Review - - Art of the Chase

Art of the Chase

by Tracy Brogan

The Bostwicks of Trillium Bay

Publisher: Oliver Heber Books

Release Date: December 5, 2023

Reviewed by PJ

Above the glistening waters of Trillium Bay, the majestic Imperial Hotel awaits its first guests. It’s the summer of 1888, and names like Carnegie, Astor, Pullman, and Bostwick line the premier resort’s registry as society’s elite gather on its grandiose front porch to see – and be seen.

But Chase Bostwick isn’t interested in being seen. As the second son of a wealthy financier, he’s only interested in work – in Chicago – so being tasked by his father to chaperone his wearisome mother and boisterous little sister during their Michigan summer holiday is Chase’s personal purgatory masquerading as paradise – for never was a man more ill-suited to leisure.

Emerson McKenna isn’t interested in being seen, either – but she does want her artistic talents to be noticed. As the illegitimate daughter of a renown portraitist more infamous for his romantic dalliances than for his work, Emerson has schemed her way into a position at the hotel teaching doe-eyed debutantes to paint. She says her goal is to commission enough portraits from the resort’s wealthy patrons to finance her dreams of studying in Paris.

But Chase has his suspicions…

Thinking to ease his ennui, he sets about to unravel the mysteries of this enigmatic Miss and her tattered satchel full of secrets, but what he learns – from her questionable marital status right down to the potentially felonious embellishment of her artistic credentials – leaves him feeling captivated. And protective. When his misplaced chivalry sets in motion events which may do more harm than good, Chase and Emerson must work together to keep her safe – and in his arms.

PJ's Thoughts:

Tracy Brogan uses charm, laughter, heart-tugging emotion, and an immersive sense of place to bring the Gilded Age version of her popular Trillium Bay to life in Art of the Chase, book one of her new historical romance series: The Bostwicks of Trillium Bay. 

If you've ever visited Mackinac Island, stayed in the Grand Hotel, or viewed it in photos - or on the big screen in Somewhere in Time - you will no doubt recognize it's elegant influence on Trillium Bay's Imperial Hotel. Brogan brings every nook, cranny, sweeping lake-front lawn, and iconic front porch niche to life in her fictional version, evoking sweet memories for those of us who have visited the real thing and vivid mental paintings of how it - as well as her fictional version - might have been in years gone by. The hotel, like the island itself, is a nuanced character is its own right in this book, helping to offer insight into the lives and personalities of both hard-working staff and privileged guests. 

As for the actual characters, Brogan offers up a collection of diverse, well-developed individuals who open windows into the lives of the rich and famous of the time and those whose job it is to serve them. There's the snobbish society maven, who may or may not be more complex than she seems, a teen society miss with a kind heart and unexpected ambitions, a supercilious desk clerk, hyper social director, business-savvy hotel owner, awkward wallflowers, and more. But at the heart of the tale are Chase and Jo (Emerson), two characters from different social classes with more in common than one would imagine, an undeniable attraction, and future plans that do not include the other. I really enjoyed the deft touch Brogan used in bringing them to life, how she slowly unfurled their layers, allowing us into their thoughts and hearts as they, and their relationship, evolved; the light hand she used that celebrated the laughter and joy of falling in love while at the same time keeping the realities of their situation firmly in play. It's a delicate balance between the magic of a summer romance on the island and the reality of city life within an elite society that is likely to never accept the choice of Chase's heart.

Art of the Chase is a story that is charming, humorous, thought provoking, glittering, heart-tugging, and utterly romantic. I turned the final page with a smile on my face, a happy sigh in my heart, and eagerness for the next chapter of The Bostwicks of Trillium Bay. 

Review - - My Kind of Perfect

My Kind of Perfect

by Tracy Brogan

Trillium Bay - Book 3

Publisher: Montlake

Release Date: June 8, 2021

Reviewed by PJ

After her scandalous May-December romance comes to an end, baby of the family Lilly Callaghan returns home to Trillium Bay braced for the torrent of “I told you sos” from her sisters and the rest of the tiny island community. Floundering both personally and professionally, she’s at an emotional crossroads but determined to figure out her next best steps.

When a surprise job offer from her house-flipping sister reacquaints Lilly with handsome, free-spirited Wenniway Island transplant Matt Eastman, Lilly wonders if she’s ready for a new romance. Then she meets Hollywood heartthrob Jayden Pierce, who is filming a movie on the island, and she’s certain of it—but with whom? She’s caught the attention of both men, and both men have caught hers. So what’s a girl to do?

Earnest Matt shares her love of the close-knit island community, while surprisingly down-to-earth Jayden encourages her to live life outside her comfort zone. As the flirtatious triangle sets the town talking, Lilly must choose: Does she want to plant forever roots in Trillium Bay with Matt? Or follow a man who makes love stories for a living? Two very different men. Two very different futures. But deep down, Lilly knows that only one holds the promise of her kind of perfect.

PJ's Thoughts:

Tracy Brogan is an author who can make me snort laugh and shed tears within the same paragraph, fall in love with a quaint island of 600 people, and pretty much grin through an entire book. With her quirky characters, sparkling dialogue, and heartwarming romance, she brings Northern Michigan's (fictional) Wenniway Island and her colorful citizens to life in this feel-good book - and series - that I am having so much fun reading. 

I really enjoyed Lilly's journey. I was ready for her to find herself and move forward to explore her own dreams rather than someone else's. It was immensely rewarding to watch her grow throughout the book, find her voice, her value, and stand up for what she wanted. What she deserved. I was cheering her on the entire way.

As with older sisters Emily and Brooke, Lilly's story is filled with humor, self-reflection, strong but sometimes complex family bonds, and sigh-worthy, though often complicated, romance. The quirky citizens of the island - including Lilly's family - once again added an abundance of humor and heart to the story while the Hollywood film crew were a surprisingly fun addition. I especially enjoyed heartthrob Jayden who turned out to be totally different from what I expected and I thoroughly enjoyed the peek behind the scenes of a movie set through the eyes of Lilly, her firecracker of a grandmother, and her star-struck, teenage niece. Other favorite characters included Gloria and Tiny, a larger than life couple who bring laugh-out-loud humor (it's best to not eat or drink anything while reading a scene that Gloria is in) along with tear-inducing sentimentality (father-to-be Tiny had me reaching for tissues). And then there's sexy, laid-back Matt Eastman, a relatively new addition to the island, affectionately referred to as Yoga Matt by the locals and enthusiastically admired by single women of many ages, who turned out to be a much more complex guy than I anticipated. 

If you're looking for a fun, flirty, summer read that brims with humor, heart, family, and, just possibly, the perfect love for Lilly Callaghan, add My Kind of Perfect to your reading list. I laughed,  cried, and smiled from beginning to end...which seems to be my normal progression with each Tracy Brogan book I read.

If this is your introduction to Brogan's Trillium Bay series, don't miss out on Lilly's sisters' stories in the first two books: My Kind of You and My Kind of Forever! 

Have you read Tracy Brogan yet? Do you have a favorite book or character of hers?

Tell me about what makes the perfect summer read for you.

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, June 10 will receive a signed print copy of My Kind of You, book one in Brogan's Trillium Bay series. 

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

*Void where prohibited

Today's Special - - My Kind of Forever

I'm happy to welcome Tracy Brogan and the Montlake Romance tour for My Kind of Forever to the blog today. Tracy Brogan is one of my favorite contemporary romance authors. Her stories never fail to warm my heart and tickle my funny bone. In fact, I laughed so loud and so often while reading My Kind of Forever that I was surprised the person in the condo next door didn't start pounding on the wall...or knock on my door to find out what was so funny so they could enjoy it too! 

I've fallen in love with Brogan's Trillium Bay and the characters who live there. If you're looking for stories that makes you sigh with satisfaction...smile with joy...maybe shed a few tears...and laugh until your sides hurt, then this is the series for you. And, if you want to start at the beginning, don't miss book one in the Trillium Bay series: My Kind of You. It's currently on sale in e-book format at only $1.99. I loved it!





My Kind of Forever
By Tracy Brogan
Trillium Bay - Book 2
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Release Date: January 22, 2019

As the youngest mayor Trillium Bay has ever elected, Brooke Callaghan wants to prove she’s up to the challenge. She’s stepping out of her practical teacher flats and into her sister’s treacherously high heels…with disastrous results. But if she’s going to (literally) stumble her first day on the job, why not fall into the arms of a handsome stranger?

Leo Walker is a rarity on Wenniway Island. Not only handsome, he’s also single, funny, and—most importantly—interested in Brooke. Unfortunately, his reasons for being on the island are temporary, so in spite of the undeniable chemistry between them, he’s not a forever kind of guy.

When a private investigator arrives with news of a jewel thief hiding on the island, Brooke finds herself dealing with one kerfuffle after another, and Leo proves to be a delicious distraction. What does she really know about him, though? And the biggest question of all? Does this short-term romance hold the possibility of long-term love?

Guest Post:

The Risks (and Rewards) of Dating in A Small Town

by Tracy Brogan

MY KIND OF FOREVER is the second book in the Trillium Bay series set on a small island in Northern Michigan, and tells the story of thirty-five year old Brooke Callaghan who has just been elected as the youngest, and first female, mayor the town has ever had. As the oldest of three sisters, Brooke is accustomed to taking charge and bossing others around, but the stodgy, long-time members of the decisively not-modern city council are determined to keep the status quo. In fact, the only one who seems to take Brooke seriously is Leo Walker, the new bartender whose reasons for being on the island are both short-term and known to him alone. 

Despite a budding attraction to Leo, Brooke knows she needs to focus on mastering her new job, especially when rumors of a jewel thief hiding out on the island begin to circulate and the well-established rumor mills goes into overdrive. And speaking of rumors, Brooke is more than a little concerned with what the townspeople might say if they discover she and Leo are spending time alone. Coming from such a small community, in this case a village with a winter population of just six hundred people, people’s private lives rarely stay private, and modest, pragmatic Brooke doesn’t like the extra attention. Especially since a bad relationship from her past has left her overly cautious.

Although determined to prove to her neighbors and family she’s got what it takes to be a great mayor, with Leo’s encouragement, Brooke comes to realize she’s also entitled to address a few of the more personal aspects of her life, such as finding romance. But when things with Leo get rocky, she falls back into old patterns, believing that love is too elusive and not for women like her. Fortunately, the local community knows otherwise. They see the real Brooke, the one she thinks is hidden. They know her dedication and intelligence and worth, and they know she deserves to have it all. They know she deserves to have a forever kind of love. And so does Leo.

Excerpt: My Kind of Forever

“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop,” Leo said after everyone else had left and I remained seated in the small meeting room holding my aching head in my hands. “But it sounds like you have your work cut out for you.”

Wow. Did I ever. I’d just spent the past two hours listening to so-called adults bickering about a litany of arbitrary topics. Should Polly’s Popcorn Shop be allowed to sell day-old products? Could the street sweepers add five minutes to their afternoon break? Who was going to play Santa during the Christmas Parade if Harry didn’t come back in time? And the biggest topic of the day? Did everyone see the awnings Tasty Pastries had put up, and who on earth had approved that?

“It’s like they couldn’t even hear me talking,” I said, looking up at him for a response, just to reassure myself that I was, in fact, speaking out loud.

He picked up an empty glass with one hand while wiping a ring of condensation off the table with a damp rag. “I’m not sure they could hear each other talking. Seemed like a lot of monologuing without any listening.”

“But I had an agenda.” I shook my paper at him, now covered in notes that I’d scribbled in the margins about all the other things I wanted to discuss. Things I would have discussed if I could have gotten a word in edgewise. The only one who didn’t interrupt me was my own father, but that’s because he didn’t say anything the entire time. Not unusual for him, but I had hoped to demonstrate a little more power over that cluster of clucking hens. “They were worse than teenagers. I have so many great ideas, but all they care about is the awnings.”

Leo wiped another spot off the table. “What ideas?” He gazed down at me, and I noted how dark blue his eyes were. Depths-of-the-ocean kind of blue. The kind of eyes that made every glance feel significant, even if it meant nothing at all. A flutter of something long-forgotten tickled inside my veins. Attraction. Followed by an immediate need to ignore it.

“Oh, all kinds of ideas.” I smiled tiredly and pushed myself up, because it was nearly five thirty and the Palomino Pub would start filling up with the evening crew pretty soon. “I’ll get out of the way now so you can have the room for dinner guests.”

“Speaking of dinner,” he said, “I’m new around here, so I was wondering, what restaurants do you like?”

“Oh, we have lots of great places to eat. All price ranges. The Windemere Grill is right down on the corner. There’s the Imperial Hotel dining room if you want something elegant. The Feast Well Bistro, Carmen’s Café, and Tate’s Tavern on the Bluff are good, too. At the tavern, you can watch the sun set behind Petoskey Bridge. It’s a great view. And for breakfast, I recommend Link & Patty’s Breakfast Buffet. The pink piggy décor is a little much, but the pancakes are the best.”

“Are you suggesting we have dinner and breakfast?” His dark eyebrow arched just as the corner of his mouth quirked in a ridiculously endearing fashion.

I pushed in my chair with an abrupt scrape. “Excuse me?”

“I was inviting you to dinner. You were inviting me to breakfast.”

That flutter of attraction multiplied even as my mouth fell open for a second. I’m sure it was a great look on me. “I wasn’t. And you weren’t. Were you?”

He laughed, and even though it might have been at my expense, the sound of it sent a flush over my skin and a tingle to places that hadn’t tingled for a very long time.

“I was inviting you to dinner, but not very well, apparently. I’ve been on the island a few days, but I don’t know anyone here, so would you like to have dinner with me?”

I was starving. And he was handsome. And new in town. And looked to be roughly my age. There was no history, no baggage, no reason to say no. But it had been so long since anyone had asked me out, it nearly felt improper. Everyone knew me around here. Everyone would know that we’d had dinner, and certainly everyone would have an opinion about it. And it’s not as if we could go someplace private because there was no place private on the entire island. And there was that issue of the flutter. I didn’t want to be fluttering. Fluttering led to heartbreak.

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Amazon and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Tracy Brogan is a three-time Romance Writers of America RITA finalist for her Bell Harbor series. She writes fun, funny stories about ordinary people finding extraordinary love, and she lives in Michigan with her two brilliant daughters and their two intellectually challenged dogs. She loves to hear from readers, so check out her website at www.tracybrogan.com. You can also follow her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/tracybroganwriter.

Website: http://www.tracybrogan.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTracyBrogan 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/tracybrogan

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6452601.Tracy_Brogan

Review - - My Kind of You

My Kind of You

By Tracy Brogan

Publisher: Montlake

Release Date: April 18, 2017
Reviewed by Janga

       

 

Emily Chambers had enjoyed some success as a house flipper in San Antonio, Texas, but she and her business partner made one bad decision and ended up with a money pit that led to financial disaster. Divorced for eight years from her irresponsible ex who never makes his child support payments for their daughter, Chloe, Emily had few options when she ended up broke and in debt. Things were so bad that she was forced to borrow $10,000 from her grandmother, Gigi. To repay Gigi, Emily has committed herself to renovating one of her grandmother’s rental cottages. Said cottage is located in Trillium Bay, the tiny town on Wenniway Island in northern Michigan, the hometown Emily fled with Chloe’s father more than a dozen years earlier and to which she has rarely returned. Although Emily is close to her grandmother and her sisters, Brooke and Lilly, her relationship with her father is distant. That relationship is just one of the qualms Emily has about spending a summer in a place where everybody knows her as “Peach,” remembers her wild-child past, and has an incessant curiosity about her present. Chloe, in the throes of early adolescence, is not thrilled with the lengthy visit either.

Emily and Chloe are not the only reluctant visitors to Wenniway Island. Ryan Taggert is not happy about leaving his fast-paced life in California for the snail-pace of Trillium Bay, but he and his brothers are concerned that their fifty-nine-year-old father is talking about retiring as president and CEO of the family business, Taggert Property Management, a big name in the hospitality industry. They are equally concerned about the new woman in his life. The Taggert brothers are convinced the woman is a money-hungry bimbo from whose clutches their father needs to be rescued ASAP. The only good thing on the island in Ryan’s opinion is Emily Chambers, but any relationship with her is complicated by the fact that his father’s “bimbo” turns out to be Emily’s twenty-six-year-old sister, Lilly, and further jeopardized by Ryan’s business dealings on the island.

This first novel in Brogan’s new Trillium Bay series is filled with her trademark humor and engaging characters who prove that comedy and complexity are not mutually exclusive. Emily, with a middle-child’s need to assert herself, has made mistakes, but she cannot regret the choice that led to her daughter. She hopes that the summer will give her a chance to regroup and perhaps to heal some old wounds. Emily’s relationship with her family and her hometown is as significant as the central romance. Ryan, the youngest of three brothers, initially wonders how his father can tolerate the narrowness of small-town life, but ironically discovers that his Trillium Bay experience has enlarged his life.

Trillium Bay itself offers charm and a presence so vivid that the smell of fudge and lilacs almost permeates the pages. The secondary characters add color and interest to the story. Chloe is fully dimensional in her mood swings and in her mix of sweetness and self-absorption, and other family members, especially the much-married Gigi, add to the wit and addictive appeal of the book. The quirky locals are also a delight.

If you like small-town romances that make you laugh, warm your heart, and satisfy your need for context, I suggest you add this one to your TBR list. But be warned that My Kind of You is a most effective hook that will leave you eager to sign on for the series.

Winner - - Tracy Brogan

The randomly chosen winner of a set of

Tracy Brogan's Bell Harbor books is:

Lisa W

Congratulations!

Please send your full name and mailing address to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

U.S. addresses only

Today's Special - - Tracy Brogan

I'm delighted to welcome Tracy Brogan to The Romance Dish today! Tracy's newest novel, My Kind of You released yesterday and it's another keeper from this talented author whose books never fail to make me laugh, smile, and sigh. I began reading My Kind of You around 10:00 pm. At 2:30 am, I was still awake, reading and laughing so loud and hard I was sure I was going to wake up the people in the condo next door. I finally called it quits when I fell asleep while reading and my Kindle fell on my face and split my lip. That's the only reason! I went right back to reading as soon as I woke up the next morning and finished with a smile and a satisfied sigh. This funny, heartwarming, can't-put-it-down story is just what you need to brighten your day...as long as you don't fall asleep holding a Kindle. ;-) 

Hi Tracy! Welcome to The Romance Dish. It’s a pleasure to host you today.

I’m always happy to visit the Romance Dish! Thanks for inviting me.

My Kind of You, the first book in your new Trillium Bay series, released yesterday. Please tell us about this new series.

Trillium Bay is located on Wenniway Island, a place so small that

cars have been banned and everyone gets around by horse, bike, or on foot. Most of the 600 year-round inhabitants are from families who’ve lived on the island since the 1700’s. Naturally this gives the town a very distinct and unique personality. Everyone knows everyone’s business and secrets are a luxury. Tourism is their main source of income and during the summer there are as many as 15,000 visitors in one day. They’re called “fudgies” because they come for the famous Wenniway Island fudge.

What should readers expect from My Kind of You?

There are three Callaghan sisters and this book is Emily’s story. She’s the middle child, the wild child, who has returned to the island after a long absence to renovate her grandmother’s rental property and to mend fences with her father. Readers can expect lots of eccentric, colorful characters caught up in peculiar circumstances. There is romance, redemption, forgiveness, moments of personal growth, and lots of yummy romance.

Though Emily and Ryan have instant chemistry, the obstacles between them and a happy ending keep mounting. What is it about these two that convinced you they were right for one another even though all signs indicate the opposite?

Ryan is visiting the island for a few months while working on a building project with his father. Then he intends to return to Sacramento. Emily has been living in San Antonio, so distance is the first obstacle to their long-term prospects. The other obstacle is much more significant, and I don’t want to say what it is because that’s half the fun of the story! What I will say, though, is if that big obstacle was not present, Ryan and Emily could have easily have been together. They’re both single, with romance on their mind. Both hard workers, creative thinkers, and both very loyal to the people they love. And there is that instant chemistry, of course!

The setting of My Kind of You evokes fond memories of trips to Mackinac Island which I know was the model for your fictional Wenniway Island. What was it about Mackinac that inspired you to create a similar setting for your series?

Living in Michigan, Mackinac island continues to be one of my favorite vacation spots. It has a charm like no place else.  Seeing horses and buggies, people on bikes, and all the Victorian architecture, it all blends together to create this Brigadoon-like feeling. The chamber of commerce has worked hard to maintain the old-world ambiance. In June, the Lilac festival brings thousands of visitors to the island, and it’s the only place where you can find this unique aroma of lilacs, fudge, and… horse manure.

Ah, yes. I remember that aroma well! 

I lost track of the number of times I laughed out loud while reading this book. In fact, I was laughing so loud around 2:00 AM when I reached the horses-in-the-lake scene, that I was sure my poor condo neighbor would start pounding on the wall. Have you always had the ability to make others laugh? Do you crack yourself up while writing?

Thank you! That’s a great compliment! Sometimes when I’m writing, I’ll let myself go off on a tangent and that’s when the best jokes happen.  I love when characters do things I wasn’t expecting. In the Bell Harbor books, I had a character named Fontaine who always says the most inappropriate things. Things I personally would never say. But there he is on the page. A few characters in MY KIND OF YOU did the same thing. Dmitri Krushnic, the man who always wears his beekeeping hat even when he’s nowhere near his bees, comes to mind! He’ll definitely be back in the next book!

I'm glad we'll be seeing more of Dmitri and, hopefully, other quirky secondary characters from My Kind of You. I'm already eager for my next visit to Wenniway Island!

You have a May-December secondary romance in this book – a storyline not frequently seen in contemporary romance but one that struck a chord for me. What inspired you to create this relationship?

The May-December romance is a sweet secondary story element of MY KIND OF YOU. It’s between two people who decide to follow their hearts no matter what everyone else thinks. They are both at a place in their lives where they want to throw caution to the wind and just see where it leads without over-thinking it. In spite of their age difference, they communicate on a level that transcends the years. I’m not sure it’s a long-term relationship, though. You might want to read the third book in the series to find out about that!

Your books never fail to keep me flipping pages well beyond my normal bedtime. What’s the last book that kept you reading into the wee hours?

The Idiot’s Guide to Training a Puppy.

LOL! I've been there! This has nothing to do with your book but, because I’ve fallen in love with her via your Facebook photos and posts, will you tell us about Piper and the impact she’s had on your life?

See above!  Piper has had a huge impact on my life. Literally and

figuratively. She’s currently 8 months old and weighs nearly 90 pounds. She’ll top out at about 130 pounds, or so they say. Time will tell. In spite of her big-ness, she has all the attributes of a playful puppy and ohmygoodness, when she comes running at you at full speed and bulldozes into you? You feel it. I have bruises. But she’s also very snuggly and she wants to be with me all the time. One day I was in the shower and watched as she, very methodically, dragged every towel out of the bathroom.

What’s next?

I’m putting the finishing touches on the second Trillium Bay book. It’s Brooke’s story. In the first book, she’s thinking about running for mayor. Now she’s been elected and holding a public office in such a tiny, close-knit place turns out to be not quite what she was hoping for. And there’s a jewel thief. And a funeral for a guy who died ten years ago. And more secrets, and more reveals. And romance. There is always romance!

Where are the best places for readers to connect with you online?

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTracyBrogan/ and my website http://www.tracybrogan.com/ are the two best places. I’m rarely on Twitter or other platforms although I’m trying to broaden my scope! Readers can always feel free to send me at email at tracybrogan@att.net, too!

Will you be attending any events this year where readers will have the opportunity to meet you in person?

I’ll be at the Barbara Vey Reader Appreciation Weekend April 28-30^th. Then I’m speaking at the Huron Valley Council for the Arts Luncheon on May 16^th, and at the Mid-Michigan RWA Chapter on May 20^th. I’ll be rounding out my summer with a trip to Houston to be a guest speaker at the Starfish Conference of the Houston Bay Area RWA, September 22-23, 2017.

I'm looking forward to seeing you at Barbara Vey's Reader Appreciation Weekend in a couple weeks! 

Thank you for visiting with us today, Tracy. Would you like to ask our readers a question?

Thanks so much for having me, PJ! It’s an honor to share time with your readers today! As for my own question, I’d love to know what readers wish they saw more of in contemporary romance today. More steamy novels? More sweet romance with a PG-13 rating? More humor? Stories about circus folk or synchronized swimmers? What do readers wish we’d write more about?

One randomly chosen person leaving a comment before 11:00 PM (EST), April 20, 2017 will receive a set of Tracy's Bell Harbor books: Crazy Little Thing, The Best Medicine, and Love Me Sweet.  (U.S. only)

Emily Callaghan never expected to spend another summer on Wenniway Island. Yet here she is, back in her quaint northern Michigan hometown of Trillium Bay, divorced, flat broke, and dragging along her precocious twelve-year-old. It’s a simple arrangement: Emily, a house flipper, will renovate one of her grandmother’s rental properties in exchange for a much-needed loan. Once a wild child, the reformed Emily also hopes to remodel her reputation and show her family she’s all grown up.

But coming home is never simple. Emily’s dad is more distant than ever. Her younger sister is dating a much older man, and Emily’s worried it’s a mistake. The cottage remodel grows increasingly daunting. And then there’s handsome out-of-towner Ryan Taggert…

Ryan has his own family drama. A smart, ambitious land developer, he’s come to Wenniway to rescue his father from the grips of a new girlfriend and protect their family business. But he’s quickly distracted by gorgeous, witty Emily Callaghan.

There’s no denying the attraction between Emily and Ryan. But will their conflicting interests destroy any chance at love? Or will Emily finally get the chance to rebuild her life—and repair her heart?

Amazon
Barnes and Noble

PJ's Contemporary Romance Round-up

I've been indulging my love of contemporary romance lately with some of the new 2015 releases. Here are my thoughts on four of the books that I've recently enjoyed. ~PJ




Love Me Sweet
By Tracy Brogan
Publisher: Montlake
Release Date: January 27, 2015

Delaney Masterson isn’t looking for fame.

Yes, she has famous parents and a reality TV show, but she’s not the wild-child celebrity the paparazzi have painted her to be. Until…The Scandal. When an old boyfriend releases a private video, Delaney’s name becomes every comedian’s favorite punch line. To escape the media, she sneaks away to Bell Harbor, Michigan—during the worst winter in fifty years.

Adventure show cameraman Grant Connelly has stayed away from Bell Harbor—mostly by choice—but when a family obligation converges with a spontaneous career decision, it’s time to return home.

When bad weather, missing money, honky-tonk musicians, and Elvis impersonators throw Grant and Delaney together on an unexpected road trip, emotions get all shook up. They know only fools fall in love, but they can’t help falling. Still, Delaney has a secret that could tear them apart forever.

Can they weather the storm? Or will this romantic ride end at the Heartbreak Hotel?

With each book she publishes, Tracy Brogan further solidifies her place on my author auto-buy list. Her contemporary romances are filled with humor without sacrificing substance and her fully-formed characters carry the show. This could easily become slapstick comedy without the depth infused into Brogan's characters. Delaney and Grant have both reach a turning point in their lives and while their journey is humorous (frequently laugh out loud funny), it is also meaningful, with growth exhibited in both characters. They are a couple I liked and cheered for throughout the story.

While Delaney and Grant are the primary focus of this book, it wouldn't be nearly as much fun without the quirky cast of supporting characters: from the star-struck male wedding planner who immediately sees through Delaney's disguise to the Paradise Brothers country music band that give Grant and Delaney a ride south on their tour bus when Delaney's VW dives head first into a snow bank to Grant's well-meaning, klepto mother with the slight gambling problem to the step-father who thinks everything can be fixed with a sloe gin fizz. They all contribute to the rich colors that complete the tapestry that is Love Me Sweet.

While Love Me Sweet is the third book in Brogan's Bell Harbor series, you do not have to have read the previous two books in order to enjoy this one. However, if you're like me, as soon as you read one Tracy Brogan book, you'll be scrambling to download her back list as fast as you can. Her books are that much fun!

A Perfect Catch
By Anna Sugden
Publisher: Harlequin Superromance
Release Date: February 3, 2015



When it comes to romance, Tracy Hayden is not looking for a rematch. She's had epic passion—and problems!—with professional hockey player Ike Jelinek. Brilliant on skates and magic in bed, his too-traditional-for-her views were like a bucket of ice water on their affair. 

Then an injury takes Ike out of the game, and everything changes. Suddenly he needs her services-providing business—even though he once claimed it was their biggest problem. Tracy's determined to be professional, despite the sizzling attraction between them that won't go away. 

Maybe they need a second fling to fix that!

Tracy and Ike are two people who have been shaped by their life experiences. After living under the thumb of both a controlling father and ex-husband, Tracy is determined to guard her independence at all costs, even if that means turning her back on the feelings she has for Ike Jelinek. As the oldest child, Ike was forced to grow up fast and take responsibility for both his mother and younger brothers when his father took off. He saw the toll working two jobs while raising a family took on his mother and is determined to provide everything his wife needs. What he sees as "being considerate and caring," Tracy views as controlling. While these two have no trouble burning up the sheets, it's going to take a whole lot of compromise and sharing if they have any hope of a permanent happy ending.

I'm really enjoying Sugden's Ice Cats of New Jersey series. Set within the world of professional ice hockey, it's readily apparent that Sugden knows her subject. But while hockey is the backdrop, it doesn't overshadow the characters and their journeys to love. Ike and Tracy have real-world problems to which I could easily relate and to which there are no easy fixes. Sugden gives them the time to work through their differences and reach a realistic, satisfying happy ending. We also have the opportunity to view the progression of relationships begun in the first two books of the series as well as continue the journeys of characters whose stories will be told in future books. I hope there will be many!

Firelight at Mustang Ridge
By Jesse Hayworth
Publisher: Signet
Release Date: February 3, 2015



Ever since striking it big on a gemstone claim in the Wyoming mountains, Sam Babcock has known luck is on his side—except when it comes to the people he loves. When he forms a surprising connection with an alluring newcomer staying at his friend Wyatt’s ranch, Sam starts to question everything he thought he knew....

Needing time and space to heal, former daredevil Danny Traveler is camping out in a valley beyond Mustang Ridge Dude Ranch. She wants to take care of herself for once—and a sexy cowboy might be just the distraction she needs. But when Danny discovers there’s much more to Sam than meets the eye, she begins to long for more than a casual fling. Can she convince the confirmed bachelor that it’s worth changing his ways for a chance at long-term happiness?

Jesse Hayworth's Mustang Ridge Ranch has become one of my favorite fictional places to visit. The Skyes happily welcome strangers to their beautiful Wyoming dude ranch and with each new book in this series, I feel as if I'm also being welcomed back into the arms of this family.

Danny Traveler was right at home within her daredevil family until a devastating fall changed everything. Her ex-fiancee is now engaged to her cousin and her family doesn't understand why Danny hasn't returned to the fold. She hasn't been able to admit to them just how fundamentally her accident has changed her. Will an opportunity offered by her new friends, the companionship of a rescue dog and the understanding of a sexy cowboy give her the courage she needs to finally heal, put the past behind her and forge a new path in life?

Sam Babcock is a man who also needs to come to terms with past events in his life. Rich and successful thanks to a gem discovery on his property, Sam is a good guy surrounded by loyal friends. If you're looking for a fun time, he's your man but if you have something permanent in mind, you best look elsewhere. Consumed by guilt over what he views as his part in the motorcycle accident that killed his father, Sam has his heart locked up tighter than Fort Knox. Danny may be the only woman with a chance of unlocking it but in order to accomplish that, Sam must face his demons and, most importantly, forgive his father - and himself - before they have a chance.

Two of the many things I admire about Jesse Hayworth's writing are her ability to create a sense of place and to allow the reader access into the thoughts, feelings and fears of her characters. When a lightning storm sweeps through the valley where Danny is camping, I swear I can feel the electricity lifting the hairs on my arms and when she's forced to confront her claustrophobia by taking shelter in the small, dark RV my lungs seize right along with her's. I'm not just reading about her experiences. I'm living them right along with her. Her characters and their situations are realistic and easy to relate to. They have a depth to them and interactions - with people and animals - that generate both humor and emotion. These are people I'd like to know and, through the pages of Jesse Hayworth's books and the magic of her writing, I feel like I do.

Rescue Me
by Catherine Mann
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: February 3, 2015




Detective AJ Parker left undercover work in Atlanta to join a small-town Tennessee police force, hoping for an easier workload and the solitude of his cabin. But the scars left by AJ’s previous work are more difficult to escape than he thought…

Mary Hannah Gallo works with the Second Chance Ranch Animal Rescue to train therapy dogs for traumatized patients. It isn’t easy, but her life is under control—until she meets the broodingly sensual AJ, who rattles her composure all the way to her toes.

After an assignment confiscating dogs from a backyard breeder reveals a dangerous drug operation, AJ must work with sexy perfectionist Mary Hannah to train an abused rescue dog—a dog now named Holly. While Holly proves to these two very different people that opposites can, in fact, attract, she also knows more than a few explosive secrets that could heal—or divide—the entire town.

I love second chance stories and I love dogs, especially rescue dogs who finally get that forever family who will love and protect them. Catherine Mann knows the rescue dog journey well as she's volunteered with a rescue for many years and recently opened her own. (follow her on facebook for more info on her rescue efforts) In Rescue Me, Mann has fashioned a story filled with hope, heart and healing that gives our three main characters - Mary Hannah, AJ, and Holly the dog - that precious second chance.

AJ's choice to put his trust and his heart into the hands of the wrong person while working undercover in Atlanta has him second-guessing his career. He jumps at the chance to join his cousin on a small-town Tennessee police force where he thinks he's healing until a meth-house bust and an ultimatum from his captain force him to face the truth. Mary Hannah has steered clear of him since a truck stop hook-up his first night in town when she gave him a false name but now that they're forced to work together maybe he'll have the opportunity to break down a few of her walls.

Mary Hannah has spent the past several years trying to pay penance for the mistake that cost her both her marriage and the life of her unborn baby. A counselor by day, she spends her free time volunteering at the Second Chance Ranch Animal Rescue where she lavishes her love on the animals while feeling she'll never be worthy of accepting it for herself. The desire between Mary Hannah and AJ still sizzles and the more she gets to know him, the better she likes him. Unfortunately, once she learns what caused his crash and burn in Atlanta, she knows they have no chance of a future as she's sure he'll never be able to forgive the secrets of her past.

Holly, a female Boxer, has known nothing but abuse and deprivation within the confines of the filthy meth house where she's spent the first four years of her life. She's never dared to dream of anything beyond the horrors of the hand she's been dealt.

Mann offers insight into this heartwarming and, at times, heartbreaking journey from three viewpoints: AJ, Mary Hannah and Holly. AJ and Mary Hannah are both likable people who have made very human mistakes. Not only do they need forgiveness from each other to move forward but, most importantly, they need to forgive themselves. That's something to which I think all of us can relate. Being human - and thereby stubborn - they'll need the help of Holly to finally open their hearts to one another and to the love they need, want and deserve.

Giving the reader access to Holly's thoughts by humanizing them, thereby allowing us to experience the despair, bewilderment, fear, tentative hope, and determination she experiences on her journey from the meth house through a shelter to the ranch where she works to bring AJ and Mary Hannah together to create a forever family is a poignant, heart-tugging experience that's sure to wring tears from the hardest heart. For this animal lover, it was a multi-tissue experience and what vaulted this book to a must-read keeper.



What contemporary romances have you been reading? 

Tell me about the animals that share your life.

Have you ever visited a dude ranch?

What winter sports do you enjoy?

What's the last book that had you laughing out loud?


One person who leaves a comment will receive a print copy of Firelight at Mustang Ridge and Rescue Me. (U.S. only)