Rookie by Laramie Briscoe {a review}

 Rookie by Laramie Briscoe is now live! This is the first book in the new Bradford Station series, and if you like firefighter romances, check out Rookie.

As the story begins we find Hayden stranded on the side of the road. She has a flat, and has been struggling to get the lug nuts removed. It just so happens that Danny is driving down this same road, and he spots her vehicle, which then leads him to stop and assist. It is right then and there that Danny learns he's playing with fire. Hayden tells him who her father is, and Danny knows the Chief does not want the guys dating his daughters. Danny rushes to leave, only to reconnect with Hayden a few days later at the bank. It is then that their potential relationship begins to form. A date is had, and they agree to secrecy even though it doesn't 100% mesh with Danny's ideals. Will Danny's busy schedule allow them much time together? Can these two keep their relationship under wraps? What happens if the Chief finds out? How does that affect Danny's career? 

The premise for Rookie sounds so amazing. Small town romance featuring a rookie firefighter and the chief's daughter? What's not to love?! Seriously.

The base of the story was good. Danny and Hayden piqued my curiosity, and I did like the secret dating storyline. I loved their meet cute, and even their next meet up after that. When the Chief introduced Danny and Hayden that day, I had to chuckle since these two already had met. They had even had a date or two at that point. But again, that wasn't information that Hayden's dad knew. There were a couple of scenes where Hayden went into protector mode, and I absolutely loved that. I loved seeing her in that role. Danny's devotion to his family was something I appreciated about him. No matter how tired he was from working at the station, he still jumped in at his family's business where he could. Was he burning the candle at both ends? Oh absolutely. But that didn't matter to him. Making sure his family knew they could count on him was what mattered.

Now there were a few aspects that I struggled with. It seemed that bits of the story were just forgotten. Or the parts that I had wanted elaborated on were simply glossed over like they didn't matter. Ultimately I'm left with more questions than I have answers. Knowing that Rookie didn't end on a cliffhanger, and I still have these unanswered storylines, I'm left wanting, and I don't like that. If it were a cliffhanger, then I would understand. But it's not. So...

On Goodreads I hid my questions under the spoiler feature. I'm hesitant to share them here because I don't want to share any spoilers. But I also know knowledge is a good thing. So it's a double edged sword in a way. I'm going to share a few of what I see as unanswered storylines, or why were these parts put into the story.

• What was the purpose of telling us about that "club" that Danny went to? How did that work into the story? That just doesn't make sense to me.
• What is the issue with Danny's last name, and why does the town exactly shun his family?
• What happened with the little old lady who came in to the bank? Did she ever come back?
• Then there was that tidbit about Hayden's mom that was revealed...did she ever talk to the Chief about that?
• What happened at city hall when Hayden said what she did to the person she did? What ever came from that?
• The entire fire scene. That was a major event, and yet it felt so minor in the book. How many days did that take to extinguish? How were the injured rescued? WHAT HAPPENED? Also did the entire city need to evacuate or just selected areas?

So as you can see I have questions. I don't have closure. I feel like the book wasn't complete. In my mind it needs to go back through for finessing.

Did I enjoy the story? For the most part I did. Again, the basics of the story were good. I did give the book 3 stars on Goodreads. My 3 star rating means I enjoyed the book, but it was missing something or it didn't give me what I wanted. There was so much potential for this book. For me though it fell a bit flat.

You know me though, I still recommend the book. Just because my takeaway was less than desired, doesn't mean you'll have the same experience. There are many on Goodreads who opted to give it 5 stars. I just didn't feel the same. So take my thoughts for what they are, but don't let it cloud your thoughts on the book.

Thank you for taking time to read my thoughts on Rookie. I appreciate it. Let me know if you end up reading the book. I'd love to talk about it with you.

Laura 

Cover Designer: Cover Couture
Photographer: Jeanne Woodfin

The heat is on.

Situated on the Tennessee and North Carolina border, this town is nothing like you've ever experienced. Hot guys, the women they love, and a town worth saving. Bradford, TN is the epicenter of the next great romance dynasty.

Firefighters, family, and community...

Danny Ramirez

As a Probationary Firefighter, I'm doing everything I can to impress the members of my company. Knowing I'm the first in my family to be educated makes me proud, and gives me hope for the future.

I hold myself to a higher standard than anyone else, especially with a southern small-town breathing down my neck. One night, on a dark mountain road, I help the most beautiful woman I've ever seen in my life change a flat tire.

What I don't know, is she's the youngest daughter of my Chief. His number one rule? Don't date his daughters.

I try to stay away from her, try like hell, but when a forest fire threatens our town, and the guys in my company. I know I can't let her walk away from me. Not without a fight.

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Meet Laramie Briscoe

Laramie Briscoe is the USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author of over 30 books, with sales of over half a million copies.

Since self-publishing her first book in May of 2013, Laramie has appeared on the Top 100 Bestselling E-books Lists on iBooks, Amazon Kindle, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble. Her books have been known to make readers laugh and cry. They are guaranteed to be emotional, steamy reads.

When she's not writing alpha males who seriously love their women, she loves spending time with friends, reading, and marathoning shows on Netflix. Married to her high school sweetheart, Laramie lives in Bowling Green, KY with her husband.
 

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Thank you to Laramie Briscoe, and Grey's Promotions, for providing me with an advanced review copy of Rookie.

Thief by S. Massery {a review}

Thief, the first book in the Sterling Falls series, by S. Massery is now available! This dark, gothic, reverse harem romance will grab your attention! You'll find yourself needing to know what happens next. Just a little heads up though, Thief does end with a cliffhanger. So, go preorder Fighter now. Trust me.

Before we even begin talking about this book though, here's a snippet of the note from the author:

Fair warning, my stories run dark (violence, explicit content, etc.). Sterling Falls is no different. Reader discretion is advised.

Now, I've read Thrill. If you don't know, Thrill is the prequel, and it shares the story of Nyx and Saint. It also introduces us to Hades, Apollo, and Ares, as well as sets up what Olympus is. So having read that, I thought I knew what to expect from Thief. After having read Thief, I was wrong. My preconceived notions were completely wrong.

The main characters of Thief are:

• Kora Sinclair
• Wolfe James (aka Ares)
• Jace King (aka Hades)
• Apollo
• Kronos

Thief introduces us to Kora Sinclair. She is a college student who has just moved to Sterling Falls, and one night she finds herself at Olympus. It is there that she witnesses something, and she doesn't know what to do. Hades, Apollo, and Ares obviously spot her, and she is suddenly the invisible girl around town.

Memories pop across my eyes like camera flashes. Here is where I spotted them and stopped, and here is where I removed my heels. And there is where the man was stabbed.

Her life has changed, her plans have changed, and now she's desperate. So she turns to Kronos for assistance. This was a wrong move, but at the time, Kora thought it was for the best. She needed the help that Kronos gave her. Flash forward a bit, and Kronos doles out a punishment for lack of payment. A final chance is offered, but if Kora fails, that's it. Kronos will do what he needs to in order to recoup costs. That is what brings Kora to Olympus this evening. And this task is what ends up with her meeting Apollo, Ares, and Hades.

"You're a curious thing, aren't you? Too innocent for the likes of Hell."

"Trust me, I've been to Hell. This is nothing."

"I look forward to discovering your version of Hell."

Honestly in the beginning of the book, I was pretty meh about the whole thing. Especially with the scenes featuring Marley, and her crew. Marley's group of friends is quite frankly the worst, but I digress.

"You ditching your friends?"

"Only one is my friend. The rest...not so much."

That being said, when the action kicks in? Oh my word, I was so dang curious as to what was going to happen next. How was Kora going to get herself out of this ordeal? How does this situation end up with the the guys coming to her rescue?

"Get her out of here."

"We're not done."

"You're done with her. Got it?"

"Until we meet again, invisible girl. Because we will..." 

Now when the guys arrived? It was then that I knew things were about to pick up, and I was not disappointed. Their interruption of the meeting between Kora and Kronos, set the ball in motion. The action was about to pick up. Kora now has a target on her back, and the guys are going to do whatever they can to keep her safe.

"I tried to save you from Kronos, but he refused. For a myriad of reasons, and none of them are important right now. He wants you back in his possession to sell you and get his investment back. With interest, knowing him. His pockets often dictate the decisions he makes. But we'll figure it out."

When Kora returns to campus after her encounter with Kronos, I was nervous on her behalf. What was going to happen? Would it be possible for her to attend her classes with out the Titans noticing? Without them trying to get her? Would the guys be able to keep her safe? Also, Sheriff Bradshaw is sketchy as hell. 

"Titans are hot on your heels. It's only a matter of time before someone close to you caves and turns you in."

As the story is building to the major scene, we get a glimpse of Wolfe, Kora, Nyx, and Saint at the falls. Nyx and Saint have both jumped, and Wolfe is now taking his turn. That allows Nyx the perfect opportunity to talk with Kora.

"Listen, I don't think I'll have long before Wolfe catches us."

"Oh?"

"They're good guys. On in the inside. Don't feel like you have to pick one." 

"Pick one?"

"I read romance novels. And some of them get quite creative in their dynamic."

"Are you suggesting I create my own little harem? That's crazy."

"It's better than picking and breaking their hearts."

Loved that scene. Also the fact that Nyx saw what was happening between the group was impressive. The truth she spoke to Kora was just what she needed to hear. And it sets up this reverse harem (why choose) storyline wonderfully.

Kora continues to be protected by Ares, Hades, and Apollo. She cannot leave the house without one of them. Which is unfortunately impacting their business as well. So when they get a tip about a location where Kronos holds contracts, and it is also where he is hiding his family, Apollo and Hades take on the mission. Except this mission wasn't what they thought it was. It wasn't so cut and dry. It's about to get messy. This entire scene had me on the edge of my seat. I found myself wondering how Apollo and Hades were going to make it to safety? Would they be able to escape without being recognized by the Titans? Would Ares and Kora find them in time? Is Apollo going to survive? What happened to Hades? It is after this scene that Kronos gets what he wants, but it isn't how he wanted it to go down.

"Why do the Hell Hounds want you? What value do you bring to them?"

"I wonder. Do you think they care enough to arrive quickly? Do you think they'll hurry if they know you're in danger? They might even rush in here to save you --or maybe not. If you take one thing with you to the grave, let it be this: you can't trust a dog."

 

I cannot with how this book ended?! My jaw was firmly on the ground, and I found myself needing to know what happened next? How does Kora get out of THIS situation? Where are the guys? WHAT IS HAPPENING? UGH!!! I need to read Fighter now! Is it April yet?

Listen, if you like mc romances or mafia romances, or anything like that, you NEED to pick up Thief. You just need to. This series is going to take us on one hell of a ride, and I am a willing passenger. The guys have my attention. Kora has my attention. I am needing to know what happens next, and I can guarantee you, I will be saying the same thing when I finish reading Fighter. 

Thank you for taking time to read my thoughts on the book. I know I was a bit all over the place at times, and I left out a lot of key scenes. That part was intentional. After all I cannot tell you EVERYTHING about the book. That would just be rude. Please go grab this book. I promise that it's worth it.

Laura

    

Cover Design: Qamber Designs
Cover Photo: Wander Aguiar

I wasn’t supposed to be at Olympus that night.

And I definitely wasn’t supposed to witness a murder – or be caught by the killers.

Hades, Apollo, and Ares run the mysterious, masked fight club, and they wield more power in this town than I could dream of holding. They destroy my life with one decree: Kora Sinclair doesn’t exist.

Sterling Falls was my chance to start over, but one night derails everything.

My scholarship, my job – gone.

I could run home, but giving up my dreams isn’t an option.

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

When I can’t repay my debt to an unforgiving man, he gives me a choice. I can steal Hades’ mask, or he can take what I owe from my flesh.

But if I do, there’s no turning back. More than the fear of his threats, revenge drives my decision. I need to steal the mask.

After all, who better to become a thief than the girl they tried to erase?

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April 2022

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Are you wanting to visit Sterling Falls early?

If you said yes, visit S. Massery's website, and download the prequel, THRILL, now!

About the Author

S. Massery, AKA Sara, is a dark romance author from Massachusetts. She enjoys twisting, suspenseful tales with dark anti-heroes and sassy heroines.​

Her journey started when she was a little girl, dreaming of stories and frantically trying to capture her dreams on paper. She completed her first novel, Something Special, in 2018, and she has been unstoppable ever since.

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Thank you to S Massery, and Candi Kane PR, for providing me with a review copy of Theif.

Ignited by SE Rose & Sierra Hill {a review}

Reader friends, I don't know if you're ready for Ignited. SE Rose and Sierra Hill have created this beautiful book that is filled with love, loss, heartache, and trauma.

Ignited takes you on Nick's journey from what happened overseas, to leaving the military and coming home, to his struggle with PTSD. Now this book isn't only about Nick. He does have a love interest. Becca is a pediatric nurse who has a huge heart. She is full of love, compassion, and understanding. Becca also has the ability to see Nick for who he is. She sees the pain, the heartache, the trauma, and longs to walk him through that battlefield. These two start off as friends, but eventually their story takes a turn, and these friends become lovers. But of course a love story is never that simple. Our characters can not simply have their happily ever after without a bit of hardship thrown in. It is in that moment that my heart really went out to Nick. Oh who am I kidding, throughout the book his story tugged at my heartstrings.

My heart and head aren't really here with me --I left them overseas. It's been hell, and I have a long road ahead of me.

Maybe it was everything Nick had been through. Maybe it was the trauma he was still dealing with. Maybe it was just him in general. Nick drew me in, and had my attention throughout the book. It's as though I was waiting for the moment when it was all going to go up in flames (so to speak). Nick's PTSD was going to get to that point, unless he reached out for help. Quite frankly I wanted to see how he was going to deal with it all. What steps was he going to take to work towards healing, and what coping skills he was going to find to work through future events.

Half the time, I feel like a bomb ready to detonate, but the second I'm in Becca's presence, I'm better.

Becca was a breath of fresh air. She wasn't this perfect character who never had any issues. But while she dealt with her stuff, she was also noticing things with Nick. She could see him for who he was, and what he was struggling with. I had to laugh when Becca said this:

"Stop making fun of me. You're not being very nice. And you just ruined the whole Captain America vibe you had going on."

That little line showed had me smiling, and it showed another side to Becca. In addition to all that was happening with Nick, she also had her career. We saw her go through the emotional aspects of her job, and the highs and lows she experienced each and every day. Then we also witnessed her jumping in when needed later on. Becca isn't a woman who will sit on the sidelines and let others perform a task she is capable of. She is an amazing woman who loves hard.

Nick, I know whatever you went through must have been really hard. I'm sure I can't imagine it. But I wanted to bring you here, to see this, because even when you're in a really dark head space, there is still beauty you can see in the world, if you are just willing to look around you.

The scene that hit me hardest though was when Nick and Bianca spoke on the phone. That caused tears to fall. The emotions were strong in that scene, and I felt them all.

"Remember how you and Juan wanted to take that hike and watch the sunrise? You were going to have a guys' trip, remember?" 

 

"Yes, I remember. Sunrise Cliffs; its name is Sunrise Cliffs." 

 

"Go do it."

After that scene, when Nick was talking to Tyler and Liam about everything, the emotions were still strong. Here was Nick talking to his siblings, and they made it known they were by his side. They would take this journey with him. It wasn't just them though, it was Callie and Becca speaking up too. With everything Nick had been through, he had found a support system here at home. He found his team that would walk beside him, and support him however they could. Yes, Liam and Tyler are his brothers, but that doesn't diminish the bond that they have. And in that moment, that bond was extremely strong. 

Nick, no matter what happened to you. Let yourself be happy; let yourself be loved.

Absolutely loved this book, and I look forward to reading more in this series. These characters, that SE Rose and Sierra Hill have created, have won a spot in my heart, and I'm not ready to let them go. Now that being said, I need to go back and read Burned. I need to see how Ty and Callie's relationship started, and the hurdles they faced in their path toward forever.

Thank you for taking time to read my thoughts on Ignited. Hopefully I haven't spoiled anything for you. I think I've been fairly vague about the happenings of the story. If you are someone who enjoys reading firefighter romances, or stories of past military members, then I hope you'll  give Ignited a read. This small town, friends to lovers romance will grab your heart. Or at least that was the case for me.

Laura 

Cover Design: Y'all That Graphic

My world was dark and cold...until she ignited a spark.

When I left to serve in the military, I had a plan for my life. I saw a future with a wife and kids and all the things my parents have together. But that was before I saw the horrors of combat.

Now I’m back in my small-town working alongside my brother as a firefighter. I’m slowly learning to live again with one very big complication. It comes in the form of a small, feisty, attractive woman who just happens to be the best friend of my brother’s girlfriend. And as fate would have it, she’s also my new neighbor.

Becca Carmichael drives me crazy with her absolute perfection. She’s all I ever wanted before I left to serve. And now, she’s everything I can’t allow myself to have.I’ve tried to keep my distance, because I know I’m not what she needs.

But a spark ignited between us the moment we met and it turned into a burning desire that is getting harder to douse each day.

She needs to stay away from me, but I’m not sure I can stay away from her.

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About the Authors

USA Today & International Bestselling romance author, S.E. Rose lives near Washington D.C. with her family. When she's not wrangling her cats or keeping up with her kids, she's plotting her next story. She loves all things wine, coffee, and cats. In her non-existent free time, she enjoys traveling, going to concerts, binging on her favorite shows, and reading, especially if it's a good mystery or comedy.

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SIERRA HILL wrote and published her first contemporary new adult romance in 2014 and has since published over thirty novels. She is a 2020 RONE Award-Winning author of Game Changer, as well as award-winning college sports series, Courting Love, and the twice award-finalist erotic ménage serial, Reckless – The Smoky Mountain Trio.

Sierra lives in the Seattle area with her husband of twenty-five years and their rescued German Shepherd. When not writing, she enjoys baking, reading, and traveling to see her favorite alternative rock band, Pearl Jam.

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Thank you to Sierra Hill, SE Rose, and Wildfire Marketing Solutions, for providing me with a review copy of Ignited.

Green Envy by Aleatha Romig {a review}

From New York Times bestselling author Aleatha Romig comes a brand-new age-gap, family saga, chance meeting, contemporary romantic-suspense novel in the world of high finance, where success is sweet and revenge is sweeter. GREEN ENVY is a full-length novel and book two of the Sin Series that began with RED SIN.

The time has come to catch up with Donovan Sherman and Julia McGrath! Now if you read Red Sin, then you know how all this began. You also know how that book ended on a cliffhanger, and that we were left wanting more. Well as much as I would love to recap Green Envy for you, I cannot because it would be one gigantic spoiler. But what I can do is tell you my general thoughts on the story without going into specifics. Also, just go preorder Gold Lust now, because you'll be wanting that.

So it's no surprise that I have been eagerly anticipating this book since I finished reading Red Sin. It's how I am with stories that captivate me. And Donovan Sherman has my attention. He is so evasive with his past, and I just need to figure that mystery out. In Green Envy we are given a little more access to Van's past, and a few of the people who were in it. We learn a smidgen about Madison, we meet Lena, and we find out a bit about Van's siblings. But a lot is still hidden from us. Will we ever know everything about Van? Maybe? But at the same point I'm doubtful. A man like that always holds things close to the chest. He never reveals all the cards he is holding. So we will just have to wait to see if Aleatha proves me wrong.

So putting aside everything with Van's backstory, there is all the chaos and uncertainty that is happening with Wade Pharmaceuticals. That right there is a shit show. Julia was learning some truths about her family's company, and that onion was starting to reveal it's layers. Throughout everything that was happening with Wade, I was continually impressed with Julia. She stepped up. She did her homework. She held her ground. She pushed for what she felt was right, and she laid her truths down. Her time with Van has been a good thing. He's instilled confidence in her, and shown her that she is capable of being this badass businesswoman.

Going into Green Envy I thought for sure I was going to have all my questions answered. I was going to find out Van's story, and see how everything wrapped up with Wade Pharmaceuticals. For some reason I had in my mind that the Sin series was actually a duet. So when I was at 92% read, I was wondering how all this was going to wrap up. Um, it wasn't. BUT...A lot went down in that last 8% of the book. OH MY WORD! Damn. Yeah.

As I finished the book, I found myself sighing audibly. My husband was seated next to me, and he said "it either didn't end the way you wanted, or it ended on a cliffhanger". UM, how about both?!? In all seriousness though, this book sucked me in, had me playing Nancy Drew, and damn if I wasn't trying to connect the dots.

I leave you with this...If anything this book left me with a little more knowledge about it all, but even more questions (and scenarios) are circulating through my head. I need to know what happens next! I need to know how this is all going to resolve. What is Van hiding? Who is behind that SPAC? Who is the driving force at Wade? What is going on there?

Basically, I need it to be April 5, as that's when Gold Lust comes out. Maybe then I'll have more of my questions answered.

If you are looking for a series that will have you bringing out your inner sleuth, then go grab the Sins series. It is mysterious, it is steamy, it is addictive. Trust me when I say it's been a fabulous read. If you're wondering about my rating, I gave it 4.5 stars on Goodreads.

Thank you for taking time to read my thoughts,
Laura

Cover Art: Letitia Hasser @ RBA Designs/Romantic Book Affairs

“Nothing is enough to the man for whom enough is too little.” ~ Epicurus

At what age did I begin to question everything?

As far back as I, Donavan Sherman, can recall, I saw the world, not through the rose-colored glasses of others—those spectacles worn by the individuals who see what surrounds them and are satisfied—but through vision hued by green.

Life took me along a bumpy path, or better yet, the path I chose led me to encounter obstacles that prepared me to overcome. That journey didn’t sugar-coat the world; it opened my eyes to the true qualities of green—greed, illness, and envy. After all, even Disney surrounds their villains in green smoke. That green hue created the realization that there is always more, always better, and never enough.

I saw, I coveted, I took, and I conquered.

I made enemies.

Even with Julia by my side, my quest for more isn’t satisfied. There are people I want to see suffer. It seems that revenge isn’t a one-way street.

Will Julia pay the price for my sins?

Have you been Aleatha’d?

 

 

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Meet Aleatha Romig

Aleatha Romig is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author who lives in Indiana, USA. She grew up in Mishawaka, graduated from Indiana University, and is currently living south of Indianapolis. Aleatha has raised three children with her high school sweetheart and husband of over thirty years. Before she became a full-time author, she worked days as a dental hygienist and spent her nights writing. Now, when she's not imagining mind-blowing twists and turns, she likes to spend her time a with her family and friends. Her other pastimes include reading and creating heroes/anti-heroes who haunt your dreams and bring your imagination to life!

Aleatha released her first novel, CONSEQUENCES, in August of 2011. CONSEQUENCES became a bestselling series with five novels and two companions released from 2011 through 2015. The compelling and epic story of Anthony and Claire Rawlings has graced more than half a million e-readers. Aleatha released the first of her series TALES FROM THE DARK SIDE, INSIDIOUS, in the fall of 2014. These stand alone thrillers continue Aleatha's twisted style with an increase in heat.

In the fall of 2015, Aleatha moved head first into the world of dark romantic suspense with the release of BETRAYAL, the first of her five novel INFIDELITY series that has taken the reading world by storm. She also began her traditional publishing career with Thomas and Mercer. Her books INTO THE LIGHT and AWAY FROM THE DARK were published through this mystery/thriller publisher in 2016.

In the spring of 2017, Aleatha released her first stand-alone, fun, and sexy romantic comedy with PLUS ONE, followed by the sweet stand-alone, ONE NIGHT.

Aleatha is a "Published Author's Network" member of the Romance Writers of America and PEN America. She is represented by Kevan Lyon of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.

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Thank you to Aleatha Romig, and Wildfire Marketing Solutions, for providing me with an advanced copy of Green Envy.

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.

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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.

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