Kaelie's Reads

Tattered Stars by Catherine Cowles Be brave. Just for sixty seconds. Twenty breaths. One night changed them both forever. Their lives shattered, beyond repair, with jagged edges and pieces askew. Now, Everly has a chance to make things right. To bring healing to the place where everything fell apart. But it means facing the family her father almost destroyed, and the boy with the dark eyes—now grown—who still haunts her dreams. Just one breath away from having your life ripped out from under you. The last thing Hayes wants is another reminder of all the ways he failed sixteen years ago. When Everly drives back into Wolf Gap, his only mission is to get her to leave. For his family’s sake, and for his own, those demons need to stay buried for good. But everything about this woman is a surprise, from her spine of steel to the sanctuary she hopes to create with the land her mother left behind. And Hayes is powerless to stay away. As a careful friendship sparks into something

The Heir Apparent's Rejected Mate by Cate C. Wells He rejected me for “reasons.” Too bad for him. No take backs. Rosie Fate made a huge mistake when she mated me to Cadoc Collins. He’s the heir apparent. I’m a scavenger. My people are so low in this pack, we don’t even rank. I should have known better, but for one night, I let myself forget the facts of life in Moon Lake. Cadoc Collins might be powerless to resist me, but he’s not going to claim me, either. A pink line on a stick makes it a much bigger problem than my bruised heart. I’m eighteen, knocked up, and publicly rejected by the future alpha. And this baby in my belly? It might as well be a target on my back. Lucky for me I’m a scavenger. My kind are good at finding things, but we’re great at getting lost. Cadoc The fate of Moon Lake rests on my shoulders. I can’t claim the scavenger female. The pack is on the verge of a revolt, and a mating so controversial could push our warring factions into open conflict.

Inked Persuasion by Carrie Ann Ryan The  Montgomery Ink  saga from NYT Bestselling Author Carrie Ann Ryan continues with a steamy new series. Years ago, Annabelle Montgomery married not for love but for a promise of hope. When she lost him weeks later, she told herself she never needed those sentiments again. Only when she discovers years later that her new neighbor is her late husband’s brother, Annabelle finds she can’t quite shake the emotions she’s long since buried. Jacob Queen vowed he’d never set eyes on Annabelle again. When they’re forced into each other’s lives once more, they realize that no matter how far they run, no distance can keep them apart forever. More than ghosts lay between them, and when they finally give in to temptation, walking away whole may no longer be an option. My Review: Mood?  lighthearted Pace?   medium Plot- or character-driven?   A mix Strong character development?    Yes   Loveable characters?   Yes Diverse cast of characters?   N/a Fl

Red Sin by Aleatha Romig Red is the color of blood, sacrifice, danger, and courage. It’s also associated with heat, passion, and sexuality. When two people meet unexpectedly with an inexplicable attraction that defies common understanding...it can be called RED SIN. Julia and Van found one another in a shaken snow globe. Stranded in a blizzard, they embraced being two individuals with no last names. The plan was to walk away from each other with no regrets—until that plan changed. Julia’s life was delivered a staggering blow the day she discovered her fiancé’s infidelity. The night she met a handsome stranger, one who showed her the possibility of a life filled with more than the fulfillment of expectations, she took a chance. When it comes to business, Donovan Sherman is a wolf—a bloodthirsty carnivore who leaves wounded prey and victims in his wake. He learned from the best, his onetime nemesis and now-mentor, Lennox Demetri, who showed him that opportunities are only r

Her Senator's Second Chance by Cindy Ray Hale Two exes stuck together. Could this be their second chance? When Virginia state senator Adam Larson returns to his hometown of Maple Creek, Virginia after a long absence, the last person he expects to bump into is his old high school girlfriend. Is he too focused on his re-election and his engagement to worry about what happened long ago? Or will buried memories and emotions come back to the surface? Natasha Jenkins runs the venue where he’s holding a campaign fundraiser dinner, and her business is on the brink of collapse. Can she overcome her past to let love in? It’s just one dinner. Surely, they could get through it and never have to speak again. But then Adam’s scheming sister, who hates his fiancée, locks them both in the pantry of the historic mansion Natasha runs until they’ve worked out their past. Can Adam and Natasha overcome their inner demons and find the happiness they both deserve? If you enjoy sweet romance

The Initiation by Nikki Sloane No one knows how new members are selected to the board of Hale Banking and Holding. But there are rumors of a sordid rite of initiation. Whispers how one woman and nine men disappear into a boardroom. This time, that woman will be me. The Hale family owns everything—the eighth largest bank in the world, everyone in our town, even the mortgage on my parents’ mansion. And now Royce Hale wants to own me. He is charming. Seductive. Ruthless. But above all, he’s the prince of lies. My body may tighten with white-hot desire under his penetrating gaze, but I refuse to enjoy it. I’ll make a deal with the devil to save my family and sell myself to the Hales. But Royce will never own my heart. My Review: Mood?  lighthearted Pace?   medium Plot- or character-driven?   A mix Strong character development?    Yes   Loveable characters?   Yes Diverse cast of characters?   N/a Flaws of characters a main focus?   Yes I love it I really love this book

Logan Kade by Tijan You think you know me? Manwhore. Partier. Fighter. You know what? You’re right. I’m all those things. F*ck with mine and I’ll f*ck you ten times harder. Suspensions. Arrests. You think I care? So yeah, I may fit the bad boy image, but there’s so much more you don’t know. I'm loyal to a damned fault. I'll never leave your side. The real Logan Kade isn’t a manwhore. When I love, I love hard and completely. Taylor saw that side of me. Inside of me. She saw my darkness and pain, and the second she did, she owned me. You may think you know me… …but she’s the only one who sees me. My Review: Mood?  lighthearted Pace?   Medium Plot- or character-driven?  A mix Strong character development?  Yes Loveable characters?  Yes Diverse cast of characters?  No Flaws of characters a main focus?  Yes      My rating: 5 of 5 stars Love this book I love this book I actually listen to it 1st on you and finally got the E book to read it actually and she

Just One Night by Carly Phillips She's the woman he can't live without. The one he can't risk screwing up their relationship by sleeping with her. Linc Kingston doesn't accept anything less than perfection. Not in his billion-dollar business or in his personal life. He has it all, except one thing: his personal assistant and best friend in his bed, moaning his name. No matter how much Linc wants her, she's completely off-limits. Jordan Greene grew up the daughter of the housekeeper at the Kingston estate, where she met and bonded with Linc at a young age, despite their economic differences. But no matter how close they are now or how much their attraction simmers beneath the surface, they're still from two different worlds. Besides, Jordan isn't about to risk losing her best friend for one sensual night. Jordan might be the only woman who can handle Linc and his domineering, bossy attitude, but beneath that gruff exterior is a vulnerable man wh

The Messenger by Pamela DuMond A boy from the past. A girl from the future. Their love could be forever, but their time is running out... Madeline falls in love with Samuel when she accidentally time travels hundreds of years into the past to a war between the colonists and Native Americans.  Their relationship is forbidden. But Madeline's travels to the past  not only to fall in love, but also to  claim her birth right as a Messenger,  a soul who can slip through time's fabric, delivering messages that change one life, or save many.  Deadly Hunters, dark-souled time travelers, crave her powers  and seek to seduce or kill her. Can Madeline find her way back to the future in time to save herself and Samuel? My Review: Pace?   slow Plot- or character-driven?  A mix Strong character development?  It's complicated Loveable characters?  Yes Diverse cast of characters?  Yes Flaws of characters a main focus?  It's complicated My rating: 2 of 5 stars This book is

Rocky Mountain Heat by Vivian Arend Sometimes love is right there for the taking. Responsible oldest of six brothers, Blake Coleman knows his desire for the sweet girl-next-door is wrong. While Jaxi has grown into a western-hat-wearing blonde with slim legs that go on forever, the responsible thing to do is keep his hands off. Jaxi has other plans for Blake's hands, and his heart. She's more than ready to convince him they’d be perfect together, but he can't seem to see past the big "don't touch" sign that's apparently hanging around her neck. When Jaxi ends up living on the Six Pack ranch right under Blake's nose, the undeniable heat between them slides off simmer and up to barn-burning levels. When a couple of Blake’s younger brothers decide Jaxi's brand of trouble is worth getting tangled up with, Blake's going to have to let go the reins and fight for what he really wants—her heart, forever. Warning: Unapologetically sexy, thi

The Ruse by Judy Corry What’s the first rule of getting the lead in the school musical? Don’t fall for your bad-boy co-star. When Elyse Cohen gets the lead in her private school’s winter musical, she thinks it’s a dream come true. That is, until she finds out she’s playing opposite Asher Park—the bad boy rumored to have been involved in the mysterious disappearance of his ex last spring. Soon, what seemed like a dream role has her worried she’ll be the next girl to get close to her enigmatic co-star and go missing. After getting run out of the only home he had left, the last thing Asher wants is to return to Eden Falls Academy. But since a theater scholarship is his only hope for getting into a good college, he returns halfway through the school year to face the rumors swirling around him. As long as he keeps his head down and continues the ruse he started the year before, he might make it to graduation without too many scars. He never anticipated Elyse in any of his pla

Obsession by Helen Hardt Jade Roberts is in love with Talon Steel but no longer welcome in his home. While she resolves to move on, she still longs for the passion she and Talon shared…and when her boss asks her to dig up information on the Steels, she’s only too happy to comply. Talon and his brothers are hiding something, and Jade is determined to find out what it is. The moment Talon saw Jade, he wanted her, ached for her, craved her…and now his desire has become his obsession. He knows she deserves better than his broken soul, but he can’t stay away from her, and he finally confesses his love. If he and Jade are to have a future, he knows he must make peace with the dark shadows and horrors of his past. But as Talon begins his journey of healing, Jade uncovers some startling secrets…   My Review: Mood?  lighthearted Pace?   Medium Plot- or character-driven?  A mix Strong character development?  It's complicated Loveable characters?  Yes Diverse cast of characters?

Our Overtime by S.C. Kate Exiting an NHL career early because of concussions was never in Greyson Scott’s plan, but things hadn’t happened according to plan for a long time. Turning to coaching in the closest thing to a hometown he’s ever had becomes the next best answer… But when he sees the only girl, he’s ever loved at the tryout - for her son, no doubt- he rethinks this decision. Thinking about seeing her in the stands looking down at him with a husband by her side all season long just about kills him. His urgent mission- find out the kid’s last name and make sure he doesn’t make his team. ——— Getting married to her husband wasn’t her first choice, and neither was ending up a divorcee at 31. But Jules finally escaped the loveless marriage with her new little love - her eight-year-old son Canyon. Her new plans- move back to her hometown, sign Canyon up for a hockey tryout at her old rink and create their new life together. It’s only when she sees familiar handwriting o

Dear Sofia by Danielle Keil Everyone at Ryder High knows what it means to have a teal envelope taped to their locker on the first of the month. Sofia Castillo didn’t get that. But she did a giant ice cream sandwich delivered to her house with her envelope. Things take a turn when her family goes on vacation the day after her envelope arrives. It throws a wrench in her secret admirer’s plan, and he has to change tactics and deliver clues via text instead. Sofia knows it’s someone close to her, but who? Texts come at all times—even when she’s in the same place as her admirer. Without too many specific clues, Sofia decides to just enjoy the ride and the conversation. Will Sofia be able to coax some clues out of her admirer? Or will he reveal himself when things take a sudden turn? My Review: Mood? Lighthearted Pace?  medium Plot- or character-driven?  A mix Strong character development?  Yes Loveable characters?  Yes Diverse cast of characters?  It's complicate

Our Teammate by S.C. Kate Three periods, two referees, one figure skater… After a rough first billeting experience, best friends Nick and Griff have finally rigged it up to live on their own and enjoy playing hockey together. But when Nick taunts the other team and ropes Griff into yet another fight, their Coach gives them a final ultimatum: Either learn to respect the game by becoming referees at the rink… or get kicked off the team… That’s how they find themselves reffing a squirt game on a Friday night at the Ice League. _____ Savannah Callahan’s little brother, Duke, is her best friend. It’s the two of them against the world. That’s why she takes her job as an older sister seriously and tries to help him with his hockey skills… and with his game temperament. The parents of Duke’s teammates unfortunately call him “a little ball of hate” because he loses his temper and racks up so many penalty minutes… During Duke’s Friday night game, he gets a breakaway and is making h

Our Preseason by S.C. Kate Almost pro hockey player TJ Vonnie has almost had a girlfriend countless times, but he can never seem to attain that perfect picture in his head: That he’s playing in the NHL- the Big Show- with a lady and baby watching and wearing his jersey. TJ was looking forward to inviting another prospective girl to his friends’ upcoming wedding, until they rescinded his plus one. It isn’t until he’s at the wedding cocktail hour that they enlighten him of the reason behind making him come alone: They think the perfect girl for him is at the wedding. Only problem- they won’t give him any more details…and he’s stuck holding his friend’s baby because he’s the only one who doesn’t have someone to dance with during the slow songs. ______ For the past five years, Ellie has been busy creating a safe and stable life for herself in the beautiful “Up North” Michigan. During the week, she homes in on her coaching skills as a figure skating instructor at the local Tra