Good contemporary romance
347393
No mush here.  Just a well-written contemporary romance novel with interesting characters, love, love lost and bereavement.  A very good read.
4832531
4 stars! I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. Very good contemporary romance. The book delves into the class system of the current south. Darren has worked most of his latter teen years for Sarah's family. Sarah had a younger sister and both parents when she headed off to college. She didn't feel right about people's gossip yet when it comes to Darren she listens. We get to know a bit about the woman she became. After college she became a social worker who dealt with abuse, neglect and fathers that don't care about their kids. She grew came to live on a plantation when she was about 11. She's loved Darren as a young girl then as an adult. Prior to college they'd verbally tear each other up. Once she comes home from college due to her dad's stroke and his overspending finances until they were almost completely gone. Her dad has a massive stroke and is hooked to lots of machines. I liked this story much better than the first because we get answers as to what shaped each of their lives whether it was in poverty or wealth. Darren and his family were treated as white trash by all those that thought of themselves as the upper class. It was something Sarah never saw it as a bad thing. They had lots of problems to try to overcome if they ever hoped to be together.  I will read more books in the future by Ms Falls.
2934840
This is a very engaging contemporary western romance. The lovely 50-something widowed mother of the loving, funny Thompson clan finds love again with a successful dashing 50-something cowboy who is also ready for a mended heart. This is a great read.
1530597
This is the third book in the Hero's Welcome series by Annie Rains. It can easily be read as a stand alone. Two of the women in the group were paired up in previous books but their characters are only briefly featured in the books so if you haven't read them it won't impact the story. However, I now see that I missed the second book and I want to go back and get it just because I really enjoy this series!
Val is torn between being the good preacher's daughter and living her life has she wants rather than trying to always please her father. She is the good preacher's daughter but she has a secret. She is also secretly a romance author. But she has a looming deadline and writer's block.
Griffin is a stereotypical bad-boy and everything her father disapproves of. However, it seems he is the cure for her writer's block. Even though Val is determined that this will only be a summer fling, her heart quickly sees that Griffin is not really the bad-boy she thought.
This was an enjoyable contemporary romance with great characters. It does touch on some difficult points as Griffin's mother suffers from early-onset Alzheimer's. Even so there are plenty of light-hearted moments, usually featuring Sweet Cheeks, the neighbor's dog.

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
4115192
This is the 3rd in the Second Chances book, but could be read as a standalone.

Jo is a romance writer with no romance in her life. Ben is her very own book hero/manwhore. And they could just be what each other needs.

Catch A Falling Star is a sweet contemporary romance with a bit of heat. Yes, there are some sexy times, but this is more a story of two people learning to love, trust, believe in not only each other but themselves.

We got some snippets of characters from the other books in the series, but you could read this as a stand alone.

I was drawn into Jo and Ben's story, and was cheering for them to get their HEA.

I am looking forward to more in this series in the future.
2643367
I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. It's definitely off the course from my usual contemporary romances, no soft core stuff here. I had to raise my brow a few times at the chauvinistic attitude but it fit with the story. A good story with a good ending.
4878575
Excellent contemporary romance between two people of different cultures and lifestyles come together. Preeya is a beautiful soul. She went through some intense events in her early life that defined how she acted and saw herself. Meeting Ben was an accident yet also seemed destined because they kept bumping into one another. Ben has also had very emotional life altering issues especially over the past few years. Ben was a pediatric surgeon then started working for Doctors Without Borders. I love the way the author has brought out humanitarian issues in a romance novel. Ms. Brahm takes you on an emotional ride in this series which connects with readers. I received a complimentary copy of this book via Book Review 22 and chose to write a review. I look forward to future books by this author.
4081368
With great hesitation I am writing this review.  The main characters have moments of unlike-ability but you soon understand their reasons for it.  I believe that, at this time, this is Ms. Goodman's only contemporary romance.  Written with some darker content it might be hard for some people to enjoy.

With the deaths of their married friends, Mitch Baker and Thea Wyndham are given joint custody of the couple's three children.  Thea declines and, naturally, Mitch is upset.  He has always had a thing for her and can't understand why she is behaving this way.  On the other hand, he has a good support system and has always enjoyed being around the children so his decision is somewhat easier to make.

At the beginning of this story, each is romantically involved with another person.  Long story short and trying not to give away spoilers, this couple's relationship grows slowly.  If you have read any of my other reviews regarding this author there is no insta-sex but when it finally happens it borders on erotic.

My guess is that those 30 and older would appreciate this romance most.  If you have children you will understand better why the main characters have their moments.  There is no big misunderstanding but each has a few times where you'd like to say, "Really?  You want to leave it like that?" and knock their heads.

I am giving it four stars because of the realism of the subject line.  Too often the hero and heroine meet, they have sex, there is the hated 'Big Misunderstanding', yada-yada-yada, they realize they love each other and we have the HEA.  You WON'T find that here.

If, after reading this story and you enjoyed it, you may want to look for contemporary romances by Theresa Weir.  Her main characters also have depth, are not perfect, there are moments of angst and the hero and heroine have to work for a HEA.  In other words, the stories have meat and it is something I like.
163534
LET IT SNOW is a contemporary romance that takes place around Christmas time.  Rick Dennehy lost his wife two years before, a week before Christmas.  They had purchased some land in Colorado and built some cabins with the intention of eventually living there.  Bitterness took its place where hope previously existed.  All Rick wanted to do was sell the buildings and land and forget the hurt feelings they brought.  The problem was they were now falling apart for lack of use.  It would cost him too much to hire someone to fix them up so he decided to use his vacation to get them back in order.  Then he would finally leave.

Marti Johansson was back in Colorado to visit her father.  Her son Cameron was with her.  She was hoping they would both finally fix their relationship.  Cameron blamed Marti for the divorce from his dad.  Her father also had misunderstandings about why she was no longer married.  She was hoping for a special time for healing their grudges.

By accident, literally, Rick and Marti meet.  From there on, the story flows.  Gil, Marti's ex-husband reappears and causes some resentment.  Thoughts of Rick's deceased wife are hovering in the background.  Lastly, Cameron and Marti's father still have anger that they need to let go.  Surprisingly, with all these problems, Rick and Marti reach out to each other and learn to forgive their own pasts.  If you are looking for a light Christmas romance this is a good book to read.
3252561
I usually read historical romances however I thought Id give a contemporary romance a try. This author tell a good story. I was engaged throughout the book.  I thought the author did a good job at incorporating social media in this modern romance. Id purchase another book by her.
4837556
It took a bit to get into it, but then the characters started to draw me in.  The H was kinda crass at first, the h is a mass of contradictions, but their flaws made them realistic and relatable.  Throw in some drama and family tension,  dual POVs, a little heat and a HEA, and you get a good contemporary romance.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
2843149
Reluctant companions are surprised to discover friendship and attraction when they mix business with pleasure.

While it's clear Lewis and Alex come from radically different walks of life, the story focuses on their similarities rather than their differences. The connection between them is both physical and emotional, a perfect blend of chemistry and romance.

Set on a remote island, the rich history of the Scottish people is subtly integrated into the story and adds a layer of authenticity to the gorgeous setting.

Kissing Alex is a mildly suspenseful contemporary romance with minimal angst. The moderate heat level, characterized by frequent makeout sessions, gave me the warm-fuzzies and the story a pleasant and engaging core.
958355
I thought it was really good 4.5*.  I received a free e-copy from Hidden Gems for an honest review.  I love the romance stories where the main characters grew up together and in this case they have known each other since the age of six.  2004, Mack and Lauren attend the prom and things quickly go so wrong and the two break-up.  Ten years later, Mack doesn't seem to have had a thought about Lauren until he loses his leg doing a tour overseas.  The two meet up again as Mack visits a re-hab facility to get a prostetic blade and Lauren is the nurse assigned to his case.  The chemistry between the two is still apparent and the two realize their love for one another still exits.  They talk and reveal the misunderstandings and statements that drove them apart.  We find out that Lauren is a widow with a 9 year old child.  As the two get closer, some other things are revealed and Mack comes to terms with admitting that he as PTSD.  Really good, I just wondered how did the two broach the subject of talking to her son, Chris about Mack.
4402239
I received a copy of this book from netgalley for an honest review.

For 100 Days is a contemporary erotic romance, the first in the 100 Series. It tells the beginning of the tale of Dominic "Nick" Baine and Avery Ross. They meet when Avery goes to a building on Park Avenue to check out the apartment that she has been hired to house sit at for the next four months by a customer at the restaurant where she bartends. When she goes to get on the elevator, she runs into Nick, though she has no idea who he is, other than an extremely attractive man that seems to be able to stare straight into her soul. The next time they meet, she runs right into him again, at an art gallery in Manhattan that she had had paintings displayed, but the owner had them pulled so that they could put new artists work up. Avery is somewhat upset when she was at the gallery because of her work being pulled, it she also was moved to tears by a painting that was on display. As she claimed at the elevator, it was like Nick could see to her soul and he started asking her questions about what she thought about the painting, named 'Beauty'. It was a sensual and heartrending piece that brought out several emotions for Avery, and as she and Nick discussed it, they both became aroused. They decided to leave together, going back to Nick's apartment that ended up being the penthouse in the building Avery was house sitting in. This is the beginning of their relationship.

They both have secrets that they don't share with anyone, though Avery starts feeling as if maybe she should open up to him. But fear of how he'll feel about her when he learns of her secrets keeps her quiet. Nick starts opening slowly, beginning with the small secrets and working his way toward the more important ones. This is how their relationship goes for 100 days.

I believe that this book should have perhaps been tagged as New Adult, by the way the relationship matured throughout the book. Maybe I got this impression because Avery had never had a relationship before, so her side at least went more like a college student rather than a 25 year old woman. But that is something outside of the story, which I did enjoy. I had some difficulty getting into the story to begin with, but once it started picking up, I wanted to know their secrets too. I wanted to know how they would climb the next wall between them.

I would recommend this book to any fan of contemporary or New Adult erotic romance. Though this is no 50 Shades, it is heavy on the erotic scenes, so it's definitely for readers that are 18+. If you are a fan of these categories, I would recommend this to you. There are some beautifully written descriptions from when the couple travels and of the scenery outside the Park Avenue apartments. Those scenes are worth a lot on their own. In fact all scenes are quite descriptive, leaving hardly any detail out. Grab a copy and get started on the journey with Nick and Avery today!
604975
Called Home by Gloria Schumann is a contemporary romance novel with hints of mystery and suspense.  Emma and David are both back in their home town -- Emma to help her mom out on the family farm and David to recapture the small town life he once had.  From the very start, they share a stormy relationship. Emma is determined to have nothing to do with David; David is determined to win Emma's heart.  The story also involves moments of danger -- a tornado, a violent assault on Emma and mysterious goings on at Emma's home.  But of course true love wins out. The novel is a clean read with no adult language or scenes.  If you like light, clean, contemporary romance, you should check out Called Home.
I received a copy of this book from the author for review.
2685087
4.5 stars This was a very good contemporary rock star billionaire romance. Jay (Jason) is a rock star that has gone through numerous women. He decided he wanted to get married because his fellow rock star is getting married. He can act dumb and flighty but there is depth to him. Xan is the manager of Jays island resort. She's good at her job but gets easily annoyed by Jay until a cyclone hits thats where some things change. Ms Carlton draws the reader to the characters and helps us understand who they are and why they act the way they do. I received a free copy of this book solely in exchange for an 0 review. I look forward to reading more books in the future by this author.
161658
Title: The Little Matchmaker
Author: Muriel Jensen
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Year: 1997
Rating: 4 stars
Backcover: Eight-year-old Jason Richards is worried. His grandparents are threatening to sue for his custody, abd they just might win-or so he thinks. So he runs away, leaving his mother, Beth, frantic and his grandparents raising hell.
Enter Ethan Drum, town sheriff.
Ethan finds Jason hiding in the woods and rashly promises that if he can do anything legal to help, he will.
Still, Ethan hasn't counted on Jason taking him so literally-or on being introduced to the boy's grandparents as Beth's fianc.

I liked this book. I will probably add this one to my Kindle library later.