The Bookshop on the Shore by Jenny Colgan

The Bookshop on the Shore is a sweet but slow moving novel that centers around a strapped single mother who is trying to better her life. Zoe and her not yet speaking four year old son move from the bustle of London to the quiet of Scotland. She finds a better and unusual life for the two of them.

Taking on two diverse jobs, Zoe grows as a person as she makes her own decisions for the three love- lost, needy children she becomes an au pair to and for the traveling bookstore she takes over for the pregnant owner, Nina. Her decisions bring betterment for all.

Jackson by Emily March

I love Emily March books because they are sweet combined with the character’s troubles. Jackson is another great offering.

Jackson grieves the inability to be with his small daughter due to his ex-wife’s legal machinations. Because of all the legal drama, he has lost his ability to write music-the utter and complete joy in his life. When he meets Caroline Carruthers, some of the music begins to return and he definitely wants to pursue the chance to see if she is his muse. Caroline has trouble of her own and is finally ready to embark on changes in her life. Enchanted Canyon and the town of Redemption offer both Jackson and Caroline a fresh start and maybe a fresh go round with love.

A Cowboy's Salvation by Megan Ryder

Tara Rawlings’s father dies. She has been a mostly absent daughter but expects to receive her legacy: the ranch. Seems her father had other ideas and split the ranch four ways: amongst her and the three foster boys (now men) that her took in years ago. Expect arguments, town shunning for Tara, a hero and lots of mixed up emotions and messages.

It is a terrific push me-pull you romance because of all the misinterpretations and misunderstandings that Tara feels from her father’s seeming rejection of her and of her right to the family ranch.

Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes

Evvie Drake Starts Over is a smart and touching novel and an excellent offering for reading any time. It covers a year in the life of Evvie Drake after she loses her husband on the day she was planning on leaving him. The novel encompasses all the difficult and enjoyable experiences Evvie faces as she comes to terms with life as she knew it and as she wants to have it become.
I really loved the novel and could not put it down.

Once Upon a Bad Boy by Melonie Johnson

There is a ton of relationship stirrings going on in this novel plus a betrayal that cut to the core. A second chance for romance and love becomes a reality if honesty reigns and secrets are divulged and understood.

I love the female, Sadie, who faced her demons and stood tall with her decisions. It was very empowering for others in the same situation.

The Greek's Bedroom Bargain by JoAnn Walsh

A bargain is defined two ways: as an agreement, a promise or a transaction and also as a good deal or a good value. Both definitions apply to the deal struck between Nik Kontarinis and Frankie Worthington in this sexy hot romance fraught with misunderstandings and personal turmoil at just about every corner. All the tension comes together to create hot scenes in the bedroom and a romance that goes uphill and down dell. It’s a hot summer read for sure!

The Matchmaker's Match by Nicole Flockman

The Matchmaker’s Match is the third in the A Man's Best Friend Romance* series and as good as the other two. Two struggling people, struggling with their lives and with each other, are just meant to be, destined and fated by a solitary night together that was supposed to be a one up. Meeting again, they are thrown together by circumstances of both pain and joy.
This is an engaging story of their struggles and of the cutest dog ever, Buster, who knows they all belong together.

* Blind Date Bet and Next Door Knight

Kickin' It by Rachel Van Dyken

Sexy, thrilling love scenes combine with an intense story about abuse by coaches and female athletes to form a haunting story wrapped up in tender love.

The Summer of Sunshine and Margot by Susan Mallery

The Summer of Sunshine and Margot is a touching and engaging story of the lives of twin sisters as it unfolds over a short period of time. Both women are trying to change their MO when it comes to men-habits that have had detrimental impacts on their lives. Margot and Sunshine’s strength in the face of situations that tempt their determination is exceptional. Both women struggle along, combating their own demons and working toward what could prove to be either success or failure in changing themselves.

This is a thoroughly enjoyable and sometimes fun novel. Great summer read.

The Islanders by Meg Mitchell Moore

The Islanders is a great novel with interesting, complex characters and a captivating plot. The lives of three people on Block Island cross then diverge over the summer to create an engaging plot driven by their individual problems. Each has turmoil in their lives to deal with. No easy or pat solution is readily available to them. How they help each other is engaging. The rotating perspectives move the story smoothly forward.

Summer Hours by Amy Mason Doan

Sometimes the things one does as a teenager can affect everything in your life thereafter. This is something Becc discovers as her choices affected her longtime friendship with Eric and tempers her everyday life. Summer Hours weaves a story of the past as they play against the present in Becc’s life.

The Summer Guests by Mary Alice Monroe

I liked The Summer Guests but not as much as I have other books by Mary Alice Monroe. Nine chapters in and I was not too thrilled with the book but attribute it to there being so many characters to decipher (Charles and Grace; Moira; Elisa, Angel, Greta and Karl; Cara and David). I did like that the turmoil and devastation of a hurricane mirrors the same for the characters-all in some form of upheaval and change brewing. The building hurricane force also mirrors the building changes in the characters’ lives: abandoned homes for safety-abandoned positions/relationships for personal well-being.

The addition of Cara and David from previous novels was a nice touch allowing for closure in their relationship.

Summer on Mirror Lake by JoAnn Ross

Summer on Mirror Lake is a thoroughly enjoyable novel involving the many changes and chances taken in the life of a man on a much needed break from his life.
Gabe Mannion is on a self-imposed summer break from his high paced, anxiety inducing hedge fund trader job in New York. He returns to his hometown on Mirror Lake to get his Zen in order. Chelsea Prescott, the local librarian, piques his interest when she approaches him about the summer reading program and about showing kids his Viking boat as he is making it. Only a summer fling with an end date becomes more intense than he bargains for. Add in two foster child sisters and they plus Chelsea infuse themselves into his life and into his protected heart. It is a huge risk for Gabe involving the possibility of a life change that he is not quite ready to have happen.

Forget Me by Kimberly Ash

Forget Me is an extremely touching story involving a man, Jonah Gardiner, struggling  against himself and his insecurities  while falling in love all over with his one true other. Struggling, also, is Laurel Moor, who is desperately striving to bring her family’s bar out of deep debt after her father’s death. Undercurrents of a deep love run through the novel wanting to surface and take over.

This, the second in the Van Allen Brothers series is just as great as the first, Forgive Me. I cannot wait for the final book, Free Me, to come out.

The Cowboy's Daughter by Jamie K. Schmidt

The Cowboy’s Daughter is a testament to internal strength and fighting demons. Kelly Sullivan returns home after a distressing call from her estranged father claiming he is selling the family ranch she grew up on and loves. Towing her daughter with her, Kelly returns to the cruelness of her father who could never forgive her for her teen pregnancy. No one knows the father of the little girl but Kelly. Of course, the girl’s father has also returned to Last Stand and Kelly can no longer hide the truth from him. Deception kept them apart and love brings them back full circle.

It is a great story of so many second chances: Kelly and Trent; Kelly and her father; the survival of the ranch.

Closing the Deal by Lenora Worth

I liked this sweet, easy to read , and enjoyable novel that was really about finding your true self and calling all wrapped around an in trouble B & B, also in need of restoration.

Sarina Gabriel is bequeathed the Falling Blossoms  B & B by her grandmother. It is under water in debt and desperately needing repairs. Drake Dunmore comes to (what he sees) her rescue offering to buy the whole kit and caboodle. What he finds, though, is Sarina vacillating between hanging onto the mansion or selling it. No one seems like they will end up the winner in the contest.

Outback Brides of Wirralong: Emma by Kelly Hunter

High society Britain, Emma, meets bush rancher Liam in this opposites attract novel. There is a great story line of each trying to buck society and find a path to forever.