ljamison01's reviews
1104 reviews

Payoff Pitch by A.K. Landow

emotional funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

This is the third book in the Extra Inning series, I didn’t read the previous two books and this is a new author to me. I loved the beginning of this book. This book begins with a wedding (not the main characters) and them going off to spend time together. At the beginning of the book they seem to be an already established couple. Then the author goes back to show us how our couple Bailey and Tanner met and became involved. Bailey is a softball player and Tanner is a divorced sports agent with a young daughter who needs a nanny. Bailey is hired to be her nanny because his daughter also wants to be a softball player. There were lots of mini plots along with the main plot. This was a very enjoyable story with a lots of interesting side characters that I assume were either featured in previous or upcoming books. Great story of a couple who go through a lot to find their way together. 

Recklessly Yours by AJ Ranney

mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

This is the 4th book in the Half Moon Lake series. Hattie is one of five siblings. She is quiet by choice since her older siblings talk over her and rarely listen to her and the youngest sibling is outrageous. Hattie is looking for a partner like the spouses her siblings have found. She wants true love. In her small town it’s been hard finding a partner. She’s been using dating apps but has had no success. But, suddenly she’s receiving flowers and text messages from an unknown number and her tire keeps going flat. Dylan a friend of her brother’s a newly promoted detective intercepts one of the unknown texts and warns her that she may have a stalker. Now I know they live in a small town but Hattie seemed a little too nonchalant about the whole thing. I get annoyed when female characters are warned to b3 careful and inevitably walk right into the danger. Luckily Dylan becomes her protector and this leads our couple to romance and a HEA. I didn’t read the previous books and I didn’t feel lost, there’s no angst but a mystery. 

Beautiful Crazy by A. James

lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

This book is the first book in the Blossom Beach series. We meet Everett who inherited a house in South Carolina from his grandmother and he left his life in Seattle packed up his stuff and moved into this house. Everett was looking for a change and luckily he was able to find a teaching position as well. Gemma (who is a widow) and her family have lived her a long time, in fact she’s Everett’s new neighbor. Gemma and Everett meet each other several times until they realize they live next door to one another. Now Everett is invited to dinner by Sutton (Gemma’s son) before they realize he will be their teacher. This book is really a lighthearted romance, no angsty, and no drama. It starts as a friends with benefits relationship that must be kept secret obviously since he’s her son's teacher. But eventually feeling develop on both sides and they have to work through their own personal issues. The book moves at a good pace and it was a sweet story, but it was spicy. 

Forbidden Dreams by Natasha Madison

emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This is the second book in the Dreams series. Each book is a standalone but it’s probably better to have read the first book before you read this one. Once again we have the vicious Cartwrights causing havoc. Harmony was married to Winston Cartwright and needless to say it wasn’t a happy marriage. Just like his brother he is spoiled, arrogant and insufferable. So Harmony leaves him unfortunately Winston harasses her wherever she goes. Right now she is living next door to Brady who is Autumn’s brother (book #1 was about Autumn). Brady at first what# nothing to do with Harmony and her young son. However, slowly but surely he is swept up in the attraction they feel for each other and because of Winston’s actions she is living in his house. I loved how Brady was willing to step up and be the man that she needed. He protected her and loved and supported her. Great small town romance with a single mom who is being harassed by her ex-husband. It’s a slow burn but once these two get started it’s steamy. I’m really enjoying the series and I am eagerly awaiting the next book. 

Devoted Enough by Kelly Elliott

emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

Nathan longs for Haven. Haven loves Nathan and yet they are not together. This book has tons of angst. This the 9th book in the Love in Montana series, unfortunately I had read any of the previous books so I knew nothing about the other people but this was still a very enjoyable book on its own. Haven had a very sad and traumatic young life, her father was physically abusive to her and her mother was great but couldn’t really protect or help her. One night her father had truly lost control but, Nathan came just in time to save Haven. Years later when Haven was on his parents ranch working with horses these two get caught up and engaged in an intimate moment and although they were both very willing and able Nathan put a halt to it. Years later Haven is still haunted by this because she feels as if Nathan thinks she’s used good or tarnished. The fact is Nathan has a secret that he is unable to share with Haven so he just avoids her and tries to prevent them from having any kind of relationship. This was a very engaging story, it moved fast and was quite enjoyable. I may go back and read the eight previous books but I definitely want to read any new books this author writes. 

War by Brittanée Nicole

emotional funny hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This is the third book in the Boston Bolts Hockey series. I absolutely loved this book. War (Tyler) meets Ava in their building gym. He is immediately smitten and he asks her out. She’s a tough one, but she new to town and knows no one, so she accepts but he never shows up. War is an incredibly nice guy, he has been hurt by his stepmother and his aloof dad. He feels like he’s never good enough. So he has made a family of these children who like him, need reassurance and love. He is trying desperately to adopt one of the girls who has been sickly but he’s having a hard time. Now since War stood up Ava she has become jaded about him, she thinks he’s arrogant and doesn’t follow rules and coincidentally she started dating his stepbrother who he hates. Yikes. Ava and War are two very damaged souls, however, War seemed to rise about his bad childhood and do good things for others. Whereas, Ava just kept finding fault with War and never giving him the benefit of the doubt. This book was fast paced, funny and definitely engaging. I have read all the books in this series and this one is by far my favorite. Those scenes with War and the kids made my heart go pitter patter. I love a single dad romance. It was so good. 

Tis the Season of Wicked Deeds by Simran .

funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Twinkle (I love that name) is helping her friend Tina out by going on a blind date that was set up by Tina’s parents using a matchmaker. Tina chose Twinkle because she is so upfront and decisive that she believes she will get rid of Kingston right away. Unfortunately when Twinkle meets Kingston he is everything that she could possibly want. He has tattoos, he’s sexy, he’s tall in fact he’s her dream come true. But, Twinkle shoots him down at every opportunity, Kingston gives it one last try as he lays one truly fabulous kiss on her, but for Tina’s sake she excuses him from her life. Months later Twinkle is in Switzerland and she has a list of sexual activities and things that she would love to try. Checking in, guess who she see well it’s none other than Kingston who is surprised to see her and extremely delighted when he finds out she isn’t Tina and from there he basically charges into her life and is determined to make all her spicy dreams come true. This is a spicy book and I enjoy spice in my books but I was a little confused with this book. It just seemed to go from one extreme to another, I’m not sure if the author was just trying to cram as much spice as possible into the book. Or was trying to show us that one person can have such a range. Needless to say the book had an interesting premise but there were some conflicting elements in the story. 

Duke of Luhst by Mariah Stone

informative lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

This is the second book in the Seven Dukes of Sin series. This book focuses on Chastity and Lucien, two people who had terrible parents and really have low self esteem and confidence. Chastity is extremely bright and smart and loves science, medicine and helping out the less fortunate. Lucien is one of her brother’s best friend and he has know Chastity a long time to. But Lucien has decided to spend his life as a rake. He is intimate with widows and maids and governess anyone actually. Chastity had a big crush on him till she watched him be intimate with her governess. So although these two like each other they stay far away. But , for thirty days they are all together with a host of other people for a ball, games and putting on a play. Chastity and Lucien have a bet that she will find someone to marry her since she is considered a spinster if he remains celibate. But, Lucien changes things when he helps Chastity make herself more appealing by changing her dresses and coaching her on how to talk to men. Certain things happen and Lucien and Chastity are alone together and they take certain liberties but Lucien makes sure to keep her chaste. Chastity starts to fall back in love with him only for him to shun her, but her coaching had an effect because suddenly she’s a catch and has proposals coming at her. Will Chastity marry a man with a similar science background and interest or will Lucien wake up and realize he’s about to lose the best thing of his life? I’m a big historical romance fan. In fact, my first romances were historical books many moons ago. I enjoyed this book and the author’s writing. I appreciated the slant on how women were considered second class citizens and truly had no rights to money, education or property at that time. If you love romance with a little history on women’s rights you will enjoy this book. 

The Fault in Forever by Claudia Burgoa

emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

This was my first book by this author and I only chose it because the word angsty was in the description. I’m here just for the angst guys, and this book had tons of it. The book is about Ophelia a photographer who after three long years with lots of turmoil has finally decided to move in with her boyfriend Haydn a professional hockey player. Haydn is madly in love with Ophelia and he lets us know how he had to break down walls to get her to open up to him. That even in the midst of packing up her apartment to move into his house, he believes she will change her mind. I loved Haydn so much.  I love when a man is willing to sacrifice his happiness if it will make the one he loves happy. Cue the tears. So after their first night of living together Ophelia gets a call telling her that her long ago deceased fiancé is awake and she has guardianship over him. Now Ophelia thought he was dead, his parents had told everyone that Keane the rockstar who wrote a song about her was deceased. So now Ophelia has taken it upon herself to help Keane recuperate and become the man he once was. Now the story is told from multiple POV’s especially since Keane is unable to talk. Haydn being the thoughtful, loving, crazy man he is allows Ophelia and Keane to live in his house so that he can be treated by all kinds of therapists. Haydn even as distraught as he is, still makes sure that Ophelia takes care of herself since she has some underlying health concerns. The choice between a past love and a current love is one that can certainly stir up some drama. I loved this angsty, mysterious, sad story. As you know I prefer to write spoiler free reviews, so you need to read to find out if Ophelia made the right choice. 

Meant to be Falling by Alexandra Hale

emotional lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I love the idea of blind date photoshoot which is how Mason and Lana meet. This is the 3rd book in the Blackstone Falls series. I hadn’t read the previous two books and I didn’t feel lost or confused (but I do plan to read them). Mason and Lana are instantly attracted to each other so much that sparks are flying around the room and they spend the night together. This book is a reverse age gap by 11 years. So Mason is about 23 and Lana 34 and she’s a divorced mom of a two kids, a preteen boy and a young girl. Mason although young has experienced many traumas and difficulties in his life so his experiences make him seem older and I honestly just loved him. This young man with no experience with children is asking others to help him learn how to play football so that he can play with Lana’s son made him so endearing. Lana does her best to allow herself to be treated like a goddess by Mason and still remember she’s a full time mom. Lana’s ex husband is the worst of the worst. He neglects his kids, cheated on his wife and still wants to dictate what occurs in her home. Ugh. I loved the fact that Mason was such a strong, dependable man who wanted to please his woman and protect and cherish her children. Such a lovely great small town romance that truly made you think that age is just a number, it’s your experiences and your character that make you who you are.