Monday, January 17, 2022

The Baby Proposition by Kim Loraine {a review}



It seems as though I've been waiting on Maverick's story forever. Obviously that isn't the case though, as it's only been since July 2021. Thankfully I had Daisy and Hawk to distract me as I waited. 

The Baby Proposition, by Kim Loraine, is the first book in the Anything for Love series, and it is telling us all about Maverick and Clara. Clara is the local vet, and is frequently at the Wilde Horse Ranch checking up on the animals. Of course while she's there, she also gets to catch up with Maverick. These two have formed quite the friendship, and there is that pull there to have that friendship turn into something more. But Clara won't let that happen. She's determined to do things on her own.

"I can't count on other people to make my dreams come true. So, I don't look for my prince charming. He doesn't exist."

Which that's all fine and dandy. She is a fully capable person, and if she doesn't want that HEA, she doesn't have to go after it. Clara is also adamant that she wants a baby. She's gone so far as to look into donation clinics, and has done her research. She's not getting any younger, and Clara feels it is time. One night at a wedding, Clara tells Maverick that she's going to become a mom. He's surprised, obviously, but then she goes on to clarify. It is after all of this, that Maverick offers his assistance. Clara takes him up on it, but she doesn't fully explain things to him. She's not looking for a night. She's looking for a donation. What happens next is full of romcom moments that end up with these friends determined to find their happily ever after. Can they have it together though, or would they be better off just being friends?

Now, I absolutely loved Maverick and Clara's story! From The Wedding Date Proposition prequel, to the very last page of The Baby Proposition, I just loved it. I feel connected to these characters, and I want the best for them. 

From the very beginning when you could see their friendship beginning to take a turn, to the moment when Maverick made his offer, to Clara's response, and everything that happened with the baby proposition. I knew these two would fall for each other!

Let's talk about that scene with Luke though where they (Luke & Maverick) are getting ready to race through the fields. I was really enjoying their banter.

"Get off my ass. You aren't my wife. Leave me alone."

But during that race, Maverick's mind started to wander. He was thinking about everything that needed to be done. From the property here, to the property in Texas, and now that hockey team in Seattle. It's a lot, and he's feeling spread thin. What happened next though, had me gasping. My heart lurched, my hand flew to my mouth, and I was worried for a few minutes. Egads I was not expecting any of that to happen. I fully admit that I had tears welling up in my eyes. Thankfully Clara, and Doc, quickly arrived on scene and were able to do what they both needed to do for the horse, and the human. STILL THOUGH! My heart.

As the story progressed, we saw how the relationship shifted between Maverick and Clara. Yes, Maverick was going to help Clara get pregnant. But Clara was determined to keep things as relationship free as possible. That's not working. For either of them.

"I didn't even see it. I didn't see how much I needed you in my life and how I need to be in yours."

Then there was when Ben arrived in town. Ben and  Clara have known each other for years, and she was hoping he would want to move to Sunrise to help run the clinic. She needed him for when she might need to go on maternity leave. That is if she were to get pregnant. Maverick isn't thrilled about this person though, and you can feel the jealousy rolling off of him. I'm so glad that Clara called him out on it too.

"At first, the jealous caveman thing was cute, but not anymore. Why are you so mean to him?"

"I am not."

""Yes, you are. You're being ridiculous and grumpy."

When Maverick went to his buddies for guidance, I found myself chuckling often. That entire scene brought a smile to my face, and had me loving the characters even more so.. Oh those cowboys. I had a big grin on my face when Travis called him out for the reason why he was there learning the ropes. Then there was this brief conversation:

"How do I know if I'm ready?"

"It's kinda like riding a bucking bronc. You're never ready. You just hold on for dear life and hope you make it through."

As the story progressed, I found myself wondering what the dramatic moment was going to be. I knew it was going to happen, but what I had building in my brain just wasn't seeming right.  I can safely say it wasn't what I thought it was going to be, and I'm happy about that. I like it when books are not completely predictable. But the dramatic moment also had me wanting to knock our character upside the head. COME ON! 



Sorry, I couldn't resist. The entire scene had me wanted to scream this exact sentiment.

Their happily ever did come though. It may have not been as quickly as Maverick would have liked, but a happy ending happened none the less. And what an ending it was.

Oh, but can we backtrack for a moment? Let's go back to the moment that had the community coming together. That moment at Ryker Ranch gutted me. MY HEART! I was YELLING at Kim Loraine. Oh you can't do that to me! Kim, WHY?!?!? UGH. I wanted to throw my kindle across the room. 



Sweet Mama Ryker tugged at my heartstrings. That woman has been through so much, and I just want to wrap her up in a gigantic hug. (and have her adopt me.)

As this story wrapped up, I found myself curious as to what was going to happen next for Maverick and Clara. We know about the hockey team, but what exactly happened with the property in Texas? I feel like that wasn't cleared up completely. Which is okay, I'm just annoyingly curious.

Also, this has me anticipating Killian Wilde's story. From the moment he arrived on the scene in this story, I knew the setup for his story was happening. I have a feeling that one is going to be a bit of a wild ride. Or rather, he's going to Drive Me Wild. 

Then, of course, Kim Loraine had to set things up for the first hockey story as well. I'm so ready! Big Deck Energy is sounding amazing. It's a forbidden romance featuring the mistaken identity trope. BRING IT ON! Let's go Seattle Cyclones!

I gave The Baby Proposition 4.5 stars on Goodreads. Maybe it was the familiarity of the characters, maybe it was the tropes, maybe it was the storyline, but no matter what, this book pulled me in. (really, it was all of those things that lead to my rating.)

Thank you for taking time to read my thoughts on The Baby Proposition. If you like cowboy romances featuring the friends to lovers trope, then I hope you'll pick this one up. Now this is part of a series, but don't worry about that! All of the books can be read as standalones, so really you can jump in anywhere you please. I should also mention that this is technically the first book in the Anything for Love series, but I am also lumping it in with the Wilde Horse Ranch series as that is where it was to originally fit in. Happy reading my fellow book lovers!

Laura

Cover Design: T.E. Black Designs
Photography: Michelle Lancaster

Clara Barnes wants a baby, and I’m going to give her one.

I wanted Clara the first time I saw her, but as soon as I figured out she was the local vet and would be working on my ranch, I knew I had to let her go. I put myself in the friend-zone until the night she told me she wanted to get knocked up.

There wasn’t a chance I’d let another guy get her pregnant, even if he was an anonymous donor. Not when she had me, Maverick Wilde—grade A certified Montana cowboy—right in front of her.

The arrangement was perfect. I make my donation, she gets her baby, we go back to being friends. No strings. No messy heartbreak.

Except everything changes when we decide it’ll be a lot more fun to make a direct deposit and do things the old fashioned way. That spark between us? Now it’s a blazing fire I have no desire to extinguish.

Our baby proposition just got a lot more complicated.



Add the book to your Goodreads TBR!



Meet Kim Loraine



Kim Loraine was raised a Navy brat but spent most of her life growing up in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. A proper Washingtonian, she's addicted to coffee, doesn't let a little rain ruin her day, and thinks the sun is a gift from God. When not chasing her three little minions around, Kim spends her time writing, reading, and binge watching Doctor Who.

Connect with Kim

Thank you Kim for providing me with an advanced review copy of The Baby Proposition.

Friday, January 14, 2022

Broken Boys Fight Harder by JB Heller


Broken Boys Fight Harder, by JB Heller, is a steamy second chance, contemporary romance about the power of secrets and fighting to keep the things we hold dear. If you want a romance with all the feels you can only get from a bad boy falling for the good girl, then this book is for you. One-Click now to embark on an emotional journey of two opposites navigating their way through college, family trials, and self discovery.

In Broken Boys Fight Harder we meet Chance Haynes and Carter Cross. They are both in their final year of college, and are busy preparing for life after graduation. Before that can happen though, Chance is given an assignment to take photos of the football team. This isn't the usual for her, but the editor in chief isn't backing down. He wants these shots, and he wants her to be the one taking them. Chance heads over to get started, and walks into the locker room. It is there that she runs into Carter, and they begin to banter. There is clearly an attraction between these two opposites, and this is how their journey towards their happily ever after begins. From there it's a whirlwind romance,  complete with drama, and a family secret being revealed. It definitely isn't an easy ride though, and it is full of frustration, pain, heartache, loss, and love. 

I've read Broken Boys Break Hearts, and fell hard for Hux and El's story. So when I started Broken Boys Fight Harder, I was surprised to see that this book was about Hux's little sister, Chance. For some reason my mind thought it would be about other characters. I wasn't expecting this 20 year jump. That's on me though. Really I should view Broken Boys Break Hearts as the prequel for this series. It set the stage and put the ball in motion.

Back to the book at hand though. Chance is taking after Hux with her love of photography. Which I love that he helped fuel her passion.

Photography, to me, is like being given the opportunity to see the world with a whole new perspective.


I do wish that within the book we would have seen more of her pursuing her passion. It would show up from time to time, but it wasn't what we were supposed to take away from Chance.

One thing to know is that Chance loves her family fiercely. From her mom and dad, to her big brother, her sister-in-law, and her nephew. It's always comical to talk about Kassidy being her nephew as he's only two years younger than her. Throughout this book though, we see that Chance realizes something is off with her family. She notices these little tidbits. From the way Hux and her dad interact, to how things suddenly go a bit quiet, and it's making her question things. Rightfully so. I mean if you read Broken Boys Break Hearts, then you know what Hux went through with his Dad. But all of that is being kept quiet when it comes to Chance.

Carter isn't as close with his family. His parents are not the best, but then there is his big sister Bella. He would do anything for her. Any problems she has, he wants to guide her through to a resolution. It's not just because she has down syndrome, but because she is a remarkable person. Unfortunately his parents don't feel the same. Another thing to know about Carter is that he is a talented football player. He's had offers from the NFL, but is choosing not to follow that path. He has his eyes on MMA. But that goal is going to cause some issues in his relationship with Chance.

I really want to talk about the scenes that involve Chance's dad. But at the same time, I shouldn't because it has the potential for spoilers. What I can tell you is that both scenes are emotional. There is hurt, anger, frustration, and heartache all involved.

Carter and Chance intrigued me right from the get go. As their story continued to unfold, I found myself struggling to put the book down. Then suddenly our couple had their HEA, the stage was being set for Broken Boys Despise Deceit, and I still had questions that were not answered. So that was disappointing. But ultimately I did enjoy the story. Rating wise, I opted for 3.5 stars. Honestly it would have been a 4, but it was those couple of unanswered/unfinished storylines that I just couldn't move past.

I hope that you'll give Broken Boys Fight Harder a read. It is a good story, and the characters are easy to fall for. Thank you for taking time to read my thoughts.

Laura

Side note: Broken Boys Fight Harder was previously released as Moments of Clarity in 2016, and has since been rewritten and now includes new content. The new title had been Losing Focus, but it was recently retitled as Broken Boys Fight Harder.


Cover Design: Tall Story Designs
Photographer: Michelle Lancaster
Model: Andy Murray
 

Her name was Chance, and I’d give anything for a second one with her…

She swept into my life like a hurricane, annihilating everything that came before her. Football, fighting, girls, none of it mattered anymore. The nerdy chick with a camera around her neck somehow managed to soothe the rage that thrummed beneath my skin.

I should have stayed away, but I didn't and Chance quickly became my center. Sparking something in me I didn’t even know I was capable of.

Then she learned her family’s dirty little secret. And slowly, but surely, she began to pull away from me.

Without her, my demons returned in full force. I needed her back... I just had no idea how to make that happen.



Add to your Goodreads TBR!





Meet JB Heller


JB Heller is an average Aussie housewife and Mumma in her early 30's. She lives on a mini farm with her family and a few cows, sheep, a parrot, cats, fish, dogs, and a butt load of chickens. It's JB's dream to one day add a llama to the mix and an alpaca or two.

She writes across several genre's including RomCom, Romantic Suspense and Contemporary. You can always expect a healthy dose of heat, intrigue and wit in her stories.

Monday to Friday you can find JB glued to her laptop weaving words or trolling Pinterest for her next potential muse. Come the weekend, it's family time. (And of course lots of reading and Netflix binges.)

Want to know more about JB? Check her out, you’ll be guaranteed a good laugh if nothing else.



Thank you to J.B. Heller, and Wildfire Marketing Solutions, for providing me with a review copy of Broken Boys Fight Harder.

Break Me Down by Nola Marie {a review}

For those who have been wanting Ryder's story, the wait is officially over. Break Me Down, the fourth book in the Sons of Sin series by Nola Marie, is out now, and it is absolutely fabulous!

Before we talk about the book, please read this note from Nola:

This book features discussions and topics that may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised. This book contains scenes of: m/m, consensual sexual violence, addiction, codependency, rage, toxic relationships, and narcissism. If you have triggers or dislike raw, emotional pain that shreds a character's soul before rebuilding them, give this book a pass. If you choose to read, you're in for a breathtaking journey from the depths of hell to the heights of heaven. But don't say you weren't warned.

Okay now that the content/trigger warnings have been talked about, let's discuss the book.

If you've read the previous three books in the Sons of Sin series, then you've watched Ryder and Maddox's path of destruction. You've also probably noticed how bonded these two are. They are always there for each other. They know how to help the other through their tortured moments, and bring them back to the present. Is it ideal? No. Does it work for them? Currently that answer would be yes. It's what they've always known.

"Maddox said you were both complicated."

"Complicated, Love, we are not complicated. We are f*cked up. Everything about us is f*cked up. And neither of us have any right to bring you into our f*cked up little world, but there was something about you, I can't stay away from."


I knew going into Break Me Down that Ryder's story was going to be intense, but dang. This man has been through the wringer, and is just trying to make it through the day. His past is definitely haunting him, and once you learn that story, you'll understand why.


When Heaven said that "Ryder and Maddox have been nothing but a distraction since I laid eyes on them" I had to laugh. I can fully see that being the case with them. They are very much a distraction, but a fun one at that.

From the moment that Ryder briefly mentioned his sister (Rayna), my curiosity was piqued. When that storyline was finally revealed (through flash backs), I was shocked. That scenario wasn't something I expected. Then as that onion continued to unravel, we learned about Ryder's mom, and how her influence affected his life. She's a piece of work. Dang.

Speaking of dear old mom, when she made her appearance at the condo, I knew it wasn't going to be good. I was seeing red. I don't blame Heaven one bit for how she responded.

I go straight to the bus station and take the first one back home. I'll send someone back for my car. I don't take anything with me. Not even my heart. It c an stay lying in pieces on his floor because I don't need it anymore.

Flash forward to Maddox purchasing that property, and a second chance for Heaven and Ryder, I knew it wasn't going to be a smooth reunion. All of that was just jaw dropping. I don't even fully know how to put that all into words. There was a lot of anger, frustration, pain, and longing going on.

"I always knew Heaven and hell would collide. I just never expected it to be exactly what I needed to feel complete and whole."

That happily ever after that they found for themselves though? Absolutely wonderful. Their relationship took time. It required a break. But when these two reconnected, it was like coming home. 

"You have no idea what you do to me. Everything feels like -- peace when you're here. A perfect calm. You are my gravity, Heaven. You're the only thing that's ever kept me on the ground."

Also, Is it time for Maddox's story yet? Because dang if everything that happened in Break Me Down doesn't have me ready to find out what's going on with him. That's going to be one hell of a story, and I cannot wait to pick it up.

If you are someone who likes rockstar romances, or you just like characters who have to go through hell to get to their happily ever after, then you need to read Break Me Down! Do you need to read the other three books in the series first? Eh, not really. Would it give you a better picture of the Ryder that the fandom has come to know? Absolutely. But you can go into Break Me Down without reading those. So it's completely your choice. I will tell you that the other three books are fabulous stories, and I do recommend them.

Thank you for taking time to read my thoughts on Break Me Down. Please go read this book. Also, don't forget to check out the playlist that Nola Marie has curated! 

Laura

Cover Art: Nola Marie
Photographer: Josh Brandao
Model: Charlie Winzar



Sons of Sin’s lead guitarist loves being the “sin” in their name. Because without Heaven, he’d rather fast-track to hell.

Ryder
Rage is all I know.

All I’ve ever known, it seems.

Except for that one moment – brief year in my life
where I experienced Heaven.

But I crashed and burned as hard as Lucifer himself when she destroyed me.

The rage came back, stronger than ever.

And when she reappears in my life, when I learn the truth?

Rage doesn’t begin to describe what I feel.



Heaven
He was my one.

Out of the four of the hot guys that walked into my diner, I lusted after two, but fell for one.

Until I learned something that shattered my heart.

And now, in a cruel twist, the universe has thrown us back together.

He learns my truth and I learn his.

Unknowingly, I broke him all those years ago.

Now he’s determined to break me.

Shattered and gutted, how do two people heal when apologies don’t fix the damage, and the truth
comes out years too late?



Add Ryder's story to your Goodreads TBR!

Are you new to the band?
Start here ↓

Angel & Josie
Amazon | Goodreads | Review

Dane & Cami

Amazon | Goodreads | Review

Jake & Cara
Amazon | Goodreads | Review





About the Author

Nola Marie has been writing her entire life but has authored nine books in the last year, four of which are published as her steamy mafia romance series, The Men of River City. Currently she is working on her Sons of Sin series which promises to be just as bold and exciting.

She also holds a bachelors degree in IT Management and an MBA in Leadership and Strategy. 

She has spent her entire life in Louisiana, and absolutely loves everything about it from the crawfish to the swamps. She has a hard-working, completely devoted husband that encourages her to do what makes her happy, three smart, kind, intelligent children that are her best friends, and an assortment of pets. 

When not spending time with her family, she reads, writes, listens to music, doing amateur graphic design, and plays video games.

Connect with Nola Marie

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub


Thank you Nola Marie for providing me with an advanced copy of Break Me Down.
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)