Just Joe - Carla Cassidy (HQN - Apr 2013)

Series: More Than Words

Stacy Donovan is willing to do whatever it takes to save her charity, Bounties from the Gardens. Families in need are counting on her organization for fresh fruits and vegetables. Running the charity has always been Stacy's dream, and if winning a local dance competition will keep her dream alive, that's what she'll do.
 
After years of being consumed by work, Joe Carpenter has discovered a new passion: giving back to the community. He's started to volunteer at Bounties from the Gardens, and he's falling for the beautiful, dedicated Stacy. But Stacy is so focused on looking after her charity, she might miss the fact that Joe is just the person to watch over her heart.

Heartwarming short story about a woman who has closed herself off to love and the man who shows her what she's missing. Stacy had a difficult childhood that motivated her to found a charity devoted to feeding the hungry. Later she experienced a heartbreak that had her giving all of her attention to her charity. Now she is struggling to keep the charity afloat during tough economic times. Her best option is winning a local dance competition, though she isn't confident of success. Adding to her stress is Joe, a new volunteer. 

Joe is a successful businessman whose recent loss has him determined to find balance in his life. The premise of Stacy's charity appeals to him, and he settles into a regular volunteering schedule.
 
Stacy and Joe get off to a rough start. Stacy has seen more than her share of wealthy volunteers who stick around for a few days and are never seen again. She believes Joe is another one like that and isn't particularly welcoming to him. Meanwhile, Joe is immediately smitten by Stacy, whose beauty and dedication speak to him. His requests for dates get shot down until he gets creative in his attempts to spend time with her. I loved that first picnic breakfast he surprised her with. She slowly lets Joe get a little closer to her, but her trust issues run deep, and she fights her growing feelings for him.
 
I loved Joe's patience and persistence. Stacy brought a light to his life that had been missing for a long time. He works hard to show her how good they are together, but she is a hard nut to crack. Then a misunderstanding resurrects Stacy's trust issues, and she shuts him out again. I ached for both of them as Joe is understandably hurt by her accusations and Stacy feels betrayed. As Stacy realizes what she's been missing out on and what Joe means to her, she takes a hard look at her life and attitude. I loved the ending and seeing Stacy finally risk everything for love.
 
The dance contest segments were interesting. I loved seeing Stacy's progress from struggling with the dance and her confidence to feeling like victory was possible. The dance contest itself was terrific, with an unexpected twist at the end.
 
I liked Stacy's charity and enjoyed seeing the people that it helped. I also enjoyed reading about the fantastic group that inspired this story.

Vanessa's Guardian - Josie Jade, Regan Black (Calamitte Jane Pub - Jan 2023)

Series: Never Too Late for Love (Book 1)
 
Some people wait their entire life for their ship to come in, not realizing they’re standing at the airport.
 
At least that’s how Vanessa Hamilton feels when it comes to romance. In her late 40s and divorced, she’s decided the traditional happily-ever-after route just isn’t for her. And she’s perfectly fine with that.
 
When her doctor suggests a vacation to help her de-stress and get her blood pressure under control, she decides on the remote island of Heartbreak Key off the coast of Florida. Just her, the beach, and a bunch books...what could go wrong?
 
Stumbling onto drug runners? Check.
Tropical storm? Check.
Hoss, the gruff former Navy SEAL who definitely does not help her blood pressure settle? Triple check.
 
Trust hasn't come easy for Vanessa since her divorce, but Hoss—despite his scars and tragic past—is showing her heroes do still exist. Maybe her ship was just a little late coming in.
 
But it’s never too late for love...

Terrific book that caught my attention from the beginning and kept me hooked to the end. At just over one hundred pages, it was the perfect length to make a short flight go by even faster. I loved that the main characters are older (late forties and early fifties), showing that love and adventure aren't just for the young.
 
Vanessa is a successful real estate agent who has been ordered to take a vacation by her doctor. She needs rest and relaxation to destress and lower her blood pressure. Heartbreak Key should be the perfect location with its lack of internet and cell service, and she plans to lie on the beach and read. Almost falling off the boat as she arrived was not the start she wanted, but being rescued by a good-looking bystander wasn't so bad.
 
Hoss is a former SEAL who retired to Heartbreak Key after his last mission went horribly wrong. He's haunted by the memories of his lost friends and tends to keep to himself. He's unexpectedly drawn to the tourist he rescued and isn't too happy about it.
 
I liked watching the relationship develop between Hoss and Vanessa. The sparks were there from the moment they met and grew even stronger when they shared a dance later that evening. But Vanessa is wary and pulled back before it could go any further. Her life becomes more complicated when she witnesses some drug traffickers at work, and she suddenly finds a target on her back. Hoss is in the right place at the right time to save her life, and they take refuge in his house while a tropical storm batters the island. They know the bad guys are still out there, and Hoss is determined to keep her safe. While trapped together during the storm, the sparks between them burst into flame, and they give in to their attraction. They grow closer as they deal with the danger, and when it's all over must decide if they want to end things or see where their blossoming relationship goes. I loved their drama-free discussion and frank talk about what they each wanted. The ending was terrific, and I loved their big moment.
 
The suspense of the story was fantastic. Stumbling over the drug traffickers was terrible luck, and trying to do the right thing got her into even more trouble. I felt her fear as she tried to escape from the men determined to kill her. I loved how Hoss happened to be there when she needed to be rescued. There were some tense moments as they evaded the gunmen and took refuge in Hoss's house. They had to wait out the storm while they figured out how to get Vanessa off the island safely to report to the authorities. The intensity ramped up after the storm, and I loved how Hoss and Vanessa worked together. The twists and turns of their escape kept me on the edge of my seat as I watched them struggle to make their getaway. The final confrontation was a nail-biter.
 
Hoss's friend and fellow SEAL Cameron plays a significant role in the book. I loved how he teased Hoss about Vanessa and gave him some good advice. I liked how they used their SEAL experiences to work together during the trouble. I'm looking forward to getting to know him better during the next book.

Decoding the Truth - Julie Miller (HI #2111 - Dec 2022)

Series: Kansas City Crime Lab (Book 2)
 
This crime lab tech has enemies.
And one wants her dead…
 
A vicious hacker has KCPD lab tech Chelsea O'Brien dead in his sights, and Robert "Buck" Buckner won't let his personal heartbreak prevent him from keeping her safe. But the sparks between this reserved ex-cop and the warmhearted Chelsea are as hot as the trail they're tracking. Can their mismatched skills outwit a killer -- and help them risk their guarded hearts?

Terrific book. I've been looking forward to Chelsea's story since her appearance in the previous book (K-9 Patrol). She is the quiet computer geek who works her magic in the background, providing critical information that helps solve crimes. For the past few months, Chelsea has been helping retired cop Buck Buckner search for his missing son during her free time. She gets suspicious when her investigations suddenly show Bobby's DNA appearing at multiple crime scenes, and that's when her life becomes very complicated.
 
Buck's son disappeared four years earlier, shortly after he turned eighteen. Buck blames himself and hasn't given up searching for him. He appreciates Chelsea's help and cherishes their friendship. He is also very protective of her and steps in when she starts receiving threats.
 
I enjoyed watching the relationship develop between Chelsea and Buck. Chelsea is an introvert who, thanks to a sexual assault when she was a teen, avoids most men. A problem with her previous employer added to that issue. Since beginning to help Buck eleven months earlier, he is the only man she feels safe around. Their friendship is important to her, so she has done nothing about her growing feelings for him. Buck has always found Chelsea sweet, and her quirks are endearing. So why is he suddenly seeing her as a sexy woman? Between the difference in their ages and his refusal to believe that he deserves anyone's love, Buck is determined to ignore those changing feelings.
 
I loved the opening scene. Chelsea's rambling call to Buck when she finds information about Bobby is amusing, and Buck's reaction to where she is speaks to his growing feelings for her. As they worked together to unravel the mystery surrounding Bobby's disappearance and the threats against her, I enjoyed seeing them take care of each other. Chelsea watches over Buck like no other ever has, and Buck not only protects Chelsea from danger but also shows her that he likes her just as she is. Because Chelsea was aware of her feelings long before Buck, she frequently felt frustrated by how he treated her, but she also didn't want to risk their friendship by pushing for more. It took patience for her to finally break through Buck's resistance.
 
It took a while for Buck to accept that Chelsea's feelings were not gratitude for his protection. He doesn't have much confidence in his ability to give her the love she needs. I loved his gentleness with her and his understanding of her past and how it influences her actions now. He fights hard against his feelings but ultimately has to admit they belong together.
 
The suspense of the story was great. It started with Chelsea's ongoing search for Buck's son and how his DNA began appearing at crime scenes. Right after that discovery, she received a message to stop what she was doing, and someone shot at her. If Buck hadn't been with her, she would have been killed. Chelsea becomes suspicious about the sudden spate of DNA matches and becomes the target of an online stalker. I could feel her frustration at the stalker's constant harassment and her suspicion that he was involved with the DNA manipulation. I loved watching her work to stop him and identify him. The tension ramped up as she got closer to doing so. The final confrontation was intense and well done, with a believable climax.
 
The other part of the story is the search for Buck's son. I loved watching Chelsea's efforts to cut through the layers of concealment to find the truth. Buck's determination to make things right with Bobby was heartwarming, and I loved how he refused to give up. There were some interesting twists in the search. The ending was great. I especially enjoyed seeing Chelsea have to break through Buck's protectiveness to see the truth staring him in the face.
 
I can't wait to read the next book in the series. 

Dockside Danger - Carol Ericson (HI #2116 - Jan 2023)

Series: Lost Girls (Book 3)
 
With innocent lives on the line
Trusting each other is their only chance…
 
LAPD detective Jane Falco knows a recent murder is no open-and-shut case. She doesn’t need FBI agent Tim Ruskin back in her life to complicate the investigation—and reignite still-dangerous sparks between them. But to stop a vicious human trafficking ring, Jane and Tim must gamble on each other—and an endgame impossible to survive…

Terrific continuation of the series. Here we have Jane, a recent transfer into this division of the LAPD. An unpleasant reputation has followed her to her new position, and she is stuck dealing with "domestic" situations instead of sinking her teeth into meatier cases. Having a partner, Damon, who is rarely there, doesn't help. When she suspects her latest case is not the open-and-shut one everyone thinks it is, she's determined to find the truth. Matters become complicated when FBI agent Tim Ruskin intrudes on her investigation.
 
Jane and Tim have a history. They met and had a relationship when he was undercover, and she didn't react well when she discovered his deception. Once someone has broken her trust,  it isn't easy to get it back. But when she learns that her murder victim may be tied to a Russian-mob-backed human trafficking ring, she'll take a chance on working with him.
 
I liked watching the rekindling of the relationship between Jane and Tim. He has missed their closeness and chemistry and wants to be together again, and Jane is wary and prefers to keep him at arm's length. Working with each other to solve the case allows Tim to show Jane how he feels and to earn her trust again. Jane is reluctant to risk her heart on him again, but the sparks between them are hard to deny. It doesn't take long for Jane to realize that her feelings for Tim had never died, despite the betrayal she felt. But they must survive their investigation before they can see what the future holds for them.
 
The suspense of the story was excellent. It started slowly as the background developed, but it took off when Jane and Tim began working together. There are questions about whether the victim was a pawn or a player and her link to the trafficking ring. Every clue they uncover seems to lead to more questions and an unexpected development. As their investigation narrows in on the ringleader, the danger to them intensifies. Flying bullets and being run off the road indicate they are on the right track. I liked the teamwork Jane and Tim exhibited and their respect for each other's abilities. The final confrontation was a nail-biter with its twists and turns as they raced against time to save a group of women destined to be shipped out of the country.
 
I also enjoyed seeing characters from previous books make appearances. JMac from the Kyra and Jake series encourages Jane, and Billy also gets his two cents in. I'm looking forward to the final book in this series as Billy finally gets his story and his dearest wish.

Chasing Christmas Eve - Jill Shalvis (Avon - Oct 2017)

Series: Heartbreaker Bay (Book 4)
 
Meet cute...
 
Run for the hills -- temporarily. That's Colbie Albright's plan when she flees New York for San Francisco. Wrangling her crazy family by day and writing a bestselling YA fantasy series by night has taken its toll. In short, Colbie's so over it that she's under it. She's also under the waters of a historic San Francisco fountain within an hour of arrival. Fortunately, the guy who fishes Colbie out has her looking forward to Christmas among strangers. But she's pretty sure Spencer Baldwin won't be a stranger for long.
 
Make merry...
 
Spence's commitment to hiding from the Ghosts of Relationships Past means he doesn't have to worry about the powerful -- okay, crazy hot -- chemistry he's got with Colbie. Just because she can laugh at anything, especially herself... just because she's gorgeous and a great listener…just because she “gets” Spence immediately doesn't mean he won't be able to let Colbie go. Does it?
 
…and hope for a miracle.
 
Now the clock's ticking for Colbie and Spence: Two weeks to cut loose. Two weeks to fall hard. Two weeks to figure out how to make this Christmas last a lifetime.

Fun trip back to San Francisco and the magical fountain of love. I've been looking forward to Spence's story and loved that he found someone so perfect for him. Spence has a big heart that he hides behind a loner façade. He is a brilliant inventor who gets lost in his work, which has been the death of several relationships. Having decided that love and work don't mix, he has written romance out of his life. His friends are his family, and that's enough for him until he collides with Colbie.
 
Colbie is the famous author of a young adult fantasy series and the glue that holds her family together. When the stress of writing a new book and wrangling her helpless family members gets too much, she runs away from home. Thanks to an unforeseen series of events, she ends up in San Francisco instead of a tropical island. The next thing she knows, an out-of-control dog knocks her into a fountain, and she's pulled out by the best-looking man she's ever seen.
 
I loved seeing the relationship develop between Colbie and Spence. The sparks flew between them from the moment Spence pulled Colbie out of the fountain. She so enchanted him that he acted entirely out of character, from rescuing her from the fountain to renting her an apartment in his building. Colbie was just as attracted to Spence but wary. She's only in town for three weeks for rest and relaxation and to get her writing mojo back. Spence suddenly finds himself willing to put his work aside to help Colbie fulfill her bucket list of things to do while in San Francisco.
 
Neither Colbie nor Spence is interested in a relationship. Colbie has too much on her plate, and she won't be around for long. Spence's aversion to relationships is well known. But nothing says they can't indulge in a fling while she's there and enjoy each other's company. I loved watching Spence come out of hiding and take pleasure in surprising Colbie with various activities. The serious and introverted workaholic becomes a bit more social, and his friends are stunned by the changes they see in him. Colbie has been so immersed in her writing and caring for her family that doing fun things for herself had never been possible until she met Spence. I loved the friendship that grew between them and how easily they understood each other. Neither gets bent out of shape if one gets lost in a project or a moment of inspiration.
 
I loved their time together and seeing them learn to balance their lives. It doesn't take too long to realize they want more togetherness. But neither is ready to risk rejection by saying anything, as each assumes that the other is still in "fling" mode. Then a misunderstanding makes things awkward between them, and Colbie plans to leave early. The scene before she leaves is heartbreakingly emotional as Colbie allows her fears to keep her from admitting what she wants. Just a few days apart, and some kick-in-the-pants conversations with those who love them make Spence and Colbie realize what they've given up.
 
I loved the ending and seeing Spence and Colbie let go of their fears and find joy together. The scene at the pub was fantastic, with not just an emotional reunion but a funny reminder of just how well Spence understands her. The epilogue was terrific, with a surprise from a sweetly awkward Spence.
 
One of the things I love about this series is the close group of friends that it is centered around. Each has their unique quirks and personalities that make them real and relatable. In this book, Elle was one of my favorites. She is very protective of Spence, which makes her suspicious of Colbie, especially considering Colbie's secretiveness about some things. Colbie eventually wins her over just by being herself, and in the end, she and Elle are friends. I liked how accepting of Colbie the whole gang was, especially when they saw what she meant to Spence. I also loved Eddie, the homeless man who hangs out in the courtyard. His advice to the residents is always spot-on. There was a revelation about Eddie and his past that I never saw coming but made his advice to Spence especially poignant.

A Match to Fool Society - Laura Martin (HH #1697 - Jan 2023)

A convenient arrangement…
…a complicated attraction
 
Jane Ashworth dreams of being an author, yet Society insists she become a debutante -- so play the game she must! Jane finds an unlikely ally in notorious rake Tom Stewart. As a new guardian to his nephew, Tom is out of his depth and intent on remaining a bachelor. They agree to fool society with a pretend courtship, but both are unprepared when the lines of their agreement start to become blurred…

Excellent book that caught my interest from the beginning and held it to the end. Jane is not your typical debutante. Though she was sent to London to find a husband, her true ambition is to find a publisher for the children's books she has written. While looking for one of the publishers, she encounters Tom, a recent acquaintance, who is horrified to find her in that neighborhood and escorts her home.
 
Tom has cultivated a reputation as a rake, all in the name of avoiding marriage. He stays far away from young women and the Marriage Mart, believing marriage is not for him. He likes his life - doing what he wants when he wants. Then he comes home one day and finds that he is his nephew Edward's guardian.
 
Both Jane and Tom want to avoid marriage. Tom needs help with his nephew, and Jane needs help finding a publisher. When Jane, who has several younger siblings, offers to help Tom with his nephew, he reciprocates by offering to help her find a publisher. Jane and Tom enter into a pretend courtship to facilitate spending time together and protect themselves from matchmakers. Neither expects the feelings that spring up between them.
 
I liked seeing the relationship develop between Jane and Tom.  Their connection was immediate, bonding over their lack of interest in marriage. It didn't take them long to become friends, finding it very easy to talk to each other. Tom envies Jane's easy manner with Edward and pays close attention to her instructions on how to get to know the boy. Jane can talk about her writing ambitions with Tom. But the more time they spend together, the more their fake relationship feels real. Each finds themselves thinking of their little group as a family. Jane realizes she's falling in love with Tom but doesn't believe he feels the same way. Tom fights his growing feelings for Jane, convinced he's incapable of caring for another person (his reasons are heartbreaking). Tom offers to do the honorable thing when their growing attraction causes a compromising situation. But Jane refuses to settle for a loveless marriage. It takes an eye-opening conversation with his best friend for Tom to see the truth, but it is nearly too late. I loved seeing Tom's determination to make things right. It wasn't easy, and Jane made him work for it, but seeing them come together was terrific. I loved the epilogue and catching up with them a few years later.

Lakeside Mystery - Carol Ericson (HI #2088 - Aug 2022)

Series: Lost Girls (Book 2)
 
He'll have to trust a woman who knows too much
To solve his biggest homicide case yet
 
LAPD detective Denver Holt doesn't know what to make of true crime blogger Ashlynn Hughes -- no matter how attracted he is to her. The stubborn writer has inside information that can help him crack his biggest homicide case yet. But as anonymous tips carry them further into danger, Denver wonders if he can keep a target off Ashlynn's back…or if she'll be silenced for good.
 
Good book that sucked me in from the start and kept me hooked to the end. Ashlynn is the sister of murdered crime blogger Sean Hughes (The Bait) and is determined to keep his blog going. She receives a tip about a submerged car with a body in the trunk and investigates. When she finds the car where her tipster said it would be, she calls the cops. LAPD detective Denver Holt is the one who is sent to investigate.
 
Denver wants to make the Homicide/Robbery division. He's not too happy to be stuck looking into a submerged car or dealing with the pushy woman who discovered it. But when her insistence that he check the trunk turns up a dead body, he has a lot of questions. Something about her story doesn't add up. When he is assigned to investigate the case, she's the first one on his list to interview.
 
Denver was not happy to discover that Ashlynn is not only a true crime blogger but the sister of Sean Hughes. He and Sean had a history, and he believes Ashlynn is cut from the same cloth. But he also can't help worrying about her safety. Denver follows her when she goes to meet her contact and is there to save her when she is attacked. At that point, they decided it would be best if they worked together. Neither expected the attraction that flared between them. Denver was protective of Ashlynn and frequently frustrated by her fearlessness. They grew closer as they worked together. I liked how Denver began to respect Ashlynn's capabilities and understand what motivated her. I also liked how Ashlynn started to see her actions through Denver's eyes and think about their effects. I enjoyed how Denver caused Ashlynn to think about her future. Though there are no big declarations at the end, there is a clear intention to see where their relationship goes.
 
The suspense in the story was excellent. Most of their leads came from tips from Ashlynn's blog. Her determination and fearlessness make her take chances while investigating those tips. As she and Denver get deeper into the investigation, Ashlynn's actions put a target on her back. There were multiple twists in this story that kept me guessing as to who the murderer was. The final confrontation kept me glued to the pages until it was all over.