DONE BEING FRIENDS

DONE BEING FRIENDS                       TRISHA GRACE
Posted:  Dec. 29, 2014

Done Being Friends by Trisha GraceFaith and Zac grew up together. Faith grew up in a supportive and loving family while Zac’s family was basically non-existence. Both have the money and looks, and they couldn’t be more suited for each other. 
Even as each ventured onto different paths of lives, they continued to remain friends—best friends. It was a line that neither dared to cross. But when Faith’s father collapsed and was sent to the hospital, Faith’s perfect little world was turned upside down.
Upon arriving at the hospital and seeing Faith in the arms of another, Zac saw the real possibility of losing her and decided to step up.
But not everyone was happy about the change, and amidst the chaos, more trouble awaits.
*This is the new re-edited and revamped version of Done Being Friends released in 2012.
 

MY REVIEW:
     Zac Hayden was a friend since the age of six.  His parents had a horrible marriage where his father cheated on his mother so much until she couldn’t take it.  They fought terrible fights till finally she started cheating on him to teach him a lesson which turned into a vicious circle.  Never getting him to stop so one day she just up and left.  Zac was a 10 year old little boy who cried endlessly for her.
     Until Faith’s grandma and mom asked if he could stay over.  Then two nights, turned into two weeks that turned into six months.  Then, Zac noticed he would stay with Aunt Michelle, Uncle Jon and Grandma.  Most of the time in his own room that they made for him next to their daughter Faith and the visits to his dad’s for a week sometimes two if at all.  To this day he still has a room there if he wants or needs it.
     As Faith Preston and Zac go off to College together along with their childhood friend Dylan their bond between them becomes ever stronger.  If ever in need the one would drop whatever they were doing to be at the others side.  Not telling each other they were in love with each other.  Zac never wanted to ruin their relationship not knowing at the same time Dylan was falling in love with Faith too.
     As if that wasn’t enough Faith’s roommate Jessica was falling in love with Dylan.  Then, Zac’s dad dies he has to take over the company.  He has no clue what he is doing but luckily Dylan did so he guided him all the way.  Faith always at his side giving him moral support.  About 8 years go by when Faith’s dad has a heart attack now everyone will be confronting their true feelings and truths will be revealed.  See who’s truly a friend, who are foes, who are lovers, and who are just in love.  And who is willing to follow God’s law.
     For this being the author’s first book she had ever written it was a very good story line.  The characters were engaging, the plot was well thought-out, and it was a book you just didn’t want to put down.  I am so glad I get this free on Amazon.  I give this 5 stars. 
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MR. MIRACLE

MR. MIRACLE                                          DEBBIE MACOMBER
Posted: Dec. 29, 2014

Harry Mills is a guardian angel on a mission: help twenty-four-year-old Addie Folsom get her life back on track—and, if the right moment strikes, help her find love. Posing as a teacher at a local college in Tacoma, Washington, Harry is up to the task, but not even he can predict the surprises that lay in store.
After trying to make it on her own, Addie has returned home to Tacoma for the holidays, but this time she plans to stay for good, enrolling in the local community college to earn her degree. What she doesn’t plan to do is run into Erich Simmons.
Addie and her next-door neighbor, Erich, are like night and day. Growing up, he was popular and outgoing while she was rebellious and headstrong, and he never missed an opportunity to tease her. Now she intends to avoid him entirely, yet when they’re suddenly forced to spend Christmas together, Addie braces for trouble.
Perhaps it’s the spirit of the season or the magic of mistletoe, but Addie and Erich soon find they have more in common than they thought—and that two people who seem so wrong for each other may actually be just right. With a little prompting from a certain angelic teacher, the two are in for a holiday miracle they’ll never forget.

MY REVIEW:
     This story is very unusual than most.  It engages your mind and spirit for the Christmas season.  She leads you straight in by having Harry Mills transported to Earth in the Pacific Northwest on the Campus of Southshore Community College.  Its overcast, looks like rain at any moment, in the month of Dec, and he remarks to himself it’s exactly what he expected.
     Harry seems befuddled when he understands he has a mentor by the name of Celeste Chapeaux.  Although, understands her powers are above and beyond his own and reach far beyond his classification.  He is willing to play along hoping she would realize his knowledge and intelligence was capable of this assignment without her supervision.  Especially, since he realizes she was sent in the body of a young person close to a teen and a barista at that.  He is a middle aged, wise, and mature man who should not need a teen to guide him.  Harry was the exact combo of cocky and over confident needed to make this story interesting.
     His first assignment is Addie Folsom a girl who left home at eighteen thinking she had the world by the tail.  Ending up living in a trailer and being a waitress.  Never having any luck or guidance in school due to her dyslexia she always felt stupid.  Her dream was to become a chiropractor like her father.  Just like her now bad relationship over her teen years was now shattered with her dad.  Since, now she had just found out he passed away.  It was time to go home and help out her mom.
     Harry’s second assignment is Erich Simmons.  He is a guy Addie had a “thing” for.  If they are to have a relationship he will have to guide it.  Things have already been set in motion.  You see Erich has a car accident and his mom feels she needs to stay home and care for him since both his wrist to elbow are in cast.  Addie’s mom and Julie, Erich’s mom, were to leave to go on a cruise the next morning after he got home from the hospital.  Now they can’t.  They will lose out on the cruise and the refund.
     So, after Celeste and Harry make her feel guilty for being so petty Addie offers to care for Erich.  Which they both HATE each other, but agree to act like grown-ups for the sake of their mom’s.   The story begins and ends as I see it.  I have to say this is one of Debbie’s most disappointing stories for me.  It started out great but then it started going downhill about the 57% mark on my Kindle.  I kept thinking when’s the meat and potatoes being served up?
     This story never quite brought it for me.  It left so many unanswered questions that I wanted to know about so many of the characters but especially Addie and Erich.  Here they were enemies all their lives and not one word of discussion of why he treated her that way.  Growth or no growth in a person a woman would ask that question.  I am sorry I give this a sad face.  I really feel like she wrote it for television and not for us the readers.  I even watched the movie to see how she would work it there and it was totally different from the book and even worse.  Still no answers.  Awful!!! I give this 3 stars 2 ½ really.  Provided by Net Galley.
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DAISIES IN THE CANYON

DAISIES IN THE CANYON                  CAROLYN BROWN
Posted:  Dec. 29, 2014

She’s here to claim her birthright…
Ex-army sergeant Abby Malloy feels no loss after the father she never knew passes away. Still, part of Ezra Malloy’s ranch belongs to her, and if the stubborn blonde has to live there for a year with two half-sisters who are strangers to her, so be it. Nothing could stand in the way of her inheritance…except a local sheriff wrapped in snug blue jeans and a sexy grin.
He’s here to claim her heart…
Cooper Wilson, the local sheriff and rancher next door, is having his world turned upside down. Abby is all straight talk and sweet, lush curves—the kind of woman who gets under his skin in just the right way. Whereas Cooper has roots in Palo Duro Canyon, Abby’s got wings. But he knows she belongs here. If she can stop running from her past, he’ll happily lead her to a brighter future, one hot cowboy kiss at a time.
MY REVIEW:
     What a very interesting turn of events from the last book that only gives you hints of Ezra Malloy and his three wives and daughters.  In the last book I really liked Rusty Dawson, not so much in this book.  His character takes on a lot more of a condescending attitude.  As if Ezra owed him something more than the daughters and yet he had to babysit them for a year.  Yet, he was just an employee first and became a friend/son. 
     You see Ezra had three daughters who knew nothing about each other and had never met him for that matter.  So, when upon his death they were asked by his lawyer to come to his ranch and why their life changed in an instant.  Were they willing to live by the will of the man they all hated the most?  I guess they would see.
     This story was written through the eyes of Abby Joyce Malloy, 30, who was raised by her mother Martha.  Her mom owned a donut shop where she and Abby lived over the top of it until Abby was 18.  Then, she graduated high school, joined the army, and left for training soon after.  A week after she left there was a robbery and her mother was murdered for $110.00.  She was now alone.  She re-upped after her first six years for another six until burn-out.  She had only been out two weeks when she got the call from the lawyer.
     When she arrived at the funeral three chairs were set up at the site two were occupied one left for her.  After the service Rusty approached Abby and introduced himself.  He stated he needed to meet all the girls at the ranch if they could follow him, they did.  Once there he said the lawyer could not attend so he asked the executors of their fathers will Jackson & Loretta Bailey along with the Sheriff Cooper Wilson.
     When Abby heard Cooper was coming her ears perked up.  They both kept making eye contact at the funeral and it made her shiver.  Not to mention he was one drop dead gorgeous cowboy with nice junk in his trunk and ass too!
     Jackson and Loretta spelled out the rules of engagement to claim either money for the settlement or the ranch either way it would be three ways.  See how perfect strangers deal with a strange but yet similar past, the bitterness of rejection, the joy of belonging, and family.
     I give this 5 stars.  The reason being it engages you in many conflicting emotions and tells a very compelling story of many different types of love and pain.  Provided by Net Galley.  Follow us at: www.1rad-readerreviews.com

ROCKED BY THE BILLIONAIRE

ROCKED BY THE BILLIONAIRE          MANDY BAXTER
Posted:  Dec. 29, 2014

Rocked by the Billionaire (Billionaire's Club, #3)The sexy Billionaire’s Club takes Texas in ROCKED BY THE BILLIONAIRE by Mandy Baxter. Bad-boy Luke "Lucifer" Blackwell is living the life. Being the lead singer for the rock group Riot 59 has brought him everything he could ever want—billions of dollars, endless parties, and enough groupies to last a lifetime. But when Luke’s wild life starts to wear him down, he returns home to Texas—and ends up in the arms of the one woman who’s always made his heart beat faster than a pounding drum…Kayleigh Taylor likes being a small-town girl, so she’s always been wary of Luke Blackwell’s fast-paced life—and of Luke himself. Fully expecting never to see the sexy singer who broke her heart years before, Kayleigh is completely shocked to find him back home, avoiding the spotlight and pursuing her instead. Kayleigh knows this can’t be right--his heart was always devoted to his music. But as they spend more and more time together, Luke is awfully convincing that his heart belongs to someone else… 

MY REVIEW:
     I can’t say I enjoyed it as well as I enjoyed book two about his twin brother.  This book seemed like Luke was just too self-absorbed as a rock star would be except in a stereo typing way.  Hence the whole “Lucifer” nickname being bantered about.
     Luke Blackwell was a wild child twin who seemed to fight to stand out.  You see he has a twin who was dubbed the “good one,” Jase.  So, Luke did anything he could to stand out even bad things always seeking attention.  His side kick at a very young age was Kayleigh Taylor.
     You see when Luke was young his father walked away from the family and the ranch.  Leaving them with no money.  So, Ryder stepped up by fulfilling their father’s shoes.  He turned their ranch in to a multi-million dollar business while he still finished high school.
     He also got the boys through Jr. High and Sr. High.  Then, Jase became a pro-football player and Luke left to start a band.  But Luke left to start a band.  Luke could never shake the resentment of the others teasing and mean and hurtful things they did.  Kayleigh always stuck by him.
     When he was 15 he figured out he was in love with her but his need to leave town and make something of himself pulled him more.  So, when he graduated she was only 15 and couldn’t leave with him.  He really felt he could stay so he told her it was for the best that they broke up and he had to leave town.  To spread his wings.
     She was devastated and it took her a long time to get it together.  It took her almost 4 years to bounce back and that is with Ryder checking on her.  He had always been like a big brother to her too.  Now she was finally on the other side and dating again.  She keeps up with his famous career but knows it was never meant to be since he has never been home in 8 years.  Well, that was all about to change…

     I had a hard time with this book because I found Kayleigh was made out to be such a weak character.  Don’t get me wrong I enjoy a good erotica but this I felt was used for lack of story line.  Which was disappointing after the book before it I enjoyed so much.  I give this book 3 stars.  Provided by Net Galley.  Follow us at: www.1rad-readerreviews.com

HEARTBREAK ON A STICK

HEARTBREAK ON A STICK                   SABRINA YORK
Posted:  Dec. 29, 2014

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Published in the "Hometown Heroes Collection" published Sept. 30, 2014.

When A-List movie star Jason Sherwood returns to the hometown that once rejected him, he has one goal in mind: Getting revenge on the woman who broke his heart so many years ago. But when he discovers his assumptions about her were wrong, he only wants to win her back. Hopefully, it’s not too late.
Gina Fox has always pined for her high school lover…and now he has returned, turning her world upside down. But life isn’t as simple now as it was then. And she can’t get over the fact that Jason walked away from her without a word. When he launches a sultry seduction, she tries, with everything in her, to resist…because at his core, Jason is nothing but heartbreak on a stick.
 

MY REVIEW:
     When your heart falls in love it knows and in some cases it cannot be deterred from its course.  The first time Jason Sherwood saw Gina Fox she was on the kindergarten playground.  He was two years older but that did not matter he was in love.
     What did mater to the grownups was that Jason’s dad was the garbage man and Gina’s dad was the mayor.  So, never the two should meet.  Jason was tormented by everyone like Eden Ames the founding fathers granddaughter for one.  She and the football players were ruthless. 
     Gina got the same although not that she told anyone.  She got most of it at home by her own father and sister especially after her mother passed.  She didn’t care what people thought she became Jason’s friend in grade school all the way through high school.  Jason even joined drama to be near her.  Where he learned he was good at it but he never wanted to be an actor.
     Gina and Jason became a little too close.  They found out Gina was pregnant and planned to run off and be married.  Her dad found out sending Jason away.  Now he’s back and he and his demons will have to face the past.  The knowing that Gina rejected him and got rid of their child.
     Gina knows Jason is coming back to town.  It is all over the tabloids since he is an A-list movie star.  She wants to flee but she is co-owner of a restaurant with a friend, Marie and can’t.  How can she face Jason knowing he rejected her and wanted her to abort their baby?  Why after being gone so long out of the country did she ever return?
     Well, you will have to read and find out for yourself.  This is one hopping little town.  The characters appear unassuming but turn your back and watch out.  Friends change when money is involved.  Enemies become family.  I totally enjoyed this book.  I give this book 4 stars.  Provided by Net Galley.  Follow us at:  www.1rad-readerreviews.com

A COWBOY'S CHRISTMAS PROMISE

A COWBOY'S CHRISTMAS PROMISE    MAGGIE McGINNIS
Posted:  Dec. 29, 2014

Boston veterinarian Hayley Scampini tends the city’s pampered pets but dreams of the rural life of a country vet. She’s single and determined to stay that way, convinced that love isn’t permanent enough to trust. Then a vacation to the Whisper Creek dude ranch introduces her to Daniel McKee, a sexy single dad who runs the kind of veterinary practice she aspires to—and rattles her conviction to keep men at a distance.
 
Managing a thriving practice, coping with the loss of his wife, and fighting a custody battle with his in-laws over his twin daughters, Daniel couldn’t be more overwhelmed. Hayley is a godsend, accompanying him in the field and winning over his girls. It doesn’t take Daniel long to realize he’s falling for this woman, hard and fast. So before Hayley returns to Boston, he extracts a promise: that she will return to Whisper Creek for Christmas. It’s the perfect time and place to show Hayley that the promise of a beautiful life together is something she can believe in.

MY REVIEW:
     For the last two years especially Sundays are set aside for Vet. Dr. Daniel and his girls, Gracie and Bryn.  You see two years ago is when his wife Katie, passed away from cancer.  He’s blessed though because he does have help from his mom when he needs a sitter.  He is still spreading himself thin as his ex-mother in law liked to point out.
     Even if Evelyn was a big part of the stress that was in Daniel’s life not the twins.  You see after Katie passed there was nothing for Daniel in Denver any longer for that is where Katie grew up not him.  He has only stayed to make Katie happy.  He was a Montana boy through and through.  It was time for him to take the girls home where he would get the most familiar support from his family and friends.  Which did not make Evelyn and her husband happy at all.
     They were wealthy and had chosen to send Katie to boarding school when she was a child and displayed her at proper charity events.  She didn’t allow Katie to each certain foods so Coco Puffs were her favorite breakfast food.  Plus, she never wanted the girls to ever go to a boarding school because she hated it.  Daniel felt he needed to make nice so he would fly he and the girls out like every other month and Evelyn and her husband were allowed to come and stay.  Didn’t matter that he hated it.  It didn’t matter to Evelyn she was always judging.
     Then in the summer his best friend Decker was getting married to Boston City girl Kyle whose friend Hayley Scampini was going to be in the wedding as well as her friend Jess from Boston.  He was meeting them for the first time.  Jess was off limits because Cole had eyes for her.  Not that he was looking because he wasn’t he wasn’t ready to date.  Katie was his one and only.  But Hayley he was told was a Vet in Boston for Pampered Pets so he thought maybe she might like it in Montana enough to relocate and become his partner.  So, totally worth meeting.  Once he lays eyes on her he is totally gaga. 
     Kyle starts telling Hayley all about this great guy that’s going to be in the wedding that she might be interested in he could be a keeper.  She’s like, “OH NO!!!”  She wants a catch and release.  She says she just wants a vacation fling, for two weeks only.  She meets him in the barn they kiss once the day before the wedding it’s all about the “make-out session.”  He tries to talk her into the practice.  She helps him birth a colt and the relationship changes.
     See how this couple who both hold up so many road blocks maneuvers a romantic situation with two young twins, an ex-mother in law, a thriving practice, a man who has lost so much, and a cared female that runs from commitment for fear of losing those she loves again.
     I really like this Christmas fun book.  The characters were so engaging and fun.  They were people you could see as friends and family.  Which is what you really want when you read a story, people like you.  I give this 5 stars.  Provided by Net Galley.  Follow us at: www.1rad-readerreviews.com.

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