Shygirl: Reading After Midnight

Snowfall on Haven Point was a fantastic holiday-themed romance as always by super talented RaeAnne Thayne. Sparks flew between a grumbly sheriff and a compassionate widow even as the snow piled up outside. Add in her two adorable kids, and you had a heartfelt story worth reading over and over.

“I just…thought it would be better to avoid temptation altogether.”
“Temptation. You find me…tempting.”
Beyond words. Like he had been dipped in the very best Belgian chocolate and she couldn’t wait to lick it away.

I truly look forward to reading anything RaeAnne Thayne releases but I especially look forward to her holiday stories. She so accurately captures the meaning of the season, giving us readers something completely inspiring to lose ourselves in, all while watching two undoubtedly deserving people fall in love as well. That sums up Snowfall on Haven Point perfectly.

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“It’s been so long since I’ve had experience with it.”
“With what? Pleasure?” At her small nod, he said, “That’s a damned shame. You deserve as much as you desire.”
“And if my desire is great?” she asked, breathless.
“Then I am the man for you,” he replied thickly, his every nerve alight, his body tight.

Scandal Takes the Stage was a dreamy historical romance nestled in the theater district of London. The combination of a scorned female playwright and a devilishly handsome rake was just too good to resist.

I’m really enjoying Eva Leigh’s The Wicked Quills of London series so far. Book two continued on with the witty bantering and highly intelligent, extremely likable characters we saw in the first installment. Just like with feisty Eleanor, I loved Maggie’s strength and independence. It wasn’t easy for a woman to make a name as a serious playwright in the 1800s but she certainly did so. Maggie put Cameron through his paces before giving in to her attraction to him, and I thought that seemed realistic given her history.

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He spoke low and sexy in her ear. “So you’re a good girl. That’s what I thought. On Santa’s nice list,” he added with a chuckle.
“Not tonight,” she promised him.

Christmas in Destiny was an absolutely charming, heartfelt–and surprisingly sexy–small town romance. Toni Blake always spins a tale that makes me chuckle and cheer on the down-to-earth characters she creates and this holiday-themed book did exactly that.

I have to say that I really loved the time I got to spend in Destiny, Ohio, in this book and of course with all of the offbeat people who reside there. I’m fairly new to the series (although I’ve read other books by Blake) but I found it quite easy to fall into the story. There were a lot of characters to keep track of, but Blake did a great job of weaving them in and explaining how they related to Candice and Shane’s journey.

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At Fairfield Orchard was a nice start to Emma Cane’s newest series about a family in transition, with two siblings stepping up to run the business that’s defined their family for decades. Throw in a history professor with a grand theory to prove–and an interest in one of the Fairfields–and you have one fun & flirty romance.

“Tyler told him to take a shower at our house, and I saw him without a shirt today. Let’s just say I may have been underestimating the brainy guys of this world.”

I’ve been a fan of Emma Cane’s writing since checking out her entertaining Valentine Valley series. I love the small town feel and sense of community that permeates her stories and I’m happy to say that this is starting off the same way. This being the first book, we got to meet several of the Fairfields as well as a bunch of the townspeople and learned some of the history of the area.

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“I want you,” she murmured. “I’ve wanted you from the moment I laid eyes on you, bloody knuckles and all. I’ve never experienced that with anyone else.”
That statement set him apart from every other man, even her dead husband. And being taken seriously by her was all he’d ever asked.

Discovering You brought us back to Whiskey Creek, one of my favorite places to be. This time we got the story behind Rod Amos’s tumultuous family history and the heartrending tale of what brought newcomer India Sommers to town. And both stories will steal your heart.

I have to say that I love those Amos brothers. They’re wild and sexy bad boys, every one of them, but with hearts of gold. And beginning with the first scene Rod proved his worthiness by standing up and fighting for someone he cared about. That theme continued throughout the story as he jumped in to help keep India safe and she herself also stepped up to clear his name. I loved how they worked together, making such a great team.

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‘She’d expected another strike, but to have it hit under twenty-four hours from the first… A pattern, an agenda. Maybe a fricking mission. Killers on a mission didn’t stop until they’d completed it.’

Apprentice in Death was a nonstop, thrill-a-minute wild ride where Lieutenant Eve Dallas found herself matching wits with two warped criminals. With a city at risk, the media screaming for answers, and the situation rapidly escalating, Eve had her hands full…and a target on her back.

I seriously don’t know how J.D. Robb (Nora Roberts) does it. This is book forty-three in the series and it is just as on-point and every bit as fresh and exciting as anything else I’ve read by her. Not only was this a complicated plot full of intriguing twists and turns, but it felt like the characters this time around, especially Eve, Roarke and Peabody, were all hitting their stride and in the prime of their careers.

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‘I had no grace. And very little generosity. But what I had, I tried to give to her in that kiss. I was not the right man for her, but I wanted to be. And I was humbled by her choice.’

The drama was out of control, as was the heat between Annie and Dylan, in this explosive conclusion to their part of the Everything I Left Unsaid series.

After the mother of a cliffhanger ending book one had, I could not wait to read The Truth About Him and see how it all turned out. And I was not disappointed. To me, this installment was where everything got all too ‘real’ for Dylan and Annie. Not that things were not real between them in the first book. They were kind of lost in lust and good intentions at that point. But here they had to face the challenges of healing from their traumatic pasts and figure out if they could make something long term work together.

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“We have a deal?”
She took his hand. “Sex with no strings, no commitments, no messy explanations, no feelings, no emotions, and no…hope.”
He nodded and shook again. “Hopeless sex. Got it. Deal.”

I have come to treasure my time in Barefoot Bay with the wonderful characters Roxanne St. Claire has created. And Barefoot With a Stranger was almost like a twofer, in that we had time in not only Barefoot Bay, but also an exciting (and sexy!) trek across Cuba with Chessie and Mal.

I really am loving the Barefoot Bay Undercover series with its edge of suspense. This second book takes it up a notch with the secrets, deception, and action happening fast and furiously both in the U.S. and in Cuba. Personally, I would recommend reading this trilogy in order so you get the underlying thread of Gabe Rossi’s situation where part of this was written from his POV, as was the previous novel and novella. He is the key to the story arc and it sounds like he will finally, finally get his chance at a HEA up next in book three, Barefoot With a Bad Boy. Yay!!

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“I never realized that my hands could be good, until I used them to touch you.”

She made a little sound in her throat, biting her lip, glancing down to see his dark, marked hands juxtaposed against her pale skin.

“And I never knew that I could be worthy of anything, until you made me want to be worthy of you.”

 

Barefoot Bay just got a whole lot edgier. Gabe Rossi (yes, Gabe from the Guardian Angelinos series!) goes undercover to start his own witness protection program for those in need. That’s where our protagonists, Alec and Kate, who have never met, have to pose as a married couple on their honeymoon. Let the fireworks begin…

 

I was so happy to be back in lovely Barefoot Bay for this new Romantic Suspense spinoff series. As always with Ms. St. Claire’s writing, the emotions ran deep, there was a nice mix of humor with touching moments woven in, and the characters were completely believable to me. As a reader, there is such a connection I feel each time I begin one of her stories. There’s something about the way she crafts the characters honestly, showing not only their strengths but their weaknesses as well. And that was quite evident with Kate and Alec.

 

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‘…The heart wants what it wants. Hope might leave me crushed in the end, but losing all hope somehow seemed even worse.’

Nicholas Sparks is one of the most popular authors out there today for a reason. And Two By Two is a prime example of why that is. With emotional richness and a complex, evolving storyline, this newest release was spot-on and evoked a depth of feelings that was absolutely incredible.

There are some stories that just really touch your heart, whether it’s the characters, the situations they find themselves in or even in the honesty with how they’re portrayed. In the case of Two By Two, it was all of those things and so much more. I’ll be honest though, this was a book that wrung me out emotionally. But in a good way.

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“I did offer you marriage.”
“And I refused, with good reason. Marrying you would be a nightmare.”
There was a moment’s pause. “Take it from someone who suffers nightmares, Miss Channing. You misuse the word. Either that or you sorely misunderstand the pleasures to be found in my bed.”

The Perks of Loving a Scoundrel was such a fun time! This Victorian historical had an unexpected romance, plenty of adventure as our protagonists investigated an assassination plot, nice bits of humor tucked in here and there, and friendships being tested in dramatic ways.

Jennifer McQuiston always writes a solid story with unique characters and events. And this third installment in the Seduction Diaries had two protagonists who were never taken seriously trying to unravel the mystery of who was aspiring to assassinate someone of importance. Mary and West were thrown together in their efforts to thwart the would-be assassins, considering everyone else just brushed them aside when they went looking for assistance.

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A slow burn romance, Mr. President was filled with well intended political aspirations, a family legacy, and an impossible relationship. Katy Evans’ newest release had sinful intensity and the heartfelt emotions that I’ve come to love and expect from her wonderful writing.

Lightly smiling, he reaches out to brush the back of his thumb along mine. “I’ve got news for you, Miss Wells–my off-schedule hours are mine to do with as I please. And I intend to do you every one of them.”

What perfect timing for this book to come out, with the current presidential campaigns reaching a fever pitch in the country right now. And Mr. President was a pretty cool behind the scenes look into running a campaign and what one (fictional) candidate went through. I loved Matthew’s view on politics. It was refreshing and he brought everything back to truly wanting to make America great in an honest, forthright manner.

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‘I wanted–needed–to know that Finn, Bria, and Owen were safe. Nothing else mattered. Not even whether I lived or died here tonight.’

Gin and her loyal cohorts were under fire again in Unraveled. This time the action took place in an Old West theme park, so you can just imagine the cowboy humor, high noon showdowns, and interesting predicaments they all got themselves into while chasing after the bad guys. Okay, well, Gin is an assassin so I guess it would be *badder* guys.

Who knew smashing together elements of cowboy & Western stories and urban fantasy would be so entertaining? I love Gin, Owen, Finn, Bria and the rest of their quirky group anyway, but seeing them on a supposed vacation, with the guys acting like little kids over all the Western garb and the women rolling their eyes over the guys’ antics was a lot of fun.

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“Memories are strange things, aren’t they? You can’t touch them and hold them in your hands, but they have incredible power. Because I’ve lost so many memories, I feel as though I’ve lost that power.”

If you want a story with a complicated plot rife with emotional depth and personal growth, Susan Wiggs is the author to turn to. And Family Tree fulfilled all of my expectations. Being a fan of Wiggs’ work, I just knew I would find myself engrossed in our main character’s struggles to pick up the pieces of her shattered life.

Okay, so if you’ve ever read anything by Susan Wiggs before, you know she doesn’t do light and fluffy romance. And that is totally fine by me. As much as I love a lighthearted read, I’m also a sucker for a heartwrenching emotional journey that focuses on friendships, personal woes, family drama and that has the characters learning important life-changing lessons along the way. That, in a nutshell, explains Family Tree.

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“Sunset in Central Park,” she murmured. “It doesn’t get any more perfect.”
They were standing side by side, close but not quite touching.
He wondered if she was as aware of him as he was of her.
And then she turned her head to look at him and he saw the heat of his own desire reflected in her eyes.

Sarah Morgan just keeps cranking out one amazing romance after another. Based around a friends-to-lovers trope, this particular story was as heartwarming as it was sensual, while still keeping that feeling of closeness and friendship this series has been built on.

I so enjoy reading anything by Sarah Morgan. She has a way of creating realistic characters who are completely likable, flaws and all, and who you can’t help cheer on. And boy doesn’t that describe Frankie the commitment-phobe. She was a fun character in some ways, with her comical Eeyore-like views on relationships, and a super loyal best friend to Eva and Paige.

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Have I gone blind, deaf and dumb, or is Jasper Autry telling me he wants to have sex with me–and make a baby with me? “Are you for real right now?”
“My darling Ellie, I have never been more ‘for real’ in my entire life than I’m being right now.” He leans in closer to me, so close I stop breathing. “Say yes.”

Just when you thought the Quantum series couldn’t get any hotter, M.S. (Marie) Force paired up a sexy British cinematographer and the quintessential California girl, who also happened to be his close friend’s sister. With a set-up like that, you just know it’s going to be a complicated and oh so sinful romance.

Force has been on-point with this Quantum series and I swear each book truly does get steamier and sexier. This friends-to-lovers story had a punch of sweetness to it as well. There was something heartening about watching longtime friends Jasper and Ellie finally admit they had feelings for each other and do something about it. But the way that it all happened was where the fun twist came in...

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