could get back out and at first he didn't want commitment or a relationship. Even though he was attracted to Harper, he had no intention of anything more. Then it was suddenly as if a switch had been flipped and he changed his mindset completely. Harper seemed to be protecting herself from being hurt at the beginning and knew she wanted to explore a bit of her wild side with West, knowing the score from the beginning. But as they grew closer, she grew more immature it seemed. There was one time here that it especially showed, and West was in the middle of doing his job after a fire and he had to return to work after checking to make sure that she was okay. She was really upset that he had to return to his serious self and do his job and didn't spend more time showing her how much he cared...it was ridiculous and honestly I wanted to shake her. 

While I liked them together and they had obvious chemistry, it was hard to get over everything that they did. Their actions just felt too childish for me to really believe that they had a chance at working out long term, especially with how high risk his job was. If she reacted that way this early on, I just didn't have much faith that she would be able to accept it as they got more serious. I also have to say that things felt a bit incestuous here (not as in actually related or anything!) but Harper was best friends with West's sister Wren and his ex-girlfriend Delilah. Delilah was over West and was now interested in West's brother Lane. Though West had never had sex with Delilah and there were no feelings there, it was just a bit weird and kind of gave me a bit of an icky feeling as I read about Delilah not only discussing Harper and West's sex life, but also asking for details. It just didn't really work for me, and as much as I wanted to be able to leave it all in the past it felt like it was all still very present here. I think that this story had a ton of potential, and I think that there are a lot of readers that will enjoy this book. There were just some things that bothered me personally and that made this book one that I didn't love. Lane and Delilah's story is up next in this series with Smolder expected to release in June 2016.

**ARC Provided by Publisher**

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N | iTunes





Monday, January 5, 2015

ARC Review: Game for Tonight by Karen Erickson


Game for Tonight is the third book in Karen Erickson's Game for It Series of standalones novels. You will recognize familiar faces if you have read the previous two books, but it is not necessary to have read them to enjoy Game for Tonight. While I liked some things about this book, there were things I just didn't click with in this one. Game for Tonight left me with mixed feelings, and I ended up thinking this book was just okay.

Aubrey Cooper has had a thing for back-up quarterback Flynn Foley since he joined the Hawks. But with their strict no dating company policy, she has never been able to make a move since she is the publicist for the team. But when word starts getting around that Flynn might be traded, she decides to take a shot. They end up spending a passionate night together, and the press catches her leaving his house late that night. With photos of the virgin golden boy out, they have no choice but to pretend that they are a real couple in order to protect both of their careers. But Flynn and Aubrey are starting to develop real feelings and soon both are beginning to wonder what the end of the season will mean for their relationship. And what happens when Flynn finds out that the whole fake relationship was actually their boss's idea to begin with and that he was basically blackmailing Aubrey into pretending?

I thought that Aubrey and Flynn were both good characters, but I honestly never connected with them. Flynn was known as the golden boy of the team. His entire life focus until Aubrey had been football. He was a sweet and nice guy virgin, and I was glad that he was different from most of the characters that seem to be the heroes for contemporary romance stories. But to me, he was almost too much of a good guy. While he was likable, he wasn't super sexy or alluring to me. I wanted him to be a bit more cocky. There is just something about a man that knows what he is doing and shows his confidence without being a total jerk, and Flynn just wasn't that guy to me. Aubrey was smart and a bit shy. She had wanted Flynn for awhile but for multiple reasons had never pursued anything with him. I will say that her actions were confusing to me. She liked him and wanted him, and yet she kept putting an end date on things. Aubrey and Flynn were cute together and had some chemistry, but I was just never invested in their relationship and I didn't really care one way or the other about them. 

My biggest issue with this story was that I didn't understand the circumstances surrounding the fake/kind of real relationship between Aubrey and Flynn. Why wasn't Aubrey trying to make things real when that is what she had wanted the whole time? Plus the blackmail thing just didn't work for me for the same reason. Why would someone need to blackmail her into a relationship that she already wanted? And why not just tell Flynn what was going on? If she really cared about him and liked him then started to actually fall in love with him, her actions just didn't make sense to me. I also felt like this book just didn't have the steam that I am used to for a Brazen novel as well. I wasn't really feeling the heat between them, and most of this book seemed to be centered on all the drama surrounding their relationship rather than them actually having one. While I did find Flynn's character refreshing, this wasn't my favorite from Karen Erickson.

**ARC Provided by Entangled Publishing**

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N | Book Depository |





A Naughty New Year...Brazen Style with Karen Erickson and Giveaway


USA Today bestselling author Karen Erickson writes what she loves to read – sexy contemporary romance. Digitally published since 2006, she’s a native Californian who lives in the foothills below Yosemite with her husband and three children. She is also the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of new adult contemporary romance Monica Murphy.

Places to find Karen:
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Sunday, December 8, 2013

ARC Review: Stranded With A Hero Anthology by Karen Erickson, Coleen Kwan, Cindi Madsen & Roxanne Snopek


Stranded with a Hero is an anthology that contains four short novellas from some of the Bliss authors and series. I have really enjoyed reading some of these series, and I was really excited to see some more stories featuring some well known and loved characters and also some new characters. This anthology is all about Christmas novellas, and is just the thing to put you in the spirit of the holidays. I loved the sweet nature of these stories, and this anthology is definitely a fun read to curl up with on a cold winter night.

Loving Mindy - Karen Erickson

When Mindy and her ex-best friend Josh get snowed in together, they both agree that it is best to put their past behind them. They haven't spoken in years, but they decide that this is the best way for them to move forward and rekindle the friendship they once shared. But as they spend time together and get to know each other as the adults they are now, the quickly realize that the feelings they once had for each other never went away.

I really liked Mindy from the previous two books in Karen Erickson's Lone Pine Lake series and was excited to get her story. We have seen her sort of struggle in the past with the demise of her marriage and the fallout because of her husband cheating on her. So I knew that there had to be someone for her, and I was really glad that she ended up with Josh. Mindy is a very strong woman and very committed to her two boys. I loved how much she cares about them and you can see how important they are to her. I liked Josh also. He was a great guy and I loved that he knew Mindy so well despite all the years that had passed since they were close. He seemed to be the perfect balance for Mindy and they were really cute together. Normally with novellas I have a problem with them being too short and feeling as though the reader never gets a chance to really get to know the characters or their story. They often just feel rushed to me, but that wasn't the case with Loving Mindy. I thought that this was a great story despite the short length and I really felt that Mindy and Josh were believable and real. Their story was a cute and sweet quick read that I really enjoyed. This novella is a great addition to the Lone Pine Lake Series, and I recommend that you check this series out if you haven't already.

White-Hot Holiday - Coleen Kwan

Naomi has just moved back home and is throwing herself into getting ready for Christmas. She is still hurting from a bad break-up and has no intention of getting involved with anyone anytime soon. Especially not her Uncle's best friend who just so happens to be very similar to her ex. He is good looking, wealthy and confident to the point of being cocky. But due to a volcano grounding his return flight to the states, he ends up being unable to return home for Christmas. As Naomi and Aaron begin to spend more time together, Naomi quickly realizes that she might have misjudged Aaron. But with them living in different countries and only knowing each other for a short amount of time, can they have anything more than a quick fling? Or will their connection be enough for them to risk their hearts for more?

I really liked Aaron. Despite his downer attitude when it came to Christmas, he was a really great guy! I loved how even though he didn't like Christmas he was always helping Naomi out when it came to stuff she was wanting to do. He was sweet and it was really nice to see him start to open up as the story progressed. I liked that he was a better person because of his time with Naomi, and by the end of the story he had turned into this really thoughtful guy who instead of just showing up out of obligation had started actually getting into the spirit of the holiday. I had some issues with Naomi, but for the most part I liked her. I thought that she was a little hard on Aaron at first and seemed to be pretty harsh with her comparisons to her ex. She seemed to jump to all sorts of conclusions based on his wealth, and that sort of made me have a hard time connecting with her. Then she continued to push Aaron away constantly, but several times she would do this right after flirting with him or acting as though she was interested. Her hot and cold temperament just didn't really work for me, and I started to get pretty frustrated with her mixed signals. I wish that Aaron and Naomi's relationship would have grown over a longer period of time, the week that they spent getting to know each other for the first time until really developing feelings for each other just felt extremely rushed to me. I think that because it was so short of a novella, and actual time period of the story just really didn't allow me to truly buy into their feelings for each other beyond the superficial. I did like that the author gave us the time jump at the end of the story to see how their story ended up, and I also liked how their novella ended. I think that this one was a nice holiday read and a good addition to the Real Men Series, and it was fun to see some of the characters from the previous books.

An Officer and a Rebel - Cindi Madsen

After crashing her car in order to avoid hitting a deer, Kelsey is stuck in the small town she once left behind. Rather than spending Christmas with her mom, she ends up getting rescued by her ex boyfriend's brother Nate. Nate can't believe that Kelsey the town rebel and and his brother's ex has come crashing into town. He might have acted like he was ignoring her all those years ago, but he was just trying to hide his true feelings for her. Now that she is back all these years later though, he can't help but feel as though things could be different this time. The more time that they are trapped together, the more they get to know each other. Besides the attraction between them, they find out that they are also compatible when it comes to almost everything else. But with them living in different cities, can they figure out a way to make a relationship work between them?

I really liked Nate and Kelsey. Nate was a really great guy. He was responsible and thoughtful, and always looking out for others. It was nice to see him sort of loosen up with Kelsey though. I really liked how she brought out this whole other playful and fun side of him. It was nice to see him going after what he wanted after everything he had done for others. Kelsey was fun and quirky. I loved that she wasn't your typical heroine, and she wasn't afraid to be who she was. I liked that she was able to really bring out the other facets of Nate's personality, and even though they were different they worked well together. I also really liked that although she was nervous about what Nate's family would think of her that she didn't let that stop her from being with Nate. It showed just how much she really cared for him. I thought that Nate and Kelsey had a lot of chemistry, and although we didn't get a ton of steam, you could definitely feel the connection they had to each other on every level. This one was a great holiday novella and was a lot of fun to read. I think this was a wonderful addition to Cindi Madsen's Accidentally In Love Series.

Saving the Sheriff - Roxanne Snopek

While on winter break from teaching, Frankie Sylva makes it her mission to rescue some reindeer that are being used in a holiday show. Before the reindeer can be hauled off the the slaughter house, Frankie borrows her bosses truck and trailer and dumps the reindeer off at a local wild mustang sanctuary. But with a huge storm also happening she ends up getting stranded and is discovered by sheriff Red LeClair. He is instantly suspicious of what she is doing and decides to hold onto her keys and boots until he can figure out what is really going on. But as they spend time together while stuck in the storm, they begin to realize that not only are the attracted to one another but they are also developing feelings for one another. Can Frankie help Red get over his broken heart and rescue him from the lonely life he has been living? Or will their differences keep them from pursuing a relationship together?

I liked Red. I thought that his character was great. I could tell that he was a really great guy right off. Roxanne Snopek did a great job of allowing the reader to see how he had been hurt and was vulnerable from the demise of his marriage. I thought that Frankie was fun and definitely committed to her cause of helping out animals. But I just didn't connect with her character at all. I thought that she was a little over the top for my taste and she just came off as immature to me. I know her heart was in the right place, but it was hard for me to get over how irresponsible it was for her to go about stealing the animals without even knowing what exact animal they were or how/where to properly take care of them. I understood that she was trying to save their lives, but I just thought that her actions were pretty ridiculous even for a story. I did however like that she brought a lightness to Red that he had been missing, and I thought that they were a good balance for each other. Although their witty and original takes on some classic carols were at times funny, they were also a bit much at others. I have not read any of the other books in the Three River Ranch series by Roxanne Snopek, but I think that fans of the series will enjoy this short holiday novella.

Overall

Overall, I mostly enjoyed these stories and even though they were short in length I thought that they were great additions to each of their series. I have to say my favorites were Loving Mindy and An Officer and A Rebel though. I thought that they both really stood out and they definitely made me want to grab some hot chocolate and start playing Christmas music. If you are a contemporary romance fan or a fan of these Bliss authors, this is definitely one you will want to check out, especially if you are looking for some holiday spirit.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

Purchase: | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes |



Monday, December 2, 2013

ARC Review: Game for Trouble by Karen Erickson


This was a HOT romance! Willow Cavanaugh and Nick Hamilton have a-mazing chemistry! Even before they share a scene the tension between them is visible. Willow is trying to expand her business, in order to do that she needs to rent a commercial space. As fate would have it Nick has a space that would be perfect for Willow. However! Nick and Willow have a history. When Nick, a profession football player, started on the team, the San Jose Hawks, he met Willow and they were instantly drawn to each other and had a relationship. But the timing was wrong. Nick was young and just starting out as a professional athlete. Willow was only 19 and the daughter of the attorney for the team! We later learn that Willow's father did not want Nick and Willow together. So with a lot of convincing, Nick breaks off their relationship. Willow as heartbroken and rightly, hates Nick.

Nick and Willow never got over each other. Nick's best friend and Willow's best friend are married (their story was in Game for Marriage) because their lives are intertwined they have always crossed paths but Willow tries to avoid Nick at all cost.

Willow is older, wiser but still beautiful. She is also trying to make a name for herself. She wants to prove to everyone that she is not just a rich-girl. With no help from her father she launches a cotton candy cocktail that is very successful but she needs a bigger space for her growing business. Nick has the space and is willing to negotiate with Willow. He will rent the space out to Willow for the price she wants if she will agree to eight dates with him. Naturally, Willow can't refuse and she agrees.

Nick knows that blackmailing her is wrong but he has always loved Willow and wants to make amends for the way their relationship ended 6 years ago. The conversation between Nick and Willow are like a tennis match. They keep going back and forth. They are evenly matched and each other’s weakness. Even though Nick was too young and stupid to fight for Willow 6 years ago he is not going to make the same mistake twice and risk losing the women he loves! This was a fun and lively read! The characters Her by were both likeable. I never read the Game for Marriage (Sheridan and Jared's story) but it did not hinder my understanding and really enjoying this story. This story is fun and a good read.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

Purchase: | Amazon | Barnes & Noble |



Monday, November 25, 2013

Review: Game For Marriage by Karen Erickson


Before reading Game for Marriage I had never read a book by Karen Erickson before. I was not quite sure what to expect, but I am a sucker for a sports romance so I knew that I wanted to read this one. I am so glad that I decided to take a chance on this book. Karen Erickson wrote a great story, and I really loved the characters in this one. Her writing style was enjoyable to read, and there were plenty of sweet and steamy moments which made this one a win for me. I do think that anytime you write a contemporary romance based on a fake marriage or a marriage of convenience, that you are sort of setting yourself up for an uphill battle. But even though it can be a tough story to sell in today's day in age, I thought that Erickson did a great job of making it not only seem possible but actually making it work.

Sheridan is struggling to not only be a successful artist, but also to hold onto her studio. It is in a great location and there are plenty of people who are offering to buy it from her. But it was her grandma's and she refuses to part with it. At a local event, she meets Jared Quinn. He is the local NFL team's quarterback and is known for being a ladies man. Jared and Sheridan spend a passionate night together, but she knows that she needs to stay away in order to protect herself from falling for someone who doesn't commit. She never expects him to show up the next day with his publicist and suggest a mutually beneficial marriage of convenience. If they stay married for a year with no one finding out, not only will Jared's tattered reputation be restored, but Sheridan will end up with enough money to save her studio as well as gain the notoriety she needs to sell her artwork. After thinking it through, Sheridan decides to accept the deal with one tiny caveat. She gets her lawyer to put in a no sex clause so that she will have the distance needed from Jared to protect her heart. Only once they are married and get to know each other better, it becomes harder and harder to keep their hands to themselves. When real feelings start to develop, the both begin to realize that their marriage isn't as fake as it started out to be. Can they turn their fake marriage into a real one, and what will happen if the truth about everything comes out?

I really liked Jared. He was sexy and confident without being a total jerk. He was also sweet and thoughtful. I loved that he was a great friend and teammate and that he always was thinking about others first before himself. It was great to see a hero that had every right to be cocky and arrogant, but yet when it came down to it would always put others ahead of his own needs and wants. I really liked getting to see his thoughts and how he was feeling as he got to know Sheridan better and spend time with her. I also really liked Sheridan. I thought that she was strong and determined and a really kind and thoughtful person. I loved that she was so generous with the community and did a lot of charity work that she kept out of the spotlight. She did things because it was important to her rather than for the publicity. I also really loved how much she cared about Jared. It was so sweet watching her put him first and really take care of him. He wasn't used to having someone put him first and I loved that she always seemed to know just what he needed. Sheridan and Jared were really sweet together, but they also had a ton of chemistry and the attraction was there from the start. These two had a ton of steam, and their scenes together were really sexy. I thought they were great together, and I knew that there was no way that their marriage would stay fake when they were clearly meant to be with each other.

Overall, I thought that Game for Marriage was a great story. I really found Sheridan and Jared to be believable and real despite the way that their relationship started. I loved that they brought out the best in each other and that they were unable to fight what was between them. It was really cute watching them admit their feelings to one another, and I loved how Jared proved himself to Sheridan. I also really enjoyed the secondary characters as well. I am really looking forward to getting more of Nick and Willow, and hopefully seeing a bit more of Sheridan and Jared as well. This story was charming and filled with everything that I had hoped for in a great love story. Fans of contemporary romance will enjoy the sweetness, but also keep turning the pages for the undeniable chemistry between Sheridan and Jared. This book was a great quick read, and I would recommend this to anyone who is a fan of a good love story. Sheridan and Jared are easy to love and find interesting, and the reader can't help but become invested in their story.

**Copy provided by Publisher**

Purchase: | Amazon | Barnes & Noble |



Sunday, November 10, 2013

Review: Tempting Cameron by Karen Erickson


I am a fan of Karen Erickson and I love reading books in a series. So this one seemed like a guaranteed like for me. Tempting Cameron is the second book in the Lone Pine Lake series, and I was really looking forward to getting Cameron's story. We first meet him briefly in Jane's Gift which is the first book in the series. As much as I was really wanting to love his story, I just wasn't able to. I had some problems with this story, and there were just too many things about it that kept me from rating this one higher.

Chloe Dawson has always had a crush on her best friend's older brother. But Cameron McKenzie has never returned her feelings. He has always viewed her as his little sister's pesky friend. Cameron also isn't one to commit to anyone or anything. He left his small hometown behind as soon as he was able to and only returns when he absolutely has to. But after an accident occurs while he is working, he heads home to take a break and figure out what he wants next. After he shares a kiss with Chloe at his sister's wedding reception, he begins to see her as he never has before. But he knows that he is all wrong for her and pushes her away. But after they fight and she experiences an accident that leaves her with some gaps in her memory, he decides that this is the perfect chance to spend some time with her and try to make up for the way he treated her. As they begin to spend more time together and embark on a summer fling, real feelings start to develop for both of them. But will things work out between them when the truth finally comes out? And will Cameron be able to give up his life of roaming in order to settle down with Chloe in the small town he left behind?

I really wanted to like Cameron, but for most of the story I just didn't. He was pretty much a jerk for a lot of the time, and he just seemed to be sort of self involved. He really seemed to have a huge chip on his shoulder, and I just couldn't understand why. He really didn't have many redeeming qualities and not only did he treat Chloe badly, but also his family. By the time that he started to really come around, because of his relationship with Chloe, it almost just seemed too little too late for me. I couldn't understand what Chloe saw in him and why she stuck with him. (Even with her not knowing what really happened the night of their argument) I also really was never able to connect with Chloe. I felt like even though she was sort of the town sweetheart and everyone liked her, that I just wasn't that invested in her or her story. For some reason it just seemed like we never really got to know her that well, and she just seemed a little flat for me. The physical scenes between Cameron and Chloe showed that there was chemistry and attraction between the two of them, but I just wasn't really feeling any real emotion or connection between them until the very end. It just didn't seem very natural or real to me.

I also had a problem with some of the things that happened with some of the secondary characters. I felt like they were almost doing and saying things that were untrue to the characters we had previously met in the first book. There was something that happened in this book that really had me not liking Jane for the very first time, and I had really liked her in the first book. I just didn't understand why the shift in character, and it just seemed inconsistent with what we had come to know and love about her from Jane's Gift. While there were parts that I really did enjoy, there were also parts that had me rolling my eyes. I will admit that this one was hard for me to get through at times and there were parts that almost had me wanting to give up. I am glad that I stuck with it though, and I really did like the way that this story ended. It definitely turned around towards the end, and I really liked how things with Cameron and Chloe ended up. I just wish that the first part of this story would have been more like the last half, because Cameron and Chloe really were likable at the end. I think that despite my few gripes with this book, it was for the most part an enjoyable read. It was nice to see some of the characters from the first book and it was also nice to get some more on some of the other characters that we didn't know as well. I am looking forward to reading more in this series and seeing more of Lone Pine Lake and its residents. I think that if you like to read Contemporary romances or small town stories that you will enjoy this series and should definitely give it a shot.

**Copy provided by Publisher**

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble |