A Date for the Detective by Liz Isaacson

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Synopsis:

Dahlia Reid is one of the best detective Brush Creek and the surrounding towns has ever had. She's given up on the idea of marriage-and pleasing her mother-and has dedicated herself fully to her job. Which is great, since one of the most perplexing cases of her career has come to town. She spends odd hours with her male partner, researching strange topics, and thinking of different angles to figure out who's bringing drugs though their county.
Kyler Fuller thinks he's finally ready to move past the woman who ghosted him years ago. He's cut his hair, and he's ready to start dating. Too bad every woman he's been out with is about as interesting as a lamppost- until Dahlia. He finds her beautiful, her quick wit a breath of fresh air, and her intelligence sexy.
But her top secret case pulls her away a lot, causing her to break their dates often. Kyler wants to be patient, because he's never met someone who speaks to his heart the way Dahlia does. But he's frustrated he comes second to the job. When he finds himself in the middle of her case-right between her and the man she's looking for-Kyler will have to decide if she's worth the risk or if he should look for a date who doesn't hunt criminals for a living.

Review:

This book had it all from pretty much love at first sight to suspense and heartbreak. It kept me reading and I may have stayed up too late to finish it. I loved that Dahlia is a detective... she is a strong, tough girl and I could never imagine being put in situations that her job puts her in. Kyler went to his family cabin to get away and little did he know he would meet a beautiful woman and then get put in the middle of an investigation. Dahlia has always put her job first and she finally found someone that she wants to put first but she has a hard time deciding what to do. I loved their connection and their relationship that quickly developed. It was an intriguing clean romance.

Stars: 4.5

On the Corner of Heartache and Love by Lisa Swinton

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Synopsis:

After three years, Maren Summers elated to finally have her dream wedding to her dream man, Kevin Bryant. In her sights is the promotion to weddings she's worked so hard for at the newspaper. Happily ever after is within her grasp...
Until Kevin jilts her at the altar, elopes with another woman, and becomes her boss. Devastated by the twisted turn of events Maren moves in with her best friend and notices the not-so-homeless guy on the corner, Zane Whitfield. As his heart-wrenching tale unfolds-his vow to wait a year on the corner for his lost love-Maren sees his compassionate human-interest story as her ticket away from Kevin, weddings, and her heartache.
But as the New Year approaches, is Maren headed for heartache again when Zane's lost love returns or has time changed more than one heart?

Review:

This book was so good, so different but same great writing by Lisa. Oh man does it pull at your heartstrings. Maren works for a newspaper covering funerals and her dream is to cover weddings especially because her dream wedding is right around the corner. But your heart breaks for her when she is left at the altar... I can't even imagine! I loved Maren's character and the strong woman she was and how she worked through this hard time in her life. I liked each of the characters and they all added their own touch to the book... Ooo I found myself mad at her ex and his "new" love. It was different then books I have read because the not-homeless homeless guy on the corner put a different twist to the book. Happy endings make me so happy and Maren definitely deserved one. This was a very cute book.

Stars: 5

A Treasure for the Trooper by Liz Isaacson

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Synopsis:

Dawn Fuller has made some mistakes in her life, and she's not proud of the way McDermott Boyd found her off the road one day last year. She'd driven an hour to have a medical test done so her family wouldn't know, and while McDermott has asked Dawn out several times since then, her shame and embarrassment haven't allowed her to say yes.
She's spent a hard year wrestling with her choices and trying to fix them, glad for McDermott's acceptance and friendship. He lost his wife years ago, done his best with his daughter, and now he's ready to move on. He's dated other women, but he keeps gravitating back to Dawn as if she's the sun and his whole world revolves around her. He asks her out one more time, surprised when she finally accepts. Can McDermott help Dawn find a way past her former mistakes and down a path that leads to love, family, and happiness?

Review:

This was a clean inspirational book about overcoming the past and becoming stronger and learning who you are. There is always room for growth and changing your ways but you've got to forgive yourself also. I loved the consistency and commitment McDermott had towards Dawn and not giving up when she wasn't sure about things. She was worried about her past and I love that he wanted today's Dawn and didn't care about Dawn and her past choices. Once Dawn would let it the sparks flew between Dawn and McDermott. I love that this series of Brush Creek Brides is about a family. I enjoy that all the other Fuller family members are in the books so I look forward to each of their stories.

Stars: 4

If the Suit Fits by Sally Johnson

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Synopsis:

Finding love at the amusement park can be quite a ride. Becky Perkins has lost her job, her lease, and her car. As a result, she moves back in with her parents and takes the only job she can find: a seasonal position at the local amusement park as a sign spinner. Unfortunately, it includes wearing a foam hot dog suit. When she crashes into fellow park employee Hudson Lowell, on her first day, suddenly the job doesn't seem so bad.
Actuary Hudson Lowell feels the weight of the world on his shoulders with this assignment. The Gainesville Amusement Park has been struggling for years. It's his responsibility to advise the owners as to the viability of the park. Going into the deal, the solution seems pretty simple-until he meets Becky. The more time Becky and Hudson spend together, the more their feelings grow, making it harder and harder for Hudson to be objective about his decision. If the park closes, it will impact the whole town and directly hurt Becky. And how can he hurt the woman he has fallen for?

Review:

Becky has had quite the string of bad luck when she takes the job at the Hot Dog shop at the amusement park and gets the lucky job of wearing the hot dog costume. Already feeling humiliated she runs in to a rather handsome park employee and looks forward to seeing him each day. Sparks fly as they spend time together. Hudson meets Becky and begins to feel strongly for her but is worried for when she finds out who he is. This book has a little bit of everything and is a cute sweet novella. It was fun to have this book centered around an amusement park for different kind of setting. This book felt like it was a real life story where there was good times and challenging times. I like Sally's writing and look forward to reading more of her books.

Stars: 4.5

Marriage for the Marine by Liz Isaacson

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Synopsis:

Tate Benson can't believe he's come to Nowhere, Utah, to fix up a house that hasn't been inhabited in years. But he has. Because he's retired from the Marines and looking to start a life as a police officer in small-town Brush Creek.
Wren Fuller has her hands full most days running her family's company. When Tate calls and demands a maid for that morning, she decided to have the calls forwarded to her cell and go help him out. She didn't know he was moving in next door, and she's completely unprepared for his handsomeness, his kind heart, and his wounded soul.

Review:

I am so excited that there are new novella's added to the Brush Creek series. I love these sweet, clean quick romances about faith, family, hope and their journey to find love. This one sucked me in right from the start. Tate moves to small town Brush Creek to start a new life and new job as a police officer. Wren comes from a big family and pretty much runs the family business. Tate calls the business and Wren drops everything to help some guy... little did she know she'd be helping her next door neighbor who had just moved in and is very handsome. Can two people from very different lives come together? This is a fast paced book with a great love story. I loved these characters and how they helped each other out. I'm excited to read more in the series.

Stars: 4.5

Keep Me At Christmas by Lucinda Whitney

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Synopsis:

When Luciana Romano arrives in Hudson Springs, New York, her plan is to complete her restoration job at the museum so she can return home to her family right after Christmas. But a blizzard grounds all flights, and she finds herself stranded. The DiLorenzo family offers her a place to stay, and she accepts their hospitality. But the unexpected attraction between her and the quiet, good-looking son makes it hard to want to leave.
Jack DiLorenzo is stuck, Managing the family's Italian café is not what he'd planned to do with his life, but his sense of duty won't let him quit. When his grandmother invites a Portuguese woman to stay with them, Jack feels something he hasn't felt for a long time: hope. He knows he shouldn't get close to Luciana since she's leaving as soon as the airport opens, but he can't help himself.
Yet as the magic of the season begins to work on them, he wonders how he can let go of the woman who's awakened his heart.

Review:

Oh how I love Christmas time and who doesn't love a little Christmas romance?! I loved reading all about the cold, snowy Christmas season while I am enjoying a nice toasty Summer. This was a very cute story about Luciana who travels to New York for a job and she meets the DiLorenzo family at a small café not realizing her world and plan for New York was going to be turned upside down. I love the friendship and connection that developed between Luciana and Jack. Jack was so sweet and showed Luciana how to enjoy the winter and experience the best Christmas festival. There may have been a mishap or two but I love that hope was restored in their hearts. I loved the characters and it was very well written. The end made my heart happy! I love the Romano family and each of their stories and this was a fabulous addition to the series.

Stars: 5

Waiting for You by Heather B. Moore

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Synopsis:

Gwen Robbins loves her job waitressing at the Pine Valley resort restaurant, and as a single woman, she has no trouble turning down any offers of dates from the restaurant patrons. Even when her boss, Seth Owens, shows interest in her, she's not tempted in the least, no matter how strong their attraction.
But when Seth helps her through a crisis,  she begins to see him in a different light. He's not the rich and privileged business owner she first makes him out to be, but a man who's making huge sacrifices to follow his own dreams. As Seth encourages Gwen to mend her own divide with her family, she realizes her heart is slowly opening toward a better future.

Review:

I loved this book about following your dreams, forgiveness, hope and of course love. I was excited to get to read Gwen and Seth's story since we heard a little about them in another book. Gwen is a hardworking, strong willed woman who has family issues and doesn't want to date anyone especially someone who may have money. Seth owns the restaurant that Gwen works at and has noticed Gwen for awhile now and is getting more and more interested. When he follows Gwen out to the parking lot one night and she's upset because she needed to get to the store before it closed Seth stepped right in and helped her with her big project of making cupcakes for the homeless shelter she visits often. The connection between Seth and Gwen is amazing but she keeps him as far away as possible and he just keeps being the nice gentleman that he is. Heather did a fabulous job again! It was very well written and I like how it leaves you with a smile on your face. I love the cover of the book! It's a perfect Summer read since it all starts with a 4th of July crisis. I couldn't wait to read this book because I just love this Pine Valley series and I hope this isn't really the last one! I give the whole series an A+

Stars: 5