Shadow of You by Catherine Cowles

4 Stars

It was supposed to be a fresh start. A small town where I could hide my little girl from the shadows that haunt us. A place where I could keep us safe.

The last thing I expected was him.

A surly, broody mountain of a man who helps me save an injured deer in a snowstorm.

Now, Roan Hartley keeps showing up with his glowers and grimaces. But they only make his rare smiles and the gentle way he talks to my daughter mean that much more.

When forces from my past find us, Roan is determined to keep us safe—even if that means sleeping on my ancient couch every night.

As days turn to weeks, his touch has my walls crashing down. But someone out there doesn’t want me to find happiness. He doesn’t want me left breathing at all…

FMC is on the run from a past that won’t stay in the past. She’s trying to raise her niece the way her sister would want her raised. When the past finally catches up to them will she be able to keep everyone safe?

I loved this book. Roan was this big scary dude but was such a marshmallow towards Aspen and her niece. Aspen had such a backbone and was so loving towards everyone even with everything she survived. Part of a series but it does stand alone, and the other books aren’t necessary, but I still want to go and read them. I figured out who the bad guy was about halfway through the book, but I liked how it was revealed. They were a very interesting choice. I was left with some questions. Like did the one asshole get additional time and did Aspen ever get an apology from two of the people who were the biggest dicks to her? Overall, I enjoyed this book a lot and would recommend it.

Book 4 The Lost and Found

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That Feeling by Alexis Winter

3 Stars

I've broken wild horses that were easier to tame than Brooklyn Dyer.
The moment she conquered my mechanical bull in those tight jeans and that ridiculous tourist cowboy hat, I knew she was trouble.

The kind of trouble you spend all night praying never ends and a decade trying to forget.

But Monday morning brings a punch to the gut I never saw coming—she's sitting across from me at our family brewery's board meeting. Not just as some new hire, but as our social media director with plans to make me the damn poster boy for Slade Brewing.

I've spent 37 years mastering this ranch and my emotions—I don't need some city girl with marketing schemes and dangerous curves dismantling both.

Yet here I am, shirtless on my horse while she snaps photos, thinking about how badly I want to bend her over my saddle.

I told myself not to give in, but those full hips and that attitude of hers make me want to misbehave.
She's a defiant little thing that needs to learn a lesson about teasing a man like me.

She’s one of those girls alright—Mysterious, driven, all kinds of sexy.

Just when I let my guard down, her ex appears with a ring, I discover she's carrying my child, and a bullet meant for someone else nearly ends it all.

They say a cowboy's greatest strength is knowing when to hold on tight and when to let go. But with Brooklyn, I'm beginning to think some feelings are worth fighting for—even if it might destroy us both.

This is a generous 3 stars because it was an interesting take on age gap. I skimmed some as there is a huge pacing issue. They were all in within the first half of the book and Brooklyn does end up pregnant almost immediately after they hook up. I also was not a huge fan of Brooklyn. She was too … brass is the best word I can come up with. She was almost bratty in her attitude but not in a good way. She goes in planning on manipulating Tyler to get what she wants, and it rubs me the wrong way. The rest of the book is about other dramas in the community. I did like the writing style so I will probably pick up something else and see if they are better.

Book 1 Slade Brothers

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Bombshell by Jessica Prince

4 Stars

He’d hated me first, so I figured it was only fair I hate the stupid, sexy jerk back.
After ending the world’s worst relationship, Marin Grey had sworn off men. So it was rather inconvenient that she couldn’t seem to keep her eyes and thoughts off the Ice King himself, Pierce Walton—also known as her ex-boyfriend’s older, much hotter brother.
He was cold, callous, and rude. He was also the most gorgeous man she’d ever laid eyes on, which made the fact that he’d hated her from first sight all the more unfair.
When circumstances dictate they put their swords away so Marin can help Pierce take care of his son, that ice-cold hate suddenly takes a turn into something much hotter. And if they aren’t careful, they could both be burned alive.

I loved Marin so much. Not so much Pierce. He is a judgmental ass, but he does love her. I loved the give and take between them and the eventual fall. It was a good and fast read. Worth checking out.

Book 1 Whiskey Doll

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Never Saw You Coming Alexa Rivera

3 Stars

Whoever said getting pregnant to the town playboy was a good idea… they were wrong.

Gabrielle Walker’s world implodes when she discovers that her boyfriend is engaged to another woman. In need of a change, she uproots her life and moves to Haven Bay, hoping to mend her broken heart.
But there’s no small town love story for her. Instead, a night of passion with playboy bartender Logan Pride—her brother’s friend—results in a positive pregnancy test and no white picket fence in sight.
Logan doesn’t want children, but now he’ll have to choose between following in the footsteps of his no-good absentee father or putting his lonely heart on the line.

Pretty Standard romance. Stood alone for me but it is part of a series. Gabrielle and Logan’s mom frustrated me a bit. Their issues led to some of the drama, but it didn’t really bring anything to the book. Overall, I enjoyed the writing style and will be reading the other books in the series.

Book 8 Haven Bay

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