Saturday, November 30, 2019

Winners - - The Beast of Beswick






The randomly chosen winners of a copy of

The Beast of Beswick by Amalie Howard are:

Diane D - Florida

and

Beck

Congratulations!

Please send your full name, mailing address, and 

choice of print or Kindle copy to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com


Winner - - Restless Hearts






The randomly chosen winner of a copy of

Restless Hearts by B.J. Daniels is:

SusanLovesBooks

Congratulations!

Please send your full name and mailing address to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com


Friday, November 29, 2019

Tour Review - - The Perfect Fit




The Perfect Fit
by Mary Jayne Baker
Love in the Dales - Book 2
Publisher: Mirror Books
Release Date: August 1, 2019
Reviewed by PJ
    




After years living in London, costume shop owner Becky Finn is trying to build a new life for herself and fiancé Cole in her old home of Egglethwaite, a sleepy village in the Yorkshire Dales. Keen to raise funds for the struggling village hall she loved as a child, Becky soon finds herself at the head of a colorful group intent on resurrecting Egglethwaite’s Christmas pantomime. But, as she quickly discovers, there’s more to panto than innuendo and slapped thighs. As opening night grows closer, Becky starts to wonder if her embattled panto will ever make it to the stage—and, with handsome co-star Marcus on the scene, if she’s picked the right man for her after all.




My thoughts:

The Perfect Fit is a sweet and quirky Christmas romance that gives readers a peek into the lives and loves in a small English village. Centered around the villagers' attempts to save their community hall by staging a Christmas pantomime (I had no idea what an English panto was before reading this book), it's chock full of all the innuendo, cross-dressing, and slapstick found in British humor. I enjoyed the characters, and their humor, though, as an American, I often found myself struggling to keep up with the British vernacular. 

Baker is a good writer with fully formed characters who spring from the pages with verve. By the end of the book, I truly felt as if I'd visited this village and knew her citizens well. This is a true ensemble cast who all contribute to the flow of the story. I especially enjoyed the older gentlemen who are dragged reluctantly into the panto and end up stealing the show. I found myself laughing out loud more than once. 

I enjoyed Becky, Cole, and Marcus and empathized with their romantic dilemma, but had grown a bit weary of it by the time it was resolved. I was happy with the way it ended but would have enjoyed it more had one man exited a bit earlier, allowing more time for a relationship with the man who is her true match to develop and deepen. Still, I was happy with both the heart-tugging ending and Becky's choice, and found myself both laughing and tearing up at the way it all unfolded. And, I enjoyed these characters enough to give book one, A Bicycle Made for Two, a go.

If you enjoy bawdy British humor, sweet, light romance, and a village filled with quirky characters, all wrapped up in holiday fun, you may want to give The Perfect Fit a try. 


~~~~~~~~~~~




a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Happy Thanksgiving








Wishing all of my U.S. followers a 

safe, happy, and blessed Thanksgiving holiday.

I'm thankful for each and every one of you. 

What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving?

One person who comments before

11:00 PM, November 30

will receive a package of

books and swag.

(U.S. addresses only)

(Must be 18 or older)




Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Coastal Magic Author Spotlight - - Amalie Howard




Hi, everyone! This month I'm turning my Coastal Magic spotlight on a new-to-me author: Amalie Howard. I met Amalie at a book conference earlier this year but hadn't read any of her books until her newest, The Beast of Beswick, hit my Kindle. Oh my gosh, how have I not read this author before? I loved this story! It was everything I hope for in a historical romance with its brooding, scarred hero and damn-the-torpedoes-full-speed-ahead, heroine. Historical romance purists may take issue with some modern themes in this book (feminist heroines who take on the patriarchy) but I'm not among them. Astrid is brilliantly portrayed, wholly believable, and had my support the entire way. Then there's Thane. Oh, what that man has suffered. He could only be brought out of hiding by a woman as strong as he and I loved being there to watch it all unfold. Surrounding our couple, Howard has assembled a wonderful cast of secondary characters who provide humor, compassion, and conflict. I adored Thane's Aunt Mable and enjoyed watching Astrid's younger sister coming into her own. The rapid-fire dialogue, rich sensuality, cheeky servants, and impeccable storytelling kept me engaged from beginning to end. I laughed, cheered, cringed, and shed a few tears before reaching the immensely satisfying conclusion. Then, I wanted to go right back to the beginning and read the story all over again. So, you know what? I did! Now, I'll be downloading Amalie Howard's historical back list along with eagerly anticipating whatever she has in store for readers next. I can't wait!



The Beast of Beswick
by Amalie Howard
Publisher: Entangled:Amara
Release Date: November 26, 2019
Reviewed by PJ
 


Beauty and the Beast meets Taming of the Shrew in this laugh-out-loud and heartfelt Regency romance.
Lord Nathaniel Harte, the disagreeable Duke of Beswick, spends his days smashing porcelain, antagonizing his servants, and snarling at anyone who gets too close. With a ruined face like his, it's hard to like much about the world. Especially smart-mouthed harpies—with lips better suited to kissing than speaking—who brave his castle with indecent proposals.
But Lady Astrid Everleigh will stop at nothing to see her younger sister safe from a notorious scoundrel, even if it means offering herself up on a silver platter to the forbidding Beast of Beswick himself. And by offer, she means what no highborn lady of sound and sensible mind would ever dream of—a tender of marriage with her as his bride.


 Q&A with Amalie Howard



Welcome Amalie! Thanks for visiting with me today. I’m so excited to see you at the Coastal Magic Convention in February!

Thanks for having me! I’m super excited to be a guest at Coastal Magic as well, and I can’t wait to chat with you in person!

Your newest book, THE BEAST OF BESWICK was released yesterday. What should readers expect in this story?

Yes! I’m so excited about this book. It’s Beauty and the Beast meets Taming of the Shrew, and I’m so proud to say that it received a starred review from Publishers Weekly.
Readers should expect a sexy enemies-to-lovers romance with a smart heroine who has learned how to be resilient and independent, and a grouchy, war-scarred hero who doesn’t want anything to do with anyone. These two have not had the easiest of lives, and in their own way, each feels blocked off from love. When circumstances throw them together, sparks fly, and the shrew whose only passion is her books finds it in real life, and the beast who has hidden himself away opens up to someone new. I loved writing Astrid and Thane’s story and getting them to their hard-won HEA.
I also really enjoyed writing a clever, feminist heroine who wasn’t afraid to use her brain (intelligence is sexy!) or hide how well-read she was. In Astrid’s case, I wanted to show that being put in a box didn’t mean that she had to accept it or be stuck there forever—her choices mattered. And likewise, I wanted to write a hero who valued that kind of intelligence and who relished matching wits with her. I loved the verbal sparring (hello, foreplay!) in this romance, and hope readers will too.

I’m always up for a midnight snack and I like to imagine characters I’m reading about might be as well. What would Thane and Astrid sneak down to the kitchens to snack on after some late-night sexy times?

Haha, great question! I have a sexy scene at the end of the book that will definitely answer this question. So how about a sneak peek:
“I’m ravenous,” Astrid said, reaching for a piece of crusty bread and some cheese as Thane lowered the tray to the table. They didn’t talk as she filled a small plate with the offerings on the tray—some cold chicken, along with fresh fruit and a warm meat pie. He wasn’t hungry, but he watched her eat her fill.
“I was famished,” she said, licking her fingers clean with a sigh. He forced himself to behave at the sight of those elegant fingers disappearing into her mouth, but his body had other ideas. Time had not dulled his infatuation with her hands. “I only had a bit of Aunt Mabel’s whiskey on the way to North Stifford after luncheon at Harte House.”
“She’s a terrible influence.”
“She’s wonderful,” Astrid declared loyally, but then she giggled again. “Do you know she embroi­ders…”

Alas, (evil author laugh), to find out what the terrible and utterly unapologetic Aunt Mabel embroiders, you’ll have to read the book! Trust me, it’s quite scandalous!

I’m currently adventuring overseas and scouring the shops for quirky souvenirs. What’s the craziest souvenir you’ve ever brought home from a trip? Do you still have it?

Oh, very cool. I hope you have a fantastic trip! I love to travel and have been all over the world (29 countries so far). I usually collect postcards, small jewelry, art, books, and knick-knacks. The best souvenirs I’ve ever brought home were a gorgeous piece of golden art from Singapore and a beautiful statue of two lovers made of Murano glass from Venice. The craziest souvenir, however, has to go to the pair of battle swords I brought from New York Comic Con when my young adult science fiction book, THE ALMOST GIRL, came out. Still have them and I think they’re still pretty sharp.

The blurb for THE BEAST OF BESWICK calls this book “Beauty and the Beast meets Taming of the Shrew,” which makes me even more eager to read it! If you were cast in a fairy tale (modern or otherwise), which character would you want to be? Which character would your friends and family say you’re actually most like?

Suddenly, the Slytherin in me wants to answer—which means I’d want to be cast as Maleficent. She’s smart, she has magic, and she can change into a DRAGON! Deep down, she has a heart somewhere…right? RIGHT??
As far as family and friends, my daughter says I’m most like Belle because, and I quote, “you’re always so sweet and kind and nice. And you make books, which also kind of counts as reading, and because you look like her and you’re pretty.” Don’t worry, I’ll pay her $20 later, lol.

Thanksgiving is tomorrow and the winter holidays are just around the corner. It’s the time of the year when those culinary wizards among us begin whipping up delicious cookies, breads, and other holiday goodies. So, tell me, what’s your favorite holiday kitchen disaster (yours or someone else’s)?

Favorite holiday kitchen disaster? Wow—so let’s go with the time that I moved to Colorado from New York and attempted to make my long-perfected, famous disappearing chocolate cake, only to find that when it came out of the oven, it was soup. Yes, you read that right…chocolate freaking soup.
Altitude, you guys, it’s a real thing. Who knew? Obviously, not me. Anyway, I learned after mourning the watery death of my beautiful cake. I went online and quickly learned (reading and self-education is the best, isn’t it?) that high-altitude baking is a THING. So if you’re like me and find yourself in mile-high territory, you’re going to need to add more liquid and more flour, lessen the sugar, and then increase baking temperature and decrease baking time. You’re welcome.

You’ve had a pretty adventurous life. Is there anything you haven’t done yet that’s on your must-experience list?

I have done a lot of cool things, including eating rocky mountain oysters (Google it, I dare you), skydiving, scuba diving, bungee-jumping, being on a TV show, riding a motorcycle, traveling the world, among other interesting bucket-listy things. But one day, I really want to learn how to fly a plane and get my pilot’s license. 

What’s on your writing horizon? Are you able to share any information about it?

I’m super excited for my first interracial historical romance coming out with Sourcebooks in late 2020/early 2021. It was announced a few months ago in Publishers Weekly: “Own-voices author Amalie Howard’s two interracial historical romances, starting with an epic love story spanning the pre-British Raj period in India to the glittering ballrooms of London, about an English duke and a fearless Anglo-Indian princess, who will defy all odds—culture, countries, and oceans—to be together.”

Thanks for visiting with us today, Amalie! Is there anything you’d like to add? Would you like to ask my readers a question?

Thank you so much for having me! To your readers, I just want to say a huge thank you for reading and supporting authors like me. Without you, I wouldn’t be able to do what I do, so thanks from the bottom of my heart. I hope you enjoy Astrid and Thane’s story!
As far as a question, next year is kind of a cool milestone year, so if you could complete one thing on your bucket list in 2020, what would it be? (Also, DO IT!!! I’ll be cheering you on from the sidelines!!)

I want to share the fun I had reading Thane and Astrid's story so TWO randomly chosen readers who comment on this post before 11:00 PM, November 28, will receive their choice of a Kindle copy or print copy of THE BEAST OF BESWICK. 

Winners must be 18 or older.
Print copy available to any address serviced by bookdepository.com


For more information about Amalie and her books, visit her website and connect with her online at Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Goodreads, and Amazon




Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Review, Q&A, and Giveaway - - Restless Hearts


Restless Hearts
by B.J. Daniels
Montana Justice - Book 1
Publisher: HQN
Release Date: November 26, 2019
Reviewed by PJ
 


He’s fighting for a second chance with his first love…before it’s too late.

The last time PI Blaze McClintock was on her family’s ranch, she left in handcuffs. She vowed then to never go home again…until her estranged father is accused of murder. He’s not a good man—this entire Montana town knows that. But Blaze believes her father is innocent and she’ll do anything to prove it, even ask the one man who broke her heart for help—the only man in town who’s on her side.
No matter how hard he tried, Jake Horn could never forget Blaze. As teenagers, their passion ignited, leaving destruction in their wake. Now, years later, it’s obvious little has changed. But as they work together to unravel what really happened that night, a dangerous secret threatens to separate them for good. This time, though, Jake won’t let Blaze go without a fight—even if it means risking his own life.


My thoughts:

I love a good mystery. Pair it with a second-chance romance and I'm all in. But set it on a Montana ranch, populate it with intriguing characters, and weave in a plethora of twists and turns that keep me eagerly turning the pages until 4:00 - freakin' - AM in the morning and, obviously, I'm going to give it a 5-star review. 

Daniels drew me straight into Montana ranch life, the lives of these characters, and the mysteries that surround them. I quickly became invested in Blaze and Jake, their search for the truth, and their second chance at romance. My heart ached for Blaze, even as I admired her gutsy, take-charge personality. And Jake won my heart as surely as he won Blaze's. I mean, who doesn't love a guy who surprises you by cooking your favorite breakfast? Am I right? The secondary characters are complex and vividly drawn, adding depth and richness to the story, along with plenty of twists and turns.

I'm good at figuring out mysteries, usually by the middle of a book, but not this time. The mysteries in this book are so tightly, and expertly, woven that each time I was certain I had unraveled the threads Daniels would add a twist that sent me off in an entirely new direction. I was still trying to figure things out when the big reveals arrived. I love when an author does that! 

If you enjoy high-stakes, western romance with edge-of-your-seat tension, mysteries that keep you guessing, family conflict, and sigh-worthy romance, don't miss B.J. Daniels' Restless Hearts

Restless Hearts launches Daniels' new Montana Justice series for HQN. Book two, Heartbreaker, is set for release on March 24, 2020. I already have it on pre-order. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Q&A with B.J. Daniels


Hello, B.J.! Thanks for visiting with me today. I just finished reading Restless Hearts, the book that launches your Montana Justice series. What can readers expect from this new series?

I love the idea of second chances - and not just at love. Some of the characters got into trouble with the law in their youths. Fortunately, Judge WT Landusky gave them a second chance. Now they will do anything for the judge who believe in paying it forward. So when the judge calls, my characters are ready to do whatever he asks. 
   
Both the heroines and heroes are strong so even though they find themselves in danger and are risking their lives, the judge knows they will find their way out and on the way, they’ll find love. J They also solve the mystery, of course!!

I love a woman who enjoys a hearty breakfast, especially when that breakfast is cooked by the man in her life. 😉 Blaze is a pushover for pancakes and bacon. What’s your dream breakfast and which fictional character would you most enjoy cooking it for you?

Shoot, I'd like Jake Horn to cook for me. But any time he asked, I'd make him what we call a Johnson Breakfast. This breakfast includes chicken fried venison, biscuits, and gravy, hash browns and eggs. And of course, homemade peach jam for any leftover biscuits. 

Restless Hearts kept me eagerly turning the pages – and trying to figure out the mystery – until almost 3:00 AM. What’s the last book that kept you reading into the wee hours of the night?

Sorry for keeping you up so late, but that is wonderful to hear!
I love page turners and am reading one right now! It is by Jane Corry titled MY HUSBAND'S WIFE. I have no idea how it is going to end, which is a treat for me. 

The winter holidays are just around the corner. Please tell us about your favorite holiday tradition?

Every year my husband and I and usually our three Springer Spaniels go up into the Little Rockies and get a Christmas tree. It's been a tradition for us now for more than twenty-five years. Then we come home and decorate it with ornaments that we have collected over those years, listening to Christmas music and recalling other holidays we've shared.

When can we expect the next book in the Montana Justice series? Are you able to share any information about it?

HEARTBREAKER comes out March 24th. This one was particularly fun for me because of all the twists and turns. My characters always surprise me. This one is set between two of my favorites places of Montana, Gardiner near the Yellowstone Park entrance and Flathead Lake in northwestern Montana. Also, I love seeing two characters who are so different find out just how much they are alike - after they are nearly killed and have saved themselves, of course. 
 .  
Thank you for answering my questions, B.J. Is there anything you’d like to add? Would you like to ask my readers a question?

Thank you. Good questions. This has been fun. I would ask readers how they feel about second-chance romance novels and if they've been given a second chance in their lives they'd like to share?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, November 27, will receive a copy of Restless Hearts
*Must be 18 or older.
*U.S. addresses only.






Monday, November 25, 2019

Blog Tour Review & Giveaway - - Diamond in the Rogue





Diamond in the Rogue
by Wendy LaCapra
Lords of Chance - Book 3
Publisher: Entangled:Scandalous
Release Date: November 11, 2019
Reviewed by PJ
 



In an act of revenge, Lord Rayne kissed Lady Julia and was sent packing to America. But now he’s back to settle his affairs and give away his sister in marriage, until he meets up with the alluring yet innocent Lady Julia again. He doesn’t regret their first kiss, but he was never good enough for her.

Lady Julia had two years to forget the moody and mercurial Earl of Rayne. But one look, and she knows they’re meant to be together. Be damned with his and her brother’s objections, she’ll just jump on the back of Rayne’s departing carriage and compromise them both thoroughly.

Only, Julia never expected her forbidding Lord to be so good at resisting temptation...

My thoughts:

Since her 2015 debut, Wendy LaCapra has captivated me with her deeply emotional and sensual stories, becoming one of my favorite historical romance authors. Her newest book, Diamond in the Rogue, brings readers the eagerly anticipated reckoning between the Earl of Rayne and Lady Julia and, I'm happy to report, exceeds my every expectation. 

LaCapra is a gifted wordsmith who excels at drawing me into her stories, her settings, her multi-layered characters, and their complex relationships. There is nothing easy about the relationship between Rayne and Julia, with its many tangled threads woven among family members, fractured friendships, and Rayne and Julia themselves. I enjoy characters who are flawed, who are forced to work for their happy endings, and I adored these two. I've been waiting for their story since book one, Scandal in Spades, released almost two years ago. There's a lot of fence mending to be done and, I'll be honest, I had no idea how LaCapra would accomplish it, but I couldn't wait to take the journey. That's something else I enjoy about LaCapra's books. Her characters are so realistic, so vibrantly depicted, that I never feel as though I'm reading about them. Instead, I become so invested in their lives, they become so important to me, that I take the journey with them. I feel their emotions, their fears, their frustrations, their hope, their love, and their happiness. It's an emotional roller coaster, to be sure, but one I happily take time and time again. 

This book will stand alone but for maximum enjoyment and a complete understanding not only of the characters but the events that have brought them to this point in their relationships, I strongly encourage you to read the books in order: Scandal in Spades, Heart's Desire, and Diamond in the Rogue






Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Google Play | iBooks | Kobo


Diamond in the Rogue

– Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on November 25th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Paperback giveaway is open to the US only.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspicion of fraud will be decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
– The winner has 48 hours to claim prize or a new winner is chosen.


Wendy writes Historical Romance with a touch of intrigue & suspense. Her debut series, a trilogy about three Ladies who refuse to play by society's rules, was released by Entangled Scandalous in 2015. Her first indie, Her Duke at Daybreak, finaled in Romance Writers of America®'s RITA® contest.

Wendy was born a Jersey Girl, though most of her extended family lives in Maine. Trekking up and down the Northeast coast in the backseat of a car gave her plenty of opportunity not only to fight with her sister, but to read, to listen to her dad tell stories from history, and to dream up stories of her own.

She lives in NYC with her husband. Things she loves besides writing and reading and being an aunt to seven nieces and nephews include travel (50 states and all 7 continents), old things, pine trees, wine and pasta.

If you'd like to join her infrequent, never-shared mailing list for freebies and new-release information, sign up here: http://bit.ly/GetWendyNews.

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


Saturday, November 23, 2019

Winner - - Susanna Craig







The randomly chosen winner of The Duke's Suspicion and 

The Companion's Secret by Susanna Craig is:

Patricia B

Congratulations!

Please send your full name, mailing address, and choice of 

e-book or print to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com


Winner - - Christmas at Caynham Castle








The randomly chosen winner of a Kindle copy of

Christmas at Caynham Castle is:

Fedora

Congratulations!

Please send your email address to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com


Friday, November 22, 2019

Tour Review - - It's Not PMS, It's You




It's Not PMS, It's You
by Rich Amooi
Publisher: Rich Amooi
Release Date: October 31, 2019
Reviewed by PJ
    




Ruth “Ruthless” Harper is on the verge of becoming managing partner at her all-male consulting firm and she won’t let anything stand in her way. That includes men, relationships, and that dreaded F word, FEELINGS—distractions she eliminated long ago. After the worst day ever (a near-death experience and a public wedgie, for starters), Ruth realizes she doesn’t want to live and die alone. She puts together a business plan to find the perfect man and dives head first into the murky online dating pool. All she wants is a high-powered executive who understands how important her career is. If only it were that easy. Problem is most men are intimidated by Ruth’s confidence and shocked by her bluntness. The exception being her landscape designer, Nick, whose cool demeanor and unsolicited dating advice are driving her nuts. He’s the antithesis of the business-oriented man Ruth envisions for herself, so why do all signs keep pointing back to him? 

My thoughts:

I met Rich Amooi at a reader-author event a few years ago and, after a brief conversation, thought to myself, "I need to read this guy's books." I'm happy to say that his writing voice is just as engaging and funny as the author himself and his new book, It's Not PMS, It's You (I love that title!) is my favorite of his books to date. Fair warning, though: you may not want to follow my example and read this story during an 8-hour flight as it will have you laughing uproariously many times before you finish, beginning with the very first scene and carrying through to the end. But it's not only humor. Amooi's main characters are complex, flawed...realistic. They tend to be seasoned, with some life experience behind them, but with lessons still to be learned.

Ruth and Nick are two of my favorites. Ruth, admittedly, isn't a character I immediately warmed to but that makes her evolution all the more enjoyable as she sets off on her journey to find what she thinks what she needs in her life. From her opening scene wedgie at a co-ed exercise class (Who among us hasn't been there?) through the worst online dates ever (Pure gold. I had tears rolling down my face I was laughing so hard), to her eventual, emotional awakening, Amooi kept me engaged and invested in this prickly woman who I gradually came to like and root for. Nick, on the other hand, had my interest from the get-go and quickly won my heart. He's not perfect (Are any of us?) but he's one of the good guys and such a great match for Ruth. Of course, it takes her a while to realize that but the friction between them results in hilarious banter, delicious tension, and, ultimately, a deep and enduring love. 

Amooi surrounds our main couple with a well-rounded cast of secondary characters who bring humor, conflict, and emotional grounding. Ruth's assistant is a special delight; everyone should have that good of a friend at their side. 

So, if you enjoy seasoned characters, starting over, paired with hilarious, laugh-out-loud humor, and heart-tugging emotion, I enthusiastically recommend It's Not PMS, It's You for your rom-com reading pleasure. 

Have you read any of Rich Amooi's books?

Anyone have any online dating horror stories to share? Or successes?


a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.


Purchase Links 
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YQ7WZTJ 
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07YQ7WZTJ
Amazon Canada: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07YQ7WZTJ 
Amazon Australia: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07YQ7WZTJ



Rich Amooi is a former radio personality and DJ who now writes romantic comedies full-time in San Diego, California. He is happily married to a kiss monster imported from Spain. Rich believes in public displays of affection, silliness, infinite possibilities, donuts, gratitude, laughter, and happily ever after. 

Social Media Links  
Facebook  
Twitter 
Instagram 
Author Website 

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Review - - Restless Rancher


Restless Rancher
by Jennifer Ryan
Wild Rose Ranch - Book 2
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: November 12, 2019
Reviewed by PJ
    


One minute down-on-his-luck rancher Austin Hubbard slept soundly, the next, a sassy spitfire dumped a pitcher of water on his head and woke him up—in more ways than one. Hired to help him rebuild his ranch, Sonya Tucker ends up helping him put the tattered pieces of his life back together. The capable, all-business accountant is on a mission to get the ranch up and running, but can he convince the temptingly beautiful woman to take a chance on him?
Sonya was dismayed that Austin had lost it all: money, family, respectability. Things she—who’d been raised by her mother at Nevada’s notorious brothel Wild Rose Ranch—only dreamed about. But working with the long, lean cowboy shows her that Austin is honorable to his core. Together they slowly grow to see what the love between them might bring.
But then Austin’s powder keg of a family feud explodes, exposing long-buried secrets, and threatening their new-found love…

My thoughts:

With each book she writes, Jennifer Ryan further solidifies her place on my list of favorite romantic suspense authors. Restless Rancher is another fast-paced story with snappy dialog, heart-tugging romance, well-placed humor, an intriguing mystery, and enough twists and turns to keep me guessing, and eagerly flipping pages, from beginning to end. I love a good redemption arc and Austin's evolution certainly fits that bill. I enjoyed the connection between him and Sonya, how their relationship slowly progresses, how they work together to restore Austin's ranch and solve the mystery of why his father's so desperate to steal his land. I love their fiery chemistry and the deep emotions that tie them together. I was all-in for their romance and happily ever after. Ryan excels at creating realistic, complex characters and she's on her game once again with Austin and Sonya. Ryan also excels at creating truly nasty villains and she's done so again in this book. She's also thrown in a surprise twist that I didn't expect, but thoroughly enjoyed.

Restless Rancher is the second book in Ryan's Wild Rose Ranch series. It stands well on its own but characters from book one play significant roles. While I think readers could enjoy this one without reading book one, that enjoyment deepens with the knowledge that's imparted in the first book.