Book Review: Forbidden Hearts by Corinne Michaels

Forbidden Hearts by Corinne Michaels
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I enjoyed Corinne’s Rose Canyon Series so I was for sure going to start this series as well. Asher is a deputy sheriff in a town called Sugarloaf. He was co-parenting his daughter with the child’s mother, Sara (they were friends when they slept together and are still friends). With Sara going out of town for work, Asher is left to take care of Olivia by himself. The nanny Sara hired quit before starting and left Asher with a big dilemma – childcare for Olivia.

Asher’s boss, the sheriff, comes to the rescue. His daughter,Phoebe, is back in town and happens to not only know ASL but is also an audiology major. This is important because Olivia is deaf so her caregiver needs to know ASL to communicate with her.

What ensues is good chaos. Asher and Phoebe dance around each other. Phoebe and Sara actually get along (finally a good co-parenting example). Phoebe and Olivia become close. And then… Phoebe’s big secret comes out. Which in turn brings up Asher and his sister’s past.

We also see Addison (from Help Me Remember - Rose Canyon book 1) be introduced into Sugarloaf.

Whew… that was a lot. But, made for a great read!


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Book Review: Until the Ribbon Breaks by E.K. Blair

Until the Ribbon Breaks by E.K. Blair
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book broke me. It completely gutted me by the end. First, I want to applaud E.K. Blair for not writing a sunshine and rainbows story about mental illness. The truth is, there is no true sunshine and rainbows mental illness story. If that is what you are looking for, it’s not here. This story is raw with true emotions and thoughts.

I wouldn’t classify this book as any type of romance. There is not that much romance that takes place.

Harlow and Sebastian are the main characters. They were friends as kids and became enemies in high school. They are now both residents in a treatment facility. I see some of myself in Harlow, Sebastian, and Harlow’s roommate, Max. I saw some of my own demons in these characters. I felt this story to the bone because I understood the characters and the feelings. I adored the nurse, Marcus. He seemed to really care about the patients in the facility.

Harlow and Sebastian learn each other’s deepest secrets and they reconnect as friends. I rooted for them both as individuals and as friends. I hoped the external triggers they had would see the damage they were causing.

The ending… please don’t expect a happily ever after in this story. I finished this book late at night when everyone else was sleeping and I had to go hide in the bathroom and sob. It was all I could do. I sobbed for the characters in the story. I sobbed for a part in the acknowledgements at the end. I sobbed for myself. And I sobbed for everyone that has ever felt like these characters.

Despite the sadness I felt after reading this book, it will remain one of my favorites because of the impact it had on my heart.


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Book Review: Royal Creed by T.K. Leigh

Royal Creed by T.K. Leigh
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have been reading T.K. 's books since A Beautiful Mess. Yes, since the very beginning. And I have loved every single one of them without fail. This one was no exception.

Royal Creed is the first book of the Broken Crown Trilogy. As with any of her duets, trilogies, etc I knew to expect a cliffhanger. And what a cliffhanger we had here.

Esme is the Princess Royal and second in line to the throne. She was expected to marry the man that her royal family chose for her. But, she decided to choose who got her v-card. Enter her brother’s best friend, Creed. A relationship between the two cannot happen due to her royal status and his future in the royal guard. But, you don’t always decide who you love, do you?

There is mystery. Not everyone is as they appear. There is tragedy that changes both Esme and Creed’s life. There is steam. Esme and Creed are very physically compatible. Add in some stubborn and hard headed royals and you get this perfect first novel of the trilogy. I cannot wait to see how the next book goes and what state I will be left in after the next cliffhanger.


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Book Review: Man Cave by Vanessa Vale

Man Cave by Vanessa Vale
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am thoroughly enjoying this series. The next James brother to get his story: Dr. Theo. And who else to be the leading lady? Bridget’s best friend, Mallory. I love Mallory’s character. She is complex yet still a well rounded character. She has family issues to sort through. She is also such an outgoing person; she can literally make friends anywhere. Dr. Theo had some issues in a “relationship” before picking up and moving to the small town where his brothers had found their happiness. These two characters could not be any more different from one another, yet so perfect for each other. This book was hilarious, sweet and a tad bit angsty.


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Book Review: Man Candy by Vanessa Vale

Man Candy by Vanessa Vale
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I couldn’t wait for this one to come out after reading the first. The first book was also an age gap (older man-younger woman), this one is the reverse age gap (older woman-younger man). It is a bit of insta-love, at least on one side. There is some humorous parts that had me laughing out loud (squirrel, emotional support toaster, Dex). These characters were introduced in the first book. Lindy is Bridget’s older sister and Dex is Maverick’s younger brother.

Now that Bridget is all grown up, it’s time for Lindy to have her turn at fun and romance. I love that Lindy confided in Dex about her moonlighting gig and that he was so accepting of her dreams. I hope to hear more about these two in future books.


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